Read Challenge for Free Online Page A

her steed, reaching inside
the saddlebag to retrieve a speckled cake and the wooden comb she
used on the horse’s mane. She rubbed the crude soap between her
hands until the suds were thick, and spread the lather everywhere,
her hands spiraling over her rump, belly, and breasts. Without
thinking, the Wanderer stared until he noticed the tense line of
her shoulders. Then he looked away before she caught him watching
her again.
    Returning to his task, he rinsed the
garments and laid them along the ledge. The dark cloud floating
downstream made him grimace. Sitting on a wide flat stone beside
his clothes, he worked up the lather in his hair, using the suds to
massage his legs and feet until his skin tingled. Then he breathed
in and fell headfirst into the pool. He loved that moment best. The
earth and sweat lifted, making him lighter before he came up for
air, the remains of his lather swirling at the mouth before flowing
downstream.
    The girl was still turned away. Her hands
works through her hair thickened with soap. While she was occupied,
the Wanderer admired the lines of her back. Her sides tapered
before swelling into her rump. Before his gaze rested on her too
long, the Wanderer dove underwater, swimming to the other side of
the pool before taking a breath. Then he floated on his back,
kicking his legs to return while pushing his fingers through the
thicker snarls in his hair. He opened the other bottle and
sprinkled several drops in his hands, working the oil into his
scalp. After several minutes, his fingers ran smooth through the
heavy curls.
    Once he was done, the Wanderer saw the girl
struggling with the comb. He looked at the bottle and then at her,
reluctant to share his oil. But her skin was luminous and rivulets
of water trickled down her spine. Then he heard the muffled ripping
of hair and winced.
    “ I have something that can
help you with that.”
    The Wanderer spoke without thinking. The
girl didn’t even react, keeping her back to him. But his body was
treacherous, his hand reaching for the bottle and his legs striding
to where she stood. The girl started when he pressed the cool glass
in the crux of her arm and shoulder. Then she turned her head,
glancing at the bottle before peering at the Wanderer with a glint
of cold amusement in her eyes. In that moment, he despised
himself.
    “ Go on and try some,” he
said. “You only need a bit.”
    Her wide mouth curved upwards and a hint of
mischief came into her eyes. She shifted her gaze slowly between
the bottle and the Wanderer. Then the girl pulled the comb from her
hair and held it out.
    The Wanderer stared at the instrument. The
wide handle was grasped between her fingers, the blunt teeth
pointing to the sky. His blood quickened in his veins and his heart
pounded. He knew the girl was tormenting him on a whim, taunting
him with the temptation of possibility. But he still accepted the
comb. The girl turned and swept her hair down her back.
    He stepped close. A soft heat wafted from
her, teasing along his skin and shooting through his hand when he
reached for the small of her back. She tensed when the Wanderer
touched her, but he still brought his other arm across her
shoulders to guide her down to the water. He leaned her back and
ran his fingers through the floating strands, relaxing as many
gnarls as he could. Her body offered no resistance when he pulled
her up, bringing her to the ledge to sit before him, his legs
embracing hers.
    He spread a dollop between his palms before
fanning his hands through her scalp. With slow twirling motions, he
worked the oil down the length of her hair. The girl shivered
whenever his fingers brushed her skin, but she didn’t pull away.
The Wanderer made several passes with his hands before switching to
the comb.
    Then he gathered the lower length of hair
with one hand and tugged gently through the tangles with the other,
the strands giving way a little at a time. He combed through with
several clean strokes, and moved