Free To Find You Again by Maureen McKade Page B

didn't want to be found.
    Ridge hobbled Paint and then concentrated on rubbing down the horse with the saddle blanket. Once that chore was done, he stepped over to the small fire and added branches from the pile Emma had gathered to feed the hungry flames. He leaned over to sniff the kettle's contents, and everything blurred. Dizziness swirled through him and he nearly pitched forward into the fire. Bracing his legs, he waited for the light-headedness to disappear. His wound's blood loss and his long trek were catching up to him.
    "Are you all right?" Emma asked.
    "Yeah," Ridge lied. He wasn't about to admit to Miss Hartwell any weakness. "What's in the kettle?"
    "Rattlesnake."
    "Kin of yours?"
    An unladylike snort met his ears. Miss Hartwell had more than her share of starch in her ladylike backbone. "More likely yours."
    "At least you haven't lost your sense of humor," Ridge said dryly. "I'm going to have some stew, then I'll feed you."
    "I can feed myself if you untie me."
    "That's not going to happen, ma'am. I don't take kindly to folks who knife me, then drug me." He dug out a tin plate and spoon from his saddlebag. "Makes me mad and when I get mad I get stubborn."
    "Ornery," Emma corrected.
    Ridge shrugged. "I reckon that, too, but you gave me reason enough." He returned to the cookfire and spooned some stew onto his plate, always keeping one eye on the woman. He sat on the ground as he shoveled a bite of food into his mouth. It was better than anything he could've thrown together. "It's good, ma'am."
    "I'm glad you find it to your liking." Emma's voice could've frozen water. "I hope you're going to leave some for me, or is that part of your plan—starve me so I'm too weak to cause any trouble."
    Ridge pretended to consider her suggestion while inwardly amused at her tart words. "That ain't a bad idea."
    "My father would probably appreciate it."
    Ridge glanced sharply at the woman and found her lips curled into a cynical scowl. "I told you I'd feed you."
    "And I'm supposed to take your word for that?"
    "My word's good."
    He glared at her when she looked like she was going to continue arguing, and she lapsed into silence.
    Ridge finished eating though he hardly tasted it. How had he ever thought Emma demure and retiring? She had the uncanny ability to both fluster and anger him in the same breath. It was at least a four-day ride back to Hartwell's ranch. If he had to, he'd gag her for the entire trip.
    He straightened to refill the plate for Emma, and barely stifled a groan. Between the knife wound and his achy muscles, he wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep.
    After carrying the food to Emma, he sat cross-legged beside her. "Hungry?"
    "No."
    "Eat anyhow. I don't want you swooning."
    "I've never swooned in my life."
    Ridge rested his hands on his knees and held the plate between them. "Not even when the Indians got you?"
    "Not even then," she replied quietly.
    "Most women would've."
    "So I've heard." She paused. "I also heard most women would've killed themselves rather than stay with them."
    Ridge met Emma's amber eyes. "I never could understand that. I figure living is the important thing."
    "Then you're not like most white people."
    He shifted uncomfortably. "Better eat afore it gets cold." He raised a spoonful of stew.
    Emma, her gaze never wavering from Ridge, opened her mouth and he stuck the spoon inside. He watched as her lips closed around it, and he drew the spoon out. The full lips remained together and she chewed almost daintily.
    Suddenly realizing he was staring, he looked back at the plate as he refilled the spoon. He kept a tight rein on his thoughts, concentrating on his injured arm's ache instead of Emma's tantalizing lips. He lifted his gaze to her eyes once, only to find her cheeks flushed beneath the grime, and he glanced downward again.
    Some minutes later he scraped the plate clean. "More?"
    She shook her head. "But I would appreciate some water."
    Nodding, he found her canteen and held