One hand on his gun, he advanced and flung open the door. There was no one there. Just a few clothes. And because he hadn't brought many clothes, he recognised at once which ones were missing - a pair of blue jeans and a grey sweater. A leather belt was also absent.
"Cindy Frances Spencer. You interfering..."
Angrily, he kicked the closet door closed. This was a mess and no mistake. He put together what had happened easily enough. She had come here dressed in her night clothes, and when she found he wasn't there, had borrowed some of his clothes and gone to look for him. He couldn't trust her with all this, no way. But right now, he was practically dead on his feet. He was desperate for sleep. He didn't even bother to get in bed, just lay down on the top and as soon as his head touched the pillow, he was out for the count.
Only to wake up a few minutes later. He sat bolt upright. Hell - if she'd gone looking for him - what if something had happened to her? What if she was still out there? What if...?
In less than two minutes he had left his cabin and headed quietly round the back of the ranch. He knew Cindy had the end guest room on the second storey. Was she there, all safely tucked up in bed? Damn the woman - he had to find out.
There was no light glowing in her window, and there was equally no way he could climb up to her room. He padded round to the back door, and as he had expected, it was locked. He walked round the back and then paused - there was a partially opened window in the dining room. He reached in and adjusted the opening until it was wide enough for him to climb through.
Once inside, he sneaked through the darkness, hoping he wouldn't stumble and knock anything over and wake the place up. Swiftly he approached the main staircase and sprinted up it, treading soft as a predatory panther on the long corridor lined with doors. Cindy's was the end one.
"Sheesh - which one?" he mumbled, as he was faced with two doors facing opposite to each another. Taking a step back, he winced as the floorboard creaked loudly, and then stood deliberating which door to open. Because if he picked the wrong one and walked in on someone else...
Suddenly one of the doors was flung open wide, revealing Isaac, with his hair all tousled, in a pair of blue striped pajamas.
Luke was so taken aback at the apparition he almost yelled.
"Luke?"
"Isaac." Luke swallowed. How the heck do I get out of this one?
"What in the Sam Hill are you doing?"
"Oh, I .. er. Um, that is. Cindy..." he said lamely.
"Ah. I see." Isaac raised an eyebrow. "She's in that room." He pointed opposite. "Now keep the noise down will ya? Some of us around here need our sleep!"
You and me both, thought Luke wryly. "Thanks Isaac. Sorry to have disturbed you."
Isaac grinned. "I was young once, boy. See you in the mornin' - and don't you be late for work!"
"No sir."
Luke had no option now but to open the door to Cindy's room, hoping and praying she was in there, safe. To his intense relief, the pale moonlight revealed her form, curled up on the bed. She was laying atop the coverlet, still wearing his clothes.
He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her. One part of him didn't want to go back to his cabin. He would much rather take her in his arms and spend the night here, all warm and cosy, snuggled up next to her. But, now that he had established she was safe, he reckoned the right thing to do would be to wait until Isaac had gone back to sleep, then he would sneak out and go get some sleep himself.
But he reckoned without Cindy. Unbeknown to him, she had been quietly watching him from beneath partly closed lids.
"Luke," she murmured.
"Sheesh. I thought you were asleep!"
"I looked for you earlier," she said, sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"I figured as much when I found your nightdress."
"How did you know it was mine?"
"Of course it was yours. I recognised your perfume. Besides, no other woman would be bothered to come to my cabin in the middle of the night."
Well, that's something to be thankful for, thought Cindy. "So where were you?"
His face assumed a deceptively innocent expression and he looked a bit sheepish as he replied, "Insomnia. Sorry I wasn't there for you. "
He's lying to me. Do I tell him I followed him? Do I tell him I saw what he was doing? Do I tell him I know what he is - a cattle rustler? She couldn't bring herself to frame the words. So she sighed and said, "I forgive you."
"I'll make it up to you, I promise."
No. No I won't let on that I know what he's up to - yet. "Tomorrow night?"
"Tomorrow night," he affirmed. "Anything you want."
"Hmm. Well... I guess that has potential."
