grasp without a word.
No food, no water.
Well, he couldn’t stop her from going to the stream to get her own water.
Pulling herself to her feet, Miranda started down the path toward the stream, her step slowing as the shadows closed in to obscure the trail. Glancing upward, she realized that the moon had slipped behind a bank of clouds,and her frustration mounted. Stumbling forward, she stepped on a sharp stone and bit back a groan when it pierced the sole of her bare foot. She walked a few more feet, then stepped on something that was cold and slimy. Gasping aloud, she jumped back, then glanced behind her, grateful there was no movement at the campfire and Shadow Walker had not heard her.
An arm outstretched in front of her to avoid contact with any unseen obstacles, her heart pounding at the rustling sounds in the darkness, Miranda continued walking forward. Reaching the stream at last, she kneeled down to scoop water into her mouth. She gulped it greedily, then spat it out again when her mouth was filled with grit.
Sitting back on her heels, Miranda felt tears brimming.
Suddenly furious with her tears, she brushed them away and stood. No, she wasn’t going to let one dark, hungry night defeat her. She’d show him!
Arms again outstretched, she stumbled back up the trail toward the camp. Her throat choking tight with relief when the campfire came into view, she stopped to assume full control of her emotions, then walked back to her blanket with a confident stride.
Deliberately averting her gaze when Shadow Walker removed the remaining meat from the fire, Miranda held her breath. Surely he would offer her some.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Shadow Walker wrapped the meat carefully in a cloth and stored itnearby. Hunger gnawing, she saw him lie down and pull his blanket around him. She waited as minutes passed. Incredulous, she realized he was already asleep!
Furious, she pulled her blanket up over her head and closed her eyes … hoping he wouldn’t hear the continued rumbling of her stomach.
The girl was hungry.
His eyes closed, his back turned to the pale-haired female lying across the fire, Shadow Walker heard the angry complaining of her stomach that would not cease. He remembered the look on her face as the meat had cooked and the aroma had begun filling the clearing. The day had been long and wearying. Dried jerky had filled the emptiness of their stomachs as they had traveled, but it had left a desire for more. Yet the girl’s unyielding attitude when they’d halted for the night had determined what had followed.
He had hunted the game, prepared it, then lit a fire to cook it. He had watered the horses and hobbled them nearby to graze. He had prepared the camp for the night to come—all while the girl had silently watched, unwilling to contribute to the camp.
It had not escaped his notice that although she had sat silently through his labors, she had obviously enjoyed the realization that a simple refusal had freed her from chores which he had then assumed. Her enjoyment had ended,however, when the meat was ready to be eaten.
In truth, his enjoyment in satiating his hunger had suffered with knowing that the girl’s stomach remained empty. Bound to his word, he had also halted her attempt to drink from the water pouch, aware that she was thirsty. He had not looked up when she’d started toward the stream, but he had watched her covertly. He had heard her stumble, then gasp, and he had barely restrained a compulsion to rush to her side. He had listened to her faltering step on the way to the stream, then to her violent rejection of the water she drank. And he had heard her revealing hesitation before she’d walked boldly back into camp.
Lessons hard learned.
And there were more to come.
He had not taken into account, however, that the difficult lessons the girl would be taught might be painful for him as well.
Shadow Walker closed his eyes, again feigning sleep. Despite himself,
No food, no water.
Well, he couldn’t stop her from going to the stream to get her own water.
Pulling herself to her feet, Miranda started down the path toward the stream, her step slowing as the shadows closed in to obscure the trail. Glancing upward, she realized that the moon had slipped behind a bank of clouds,and her frustration mounted. Stumbling forward, she stepped on a sharp stone and bit back a groan when it pierced the sole of her bare foot. She walked a few more feet, then stepped on something that was cold and slimy. Gasping aloud, she jumped back, then glanced behind her, grateful there was no movement at the campfire and Shadow Walker had not heard her.
An arm outstretched in front of her to avoid contact with any unseen obstacles, her heart pounding at the rustling sounds in the darkness, Miranda continued walking forward. Reaching the stream at last, she kneeled down to scoop water into her mouth. She gulped it greedily, then spat it out again when her mouth was filled with grit.
Sitting back on her heels, Miranda felt tears brimming.
Suddenly furious with her tears, she brushed them away and stood. No, she wasn’t going to let one dark, hungry night defeat her. She’d show him!
Arms again outstretched, she stumbled back up the trail toward the camp. Her throat choking tight with relief when the campfire came into view, she stopped to assume full control of her emotions, then walked back to her blanket with a confident stride.
Deliberately averting her gaze when Shadow Walker removed the remaining meat from the fire, Miranda held her breath. Surely he would offer her some.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Shadow Walker wrapped the meat carefully in a cloth and stored itnearby. Hunger gnawing, she saw him lie down and pull his blanket around him. She waited as minutes passed. Incredulous, she realized he was already asleep!
Furious, she pulled her blanket up over her head and closed her eyes … hoping he wouldn’t hear the continued rumbling of her stomach.
The girl was hungry.
His eyes closed, his back turned to the pale-haired female lying across the fire, Shadow Walker heard the angry complaining of her stomach that would not cease. He remembered the look on her face as the meat had cooked and the aroma had begun filling the clearing. The day had been long and wearying. Dried jerky had filled the emptiness of their stomachs as they had traveled, but it had left a desire for more. Yet the girl’s unyielding attitude when they’d halted for the night had determined what had followed.
He had hunted the game, prepared it, then lit a fire to cook it. He had watered the horses and hobbled them nearby to graze. He had prepared the camp for the night to come—all while the girl had silently watched, unwilling to contribute to the camp.
It had not escaped his notice that although she had sat silently through his labors, she had obviously enjoyed the realization that a simple refusal had freed her from chores which he had then assumed. Her enjoyment had ended,however, when the meat was ready to be eaten.
In truth, his enjoyment in satiating his hunger had suffered with knowing that the girl’s stomach remained empty. Bound to his word, he had also halted her attempt to drink from the water pouch, aware that she was thirsty. He had not looked up when she’d started toward the stream, but he had watched her covertly. He had heard her stumble, then gasp, and he had barely restrained a compulsion to rush to her side. He had listened to her faltering step on the way to the stream, then to her violent rejection of the water she drank. And he had heard her revealing hesitation before she’d walked boldly back into camp.
Lessons hard learned.
And there were more to come.
He had not taken into account, however, that the difficult lessons the girl would be taught might be painful for him as well.
Shadow Walker closed his eyes, again feigning sleep. Despite himself,
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