“Get blankets,” Chad told them.
They rushed outside to get the blankets that were always rolled up into a neat roll on their horses and hurried back with them. Chad covered Topaz with the blankets, then carefully draped them around her. She didn’t stir.
“We need more wood. She’s freezing cold. Before we take her back to the house, she needs to be warmed up. Anyone have some whisky?” Sam asked.
“I’ve got some.” Jimmy produced a small silver flask from his pocket.
Chad quickly opened it and poured some between her blue lips. She coughed automatically but swallowed it. Sam was busy stoking the fire with the wood Johnny had gathered from outside.
The Sheriff and deputy searched the cabin for clues but found nothing except the empty bottle and cigarette butts. When he shone his flashlight on the bare cot, he spotted Topaz’s torn panties. “Oh my God,” he muttered under his breath, but Chad heard him.
“What?”
The Sheriff picked up the panties with his gloved hand and held them up for Chad to see.
Raped! The bastards had raped her. Hatred now burned in his gut, hatred and revenge, the urge to kill. He was torn between staying with Topaz and going after the bastards. “They’re on horseback. They’ve left a trail,” he said through tight lips.
“Right. I’m going after them.”
“I’m with you,” Sam said and looked at Chad and Johnny.
“Someone has to stay with her,” Chad said.
“I’ll stay with her if you want to go.” Johnny sat on the floor beside Topaz. “I’ll look after her. There are enough dead branches here now for me to keep the fire going.”
“Okay. They’ve probably got a good head start on us and if they’ve crossed into Mexico, we might as well forget it. But we can try,” the sheriff said. “We need to get going. Jimmy?”
“Yeah. I’m coming.”
Johnny, now left alone with Topaz, tucked the blankets tighter around her. He suspected she was in shock and felt her pulse. Her heartbeat was steady. Her lips still had a blue tint to them and her skin was very pale. Picking her up very carefully, he cradled her in his arms and held her tightly against his own warm body. Ever so gently, he stroked her forehead, her hair. “Fair maiden mine,” he said softly. “You’re safe now. We won’t let anything else happen to you, I promise. Do you know I’ve fallen in love with you? I dare to say it while you’re sleeping, but I so want to tell you. You’re my every dream come true, my goddess come to life. Oh, my love, what did they do to you?” Undoing his jacket, he wrapped it around her as well and continued to cradle her. After what seemed like hours, he saw some color return to her lips and her skin returned to its natural honey color, but she still didn’t wake up.
With his free arm, he continued to load the stove and stoked it. Even with the broken door, the shack was becoming toasty warm now. He wondered if his brothers, Jimmy, the sheriff and his men would catch up to the kidnappers and how long it would be before they returned.
Topaz stirred in his arms and moaned. “Topaz? Honey? Are you awake?” he said softly while stroking her cheek. Her skin felt warm now. But although she stirred and made some sounds, she didn’t wake. Johnny was just glad she was alive. He’d help her get over the rape, would help her to deal with it. He made up his mind right then and there that as soon as she was well, he’d ask her to marry him.
How will Chad and Sam react to this? Sam liked Topaz, Johnny had felt that from the start. He might even be in love with her, too. Chad was a different matter. Although it seemed that Chad’s heart had softened toward her. But will that remain if he learns that I want to marry her? Or will it escalate into a rift between us, more anger, more hatred…I’m thinking all this, making plans, but will Topaz even accept my proposal? Does she have feelings for me?
Chapter Ten
Topaz struggled to wake up. She felt sore all over, her neck hurt, she had the headache from hell. And this had to be the worst nightmare she’d ever had in her life. She tried to turn around, but something held her tight. Stiffening, she realized her bonds were arms and her head wasn’t on a pillow but against a solid chest. She heard a heartbeat, then a soft male voice.
“Sssh, everything’s alright, honey. You’re safe now.”
Johnny. The arms belonged to Johnny and the heartbeat was his. Opening her eyes, she realized she hadn’t had a nightmare and it was all very real. Vividly the events of the night came back to her and she shuddered. “How did you—”
“Find you? Once we found your shoe and saw the horse tracks, it wasn’t difficult. We just hoped and prayed we’d be in time before they—”
“Killed me?”
