Comanche Haven (The Loflin Legacy: Book 1)

by Catherine Wolffe

  Celia materialized from behind the privacy screen.

  “I wanted to check on you and make sure you were all right.” With a voice gone cool despite his effort to the contrary, Seth continued, “Did Maggie get you settled? Do you need anything?”

  “No, Maggie took care of everything.” Celia stood with the glint of the silver hairbrush reflecting in the fire’s light as she brushed her long, silken mane. Glancing over at the hip tub, she gestured to the cooling water.

  His eyes traveled back to her and the pale cotton duster she wore. The garment clung in all the right places. Warmth stirred in his gut. He hovered near the doorway.

  “I’m fine, really, Seth. You don’t need to worry about me.”

  There was a twinge in her voice he didn’t mention. “You’re safe now, Celia. No one can touch you as long as you’re here.”

  Nodding in way of response, Celia moved from the vanity to warm herself near the fire.

  She looked so lovely standing there, as if she belonged. Seth ventured further into the room.

  She glanced up and caught him staring. Seth realized a bit too late the oil lamp was casting a wonderful silhouette of her in her thin nightgown. He didn’t look away. A tingling crept up his spine and set his senses on alert.

  Shaking her head, she moved to the vanity and placed the brush back in its place. “I don’t want to bring trouble to your door.”

  Breaking away from his own thoughts, Seth nodded. “I know you don’t. If trouble shows up it won’t be your fault. It’s just the way things are.”

  She gave him a tentative smile. Trying for a show of bravado, she squared her shoulders and raised her beautiful chin up a notch.

  He shook his head. Keeping his thoughts together was becoming more of a challenge. “Don’t worry about the Comanche, it’s not like we get along anyway.” With a half snort, his mouth creased in a rueful smile. He caught the look of mild disdain she shot at him. “Sorry – bad joke.” Reaching up, Seth rubbed at the tension building at the base of his neck. He was making a mess of things. Better to go and leave her to the food Maggie had brought. She was still looking at him with those killer green eyes. Why couldn’t he leave?

  “Have you had a chance to eat anything? Maggie sent too much for me to eat. You’re welcome to it.” Celia voice held the same cool crisp notes he’d used when he’d entered the room minutes ago.

  “Well hell,” he muttered under his breath as he suddenly made up his mind. His gaze never left hers as he strode purposely in her direction. Again, to her credit, she didn’t step back or flinch. Standing directly in front of her then Seth realized he still had trail dust and three days horse stench on him as he reached out touching a strand of silken hair which had strayed. Her scent flitted through his senses sending his pulse rate stuttering.

  Her eyebrows shot up when he gave the hair along her neck a gentle brush and then sniffed the air. Her look of surprise punctuated his murmured word. “Roses.”

  With his fingers caressing the hair between his thumb and forefinger, Seth lingered near her ear. “You’re so beautiful, Celia…So beautiful. I can’t get you out of my head,” he admitted with a shaky laugh. He felt her stiffen.

  Celia’s eyes darted to his and then retreated. Glancing away and then back, he gave her a bewildered little shrug. He was sure he’d never felt as stupid as he did at the moment.

  The confusion was evident on her face as she stared at him as if he was a stranger. The distance between them was no more than a step. Did he hear her breathing or his? His hands ached to reach out and take her in his arms before kissing her senseless. He could actually feel the silken hair as his fingers sunk deep into her black as night mane. Taking those lips until they were both lost would be a pleasure he would savor. The warmth in his gut began to simmer. Like a yearning deeply born, it spread unwittingly into his groin.

  Seth’s eyes went to slits as he rode the first wave of lust. A small voice warned him it wouldn’t be wise. Neither of them needed to mix the trouble they faced with long ago emotions. She wasn’t the same girl anymore. Being someone he didn’t really know didn’t seem to matter, he mused. He wanted her. Seth wanted to know every inch of her all over again.

  “Why did you bring me here, Seth?” Celia asked. Her cool emerald eyes threw icy water on his lust.

