CHAPTER TWELVE
Two hours later, Eva stood amongst a group of men at one side of the makeshift racing course. A celebratory cry went up from the far end of the course and Eva turned to see Riaz on his horse, a beautiful black stallion. He was surrounded by a group of five riders. Each man had one hand on the reins of their horse and his other raised above their head.
A now familiar sound of high-spirited yells from the men's throats reverberated around the flattened area.
Eva readied her camera. This was what she'd been waiting for. A chance to see Riaz in full flow, competing hard. At home amongst his men and in the environment he loved the most.
She wasn't naive. Eva knew he'd probably be trying to impress her. She'd picked up a sense of that from their conversation earlier that morning. She'd been able to tell he was excited by the prospect of showing her this aspect of his life.
For the past half hour, she'd watched entranced by the sight of charging horses and the sounds of exuberant cries from Riaz's men as they raced from one end of the simple course to the other.
Riaz had explained to Eva that the race consisted of six men at a time trying to race as fast as they could from one pole to the other. The only dangerous part of the entire affair seemed to be at the turn around the wooden poles jammed into the sand.
She'd watched as men had jostled one another, with good-natured competitiveness, guiding their mounts around the sharp turn. Horses had collided with one another but, on closer examination, Eva had seen there hadn't been any real danger of injury to man or beast. There was expertise on display as well as the desire to release pent-up energies. The men seemed to enjoy the challenge.
The enthusiasm on display had been infectious. Eva had managed to get some great images. Ones she knew would delight any editor back home.
Another cry seized her attention and she saw that Riaz was ready.
The riders were lined up alongside the wooden pole away to her right. She could see Riaz's brows ridged deep with concentration.
Then, with a sudden roar, every man cried out in unison as the horses leapt forward. The race was on, and Eva felt a surge of excitement. She gripped her camera hard and watched as the riders bolted forward along the flat plain, clouds of sand rising up from pounding hooves.
The horses raced toward her position near the other wooden pole. She knew the riders would make twenty turns of each pole, the winner being the first man to make those turns.
Moments later, the riders were upon them. Eva didn't raise her camera to her eye. Instead, she wanted to see the expression on Riaz's face as he reached the turn.
She wasn't disappointed. Riaz was already out front.
As his horse pounded toward her, she saw him leaning forward, his shoulders hunched, his gaze focused and determined.
She took a step back along with the men next to her as Riaz's horse reached the turning. She saw him tighten the reins, pulling hard, twisting his body and manoeuvring his mount around the turn. A cloud of sand billowed up around him.
The other horses arrived at the turning second later, and she heard the cacophony of pounding hooves and felt the sheer power of the animals as they strained to negotiate the turn.
However, Riaz was already on his way back to the other end of the course, racing fast, speeding away from the other five riders.
His white robe billowed behind him, and for a moment, Eva thought he looked like the embodiment of a wild, primitive desert sheikh, completely in his element, totally at home.
This was where he belonged, she told herself. It was as if he was part of the landscape, as if his entire being was an extension of this raw environment.
Eva lifted her camera, getting it ready for his return. A minute later he was back, hurtling toward her, now even further ahead of the other riders. She took some photos, eager to capture the sheer energy on display as he rushed past.
Then he was at the turning again and wrenching on the horse's reins with a sharp movement, muscles straining. The other men had caught up with Riaz and were now only a short distance behind him.
And so it continued.
Each time he raced past her, Eva took more photos. She began to realize this was the kind of thing she'd come out here in search of to begin with. Images of a strange, primitive life. Unique customs.
But, after the last couple of days and nights, her attitude to the entire experience had changed. Now, it was no longer about intruding upon something she barely understood, something she had no part in.
After the way Riaz had captured her attention, after the way he'd kissed her the previous evening, Eva had to admit that she felt less of an outsider, and much more a part of this whole crazy, wild, unpredictable existence. He'd been drawing her inexorably into his world, and she found herself wanting to resist him less and less.
Eva pushed those thoughts aside and watched Riaz, mesmerized by this performance.
Finally, Riaz made the final turn and was heading back toward the finish line where Eva had stationed herself. She didn't want to miss the triumphal last moments of what had been a thrilling race.
Two of the other men had steadily gained on him and were now racing neck and neck alongside him.
Eva saw Riaz lean forward, straining every sinew. Beside her the crowd of men were roaring and cheering. Eva was mesmerized as she took photo after photo.
Then, with a sudden rush, Riaz pulled ahead of his men and raced past the final line. Every one of his men yelled enthusiastically as their sheikh leader hurled past them, victorious.
Eva snapped even more images of the jubilant celebrations and followed the men as they gathered around Riaz.
He had drawn his mount to a halt and was leading it back toward his celebrating men. Eva saw a wide grin on Riaz's face as he celebrated with his men.
He leapt down off his horse, accepting the congratulations, standing tall as he received numerous slaps on the back.
Then he was walking toward Eva. His eyes were bright and his face sweat-covered. But she could see that his entire being had been lit up by the experience. He looked like a different man. She could see the vitality in his eyes, the flushed color of his cheeks. He was still breathing heavily when he halted in front of Eva.
"What did you think?" he asked.
Eva smiled at him. "Very impressive," she said without the slightest hint of irony.
His brows rose. "Really!" he exclaimed. He sounded genuinely pleased. She found his obvious pleasure strangely satisfying. For once her opinion, genuine as it was, had seemed to mean something to him.
Eva nodded. "I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it." She lifted her camera. "I got some nice images."
He looked at the camera, and she was sure she saw a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze.
Riaz led her away from the men and back in the direction of the tents. She walked alongside him. His breathing was still strong and she couldn't help noticing the breadth of his chest as his shoulders rose and fell with each intake.
