Longwalker's Child

by Debra Webb

  His mouth twitched a bit. To hold back a smile Lauren felt sure. She almost smiled herself, but clamped down on her lower lip to prevent it.

  "I just asked him if he was ready to meet his Maker tonight, that's all." A wicked gleam sprang to life in his metallic gaze. "Apparently, he wasn't."

  Somehow Lauren had a feeling that whatever Gray Longwalker had said to Buck, it had been more explicit than that.

  "Well, whatever you said did the trick, and I'm grateful. I wouldn't have wanted Sarah to witness that kind of scene or the aftermath. Thank you for walking away." Lauren essayed a tremulous smile.

  "I didn't come back to Thatcher looking for trouble," he said wearily.

  "In this town you are the trouble," Lauren said almost to herself, focusing on the crisp white shirt he wore and the tempting dark skin beneath. She peered up at him. "What's the deal between you and Buck?"

  Longwalker gripped the door handle next to her arm. "Why don't you ask your boyfriend," he offered contemptuously.

  Oblivious to his comment, Lauren frowned as more details of what had taken place poured into her mind. "And why was everyone so afraid of you? Not a single man in that crowd would have taken you on—at least not alone." Lauren shook her head. "I don't understand why these people hate you so—why they fear you?"

  Gray caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger while he moved in dangerously close and then closer still. When his powerful body trapped hers against his sleek black truck, he slowly lowered his head.

  Lauren gasped just before his mouth covered hers.

  His kiss was hard…punishing…threatening…and yet with a simmering passion neither of them could have denied. The taste of heat and man filled her, renewed the need mushrooming inside her. His left hand threaded into her hair as his right tilted her chin upward to give him better access to her mouth.

  That kernel of desire that never seemed to completely go away in his presence burst and flamed. She flattened her palms against his rock-solid chest with every intention of pushing him away, only to find her fingers fisting into his shirt. She could feel his arousal growing against her belly. Heat swirled low and deep inside her, making her ache in secret places.

  Lauren's lips parted under his skillful seduction, and he quickly slid his tongue inside her mouth. She tensed at the intrusion, though she had known he would do just that…she had wanted him to do it. Wanted to feel that part of him inside her again.

  The harder he kissed her, the more firmly he ground his hips into hers, making Lauren weak and leaving no doubt as to what he wanted.

  He broke the kiss, but kept his hard body pressed against hers—a solid reminder of who was in control. His fingers dug into her cheeks as he grasped her chin even tighter. He released a harsh breath that made her shiver when it feathered across her skin.

  "Of all the people in this town," he told her, his voice low, husky, dangerous, his eyes brilliant with intense, gray light. "You have the most to fear from me."

  Lauren was stunned for several seconds. She couldn't move or respond to his threat. Her heart surged into her throat; her blood roared in her ears. Finally she shoved hard at his chest and jerked herself away from him.

  Before Lauren could frame the words to respond, he yanked his truck door open, got in and sped away. Lauren could only stare after the twin taillights as they faded in the distance.

  * * *

  "WHAT THE DEVIL did you mean following Longwalker outside? Don't you know the man is not to be trusted?" Buck demanded for the third time since leaving the fund-raiser. "I'm only trying to protect you, Lauren."

  Lauren ignored the concerned glances he kept tossing in her direction. She had never been so glad to get out of a place in her life. She had wanted to leave immediately after the incident with Gray, but Buck had insisted on staying to gloat with his cronies. "Longwalker's not going to ruin my night," he had protested. Well it was too late for Lauren, her night—week really—had already been wrecked. Rumors and gossip had been rampant during that last hour she'd had to endure.

  Buck had boasted over and over how he had been big enough to back off and not spoil the dance for everyone. If he hadn't been such a gentleman, Longwalker would have gotten his tonight, Buck had bragged. Lauren wondered if the dozen or so times he had repeated that phrase had assuaged the blow Gray had delivered to his ego.

