Renegade Love (Rancheros)

by Fletcher, Donna

  He had taken lives tonight, spilled much blood, inflicted much pain and still felt the intense heat of conflict. Every muscle in his body was as taut as a bowstring waiting to be snapped, waiting for that last ultimate target where the last vestiges of battle could be quenched.

  He would assuage such heat with a willing woman when he returned to camp after an attack. But then any woman in Pacquito’s camp had to be willing or she didn’t survive. It was always a fast and furious mating and he didn’t want to do that to his wife. He preferred to make love to her, but he wouldn’t last long, not the first time anyway. He’d often come two or three times after a raid and damn if he didn’t want to come inside his wife right now. All he’d have to do is slip into her and he’d be done. That wouldn’t be fair to her.

  Of course he could satisfy himself, and then climb in bed with her. It wouldn’t take long. He would be done in no time with as hard as he was. The thought had him hurrying out of his clothes and he came to stand beside the bed, his hand easing between his legs to slide over the hard, long length of him.

  He leaned over to ease the blanket off Rosa so that her backside was fully exposed. He couldn’t stop himself from running his hand over the soft mound several times and down in between her legs to insert one finger just at her opening. It was warm and wet. Was she dreaming about him?

  His finger played with her until she turned with a moan kicking the covers off and spreading her legs. He was tempted to slip into her, but he would spill himself too fast and that would not do. He reluctantly kept his hands off her and stroked himself. He’d be done soon, and then he would wake her slowly with kisses and intimate touches.

  She touched herself then and he thought he would explode, but instead it grew him even harder. And the more she touched herself the more his passion grew, but he couldn’t or perhaps wouldn’t allow himself to come like this when he so wanted to be inside her.

  He continued to stroke himself faster and faster wanting it done and over so that he could finally take her in his arms. He closed his eyes, though the image of her naked touching herself did not fade from his mind.

  “Esteban.”

  His name whispered in a soft plea had his eyes shooting open.

  She held her hand out to him and he could smell the scent of her on it. She was still drowsy from sleep, her nipples rock hard, and her legs further apart, invitingly.

  “I want you so badly,” she whispered and pushed herself up, brushed his hand away from his hard shaft and took him into her mouth.

  He dropped his head back and groaned with pleasure.

  She licked and sucked and he thought to spill himself into her mouth, but then he recalled not only her sore lip but what he had said earlier to her about making a baby. He took hold of her shoulders and shoved her gently back on the bed, slipped over her and into her with one quick, hard thrust that had her moaning.

  “Harder, please harder,” she begged and he obliged.

  He drove in and out of her, every thrust driving him closer and closer to the edge and soon so very soon he would fall off and plummet into the abyss of pure pleasure... and take Rosa with him.

  “We come together. Now open your mouth wide,” he ordered and she did. He drove his tongue into her mouth, avoiding her lip as he drove ever harder into her.

  She squeezed at his arms clinging to them like a lifeline.

  He leaned up, bracing his hands on either side of her, his muscles taut and straining as he set a wild rhythm that had her moaning aloud for release.

  “Together,” he ordered in a harsh whisper. “We climax together.”

  “Yes, yes,” she begged.

  He slammed into her and ordered, “Now!”

  Rosa screamed as she exploded in a blind climax that was never-ending. It rippled on and on and on.

  Esteban felt the same. He thought he’d never stop coming. It shuddered him from top to bottom.

  “Esteban,” she pleaded softly.

  He was familiar with that plea and he moved quick and hard inside her for her to climax again.

  “Ohhh,” she sighed as she drifted through another climax not as strong but satisfyingly delicious.

  Esteban slipped out of her after he was certain she was done and collapsed beside her. He reached out and took her hand, brought it to his mouth, kissed it, and then laid both their hands on his stomach.

  Her free hand went to rest on her stomach. “We made a baby. I know we did.”

  He released her hand and turned on his side to rest his hand over hers. “I agree. There was something different about it.”

  Rosa smiled. “Yes, so very strong and so very loving. I could feel it.” She laughed softly. “Oh, and you can wake me like that anytime.”

  “Then we will have many children,” he teased.

  “I would like that.”

  “So would I,” he confessed.

  “Our children will bring many smiles and much laughter to the hacienda.”

  “They will add to what their mother brought here... happiness.”

  Rosa felt a tear tickle her eye and before it could fall she took hold of her husband’s face and brought his lips to meet hers, though first she whispered, “I will love you forever.”

  They snuggled together, Esteban pulling the blanket up over them. They talked for a few minutes about family and the future. Rosa didn’t ask what had happened with Pacquito’s men and at the moment didn’t want to know. She wanted this moment to be about them and possibilities.

  Esteban felt the same. It was as if life had stood still for a few moments and let them be, just the two of them. And Esteban got a glimpse of what life could be like without Pacquito always being a threat.

  Sleep finally claimed them and as Esteban drifted off, he vowed to end Pacquito’s reign. And Rosa vowed to do whatever she had to, to keep her husband safe.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Esteban searched for his wife. His promise to escort her and his mother to the Garavito ranch had been delayed several days. He and his father had been busy with the bordering neighbors in organizing a joint venture and in securing the area against further attacks.

