Cameron, Paige - Commando Cowboys Rescue Their Bride [Wyoming Warriors 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Polyromance)

by Paige Cameron

  “Welcome, come in and browse.” A white-haired woman standing behind a register motioned to her. “You must be the lady staying in the visitors’ cabins. I’m Hilda and that’s my husband.” She pointed to a man stocking the shelves. “This is our store. We carry food, clothes, books, most anything you might want or need. Look around.”

  “Thank you. I’m Morgan. I decided to go for a walk, and saw your place. No one told me you had such a wonderful store, right here on the ranch.”

  “Guess they thought you’d find it, and you did.” She turned to ring up a customer, the woman Morgan had seen earlier. The little boy stood at his mother’s side, eating a cookie. The woman glanced at her and smiled shyly.

  Morgan returned the smile and started down the closest aisle. The store was amazing, stocked like a large grocery on one side, and on the other an assortment of clothes. To the back were toiletries and miscellaneous items like magazines and books. She chose a various assortment of teas, milk, bread and peanut butter, several books, two magazines, and a new cowboy shirt in green with white trim, before she headed toward the front to check out.

  “I see you found a few things to your liking,” Hilda said.

  “Yes, thank goodness you have books. I left in such a hurry I forgot to pack any. I love to read.”

  “Nothing like reading a good book on a cold night, sitting in front of the fireplace.”

  “Or I can think of a few other things more interesting to do,” Justin whispered in her ear. Morgan jumped and turned her head to find him right behind her.

  “I’d have warned you, but he motioned to me to be quiet,” Hilda said, a big smile on her face. “Now what are you up to, big guy? Aren’t there some sick animals that need you?”

  “Nope. I’ve got them all well, and anyway, Sahale is taking over my shift.” He put his arm around Morgan. “Come with me. I have our horses ready to go.”

  “Wait, I have to pay for my stuff.”

  “Put it on my bill, Hilda.”

  “No, I…”

  “Will do, Justin. You two have fun.” She handed the bags to him, and he nodded at Morgan to lead the way out. “It’s a good thing I brought my truck.” He glanced in her bags as he put them in the back seat. “Hmm, I see something missing. Wait here.” He helped her into the front seat and ran back into the store.

  What did I miss? She watched the doorway, and in a few minutes he came out carrying a brown bag.

  He swung into the cab of the truck. “Open the bag. You’ll find a bandanna. All real cowgirls wear them.”

  Morgan turned the mirror on the visor down, arranged the brightly colored bandanna around her neck. She studied her appearance. Outwardly, she’d changed. She suspected the bigger alteration had begun to happen inside. Uneasy with her thoughts, she flipped the mirror shut and the visor up.

  “I went by your cabin and became concerned when I realized you weren’t there. I thought you’d be too frightened to take off on your own.” He glanced at her. “You’re supposed to let me know where you are at all times, remember?”

  He had such a handsome profile. She noted the strong lines in his face, a no-nonsense type of face and man.

  “I didn’t want to spend the day with my own thoughts. I’m sorry. I just forgot about calling, but I have my ring on.” She noted the clock on the dash. “You must have finished early.”

  “Yeah, after what you said early this morning, I guessed you’d be upset until we had our conversation.” He flashed a killer smile in her direction. “We’ll get the talking done. Afterwards, we can spend our time more enjoyably.”

  He parked the truck in front of her cabin and got her purchases. “We’ll put these in the cabin, and then walk to the barn for the horses.”

  She waited until he’d brought in the bags. She put the few groceries away before turning to confront him.

  “I can’t do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “Have an intimate relationship with you and Ethan. I’m not that kind of person.” She bit her lip, trying to think of how to explain her mixed-up feelings. How to make him understand what she didn’t even comprehend herself.

  “Let’s go for our ride. Don’t worry about it for now.”

  “You won’t try to push me into something I don’t want?”

  “Never, darlin’.” He stared at her. Her body almost melted into a puddle of warm honey from the sweet heat of those springtime green eyes.

  She swallowed around a lump in her throat. How could she ever choose between them? She’d have to leave after this was all over, and not come back for a very long time, if ever. Tears pooled in her eyes. Always alert, he saw them.

  “Please don’t be sad. It will be all right.” He brushed his lips across her mouth. “The horses are waiting.” Taking her hand, he led her outside and they walked toward the barn.

  His stallion and the mare she’d ridden before were saddled. Justin gave her a boost up, and they headed in a more westerly direction. She noticed a rolled bag fastened behind each saddle. She didn’t ask about them, deciding instead to enjoy the moment.

  Justin had plopped her hat on her head as they got out of the truck. The brim shaded her eyes and hopefully hid part of her face from his keen observance of her emotions.

  They were silent as they rode along, but it was a companionable quiet. Scents of grass, wildflowers, and cattle blew on the breeze. Several cowboys were guiding a herd of cows closer to the main part of the ranch. Two hawks did a ballet over their heads.

  “I’m so surprised.”

  “About what?”

  His question startled her. She hadn’t realized she’d spoken out loud. “That I like this so much.” She spread her hands to indicate all around them. “The wide-open pastures, seeing the men working, nature all around me. It’s not something I’ve experienced before, or ever would have agreed to in a normal situation. I mean if I hadn’t been thrown into it.”

