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1bd3e70
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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' hooves, she held up her hands and stared at the smears of crimson that stained her skin. The ultimate sacrifice. And he had made it without a second's hesitation, out of love for her. The pain that knowledge caused her ran too deep for tears.
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Catherine Anderson |
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cf160cd
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Where are we going?" she asked. "You will see." She cast an uneasy glance at the knife on his belt. Then her eyes trailed up his muscular torso to his face. The breeze caught his hair, pulling it back so she had an unimpeded view of his features. She had grown so accustomed to the slash on his cheek, she scarcely noticed it now. Instead she saw the proud lift of his squared chin, the high line of his cheekbones, the chiseled profile of his ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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1fc6d2d
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I have such great love for you, little one. Such great love.
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Catherine Anderson |
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4e2d69b
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We must go west. Alone, Blue Eyes, leaving all that we are behind. All those we love, your people, my people." Loretta caught his face between her hands, shaking with the intensity of her emotions. "Hunter, are my people. I'll follow you anywhere."
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Catherine Anderson |
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a828fd3
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You will go from this place with me, walk in my footsteps?" A strained silence settled between them. "Oh, yes, Hunter, yes." "Do not make a promise of it quick. We must go west. Alone, Blue Eyes, leaving all that we are behind. All those we love, your people, my people." Loretta caught his face between her hands, shaking with the intensity of her emotions. "Hunter, are my people. I'll follow you anywhere." "I do not know the way." His voi..
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Catherine Anderson |
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0a9dd14
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Red Buffalo emerged from the darkness, leading his favorite war pony. Loretta and Hunter, arms looped around one another, turned to face him. When Red Buffalo reached Loretta, he grasped her hand and curled her fingers around the horse's line. "Red Buffalo, I can't take your war pony!" This horse, she knew, was Red Buffalo's most prized possession, precision trained, his greatest edge when he rode into battle. It was a great honor he was be..
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Catherine Anderson |
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42fa202
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As Red Buffalo disappeared into the darkness, Hunter's hand, which was riding Loretta's thickened waist, tightened. He glanced down, his brows lifting in question. With a wondrous expression on his face, he placed his other palm on her slightly swollen abdomen. "Blue Eyes, what is this?" Loretta looked up at him through tears. "Our child, Hunter." His warm fingers flexed and curled protectively. A slow smile spread across his mouth. "A chil..
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Catherine Anderson |
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211b66d
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As Red Buffalo disappeared into the darkness, Hunter's hand, which was riding Loretta's thickened waist, tightened. He glanced down, his brows lifting in question. With a wondrous expression on his face, he placed his other palm on her slightly swollen abdomen. "Blue Eyes, what is this?" Loretta looked up at him through tears. "Our child, Hunter." His warm fingers flexed and curled protectively. A slow smile spread across his mouth. "A chil..
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Catherine Anderson |
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1f36025
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You will lie with me in my buffalo robes?
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Catherine Anderson |
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04a8ea1
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I swear it before God--I'll eat and I'll stay beside you, forever into the horizon." "You will not fight the great fight?" "No, I won't fight." He slipped an arm around her waist and drew her against him. "Ah, Blue Eyes, it is a good bargain this Comanche has made."
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Catherine Anderson |
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f1805d7
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Hunter spread his hand under the cloth of the woman's gown and stared at the clear outline of his fingers. As incredible as it seemed, the sun had gone right through the thin material and cooked her fair skin. Comanches sometimes got sunburned, but never like this. With a snort of disgust, he wadded the gown into a ball and tossed the useless thing on the fire. From now on he would dress the girl in leathers. The material ignited explosivel..
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Catherine Anderson |
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933fed3
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You make a God promise? You will lie with me in my buffalo robes?" Loretta closed her eyes. The words stuck in her throat. She was sacrificing her self-respect. Her own people would forever scorn her if they knew. But what choice did she have? "Yes, I'll lie with you." "You will see into me when you speak." She lifted her lashes. His eyes burned with an intensity she'd never seen before. "I'll lie with you, I swear to God." "You will not fi..
