“I gave my notice. Since my friends and family are here. I’ll be staying here with you and Flynn, helping where I can,” Tack slapped his back.
“It’s about time my little brother came home. I have fifteen of my men now joining yours, going through the town. We will get these pieces of shit soon,” Flynn snapped.
Tack raised his eyebrows then glanced behind him. “Is that Lilly?”
“It better not be, or she’s going to have a sore damn ass,” Dark Horse turned to see her standing there with Red Hawk frowning down at her as he held her up.
Dark Horse took a deep breath, moving toward his stubborn woman. “Red Hawk just healed you. What do you think you are doing?” He wrapped his arm around her other side.
She leaned close to him and whispered. “Pee. I have to pee.” Lilly scanned around, biting her lip, holding the blanket to her front.
“Tack, Flynn, meet my lady. Lilly, these gentlemen will be with us and helping us. If you’ll excuse us for a minute, gentlemen, Running Wolf will explain our plans.” Dark Horse moved off the road heading toward a few boulders. He guided them around so she would be covered but heard the rattle and her whimper.
As if on auto pilot, Dark Horse sent his knife flying at the same time Red Hawk did, both blades sinking into the copperhead in front of them.
He turned his gaze on Lilly. She was staring down at the ground, not even looking at the snake, but at the puddle between her legs, tears running down her cheeks.
His heart broke as he carefully, gathered her into his arms while, Red Hawk grabbed their knives. “I’ll give you two, sometime.” He set his knife on the boulder, taking the snake and his knife. “Lilly you are going to get sick if you don’t stop. I mean, it’s only natural after what your body has gone through. Now, come on. Let’s strip you down, and you can put on my shirt. It will cover you totally. When we get back to the house, I’ll help you in the shower, so you’re nice and clean.”
Lilly wiped away the tears. “I feel like a little kid. Every time I turn around, you are having to help me with something.” She clutched the blanket while he cut away her pants and underclothes.
Dark Horse glanced at Lilly as he pulled the clothes from her body, before stripping out of his shirt. “I was going to wait to explain a few things, but maybe now is a good time for this. Little flower, come on. Let me see those pretty eyes.” Dark Horse waited till her gaze met his.
She took a deep breath.
“Lilly, I’m different from others. I’m going to need to take care of you. Sometimes, I’ll give you your baths or feed you. I’ll be picking out most of clothes, too, but when you are sick or hurt I’m afraid, I’ll do be doing everything for you. I’ll need to make sure you are all right.”
“Dark Horse you are going to have so much to do, don’t you think that is a bit much? As for being sick or hurt, I like when you take care of me, even if it’s a little embarrassing.” She whispered the last part.
He stood and stripped out of his shirt, carefully helping her put it on. “No Lilly. If anything, it will help me. You are the most important person in my life Lilly. I will trust no one with you except for my family, and even with them I’ll have limits as to who I trust you with. Because you are mine, Lilly, and I refuse to let you go.” He carefully lifted her up into his arms, knowing she couldn’t walk. After putting his knife away, placing a kiss on her lips. “Mine.”
Lilly shook her head, before resting it on his shoulders. “Am I going to be your security blanket?” She kissed his chest.
“No, little flower, I’m going to be yours. Your everything.” He placed her on the cushioned seat next to Kizzy, covering her legs with a clean blanket Red Hawk handed him. “Don’t move till we get home,” he ordered, and she laughed, reaching out, touching his cheek.
“I’ll try to follow your orders but can’t promise,” she teased him as he turned and nipped her finger.
He kissed her hard before turning to Red Hawk, who offered half of the long snake, but Dark Horse shook his head. “You keep it and use it. You’ve done enough for us, and I know it can be used for other things.”
“Thank you. It won’t go to waste.” Red Hawk stuffed the snake into his pouch at his hip before moving away. “She’ll need one more healing when we get back to the house, but I’ll wait till she gets cleaned up, because it’s going to knock her out,” his friend said as Running Wolf climbed into the van.
