Sweet Savage Heart

by Janelle Taylor

  Mace smiled and nodded. “I understand, Rana. I never knew about Todd and Marissa, so I guess you were a shock to him since you look like your mother. I came to work for Nate when I was seventeen, so I only saw your mother once. But I can tell you, she wasn’t one to forget,” he murmured almost dreamily. Catching himself, he flushed lightly and said, “It’s getting late. We should ride back.” The sun was falling across her head, enhancing the color of her face, hair, and eyes. He smiled and remarked, “You know something? Travis is a lucky man. He said you were perfect and beautiful, and he was right.”

  “It is good he has a friend who knows and shares all with him, as Myeerah did with me in the Oglala camp. I miss her. Cody Slade says he will bring his love to see me and become my new friend. It is good.”

  Yes, Mace decided, Travis Kincade was a damn lucky man to have discovered this treasure first. He would take real good care of it for his best friend, and if Travis didn’t return alive… No, Mace raged inwardly, nothing could and would happen to his best friend. “After you finish your lessons tomorrow, we’ll do some target practice,” he said aloud. “Just make sure you don’t go riding without me or Cody, or Todd.”

  She smiled at Mace and mounted the pretty sorrel. “Did Travis forget to tell you I am very obedient and understanding?”

  Mace’s gaze met Rana’s and they both laughed merrily.

  Clarissa paced her room and read the letter again and again. The news was what she had desired, but could she believe it? Travis had been holding her off for years, so why this sudden change? Was the tough rancher going soft for her? Or was he getting worried about losing his ranch and all he owned? Did it matter to her that it was the only way she could have him? She read the letter one final time, then burned it.

  It was probably a good thing he was gone right now, she told herself, for he might have been injured during her father’s take-over, or he might have discovered the truth about her and her plans. And because he was gone, Travis couldn’t fall for that little chit of Marissa’s! Once Travis lost everything, she would look like the best catch to him, especially if her father were dead and Travis could marry her and become the owner of a vast empire. No matter his motives, she would win him and tame him. But right now, she had another man to handle. Picking up a drying cloth, she made her way to the bathing closet.

  When she returned to her room after her bath, she found Wes Monroe propped lazily on her bed. She hurriedly locked her bedroom door and went to him. Keeping her voice as low as possible though she was in a burning rage, she demanded, “What the hell are you doing in here? My father could return at any time. He would fire you and disown me!”

  As he placed several pillows behind him and leaned against them, Wes playfully argued, “Nobody saw me sneak in and your door’s locked. We’re on the second floor, so nobody can peek in your windows. If you keep your voice down, nobody will know I’m here. Sit down and talk.” He grasped her hand and pulled her down beside him.

  “Nobody doesn’t matter, only my father,” she sneered. “If he finds out about us, he’ll get suspicious and all my plans will be ruined.”

  “That’s who you want me to kill for you, isn’t it?” he asked calmly as he untied the sash to her robe, exposing her naked body, which was still damp from her bath. He noticed her uncontrollable reaction to his words, a response that left no doubt about her prey’s identity or her character. He had watched and listened, and had added up the facts and clues. This woman wanted it all, and she would kill her own father or do anything to get it. That meant she was as cold-blooded and greedy as he was, and she couldn’t be trusted.

  “I told you I would come to the cabin later. I was getting ready to leave. This is too risky, Wes. We can’t talk or meet here.”

  As he fondled her breasts, he suggested erotically, “Taking you here makes it more exciting, Clarissa. Riding you like crazy within a few feet of the man you want me to kill for you and knowing he doesn’t suspect a thing… Knowing we can’t make a sound even if our bodies heat up and burn to a crisp… Nope, woman, this ain’t risky; this is feasting on danger and making all of your senses come alive. Don’t you know how much pleasure and power you can get from other people’s pain? Why don’t you tell me what you’ve got in mind for your unlucky Papa while I take another payment?” His hands went behind her back and he pulled her forward so his mouth could devour her breasts.