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Catherine Anderson |
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313f937
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Hunter bent his head and pressed his face against her hair. The next instant she felt his lips on her neck. She also felt his hand on her posterior. Frustrated by her high neckline and her full skirts, he made a fist in the calico. "So much Where are you, Blue Eyes?" He started to lift her dress. Loretta reached behind her and caught his hand. "Wha--what're you doin'?" He lifted his head, eyes alight with teasing mischief. "I search for m..
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Catherine Anderson |
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2d5d86a
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So much Where are you, Blue Eyes?" He started to lift her dress. Loretta reached behind her and caught his hand. "Wha--what're you doin'?" He lifted his head, eyes alight with teasing mischief. "I search for my woman. You are in there." "I'm not your woman yet. Have you no shame? It's broad daylight. People might see." "They will see you are my woman." "They'll see my drawers, that's what they'll see!"
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Catherine Anderson |
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6eb7835
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Pressing a hand to her chest, Loretta glanced down in bewilderment. She had been so sure...Laughter bubbled up her throat. Aunt Rachel had missed? She never missed when she could draw a steady bead on a still target. Loretta's throat tightened. She looked up, confusion clouding her blue eyes. He had shielded her with his own body? Waving his friends away, Hunter hunkered down and scooped a handful of dirt, pressing it to the shallow cut o..
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Catherine Anderson |
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588fc20
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You'd better keep her tied." "Why?" A yawn stretched Hunter's dark face. "Because she's looking skittish." "She's naked." Sheathing his knife, Hunter flopped on his back and shaded his eyes with one arm. "She won't run. Not without clothes. I've never seen such a bashful female." "The truss up their females in so many clothes, it would take a whole sleep just to undress one. Then they have them wear breeches under the lot. How do they man..
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Catherine Anderson |
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e47603f
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My dear child," the priest inserted, "it's not often one of these"--he threw a meaningful glance at Hunter--" offers to make an honorable woman of a captive. Wouldn't it be wise to accept?" "I'm in no need of matrimony, Father. I still my honor." Hunter jerked her to his side and, in an ominously even voice, said, "Your honor will soon go the way of the wind, Blue Eyes. You made a God promise. You are my woman! Now I say you will be my w..
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Catherine Anderson |
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417becb
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You'd better keep her tied." "Why?" A yawn stretched Hunter's dark face. "Because she's looking skittish." "She's naked." Sheathing his knife, Hunter flopped on his back and shaded his eyes with one arm. "She won't run. Not without clothes. I've never seen such a bashful female." "The truss up their females in so many clothes, it would take a whole sleep just to undress one. Then they have them wear breeches under the lot. How do they man..
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Catherine Anderson |
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1f8eef9
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With the tip of his tongue, he outlined her ear. " " The words came out so slurred, she doubted he even knew he was saying them. "Prairie flower," he muttered, "in springtime."
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Catherine Anderson |
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4de94ee
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Held captive now by more than bonds and strength of arm, she turned her face to study his, fascinated by the sleepy innocence that clouded his half-closed eyes. The merciless killer was gone, replaced by a drowsy, mischievous boy who stroked her as if she were a newly acquired pet. A slow smile curved his mouth, a dreamy smile that told her he was more asleep than awake. He moved closer to whisper something unintelligible against her cheek...
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Catherine Anderson |
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c746d42
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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..
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Catherine Anderson |
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1ffa963
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Loretta's shoulders slumped in defeat. With numb hands she lowered the rifle to the dirt. A nasty grin twisted Hunter's mouth. "So it is a trade? You are my woman?" For once, she was glad she couldn't talk. "You can make sign language, " His eyes locked with hers, glinting, watchful. Amy cried, "No, Loretta, no, don't do it!" Lifting an eyebrow, the Comanche waited. The tension mounted, reminding Loretta of the lull right before a storm, t..
