by Norah Hess
"Kane," David interrupted his gloomy musings. "Tom says we can try to raise a late garden, that if we have a late fall it might produce real good."
"I don't know much about gardening, but Tom should know. We'll start clearin' everything away after we've had breakfast."
"No need to clear anything," Tom said, "just turn it over with a plow. Green foliage makes real good fertilizer."
Kane nodded, then said, "Come on down to the cabin and have breakfast with us, Tom."
"Thank you, Kane. Don't mind if I do. I'll give you and the boys a hand with the garden then."
Chapter Twenty-One
It was mid-July, scorching hot, with flies biting by day and mosquitoes stinging at night. David and Johnny's new garden was up and looked as if it might do very well if only it would rain and give the plants the deep watering they needed. Although the boys worked tirelessly at fetching water to the tender plants, the hot rays of the sun soon sucked the moisture out of the ground.
D'lise walked out onto the porch and sat down. She hitched her skirt up to her knees, then mopped at her face with a white rag. She had piled her hair on top of her head and tied it there with a piece of ribbon, and had unbuttoned her bodice to a point that was most unladylike, since a large portion of her breasts was visible.
Her breasts were large and heavy these days, for she knew beyond a doubt that she carried Kane's child. She hadn't flowed in two months. "If only it would rain," she said to Scrag, purring beside her.
Scrag was quite content these days. Hound lived mostly with David and Johnny now. The dog was allowed to run free during the day, but at night he was chained outside to alert the boys if anyone came around their garden.
D'lise's gaze moved up the hill to the old place. She could see Kane and the boys sitting under a tree, trying to catch a breeze. She, like all the other women of Piney Ridge, had been cooking outside since the heat wave had started two weeks ago. It was unthinkable to heat the cabin more by building a fire in the fireplace. There was no release at night either, and it had been almost impossible to sleep. She and Kane had been sleeping on a pallet in front of the open kitchen door, sweating and slapping at mosquitoes.
D'lise gazed unseeing at the small cookfire in the shade of a tree. Nothing had changed between her and Kane, and she was beginning to feel the strain of the cool politeness, the never looking directly at each other, never touching. And to her annoyance, she had began to awaken in the middle of the night, desire curling in the lower regions of her body. She desired her husband and hated herself for it.
She heard Kane's deep laugh roll down the hill, and she lifted her head to it. She had watched him with the boys the past weeks, noting the patience he had with them while teaching David how to aim and shoot a rifle, showing Johnny the correct way to toss a horseshoe in order to get a ringer, and she had come to the realization that he would make a wonderful father.
As the humidity grew and dark clouds gathered, D'lise wondered if she should tell Kane he was going to become a father, or if she should wait and let him discover it himself as her belly grew. Would he be pleased? she asked herself. Or would he feel trapped? Would he feel a resentment toward her, a reluctant obligation to remain in the marriage?
As, with a troubled sigh, she rose to stir the stew simmering over the fire, she saw lightning flashing in the valley below. I'd better take in my washing first, she thought, and hurried to the clothesline Kane had strung for her.
She had grabbed a sheet and was reaching for a shirt when she felt the first drops of rain. She was snatching the rest of the wash from the line when a slim, brown hand grabbed at a pillowcase at the same time she did.
Both pair of hands grew still as slate-gray eyes gazed into deep blue ones. It was never clear to D'lise who moved first. But she was suddenly in Kane's arms, his lips on hers, his tongue slipping into her mouth. When she accepted it eagerly, she heard his breath quicken. In a need so fierce it obliterated everything around her, her fingers threaded through his hair at his nape.
The kiss went on and on, Kane not releasing her until the rain was pattering on the leaves overhead. Then, laughing like a pair of happy children, they grabbed the rest of the wash and sprinted to the cabin. The laundry was dumped on the table, and D'lise and Kane were reaching for each other when footsteps trampled across the porch floor.
"Whew!" Johnny exclaimed, drawing an arm across his wet face, "we just barely made it. It's beginnin' to come down in buckets." Both boys grinned at them, sure of their welcome. Had they lowered their eyes to the hard bulge in Kane's buckskins, they would have known that he, at least, was wishing them a hundred miles away.
