Gideon: Devils on Horseback, Book 5

by Beth Williamson

  “God, you’re tight. So fucking tight.” His fingers dug into her behind. “I’m not going to be able to hold back, Chloe. Touch yourself for me. Make yourself come.”

  Chloe could barely put two thoughts together, but she understood what he was asking her. She’d done it before, but never with anyone and certainly not while having sex. However, the idea excited her more than she was going to admit.

  Her hand crept down until she felt where they were joined. She touched the crisp hairs around his cock that tickled her fingers, then into her own moistness.

  “That’s it, honey.” He pinched her nipple, and she grunted at the rush of pleasure.

  Her fingers found the nubbin of pleasure and made clumsy circles around it. Soon she found her rhythm and realized Gideon had been right. His cock, her fingers and his hands sent her over a precipice so deep she thought it would never end.

  The waves of pleasure washed over her as she climbed higher, screaming his name and pulling him deep into her core. He followed within seconds, his warm seed filling her.

  His love completing her.

  The cold water had revived him, while the amazing feeling of being in her arms fulfilled him. As he’d taken care of Chloe, peace had stolen over him. He had spent a good deal of time taking responsibility for others out of duty, but this time, love compelled him to. Being with her reminded him of what it meant to truly give to someone else.

  Chloe didn’t complain about sitting while he broke camp after a quick breakfast. He had the horses saddled and ready in ten minutes, and then he squatted in front of her. She smiled shyly, and his heart did a funny flip.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Good.” She glanced down at her hands on her lap. “Really good.”

  He grinned, his heart light and his body sated. “Ready to ride?”

  When he picked her up, a jolt went through his arms, startling him bad enough he almost dropped her. She stared at him, her eyes wide, and he realized she had felt it too.

  “What was that?”

  “I have no idea.” He looked into her green eyes and saw himself staring back. God knew he had no idea what it was about this woman that turned him inside out, but he was smart enough to accept the inevitable. “But I hope it happens again.”

  Chloe laughed, more of a giggle, and he was nearly as shocked as when he’d experienced the jolt.

  “That’s the first time I’ve heard you laugh.”

  For whatever reason, his statement made her laugh again.

  “You need to do that more often.”

  He kissed her and stepped over to the waiting horses. After making sure she was secure in the saddle, they left the camp. Their time there had been almost magical, as though someone or something had led them there, gave them a chance to find peace and perhaps to accept the love they had for each other.

  As soon as they turned and the idyllic retreat was behind them, the mood darkened. The reason they rode was too serious to maintain the playfulness they’d found in their private time together. However, the time with Chloe helped Gideon get back the focus he needed.

  The day passed by quickly as they alternated between a trot and a walk. He didn’t want to push Chloe too hard, but he also understood her urgency. His gut told him they were closing in on the wagon again, mostly due to the fact they were on horseback. They were making better time than when they’d been in the peddler’s wagon towed by two old nags.

  They even ate on horseback, Chloe refusing to stop. He noted the lines of pain around her mouth. Yet she clenched her teeth and had sheer determination in her eyes. She simply wouldn’t give up until they couldn’t go on.

  The darkness settled over them, the stars twinkling above, and Gideon knew it was time to call a halt. Even he was tired, and he didn’t have a sore knee to contend with.

  “Chloe, we’re stopping.”

  “I can still see, Gid. Let’s go a little bit farther.”

  He reached out and grabbed her reins. “No, we’re not going to risk our horses or our lives to go half a mile farther. We covered a lot of miles today already.”

  “But—”

  “No, this time I’m going to say no, and you can’t bully me into changing my mind.” He steered the horses toward a flat spot near the woods they could use as a campsite.

  “I don’t bully you.”

  He snorted. “Yes, you do, but it’s part of your charm. Now shut up and let me be the man here.”

  “Gideon,” she whispered. “Look there, through the trees.”

  He turned and peered into the pitch-black forest. At first he saw nothing out of the ordinary, but then he spotted it.