  Clarissa thought about his stimulating words as she watched him with fascination. Her father had taken Marissa many times in the room next to hers; now she would dare to have a lover in this very house! And the man who was going to murder him! Wes was right; danger was a heady aphrodisiac and so was victory. It was all falling into place for her, and that was intoxicating. As his hand slipped between her legs, she closed her eyes and was consumed by the blissful sensations that Wes was creating up and down her quivering frame.

  Suddenly he halted and pushed her aside to rise and undress. She was eager to have him feasting and laboring on her body again, and she helped him remove his garments quickly. Tossing aside her light covering, she lay down, reached for him, and drew him down to her searing body. Few men she had known had been as skilled and generous as this crude beast. Until she was finished with Wes, she would make good use of him. Soon her head began to thrash on the pillow, for Wes was driving her wild with his bold actions.

  He finally rolled to his back and whispered hoarsely, “Climb on top of me and ride me good, woman. We’ll talk later.”

  Clarissa instantly obeyed. As she rocked back and forth on him, a knock sounded on the door and her father called out, “You still awake, girl? I want to talk to you about something.”

  Clarissa froze and her heart pounded in fear of discovery. She gazed at Wes’s wicked expression, unable to believe that he had devilishly begun to pinch her taut nipples and grin at her, knowing she could not cry out or scold him. Clarissa recalled the many times her father had hurt her and controlled her and, for a brief, maddening instant, she was tempted to cry rape and have Wes slain. But she needed him now, though she vowed she would repay him later. Harrison knocked and called out again, and Clarissa found her voice. “I’m tired, Papa; it was a long, hot day. Let’s talk in the morning. I’m already in bed,” she explained as she began undulating her body over Wes’s again.

  As Harrison argued, “It’s only nine o’clock, and we have some plans to make,” Wes seized Clarissa’s hips and forcefully began to grind his manhood into her body. Then he pulled her forward to nibble roughly on her breasts, for the danger of Harrison’s proximity and his power over her seemed to arouse him enormously. “Are you sure you don’t want to get up and come downstairs for a sherry and a talk?” Harrison encouraged. He had heard about Travis’s second strange departure and he wanted to learn if Clarissa knew anything about it.

  Wes replaced his manhood with his mouth and hands. Tingles raced through her body. Her worst enemy was standing on the other side of that door, and, on this side, a dangerous villain was sensuously devouring her and promising to do her bidding. She felt as if she were vicariously punishing her father and she reveled in the feeling. Clarissa grinned salaciously. “I’m too tired and sleepy, Papa. I need to stay in bed tonight. I was just getting comfortable. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “All right, girl. We’ll talk at breakfast. Have a good night,” he told her, bringing a wicked smile to her lips. “I will, Papa,” she murmured softly. “Sleep well.” She focused her full attention on Wes, for soon she would have to get rid of him. Hopefully Travis Kincade was this good, or only half as good, in bed…

  The next morning, Rachel Raines appeared for work. She was a willowy woman with dark chestnut hair and vivid green eyes. She and Rana seemed pleased with each other and soon established an easy rapport. Relieved at how well the two women were getting along, Nathan announced that he would be riding to the east pasture to see how the fence repairs were going in that troublesome area.

  Rachel spent the morning teaching Rana
about cooking and cleaning, and telling her about others on the ranch. Rana decided not to question the woman about her husband or their life together, at least not until they got to know each other better.

  Aaron Moore arrived after the noon meal. While he and Rana worked at the dining room table, Rachel did the washing and checked on Nathan’s garden, for she and one of the hands were responsible for tending it and gathering the vegetables and fruits. When Rana and Aaron took a short break from the lesson, Rachel told them she was leaving for the day and would see Rana the next morning. Rana was delighted to hear the woman had cooked a stew for supper and had left it simmering on the stove. Rachel also had biscuits ready to be baked later and had prepared tea and a cobbler with canned peaches.

