Satisfied they could at least last out the night here, he went inside. Sam lay close to Hattie asleep, huddled in a corner. Hattie was shivering but not asleep.
Lee took his blanket and wrapped it around her. As she looked at it, her mouth hung open.
“How come you bein’ so nice to us?” she asked, her face full of questions.
Lee dropped down beside her and pulled her gently against him. She was stiff and he knew she was scared; he hadn’t meant to frighten her, but suddenly realized. “I’m not gonna hurt you Hattie. I think you seen enough hurt for one day. There ain’t nothin’ to be scared of. I’ll take care of you as long as I can.”
“Why?” She turned her sad cow eyes up at him. “Why would you do that? You’re a white man.”
“‘Cause you need takin’ care of, that’s why.” He let go of her and almost turned away.
“But we’re black, you’re white, that don’t make no sense. You don’t care about us.” She huffed and blew a tendril of hair from her face.
“Who says?” Lee asked with a smile.
“My Pa, that’s who. Don’t go pretended you do neither. Why, if a white woman walked in here you’d be runnin’ away instead cuddlin’ us. You’d be ashamed for lookin’ at me like you just did.”
“And how did I look at you?” he almost laughed.
“Like a man looks at a woman, that’s how.”
Lee frowned now. Putting to words what he was feelin’ sure didn’t help matters. “I’m not cuddlin’ you. And I wasn’t lookin’ at ya. Just didn’t expect anyone else to come out of those bushes, that’s all. I wouldn’t run away from you. You’re no different than a white woman, ‘cept you aren’t a woman fully grown yet.”
“Don’t you lie.” She shook the blanket from her shoulders and turned, so she was very close to him. “If I was a white woman you would kiss me…or somethin’.”
“So…maybe I would and maybe I wouldn’t.” Lee felt himself heat up and didn’t quite understand why.
He’d never met such a provocative kid in his life and he wasn’t at all sure how he should handle it. On one hand, he wanted to turn her over his knee and spank her, and on the other…he was intrigued.
“You wouldn’t kiss a Negro girl…” she challenged, leaning closer.
“Is that a challenge?” He frowned and came very close to her pretty face.
“No,” she turned away. “It’s the truth…”
He reached and pulled her chin around, studying her face. Damn, she was pretty and feisty as all get out. But he tempered himself and smiled into her face.
“You ever been kissed before?” he asked stirred by the implication.
“Once…by a cousin.”
“Ever been kissed by a white boy before?” he asked, his voice growing husky.
“‘Course not…” she swallowed.
“Then close your eyes, ‘cause I’m gonna kiss you.” Lee pulled her closer, wanting and needing to put his lips to hers.
Her eyes widened. “Is that all you’re gonna do?”
He frowned. “That’s all I’m gonna do.”
Her glance fell to his lips and instead of running away like he thought she might, she waited, staring at him so.
“Don’t be scared…” He smiled as his voice softened. “I won’t hurt you. But you been askin’ for this…”
His finger gently reached to close her eyes. “Don’t look, it’s easier that way.”
She gulped. “What do you want me to do?” she asked innocently.
“Open your mouth a little,” he answered as he came closer.
He leaned closer. “You may not be a woman yet, but you are as pretty a girl as I’ve ever seen.”
Her eyes came open again, and her mouth whispered a gasp as her gaze followed his lips.
“Maybe I’ll scream…”
He smiled. “No you won’t. You’re just as curious as I am.”
Just then he bent his head and touched his lips to hers. He hadn’t expected the warmth and softness of her young but eager lips. He hadn’t expected her lips to move against his either, but they did. This girl could kiss, he mentally noted as his arms went around her.
Her lips were soft and sweet and he brought her closer so he could hold her against him. She moved to her knees and let her body rest against his, naturally. Then his lips began to move over hers tenderly. He felt her chest moving more rapidly, her arms clinging, and he heard a low moan, but he wasn’t sure who it was from. Her arms flew suddenly around his neck and her lips began to follow his motions. He hadn’t expected it and pulled her closer. It was just supposed to be a quick little kiss, but he felt her melting into him and he wanted to kiss her forever.
