Warm knuckles were caressing my cheek, and I peered out from under heavy lashes. I was in the tent. I rolled my head slightly to see Colt’s cool eyes staring down.
The sun was up, and the tent was filled with shadowed light; they had to be waiting for me to wake.
“How are you feeling today?” Colt asked softly.
I didn’t respond right away, as I assessed my soreness.
“Better,” I replied weakly. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Not long enough; it’s still early. Do you need to rest more? We don’t have to move quite yet.”
I thought about his words. I wasn’t hurting too much at the moment, but I also wasn’t moving. I was in his arms, and I was warm and content. Despite my injuries, it wasn’t all that bad a place to be, really.
I wanted to snuggle in longer, prolong the moment, but I knew we needed to get going.
“No, I’ll be fine.” I paused. “I don’t think I can get up easily on my own, though. Do you mind?”
The tent wasn’t big to begin with and with him standing up, that made it even smaller. Helping me stand, Colt left briefly. “Stay here for a minute, and I’ll get your pack.”
He returned with my pack and set it on the ground. He hesitated at the entrance. “Do you need help?”
I gave a faint smile. “I’ll try to manage. How ’bout I call if I need help?”
Colt hesitated. “I’ll be right outside. You can just whisper, and I’ll come.”
“Alright.”
He exited and zipped the tent closed. I looked at the bag on the ground. This was not going to be fun.
I managed to remove my bloodied articles, but getting the clean clothes on was another issue. The jeans went on without a hitch even though I was bandaged across my chest and movement hurt. I managed to slide the cami over my head and knew I couldn’t do much more.
“Colt,” I called out and the zipper opened.
“You need help?” He glanced at me half dressed and stepped forward.
“Yes, I can’t seem to get my shirt, belt, or boots on.” His eyes were soft as he reached down and grabbed the cotton blouse in his hands. Gently turning me, he assisted me, placing my arms in the sleeves and then lovingly buttoned it.
I watched his fingers make light work of it, and sighed. I hated feeling so helpless. He reached for the belt, and lifted my shirt slightly as he pulled it through the loops on my jeans. He knelt down and patted his knee.
“Sit here and put your arm around my shoulder. I’ll put your riding boots on.” I sat, and he tugged my boots on easily. He didn’t move right away as we stared at each other. I leaned in and kissed him on the corner of his mouth.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He smiled faintly and helped me stand upright. We exited the tent to find Callon and Daniel sitting by the fire.
Callon immediately approached and commenced with the twenty questions. “How did you sleep last night, Cheyenne?”
“Fine.”
“Are you in pain right now?”
“No,” I lied.
“I’m going to need to look at you before we leave this morning.”
“Okay.” I knew even if I said no it wouldn’t matter.
“I want you to eat some breakfast first.”
I nodded, and they had me sit on the log by the fire. Daniel placed a jacket over my shoulders and stayed close. They all hovered while I ate a granola bar and drank some water. I was grateful they didn’t try to make me eat more. I wasn’t sure I’d keep it down.
I glanced up at Callon, knowing he was waiting. “Can I wash up first?”
“I’ll take you,” Colt said. I followed him a few feet away where he held the canteen while I washed and brushed my teeth. He also assisted with pulling my hair back into a ponytail.
Once done, Callon had me sit near the fire again. Colt stood behind me and helped lift my shirts so Callon could look. Carefully, he began unwrapping the bandage. I glanced down to see the black, blue, and green marks. When Callon’s fingers gently grazed over them, I flinched. His eyes locked on mine.
“Your hands are cold,” I explained somewhat frantically. “I’m fine.” I could tell Callon didn’t buy it. He rewrapped the bandage, pulling my shirts down.
Colt left me sitting on the log. The trio began to tear down the camp. I could sense this wasn’t the planned packing trip we had talked about previously. It seemed to me this was a get-out-of-danger flight.
