Read Online Savage Hero by Cassie Edwards - Free Book Online Page A

A slow smile curved his lips. “You look like a starved wolf pup.”
    â€œThanks for the compliment,” Mary Beth said, then raked her fingers through her long auburn hair in an effort to remove the witches’ knots.
    When she had combed out the tangles, she dropped her hands to her sides.
    She eyed Brave Wolf in wonder when he took another thong from where he had stuffed it inside his waistband, then stepped closer to her.
    â€œTurn around,” he said softly.
    â€œWhy?” Mary Beth gasped, her gaze locked with his. “Oh, no. Don’t tell me you are going to tie my wrists again. How on earth do you expect me to eat while we travel? I only have two hands.”
    â€œThe thong is not to tie your wrists, but your hair,” Brave Wolf said. He had decided not to tie her again, not unless she attempted an escape. Then he would keep her tied both day and night!
    â€œMy hair?” she asked, reaching back to lift its heaviness from her shoulders.
    â€œIf left to hang long, the sun will reflect off its brightness, and prove to any passersby that you are not Indian, whose hair is black like mine,” he said softly. “If your hair is tied and held back from your face, then less of it will be seen.”
    Mary Beth understood his logic. She nodded and turned to wait for him to place her hair in a ponytail.
    When she turned back to him, she saw such gentleness in his eyes, such genuine caring, she felt guilty for having doubted his goodness.
    Yet . . . might not that look be forced, as well, to fool her?
    She would not trust him totally just yet. He had to prove himself first.
    The growling of her stomach was a reminder toboth herself and Brave Wolf that she hadn’t eaten. She smiled awkwardly at him, and then he turned, reached down for a buckskin bag, and handed it to her.
    â€œInside you will find food, but it is best that we go to our steeds now and resume our travel,” he said. He took her by the elbow and escorted her to the same horse she’d ridden before. He lifted her onto the saddle. “Wait until we are on our way, and then eat.”
    Mary Beth nodded.
    She clung to the bag with one hand and lifted her reins with the other.
    She was glad that he hadn’t tied her wrists or ankles. He was trusting her to have more freedom.
    His trust, his long looks, his concern, told her he did care for her. Perhaps she had been wrong to mistrust him. Perhaps his intentions were good, and he would return her to her own world as soon as he could.
    She looked over her shoulder at the warriors, who were now on their steeds, then glanced down at where the fire had been burning through the night. The cooking food had dripped grease into the flames, emitting tantalizing aromas that even now made her mouth water.
    The fire was out. Dirt had been kicked over the fire pit to make it look as though no fire had burned there. The blankets were rolled up and tied on the horses. They were ready to set out again.
    They rode across level land and hollow hills.White antelope lifted their heads above the grass as they rode past. The mountain slope was now not far away.
    Finally able to eat, Mary Beth nibbled the meat from the bones of what she surmised was a roasted rabbit. At last her belly seemed comfortably full again. She hoped this meal would last her until Brave Wolf saw the need to stop and eat again.
    She was sure he would not stop again for hours. She dreaded the long day which lay ahead of her.
    The sun was now up and getting warmer by the minute. Back in Kentucky, this season would be called Indian summer.
    She gazed heavenward and sighed when she saw golden eagles soaring above her, their wings spread wide. When they were lost to sight, she looked back at the ground. The remains of the rain lay in puddles where there was no grass.
    The horses splashed through them and loped onward.
    Suddenly Mary Beth stiffened. Fear raced through her as she heard the loud, distinctive roar of a