by Bobbi Smith
“You have, have you?” Trent countered, his mood lightening. He gave her a devilish grin.
Faith realized it was one of the few times she’d ever seen him smile. Trent looked so handsome, her heartbeat quickened in response. She returned his smile as their gazes met.
From the beginning, Faith had been a distraction for Trent, and right now she was proving to be one again. This time, though, holed up as they were because of the storm, he found he actually appreciated the distraction. His gaze went over her in a visual caress, lingering on her lips as he remembered the sweetness of her kiss, and then dipping lower to take in her wet blouse clinging revealingly to the full curve of her breasts. Trent lifted his gaze to her lips again, and, unable to resist, he leaned toward her and kissed her.
Faith had been a bit chilled by her wet clothes, but the moment his lips touched hers, a fire of longing was ignited within her. When he took her in his arms, she went willingly into his embrace. Trent guided her back down onto the bedroll, covering her slender body with his. That intimate contact was thrilling. Faith gave a low moan as she felt the heat of him upon her like a searing brand. His lips left hers to trail heated kisses down her throat, and she clutched at his shoulders and held him tightly to her. When he rose up over her again, she drew him down to her and kissed him hungrily.
Her fiery response urged him on. Excitement trembled through Faith as Trent began to unbutton her blouse. He brushed the garment aside and then slipped the straps of her undergarment down her shoulders, baring her breasts to his caress. She gasped at the intimacy of his touch and arched instinctively against him.
Faith began to caress him, sculpting the hard-muscled width of his shoulders and chest, working at the buttons on his shirt. He was strong and lean and all man, and she wanted to be closer to him. Trent drew back to finish shedding his shirt and then helped her strip off her blouse and undergarment before taking her back in his arms again.
She gasped at the thrilling sensations that vibrated through her at that intimate contact. The hard crush of his bare chest against her left her restless and aching for something more. She shifted her hips against his, seeking some unknown fulfillment that, instinctively, she knew only he could give.
Trent wanted her. There was no doubt about that. His body was aching with the need to make her his own, but one last thread of sanity remained. He told himself he should stop. It took an effort, but he did it. He broke off the kiss and shifted slightly away from her.
“Faith.” He said her name in a husky whisper.
She looked up at him, wondering why he’d stopped kissing her. “Trent? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” He drew a ragged breath as he gazed down at her. Faith was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman. She was beautiful and spirited and smart, and he wanted nothing more than to make her his own in all ways, but . . . “And that’s the problem.”
She frowned in confusion. All she wanted was to kiss him again. “I don’t understand.”
Trent moved even farther away, needing to distance himself from the temptation she represented. “We have to stop—now.”
Faith realized he was trying to protect her, and her love for him grew even more. “Trent . . . kiss me.”
He hesitated, knowing full well that one more kiss might shatter the tenuous control he had over himself. He looked down at her, and their gazes met and locked.
“I love you,” she whispered, reaching out to draw him back down to her for a passionate kiss.
Her words touched Trent, but, though he wanted nothing more than to make love to her, he couldn’t allow himself to give in to his desire for her—not here, not now.
Trent reluctantly ended the embrace and sat up to stare off into the night. He didn’t trust himself to look at Faith again. He had to get hold of his emotions. He had always prided himself on being a man in control. He hadn’t survived in dangerous situations all these years by being weak, and this night could be no exception.
The struggle deep within the heart of him was fierce. His desire for Faith was almost overpowering, but it was the fact that he cared for her that gave him the strength he needed to stop. Tracking this raiding party was one of the most dangerous situations he’d ever been in. Her sister’s life was threatened, and Faith’s very safety depended on his being at his best. As painful as it was for him to deny himself, Trent knew that if he gave in to his passion, it would cloud his judgment and affect his ability to remain focused on the very job she’d hired him to do.
He couldn’t do anything that would put them at risk.
He had to be strong.
Faith had never known such intimacy with a man before, or such excitement. She had been caught up in the rapture of Trent’s embrace and had wanted to stay in his arms forever. Now, as her sanity slowly returned, she understood why Trent had drawn away from her. A part of her still longed to go back into his arms, but she knew she would be forever grateful that he’d been strong enough to stop when he had. The knowledge deepened her love for him even more, and she quickly moved to cover herself.
As Trent sat there staring out at the storm-swept land, he finally admitted to himself that he loved Faith, but acknowledging it left him even more frustrated. From the beginning, he had never wanted her to come along. He’d wanted her to stay behind, to be safe and out of harm’s way. He considered sending her back home, but even as he thought it, he knew it was too late. They were too far out. It would be too dangerous for her to try to return to the ranch now. He was going to have to keep her with him so he could make sure she was protected.
Trent found himself half smiling as he thought of how she would react if he told her he was going to send her back home.
“What are you smiling about?” Faith asked, seeing the slight curve of his lips. She was unsure of what he was feeling, and a little nervous because she’d been so brazen with him.
