“A beautiful black woman?”
“That, too. What about Suzette? She spent nearly an hour with you.”
“She spent it with the horses. I just happened to be there.”
Zeke looked at Hawk from under his hat. “You like her?”
“I don’t let myself think about that anymore.”
“I wish you could tell me how you do it.”
Hawk removed his dusty hat and slapped it against his jeans. “I guess it’s because I know nothing will ever change. Dusky Lady is as close as I’m going to come to finding a female to love me.”
“I wouldn’t advise you to get between her and that stud when she comes into heat.”
They were both laughing when Ben returned, leading his horse and looking glum. “Josie said it was bad luck for the groom to be with the bride on the night before the wedding.”
“Pull up a chunk of ground and make yourself comfortable,” Zeke said. “But if you snore, you’ll have to bed down across the creek.”
Despite the late hour, Suzette didn’t feel sleepy. She supposed it was the excitement of Anna’s marriage. She was sorry that she wouldn’t be with Anna when she stood up with Ben before the justice of the peace, but she was glad she wasn’t going back to Globe. And to be frank, she was relieved she wouldn’t be forced to witness another woman’s happiness. If Josie hadn’t been adamant, Anna would have spent the night by Ben’s side. She hadn’t looked any happier than Ben when Josie made him leave. She’d climbed inside the wagon with a muttered good night.
Suzette stirred the coals of the dying fire with a cottonwood limb, mulling over whether to put on any more wood. The temperature had dropped at least twenty degrees since the sun went down. If she stayed up, she’d need something warm to put on. She looked in the direction of the men’s camp. She wondered if they were still talking or if they’d gone to sleep, if Dusky Lady was still grazing, or if she’d lain down to rest. Did horses in the wild actually lie down when they could sleep standing up? Wasn’t it too dangerous if wolves or cougars were around? Hawk would know. Maybe she’d ask him tomorrow before he and Zeke left.
She poked at the fire some more, causing sparks to rise in the air. She stopped. Was it possible for sparks to start a fire in the desert? Hawk would know that, too. She wondered what he was sleeping on. She couldn’t remember whether she’d seen a bedroll tied to his saddle, but surely he had one. The desert floor was covered with too many tiny thorny plants to sleep on the bare ground. She wondered if he slept in his clothes or without them.
Suzette tossed her stick into the fire and gripped her hands across her chest as a slight shiver shook her body. The last thing she needed was to be thinking of Hawk’s unclothed body. She’d sung and danced in front of hundreds of men, maybe thousands, since her husband had died, but she couldn’t recall a single one who had engendered such a strong physical response in her. It was almost as if there was something connecting her to Hawk that allowed his energy to flow into her body, that caused her to be acutely aware of his physical presence. She had been married for a year, so the source of that attraction was no mystery to her. It was sexual, and it was very strong.
Another shiver shook her body. She couldn’t decide whether it was from the cold or the sexual need that was burning a hole in her insides, but she was reluctant to disturb the other women to get a cloak from the wagon. She’d never loved her husband—he’d been chosen for her—but she’d developed a keen appreciation for their physical relationship. In the five years since his death, she’d had a difficult time sublimating her need for a man. Most of the time, she simply concentrated on her work, or on the fact that she wouldn’t have gone to bed with any of the men she knew even if her body had been on fire.
She didn’t feel that way about Hawk. The fact that the horses trusted him, that Dusky Lady would walk up to him to take sugar from his hand, proved he was reliable as well as kind. You could tell a lot about a man from the animals in his care. Hawk might be just as attractive on the inside as he was on the outside.
Which was exactly what Suzette was afraid of, especially now, when Anna’s impending marriage was causing her to feel so needy. She hated feeling vulnerable, unable to cope with the challenges before her. She knew she could cope with them, and had been doing so for years. What was it about Hawk that unsettled her so? She couldn’t have fallen in love with him so quickly; it was probably pure lust. Yet it would be impossible to satisfy even that simple physical need, because they were going their separate ways in the morning.
“If you’re planning to stay up all night, you need something to keep you warm.”
Josie’s voice jerked Suzette out of her reverie. “I didn’t know anybody else was awake.”
“I couldn’t sleep, either. Anna is still whimpering, and Laurie’s breathing has gotten noisier.”
“You think she’s worse?”
“I don’t know. She’s been blubbering all night, saying she’s so happy for Anna she can’t stop crying. I’m glad we’re close to her parents’ place.”
“I think I’ll sleep outside tonight,” Suzette said. She didn’t want to be kept awake. What she needed was oblivion until tomorrow solved her problem by taking Hawk away.
Josie knelt by the fire, poured herself some coffee, and sipped the bitter brew. She didn’t like coffee, but she needed something to wake her up. She hadn’t slept well because Laurie had gotten worse during the night. She and Suzette had done all they could, but nothing helped. Curious about why they were up, Hawk had come to see if they needed anything. After talking with Laurie, he’d gotten his saddlebags, put some herbs in water, and brewed a tea that lowered Laurie’s temperature and eased her breathing so she could sleep. Hawk and Suzette were with her now, discussing what they ought to do.
“I feel bad leaving you when Laurie’s so sick,” Anna said.
