Callahan's Gold (Southwest Desert Series Book 3) (17 page)

Rex stepped forward. "You were right all along, Sharkey. Thanks to you, we're all going to make it. Thanks for the treasures."

Tears coursed down Ramona's cheeks. "Thanks for everything, Sharkey . . . the laughter, the fun . . . and the love."

Tory cleared her throat. "Thanks Sharkey. I wish I'd known you better." She unashamedly wiped away a tear, but her eyes filled with tears again and spilled over her cheeks when Dodge cracked the colorful Indian pot on a rock. The ashes spilled over the rocks and caught the wind and drifted over Pyramid.

Tory knew that because of this trip, and because of Sharkey Carsen, her life would be forever changed. She certainly thought of her father differently now, and that was better than carrying hatred around for the rest of her life. She gazed at Dodge Callahan's broad shoulders and knew he would make the biggest difference of all. Without him, what would her life be? How empty.

And suddenly, she knew she couldn't bear leaving Dodge. She wanted to be with him, to follow him, to love him the rest of her life.

She slipped her hand into his and squeezed. "You gave him a very nice tribute, Dodge."

He squeezed her hand back and brought it up to his lips for a lingering kiss. "You, too." Hand in hand, they followed Ramona and Rex down the mountain. Tory was filled with complete contentment. She would be forever grateful to Sharkey for sending her to Dodge so they could meet. And love.

The two men arranged the injured Yazzie on one of the mules. His shoulder and one arm were wrapped rather crudely, and one foot was tied to the stirrup. If he should attempt escape, he would be dangling by one foot.

"I know this sounds strange coming from me, but I'm almost sorry to leave," Tory said as they lined up the mules for the long trek back.

Ramona's gaze swept across the ghost town. "Maybe we can return someday."

"Not me," Rex said with a groan as he swung a leg over his mule.

"Nope," Dodge muttered, "I don't think we'll ever ride this way again." He paused for one last look over the tiny valley, then motioned with one arm. "Let's head 'em out."

They rode silently, Dodge in the lead, followed by Yazzie, then Rex. Tory and Ramona plodded behind, sharing control of the three pack animals loaded with their gold. They had all been changed by the journey into the Dragoons. They were linked by a bond of shared secrets and struggles for life. From these, relationships had been sealed.

And perhaps . . . they were a little wealthier.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

On the afternoon they arrived back in Tombstone, it poured rain, transforming the desert into a cool, fragrant haven.

Ramona transported Rex to the nearest hospital and took their precious gold treasure to the assayer's office. Dodge and Tory delivered Yazzie to the authorities, filed their complaints ranging from assault with a deadly weapon to Sharkey's murder, and made their statements to the district attorney. Then they headed for the trailer, mentally and physically exhausted—and soaking wet.

"This isn't a rain," Tory complained as they watched the moisture sheet the Blazer's wind
shield. "It's a torrent, a cloudburst, a gully washer!"

"A squall, a real toad strangler," Dodge added, pulling to a stop in the driveway. "But that's the way we get our moisture around here. All or nothing."

"That's the way of many things in life, I guess," Tory said sadly, thinking that "all or nothing" related to more than she cared to admit. Like her relationship with Dodge. What would happen now?

"I'll go unlock the door," he said, getting his key out. "And you follow."

"How gallant of you, sir, now that I'm already soaked to the bone."

"Can't help it. Justice must be served. I must admit, I'll rest better knowing Yazzie is behind bars in a real jail, not a hundred-fifty-year-old ruin."

"I'll bet Yazzie is already dry and has had supper by now."

"But he can't run out and play in the rain if he wants to. And we can."

She eyed him closely. "I do not want to run out and play in the rain. I'm wet and tired. And anyway, this rain's cold. I want to take a shower and get warm."

"Hmm, I should be able to manage that," he assured her with a devilish smile.

She nodded and smiled graciously. "And I'm hungry!"

"Hungry, huh? Why, I think we may have a few cans of dried beef or chicken chunks left."

"No! No! Please, not canned chicken chunks!" she exclaimed, beating him on the shoulder with a teasing fist. "And if I never—ever—see another stringy slab of dried beef, I'll be content! Now, go! And have my shower running when I get there!"

"Ah, yes, your highness!" Dodge said laughingly, and dashed through the rain.

Tory followed closely, and soon they were scrubbing each other's backs in a hot shower. And still later, sipping hot tea and eating Ritz crackers and peanut butter in bed. In the nude.

