Give Me A Texas Outlaw Bundle with Give Me A Cowboy

by Jodi Thomas, Linda Broday, Phyliss Miranda

  She slipped from the bed and crossed the bathing room to his bedroom. He’d pulled on clean trousers and was sitting by the open windows tugging on his old boots. The cold air blew her gown as if pushing her back, but she tiptoed toward him.

  He didn’t look up but she had a feeling he knew she was there.

  “Your new boots should fit far better,” she said calmly.

  When he didn’t look up, she took one step more. “Are you mad at me?”

  “No,” he answered too quickly.

  “Good,” she played along as she moved closer. “Then, you’d have no objection to a good-morning kiss.”

  “It’s a long time until morning,” he mumbled before looking up at her, and a moment later she was running into his arms. He was her only friend. The only one she could trust. She couldn’t stand to see hurt in his wonderful blue eyes and know that she’d caused it.

  “You promised you’d never be cruel to me,” she whispered. “Don’t turn away from me now.”

  He buried his head in her chest and let out a long sigh, then kissed her wildly as if a hunger for her had almost killed him.

  She laughed as he stood, holding her in his arms, and walked over to his bed. He tossed her atop the covers and stared down at her for a long moment before joining her. “It’s cold in here. You should be under the covers, dear.”

  As the first light shone through the open windows, he tugged the front of her gown open. “If you just want to be touched and nothing more, then touch you I will.”

  His fingers shoved the cotton aside a moment before his warm hands covered her breasts. “But I plan to do so all over.”

  When she gasped, he kissed her deep as his hands made his promise true.

  After a while, he rose his head to look into her eyes. The pain she’d seen was gone, and passion had taken its place. She whispered between gulps for air. “Again, Michael. Touch me again.”

  He pushed the gown off and lowered his mouth to her peak.

  Crying out from the pleasure, she rocked back and forth. He moved back to her mouth, holding her face in his hands as he kissed her.

  “Is this what you want, my love?” His words whispered against her mouth.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  Slowly, he gentled as he removed her gown and lightly brushed over her body with his fingertips. When she shivered, he rolled her onto her stomach and stroked her back, dipping lower until his hand covered her bottom.

  He didn’t say anything as he explored her body with bold strokes that warmed her skin.

  Part of her couldn’t believe she was letting him. Knowing he wanted her wasn’t the same as loving her, but it was close. Reason told her she never wanted another man, but emotions warring in her wouldn’t allow her to stop him. Just seeing the pleasure in his face made her happy. He was a good man who’d had very little pleasure in his life, and it pleased her greatly to know that she could offer him something in return for all he’d given her.

  She finally curled next to him and he pulled a blanket over them both. They fell asleep with her head on his shoulder and his hand spread across her stomach.

  When the household began to wake, Cozette stirred, loving the warmth of him near.

  He opened one eye and looked at her.

  “Can I have my good-morning kiss, please?” she pouted.

  “Of course,” he said, “but only one.”

  He kissed her soundly and pulled away. “Tonight I think maybe you should forget the gown. It will only get ripped. I plan to repeat our early morning activity.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” she smiled.

  “Don’t worry. If you forget, we might have to do it twice.”

  She blushed. “Oh, I see. I should probably warn you my memory’s never been good.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m here to help.”

  They both laughed, but she didn’t miss the warm fire in his stormy blue-gray eyes.

  She tugged the covers around her as she watched him dress. She wanted to ask him if he’d be happy just touching her and nothing more, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer. When he left she’d keep the memories of their nights together close to her heart. She might not have a real husband, but she’d know that once, for a few short nights, she’d been touched completely and lovingly.

  After he strapped on his gun belt and lifted his hat, he crossed to the bed and kissed her on the head. “All day, I’ll think of you here like this and long for the night.”

  He was gone before she could answer. Without giving any thought of what was proper, she curled back under the covers and went to sleep in his bed.

  Her day could wait a little longer to begin.

  Chapter 10

  By the time Michael reached the barn, he’d calmed some. Another night of touching his wife without making love to her would surely kill him, but he’d gladly die. He’d known she wasn’t sleeping after he’d pulled away in the night. He’d lain awake angry at how she’d reacted when he’d told her he wanted her. Surely she wasn’t so young to believe that all they were playing was a game.

  When he’d left her bed and gone back into his room, he’d still been angry and hurt. She was spoiled and he appeared to be no more than a puppet husband. She’d hardly noticed how he’d been organizing the ranch and getting it running back on track.

  Then, she’d come to his room, tiptoeing like a child and looking every ounce a woman in her thin gown that hid little from view. For a moment he’d thought of telling her how impossible her request was. To touch her and not love her was ridiculous. But then, she’d ran to his arms and he’d known he’d have to try.

  He knew he hadn’t been as gentle as he should have been when he’d tossed her onto his bed, but she hadn’t complained, hadn’t protested or pulled away. And, once he’d gentled his touch, she’d let him handle her body, exploring, caressing, tasting wherever he liked. She’d given herself to him in every way but one. The one way only a woman can give herself completely.

