White Vengeance

by Susan Edwards

  It is time to leave the past behind.

  The voice inside her mind startled her. It was her mother’s voice. Star Dreamer had been the only mother Renny had ever known. She’d taken Renny into her heart and adopted her as her own. And she’d taught her, as a mother teaches her daughters.

  One of Renny’s first lessons among the Sioux had been learning to respect every living thing. The first time Renny had squashed a spider in the tipi had been her last. She’d learned quickly that the people who roamed and lived off the land revered all forms of life, taking life only when needed and always giving thanks for that life.

  She’d also learned that the appearance of a brother or sister in the wheel of life—as all living things were considered—had meaning.

  Staring at the insect that should have scuttled away, Renny found herself, for the first time in a year, questioning why the beetle had come to her.

  Beetles were masters at change. They went from grub to winged. They had the ability to change.

  Renny stared at the insect for another moment, then shook her head. Change was the last thing she needed. “No more change,” she said harshly.

  A shadow fell over her. She glanced up to see Tyler standing in the doorway. She jumped up. “Great. Just what I need. You.” Renny couldn’t face him. Not when she felt as though she’d crack and break into millions of pieces if she lost her grip on her emotions.

  “I have something to say, Renny. Do me the courtesy of hearing me out.”

  Truthfully, Renny didn’t think she’d be able to handle a verbal battle, so she folded her arms across her chest and leaned back on her heels. “Fine. Say what you want then leave. Got no time for you, Troll.”

  “Someday, Renny—”

  “Gee, is that all you have to say?” She quirked a brow.

  Tyler’s lips tightened. “You are not going alone. Your family is on the way.”

  Renny felt her heart lighten. A huge measure of relief ran through her. The task of finding Matthew alone would have been a daunting one.

  “Reed is going as well,” Tyler added.

  She nodded, feeling a soft glow of warmth overcome the coldness that seemed bone deep. She studied Tyler for a moment. “That leaves you off the hook, Sheriff. I won’t be alone, and we will have the law with us. You can go back to town and nanny someone else for a while.”

  “Nope. I’m going with you. All of you.” Renny swung her arms out and up. “We don’t need you, Troll. Get that through your thick head.” She strode past him.

  Chapter Eight

  Tyler grabbed Renny by the arm as she passed. “I have something to say to you, Renny.”

  Renny froze and sent him her most haughty glare. “Save it for someone who wants to listen.”

  “Dammit, Renny!”

  “You’re the one damned, Troll. Now let me go.”

  “Not until you promise to listen to what I have to say.” Tyler felt her shift and with fast reflexes, managed to avoid the heel of her boot.

  To keep her from running, he slid his hands down her arms, pulled her close and held her arms behind her as he backed her up against the wall of the barn.

  With his body close, his feet between hers so she couldn’t knee him, he stared down at her. Her eyes flashed with green fire.

  “Let me go, Troll.”

  “Not until you promise to listen.”

  “Never,” she hissed. “You have nothing to say worth listening to.”

  Shaking his head, struggling with his own temper, he sighed. “Swallow that damn pride of yours, Renny.”

  Renny tipped her chin. “Pride kept my family together. You would have torn us apart.”

  “I wanted what was best.”

  “What you wanted was wrong.” Renny’s mouth thinned into a tight line.

  “And I’ve admitted that to you,” he shouted. “But there are reasons why I acted the way I did.”

  Renny snorted. “I don’t care why.”

  “But I do,” Tyler said softly.

  Renny shot him a look of disgust. “Only thing you care about is Sheriff Trowbrydge Tyler Thompkins Tilly.”

  Frustrated, Tyler felt like shaking her senseless, or better, kissing her senseless.

  “Now that we’ve had this little talk, get your hands off me, Troll—”

  Tyler’s mouth covered hers. All anger melted at the touch, and feel, and taste of her. She gasped and he drew her breath deep into him.

  “I care, Renny,” he whispered as he moved his lips over hers.

  She shook her head. “No—”

  “Yes. I care.” He repeated the words and kissed her again. She didn’t protest, didn’t fight. He lifted her hands, threaded his fingers through hers.

