Compromised Hearts Read Free

cried out to be touched, its light honey-colored expanse looking as soft and smooth as silk. Faintly arched brows, several shades darker than her brilliant hair, furrowed occasionally as her dreams grew more troubled. The lashes that lay in thick arcs on her cheeks were also dark and naturally curly. A full ripe mouth was slightly parted as she slept, partially revealing straight white teeth. Her nose was the only less than perfect feature in her small oval face. It ran small and straight to the tip then suddenly turned up ever so slightly, disrupting an otherwise classical perfection.
    She had left off her bodice, having rinsed it in the water that she then gave the mule, and hung it on the bush to dry. His eyes fixed upon the smooth swell of her breasts above the lacy camisole and he nearly groaned. The desire had been controlled but not vanquished.
    Stretching out, he leaned against the cart wheel, placing his rifle across his lap. There would be little sleep for him until he was out of the area troubled by Indians. Senses well-honedby the war allowed him to doze yet be alert to danger. He almost wished he could sleep as blissfully as the pair beneath the cart, but he knew too well how dangerous that could be.
    A sound from the young woman drew his gaze back to her and he realized that she was having a nightmare. She muttered fretfully and tears oozed from beneath her eyelids as she relived some horror in her dreams. Her restlessness caused the boy to whimper in his sleep.
    “Hush, sweetheart,” he murmured as he smoothed his hand over her brow in a soothing caress.
    “Harper?” she cried softly even as she settled down.
    “Ssssh. There’s nothing here to trouble you. Go to sleep, little lady.”
    After the pair had again settled, Cloud returned to his half-sleep, half-vigil. He wondered who Harper was and decided he was her husband. Frowning, he searched the long fingers of her small delicate hands but saw no ring. Either she had no husband or he was dead. Either way suited Cloud. He fully intended to satisfy the desire she stirred in him and a husband would only complicate matters. A small child was complication enough.
    She stretched and turned, disturbing the light blanket that covered her. A smile touched his harsh features as he glimpsed her feet. They were as small and delicate asthe rest of her. His smile faded quickly when he saw how her feet had suffered from the walking she had done. He was surprised she had stayed on her feet at all. Every step must have pained her, yet she had struggled on.
    “Stubborn as your mule,” he muttered as he reached to tuck the blanket around her feet.
    He paused, his gaze drifting up the length of slender leg exposed by her bunched-up petticoats. He moved his hand over her calf and up to where her petticoats rested high up on her silken thighs. She moved and made a soft noise that brought a satisfied smile to his face as he finally tucked the blanket back in place.
    Experience told him how to read those small signs. Even in her sleep she had warmed to his touch. There was passion in her. Cloud knew it would be good and found it hard to resist the temptation to slip beneath the blanket with her immediately. Waiting would be hard, but he did not plan to wait long.
    The night passed slowly. Twice more Cloud had to soothe the young woman’s troubled sleep. That she was so evidently filled with fear made her dogged progress all the more remarkable. She plainly had the strength to subdue those fears when she was awake, forcing herself to continue despite them.
    When dawn lightened the sky, he washed himself and watered the mounts. He then setabout relighting the small fire and preparing a breakfast of sorts. As he had hoped, the smell of coffee began to wake the sleepers.
    The boy woke first, studying Cloud for a long moment before rising. With the uncanny sixth sense a child so often has, the boy sensed that he was no threat. Keeping a shy watch on him, however, the boy went to