Zac wasn't nearly so sanguine. "I hope you're not planning to do this every day."
She'd never been able to have a bath every day, not even when her father had taken her and her mother to stay in a hotel while he drank up his money.
The pots and tubs were finally full, the cabin hot from the heat required to warm so much water. Tyler brought in a large bathtub. "This is the only one I have."
The bath was twice as large as any Daisy had ever seen. No wonder Tyler had heated so much water. He pulled back the curtain and pushed the tub into Daisy's corner. He took down soap and towel from the shelves.
"The water will be ready soon. Don't take off the bandage," he warned as he handed them to her.
"But my hair feels awful." It was the main reason she wanted a bath.
"You might reopen the wound."
"I'll be very careful."
"If you must wash it, I'll do it for you."
Daisy became immobilized in her tracks. The strange feelings that had teased her earlier assaulted every part of her body in a furious barrage of hot and cold flashes. Her stomach seemed to be trying to learn how to fly. Her tongue fluttered uselessly in her mouth, and her brain seemed to be spinning faster than a top.
"Zac can wash it if you'd prefer."
"I don't need to wash it today," Daisy said. She retreated behind her curtain.
But she had no sooner pulled the sheets together when Tyler said, "I think your water's hot."
Curls of steam had begun to swirl on the surface. It reminded her of a thermal spring her father had once shown her. She tipped her finger into the water. It was a little too warm, but she knew it would cool rapidly. Tyler poured it into the tub for her.
"Thanks," she said. "Both of you are welcome to use my corner whenever you want a bath."
"I plan to wait until my side gets better," Zac said.
"I'll be happy to accept your offer," Tyler said. The look he gave her was innocent enough, but once again fireworks exploded inside her. She decided she would have to keep her distance until she figured out what was happening to her.
She pulled the sheets across the line and overlapped them to make certain there were no gaps. She started to unbutton her dress. He was far too bossy, but he wasn't as bad as her father had been. He might even shape up if some woman were to take the time to work on him, but she wouldn't be that woman. After what she had endured, she wasn't about to marry a domineering man, especially one who was looking for gold.
Daisy stepped out of her dress and began to unbutton her chemise.
Of course now that she had a scar on one side of her head and burned hair on the other, she couldn't really expect anybody to marry her.
Daisy slipped the chemise over her shoulders and let it drop on top of the dress. The chill of the air in the cabin made her teeth chatter. She stepped into the bath.
The water was almost too hot. She eased one foot in, then gradually lowered the rest of her body into the bath. The water rose almost to the tops of her breasts.
For the first time in two days, she was able to relax. The men had been good to her -- really they had, even if they hadn't been terribly gracious about it -- but she needed the privacy of her little sanctuary. After all, when everything was said and done, they were strangers.
And men.
She sank down in the tub until her knees protruded and the water came up to her chin. For once she was thankful for Zac's big mouth. She doubted she could have summoned the courage to ask Tyler to let her have a bath. But now she knew he was willing, she intended to take one as often as possible.
* * * * *
"Psst!"
Zac's squeaking chair broke Tyler's concentration. "Sit still," he said without looking up. "I can't concentrate with you wiggling about."
"Psst!"
"Go back to your cards."
Zac got up and tiptoed across the room. Tyler opened his mouth to speak, but Zac's finger over his mouth silenced him. With his other finger, Zac pointed excitedly in the direction of Daisy's corner.
The sun had come out, its golden rays pouring through the window in Daisy's corner. Daisy was standing upright in the bath, her body cast into perfect silhouette. Tyler didn't pretend to be a connoisseur of the female form, but he had never seen a woman as perfectly shaped as Daisy.
The shock was like a fist to Tyler's solar plexus. He felt air enter his body in a gasp and leave in a long, shuddering moan.
The curve of Daisy's breasts, the line of her slender waist, the slope of her rounded bottom were as clear as if drawn in charcoal on a stark white background. He could almost see the color of her lips, feel the softness of her skin. He could see the triangle where her legs joined her body. Even her nipples were agonizingly clear. He felt as if he could reach out and touch them.
