The Lone Texan

by Jodi Thomas

  The sudden thunder of horses startled them both, leaving them frozen in place as Apache surrounded them.

  Her grandfather slid from his pony and stormed toward them. For all his complaining of being sick and old this morning, he looked to be in full warrior glory tonight.

  "I've heard enough." His words seemed even more powerful in Apache. "If you two plan to argue like you are married, let you be bound."

  He twisted a rawhide band around the place where Drum's fist clamped over her wrist. "It is done” He looked at Drum. "She is yours”

  "What?" Sage yelled as her grandfather turned around and signaled for his men to leave. As fast as they were surrounded, she stood alone again with Drum.

  "No!" she screamed, but all she heard back was the splashing of water as the Apache returned to camp.

  "What was that all about?" Drum tugged on the rawhide, trying to get free.

  Sage turned on him. "This is all your fault."

  "What is?" He tugged again, causing her to stumble into him.

  "My grandfather just married us”

  "What?" he yelled.

  Sage smiled without humor. "There seems to be an echo in this clearing.”

  He tugged again.

  "Stop hurting me, and cut us free."

  He stopped pulling and smiled. "Why, so you can slap me again, wife?"

  "Stop calling me that."

  He pulled a knife from his boot and sent it flying high into the bark of a nearby tree. "I've changed my mind. I think we'll stay bound."

  She kicked him as hard as she could and would have tumbled if he hadn't caught her around the waist with his free arm. Furious couldn't begin to measure her anger, and he was smiling suddenly.

  "How about we get some sleep?" he said almost conversationally as he dodged another kick.

  She laughed suddenly at the insanity around her. "My crazy grandfather hates me, and I'm tied to a madman who throws away the only knife. This has definitely not been my day. Maybe if I go to sleep, I'll wake up and find this has all been a bad dream."

  He shoved his hand until his fingers locked with hers. Now the leather at their wrists no longer dug into their skin. "Daniel was right” He laughed. "He said if I'd stop chasing you, you'd come right to me. Truce?"

  She was too tired to argue. "Truce.”

  They knelt together, keeping their hands locked. When she would have slipped farther against the saddle, he stopped. "I can't lie on my side with my holster still belted.” She glared at him.

  He tried to pull the buckle with one hand, but it didn't give. "Help me out?"

  Frowning, she followed instructions, and the holster swung from his waist. They lowered, facing each other, and he placed his weapon right behind her so that it would be in easy reach if he needed it.

  "Afraid I'll kill you in your sleep?"

  "Maybe.” He smiled. "Last time we were married, you shot me."

  She almost laughed. "That wasn't a marriage; that was an auction. Besides, if I killed you, my grandfather would probably make me drag your body around until it rotted.”

  He placed his hand on her hip. "That's one reason for keeping me alive.”

  She shoved his hand away. "Don't touch me."

  "But you're my wife. I married you twice."

  "The first one doesn't count, and you know it, and this one is my grandfather's idea of a joke. I'll talk to him in the morning and get him to change his mind”

  Drum put his hand back where he obviously thought it belonged. "He gave you to me, but you're right, nothing is going to happen tonight. I want both hands free when I make love to you” He tugged, suddenly pulling her against him.

  "What do you think you're doing?"

  "I'm going to kiss you, honey, just the way you like it” She opened her mouth to object, and his lips moved over hers. When she struggled. their bodies only seemed to press closer together. His kiss was warm and hungry and wild. And, she realized, he was right. It was just the way she'd always wanted to be kissed.

  Something deep inside her shattered, like a wall she'd stored all her emotions and feelings behind. It crumbled. She shook as she lost hold of all her control. He held her to him as if he knew what was happening to her. His body moved over her, holding her to the earth as his kiss demanded she respond.

  And she did. She kissed him back.

  He raised his head, wanting to see her face as she gulped for air after the kiss. Her breasts were pushing against him with every breath, and her eyes were on fire with need.

  He smiled and lowered slowly back over her. This time his kiss was long and meant to drive her beyond all thought.

