As she disappeared below a ridge, Cole swore softly.
He'd just begun to make peace with Danny, and now he had Jessie riled.
But that wasn't what bothered him.
What really rankled was that for the rest of the night he'd have to fight off visions of Jessie naked in the creek.
Not that it wasn't a pleasant thought.
But staying alive required a certain amount of concentration.
He couldn't afford the distractions.
And ever since his promise to Danny, he'd had to fight doubly hard to keep away from a certain tempting diversion.
Chapter Ten
The day was hot, the sun a searing bail of flame in a pale unblemished sky.
As the horses moved across the plains, the dust rose up in clouds to choke their riders.
This day Jessie took the lead, with Thad and Danny riding single file some distance behind.
Cole brought up the rear, keeping a sharp eye on the high buttes that rose on either side of the trail.
Glancing at the rocky ridges, Cole felt a prickling along the back of his neck.
He was a man who had always trusted his instincts.
Though he could see nothing out of the ordinary, he was certain they were being watched.
He checked the bullets in his pistol, then ran a hand along the Winchester resting in the boot beside his knee.
As the sun beat down mercilessly, he pulled the brim of his hat Low on his forehead.
They would need to reach higher ground before sundown.
He wanted a clear view of the trail before they stopped to make camp for the night.
If he was alone, he realized, he would have been able to ride without revealing himself.
Four horses raised a cloud of dust visible for miles.
By midday they were forced to take refuge from the relentless sun.
When Cole gave the order to stop, Jessie slid gratefully from the saddle.
She watched as Thad dismounted and sank to his knees.
Instantly she was beside him, lifting him in her arms.
"You all right, Tadpole?"
The boy smiled up into her eyes, and Jessie could see the heroic struggle he made to keep going.
"I just got dizzy for a minute."
"You rest here."
Jessie deposited him in the shade beneath an outcropping of rock.
"What about the horses?"
The boy's voice was little more than a croak.
By mutual consent the others had allowed Thad to assmne the care of their mounts.
He was conscientious, always seeing to it that the animals' needs were seen to before he allowed himself to eat supper each night.
And in the morning, while the others broke camp, Thad saw to it that the animals were fed and watered and ready for another day on the trail.
"Don't worry about it. I'll see to them," Danny said, taking Thad's reins.
He led the horses to a shady spot and unsaddled them, then tethered them within reach of tufts of prairie grass.
Jessie ordered Thad out of his sweat-drenched clothes and spread them out on a rock to dry.
When she returned, Thad was already sound asleep.
She turned to study Cole, who was standing in the shade, staring intently at the trail behind them.
When she came up behind him, his attention remained focused on the surrounding countryside.
"Maybe we should stop here for the rest of the day," she whispered.
"Not yet. As soon as we reach the high ground up ahead."
Jessie's gaze swept the trail that seemed to stretch endlessly before them.
"I don't think Thad can go much farther."
"We'll keep going until I give the word to stop."
"Just like that?"
She stared at his back and felt resentment begin to grow.
She was hot, tired and feeling pushed to the limits.
It was her fault her brothers were being forced to endure such hardships.
The guilt of that knowledge made it all the more painful for her.
When he didn't respond, she spat, "Fine. You can go if you want. My brothers and I will stay here until we're rested."
"Jessie, listen to me."
He turned his attention from the trail and lowered his voice so the others wouldn't hear.
"There's someone following us. Our safest bet is to get to high ground as soon as possible."
He Saw the sudden flash of concern before she said in a controlled voice, "We don't need to stop at all then. We'll go on."
His tone was low, commanding.
"Grab a quick rest. We need it to keep our minds sharp. We'll be leaving as soon as the sun's behind that butte."
He removed his gun belt, sat down and closed his eyes.
His gun, she noted, was held firmly in his hand, his rifle in the dirt beside him.
Though his breathing gradually became soft and easy, she had the distinct impression that he was attuned to the slightest change in the rhythm of nature's sounds around them.
Despite her fears, she dropped down beside her brothers.
Within minutes, she was sound asleep.
The sun had long ago bled into the western hills.
Long stretches of shadow drifted across the land.
A hawk circled overhead, hungry for a late-night meal.
At the end of a long hot day, Danny and Thad were rolled into blankets, their breathing steady.
Jessie banked the fire and crawled into her bedroll, listening to the comforting sounds of the night.
Even in childhood she'd never been afraid of the dark.
It was her friend.
With darkness came an end to the chores.
Lying in her bunk in the little sod shack, she had been free to think, to dream, to plan.
She'd had grand plans for her life.
Like her father, she would be a rancher.
But her ranch would be big.
She would own half of Texas and stock it with a herd of longhorns that would stretch as far as the eye could see.
