Gunslinger (14 page)

“Can’t you do anything right?” Calvin raged.

“It ain’t my fault, Pa. But wait till you hear the rest. Desperado walked in on me while I was in Chloe’s hotel room. He claimed she was out at the ranch. That he’d come for her belongings.”

“What else can go wrong?” Calvin said tightly. “The railroad people will start negotiations soon for the right-of-way along the proposed route. Perhaps you’d better tell me the rest of your news.”

“You ain’t gonna like it, Pa. I followed Jones to Lawyer Baker’s office. Jones signed the papers that gave him ownership of the Ralston spread. I nearly swallowed my teeth when I heard Jones tell Baker he wanted to return everything to Chloe.”

“Excellent,” Calvin said gleefully. “That means Jones doesn’t intend to stick around. Once he’s out of the way, I’m not going to let a woman stand in the way of progress. Soon all the land between here and Amarillo will belong to me. When the railroad people come to town, they’re going to learn they’re not dealing with yokels.”

“There’s more, Pa,” Tate confided. “That sly old fart Baker talked Desperado into keeping the deed in his name and making Chloe co-owner. They’ll own the land jointly. Chloe stands to inherit everything if and when Desperado dies. What are we gonna do now? I want Chloe as bad as you want the land.”

“Kill him,” Calvin hissed. “Arrange for an accident. Anything that will get Jones out of our hair. Reverend Tully owes me a favor. He’ll marry you and Chloe with or without her consent. If we can’t buy the land, we’ll take it any way we can. And you’ll have Chloe in your bed, though I don’t envy you the task of taming the gun-toting little shrew.”

“I’ll tame her,” Tate said with a braggart’s confidence. “Just leave everything to me.”

The telegram Desperado expected was waiting for him at the telegraph office. The clerk handed it to him and watched with interest as he read it.

“What made you suspect the railroad might be coming through Trouble Creek, Mr. Jones?” the man asked after Desperado had read the telegram and stuffed it into his vest pocket.

“Just a hunch,” Desperado replied.

“The ranchers that sold out to Mr. Talbot should have held on a little longer,” the clerk said sadly. “They took the meager offer Talbot made for their land and left for greener pastures. Should have known something was up when that land speculator came to town and got himself elected mayor. He even put his own man in as town marshal. What are you gonna do about it, Mr. Jones?”

“Nothing I can do.” Desperado shrugged. “What’s done is done. Talbot owns all the land along the proposed new spur line except for the Ralston spread. It will be a cold day in hell when they get that.”

He nodded good day and walked over to the lumber yard, where he arranged for wood, nails and paint to be delivered to the ranch the following day. A short time later Desperado headed back to the ranch to tell Chloe about his decision about the ranch.

Chloe had the chicken floured and ready to fry and biscuits in the oven baking when Desperado returned. She grunted a greeting and tried to ignore him as he washed up in the rain barrel beside the back door.

“Smells mighty good in here,” Desperado said as he paused in the doorway to watch her move about the kitchen.

Chloe banged a frying pan on the stove and flung a dollop of lard into it from the lard can.

“I brought your belongings back from the hotel.”

Still Chloe said nothing.

“I met a friend of yours skulking about in your room.”

That caught Chloe’s attention and she whirled to face him. “What are you talking about?”

“Tate Talbot paid you a visit. He was in your room when I got there. He was disappointed to find you gone.”

“I…I don’t understand. Did he say what he wanted?”

“The man had mischief on his mind, Chloe. What other reason would he have for being there? Now do you see why I wanted you out here where you’d be safe?”

Chloe bit the soft underside of her lip while she considered Desperado’s words. “You think he would have done me harm?”

“I don’t think, I know.”

“Why? What could hurting me gain them?”

“I thought it through pretty thoroughly on the way home. The Talbots know who I am and that I now own the Ralston spread. I’ve already told them I wouldn’t sell to them. They’re not dumb, Chloe. They know there is only one way to convince me to sell.”

