by Sue Heasley
“Oh, Rex,” she whispered. Her eyes watered up.
“Stop fighting me.” His voice turned husky. He gently urged her one step closer. “I never stopped caring about you.”
“If only things were different.” Lillie didn’t want to admit she was having second thoughts about her feelings. Her resolve was weakening. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.
Rex held his arms open. “Come here, honey.”
Lillie hesitated.
He gave her a concerned look and then whispered, “Hugs, remember them.”
“Yes.” She closed the gap between them and sighed as his muscular arms surrounded her in a big bear hug. She buried her face into his solid chest and let the tears come. They had always been close to the same height growing up, but now the top of her head fit right under his chin.
“I’ve missed you, baby.” Rex kissed the top of her head. “I’ve always regretted leaving the way I did. You didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”
Her face had to be red from crying. She lifted her head and looked up into his dark brown eyes. “Do you mean that?”
He took her chin in his hand and slid his thumb over her lower lip that trembled slightly from his gentle touch. “I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart.” His lips were mere inches from hers.
Lillie’s arms slid around his neck. “Damn you, Rex.” She stood on tiptoes to meet his lips. Her knees went out, and all her weight leaned into him to feel the full length of his body.
He picked her up in his arms, carried her to the fire, and laid her down on a saddle blanket. She ran her hand through his hair as he gave her a deep kiss. He suddenly pulled back from her.
He leaned over her and stared. “You’re beautiful.” His fingers pushed several strands of hair back from her face. “I won’t touch you tonight.”
“I know.” Lillie touched his cheek with the palm of her hand. Somehow, she had known he wouldn’t take things all the way. She showed him approval by smiling. He was trying to be a gentleman.
“Close your eyes.” Rex leaned down to speak into her ear. “I want you to dream of only me tonight.” He kissed her cheek. He lay down on his back and put his arm around her. She placed her cheek on his chest. In no time, she relaxed and became drowsy as she listened to the beating of his heart.
****
With one knee bent, Rex rested his head on his arm and observed the stars in the sky glittering like diamonds. While Lillie slept, he wrapped a strand of her hair around his finger. Her even breathing matched his own while she lay halfway on his chest. Her closeness made it impossible for him to sleep. She hadn’t stirred for almost an hour which didn’t surprise him since she looked exhausted upon her arrival. Damn. She had caught him off guard by showing up at their old childhood hideout.
The heat that ignited between them when they kissed earlier surprised him even more. It was hotter than the fire burning next to him. It took all his willpower to pull back from her. His mind, at that moment, had raced with images of kissing her all over her body. But he’d dared not take advantage of Lillie’s fragile emotional state. The fact she made the effort to seek him out pleased him more than he wanted to admit.
The last thing he needed while running from the law is to rekindle an old relationship. Even though the attraction between them still existed, it unnerved him. Not to mention the son she already had. He wasn’t sure if he dared to ask her about the details. But most of all, she hadn’t offered any explanation for Ben. Who was his father? In addition, what kind of relationship did she have with this unknown man? The more he stewed about it the more he didn’t want to get involved.
Rex had to admit he didn’t like anyone else touching Lillie. He gently lifted her off his chest and slid away. After making sure he didn’t wake her, he walked to the edge of the water. When his hands touched the clear surface, tiny ripples spiraled out to the center of the pool. He eyed them as he drank his fill. Just like my life, he thought. Why did his choices have such an effect on everyone around him? He should never have come back to his hometown. But the longer he stayed away, the more Lillie had entered his thoughts.
He kept having the strangest feelings. He compared them to trying to break a magnificent stallion who was unbreakable. And he needed to accomplish this task, or he’d lose his soul. No doubt Rex had left something important behind, Lillie, the woman who haunted his dreams at night. Although he’d been thinking about returning for more than a year, he had figured the time had come to check on his old friends. But so far, his instinct had brought him nothing but trouble. He hadn’t counted on the sheriff of his hometown trying to hang him on a murder charge. Somehow, he needed to find a way to clear his name.
