Devil Hills: #1 Scarlet, Lexi & Lily

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  Lucas kept hearing Connie’s words. Did he know what he was doing? He wasn’t sure he had an answer to that one now. He wasn’t used to the strength in a pair bonding, the power that translated into pure hunger for his mate.

  When he wandered back to the house shortly before four, there was a large table set up on the wide porch and it was filled with cold drinks and food. Fresh baked things, he realized, watching the coming and going of the help for thirty minutes before the table was empty.

  Connie met the puzzled look. “She felt like baking. There’s a plate for you in the kitchen.”

  “Where’s Scarlet?”

  “She’s walking around the ranch,” concerned eyes met his. “She told me to tell you she wouldn’t run.”

  Lucas sighed. “I’m not worried about her running. I’m more worried about her,” he said, striding past and into the house without looking back.

  He could find her. He was no longer worried about that. Her scent while fighting had been strong and was his now. And it wasn’t food he was interested in at the moment. Lucas went out the patio door. There was a big storm coming in from the west. He was about to go off toward the pastures when he saw her walking casually back toward him, a smile on her face.

  “What’s wrong?” She asked, glancing around.

  “Nothing,” but the answer seemed to stick in his throat. Her cheeks were flushed, amber eyes sparkling and dark curls dashed about in the winds and she seemed totally unaware of any of it. “Have a nice walk?”

  “Yes, thank you…it’s a gorgeous ranch. But there’s no water,” she said with a long sigh, shrugging.

  “Water…in the kitchen?”

  “I mean a lake or river water,” she laughed and impulsively linked her arm with his. “Did you eat? I left you food.”

  “I was going to find you. The storms here can get pretty wild in the fall and spring. They’re tying things down now and getting some of the younger stock into the barns.”

  “Is there something I can help with?”

  “Make sure we have candles out and the windows shuttered. I’ll be back in a few. And stay in the house, Scarlet.” He gave her a little shove and took off toward some voices.

  She looked up once at the gathering clouds, each new layer a little darker, a little more imposing looking. She’d gone through drawers in her exploring and knew where the spare candles were set up as well as jars of unopened candles.

  She found the lighter and went around, lighting what she found in the main room and the hall. She lit one in her bedroom and curled up in the center of the large bed to watch and wait.

  Chapter Five

  Lexi Baker bit her lip to keep from whining as badly as her engine was on the car. She knew she’d been pushing it. A little too hard a lot too fast in her efforts to escape.

  Escape.

  What a wrong word, she thought angrily, unaware that she moved her body slightly back and forth to hopefully give the little well packed car a bit more ambition along the wide road. Equally unaware of the long tawny ponytail that twitched and arced like the long, graceful tail that was submerged.

  Alright.

  Not her best plan.

  She doubted that was going to work so she pulled off on the next well-traveled dirt road. There was a large house at the end and even some lights. A tow truck and repair team would delay her…departure…she nodded to herself. A much better word. The car seemed to be aware it was safe to die now and did.

  She stepped from inside, groaning at the whiffs of smoke caught in the winds and kicked out at the tire. She wasn’t going to touch it. Had no clue what to do with it other than put gas in, have the oil changed and buy new wipers now and then.

  She was still glaring at it when the darkness finally registered. Siamese blue eyes scanned the skies and then the ground and all the wind throwing things around her. She grabbed her pack from the front seat, closed the door and made a run for the wide covered porch.

  It wasn’t so much the brilliant flash of lightning across the sky to the west that bothered her. It was what would be following all too closely.

  Lexi made it to the porch at the same time the sound seemed to rip apart everything between sky and earth. It made the breath in her chest freeze, her body shook and she tripped backwards onto the porch.

  Her body struck the solidly built newel pole, sending a large empty ceramic pot teetering until it went over the side and struck the back of her head.

  Eli Daniels had the wide brimmed hat pulled low over his forehead when he jumped from the cab of the pick-up and made a dash to his porch. Booted feet came to a skidding halt and he was grateful that the storm was only up to the wind portion at this point.

  He closed one eye and studied the woman curled unconscious on the weathered wood. He took in the large over turned pot and groaned. He’d been meaning to move that idiot thing before this happened.

  He cast a dismissing glance at the small, expensive import and guessed it was hers. She wasn’t familiar, at least what he could see of her wasn’t. He knew what she was, he could smell her.

  Soft, wooded and earthy. Feline.

  He put a foot on the bottom step and gathered her against him, her pack in his fingers as he lifted her and went to the door. He shoved it open and kicked it closed behind him, carrying her into the living area and laying her out on the sofa.

  Eli went around lighting candles before going to stand over her. He was a little over six foot and she wasn’t slight, but she was…delicate…he thought that word suited what he could see.

  He pulled the worn sneakers free and reached for the ball cap she had pulled over her head. One brow went up at the mass of hair that fell from inside. It would have easily curled down to the middle of her back and was now draped over the side of the sofa. In the candle light the color was hard to pin point. Pale, shimmering tan was his nearest guess.

  He dropped to his heels, hands on her head and fingers carefully probing. He found the large bump and pulled his hand out, grateful she wasn’t bleeding. He didn’t want to call out his brother in this storm and framed her face with his hands. He moved her head from side to side, but there was no reaction, no response.

