A Sweet Surrender Read Online Free

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    “If you mean to call me stubborn,” he drawled through his clenched teeth, “I believe the word you’re looking for is pigheaded.”
    Siara nodded. “Yes, you. Pig’s head.” She focused her attention on his wound, aware of his eyes on her every move. It had been easier to care for him when he had been unconscious, unable to scrutinize her with his penetrating gaze. “I’m sorry I cause you pain,” she said quietly. “But you gave me fear.”
    He jerked slightly as she gently applied the salve. “Then I guess you have nothing to apologize for,” he said gruffly.
    She glanced up at him again. “How many days you aware?” It was obvious to her now that he had been conscious and quite alert before today.
    He was silent for a moment. “A few days now,” he finally admitted. “Where am I? Where are your people?”
    “You are with the Onyota’aka tribe. People of the Standing Stone,” she explained. “We good people.” Or at least they had been before they had joined sides and decided to ally themselves with the settlers. They were one of two among the six nations to do so, which put them at odds with the other nations in the Iroquois Confederacy. But she didn’t explain that all to him.
    “How long have I been here?”
    She paused, mentally counting the days. “One days plus two weeks.”
    Once she finished retying his bandage, she was surprised when he began to sit up. She placed her hand on his shoulders, afraid he planned to over-exert himself again.
    “No, you need rest.” She had touched him countless times during her care of him, but touching him while he was fully conscious was a different experience. His broad, muscular shoulders flexed under her fingers, pulsing with strength.
    “Sorry, love, but it’s not safe for me here.”
    “No, I make here safe,” she argued. “We have distance from village. No one trouble you.”
    He shook his head slowly. “The longer I stay here, the quicker it will be before someone discovers me.” He stared at her for a moment before saying, “I don’t know why you’ve decided to help me, and that puts me forever in your debt. I can only assume, however, if you’ve hidden me out here, that my presence is not welcomed by your people,” he added wryly.
    He wasn’t strong enough to stand long, much less travel on his own, but he was right, of course. He couldn’t stay. Not when she would be forced to join the relief party in two short days and as much as it saddened her, she would have to let him go.
    She nodded slowly. “Tomorrow.”
    He shook his head. “Tonight.”
    “You need clothes, food, and rest.” She pushed down on his shoulders until he fell back on the blanket. “Tomorrow.”
    He looked as if he wanted to argue, but must have realized the wisdom in her words. “Where are my clothes and pistols?”
    With every effort she possessed of his language, she explained to him the condition she had found him in. He had been bloodied and bruised and she had to cut away his singed uniform just to get to his injuries, the most severe of them being the deep laceration on his right leg. His boots had been the only piece of clothing to survive the blast. She had then buried the tattered clothes, along with his weapons, to keep his identity a secret in the event he was discovered.
    When she was done with her recount, he stared at her silently, a small frown marring his face. “Why are you doing this?” he asked quietly. “Why are you risking your hide to help me?”
    She smiled softly. “Because you needed help. You needed kindness.” She rose to her feet, unnerved by his deep, piercing eyes. They bore into her, as if trying to read into her soul. She had tried to use the right words to tell him that helping him had been the humane thing to do. No man or animal deserved to die in a ravaged field, bloodied and alone.
    “Tonight, I bring more food,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “Tomorrow, I find you clothes.”
    And the day after that,