Badlands Legend by Ruth Langan

Author:Ruth Langan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Yale lay as still as death. Every breath burned his throat. Even the simple task of opening his eyes brought a blinding flash of pain behind his lids. His body was on fire.

Hadn’t he always known that he’d burn in hell? Why then was he surprised by this? He supposed he ought to accept his punishment as his due. Still, it wasn’t in his nature to acquiesce. He was a fighter. And had been all his life.

Despite the stab of pain he opened one eye, then the other, determined to have a look around this den of torture where he’d be spending eternity.

What he saw had his heartbeat speeding up considerably. Lying beside him was Cara. Her long, dark hair was a riot of tangles that spilled over one cheek. Her gown, torn and dirty, had ridden up to reveal a good deal of shapely ankle and calf. The front of her dress was slightly open, revealing the darkened cleft between her breasts. The sight had his eyes narrowing. And though it cost him considerably more pain, he had to reach over and touch her, just to assure himself that he wasn’t dreaming.

She lifted her head and was startled to see him awake.

“Yale. Oh, thank heaven. You’re alive.” She shoved the hair from her eyes and sat up. “I…must have fallen asleep.”

“You’ve been here beside me all night?”

She nodded. “I was afraid to leave you for even a moment. You were burning up with fever.” She brought her hand to his forehead. But as she did, he suddenly frowned and caught her hand in his and turned it palm up for his inspection.

His voice was a low growl that might have been pain or anger. “How did you do this?”

She stared at her torn, bloody flesh before shrugging. “It’s nothing.”

“Nothing?” His tone deepened.

“I had to remove the boulders from the mine entrance before we could go searching for you. Then last night, when we returned, I needed to put them back in place, in case Fenner’s gang should come back.”

“Oh, my poor Cara.” He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the palm.

She felt the most amazing rush of heat and snatched her hand away in embarrassment. But it was impossible to hide her feelings. They were there in her eyes. In the high color on her cheeks. In the way her breath hitched once, twice, before she was able to control it.

“You’re freezing.” He lifted the edge of the fur to share his warmth, but her blush only deepened. It was then that he realized he was naked. His tone warmed with humor. “It appears somebody stole my clothes. Who do you think it could be?”

“I had no choice, Yale.” She turned her head, avoiding his eyes. “You were bleeding so badly.”

He caught her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I bet you’re going to tell me you never looked, aren’t you?”

She couldn’t help laughing as she pushed his hand aside. “You’re the most irreverent man I’ve ever known.

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