by Sandy James
Ty nodded.
“B–but, you’re both wet. Surely you’d wish to—”
“Her horse ready?” Ty asked Old Tim.
The stablemaster nodded.
“Get on your horse, lady. Time to ride.”
“But…but…” She wrung her hands as she sputtered her protest.
“Told you,” Ty interrupted, assuming she’d try to talk them out of following her again, “you ain’t riding out alone. Get on your horse. We’re leavin’.”
Whirling around fast enough her skirts billowed around her legs, she stomped toward the tack room she’d pointed to. “I have to change first.”
“Change?”
She slammed the door on his question.
The sound of shuffling made him turn to quirk an eyebrow at Jake.
His friend’s response was a grin and a shake of his head—probably because he was used to dealing with a woman and sympathized with Ty’s plight.
“What’s she up to now?” Ty finally asked Old Tim.
“I reckon she’s changing to some boy clothes. Wears ’em when she’s out exploring or ridin’.”
Ty tried to picture slender Cassie dressed as a boy. As if she could ever pull off the ruse. Everything about her screamed femininity. No man in his right mind could overlook her…attributes. Of course most men hadn’t been blessed with a view of Cassie Shay in wet underwear, either. That image—the tempting swell of her breasts and the gentle curve of her hips—would be forever branded on his brain. The simple thought of another male seeing her charms made his blood boil, and if that wasn’t the damnedest thing…
Her face poked out from the door she cracked open. “Old Tim?”
“Yes, girl?”
“Can you please fetch me a sharper knife? Mine is a bit dull for my task.”
As Old Tim hurried to hand her a rather large hunting knife he had sheathed at his side, Ty turned a worried look to Jake. “Knife?” he asked as Cassie slammed the door shut.
Jake’s face bore a concerned frown. “Not sure what she’s up to.”
“It’s that hair of hers,” Old Tim said, pointing to his own gray hair. “She be wantin’ to get rid of that long hair.
In fast strides, Ty reached the tack room and slammed the door open with his shoulder.
Cassie, who had been sitting on a barrel and pressing the sharp edge of the knife to her braid, jumped to her feet. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! You scared the life out of me.”
Not even caring about her words, he hit her wrist with his forearm hard enough to knock the knife from her hand.
As it clattered to the floor, she cried out, clutching her abused wrist to her chest and cradling it with her other hand. “You hurt me.”
He felt like a brute, but the thought of her cutting off her braid had twisted his stomach into knots. “I’m sorry. I just… Why in the devil would you want to cut off all that hair?”
Cassie glanced down to the men’s clothing she now wore. “I needed a disguise to keep safe.” Still holding her hand against her chest, she flipped her head enough to make the braid whip in the air. “I do believe I might have some difficulty disguising myself as a boy with this trailing down my back. Don’t you agree?”
He snorted. “No one with half a brain would ever believe you’re a man.”
She gasped. “Why, I… I believe I make a very nice boy.”
“Lady, there ain’t a thing about you that ain’t downright—” God, he was an idiot. He’d almost blurted out just how pretty she was, and he wasn’t about to hand that kind of power over to any woman.
“That ain’t what, Mr. Bishop?”
“Don’t say that.”
“Say what?”
“Ain’t. You were brought up better than me. Don’t like hearing you use ignorant words.”
Those large eyes stared at Ty as if she had no idea what to make of him. “Then since you seem determined to keep me from cutting my hair—” she rubbed her wrist to probably make him feel guiltier, “—what exactly do you suggest I do with it?”
His eyes scanned the room before settling on a tweed cap hanging from a nail. He grabbed it and moved to stand in front of her. Lifting her braid, he held it on top of her head as he put the cap on her.
“There,” he said, stepping back. “Now you look like a…boy.” He choked on the last word, knowing she’d never be anything but a beautiful woman to him. Perhaps she could fool a few others, though.
