by Caroline Lee
Although Cam had said nothing, his friend was right. For a few years now, he’d felt like something was missing from his life. He’d worked hard to build his ranch, and kept a simple home with his father. There wasn’t anything more that he needed, but he felt somehow… empty. Getting to know Ash and Molly and their family—their spread was north of his, but he hadn’t known them very well until a few years back—had shown him what was missing. A family. More than anything he could imagine, he wanted the laughter, the tears, the loving that came with being part of a family. The MacLeods had been that sort of family, but Cam’s older sisters had moved on and his mother had passed. He set out for Wyoming Territory to stake a claim on some land and make his father a home. But back in Ontario, at least, there were cousins and nieces and nephews and… well, family.
Holding Rose for that first time, and every time after that, he was filled with a longing for the acceptance and comfort a family offered. But he would have to find a good woman first, one who could love him enough to raise kids with him. He’d thought he had done that last year, when he tried courting Miss Serena Selkirk. She’d been his neighbor for years, and he’d seen her blossom into a stunningly pristine young woman. It wasn’t until he spent time with her that he understood that she just wasn’t the right woman for him. He’d thought that he loved her, and losing her to his new business partner had galled him. But now he knew that his feelings for her—that vague worshipful sense of admiration—weren’t really love; he was just reacting to the most beautiful woman west of St. Louis.
Thinking about Serena, and the fool he’d made of himself over her, left him shifting in embarrassment. So this time, when he heard the cry, he was happy to rein in the sorrel again, and focus on the wind. Sure enough, there was something that sounded like a baby coming from the northwest, and it hadn’t been his imagination. He remembered an instance last summer, when he’d thought he’d heard an animal, but it’d turned out to be Rose’s brother Noah. Could the opposite hold true? He’d heard animal cries that sounded human enough to wonder if the noise he was hearing might be some wounded creature.
But he couldn’t afford to ride on by, just in case there was a kid out here somewhere. Besides, if he wasted an hour looking, he’d just get to the fort after sundown, and it’d hardly be the first time he’d ridden in the dark.
Clucking, he turned the sorrel westward, knowing he would run into the Laramie River a little sooner than he’d planned. He could follow it north, keeping an eye out for a baby, or whatever was making the sound.
CHAPTER ONE
When was the last time she had a nightmare? Tess’s stomach was roiling, despite being empty, when she woke from a dream of being unable to protect her son from monsters. It had been horrible, and she needed to assure herself that the crying she’d heard in her sleep had just been part of the dream. Jacob was no longer tucked beside her, but even in her muddled state she recognized that he had probably woken and made a beeline for the food. That was probably what had woken her.
Still disoriented from the dream, she rolled over onto her back. And screamed.
Haloed by the sun, now high in the sky, there stood a giant of a man. His huge feet were planted firmly just inches from hers, and her eyes followed thickly corded legs and torso up to a head so high she couldn’t see his features amid the glare. But that didn’t matter, because far more terrifying than his size was the fact that he held her baby in his arms.
Perhaps it was the lingering effects of the nightmare, or the lack of sleep, or the limited food. Whatever the reason, she knew that she had to save her helpless son. She screamed again and, scrambling to her feet, launched herself at the giant.
Had she been thinking straight, she might have processed that Jacob was smiling, and that he didn’t seem to be in any danger in the stranger’s arms. But seeing a man holding him, so soon after her ordeal to protect him, left her irrational. She hit the stranger with her shoulder in his stomach, and barely registered his grunt of pain before trying to claw her way up his chest to her son. Her attack must have surprised him, though, because she felt him falling backwards just as his free arm snaked around her middle and clasped her tightly to him.
They hit the ground, hard, and she felt his breath woosh from his chest. The same chest she was now sprawled across in a parody of intimacy. She heard Jacob’s giggle at the same time that she realized the stranger had protected them both from harm. Her son was still cradled against one giant shoulder, and seemed to be chewing something.
He was safe.
