Bride of Shadow Canyon. Stacey Kayne

an aspen, calm as you please, with his arms crossed over his chest as he stared down at her.

      “Away,” she said when she managed to catch her breath.

      “The wrong way.” He motioned in the direction of their camp.

      “I’m not going with you.”

      Jed pushed away from the tree. “Damn it, Rachell. I’m not going to rape you!”

      “No! I never thought—”

      “The hell you didn’t! You’ve been waiting for me to pounce on you since I took you from that saloon. If I’d planned to have my way with you, don’t you think I’d have done it when I woke up this morning with my hands on that soft body of yours? I didn’t intend for that to happen, any more than I intended to respond to you when I brushed your hair. You are safe with me.”

      “I know that! That has nothing to do with why I’m not coming with you.”

      “Oh, you’re coming with me.”

      She stiffened, aggravated by his confidence. “I’ve decided not to go to California. Surely you can tell my sister I’ve changed my mind. You, of all people, should be relieved.”

      Jed stood still as a statue, staring down at her with hollow gray eyes. He didn’t look at all relieved, although she couldn’t tell how he felt.

      “Rachell, have you taken a good look around? You happen to be standing in the middle of Colorado wilderness. You expect me to leave you here, with no horse, no food, and nothing to defend yourself from wild animals, Indians and bushwhackers? Not to mention you damn near froze to death last night. Have you lost your mind?”

      Dear Lord, she wasn’t quite sure. But she was certain if she spent any more time in the arms of this man, she would be insane before their journey was through. He made her feel all too vulnerable. His unbending confidence and tender touch filled her with the urge to wrap herself in the safety of his arms. An irrational and inconceivable thought.

      “I’ve simply changed my mind, and I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”

      He crouched low, resting his arms on his bent knees. His ebony hair fell forward from his shoulders as he dropped his gaze to the earth. He released a deep sigh before looking up into her eyes. She could see he was straining for patience, an effort that increased her growing discomfort with this man. Her body crowded with strange sensations as he continued to stare at her. She had the strangest urge to hug him…or run.

      “Let me see if I’ve got you figured out.”

      Dear God. She hoped he hadn’t.

      “For reasons that have nothing to do with me,