Desert Fire

by Marcia Lynn McClure

Malaina struggled to push herself away from him but he held her tightly. “Take it like I mean it, Malaina...not how it sounded,” he said frowning, and she stopped struggling as she felt his lips on her forehead.

  A warmth of desire passed through her as his mouth moved to her neck. She let her arms return his embrace and delighted at the feel of him against her. “I saved you for my ownself, you know,” he whispered just before he took her mouth roughly with his. The passion was even stronger than before. His kisses were almost uncomfortable at times with their forcefulness and desire.

  Jackson tried seven times to end their kisses. It took him eight before his self-control was finally in check. He held her head tightly against his chest once more before breaking the embrace and when he did, he smiled as he ran his thumb over her lips.

  “If there were ever gonna be a next time for this...which there won’t...I had better cut off my whiskers first. I done a job on that petal soft skin of yours.” The skin around her mouth did feel damaged. His whisker growth was very heavy. “I’m gonna see if Bill made it home.” And he turned and staggered out the front door.

  Malaina stood deeply depressed for several moments. She hadn’t seen Maggie peeking around the corner at them with a smile as broad as the Mississippi across her face.

  “Come on back, Malaina. Let’s get you warmed up,” Maggie called innocently.

  5

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Winter came and went without incident. Malaina found that Jackson was true to his word. He had seemingly forgotten her for anything but, perhaps, a sister now. Matthew and Mary had become a charming little couple and Malaina, being Mary’s confidant, knew that an engagement would soon be announced and was joyous about it. Baker was still comfortable in his solitude. Malaina wondered if he would simply forever mourn his long lost sweetheart. Maggie was cheerful and smiling all the time and Malaina would often catch her looking lovingly and a bit slyly at her.

  “What?” Malaina would ask on such occasions.

  “Oh nothin’, dear. Nothin’ at all,” Maggie would chuckle.

  Jackson was Jackson. Teasing most of the time, brooding some of the time, and grumpy once in a while. He never seemed to look twice at Malaina, whose dreams continued to be filled with him.

  It had been six months since Black Wolf had tried to steal Malaina. She had remembered very little else of her life before she had been found by Jackson and had settled down into family life.

  She still broke out in goose bumps whenever Jackson’s hand would accidentally brush her in passing, but she knew that he had no interest in her other than as a friend. Probably regarded her as less a chum than he did ol’ Bill. Sometimes at night the tears of hurt and aching to be in his arms again would flow steadily for an hour or so, but she made it through each time.

  One morning in early May, Malaina was in the kitchen with a basket of strawberries to be made into jam. She was shamelessly spying on Matthew and Mary who were out by the north fence wrapped in a loving embrace. A grin spread across her face as she peered out the kitchen window and snipped strawberry stems.

  “Didn’t know you was a ‘peepin’ tom,’ sweetheart.” She jumped guiltily as Jackson chuckled behind her.

  “Hush!” she shushed him giggling. “They’re so cute,” she said, smiling and returning to her spying.

  He came and stood beside her, peering out the window. “They oughta be...after all your matchmakin’ efforts,” he chuckled, and her smile faded when he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek as he stole a strawberry.

  She turned around to set a bowl of stemmed berries on the table and noticed that blood was saturating a place on the thigh of his pants.

  “Is that yours?” she asked irritatedly.

  “What?” he asked in return.

  “The blood on your pants. Is that yours?” She stood with her hands on her hips in a very scolding and rather maternal manner.

  “Well, of course it’s mine. You ain’t been in any trouble lately,” he said, starting out the door.

  Malaina stepped in front of him to stop his escape. “Well, drop ‘em and let’s get it cleaned up before your mama gets back from the berry patch. She’ll tan your hide if you’ve hurt yourself breaking another horse.”

  In the previous months Malaina had developed a cast iron stomach when it came to injuries, blood and wounds. The McCall boys were covered in cuts and bruises more often than not.

  “Forget about it, Malaina. It’s a scratch,” he said, trying to move past her.

  “Jackson! It’ll get infected. You probably cut it on something rusty as well.” She innocently reached forward and unfastened his pants.

