The Cowboy's Bride

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  Besides, she thought wearily, Sheriff Anderson already knew. He had encouraged her to do the right thing. And Callie was. If Buck and Pa returned, she was going to turn them in to the authorities. Meantime, Cody needed to be distracted. If that meant a silly argument with her, so be it.

  “Fine. You want to be difficult, then be difficult,” she stormed. Aware he was angry, upset again, she pushed away from his lap and started to step by him.

  Cody sprang to his feet and caught her arm. As he tugged her back around to face him, his blanket fell to the floor, revealing six feet of naked, muscular male. “You think walking out on me again, even for a few days, won’t hurt me?” Cody demanded gruffly. His eyes were as dark and turbulent as the storm outside.

  Callie tried not to notice how splendid his naked body looked in the gleaming firelight, or how much she wanted to touch every inch of him. “I—we—need some time to sort through things on our own. Until that happens, you’re better off without me, Cody.” It was her turn to protect him, she thought anxiously, just as he had tried to protect her by taking her away to Mexico. If only she could make him see that.

  “No.” His gaze slid down her body, taking in the supple curves and still-damp skin. “I was never better off without you, Callie,” he said hoarsely. He tunneled his hands through her hair, tilted her head back and kissed her with surprising tenderness. Lifting his lips from hers, he said in a low voice that seemed wrenched from his very soul, “I will never be better off. Don’t you get it? I need you, Callie.” His hands glided down her spine to her waist. “I’ve needed you in my life from the first moment we met and I’ll need you with me the rest of my life.”

  Callie had longed to hear him say that. “Oh, Cody, I need you, too,” she whispered joyfully. She let the blanket fall to the floor and stood on tiptoe to kiss him full on the lips. “So very, very much.”

  Cody smoothed the hair from her face. “Then let me look at you,” he said in a choked, emotional voice.

  Feeling gloriously beautiful and very much a desirable woman, Callie stepped back. Her heart pounding, she lifted her eyes to his.

  WANTING TO REMEMBER everything about this moment, this night, Cody let his glance sift slowly over her. Callie was beautiful, dressed or undressed, but she had never looked more radiant than she did at that moment. Her hair tumbled in damp disarray to her shoulders. Her transparent ivory-lace bra and bikini were damp and clinging, outlining clearly the shadowy vee and the pale pink nipples. Her long, silky legs and slender thighs filled him with a longing that was almost painful in its intensity.

  Wanting her to know how much he desired her, he cupped her bottom with both hands and pressed her against his erection. With a soft sigh, she rocked against him. Linking her arms about his neck, she stood on tiptoe and initiated a sweet, evocative kiss. Cody knew they were far from solving all their problems, but he did not care. He had to have her. He deepened the kiss, letting his tongue sweep into her mouth. Her lips softened on his, inviting him farther into her sweet, urgent heat.

  Groaning at the waves of pleasure soaring through him, followed swiftly by an even more urgent need, Cody sank down onto the sofa. She followed, straddling his lap. Her hands braced on his shoulders, she sat back slightly as he unclasped her bra and freed her breasts. Her nipples were ripe, pink berries begging for his caress. She trembled as he bent and kissed them, one by one. She twined her hands around his shoulders as his mouth moved urgently, demandingly on her breasts.

  Then they were kissing again. Moving to the floor. Stretching out alongside each other. Needing to know she was his and his alone, Cody ran a hand up and down the insides of her thighs. “Now,” she whispered.

  Cody smiled and directed his hand higher to the soft inner folds. “Not yet.”

  “Cody – ” she whispered as his tongue found her depths.

  “That’s it, say my name.”

  And she did, while she bucked and writhed and finally came apart in his arms. And she was still saying it as he swept up her body and took her again, completely this time. Surging deep, surging slow, he sheathed himself completely in her, filling her to the core, until the fever of their lovemaking simmered within her, and him, into a white-hot blaze of release.

  For long moments neither of them was capable of doing anything. They couldn’t move, could barely breathe. Finally, afraid he would crush her if he didn’t change position, Cody shifted to his side. Callie went with him but stayed cuddled close. “If only it had been like this before,” she sighed regretfully as he kissed the soft, vulnerable curve of her throat.