  He knew without thought that no other woman would ever satisfy him. If he didn’t have her, he’d be unfulfilled for the rest of his life.

  He walked to the corral, tossed a lead rope around his horse, and entered through the back of the barn, his mind still filled with thoughts of Cozette.

  Two hands were at the front of the barn looking out toward the house as he neared. Neither noticed him.

  The tallest one complained, “Raymond promised us all a bonus after he got rid of the brat of a girl. But she married, so who knows how long a bonus will be coming, if ever.”

  The other added, “We won’t have to wait more than a few days, I’m guessing. I heard one of the men say Raymond plans to get rid of them both.”

  “Run them off or kill them?” the tall man questioned.

  “Probably make it look like an accident, or better yet make it look like those three bumbling uncles of his killed them. The sheriff will take one look at those three and start looping a rope.”

  “Well, I’m not waiting around to be thought of as part of a killing. I hear there’s work up north. I think I’ll head out before something happens.”

  “You’d better stop complaining or the same thing will happen to you that happened to Fiddler.”

  Michael released the strap on his Colt and moved forward. “What happened to Fiddler?” he asked slowly.

  Both men jumped and reached for their guns, but Michael cleared leather first.

  “We don’t know, boss,” the tall one said as he lifted his hands. “We was just talking.”

  “There will be no bonus from Raymond. He got his inheritance forty years ago and squandered it if rumors are true. His brother built this ranch without any help.”

  Michael lowered his gun as he continued, “Raymond has no right to the ranch, gentlemen. My wife is not leaving and there will be no accident.”

  He thought of firing them but reconsidered. He couldn’t afford to make enemies too quickly. “I’d like you men to decide if you wan
t to work for me for a fair wage or pack your gear. But, understand, if you stay, you stand with me, not Raymond Camanez.”

  The two men glared at each other. They were hard men, but not fools. Jobs with good wages and regular food were hard to come by. “We stay,” one said and the other nodded agreement. “None of us believed Raymond anyway when he talked of bonuses when he took over. He’s all talk.”

  Michael holstered his Colt. “All right. I’ve an assignment for you both. See if you can find out what happened to Fiddler and do it without Raymond, or anyone you think might be with him, aware that you’re looking. We need to find the bookkeeper if he’s still alive.”

  Both men nodded.

  Michael eyed the shorter of the two. “Smith, right?”

  “Yes, sir. Ace Smith.” The man seemed surprised Michael remembered his name.

  “I’ll expect that report tonight. I’ll meet you in the chapel after supper.”

  Both men tipped their hats. “We’ll do our best,” Smith said.

  Michael moved away to saddle his horse. It crossed his mind that he could have passed the job along to someone else, but he believed a man should always take care of his own mount. Besides, if accidents were predicted, he wanted to make sure no one got close.

  He saw Smith and his friend saddling up. The tall man walked over to Michael while his friend waited in the morning sun. After a few moments of just standing, the man said, “Mind my asking why you didn’t fire us on the spot, Mr. Hughes?”

  “No, I don’t mind.” Michael climbed on his horse. “I knew a lot of men once who no one gave a second chance to. Some were worthless, but others might have made better men if anyone had let them try.”

  “Fair enough. We want you to know, we don’t hold nothing against your little wife. Thanks for giving us a shot.” The man turned to move away.

  “You’re welcome, Phil.” Michael finally thought of the second man’s name.

  He rode out knowing Cozette would be safe with his uncles watching over her. He needed to make sure the ranch hands were with him and the only way was to spend the day in the saddle. When he reached the cattle he was glad to see two dozen hands already hard at work.

  Michael took the time to talk to each man. He mostly asked questions, unafraid to let them see how little he knew. By the end of the day he knew every man and that they were his men.

  When he rode home he was tired but satisfied. Part of him couldn’t believe that Cozette’s uncle would think of killing her, but he might not feel the same about Michael.

  He wanted time to look over the accounts one last time. They’d agreed they’d confront Raymond tomorrow. It seemed cruel to kick him off the land the day after they buried his brother.

  Michael had told his uncles to guard his wife and that at least one of them should always keep Raymond in sight. He smiled as he walked into the office guessing that Cozette’s uncle probably had had a horrible day with one of them tailing him.

  An hour later, he looked up from the books to find rain splattering softly against the huge windows of what he thought of as his study.

  “My study?” Michael whispered, knowing that this wasn’t and would never be his study, or his ranch. He’d been playing a game of make-believe.

  The woman upstairs would never be his wife. It was all pretend. Somehow he’d gotten caught up in her fantasies. The pretty little liar had taken down the outlaw without one shot. When he left this place he knew his heart would be staying behind.

  Thunder rattled the night and lightning flashed. Michael closed the books, no longer able to stay away from Cozette.

  He was at a run when he reached the stairs and almost collided with the housekeeper.

  “Sorry,” he managed, trying to look respectable and not like the wild kid he was.

  She smiled. “The missus said you’d be home late. She asked that I bring supper up to her room tonight.”

  He nodded as if he wasn’t surprised. “What about her uncle?” Michael didn’t want to sleep without knowing where Raymond was.