Tess forced herself to take a deep breath, and felt the terror loosen its grip on her heart. And then she looked up into the stranger’s face, and felt herself go faint again.
He was… well, it was probably just her recent ordeal that made her first thought ‘angelic’, but she couldn’t help it. He was big, and blonde, and his skin seemed to glow bronze in the sun. Surely this was the kind of creature her mother had told her stories about? An avenging angel come to earth to protect the innocent? But then she managed a breath, and saw the whiskers against his chin, and the crinkles at the corners of his green eyes, and knew that he was a flesh-and-blood man, after all.
A very hard man, judging from the muscles beneath her palms, and the corded forearm across her back. She was just about to start struggling when those striking eyes crinkled into a smile, and he said simply “Hi.”
A flush swept across her face, and while she knew she shouldn’t be embarrassed by her actions to defend her son, she was. Just because a handsome man smiled at her? She wasn’t some starry-eyed innocent to be flustered by a pretty grin, or a set of remarkably green eyes….
She realized that she was getting distracted by his features again, and scowled. Planting her hands firmly on that hard chest, she pushed herself off of him.
He sat up as well, bringing Jacob with him. She reached for her son, more for a way to occupy her hands and mind, rather than because the boy needed her. She could tell by his happy smile that he was fine. He took another bite of the jerky he held and chewed intently.
The stranger followed her gaze to the little boy sitting on her lap now. “Hope it was okay to give him that? He said he was hungry, and that was all I had on hand.”
Tess didn’t let herself look at the man, for fear that she would be distracted again. “It’s fine, thank you. Normally I’d cut it up for him, but he seems okay. He’s hungry enough that he’d eat vegetables right now, I’d think.”
The man chuckled. “Yeah, that’s pretty hungry.” She sneaked a peek at him, and caught her breath at his smile. Goodness, he really was handsome, wasn’t he? “You mind me asking, ma’am, why he’s so hungry?”
“We ate the last of our provisions during the night. I was hoping to reach Fort Laramie today, but I couldn’t make him understand that the food was gone.” She sighed. “He thought I wasn’t letting him eat just to be mean.” Why was she blathering on, sharing so much with this man, when she should be keeping her own council? The lack of sleep must mean she wasn’t thinking clearly.
He stared at her for a long moment, and then he shrugged. “Well, I’ve got some tinned beans we can cook up, if you’re not in a hurry, and then I’ll take you to Fort Laramie. Heading that way myself, to discuss beef contracts.”
She was a little disturbed at the way her heart leapt at his words. She told herself her reaction was just because he was offering her a faster way to safety… not because she’d have to spend hours on a horse with such a handsome man. But could she trust him? She chewed on the inside of her lip while she tried to decide. Take him up on his offer, and assume that he was more scrupulous than her most recent companions? Or send him on his way, and continue their journey alone? He looked honorable enough, but her experience with Willis proved that she was no longer the judge of character she thought.
Then Jacob made her decision for her. “Mo’ food, peese.” It was his favorite sentence, and might explain why he was so heavy. They just couldn’t afford to turn down the
stranger’s offer. Her son needed food, and she was no longer sure that she could walk to Fort Laramie.
So she sighed wearily. “Thank you. Jacob and I accept your offer, Mister…?”
That smile again, with those slightly crooked teeth against that bronze skin. “Cam MacLeod, ma’am. I own a spread south of here.”
She held out her hand, and said “Tess Kitchens, Mr. MacLeod.” He took her hand, and she had to suppress a shiver at the odd warmth that spread up her arm at his touch. “My son and I need to get to the safety of the fort rather urgently.”
She immediately regretted her choice of words, and sure enough, he latched on to the one she’d hoped he’d missed. “Safety? Are you running from something?” He stood up now, to look around. Not being able to think with him looming above her, Tess scrambled to her feet as well. She felt her muscles groan in protest at the thought of carrying Jacob for another day. She let him slip down to stand beside her, and only then turned her attention to Mr. MacLeod.
