Wildflower

by Raine Cantrell

  Gage stepped in front of her. “Not in front of the boy.”

  “Where the hell is Grogan?” Jonas demanded, backing down. “I want to know what happened last night.”

  “Nursing a knife wound down at the crick,” Gage answered. “Seems he had to wait too long for Kilkenny to meet up with him, and that started him drinkin’. An’ you know Grogan when he’s drinkin’,” he drawled. “Got into a fight. Fella knifed him before Grogan killed him.”

  “Ah, Gage, he’s just—”

  Once again, a look from Gage silenced Jonas. “I never liked Grogan letting Kilkenny ride off alone to get that money from wherever he stashed it. There’s a score that needs settlin’.” Gage continued without emotion. “Saul Lomas was my friend and Charmas killed him over a woman. When he comes back, I’ll be waitin’.”

  Jenny had no chance to react to this. Jonas moved closer at a slight nod from Gage.

  “You give me any more trouble and I’ll let Prado take care of you.” Jenny stared as he loomed over her. “That’s smart of you,” Jonas grated. ‘They’ll be respectful ‘cause you’re mine—don’t go thinkin’ otherwise—but I’ll finish with you later.”

  The three of them moved aside and Jenny turned to unsaddle her mare, unable to forget Jonas’s fury. Her hand brushed the stock of her rifle. Although she was tempted beyond rational thought to use it, fear of what would happen to Robby if she did made her push temptation aside. She shuddered with revulsion when the man called Prado came to her side, lifting the saddle from her hands and setting it on the corral fence. Jenny backed away until she stood near her son.

  She pulled Robby to her side, then kneeled. “Robby, I don’t like these men and I want you to stay away from them.” She held back all other warnings. She couldn’t frighten him further.

  “But Jon … I mean Pa, said they were his friends. Friends don’t hurt each other, do they?”

  How could she warn him against his father and not destroy his trust? “No, honey, friends don’t hurt each other, but we don’t know these men, so we can’t call them friends.” And I pray we never do know more about them, she added to herself, watching as Gage and Jonas talked.

  Robby, bewildered by all that had happened, innocently asked, “Mom, why did he ask me about Sam staying with us? And how come he said that ain’t his name? Is Sam Pa’s friend, too?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered, standing. “And his name is Charmas. Charmas Kilkenny, not Sam.”

  “So you know him.” Prado grabbed her arm, spinning her around, calling out, “Gage, get over here. Seems we got somethin’ Charmas wants right here.”

  Only the thought of Robby being alone with them kept Jenny still.

  “I guess I won’t need to ask where he was while Grogan waited, will I?” Gage said to her.

  She refused to look at him, staring instead at her mud-encrusted boots, but when several agonizing minutes passed in silence, she found the courage to look up. It was easy to see the tension in Prado and Jonas as they watched Gage.

  “Sarah Parkins talked to Charmas,” Gage stated. “Prado, I don’t like what she did.”

  “Now, hold it, Gage.”

  His cold gaze held Jonas’s attention. “Prado.”

  “Si. It is done, Gage.”

  It took Jenny a few minutes to realize the decision to kill Sarah had been made between them. Done with a minimum of words, no show of emotion. But she couldn’t afford to think of Sarah Parkins. She had to protect Robby.

  Jonas grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You were with him last night, weren’t you, whore?”

  There was no point in denying it. At least there wasn’t until she saw her son’s face. Robby turned away. Away from her. But not before she saw the confusion, the dawning realization of her being what Jonas accused her of being. It wasn’t like that, Robby! she wanted to scream … but Robby was walking away.

  With a jerk and muttered curse Jonas released her and she sagged back against the corral fence, ignoring them until she noticed they were all looking at the man coming up the path from the creek, cradling his arm with his hand.

  “Stupid bastard,” Jonas said by way of greeting. “How bad is it, Grogan?”

  ‘Think it’s festerin’. Be needin’ some doctorin’ or I’ll lose it for sure. Rather be dead first,” he growled.

  “Jenny can fix that up for you,” Jonas offered without looking at her.

