"She knows you do."
He turned and drew her into his embrace. She laid her cheek against his bare chest.
"Does her mama know?"
Jessica's lips curved up, and she nodded her head against him, snuggling into him. He held her tightly, running his palms over her back and rounded bottom.
"I like to hear it." She lifted her head, meeting his eyes. Her hands came up around his neck, pulling his head down. "Better yet—"
He groaned as her tongue touched his, the intimacy almost too much to bear. Her right hand trailed slowly down his bare chest, skimming the unbuttoned shirt out of the way as she let her fingers drift to the waistband of his jeans, then lower, cupping his hard arousal.
He pushed forward into her hand.
"Unbutton me," he murmured against her mouth. "I want to feel your skin against mine."
"Kaed, what about Tom?" She glanced toward the bed, but Tom was sleeping soundly. Her hand began the slow acquiescence to his demand, freeing the first button of the placket.
"I think we can leave him alone for a while," he said.
She giggled, stifling it abruptly. "No, I meant what if he—"
"He won't wake up." And if he does, he better have the good sense to pretend he never did.
Jessica was already leading Kaed to the makeshift bed beside the fire. She glanced over her shoulder. "He'd have to look around the corner to see us. Over here is a little bit more private."
They stood before the fireplace, silhouetted in the glow of the embers. Jessica began unbuttoning the placket again, and Kaed forced himself to endure the slow, bewitching torture. He was still for a minute, barely daring to breathe, his eyes closed. He opened them in quick reflex, drawing a sharp breath, as her hand brushed the engorged tip of him. She gave him an impish grin, her cool fingers encircling him, stroking him. She drew the very breath from his body as she finished opening his jeans, exposing him completely.
She pushed the heavy cloth down, and he stepped out of the pants and kicked them aside.
The firelight played across his muscles with each movement he made as he came close to her and reached to unbutton her blouse.
The blouse and skirt fell away, drifting to the floor, followed by the chemise and the rest of her undergarments. She trembled as his rough fingertips brushed across the hardened nubs of her nipples.
By tomorrow morning she'll know I'm flesh and blood—alive, and pure male.
They sank to the warm pallet together and he covered her body with his own, reaching to finger the rich auburn tresses that fell unbound around her face.
Jessica's skin was sensitive to every touch of Kaed's warm, lean body against hers. She arched up to him, her full breasts skimming the dark hair of his chiseled chest. His mouth slanted across hers in a hot, possessive kiss.
She opened her lips under his, his fingers weaving with hers, holding her hands pinned to the floor as his tongue touched hers, and hers responded in a satin, velvet promise of what was to come.
A low groan tore from his throat, and he lifted his head, breaking the kiss. He breathed raggedly, and Jessica parted her legs, and reached for him.
Kaed shuddered as she wrapped her fingers around his burning shaft and brought him to her entrance with no further preliminaries.
He grinned at her eagerness. "Miss me?"
"It's been a long time," she whispered.
"I know." He began to push, entering her slick, welcoming warmth easily. "Four whole days."
Jessica moaned, biting her lower lip. "Seemed like forever."
Kaed met her eyes as he sank deeper into her. "For me too, Jess."
She sighed, reaching to twine her fingers through his dark hair. "Don't ever leave me again, Kaed."
"Feel me, Jessi, inside you." He took a deep breath. "This is my promise to you," he whispered huskily. "This is me saying I love you and I need you, even if sometimes I don't say the words just right." He ground into her slow and deep, and she rose up to him, offering herself.
"You always say it just right, Kaed." She turned her head and kissed his hand that cradled her cheek. "And this is no exception."
* * * * *
Kaed awoke in the darkness, suddenly alert as if he hadn't slept at all. By the look of the fire, though, he had slept a couple of hours.
Jessica's head was pillowed on his shoulder. He lay, silent and unmoving, trying to discern what had brought him awake so swiftly. The wind had subsided, but the rain still fell steadily.
The only noise within the cabin was the regular cadence of Tom's breathing from the bed in the other room. Kaed made a slow roll from the pallet, grimacing at the dull ache in his ribs as he stood. He reached for his jeans and pulled them on.
