Yellowstone Dawn (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 4)

by Peggy L Henderson

  “We’ll explain our situation when everyone’s together. No sense retelling the story several times,” Josh added, which seemed to satisfy his aunt. Danica could almost read the woman’s mind. She was no doubt calculating the months in her head.

  “Let me close up the store, then. It’s almost closing time, anyways.” Sarah Russell clapped her hands together, her attention drawn to the boys at the counter. “Jack. Caleb. I need you to make a decision now, or I’m sending you home without any candy,” she called firmly, and scurried in their direction.

  After Sarah ushered the boys out of the store, each of them carrying a brown paper cone, she locked the mercantile doors and hung the closed sign in the window. Josh reached for an apple from the fruit bin, and handed it to Danica.

  “I saw you looking at those,” he explained when she raised her eyebrows at him. Danica’s heart swelled with love for her husband.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, then bit into the fruit with a loud crunch. She closed her eyes and savored the sweet juices in her mouth, and moaned quietly. Josh grabbed her arm, and leaned toward her.

  “I’m getting mighty jealous of that apple,” he whispered in her ear, his warm breath sending chills down her spine. “Tonight I’ll have you moaning like that for me. I’m going to make damn sure there are no distractions this time.”

  “You can count on it,” Danica said, her words barely intelligible as she took another bite.

  *****

  Sarah led them through the back of the store, down a corridor, and through a door that led to the family’s living quarters.

  “There are two bedrooms on the first floor, and we have three guest rooms upstairs. Kyle and Kate are occupying one at the moment. Kate is napping with Ashlynn. She’s in the family way again, and the first three months are the most exhausting, which I’m sure you know, Danica.” Sarah talked while heading to the kitchen. “You two must be tired and hungry. Go ahead and sit down. I’ll fix you some food.” She motioned to the chairs around the kitchen table.

  “Oh, please, don’t bother, Mrs. Russell,” Danica objected. “Can I help with supper preparations?”

  Sarah smiled at her, and waved her off. “Nonsense. I’ve already made a casserole this morning. It just needs to heat up in the oven. The men should be home any minute. Would you like to . . .”

  Her words were interrupted by a loud gasp from the door behind them. Danica turned her head. Kate Russell stood in the door frame, as delicately beautiful as Danica remembered her from five years ago. Except now, she wore her hair down, the sides swept away from her face, and held to the back of her head with a clip. Her large round eyes darted from Danica to Josh, just as Sarah’s had done earlier.

  Kate was the only person who knew Danica’s secret infatuation with Josh from five years ago. She was the one who had told her that Josh would never be interested in a white woman.

  “Dani? Oh my goodness. We heard you were dead.” Kate rushed to her, and was about to embrace her, when her gaze fell on the sling. Quickly, she shot a look in Josh’s direction.

  “Hello, Katelyn,” Josh greeted.

  Kate smiled brightly. “I guess I was wrong,” she said, almost to herself.

  “Wrong about what?” Josh asked, and his eyes narrowed.

  “Your taste in women,” Kate supplied. “How did the two of you . . ?” She stopped abruptly, and her hand covered her mouth. “Forgive me for my assumption. Are you two . . .” she pointed a finger at each of them in turn.

  “Yes, Kate. Dani and I are hitched,” Josh eased her curiosity. “Your husband no doubt will give me an earful.”

  “Well,” Kate clapped her hands together. “If there was ever a woman who could make you tow the line, Josh Osborne, it’s Danica. This is one story I’ve got to hear.” Turning to Danica, she said, “I guess I gave you bad advice back in Virginia City, Dani.”

  “He was rather reluctant at first,” Danica said, a wide grin on her face.

  Josh frowned. “You women make no sense.” He shook his head.

  Kate turned to Josh, her hands on her hips. “Didn’t you know she’s been in love with you since that day you were so rude to her at the old mercantile? Why she would fall for the likes of you, I don’t understand, but any fool could see by the way she looked at you that she was completely smitten.”

  Josh’s brows rose, and he stared at Danica. She didn’t waver. “Guess I’m the biggest fool around,” he mumbled.

