Texas Love Song

by Jodi Thomas

  “Don’t let go,” she whispered, already near sleep.

  “I won’t, darling,” he whispered as he gently stroked her damp skin. “I won’t.”

  Deep into the night, Sloan wrapped her in the red blanket and carried her down from the loft and across the clearing to the dugout. She acted as if she were asleep as he slowly moved down the dark steps and into the little room her grandfather had called “Sanctuary.” Gently, he laid her on the bed.

  When he stood, she gripped his arm. “You said you wouldn’t go,” she whispered.

  “I thought you were asleep.” He pulled away and closed the door to the dugout. “I was only locking us in.”

  “I am asleep,” she laughed. “Come closer, it’s cold.”

  “I’ll warm you.” He lifted the blanket and slid in next to her. “Are you naked?”

  “I think so,” she whispered as she rolled against him. “Want to check?”

  And he did.

  Twenty-seven

  SLOAN AWOKE SLOWLY from a deep sleep. The dugout was almost completely black, with only a tiny sliver of light coming from above the door. The air was thick and earthy. He could never remember sleeping so soundly, or being awakened so often…and always with one purpose—loving. He lost track of the number of times McCall had awakened him by touching him knowingly, or rolling over to press against him in sleep, unaware of how her nearness aroused him. When he’d told her he wanted all of her, with nothing held back, he remembered thinking he could handle her. Now he wasn’t so sure. Unless he’d been dreaming, she made love to him once while he was asleep.

  Her bare leg lay across him now. Her breast pressed against his side. Her hair covered his shoulder. He could feel her slow breathing against his neck and still taste her on his lips.

  “I’d die for you,” he whispered as he kissed her cheek.

  She moved against him, pressing closer, begging in her sleep to be caressed.

  Moving his fingers along her side, he whispered, “Loving you is the only Heaven I’ve found on this earth. The only Heaven I’ll ever need.”

  He kissed her sleeping mouth. She still tasted of passion. Even in sleep her lips parted in welcome. Her body moved slightly as he stroked her. She was craving his touch and the knowledge made him hunger for her once more. He’d given her his love all night and she was still wanting more. The thought made him smile and silently promise to satisfy her.

  Sloan wanted to stay at her side forever, but with dawn, he realized he’d left their clothes in the barn. He thought he’d get them and start the fire in the kitchen before coming back to awaken her.

  As he slipped from the bed, he thought of how he’d wake her. The fire would have the kitchen well-warmed by the time he carried her back to the house.

  He wrapped a blanket around himself and silently climbed the stairs.

  The sun was much brighter than he’d expected as he opened the door. He swore, realizing he’d slept far longer than was wise. But he wouldn’t have changed the night if it meant this day would be his last. Making love to McCall left him satisfied and hungry for more at the same time.

  He stepped from the dugout and carefully closed the door. Something among the leaves caught his attention. His clothes, gun belt and all, were piled a few feet from the opening.

  Something crushed leaves only a few feet behind him. He was not alone.

  As he reached for his gun, Alyce Wren’s voice made him freeze in midstride. “You know, for a man who has only one pair of pants, you sure do go leaving them in the strangest places.”

  Squaring his shoulders, he turned to face the old woman.

  “Good morning, Miss Alyce,” he said as he pulled on his pants and dropped the blanket with far less modesty than he should have shown. “Nice to see you, too.”

  “I see you found Sanctuary. It’s a great love nest, isn’t it?” She moved closer and leaned on her cane.

  Sloan couldn’t help but laugh. “I guessed that’s how you knew about it, but I didn’t say anything to McCall. She might not be shocked by anything you did, but I’m not too sure about how she’d react to knowing about her grandfather.”

  “Well, if you didn’t say anything, she’ll never catch on. That child is as dumb as a stump when it comes to matters of loving.”

  Sloan fought down a comment. McCall had gone to school for several hours last night. If he’d have had the chance to awaken her as he’d planned, she might have graduated.

