Jodi Thomas - WM 1

by Texas Rain

  “You smell good,” he whispered a few inches from her ear. Moving his cheek against her hair, he breathed deep. “I love your hair.”

  “We should talk of something else.”

  He nodded, touching her curls with his face once more. “All right. How about you tell me a little about you?”

  Rainey didn’t say a word.

  “I don’t even know where you’re from.”

  “Up north,” she said.

  “And your parents didn’t die on the trip over like you told Mrs. Vivian. If I were guessing, I’d say they are very much alive.”

  “My mother died a few years ago. My father was alive when I left.”

  “So, why’d you run, Rainey, and keep running until you got all the way to Texas?”

  She was silent so long he decided she didn’t plan to answer, then came a whisper, “My father tried to make me marry.”

  Travis laughed. “Oh, and we both know how dead-set against that you are.”

  She turned to him, an inch away from his nose, and whispered, “No one, nowhere on this earth, will ever make me marry. I’ll not be treated that worthless.”

  He laid his hand gently over hers. “Not all wives think of themselves as worthless.”

  “But they are. The minute they marry, everything they have becomes their husband’s. He can treat them any way he likes and there is nothing they can do about it.”

  He watched her closely, loving the fire he saw in her eyes but hating the anger that put it there. He could read her parents’ marriage in those green eyes without asking another question.

  She propped her head up and said, “Now, it’s my turn.”

  “All right, fair enough.”

  “Why’d you come to Austin?”

  He didn’t even try to think of a lie. “To find you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I thought you might be in trouble.”

  She waited, staring at him.

  He almost got lost in those green depths, but he knew he had to say more, had to be honest with her. “And because I had to see you again. That night at the dance we had so few words together, but you stayed in my mind. I had to see you again.”

  “I know what you mean. I read a poem once about how the moments in your life change you, not the big crashing crisis or grand award, but the small times when you gently shift within your skin and become a slightly different person.”

  He opened his arm and this time she rolled against his side. “If you’d have told me that before we danced, I would have never believed it, but now, I think I understand.”

  Neither of them said another word. He could feel her breathing against his side. When the breaths grew further apart, he knew she was asleep. She seemed so soft and helpless beside him, but she’d run away from home alone, and somehow survived for months. No doubt in his mind existed. He’d always thought of himself as strong, but in truth, the tiny lady at his side was a giant beside him.

  She spread her hand out across his chest. He fought the urge to pull her closer. Then he realized just having her near was enough for now.

  He listened to the clock ticking and her breathing as an hour passed. When he heard the first footsteps in the hall, he kissed her head and whispered, “Rainey, move to the chair.”

  She barely had time to slip from the bed to the rocking chair before someone opened the door.

  The doctor came in and didn’t try to hide his surprise when he noticed her. “Miss Adams, you shouldn’t be in here.”

  “I had to check on him,” Rainey answered. “The Ranger saved my life.”

  Dr. Bailey nodded. “I see, but you’d best get up to your room before my wife wakes. I can take care of this hero of yours until morning.”

  Rainey looked like she debated leaving, but finally slipped from the room. Her last glance back told him all he needed to know. She didn’t want to leave.

  Travis let the doctor poke on him awhile, then took the medicine the old man gave him without complaint. By the time the doctor was finished wrapping his leg and hip in oily towels to keep the swelling down, it was dawn.

  “Glad to see you’ve got your senses back, son,” the old doc said as he finished. “We all figured you’d shoot us for sure if you got the chance a few hours ago. That’s why the young Ranger took the bullets out of your gun before he gave it to you.”

  Travis nodded. He hadn’t grown any calmer; he’d simply realized he’d have to endure this quietly until he talked someone into letting him out of this bed. As soon as he was free, he planned to continue the discussion he’d had with Rainey under the tree. The discussion they’d shared without words.

  Travis heard Mike and Duck stirring in the sitting room and a moment later, Duck hit the foot of his bed. The boy scrambled up, sat cross-legged with his elbows on his knees and his fists on his chin. He stared at Travis as if he planned to stay put for the day.

