by Ronica Black
Rae heated and glanced away, and Krista withdrew her hand. Rae worked quickly, her heart pounding so hard she thought she’d pass out. She applied the triple antibiotic cream and closed the wound with butterfly bandages, then stood and held out her hand. Krista took it firmly and allowed Rae to help her stand. Her thankful smile disappeared when she tried to walk. Rae took her arm, cupping the forearm with her strong hand. For a brief moment she thought about scooping her up once again and carrying her into camp. The determination in Krista’s eyes stopped her.
Krista grimaced but bit back her groans of pain. Leaning into Rae she said, “Come on, let’s go eat.”
As the two women approached camp, Dwight stopped mid-sentence with Cody and stared. Rae and Krista were walking slowly, their arms linked together, Krista obviously allowing Rae to help her walk over the rocks.
“Well, I’ll be,” he whispered.
“Looks like Ms. Wyler took a spill,” Cody observed.
“Uh-huh. It sure does.” Dwight rubbed his stubble, unable to hide the growing grin that was stinging his face.
Chapter Fourteen
With her injured leg straight out in front of her, Krista sighed, still wanting that swim she’d promised herself. But she was tired and she knew she shouldn’t get her wound wet. She fixed her eyes on Howie. She’d been watching him for a long while. Dinner was warm, hearty, and welcome. Rae had baked the potatoes to perfection and Krista devoured two of them, almost groaning at the softness of each center mixed with butter in her mouth. Howie ate his meal quietly and laughed along with everyone else, acting as if nothing was wrong. In her gut, Krista knew he was trouble, but for the time being all she could do was keep a close eye on him. She’d asked Cody to search his horse and had him hide the two knives he’d found. She’d also asked Tillie to sleep in her tent tonight, wanting to pair up all the women with someone else just in case.
That only left Rae, but Krista’s inner turmoil over the woman was already way too much to handle. She wasn’t about to offer to sleep next to her. Besides, Rae was the last person Howie wanted to be near.
Krista sipped her beer and lowered her eyes from Howie, staring into the hypnotic fire. Her thoughts drifted back to the creek and how warm and strong Rae had felt against her, lifting her as if she weighed nothing at all. She wondered if Rae knew how badly she’d wanted her. That she’d been desperate for Rae to lay her down on the ground and kiss her long and hard, claiming her as her own once and for all. God, she’d wanted it. And the look in Rae’s eyes…so tender, so vulnerable, so…hungry.
“Good night,” Howie grunted as he stood.
Drawn away from her daydream, Krista relaxed as he left, glad he was finally going to bed. She thought about securing his tent flap with something from around the campsite, but nothing came to mind. The rest of the guests followed the troublesome cowboy, all of them tired and ready for a good night’s sleep, and Krista reasoned and hoped that Howie would be fine.
“Well, I guess I’ll turn in,” she said softly. She placed a hand on Rae’s arm and felt the slightest bit of reaction to her touch. She smiled, liking that and remembering the desire she’d seen burning in her eyes. Maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe Rae shared her feelings. Maybe she wasn’t going crazy after all.
“Night,” Rae managed in a raspy voice. She returned Krista’s smile but then stared into the fire.
Krista limped to her tent and paused there to get one last glimpse of Rae by the fire. She seemed lost in thought for a moment, but then walked to her horse where she unlatched her guitar case. With what appeared to be a thick candle in her other hand, she vanished into the darkness.
Krista’s heartbeat sped up at the thought of Rae strumming and singing just as she’d done the night before. She wanted nothing more than to steal away and listen to her, to watch her strong, lean fingers work the strings, just as she wanted them to work her own body. She jumped, torn from her thoughts by a polite question.
“You turning in?” Tillie peeked out of the opening of the tent.
“Yeah,” Krista whispered. Her eyes were lost in the darkness that had swallowed Rae, and she wished that she too could be swallowed up along with her, just her and Rae and the night.
*
An hour later Krista thought she heard the zip of a tent and the scuffling of feet. She turned over and held open her tent, looking expectantly across the fire at Rae’s. But it sat empty, its flaps loose and open.
