It was no longer just a burning feeling. The feeling of her bonesbeing crushed had joined the burning. Marie had to fight all night againstthe terribl... pain coming from her limbs. She didn't sleep much that night.The pain in her arms and legs was still there the next day. She wasexhausted and couldn't eat much during that day. To her relief themedication Charlotte gave her that evening started to work and she at lastsucceeded in falling into a deep sleep.Day NineMarie was starring at her 'hands. He ran his hands up her calves to her thighs and noted how silky her skin was. She felt like the softest satin. He knew immediately when she became aware of him, as her legs tensed. His wolf demanded submission. He gripped her legs, preventing their closure. Jake was so excited. Bella had never excited him this much. His wolf was dancing in pleasure, finding a true heart at last. Lexy felt the scalding hot hands on her body. He had come! Her body hummed in pleasure, and her heart raced. Would. But anything left up there was likely to disappear before sundown.It was while he was trying to figure what his next step was when a scruffy looking range rider came in. He was dusty, dirty, and tired looking. His eyes had the look of a long hard trail. “Yo, kid. We’ve got a string of horses we need stabling. You got room for ten broke mustangs?”“Sure, do mister, through here and outback. Got two corrals back there.”“Good Man, hang tight, I’ll be right back.”Five minutes later, the rider. She says she can’t remember. Something to do with the concussion or whatever.”“That’s probably why she wants to talk to me, don’t you think?”“It might be.” The tone of her voice said she thought otherwise. After an awkward pause, she said, “I heard that when the doctors came you made them take care of Rissa first.”I shrugged. Then winced. I was going to have to learn quickly to stop doing that.“Well, I just wanted to say...” She paused, nodded, then said with a smile, “That was pretty.