  Her jeans had seen better days; the tee shirt one of those scooped neckline ones girls wore and her mouth full and expressive, taut in a little bow of a pout as she slept. He stood up and rubbed the back of his neck after tossing his hat onto the table. He groaned when the buzz began in his pocket and pulled the phone out.

  “Towers are still up and running,” he mused and opened the phone. “Yeah?”

  “You never sound pleasant.”

  “I blame genetics,” he returned, sighing at the feminine voice on the other end of the line. “What do you need, mother?”

  “Can’t a mother check on her son?”

  “You have two others. Why me?” He paused and nodded to himself. “Because Jess doesn’t know anything and Lucas isn’t talking. I heard about his plan.”

  Amelia Daniels sighed. “Have you seen her yet?”

  “Been a bit busy, mom. Storm blew in a little earlier than predicted…now there’s a surprise,” he began. And I found a cute unconscious woman on my porch. No, not something to share with mom at this time, he told himself. “Lucas is a big boy. He can handle whatever scheme he cooks up.”

  “What do you think he’s going to do?”

  “Marry? Settle down. Have a quiet honeymoon…” Eli wanted to throw his hands in the air. “Isn’t that what you want him to do?”

  “It’s what I want all of you to do but no one listens to me,” she tossed back with a laugh.

  “You could always pretend.”

  “Pretend what?” She returned suspiciously.

  “I’m married. I’m happy. She’s gorgeous and we’re having a great honeymoon,” he looked up with the howl of the winds caught his attention. “Got to go, mom…wind’s messed up a window. I’ll let you know when I meet her and give you an update, promise.”

  He didn’t wait
for a reaction, but closed the phone, tossed it to the table and took off running toward the back of the house where the pantry and laundry were located.

  He didn’t see the woman on the sofa sit up, carefully rubbing her head.

  After she had heard his declaration on the phone to his mother.

  Cold, slim fingers tucked hair behind one ear and reached for the pack at her feet. She had the wallet out, peering at the photo and touching the side of her face as she stared at the face staring back at her.

  Lexi Baker. Simple name.

  She moved to sit cross legged on the floor, in the center of the ornate gold and red carpet. She upended the pack and spread things around with her hand. Nothing was familiar.

  Keys, a pink stone in the shape of a heart. It was heavy and cool to the touch. She held it in her palm, closing her fingers and sighing. Pens. A little notebook. She opened it but most of the pages were blank. Her head hurt. She gathered things up and put them back, flipping through the wallet last.

  Charge card, bank card, gas card and cash. A lot of cash.

  She looked up when she heard the footsteps come closer. Fast and then slowing considerably.

  Eli watched her tip her head to the side, studying him.

  “The lights are out,” she said quietly, taking in the square toed boots, the worn jeans and black tee shirt beneath a weathered looking denim jacket.

  Very alarming pale green eyes set on a nice face. High tanned cheeks and pale straw colored hair that was straight and barely touched his ears. A shock fell over his forehead now and then, resting on one eye brow.

  “Storm took out the power station,” he stepped closer, dropping to his heels in front of her. She just stared at him with a pair of the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. The deep tan color hair fell from a center part on either side of her face, one side stuck behind her ear. “How are you feeling?”

  “I have a headache. And a bump. Have we been married long?” Her mouth opened and eyes went wide when he fell back onto the floor. Her laugh was soft and light. “Lost your balance?”

  “I…” Eli stared, his head shaking slightly.

  “I know it must seem like a dumb question…but I can’t remember. I…looked in here…at my wallet. My name is Lexi Baker…and I don’t even know if that’s your name or just mine,” she sighed tiredly. “I heard you telling your mother you were happy, so that’s a good thing to know. My first little bit of information in a huge library of a head with nothing in it. Except I know I don’t like thunder,” she murmured, jumping visibly when the rumble forced its way through the sky above them. “I think mom’s worry about their sons. I hope she likes me.”

  “She’d like a wild she-cat as long as we were settled and mated,” he said without thinking. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”

  “Nothing to be sorry for,” she smiled despite the pain. “Am I? A wild she-cat?”

  “Let’s start with…Eli Daniels,” he held his palm out to her politely, gathering his legs beneath him and pushing to his feet again.

  “How do you do, Eli Daniels?” She asked, losing to the wince. “I’m sorry. Maybe an ice pack? What happened to my head?”

  “I think you were running for the house and fell against the post. A planting pot that shouldn’t have been there, fell on you,” he took both her hands and pulled her to her feet, leading her to the dimly lighted kitchen. “Have a seat. How about some food?”

  He laughed at the expression on her face, fascinated when a tint of pink that flushed over her cheeks. He dug into a drawer and found the ice bag, filled it, capped it and handed it to her.

  “It’s not funny,” she pouted a little. “I was checking…not sure when my stomach had something in it last.”

  “Sorry. I can give Jess a call…my middle brother…doctor…how about I make some sandwiches? Or I’ll lay things out and you make what you want,” he offered, tossing things to the counter and finding plates and knives; mayo and mustard; pickles and last of the summer tomatoes.

