A Solemn Creed (Texas Oil Book 5)

by Dakota Black

  The moment his head hit the floor, he folded his arms over his chest. So far, this week had been less than stellar. A DUI, giving up a six-figure income for a slightly better than minimum wage job, and a move from a light and bright home to an abysmal dungeon. For the icing on the cake, he’d already picked a fight with his new boss. Freaking fantastic. He studied the shadowed ceiling as he stretched out his legs. Penance. This was nothing but penance.

  Climbing to his feet, he took careful steps, finding a single lamp. The warm glow didn’t create a different atmosphere. The cabin was small and furnished with just the basics. Just. But it would do for however long he decided to stay. After grabbing the rest of his things and dumping them into the bedroom, he walked toward the refrigerator, daring to open the door. A grin popped on his face. There might not be any food, but Jorge had been kind enough to leave a six pack of beer.

  What a damn good guy. He grabbed a bottle, popping the top and polished off almost half in three gulps. The early day was going to be a killer and he was starving. First things first, a shower.

  The water was decidedly cold, the only available towel more like a washcloth and the soap must have been attached to the cracking holder since the last tenant—sometime around 1935. He’d make a list and grab a few essentials along with some dinner. A burger. A sloppy, juicy cheeseburger was in order.

  After dressing and finishing his beer, he headed out. Twilight had settled in and as he drove out of the ranch, he couldn’t help but admire the majestic terrain. While the land was flat, the various oak trees and other varieties along with what had to be professional landscaped areas flanking the main road, everything was cared for. Beautiful even. The ranch had a woman’s touch.

  Amber Harding. She was a handful and then some. Her mouth was caustic, her demeanor surly and her wit sharp as a tack. She was a woman to be reckoned with. His cock swelled, pushing hard against his jeans and he rolled his eyes. The last thing he needed to do was get involved with anyone, especially a feisty redhead with a penchant for pushing boundaries.

  His thoughts shifted, creating a moment, the vision far too real.

  “I told you to come here,” Camden commanded, patting his lap.

  “Not on your life,” Amber huffed, taking several steps away.

  Giving her the look, the very one that she loathed to see, he beckoned using a single finger. “I suggest you do as you’re told, or the punishment will be much more severe.”

  “I did nothing wrong.”

  “Nothing?” He picked up the brush sitting on the kitchen table, twirling it in the light. “You came home drunk. You mouthed off and I think called me a worthless asshole, if I understood your slurred words correctly. And…”

  Smack!

  Slapping the back of the brush against his hand, he grinned seeing her shudder. “You told me to get the hell out. Of. My. Own. House.”

  Amber sagged and rubbed her mouth. “Did I really?”

  “You did. Now, don’t you think that you deserve a hard spanking for the various infractions I mentioned?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good girl. Come here.” Camden patted his lap a second time.

  Exhaling then grunting, she obeyed, moving slowly, her feet dragging.

  He adored her tenacity, the way she refused to kowtow to anyone, but her disobedience had gotten out of hand. “Come on.” When she was finally standing in front of him, he took her hand, rubbing his fingers across her clammy skin. “You know you are much happier after I give you a spanking. At peace.” They both were.

  “Yes, sir. You’re right and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call you names.” Amber dropped her head, her expression conciliatory.

  “I know.” He eased her over his lap and lifted her dress, yanking down her panties. “We’ll start with the brush and if I don’t believe that you’ve learned your lesson, I’ll pull out the strap.”

  Smack! Crack!

  “Oh!”

  Pop! Slap!

  Camden was sweating, strings trickling down both sides of his face and he’d slowed down to a crawl. Laughing, he shook away the sinful vision.

  But he knew at that very moment, this woman, this incredible and aggravating woman was going to succumb to him. She would ask for a hard spanking on their first date and he would be happy to oblige.

  Crack!

  Chapter 4

  “You’re serious?” Pepper snorted as she leaned over the table.

