Bride of Shadow Canyon. Stacey Kayne

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СКАЧАТЬ up at the night sky. For a lady schooled in the fine laws of propriety and proper etiquette, she sure had a hot temper. But her temper hadn’t shadowed her tear-glazed eyes before she’d caught him staring at her. He’d seen fear.

      It’s not my business, he reminded himself. Just as soon as he shook the trouble off her tail, she’d be Buck’s problem, not his. She’d surely hate him by the time they reached California and would have no intention of staying on at the Double D.

       He hoped.

      A half hour later, Jed had watched Rachell shiver for as long as he could stand. The little fool’s teeth had started chattering. He stood and silently walked around the fire.

      Rachell gasped as she felt herself being lifted into Jed’s warm arms. He easily suppressed her struggle, pressing her firmly into the warmth of his chest. Lord, was he warm, and strong. “Jed, I—”

      “Hush. You’re freezing.”

      He set her onto his bedroll, and Rachell was hit by a shaft of panic. She instantly tried to move away as he stretched out beside her.

      “Damn it, Rachell!” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back beside him.

      Paralyzed by fear, Rachell stared up at him as he loomed over her. His silver eyes shone like twin moons in the low light of the fire. He was convinced she was a prostitute and she was legally his wife. Lord help her if he insisted on taking a husband’s liberties, she was nowhere near strong enough to stop a man his size.

      “Rachell? Do you really think I would harm you?”

      Jed could feel her heart pounding against his arm and was stunned by the fear clearly visible in every line of her face. He eased back, loosening his hold on her. “I’d never force myself on you, or any woman. You’re safe with me.”

      He felt her shudder as she continued to stare up at him, and hoped it was in relief. “Go to sleep,” he said, turning her away from him. He pulled her close, wrapping her inside his coat with him then pulling his blanket over them.

      He reached out, capturing one of her hands in his. It felt like a small block of ice in his palm.

      “You truly would have frozen to death! Turn around here and shove those hands inside my coat.”

      She didn’t argue, allowing him to shift her position. He gathered her close, lifting her head onto the cushion of his arm, again closing her inside his jacket.

      Her cold nose pressed against his neck as she shivered against him. As cold as she was, he was surprised she had the strength to put up the fight she had. Her stubborn pride wasn’t only aggravating, it was damn hazardous.

      “Jed?” she called a while later.

      “Yeah?”

      “Thank you…for—”

      “It’s been a long day,” Jed cut in. “Just go to sleep.”

      The sound of her voice and the feel of her breath against his neck wasn’t helping the stimulating effect her tiny body stirred inside him. And he surely didn’t want her to say something in a moment of exhaustion she would regret tomorrow. They had a long way to travel under such close quarters. Her temper was as good a barrier as any to keep between them.

      “I never meant to cause so much trouble,” Rachell whispered a few minutes later.

      Jed’s deep laugh surprised her.

      “Don’t worry, Imp. I’ll get you to California safe and sound. Count on it.”

      His deep, gentle tone sent shivers clear to Rachell’s toes, shivers that were a far cry from the cold tremors that had shaken her body moments ago. He obviously felt them and tucked the blanket tightly around her.

      For a hard man, Jed could be incredibly tender.

      Under all his harsh glares and rude remarks, Jed Doulan was a good man. She closed her eyes and settled against the warmth of his body, awed by the feeling of safety she felt while lying in the arms of a complete stranger.

      A stranger who had bathed, she realized. A strong scent of lye lingered from his warm skin.

      He had bathed with soap!

      Chapter Four

      Hearing a soft, feminine voice call his name, Jed slowly roused. He opened an eye, peering at the fire-haired woman lying on her back beside him in the dim light of early dawn.

      “Yeah?” His other eye opened. Both eyes blinked as his vision cleared. His brow creased in confusion at her curious expression. Her green eyes were wide as saucers.

      “What’s wrong?” Surely he would have awakened at the slightest sound of approaching danger.

      “Your hand,” she said in a quivering breath. “It’s—”

      Jed suddenly became aware of smooth soft skin beneath his palm. “Holy smoke!”

      He pulled his hand away from the soft swell of her breast and scrambled backwards. How the hell had his hand gotten under her waistcoat?

      “I swear I didn’t do that on purpose.”

      “I know,” she said, sitting up, banding her arms around her chest as she turned away from him.

      “Why didn’t you push me away?” Jed sat back on his heels. The feel of her breast under his palm had shocked him awake and damn if he wasn’t already fully aroused! He rubbed his hand against his thigh, trying to rub out the tingling sensation the firm tip of her breast had left in his skin.

      “I tried, but you only pulled me closer and…you’re quite strong.”

      Jed’s eyes moved over her trembling body. From her side profile, he saw red staining her pale cheeks. For a working girl, she sure acted like a woman who’d never been touched.

      Oh, Lord. Perhaps he’d been rough and hurt that petal-soft skin in his sleep. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

      She vigorously shook her head, swaying the twisted, tangled flames of her hair across her back and shoulders.

      “You’re all right, then?”

      “Yes,” she said, although her voice was barely audible.

      “Rachell, look at me.”

      He waited for her flushed face to meet his gaze. “You’re sure I didn’t hurt you?”

      “I’m sure,” Rachell assured him, stunned by the sincerity of his concern. He hadn’t hurt her at all, in fact, her pulse still hammered in her veins from the volatile effect his roaming hand had had on her surprisingly sensitive body. She stood and stepped over the rumple of blankets. “I need to go…find a privy.”

      By the time she came back from the bushes, Jed had a small fire started. He picked up his saddlebags as she walked into camp.

      “I’m СКАЧАТЬ