Surviving Seduction (14 page)

A few children were running by, playing games while adults cal ed to each other, some eating their breakfast where they stood. Selena passed two men haggling over some trinket, and when they stopped talking to look at her, she just walked on. People were going to look. Al she had to do was keep one foot moving in front of the other. She didn’t have to like it, but she did have to control her discomfort, for now.

A glance at Dan made her smile. He strode ahead as she and Cal fol owed. Something in the way he carried himself made it look like he owned the place. He wasn’t just at his ease. Better than that. He somehow seemed more comfortable here than in the Crater, although she couldn’t imagine why. There had to be more worries on his mind around al these strangers. Perhaps that was it, she mused.

Perhaps he preferred a more engaging atmosphere and life in the Crater was too predictable for this. It could also be the chal enge that lay ahead that put the authority in his step. Whatever it was rang out loud and clear to everyone they passed. Selena thought she could see a mix of fear and respect in their eyes as they watched him. They were extra careful to clear a path.

When they neared Josie’s tent, they found her in front of it, conversing with Jack. Selena had forgotten al about him. Eyeing the two, she could tel that there was some kind of standoffishness between them. They did not look like they particularly enjoyed each other’s company.

Selena wondered if he’d resolved that issue with Roark peaceably.

When Josie saw them, she brightened.

“Morning! Did you sleep okay?”

“Yes, thanks for the tent,” Dan answered.

“At least someone did,” Jack grumbled.

“Shut up, Jack,” Josie said with a smirk. “It’s your own fault.”

Jack rol ed his eyes.

“When do you want to head out?” she asked.

“Whenever you do,” Dan replied.

Selena saw Roark heading in the direction of the tent. When he spotted Dan, his expression grew stormy, but he didn’t slow. Next he saw Jack and his demeanor grew darker stil . She looked away before he could catch her watching.

“Roark!” Josie greeted when she saw him coming.

“Mornin’,” he said, drawing to a halt beside her and folding his arms over his chest.

“I’m going to be away for a while. You hold down the fort until I get back. Cinch up on rations, but only a little.

Have them keep the herd moving in a circuit and move camp to the tree line next to the town there, straight east,”

she instructed, pointing.

If Selena had thought Roark couldn’t look any surlier, his reaction to Josie’s words proved her wrong.

“Can I ask where you might be off to?” he inquired, sounding patiently exasperated. His eyes flicked uneasily to Dan and back.

“You sure can,” Josie smiled. “I’m paying a visit to our new friends, here. When I get back, we’l either move on, or things wil get a lot more interesting.”

No one spoke. They al seemed to be waiting on Roark’s reaction.

“Who is going with you?” he inquired, enunciating each word careful y.

“Angela,” she answered pleasantly.

More silence fol owed. Selena could see a vein beginning to bulge in his neck.

“Might I have a word in private?”

“I’m afraid not. Day’s a-wastin’,” she told him with a smile.

“Yes ma’am,” he said through clenched teeth before rounding on Dan. “May I have a word with
you
in private?”

“Roark,” Josie warned. Her patience seemed to have met its end.

“Of course,” Dan answered neutral y.

The two of them walked far enough away to be out of earshot.

“He’s a good guy,” Josie assured them with a sigh.

“Long as I’ve known him, he’s never broken a promise. A rare quality if you ask me.”

Selena had to pry her eyes from the men to acknowledge the woman’s words.

“Horses are ready,” Angela cal ed before drawing up next to Jack.

“Good. We’l head out as soon as those two are finished. I’ve gotta say, I’m real curious about what you’ve finished. I’ve gotta say, I’m real curious about what you’ve got goin’ on out there. How about we mount up? Angie, you wait here and show Dan to the horses.”

Josie was already walking briskly and Selena, Jack and Cal had to hurry to catch up.

“So it looks like this place of yours is ful up on guests,” she cal ed over her shoulder. “You’ve got Jack, here, and both his sisters already. Dan mentioned you live in cabins. How many do they sleep?”

“Wel there’s plenty of room,” Cal answered as they wove through the tents. “But the most we have in a single one is a family of three. More people could sleep on the floors if they wanted, but we mostly just have bed space for two per cabin.”

