Teton Romance Trilogy Bundle: Includes Yellowstone Proposal (Short Story)

by Peggy L Henderson

  With barely any light to see by, the going was excruciatingly slow. Tori tested the ground by feel with her feet each time she set full weight down. If she accidentally stepped on a twig or rustled any of the undergrowth, she would risk discovery. Movement in the dark just ahead startled her, and she swallowed back the heavy lump in her throat. Her heart was about to burst from her chest.

  The faint outline of a man standing beside some heavy shrubbery came into focus. From his stance, it was apparent that he stood facing away from her. Tori bit her lower lip. He was too close to where Lucas was tied. If she hoped to cut Lucas free, she had to kill or incapacitate this man somehow. It would be a rather easy shot from this distance. He was no more than ten yards away. Shooting the rifle, however, would alert the rest of the camp.

  Tori’s hand wrapped around the hilt of her knife, and she cautiously stepped forward. The idea of killing someone made bile rise to her throat. What other choice did she have? But if she didn’t stab him cleanly, he might fight back or alert the others.

  She was about to set her foot on the ground, when the tips of her toes bumped into something hard and solid. Tori stiffened, then slowly tested the object with her foot. It was a sizeable rock. She sank to her knees and, keeping her eyes trained on the Indian in front of her, wrapped her hand around the stone. Raising to her full height, she inhaled a deep breath. It had to be now or never.

  Tori gritted her teeth and sprang forward. Drawing her arm back and then forward, she swung her entire weight into the force of hitting the rock against the back of the Indian’s head. He moaned softly before sinking to the ground. He remained still. There was no telling whether she’d killed him or not, but if he was only stunned, time was of the essence before he awoke and warned the camp.

  Tori sucked in several quick breaths, her hands trembling uncontrollably. A shudder passed through her, and she dropped the rock in her hand.

  Don’t think about it.

  On weak legs, she inched up behind the tree closest to Lucas, and tossed a small pebble at his back. If the projectile hit him, he gave no indication. She stood close enough to see the silhouette of his body shiver. At least it was a sign that he was alive. She wanted to call out to him, but she didn’t dare, and leaving the cover of the tree would be too risky. Someone might see her.

  The ends of the rope that hoisted Lucas’ arms above him toward the tree limb had to be secured to the main trunk somehow. Tori ran her hand along the bark. She suppressed a triumphant cry when her fingers touched leather. Pulling her knife from its sheath, she sawed quickly through the rope, and unwound it from around the tree. The line slackened, and Tori’s eyes shot to Lucas’ dark silhouette. He still hadn’t moved.

  Tori squinted into the darkness. Faint light shone into the clearing from the half-moon above, yet she barely made out Lucas’ features. His arms remained raised above his head. Was that movement she detected? One arm appeared to lower slightly, and he looked shorter all of a sudden.

  “Come on, Lucas,” she hissed between clenched teeth. He wouldn’t have heard it. Why was he just standing there? His head raised almost imperceptibly, and he took a slow step back, then another. When he was close enough to the trunk of the tree to where she could reach out and touch him, his arms lowered and he sank to the ground. He rolled behind the tree. Before she could react, his hand snaked out and grabbed her arm. Lucas wrestled her to the ground, straddled her, and clamped a hand over her mouth.

  Tori fought for a breath of air. His weight on top of her crushed her into the damp earth. She squirmed beneath him, but didn’t dare cry out. In the next instant, his hand eased away from her mouth.

  “Tori?” he whispered, his voice ragged.

  Tori gulped to catch her breath. “Yes, it’s me, you lout,” she muttered quietly.

  “The guard?”

  “I hit him with a rock. I don’t know if he’s dead, but I don’t think he’ll wake up for a while. “You can thank me later for saving your worthless hide. Let’s go before you wake the entire camp.”

  Instead of heeding her words, Lucas collapsed on top of her. A groan rumbled from deep within him. Tori gasped for air. She pushed her hands against his cold skin.

