When he eased her skirt down over her hips, she lifted herself, and he slipped her undergarment off. Her fingers splayed over his chest. Then she reached up, her arms encircling his neck. He moved away, and she groaned in protest. When he returned to her side, he also had shed his clothing.
“Naomi, are you sure, my love?”
“Yes, oh, yes.”
His hand slid down her hips, and he touched her in her most private place. She opened to him, as a flower greets the sun. His fingers slipped inside her, and her breath left her in a rush. Suddenly, she cried out, arching upward as she reached the pinnacle of passion.
When she opened her eyes, he smiled and moved on top of her, claiming her mouth, then parted her thighs and drove deep inside. She twisted beneath him. With each thrust, she rose to meet him with a hunger as great as his. Her body tightened around him. Together they climbed the path to sweet bliss. When the trembling tension in her broke loose, she called his name. The fire inside her exploded into a million shooting stars.
As Wes slipped his arm under her shoulder, he drew her into the curve of his arm. He smoothed the hair back from her face
“Oh, Wes, that was…just perfect.” She teased the hair on his chest.
“Yes, it was.”
“And now,” she said and rose to her feet, “it’s time for a bath.” She turned and ran down to the creek. The water was cold, but invigorating. “Come on in.”
****
As Naomi waded from the water, the sun glistened on her wet skin, bathing her in a shower of light. Wes blessed the fates that had sent him to the prison that day. He’d not fancied that job, but now he wanted it for the rest of his life.
“Wes, look.” She stopped and pointed down the canyon. “Butterflies. Oh my goodness, there must be a million of them.” They swarmed nearer, and she lifted her hands into the air. Several of the colorful insects landed on her outstretched hands.
Wes walked to her side. “I’ve never seen this many of them at one time in one place. It’s amazing.”
She looked up at him, a thoughtful look in her eyes. “Wes, I remember something. Once, a long time ago, when I was with Roy, he told me of this beautiful valley full of butterflies he wanted me to see, but he never mentioned it again or showed it to me. Do you think…this is the place? Does it mean anything?”
“I don’t know. Get dressed, and we’ll take a look around.” After donning his clothes, Wes climbed atop a huge boulder and scanned the area. While it probably didn’t mean anything, her recollection of something Roy said certainly bore looking into. He surveyed the valley, looking for something that didn’t belong, something out of place. Below, the cloud of butterflies had drifted down the creek, hovering over the water in a brilliant mass. As he watched, the cloud moved onto a road—
A road. What the—?
With his hand, Wes shielded his eyes from the sun’s glare and focused on the area. A small dirt road disappeared into a jumble of rocks at the mountainside. Noises from behind him heralded Naomi’s arrival.
She was fully clothed, her honey gold hair a riotous mess of curls. He turned and pulled her up on the boulder beside him. “I like you…without clothes.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Look down there. This is kind of strange.” He pointed the road out to her.
Her brows furrowed. “I don’t remember any road being up here. We didn’t have anything but a few horses and cows. There was no need for a road. Maybe the new owner built the road.”
“Maybe,” Wes conceded, “but it doesn’t look like the road heads toward town. Looks like it runs straight into solid rock.”
A puff of dust appeared on the horizon. Wes grabbed her hand and pulled her out of sight. “Looks like we have company.” He took his hat off and peered around the boulder. A wagon rolled into sight, two men on the seat, one holding a shotgun. It lumbered down the road and disappeared. “Let’s see if we can get closer.” Wes pointed toward the creek. “We can work out way down the river bank.”
“All right.”
The quiver in her voice had Wes grabbing her hand. But there was no fear in her eyes, only a steely glare of determination. A grin touched his lips. “You’ve got grit, Naomi Brecker, more than any other woman I’ve ever met.”
She smiled at him, a smile that warmed his heart. Being the loner that he was, his love for Naomi continued to amaze him. From now on, the space at his side would never be empty again.
“I have you,” she whispered. “That’s why.”
He put his fingertips to his lips and then touched her lips. “Forever.”
