Free The Endless Sky (Cheyenne Series) by Shirl Henke Page A

Remingtons have destroyed that spirit, destroyed her soul.”
           “I remember your grandfather from when we were children, sitting in the church pew while he thundered hellfire and brimstone on the congregation. It must have been hard for you to understand each other.”
           ‘‘Literally as well as figuratively. I couldn't speak a word of English when I was brought to him as a six-year-old. I learned English quickly enough.”
           “But never to understand him? He's a harsh man. I'll never forget that day he caught us fishing in the river.” She shivered, remembering Jeremiah Remington's piercing blue eyes and harsh voice as he towered over them, dragging them dripping from their innocent childhood game.
           “Neither will I.” He smiled wryly, patting his buttocks. “I paid a dear price for enticing a young girl to take off her clothes.”
           Under his teasing grin she felt her face heat once more. “The punishment must have been singularly ineffective judging from how adroit you've become at undressing females over the years,” she retorted.
           “Miss Summerfield, you are a caution,” Chase replied, throwing his head back and laughing heartily.
           “I like you this way...laughing and happy.”
           “I suppose I am happy when I'm with you,” he said consideringly, surprised to find it was true. “You're the only woman I know who I can talk with and not end up in bed with.”
           “That's where we began as I recall. I must really be a bluestocking if my conversation is more stimulating than...the other.”
           “I was speaking about your mind, Stevie, which I happen to enjoy purely aside from your body, which as you damn well ought to know I want in the worst way.” He glanced back to where their groom had dismounted and was examining his horse's hoof. “Let's play hooky,” he said softly. “Follow me.”
           He kicked his stallion into a gallop and Stephanie urged her own mount to follow at the breakneck speed. They raced off the road into a stand of evergreens down by the river. Chase brought his big black to a stop at the bank of the river with Stephanie close behind. The thick hemlocks completely hid them, encircling the gentle slope down to the bright rushing current below. They were completely alone.
           He swung down from Thunderbolt and reached up to her. “Now, allow me to reassure you of your desirability, Miss Summerfield.”
           Stephanie's heart began to pound uncontrollably.
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
           The fire in his eyes was smoldering as those dark, long-fingered hands encircled her waist. Her breath caught as she leaned toward him, placing her hands on his shoulders, allowing him to lift her from the sidesaddle as if she, tall, gawky Stephanie, weighed no more than thistledown. He did not play the gentleman and set her cleanly on the ground, but rather drew her body intimately against his, so that she slid slowly down the length of his tall, hard frame.
           Stephanie could feel every muscle in spite of the layers of clothing separating them. When her feet finally touched the earth she continued to hold onto his shoulders. One of his hands slid from her waist to press against the small of her back while the other reached to her face, stroking her cheek and jaw with delicacy. The whole time their eyes locked, soft gold with hard obsidian.
           “I recognized this stubborn little chin before anything else that night across the ballroom floor,” he said in a husky mesmerizing voice, stroking her jaw line, then splaying his fingers on her throat to feel the furious race of her pulse.
           His eyes studied her mouth now, examining it with such intense deliberation that she could feel her lips tremble in response. “Are you going to kiss me, Chase?” she asked boldly.
           The whiteness of his