Randee glanced at Marsh quizzically. He told her that the man knew she could identify the raiders, and would keep their confidence. Randee looked dismayed at discovering that Marsh had revealed her valuable and perilous secret to another person, even to a close or old friend of his. To her, this newspaperman was a stranger, a man who published other people’s secrets. For all she knew, Willard could be the clever boss of that murderous gang!
Randee was annoyed that Marsh hadn’t discussed this vital matter with her before sharing her information with anyone. Marsh was hired by her, not Willard Mason. She was the one paying the expenses and offering the reward. She was the one who deserved Marsh’s first loyalty. Marsh was the only one in whom she had confided, and she had not meant for her secret to go any further than her lover’s ears.
Both men realized how vexed Randee was at this news, but it was Willard Mason who coaxed amiably, “Don’t fret, Miss Hollis, Marsh knows I can be trusted. I would die before exposing either one of you; I swear it. In exchange for helping you two get to the bottom of this trouble, he’s giving me the full story afterwards. It’s a matter of deep friendship and good fortune between us.”
Randee eyed Marsh again before her probing gaze settled on the entreating face of the older man. Since it was too late to change anything, she had to accept Marsh’s faith in Willard. Besides, she did have a good feeling about the hazel-eyed man, and her father had always told her to trust her gut instincts. Doing so was the reason she was sitting here tonight with Marsh Logan. Going back to his friend’s previous query, she answered honestly, “I really didn’t notice Marshal Timms’s prisoner that night. At the time, I had other things on my mind. I was leaving town the next morning to join up with Marsh, and I was trying to keep my friends there in the dark about my plans.”
Randee was glad that Marsh didn’t tease her in front of this man about her past romance with Sheriff Brody Wade, or mention that she had been in Brody’s office for a cozy and private picnic. Suddenly she wondered what all Marsh had confided in his friend. Did Willard Mason know everything about Marsh, about her, about their journey together? She felt her cheeks grow warm as she realized that this man might know all about her past and about their current intimate relationship.
Marsh noticed the change in Randee’s mood and he wondered what was causing it, what she was thinking. He hadn’t told her much about his friend, and nothing about Willard’s being his secret contact for government work. Both men were covertly employed by President Grant, facts which must be kept a secret from everyone, including Randee. Maybe she was just miffed because she hadn’t been consulted before he exposed their information and plans to his “old friend.”
To get past the awkward moment, Willard reminded her, “Marsh told you to come to me if there’s trouble on the trail and you two get separated, or he’s injured. Please, don’t try to take on these ruffians on your own, Miss Hollis. They would take you apart while smiling.”
Randee knew this man had sent his wife and children to visit kinfolk to avoid danger if he was discovered helping Marsh unmask those villains. They were all in peril, but it was something which had to be done. She asked, “How long have you two known each other?”
Willard and Marsh glanced at each other and chuckled. “Years,” the newspaperman replied. “I met Marsh when he was a guard for the Carver Freight Line. I did a story on him after he singlehandedly foiled a robbery attempt by six men. If anybody can take care of you, Miss Hollis, it’s Marsh Logan.”
“I’m sure of that, Mr. Mason, that’s why we’re partners.”
The man smiled, then got up to serve dessert. Randee looked at Marsh, who was grinning broadly. He shrugged and quipped, “What can I say, woman, the man admires me to a flaw?”
“Nothing,” she replied, “since I do, too.”
“That’s dangerous, woman, since I’m a no-good rogue.”
“Are you, Marsh?” she retorted, then went to help Willard.
It was dusk when they headed back to the hotel. A man stumbled out of the saloon and crashed into them, just as Marsh had done at their first meeting. Randee stared at the man, her face paling and her body going rigid. The man didn’t apologize; he simply sneered at them and headed down the plankway, weaving drunkenly. Randee was breathing heavily as she turned to glare at him.
“What’s wrong?” Marsh asked worriedly. “Is he one of them?”