  Jenny didn’t bother to answer. She sized up the third man. He was small, bullish-looking, and stared right back at her. His neck was thick, covered with a faded red bandana; wisps of coarse black hair stuck out at odd angles from under his battered felt hat. The same thick hair covered the backs of his blunt fingers. Food stains marked his worn clothes, and the thought of touching him even to doctor him made bile rise again.

  “Well?” Grogan whined. “She gonna stand there or get on with it?”

  “You got what you need at Ben’s,” Jonas stressed, a sly smile creasing his lips. “And Ben ain’t there.”

  “You’re thinking of letting them stay here?” Jenny demanded.

  “That’s right, Jenny. They need a place to hole up and now they have one. With us,” he added in warning.

  “Robby stays with me.”

  “No. He stays where I can watch him.”

  He had pushed her too far. “Once I thought I had killed you. Next time I’ll make sure of it.” Biting her lip, she swore at herself for saying it. Among the looks the men exchanged, only the blazing promise for retaliation from Jonas stood out. Her gaze dropped to her rifle as Jonas led Grogan and Robby toward Ben’s cabin.

  Beside her, Gage’s soft voice warned, “Be a mighty foolish move.”

  “You’re right, it would be. Jonas would win too easily then.” Her voice and the look she leveled at him were coldly assured. His face was a study of smooth planes that revealed nothing to her.

  “Figured you’d see it that way,” he remarked. “After you, ma’am.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Firelight played shadows over Ben’s tidy cabin walls as Jenny tossed the last of the rags she’d used to clean Grogan’s wounded arm into the basin.

  “I’ve done all I can. He’ll need rest.” Without looking at the three men, she shoved sweat-damp hair from her face. Exhausted from lack of sleep and troubled thoughts, she wanted to get back to her own cabin where Robby was there alone with Jonas. God only knew what he’d told him by now. She headed for the door and found Gage there, blocking her way.

  He looked like a dark avenging devil with his swarthy skin and molded black brows. Even his hair was the ebony of night. Everything spoke in whispers of evil to her and she had no desire to ever see that side of him. She forced herself to meet his gaze, hating his eyes. His gaze was not that of a passionate man, but of a man who sees the world and those souls unfortunate to inhabit it as a hunter sees it prey. She felt he had easily probed her mind these last few hours without words being exchanged. He frightened her and she fought not to reveal it to him, sensing it would give him power.

  “If he’s fevered, I’ll come for you.”

  “There’s no reason he should be,” she said quickly, slightly breathless. “Give him that spicebush tea and there won’t be fever.”

  “I’ll come.”

  His move was smooth as he opened the door and allowed her to pass. Jenny ran out the door, up the path. She suddenly stopped halfway and looked back. Gage stood framed in the doorway, outlined by the firelight behind him. He was still watching her. Her breath caught somewhere in her throat. She didn’t know how long she stared back at him, seeing the lithe body clad in black. Then, forcing herself to look away from the strong probe of his eyes, she ran. Was he stalking her? Dared she tell Jonas? Running uphill from the devil to hell’s open gate was the thought seething inside her when she reached her cabin. Jonas would be waiting inside for her.

  She opened the door. The lantern was out but there was en
ough light from the fire to see. Without looking at Jonas, she went to her son who was already asleep. Leaning over to kiss him, lingering as long as she dared, she prayed Jonas would leave her alone tonight. Smoothing Robby’s hair, she remembered his tears for the kitten he’d been forced to leave behind. She reassured him that Gran would take care of it. Rashly she had promised they would go back to get the kitten. But when? When would Jonas and these men leave? And would she survive their being here?

  Straightening, she stared at the blanket still hanging between the beds. She couldn’t waste time dwelling on what the winter would be like. With fists resting on her hips, she heard the thud of Jonas’s boots hitting the floor. Shoving aside the blanket, she watched him slide his shirt off. He tossed it on the bed with a carelessness that made her teeth clench. She couldn’t help thinking of Charmas as she listened to the crackle of the fire. Jonas slid off his gunbelt.

  “I don’t want you here,” she whispered. He didn’t turn or answer or stop undressing. “I don’t know why you came back here, or how you managed to live after I unloaded my shotgun into you, but it won’t wash anymore. I don’t want you or those men here. Robby’ll get hurt.”