  “Walker,” she hissed against his chest. The pungent odor of sweat mixed with the faint smell of singed hair or flesh. “Get off me, Walker.” The breath left her lungs. If he didn’t move soon, he’d either crush her to death or suffocate her. They'd come this far, would they both end up dead after all?

  Tori clawed at the soft earth with one hand, while her other arm remained wedged between their bodies. Her fingers groped for something, anything to use that would aid her in prodding this man off of her. Her hand wrapped around a stick, and she jabbed it into Lucas’ ribs. He flinched, then rolled to the side. Tori sucked in several deep breaths.

  Lucas sank into the dirt next to her. Was he injured? A jolt of dread washed over her. How long had he been tied with his hands in the air? It hadn’t even occurred to her that he might be unable to move after she freed him.

  “Lucas, we have to go,” she whispered, bending her head down toward him. “Get up.”

  “Give me a minute,” he rasped, pain evident in his voice. He stirred next to her. Tori scrambled to her feet, reached for the rifle she’d propped against the tree before cutting him loose, and groped for the britches she’d dropped to the ground. She yanked the moccasins free from her belt and held the clothing toward him.

  She strained to listen for any sounds coming from the Indians. They were wasting time. If the sentry regained consciousness, or if anyone else in camp woke, they didn’t stand a chance of escaping. She steeled her heart to the pain Lucas must be experiencing.

  “Here, put these on,” she commanded in a low hiss. Lucas stirred again on the ground. Slowly, he reached for the clothing she held out to him. He slipped into his britches, and Tori turned her back.

  “I have your shirt, too.”

  “No time for a shirt.” His breath tickled her cheek. Tori sucked in a surprised breath. She hadn’t realized he’d stood to his feet.

  “Come on.” He grabbed her hand, took the rifle from her, and led her through the darkness as if he were strolling in bright daylight. He picked his way easily through the underbrush, and Tori stayed close beside him. She held her free hand before her. Any minute she’d bump into a tree or something. “Where’s my horse?” he asked after a few silent minutes.

  “I left him about a half mile to the east of here. When I smelled the campfires, I decided to investigate on foot.”

  Lucas changed course and skirted back toward the Indian camp.

  “I don’t think this is the right way,” Tori protested, and pulled on the hold he had on her. He didn’t reply, and simply kept walking. He slowed his pace, and his steps became more cautious.

  A horse snorted softly to the left of her.

  “Good thing these horses have smelled me all day, or they might be spooked,” he said quietly.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Getting us some extra transportation.” He released her arm. She barely made out his features as he untied the lines to a horse that stood several feet from her.

  “Your knife,” he demanded quietly.

  Tori hesitated, then reached for her Bowie knife and handed it to him. Lucas cut the picket line that kept the Indian ponies tethered, then handed the knife back to her. With a groan, he swung up onto the back of one of the animals.

  “Grab hold.” His hand touched her shoulder.

  Without hesitation, she reached for Lucas’ arm, and he pulled her up behind him.

  “Hold on tight,” he said over his shoulder. Tori wrapped her arms around his middle. Despite her apprehension and fear, an inexplicable jolt of awareness raced through her from the feel of his firm muscles beneath her hands. His skin was icy to the touch, but he had given no indication that the cold bothered him.

  Lucas kicked the horse forward, and fired the rifle toward the camp. Tori nearly lost her s
eat, and gripped him tighter.

  “What are you doing?” she hissed in disbelief. “We could have gotten away without notice.”

  The sound of horses moving quickly through the foliage was preceded by men’s loud shouts.

  “But it’s much more satisfying this way,” Lucas called triumphantly. He kicked his horse into a run, and the other horses scattered all around them. Men shouted words behind them that Tori didn’t understand. She closed her eyes and leaned heavily against Lucas’ back, her arms wrapped tightly around his middle.

  “You’re crazy,” she hissed. Why had she risked her life to save him? This man wasn’t right in the mind. Even as she thought the words, an inexplicable jolt of exhilaration raced through her. Lucas’ excitement at mocking these Blackfoot seemed to be contagious.