They reached the tents and she was aware that there were no other men around. Everyone was still behind them. She glanced back and saw the men tending to the horses. The poles were being pulled out of the sand.
"Is that it?" she asked. "Is is all over."
He laughed quietly. "I don't think anyone has any energy left after that." He peered at her. "Unless you'd like to try it yourself."
Eva shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea. In any case, I can ride a horse, but not like that," she said gesturing back to the scene of the race.
He halted in front of her and she stopped, facing him.
"About those photos, Eva," he said.
Eva felt worry twist in her middle. She guessed what was coming next.
"Could you keep them to yourself for now?"
Eva peered at him. "Why? They're amazing."
Riaz nodded. "I can imagine they are. But, I want to keep this private." He glanced over her shoulder. "For the men, as much as for me," he explained.
"Don't they want their identities made public?" she asked.
Riaz frowned and shook his head. "Some of them said to me they don't feel comfortable having their image used. Especially in the outside world."
"Are they superstitious?"
"No. Not at all. I guess it's more to do with respecting who they are. What they're doing for me by being here in the first place," he said. His eyes narrowed. "Do you understand?"
Eva thought for a few moments. She could see how much it meant to Riaz and she could imagine just how important it would be to the men. The last thing she wanted was to cause offense. She felt so much closer to this life now. Eva was beginning to understand it more.
After considering it, she nodded. "Okay. I'll delete the pictures."
"You don't need to do that," he said. "Just give me your word."
"My word?"
Riaz nodded. "Promise me. That'll be enough for me. I trust you."
Eva gazed into his eyes, seeing the sincerity in those dark pools. For the first time, she felt like she really believed him when he said those words to her. Had something changed between them after that kiss by the river?
"Okay," she said softly. "I promise."
Riaz smiled and nodded slowly. He looked satisfied, she told herself.
No.
He looked more than satisfied, she realized. His expression was the same one she'd seen as he'd powered across the line, astride his horse. He looked like someone who'd won a major victory. Had it been so important to him that she agree to give him her word?
She worried he was reading too much into her acceptance of his request. Before she had a chance to say anything more, he surprised her by turning away from her.
He took a few steps back in the direction of his men, then paused and looked back at her. "I have to speak to them about something," he explained. "Maybe you and I can speak later."
Eva nodded, trying to hide the sudden disappointment she felt that she wouldn't be spending some time with him right now. Did he really have to leave her standing here like this?
Then he walked away from her. All she could do was watch his tall figure as it strode back toward the crowd of men.
Eva felt her jaw tighten, frustration suddenly rising up within her. She gripped the camera, wiping some of the loose grains of sand off the black case.
She realized her clothing was covered in a thin layer of sand. Being so close to the racing horses had left her covered in sand. And it had gotten into her hair. She shook her hair loose, feeling the roughness of sand inside her clothing.
She knew what she needed, right now.
Eva turned and headed toward her tent, overwhelmed with the desire to wash every remnant of the last hour off her body. And wash some of the emotion out of her system, too.
Inside the tent, she left the camera in her bag by the bedside. She headed out of the tent and across toward the river.
While all the men were otherwise occupied, she figured she could wash herself clean down at the pool. She made her way along the side of the river. There was no-one else around when she reached the top of the ledge from where the river spilled down into the pool below.
Eva edged her way down to the pool and slipped off her shirt and jeans, shaking the sand out them. But she could feel grains clinging to her sweat-covered body.
Apart from anything else she wanted to wash the memory of that last exchange with Riaz clean out of her mind.
Wearing only panties and bra, Eva stepped into the water, savoring the sharp coolness of the water. She sank into the water up to her shoulders and swam for a while. She sighed, loving every moment of the sensation sweeping across her body.
Nerves started to calm, and her mind became a blank as she settled onto her back, floating gently in the water. She felt every knot of tension loosen as she simply allowed herself to enjoy the sensation of the water.
After a while, thought started to drift back into her awareness. And, as she would have expected, those thoughts were all about Riaz.
He'd looked amazing back there, she admitted to herself. He'd looked like a ferocious animal, senses ignited by the sheer thrill of the physical activity. Every vestige of civilization seemed to have fallen away as she'd watched him drive his horse on harder and harder.
Even thinking about it in this cool oasis, she felt her heart quicken at the memory of the way he'd looked at her after his victory.
And that was why his abruptness had been so shocking. It was as if he'd taken her aside with the sole intention of extracting a promise from her.
Nothing more.
She had given it to him. Willingly and even hopefully, she realized. She hadn't wanted to refuse him something which she could see meant so much to him.
Her promise.
Was that the only promise he would ask her for? Had she driven him away by her reaction to his kiss?
That thought shocked her and she felt a sudden need to distract herself somehow. Anything to push that thought away, she told herself.
She swam a little on her front, sweeping the water away ahead of her. She gazed around the sanctuary of the enclosure from where the pool emerged, the river continuing away from her.
She hadn't intended for this swim to last too long. Although Riaz had assured her that this place was reserved for him, she was worried that some of the other men might come down here.
Just as she started back toward the point where she'd entered the water, her attention was caught by something at the corner of her vision.
She glanced upward and halted in the water, treading steadily, the slow movement of her arms keeping her afloat. Her heart began to race as she stared up at the top of the waterfall. She felt her throat tighten and she was sure her eyes must be wide with shock and disbelief.
Because he was there.
Riaz was standing up on the ledge, looking down at her. His gaze was steady and resolute.
And, when she saw him begin to slowly ease his body out of his white robe, she knew he had only one thing in mind.