He thought of the work he’d yet to finish up at Whitcomb’s. And the ranch in Greeley. How his ma depended on him to run it with her, ready the ranch for winter too, now that Eli had gotten hitched. He had responsibilities. But helping Gennie is what’s most important right now. Ma would understand. Whether Whitcomb would, well, he’d have to see. But he was jumping before the gun fired. He didn’t have a clue what Gennie wanted.
The heat from the cheery fire washed warmth over his face as he went over to Gennie and took her hands. Touching her again sent a shiver of desire through his body, and as much as he yearned to kiss those plump soft lips again and wrap her in his arms, he held back and instead sat down with her on the rug, pulling her patchwork comforter around her shoulders.
He leaned her head to his chest as he sat beside her and heard her sigh. Outside the window, thousands of bright stars pierced the black night, promising a clear morning. But morning was hours away. He considered the ordeal they’d both been through in the last two days and just the thought made his stomach throb anew. In his exhaustion from rescuing her from the blizzard, he’d forgotten to check those stitches. Every muscle screamed for sleep, but how could he sleep with this woman in his arms?
They watched the fire together in the cozy confines of the room, and as the flames flickered and the wood hissed and spat, LeRoy stroked her hair. Outside, the world lay under six feet of snow, and LeRoy pictured animals warm in their burrows, and the dead grizzly lying with a blanket of snow over him.
“Whatcha thinkin’ ’bout?” he asked, playing with her fingers.
Gennie fidgeted and shrugged, and LeRoy sensed she was embarrassed, even shy. That was a new side to her, but one that endeared her even more to him. Under that tough front was a tender woman with a tender heart. But hers was a mighty wounded one. Would she ever heal from all the hurt? Did he have the know-how or the patience to help her? What if she didn’t really want his help or his affections? Was she just finding comfort in his arms because he happened to be snowed in with her?
He felt suddenly uneasy thinking on all this. A niggle of fear rose into his throat. What if she never wanted to leave this cabin? Was too afraid to go back into the world? What then? What was he willing to give up for her? The questions flew at him, too many to catch. They flitted in his mind like fireflies, sparking more questions, more worries. A great ball of fear grew in his gut—fear of what the future would bring for him if he committed his heart to this woman. Fear of how his life might change. How his heart might get hurt.
Then he heard his mother’s words whisper in his ears. “There’s no fear in love. Love throws fear outside. Don’t let your fear hold you back. Listen to your heart, my ka'ėškone. It will tell you when the time to love has arrived.”
Like a loud grandfather clock chiming the hour, his heart confirmed the truth of her words. The time was now.
Suddenly LeRoy could barely stay awake. Strength seeped out of his limbs like he’d been shot full of holes.
“Best we get some sleep,” he offered. When her eyes flickered with alarm at his words, it drove home how he was still a stranger to her. It was going to take time to get her to trust him, even if she wanted to.
He gave her a reassuring smile as he scooped her up in his arms. She yelped in surprise. “Let’s get you tucked into that bed.” He saw the wolf raise a sleepy head and watch them. “Come, Peluche.” The wolf stood, stretched, and followed LeRoy into the bedroom.
LeRoy pulled down the sheet and laid Gennie on the hard cotton mattress. He went back and fetched her blanket and pillow, then got her all tucked in, the way his ma used to do with him when he was a little boy. He gave Gennie a kiss on her forehead—just a nice soft one—then said, “Sleep. We’ll talk in the morning. Maybe the sun’ll come out and melt some of this snow, and we can git some of your chores done.”
Gennie gave him a sleepy smile, her head pushed into her lumpy pillow. “Thank you, LeRoy . . . for listening.” Her voice sounded all choked up. “And for saving me.”
A warm feeling flooded him—like molasses heated on a hot stove. He knew she wasn’t just talking about the blizzard. Or the bear.
He smiled.
Gennie woke to the smell of coffee. She sat up and shielded her eyes. Bright glaring sunlight streamed in through her window, and the snow mounded outside was so white, it hurt to look at it. Water dripped from the roof in a wild patter to the ground, and she smiled, relieved to see the storm had passed. Her smile grew even bigger as the memories of last night in LeRoy’s arms came rushing back to her.
