Tempting Fate: A Colorado High Country Novel

by Pamela Clare

  “I come with the authority of God.” Peter was using his sermon voice now. “I speak in His holy name.”

  All at once, it seemed so absurd and sickening—this little man with his threats and self-righteousness.

  Fear became rage. “You are so full of shit. Was it holy when you married underage girls to old men? Was it holy when you beat me with a belt for dropping eggs or asking questions or for no reason at all? Is it holy when you control every element of people’s lives?”

  She realized she was shouting, but she didn’t care. “'There is nothing holy about you, and there never was!”

  Peter held up his Bible. “If any man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father or his mother, and when they chastise him, he will not even listen to them, then his father and mother shall seize him—”

  “Get away from my daughter!” Doug stood there now, Win beside him. “We ought to file charges—for parental neglect, child abuse…”

  “How about disturbing the peace and harassment?” McBride said, his marshal’s badge showing on his jacket.

  Ruth looked uncertainly up at her husband, clearly afraid now.

  Naomi met Peter’s gaze straight on. “Get out, and don’t come near me again.”

  “The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.” Peter was quoting Scripture again. He opened his mouth to continue, but was cut off.

  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves!” Bear’s booming voice filled the pub. He towered over Peter, glaring down at him. “By their fruits you will know them!”

  Peter took a step backward, fear on his face.

  Up on stage, the band stopped playing.

  And then Rain was there. “What’s going on? Who are you people?”

  Peter and Ruth looked at her, saw her dreadlocks and tattoos, the expressions on their faces turning to contempt.

  “This is a den of harlots, a home for the servants of evil,” Ruth said.

  Naomi laughed. “There is more true Christian kindness among these people than you’ve ever shown anyone.”

  Ruth drew her hand back to strike.

  Chaska caught it, held it, his voice laced with menace. “Don’t you dare, bitch.”

  Ruth looked up at Chaska, eyes wide with shock.

  “Get your hand off my wife, or I’ll—”

  “You want to take me on, preacher man?” Chaska held fast to Ruth’s wrist for a moment, then gave her a little shove and released her, moving to stand between her and Naomi. “I’m game. Go ahead and hit me—or have you never hit anyone who wasn’t a woman or a little child? You’re a stinking hypocrite.”

  Team members had gathered around them now, Eric and Austin pushing their way to the front.

  “Need some help, Belcourt?” Austin asked.

  “Hey, Joe,” Eric called. “Looks like it’s time to take out the trash.”

  Joe came up beside them. “I don’t know who you are, but this is my house, and these are my guests. Get off my property before I have you arrested—and before these men kick your ass.”

  “One last chance, Tabitha,” Peter said.

  “That’s enough.” Chaska grabbed Peter by the collar, dragged him toward the door, which Moretti opened for him. “Don’t come near my woman again.”

  He shoved Peter out the door.

  Ruth ran after her husband, the doors shutting behind her.

  “Rico, make sure they leave the property,” Joe said to a big man who wore a hairnet on his beard. “I don’t want them hanging around out there.”

  Naomi turned to Rain and Joe. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know—”

  Rain hugged her. “It’s not your fault, sweetie. Some people are just nuts.”

  Joe rested a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” She was fine—if she ignored the shaky feeling inside.

  “I hope you’ll stay and enjoy the rest of the evening with us.” Then Joe turned toward his patrons. “Sorry for the interruption, folks. It’s over. Enjoy the evening.”

  The band started playing again.

  And then Chaska was there, drawing Naomi into his arms. “They’re gone. I watched them climb into their car and drive away.”

  Naomi let out a relieved breath. “Thank you.”

  A muscle clenched in his jaw, anger still on his face. “I should have punched him. I wanted to punch him.”

  That made Naomi laugh.

  “What was that ruckus?” Old Man asked when they returned to the table.

  Chaska answered in Lakota for Naomi’s sake, Doug adding his perspective.

  Grandpa listened, nodding and eating his fries. “I’m proud of you, grandson. You were a warrior for your woman. That’s how it should be.”

  Chaska sat next to Naomi. “Do you want to go home?”

  She shook her head. “I won’t let them ruin this evening.”

  Doug reached across the table, pressed his hand over hers. “They won’t bother you again. We’ll make certain of that. There are legal remedies we can pursue, but we’ll talk about that some other time.”

  They stayed for another hour until Old Man had gotten his turn on the dance floor with Winona and Doug had taken a shot at the climbing wall, making it to the top on the easiest route with Sasha coaching him and Naomi cheering him on.

  “This is a fun place,” Old Man said, waving goodbye to the Team and getting a kiss on the cheek from Sasha. “Friendly people.”

  Naomi stopped on the way out to give Bear a hug. “Thank you. You were my hero tonight.”

  The small part of Bear’s face that was visible—that band from his upper cheeks to his forehead—turned bright red. “Those people were no good. I don’t like them.”

  Neither did Chaska. They’d been even worse than he’d imagined, the fear he’d seen on Naomi’s face the moment she’d recognized Peter making Chaska want to take the bastard apart—or at least give him a taste of his own belt.