Like the herds of buffalo they'd seen on the prairie, she thought.
Vast swarms of steers would cover the land.
And her house would be the finest house in Texas.
It would be a grand mansion like the plantation houses she'd seen in her mother's picture book.
No more sod shacks with an earthen floor and sod roof.
There would be a winding staircase, and windows on the upper floors that looked out over the land. Her land.
Sometimes she would wear a beautiful gown like the ones her mother had described to her when she was a little girl.
Her mother had talked about church socials and farm parties and dances, where all the ladies wore lovely gowns and whirled around in the arms of handsome suitors.
When she felt like it, Jessie thought, she would look like a fine fancy lady.
But mostly she'd wear buckskins and ride the range, keeping track of her empire.
That was what she dreamed of.
An empire in Texas.
She closed her eyes and tried to conjure up an image of her mother.
For a brief moment, she saw in her mind's eye a fragile woman with pale yellow hair and laughing blue eyes.
The image faded.
Jessie squeezed her eyes tight and willed herself to remember, but the image would not return.
She tried so hard to keep her ma's memory alive.
By using the lilac water, by keeping the handmade quilts on their beds.
But each year it grew more and more difficult.
What frightened Jessie even more was the loss of Pa.
He'd only been gone a few months, and already there were times when she couldn't see him clearly.
What if he was gone forever?
Would his image fade like Ma's?
She thought of Danny and Thad.
For their sakes she had to keep the memories alive.
And
the dreams.
Sitting up suddenly, she turned to study Cole keeping watch some distance away.
Ever since they had made camp, he'd been keeping his attention fixed on the trail below.
Climbing from her blankets, she made her way to the fire.
She poured the last of the coffee and walked toward him.
He accepted the cup, drank, then glanced at her empty hands.
"You're not having any?"
"That's the last of it."
He nearly reminded her that it was her frugality that caused them to cut back on rations.
But there was a sadness in her eyes tonight.
This was not a time for teasing her.
"We'll share."
He handed her the cup and watched as she took a long drink before handing it back.
"Not tired?"
She shook her head.
"Sit a while."
She sat with her back to a boulder and watched as he rolled a cigarette.
His fingers were long and bronzed and callused like her own.
The thought of those same hands touching her skin caused a little pulse to flutter deep inside her.
"See any sign of a visitor?"
His eyes narrowed.
He emitted a stream of smoke.
"Nothing so far. But someone's out there."
"How do you know?"
He shrugged.
"I just know."" She felt a slight tremor of fear.
"You think it's smart camping out in the open !ike this? Having a fire?"
"If someone's trying to find me, I'd just as soon be found here. Up there--" he pointed to the towering buttes, "--he could shoot from behind cover and never show his face."
"What's the difference? if he kills you, you're just as dead."
"I want to see the man who kills me. I want him to face me like a man, not hide behind cover like a coward."
Something in his tone chilled her.
There was a seething bitterness festering inside him.
She had no doubt that Cole Matthews was a man who would face death with the same arrogance he displayed in life.
"You think someone killed my pa?"
He filled his lungs with smoke.
Why the hell did she have to bring up that subject?
"Your father sounds like a man who'd be home if he could."
She stared at him, wondering if the anger in his eyes was directed at her or at himself.
"So you think he's dead."
"I didn't say that."
"It's not like you to dodge a question."
"I'm not dodging."
Damn her!
He was.
He didn't want to add to her burden.
"I just don't have any answers. And neither do you."
He swung his head away, scanning the darkness.
"Why don't you try to get some sleep."
"Yeah."
She stood, but before she could turn away he was on his feet, catching her by the shoulder.
"Jessie."
He'd forgotten how small she was, how delicate her bones.
She turned, and he saw the way her eyes widened in surprise.
He'd only meant to soften the blow.
But now that he was standing this close, inhaling the soft scent of her, he had a desperate urge to take her in his arms, to kiss her until she was weak and clinging.
His tone was low and rough.
"When a man's been on the trail for a long time, he forgets how to be civilized. I'm used to my own company."
"Then I'll leave you to it."
"No. Wait."
His thumb dug into the soft flesh of her upper arm, and he saw her flinch.
Frustrated, he swore and dropped his hand to his side.
His tone deepened.
"I'd like you to stay."
Her heart quickened.
She felt the beginnings of a blush and was grateful for the darkness.
She craved his companionship.
Maybe because she was afraid of whoever was out there watching, waiting.
Maybe because her own thoughts this night were sad, dreamy.
Or maybe because she was never able to forget the way it felt to be held in his arms.
So many nights she'd lain awake thinking about him.
The things that flashed through her mind made her cheeks hot.
Yet in the daylight, Cole treated her with less regard than his horse.
