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time he released her mouth, she could not deny her growing eagerness. It appalled her.
    She could not help wondering if that earlier kiss had influenced her decision. A little voice whispered to her that while she was saving Thornton’s life and her own, she could be paying a price far higher than her chastity. She fought to quell a sudden panic. There really was no choice.
    “There must be one condition,” she gasped, putting her hands on his chest and pushing against him.
    Cloud found it hard to halt his lovemaking. He knew he was very close to tossing her down on the ground and taking her there and then. The strength of his desire for her surprised and somewhat alarmed him, but he had no intention of turning away from her.
    “And what is that condition?” he askedtautly as he fought to control his passion.
    “Consideration for the child. He must be kept as unaware as possible.”
    “You’ll be in my arms every night. That’ll be hard to hide from him.”
    It was impossible to keep down the blush that stained her face, but she struggled to ignore it. “I understand that, but surely there is no need to be too blatant.”
    “In other words, don’t carry on when the boy’s standing there staring at us.”
    Seeing him looking over her shoulder she followed the direction of his gaze. Thornton was watching them with intense curiosity. “That says it quite nicely, Mr. Ryder.”
    Carefully, and with a reluctance he could not hide, he set her on her feet before him. “I think I can manage that. So?” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “A deal?”
    Swallowing her pride, she nodded. “A deal.”
    She thought his smile was annoying. He had gotten what he wanted. There was no need to gloat. Shooting him a glare, she went to pack up her things.
    Cloud returned to the small campsite. Whatever guilt he felt about using her desperate situation to suit his own needs was easily vanquished. He found that, in this case, he had very few scruples. He would get her any way he could.
    “This horse is too fine for a pack animal anyhow,” he said as he removed his things from the animal’s back and stowed them inthe cart. “She’ll serve better as a mount for you. Of course, you’ll have to ride astride.” Emily bit her lip as she watched him prepare the horse for her. She had no fear of horses, but she had no experience riding. It was difficult to admit to him that she had never ridden a horse. However, she knew she had to speak up. She doubted she could pretend that she knew what she was doing and he ought to know her limitations. Emily simply wished that she did not have quite so many of them.
    “Excuse me,” she ventured timidly as he stowed the last of his things in the cart. “Mmmmm?”
    “Well, I think you had better look at me. It’s that sort of news.”
    Frowning, he turned to face her. “You’d better put that hair up.”
    “Pardon?” Her hand went to her still unbound hair. “Oh. Of course.”
    “Indian sees that lot and he’ll be after you like a fox after a chicken.”
    “I see, but I must inform you of something. It could be important.”
    “Get on with it then.”
    “I cannot ride a horse,” she said weakly.
    “Not at all?”
    “I’ve never been on the back of one in my whole life.”
    “How the hell did you get around?”
    “I walked or went by carriage.”
    Muttering things she was glad she did not understand, he placed Thornton on his horse,then grabbed her waist and tossed her onto the back of the other horse. “You’ll learn, honey.”

Chapter Three
    E mily was sure there was a bruise to mark each new lesson in horsemanship. If Cloud was not cussing or yelling at her, he was laughing. Emily felt sure that she would have shot him if she’d possessed a gun.
    The only good thing about riding was that it saved her feet, and the distance was certainly covered with more speed. Emily knew she would reach her destination much faster, but she was not sure she would get there alive. An