Those were things she would have to deal with in time, but for now, she wanted to lie here and enjoy the afterglow. When he came back, she could never let him see how much their afternoon together meant to her. She couldn't let him know how it affected her.
Last night's event frightened her in ways she never imagined, but that would never have changed her mind. Fear of being raped did not change her mind, but rather the way Trent cared for her, and told her about the ugly side of men. The feelings beginning to develop for him and the attraction brewing between them had overwhelmed her and shot down her defenses.
As an independent woman, she made her own decisions on when and where she gave her body. Make no mistake about it, she was determined to be able to support herself and not depend on a man.
Never had she experienced the desire only he seemed to create.
Yes, her conscious would feel better if Trent returned and asked her to marry him, her soul declared expect nothing. He was possibly an outlaw with a price on his head and she never pictured the man she gave her heart to as being wanted. Still, she was starting to care and that scared her most of all.
Yet how did she step back from what was happening between them? While she savored the pleasures they shared in that bed, she had a job to do. If she were truly going to be successful and make enough money to live independently, then cozying up with Trent would get her nowhere.
Maybe she should act like this afternoon conveyed nothing more than a fun tryst. One that didn't mean happily ever after. One day, she hoped to find a man who loved her, the kind of man she would never suspect of a crime.
Now to convince her heart that Trent could never be the man for her.
Trent walked into the saloon, up to the bar. The rain had slowed to a steady drizzle, and from the clouds, it appeared the skies were clearing. The cold, dreary, wet weather made his leg ache and he stopped by to have a medicinal drink before he picked them up supper and took it back to the room.
Sitting on the stool, he glanced around at the patrons inside the small building. At this moment, he needed time to think about what had happened between himself and Caroline. He'd been shocked at how much she teased him, equaled his desire and in the end satisfied him. No other woman had ever had that capability. No one.
"What will you have?" the bartender asked.
"Whiskey." The liquor would ease the pain in his leg. The limb received quite a workout earlier today.
"Coming up," the man said and poured the libation into his glass.
A man came over and sat down beside him. "Well, look who has risen from the dead."
Trent jerked his head around and stared at the man sitting next to him.
"James, how are you?"
Cold fear spread through Trent's blood at the sight of one of the Jones Boys. Now they knew he still lived. Now they would try to harm him once again. Only this time, Caroline was with him and that terrified him.
"Doing all right," he said. "I told Butch to stay and make sure you died that day, I guess he should have listened."
Thank goodness Butch left him, because if he stayed, Trent would be dead. Now he would have to face the outlaws unless he could escape and throw them off his trail.
"Do you want to go out in the street and settle this once and for all?" Trent warned, sipping on his drink watching the man carefully.
The man frowned at him, but ignored his threat. "Still writing those stories?"
After Butch learned about his stories, that sent him over the edge, believing Trent was reporting the gang's secrets to the world.
"Every chance I get."
"Butch didn't appreciate you telling the law our business."
"Never told the law or even a newspaper a thing. Storytelling is fiction until you confess to the crime." Glancing across the room, he tried to find a way out in case he started shooting, but with his bad limb, he didn't think he could outrun him. Taking a sip, he turned and stared at the man. "Remember, I always found something to do while you boys robbed the banks."
"That don't mean nothing," James said, gulping his liquor. "We considered you one of us."
They used Trent for a lookout and to go into town and purchase supplies. While he never took a share of their ill-gotten gains for which he was grateful. But a wanted poster connected him as a member of the gang.
"Right up until Butch shot and left me for dead."
The outlaw shrugged. "His decision, not mine."
Butch may be the commander, but James worked behind the scenes manipulating the leader to do his bidding. The man was just as big a menace as Butch.
"Where's the rest of the gang?"
"Won't be here until tomorrow. I'm the advance scout. When they arrive, I'll give my report and we'll either make our move or we won't," he said. "The boss will be very unhappy to see you."
That gave him less than twenty-four hours to disappear and take Caroline with him.
"You guys weren't too bad to ride with. No, I didn't want anything to do with the killing or robbing. All I wanted was to experience your lives so I could write about them from an authentic viewpoint."
With disgust, he said, "Once Butch saw the serial, he believed I was in cahoots with the sheriff. Not even my editor knows you're real and I use a different name."
The piano player began to play and the evenings saloon girls paraded through the bar area. The ladies were never allowed to stay, but several times a night they promenaded through offering their wares.
"Staying here in town?" James asked.
With a slight nod, Trent lied. "Just passing through. On my way to Santa Fe. Starting a new series there about the Indians. Tell Butch, I'm sorry I missed him, but the next time, I'm drawing first and asking questions later."
Tonight, they would ride out of town heading back in his direction of the woods, hoping no one followed him. Somehow, he had to leave now so they would never learn about Caroline.
"Remember Smithy? Seemed he had a little accident last night. Someone shot a gun from his hand and took his woman."
