by Francis Ray
She smiled to herself and continued to sketch. It was a heady feeling knowing she could test Duncan’s control, just as he could test hers.
“I’m shameless where Duncan is concerned.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Happiness splintered through her. Whirling, she found him there. Instead of being embarrassed, she launched herself into his arms. The security she found there always made her feel cherished, blessed to have found him.
His lips brushed against her forehead. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself.” With her arms around his neck she stared up into his handsome face. “I thought you were going into town today.”
He kissed her lips. “Been there and back.” He glanced over her head. “You were intent on that drawing when I came in.”
Blushing, she tucked her head.
“I noticed it the day Mrs. Grayson came with the others,” he continued. “Sierra couldn’t seem to take her eyes off it.”
Raven’s head dipped a little lower. In that case, all the men had noticed the drawing. Absently she wondered if Brandon was as naïve as his wife. “It’s an important discovery.”
“Is that what you found and didn’t want to talk about?” Duncan asked.
“Yes.”
He tilted her chin up; his thumb grazed her lower lip. “You’re such a combination of innocence and sexy, and all mine.”
She wished that were true with all of her heart. “You make it ridiculously easy.”
“So do you.” Releasing her, he picked up her sketch pad and placed it on a small folding table. “Let’s take a lunch break.”
Raven’s happiness took a nosedive. “All I have is the granola bars and water.”
He tugged her on out of the cave. “Like the old days, I’ve brought the food.” Bending, he picked up a handled plastic bag and a blanket. “Where would you like to sit?”
“Up there.” She pointed behind him to the flat outcropping of rock fifteen feet over the cave. The mountainside was peppered with smooth rocks, making it an easy climb. “I’ve gone up there a couple of times looking for you.”
He frowned, looked at her feet encased in hiking boots. “I guess it’s too late to worry.”
She kissed him. “Definitely. Not a scratch on me.” Her grin widened, she started for the base of the mountain to climb up. “And you should know it.”
Duncan chuckled and started after her with the blanket over his shoulder, the plastic sack looped at his elbow. “I might have to check again just to make sure.”
Arriving at the top, she reached for the blanket, then his hand. “As long as I get the same privilege.”
Duncan hoisted himself on top of the rock, caught her to him. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. We share and share alike.”
She placed her head against his chest, felt the erratic beat of his heart that mirrored hers. “I can’t think of anything I’d like more.”
He leaned her away from him, studied her face. “You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.”
“It’s easy with the right man.” Turning away, she picked up the folded blanket and placed it on the flat rock where they could look out over the range.
“I’ve got this. Sit down.” Duncan helped her sit, then sat beside her and pulled the contents out of the bag. “Sliced roast beef sandwiches, oatmeal raisin cookies, and chips.” He dug back in the sacks for two cans of soda. “Although we might want to wait before we open these.”
Raven took the sandwich he held out to her. “This is nice. Thank you.”
“I like doing things for you,” he said simply, sitting beside her.
Raven took her time unwrapping her sandwich. How could she not love such a caring man?
“You all right?” he asked, lines radiating across his forehead.
Lifting her head, she smiled. She’d said there would be no regrets. “Perfect. I get to share lunch and the beautiful scenery with you.”
“That’s what I mean about you,” he said. “Most people see the endless range and nothing else. You see the beauty of the land, how it has endured, how it will be here long after we’re gone.”
“I’m an archeologist.” She stared out toward the distant plains. “It’s natural for me to see beyond what others might see.”
“Modest like Rooster and everyone else say.” Duncan bit into his sandwich.
Raven stilled. Were people talking about her?
“I couldn’t get five feet in town today without people asking about you, asking me to tell you they said hello although you don’t know them.” He picked up a cookie. “I’d say Rooster was at it again, but a few of the people said that Marshall girl, so I think Cynthia has taken up where Rooster left off.”
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“Yep.” He cautiously opened a canned drink, then handed it to her. “I can’t say how I would have handled it if it would have been a lot of men, but they were mostly women. Delivering Midnight was one thing, standing up to Crane another, but I’m sure what cinched the deal was saving Midnight and standing down a mountain lion.”
Raven stared at him. “I only help—”
He kissed her on the lips and opened his own drink. “Might as well get used to it. You’ll see for yourself this weekend when we go to the July Fourth celebration.”
Mentioning the holiday made her forget to ask what he meant by “get used to it.” “The Fourth is this weekend?”
“Yep. Elks Ridge might be small, but we celebrate the Fourth in a big way,” he told her, stuffing the paper from his cookie and sandwich back into the plastic bag. “There’s a parade around noon, then a rodeo at the fairgrounds and a big dance afterward, with lots of food.
“Then Sunday after church we’re going to Old Man Johnson’s place and start on his barn that was hit by lightning last month. It took a lot of talking with Reverend Radford for him to agree with that. A point in our favor was that Old Man Johnson refused any financial help. He only wanted his one-hundred-year-old barn rebuilt.”
“He doesn’t mind you building on a Sunday?” she asked.
