Free Rogue's Hostage by Linda McLaughlin

she opened her eyes, he was staring quizzically at her. "Is something wrong?" she finally murmured.
    "No, I was just wondering what you were wishing for. You had such a look of sadness on your face."
    Embarrassed, she looked away. "You are not supposed to tell anyone what you wished for. Otherwise the wish won’t come true."
    He spread his hands at his sides. "But, as you said, these are not real stars. Besides, if I know what you want, I might be able to help."
    "It is too late, monsieur. All the wishing in the world will not bring my husband back to life."
    He said nothing, just looked at her sadly.
    "We came to America with such hope," she said. "Emile wanted his own land, something to leave to our children." Only there were no children.
    Corbeau raised an eyebrow. "So your husband decided to emigrate, and you came without complaint because you were a dutiful wife."
    Mara bit her lip. "I can’t say I never complained. I was not very dutiful."
    "Somehow that does not surprise me, little shrew."
    Mara thought she heard a hint of laughter in his voice, but she was unable to see anything amusing in her situation. "In any case, the end result is the same. He is dead, and I am your captive." She could not keep the bitterness out of her voice.
    His tone changed to one of sympathy. "The war will not last forever. I will probably be sent back to France when it is over."
    "Yes, but you are a soldier. The army will take care of you. No doubt, you will go back to France a hero," she said with a hint of sarcasm.
    He laughed harshly. "I have no intention of remaining in France. There is nothing there for me now. But what of you? Will you return to Geneva?"
    "I couldn’t afford the cost of passage."
    "Have you no savings?"
    "It took every penny we had to cross the Atlantic. We sold everything of value to pay for our passage and to buy land. But at least we did not have to sell ourselves into servitude, as so many others have done. Emile said we were the lucky ones." Her voice broke, and she cleared her throat. "I do not feel lucky."
    "Is there no one to help you? Have you no family?"
    "My parents are dead."
    "Then you are alone in the world."
    "Yes." Except for Gideon. When he found her, everything would be all right. She sighed and rubbed her arms for warmth.
    Corbeau propped the torch between two rocks and took her hand in his. "You’re cold."
    "It is chilly in here. Perhaps we should go back." She tried to extricate her hand, but he tugged her off balance, and they both sank to the floor of the cave. She was trembling now, uncertain of what he intended. For a second she considered screaming for help, but who would come to her rescue? Gray Wolf? A whimper forced its way past the constriction in her throat.
    "Easy, I’m not going to harm you." He said it gently as he turned her so that she was leaning against his chest, his arms around her. She stopped protesting, for the heat emanating from his body felt good.
    Sitting there, with his warm arms wrapped around her, Mara relaxed slightly. There was something about the almost complete darkness of the cave and the winking lights above, as if they were in another world, one far from strife and turmoil. A place where she felt safe, if only for a short time.
    "Do not despair, madame," he whispered into her ear. "It should be possible to find a way for you to go home. Trust me."
    "Trust you," she repeated.
    "Would you rather trust Gray Wolf?"
    His words shattered her momentary peace. "They still want to kill me, don’t they?"
    His hold tightened around her. "I will not let that happen."
    "Why not?"
    "My conscience wouldn’t allow it." He sighed. "Whether you believe it or not, I do have a conscience."
    "Then I am grateful."
    His throaty voice purred in her ear. "Your gratitude is not what I want, madame."
    Mara’s heart began to pound. "Nevertheless, you have it."
    She refused to dwell on what it was he did want.
----

Chapter 5
     
    "There it is," Jacques announced. "Fort Duquesne of the