by Jodi Thomas
‘‘Thank you’’-she fought back the tears-‘‘for the most wonderful night of my life.’’
‘‘There will be other nights. Better nights.’’ He pulled her lightly against him, allowing his words to caress her. ‘‘You’ll move as you did to my touch this morning, only I’ll be inside you next time.’’ He felt her stiffen. ‘‘Relax,’’ he whispered. ‘‘I’m never going to hurt you again. I practiced most of the night.’’
She hid her tears against his chest. He was the only good thing that had ever happened in her life. And he wanted her. Not just as any man wants any woman, but as one man needs one woman. She could tell it in the way he touched her, as though branding her, forever making her his. And in the way he kissed her as if he’d hungered for her for years and now that he’d finally found her he planned to have his fill.
Win slowly pulled away, letting his fingers brush her as long as possible. ‘‘I have to talk with Cheyenne.’’
‘‘Jamie said he’s a dead man when I passed her in the hall.’’ Kora laughed. ‘‘She plans to kill him if she ever sees him again.’’
Win nodded. ‘‘Murder by coffeepot. It’s a common way to die these days. For his safety, I’d better meet him in the barn.’’
‘‘I’ll cook breakfast.’’
‘‘And I’ll be back. I promise you I’ll never leave you without saying goodbye twice.’’
‘‘I’d rather you not say goodbye at all’’-Kora moved toward the door-‘‘then you’d never leave me.’’
Win pulled on his slicker. ‘‘The thought has crossed my mind.’’
Kora watched as he moved away. ‘‘A dream,’’ she whispered as she turned into the kitchen. ‘‘I must be living a dream.’’
As she watched Win disappear in his light brown duster, she remember something from last night. Wyatt had worn a black one.
She yelled Win’s name, but he was too far into the downpour to hear her. She’d have to wait until breakfast.
Jamie stood at the other side of the room with her arms folded in anger. ‘‘We’re in the middle of a nightmare, not a dream, sister. A nightmare I’m about ready to wake up from.’’
‘‘You’re just mad at Cheyenne,’’ Kora answered as she started breakfast.
‘‘No,’’ Jamie said. ‘‘It’s more than that. Can’t you see it, Kora? The trouble. Witchin’ luck has struck again. It’s time to travel on. You know the pattern. Once the trouble starts, we need to be packing.’’
‘‘I can’t.’’ Kora looked at her sister and said the one thing that had been on her mind for days. ‘‘I love him too much. I’m staying this time.’’ Kora closed her eyes, remembering that the last time Win talked of her leaving had been the night Andrew Adams had first shown up. Win had said simply that she could stay the six months, but he wanted her gone as soon as the time was up.
He’d never taken those words back. And if he didn’t, no matter what happened between them, she’d have to leave.
Jamie moved closer and lowered her voice. ‘‘If you love him, leave him before someone gets killed.’’
Kora couldn’t answer. Outside, thunder seemed to echo Jamie’s warning and lightning split the sky. She couldn’t remember the exact moment she’d known she loved him, but she couldn’t tell him when he’d never said the words to her. In fact, he’d made it very plain that he’d never love any one woman.
An hour later, when the rain stopped, a sense of doom passed over her. The sun might be coming out, but her world was dying. How could she live with him until summer and then leave him? How could she tell him she wanted to stay forever when he’d never asked her?
Jamie shoved her things into a bag. ‘‘I was just starting to get used to this place,’’ she mumbled. ‘‘Another ten years or so, I think Cheyenne would warm up to me.’’
Kora watched her from the door. Jamie had exchanged her buckskins for Kora’s best dress. ‘‘What are you doing?’’
Jamie handed her a note. ‘‘A rider brought this to me a few minutes ago. It’s from Wyatt. He says it’s urgent that he talk with me.’’
‘‘But why are you packing?’’
‘‘I’m planning to go up to the settlement after Dan, but if Wyatt asks the question I think he will, I may be leaving with him.’’
‘‘But are you sure? Do you love Wyatt?’’ Kora couldn’t believe Jamie was planning to leave.