  “Help the boy into his clothes,” Travis said casually.

  “Glad to,” Mike answered from the door. The young Ranger picked up the clothes, and a moment later the race was on.

  CHAPTER 29

  WITH DUCK FINALLY DRESSED AND SITTING AT THE foot of the bed watching, the doctor showed Travis the tiny piece of lead he’d taken out of the bone in his leg just below his hip.

  “It might have stayed there for the rest of your life pestering you occasionally, but that ride you took caused an infection and made it imperative that I remove it.” The old man scratched his head. “I took a risk cutting into you like that, but I decided you weren’t a man who’d settle for riding in a buggy the rest of his life.”

  Travis had to admit that he felt better. The dull ache that he’d known for months was gone even though his skin was sore where Dr. Bailey had made small cuts. “Thanks, Doc,” he managed to say. “I’m glad I didn’t shoot you last night.” He reached under the pillow and produced a handful of bullets.

  “But how . . .” Mike looked up from several feet away where he was trying to get a coffee stain off his shirt, thanks to Duck.

  “A Ranger always checks his weapons.” Travis shrugged. “I’d never be too out of my head to forget that. When you handed me the gun, I knew it was light. I had no problem borrowing a few of your bullets.”

  Mike fingered the empty loops on his gun belt.

  Dr. Bailey laughed. “I’m not surprised. I’ve been patching up Rangers since the battle at San Jacinto. They’re like dealing with frozen rattlers. If you bring them inside and take care of them at some point you come to expect them to be ornery.”

  Sage entered with a tray of breakfast rolls and fresh coffee. “Top of the morning to you.” She bowed to all, but smiled at Mike. “What could be so funny so early?” She patted her brother’s shoulder as she handed him his second cup of coffee. “Good to see you back with us, Travis.”

  “I never left,” he mumbled, not wanting to admit how close he’d come to the edge of sanity when the pain gripped him. “I was just a little tired yesterday.”

  “Then you’ll rest today,” the doc insisted as he covered Travis’s left leg with the sheet.

  Travis nodded, silently agreeing, then turned his attention back to Sage. As he explained about the bullets, he noticed that she moved close enough to Mike for him to tug on her braid. Travis thought of reloading. No one but her brothers had a right to touch his sister’s hair. Then he remembered what Rainey had told him and forced a smile. It was almost as frustrating to admit that Sage didn’t seem to mind Mike’s teasing as it was to watch a man flirt with his baby sister.

  It crossed his mind that Sage should have started with a boy, not a man. Saddler was young, maybe twenty or twenty-one, but he was a man. The Ranger might not be satisfied with innocent kisses.

  Frowning, Travis realized he wasn’t satisfied with just kissing Rainey. He wanted more. A lot more. He’d go slow . . . as slow as she wanted . . . as long as they were moving. He stared at the young couple, wondering if they felt even a fraction of what he felt for Rainey
.

  Mike didn’t notice he was being watched. He seemed to have Sage blindness whenever she was in the room.

  “How is he today?” Sage asked the doctor as she pretended to pay no mind to the young Ranger.

  “Much better. The cold wrappings brought the swelling down, and except for the cuts I had to make on his leg, he’s much recovered. He’s even stopped bleeding around the stitches I made.”

  “Then someone untie me,” Travis demanded.

  “Tomorrow. I want another day of the oil on that leg.” The doctor packed up his supplies and left the room as if he didn’t hear Travis yelling.

  The rest of the day drifted by in hell. Everyone dropped by to check on him and to ask how he felt. No one untied him. He spent an hour trying to reach the knots himself, but with no luck. Finally he downed the bitter tea Sage insisted he drink, then slept the rest of the day away.

  When he awoke, the room was dark with only the light of the fire from the sitting room slicing across his bed. Travis remained still for a while, letting his mind clear. He felt no pain.

  He tried to move.

