All the more reason to catch up with those horrible thieves...and most likely murderers, since who else would have killed Pierce?
At least she believed they were still going the right way. She’d checked the GPS on her phone before they got back on their horses and headed in the same direction they’d been going before the horrible interruption they’d just experienced. Sure enough, the cluster of small red dots was ahead of them—still way ahead of them and continuing to move, but maybe not as fast as before if Melody was interpreting correctly. And they didn’t seem to have changed course. No further small dots on their own, fortunately.
But who knew what would happen next? More animal killings?
More murders?
That had now been several hours ago. After their delay, they only had another hour or so before they’d have to stop because of darkness.
“You doing okay?” Casey asked from beside her.
“Yes,” she said, then felt herself grimace. “And no. I’m getting really tired of this outing.” Well, not entirely. She was enjoying his company. But still—“I want answers. Results. Saving those poor cattle out there and letting you arrest the damn people who—who killed...”
She knew she was about to cry again, and so she forced her gaze to go forward without finishing her sentence.
“I’m so sorry, Melody,” Casey said, his tone bleak enough that she had to look at him. “I should have insisted from the first that only people from my department should be out here doing this. We’d have found a way to deal with crossing the land even without knowing much about the terrain. The GPS signal should have been enough.”
“No!” Melody exclaimed, then repeated more softly, “No. That’s not what I’m trying to say. You didn’t know Pierce was coming. None of us did. And having one of the hands from OverHerd officially along with you was the best way to do this. I’m glad I was the one chosen. It’s just that...well, I understood the possibility of finding some of the cattle injured or even killed under these circumstances. But another one of the ranch hands? I hadn’t considered that. And what if Pierce had been the one to accompany you instead? He certainly knew this terrain as well as I do, probably better. I know he had lots more responsibilities at the ranch he needed to tend to, so in some ways it made sense for me to go along, but maybe he’d still be alive if—”
“I understand why you’re doing this,” Casey interrupted. “You’re trying to figure out how to deal with what happened, but coming up with a way to blame yourself won’t work. It won’t bring Pierce back, or even Addie the cow. Best thing we can do is to continue along here, get to the herd and deal with the bad guys, and the cattle, in the best way possible once we recognize what that is.”
“You’re right.” Melody looked across the short distance between their mounts, appreciating Casey’s attempt to make her feel better. It actually helped, at least a little.
And she was determined to ensure, in whatever way she could, that they were successful in catching the rustlers. And bringing them to justice for killing Pierce. That would also make them pay for what they did to Addie.
“Come on,” she said. “Let’s step up the pace a bit more, okay? I’m beginning to see some color on the clouds at the horizon and the sky’s not as bright as it was before. Sunset’s getting close.”
“You’re right, as I gather you usually are. So—” He suddenly pressed his heels against Witchy’s side, and his horse sped up.
“Let’s go, Cal,” she said and did the same thing.
But she would only allow it for about twenty minutes. She didn’t want the horses to get too tired or injure themselves.
They’d have an even bigger day tomorrow, she figured. Their pace would be like this, on and off, for much more of the day.
Would they finally catch up with the rustlers?
Oh, yes, she told herself, realizing she might not be realistic. But she’d do all she could to ensure that came true. It was certainly about time.
When she finally started slowing down Cal and calling to Casey to do the same with Witchy, they’d fortunately reached another area where the vast, rolling pasture was broken up with patches of underbrush as well as thick, tall bushes. Plus there was a pond nearby with a small creek flowing through it, which would be great for the horses and for their own preparations and ablutions that night.
The main problem would be the same anywhere around here. The air was already growing chilly and would only get colder.
But things could be worse. The clouds in the sky were few and did not appear dark. That was one thing that had worked in their favor these days and nights—no rain.
“How’s this?” she asked Casey, waving her arm to encompass the area she was contemplating.
“Looks good to me,” he said. “It’ll be only a short while ’til the sun’s completely down. Let’s get ready...and plan to leave here as early in the morning as possible.”
“Great,” Melody said and directed Cal, who was now just walking, toward an open spot that was clear in the middle of some areas decorated with underbrush. It was large enough that they could attach the horses right there and also put up their tent for some semblance of cover.
Hard to think it was nearly time for bed, getting their tent—their single tent—set up so they would rest together again that night, but yes, they needed to get to sleep fast so they could get as early a start as possible in the morning.
They began what Melody now considered their routine. Would this be the last night for it? She hoped so, despite how she had come to enjoy it—performing silly, small chores alongside her comrade in this chase.
And she forced herself not to consider how much she would miss it—and him—when they were finally successful.
In a short while, they’d dismounted from their horses, unsaddled them, removed the bits from their mouths, and walked them to the pond, tying them there. Then Casey and she set up their small tent nearby.