It wasn't daylight now.
Darkness covered them, making them both bolder. ยท I'll stay.
" Her voice was a muted whisper on the night breeze." But you ought to sleep a while, and I'll keep watch.
"I'm not tired."
He was so alert now, all of his senses were humming.
The wind danced through her hair.
He caught a strand and allowed it to sift through his fingers.
His gaze centered on her mouth.
The promise he'd made to Danny crept unbidden to his mind.
How could he have been so foolish?
At the time, the promise had been made almost casually with no regard to cost.
But with her lips mere inches from his own and her eyes full of promise, he'd give anything to be relieved of the handshake and the vow.
There was one small consolation.
If this was what she wanted, he needn't be the one to stop her.
The danger lurking just beyond the circle of light was forgotten.
The only thing that mattered at this moment was the woman who stirred his blood as no one else ever had.
"I'm not tired, either."
She swallowed and found herself watching his lips.
They parted in a haft smile and she felt her breath catch in her throat.
Such perfectly formed lips.
She'd never seen such a beautiful mouth on a man before.
Of course she'd never taken such pains to study one before.
"You should see what moonlight does to your haft."
He touched a finger to it and his smile grew.
"So pretty. Like holding a candle up to a glass of whiskey."
Jessie's throat went dry.
No one had ever said such words to her.
No one had ever before made her feel pretty.
"In sunlight it shines like spun gold. But in moonlight."
He shook his head, lost for words, and grabbed a handful of her hair.
He pulled her head back and studied her for long silent moments, fighting the desire to crush her in his arms.
The need for her was becoming an unbearable ache.
"Cole."
Her mouth had suddenly gone so dry she couldn't swallow.
She saw his eyes narrow as she ran a tongue over her lips.
She felt his fingers tighten as they tangled in her hair, and she felt a little thrill at the realization of the power she possessed.
Why was he holding back?
Why was he prolonging this agony when the only thing she wanted was the taste of his lips on hers?
She looked up at him with a puzzled frown and saw his gaze center on her mouth.
Was it anger she saw?
Dismissal?
Desire?
The thought left her stunned and reeling: Desire.
The same desire that curled along her veins.
Slowly, carefully, she drew herself closer to him and stood on tiptoe to reach his mouth, Still he made no move to hold her.
Puzzled, she pressed closer and touched her lips to his.
As their lips grazed, she felt his quick intake of breath.
Her sense of power grew.
He wanted to kiss her.
She was certain of it.
But something held him back.
Curiosity and her own growing sense of power made her bold.
For whatever reason, he was allowing her to make the first moves.
Now she wanted to test him, to push him to the limits of his control.
/> Shyly, tentatively, she moved her lips over his, nibbling, tasting, until she heard his drawn-out intake of breath.
With a boldness that surprised even her, she touched her tongue to his mouth and traced its fullness.
God in heaven, how much could a man be expected to take?
He had tried, honestly tried, to live up to his promise.
But the woman was driving him over the edge.
A wisp of her hair brushed his cheek and he pushed it aside, then plunged his hand into a tangle, pulling her head back.
He stared down at her for the space of a heartbeat, seeing the invitation in her eyes.
On a moan he plunged both hands into her hair, crashing her to him.
His lips claimed hers in a savage kiss, plundering her mouth tmtil they were both gasping for breath.
"Do you know what you do to me?"
The words were ground out against her lips.
Before she could respond, he kissed her again with a hard, lingering kiss that left no doubt of his feelings.
A horse nickered, but neither of them noticed.
Cole lifted his lips a fraction and murmured, "You are the most..."
A shadow flitted between two of the horses.
The words Cole had been whispering died in his throat.
How could he have been so careless?
The creature in his arms had him so distracted, he'd forgotten the simplest rules of survival.
With one hand he shoved Jessie behind him into the shadows; with the other he drew the pistol from his holster.
In quick strides he threaded his way among the tethered horses and pressed the cold steel against the head of a shadowy figure.
"Don't try it."
His voice held the edge of steel.
The figure turned.
In the moonlight, wide dark eyes stared unblinkingly into his.
With her own gun drawn, Jessie came rushing toward him.
Seeing the figure, she came to an abrupt halt.
"Cole, don't shoot."
Her voice was low pitched with terror.
"It's a girl."
At the sound of Jessie's voice, the girl whirled and lifted a hand.
In her hand was the hilt and broken jagged blade of a knife.
She left no doubt that she intended to bury it in the woman facing her.
Cole's hand snaked out, catching her wrist in a painful grip.
He twisted her hand until the weapon fell to the earth.
Though he swore viciously, the girl spoke not a word as she kicked and fought until she was subdued in Cole's arms.