He turned to her, feeling slightly more in control now. “I was thinking about how you would react if I told you . . .”
Faith was waiting breathlessly for his next words. She was hoping he would declare his feelings for her—hoping he would tell her he loved her, too.
“That I wanted you to go back to the ranch,” he finished.
“Go back to the ranch?!” She was shocked.
“I knew you would react that way, and that’s exactly why I was smiling.” He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to send you away. I’m going to keep you right here with me.”
“But why would you even have thought of it?”
Trent’s gaze met hers and his expression turned serious as he answered her. “Because I want to make sure you’re safe.”
At his words, all the tension she’d been feeling melted away. “I am safe—as long as I’m with you.” And she knew that was even truer now that he’d proven what a strong man he really was.
“We’d better try to get some rest.”
“I know.”
They sought what comfort they could find on their bedrolls, lying close together without touching.
Outside, the storm continued unabated.
Hank and Jake had taken refuge beneath a rocky outcropping on higher ground some distance away from the arroyo. They were drenched and miserable, but at least they were out of the worst of the weather.
“I hope Faith and Trent are all right,” Jake worried as darkness laid claim to the storm-ravaged land.
“I’m sure Trent found a place to wait it out.”
“You trust him, don’t you?” Jake looked at the older ranch hand, respecting his judgment.
“I do. He hasn’t led us wrong yet.”
“You think it’ll be hard picking up their trail again?” His thoughts were on Abbie. He wondered if the raiding party had been stopped by the torrential rains, too, or if they’d gotten even farther ahead of them. He didn’t want Abbie in any greater danger than she already was.
“It ain’t going to be easy, but if anyone can do it, it’ll be Trent. They don’t
say he’s the best for nothing.”
Jake let the conversation lapse.
It was going to be a long, miserable night.
Miles away, Trent lay beside Faith, watching her sleep and wondering what their future could be together.
Marriage . . .
The thought came to him, but he put it from him—for now.
Faith stirred and awoke in the darkness to find Trent asleep beside her. In sleep, he looked relaxed and at ease and even more handsome—if that were possible. A shiver of excitement coursed through her at the memory of his kiss and touch, and as she remembered the respect he’d shown her, heartfelt emotion filled her, deepening her love for him even more.
With the coming dawn, they would be reunited with Jake and Hank, and Faith knew the intimacy they’d shared this night would be lost. She was going to have to act as if nothing had happened between them, and she hoped she could do it.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
It was late as Abbie huddled with Ellie and Caroline in the back of the cave. Earlier that afternoon the warriors had seen the storm coming and had recognized its power. They had tried to outrun it, but when it had overtaken them, they’d taken shelter in this cave to wait for it to pass. The warriors had bound the captives’ wrists behind them and had forced them farther into the back, while they’d remained near the entrance to keep watch and stand guard. As night had fallen and the storm had shown no signs of letting up, they’d bedded down.
When Abbie realized that the warriors were going to stay closer to the front, she’d been glad. She’d been hoping for a chance to speak with the other women, but she didn’t want to risk being overheard by the warrior who understood English. She’d managed to fall asleep for a short time, and then awoke to find that Ellie and Caroline were awake, too.
An occasional flash of lightning gave Abbie enough light to see that the warriors appeared to be sleeping, so she knew this was the time she’d been waiting for.
“I have an idea,” Abbie whispered to the other captives.
“What?” Ellie asked nervously. She was nearly hysterical in her terror, and barely staying in control of her emotions.
“We need to try to escape.”
“You’re crazy!” Ellie’s voice was hushed yet terrified.
“No, I’m not,” Abbie argued. “I’m crazy if I just sit here and do nothing. I want to go home, and the only way that’s going to happen is if I find a way to outsmart these Apache.”
“You think we can?” Caroline asked eagerly. It was the first ray of hope she’d had since they’d been taken.
“There are four of them and three of us. We can figure out a way to do it. The hardest part is getting free. After that, it’s just a matter of trying to grab their guns so we can defend ourselves and fight back if we have to. You know how to use a gun, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Ellie was still hesitant.
“How are we going to do it?” Caroline was ready to try anything.
“If one of us can get free, then it will just be a matter of untying the other two and making our move without waking them up. When the time comes, we’re going to have to move fast.”
“But you already tried escaping once, and they caught you. Why do you think it will work this time?” Ellie worried.
Abbie looked over at her, her expression grave and serious. “Because this time we’re not running away. This time we’re after their guns.”
Ellie was scared, but she knew Abbie was right. It was up to them to save themselves. They couldn’t wait for a rescue that might never come. She looked over at her daughter. She loved Caroline with all her heart and soul, and would do whatever was necessary to keep her from harm. “All right. When?”
“Now. Back up to me. Let’s start working on these ropes.”
Ellie shifted her position so they could try to untie each other’s hands.
And it was then that it happened.
In one quick, savage move, Little Dog rolled to his feet, drew his knife, and threw it at them with unerring accuracy.