"So this is your idea of an instant meal?" She teased and poked a peanut-buttered cracker into his mouth for a bite. Then she popped the remaining cracker into her own mouth.

He chewed and rolled his eyes as if it were the best meal in the world. "Why not? Peanut butter has held me together, body and soul, through all my bachelor years. It's life sustaining. Great on toast and English muffins and even, may my Jewish uncle forgive me, on bagels. And for those watching their lovely waistlines"—he paused to caress her slender bare arm— "spread it on celery. It does everything!"

"Everything?" She gasped just before his lips claimed hers in a demanding, long kiss.

"Ah, yes, my favorite fragrance—peanut butter breath!" And he kissed her again to prove he wasn't lying.

"Hmm, everything . . ." she murmured happily. "Just like you, Dodge. You do everything for me." She turned her face up to his as they scooted down between the cracker box and peanut butter jar.

Gray clouds shrouded the small trailer, giving its occupants the illusion of darkness. And they sought comfort from each other.

His lean tanned body was a brown shadow in the bed beside her, and she ran her hand over every masculine inch, luxuriating in the feel of him. She felt the contours of his face, stroking his cheeks and nose. Her tongue edged his lips, teasing and tasting. "Hmm," she murmured softly, letting her hands move over the muscles of his chest.

Her head moved over his chest, her tongue tasting the beadlike nipples and making a hot, moist trail down his middle. She followed the tanned hair trail, dipping her tongue into his navel, and caressing his hips with curious hands. Daring, probing fingers slid over him, down to his thighs, then up again. Tormenting and teasing, the passion in her body was expressed by her hands as she showed him how much she wanted him.

Lightning streaked across the sky, blazing jagged electrical currents from the storm-darkened clouds to the earth, sending flashes of light on the enraptured couple in the small trailer.

Tory watched Dodge's body react to her every touch and felt her own blazing response to his closeness. She knew that she loved him. She wanted him inside her, branding her with his own fire, giving her all his strength. And she wanted him now and always.

Instinctively, as she continued spreading her fingers over him, she felt this would be the last time they made love. She would make it good. Better than good—fantastic, bells ringing, wonderful, greater than great! She would make him want her love forever. She would love him like he'd never been loved. It was quite a challenge—but the thought of leaving Dodge after knowing him like this was torturous.

Thunderous explosions rumbled continually overhead, sounding like a never-ending freight train. The noise was so abrupt and ominous that instinctively she ducked her head as if the roof were about to fall in on them.

Laughingly, he pushed her down on the bed and began to kiss her all over. "Don't worry, my sweet little fancy pants. I'll take care of you." He engulfed both breasts with his large hands and kissed each one tenderly, finally burying his face in their softness.

"It sounded so close," she said.

"It was close," he answered, his words muffled against her silky skin.

"But what if the roof caves in?"

"Then we go to heaven together. In ecstasy!" He laughed raucously and kissed her navel and the flat stomach between her hip bones.

"Wait!" She protested suddenly as his kisses came closer to the crest of her femininity. "I was going to do that!"

He raised his head. "This?"

"Well, no, I wanted to do that to you!" She giggled embarrassedly as he molded his body to hers and slithered up until their lips were close to matching.

"Do what to me?"

"Kiss you. Love you. Until you couldn't stand it without me."

"I already can't."

"No, I mean, really!"

"I'm crazy for you, really!" He kissed her and, at the same time, rolled her over on top of him. "Now . . . that better?"

Tory grinned and wriggled over her victim. "Much better." She felt his hard arousal firmly assailing and probing, searching for her warmth. And she wanted him inside her. But he would have to wait. Until he was crazy for her!

She pressed her hands on his wrists above his head and kissed him all over, making love to him with all of her body as he had done to her. Until he begged for her. And she knew she had him! She had accomplished what she'd set out to do—drive him crazy for her. It was a heady feeling, this power she held over the big, brawny Dodge Callahan.

The wind howled around the corners and found tiny cracks in the trailer to whistle through, making a high, wailing noise that accompanied the lower, more ominous sounds.

"Tory, Tory . . ." he moaned softly, "come on – you're killing me here."

She wasn't sure who was crazy for whom in the end. She wanted to feel his power, wanted him inside her more than she ever had before. This time her desperation was born of love and fueled by fear. A deep, abiding love for a man who was entirely different from her and fear that she was losing him.

The wild wind stalked outside the windows, shaking them as if trying to enter, to interrupt the happenings inside the trailer. In futility, the wind grabbed the small metal building and shook it hard.