  “Wait a minute! You ain’t my mama!” he said, pushing her away.

  “Now, Jackson,” she ordered. “Do you want me to handle this one, or would you rather bear your mama’s wrath about it?”

  After considering the question for a split second, Jackson stepped out of his pants, backed up and planted himself on the table.

  “Eeewww!” Malaina whined with a grimace as she inspected the wound through the tear in his flannels. “How did you do this one?” she asked as she saturated a cloth in the water that was boiling jam jars on the stove.

  “I’m breakin’ that new stallion we got. He’s purty mean, that one. He threw me and I caught it on a broken fence post...which wouldn’t even have been there if Matthew weren’t so dang busy sparkin’ Mary all the time.”

  Malaina giggled. “Oh, you’re just jealous ‘cause he’s smooching with a girl and you’re out smooching with another horse.”

  “I ain’t jealous, Malaina. Besides, he can’t even do a proper job of it. I need to teach that boy a thing or two yet.”

  Malaina rinsed the blood out of the cloth into the sink and wet it again. “Ha! Quit patting yourself on the back! He’s a wonderful, sensitive man. And besides, I’ve seen them a lot more stuck together than that. It’s just daytime and out in the open that’s all. I think it’s wonderful.” She inspected the wound again. “Hmmm. A splinter I think.” She used her fingernails to pull it out.

  “Whatever happened to that gentle touch you used to have?” he asked.

  “Don’t be a baby. I swear! You get shot by arrows and bullets and it’s no big deal...then you go on and on, whining about a little sticker.”

  “Well, now this is cute!” Baker chuckled, coming through the back door. “You better hurry up, Malaina. Mama’s done pickin’.”

  Malaina quickly bandaged the wound. But not quickly enough. Maggie stepped through the back door in time to see Jackson pulling up his pants.

  “Ah ha! Caught you with your pants down, I see,” she laughed as the three guilty faces turned on her. “How bad is it, son?”

  “It’s just a scratch,” Jackson said. “Mama, teach this girl some manners,” he said, pointing to Malaina. “She’s been spyin’ on Matthew and Mary again.”

  Maggie chuckled and Malaina stuck her tongue out at him in a childish gesture. “Well, maybe she just needs some sparkin’ of her own! What do you think?” Maggie teased and didn’t miss the look that quickly passed between Jackson and Malaina.

  “Well, I oughta be the one to take care of that,” Baker said, gathering Malaina into his arms. “What do you say, darlin’? Give us a kiss,” he teased, puckering up his lips and trying to kiss her as she giggled and moved her head away.

  “Now stop that Baker. We’ve got berries to do up,” Maggie said. She had noticed that Jackson’s smile retreated immediately the minute Baker had touched Malaina. She saw his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths even now.

  “No more cuts today, Jackson. My stomach can only tolerate one a day,” Malaina said as she returned to the berries.

  But Jackson simply turned and left the house, slamming the door behind him. Malaina didn’t see Baker wink at his mother who winked in return.

  

  Maggie and Malaina put up strawberry preserves and jam for the rest of the morning. Mary helped and they all talked about wed
ding type things.

  “Oh Mary! I can’t wait! It’s been so long since I’ve been to a wedding,” Malaina sighed.

  “He hasn’t officially asked me yet, Malaina. Maybe he won’t,” Mary said frowning.

  “Of course he will,” Maggie assured.

  It was suppertime when Jackson opened the kitchen door, stepped in and stood looking at them like the grim reaper.

  “What is it, boy?” Maggie asked, drying her hands on her apron.

  “There’s a man in town. Collin Mereaux. From Louisiana,” he said.

  Malaina dropped the jar of jam she had been holding and put her hands over her mouth. She began walking backwards, shaking her head and muttering, “No! Please! No!” She cried out and her hands pressed against her temples as an excruciating headache began to pound in her brain. The others watched as she crumpled to the floor, sobbing.

  “Who is he, Malaina?” Jackson asked in an angry, commanding voice. “I asked you a question!” he yelled.

