by Linda Broday
“Thank you, Doc.”
A glint sparkled in his faded blue eyes. “I was young once. I remember.”
Rayna blushed. She couldn’t imagine why she’d discussed love with him. “About that talk we had early this mornin’. I wouldn’t want—”
“It’s our secret.” He patted her hand and picked up his black bag. “I’m available anytime. I’ve grown very close to you. You’re the daughter I never had.”
“Oh, Doc.” She leaned to kiss his cheek. “I’d be proud if you’d be my father.”
Just then Adam brought the buggy around. Doc waved and climbed in. Tears blurred her vision as she watched him take the reins and head toward town with Cooper riding alongside. Doc’s kindness put an ache in her chest. If only she could’ve had someone like him for a parent.
*
Midafternoon, Rayna went to wake Brett. He’d agreed to sleep for a bit only if she’d come to get him up. She paused inside his tepee, listening to his soft breathing.
Kneeling down beside him, she placed her hand on the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Tears stung her eyes. Too many people wanted to do him harm. Right now, if Dowlen had his way, Brett would be in jail in China Wells.
Most likely, he never would have even made it to China Wells. The thought of his lifeless body hanging from a tree along the road chilled her heart.
She touched his face and outlined the curve of his firm mouth with a fingertip.
Becoming bolder, Rayna bent and pressed her lips to his as she had in the jail cell when he was unconscious. Taking liberties appeared to be a bad habit of hers, especially where Brett was concerned.
With a sudden, unexpected move, his arms pinned her, pulling her on top of him. He muffled her surprised squeal with a kiss. Rayna melted in his arms.
“I hope you have a good explanation for taking advantage of a man when he’s dead to the world,” he growled.
Her heart hammered, and she grinned. “I do.”
“Is everyone still here?”
“Afraid so.”
Brett groaned. “I dreamed they’d all left, and we had the place to ourselves. I was about to have my way with you.”
Tingles danced the length of her spine. “It sounds like a wonderful dream.”
“It was. You should’ve been there.”
“Next time I’ll go with you.”
“Dreams are nice in a pinch, but I’d rather have the real thing.” He gently touched her throat.
Rayna smoothed back his hair. “Maybe one day.”
“You promise?”
“I make a solemn vow.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
Rolling, Brett was suddenly on top of her. He kissed her brow and nibbled her throat. Then very gently, he captured her bottom lip and pulled it inside his mouth.
His warm breath was like a caress to her senses and made her shiver with longing.
Then he kissed her, and it shook her to her toes. What the kiss lacked in gentleness, it made up for in his velvet touch that brought raw heat to her skin.
Maybe Brett’s urgency and hunger came from being unfairly branded a rustler. When a man lived with the fear of having his freedom taken away, he probably cherished things more, felt them more deeply, needed to know he was truly alive.
High-pitched squeals came from near the tepee’s flap. Rayna murmured, “One of those children is going to peek inside.”
Brett sighed and rose. “I know. Or else Adam or Bob.”
Rayna accepted his strong hand, and he pulled her up.
As she moved toward the opening, he stopped her. “Thank you. I’ve never been awakened so pleasurably. We’ll take that walk I promised you in a bit and…maybe finish what we started here in private.”
The expectation of more sent heat spiraling through her. Bob’s faded gray eyes twinkled like stars when she stepped into the sunshine. His big grin and wink told her the sly old Comanche knew what they’d been doing. Rayna felt her face flush. She managed to smile and nod before going down to the creek to wash some of the children’s things.
She turned at the sound of a galloping horse, recognizing Brett’s middle brother, Rand. For a few moments, she watched them clasp hands and slap each other’s backs. The love between them was easy to see.
But the thing that struck home was how fiercely they fought for one another. These brothers, who weren’t brothers at all, cared so deeply about the health and welfare of one another.
