by My Desperado
Travis leaned forward from the waist. “Well, you ain’t getting her. Because she’d kill you. And when you die, I fully intend to do the killing myself.”
“And here I thought you didn’t want to be responsible for a woman’s death,” she hissed.
He waved her away with a flick of his hand. “Get back to Soldier before you wake the whole country.”
Bending, he stepped lithely between the rails.
Katherine watched in silence. He was a stubborn man. Stubborn and irritating. And she liked the black horse.
Travis skirted the herd, avoiding the black, but every animal there was trailwise and savvy. They ambled away as a unit, then scattered to the far rails. He watched them go, not wanting to cause a commotion, trying to keep them calm.
Near the corner a spotted gelding stood quietly, head drooping. He was a big animal with solid bone. A little past his prime, but that fact only made him more desirable for a novice rider. Shaking out a loop, Travis judged the distance in the darkness and swung.
The gelding, however, had lived nearly as long as the man and had dodged enough ropes to make him an expert.
Dragging the empty loop back to his hands, Travis walked through the shifting herd again. A mare, splayfooted but sturdy bolted past. Travis halted, crooning softly, settling the herd, searching again.
Another gelding—too belligerent. A mare—lame.
Ahhh—there. A brown gelding—not large, with solid feet and legs. True, even in the darkness, Travis could see he was no beauty, but he would carry a woman well, and—
“Ryland,” came a loud whisper. “Travis. I’m taking this one.”
Travis shifted and turned, afraid of what he’d find.
“The hell you are. Close that gate.”
“Come on, girl,” Katherine coaxed, extending a hand toward the dark, flighty mare.
The black took a step toward the gate, then another step. Her shoulders were through, and from around her neck some kind of strap dangled.
“Close that gate!” Travis ordered again, louder.
Katherine did so, but the horse was already through. A dog barked—yipping twice before howling. The black mare skittered sideways. Katherine soothed her, one palm held upward, a chocolate in its center. Another dog barked.
“Travis. We’d better go,” Katherine called, pulling on the belt that held the mare. “Come on.”
Travis gritted his teeth. How had he come to this? He’d been a good bad man—respected and feared! And now here he was—reduced to common horse theft, with a woman who told him what to do and was about to drive him insane. But damn her bossy ways, he was not going to be responsible for her death on that black devil—unless he orchestrated it more carefully and had time to enjoy it.
He shook out his loop again and swung for the squatty gelding.
“Travis,” Katherine called, sounding more nervous.
“Quiet.”
“Travis.” Her voice was rising.
“Shut…”
A bullet whizzed over the corral. Horses bolted. Katherine jumped, and Travis, being no stranger to the penetrating potential of firearms, swore a blue streak and zigzagged toward the gate.
“Get on Soldier,” he yelled, diving between the rails.
“What?” Katherine gasped. The black was prancing circles around her, made nervous by the sound of bullets, Travis’s unorthodox exit from the corral, and the sight of the two bristling hounds that charged them all.
“Get on my horse,” yelled Travis, sprinting for his mount.
“But…” Katherine minced a half circle in front of the black, still holding the too short belt and trying to watch all the descending elements at once. “I… Oh…”
She was grabbed from behind suddenly and yanked upward. Her hand scraped along the leather belt, but it was ripped from her grasp as she was deposited, facedown, across Ryland’s saddle horn.
She wriggled violently, trying to see past his huge body as he spurred for the trees. “But my horse,” she complained.
Another shot rang out, closer now, and Katherine winced. But when she righted herself on the saddle, she turned to look and saw that the black mare charged along behind them.
Chapter 19
“So what do we do with her now?” Katherine asked, watching the black mare that grazed not far from Soldier in the early morning light. They’d ridden all night, heading north and putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the ranch the black had come from. The mare had followed, never far behind, keeping up easily.
Travis squinted against the sun, looking fatigued and irritable. “Ever eat horsemeat?” He fingered the gun he’d purchased just days before and stared thoughtfully at the mare. “It ain’t half bad.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Katherine rose to the bait like a winter-starved trout.
He smiled, the expression grimly lifting the corners of his mouth. “You sure?” he asked, and lifted the revolver.
How she managed to get her hands on his gun, Ryland was never sure. Perhaps being near her was dulling his sense of survival, or perhaps he simply had never considered she might do something so foolhardy; but whatever the reason, she was suddenly gripping the muzzle of his firearm with pale-faced intensity.
They stood facing each other.
“Can I ask what you’re doing, lady?” he asked, watching her with mild interest.
Katherine stared at him, feeling breathless and angry. “You will not shoot my horse.”
“You ain’t hungry?” he teased.
“I am hungry.”
“Then let go of my damn gun, and we’ll have us some breakfast,” promised Travis as he warmed to the confrontation. Goddamn if this woman wasn’t driving him insane.
She scowled, not sure if he seriously intended to shoot the animal or not. “You said I needed my own mount.”
“Let go of my gun.”
“You said I couldn’t ride with you anymore,” she reminded, her voice rising.
“You ain’t going to be riding at all. Never again if you keep hanging on to the ends of men’s firearms. Now let go.”
“She’s my horse.”