But good sense did prevail, after he enjoyed it thoroughly.
Slowly he unwrapped her arms, stood and moved away, staring into her surprised face.
“Now you’ve been kissed,” he uttered lowly, his eyes never leaving her.
“I didn’t mean to…” she began.
“Yes you did, you pert near asked for it, so did I…but like you said, you ain’t fully grown yet…and I certainly won’t take the advantage. But now you see how it is…makes no difference if you are black or white. You’re comin’ into a woman, and I’m a man…that’s the only real difference between us.”
“Don’t matter,” she insisted as her chest heaved in and out heavily. “Ain’t no white man could love a black girl…”
“Maybe…but that kiss had no color to it. And you’re a beautiful young lady too.”
“Don’t mean you’d have me…” she insisted, her breathing still heavy from the kiss.
“Don’t mean I wouldn’t either…” He grinned.
“Do you flirt with every black girl you meet?” she asked, wiping the kiss against her arm slowly.
“No…that’s the funny part…I don’t.”
“Then…could we do it again?”
“Again?” He laughed. “No…I don’t think so.”
“Why not…you liked it, didn’t you?” she boldly challenged.
“Too much, that’s why we ain’t doin’ it again. Now go to sleep,” he barked.
Lee meant to teach her there was no difference in color, but somewhere the lesson got lost in enjoyment. For both their sakes he wouldn’t carry it further. However, he couldn’t quite get over the fact that he liked it a bit too much for his own good. And he knew deep down, he would have liked to kiss her again. But that was foolishness. He was a man, and about to go to war. Hattie was a kid and although she’d someday be a beauty, she wasn’t for him.
At least that’s what he kept telling himself, but the feel of her soft lips on his lingered in his dreams. She was right, he hadn’t kissed a black girl before. But like he told her, the kiss had no color, and he savored it like a prize possession in some deep dark part of his heart.
The next morning, he made no mention of it, and woke them both.
“It’s time to ride.”
They both moved quickly and she folded the blanket and gave it to him. She didn’t look him in the eyes now. And she didn’t flirt with him again.
He was secretly glad.
Nothing else was said all the way to town and Lee was silently thankful for it. He wasn’t sure what he was doing with these two, but he had little choice. They were both children.
It was still raining, and miserably cold.
By the time he got into town, the only thing open was a saloon and he stopped there. He jumped down and found both of them nearly asleep. He took Sam first and put him on his shoulder. He helped Hattie down and when she almost fell against him he struggled to balance Sam without knocking her into the muddy street. The contact had him aware again though and he scolded himself silently for even noticing she was a female. They were both tired out of their minds, and he reckoned scared more than anything.
As he trudged into the saloon with Sam on his shoulder and Hattie by his side, the dance hall girls looked at him strangely, all gathering about him. There was an assortment of youn
g and old in loudly colored dresses and more makeup than a woman would ever need.
“What in the world have you got here?” the oldest one of the bunch asked, eyeing the children with disbelief.
Lee shrugged. “Not sure myself. Look, their folks was killed and I need to find them a place to stay.”
The bartender came around and looked at them. Tall, thin, and well-seasoned, he nodded. “Well, I could use some help about here, sweepin’ the floors and cleaning the bar and spitoons.”
Lee sized the man before him up quickly. He was a big man, probably forty-ish, and had a huge mustache that covered his face.
“I didn’t bring them here to work. They’re kids. I wanted to find them a home,” Lee said, aggravated that he cared so much about what happened to these two.
How he had let them get into his craw he wasn’t sure, but they had both worked their way into his heart.
“We’ll work,” Hattie offered, looking at the kind older woman who came up to them.
“I’m not leavin’ you in some saloon to work…” Lee grumbled.
