My Savage Heart (The MacQuaid Brothers) Read Online Free PDF Page B

common sense, Caroline let her head drift to the side, giving him free access to her slender neck, belying her words of protest.
    His hands were strong, the pads of his long fingers roughened, but his touch was gentle... soothing.
    “Is that better?”
    His voice, low and sensual, coaxed Caroline’s eyes open. His touch relaxed her at the same time it excited. She cleared her throat, trying to regain control of a situation gotten too far out of hand. “Yes, that’s much better, thank you.” Abruptly she forced her feet to the floor, pushing past him, putting space between them. “You wanted to tell me what time to be ready in the morning.” Caroline lifted her hand to her cheek. Somehow he’d removed the wooden pins from her hair, and it now hung free past her shoulders.
    “I did.” With her hair down and her color high, her blue eyes still languid from his touch, Wolf found it difficult to look away from her. Perhaps he was under the spell of his own seduction. Who wouldn’t be attracted to a woman so easily excited. “Plan to rise early. It’s best if we leave by dawn.”
    “Because of the impending war?” The question was out before Caroline could stop herself. But there was no use pretending she hadn’t overheard his discussion with Mr. Walker.
    “No. Simply because I want to get as much traveling in by daylight as we can.”
    “Oh.” Caroline twisted her fingers and began pacing the width of the room. He still sat on the window seat and though he made no comment about her question, she felt as though she should explain. “I didn’t mean to listen to your conversation with Mr. Walker.”
    There was enough light in the room for her to notice the skeptical arch of his brow. Caroline rearranged the silver handled brush and mirror on the mahogany dresser. So much for her halfhearted attempt to apologize. She turned to face him. “Is there to be a war between the Cherokee and the English?”
    “I think so. France and England seem unable to leave well enough alone.”
    “And what is ‘well enough’?”
    Wolf settled back against the window. “Excellent question. And one too complex to answer quickly. Perhaps we can discuss this issue in detail if you’d like me to stay.”
    He sounded almost as if he expected her to agree. But with the distance between them, Caroline felt more confident. She shook her head slowly, aware of the soft, swishing sound of her hair against her silk bodice. “No. I thank you for rescuing me from my uncomfortable bed.” She nodded her head toward the window seat. “But I think ’tis time you leave. If we are to be up before dawn.”
    Wolf shrugged and settled back against the window, ignoring her annoyed expression. “The Cherokee want fairness. Fair prices for our skins. Fair prices placed on the goods they must buy.”
    “From the English?” Caroline felt drawn in despite her contention that he leave.
    “Or the French.”
    “But... but I thought the English and Cherokee were allies. How can they wish to trade with the enemy?”
    “The English honor the treaties as long as it serves their purpose. They send traders to the Cherokee Towns as long as it remains profitable to do so. When they decide not to trade, our women are left with no pots, our warriors run out of bullets for their rifles.” Wolf lifted his palms for emphasis.
    Caroline left her position of safety beside the dresser. Like iron filings drawn to lodestone, she moved toward Raff. He shifted to the side so she could sit down. “Is that what has happened? Have the English stopped trading with the Cherokee?”
    “That is one problem. The trade arrangement always was one-sided. Now... the Cherokee have learned to rely on the goods from England.”
    “But surely if the traders understood...”
    Wolf’s laugh lacked humor. “The English understand what they’re doing all too well. What they don’t comprehend is the Cherokee. We will—” Shaking his head, Wolf pushed to his feet. “I was right