“Did you get any sleep?”
“I slept a couple of hours. I was afraid Nick might need me so father helped me get him into my bed.” Cord thought how Nick had put his life in danger for Abby. He had not even considered they might kill him. All he thought about was Abby’s safety. The two were definitely close. He acted as if he were her father instead of her older brother.
Abruptly, Abby stopped moving and put her hands to her face. She began to cry. “Thank you, Cord.” What would she have endured if he had not been able to stop them? She would have been raped by all three men. More than likely she would not have survived.
The urge to take her in his arms and console her was strong. She had been through hell last night and did not even have the time to grieve. Before Cord could say anything, the door opened and Jacob stepped inside followed by the sheriff. Abby quickly turned away and wiped away her tears before her father saw her crying. His eyes fixed on him, Jacob announced, “Cord, the sheriff would like to ask you a few questions.”
A thin man of medium height, Sheriff Walters took the chair across from Cord. “Good morning, Abby.”
Abby’s voice trembled as she asked, “Good morning, sheriff. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Yes ma’am. Thank you.” The sheriff waited until Abby poured him a cup of coffee. He peered over the rim of his cup at Cord as he took his first sip. “That’s mighty good coffee, Abby.” Never taking his eyes off Cord, Sheriff Walters seemed to be sizing him up. “Jacob told me you single handedly killed all three men last night. Are you a gun fighter?”
“No sir, I just happen to be good with a gun.”
Sheriff Walters looked at Cord suspiciously and responded, “Jacob told me he and Nick found you with a bullet in your chest. Do you know who shot you?”
“Yes.”
“If you will tell me who shot you, I will arrest them.” The sheriff eased forward in his chair.
Cord watched as the sheriff took another sip of his coffee. In a mild tone, Cord said, “They are long gone by now. They think they killed me and would not want to hang around and answer any questions the authorities might ask. I’m sure they are out of your jurisdiction. Besides, I take care of my own affairs.”
Obviously irritated, Sheriff Walters asked, “Care to explain what those affairs are?”
Taking a deep breath, Cord firmly stated, “That’s none of your business.”
Arching a brow, Sheriff Walters responded, “Have it your way, young man.” The sheriff took out a notepad and pencil. He handed it to Cord. “Would you please write your name down for me and where you hail from? I always like to do a little investigating when strangers show up in Tarboro.”
“I’m not from any certain place. I wander around a lot. Besides, I won’t be hanging around much longer. As soon as I am able I’ll be on my way.” Cord took the notepad and wrote his name. That was all the sheriff was going to get from him. The last thing he needed was a sheriff nosing into his business and asking questions.
The sheriff drained his coffee cup, stood and handed it to Abby. “Thank you for the hospitality, Abby.” When he reached the door, he turned and looked at Cord. “One more thing, Mr. Sutton. The three men you killed last night were some pretty bad men. They murdered a whole family in Dobson two days ago. They raped the mother and daughter, forcing the rest of the family to watch. Then they shot everyone, even the children.”
Abby gasped, and ran from the room. Cord’s blood turned cold. “Do you think you should have told that horrid story in front of Abby? Did her father not tell you she was almost raped last night?”
The color drained from the sheriff’s face. “No, he didn’t. The only thing he told me was you killed all three. I’m sorry. I did not know she was attacked.” The sheriff ran his fingers through his hair, and placed his hat on his head. “Please apologize to Abby for me. I feel terrible for upsetting her.” The sheriff turned to leave and then thought of something else. “There’s probably a bounty on the three men. I’ll see that you get the money.”
In a frosty tone, Cord snapped, “I don’t want the money. Give it to Jacob. I’m sure he can use it more than I can.”
It took all the strength he could summon to finish preparing the breakfast Abby left cooking on the stove. Weak from fatigue and emotion, he leaned against the old cook stove. He tried to lift the heavy skillet, but instead had to drag it. Anger took over because of his weakness. Never in his life had he felt so helpless.