  “By the time they find their horses again, we’ll be long gone.” Lucas chuckled, and clucked to the horse.

  Countless hooves pounded through the underbrush until they reached the clearing where Tori had left Lucas’ gelding. A horse whinnied, and Lucas slowed his mount.

  “Switch horses,” Lucas ordered. “Get on my horse, and be ready to ride.”

  Too stunned to speak, Tori did as he asked. She slid from the Indian pony’s back, and groped in the dark for the horse she’d left behind. The gelding shied away from her, but she managed to grab the reins that dangled from his bridle. Being hobbled, he couldn’t run off. Quickly, she sliced her knife through the leather and mounted up. Lucas moved his animal up next to her.

  “Let’s go,” he called.

  She wrapped her legs tightly around her horse’s girth, and nudged him forward. If she lived through this night, it would be nothing short of a miracle.

  Lucas set a fast pace through the darkness, and Tori lost all sense of time. The excitement of making a getaway from the Blackfoot camp had long worn off. Her arms and legs ached, and she’d never yearned for sleep as much as she did at this moment. She gritted her teeth. They were still in danger from the Indians. Black Sparrow wouldn’t concede defeat, especially since Lucas mocked him during their escape.

  When Lucas finally stopped, a faint glow of light replaced the black sky in the distant horizon.

  “Why are we stopping here?” she asked. Lucas had led them back to his camp from two days ago.

  “Because I want my gear,” he grumbled. Lucas bent over his saddle that still lay in the grass, and pulled his canteen free. He strode over to where she still sat on her horse, and handed it up to her. She shook her head. He needed water more than she did.

  “Drink,” he said and uncorked the opening, thrusting the canteen up at her. To appease him, Tori took a hasty sip, then handed it back. Lucas tilted his head back and took a long drink, probably draining the entire container.

  Tori stared down at him blankly. Lucas turned to her, and she finally had enough light to see by to make out his features.

  “Still want to head back to your cabin, Tori?”

  She caught the whites of his teeth as he flashed her that infuriating grin of his. How could he be so relaxed at a time like this?

  Lucas tossed the canteen aside, then reached up and pulled her from the animal’s back. Tori sucked in a breath of air when her feet touched the ground, a mere inch separating her from Lucas. The memory of pressing up to him, her arms wrapped tightly around him earlier, sent a warm shudder through her.

  “Why did you come back?” Lucas stared down at her intently. Her pulse quickened in response to his heated gaze. His hands still rested at her waist.

  “I couldn’t let Black Sparrow kill you, just like I couldn’t let you kill him,” she whispered. Her eyes locked with his.

  Lucas’ eyes narrowed. “Black Sparrow caught up with you?”

  “Yes.” She laughed softly, and lowered her gaze to the ground. “He asked me to be his wife.” She raised her head and glared at him. The warrior hadn’t exactly asked. It had been more of a demand, but Lucas didn’t need to know that. “I wasn’t going to go with him any more than I was going to go with you.”

  Lucas’ expression changed. His hard stare softened, and he smiled broadly. “I wondered why he came back to camp without you. Since he left you alone, you must not have refused him outright.”

  How could this man be so perceptive . . . and arrogant to think she wouldn’t accept Black Sparrow’s proposal?

  “I had to stall him.” She lifted her chin. What was it about Lucas that raised her temper while at the same time he brought out feelings of longing and even tenderness? “At least he gave me a choice,” she added heatedly, angry at the mixed emotions this man evoked in her.

  Lucas scoffed. “How noble of him.” He held her stare for a moment. “You know you can’t return to your cabin now, Tori. Or ever.” Lucas’ eyes hardened again.

  “Yes, I’m fully aware of that,” she hissed, then pulled away from him.

  His hand snaked out and grabbed her arm. Lucas spun her to face him, and stepped up to her. His hands reached up and framed her face just before he brought his mouth down on hers. Tori stiffened at the unexpected assault. Heat raced through her the instant his lips touched hers. Her hands reached up to grip at his forearms, even as her body leaned toward him. Lucas’ hands worked their way behind her head, his fingers weaving through her hair, holding her firmly to him.