“Yes. We were afraid of that. We didn’t think the kidnapping was for ransom.”
“Rachel. She did it. She injected me and after that, I don’t know what happened until I woke up here. There were two men, Jake and I don’t know the name of the other one. Uncouth looking men, dirty, smelly.”
“Hopefully the others will catch them before they hit the border.”
“Who?”
“The sheriff and his deputy, Jimmy, Chad and Sam.”
“Those men have guns, Johnny. And they seem quite ruthless, although they didn’t want to kill me. They got twenty-five thousand up front and were supposed to get the other half after they brought Rachel proof of my death. They decided it wasn’t worth getting a murder rap and to escape to Mexico.”
“Did they hurt you, honey? I mean, did they—”
“They weren’t very gentle. And no, I wasn’t raped though the one called Jake was getting ready to. The other man stopped him. All that was hurt was my dignity when he ripped my clothes off and his grimy hands touched me.” She heard the sigh of relief escape Johnny’s lips. “Did you think they—”
“Yes. We found your torn panties.”
“It was close. I’m so glad you all found me. I haven’t got a clue where I am and didn’t know how I was going to get home. Especially without clothes. And it got so cold.”
“You were smart in starting a fire in the stove.”
“It was hard. I had to try and free myself first. My wrists and ankles were bound. By the time I cut through them, my fingers were so cold I couldn’t feel them anymore. I was afraid to go outside for wood so I broke the chairs.”
“You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever known. Here you are telling me the whole story calmly. Any other woman would have been a sobbing heap of misery.”
“That’s just not me. Hold me tighter, Johnny? I feel so safe in your arms.” And she did. As he stroked her hair tenderly, she knew she adored him, wanted him, needed him. Not just now but always. He was so sweet, so lovingly gentle, so kind. How can I help but love him?
“The men have been gone a long time. It’s almost dawn,” Johnny said.
“Do you know they were also involved in the cattle rustling? I pretended to be asleep and they got drunk and talked a lot. Rachel was part of that, too, or knew about it. I wonder why I slept so long. I really tried to stay awake.”
“You probably had a mild case of hypothermia. It’s very cold out, around freezing.”
“I’m toasty warm now. Matter of fact, almost too warm.” And not just from the stove either. Johnny was setting her blood on fire big time. Reaching up, she pulled his head down and kissed him. “Thank you, Johnny, for saving me.”
“It wasn’t just me,” he whispered against her lips.
“I’ll thank the others when they return.”
“The same as this?”
His question caused her cheeks to flame. Thinking about Sam and Chad, yes, she wanted to kiss them, too, to thank them, hug them and have them hold her tight, just like Johnny was doing right now. But right now, she was with Johnny, alone with him. He started to talk again, but she silenced his words by pressing her lips against his.
Within seconds, he returned her kiss. Gently at first, then his passion took over and he kissed her with all the hunger that was pent up within him.
Sticking her tongue into his mouth, she explored eagerly, tasting his manliness and when he in turn explored her mouth, she sighed.
He pulled back, then kissed her on the forehead. “My fair maiden, that’s what you are. My goddess. You know how much I love you?” he whispered near her ear.
“I love you, too, Johnny,” she said softly.
He rained butterfly kisses down her nose, on her lips, her chin, then pulled back to look into her eyes. She saw the love in his, the tenderness and felt overwhelmed with all the emotions that attacked her.
“Topaz, will you—”
She stopped him before he could ask the question she knew he was going to ask. “Ssssh, we need to keep this a secret for now. I have a lot of feelings to sort out. You see, Johnny, I love your brothers, too.” Was that a fleeting jealousy I read in his telltale eyes? A little bit of anger? Disappointment? “Don’t be upset, my love. I can’t help myself. The three of you are so alike, yet unalike and I appreciate the good and the bad in all three of you. I need to sort out those feelings.”
“You’re not sure of your love for me?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then why—”
“Hush, Johnny, my sweet cowboy. Time. I need it to sort out all these emotions causing havoc in my heart.”
