Appaloosa Blues (Sisters of Spirit #8)

by Nancy Radke

  "My shampoo."

  "I like it."

  The road ran along the rounded tops of the mountains, so it was fairly level for stretches. Adam shifted into fourth and swung his arm across the back of the seat, above her shoulder. "This is a super way to go to work. It could become a habit. Cuddle up a little more."

  Laughing at his boldness, Jo slid a little closer, but her contentment was short lived.

  "Where shall we go on our honeymoon?"

  "Honeymoon? What honeymoon?"

  "Ours."

  "We aren't going on a honeymoon." Trust him to come up with a subject like that.

  "But where would you want to go? You've got to have a honeymoon after the wedding," Adam explained patiently as if she was the one not being reasonable.

  "Not me. I agreed to a mock engagement, only." She tried to straighten away from him but his arm stayed her.

  "Take it easy. Once we announce our engagement, people are going to ask questions. It would be nice if we had some answers to give them. Now where would you like to go, love? Portland? Or Spokane?"

  So this discussion was only to cover themselves if people asked? Strangely, the knowledge depressed Jo, as if the rock she thought was gold, turned out to be iron pyrite, fool's gold. "Not particularly. I don't like towns that well."

  "Same here."

  "So, if we must plan this, let's make it somewhere close. How about our `Alps of Oregon?' We could either stay in Joseph or at the lodge by the lake and take daily rides into the Wallowas. How long is this honeymoon supposed to last?"

  "A week at least. No self-respecting honeymoon lasts less than a week. Would you like to camp out?"

  "Yes. I love the high alpine country."

  He nodded. "A girl after my own heart...a pack trip in the Wallowa Mountains. We'd have to wait till most of the snow is gone. Let's see, we'd need a tent and several horses—"

  "Two fishing poles—"

  "And a sleeping bag," he stressed.

  "Two bags," she corrected dryly. "Or were you planning on going alone?"

  "Oh, no," he assured her. "One bag — extra large. This is a honeymoon we're planning. That's the most essential item."

  Her active imagination had already placed her in the bag with him and from the look on his face he was enjoying the same image. Stubbornly she wrenched her mind away. She could conjure it up again tonight, when it was safer. Her face was far too revealing, and if she could read his thoughts...

  He was getting too realistic. Pretending was easier if you acted like it was real, but enough was enough.

  Adam pulled off the road at a wire gate. The trailing dust cloud caught up and covered everything, and Adam waited to let it settle. Then he opened his door, pulled out a salt block and carried it over to the wire gate. Inside the pasture he set the block over a foot-high metal stake driven into the ground, the blocks being manufactured with a hole in the middle so they could be anchored down in such a manner.

  Putting the wire gate back up, he climbed in and drove toward the next area.

  "There's one problem, Adam. We needn't get engaged until the end of this summer. So we wouldn't be planning a summer honeymoon...unless it's for next summer."

  "Do you think Karen and Johnny will wait that long?"

  "It's not long."

  "It mightn't be to you, but it is to them. Let's see how Gramps takes it. We might be able to speed things up even more. How'd he handle my call this morning?"

  "I don't know. He stampeded out of the kitchen after my first statement. I don't think he heard any more."

  "Hum. How's your dad reacting?"

  "He's on our side, although sympathetic with Grampa's dilemma. Poor Gramps must be bewildered by my sudden switch to the enemy, deserting him without a word."

  "He won't be able to turn a blind eye to our dating. Keep plugging away, Jo. Even if he doesn't appear to listen, he'll know what's going on — and get used to it, eventually, however reluctantly."

  How simple Adam made it seem. Of course, she could change her grandfather's mind — as long as Adam said so. His confidence gave her renewed confidence. Like measles, it was catching.

  "Well, one thing is certain," she said. "We can't tell folks we'll be getting married this summer."

  "Why not?"

  "If we did, people would send gifts...or plan showers. Then we'd have to return them."

  "I guess so." Pausing to consider this, he finally said, "Tell folks we'll get married next spring. That should be far enough away."

