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76c6c97
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We're fine. Trust me. I rode to Hunter's village, didn't I?" "With directions from Hunter!" "Well, from now on I have to follow my nose." "Enjoy it while you still have one."
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Catherine Anderson |
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114f902
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Holy Mother, you near shot my foot off, you damned fool woman!" "Next time, I won't miss." Henry sputtered, so mad he looked fit to bust. "Rachel, I swear, I'll give you the hidin' of your life for this." "Touch her, Uncle Henry, and I'll knock you senseless with a chunk of firewood," Loretta inserted. "And if she don't do a good job of it, I'll finish it for her!" Amy yelled from the loft ladder. "Good for you, Ma! Give the old wart toad w..
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Catherine Anderson |
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bc505bf
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Holy Mother, you near shot my foot off, you damned fool woman!" "Next time, I won't miss." Henry sputtered, so mad he looked fit to bust. "Rachel, I swear, I'll give you the hidin' of your life for this." "Touch her, Uncle Henry, and I'll knock you senseless with a chunk of firewood," Loretta inserted. "And if she don't do a good job of it, I'll finish it for her!" Amy yelled from the loft ladder. "Good for you, Ma! Give the old wart toad w..
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Catherine Anderson |
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1853c42
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The hate has gone from you to a faraway place you cannot find, as it was spoken in the prophecy. That's why it is time for you to walk your own way. You must fight the last great fight for the People, yes? And you must fight it alone. I have to stay here. For our mother, my children. You're our hope, our only hope." "You call it hope? I call it running away." "No! When we run, we find someplace familiar and safe. Winter will be upon us soon..
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Catherine Anderson |
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acde8b7
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Staring at her with impenetrable blue-black eyes, the warrior on the black nudged the animal a pace forward. With that relentless eye-to-eye contact, he held her pinioned where she stood. For what seemed a lifetime, he studied her, not moving, not speaking, his lance still held aloft. Loretta's courage disintegrated, and a violent tremor swept the length of her. He noted the shudder, and his observant gaze trailed up her body in its wake. H..
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Catherine Anderson |
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8532ca0
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Hunter's name drifted to him on the wind, the call barely discernible yet shrill, like the whisper of a lost soul searching for solace. He reined his stallion to a halt, bracing himself against the sound, teeth clenched, eyes closed, his trapped breath searing his throat. His woman still called for him.
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Catherine Anderson |
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c2bd71f
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Hunter's mother stood over him, wringing her hands, while he gathered his gear to ride out. "My , your anger burns too hot. I fear for your woman when you find her." His body tense, Hunter strode past his mother to his horse. "She has dishonored me." "She does not know our ways. Is it a dishonor amongst her people to leave her husband?" Hunter slung his bags over his stallion's back, securing them to the surcingle. "It is a dishonor here."..
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Catherine Anderson |
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9fe10c0
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Why is my father not here? I will tell you why. He knows she scattered the horses of every man in the village, leaving us defenseless against an attack. He knows she left without permission. He knows she has dishonored me! He sits in his lodge and says it is sure enough a good thing if I find her and beat her." "He sits in his lodge because he has old knees that ache."
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Catherine Anderson |
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4f8e4c0
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Henry jerked up his left suspender and raked his hand through his hair, looking at the hole Rachel had shot in the puncheon. "What in hell you gonna tell people happened to your floor, missy?" Rachel smiled. "Why, I'll tell them how quick you got in and fixed it, Henry. We can't have holes in the floor, can we?"
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Catherine Anderson |
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ba661bf
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The horses have all been found. No harm was done." "It took us two days to gather them! On foot! I will never hear the last of it!"
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Catherine Anderson |
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b1177b5
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It took us two days to gather them! On foot! I will never hear the last of it! You call that no harm? Whatever punishment I choose, my woman deserves it, and more. Name me one woman you know who has run away from her husband. Just one, , and I will cool my anger.
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Catherine Anderson |
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cf36826
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Lances, leaning like drunken soldiers standing guard, lined the perimeter of the property, feathers fluttering, their slender shafts black lines in the moonlight. Henry had learned his lesson after the Comancheros' visit. This time he had let the lances be. Loretta wondered which was Hunter's. If she knew, she could take it inside and keep it in the loft. The child might never have anything else. Tipping her head back, she studied the moo..
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Catherine Anderson |
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d1fe4af
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We can't tarry. Let's gather food and light out." "Without seein' Ma?" "There isn't time." "I'm not leavin' until I see my ma. It's not me Hunter's after!" "He'll snatch you back all the same! He has crazy ideas about family when he marries up with a body. The way he figures, you belong to him now. He doesn't think Uncle Henry watches after you proper." "He reckons right. Pa don't watch after nobody but Pa."
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Catherine Anderson |
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4911644
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Hunter, why did you tie me to stakes again tonight? How long do you plan to do that?" "Until my touch is carved in your heart."
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Catherine Anderson |
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3d1e577
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Do we have to tell him right now?" "Honey, if you go to upchucking of a morning before you can reach the privacy, he's gonna know anyway. May as well light his fuse when we're expecting the explosion."