“How could the Talbots make you do something you don’t want to do?”

“Think about it, sweetheart,” Desperado rasped as he joined her beside the stove. “They intend to use you to get to me. Had you been in your room, Tate would have carried you off and hidden you somewhere while his father pressured me to sell the ranch. I would have agreed to anything to keep you safe. That’s why I wanted you where they couldn’t easily get to you.”

“My God,” Chloe said shakily. “Are they that desperate to get the land? Why? Why would they break the law to get more land when they already have so much?”

Desperado plucked the crumpled telegram from his pocket and handed it to her. “Read this. Perhaps it will explain why the Talbots are land hungry.”

Chloe perused the telegram with growing dismay. “I should have known there was a method behind their madness. What do you suppose they’ll do now?”

Desperado shrugged. “Hard telling. The Ralston spread is the last piece of land along the proposed railroad route that Talbot doesn’t own. He intended to ask an exorbitant price for the right-of-way and would have a good chance of getting it with all the land in his possession. I’ve known enough dishonest men in my life to know how his mind works.”

Chloe remained thoughtful as she placed pieces of floured chicken into the sizzling fat in the frying pan. When the pan was full she covered it and turned back to Desperado. “There’s no way Talbot can get the land now, is there? You’re too strong a man to allow him to bully you into selling.”

“Sit down, honey,” Desperado said, pulling out a chair for her. “You need to know what I’ve decided about the ranch.”

“Is everything in order? Is the ranch yours now?”

“Not exactly,” Desperado said as he sat down beside her. “My original intention was to deed the land to you and ride away from Trouble Creek without a backward glance.”

“I don’t want your charity,” Chloe bit out.

“Don’t get your dander up,” Desperado cajoled.

“Hear me out before you jump to conclusions.”

Chloe spat out something indistinguishable and glared at him. “Very well, talk away, not that it will change anything.”

“Mr. Baker is a savvy man. He knows you’d be vulnerable to the Talbots once I left you to handle the ranch on your own, and he didn’t mince words when he said I’d not be doing you a favor by deeding the ranch to you.”

“Smart man,” Chloe muttered.

“He offered another suggestion. He said I should leave my name on the deed and add yours. We’d be co-owners. You couldn’t sell without my signature and I couldn’t sell without yours.”

“Really, Desperado, I don’t want—”

“Dammit, Chloe, listen to reason. It’s the best I can do to protect you. This has been your home longer than it was mine. You belong here.”

“So do you. Why do you think your father added the codicil to his will?”

“There are things I’ll regret the rest of my life,” Desperado said sadly. “I’ll just have to live with them.”

Chloe noted the hollow look in his eyes and felt pity for the young boy who had made unwise choices because he thought his father didn’t love him. She also pitied the man who had to live with those choices.

“You’ll inherit the ranch if I die first.” He gave her an apologetic grin. “I don’t expect to live a long life, given my profession.”

“You don’t have to leave, Desperado,” she whispered huskily. “You can stay.”

He reached out and caressed a velvety cheek with the back of a callused finger. “And do what?” he asked. “Practice my skill by shooting at bottles? Wait for someone to come along who’s a faster draw than I am?”

“You won’t be a gunslinger if you become a rancher,” she said in a rush. “After a while people will forget Desperado Jones ever existed. Someone faster, younger, will come along to earn the title you abandoned.”

She bowed her head so he couldn’t read the desperation in her eyes. “Together we could make this ranch the way it was when Ted ran it.” She inhaled slowly and plunged on. “If we’re to be co-owners, why not be partners in the true sense of the word?”

Did he realize what she was suggesting? Chloe wondered. Would it take a knock on his head to make him aware that she loved him? God, the man was dense. She watched with bated breath as his expression softened and his eyes glowed with a strange light. Then he did something that totally confused her. He set the frying pan on the back of the stove, removed the biscuits from the oven and swept her up into his arms. Then he headed for the stairs.

