Tracker’s Sin

by Sarah McCarty

  “That’s not what it looks like to me.”

  “Nor to me.” The soft thump of a Bible snapping closed punctuated Father Bernard’s statement.

  Caine chuckled. “Now you’ve done it.”

  Tracker shot Caine a glare before turning it on the priest. “I didn’t ask for God’s input.”

  “Tracker!” He ignored Ari’s protest, keeping his eyes on the priest. The man might be of God and might wear robes that resembled skirts, but he was a wily adversary.

  Father Bernard shook his head and stepped closer. “That always was your problem, Ochoa. Always thinking God didn’t have you in his sights.”

  “Hell, Padre, I’ve never doubted being in his sights. I’ve just been waiting on him to pull the trigger.”

  “Hijo!” Tia exclaimed.

  “Tracker!” Ari gasped. “You can’t swear at a priest.”

  Tracker looked down into her face, that sense of doom building. “I already did.”

  Ari turned, placing her slight body between him and the padre. Defending him, he realized. “I’m sorry, Father. He’s had an upset.”

  His brother under arrest for murder. A four-hour ride compressed into three because he feared Ari taken hostage or killed. An upset. He guessed she could call it that.

  Father Bernard’s “So I understand,” was a bit dry.

  Taking Ari by the shoulder, Tracker moved her aside. When she looked back over her shoulder at him, he explained. “I don’t need you taking up for me.”

  He expected more tears, not a sharp “Well, you’re not doing a very good job on your own.”

  Caden laughed. Caine snorted. Sam and Bella chuckled. Desi covered Jonah’s ear and pressed his head to her chest. Looking around, Tracker got the sense everyone knew something he didn’t. He hated that. “Good job of what?”

  “Making a good impression.”

  “Father Bernard already knows me.”

  “As a Ranger, not a—” She bit her tongue.

  The hairs on the back of his neck stirred again. Everyone went quiet as Ari exchanged an anxious glance with Desi, who nodded. “A what?”

  Ari bit her lip and hoisted Miguel up on her hip. Miguel wiggled and squirmed before holding his arms out to Tracker. Tracker steeled his heart and pretended not to notice. He didn’t want to hold the boy. Didn’t want to get any closer than he was. Didn’t want to feel any more pain than he had to when Ari took him and went back to the life she was meant to have. That he was determined she have. Watching them put Shadow in shackles had driven home how tenuous a life with him would be for her. The little boy’s face fell. Tracker lasted all of one second before swearing under his breath and taking Miguel from Ari.

  “He’s getting too heavy for you,” he muttered.

  Ari touched his arm when he would have stepped back. “Tracker?”

  “What?”

  Not looking away, she accepted his dare, finishing the thought he’d tried to kill. “He only knows you as a Ranger, not as a husband.”

  Damn it, the woman was tenacious. Why couldn’t she let it go? Why did she need to make him want too much? “Why does he need to know that?”

  She took a step that closed the distance between them, resting her breasts against his forearm. She stroked Miguel’s head. “Because we deserve peace. Because our children deserve peace. For that to happen we have to make our peace with the past.”

  “Our children?”

  Her jaw set. “Yes. Married people usually have children.”

  Now was the moment he’d been waiting for. His opportunity to sever her dependence on him. All he had to do was mock her belief that he’d ever intended to be honorable.

  “Cat got your tongue, Tracker?” Caine asked, more than a little mockery in his own voice.

  “Shut up, Caine.”

  Caine gave him a look that said he knew the words trapped on Tracker’s tongue. “Don’t do it.”

  “Do what? Point out we were never legally married?”

  Desi grabbed Caine’s pistol. “You deceitful lecher!”

  Caine sighed and shook his head as Desi pointed it at Tracker. “Yeah, that.”

  Ari snatched Miguel from Tracker. The baby squalled. Ari shouted over the noise. “Shoot him, Desi.”

  “Gladly.”

  The pistol in Desi’s hand wavered dangerously. Tracker felt a twinge of uncertainty. “She’s going to hurt someone, Caine. That pistol’s too heavy for her.”