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Catherine Anderson |
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32e1f93
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Loretta's shoulders slumped in defeat. With numb hands she lowered the rifle to the dirt. A nasty grin twisted Hunter's mouth. "So it is a trade? You are my woman?" For once, she was glad she couldn't talk. "You can make sign language, " His eyes locked with hers, glinting, watchful. Amy cried, "No, Loretta, no, don't do it!" Lifting an eyebrow, the Comanche waited. The tension mounted, reminding Loretta of the lull right before a storm, t..
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Catherine Anderson |
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af2c3d0
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he said softly. She turned her head to find that he was sniffing her hair, his expression quizzical. The moment their eyes met, her insides tightened. Up close, his face seemed even harsher than it had the night before, features chiseled, lips narrowed to an uncompromising line, his skin baked brown by the sun. She could see in minute detail the tiny cracks in his grease paint, the thick sweep of his lashes, the knife scar that slashed his ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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e665196
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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 hesitation, his attention lingering on whatever drew his interest. When he traced her collarbone with a fingertip and gave her arm a squeeze, she felt like a head of beef at auction. "You are too skinny. Your father should feed you more." Catc..
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Catherine Anderson |
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c776e5e
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You do not spit when your sister may suffer my wrath. I should keep her, I think. She is a brave warrior, no?" Loretta's heart caught. Her eyes flew to Amy. She should have shot the child while she had the chance. "Ah, but I have said she will go back to her mother, no? And you have said you are my woman." Tightening his grip on her breast, he leaned forward and brought his mouth so close to her ear that shivers raced down her spine. "You..
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Catherine Anderson |
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b78086d
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They would find their way west, just as the prophecy had foretold. She they would. The Comanche nation was doomed. There was no stopping the tide of white settlers that washed over their land. An entire race of people would eventually be conquered and all but destroyed. She and Hunter were like a seed floating on the wind. Somehow, somewhere, they would find a fertile place, where they could put down roots and grow strong. Through them, t..
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Catherine Anderson |
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424a127
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Within her grew a child, both and Comanche, the child of the great warrior with indigo eyes and his honey-haired maiden. A child who brought new hope for the People and tomorrow.
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Catherine Anderson |
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d31b5ab
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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 in a snare--awaiting the trapper and certain death. The sun burned through her closed eyelids, red and hot. Loretta heard Hunter walk a short distance away, heard him murmur something. His stallion nickered in response. She lifted her lashes an..
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Catherine Anderson |
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4b72b25
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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 in a snare--awaiting the trapper and certain death. The sun burned through her closed eyelids, red and hot. Loretta heard Hunter walk a short distance away, heard him murmur something. His stallion nickered in response. She lifted her lashes an..
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Catherine Anderson |
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5eadcc7
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Bear fat for the burn. You will lie on your face." Their gazes locked, laughter still shimmering in his. Seconds dragged by, measured by the wild thumping of her heart. He wanted to rub her down? Oh, God, what was she going to do? She clutched the fur more tightly. Hunter shrugged as if her defiance bothered him not at all and tossed down the pouch. "You are sure enough not smart, Blue Eyes. You will lie on your face," he said softly. "Don'..
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Catherine Anderson |
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c790120
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Where, that was the question. And Hunter had no answers. West, as the prophecy foretold? Into the great mountain ranges? The thought frightened him. He had been raised in open spaces, able to see into tomorrow, with the north wind whispering, the grass waving, the buffalo plentiful. What would he hunt? And how? He wouldn't know what roots and nuts to gather. He wouldn't know which plants made good medicine, which bad. Did he dare take a wom..
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Catherine Anderson |
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01fb178
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When the shot rang out, she jerked as if the ball had plowed into her own body. The blast echoed and reechoed, loud and reverberating, punctuating her worst fear with a cutting finality. Running, running. She saw only Hunter, sitting on his horse one second, beautiful and proud, then thrown forward, as if a mighty hand had slammed into his back. He pitched sideways off his horse. Falling, falling, forever falling. Hunter, shot. Loretta coul..
