The door flew open and Jack stuck his head in the tent. “Cole, you best get out here.”
Lucky moved to the door, but before stepping out, he glowered at her. “You take one step out of this door and I’ll paddle your backside.”
She opened her mouth, but clamped it shut when his glare increased.
“I mean it, Maddie. I’ll paddle you in front of all those men.”
As furious as his statement made her, she had to remember he hadn’t broken a promise, not yet. Not even with broken ribs. She slapped her arms across her chest, glaring back.
Lucky turned around, and moments before slamming the door shut, he shooed a squawking Homer inside the tent.
“Don’t say a word,” she snapped at the bird.
Homer hopped and flapped his wings, crossing the room to stop before her, where he promptly stuck his head under one wing.
She rolled her eyes, but went to the shelf and pulled down the bag of raisins. After dropping a pile on the floor, she went to the door and opened it a crack. A broad back, Albert’s no doubt, completely blocked her view.
“Don’t make me lock you in, Mrs. DuMont,” he said without turning around. “But know I will.”
She shut the door and let out a few choice words, which Homer repeated verbatim.
* * *
It was a damn nightmare. That was the only way Cole could describe it. Ridge or Rodriquez, whatever his name was, had gotten away. Once persuaded, Elwood Reins confirmed they’d hidden a boat in one of the tributaries. With all the rain lately, what had been little waterways were now deep enough to sustain boat travel, and several of those creeks weaved around the mine.
There was but one choice.
Upon seeing the parameter secured by his most trusted men, Cole drew Abe, Albert and Tim into a huddle. His ribs were killing him, his mind was a mangled mess, but the brothers refusing his request was the last straw.
“Why not?” Cole demanded to know. “It’s a hell of a deal.”
The brothers glanced at each other. Abe was the one who spoke. “What about Maddie?”
Impatient and irritated, Cole asked, “What about her?”
“The mine’s half hers. Does she want to sell it?”
Cole glanced toward the tent. No, she wouldn’t want to sell it. She didn’t want to leave it, either. But she would. Even if it meant dragging her kicking and screaming all the way to Bittersweet. That he could do—drag her out of here—but selling the mine, he couldn’t. “Let’s make another deal,” he said. “A partnership.”
The brothers were more amicable about that, and Cole agreed to the changes they made to his offer. His mind was more on getting Maddie to safety than money. He wasn’t so sure he’d ever felt that way before, but didn’t waste time contemplating it. Convincing Maddie it was time to leave was not going to be easy, and that was what he kept his focus on.
He entered their tent with a gut full of determination and a head full of reasons to combat her refusal, only to be taken aback by the canvas sacks—packed full—sitting on the bed. She was stuffing things into another one.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m making sure Trig doesn’t get fifty percent of my gold,” she said, acting too busy to look up. “I’ve worked too hard to let you go chasing down Mad Dog and getting yourself killed.”
“I’m not—” Cole stopped. She’d made up her mind to leave, which was precisely what needed to happen. Yet he couldn’t discount the fact he was forcing her to leave—to do something she didn’t want to do. That she didn’t want a man telling her what to do. Stepping forward, he turned her around by her shoulders. The apprehension in her eyes snagged his heart harder than a grappling hook. He brushed her hair back from her face and tucked strands behind both ears. “Trig made me promise the same thing.”
“To give him fifty percent of your gold?”
Cole bit the inside of his lip. Shaking his head, he answered, “That I look after you. Make sure nothing happens to you.”
“I’m fully capable of looking after myself,” she said.
Fully resigned not to argue, Cole nodded. “I know, but Trig didn’t know you as well as I do.”
She nodded and diverted her gaze. “I’m sure you have enough gold to help your family. If not, I’ll give you some of mine.” Staring up at him again, she said, “Mad Dog will come back. I know he will. We need to leave.”
That snagged at him, too—the want to catch Ridge still had a hold on him. Electing to ignore that for a moment, he asked, “What about the Big Bonanza?”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” she said. “I think we should sell it to the Fenstermacher brothers.”
