Lady Deception

by Bobbi Smith

  "Sister Mary." Luke stopped what he was doing and faced her, his expression hard. "You can preach all you like, but you're going to be wasting your breath on me. I gave up asking God for help a long time ago. He didn't help me then, and I see no reason why he might have changed his mind in the passing years. So believe me when I tell you I'm not worth saving."

  "You can't mean that! Everyone has good points. Sometimes, like with you, it's just more difficult to find them. But don't worry, I'll find yours. I mean, look what you did for me, bringing me here. I'm sure you thought at the time you were performing a good deed. Your heart was in the right place no matter how much you'd like to deny it," she finished with firm conviction.

  "I'm beginning to regret that decision more and more with each passing minute."

  "All right, Luke. I shall be like the grain of sand in an oyster. I shall test you and test you until I have changed you into a valuable pearl."

  At his thunderous look, she knew she had pushed him as far as she could right then. It was time to change the subject.

  "I'm hungry," she admitted. "I managed to get some coffee, but Juana told me there would be nothing to eat until later."

  Luke looked surprised. Whenever he'd wanted anything to eat, Juana had always been more than happy to oblige. "Come on, let's go see what I can find for you."

  "Thank you."

  He finished up his horse, and they started walking back toward the village.

  "It's a rule around here that everyone helps out. You're going to have to do some chores in camp in order to earn your keep."

  "Of course, I'll be more than happy to conduct services for those who want to come."

  "I'm not sure your rabble-rousing will earn you any friends or any meals. If you're smart, you'll keep quiet and stay out of everyone's way. A woman should be seen and not heard."

  "I thought that was children."

  "It applies to you, too," he insisted as they reached his abode. "I'll be back in a little while."

  So dismissed, Cody turned without another word and went inside. It appeared she was being submissive by doing his bidding, but the truth was, she'd eyed the surrounding terrain and knew the lay of the land perfectly now. There was no back exit. The only way in and out of the camp was through the main entrance. As steep as the canyon walls were, if a lawman tried to raid the place, he and his men would be easy targets for the guards.

  Cody wandered around inside for a little while, then went outside and sat down in the shade of the cabin. It was a good vantage point, for she could keep an eye on most of the camp from there. She needed to commit to memory the location of all the houses and the number of people there, too. Every detail was important. It might prove fatal to dismiss something as unimportant.

  Luke returned a short time later with a tortilla filled with some unidentified meat. Cody thought about questioning him as to the contents, and then told herself she was better off not knowing. Thanks to Luke she wouldn't starve to death-at least not today.

  "Where are Sully and the others?" she asked, knowing from Gene that they'd ridden out, but not knowing where they'd gone.

  "They're out of camp for a few days," Luke replied, offering no information.

  She smiled. "I'm glad they're gone, but why didn't you go with them?"

  "Trying to get rid of me, are you? I stayed behind to take care of you," he lied, frustrated that the others were probably meeting with El Diablo right then, and he wasn't with them.

  "Don't stay here on my account. In fact, since Sully's gone, just give me a horse and I'll be on my way. There's no need for you to protect me anymore."

  Luke glanced at her, wondering at her naivete. She might be safe from Sully right now, but who knew what other dangers lurked in this camp? He'd already realized he'd made a mistake in bringing her here, but there had been nothing else he could do at the time. Now he wasn't sure how to get rid of her.

  Turning her loose sounded like a great idea, but to do that he'd have to take her back into town, and he didn't want to take the chance of missing El Diablo. The leader just might ride back into camp with the others when they returned, and he had to be there. He had to convince them that he was one of them. He hadn't won anyone's complete trust yet, and if he let her go too soon, they might wonder about him.

  "I'll let you go, but all in good time."

  "When exactly is `all in good time'?"

  "When I get tired of you! I talked to Juana about you, and from now on, you can earn your keep working for her."

  Cody ground her teeth in frustration, but said nothing. She hated the drudgery of women's work. It was dull, boring, and the main reason she'd asked her father to teach her how to use a gun when she'd been eight years old. The boys always had more fun than the girls. Who wanted to be cleaning house and cooking meals when they could be out riding or hunting or shooting?

  "I'll do whatever you think is necessary, but I cannot in good conscience give up my vocation," she said seriously.

  "I won't be responsible for how anyone reacts to you. These are not your ordinary townspeople. The women are more than likely prostitutes and the men-"

  "Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, and she was saved," Cody pronounced, slightly offended by his attitude. "Besides, a woman would not be able to ply her degrading trade were it not for a man willing to pay for it."

  "And the men are far worse," he concluded, trying to ignore her.

  "Yourself included?"

  "Myself included."

  "Then I shall consider what time I have here a challenge to be met with faith and good works."

  Luke mentally groaned at her ever-present good spirits. He gave up trying to reason with her. As long as Sully was away she'd be safe. He'd just have to keep an eye on her.

  "Juana said you can help with the evening meal."

  "How kind of her."

  "You want to eat, don't you?" He gave her a telling look. "If you don't like cooking, there are other ways you could earn your keep, you know."