“I thought you said—”
“Enough. We’re leaving.” He picked the knife up, grabbed her belt, and slid the knife under it so she could keep it close. Then he took her injured wrist, pulled it until she had to take a step closer to him, and looked to see if he’d really hurt her. There were no bruises, only a small red mark where his arm had hit.
He felt terrible. Never in his days had he struck a woman. But the thought of Cassie cutting her long hair made him lose his senses.
Cradling her hand in both of his, he rubbed his thumb over her wrist. “I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to hurt you none.”
She just looked up at him, a flush rising on her cheeks.
“Feelin’ better?” Ty couldn’t make himself stop caressing her soft skin.
Teeth tugging on her bottom lip, she nodded. But she never tried to pull away, only kept those incredibly beautiful eyes fixed on him.
He pulled a little until she was only a hand’s breadth away. As he rubbed her wrist, his fingers came perilously close to the rough shirt she wore, close to the swell of her breasts. She seemed oblivious to his trespass, keeping him mesmerized with her gaze. He wanted to kiss her. He needed to kiss her.
Slowly, giving her a chance to resist, he lowered his head to hers.
Her eyes widened before closing as she leaned in closer, rising on tiptoes.
The moment their lips touched, the door slammed open again.
“What’s keeping you?” Jake shouted before he fell silent.
Cassie had taken a step back, and her hand had gently withdrawn. Her face was tinted by a blush, and she shyly stared at the floor.
Jake’s gaze shifted from Ty to Cassie then back again. “Sorry I interrupted.”
Throwing his friend a shake of the head, hoping he’d drop the whole thing, Ty stomped out of the tack room and headed to his horse.
This trip was a bad idea—a terrible idea. He’d realized that the moment he’d recognized just how drawn to Cassie he was, when he recognized that this woman was different than any other woman he’d known.
That was his problem! She fascinated him because she was different. That explained the pull and the desire that twisted his gut. She was simply different.
Ty kept telling himself that ridiculous lie as he watched her hurry to the front of the barn, Old Tim right behind. He mounted his horse, turned to be sure Jake followed, then nudged Duke—damn, but he’d already accepted that silly name—to get him to move. As he passed Cassie, he caught the tears in her eyes as she spoke in low tones to the stablemaster.
“God be with you, girl.” Old Tim helped her mount her mare.
“You have been so good to me.” She sniffled as she reached down to take his hand. “Please remember me.”
The old man’s eyes filled with tears. “I could never forget you, Miss Cassie. You be like my own grandchild.”
“I love you,” she choked out. Then she slapped Duchess with the reins and trotted out of the barn, never looking back.
Her shoulders shook, probably because she was weeping. About to go after her, Ty stopped when Old Tim grabbed Duke’s reins.
“You be good to that girl,” he warned. “I can see the fire ’tween you. You be good to my girl.”
“I will,” Ty said with a nod before he gave his horse a nudge with his heels and followed after Cassie.
Chapter Four
Cassie reined in Duchess when the horse shifted nervously. She wanted nothing more than to throw herself out of the saddle and rub the ache out of her abused backside. She’d always consider
ed herself an accomplished rider, but holding a saddle well wasn’t the same thing as riding for extended periods. The stories of the cowboys in the dime novels she’d dared to read always spoke of adventure and daring.
They never mentioned sore backsides or legs as wobbly as strawberry jelly.
As the sun rose on the horizon, Ty and Jake talked softly enough she couldn’t make out their words. They’d purposely placed themselves several yards away, saying that they needed to discuss something.
More like someone…me.
So like men—excluding women from important plans, telling them who they should marry and how they should live. Her grandfather and uncle had simply called her to the study and told her she would marry Robert Putnam in three months’ time.