“The reverend understands that in these parts it’s impossible at times not to work on Sundays.” Duncan nudged her hand toward her mouth. “He’s also one of the best carpenters in the country.”
Dutifully Raven took a bite of her sandwich. Elks Ridge was close-knit and caring. Besides Ruth and a few faculty members, Raven didn’t have any close friends in Santa Fe. It must be wonderful to have that connection with so many people.
“I can see why you like it up here.” He curved his arm around her shoulder. “It’s peaceful, and you can see for miles. At night I bet the stars look close enough to touch.”
“There’s only one way to see if you’re right.” She picked up her drink.
“Just what I was thinking.” He rubbed his cheek against her forehead. “Another reason for me to want the night to hurry so I can be with you. You have me thinking thoughts I never had before.”
She put her food away and leaned into him. “Same here, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
His hand clenched on her arm. “I never want you to be anything else.”
Her hand palmed his cheek, turning his face to her. “No matter what, I’ll never have any regrets about us being together. I don’t want you to, either.”
“How could I regret the happiest days of my life? Regret you?” He palmed her face, stared into her eyes. “I didn’t know what true happiness was until I held you in my arms.”
“Tell me again when we return tonight and you’re holding me and we’re looking at the stars together.”
He kissed her gently on the lips. “It’s a date.”
Raven had barely made it into the house when she heard a car outside. Going back to the front door, she saw Cynthia pull up in her Mercedes and get out. Raven hadn’t seen or talked to her since the auction. “Hello, Cynthia.”
Getting out of the sports car, the young woman closed the door and came up the steps. “H
i, Raven.”
“Come on inside, or were you looking for Billy?” Raven asked.
Cynthia smiled. “Actually, both of you.”
Raven recalled what Duncan had said about Cynthia singing her praises. “Cynthia, while I appreciate the good intent, you really shouldn’t have discussed what happened the night we found Belle and Midnight.”
Cynthia waved her hand negligently. “People deserve to know how courageous you were.”
Sensing she was dealing with a person as stubborn as she was, Raven opened the front door. “Let’s go into the kitchen. I need to check on dinner.”
“The perfect place to talk.”
Raven led the way. In the kitchen, she washed her hands. “Please have a seat. Can I get you anything?”
“No.” Instead of taking a seat, Cynthia watched Raven stir the barbeque beef in the slow cooker. “Smells good. I might have known you could cook. It will make things easier.”
“What things?” Raven replaced the glass lid and leaned back against the counter.
“Michelle said men wouldn’t consider this important, but you might. Every year women bring their specialty dishes to the Independence Day dance. The men supply the beef. It’s kind of like the women’s time to shine and for once hear their men brag on their cooking abilities.”
“Duncan didn’t mention bringing food.”
Cynthia made a face. “Michelle didn’t think he would. So I thought I’d stop by and give you the heads-up so you can start thinking about your specialty.”
Raven bit her lower lip. “I don’t have one.”
“Well, you have the rest of the day and tomorrow to think of one.”
“Chocolate cake?”
Cynthia shook her head. “Sarah Jessup. Her husband owns the feed store.”
“Apple pie?”
“Absolutely not,” Cynthia told her. “Mrs. Mattie Ferguson’s specialty and domain. Her husband owns the largest ranch in Montana. She can be a dear woman, but don’t get on her bad side. Although I have to give her credit and say nobody bakes a pie as good as Mrs. Ferguson. That reminds me. You can’t bring anything another woman considers she makes or bakes the best—unless you want to enter in the baking contest.”
Raven held up both hands. “No way. Perhaps you’d better tell me what’s taken.”
Cynthia rattled off at least twenty desserts and side dishes. “There’s more of course, but those are the main ones I remember, because I’ve grown up going to the Independence Day celebration. Mama’s specialty was deep-dish pecan pie. Now, it’s mine and Michelle’s.” She briefly tucked her head. “I’m baking one just for Billy. He says it’s his favorite.”
Raven knew Duncan liked chocolate, but not what his favorite dessert was. There was so much they still had to learn about each other. Although he hadn’t mentioned her bringing a dish, she didn’t like the thought of somehow letting him down. “I’ll think of something.”
“I’m sure you will.” Cynthia headed for the door.
Raven followed. “I probably shouldn’t question this, and please don’t think me rude, but why are you so intent on helping me?”
“You helped me and Billy get together.” She quickly went down the steps when she saw Billy come out of the barn. “I might have ended up with Duncan and been miserable. See you later.”
Duncan and Cynthia wouldn’t have happened in a million years. Raven wouldn’t let herself think that Duncan and Raven was just as improbable. Closing the door, she went in search of Rooster and found him in the great room watching the news. “What do you remember about the food at the dance for the Fourth?”
Rooster smacked his lips. “I’m eating light that day so I’ll have plenty of room. The women do their best to outshine each other and the rest of us reap the benefits.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.” Raven plopped into a chair. “I’m out of my class.”
“Now, hold on a darn minute.” He sat forward in the recliner. “You’re a mighty fine cook. Duncan will be proud to point out the . . .” His voice trailed off. “What are you taking?”
“I wish I knew.”
“What’s your favorite dessert?”