Rand had come, she supposed, because Cooper left. Brett told her earlier that Cooper thought it important to go into town to see if Dowlen and the ex-sheriff were stirring up the folks in Battle Creek, as Dowlen had in China Wells.
“Wanted to put out any fires before they got out of control,” Brett had said.
It made sense. Who knew what Dowlen would do?
Rayna’s gaze lingered on the two brothers a minute longer, then she set about her chore. She was on the last muddy stain in the pile when a long shadow fell across her. She turned to find Brett.
“Walk with me to the waterfall?” he asked.
“Just let me hang up these wet clothes.”
“I’ll help.”
When she remembered his promise in the tepee to finish what they’d started, she became all thumbs. She wasn’t exactly sure what he’d meant, but simply being with him, hidden away behind the rocks, excited her.
At last she took his hand, and they strolled toward their private hideaway. It seemed even more beautiful the second time.
She sat near the pool’s edge, trailing her hand in the water. The sweet sound of the waterfall was nature’s music, a balm to her spirit. It was nothing like the noises made by man. Not the loud banging of the Salvation Army’s drum or the rattle of the bones in her father’s wagon, but more like a flock of bluebirds singing. Brett sat down beside her. She could feel him studying her.
“You once said that you don’t want to be anyone’s trouble.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know at the time you felt you were, and that angered you. Now that you have a job and income, do you still feel that way, Rayna?”
She turned. “Sometimes, but not as much.”
“I’m glad. It must be a horrible burden to bear. When you woke me earlier…” He paused as if unsure of what to say. He took off his hat and laid it beside him. “I’m not going to apologize, or fight against how I feel anymore. Seems that’s all I do. The fact is, I enjoy holding you, feeling your breath on my skin. Whether it’s right or wrong, I want you, Rayna Harper.”
“I want you too.”
Brett caressed her face, his touch light, his soothing voice gentle. “Do you know what I meant when I said I’d finish what we started here in our private spot?”
Rayna chewed her lip. “That you want to take off my clothes and lie on me?”
“Sort of, only I’d rather say we’d make love. There’s a great difference. I’d never force you.” He tucked a curl behind her ear.
Memories of the other times flooded her mind. Pain so sharp it felt like someone had taken a knife to her and left her unable to draw a breath.
“Will it hurt?” she whispered.
“I will be very gentle. But…forget it. It was a bad idea.” He started to get to his feet.
Rayna clutched his arm. “No, please. If you say it can be different from those times, I believe you. I love when you kiss and hold me. Until now, I’ve never had a man show me tenderness. You shield me from darkness when I’m with you.”
“I’m glad, because I only want you to know joy.” Brett took her hand in his and kissed each finger. She shivered under his gentle touches. “From the start, I sensed deep wounds that have only begun to scab over. You’re like one of my mustangs after it got tangled up in a barbed wire fence. The wounds are deep, and you have so many. I’m here if you want to talk.”
She chewed her lip, knowing she had to tell him. “I’m so ashamed, but the times before I had no choice. Raymond Harper called me his little whore and said I had to
obey him, because he was my sire. He traded me for things he wanted. I hate what he made me do, and I despise him.”
Brett pulled her close and held her trembling body for a long while, stroking her back, murmuring quietly, like someone would calm a frightened child. She thought it must be how he soothed his horses.
At last he spoke low, as though struggling to control his anger. “The shame is not yours. It belongs to those who preyed on you. We’ll build so many memories, they’ll erase all the bad and leave only good ones.”
“I don’t deserve you.” She moved out of his arms and ran her fingers along his strong jaw and down his muscular neck. She couldn’t stop this need to touch him. “The feelings you awoke in me earlier… I want to have more of that. It was a lot like standing too close to a bolt of lightning and feeling the energy rush through me. It was an exciting sensation.”
“How about if we agree to go slow? Take this a little at a time.”
Relief eased her strangling fears. She smiled. “I’d like that. You’re a special kind of man, Brett.”
“Let’s start with me holding you some more.”