  "Right," she said, glad to end that discussion. It would give them time to break the engagement without complications.

  If Adam still wanted to break it by then. Would she? Or would her foolish heart be caught in Adam's snare, refusing to leave when released?

  Three more blocks were set out in different areas, all close to the road. "Only two more left, close together. We have to go through this pasture to get to them," he announced as he drove through the last gate.

  "Karen said Gramps took some of your lease."

  His face darkened, a black cloud covering the sun. She wished she hadn't brought the subject up. "He did that."

  "What happened?"

  "He paid off someone in the department. When I went to renew my lease it wasn't there."

  "Was it bad?"

  "Yes. I had to sell off some of my breeding stock, couldn't carry that many on the pasture left." He ground out the words, the vehemence strong in his voice.

  "Are you sure he got it unfairly?" she asked, unwilling to believe it.

  "Yes. He was trying to ruin me," he accused. "Just about did. But the market took a drop and I came out ahead, having sold early." He chuckled. "Served him right."

  Jo turned her face away, her thoughts in turmoil. It didn't sound like the years had softened the blow. She'd have to take care.

  It took about ten minutes to get to the next pasture, mainly because they had to proceed at a crawl over the bumpy track. "That storm's building, Jo. When, do you think?"

  "Tomorrow. It's not ready. Not yet."

  "Here we are."

  Ahead of them lay a tiny gem of a lake, shimmering clear and blue in the sunlight, bisected neatly in two by a wire fence. It lay in a meadow of low bushes and high grass, surrounded by timber, completely cut off from the world. Jo was sticky with sweat and dust and the crystal clear water looked extremely inviting in the still air.

  Adam stopped the truck near the fence separating the two pastures. "You like it? It's not much of a lake, it dwindles to almost nothing by late August, but it serves as water for both pastures." He took out two blocks, walking out to place one on one side of the fence and one on the other.

  "It's delightful," Jo called, and ran down the bank to the water's edge. She walked out onto a log anchored in the mud bank, and bent down to feel the water. It was pleasantly cool. Cupping some in her hand, she splashed her hot face, letting it trickle down her neck.

  "Did you wear a suit?" he asked.

  "No. Mine is on its way out from Virginia. I should have it by next week."

  His dark eyes shifted lazily over her. "Well, we could always go skinny-dipping. I'm game."

  "No, no way." Jo scrambled hastily off the log.

  "Why not?" He was grinning broadly now and Jo couldn't tell if he was teasing or not. "I always swim here in the early summer. In the buff. The water's warm. Clean, too. I won't be moving the cattle in for a few days, so now's the time."

  "Not without a suit."

  "You don't need one. There's only you and me."

  He was teasing, wasn't he? "That's one too many."

  "It'll be a lot warmer here than at our lake in the Wallowas. Those lakes barely lose their ice before they freeze again." He walked over to where she was standing. "This one is—"

  "I'm not swimming in your lake." Her heart was beating rapidly as she tried to think of some way to talk him out of this idea. She scowled fiercely at him and he laughed.

  "Don't you trust me?"

&n
bsp; She nodded uncertainly. "Maybe, but...I won't go swimming without a suit."

  He shrugged. "I saw a lot of you last night, Jo."

  She swallowed. "That was different."

  "In what way?" he persisted, capturing her hands in his.

  "Well, it was dark—"

  "Not that dark!" He smiled at her excuse.

  "And I didn't realize...." she added frantically, then stopped. She had, at the end, and after the initial embarrassment passed, it hadn't mattered that much.

  "Yes?"

  "It's the idea...swimming without a suit. I just couldn't."

  "Ah...that's the problem?"

  "And at least, last night I had my bra and skirt still on."

  "Yes, you did at that. So you don't care to go skinny dipping in the daylight?"

  "Or anytime," she added, so he wouldn't suggest coming back here at night.

  "Even on our honeymoon?"

  "Adam, don't joke about that." Confused, she struggled to pull away from him and he released her instantly.

