by Smith, Bobbi
As Luis and Ray headed off in the direction of Malo’s camp, Rick opened his saddlebag and pulled out one of his own shirts. Handing it to her, he said, “Here. Put this on.”
“Thank you.” Jennie took it from him gratefully.
Quickly pulling on the man-size shirt over her own ruined blouse, she buttoned it and rolled the long sleeves up off of her hands. Jennie was trying to tie the shirt tails in a knot at her waist when Rick reached down to scoop her up. Settling her on the saddle in front of him, he pulled her back so that she was resting against him. Then, keeping one arm round her waist, he kneed his horse and they started off after Luis and Ray.
Jennie stiffened as his arm came around her in firm familiarity, and she leaned forward in silent mutiny, breaking that close contact between them.
At any other time, Rick might have found Jennie’s aversion to being held against him amusing, but with Luis and Ray close by watching, he knew he had to appear to be dominant over her. If she wanted to stay alive, she was going to have to learn to follow his orders.
Pulling her recalcitrant body back tightly to him once more, he growled in her ear, “Stay close, Jennie. Don’t move away from me. We have to make this look good.”
“But why?”
“It’s strictly for their benefit. Just trust me. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”
Jennie nodded and forced herself to relax, leaning once more into the hard strength of him. Sighing, she temporarily resigned herself to her fate and silently prayed that her father and brother would soon come to her rescue.
Chapter Four
No one on the M Circle C noticed when Jennie was late in returning from her morning excursion. It was not unusual for the young woman to lose track of time when she was enjoying herself and, it wasn’t until the riderless Star returned to the stable at mid-morning that anyone became truly concerned.
Steve spotted the mare first as she made her final mad dash for the stable and the security of her home. Lathered and wheezing, Star slowed, and he ran out to intercept her.
“Whoa, Star.” He spoke to the agitated mare in an easy tone. “What’s the matter, girl? Where’s your Jennie?” Snatching up the reins at the first opportunity, he ran his hand along her sweaty neck searching for possible injury. When he found none, he inspected the saddle and was startled to find Jennie’s rifle missing from the scabbard. “Dusty—rub her down. I’d better tell Mac.”
Mac was finishing his breakfast with Hildago in the dining room when he heard Steve burst into the house without knocking.
“Steve? What’s wrong?” he asked as he hurried out to meet him in the entry hall.
“It’s Jennie—” he began worriedly. “Star just came back without her.”
Mac was instantly concerned because Jennie was an excellent rider. “Is the mare hurt? Does she look like she might have taken a fall?”
“No. She’s just lathered from the run.”
“What time did Jennie ride out this morning?”
“One of the men told me earlier that he’d seen her start out at dawn with Todd Clarke. It looked like they were heading toward his place,” Steve informed him. “But Mac—there’s something else.”
“For God’s sake, Steve, what is it?” he demanded anxiously.
“Her rifle’s not in its scabbard.”
Mac’s expression darkened. “Get my horse ready. I’ll meet you at the stable in five minutes.”
“Right.” He started from the house.
“And Steve?”
Steve looked back questioningly. “Yes sir?”
“Have Jerry and Sandy saddle up, too. We don’t know what we’re up against. It could be nothing. But let’s not take any chances.”
Nodding his understanding, Steve hurried off to do his boss’s bidding.
“What’s wrong?” Hildago asked as she came to Mac’s side.
“It’s Jennie. Her horse came back without her.” Mac’s words were terse. “We’re going out to look for her.”
“Is there anything I can do?” she offered, understanding his worry.
“Not right now. With any luck this won’t take too long.” He strode to his gun case and unlocked it. “She was riding with Todd, so hopefully, they’re together.”
Hildago followed him, watching with ill-concealed anxiety as he took out his rifle and a generous supply of cartridges. “You’ll be careful, Mac?”
“Of course. I really don’t expect any trouble, but it never hurts to be prepared.” He started toward the door.
“Mac?” She called his name softly and he turned to look at her. “Find her.”
“I will.” Mac spoke without hesitation, knowing that he wouldn’t rest until he knew she was safe. Going back to Hildago, he hugged her reassuringly and then, together, they went outside.
Hildago accompanied him to the stable where Steve and the other ranch hands had already mounted and were awaiting his arrival.
Mac secured his rifle in the scabbard and, after storing the extra ammunition in the appropriate pouches, he swung up into the saddle.
“Steve, did you pack some medical supplies?”
“I’ve got ’em right here.” He indicated his own saddlebags.
“Good.” Turning to Hildago, he told her, “If Jake gets back, have him wait here for me.”
“All right,” she answered and then called, “Vaya con Dios. ”
Mac raised one arm in farewell as they galloped off in the direction of Todd’s ranch.
Hildago watched until they had disappeared from sight and then walked slowly back to the house.
Carrie, clad only in a flowing frothy dressing gown, had heard Steve’s voice earlier and had come out of her room to find out what was going on.
“What was all the excitement about?” Carrie asked as she met Hildago in the hall.