  He heard her groan. “Can’t. You don’t.”

  “Can. Do.” He trailed his lips down the hard line of her jaw, then dipped his tongue into the small cleft in her chin. He returned to her mouth, drawn by her warm, sweet breath.

  “Kiss me back, Renny. Kiss me like I’m kissing you,” he begged. He’d waited so long for this moment, knew it couldn’t last but was willing to take all that she offered. And he badly needed her to give him something—anything.

  Renny moved her lips over Tyler’s, letting him guide her, following his lead, giving as much as he gave to her. She tasted him, felt his tongue tracing the contours of her lips. It felt strange to kiss in this fashion. But it was also wickedly wonderful.

  She filled her lungs with the scent of him. Her body felt weak, and fluid, like she just might melt into a puddle. When he released her hands, she wrapped her arms around him, drawing him hard against her.

  Her skin burned. Her blood moved through her hot and heavy, leaving her with a growing restlessness and a need that made her bold enough to use her tongue in the same manner as he’d used his. She moaned, felt as though she would drown in the heady wonder of her first kiss.

  His hands roamed up and down her back. Renny slid her palms down over his shoulders, her fingers gliding over the buttery softness of his leather vest.

  Sliding her hands down the hard wall of his chest, she felt the pounding of his heart beneath her right hand. He groaned as she ran her palms over him, his voice a deep rumble in her ear.

  “So good,” he murmured. “Taste so good.” Tyler bent his head, his lips and tongue tracing a fiery path down her throat.

  Renny leaned her head back against the wall of the barn as Tyler planted kiss after kiss from her throat to the hollow of her neck.

  Her hands left his chest, her fingers feathering softly along the hard, stubborn jaw. His skin was soft and smooth, hard and rough. The pads of her fingers moved over him, delighting in the texture and thrill of touching him.

  Finally, needing to feel his mouth against hers once more, she cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to kiss her fully.

  Tyler obliged her with a kiss that went deeper. He demanded more from her, then let her make the same demands. They were one, merged together by their mutual need.

  Renny didn’t think. She just let herself feel. And be. She was alive. There was nothing but this kiss, and her need.

  She could have stood here all night and kissed. And might have had they not been interrupted by a voice filled with humor and delight.

  “Well, this is a pleasant surprise.”

  Tyler pulled away, using his body to block Renny. He blinked at the woman standing in the doorway of the barn. It took him a long moment to recognize her as Maze. She looked nothing like the gentle, fragile woman he’d taken in.

  Maze now resembled a pistol-packing grandmother. She wore a flannel shirt three sizes too big, and baggy blue jeans that were fastened to her waist with a length of rope for a belt.

  He glanced down at her feet and lifted a brow. She’d cu
t his jeans instead of rolling the excess length. On her feet she wore a pair of worn leather shoes.

  He glanced at her. She smiled so sweetly, he couldn’t protest the loss of a pair of pants.

  Instead, he concentrated on the fact that she was here in the O’Brien barn at all. “Maze, what are you doing here?”

  Maze adjusted her wide-brimmed hat complete with red ribbon tied beneath her jaw. Her eyes were alight with excitement. “Why, I’m going with you, Sheriff.”

  “But—” He glared down at Renny, who’d gone into a fit of coughing. Tyler tugged at her hair. “Not a word, Renny. Not a damn word,” he warned.

  Deciding he could only handle one difficult woman at a time, he shoved his hands down onto his hips. “Sure appreciate your willingness to go with us, Maze, but I don’t know how long we’ll be gone or what we’ll find. It’d be best if you waited here for us to return.”

  Maze simply smiled, her eyes a clear, soft blue. She looked much younger. “My place is with you, and your young lady,” she said. Her voice was soft, almost misty.

  “Maze, this isn’t a little jaunt into the countryside. It’s going to be a rough trip, we’re riding hard and fast. I’m sorry, I can’t allow you to accompany us.”

  “Big mistake, Troll,” Renny said, her voice low.