  Dawn squirmed at that moment, and let out her customary wail a few seconds later. Danica lifted her from her secure pouch, watching Kate and Sarah for their reaction.

  “Oh, she’s just precious,” Sarah exclaimed. “There’s going to be so many grandbabies around here soon.”

  Danica caught the look Kate threw at Josh. He merely grinned. “Our daughter, Dawn,” he announced, unaffected by Kate’s inquisitive stare. “Who will only get louder if her mother doesn’t feed her immediately.”

  Kate put a hand on Danica’s shoulder. “Come upstairs. I’ll show you where you can have some privacy.” She led her out of the kitchen and through the living room, then up the staircase and down the hall. She stopped at the second door on the right. She pushed down on the handle and stepped aside for Danica to enter first.

  Stepping over the threshold, Danica glanced around the spacious bedroom. A large bed stood prominently centered along the wall to the right. An oak dresser leaned along the wall to the left with an oval mirror hung over it. The window was covered with lace-curtains. The walls were wallpapered in a soft rose-colored floral pattern that matched the comforter on the bed.

  “Josh will feel right at home in a room like this,” Danica said sarcastically, and laughed.

  “I doubt it’s the room’s décor he’ll be looking at,” Kate commented. She pointed to a rocking chair in the corner, and moved to stand by the window, her back turned. Danica sat and unbuttoned her dress.

  After Dawn settled down to nurse, Kate faced Danica again. She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes resting on Dawn’s blonde head.

  “Okay, Dani. How did you ever manage to get Josh Osborne to marry you?” Coming from someone else, the question would have sounded like an insult, but Danica knew what Kate meant. She inhaled deeply, and decided to start at the beginning.

  Chapter 26

  Josh slowly opened the door to the bedroom. A lamp on the small corner table gave off a soft glow, throwing the corners of the room in shadows. He ran his hand through his damp hair, his gaze traveling the room. Danica leaned over the wicker bassinet that his uncle Chase had brought into the room for Dawn. Dani’s hair shone golden in the glow from the light, falling in long waves down her back. She wore a borrowed white night dress that completely obscured her curves.

  After a lively reunion with his father, uncle, and cousin, the family had gathered for the evening meal, and he and Dani had taken turns to ease everyone’s curiosity about them, and about Dawn. With a wide smile on his face, Josh’s father had cradled the baby in his arms, as proud as any grandfather would be.

  Kyle had pulled him aside during dinner, and whispered in his ear, “Guess your prediction came true, cousin.”

  Josh had glared at him, wondering what he meant. “I recall you telling me you’d never let yourself be tied to a woman unless a gun was pointed at your head,” Kyle reminded him with a wide grin on his face. Josh vaguely remembered saying something like that several years ago.

  While the women cleaned the kitchen, he’d stood in the living room with the men, telling them about his troubles with the poachers, and that he would be leaving in a couple of days to go after Jonathan Douglas.

  “You want me to go with you?” Kyle offered.

  “No, this has become more of a personal matter,” Josh said forcefully.

  “I’ll send a telegram to the commanding officer at Fort Ellis. Unless Douglas has deserted, he’s got to check in there at some point.”

  Josh had excused himself from his family shortly after. He was eager t
o be with Dani, who had gone upstairs to feed the baby. Hopefully Dawn would be asleep by the time he came to their room.

  Josh cleared his throat, and closed the bedroom door behind him. Danica straightened, and turned her head. His gut tightened when their eyes met across the room. A soft smile spread across her face. He tossed the shirt he had slung over his shoulder toward the chair in the corner. The shirt missed the chair, and landed with a flutter on the ground. Dani didn’t take her eyes off him. Her emerald eyes sparkled as they reflected the light from the lamp on the corner table, and he saw desire in their depths to match the need coursing through his veins. She took several steps in his direction. His pulse quickened, and his gut tightened painfully.

  Josh couldn’t wait any longer. He’d been denied his wife long enough. He rushed to her and clasped her face between his hands. For a split second, the baby sleeping in the bassinet entered his mind. He’d never survive another interruption. He’d already spent two painful nights on the trail with Dani sleeping in his arms on their way to Helena.

