There were others, four whom she had met before: men who had stopped by on their trail to nowhere to get a good woman-cooked meal and a real bed for the night, men whose pasts were known only to themselves, men whom neither Amanda nor Moss questioned as to where they had come from or where they were going. But all men that Amanda had learned to trust. Moss was right. If something did happen to him, Amanda could ask any one of these men to help her, and she’d get the help, without having to worry about her person. They all knew Moss Tucker, and none of them cared to be a victim of his vengeance. But there was more to it than that. Most of them just simply had a deep respect for a good woman. Women were scarce in this land, good ones even more rare. Most of the men considered it unmanly and cowardly to insult or harm a woman. Of course there were exceptions like Rand Barker, the man who had kidnaped and raped her, but they were few. And in spite of being a mixture of rustlers, robbers, gamblers, drinkers, and murderers, the men Moss was gathering together were not molesters of women. They got what they needed from the prostitutes who inhabited “The Line” in the numerous cowtowns of the West. There had been a time when Moses Tucker was just like them. But those days were over now. He had Amanda. It relieved her somewhat to see the men Moss would be taking along to back him up.
There was Les Trainer, Tom Sorrells, Max Cornell, Dwight Brady, Hank Stemm and Brad Doolittle. Then there was the silent blond man simply called Bullit, and a half-breed Navaho called Sooner. Moss always said when there was trouble, Sooner was there before anybody else—hence the nickname. Besides, they all had trouble pronouncing his Indian name.
Most fell into the mid-thirties age bracket; a couple of them were in their late twenties, a few in their forties and fifties. They were an interesting mixture of sizes; and wore a wide array of clothing, from pointed-toe leather boots, leather chaps, and calico shirts to buckskins and moccasins. All rode sturdy mounts, and Moss intended to take five extra of his own horses, just in case there should be a problem along the way. Sooner would be in charge of the extra mounts. The trip would be a combination of horseback and train.
Amanda guessed that most were going not for the money, but for the adventure and to help out a woman in distress. Not many things brought them together any faster than that. And once each man got a look at Etta Landers, none regretted taking on the job. Amanda had a feeling that keeping the men’s eyes off of Etta would be a tougher job for Moss than helping Etta fight Ralph Landers.
Six other men, who normally stayed around the ranch, would remain to keep up the chores and watch over Amanda. And Wanda, the widowed Navaho woman who cooked for the ranch hands, would stay full time and keep Amanda company inside the house. She would sleep in Becky’s room, and Becky would sleep with Amanda.
Amanda watched the little girl now, ecstatic with excitement over all the strangers and all the movement that was now taking place. Moss kept his daughter with him almost constantly, wanting to see as much of her as possible before he left. Amanda had fallen in love with little Rebecca instantly when she and Moss had gone to get the girl in California. Becky was only two then, a fat little bundle topped off with a cascade of blond curls. Now she was seven, a bright, pleasant child, a willing help-mate and a good friend to Amanda, who was “mother” to Becky.
The day of departure came all too soon. Amanda awakened to the screech of a hawk somewhere outside—and Moss Tucker’s lips moving over her neck.
“I see you left that gown off like I asked,” he whispered, moving his lips to her breasts.
“I do everything you ask,” she replied with a soft smile. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, the excitement building within her again as he gently tasted the taught nipples. He groaned, and she ran her fingers through his hair and over the brown, muscular shoulders. Everything about him was hard muscle and masculinity, and he knew all the moves to make. His lips moved down to kiss her flat belly, and it didn’t matter that they had already done this once before in the past eight hours. He was leaving, and he would not leave without being one with his wife once more.
Her breath quickened as his lips moved down even farther, relishing private places that belonged only to him, then worked their way back up while his fingers touched the soft warmth between her legs and made her whisper his name. Then his lips were covering hers, forcing hers apart, while his fingers explored until she felt on fire with desire. The basics were always the same, yet each time was so different, wonderful in a new and different way. This time the act was more urgent than it had ever been. He was leaving today. He was riding into danger, and the thought of his doing so with Etta Landers at his side made Amanda respond with a clinging possessiveness.