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Catherine Anderson |
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5d49bca
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Hunter, I have no brothers. are my brother. My wife is dead. My child is dead. My parents are dead. Must I lose another to the ?" Hunter took a deep, jagged breath and slowly exhaled. "Red Buffalo, when my woman takes your hand in friendship, you are welcome in my lodge. Until then, walk a road of sorrow. It is the path you chose." "I never chose to walk apart from you, never." Though it took all his strength of will to do it, Hunter bru..
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Catherine Anderson |
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ad62f98
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I will go wherever the Great Ones lead me," Hunter whispered. "You know I will. It's just that I can't see the path they want me to follow. There is no one to lead me." "The path will be there. When you turn your face westward you will , deep within, where to place your feet." Warrior's voice rang with certainty. "I would ask one thing of you, Ride beside me one last time into battle. It will be our final memory of each other, yes?" Once..
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Catherine Anderson |
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cc0396d
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It is not the way of a Comanche to beat his woman," he rasped. "Just as it is not his way to let her go away from him."
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Catherine Anderson |
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74b62b4
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Do you love me, Hunter? Truly love me?" "I have great love for you." "Then take me away from here," she whispered raggedly. "It's the only way for us to have a future together. The only way. Please think about it? If you love me, love me, you won't torture me like this." The words of the prophecy returned to haunt Hunter. Lifting his hand, he touched Loretta's braid and lost himself in the fascinating azure depths of her gaze. As the song..
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Catherine Anderson |
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e9f617a
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You know, I should start thinking on names. I have to be over two months gone. A name is important. Especially for this baby." "Why especially this one?" Rachel asked, looking up from the bread she was kneading. "Names are important for everybody." Loretta sighed. "Well, with Hunter as the father, I have to think of names he'd approve of." "You call that child Running Water and I'll disown you." --
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Catherine Anderson |
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8e7e3c5
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To Loretta's dismay, the closer they got to her home, the less anxious she was to get there. The time passed too quickly. At dust the next day they stopped for the night at the base of Whiskey Mountain. During the trip, the men had collected slender willow limbs, and they now sat in small groups to make lances, each of which was marked with the maker's feathers. Loretta was at first alarmed, but after Hunter assured her they had no intentio..
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Catherine Anderson |
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c4cf448
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What do your feathers say?" "They have my mark. And tell a little bit my life song." His full lower lip quirked in a grin. "My marks say I am a fine fellow--a good lover, a good hunter, with a mighty arm to shield a little yellow-hair." She hugged her knees and grinned back at him. "I bet your marks say you're a fierce warrior, and yellow-hairs should beware."
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Catherine Anderson |
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7ea5c64
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What do your feathers say?" "They have my mark. And tell a little bit my life song." His full lower lip quirked in a grin. "My marks say I am a fine fellow--a good lover, a good hunter, with a mighty arm to shield a little yellow-hair." She hugged her knees and grinned back at him. "I bet your marks say you're a fierce warrior, and yellow-hairs should beware." He shrugged. "I fight the big fight for my people. This is bad?" Loretta grabbed ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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9760d42
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A-are you going on a raid tomorrow after you take me home?" He glanced up from his work. "With this? His dark eyes filled with laughter as he peered along the crooked shaft of the lance. "Blue Eyes, a crooked such as this would kill my friend beside me."
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Catherine Anderson |
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d972774
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A-are you going on a raid tomorrow after you take me home?" He glanced up from his work. "With this? His dark eyes filled with laughter as he peered along the crooked shaft of the lance. "Blue Eyes, a crooked such as this would kill my friend beside me. This will say , hello, my friend." "To who?" "To all who pass. You will see, eh?" "You're sure you aren't planning to attack my home?" "No fight. You will be easy." After his lance was ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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4a0a050
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You will tell your sons and daughters about me, yes?" Hunter wished he could weep, but the tears were dammed behind his lids, aching and burning. "Yes. And you will tell yours of me?" "I will tell them." Warrior's voice cracked. "Of you and your golden one and the song that led you west. Love her well, The days together are brief." "Yes." Hunter knew Warrior was thinking of Maiden of the Tall Grass. In a husky voice, he added, "Far too br..
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Catherine Anderson |
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f99e5c9
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There's something I've been meaning to talk with you about. Bright Star wants you to notice her." "Bright Star?" An incredulous expression crossed Red Buffalo's scarred face. "Wanting ? You are , cousin." "It is so. If you're interested in her, you'd better claim her before someone else does. She's very lovely." "Yes," Red Buffalo said rather dazedly. "You talking about your woman's sister?" Hunter laughed. "She's too shy to approach yo..
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Catherine Anderson |
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cbf4eea
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This was it, the last time they would ever eat together beside a fire. It was insane to feel sad, but she did. Soon after they finished eating, they arranged their respective beds near the dying fire and retired for the night. Loretta lay on her back, gazing at the stars. Hardly more than an arm's reach away, Hunter slept. At least she guessed he was asleep. She never knew for sure. He could be still as death one minute and on his feet, w..
