Beyond the Dream Catcher

by Rita Hestand

  "I will be all right," he smiled, his hand going to her cheek to caress it. She closed her eyes against the action. No one had touched her so softly since her mother died. She could not help but lean into the caress. Her heart tripped at the seconds they might have.

  "Now, close the door behind me," Chase whispered, as his lips barely touched her forehead. He looked down at her and saw her expression and his head bent.

  Right or wrong, she had feelings for this man and she needed him to know it. Somehow, for only a small fraction of time, he must feel her love. It seemed important.

  For the first time in her life, Katherine wasn't shy. This man, this half-breed man, had awakened her from her depression and made her want to live again. Did he realize it? She doubted it. He'd given her hope when there was none. How could she let him go? He'd be killed! She lifted her head, stood on tiptoe and brought her own lips against his. The shock riveted through them both. The kiss was a welcome surprise, and oh so soft. But there was no time for the softness of romance. Drawing apart, they searched each other's faces, questions unasked stood between them.

  Unfamiliar awareness shot through her. From the moment she kissed him, his lips were like melted butter against hers and she felt the stir of it against her. His hands roamed freely over her, as though they had the right. She didn't argue that right. He knew her answer, somehow.

  From this moment on, she was his, and she knew it.

  "I will return to you," he whispered as he took her fully into his arms. His warm breath fanned her as he feathered her with kisses.

  She moved voluntarily against him. This time the kiss was neither soft, nor short. It went on forever, and it branded her with such promise. His hands went around her and pulled her fiercely against him so she would know he was as desperate for her kiss as she had been. His hands found her hips and pushed her up hard against him, making her shockingly aware of his need.

  Their need, her mind corrected. Was he asking permission? She did not know, but there was no one to deny him what he sought either. Right or wrong, she needed this man. Never had Katherine experienced the feel of a man against her, but her mind was not on the physical, it was only full of emotion and feelings, and the wonder of sensations rocking her. It was not body against body, but two bodies trying desperately to become one.

  In her heart she knew that God wanted her to mate with this man. And this might be the last chance to do so. Desperate to have his love, she reached out to him, opened to him. This might be her one and only chance at such a life. It was not a time to debate rights and wrongs. Only to soak up the love and nurturing of it.

  As though there was time for it, he lifted her to the small counter that still held a pitcher and bowl, almost frantically, then, as his eyes met hers, he lifted her skirt, his eyes asking the question of permission. Hers answering. Her hands splaying against his back, pulling him closer spoke volumes.

  "I cannot hold back the feelings I carry for you…," she whispered in wonder. "We might die today and I feel I must be with you…as though it is our last chance."

  Her breath hitched, her head fell backwards as his hands sought her out as though her words gave him the permission he sought. With one gentle tug of the ribbon, her pantaloon fell to her feet, dangling, as his hands eagerly sought her. She gasped as his fingers gently massaged the tender flesh. His touch was gentle, and he knew exactly where and how to touch her.

  Katherine marveled at his knowledge to please her. Heat consumed them. She gasped, but he caught the gasp and smothered it with his lips. Their gasping and breathing was the only sound in the room. He caressed her, as though she were a piece of china. She groaned against him as he touched her freely. "I've never…"

  "Shh…I know." He smiled into her shining eyes. "We may not have but this moment, Katherine."

  "Then let us share it," she smiled into his warm regard.

  In only moments, his hands touched her very core. She threw back her head and shivered against him. He was not rough, or unthinking, but gentle and tender against her. Her eyes closed and she leaned weakly into him, as he unsheathed himself under her skirt, and ever so slowly eased himself against her. She squirmed and moaned aloud at the touch of skin on skin, instinctively she spread her legs.