  “About which part, the asshole trying to steal my cattle or attempting to put holes in the bastards doing the deed?” Amber was uncomfortable as hell and not because of the recent spanking. She hated wearing a dress of any kind. The girlie look just wasn’t her and had never been. The only reason she’d taken her friend’s suggestion was the lack of clean jeans.

  “You actually shot at them?”

  “Hit one of the trucks twice. Blew out his tire. Hoping the asshole will think twice about pestering me again.”

  Pepper eased back in her seat, swinging her leg. “Girl, you are hell on wheels, but you can’t do that kind of thing. You’re going to get yourself killed if you don’t watch out.”

  “The Randolph boys I can handle.”

  Snorting, she took a sip of her martini. “You talk big, honey. I love that about you but I’m serious. Been hearing a bunch of stories about missing cattle, out of control fires and even some equipment being tampered with.”

  “Why? Why do they want to shut everyone down?”

  Her eyes sparkling, she held up her glass. “Black gold.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Oil, goofy. There’s oil in dem dare woods.”

  Amber narrowed her eyes, trying to comprehend what her friend was telling her. “You’re serious.” First Jorge acting weird, now Pepper’s tall tales.

  “I am. My pappy told me that the best thing I could do was purchase as much land in the Valley as possible. He knew in his gut there was oil and lots of it. Oil rigs versus ranching? I know which one I’d bet money on.”

  “There’s no oil on my father’s ranch. Daddy would have known, and he would have told me.” Her thoughts drifted to odd comments her father had made during the last months of his life.

  Pepper laughed. “Your father loved the land. Do you really believe that he’d even think about establishing drilling sites? Besides, your mother would have killed him.”

  She thought once again about her father’s records. After his death, she’d shoved them into a closet, never bothering to crack a lid. She did remember a single discussion not long before he succumbed to his illness about the ranch being special, that there was another reason to keep the entire property intact and in her name. Could her father have known there was oil beneath the turf? “I don’t know. Farfetched if you ask me.”

  “Maybe, but you have to ask yourself why Bart Randolph is yanking everyone’s chain. If there is oil, then the pittance he wants to pay everyone means nothing to him, but he’s the only man rich enough to make the purchases. You know how devastating the recent years have been to the entire town.”

  That much she did know to be the truth. “I can’t think about this, but Bart isn’t going to sick any more of his goons on me. I have a plan or two in mind.” She grinned and lifted her wine glass. Hard alcohol would put her into a tail spin.

  “Drink up, girl and don’t look now, but we might have company.” Pepper nodded off to the right. “Just be cool.”

  “Well, what do we have here?”

  Jorge had been right. The devil was back in town.

  The deep base voice was irritating and always had been. Kyle had always considered himself special, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. And he’d always wanted her. Giving him a curt smile, Amber was now thrilled she’d selected a fiery red dress, just to piss him off. “Do you hear some kind of screeching?”

  Pepper wrinkled her nose. “I think I do. Must be a rat somewhere around here.”


  “Come now, ladies. Why don’t I buy you a drink and we can party? I do enjoy a threesome.” Leaning over the table, he planted his hands on either edge, sweeping his head back and forth.

  Even the cologne he was wearing, outlandish like his ridiculous boots, disgusted her. “I’m sorry, but we only accept real men, not little boys.” The hate she felt for him was palpable. Memories of his antics fueled her anger, creating bile in her throat.

  Kyle exhaled and lowered his head until his lips were dangerously close to hers. Placing one hand on her knee, he crawled the material several inches before she slapped her hand on top, preventing him from going any further.

  “Get your slimy hand off me or I will cut it off,” Amber hissed between clenched teeth.

  “Don’t you talk to me that way. Ever.” While he kept his voice low, he gripped her leg, digging his nails in as deep as possible. “‘Bout time you come to me, begging for what you deserve.”

  The stench of alcohol on the man’s breath took her breath away. “Fuck you.”

  When Kyle was jerked back, Amber tried to figure out what the hell was going on.

  “The lady doesn’t want to be bothered. I suggest you keep your hands to yourself.”

