Midnight Secrets by Janelle Taylor

Author:Janelle Taylor [Janelle Taylor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington

The full moon that night illuminated their campsite. They hadn’t halted until dark so Steve could use every ray of light for tracking. Ginny hadn’t spoken to him after he silenced her, only nodded or shook her head to respond to his questions or comments. She hadn’t trusted herself to speak without either crying or ranting at him.

They had stopped for a while to chew on dried beef and corn dodgers, downed with water from his canteen. They had ridden most of the time but walked on occasion for the sorrel to rest, with her on one side of the animal and him on the other. He had spoken a few times to tell her the men seemed to be riding slowly deeper into the Ouachita Mountains, and looked as if they were headed for Indian Territory. They were a day ahead of them, he had elaborated, and they might catch up in two days or less if the gang kept up its present pace and they could maintain theirs.

Steve roasted a rabbit over a spit that he’d shot, cooked johnnycakes, and perked coffee—all without asking her to assist him or looking as if he expected her to do so. Nor did she offer to help, as he was accustomed to doing his own chores and seemed to prefer it that way. It was apparent he knew what he was doing and had plenty of experience on the trail.

You’re too self-contained, Steve; you don’t need anybody.

After he handed her a plate of food and cup of steaming coffee, she took them and thanked him without meeting his piercing gaze.

Steve was unsettled by her silence and anguish. “So, you can still talk,” he provoked. “I figured you’d lost your tongue back there.”

Ginny glared at him and reminded in a toneless voice, “You ordered me to silence, remember? Since then, you haven’t given me permission to talk and said our survival depended upon my strict obedience. Even if you had, I have nothing to say to you, Mr. Carr. You’re a liar and deceiver.”

He had expected her to feel this way, but it still got to him that she had reacted so strongly. Obviously she hated him now. “Don’t worry, Anna, you’ll have to endure me for only a few more days. That should please you.”

“I’m sure both of us will be delighted to end this offensive matter.”

His gaze narrowed as he retorted, “Is that a fact?”

Ginny determined not to let him provoke her into a silly or cutting quarrel. If he was trying to hurt her to push her away from him, she wouldn’t cooperate at her expense. If he was being himself for a change, she didn’t want to view that side of him. She ate her food and drank her coffee, and found everything delicious. She noticed Steve ate from the skillet and with his fingers because he had only one set of utensils and dishes. That told her the loner was not prepared for company. “You cooked, so I’ll clean up the mess.

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