He moved on top of her with ease, and she opened herself up to him to take in that part of him that revealed his manliness more than anything else. Everything about Moss Tucker was big, and there had been times when he wondered how he managed to fit into the small woman who lay beneath him. Her cries were a mixture of pain and pleasure and glorious ecstasy.
His desire for her had not dwindled even the slightest in their five years together, for there was so much about her to love. And when he felt her reach the height of her climax, arching up to him in pulsating desire, he groaned out her name and thrust himself deep inside of her, stretching out the ecstasy for as long as he could bear it before releasing his passion.
They lay there together until their fever began to subside. It was already warm outside; Moss rolled off her and pushed her damp hair from her brow.
“Good morning, Mrs. Tucker.”
“I’m not even completely awake yet,” she whispered.
He grinned and kissed her breasts.
“Perhaps I should try again to wake you up.”
“You’ll get a late start, and everyone will know and I’ll be embarrassed!” she replied with a smile.
He nuzzled her neck and growled. “They’d all just be jealous,” he whispered. He raised up and saw the tears in her eyes.
“Be careful, Moss,” she whispered. “And come back to me.”
“I’ll do both.”
“And be true to me.”
“Oh, Mandy!” he said softly, shaking his head. “You know you don’t have to tell me that.”
She blinked back more tears and traced her fingers over the dark hairs of his chest.
“You belong to me, Moss. You’re my whole world.”
He kissed her forehead. “And you’re my whole world—you and Becky. A man who’s been through what I’ve been through don’t throw away somethin’ like that.”
“You’ll send word—let me know how things are going, won’t you? Don’t leave me in the dark, Moss.”
“I’ll send word.”
“She’ll try to seduce you.”
He chuckled lightly. “What’s left to tempt me with after bein’ in bed with you, hmmm?” He kissed her again, and she returned the kiss hungrily, desperately, wrapping her arms around his neck and wanting to hold him forever.
“Look me straight in the eyes, Mandy,” he told her softly, releasing the kiss. “Tell me you trust me. ’Cause if you don’t, this marriage don’t amount to much. I can’t do or say much more to convince you you’ve got nothin’ to worry about. So tell me you trust me, Mandy, so I can ride out of here in peace and not worry about things goin’ through your mind, things you shouldn’t be thinkin’ at all.”
Their eyes held for several quiet seconds, and she thought about how lonely this man had been when she first met him. He’d been good to her, settled down, worked hard to keep her comfortable. She remembered that he had risked his life for her—more than once—and she remembered his suffering when he lost his arm.
“I trust you,” she said softly. “It’s her I don’t trust!” she added with raised eyebrows.
Moss laughed and began tickling her. She screamed automatically, then rolled away from him.
“Everyone will hear us!” she whispered, wiggling out of his way. He grabbed her back and began kissing her again, over and over
until he felt her go limp. His lips moved over her mouth, her neck, her breasts, and he knew she was still warm and excited from her recent climax. He moved on top of her and nibbled at her ear.
“Once more,” he groaned.
“Moss Tucker, are you crazy?” she squealed. “It’s impossible!”
“Why?” he asked, kissing her eyes.
“Well, it just is! You just got through—”
“Yeah, but this is different. I don’t want to leave you.”
He kissed her lips, and to her surprise she felt his hardness against her stomach. His lips moved across her cheek.
“Moss, I don’t think…”
He worked himself between her legs, then pushed his knees up, forcing her legs apart.
“Moss, you’ll be late…”
“Be quiet,” he moaned. He pushed himself inside of her, and she had no more objections.