“Beds, huh?” Josie cast an appraising glance over her shoulder. “Haven’t slept in one of them in ages!”

Selena watched as every person they passed gave the woman a respectful nod and greeting. She couldn’t help but wonder how this respect had been earned. It was obvious that Josie had charisma. She was bright, energetic and direct. Selena hadn’t forgotten the authority she saw when Josie ordered Roark out of the tent and demanded information from Dan on the whereabouts of her brother.

Looking back on that moment, it was clear that Josie was quite fearless, and for that, Selena envied her.

“Jesus,” Josie said as they neared the horses. “That one is Dan’s?”

“Yep,” Cal answered before untying the tether on his own and mounting up.

The rest of them fol owed suit as Josie gave the dark stal ion an appraising look.

When Dan appeared a few minutes later with Angela, the girl was red. To Selena’s surprise, Roark had fol owed them. She’d half expected him to storm away rather than see them off.

“Wel I hope you have a fantastic time,” he told Josie.

“I’m sure we wil ,” she answered evenly.

As soon as they were al mounted, Josie urged her horse forward.

“Don’t make any
bets
!” Roark cal ed behind them.

Selena eyed Jack. He made no effort to hide the self-satisfied smile that he wore.

Josie was in the lead as they moved off. This didn’t last long as Buck would have none of it. He dropped his head and flattened his ears threateningly at Josie’s horse, skipping ahead. He’d have probably gotten a nip in if Dan hadn’t gotten him under control.

“Easy,” he coaxed, reining the stal ion away.

“No, he’s right,” Josie said rueful y. “I’m supposed to be fol owing you. Old habit.”

“You were headed in the right direction.”

“About how long did you say we have to go?”

“If we make good time, we can get there the day after tomorrow,” Dan answered, fighting to keep Buck paral el with Josie.

“That is one hel of a stud,” she remarked reverently.

The journey back was the most interesting trip Selena had experienced yet, thanks to the odd combination of personalities.

A few hours with Josie and Jack revealed they were equal y outgoing and talkative. At times, it seemed like they were in a competition to dominate the conversation. They liked to discuss how to deal with people. While Jack boasted the better vocabulary, Josie’s quick tongue gave him little purchase. Of course when Cal actual y had something to say, he’d bowl them both over with ease.

Selena didn’t have the nerve to interject anything and Angela looked like she felt the same way. Of course Dan never said anything unless it was important and Selena guessed he was more interested in observing Josie than anything else at the moment.

It was unsettling to watch him focus his attention on another woman. She could only hope the interest was just business. Even if that were so, what if his scrutiny revealed qualities in her that he liked? Selena didn’t know much about Josie, but she did know that it took an exceptional woman to lead an outfit like the one they’d left behind them.

Dan would understand what made Josie special far better than Selena would, and this became a source of stress quickly.

It seemed that she was not the only person who’d caught on to Dan’s preoccupation. Much to her dismay, Jack’s keen eyes proved that he was every bit as aware as she, and probably more so. It wasn’t long before he began taking advantage of the diversion.

They fol owed the stream that stretched between the town and almost to the Crater. Dan seemed as eager to get home as he had been to ride out in the first place. It was painful y clear how determined he was to carry out his plan, and she could see no way around her straining apprehension for the future. The light was very dim when Dan chose to make camp for their second night. Dinner consisted of their provisions and no fire was made.

“And how long have you been living in this Crater of yours?” Josie was asking, leaning against her horse’s saddle where it lay on the ground.

“The first ones from our community found it about ten years ago. We’ve al been there for different spans of time,”

Dan explained. “It’s been home to me for about seven Dan explained. “It’s been home to me for about seven years now.”

Selena’s face burned with guilt as she unsaddled Star.

She herself hadn’t known this.

“How do you get your water?”

“Got a nice, big pond,” Cal answered, digging through a bag for his food.

“Stagnant?” Josie wondered.

“There’s a fresh trickle that comes down the wal ,” Dan explained. “As for where it goes, we guess it joins an underground river.

