Malachi Hawkins left his home to move west as soon as he was old enough. Running from a family secret that he can never escape, he takes a job on the ranch of an old family friend, Lee Rose.<br><br>The first night he's there, he meets Christian Rose, Lee's foster daughter, a young woman of mixed Comanche blood. They call her a savage and treat her like the family slave, but Mal doesn't see a savage at all. He sees a woman of unbelievable strength -- and a kindred spirit.<br><br>But his secret is bound to catch up with him, and when it does, it could destroy both of them forever ...

Maybe I'm Amazed

Sometimes when Mal woke, Christian wasn’t alone. Mercy hovered near her side, as quiet and watchful as her older sister. Every once in a while, he needed to see the younger girl more than he needed to see Christian, if only to reassure himself that he had saved her. His dreams were muddled and vivid. Mal couldn’t always be sure what happened, or when.


At some point, he caught a fever. This endless period was marked by Christian’s cool touch, and once, her warm body curled around his. He didn’t even need to open his eyes to know it was her. He would know her body anywhere, no matter how ill or confused he was. She felt right against him, her curves molding against his body carefully. He reached for her, longing to return the contact. He didn’t know if he made it. Everything was brittle and black.


Chapter 23