“He was one of the rustlers my father was trying to catch just before he was killed. I shot him in the arm, but he got away. I’ll never forget his face. I’m going after him. I’m going to kill him this time,” she vowed angrily. “He’s the reason my father’s dead. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be in this mess. I hate him.”
“You get back to the hotel. I’ll go after him and get him. You’re too upset to think straight, and that’s deadly.”
“It’s my problem, and I’ll handle it,” she argued. “You’re always taking the risks and leaving me behind. We’re partners, Marsh.”
He grabbed her upper arms and shook her right there in public. “Do you remember when I said you kept my head clear and kept me alive because I was too personally involved in this case? That’s what I’m doing for you now, woman, repaying you. Go to your room and wait for me. Dammit, Randee, that’s an order. I can’t let you get arrested here. Get moving before he’s out of sight.”
Randee frowned at him, but followed his command. She paced the floor until he returned. She asked unremorsefully, “Did you get him?”
His steady blue gaze met her fiery green one. “I persuaded him to talk first. Seems you’re more than right about Payton Slade. He hired those rustlers to harass your father and to … kill him. He’s been trying to join up with the Epson Gang, but he couldn’t locate them. He won’t ever harm anyone else again.”
Randee sank to the bed, feeling numb with anguish. At last she knew the truth, but it didn’t relieve her, because her problem in Kansas still existed. Now she knew how deadly her stepfather was, and she despised him all the more for his evil and greed. Not only had he taken her father’s life, Payton had stolen Randall’s land and wife! “I’m going to kill him, Marsh; I swear it, and I don’t care what Mother says or does afterwards. She can believe me or not, but he’s paying for my father’s death.”
“When we get to Kansas, we’ll figure out how to defeat him. Since we have no evidence against him, we’ll have to walk carefully, or we’ll be in worse danger from the law than he is from us.”
“I don’t need evidence to kill him! I suspected he was behind that trouble we were having, but I didn’t want to accept the whole truth. How could I have been so blind and stupid? Such a coward? I should have killed him the first time he looked at me sideways! I didn’t use my instincts, Marsh, and he got away with murder and theft. He’s duped my mother and driven me from my home.”
“You were young and innocent, Randee. You were hurting from your father’s death and trying to hold on to your ranch. Don’t blame yourself. If anyone knows how rash a youngster can act, it’s me. Back then, we didn’t know enough and weren’t strong enough to handle problems like those. I promise he’ll pay for your father’s death.”
Randee started to weep, the past few years of torment overwhelming her. “I should have been with Father that night. I …”
Marsh drew her into his embrace and held her tightly. “You would be dead, too, Randee, just like I would be if I’d been home. We have to accept the fact we aren’t to blame for those deaths. We had to get away from home to learn about life, to become adults.” He spread kisses over her face and pulled her down to the bed. He comforted her with his tender embrace until she went to sleep, as it was not a time for making love, only one for offering solace.
Marsh gazed down at the sleeping figure beside him. His heart went out to her. Never had he wanted to protect and love anyone more than Randee Hollis. If he didn’t feel his duty to avenge his parents and to halt this siege on innocent Texans, he would … He would what? he asked himself. Lordy, he fret
ted, was he ready and willing to settle down? Could he commit to one woman, to this woman? He was used to traveling around, thinking only, of himself and his work. Could he take on the responsibility of another person, of what it all entailed? He had made so many enemies, foes who didn’t even know his name. What if he unmasked himself and they learned his real identity? Would they harm his love to get at him, to punish him?
His love, his mind echoed. Was Randee Hollis his true love? He looked over at her, sleeping peacefully in his arms, fully clothed. If it wasn’t only physical desire for her, then what else could it be except love? Lordy, woman, look what you’ve done to me … .
As they were dressing to leave the Fort Worth hotel on June eighth, Randee remarked, “I wish you’d told me about your tight bond with Willard Mason so I wouldn’t have been caught by surprise last night. Are you sure you can trust him so completely? How much does he know about our relationship?”
