“It is s-so cold,” she stuttered.
“Ach, it’s not so bad. My body will warm you in a moment. And I know a way to help it along.” Cupping her cheek with one hand, he molded his mouth to hers, letting it deepen until she clung to him. He pulled back on her soft moan, his dark gaze traveling over her, his breathing ragged. The chemise clung to her skin, a translucent covering which did nothing to hide her from his view. Crushing her to him, he held nothing back, fierce in the way he took possession of her mouth, plunging his tongue inside as her fingers dug into his shoulders.
Lifting Sarah into his arms, Colin carried her to the shore, lowering her feet to the ground, then spreading their clothes near the water. Taking her in his arms, they sank to their knees, clinging to each other as he continued to ravage her mouth, his hands molding her to him.
Sarah’s heart hammered in her chest, the sensations created by Colin’s soft caresses, his knowing hands moving over her body, caused a raging fire to flash through her. As his hands continued to explore, her body grew heavy and warm, a heated shudder pulsing low in her stomach.
Reaching between them, she splayed her hands across his chest, then lower, feeling the taut muscles of his stomach. On a gasp, he pulled back, slowly laying her down, stretching out beside her.
“I need you, Colin,” she breathed out, unable to control her thundering heart.
“Ah, lass. No more than I need you.”
Colin couldn’t stop Sarah’s body from violently shivering on the ride back to the ranch. He’d used blankets to dry her off, then bundled her in his coat. Placing her in front of him on Chieftain, he wrapped an arm around her in an effort to keep her warm. Nothing seemed to help as he raced toward home.
“We’ll be there in a few minutes, love,” he whispered, spotting the lights ahead. “It won’t be long before you’ll be in front of a fire.” He could feel her head bob in acknowledgment as he tightened his hold. Reining to a stop, he swung off, sliding her into his arms. Kicking the front door open, he ignored the stares of his family, taking her straight to the fire.
“I’ll get dry clothes.” Kyla rushed upstairs while Geneen grabbed a quilt from a nearby chest.
“Here. Wrap her in this.” She opened it, settling it around Sarah’s shoulders.
Hurrying down the stairs, clothes draped over her arm, Kyla came to a stop beside Colin, looking around at the others.
“All of you, out. And that includes you, Colin. We’ll keep her by the fire while Geneen and I get her into dry clothes. Coral, make her a cup of cocoa, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Coral immediately dashed past Colin, who stayed rooted in place.
“Colin, go!” Kyla swept an arm toward the stairs. “Put on some dry clothes, then come back down.”
“Ma…I—”
Kyla stood, cutting him off and taking him by the arm. Turning him toward the stairs, she leaned up to whisper in his ear. “Ach, I don’t know what was in your head, taking her for a swim on such a cold night, but you have to let me take care of this. I am not a stupid woman, lad. I know you’ve been together and you want to stay. For now, give Sarah the privacy she needs. Do you understand me?”
He started to protest, then snapped his mouth shut. Nodding, he glanced over his shoulder once more, then took the stairs two at a time. Slamming his bedroom door closed, he snatched dry clothes from his wardrobe, his hands trembling as he slid into them. His ma’s words roared through him, the stupidity of his mistake slapping him in the face. Hurrying, he dashed down the steps.
By the time he returned, Sarah sat in his father’s old chair, quilts wrapped around her, a cup of cocoa cradled in her still shaking hands. Geneen stood behind her, brushing her drying hair, then securing it in a bun. Taking a few steps, Colin knelt in front of her.
“How are you feeling?” His eyes searched hers, which had grown distant, glassy.
“All right,” she croaked out, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes closing.
Raising a hand, he stroked her face, feeling the heated skin. “Ma, she’s burning up.” His voice rose in panic, his eyes flaring in concern.
Kyla dropped her stitching, placing the palm of her hand on Sarah’s forehead. “It’s gone up some. Get her upstairs, Colin. Geneen, I need towels and a pan of cool water.”
Lifting her into his arms, Colin climbed the stairs, holding her to him, feeling the heat of her body even through the heavy quilt. Kyla rushed past him, pulling back the covers before Colin laid her down.