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Catherine Anderson |
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28ebf03
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Loretta reached him and dropped to her knees, trying to gather him into her arms. She couldn't lift him. A tortured moan worked its way up her throat. With a trembling hand, she cupped the side of his jaw, sobbing his name. She touched the scar that slashed his cheek, the lifeless lips that had so frequently whispered comfort to her. If her face was carved on his heart, his was carved on her soul. "Don't die! Hunter, please, don't d..
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Catherine Anderson |
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a0d732d
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When he tried to picture what his life would be like without her, he saw only emptiness. She to believe him. Afraid as he had never been, he reached out to her, his hand palm up and open. For an endless moment she stared at his outstretched fingers; then, with a strangled cry, she ran toward him. As her hand met his, Hunter caught her slight form to his chest with his uninjured arm and hugged her until he feared her bones might break. . ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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1e319cc
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I have such great love for you, little one. Such great love." "I love you just as much, Hunter. I thought I'd die when you left me." "You will go from this place with me, walk in my footsteps?" A strained silence settled between them. "Oh, yes, Hunter, yes." "Do not make a promise of it quick. We must go west. Alone, Blue Eyes, leaving all that we are behind. All those we love, your people, my people." Loretta caught his face between her ha..
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Catherine Anderson |
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8521234
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Hunter gazed at the horizon for a moment. Loretta's voice kept whispering to him. Hunter wasn't sure why finding Amy had become so important to him, and he didn't care to analyze his feelings. Was his aim to cement a bargain with a woman he had already bought? Why must he pay twice to possess her? Was her happiness so important to him that he was willing to risk his life and those of his friends to chase the shadows from her eyes? The ques..
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Catherine Anderson |
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529ebc2
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We must go west. Alone, Blue Eyes, leaving all that we are behind. All those we love, your people, my people." Loretta caught his face between her hands, shaking with the intensity of her emotions. "Hunter, are my people. I'll follow you anywhere." "I do not know the way." His voice was gravelly, the words he spoke halting. Admitting his own vulnerability didn't come easily. But this was no time for pride. If Loretta chose to follow him, ..
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Catherine Anderson |
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e9fe9b8
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Loretta encircled his waist with her arms and pressed her cheek against his chest, inhaling the scent of his skin, loving it. Her gaze settled on the gigantic moon that shone down on them. "You aren't lost, Hunter. The words in your song will guide you. And when you falter, your Great Ones will lead you--to the place we're meant to find. We will sing the People's songs to our children. The Comanche and will live as one forever. Don't yo..
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Catherine Anderson |
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1de212d
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You aren't lost, Hunter. The words in your song will guide you. And when you falter, your Great Ones will lead you--to the place we're meant to find. We will sing the People's songs to our children. The Comanche and will live as one forever. Don't you see? You and I are the beginning." She arched her back to see into his eyes. "Hunter and his yellow-hair, together as one."
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Catherine Anderson |
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516a113
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No brave he knew had a woman such as this.
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Catherine Anderson |
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6ba68bd
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That night after supper, Loretta sat by the fire, using an overturned bucket as a stool, a mug of gritty coffee cupped in her palms, her gaze fixed sightlessly on the shifting flames. The other women around the fire spoke infrequently, some, Loretta guessed, because they were afraid of another Indian attack, others undoubtedly because they resented her presence and wanted to make sure she knew it. After the spectacle she had made of herse..
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Catherine Anderson |
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283c4ae
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A coyote wailed, the sound sending a shiver up Loretta's spine. She cocked an ear, listening. "I hope that's what it sounds like and not an Injun," Mrs. Cortwell whispered. "It's likely a coyote," Mrs. Spangler replied. "Look at that there moon, would ya? Of course, it's a good moon for killin', too. A Comanche moon, my man calls it." The fire popped, and Mrs. Shaney leaped. "Lawzy, my nerves is frayed." The coyote yipped again, his cry tra..
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Catherine Anderson |
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f6a433c
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If her face was carved on his heart, his was carved on her soul.
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Catherine Anderson |