  Lauren hadn't worked up the courage to ask Buck what exactly stood between the two men. Surely Sharon would have told her if there was anything significant between them. Lauren sighed. She and Sharon had never really discussed Longwalker in depth. He had always seemed like some nonexistent person to Lauren. She had never concerned herself with him—until now.

  "Lauren, I want you to stay away from that man. He's dangerous," Buck ordered.

  "Don't talk like that in front of Sarah," she scolded in a hushed voice.

  "Dang, sugar, she's dead to the world back there. Besides she doesn't know who Longwalker is, right?"

  Lauren peeked over her shoulder at Sarah in the back seat. She slept soundly. But still, Lauren had no intention of discussing Gray Longwalker with Buck in front of Sarah—asleep or not. "It's only a matter of time before she has to know," Lauren whispered with a sigh of defeat.

  "I say you don't let the lowlife near Sarah until a judge tells you different."

  Lauren closed her eyes and summoned her patience. "I'm only doing what my attorney has advised me to do."

  "Well, maybe it's about time you got yourself another attorney. Ewen is the best mouthpiece in the state. I'm sure if I asked him to, he'd be happy to take your case."

  Lauren opened her mouth to defend Don, but the sight at the Tumbleweed Hotel stole the words before she could utter them.

  Buck slowed only slightly as they neared the place. Two police cars, a fire truck, an ambulance and an assortment of other vehicles filled the parking lot.

  "What on earth happened?" An uneasy feeling crept over her as she considered that this was the place Gray Longwalker called home at the moment.

  "Nothing we can help with," Buck retorted, and accelerated.

  "Wait," Lauren demanded. "I want to stop and see what's happened."

  "It's late, Lauren. Sarah is asleep," he offered without slowing down.

  "Buck Buckmaster, stop this car immediately," she commanded, her hand already on the door latch.

  Buck cursed as he wheeled the car into an adjoining parking lot, then pulled over next to one of the police cruisers. Lauren jumped out before they came to a complete stop. She rushed forward only to be halted by an officer.

  "Whoa, ma'am," he said. "I'm afraid you can't go back there."

  Lauren could see that four or five rooms had burned to the ground, one of which she recognized immediately from its location as Gray Longwalker's. "Was anyone hurt?" she blurted. She could feel the anxiety building at the back of her throat.

  "No, ma'am. Three of the rooms were empty and the occupant of the fourth was out for the evening."

  Lauren felt weak with relief. Thank God. She closed her eyes and sighed.

  "Come to see the show?"

  A familiar masculine voice prodded Lauren's eyes open.

  "Gray!" she almost shouted. A relieved smile kicked up the corners of her mouth as she rushed past the officer. "Are you all right?"

  "I'm fine," he assured her, his voice tense, clipped. Gray's wary regard moved from Lauren to somewhere past her shoulder. "I'm sure that's a big disappointment to you, Buck."

  "Why, I have no idea what you're talking about, Longwalker," Buck replied, hatred coloring his tone.

  "What happened?" Lauren asked, ignoring the verbal and visual daggers flying between the two men.

  Gray leveled his furious glare back on her. "I'm out of a place to stay, that's what happened."

  "Surely this hotel has other vacancies," Lauren argued.

  "It seems I'm too high a risk for the manager's comfort."

  "You mean he kicked you out?"

  Gray eyed her for an
other long moment, some indefinable emotion flickered briefly in his eyes. "That's exactly what I mean," he said slowly, drawing each word out as if she might not understand.

  "What will you do?" she pressed. The scenarios that bounced around in her head scared Lauren to death. What if he did decide to take off in the middle of the night with Sarah? What if he pressured his attorney into acting now? What if…

  Oh, God. Lauren couldn't deal with much more of this kind of stress. She rubbed at the beginnings of pain in her right temple as she tried to calm her runaway thoughts. She would have to take her medicine the moment she got home or she would be in serious trouble. She glanced at the firemen rolling up their hoses and tried to think what to do. What could she do? Should she even do anything, considering what had happened between them outside the community center?

  "Lauren," Gray said, his voice deep and suddenly soft, like rumpled velvet. As always, the sound of her name on his lips seared through her, simultaneously heating her and making her shiver. "I'll find a place to stay."