She hadn’t been dreaming. The aroma of the coffee and the sounds she heard coming from the other room told her he was up and getting busy. Throwing the covers back, she wished she had something nicer to wear than all those old men’s shirts and trousers. She hadn’t thought about clothing much in years. About dressing nice. And never for a man. But now she wanted to. She wanted to look pretty for LeRoy.
She went to her dresser and dunked her hands in the cool water in her wash basin. After scrubbing her face near raw, she ran a comb through her hair, hating the way it hung dry and scraggly to her shoulders. How could LeRoy think she was at all pretty? She sighed and chided herself. Don’t get so attached to him, Gennie. He’s gonna have to leave. The thought sent a stab of panic to her heart. Don’t think on this now. Just get up and get to work.
But she couldn’t stop thinking about him leaving. About his arms around her, his lips on her lips. Longing flared like a stoked fire as she dressed and nearly tripped over Peluche. The wolf lay snoring at her feet beside the bed.
“Come on, let’s get you some breakfast,” she said. The wolf jumped up at Gennie’s words and followed her out of the bedroom.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” LeRoy said to her from the kitchen area. He was stirring something on the stove. “I found some oats. You hungry?”
Gennie smiled and nodded. LeRoy stood, his posture straight with an easy air of confidence, in his tan deerskin pants that hugged his hips and outlined his muscular legs. A clean gray cotton shirt hung untucked on his torso, and LeRoy had rolled the sleeves up, revealing his smooth brown skin. His black hair was brushed and pulled back over his shoulders. His Injun features stood out prominently in the sunlight coming through the window.
The sight of him took her breath away. She never imagined she’d find such a man so handsome and enticing. Any man, but especially one that was half Injun.
She realized now how wrong she’d been about Injuns. Just like with any folk—there were some good and some bad. Her family had just happened to meet up with the bad. And Old Bill’s hatred for the Red Man had only fixed her own prejudice more firmly.
LeRoy’s presence in her cabin filled every nook and cranny but in a warm, wonderful way. Not the way Old Bill’s did. The only real peace she’d had when Bill was alive was when he was gone for days trapping or trading. And during those lonesome days, she dreaded the moment he’d return. So she’d never truly had a moment’s peace.
But this was more than just peace and quiet. Having LeRoy here made her feel safe, cared for. Treasured, as if she was worth her weight in gold. Her feelings once more startled her with their intensity, and she wanted to run and throw her arms around him, feel his mouth on hers. She felt downright feverish with longing.
From the look in his eyes, she guessed his thoughts were running along the same lines. He came over to her and gave her a quick, sweet kiss, then gestured her to sit in the chair at the table. He brought her a cup of coffee and a bowl of oats, then sat in the chair opposite her and stared, his eyes swimming with adoration.
“You gonna eat or just watch me?” she asked, feeling terribly self-conscious. It was one thing getting used to a man in her cabin. Another thing entirely having this man staring at her with those eyes full of desire. She toyed with the ends of her hair and bit her lip.
“Not hungry,” he said, sipping coffee from his cup that he cradled in both hands. “At least, not for food.”
&
nbsp; His eyes sparkled with sunlight, and the smile he threw at her made her blush anew. She tucked into her oats, realizing she was starving. She’d hardly eaten a thing yesterday, and then she’d run out into that blizzard . . .
Shame took hold of her as she thought how she’d taken off like that, making him and Peluche worry over her. They all could have died out there. In snowstorms like that, Bill had always tied a rope around his big belly and fixed it to the front stoop post, to make sure he made it back from fetching firewood or feeding the mule. He said plenty of folks died only feet from their cabins, unable to find their way back in such weather. It was nothing short of a miracle that LeRoy had found her and gotten her back safe and sound.
“Here’s what I’m thinkin’,” LeRoy said, interrupting her sour thoughts. “Snow’s gonna melt fast. We go skin that bear, cut up them steaks, bring ’em back here and pack ’em in snow—maybe inside your shed. That’ll keep the meat fresh until we get back up here. Then—”
“Hold on,” Gennie said, setting her spoon down. “What do you mean ‘get back up here’? Where we going?” Her heart began beating hard, guessing at what he was implying.
He studied her a moment, then took her hand, played with her fingers as a smile rose on his face. Her heart sped even faster.
