The Lawman Said I Do

by Ana Leigh

  He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then trailed kisses along her tear-streaked cheek, the day-long stubble on his chin a tantalizing scrape against the soft skin of her jaw. He reached her mouth and covered it with his own.

  The kiss was gentle, tender in intent. She could taste the salt of her tears on his lips. She parted her lips to choke back a sob, and the pressure of his mouth deepened as he slipped his tongue between her lips and began to stroke the chamber of her mouth.

  Her body throbbed with sensation as their tongues met and tasted.

  Ted had never kissed her with such fervency, had never aroused such overpowering desire. She moaned with sheer pleasure at the tingling sensations swirling through her body when his tongue traced the outline of her lips. Then he reclaimed her lips in a consuming kiss that made her want to believe there had never been any woman before her, any man before him. She closed her eyes and surrendered to passion as he lowered their bodies to the floor.

  When nothing else happened, Cassie opened her eyes and discovered he was staring at her. Confused, she stared back. She tried to slide her arms around his neck to draw him closer, but he held them away. Then he sat up.

  “I can’t do this. I’m sorry, Cass.” He stood up and reached out a hand and pulled her to her feet.

  She felt more bewildered than ever, and embarrassment killed the hot passion that had been building within her.

  “Is this another of your jokes, Colt? The cat playing with the mouse?”

  He grasped her shoulders. “Cass, I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I want you. But not this way. Not on the floor of the schoolroom, knowing that when it’s over, you’ll be eaten up with guilt for betraying the man you love.”

  He was right. But still…“Why should my feelings make any difference to you? You’d have gotten what you vowed you’d get before you left Arena Roja.”

  “I know what I said—so call me a damn fool. Or maybe it’s become a matter of personal pride—that I don’t want to take, I want you to give.”

  He reached out and tenderly brushed back some errant strands of hair from her cheek. “I wish I understood it myself. Maybe I believe you deserve something better. I’m sorry, Cass.”

  He spun on his heel and left.

  Cassie moved to the doorway and watched his tall figure as he disappeared into the darkness.

  “Or maybe it’s because you’re a man of conscience, Colt Fraser,” she murmured softly.

  It was late when Carson retired and the party broke up. As usual, the Braden twins were among the women busy cleaning up.

  After helping Dan James move the tables back into the dining room, Colt made his final round of the town. When he returned, Dan had retired. Colt retrieved his key and was about to go up to his room when he saw a light still burning in the dining room. He went in to turn it off, and Cassie stood up when he entered.

  “Cassie, it’s past midnight. What are you doing here alone?”

  “Waiting for you,” she said. “It seems all I do is apologize to you. I hate what happened between us tonight, Colt.”

  “I told you I was sorry. At least you didn’t do something you’d regret tomorrow.”

  “I don’t mean that. I’m referring to our argument. Why do we quarrel, Colt? I don’t mean to, but it seems we always end up in an argument. And I wish we could be friends.”

  “We are friends. Trouble is, we’re both strong-willed people. But I won’t lie to you, Cass: I want you, and I can’t pretend I don’t when we’re together.”

  “I’ll be just as honest. I feel the same way about you, and I admit I’m running away from it, because—”

  “I know. We’ve been through that enough times, and you know what I think of your arguments on that subject. So I guess we’re at an impasse, Cass.”

  “I guess we are,” she said sadly. “But I want you to know that regardless of what I say to you when I’m angry, I think you’re one of the finest men I’ve ever known, and I care for you very much. I don’t think I’ll ever forget you.”

  “And I don’t believe I’ll ever erase the vision of you struggling to free a calf mired in the mud in that storm last night. You’re an incredible woman, Cass.

  “Come on, honey, it’s late. I’ll walk you home.” He grinned mischievously “If you’re sure that’s what you want to do.”

  “Colt!” she chided.

  “Cassie!” he countered.

  Then he chuckled, took her hand, and walked her home; and Colt, true to form, kissed her goodnight at her front door.

  Chapter 18

  After a restless night of trying to convince himself that he wasn’t the world’s biggest fool for passing up the opportunity to make love to Cassie, Colt checked in with Jethro and then made his morning rounds.

  The town was finishing cleaning up after the previous night’s affair, but as usual, at siesta everything came to a stop. He took the opportunity to go back to the hotel to eat lunch.

