Sleeping three and a half hours in all, Adam felt much refreshed later that day upon awaking. He felt stronger and ready to take on the world. Noting that there wasn't any shakiness in his legs, he rose and tidied up the bed, being careful to neatly tuck the bedcovers under the mattress. It wouldn't do to leave his area in a state for Reda to clean up later. When finished, he stood by the lone window in the cottage and looked out. He couldn't help the allure that pricked his mind upon seeing the dark-haired beauty outside by the shed. As she worked at picking dirt out of her horse's hooves, Reda's back was to him and he couldn't resist flicking his eyes over her sensuous figure.

He had noticed before that she was quite tall for a woman, nearly being able to look him in the eye. She possessed a mane of the darkest silk. Usually swept up into a messy bun, as it was now, the soft tendrils trailed down her slender neck, the graceful lines curving into feminine shoulders. Her back was straight, denoting strength, and her waist was trim yet a bit full that promised a solid haven for a man's hand during a dance. Her hips were round, softly curved and prone to sway in a way that caught his eye. She was an exotic beauty and left unclaimed, he feared that harm would come to her. A defenseless and beautiful woman, up in the mountains and alone, would prove a tempting target to any stray trapper or lowlife who longed for some female company.

Shaking his head to dispel such distressing and vile images, Adam moved away from the window. Sitting in a chair, he reached for and pulled on the boots that she had also purchased for him. The tooled black leather fit his feet perfectly and he marveled at her ability to guess his boot size. After shrugging into the new red coat, he put on the gray-blue hat and went outside. He walked around the cottage and approached the young woman. She didn't notice, her attention captivated by the magnificent steed nuzzling at her ear. He was almost jealous upon witnessing the gentle way in which she conversed with her friend. The softness that he had noticed in her eyes before could be heard within the gentle tone of her voice as she ran a brush over the horse's black coat. He dithered upon how to make his presence known, not wanting to break the spell that she had cast upon man and animal alike.

"Are you lurking? Only ruffians do so," she said without turning around.

He smiled at the playful jest while coming forward to run a hand over the stallion's powerful hindquarter. He glanced her way. "I wasn't lurking, only admiring." She looked at him sharply but he averted his gaze, trying to stop the smirk that toyed about his lips. "I was admiring your horse, a fine specimen. How old is he?"

She appeared to relax, a smile gracing her pretty mouth as she scratched the horse's jaw. "Four, and his name is Cole. I found him running free up in the hills. He was small and sickly but I took care of him and now he is my one true friend."

"You trained him yourself?"

"I gentled him, yes. He is sensitive and high-spirited. One must be gentle and patient with him. I know his mind and he knows mine now. He is the only one that I can trust."

Adam looked thoughtfully at her but turned away when her pale irises met his own eyes. He walked to Cole's head and ran the back of his hand against the silky black muzzle to which the horse blew warm breath against his fingers. Without looking at Reda, he tried to make his tone as quiet as he could. "I wish for the pleasure of having you trust me eventually. What can I do to further that hope?"

"Come back."

Adam turned to her then and saw tears in her eyes. Drawing near, he reached up to take her face in his hands but she jumped back as if he had slapped her, walking around him and moving to her horse's head.

"We must be going if you are to arrive at home before nightfall," she said hurriedly, slipping the reins over Cole's head.

"Do you want me to ride up front or in back."

"Up front."

Without further comment, Adam gathered a handful of black mane and went to put his left foot in the stirrup but found his strength to not be up to the task of pulling himself aboard. He felt a pressure on his elbow and knew that she wanted to help. His manly pride brought embarrassment to his cheeks but he made no comment. With her hands to steady him, he was able to get into the saddle and then extended a hand down to help her aboard. She hesitated but at last took his fingers in her grip. He smiled, making sure to catch her eye to which she visibly blushed a charming shade of pink. She pulled herself on and settled behind him, wrapping her arms about his waist. Her voice tickled his right ear.

"Speak softly to him and only press lightly with your legs. He will do the rest."

Adam nodded, knowing that she was trusting him to handle her horse with the utmost care. With a gentle nudge of his heels, he steered the stallion away from the clearing and into the surrounding wood. He kept to a walk until he felt Reda release her tight grip on him and only rest her hands lightly on his ribs. Then he nudged Cole into a rolling canter, the likes of which took them along quite splendidly.

The ride was long but refreshing after being cooped up for so long. The stallion's gait was one of the smoothest that Adam had ever experienced and not too jolting. He breathed in deeply of the healthy mountain air and, in his enjoyment, nearly forgot the woman clinging to his back. But not quite for he could never truly forget her presence. He found that he enjoyed having her so close and began to feel that there might be hope for a future. He had many doubts though. He had always prided himself on not being swayed by a woman's beauty alone and this time was no different. He found Reda Smith to be engaging and beautiful enough to stir his male blood but he still knew very little about her which bothered him. There was an air of mystery about her, an anguished past that dodged her every move, and he needed to know that his attraction wasn't based on this intriguing side of her.