  She recognized the voice, but from where?

  “My, oh, my. Now, that’s what I call a cowboy,” Pepper whispered and fanned her face.

  “And you better mind your own damn business.” Swinging around, Kyle was ready to take a punch.

  Camden Dane. Amber was taken aback.

  Camden inched back, pushing both sleeves above his elbow. “You heard me. From what I understand, the lady prefers real men.”

  “You shithead!” Taking a punch, Kyle missed as Camden merely stepped out of the way. The momentum of the swing, cost Kyle his balance and he toppled against the next table, smashing several glasses.

  Amber rose to her feet and glared down at the man just as a bouncer came rushing over. “And this is no real man.” Hearing claps and cheers, she shook her head. So much for a quiet drink.

  “You’re out. Don’t come back until you can sober up,” the bouncer stated in an aggressive manner, grabbing Kyle by the shirt and yanking him to his feet.

  Managing to get out of the bouncer’s hold, he confronted Camden, pointing his finger. “Watch your back. You just crossed the wrong line.”

  Camden tipped his head, a wide grin remaining.

  The clapping continued.

  “That was one fine show,” Pepper purred and pointed to the empty chair. “Sit down, cowboy. Let us buy you a drink.”

  Camden stole a glance at Amber then shook his head. “I appreciate it, ladies but I just came in to grab a burger. Early day tomorrow.”

  “Oh, come on. Any man who takes on a creep like Kyle Randolph deserves knighthood in my opinion.” Pepper motioned for Amber.

  “No, he has an early day tomorrow and we aren’t going to bother him,” Amber insisted. “But thank you, although I could have handled myself just fine without you.”

  “Amber!” Pepper snapped.

  Camden held up his hand. “I’m certain Miss Harding would have done just fine and thank you for the kind offer. Maybe another time. Have a good night.”

  Amber oozed back into the chair as he walked away, her eyes remaining on his sculpted ass, his muscular forearms.

  “To think I used to have a crush on that man,” Pepper sighed.

  “Who, Kyle?”

  “Yes, Kyle. I know. Don’t say it. I just thought he was exciting. You know, the dangerous type that would be oh-so-delicious in bed.”

  She gawked at Pepper and had a feeling her mouth was open wide. “You never told me that.”

  Shrugging, Pepper toyed with her drink. “I don’t tell you everything.”

  “We tell each other all the delicious dirt.”

  “Nope.”

  Amber pushed Pepper’s arm. “What haven’t you told me?”

  Pepper sniffed and took a sip of her drink. “I will tell you if you promise to keep it all to yourself.”

  “Pinkie swear.” She couldn’t help but grin.

  “Fine. Kyle and I had one night of passion.” Pepper held up her index finger.

  “What? You and Kyle?” The ugly images were almost too much to bear.

  “I know. Not my finest hour in life but we found each other in a bar. A little dancing, a little dirty dancing and well, we hit it off.”

  Amber wrinkled her nose. “I hate to ask you this, but how was the sex?”

  She closed her eyes then grinned. “Actually, not too bad. Except he has this thing for tying up women. It was kinky and I enjoyed it, but not my thing.”

  “The visions in my head might make me burn into the ground. Why didn’t you see him any longer?”

  “He left for Alaska for one thing. Self-esteem for another. Sadly, he’s a damn good catch.”

  “If you like creepos.” They both laughed, and she darted another look at Camden, enjoying the view of his sexy as shit backside. The man could wear a pair of jeans like nobody’s business.

  “You’re staring at him,” Pepper whispered.

  “Me? No way. Just glancing around the room. I don’t like him one bit.” Who in the world was she trying to convince?

  “What in the hell is wrong with you? The man saved you from creepo boy and you act like he’s the plague. Jesus.”

  “He’s my new employee. That’s what.” Although I wouldn’t mind sucking his thick cock. She cringed as the little voice hammered on her brain.

  “What?” Pepper faked coughing.