Jessica turned on her side, snuggling deeper into the blanket as Kaed moved across the room to check on Lexi. He tucked her in, smiling at her soft sigh.
He turned away, and walked over to check on Tom. The older marshal lay fast asleep, his breathing even and strong. Kaed laid a hand across his friend's forehead. There was heat there. A fever was normal with such a wound.
Tom shifted. "What time is it?"
Kaed grinned and lowered himself into the chair. "I wondered about you, sleeping so long. I was beginning to worry."
"What're you doin' up?"
The smile left Kaed's lips. "Checking on you." He glanced away. "On everything."
"Somethin' don't feel right, does it?"
"Huh-uh." Kaed yawned, then stretched. "But I'll be damned if I know what it is. How's your shoulder? You need something?"
Tom shook his head. "I'm grateful. But I can handle it without the laudanum."
Kaed watched him for a moment, his gaze searching Tom's.
"Really. I'm all right."
Finally, Kaed nodded. "You let me know."
"I will."
Kaed stood up and crossed restlessly to the window at the front of the house. Cautious, he pulled the blue gingham curtain to the side and looked out.
The night was black and cloudy. As he started to drop the curtain back into place, he caught the faint, muffled sound of horses' hooves.
Quickly, he reached for his boots and pulled them on, then shrugged into his shirt. He took down the Henry and checked it with cool efficiency. Locked and loaded.
He turned, sensing Jessica behind him, and handed her the shotgun. He watched wordlessly as Tom reached for his gunbelt that lay on the night table by the bedside, and sat up.
"Tom." Jessica started toward him.
"Leave him be, Jess," Kaed said, turning back to scan the darkness outside. "He'll handle what he can. And we don't know what this is riding in on us. Just as likely to be trouble as not."
"I'm all right, Jessi." Tom nodded at the shotgun in her hand, drawing a ragged breath. "Know how to use that thing?"
She nodded. "Yes. I'm a decent shot."
"Good. An extra gun always comes in handy."
"Hello the house!" a voice called from the dark edge of the woods.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Kaed swore and lowered the rifle from the window. "C'mon in, Trav."
Tom slumped back against the pillows.
Still, Kaed did not open the door. He called out something in Choctaw, and only at Travis's quick response in that language did he unbar the door and open it.
The exhaustion on the faces of the three marshals and the two girls shocked him. He stepped out into the wet night to take the sleeping bundle from Harv's numb fingers. "You all right, Harv?"
"Fine. What about you? Tom and Jessi—"
"Fallon's dead," Kaed responded shortly. He nodded toward the side of the barn where the body lay. "It all came out right, Harv, like it should've." He grasped the damp blanket. "Here, let me take her."
As Harv handed the child down, her eyes fluttered open, unveiling the loveliest cobalt-gemmed depths Kaed had ever seen. At first she seemed unsure, but as he took her from Harv she relaxed in his arms, her eyes closing again slowly.
Kaed turne
d and handed the girl to Jessica to get her out of the damp night air.
He walked toward Frank and the young woman who shared his saddle as Harv and Travis dismounted stiffly. Reaching up, Kaed steadied the girl as she swayed in the saddle against Frank. Frank stood in the stirrup, his leg quivering with fatigue, and somehow managed to get to the ground without falling.
"I'll help her down," he murmured, not even looking at Kaed. "I'll do it. My job." He leaned against the horse, and Tori placed a hand on his fair hair.
So that's how it is. Already. Kaed hid a smile, but he spoke firmly to the young deputy. "Let me, Frank. Then you can get her inside while I see to the horses." He reached for Tori, who was on the verge of toppling from the saddle now that her support was gone.
Frank stood away as Kaed pulled Tori into his arms. As soon as she gained her footing, her eyes were on Frank, his on her. Kaed released her when he was sure she could stand, and she went immediately into Frank's embrace.
Kaed turned to Travis. "You okay?" He gripped Travis's shoulder, looking into the stubborn, exhausted green eyes.
Travis nodded. "Just tired."
"Give me." He reached for the reins. "I'll see to these beasts, and you get inside where it's warm."
