Angel In The Rain (Western Historical Romance) by Devon Matthews Page B

uncomfortable bedroll and willed herself to sleep. Her eyes flew open at every pop and crack of the dying embers inside the fire pit. How would she ever fall asleep with three Indians lying just on the other side of camp?
    Other night sounds intruded. Crickets in the brush kept up an incessant chirp. Up on the gully rim, a coyote howled low and mournfully.
    Most disturbing of all was the sight of Rane seated alone by the dying fire.
    I’m the only thing standing between you and Lundy’s hired guns.
    Surely, by now, her father had received word of her abduction. If so, he would have men out looking for her as well. She clung to the thought like a lifeline. If they were out there, she could find them. But first, she had to get away from this man who threw her heart into such turmoil.
    Get away. Yes, she would escape and go home to her father. He’d be pleased with her now, with her proper speech and pretty finery. At last she’d show him she could be the kind of lady her mother had been...
    Angel’s thoughts drifted. Drowsiness closed around her with a warm haze, until a draft of cold air hit her back. Something nudged her bottom. Then the cold air was replaced by warmth radiating from a solid male body.
    Someone had crawled into bed with her!
    She sprang upright and twisted around. In the murky darkness, she made out Rane’s face against the thin padding. He lay with one arm curled beneath his head, facing her.
    “What do you think you’re doing!” Her voice came out shrill, a whispered scream of outrage.
    “Going to sleep.” He sounded drowsy.
    Panic pulled her sleep-dulled senses to sharp focus. Was her gallant abductor beginning to show his true colors?
    “You can’t sleep here!”
    “Why not? You didn’t seem bothered by it before.”
    She blinked several times while her thoughts tumbled with confusion. “What the devil are you talking about?”
    “Last night. I woke and found you curled around me like a warm kitten.”
    “That’s a lie!”
    His unencumbered shoulder lifted with indifference.
    Angel’s heart galloped. Last night. Those strange dreams. Dreams of feeling safe and warm, of feeling sensations she’d never before experienced. She had dreamed of being held in Rane’s arms and pressing shamelessly against him. Was it possible she hadn’t dreamed it at all?
    Heat engulfed her. Half a minute passed, but it seemed like an eternity.
    “Lie down, Angel. It’s cold and you’re pulling off the blanket.”
    She sat there fuming. A real lady would never stand for this kind of treatment. The man was compromising her in the worst way. She tried to summon the courage to flounce up and stomp away in a huff of righteous indignation, like a real lady would.
    “Lie down!”
    His sleepy growl intruded on her inner struggle. She blew out a breath. If she did get up, the brute would doubtless come after her.
    After playing tug-of-war with her conscience for another minute, she finally admitted defeat. Slowly, she lowered to her side and scooted to the very edge of the bedding, facing away from him. She tried hard not to touch him and had to brace with her hand to keep from falling onto her face.
    The breath left her body in a surprised rush when his hand slid across her hip. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him.
    She wedged her hands against his rock-solid arm and shoved. “Let go of me.”
    “No. We need to get some sleep and that won’t happen with you falling out of bed all night.” His voice, coming from just behind her ear, had grown husky. “Besides, after what you tried to do this morning, I’m keeping you right next to me.”
    She remained as rigid as a board beneath his arm. The seconds ticked by with agonizing slowness. She found it impossible to draw a normal breath. His nearness threw her heart into an erratic rhythm.
    After several moments, sheer fatigue forced her to relax. He had molded his body to the back of hers. His legs and groin cupped her legs and