Free Jodi Thomas by The Tender Texan Page B

near the water. The sun was warm against her damp flesh, making the water seem even colder as she waded back into the stream and dunked her head.
    The clean water washing through her hair felt like liquid heaven. All the days of muddy roads drained from her mind as she sank deeper into the sparkling water. She took great care to scrub her hair and body. Cleanliness had always been her passion, for somehow she felt if she kept herself clean then the dirt from her family would not touch her: her father’s leaving, her mother’s dishonor, the two times William had raped her.
    Anna considered removing her undergarments but decided to wash the thin cotton on her body rather than risk being totally nude. All the months of basin baths in tiny cramped places made Anna doubly grateful for the open stream and the continuous flow of cool, clear water. Aboard ship she’d often been the second or third person to bathe in the water provided.
    As she splashed from the stream and slipped into Chance’s shirt, the feeling of being clean and fresh enveloped her, calming her mind and relaxing her muscles.
    She began to twirl around, letting her hair fly free; then Chance yelled, reminding her she was not alone. The sharp edge to his words brought her good feelings to a halt. “Are you finished?”
    Slinging her hair over her head, Anna twisted it into the small towel she’d pulled from her bag and yelled, “Almost.” When she raised her head he was only a few feet from her. His rifle was still slung over his shoulder, but the easy stance of before was gone. His narrowed eyes were focused along the line of trees.
    “Someone’s coming.” He lifted his bedroll and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders just as someone stepped from the shadow of the trees.
    Anna heard the air leave his lungs as Chance relaxed. Lowering his gun, he walked toward the visitor. A beautiful, young Indian woman—tall and slender, with tiny feathers tied to the ends of her braided, blue-black hair—greeted him with a formal nod. At her side she carried something wrapped in a hide.
    Nodding in greeting, Chance said, “Anna, this is Walks Tall’s woman.” His next words made no sense to Anna, but the Indian woman looked from Chance to her, and Anna assumed she’d just been introduced. Anna nodded as she’d seen them do.
    When the Indian woman spoke, she lifted the leather package in her hands and gave it to Anna. Glancing at Chance for a translation, Anna accepted the gift.
    “She says her husband is going to heal. The medicine woman fixed his arm so it will mend straight.”
    When the Indian spoke again, Chance suddenly had trouble keeping from laughing. He translated for Anna. “She wishes to help you. She noticed the leather on your boots is hard and rises above the ground in the back like you are walking on sticks. She would like you to take this gift from her.”
    “But—” Anna opened the leather bundle to find a pair of soft Indian boots that looked as if they laced all the way to the knee. They were a warm brown, with a pattern stitched into the seams. They were unlike any boots she’d ever seen.
    Chance interrupted. “Take the gift or you will shame her.”
    Anna smiled and accepted the gift. She ran her hand lightly over the leather, hoping to show how fine she thought the boots were.
    Walks Tall’s woman said a few more words and turned to retrace her steps. Then she disappeared into the shadows of the trees as quietly as she’d appeared. Anna wondered how Chance had heard her approach, for her steps were as light as a blossom’s brush against the ground.
    He grinned and winked at Anna. “We’ve been invited to dinner. You’ll have somewhere to wear those new boots.”
    Anna looked at the leather leg wrappings and shook her head. “I’m not wearing these things.”
    “Oh yes you are. It must have taken her days to make those boots. Indian women soften the leather with their teeth.”
    Anna’s eyes glowed with anger, but the