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Catherine Anderson |
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47c9c50
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Loretta leaped and opened her eyes. Hunter knelt beside her, a dark shadow against the blue-black, starlit sky. "You weep?" "No--yes." Her voice came out in a squeak. "I'm just feeling sad, that's all." He sat down beside her and hugged his knees, gazing off into the endless darkness. "You will stay beside me?"
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Catherine Anderson |
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cc3de29
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I was just thinking. Once I get home, we'll be enemies again. My people would shoot you if you ever came around. And that--" She sniffed and swiped at her eyes. "That makes me sad. And sort of scared. What if there was an Indian attack? What if I--" She turned her head to study him. "I might look down the barrel of a rifle someday, and it might be at the other end." "I will not lift my blade against you."
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Catherine Anderson |
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8b23299
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What if there was an Indian attack? What if I--" She turned her head to study him. "I might look down the barrel of a rifle someday, and it might be at the other end." "I will not lift my blade against you." "But what if you didn't know? What if you went on a raid and I was there, fighting to protect my family and friends? What if I sighted in on some murdering savage, itchin' to blow him off his horse, and it was you?" His eyes were dark..
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Catherine Anderson |
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4474820
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If we meet in battle, I will know the song your heart sings, eh? And you will know mine.
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Catherine Anderson |
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0bd913f
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I will not lift my blade against you." "But what if you didn't know? What if you went on a raid and I was there, fighting to protect my family and friends? What if I sighted in on some murdering savage, itchin' to blow him off his horse, and it was you?" His eyes were dark pits in his face when he turned to regard her. After a long silence he said, "You would pull the trigger?" Loretta stared up at him, her chest knotted around a huge ball ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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4d2f30b
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If we meet in battle, I will know the song your heart sings, eh? And you will know mine." She swallowed, trying to read his expression, frustrated by the shadows. "What if it happened? What if you were attacking a farm, and you saw me at one of the windows? What would you do?" "I would salute you. There will be no war between us." "There war between us, though. Our people hate each other, Hunter." He sighed and peered through the gloom at..
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Catherine Anderson |
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b13e994
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What if you were attacking a farm, and you saw me at one of the windows? What would you do?" "I would salute you. There will be no war between us."
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Catherine Anderson |
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c6e4401
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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."
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Catherine Anderson |
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49a2d6b
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Are you sad? About saying good-bye tomorrow?" "No. You will ride in a great circle back to me. The Great Ones have spoken it." "In your song?" She sniffed. "That song has caused me enough grief." He tightened his arm and drew her closer, "Sleep, This last time, at my side."
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Catherine Anderson |
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cfbeddd
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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 glad to have him there, her mind shying away from the enormity of what that meant. He rolled onto his side and laid an arm across her waist. Their faces were scant inches apart. Their gazes locked. His teeth gleamed again in a slow smi..
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Catherine Anderson |
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fbcdf56
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Sleep, This last time, at my side.
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Catherine Anderson |
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82a77ec
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This stallion says , how are you, my friend." He ran a muscular arm around the black's neck, moving in close to his shoulder. "He is son to my friend who is dead. Breathe into him so he will know your smell and remember with no horizon." The thought of kissing a horse wasn't particularly appealing, but after witnessing the Comanche's rapport with his other stallion, she couldn't argue that he knew better than she how to communicate with th..
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Catherine Anderson |
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df6a31f
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You like?" "I--um, yes, he's wonderful. His left ear isn't notched like so many of the others. Why is that?" "The notched ear says a horse is gentled. He is not. If another puts hands upon him, he fights the big fight." "Then how can I ride him?" "You will be his good friend. Come close." Loretta stepped back instead. "But he's wild." Tightening his hold on her hand, Hunter tugged her forward. "He is friend to me and no other, eh? He carrie..
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Catherine Anderson |
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4512387
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You will trust, eh? I have said words to him. He accepts. Lie forward along his neck and whisper your heart into his ear. Run your hands over him. Tighten your legs around him." Heart in her throat, Loretta did as he told her. She whispered, "Please, horse, don't get mad and kill me." The stallion nickered and sniffed her bare foot, the whites of his eyes rolling. Hunter chuckled. "He smells your fear and asks if there is danger, eh? He sho..
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Catherine Anderson |
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9be5a2d
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Let him carry you, eh? Whisper to him. Teach him your hands bring no pain--only good things. He will find sweet grass and listen." "He's so beautiful, Hunter." "Say this to him." Loretta did. The stallion flickered his ears and nickered. While he grazed, she petted him. Just when she began to feel confident, Hunter lifted her off his back. When he took the stallion's line from her, he captured her hand as well, his long fingers curling warm..
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Catherine Anderson |
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7ef9dad
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You wish to go?" His jaw felt hard and warm. "I--yes, I wish to go." He moved her hand from his cheek to his chest, forcing her palm flat against the vibrant muscle of one breast. His eyes held hers, relentless and piercing. Loretta yearned to move away but knew she had little hope of breaking his hold. She could feel his heart thumping, a steady, sturdy beat in contrast with the uneven flutter of hers. "You will walk backward in your foots..
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Catherine Anderson |