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Page 274
"And your assistance," he'd added with a smile that she shared.
Despite feeling so weary, she reveled in his closeness. Inhaled his leathery, masculine scent.
Wondered why he had come after her. Could he, perhaps, love her too?
"What did you do with your horse?" The idea of riding was infinitely appealing to her weary body.
"I sold it to the homesteaders as the soldiers hurried them back toward the east. Now I wish I hadn't; the Indians ran off the rest."
"Twenty-twenty hindsight." Mariah smiled wearily at his confused expression. "No matter."
"I know you are tired," he said, hustling her along once more to match his relentless pace. "But we must hurry. I killed only one Indian, unless some perished in the cave. The others, if smart, will catch more animals to trade and go home. Nahtana, however, never thinks of peace but of revenge. And he is their leader."
Mariah nodded, her head feeling leaden on her neck. "How long will it take till we get back to the inn?"
He peered at the soldiers who lagged behind. "If they keep up, only a few more hours."
"Hours!" Mariah couldn't hide her dismay.
He gave her a comforting squeeze. "You can withstand it, little one. You have already borne so much."
Little one. At five foot five, she wasn't very tall, but she wasn't particularly little, either. She was smaller than he, of course, at close to six feet.
But his words had sounded more of a term of endearment than a description. Mariah smiled to herself and plodded on. "Isn't it time to tell me how you found us?" It wasn't the first time she'd asked, but he'd insisted that they not speak for a while, to conserve their energy.
"Hey, Thorn."
Mariah looked back.
It was Paul. "Will has nearly passed out, and I'm exhausted, too. Can we stop for a while?"

 
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