“Desperado! What are you doing? Supper will be ruined.”

“The hell with supper,” he growled. “I’m going to carry you up to bed and make love to you.”

“But it’s not even dark!”

“It will be before we’re done.”

He took the stairs two at a time and didn’t release her until he set her on her feet inside her room. She wasn’t wearing a gunbelt but his hit the floor with a resounding thud. He attacked her clothing next, ripping off buttons in his haste to bare her to his hungry gaze. Then he tore off his own clothes and pulled her down onto the bed with him. When he kissed her, her mind shut down and her body took over.

His kisses fell like hot rain across her face, but it was her lips upon which he concentrated. He licked the tempting seam with the tip of his tongue, teased the moist corners, and thrust his tongue past her lips to explore the sweet inner surfaces. Chloe returned his kisses, sucking his tongue deeply into her mouth, then thrusting hers into his mouth to taste of him. It was heaven; it was hell; she wanted more.

Thrusting upward against the scalding heat of his body, she tried to convey without words what she wanted. Apparently he read her thoughts for he brought his hands into play, caressing her breasts, her thighs, that soft place between her legs.

She found his sex and tried to guide it inside her. She heard him groan, knew she was giving him pleasure, and caressed his length a moment or two before bringing him to her entrance. She was all but begging for release by the time he settled between her thighs and thrust upward and forward, burying his pulsating erection inside her hot passage.

She sobbed his name, rising up to meet his thrusts, her body on fire. Loving this special man was so easy, she thought in a moment of clarity. Why couldn’t he return her love? Then her thoughts scattered as Desperado suddenly pulled out of her, turned her around, dragged her up onto her hands and knees and thrust into her from behind. She heard the air rasp harshly from his chest as he strained over her. She felt herself taking wing as his hands played with her breasts and his thighs slapped against her buttocks.

Then she was there. Soaring to the heavens, thrashing and crying and laughing, all at the same time. Nothing would ever compare to being loved by Desperado Jones. Then she heard Desperado call out her name, felt his hot seed filling her, and she died a little.

Some time later she heard Desperado’s raspy voice whispering something in her ear. She tried to concentrate on his words but her passion-glazed mind refused to cooperate. She opened her eyes and found him smiling down at her. “Were you speaking to me?” She stretched languidly. “Did I shock you? You make me forget I’m a lady.”

Desperado chuckled, flashing his dimple. “Lady, hell! You’re all passionate woman. I wouldn’t want you any other way.” He continued to smile at her.

“Desperado, you’re embarrassing me! Stop staring at me like that.”

“Nothing we do should ever embarrass you, love. But if you must know, I was wondering how you’ll look in fifty years. It’s going to take at least that long to learn everything there is to know about you. I don’t even know your favorite food, or color, or…” His grin widened. “Or which position you prefer during lovemaking.”

Chloe’s brow furrowed. “I haven’t the foggiest notion what you’re talking about. Fifty years. Have I missed something?”

“I don’t know, honey, you tell me. Didn’t you hear me ask you to marry me?”

For the first time in her life, Chloe was rendered speechless.

Chapter Thirteen

“Have you nothing to say?” Desperado asked worriedly.

“I don’t understand,” Chloe answered. “What brought on this sudden desire to marry me? I thought you were a loner, a man who shunned responsibility. Aren’t you the same man who didn’t want to be tied down to one place or to one woman?”

Chloe knew she should be ecstatic. Lord knows she’d given him enough hints about how she felt about him. But this sudden capitulation made her nervous and more than a little suspicious.

Desperado sat up in bed and stared off into the distance. “If you believe I can settle down, the least I can do is try to live up to your expectations. Besides,” he said, his expression harsh with pent-up emotion, “as sure as shooting, that bastard Tate Talbot will be back harassing you after I leave. The only way to keep him away is to give you my name legally. The idea of his hands on you puts me in a killing mood.”