She gasped and shuddered as their forces came together with the storm.

Lightening flickered and their bodies glowed with a love sheen.

In an overwhelming burst of delight, they shuddered together and rose in a wild frenzy that left them both weak and trembling. When they were still at last, she slumped over him, letting her heart beat against his.

In time, their breathing became more normal and their heartbeats slowed. Gently, he cradled her in his arms. "Are you warm now?"

She snuggled against him. "Hmm. The warmest."

His lips brushed her cheek. "God, you make me crazy, Tory."

"Yes." She smiled. "You, too."

The rain plunked rhythmically on the trailer's tin roof, lulling its occupants to sleep. And they slept around the clock, dreaming of this ecstasy in each other's arms lasting forever.

But when they awoke the next day, they knew it couldn't last forever. It was a feeling in the air, more than anything said.

Dodge woke first and was fixing coffee when Tory staggered in, wearing a man's flannel shirt she found in the closet.

"Do you mind?" She lifted one arm.

He shook his head. "It isn't mine. Sharkey's."

"Oh." She looked at the blue plaid curiously. "Well, then, I suppose it's okay. From what I've learned about my father, he seemed like the sort of man to give you the shirt off his back."

"Oh, yes, he was," Dodge said smiling, and poured them both a cup of coffee.

Her face was tight and serious. "We've got to talk, Dodge."

"I know."

They sat at the tiny table. Tory remembered the time, not very long ago, when they sat across from each other at this very table as strangers. Perfect strangers. Now they were perfect lovers. She smiled hopefully at him, thinking how her life would change with a man to love. It was exciting, for this man was different from any she had ever known. And she loved him so . . .

"When do you have to go back?" he asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"I need to get back as soon as possible. I've already left the shop with Megan in charge longer than I planned. But maybe we could wait a few more days—"

"We?"

"Yes. If you need a few days to close out your business here. Or if you need a little more time getting rid of Sharkey's stuff, you could join me later."

"Join you?" He winced and narrowed one brown eye at her.

"Yes. I understand this kind of thing takes time. Plus we have to get the gold situation settled."

"That may take weeks to finalize, but we should know something about the value today when we meet with Ramona." He paused to thoughtfully sip his coffee.

"Good." She reached over to pat his hand. "Of course we'll probably have to return here for Yazzie's trial, but that'll be just a pleasure trip. In the meantime, though, we can get settled in L.A. I have a small apartment, just big enough for one, so we'll want to get a larger one. And we have to find you a job—"

"Hold it, Tory!" His face was a dark scowl. "What are you talking about? I'm not coming to live in L.A."

"You aren't?" She straightened against the back of the booth. "Well, what do you expect me to do? Transfer my dress shop to Tombstone?"

"Expect you to do?" He shrugged. "Why, nothing."

"Wait a minute, Dodge. What are you planning to do?"

"I think I'll go check out Reno and the University of Nevada. I told you I applied for a job there. Maybe I'll work in Nevada for a while."

"Maybe . . . Maybe?" She looked at him wildly. "I don't think you understand any of this. Or maybe I don't. I—I love you, Dodge Callahan. And somehow in the last few days, I figured you felt the same. What do you say about that?"

He ran his hand over his face, his fingers lingering to stroke his mustache. "Frankly, it scares the hell out of me."

"What?" She wanted to jump up and scream. "After all we've been through together, all we've done. After sleeping together . . . Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

His dark eyes clouded. "Of course. It's just that suddenly you're sounding like someone taking charge of my life, tying me up to convention."

"Oh, no, I wouldn't do that. But, Dodge, we could make a good team. You could help me get the shop straight, help me keep it solvent."

"I've never done that kind of work in my life, Tory. I don't know anything about retailing."

"But you could learn. We'll work together on it. After we're married—"

"Hold it, Tory." He stood up abruptly. "I don't know if I'm ready for that."

"What does it take?"

"For me? Time. And, uh, oh, a strike of lightning, Tory. I think we both need time here."

"I only know one thing. That I love you, Dodge Callahan. And you're refusing my love."

He faced her, his dark expression frantic. "If it means I have to conform to your standards, I guess so. Don't you know me well enough to realize I can't live like that? Oh, Tory, don't you see? I need space. And I need a little time to figure out what all this means."

"What—what about us?" She felt as though someone had socked her in the stomach.

"I don't know yet. I have to think. We both do. We'll work something out to be together, Tory."

"Sounds like a long-distance love affair is what you want."

"No, I want us to be together, but—"