  Stung by the question, he shot back with his own. “What the hell do you mean? What kind of question is that?” Irritation disguised as surprise weighed heavy in his voice. This conversation was doing a damn good job of tamping out the fire, which only moments ago surged through him. His nostrils flared with the indignation of her rebuff. “You needed my help.” He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “And I promised Lone Eagle I would protect you.”

  Needing the contact, Seth touched her hair again. In what he considered a casual move, his fingers picked up the silken strands. Too late, Seth realized his mistake. He took a step back out of temptation’s way. The fire in the hearth presented an excuse. Glancing back at her from over his shoulder as he warmed his hands, Seth tried to explain, “Look, I know it’s not the ideal situation, but we can make it work. Besides, I wouldn’t have left you out there or taken you back to town. You’re alone with no one to defend you. This isn’t Charleston. Desperados, Indians, along with the Mexican slave traders are everywhere these days, Celia. They’d have snatched you up in a heartbeat. You don’t want to know what they’re capable of.” Seth scowled into the fire once again. “Despite what you might think of me, I’m not so heartless.”

  Celia jutted her chin once more at the implication she thought him a thief. “I never said you were. I just asked if you’d taken to robbing banks. That’s all.”

  “Right, no implication there,” Seth declared dryly.

  Celia opened her mouth, before shutting it again. She fidgeted with the lace at the pocket of her duster as she struggled with the words. “I was in shock when…when you appeared. They were bank robbers. They intended to rape me. How was I to know you weren’t one too?” Celia all but sniffed at him with her prim look. “Besides, I can take care of myself.”

  He wanted to remind her again this wasn’t Charleston, but he held his tongue. Instead, Seth offered her another wry smile as he considered her bravado. “I don’t doubt you can hold your own. You were doing a pretty good job of it before I got to the creek. The fact remains somebody murdered your people without thought to the consequences. I have no doubt they’d do it again. This is the safest place for you.”

  “I told you already!” Celia’s hands fisted at her side. In a huff, she turned from him folding her arms across her chest. Her next words were matter-of-fact and toneless as well. “You don’t need to worry about me. As soon as Lone Eagle’s killers are brought to justice, I’m going to catch the next stage back east. I won’t be staying.”

  She looked wounded. The coolness of her tone along with the finality in her words gave the impression of confidence. She was lying to him! The next thing he knew he’d snatched her up. Ruthlessly gripping her arms, he snarled. “What did you just say?” Seth huffed out a quick mirthless laugh. “Did you actually say you’re not staying?” Shaking his head in disbelief, he gripped her harder, drawing her up on her toes. “I hate to be the one to break it to you, darlin’, but you aren’t going anywhere. Is that clear? You left once, but by God, you won’t leave me again!”

  Celia pushed at his chest. Her voice shifted to a low, gritty whisper. “I told you once before to get your hands off me, cowboy. You don’t listen too well, do you?” Her nostrils flared as her chin came up in defiance. “You’re not my keeper.”

  Jesus, but she was beautiful! Seth followed the lines of her face to her lips. Dusty pink and tantalizing, he knew they tasted as sweet as they looked. It unnerved him to realize he would remember such a fact at this particular moment in time.

  “I’ll be leaving as soon as possible,” she stated flatly. Her jaw worked with tension threaded with pain. “Everyone will be better off with me gone. Now
if you don’t mind, let go of me.” Celia jerked her arms free and whirled away from him. “I want you to get out of here now,” Celia declared, stepping farther away and rubbing at the imprint of his hands.

  Seth’s eyes followed her. Was it simply her bull-headed nature or did she actually believe he’d let her leave? Her slender shoulders rose and fell with each breath she inhaled. Seth wanted to bite her right along her lovely collarbone. “You’re not going to leave and that’s final,” he growled.

  Celia pivoted to face him once more. Hands fisted by her sides, she glowered at him. There was her damnable defiance written all over her face again, Seth mused. She planted her hands on her hips then and stared in disgust.

  Before she could form a retort, he pounced. “Why do you think running away is the answer?”

  “I’m not running away.” Celia eyed him coolly.

