Read Online Raven and the Cowboy: A Loveswept Historical Romance by Sandra Chastain - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sandra Chastain
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Indian.”
“Alexander? You have a real last name? That means you have a regular family somewhere.”
She didn’t answer.
“You have a saddlebag full of regular clothes and you’re dressed in buckskin riding alone through the mountains in search of a treasure? I don’t understand.”
Raven didn’t know how to explain. She closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m so tired.”
“I’m sorry, Raven. We were so concerned about Luce we haven’t looked after your wound. Do you have any more of that brew?”
“You mean the medicine water? Yes, a little.”
Holding up the dainty petticoat, Tucker gave her a look that said he liked the feel of the undergarment he was holding. She didn’t have to be told that he thought she was lying about her purpose.
“What are you going to do?” she asked, her face flaming. Her skin felt hot, as if his hands were touching her instead of the cotton fabric.
“I’m going to do unto you as you’ve done unto others.” He ripped a piece from the skirt and wet it. Next he removed the thong from her braid and let it twist free.
“You don’t have to unbraid my hair,” she protested.
“I know. I just want to see it loose.” He threaded his fingertips into the thick black hair and worked them up her scalp until he reached the place behind her ear where she’d hit her head.
“I’ll see to it.” She winced as he touched the wound.
“You need stitches, but damned if I can do it.”
“Please. Stop!”
“Quit sidling away from me. I’m just trying to clean it.” His fingers separated her hair strand by strand.
Beneath his touch, Raven began to respond to the feel of his fingers. Like hot sand against her skin, the man was absorbing her tension and replacing it with an awareness she couldn’t fight.
When he finally reached the wound, she was smoldering, drawn so tightly that she was ready to flare up like the crackling fire he’d built.
“Really, I’ll be fine.” Her throat was so dry that she could barely speak. She cast her eyes at the floor, afraid that if he could see them he’d recognize her confusion. Both of them knew that it wasn’t the wound that had coiled her senses to a knifelike edge, but his nearness. Whenever he came close to her, her heart raced and her knees felt like trembling leaves in a desert wind. The connection between them was intensifying, and it was more than just a spiritual joining. It was physical as well.
The big tawny man didn’t seem to be having an easy time of it either. She’d already determined that as strong and courageous as he was, he was a man who kept his personal feelings hidden deep inside. He was strung as taut as the skin pulled across the head of a drum, yet one fingertip caressed the curve of her cheek.
“Don’t. We—I have to see to Luce.” Her words told him to move away, but he had to be the one to move, for she felt as if all the resistance had drained from her body.
“Be still, Raven. Let me do this for you, please.”
Gently he cleaned the wound, surprised to see that it was already beginning to heal. “Whoever you are, you’re some remarkable woman. Don’t try to explain now. I’m willing to wait.”
“Thank you.” She had no answers now. The time wasn’t right. All she knew for sure was that the feeling between them was too strong. Drawing on every ounce of her strength, she reached up and removed his hand. Then, rising, she turned to him.
“Tucker Farrell, you are here for a reason, just as I am, just as Luce is. Luce has protected the treasure. I must find it and use it for my people. You’re the protector and for your help you will be rewarded. Until we reach our goal, we must avoid anything that might interfere. Now, go and see to the horses while I prepare food.”
“Food, yes. That’s one of the things I need,” he agreed, turning toward the door. But she knew that wasn’t the only hunger he felt, and she wondered how long she could maintain the barrier between them, the barrier
“Alexander? You have a real last name? That means you have a regular family somewhere.”
She didn’t answer.
“You have a saddlebag full of regular clothes and you’re dressed in buckskin riding alone through the mountains in search of a treasure? I don’t understand.”
Raven didn’t know how to explain. She closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m so tired.”
“I’m sorry, Raven. We were so concerned about Luce we haven’t looked after your wound. Do you have any more of that brew?”
“You mean the medicine water? Yes, a little.”
Holding up the dainty petticoat, Tucker gave her a look that said he liked the feel of the undergarment he was holding. She didn’t have to be told that he thought she was lying about her purpose.
“What are you going to do?” she asked, her face flaming. Her skin felt hot, as if his hands were touching her instead of the cotton fabric.
“I’m going to do unto you as you’ve done unto others.” He ripped a piece from the skirt and wet it. Next he removed the thong from her braid and let it twist free.
“You don’t have to unbraid my hair,” she protested.
“I know. I just want to see it loose.” He threaded his fingertips into the thick black hair and worked them up her scalp until he reached the place behind her ear where she’d hit her head.
“I’ll see to it.” She winced as he touched the wound.
“You need stitches, but damned if I can do it.”
“Please. Stop!”
“Quit sidling away from me. I’m just trying to clean it.” His fingers separated her hair strand by strand.
Beneath his touch, Raven began to respond to the feel of his fingers. Like hot sand against her skin, the man was absorbing her tension and replacing it with an awareness she couldn’t fight.
When he finally reached the wound, she was smoldering, drawn so tightly that she was ready to flare up like the crackling fire he’d built.
“Really, I’ll be fine.” Her throat was so dry that she could barely speak. She cast her eyes at the floor, afraid that if he could see them he’d recognize her confusion. Both of them knew that it wasn’t the wound that had coiled her senses to a knifelike edge, but his nearness. Whenever he came close to her, her heart raced and her knees felt like trembling leaves in a desert wind. The connection between them was intensifying, and it was more than just a spiritual joining. It was physical as well.
The big tawny man didn’t seem to be having an easy time of it either. She’d already determined that as strong and courageous as he was, he was a man who kept his personal feelings hidden deep inside. He was strung as taut as the skin pulled across the head of a drum, yet one fingertip caressed the curve of her cheek.
“Don’t. We—I have to see to Luce.” Her words told him to move away, but he had to be the one to move, for she felt as if all the resistance had drained from her body.
“Be still, Raven. Let me do this for you, please.”
Gently he cleaned the wound, surprised to see that it was already beginning to heal. “Whoever you are, you’re some remarkable woman. Don’t try to explain now. I’m willing to wait.”
“Thank you.” She had no answers now. The time wasn’t right. All she knew for sure was that the feeling between them was too strong. Drawing on every ounce of her strength, she reached up and removed his hand. Then, rising, she turned to him.
“Tucker Farrell, you are here for a reason, just as I am, just as Luce is. Luce has protected the treasure. I must find it and use it for my people. You’re the protector and for your help you will be rewarded. Until we reach our goal, we must avoid anything that might interfere. Now, go and see to the horses while I prepare food.”
“Food, yes. That’s one of the things I need,” he agreed, turning toward the door. But she knew that wasn’t the only hunger he felt, and she wondered how long she could maintain the barrier between them, the barrier
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