“Sorry, it took longer than I thought. I managed to salvage a few things from the wagon. Most of the food in the stoneware containers was unspoiled. I found a blanket and tied everything up in that to get it back here. A bag of flour had been knocked on to the ground, so I got that as well. A pity you’re not well enough to cook something for supper.” He moved around the cave. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, um, I need to relieve myself.”
“Okay.”
“Real bad.”
He laughed. “There is a clump of bushes nearby, I’ll take you over there. You’ll have to trust me not to peek”
Clasping her uninjured hand, he helped her stand. “The ground is fairly smooth and flat in here.”
“Thank you.”
The moment she stepped outside the cave, she felt the chilly air and shivered.
“Now, be careful, it’s rough out here. Right here will do. I’ll leave you behind these bushes and turn away. Call out when you’re ready to go back. Don’t worry, I promise to keep my back turned.” Laughter edged his voice. He obviously found her predicament amusing.
Could she trust him not to watch her? She only had his word that he would turn away. What was wrong with her? He had acted in a gentlemanly manner toward her. Anyway, she could wait no longer. It was not easy fumbling with her clothes, but for a king’s ransom she would not call him over.
Finally, after relieving herself and adjusting her clothing as best she could, she called out to him. Within a couple of seconds, he was beside her.
“Ready to go back?”
“Yes, please.”
“I didn’t peek, Mary. I’m a man of my word, believe it or not.”
Strangely, she did believe him. They linked arms and started back toward the cave. “Finn, are you married?”
“What!” He stopped dead.
“Are you….”
“I know what you said. Why would you want to know that?”
“I just wondered.”
“No, I’m not married, and I never will be.”
“Ever?”
“I have to get you back inside, then collect more wood and stoke the fire up for us.”
“I’ve made you angry?”
“No. What would you like for supper?” He deliberately changed the topic.
“Beans again?”
He laughed and she was glad they were back on a friendly footing once more.
“Maybe I could use some of the supplies I brought back, but I’m not much of a cook.”
“I’m a good cook,” she said.
“With bandaged eyes?”
“Well…. Did you say you found flour?”
“Yeah.”
“Sugar?”
“Yeah.”
“I had butter stored in a stoneware jar.”
“Yeah, it’s here, looks like it melted then set again.”
“There wouldn’t be any milk, but if you mixed the flour with a little water, added sugar and stirred it into a runny batter, grease the pan with the butter, you should be able to cook pancakes.”
“I guess I could do that.”
Chapter Five
After about ten minutes the food was ready. Hot pancakes washed down with coffee was unexpectedly good. “See, you can cook when you want to, Finn.”
“Only because I had a good teacher. It’s starting to get dark; do you need to go outside again?”
“No.”
“Okay, I’m going. I want to bring Maverick in here, too.”
“We have to share the place with a horse?”
“Yeah, too risky leaving him outside up here. The place is notorious for mountain lions.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
“He’ll be a good boy if I give him a few oats to keep him happy. Besides, he can be our chaperone.” Laughing, he strode off.
Chaperone? She had not thought of the propriety of her spending the night with a man. You fool. They had no choice. If it ever got out, her reputation would be ruined. I certainly won’t be telling anyone. It was hardly likely Finn would, either. The man was an enigma and it was hard to know how to take him. She liked him and was honest enough to admit it – to herself. What did he look like? She would probably never get the chance to find out.
“Now, my boy,” she heard Finn say. “You be on your best behavior because we have a guest sharing our cave.”
“He won’t tread on me, will he?”
“No, I plan on taking him down the back where the roof isn’t solid rock. It’s mainly roots and grass, which lets in some natural light and air, so he won’t feel too closed in.”
She felt the heat of the horse as he passed by, caught the not unpleasant scent of him. Finn went up even further in her estimation because he obviously cared for his horse’s welfare.
Thinking about the outlaw’s poor horse being ridden to death, broke her heart. She only hoped their horses fared better. The fact there were two of them should help, as the evil man could swap from one to the other.
“Okay.” Finn stepped over to her. “That’s one of us tucked up all comfy for the night. What are we going to do? And I’m not offering to sleep outside.”
“I didn’t expect you to.”
“You’re not as pious as I assumed a pastor’s daughter would be.”
“I’m the same as any other woman.”
“I doubt that. I’ve got my bedroll spread out ready in the corner, you take that. I’ll use the blanket from the wagon and sleep near the fire. That’s the best I can do, Mary.”
He came up closer and helped her up. “About four paces. How are your face and arm feeling?”
“A little better than before. I think your salve is working.”
“Good, sleep well, Mary. I’m sure you’ll feel much better in the morning.”
“Thank you. I wish there were some way I could repay you for what you’ve done for me and my father.”
“There is.”
“You name it and I’ll gladly do it.”
“Get well quickly.”
He let go of her hand and she sank onto the bedroll. She could hear the horse stamping his foot every now and again.
Mary rolled on to her side and the scent of Finn filled her nostrils. She breathed in deeply and her last conscious thought was what would it be like to have him kiss her.