To hide her amusement at Kane's predicament, D'lise walked to the door and stood watching the rain fall. Women were lucky, she thought. When desire gripped them, they could hide it. Unless, of course, one looked too deeply in her eyes, or noticed the pebble-hard nipples pushing against her bodice.
"What are you thinking?" Kane came and stood beside her, curving an arm around her waist.
D'lise heard the husky desire in his voice, and thought, Blast him. Every nerve in her body was on edge with the need to have him make love to her. But she hesitated to chance any more mental pain than she had already experienced at his hands.
She knew that she would chance it when Kane's hand moved up to cup her breast, to rub his thumb across the nipple that was already hard. But she would not make it easy for him, she determined. He would squirm and wonder for a while.
"I was thinking," she answered his question, "that if it doesn't stop raining soon we'll be eating a late supper. And maybe a cold one at that. The rain has put out the fire under the stew."
When Kane whispered that he wasn't hungry for supper, she moved away from his arm, saying that she was sure the boys were. She walked back into the kitchen and started folding the sheets dumped on the table. She avoided Kane's probing gray eyes as he lounged in the doorway, afraid that if she looked at him, saw the hunger that she was sure she'd see in his eyes, she just might take him by the hand and lead him into the bedroom, forgetting all about supper and the hungry boys.
"The rain is lettin' up, D'lise," Johnny called from the porch, where he and David had gone to keep Hound company. When the dog got wet he smelled so bad he wasn't allowed inside.
"I'll set the table," D'lise called back, "and when it slacks some more you can bring in the kettle of stew."
When, later, the sun had gone in and only a fine drizzle was falling, D'lise lit the candles and called David in to open all the windows, to catch the flow of cool air that had followed the rain. She knew that she would be on dangerous ground if she left the kitchen. Kane was just waiting to get her alone, to work his magical persuasion on her.
"I think it's still warm enough to eat, D'lise." Johnny grinned at D'lise as he carried in the wet pot of stew and placed it on the table. She lifted off the lid and found that he was correct. The heavy cast iron had kept the meat and vegetables at just the right temperature.
Although David and Johnny ate as though they hadn't had a hearty meal a few hours back, D'lise noted that Kane ate very little. From the smoldering looks he cast her way, she knew where his hunger lay.
But should she feed that hunger? she still wondered. Her mind said absolutely not, but her body argued—no, demanded—"Yes!"
Dessert was eaten and coffee drunk, and the boys were ready to settle in for a couple of hours of talk and laughter with the two people who were the hub of their lives. But Kane was lighting the lantern and saying, "I'm tired tonight, boys. You two go on home and I'll see you in the morning at breakfast."
When Johnny would have expressed his disappointment, David's sharp elbow in his ribs shut him up. Nevertheless, his lips drooped at the corners when he said goodnight and followed David outside.
D'lise couldn't remember ever being so nervous as she cleared the table and washed and dried the dishes. She was acutely aware of Kane's eyes following her every move.
Finally the kitchen
was spotless, and she had no reason to linger in it. She was taking off her apron when Kane came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. When her body tensed, he whispered, "Please, D'lise, I can't stand this coldness between us. It's drivin' me mad."
"You should have thought about that before spending the night with Raven." D'lise tried to pry his arms away, to escape the heat of the body that was setting fire to her own.
The arms didn't budge, only tightened, and now she felt the nudge of his hard manhood on her buttocks. "D'lise." Kane nuzzled the side of her neck. "I told you I didn't take that woman to bed. She might have been there when I passed out on the bed, but I wasn't aware of her until I woke up the next morning."
His fingers began undoing the buttons on her bodice. "I drank so much that day I couldn't have made love even to you." He turned her around to face him. "And you know how I love doin' that." He traced a finger around her lips. "Please, honey, let's start all over again. I promise to curb my jealousy of Majors, and you must stop havin' your suspicions about Raven. I swear there is nothin' between us anymore."
"Truly, Kane?" D'lise's blue eyes begged him not to lie to her.