Ben stood next to Anna, a troubled look on his face. Josie knew he was worried that Anna might refuse to leave.
“There’s nothing you can do,” Josie said. “Hawk says he has enough herbs to take care of her until we reach her parents’ place. Suzette and I will keep an eye on her. There’s no need for you to stay.”
“I know, but I still feel guilty.”
“No point if there’s nothing you can do,” Ben said.
Josie had to give him credit. He was trying not to show how impatient he was to leave. His arm around Anna’s shoulder tightened. He was visibly staking his claim to her. Josie resented his possessiveness. It was just like a man to think a woman belonged to him once she agreed to be his wife.
“We need to be going if we’re going to get married today,” Ben said to Anna. “And we gotta get married today,” he said when Anna seemed to hesitate. “I don’t think I can stand being separated from you for another night.”
“Oh, Ben, I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m so worried about Laurie.”
“You don’t need to worry,” Josie said.
Ben took Anna’s elbow and tried to steer her toward his horse. “Come on, honey, let’s go.”
Anna held her ground. “Are you sure?” she asked Josie.
“Positive. Now get out of here and be happy.”
Anna threw her arms around Josie. “I wish you were going back with us.”
“We’ll find better jobs in Tombstone.”
Anna released Josie and turned as Suzette climbed out of the wagon. “Promise you’ll write.”
“You’ll have to write, too,” Suzette replied. “If your first child is a girl, you can name her after me.”
“I’ll have three girls so I can name one after each of you.”
Ben smiled down at her. “We can have as many as you want.”
“I’ve got to say good-bye to Laurie, and then I’ll be ready to go,” Anna said to Ben.
“You take good care of her,” Josie said to Ben after Anna disappeared inside the wagon. “If you don’t, I’ll come after you.”
“I’m crazy about that woman.” Ben’s eyes were on t
he back of the wagon where Anna had disappeared. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure she’s happy.”
“I’ll hold you to that promise,” Josie said. “Now put her on that horse and get going. We need to get started ourselves.”
Anna emerged from the wagon with tears running down her cheeks. She cried some more as she hugged Suzette and Josie good-bye once again.
“Go,” Josie said, pushing her toward Ben. “Your future husband is about to bust open with impatience to have you to himself.”
Ben lifted Anna into the saddle, then climbed up behind her. Anna kept looking over her shoulder, waving to them, until she was out of sight. Her disappearance left Josie feeling empty. They’d been friends for more than two years, but she knew that part of the reason she was feeling so low was that Anna had found a man who made her very happy. Anna’s happiness reinforced Josie’s own sense of loneliness.
“I guess I’ll have to drive now that Anna’s gone,” Suzette said.
“Why? Do you think I can’t handle a pair of mules?” Josie asked.
“You can take care of Laurie and figure out what you’re going to fix for dinner.”
“You’re better at sitting with sick people than I am.”
Josie felt guilty about not wanting to sit with Laurie, but being strong and self-reliant, she didn’t understand someone like Laurie. She tended to grow impatient with Laurie’s dependence on other people.
“You can both sit with her,” Zeke said.
Josie hadn’t heard him come up. “And how can we do that?” she snapped.
“I’ll be driving. Hawk and I are going with you.”
The words popped out of Josie’s mouth before she realized what she was saying. “Then I’m staying here.”
Chapter Four
Zeke had been counting on leaving at dawn, but Hawk had decided they should stay close to Laurie until they could turn her over to her parents. She hadn’t gotten any worse, but she hadn’t gotten better either, and traveling would be hard on her. Zeke never argued with Hawk about anything medical.
“Do you have everything you’ll need?” Zeke asked.
“What are you talking about?” Josie snapped.
“Food, something to heat water in, and enough clothes to keep warm at night.”
“Josie’s not going anywhere by herself,” Suzette said, her attitude a mixture of frustration, irritation, and amusement.
“She said she was.”
“Josie’s got a real problem with men, especially with men telling her what to do. Sometimes it makes her say things she doesn’t mean. And even when she does mean what she says,” Suzette continued when Josie tried to interrupt, “she can’t always do it. Hitch up the mules. We’ll be ready when you are.”
Disgusted with himself for feeling relieved, Zeke headed off to get the mules, grinning at the lecture Suzette was giving Josie. Suzette was making no attempt to keep her voice down, and Josie made even less. Zeke found himself thinking that being paired off with Josie would be like being penned up with a bobcat. She’d be untamable, and he’d be clawed to death. What was it that caused some men to fall for the one woman who was the worst possible choice for them?
“Come on,” he said to the mules as he pulled up their pickets. “Time for all of us to get to work.” The animals looked healthy and reasonably goodtempered. Someone had known enough to buy a big, strong pair for the difficult journey. The mules were reluctant to stop grazing but didn’t balk when he led them to the river. They waded in until they were fetlock-deep and sank their muzzles into the cold, clear water.
“Don’t drink too much,” Zeke said, pulling the mules from the river before they’d drunk their fill. “I don’t want you to founder.”
When he reached the wagon, Suzette was putting away everything they’d used to fix breakfast. Josie was out of sight. “You two got everything straight?” Zeke asked.