  “He won’t. An’ you ain’t telling me anything I don’t know ‘bout your feelings. But it’s what I want an’ you tend to forget that. Truth is, in my own way, I missed you. An’ no one’s going to hurt you either, if you do exactly what you’re told.” Hooking his fingers into his belt, his eyes reflected the glitter of the fire. “Jenny, they won’t make trouble if you don’t. Been enough talk for now. What I want—”

  “I know damn well what you want!” she snapped, stepping closer, trying not to wake Robby. “Those men are dangerous. They’re trouble and they’ll bring more.” She stopped herself, took a deep breath, and tried for a calmer tone. A show of anger could inflame Jonas. “Call it quits for good this time. There’s four hundred dollars owed me from the sale of the mares; get it from the quartermaster at the fort and keep going.”

  His hands spread out from his sides, his shrug careless. “Can’t do that. Wouldn’t ‘spect you to believe I’m tuckered out from runnin’, but I am. An’ legally you’re still my wife. Seems you need remindin’ of that. Why?” he taunted with a mocking laugh. “You an’ that jasper Kil­kenny—”

  “Leave him out of this!”

  “How long was he with you, Jenny? How many nights did he spend in my damn bed that you kept me out of? Did you fight him, Jenny, or were you the same easy—”

  “Shut up! Just shut the hell up! He means nothing to me.”

  “Don’t yell. Robby might hear and you don’t want that. You never wanted Robby to hear,” he whispered.

  “Jonas, please, get out.” She gazed at his hard features. The lines bracketing his mouth were a little deeper, but there was no understanding, no pity, no mercy in his eyes for her.

  “Some nights when I was riding, I’d remember how it was with us.”

  “A long foolish time ago,” she returned coldly.

  “No, it wasn’t. I never could forget you, Jenny. I even understand a little of what drove you to try and kill me. But I had you first, Jenny. I’m the one that taught you ‘bout loving a man. You can’t forget that,” he taunted.

  And Jenny remembered how in the past Jonas had tortured her until she raged. She steeled herself for what was to come.

  “Two years is a long time, Jenny. I could still have you.”

  Memories came rushing back like a dust devil on the wind. But they were the very memories that gave her the strength to deny him. “You’re wrong this time,” she said softly, but with a conviction that could not be shaken. “Once it was true, but not now.” Proudly, then defiantly, she glared at him.

  The fire cast streaks of bronze over the ripple of muscles across his shoulders and down his chest. “It’ll be true again. There’re things I’ve no intention of telling you that need settlin’ first.” Narrowing his eyes, holding her still with that intent look, his moves were as deliberate as any words. There were five buttons holding his pants closed and he took his time opening each and every one of them, lips caught in a mockery of a smile. Sliding them off, he tossed them on the bed. Adam in his glory couldn’t have been prouder to stand before Eve.

  But Jenny ignored his blatant display. “What needs to be settled?” she demanded. “Why do you need to be here? Are you in trouble with the law this time?” Like a sunning cat he stretched, all sleek arrogant male facing her, and she took a hurried step back. When he made no move toward her, Jenny found the courage to continue questioning him.

  “What have you been doing all this time?”

  “Come here, Jenny, and I’ll show you what I ain’t been doin’.”

  His voice was soft and husky and well remembered. A heated whisper that could spin a blazing cobweb with a word. She wasn’t about to let him use her again. She couldn’t let him touch her after Charmas had loved her. She backed away.

  His hand rose, half pleading with her to stop. But there was nothing pleading about his voice. “You never cared what I did before. Why does it matter now? You’d still hate me, wouldn’t you? And where will you run to? Ben Kress ain’t here in his cabin this time. Gage is. And Prado.” His smile deepened, his voice huskier yet. “Gage don’t take a woman often, Jen, but there ain’t many men who’d try to stop him when he does. And Prado,” he mocked openly, “well, he’s always got a bad hankering for a woman an’ don’t care whose they are. All you got is me between you and them. So, you got a choice.”

