by Lana Dare
* * * *
Sarah lay propped against the headboard of the new bed her husbands had just assembled, watching Phoenix as he eased down on the bed to sit next to her. She tried to wave her hand, but it proved too much effort. “I can’t believe you bought another bed.”
Phoenix smiled, his gaze narrowing as he studied her features. “We wanted you to be comfortable while you healed, and that other bed wasn’t an option. We burned it. You look tired.”
“I’m fine. How’s your shoulder?”
Phoenix lifted his arm, rotating it. “Fine. Doesn’t even hurt. Now, lie back and go to sleep. You need to get your strength back.”
It had been three weeks since she’d been shot, and it frustrated her that she didn’t have any more energy than a newborn kitten.
Standing at the foot of the bed with his arms crossed over his chest, Blade looked every inch a warrior. “Yes. We have a few things to discuss about that little stunt you pulled.”
Sarah wiggled restlessly, wincing at the pull to her side and thigh. “You’ve made your opinion of that real clear.”
Blade’s brow went up in that way that made her stomach flutter. “Have I?”
“You have.” Sarah shrugged and closed her eyes again. “You said it was stupid, but I don’t see it that way. I thought if I could give Willy the gold, he would leave and stop causing trouble.” She opened her eyes when Phoenix stood, flicking her gaze to Blade’s again.
His smile didn’t reach his eyes, the remembered horror in them making her feel guilty as hell. “And we all know how that worked out.”
* * * *
“Lily—”
“I thought we’d agreed that you would call me Mother now.” Smiling faintly, she pushed her hair back. “Your men refuse to even call me Lily. They call me Edna. Feels strange to be called by my real name.” Shaking her head, she blew out a breath. “But I want you to call me Mother.”
Sarah smiled. “Mother, I want you to take the gold I took from Willy and use it to get to California.”
Shaking her head, her mother rose from the bed. “No. It’s better that you have it. I don’t want you to be stuck the way I was. I want you to be able to get away if you need to.”
“She won’t need to.” Hawke came through the doorway, frowning as he approached the foot of the bed. “Sarah stays where she is.”
A shiver of delight went through Sarah at her husband’s tone, the possessiveness in his eyes sending a rush of warmth through her that had nothing to do with a fever. “Oh, does she?”
He couldn’t exactly be thought of as handsome. His features were too hard for that, but no one could deny his masculinity.
Fluttering her eyelashes in the way she’d seen her mother and the other girls do a thousand times, she struggled to hold back a laugh when his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Are you going to make it worth my while?”
Hawke recovered quickly, a dark brow going up. “Let’s put it this way. If you try running away again, or go anywhere without telling one of us, you’re gonna find yourself in all kinds of trouble.”
Sarah’s mother whirled to confront him, backing off slightly when he took a step toward her. “If you hurt her, I’ll—”
Hawke scowled at her before turning his attention back to Sarah, his lips twitching when his gaze met hers. “I’d cut my hands off before I hurt her and she knows it. That’s why she’s taunting me now.” He smiled faintly, and moved to her side, lifting the sheet and the edges of her nightgown to check her healing injuries, eyeing them critically before lowering the sheet again. “Behave yourself. I’ll be back in a little while.”
Meeting her mother’s gaze, Hawke straightened. “Take the gold. Sarah has the reward money from Willy and his gang.”
“What?” Sarah gaped at him. “Reward money? I didn’t do anything.” She hadn’t expected that. “You take it.”
Hawke shrugged. “You drew him here.” Lifting a hand when she would have objected, he shook his head. “Everyone involved agrees that you deserve it. It’s yours to use as you wish.”
Pausing at the doorway, he turned. “Unless, of course, you use it to try to run away again.” He glanced at her mother, some unspoken message passing between them. “We won’t let you go, Sarah, unless you’re unhappy here. Are you?”
Anxious to get better so she could make love with him again, she grinned. “How can I be unhappy when I’m with the men I love?”