  “He left a few hours ago.”

  “For good?” Michael hoped.

  “No.” The housekeeper frowned. “For a ride, I think. He said he wouldn’t be back for dinner this evening and I heard him say he’d shoot anyone who tried to follow him.”

  “My uncles?” Michael asked, worried that one of them might have tried.

  “They’re all three in the hallway. Said they wouldn’t leave your dear one until you got home.” The housekeeper smiled. “I had a meal sent up to them and the cook is baking cookies for them now. Dear little men, all three.”

  Michael wasn’t sure she didn’t have them mixed up with some other three short fat men. He’d never heard anyone pay them a compliment.

  When he reached the top of the stairs, there they were, all on guard. “You watch over my wife today?” he said sharply bringing them all to attention, or as much to attention as they could get.

  “We did,” Abe said. “Had to quit watching Raymond, though. None of us can ride well enough to trail him, so we decided to all guard her.”

  “Plus, here w-we don’t miss meals. That’s something to c-consider.” Joseph pulled two forks from his pocket and placed them on the hallway table. “I w-wasn’t going to take them, Mickey, I w-was just keeping them in case more food w-wandered by. Food comes along here as regular as a train. I ain’t never s-seen the like of it.”

  Michael said good night to them and reminded them that hot cookies were waiting. He realized that for the first time in his life he was proud of them and, more important, they were proud of themselves.

  He opened the door to his room and walked across to the bathing room separating him from Cozette.

  The door was closed, but not locked. When he pushed it slowly open, he swore his heart stopped. She must have just stepped from the tub, her body still dripping as she reached for the towel.

  He saw her completely. Her beautiful face, her long damp hair, her rounded breasts and pleasing bottom. She took his breath away along with the power to speak or think.

  When she turned and smiled at him, he couldn’t move.

  “Good evening, Michael,” she said shyly. She lifted the towel and put it around her back, leaving her front still open to his view. “I thought we’d have a quiet dinner and talk.”

  She began to wrap the towel around her, but his hand shot out to stop her. “Later,” he said, staring into her eyes. “First, I have to hold you.”

  She tugged away from him and crossed the towel over her. “No, first you have to take a bath. Like all ranchers, you smell like a horse.”

  He would have argued, but she began unbuttoning his shirt. He just stood as if stone while she removed his shirt and gun belt. When she began unbuttoning his trousers, he stopped her. “I’ll bathe,” he said. “Alone.”

  The pouty lip he’d spent hours thinking about came out, but she turned and headed to the door.

  He had stripped and slid into the tub and was already thinking of what he wanted to do with her when the door to her room opened. She was still wrapped in her towel, but she was dragging a stool behind her.

  “What do you think you are doing?” he asked with a smile.

  “Watching,” she answered.

  “I should have locked the door.” He blew out all but one of the candles beside the bath.

  “There’s no lock on your side, only on mine.” She sat down as if waiting for the play to start.

  He gave up. He scrubbed off a layer of dirt as fast as he could and then asked for a towel.

  She pointed to one three feet away and didn’t make a sound when he stood and grabbed it. Looking at her was one thing, but having her stare at him was quite another. He planned to tell her so over breakfast.

  “What’s all this about?” he asked as he dried.

  “I’ve decided to change the rules a little. You seem to be having so much fun touching me, I thought I’d touch you tonight, if you don’t mind.”

  He st
udied her trying to figure out what she was up to. They both knew that tonight might be their last night together. Tomorrow they’d confront Raymond and run him off the ranch. Michael knew several men working for her who would be great bodyguards just in case Raymond decided to come back.

  When he left her, he’d leave her well protected.

  It occurred to him that she must want tonight to be a memory they’d both take with them.

  He crossed the room and stood above her, his towel now draped low around his hips.

  She looked up at him without fear. She might never learn to love him, but she’d learned to trust him.

  His fingers slid along her slender throat as they had when they’d first met. For a moment, he tightened his grip as he had in the chapel, holding her firmly, but not hurting her. Then he lowered his mouth and kissed her.

  It wasn’t a hungry kiss, but a slow, loving kiss that warmed them both. His fingers moved down her throat and over her shoulders, then shoved her towel away. “I love the way your skin feels,” he whispered into her mouth as he pulled her up and kissed her again. “I don’t think I could ever get enough of you.”

  Every moment, every move, he expected her to tell him to stop, but she didn’t and he couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight he was a part of her fantasy.

  She didn’t say a word. She opened her mouth, welcoming him as his hands branded across her body. Timidly she brushed her finger over his chest and along his arms. Her touch was so tender it was almost painful. He knew he was lean with a few too many scars across his body, but she didn’t seem to notice as she touched him.

  He turned her toward a long mirror, pressing his body against hers as he watched his hands move over her. She leaned her head back and kissed his throat as her hair tickled across his chest.

  He had to try one more time. “Love me, tonight,” he whispered in her hair. “Be mine for one night.”

  She turned in his arms and kissed him as she pressed against him silently, giving him the answer he’d waited for.