Caroline Read Free

made a choice." She moved closer to him and paused for dramatic effect. "It is... Caroline. Don't you think it's lovely?"
    She spoke the syllables with such warmth that the name Caroline did indeed sound beautiful. His face softened as he regarded this girl who was smiling at him so radiantly in the midst of what should have been a terrible crisis. It occurred to him that most young ladies of his acquaintance would probably be carrying on quite hysterically if they were in Caroline's position. She was lost, unable to remember anything, and perhaps worst of all, left in the woods with only a hot-blooded rogue to rely on. Gently, he touched her cheek and smiled.
    "I believe that you have chosen a perfect name, little Caro."
    * * *
    Twilight gathered quickly and air grew chilly. Caroline and Alec were both astride the black stallion, Ivan, who was patiently making his way through the trees. She sat in front and Alec held her securely around her petite waist. His nearness unnerved her, and during all the hours they had been riding she had found it difficult to think, though heaven knew she had plenty to think and worry about! She realized that the discomfort she felt wasn't because he repulsed her; instead, it seemed that all her senses were filled with him. His arm was strong and her skin seemed to tingle beneath it. She would watch his brown hand holding the reins and find herself fascinated by its deft movements. She was leaning into his broad chest and his chin brushed the top of her head. She thought he smelled wonderful.
    Riding into a clearing, Alec brought Ivan to a stand-still and Caroline came back down to earth.
    "Well ," he inquired lightly, "how does this strike you as an inn? Ceilings of tree branches and carpets of leaves are the latest fashion, I'm told."
    She smiled up at him. "These accommodations look very comfortable."
    Indeed it was a lovely spot. The trees joined overhead to form a perfect canopy and the blanket of leaves on the ground looked almost plush. Alec swung down from the horse's back and reached up to grasp Caroline around her waist. He lifted her off Ivan and suddenly they were face to face, his hands still resting on her hips. He looked down into her brown-and-gold eyes and saw in them something he could not read. Moving his palms up her back slowly, Alec could feel the hot blood rising in him, and then Ivan pushed his nose against them and whinnied gustily.
    Nervously, Caroline laughed and turned to pet the horse's neck.
    "Well, Ivan, I suppose you'd like to have the rest of those things off your back, too!"
    It was not yet dark when the three of them set off through the trees to find a stream. They didn't have far to go, and while Ivan drank and Caroline washed, Alec went in search of food and firewood. He had good luck, and before long they were seated by a cozy fire feasting on dried beef and johnnycake from his saddlebags, nuts, berries, and sweet water. They drank from a small wooden cup which Alec produced, explaining that he had carved it in camp early in the war and still carried it with him in his pack. After they finished eating, he leaned back against a tree to smoke a thin brown cheroot. Caroline sat nearer the fire, and as they talked he watched her face, which was framed by molten-gold firelight. Hair spilling over her shoulders, she looked poignantly young and vulnerable in her voluminous shirt.
    "Will you tell me about the future?" she asked. "Where are we going? And what will you do with me after we get there?"
    He smiled behind the thin curls of smoke which drifted up and dissolved into the darkness.
    "Ah, yes, I imagine you must be filled with questions. We are going to Philadelphia, where I live. I've decided that after we arrive I shall install you at my parents' home. It wouldn't help you at all socially to be living at my house! As it is, if I were any sort of gentleman at all I'd marry you as soon as we encounter a parson."
    Caroline's eyes were wide with