His smile, a flash of white against his dark skin, made her stomach flutter and her pussy clench with need. “You can’t be. You won’t be. Behave yourself. I won’t be long.”
She knew by the look in his eyes that if they’d been alone and she’d been healed, he would already be making love to her.
Shifting her legs restlessly, she pressed her thighs together at the ache that settled there.
It amazed her that she’d become so dependent on the closeness that lovemaking enhanced between them, and missed it terribly.
Once Hawke disappeared, her mother turned to her, a smile curving her lips. “That man sure does love you. Blade and Phoenix too. You should have seen them take care of you. Hell, they even argued with the doctor. I didn’t know men were capable of such gentleness.” Smiling, she moved closer. “You love them, don’t you?”
“I do.” Laughing softly, she winced at the slight pain in her side. “I didn’t think anyone would ever fall in love with me.”
“Because you were raised in a bordello?” Her mother shrugged. “Men want to have sex with whores, but they certainly don’t want to marry them. I guess you would have been painted with the same brush.” Picking at a thread on her dress, she looked up at Sarah through her lashes. “I heard what happened with Willy back in Waco. I’m sorry for it. If I’d known what he planned to do, I would have found a way to get you out of there.”
She smiled, her eyes gleaming with pride. “You did it yourself even better. Stole his gold and lit out of town before he even suspected. I’m real proud of you. On top of that, you run straight into the arms of men like that. I’m happy as hell that you managed to find men who love you the way those three do.”
Shaking her head, her mother got to her feet, moving slowly around the small cabin. “I’d give anything to have the love of one man, and you’ve got three. A home of your own.”
Wiping away a tear, her mother nodded. “I’ll take some of that gold, if you don’t mind. I’m real happy that you’ve got security.” Grinning, she shook her head again, appearing more relaxed than Sarah had even seen her look. “Three husbands. Amazing. You’ve got three men to look after you and keep you safe—three strong, fearless men who’d risk their life for you.”
Sarah gulped, glancing toward the window. “I know. It’s a little scary.”
It was also very humbling.
Her mother smiled and lowered herself to sit on the bed next to her. “You should have seen them. They were so scared.”
Sarah traced a pattern on the sheet. “I thought they wanted me to leave. Phoenix got shot because of me. I thought they blamed me for bringing trouble to the ranch.”
Her mother surprised her by throwing her head back and laughing. “Doesn’t look to me like they’re the type to hide behind a woman’s skirts. Nope. Those men’ll meet trouble head on and enjoy the hell out of it.”
She’d never forget how they’d looked when they’d ridden off to confront Willy and his gang, and knew that her mother was right. Blowing out a breath, she moved to a more comfortable position. “They looked so hard and cold when they rode out, like completely different men.” Smiling, she leaned back with a sigh, missing her husbands. At least one of them had been with her at all times since she’d been shot, and had only started leaving her alone to spend some time with her mother, Savannah, and Maggie. “They’ve been nothing but gentle with me. I never dreamed they could be so dangerous. I heard what they did to Willy and his men.”
“Without even breaking a sweat. None of them started sweating until they saw you fall
.” Her mother smiled, turning from where she’d been staring out the window. Although the bruises on her face had faded, Sarah knew she’d never forget them.
“Oh, baby, every man I’ve met since coming here is dangerous—the good kind of dangerous.” Laughing softly, her mother braced herself against the wall, sighing as she leaned her head against the window. Her laughter stopped, but she wore a satisfied smile and a faraway look in her eyes that kept Sarah silent. “Such good men, and so kind to women. Even to me.”
Struck by the look of peace and contentment that seemed to erase the harsh lines on her mother’s face, Sarah just watched her, amazed that her mother looked at least ten years younger. She’d never seen her mother look so beautiful.
Her mother stood in silence for several long minutes before turning, her smile widening. “To know that you’re happy and settled means the world to me. If your offer’s still open, I have a chance to start over. It’s more than I could have ever hoped for—for both of us.”
