My Desperado (31 page)

Her legs wound about him with natural ease, and he groaned, pressing hard against her, making her eyes fall closed as he kissed her ear, her throat, the delicate hollow above her collarbone. Within a moment he had slipped into the core of her being. Katherine gasped, arching against his strength as she reached for more.

Water sloshed against their rocking bodies, washing them rapidly up a steep incline toward Utopia.

For a moment they were perched on the edge of satisfaction with Travis's legs braced far apart, every muscle straining to reach the summit just before them.

"Travis," Kat gasped, and pressing into his desire pushed them over the top and into the swirling world beyond.

They remained bound together, breathing in short, harsh gasps until Katherine's legs weakened and slid downward, skimming his iron thighs as they went.

Still they clung together, afraid to speak lest their fears be spoken, afraid to move lest the real world find them and drag them apart.

But reality can only be held at bay for a short while.

A shiver seized Katherine, and Travis drew a deep breath and turned, pulling her gently with him toward shore.

The night air felt cool against her skin, and she trembled again, not knowing if the tremor was caused by the aftermath of their lovemaking or the chill in the air. But, regardless of the reason, she seemed unable to release her hold on him, for if her plan worked, she might never see him again after tonight.

The thought made her feel numb and petrified, and she clung to him.

"Get dressed, Katherine," Travis said softly, but she found she could not tear herself from him, and so he finally pulled her arms gently away.

She stood alone now, bereft and chilled. But in a moment he returned with his shirt. Touching the soft fabric to her arms and throat, he gently rubbed her dry before moving the makeshift towel slowly down her torso, caressing her breasts, her belly and the length of her legs.

Tears coursed up from Katherine's heart. He would not say he loved her, and yet she felt it in his touch, in the brush of his fingers, the burn of his gaze against her skin.

"Now what?" Her words were no more than a breath of air as he straightened to look into her eyes.

For a moment he was speechless, but he drew discipline about him like an invisible armor. "We'll be at the ranch soon," he said, a slight tremor in his voice. "You'll be safe there."

Her eyes fell closed, and she weakened. Perhaps it would be worth sacrificing both their lives for a little more time together. "Let me go with you, Travis," she whispered.

"No." The denial was flat and flinty hard.

She swallowed, not opening her eyes. "I don't want to live without you."

"Don't say that!"

"It's true."

She could hear him draw a breath. "I'll be back," he said in a low tone. But she knew he lied. Even if he lived, he would not return for her. She squeezed her eyes more tightly closed.

"I could at least have been granted your child."

"What?" The question was sharp.

Katherine braced herself but refused to look up. "I had hoped I was with child." She bit her lip, realizing it was true.

"Are you?" His voice sounded as if it came from somewhere hard and cold, and she longed to look into his eyes, but dared not.

"No. I know now that I'm not."

His arms did not relax, but remained tightly about her. "You're positive?"

"Yes. I get sick, just before..." She winced. "Just before... it starts."

His hold on her softened a little. "Sick?"

"My stomach. Perhaps I could..." She paused. Lies had become almost indistinguishable from truths. "Perhaps I could rest in the wagon until we reach the ranch."

"Yes." he stroked her hair very gently. "Get dressed now."

They were silent as they made their way back to Blackfeather's crew. The buck Katherine had shot was lashed behind Travis's saddle, but she refused to look at it, concentrating instead on her plans.

The camp fire was bright. Jimmy's harmonica music soared to a final note that hung on the night air when they entered camp.

All eyes turned to them. Travis's shirt was wet, as was her own hair, Katherine knew, but she didn't care.

Saws banged nervously around in the huge pot that hung over the fire. Jacob cleared his throat, locked his gaze on his brother's, and kept silent.

But Finch, being who he was, grinned and asked, "You two get caught in the rain?"

Travis's reply was just about as expected. "Shut up, Finch," he mumbled.

Finch raised his brows, looking from Ryland to Katherine, and back, and, seeing the solemn intensity on both expressions, did just that.

Kat refused to eat. Blessedly, Jimmy's music started up again, drowning the sound of Travis's thoughts, which seemed as loud as thunder from his place so near to hers.