  The orange glow of a campfire.

  “It’s them.”

  “We don’t know it’s them,” Gideon whispered back.

  “I can feel it inside. It’s them.” She tried to grab the reins from him. “Let me go. We’re so close. I ain’t gonna let them spend another night with those bastards.”

  Anguish filled her voice and washed across his heart. Her family could be close enough to rescue, and she was sitting there doing nothing. He’d be feeling her pain and frustration if it was his family.

  “I’ll walk over there. They’ll hear the horses.” He plucked her off the saddle and set her on a fallen log. “You sit here and watch the horses. I can’t be worried about you, or I won’t be any good.” He secured the horses’ reins to a tree, then checked his weapons.

  “You’ll be worried about me?” She sounded full of wonder.

  “Of course I will. For God’s sake, woman, I’ve been in love with you since the moment you pointed that pistol at my chest.” He kissed her hard and trotted off into the woods.

  Probably shouldn’t have told her he loved her again, but if he didn’t come back, at least he’d go to his maker knowing he hadn’t left it unsaid. The darkness of the woods closed around him as he made his way toward the fire.

  When he was close to the target, he crouched and crept along, careful to avoid any leaves or sticks to give away his position. He stopped and listened, trying to gauge who was out there. He heard the murmur of voices—two males—but no women and no children.

  That didn’t mean it wasn’t the Ruskin wagon though. He made his way closer, inch by inch, until he was flat on his belly behind a tree, peering at the occupants of the campsite. He controlled his breathing and his heart before he ventured to look around the tree.

  Two men sat on either side of the fire, both no older than he was. They each wore tattered grey pants, which he recognized well, and a pistol. Beside one was a rifle, while the other had a large knife strapped to his back. They weren’t big men but were obviously well armed and expecting trouble. One had scraggly black hair, the other greasy, wavy hair, perhaps brown, and he had pockmark scars on his face. The second man appeared to be the one Frank had seen in Westville.

  Gideon memorized their gear and where they kept it before his gaze moved on. His heart leapt into his throat when he spotted a bound and gagged Granny tied to one of the wagon wheels.

  Holy shit. They’d found the missing Ruskins.

  “Adam, there any water left?” one man asked the other.

  “I ain’t got no idea. Why don’t you go look?” The man with his back to Gideon, who was apparently named Adam, flipped his hand toward the wagon.

  The first one barely glanced that way, not even stopping to look at Granny. “Rufus, bring some water out here.”

  A third man poked his head out from the wagon. A rangy beard wound its way around his large face, framing a pair of close-set eyes that were more like piss holes in the snow. He looked dangerous and unpredictable. Gideon hadn’t expected a third man, and this one was not only fierce-looking but was a big bastard.

  “Get it yourself, you lazy son of a bitch. I ain’t your slave.”

  “Ain’t no more slaves,” Adam drawled. “That bastard took ’em away.”

  “I’m thirsty. Bring some water out here now.” The first man rose, and altho
ugh he was about as tall as Gideon, his pants hung on his frame, held up by a piece of rope. Obviously the men had not been eating well for quite some time. “Or I’ll shoot you.” He drew his pistol with surprising speed.

  Gideon wondered who these three men were and why they chose to steal the Ruskin wagon, complete with an old woman and two little girls. At least he hoped the girls were in the wagon. Since he couldn’t see them, he could only hope they were safely tucked away inside.

  “Put that away, Tobias. You ain’t shooting nobody. Sit down,” Adam ordered with an edge to his voice. “Rufus, bring the fucking water. Now.”

  It was apparent who the leader of the group was, and he had steel in his voice that made the hairs on Gideon’s neck rise. Both of the other men obeyed the orders. Something they’d said echoed in Gideon’s head.

  Tobias. Adam.

  Tobias. Adam.

  Dear God. Chloe’s brother was named Adam and her cousin was named Tobias. His heart, which had been calm with a slow, steady rhythm, now hammered against his ribs. Her family had kidnapped Granny and the girls, leaving Chloe alone to fend for herself.