Tyler's body hardened painfully.
No woman had ever affected him like Daisy. He reminded himself he'd never had a woman in his cabin, certainly not one who was taking a bath, whose modesty was protected by nothing more than three sheets hanging on a rope.
He could sweep them aside with one flick of his hand.
Simultaneously he was assailed by a feeling of deep chagrin that he would even think of doing such a thing and by intense physical arousal at the thought of what Daisy must look like in the bath. He was helpless. He had been on this mountain too long.
As soon as he handed Daisy over to Hen, he had to find himself a woman.
He took several deep breaths, but it didn't help. Daisy turned in the light as she ran a cloth over her body to absorb the drops of water that clung to her skin. She might as well have been torturing Tyler. His entire body ached. His muscles bunched in rebellion.
Jerking himself up short, Tyler signaled for Zac to avert his gaze, but the boy continued to gape. Tyler grabbed his arm and spun him around.
"Bastard!" Zac exclaimed.
Tyler positioned himself between Zac and Daisy, but the wretched boy simply moved to one side. Infuriated, Tyler grabbed Zac by his shirt front and jerked him off his feet. Walking across the room, he opened the door and threw him out into the snow.
"You damned crazy son-of-a-bitch!" Zac shouted. "What's gotten into you?" Zac got to his feet covered from head to foot with snow.
Tyler stepped outside and closed the door behind him. The freezing air did nothing to cool his senses or his anger. "Who taught you to spy on a decent woman in her bath?"
"I wasn't spying. She was standing right in front of me."
"There was nothing to keep you from turning your head."
"I noticed you got an eyeful, too."
Tyler couldn't explain that he had felt paralyzed, incapable of moving. Zac wouldn't understand. He wasn't certain he did himself.
Zac brushed himself off and attempted to walk by Tyler.
"You're going to stay outside until she finishes taking her bath."
"Are you crazy? I'll freeze to death."
"Not with your blood as hot as it is." Tyler pushed Zac away from the door.
"What's gotten into you?" Zac demanded. He tried to pass Tyler and was repulsed again. "You're acting like she's your wife. You hardly know the woman."
"Even if she were a perfect stranger, she has the right to take a bath without being stared at. You might have been brought up in the brush country of south Texas, but you know that much."
"All right," Zac said, trying and failing to get around Tyler once more. "I'll sit with my nose in the corner and not look at anything but my toes until she's done."
"You'll stay out here," Tyler said. "I don't trust you."
"Go to hell! I'm not freezing my butt off to please your Puritanical soul."
"You can wrap up in one of the horse blankets."
"You're crazy if you think I'll wrap up in anything worn by a mule."
When Tyler continued to block Zac's path, Zac swung at him. Tyler avoided the blow. Zac's spoiled behavior belied the fact he was as strong and physically capable as the rest of his and Tyler's brothers
. Seconds later they were rolling in the snow, locked in fierce combat. It took several minutes, but Tyler finally subdued his younger brother.
"You wouldn't have pinned me if you weren't so much heavier," Zac managed to mutter between gasps for breath. Zac gave a heave, and he and Tyler were rolling in the snow once again.
"What on earth are you two doing?"
Neither man stopped until Tyler managed to pin Zac once more. Then Tyler looked up to see Daisy standing in the doorway of the cabin, her incredulous gaze on both of them.
"You'll both die of pneumonia."
Tyler felt like an idiot. All the heat that had fueled his lust and his anger evaporated, leaving him feeling cold and foolish.
"Just a friendly tussle," he said. "A man could go stir crazy sitting in that cabin day after day."
"I'll be damned if that's true," Zac said. "It's all because this pious bastard didn't want me--"
Tyler slammed Zac's head into the snow. "You agree with every word I say, or I'll turn your head into mush," he hissed.
"You're not strong enough," Zac grunted, struggling to break Tyler's hold.
"Promise," Tyler whispered knowing that if Zac once gave his word, he wouldn't break it.
"Okay, okay, I promise! Just let me up before your break my ribs. I'm already bleeding."