“She’s a damn menace,” growled Travis. “Believe me, I know.”
“How do you know?”
“Cuz she acts like you,” he stormed.
Katherine raised her chin. “I take that as an insult, and I will not let go of your gun. Not until you come to your senses. You said I needed a horse. So I’ve got a horse. Why are you being so obstinate?”
“Obsti—what?” Travis questioned, tilting his head.
“So… male,” Katherine explained, her frown deepening.
“Listen, lady. You said yourself you can’t ride. And I’m saying, you can’t ride this horse.”
From the tops of the surrounding forest a hawk swooped on outspread wings. The black mare’s head lifted, and like a pouncing cat, she leaped sideways, as if frightened the bird might be eyeing her for its breakfast.
Ryland shook his head. “See what I mean? She’s flighty as a damn sparrow. Got no sense.” Gently now he eased the gun barrel from Katherine’s hands. “She wouldn’t be a pretty way to die.”
“But you can’t shoot her.”
“And we can’t have her following us around like a damn dog, either. You think we don’t have enough trouble without that?”
Katherine bit her lower lip and shrugged. “But couldn’t you train her?”
Travis blew out a breath and shook his head. “It ain’t the training. It’s the horse.”
“But you’re good with horses, Travis.” She reached out to touch the front of his shirt softly. “You could train her. I know you could.”
Travis knew he’d been baited, but he was enjoying himself, and he liked the way Katherine looked trying to charm him. Her eyes were the size of silver dollars, and her lips were slightly parted, begging for a kiss. She leaned nearer. “We can’t shoot her, Travis. It wouldn’t be right.”
He tried to resist h
er, but couldn’t. “I suppose you do need a mount,” he said gruffly, and turning on his heel, hurried toward the woods. “Catch the damn thing, and we’ll give her a try.”
It was amazing how much tossing about a body could do and still remain in one piece Katherine thought as she clasped her hands together.
The mare was like a black storm cloud, corkscrewing about the clearing with Ryland clinging to her back with stunning tenacity. But no one could last forever, and when he hit the dirt for the third time, he landed only inches from Katherine’s scuffed boots. A grunt was wrenched from him as his body thudded with solid finality.
“Travis.” She bent quickly, placing her hands to his arm as he lay still and silent on his back. “Travis, are you hurt?”
His eyes were closed, his breathing coming in sharp gasps.
“No.” He answered finally in a hoarse tone. “No, I ain’t hurt.” He didn’t open his eyes. “I feel great. Never better.” The words rasped between his teeth. “Wish I could do this more often.”
Katherine grimaced. Her hand slid over his chest, checking for injuries—perhaps. “She can really buck, can’t she?”
Ryland’s eyes opened slowly. “You noticed that, too?”
She bit her lip and nodded. “Are you hurt?”
“‘Scuse me for mentioning it, but…” He winced. “Didn’t we already discuss this?”
‘Tell me the truth.”
He hesitated only a moment. “Yeah, lady,” he answered. “I think you might say I’m hurt.”
Katherine winced as if she’d taken the falls herself. “Where?” she whispered.
He moved cautiously, groaned a complaint as his eyes widened. “Everywhere.”
“Ohhh.” Katherine’s second hand reached his chest. “I’m so sorry.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” She nodded, and he noticed, without half trying, that there were tears in her eyes.
He shifted again, then drew a breath and let his body lie still. “How sorry might you be?”
She touched his face, feeling suddenly exhilarated. “Can I do anything to ease the pain?”
“That depends.” He winced again, letting his eyes fall closed then opened one to study her. “How sorry are you?”
She was leaning over him to look into his face. It was broad boned, and his beard was growing back. He looked devastatingly masculine. “Very sorry.”
“Yeah?” He opened his other eye slowly. There was a darkening bruise across his temple. “Then I think there might be hope.”
She bit her lip again, feeling breathless as his gaze fell on her face. “What can I do to help?” she asked again, her tone husky.
He raised his brows slightly. “Let me think.”
They stared at each from inches apart, and she nodded. “I’ll take a look while you think.”
His brows rose up another fraction of an inch. “Take a look?”
“Yes.” Her fingers were already on the buttons to his shirt, drawing them open.
Travis expelled a slow breath, feeling his senses warm. “All right.”
Gently Katherine tugged his shirt from his jeans, and the final two buttons fell open. She drew the edges apart, exposing the massive width of his chest and abdomen.
She studied him as she gently explored him with her fingertips. “Feels pretty good. Except here,” she said, and leaning forward, she pressed her lips to that darkened area. “And…” She raised her eyes to the top of his shoulder where the muscle bunched in a hard cap and the skin was scraped raw. “Here.” She kissed that, too, while sliding his sleeves lower. There was a still healing scar on his right arm where the bullet had pierced him. “And here.” Her lips lingered there. Beneath her mouth his biceps tightened and relaxed.
Katherine raised her gaze to his face. “Perhaps you should move to your bedroll so that I could examine you.”
Their gazes caught.
“Perhaps,” he breathed.
Ryland grimaced with pain as he stood. His back ached as if a large man had been very busy with a sledgehammer, and everything below his waist was throbbing in agony.