But Travis shook his head. "No. I'll help you. I want to talk to you."
"Where's Jack?"
They started walking for the barn, Kaed leading Frank's and Harv's horses, Travis leading his own.
Travis didn't answer. He put one foot in front of the other woodenly. When they had reached the barn, Kaed paused to light the lantern that hung just inside the door. "Where's Jack, Trav?"
"That's what I want to talk to you about."
A chill prickled the back of Kaed's neck. He didn't like Travis' tone. Now that there was some light, he didn't like the bleak look in his eyes, either. "What happened?"
Travis didn't blink. "All this way, I've been thinkin' what I'd say. I still haven't figured out how it happened." He stopped and shook his head, as if to clear it. "Kaed, Bernie Thompson killed Jack."
Kaed's breath caught, the air rushing out of him as if he'd been sucker-punched. He stared at Travis in disbelief. Dead? Jack Eaton? He made himself inhale, to give his starved lungs the oxygen they needed, and slowly let his gaze wander out through the barn door.
Jack, with his good-natured practical jokes, his easy smile, and his ready laugh. Gone.
"How?" Kaed asked, his thoughts swirling with the misty rain.
"Thompson came up on Jack and Frank from behind. He was practically standin' on 'em in that fog, from what Frank said."
"How in the hell did that happen?" Kaed's gaze swung to Travis's again. "You think Frank was a distraction for him?"
Travis shook his head. "No. Can't blame Frank for that one. He was a few feet away from Jack. He thinks Bernie didn't see him, at least not right off." Travis unsaddled his horse. "Knew he was there about two seconds later though." He grinned. "Bet he was sure as hell put out when Frank blew a hole in his chest, then let him have one right between the eyes."
Kaed let out a low whistle as he unsaddled Frank's horse. "Our Frank? I don't believe you've had enough time to teach him how to shoot like that."
Travis chuckled. "Ain't enough time in the world to teach that, Kaed. Besides, you know as well as I do that kind of skill ain't taught. He was born with it. I bet Frank could outshoot any of us, 'cept maybe you an' Tom. It's his own particular talent." The laughter left Travis's face. "Frank'll want to tell you all about what happened, so you should hear it from him."
Kaed nodded. "Yeah. Okay. I'll let him tell me. Where's Jack's…the body?"
"Standing Bear's men'll be along with it. He said they thought Jack would want to be buried here, with his kind."
Kaed led Frank's horse to a stall, tossed in some hay, and returned to unsaddle Harv's mount. "Come daylight, we'll get the grave dug." Kaed flexed his fingers absently.
"I'll do it."
Kaed looked into Travis' haggard face and saw the weariness he tried to hide. He jerked his head toward the house. "Go on, Trav. Go get some rest. Get inside out of the cold. Jessi's probably got coffee brewing and there's a fire."
"I'll go when you do, Kaed." Travis reached for the pitchfork, forking some hay into the next stall as Kaed led Harv's horse in and shut the gate behind the animal.
Kaed sighed at Travis' stubbornness. "Come on, then. Let's go. Tom's got some stories he'll want to tell you, too, before we all get some rest."
Kaed blew out the lantern, and slid a board through the handles of the barn door, securing it. They picked up the bedrolls and carried the gear to the house.
As Travis and Kaed entered the front door and put the gear down, Jessica immediately thrust a coffee cup into each of their hands.
"Travis, come warm yourself by the fire," Jessica said.
Jessica had put a clean pallet lengthwise at one end of the fireplace out into the room, so that it would still be near the fire but would leave a place for others to stand close to the cheery blaze. Travis gratefully sank to his knees before the hearth and took a sip of coffee before setting his cup down and extending his fingers toward the warmth.
Kaed glanced across the room where Harv sat in the bedside chair speaking quietly with Tom. Their voices were a low, indistinguishable hum of baritone, but there was no doubt as to their topic of conversation; the sorrow was written plainly across their faces.
Frank and Tori lay curled together spoon fashion upon the pallet, Frank's arm wrapped protectively around Tori's waist. The younger girl lay on her stomach, her light brown hair across her face, contentedly sleeping in the warmth of the nearby fire.