  She had more to say. Seth could tell. The only reason she hadn’t gone ahead and said it probably had something to do with “good breeding” or some such bullshit. Seth caught a glimpse of temper under her thin facade of proper. He could tell she wanted to lash out at him by the clinched fists at her side and the thin set to her mouth. God almighty…All fire and heat – there it was – just the way he remembered her. Schooling apparently hadn’t been able to tame the characteristic, he mused.

  It didn’t take Celia long though to get herself under control.

  Seth watched as the anger quickly fizzled out of Celia while the cool, collected side of her took over.

  She smoothed her duster and plucked at the lace on the sleeves. “It simply makes more sense to leave.” Celia’s eyebrows rose in a very proper show of calm. When she did offer him a look into those hypnotic green eyes, she batted her lashes in rapid succession. “If I were to stay, there would most certainly be trouble. For all the talk about relations and treaties, Seth you know in Texas I’m still considered the enemy.”

  Seth watched the crease form in the center of her forehead. Touché, he thought.

  “You know you’d be labeled an Indian lover and accused of harboring the enemy.” Her voice raised a notch. “I’m a half-breed, for goodness sake! Don’t you see, Seth?”

  He said nothing, simply stared broodingly into the fire. He’d heard every word. Poised to begin with, Celia’s explanation had ended on a note of concern for those around her. So she thought to reason with him out of concern. He’d had about all of the reasoning he could stand for one night. Before he could say another word though, she was turning her back on him again.

  “It’s late and I don’t want to argue with you,” Celia said in dismissal. “I’m very tired. Would you please close the door on your way out?”

  There was the prim and proper miss again. Who did she think she was to be ordering him about in his own house? The temper he’d kept a lid on finally broke free. His hands were on her within seconds and her breasts pressed intimately against his chest. Seth could feel the beat of her heart. So female, he mused. There was the quick expelling of breath from her lungs. He remembered those feather light caresses of air against his skin – silky and soft with just the right amount of warmth to stir a man’s blood. His vest became the catalyst for her warm brown nipples hardening into peaks. The blood drained from his head. Her smell washed over him and Seth knew he was gambling with the need building inside him yet again.

  Celia’s gasp was clear and short as the contact between them sparked more than anger in them both.

  Fighting the need to kiss her senseless, Seth ground out the next words, which were anything but kind, “I’m going into Tyler and report what we found. Then I’m going to try and trail those sons-a-bitches who murdered Lone Eagle. While I’m gone, I expect you to stay right here. Is that clear?” His voice resounded with icy steel as his eyes roamed her face making sure she understood he meant business. “If you so much as step foot off this ranch…” He paused and fought the urge to shake her. “If you aren’t here when I get back, there’ll be hell to pay.” With the final declaration, he searched her face one more time before lowering his head to hers. The kiss was brutal and unyielding, as he’d intended.

  With his mouth, Seth branded her as if she was a steer, a possession he owned. She was staying and she would do as he said, which was all there was to it. He tasted her; all ripe and warm as the scent of roses fogged the few brain cells he had left. “I hope like hell you understand.” Rather than loose the fragile grip he had left, he found himself shoving her away and striding out the door.

  ***

  The door slamming echoed in her mind’s eye. Her legs wouldn’t hold her so she searched for the bed post with trembling fingers and sat down weakly on the side of the bed to collect her thoughts. The imprint of his body still pressed at her skin. Despite the fact, he’d left several minutes ago, her blood still burned. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms telling herself his touch hadn’t caused the trembling in her limbs or the fire in her depths. Celia touched a spot in the center of her chest where she was sure her heart might leap from her at any moment. Who did he think he was? She’d had about all she could take of Seth Loflin. His lips had claimed hers in a bruising kiss and she realized she wanted more.

  Somewhere in her mind, she knew instinctively she should work up the steam to stand her ground against the abrasive Mr. Loflin. No one, not even the doctors at the hospital had ever spoken to her in such a way. How dare he tell her – no – threaten her if she tried to leave. Celia lay back onto the bed.

