The Tracker

by Mary Burton

  Her eyes snapped open. She was acting like a fool.

  How many times had she vowed never, ever, to fall for a man like Nick Baron? A million? Two million?

  Nick Baron’s breed of man lived by his own rules. He was driven by private demons and he did what suited him best. If she let him into her heart, he’d use her and toss her aside.

  Annie’s man Mike was a rare breed: a good fellow. He showed his love for Annie in a million different ways—a touch, a look, a smile. He brought her candy from town. His gaze lingered on her when she wasn’t looking.

  Nick Baron had offered Ellie money for an hour in bed. And she’d be wise to remember that the next time she started dreaming about him touching her.

  “Water’s ready,” he said.

  His raspy voice startled Ellie. She glanced into the kitchen and realized Nick had lifted one of the steaming pots from the stove and had started to pour its contents into the tub. The muscles in his forearms were taut.

  Her pulse thrummed at her wrists as she thought about those arms around her. She swallowed, shocked by her own weakness.

  She stood quickly. “I can take care of the bath from here.”

  His eyes gleamed. “I’ll finish it up. Just let me mix in some cold rainwater and then you’ll be set.”

  Her mouth went dry. “Thanks.”

  When he’d poured the water into the tub and mixed it with his hands, he looked up at her. “Need any help getting undressed?”

  The image of his hands soaping her naked back returned. “No!”

  The edge of his mouth rose as if he were picturing the same scene. “Just offering.” He moved toward the door. “If you change your mind, I’ll be outside.”

  “I won’t change my mind.”

  He chuckled.

  THE RAIN CONTINUED to come down heavy and hard, trapping Nick outside on the porch. And as he listened to Ellie’s wet dress hit the floor, he knew the true meaning of hell. He’d said he’d stay out on the porch and give her privacy, and he’d keep his word. Even if it killed him.

  But no promise could stop his mind from wandering in erotic directions.

  He leaned back and closed his eyes. Ellie’s skin would be pale as porcelain and he imagined the freckles on the bridge of her nose spread all over her body. A man could spend a good deal of time counting and kissing each and every one of those freckles.

  Her rosy-tipped breasts would skim the surface of the water as she lathered soap over her lean arms. Her waist would be trim and her hips and bottom gently rounded. He remembered with excruciating clarity what it had felt like to drape his hand over that waist.

  Her prim-and-proper attitude didn’t fit his image of a sporting girl. She may have had sex, but he wondered if Ellie had ever known pleasure in a man’s arms. If she’d ever moaned when her breasts were kissed or her body stroked.

  Nick’s body hardened and he stood. He strode toward the edge of the porch and stared out over the distant mountains. He’d gotten himself into one hell of a mess.

  Through the open front door, he heard the baby coo and giggle. Curious, he moved into the house a few steps. He stopped when he glimpsed Ellie’s naked back. She’d gotten the baby from her cradle and brought her into the bath with her. Drawn by the scene, he moved to the right to get a better look. Ellie cradled the child’s wobbly head as she dipped her little body in the water. The baby grinned and kicked.

  The sight took his breath away. And for a moment his chest ached. He thought of Crystal and the baby she’d borne. How old would the child be now? Nine? Ten?

  When he and Crystal had married, they’d wanted a baby so much. They’d lain awake at night dreaming of their children, naming them and imagining what they’d do with their lives.

  Nick shoved his hands into his pockets and turned. Lightning cracked across the sky. He cursed the rain that kept him bound so close to Ellie. The woman stirred things in him he’d long thought dead and buried with Crystal. And he didn’t like it one bit.

  He thought about his book sitting by the hearth. He’d have liked to have it now so that he could lose himself in the pages. But that would mean going back into the cabin, and he’d promised not to.

  Nick closed his eyes and pulled in a deep breath. “Come on, Frank. Hurry up so we can get this over with.”

  Watching the pelting rain turn the dry dust to mud, he lost track of time.