"It's your own fault," Tyler hissed.
"Hypocritical son-of-a-bitch," Zac muttered, rudely. "My turn will come. Just remember that."
"Your shirt's bloody," Daisy said when Zac entered the cabin.
"Thanks to my thoughtful brother," Zac said, casting Tyler a furious look.
"Sit down," Tyler ordered. "I'll take care of it."
"The hell you will!" Zac snapped. "I'll do it myself."
"I'll do it if you'll let me," Daisy said. "You'll never be able to reach it yourself."
Tyler could see Zac start to refuse, think about it, then change his mind. "I'd be ever so grateful if you would," he said in that sweet, syrupy voice Tyler knew meant he was feeling diabolical. "Tyler's so rough."
"Here, sit down and take your shirt off."
"I don't think you ought," Tyler said.
"Why?" Daisy asked.
"Tyler thinks seeing me without my shirt might offend your modesty," Zac said. "Sorry, but I hadn't thought of that."
Tyler itched to get his fingers around Zac's throat. There was nobody on earth who could pull the wool over people's eyes like Zac when he really wanted to. Those big black eyes, that youthful, handsome face, that incredible smile would have charmed the devil.
Poor Daisy didn't have a chance.
Chapter Six
Tyler itched to toss Zac back into the snow. It didn't matter that Daisy wouldn't understand. At least she'd be safe. But he couldn't do that. The little beast was his brother. And when it came right down to it, he had been responsible for his wound.
Tyler gritted his teeth and put some water on to heat. Maybe he'd get it so hot it would scald the little weasel. He laid out some lint and strips of cloth for bandages. He glanced up as Zac removed his shirt. They really had made a mess of the wound. Blood was smeared all over his side.
"Does it hurt?" Daisy asked.
"Not much," Zac replied, looking as though the pain was just about to kill him.
"I'll try to be very careful," Daisy said, "but it's bound to hurt some."
Tyler decided Zac had a real future on the stage. His look of martyrdom was perfect. If fact, if he hadn't known his brother so well, he'd have sworn the rascal was the bravest man he knew.
"It's not as bad as I thought," Daisy said. "You smeared the blood all over when you were tussling."
Zac winced. It was a scarcely noticeable movement, an almost imperceptible sound. It was masterful.
Daisy looked stricken to have caused him so much pain. "I'm sorry. Are you sure you don't want Tyler to do it?"
"Please," Zac said to Daisy, his eyes huge and pleading, "I want you to do it."
Tyler itched to take the bandages from Daisy and wrap Zac from head to foot. "As soon as you've finished, I'll put him to bed," he said to Daisy.
"I don't want to go to bed," Zac protested.
"I think it'll be enough if he sits quietly and plays with his cards," Daisy said.
Zac looked at Tyler with a triumphant grin.
Tyler unclenched his fists, rinsed the bloody clothes, and threw out the dirty water.
"How's that?" Daisy asked when she had finished the bandages.
"Perfect," Zac said, smiling up at her.
"Good. Now I suggest you both take a nap," Tyler said. "Neither one of you is fully recovered. You'll need plenty of rest if you expect to ride out of here in a couple of days."
"You think the snow will have gone by then?" Daisy asked.
"It can either be gone, or it can snow several more feet. I don't know which," Tyler admitted. "But you can't leave if you're not strong enough. It's a long ride over the mountain. It's even longer if we have to go around. And you've been up too long. You may feel stronger, but you can never be too careful with a head wound."
Daisy didn't argue, but Zac showed all the signs of not being nearly so agreeable.
"If you have a good nap, you might feel up to a nice roast for dinner," he said, hoping to bribe Zac into being more cooperative. "And maybe something rich for dessert." He paused. "If not, I'm afraid it'll be clear soup again." Tyler knew if Zac had one weakness, it was for sweets.
"Chocolate?" Zac asked.
Tyler nodded.
Zac climbed up into the bunk without a protest.
"Can you really cook all that up here?"