Shit. Krista was wide-awake and frustrated as hell. Her body was wound tighter than a top and she felt like she would burst into flames each time Rae’s face came into her mind. Next to her, Tillie softly snored and Krista let out a long sigh, knowing she couldn’t even stroke herself to bliss. Not that it would help. She remembered the third and last orgasm she’d had with the young woman from the bar who’d lapped eagerly between her legs. It had been short, hard, and less than sweet. And only obtainable because she’d imagined Rae was the one pleasing her.
“God damn it,” she whispered, pushing herself up and quietly slipping into her hiking boots.
Careful not to disturb Tillie, she crawled from the tent and hugged herself against the chill of the midnight air. Her long-sleeved shirt and sweatpants weren’t holding in much of her body warmth, so she stepped up to the dying fire and tossed on another log. She held her hands out as it flared up, and slowly stretched her sore leg. Dwight mumbled in his sleep from his sitting position against a supply bag, and she covered him with another blanket, then stared into the darkness. She knew Rae was still out there, having listened for her to return. The gentle swish of the creek lured her. Come this way, come this way, it seemed to say as it flowed in the direction Rae was walking earlier.
After debating with herself for a few seconds, she grabbed the flashlight next to Dwight and limped off into the black night. She moved quietly over the rocks and sand, eyes straining until she caught sight of the glowing candle. Switching off the flashlight, she crept closer. Rae sat playing her guitar in the same spot where she’d tended to Krista’s leg. Krista recognized the tune she’d heard the night before last, and her lips parted in awe as she listened. The song was about love and pain. About a woman. A woman who had walked into the singer’s life and changed things. Rae played longer than before, having written more.
Go to her, Krista’s mind screamed. Go to her. She took two steps as Rae stopped, midsong, to write something on a folded piece of paper. Krista took two more steps, her mind made up, then stopped abruptly as a figure appeared, approaching Rae from behind.
“That’s a real nice song,” Candace said.
The candlelight played across her long, bare legs and she tugged her shirt off over her head, exposing round, full breasts. Then she inched down her cut-off jeans and stepped out of them. Rae sat looking up at her in awe, saying nothing. Candace reached down and moved the guitar to the side and then straddled Rae, wrapping her legs around her.
Krista covered her mouth as a whimper escaped her throat. She watched in heartbreaking horror as Candace held Rae’s face in her hands and kissed her long and hard. That’s my kiss. That’s my kiss! Was all she could think as her knees threatened to give and her gut wrenched with a pain she’d never felt before. Candace moaned and ground her hips, pulling her mouth away and grabbing Rae’s hands.
“Touch me, baby,” she said, placing the strong hands on her breasts and throwing her head back in pleasure.
Oh, God. Krista couldn’t take anymore. Fighting tears, she made her way back to camp but bypassed her tent. Instead she stumbled over to Dollar, ran her hands over his snout, and upon seeing his large liquid eyes, she buried her face in his neck and cried.
*
“Krista. Krista, darlin’, wake up.”
Krista stirred as her eyes fluttered against the pale light of morning. She groaned and grabbed her head. Dwight was on his haunches in front of her, a gentle hand on her shoulder. He held out a bottle of water and helped her stand.
Every fiber of her being ached
and her mouth felt like the desert ground, dry, rough and gritty. She sipped the water gratefully, relishing its coolness as it coated her parched throat.
“Feel better?” Dwight stroked the thick black and gray stubble of his beard, his dark eyes concerned.
Krista nodded and then regretted moving her head. Groaning, she ran soothing fingertips over her temples.
Dwight bent and retrieved the empty wine bottle she’d slept next to. Without a word he placed it in the heavy supply bag that held all of their garbage. He would be taking it back to the ranch with him that morning. Krista winced guiltily as she remembered drinking the wine the night before, wanting to dull the sharp pain in her heart. At some point she’d passed out on the cold ground, using the saddle as a pillow, too damn hurt inside to care.