“Tack and Flynn are following us back to the house with a few of their men.” Running Wolf closed the van door, taking his seat. “It seems we’re going to have a full war party tonight.”
“War party?” Lilly questioned, frowning.
“Nothing for you to worry about. You’ll be sound asleep,” Dark Horse told her, sitting at her feet.
Chapter Thirteen
In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.
Robert Frost
Lilly stared up at the ceiling of the bedroom and sighed. It was after two in the morning, Dark Horse and the others still hadn’t gotten back. Oh, Red Hawk had been right about her sleeping after he healed her again, but that had lasted a total of five hours before her eyes popped open.
“Well I can’t just lie here,” she grumbled and moved to the edge of the bed, shoving the covers off of her naked body. Never had Lilly slept in the nude, but Dark Horse had given her another one of his silly rules, that she would always be naked in bed.
He had told her that little bit of information in the shower as he had held onto her, cleaning every inch of her body. By the time the shower was over, her body was humming with need, but Dark Horse refused to give her what she craved, telling her not yet.
“The big jerk,” Lilly mumbled, slowly getting up heading for the T-shirt she had tried to put on earlier, but he had thrown it across the room. Slowly, she bent down grabbing the T-shirt and sighing when all Lilly felt was a little pull in her back. Yes, Red Hawk was a miracle worker. She would have to do something special for him before he left, and Lilly knew exactly what it was. Cleo.
A soft knock had Lilly turning to her door as she pulled the T-shirt down, covering herself, when Kizzy poked her head in. “Thought I heard you moving around. Couldn’t sleep either?”
Lilly took the robe took the back of the door, before moving out of the bedroom, following Kizzy to the living room, where a small light was on. “Want to join me in having a night cap while we wait?” Kizzy held up the bottle of whiskey, and Lilly smiled.
“Now you are talking. Have you heard anything?” Lilly asked, going into the kitchen for a glass, and flinching a little when she reached up to grab one.
“I swear I should beat both of your asses,” Stephan grumbled, coming into the kitchen from the back door. “Go sit down. I’ll bring you a cup, but you are both going to eat a sandwich, too. You both ate nothing earlier,” he grumbled.
Lilly was really getting to like Kizzy’s uncle. “Thank you, I could eat now. Have you heard anything from anyone?” She joined Kizzy by the fireplace.
“No, and that has me worried. Someone should have checked in by now. I don’t care how intense their war party was, you always let your backup know what the hell is going on.” Stephan started making them sandwiches as Soaring Eagle came in shaking his head.
“You make enough noise to wake the dead. They are fine and will be home soon. I’ll take a sandwich, too, since you are making them.” Soaring Eagle faced her. “So, how are you feeling?”
“A little sore, but otherwise just wired. So much going through my mind, and everything is so…” Lilly blew out a breath.
“Overwhelming. Tell me about it. The thought that we are to try and save thousands.” Kizzy swirled the drink in her hand before taking a sip.
“Others will survive. It won’t be just our group. The Great Mother won’t call all her children home.” Soaring Eagle stretched his legs out in front of him, sitting next to her on the couch. “I heard you and D
ark Horse are going to New Orleans next week. Are you ready to commit to my son fully? Or did he just order you to do it?” He smiled. “My son has a way with words, I’m afraid.”
Lilly and Kizzy both snorted, and she took a sip of whiskey, allowing it to burn down her throat before answering. “Of course, he ordered, just like he has done most of the time I’ve been with him.” She glanced at Soaring Eagle. “But in a lot of ways he reminds me of my father,” she smiled. “My father was always telling my mother, instead of asking her, and even did it to me. So, I guess I’m kind of used to this kind of personality trait, but his proposal or order to marry him was different for sure. Haven’t decided to ignore it or what.” Lilly rested her head back against the small couch. “How can one feel so comfortable with someone you just met? Even with my father’s approval of Dark Horse, there is a small part that is afraid.” She looked over at Kizzy. “What if I’m just leaning on him because I don’t want to be hurt again? How do I know it’s going to last? We don’t even know each other.” She sighed and took another sip of her drink.