Straightening, she smiled again as if she couldn’t stop smiling, moving to the bed and sitting next to Sarah. She took Sarah’s hand in hers in a motherly gesture that brought back happy memories that Sarah had long ago forgotten.
As a little girl, she’d play with her mother’s sparkly jewelry and colorful feathers that she wore in her hair, while her mother looked on with a smile, a smile she hadn’t seen in too many years.
Until now.
“Your men are real men—strong enough to handle any trouble that comes along, and secure enough in themselves to let you see how much they love you. I’ve heard about men like them all my life, but I’ve never met any. To know that you’re surrounded by them, and have three of them who would die—or kill—for you makes anything seem possible. A new life for both of us.”
Patting Sarah’s hand, her mother rose again as if the excitement shining in her eyes made it impossible for her to sit still. “California! Thank you so much for makin’ it possible for me to start over. Now that you’re on the mend, I’m gonna go. Your men have put up with me long enough, and Duke said he’s goin’ to town tomorrow for more supplies. I heard Mrs. Tyler talking her husbands into goin’ to town, too.”
Shaking her head, her mother clasped her hands and laughed again. “Both of those men gave in to her and agreed to take her and the baby to town with Duke. I think they want to show off the baby. I’ll tell you, girl, you sure ended up in an amazing place.”
Chapter Fifteen
Sitting on the small front porch of the cabin she shared with her husbands, Sarah thought about her mother’s words as she looked up from the skirt she’d started hemming.
The sight of Phoenix approaching, brushing dirt from his chaps, filled her with a longing that seemed to grow stronger each day.
As soon as she lifted her face, he smiled at her, a grin that made her pulse leap even from several yards away.
Smiling, she sat back and admired his purposeful walk, her smile falling when he suddenly frowned.
“Are you allowed to be out here?” He took the stairs to the small porch two at a time to crouch beside her chair. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”
Setting her sewing aside, she reached out a hand to him, her heart lurching when he took it in his and sat at her feet. “The doctor said that I’m doing fine, and that he wants me to start moving more. He said fresh air would do me good. Besides, I’m bored and I want to see what’s going on. I’ve been watching you trying to break that horse all morning. Are you all right?”
His hand slid up her leg to the exact spot the bullet had struck her thigh. “I’m fine. How about you? What did the doc say exactly?”
His tone and the warning gleam in his eyes told her that she’d better not lie to him.
She leaned forward, thrilled at his kiss, but humbled when he laid his head gently on her lap. Running her fingers through his hair, she smiled. “He said that I’m healing nicely. He wants me to move more now so I can build up my strength. Being in bed for so long has made me weak and stiff.”
Feeling guilty, she kept stroking his hair, loving the silky texture against her fingers.
He hadn’t been the same since the shooting, becoming quieter and more thoughtful. Even though he’d teased her out of her grouchiness while she’d been healing, there’d been an angry glint in his eyes from time to time, one that made her feel even guiltier.
Smiling faintly, she sighed, wishing she could get him to play again. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you, Hawke, and Blade must be disappointed.”
Lifting his head, Phoenix turned to face her, frowning again. “Disappointed?”
Sarah’s face burned. “Because we haven’t been able to—you know—for over a month. I feel better now, so if you want to—”
“Are you out of your mind?” Phoenix jumped to his feet. “You’ve barely healed enough to get out of bed, and you think we’re gonna jump you?” Slashing a hand through the air, he started pacing. “Christ, woman! You could drive a saint crazy.”
A deep voice came from around the corner. “And you’re not exactly a saint. Hell, none of us is. What’s the problem?” Hawke approached from the other side of the cabin, pausing in front of the porch steps with his hands on his hips, frowning at her. “What the hell are you doing out of bed?”