‘‘I don’t know. I guess. Much as I love any man.’’ She looked at her older sister. ‘‘I’m ready for some excitement. If you’d leave, that would be fine, but I can’t wait around forever for you to make up your mind. The cowboy you married is crazy about you. I’m not even sure he’d let you go.’’
‘‘But all the men are saddling up. They figured after what I heard at the settlement, today is the day. You can’t leave now.’’
Jamie carried her bag down the stairs and out the back door with Kora following only a step behind. ‘‘Maybe not’’-she shrugged-‘‘but I got to be ready. If Wyatt asks me to leave with him, I’m going. I can’t stay around here and watch the two of you falling wildly in love.’’
As Win walked his horse out of the barn, Kora turned toward him.
‘‘See what I mean.’’ Jamie pouted. ‘‘Another week of this and I’ll vanish completely from your view.’’
‘‘No, never,’’ Kora answered Jamie as Win crossed to the house to say goodbye again. He looked strong and healthy; only Kora noticed the tightness of his jaw. He’d live with the pain. It was his way. But she wasn’t sure she could live without him.
Jamie moved around to climb in the wagon.
‘‘Jamie, promise you won’t go today. Promise we’ll talk first,’’ Kora whispered.
‘‘I’ll pick up Dan and hear what Wyatt has to say,’’ Jamie answered. ‘‘Then we’ll talk before I leave. I promise.’’
Win walked to the corner of the porch. ‘‘It’s going to be a long day,’’ he said as he removed his hat. ‘‘I’m not sure how much trouble will come our way. Stay prepared here.’’
‘‘I’ll be fine.’’ Kora fought back the tears. Unless she could talk her sister out of her crazy plan, she might never see her again. ‘‘I’m riding with Jamie to get Dan.’’
Suddenly Win flung his leg over the railing and stepped back on the porch. He pulled her to him. ‘‘If I asked you not to go, would you stay here?’’
‘‘No,’’ Kora answered. ‘‘I have to go get my brother.’’
Win nodded in understanding. ‘‘Then take Logan as guard,’’ he compromised.
Kora thought of all she’d learned from him about loving. ‘‘Take care,’’ she whispered back. ‘‘And never forget, I love you.’’
Win’s hold tightened, but he didn’t speak. For a long moment he held her, then he turned and left without a word.
His silence should have made her angry, or think he didn’t care about her. But she understood. He’d shown her he loved her all night. If he couldn’t say the words in daylight, it didn’t matter. No man would ever make her feel so cherished.
Kora watched the yard. Jamie was saying something to Cheyenne, and for once she didn’t look as if she was going to tackle him. Logan stood close to Win, making lastminute plans.
‘‘I can’t leave,’’ Kora whispered as her vision blurred. ‘‘Win’s right. Folks make their own luck in this life. We can fight it together. This time I don’t have to run.’’ She glanced at Jamie. ‘‘If only I could convince Jamie,’’ Kora whispered as she saw Jamie fight back the anger when she waved at Cheyenne and he didn’t even bother to look back at her.
Win rode south with a dozen of his men, crisscrossing his land, making sure all was calm. The sky was still cloudy, but it had been clearing all afternoon. If the cattle were just below the caprock, it wouldn’t be long before they were moving across his land.
He knew he should have nothing on his mind except the ranch, but Kora’s words kept resounding in his brain. She’d said she loved him as easily as if sh
e’d always said the words. He’d never known her to be so foolish.
They had a bargain, nothing more. She didn’t have to say she loved him. He’d given her little enough reason to care about him. Win hadn’t missed Jamie’s comments about his shortcomings. Except for a few things from the store, he’d bought her nothing, not even a wedding band. He’d never taken her anywhere, or offered to. Hell, most women got a few days’ honeymoon. He hadn’t even stayed home the first night. Most of the time he didn’t say a handful of words to her a day. And the first time he’d made love to her, he’d hurt her so badly she’d screamed.
Win frowned. It made no sense that she loved him.
Yet she took care, not only of his house, but of him. From the very first, she kissed him good night as though it was something important for her to do. She’d forgiven him for their first time together as if it had been her fault and not his. And last night she’d let him touch her like he’d never thought a lady would allow. Then she’d welcomed him again and again. Offering him whatever he wanted, moving so he could see her undressed, raising her arms to allow him freedom to touch her, spreading her legs…
‘‘Hell!’’ he swore beneath his breath. He didn’t have time to think about her. There were more important things to consider. Only all he could focus on, all he could hear, was the way she’d softly said she loved him.