  “Jackson!” Maggie scolded. “Just wait!” She went to where Malaina now lay on the floor crying. “Honey, what is it?” she asked in a soothing voice. “You’ve got to tell us what you remember.”

  But the memories were flooding back so painfully and so fast that it was several minutes before she could speak. When she did, she sat up and spoke directly to Jackson. “He owns me,” she squeaked out.

  “What are you talking about?” Jackson growled angrily.

  The memories of her previous life in Louisiana and how she came to be out in the middle of the wilderness were restored to Malaina’s conscious. Horrifyingly restored!

  “He owns me. I mean...my stepfather sold me to him when my mother died last June. He gave my stepfather an old plantation that he owned and my stepfather turned me over to him in exchange. I don’t even know if he intended to marry me...but I was to be his to do with as he would.”

  Baker and Matthew had since entered the room and everyone stood stunned.

  “You mean you’re a...” Matthew started, but he broke off as he saw defiance cross her face.

  Malaina stood up and slowly walked over to him. “If it were anyone but you, Matthew, I’d slap your face for asking that,” she said, holding her head up and trying to stop the tears of hurt. She looked around the room at everyone staring at her. “Is that what you all think of me?” she cried and began to shake.

  “No, sweet thing. Of course not!” Maggie said, raising a hand to brush her cheek. Malaina stepped back and out of her reach.

  “You do! All of you! You think I’m a...it’s not true! I ran away! I would rather have died than...you don’t understand! They still fight the war down there! They still think anyone can be sold for the right price!” She felt as if she would vomit. “He even has a so-called legal paper to prove it. He owns me and I ran away.”

  Everyone in the room was silent for a few moments and Malaina looked from one to the other.

  “Nobody owns anybody, Malaina,” Baker said at last.

  She giggled nervously. “Maybe not here. But there they do.”

  “Nowhere, Malaina. Not in the United States,” Matthew added.

  Malaina felt as if she might faint. It was hard to breath. Baker stepped forward to offer her support.

  “Don’t touch me!” She looked at Matthew. “How could you believe I could be capable of such a life style?” Mary and Maggie were in tears and Jackson stood staring at her.

  “I didn’t mean what you thought, Malaina. I wasn’t suggestin’ that you worked in a...in a...brothel or nothin’ like that. I thought maybe you had slave ancestry and that’s why he was huntin’ you down.”

  Jackson stood stiff and angry. “She’s from the South. Either way it’s an insult, little brother,” he growled.

  “That’s not true!” she cried. “I don’t feel that way. I’ve no slave ancestry...but if I did, I wouldn’t be ashamed of it.” Baker reached for her again.

  “Don’t!” she cried. Mary burst into sobbing.

  Maggie talked quietly. “Malaina, we love you! You’re ours. We’re you’re family! Please, let us help you.”

  Malaina shook her head furiously. “No. He’ll kill you. All of you. He’s an evil, evil man.” She began looking around frantically. “I’ll have to leave! Right now.” Then her eyes locked on Jackson. “Please, Jackson. Lend me some money. Help me get away where he won’t find me. I beg you.”

  He looked down into her frightened, pleading face. Then he quickly grabbed her and held her tightly as she struggled.

  “Mama, keep her here. I don’t care if you have to tie her up! Do you hear me?” Maggie nodded obediently. “Baker, run on out to the barn and saddle up a horse. I want you to ride back to town with me. Matthew...go over to Preacher Pete’s house, tell him that if anyone asks...well, he’s to say he married me and Malaina last month in private. Get goin’! Keep her here, Mama.” And Jackson thrust Malaina into his mother’s arms as he started out the door.

  “No! Jackson! Don’t go! He’ll kill you! Please!” Malaina begged through her river of tears.

  “Nobody kills me, Malaina. Especially when you’re concerned. Calm her down, Mama. She’s half outta her mind.” And he left.

  “Mrs. McCall! You have to stop him! You don’t know Collin. Please,” the girl begged, slipping to the floor in a near faint. She was unconscious for only a few moments and was a little more rational when she came to.

  “There now, sweet pea. You’re fine and everythin’ will work out,” Maggie cooed.

