Passage (Soul of the Witch Book 1)

by C. Marie Bowen

  “If I have to,” Merril replied. He peeked from under the brim of his hat. “Such language. Does Jason talk like that around you?”

  “I guess I’ll f-freeze to death,” she stuttered.

  “You could.” He kicked off his boots, one after another. “But I wouldn't advise it. Truth is, it's a little early in the year for swimming. Especially dressed the way you are. Miss Harris, I am shocked.”

  “C-creep,” Nichole managed, through chattering teeth.

  “Come, get your clothes Nicki, before you do freeze to death. I won't look,” he said with his lopsided grin that told differently. “I promise.”

  “Yeah, right,” she muttered. She studied the handsome cowboy a moment longer as he tipped the brim of his hat a bit lower.

  Oh, he’s going to watch all right.

  She suppressed a nervous giggle and inched her way forward. She moved as close to the edge of the pond as possible and still keep the partial cover of the water.

  In a burst of motion, she sprang forward, throwing water at him as she dove for her clothes. Her garments weren't far, but he’d positioned himself for precisely this purpose. Her clothes were but an arm’s-length from his side.

  * * *

  Merril Shilo

  Merril smiled as she splashed water at him, then raced up the slight bank.

  What a beauty she is.

  He'd almost forgotten—or at least he'd tried. Nichole’s golden hair, dark with moisture, hung heavy around her shoulders and back and tangled strands clung to her swaying breasts. Her nipples were as he remembered, rosy and hard-tipped from the icy water.

  At the exact moment she bent to reach for her chemise, he sprang. He wrapped both arms around her shoulders and rolled her away from her clothes—taking his weight on his arms—and came up as planned, on top.

  Nichole’s laughter filled the small enclosure. “You’re such a Neanderthal.” Her brows raised as her mirth faded. “Let me up.”

  “A what?” He’d lost his hat and hair fell over his face. “I have to be quick to take down a little orphan calf and not hurt them. This is a tried and true maneuver.” He gave his head a shake, tossing his hair from his eyes, and grinned down at her. “You know, we used to meet here a couple o’ years ago, before—well—before we stopped meeting at all.” His grin widened. “I guess you remembered this place?”

  “Sugar brought me here.” Her gaze dropped to his lips. “But it's good to know I had finally come to my senses about such a cow herding caveman.”

  “I like the way you talk now,” Merril said. “With such charm. Same Nicki, but without all the fluff and nonsense.” He bent his head to kiss the droplets of water from her throat.

  * * *

  Nichole Harris

  His lips scorched a trail from her neck to her breast, and she gasped when his warm tongue made contact with her icy nipple. Slowly, he kneaded the tip, pulling at it with his lips. A sensation of pleasure flowed from her breast to her stomach, coming to rest between her legs with a delightful pulse. She pushed halfheartedly against his shoulders. “Merril,” she breathed a warning, as he changed sides and nibbled gently. “This is a bad idea. Anyone could find us. You should stop.”

  “Are you sure?” The warmth of his mouth retreated. “I’ll stop if that’s what you want.”

  His soft deep voice only added to the yearning inside. With a groan, she closed her eyes and arched her neck. “No—don’t stop.”

  He chuckled, and his tongue returned to her throat. Tender kisses trailed up her neck making her catch her breath. His lips, soft and patient, urged her to respond. Despite her better judgment, Nichole's resistance dissolved, replaced instead by an awakened desire to love this man. His familiar touch inflamed her and stirred a craving for more.

  And I do want him. I always have. Now and forever.

  “You're beautiful.” His calloused hand ran up her waist and cupped her breast. “Let me make things right between us. Let me love you.”

  Nichole's lashes fluttered open, and she stared into Merril's gold-flecked green eyes. “I don’t remember what we were like.” Her hand curled into his unruly hair.

  “Then let me show you,” he breathed as their lips met once more, this time with passion.

  Nichole quivered to the depths of her soul. She fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, needing to feel the warmth of his skin against hers.

  Merril brushed her fingers away and removed his shirt and vest himself.