  “You’ve got a point.” Caine took Jonah from his wife. “Use two hands, angel.”

  “Shoot him now, hija,” Tia ordered. “And aim low.”

  The muzzle was level with his groin. Tracker got the uneasy feeling the women weren’t joking. “Tia!”

  Tia huffed. “I did not bring up a son of mine to be a user of women.”

  “Control your wife, Caine.”

  “Why? I think she’s doing just fine.”

  “Only if Ari wants to be married up with a eunuch.”

  “Well,” Father Bernard interrupted, “maybe you should have thought of that before taking advantage of this sweet woman, making her fall in love with you when all you wanted was sport.”

  Tracker cut Father Bernard another glare. “I’m not above shooting a priest.”

  The aggravating man just smiled. And why not? He did have God on his side. “Enough, Tracker.”

  And apparently Ari.

  He arched an eyebrow at her. “You’re giving me orders?”

  She drew herself to her full five-foot height. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we don’t have much time. Because I want to be married to you in truth as well as word before you ride out after Shadow. Because I love you and always will, no matter what wild hares you latch on to on any given day.”

  Shit.

  She took a breath. “No matter how much you doubt me.”

  “Aw, hell.” Reaching out, he cupped her face in his hand and with slight pressure on the nape of her neck, he drew her to him. She came willingly, leading with her faith, offering him the love he’d always been taught would never be his. Thigh to thigh, belly to belly, heart to heart. “Ah, damn, sweets, you make it hard to do the right thing.”

  “I think she’s making it darn easy,” Ed called.

  Ari rolled her eyes and rested her forehead against his chest, turning slightly so Miguel wouldn’t be squashed. “You have a very intrusive family.”

  Despite the confidence in her tone, he could sense the tension in her. She wasn’t sure of him.

  “Look at me.”

  She did, the shadows in her gaze reflecting the apprehension she was trying to hide.

  “I’m an all-or-nothing man, Ari.”

  “I know.”

  “If we do this, one year, two years, ten years down the road, you’ll be stuck.”

  “Sure you want to wake up to that ugly mug every morning?” Luke called.

  Ari ignored Luke. “Do you promise?”

  “Luke’s got a point. I am an ugly bastard.”

  Her fingers caressed his scar, and it didn’t matter whether he had feeling there. The emotion came through. “You’re my beautiful man.”

  “You need glasses,” Caden offered.

  “Desi?” Ari said. “Yes, Ari.”

  “The next person that tries to talk me out of marrying Tracker?”

  “Yes?”

  “Shoot him.”

  Desi lifted the gun and smiled at Caine, who obviously had a comment hovering on the tip of his tongue. “On it.”

  Caine didn’t even flinch. “You might want to reconsider where you’re pointing that,” he told his wife. “This is our last night together for a bit. We ride in the morning.”

  Desi exchanged one of those looks with Caine that left no one in doubt as to what the two would be doing tonight. “Can I just shoot them in the toe, Ari?”

  Ari’s gaze never left Tracker’s. “To start.”

  “Where do you think she’s going to finish?” Caine asked. />
  “I hope we don’t have to find out.”

  That was from Ari. She stood there, his world, offering herself up as if the sacrifice was nothing, but out here her pale skin would weather. Her soft hands would callus. And for her choice of husband, she would be spit on. His hand went to the hilt of his knife. He’d kill anyone who offered such an insult to her. Skin and gut them slowly before letting them rot in the sun.

  “You were meant for better things.”

  Her hand covered his, lifting his fingers away from the hilt. I’ve had these better things. And I’ve had much worse. What I was meant for was you.”

  Miguel grabbed his hair. He wanted to be rough and yank his hand away, but as soon as he touched that tiny fist, the impulse died. Miguel gave him his gummy smile. There was a bit of white.

  “He cut a tooth!” He leaned in for a closer look. Miguel grinned more broadly. Ari inched closer. His hair fell over her shoulder, cocooning them in the intimate moment. She looked up at him, her eyes darker, more mysterious, holding promises he wanted to accept.