"I swear it on my dead uncle. You're the only woman I'll ever want."
D'lise gazed up at him, so handsome and earnest, and whispered, "I believe you."
Kane made a small groaning sound of relief as his lips, hot and hungry, fastened on hers. She curled her fingers in his hair as her lips parted eagerly under his, and her body began to throb as their tongues sparred and his hand slipped into her bodice.
It was but moments later when Scrag, from his perch on a rafter in the bedroom, watched with curious eyes as his mistress and her husband soared to the heights together. When only a short time later it happened again, he lost interest and fell asleep.
D'lise awakened in the warm cocoon of possessive arms. She smiled tiredly. It had been past midnight before she and Kane sated themselves with each other. She wondered if she could slip out of bed without awakening Kane. She knew how strong his morning desire was and that he'd want to spend at least an hour catering to it; he'd probably still be working that hard body of his over hers when the boys arrived for breakfast, which could be anytime now according to the height of the sun.
She managed to ease out of Kane's arms and slide off the bed without rousing him. She quietly gathered up her clothes and moved through the main room and on into the kitchen. Filling a basin with water from the wooden pail that rested on its own long, narrow table, she dropped soap and a cloth into it and took a hurried sponge bath.
She had just finished dressing and was building a fire when David and Johnny arrived, their hair wet and slicked back. There was no comparing these two boys to the woebegone-looking young men who had appeared at their door in the late spring.
"It's a fine day, D'lise," Johnny said. "It's cool and fresh, just beggin' a fellow to stay outside. Do you think Kane might take us fishin'?"
"He might," D'lise answered, mixing up pancake batter. "Maybe I'll go with you, if you don't mind. I haven't fished but once this year."
"We'd be proud to have you, D'lise," David said gravely, not having Johnny's exuberant nature.
"Have her what?" Kane growled from the doorway, giving D'lise an accusing look as he scratched his head.
"D'lise said that she would go with us if you agreed to go fishin' today," Johnny explained with a wide smile. "Will you take us, Kane, will you?" he begged, his eyes shining hopefully.
"Well, I don't know about takin' D'lise with us," Kane grumbled. "She's a sneaky, hard-hearted woman. It doesn't matter to her if her man has a hurt."
An amused light jumped into D'lise's eyes. "Oh, Kane," she said with sham sympathy, "do you have a hurt? Show me where you're hurting and I'll kiss it and make it all well."
A roguish smile played around Kane's lips. "I'll show you later, and hold you to your promise."
D'lise turned her back on Kane when she felt her face redden. Then she had to bite her tongue to keep from roaring with laughter when Johnny innocently said, "It's your leg, huh, Kane? Remember yesterday when you got mad and kicked that big rock? Remember how you yowled and swore like a buffalo hunter?"
Johnny slid a sly look at David. "David's been sayin' them words ever since."
D'lise gave Kane a scorching look, thinking that he'd better not talk that way in front of his son. She remembered then that she still hadn't told him that he was going to become a father. She would tell him while they were fishing, she decided.
She'd turn the event into a picnic. She'd make sandwiches from the piece of ham left over from Sunday's dinner and take along a sack of cookies. When they found some time alone, she would tell him. She wasn't afraid to tell him now. After last night, she truly believed that Kane loved her and would be delighted at the thought of becoming a father.
After breakfast was eaten, Kane reluctantly let Johnny and David drag him off to dig worms. "I'd rather show you my hurt." He looked hopefully at D'lise from the kitchen door, rubbing the pronounced bulge in his buckskins. "It wouldn't take long," he coaxed, his fingers going to the lacing of his trousers.
His hands dropped to his sides when Johnny called from outside, "Are you comin', Kane?"
"I wish I was," Kane said with a whimsical twist of his lips before stepping outside. D'lise laughed softly and began to tidy the kitchen.
The river was smooth, without any current, when four lines were dropped into its water a short time later. Johnny and David held their poles, while Kane shoved his and D'lise into the sandy bank. He unfolded the blanket D'lise had brought along, and sitting down on it, he pulled her down beside him.