Dwight moved past her again, lifting the saddle to place it on Dollar’s back. He strapped it on and then folded the heavy horse blanket and returned it to one of the supply horses. Krista didn’t remember the blanket, so she assumed Dwight had draped it over her sometime during the night.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Dwight gave her a caring look and then embraced her with strong cowboy arms. “No need, darlin’.”
Krista lightly hugged him, afraid to really let herself go and clutch him. Hot tears burned her throat and she knew she would completely break down if she wasn’t careful. The older cowboy seemed to sense this and he pulled away.
“I’m already packed up, so I’m going to head out.” He picked up his hat and placed it securely on his head.
Krista was sad to see him go. His presence was a great comfort, and suddenly she couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch. “How’s Aunt Judith?”
The pain in her throat increased, though the cause was different. She needed to hear him say her aunt was doing fine.
Dwight fidgeted with his saddle bags. “She’s okay.”
“She told you not to bother me with talk of her, didn’t she?”
Dwight nodded, a knowing smile on his face.
“Give her a kiss for me, will you?” Her heart broke with the thought of Judith. And again the guilt of staying away so long ripped at her insides.
“I will.” Dwight climbed onto his horse and tilted the brim of his hat. He changed the subject as his voice quaked with emotion. “I laid out the Egg Beaters and bacon, along with the tortillas.” He pointed to the rack by the fire. “Y’all have two full coolers and I’m taking the empty ones back.”
“Sounds good.” Krista glanced around and took a mental note of the supplies. Satisfied they would not run out before Dwight returned, she gave him a wave. “Be safe.”
“You too.” He clicked to his horse and started off into the desert, the supply horses behind him carrying the group’s trash.
Krista stretched her stiff body and heard her back crack softly. It was going to be a long, hard day with the condition she was in. She tugged up her pant leg and examined her wound. It was still a little sore but there was no sign of infection. Her gallivanting around in the darkness the night before hadn’t exactly been the wisest thing to do. An image of a nude Candace straddling Rae entered her mind and she cringed, thinking just how unwise it had been.
Needing to think about something else, she looked to the horizon where the sky was turning pink with the rising sun. For several minutes, she watched the hot ball of light rise above the horizon. She didn’t know if it was her peaceful surroundings or the fact that she’d cried herself to sleep with her body worn to bits, but she felt very calm at that moment and in tune with all that was life. At that moment she knew she could handle anything. Whatever came her way. And that whatever was meant to happen would.
Wanting to get a head start on preparing breakfast before Rae woke, she got the fire going and then placed out the pans. A few minutes later she was pouring herself a steaming mug of coffee, loving the smell and taste of it as it stirred her mind and body. Enjoying the alone time, she placed the bacon on the pan and sat down in the camp chair. The strong scent of coffee, the smell and sound of the sizzling bacon, the fresh raked smell of the morning desert, it all caused her to close her eyes and relax. She breathed deep. Her bones were liquid, as were her thoughts. For the first time in her life she was too damn tired to worry.
*
Soon the campsite was bustling and everyone was eagerly awaiting the scrambling eggs except for Rae and Candace. Adam sat in his chair, avoiding Krista’s eyes. Krista stirred the eggs and placed the tortillas in an empty pan to heat them up. The cartons of Egg Beaters were way more convenient than real fragile eggs, and she tried to give herself credit for the wise supplies. Even though she was very much aware of Rae’s absence, she continued cooking, paying no mind.
Howie stepped into the morning looking like a horse had dragged him for miles. She knew he’d had a lot to drink the night before, but considering her similar hangover, she didn’t feel she had the right to say anything. At the very least, he’d slept long and hard, unable to cause any trouble.
As the group each dug into their tortillas stuffed with eggs, bacon, and cheese, Rae finally appeared. Krista glanced at her fleetingly, noticing the wet hair and freshly scrubbed face. She’d been swimming, and her T-shirt and neck were damp from her hair. Krista forced herself to concentrate on her burrito but Rae spoke to her, ruining the apathy she was trying so hard to practice.
“How’s the leg?”
