“I tried to leave, but couldn’t go through with it.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’m terrified of caves, Jake. I went to that first one, but I couldn’t go in. When I moved down here I went in a few feet, but I couldn’t stand it. I came running out and stumbled and fell. I must have scared a snake out of the weeds because it slithered in front of the horse and scared him. The horse went running off and so did the snake. I was alone then.”
“You’re not alone now.” He pulled her closer to him.
She looked at him for a minute then glanced away. “I thought since the horse ran off it was a sign that I was to stay here until I got courage enough to go back in the cave.”
“It could mean that I was supposed to find you and hold you in my arms all the way back to the ranch.”
“But…”
“I’ve heard you say a couple of times that there’ll never be any man’s hands on you unless you want them there.”
She nodded. “And I meant it.”
“I figure if I hold you close to me on the ride back, you’ll maybe say my hands are exactly where they should be because that’s where you want them.”
She pulled away from him. “Jake, you know anything like that between us is impossible. It doesn’t matter if we’re attracted to each other. It’d never work. You’d never understand me or my attitude and I know that I can’t agree with some of the things you think. I have to be equal with the man in my life and that would never happen with us. The best thing is for me to get back to my time and then you can find the kind of woman you want and need in your life.”
“That’s not going to happen, Rena. We’re both here in this time and here is where we’re going to stay. Let’s don’t talk any more about you trying to leave. I’ll never let you leave me.”
She stared at him.
“I want you here, Rena.” He pulled her to him, leaned down and kissed her, gently. “I want you to be mine forever. We’ll work out our differences and come up with something we can both live with.”
Rena knew she should resist. This was impossible. It couldn’t be right for them to be together, but oh how she wanted to be with him. He was the man she’d fantasized about every time she read a western romance, but she knew it was an impossible situation. It just couldn’t be.
Or could it? He was right. She was here and they did want each other. Even if she eventually had a chance to get back to her time, what would be wrong with being with him while she was here? It was too late to crush any feelings she felt. They were there and she had to deal with them. His nearness was almost driving her crazy. Maybe she was crazy. She wanted this man. She wanted him more than any man she’d ever known. Yet something in her made her hold back. She couldn’t just fulfill her lust for him. She had to think about what was the right thing to do. She had to be the strong one and do what was best for both of them.
He kissed her again and her resistance melted a little further. His kisses grew stronger and more demanding. Her heart pounded, but she held back for a minute more. Then his tongue invaded her mouth and began a dance of love with hers. All her resolve to never let this happen collapsed. She put her arms around his neck and began kissing him back. She couldn’t resist any longer.
Chapter 12
Jake pulled away first. “I think we’d better get back. If we don’t, I won’t be able to control myself.”
“You’re right.” She let him lead her to his horse.
“I want you to ride in front of me so I can hold you in my arms on the way back,” he whispered against her hair.
“On the condition that I ride astride.”
He nodded and reached for her skirt. He held it in his hand, but he didn’t say anything.
She knew he wanted her to put it on, but wouldn’t ask her to. Without a word she reached for it and slipped it on over her Capri pants. He grinned, kissed her again, then lifted her to the saddle. He hung her backpack on the saddle horn and mounted behind her.
Rena was glad she had insisted on riding astride. It was nice to be able to lean back against his broad chest with the taut muscles. With his arms around her, she felt safe and secure in this world.
They were off the ridge and riding slowly toward the ranch when Jake said, “We’ll tell everyone your horse was frightened by a snake and threw you.”
“I guess it’s close enough to the truth.”
They rode a little while in silence. She broke it. “Jake, Jasper Wigham gives me the creeps. I would’ve never flirted with him if I could have thought of something else to do. I knew he was going to kill everyone and I couldn’t let him do that. I couldn’t make it here without you and everyone at the ranch. They’ve all become important to me.”
He pulled her a little tighter to him. “And you’re important to us.” He kissed the back of her head. “Especially me. That’s why I reacted the way I did. I’m jealous of any man who wants to touch you. And the thought of that man’s hands on you was more than I could take.”
“You have no reason to be jealous of him, Jake.”
He kissed the back of her neck. “I believe that now.”
She snuggled against him. “Wigham said the party was going to be next Saturday. I’ve bought us some time, but what are we going to do about him?”
“There’s no way I’d ever let you go to his party. I can’t help being jealous of the man because you’ve flirted with him and you’ve never flirted with me.”
“Then I’ll flirt with you and I bet I’ll find it more fun than flirting with that awful man.”
“I can’t wait for you to flirt with me.”
“You’ve changed the subject. Do you know what you’re going to do to stop him yet?”
“No. I’m not sure what we can do, but thanks to you I have a little time to plan something. He won’t just ride in and kill us all. We’ll be prepared.”
She shivered.
“Are you cold?”
“No. I thought something might happen to you. I couldn’t stand that.”
“I plan to live a long time. I want to get married and have babies.” She didn’t say anything and he asked, “Do you want babies, Rena?”
