animal as long as she didn't think about falling.
This wasn't so bad. Bravado was the best way to overcome fear, or at least to hide behind. "Humph! At this pace the stage will beat us back to Fort Worth on its return trip."
"Say the word and I'll speed her up," he challenged.
"No!" She turned slightly to her right and glanced up at the man who held her in his arms. She gazed into earthy brown eyes that radiated annoyance and something that made her feel like summer on a cold winter day.
"It would help if you relaxed."
"Relax?" She swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat. "I'm about to die and you want me to relax."
He laughed. "It'll help."
"Who? The horse?"
Travis shook his head, grinning.
"Do you think this horse knows I don't like her?"
"I'm sure. She's heard every word. We'll be lucky if she doesn't throw us at least once before we arrive in Fort Worth."
She jerked her gaze back to his forehead and stared at him. She thought he was joking, but she wasn't quite certain.
"You are a beast."
"Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment coming from a thief like you."
"I am not a thief," she insisted and then concentrated on trying to remain seated in the saddle and not lean back touching Mr. Burnett. Soon she realized just how impossible that was going to be and relaxed, letting her back rest against his chest.
The contact of that hard male body had her imagination stirred up like a calico queen on a Saturday night.
He was tall enough so that she had to look up at him. His wavy dark hair barely graced the edge of his collar, yet the thick strands made her want to curl her fingers around the locks and bring his head down to her mouth. And oh, that full mouth looked tempting. Those lips had the power to suck the strength right out of her limbs and leave her craving more.
The horse whinnied, but Travis controlled the animal, his over-large hands steering the reins with confidence, making her secure in his ability to manage the beast. Yet she couldn't help but remember those large, callused hands skimming her body, caressing her, leaving behind a trail of molten fire.
Was she crazy? She hated Travis Burnett with a passion. He was making her life hell, yet the memory of his lips stroking hers left her blood quickening.
Nevertheless, she couldn't let herself forget Travis thought she was a thief! He despised her and was dragging her back to Fort Worth to get his revenge.
She wasn't worried. She'd handled tough guys before, only this one was more determined and better looking.
But why would Mrs. Burnett accuse her of stealing her ring? The lady had been with her the entire time she packed her bag to leave.
"Are you certain your mother actually said that I took her ring?" Rose questioned, suddenly doubting Travis's story.
"You were the last person she was with before it disappeared. It has to be you."
"Cowboy, you're not too bright, are you? Are you certain she just didn't lose the blasted ring? I could be making this trip to Fort Worth for nothing."
"Miss Severin, I don't care whether you think I have the brains of a jackass. You're going back to Fort Worth."
"You're wrong. A jackass has more brains."
"Do you ever shut up?"
"Does it bother you?" she asked.
He maneuvered the horse around a large boulder in the road. "No, Miss Severin. I enjoy women who prattle on about everything and say nothing."
"Mr. Burnett, you have a nasty streak. I should read your palm sometime. Someone with your mouth usually gets silenced early in life. Especially when you're fond of kidnapping women. Have you ever done this before?"
"Done what? Strangled a woman who couldn't shut up?"
"No! Taken a woman against her will! Or is this the only way you can get women?"
"Good women have nothing to fear from me."
"So I'm not what you would consider a good woman?"
"Miss Severin, shut up while I still have one ear left."
"Despicable man!"
"Mouthy woman!"
Feeling especially vindictive, she leaned back in his arms and
This wasn't so bad. Bravado was the best way to overcome fear, or at least to hide behind. "Humph! At this pace the stage will beat us back to Fort Worth on its return trip."
"Say the word and I'll speed her up," he challenged.
"No!" She turned slightly to her right and glanced up at the man who held her in his arms. She gazed into earthy brown eyes that radiated annoyance and something that made her feel like summer on a cold winter day.
"It would help if you relaxed."
"Relax?" She swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat. "I'm about to die and you want me to relax."
He laughed. "It'll help."
"Who? The horse?"
Travis shook his head, grinning.
"Do you think this horse knows I don't like her?"
"I'm sure. She's heard every word. We'll be lucky if she doesn't throw us at least once before we arrive in Fort Worth."
She jerked her gaze back to his forehead and stared at him. She thought he was joking, but she wasn't quite certain.
"You are a beast."
"Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment coming from a thief like you."
"I am not a thief," she insisted and then concentrated on trying to remain seated in the saddle and not lean back touching Mr. Burnett. Soon she realized just how impossible that was going to be and relaxed, letting her back rest against his chest.
The contact of that hard male body had her imagination stirred up like a calico queen on a Saturday night.
He was tall enough so that she had to look up at him. His wavy dark hair barely graced the edge of his collar, yet the thick strands made her want to curl her fingers around the locks and bring his head down to her mouth. And oh, that full mouth looked tempting. Those lips had the power to suck the strength right out of her limbs and leave her craving more.
The horse whinnied, but Travis controlled the animal, his over-large hands steering the reins with confidence, making her secure in his ability to manage the beast. Yet she couldn't help but remember those large, callused hands skimming her body, caressing her, leaving behind a trail of molten fire.
Was she crazy? She hated Travis Burnett with a passion. He was making her life hell, yet the memory of his lips stroking hers left her blood quickening.
Nevertheless, she couldn't let herself forget Travis thought she was a thief! He despised her and was dragging her back to Fort Worth to get his revenge.
She wasn't worried. She'd handled tough guys before, only this one was more determined and better looking.
But why would Mrs. Burnett accuse her of stealing her ring? The lady had been with her the entire time she packed her bag to leave.
"Are you certain your mother actually said that I took her ring?" Rose questioned, suddenly doubting Travis's story.
"You were the last person she was with before it disappeared. It has to be you."
"Cowboy, you're not too bright, are you? Are you certain she just didn't lose the blasted ring? I could be making this trip to Fort Worth for nothing."
"Miss Severin, I don't care whether you think I have the brains of a jackass. You're going back to Fort Worth."
"You're wrong. A jackass has more brains."
"Do you ever shut up?"
"Does it bother you?" she asked.
He maneuvered the horse around a large boulder in the road. "No, Miss Severin. I enjoy women who prattle on about everything and say nothing."
"Mr. Burnett, you have a nasty streak. I should read your palm sometime. Someone with your mouth usually gets silenced early in life. Especially when you're fond of kidnapping women. Have you ever done this before?"
"Done what? Strangled a woman who couldn't shut up?"
"No! Taken a woman against her will! Or is this the only way you can get women?"
"Good women have nothing to fear from me."
"So I'm not what you would consider a good woman?"
"Miss Severin, shut up while I still have one ear left."
"Despicable man!"
"Mouthy woman!"
Feeling especially vindictive, she leaned back in his arms and
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