  This morning the visit had been delayed once again when one of the rancheros in the area arrived unexpectedly to speak with Esteban. The meeting had not taken long and not wanting to disappoint his wife again, he went to collect her, having already informed his mother that they would leave shortly.

  He found her sitting alone on a bench in one of the gardens. He stopped a moment to watch her. She sat so silent, so still, and he wondered what deep thoughts had her appearing like a sculpted statue that graced a garden.

  She startled when he stepped in front of her, and his arm went around her waist to lift her off the bench.

  She smiled and playfully swatted his arm. “You snuck up on me.”

  “Your thoughts were too deep to hear anyone approach. Does something trouble you?”

  She laughed lightly. “Wouldn’t it be better to ask what doesn’t trouble me?” She laughed again. “This time, though, I must admit that there was no room for worry in my never-ending thoughts.”

  “Then you must have been thinking of me,” he teased, pleased to know that she hadn’t been troubled.

  “Thoughts of you always fill my head and I am pleased, for when you are not around at least you are with me in my mind.”

  He leaned down and gave her a gentle kiss. “Then keep me there, for I am forever with you no matter where I am. But I am curious as to what had you in such a trance.”

  She blushed, Esteban laughed, and she swatted his arm again.

  “Were you thinking of this morning when I hoisted your legs over my shoulders and had barely plunged into you and you came, and then came again. Or was it last night when we were both so eager that I took you against the door, your cries of pleasure so loud, the whole hacienda must have heard them?”

  She gasped and her blush deepened. “They didn’t.”

  “You were loud, though I didn’
t mind.”

  She swatted him again. “It is your fault that I scream.”

  “Shall I stop making you scream?”

  “No—yes—no—”

  His kiss devoured her confusing protest and it didn’t take long before it grew much too passionate, though still a bit more gentle than usual since her lip was nearly healed. It took great resolve to tear his mouth away from hers. “We need to leave now or I will—”

  “What? What will you do?” she asked a bit breathless.

  He rested his cheek to hers and whispered in her ear, “I will drag you behind one of those trees behind us, hoist your dress—damn—I’m growing hard just at the thought.”

  “And I grow wet.”

  “Damn,” he muttered, resting his brow to hers. “Mother waits in the carriage.”

  “Then make it fast,” she murmured and ran her hand down along him and gave him an encouraging squeeze.”

  He grabbed her hand and did as she said, dragged her behind the tree, hoisted her dress and plunged in so fast and hard that with barely a few thrusts she exploded, squeezing around him so tightly that he bit at his lower lip from groaning aloud when he burst in an endless climax.

  He rested his forehead to hers, his hand squeezing her bare bottom as the last of his climax rippled away. “Damn, but I love you.”

  She ran a fleeting kiss across his lips. “And I you, forever and always.”

  “Forever,” he reaffirmed and they kissed as if sealing a vow.

  They hurried to right themselves, and then hurried off laughing like two young children, happy and carefree.

  A large troop of vaqueros accompanied them to the Garavito ranch. Esteban rode in the front, though a few times he changed positions, his eyes forever on the landscape.

  It wasn’t long before they reached the Garavito ranch. Dona Elena was thrilled to see them. She and Dona Valerianna hugged like long lost sisters, tears pooling in each of their eyes.

  Rosa was proud of her husband. He walked up to Don Manuel, extended his hand and asked what he and his vaqueros could do to help. Don Manuel was not as angry as the last time she had seen him. He spoke respectfully to Esteban and they walked off together.

  Work had been done on the house and Dona Elena proudly showed it off. It looked lovely, and Dona Elena explained how she intended to embroider curtains for the repaired rooms. Dona Valerianna immediately offered to help and the two women were soon planning on meeting regularly as they once had done.

  Rosa felt a bit of an outsider, since stitching wasn’t a favorite chore of hers. And when the women’s discussion changed to how they had drifted apart, Rosa knew it was time to leave the two women alone. She made an excuse about needing to get something from the carriage and left before either of them suggested that a servant fetch it.

  She decided to wander around the hacienda with the purpose of seeing if she could be of any help anywhere. She didn’t come here to be waited on or sit while others worked. She was much too used to keeping busy, to stay idle too long. She meandered off in search of a chore.

  In the distance by the corral that had been repaired she saw her husband speaking with Don Manuel. The man appeared serious and her husband seemed to listen with intense interest. Curious, she would have liked to have gotten closer to hear what they were discussing, but if they saw her approach no doubt the conversation would end abruptly. She didn’t want to interfere with what appeared an important discussion so she turned at the end of the house and headed toward the kitchen area.

  Esteban never missed anything going on around him, even if it did appear as if he concentrated on only one thing. It had been a skill that he had acquired rather quickly when he was captured by Pacquito. He had realized that he needed to be aware of his surroundings so that no one could come upon him in surprise. He had learned to survey an area as he approached it and remember who stood where and did what and to listen to sounds so he would know if someone had moved or someone approached behind him. It had been easier than he had thought to see out of the corners of his eyes without anyone noticing, especially if he directed their attention elsewhere.