  She wanted to be mad, to break things and rant. At the very least, she should be upset with his humiliating demand she obey him. The only thing she could think of though was the kiss and how lost she felt.

  With her eyes wandering over the lovely room, Celia realized she didn’t even have the strength for any more anger or fighting. She’d reached her limit. Flinging an arm across her forehead, she let out a soft, pitiful laugh. Who was she kidding? His touch had ignited embers she had thought were long dead. His words, so filled with anger, had heated her blood to boiling, yet not for the reason it should.

  Celia chided herself for allowing him to affect her. He didn’t care for her - not in that way, she reminded herself. He was a cowboy and she was a half-breed.

  Fingering the crochet of the nearest pillow, Celia thought of how peculiar it all felt. The steely surgical assistant, who could work under any conditions, swept away by one man’s kiss – pathetic. She stared hard at the door. It was good he had left, she told herself. She needed to think. Yet nothing but his hands and body next to hers came to mind.

  Frustrated, Celia sighed and flopped over again. The comforter was soft and enveloping, the cool silk soothing to her senses. She watched the lamplight cast flickering shadows on the far wall.

  Blinking back tears, Celia considered the irony of a situation, which brought her to the edge of her long remembered fairytale, only to come face-to-face with the reality of her birth. Wiping back more tears, Celia recognized the signs of exhaustion. She simply didn’t have the strength to stand her ground with Seth Loflin at the moment. However, before she left Shooter Creek, she’d make sure the arrogant, controlling Mr. Loflin understood why she had to go.

  ***

  The rays of the sun spilled through Celia’s window much too early the next morning. Gingerly she opened one eye before shielding them both with her hand. Where was she? Her body ached and her mind swam with confusion.

  Then all at once, memory came rushing back. She hadn’t had a nightmare. Her father was dead. Many of her people were dead.

  Pouring fresh water into the washbowl, Celia scooped up a handful and splashed the water into her face. Immediately sucking in air as the chill of the water revived her senses, Celia felt her head start to clear.

  She caught sight of the young woman in the mirror. For all she’d been through, she looked about the same. It humbled her as she realized how much difference a day could make in a person’s life. Celia watched as droplets of water slid down her cheeks and reminded her of the
tears she’d shed over the past couple of days. Looking closely at her reflection in the mirror, Celia reminded herself she was still alive, and though her heart was broken, she vowed she wouldn’t fall into despair and be engulfed in grief. She had things she had to do.

  There was a knock at the door. “Who is it?” she asked, toweling her face dry.

  “It’s Maggie, dear. Are you presentable? I’ve brought your breakfast.”

  Moving to the bedside, Celia donned her wrapper. “Yes, Maggie, please come in.”

  The housekeeper swept into the room carrying a tray covered with a linen cloth. “I didn’t know what you might be hungry for, so I brought a helping of everything from this morning’s table.” Sweeping the napkin away, Maggie presented Celia with a bounty of delectable morsels. “Now don’t be bashful. You just eat as much as you can stand, all right? You’ll make ol’ Maggie feel a whole lot better once we get some food in you.”

  The housekeeper set the tray down and then took Celia by the arms. Guiding her to the table nearby, Maggie settled Celia in the chair. “Now eat!” she commanded. Her words, coated in a soft brogue, still held the mists of Ireland.

  Celia considered her stomach might rebel. She was slightly embarrassed when it gave a very unladylike growl of hunger. Knowing Maggie’s feelings were paramount, Celia took a deep breath and released it slowly. Picking up the fork, she forced herself to take a bit of the fluffy eggs and steaming grits. The taste of the food was delicious. To her relief and Maggie’s great satisfaction, the hunger pains soon overrode the queasiness. With Maggie beaming a smile of approval, Celia dug in. Before she knew it, Celia had polished off half the biscuits and eggs, along with a goodly portion of the grits, as well as the ham for good measure. Black coffee made her feel almost whole again, and she found herself grateful to the housekeeper for her persistence. With an exaggerated sigh, Celia leaned back in the chair and patted her stomach gently. “That was marvelous, Maggie. Thank you.”