Innocent Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

his hypnotic stare, helpless, and she let out a long-held breath through parted, quivering lips.
    “Ma’am?” He broke the spell. “Are you feeling ill?”
    Miranda flushed and looked down, away, anywhere but at him. God, how could he kneel so close to her, it was so improper! She trembled. “No, I’m just not hungry,” she whispered. “I’m too tired to be hungry.” Her gaze was pointedly averted.
    Without looking, she knew when he had left, and a hugetide of relief swept over her. But then, before she could count to three, he was there again, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders. His touch sent another shudder through her. Mistaking it for fear and repulsion, she shrank against the tree.
    Bragg studied her, scowling darkly, then he stood up. Was the little mouse afraid of him? The thought irritated him. “You’re too skinny already,” he said brusquely. “You have to eat. We travel all day, every day.” With the tip of his toe, he pushed her plate at her.
    She tensed, fought briefly for control, then gave in to her baser nature. She looked up with a smoldering glare. “You’re here to escort me to Texas, sir! But don’t tell me what to put in my body, thank you!” The minute the words were out, Miranda couldn’t believe that it was she who had spoken them. Why was she angry? But how dare he presume to order her to eat?
    Worse, he chuckled. “So the mouse has some spine,” he said, laughing as he walked away.
    The insult made her stiffen even more. Is that what he thought she was—a plain, drab, timid mouse? This man had done nothing but insult her from the moment they had met—treating her like a cheap tart, now calling her a mouse—it was too much!

Chapter 4
    “Excuse me, Captain Bragg. When can I bathe?”
    Bragg stared, startled, then he grinned, imagining her naked in the creek below. “Why, any time at all, ma’am. The creek’s that way.” He pointed through the trees. They had just made their camp for the night after traveling another long, hard day.
    Her violet eyes widened and she gasped. “In the creek?”
    He chuckled. “You didn’t expect me to lug along a nice brass tub for you now, did you, ma’am?” He started away, then abruptly turned back. “If you intend to bathe,” he said, no longer smiling, his features hard, “you must tell me first.”
    Miranda couldn’t believe what she’d heard, and she went to her aunt, who was sitting wearily, rubbing her spine. “Aunt Elizabeth! Captain Bragg just told me we’re to take our baths in the creek!”
    “We will do no such thing,” her aunt responded grimly. “You will do no such thing,” she added.
    “Of course not!” Miranda gasped. “ Je voudrais…mon Dieu ! I’m so dirty—I smell!”
    Her aunt patted her shoulder. “Ignore it, dear. From what I’ve gathered, in a few days we’ll be at Natchitoches, and there’s lodging there.”
    “A few days!” Miranda sighed. “I guess I’m just goingto have to get used to this. Mais —oh! I wish I could dare bathe in the creek!”
    “Miranda!”
    Miranda bit her lip. She had never been unclean a day in her life. Cleanliness was next to godliness. She stood. “Well, I’m going to go down to the creek and wash my face and arms and anything else that I can. Will you come with me?”
    “I’ll be down shortly, dear. I need to rest my poor bones.”
    “Are you all right?” Miranda was worried. After only two days on the trail, her aunt was looking wan and pale.
    “Yes, go ahead. Wait! Is it safe?”
    “The captain told me I could use the creek. I assume so.” She shrugged in a very French way, then gathered a change of clothes. She paused at Welsh’s side as he stirred beans—not again!—and told him where she was going. He nodded.
    Miranda took her clothes, a sponge, a towel, and a bar of scented soap with her and tentatively made her way to the stream that lay just in sight of the camp. She stumbled on exposed roots and rocks. Suddenly feeling eyes upon