  Alyce swatted him with her cane. “Wipe that smile off your face, soldier. You haven’t done anything I didn’t know you were capable of doing the night I saw you. I knew you were the man I needed when I saw McCall touch your heart.”

  “I’m only following your advice. You’ve been throwing her at me since the night I met you. You shouldn’t be surprised I finally became wise enough to listen.”

  Giggling, Alyce asked, “I take it you gave her a toss on the blanket?”

  He refused to answer the obvious.

  Alyce raised an eyebrow and straightened like a judge. “Do you love her, Sloan? I mean, the kind of love it’s going to take for a woman like McCall? Do you love her enough?”

  Before he could answer, the door flew open and McCall stormed out. She’d wrapped the red blanket around her bustline, but her shoulders were bare. Her hair was wild from the loving, flying around her like a beautiful cape. Fiery blue eyes stared hot enough to set the woods aflame.

  “I’ll thank you two to stop discussing me like I’m some dumb horse you’re thinking of breeding.” She held the blanket with one hand and pointed with the other.

  Sloan and Alyce laughed.

  McCall took a swing at Sloan and almost tripped over the tail of the blanket.

  “Morning, darling,” he said without anger as he stepped out of the way. “Remind me to remember the mood you wake up in so I can always plan to be gone by dawn.”

  “You won’t have to worry about being gone because you’ll be dead if you ever stand around discussing our private life again in public.”

  “Public?” Sloan ducked another blow. “It’s only Miss Alyce.”

  “And me,” a deep voice said from the shadow of the trees.

  All the valley seemed to pause. No birds. No sounds. Not ever the air moved for a moment.

  Sloan dove for his gun. McCall pulled up her blanket. Alyce screamed and raised her cane like a weapon.

  “Wait!” the voice yelled again from the safety of the trees. “Don’t everybody panic.” Starkie stepped into the morning light. “I just came to check on ye. I didn’t have any idea where you’d be, so I stopped by and asked Lacy, just hoping she’d know. When I saw the old woman heading this direction a while ago, I followed in hopes of finding ye.”

  To McCall’s horror, Lacy stepped from the shadow of the big man.

  “And I decided to come along.” The chubby little woman was redder than McCall’s blanket. “I thought maybe I could help. I didn’t want my Mrs. Harrison to be in any trouble.” She smiled shyly and bowed slightly to McCall. “Glad to see you’re doing fine.”

  Years of dignity took over. McCall squared her shoulders. “Welcome,” she managed to say to them both. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll dress for breakfast. I hope you all plan to stay.”

  She turned with all the proper pride she’d always worn and walked toward the house. Not a single person dared to crack a smile.

  Alyce glanced at Lacy. “Morning, Lacy. Wanta help me mix up some breakfast? It may take McCall a while to get herself in order.”

  “At that house?” Lacy looked frightened.

  “I don’t see any other, and McCall says you’re welcome, so welcome you are.”

  Lacy stood a little taller. “That she did. I’d be glad to help you cook a meal.”

  Alyce Wren looked at Sloan. “If you’re not too tired, would you and this big stranger unload my wagon? And be careful of my rocker. I worried about McCall all night and decided I was coming out to stay awhile. I had no idea she was in such good
hands.”

  Sloan shook his head. “Sure, come right in. We’re probably going to be attacked any moment by bloodthirsty wild men who want to cut my heart out, but don’t let that ruin your appetite. Join us for breakfast.”

  Starkie laughed and slapped Sloan on the back. “That’s why I came, mister. I aim to see that you and Mrs. Harrison stay alive, should those five men show up again. I think one may be too badly wounded to come after you, so that only leaves four. After all the fun I had yesterday, I figured I could get in on some more action if I headed this way. I haven’t felt so alive since the war.” He grinned. “Besides, fighting double our number seems about right for making it interesting.”

  He lifted his rifle from the saddle and led his horse as he moved with Sloan toward the house. “Oh, and one other thing while I’ve got a minute alone with you…” His voice lowered so only Sloan could hear. “If you don’t treat that little lady right, you’ll be praying the bloodthirsty wild men kill you first.”