“Your sister’s horse came back without her, so your father and Steve have taken some of the men out to look for her.” Hildago couldn’t prevent the disapproving frown that marred her features as she surveyed Carrie’s scanty attire. Perhaps it was a good thing Mac was gone, for he would never condone Carrie’s wearing such a revealing garment outside of her bedroom.
“I’m sure she’s all right.” Carrie shrugged her indifference to both Jennie’s absence and Hildago’s very obvious dislike of her dressing gown.
“It’s not like Jennie to be so careless,” Hildago continued.
“I wouldn’t worry if I were you. She’s tougher than half those men out there,” she answered spitefully.
“Carrie!” Hildago was shocked by the venom she heard in her voice. “What a hateful thing to say about your sister!”
“You know it’s true.” Carrie gave her a bored look as she turned and went into the dining room.
“You would do well to learn from her!” Hildago said as she followed her into the room. “She’s a very sweet, kind person.”
Having no desire to listen to another lecture on Jennie’s virtues, Carrie poured herself a cup of coffee from the silver service on the sideboard and sat down at the table. “I know, I know, I’ve heard it all before. From both Father and you. She’s a virtual paragon, I’m sure,” she remarked sarcastically. “Now, may I have my breakfast?”
Outraged by Carrie’s attitude, Hildago left the room muttering under her breath.
When she had gone, Carrie smiled to herself and stretched sensuously. For the first time in ages, she felt satisfied. Steve had been all the lover she’d hoped he would be and more! She might just go to him again sometime if her plan to seduce Todd fell through. Why, she hadn’t made it back to her own bed until just before sunup!
Carrie stifled a giggle as she imagined what Jennie would have said had they run into each other this morning—Jennie on her way to the stables and she on her way back from a passionate night in her lover’s arms. The thought was positively amusing.
The sound of Hildago’s bustling return with her meal banished her titillating thoughts temporarily, and Carrie turned her
attention to her food.
“Will they be gone long?” Carrie asked.
Hildago, thinking that the girl had had a change of heart, smiled. “I don’t think so. She was riding with Todd and the horse probably just got away from her.”
A black rage swept through Carrie at the news. Jennie had gone riding with Todd! Damn! Last night she’d monopolized him after dinner and now she’d gone riding with him! Carrie was furious. She had had great hopes for this morning. After her night with Steve, she was confident once more of her desirability, and she had planned to use all of her more seductive wiles on Todd today.
Jennie’s horse had gotten away from her, had it? She almost laughed out loud. She could just imagine what they had been doing when her horse had so conveniently run away! The thought of Jennie in Todd’s arms infuriated Carrie even more. And the possibility of her sister’s returning to the ranch, riding double with Todd, just increased her frustration.
With an effort she forced a smile. “If she’s with Todd I’m sure she’s safe.”
“Todd’s a good man,” Hildago said. “He’ll take care of her.”
Carrie could say nothing more. Her hopes for a glorious morning of flirting with Todd had been dashed and it was all Jennie’s fault. Viciously, Carrie hoped they wouldn’t find her. It would not upset her in the least if she never saw her sister again as long as she lived!
The silence of the late morning was disturbed only by the rhythmic drumming of horses’ hooves as they galloped across the cactus-studded terrain heading for the mountains to the north. As the riders neared a low-rising, rock-encrusted ridge, the lead man reined in his mount and turned to the others.
“Since it rained just a few days ago, there should still be water at the top.” He indicated the rocky summit. “The going’s rough, so ride single file.”
Turning his horse, he led the way along the stony path leaving the others to follow behind.
“Cazador—” Ray motioned for Rick to ride ahead of him.
“After you.” He smiled easily, knowing better than to present his back to this man.
Growling at his response, Ray kneed his horse to action and hurried to catch up with Luis.
“What was that all about?” Jennie glanced over her shoulder at Rick because she had felt him grow tense during the curt exchange.
“I’ve learned it’s not always wise to turn your back on men like Ray and Luis.” He tightened the arm he had around her waist, bringing her more securely against him as they started up the incline.
Jennie frowned at his reply. If Cazador was riding with these men, why would they want to shoot him in the back?
“But you’re partners, aren’t you?”
“Of sorts—but I’m sure they didn’t take kindly to my taking you away from them.”
“If you knew it was going to cause trouble for you, why did you do it? You didn’t know me. Why take the chance?”
“Do you understand what would have happened to you by now if I hadn’t stopped them?” There was a thread of steel in Rick’s tone as he made his point.
“Yes,” Jennie whispered and her doubts about trusting him vanished before the realization that, had his intent been rape or murder, he could have accomplished both this morning. There had been no reason for him to step in and rescue her from Luis and Ray, but he had, and in the process, she realized with painful clarity, he had saved her life. That revelation soothed her and she knew then that he was not like the others. But why, she wondered, was he riding with them? Her thoughts were interrupted as they came to a clearing at the end of the trail.
The watering hole was a small protected pool, its presence neatly hidden from view by a surrounding jumble of good-sized boulders. Guiding his stallion to the water’s edge a short distance away from where Luis and Ray had tethered their horses, Rick dismounted and then waited as Jennie jumped easily to the ground.