  He was still tied, but the bandage around his leg was no longer slippery with oil.

  The clock chimed eleven times and he heard someone in the shadows move.

  “Who is it?” he said calmly.

  “It’s me,” Rainey whispered. “I just wanted to check on you one last time before I turned in. The doc said he planned to check your bandages at midnight.”

  “Where is everyone else?” Travis didn’t move. He just waited for her to come closer.

  “They’re all asleep. I checked on you twice today, and both times you were out from the medicine doc put in your tea.”

  “I thought it tasted funny,” he mumbled, silently swearing he’d never drink a drop of tea again. “I’m thirsty now. Got anything but tea?”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  He almost yelled for her to stop. He didn’t want her to go, but in truth he felt like he hadn’t had a drink in days.

  Rainey was back in minutes with a large glass of milk, a plate of cheese, and bread. “Mrs. Bailey had this left out for you. I heard her tell Mike that if you woke before morning, he was to feed it to you.”

  Travis listened. He could hear Mike snoring in the other room. “Great nurse you all left me with.”

  Rainey sat the tray between them and cut him bread and cheese while he drank the milk and ate all she handed him. They didn’t talk. Neither seemed to want to take the risk of waking others.

  When he finished the food, she removed the tray and reached for the napkin she’d spread across his bare chest. His fingers closed gently around her arm and pulled her forward.

  She made no protest as he opened the covers and drew her down next to him. When she was cuddled close, he whispered near her ear. “I’ve wanted you against me all day. Stay with me, if only for a while.”

  Her body shook slightly.

  “It’s all right, Rainey. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m never going to hurt you.” Travis pulled at the bindings that kept him in place. The need to touch her was stronger than any hunger he’d ever known. Without a word, he threaded his fingers into her hair.

  Rainey lay beside him, not moving as his hand traveled down her throat and began unbuttoning her gown.

  There seemed so much he had to say to her. He wanted her to know how he’d felt when he’d thought she might be in danger. How his heart had almost shattered when he’d learned she’d been kidnapped. How he’d been drunk with relief when he’d found her.

  But he didn’t say anything. He just unbuttoned her gown.

  When the cotton lay open past her waist, he slid his hand inside and felt the flat plain of her stomach. Then, slowly so his touch had time to take in the feel of her, he moved up, passing over her breasts with great tenderness.

  He stared down at her face. Her eyes were closed, but he could see the slight smile on her lips.

  Moving down her body once more, he learned the curves of her. His hands seemed rough against her soft skin, but she didn’t complain.

  When he passed her waist, he let his fingers go lower until she shifted slightly and moaned softly. Only then, with his hand resting over her most private part, did he lean closer and cover her mouth with his.

  The kiss was soft and intimate. He pressed the palm of his hand against her and felt her body respond in surprise. There was no need for words now. He knew she wanted his touch. Their kisses grew long and warm with need as she began to shift slightly as his hands caressed her.

  The clock began to chime the midnight hour. A door opened somewhere in the main house. Travis raised his head to listen, but before he could speak, she was gone. Sliding from the bed and into the shadows of the room before he could stop her.

  A moment later when the doctor opened the door from the hallway, Travis knew she was gone. He closed his eyes, fighting the need to roar against the void her vanishing had left.

  “You awake?” the doc asked.

  Travis couldn’t answer.

  The doc sat in the chair by his bed, stretched his feet out on a stool, and relaxed. Within a few minutes his breathing deepened and Travis knew he was asleep.

  He also knew Rainey would not return tonight.

  At dawn, when the doc examined him, the first question Travis asked was if he could be untied.

  Dr. Bailey pointed a finger at him. “Only if you swear to be careful. I don’t want those stitches to break open. You can move around from bed to a chair for a few hours a day, but no more than that for at least a week.”

  “I’ll try,” Travis grumbled, thinking two days in bed was enough. “But no more of that bitter tea.”

  Bailey laughed. “It was the only way I could get you to rest. But no more and I’ll untie you. I guess you’ve suffered bedrest long enough.”

