A Ransomed Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

call me Kit. Logan would like you to sleep in the tent tonight.”
    She nodded her head but said nothing.
    “I have heated some water up over the fire and put it in the basin by the bed.  I apologize it will make a scant bath, but I will make sure no one disturbs you while you wash. Does that work for you?”
    She fought back tears again, he was being so kind. “Thank you,” her voice a whisper.
    Kit expertly untied the rope that had held her captive then opened the tent flap and gently pushed her in.  On the right side of the room was a cot with a bedroll on it, on the ground was the basin Kit had told her about.  It wasn’t very big but there was a generous amount of water in it. She dipped her finger in and found it a very comfortable temperature.  There was nothing other than the same three footed stool she had sat on when they arrived at camp.  Looking around to make sure there were no windows or peepholes to be found she cautiously unbuttoned the bodice of her gown.  Slipping it off, she laid it on the bed roll and proceeded with the rest of her dress.  The bed was piled high by the time she was finished and some of the petticoats had toppled and were brushing the dirt floor.  The tub was so inviting though so Annabelle disregarded them and slipped her bloomers and sleeveless chemise off, shivering as the cool breeze brushed against her naked skin.  Quickly she climbed into the metal tub and sunk to the bottom.
    The minutes slowed and she felt the stress of the day melt away with the warm water. Closing her eyes she plunged her head under the water and held her breath as long as she could. Lifting her face to the surface she drew a deep breath and again submerged herself in the warm water. She waited until it felt as if her lungs would burst then she rushed to the top and popped her head out of the water.  Her face was wet and a rush of cool air caused her to shiver. Confused she quickly wiped the water away and looked in the direction of door. There stood Logan with mixture of anger and shock on his face.
    Not knowing what to do , Annabelle reached for a nearby petticoat and pulled it up to her neck. She hunkered down in the bath and glared at him.
    “What are you doing?”  she shot at him, her eyes on fire.
    His eyes flickered , too. “Why didn’t you answer me?”
    “What ?”
    “I asked if I could come in and you didn’t answer.”
    “So you thought you’d just come barging in?” She felt the anger bubbling up inside of her.
    “No , I thought…”
    “What, I had drowned?!”
    His brow puckered. “No, that you had run off!” he snapped at her. “What are you doing in there?”
    “Kit told me I could take a bath, is there something wrong with that?”
    Logan would talk to Kit about it later. She was their hostage, not their sister, she didn’t need any special accommodations and it would do her good to go without for a couple of days. 
    “Well get out of there, we use it for washing up and there is a whole group of guys out here who need it.”
    Defiantly she remained seated in the water. “Make me!”
    He ’d just about had it with her smart mouth. Quick as a wink he crossed over to the tub and pushed on the side of the metal bin causing it to teeter precariously on its side. Equally as quick, Annabelle leapt from the tub clutching the flimsy white cloth to her body, doing her best not to be exposed. She scrambled to the bed and jumped on top of the clothes. Logan lifted the corner of the basin draining the warm water all over the dirt floor. Effortlessly he picked up the wash bin and carried it out the door.  “Goodnight, Bella, try not to get those delicate feet of yours dirty.”
    If s he had been dressed she would have gone after him and clawed his wicked blue eyes out, instead she buried her face in the pile of clothes and screamed until her throat hurt.  The audacity of him, he had no right being so familiar with her, seeing her half naked and using her Christian name. To