“Do you know it’s only been a month since Running Wolf and I got married? Well, technically it will be on Tuesday. We only knew each other two days also, but I have to say I wouldn’t change a day of what we have had. Now, I might limit his damn spankings, but already I know he’s my heart and my soul.” Kizzy leaned over and placed her hand on her knee.
“I have a feeling with these men any woman who joins with them is not going to get the normal courting, dates and such. There just isn’t the time. They are living for the day, wanting to give us everything they can for now because when things go out of control it’s going to be bad.”
“That is one of the reasons I’m seriously considering this.” She smiled. “And the fact the man is…well, damn.”
Kizzy laughed, and Soaring Eagle grinned. “Yes, my sons, all of them are strong and independent. Each of them could hold their own with the coming battle we will be facing, but having four stations in the states, we’ll be able to save more people.” Soaring Eagle sighed.
Lilly reached over. “You’re upset about Raining Song. I still don’t understand why he’d join forces with the bikers. It just does not make sense.”
“It does in some ways. I have a feeling he believed if he joined with this Fuzz now, he’d gain control of the area after the destruction, that the Great Mother would take care of the bikers herself, leaving him in charge of this area. I’m just sorry for Black Bull. He and Raining Song were close from what I had heard,” Soaring Eagle explained to her.
“Do you think Black Bull is working with him also?” Lilly tapped her fingers on the side of the couch.
“No, Black Bull found out the hard way, I’m afraid, about his friend,” Dark Horse came into the room, the clothes he’d worn replaced by others. His hair was damp and pulled back like he had taken a shower.
She started to get up, but Dark Horse pushed back into her seat, sitting on the arm of the couch next to her. “We found Black Bull had already cornered Raining Song. It was sad, but the Great Mother took him home along with the few who had joined him.”
“What about the sheriff and Fuzz?” Lilly was almost afraid of the answer.
“I wouldn’t be back if they weren’t taken care of, little flower. They will not be bothering anyone again.” Dark Horse glanced up as Running Wolf came into the room, carrying plates of food, with Stephan behind him.
“It’s time to put all of this behind us and concentrate on the problems coming our way.” Running Wolf handed Kizzy and Lilly each a plate, while Stephan passed one to Soaring Eagle.
“Would you two care for something?” Stephan asked.
“No, we’re fine, but why are you up, little flower?” Dark Horse leaned closer to her.
“You really have to ask?” she mumbled around the best roast beef sandwich Lilly had had in a long while.
Running Wolf laughed as did Dark Horse. “Is the sandwich that good?” He glanced from her to Kizzy.
“Leave her alone. It’s probably the first time she’s actually tasting the food and breathing,” Kizzy grumbled, peeking up at Running Wolf. “You know.”
Running Wolf lifted Kizzy and took her seat as, Dark Horse did the same, placing Lilly in his lap, wrapping his arms around her. “Now I wish I’d had steaks ready for you,” Dark Horse grumbled, “but we’ll have those in New Orleans, I promise.”
“That’s my cue to go and try and get some sleep,” Soaring Eagle stood and stretched. “We’ll see you in the morning, but not too early.” He headed toward the back where he was staying with her father.
“I’m off to take care of our lady’s gentlemen. They are special.” Stephan kissed Kizzy’s cheek then shocked her by coming over to kiss hers. “What you don’t think you’re part of the family? Think again Lilly.”
Stephan patted Dark Horse on the shoulder and headed toward the back door to where he was staying with his brother in the camper they had brought.
She faced Dark Horse. “He’s really gone, Fuzz, the sheriff?”
“Yes, Lilly, and I’m not telling you the details. You have suffered enough. Just know you can rest, little flower,” Dark Horse reassured her as she shivered at the expression that came over him.
Lilly knew she’d never ask what happened. Her nightmare was really over. He had done what he had promised her. Dark Horse was truly her Dark Knight as he’d called himself, earlier. She reached up and pulled him down, kissing his lips. “Thank you,” she whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek.
