Shadow Walker by Connie Mason

strong as you think. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
    “You’re probably right,” Cole said, turning away. He was having difficulty convincing his body that he didn’t want Dawn. “I’ll take the bedroll tonight. This is your cabin and your bed, I have no right to take it from you. Good night, Dawn.”
    Dawn didn’t trust herself to speak. She was still flustered by what he’d said to her. Just thinking about those things filled the lower regions of her stomach with butterflies. While he was telling her what he wanted to do to her, she’d found herself longing to feel what he was describing just once in her life.
    Dawn kept her face carefully averted as Cole stripped and crawled into his bedroll. After puttingaway the last plate, she blew out the lamp, slipped into her nightgown and sought her bed. The night was exceptionally warm, and Dawn tossed and turned, unable to find sleep. She waited until Cole’s steady breathing indicated he was sleeping before rising. With little effort she located a sliver of soap and a towel and left the cabin.
    Cole heard a stealthy footfall and came awake instantly. He opened his eyes in time to see a billow of white ease through the door. Dawn. His gaze flew to the moneybag lying beside him. It was still there. Dawn had made no effort to steal it. Rising, he quickly donned his pants and boots and followed. It took only a moment for him to realize she was going to the river.
    Dawn paused on the riverbank, admiring the play of moonbeams upon the diamond-studded surface of the water. It was an almost magical sight. She lifted her face to the balmy breeze, welcoming the coolness against her skin. Her nightgown was plastered against her body, outlining every curve and indentation.
    Cole reached the river and halted, realizing that Dawn had come here simply to bathe. He tried to convince himself to leave. Then Dawn stripped off her nightgown and all his good intentions fled. She looked like a golden goddess, her head thrown back, her moon-kissed face lifted high. Moved by the vision, Cole sighed as she waded into the river.
    Dawn ducked her head beneath the placid water and used the soap to work up a lather. Her eyes were closed and she didn’t see Cole walk to thewater’s edge and sit on the log that had until recently held Billy Cobb’s ill-gotten gains.
    She’s as graceful as a gazelle, Cole thought as Dawn arched her back and dipped her hair into the water to rinse it. Cole lost his breath when she lifted her hands and splashed handfuls of water over her breasts. Driven by fierce need, he stripped off his pants and boots and waded into the river.
    Dawn heard a noise behind her and spun around, flinging her long hair from her eyes with a sweep of her hand. She saw it was only Cole, and her first reaction was one of relief. Against her will, her gaze fell to his groin, and relief turned to shock. He was hard, heavy and fully aroused. She traced with her eyes the curling pelt of red hair that narrowed from the breadth of his chest to his taut belly, her gaze finally settling on his sex, where it rose thick and high against a nest of dark red.
    “May I join you?” Cole asked as he waded through the water to reach her. “A bath sounds wonderfully refreshing.”
    “I thought you were sleeping.”
    “I was, until I heard you leave the cabin. Would you like me to wash your back?”
    “Certainly not! The river is all yours. I’m finished.” She started toward the shore, careful to avoid him. Suddenly she slipped into a deep hole and went under. She came up sputtering.
    Cole reached for her, steadying her while at the same time bringing her up against him. “Are you all right?”
    “I will be as soon as you let go of me.” Suddenlyher gaze fell on the bandage covering his wound. “I wouldn’t get that wet if I were you. Infection is always a danger to open wounds.”
    Cole’s reply was to sweep her into his arms and carry her to the shore.
    “What are you