  “I wanted it to be,” Cody confessed as he kissed her fingertips and then the palms of her hands, her wrists. “I wanted you so much I thought I would die from the wanting. I still feel that way.” And always will.

  Abruptly, Callie looked as if an enormous burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Smiling, she reached for him again. Fitting her lips to his, she drawled provocatively, “It’ll pleasure you to know, Cody McKendrick, that I feel that way, too.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  04:13

  Cody woke to find the sun streaming in through the windows. Being careful not to wake Callie, he glanced at his watch. Damn. It was nearly noon. He couldn’t recall the last time he had slept so late. ’Course, he couldn’t recall when he spent the whole night making love, the last session being just before dawn....

  Not wanting to wake Callie just yet, he eased out from under her and slipped from his bed. As he grabbed for the clothes he’d been wearing in the rainstorm, which were still a little damp, his eyes fell on his empty wallet.

  He frowned. He never had gotten a straight answer out of Callie about that. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, someone had been here last night. And that someone, who was likely a man, judging from his boot size, had left here with the contents of his wallet and Callie’s protection.

  Cody wanted to believe there was a good reason for Callie’s silence. But she was going to have to start leveling with him—about everything—if they were ever going to have a future.

  Deciding his jeans were still too damp to put on, Cody wrapped a sheet around his waist and headed downstairs to see about drying their clothes and putting some coffee on. To his surprise, there was still no electricity, either. He was standing there, contemplating what to do, when a knock sounded on the back door. Cody strode over to let in Cisco Kidd, who had a garment bag in each hand.

  “The clothes are for the wedding,” Cisco reported, handing them over. “Max felt you might be needing them.”

  “You can say that again.”

  Cody caught Cisco looking at his bed sheet. “Don’t ask,” Cody warned.

  Cisco merely grinned and shrugged. “Never would have occurred to me,” he drawled right back.

  Cody peered outside. Under normal circumstances, he would have been out checking damage at first light. Today he was more concerned about what was going on with him and Callie.

  To be able to go back and change history, to somehow be able to “do over” his entire relationship with Callie had been an unacknowledged dream of his for as long as he could recall. Max had given him the chance to have the life with Callie that he had wanted before things went wrong in Mexico.

  Of course, Cody thought ruefully, had he only known Buck and Pa were following them, he would not have run away with Callie to Mexico at all. He would have found another solution. He would have gotten her to tell him the truth about her pa and Buck and what was going on there that was making her want to flee. He would have waited to marry her until she was older.

  But since none of that had happened, all he could do was try his best to make things work out now, Cody thought.

  Aware Cisco was watching him, Cody cleared his throat and asked, “How are things out on the ranch?”

  Cisco helped himself to some water from the tap. “From the looks of what I’ve seen this morning, and it’s not much since your place was my first stop, there was a lot of storm damage. Branches blown d
own, fences tangled up. I ran into Shorty on the way over and he said a couple trees got hit by lightning.”

  “What did Shorty say about any major damage to the cattle operation?” Cody asked anxiously, aware for the first time in seven years that he had completely turned his back on his business and concentrated on his personal life to the exclusion of all else. He wondered what Max would’ve thought of that.

  “All the cattle barns and so on are still intact, but the cattle were mighty spooked. And you’ve got a couple calves tangled up in some barbed wire fence.”

  Cody knew his hired hands would have their hands full getting everything straightened out and back to business. He also knew he had trained them well and that they could handle the situation without him for a couple of days, especially with Shorty running herd on everyone.

  “What about the lumber mill and the horse business?” Cody asked.

  “Haven’t heard yet. I expect they’ve got some damage, too, though.”

  “You haven’t talked to anyone personally?”

  “Only on the shortwave radio or cellular phone, since all the regular phone lines are still down. Patience was a little harried. She said she’d have to call me back when things weren’t in a state of emergency, whatever that meant. I had no chance to ask ’cause she hung up on me,” Cisco continued, looking a little irritated. “I couldn’t get in touch with Trace at all and that worried me a little, though I imagine that’s to be expected since he probably has his hands full with Susannah and all the kids. At any rate, I’m headed over there next.”