  “I’m finished,” Ellie said from inside the house.

  Nick turned and went into the house, annoyed he was so anxious to see her.

  She laid the baby in the cradle by the hearth. As she straightened, he could see she’d put on a blue calico that, unlike the sack she’d worn before, hugged her breasts and very narrow waist. The blue dress was an inch or two shorter, too, leaving her trim ankles and bare feet exposed.

  Stunned into silence, Nick’s gaze slid up and down her body and settled on her face. She’d brushed her wet hair back and tied it with a strip of rawhide. Already it was beginning to curl. With her hair smoothed back, her high cheekbones, full lips and green eyes jumped out at him. The effect was devastating. No longer did she look like a scruffy girl, but a woman who could hold her own.

  “Must feel good to get the grit off your skin.” His voice sounded very rough.

  Her skin glowed, as if she were embarrassed by his staring. “Yes.”

  “Annie gave you the dress?” He wished now she’d stayed in the old one. Its shapeless form hid her figure well. Before, putting her out of his mind had been tough; now, it would be nearly impossible.

  “She bought it in town to wear to her brother’s wedding but hasn’t worn it since.”

  “Suits you well.”

  He would like to strip the dress off her right now. He didn’t want to imagine the shapely body underneath, he wanted to see it.

  His appraisal clearly put her on edge. Her back was as straight as a board and he could see she wasn’t comfortable. If he acted on the primitive emotions pumping in his veins now, he imagined she’d jump right out of her skin.

  And he didn’t want her tense and worried when he touched her.

  When he touched her.

  Nick realized he would be touching her very soon. When this mess with Frank was over, he’d take her to his bed and he’d spend several days touching her. Hell, who was he kidding? He could spend a lifetime with her and never get tired of it.

  “You’re staring,” Ellie said. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, nothing’s wrong.” He turned on his heel and walked back outside into the rain.

  ELLIE WATCHED Nick step off the porch into the cold rain. He tipped his head briefly toward the heavens, as if savoring the cold.

  “What are you doing?” she shouted.

  “I’m going to check on the horses,” he said, straightening.

  “But we just put them out.”

  “This kind of storm could spook ’em,” he called back. “I better go check.”

  He strode toward the corral.

  Ellie wasn’t sure what had just happened but she got the sense that she’d said or done something to make Nick mad. “Honestly, a woman could drive herself crazy trying to figure out a man like that,” she muttered.

  She glanced down at the baby, who lay in the cradle, bundled in a blanket. “Rose, men are a lot of work and I am not so sure they are worth the trouble.”

  The baby gurgled.

  Ellie moved to the calendar pinned to the wall by the stove. Taking the pencil that hung on a string by it, she marked off the days since Annie had left. Seven. Lord, had it only been seven days? And still she had two, maybe three weeks before Annie returned. She wasn’t sure if she would make it. The days were long enough as it was. And now, lying handcuffed to Nick would make the nights even longer.

  Chores. She had enough chores to choke a horse and she had little time to be worrying over Nick Baron.

  Ellie set to work and kept herself busy in the cabin for the next hour until the rain stopped. Anxious to get outside, she dec
ided to collect the eggs from the henhouse. She’d missed yesterday and knew the nests would be full. She rigged a sling to hold the baby across her chest and, with an egg basket in hand, headed out the front door toward the chicken coop.

  The afternoon sun peeked out through the thinning clouds. Storms could be violent out here, but they always seemed to go so quickly.

  The wind flapped her skirts as she made her way through the mud. She glanced toward the barn, grateful that Nick wasn’t underfoot. Thinking could be hard with him close and his sharp eyes seeming to read her mind.

  She moved into the small, dark chicken coop, pausing until her eyes adjusted to the light. The dozen chickens clucked, each in a cubby built into the wall.

  A brown hen pecked her hand and she reached for an egg. “Don’t you flap your wings at me, old girl. I’m just here to collect a few eggs.”