Rex slipped into his faded blue shirt and buttoned it. Lillie stirred next to the fire. He paused until her breathing returned to normal. She released a small snore, and he held back a laugh to keep from waking her up.
He picked up the reins of his horse who’d been eating his fill of the green grass growing next to the pond. “Easy there, friend. You’ll be too full to make it into town,” he whispered. His horse nudged him in the arm, and he in turn patted him on the neck. He led him quietly into the entrance of the cave. He paused and glanced over his shoulder at Lillie who was still sleeping soundly.
“Sorry, sweetheart.”
Rex had no trouble finding his way back through the dark cave. He replaced the dried bunch of brush back over its entrance. Lillie would be safe here alone next to the fire. He mounted his horse and headed in the direction of the town of Chelsea. He had enough time to slip in and out before daylight arrived. Then the town would come alive. The streets would become filled with the bustle of townsfolk conducting their morning business. Although, he wasn’t looking forward to facing Lillie again later. When she discovered he had slipped away without saying anything, he expected her to be angrier than a mad bull.
Chapter Eight
A mile away from the cave, Rex rode to the top of a ridge and spied a lone rider heading toward the direction of the ranch. He took in the man’s slouched posture, the stocky build of his quarter horse, and the shape of his cowboy hat. He recognized Jose right away. What in blazes is he doing out on the range this time of night? Maybe he was searching for Lillie, or enjoying himself at the local saloon. Jose’s drinking had gotten him into trouble more than once in the past. Uneasiness suddenly hit Rex right in his gut. He refused to think of Jose and Lillie together. He had been surprised earlier when his friend demanded to take charge of the situation when the sheriff had shown up at the ranch looking for him. He couldn’t condemn Jose for having an interest in Lillie. He’d been out of everyone’s life for way too long. His friends had changed. He had changed. What did he expect? An unpleasant thought entered his mind. Could Ben be Jose’s son? His horse stomped his hoof as if to remind him that they had places to go.
“Easy, boy.” Rex rubbed the horse’s neck until Jose rode out of sight. He headed down the other side of the ridge and galloped toward the town of Chelsea. His main goal was to get his Appaloosa back and break into the sheriff’s office to pick up his guns. Maybe he’d get lucky and find out who had set him up. Someone wanted him dead. The sheriff knew his henchman. The time to face the man who had tried to hang him deserved a visit.
Rex left his horse hidden among a cluster of trees outside of town. He made his way along the shadowed back alley of the buildings until he reached the jailhouse. He poked his head out from the darkened alley and looked both directions. The deserted main street eased his mind. The only commotion came from the cowboys in the saloon not far from the sheriff’s office. He glanced into the dirty window of the jailhouse and viewed a dark room. He quietly slipped through the door and shut it behind him. Papers were strewn across the sheriff’s wooden desk.
Rex pulled open drawers until he finally found his Colt .45 and his Bowie knife which he usually kept in a scabbard. He shoved it into the side of his boot and buckled his gun belt around his hips. He then checked his weapons to make s
ure the sheriff hadn’t removed his bullets. A floorboard suddenly squeaked behind him. He whirled around and at the same time had his gun cocked and ready to fire. With a surprised look on his face, the sheriff’s deputy had his gun aimed at him.
“Put your gun down.” Rex’s body tensed.
The young deputy’s hand shook.
“Don’t test me. I don’t want to put a bullet between your eyes.”
“Sure, whatever you say, Mr. Utah. I don’t want to die today.” The deputy set his pistol down on the sheriff’s desk. “I was taking a nap back in one of the cells.”
“Turn around and head back in there.” Rex took the keys off a hook on the wall and locked him in. “Why is the sheriff trying to hang me for a murder I didn’t commit?”
The deputy stared down at his dirty boots and shook his head. “I can’t say.”
“Hey, boy, you better answer me. I get trigger happy when I get irritated.”
