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behind her, slid an arm around her waist and pulled her back to fit her body against his. He didn't say a word, his face grim, but simply fell in with the others as they wheeled and nickered to the horses, moving out as a tight unit.
     
    With one hand on the reins, he used the other to unfasten a couple of buttons on her dress. He slipped his hand inside, fondling her breast as they rode. The heat of arousal mingled with embarrassment when she noticed the other men watching with interest.
     
    "What's going to happen to me?" she asked timidly, growing more aroused and more nervous by the minute. Her nipple was long and achingly tight between his fingers. What would he do next? And did he plan on doing it in front of his friends?
     
    He continued to play with her for a while before he answered, and she thought maybe he'd just ignore her question. But after several breathless minutes, he buttoned up her dress, tucked the bear claw necklace into it, and said, "Plans have changed. "
     
    Her heart quailed. "Changed? How?"
     
    He refused to say more. She swallowed heavily.
     
    She would die. She knew it had been decided.
     
    They arrived at a small clearing at the base of a hill, surrounded by tall trees. Her heart pounded like heavy artillery when Standing Bear handed her down from the horse and slid off beside her. Glancing at the others, she wondered if they would rape her before she died. She trembled with fright as he led her to the edge of the trees and stood to face her.
     
    "You are mine now, " he said, "and will be for all time. " He pulled his long knife from its sheath at his hip.
     
    A small cry came from her throat. "Please, " she whispered. "Don't--"
     
    He lifted the knife and she closed her eyes, unwilling to watch him spill her lifeblood. But instead of the kiss of cold steel on her neck, she felt a slight tug on a lock of hair at her temple. Her eyes shot open in time to see him curl the lock in a loop and tuck it into a small leather pouch she hadn't noticed before, hanging on his belt.
     
    "Standing Bear?" she said on a breath, hardly believing her eyes.
     
    "We part now, " he said softly, sheathing his knife. "But soon, I will come for you. "
     
    He didn't touch her. She ached for his arms to surround her and soothe her fears. Would he send her away and then have his friend shoot her in the back? But no, he'd just said he would come for her. She shook her head. "I don't understand. You're setting me free?"
     
    He looked at her long and hard. "It is best you stay with the wagons. " He jerked his pursed lips toward the forest behind her. "You will find them just through those trees. Now, go. "
     
    Her mouth dropped open.
     
    Just like that?
     
    With no hug? No kiss good-bye? No Thanks for the roll on the blanket, Miss Hewitt, it's been fun, ' at least? She snapped her mouth shut and ruthlessly cut off her irrational hurt and betrayal. Instead, she sent up a heartfelt prayer of thanks for her life and His deliverance from the temptations of the flesh.
     
    As she lifted her skirts and fled through the pines at a dead run, she vowed she'd never touch a man again in her life. She swore to God she wouldn't. Especially not a darkly handsome man with the eyes of the devil himself -- and the touch of a heavenly angel.
     
    Letting out a long sigh, Standing Bear turned to face his companions. He needed a sweat. He needed some of his uncle's Forgetting Herbs. He needed a sing to rid himself of the bewitchment of the woman who had just high-tailed it away from him like a frightened jackrabbit. How fickle women were.
     
    Then again, he should expect no less from a woman of his enemy. He knew firsthand the white man was as changeable as the wind. A man's friend one day, the next his executioner. Why should he believe their women were any more honorable?
     
    He'd made her body feel good, and she'd rewarded him with smiles. He was a fool to believe she'd give him loyalty. Or her heart.
     
    Whistling Hills