  She was warm, wet and inviting as he slid inside her very slowly. Knowing she was a virgin, and yet so willing, only made his heart trip that much faster. He groaned aloud. Chase held her suspended against him, so they could mate. Lifting her from the counter, her pantaloons hung about her feet, his hands went to her hips, pulling her to him. Urging her to mate with him, he rocked her against him, slowly at first then suddenly in a heated rush. His hands dug into her hips and finally, frantically moved her against him. He held her fiercely to him, soothing her with sweet love nips. Their gasps for air echoed in the room. She felt the rhythm and began to rock against him in a smooth motion their breathing harsh and gasping.

  His strength amazed her, warmed her. Chase pulled her up, so that his head rested between her breasts and his hips could hold her steady. She moaned and sighed, and gave herself freely.

  Katherine swooned as they reached some high point.

  He gasped and kissed her as his nose nudged her dress lower so he could touch his lips to her breast. Whispering sweet things in her ear, he pleasured her for long dizzying seconds. The world was oblivious. It was as though he knew exactly what to touch, when to touch, and how to touch. His lips surrounded the sweet darkness of her puckering nipple, as he supped against her.

  "How can this be," she whispered.

  "The Great Spirit has brought us together," he murmured for her only as his face searched hers.

  Katherine shook with white-hot desire that she had never known before.

  Chase kissed her gently, tenderly as he continued to caress her with his hands and touch her passionately. His hands worked a magic beneath her wide skirt against her hips, soothing her into submissiveness.

  She groaned helplessly against him, panting and out of breath as he finally assuaged the ache between them. Passion flared like lightning between them as he moved her hips against him then settled inside her so firmly. Each gentle thrust brought explosions of unspent desire and heart felt love. Flares of fire and desire skidded through her as his need of her didn't seem to die, but reignited. Suddenly she grasped him and held on for life as a million stars exploded within her. She clung to him helplessly as her lips finally slid from his, like melting butter slowly dripping away.

  His eyes looked at her with undying love when hers finally opened. And she kissed him again, but he moved away from her face, his head bowed to her breast once more. He nudged her nipples one at a time with his nose, then his mouth came around them one at a time, and his tongue caressed them, laving them. Reverently he kissed the tips, and panted against her as he tried to control the mounting passions.

  "Once will never be enough, with you," Chase whispered against her skin. "I must live to recapture this moment."

  "Yes, come back to me," Katherine whispered, pulling him ever closer as his lips kissed her nipples and made them pucker for more. He smiled, she blushed.

  "I will sweet one. I will." His words mingled with his soft, heated breath against her.

  Her face felt red hot and she didn't know what to do except to cling to him and whimper.

  Quickly he put her dress down, fixing her so she looked presentable again, slowly pulling her pantaloons up and retying them. His hand reached one last time to touch her warmth and she moaned aloud. Then he winked at her.

  His smile was warm and inviting and she wanted to know more, much more, but this was not the time. She knew why he had taken her and her heart hammered against his chest.

  He breathed hard and wildly. "You are more woman than a man can ask for."

  Katherine had never felt the depth of a man's passion before. Her virginal body had warred with her passionate heart as he held her to him, fitting her against him in a most natural way. This did not deter her from
wrapping her arms around his neck and hanging on for dear life, for he touched the depths of her soul. Consumed by the fire within him, she fed it, and breathlessly drew apart from him as he drew breath again.

  "In another time, another place, we would be one with God and nature, but this is not the time, Katherine. But know this sweet one; I am here because of you, only you."

  "I know… I've somehow known it from the beginning. I didn't understand it, but I knew." She pulled him ever closer. "But I fear for you…"

  "I will come back to you, I promise," he whispered harshly, as he stole one last kiss from the sweet nectar of her lips. "I have every reason to come back."

  Her head fell back against the wall as his lips trailed quickly down her neck and into the soft folds of her dress. She closed her eyes and whimpered as his lips pulled at her barely exposed nipple.

  "You tempt a man to forget everything," Chase smiled against her skin. His teeth and tongue played with her nipple one last time for several seconds as he watched the response. "You are beautiful, in here." He pressed his lips to her cleavage as his nose buried itself there, his hot breath coming in gasps. "I want you again, but there is no time… What you have given, bonds us."

