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Could it be?

Belle caught her breath and forgot all of her anger toward thehe could hear her over the shrieking winds because if he couldn't, she'd soon be tra when he heard her cry out, and when it resumed, his pulse raced double-time He could just barely make out her form in the path about ten yards ahead of hi in the darkness and glowed like a halo He quickly crossed the distance between them and slid off his horse

"John?" Belle quavered, barely able to believe that he was right there in front of her

"Shhh, my love, I'm here now" He knelt down in the mud and cradled her face in his hands "Where does it hurt?"

"I'et you ho her quickly turned to fear when he lifted her into his arms and felt her violent shivers Dear God, she had been out in this freezing rain for at least an hour, and her heavy riding habit was now soaked

"I was-I was trying to cr-crawl hoet out "I'm so cold"

"I know, I know," he crooned Hell, why had she been crawling? But John didn't have tierous shade of blue, and he knew that he had to get her warmed up immediately "Can you sit in the saddle, love?" he asked, seating her atop the horse

"I don't know I'm so cold"

Belle started to slide out of the saddle as John wason to Thor's neck until I'm up there with you I promise I'll hold you steady the whole way ho on to the stallion with all herared into hi," she said weakly, feeling like a child who had to explain herself "I'rooht "Follow me back," John yelled He didn't have time to fill them in on the details of Belle's condition He kicked Thor into a full gallop, and they crashed through the trees

Nestled firo of the fierce hich had been propelling her before She felt heraway from her body, and truth be told, she was so dao She went nuely content now that her aches and pains were receding "I'm not so cold anymore," she murmured in an eerie voice