Kelly counted down the seconds to her return eagerly. Even if she didn’t feel like talking, she would be company. Something to look at and think about, at least. When she finally returned, it was after dark and Kelly’s eyes were heavy. She stirred the pot of food over the fire, tasting it carefully. Kelly studied her face through half-closed eyes, waiting for her to give him a clue about her mood. She dished up two bowls of stew, and handed one to him with a cup of water.
“Thank you,” he said softly, after sipping the sweet water.
“You’re welcome.”
Kelly hated the fact that he didn’t know what to say to her. He hated the fact that he didn’t know anything about her. He hated the fact that he couldn’t move and he couldn’t sleep and he was completely at her mercy.
“I bathe on Friday nights,” she informed him after she finished her dinner.
“Okay.”
“So, close your eyes.”
“What?”
“I’m not going to miss my bath because of you. Close your eyes and keep them closed.”
Excited, relieved that she was finally talking, he didn’t want her to stop. “You’re a bossy chit, aren’t you?” That’s it…piss her off good and proper.
Ida took a deep breath. “After everything I’ve done for you, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for you to be a gentleman.”
“I’m no gentleman,” he countered playfully.
“I’m beginning to see that. But since I have to sleep on the floor tonight, the least you can do is pretend for an hour.”
That shamed Kelly into silence. Getting a rise out of her was fun, but he saw that there was a time and a place, and this was not it. He watched her as she heated water on the stove, not even wincing from the weight of the full buckets as she carried them over to the small, galvanized tub near the kitchen area. He had a clear view of her, and didn’t look away as she worked. It took a great deal of will power to close his eyes and turn over as she began to peel the sweaty clothes off her body.
Chapter Three
In the silence, he could hear every sound, every breath. He could hear the way the water lapped against her skin; hear her sigh of pleasure as the heat sapped the tension from her muscles. He could picture what she would look like and he struggled to keep his eyes closed. He heard her dip her head under the water and wet her hair, heard the low sigh as she washed the dirt from her tresses and he couldn’t stand it anymore.
He cracked one eye open and looked over his shoulder. She was sitting in the tub, her back to him, her arms dangling lazily over the sides. In the firelight, her skin and hair shone like gold. The curve of her back was the most tantalizing thing he had ever seen, and he was struck with the urge to kiss her shoulder. For the first time, he got a good look at her arms. They were well muscled and tanned. Somewhat surprising and unexpected, but alluring nonetheless.
The sight of her distracted him to the point that he forgot his pain and his boredom. He realized that he could happily watch her for hours, and all he could see was her back—it would probably kill him if he could see the rest of her. He had never wanted anything more in his entire life. He could already imagine her high breasts, her pink nipples, her taut stomach, the soft curve of her hips…
She leaned over the side of her tub and reached for her brush, and he did get a glimpse of one perfectly shaped breast. The cool air against her wet skin had hardened her nipples. Kelly nearly choked, his eyes locked on her, completely forgetting that he only wanted to steal a glance at her. Now he was staring openly. There was a droplet of water running down her neck, and Kelly wanted to lick it off her.
Ida began brushing her hair with long, sure strokes. She worked through the snarls, whimpering or growling in frustration when she hit a particularly vicious knot. The heat from the roaring fire had already begun to dry it, and it wasn’t long until it was hanging around her shoulders in a glossy, shining curtain. He thought of what it would feel like to run his fingers through it, wrap its silky length around his hand, what it would look like hanging above him as she…
He diverted his thoughts quickly. If he kept that up, he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off himself, and his balls were already tight, his cock throbbing. He was entranced with the curve of her shoulder. He didn’t know why. It wasn’t the most attractive part of her body, but he wanted to kiss it. He was so wrapped up in his various fantasies—more than one running in his mind at the same time, all of them involving her wet, naked body—that he almost didn’t notice when she stood up.
Kelly had just enough time to glance at her ass—and it was a fine one. He knew it would fit into his hands perfectly and wondered what it would look like all rosy-red. He couldn’t dwell on the thought, because she was wrapping herself in a large towel—lucky towel—and turning in his direction. He quickly shut his eyes and buried his face against his pillow.
“I’ll be done in a minute.”
“No rush.” His voice was muffled and tight.
Now he could hear the whispered sound of clean clothes sliding against her freshly scrubbed skin. There was silence as she buttoned the nightgown. When she announced that she was decent, he jumped. It was too loud in the hypnotizing silence. He caught his breath when he opened his eyes.
She hadn’t seemed particularly beautiful that morning, but now Kelly could see that he was very, very much mistaken. Clean, fresh, smiling slightly, hair hanging loose, she was easily the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
“You don’t need to look so surprised.”
“Surprised?” Amazingly, his voice was even.
“And stop staring at me.”
“I’m not staring.”
She walked to the bed. “Let me check your bandage again.”
Kelly panicked. He didn’t want her to touch him because God knows he was having a hard enough time controlling himself. The thought of her small, strong hands running over his skin, even if she was acting professionally, made him want to groan.