  When he pulled away once more, she lay panting beside him and made no protest as he moved his hand beneath her jacket and over her breasts.

  "No one has ever kissed me like that," she said, feeling his fingers grip her breast each time she breathed. "No one-"

  "Hush now," he whispered against her ear. "I'm just getting started. Think of this as your first lesson in being alive”

  When his lips moved over her again, the kiss was gentle. She sighed with the tenderness of it and let him continue for a while before her hand moved into his hair and pulled hard, demanding the kiss turn once more to fire.

  The campfire burned low before they both grew too exhausted to continue. He'd kissed her thoroughly, and his free hand roamed over her body now, feeling wherever he wanted without her protest. But he hadn't undressed her, not even opening her blouse as he had in the stairwell.

  She wouldn't have stopped him; in fact, she would have welcomed his hands moving across her flesh, but he'd only kissed her.

  He covered her shoulder with his arm. "Go to sleep, now, wife."

  "I'm not…" She was too tired to argue.

  "Yes you are, Sage” His lips moved from her ear to her cheek. "You're my woman. You always have been."

  She was too much into sleep to answer, but she felt his mouth cover hers once more in a featherlight kiss. Then he reached and slit the rawhide binding their hands and twisted her so that she could sleep with him holding her as she cuddled against his side.

  CHAPTER 33

  DRUM HEARD A TWIG SNAP A MOMENT BEFORE HE felt someone grab him from behind and toss him in the air as if he were no more than a bale of hay.

  "What in the hell do you think you're doing!" Teagen roared as he stormed toward Drum with his fists ready for combat. "I should have beaten you to death when I caught you stealing horses.”

  Drum scrambled to his feet and managed to dodge Teagen's first two punches.

  "I wasn't stealing horses," he yelled, knowing Teagen wouldn't listen. Ears were a waste of flesh on the whole McMurray family. "And I'll not fight you”

  The man was a charging bear. "You had your hands all over my sister. You're going to pay in blood for that.”

  Drum backed away, trying to stay out of the way of two hundred pounds of fury. He saw Sage out of the corner of his eye. She looked so beautiful stretching and rubbing sleep from her eyes. Her brother's yelling evidently wasn't something she found alarming.

  "Morning, Teagen," she said as if her brother wasn't on the warpath. "Leave Drum alone." She stood and straightened her clothes. "Any chance you brought some of Martha's muffins for breakfast?"

  Teagen paid her no mind. "I'm going to kill Roak. Maybe we can fry him up for breakfast. I saw how he was touching you” He made another swing and caught Drum on the jaw, sending him rolling.

  Drum got back to his feet. "I'm not going to fight you. Teagen, so stop hitting me.”

  "Why not? Are you a coward as well as a thief? If so, I'll make you eat that badge you're dishonoring.” He charged again, but Drum was fifteen years younger. He might not be as big, but he was much faster on his feet. "Stand still and fight me, damn it. Roak."

  Sage finally woke up enough to realize that her big brother might truly be trying to hurt Drum. "Stop trying to kill your new brother-in-law.”

  Just as Teagen's head turned toward his sister, Dr
um's fist connected with Teagen's middle, and the giant folded, dropping to one knee as he let out a low groan.

  "Stop it, Drum. Don't you dare hit my brother.”

  "He called me a coward.” Drum said, still standing ready to fight. "There are some things a man can't take, even from his wife's brother.”

  As Teagen rose, his fist swung at Drum's face, knocking him back a few feet.

  Sage rolled her eyes and stepped between the two men. "I've had enough of this. Both of you stop!"

  They now both looked ready to fight, but neither would push her out of the way in order to get on with it.

  "I didn't start this fight” Drum said almost calmly, "but I might finish it.”

  "You started it by handling my sister, and you won't be conscious at the finish?"

  She knew better than to even suggest that either of them say they were sorry. "Teagen. Grandfather went crazy last night and married us. He bound us together. We had to sleep side by side.”

  Teagen drew a long breath. He still glared at Drum, but at least his fists were no longer raised. "What binding?"

  Sage looked down as if she'd just figured out that they were no longer tied together.