  Ellie moved down the row, amazed at how efficient she’d become at the new tasks. In the city, there’d been no horses to tend or chicken coops to manage. Butte had just about anything she needed. When she’d arrived at the coach stop, she’d not known how to do much more than cook.

  The dim room suddenly went almost pitch-black. She whirled around and in the doorway stood Nick. His broad shoulders all but blocking out the bright sun.

  “Didn’t you hear me calling?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “No. With the wind howling outside the coop, I usually don’t hear much. That’s why I always take the baby with me.”

  “When you’re finished, come back inside. We need to talk.”

  “About what?”

  “When you’re done, come inside.”

  Before she could question him further, he was gone.

  By the time Ellie collected the eggs and returned to the cabin, her mind had rattled off a hundred different topics he might want to discuss. Was his wound bothering him? Had he changed his mind about keeping her here?

  Ellie set her basketful of eggs on the table.

  Nick stood next to the sink, a cup of water gripped in his hand. His expression was so dark and intense, her stomach tumbled.

  She pulled the baby out of the sling and laid her in her cradle. “What’s the matter with you?”

  He shoved out a breath. “I thought you’d left.”

  She rolled her eyes. “How far do you think I’d have made it without a horse? You were in the barn with them.”

  He sighed, the logic of her words seemingly taking the wind out of his sails. “You could have walked.”

  “You’re grasping now, mister. I wouldn’t make it five miles with a baby in tow and no horse.”

  He gulped down the water and set the tin mug down. He seemed to struggle with his words. “Look, I know you don’t want to be a part of this, but like it or not, you are.”

  “That I understand.”

  “The reward for Frank is one thousand dollars.”

  Her jaw dropped before she snapped it closed. That was more money than she’d see in a lifetime. “A fortune by any standards.”

  Her tone sparked annoyance in his eyes. “I’m not chasing him for the money. I’ve got more than enough money saved up.”

  “What are you getting at?”

  “If you’ll agree to stay willingly, I’ll give you the reward.”

  “You’ll give me one thousand dollars if I don’t run?” She laughed. “And I’ve a gold mine in Butte I can sell you for ten dollars.”

  He didn’t look amused. “I could continue to handcuff us together at night to make sure you don’t run, but I don’t think either one of us wants that.”

  The memory of his hard body spooned against her buttocks last night had her blushing. She’d never been tempted to give herself to a man until last night. Spending another night beside him would not be wise. “No one gives away a thousand dollars.”

  “Some might, especially if they were worth a hundred times that.”

  She blinked. “You don’t look like you have two nickels to rub together.”

  “I’m worth a lot of nickels.”

  She shook her head, trying to absorb the information. “Why do you want Frank so bad?”

  He straightened his shoulders. “A friend of mine, Sheriff Bobby Pool, was one of the men guarding the gold when Frank and Monty hit the train. Frank killed him.”

  “How do I know all this is true? You could be working with Frank.”

  “I’m not. I want to see him behind bars.”

  His gaze was direct, unwavering and for some reason she believed him. “How do I know you are good for the money?”

  “I’m good for it.”

  “How do I know that?”

  White teeth flashed. “You’re about the most untrusting female I’ve ever met.”

  “Miss Adeline’s number one rule—never do anything for any man until you get paid first.”

  He worked his jaw. “The closest town is Thunder Canyon. After I capture Frank, I’ll wire the marshal in Butte and have your money sent.”

  “You could run out on me and not pay.”

  “I’ve given you my word,” he said slowly, as if speaking to a child. “And at night you won’t be handcuffed to me, so I’m going to have to trust that you won’t run.”

  True. This was an act of faith on his part, as well. The idea of getting one thousand whole dollars boggled her mind. “Why are you making me this offer? You don’t have to.”

  “Like I said, you would be helping me and I don’t need the money. You and Rose could use it.”

  “I want to keep Rose safe.”

  “I will let nothing happen to her, I swear it.”