  When he entered the dining room, Colt was surprised to see the Braden siblings.

  “Sit down and join us, Colt,” Jeff said cordially.

  Neither woman appeared surprised by their brother’s sudden change of heart toward him, and Colt wondered if Jeff had told them about the shooting lessons. Regardless, it was a relief not to have the tension that had once existed whenever they’d been together.

  He certainly had had his own change of heart toward Jeff Braden. Under Jeff’s former surliness had been a young man whose lack of confidence was taking him down a road toward destruction. Colt held great expectations for him now.

  “So what was your impression of General Carson, Colt?” Jeff asked.

  “Quite a remarkable man.”

  “Indeed he is,” Cassie said lightly.

  Colt smiled at her. She looked very lovely today; apparently she had spent a better night than he had.

  “You look none the worse after the ordeal you and Cassie went through,” Cathy said.

  With the cattle or each other last night, he wondered wryly.

  “Ah do declare, my eyes must be deceivin’ me. Is it really you, Coltran Fraser?”

  The unexpected greeting caused them all to glance up at the frilly-groomed woman with a large peacock-feathered hat perched on her dark hair.

  Colt’s surprise was apparent as he jumped to his feet.

  “Rose Lee Beckenridge! I don’t believe it!”

  The woman offered her hand to Colt, and he brought it to his lips in a quick kiss. Cassie and Cathy exchanged amazed looks when their brother followed Colt’s example and rose to his feet.

  “This is a surprise, Rose Lee,” Colt said.

  “A pleasant one, ah hope.”

  She appeared to Cassie to be one of those self-confident women who monopolized the attention of any crowd she was among. She certainly had done so with the two men at their table.

  “We’re about to order lunch, Rose Lee. Would you care to join us?” Colt asked.

  “Ah’d be devastated if you didn’t ask me, Captain Fraser.”

  The woman turned her attention to Jeff, who was still standing, looking unsure of what his next move should be.

  “And who might this handsome gentleman be?”

  “Jeffrey Braden, Miss Rose Lee Beckenridge,” Colt said.

  “My pleasure, ma’am,” Jeff replied, his face coloring in a deep blush.

  “The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Jeffrey Braden.” Her tongue curled around his first name as her long lashes battered her cheeks in a flirtatious fluttering.

  Rose Lee offered her hand to Jeff, and he kissed it awkwardly, unlike Colt’s smooth gesture.

  “But ah do declare, ma’am sounds so matronly, Mr. Jeffrey. Y’all just address me by my given name.”

  “And these two lovely ladies,” Colt said, “are the Misses Cassandra and Catherine Braden, Jeff’s sisters.”

  “How do you do?” Rose Lee gave them cursory glances and sat down in Colt’s chair. He pulled one over from the next table and squeezed
it in between Rose Lee and Cassie. The waiter hurried over, and they ordered lunch.

  Once settled again, Colt asked, “Perhaps I misspoke, Rose Lee. It is still Miss Beckenridge, isn’t it?”

  Her hand fluttered to her ample bosom, which appeared even more bodacious on her tiny frame.

  “Ah do declare, Captain Fraser, Y’all are embarrasin’ me.” Her pink lips pursed in a pout. “Despite Bubba Danforth’s and Billy Bob McCurty’s offers of marriage, ah could never think of marryin’ any man other than you or Garth.” Frowning, she suddenly grasped his hand. “Garth did survive the war, didn’t he?”

  “He did, thank God. Last time I saw him he was very much alive and well.”

  She clutched at her chest, and once again her bosom became the center of everyone’s focus.

  “My heart would shatter into a thousand pieces if Garth had perished.”

  “What brings you to Arena Roja, Miss Beckenridge?” Cathy asked.

  “The mornin’ stagecoach, Miss Catherine.” Rose Lee tittered in amusement at her own humor. “And please address me by my given name, too. You, too, Miss Cassandra.”

  “That’s most kind of you, Miss Rose Lee,” Cassie said. “Such a lovely name, isn’t it, Miss Catherine?”

  The corners of Cathy’s mouth turned up as she tried to suppress a smile. “Indeed it is, Miss Cassandra.”