***
“Hey, wake up.” Finn’s voice as much as his hand on her shoulder stopped her frantic movements and the screams rising in her throat. “It’s all right, you were having a nightmare.” He pulled her into a sitting position and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re safe. I won’t let anything hurt you.”
She was trembling from head to toe, and her legs felt so cold she feared they might have frozen. “What’s that noise?” She clung to him and he patted her back.
“It’s rain, torrential rain by the sounds of it, driven by an icy wind. Winter is only a couple of weeks away. These storms often blow in without warning.”
“I’m freezing.” Her teeth chattered.
“Don’t go getting sick on me, Mary.” He made to push her away.
“Don’t go, stay with me.”
“I can’t, you don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I want you to hold me, keep me warm and safe.”
“Yeah, well, it might not be too safe for you if I do.”
“We’re both fully clothed.”
“Yeah, well, it wouldn’t take much to change that.”
She should not be putting him in this position. Father was dead, she was blind, and her face and arm ached, not to mention some vicious outlaw might be prowling around outside. Finn was a strong man and the heat from his body infused hers with warmth, gave her comfort.
“Okay, just until you fall asleep.”
“Thank you.” She liked the feel of his hard, muscular body, his male scent, even though she shouldn’t.
They lay facing each other, her injured arm resting against his waist.
“Do you always wear
your guns to bed?”
“Out here I do.”
“I wish I could see what you look like.”
He laughed. “You might not like what you see. Go to sleep, I want an early start in the morning.”
When Mary woke up, she was alone, shivering with cold. The pain around her forehead had subsided to a dull ache. She now felt as if every bone in her body had been jarred.
“Finn.” Her voice sounded scratchy.
“Yeah, I’m here. I’m building up the fire. Luckily, I thought to collect extra wood and stack it inside to stay dry. Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, please. Do you have two cups? I didn’t think about it yesterday.”
“I’ve got one for drinking and one for shaving.”
“I drank out of a shaving cup?”
“No, I did.”
“Can you help me up, please? I feel so stiff, like every bone in my body is broken.”
“If you rolled off the wagon, it would have been a fair drop. You were lucky you didn’t break anything.”
She sensed his approach, then felt his hand clasp hers. Groaning with pain, she struggled to her feet. “I feel awful.”
“Your face is badly bruised and there are nasty scratches from the nose up. Your face has been really messed up.”
“Are you always this brutally honest?”
He linked arms as she tottered beside him.
“Yeah, I guess so. I’m not used to dealing with pretty young women like you, Mary.”
“How do you know whether I’m pretty or not?” She wondered why she was carrying on so foolishly. What did she expect him to say? “You’re beautiful. I’m in love with you.” Where had that thought come from?
“You have pretty honey colored hair, and what I can see of your skin that’s not bruised, is smooth as porcelain. I’m betting you will be real pretty when your face heals up.”
“I might be ugly.”
He helped her sit down close to the fire, as she could feel its warmth. He had obviously lit it near the entrance of the cave, otherwise the rain would have doused it.
Laughing, he said, “No, you won’t be. Better for me if you were a hag.” He muttered the last few words. “What would you like for breakfast?”
“I don’t feel hungry.” The way she felt at this very moment, she would probably never want to eat again.
“We’ll share some beans.”
“I don’t want anything, just the coffee.”
“Don’t get sick on me, Mary.”
“I don’t think I can leave here today. I feel too sore. I won’t be able to stand the jarring of the horse.”
One look at Mary and Finn knew she wasn’t well enough to ride today. He cursed under his breath. He had liked holding her in his arms last night. Had wanted to kiss her so badly he’d had to get up and sleep away from her.
She was dangerous, made him feel things a man in his position shouldn’t feel. He was a bounty hunter, a drifter, while she was the sheltered daughter of a pastor.
He knew without doubt her father would have guarded her closely, probably wanted to marry her off to some old man, because he could keep her in comfort.
None of his business who she married, he told himself. It was not as if he could marry her. If he could collect the five-hundred-dollar reward, he could give up this way of life, do something different. What, he had no idea. A job as a sheriff in a small, peaceful town would suit him just fine.
He ran his hand across his bristly chin. Maybe the coffee would revive her enough to ride. He had taken Maverick outside and tethered him by a long rope, so he could graze not far from the cave where he could keep an eye on him. He poured the coffee into the drinking cup for Mary and kept the shaving one for himself. The first coffee he had drank out of it did have a slightly soapy taste, even though he had washed it. This morning the coffee tasted fine.
Mary’s plait was unravelling, the loosened strands falling down her back. Even with her face battered he could see she was pretty. Fine bones, creamy white skin and full, kissable lips. He shook his head. This crazy thinking had to stop – immediately, if he valued his sanity.
Chapter Six
Two days passed.
Finn had returned to the wagon a couple of times to gather more of the unspoiled supplies. He had mentioned finding a patchwork quilt and a family bible, plus a few pieces of jewelry and family papers in a tin trunk, and had taken them out and brought them back to the cave. Even though he had left the tin trunk behind, Mary’s obvious happiness made his heart soar. He had also helped himself to the wine he had found. Probably communion stuff, but beggars could not be choosers.