  She glanced across at Justin. He fit in this environment. The perfect picture of a cowboy. She had a more difficult time picturing Ethan in this setting. He gave the impression of being more sophisticated. But then, he’d been playing a part. Perhaps even with her.

  “Quit frowning, or you’ll mess up that pretty face.”

  “Thanks.” Morgan turned her nose up at him and he laughed. “Are we trying to reach those mountains ahead?”

  “No. They’re much farther away than they look. We’re almost to my favorite spot.”

  They’d been riding along at a moderate pace. Justin gave his stallion the lead, and the beautiful horse took off. Feeling much more confident, Morgan encouraged her mare to follow. They rounded a small mound and headed for a large grove of trees. Morgan saw a flash of silver, and realized a wide river flowed just beyond the trees. They rode through. Justin stopped and dismounted. Morgan did the same. Her reins in hand, she walked to his side.

  “Ethan and I used to come here and play like we were grown cowboys looking for rustlers.”

  A sweet smile curved his delicious mouth upwards, and her insides went to mush. She had to hold herself back from wrapping her arms around his middle.

  “Did you always get the rustlers?” she asked.

  “Of course, we were mighty cowboys.”

  She laughed, releasing some of the tension she’d carried all day.

  “That’s better. I like to see you happy. We’ll camp here for the night and—”

  “Oh, no. We came out to talk, that’s all.” Her heart pounded at just the thought of being here with him through the night. Fear, whether from that thought, or her natural fear of animals, had her on guard.

  “I told you we wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want to do.”

  “True, but sometimes the things we want to do aren’t necessarily good for us or others.”

  “Fine. We won’t stay the night, but I will build a small fire and catch our dinner. We’ll ride back in the moonlight.”

  Without waiting for her answer, he unrolled his pack, showin
g another bag within holding a few grocery items and a frying pan. He pointed to the river.

  “Our main course, fish, will come from those waters. But first I have to find a strong piece of wood to use for a pole.” He pulled fishing line and a hook from his pocket. “You can walk along the side here and look for firewood.”

  “So I have to work for my food?”

  “By all means. We are settlers in a foreign land. The women are tough and resilient.”

  “Boy, did you bring the wrong woman along.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  She turned from where she had started to look for wood. For a moment, his expression stopped her breath. Sincerity shown on his face and—she wasn’t sure what else. She didn’t want to know, at least not right now. Making herself turn away, she moved along the riverbank in search of firewood.

  * * * *

  He wanted to pick her up, and bury himself in her sweet, rounded, delectable body. But they had to talk. What happened last night had haunted him all day. Her sweetness, the softness of her body, and the feeling of wanting to protect her and care for her surprised him. And he realized her reaction to him and Ethan worried her.

  In a way, he was glad. It showed her determination, in spite of the strong draw between them, to do the right thing. She thought it had to be either him or Ethan, and it was tearing her apart. Still, when he explained she could have both of them, he had no idea how she’d react.

  After finding a stick, he fastened the line and tried to keep his mind on the business of catching their dinner. When they finished eating, he’d tell her she had choices. What would happen then, he didn’t know. But he and Ethan had to convince her to stay.

  Last night she’d not only wrapped her body around his, but she’d also wrapped herself around his heart. All the attempts he’d made to try and deny his feelings had failed miserably. When he went by the cabin today and found it empty, fear had grabbed him so hard he had almost ripped the door off its hinges getting outside to his truck to hunt her down. Luckily, he spotted Marie and her little boy. When he stopped and asked if she’d seen Morgan, she’d told him where to find her.

  His line yanked, and brought his attention back to the task at hand. In a few minutes, he caught two good-size fish.

  Morgan had gathered a pile of sticks and some rocks. He looked at them, and then at her.

  A girlish smile crossed her face. “I read a book once where the cowboy set the fire inside a ring of rocks.” A blush spread across her face.

  “Smart girl. Thanks.” Justin started the fire and soon had the fish sizzling in the frying pan. He opened a can of beans and poured them into another small pan he’d removed from her bedroll. Looking around, he saw Morgan had gone to the river, taken off her boots, rolled her jeans up, and walked along the sandy edge.

  “It’s cold,” she said, seeing him looking at her. “Feels good.”

  When the meal was done, he called to her. She grabbed her boots and hurried to the fire.

  “The air gets cold around here when the sun starts going down. I’m glad you reminded me to bring my jacket.” She went to her horse and got the jacket she’d thrown across her saddle. He handed her a tin plate loaded with fish and beans, and a fork to eat with.

  “All the comforts of home. Thank you.”

  They sat side by side leaning against a large tree. The sun was setting, leaving behind streaks of gold and red that slowly faded to darkness.

  “Thank goodness for the full moon and zillion stars, or it’d really be dark out here.”

  “Scared a big, bad animal will eat you?” Justin teased.

  “No. I have a bigger, and very dangerous, animal right here beside me.”

  “Right.”

  They laughed, and by an unspoken agreement kept the conversation light throughout the meal. They sipped water from Justin’s canteen and finished all the food.

