Wild Mustang

by Jane Toombs

  “Stallions do that. Got the whole desert to use, but any one of them with a harem makes a pile of manure, coming back to the same place time after time. Marking territory. If we don’t find any horses near the pile, then we’ll think about picking a good campsite by a stream. Let ’em come to us.”

  Camp. She’d agreed to camping, and she wasn’t about to back down, but the idea of being really isolated with Shane at night rattled her cage. He’d promised to abide by the agreement he’d signed but he was, after all, a man. One she was married to, furthermore.

  She cleared her throat. “About the tent,” she began.

  “Like I said—it’s for you. I prefer sleeping under the stars.”

  “I know, but what if it rains?”

  He shot her an exasperated look. “The day I can’t foresee a storm coming, that’s the day I deserve to get wet. Besides, it rarely rains here in June. I am not, repeat, not about to creep into your tent like some old-time movie sheik.”

  A picture of Zed’s brother Talal popped into her head and, before she could stop herself, Laura giggled. “He is one,” she said. “A sheik, I mean. Jade’s brother Talal.”

  Shane raised his eyebrows. There seemed to be no end to the relatives Laura kept bringing up. “Try drawing me a family tree,” he suggested.

  She threw herself into an explanation that seemed to be a confused tangle until he realized it was her sister-in-law’s relatives who had tangled pasts. Brothers raised in two separate countries?

  “Okay, I’ve got it straight,” he said at last. “They didn’t know until recently that each other existed because they were separated so young. One was left behind in Kholi, and one was raised in the U.S.”

  He did, more or less. Now he knew there were at least two men he’d have to face sooner or later—her brother and Zed Adams. Maybe Talal Zohir as well, if he hadn’t returned to his mideastern country, and possibly some government agent who seemed to be related to Zed’s wife but didn’t actually live in Nevada.

  His plan had seemed so simple at first, involving only Laura and him. But as Grandfather had more than once pointed out, no act was without unforeseen consequences. After a pebble was dropped into a pool, the waves kept spreading.

  “You’d do well to talk to your brother as soon as possible,” he said. “The information highway around here may be word of mouth, but it’s more efficient than you’d believe.”

  She sighed. “I probably should have told Nathan before. It still doesn’t seem real to me—the marriage, I mean.”

  But it was real. Otherwise why would he be feeling responsible for Laura? He’d been furious with those so-called friends of his yesterday when they’d staged the abduction of the bride. And even more so after he’d rescued her and seen the state she was in.

  Like Sage, he’d always had a way with animals and tried to help when he found one frightened or hurt. But Laura was no animal, she was his wife, and it troubled him to realize her terror had been out of proportion to the frightening incident. He felt a driving need to erase whatever had caused that overwhelming panic.

  First, though, she’d need to trust him enough to share her past with him. Considering her wariness with men—not just with him, he’d noticed—any sharing wasn’t likely to be soon.

  They visited the stud pile without seeing a single mustang. Later, as the sun began to edge downward, he found the exact camp spot he’d been looking for.

  Without being asked, Laura helped him set up the tent, but when it seemed she intended to help him with the evening meal, he drew the line.

  “Inside, cook all you want,” he said. “Outside, it’s my job.”

  She eyed him for a moment. “I suppose you’ll let me clean the dishes afterward, though.”

  He shook his head. “Outside, I’ll do it. Inside, that’s up to you and Sage.”

  “Division of labor, Shane’s way? Any other dos and don’ts I should be aware of?” Her tone was challenging.

  He shrugged. “Most are open to arbitration. Grandfather and I haven’t had a woman in the house for a long time. Sage does her best, but she’s still a kid. They got laws about overworking ten-year-olds. You, now, are a full-grown woman so you’re fair game.”

  With hidden amusement he watched her start to puff up indignantly, then stop and shake her head ruefully, saying, “I almost walked into that one. I can see getting to know you is going to be tricky.”

  “I’m an open book.”

  “Going by that last statement of yours, I’d have to say it must be a joke book.”