  Chaska watched for them and their vehicle on the short drive home, some part of him worried that Peter might be crazy enough to try to take Naomi against her will, but was relieved to see no sign of them.

  It wasn’t yet nine o’clock when they got home—too early for Chaska to head to bed with Naomi, which is what he wanted to do. They’d had little time alone this past couple of days. While Winona went out to feed Shota and make sure he was safe for the night, Chaska did what Old Man told him to do and got out the games.

  “You seriously want to play Chinese checkers?”

  “What’s wrong with that? We can sit and amuse ourselves and talk.”

  Okay, fine—whatever it took to get through the next hour.

  They played without Doug, who disappeared into Chaska’s office to call his wife again. Winona went first and took the green marbles. Chaska was black, while Old Man was red and Naomi was yellow. By the time Doug returned ten minutes later, the game was almost over, Old Man on the brink of winning—as usual.

  Doug sat across from Naomi. “I’ll be driving home in the morning.”

  Naomi’s head came up, disappointment in her eyes. “So soon?”

  “Star and I want some time to talk about what to say to the kids. We’ll tell them on Sunday. I have to be back at the office in Pine Ridge on Monday.” Doug clearly had something else he wanted to say, his gaze fixed on Naomi. “I can come back down next weekend, drive you and your SUV up to our house. You’re free to stay with us while you recover. It would give you time to get to know us. We can get you enrolled, introduce you to the rest of the family.”

  His words hit Chaska in the chest.

  What did you expect, kola?

  He’d known she had to leave Scarlet eventually. She had an apartment in Rapid City, an online business to run, jewelry to make. She couldn’t stay here forever.

  “I… I really hadn’t decided what I want to do next. I had thoug
ht I might stay here until I’m able to drive myself home.” Her gaze met his, questioning.

  Chaska didn’t want her to go, not now, not ever. But it would be selfish of him to try to keep her here when she had a new family and a new world to discover.

  He willed himself not to show emotion. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you like, but I’m sure your family is going to want to meet you sooner rather than later. You have a lot of catching up to do.”

  There. He’d said the right thing.

  Idiot.

  “We’ve got a nice house,” Doug said. “You would have your own room. There’s running water and electricity, too, and Internet.”

  “Doesn’t everyone have water and electricity?” Naomi jumped one of her marbles over a string of Winona’s.

  Chaska realized that life on the reservation was going to come as a shock to her. “There are lots of people who don’t have either. Old Man only got electricity out at his place—what, eight years ago?”

  “That’s right, but I’m outta light bulbs. Got to get some light bulbs.” Old Man jumped one of his marbles over four of Chaska’s, landing his last piece in Chaska’s corner. He chuckled. “Good game.”

  Chaska glanced at the clock. It was almost ten.

  He pushed to his feet. “I’m heading to bed.”

  “So early?” Grandpa teased. He looked over at Doug and Winona. “You two want to stay up and have another game?”

  Doug nodded. “Sure, but you’ll have to teach me the rules.”

  Naomi stood too, reaching for her crutches. “Thank you all. I’ll never forget this day or how kind you all have been.”

  Doug stood. “Sleep well, daughter.”

  She kissed him on the cheek. “Goodnight, Dad.”

  Chaska followed Naomi up the stairs, arguing with himself. Part of him wanted to tell her what he’d said before they’d found her, explain that he’d been led to her, tell her that he loved her. She ought to know before she decided anything that he wanted to spend his life with her. But the other part of him was afraid that this might influence her decisions, turn her away from the path she was meant to walk. Besides, if they were truly meant to be together, she would find her way back to him on her own.

  He shut his bedroom door behind them, leaned her crutches against the sofa, and sat on the bed beside her. “Alone at last.”

  She leaned against him. “What a day.”

  There was one way he could tell her how he felt about her, a way to tell her he loved her without words, a way to show her how much she meant to him.

  He turned her in his arms and kissed her.

  Naomi gave herself over to Chaska’s kiss, her emotions frayed after all that had happened today. She didn’t want to think about the future—where she would go and what she would do. She just wanted him.

  He kissed her out of her dress and bra and panties, lowering her to the bed, his lips magic against her mouth, her throat, her breasts. She opened her eyes to find herself naked, Chaska looking up at her through brown eyes gone black as his mouth blazed a trail over her skin. Lower he went and lower, her need for him building, anticipation making her ache.

  He took her injured leg, parted her thighs, and knelt between them. “Show me. Reach down, and show me how beautiful you are.”

  It took her a moment to realize what he was asking.

  Her pulse skipped.

  She did what would have been unthinkable until she’d met him, reaching down with her fingers to part herself and expose her most private flesh to his view.

  His gaze scorched her. “Mmm. Perfect.”

  Just watching the effect she had on him, and knowing that he was aroused by what he saw, turned her on. But she knew it wouldn’t end here. Before she could draw another breath, he lowered his mouth to her.

  It was a sensual onslaught, one sensation colliding with the next as he sucked her inner lips into the heat of his mouth, teased her with his clever tongue, tugged on her clit with his lips. Her fingers dug into his hair, and she fought to hold on. Oh, but he knew her now, knew just what pleased her. Two fingers slid deep inside her to stroke her, and soon she was on the edge of an orgasm.