  Nodding, Amber looked in her friend’s direction, groaning before reaching for her wine. “Sexy. New. Employee.”

  “And let me guess. You don’t date your employees. Well, with one notable exception.”

  “Drago and I definitely aren’t dating!”

  Pepper rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You hired that man to do what? Parade around naked I hope.”

  “New ranch-hand.” Amber couldn’t take her eyes off his walk, the way he carried himself. He was full of self-confidence, an attribute she’d mistaken for arrogance. She was going to be in some kind of trouble around the man.

  “Mmm… I might have to apply. He’s perfect for my next boyfriend.”

  “Not on your life!” The answer too quick and too loud, she absently wiped sweat from above her lip, praying to God that Pepper hadn’t noticed.

  “You like him. I need to make an announcement to the world. You really like him.”

  “Please lower your voice or the entire bar is going to hear you.” She covered her eyes and resisted staring at him again. This wasn’t good on any level.

  “Girl, if you don’t finally settle down, find a good man, you’re going to end up old and alone.”

  “I’m twenty-five years old!” Snapping her head, she glared at her friend. The woman was serious. Maybe she was a has been. All work and no play. What was the saying?

  Pepper shrugged and swirled the tip of her finger around her glass. “You know exactly what I mean. No man is good enough for you, except to fuck and have him spank you every once in a while. Bad girl, you.”

  “Again, would you like me to grab the microphone, so you can tell everyone?” Amber was perspiring all over. Her nipples were hard, her pussy drenched. And her legs were shaking.

  “As if you really think folks don’t know about your tryst.”

  “They do not!”

  “They do too.” Pepper’s voice was lilted, the words almost sung.

  “Great. Just what I need.”

  “I know exactly what you need, and it has… What’s his name?”

  Amber almost refused to tell her. But she knew Pepper would dig and push, dig and push. “Camden Dane.”

  “Camden… Camden Dane?”

  “That’s what I said and no, I don’t want to date him.”

  Pepper narrowed her eyes. “I know that name from somewhere. I swear I do.”

  “Don’t go fishing. Don’t bother him. Don’t dig.
And don’t push me.”

  “On one condition.”

  Amber groaned and took a gulp of her wine. “Dare I ask?”

  “One dance with Mr. Dane and I’ll back off. One dance.” Pepper held her index finger in front of her face.

  Swallowing hard, she noticed Camden had sat down at the bar and was nursing a beer. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. If any of the ranch-hands knew I’d danced with the new guy…” The words trailed off.

  “What the hell will they do or say? You’re the boss, so you keep telling me.” Her grin wicked, she pushed Amber’s hand. “One dance. That’s the deal.”

  “Fine. One.” Gripping the edge of the table, she steadied her nerves and her quaking legs.

  “You go, girl!”

  “Remind me to bury you in some deep hole later.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Amber took two steps and almost raced back. Why did the man make her nervous? The answer was on the forefront of her mind. He sizzled every square inch of her skin. One dance wouldn’t mean anything. Just a nice thank you. The moment she stood behind him, the honky-tonk changed to a slow dance. Oh, no. This wasn’t going to work.

  Camden turned around, smiling when he noticed she was standing there. “Miss Harding. Is there something I can do for you?”

  Another bead of sweat was threatening to give her away. She exhaled and inched closer. “I wanted to ask you if… Well, if you’d like to dance. Just as a thank you. Nothing more!”

  He gave her a once over before sliding his beer across the bar. “That would be very nice.”

  Very nice. The man didn’t jump at the chance or call her ‘babe’. He simply took her hand. Instead of following behind her, he took the lead, walking them into the middle of the crowded dance floor. When he turned, his eyes were penetrating, as if staring into her very soul.

  She hadn’t been this nervous dancing with a man since she was in high school. Awkward as hell, she had to remember how to take his hands. But when she did, the sparks flew. Blinking, she was drawn into his world, spun almost instantly, her desire raw, biting.

  Camden held her, moving in time to the music, his eyes never leaving hers. “Thank you.”