  The heat from his naked chest pressed against hers, and their passion slowed. There was time now, and a lifetime remained to learn and explore each other. His hand slid down the curve along Nichole’s side and caressed her hip, while her cool fingers stroked the corded muscle of his arm. Content for the moment to stroke and kiss each other—his skin, warm as the sun, and hers, icy-cool and damp from the pond.

  She slid her hand down his hard, flat stomach, past his belt.

  A low growl rumbled from his throat. In moments, he’d tossed his belt and trousers to the ground, and his entire body pressed tight to hers, his skin so hot she shivered. The warmth of his hands caressed her, and his lips drank in each of the droplets on her skin.

  She moaned when his hand found the heat at her center. Her breath hitched as the coil of pleasure tightened low in her belly. “Oh, Merril,” she breathed.

  “Yes?” His voice, soft in her ear.

  “Oh, yeah,” she replied and shifted beneath him as spasms of pleasure shook her.

  He took his weight on his arms and paused, centered between her legs. “Ready?”

  Nichole nodded and pressed toward the touch of his hardness along her heat.

  His eyes held hers as he slowly entered her, filling her emptiness. “Better?”

  “Such a Neanderthal,” she whispered in response to his cocky grin and thrust her hips up in time with his movements.

  His grin disappeared, and he groaned, gathering her to his chest. He buried his face in her neck and lifted her hips with one long arm. He held her steady, thrusting harder and deeper as his passion peaked. “Ah, God, Nicki.”

  His softly spoken words tickled her neck. She wrapped her legs around his hips as another wave of pleasure rocked her. “Holy shit,” she whispered and opened her eyes to the azure sky.

  Sedated in the afterglow of satisfaction, Merril cradled her to his side, while the puffy clouds high above them floated by in a mirage of characters over their hidden garden.

  “The summer begins,” Merril whispered as Nichole snuggled closer to his lean muscular body. “And maybe a new start for us.” He kissed the top of her head and lay back.

  “Mmm,” Nichole agreed, still tipsy with emotion.

  He turned his head and opened his magnificent eyes.

  “You said we'd done this before.”

  “We have.”

  She looked away, her face heated, embarrassed to ask, but curious nonetheless. “I feel cheated.” She pulled a blade of grass and ran her fingers down the edge. “I'm envious of your memories. I... I don’t know what it was like... you know... when we did this before.” She turned her sleepy eyes towards Merril.

  He studied her with a serious expression on his face. “Go on,” he urged.

  “Well, was this time... was it like the others?”

  “I’m not sure what you mean.” Merril chuckled.

  Nichole rose on her elbow and glared down at him.

  “Truthfully, no. This wasn’t like the other time.” He nuzzled her hair with his nose. “We’ve only made love once before, and this was much different.”

  Nichole eased down beside him, and Merril planted a small kiss on her forehead.

  “In some ways, it's the same, I suppose,” he continued, “if you mean the mechanics of it. But in the way that matters, much different.”

  Explain.” Nichole nestled her head in the crook of his arm.

  His brow furrowed. “It’s hard to describe what makes one woman different from another.”

  Nichole looked at
him from the corner of her eye. “You're not comparing two women, Merril. You're comparing one. I'd think that should make things a bit easier.”

  “You could be two different women.” His eyes searched hers. “The Nichole I know today and the one I was with two years ago.” He paused again and looked away. “You enjoyed making love with me this time. I could tell.”

  “And I didn't enjoy this before?”

  “I'm not sure, to be honest.” The lopsided grin Nichole had come to love so well flashed across Merril's handsome face. “Does it matter?” He drew her close to his side.

  She melted into his arms. Her joy permeated her to the tips of her toes. Everything would work out, and all was right with her world. In just a few days she went from a sick, frightened girl to a woman who stood her ground, managed a ranch, and made love to the most handsome man she’d ever seen.

  “I love you, Nicki. I always have.” Merril cupped her face in his hands. “If it weren’t for Renata, we’d be married by now with a yard full of kids and another on the way.”