Chapter Thirty-One
Amanda, Wanda, and even Etta, spent the morning serving a home-cooked breakfast to Moss’s small army of men before they made ready to ride. To Moss’s pleasure, he could see a difference in the ways the men looked at Etta and at Amanda. Etta they eyed hungrily, as though she might make a tasty dessert after a hearty meal. But when they looked at Amanda, it was different: there was a deep respect there, as if she were something to be revered. Amanda was the hearty meal, a woman who left a man satisfied in more ways than one. The kind of pleasure a woman like Etta brought was only temporary. The pleasure Amanda could give was permanent and lasting, and they all knew it—and they all envied Moses Tucker.
Amanda fought tears at the sight of Moss coming out of the house that morning wearing his gun, hung low on his right hip. It had been a long time. Their eyes held for a moment, and nothing was said. Then the business of breakfast took over their time and thoughts.
Breakfast was finished all too soon for Amanda and Moss, for everyone’s gear was packed and there was little else to do but to leave. Moss gathered the men together in front of the house for final instructions. Most knew why they were there, and most didn’t care. It was simply an adventure for them, and a way to earn some good money. Such men had nothing better to do, and many had been earning their money illegally, and they didn’t mind. Besides, Moses Tucker was a good friend and a natural leader, a man still good with a gun in spite of his missing arm.
The men gathered around, some lighting cigarettes, a couple sitting down with their backs against fence posts and their hats pulled down over their eyes, listening without watching. One man took out his six-gun and toyed with the chamber, whirling it anxiously. Moss lit his own cigarette and walked among the group of men.
“You’ve all met Etta Landers,” he told them. There were some grins and sidelong glances at Etta, who stood aside with Amanda and Wanda. She reddened slightly and looked at the ground. “I want to get a few facts straight before we leave,” Moss went on. “A lot of you know Mrs. Landers and I almost got married once.” He scanned them with warning eyes. “But that was a long time ago, and it’s over. Any of you wants to suggest I’m goin’ up to Wyoming to help her for reasons other than money and revenge against one of the men who’s botherin’ her, you can leave now. You all know my wife, and you also know that with somebody like Amanda a man don’t have eyes for no other woman.”
This time Amanda reddened and smiled bashfully.
“That’s easy to understand,” one of the men drawled. The rest of them smiled good-naturedly, and Moss had to grin himself. He took a drag on his cigarette before continuing.
“What am I aimin’ at,” he continued, “is to make sure you all understand what we’re doin’ and why we’re doin’ it. Mrs. Landers is divorced, and her husband stole everything from her: all her land and possessions, except for a spread up in Wyoming he didn’t know anything about. He’s followed her there and is tryin’ to scare and harass her off the property. It’s all she has left and she wants to hang on to it. She don’t know nobody in those parts, so she came to me for help. She knew I was good with a gun and figured I could round up some men skilled enough and brave enough to go up to Wyoming and help her fight for her land. You’ll each get two hundred bucks a month plus an extra hundred each once this thing is settled. That’s damned good pay and you all know it, so I expect you to do your best for Mrs. Landers. Once we get where we’re goin’ we’ll decide just how to go about fightin’ Landers and his men. In the meantime, I want no talk about me and Etta—not even a suggestion, unless one of you wants to take me on. In addition to that, Mrs. Landers here bein’ single don’t make her a lump of sugar for you bunch of no-good bucks. You’ll treat her with respect. Things will get dangerous where we’re going, so keep your minds on the business at hand. And if any of you figures on makin’ any advances toward Mrs. Landers that she ain’t wanting, you’ll feel lead pushin’ your belt buckle into your gut. Are we straight so far?”
The men nodded, a few clearing their throats. When Moses Tucker meant business, he meant business. Etta watched Moss with admiration. What a fool she had been to turn him away so many years ago! In the short time she had been at the Tucker ranch, she had learned to envy Amanda Tucker, to whom Moss was very obviously totally devoted. There had been few words between Moss and Etta, and those few out of mere necessity. The woman knew he still held her in contempt, and that Moss Tucker was enjoying the fact that Etta had literally begged for his help.