  Aaron Moore departed shortly after Rachel, and Mace appeared around five to take Rana to a nearby meadow for target practice. He was amazed by her natural skill with guns. As he instructed her and she obeyed, he told her many tales about the ranch and his friendship with Travis. Rana felt at ease with Mace and told him many things about her life in the Oglala camp. Since the ranch was so sorely in need of money, she did not reveal how much Nathan and Travis had paid for her return, nor did she tell Mace that she and Travis were married under Indian law. He returned her just before supper time, then conversed with Nathan for a few minutes, and the older man invited him to stay for the evening meal.

  Nathan cleverly suggested, “If anybody’s watching us for Harry, it might be a good idea if you’re seen around the house with Rana. Out riding, you might only look like her escort. And it wouldn’t hurt none if you two were seen holding hands and eyeing each other.”

  That day set a pattern for many to follow, with Rana steadily increasing her knowledge and skills with her books, in the house, and on the ranch. Gradually she met the other hands and they were all taken with her, each offering to do whatever he could to help her. But as she and Mace played their deceitful parts, the other men were fooled completely and made sure they did not infringe on Mace’s territory.

  Mrs. Dobbs finished the new wardrobe and her congenial visits stopped, but Rana felt she had learned a great deal from the affable woman. Rana knew the clothes she had made were beautiful and costly, but some were very uncomfortable for a girl accustomed to wearing supple buckskins and going barefoot. Rachel, Nathan, and Mace often teased her about those bare feet and her amusing complaints. She had gotten used to the hard western saddle, but she still preferred riding bareback, which Mace and Nathan would not allow. She missed her daily swims and frequently begged Nathan and Mace to allow her that pleasure, but all she could manage to elicit was permission to go wading in a stream.

  Whenever she and Mace went riding, he would point out and explain the various ranch tasks. This was a busy season for cowhands and ranchers, and only one man appeared to have decided not to wait out the current trouble. The others agreed to continue working with partial pay until Nathan solved his problems. Some hands were engaged in structural repairs or fence mending or rounding up strays or moving cattle between pastures. Others were occupied with branding calves and colts or guarding against rustlers or breaking wild horses.

  Nathan did not extend or accept any neighborly invitations; he used lost work time and catching up from his long absence as excuses to continue guarding Rana’s privacy for awhile. Anyone who dropped by was greeted outside and entertained there, and at such times Rana stayed out of sight. He realized people were curious about her, but he believed they should understand she needed time to get accustomed to a whole new life. Yet, with the hands’ trips into town and to other ranches, news of her beauty and appeal spread quickly. To keep their friends and neighbors from getting too curious to contain themselves, Nathan sent messages to them saying he would hold a large barbecue on the tenth of August, at which time everyone would meet his granddaughter.

  Each Sunday Nathan went to church with the Raineses and answered countless questions about Rana Michaels. Most seemed to understand why Nathan did not want her overwhelmed with so many new things and people, and told him they would wait patiently for the second Saturday in August.

  It had been thirteen days since Travis’s departure and Rana missed him terribly. So far, the incidents of wicked mischief had been limited to several fence cuttings, the rustling of fifteen to twenty head of cattle at a time, the strewing about of hay stacks—it would have been too dangerous to set them afire, for flames could spread wildly and rapidly in all directions during this sultry July weather—the plundering of small sheds, and the opening of gates to allow horses to escape: problems that could be repaired or corrected, with the exception of the stolen cattle.

  Rana had not yet been given the opportunity to speak privately with Todd Raines, but she often found him watching her intently. On this particular day, Rana turned suddenly to find Rachel observing the way she and Todd had been looking at each other. Tears glistened in the woman’s green eyes and Rana followed her into the house and asked kindly, “Why do you weep, Rachel?”

  Rachel dried her eyes and let them roam the features of the girl before her. “You look just like your mother, and she broke Todd’s heart years ago. Every time he looks at you, he sees and remembers that pain. Your mother was…” Rachel held her revealing tongue.

