Slipping from under the quilt so as not to disturb her, Devon dressed quietly. An hour of daylight had already crept across the morning and he knew Cal had likely been up for some time. This would be a good opportunity to seek him out. With some luck he might be able to talk his brother-in-law into selling him a horse, on the cheap. When the next morning dawned, he and Brandi would have to leave, and she needed a good mount.
Framed in the doorway he paused to gaze back on her sleeping form. Carnal desires argued he should return. The quilt had fallen to expose a bare shoulder, porcelain white flesh, soft curves. Taking a deep breath he could almost taste her femininity even at this distance. Memory. He had never been as overwhelmed with a woman’s body as he had been with her perfection. The ecstasy had come from more than just the pleasure of intimacy. She had touched his heart and he had confidently given her the scattered pieces. Last night she had made him whole. And how he loved her for that.
The yoke on his shoulders was lessened.
Devon smiled and turned to step outside.
Sadie was in her kitchen, preparing breakfast, humming a cheerful tune. He stole inside without her noticing and wrapped his arms around her stomach. She jumped, almost dropping the pan of frying eggs.
“Dev,” she chastised. “Silly boy. Look what you made me do!”
“How are you feelin’?” he asked, patting her swollen belly. “Baby okay?”
“We’re fine,” she smiled with her usual mischievousness. “How ‘bout you? You sleep all right?” The question was steeped with more than polite curiosity.
“Yep,” he answered without committal to her underlying inquiry. He wouldn’t need to say more. Sadie would know. Women always knew.
Grinning broadly she placed a plate of breakfast in front of him at the table and sat to watch him tuck into the food. “I like her, Dev. She seems so right fer you.”
“Um,” he mumbled, his mouth too full to say more, even if he wanted to, which he didn’t.
“Maybe it’s time to settle, honey,” Sadie said warily, lowering her eyes to a spoon she had begun to fiddle with. Her tiny shoulders lifted and fell in trepidation. “Nothin’ yer gonna do’ll bring Jon back to us. You need to get on with yer own life now.”
Her sweetness caused Devon to pause. He understood what she was trying to say, and why. And he wished it could all be so easy. He found it difficult to meet her wide hopeful eyes.
“I hear the Biddle Place is up fer sale,” she said. “We could be neighbors. Our babies could grow up knowin’ each other.”
His throat had tightened, making it difficult to swallow the last mouthful of bread and eggs. Sipping thick black coffee helped. His sister continued to peer at him, her brow lifted with expectation.
“Don’t Sadie,” he said, his light mood dissolving. “You know it ain’t that simple.”
“I just want you to be happy, Dev. You know that.”
Devon nodded, warmed by her concern. “I know.”
“Morning, Uncle Dev,” Rufus squeaked as he ran into the kitchen.
“Morning, Green Bean,” Dev teased, picking up the thin frame and plunking the boy on his lap, pleased that the child had inadvertently diverted the conversation. Tussling the mop of blonde hair he asked, “Where’s yer Pa?”
“Oh,” Sadie exclaimed with a wave of her hand. “He’s been up since four working with his numbers. I don’t know why he bothers to even go to bed. He never sleeps.”
“My bein’ here is a strain on him,” Devon said. “He never liked me much anyway.”
“I don’t know where you’d get an idea like that,” Sadie scolded. “Besides, yer family.”
As if that meant anything to Cal, Devon mused. “I got to see him ‘bout buying a horse fer Brandi.”
“You really got to go tomorrow?”
“I really do,” Devon said, noticing Sadie suddenly looked tired. “But don’t you fret, darlin’.” He tried to smile assurance. “We’ll be back some day.”
“When?”
“I dunno. Soon.” This was all he could offer. Devon had to choke away the feeling he might never see his sister or her growing family again. The possibility of broken promises hung in the air between them. They both sensed it and neither was willing to verbalize such pessimism.
Sadie stood, smoothing her apron. “Well, just so you know you always got a home here.” Avoiding his eyes she turned to the stove.