“Now Ralph Landers is a very powerful man,” Moss went on. “He pretty much owns the closest town and the local law, and this thing could get messy. Some of you could even get killed. So if you don’t like the odds, get out now.”
“The odds are what made me want to go,” one spoke up. He looked at Moss with a half grin, as he chewed on a weed. Some of the others chuckled.
“The woman’s got herself fixed between a rock and a hard place,” another spoke up. “We was figurin’ on wedgin’ her out of there.”
Moss grinned and puffed his cigarette.
“Well, that’s about it, I guess. The main thing I want is to get this over with and get back home.”
“Can’t imagine why,” Darrell Hicks spoke up. They all laughed lightly and Moss grinned even more. Amanda reddened deeply and fussed at picking a weed out of Becky’s hair, trying to avoid their looks.
“I’d be in a hurry, too,” Hank Stemm added.
Most of them got up from their seated positions on the ground and made ready to go to their horses.
“Wait a minute!” Lloyd Duncan spoke up, stepping forward. Etta’s heart pounded with fear at what he would say, and anger for his interruption. “There’s one thing to be settled here!”
Everybody turned to look at the man, who had sulked around the last few days, talking to no one.
“Lloyd, just get your horse and let’s get going!” Etta spoke up.
“Why? You afraid I’ll show Moss Tucker up for what he is—a cripple?” the man sneered. “I say he ain’t fit to run this outfit. It should be my job. At least I’ve got two arms!”
Everyone quieted, and Amanda stepped back, pulling Becky with her. Moss moved closer to Duncan, pushing his hat back a little.
“Well, well,” he said in a steely voice. “You’re actin’ like a stud stallion, wantin’ to show the herd who’s boss.” He threw down his cigarette. “Is that what you’re wanting, boy?”
“I don’t take orders from no cripple!” Duncan growled.
“You don’t know what you’re saying, mister,” Johnny Pence spoke up. “If you knew Moss better, you’d be lickin’ them words up out of the dirt. That man deserves respect, and you’d best give it to him.”
“Respect?” Duncan snickered. “He’s a crippled, middle-aged man who’s doin’ this for one reason only: to prove he can still be Etta Landers’s man!”
Amanda covered her mouth and Etta gasped; Duncan had barely spoken the last word when Moss’s huge fist landed into his belly. Duncan grunted and bent over, and Moss’s knee came up in the man’s face, knocking his head backward bef
ore his feet could go in the same direction. He bent at the knees and went down. No one made a move. Moss stood his ground while Duncan rolled over to his hands and knees, gasping for breath from the unexpectedly powerful blow. After losing his arm, Moses Tucker had concentrated on building up the strength in his remaining arm to a surprising power.
Duncan struggled to his feet and turned to face Moss. He dove into the man, knocking Moss to the ground, but Moss quickly pushed up with a knee and shoved the man over his head, then got up quickly and whirled, kicking Duncan in the ribs. Duncan wriggled away, got up again and came at Moss, Moss waited until the right moment and backhanded the man with a snapping blow that made everyone wince. Duncan whirled and went down, blood pouring from his nose. Moss bent down and jerked the man up.
“Mister, I consider that remark an insult to my wife, and you’d best go and apologize to her right now!” Moss growled. He began dragging Duncan toward Amanda, and even with two hands free, Duncan could not pull himself away from Moss’s powerful grip. He coughed and sputtered, blood running over his lips and down his chin, as Moss jerked him over in front of Amanda.
“Tell her!” Moss snarled.
“Moss, it’s all right,” Amanda said quietly, looking down at the ground.
“It’s not all right!” Moss snapped.
He jolted Duncan again. “Tell her!” he growled.
Duncan swallowed and reached up to wipe some of the blood from his lips. He looked sullenly at Moss, then shifted his eyes to Amanda.
Lawless Love Page 27