The moment he felt her arm wrap around his waist the anger faded away. Without saying a word, Abby helped him to the table. When she turned to leave, he took her hand and pressed it to his face. “You are an amazing woman, Abby. I wish I could do everything for you so you could go back to bed and sleep for the rest of the day. You should not have to look after everyone else.”
“I don’t mind, Cord. It will keep my mind off the family in Dobson.” She pulled her hand away, and fixed him a plate of food. Sitting it down in front of him, she sat across the table. “They were going to kill us. If you had not been here, we would have died.” A tear escaped down her cheek.
She smiled at him causing his heart to flutter. Even after all she had been through she was beautiful. “You saved my life, Abby. Now I saved yours. How about we call it even?”
Cord knew they would always have a connection after last night. It would be hard to ride away after spending the past few days with such a perfect woman as Abby. Still, it would have to be done. He could not rest until he had his revenge. A hand automatically touched the wound only two inches from his heart as he thought how close he came to death himself and the man who tried to kill him.
As if she could read his thoughts she asked, “Who shot you?”
“Abby, I really don’t want to discuss my past. All I will say is the man I seek is as dangerous as the three I killed last night. I can not go on with my life until he is dead.” Cord didn’t want to frighten her, so he did not tell her there were five men he planned to kill. Five evil men the world would be better off without.
“What if he kills you instead? Two more inches and he would have succeeded.”
“That is a risk I must take.”
Fortunately, Nick called from Abby’s bedroom, keeping her from asking more questions. The less she knew about him, the better.
“I guess Nick is ready for his breakfast.” Cord never took his eyes from her as she prepared Nick’s plate. The sway of her hips caught his attention as she crossed the room and disappeared. He thought the room seemed so empty without her.
****
Two days later Cord felt stronger. Propping most of his weight on the porch rail, he hobbled down the front porch steps looking for Abby. He saw her on her hands and knees pulling weeds from her spring garden. Mesmerized, Cord watched as her bottom swayed back and forth as she reached for the clumps of grass. He had the strongest urge to cup her perfect derriere in his hands.
He dropped down beside her, and began helping her with the chore. Everyday he had a little more energy so he helped Abby with her duties. She peered at him with a dreamy look on her face.
“We are going to have new potatoes tonight for supper. I can almost taste them now.”
Cord smiled lovingly. She found happiness in simple things. Never having to worry about where his next meal was coming from or how to pay for something, he took things for granted. Not Abby. She found joy in every aspect of her day; a good meal, a pretty flower, a fluttering butterfly. She was unique.
Then it happened. Cord wrapped his hand around a clump of grass the same time Abby did. For a moment he stared at his large hand clutching her smaller one. Abby tugged trying to get him to release her hand. Suddenly, he rolled onto his back and pulled Abby on top of him. Pressing her hands against his chest, she struggled to get away. Strong arms embraced her. Cord’s lips touched hers and she lost all control. His mouth devoured hers. Cord felt the passion she had been keeping from him when he pushed her lips apart and voraciously attacked her tongue wi
th his. She wrapped her arms around Cord’s neck and pulled him closer.
The most powerful desire he had ever felt in his life burst over him. He was so close to taking her on the ground where anyone could walk into the yard and see them. When he tried to stop the kiss, Abby pulled him even closer refusing to let it end. She clung to him, pressing her body against his intimately.
Cord whispered in her ear, “Do you have any idea how close I am to making love to you?”
Her breathing labored, Abby raised her head and looked into Cord’s eyes. She rolled off him and stood. Deep blue eyes stared down at him as she touched her lips. An expression of confusion and shock on her face, she ran into the house. The air seemed to get warmer as he contemplated what almost transpired between them.