  “Sheriff, I think I know the seriousness of the situation. I will not hamper you in any way.” Maze was no longer amused but dead serious.

  Tyler frowned. Had the world gone crazy? Since when did sweet little old ladies suddenly turn into rebels?

  Beside him, Renny cleared her throat. “Um, as much as I hate to agree with anything the Troll—er, um, Tyler—has to say, he might be right this time.” She refused to look at the man who’d just kissed her senseless.

  Maze lifted a brow. “You have much to learn as well, Renny. Don’t judge me by what you see. Judge me by what I am, and what I am to you.”

  With that cryptic remark, she turned and glided smoothly out of the barn with her long, silvery braid swaying across her back.

  Tyler threw up his hands. “Women! What have I done to deserve this!” He leaned down, gave Renny a hard kiss right on the mouth, then strode out after Maze.

  Left alone in the barn, Renny stood rooted to the spot. Waves of heat washed over her. “Oh, no,” she moaned. Pressing her fingers to her lips she could still feel the warmth and moisture of Tyler’s mouth moving over hers, could still remember her own heated and eager response.

  Heat flooded her cheeks. How could she have kissed Tyler, the Troll? What had come over her? Why hadn’t she slapped him, stomped on his foot, punched him in the gut? Anything!

  He’d kissed her! Taken her into his arms, kissed her, and to her mortification, she’d clung to him and kissed him back.

  Renny shoved her hands onto her hips and looked around for something to kick. How had this happened? One minute they’d been yelling and fighting, the next moment, kissing like there was no tomorrow.

  Renny groaned, horrified by the loss of control, the greedy need that had taken over. Then her eyes narrowed. Just why had he kissed her? What game was he playing now? The man was probably laughing at her, at how inept she’d been, how young and foolish.

  A loud, booming voice made her whirl around. Tyler poked his head around the barn door. “Ranait, don’t got time for you to sulk. Get moving or we’ll leave without you.”

  Renny picked up her loaded saddlebags. “Just try it,” she yelled out.

  She brushed past him, letting her bags smack against him and knock him off balance. “Don’t be telling me what to do, Troll. And don’t ever kiss me again. Don’t know what game you’re playing but it won’t work.”

  Tyler grabbed her long braid, jerking her back. He leaned down, his breath warm against her ear. “One day you’ll push me too far.”

  “Oh, I’m trying, Sheriff. I’m trying.”

  Without warning, Tyler laughed gruffly. “I’ll say one thing, Miss O’Brien. Life is not dull around you. Come on, we’ll finish this later. Got a few good hours of light left. We need to get going.”

  Renny followed. The sound of his genuine laughter along with his promise of more to come, unexpectedly warmed her from the inside out.

  Rounding the side of the house, she grew sober at the sight of her brothers and sisters sitting uncharacteristically quiet on the porch steps.

  They’d each changed into the clothing of their mother’s people. Mattie wore a long buckskin dress and her moccasins. Caitie was dressed exactly like her sister, and looked more like a doll in Mattie’s arms.

  Kealan and Daire wore their breechclouts, leggings, moccasins and a fringed vest. Kealan had a long, white feather tied to a strand of hair while Daire had just pulled his longer hair back and tied it with a beaded leather thong. She was the only one who had not changed into their travel-to-the-land-of-their-people clothing.

  She didn’t plan on it either. She’d renounced that world, or at least a big part of it. She would go as she was dressed: jeans and an old flannel shirt.

  For the next hour, she helped saddle horses and pack supplies. Finally, everyone was mounted and ready to ride. Reed had Caitie in his arms; Kealan was riding with Renny, sulking that Daire got to ride by himself.

  Glancing over at Tyler, their gazes locked. He rode up beside her, his horse prancing, eager to ride. “Ready?”

  She nodded. “Thank you, Sheriff. We are truly grateful for your help.”

  And she was. Her mind was so overwrought she couldn’t think straight. But Tyler had stepped in, along with Reed, to get them organized quickly. Even the little ones had been given tasks so they felt useful and a part of what Renny hoped was a rescue mission.