  She believed he would protect Rose with his life. And still, she didn’t want to believe his offer was true. “You don’t really know us. Why give us so much money?”

  “You saved my life.”

  Not good enough. “I shot you.”

  “And you could have butchered the hell out of me while you were digging those pellets out, but you didn’t.” He sighed. “I want to see that you and Rose are taken care of.”

  Silent, she stared at him, as if somehow she’d be able to peek inside his brain and see what he was thinking.

  “One thousand dollars is a lot of reason to stay,” Nick coaxed.

  “It surely is.” She paused and asked the question foremost in her mind. “What would I have to do for this money?”

  “Just stay here and go about your days as you normally would. It won’t take long for Frank to figure out where he can find his gold.”

  “But I don’t know where the gold is!”

  “He doesn’t know that.”

  She hesitated. She realized for the first time that Nick believed her about the gold. A part of her heart softened. “You really believe me about the gold?”

  His gaze held hers. “Yes.”

  For an instant she thought she might cry. She gazed out the window at the sunshine.

  Nick stepped toward her. “Think of all the dresses you could buy for yourself and Rose.”

  Ellie laughed at such a silly notion. She faced him. “I’m not wasting my thousand dollars on dresses.”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “I’ve never known a woman who didn’t like pretty things. What would you spend the money on if not dresses?”

  She didn’t have to think about her answer. “I’d give half to Annie right off the top. Lord knows where Rose and I would be if not for her. And with the balance, I’d move into Thunder Canyon. I’d open a café.”

  He stared at her with sharp interest. “A café in Thunder Canyon. Why would you leave here?”

  “Annie’s got a beau named Mike. He’ll be offering for her hand soon, if I don’t miss my guess. A newly married couple doesn’t need Rose and me hanging around. They’ll need their privacy and we’ll need to make a permanent home for ourselves.”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier to marry than to open a business?”

  Typical man. She laughed. “If I’m going to break my back working each day, I’ll keep the profits for my
self.”

  He straightened. “So you accept my deal? Work with me and you’re one thousand dollars richer.”

  She nibbled her bottom lip. “I feel as if I’m bargaining with the devil.”

  He laughed. “I’ve been called worse.”

  One thousand dollars was a fortune. And she didn’t have to sell her body. One thousand dollars. It was just the start she needed to change her life. “All right, I’ll take a chance on you.”

  He held out his hand. “Shake on it.”

  She hesitated, staring at his long fingers. She’d have been happy not to touch him at all because, honestly, she didn’t trust herself one bit. But the challenge that sparked in his eyes prodded her to raise her hand and clasp his.

  His large hand swallowed her small fingers. He squeezed her hand, shaking once. A jolt of energy shot up her arm. Her breath grew shallow and her pulse thrummed so loudly in her chest it was a wonder Nick didn’t hear it. “And all I have to do is just wait with you? Nothing more?”

  “Nothing more.” He grinned. “Unless you want something more.”

  She snatched her hand back as if she’d been scalded. “Oh, no, all I want is the money.”

  He laughed. “A woman after my own heart. Deal?”

  “Deal.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE SUN had set. Ellie had cleaned the kitchen and fed Rose. Nick sat in one of the twin rockers near the hearth. Lantern light glowed, creating shadows on the whitewashed walls.

  Ellie took her knitting box and sat in the empty rocker across from Nick. She was making a sweater for Rose.

  This was the quiet time of day when the hard chores were done and she could sit by the fire for an hour or so before she climbed into bed. Most nights she did light mending, knitted or played checkers with Annie.

  However tonight, as she sat across from Nick, a sudden restlessness took root, spreading through her. And the edginess had nothing to do with the prospect of the one thousand dollars.

  He stared at his book, seemingly lost in its pages. Yet she was very aware of the way his long fingers cupped the soft leather, the rise and fall of his chest and the hair that curled in the V of his shirt, buttoned up to within inches of his collarbone.