Instantly Marsh comprehended what had troubled her last night at the table. He responded, “I don’t know what he suspects about us, but I didn’t reveal anything about our personal attachment. Even if he guessed the truth about us, he wouldn’t say anything about it. Are you sorry we … we’ve become so tight?” Is that what she had meant by the “mess” she was in, her carefree affair with him? “Do you want to call a halt to it? Go back to strictly business? I’ll understand.”
Randee asked herself if she were ashamed of her behavior with the man she loved. Did she regret her sensuous actions? Would she change them, now or in the past? She explained carefully, but honestly. “In most people’s eyes, it isn’t proper for two unattached people to sleep together, but I’m not sorry we’re so close, Marsh. We both know how hard it is to find and share an equal partnership like ours. We can’t merely discard it because of life’s rules. We’re carefree adventurers, and adventurers get their stimulation and victories from breaking those stiff rules. We’re friends, confidantes, and lovers, as well as partners and companions. We’ve made no promises to each other, because neither of us knows how long we’ll want each other.”
She stroked his bronzed cheek as she told him, “For now, we desire each other and need each other as lovers. But one day, we might only be good friends, or even partners again. This attraction between us is very strong, Marsh, so we have to use it up while we’re together. It’s like …” She halted briefly, laughed, and continued, “It’s like an itch which has to be scratched frequently or we’ll go crazy. Once it’s soothed, we’ll both move on to new territories. Even if we can share only this time or short times in the future together, isn’t that better than allowing this hunger to chew away at us because we’re afraid it’ll become more than a ravenous appetite one day? Whatever happens between us, Marsh, now or later, a bond will always stretch between us because we’ve shared a special time in our lives, a special part of ourselves. But I would prefer we keep our relationship a secret to avoid gossip and problems later when we go our separate ways.”
Marsh appreciated the way she never acted helpless or clinging to seize his attention or sympathy. She held her own ground, or she asked for help when necessary. She was strong, smart, and brave. He was pleased by her words and attitude. She was living up to her end of their bargain and that relaxed him. He smiled and nodded.
She told him, “We have to be careful about this trail of bodies we’re leaving behind. We have only my word they’re criminals. As far as the law can see, men are being killed and they don’t know why or by whom. If we’re caught, we have no proof. And I doubt the law would take the word of a naughty vixen and the Durango Kid.”
“That means we’d better not get caught. All we can do is keep moving and looking for more of them to destroy. Let’s get busy checking out the center of this suspicious circle,” he suggested, referring to the oblong targeted area of attacks.
They left town and rode slowly but steadily so as to not tire the horses in case they met trouble and had to make a run for their lives. This area was dense with trees, offering plenty of concealed campsites for those dispersed outlaws; so today, they had to be even more cautious with their travel and search than they had in the past.
For their early afternoon rest, they stopped beneath a cluster of trees whose overhanging branches were so low, the tall man was forced to sit on the ground while he ate his meal. Their horses were grazing contentedly nearby, and the day was very warm.
Randee had eaten quickly, then stood to exercise before taking to her saddle again. She grasped a small trunk and leaned backward, flexing her neck and shoulders and waist. Her hat was lying on the ground and her long hair was blowing gently in the same breeze that stirred the leaves around them. It seemed so peaceful here, so private. When they were alone like this, danger always seemed unreal, or far away. She closed her eyes and sighed dreamily as she recalled Marsh’s gentleness last night when she had needed it so much.
As Marsh asked if she were restless today, she turned her head in his direction, causing wisps of tawny hair to blow across her face. She smiled and shook her head as she lifted one hand to brush away the tickling strands. She threw her head back and shook the carefree mane behind her to make it behave. But the mischievous wind swirled through it again and whipped it around her golden face and green eyes. She laughed, then sought a ribbon to secure it behind her head. Before doing so, she teased the silky length of ribbon through her fingers and pondered its purchaser, Brody Wade.