Win grumbled. She wasn’t doing what they agreed on. She was doing far more than just acting like a wife in exchange for his house. The little woman he thought would be almost invisible in his home had gotten into his blood. She was the lover he’d never even dreamed of having. Her body was alive with passion when he touched her, begging for more. The taste of her was habit forming.
Tonight, he’d hold her again. He’d remove her clothes slowly, enjoying each view. Then he’d lay her in the middle of their bed and begin his feast at her throat. He’d make love to her and she’d cry his name as she had last night in passion. And when she had relaxed and fell asleep, he’d continue to touch her. He didn’t need to teach her to please him; everything she did pleased him. Last night she’d awakened already warm from his touch, ready for more. She’d do so again tonight.
It might take days, maybe weeks, but he’d make love to her until he got her out of his mind and could think of other things, more important things. Win frowned. On second thought, it might take years.
‘‘You hear that?’’ Cheyenne straightened in his saddle, listening.
‘‘What?’’ Win shook his head, trying to get back to reality.
‘‘Cattle!’’ Cheyenne motioned for the men to follow as they reached the south corner of Win’s ranch. Here, for miles, the land was broken by steep inclines where the land jutted up suddenly to higher ground known as the caprock. The pasture below always seemed milder, less windy. Above, the range was cooler, wilder. This steep incline was where Win marked the end of his spread.
Sure enough, just below the rim of the caprock, cattle grazed as far as Win could see. They’d been boxed in by the wall, but all the herders had to do was begin pushing them up the trails, climbing the rim one beef at a time. Along the south edge of Win’s ranch were several places where they could move the herd easily up on higher ground.
One of Win’s men was stationed at each opening. One fired a shot of warning. Another followed. Then another and another.
This is it, Win thought. The standoff he’d dreaded. But he had the high ground, and with the caprock wall’s help, he’d hold them back. He didn’t want to kill the cattle. Let the ranchers keep them below. The strong ones would survive. But, no, they wanted to get them to market without having to suffer any loss.
He studied the border, watching, waiting. Cheyenne rode at his side.
‘‘It looks like they’re spreading the herd out, planning to push them all at once.’’
‘‘If they do, several will break their legs trying to climb up rough trails. Any cow that falls will be trampled.’’ Win didn’t want to think what the sight might be like if they stampeded.
‘‘They’re hoping we don’t have enough men to cover every trail.’’
Win watched closely. ‘‘Do we?’’ he asked more to himself than Cheyenne.
A man Win recognized as one of the fellows he’d seen in the settlement the night he’d gone after Kora, rode through the pass with his hands high.
‘‘Mr. McQuillen!’’ he yelled. ‘‘I just want to talk.’’
‘‘That’s close enough!’’ Win shouted back. ‘‘Tell your boss to turn them around. They’ll not cross my land.’’
‘‘But the next crossing is a hundred miles away,’’ the man tried to reason. ‘‘If you’ll let us cross in one place, my boss is willing to pay you. He’ll even leave men to help burn the grass his cattle move over.’’
‘‘No,’’ Win answered. ‘‘I can’t take the risk!’’ He knew burning the grass would prevent the sickness from spreading. But with a herd this size, all it would take was one calf getting away from the others, and all his cattle would be infected within days. He’d be risking all he had, all he’d worked for.
‘‘Not even for money?’’ the man exclaimed. ‘‘Name your price.’’
‘‘No,’’ Win answered, knowing he wouldn’t compromise. How could he put a price on his ranch?
‘‘We could run them through. You haven’t got enough men to stop the entire herd.’’
‘‘I said no!’’ Win shouted. ‘‘And we will stop every last beef.’’
The man turned his horse around as if to leave. ‘‘How about to save your wife?’’ he queried over his shoulder.
THIRTY-ONE
THE SETTLEMENT SEEMED DESERTED AS JAMIE MOVED the team toward Rae’s shack. In daylight the place was even worse than it had been at night.