“Fine.” She handed Rae a burrito, hoping she would sit and eat instead of trying to talk.
Rae ignored the plate and didn’t lower her gaze. “I should probably take a look at it.”
Krista fought against the racing of her heart. Rae was wet, fresh, and goddamn near perfect standing against the rising sun. Just as Krista was about to agree, despite her misgivings, Candace appeared from the direction Rae had, equally wet but with less clothes. She breezed into the camp with a secret smile. Same cut-off jeans and shirt she’d worn the night before.
“Good morning, everyone,” she said, brushing past Rae to take the plate Krista still held. “Thank you, I’m starved.” She turned, causing Rae to step to the side to let her pass. She gave Rae a devilish grin and went to sit next to Adam.
Krista closed her eyes, focusing, talking herself down. She didn’t care anymore. It didn’t matter that Rae and Candace had probably been gone all night. That they’d made love until the sun came up and swam nude together in the creek. Or it could just be a coincidence. It didn’t necessarily mean anything had happened.
She opened her eyes and watched Rae run a hand through her hair. Krista’s breath hitched in her throat at first from the sexy sight of Rae finger-combing her wet locks, but then at the dark mark on the side of her neck. It was purple and uneven, just the size of Candace’s mouth.
Oh, God. Krista swayed as the realization slammed home. How could it hurt this bad? She wasn’t supposed to care. She felt her body grow heavy and numb as she stared and heard Candace giggle beyond them. She felt her own eyes deaden, the light from within dimming.
Rae was staring at her, obviously wanting to speak. “After breakfast I’ll check that wound.” She spoke as if everything were fine, as if the mark on her neck didn’t even exist. She even smiled her caring smile.
Krista clenched her hands into fists at her side. “No.”
Rae looked surprised. “No?”
“No.”
Rae just stared, completely confused. “Okay,” she finally managed, drawing it out. “Well, would you mind handing me that last burrito?” She motioned toward the cooler on which the last plate sat.
Krista ignored the request and brushed past her, refusing to say anything at all. Her heart was heavy as lead.
*
Rae rode alone, preferring her own company for the midmorning. Around her the steady stampede of hoofs on hard ground echoed across the land. A hawk cried out overhead, gliding against the pale blue sky, its wings spread wide. She took a sip of water from her canteen and squinted into the rising dust. She ro
de near the center, bringing up the rear as the rest of the group rode about a hundred yards away along the sides.
Replacing her canteen, she eyed the black Stetson that rested on the saddle horn. The hat had been lying there when she’d mounted up after breakfast. Krista obviously no longer wanted to wear it, donning one of Cody’s ball caps instead. Rae rubbed her neck, tired and confused. Everyone had noticed Krista’s rude behavior toward her this morning, but no one had said a word. They’d merely gone about their chores, refusing to make eye contact. Everyone except Candace, that was. She’d laughed and giggled and carried on, just like always.
An image of her nude and voluptuous body came to mind, the contours lit up like gold in the candlelight. Rae shook the thought away, unwilling to let herself go there. She considered Krista’s behavior again. The warmth Rae had detected in her had gone completely. Why? There was no way she could know about Candace. They had been alone, in the dark. But they had both been in the creek that morning; maybe that was what Krista was upset over. Was she jealous? Did she think it was inappropriate behavior, mingling with the clients? If so, why didn’t she talk to her about it instead of just stomping off mad?
Rather than trying to figure out the meaning behind Krista Wyler’s behavior, Rae focused instead on getting back home. She couldn’t wait to see Lindsay and get back to her regular routine. She missed her home, missed the safety of its walls and the peacefulness of her land. The house was a quaint three bedrooms, quite a bit smaller than the Wyler house and not near as nice. But it met her needs and she’d been happy there over the past five years. Her thoughts clouded with sadness. Up until Shannon. Since then she’d used the house as a haven, a place to hide away from the world, leaving only for work, refusing to go out with Lindsay and friends. The house seemed to grow dark and lonely overnight. Her cave. She longed for that safe, isolated place now. The quiet place where she could be alone with her music and her land.