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094849a
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Rosebud. Aren't you lovely.
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Catherine Anderson |
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40aedba
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I have tried everything, Father. I've been kind to her. I've promised my strong arm will be hers forever into the horizon, until I am dust in the wind. And I've tried bargaining with her." "What bargains?" Hunter shot a wary glance toward the shadows, where his mother sat listening. "After my mother left the lodge, I said that perhaps I would be a tired Comanche when the moon rose if she were to eat and drink." "And if she didn't, and you w..
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Catherine Anderson |
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a009fb6
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Why bother with me? Why not find yourself an Indian woman?" "It is you I want." He brushed his knuckles along the hollow of her cheek. "Your skin is moonlight. I am dark like night next to you." He slid his hand behind her neck and drew her toward him. "Sunshine in your hair, moonlight on your skin, this Comanche's bright one, no?" "No," she replied in a raw voice. "You will eat?" "No." He bent to taste the flesh at the hollow of her throat..
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Catherine Anderson |
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629bd41
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Lie on your back and close your eyes. Let me chase your fear away. With nothing to fear, there is no need to die, eh?" "No." She tried to push him away. "No." He slipped an arm under her knees and drew her down the bed onto her back. She propped herself up on her elbows, trying to evade his lips as they nibbled their way down her neck to her collarbone. And lower. Panic welled within her. She couldn't fight him. Not when she trembled like t..
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Catherine Anderson |
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0ab0e41
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Your name, wha--what was it? Habbe what? What does it mean?" "Habbe Esa, Road to the Wolf, Hunter of the Wolf. My brother the wolf showed his face in my name dream." "Y-your name dream?" She wriggled away and shoved the heel of her hand against his chin so she could sit up. "Wh-what's a name dream?" His eyes gleamed down at her as he drew back his head. "A dream a man seeks when he becomes a warrior. In the dream, he learns his name. A woma..
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Catherine Anderson |
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6a56163
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In heaven there were supposed to be angel wings, glorious songs of praise, streets lined in gold, and fluffy pink clouds.
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Catherine Anderson |
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0192b44
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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 wives? What different did it make to her? She didn't care a whit. She ! It wasn't as if wanted him. So why was she crying? Pain welled in her throat. She picked up a pan, trying to force her thoughts onto dinner and what she should fix, but vi..
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Catherine Anderson |
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e9ac101
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The moment Hunter stepped into the lodge, Loretta swiped the tears from her cheeks and began clanging pots so loudly that her ears rang. Perverse though it was, she fell back on her anger to hide her hurt. Her pride wouldn't allow her to let him know how she really felt. "Blue Eyes, we must make talk," he said softly, pausing to tie the lodge flap firmly closed. "Go make talk with Bright Star," she sniped, even though that was the thing s..
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Catherine Anderson |
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abc6c70
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not being a wife to you..." Her voice trailed off into a squeak. "And I'm afraid I never can be." Hunter's guts clenched at the pain he read in her expression. He hadn't intended to hurt her, only to make her face her feelings. Why was it that no matter what he did, it was always wrong? Sitting on the edge of the bed, he leaned forward and braced his arms on his knees. "Blue Eyes, you will be a fine wife in time," he said gravely."
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Catherine Anderson |
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8565eff
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My mother, Woman with Many Robes, asks if you want to eat?" Loretta gave an emphatic shake of her head, pressing closer to his chest. In a toss-up, she chose to stay with Hunter. He leaned forward so he could look into her eyes. "You will not be afraid. My mother will crack heads. Your good friend, eh? You will trust." Loretta scanned the wall of leather-clad bodies and, for the first time, hugged her captor's arm more closely around her. T..
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Catherine Anderson |
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0cdb90e
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he whispered. "You learn quick." Raising tear-filled eyes to his, she again spat in his face. This time he felt the spray and wiped his cheek, his lips quivering with something that looked suspiciously like suppressed laughter, friendly laughter this time. "Maybe not so quick. But I am a good teacher. You will learn not to fight me, Yellow Hair. It is a promise I make for you."
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Catherine Anderson |
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c8b27cc
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Again, he thrust out his hand. "Take it, Yellow Hair, in friendship." She was afraid he might drag her onto his mount if she touched him, but his eyes compelled her. Besides, if he was set on it, he'd have his way, with or without her cooperation. She lifted a quivering arm, expecting the worst, and placed her fingers across his palm. His callused hand tightened on hers, the warmth of his grip shooting to her shoulder. "We will meet again. ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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435f911
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Less than ten minutes after they left the stream, Loretta began to nod and felt herself slumping. She jerked upright and blinked. Hunter tightened his arm around her and slipped a hand under her right knee to lift her leg over the horse's head. Gathering her against his chest, he cradled her crosswise in front of him. "Sleep, , sleep." His deep voice sifted through the exhaustion that clouded her mind. She had no idea what it meant, but ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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993709e
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The snake writhed and hissed as Hunter lifted it from the pallet. For a moment he held it aloft. Then he looked at Loretta. After what seemed an eternity, he pulled his knife, beheaded the rattler, and tossed it into the brush. Loretta knelt in the dirt, clutching her throat. The word bounced off the walls of her mind, shrill, echoing and reechoing. She had screamed... Disbelief swamped her. Surely her ears had deceived her. She couldn't ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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b8cd24f
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At last he drew her against his chest, and she clung to him as if he were about to throw her off a cliff. He wondered if that wouldn't be kinder. "You're a murderer," she sobbed. "I hate you, don't you understand? I you!" He tightened his arms around her, awash in painful memories of his own. She hate him, not anymore. That was why she cried. The blood of her people called out to her for vengeance, as his did to him. And her heart had t..