  Rose Lee preened with pleasure. “Thank you.” She giggled in delight. “But my daddy always calls me Miss Sugarplum.” Modestly lowering her eyes, she added, “He always tells me I’m as sweet as a piece of candy, doesn’t he, Colt?”

  Colt cleared his throat. “Yes, I remember he did quite often.”

  Cathy smiled. “Isn’t that delightful, Miss Cassandra?”

  “Delightful, Miss Catherine. And how long will we have the pleasure of your company here in Arena Roja, Miss Rose Lee?”

  “Ah understand the stagecoach will be leavin’ in the morning.” She leaned over and placed her hand over Colt’s, lying nearby on the table. He had to duck his head to keep from getting poked in the eye with the peacock feather that jutted from her bonnet.

  “Though if this handsome rogue tried, he could persuade me to extend my visit, Miss Cassandra.”

  “Oh, do call me Miss Cassie. We don’t stand on formality here.” The woman’s honeyed coquettishness was becoming as difficult for Cassie to swallow as a spoonful of castor oil.

  “Other than the morning stagecoach, what did bring you to New Mexico, Miss Rose Lee?” Jeff asked.

  “Actually, Mr. Jeffrey, I’m not comin’, I’m goin’.”

  For some reason beyond the stretch of Cassie’s imagination, Rose Lee tittered again at the humor of her reply.

  “I’m returnin’ to Virginia. My daddy feared for my well-being, so he sent me to live with my auntie Rose Marie in Santa Fe until the war ended.” She rolled her eyes in dismay. “Ah can’t tell you, Mr. Jeffrey, that between her name being Rose Marie and mine being Rose Lee, how distressin’ it was for everyone?”

  “It certainly must have been,” Jeff said, hanging on to her every word like an awestruck schoolboy. Cassie thought he had to be the most naïve person on earth.

  Cathy must have had the same reaction, because she kicked Cassie’s leg.

  “Ouch!” Cassie yelped. To cover the outburst, she quickly said, “Yes indeed, it must have been very distressing. Just think, while the Civil War raged in the South, you and your Auntie Rose Marie waged another War of the Roses right here in New Mexico.”

  Colt, who had maintained an enigmatic expression throughout the conversation, chuckled loudly.

  Obviously history was not Miss Rose Lee’s forte, and Cassie’s comment flew right over her head without even brushing the tip of the peacock feather in the flight.

  The woman’s long lashes whipped her cheeks again. “Dare ah hope that we’ll be travelin’ companions on the way back to Virginia, Captain Fraser?”

  “Afraid not, Rose Lee. I’m headed in the opposite direction. I’m joining Garth and Clay in California.”

  She jerked her head around to him, and once again, only Colt’s quick reflexes saved him the possible loss of an eye as he dodged the feather.

  “Garth’s in California!”

  There was a long pause as everyone appeared to hold their breaths at the threatened spillover of her heaving breasts.

  “Ah do declare,” Rose Lee sulked, “with Garth, Clay, and you gone, there won’t be a handsome man left in the whole county.”

  Colt cleared his throat. “You better not let Jed hear you say that.”

  Rose Lee’s eyes brightened. “Of course! Ah do declare, that’s quite astonishin’ that I forgot about your brother Jed.”

  Much to Cassie’s disgust, the woman batted her eyelashes at Colt again.

  “He’s as handsome a rogue as you and Garth.”

  Her hand flickered to his arm. “Of course, all of you Frasers were devils in disguise. Ah couldn’t believe it when Daddy wrote me that my dear Miss Lissy ran off with a Yankee soldier. Ah was so shocked, poor Auntie Rose Marie had to give me a tonic to prevent me from succumbin’ to the vapors.”

  She shook her head, then patted his hand. “Far be it from me to besmirch dear Miss Lissy—and one of my dearest friends—Colt, but you must admit your sister was always headstrong and outspoken.”

  “I always found her to be mild-mannered and even-tempered,” Colt said. “And I’ve never heard any of my brothers say anything to the contrary. We all adored her.”

  “Ah agree that you and your brothers never could see any fault in Miss Lissy’s actions. Y’all spoiled her rotten, as Daddy always said. Ah hope she’s not been sufferin’ for her hastiness.”

