Triumph by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online

encompassing web of pain and bitterness enwrap him in a long time now. There had been a goal in his life, a quest, and he had pursued it. The past was over; he didn’t know why this incident was forcing him to recall events he had long since pressed to the back of his mind—and soul.
    It was the war.
    Damn her ...
    He would pursue her because of the war.
    Whatever she had led him away from, she would lead him back to.

Chapter 2
    T IA RACED ON AFTER she was certain that her pursuer had given up the chase. But then she reined in, aware that she was riding Blaze into the ground. A cruel thing to do to such a fine, blessed animal! She patted the horse’s neck. “Good girl! You are worth your weight in gold, you know? You can outrun almost anything on four legs, eh?”
    She fell silent. Dusk was coming, and here she was, alone on an old Indian trail—stark naked. She felt chilled and very uncomfortable.
    And unnerved.
    She had never felt so alone. And yet, of course, she wanted to be alone. She needed to be alone. Totally alone.
    Far, far away from ... him .
    Had she definitely lost her pursuer? She whirled around on her mount. He hadn’t followed. She had probably lost him at the brook. So ...
    If she rode back on an even narrower, highly overgrown path, she could reach the brook by just moving a little to the south and west. If she had lost him at the water, she would emerge downstream of him, return to where she had been—and regain her clothing. Alone, she was moving so much more quickly than her party could possibly be going, she would have no problem catching up with them on the very path they had taken—once she was decent again.
    “I know, you need water. So do I. Naturally, you need it more,” she acknowledged, patting Blaze’s neck again and urging her down the narrow path. She was careful all the while, feeling chilled and ridiculous. She was not accustomed to riding naked. The woods suddenly seemed to be filled with all manner of eyes.
    She swore at herself, and gave her full attention to the trail. She looked up at the sky, hoping she had a few hours of light left. She couldn’t begin to imagine being stuck out here, riding alone, naked on her horse in the dark. “This has to be one of the insanest things I’ve done as yet, Blaze, though I admit, I had wanted adventures out of life. However, I had wanted to tour the pyramids of Egypt and the like, not the backwoods of my own home!”
    As she had planned, she returned to the brook by way of the downstream trail. She dismounted quickly, drinking deeply from the fresh water, then leading the thirsting horse to drink as well. She looked around herself. Nothing ... or no one. Just a brisk forty-five-minute trot and she could be back to her clothing, pretending that this wretched episode had never occurred.
    Yet just as she was congratulating herself on being safe, she saw the huge brown horse with the long, thick mane—and the Yankee riding the animal. The rider had eschewed the trail all together—he came racing straight through the water, his speed uncanny, his body leaning low so that he was all but one with the animal.
    She shrieked with surprise, tearing for Blaze, leaping up on her horse with a speed and agility born of sheer panic. She managed to seat herself on Blaze ...
    But that was all.
    The huge brown horse was upon her.
    As was its rider.
    The man made the leap from horse to horse with the sure certainty of a circus performer. She screamed wildly, twisting in a vehement denial of what had happened, only to find his arms around her, the horse rearing, and the two of them plummeting to the ground.
    She struck hard, but he struck harder, having somehow come around her as they had sailed to the earth to take the brunt of the fall. For seconds, she couldn’t breathe, think, or shake herself from her state of pure surprise that she lived, yet lay on the ground. Then she realized the very serious—no, desperate!—nature of her predicament, and she