  “When will the regular phone lines be fixed?” Cody knew out in the country it could take a while.

  “The phone company is hoping service will be restored by nightfall tonight—at the earliest.”

  Cody frowned. This was not good.

  Cisco Kidd continued, “They haven’t found where the line was hit yet. Not to worry, though. I was able to use my cellular phone to call into my office in town and notify everyone that the wedding is still on. In fact, catering crews are cleaning up debris and setting up tents on the bull’s-eye property as we speak.” Cisco paused. “The ceremony starts at 4:00 p.m. sharp. Max had special tents erected, so you all can dress there and emerge in your wedding finery to surprise the guests.”

  “Callie and I will be there,” Cody promised. “Meantime, if you need me, I’ll be here.” He was not letting Callie out of his sight.

  Cisco grinned. “When Max cooked up this plan a few days before he went off on his journey to the great beyond, I told him he was nuts. Seems like he knew what he was doing after all.”

  “You knew in advance everything that’s been going on the past few days?” Cody asked.

  “Everything Max arranged to happen after the reading of the will,” Cisco confirmed.

  “Did you have anything to do with all our clothes being taken?”

  “Max had me replace Callie’s own clothes with a trousseau. Pearl helped with the size and style.”

  Cody shook his head. That wasn’t what he was talking about. “No. I mean last night.”

  Cisco looked at Cody blankly.

  “Did you send anyone over here last night?”

  “No.” Cisco began to look concerned. “Why?”

  “What about Zeus? And the crops being burned? None of that was meant to be symbolic, was it?” Cody knew he was clinging to straws; he couldn’t help it.

  “Not by me, or Max, ’cause we had nothing to do with it.” Cisco paused. “You got any idea who might be behind all of this?”

  Cody shook his head and got a glass of water himself. If Max and Cisco had had no part in it, then who had?

  3:02

  “RISE AND SHINE, DARLIN.” Cody walked into the bedroom carrying a tray. He set it down on the nightstand beside his bed and perched on the edge of the mattress.

  At the movement of the bed, Callie—who’d been sleeping on her stomach—lifted her head from the pillow. Her hair was tousled. Her eyes shone with a sleepy glow. Her lips curved into a sexy smile as recognition dawned. “Hi,” she said softly, flipping gracefully over onto her back and reaching for him with both hands.

  Cody clasped her to him, aware she was naked beneath the sheet draped artlessly across her middle.

  “What time is it?” Callie pressed her lips against his shoulder.

  Cody wrapped his arms around her and gathered her close. He wished they could stay this way forever and never let the outside world interfere again. “Almost one.”

  Callie cuddled against him. “In the afternoon?”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  Callie stretched against him sinuously. “I can’t believe I slept so late.”

  “You were tired.” Cody held her gently. “We both were.”

  Callie smiled. With her fingertip, she traced the curve of his mouth. “It has been a hellacious couple of days,” she agreed on a sultry whisper.

  “Which are about to come to an end,” Cody agreed. He let go of her long enough to pour her a cup of coffee from the tin pot he’d put on the fire. “Breakfast was made in the fireplace this morning.”

  Callie propped herself up on some pillows, the sheet across her breasts dipping dangerously low before she managed to right it. She blinked in surprise and began to look a little worried. “Is the electricity still off?”

  “Afraid so. Not to worry. We can still get showers before the wedding,” Cody reassured her. He pointed above them. “I have a solar water heater on the roof.”

  Callie shuddered. “Thank heaven,” she murmured in relief. “I never was one for cold showers.”

  Unable to help it, Cody grinned. “You’ve caused me to take more than one in my time,” he teased.

  Callie put her coffee cup aside. She pushed to a sitting position and propped herself up on several pillows. “No more.”

  “No,” Cody agreed softly as he fitted the tray across her lap. “No more.” Callie was in his bed, and in his life, to stay. At least if he had anything to say about it....

