It had been easier to get away than she thought it would be. Her mother had only needed her assistance for a few minutes and had seemed distracted when Rose told her that she was taking a short ride. Donavan had already forgotten about her strange behavior. She saw him heading into the field behind the barn with his shaggy black dog, Pepper. As she headed for Milk Creek, she realized she would be utterly at the mercy of the Ute warrior. So why did she feel so . . . so excited? Milk Creek was only half its normal depth at this time of year, but the water that did flow had a steady current. Heavy thickets of willows, an occasional oak tree, and almost impenetrable bushes lined the sides, but there were many places where sandy beaches edged the gently flowing water. Rose had also discovered hidden little areas in the dense trees where she and Molly could relax in the shade and listen to the lulling sounds of the creek nearby. Since she had no idea where the Ute would be, she rode to the closest point and figured she would wait until he found her.
