The Cry of the Wolf Chapter 71

"Gavin!" she cried out again.

This time, their eyes met. Shock then instant disgust as he took in the sight of his long-lost wife. A tall, slender Native woman stood before him dressed head to toe in soft buckskin, her coffee-hued hair braided over her shoulder. Green eyes sparkled with hope, a dusting of freckles covering her flushed cheeks. His wife stood less than a foot away and yet, Gavin was frozen. In shock.

"I've come home…" Adelaide murmured.

"What exactly are you wearing?" Gavin finally found his voice but by his tone, it was clear he was not expecting an answer.

He stepped in front of the desk, circling the woman to who he had been married for more than a decade as though seeing her for the first time. He stopped, standing behind her, staring down at the baby attached to her back, his features darkening.

"What the hell have you done?!"

****

"Gavin, please, let's just go home and I will explain everything."

"I don't think so. You aren't going anywhere, so start talking."

Adelaide was clearly frustrated. This wasn't going at all as she had imagined. Why had she thought it would be different? Time had erased reality - a reality that suddenly came rushing back.

"It wasn't my fault, Gavin. I didn't choose what became of me."

Addy decided not to bring up the children, surprised he hadn't mentioned them. Did they mean nothing to him? Regardless, it was clearly not the time to bring them up.

"I looked for the portal, but then we were kidnapped...I came here trying to get back - to look again. Gavin, I have never stopped wanting to return to you…"

"So it would seem," he snarled, standing to face his wife once more. "It sure didn't take you long to have a bastard, did it..."

It wasn't a question.

Adelaide wisely bit her lip.

"There is no portal. We are here to stay so you'd be wise to make the best of it. I need to think. Honestly, I'm not sure if I can forgive your unfaithfulness. Your betrayal is something I knew would happen someday...I just never expected it to be with one of these barbarians. Did you enjoy it? Never mind, I don't want to know…" His voice trailed as he looked away, his jaw hardening.

"Gavin…" Adelaide's voice caught in her throat, empathizing with her husband's pain.

She couldn't imagine how she would feel should the tables have been turned. Yes, she had no choice, but it didn't make things easier, their marriage vows clearly shattered.

It was none of John's business, clearly, yet he stepped forward.

"You can't send her back with them. It isn't right. She is here now and must remain with her own people."

"I can't forgive her betrayal!" Gavin's brows lowered, his scowl darkening. "I can't just welcome her back into my home as if nothing happened!"

Adelaide shifted from foot to foot. Gavin's raised voice was drawing attention. Shy, sweet Adelaide wanted to curl up in the corner of the room, but with the growing number of people watching the exchange, there was clearly no getting away from the situation.

John was right but the situation was more than Gavin was able to process within a few minutes. He wouldn't be made to look a fool in front of anyone and, in his eyes, Adelaide had just humiliated him.

"Get her cleaned up and presentable," John suggested. "You can send the baby back with the tribe if you choose not to accept what happened. No one would blame you."

Adelaide's heart fell to her toes. So this was it. She could have her life back if she left her current life behind. Of course, that was the deal. She had always known it, already turning her back on Chief Long Knife and the tribe. This was surely just the next step. The bond between her and the baby she'd born the chief wasn't as nearly as strong as the one she had between her and Gavin's children, but their births had been different. Things had been different. She'd had time to nurture that connection, while assured of Gavin's love.

Who was she kidding? He couldn't keep his roving eyes off other women, tears of humiliation Addy's constant companion. How was he different from Chief Long Knife? The Chief didn't spend his hours checking out the tribe's women. That is where the similarities ended. She was jealous of his love for his first wife and the love they had shared. He was loyal to his bride. Could she fault him for that?

Adelaide was lost in thought and didn't see the buxom blonde who approached her husband, resting a slender hand on his arm.

"What made you so upset? It's clearly causing a scene," the blonde's voice was a sultry purr that snapped Adelaide immediately out of her reminiscing.

A flush stained Adelaide's cheeks as she stepped forward, "I won't give up the baby. I've forgiven you over the years for much, Gavin, and you know it. This wasn't my fault. You don't have to be a father to my son, but he is mine and he will be coming with me."

"Then you will not step into my home. Not with that...."

"Who is she?" The blonde snapped, hands now on her hips.

"Becky, not now…" Gavin groaned.

She wouldn't be brushed off. "I have a right to know!"

"Fine!" Gavin threw his hands up in the air, "She's my wife."

"You're married? You never mentioned having a wife!" Becky all but shrieked.

"There was no need. I thought she had died. She was gone without a trace for over a year. Look, we will talk about this later. I need to deal with this matter first. Jonathan, take that child and bring him to the chief before they leave the fort. I am not raising a barbarian."

"No!" Adelaide cried out as Torris was removed from her back, Jonathan shrugging helplessly as he turned away.