Jamie jumped out of the wagon and tied the team while Logan slowly climbed down from the back.
‘‘I’m going to talk to Wyatt.’’ Jamie smoothed down the wrinkles on her borrowed dress. ‘‘You and Logan can handle Dan.’’
‘‘But the note didn’t say where to find him. And he said this afternoon. He may not be here for an hour yet,’’ Kora answered. ‘‘Wait a few minutes and we’ll all go with you.’’
‘‘No way.’’ Jamie started moving away. ‘‘I have to go alone for the same reason I wore a dress. He might just be asking me to run away with him. So a girl’s got to look her best and a man has to ask when they’re alone.’’
Kora opened her mouth to argue, but her sister was already several yards away.
Rae came to the door as Jamie disappeared between two tents. ‘‘Mornin’,’’ she mumbled. ‘‘Where’s the girl running off to?’’
‘‘Wyatt sent a note for her to meet him here,’’ Kora answered as she moved into the cabin. ‘‘How’s Dan?’’
‘‘He’s fine. We’ve had a grand time.’’ Rae laughed, patting Dan on the arm. ‘‘We stayed up late talking.’’
‘‘You did?’’
‘‘Sure, he told me how much he loves his sisters and how grateful he is for all they do for him.’’
Kora looked shocked for a moment, then she caught Rae winking at Logan. ‘‘What else did he say?’’ she asked, enjoying the old woman’s lie.
‘‘He told me he loves you very much and that if you were the one lost inside your own head, he’d be there to take care of you.’’
Kora straightened Dan’s collar as he stared at a crack in the cabin that allowed a sliver of sunshine in. ‘‘I think he would,’’ she whispered. ‘‘During this conversation, did you tell him I loved him?’’
Rae smiled. ‘‘I didn’t have to. He knows.’’
Kora took Dan’s hand and slowly guided him from the cabin. ‘‘Did you have any trouble with Andrew after I left?’’
‘‘No.’’ Rae giggled. ‘‘I was handling drunks before he could grow chest hair. I sent him on his way.’’
When they reached the wagon, Rae glanced in the direction Jamie had gone. ‘‘Your sister’s gonn
a have a problem finding that gambler, Wyatt. Him and all his kind left out of here as soon as the storm broke, and I haven’t heard none come back.’’
As Kora helped Logan lift Dan into the wagon, she glanced at the old man and saw worry in his eyes.
‘‘You’re sure Wyatt isn’t here?’’
Rae scratched her tumbleweed hair. ‘‘I ain’t seen nobody but those two drifters who found Win in the snake pit. They asked when you was coming to get your brother, and I told them it ain’t none of their concern and they’d better be in the next state before you see them.’’
While Logan helped Kora down from the wagon, a scream shattered the morning air from just beyond the trees.
‘‘Stay with Dan!’’ Logan shouted as he pulled his gun. ‘‘I’ll go see about Jamie.’’
Kora covered Dan with a blanket as he lay down in the wagon bed filled with hay. She reached for the rifle beneath the seat and waited.
Rae grabbed a knife from her cabin and stood beside her.
Silence. Nothing but silence. Logan and Jamie were both gone, leaving Kora alone with an old woman and Dan. Alone and in the open, for she’d not put her rifle down to help Dan back inside. Alone with the feeling that someone was moving slowly through the brush toward her.
Win narrowed his gaze and lowered his hat against the afternoon sun as rays bounced off the barrel of his Winchester.
All the years of burying his emotions, of hiding his tears, of refusing to allow any feelings to surface exploded into one eruption of anger. He drew his rifle and took aim at the man in the center of the pass.
Cheyenne was at his side. ‘‘Wait!’’ he whispered. ‘‘Let’s hear what he has to say. They’re bluffing. You and I both know Kora is safe with both Logan and Jamie watching over her.’’
‘‘I’m not so sure. After all, that drunk Adams didn’t have any trouble stealing her from under our noses.’’ Win didn’t take his attention from the stranger in the pass. ‘‘I’ll kill them all if they try to use Kora as bait.’’
‘‘I’ll help you,’’ Cheyenne agreed. ‘‘But my guess is they’re lying.’’