  “He’s got thirty-one more to go, my love. Don’t you want to be there for each and every one?”

  Taking his hand, she placed it over her heart. The softness of her breast seared his palm. The softness of the gesture seared his resolve.

  “Damn it, Ari, I’m trying to do the right thing for the first time in my life.”

  She stomped her foot. “Well, who asked you to start with me? You promised me all or nothing. Told me to make a choice. I did.”

  Yes, he had. He let his hand slip down her back, skimming the delicate ridges of her spine until his fingers settled in the hollow, pressing until she had no choice but to lean against him. Her lips were inches away. Full, red and tempting. “You chose all.”

  “Yes, I did.” She said it with no hesitation. No regret. “And you said you’d give me anything I wanted.”

  “I’m more likely to die young than not.” It was a fact.

  “Tracker, I’m not asking for guarantees. I just want every second the Lord gives us together.”

  Every second.

  Tracker watched Ari’s lips shape the words, heard her voice caress each syllable with love, let them settle on that part of him that just couldn’t believe he was more than expendable. Let them cover it, smother it, kill it. Felt the death he’d been dreading and then the joy. The freedom. The rebirth. He leaned in a little closer, savoring the emotion as it washed over him even as Ari’s breath mingled with his. His life, his soul. His Love.

  “Son of a bitch, Tracker. You going to make the woman beg in front of us all?” Sam asked.

  No, he wasn’t. “Come here, sweets.”

  She went up on her tiptoes, making it so easy for him to mate his mouth to hers. Her lips parted. He didn’t take advantage. Passion burned, but this wasn’t about sex. This was about them.

  “Bad enough she had to do the proposing.” he heard Sam mutter distantly.

  Tracker kissed Ari gently. Sweetly. Tenderly. Once, twice. Ari sobbed and pressed against him. Miguel tugged on his hair. From beyond the circle a horse stomped his hoof.

  “Is that a yes?” Desi asked.

  Father Bernard cleared his throat. “Since I’d be hard-pressed to slide the marriage papers between them, I’m declaring it one.”

  Tracker smiled against Ari’s lips, kissing her once more because it was too hard not to before replacing his mouth with his thumb, pressing gently on her lower lip, hiding nothing from her searching gaze. He was hers and with four words he confirmed it for everyone else. “That’s definitely a yes.”

  “Great,” Caine said, taking his pistol from Desi and moving her closer, away from the shade and into the sunlight surrounding Tracker and Desi. Out of the past and into the light.

  “See,” Ari whispered, watching as the rest of Hell’s Eight followed suit. “How can you doubt this was meant to be?”

  He couldn’t. Not anymore. He believed in signs, and this one was too big to ignore. The old ways were dying, but the future was shining brightly. Just waiting for those brave enough to step into it. “I guess I just needed a shove in the right direction.”

  Ari chuckled. Father Bernard stepped up in front of them, his bald head reflecting the sunlight, his old eyes reflecting his satisfaction. “Glad to see you came to your senses.”

  “I usually do.”

  “Had my doubts this time.” Tracker didn’t believe that for a minute. The priest had that inner calm that came from being at peace with himself and his world. “And you’re supposed to be the one with the faith.”

  Father Bernard smiled. “I’ll pray on it.”

  He and Ari were going to need all the prayers they could get. Tracker held out his hand. “Thanks for coming.”

  The priest shook it and smiled. “Wouldn’t have missed bragging rights on this for the world.”

  Everyone laughed. The priest opened his Bible.

  “Just a minute.” Tia hurried forward. In her hands she had a small bouquet of white flowers. Daisies.

  “Every bride needs a bouquet.” She handed them to Ari. “Welcome to the familia, mi hija.”

  Ari sniffed back a sob, her gaze locked on the flowers, a soft look of wonder on her face he wanted to ask her about. “Thank you.”

  “Are we all set now?” Father Bernard asked.

  Ari’s “yes” was tear-wet but sure.

  “Then let’s have this wedding before we lose the opportunity,” Caine ordered. “No telling how much mischief Shadow will get into if we leave him to cool his heels too long.”

