Breath of the Feathered Serpent

by Pelaam

  Adam balanced carefully with his left arm and reached between their bodies to grasp Elijah’s cock. Elijah cried Adam’s name, and the walls that sheathed Adam’s dick squeezed him tight. He groaned, relishing the pressure and heat. He wanted to prolong the pleasure, but his body demanded that he finish, that he claim Elijah as his own.

  “More, Adam. Please.”

  “I’ve got you, beautiful. I’ll take care of you.”

  “Love you. I love you.”

  Adam wished he could say the words back, but he couldn’t. He didn’t dare. He would be laying himself wide open, and he just couldn’t do it. Instead, he increased the pace and depth of his thrusts, squeezing the hard flesh in his hand, trying to convey his feelings through his actions.

  Elijah pulled Adam’s head down for another kiss and thrust his tongue into Adam’s mouth. Adam sucked on it feverishly. His control fractured, but the pleasure coursing through his veins wouldn’t be denied.

  His lips slid to Elijah’s cheek, their breaths coming quick and harsh. Sweat meandered down Adam’s temple, and as he lifted his head, it dripped onto Elijah’s cheek. The air around him was filled with the smell of sex, sweat and musk, and it mingled with Elijah’s cries of pleasure, harmonizing with his own.

  He was close, so very close, but Adam wanted Elijah to peak first. He shifted his hips, and Elijah cried out. “Oh, my Lord...oh, my...Adam!”

  Adam heard the ecstasy in Elijah’s voice, felt the hot wetness pour over his hand, and then he was lost. His vision grayed, and his ears filled with the sound of his blood pounding. The channel surrounding his cock clenched again and again, and Adam crested. His seed filled Elijah. Adam didn’t slow his pistoning hips until his dick had nothing left to give.

  He rested his head on Elijah’s shoulder and Adam slowed his movements, trying to prolong the bliss. His heart hammered in his chest, and he felt Elijah’s beating just as fast. With a kiss to Elijah’s throat, Adam finally lay unmoving on top of Elijah, trying to keep some of his weight off his lover. He was incapable of doing anything more while his wits returned and his labored breathing slowed.

  As he recovered, Adam became aware of Elijah stroking his back and smiled against his lover’s skin. Raising his head, Adam gazed down at him. Elijah’s face was still flushed, and his kiss swollen lips were curled into a satiated smile. The hair framing Elijah’s beautiful face was soaked with sweat. Adam eased a little farther back. Both of their chests glistened with sweat and Elijah’s seed.

  Adam smiled. “That was incredible.”

  “I...yes. Yes, it was.”

  Adam was certain Elijah had meant to repeat his earlier declaration. His heart ached at the realization, but he smiled nonetheless. He leaned down and kissed Elijah. He eased back, his smile firmly in place. “We’ll rest here a minute and then go bathe in the waterfall. A nice hot bath would be better, but we’ll make the best with what we have.”

  “I like it just as we are,” Elijah said, his voice soft.

  “I do too,” Adam whispered and kissed Elijah’s cheek. “But I need to pull out soon, and we need to clean up.”

  “Can we sleep together tonight? Like we did in the barn?”

  The pleading tone of Elijah’s voice cut into Adam’s already hurting heart. He eased them onto their side, his flesh sliding from the haven of Elijah’s body, and pulled his lover into a tight embrace. “There’s nothing I’d like more than to have you sleep close to me and wake with you in my arms. I dreamed of that.”

  “You did?” Elijah said, his voice tinged with wonder.

  “I did,” Adam said with a nod. “I’m going to start a fire before we go into the water. That way when we come out, we can wrap ourselves in the dry blanket and sit together while dinner cooks.”

  Elijah nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

  Adam stood and helped Elijah to his feet. His lover winced, but Adam expected nothing less. He wrapped an arm around Elijah’s waist. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s get the fire started.”

  Adam paused for a moment while placing stones for the fire, and he watched Elijah hunt for sticks. It was going to break his heart to leave him.

  Chapter Twenty

  Adam and Elijah returned to the ranch with a total of six horses in tow. Adam had managed to catch a couple more on the trip back.

