Read Ride the Fire for Free Online

closed his eyes, fought to subdue the slick current of panic that slid up from his belly, caught in his throat.
    She is not Lyda. This is not the Wyandot village.

    His heartbeat slowed. The panic subsided, left white-hot rage in its wake.
    “Why did you do this? I told you I meant you no harm!” He craned his neck, saw that she stood before the fire, ladling liquid into a tin cup, a brown knitted shawl around her shoulders.
    “Is that no’ what the wolf always says to the lamb?” She carried the cup to the bed, sat. “Drink. It will help to replenish your blood. Careful. Tis hot.”
    Tantalized by the smell of the broth and suddenly aching with thirst, Nicholas bit back the curse that sat on his tongue. He drank.
    Bethie held the cup to his lips, watched as he swallowed the broth, her heart still racing. For one terrible moment, she’d feared the ropes would break or come loose. She’d known he would be angry with her, but she hadn’t expected him to try to rip the bed apart.
    Truth be told, she feared him despite the ropes. Although he’d given up for the moment, she could feel the fury coiled inside him. She could see it in the rippling tension of his body, in his clenched fists, in the unforgiving glare in his eyes. He made her think of a caged cougar—spitting angry and untamed. He was not used to being bested. The arrogant brute! Did he imagine she would grant him warm hospitality after the way he’d treated her? It served him right to be bound and helpless!
    As if a man of his strength were ever truly helpless. Her gaze traveled the length of him as it had done many times while he’d slept, and she found her eyes focused of their own will on the rounded muscles of his buttocks where the butter-soft leather clung so tightly.
    Mortified, she jerked her gaze away, felt heat rise in her cheeks. Her stepfather had always said she was possessed of a sinful nature.
    “More.” His boorish command interrupted her thoughts.
    He glowered at her through eyes of slate.
    “Aye.” She stood, hurried to the fireplace, ladled more broth into the cup, uncomfortably aware that he was watching her.
    “How long do you intend to keep me a prisoner?” His voice was rough, full of repressed rage.
    She walked back to the bed, sat, and feigned a calm she did not feel.
    “ Tis your own fault you lie bound. You cannae be expectin’ to be treated as a guest when you behaved like a felon. Drink.”
    He pulled his head away, his gaze hard upon her, held up the ropes that bound his wrists.
    “This isn’t necessary.”
    “You threatened me, held your pistol to my head, forced me to do your will and admitted to killin’ two men. Do you truly expect me to trust you?”
    He frowned, his dark brows pensive. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
    “As I recollect, you seemed quite bent on frightenin’ me.”
    “I didn’t have time for social graces. My need was dire.”
    “So is mine!” She stood in a surge of temper, met his gaze. “I cannae risk you regainin’ your strength and then, when you no longer need my help, hurtin’ me or my baby or takin’ what is ours and leavin’ us in the cold to starve! I dinnae even know your name!”
    For a moment he said nothing. “Kenleigh. Nicholas Kenleigh.”
    She repeated his name aloud.
    “Now that we’ve exchanged pleasantries, Mistress Stewart, you will release me.”
    “Nay, Master Kenleigh. I willna—no’ just yet.” She lifted her chin. “You’ll stay as you are till I’m certain you pose no threat to me and my baby.”
    He gave a snort. “And how will you determine that?”
    “Drink.” She held the cup once more to his lips.
    “Perhaps I shall have you swear an oath, a bindin’ oath.”
    He drained the cup, looked up at her. “And if I am a murdering liar, a man with no honor, the sort of man who would harm a woman ripe with child, how would this oath prevent me from doing whatever I want the moment you cut me free!’ Bethie stood, walked back to the