Disappointment shuddered through Chloe. “Is that the only reason you can think of for marrying me?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

She jerked upright and leaned against the headboard of the bed, her arms crossed over her naked chest. “No. I want more from the man I marry, Desperado. I want…well, have you never heard of love?”

“Love is just an extension of passion,” he said after a long pause.

“Passion is an extension of love,” Chloe contended. “Do you feel nothing but lust for me? Please tell me ’cause I need to know.”

“Can’t you just give a simple yes or no to my marriage proposal?”

“I need more than protection from you, Desperado. My guns can provide that. The man I marry has to love me as much as I love him. There can be no simple yes or no until you tell me what’s in your heart. I want you to describe exactly what you feel for me.”

“You’re asking for more than I’m capable of giving,” Desperado growled. “I haven’t looked deeply into my heart since I was a child and decided my father didn’t love me. And look where that led me. I can’t trust my heart, Chloe. I’m afraid to look too deeply into it for fear of what I’ll find.”

His frank admission startled her. It gave her insight into his soul, making her aware of the guilt and despair that had formed his life and made him what he was today. When he had sought to make amends with his father, it had been too late. Ted’s premature death must have been a terrible blow.

“Forget the past,” Chloe urged. “I know you hated my mother, but I am not my mother. You asked me to marry you and I’m saying no. Your proposal has to come from the heart, Desperado.”

Desperado faced her squarely, his expression tortured. “Would you have me bare my soul, woman?”

Chloe scrambled to her knees and cradled his face in her palms so she could look into his eyes. She gasped in dismay at the anguish she saw in those expressive dark windows into his soul. “Why is it so difficult to express your emotions? Baring your soul is not a bad thing.”

“I spent my formative years in an environment far different from yours. Indians do not express emotions, not even to their mates. How can I tell you how I feel when I can’t explain it to myself?”

“Try. It’s important.”

Desperado let out a long, slow breath and fixed his beautiful black eyes on her. “I haven’t felt for any woman what I feel for you. You make me happy in ways I never imagined. When I’m with you I think of things a man like me has no business thinking about. Home, family, stability. I want you in my bed every night. I want to wake up every morning with you in my arms. The thought of walking off and leaving you is painful. There, are you satisfied?”

Chloe gave a wrenching cry and threw herself into his arms. “I love you, too! You fool! Don’t you realize you just described love better than I’ve ever heard anyone describe it?”

Desperado seemed dazed. “I did?”

“Honestly, Desperado, men can be so dense sometimes. Now ask me again to marry you.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up into a smile. “Maybe I’ve changed my mind. Will you take your guns to me and force me to the altar?”

“If I have to,” Chloe declared tartly.

“Will you marry me, Chloe Sommers?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she said on a sigh. “Just name the day.” Suddenly her expression turned wary. “You do intend to stay on here and become a rancher, don’t you?”

“I’ll give it a damn good try. You realize there are those who won’t let me live down my reputation. If I settle in one place I’ll have to have eyes in the back of my head.”

“I’ll guard your back,” Chloe vowed. She gave him a quick kiss and scooted to the edge of the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“To see if I can salvage supper. Aren’t you hungry?”

He reached for her. “Famished. But not for food.”

“But we just—”

“And I want to again. Get used to it, love, I intend to exercise my marital rights often and with great zeal.”

“We aren’t married yet.”

“You talk too much,” he said, pulling her down on top of him. “I’m as ready for you as I’ll ever be.”

Chloe learned just how ready he was as he spread her legs and thrust upward inside her. Soon they were lost in a world of their own making, where passion ruled and nothing mattered but mutual pleasure.

Needless to say, supper was late that evening. The biscuits were cold and somewhat soggy but the crispy fried chicken and mashed potatoes with chicken gravy more than made up for the mediocre biscuits.