  “Mrs. McCall, please...you don’t know this man,” Malaina pleaded. “Jackson is overconfident...to say the least. He’ll be killed!”

  Maggie spoke sharply. “Get control of yourself, Malaina. First of all, in this family...everybody’s problems concern everybody. Second...Jackson talks a big game because he’s capable of it. Don’t you know that by now?”

  Malaina nodded. She did know it. She had no doubt that face-to-face Collin was no threat to Jackson. But Collin Mereaux was an evil, vile, corrupt, and yet spineless man who always traveled with his personal thugs. She worried, for Jackson could well find himself facing ten men to his one.

  Maggie went on, “We’ll wait here. The boys will take care of this.”

  So, they waited. The three women sat together in ominous silence as the minutes passed. The clock on the mantel numbered those long, tedious mintues and eventually struck the hour. Malaina closed her beautiful eyes in unspoken prayer as the clock marked yet another hour.

  And then, as if the clock’s striking was to summon a dreadful premonition, their hearts leapt at the sound of approaching riders.

  Malaina sprinted out the door. “Jackson! What’s going on?” There was no answer and her lovely hands gripped the porch railing tightly for support as she saw before her the heinous Collin Mereaux mounted on a violent black stallion kicking at the dirt and snorting angrily as his master reined him to a halt. “Collin,” she gasped, feeling as if someone had drained the lifeblood from her.

  How could she have possibly forgotten this man? He was tall, not unusually handsome like Jackson, but considered very handsome just the same. Black hair, black eyes, white teeth and wicked smile. And now he was before her with at least four other men behind him.

  “Yes, darling. So, you’ve regained your precious memory. We had been informed that it was lost for some time,” he said mockingly.

  As his repulsively familiar voice echoed in her brain she ordered, “Go away, Collin,” and hoped the fear in her intonation wasn’t too apparent.

  “Oh, but, I’ve come to rescue you, my beauty.” He dismounted and Malaina resisted the urge to step back.

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to leave, sir. You’re not welcome here,” Maggie said, stepping through the door to stand next to Malaina.

  Collin laughed. “Well, I’m certain that is an understatement, ma’am.”

  As Malaina looked then to Maggie, complete and absolute understanding sparked within her bosom. Maggie loved her! She loved
her as she would her own daughter. A moment before she had appeared at her side, Malaina had contemplated conceding defeat to Collin, thereby preserving each precious life in the McCall family. But now she knew that she could never endure such an existence. Death would be more tolerable an anticipation. She further knew that if she were to be taken by him, the pain inflicted upon this uniquely brave and beautiful woman would be too cruelly administered. Baker and Matthew were both willing to protect her with their lives as they would, no doubt, their own sister, had they been blessed with one. And Jackson...yes, Jackson. Jackson had proven time and again that he would forfeit his own life to preserve hers. She thought of him now, her champion, her dream lover. She could not leave him. Better to perish and pass to the next life than to leave him, knowing she would have to endure the touch of another man.

  “We’re not alone here, Collin,” Malaina stated bravely.

  “Hmmm. Yes. So I hear,” he mumbled, moving closer to them.

  Malaina still stood her ground. The severe shock that the horrible memories rushing back had left was gone and she was herself, in control again. Barely. He approached until he stood directly before her. Then he reached out and touched her cheek. She pulled away, sickened.

  “I’ve been searching for so long, darling. Think how it must be for me...anticipating having such a beauty as you for my own...and then...poof...you’re gone.” He reached to touch her again. Malaina stepped back out of his reach. “How very rude and quite unbecoming, darling. After all, I’ve come to take you home,” Collin chuckled.

  “You know that I won’t go with you, Collin. And I’ve friends now to protect me,” Malaina stated flatly, though she felt everything within her quivering with fear. Still she would stand stalwart. Nothing could tear her from her course.

  “I would suggest that you leave our property at once, mister. And for your own well bein’...I wouldn’t be tryin’ to bother my son’s wife again,” Maggie added boldly.

  Collin sneered and said, “Don’t tell me you’ve gone and married one of these...these...farmers, Malaina?”