  Callie took the plate he offered her. “This looks great, Cody.” She munched on a strip of crisp bacon and forked up the fluffy eggs. “I hate to say it, but you cook better on a campfire than I do on a stove.”

  Cody shrugged. “Practice makes perfect.”

  “Mmm. I can think of some things I’d like to work on,” she teased with a lascivious wink.

  “Insatiable, are you?” he teased back.

  “For you,” Callie admitted in a deep, sultry voice, “yes.” They kissed sweetly, lingeringly. Before Cody knew it, they were making love again and it was one-thirty.

  “We better get a move on if we want to get to the wedding on time,” he said lazily.

  Callie nodded, and Cody was pleased to see she was beginning to want to get married again as much as he did. “What are we going to wear?” she asked.

  “Almost forgot.” Cody got up from the bed and came back with the two garment bags of wedding clothes.

  “Oh, Cody,” Callie breathed when he showed her the dress Max had had made up specially for her. “White satin and alençon lace, a veil, leg-of-mutton sleeves and a full skirt! It is exactly what I’ve always wanted.”

  And exactly what she should have had the first time around, Cody thought. Bless Uncle Max for giving it to her now.

  02:00

  “DAMN, BUT YOU LOOK beautiful, Callie,” Cody said as she came down the stairs after her shower, wearing jeans and one of his shirts. They had both showered, and the June sunshine had dried their clothes. Though Cody had wanted to go ahead and dress in their wedding finery, Callie was too superstitious to let him see her in her wedding dress before the ceremony, especially since a place to change had been arranged for them at the wedding site. She didn’t want to take any chances that something would go wrong again.

  As they stood in the front hall, Callie put her hands on his shoulders and stood on tiptoe to deliver a soft, fleeting kiss to his lips. “I feel beautiful when I am with you.” She stepped back, sighing h
er contentment. “And for the record, you look very handsome, too.” Her gaze swept their casually clad forms. “Even if we both look more like we’re going to a hoedown than a wedding,” she finished ruefully.

  “Not for long.” Cody hauled her close and delivered a slow, soul-searching kiss that had Callie tingling from head to toe.

  “It’s funny,” Callie said, when he had lifted his head from hers. She gazed rapturously up into his eyes, marveling at the happiness they’d found. “So much time has gone by when we’ve been apart. But in the last two days, it’s like nothing important has really changed after all.” She paused shyly, smoothing her fingers across his chest as she admitted, “It’s almost like we’ve gone back in time to the days before we eloped.” To a time when she felt that anything was possible, if only they were together.

  Cody slipped an arm about her waist and hauled her close. “I feel that way, too,” he said gruffly.

  “I loved you then, Cody, with all my heart,” Callie told him seriously, knowing that part of him trusted her despite all the damning evidence to the contrary. “Just as I love you now.”

  Cody grew very still and searched her eyes.

  Callie swallowed. She had no qualms about doing her best to shelter Cody from further hurt, no matter how difficult it made things in the meantime. “Which is why I have to do everything I can now to protect you—because I know now that is what true love is about,” she explained tremulously.

  Cody released his breath slowly. He eyed her with a trace of wariness. “It sounds like you’re leading up to a swan song,” he said cautiously. One he did not want to hear.

  Callie shook her head, her eyes misting with tears that were part happiness—for the time she’d had with Cody—and part fear—for what lay ahead of her.

  To be party to anything less than honest was eating at her inside, and she knew she was going to have to face up to her responsibility as a decent human being, kin or no kin, or lose all respect for herself and become just as much a victim as her mother had been. Callie didn’t want to feel ashamed anymore. She didn’t want to spend her life in deep denial, covering and making excuses for Pa and Buck, or worse, trying to keep them from succeeding in their criminal activities and out of jail. And she didn’t want to kid herself about the way things really were, or be afraid to admit that she bad made a mistake—as her mother had in marrying Pa—in enabling them to do the criminal things they did. Because she saw by her mother’s example that refusing to face up to the cold, hard reality of a situation could only lead to heartache and disaster. Cody did not deserve any more heartache and disaster. He had already been through far too much.