I had brought this upon us. I was the one who insisted I was safe if they took me into town. I got cocky; overconfident that first, I could defend myself, and second, the danger they kept insisting was present didn’t really exist. I was so wrong. It was there, just hidden, and I wasn’t capable of protecting myself at all.
It wasn’t long before we were ready to move on. The fire was doused, and I was told to go to Colt. Callon gave me a boost and Colt finished lifting me into the saddle.
Both were being as careful as possible, but there was just no way around it. I gasped as Colt’s arm grazed my ribs.
Immediately he reacted. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
I nodded. “I’ll be fine. Just let me catch my breath.” Callon stood at our side, his hand on my leg.
“Cheyenne, I can give you something,” he offered again.
I cut him off in desperation. “No, I’ll be fine.” I watched as he and Colt exchanged thoughts telepathically, but he left without pressing the issue further. It was going to be a long ride today, I thought as I leaned into Colt’s chest.
Daniel led the way and Mandi tagged along behind Charlie. It was a great distraction, since she was very mischievous. From time to time, she would get restless and snap at Charlie’s hind legs. Every once in a while, he would suddenly turn his head and show his teeth. I could only imagine the antagonistic look in her eyes while she did it. She wanted to play; this was her standard behavior in the corral at the cabin. It made me smile.
It was quiet and peaceful, and everything was fresh and crisp. I wanted inhale the pine and wood scent, but I couldn’t. Colt touched my hand, and I leaned my head into his neck. He sighed.
I stared out into the forest as we rode, and let my mind wander. I replayed what happened after I left the library.
“Colt, the men that attacked me, they said they were going to kill me.” His arm tightened. “They acted as if they knew me, but I didn’t know them.” I hesitated. “Were they the same ones who killed my parents?”
He blew out a breath. “They didn’t know who you were, at least not right away, but they knew you would become Timeless.” He paused. “We don’t think they’re the ones who killed Gene and Alexis.” His voice seemed strained, like he was holding in his anger. “You were an easy target.”
“Did they know you?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Is that why they were waiting outside the truck at the bar that night?”
“They thought they could get you then. Since the Consilador clan has been acting in place of the ruling clan, and the three of us are of the Consilador’s, we asked them to leave. Obviously they didn’t listen.”
“So that is part of ruling? Telling them to leave town?”
“Part of it. If they risk exposing our secret to humans, it needs to be dealt with. We can ask for their cooperation, but sometimes we have to resort to other means.”
I pondered his words. I really didn’t understand. Colt’s clan was stepping up because the Kvech line, which I might be a part of, had supposedly ended. What would happen now? Would I be the one to assume rule? That thought didn’t sit well with me at all. I barely knew I was different, wasn’t even sure I really accepted the idea yet. I knew I couldn’t change what I was—Timeless—but who was to say I couldn’t change who I was. Would the journal provide me with the answers I was searching for?
And what did he mean by resorting to other means? I remembered hearing the screams when they came to rescue me. Colt said he would die for me, but…a queasiness r
ose in my stomach.
“Colt, what happened to them?”
“You don’t need to worry anymore,” his low voice replied near my ear. “You’re safe here in my arms. I won’t ever let you go.”
“Colt?”
“Yes?”
“What happened?” I hesitated, not sure I really wanted to know his answer. “Did you kill them?” I closed my eyes as his pause became longer. He wasn’t answering, and that wasn’t a good sign. My stomach churned. I’d caused someone’s death.
His lips moved to my ear. His words flowed out, proof of his deep emotions. “Cheyenne, I would never hurt you. You don’t need to be afraid of me.” His fingers caressed my cheek. “I would never harm you. Do you understand me? I love you.”
“I’m not afraid of you. I just need to know if you killed them,” I whispered.
A deep growl rose from the back of his throat, and his arms tightened. His anger rumbled in my ear, “I can’t bear the thought of anyone harming you. When I saw you lying helpless on the ground, I wanted to kill them. I wanted them to pay for their actions. Callon’s the only one who stopped me. They’re alive, but not because of me.” His arm tightened about me.