Today he was going to remove the bandage from her eyes, and hopefully the swelling would have gone down enough for her to see. They could not stay here much longer. If winter came early, it would be even harder to get Mary back to Calico Corner.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, I’m praying hard, Finn.”
“Yeah, well, I hope it works.”
He started to unroll the bandage. “Don’t try to force your eyelids open, you might do damage. We might need to dampen them with water.”
“All right.” She grasped his wrist. “I’m sorry I upset all your plans.”
Upset his plans? She did not know the half of it. Sweet Mary had made him really think about his future, something he had never done before. Could a man like him change his ways?
He was shocked at how his thoughts were running, even more so on seeing the tremor in his hands as he lifted the bandage away. The redness had faded, and the swelling had receded a little, leaving her with two black eyes and a bruised forehead. Her eyes flickered and partially opened, causing him to exhale a noisy breath. She had cornflower blue eyes, as beautiful as he had imagined them to be.
Mary slowly opened her eyes, even though the lids felt sticky. The first thing she saw was a dark-haired, unshaven man kneeling in front of her. “You need a shave.”
He laughed. “Those are the nicest words I’ve ever heard, except for the Irish lullabies I can vaguely recall my mother singing to me.”
She made to stand up.
“Take it easy for a few minutes and stay back here for a while until your eyes adjust to the light. I might as well check your arm, too. Maybe put on more salve.”
He stood and stepped over to his saddlebags to retrieve the tin. Obviously Finnigan Muir was a tidy, well organized man. On the one hand, she felt dreadful for keeping him from his work, but on the other hand she was glad to have him to herself. What would happen to her once he delivered her to Calico Corner? After meeting Finn, no other man would ever compete with her affection for him.
He returned with the tin in one hand and knelt in front of her again. His ruffled, overlong hair somehow suited him. She was acting foolishly, yet could not stop herself. As he lifted the bandage on her forearm, she winced.
“It doesn’t look too bad, no infection, thank goodness.” The arm was still reddened although the blisters had burst, leaving the skin a little raw.
He applied a liberal amount of salve and she liked the cooling feel of it.
Except for losing her father, she had gotten off lightly, all things considered, because of the man kneeling before her. Their gazes held as she stared into his blue green eyes. Love filled her heart for this man and not only because he had saved her life.
“Um.” He appeared as affected by her as she was by him, as he hurriedly climbed to his feet. “Maybe we should have a drink of wine to celebrate.”
“It’s communion wine.”
“Yeah, I guessed as much, but it tastes okay, although I prefer whiskey.” He went to step over to where he had stacked the supplies he had retrieved from the wagon. Father’s tin trunk had done the job and saved the treasured items Finn had retrieved. It was all she had left of her family now.
He took a swig out of the bottle before tipping a little of the wine into their cups. She stood and shuffled over to him. His surprised expression turned into
a grin, rapidly escalating her heartbeats. He handed over her cup.
“To Mary Schultz.” He touched his cup to hers.
“To us.” The words fell out of her mouth of their own volition.
His eyes widened. Silence hung between them, stretching her nerves to breaking point.
“There is no us, Mary.” He downed his drink in a couple of gulps.
“Why can’t there be?”
“Because we’re too different. I’m a bounty hunter, despised by most decent folks, unless they need me. A drifter with no home, nothing to offer a cosseted, well brought up pastor’s daughter.”
“I don’t have a home, either. We spent a lot of time traveling. You could say my father was a wandering pastor, our last stopping place was Calico Corner. I have no friends or relatives. Nothing.”
“You’ll soon make friends when you settle somewhere.”
“What do you think the people of Calico Corner will think of me after they find out we’ve spent all this time together unchaperoned?”
“They certainly won’t find out from me,” he snapped. “It couldn’t work between us.”
“It could. I….I’ve got feelings for you, Finn.”
“Gratitude because I helped you.”
“More than that. Kiss me,” she said, desperately wanting him to admit his feelings for her.
“Why not? If that’s what you want.” He pulled her to him and lowered his head. His lips were gentle against hers. Stars exploded inside her head as she hesitantly returned his caress.
He hurriedly let her go and stepped back a pace, running his fingers through his hair. The shocked expression on his face told her he had felt the strong connection between them. Taking a couple of deep, shuddering breaths he said, “Mary Schultz, you have hidden fire in you, and I should be horsewhipped for taking advantage of it.”
“I wanted you to.”
“You’re playing with fire, darlin’, a man can only stand so much. This must never happen again.”
“And if I want it to?” When had she become so bold and brazen?
“You might get more than you bargained for.” He turned on his heel and strode off, leaving her in turmoil.
You’ve got your answer, Mary, he doesn’t want you. Well, not for a wife, anyway. She staggered back to the bedroll and collapsed on it. It was sensible staying in the dullness, the light outside did hurt her eyes, as did the tears she tried not to shed. No matter what happened, she would never marry Wolfgang. I’ll get a job, then I can look after myself.
Rescuing the Pastor's Daughter Page 3