Shifting uncomfortably in her saddle, Cassie thought about forcing her way between Ty’s and Jake’s horses and interrupting. They were, after all, discussing what the next leg of this journey would be. She had her own plans, but she’d only be able to fulfill them if she could get away from her stubborn escorts. Then she could follow her dream, go to a nice unsettled area, and start a farm of her own. She’d raise animals and tend her own garden in peace and solitude, away from the intense scrutiny she’d always known. Away from the ridiculous demands of her family. Away from Robert Putnam.
People seemed to envy her because she was a Shay and her family was wealthy. She never considered it a blessing, only a curse. She couldn’t be herself or follow her own desires and dreams because her family dictated every move she made. She was sick to death of it.
Marry Robert Putnam?
She’d sooner join a convent.
Do convents take Presbyterians?
Ty and Jake nodded and shook hands, making her wonder how soon she could start her trip toward her ultimate destination. The hours she’d spent on horseback had given her time to narrow down her choices. She could settle in the most exciting of her possible new homes—the Dakotas.
Before she could consider things for too long, Jake turned his horse, gave it a gentle kick, and rode away.
She could only gape as Ty trotted Duke over to where she waited. “May I ask where Jake is going?”
“North.”
“And pray tell, where are you going?”
“East.”
He nudged his horse, moving back toward the barely visible road where he trotted away, not even looking over his shoulder to see if she followed.
Cassie stayed as still as a statue. If Ty intended to ride away, she wouldn’t stop him. The thought of him leaving made her stomach roil, but she tried to lie to herself and blame the nausea on the fact she hadn’t eaten for almost a full day. A betraying tear slipped down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away with her sleeve.
This was what she wanted—to be alone and make her own way in the world.
Wasn’t it?
About to turn Duchess and head back toward the last town they’d passed through an hour ago, she was surprised to see Ty tug his reins to stop his horse.
“C’mon, lady. We need to get movin’.”
He isn’t leaving me.
That thought brought a smile to her face. Until she remembered she wanted him to leave.
Didn’t she?
Sweet Lord, she didn’t know what she wanted anymore. Fatigue bore down on her, and more tears threatened.
Ty came trotting back to throw a tight-lipped frown at her. “We gotta get movin’.”
“I shall be glad to decide whether to follow you or not just as soon as you explain why Mr. Curtis has gone one direction and you are going another.”
“Look, lady—”
“My name is Cassie. Actually, Miss Shay might be more appropriate under the circumstances. But I’ll settle for Cassie.”
The man rolled his eyes heavenward as if seeking divine guidance in dealing with her. Since she’d see that reaction more times and from more people than she cared to remember, she waited patiently for him to get past his annoyance and answer her.
“All right, Cassie. Jake’s heading north, and we’re going east to make sure we ain’t followed.”
“You’re afraid of my uncle.”
Ty’s hand shot out to grab Duchess’s reins, and he jerked the horse close enough that Cassie’s thigh pressed up against his. “Get it straight right now, lady. I ain’t afraid of no man.”
“I told you more than once, sir, my name is—”
Her words were smothered when he cupped her neck and dragged her close enough to settle his mouth on hers.
This wasn’t the kind of kiss Robert had stolen in the garden. No simple touching of lips. Ty ground his mouth against hers, demanding her surrender. She sighed, leaned closer, and slipped her hands to his shoulders.
He growled, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her from her horse onto his lap.
Instead of gentling the kiss, he ravaged her mouth. And it felt magnificent.
Her blood turned to molten lava, racing through her veins and pooling low in her belly. She couldn’t catch her breath, and her heart slammed hard enough, he surely felt it against his chest.
Something deep and primitive in Ty surged up when he realized Cassie had never been properly kissed. He’d wanted to kiss her from the first moment he saw her, despite the entirely inappropriate location. The kiss he’d tried to steal in the barn had left his nerves frayed, and that pouty pink mouth of hers had tortured him. Once she started scolding him about what he called her, he gave in to the urge mostly to shut her up. Now that he had her in his arms, he intended to take full advantage. The moment his lips touched hers, his body responded, tightening and hardening with desire.