  “Turkey…nice thick bread…” She set the ice bag down and began building a sandwich. She was hungry. “Mayo…pickles…yum…”

  “Looks like you know what you like,” he commented, pulling a stool closer and building his own sandwich. He wasn’t sure how much more trauma it would cause for him to correct things.

  The worst she’ll have when she remembers would be embarrassment at the mix up. If he told her now, she’d have nothing. No anchor. He lifted his phone off the counter and tapped his brother’s number.

  “Dr. Daniels.”

  “Hey, Jess, I got a question for you if you’ve got a minute.”

  “Storm’s about shut everything down. I’m in my apartment with candles. What’d you need?”

  “How do you handle amnesia?”

  Jess Daniels closed one eye. “Obviously not yours.”

  “I’m good, thanks for asking.”

  “Nothing you can do. I’m guessing head trauma caused it. If stitches aren’t needed, ice it and wait,” he shrugged, standing at the window and watching the lightning off in the distance. “Usually…not always…things clear on their own.”

  “Thanks. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “No problem,” Jess said with an end to the call.

  “Ice and patience,” Eli said easily, part of him curious if she could feel her other side without knowing about it. He reached over, two fingers beneath her chin. “You have to pick it up to eat it, Lexi. Are you okay?”

  “I’m afraid I’m going to either pass out or barf…neither is really romantic for a honeymoon.” She sighed and lifted the ice pack to the back of her head again.

  “I’m pretty sure you can be forgiven,” Eli took a bite of his sandwich, watching her pick at the bread before lifting the sandwich and taking a bite. “Something to drink?”

  “Water, please. I think I’ll save this for later,” she shoved the plate back and went to the sofa, curling into the corner and laying her head down. She didn’t like the spinning part.

  Eli carried the ice pack to her, his hand brushing over her forehead.

  What the hell was he supposed to do with her?

  A cat. He had a cat in his house. He hated cats.

  He straightened the kitchen. Wrapped her sandwich and finished his before going to look at her again. He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck.

  “Are you going to stand there staring at me all night?”

  “Sorry. You might be more comfortable upstairs,” he pushed the words out before they ran and hid.

  “I suppose…I don’t even know where the bathroom is,” she pushed against the sofa, held her eyes tightly closed for a long minute before straightening her shoulders and sighing. “Okay…things are a little spinning…which way?”

  Eli looked at the palm she slid into his like it was a foreign object. He smacked himself mentally.

  You’re not thirteen, he growled. He tightened his grip and led her up the wide staircase that wound in a slight curve to the second floor.

  “This is a very nice house,” Lexi moved a little closer when the thunder rumbled, flashes of light bringing an unsolicited gulp. “Sorry…”

  “This guest room is right across the hall from the bathroom,” Eli stopped when she pulled on his hand.

  “A guest room? Is that where we sleep? Is this someone else’s house?” She held the ice pack against her head and brought it down with a sigh. “I melted it. That isn’t our room,” she sniffed. She didn’t know why, but she did and it felt normal. She let go of his hand and wandered along the wide hall, stopping at a door at the end. Lexi pushed it wide and inhaled deeply. “This is our room. I smell you…god, that sounded really weird.”

  “I…that’s…alright, that’s my room,” Eli went to the room and inside behind her.

  “Just your room? Married people share the same room,” she frowned slightly. “Or is that a different reality than the one currently left in my memory? Wonder how come you remember things like that and your name, poof
…gone. Your career…poof…out flying somewhere. I’m tired,” she crossed to the large bed and climbed into the center.

  Chapter Six

  Eli watched her shove blankets aside and curl her arms around a thick pillow, her face buried in the edge and breathing slowing. He wandered downstairs and called his brother on the way out to her car. He tried starting it and discovered it was probably why she ended up on his porch. The thing was dead. He grabbed a large suitcase out of the back, a smaller case and took them both inside.

  Jess had said to wake her every couple hours and get her to drink something before letting her sleep again. He left the cases by the stairs and poured a large glass of juice. He was juggling all of it when the lightning ripped through every window in the house followed by booming thunder that seemed to shake the place. He made it to the bedroom and set the cases down when she started whimpering.

  She’d burrowed into the blankets and pulled another pillow over her head. Whatever she didn’t recall, a fear of thunder was a remnant she couldn’t make go away.

  He set the juice on the nightstand and moved to the side of the bed. He touched her shoulder first, gently stroking. She didn’t seem to mind that. He lifted the pillow off her face, her arms were wrapped tightly around another pillow, holding onto it for dear life. Now and then she’d shake her head and he heard the word ‘no’ over and over.

  Eli circled the large bed, two hands on his shoulders.

  Why wasn’t her scent annoying?

  Why didn’t he call someone and send her to the local hospital? Maybe he should have called Lucas, the vet, instead of Jess.

  That was tacky.

  He pulled his boots free and dropped socks onto them before climbing onto the bed and repositioning her against him. This seemed to calm her enough that she stopped tossing her head around, but the whispers continued for a few minutes.

  He struggled with the low groan inside him when she pushed his shirt up and out of the way, her face against his chest.