When he opened his arms, she leaned into his embrace. The fresh scent of sage and the wild Texas land that defined Brett swirled around her. Closing her eyes, she buried her face in his throat.
With the hushed, protected pool and the sound of the waterfall in the background, he held her safe against him. After a while, she raised her face to meet his warm gaze. “I’ve never known this kind of peace,” she murmured. “No one ever respected my wishes before.”
“Dearest Rayna, I always will.”
Brett traced the curve of her jaw, then lowered his mouth. Passion and hunger exploded the moment his lips touched hers, igniting smoldering embers left from earlier in the afternoon. Heat spiraled through her body. She had to touch him, had to feel his bare skin.
Pulling away, she tugged his shirt over his head. He was magnificent, just as she’d imagined. His muscles quivered under her light touch. She pressed her mouth to his warm flesh.
Rayna had never felt so achy. As she began to unfasten her buttons, Brett’s hand replaced hers, and in seconds, the welcome cool air caressed her. Her dress and chemise fell away, dropping at her feet. Stepping out of them, she lay in the cushioning softness of the thick grass.
Brett propped himself next to her on an elbow, the feather from his hat in his hand. “You’re exactly as I dreamed. No one ever stole my breath before.”
Using the feather, he drew it slowly from her throat, down the valley between her breasts. Rayna quivered under the waves of unexpected pleasure that increased the achy need for this man. Then as he dragged the feather across the raised tips of her breasts, a hunger she’d never felt before enveloped her.
His heated breath brushed her skin when he moved to kiss each hardened peak before pulling one into his mouth.
Gasping, she arched her back, rising to meet him, needing everything he offered. She’d known how things could be. Tears came into her eyes. Never again would she remember the violence of her past. Each stroke of Brett’s touch seemed to erase the horrible memories locked deep inside, replacing them with good ones.
He was showing her how it felt to be valued, to have real purpose, real worth.
Shyly, she brushed across the hard planes of his back, tracing the marks Mr. Simon’s razor strop had once left on his tender flesh.
They both needed this in order to forget and focus on what lay ahead.
Dropping another kiss on her breasts, Brett raised his head. Taking the feather, he lazily inched to her bared stomach and drew circles and swirls. Down each leg and up the inside to her secret place.
Shivers of longing for something deeper washed over her. Just when she thought she could bear no more pleasure, he moved the feather upward. He stretched her arms over her head, then trailed the tip of the quill the length of each.
Finally, he laid it aside and crushed her to him. The passion of the kiss left her weak and gasping.
“Do you know what I call you?” he murmured into her ear.
“What?”
“My Wish Book woman. You’re like something that’s dangling out of my reach, something that I might see in a catalog, that I can’t afford.”
Rayna had never heard anything so beautiful. She wanted to be more than his Wish Book woman though. She wanted him to be able to hold her, kiss her, and know the price was well within his grasp.
“One day I’m going be more than something to wish for.”
“You will,” he said softly, reaching for her dress.
That’s all? They weren’t going to do more? Confusion must’ve shown in her face. “But—”
“I want you to get used to my touch before we move on,” he explained. “Besides, we have children to feed. There’s not much daylight left. Rand and I need to discuss some things.”
Suddenly, the threatening world in which they lived lowered on top of them. They had managed to block it out only for a while.
Whatever happened, she would have the memory of today. No one could ever steal that from her.
Twenty-four
The vivid image of Rayna’s bare body still burned in Brett’s memory two hours later—so much so that he kept losing focus on his conversation with Rand over hot cups of coffee. His gaze kept wandering to Rayna as she tucked the children into their blankets. He watched how she smoothed back their hair and kissed them good night.
Her loving ways struck him. The woman who’d never seen any love sure had plenty to give.
“Don’t you agree, Brett?” Rand asked.
“About what?”
“Where have you been, Brother? You haven’t heard a word I’ve said for the last ten minutes. Guess I’ve just been talking to the wind. I’ll bet Bob was listening, weren’t you, Bob?”