“Forever,” she repeated.
“And that’s why I don’t want you taking any risks. We’ll follow them, but if it gets too dangerous, we’ll turn back. Agreed?”
“But—”
“No buts. Promise me, or we’ll turn around and go back to town now.” He lifted his eyebrows in question. It was clear that she wanted to argue, but finally she nodded.
“Good.” He jumped from the boulder and turned to help her down.
In a few moments, he led her down to the edge of the creek. “This brush should be plenty good cover. Stay low.”
It was rough going but twenty minutes later found them close to the road. From their hiding place, Wes could see a dark shadow on the face of the canyon wall. He pointed to it. “See there? That must be the entrance to a cave of sorts.”
“I see it. Look, Wes, the wagon is coming back.”
“And it’s a lot heavier than when it went in there.” At her puzzled expression, he explained. “See the deep ruts the wheels are making. It wasn’t like that going in.”
“I didn’t notice,” she admitted. “Must be your lawman’s instincts kicking in.”
He grinned. “Guess so.”
“What do you think is in the wagon? What’s hidden in there?”
“Well, I’d bet a month’s wages it’s stolen weapons, maybe even money.” His lips clamped together in an angry line.
“So it was here all along,” she said as if to herself, “right under my nose. Roy had some nerve. He really made a fool out of me.”
“Don’t think about that. It’s all behind you. Listen, you stay here. I’m gonna have a look-see.”
“No. I’m going with you. I want to see for myself.”
“But—”
“Like you said, no buts. The wagon’s gone. There’s nobody in there.”
“That we know of.”
“If you leave me, I’ll just follow you.”
Her voice was hard—and determined. He knew she meant it. “Okay. Just stay close behind me, and if I say run, you get the hell outta there, and don’t look back. All right?”
She nodded. “I promise.”
He made his way toward the entrance, Naomi close on his heels. As he neared the mouth of the cave, he drew his gun and checked the ammunition. A few steps took him into the shadowy cave. He paused to listen.
Silence!
“I don’t hear anything. I think we’re alone. Stay here.”
“All right.”
Wes crept forward, gun in hand. He peered around the corner and saw no one. The tunnel widened into a huge cavern. He listened for any sound, but only silence greeted him. He returned to the front.
Naomi ran to him. “Did you see anything?”
“Nope, but lots of footprints going back and forth further into the cave. Looks like it goes quite a ways back. I saw a torch we can use.”
“Okay.”
Wes led the way to the next opening. Several boxes had been pulled up to the center of the cavern. A table with eating utensils and two lanterns sat to one side. “Let’s see what’s in these boxes.” He grabbed a crowbar from the table and pried one of the boxes open, then the next one. As he tossed the lids aside, he whistled. “Guns.”
“Ohmigod, Wes. They’re liable to come back at any minute. We’d best get out of here.”
Wes knelt and felt the ashes. “Cold.” He stood and rubbed his hands on his pants. “You ready?”
“Yes,” Naomi retorted. “I’ve waited for this moment for three long years.”
“And so have I, Mrs. Brecker.”
Wes whirled to face the voice. Three men stood there, two of them with guns drawn. When he saw the speaker, his face hardened. He grabbed Naomi’s arm and pulled her behind him. “What are you doing here, Governor?”
Chapter Twelve
“So, Cooper, it is you. From the description my men gave me, I figured it was you. I recommended Jake Burleson, but they sent you instead. Just my bad luck.” Samuel Chastain took his hat off, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped the perspiration from his forehead.
“Well, Jake got himself killed taking a prisoner in, and I was the only marshal available in the area, so they sent me instead,” Wes replied.
“You’re probably the only one who could’ve kept her alive.”
Naomi shivered. The man’s nonchalance and indifference were much more chilling than if he had threatened her. She choked down the lump that rose in her throat. “So you pardoned me so you could kill me?”
“Yes,” he said and smiled at her, a smile that reminded her of a serpent. “You’re a loose end, and I don’t like loose ends.”