  His mouth crushed down on hers. Dani’s lips parted under his assault, and his tongue sought entrance. She moaned like she promised she would earlier in the day, driving him nearly mad. He fumbled impatiently to unbutton her night gown.

  “Why are there so many buttons?” he growled. Dani’s hands reached up to help him. When he had enough of them undone, he pushed the garment from her shoulders. She let her arms glide through the sleeves, and the fabric fell to the ground. Josh groaned. He cupped her full breasts in his hands, and kissed the satiny skin of her neck where her pulse beat strong. Abruptly, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. The covers had already been turned over.

  She smiled up at him seductively, and held her arms open in an inviting gesture. Josh hesitated for a moment, then pushed his britches past his hips and leaned over her. Her eyes roamed over him, and he froze. Would she be afraid of him? The thought was never far from his mind. The one time he’d been completely nude in her presence was in total darkness. Dani gripped his arms, and pulled him toward her. He leaned over her, and sank onto the bed. Josh buried his face in her silky hair, trailing kisses up along her neck, and nipping at her earlobe. Don’t rush this, Running Wolf. The last thing he wanted was for her to remember Jonathan Douglas.

  ”You smell so good,” he whispered huskily.

  “A little soap and water will do wonders to wash the trail dust off,” Danica said on a heated breath. She entwined her hands in his hair, and pulled his face to her, seeking his lips. Her legs parted, her foot gliding up along his outer thigh. Josh groaned. He would burst if he didn’t have her now.

  “Dani, I love you,” he rasped.

  “Josh, if you don’t take me now, I’m going to scream,” she whispered in a strained voice.

  “You’ll wake the baby,” he reminded her, her bold request fueling his desire.

  “Exactly.”

  Josh pushed his fears aside, and slid into her moist depths. Dani gasped and arched her hips upward until he was buried fully inside her.

  “Josh,” she breathed, and trembled in his arms. “I’ve waited so long for you.” She wrapped her legs around his waist, and Josh lost all sense of time. He’d hoped to make their first time last, give her the pleasure she deserved, but his restraint faltered. He moved within her, and she met each of his thrusts with her hips. To his surprise, her release happened just before his own. He collapsed on top of her, their sweat-slicked bodies molding together perfectly. He quickly rolled onto his back, pulling her with him. Nothing in the world could get him to relinquish his hold on her at the moment.

  Looking up into her passion-glazed eyes, Josh pushed some damp strands of hair from her face. His chest clenched tight at seeing her warm smile, erasing any remaining doubts that she hadn’t enjoyed their consummation. She snuggled into his embrace, and their lips met for one long and languid kiss.

  Dani rested her head in the crook of his arm, one leg draped over his thigh. Her fingers softly traced patterns around the now-healed bullet wound on his shoulder. The golden strands of her hair spilled over her front, tickling his chest.

  “I always dreamed that you’d be my first,” Dani whispered softly, a deep regret in her voice.

  His hold on her tightened. “I am your first, Dani. Your first, and your last. I don’t know how I overlooked you that day in the mercantile.” Josh kissed the top of her head.

  “Oh, you didn’t overlook me,” Dani grinned up at him. “But I’m glad you’ve finally taken notice.”

  “Oh, yeah. I sure have,” he growled, and pulled her on top of him. “Come here, Mrs. Osborne, and let me show you how much I notice you.”

  *****

  “Oh, Dani, this one looks nice. It matches your eyes.” Kate pulled Danica toward the dress in the far corner of the dressmaker’s shop. She still didn’t know what possessed her to let Kate talk her into a stroll through town with the intent on buying new clothes. Admittedly, she could use a new dress. At the moment, she wore one of Kate’s. Her other dress was so soiled and dirty from the days on the trail, it had required two washings, and now hung on the line in the small yard behind the mercantile to dry.

  Sarah Russell had graciously offered to watch Kate’s daughter, Ashlynn, as well as Dawn. After Dawn’s mid-morning feeding, she’d fallen asleep for her customary nap. Sarah had ushered Danica out the door with Kate, telling them to enjoy a few hours to themselves. Josh had gone with Kyle to the telegraph office to send a wire to Fort Ellis.