  So when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught his wife walking alongside the house, he wondered what she was up to. She had hesitated a moment and he thought she intended to approach them, but then she kept walking until she disappeared behind the house. He didn’t like her going off alone, but he had placed his men around the hacienda and on the outskirts. And he had told them to keep an eye on his wife if they should see her off on her own. His mother, he knew, would spend all her time with her friend. Rosa on the other hand, he had expected to venture off, though not this soon.

  “You are one of us, Esteban, no one doubts that now,” Don Manuel said.

  Esteban returned his full attention to the man. He had been going on about how the rancheros had been discussing how he had saved the Mercados ranch from being attacked.

  “Don Alfredo Mercados is grateful for your quick intervention in saving his home. We all see now how difficult your imprisonment with Pacquito must have been, but you remained faithful to your heritage and returned home to claim your rightful place.” He smiled. “And you have taken yourself a beautiful woman to wed and no doubt will soon have a lovely family of your own.”

  “Rosa is beautiful and I am proud to have her as a wife.”

  “As you should be. She was courageous in coming here after my place was attacked. I am ashamed to admit that I was not as welcoming as I should have been and for that I apologize, though your wife did not let my poor manners upset her. She remained pleasant and helpful and by the time her visit came to an end, I found myself feeling as if she had helped in lifting my spirit.”

  Esteban grinned. “That’s my Rosa... sharing her good-hearted nature.” He felt his gut tighten, but then it always did when he realized again and again how lucky he was to have her as his wife. He had fought so hard against marrying her when he had wanted nothing more than to wed her. But he had feared he would corrupt her and instead—his grin grew—she had corrupted him with her loving heart. Damn, if he wasn’t a lucky man. He almost laughed when Don Manuel repeated his thought.

  “You are a lucky man.”

  “That I am, Don Manuel.”

  Don Manuel cleared his throat, his expression turning serious. “The other rancheros and I have been talking and we want to extend our apologies for mistrusting you upon your return home.”

  “While I had hoped for a different homecoming, I didn’t expect it. How could I have when I had been gone so long? And no doubt if I was in your position I would have been just as apprehensive and cautious.” His words were a revelation to him. He had been full of anger on his return home and it had grown as he continued to be treated so poorly. But now being wed, wanting children and safe surrounding for them to grow up in, he realized what had been at stake for the rancheros. And he certainly would have felt the same... he would have protected his family against the renegade that had returned home.

  “Now that we have seen with our own eyes that you are truly one of us, we welcome you home with open hearts and arms. It is good to have you back, Esteban Cesare.” Don Manuel grabbed hold of his face and kissed each cheek.

  Shock turned Esteban speechless. Only a few days ago people were still apprehensive around him, but then his wife’s words had stirred a different gossip. And going to his neighbor’s rescue had helped as well, though truly it had been as Don Manuel expressed. He had become one of them again... he had come home... and he was ever so happy to be here.

  “The rancheros have been talking and it was Alfredo Mercados who suggested, though we all agreed, that we should organize our vaqueros and join as one to keep our family and land safe.”

  “That is a wise suggestion,” Esteban agreed. “There is strength in numbers.”

  “And in a leader, which is why we all agree that you should be our leader.”

  Esteban stared at him not sure he had heard him correctly.

  “You have
the most experience and you are... fearless. We would feel safe with you as our leader.”

  “I am not fearless.”

  “You are fearless, Esteban,” Don Manuel said with pride. “For you to survive the tortures of hell with that madman Pacquito, you had to be fearless. How else would you have survived and returned home the good man that you are?”

  Esteban was not used to praise, didn’t feel he deserved, and so it was difficult for him to accept it.

  “Even without Pacquito tormenting us, the rancheros believe it is a good time for us to unite. You never know what the future holds and as you reminded, there is strength in numbers. Together we can protect our families and land, separate we could lose the good life we have built here for ourselves and others.”

  Esteban thought about Rosa and imagined her growing round with his child. And he also thought about his sister returning home and his parents growing older. The rancheros were right. They needed to band together and be prepared for whatever may come their way.

  His response was issued with strength and conviction. “I would be honored to lead.”

  Don Manuel broke into a smile. “Good. Good. This is what we all prayed to hear. Now did your father send some of that fine wine so we could celebrate?”

  Esteban shook his head, though smiled. “That is why he sent so much wine? My father knew of this?”

  Don Manuel nodded. “He also assured us that you would accept. He knows his son well.”

  “No, my father taught me well.”

  Cheers were heard when the news spread through the ranch. Cesare vaqueros boasted of Don Esteban’s strength and courage and wine was passed around to all. Tears tickled Dona Valerianna’s eyes when she heard and Dona Elena let a few tears fall claiming the news wonderful and how now they would all be safe.

  Dona Valerianna nodded, though could not help but worry over the price her son would pay to see that not only his family would stay safe, but others as well. Now more than ever he would keep his appointment with the devil. And she could do nothing but pray for his soul.