  Lifting a brow, Tyler smiled. “Well, if this isn’t a first,” he said.

  Renny wrinkled her nose. “Just don’t get too used to it, Sheriff,” she warned. “Only doing this for them—” she gestured at her waiting siblings “—and Matthew.”

  Tyler inclined his head. “Understood.”

  “Then I guess we’d best get going,” Renny suggested.

  “I’ll give the lead to you. You know the direction your brother would have taken.”

  Renny stared at Tyler in surprise. She’d figured he’d take command. “Thanks,” she said.

  He put his hand on her wrist before she could ride off. “There is just one thing I’d ask of you, Miss O’Brien.”

  Suspicious, Renny gripped the reins tight. “What?”

  “Say my name,” he asked, his voice low and soft.

  “What?” Renny stared at him. She’d expected him to make demands, set conditions that she’d not be able to comply with—all in the name of protecting them and keeping them safe.

  Tyler kept his gaze on her. “Just say it. Tyler. Just Tyler.”

  Renny felt like laughing. Her relief was so great. She didn’t want to fight with him. Not now. Not after he’d kissed her senseless. Maybe later. A day or two. So she took a deep breath and said softly, “Tyler.”

  His mouth softened, and his eyes turned to gray liquid. “Thank you, Renny.”

  Renny nodded. “Tyler.” It felt strange, this truce that seemed to have sprung up between them.

  “Well, enough of this nonsense. Let’s go. You might as well ride with me,” she grumbled, nudging her horse gently.

  Together, Renny and Tyler rode out of the yard with everyone falling in behind.

  * * *

  “Matt!” Brenna bent over Matt, frantic. Blood was everywhere. She took her shawl and tried to stop the flow of blood pouring from a wound on his side. She glanced over her shoulder at her brother. “Gilbert O’Leary, have you lost your mind?” Gil had shot Matt. She felt sick. “Why?” she sobbed. So much blood. It wouldn’t stop.

  “Get away from him,” Gil ordered.

&nb
sp; “No,” Brenna said, tears coursing down her face.

  “You left me, Bree. Like Collin. And our mother.” Gil paused. “He took you from me.” His voice was tortured, pain-filled as he pointed the rifle at Matthew. “Move.”

  Brenna turned to protect Matthew from Gil. “No. You cannot do this. You know that I agreed to go with him,” she said. “You know he was taking me to his people.”

  “No right,” Gil said. “No right to leave me alone.”

  “That is why you shot him? Because I went with him?” Brenna’s heart sank. Matt was hurt, and hurt badly. It was her fault.

  “He took you. You went. You left me.” His voice rose.

  “Gil, I didn’t have any choice.” Brenna tried to keep the fear and panic from her voice.

  “Move away.” He had the rifle ready, his finger poised to pull the trigger.

  Realizing that Gil meant to make sure Matthew died, she stood, her body protectively in front of Matthew’s.

  “Please, Gil, what do you want?” She’d give him anything, including her own life, if he spared Matt’s.

  Gil’s eyes were glazed with pain. “You left me, Bree. You all left me.”

  Brenna stepped toward her brother. “I’ll come with you. I’ll stay with you. I promise never to leave you if you promise not to shoot Matthew again.” She feared her plea was too late. Without anyone to tend to him, Matthew wouldn’t survive. But she had to do what she could.

  Gil glanced from her to Matthew’s bloodied body. He lowered the rifle. “You come. And you don’t leave me. Ever.” A quick flip had the gun pointing at her. “If you try to leave me, I’ll kill you.”

  Brenna swallowed the bile in the back of her throat as she nodded. “All right. I promise.” She bent back down beside Matthew. “Let me tend to Matt first,” she said, quickly pressing her shawl more firmly against the wound.

  Gil grabbed her by her single braid and yanked. “No, the savage lives or dies on his own. Get the food and water.” He kept the gun trained on her.

  Brenna scurried to do as he ordered. She grabbed the rations while Gil went through Matt’s things, taking what he wanted.