Heavens, he was big, wasn’t he? It probably wouldn’t have mattered to a normal-sized woman, but Tess had always been tiny. She’d taken after her father’s family in that regard. They were standing close enough together that she had to tilt her head back to see his face, with his gaze now centered on the horizon to the west. He had a strong jaw, but she could see the lines around his mouth that meant he smiled often. That had to be a good sign, right? And then he glanced down at her, and she felt like she couldn’t move. He had the loveliest eyes; green with flecks of gold that matched his hair. And he made her feel so warm! Goodness, she hadn’t felt this way since… well, ever. Not even Joshua had made her so addlepated.
Tess pushed that thought aside, and realized Mr. MacLeod was still waiting on an answer. Brevity was the best way to handle this situation. “I was with several cowboys who decided that I was fair game. I opted to try my luck reaching the safety of the fort, rather than staying with the drive.”
His face clouded, and she was suddenly glad that she’d done nothing to anger him. Despite his laugh-lines, he could be a dangerous man after all. “What were you doing with a bunch of cowboys? Where’s the boy’s father?”
She sighed wearily. “No offense meant, Mr. MacLeod, but that’s not really your concern.”
A long moment passed before he shrugged and grinned slightly, and turned to his horse’s saddlebags. Tess was afraid he was going to leave them after all, but he returned with a pot and two cans. She settled Jacob on her lap and the two of them watched hungrily as their savior started a small fire and heated up some beans. They weren’t even fully hot when she let Jacob taste them, and she wasn’t much more patient. They might have been tepid canned beans, but Tess didn’t think she’d ever tasted anything better.
Afterwards, she settled back with a satisfied sigh, and realized that Mr. MacLeod had eaten much less than his share. Guilt soaked through her. “I’m sorry for my earlier sharpness, Mr. MacLeod. Jacob and I owe you greatly.”
He looked away and shrugged. Was he… was he flushing? Oh good Heavens, she wished she hadn’t seen that; it made him look endearing. “Nothing to worry about. Everyone’s got a right to be private. And call me Cam.”
“Well, thank you, Cam. I don’t know what we would have done—” she was interrupted by a huge yawn, and then apologized. He only chuckled, and started to pack the cooking utensils and her things behind his saddle. When he came to her .32, he raised a brow in her direction, but tucked it into the sack with her other things. He made sure they’d all—including his horse—had enough water, and were ready to leave. Settling a wide-brimmed hat on his head, he scooped up Jacob, settling the boy on the horse. Tess smiled to hear her son’s giggles. He’d always been a happy little baby, but she was his only playmate. It was nice to see him laughing with someone else for a change.
Cam swung up into the saddle, and Tess didn’t have a chance to appreciate his fluid grace, because she was busy watching her son’s reaction. The boy squealed gleefully, and she was moving towards them before she realized she’d stood up.
Then she was standing at the horse’s flank, marveling at how far above her Cam sat. One large forearm extended towards her, and she took his hand without thinking. That same shiver passed through her again at his touch. “Put your foot on my boot.” She did, and he pulled her up effortlessly.
Before she could draw in a full breath, she was settled against his hard thighs—goodness, did she have to notice that?—with Jacob and his blankie on her lap. One strong arm cradled her back as she sat across his lap, while the other held the reins and kept Jacob from pitching off the horse. She appreciated his concern, and was impressed by how easily he handled the little boy.
They headed northeast, and it only took a few minutes for Tess to realize that this wasn’t going to work. She wasn’t much of a horsewoman, and the constant bouncing was playing hell on her backside. Each step of the horse caused her bottom to slam into Cam’s thighs, until it was all she could do to bite off her moans.
She must not have been suffering in quite the silence she’d imagined, though. After a half-hour of torture, Cam cleared his throat. “You got any objection to riding astride?”
“Why?” Did she sound desperate? Perhaps.
“If you shift your leg over the horn, and leaned back a bit, I’m thinking all three of us would be more comfortable.”