  “I just don’t want to impose like this. I have no money with me. It’s all at the cabin,” Danica protested, when Kate asked the dressmaker to prepare Dani for a fitting. “I can just as easily sew a new dress with some of the fabric from the store.”

  “Nonsense,” Kate waved her off. “You deserve to treat yourself. Besides, we’re all family now.”

  Danica relented. There had been a time when she enjoyed shopping for new dresses. It didn’t seem so important any more these days. An hour later, she left the store with a parcel under her hand. The dress wasn’t fancy by any means, but it was certainly a bit more lavish than practical everyday fare. As they headed back toward the mercantile, a commotion at the front of the store drew her attention.

  “What’s going on?” Kate wondered, and they both increased their steps. Danica’s heart sped up inexplicably. At that moment, she saw Josh running down the middle of the street from the opposite direction. His hair whipped behind him as if a hoard of hostile Indians were after him. Her stomach tied in knots. She thrust the package at Kate, and ran. Some inner voice told her that something bad had happened.

  Out of breath, she pushed her way past the people and into the store. If Josh had seen her, he hadn’t stopped to wait for her. He was already inside, talking to a very distraught Sarah Russell. Her husband, Chase, stood at her side with a comforting arm around her shoulder. Josh’s father, Samuel Osborne, held Kate’s two-year-old daughter in his arms.

  All eyes turned to her when she entered. Josh rushed up to her and pulled her into a fierce embrace. His chest heaved.

  “Let me through, folks. Move aside,” a firm voice behind her shouted. She looked up to see a man with a star pinned to his dark vest enter the store.

  “What’s going on, Josh?” Danica asked. She pulled out of his embrace, and saw the wicker bassinet on the mercantile counter. Her heart dropped, and bile rose in her throat.

  “Where’s Dawn?” She rushed to the basket. To her horror, it was empty.

  “Dani, it’s all my fault,” Sarah cried behind her. Her hand grasped at Danica’s arm. “I had to tend to a customer, so I brought the basket out here with me. I only turned my head for a moment. A man in a soldier’s uniform rushed in and . . .” She buried her hands in her face, and sobbed. “He grabbed her and ran out the door.”

  Danica gasped. “Dear God. Douglas.”

  Josh cursed loudly. He didn’t stop to talk to anyone else, and hurried through the back door of the mer
cantile. He re-emerged seconds later, his rifle in his hands, loading the chamber with bullets as he rushed back into the store.

  “Hold on there, you can’t just go off like some vigilante. Let the law handle this,” the sheriff said, holding up a hand to stop Josh from leaving the store. “Let me investigate what’s going on here.”

  Josh glared at the man, his eyes filled with rage. “Like hell I’m gonna wait around. That sick bastard kidnapped my daughter, and I’m going after him before it’s too late.”

  “Let him go, Eli. We can’t waste any more time,” Samuel said to the lawman.

  Danica’s mind barely registered the people around her. Faces became blurry, voices sounded like faraway echoes in her head. That madman had her daughter. It was all she could comprehend at the moment. Someone pulled her into a tight embrace, and Josh’s familiar voice penetrated her mind.

  “I’ll get her back, Dani. Witnesses saw a soldier ride out of town in a big hurry. I’ll bring our daughter back.” She nodded, too numb for any other response.

  Kate’s arm was around her in the next instance, and she was ushered through the store, and down the corridor to the family’s living room. Her legs refused to support her any longer. She stumbled to the settee.

  “Why did I leave her?” she whispered, and buried her face in her hands.

  “Josh will get her back, Dani. Everything’s going to be all right.” Kate tried to sound reassuring. She hugged her arm around Danica’s shoulders. Kate’s body was as tense as her own.

  Danica nodded. Josh would get her back. Fear paralyzed her. He would get Dawn back, but would she be alive?

  Chapter 27

  Josh urged his horse to greater speed as he raced down the dirt road heading south out of town. The straight impressions of buggy wheels and countless hoof prints scarred the road, but his focus was on the freshly churned up dirt created by a horse running at top speed. At least the tracks were easy to follow. The spring snowmelts had left the earth moist, and even soggy in places.