"Ice. Loretta sucked in a whine of air as the shock of water washed over her body. A warm arm encircled her waist. A large hand clamped over her ribs. She twisted her neck to see, then froze. The Comanche. Instinctively she thrashed and squirmed in his arms. She tried to throw herself away from him. But it was all to no avail. Hunter held her fast with one arm hooked through her elbows behind her and walked deeper into the water until it hit her chin high. A convulsive shudder ran the length of her. Oh, mercy, it was so horribly cold. He ran a hand down her belly. The touch was slow, effortless, leaving her in no doubt that he could explore any part of her he chose, at his leisure. "Ah, , you are so hot. Even where you are not burned. ," he whispered. "You will not fight." Something about his voice seemed familiar, oddly comforting. Her father, she realized, somehow his voice put her in mind of her father. She fought back tears. Shivers racked her. The freezing ache of it blocked out everything else. Her teeth began chattering nonstop. When she could bear it no longer, she made one last attempt to get free. "It will pass," he promised. "You will be still. It is a burn, no? From the sun. You have fire inside you. The cold will chase it away. You understand?" She tried to nod. When she did, she took a mouthful of water and choked. He exclaimed under his breath and turned her so her chin rested on his shoulder. The shock of his body heat against her breasts and belly made her gasp. In the moonlight, the cut in his flesh from Rachel's bullet was a black line. " " His arms tightened around her, hard, powerful, yet strangely gentle. "Close your eyes, eh? Trust this Comanche. We will make war tomorrow." Time ceased to exist. There was nothing but the night, the water, and the Indian. Loretta floated into a dream world. She was sick, so awfully sick. Too sick to care what happened. Too sick to fight it."