ungentlemanly way in which you did so.'
She pulled on her hand. He didn't let go. His eyes glittered silver in
the moonlight.
I'll try to remember, Miss. Stuart, that you are most particular about
the way a man goes about saving your life,' he told her.
'You know exactly what I'm saying.'
'I never meant to give you offense.'
'Never?'
'I do swear so, Miss. Stuart. I kept my presence quiet because you were
as bare as a baby before I realized it. And then, well, I do admit, I
was caught rather speechless.'
'You weren't speechless on the rock!'
He smiled slowly.
'No.'
'Oh, you ... Yank!'
She tugged on her wrist again. He didn't release her at first, then his
fingers slowly unwound. He was smiling, she realized. And his eyes fell
over her again, and she felt as if he was burning the sight of her into
his memory. A flame shot high within her, and she didn't know if she was
horrified-or fascinated.
'Good night, Miss. Stuart,' he said softly. Then he did walk away. She
didn't move, and after a moment he turned back.
'Miss. Stuart?'
'What?'
He hesitated.
'You're a very beautiful woman. Very beautiful.'
He didn't wait for an answer. He walked away and disappeared into the
night.
Chapter Three.
Two days later, they reached the fort.
It was, Tess thought, a typical military fort in Indian country. The
walls of the stockade were high, maybe twenty-five feet high, and built
of dark sturdy logs. She heard the sound of a bugle while they were
still some distance from the fort, then the huge wooden gate swung open
to allow their party to enter. Looking up as they went into the
compound, Tess saw armed guards in their cavalry blue lined up on all
the catwalks and staring down at them.
She was grateful to have reached the fort. She was driving her mules,
swearing to them beneath her breath, and wondering if the calluses would
ever leave her fingers. She'd gotten them right through Uncle Joe's
heavy leather gloves.
She was sweaty, salty and sticky, and her hair was coming loose from the
neat braid she'd twisted at her nape. She had said that she could
manage--and Lieutenant Slater had let her do just that.
His men had continued to be very kind, and she had continued to smile
and be as gracious as she could in return. He had kept his distance
since he had left her that night, but she had felt his eyes on her.
Always. his eyes were on her. When she drove the wagon, she would
suddenly feel a warmth, and she would look around to discover that he