The older woman pulled Lee to the side; she watched the girl fidget then looked him in the eye. “I expect you got plans of your own. You go on. I’ll take care of them. See after them,” she began but seeing the stubborn look on Lee’s face, she frowned at him. “Look mister, there ain’t but two or three black families in this town, and all of them have ten or twelve kids a piece. You think they would have room for two more? Ain’t likely. The girl can do laundry for her keep and the boy can sweep the floors at night when everyone leaves. They won’t be exposed to the drinkin’ and gamblin’ that way. It ain’t a perfect life, but it’s the best chance they got here. Unless you want to take them with you. I’ll see to them just like I said.”
“I’ve already joined the army and need to get to my post in Texas…I can’t take them with me,” Lee protested.
“Then I’m your best bet. Look, honey, the black people in this town stay to themselves, they don’t cause no trouble. But these two, they’d be eaten alive by the townsfolk here. You’d best leave them with me. I won’t make slaves of them…I promise. And you can check back after the war if you don’t believe me.”
“The girl…she’s too young to work the saloons. I don’t want to come back and find her in one of those fancy dresses and sellin’ herself to the highest bidder,” Lee informed her quickly. He needed to be on his way, he couldn’t take them with him. But he’d be damned if he’d be the ruination of the girl. He couldn’t do anything but leave them here. It bothered him to do so, but the woman did look him in the eyes when she spoke and the way she kept looking at them, he figured she was right. He prided himself in sizing up a situation, and the old woman looked as though she had a soft spot for kids.
“Sure, honey. That’s fine. Not much call for black girls here, anyway…” She smiled.
“Do I have your word, that you’ll take care of them, like your own?” he asked.
“Sure. Don’t you worry any at all. But, you’re young to be goin’ off to war like this. Why don’t you stay here with me, we could take care of them together?” She moved toward him with a smile.
He smiled back, knowing what she meant but not interested in her proposition. “Just take care of them. I’ll leave ya some money…What’s your name?”
“Gloria Newcomb…and yours?”
“Lee, Lee Nelson.”
The woman seemed stunned. “You kin to them or somethin’?”
“No…just don’t want to see kids mistreated, is all. Given half the chance most kids can grow up good. I’d like to think they will.”
She smiled again. “Oooh, if I was younger I wouldn’t let you ride off.” She kissed his cheek. “But you goin’ off to fight in the army…that’s a sad thing.”
“Reckon someone’s gotta do it. Got some place I can lay him down?” Lee asked suddenly realizing the weight on his shoulders.
“Sure, in the back there. There’s a bed.” She showed him the room.
Lee followed her and put Sam on the bed. Then he turned to look at the woman again. She was once a beauty he was sure of that, but age had caught up to her and hadn’t been as kind as she probably deserved. “I appreciate this, ma’am.”
He pulled out some cash from his pocket and took her hand. He folded the money up and leaned to kiss her lips. She responded with a soft sigh. “Why honey, sure you don’t want to stick around?”
“Can’t. But thanks.” Lee moved to go back into the saloon where he’d left Hattie standing.
A customer had come in and seen her and grabbed her and had her on his knee.
Without a thought, Lee whirled her by the hand on the other side of him protectively and looked at the stranger. “Sorry, but she’s not for sale.”
He felt the sweat between their hands, and the tremble that rumbled through Hattie as he held her protectively away from the man. She was scared to death and he was glad of it.
“Well hell, why not, she’s younger and prettier than most these girls in here.” The man laughed. “I like ‘em young. Less of course she’s your property.”
“She’s a human being…that’s all she is. She’s no one’s property.” Lee guided her back to the room where Sam was. He closed the door once she was inside. He had to calm down, he’d gotten angry too fast. He glanced over at her and saw her staring at him.
“Look. I can’t do much else for you. I paid the lady some money to take care of you. I’ve got to get to the army. I can’t stay here. You’ll be alright, just do what little she asks of you and try to get along. Understand?”
The girl’s lip pouched out and Lee was sure tears were close to falling.
