Only 06 - Winter Fire

brief hesitation, she accepted the comfort.
    She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt like she could lean on someone. Since her parents’ death, she always had been the strong one, the one who saw what had to be done and did it, come hell or high water.
    â€œYou were Conner’s mother in all but name,” Case said after a time.
    She nodded.
    â€œThe flood got the others,” she said after a moment, “but when the house started coming apart around us, I grabbed Conner and hung on until I found a tree big enough to hold us above the water.”
    â€œYour brother is a lucky young man,” Case said. “Spoiled enough to know he’s loved and not so spoiled that he’s worthless.”
    â€œHe’s not spoiled,” she insisted.
    â€œUh-huh. That’s why you tore a strip off him yesterday for tracking deer and forgetting to get more firewood.”
    She tried to lean her head back and glare at Case, only to discover that she couldn’t. The hand that was stroking her hair so soothingly was as firm as a rock wall. She could fight the gentleness or she could simply give in and enjoy it the way she enjoyed an unexpected summer rain.
    Drawing in a deep breath, she sighed and relaxed against him. The scent of soap and man filled her nostrils. The heat of him, and the cushion of curly black hair beneath her cheek, reminded her that he was nearly naked.
    The masculine textures intrigued her. She had never been so close to a bare-chested man. When Hal had demanded his rights as a husband, he always wore his long, scratchy underwear and he smelled of alcohol and old sweat.
    â€œYou smell like roses,” she said after a moment. “Only…different.”
    Case’s big hand hesitated, then resumed stroking her hair.
    â€œBlame your soap,” he said.
    â€œBlame it?”
    She shook her head vigorously, sending her long braids slapping softly against his skin.
    â€œI like the way you smell,” she said. “Do you mind?”
    â€œCricket might wonder what happened to me, but, no, I don’t mind.”
    â€œGood. The only other soap we have is lye. It would take the bark off a tree.”
    She sighed again and snuggled against his chest, as trusting as a kitten.
    Heat shot through Case, even though he knew there was nothing flirtatious in her actions. Sarah was simply accepting the comfort he was offering.
    Yet ever since he had first seen the cinnamon glory of her unbound hair, he had wanted to touch it.
    Maybe she won’t mind , he thought. It’s not like I’m trying to seduce her. I just want to stroke that beautiful hair .
    Comfort, that’s all .
    For both of us .
    Bracing himself with one hand on the rifle, Case untied the thongs that kept her braids from unraveling. Using his fingertips he carefully combed the long strands until they were free from any restraint.
    Cool hair spilled over his skin. His fingers clenched in the rose-scented cascade. He brought a fistful of her hair to his face, inhaled deeply, and slowly released the silky mass.
    â€œI like the way you smell, too, Sarah Kennedy.”
    The huskiness of his voice pleased her. It was as tender and yet as masculine as the hand that had resumed stroking her hair.
    â€œNow I know how my hawks feel,” she said.
    He made a rumbling, questioning kind of sound in his chest.
    â€œCosseted,” she said, sighing. “It’s very nice.”
    Moved without knowing why, Case brushed his lips over her hair so lightly that she didn’t feel it. He couldn’t explain the almost painful tenderness he felt toward her at that moment. He knew only that he had seen too many women and children destroyed by the war.
    He hadn’t been able to do anything about easing their pain, no matter how hard he tried.
    Just as he hadn’t been able to save his niece and nephew.
    â€œConner is lucky to have a sister like you,” Case said.
    â€œI need an older brother like you,” Sarah said, smiling slightly. “Want to adopt me?”
    Something like pain passed over his face, but the gentle stroking of his hand over her hair never hesitated.
    â€œKids need love,” he said calmly. “I don’t have any left in me.”
    â€œOf course you do. You’re gentle and kind.”
    â€œThat would come as a surprise to the Culpeppers.”
    â€œA lot of things would come as a surprise to them. They have less education than their