“Now, just hear me out. I got folks worrying about me down on the ranch. I got two men on horses that might be lost or half dead on this mountain—men Whitcomb wants back in one piece. I figure to take you down to Whitcomb’s with me—you and that wolf, if she’ll mind—seeing as I can’t cotton to leavin’ you up here all by yerself. Then, once the snow’s all gone, we’ll bring up some pack horses and load up your things.” When she didn’t reply, he kept talking. “My brother, Eli, just got married to a fine young gal. Clare’s her name. You’ll like her; she’s funny and tough and can ride circles around most men. And then there’s Grace—she’s got a little baby named Ben. And Emma, Lucas’s wife. She’s as sweet as they come. Moved out West from New York, had a dickens of a time adjustin’ to life on the prairie. But all these young women, ’bout your age—I know they’ll be right friendly and welcome you.” He paused and squeezed her hands. “You been alone too long, Gennie. It’s time to come out o’ hidin’.”
Gennie pushed down the rising panic at the thought of all those men down at Whitcomb’s. Men seeing her with LeRoy, a woman dressed in men’s clothing. She pictured their eyes pinned on her, leering at her. No, she was safe here, pretending to be a man, being invisible. She put her head in her hands and pursed her lips tight. LeRoy was making it sound so easy, but she knew one look and those women would laugh. Her, with her short hair and calloused hands. Strong muscles and arms marked with scars.
“I can’t,” she said, looking away, feeling like someone was squeezing her heart. She got to her feet and made for the door. “I just can’t.”
LeRoy rushed over, grabbed her arm, and wheeled her to face him. “Gennie, darlin’. You gotta stop runnin’.” His eyes flared with worry, but a smile lifted the sides of his mouth. “You’re jus’ plum tirin’ me out. I can’t keep chasin’ you.” He clutched his stomach, and Gennie saw him wince in pain. “But I will, if’n I have to. I’ll keep chasin’ you, even three times around the world, if’n that’s what it’ll take.“
“Take?” She trembled as he rested a hand behind her head and caressed her hair.
“Till you trust me. Trust that I’ll never let anyone or anythin’ hurt you, not ever again.” He grinned big. “I got a big ol’ grizzly to back off, so don’t you think I’m capable?”
Gennie couldn’t help but laugh, and LeRoy chuckled. “There, that’s the smile I’m partial to. You’ve been hidin’ that under your wide-brim hat for too many years. It needs some airin’ out. So whatcha think? Am I capable enough?”
Gennie shrugged, feeling suddenly playful and lighthearted. “I reckon,” she said in that low manly voice she’d used on him when they first met.
LeRoy threw back his head and laughed, and the warmth of it coursed through her blood like hot whiskey, chasing away her fear. She knew her worries would come back, plenty of times. But if LeRoy stuck by her, she’d face down that fear, just as she had that bear. Could she trust him? Did she dare? She looked over at Peluche, who sat on her haunches at LeRoy’s side, her eyes full of pleading. Well, Peluche trusted him, and that was saying a lot.
LeRoy drew her face to his and kissed her long and deep and thoroughly. Her head swooned and her knees buckled, but he held her in his strong arms, his love pouring into her, his hands cupping her face. He hardly let her catch her breath before the kissing started up again.
He trailed light kisses down her neck and behind her ear, then whispered on hot breath, “Darlin’, I’m capable in more ways than you can reckon. And I aim to prove it to you. All in good time.”
Chapter 13
“You alright? D’you need to rest?” LeRoy stopped at the edge of the ridge and studied Gennie’s face. She’d been awfully quiet the last hour as they trekked down the mountain, following the narrow break in the manzanita. The mule snuffled at the ground, uncovering a bit of grass. LeRoy gave him his head and let him eat. A foot of snow still covered the ground, but it hadn’t been hard to make out the deer track.
“I’m fine,” she said, shading her eyes with her hand as she came up alongside him and looked down into the valley below. She’d left that big ugly hat of Old Bill’s behind in the cabin, and her wisps of coppery hair ruffled in the midday breeze.