  He wanted to tell her life wasn’t all that grimly serious, that she needed to kick back and relax, but he knew she wasn’t ready to listen.

  Once they’d eaten, they sat on a blanket near the dying fire. The silence between them felt comfortable to him, but he wondered if she was still uneasy about the night to come. He’d never forced himself on any woman, and he sure as hell wasn’t about to start with her.

  “There’s something about a campfire that’s mesmerizing,” she said finally. “Inside a house, an open fire isn’t quite the same.”

  “Nothing’s the same inside.” Not even making love, he was tempted to add, but didn’t. Somehow, he doubted Laura had ever made love in the outdoors. When it occurred to him he’d like to be the one to show her the possibilities, he clamped down on the thought, eradicating it.

  “The moon’s coming up. I can see it between the cottonwood branches,” she said.

  A quarter moon, waxing.

  The chuckling howl of a coyote drifted on the cool evening breeze, reminding Shane that the Trickster might not be through with him yet. Wait until the moon was full and he had to lie under it alone, with Laura not far away but as difficult to reach as a princess in a tower.

  “Listen,” she said, “another coyote is answering the first one. I always look forward to hearing them.”

  He’d been wrong about her tenderfoot status. The way she helped him set up the tent told him she’d done it before. She rode a fair distance without tiring, knew how to take care of a horse, and was not spooked by the coyotes’ chorus. He’d yet to hear her complain about anything except the mustangs’ elusiveness.

  Look at the way she’d pulled herself together and faced the crowd at the impromptu reception yesterday. No one besides him could have guessed how much willpower that must have taken. He was beginning to appreciate the capabilities of his new wife. She might look fragile, but she possessed an inner strength he couldn’t help but admire.

  Stealing a glance at Shane’s impassive profile, Laura wished she wasn’t so afraid of him touching her. Actually, the few times he’d done so had been rather pleasant. Although, come to think about it, pleasant was a non-specific word like nice. Not really the right word to describe the feelings she’d had.

  But she’d best not dwell on those feelings with the night still ahead of her. A vision of Shane attired in one of Talal’s Arab robes while he crept sheik-like toward her tent made her smile. In her heart she knew he wouldn’t, in or out of Arab robes. And yet she was nervous.

  Never in her life had she been in such a position—alone in an isolated camp with a man she wasn’t related to. Of course, if marriage counted, in a way she was related to Shane. It might help if she could think of him as a brother.

  That made her roll her eyes. No way.

  A friend? She’d never had a male friend and wasn’t sure she could ever manage such a friendship.

  “I wonder what your friends thought about the marriage,” she said.

  “Our marriage? The guys figured my luck was running high. Rhonda told me it was about time.”

  She’d noticed he’d changed her “the” to “our” but decided to ignore it. “No broken hearts among the women?”

  He grinned at her. “Who knows?”

  She made a face at him.

  Mournful hoots from somewhere among the trees startled her into turning to look.

  “Moohoo’oo,” Shane said. “The night flyer is heard but
not seen.”

  “Owl,” she said. “Your word fits him perfectly. Which reminds me—Sage said you were learning to be a medicine man.”

  “It’s not something to be acquired overnight, but Grandfather thinks I might make the grade, in time.”

  She wanted to ask him more, but wasn’t sure her questions would be welcome. Maybe when she knew him better. “I think I’ll turn in,” she said, trying for a casual tone. “See you in the morning.”

  Watching Laura head for the tent, Shane shook his head. He hadn’t missed the little quaver in her voice. He hoped she’d soon realize she was safe with him. It was not only disconcerting to have an attractive woman afraid of him, but he hated to see her on edge.

  After packing up in the morning, they rode back toward the ranch. The camp-out had been, for him, sort of a trial run to see how Laura reacted. Now that he knew she was okay with trail camps, they could stay out several days at a time.

  On the way in, they caught sight of the small bachelor herd but no other mustangs. He figured the others must be off to the north and that well might be a two-to three-day camp, so that’s what he’d plan for next.