  As Dr. Bailey pulled the sheets free from the bedding, he mumbled, “I’ll ask Miss Adams and the widow to come in to keep you company. I know Sage will need the Ranger’s help giving Duck a bath this morning.”

  The boy was up and across the room before the doc could turn in his direction. He climbed as far as he could into the bay window.

  Sage looked puzzled. “He doesn’t need a bath again today.”

  The old doc smiled. “I know. I also know that he understands what we’re saying. I thought he must when Travis said his goodbyes, but I know it for a fact now.”

  Sage stomped her foot and yelled, “That wasn’t fair to scare him like that. I’m going to go bake him cookies to make up for it.”

  Duck reached her side before she made it to the door. She smiled down at him. “You’re a grand boy, Duck McMurray. Fast as lightning and silent as a spring thaw.” She took his hand and disappeared out of the room.

  The doc looked at Travis. “You going to claim him?”

  “The only clue about his folks we may have found was a two-year-old report a neighbor made up near Fort Worth. A young couple was killed and their farm burned. The neighbor said he thought they had a blond boy just learning to walk. I’m having the report mailed here, but it doesn’t look good. No kin requested the few belongings the couple had left or their bodies. The county records had no next of kin listed for either of them on file when they married.”

  “So you’ll keep him?” Bailey raised an eyebrow. “There’s an orphanage here in Austin for kids like him.”

  Travis shook his head. “I think it’s more that Duck claimed me, but he’s not going anywhere if his parents are dead. We’ve already talked about it. If he has no name, he’ll be a McMurray and his home will become Whispering Mountain.”

  Mike helped Travis stand as the housekeeper came in to put fresh sheets on the bed. Travis was surprised how little his leg hurt when he shifted a slight amount of weight on it. Dr. Bailey knew what he was doing. Travis had been lucky to make it to his door.

  With Mike’s help, Travis managed to get dressed just as Dottie Davis tapped on his door. He insisted on moving to the
little drawing room between the bedrooms. It didn’t seem right talking to the widow in his bedchamber.

  After Mike got them settled and the housekeeper brought more coffee, the young Ranger left, saying he had to check in at headquarters.

  As soon as Travis was alone with Dottie, he began to ask questions about all she’d seen and heard the day of the kidnapping. He couldn’t help but smile as her part in the raid grew with the telling.

  Dottie was more than happy to talk between bites of rolls, but her conversation galloped from one topic to another without pausing long enough for Travis to ask more questions. She was a woman who liked to take her time with both eating and telling a story.

  About the time Travis thought he might need a gag for the little widow, she stumbled into the topic of Rainey.

  “Sweet girl,” Dottie said. “Loving and giving as I’ve ever seen.” She frowned and stared at Travis. “But if you don’t mind me saying so, Ranger, you’re about as bright as rained-on ashes. Even considering the fact that you’re a good-looking man, I can’t see why she even cares for you.”

  Travis frowned. He’d thought he measured a little higher in the widow’s opinion. After all, he had brought Rainey back after she’d been kidnapped. He’d made sure the widow got to the doctor after she’d been shot. He’d even had the widows’ things moved to the Baileys’ so she’d feel more comfortable.

  He knew he’d regret it, but he had to ask, “And why is that, Mrs. Davis?”

  Dottie leaned back, her smile saying she knew she had his attention. “A man shouldn’t propose after the first kiss. You scared that poor child to death. She told me she’d spent her life at a girls’ school and you were the first man to even try to kiss her.” The widow shook her head in disgust. “And what do you do, you ask her right off to marry you.”

  “She told you?” He wasn’t surprised. What little he knew of women, they seemed creatures who shared everything. He’d often thought the need for newspapers would be lost if Western towns had more women to spread the word.

  Dottie wiggled in the chair as if fluffing herself, took another roll, and continued. “I shouldn’t be saying anything, Rainey being my friend and all, but the judge and I were talking and we agreed you could benefit from a little motherly advice.”