“I’ll tell the hands tomorrow,” Desperado said, chewing on a biscuit. “They should be the first to know we’re getting hitched.”

“When is this big event to take place?” Chloe asked. “And where?”

“Lawyer Baker promised to have the deed ready for both our signatures day after tomorrow. As you know, Baker is also the Justice of the Peace. We can ask him to perform the ceremony after the deed is signed.”

“There is no need to put my name on the deed if we marry,” Chloe reminded him.

“I know, but that’s how it’s going to be. Let me do this my way, sweetheart.”

“You always get your way.”

“Not always. But if I can keep those six-shooters of yours away from me, life will be a helluva lot more peaceful. Come on,” he said, placing an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s go to bed. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”

Chloe remained in the house to prepare breakfast the following morning while Desperado walked to the bunkhouse to inform the hands about the latest development between him and Chloe.

“Morning,” he drawled as he pushed through the door and strolled into the room. The hands were seated on benches on either side of a long table, eating the breakfast that Randy had prepared in the cookhouse. A dozen heads popped up to look at him.

“ ’Morning, Desperado,” Cory greeted. “Thought you left last night.”

Desperado could tell by their expressions that the hands were speculating on where he had spent the night. He had no intention of satisfying their curiosity. He had come to tell them of his plans to marry Chloe, and that was all they were going to get.

“I wanted you boys to hear my news first,” Desperado began. “Me and Chloe are getting hitched tomorrow.”

Pandemonium broke loose. Some of the hands rushed over to pound Desperado on the back and offer congratulations. Others seemed startled by the announcement. Rowdy, however, sent Desperado a look of utter contempt.

“What kind of man are you? You have no business placing a nice woman like Miss Chloe in danger by dragging her into your violent life. Why don’t you just leave? Miss Chloe will forget about you soon enough if you aren’t around to pester her.”

“Shut up, Rowdy,” Cory warned. “Miss Chloe knows what she’s doing.”

“Thank you, Cory,” Desperado said, “but I don’t need anyone to defend me. I’m well aware of my shortcomings. I have indeed led a violent life. But Chloe has faith in my ability to change my wicked ways.”

“You’re a half-breed,” Rowdy charged.

“I never claimed to be anything else.”

“Miss Chloe is too good for you,” Rowdy tossed back.

“You’re absolutely right.”

Suddenly Desperado knew exactly why Rowdy disliked him. He was surprised he hadn’t realized it sooner. The young man was in love with Chloe and had probably felt threatened by Desperado from the start. Even though Rowdy realized his love was unrequited, jealousy had fueled his animosity. He pitied the young man and cast about for a way to diffuse Rowdy’s hostility.

“I was hoping you and Cory would come to town with me and Chloe tomorrow and act as witnesses when we repeat our vows, Rowdy. I don’t really know anyone in town, and it would please Chloe to have someone she knows and trusts to act as witnesses.”

“You can count on me, Desperado,” Cory said, beaming. “I’d be proud to be a part of your wedding.”

“I’ll have a feast waiting when you return,” Randy announced. “Miss Chloe deserves something special for her wedding.”

Desperado’s dark gaze returned to Rowdy. “Well, what do you say, Rowdy?”

“Why me?” Rowdy asked suspiciously. “Why not Sonny, or Pete, or one of the others?”

“Because I asked you. And because Chloe would approve of my choice.”

“I reckon I can do it for Miss Chloe,” Rowdy muttered.

Desperado left the bunkhouse soon afterward. The buzz of conversation followed him out the door and he smiled to himself. He had doubtlessly shocked all the hands with his wedding plans. Desperado’s reputation as a gunman and a loner was well known. The hands weren’t the only ones who would be shocked by his marriage. Hell, he’d even shocked himself.

He had awoken this morning wondering how Chloe could love a man like him. He had nothing going for him except a lightning draw and the ability to frighten men into doing what he wanted without resorting to violence.