  “Renata?” Nichole drew back in confusion.

  “I shouldn’t have said anything—”

  “Too late now. You have to tell me.” A cloud passed in front of the sun and darkened the thicket. “You can’t expect me to let a comment like that go.”

  Merril clenched his jaw, lay back and looked up at the sky. He cleared his throat and cast a quick glance at her. “You and I had been together for a couple years. We had our problems, like everyone, I suppose, but the consensus was that at some future date we would tie the knot and settle down.”

  She waited, but he continued to look at the sky. “And?”

  “This isn’t easy.” Merril turned away and picked up a small stone. “I always believed it was the reason you agreed to marry Kevin.”

  “It must have been pretty bad,” Nichole said, her tone more serious than she intended.

  “It was.” Merril nodded. “We had learned to trust each other. You meant everything to me.” He lowered his head and concentrated on the rock. “I was stacking hay in the barn and I don’t remember exactly when Renata came in. She said she needed my help with something. One minute, we were talking, and the next, she threw herself into my arms and kissed me.”

  He raised his gaze from the rock in his hand and met Nichole’s eyes. “When I looked up, you were there, standing in the open doorway. You stared at us with a blank look I couldn’t read, then you whirled and ran.

  “I tried to stop you, but you were gone before I could get Renata from around my neck. You refused to speak to me after that until the carriage accident took your memory.” His attention returned to the stone he rolled between his fingers.

  “The accident stole the good memories too, like the trust you say we shared.” Nichole shrugged and tried to cover her grin but began to laugh. “I can’t believe I stopped talking to you and agreed to marry your brother, all because I saw you kiss Renata.”

  “You were jealous.”

  “Probably. But I would handle the situation much differently if Renata kissed you today.”

  “You would?” He looked from the stone in his hand to her face.

  “Well... yeah.” She chortled. “How could I be so jealous of you and Renata that I would agree to marry Kevin?” A giggle erupted, then a laugh. “A revenge marriage?

  “Forget it. I should never have said a word.” Merril rolled away, came to his feet and grabbed his shirt. “Get dressed.”

  Nichole continued to laugh. Merril's irritation with her mirth made it even funnier. She wiped the tears from her eyes and held her sides.

  “I said, get dressed,” his voice tinged in anger.

  “Are you mad?” She giggled. She couldn't help it. His icy glare made the situation comical, and she bit her lip to stop her laughter. “Whew, I'm okay.” She sat up and took a deep breath. His glare made her smile again. “I'm sorry I upset you. I just can't imagine—”

  “You can't imagine being jealous of me. You've made your point.” Merril frowned at her. He picked up his trousers and pulled them on. “Now, go on and get dressed.”

  “Look, Merril, I said I was sorry. And I am.” Her mouth twitched, but she held back her grin.

  Merril reached for her chemise and tossed it in her face.

  She pulled the cotton shift over her head. “Okay, fine,” she conceded. “I'll get dressed. It's what I wanted to do all along if I remember right.”

  “You remember well enough when it suits you,” he replied sharply.

  Nichole rose to her feet and gauged the distance between Merril and the pond.

  “Oh, I remember a number of things,” she said.

  Merril looked down to buckle his holster strap around his leg.

  With a quick shove, she pushed him backward into the icy pond. He disappeared beneath the surface with a big splash.

  “You were acting childish.” Nichole stuck out her tongue, her hands on her hips. “So I thought I’d be childish right back.”

  Merril struggled to his feet and shook the water from his face.

  Nichole took a step back, uncertain if she’d gone too far.

  He walked toward her through the water and growled, “You little spitfire! I'm going to give you what your daddy never did.” The sparkle in his eyes gave his amusement away.

  Nichole’s uncertainty dissolved in laughter and she ran behind Sugar, peeking over his rump at Merril.

  * * *

  Kevin Shilo

  On the ridge above the couple, the bushes rustled closed. Kevin turned back to his large sorrel gelding. He'd seen enough. “Damn those two conniving backstabbers,” he swore as he mounted and headed home. “They planned this all along. There was no dementia. Hell, how do I know there was ever an accident, for that matter? They're all in on it—making me out to be the fool. I’ll show them.”