Jessica slipped her arm around Kaed's waist. He pulled her to him, and she rested her head on his shoulder. He dropped a kiss atop her silky hair and she looked up at him, her heart in her eyes.
"I heard about Jack. I'm so sorry, darling. I know he was a good friend."
Kaed nodded and looked into the flames. Travis's head came up, as if he were making sure Kaed was all right. Satisfied, he rose stiffly and drained the last of his coffee.
"More?" Jessica asked.
"I know where it is, Jessi." He winked as he walked past them toward the kitchen, and she snuggled against Kaed once again.
"Looks like we gave up our bed." Kaed's gaze rested on Frank and the two girls. Nineteen. God, he looked so young, like a boy, as he slept, all the lines of worry around his eyes erased. Nineteen. I remember nineteen. Just didn't understand until now how young it really is.
"Twice now." Jessica's voice called him from his thoughts. She grinned and nodded toward where Tom lay talking to Harv. "Maybe by this time tomorrow morning we'll get lucky," she whispered, reaching up to kiss his cheek.
"Neither one of us is going to 'get lucky', in any respect, until everyone's gone," he grumbled softly, letting go a frustrated sigh. "One thing's for sure. When everything settles down around here, I'm gonna add on a bedroom. With a door that shuts."
Jessica was quiet for a moment, then very softly she said, "Better make that two."
"Two bedrooms?"
"Uh-huh. Ours, and a nursery."
Kaed nodded. "For Lexi."
"And the new baby."
His gaze arrowed to hers.
"Our baby, Kaed."
The blood rushed through his ears, pounding at his temples. Nothing existed but the woman standing in his strong embrace, her love washing over him in warm waves as her eyes sparkled into his.
"Jessi." The words he'd spoken to her the day he left came back to haunt him. I just hope that maybe we got lucky. Maybe it didn't take.
But it had. And damn if he didn't feel like the luckiest man alive. A baby. He read the unasked question in her expression, and he bent to kiss her. To reassure her. To let her know a family was what he needed and wanted. He felt her relax beneath his hands.
"I told you I was working my way through it, Jess," he whispered against her cheek. "I'll be a good father."
Tea
rs rose in her eyes. She nodded, her hair soft against his stubbled beard. "You'll be the best."
"Better than I was before, that's for sure." The words slipped out before he could stop them. He took a deep, jagged breath as Jessica finally dared to meet his eyes. He looked away, his gaze wandering about the small cabin, finally returning to lock with Jessica's.
"I can appreciate what I've got this time, Jessi. I took it for granted the first time, and I lost it. I won't let that happen again."
Jessica shook her head. "Promise—" she began, but he tilted her face up, putting his lips to hers once more in a gentle, reassuring kiss.
"I'll never let you go, Jessi. And I'll never hurt you. I want what we talked about, the family, the farm, maybe a ranch." He stopped and moistened his lips that had suddenly gone dry. "But most of all, I want you." He glanced across the room at Tom, who gave him a fleeting grin. After a moment, he returned his gaze to the fathomless pools of Jessica's eyes. "None of it means anything without the woman I love, Jessica. You. Yes, I promise, sweetheart. I promise everything."
Travis leaned against the kitchen doorjamb, fresh coffee in hand. "Guess we'd better start beating the bushes for a preacher-man, boys. Get it done up legal and right for Miss Jessi while Kaed's in this mood. I never seen him like this. Never heard him talk so serious." He took a drink of his coffee, his green eyes mischievous above the rim of his cup. "I do believe he means it, Miss Jessi."
"Yep. He's plumb loco about you," Harv said, giving her a wink.
Kaed turned a keen eye to the two older marshals. "Now, Tom, Harv, that preacher might not feel two weddings are worth his while. Might be lookin' to make it three or four."
Tom grinned. "We'll have to work on Trav some."
Travis waved him off. "Leave me out of it. I'm not ready yet."
Tom gave him a speculative look. Then, "We old-timers, Harv an' me, we might just give it a go if you find the right women for us."
Before Kaed could respond, Harv narrowed his eyes at Tom's playful remark. "You ain't hurtin' too bad, Tom, if you can talk like that."
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