The old Comanche stared. “Talk too much.”
“Yeah, reckon you might have a point,” Rand agreed. “Both of my brothers have always said so. Hey, Bob, what does your Indian name Poechna Quahip mean anyway?”
“Buffalo piss.”
Brett and Rand hooted with laughter. Though the more Brett thought about it, the more it fit the old Comanche.
Rand wiped his eyes. “Who gave you a name like that?”
“My brother. Father passed naming honor to him.”
“Buffalo piss.” Rand collapsed into another fit of laughter.
Evidently curious about what was so funny, Sister Bronwen came over. “Old coot, I demand to know what you’re saying about me.”
Bob bared his teeth and growled. “Man business, Battle-ax. No place for woman. Go back to prayer beads.”
Brett hid a smile. The two were like axle grease and water—you could stir all you wanted, but they’d never blend.
“I’ll pray for your rotten soul, old coot, though I doubt God wants anything to do with you either.” Bronwen sniffed and hobbled into the tepee she shared with Rayna and the youngest orphans.
“Battle-ax?” Rand quirked an eyebrow.
“Wants to slit my throat.” Bob sighed and touched the leather pouch around his neck. “Powerful medicine keep safe.”
Pointing to Brett’s similar bag, Rand asked, “When did you start wearing that, little brother?”
“After I remembered I had it, and Bob told me what it was.”
“What’s in it?”
“Things.”
“What kind of things?”
“I’d rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind. It’s personal.”
Rand crossed his arms. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Silence might be nice.” Smiling, Brett rose to throw his coffee dregs into the fire and watched the flare of the flames.
The sun had already sunk below the horizon. This was his favorite time of day. Work was done, the sleepy-eyed horses were looking for a place to ride out the night, and the world readied for slumber. It was time for quiet and peaceful reflection.
Though whether Brett got that
would depend on Dowlen.
“I’ll speak to Rayna, then we’ll head out,” he announced.
“Sounds good.” Rand stood and moved toward his horse.
Brett found Rayna gathering the sun-dried clothes she’d washed. “I’m glad I caught you apart from the others. We’re about to take up our positions for the night.”
“I was hoping you’d tell me good night.” Her blue-green eyes glistened in the low light. “This afternoon was very special.”
He touched her hair, then let his hand slide to her cheek. “You’ll never know what it meant to have you offer your body to me. No matter what happens, no matter what evil touches our lives, you are the keeper of my heart.”
“One day it’ll be different. Until then, we’ll take whatever happiness we can get.”
Brett’s arms went around her. He lowered his mouth to hers—one last taste of her to carry him through the lonely night. The tender kiss gave him strength in case trouble found them before morning.
“Be safe, Brett.” She slipped something into his hand. “I saw a white butterfly in my tepee. It’s a sign of good luck. I think it might’ve replaced the bad omen of the blood moon. That and Bob’s chants to his spirits. But if not, the butterfly indicated you’re going to be all right tonight. Hold to that.”
He laughed. “Hope you’re right. I’ll welcome it. If you’d told me sooner, I’d have rounded up a whole bag full of ’em.”
Before turning away, he opened his hand to see what she’d pressed into his palm. It was the carved wooden heart her grandfather had given her. “Are you sure, Rayna?”
“I want you to have it.”
“Thank you.” He slipped it inside his medicine bag and kissed her again. Leaving her was the hardest thing he’d done, but he could see Rand, Adam, and the ranch hands waiting for him beside the horses. He was out of time. “See you in the morning. Stay in camp tonight. I want you here with the children.”
“I’ll have coffee on,” she called as he strode away.
Rand looked up when Brett reached the horses. “Marry that woman, Brett. She’s a keeper.” He slid his foot in the stirrup, settling in the saddle. “Did I ever tell you about how Callie asked me to marry her?”
“I don’t believe you did.” Brett mounted, and they set off.