Randee frowned slightly. It wasn’t fair or right to keep that man waiting for her when she had no intention of accepting his proposal. He had to be worried deeply about her safety and survival. Soon, she needed to let him down easily and kindly, and Marsh shouldn’t object.
Marsh watched the array of emotions flicker across her lovely face, and he knew something important was running through her keen mind. He wondered what would happen to this vital woman if he was slain during this mission. Was he being selfish and cruel to her by allowing her to dream of a future with him? She wasn’t the kind of woman who should be a man’s mistress, not even his. She was the marrying kind, the motherly kind, the home kind. Was he spoiling her for accepting another man, another life, if he was taken from her? Where would she go? What would she do? He mused on the information which he hadn’t shared with her about her father’s death. He had given Willard Mason the names of the other rustlers which that bastard in Fort Worth had divulged to him, Payton Slade’s hirelings. He had asked his friend to check them out for him. He wanted to know if those men were still employed by Randee’s stepfather at his ranch in Kansas. He had also secured Willard’s promise to take care of Randee in the event of his death ….
They rode about one-third of the way between Fort Worth and Fort Richardson before halting to camp for the night. While Randee started their evening meal, Marsh scouted every direction from the old barn to make certain no threat was in the area.
After he returned while it was still light, they ate, doused the campfire, and concealed their horses in the barn. As dusk began to settle around the secluded barn, they climbed into the loft to sleep. Marsh opened the loft door slightly so he could watch and listen for any sign of danger, and he placed their weapons nearby to be prepared. Aged straw filled the area and crackled when they walked on it. Marsh unrolled their sleeping mats and told her to get some rest.
Any day could be their last one, and Randee yearned to spend this one in Marsh’s arms. When he turned to look at her, she was gazing at him with a look that said, I want you and need you.
Marsh felt his heart speed up and his loins inflame. He glanced outside and weighed their chances of discovery and peril. It was doubtful that any traveler wouldn’t be camped by this hour. He walked over to her and looked down into her entreating eyes. He didn’t speak as he unfastened the buttons on her calf-length denim dress. When her belt halted him, he removed it, then continued with the few remaining buttons below her waist.
Marsh eased the garment off her shoulders and it slipped to the dusty floor. Randee s
tepped out of it and shoved it aside with her foot. With trembling but deft fingers, Marsh loosened the ribbon ties on her chemise and pulled it over her head, tossing it atop her dress. He undid the knot in her bandanna and cast it aside. Kneeling, he removed her boots, then stood to complete his bold task by releasing her bloomers and drawing them off her shapely legs. His igneous blue gaze roamed her naked flesh and branded it anew as his own.
Quickly he discarded his clothes and boots and pressed their naked bodies together. He shuddered with overpowering desire for her, and was amazed that she had this potent effect on him every time they made love. His fingers drifted up and down her sleek back as he passionately assailed her mouth with hungry kisses. He felt her fingers bury themselves in his ebony hair as she pulled his mouth more tightly against hers. Slowly he guided her down to their sleeping roll.
Moonlight entered the loft door and bathed them in a seductive glow. As his mouth moved down the silky column of her throat, it encountered the silver necklace and he pressed his lips to it before trailing them downward to her breasts. The words on that shiny circle were true; she would be a part of him forever, no matter their fates.
Marsh tantalized and stimulated her until she was quivering with urgent need. She knew he felt the same way, and she unleashed all her passion upon him. Holding nothing back, they kissed and caressed until ecstasy’s flames engulfed them and seared this blissful moment into their minds forever. They made love wildly and freely until their craving for each other could not be restrained a moment longer, and they feasted on love’s treats until their enormous appetites for each other were sated, for a time.
Late Friday afternoon, Marsh noticed fresh tracks near a creek, and they gingerly followed them. He told her, “Until those gang members link up again and find some of their friends missing, we have the advantage of surprise. They think they’re smarter than everybody else, so they won’t be expecting anyone on their trail.”
Passions Wild And Free Page 27
