Hannah Howell by Stolen Ecstasy Page A

One fell off, staggered to his feet, and awkwardly ran after his horse.
    Halting next to Leanne, who stood panting, watching her inept attackers try to regroup, Hunter grabbed her by the arm. Without a word, he yanked her up behind him. As soon as she had wrapped her arms around his waist, he headed back to camp at a gallop, Charlie and Jed quickly falling in behind him.
    When they returned to camp, he decided they should move to a more defendable position. He could not be sure just how drunk the Indians had been, nor how quickly they would sober up. Sober and suffering from the effects of drinking too much, they might decide to put right their shameful routing and reclaim the prize they had lost.
    “Don’t see why we’re running from a half dozen Injuns,” Luke complained, even as he joined the others in breaking camp.
    “That half-dozen could become a lot more.” Hunter kicked out the fire with more vigor than necessary.
    “What the hell was she doing out there anyways?”
    “She clearly has a desire to be rid of our charming company.” Hunter barely glanced at Leanne as he tied his bedroll on the back of his mount.
    “Well, if you’d let me shoot her—”
    “Shut up, Luke.”
    “I—” Leanne began in her own defense but she fell silent when Hunter’s furious gaze rested on her.
    “It would be very wise if you kept that pretty mouth shut for a while,” he said, his voice hard and cold.
    Leanne sat still and quiet on Hunter’s horse as the men finished packing up. When Hunter remounted, she cautiously put her arms around him and sighed. He was furious. She could feel it in every taut inch of his frame. He tensed his body away from hers as they rode, but when she finally let go, he grabbed her wrists and yanked her back.
    “I don’t know what you’re so testy about,” she snapped.
    “Don’t you?”
    “I can only assume it’s because I tried to escape.”
    “What a clever girl.”
    “I had every right to.”
    “Another vain attempt to clear your name?”
    “It could work.”
    “And you could end up earning someone five hundred dollars.”
    She pressed her lips together, forcing herself to shut up. She didn’t want to reveal what had really sent her running for the hills. She did not want him to know how close he was to succeeding in his seduction.
    By the time they reached a suitable camping place, it was dark. Hunter was treating Leanne like an extra saddlebag, and she was on the point of tears. She sat down by a large rock to stare blindly at the men as they saw to the horses and set up camp.
    A soft noise finally broke into her dark, confused thoughts. It was the sound of water. She realized they had stayed close to the creek. Suddenly all she could think of was having a bath. She did not think there was an inch of her that was not sweat-streaked and dusty. She grabbed her spare clothes, still tied up in the blanket, and started towards the creek. A hand on her arm put an abrupt stop to her movements.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” Hunter was not sure she had gained the sense to know how dangerous it was to go off on her own.
    “To have a bath.”
    “That’s what you told Charlie and Jed before you crept off.”
    “I did not creep off. I ran.”
    “Fine. I’m not giving you the chance to run again.”
    “I don’t intend to try it again.”
    “And I’m just supposed to take your word for that, am I?”
    “Mr. Hunter, I may be prone to acting on impulse, but I am not totally lacking in wit. I can read the signs that tell me my impulse was an unwise one. Read them and learn from them. Six drunken Indians making lewd gestures and chasing me on horseback was a very clear sign which I had no trouble understanding.”
    He stared at her for one long moment, then nodded. It might prove a mistake, but he honestly believed her. She was certainly not stupid. He was not sure, however, that a bath was such a good idea.
    “It’s not safe to swim in the dark.”
    “That fat, full