By the time they’d taken care of themselves, filtered some water for drinking by the horses and them and made paltry attempts at bathing—clothes on, of course, although with lifting and unbuttoning and replacing a lot of the time—the sky was nearly dark. And despite herself, Melody had tried peeking at Casey but hadn’t seen anything exciting.
Melody checked again on the horses and figured that where they were currently tethered should work for the night and would allow them to drink from the containers of filtered water at their leisure. She again gave them some of the grain she had brought, although they shouldn’t be hungry considering the amount of time they’d been tied up at the grassy area where... Melody moved her mind away from that as much as she could and let herself dwell on the other times Casey and she had slowed down or stopped to allow the horses to rest—and eat—a bit.
She looked around and, not seeing Casey, figured he was inside the tent. Glancing at it, she saw the fabric on the top moving a little, confirming her presumption.
Another night was coming up when she’d be alone with Casey. Would they snuggle together to stay warm as they had last night? She hoped so.
She could use a little human contact for other reasons, too, after this very difficult day.
Particularly with this man, who was becoming an important part of her life.
For now, she assured herself. Just for now.
In a moment she, too, had bent over and made her way inside the tent. She kneeled on the dirt floor, although one of the sleeping bags was already spread out on the ground not far away.
Casey had also turned on the lanterns.
“Ready to eat?” she asked, walking forward on her knees to where the saddlebags rested on the ground to her left.
“Always,” Casey said. “I’ll be glad when I can take you to a nice restaurant for a salad and a real meal.”
“Or I’ll take you,” Melody said. And how enjoyable would that be? Going on a date with this man
might not be appropriate, but she felt sure it would be fun. “After all, your assignment now may be to chase bad guys, but it’s also to help out our town selectman. We can let him treat.”
She watched a shadowed grin appear on Casey’s handsome, somewhat bearded face and had to smile back.
“Sounds good to me,” he said. “I guess we can order some pretty tasty steaks at his expense, right?”
“Right.”
She wasn’t sure what Clarence would think of something like that, but figured that if—when—Casey and she returned to Cactus Creek after successfully tracking down and apprehending the bad guys and, even more importantly, bringing back the remaining valuable cattle, her boss wouldn’t blink an eye at granting them some kind of reward. A good dinner should surely be on the agenda.
But for the time being, they again pulled out the bottles of filtered water for that evening as well as the standard fare of dried fruit, carrots and celery, trail mix, energy bars and some beef jerky, which they hadn’t snacked on much since they hadn’t brought a lot of it.
They both sat on opposite ends of the sleeping bag that was stretched out beneath them. Melody reached for something to say. They’d probably exhausted talking about their pasts. Maybe their hopes for the future...besides capturing the rustlers and saving the cattle?
Actually, she was willing to talk about nearly anything, wanted to talk about nearly anything—except what had happened that day.
“So,” Casey said, waving a half-eaten energy bar in the air. “Once we’re finally through with all this, I’ll visit you on your ranch again, but even more important, I’d like you to come see me at the sheriff’s department. I’ll want to show my fellow deputies who they could have been helping if they’d been the ones to volunteer for this little task.”
Interesting. Casey assumed they would see one another again after they’d completed their task together. Melody had begun to hope for it but doubted it would happen. But if Casey wanted it, too?
“Did you volunteer for ‘this little task’?” Melody asked, to keep the conversation going appropriately. She had gotten the impression that the sheriff had pressed him into service for this assignment, without any choice. But right now, she figured that Casey was searching for a noncontroversial, nonemotional topic for them to talk about, and she appreciated it.
“Well, no,” he replied, “but I would have, if I’d known someone like you would be my contact out here. And, hey, we’re about to spend our third night together.”
Which made Melody laugh...just a little. She also, unsurprisingly, thought about what he’d said, what he’d reminded her about unnecessarily.
She was about to spend yet another night with Casey, one where they hopefully would snuggle again for warmth.
But she had a feeling it wouldn’t be easy to stay remote from him again. Still. Not after everything that had occurred that day.
Having someone to hold her had never sounded better. But more? She recognized that having his hard body against her tonight might be enough to get her to try to forget all the bad things in exchange for something special.
Which she recognized was impossible. Touching him, making love with him, was absolutely prohibited. She couldn’t let her sorrow toss her into something she definitely didn’t want.
Or maybe, if she acknowledged it to herself, she did want...too much. But she definitely didn’t want a relationship with another man. Not so soon after her divorce. So why even consider getting physical?
Except...well, maybe it would in some way help her deal with that sorrow.
“Look, Melody.” Casey inched closer and took her hands into his. “I just want to...well, apologize in a way, even though there was nothing I could do to prevent what happened today. But I assume you and Pierce were pretty close. And—”
She glanced into Casey’s wonderful, sympathetic blue eyes, and didn’t—couldn’t—look away. “In a way, yes—as mentor-protégée, I guess, though I already knew a lot about ranching before I came here. But Pierce was the main hand here to teach me about this particular ranch. We became good buddies.”