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Catherine Anderson |
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c9e8ed6
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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 her. Slipping his hand under the shirt she wore, he pressed his palm against her feverish midriff and traced the ladder of her ribs with his fingertips. She was as soft as a pelt of ermine. He could feel the rhythmic thump of her heart, the war..
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Catherine Anderson |
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e23b6c5
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If I don't take her back to her wooden walls, she will die." Hunter met his father's steady gaze across the leaping flames. "Then what will become of the prophecy? She emptied her belly of the meat broth and precious water as well. She will sure enough die if this continues." , Many Horses, drew on his pipe and blew smoke toward the peak of the lodge, then toward the ground. After taking another drag, he exhaled east, west, north, and south..
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Catherine Anderson |
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f7c2863
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Loretta turned her face against his chest, inhaling the scent of his skin, loving the blend of leather and smoke and oil that she had once found so abhorrent. When had he become so important to her?
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Catherine Anderson |
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846768e
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I have tried everything, Father. I've been kind to her. I've promised my strong arm will be hers forever into the horizon, until I am dust in the wind. And I've tried bargaining with her." "What bargains?" Hunter shot a wary glance toward the shadows, where his mother sat listening. "After my mother left the lodge, I said that perhaps I would be a tired Comanche when the moon rose if she were to eat and drink." "And if she didn't, and you w..
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Catherine Anderson |
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3fca3f4
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She has touched me. My hatred for her has gone the way of the wind. She saved my life." He quickly related the tale about the rattlesnake and how she had broken her silence to warn him. "You would prefer that she live for always away from you?" Hunter's gut contracted. In that instant he realized how much he wanted the woman beside him. "I would prefer that my eyes never again fall upon her than to see her die." His mouth twisted. "She has..
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Catherine Anderson |
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466572c
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She has touched me. My hatred for her has gone the way of the wind.
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Catherine Anderson |
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26db893
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You would prefer that she live for always away from you?" Hunter's gut contracted. In that instant he realized how much he wanted the woman beside him. "I would prefer that my eyes never again fall upon her than to see her die."
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Catherine Anderson |
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1047c12
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After the Indians departed, Rachel bolted from the cabin and wrapped her arms around Loretta. Woodenly she returned her aunt's embrace but kept her eyes on the cloud of dust that drifted toward the river, the Comanche's words echoing. Despite the heat, a clammy chill washed over her. "You're all right," Rachel crooned. "You're all right." Tightening her arms around her aunt, Loretta closed her eyes. She had stood face to face with a Coman..
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Catherine Anderson |
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23c29cb
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Come out, White-Eyes," the voice called. "I bring gifts, not bloodshed." Henry, wearing nothing but his pants and the bandages Aunt Rachel had wrapped around his chest the night before, hopped on one foot as he dragged on a boot. By the time he reached the window, he had both boots on, laces flapping. Rachel gave him a rifle. He threw open the shutter and jerked down the skin, shoving the barrel out the opening. "What brings you here?" "The..
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Catherine Anderson |
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3d09e44
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Blue Eyes, you will be a fine wife in time," he said gravely. "No, I won't." Her gaze flew to his, brimming with misery and tears. "Oh, Hunter, what's the matter with me?" Studying her small face, Hunter realized two things: he didn't want her to be like anyone else, and, right or wrong, he had to bring this torturous waiting to an end, for both their sakes. For once, his father had given poor advice. "Blue Eyes..." Hunter sighed and interl..
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Catherine Anderson |
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19622bd
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Blue Eyes..." Hunter sighed and interlaced his fingers, bending his knuckles backward, stalling because he didn't want to say the wrong thing. "Can you say words so this Comanche can see into you?" "I'm " "Ah, yes, afraid." He studied her beaded moccasins. "Because I am Comanche?" She squeezed her eyes closed. "It isn't that, not anymore. That's just an excuse!" Cautiously Hunter asked, "Then what makes your heart sad?" She bit her bottom ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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33d2e44
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I'm " "Ah, yes, afraid." He studied her beaded moccasins. "Because I am Comanche?" She squeezed her eyes closed. "It isn't that, not anymore. That's just an excuse!" Cautiously Hunter asked, "Then what makes your heart sad?" She bit her bottom lip and tipped her head back to stare at the smoke hole. After several seconds she sniffed and said, "You're a man." She looked so forlorn that Hunter had to bite back a smile."