Tess debated for all of a heartbeat before deciding to throw propriety to the wind. After the last three days, she just couldn’t handle another six hours of this hell. She lifted a drowsy Jacob against her chest, and with a little help from Cam, repositioned herself astride the horse. Astride him. Oh, why did she have to think that? But it was true; she was straddling his thighs as well as the saddle.
And that might have mattered, had she not been through the last few days. As it was, she tried her hardest to support her now-sleeping son and keep her back ramrod-straight. But Cam’s strength was alluring, and his heat was surprisingly comforting in the Wyoming afternoon, and soon she found herself relaxing against him.
Her last thought before she surrendered to a blissfully peaceful sleep was that she’d never felt so safe.
Cam didn’t think he’d ever felt anything as right as the sleeping woman in his arms. It was an entirely new experience for him, and one he enjoyed. Of course, that first part of the ride, with her sweet little rear end bouncing against his lap, had been torturous. But after she straddled him—now why’d he have to go and think that?—and relaxed a bit, he was able to tamp down on his arousal. He knew that he didn’t have a lot of experience with women, but he never would have guessed how nice it was to just hold one while she slept.
Of course, it might be just this woman. Mrs. Tess Kitchens was…well, she was beautiful, yeah, but didn’t have Serena’s pristine loveliness. No, she was more earthy, more alluring. More sensual. And considering that she’d been through hell for the last three days, and looked plumb worn out, he thought it was amazing he could think of her as anything besides ‘exhausted’. But from the moment he saw her on that bank, with Jacob sitting beside her bawling his eyes out, he was hooked. He didn’t know anything about her—didn’t even know if there was a Mr. Kitchens, although he figured there had to be—but he wanted to learn everything. She pricked his curiosity like no other woman had, and he figured he could spend hours just drinking in her exotic beauty.
Exotic, that was it. He didn’t know her, but knew that she was different from every other woman he’d met. Even Molly Barker, Rose’s mother, would have thought twice before bundling up her kids and walking—walking!—across the empty Wyoming prairie. But Tess had done just that. She had a strength that was hidden by her tiny stature, and he admired that. She was the same small size as Serena, but while Cam had always thought of his partner’s wife as being delicate and porcelain, Tess’s solemn courage was reassuring. Like she was the kind of person you could depend on. She wasn’t the type to be taken care of; she was going to figure out what needed doing, and go do
it. He couldn’t help but be impressed by that.
And since he was being honest with himself, he admitted that her beauty intrigued him too. Under a green silk scarf, her hair was straight and black and pulled into a knot at the base of her neck, but he could tell it would be silky when she let it all down. Her eyes were dark, but almost almond-shaped, and her skin was creamy, tinged pink by the sun across her forehead, cheeks and nose. In fact, she reminded him a bit of his friend Nate Barker; even though Nate was only a quarter Indian, he had enough of his grandmother’s coloring to make his life difficult when he tried to fit into Cheyenne society.
But Tess wasn’t Indian. There was something else there, something else Cam wanted to know about. Ah, who was he fooling? He wanted to know everything about her. Exotic was a good word for her; she’d gotten into his senses like a spice he couldn’t place, and now he wanted to have more and more until he was sated.
That ride was surprisingly comfortable, despite the addition of two extra bodies on his horse. The kid was hardly any trouble at all, and Cam discovered that he liked the trust the little guy showed in him, by tucking his small body up against Cam’s shoulder. Jacob—that’s what Tess had called him—had curls a much lighter shade than her hair, and big dark blue eyes. He’d giggled a lot at Cam, but the man figured it was because he’d fed the little tyke. Food would endear him to any starving kid. But still, it was nice, the way Jacob pressed his cheek against Cam’s upper arm before he fell asleep. And watching those long lashes lay against the boy’s smooth skin, Cam didn’t even mind the little bit Jacob drooled on him. If he had been able, Cam would have wiped it up with the blanket the boy was carrying; but his arms were full with Jacob’s mother.