  “Quite the opposite; Clay wrote that he’s never seen Lissy happier. She has a healthy son and a wonderful husband who adores her.”

  Rose Lee snorted. “A Yankee! How could she be happy married to a Yankee?”

  “I’m not the one to ask. Maybe you should ask Clay—he married one, too.”

  The smile slipped from Rose Lee’s face, and she appeared to be slightly piqued. She turned her head to Cassie.

  “Ah hope I’m not offendin’ you, Miss Cassandra, but ah notice your manner of dressin’ is quite unusual for a lady.”

  “Do you think so, Miss Rose Lee? I find it preferable when I ride.”

  “Why would you want to be garbed as a man for ridin’ in a carriage?”

  “I meant on horseback, Miss Rose Lee.”

  “Oh, so you ride to the hounds, too. In Virginia, we ladies wear a ridin’ costume on such occasions.”

  “Rose Lee, you won’t find anyone fox hunting these days back home,” Colt said.

  “Oh, dear, don’t tell me those Yankees have spoiled that simple pleasure, too.”

  “Actually, Miss Rose Lee, I wasn’t referring to hunting. I’m too busy herding cattle to chase down a little fox.”

  Rose Lee gasped in shock. “Herdin’ cattle? Are you suggestin’, Miss Cassandra, that you indulge in such masculine endeavor? Why, that would be considered most shockin’ in Virginia.”

  “Well, in New Mexico it’s considered survival.”

  “Well, ah never would,” Rose Lee declared. “It’s so unfeminine. Ah do declare, I’d surrender my virtue before I’d give up my femininity.”

  Colt began to choke on his coffee. Rose Lee bolted to her feet and began to pound him on the back.

  Leaning over, Cassie whispered to Cathy, “No doubt his reaction is due to how often Miss Rose Lee has proven that theory.”

  As soon as the brief incident was over, Cathy quickly tried to steer the conversation to a safer topic.

  “The war ended a year ago, Miss Rose Lee. What delayed your return to Virginia?”

  “Daddy insisted ah remain in Santa Fe. He said when the war ended, it wasn’t safe for a decent woman to walk the streets.”

  “Why was that?” Cassie asked.

  “Can’t you guess? Why, it must have been terrorizin’,” she said wi
th disdain. “Daddy wrote the streets were full of nothin’ but Yankee soldiers, carpetbaggers, and hundreds of homeless slaves.”

  Cassie could not bear another moment of the woman’s haughtiness and insensitivity. “I can’t speak for the carpetbaggers, Miss Beckenridge, but I’m sure that most of those Yankee soldiers were decent men who would have liked to return to their homes and families. And thanks to the war, those slaves you referred to are free men who have the same right to be on the street as you or your daddy. And that, Miss Beckenridge, ah do declare!” Cassie said as she shoved back her chair and strode out of the dining room.

  “What a despicable person,” she muttered as she headed for the livery.

  Entering its cool darkness, she made straight for Midnight’s stall. “I really did it this time, Midnight,” she said to the horse as she saddled him. “I played right into her hands. Why didn’t I just excuse myself quietly instead of making a scene? Instead I made a fool of myself in front of Colt Fraser. And you know as well as I that Jeff will never let me live it down. Not that I care, considering the way he was slobbering all over that heartless flirt.”

  Sam and the James brothers came in as Cassie was on the verge of mounting.

  “Where are you going, Cassie?” Sam asked.

  “To the ranch.” She climbed into the saddle. “Will you tell my dad and Cathy for me?”

  “How come you didn’t tell them yourself? Is something wrong, Cassie?” Sam asked worriedly. “Did the deputy say something to upset you again?”

  “No, dear, I just feel like being alone for a while. Besides, there are a few things I want to get done there. I’ll probably be gone for a couple of days, so tell my family not to worry.”

  “What do you think’s wrong, Sam?” Bowie asked. “Ain’t like Cassie to ride off for a couple days and not tell Cathy or the sheriff where she’s going.”

  “It’s very suspicious.”

  “Yeah, ’speechis,” Petey seconded with the same worried frown as his companions.

  Sam said, “I bet my best pair of bloomers the deputy has something to do with it.”

  Cassie leaned back against the tree to enjoy the view and reflect on her situation. Here at the Lazy B she could always find peace.