Shadow Walker (12 page)

Abruptly Cole released her, reluctantly putting distance between them. “I’m sorry, love, I shouldn’t be doing this. You’re sore. This is your first time. It’s just that … dammit, I want you again.”

Dawn moaned with disappointment as she felt the warmth of Cole’s body leave her. She reached for him. “No! Don’t leave me. I want you, too. I’ve been denied this kind of tenderness all my life.”

Cole gave her a smile that warmed her soul. Then his hungry mouth covered hers. He kissed her endlessly. His hands roamed over her, stroking her throat, her breasts, her belly. He caressed her hips, the pointed tips of her breasts, her swollen, aching sex.

Dawn could feel the explosive power building within him. The ripe tip of his thick sex rubbed against her, making her aware of his need. She touched him. Tentatively at first, but when Cole closed her hand around him she couldn’t resist stroking the velvet hardness pulsing against her palm.

“Oh, God.” His big body shuddered and he closed his eyes, ecstasy racing through him as he allowed her to stroke him, pitching his hips upward as he thrust himself against her palm. He allowed her to continue several agonizing minutes before shoving her hand away. He was breathing hard, gnashing his teeth against the urgent need to possess her.

“No more! I need to come inside you now!”

Rearing up on his knees, he spread her legs
wide. Thrusting forward and upward, he pushed his bulk inside her. Abruptly Dawn lost the ability to reason, responding spontaneously to her body’s needs as Cole thrust and withdrew, bringing her effortlessly to the brink of madness. The exquisite torment went on and on—until with a hoarse cry she found that final, climactic fulfillment. Waves of emotion rippled through her as she dimly heard Cole cry out her name.

Moments later Cole rolled to his side, bringing Dawn against him. His chest heaved as he fought for breath. Not since his beloved Morning Mist had he felt like this with a woman.

Dawn snuggled against Cole. Words were unnecessary; her body spoke volumes about the wonderful things Cole had made her feel. She had saved up enough memories to last a lifetime. Tomorrow Cole would go on his way and her dreary existence would continue as if he had never entered her life. She would have no money, no way to support herself, but she’d get by. She was tough. She’d survived Billy’s cruelty all these years, hadn’t she? She closed her eyes and let sleep claim her.

Cole felt Dawn relax against him, heard the even cadence of her breathing and realized she had fallen asleep. It was just as well, he thought. He didn’t know how she would react to the plan he had devised for her and would just as soon wait until tomorrow to broach the subject. It would create a tremendous upheaval in her life but it was something he had to do. Unless he assumed responsibility for her, her future didn’t bear thinking about.

What kind of life could Dawn expect after he left? Every man in the territory would want to make her his whore, and he couldn’t allow that. His plans for her future were far better and much safer than anything she could arrange for herself. He slipped into slumber content to have settled Dawn’s future so handily, at least in his own mind.

“Is anybody home?”

A loud pounding on the door woke Cole from a sound sleep. He sat up groggily, aware of the warm, fragrant woman curled beside him, and of bright sunshine streaming through the cabin.

“Cole! Answer me. Are you in there?”

The doorlatch rattled, and seconds later the door swung open. With sunlight streaming behind him, only the outline of the man’s body could be clearly seen. He was big, rugged, and wore guns on his hips. He paused a moment in the doorway, hands poised above his guns as he studied the situation. He spied Cole in the bed and relaxed.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Never thought I’d find you in bed this late in the morning. You sick or something?” As yet he hadn’t seen Dawn lying quietly beside Cole.

“Morning, Sandy. Wondered when you’d show up,” Cole said, dashing gritty sleep from his eyes. He started to throw aside the blanket, realized that Dawn was awake and staring at the door in horror, and pulled it back into place.

Sandy strode into the cabin and approached the bed. The huge smile died on his face when he saw the small female figure trying her darndest to hide
beneath Cole’s body. Embarrassed, he flushed and looked away.

“Uh, sorry, Cole, didn’t know you had company. I’ll just wait outside for you. Sorry, ma’am,” Sandy said, tipping his hat in Dawn’s direction. He turned abruptly and hurried out the door.

Holding the blanket to her naked breasts, Dawn sat up slowly. “Who was that?”

Cole stretched and grinned. “That long drink of water is my partner, Sandy Johnson. I’ve been waiting for him to show up. He’s been out tracking Cobb’s gang. He must have followed them to Dodge. He probably checked in with the sheriff and learned I was out here. I’ll get dressed and go talk to him. Call us when breakfast is ready.”