  "I cut the rawhide last night so she could sleep easier?"

  Drum offered in explanation, but she didn't look pleased. Before she asked, he answered, "I carry two knives. I just forgot about the other until you were asleep”

  Now she stormed at hint "You're a liar." She turned to her brother. "Go ahead and kill him. I don't care. I'd rather be a widow again than married to a liar."

  Teagen was too confused to fight. "Is he or is he not my brother-in-law?"

  "If you kill him, he'll be your ex-brother-in-law."

  Drum shrugged. "She's right. Go ahead and kill me, Teagen. I deserve to die for thinking I might want to sleep next to my wife without being tied”

  Teagen looked at them both. Being mad enough to kill Roak and being told to were two different things. The fact that they were both telling him to fight made him certain he'd be doing the wrong thing. "I'm going over to talk to Grandfather, and I plan on telling him that the next time he binds you two together, he gags you both as well.”

  He climbed on his horse. "I expect you both at the family table for Thanksgiving, and you'd better not be fighting. With all the kids, there's enough noise already.”

  Teagen rode off.

  Sage glared at Drum.

  He smiled. "I guess a good morning kiss is out of the question."

  She shook her head. "I recognize that last night wasn't your fault, Drummond. My grandfather got the wrong impression when he saw us." She stomped over to her horse. "Come to think of it, this whole thing is probably my fault for ever going out to the barn and speaking to you five years ago.” She reached for her bag strapped on her horse's saddle. "Come here. Your lip is bleeding.”

  Drum rubbed the drop of blood away from the corner of his mouth with his knuckles. "Don't worry about it.”

  "That's what I do.” She moved closer. "I worry about you. I was bound to become a doctor because I've been doctoring you for years." She shoved his hand away. "Let me have a look at it.”

  While she doctored his cut, he put his hand on her waist. "I had a good time last night" he whispered against her hair as she put up the medicine.

  "I can't lie to you.” She didn't look at him. "I did also. Where'd you learn to kiss like that? I didn't know a kiss could make me feel so warm inside.”

  "I took lessons.” he said, moving his head lower so that his lips brushed her cheek. "Then I paid attention to what you liked."

  She tried to push away, still pouting that he hadn't mentioned the second knife. "Since when does a man worry about what a woman likes when he's busy kissing?"

  Drum tried again. "You like it soft at first, like you're just making up your mind whether you want to be kissed, then you like it wild until you have to stop to breathe. You like me to brush the outside of your breast as I push my tongue deeper. And you like to decide when each kiss ends, which I don't mind at all, because you like them long.”

  "Stop it, Drummond."

  Her face was red with embarrassment, and he made a note that she liked doing things she didn't like talking about. That was just fine with him. The doing was far better anyway.

  She started to get on her horse, then paused. "Will you go with me to the winter camp? My grandfather said I couldn't come back across the water without you.”

  "If I do, will you stand beside me? My Apache isn't that good. I'll need to know what's being said.”

  "All right.”

  He moved up behind her as if to lift her into the saddle. "We're double married now, honey. It's time we spent a little more time together."

  She wanted to argue, to tell him they were not right for each other, but he'd cracked through the barrier she'd built around her heart. She didn't feel quite as grounded on her rock-hard determination.

  "Kiss me good morning, Sage," he whispered against her hair. "Then we'll go over and straighten this out."

  She turned, letting his mouth find her. His kiss was so soft, so tender, it made her want to cry. Why couldn't he have said he loved her just once? Why was it just need and want with him and never love?

  The kiss turned deep, and she opened her mouth. As he pushed in for a taste, his hand slid gently along the side of her breast, and she shook with pleasure.

  He was right. He did know how she liked to be kissed, and that knowledge frightened her. One thought whispered in her mind, frightening her even more. What if he had said he loved her? Not just needed or wanted, but loved. Would that have mattered?

  When he raised his head, he smiled down at her.

  "Any chance you'll help me put my gun belt back on?" She shoved him away, more playfully than with any anger. He was a man born to drive her crazy.

  A man to make her question her own will.