Selena quietly set down her saddle, grabbed her water skin and crept off toward the stream. She didn’t need to refil it. She just wanted the excuse to get away for a few minutes.

When the cool, refreshing water was just before her feet, she stopped and sighed. She’d never thought to ask where the water went either, and wondered rueful y how many other things she didn’t know because she was too busy trying to cope with the chal enges of her new lifestyle.

She heard the sound of approaching footsteps and somehow recognized them to be Jack’s.

“You’re trying to force a square peg into a round hole, you know?” he asked when he was near. Drawing up next to her at a safe distance, he cast her a sideways glance under his hat.

“If your talk was straight, I might not mind hearing so damn much of it,” she said languidly.

He chuckled and bent down to touch the water.

“I’m wounded. But it’s nothing I haven’t been told before,” he said, smiling down at the stream. “Somehow I think you understand me just fine.”

“Probably, but there’s no reason to worry you with my problems any more than I have. How about we leave it at that?”

“Sounds like a pretty boring proposition,” he told her, his dimples magnifying his playful expression. “I wish I could say you were a mystery, but I’l be honest. What’s going on with you is clearer than this stream here. I think you’re attached to Dan because you don’t know anything different.”

“You’re underestimating him,” she warned.

“How’s that?”

“Because if you weren’t, you’d be keeping your voice down.”

Jack grinned. “Either that or I’m not worried about the consequences.”

“Either way you’re underestimating him.”

Selena turned to face Jack and frowned. It was true that he was incredibly cavalier about Dan in general. She wondered what gave him his confidence.

“I hate to tel you something you already know, but you’re not compatible,” he went on.

“Maybe we’re not, but I enjoy being with him.”

Jack made a face and rubbed at the back of his neck. “I honestly can’t imagine why. Come on Selena, what are you doing with that guy? He takes himself so seriously it’s funny. I don’t know how you can stand him on a daily basis. Where’s the sense of humor? Hel , I’m not sure I’ve seen him smile, much less laugh. When’s the last time you did?”

Selena’s mouth had opened for a retort but his last question caught her off guard and nothing came out. The truth was that she’d only seen him laugh once. It was just a couple days ago, and she’d been tied to the bed at the time.

“It’s none of your business, Jack,” she final y answered, trying not to blush.

“Whether it’s my business or not, I know you want different kinds of lives. Gotta say that, personal y, I’m not impressed with him.”

“Wel I’m guessing he’s not impressed with you, either.”

“That’s a start,” Dan’s deep voice thrummed quietly from behind them.

Jack’s lack of surprise was … surprising. He didn’t look startled or concerned in the least as he turned his head to look over his shoulder.

“Wel , I won’t take it too personal y, Dan. I just assume you’re afraid I’l romance her out from under you, which is understandable.”

“I’m not afraid of that,” Dan answered, stepping closer so the three of them formed a triangle. “But it’s understandable for you to think I would be.”

“What
are
you afraid of?” Jack inquired.

“Chupacabra,” Dan answered.

Jack went stiff for just a second and then erupted with a howl of laughter.

“What the hel is that?” Selena asked, eyeing the two of them incredulously.

“A very dangerous animal that drains the blood of livestock,” Dan explained, looking impervious to the other man’s hysterics, which grew as he spoke. “Size of a smal bear.”

Jack doubled over and held his knees for support, interrupting Dan with the volume of his gales.

“Laugh al you like, but I know of ten Puerto Rican sheep that died horribly that would be pretty pissed about your attitude,” Dan admonished. With an almost invisible smirk, he disappeared in the shadows.

Selena blinked and hurried after him, leaving Jack there, wiping tears of laughter. She trotted to Dan’s side and gazed up at him quizzical y as they walked.

“What was that about?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he shrugged innocently.

“Nothing,” he shrugged innocently.

Selena scoffed. He’d probably overheard everything they’d said. She smiled as they drew nearer to their camp.

Dan could have reacted to Jack in any number of ways, but this was the last thing she expected. And there was something al uring about the fact that he clearly wasn’t worried about Jack’s advances.

Cal was already snoring loudly when they got back.