  He lifted his mouth from her, turned to kiss her inner thigh, his fingers still moving inside her. “The climax is more intense when you wait.”

  This was deliberate?

  “That’s not fair.” The tension inside her eased a bit, but the need didn’t.

  He chuckled. “I’ll make it worth your while. I promise.”

  He lowered his mouth to her and began again, lips and tongue and fingers and even his teeth driving her crazy.

  Four times he brought her to the very edge of orgasm, and four times he stopped, leaving her panting and aching and frantic. It was torture. It was ecstasy. It was driving her crazy. “You’re killing me.”

  His lips were wet, and there was little smile on his face, his fingers still inside her, stroking, stretching. “I hope not.”

  And then his mouth was on her again.

  This time he didn’t stop, climax sweeping her away in a wild rush, the intensity of the pleasure leaving her stunned and breathless.

  She lay there, boneless, floating somewhere between heaven and earth.

  The sound of a zipper brought her eyes open.

  He stood there, shirtless, his erection springing free as he pushed down his slacks and boxers. She sat, scooted up the bed, then lay down against her pillow and reached for him. He lay down beside her and took her into his arms, and for a time he just held her, his erection hot against her hip. “You mean so much to me, Naomi. You will always have a home here with me. Do you hear that?”

  It wasn’t “I love you,” but it was close.

  “I don’t want to leave you.”

  He closed his eyes, pressed his forehead to hers. “You need to meet your family and sort through all of this.”

  Then he reached between her thighs and began to stroke her.

  Naomi gasped, her hips jerking, her clit almost too sensitive to touch.

  He seemed to know that. He took it slow, touching, stroking, teasing, until the fire he’d just put out began to blaze again. He reached for a condom, sheathed himself and settled between her thighs, nudging them farther apart with muscular legs. And then he was inside her.

  He held himself off her, his gazed locked with hers, the intimacy of looking into his eyes while he moved in and out of her like nothing she’d ever known. Then he sank into her, his mouth taking hers in a rough kiss, big body enfolding her.

  “Naomi.” He quit kissing her long enough to whisper her name, his eyes still open, still looking into hers. “Cante skuye. Sweetheart.”

  His rhythm began to build, his breathing rapid now.

  Then he held himself still inside her, moving the root of his cock against her clit again and again in slow circles, back and forth until she was out of breath, too.

  She reached down, grasped the shifting muscles of his ass with her hands, her nails digging into his skin. “Yes.”

  She’d never believed in multiple orgasms, but it hit her suddenly that she was well on her way to her first, the ache inside her already blossoming into bliss.

  He ground himself into her, giving her everything she needed.

  “Chaska!” She cried out his name as she came, heaven raining down around her, drowning her in pleasure.

  He reached down to cup her bottom, driving into her hard and fast now, every muscle in his body tense as he focused on his own climax. At last, he came, finishing with deep, powerful strokes, his body shaking apart in her arms.

  Afterward, he held her, stroked her cheek, kissed her, showing her such tenderness that it made her heart ache.

  Long after he’d fallen asleep, she lay awake in the dark, thinking.

  Chapter 23

  Chaska awoke to find Naomi sitting up in bed. She looked like she hadn’t slept, circles beneath her eyes. He sat up, tucked a dark strand of hair behind her ear. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
<
br />   “I’ve decided to go to Pine Ridge with Doug next week.”

  So, she’d made up her mind.

  He ignored the way those words cut through him. “That will make your father happy. It’s good for you to spend time together, to get to know each other, to meet the rest of your family.”

  She leaned against Chaska’s chest. “Will you visit me?”

  It was a five- or six-hour drive to Pine Ridge, something he could only pull off on weekends when he didn’t have extra work. “As often as I can.”

  It wouldn’t be often enough, not nearly often enough.

  You were led to her.

  The thought was no comfort as they took turns in the shower and went down to breakfast. He had a week left with her at most. After that, who knew where life would lead her?

  They joined the others downstairs for a big Saturday breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon with lots of coffee. Doug was delighted by Naomi’s decision, his happiness making Chaska feel selfish. The man had lost twenty-seven years of his daughter’s life and wanted to make that up to her. Naomi had a family she’d never met, a heritage she had yet to discover.

  How could Chaska stand in the way of that?

  While he sat there, drinking his coffee and trying to pretend that he didn’t have a hole in his heart, the two of them started making real plans. They decided Doug would fly back next Friday night and that they would leave Saturday morning, Doug driving Naomi’s Honda to Rapid City. They’d stay overnight there, pack up some of her things, and then head out on the land in the morning.

  “We’d like to have a big reunion, bring the tiospaye together to meet her, and we would love it if the three of you could be there, too. You are the reason Naomi is alive. You’re the reason I found her.”

  Naomi looked hopefully over at him.

  He took her hand. “Of course, we’ll be there.”

  Old Man got to his feet. “Chaska, come take an old man for a walk.”

  Chaska knew this was his grandfather’s way of saying he wanted time alone to talk before he left for the drive home. He tossed back the rest of his coffee. “Let me get my shoes.”