  "Have it your way," he said, reaching up to untangle her hair where the wind had whipped it around as they drove. "I hope you don't mind waiting while I swim a little. I have to check on the fence wires, make sure the lower strands are intact for when the water recedes."

  "Go ahead. I don't mind. Uh, you do have a suit, don't you?"

  He grinned, nodded, and striped off his tank top and jeans, revealing the sculpted body of an athlete in training, barely covered by navy racing trunks.

  The morning sunlight touched his skin with bronze fire.

  Jo shivered and took a step back, because to go forward — which she wanted to do — would have sent her into his arms.

  Picking up a pair of pliers, Adam made a shallow dive into the still water and swam over to the fence line. Starting at one end he followed it out, diving down as he went along to check the lower strands.

  Jo watched him, envious. Oh, for a suit. The water lay before her, cool and inviting, adding to his persuasion.

  She had on her black bra and panties. They covered better than some bikinis. Being slightly padded, they weren't revealing. And in the water, he couldn't see much, anyway. She could strip down while he dove.

  She realized she was trying to talk herself into a swim and doing a mighty good job of it. This was how she usually got into trouble.

  It all depended on Adam. Could she trust him? He had drawn the line last night...and the water looked so cool and refreshing.

  She was going to talk herself into it, sooner or later, so she might as well go in. In and out, a quick dip while Adam was busy. Her T-shirt was long enough to make a good “cover up.” Hurriedly stripping off her jeans and moccasins, Jo ran out on the log and jumped in.

  The lake was deeper than she expected and she went completely under, coming up cool and refreshed. Ah! Wonderful. Shaking the water out of her eyes, she saw Adam smile and wave and continue with his inspection. Finished, he swam back and forth, making waves but staying away from her as she swam.

  Jo struck out in a crawl to the other side and back, four times, then did a backstroke. This was bliss, and she watched the rolling thunderheads that were forming at tremendous heights.

  My mother would have ten cats if she could see me swimming like this, thought Jo. But what did I buy this silky black thing for, if not to attract Adam? And what am I doing in this lake right now, except waiting for him? And asking for trouble. I'd better get out. Lying on her back, sculling slowly, Jo didn't spot Adam coming up underneath until his hands gripped her waist.

  Disregarding her startled squeal, he pulled her into a vertical position, her back to him. Now that it was too late, she pushed, trying to get some leverage, but the water nullified her movements. He was standing on the bottom, but the lake was too deep for her to do the same.

  "Calm down, love. I told you I wouldn't hurt you — and you know it — so relax."

  His hands shifted, turning her around to face him, and as she saw the warm smile in his eyes, her momentary doubts fled. She smiled back at him, her face lifted to his, eyes shining in happiness.

  "How do you like my lake?"

  "Your lake is super. There's only one thing wrong with it."

  "What's that?" Tiny wrinkles appeared as he frowned.

  "There's a man-eating shark in the middle."

  His hands tightened on her waist, mock-threatening. "Just for that, young lady—"

  "No, no...it's a perfect lake, really."

  "Calling me a shark. I could ask you to call me something nicer, before I let you go," he teased, nibbling on the side of her neck. A frisson of excitement played its way across her, and she laughed to shed its effect.

  "A shark, a lovely, tanned shark." She squealed, laughing, as he play-acted taking a huge bite out of her arm, his eyes challenging her. "Adam."

  "That's better," he stated, his lips continuing to travel up her arm and across her shoulder, brushing at the water clinging to her skin. Caught in the sweet drama of the moment, she held her breath, anticipating his lips reaching hers. If he didn't kiss her, she was going to be very disappointed.

  Lifting his head, Adam stopped, all teasing gone. His lips hovered, tantalizing, less than a heart beat away from hers. His half-closed lids only partially covered the fierce desire flaring within his eyes.

  Jo felt herself tremble with anticipation as she met his piercing gaze and heard the harsh intake of his breath as he read the message in hers.