“But you may choose Sam or Chad instead.
Topaz smiled. He almost sounded like a sulky little boy. “Neither Sam or Chad have declared any feelings for me, so right now, there is nothing to choose. I just need to sort out my own.” And to show him how much she loved him, she kissed him again until she felt him respond. The jacket and blankets fell to the ground as she turned to lie on top of him. She was half naked, but she didn’t care. All she wanted right now was his arms around her and his lips on hers. He kissed her fiercely, almost as if to make sure she loved him in return. And she did. But she couldn’t rule out her feelings for Chad and Sam. Those had to be dealt with before she could make up her mind about anything, before she could allow Johnny to ask her to marry him.
The sound of a snorting horse interrupted them. Topaz quickly picked up the blankets and wrapped herself in them.
Johnny eagerly jumped up and ran to the door. “Did you catch them?” he asked anxiously as the men dismounted and walked toward the shack.
“No. They had too much of a head start and probably crossed the border well before we got there,” the sheriff said.
Chad’s face was a mask of anger. “After Christmas I’m going to Mexico. I’ll find those bastards,” he said gruffly.
“I’m with you,” Sam said.
“Me, too,” Johnny chimed in.
“I didn’t hear any of what you boys just said. I’m going a little deaf in one ear. You have to speak up.” The sheriff coughed a few times.
Chad marched to where Topaz stood beside the stove. “Are you alright? Did those men hurt you?”
Sam rushed to her as well. “Topaz, I’m so glad to see you standing there, girl. Are you okay?”
Topaz felt tears well at their concern. “I’m fine. Thanks to Johnny, I’m toasty warm now. Sheriff, deputy, Jimmy, thank you all for coming to my rescue. I can hardly express my gratitude.” Stepping forward she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Chad on the cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered. Then she did the same with Sam who grabbed her and held her in his arms for a moment.
“I still want to kill those bastards for what they did to you. I don’t get that you’re so calm about it all,” Chad said.
“I’m fine, Chad. I wasn’t raped as you thought. I’ll tell you everything when we get back home.”
A little of the hard mask on Chad’s face softened. But in a brusque tone he said, “I think we all want to go home and get a few hours sleep. It’s Christmas Day after all.”
“And a thankful Christmas it’ll be,” the sheriff said.
“For some. You’ll need to arrest Rachel, sheriff,” Johnny told him. “Topaz told me Rachel injected her and was behind the plot.”
“I suspected as much.”
“And she was part of the cattle rustling, too, or knew about it.”
“Is that so? That little gal is going to need a good lawyer.”
“So Father was right all along,” Chad muttered.
“What was that about Father, Chad?” Sam asked.
“Never mind. Let’s just say I was saved from the biggest mistake I could have made in my life. Let’s go.” Without further ado, he picked Topaz up and carried her in his arms to his horse, put her in the saddle then mounted behind her. Before they started to ride, he wrapped the blankets tightly around her, then he said softly near her ear for her only to hear, “And from now on I’m going to keep a close eye on you, missy.”
Now what does he mean with that?
Chapter Eleven
Topaz woke from the sound of the drapes being drawn and sunlight streaming into the room. “What time is it?” she asked sleepily.
“It’s noon, Mizz Topaz,” Corky told her. “You asked me to wake you up at noon.”
The events of the night before now all seemed like a dream, unreal. When they arrived home that morning, she’d first been fussed over and mothered by Corky. Then she’d had a hot bath to scrub off the memory of Jake’s hands on her. She vaguely remembered Rachel handcuffed and led away by the sheriff, her father protesting loudly when Rachel accused him of cattle rustling and the sheriff slapped cuffs on him, too.
She’d slept soundly and hardly remembered crawling into bed. Then again, the stiff brandy Chad had made her drink had probably helped with that.
“Is anyone else up, Corky?” Topaz stifled a yawn.
“Yes, Mizz Topaz. The boys are waiting for you downstairs.”
Topaz swung her legs over the side of the bed forgetting that she was naked.