  A man. Not a boy.

  CHAPTER 34

  NO MATTER HOW MUCH TEAGEN TALKED OR SAGE complained. Grandfather had made up his mind that Drummond Roak and Sage should be married. He explained that Sage hadn't grown up big enough to take care of herself, even if she did think she was a medicine woman, and Drummond, being a brave warrior, would keep her belly full of babies. It was very important, he explained, for him to see many great-grandchildren.

  Sage jabbed Drum in the ribs every time he got within a foot of her. All he did was smile and agree with her grandfather. She thought of murdering him the next time they were alone.

  Finally Grandfather noticed her jabs and asked Drum if he wanted to break this bond. After all, his little wife seemed about as friendly toward him as a porcupine.

  "I'd like to give it a try," he said, bowing his head in respect to the chief. "I think she might warm up to me in time."

  She swung at him again, and he ducked, mumbling, "Twenty or thirty years might be enough."

  Grandfather cleared his throat and glared at them. They both straightened back into adults.

  Sage listened to her grandfather, then translated as closely as she could. "He says I'm a little long in the tooth for you, and I've been married without bearing children, so there is a good chance I'm broke”

  Drum thought about it and asked, "Do you think I might get a discount?"

  She hit him again with everyone watching.

  Drum laughed. "All right, I'm sorry. Tell him I want you anyway. I can't do anything about you being older. I'd age faster if I could." Drum winked. "Add that I promise to work real hard on the children part. I'll even give up sleep if I have to."

  "I'm not telling him that," Sage said. "You're not helping, Drummond. If you'd say you didn't want me, he'd call off this whole thing."

  "I can't lie about that, Sage.” He faced her, and she saw steel in his gray eyes. "I can't. Not even to make you and Teagen happy."

  When she swung again, he grabbed her hand and circled her under his arm. Before she could protest, he kissed her soundly.

  Grandfa
ther laughed and shooed them away. "Come back in two full moons," he said in Apache as Teagen translated. "She will kill you, or you will convince her to lie still. Either way, the problem will be solved.”

  The chief then pointed at Sage. "Do not kill this man before you know his heart."

  Sage tried to pull free of Drum. "I'm not making any such promise."

  He spoke to Drum, but Teagen's words followed. "You are a very brave man. I hear of your works spoken in hushed tones of respect. One thing I ask. You will nor-Teagen hesitated as if finding the right word-"bed her"-he finally managed as the chief continued talking-"unless she comes to you. If you do, I'll murder you in your sleep, for even the brave must sleep."

  Drum raised an eyebrow. "Did the chief say he'd murder me, or did you add on a few words, Teagen?"

  Teagen glanced at his grandfather. "We both feel the same."

  "Tell the old man I'll wait for her to come to me before I bed her, but she will come, and I promise she'll be well bedded.”

  He let Sage go, and they watched the old chief walk away. Teagen reached for his horse. "I need to get back. The women have already started cooking for the feast. I'll expect both of you next week. Sage, I'll see that your room is ready, and Drum, you're sleeping in the barn." The big man turned his horse toward Whispering Mountain.

  Drum wasn't surprised by his last words. If Teagen had the time, he'd probably stand guard night and day. He helped Sage onto her horse, and they headed back to town. For the first few hours, she didn't talk to him at all, and in truth, he enjoyed the silence.

  He couldn't figure her out. She melted to molten fire in his arms. The way she kissed him, he knew their lovemaking would be great, but she couldn't settle on the idea that they belonged together. She had to know that he'd give his life for her, but something inside her wouldn't accept him as her man. He decided that she had this ideal of the perfect man, and he didn't measure up. Maybe no one ever would.

  Knowing Sage, he wouldn't have long to guess what was wrong with hint She'd had no trouble telling him in the past.

  They stopped at noon at the edge of the hills, where they could look out on a wide valley below. Ten more miles, and they'd be back to town. He unwrapped food he'd stocked for the trip: breads from the bakery and cheese from Elmo's place. He sat watching the sky while she walked around, checking her horse and washing her hands in a nearby stream.