By the fifth night his perseverance was rewarded with a smile from Amy after Swift Antelope escorted her home from their daily walk. With flushed cheeks, Amy regaled Loretta with the details of her ti...
Brushing her hands clean on her skirt, Loretta stared dismally at the fire. Merciful heaven, why had she asked for a fire? He’d be able to her, which somehow made the thought of undressing in front...
Blue Eyes?He slowed his pace as he got closer, his indigo eyes traveling the length of her, taking in every detail of her dress, from the high neckline down to the bit of petticoat and black high-topp...
Blue Eyes, you will drink?Loretta waved him away. A long silence settled over them. Then Hunter grasped her chin and forced her to look at him., seeking death, it is not wisdom. He wedged the canteen...
Blue Eyes, I do not want stew, Hunter whispered, his voice laced with tenderness. If you hunger, we will have nuts and fruit, eh?Loretta swallowed a lump of air. Fruit and nuts were better than the al...
At noon the following day, the Comanches crested the rise above the Masters farm and drew in their horses, well out of firing range. Loretta clutched her horse’s reins with such force that her knuckle...
As the Comanchero cupped his hands around the fullness of her breasts, his attention shifted to the medallion she had been wearing, concealed from Uncle Henry under her dress. His bleary eyes sharpene...
As she lifted the skirt to examine it, Hunter stepped into the lodge, sending her scurrying for cover under the buffalo robe. Flashing her a mischievous smile, he said, Maiden sent the clothes. Next t...
As quickly as they had advanced, the Comanches retreated.Loretta, buffeted by the wind, stood alone on the flats until they rode from sight. When she could no longer hear the tattoo of their horses’ h...
As Loretta drew near the door, Tom cried, No! You miserable coward, Henry. You send that girl out there, and you’ll never sleep a whole night through the rest of your life.Loretta touched the door pla...
Another uplifting development was Amy’s recovery from her ordeal. Loretta could scarcely believe how quickly the child was regaining her former gaiety, and she soon realized Swift Antelope was the cau...
Angry wasn’t the word to describe Loretta’s frame of mind. She wasn’t just furious, but horribly hurt as well. That terrified her. She wasn’t falling in love. She So what if Hunter wanted a dozen wiv...
Ah, yes, this is the way of it, eh? A heathen and his woman? His face twisted in a sneer as he rolled her sensitive flesh between his finger and thumb, sending shocks of sensation shooting into her be...
After a long while the girl’s sobbing subsided, and her breathing became slow, measured. In her sleep she scooted her rump toward him, seeking warmth.He rolled onto his side and curled an arm around h...
After Hunter lowered her onto her fur pallet, which she was swiftly coming to regard as her prison, she clutched the buffalo robe around her and rolled onto her side. She felt like an animal caught i...
A flush slid up her neck. In nothing but a nightgown, she would have been embarrassed in front of any man; with Hunter her humiliation was tenfold. He swept his gaze over her with no sign of guilt, no...
A Comanche don’t wear a wolf sign unless he’s somebody important. The wolf is sacred to ’em, their brother. No woman would have a medallion like that unless her man marked her with it.
Releasing her, he struck her lightly on the arm. Wheeling his horse, he glanced toward the windows of the house and thumped his chest with a broad fist. I claim her!
What?Make room for me. He lifted the robe and joined her on the pallet.Wha--you’re not going to sleep with me?, I am very terribly cold.Loretta suspected he was lying, but she moved over, secretly gla...
She clutched her skirt. What does that mean?I love you.