  "I know…," she cried…

  ***

  A noise awakened her from her dream, and Katherine realized she lay practically in his arms. He smiled down at her. No words passed, just a smile.

  "You were moaning in your sleep, little one."

  "Huh…oh, I'm so sorry…" she moved away from him.

  He smiled again, for he did not yet know of her dream. "You are tired?"

  She nodded, knowing her face was red from her dream. She was ashamed and embarrassed to be in his arms when he hadn't invited her there. It was a dream, she kept telling herself, but the look in his eyes made her doubt it. There was such fire when he looked at her. She struggled for composure, as he gently let her go. Then he announced he was leaving. She started to object, to make the dream a reality, but she hesitated. It was only a dream and there was no way it would happen in reality. Even though she felt the pain when he broke the chasm between them, it had to be just a dream.

  How could she keep him here? He'd die out there. Food…they could do without.

  "I must go now, but I'll be back…I promise." Chase smiled at her and kissed the top of her head, like a child.

  Her sigh was louder than she meant it to be. He looked at her this time, their eyes meeting. "You are a very special woman, Katherine."

  She watched him leave and her heart sank. He might never know how she felt. She couldn't speak the words to him. Sadness gripped her. Why hadn't she been as bold as her dream?

  She watched him move like a slithering snake against the ground and onward to the well. He was Indian now. He moved like one. Silently, unseen. He filled a canteen full of water, and reached for the second one when an arrow flew by his head. He did not move, his stillness being part of his control.

  Katherine didn't hesitate. She pulled the shotgun up to her shoulder and blasted in the direction of the arrow. The gun bounced against her shoulder and she whimpered momentarily, while trying to watch out for Chase.

  He filled another canteen and motioning to her, he threw them at the porch. It was out of reach, but she used the end of the wea[pm to drag them to the door.

  Chase smiled and nodded.

  Hawks, the Captain, and Jesse ran to the back door, "What's goin' on?" Hawks asked as he saw her with the gun.

  "Chase went for food and water," she cried breathlessly as she brought the canteens inside and handed them to Jesse. Jesse took them into the other room.

  "Fool, he'll be killed," the Captain spat. "We needed him here."

  "Angry because someone might rob you of the pleasure of seeing him hang?" she scathed.

  "You all seemed to have judged me too. But my way would have been more just. He would have had a fair trial." The Captain frowned at her. "But now, he won't get the chance."

  "Captain, sometimes things aren't as they seem out here," Jesse hollered. "Besides, I thought that's what you were plannin' on doin' with him all along, killin' him."

  "At least he'd have gotten a trial. This way, he'll just be killed and we have one less man," the Captain spat out. "They aren't going to rush us right away. They know we have ammunition and there are several of us."

  "Why can't you see past those white gloves of yours, Captain?" Katherine sneered and moved away from the doorway. "How do you think we got the water?"

  "You little fool, you don't even know if he'll come back. So he got us water. That doesn't absolve him of murder. He'd get a trial, first. This way, he'll just die. I know the Comanche," he answered. "We needed him in here."

  "I'm sure he'd oblige, if he could, Captain," Lee chuckled sourly from the doorway.

  "Well then, reckon he won't be comin' back," Hawks snikckered, his eyes wilder now as he glanced around the room, curiously.

  Katherine barely had time to even notice Hawks, but before she could blink Hawks moved around the room.

  The Captain bent to look out the window. He moved about, trying to get a fix on Chase.

  "Of course he'll come back…" Katherine announced, her attention returning to the men in the room suddenly.

  The Captain peered out the crack in the door.

  Katherine watched too, she saw the bushes move. They were out there, waiting to pick them off one by one.

  "Damn fool."

  "Well, this is as good a time as any," Hawks said and with that, he knocked the Captain out with the butt of his gun. Lee reached for his gun, but Hawks shot Lee and grabbed Katherine to him.

  Katherine saw the blood oozing from Lee's side and shrieked aloud.