“So it was you—the man on the stairs.”
“Oh, yes. Roy was a fool. He thought he could walk out on me. He threatened to reveal my identity. I had no choice.”
“So you master-minded all the robberies, the killings? Not Roy?” Somehow, it was important to her that Roy hadn’t planned all those heinous crimes, not that it excused him.
Another evil smile.
“What about the government payrolls? The guns?” Wes asked.
Governor Chastain nodded. “That was easy pickings. Helps when you know the right people, people in high places, who can be persuaded to…help you. The guns were worth a fortune.” He pointed a finger at the boxes. “And now I have more. Being the governor is expensive. Takes a lot of money to keep me in the life style I like…and deserve.” He flicked dust from his expensive coat.
“You sell these guns to the Indians, you’ll start a blood bath,” Wes warned. “There’ll be hell to pay.”
Chastain shrugged.
“I know the commanders at the forts you hit,” Wes countered. “I can’t see them in on this.”
“You’d be surprised, Marshal. You must remember though that the Army doesn’t pay its staff officers as well as the commanders. Cold, hard cash will buy a lot of information. Everyone has a price.”
“No, not everyone. What about Russell? You bought him off too?”
“Russell’s an idiot.” A sneer crossed the governor’s face. “About half the lawmen in the area are on my payroll,” Chastain bragged.
“I don’t believe that,” Wes shook his head.
Chastain named a few, then raised his eyebrows.
Naomi saw Wes’s demeanor change. By the look on his face, she could tell he now believed the governor.
“I don’t understand why you framed me,” Naomi said. “I didn’t know who you were.”
“I couldn’t take the chance. I didn’t know what Roy had told you. He might even have told you my name, I didn’t know. I had plans, big plans, and I couldn’t let anyone spoil them.”
“Why did you wait three years? Why didn’t you just kill me when you killed Roy?” Goosebumps pimpled her arms, and she ran her hands down them.
“I had planned to, but I heard someone coming before I could so I had to get out of there. I ran out the back door before the sheriff came in. It just worked out that everyone thought you did it. Even Russell thought you guilty.”
“And the guns have been turning up in some renegade Indians’ hands,” Wes added. “Causing quite a stir.”
The malice on the face of this man who spoke so easily of murder made Naomi forget the danger. With a scream, she rushed at him. Her nails gouged at his eyes and down his cheeks. Bright red blood dripped down his face, and he stumbled backward, all the time yelling curses at her.
The two men drew their guns, but before they could fire, Wes grabbed her and threw her behind the boxes. As she fell, she saw him draw and fire. He was so fast with the gun it was all a blur. One man crumpled to the ground while the other rushed at Wes.
“Watch out!”
Wes spun around. The man flew at him, his weight tumbling both of them to the ground. The men rolled over and over on the dusty ground. The marshal threw a punch which landed on the man’s nose. Blood spurted everywhere. But the man retaliated. His fist connected with Wes’s jaw, snapping his head back.
Naomi struggled to her feet. She looked around for a weapon and saw the dead man’s gun. She hobbled toward it. As she picked it up, another hand grabbed hers. The governor, his eyes crazy, cursed at her.
“Oh, no, you don’t, Mrs. Brecker. I’m going to finish what I started. I’m going to kill you, and it will be a pleasure.”
He squeezed her hand hard, and she heard the bone break, forcing her to relinquish her grasp on the weapon. It fell to the ground and bounced across the hard floor. That evil laugh she’d heard so many times in her dreams sounded in her ear. But instead of cowering, it lent her strength.
He dragged her across the floor to the gun, then threw her to the ground, and picked up the weapon. As he aimed at Wes, she jumped on his back and again gouged at his eyes. With a scream of rage, he threw her off him. She hit the ground hard, her breath leaving her body in a single swoosh. Stars swirled before her eyes, but she willed herself to stay conscious. She had to help Wes.
As the governor wiped the blood from his eyes, she scrambled to her feet. But before she could get to him, he pointed the revolver at Wes. A smug smile of victory crossed his lips.