Desperado stepped into the kitchen and paused, his gaze tender as it settled on Chloe. He thought she looked radiant this morning. She wore the contented look of a woman who had been well loved. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips reddened from his kisses. Though he loved her taut little figure in trousers, he wondered what she would look like in a dress. Or without those infernal guns strapped to her slim hips.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Chloe said as she filled a plate with eggs, bacon and potatoes and set it down on the table. He sat down and waited for her to join him before digging in.

“Did you talk to the hands?” she asked as she filled his cup with coffee and settled down in a chair beside him.

“I did,” he muttered around a mouthful of eggs. “I asked Cory and Rowdy to act as witnesses. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind, I’m just surprised at your choices. Rowdy has never warmed up to you like the others.”

“He’s in love with you,” Desperado remarked dryly.

Chloe paused with the fork halfway to her mouth. “You’re loco.”

“I’m right. He sees me as a rival for your affections. Asking him to act as witness will jolt him back to reality faster than anything else I could have done.”

Chloe hoped Desperado knew what he was doing.

The barn-raising got underway that morning. Desperado was grateful for the activity. It gave him little time to think about committing himself to one woman for the rest of his life.

Chloe was so excited she could barely swallow her supper that night. She could think of nothing but becoming Desperado’s bride the next day. In the privacy of their bed that night, their loving seemed especially poignant as Desperado took her into his arms and pulled her naked body over him. He aroused her slowly, taking care to bring all of her senses into play as he used his hands and mouth to bring her to passion. He let her dangle on the brink of forever before joining their bodies in solemn promise. They strained together in silent communication until something inside Chloe uncoiled and broke loose. Then she cried out his name and shattered. Afterward she sprawled atop him, utterly spent and totally contented.

“Shouldn’t I call you Logan?” Chloe asked sleepily.

“That’s going to take some getting used to,” he drawled. “I’ll let you decide. Call me whatever makes you feel comfortable.”

“My love,” she whispered moments before she fell asleep. “I’ll call you my love.”

Chloe’s wedding day dawned clear, bright and warm for early fall. It was close to nine o’clock before Desperado let her out of bed and after ten before they were ready to ride into town. Rowdy and Cory had saddled four horses and were waiting for them by the corral.

“Thought you had changed your mind,” Cory teased, grinning.

“No way,” Desperado growled. “We…I…overslept,” he said somewhat sheepishly.

Rowdy maintained his silence, staring at Chloe as if he expected her to say something. Finally, he asked, “Are you okay, Miss Chloe? Are you sure this is what you want?”

Desperado sent her a speaking look, telling her without words that he’d been right about Rowdy. “Very sure, Rowdy,” she replied. “Thank you for agreeing to be one of our witnesses. Shall we go?”

When they rode into town an hour later, Desperado asked the cowboys to wait with the horses as he and Chloe ascended the stairs to Lawyer Baker’s office.

“Come in, come in,” Baker said effusively. “It’s been a coon’s age since I’ve seen you, child,” he said to Chloe. “You should have kept in touch.”

Chloe offered an apologetic shrug. “I had little time for visiting. The ranch kept me busy.”

“Have you convinced Logan to stick around and help run the place?” Baker asked. “Even a gunslinger has to settle down sometime.”

“Let me answer that, sir,” Desperado interjected. “I proposed to Chloe and she’s agreed to marry me. Since you’re the Justice of the Peace as well as a lawyer, we hoped you’d marry us today. We brought along a couple of witnesses.”

Baker slapped his hand against his desk and gave a hearty chuckle. “About time someone took my advice. I’d be tickled pink to say the words over you.”

“Let’s get to the deed first,” Desperado said. “Did you prepare it just the way I asked?”

“The deed is to be held jointly in both your names, but that is no longer necessary. Once you and Chloe are married, the ranch will automatically become Chloe’s upon your death.”

“That’s not good enough,” Desperado declared. “I still want Chloe’s name on the deed. Show us where to sign.”