“I had a baby once, Jake.” A tear came into her eye as the memory rushed into her mind. She spoke softly. “It was a little girl. Even with all the modern medicine and wonderful doctors in my time, they couldn’t save her. She only lived a few hours and it broke my heart to lose her.”
“I’m sure it was horrible.”
“It was. My husband had been killed only two months before. I buried her beside her father.”
“Tell me about your husband, Rena.”
“Why do you want to know about him?”
“I want to know what kind of man you would marry.”
“Drew was a good man and I guess we kind of drifted into marriage. We were high school sweethearts. I never dated anyone but him. After we married, we worked on the police force together. Then his reserve unit was shipped overseas and he was killed.”
“Did you love him, Rena?”
“I think I loved him, Jake. It wasn’t a hot passionate kind of love, but it was sweet and gentle. We both wanted a child. I think…” She paused.
“Think what?”
“I don’t know. I wonder now if we weren’t both thinking our marriage was a mistake. I thought a baby would be the answer to bring us closer together, then he was killed and my baby died.” She shuddered. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
He pulled her tighter against him. “You don’t have to talk about it anymore.”
They rode for a while in silence. The moon was full and the desert sounds were restful. Rena felt good to be in Jake’s arms with no one to see them or care what they said. She wondered if it could be like this for as long as she stayed in this time period.
Jake startled her when he said, “Rena, I want to marry you.”
She was too stunned at his words to answer.
“Did you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
/>
“Then, will you marry me?”
“Tell me the reasons you want to marry me, Jake.”
“I think you’re the most special woman I’ve ever met. I knew that the first time I saw you. I wanted you then and I want you now.”
“Is that all?”
“What do you want me to say? That I’m tired of sleeping in the bunkhouse or on the sofa and I want to sleep in my bed with you?”
“I want you to say that if that’s what you feel.”
“Well, it is.”
“Then, I’ll think about marrying you.” Her mind was racing. Why not? She could marry Jake and they could steal whatever happiness there was for her in this world. When she left, if she did leave, there would be nothing to keep her from finding a different life in her time. And there would be no reason Jake couldn’t marry someone else if she was gone. But she didn’t like the thoughts of him marrying anyone else.
His words broke into her thoughts. “Hell, woman. What do you mean you’ll think about it? You either want to marry me or you don’t. I can’t go on loving you like this and not…”
“So you love me?” His words came as a jolt to her. She knew Jake was attracted to her and wanted her body, but she didn’t know he loved her. That would make a big difference in her answer.
“Of course I love you. What do you think I was talking about?”
“I wasn’t sure.”
“Well, I do love you and I was hoping you loved me, at least enough to marry me. I know compared to you, I’m a dumb old cowboy, but…”
“Hush, Jake. Don’t call yourself dumb. You may not know about some of the things I do, but you’re a smart man.”
“After all the things I’ve seen of your world, I know people today seem ignorant, but we have feelings and…”
“You’re not ignorant. The people living now opened the west and made it possible for future generations to build the world I came from.”
“If you say so.”
“I do say so. I also say I love you more than enough to marry you. Since you say you love me, I don’t have to think any longer. Yes, I’ll marry you, Jake Haywood.”
Without warning he let out a rebel yell. When he calmed down he said, “We’ll go to town tomorrow and find a preacher. I don’t want to wait another day. I’d marry you tonight if I knew where I could find a preacher.”
“Do we have to marry that quickly?”
“Of course. I don’t want to wait any longer.”
“Jake Haywood, do you want to marry me or do you just want to sleep with me?”
“I want to do both. They go together, don’t they?”
She laughed out loud. “I guess they do.”
He began kissing the back of her neck and holding her tighter. His hand slid from her tiny waist to her breast. He sighed. “Oh, that’s nice,” he whispered.
“Stop that, Jake. We’re not married yet.”
“I’m just practicing, honey.” He kissed her again.
“I love that, but…” She stopped in midsentence. “Jake, there’re several horses in the yard.”
He pulled up and looked toward the house. “You’re right and they have no riders on them.”
“Oh, Lord. That means they’re inside. Do you think it’s Wigham and his men?” Rena’s heart began to pound.
“I don’t know. I can’t tell from here.”
“Give me a gun.”
“You take the rifle. Put it across your lap, but be ready.”
She nodded.
“Hold on, sweetheart. Here we go.” He kneed the horse and it sprinted forward.
* * * *
As they approached the house, they didn’t hear any gunfire or any other commotion. “Gil’s at the corral acting as if nothing is wrong.”
“I don’t understand, Jake.”
“Neither do I, but we’ll soon see what’s going on.”
He rode up to the barn and Gil came to meet them. “I think you and Miss Rena better go inside, boss. I’ll take care of your horse.”
Jake dismounted then reached up to help Rena down. “What’s going on, Gil?”
“It’s hard to explain, but they’ll clue you in as soon as you get inside.”
Jake grabbed the backpack and reached for Rena’s hand. “Let’s go see what’s happening.”
On the back porch he stashed the bag behind the churn. They went in the back door and found Adela bustling in the kitchen filling coffee cups and slicing apple pies. Jake frowned. He knew she’d made the pies for the men to take on the upcoming cattle drive, but didn’t mention it.