  How was he going to tell her?

  Chloe thought she might actually explode. Not only had he ordered her to sit there while he went off to rescue her family, but he’d had the nerve to say he loved her before he disappeared into the woods. She wanted to punch him and at the same time kiss him. He was making her heart flip sideways.

  After their amazing night in the creek and by the fire, she thought perhaps she had gained control of her reaction to him. Ha! She couldn’t have been more wrong. It was about fifteen minutes of near torture before he ran back. She recognized his shape in the shadows, and a breath of relief gushed out of her.

  Not that she’d tell him that.

  “Chloe?”

  “I’m here. Waiting.” She managed to sound annoyed even though she whispered.

  He sat beside her, his chest heaving. “I ran as fast and as quietly as I could. You could be a little nicer to me.”

  She wanted to shake him. “What did you see?”

  Gideon blew out a breath, while Chloe could hardly catch hers.

  “What did you see?” she repeated.

  “What does your brother look like?”

  Chloe’s mouth went dry as cotton. Her heart flipped upside down, then back again. “Why?”

  “Just tell me.”

  “I don’t want to hate you, Blackwood. You’d better be sure you’re asking the right question.” She wanted to put her hands over her ears and block out his voice, anything not to hear what he was going to say.

  “I’m sorry to have to ask.” He took her hands. “Please just tell me.”

  “A-Adam has hair like me. Kind of brownish red but more wavy than curly. He isn’t as big as you, but he’s tall.”

  “Your cousin, was his name Tobias? Tell me what he looks like.”

  “They’re dead, Gideon. Why are you asking me this?” Chloe realized her cheeks were wet. Was it raining?

  “Just tell me.” He squeezed her hands, but she hardly felt it. Cold had seeped into her bones.

  “Tobias was taller than Adam, but he was skinny with black hair and dark eyes. He had pox as a boy, and his cheeks were scarred from it.” Her voice was flat and tight. She had just enough breath to get the words out.

  “Shit.” Gideon stared at her, his expression grim.

  Chloe’s fear mixed with anger, whirling around inside her like a twister. “What is it? Dammit, Gid, tell me. Now.”

  “I think I found Granny and the girls. But…” He stopped, and she wanted to shake him.

  “What? What is it?” This time she could barely hear herself over the roaring in her ears.

  He leaned in close and pressed his forehead to hers. His breath caressed her cheek. “I think your brother and cousin were the ones who took them.”

  The next few minutes were blurry as Chloe tried to absorb what he said. His words repeated over and over in her head, but she could not make sense of them. Why would Adam and Tobias take Granny and the girls? They were family, they were kin, and nothing in the world was more important than kin. He had to be wrong, very wrong. It didn’t make any sense.

  Memories washed through her so fast, she had to close her eyes to see them. Adam teaching her to fish. Playing in the field with both him and Tobias. Chasing after them through mud puddles. Adam kissing her goodbye when he left for war, wearing the jacket Granny had made for him.

  Too much. It was too much.

  She bit her lip hard until she tasted blood, but she couldn’t make a sound. If she screamed as loud as she was inside, whoever was over at the campfire would hear her. It wasn’t her brother and cousin though. It just couldn’t be.

  “Chloe, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he crooned softly in her ear as he stroked her back.

  Somehow she’d ended up on his lap, and she couldn’t think of a better place to be. He gave her the comfort she needed, craved, when her heart was breaking and the world around her rained down pain.

  “Not them.”

  “I think it is, honey. It doesn’t matter, though, because whoever they are, we found them.” He pulled her chin up until she finally looked at him. “We found them.”

  “We found them?” she parroted.

  “Hard to believe, but yes, we did. Through every possible mistake, problem and bad luck, we found them.” He pushed her chin up until she looked at him. “Those girls’ ribbons and your sheer stubbornness got us here.”

  She stared into his beautiful blue eyes and realized two things at once. If they had found her family, their journey together was likely over. And against her head’s better judgment, she didn’t want it to be over.