Cole withheld a grin. “What if they don’t want to buy it?”
“Not want to buy it?” she asked. “They’d be fools not to. We’ve barely tapped into that vein. The Big Bonanza will be profitable for years to come.”
“Yes, it very well could be,” he answered. “Are you sure you want to sell it?”
She laid a hand against his cheek. “To save your life, yes.”
“So Trig doesn’t get fifty percent?” Cole had no idea why he asked that, other than he truly wanted to know if that was her only reason.
Shaking her head, she stretched upward and planted a tiny kiss on his chin. “I’d give him a hundred percent if it guaranteed your safety.”
He pulled her into a hug. “There’s no worries there, darling.”
“So we’re leaving?” she asked. “Going to Bittersweet? Now?”
“Yes,” he said. “We’re leaving.”
* * *
Maddie wanted to leave, but when it came right down to it, she was torn. Saying goodbye to the Fenstermacher brothers was much more difficult than she’d imagined, and though she kept her tears hidden, the big men didn’t. All three of them had moisture welling in their eyes as they hugged her goodbye. The fact they now owned a major portion of the mine could have been partial cause, but considering they hadn’t started sniffling until it came time to say farewell told her differently.
“You’ll come back?” Tim asked, his voice uncommonly soft and broken. “To see us?”
Maddie couldn’t bring herself to speak. Her tears would break loose if she did. Instead, she stretched onto her toes and kissed his cheek.
“You be sure to make arrangements with the bank,” Albert told Lucky while pulling her from Tim’s arms for another hug. “So we know where to send your share of the profits from the Big Bonanza.”
Maddie grinned. She had no doubt the brothers would assure the mine continued to be profitable, and was more than pleased with the agreement they’d made. The brothers hadn’t even seemed surprised when she’d approached them, and she was overly thankful for that. She certainly didn’t have time to haggle over details. Getting Lucky away from Mad Dog as soon as possible was her one and only focus.
“I’ll see they do,” Abe answered, taking a bag from Sylvester and setting it in the boat. “Won’t let them get on the ship until they do.”
“You take care of yourself,” Maddie told Tim as he took her hand to help her into the boat. Of all the brothers, she’d miss him the most.
Tim let out a barrel laugh. “We will. You take care, too.” He gave her a wink then. “Don’t worry, we’ll see each other again someday.”
“We’ll get word to you,” Lucky said, taking her other hand. “Let you know where Maddie builds her big house.”
Maddie’s heart skipped a beat. She’d told the brothers about her goal, her big house, but now, leaving them, that house had lost some of its appeal. Actually, it had lost most of its appeal over the past few months. That, as well as the fact she didn’t know what would happen after they sailed south and met up with Trig, made her stomach flip. She knew one thing, though. Mad Dog would follow whereve
r she went. Leaving here would mean the miners were safe, and that was what she’d have to do after paying off her debt to Trig. Leave. That would be the only way to keep Lucky safe.
He aided her steps over the sacks containing their possessions, and the tears she’d been holding at bay burned harder. Yet the way he was still holding his ribs with one hand told her this was how it had to be.
As Lucky settled her onto one of the bench seats, she turned her blurry-eyed gaze to the boat beside them. Jack was piling stuff into Truman’s boat, and Homer had already made himself comfortable on the pointed front of the boat. She was glad they were leaving, too.
The boat rocked slightly as Lucky sat down next to her. Sylvester and Abe gathered up the oars in the front and back of the boat while Tim and Albert gave the craft a mighty shove, sending it out to catch the southbound current. The two then pushed out Truman’s boat, with him and Gunther rowing and Jack, Homer and the doctor as passengers.
Maddie waved at the men lining the shore and cracked a smile as Homer squawked a garbled farewell. She tried to hold the grin on her face when Lucky looked at her, but it wobbled and she had to close her eyes against the tears that still persisted.
