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shirt, she wrapped the bands of cloth tightly around her chest, flattening her breasts. Carly tucked the end of the strip beneath the layers. She eyed her handiwork critically, then pulled the red garment back over her head. Holding her breath, she looked down at her torso.
    It worked. With her breasts bound, she resembled a young boy. The shirt was large enough to hide the strips of cloth underneath. She almost laughed aloud with relief. After so much bad luck lately, it seemed things might actually be turning in her favor.
    Grabbing the old hat, she hurried back to the campsite. A delicious aroma met her as she entered the clearing. With a large knife, the man cut a hunk of meat from the cooking rabbit and tossed it on a tin plate.
    “Eat up if you’re going to. We need to get moving.”
    Carly waited to see if he noticed anything about her appearance. The man barely gave her a second glance as he cut himself a chunk of the tender meat. He juggled it gently between his fingers, blowing on the morsel to cool it. After popping the bite in his mouth, he reached for the canteen, then pointed his long knife at her plate and a battered tin cup of water. They rested on the boulder she’d occupied earlier.
    Her stomach rumbled loudly, urging her feet forward. She pushed the image of the skinned carcass from her mind as she reached for the plate. Tentatively, she lifted the steaming meat to her mouth. Taking a small bite, she braced herself.
    It was delicious. Carly took another bite, chewing quickly, and then another. She looked up to see an amused expression on her keeper’s face. She didn’t care. She was so hungry, and the rabbit tasted so good, she didn’t care if he laughed out loud. After little more than a few stale biscuits and pieces of tough jerky during the past days, Carly readily accepted the second chunk of meat the man offered.
    He sat across the small clearing from her on a fallen tree. She studied him from beneath her hat brim as they ate. She’d been right about his height. He was tall. Easily more than six feet, she guessed. Her gaze traveled up long legs and past solid thighs to narrow hips and waist then on to wide chest and shoulders. His clothing did little to hide his powerful, muscular body. Carly focused on his hands, large hands with long fingers. They tore strips of meat from the last remaining chunk and carried them to his mouth.
    She watched him eat. His deeply tanned skin moved smoothly across his strong jaw as he chewed. Perfect rows of white teeth contrasted sharply as he took another bite. His hat sat back on his head, offering her a clear view of the man’s face. Jet-black hair flowed past his shoulders, bound with the rawhide strip. Brows of a matching hue slashed across a wide forehead. Thick lashes lay atop high cheekbones. Suddenly the lashes lifted to reveal dark eyes, eyes almost as black as the hair around them.
    Carly sat hypnotized, unable to look away, even though she knew she should. “Uh, I, uh . . . what’s your name?” she blurted out. “I don’t know what to call you.”
    “Kade.”
    That was all he offered, and he continued to stare at her quizzically. A sudden noise in the trees behind her drew Carly’s attention.
    “What was that?” She turned quickly to gaze into the woods.
    Without a sound, Kade passed her, rifle in hand. Dropping to crouch on the ground behind the rock, she watched him disappear into the foliage. Carly strained to hear or see whatever had startled her. She held her breath and prayed for him to protect her.
    An eternity passed before she heard a rustle of leaves. Carly clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from crying aloud when Kade, rather than the horrors she’d imagined, emerged from the trees.
    “Must’ve been an animal.” He walked calmly to his horse and slipped the weapon back in its leather sheath.
    She allowed herself a deep breath as she leaned back against the rock, shaking uncontrollably. “That doesn’t make me feel all