  Sloan gave the big man what he hoped was an angry stare and swore. He’d had one night in Heaven and now it looked like the day would be spent in hell.

  Within the next hour, before they all sat down to breakfast, Lacy and Alyce Wren had taken time to issue him the same death threat. No one commented on McCall also being in the dugout. He thought of telling them that it was she who seduced him last night, but he knew no one would believe him. The memory of her standing behind him, touching him as he fought not to turn and hold her, was branded in his mind. When she’d unbuckled his gunbelt, he’d known he could no longer hide his feelings for her. But these people would never believe such an act of their beloved widow.

  McCall entered the kitchen, looking as if she’d never done anything wild or improper in her life…reinforcing his belief. Her blouse was starched and white, her chocolate skirt clean and pressed, her hair in a knot at the nape of her neck.

  Sloan felt like he’d been dragged through the streets after an all-night drunk and she looked like she’d been to church. Her form of worshiping under the covers would make an old man of him within days.

  He held out her chair and she sat down with a proper thank-you as all watched as if expecting him to do something wrong. What did they think, that he didn’t know how to treat a lady? He’d show them that he knew how to treat the lady in her, and tonight he’d show her he knew how to love the woman in her.

  Sloan took the only empty chair at the other end of the table and watched her. She was like a queen holding court. She complimented Lacy on the rolls until the woman shone with pride. She asked Alyce’s advice about transferring over the deed to Lacy’s land. She shot question after question at Starkie about the outcome of the gun-fight. He told her exactly what Sloan had predicted. As soon as the men saw them ride off, they fought to leave. Only it took some time to get around Starkie’s and Bryant’s guns, then pry the gate open. By the time they reached the back gate, Sloan and McCall were long gone. The only casualty was the reverend’s box of Bibles. They took a direct hit and began to bleed pure whiskey. At which time Mrs. Rogers beat him into sincere repentance with her parasol.

  While the women began to clear the table, Sloan and Starkie went outside.

  Starkie leaned against the porch railing and pulled out his pipe. “They’re corning,” he said simply. “Ye do know that. I had a look at them. They’re the kind of varmint who’ll not let go. They’re like a hound who’s tasted the kill.”

  Sloan watched the horizon. He could feel it also. “I know. I guess I figure this is as good a place to make a stand as any. I wish McCall was away to safety, though. This is not her fight.”

  Starkie shook his head. “She’s where she wants to be—beside her man in trouble. It’s as much her fight as yers now. And if she fights, I stand beside her.”

  Glancing at him, Sloan wondered if he had any idea of what he said. “I’m not her man,” Sloan said, more to himself than anyone.

  “Did ye come to the station yesterday morning to get her out of trouble?”

  “You already know I did. If I hadn’t made the stage, I’d have followed it all the way to Fort Worth.”

  The big man lit his pipe. “Do ye love her with every drop of life in ye?”

  “And more,” Sloan answered, realizing loving her was bone and blood in his makeup. It wasn’t something that suddenly happened, it was simply something that was. “She’s the only thing in this life I’ve found worth dying for.”

  “Then I reckon ye’re her man.”

  “But I’m not good enough for a woman like her.” Sloan hated saying the words out loud, but they were the truth.

  “No man is ever good enough for a good woman.” Starkie laughed. “Just ask their mothers.” He took a long draw on his pipe. “But my guess is she’ll whittle off the edges and you’ll do.”

  When Sloan didn’t answer, he added, “Far better than Major Harrison ever could have.”

  Sloan shot him a quick glance. “How can you say that, Starkie?”

  The big man laughed. “I can say that because I was with the major for four years. He was a great leader, a good officer, and probably my best friend, but he weren’t much of a husband. He never cared much more for her than he did his horses. She might never have admitted it, but she knew it in her heart. And she showed him over and over how valuable she was. Even in the end she showed him. But her cheeks were never so rosy, her eyes so alive, as they were this morning when she climbed from that cellar. Even fighting mad at you, a blind man could see she was a woman in love.”