"Can I speak to you?" she asked finally, feeling a tremor shake her hands.

Travis lifted his gaze to her face, and for a moment she thought he might refuse.

"In private."

He nodded finally.

Hidden in the curved fire-shadow of the chuck wagon, Katherine shuffled her feet and took a firm hold on the upper edge of a spoked wheel.

"I was wondering if you could..." She paused and cleared her throat. "Please ask the men to let me rest. I need some time alone." She watched the toe of her boot make a sweeping crescent motion.

"Are you all right, lady?"

"Yes." She raised her gaze with a jolt, "I'm fine. Just... a woman's affliction."

It was his turn to clear his throat now, and she realized with sudden clarity that his embarrassment might be amusing if the circumstances were different. "Do you need anything?"

Panic momentarily overcame Katherine, for she hadn't anticipated his question. "No." She smoothed her palms down her pant legs and slowed her breathing. "No. I have everything I need."

"I'll bring your meals to you in the wagon."

"No." Again her voice was too sharp. "Please don't bother. I have no appetite during...these times."

He frowned, causing her to pray that he knew very little about women and their monthly ailments.

"Please," she repeated, grasping at straws. "I need some time alone."

He nodded solemnly. "I'll make sure you're not bothered," he promised.

Kat held her breath and watched his eyes. For a moment she thought he would say more, but he turned silently and disappeared into the night.

Chapter 30

"Shhh." Katherine was crouched in the darkness, listening for every sound and covering Jacob's mouth with her hand. "Come with me."

His eyes showed white and wide as he turned them toward her.

She motioned wordlessly.

He didn't move, but shifted his gaze to his brother's sleeping form before bending an arm to jab a thumb into his own chest and raise questioning brows at her.

Kat nodded.

It was all the encouragement Jacob Jameson needed.

Silently they crept away from camp and into the heavy timber nearby, where they stopped to listen for any pursuers.

"All's clear," Kat whispered finally, more to herself than her companion.

"Yeah."

His tone was stilted, and she saw him wipe his palms on his jeans as though he felt the tension as much as she.

Nearby, Shadow hid on the far side of a small gnarled pine.

Katherine glanced at the dog before taking a deep breath and scowling. Travis was gone. She'd heard him ride out and knew he would find some lofty place from which to watch for smoke with the coming of dawn. She could only hope he had made certain she wouldn't be disturbed. This would be her only chance to get away unnoticed. The thought increased her nervousness and caused her knotted stomach to roil.

"I need you to do something for me, Jacob," she said suddenly.

"Listen, Miss Kat, I..." He took a rapid step backward, with his fingers splayed dramatically across his chest.

"Please." Kat advanced a pace, realizing how much she needed his help. "It won't take so very long. And there will be very little danger to you."

"But..." He retreated an additional step. "Ryland said—"

"Ryland's gone, Jacob."

"Gone?" His voice was very faint.

"Yes, but we won't have much time."

At this his brows shot up again.

"I'm not asking you to take me all the way," she added, her mind spinning as she mentally hurried through her plans.

"J-just... kissin'?"

For a moment Katherine remained absolutely motionless. "Kissing?" she questioned, blinking once.

Jacob's confusion was visible in the darkness. "Why did you ask me out here, Miss Kat?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but a noise in the underbrush startled her, and she crouched, hoping to hide in the deepest of shadows. The wait seemed interminable as she held her breath.

"Luke," Jacob said finally, rising from the undergrowth, with Kat at his side.

The brothers' eyes met in the darkness.

"Don't go lookin' at me like that, Luke," hissed Jacob. "This ain't what you think. Matter a fact you should be ashamed of yourself for even considerin' them things 'bout Miss Kat here. She ain't that kind of woman. Fact is," he nodded one jerky motion, "she was a schoolmarm."

Luke's gaze shifted to Katherine, and in that moment she wondered if it might not be true that a quiet mouth hid a deep intellect.

"Please!" Katherine said then took a deep breath to steady her nerves. "I do need your help."

