Anna's Heart (Wilderness Brides Book 2) by Peggy L Henderson

Author:Peggy L Henderson [Henderson, Peggy L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-08-30T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Ethan reined his horse to a stop along a meandering creek, his eyes scanning into the distance. An eagle screeched overhead, soaring toward the glowing ball of fire sinking lower into the horizon to the west. A soft breeze drifted over the grassland, making the tall blades sway back and forth as if in a dance. The leaves of the cottonwoods that lined the water rustled loudly, while behind him, the jingle of harnesses and the squeaking of wagon wheels drew closer. He inhaled a deep breath.

What on earth had he been thinking?

That question had grabbed hold of him for the last week like a wolverine sinking its deadly fangs into its prey.

Ethan shifted in the saddle. He glanced over his shoulder even though he didn’t have to look to know that she’d catch up soon enough. Anna had driven the wagon every day since leaving the valley with no complaints, keeping up with the pace he’d set. If he’d been alone, he could have covered the distance much faster, but with a wagon, it meant moving at a crawl. By tomorrow, they’d finally reach their destination.

He lifted his hat from his head and raked his hand through his hair. Why had he impulsively told Anna that he’d take her to Fort Hall?

You know why, you fool.

He’d known Anna Porter for months, yet this had been the first time he’d really taken notice of her as more than one of the women his brother had brought to the valley. So, he’d done the first thing that had come to mind to put some distance between them – he’d offered to take her to Fort Hall. No matter how often he’d called himself crazy for his rash decision, he couldn’t have gone back on his word.

Later, he’d reasoned that someone needed to go to Fort Hall for supplies anyway, so he might as well take Miss Porter along and deliver her there. She’d wanted to leave the valley, and it was for her own good. Unfortunately, he didn’t believe his own excuses. He wanted her gone for different reasons. Reasons he hadn’t wanted to think about at the time, and still didn’t want to think about now. Trouble was, his mind wouldn’t give him any peace.

Since that day when she’d gotten lost in the woods, he’d needed to put as much distance between himself and her as possible, if he wanted to keep his sanity. Once she was out of his sight for good, his life could get back to the way it had been, without his mind wandering into territory he’d sworn he’d never cross.

He hadn’t been able to get Anna out of his thoughts. Getting gutted by a moose couldn’t have produced a more powerful jolt of emotion. Since then, he’d spent more time lying awake at night than was healthy, remembering those soft fingers on his skin, or her warm, tender eyes looking at him.

Stupid fool that he was, that day she’d gotten lost he’d brazenly tried to make her nervous by removing his shirt in front of her.

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