He wrapped an arm around her and encouraged her to rest her head on his shoulder. She did so, too distraught not to. Mining had been a tremendous adventure, and she’d found gold. Lots of it. She’d found other things here, too. Friends. People she cared about. Yet in reality, she was no different than the girl who had left Colorado. She was still running from Mad Dog. That, it seemed, would never end.
It was almost dark when they arrived in Bittersweet, and from the looks of him, Lucky was hurting. The doctor noticed it, too, and didn’t listen to Lucky’s protests. With Maddie’s persistence, Lucky finally held still long enough for the doctor to check the bandage wrapped around his ribs.
“I don’t think they’re broken,” the doctor said. “But you’re mighty bruised up. One or two could be cracked. A few days in bed is what you need.”
“I’ll be fine,” Lucky insisted.
“They’ll be staying at my place, Doc,” Truman said. “I’ll see he gets some rest. You can stop by tomorrow and check on him.”
Grateful for the other man’s kindness and support, Maddie smiled at Truman as she took Lucky’s arm. It was a fair way to the store, yet she said, “It’s not far. We’ll go slow.”
“I’m fine,” Lucky told her before he said to Truman, “Make sure Gunther follows us.”
The marshal and his men had stayed at the mine, still searching the woods and creeks for Mad Dog. Maddie now wished they’d rowed to town, to keep an eye out here. Gunther, as well as everyone else, including her, had their guns handy, but Mad Dog was sneaky.
Sylvester managed to secure a team of mules hitched to a wagon, and once all of their belongings were transferred from the boat, she pleaded with Lucky to climb onto the wagon seat. He refused, but finally conceded to sit on the tailgate. They’d barely gone a few yards when he leaped off. She jumped off, too, taking his arm.
When Sylvester slowed the wagon, Lucky waved him on. He turned to her then. “It’s easier to walk than ride on that bumpy thing.”
It was good and dark by the time they arrived at Truman’s store. While the men unloaded the wagon, Jack helped her get Lucky into the cabin.
“You two can stay here,” Jack said. “Homer and I will bed down in the barn with Gunther. So will Abe and Sylvester. Truman only has one bed in his place.”
Maddie didn’t protest as she pulled back the covers, preparing a spot for Lucky to lie down, and she assisted in removing his coat. His deep sigh as he lowered onto the bed told her just how bad he was hurting. Jack started a fire before he left, and she used the time to pull off Lucky’s boots and tug the covers up to his chin.
His eyelids fluttered open for a moment as he said, “Thanks, Maddie. I just need to rest for a minute.”
The tears were back, smarting as sharply as ever. His bruises were turning darker, and both eyes were swollen. There was a cut in the corner of his mouth, too, and all she could think about was how it was her fault. All her fault. She should have known Mad Dog would follow her. The past two years she’d thought Bass had quit visiting, but she now knew Mad Dog had hanged him. During that time, she’d grown lax, and had worried more about Smitty’s illness than Mad Dog finding her. An inner chill made the hair on her arms stand. Smitty had said Mad Dog had gone down to Mexico, and until this moment, she’d never questioned how he’d learned that information. Now she wondered if he’d also known about Bass. How he’d turned himself in to catch Mad Dog. To protect her.
A knock on the door interrupted her musing, and she hurried to open it. Truman walked in, followed by Jack. Both men had their hands laden with plates, cups and a coffeepot still steaming.
“Gunther’s boys brought over some stew, and I made coffee,” Truman said. “You’d best try to get some food in that boy before he falls to sleep. He hasn’t eaten since yesterday.”
Maddie helped set everything on the table, other than the coffeepot. Truman set that on the stove.
“Don’t you worry,” Truman said as he turned to leave. “We got the place well protected. That outlaw won’t get within firing range of this cabin.”
* * *
Tired and sore, all Cole wanted to do was sleep, but saying no to Maddie was impossible, so he ate. He kept his ears pricked, too, listening to the voices outside. The thick logs of the cabin muffled actual words, but he’d recognized the voices. Jack. Truman. Albert. Sylvester. Gunther. They were good men. Better than he could ask for. And not one of them would let harm come to Maddie.