His tongue teased the seam of her lips, but she didn’t seem to understand what he wanted. He nipped at her bottom lip. As her lips parted in a gasp, his tongue surged inside her warm, sweet mouth. His tongue caressed hers until her hesitation disappeared and she kissed him back. She didn’t know what she was doing, but he was just the man to teach her.
Slender arms looped around his neck, and Cassie pressed her chest against his. She tasted like more.
He gave her tongue a gentle suck, coaxing her to follow his back into his mouth. And God, how was he supposed to bring a halt to this if she kept stroking his neck, tugging on his hair, and flattening her breasts against him?
He snatched the cap from her head, letting her long braid escape its restraints. He wanted to untie it and spread that hair over her shoulders. Was it curly? Straight? Soft as it appeared?
Dredging up strength he didn’t know he possessed, Ty finally pulled back. When she followed with her mouth, he gave her one more hard kiss to show her how much she pleased him. He reached for her wrists and slowly tugged her arms from around his neck.
Cassie stared up at him, appearing bemused. Her lips were wet and red, begging him to kiss her again.
He swallowed his desire and smirked at her. “Now that I’ve got you quiet…”
Damn, but the woman was pretty when she got riled. Judging from the fire shooting from her eyes, she was furious.
“You will not be taking those liberties again, Mr. Bishop.”
“Oh, but I promise you, Miss Shay, I will.” She tried to squirm out of his lap, but all she succeeded in doing was enflaming him more. “Just sit still and listen.”
She folded her arms under her breasts. “Fine. Now if you would be so kind, please tell me why we had to separate from Mr. Curtis and where exactly you plan on taking us.”
At least she was saying us now instead of you. “If the Shays are following, they’re looking for two men or two men with a woman. Not one man traveling alone or a man and his…” He snorted a laugh. “… little brother.”
“And where are this man and his…little brother traveling to?”
“White Pines.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’m taking you to White Pines. Where I live. We’ll catch up with Jake there.”
She threw a worried glance to Duchess. “Where is White Pines?�
�
“Montana Territory.”
Putting both hands against his chest she tried to push herself away. He held on tight until she stopped resisting.
“But–but you cannot expect me to go to Montana.” Another worried glance to her mare. “That must be at least five hundred miles away. How can the horses—”
“We’re catchin’ a train soon.”
A yawn slipped from her, big enough to make her whole body shake.
Ty couldn’t resist. He kissed her forehead. All she did in response was yawn again, her mouth wide enough he could see her back teeth. “Can you keep those sleepy eyes open for another hour or two, Cassie?”
Just as he suspected, her spine grew a little straighter. “I can stay alert as long as you need me to, Mr. Bishop.”
“Ty. Call me Ty.”
Cassie shook her head, but he grabbed her chin and brushed a quick, no-nonsense kiss over her lips. “Call me Ty.”
“As you wish. Ty.”
He jostled her around to settle her back on her horse. Then he handed her the cap.
She tucked her braid up and pulled the tweed cap over her head.
With a firm nod, he turned Duke and started the short ride to where they could catch the train, listening intently for her to follow.
***
Ty helped get Duchess settled in next to Duke on the almost empty livestock car. His bay sidled up to Cassie’s white, pushing her toward the side and snorting at a gelding in the adjoining stall that sniffed at her through the slats in the wood divider.
How odd that his stallion seemed every bit as protective of the mare as he felt about Cassie.
Perhaps his horse was wiser than he was by not fighting the attraction.
Having given Cassie what little cash he had left to purchase their tickets, Ty wanted to make sure the horses would be well cared for before he went to find her. Assured they had water, hay, and enough room to bed down, he walked down the wooden plank and back toward the station.
Winding his way back to the ticket office, he found Cassie counting out bills from an enormous roll of money.
“Jesus Christ,” he muttered to himself. Stomping over to her, he grabbed the cash, ignoring her indignant expression. “Are you loco?”