  "I'll be glad to help her cook," she answered quickly, blushing at his insinuation.

  "I thought you might."

  Cody left him then, heading for Juana's cabin. The other woman was not overly pleased to see her.

  "I see you have come to help."

  "I'll be glad to do whatever you want me to do, good sister."

  "I am not your sister."

  "In the eyes of God, we are all brothers and sisters."

  "In the eyes of God we all gotta eat. Here, stir this while I see to other things." She handed Cody a large ladle and pointed toward the kettle of boiling stew over the campfire. "I'll be back."

  Juana turned her back and walked away. Cody stared down at that which would ultimately be their dinner. It didn't look too appetizing, but she was coming to realize that in this place one couldn't be choosy. She kept stirring.

  Juana was glad to be away from the other woman. She tried to act casual as she crossed the encampment and sought Luke out.

  "Thank you for sending the preacher woman to help. I have already put her to work," she said as she stood in the doorway of his cabin watching him as he sat at the table cleaning his gun.

  "Good. She was eager to help in any way she could," Luke said, concentrating on his revolver.

  "Why did you bring her here?" Juana asked, her dark-eyed gaze upon Luke, visually caressing his broad, powerful shoulders and the hard line of his jaw, darkened now by the shadow of his beard's growth. A hunger grew within her. She watched as he worked on the gun; she could well imagine those same strong hands touching her. The thought excited her. She'd wanted him ever since he'd joined the gang, and now was the time to make her move on him. With Sully and the others gone, she could devote herself completely to pleasing him.

  Luke glanced up at her question, surprised for a moment, until he saw the look in her eyes. He hadn't paid much attention to Juana since he'd been in camp. He knew she satisfied the other men when they wanted a woman, but he was not in the market for that k
ind of satisfying. Wanting to end her desire for him right away, he answered, "I brought her here because I wanted her."

  Juana had started forward, wanting to touch him, wanting to feel him deep within her, but at his words she stopped. "She is your woman then?"

  "She is."

  "She satisfies you?"

  Luke heard the disbelief in her voice and recognized her jealousy. "That is none of your business."

  "Ah, but I could make you my business." She refused to be put off. "I can make you happier than she can."

  "How do you know? She makes me very happy."

  "She does not look like the kind of woman who could please you."

  "There is more to Sister Mary than meets the eye. She is all the woman I'll ever need." Even as he said it, though, Luke wondered for a moment what kind of woman could please him. He glanced out the door at Sister Mary. She was a plain woman, totally dedicated to her calling, unconcerned with things of the flesh. Yet he had just told the lusty Juana that the preacher satisfied him.

  "I do not believe you, Luke Majors," Juana said in a throaty, seductive voice. "She looks like an old prude. I do not think she knows the first thing about pleasing a man,"

  Luke smiled enigmatically. He was going to have to do something with his preacher woman to convince Juana that he wasn't lying. He'd been afraid that he'd be challenged on his desire for her, and now he would have to prove it. "There is more to making some men happy than just satisfying their carnal urges, Juana. Sister Mary may not be what most of the men want in the way of a woman, but she's just what I need."

  Juana gave a snort of disbelief. "I could show you what you really need," she offered silkily, moving closer.

  She wanted to sit on his lap, to kiss him and arouse him until she'd wiped the other woman from his mind. She stood before him, then leaned forward, putting her hands on his shoulders. The scoop neckline of her blouse gapped and offered him a full view of her breasts. They were heavy and lush. It was a ploy that always worked with men, and she eagerly anticipated Luke's reaction. She expected him to grab her and take her right then. The thought excited her.

  Luke could feel the heat of her desire for him. She was not an unattractive woman, and he knew she was his for the taking, but he was not about to touch her. If he did, she would never believe that Sister Mary was his woman. "I appreciate the thought, but like I said, I have all the woman I need."

  He rose in a leisurely move, evading her grasping hands, and walked away from her. He knew she followed him outside and was watching and he was glad. He wanted to discourage her once and for all.

  Cody saw Luke coming toward her and wondered what he wanted. She had seen Juana go into the cabin; now, a few short minutes later, he had come out. The other woman was standing just outside the cabin door watching him. Cody gave him a questioning look as he drew near.

  "Is something wrong? Juana doesn't look too happy."

  "She's angry all right, but that's good."

  "It is?"

  "If you want to stay alive, go along with what I'm about to do," he said in a low voice.

  "Are you threatening me?"

  He didn't answer, but instead took her in his arms and kissed her. His mouth claimed hers in a hot, demanding exchange.

  Cody was shocked, and she struggled against him. Never in her wildest imaginings had she conceived that Luke would do something like this, and right here in front of everybody! He had told her he wasn't attracted to her, that he wasn't interested in her, that she was safe with him. And now...?

  "What are you doing?" she demanded when the kiss ended.

  "Juana's watching. She thinks you're my woman. For once in your life, be quiet and don't argue," he ordered as he swept her up in his arms.