“Missy, you really need to wear something decent at night. What if there is a fire or something? There are some lovely cotton nightgowns in that dresser over there.” A disapproving frown on her face, Corky promptly went to the dresser, opened a drawer and took out a lovely white nightgown trimmed with lace that looked hand made and handed it to Topaz.
“It’s beautiful, Corky. I’ll be sure to wear it,” Topaz fingered the soft, fine-woven cotton. It was one dresser she hadn’t looked in, so she’d missed the pretty nightgowns.
“There are more, in pretty colors, too. They belonged to Mistress Isabella.”
After putting on her robe, she ran to Corky and hugged her. “Happy Christmas, Corky.”
“And a blessed Christmas for you, Missy. I’m so thankful to the Lord that you’re here all in one piece.”
Since she’d had a bath that morning and washed her hair, Topaz took a very quick shower. After toweling herself dry, she walked into the bedroom to find the bed made and clothes laid out for her on it. A white blouse with a deep neckline, almost resembling a gypsy blouse, trimmed with wide, gathered fine lace around the deep neckline and at the wrists and a forest green velvet skirt. It was a beautiful ensemble, one that suited Christmas. She hesitated at first, tempted to just wear jeans and a nice top, but then felt Corky knew best.
Topaz was amazed that Isabella’s clothes fit her so perfectly, as if they’d been made especially for her. Isabella must have been the same size. She coiled her hair into a bun, then slipped on the flats she now hated, but she had no other choice. Isabella did have larger feet. She’d already tried on some of some of the shoes in the closet a few days ago. Twirling briefly before the mirror before going downstairs, she was pleased. The blouse showed off her golden skin and the forest green of the skirt suited her coloring. She felt very elegant as she walked down the stairs to join the men, at the same time sniffing the delicious aroma of a baking turkey wafting toward her.
As she walked into the living room, she was so glad Corky had laid out the clothes for her. Chad, Sam and Johnny were all attired in dress pants and dress shirts, clean shaven, their hair neatly brushed. Her heart skipped a few beats while she approached them. Johnny stood and walk
ed toward her.
“Morning, Topaz. How are you feeling?”
“I feel great. And please, all three of you, no mention of what happened last night. It’s Christmas Day. Let’s make it a happy and memorable one.” She stepped toward Johnny and standing on her tiptoes, kissed him on the lips. “Happy Christmas, Johnny.” Then she walked toward Sam, who stood up as she approached and did the same. When she turned to Chad, he remained seated. She examined the expression in his eyes, but though they weren’t hard, there was a guarded look in them. She didn’t care, wouldn’t allow him to intimidate her. Bending down, she planted a kiss on his lips. “Happy Christmas, Chad.”
Soft Christmas music played, adding to the cozy atmosphere and a lusty fire crackled in the fireplace. There was a pile of gifts under the Christmas tree. The only thing missing was the sound of children’s happy laughter. This was the kind of Christmas she’d always dreamed of and she wished that Daddy John and her mother could have been there with them. She felt her eyes water but quelled her emotions quickly. Curling up in one of the deep armchairs, she picked up a magazine and started to read it.
“Would you like some eggnog, Topaz?” Sam asked.
“I’d love some.”
“It’s homemade. Corky makes it,” Johnny told her.
She sipped the eggnog. It tasted heavenly. At the same time, her rumbling stomach told her she was also hungry as hell. It rumbled so loud, the men heard it. Sam grinned from ear to ear. “Corky is making brunch for us. It should be ready soon. And after brunch, we’ll open gifts.”
Topaz felt her cheeks burn. “I’m sorry, but I’m starving.”
“I still can’t believe your appetite,” Chad said. “I think I already told you this, but it’s refreshing to see a woman eat heartily rather than see them picking at their food, afraid that every bite will add an extra pound.”
She smiled. “You told me a couple of times, I think. Staying active helps a lot. I’m sure as I get older, I’ll have to watch my intake. One’s metabolism changes as we age, although my mother was still very slim until she passed away.” She choked on those words for a moment and tears threatened again. Though she’d tried to put the events of the night before out of her mind, they had affected her and this was the second Christmas without her mother now. It still hurt and she missed her like hell.
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