  He kicked his horse into a gallop as his mind raced ahead. There had to be some way to get even. He wanted Nichole—now more than ever if that was possible. Only now, he wanted her as a trophy—something he could hold over Merril. He didn’t care about her happiness. After what he just witnessed, he was done trying to win her affection.

  Renata waits at the ranch.

  There was a woman who didn't pretend to be something she wasn't. She knew how to please a man, and he needed a woman in the worst way.

  She’ll help me decide what to do.

  Renata always had good ideas. He spurred his horse faster. “I'll show them, and when I'm through, they'll know they've messed with the wrong man.”

  Chapter 21

  Merril Shilo

  Merril staggered from the pond, more amused than angry.

  “You started this game.” Nichole's nervous laughter erupted as she backed behind Sugar.

  His grin ticked up just a notch on one side. “You've been playin' your game a lot longer.” Merril lunged at her with a growl—and missed.

  She ducked through the brush, and she escaped to the other side of the thicket.

  “Damn you, woman!” he hollered with a laugh as he slid through the bushes after her.

  The sound of her amusement floated back to him as she ran. Her bare legs flashed beneath her chemise. She looked back at him, her hair a riot of curls. Just as he caught her, she tripped and pulled them both into the tall grass.

  Three gunshots barked as bullets whistled overhead.

  Nichole froze. “Was that... gunfire?” She tried to sit up.

  “Shit.” Merril pushed her head down. “Stay low.” He peeked over the grass toward the shooter. “What the hell's the matter with you?” he yelled at their assailant. He ducked as another bullet flew over their meager cover.

  “I got no quarrel with you, Shilo,” an unfamiliar voice called. “It's that bitch you got with ya. She and I have some business to take care of. Send her out, and you can be on your way.”

  He looked at Nichole. “Do you know him?”

  The color had drained from her face, and her eyes were wide with fri
ght. “His name is Blackie Jones.”

  “Why does he want to shoot you?”

  She opened her mouth, then closed it again and shook her head. “It's a long story.”

  “How long can it be?” Merril shook his head. “In one day, you've managed to make a mortal enemy—one that packs a six-shooter.”

  “Well... you've got a gun, too.”

  “I do.” He gave her an annoyed look. “But it's soaked. It won’t fire.”

  “Oh, yeah.” Tears welled in her eyes. “He was supposed to be gone. Jimmy Leigh made him leave last night.”

  “Seems he came back.”

  “Hey, Shilo,” Jones hollered. “I'm givin' ya ten seconds to send 'er out, or yer both dead. Matters little to me.”

  “Listen, and do exactly what I say,” Merril whispered in her ear. “To your left, about ten feet away, are some low bushes. Crawl on your belly until you get there. Follow them back toward the pond. Midnight's on the other side of the thicket. Mount him, and stay there until I come for you.” He searched her eyes. He could feel her tremble with fear. “Can you do that?”

  She nodded and rolled onto her stomach.

  “Good, then go.” He pushed her rear down. “Use your elbows. Keep your ass down.” He saw her look back as she crawled away. He motioned for her to keep going.

  “Time's 'bout up, Shilo. What's it gonna be?”

  “I want to talk, Jones.” Merril raised his hands above the grass in a show of good faith, and as a distraction from Nichole's movements.

  Another shot whizzed past, and Merril dropped back to the ground.

  “Next one ain't gonna miss, Shilo,” Jones called. “Send out the bitch.”

  Merril lay on his back and checked his revolver. The powder was soaked. He holstered his gun and looked toward Nichole. She'd disappeared behind the bushes.

  I'll have to chance it.

  He rolled over and rose to peer through the grass and get his bearings.

  Jones stood roughly eighty feet away. The man's horse danced skittishly behind him. The damned fool had dismounted and walked toward him.

  He was still far enough away that Jones's aim would be hampered by distance. If Jones had a good aim, he wouldn't miss in another twenty feet.