“You want me to cook breakfast for him?” Dawn squeaked in horror. “After the way he found us together?”

“Sandy is a grown man, love. I’m sure nothing he’s seen surprises him. You’ll like him, I promise.”

Cole dressed quickly and went outside. Dawn dressed more slowly, wondering how she would ever face Cole’s partner. Calm finally returned when she realized she’d probably never see Sandy Johnson or Cole Webster after today.

“The sheriff gave me directions to the cabin,” Sandy said when Cole joined him outside. “He didn’t say you had a woman with you.”

“Dawn is Cobb’s wife.”

“Didn’t know the bastard had a wife. Sheriff Tayler said Cobb was planted in Boot Hill, and
that Duke Riley is in jail waiting for his hanging. I followed Riley, Pickens and Lewis to Dodge. Have you seen anything of Pickens or Lewis?”

“I didn’t want to kill Cobb but he gave me no choice. Pickens was here. He caught me off guard. Plugged me in the shoulder. I’m pretty sure I wounded him. Haven’t seen hide nor hair of Lewis, but I’ll bet anything he’s not far away.”

“They want the loot from the train robbery. Have you recovered it yet?”

“Found it yesterday.” Cole didn’t explain why it had taken him so long to find the stolen money, and Sandy didn’t ask.

“What about the woman? Is she mixed up in all this?”

“Leave Dawn out of it,” Cole growled dangerously. “She’s innocent. She was brutalized by Cobb during all the years of their marriage. She had no part in those robberies.”

Sandy sent Cole an assessing look. “Don’t get your dander up. I’m not accusing her of anything. Our job is to recover the money, and we’ve done that. It’s the sheriff’s job now to bring the gang to justice.”

Dawn stuck her head out the door and announced breakfast. Sandy took a good look at her and whistled softly. “A damn good-looking woman, Cole. Half-breed, if I’m not mistaken.” He shook his head in bewilderment. “You surprise me. It’s not like you to get involved with a woman while on an assignment. If she’s Cobb’s woman, he probably shared her with his men. You’re usually more discerning about who you bed.”

Never had Cole wanted to hit anyone more in
his life. But Sandy was his friend and probably knew him better than any other man. “Dawn isn’t what you think,” he said through clenched teeth. “She and Cobb were married five years, but technically she was an innocent until I … Never mind, the particulars won’t interest you. Come inside and meet her for yourself. She’s a tolerable cook, you won’t be disappointed.”

Dawn set biscuits, eggs and ham before the hungry men and turned away to get the coffee.

“Dawn, meet my partner, Sandy Johnson.”

Dawn acknowledged the introduction with a quick nod. She was afraid to meet Sandy’s gaze, fearing he’d condemn her wanton behavior with Cole. She did note that he was a handsome man perhaps a year or two older than Cole. The color of his hair fit his name. And his face and hands were tanned to nearly the same sandy shade as his hair.

“Howdy, ma’am,” Sandy said, removing his hat respectfully and setting it on the knobby back of his chair. “That food smells mighty good.”

“Sit down, Dawn,” Cole invited when Dawn seemed reluctant to join them.

Dawn perched on the edge of a three-legged stool which Cole pulled up to the table, her gaze fastened on her plate as she nibbled at her food. Had she bothered to listen she would have learned that the men were more concerned about the return of the money to the railroad than they were about her.

“Frank Williams will be tickled to see that missing money,” Sandy said as he shoveled a spoonful of eggs into his mouth.

“I reckon there’s a bonus in it for us.”

“I won’t turn it down,” Sandy said with a grin. “Wonder where we’ll be sent next.”

“I know where I’m going,” Cole said, surprising Sandy. “I’m taking a leave to visit my twin sister and her family in Oregon City. When you take the money to Wichita, you can tell the boss I’m taking a year off from my duties. It’s been a long time since I’ve taken a vacation, and there’s something I need to do.”

Dawn heard Cole’s last words and stopped eating, the fork poised midway to her mouth. This was the first she’d heard about Cole taking time off. Was this something he’d just decided? Did it have anything to do with her?

Sandy glanced from Cole to Dawn, guessing more than Cole gave him credit for. He sensed something intense flowing between them that not even Cole was aware of, and wasn’t sure he approved. He and Cole had been friends too long for him not to worry and wonder about this outlaw’s woman Cole seemed so protective of. What did he have in mind where Dawn was concerned?