A cold spiral of dread trickled down Trent's spine. No wonder that man looked familiar. Smithy had only been riding with them for a couple days when they left Trent to die.
"When Smithy returned and told me you were back from the dead, I didn't believe him. Guess he was right."
Now not only did he have to worry about them attempting to kill him, but capture and harm Caroline as well. As much as he wanted to jump up and run out of this saloon, he bid his time acting like he was in no hurry.
"Never died. Almost lost my leg, but I recovered."
"Why did you shoot Smithy?"
"The woman told him no. Smithy needs to learn some manners."
Shaking his head, James laughed. "That boy has one thing on his mind and that's putting his pecker in whatever woman comes along, whether she wants it or not."
"Shame. Next time, he'll find himself dead."
"Could be, but he's out searching the streets right now trying to find the girl he took a bullet for."
His chest squeezed the air from his lungs as Trent tried to remain nonchalant. No need for this criminal to see that he was frightening him not for himself but for Caroline.
Damn, he had to get her out of town.
"Good luck finding her. When she left me last night, she didn't say where she was going."
An ugly grin spread across the outlaw's face. "Heard a funny story about a man and woman who came into the hotel where we're at. The woman fit her description to a tee. He's been hanging around over there most of the day, waiting, determined to locate that piece of ass."
Trent steeled his features trying not to react, certain the man was baiting him, eager to return to the hotel and sneak Caroline out of there.
"For a woman, she was whipping his butt pretty good last night until he punched her. She's not going to welcome him with open arms."
Either James was letting him know of a setup or a planned assault, he wasn't sure which. Didn't matter because as
soon as he could leave without running out the door, he and Caroline were leaving.
There was no point in taking a risk and waiting for Butch to arrive. These men were dangerous criminals who would love to end his life and take Caroline into custody, where her life would be a living hell.
Tossing back the last of his whiskey, he gazed at James. "Tell Butch I said hello and sorry I couldn't stick around. Maybe next time we can catch up."
The sound of a gun cocking surprised him. He never heard it slip out of his holster. A quick glance down confirmed the weapon, sending a shiver rippling down his spine. Staring at James, he said in a calm tone. "Really, you want to do this? Here? Now? Especially with the sheriff walking in the door."
The man whirled around and Trent knocked the Colt from his hand, kicking it across the floor. Heads turned and watched the two men.
"Now, if you want to meet me in the street say so here and now. If not, I'm strolling out that door."
Shaking his head James said, "Bastard. I'll find you."
With a tip of his hat. "Bye, James. Don't let a bounty hunter snare you. And I know one that will hunt you down."
Caroline was dressed in her new clothes and had just finished pinning up her hair, when Trent opened the door to their hotel room.
"Hi," she said shyly. Everything they'd done this afternoon, caused her cheeks to flush as she faced him.
"Pack your things, we're leaving," he said in a strained voice she'd never heard before.
"I'm starving," she said. "Why do we have to leave now? It will be dark in two hours. What's the rush?"
She watched as he stuffed his things in his saddle bags.
"We're going now."
His response offered no opportunity to change his mind. There was a finality in his tone that let her know if she was going with him, they were leaving.
Staring at the tense lines etched his face, the worried look in his eyes, telegraphed something was wrong.
"Has something happened? Why are we rushing out of here in such a hurry?"
Going to her saddle bags, he put her toiletries in and lifted both bags.
"Come on. I'll tell you once we're out of town, but we've got to go now. Our horses are waiting downstairs."
That meant he'd already gone to the livery stable and collected them.
Tilting her head at him, she suddenly seemed to understand. "This wouldn't have anything to do with the Jones Boys gang would it?"
His expression tensed. "The man who attacked you last night is searching for us. He intends to kill me and take you. Now do you want to hang around any longer?"
Fear gripped her chest. At this moment, she had to agree with him, but eventually she would learn the details of what sent them dashing from town. The reason for their hurried departure from Smithville.
"Let's go. But you're going to tell me what happened sometime tonight."
Not responding, he carried her saddle bags along with his own, and together the two of them rushed through the hallway to the back door entrance.
Glancing around, she gazed around the street as he threw their saddle bags over the horses back and cinched them. Then helped her into the saddle.
When he swung his bad leg over his mare, she saw the wince of pain on his face and knew he was hurting. Whatever happened, this event put them back on the trail with his limb aching.
As they rode through the back streets, he observed everything, his eyes sweeping over the landscape of shanty houses and businesses.
Finally, he picked up speed as they left the town behind. While it appeared he relaxed, she could still see the tenseness on his face and how he stayed on guard.
Night fell and they continued on, not stopping.
"How long are we riding?" she asked, feeling tired.
"Until I think we'll be safe to stop," he said. "Even then, don't count on a fire."
"It's cold."
No fire, no coffee, no hot food, no light in the darkness. Nothing but the ground and the dark sky.
"Sorry," he said, his manner terse.
Was it just the man he'd shot that spooked him?