“You’re leaving?” Her eyes took on an innocent look of surprise.
Lee nodded.
“Thank you for what you done.” She came closer, and looked up at him.
“You’re welcome…” Lee’s eye lingered on her longer than they should have. He cleared his throat. He hadn’t expected a thank you from her.
“You going to war?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
“Yeah,” he answered, staring at her through the dim light of the room.
Without another word, she flung herself into his arms. Lee felt the warmth of her as her young body fit against him naturally. He felt himself react and again he scolded himself. But nothing prepared him for the shocking kiss she placed on his lips as she tiptoed to reach him. Her soft lips moved against his, insinuating her tongue into his mouth, as they instantly mated. Just like his lips had explored hers last night, today, she boldly imitated his actions. Soft as a buttercup, her lips touched his, lingered, and then moved away slowly. Their eyes met with a storm of emotion clouding them.
Deliberately, he put distance between them. An old woman’s kiss was nothing like this one. He’d felt it to his toes and his body reacted quite naturally. She’d pressed her young body up against him so tightly she was bound to have felt his reaction. She was just a child, he quickly reminded himself. He would not let anything happen between them. It was naturally up to him to see that it didn’t. But by all that was holy, she brought out the man in him like no other.
“I really am sixteen, and I really want you to come back…safe…to us,” she said lowly. “You get shot up, I’ll take care of you. I know how, did it for my Pa many times.” She moved a little closer, her eyes wide with expectations.
He cleared his throat again, and he felt his own heartbeat quicken. “You shouldn’t have done that.” He touched a finger to his lips.
“Don’t other girls kiss you goodbye…” She suddenly looked as though she’d said too much.
“There are no other girls…”
“You mean I’m…the only one…” She almost smiled.
“Yeah…the only one…” he answered, backing away from her.
Her mouth formed a perfect ‘O,’ but nothing came out. She seemed out of breath suddenly, her chest rising and falling quickly, he noted.
She smil
ed at him now. “Good. And I’m glad I kissed you. Mama said you had to try a boy out to see if he was the right one…”
“Right one for what?” He frowned at her.
“Right one to be with…”
Lee’s frown grew, although her words confused him mightily almost as much as her kissing him had.
“I just wanted to thank you…for all you done. It was right decent of you. I never met a nice white man before. Didn’t know there were any.”
Lee moved closer, his temper flaring in defense. “That’s no way to thank anyone, you hear me girl? Don’t let me catch you ever thanking anyone else like that, do you hear me? You don’t kiss a man on the lips as a thank you. And I better be the only white boy you ever kiss like that.”
“Like what?” she asked innocently.
“Like you meant it.”
“I didn’t mean to do nothin’ wrong…” she huffed and saw his head shake. “…And I did mean it.”
He stared into her amber eyes. “I know…that’s the problem, Hattie, so did I.”
Her mouth flew open.
“You are playin’ with fire, girl, don’t you know that? I’m a full grown man, and you’re just a kid.”
“Didn’t you like it?”
His eyes met hers and for all that was holy, he couldn’t lie, couldn’t look away. “Yeah…too much.” His mouth curled into a slight smile.
She smiled back shyly.
His gaze swept her. “Did you?”
She nodded and placed her hand over his. For a long moment he stared at their hands, and then a thumb reached over and grazed the top of her hand. Her breath hitched, her chest rose and fell quickly.
“Will—you come back?” she asked breathlessly.
“I’m going to the army, in Texas, girl.” He moved away and stopped looking at her. Those sad cow eyes of hers had him feeling things and thinking things he shouldn’t. “I have no idea. The army isn’t a happy place. But I reckon if I live through it, I might stop off and see how the two of you are doing, someday. So you behave yourself. And no more of that. I got every reason to come back…now. Understand? And don’t you run off and leave Sam by himself here, you hear me? He’s your brother and you take care of him. Family stays together, you understand?”
Just One Kiss (The Dream Catcher Series-Book Two) Page 2