  “For dessert.” Justin went to her horse and got her canteen. He loved the way her eyes sparkled and opened wide when he surprised her. “Taste.”

  She took a swallow, raised her eyebrow, and asked, “It’s a liqueur, right?”

  “Yes. Grand Marnier.” He took a sip.

  “Warms the body, but may muddle my head. No more until we talk,” she said.

  “Good idea.” Justin screwed the top back on. “Let’s talk.”

  “I’d like to move closer to the fire, where I can see your face.” Morgan got up and walked toward the dying fire.

  Justin put a few more sticks on to burn, and made seats for them out of the blankets he’d brought. Morgan sank gracefully onto hers. He enjoyed watching her. Her movements were fluid, like a dancer’s, and her face showed every expression, even when she tried to hide them.

  “You’re staring at me.”

  “I am. Guess I’m stalling. First I have to tell you that if you decide to leave the ranch and go away permanently, you have to forget us completely.”

  “I don’t understand. You’re right I will have to leave. I can’t choose between the two of you. But forget you? I doubt that’s possible.”

  “We do important work for the government. It’s never talked about outside of our own community unless absolutely necessary. Because of the way Ethan and I feel about you, there is a need for you to be given some information. We took a chance bringing you here.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “What I’m about to tell you is not known outside our ranch.” He took a deep breath. “In our community, it’s acceptable for two men to have one wife. In fact, it’s encouraged.” There, he got the words out. He wasn’t much good at long conversations. Ethan was much better. He could talk the ear off an old sow when he got going on a subject he was interested in. It had caused him to be teased when he was younger. His buddies were sure he’d end up going to Washington in some political job. Justin smiled at the memory.

  “What?”

  While he’d been thinking of Ethan, Morgan had been looking at him with shock on her face.

  “Yes, so you don’t have to choose between us.”

  “Ethan is agreeable to this arrangement?”

  Justin nodded his head. Her expression wasn’t too encouraging. He should have waited for Ethan to sweet-talk her.

  “Is the idea impossible for you to conceive?”

  “I never even thought about such a marriage. Tell me about you and this community.”

  “I can only say so much. If we marry, then all your questions will be answered. You’d have to love us enough to trust us about the things we can’t share.”

  “By wedding, you mean one where all three of us are married to each other?”

  “Well, one where you’d be my wife, and Ethan’s.”

  “Tell me about the two of you. I sense something different about you both. Like on the day Ethan had the fight with Bill and his expression changed, his eyes were scary. His scent, not unpleasant, but different.”

  Justin hesitated. “We have unique abilities that enable us to do our jobs for the government. Our five senses are stronger than the usual person’s. We each have certain abilities that may be different even from each other. We’re also much stronger than men outside of our community.

  “We don’t advertise our uniqueness. People in town believe we just run our ranch. But we also do secret missions others can’t or won’t attempt. That’s all I can tell you at this time. I’m trusting you won’t talk about this to the others or ask them questions?”

  “I won’t promise not to discuss what you’ve told me with Sara.”

  “That’s all right.” At some point he’d taken hold of her hand. She pulled free of his grip and stood.

  Morgan strode across to where the horses were tied. “Take me back to the cabin, please. I need time alone to think about what you’ve told me.”

  They didn’t talk. Justin put out the fire and gathered the items he’d brought along. He quickly secured them in the blankets and fastened the rolls behind their horses.

  Morgan
waited by her horse. Her head turned away from him.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  He gave her a boost onto her saddle. Then they began the long trek back. The moon and stars lit their way. Damn, he hadn’t handled this situation well. As they got close and saw the buildings in the distance, he slowed and turned toward Morgan.

  “Ethan wants to marry you, even if you don’t want to marry us both. Have I scared you away with what I said?”

  She bit the edge of her bottom lip, sending heat straight to his unruly cock. Down boy, there won’t be any lovin’ tonight.

  “Are you all right with that—if I decided to marry Ethan and not you?”

  “I’d go away. Live somewhere else.” The words came out before he could try to gloss over the situation.

  She turned back in the direction they were heading, and encouraged her mare to go faster. An uncomfortable ache settled in his chest. He was almost sure this wasn’t going to work out well for any of them.

  She rode directly to the cabin and dismounted, handing the reins to Justin. He saw the sparkle of tears in her eyes when she looked up at him.

  “You and Ethan are very close. I’d never get between your friendship. Right now I don’t see myself marrying both of you, or choosing between you. And I don’t know what to think about the other information you told me.” She waved and ran to her door.

  He waited, hoping she’d return, but the door shut and the light went on in her bedroom. How in the hell had it all gone so wrong? He should have waited for Ethan. They’d have talked with her together.

  Turning his stallion toward the barn, he led the mare along with them. He hadn’t told her Ethan and the crew were due back tomorrow for a few days. Maybe Ethan would be able to change her mind.

  Feeling irritable, angry, and sad, he was glad he had the horses to take care of before he went home. He’d work off his frustration, at least part of it.

  Chapter Ten

  Ethan slipped into his and Justin’s cabin expecting to find his brother asleep. Justin had come out of his chair before the door had opened completely.