“There is no need to thank me. I promised you I would always take care of you, little flower, and I will.” He smiled. “Did I hear you were considering marrying me? If I’m not mistaken, I didn’t ask.”
Lilly laughed. She couldn’t help it. “That you did, but that does not mean I’m going to listen, now, does it?” She took a bite of the pickle Stephan had put on her plate. “Mmm, I love garlic dill pickles.”
Kizzy giggled. “They’re my favorite, too. So, when are you planning this trip?”
“Nosey little thing, aren’t you?” Running Wolf laughed. “We’re going to my gypsy. We never did have a honeymoon, and they’ll need us to stand up for them. Plus, we need to contact a few people.” He kissed the top of Kizzy’s head.
Kizzy rolled her eyes, stuffing a bite of her sandwich in her mouth. “Of course, you have other plans. It couldn’t just be a simple wedding trip.” She shook her head.
Lilly shrugged. “Any trip to New Orleans for business or pleasure would be fun. I’ve always wanted to go, but then I want to visit a few places. I think Greece and Ireland are the top two for overseas. I love anything to do with the Greek gods, but, alas that isn’t going to happen in this life time.” She smiled up at him.
“Never really thought about going overseas. Had no desire to. We have so many wonders here on this continent, I was content to travel it,” Dark Horse nibbled at her neck.
“Stop, that tickles.” Lilly popped the last bit of her sandwich in her mouth, moving her neck away from his mouth.
He put her plate on the coffee table before swinging her up in his arms. “My pickle.” She tried to reach down to it and he snorted, bending so she could grab it.
“We’ll see you in the morning. I have some pleasurable torture to hand out, it seems.” Dark Horse carried her toward their bedroom.
“Can torture be pleasurable?” She munched on her pickle as he lowered her feet to the floor once they were inside their room.
“I know many forms of pleasurable torture and plan to use every one on you till I can get you to agree with me. Strip,” he ordered, shutting the door with his foot, taking his shirt off, and throwing it to the floor.
“I have my pickle to finish,” she squeaked and backed away from him, noticing his heated gaze, traveling up her body.
“Two minutes,” he growled, never taking his gaze off her as she took a bit of her pickle. The juice ran down her cheek. But befo
re she had a chance to wipe it away, he was there lowering his head, lapping up the juice.
“Never did like pickles, but on you, I might have to change my mind.” He nipped at her bottom lip. “Finish.”
Lilly popped the last bite into her mouth as he shoved off the robe, allowing it to fall on the floor, before reaching for her T-shirt. “I think I’ve already taken this off you once tonight, did I not?” He pulled it up over her head.
Lilly frowned. “I couldn’t go out there naked.”
“You shouldn’t be out there anyway. You died yesterday Lilly.” He cupped her cheek. “Your or my body needs to rest. Walking around is not resting.”
“And pleasurable torture is?” She smiling up at him.
He swept her up into his arms and laid her in the center of the bed. “Oh yes, if done right.” Dark Horse sucked her nipple into his mouth, nipping it before covering it with his amazing tongue.
She stiffened, almost afraid to accept the pleasure Dark Horse was giving her. Lilly reached out, to only have him back away from the bed, stripping out of the rest of his clothes.
He stood there, staring down at her. The full moon lit the room just enough so she could see his body and he could see hers, scars and all.
“Stop,” he growled, bending down his nose almost touching hers. “Do not ever cover yourself from me.” He sat down on the corner of the bed, taking her hand and placing a kiss on her palm.
“You’re mine, little flower. Mine to stare at, touch, and love. Never hide anything from me. With the rough times we have coming I’m going to expect you to be thoroughly honest. If for one minute I believe you are keeping something from me, I will stop everything I’m doing, no matter how important it is to find out what my beautiful flower is not sharing with me.”
“Now, that is downright silly. What if I want to surprise you for some reason, birthday or whatever? You can’t know everything, and you are going to be needed by many, Dark Horse, even I realize this.” Lilly reached up and brushed a strand of hair out of the face of the man who had the darkest eyes she had ever seen on anyone.
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