“Colin, I need willow bark tea.”
He didn’t move, his gaze locked on Sarah.
“Colin, lad, did you hear me?” Kyla touched his arm. “Willow bark tea?”
Shifting his gaze to his mother, he nodded, walking through the doorway as Geneen carried a bowl of cool water up the stairs. Stopping, she looked up at him.
“She’ll be all right, Colin. All her life, Sarah has taken to fever quicker than most. It’s her body’s way. They disappear just as quickly.” She offered him a thin smile, then continued into the bedroom.
“What can I do to help?” Coral asked as he entered the kitchen.
“I need to make tea.” He walked to a cupboard, pulling down a tin.
“I’ll heat the water.” Coral grabbed the kettle, filled it with water, then placed it on the wood burning stove.
“How is she?” Blaine walked in, reaching for a cup when he saw what Colin and Coral were preparing.
Colin shook his head. “I don’t know what I was thinking, taking her to the lagoon.”
“Don’t blame yourself. You took her to a place that’s always been special to you.” Blaine placed a comforting hand on his brother’s shoulder.
Shaking off the hand, Colin turned to him. “I encouraged her to get in the water. She didn’t want to, but I insisted. This shouldn’t have happened.”
Reaching between them, Coral took the cup from Blaine’s hand and the tin from Colin’s. Placing several pieces of bark inside the kettle, setting the lid on top, she stood back, listening.
“Ma knows what to do. If the cool water doesn’t work, we’ll be preparing a bath.” He pointed to the kettle. “And we’ve been drinking that disgusting tea our entire lives to reduce fever.” Blaine took a breath, leaning a hip against the kitchen table. “If nothing works, I’ll ride for the doctor tonight. You know he’ll come without question.”
“And if nothing works?”
“You’re creating a problem where there may be none. She has a fever. Don’t fret so much until we know how bad it will be.”
Neither noticed Coral pouring the tea into a cup. “Do you want me to take this upstairs?” She held it out to them, her head cocked.
“No, I’ll do it.” Colin took it from her hand, ending the discussion with Blaine. Guilt plagued him. No matter what his brother said, he knew going to the lagoon was the reason for Sarah’s fever. Entering the bedroom, he stopped. Her eyes were still closed, her face deathly pale, her deep coughs echoing in the small room. Setting the tea aside, he took the cloth from his mother, dipping it in the cool water and placing it on Sarah’s forehead as tremors still racked her body.
“I’ll ask Blaine to bring the tub into this room. We need to get her in a cool bath.” Kyla took one more look at Sarah before walking out.
“Sarah, lass, I’m so sorry,” Colin whispered as the coughing receded and her face calmed. Starting at her forehead, he swiped the cloth down her face, neck, and across her shoulders. Looking over his shoulder, he set the cloth in the basin, then walked to the door, shutting it before returning to unbutton her chemise. Pushing the gown from her shoulders, he pulled her arms free. Picking up the cloth, he ran the cool water over her chest and arms, then repeated the process over and over.
“We’ll put it near the door—” Kyla stopped at the sight of Sarah’s clothes pushed away, Colin bent over her.
“It’s all right, Ma. Have him bring it in.” Colin covered her, continuing to apply the cloth to her face and neck.
<
br /> It took little time to place Sarah in the tub after they’d filled it. Blaine continued to haul additional buckets of cool water upstairs, replacing the water which warmed from her fever.
“I believe it’s coming down, Colin.” Kyla kneeled on the other side of the tub, mimicking his actions of dripping cooling water over her body.
Touching her forehead with his own, Colin let out a breath. “Aye, I think you’re right.”
They continued until her eyes fluttered open, her glassy stare fixed on Colin. “What happened?” Her voice weak, she closed her eyes, then forced them to open again.
“Thank God…” Colin breathed out, picking up one of her hands in his. “You had a fever, lass. It’s down now. Here.” He reached behind him, grabbing the cup of now cold tea. “Drink this. It will help keep it down.”