"How so?" Jacob asked in a voice a bit louder than she would have liked.

She shushed him, motioning down the volume with her hand. "Travis is going after Delias."

At that news Luke's eyes went wide and Jacob paled noticeably.

"Beggin' your pardon, miss, but what's that got to do with us?"

"I've got to get to Delias before he does."

The two faces before her showed identical expressions of disbelief, but she shushed them before any objections could be voiced. "Ryland is scouting around to make certain our way to the ranch is safe."

They remained silent.

"Don't you see? He's willing to risk his life for me...for us. We can't let him do it."

Their jaws had fallen slightly ajar.

"He could have killed you! Remember? You took our money. Were going to take Soldier!" she said, remembering how the two had valued their own swaybacked steed. "He loves Soldier. Why that horse has..." Her mind spun. She had to convince them to help her. "He's saved Travis's life on more than one occasion." She nodded abruptly. "That's right. Travis was shot. Through the...chest. He fell into the water. And Soldier...he...he galloped in and dragged him out before he could drown."

"Really?"

"Yes. And there were other times, too. He loves Soldier. And you were going to take him. So you can see why he was so angered. But he didn't kill you, did he? No," she answered herself. "He didn't harm you...well hardly at all. And why?" Stepping forward half a stride, she placed a hand to each man's arm. "Because he's a good person."

"He sure as nuts coulda killed us all right," nodded Jacob.

"Yeah," agreed Luke cautiously.

"So it's time for you to do him a good turn," explained Kat.

Their expressions mirrored their uncertainty again. "How would we do that, Miss Kat?"

"By taking me to Delias."

She would have to leave Moondancer. If the black mare were missing, it would surely alert Travis that she was gone.

The herd of horses milled about as she slunk into their midst, but eventually she caught two dark mounts, one for herself and one for Jacob.

Saddles would be beneficial, but to her knowledge there were no spares.

Cautiously she led the geldings away from the herd, finally slipping into the trees to hand one animal's rope to Jacob. "Here. Take him."

"But..." Jameson scowled. "We promised to go honest from now on, and that'd be stealin'."

Katherine ground her teeth, vaguely realizing she had said much the same thing not so many days before. "A man's life is at stake."

"But couldn't we just tell them good-bye?"

"No. We're going," she whispered. "And we're going now."

Chapter 31

"Dear God!" Katherine turned abruptly away from the bloated and burned corpse. "Who was it?"

Luke blanched, leaving Jacob to answer. "It was the fella called Red. He was arguin' with the old man." He swallowed hard. "Guess Delias don't like to be disagreed with."

"Red?" Katherine tightened her grip on the bay gelding's reins. She could remember Red's voice as clearly as his words. We ain 't quittin' till we drop Ryland's bloody carcass on Grey's doorstep. He'd planned to murder them. Had been hired by Grey to do so. And there could only be one reason. She and Travis knew too much, knew Mayor Patterson had died of natural causes and that the money had been taken before he met with Ryland.

Thomas Grey had taken the money. Grey, whose mines were running dry. Grey, who hired Delias and Red to kill Travis.

Her task was clear. She'd find Delias, take him to Silver Ridge, and convince him to tell the people the truth about Grey. Then Travis's name would be cleared. Delias would pay for his crimes. And Travis would be safe.

It was all very simple. Just like a dime-novel plot.

Katherine swallowed, refusing to consider the realities of the days ahead. "Do you know where Dellas's horse was tied?" she asked.

"What's that?"

"Finch said Shadow could track an animal anywhere if you gave him a scent."

"Miss Kat, please don't go through with this."

"Do you know?"

Jacob stuck out his lower lip. "I ain't gonna tell y', miss. I ain't gonna be responsible fer what might happen."

Katherine tightened her grip on the reins. "Have you ever been in love?" she whispered, almost more to herself than to her companions.

Silence held the place.

"Over by that bent oak." Luke broke his silence and pointed to a tree.

"Miss Kat, please!" Jacob pleaded, but Katherine was already dismounting from the saddle the Jamesons' had insisted she use.

"But Miss Kat—"