  While Adam corralled the horses, Elijah rode home. Adam wished he could have stayed, but, as he’d already devoted two days to Abe’s ranch, Elijah needed to get back and see to his own.

  “Nice mares. You did well, Adam. Seems you have talents outside your profession.” Mecatl grinned as he looked at the horses.

  “Thanks,” Adam said. “Haven’t busted mustangs in a while though. You?”

  Mecatl laughed and shook his head. “Not me. All the horses I’ve ever ridden were already tamed. I believe Mitch has broken a few broncos though.” His voice turned serious and dropped in timbre. “We’re being watched. I intend to ride out later and stay at the Lazy E. From there it’ll only take a day or so to get the cattle and herd them back. If you’ve no objections, I’ll bring a few reinforcements back with us.”

  “That’d be most welcome, Mecatl.” Adam stared at the Aztec. There was something about his demeanor and words that struck a chord with Adam. “I get the distinct feeling you’re no drifter either.”

  Mecatl nodded. “I expected this. Look, there’s no time to explain now. Ellen’s due to arrive any time. I’ll talk to you and Madison when I get back with the cattle. Keep a careful watch. We’ve strung up rows of lanterns to light the place at night and built several holders for torches as well. As soon as the sun goes down make sure they’re lit.”

  “You take care,” Adam said.

  “Ellen and I will be a lot safer out there than on this ranch. Although it’s my belief that the arrival of the cattle will be the catalyst, causing them to move to action.” He held out his hand. “We’ll be back as quickly as we can.”

  Adam shook his hand firmly. “Good luck. The Lazy E’s main house is a lot bigger than Abe’s. At least you’ll manage to get a decent rest there. You’ll probably get a bedroom to yourself, rather than a mattress on the floor.”

  “I’ll be keeping out of the Lazy E house. When the uncle sleeps, he’s apparently a very light sleeper. The smallest things disturb him. Elijah and Ellen are always out of the house when he takes his naps during the afternoon.” He tipped his hat. “See you in a few days.”

  Adam stared at his friend’s retreating back, and he frowned as he thought over the information. If the uncle was such a light sleeper, how could the cowboy have snuck in and out of his bedroom without him knowing? And who left through the front door as if he owned the place? He’d casually asked Elijah about the cowboys, but he hadn’t recognized their descriptions. A similar inquiry with Ellen had the same result.

  Adam rubbed his chin. He’d have a chat with Madison. It seemed that they needed to pay a call on Uncle Mortimer. It was looking very much like the uncle had a hidden agenda as well as ranch hands of his own.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  By the time Mecatl returned with the herd of cattle, guilt weighed heavily on Adam’s shoulders. Time was running out, and the statue was still missing. He was sure an attack on the ranch was imminent. In addition to that, once this mission was over, he’d return home. Elijah remained blissfully unaware of all of this. He still thought that Adam and Madison were just Abe’s ranch hands, staying on long-term.

  He and Madison still needed to pay a visit to the Lazy E to talk to Mortimer when Elijah and Ellen weren’t around. There had been no such opportunity while Ellen had been away. Now she and Mecatl were back, and Mecatl had brought several Aztec men back with him. The men had been sent into town to replenish stocks of food and other supplies.

  He and Madison hadn’t had their talk with him either. Adam hated deceiving Elijah. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he failed to notice Madison approach until his friend touched his shoulder.

  “Daydreaming li
ke that is dangerous, Adam. Out in the open like this we’re sitting ducks. You know there’s been a lot of activity out there since those cattle were brought in.” Madison looked closely at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Elijah,” Adam said. “I–I feel something for him. But I don’t see how we can have a future. My work sends me anywhere the Chief decides. His life is here. He thinks we’re staying, and I hate that I’ve lied to him, Madison.” The feelings were new to Adam, and the deception preyed constantly on his mind.

  “You’re really smitten.” Madison’s voice was soft, and he shook his head. “Not the Adam I’m used to at all. Have you actually thought this through? Are you sure you want this job? I mean to continue as a marshal. Maybe it’s time for you to think about settling down and working on a ranch.”

  “Hell, that boy could do so much better than me...”