Cord stumbled to the porch, sat down in a chair, and closed his eyes. Never in his life had he come so close to taking an innocent girl’s virginity. Usually, he stayed clear of virgins, preferring women who knew how to pleasure a man. But there was something about Abby that made him want her desperately. If he would have taken her, she would probably have demanded he marry her. After his strength returns he knew he would have to leave. The last thing he needed in his life right now was a wife. Still feeling he had several years of wild oats to sow before settling down, he would have to tread carefully. If he didn’t stay focused on his revenge, he would find himself unwillingly married to the farmer’s daughter.
****
Nick and Abby were in the barn feeding the animals when Cord opened the huge door and entered. As soon as Pepper saw him, he began stomping his hooves and shaking his head. “Have you missed me, boy?” Taking the curry comb, Cord began to rub his coat. “You have taken good care of him, Abby. He looks great.”
Not bothering to answer, Abby pretended she didn’t hear him. He glanced at her beautiful face, and she quickly averted her eyes. Without a doubt she was remembering how they almost made love in the garden.
Her cheeks, red as a beet Abby hurried to the barn door. “I still have dishes to wash. I’ll see you at the house, Nick.” She didn’t even bother telling him goodnight. Not wanting Nick to become suspicious, he returned his attention to Pepper.
Ambling toward Cord, Nick asked, “What did you do to upset Abby?”
The curry comb stopped in mid-air for a second before he continued to brush Pepper. “What makes you think I have done something to Abby?”
“You and Abby didn’t say two words to each other tonight. You usually compliment her on the wonderful meal she prepares each night. You sat there sullen moving your food around on your plate as if you have lost your best friend. I tried to draw you both into conversation. I demand to know what is going on.”
Cord ran his fingers through his hair. “Nothing is going on.”
“Don’t act all innocent with me. I see the way you look at Abby. She is not one of the saloon girls that you can dally with. My sister is a lady, and you will treat her like one.”
Cord knew he needed to choose his words carefully. It would be easy to deny his feelings for Abby, but he knew Nick would see through his lies. He would protect Abby at any cost. “I have to admit I am attracted to Abby. She is a wonderful woman. I promise the moment I am strong enough, I am out of here. Your sister’s virtue is safe.”
“We owe you a lot, Cord. You saved our lives. However, Abby is promised to another and I would hate for you to ruin her chances at a good marriage.”
Cord’s eyes bore into Nick. “Abby has not mentioned she is to get married. Who is the lucky man?”
“Andrew Matthews. His father owns the land that joins ours. They would have already been married, but Abby asked for a year to mourn our mother.”
Surely, Abby didn’t have strong feelings for her intended because she had not mentioned him once. Thoughts of Abby marrying a man she did not love tore at his heart strings. A woman like her deserved love.
Chapter Four
Cord needed to talk to Abby. He tossed and turned trying to go to sleep, but finally gave in and slipped out of bed. The house was quiet as he tiptoed to her room. Afraid Jacob or Nick would hear him if he knocked, he slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open to her room. Standing in the middle of the room stark naked, Abby was bathing. A pan of water sat on the bureau. Cord held his breath as she wrung the water out of the cloth and moved it across her breasts. The lantern turned low, gave off enough light to make her look almost angelic. Her hair piled loosely on top of head made her look even more seductive. Transfixed on the beauty before him, he became thick and hard with a need to have her. Her breasts so bountiful, her waist so narrow, and the roundest derriere he had ever beheld. Magnificent was the way he would describe her. Mesmerized as the cloth inched toward the juncture between her legs, he didn’t know she was looking at him. He noticed she was no longer bathing so he peered into her face. Their eyes locked for what seemed an eternity before Cord slowly backed out and went back to his room.
Now Cord knew he would not be able to sleep. Abby was too much of a temptation. He closed his eyes and he could see her luscious body in his mind. He didn’t have time for these feelings he was having for a woman promised to another man. All he could think about was the beauty marrying another. A man with whom she would sleep each night, to whom she would bear children, and to whom she would give her heart and soul.
