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"It's going to be all right, Cassie We'll be safe here, and the moisture in the cave will keep the dust down It'll be over before you know it"

He was so sweet, so dependable - so unlike her father But once her father was like that For the first tio back to those fond le up on her father's lap and fall asleep

She leaned against Bordeaux The war of security Was she in love with Bordeaux? Could she ever truly love any man?

Exhaustion made itself known, and her head nodded If Bordeaux hadn't caught her, she would have fallen He lifted her in his arms and she allowed him to carry her deeper into the cave There he scooped a bed in the sandy floor, away from the moist walls She curled into a ball and he covered her with his coat In an hour or so the storet a little rest while they waited

So The wind still whistled at thehad it been? Thirtyinto the darkness Where was Bordeaux - and the lamp?

"Chauncey?" she whispered anxiously

"Over here" His voice reached out to her from only a few feet away

She crawled toward the sound and snuggled up to his warm body At the moment, code of conduct took second place to comfort He arm and she was cold That was all there was to it With that she fell asleep again

When she woke again, daylight was strea The cave was daainst her back, one ar thrown carelessly over hers

His breath war relaxed puffs He was asleep

She lay quiet, si the feel of him Was this what it would be like to beof security? She ran her fingers along his ed to short bursts He pulled her close and softly kissed her neck

Her heart lurched and pounded unmercifully He ake! Unsure whether to move away from him or verbally fend hiently turn her body so that he could gaze into her eyes