  "This isn't your problem, Lauren," Buck reminded, breaking the shimmering tension, taking it to a different level.

  Lauren jumped. She had completely forgotten that Buck was standing behind her.

  "Let me take you home. Sarah is still asleep in the car," he added as leverage.

  "Go home, Lauren," Gray urged, his eyes softening to match his voice.

  Lauren looked from the smoking mass of rubble that used to be room 112, to Gray Longwalker. She couldn't go home and leave him here…homeless. She just couldn't. He was Sarah's father.

  "The bunkhouse," she said suddenly.

  "What?" both men asked in unison.

  "It hasn't been used in years, but it's in good shape." Lauren shrugged. "A little dusting and fresh linens is all it needs."

  "Are you inviting me to stay at your place?" Gray asked cautiously.

  "Lauren, this is insane!" Buck spouted, pacing back and forth behind her. She had already noted how he kept himself shielded safely behind her.

  Lauren hesitated only for a second. "Yes," she said. "That's exactly what I'm doing." Though for the life of her, Lauren couldn't completely understand why she had done it. He was Sarah's father, but he was also her enemy.

  "Considering that I don't have any other options without driving forty miles, I accept," Gray said with more reluctance than relief.

  "Fine." Lauren nodded resolutely. "I'll go right home and make preparations."

  "Fine," he echoed. His eyes searched hers during the brief pause before Lauren turned and walked away. She couldn't read any emotion in his intense scrutiny, but she could feel the heat all the way to the center of her being.

  What had she done?

  Had she lost her mind?

  One brief backward glance confirmed her suspicions. Gray Longwalker watched her walk away with that same hot intensity in his eyes.

  She had lost her mind. And if Gray had anything to do with it, she would lose a lot more than that.

  Chapter Eight

  "I cannot believe you invited the man to stay in your bunkhouse!"

  Buck was furious. He paced Lauren's parlor like a caged animal. She stepped back, giving him a wide berth. As soon as he stopped bellowing and left she would see to Longwalker's needs. She refused to question her motivation. She had done the right thing. He was Sarah's father, after all.

  "The man is nothing but trash. Can't you understand that?" Buck paused long enough to level his outraged gaze on hers. "He's nothing, Lauren. He doesn't deserve the time of day from you. The man is trying to take your little girl!" he thundered.

  "Keep your voice down, you'll wake Sarah," she scolded, her own ire building now. Buck had no right to interfere with her decisions, good or bad. That was just one of the things that she didn't like about the man—he was bossy. And she certainly didn't need anyone to remind her of why Longwalker was back in town.

  "Land sakes, woman, don't you see what he's doing?" Buck flung his arms heavenward. "He's playing on your sympathy. There isn't a soul in this town that would spit on him if he was on fire."

  Lauren lifted her chin in defiance. "Why is that, Buck? What did Longwalker do that was so terrible?"

  Buck averted his gaze and stalked across the room again. "What didn't he do would be the better question. He's been accused of about everything a man can get into that spells trouble. You and that little girl deserve better than him is all I can say."

  "We'd be better off with someone like you," Lauren suggested pointedly.

  Buck pivoted and faced her. "Sugar, that's what I've been trying to tell you for months now. We can work out our differences. I could make you happy, I know I could. I'm the kind of man you need."

  Lauren quaked with the revulsion rushing through her. "A rich, white man with the proper pedigree, is that what you mean?"

  Realization dawned in Buck's eyes. "That is not what I meant." He swore hotly. "I might as well go. There's no use talking to you when you get like this."

  "I hit the nail on the head, didn't I?" she demanded. He wasn't going to get out of this so easily. A man wasn't trash because he wasn't rich or white or didn't have the right name. Was this the kind of attitude Gray had been subjected to his entire life in Thatcher? Lauren's heart ached for the little boy who must have suffered severely at the hands of those who thought like Buck—which pretty much summed up the whole town's attitude. She closed her eyes against the imagined agony. No wonder he had such a large chip on his shoulder.

  "You're making a mistake, Lauren."