“I wish you’d stop trying to rub Josie the wrong way.” Suzette paused in what she was doing and looked up at Zeke with eyes that showed as much compassion as impatience. “You must know she has a temper.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Zeke said with only mild sarcasm.
Suzette’s lips twisted in a grin, but the look in her eyes didn’t change. “We’re all upset about being driven out of town. It’s not pleasant being portrayed as immoral women, especially when the really immoral women are still there. They couldn’t get rid of the women they wanted to drive out of town—the men wouldn’t let them—so they settled for us as substitutes.”
“Are you surprised by that kind of hypocrisy?”
“No, but it doesn’t make it any easier to stomach. I imagine you know something about that.”
“A little.”
Zeke backed the mules into position so he could begin harnessing them to the wagon. He didn’t want to talk about himself. He’d learned through bitter experience that some things couldn’t be changed. You either learned to put up with them, you got out of the way, or you drove yourself crazy trying to fight battles that couldn’t be won. He and Hawk had decided to get out of the way.
He fitted the collars around the mules, then threw the harness over their backs.
“Do you need some help?”
Zeke looked up, surprised to see Josie. He stifled his initial impulse to tell her he could handle the job on his own. Considering what she’d said a few minutes ago, this seemed like an attempt to apologize.
“You can hold their heads while I hook everything up,” he said. “They don’t seem especially anxious to go to work this morning.”
Zeke took his time. He made sure the harness was in good shape and nothing was loose or worn, that the collars were riding properly on the mules’ shoulders and not rubbing any places raw. Despite his deliberate slowness, it seemed Josie wasn’t going to say anything. He picked up the reins and tied them to the brake. “Is everybody ready?”
“I’ll see.”
Josie left without a backward glance. What was wrong with this woman? Did she think apologizing would show a fatal weakness?
Josie returned moments later. “I don’t see Suzette.”
“She offered to help Hawk with the horses. She’s riding my horse since I’ll be driving the wagon.”
It was clear from Josie’s expression that Suzette hadn’t told her of this change in plans. It was equally clear that she didn’t like it.
“You might as well get it off your chest,” Zeke said. “You look like you’re about to bust.”
Much to his surprise, his words appeared to defuse her anger. “I thought you were staying with us so Hawk could take care of Laurie.”
“We are, but Hawk’s better with horses and I’m better with wagons. We’re depending on you to keep an eye on Laurie and let us know if she starts getting worse.”
“Suzette knows more about nursing than I do.”
“She also knows more about horses, and Hawk could use some help. Anything else you need to know before we can get started?”
Zeke only realized how rude he sounded when surprise flashed across Josie’s face before being replaced by anger.
“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” Zeke said. “I guess Suzette should have told you she was riding with Hawk.”
“It’s okay,” Josie said, making an obvious effort to rein in her temper. But even after she’d schooled her expression into a rigid smile, her eyes remained stormy.
“You need a hand up?” Zeke asked.
“No. I can do it myself.”
He didn’t argue. Once she was in, he closed up the back, went around, climbed into the driver’s seat, and untied the reins. “Ready?” he called out.
“Ready.”
“Giddyaup!” Zeke called as he snapped the reins. The mules leaned into their collars, and the wagon bumped and lurched as it began the day’s journey.
Hawk wasn’t used to being around attractive women. He was even less used to being alone with one for the better part of a day. Being forced to watch Suzette in
the saddle ahead of him had caused him to feel completely off balance all morning. Not to mention being so worked up, he was uncomfortable. He’d hoped that growing older would make his monklike existence easier. Apparently all he needed was a woman like Suzette to stoke the coals until they were red hot once more.
Since horses could travel over rough terrain more easily than a wagon, he hadn’t pushed the mares. Yet even at their leisurely pace, they’d outstripped Zeke and the wagon. Much to his surprise, Suzette had been very good at finding the best path for the horses to follow. Only once had they had to backtrack.
“Hold up,” he called to Suzette. “Pull over to that cottonwood,” he told her when she stopped and turned in the saddle toward him. “It’s time to let the wagon catch up.”
Once Hawk staked Dusky Lady, the mares started to graze. Suzette had already dismounted by the time he reached the shade of the ancient cottonwood. Its trunk was about five feet in diameter, its branches reaching more than fifty feet to the river’s edge. He judged it to be at least two hundred years old. It was incredible that the tree had managed to survive so many years of flash floods capable of carrying large boulders downstream. He brought his horse to a stop under the tree, grateful to be out of the glare of the intense Arizona sun.
His aroused condition made him so self-conscious, he was undecided whether to stay in the saddle or dismount. He realized it was ridiculous to consider staying in the saddle. His horse needed the break even if he didn’t. Suzette must have seen a lot of lovesick men, but being on a stage in a crowded saloon was very different from being alone with one in the middle of the desert. It made things much more personal. Accepting the inevitable, Hawk slid from the saddle. He untied the canteen from his saddle, uncapped it, and held it out to her.
“You thirsty?” he asked.
“Isn’t the river water safe to drink?”
“Yes, but I boiled some water last night. It’s always better to be on the safe side.”
The Mavericks Page 5