  “Don’t start with that,” Madison said, his voice sharp. “That’s his decision to make. You might be exactly who and what he’s looked for. He’s not a baby. He’s a man, even if he can’t inherit for another couple of months. Ellen says he does most of the day-to-day running of that ranch.”

  “He never mentioned that,” Adam said. “Why would he want me when he’s got that ranch and all that goes with it? I’m a nothing.”

  “Seems to me like you’re just coming up with excuses, Adam. What’re you afraid of?” Madison narrowed his eyes at Adam.

  “I’m not afraid.” Adam snapped, instantly defensive, but the words sounded hollow even to his ears.

  “Look we’re friends. Closer than friends.” Madison squeezed Adam’s shoulder and rested his hand there. “You and I have both done things neither of us is proud of. But we’ve done it for the protection of others. If, and when, I find the right girl for me, I’m not going to let my past as a marshal get in the way of my future happiness. I deserve a life and family, and so do you. Don’t stand in your own way of happiness.”

  “You know what? For a city slicker, you sure can talk a lot of horse sense.” Adam chuckled. “There’s no choice about returning to see the Chief once all this is over. But maybe I can think about whether I can have a different future.”

  “Don’t wait until too late. Life’s short enough without you leaving a trail of if onlys behind you. Come on. Light’s fading. Let’s get back to the house.”

  “Thanks, whippersnapper,” Adam said and pulled Madison into a tight hug that was enthusiastically returned.

  “Don’t mention it, old timer.” Madison slapped Adam’s shoulder. As he turned, he stopped, issuing a string of obscenities.

  Adam groaned as he saw Elijah wheel his horse around and head away from the ranch at a furious gallop. Ellen stared at him, a look of cold fury on her face. She said something to Mecatl who stood next to her holding her horse and then mounted the animal quickly.

  Although Mecatl seemed to be trying to persuade her to stay, Ellen dug her heels into her horse’s flanks and took off after Elijah.

  “You have to go after him, Adam, and explain,” Madison said. “You can’t doubt what he feels for you now. The kid looked like both his favorite dog and horse had just been shot.”

  “Ellen, wait! Please, listen.” Adam ran a few paces after her, but his shouts fell on deaf ears.

  “I’ll go,” Mecatl said, coming up beside him. “I saw what happened. Don’t worry, Adam, I’ll bring them both back.”

  “Thanks,” Adam said.

  “You know,” Mecatl said. “They share a lot of traits, like most twins do. Both of them are stubborn, quick-tempered, and impulsive, but they are also loyal, warm-hearted, and passionate.”

  “Take care out there,” Adam said. “Madison says he’s noticed a lot of activity.”

  “I will.” Mecatl ran to his horse and leapt into the saddle. With a wild yell, he took off as though the hounds of hell pursued him.

  Adam stood and ran his hands through his hair. He wasn’t used to leaving the action to others. He was also a little stunned about what had happened. Jealous. Elijah was jealous of me and Madison. The thought was almost unbelievable, but he’d seen the hurt in Elijah’s eyes just before the younger man had turned away.

  Madison joined him. “It’ll be dark soon. Let’s get some feed out for the cattle and then get the lamps lit. Mecatl will explain to Elijah. He’ll come back.”

  “When he knows the truth, that he and Ellen were suspects, he’s going to hate me,” Adam murmured.

  “He’ll be angry and hurt, much like he is now,” Madison said. “But he’ll understand. He won’t hate you for doing your job. Especially when he knows the consequences of the mission’s failure.”

  Adam didn’t have the heart to argue, even though he wasn’t convinced. His life was vastly different from Elijah’s. For the time being there was nothing he could do except see if Mecatl could indeed convince Elijah to come back. He glanced at the sky. The sun would be setting soon. It might be better if Mecatl didn’t bring Elijah back. Adam had a bad feeling and didn’t want his lover in any danger.

  After making sure the cattle were settled and secure, Adam headed toward Madison as his friend lit the lamps. A gunshot rang out, and Adam grunted as he dropped instinctively to the ground. Blood seeped through his shirt high on his arm. Flexing his hand, he winced but considered himself lucky. The bullet had only grazed him.