  Her eyes popped open at the ominous tone in Buck's voice.

  "I guarantee you, you don't want to do this."

  Outrage flashed like wildfire through Lauren. "Oh, I definitely want to do it." If she'd had any doubts at all, they had just evaporated. "Good night, Buck."

  * * *

  GRAY SAT ON THE TOP STEP leading to the porch that ran the length of Lauren's bunkhouse. He had waited, tension weighing heavily in his stomach, for Lauren to tell Buck good night and send the jerk on his way.

  Gray's senses jumped into overdrive when Buck finally huffed out onto the front porch with Lauren trailing. Evidently they still argued. Buck flung his arms upward and spoke much louder than necessary, but not quite loudly enough for Gray to make out his words. The porch light spread a yellow glow around them, like a spotlight on the characters in a play.

  Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Gray, Buck turned to stalk away. He froze midturn. Even through the darkness, even across the distance, somehow his eyes met Gray's and locked. Buck suddenly wheeled back around and jerked Lauren into his arms, kissing her hard and fast.

  Jealousy swooped down on Gray like a giant hawk, its talons ripping open his chest. He surged to his feet, his breath coming in harsh, ragged spurts. Anger seized him with such strength that he vibrated with its intensity.

  And then Buck was gone, his Lexus spewing dust and gravel in its wake. When Gray swung his head back toward the porch, Lauren had vanished into the house. He took long, deep breaths to counter his emotions. He unclenched his fists and willed himself to relax.

  What was wrong with him? He had never let a woman get to him like this before. He had never let anyone get to him like this. He no longer allowed his emotions to rule him. But since his return to Thatcher, the anger he had banished long ago had resurfaced with a fierceness he continued to find harder to control. And with that anger came these unsettling feelings for Lauren.

  He cursed himself for the fool he was. He couldn't prevent his body's need for sexual release, but this obsession with Lauren went well past need and he knew it.

  And it scared him like nothing else ever had.

  Gray understood that he didn't just want to take her to bed—he wanted to make love to her. Wild, passionate love. And not just once. He wanted to touch her, taste her, over and over again. Already hard and aching at the thought, Gray cursed himself more vehemently.

  He scrubbed an unsteady hand over his face.
He had lost his control, his perspective. He set his jaw hard and did what he knew he had to, he strode in the direction of his truck. The best thing he could do was leave before he made an even bigger mistake than he already had. Maybe Mrs. Jennings would have an extra bunk at her place.

  "I have sheets, towels, soap, everything I think you'll need." The voice of doom called out to him.

  Gray stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned around to find Lauren strolling toward the bunkhouse carrying a huge woven basket brimming with items from her home.

  "If I've missed anything, just feel free to knock on the door and ask for it." She smiled timidly when their gazes met, and his resolve died an instant death.

  Gray lifted the basket from her arms. Unable to speak, he could only follow her back up the steps to the bunkhouse like a prisoner being led to execution.

  Lauren opened the door and flipped on the lights as she entered. "It's nothing fancy. I really didn't have much done out here when I renovated the house, just the electrical and plumbing. I wanted to bring everything up to code, even the barn."

  Gray plunked the heavy basket down on the chrome and Formica table that sat in the middle of the long front room. The kitchen and living room spanned the length of the oblong structure. Knotty pine floors and walls looked clean and well maintained. Basic kitchen appliances lined the far wall. Lauren collected the bed and bath linens from the basket and led the way into a bedroom, chattering incessantly about making the place a guest house someday.

  The bunkhouse consisted of two bedrooms, one bath and the living-room-kitchen combination. All in all, the place was a big step up from the Tumbleweed. Except for one major problem, Gray reminded himself as he watched her spread a thin cotton blanket over the fresh sheets on the bed.

  Lauren Whitmore.

  Gray sighed, a little louder than he intended.

  Lauren looked up as she smoothed one small hand over the blanket to remove a nonexistent wrinkle. "I'm sorry. You're tired and I'm rambling, aren't I?" She smiled another one of those shy, vulnerable smiles. His gut clenched in reaction.