Adela looked up. “Oh, Rena. You’re back.”
Silas rushed into the kitchen. “I see you and Rena made it.”
“Yes. What’s going on, brother?”
“First, tell us what happened.” Adela looked at them.
“Rena’s horse shied away from a snake. It threw her and left her stranded.”
“Are you hurt, Rena?” Silas asked.
“No. I’m fine. I fell on soft ground.”
“Good,” Silas said. “Now come on in the parlor. There’re some men here to meet you.”
“Go ahead, Jake. I’ll help Adela with the coffee.”
“They want to meet you, too, Rena.”
They followed Silas into the parlor. There were four men, plus Finn, sitting on different chairs. “Here they are, folks. My brother, Jake, and Adela’s cousin, Rena.”
“Is everything all right, Miss Rena?” Finn asked.
Jake answered for her. “A snake made her horse throw her, but she’s fine.”
“I’m glad you weren’t hurt, ma’am. We’ve been concerned.” A man nodded at them.
“Thank you,” she said.
“I’ve been sort of elected to speak for the group,” the man said. “We’re here to thank you for what you done for us and to help you with your roundup and branding.”
Jake frowned and the man went on. “Let me explain. As I said, we’re eternally thankful for what you and Miss Rena done for us. Finn and Miz Haywood told us how you brought our enemies to justice. My name’s Grover Beeson. We’re all but one of us from New Mexico Territory. Us and three other men in town have been tracking them varmints who was raping and stealing all over the territory.”
“Do you mind if we sit down?” Rena asked.
Jake took her hand and led her to the sofa. Finn moved over for them.
The man continued. “That gang of murderers you fended off came by my place when my boy and me were out in the hayfield. We got to the house as they rode off with my wife and my daughter. We found them the next day about three miles from the house. They’d hurt them awful bad and then slit their throats.”
Another man stood and walked over to shake Jake’s hand. “I’m Hank Hawkins. Them varmints come by my ranch while my girl and me was having supper. There were just the two of us because my wife died a few years ago. They tied me up and ate everything they could find. They made me watch as they stripped my daughter naked and every one of them had their way with her. They didn’t care they was tearing her up. They all left laughing. I couldn’t get loose and I watched my little girl lay naked in the floor and bleed to death and I couldn’t to do a thing to help her. She weren’t but thirteen years old.”
Rena looked up at Jake. “I don’t think I can stand to hear any more.”
He put his arm around her shoulder and whispered, “It may help them to tell their stories.”
“I’m Reverend Burt Abernathy,” a tall serious looking man said. “They came by the church on a Saturday afternoon. I was in the graveyard cleaning my wife’s tombstone. One of the older members, Mrs. Thorton, had come to get the place clean for Sunday services. She heard them coming and hid in the podium. They didn’t find her at first and she kept quiet as they desecrated the church. Then they marched me in, stripped me naked and tied me to the cross in back of the altar. It made Mrs. Thorton so mad she jumped out and tried to run them off. The leader laughed at her and I’ll never forget what
he said, ‘I think she’s too old to have fun with don’t you, boys?’ They agreed and he raised his gun and shot her between the eyes.”
The last man was older than the other three, but he still showed that he could pull his weight. He slowly got up and shook Jake’s hand and smiled at Rena. “I’m Leo Fisher. I lived just across the line in Arizona Territory. Maude sent me to take some food to Mrs. Horton who’d had two babies and weren’t doing so good. I wanted Maude to go with me, but she said she had to do the wash. Well, I took the food, but I wish I’d been at home. Maybe I could’ve done something.”
He sighed. “When I got back I found Maude drowned with her head in the boiling wash water. The fire was still going. Our three young grandsons were hanging by the neck from the apple tree and the girl and her mother were gone.” Tears came into his eyes. “My son was shot through the head in the front yard. Nobody’s seen the mother or the girl. She was ten years old.”
Grover Beeson spoke again. “When we got to Yellow Creek, we heard that the men had been captured. I know the gang come here to do you ladies harm. Thank God you was here with them Mr. Haywood.” He kind of grinned at Jake. “And you, ma’am. I heard you’re as good with a gun as any man.”
Jake said, “I couldn’t have held them off without her.”
Grover went on. “I know it’s too late for our loved ones, but thanks to you two, those men won’t ever hurt another woman or little girl, or kill a little boy again. Them that was left was hung in Yellow Creek this morning. The judge said there was no need of a trial ’cause them men was the spawn of the Devil. Everybody agreed.”
“Hold me tight, Jake,” Rena whispered.
His arms tightened around her shoulders.
“The reason we come here was to let you know that while we was in town we heard about the trouble you was having with the bank. Several of the men are circling like buzzards wanting to get their hands on this place. Looks like you might need some help in getting your cattle ready for market. To show our appreciation for what you done, we’re going to help. The three still in town want to help, too. They didn’t come tonight because they’re taking care of what family we have left. When they get here, the families can sleep in the barn. We don’t want no pay. All the men ask is that you let us camp out with the cattle and give us a little food. We brought supplies, but I don’t think we have enough to last us.”
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