“The doctor said—”
“The doctor said that he wanted you to get some fresh air and to move, but until you gain your strength, only if one of us is with you. Just getting dressed would have required quite a bit of moving around that you shouldn’t have done on your own.” His tone had an edge she didn’t quite trust, one that had her shifting restlessly in her seat.
Gulping, she shrugged, hiding a wince when it tugged at her shoulder. “I was careful.”
Phoenix folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the railing. “I thought we’d discussed the fact that you’re going to be more careful in the future.”
“I am going to be more careful. Look at you! When you got shot in the shoulder, you couldn’t stand to be fussed over and made to stay put. I’ve had a month of it! I’m bored. I want to be outside. I want to get back to my life. I hate feeling like an invalid and I won’t let you keep treating me like I am. I want my husbands back. I want to make love again. I hate being a burden!”
Phoenix smiled and turned to share a look with Hawke over his shoulder. “She’s feeling better.”
Hawke nodded once, his eyes hardening. “I’m glad. She still has a way to go, though. But I’m going to tell you right now, Sarah Royal, that if you ever pull a damned fool stunt like that again, I’ll turn you over my knee and whip your ass until you can’t sit down!”
Sarah watched him turn and walk away, stunned by his violent response. “He’s mad at me.”
Phoenix nodded and lowered himself to the top step with a sigh. “We all were, because you scared the hell out of us. We were mad at you for putting yourself in danger. Mad at you for not trusting us to deal with Willy.” Leaning back against the post, he held her gaze. “Mad at ourselves for not getting to you in time. So furious at Willy and his gang that we wanted to kill them again.”
Touching her knee, he sighed again. “We never thought we’d have a woman in our lives. I liked to play too much to be tied down to one woman. Blade’s too possessive. Hawke had a chip on his shoulder a mile wide, and didn’t think any woman could ever love a man as hard and cold as he was.”
Smiling, he took her hand, lifting his gaze to hers. “And then you came along. You trusted Hawke from the very beginning. The first day we met you, you huddled against him, as if he could save you from the world. You didn’t flinch away from his touch, and you kept looking in his direction every time you felt uneasy.” He laughed softly. “You still do. Even though you know damned well that he loves you, you’re shaken because he’s mad at you.”
Staring out after Hawke, Phoenix sighed again. “Having the responsibility of a wife made playing seem so childish.” Grinning, he turned back to her. “Don’t get m
e wrong. I love playing with you, but seeing you get shot shook me real bad. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life. You got shot because I wasn’t fast enough on the trigger.”
Sarah smiled and squeezed his hand, humbled by his admission. “Now you know how I felt when you got shot because of me. If you hadn’t moved as fast as you did, you could have been killed.” Her chest tightened and, blinking back tears, she squeezed his hand again. “I couldn’t have lived with that.”
Phoenix smiled and lifted her hand to his lips. “But I can take care of myself. You’re defenseless here. It’s our job to take care of you.” Straightening, he turned as if sensing something, grinning at Blade’s approach. “Uh-oh. Here comes Blade. He’s changed a lot since we married you, too. Now that he has a woman he can possess, it seems like he can’t get enough. When you were shot, he examined you every day. He sat and stared at you the way Hawke did, as if they could will you to get better.”
Shaking his head, Phoenix watched his brother cross the large yard, his long strides eating up the ground. “Blade’s been obsessed with checking you out, and wants to know every mark on you. Hell, he took the cloth out of your mother’s hand when she was trying to bathe you.” Laughing softly, he patted her hand. “Told her flat out that she was being too rough, and took over the job himself.”
Leaning close, he lowered his voice. “Betcha the first thing he asks is why the hell you’re out of bed.”
* * * *
Blade strode toward Sarah, alarmed to find her sitting on the front porch. Sparing a glare for his smiling brother, he took the stairs two at a time, searching Sarah’s features for any sign of pain or fatigue—something that had become a habit. She looked exhausted, the dark circles under her eyes and too-pale features alarming him. The way she moved spoke volumes about her weakness. “What the hell are you doing out of bed?”