  To the others in camp, his expression was that of a man in passion's grip, yet Cody could see the warning in his gaze. The ladle she'd been holding fell from her hand as she looped her arms around his neck. This was crazy! It was broad daylight! They were standing in the middle of the camp! Everyone could see them! Luke could see all the questions in the depths of her green eyes, and he muttered under his breath, "Just kiss me."

  "But-" she started to argue again.

  "Please," he whispered just as his lips sought hers.

  His mouth moved over hers in a persuasive assault, and suddenly Cody wasn't thinking about fighting him anymore. She told herself it was because Juana was watching and she had to make the embrace look good. She told herself it was to convince the other woman that she was Luke's. She told herself to act as if she were enjoying his kiss, but, in truth, there was no acting involved. Luke's kiss was the most magnificent one she'd ever had in her life. She'd been kissed by several young men who'd attempted to court her over the last few years, but none of their embraces had made her feel like this.

  A small, involuntary sigh that was almost a groan escaped her, and at the sound, she could feel Luke tense. Then suddenly his lips upon hers were hard and demanding, yet there was nothing painful about the exchange. Luke was dominating her, and to her heady amazement, she delighted in it.

  Cody clung even more tightly to him as her world spun dizzily out of control. She was vaguely aware that Luke had started carrying her away, but she didn't care. When at last the kiss ended and she looked up, she found he was carrying her right past the stunned Juana, who was scowling at them.

  Luke stopped in the doorway of the cabin just long enough to speak a few words to Juana. "Maybe you'd better go watch the cookfire. Sister Mary won't be back to help you for a while. She's got another fire to tend." His voice was deep and husky as he spoke, and then he turned away and disappeared inside, closing the door behind them.

  Juana stood in furious silence for a moment. It wasn't often that a man refused her, and jealousy raged within her. She was tempted to put a torch to their cabin just so she could keep that phony pious preacher woman from getting what she wanted. But she didn't. Not wanting to hear the telltale sounds that she was certain would soon be coming from within, she stormed off to tend the stew.

  Inside the cabin, Luke set Cody on her feet. She quickly backed away from him, a hand on her lips, her eyes wide in confusion. She looked every inch the put-upon, innocent, virginal preacher woman. Her disguise had never been more effective. Though the truth was, she was breathless and speechless before the power of what had just transpired between them. She had never known she could feel this way, and she stared up at Luke, wondering how a simple kiss could have set her pulse racing and left her heart beating such a frantic rhythm.

  "Why did you do that?" she demanded, her own voice sounding oddly breathless to her.

  "Shhh," he told her quietly, listening, trying to hear if Juana was still hovering nearby outside.

  Cody was annoyed by his total lack of interest in her. He didn't seem to care that he had just humiliated her in front of everyone, and he certainly didn't seem to have been affected by the embrace at all.

  It dawned on her then that he really didn't care about her, that he really didn't want her in the way a man wants a woman. It had all been an act. The realization hurt, although she quickly assured herself that she didn't care. Certainly she didn't desire him. That would be crazy. The only way she wanted him was as a bounty hunter wanted her prey. She wanted nothing else to do with himexcept to take him in and collect her reward money. Period.

  "I think she's gone," he finally said in a low voice as he faced her. "I'm sorry about having to kiss you, but Juana didn't believe me when I told her you were my woman. We had to put on a show to convince her."

  "And did we?"

  "I hope so. She offered herself to me, and I turned her down." He gave a rueful shake of his head. "She couldn't believe that I preferred you to her. I had to show her that I did."

  "Oh." Cody's ego was definitely taking a battering. "So what do we do now?"

  He gave her a rakish grin. "We stay in here long enough to convince her, and anyone else who was watching, that you are indeed my woman-in all ways."

/>   She groaned at the thought. "This is so humili ating. They'll all think I'm a loose woman. Chastity is a biblical imperative. Living a moral life is the only path to Heaven."

  "You don't have to worry." He sighed heavily at her censure. "I'm not about to take you. I told you before that your virtue was safe with me. We just can't let anyone else know it."

  "I may know, but how will I ever hold my head up when I'm preaching? They'll all be thinking that you and I..." Cody found herself blushing in spite of herself. She knew he thought she was blushing because she was embarrassed by the thought of their being lovers, but, in truth, she was blushing because of her own unbridled response to being in his arms. His shoulders had been powerful beneath her touch as she'd clung to him. His body against hers.. .the hardness of him...the strength of him as he'd carried her to the cabin had been an erotic caress. Her heart raced at the memory.

  "I've always thought that preachers who've never sinned are a boring lot. Maybe this will make your sermons more exciting," he taunted. He was irritated, but he was not sure why. He realized that he'd put her in a difficult position, but there had been no other way to discourage Juana.

  "Oh, you!" She turned away.

  Luke laughed at her outrage as they bided their time.

  Outside by the fire, Juana was straining to hear what they were saying, but all she could make out was his laughter. At the sound of it, her jealousy grew even hotter. She should have been the woman in there with him! She should have been the one pleasing him! Juana kept her gaze trained on the closed door, waiting for him to emerge.

  Within the cabin, Cody was still standing with her back to Luke, wondering what was going to happen next.