Free Compromised Hearts by Hannah Howell

own life in jeopardy more times than I can count. Even followed some Comancheros for hundreds of miles once to bring back some young girls they had stolen. You were lucky to have stumbled upon him, Miss Emily.”
    “Yes, it would seem so,” Emily managed to reply in a strangled voice.
    Several different emotions warred with each other inside her. She was glad the man she was so involved with was not as cold and callous as he pretended. But she was furious that he had played such a game with her. And she was hurt that he would use her so. Rage overwhelmed her for a moment and she thought of immediately confronting Cloud. Yet, to her confusion, she hesitated.
    “I’m just sorry it wasn’t me who found you.”
    The major’s voice pulled her free of her confused thoughts. The middle of a crowded dance floor was no place to make a decision on what she had learned. Firmly, she set the knowledge aside to be mulled over later. Neatly avoiding the major’s attempts to drawher closer as they danced, she concentrated on enjoying the celebration.
    Major Leeds really was a rogue, she thought with an inner smile. It had annoyed her at first, even frightened her a little, but her mood had swiftly improved. Part of that had come about as she realized that he was not after some woman he thought free with her favors, something Emily had feared he thought because of her place with Cloud. The man was simply an incorrigible flirt who thought he had new, fertile ground to explore yet did not get angry when she turned aside his ploys.
    What truly lifted her spirits was that she was discovering something very important about herself. Nothing the major did produced any more than the pleasant feeling one could get from flattery and the attentions of a handsome man. Not the slightest hint of desire or wantonness flickered through her veins. The sense of relief she felt left her almost light-headed.
    One thing that had continuously troubled her, if in varying degrees of intensity, was how swiftly she had succumbed to passion with Cloud. When he held her, she lost all reticence and her morals became nonexistent, only returning later to haunt and scold her for her weakness. She had begun to fear that she suffered from a weakness of the flesh, that she could be one of those women who were little better than whores. Her reactions, or, rather, the lack of them,to the major proved that a groundless fear. Her weakness was simply Cloud Ryder. He was the only one who could so easily undermine all her principles.
    Still giggling over an outrageous piece of flattery from the major, Emily let him escort her to the punch bowl. She was just accepting a drink from him when Cloud appeared at their side, a grinning James with him. Her smile of welcome faltered slightly when she noticed how stern Cloud was looking; then it faded completely when Pamela appeared at Cloud’s side, slipping her arm possessively through his.
    Sternly, Emily told herself not to give in to the jealousy surging through her. Pamela, however, was proving to be a far greater trial than any of the other women. For one thing, Cloud did not seem to be brushing the woman aside. Emily felt a flicker of fear but fought to subdue it. So far Cloud had not turned to any of the other women that had been so obviously willing. She would trust him to continue to stay by her unless he blatantly moved to do otherwise.
    “Emily,” James said cheerfully as he stepped closer to her, “I haven’t had the pleasure of dancing with you yet.”
    “And a great pleasure it is, too,” the major said quietly and kissed Emily’s hand.
    “You are too kind, Major. Well—” Emily quickly finished off her drink, set her glass down and hooked her arm through James’s—"shall we see to correcting that lapse?”
    “Best we had.” “Emily.”
    She looked at Cloud, who was still looking stern. This puzzled her. “Something wrong?”
    “That punch was doctored. It might be wise if you go easy on it.” He could