Free Brave the Wild Wind by Johanna Lindsey Page B

looked at him sharply, but his expression revealed none of what he was thinking. “I can’t imagine what he’s doing out there, but I’m not conceited enough to think he would come looking for me.”
    “Well, just in case he did, why don’t we show him you’re not available?”
    Before she caught on, Chase pulled her into his arms, and his mouth came down on hers. The contact was as jolting as being knocked off a horse. She was stunned, leaning back against his arms, letting herself succumb to the pressure of his lips. But even as she came to her senses, she didn’t move. She liked the feel and taste of him, the heady sensation overcoming her. She’d certainly never been kissed like that before, and she realized it was because he knew what he was doing.
    Why, it was experience, of course! Chase knew women very well, she reminded herself. Even as Jessie became indignant, however, she couldn’t quite bring herself to pull away.
    But they had both forgotten Little Hawk. Chase released Jessie as soon as he heard the horse galloping toward them. In a second, the Indian was leaping off his horse. Chase didn’t even have time to raise his hands in defense before Little Hawk, flying through the air, caught him at the throat and threw him to the ground.
    Jessie stared, wide-eyed. She had never seen such a graceful leap from a galloping horse. But why wasn’t Chase getting up to fight? Hewasn’t moving. Little Hawk pulled out his knife.
    “No!” she shouted at him. “Little Hawk!”
    She ran forward, getting there just as he reached Chase, and stepped between them. She and Little Hawk stared at each other for several moments. Finally he put his knife away and looked down at Chase. He spoke angrily, then fired rapid signs at her.
    She was confused, interpreting as best she could. “You want to know what he is to me? But I don’t see—”
    She stopped, remembering that he couldn’t understand her. “Maybe you’re just crazy,” she muttered. “I can’t explain…He means nothing to me.”
    “Then why did you kiss him?”
    Jessie gasped. “Why, you bastard!” she cried. “You knew English all the time . You let me rack my brains to try to remember sign language, so—Oh! When I think how frightened I was, and all you had to do was tell—”
    “You talk too much, woman,” Little Hawk grunted. “Tell me why you kissed this man.”
    “I didn’t. He did the kissing, and he did it so you would go away. There was no other reason for it, since he doesn’t like me and I can’t stand him. And why the hell am I explaining this to you? Why did you attack him?”
    “Did you want his attention?”
    “No, but—”
    Little Hawk didn’t stay to listen, but went to his horse. He mounted and came back, sitting looking down at her.
    “White Thunder has returned to his winter camp,” he said casually.
    “So you do know him?”
    “I have made his acquaintance since I met you. He tells me you have no man, only your father.”
    “My father recently died.”
    “Then you have no one?”
    “I need no one,” she answered, exasperated.
    Little Hawk smiled, surprising her yet again. “We will meet again, Looks Like Woman.”
    “Damn!” she swore, turning back to Chase as Little Hawk rode away. He was lying still but breathing normally. She examined his head for damage and found a thick lump. She went to the creek, filled her hat with water, and threw the water in his face.
    He came up sputtering and groaning, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
    “Did that sonofabitch attack me?” Chase asked, feeling his head. He winced as he found the tender bump.
    “He could have killed you,” Jessie said harshly. “You’re not much of a fighter.”
    He frowned. “What are you so riled about? Did you have to shoot him?”
    “No, I didn’t have to shoot him. And I wouldn’t trade his life for yours, anyway.”
    Her venom stung him. “You really hate me, don’t you?”
    “Does it show?”
    She moved away to saddle her