It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. - Seneca

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Excerpt from NEVER SURRENDER ...

Keeping his gaze trained ahead of him, Taima strode past a group of giggling young girls, wishing Ahanu would catch up with him. He needed to talk with Sakima and inform him of Kate’s presence and why she was here, though the older man had probably seen her arrival in one of his visions. Sakima’s knowledge always seemed to astound Taima. For one individual to know so much of what the spirit gods sent their way proved fact enough that Sakima was their chosen shaman.

He sat cross-legged before a fire, wrapped in a buffalo hide. Wise beyond his fifty summers, Sakima’s dark eyes met Taima’s. Their gazes never broke as Taima sat across from him at the fire, next to Ahanu. The three sat in silence for a long time.

“You are troubled, my son.”

Taima looked into the fire, then poked at the glowing embers with a stick.

“Noshi...father...capturing the white woman has disturbed memories I would rather not dwell on.”

“Sometimes the spirits know more than we do. Perhaps they think it is time you did dwell on your memories. Perhaps now, it is time to think of the past again.”

Taima gazed into the older warrior’s profound, dark eyes, not wanting to stir his own painful thoughts.

“Noshi, please . . .”The shaman nodded slowly.

“Nechan...my son...I, too, have memories of your mother. She came to mean more than life to me. But from the Great Spirits, I’ve learned we must often face the past in order to carry on into our future.”

Taima sighed and stared at the early stars. “Have your Great Spirits advised you how to deal with the sorrow of dredging up what’s better left in the past?” He glanced back at his father, trying to read his thoughts through the seasoned dark eyes that gazed back at him.

“Yes, Nechan...and you will always feel a tug on your heart whenever you think of your wife or mother. But you have dealt with these emotions before and though our group here is small, our people look to you for strength and guidance. You’ve never disappointed them in this task. Now it is your turn to learn to pull strength from those around you.”

This time, Ahanu poked the fire with a twig. Taima watched the tip dig through the glowing embers, feeling his heart burn with pain, as though the coals were within his chest.

He fought against the memories that never disappeared from his thoughts. The vision of his slender wife, her dark eyes gazing from a delicate, oval face, never disappeared from his mind’s eye or the memory of her hair’s silkiness when he ran his fingers through its length, nor the softness of her warm, naked flesh against his own. His heart ached to be with her, something he wished for daily. Because of the white man, he would never again see or touch her...and he could not allow a white woman to replace those thoughts and memories.

The white man had also robbed him of a mother with more tenderness and spirit than three women put together. Her loving blue eyes would forever haunt his dreams.

The fire before him blurred as Taima blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.

Kate was white...and beautiful, but that was not her fault, and he honestly couldn’t hate her for it. What he did not want was to fall in love with her, to have her memory invade his thoughts. Those tender thoughts were reserved only for his wife. He knew he couldn’t be around Kate but to release her into the wilderness after the raid would have been the same as murder.

Ahanu’s wife, Aiyana, could see to her training. Kate would be a needed worker, one to help with the meat and hides of the coming hunt. She would be kept too busy to cause anyone problems, especially him.

“Your anger and hatred are easily read in your eyes, Nechan. You must learn to control your emotions. I, too, am angry at the white man for taking my woman from me.” His father paused a moment before continuing. “How are you going to deal with this new woman?”


Purchase NEVER SURRENDER- Buy NOW!

Visit Deanna on the web- My Website

*CONTEST*
Deanna will be picking TWO winners ON FRIDAY to receive a copy of Never Surrender. Cover is different then the one pictured above, but the story is the same. So make sure you leave a comment today!!!!!!!

8 comments:

Debby said...

Hi Deanna, I loved the excerpt. i am going to visit your website and see what is going on. thanks so much.
debby236 at att dot net

Skhye said...

Hi, Deanne. I'm a big fan of Native Americans. Loved this excerpt!!! I need to read this novel! ;) ~Skhye

Hywela Lyn said...

Hi Deanne

Oh, another one for my 'wish list'! I too am fascinated by the Native Americans I truly admire the way the worked with nature rather than against her. Loved the excerpt, it sounds like a wondeful and intriguing story.

Wishing you much success and wonderful sales.

Deanna Jewel said...

Hi ladies, thank you so much for your wonderful comments and for stopping by to support me! Good luck in the contest.

Thank you also to those who read the excerpt but didn't leave a comment. You are important to me also and I hope you pass my website on to your friends!

Brenna Ash said...

Hi Deanna,
Great excerpt. I loved it and am looking forward to reading the whole book!

Kathi Barton - Author said...

I loved the photos in the video. It is a great teaser. Can't wait to read the whole story. Thanks for sharing.

Brandy B aka Brandlwyne said...

Hi. You are a new author to me and i am soo excited to add Never Surrender to my list of books to read. It sounds awesome!!!

-Brandy
brandyzbooks@yahoo.com

Patricia K said...

your books rock can't wait to read more

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...