  They came in sight of the house near noon, and he frowned when he saw an unfamiliar car parked in the drive. He was about to comment on it when he heard Laura draw in her breath.

  “Oh, good heavens,” she muttered. “That looks like my brother’s car.”

  “The grapevine,” he said resignedly.

  Sage came running out when they halted at the corral and dismounted. Unfolding the Reno Gazette Journal she held, she thrust it at Shane. “Look, you and Laura made the paper. It says right here that ‘according to a colorful Paiute custom, the bride was abducted on horseback and then rescued by the groom.”’

  “Names and all?” Laura asked apprehensively.

  Sage nodded. “That’s why your brother and his wife are waiting for you in the house. They gave me the Reno paper. I think he’s kind of mad.”

  Shane decided that was probably an understatement. “How did the paper get hold of it?”

  “Grandfather called around and found out Hank Roan is the new res correspondent. He wasn’t at the reception, but his wife was.”

  Trust Hank to screw things up, Shane thought. “Ask Grandfather to come help you with the horses and gear,” he told Sage.

  Shane meant to face the music with Laura. She needed his support, whether she realized it or not.

  “I should have called Nathan earlier,” Laura said distractedly, as they headed for the house. “What a way for him to find out.”

  Shane could well imagine how he’d go up like a rocket if Sage were older and pulled a stunt like this. Facing Nathan Walker wasn’t going to be easy. And he’d heard Jade Adams had a temper to go with her red hair.

  Bracing himself, he walked with Laura into the living room. Nathan, standing by the window, hurried to his sister and, taking her hands in his, asked, “Are you all right, sis?”

  Laura’s smile looked shaky as she released herself. “I’m fine, Nathan, and in full possession of my senses, in case that was your next question.” She turned to Shane and surprised him by linking her arm in his. It was the first time she’d voluntarily touched him.

  “This is my new husband, Shane Bearclaw. Shane, this is my brother Nathan and his wife, Jade.”

  The introduction forced a bit of formality into what promised to be an explosive situation as they briefly nodded at one another. Shane saw Nathan take a deep breath but, before he could speak, Jade did.

  “Laura, why didn’t you let us know?” she asked plaintively.

  “It’s my fault,” Shane said. “I’d hoped we could have a private ceremony, but my little sister told her friends and we returned from Reno to an impromptu reception we didn’t realize had been planned. It got out of hand.”

  “I was going to call you,” Laura told her brother.

  “When?” he demanded.

  “Tonight. I—we—had no idea the Reno paper had picked up on the bride abduction.”

  “That doesn’t explain why you didn’t let us know before the fact,” Nathan said.

  “I’m sure if Shane had known I had a brother, he would have insisted,” Laura said. “I didn’t tell him about you until today.”

  She was trying to protect him, Shane realized with amazement. Trying to deflect her brother’s anger away from him.

  Nathan stared at her. “I don’t understand any of this, Laura. It’s not like you.”

  Jade rose from her chair and crossed to stand beside her husband. “Let’s all sit down and give Laura time to explain,” she suggested.

  Shane unobtrusively urged Laura toward the couch so they’d be facing this side by side. Jade seated herself again and they all looked expectantly at Nathan. He scowled, but finally took a chair near his wife.

  “Well,” Laura began, “this has mostly to do with Sage, Shane’s young sister—I think you’ve met her.”

  “Sister?” Nathan muttered.

  Laura nodded. “She’s been living with her brother and Grandfather ever since her mother died two years ago. Recently her father, who’s never paid any attention to her since Sage and her mother came to live on the ranch when she was four, remarried and is now seeking custody of his daughter. Sage is happy here and doesn’t want to leave the only home she’s ever really known.” Laura paused and fixed her attention on her brother. “She’s also aware her father abused her mother.”

  “Surely no judge would grant custody to an abusive father,” Jade put in indignantly.

  “The father is a recovering alcoholic who’s been dry for three years now,” Laura explained. “The judge handling the case felt Sage might be better off in a two-parent home, even though he knows, likes, and respects Shane.”