Something had Trent racing out of town and trying to get as far away as possible. Could he also be running from any commitments with her? Was it a coincidence that the man from last night searched for them?
Chapter 11
Trent knew she deserved to be told the truth, but felt torn about how much to tell her. Concerned, she would turn him in and collect the bounty. Especially when he told her he would never marry her.
Caroline wasn't greedy, but he gathered her circumstances were rather dire.
As they rode, he pulled out his pocket watch. Almost midnight. He'd pushed them hard and the horses needed to rest. Tomorrow they would make it to the next town, and then soon afterwards, he would head for home. Once he was certain she was safe, he would return to Castle Gap.
At least riding side by side, she hadn't been able to ask him questions he couldn't answer. Including the dreaded one of what happens next. She admitted she wanted marriage and yet this afternoon she initiated the sexual pleasure that happened between them.
Long ago, he gave up his dreams of being a marrying man. Not a possibility with a price on his head.
In the darkness, it was hard to see where to camp and he didn't want to wake up with a snake slithering in his blankets. They needed to be far enough off the road that no one stumbled across them.
"Look at that group of elm trees. What do you think of bedding down there for the night?"
"I'm so tired, I don't care where we sleep."
With a chuckle, he turned his horse toward the trees. Oh, she would if she realized what almost happened back in Smithville. Even now, he was sure they were being followed. Soon as Butch learned he still lived, he would be searching for him, so he prayed they had gotten a head start.
That's why he didn't know if he should stay with Caroline or leave her alone, either way she was in peril. And he didn't want her to get hurt because of him.
His chest tightened with an ache that made him shudder. He couldn't let her be killed or injured because of his actions.
"Does this look all right?"
"Fine."
They pulled into the grove, and in the moonlight, he could see that other travelers had stayed in this spot. A circle of stones and ashes showed him someone before them built a fire, but tonight they would have no heat.
On the journey, twice he stopped to let the horses drink from a creek they'd crossed. Now, he gave them each a bag of oats and ground tethered them. While they ate, he took the saddles off their backs, giving them a rest.
A silent Caroline unfurled her bedroll. Pulled out her canteen and quenched her thirst.
"Are you hungry?"
"Not anymore. I want to sleep."
Spreading his bedroll next to her, he crawled in. Lying on his back, he gazed up at the stars waiting for the inquisition to begin. The only noise, the rustling of some animal scurrying about in the brush. He just hoped if it was another skunk the critter didn't prowl about. One run in had been enough.
"Aren't you going to ask me what happened?"
"Since I've asked you several times and you never responded, I gave up. All I know is a crazy man thinks I should be his woman. Why is it only men I don't want seem to think I belong to them?"
Even her soft, quiet southern drawl did not hide the frustration he heard in her tone and he missed her closeness. The urge to hold her in his arms and protect her, overcame him. Reaching out he pulled her close to him with only the blankets of their bedrolls separating them.
"You were in danger and I needed to get you out of that town before they abducted and killed me and then captured you," he said.
"Who?" she asked. "You say they, but last night, I only ran into that one drunk."
Oh, how Trent wished the man had been drunk, maybe then he couldn't remember much about Caroline, but he feared Smithy was dead sober. More than anything, he wanted to redirect his bullet and kill
the man, because then, they wouldn't be in this predicament.
How much should he tell her, and could he keep from her the fact his old gang members sought them? Yet if he told her everything about his past, he wasn't guaranteed she wouldn't turn him in for the bounty.
"James Griffin is an outlaw I use to know. Smithy, the man who attacked you is his friend. Earlier today, I stopped at the saloon for a drink. When James saw me, he figured out I was the man who fired on Smithy."
A tremor went through him thinking of how the afternoon could have turned out, remembering the hot summer day, they shot him and left him for dead. "At the bar, James drew on me, but I was expecting it."
"How did you realize he would come after me?"
"James was very clear Smithy is the man I hit. The man spent the day hanging around the hotel, looking for you, waiting for you to come out. Before I returned, I was so frightened you had dressed and left searching for food. Yet, I had to make certain they weren't following me before I made my way back."
Pulling her tightly to him, he squeezed her. "I'm sorry. Honestly, I didn't mean to get you into this."
"What have you gotten me into? Seems to me that this Smithy is the problem," she said quietly in his embrace, yawning.
There was so much more to the story, but he couldn't tell her.
Feeling her body next to his, the rise and fall of her chest, his blood went cold with the realization he couldn't let anything happen to her. Yet he needed to let her down gently.
"What happened between us was special," he whispered against her neck.
"Yes," she said, her voice soft, her breathing even.
"This afternoon left me shaking. In the past, you were honest with me, telling me what you want. But I'm not able to give you what you desire. A husband and family man are not who I can ever be."
Waiting for her to say something, he lay there, but she said nothing, so he continued. "What kid would want a cripple for a father. What wife would want a man who is impaired. As much as I enjoy being with you, I can't marry you," he said softly. "A man would be lucky to have you as his partner, it can't be me."
Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book Page 98