She took a sip, grimacing at the taste. “Ach…willow bark tea.”
He chuckled at the look on her face. “I didn’t think to add sugar.” Tipping the cup again, he encouraged her to drink until she’d finished it.
“All right, Sarah. Let’s get you dried and back in your nightdress,” Kyla said, her lines of worry beginning to ease.
Sarah blushed, noticing Colin’s mother for the first time. For some reason, the knowledge of Colin seeing her naked didn’t bother her nearly as much as knowing Kyla had been working alongside him to reduce her fever.
Once they had her dressed and back under the covers, Colin called for Blaine to help him empty the tub and put it away in the closet their ma insisted her husband build. One tub upstairs and another near the kitchen had been her instructions. Colin stilled at the memory of how she’d insisted on the closets, and how his da had gone along with her instructions without comment. His jaw tightened. Revenge would be theirs, and if he had his way, it wouldn’t be much longer.
Chapter Eighteen
“We’ll put it off a week, Ma. There’s no reason to rush. I want to be sure Sarah is fully recovered.” Colin still berated himself for what happened to her. He’d not put her through the stress of a wedding until he knew she had her strength back.
“Did you talk to Sarah about it?” Kyla asked, her brows knitting in concern.
“Why should I? I can see she still doesn’t have her strength back. It happened just two days ago, Ma.”
“I know, lad, but that girl does have a mind of her own. She helped bake pies today while you were with the herd. Her strength seemed fine to me.”
Kyla had met him in the barn when she’d seen the men ride in. The wedding was two days away and he’d already told her he wanted to postpone it. From what she could tell, Sarah had no desire to wait.
Stepping back, she crossed her arms, staring at her oldest son. He reminded her so much of his father in looks, as well as the stubborn streak that defined them both. She felt a sharp stab of pain at the reminder of her loss. All of her children gave her comfort, but there’d always be a special place in her heart for Colin.
“You and Sarah need to talk. Decide together whether to go ahead with the wedding on Saturday or wait a week.” She touched his arm. “You’ll not be ordering her around like some women, Colin. She’s the kind who’ll expect to talk through decisions, and this is an important one.” Without another word, Kyla left the barn and Colin to his thoughts.
“She’s right.”
Colin glanced at Blaine standing a few feet away, a humorless grin on his face.
A frustrated Colin turned toward him. “And you would know this how?”
“It’s not hard. She’s much like Ma. You know she and Da talked over everything, made decisions together. If it were me, I’d listen to Ma. Of course, it’s your marriage, big brother.” Blaine chuckled as he walked out.
Scrubbing a hand down his face, Colin finished grooming Chieftain before letting him out into the pasture behind the barn. Leaning against the gate, he crossed his arms, thinking of what his ma said. She almost never gave her opinion unless asked, which had him carefully considering her words. The first question he asked himself was why he felt the marriage should be postponed. He’d told himself Sarah needed time to regain her strength, but the real reason had to do with the fear that tore him apart when she lapsed into a fever. He’d never seen a fever spike so high in such a short period of time, then disappear. And he was to blame.
“Blaine told me you were out here.”
He turned at Sarah’s voice, opening his arms. She walked right into them, showing none of the hesitancy he expected after putting her in such danger. Fevers were serious, often resulting in death. His arms trembled around her as he thought of what might have happened. Tightening his hold, resting his chin on the top of her head, he closed his eyes, not wanting to imagine losing her.
“I’m so sorry, Sarah.”
Pulling back to look up at him, she touched a finger to his lips. “You’ve already apologized. It’s over. I’m fine. There’s no need for you to fret about it any longer.”
“I could have—”
“No, Colin. I don’t want to hear of what might have happened or how you still think it was your fault. I made the decision to go into the lagoon, and I’d make the same decision again.” She dropped her hand, nestling her face into his chest. “Do you remember what Geneen told you the night I took the fever?”
His brows furrowed as he tried to remember what was said. “Nae. I can’t say as I do.”