He set the spoon in the bowl, and smiled his thanks when Maddie took the bowl. She’d removed her coat, and he couldn’t help but appreciate how lovely she looked in the yellow dress he’d bought for her. It fit her like a glove, like he’d known it would, enhancing all her mystical curves perfectly. The same curves he’d enjoyed exploring, and longed to do so again.
“Come lie down,” he said, missing her more than ever.
“No, you’re hurt.”
“It’s late and you’re tired,” he said. “Blow out the lamp and come to bed.” Maddie, being Maddie, would argue, so he added, “I won’t sleep until you’re beside me. I’ve grown too used to it.”
Her lips curved into a tiny smile. He scooted over, making room, and watched as she stacked the dishes and stoked the fire before blowing out the lamp. His eyes adjusted to the darkness in time to see the yellow dress slip from her shoulders and down her back. She folded it over a chair and then removed her socks and shoes.
Extremely slow and cautious, she eased onto the bed, hardly making the mattress move, and his grin broke free. Barely moving himself, he slid his arm under her head.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Shh.” He shifted slightly to kiss her temple. “Just close your eyes and go to sleep.”
She snuggled closer. “I’m afraid to touch you. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Your touch will never hurt me.” He pulled her arm across his chest.
Cole didn’t remember falling asleep, nor did he know what woke him. It was still dark, stars twinkling outside the tiny window. An electrical jolt shot through him as Maddie snuggled closer. Her hand, soft and gentle, was rubbing his chest. If there was any pain in his ribs, it disappeared beneath her touch, and he became fully aware of what had awakened him. He slid a hand inside her pantaloons, caressing the smooth, silky skin of her backside.
She let out a husky little moan.
He kissed her closed lids, the tip of her nose and then her lips. Her response was all he’d hoped, until she pulled her lips from his.
“You’re hurt.”
“Who told you that?” he teased, running his hand lower into her pantaloons.
She arched ag
ainst him and folded a knee over his thigh. “I saw it for myself.”
“That’s only on the outside,” he said, nibbling on the side of her neck. “On the inside I’m as good as ever, and I want you.”
Her groan was adorable and intensified the deep throbs of his desires. She was perfection from tip to toe, and finding her sweet spot all warm and moist was better than any gold they’d discovered.
“Lucky, we can’t,” she insisted.
He laughed at how halfhearted she sounded. “We’ll be quiet.”
“It’s not that,” she said. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m hurting for you.” He teased her more thoroughly. “And it’s mighty painful.”
She tilted her head up, kissing him deeply at the same time her hand ventured past his stomach and caressed him though his drawers—the specific part that wanted her more than his lungs needed air. His throat grew thick and a growl rumbled its way up and out.
She giggled as she pulled her tongue out of his mouth.
“Aw, darling, I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered.
Easing his hand out of her pantaloons, he suggested, “Then, let’s get rid of these clothes.”
Her pause said she was going to protest again, so he kissed her until she was rubbing against him with the same amount of fervor pumping in his veins. He wanted to take the time to truly appreciate the splendor of her body—the firm breasts, the warm, moist heat between her legs—but he was pushing his luck in convincing her to make love. Her hand had moved back up to his ribs, where it was gingerly checking for injuries.
“I’ll lie still,” he whispered. “Let you do all the work.”
The steady stare she settled on his face wasn’t one to reckon with. Though passion glittered her eyes, concern was there, too. “You promise?”
“I promise,” he answered, tugging at her underclothes.
She brushed aside his hands. “I’ll do that. You lie still.”
If this was his reward, Cole vowed to crack a rib regularly. She slid out of her underclothes and then folded back the blankets and drew his drawers down so slowly, so enticingly sweet he was ready to explode from the need thumping through his veins. Her skin glistened in the darkness, and he reached to run his hands along her arms, but she pulled them away.
A Fortune for the Outlaw's Daughter Page 20