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     Valerie was up early she wanted to make breakfast for Nathan. He needed his nourishment she did not want him to get weak from hunger and she needed to build up his blood supply. She read that red meat was good for that. She was going to make sure he had plenty of it. She went off to clean up first and barrow some of Vaughn's clothing since his shirts were a bit bigger than the others and were the only ones that would fit over her breasts. The pants were going to have to be Vincent's he was the smallest of her brothers in height and he stood almost six feet. Once she was dressed comfortably she went downstairs checked to make sure Nathan was still sleeping and then checked the rest of the house to make sure it was secure then on to the kitchen to make food.

Nathan woke to the smell of bacon filling his senses he was sure he was hungry and imagining things. He looked over to see his sleeping beauty, but she was gone. Panic filled every one of his senses and he scrambled to get out of the blanket that were confining him. When he finally got out of the blankets he followed the scent of the bacon into the kitchen. There she was making enough food for a small army. He stood in the doorway relief filling him the panic gone. Then he saw what she was wearing. He groaned she was wearing men's breeches, and a very loose-fitting shirt. Oh god he was not going to be able to resist her, he was hoping the layers of clothing would discourage him keeping him the gentlemen he was. But there were no layers there was nothing between her and her outer garments. Just then she turned and saw him and gave him a smiled radiating the joy she had upon seeing him. His heart shot to the heavens. No one had ever been that happy to see him before. Sure woman wanted him he was as they all told him beautiful an Adonis but not one of the woman moved his heart as this young girl had done.

"Oh, good your awake. How are you feeling?"

He had to take a moment to catch his breath as she talked, she walked out from behind the table and he could see she was barefooted and she had the pants rolled up showing her calfs. He sent up a silent prayer to God.

"Please let me be honorable and not seduce the minx."

He was sure the prayer went awry since she leaned over to pick up something she dropped and the shirt she was wearing gave him a very perfect view of her lovely breasts. He followed her every move. She picked up two plates smiling not aware she was even in danger from him. And walked passed him.

"Let's eat in the dining room."

He did not say a word he just followed. He pulled out a chair for her. It was probably the only gentlemanly thought he had in the last five minutes. He sat at the head of the table where she had placed his food. They ate in silence for only a short bit of time, she seemed to be a chatter box in the morning. He smiled he had never had anyone to talk to in the morning his mother stopped taking breakfast with him and his brother when they went away to Eton and Neil was not a morning person.

"I have checked all the doors this morning and they all seem secured still. I also noticed when I was changing there is a stable and another building, but I do not know what it is. The snow has built up and I do not know if we could get out to check to make sure the shooter did not take refuge in one of them."

"I will go check them out to see if they are in there."

Her words were stern and commanding.

"You will do no such thing. I do not care if he is out their freezing, but you are not going to put your self in any more danger. You were wounded because of me or Tory but I will not have you put yourself in any more danger."

He did not know where the tears came from, but she had kept them inside since this whole ordeal had started. He knew this was the moment he had expected yesterday her coming unhinged over the happenings of the last day. He got up from his chair and went to pull her out of hers and held her.

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