Cindy tried to disguise her expression. Her head was spinning. She found it so difficult to believe he had stooped so low. She was disappointed and saddened as well as shocked. Rustler's were low-life's... but Luke was important to her. Every hour that passed cemented her feelings for him. He was handsome and intelligent and so supremely sure of himself. How did he ever get into rustling? She determined to help him. Maybe she could persuade him to give himself up... but if he did that he'd likely be arrested and thrown in jail, and that would jeopardise their relationship. Perhaps she should confront him at an opportune moment and ask him to stop doing it. Lord's sakes - this was a man who said he wanted her for his wife! If she meant anything to him at all, then surely he would do the right thing.
Thoughts and emotions whirled around in her head. Wordlessly, she held out her arms, reaching for him.
He smiled and leant over, taking her in his arms, stooping to kiss her lips. They parted sweetly for him and their kiss deepened. And then... Luke was a man who was always in control, but right then he lost control. He wasn't quite sure how it happened, but a few moments later they were both naked, lying skin to skin, breathing hard and fast.
Her fingernails raked his back as she pulled him closer, instinctively splaying her thighs, allowing him access to her body. His cock was ramrod hard... rampant. She reached out to touch, delighting in the way it bobbed an acknowledgement.
"Minx," he growled. "You're leading me astray."
"How very naughty of me," she purred, and sighed happily.
Then her sighs turned to little mewls and gasps of pleasure as he lowered his head and kissed her pussy, exploring her slick folds with his tongue. He found the hard nub of her clit and flicked it with the moist tip of his tongue. She was ecstatic and breathless for more, and when he inserted two fingers deep inside her, she went wild with desire... hovering on the brink... poised on the edge...
"Please! Please Luke... Now! Now," she begged.
He could not resist. In one slow purposeful movement he thrust himself into her, groaning as he did so. Cindy moaned, and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him in deeper. They were a perfect fit. He began to move, thrusting hard and deep. They synchronised into the same rhythm.
"I can't get enough of you," he gasped as he ploughed her, reamed her, loved her.
"Harder," she pleaded, her head titled back, her eyes glazed over with pleasure. She was no virgin, but this... this was the best sex ever. "Luke," she mewled, her body tensing. "Now! Now!"
And as her hips rocked wildly as her orgasm took hold, so too did his, the force of it beyond imagining. He spent himself, practically bellowing in triumph as he ejaculated into her warm depths. She drained him, embracing every last drop, every last thrust. The air of the room was thick with the odour of sex. Two bodies were slick with desire, embracing and stroking and kneading... a tangle of limbs and sighs of contentment.
Luke collapsed on top of her, laying half across her sated body. Exhausted and elated, they slept.
---oOo---
The early morning sunlight filtered in through the chinks in the curtains, casting a golden glow to Cindy's face. Luke looked at her as she slept, her hair a glorious mid-brown sheen on the pillow. He smiled, and softly planted a kiss on her brow. He dressed quick
ly and quietly, joined the other ranch hands for breakfast, and went to work on repairing fences.
News of the activities of the previous night was provided by the local radio station at lunchtime. The news announcer stated that Seth Jackson had found evidence of organization: a makeshift pen at the edge of his property, where his cattle were herded to.
They had Seth in the studio. His disgruntled voice was heard over the air, saying: "I followed the trail right into the cattle pen. They did this in the middle of the night. Hanging's too good for the likes of these people," he spat.
Luke frowned and nodded, and murmured his total disgust of cattle rustlers. He ate the remainder of his lunch in silence, listening to the conversation as Connor and Gabe vented.
"With some of the recent thefts, turns out these guys are out on horseback stealing cattle just like they did 120 years ago," said Gabe.
"120 years ago they would have been lynched if they were caught," said Connor. "Now they get a few years in jail, and when they get out, they do it again. Low-down curs."
"I never imagined I'd see cattle rustling on this scale," nodded Gabe. "Somethin' has to be done before ranch owners start going bust. Their insurance don't cover these sort of heavy losses."
"That's always assuming they can afford insurance in the first place."