I raised my left arm just enough to touch his cheek.
“Thank you,” I whispered as a small amount of relief washed over me.
“Don’t thank me. I was the one who sent you off. The condition you’re in now is because I didn’t do what I said. I didn’t protect you. I said I would, and yet I…I shouldn’t ask, and I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but can you ever forgive me?”
“Colt,” I said, my voice hoarse. “You did protect me. What happened was just an accident. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is no reason to ask for forgiveness. You came and found me, rescued me again. You have saved me more times than I deserve. I should be marked hazardous materials.”
“You’ve only needed rescuing since you’ve been with us…” He trailed off.
“And I wouldn’t change a thing,” I reassured him. His arm remained tight around me, and we continued our ride in silence.
Chapter 17
We rode on. I was right; it was a long, long day, even riding in Colt’s arms. As the day finally waned, we came upon a small stream running through a field filled with grasses. Callon dismounted and came to help me down. His eyes searched mine once again, watching for something. He’d been examining me all day, but I’d assumed it was because of my injuries. I was starting to feel uncomfortable under his gaze.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, concerned.
I’d gotten my confirmation—he was worried. “I’ll live.” It wasn’t the answer he was looking for, but he didn’t argue. He walked away. I neared the stream’s edge, and they watered the horses. It felt good to stand; my legs were stiff from riding for so long. My chest wasn’t hurting as bad. I was able to take deeper breaths, and my elbow seemed to ache less as well. My recovery seemed to be coming about more rapidly than in the past. Is this the way it would be when I was Timeless?
My mind was clearing, and I could focus. It was time to ask about the lights.
The field looked inviting with the sunshine, the grasses swaying in the light wind. It was as if they were dancing to their own music, a secret song. If I could’ve heard it, I knew it would be a favorite. I closed my eyes, imagining my hands playing the song over a piano.
Wild snorting brought me back. Mandi was restless. She wanted to run. Callon, Colt, and Daniel were standing to the side, contemplating something. They began removing the saddles. I jumped as Daniel suddenly appeared next to me.
“We’re camping here for the night,” he said as he chuckled at my reaction.
“Okay.” He grinned and disappeared again. I remained where I was and continued to watch them unload the horses. Sam was released first, then Bo and Charlie. If a horse could show irritation, Mandi did. She was stomping her feet and shaking her head as they removed her gear. Once released, she darted out into the field where the others were grazing.
Her enthusiasm was fun to watch; she ran circles around the others, dancing and bucking. As she raced from one side of the field to the other, the others ignored her. Eventually she halted and began grazing.
The gurgling of the stream reminded me I needed to wash up. I could only imagine what my hair looked like. A good shampooing would work wonders. I turned and jumped once again as Colt startled me. He had appeared in front of me, smiling.
“Sorry, did I scare you?” he asked, not sounding sorry.
“Course not,” I muttered, though it was obvious he had. He laughed.
“You hungry?” he asked.
“Yeah, but I was wondering if I could clean up first.” I looked at the stream. “Is there a larger pool of water I could wash up in?” I glanced back, and spotted a new twinkle in his eye. That could only mean he was planning something.
“Sure. There’s a small waterfall, it would take about ten minutes to walk to. How about that?”
“Well, I’d prefer a hot shower, but since there isn’t one around, it’ll have to do.” I looked up. “I’m assuming you packed my swimsuit?”
He nodded with more enthusiasm than was necessary.
“Of course. You do realize that I can’t leave you alone?”
Now I was the one smiling. “Yes, I did know that. I was actually counting on it.” He arched his brows. “Don’t get your hopes too high. I can’t lift my arms, and I’ll need help washing my hair.”
He waggled his brows, and I laughed.
“I can help with that,” he sounded positive.
“I’m sure you can.”
Colt led me to where Daniel had erected my tent, and left me temporarily as he grabbed my pack from the pile and tossed it to the floor. He stepped out, zipping the tent closed. I knelt and dug through the pack and found the swimsuit along with a few other items I was grateful he’d packed.