"That's the lazy way to fish, accordin' to ole Tom," Johnny informed Kane. "He says a man ain't never gonna catch a fish sittin' on his a—er, rump."
"Old Tom talks a lot of balderdash," Kane said, lying back on the blanket. "We'll see who catches the most fish."
The words were barely out of his mouth when David gave a whoop and whipped a good-sized bass out of the river. "See there, Kane, I told you so," Johnny crowed.
He crowed louder yet when, a moment later, a catfish took his bait. "I'm tellin' you, Kane, you'd better hold your pole in your hand."
"I'd rather let you hold my pole, D'lise," Kane said softly, turning on his side and giving D'lise a look that made her catch her breath at the message in it.
"You're the limit, Kane," she whispered. "Now behave yourself before David catches on to what you're hinting at."
"Do you think he would frown on my kissing you?" Kane came up on an elbow and leaned over her, his hand grasping her waist.
"I don't know, but I wish you wouldn't. You know as well as I do that a kiss wouldn't be enough for you." She raised a hand and lovingly stroked his cheek.
"Let me send the boys farther down the river," he whispered huskily, then gave a grunt of pain and clutched his thigh at the same time the sharp report of a rifle sounded off in the forest.
"Kane!" D'lise jerked erect. "You've been shot!" She stared horrified at the blood already spreading through the rent in his buckskins and running down between his fingers.
When David and Johnny came running up, their faces pale, she said to David, "Run fetch the stallion. We've got to get Kane to the cabin." David had taken but a few running steps when she called after him, "Bring the jackass instead. It will be easier to get Kane on his back."
"The shot came from over there." Johnny pointed a trembling finger to the right. "Look, there's the powder smoke driftin' up through the trees." He knelt down beside Kane and took his hands. "You're gonna be all right, ain't you, Kane?" his young voice quavered.
"Of course he's going to be all right," D'lise said fiercely. "Now I want you to saddle Snowy and ride to the village as fast as you can and bring back Doctor Ashley."
Johnny was on his feet and sprinting away as soon as the words left D'lise's mouth. She turned back to Kane, trying not to wring her hands in her inability to help him.
He looked so vulnerable, this man who never showed a weakness of any kind.
She gently wiped his sweating brow with her handker-chief. "Are you in a lot of pain, Kane?"
"My leg feels like someone is holdin' a flamin' torch to it," he answered hoarsely, his teeth clenched.
"I can't imagine who would want to shoot you. Do you have any enemies that you know of?"
"I'm sure there's some who don't like me, but I can't think of anyone who would want me dead."
D'lise chewed her bottom lip. What was taking David so long? Blood was still seeping through Kane's fingers. Was he going to lie and bleed to death? Dear Jesus, I'd want to die too, she whispered silently.
Finally there came the sound of small trotting hooves. A long sigh of relief whistled through D'lise's lips as David pulled the little jackass to a halt only a few feet away from where Kane lay. With Kane helping all he could, D'lise and David got him onto his feet and over to the little animal. He snorted and shook his head at the scent of blood, but when D'lise spoke to him in soothing tones, he allowed Kane to be boosted onto his back.
Although it was less than a mile to the cabin, D'lise felt it was more like five before they arrived and she and David got Kane inside and stretched out on the bed.
D'lise had just cut away the trouser leg, revealing a long, angry-looking gash about six inches long, when Doctor Ashley stepped into the room, Johnny right behind him.
"So, you've been shot, Mr. Devlin?" the slightly built man in his mid-fifties said as he rolled up his sleeves. He smiled at D'lise. "Where can I wash my hands?"
She led him into the kitchen and filled a basin with water and handed the doctor a bar of soap. As he scrubbed his hands, he said, "I'll need a basin of hot water and some strips of white cloth."
D'lise hurried to the fireplace, poked up the fire that was nearly out, then added more wood. When flames shot up, engulfing the tea kettle hanging from the crane, she half ran to the closet where she kept her linens.
Thank God she had washed clothes yesterday, she thought, grabbing a sheet and tearing it into strips. The water in the kettle was steaming now, and filling a basin with it, she rushed back into the bedroom.