“All I can say is someone is paying the sheriff a lot of money to get you out of the way,” the deputy announced in a low voice. “They don’t care if you’re dead or alive. They wanted you gone by the end of the week.”
“I’m beginning to lose my patience. I want the name of the man who is setting me up.” He didn’t think he had any enemies. Anyone who had problems with him had already died by his hand. He hated gun fighting. But if someone called upon him to make a stand, he was damn good at it.
“They’ll kill me if they find out I told you,” the deputy pleaded.
“I’ll kill you if you don’t.”
“No, please have pity on me.” The deputy held up his hands. “I need the money they were going to give me to buy medicine for my sickly wife.”
“Oh, hell.” Rex lowered his gun. He had never killed a man who didn’t deserve it. This man took orders from the sheriff. He didn’t run the show. Rex wanted the leader. He raised his gun again.
“Please, don’t kill me.” The deputy fell to his knees.
“You can make this day your lucky day, or maybe not. Are they paying you with the money from the recent bank robbery?”
“Yes.”
“Where’s the sheriff?”
“He’s probably at the saloon filling his gut full of whiskey.”
Rex lowered his gun. Getting the sheriff alone without a ruckus would not be easy. “When is he meeting this man who wants me dead?”
“They already met. I heard him talking earlier today. They’re returning to the ranch tomorrow.”
Rex walked over to the window. He checked the walkway to the stables and glanced over at the noisy saloon across the street. His thoughts drifted to Lillie, Charlie, and a big brown-eyed little boy named Ben. His stomach became queasy. He’d put everyone in danger by hiding out at the ranch. He had no idea why someone wanted to frame him for a robbery and murder he didn’t commit. He’d find a way to fight these men out in the open away from the ranch. He had to leave town. But this time Lillie deserved a goodbye from him. Rex turned back to the deputy.
“Tell the sheriff when he notices that my guns are gone that I knocked you out and locked you in the cell. If I hear otherwise, I will return to finish you off. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, I won’t tell them about the questions you asked.”
“See to it that you don’t.” He checked the boardwalk and slipped out of the front door of the jailhouse. He kept to the shadows until he got to the stables. To his surprise, he found one of the sheriff’s deputies sitting on a stool next to his horse’s stall. The hunched over man had fallen asleep with his rifle laying across his lap in the dimly lit barn. Rex’s horse suddenly popped his head out over the wooden rail and looked right at him. He shook his head and neighed as if to say get me out of here. The deputy suddenly jumped to his feet, startled by the noise. Rex ducked down behind a post in an empty stall.
“Who’s there?” the deputy called out as he walked down the aisle toward the entrance.
Rex had two choices. Shoot the man which would alert the town to his presence, or pull his knife out of his boot and take care of him silently. Just as he began to slip his knife free from its leather scabbard, the deputy fell face first into the dirt. He appeared to be knocked out. Rex jumped to his feet and came around the corner of the wooden post to find Lillie shoving her gun back into her holster.
“It’s about time you showed up,” she snapped. Her eyes sparked with anger. “Damn you for leaving without telling me.”
Rex’s heart raced in his chest. “You would have tried to stop me.” He walked up to Lillie and placed his lips on hers for a deep kiss. He ignored her protest and pulled her tighter against his chest. It didn’t take long for her to give in.
Her arms slipped up around his neck, and he softened his mouth against hers. She pulled back enough for him to still feel her breath tickle his lips.
“Why did you kiss me?” Lillie’s voice turned velvety. Her eyelids went from closed to wide open. Bright blue eyes sparkled back at him.
Rex cleared his throat. “Do you know you’re beautiful when you’re angry?” It became obvious what she wanted him to say. Only he couldn’t bring himself to speak the four-letter word already etched into his heart and soul. He would leave town soon so the family he had once been a part of would be safe. She looked disappointed as she pushed him away. It was for the best.
Lillie’s posture changed. “I told you not to come into town. It’s not safe.” Her voice became stern.