Undressing wasn’t as hard as dressing had been that morning. The clothes fell to the ground, and I kicked them to the side for now. I was able to get the suit on with shorts and a t-shirt, this was more than I’d done the day before. I grabbed the soap and shampoo from the bag and left the tent to find Colt waiting.
He had changed as well; his long-sleeved shirt was unbuttoned, exposing his chest. I blushed. He had a towel in hand. He took the soap and shampoo from me and slid them into his shorts pockets.
“Ready?”
With a flushed face, all I could do was nod. Glancing from the corner of my eyes, I saw his grin. It warmed me inside, putting me at ease. He took hold of my hand, and we started upstream.
We followed the bank, and I was glad I had thrown on my hiking boots. Colt had to help me over a number of fallen branches. I wasn’t quite ready to tackle them on my own.
Just as he said, we made it upstream in about ten minutes. I stiffened. The stream back at camp was only a branch off the river. That gushing monster in front of me was part of the main river, not at all the gentle trickle I’d been expecting.
“This is bigger than I thought,” I said. “I don’t think I’m strong enough right now to hold myself upright for very long.”
“That’s what you’ve got me for,” Colt beamed.
I hesitated as I sat to remove my boots. All I needed to do was lose my footing, and I would be swept downstream. I was growing tired of being battered and bruised.
Reluctantly, I removed my shirt and shorts, as Colt waited. We’d been around each other plenty, but usually with more clothing. I had seen him shirtless before, as we’d gone swimming plenty of times, but it seemed different now. I still didn’t know how I felt—or did I? Did I love him as he loved me? I loved him, but our relationship had always been different…mere friendship was not what I was feeling now.
All my previous doubts were starting to seem insignificant. Was I allowing him to wear me down? I had no one else; was I supposed to be with him? Was his importance in my life part of what my parents wanted to tell me? Could I trust him and al
l his vows of love as being sincere?
“I can carry you.” I snapped my head up, pulled from my daydreaming. I was about to respond when he removed my arm brace and then gently lifted me from the ground. He was cautious not to touch any bruised areas.
He didn’t have any difficulties wading through the waist-deep water as we neared the falls. He placed me on a section of rocks and stood in front of me. The water pressure was perfect; I didn’t feel like I was about to get washed away. I leaned back further into the water. It was cold, but invigorating. It ran over my face and hair, and I lifted my neck to ensure my hair was saturated while my hands remained planted on the rock. I tilted my chin down, and met Colt’s eyes. The look I found startled me. I wasn’t expecting to see such yearning.
I turned away.
“Shampoo?” he asked over the sound of the falls.
I took a shaky breath and leaned forward. His gaze locked on mine as he began washing my hair. His fingers massaged the shampoo into my scalp, and my heart raced. It was weird; uncomfortable and dreamy all at the same time. I closed my eyes, and enjoyed the sensation of getting clean, fighting to remain calm.
Gently, he pushed my head back into the water, rinsing out the soap. He drew me closer and wiped the water from my face. He left his hands on the side of my neck, and the heat from his chest washed over me. My eyes remained closed as his lips caressed my cheek, jaw, and then moved to my lips. He lingered for a long time, planting soft wet kisses before he sighed and drew back. I sighed too.
I reached out and touched his arm.
“Thank you.” He was close enough to hear and gave a contented smile.
“You’re welcome.”
Staring in to his eyes, losing myself in them, I allowed my good hand to move slowly up to his shoulder. My fingers traced the outline of his chest, and then moved down to the ripples of his stomach. They were trembling…I was trembling.
I glanced down. He was so perfect, like a flawless marble statue crafted by a master. I attempted to raise my right hand to his shoulder, but sharp pain caused me to lower it again. He lowered his left hand and placed it on the small of my back, and pulled me forward, sliding my legs to the side until I was fully resting against him. My open palm was on his muscular peck as his lips took mine.
Cheyenne (A Timeless Series Novel) Page 19