  Abruptly, he broke the kiss. Tori sucked in a lungful of air, and stared wide-eyed up at him.

  “What was that for?” Her voice trembled. He still hadn’t released her, and the feel of his strong fingers kneading the back of her head sent ripples of desire through her that left her breathless.

  “That was for running off and leaving me without my clothes,” he said in a sultry tone. His eyes never wavered from her face, and all smugness left his features.

  “You kissed me for stealing your clothes?” Tori rasped. Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. The slight pressure at the back of her head compelled her to lean up toward him.

  “I’ll admit, it was a smart thing to do,” Lucas whispered in a low voice. “And so is this.” He lowered his head again. A quiet whimper escaped her throat just as his mouth touched hers again. Soft and gentle, his lips teased and tasted, and Tori loosened her grip on him. Her arms reached around his middle, and she leaned in closer.

  Lucas adjusted his mouth fully over hers, coaxing her to respond. Tori parted her lips beneath his. Renewed exhilaration raced through her, the fatigue from earlier forgotten. A strong arm reached around her waist, pulling her up tightly against his solid torso.

  Tori’s world spun precariously, and if he hadn’t been holding her up, the weakness in her knees might not have supported her weight. She closed her eyes, giving in to the wonderful sensations of warmth and protection that coursed through her. Forgotten was the cold night, and fearing for their lives, the endless months of loneliness and constantly looking over her shoulder.

  Right now, there was only Lucas and his fierce embrace, the possessive yet tender contact of his exploring mouth, and the feelings his touch stroked to life in her. She gripped his shoulders and leaned into him. The arm behind her back tightened, drawing her even closer against him, his fingers kneading and caressing languidly along her waist.

  All too soon, Lucas loosened his hold. His lips lingered softly on hers before he drew back fully. Tori opened her eyes, gazing up into the smoldering depths of Lucas’ stare. She fought to pull enough air into her lungs. Her lips pulsed to match the wild beating of her heart.

  Lucas’ mouth widened in a lazy grin, but there was also something else. Tori didn’t dare put a name to the look that was written in his eyes. His palm cupped the side of her face while his thumb slowly stroked along her cheek.

  “That was for saving my hide,” he rasped hoarsely, apparently as out of breath as she was.

  Chapter 12

  Lucas relaxed his arm around Tori’s waist. He slid his hand out from behind her head. His fingers lingered along her cheek for a moment before he dropped his hand. Reluctantly, he s
tepped back. He wanted to pull her close to him again, feel her soft curves pressed to him while he kissed her sweet lips. The last bit of rational control he possessed forced him to release her.

  Tori’s hands still rested on his shoulders, sending heat along his sore limbs and into his chest. His insides had never felt warmer, considering he’d endured a full day and night of being buck-naked. Her touch seemed to erase the fierce pain in his arms and shoulders, replacing the hot needle sensations with a different kind of warmth.

  Hell. His entire body was on fire after his lips touched hers. If he hadn’t been absolutely sure that Black Sparrow was following them at this very moment, he would have stood in this meadow and held and kissed her all day. It had come as a complete surprise that she’d been so responsive. He’d already braced himself for a slap to his face for his forward behavior and for stealing those kisses. At the very least, she would give him a tongue lashing, but she just stood there, staring at him.

  Lucas couldn’t tear his eyes away. She gazed up at him, a look of bewilderment on her pretty face. He probably wore the same expression.

  What the hell is going on here, Lucas?

  He hadn’t been able to think straight since he rescued her from that wolverine. Every day, Tori Williams invaded more of his mind, making him forget why he was in the high country to begin with.

  You’ve got plenty of time to meet that expedition.

  Lucas held her gaze. His lips rose at the corners in a slow smile. She’d never returned his looks the way she did at that moment. Her eyes had always shot daggers at him, not favored him with wonder.