Abbie cried out in terror as his knife just barely missed her and hit the cave wall beside her.
The other warriors were roused by the disturbance and quickly got up.
“What is it, Little Dog?” Crooked Snake demanded as he saw him going to the women.
“They were trying to escape,” he answered, coming to tower over the Golden One. As lightning flashed again outside, he could see her expression clearly and knew she was truly frightened. Her terror gave him a feeling of even greater power, and he was smiling ferally as he hunkered down next to her to get his knife.
Abbie held her breath as the warrior she despised reached across her to get his weapon. The fact that he was watching her so closely unnerved her, and though she fought for control, fear shone in her eyes.
Little Dog took his time retrieving his knife. He enjoyed being so close to her and feeling her tremble. He had her just the way he wanted her—helpless. Ever so slowly, he used the knife to push aside the makeshift garment Lone Eagle had made her, then ran the cold edge of the blade across her throat in an unspoken threat and then down lower to the tops of her breasts. He heard her gasp at the contact and savored the feeling of power that surged through him. She thought she was smart. She thought she could get away from them, but she would never escape him—never.
Caroline was watching the horrible torment the warrior was inflicting on Abbie, and she grew mindless in her fury.
“No!” she screamed. In a rage, she kicked out at him to try to knock him away from Abbie. She made contact, but paid the price.
Little Dog reacted instantly. He turned on her and pinned her to the ground, his knife at her throat. He was snarling with anger at her defiance. He wanted to make her pay.
Abbie and Ellie tried to go to Caroline’s aid, but Lone Eagle was there, pushing them both back down to the ground. Crooked Snake went after Little Dog.
“Do not harm her!” Crooked Snake ordered.
Had he not spoken, Little Dog, in his rage, might well have cut her throat right then. Instead, he pulled away in disgust and stood up.
“I woke up and heard them whispering,” he told Crooked Snake. “Then I saw the Golden One trying to get free.”
“It is good that you stopped them.” Crooked Snake checked the bonds on all three captives to make sure they were still tied tightly.
Lone Eagle left the women for a moment, then returned with a length of rope and his own blanket. As he had done before, he tied one end to the Golden One’s ankle and the other to his own before stretching out on his blanket close beside her.
“You will not try to escape again,” he told her.
The other warriors moved away.
Little Dog took one last look down at the Golden One’s partially bared breasts. There were times like this when he would have enjoyed torturing and raping the captives much more than taking money for them. Trying to control his anger, he returned to bed down on his blanket. The night was going to be a long one.
Abbie lay unmoving in the darkness, all too aware of the warrior beside her. Her heart was broken, for she knew he would never leave her alone again, and that meant there was no hope for escape. Tears of misery traced silent paths down her cheeks as she gave in to her emotions. Unless a miracle happened, she would never be free again—she would never find out what had happened to Mason or see Faith or be with Jake.
Abbie closed her eyes against the darkness and the pain and listened to the rain falling. Her despair deepened even more, for the downpour sounded less harsh now, and that meant the storm was passing and they would soon be riding on again.
It was just starting to get light outside when Faith awoke. She rolled over, expecting to find Trent there beside her. She was startled to discover he’d left their shelter without her knowing it. Getting up, she went looking for him. She wanted to have a moment alone with him before they had to ride out.
Faith went outside and saw him standing a short distance away. He
was looking off in the direction they’d come from the day before, no doubt watching for some sign of Hank and Jake. Her gaze went over him, taking in his broad shoulders and lean, powerful build, his dark, rugged good looks and the commanding way he carried himself. Her heartbeat quickened at the memory of his kiss and touch, and she made her way to join him.
“Good morning.”
Trent turned to her. She had been in his thoughts ever since he’d awakened. He hoped things would be all right between them this morning. “Yes, it is. The storm is over.”
“Thank heaven.” Faith gazed up at him. “You know, this isn’t going to be easy.”
“Picking up a trail again after a rain like that never is.” He looked back out over the landscape, deliberately trying not to dwell on the long, dark hours of the night just past.
“That, and trying to act like nothing happened between us.”
He looked over at her, his expression serious. “I don’t know which one will be harder, but right now we have to find your sister.” Ever so gently, he bent to Faith and kissed her. “We’d better get ready to ride.”
They moved apart reluctantly, trying to concentrate solely on what lay ahead for them that day.
“There’s still no sign of Jake and Hank, so we’re riding on without them,” he told her after they’d eaten.
Faith understood. Trent had warned them back at the ranch that if they got separated, he wasn’t going to waste any time looking for the other members of the search party.
“All right.”
He was glad she didn’t argue with him. “I’ve already got the horses saddled up.”
They packed up the few things they had with them and rode out.
“How much farther is it to that ranch?” Faith asked as they continued on in the direction they’d been heading before the storm had broken.
“We’ll make it today.”
“Good. I just hope we can pick up the trail again.”
“I’ll find it.” He was confident.
And Faith believed in him.