“No,” she screamed. She grabbed a heavy rock and threw it at him. Her aim was true, the stone grazing his temple, knocking him to the ground. She scrambled to her feet and ran toward Wes.
“Naomi, no,” Wes screamed.
A loud noise sounded behind her; and white hot pain seared her back. She gazed at Wes, his voice a silent cry. She slumped to the ground, darkness closing around her.
****
Terror wrapped its clutches around Wes. “You dirty coward! You shot a woman in the back.”
“Yeah, and now I’m going to kill you, Cooper. You’ve interfered with my plans long enough.”
Wes pulled the inert body of the man he’d just fought in front of him. Chastain’s bullet thudded into the man’s back. His dead weight almost bowled Wes to the ground. The governor fired again. The click of an empty gun echoed across the cave. Chastain threw the gun aside and dashed out of the room. Wes chased after him and caught him at the entrance. He grabbed him by the coat and spun him around. Chastain lashed out at him, striking Wes in the jaw. Wes reeled and fell against the wall. As the governor dashed past him, he grabbed him. One fist to the face sent the governor into unconsciousness. While he wanted to put a bullet in the man, Wes grabbed a rope from the table and hog-tied the man, saving him for the hangman.
He hurried back to Naomi, a prayer on his lips. She was alive…barely. He grabbed her wrist and felt for a pulse. There was one…but very faint. “Hold on, love. Don’t you dare die on me.” He scooped her up in his arms and carried her from the cave back down to where they’d left the horses. Somehow, he managed to get her on the horse, cradling her in his arms. “Hold on, Naomi, hold on. I’m going to get you to the doctor.”
He had to take it easy, and the ride seemed interminable. He circled Gila Bend. He couldn’t take the chance of running into any more of Chastain’s men. He came up behind the Johnson house. He slid from the saddle and pulled Naomi into his arms. The two old women must have heard him because the door opened immediately.
“Oh my, oh my. That’s our dear Naomi. Is she—?” Mrs. Johnson’s pale face paled even more.
“No, but she’s bad hurt. Can you send for the doctor?”
“Of course. Matildy, you go fetch Dr. Whitehurst. You tell him that it’s me who’s ai
ling. You hear?”
“Yes, Miz Ginnie.” Matildy grabbed her shawl and hurried out the door.
“And who are you, young man?
“U.S. Marshal Wes Cooper, ma’am.”
“Oh, yes, Naomi spoke of you.”
“You must be Virginia.”
“Yes. Bring her this way please.”
Wes followed the old lady down the hall and into the bedroom. She pulled the quilt back, and Wes laid his precious cargo, belly down, on the bed.
“Oh my, that looks like a bullet wound.”
“Yes, ma’am, it is,” Wes answered. “The slug is still in there.”
“Who did this to her?”
“The same person that killed your grandson.”
Virginia’s eyes widened, but she merely nodded. She opened the drawer of the bedside table and pulled out a pair of scissors. She turned to Naomi and cut the dress from around the wound. Wes admired the old woman’s steady hand. “You look to be an old hand at that.”
She shot him a wry smile. “Seen a few gunshot wounds in my day, young man, especially during the late unpleasantness.”
In a few minutes, Wes heard the front door open and Matildy’s voice guiding the doctor. The physician bustled in, took one look at Naomi, eyed Wes suspiciously, and then sent for boiling water. He tried to send Mrs. Johnson from the room too, but she refused.
“I’ve dug a lot of bullets out of men during the war,” she said through gritted teeth, “probably more than you have, and I’m not leaving that girl.”
“Very well. Let’s get this wound cleaned up.”
“All right. Marshal, you tell Matildy to give you something to drink, something strong, you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Wes left the room. Although he’d seen his share of bullet wounds in his day, he couldn’t bear to see them cut on Naomi, the only woman he’d ever loved. The thought of losing her made him sick to his stomach. He hunkered down at the kitchen table. Without a word, Matildy brought him a bottle of brandy and a glass.
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