  Did I tell her all that? Shane asked himself. As I recall, I barely mentioned the judge. Must have been Grandfather. He knows everything.

  “I just couldn’t allow Sage to be exposed to possible abuse,” Laura continued. “I’m sure you can understand that. And Shane, well, he and I get along so well we decided to marry to protect his sister.”

  Shane didn’t so much as blink, even though he was startled by the way Laura was presenting their marriage of accommodation. Get along well?

  “You married a man you hardly know so he can keep his sister?” Nathan’s voice was heavy with disbelief.

  “Of course that wasn’t all!” Laura sounded positively indignant. “I like Shane. We’re quite compatible.”

  “Good for you, Laura,” Jade said unexpectedly, causing her husband to stare at her.

  “It may not be the usual reason to marry,” Jade went on calmly, “but it’s one I can understand. I do wish you’d shared this with us ahead of time, though.”

  “Nathan would’ve tried to talk me out of it,” Laura told her. “He couldn’t have, but I thought it was simpler to wait until the ceremony was over.”

  Nathan looked from one woman to the other. “You’re condoning this?” he asked his wife.

  “When I think of how desperately you and I wanted to keep Tim,” she told him, “I can understand Shane’s feelings. And Laura’s. She’s obviously already very fond of the girl, and Shane, too, or she’d never have agreed. Remember, she wasn’t coerced into the marriage. It was of her own free will.”

  Taking a deep breath, Nathan faced Shane squarely. “I don’t like it, but I’ll accept the marriage, given the reason. Laura is—she’s special. I wouldn’t want her hurt.”

  Shane met his measuring gaze. “Your sister is also special to me, Dr. Walker. I give you my word she’ll never come to harm at my hands.”

  He meant every word and, apparently, Nathan realized he did, because he gave a slight nod.

  Sage bounded into the room, saying, “I fixed iced tea for everyone. Who likes sugar or sweetener?”

  Jade smiled at her. “How nice of you. Plain for me, please.”

  After that, Nathan could hardly refuse, Shane thought. And he didn’t. “Swe
etener,” he told Sage gruffly.

  Laura could have kissed Sage. There was something about accepting food or drink in someone’s house that made for cordial exchanges at the very least.

  Jade commented on Shane’s mustang carving. “I recognized your name when I saw the article in the Reno paper. My brother Talal has one you did of a hawk. He says it reminds him of the falcons in Kholi. You’re very talented.” Jade’s words pleased Laura. Shane was an artist with wood, and she was glad to see others recognized it.

  “Laura mentioned your brother today,” Shane said. “I’m happy Talal enjoys the hawk.”

  With a glance at Nathan, Jade said, “We’ll have to have you out to Zed’s ranch to meet everyone.”

  Nathan grunted.

  “First though, we’re going to ask you to visit us in Tourmaline.” Jade fixed her gaze on Laura. “Give me a ring to set a time that fits into your schedule.”

  “I’ll do that,” Laura said, understanding that whether or not Nathan wanted any further contact with Shane, Jade meant to make sure he was included in the family.

  Jade’s kindness touched her, but also alarmed her. Their marriage wasn’t forever, making it awkward to be accepted into the family as a couple when they really were not. And why had she embroidered the plain facts of their marriage with what were half-truths at the most?

  When Nathan and Jade got up to leave, Shane told her brother he was glad they’d met, calling him Dr. Walker.

  “Nathan,” her brother muttered. “I don’t answer to “doctor” except in the office.”

  Laura concealed a smile. First names. A small concession, but one all the same.

  She reached up and kissed her brother on the cheek, whispering, “It’s okay, really. Don’t worry.”

  He gave her a doubtful smile before following Jade down the porch steps. Laura was about to close the door when she heard Jade say to him, “Don’t you see? This guy may be your sister’s only chance to be happy.”

  She stood for a moment with her back to the closed door. Shane, still in the entryway but too far away to have heard Jade’s words, asked, “Everything all right?”

  “I think so,” she said absently, turning over in her mind what her sister-in-law had said.