“It’s fine,” he assured her, almost desperately.
“Are you sure? If it’s bleeding again, I may need to check the stitches.”
“It’s not. Really. Everything is great.” To prove it, he smiled. The smile felt forced and painful and Ida frowned.
“Are you okay?”
“Of course. Just tired.” He paused. “You shouldn’t sleep on the floor.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I was fine last night…”
Ida sighed, but she didn’t answer him. She just moved to the fireplace, stirred the coals, and then stretched out on the blankets that were still there from the night before. She curled into a ball, Ranger snuggled against her, and was asleep almost immediately. Kelly didn’t sleep for a long time, too caught up in lust and desire and curiosity and respect.
* * * *
Liam was riding a horse into the sunset. She could only see his back, but she knew it was him. She thought they were in California, but she couldn’t be sure because she had never been there. She turned to leave, but there was a wall—a brick wall all around her. Now Liam was gone and all she could see was rocks and mortar on all sides of her.
She looked down; her clothes were covered in blood. She started to panic, but a part of her sensed that she was dreaming, so she didn’t go into hysterics. But there was blood all over her and the ground, and the walls were higher. She touched the wall and one of the stones moved, but she couldn’t push it out. Somehow, this was worse than the blood.
Ida!
Above the sky turned a sickening gray, like a blanket of endless corpses. The thunder sounded like a million groans.
Ida! Ida!
*
The wind whistled and roared and whispered her name, but she couldn’t respond. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing, not even breath, came out. No sound. She was mute. She had no voice.
“Ida, wake up!”
She sat straight up, eyes wide, breathing fast. “What? What?” As soon as she opened her e
yes, the dream started to fade, and her heart slowed. The cold air slapped her face and she felt wide awake.
“I thought I heard something outside.” Kelly said apologetically. “I would have checked, but…”
Ida pulled herself to her feet and stumbled to the door. It didn’t occur to her to question him, or doubt that he was telling her the truth. Why would he lie about something like that? She knew better than to rely on Ranger to warn her when somebody or something was outside. She unlocked the door and pulled it open slowly, sticking her head out.
“I don’t see anything.” Her teeth chattered, and she couldn’t suppress the shivers that shook her slight frame. There was a cold breeze but the sky was clear, and the indifferent stars sparkled in the sky like a promise of ice.
“Must have dreamt it,” Kelly muttered. “Sorry.”
She sighed and shut the door. “It’s okay.”
Kelly wrapped his good arm around his body and pulled the blanket higher. “It’s cold…too cold for this time of year.”
“There’s snow on the mountains already.” Her tone wasn’t conversational, just flat and disinterested.
“Take the bed,” Kelly insisted.
“No,” she declined firmly.
“You’re so goddamned stubborn,” he growled.
Ida looked at him with tired eyes. “Just go to sleep.”
“Look at you. You can’t stop shivering. You’ll get sick,” Kelly pointed out.
Ida took a deep breath and said as reasonably as possible, “What makes you think you won’t get sick?”
“I’ll be fine…” Kelly started.
“I’m not taking that chance.”
“Why not?”
Ida shrugged and explained patiently, “I want you out of my house as soon as possible.” Which wasn’t exactly true. He was a burden on her time and her meager resources, but he was also company.
Kelly blinked. “Oh.”
Guilt immediately washed over her when she heard his hurt voice. She tried to shake it off, indignantly reminding herself that he deserved to know the truth. That doesn’t mean you have to be cruel about it, her mother’s voice chastised her. Ida tried to find the words that would explain. “Look…I can’t afford to keep you here.”
“You don’t need to act like I’m some stray animal,” he said bitterly. “I know I’m worthless to you now.”
Ida shrugged helplessly and tried to push the guilt away. “What am I supposed to do? It’s going to be a long winter and I can’t just keep feeding you…”
“I have nowhere else to go,” he interrupted softly.
The simple words would have been touching, heart-breaking even, if things had been different. If her situation wasn’t so dire, if she wasn’t so tired, if the cabin wasn’t so filthy and the mountains already capped with snow. She wanted to care but…”How is that my problem?”
“You saved me, didn’t you?”
Ida crossed her arms defensively over her chest. “So?”
Kelly looked around the room, anywhere but at her. She, on the other hand, didn’t take her eyes off him.
“I’m not going to be laid up and useless forever…” He started.
“Right, and then you’ll be leaving.”
“Let me stay and help.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need your help.”
“I want to help.”
“You can’t stay here with me, okay?” For the first time, her voice had a real edge to it, and her cheeks flushed with anger.
“Why not? Because of what people would think? You don’t strike me as the kind of girl who cares what the old biddies have to say.”
“I’m not. You know, most people would just offer a polite ‘thank you’. That’s perfectly acceptable. You don’t have to help me. You don’t have to stay where you’re not welcome.”
“And why aren’t I welcome, Ida?”
“My husband wouldn’t like it,” she said, icily.
Kelly didn’t miss a beat. “Where’s your ring?”
“I take it off when I have to work.”