“So you’re taking time off to visit your family,” Sandy repeated slowly. “Would you care to tell me the truth?”

Cole sent Dawn a quick glance and shook his head. “Not now. I do intend to visit my sister … eventually. If you’re finished with breakfast, I suggest we go outside. I don’t want to bore Dawn with our business.”

Sandy rose, adjusted his hat on his head and turned to Dawn. “The breakfast was good, ma’am, thank you kindly. If I don’t see you before I leave, take care of yourself.”

“Thank you,” Dawn said, still shaken by Cole’s words. “It … it was nice meeting you.”

“What’s this all about, Cole?” Sandy asked when they had walked a safe distance from the cabin. “It’s not like you to decide things on the spur of the moment. Does your leave have anything to do with the woman?”

“More or less,” Cole admitted. “I can’t leave Dawn here unprotected. Not with Pickens and Lewis still on the loose.”

“What the hell does that mean? You’re not planning to stay here with her, are you?”

“Not hardly,” Cole scoffed. “I’m taking her where I hope she’ll be safe. Then I really do intend to visit my sister. But I’ll need a year to do it all. Tell Frank I’ll be eager to go wherever I’m needed when this little matter is settled.”

Sandy glanced toward the house. “Where are you taking her? Does Dawn know about your plans?”

“I haven’t spoken with Dawn yet. Once I do, she’ll realize it’s for her own good. She’s better off with her own kind.”

“Her own kind? Are you talking about Injuns?”

“I’m speaking about Indians,” Cole corrected. “Running Elk, to be specific. She’ll be safe with him. Some young buck will be delighted to take her for his mate.”

“Thank God,” Sandy said with a heartfelt sigh. “For a minute I thought you meant to marry the girl yourself. I’ve never known you to act rashly about anything.”

“I’ll never marry again,” Cole said with such conviction that Sandy had no reason to doubt him. “I’m taking Dawn to Running Elk and that’s the end of it.”

Dawn watched from the doorway as Sandy rode away from the cabin. Cole had returned to the cabin briefly for the sack of money and Sandy had stowed it in his saddlebag before heading back to town. Dawn was still surprised that Cole hadn’t left with his partner and didn’t know what to make of it. She waited until Cole reentered the cabin to broach the subject.

“Why did you stay? If you’re worried about me, you needn’t be. I can take care of myself.”

Cole sent her an oblique look. “Sit down, Dawn, we need to talk.”

“About what?”

“About your future.”

Dawn bristled as she plopped down into the nearest chair. “My future isn’t your concern.”

“It is now.”

“Why, because you bedded me? You took nothing from me, Cole. I gave to you freely and expect nothing in return. You’re not responsible for me.”

“I’m making you my responsibility. Pickens and Lewis will be back. If not them, then other men will come sniffing around for reasons that have nothing to do with money.”

Dawn’s chin lifted. “I’ll manage. I’ve decided to take the reward money after all. You did say it was mine, didn’t you?”

“Yes, if you’ll take it. But seven hundred dollars won’t get you far, or last very long. Face reality. Dawn. You’re a half-breed. It’s not going to be easy to provide for yourself in a world such as we live in now. You’ll probably marry again, but you should weigh your choices carefully before settling down again. I’d hate for you to get tangled up with another Billy Cobb.”

All this talk about her future was making Dawn’s head ache. Didn’t Cole know she had already considered her options? She’d never marry again, that much she knew. She’d had enough of abusive men to last a lifetime. If all men were as kindhearted as Cole it would be wonderful, but men like Cole were few and far between. And they weren’t interested in marrying someone like her.

“I don’t see why that should matter to you,” Dawn replied. “Go to Oregon. Visit your sister. You’ll soon forget I ever existed.”

“I can’t do that,” Cole said softly. His eyes were hooded, revealing nothing of his inner thoughts. “I’ve come to a decision, Dawn, one I hope you’ll accept.”

Dawn went still. She didn’t like the sound of
that. She was her own woman now. She wasn’t required to follow the dictates of any man.

“
You’ve
come to a decision,” Dawn repeated with a hint of sarcasm. “Shouldn’t I be the one to decide my future?”

Cole shook his head. “Not since … not since I learned just how innocent you really were. Just listen to what I have to say.”