“Stay here,” he told her as he pulled his rifle from the scabbard.
“Where are you going?” Jennie almost panicked as he started to leave her alone, for there was no sign of the other two men anywhere.
Rick lifted one dark brow at her mickingly as he drawled, “To find Luis and Ray.”
“You trust me here alone?”
“You answer that for me.”
After quickly considering her chances for escape—one unarmed woman against three heavily armed men—Jennie nodded. Rick noticed then for the first time the bruise on her cheek from where Ray had hit her, and he couldn’t stop himself from lifting his hand to gently caress the discolored flesh.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Rick started to walk away but then hesitated and turned back to her. “There was one thing I did want you to know.”
“What?”
“Your friend—Todd—was that his name?”
“Todd—yes.” Her expression saddened and she felt again the despair of that morning.
“He wasn’t dead. I just told Luis he was. Luis had only winged him in the shoulder.”
“Todd’s all right?” She was incredulous and wanted the good news reaffirmed.
Rick would always remember the joy that showed in her face at that moment. “He should be,” he answered, feeling a flare of irritation at her obvious affection for the other man.
Jennie was so happy that she wanted to throw herself into his arms, but she held back. “Thank you for telling me.”
Lifting her eyes to his, she met his gaze evenly and was surprised when he suddenly frowned and turned abruptly, stalking off in search of the other men.
Jennie watched him move away, his easy male grace evident in his long, self-confident strides. She admitted to herself, almost reluctantly then, that he was a very attractive man. And now that she was no longer terrified of him, she could appreciate his dark good looks and the powerful strength of his tall, muscular body.
Still, she wondered why Cazador was riding with these desperadoes. The man was an enigma, and Jennie knew that she would only learn the answers when he was ready to give them. Feeling almost content, Jennie sat down on the bank to await his return.
Rick joined Luis and Ray at their vantage point on top of the rocks.
“Any sign of a posse?”
“No, not yet. And as long as we can hold this pace, we’ll be all right.”
“Good.” Rick was relieved. He was too close to success to let anything interfere now.
“Are you going to be able to keep up?” Ray questioned. “It’s going to be hard riding from here on out.”
“Don’t worry about me.” Rick brusquely cut him off. “I’ll manage.”
“If you can’t—” Luis added, “we aren’t going to wait for you.”
Rick stared coldly at the outlaw. “I said I’d manage.”
The hostility between Luis and Rick hung heavily in the air as they measured each other’s worth.
“How soon are we leaving?” Ray finally said to break the tension of the moment.
Glancing at his friend, Luis replied. “In about an hour, after the horses have rested.”
“I’ll be ready,” Rick told them and he headed back down to where Jennie waited.
Luis watched him go, his fury barely contained. “Someday, I’m going to kill him.”
“Let’s do it now,” Ray encouraged. “Then we can have the woman.”
Luis smiled at the thought. “If I hadn’t already sent word on to Malo that he’d be riding in with us, I would.”
“Damn.”
“Don’t worry, there’ll be another time and another place.”
Moving easily, Rick climbed down from the rocky precipice. Jennie didn’t notice his approach, so he took the opportunity to observe her, unawares. A rush of desire burned through him as he let his gaze sweep hungrily over her. She appeared serene as she leaned back, surrendering to the sun’s heated possession, and her body arched to that warmth with an innocent sensuality. He had sensed the awakening of her passion earlier when he’d kissed her, and he wanted to explore it t
o the fullest. Rick longed to take her in his arms and press sweet kisses along the slender column of her throat, and he wondered idly how the heavy silken strands of her hair would feel beneath his caress. He wanted her.
Irritated by the direction his thoughts had taken, he jerked himself back to reality. He had brought her along to protect her, not seduce her. She was Jake’s sister.
“Jennie?” His tone was harsher than he’d intended and she looked up at him in surprise.
“Cazador! I didn’t hear you come back. Where are the others?”
“They’re still keeping lookout.” He noticed her suddenly hopeful expression and told her plainly, “But there’s no sign of a posse.”
“Oh.”
“We won’t be riding out for at least an hour, so if you’re hungry you’d better eat now. You probably won’t get another chance until late tonight.”
“Thank you. I am hungry.” She stood up and followed him back to his horse.
Rick opened his saddlebag and took out some jerky, handing her a share. Then together, they went to sit in the shade of one of the massive boulders. The silence between them was almost companionable as they ate their meager meal, and it wasn’t until Jennie spoke that the peace was broken.
“Cazador?”
Rick looked over at her questioningly, his eyes startling green in the tanned darkness of his face.
“You know that Jake and my father will come looking for me, don’t you?”
He nodded and glanced away. “They may try, but we’re moving too fast for them. They won’t catch up.”
“Well, isn’t there some way you can leave me behind? I know it would only be a matter of time before they’d find me—”
“No.” His answer was curt.
“Well, why not? And just when are you planning to take me home?” Jennie pushed for a direct answer and Rick glared at her, his temper flaring.
“There is nothing I’d like to do more than take you home, little girl, but right now I’m afraid it’s impossible.”
Little Girl! How dare he? Jennie seethed.