"Sure," Zac said. "He gets someone to bring him milk, eggs, and butter once a week. That's in addition to everything else he gets. He wouldn't stay up here if he didn't."
"I thought you were a prospector," Daisy said.
Tyler couldn't tell whether she was merely surprised or whether she thought he was crazy. Many people did. "Prospectors have to eat."
"I never knew one who made desserts."
"Go to sleep before he changes his mind," Zac said.
"Would you cook a special dish for me if I asked?"
"If I know how. What is it?"
"I'm not sure. If I only get one, I want to make sure it's what I want most."
"You can have more than one."
"I can't go to sleep with all this talking," Zac announced.
"I'll tell you tonight," Daisy said, then disappeared behind her curtain.
Tyler felt unaccountably weak. He sat down, but that didn't correct the feeling. Maybe he was coming down with a fever. It was just the thing to happen with him going in and out of the cabin in all this cold. Wrestling in the snow hadn't helped matters either. He probably ought to lie down as well, but he knew he couldn't sleep.
Daisy couldn't be falling for Zac, could she?
Tyler felt ashamed of himself for even thinking such a thing. It was none of his business what Daisy did. Besides, Zac was too much in love with himself to love anybody else. Tyler had thought Daisy knew that, but the way she acted made him wonder. He knew it was unwise to underestimate the power of physical beauty. He had seen intelligent men ruin themselves over beautiful women. There was no reason to think a woman wouldn't do the same for a beautiful man.
And Zac was beautiful.
Tyler wasn't. He had felt that difference his whole life. His father had once introduced him to some guests by saying, "This is my ugly son. He doesn't look like his brothers." There were times when Tyler didn't even feel like a Randolph. From birth he'd been lanky and angular. His brown hair and brown eyes lacked the dramatic impact of his brothers' blond fairness or black swarthiness. Even though he was the tallest, he seemed to slip a little farther into the background with every passing year.
Tyler hated to see Daisy blinded by physical beauty, but what could he do? He couldn't say, You can't fall in love with my brother because he's not in love with you, or You can't fall in love with Zac because he'll hurt you.
If Daisy had to fall in love with anybody, she ought to fall in love with him. At least he liked her. Tyler nearly dropped the egg he had just picked up. What was wrong with him? He was jealous of his own brother over a female he hadn't even set eyes on until two days ago. He must have cabin fever. Some kind of fever. Never had he been so obsessed with a woman.
Tyler cracked the egg. He probably ought to leave Zac and Daisy to take care of themselves. They really weren't sick anymore. He could come back when the snow melted. He didn't need to be locked up with Daisy unable to think of anything except her body silhouetted against the sheets.
He nearly dropped another egg.
Damn, he really was coming apart. First chance he got, he'd go hunting even if there wasn't a deer between here and Colorado. He had to get out of the cabin. It was beginning to seem like his life depended on it.
* * * * *
Daisy didn't sleep long. "Do you have any clothes I could wear?" she asked Tyler less than thirty minutes later.
He didn't know what she was talking about.
"I need to wash my clothes," she explained, "and I don't have anything to wear while they dry."
He smiled at the picture in his mind of her in his clothes. "Nothing that'll fit."
"I know, but I don't plan to parade through the streets of Albuquerque."
He thought of offering her some of Zac's clothes, but they wouldn't fit much better. Besides, if she had to wear anybody's clothes, he wanted them to be his.
He didn't understand that. He didn't even want to try.
He found a shirt and an old pair of pants that were too small for him. "You'll need something to keep them up," he said.
Daisy held the shirt up in front of her. It fell to her knees. "I could use it for a nightgown."
He hadn't thought about that. She shouldn't sleep in her clothes. He'd offer her one of the white linen shirts he wore when he went to town.
He could hear her as she moved about behind the curtain. The sun was still out. He could see her outline. She would be changing her clothes any minute now. He glanced over at Zac, but the boy was asleep with his face to the wall. But Tyler wasn't certain he could make himself turn away.
Glancing over the shelves, his gaze fell on two thin blankets he used in the warmer months. He took them down.
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