LeRoy slipped his arm around her waist and gave her a light squeeze. Now, a full week after that grizzly had tried to slice him into steaks, his gut no longer hurt. The skin pulled with each step, but that was a minor annoyance. In fact, it was the only annoyance he could think of at the moment. The world sparkled under a bright sky, and a creek babbled and skipped beside them. Below, the green pastures of Whitcomb’s ranch spread for miles. If it had snowed down there, it had long ago melted. LeRoy felt a bit like a bear that had stumbled out of a dark cave into welcoming sunlight—in more ways than one. His heart had been flung wide open to love, and he imagined he could soar on the wind, as light and happy as he felt.
He turned to Gennie and took in her flushed cheeks and emerald-green eyes. He never got tired of looking at her sweet face, and hoped he never would. Joy bubbled up in his heart, but when he took in Gennie’s expression, he frowned.
“What is it, darlin’?”
She shrugged, but LeRoy had quickly learned what that gesture meant. The tough shell she’d developed all these years now suffered more than a few cracks, and it no longer protected her the way it once had.
“I know I’m being foolish,” she said, lowering her eyes and looking at the rocky trail. “I . . . I’m just scared, is all. Scared of all those people I’ll have to meet.”
He lifted her chin to make her look at him. “I’ll be with you, right at your side.” He grinned, trying to get her to smile. “How is it that a strong, courageous fella like yerself can stare down a grizzly but gets all twittery at the thought of meetin’ a few nice girls?”
Gennie scrunched her face and punched him in the arm. Hard.
“Ow! Okay, so, if’n any of those women hurt your feelin’s, you can just punch out their lights and storm off. That’ll work.” He added, “You’re not a bit shabby with a gun either. Shoot better’n most of Whitcomb’s ranch hands. That’s the God’s honest truth.”
Gennie swallowed and gave him a feeble smile, and LeRoy saw a streak of fear cross her features. “It’ll be okay, darlin’. Just . . . trust me.”
Peluche came from behind and sat down next to LeRoy. He patted the wolf’s head. “And don’t forget you got that . . . monster of a wolf. Once folk learn she’s your pet, they’ll keep a respectful distance.”
“What if someone shoots her, LeRoy? How am I going to keep her safe?”
“Let me worry about that, darlin’. See, your mule ain’t scared—he’s used to her. She just takes gettin’ used to.” I’ll say.
But she’s just a big fluff of dog with a dog’s heart. He couldn’t imagine anyone but Gennie having the right instincts to be able to tame this much wolf. Except maybe his ma. He shook his head imagining the look on her face when he showed up at their ranch with that animal in tow.
Suddenly the mule let out a loud bray. Peluche jumped to her feet, her fur bristled. LeRoy grasped Gennie’s hand tight and listened. Far away and faint, up the mountain, he heard the whinny of a horse, then another. Even from here he could sense the distress in the animals’ cries.
“Come over here,” he told Gennie, pulling the mule’s lead and walking over to the shadows of some lodgepole pines.
Her eyes showed panic. “Don’t leave me!”
“I’m not goin’ nowhere. Just keep that wolf by your side, alright?”
Gennie nodded, and LeRoy gave her a quick peck on the lips. “It’s just them ranch hands I mentioned. Musta up and got their selves lost. Just like I figured.”
LeRoy walked back out onto the clearing and faced the mountain. He put fingers in his mouth and whistled once, twice, three times. He waited, glancing over at Gennie. He could tell she was nervous, even this far away.
At first the rustling was barely telltale, but after LeRoy whistled a few more times, he heard the unmistakable sound of two horses pressing through the thick underbrush. They were making slow progress, which meant they hadn’t a trail and were getting scratched up. The mule snorted and brayed, and LeRoy wondered if he, too, felt a bit uneasy at meeting up with others of his kind. Mules and horses were just as sociable as humans, but LeRoy imagined the mule was more excited than nervous. He wished Gennie felt similarly.
Presently, two large shapes burst from the heavily timbered slope and emerged into sunlight. The two men on their horses looked haggard and perplexed. Their horses whinnied loudly as the men walked them over to LeRoy and stopped a few feet in front of him. One look told LeRoy their story—they’d gotten caught in the storm and found someplace to hole up. But it was clear they’d had a rough time of it. Seemed like they hadn’t eaten in a week—which was likely the case. He doubted they’d brought much food with them, and they wouldn’t know the first thing about how to find food in a snowstorm.
Wild Secret, Wild Longing: A Sweet Historical Western Romance Novella (The Front Range Series Book 3) Page 11
