Captive Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

look.
    “We don’t have time for theatrics, Miss Madsen. Not if you value your life.” He loosened his grip, carefully slid her foot into the boot, then used his knife to slice the sides a bit as well. What kind of idiot designed women’s shoes? he wondered. Her boots were about the most impractical things for walking he’d ever seen. She’d do better just going barefoot, but he knew Miss Prim and Proper—with her wool already rebuttoned to the neck—would balk at that idea, so he kept his mouth shut.
    Thayne made adjustments to her other boot, and she held her foot out to him. He slipped it into the boot, tied up the laces as loose as he dared, and leaned back. “There. That’ll be . . .” His voice trailed off as he took in her face, a brighter shade of crimson than even the sunburn had produced. He watched as she tucked her feet beneath the bed, demurely crossing her slender ankles.
    “In the future, I would prefer . . . to . . . put on my own shoes,” she said in a halting voice. She looked down at her hands, clasping and unclasping them in her lap.
    He puzzled at her behavior for a second, half expecting her to deck him if she was that angry. When she didn’t and refused to look up, it became clear she wasn’t mad at all—or at least not as much as she was embarrassed. Belatedly, he realized she’d probably never had a man touch her ankles before. She’s not Christina. Thanks be for that.
    Thayne stood and walked toward the door, thinking it was a darn good thing Miss Madsen had been unconscious when he’d taken her corset off. If a simple thing like him putting her shoes on had thrown her off balance, she’d have probably died if she’d felt his hands on her back.
    Instead, he was the one left bothered by the memory.
    He tried but couldn’t entirely shake the image away—her parted lips, the sudden intake of breath as her lungs had filled, unrestricted.
    He clenched his fists as he recalled balling her jacket beneath her head and brushing the wisps of hair from her delicate face.
    Cursing silently, Thayne stepped outside into the sunshine. He picked up the bucket, cupped his hand, and splashed cool rain water onto his stubbly face. He didn’t like where his thoughts were heading and recognized the need to change their direction quickly. Best to keep things safe by getting her all riled up again. He didn’t suspect it would be too hard to do.
    Apparently she had the same idea.
    “I suppose it’d be too much to hope you’re civilized enough to have some sort of privy around here.” Her voice was firm again—and annoyed.
    “How should I know what’s—” Understanding dawned. Thayne turned to her, irritation written plainly on his face. “You think I live here?”
    “Don’t you?” She stepped outside, her hand to her forehead, shielding her eyes from the sun.
    “No.” He looked around at the deserted yard and poorly built soddie, offended that she’d thought it was his home. Then again, he reasoned, what else should she think when he hadn’t been able to provide even the basic necessities of food and water for the past two days?
    What did he care what she thought, anyway?
    “This isn’t my place. My circumstances are somewhat—different.”
    “Oh. Of course.” She folded her arms across her chest and seemed to look down at him, though she had to be close to a foot shorter. “You’re an outlaw. You don’t have a home.” She turned on her heel and, with a swish of her ugly skirt, walked around the corner of the cabin.
    Thayne pulled the dusty hat from his head and wiped perspiration from his brow. The storm had only added to the humidity, and his attempts to help Miss Madsen had only upset her more. It seemed today was going to be more miserable than the previous.

Chapter 6
    Thayne emptied the bullets from the chamber into his palm, then closed the gun and handed it to Miss Madsen. “It’d be better if you could shoot at some targets, but we haven’t got bullets to