That mistake had been make with Ruth already. Sue Ellen and Regina had brought out the protective side of him, that he knew, while Rebecca's innocent awe had made him feel more confident. He hadn't mentioned such to his family but he knew that the abuse he had suffered had scarred his ability to feel as self-confident as before, especially around women and Rebecca had been an easy girl to impress. Laura, on the other hand, had been nothing more than a project; to keep his mind and heart busy and also a way to give himself some small comfort in knowing that his future was secure. He cursed that error and once again felt guilt for misleading the young widow. His family, his brothers especially, harbored deep resentment toward her. Although they had never voiced it, he could tell by their stiffening body language whenever her name or Will's would arise. They felt that he had been betrayed by her and his cousin and he knew that he should be incensed too but how could he? Didn't everyone deserve happiness with a soulmate, even them? Who was he, a cripple at the time, to stand in the way if they truly loved one another?

Then there had been Anne, a puzzle from every angle. That memory was still too fresh, only occurring three months before. He knew without a doubt why she had lost his interest so quickly. He had been wary of her from the start and unsure. At length, when she had seemed to warm to him, he had been hopeful. His kiss had been genuine and binding but when she whispered another man's name in his ear, he had been sorely hurt. He had felt the door to his heart slamming shut and the sensation was beyond his control. Once again, he wasn't good enough, to be loved or even tolerated in a doppleganger's stead. In effect, he had been useless.

Now, with the wind in his face and a beautiful woman wrapped around his back, he wondered what the future could hold. He felt her shift behind him and slowed Cole down to a walk. "Are you getting tired? We could rest," he said, craning his neck to see her.

She shook her head and smiled slightly. "No, we don't have that much further. Let's keep going."

Adam shrugged, content to ride in silence with his thoughts. Reda seemed to be equally of the same mind so the next hour was spent quietly. When a hill was crested and he could see the Ponderosa ranch house directly below, a fleeting pang of regret sprung up and quite surprised him. He wanted to get home but loathed the idea at the same time. Helping her down first, he then dismounted carefully and brought the reins over the black stallion's ears. He held the leather out to her, adding a smile that he hoped was non-threatening. As her fingers took the leather in hand, she stepped closer to her horse, raising a hand to cradle the massive head. Adam thought that she looked small and indecisive, that fear in her eyes once more. He risked taking a step toward her. She didn't budge, only staring up at him with those pale-blue doe eyes that radiated wariness.

"I will come back, Reda. Give me two days to gather the necessary supplies and to give my family some excuse and then I will come back up the mountain. Say noon on Saturday?"

I* * * * *I

Angelina merely nodded, turning into her horse and fingering the heavy mane. Suddenly, the fear that he wouldn't return rose up and engulfed her senses. Tears came to her eyes but she fought them. She felt him draw in close behind her and she tensed, not wanting him to see her pain. His hands closed around her shoulders and gently turned her around to face him. His face was one of confusion but then gentled into concern and she couldn't bear to look him in the eye. She looked down at their feet but he cupped a hand under her chin, forcing her gaze up to his.

"Why are you so afraid of me? Have I done something that could be interpreted as being hostile?"

"No, of course you haven't. It's just...that..."

"Just what?" he said gently, his eyes darkening with questions.

She stared into those chocolate eyes and shook her head hard, leaning into his chest as she lost control. He held her loosely, trying to show respect, no doubt, but she wished that he would take her into his arms. At length, she finally began to speak, toying with a button of his shirt. "I need you, Adam. I need you and that scares me. I feel a connection that I have never felt before and simply the fact that you are leaving makes me feel as if my heart is being ripped out! Please come back to me. If you don't, I wouldn't survive...I w...won't."

Adam pushed her to arm's length and looked surprised. But then his face softened and a smile spread across his features. He cupped her cheek lightly, sending trills of desperation through her. She covered his hand with her own and turned her face to kiss his palm then his wrist. Putting her heart into the tender gesture, she saw that it had an effect upon him. He dropped both hands to cradle her waist and pulled her near. Realizing what he was about to do, she met him halfway as he dipped his head to kiss her. Their lips met in a burst of hungry fire as his arms encircled her waist, crushing her to himself.

Time was suspended as they kissed, her entire world spinning into a suspended dream. Motion stilled, sounds blurred and light dimmed, all culminating to enrapture her senses. Her hands found the softness of his hair and ran over the hardness of his shoulders. Her reservations melted away in the depth of his touch. Only when he broke the kiss, leaned back and gave her a half-smile did she come back down to Earth. Her hand trembling, she touched her mouth while glancing down again. She felt him cradle her face in his hands and kiss her hair tenderly. Then he backed away, tipping his hat as he turned away, a bright grin accompanying his words.

"I shall see you Saturday, madam. Wait for me."

As he disappeared down the hill and out of sight, she whispered, "I will...darling."