Innocent Fire Read Online Free PDF

her, she looked back to see Welsh watching her with undisguised male interest. He immediately turned away. Miranda flushed. She didn’t know exactly what his look meant, but it disturbed her greatly. Dear God, there was no privacy at all on the trail! Once she reached the creek, she wandered up the bank a bit until she was just out of sight.
    It was so beautiful here, Miranda thought wistfully. Almost eerie in the twilight. The air was fragrant with honeysuckle and something else she couldn’t identify. She unbuttoned her dark green jacket and removed it for the first time that day. She glanced over her shoulder, but there was not a soul around. She wanted to remove her high-necked blouse so that she could scrub her arms and chest and throat, but that would be scandalous. She settled for unbuttoning the top six buttons instead and pushing the sleeves up to her elbows. She bathed her arms, the top of her chest, under her arms (without removing the shirt, of course!), and her throat and face. She felt so much better.
    Miranda hesitated. She cast another quick glance over her shoulder, but of course no one was watching. She pulled her heavy muslin skirt up to her knees, wincing at the thought of what would happen if her aunt appeared at that moment. She carefully rolled down her stockings and removed them, quickly bathing her feet, ankles, calves, and knees. Then she replaced her stockings, fastened the garters, slipped on her kid boots, and stood, turning.
    Bragg smiled. “Finished?”
    Miranda stood as still as a cornered hare, her heart going wild. “How long were you watching?” she managed stiffly, her face flaming.
    Bragg shifted the rifle in his hand and shrugged, but a wide grin lit up his face. “You have very pretty legs,” he said easily. “But—”
    Miranda took three strides over and slapped him as hard as she could across the face. “You go too far!” she cried. “You have done nothing but insult me and treat me like some cheap harlot since we’ve met! How dare you spy on me while I bathe?”
    He was staring, shocked, then he started to laugh. “Miranda! First off, it’s not safe for you to ever be alone—and, sweetheart, you couldn’t kill a fly with your strength!” He was still laughing. “And if you call that bathing, well…” His laughter trailed off.
    “You’re repulsive,” she whispered stiffly. “You’re barbaric, completely uncivilized.” She realized she was getting a reaction, for his face had grown hard and his laughter had stopped abruptly. “You disgust me—although I know it’s uncharitable for me to feel so. I should feel sorry for you, for how could you know how to treat a lady?”
    Bragg’s face had been growing darker by the second, and his eyes were glittering dangerously. Miranda felt fear then, and all her anger and indignation fled. She took a quick step to go past him—to flee—but his arm whipped out and he grabbed her, pulling her roughly against his side.
    “I’m the trail boss here,” he snarled. “And my word is law. I told you to inform me when you want to bathe. You never leave camp without supervision.” His grip tightened,and Miranda cried out. “Is that clear? Lady Miranda?” He pronounced her title mockingly.
    “You’re hurting me,” she whispered, trembling. She could feel his body against hers, as hard as a rock. He abruptly released her and she stumbled slightly. She wrapped her arms across her chest, hugging herself, and tears welled up in her eyes. He was so cruel! She bit back a sob and ran blindly to the camp.
    Bragg stared after her, frowning with agitation. Stupid twit! He had given a direct order, and she had disobeyed. Of course, the danger here was only from a stray wolf, but in a few days there would be Indians to worry about. He could not let anyone start to disobey him now.
    He followed her back to the camp, his jaw clenched. The image of her long, willowy legs came to his mind, making his groin ache. I’m lusting after my