Duncan closed the kitchen door and pulled Raven into his arms. “You.”
She evaded his searching lips. “I’m serious. Cynthia came by today to tell me about the women cooking the food the evening of the big dance, their men bragging on them.”
“You don’t have to cook anything,” he said.
“I want to. I want you proud and bragging on me,” she admitted honestly.
He nuzzled her neck. “I’m already proud of you and I’ve done my share of bragging already. I might have even surpassed Rooster and Cynthia.”
Raven didn’t know if he was kidding or not. It felt good knowing he felt that way about her. “What’s you favorite?”
“Besides kissing you, it’s peach cobbler with ice cream,” he told her.
“I know how to make that,” she said happily.
“But you don’t have to.”
“I know.” Pulling her arms from around his waist, she nudged him toward the sink. “Wash up, and I’ll fix your plate.”
He turned on the water. “We’re still on for tonight, aren’t we?”
“Most definitely.” Filling his plate with barbeque beef, green beans, potato salad, and corn bread, she placed it on the table.
“Good. I’ve got a surprise for you.” He took his seat. “This looks great.”
“What kind of surprise?” she asked, taking the seat next to him.
“You’ll just have to wait.”
She opened her mouth to ask him what again, but he bowed his head to bless his food. When he lifted his head he was just as closemouthed. “You’ll just have to wait,” he repeated.
He grinned at her annoyed expression. He seemed so pleased with himself she found herself grinning back. For the life of her she couldn’t imagine what could have put that pleased look on his face.
“Duncan. Oh, Duncan,” she repeated, her trembling fingertips pressed to her mouth. Where they’d sat that afternoon was a raised cushion covered with a blanket, a couple of pillows, and in the middle a wild daisy. Next to the raised area were a small cooler and several flameless candles.
“Does that mean you like it?” he asked, a trace of worry in his teasing voice.
“It does.” On tiptoes, she kissed him. “This must have taken a lot of trips, not to mention the time and thought you put into it.”
“Seeing you happy is worth it.” Taking her hand, he helped her sit down, then sat behind her, pulling her back into the V of his legs, the shelter of his arms. “It was actually fun. The benefits are sure worth it.”
She leaned back against him and wrapped her arms across his at her waist. “I’ll never forget this. You were right about the stars. I see the Big Dipper.”
“The nights in Santa Fe are wonderful, but they can’t compare to these,” he whispered. “It’s as if you’re the only person in the world. If you’re still, you can hear the night sounds of the animals stirring.”
“You respect the land and the creatures on it,” she said quietly. “I realize what it took not to pull the trigger the other night.”
“It was difficult not to,” he admitted.
“Because you were afraid for me and Rooster.”
“Losing cattle, at times, to predators is not something I like, but I realize we’re encroaching on land they’ve hunted for centuries. Whenever possible, I’d rather walk away than shoot,” he said.
“That’s what sets you apart from most men,” she said, twisting her head to look back up at him. “You see the land as a gift, an opportunity to leave it better than when you came. You want to give, not take. Even when we make love, you’re never selfish.”
“Because you trusted me, because hearing you sigh, the little moans you make, is pleasure unceasing for me.” His lips brushed across hers. “Being with you is my greatest pleasure, my deepest desire fulfilled. You’r
e graceful, beautiful, and you’re here with me.”
Raven’s heart ached because she heard the loneliness he’d never admit to. But more than that, she heard the warmth, the love he might never fully admit to her—perhaps not even to himself.
She turned until she knelt in the V of his legs, her mouth a whisper from his, her arms around his neck. “Once I thought I knew what desire meant. I was young and foolish and was fortunate enough to find out that to some men words are as worthless as wheels on a fish.”
His hands tightened. His features hardened.
She smiled at him, her lips brushing across his. “Don’t you understand? If he hadn’t been so utterly worthless, I might have stayed with him; I might have missed being loved by you, missed the pleasure of your touch, the security of your arms, and the hunger of your mouth on my skin. I would have missed this and never realized it. That would have been tragic.”
“I guess I’ll let him live,” Duncan said tightly.
“He hasn’t mattered in a long, long time.” She brushed her mouth across his again and again, murmured against his lips, “This, only this, does.”
She pushed him back, determined that this time she would be the aggressor, loving Duncan the way he deserved, with tenderness and warmth. Unbuttoning his shirt, she pulled it off and kissed his muscled chest, swirled her tongue across his nipples. Sitting back on her haunches, she unbuckled his belt. The entire time, her eyes were on his. Unzipping his pants, she cupped his erection, heard air hiss through his teeth.
Reluctantly releasing him, she scooted down and took off his shoes, giving brief thanks that he had changed out of his boots. She tugged his jeans down his thighs, his legs, and over his long, narrow feet.
Standing, she stared down at him, the candles burning near his head, his hard erection pushing against his white briefs. He started to rise.
She held out her hand. “No.” Her hands went to her blouse, releasing the buttons one by one. Slipping it over her shoulders, she let it slide down her arms. The warm night wind brushed across her naked breasts. She shimmied out of her walking shorts and panties.