  He laughed again to himself, silently shaking his big frame. “It was worth the trip just to see that. I never would have guessed it, but ye got yourself one fiery woman there.” He pointed his pipe. “She’s a lady all through and through, but from the looks of ye, she’s a handful to handle in bed. Ye look like something the cat drug up and left on the porch.”

  Sloan rubbed his hairy chin. Here he was waiting for trouble he knew would eventually find him, and he was thinking about shaving and cleaning up. His world had gone completely mad.

  “You think you could keep an eye out while I shave?” Sloan couldn’t believe he was asking. “I won’t be long.”

  “Sure.” Starkie folded his arms. “I’ll stand guard awhile. Ye take yer time. All I ask is that ye get Lacy to bring me one of them rolls left over from breakfast. The four I ate melted in my mouth before I got a chance to enjoy them properly.”

  Sloan went inside and delivered the message to Lacy, then asked her if she’d boil him some water so he could clean up. McCall was nowhere to be found, but Alyce Wren told him the first room upstairs had been the grandfather’s and it probably still had all the shaving equipment.

  He had no trouble finding the room and everything was there as Alyce had said it would be. Within a few minutes, he’d stripped off his shirt and Lacy had delivered the hot water. Before he finished washing, Lacy walked in again without knocking.

  When Sloan grabbed a towel, she giggled. “You ain’t the first man I’ve seen and you won’t be the last, so no use getting embarrassed.” She set a stack of clothes on the bed. “Miss Alyce said she found these in the attic. They belonged to Mrs. Harrison’s father. You’re welcome to them until you can get to town to buy you a change. Miss Alyce says to try and remember where you take them off.”

  Sloan glanced at his dirty clothes and then at the ones she’d brought. “Thanks.”

  As he slipped on the pants, the door opened for the third time. “Didn’t you ever learn to knock?” he asked, expecting Lacy again.

  “Not in my own house,” McCall answered.

  “Oh.” Embarrassment climbed up Sloan’s throat. “I’m sorry. I thought you were Lacy.”

  “Women come in and out of your dressing quarters often, then?”

  “It seems that way.” He watched her moving toward him as he buttoned his pants. “I didn’t get to say good morning to you.”

  He raised his arms, half expecting her to refuse now that she was all dr
essed and proper. But she moved easily into his gentle embrace.

  Lightly touching the starched lace and wool of her dress, he whispered, “I’d like to hold you as I did last night right now.”

  She touched his bottom lip with her finger. “There are too many people and problems now. But no matter what happens today, I’ll be waiting for you tonight.”

  “Promise,” he kissed her finger, “you’ll sleep in my arms tonight?”

  “Promise,” she answered.

  Sloan watched her move away, hating the way her clothes hid her softness, but loving the thought of undressing her later. He’d never known a woman could so completely consume a man, driving all else from his thoughts.

  As the day passed, Sloan had to force himself to concentrate. Starkie rode the perimeters of the property, finding all quiet. Lacy helped McCall pack away Holden’s things that hadn’t been given away. Miss Alyce sat on the porch in her rocker, napping when she wasn’t busy telling Sloan what he should do. The old woman acted calm, but he noticed a six-shooter beneath her lap quilt and a rifle beside the rocker.

  The house was not as much a target as he’d thought. McCall showed him a room that was lined with rifles and weapons like he’d never seen. Most were too old to be of any use, but a few were loaded and placed beside each window.

  Sloan felt they were as ready as they’d ever be about midafternoon when he heard riders coming. He lifted the field glasses to his eyes and frowned. Five men rode fast, directly toward the house, as though they expected little trouble in killing Sloan and McCall. “Take cover,” he ordered quietly.

  McCall met his gaze. As he’d seen before, there was no panic in her eyes, only understanding of what had to be done.

  Starkie moved to the corner of the house where he had good cover. The women stepped inside.

  “Are you coming?” McCall glanced back at Sloan from the doorway.

  “No,” he said as he checked his Colts for the tenth time.