His strength increased each day. He would be leaving in a few days, leaving to track down Bart Langley. He could not afford to let Abby come between him and the revenge he had pursued for so long.
****
Abby’s bottom lip trembled. Cord had her so confused she did not know what he expected from her. It was evident the man was attracted to her. If he would not have stopped her that morning, she would have made love to him in the middle of her spring garden. Her father would skin her alive if he knew she had been rolling around on the ground with a man that only felt lust for her. God would strike her down for acting like a whore.
Did Cord not know if he took her virginity he would have to marry her? Surely, he would not sleep with her, and then go about his life as if nothing happened between them. Tomorrow she would tell him if his intentions were not honorable, he would have to keep his distance from her.
****
Voices woke Cord. It was morning before he dozed off to sleep and now it must be noon, because the sun streamed brightly through the open window. Dressing quickly, he entered the kitchen to find visitors sitting at the table eating lunch. Jacob stood when he saw Cord.
“Cord, this is Jonah Matthews and his son Andrew.” Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best so they must have come from church.
Jonah shook hands with Cord. “Jacob has told us how you saved them from the evil killers. They were lucky to have taken you in.” Several inches shorter than Cord, but husky, Jonah smiled. Immediately, he knew Jonah disliked him as much as Jacob did. Neither man knew anything about him, but had decided he was no more than a sinner because he carried a gun.
“I was only repaying their kindness since they also saved me. I would have bled to death by the side of the road if not for them.”
When Andrew stood, Cord shook his hand. A man of average height and weight with mousy brown hair, he was thin for a farmer. Most were muscular from the hard work of running a farm. His hands didn’t have the calluses like Nick’s and Jacob’s, or even Abby’s for that matter. They almost seemed soft like a woman’s hands.
“Nice to meet you.” Cord saw the jealousy in his eyes. Andrew did not like the fact he was under the same roof with his intended. Not that he blamed him. If Abby was his intended, he would not want her spending time with another man.
Abby stood to get him a plate. “I’ll get it, Abby. You visit with your friends.”
Color faded from her cheeks, and Cord knew she was remembering last night when he saw her naked. He sat at the end of the table as far from Abby as he could. He knew she was nervous and didn’t need to add to her discomfort.
The moment Cord took his se
at Jonah confronted Jacob with the real reason for their visit. “Now that Abigail’s year of mourning is over, Andrew is anxious to plan their wedding. We were thinking after the fall harvest we could celebrate with the joining of the two families.”
Why didn’t Andrew speak for himself? It was obvious he had feelings for Abby because he had not taken his eyes off her. Is the man not bold enough to ask for the woman he loves? Peering at her, Cord could tell she was a jumble of nerves. She was pale as a sheet and trembling.
“I don’t see why not. Nick is courting Amy Collins and will probably ask for her hand in marriage shortly. Amy can step in and take over Abby’s chores. Without Martha we will need a woman’s touch around here.”
Shocked, Cord glared at Jacob. Did the man only think of Abby as someone to do the cooking, cleaning, and gardening? She was his daughter. He was talking as if she were a piece of livestock.
Cord looked at Nick. Not once had he heard Nick speak of Amy. Their father was making a lot of plans for the two of them. It was doubtful he even asked Abby if she wanted to marry Andrew. Obviously, everything had been planned for her. Abby’s eyes locked with his. He saw the pain and humiliation on her face.
Her cheeks flushed, she whispered softly, “Please excuse me.” All eyes were on Abby as she ran from the room.
Pure rage showed on Andrew’s face. If the man had a weapon, Cord knew he would be dead. Andrew feared he would steal his betrothed from him. Surely, the man knew he would be leaving soon. Of course he shouldn’t care who Abby married. But there was something about Andrew that seemed unworthy of the woman he had greatly come to admire. He had always prided himself as a good judge of character, and felt Andrew was a sniveling, weakling.
Love Me Again Page 4
