Chastity by Elaine Barbieri Page A

worth his salt would know better than to let a woman like you travel alone in this country."
        He heard the edge that entered her voice. "A woman like me?"
        Reed replied more cautiously, "A stranger to this country."
        "I can take care of myself."
        Sure.
        "I know exactly where I'm headed and what   I'm going to do. I've been planning this journey for a long time."
        He remained silent.
        "It's very important to me."
        "It sounds like he's very important to you."
        "I'm depending on him."
        The touch of desperation in her reply clenched Reed's stomach. "You don't have anyone else?"
        "No… yes…" She hesitated, then said simply, "He's all I need right now."
        Reed strained to see Chastity more clearly in the semi-light, but her features were as vague as her responses. Vague… but truthful. He was sure of that. She didn't know how to lie.
        It occurred to Reed that meeting him was the beginning of her education in that direction.
        A light flickered outside the window, momentarily illuminating Chastity's face. She was leaning back against the pillow again, clenching her locket in her fist. That habit of hers had become familiar to him. It tugged strangely at his memory.
        Reed spoke abruptly. "I'll make sure you get to Caldwell when everything is straightened out."
        "That isn't necessary."
        "Yes, it is."
        He wondered why he had said that.
        The answer was suddenly clear. The balmy night air filtering through the window, a soft feminine voice in the darkness, the remembered scent of roses that still teased his senses  no , he wasn't going to fall into that trap!
        He concluded their conversation abruptly.
        "We'll be starting out in two days."
        "But Dr. Carr said"
        "Two days. No longer."
     
    Chapter Five
      The two days were up.
        The sun shone brilliantly on the light traffic of early morning as Reed glanced out the window of the hotel room to the street below. Chastity had awakened earlier. He had allowed her to leave believing he was still asleep because it suited his purpose to do so. She had been using the early mornings to make use of Sally's bathtub, if he were to judge from the fragrance of roses taunting him when she returned. He knew she would be gone for a while and he needed the time.
        Sliding his feet over the edge of the bed, Reed winced against the pain in his thigh. He drew himself purposefully to his full height and limped toward the washstand in the corner.
        Two days had been shorter than he had originally anticipated when he'd made his adamant statement to Dr. Carr, but the situation forcing that decision had not changed. For all he knew, Morgan was even now preparing to leave Indian Territory. He couldn't let him get away again.
        That thought foremost in his mind, Reed did not take time to assess his appearance in the washstand mirror. Instead, he poured water into the bowl, then picked up the soap and worked it into a brisk lather. He breathed deeply against the last remaining vestiges of weakness as he rubbed the lather against his face, chest, and arms, cleansing his body and his mind as he went over his plans for the days ahead. Relieved and refreshed minutes later, he wiped the excess water from his skin with slow, circular motions, rubbing broad shoulders stiffened by days of inactivity, and flexing powerful chest and arm muscles that ached for action. He felt strength rapidly returning as he reached for the razor nearby.
        Standing fully dressed a short time later, Reed assessed his appearance at last. His dark clothing and collar in place, he saw a light-haired, hard-eyed, clean-shaven parson staring back at him. His skin was pale and his eyes were still shadowed, but he stood with apparent ease, with no hint of the pain that throbbed dully in his thigh, or of the lingering fatigue that