“Why are you here? I don’t need you following me around like a puppy.” Rex hooked his thumbs in his gun belt to keep from touching her again. “You should be home with your son. I think you’re taking too many chances.” Rex walked past a teary-eyed Lillie.
He couldn’t stand to see her cry. But she needed to hear what he had to say. She should be home, not running around in the wee hours of the night. He pretended to ignore her as he tended to his horse. In no time, he had his Appaloosa tacked up. Why hadn’t Lillie responded to his comment? Rex glanced over his shoulder to find her gone. Damn, that woman could be quiet as a mouse. He didn’t even hear her leave.
“Ah, hell.” He had to get back to the ranch. He couldn’t leave again without saying goodbye to Charlie and Lillie. That is if she’d still wanted to talk to him after his comment. But first he had to pick up his other horse he’d left hidden outside of town. Rex led his Appaloosa out through the back stable exit where several horses lingered in a large pen. He left the back gate open so by morning the sheriff and his deputies would be busy rounding up their loose mounts. This would give him a head start.
****
The wind and dust stung Lillie’s face as she galloped down the dirt road toward the ranch. Night was fading away. The need to get home before Ben woke up made her drive her horse faster. A glimpse of morning sunlight began to creep and weave its way across the horizon. Usually she appreciated its natural beauty, but tears blurred her vision and dampened her cheeks. Did Rex realize he hurt her feelings when he told her she should be home with her son? She had taken too many chances. Nevertheless, his comment had hit her like a bullet to the stomach. Now, she couldn’t get home fast enough to Ben. Her life revolved around their son. Lillie swore. More tears slid down her cheek.
Why did she suddenly start using the term their son? She had to come to her senses. The inevitable would happen. Her heart told her Rex deserved to know. If he still wanted to leave, she would insist he never say anything to Ben. A lone rider appeared in the distance. Jose, the last person she wanted to talk to right now.
Lillie slowed her horse to a walk. She wiped the tears from her eyes and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. This would not be a good encounter. Jose looked angry. She didn’t care.
“Why the hell are you wandering around out here?” He stopped beside her. “You should be home in bed.”
“I’m not wandering. I’m on my way home.” She urged her horse forward.
“Hey, are you okay? You look like you’ve been crying.” Jose reached out
and grabbed her reins.
“I got dust in my eyes. I’m fine.”
“I’ve been searching all over for you.” Jose released the reins. “Mable saw you leave by yourself last night. Everyone is worried.”
“I had business in town.”
“What business?” Jose’s voice sounded edgy.
“It’s none of your concern.” Lillie wasn’t in the mood for lengthy excuses. “Leave me alone.” She urged her horse into a canter. Jose followed close behind.
“Wait, I need to talk to you,” he growled.
“No.”
“Stop, bitch.”
Lillie glanced over her shoulder, startled by the sudden anger in Jose’s voice. His hand slid back to grab his .45 from his holster. A rush of fear swept through her body. She pressed her heels into her horse’s side, leaned low over his neck, and grabbed a handful of mane as he moved into a full gallop. Impending doom settled deep in her stomach. Jose had the fastest horse on the ranch. He would catch her.
****
Rex reined in his Appaloosa and his older horse behind a clump of thick bushes off the side of the trail that headed toward the ranch. He’d made the decision to stop about a quarter of a mile behind Lillie when Jose approached her farther ahead by the bend in the road. He wanted to observe their interaction. He hadn’t expected to see his old friend show up at daybreak. He’d planned to catch up to Lillie to tell her he’d be leaving if he couldn’t clear his name by the end of tomorrow. He straightened his back trying to push back the irritation that began to build deep in his gut at the sight of his two friends conversing.
Lillie and Jose finally cantered away and disappeared around the bend in the road. A cluster of trees blocked his view. He hated to admit it, but he wanted to be the one riding next to her. Rex had to call his exploding irritation a different word. Jealousy, something he never experienced before. He didn’t like it one bit.