  His head swiftly closed the distance, but he surprised her by nibbling gently, teasing her mouth open. Suddenly fired by the irresistible desire to meld herself to him, she pulled herself closer, tightening her arms around his sun-browned neck and kissing the droplets off his lips and neck and cheeks.

  "Ah, Joanna." Warm wet skin mingled with cool water, inciting within her a burning heat that came in wave upon wave, leaving her clinging desperately to him as her body responded to his call with an overpowering surge of desire.

  Had Adam known what it was like to be kissed in the water? It was an earth-shattering experience for Jo, unable to hang onto anything except him. The sensation of floating helplessly, of being totally pliant in his arms was magnified like the swift build up of an electric storm, so that Jo's heart beat triple-time as she clung to him.

  His hold tightened, one hand shifting up under her head, his powerful fingers weaving into her wet hair. His irregular breathing indicated just how much it was affecting him, but as his kiss became more demanding, it blocked her breathing.

  She had to breathe. On the verge of panic, Jo twisted her head sideways, breaking contact.

  "That's enough!" she cried.

  "Nothing's enough." His hands moved down her back, molding her rigid body against him for a moment longer before lifting her away. "What's wrong?"

  She dropped her eyes. "I couldn’t get my breath. I think we should stop."

  He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Perhaps you're right. Do you want to swim some more or shall we get out?"

  Her emotions were doing all the swimming she needed. "Uh...let's...uh...."

  "You don't sound too sure." He grinned, easing the tension.

  "Well...." She smiled wryly, removing her hands from his arms. She had to lighten things up a little more. "I've had enough. I'm too small a fish to play with sharks...for very long."

  He took the few steps needed to bring them over to where he could lift her up on the log. "Then stay there, little fish, while I bring a towel." His eyes traveled slowly over her slender form before he waded to shore. Gingerly he picked his way barefoot to the truck.

  Jo splashed her feet, the water from her wet hair trickling down her back. She had succeeded in lightening the atmosphere between them, but she hadn't dimmed the awareness of him as a man or herself as a woman.

  The silky lingerie no longer seemed as good as a bikini. It clung to her wet body in an inviting manner, projecting an image of soft frailty.

  She had pushed her luck with Adam
far enough. She needed to get dressed.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Adam strode back with a towel draped across his shoulder, his gaze fixed on her—an eagle considering its prey. Jo tensed. When she had jumped into the water, she had failed to consider what would happen when she got out.

  "Come on, sweetheart," he called, holding out the towel. Clamping down on her uncertainty, Jo walked off the log to meet him. He thrust the towel into her hands. "Dry me off."

  She hesitated, clutching at the towel. It seemed such an intimate thing to do. Surely...? He was waiting, so she dabbed across his shoulders, then his back...a deep scar here, maybe from the year he'd done some rodeo riding? Hair on his chest. Concentrate, Jo, it's just like drying off Paca. Long legs, muscular...not like Paca at all.

  She noticed for the first time that the wire had marked him too, a long scratch that went from his waist to his shoulder blades. Gently she patted it dry. "I always seem to get you into trouble with me."

  "Usually," he agreed. "See this?" He pointed to the old scar near his eye.

  "Did I give you that, too?"

  "Yep. Just about every mark on me, belongs to you."

  "I'm sorry."

  "I'm not. You kept things interesting. I never did know what you were going to do next. I didn't have a little sister to fish out of trouble, but you pressed the obligation on me."

  Little sister. Was that how he viewed her? He didn’t talk like it.

  He plucked the towel away and proceeded to return the favor, but drying her very thoroughly and very slowly, taking extra care over her almost-healed scratches. He skipped her bra and panty area. The warm, gentle strokes induced a mindless submission, so that it came as a shock when he suddenly bent down, put her across his shoulder and clasped her knees.

  What was he doing! Jo kicked out in sudden panic, aware anew of the isolation of the pasture area. With a quick lift, he carried her over to the tall grass and laid her on it even as she yelled for him to put her down.

  She grabbed the towel as he dropped it, pulling it across her. Uncertainty kept her wary. wondering if he'd take the towel like he'd taken her jacket Thursday morning.