  “Didn’t you say you loved me?” she blurted, trying to fight the pain at the thought of not being with Gideon any longer.

  “Yes, I do. We can talk about that later. Now I need to get back and take care of those men. There are three of them, so I need to be careful, really careful.” He set her back on the log and cupped her cheek. “Sit here until I come back. If you hear gunfire, you damn well better not try to help me.”

  She kept her mouth shut, but she wanted to tell him not to order her around. It didn’t matter if Gideon had guns; three-to-one odds were not good. He could be easily killed if the other men had guns too. There was no way she’d sit by and let that happen.

  “You’re still bossy.”

  He took the rifle from his saddle, kissed her one last time, then disappeared back into the night, as silent as the darkness around him. She had wanted to tell him she loved him too but couldn’t manage to make the words come out of her mouth. It would be too much like giving up who she was, and Chloe wasn’t ready for that.

  She watched until she couldn’t see him any longer, then she waited five very long minutes before she decided to follow him. Oh, she knew he’d be madder than a wet hen that she didn’t stay put, but could he blame her? The man had to know her well enough by now to remember she didn’t listen to orders, especially from a man, even Gideon.

  Chloe’s gait was much less graceful than Gideon’s, and she couldn’t run at all. She turned to eye the horses and decided if she unsaddled the mare, she could make an almost silent approach. If there were no buckles to jangle, she could keep to the soft pine needles, and no one would hear her.

  She knew how to shoot a gun, and she had one within reach. No way she’d led Gideon go off by himself to fight her battle. Not when she had a breath in her body. And if he yelled at her, she just might shoot him.

  It took another five minutes before she got the saddle off and pulled herself up onto the mare’s back. It had been a few years since she rode bareback, but as soon as she was upright, it came back to her in a flash. She threaded her fingers through the horse’s mane and leaned down low to whisper, “C’mon, girl, we’re going to see what my man is doing.”

  She saw the glow of the campfire in the distance and knew it wouldn’t take long to get there.
>
  Gideon followed his path back to the men who had taken what didn’t belong to them. The veil of battle slipped over him and a calmness with it. Getting ready to fight was as familiar as breathing to him. Even years later, it was as comfortable as an old coat. Instead of struggling against it, he welcomed it.

  The inky night surrounded him, giving him the cover he needed as he approached. The crackle of the fire was the only sound, and he wondered if the men were still there or if they were sleeping.

  His breath came slow and steady, right along with his heartbeat. He crawled up behind the same tree and peered around. The two men, Tobias and Adam, were still sitting at the fire, but appeared to be dozing. Granny’s eyes were also closed, which could either be good or bad. If she couldn’t see him, she wouldn’t give his presence away.

  Every sound echoed in his ears as he crept closer. The rifle was warm in his hand, a comfortable presence. His grip tightened as he stood and stepped into the firelight, the rifle raised and braced against his shoulder. Only two of the men were visible, but he had to flush out the third.

  “On your feet.” His voice was loud in the silence.

  Tobias jumped up as if someone had pinched him, his long arms flopping in panic. Adam, on the other hand, didn’t do anything but push his hat back and stare hard at Gideon.

  “I said on your feet.”

  “I don’t take orders from nobody no more.” Adam’s eyes, similar to Chloe’s, glittered like hard stones. He didn’t appear to be as surprised as his cousin was, and that worried Gideon.

  “Then I put a new hole to match that big one in the middle of your face.” Gideon stepped sideways, careful to avoid rocks and sticks until he was positioned to shoot either of the men. “Now throw the guns behind you.”

  “I ain’t throwing my gun,” Tobias whined.

  “It’s my gun, and you are going to throw it, or it will be the last thing you hold in your hands.” Gideon kept his voice even and hard. The sight of this bastard holding the gun he’d had for ten years made his blood boil. He couldn’t even look at Granny, at how she’d been treated, or he would have shot the two men where they stood. There was still danger from the unseen man and the two pistols right in front of them.