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Catherine Anderson |
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21f3249
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Cautiously Hunter asked, "Then what makes your heart sad?" She bit her bottom lip and tipped her head back to stare at the smoke hole. After several seconds she sniffed and said, "You're a man." She looked so forlorn that Hunter had to bite back a smile."
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Catherine Anderson |
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fe093af
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You are the wife I want. One wife, for always.
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Catherine Anderson |
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184531b
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Make a picture for me, yes? So I can see what you fear." "What good will that do?" "Fear is a strong enemy. I would stand beside you."
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Catherine Anderson |
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aabcdcc
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The outcome of their battle was a foregone conclusion, and Loretta knew it. His friends encouraged him, whooping with ribald laughter each time her ruffles flashed. She snatched the dirty peace flag from the wooden shaft and threw it to the earth, grinding it beneath the heel of her shoe. After fending off several more passes, exhaustion claimed its victory, and Loretta realized the folly in fighting. She stood motionless, breasts heaving, ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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55725a3
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He wasn't sure when it had happened or how, but the small woman beside him was no longer his captive; he had become hers.
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Catherine Anderson |
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a316e04
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Hunter studied her features, once so repulsive to him, now so cherished. He ran a finger up the fragile bridge of her nose, then traced the line of her brow, acutely conscious of the small bones that shaped her face. Protectiveness welled within him.
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Catherine Anderson |
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ed2099d
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Somewhat revived by the water she had been forced to consume, Loretta sat astride the mare, suffering the confines of Hunter's arm around her waist and the familiarity of his hand on her midriff. His broad chest served as a prop for her back; soon she leaned against him, letting her body undulate with his in rhythm with the horse's gait. After about forty minutes of silence, he bent his head close to hers. " My arm is strong, no?" He hugge..
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Catherine Anderson |
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f2a284a
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You will be warm with me in my lodge? I have many buffalo robes. And plenty food. Meat, yes? And my strong arm will protect you, forever into the horizon. There is nothing to fear." He pressed his hand more firmly against her midriff. "My tongue does not make lies. It is the truth I speak, not , the honey talk, but a promise. I have spoken the words, and they are carried away on the wind to whisper to me always."
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Catherine Anderson |
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48b87a6
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You will be warm with me in my lodge? I have many buffalo robes. And plenty food. Meat, yes? And my strong arm will protect you, forever into the horizon. There is nothing to fear." He pressed his hand more firmly against her midriff. "My tongue does not make lies. It is the truth I speak, not , the honey talk, but a promise. I have spoken the words, and they are carried away on the wind to whisper to me always. You will trust? When I go a..
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Catherine Anderson |
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bfd71e4
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I'll die before I let you touch me. You hear me?" "Ah, but Blue Eyes, I tough you now." He slid his hand up her ribs and gently cupped her breast. "You see? I touch you, and you do not die. There is nothing to fear." He braced his arm against her and kept his hand firmly in place. For several seconds he held her thus. "This is what you fear? The touching?" Incredulity rang in his voice. "This is why you will not drink?" Loretta shifted, try..
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Catherine Anderson |
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059db9f
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My arm is yours to lean upon for always. Until snow comes to your hair, eh? For always, until I am dust in the wind.
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Catherine Anderson |
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3ea312c
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You have stolen my heart from me, Blue Eyes.
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Catherine Anderson |
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5ca54e7
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No more fear, eh? If I grow angry, I will bring you my mother's spoon." She sniffed and laughed. "A lot of good a spoon would be."
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Catherine Anderson |
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1507052
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His arm tightened around her shoulders. With one large hand he clasped both of hers, squeezing her fingers, rubbing as if to chase away a chill. His strength flowed into her, comforted her, warmed her. She could face anything with him holding her, she thought. Anything...even her nightmares.
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Catherine Anderson |
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25fac8a
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Oh, Hunter, I'm sorry," she said on the crest of a sob. "I didn't mean to hurt you like this. I didn't mean to hurt you." "You rip my heart out and it should not hurt?" His teeth closed on her earlobe, nipping lightly, sending shivers over her skin. "You spit upon all that I am, and it should not hurt? You abandon me, you dishonor me, and it should not hurt?" The raw emotion in his voice brought tears to her eyes. "I never intended to disho..
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Catherine Anderson |
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8e92563
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How can you not hear the song my heart sings, Blue Eyes?
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Catherine Anderson |
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2be8763
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let's go." Loretta gave Tom's neck a final hug and eased herself out of his embrace. She tried to smile at him but couldn't. Hunter seized her by the arm and drew her toward Tom's horse, which was now outfitted in Comanche riding gear. When he lifted her onto the mare's back, she wondered if he would tie her on, as he had before, and received her answer when he mounted behind her, encircling her waist with one arm. Loretta craned her neck t..
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Catherine Anderson |