“Come on, Green Bean,” Devon said. “Let’s go find yer Pa.”
Before following his nephew to the door Devon paused behind Sadie. “It’s gonna be all right,” he said softly in her ear. “Don’t ask me how I know, I just do.”
She took the hand he placed on her shoulder, giving it a quick squeeze. Devon wished there was something more he could say to ease her fears, but there wasn’t. It was difficult to put into words a feeling that promised the future would secure happiness. This was more than wishful thinking. He knew it to be true.
As difficult as it would be to try to explain to Sadie, it would be impossible to convince Cal. Only a hasty departure on Devon’s part would ease his trepidations. He was leaning against the fencing of the corral when Devon strode across the yard.
“Suppose you’ll be wantin’ a horse,” he said as Devon approached. One of the mares had trotted to the edge; Cal was stroking its nose.
If anyone was an excellent judge of a good sturdy horse it was Cal. He had spent a lifetime relying on their ability, always treating the animal with respect. It was a mutual affair. Every horse he had come in contact with treated him with esteem. They knew that this master would never lift a harsh hand to them. Even the wildest was soon pacified with his touch, rendering obedience to gentle words. Devon remembered the long friendship between his father and Cal, listening to their conversations about horses that often saw them up late into the evenings. Much of what Devon understood about horses and their subtle language he learned from listening to those conversations. No price could be put on such valuable knowledge.
A price, however, would be put on the horse. If there was anything that jostled for Cal’s affections it would be money.
“How far will you be ridin’?” Cal asked, his full attention still on the horse.
“Mexico,” Devon said briskly.
Cal balked, but he refused to give his opinion of the country or its inhabitants, one far from favorable. Too many bad experiences chasing outlaws along the vast expanse of the Rio Grande had clouded his estimation of people who sought out a living there.
“I reckon you know best,” was all he offered on the matter.
“Reckon so.”
The mare sauntered off, a result of one of Cal’s quiet commands. No wonder he loved horses, Devon thought. They do his bidding without question. If only humans could be so easily trained.
“That mare’s a beauty,” Devon complimented. “Brandi would like her.”
“Depends on if the mare likes her,” Cal said roughly.
It was Devon’s turn to stiffen. He didn’t like the tone used. For the sake of keeping peace, however, he swallowed his emotions. He’d try to get through the day without argument, for Sadie’s sake if nothing else. It would be a challenge. Cal had a way of bringing out the argument in the most pious of men and Devon was far from pious.
“What’s yer price?”
“If the filly likes her, none.”
Devon wasn’t certain which way he meant the titles. Still, he was surprised Cal wasn’t asking for money. Maybe Sadie had softened him up. Women had a way of tenderizing their men’s hearts. The previous evening taught him well.
“I asked Joshua Rumford to keep an ear to the ground. You know, in case strangers came snuffin’ round.” Cal shifted weight from his injured hip. He was not one to give in to pain. He found suffering in silence an honorable quality. “But I expect you to be gone this time tomorrow. No matter how careful you were Horn won’t be far behind.”
“Yes, sir.” Devon didn’t have to feign concurrence. He knew Cal
was right.
“There’s a saddle in the barn. Take that, too.”
The extent of the generosity was a concern to Devon. He was beginning to suffer pangs of guilt. True, he was family, but he was also too proud to accept charity. “Is there somethin’ I can do, pay you back for this?”
Cal continued to lean on the fence, elbows propped on the knobby wood. He thought for a few moments and then, with a heavy sigh, turned to Devon. “I understand the value of friendship,” he said. “Yer Pa and I, we went back a long time. We didn’t always agree but that didn’t affect the loyalty we had fer each other. Friends like that are hard to come by and I miss him.” Cal’s cheek jerked with a quick smile. “I look at you and by God I see yer Pa in so many ways. He ain’t ever gonna be gone as long as yer breathing.” The smile dropped. “And I hope yer breathin’ fer a long time yet. Fer Sadie’s sake, you understand.”