  17

  Three hours later Tracker strode out of the study in Caine’s house. They had a plan to rescue Shadow. It wasn’t much of a plan, but at least they had one. There were only so many plans one could come up with to defeat the U.S. Cavalry and live. And the one thing they all wanted to do was live. Especially Tracker. Tonight was his wedding night. He intended to make the most of it, create as many memories as he could before riding out at dawn. He settled his hat on his head and opened the front door. When he came back, he’d start on a few more memories. Like Caine, Tucker and Sam, he was determined that his woman would never regret a moment of her decision to gamble her future on him.

  Maddie grabbed his arm as soon as he cleared the door. “You’re not supposed to go to your house, Mr. Tracker.”

  Had Ari already had regrets? “I’m not?”

  She shook her head. “Miss Ari was very specific.”

  Tracker breathed a sigh of relief. Ari being specific was good. Ari being specific meant she had a plan. “How so, specific?”

  “Just a minute.”

  The woman made him wait while she struggled with her memory.

  “Maddie…”

  “I have to say it right.”

  It wouldn’t do any good for him to push. Tracker bided his time, frustration rising right along with his temper.

  “She said to tell you that she knows what the daisies mean.”

  That told him nothing important. He wanted to know where she was. His wedding night was waiting. “And?”

  “She’s waiting for you with the daisies.”

  Ari was at the meadow. The smile started deep inside.

  “Thank you.”

  The meadow was beautiful in the sunlight—a green-and-white oasis set amidst the darker backdrop of the pines. In the center of it sat Ari, her long hair draped across her torso. A crown of daisies rested on her hair. When she saw him she stood and smiled. Daisy chains wrapped her neck, her wrists and her ankles. She wasn’t wearing anything else. Sunshine and smiles. That was his Ari.

  Lust slammed through him with painful intensity. He bit back a moan when she stepped forward and her breasts swayed.

  “Tracker.”

  No one else said his name in that particular combination of disbelief and wonder, as if he were a dream come to life. He couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else to.

  She crooked her finger. “I’ve been waiting for you.”


  “You damn well better not be waiting for anyone else dressed like that.”

  “Do you like it?”

  How much he liked it throbbed in his pants. He couldn’t look away from the symbolic placement of the daisy chains. “I like your jewelry.”

  She held up a long length of daisies strung together. “I’ve got more.”

  “What’s that for?”

  “Come here and I’ll show you.”

  Show, not tell. Damn. “Sweets, I should tell you, I’m a bit on edge.”

  “Me, too.”

  “I’ve got a lot of questions.” With all that had happened, he hadn’t had a chance to discuss with her what had happened the night before.

  Even the wave of her hand was seductive. “Ask away.”

  “It looked like there was quite a battle here last night.”

  Try as he might, he couldn’t detect concern in her voice. “We handled it.”

  “So I see.” He took a couple steps forward, not understanding her mood. She didn’t act like a woman who’d just had her worst nightmare revisited. “Are you all right?

  “I’m very all right. Better than all right. I’m strong.” Without batting an eyelash she said, “I killed a man last night.”

  He stopped. “You bragging on it?”

  She shook her head. “No, it was horrible. But I did what you said. I hid my pistol in my skirts and acted terrified until the last moment.”

  “You weren’t?” He took another step forward.

  “Maybe. But mostly I was mad.” Her eyes narrowed. “They had no right to invade our home. Threaten our child. No right at all.”

  “No, they didn’t.” None at all.

  She shuddered. “I’m letting you scrub the bloodstains off the floor, though. I don’t think I can do that.”

  “I’ll handle it.” She was watching him, waiting for him. He had no idea what she wanted from him. Uncertainty wasn’t his friend.

  “Baby, I need you to tell me what we’re doing here.”

  “Isn’t it obvious?”

  “No.”

  “We’re getting married again.”

  He looked around. They were alone. “Thought we did that this afternoon.”

  “Yes. That was for everyone else. This is for us.”

  “Sweets, you are going to have to explain.”