The conversation continued, and Luke was relieved when lunch came to an end. He worked hard and efficiently, quickly earning the respect of the other ranch hands. It was almost 3pm when the cell phone in his pocket began to vibrate.
Stepping back from the others, Luke extracted the phone and took the call. It was Jake Swain.
"Daniels. Listen up. There's been a change of plan."
"Yeah? I'm listening."
"The big one's still on but I'm bringing it forward. We'll run tonight."
"Tonight? But... I'm not ready. We were supposed to meet tomorrow to run through the plan."
"To hell with the plan," rasped Jake. "There's been a few complications. Nothing we can't handle, but if we're to pull this one off, we need to get moving. There's a lot of people involved."
"Who?" demanded Luke, and listened carefully as Jake spilled out a list of names.
"We need to finalise things. Meet me in an hour. Diegos." Jake hung off.
"Shit," murmured Luke. He couldn't keep disappearing from the Armstrong ranch without causing suspicion. He cast a glance over his shoulder. The others were working with their backs to him. Seizing the opportunity he walked swiftly away, deliberately skirting the track and walking amongst the trees where he wouldn't be seen.
Arriving at the stable block he whistled for Horse, and the great beast greeted him with a welcoming whinny. A few minutes later, Horse was saddled and cantering over the courtyard. Only one person saw Luke Daniels leave the ranch, and that was Nathan.
Nathan narrowed his eyes as horse and rider departed. Since Luke had been set on as a hired hand at the Armstrong ranch, Nathan was sure he had seen Luke somewhere before, but couldn't recall where. It had been puzzling him. But now he remembered.
He recalled the night that he saw Luke Daniels in a bar, deep in conversation with that scum Jake Swain and his two henchmen. And anyone who was in league with Swain was trouble. Big trouble.
Nathan was a decent sort and certainly not the kind of guy who would make unnecessary trouble for someone; but he was also loyal to his employer. Aware that Isaac had had a run in with Swain a couple of years back, Nathan felt he should tell Isaac that his latest recruit was someone who associated with Jake Swain.
Five minutes later he was knocking on the door of Isaac's study.
"Come in."
"Hi boss," said Nathan. Now that he was here, he wondered whether he should bother Isaac with this. It might be nothing. But on the other hand, it might be something significant.
"Everything ok?" Isaac could see Nathan looked unsettled. "Sit down, Nathan. I was just having some iced tea. Here - let me pour you some."
"Thanks." Nathan took a deep draught of the cold liquid and then looked at Isaac. "I don't rightly know that I should be saying this... but..."
"Go on," encouraged Isaac. "Tell me."
"It's Luke. Luke Daniels."
"Yeah? What about him?"
"Well..." Nathan hesitated. "It may be nothing, but, I've just remembered where I've seen him before. And I've remembered who he was with."
As Nathan spoke, Isaac's face darkened at the mention of Jake Swain. After Nathan had taken his leave, Isaac sat in his study, thinking. He recalled the night Luke missed supper. Why was that? No explanation had been given. As he mulled things over in his head, he remembered the local news reports of cattle being stolen. Could Luke Daniels be involved? Surely not. Isaac considered himself to be a good judge of character. He would not have figured Luke to be on the wrong side of the law. But maybe he was wrong. Maybe he had made a big mistake in hiring Luke Daniels.
---oOo---
Cindy was sulking because Luke hadn't shown up for supper. What kind of relationship is this? she fumed. She was angry and hurt and frustrated as hell because she knew something was going on and that whatever it was, Luke was involved.
She questioned the ranch hands who shrugged and said they hadn't seen Luke since the afternoon. Being Cindy, she noticed that Nathan kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with her. Men - they were so easy to read at times!
"Come on, Nathan. You know something, I can tell."
"Don't know nothin' Miss Cindy," he responded.
"Yes you do. Please Nathan, tell me. I need to know."
"You sweet on him?"
"You could say that, seeing as how he's asked me to marry him." There - that's let the cat out of the bag.
"Hmmn, don't you go messing around with him, Miss Cindy. He hangs out with a bad lot. He's trouble."