“Thought you were ready to hang me yesterday,” Devon said. He had never heard Cal be so soulful before. Regardless, the lecture about being an outlaw on the run was not a conversation Devon was about to forget soon.
“The apple don’t fall far from the tree. There’s enough of yer Pa in you to keep you sharp. And I know where Vasquez comes from, so the less said about that the better.” His eyes drifted to the barn. “But her I don’t know, except she’s lyin’. And a man who sleeps with a lyin’ woman believes her on account he wants her ... comforts.”
“Yer wrong about Romy,” was all Devon could say. It would be difficult to argue about Brandi. He knew so little about her. Still, he hadn’t imagined there could a deceitful bone in her body, which was the seed that Cal was trying to plant.
“Live with yer choices, boy. Don’t be stupid. Again.” He limped off towards the building that housed his ledgers.
“Oh,” Cal called before going inside. “You could fix that barn roof on the north side. Wind lifted a few boards and I ain’t too agile on gettin’ up there.”
Cal had chosen to be the first to ride into a nest of bandits and ended up with a bullet in his hip. Devon had chosen to gamble with a ruthless killer and ended up with a burn. They both had their marks from choices that neither would change even if they had the chance to. There were times when actions were called for, whether thought out plainly or not. They might be stupid choices, merely because they were instantaneous and then only in hindsight. Yes, Devon thought, we have to live with it. But Romy and Brandi were good choices.
Brandi wasn’t lying about anything. Just that she hadn’t told him everything. Once he finished the chore Cal had given him, Devon would ask her to share history with him. Knowing had suddenly become very important.
* * * *
With the last nail hammered in, Devon mopped his brow. It was mid-afternoon when he finished and the air inside the barn was stifling. Especially the air close to the ceiling, fermented with damp hay. His eyes were itchy and dry and he had taken his shirt off shortly after starting the tedious job. Inside he wasn’t conscious that anyone would see his scars. When the task took him up the ladder on the outside Devon covered up. Covering had become a habit, a second nature. Now as he sat in the haymow to catch his breath he wondered again how lies and deception came naturally to some people, the malevolence under the veil of smiles.
Not Brandi. Yes, he had wondered about her at first, the way she dressed, the unusual things she said, the careless handling of a gun. There was an explanation for that wasn’t there? Why did Cal seem to think she was lying? She said she grew up on a farm and sold it when her father died. If she grew up on a farm she’d be familiar with horses. The Brandi he carried away from Dry Gulch seemed frightened of horses, clumsy. Cal didn’t know that; he sensed something else. So what if she lied about her childhood? Would that really affect what they were together, here and now?
Together. No matter what. He’d settle old scores and then claim her for a wife. They might have to live in New Mexico or Arizona or somewhere like that to keep from the hunters. It didn’t matter as long as he had Brandi. As long as they were together it didn’t matter where they made a home.
“Thought I might find you up here.”
“Beth! What are you doin’ here?”
She climbed the last few rungs of the ladder and inched towards him, her long skirts swishing against the boards. Devon moved back, an automatic reflex, and faltered because there was nowhere to go. He was trapped, feeling not unlike a cornered rabbit about to be devoured by a beautiful sleek fox. He did manage to shrug into his shirt before she was on him.
“You up here reminiscing about last year, Dusty?”
“No.” Taking hold of her wrists and peering into that playful smile, however, did bring back the memories.
Beth Rumford had a seductive way about her, and that way was far from reserved once her sights were set. She had a reputation for spotting a potential mate and not letting go till both were sated. Thoroughly. When Devon had visited Sadie last summer he stayed a little too long. Beth had spotted him when she accompanied her father to see Cal about their business, and when Devon had excused himself and retreated to the barn, she followed. He was frightened of her then, even though he succumbed to her wiles. He was frightened of her now because she had the same look in those wicked blue-green eyes.
“I think you were,” she cooed, leaning ever closer. Long auburn locks curled over her shoulder. “I think you came back to see me, but you’re too shy to say so.”
