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Already soaked to the skin in a few short ed course while torrents of rain pelted down Duncan kept the horses at a brisk trot, not wanting thee was small and dark But most important, it was dry Duncan quickly helped Tara inside, then rushed to care for the horses

Tara shook out her cloak and hung it on a hook beside the door The sack of food Mrs Claunch had given them for Ian and Lora would have to do until the rain let up After wiping off the only table, Tara set their provisions down and searched the cupboard for cups

A small bed, covered with blankets, dominated the space Tara fluffed off the collected dust, scattering any spiders from their would-be home

Even inside, Tara could see her breath She noticed the fireplace and pined for a match There ood outside stacked up on the porch so she knew once Duncan returned, they wouldn’t be cold

It was nice having a personal fire starter, she thought Until he returned fro with the horses, she curled up under one of the blankets to keep froer than necessary It didn’t take hirain, but he dawdled

Inside the small cabin was a woman he desired more than life itself He accounted his rampant emotions to the vows they took, but somewhere deeper, he kneasonce he passed through the door of the cottage

As sure as the sun would shine the next day, he kneould have her Their passion had sih

She was his wife, even if she didn’t know it yet

Duncan wondered if he should tell her, before…

then decided against it The knowledge would shock and anger her He wanted her passionate, not irate

With a temper as lethal as the color of her hair, he wouldn’t chance confronting her with the facts until she was his, completely

Confident in his plan, he squared his shoulders and entered the cabin

She sat balled up on the bed, shaking like a leaf in the wind

“Why didn’t you start a fire?”

“Withhh whaat?” she chattered

He went to the fireplace with pal inside the hearth and kept his hands elevated until it caught

The atht of the fire “I should have started one before I left to do my chores”

“It’s o-okay” Tara held her hands in an effort to stop her body fro But with her hair and clothes drenched, her effort was useless She shrugged off the blanket and stood near the fire “D-do you think you can show ar them with hers “Of course, maybe once you’ve warmed up” His hands rubbed the chill froet out of this” He helped unlace her gown, trying not to notice her silky skin Her chemise wasn’t very wet and covered most of her