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Cassie leaned sideways and looked up at Bordeaux

"Where are we going?"

"They have a camp not far away We'll be safe there"

"Are they friends of yours?"

He chuckled softly "I suppose you could call it that"

She raised a quizzical eyebrow, but he didn't explain

As exhausted as she was, riding on the horse with hi There was no need to hold on to her, but his arm around her waist elcome all the same

The ride turned out to be short It was hard to believe a village could be this close and they didn't knoas there

As they entered the Indian encampment, hostile black eyes turned to follow theazed expressionlessly from their work as the horses passed therease and wood sainst Bordeaux and clutched the arm that encircled her waist Bordeaux whispered in her ear

"Don't act afraid"

"Who's acting?" She whispered

They halted in front of a doreet a withered old ripped Bordeaux's arrin

Cassie waited while they talked They took their ti minutes pass between bits of conversation Gradually, the woray haired wo The old wohed and pointed at her shirt

Cassie shifted her attention from the women They were curious and she must be quite a spectacle Her body was sticky with perspiration and her clothes were caked with dust Under the hat, her hair was filthy and matted At the moment, she'd rather be out there in the desert - alone

After what seemed like hours, but probably wasn't more than thirtyhiroup, he strode to his horse and helped her down

"We're going to stay here for the night The chief tells me there was a battle west of here Apparently the cavalry caught up with the renegades We can rest tonight and head for Ashley in the asped "I can hardly wait to take a bath"

He s in her torn and dirty clothes

"We can take care of the bath right here"

"Here?" She glanced around at the arid camp

"Co for a ju water welcomed them She was instantly thirsty