“So I’m sure what happened to him was even harder for you than if he’d simply been a fellow ranch hand you worked with now and then.”
Casey’s gaze changed slightly—was it hardening? Questioning? Was he making the wrong assumption? Maybe he was allowing himself to believe that she and Pierce had some kind of romantic relationship, which would stop anything from potentially occurring between them.
But she wouldn’t imply a relationship that didn’t exist. Casey and she had to have only truth between them, she told herself.
Especially if the untruth somehow flipped their rapport into distance.
Her voice, when she responded, was soft and raspy, but she continued to look straight into Casey’s eyes. “To me, Pierce was just another ranch hand—a special one, sure, and one whose help I appreciated. But I’d have felt this bad if the same thing happened to any of my coworkers. Our connection is always special, but it’s all wrapped up in making sure the cattle are treated as well as possible.”
“Which is why you were so upset about finding that dead cow,” Casey acknowledged.
“Exactly. It’s kind of a strange bond among all of the ranch hands and to some degree the animals we care for. I don’t know what it’s like for you as a sheriff’s deputy, but maybe you can relate what I feel to losing another peace officer you knew, or maybe a victim you tried to help.” She couldn’t help hesitating. “That could be an exaggeration, I know. But—”
The expression on his face changed again, this time to what appeared to be even greater sympathy. “Exaggeration or not, I get it,” he said, and suddenly he moved closer so there was no longer any gap between them.
They sat for an instant facing each other, close up. And then...well, Melody wasn’t sure which of them reached out first, but suddenly they were kneeling again, in each other’s arms, tightly, sensually, as their lips met in a kiss that was far more than any sympathetic gesture between friends who’d suffered difficult circumstances together.
Casey’s mouth was hot and searching on hers, and Melody couldn’t help responding in kind, wanting to experience all she could by this wonderful kiss.
But their position on the sleeping bag, as they pushed up against one another, felt awkward.
And Melody knew just what to do about it.
Gently but firmly, keeping her arms around Casey, she pulled him down so they were both lying on top of that sleeping bag, still kissing heatedly.
She enjoyed the feel of his growing beard against her skin. And in moments their tongues were playing an exploratory touching game that made Melody’s insides begin to sizzle, then burn when one of Casey’s hands moved down her back and grasped her butt.
“Oh,” she gasped, even as her own hands began to move, partly by design and partly because, instinctively, she wanted—needed—to touch him as sensuously as he was touching her.
And that desire was triggered even more when, as they drew closer, she felt a hardness press into her stomach, a sexual stimulus sparked by her recognizing his erection but wanting to feel it more.
Maybe even see it.
But before she could pull away to reach between them, she felt Casey tugging gently at the back of her jeans. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you warm,” he said, barely moving his mouth away from hers.
She couldn’t help smiling a little. “And I’ll keep you warm,” she said. “No—hot.”
For she realized then, appropriate or not, what they were about to do.
In moments, they were both nude. The air was chilly around them, but at least there was no breeze inside the tent. And they remained so close to one another, first touching bared skin, then reaching for the other’s most sensitive parts.
Hardly aware of where they were or anything else except that she was with Casey, a
nd what she’d been wanting without allowing herself to acknowledge it seemed about to occur.
Casey caressed Melody’s breasts first and her nipples hardened beneath his fingers. She gasped and used the stimulus to move her own hands to his most sexy places, first his now-nude butt, then around to his erection.
She inhaled with more than a gasp at the feel of its length, its hardness, beneath her fingers. As he made a noise that sounded like the most sensuous moan she had ever heard, she stroked him with a pumping motion that imitated what she wanted him to do...within her.
Instead, she almost shouted in frustration as he pulled away, rolling over so his back was to her and he faced his saddlebag. What? He was hungry for food again now rather than—
But he soon turned back, something in his hand.
A condom.
He’d anticipated this? Or was it just another way this accomplished deputy sheriff stayed prepared for anything?
Instead of shouting, she smiled again. “Let me,” she said as she reached for it, then pulled away the wrapping. Unrolling the condom upon his amazingly hard length turned her on as much as anything she had ever experienced.
Until, moments later, he was on top of her, kissing, sucking her breasts...and then he reached below to caress her most sensitive parts. “Oh, Casey,” she moaned, then gasped again as he moved again and carefully but insistently pressed himself inside her.
She could hardly think during the next...how long was it? Hours? Moments? She felt no sense of time, only touching and heat and desire as Casey’s movements increased in speed and intensity...until his body stopped moving and he moaned.
Even as she felt herself come, too.
And as Melody soon lay there beside Casey, still enjoying his closeness, she wondered how their working together would be over the next day or two.
She felt certain nothing between them would ever be the same again.
Chapter 13
Casey felt invigorated as he lay there beside Melody, breathing hard, holding her tightly against his bare skin. He wondered whether they could enjoy each other even more tonight, just in case this was their last night together. Or even if it wasn’t.
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