  “You ran out on me and your son. And what’s worse, you didn’t care. You’re an animal, Jonas,” she stated very softly, “a dirty, lowdown bastard of an animal.”

  “Maybe so, woman, but right now, I’m all you got.” He tossed his clothes to the floor and lowered his six-foot frame onto the bed. With his hands cradling his head, he watched her a moment more, thighs tensing with her look of hated disgust.

  “Just how close did you and Charmas get? Or maybe,” he grated warningly, “you think I ain’t got the right to ask? I’d kill the man that touched you, Jenny. You hear me? And when I was done, I’d kill you.” Her silence taunted his temper. “I’m still waiting, Jenny.”

  He’d twist everything to turn it against her and in the end he’d use her. But she couldn’t run. He’d call the others and hunt her. She fought the tears burning her eyes. Shame brought a flush to her skin. Ignoring the creak of rope springs when he moved, she went to the wood box. Feeding a few small logs to the fire, her gaze locked on the iron poker.

  “Don’t even think about it, Jenny,” he warned. “Now come here.”

  “No!” Clenching a piece of wood in her hand, she came to her feet. “I’ll warn you once. Don’t let anything hurt Robby or there won’t be a place to hide you. You won’t be able to find a rock to crawl under where I wouldn’t come after you. Stay away from me and my son, and there won’t be any trouble from me. I said I don’t want you, Jonas. If you need a woman so bad, ride down to the valley and find Maybelle. She’ll be damn glad to know you’re back.”

  “You’re threatening me?” Soft laughter mocked her. “Those men are killers, and don’t forget it, ever. But nothing will happen to Robby ‘cause I want him even if he’s got a taint of your blood in him. I’m gonna have him, too.” She dropped the wood and cried out as he came off the bed in a lithe move, closing the space between them.

  “Jenny, remember those long winter nights when snow fell?” Grabbing her shoulder, he huskily groaned, “You couldn’t wait.”

  She shoved him away. “I said I didn’t want you to touch me. Stay away!” Panicked, she shot a glance toward Robby. Was he really sleeping?

  Jonas’s soft laughter, too knowing, filled the room. “Two years, Jenny. It’s a damn long time. But then, it hasn’t been two years for you, has it?” His voice took on a deep cutting edge. “And I don’t need to wonder, do I? I hear Charmas Kilkenny paid for your supplies in town. I guess it wasn’t so lonesome
up here after air.”

  Her skin whitened. Her fingers clutched her throat, stopping her breath, her words and screams of denial. She looked everywhere but at him. It all came down to Charmas. And if Jonas questioned her further, what would she tell him? The silence lengthened and, with her nerves strung raw, Jenny had no choice but to look at him.

  “If you give me Robby when this is done, I’ll go and never come back.”

  “No! Not Robby. There was nothing between us here,” she cried in a choked voice. She recalled his threat. First he would kill Charmas and then come for her. Don’t give in, she demanded from a spirit defeated with his cold hard look. Her legs trembled and, abruptly but ever so softly, she exploded. “Why? What makes you still want me?”

  “You’re here and I’ve gotten used to havin’ what I want.”

  “No.”

  “For Robby, Jenny.”

  “I hate you.”

  The venom in her whisper made him stop laughing.

  “When I’m done, Jenny, don’t you ever think of saying no to me again.”

  The pounding at the door, followed by Gage’s voice calling Jonas, made him scowl, but he walked by her. Jenny swayed where she stood, ignoring their whispered talk.

  The door closed, and Jonas stalked back into the room, grabbing up his clothes and hurrying to dress. He strapped on his gunbelt and looked up at her.

  “Gage needs me, but I’ll be back and then we’ll settle this once and for all.”

  Drained, Jenny sat by the fire and offered a prayer to a dark avenging angel who couldn’t begin to know the reprieve he’d granted her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The crisp, clear sky of morning mocked Jenny. How much could she keep sacrificing to keep her son? The problem plagued her until she had to fight to get a firm grip on herself. Her terse answers this morning annoyed Jonas. She took little satisfaction seeing his scowl as he sipped his coffee because his threats tore at her. But she would never let him have Robby. He’d destroy the boy.