  He rolled to his feet and ran to the water trough. A couple of bullets hit the ground around him. “Madison. You all right?”

  “Fine. You?” Madison’s voice was muffled, doubtless due to him also having taken cover.

  “Nothing to worry about here. Can you see the shooter?” Adam asked.

  “No. Just the flash from the barrel when he fires. He’s not the greatest shot, but he seems to be able to pick us out.”

  Thank God for that. Adam looked at his arm and the growing bloodstain. A sound from the house drew his attention.

  “Did we hear shots...?”

  “Mitch, get down! We’ve got company. Keep Abe in the house.” Adam drew his gun as he shouted and crouched, ready to either fire or run. He glanced over at the house. Mitch had knocked over the table on the veranda and taken cover behind it. Adam frowned as he saw Abe crawl out of the house with a large rifle and a strange box in his hand.

  “Can we get him to fire at us?” Mitch shouted.

  “I’m sure of it,” Adam said. He fired a couple of times in the general direction of the shooter. When that didn’t work, he ran from the trough to a nearby barrel. That worked. The shooter fired at him, hitting the barrel as Adam dove behind it.

  Mitch fired. “Do we know how many there are?” he shouted.

  “I think there’s just the one,” Madison called out. “My pistol just doesn’t have the range.”

  “That’s why I got my special rifle. This beauty will give me the same distance as our shooter. I’m sure I got the bastard. Abe saw him fall with his light box.”

  Cautiously, Adam rose to his feet, ready to shoot or duck down, but no shots rang out. Unwilling to be an easy target, Adam zigzagged his way to the house to where Abe and Mitch waited near the doorway. He saw Madison start toward them, and several more shots rang out.

  As bullets splintered the doorframe, Adam dove forward and shoved both Mitch and Abe into the house, the three of them falling to the ground in a heap. Adam scurried rapidly into the room to dim the lamps. These shots had come from the entrance to the ranch, not from the mountains behind it. It didn’t mean the same people weren’t responsible, but it was something to check out once the immediate danger was over.

  “All lights off!” he shouted, and Mitch crawled to dim the lamps at the far end of the room. He toppled the love seat over as he did.

  “Abe, get behind here. You’re unarmed,” Mitch said. He took up a position at the window to the right of the front door, pistol in hand and rifle by his side.

  “I can shoot too, Mitch. We need every gun available,” Abe said. “I’m just not very good. I’ll get my gun.” Abe looked apologe
tically at Adam. He crawled quickly into his bedroom and came back with an oversized pistol and two boxes of ammunition. He threw one box to Mitch and kept the other, taking a position at the window on the left of the door.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Adam said. “Cover fire from here stops the enemy from getting a good shot in. Madison and I need that.”

  “You’re not going out, are you?” Mitch asked.

  “I have to. Madison’s on his own out there. He’s by the main barn. I’ll head to the cattle corral. That gives us three positions to fire on whoever’s attacking us. If anyone rides around back, Madison and I can deal with them.” Adam checked his pistol and replaced the bullets he’d used.

  Abe knelt at the window. He glanced back at Adam. “You’ll never get out there,” he said. “Even with cover fire.”

  “Abe you fire your cannon a couple of times,” Mitch said. “The noise alone will shock them. I’ll let Adam out the back door and then secure it.”

  “All we need to do is hold out till Mecatl’s men come back from town,” Adam said. “Although they should have been back by now.”

  Mitch nodded. “Take care, my friend.”

  “You too,” Adam said and looked over at Abe. “Both of you.” He crawled ahead of Mitch as several shots rang out.

  Mitch shoved the shutters over the windows as he passed. “A little extra protection,” he said, his voice grim. “Fire, Abe!”

  Adam winced as a loud report boomed from the front room. He slipped through the back door. As he pressed close to the side of the house, he heard Mitch drag something heavy across the door to barricade it. He turned his attention to what was happening outside.

  On hands and knees, Adam crawled cautiously forward to peer around the building, assessing the area in front of the house. A couple of shadowy figures crept forward. Adam didn’t hesitate. Two shots later, the men lay dead or dying, and Adam didn’t care which. This wasn’t just a mission anymore. His friends were in danger. It was personal.