  “I am sorry my face brings such sadness and pain. Please speak, Rachel. Why did my mother hurt your husband? How did she do so? To understand my mother and myself, I must hear about the past.”

  Rachel answered reluctantly, “Todd was in love with Marissa Crandall and he believed she was in love with him. They were together nearly every day and they talked about marriage—until she suddenly ran off with that Raymond Michaels. It shocked everybody, ‘cause he was…” Again Rachel fell silent and her face turned very red.

  “Do not worry, Rachel, I know my father was a bad man. There is a reason why she married Raymond and died for her mistake. Why did my mother choose him over Todd Raines? It makes no sense.”

  Rachel’s gaze wandered over Rana’s entreating expression, and she knew the girl was serious. Rana’s face was so much like the one that had haunted both Todd and herself for years, but there was nothing to dislike about this charming girl. The same had been true of Marissa, despite the fact that Rachel had wanted to despise the woman who had hurt her love so badly. Each time she had returned for a short visit, Marissa had seemed so sad, so lonely, so vulnerable, and so afraid. The girl whom Rachel had known during those visits long ago was nothing like the one described in the gossip she had heard then and later. And, Rachel reasoned, if Marissa had been as wicked and willful as the rumors claimed, Todd Raines would never have fallen in love with her. She wanted to help Rana, but she felt it would be wrong to reveal a mystery that would confuse and pain this sweet girl even more than she already was. Poor Marissa; something had terrified that beautiful creature and had driven her from home. But no one knew why she decided to run off with Raymond, including Todd and Nathan.

  “That’s something I can’t explain, Rana; I doubt anyone can. I was working here during your last two visits, but I doubt you recall me. Todd married me after Marissa’s second visit home in ‘52. I think he needed someone to help him forget your mother, but we’ve been very happy, except for having no children. Lord, how I wish I could give Todd a child. It would make us so happy. I used to watch Todd watching you and Marissa. I knew he still loved her and wished you two were his. I tried to hate your mother, but she made it impossible. She might have been wild and willful in her younger days, but she wasn’t like that when I knew her. She was a kind, good woman, Rana, and she loved you dearly. I think she wanted to stay here on the ranch, but your papa wouldn’t allow it.”

  Rachel peeked out the kitchen window to make certain no one was coming, then continued. “I couldn’t blame Todd for his feelings, ‘cause feelings are things we can’t control. It took him years to get over losing her, then years to get over her death. He was one of the men who helped Mister Crandall search for you until they knew it was useless. T
he minute I laid eyes on you the other week, I knew how you was affecting my Todd. My poor love! All those memories must have come pouring back when he looked at you, the good ones and the bad ones. Please don’t talk to him about your mama. I promise you he don’t know nothing that I ain’t told you. Todd’s talked about her plenty, asleep and awake. He don’t know why she left; that’s why he suffered so. Not knowing something important is like a festering wound that won’t heal. Let him get used to having you around before you say anything to him. Maybe you’ll help him accept the past and get over her.”

  “I will not speak of my mother to him until I know the truth; then I will tell it to him, for he has earned the right to know it. You are a good wife to him, Rachel. Do not let the spirit of a dead loved one come between you. He belongs to you; fight for him. My mother is not your enemy, and I am your friend. Do not be sad or afraid.”

  Rachel smiled through more tears. “That’s what your mother said to me the last time she was home. I was so scared Todd would fall in love with her again, and I knew she was miserable with Raymond. I was afraid they would be drawn to each other like before. Marissa saw how I was feeling. One day she put her arm around my shoulder and told me not to be sad or afraid, to trust my husband, and to fight for him if necessary. She told me she had loved Todd long ago, but as a young girl. She said she knew she had hurt him deeply, but she couldn’t change the past. She refused to talk to him because she said it was best if he kept terrible thoughts about her and hated her. She believed it would make it easier for him to forget her. She was a special woman, Rana. I wish she was still alive so you could know her like I did. If anyone tells you mean things about her, don’t listen to them. Hardly anybody understood or knew Marissa, and that’s plenty sad.”