“Then I’m glad she thought to tell me,” Sarah laughed. “Geneen told you I’ve been prone to fevers ever since I was a young girl. They come fast, spike high, then disappear. Some people get stomach pains or earaches. I get fevers. This one was no different than the others I’ve had.”
He narrowed his eyes, trying to recall the conversation, but couldn’t remember Geneen ever mentioning Sarah’s tendency toward high fevers. “She’s certain we talked of it?”
“Oh, aye.” She dropped her arms and stepped back. “You were worried. I doubt you remember much of anything, except trying to help your ma. Now, no more of this worry. I don’t want misplaced guilt to mar our wedding on Saturday.” Holding out her hand to catch his, she turned toward the house.
“About the wedding…”
She shot him an evil glare, her lips thinning into a slim line. “Colin MacLaren, unless you are telling me you no longer want me, we will marry Saturday.” Dropping his hand, she stormed toward the house.
Ach, what a fool I’ve become, he thought as he heard the door slam behind her. His mother had warned him. Even Blaine had seen what he didn’t. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he accepted Sarah was no longer the compliant, accepting girl he’d first met. A strong, determined, and loyal woman had taken her place, and she loved him. Climbing the stairs to the front door, he whispered a prayer that he could be the kind of husband she deserved.
Crocker, Nevada
“Deal me in.” The tall, hulk of a man with thinning dark hair streaked with gray pulled out a chair, glaring at those around the table.
“Sure thing, Lon. We’d given up on you.”
Lonnie Coffman scowled, picking up the cards in his large, beefy hands. He played one hand, then sat back, not feeling the urge to continue.
“You hear any more about where the girls might have gone?” Deft tossed down his cards, leaning back in his chair. Lon trusted no one more than Deft, his friend since their time as orphans on the streets of St. Louis.
“Let’s move over to the bar,” Lon said, not wanting anyone else to hear their conversation. He’d learned the girls were gone as soon as they rode back to town after one of their raids. It had been over two months with no sign of them. Everyone knew the man Lon had left to guard them would never have let them leave. In his early sixties, he’d ridden with them until his gun hand gave out to the pain of gout. His job had been to guard the girls at their place in the mountains, keeping watch on them as they cooked the meals and cleaned. He was the man Lon left in charge when the men rode out. Lon held no great love for any of the three, but they were kin and belo
nged to him.
“Nothing. Some say they were spotted heading north weeks ago.”
“Coral is resourceful and probably had it planned for months, waiting for the right time. Don’t know why you’re so set on finding them. They were nothing but trouble.” Deft took a sip of his drink, rolling the glass between his fingers. “If you’re that set on getting them back, I say we ride to either Pine Top or Mindell. Unless they were lucky enough to find passage with a group of travelers, there are only three towns they could go—Mindell, Conviction, and Pine Top.” Deft leaned forward, resting his arms on the bar. “We can’t show our faces in Conviction. Weather’s going to be getting rough north of here in a few weeks, and the trail to Pine Top will be treacherous when the snow starts. It’s your decision, Lon, but you should make it soon or accept they’re gone for good.”
“They ain’t gone for good,” Lon growled, keeping his voice low. “Coral will never leave the other two, and who’d take in three girls? They’re hiding. Maybe not too far from here. Besides, you know I can’t let them wander around knowing what they know.”
“Suppose so. It’s too bad their mama taught them right from wrong. If you’d found them sooner, schooled them in the real way of life, we might not be in this fix.” Signaling the barmaid, Deft watched as she filled their glasses, then walked away.
“We both know I was looking for their ma, not them. If they hadn’t seen and heard so much, I’d let them go and not waste any sleep over it.” Tossing back his drink, he considered Deft’s words. “It’s too late to track them now. We’ll wait for spring. But we will find them, and when we do, I won’t waste time keeping them around for sentimental reasons.” Glancing around once more, he leaned closer to Deft. “I’ve another job I want to do while we’ve got the chance. If we can drive a herd to Sacramento, I’ve got a contact who will pay a good price for however many head we bring him.”
“What are you getting at?” Deft asked.
“We already heard about the rancher near Conviction who’s getting married, and all his men are invited.”
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