Beneath the shade of a birch tree his blankets felt soft and yielding above the springy grasses. From a nearby bush a song sparrow serenaded them. And all around the purple heads of the Rocky Mountains shone with breathtaking grandeur.
Travis eased himself onto his back, almost suppressing the groan of pain caused by his movements.
Katherine sat back on her knees, watching him with an agonized expression.
Again their gazes caught.
The truth was that despite it all—the lynch mob, the saloons, the men who’d lusted after her, and even the one time they’d shared passion—Travis knew she was still an innocent.
“Have I mentioned how sorry I am?” she asked softly, the truth showing clearly in her luminous eyes.
He should draw back, of course, but didn’t. “No, you haven’t.”
“Shall I show you?” she whispered.
He could not pull his gaze from her, for she was beautiful beyond description, with her cheeks slightly pinkened by her tentative brazenness. “You’re looking for trouble, lady,” he warned softly.
“I think I already found it.” She shrugged, smiling a little. “On a dark street in Silver Ridge.”
He remained silent, remembering his first sight of her, how her night rail had pressed intimately against her backside. “I’m not a good man to mess with. And I’m not strong where you’re concerned. I can’t resist you.”
“Then don’t.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
Their gazes held.
“I don’t want to be alone forever, Travis.”
He tried to think rationally, to do what was right. “There are good men. Men who would treat you good.”
Katherine bit her lip. “But I want you.”
Her whispered words seemed to echo in the forest.
“Don’t, lady,” he pleaded.
“But I do.”
He kissed her with trembling passion, unable to resist, and she answered back.
Her clothing came off slowly. First her shirt peeled away as he kissed every inch of smooth flesh revealed. She was soft and warm, and shuddered when he kissed her nipple. He slipped off her jeans, so that she lay naked in his arms finally. Then he drew away slightly to view her more fully. Katherine bit her lip, lowering her gaze and covering her breasts with an arm.
“Please.” With utmost tenderness he lifted her arm so that all was bared to him once again. “I’ve never seen such beauty before, Katherine.” She raised her eyes to meet his. “And I never will again.”
She kissed him softly. Her lips were warm, playing gently across his, and finally slipping lower, daring to caress his chest. Travis gritted his teeth, feeling as if he would die of the raging sensations.
Her kisses slanted across his abdomen. He drew in a sharp breath as they brushed above his waistband.
“Lady, I can’t take much more of this,” he groaned, and she drew away, looking flushed and breathless before kissing his mouth again.
Finally his clothes joined hers.
They lay naked and impatient in each other’s arms, feeling the soft caress of the sun, the gentle, skimming touch of fingers along shivering limbs.
Travis’s hands lowered to her waist and, lifting her slightly, finally set her firmly atop him.
She moaned as he slid inside, tilting her head back, so that her slim graceful throat was revealed. He groaned, wanting to touch every part of her, but his need was too strong to be denied now, and he drove into her, drawing gasps of pleasure from them both.
Katherine was astride as they rode toward that elusive summit, giving and taking, her hands upon his chest, her eyes closed.
The tempo increased to a feverish rate, hot flesh against hot flesh, until she gasped for air as she rose to ecstasy. Her taut breasts thrust forward, and her strong lean legs gripped him with shocking strength as she reached the pinnacle of fulfillmen
t.
She collapsed against him.
Travis gasped for breath, remembering he had heard of young stallions fainting dead away from the sheer exhilaration of a mating.
It was possible. And if ever there was a woman who might cause a man to lose consciousness, this was the one to do it.
Her breasts felt warm and soft against his chest as she shifted off him, easing to the left, avoiding his wounds. She lay beside him finally, cuddled against his side as one of his arms cradled her.
“Travis?” Her voice was very small when she spoke, sounding not at all like the seductress who had tantalized him moments before.
He stroked her hair absently from her face, waiting for her to go on.
“Do you hate me again now?”
He loved her. He knew it. He felt that nearly forgotten burn in his soul and closed his eyes. “No, lady,” he answered softly. “I don’t hate you.”
They were silent for a moment.
“I know I’ve been difficult.” She took a deep breath, still staring at his chest where her hand lay against his hard pectoral. “But do you think you might learn to like having me around?”
A dark-haired girl with sparkling eyes called from his memory, lifting a hand to urge him to take it. And he had, forgetting his worries to run beside her through the gleaming fields of cotton.
“Yeah.” He knew he should deny his feeling, should rise now and leave her. “Yeah.” He shifted his gaze. “I might someday.”
Katherine told herself she should be angry, for in truth he’d insulted her again. And yet those words, spoken in husky tones, did nothing less than make her spirit soar.
She wriggled slightly closer, feeling foolishly happy and hiding her smile against his bare chest.
Damn me, Travis thought. Damn me for falling in love, for admitting a part of my weakness, for making her happy.
Only pain would come of it. And yet she felt like a sharp shard of heaven against him.
He cleared his throat, nervously looking for some harmless discussion to keep him safe from the tearing emotions caused by her nearness. “What are we going to do with that damn horse of yours?”
Katherine straightened her smile and snuggled closer still. “Maybe she simply doesn’t like men.”