It wasn't long before Cindy had the facts. Nathan told her the same story he had given to Isaac. Three names resounded in Cindy's head: Jake Swain, Victor Smalley, and Mario Machuta. If she could find either of those three, they would lead her to Luke. Nathan had mentioned Diego’s bar as one of their regular hangouts.
Luke didn't know it, but he needed her help. She was going to help keep him out of trouble.
She thanked Nathan and told him she was going up to her room. But as soon as he was out of sight, she went to the stables, saddled up Savannah, and rode into town.
She had been down town a few times since her arrival at the Armstrong ranch, but had never gone on her own before. And the town in the evening had a different sort of feel to it. Cindy shivered, but not with cold. She tied Savannah's reins to a post and wandered down the road. She was in an unfamiliar part of town. It was a bit run down, with seedy scarlet-lipped women hanging out on street corners, showing profuse amounts of leg and breast. The garish neon signs of strip joints flashed as she passed, ignoring the men who tried briefly to tempt her into accompanying them inside.
Cindy continued. Someone had gestured ahead, telling her she would find Diegos if she kept on walking in a straight line. It was as she passed a hamburger joint that she heard something quite startling. Two men were standing close to the doorway, talking in low voices.
"It's the big one tonight. Swain's ready to go - see." He jerked his head, gesturing to a tarpaulin-covered truck parked opposite.
At the mention of Swain, Cindy's ears pricked up. She walked past the men and darted into the next doorway, close enough so she could clearly overhear their conversation. So as not to arouse suspicion, she fished out her compact mirror and lipstick and began painting her lips a glossy pink.
"Yeah, they're moving hundreds of cattle tonight from ten different ranches. There's gonna be a lot of pissed off ranchers tomorrow, wondering where their cows have gone."
"Deputy sheriff's in on this one. Got himself a mighty big payout to keep his eyes and mouth shut."
"With the amount of money Swain's picking up from this one, he can afford it."
The two men laughed and then began talking
about the newest pole dancer at The Honey Pot strip joint. As they moved away from the doorway, Cindy made one of her impulsive decisions. Without thinking through the possible repercussions - without thinking at all - she darted across the road and climbed into the back of the truck, covering herself with the corner of the tarpaulin. The truck stank of cow dung, and she wrinkled her nose in distaste.
She did consider for a brief moment whether to get out and phone Isaac, but the opportunity to back out never arose, for there were raised voices, feet clattering on the pavement, and the slam of doors. Then came the distinctive hum of an engine being kicked into life. With a judder, the hand brake was released and the truck set off.
Oh shit. I've done it now, thought Cindy. She should be scared, she knew that. But she wasn't, she was excited. This was a real adventure! She was going to catch those cattle rustlers single handed, and somehow, she was going to rescue Luke and get him out of trouble. And once he was safely out of trouble, then they'd get married. The cattle rustler's bride. What was it Luke had said? - 'I'm the man for you, and you know it.... I know you'll say yes when you're good and ready.' She chuckled as the realisation hit her - she was ready. She loved him like she'd loved no other, and she would accept his proposal. However, in the meantime, she was in a stinking truck heading for goodness knows where, and when they arrived at wherever it was they were going to, she had no clear idea of what she was going to do.
For the first time that night, Cindy felt a prickle of fear snake up her spine. For some reason, she remembered a phrase from her childhood that her Aunt Kitty used to say to her whenever she was in trouble. 'Cindy, lass. You're in a bit of a pickle and no mistake.'
I sure am, Auntie Kitty. I sure am, thought Cindy as the truck rattled along through the darkening night. She peeked out from beneath the tarpaulin, only to duck back down again quickly to avoid being caught in the bright glare of headlamps. She repeated the procedure a few times and was convinced that they were being followed. Her hunch was proved right as, a few minutes later, the truck in which she was travelling turned off the road and headed down a rough track. Cindy clung to the side of the truck as she was bumped up and down furiously, and when she next sneaked a peek she identified not one but two vehicles following.
Love on a Ranch Box Set Page 19
