Page 87 of Winterset

“Yes! Now! Hurry!”

He blinked at her in amazement, but he moved to do as she bid, going into the stall and putting the bridle on her mare. Anna waited impatiently, pacing up and down the center aisle of the stables, as he bridled and saddled her horse.

“But ye need a groom to go with ye,” the groom said as he led the mare to Anna. “Yer not going out without a groom, are ye? Master Kit said—”

“I am leaving now,” Anna said firmly. “Give me a hand up. You can follow if you wish, but I’m not waiting.”

The man was too used to obedience to refuse to do as she said, and he tossed her up into the saddle, then stood, scratching his head, as he watched her ride out of the stables and into the yard beyond.

Anna took the faster route through the fields to Winterset, grateful that it was growing lighter by the moment. She gave her horse its head, her only thought to reach Reed. She thundered along the narrow dirt path and across a meadow, sailing over a low stone wall, and then headed on to the path to Winterset.

The sight of Reed’s cold, lifeless face plagued her thoughts. She had been so stupid, she berated herself. She had been so caught up in her fear for her brother that she had not even thought about Reed. He was as likely to be in danger as anyone—more, even, since he was actively involved in searching for the killer.

The sun was just peeping over the horizon as her horse pounded up to Winterset. The house stood still and quiet, though there was some sign of activity out in the stables. A startled groom stuck his head out the stable door and started forward when he saw Anna jump down from her horse. She left the reins dangling for him and ran through the formidable gates and up to the front door.

She crashed the knocker against the door repeatedly until a footman pulled the door open.

“Reed! Where is Reed?” she cried, pushing past the astonished servant into the foyer.

“Uh, uh, in his bedchamber, I imagine, miss,” the footman began, but realized he was speaking to Anna’s back as she rushed past him and up the stairs.

“Miss!” he exclaimed in a scandalized voice and started after her.

“Reed!” Anna called as she darted up the stairs and into the hall. She looked around, not knowing which room was his, and called his name again as she started down the hall, opening one door after another.

The footman jittered along behind her nervously, pleading with her to stop, to let him announce her to the master. Down the hall, a door was flung open and Reed stepped into the hall.

“Anna!” He had obviously pulled on his clothes hastily, for he wore only trousers and a shirt, hanging open down the front, and his hair was still tousled from sleep. “What is it? What’s the matter?”

He started forward. Anna ran toward him. “Reed!”

She flung herself into his arms. “Reed! Oh, thank God! I was so worried about you.”

Reed held her close, motioning at the gaping footman to leave, which the man did, albeit with some reluctance.

“Worried about me?” Reed asked, surprised. He stepped back into his room, pulling Anna with him, and closed the door. “Now, why would you be worried about me?”

“I saw you!” she cried, stepping back and looking searchingly into his face, as though she could not quite believe that he was alive and well, even though the evidence was standing right in front of her.

“Saw me?” he repeated. “What do you mean?”

“In a dream. I dreamed about you lying out in the woods in the rain, dead. You were so pale, so still. Oh, Reed, I was so scared!” She threw herself against him, her arms going around his waist and holding on tightly. “I thought you were dead. I don’t know what I would do if you were dead.”

Anna looked up into his face. Her eyes were huge and dark blue in her face, sparkling with tears, and the color was high on her cheekbones, staining them red. Her hair hung in a long tangle down her back, careless and windblown.

Reed’s breath caught in his throat. He had never seen her look so desirable.

“Oh, Reed…” Anna breathed, and she brought her hands up to cup his face.

She felt the roughness of his unshaved skin beneath her hands, and she was suddenly aware of his shirt hanging open, revealing a strip of bare skin down the front of his chest and stomach. Her heart began to hammer, and the nerves all over her skin sizzled to life. She felt the heat flood his face beneath her hands, and her own insides turned hot and molten.

Anna trembled, rose up on her toes, then pulled his head down to meet her mouth.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Reed’s mouth clamped down on hers greedily. All the passion that had been held back stormed through them, sweeping aside the concepts of propriety and duty. There was no thought, no feeling, other than the desire that raged in them.

He lifted her into him, pressing her body against his. She could feel the fierce hunger in him, the heat that exploded in his body, surrounding her. He kissed her wildly as his hands roamed up and down her back, digging into her buttocks and moving her against the rigid length of his desire.