  Jesse watched silently, his eyes rounding on Hawks in surprise. For a moment, Jesse seemed unable to move, as though he didn't quite believe what happened.

  "What are you doing?" Jesse moved to block him, as he noticed the men in the room were all on the floor now.

  "C'mon we're getting' out of here," Hawks cried, grabbing Katherine around the waist and pushing her into the front room.

  "What? We can't leave…" Katherine protested, hitting him on the shoulder with no results.

  "We shore as hell ain't stayin' here. We're leavin'. That breed gave us just the right amount of distraction. He'll keep 'em busy long enough for us to get away," Hawks said before she realized what was happening.

  "But you can't just leave him out th…"

  "The hell we can't. He's a breed girl, wake up. Not one you should trouble yourself over."

  Hawks and the brothers were gathering their horses, throwing her behind one and speeding off as arrows began to whiz by her. Horse sweat and leather created a strange odor she couldn't ignore, as her fingernails tore into Hawks side. At that moment she knew what it was like to want to kill someone.

  It seemed like a nightmare. Katherine couldn't believe Hawks would leave Chase out there alone. Not only that, but on foot, for Hawks took all the horses and water.

  And what of her brother?

  "Where are we going?" she asked holding on to Hawks' waist, her fingernails clawing at him there.

  "Back to the station of course," Hawks replied, his hand reached to pry her loose from his side. "That'll do you no good girl, you are comin' with me. The breed's as good as dead. And so is your brother. I'm the only one that can save you now."

  Jesse heard him and reined his horse. "Hey Hawks, we aren't going to no station. It's burnt to the ground. There is nothing there. I thought we'd head west."

  "You thought wrong," Hawks laughed, and shot Jesse before he could reach for his gun. Hawks hadn't hesitated a second in shooting the startled Jesse.

  "Jesse?" Katherine shrieked.

  Jesse stared with unseeing eyes as he dangled lifelessly against the horse then slowly slid almost to the ground, his horse dragging him.

  Hawks grabbed the reins and pulled the horse with them. Eventually Jesse's foot let go of the stirrups and he slumped
to the ground.

  The other three were behind, but they saw what was happening and hoisted their guns.

  "He killed Jesse," Matt hollered in a furious tone.

  When Hawks turned and saw them he fired, killing another instantly. The third brother got off one good shot, wounding Hawks in the shoulder. But Hawks wasn't slow by any means and killed another. Only one brother survived. Matt was completely out of site now. Hawks watched for a long moment, then turned the horse toward the station and headed out again, with Katherine behind him.

  "Damn fool kid, the Injuns will get him…" Hawks said as he spit the last of his tobacco out.

  "Hawks, I can't believe you…I can't believe you killed them…." Katherine was near hysteria, staring at the dead bodies along the way. "And what of my brother?"

  "Well believe it, and you better mind your manners girl, I might do you in too," he said and galloped away. "Your brother is no use to me. He'd only slow us down."

  "And Chase…?"

  "Is a dead man, as we speak." He laughed.

  She hid her face in Hawks back and wept. It wasn't the strong thing to do, but it was all she could do. She had given herself to Chase in a dream, and he had brought her alive, now her fate was sealed with this treacherous man. Her brother might die too…

  The shack was long out of sight. Hawks felt sure the Indians would take care of Chase and the rest of them. He had a clear path. He headed to the station in a hard gallop.

  Katherine hung on for dear life. She didn't understand any of this. It made no sense to go back to the station.

  But Hawks was a determined man.

  And her destiny lay in the hands of a man she neither liked nor trusted.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The echo of wind rustled through the night air, playing its lonely song. Gusts of pure dust covered them as they began to slow. The horse was exhausted and if they didn't slow down and walk it, they might lose it for good. So Hawks dismounted and had her climb down. Fighting the elements of nature, Hawks finally made camp against a rocky ridge. He pitched camped so the wind blew at their backs. The air cooled somewhat, but it stifled each breath they took.