“What man would leave his wife alone to get ready for the winter by herself?”
“He’ll be back.” Her voice raised an octave. “Are you calling me a liar?”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
Ida clenched her fists at her sides. How dare he insinuate that Liam wouldn’t come back? How dare he talk about Liam at all? He didn’t know anything about her life or her relationship, and he thought he could look at her with cool, measuring blue eyes, as though he knew anything. Ida resisted the urge to lash out, and instead said tightly, “I have to get up early in the morning.”
“Don’t let me keep you. And Ida? I’ll be more than happy to stay and help until he comes back.”
“That won’t be necessary,” she told him.
“But I insist,” Kelly said smoothly.
Ida sighed. It was clear that she was not going to win this battle. Not quickly anyway, and she had no desire to fight with him until the sun came up. “Fine, fine. You want to stay here and work? Fine with me. Now can we get some sleep?”
“Goodnight, pet.”
“Don’t call me that.”
She blew out the candle and lay down again. Kelly didn’t bother offering the bed, and she didn’t bother to tell him goodnight.
* * * *
The next day passed as slowly as the one before, but not as painfully. Either Kelly was getting good at ignoring the pain or he was actually healing quicker than expected. It didn’t hurt to breathe anymore, and for the most part the pain in his shoulder was no more than a dull ache.
The one major difference from the day before was Ida’s mood. When she left the house early in the morning she was sullen and quiet. She offered him his food with the same attitude she had when she fed Ranger. She was going out of her way to make him feel unwelcome, and Kelly had to admit, it was working.
In fact, he was making plans to go by the time she came in for the night. But he didn’t have any real idea where he could go. Maybe he could make it over the Sierras before winter, but it would be foolish to risk it. He could head east, back to Colorado, find a place to hole up somewhere in Denver. It wasn’t his first choice, but it was more appealing than freezing or starving to death over Donner’s Pass. And the authorities probably wouldn’t expect his return to the area.
Kelly thought he’d be able to get out of bed in less than a week. If he could get a hold of a horse, it would make things much easier. He’d buy one from the livery. If he still had his money, that is. He never thought to ask Ida if she had seen his saddle bags or had brought them back to the cabin.
He didn’t want to go. He liked her.
To his surprise, when Ida came in, she was in a good mood. There was a bit of a bounce to her step despite the fact that she had been working all day, and the smile she threw his way wasn’t forced or tight.
“Good day?” He asked carefully.
“Yes,” she answered brightly.
“Good.”
“We’re canning tomorrow.”
“We are?”
“You can work at the table.”
Kelly shrugged. “Okay…but tomorrow is Sunday.”
She popped a piece of corn bread in her mouth. “So?”
“You don’t go to church?” He asked.
“Do you?”
Kelly smiled wryly. “Not since they kicked me out.”
She returned his wry smile. “God helps those that help themselves, right? We’ll start making jam as soon as we’ve finished canning. Probably Tuesday or Wednesday.”
“What kind of jam?”
“Raspberry. Rhubarb. Apples. I didn’t get a lot of fruit this season.” She shrugged, “But it’s better than nothing. Maybe with your help…”
“What?”
“We’ll be done in just a week.”
“See, I’m not completely worthless.”
“That remains to be seen. I mean, do you know how to make preserves?”
“No, but I’m a quick study.”
“When that’s done, I’m going hunting.”
“Hunting?” Kelly probably shouldn’t have been surprised by her announcement, but he was.
Ida shrugged. “For deer and stuff.”
“You hunt?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Is it so hard to believe?”
“I’ve never met a woman who went hunting,” Kelly admitted. I’ve never met a woman like you, period.
“Well this woman would be without meat if she didn’t. And I like meat too much.”
“Do you dress it, too?”
“Yes. Though sometimes I’ll hire a few of the local boys to help with that. I’ve actually only needed to hunt twice since I got here.”
“Who taught you how?”
Ida stirred the sizzling potatoes. “My dad taught me to shoot when I was pretty young. He used to take me with him when he would hunt. And Liam gave me a few lessons before he left.”
The conversation ended as she took the food off the stove and began eating with gusto. Kelly watched her patiently and silently as she finished her portion before handing him his. “Sorry, but I was famished.”
“It’s okay.”
Instead of retreating to her side of the cabin, or her nest of blankets on the floor, she sat at the edge of the bed and watched him eat. At first, Kelly was slightly disconcerted by her clear green eyes trained on him, but he got over it quickly. He was intrigued and encouraged by her display of interest.
“Why are you here?” She asked suddenly.
He paused mid-bite. “Should I be gone already?”
“No, no. What happened to you?”
Kelly sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
“Somebody shot at me. I got patched up in the hospital and then ran before the same somebody could find me again.”
“That wasn’t very long.”
“I left out some details.”
“Is somebody going to look for you here?”
Kelly shook his head. “I don’t think so. Somebody thinks I’m half way to Mexico right now.”
“How did you end up in my trees?”
“Lost my horse.”
“How do you lose a horse?”
New Frontier Page 3