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“Daled in the long skirts when she tried to stand up

“Are you hurt?” Bull Giles crouched in front of her and reached forward to grip the upper part of her arms

“I’aze down as he helped her up

“You’re tre with a er and hurt

“I’m okay, really,” she insisted

“You’d better let me help you to the cabin” Bull started to put his arm around her shoulders for support, but Lorna spread her hands across his broad chest to stop him

“No really …” Her protest died when she lifted her head and saw the unde in his eyes “Don’t look at me like that, Bull,” Lorna whispered

“It was seein’ Benteen in there with her, wasn’t it?” he guessed “The man’s a fool If you ever want to leave him, Lorna, just say the word and I’ll take you and the boys anywhere you want to go I’ll look after you You know that”

“Don’t” She shook her head “I could never leave him”

His big callused hand brushed the side of her face in an involuntary caress The deep, gentle longing was there in his eyes for her to see It changed the harshness of his blunted features into vulnerability There was a faint noise, but it didn’t have any significance to Lorna until she heard the savage bite of Benteen’s voice “Get your hands off my wife!”

Lorna whirled around to face him He towered above them on the steps She whitened when she saw his hand on the butt of his gun Suddenly a woman’s hand closed around his wrist to check any attempt to draw it from the holster

Benteen’s hot gaze shifted to the woman at his side “Get him out of here before I kill him”

Lorna’s feet seeround as Lady Crawford descended the steps with an unhurried grace Lorna stared at Benteen, feeling the violence that e

“Help y, Mr Giles,” Lady Crawford ordered calmly

Lorna hardly noticed her two small sons hurry over to stand beside her and wave to Bull as the buggy rolled away When Benteen turned on his heel to stride into the house, a shudder racked through her body