“What are you doin’?” Devon was flabbergasted. “Yer meant to be wed this weekend.”
She shrugged. “I’m not wed yet. Besides, I thought we could talk about old times.” Wiggling to his chest she sighed, “Or we could do more than talk.”
“This ain’t proper,” Devon protested, gripping her wrists harshly. Somehow though, she had managed to suck out the strength he needed to ward her off. She smelled fresh, and her nearness was soft and lovely.
“It weren’t proper last time either,” she said through an impious smile. “And if memory serves me correctly, you like improper girls.”
Rosebud lips parted as she heaved a sigh. Her hand managed to get under the loose collar, and she trailed a path down his damp chest with a fingernail. Devon’s mouth had dried. His heart pounded from fear, fear mixed with want. Their union, so many months ago, had been lusty and very satisfying. Perhaps in the heat of that moment he said more than he should have, something that led her to believe he’d come back for her.
“Things are different now,” he choked.
Her piercing eyes locked on his face. “You mean the blonde woman? Forget her. I made you happy then. I can do it again.”
Devon lost his balance, slumping back into the hay, automatically taking her with him. It was an accident. But the wry grin on her face told him she must have thought he did it deliberately. Holding her as far at bay as possible, he tried reasoning with her. “We both got those who depend on us now, Beth. This is wrong. Yes, we had our fun but…” He was rambling, nerves finding an erratic path to his tongue. The words were snuffed when her lips pressed fully against his mouth.
“No,” he heard himself say, muffled and beyond. But his reactions were not obeying his mind. He weakened, visibly, and he wasn’t struggling to get away from her touch, a touch that was quickly beginning to explore the height and depth of his body’s sudden excitement, a touch that was becoming far too familiar.
Heat from her palm engrossed his groin. He clutched her arms in an attempt to push her away, yet a sharp intake of breath revealed the pleasure gleaned from her wayward action.
“I’ll leave him, Dusty,” she whispered, her breath sweet. “I never wanted anyone but you. Just say the word and I’ll be yours.”
Devon had been surprised when he heard the news she was to marry. Sadie wanted him to stay to celebrate the wedding, join in the party, which was bound to be elaborate since her father was a boisterous businessman known for presenting his wealth in just such a display. He never figured she would settle since her blood boiled to
lust and every belt buckle in town must be well known. In fact, when Sadie mentioned the wedding the night before at the dinner table, Devon felt sorry for the future husband. Now, here she was, trying her best to seduce him, in a haymow, days before she was supposed to voice promises to another. A beautiful seductress with unscrupulous motives.
Motives. Devon flinched. She was up to something. Her touch was a deception.
He grabbed her with renewed energy. “How did you know I was here?”
She blinked, searching for an appropriate answer. The pause told Devon what he needed to know. This was a setup. Uncertain as to who or why, he wasn’t about to take precious time in the consideration. He whirled her round, throwing the now angry man-eater into the mound of hay.
Leaping for the ladder Devon could see her fury at a plot gone wrong. “You’re a monster,” she shrieked. “A dirty deformed monster and I hope you hang.”
As he hit the floor Devon fought off the sad realization she had come to distract him, keep him occupied while the hunters moved in. She knew he was there because her father had carried the news, more than likely making himself available to the hunters in an attempt to gain partial monetary reward for the capture. Cal had trusted Joshua Rumford; it had been a near fatal mistake. Unless Cal....
The screams of false abuse were echoing throughout the barnyard. Devon’s first task was to get the horses, saddle them quickly, and leave. Horn could be looming on the horizon even now. The screams from behind meant nothing, except to remind him that betrayal was never far away. He spit, a sour taste in his mouth.
Cal appeared first as Devon raced to the corral. “What the Hell?” he stuttered, seeing Devon’s panic.
“Was it you?” Devon snarled, grabbing Cal by the collar, nearly knocking the older man off his feet. “Did you sell me out?”
Lady Outlaws Page 10
