Free Daring Masquerade by Margaret Tanner

she could not move.
    He stood in front of her with his hands on his hips, rocking back on his heels. Life tingled back into her limbs.
    "Go to hell," she yelled, ducking away from him.
    "No you don't." He pounced on her, scooping her up in his arms with ease.
    She fought like a wild thing, desperation giving her the strength of a man. Kicking out at him proved fruitless and he effortlessly strode towards the water and dumped her in fully clothed.
    "Count yourself lucky I didn't strip you off first. Next time I will," he threatened.
    "I hate you," she spluttered at his departing back, wanting to do something to humiliate him.
    She didn't know where she found the strength to stop from stripping off her shirt and waistcoat in front of him. How would he feel then? She stayed in the water, not daring to move, because if she stood up, no power on earth would stop her from ripping the shirt off and flaunting her bare breasts in his face.
    Think of Gil, she reminded herself desperately; he liked working with the Calverts. They needed the money to build up a stake to buy their own place.
    Gritting her teeth, she remained in the water, watching as the men started dressing.
    You pig, Ross Calvert. She blinked back angry tears. Boys don't cry. Boys never cry.
    She waited until the men filed off before standing up and checking that the waistcoat covered her wet, clinging shirt which would reveal her nipples. It wasn't cold. The sun, slipping behind the mountains like a giant red ball, still had plenty of heat in it. At night it wouldn't get cold out here either.
    Climbing out of the water she squelched towards their camp. Bloody pig. She fought to keep the vision of his virile male body from flashing across her brain. His shoulders and chest were tanned, so he obviously worked stripped to the waist sometimes. The jagged scar running down his cheek and neck widened before splaying out slightly just before it became buried in the dark whorls of hair on his chest. The shoulder wound looked as if a deep hole had been roughly gouged into his flesh. Dear God, what was she thinking of? She couldn't even remember what the other men looked like, yet she could have painted Ross’ body in its entirety on a piece of canvas.
    The men stood around the campfire eating when she finally returned.
    "Enjoy your swim?" Ross tormented.
    She ignored him and went to her saddle bags to pull out a clean shirt. Why did he find it necessary to pick on her all the time?
    He was obviously suspicious, always trying to work out what made her tick. He couldn't suspect her gender. His contemptible actions proved this. Like any decent man he would be shocked and mortified if he knew.
    She squelched into the undergrowth and removed her upper clothing and slipped on the dry shirt. Her wet pants clung to her legs but she had to put up with the discomfort. Thank goodness it wasn't cold or she would freeze to death. She draped her wet waistcoat and shirt over a bush near the fire to dry out before helping herself to some food and a mug of tea. Positioning herself well away from the men, she forced some food down her throat, almost gagging on every mouthful. Without the added protection of the waistcoat she felt somehow exposed, vulnerable.
    When Ross and one of the men went to relieve Gil and Jack, she breathed a sigh of relief. Even if the waistcoat was still damp by tomorrow she would have to wear it. No way could she endure Ross' probing scrutiny in broad daylight if she wasn't well covered up.
    "Have a nice swim, Harry?" Jack asked with a grin, while Gil's face turned white.
    "Yeah, Ross threw me in the water fully clothed," she said for Gil's benefit. "He's a pig."
    "I can't understand what gives between you two." Jack helped himself to a mug of tea.
    I know, Harry thought bitterly, he hates me.
    "Who cares what he thinks." She gave what she hoped was a careless shrug.
    "Watch what you say to him," Jack warned. "He won't take much more cheek from you."
    Gil leapt to her