Savage Flames

Joshua had married his wife’s best friend, who had given Twila a brother. The little boy was one summer old now, and adorable.

Pretty Butterfly, his wife, had worked side by side with Joshua and his former wife Lorna in the fields at the Price Plantation. They each had lost a mate and had grown to love one another after they came to Mystic Island.

All in all, things could not be any finer on the island, nor could Lavinia be any happier.

She rested her hands on her hips, smiling to herself when she felt a soft nudge from what she imagined might be a knee inside her big belly.

That was a moment she always cherished, when a child inside her womb let her know just how alive it was, and ready to let out its first cry once it was born. “A son,” she whispered to herself, knowing that Wolf Dancer wanted another son, and then another. He was the sort of man who loved children, and the more, the merrier!

“I love him so much,” she whispered to herself, her heart doing a sort of flip-flop as she caught sight of him entering the village on foot with a deer carcass casually thrown across his shoulder. He had been out hunting with his men, and she noticed that several other warriors had caught game as well.

“We shall have plenty of venison for the next several days,” she whispered, again smiling.

Wanting to get her bread finished in time for the evening meal, so it would be ready to eat with that delicious venison, she went back to her grinding. She was so happy, she felt as though she were swimming in joy!

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed reading Savage Flames. The next book in my Savage series, which I write exclusively for Leisure Books, is Savage Abandon, about the Winnebago tribe. This book is filled with romance, authentic history of the Winnebago people, and majestic Indian pride.

Those of you who are collecting my Indian romance novels and want to hear more about the series and my entire backlist of Indian books can send for my latest newsletter, autographed bookmark, and fan club information by writing to:

Cassie Edwards

> 6709 North Country Club Road

Mattoon, IL 61938

For a response, please include a stamped, self-addressed legal-size envelope with your letter. And if you wish, you can visit me at these Web sites:

My personal Web site: www.cassieedwards.com

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/cassieedwardsromance

Thank you for your support of my Indian series. I love researching and writing about our nation's beloved Native Americans, our country's true first people!

Always,

Cassie Edwards

In his darkest hour, Gabriel found Solace. She was full of life, energy and daring. And it was up to Gabe to defend her when all society shunned her for the very individuality Gabe loved. But this time he had the strength and know-how to protect his woman; this time he would have faith that, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”

Read ahead for a sneak preview of

Gabriel's Lady by Charlotte Hubbard.

“Gabe! Gabe, it's so dang good to see ya! But I'm so'”

When Billy grabbed his hand, the grip stunned Gabe'because it was so strong from his years of working with horses, but also because it swung him into an unexpected hug. A choking sound made Gabe's eyes go wet: for the first time, someone felt his pain instead of just giving it lip service. Billy Bristol's arms clamped around his body like steel bands, yet he sensed that his friend'this blood brother of his childhood'would be the one to free him from his misery.

When the redhead stepped back, his blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “It's so good to see ya,” he repeated, “I don't want to get to that other part. But it tore me up pretty bad to hear about Letitia. I'm real sorry for your loss.”

Billy glanced toward the train then, where porters scurried to unload Grace's belongings at the encouragement of her pretty smile. The platform was stacked with an impressive number of trunks and boxes. “Good thing I drove my biggest buckboard,” he remarked with a chuckle. “Can't thank you enough for es-cortin' Gracie, since any man with eyes'll try to sweet-talk her. And she so obviously hates that!”

Gabe laughed. “Yes, she could charm the socks off any fellow alive.”

“Yeah, well it's what those fellas'll charm off her that scares me.”

He stood back then, a rugged man in denim and homespun, clean but well-worn. Comfortable had always been Billy Bristol's way, in clothing and behavior. His hair had turned a darker shade of auburn and he wore it a little longer now. Gabe tried to imagine him as a desperado, like his twin brother had been, yet the direct gaze of those blue eyes bespoke a man of utmost integrity. A man who'd earned his place in the world by the sweat of his brow and the strength of those broad, calloused hands.