Whitefire Read Free Page A

Bluefire’s flanks, she apologized to the galloping horse for the pain she was inflicting on him, then begged, “Please, please!”
    Out of the corner of her eye she watched the stallion advance, the man’s arm outflung to pull her from her seat. Katerina leaned precariously to the right and all but slipped from the animal beneath her. When she righted herself, she was pulled from Bluefire’s back and literally flung through the air. She came to rest against the side of the skittery horse, as it was trying to stop.
    â€œLet me go! Take your hands off me!” Katerina screeched.
    â€œAnd if I do that, what will you do?” Banyen laughed, delighted with this unexpected challenge.
    â€œKill you, that’s what I’ll do! I’ll scratch your face till it’s nothing but a bloody pulp!”
    The stallion stood quietly as master and girl spat epithets at each other. “And what do you think I’ll be doing while you’re scratching my face to a bloody pulp?” Banyen laughed.
    â€œBleeding!” Katerina snarled.
    â€œA she cat.”
    Katerina tried to free herself from her awkward position, one arm pinned against the horse and the other flailing in the air. Each time the man jerked her closer to the horse, her feet left the ground and her arm twisted painfully in his vise-like grip. She bit into her full bottom lip and felt the salty taste of her own blood. Her mind raced as she tried to figure how she could get away from him. Suddenly she relaxed, her muscles loose and flexible. Banyen leaned over to grasp her other arm and draw her atop his horse. Her small fist shot out and made direct contact with his eye. Stunned, he relaxed his hold. Seizing her opportunity to escape, Katerina was off and running instantly, the snow spurting up from her heels. On and on she ran, with no sense of direction. Her breathing was harsh and ragged as the cold, bracing air was forced into her lungs. With her long legs, Katerina could usually outrun most of the youths in the village, but the heavy accumulation of snow was hampering her now and she wondered how much longer she could last. She was so tired. A razor-sharp pain ripped across her chest and Katerina doubled over, falling to her knees. Before she could get to her feet, she found herself pinned to the ground, a lean hard body above her.
    Banyen fought to control his own labored breathing as he felt the hot softness of the girl beneath him. The anger he had felt moments before left him and was replaced with a ripe, full-blown passion. Straddling her, Banyen pinned Katerina’s arms above her head, then leaned over and brought his mouth down on hers. His head jerked upright as if a snake had bitten him. He felt blood trickle down his chin as he brought his hand up to his mouth. “Bitch!”
    â€œBastard!”
    Banyen reached out a long arm and grasped her ankle as she tried to get away. He flung her back so hard that she felt her head snap. “Stupid Cossack woman, with your thick stockings and a man’s boots,” he said harshly as he again forced her to the ground.
    â€œSmelly Mongol pig!” Katerina hissed.
    â€œYou belong with a farmer at the plow,” Banyen said raggedly. “What kind of clothes are these?” he demanded, releasing one of her arms so he could finger the thick material of her dress. “Even peasants wear better than this.”
    Katerina brought up her knee, and Banyen was thrust backward by the force of her blow. Madly, she scrambled out of his way as he bent over, his muscular hands clutching his groin.
    â€œI hope I kill you!” Katerina screamed as she got to her feet. “When they bury you, I’ll sing a dirge about the way you died.”
    â€œBitch!” Banyen said through the mist that threatened to choke off his vision.
    â€œBastard! Dirty, sneaky Mongol pig!” Katerina screamed as she plunged recklessly forward. Rough hands seized her and