“Was this Sturges your first?”
“My first what?” she asked.
“The first man who—”
“The first and only man. Thank you for asking, MacKenzie,” she said angrily.
“I wasn’t trying to be critical, honey.” He wondered if she would ever get over that bitterness. She had too much to offer a man to allow herself to be marred by those scars.
“I don’t know why I’ve told you all this. I didn’t even tell Em about Wes, and she’s my best friend. I was too ashamed.”
“You can’t blame yourself for the hand you were dealt.”
She looked at him with a half smile. “Zach, I know you mean well, but all the bromides in the world can’t change a thing. So what about you, MacKenzie? How did you lose your virginity?”
“I’m not the kind who kisses and tells.”
“I told you things I’ve never even told my best friend.”
“Okay, you win. Her name was Bobbie Jo Dawson. She was three years older than I was when she talked me into playing Mama and Papa in the Dawsons’ hayloft.”
“Talked you into it?” Rose said cynically.
“Okay, seduced me. I was only fourteen.”
“So innocent little Zach MacKenzie got seduced by an older woman.”
He chuckled. “I never said I was little.”
She laughed. “Male ego never ceases to amaze me.”
“And as pleasant as it was, my mom and dad weren’t too happy when they heard about it—much less amused. Matter of fact, they were downright angry. It was the only time Dad had ever struck me, and Mom did worse—she didn’t talk to me for a whole week.” He grinned. “My parents never said another word about the incident, but the rest of my family never let me forget it.”
“And what happened to Bobbie Jo?”
“Well, it seems after trying out every young fellow in the county, Bobbie Jo packed her bag and headed out for greener pastures.”
“Do you ever think about her?”
“Not until now. You can’t live in the past, Rose. It’s best to put it behind you.”
“That’s easier said than done, Zach.” She jumped to her feet. “We’d better get back. I have to change my uniform and return to work.”
He finished dressing while she put on her shoes and stockings. As they walked to the buggy, he heard a rifle blast and a bullet kicked up a puff of dust near Rose’s feet.
“Get down,” he yelled, and dived for her, knocking her down. “Stay down and don’t move,” he ordered, drawing his Colt.
“Who would be shooting at us?”
“My guess is whoever it is, you’re the target. It sounded like a rifle shot, so I figure the shooter is probably over on that bluff.”
“Who would want to shoot me?”
“I can think of one guy for sure. Jess Tait hates the sight of you.”
“But Mr. Rayburn ordered him to leave me alone.”
“Rayburn doesn’t know Tait as well as I do. He carries grudges. Lie still, and for God’s sake, keep your head down. My Colt’s useless at this distance. I’m going to try and get closer.”
“No, don’t do it, Zach! It’s too risky.”
“Honey, I don’t take kindly to people who take shots in my direction. Besides, he’s either just putting a scare into you, or he’s not that good with a rifle. Otherwise, he’d have picked you off with one of those shots. But if he keeps getting off shots, he might hit the horse. Then we will have a problem. So just do as I told you and keep your head down.”
Zach dashed toward the cover of a tree as bullets whizzed past him. Rose’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched him work from tree to tree until he was out of sight.
She soon lost track of time until she suddenly realized Zach had been gone for a long time, and she hadn’t heard any gunshots for some time as well. Fear swept through her. What if he’d been wounded?
A deadening silence hung over the countryside. Not a leaf stirred on the trees, and her own breathing sounded like a drum in her ears. Dare she disobey his orders? He’d said not to move, but what if he needed help?
“Zach,” she shouted past the lump in her throat. When there was no answer, she raised her head and shouted again.
“Here I am.” He came walking through the trees as if he were out for a Sunday stroll.
She stood up, then grabbed the buggy for support when her trembling legs almost buckled. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Whoever was doing the shooting took off.”
“Did you see who it was?”
“No, he was too far away. Let’s get back to town.”
He appeared deep in thought, and as she studied his ruggedly handsome profile Rose realized that try as she might, she couldn’t dislike Zach MacKenzie.
They had gone barely a mile when a rider approached the wagon. Zach stopped, then handed her the reins. Climbing down, he said, “Stay here, Rose.”
“Do you know him?” she asked.
“No.”
“Maybe he’s the one who was shooting at us.”
He shook his head. “No, the shots had come from the other direction, so the shooter couldn’t have gotten here so quickly. I’ll talk to him.”
She watched them intently but they were speaking in such low tones that she couldn’t overhear what they were saying. Rose was certain she’d never seen the man before. He was tall and lean, his face lined from wind and sand. When he removed a battered and soiled hat she saw that his hair was thick and gray.
As they talked, he wiped out the inside of his hat. Then, nodding, the stranger rode away. Zach returned to the buggy.
“Who was he, Zach?” she asked as they continued on.
“Just some old-timer asking directions.”
“And you’re sure he had nothing to do with the shooting.”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” he said.
“Are you going to report the incident to the sheriff?”
Zach snorted. “That would be a waste of words.”
Feeling indignation rise, she asked, “Are you just going to forget it ever happened?”
“No, I don’t take lightly to someone trying to bushwhack me.” He slipped into deep concentration and was quiet the rest of the ride.
“Thank you for the ride, Zach,” she said when he drew up in front of her boardinghouse.
He smiled. “I’d like to try it again with a happier ending.”
“I enjoyed it while it lasted. Besides, it’s not every day a girl gets to be shot at.” She grinned.
His chuckle was engaging. “You’re a good sport, Rosie.”
The smile eased from his face as he studied her thoughtfully for a long moment. She thought he intended to kiss her again, but to her surprise he reached out a hand and gently ran his knuckles along her cheek. “Watch your back, Rosie,” he said softly. Then he climbed onto the buggy and flicked the reins.
With confused emotions, Rose stood at the gate and watched the buggy go down the street. Zach MacKenzie was the most appealing and exciting man she had ever known. But why did she suspect there was a lot more to him than he was willing to reveal?
Chapter 8
The evening meal was in progress when the Tait gang showed up at the restaurant. Seeing there was no empty table, four of them sat down at a table occupied by a couple and their two children. Zach and Joe took seats at the counter.
“Hey, sister, get your ass over here,” Tait shouted to Rose.
“As soon as I’m able,” she said, and continued to serve the previous customers.
Tait continued to grumble expletives loudly above the conversation of the other diners. After a troubled glance at his wife, the man at Tait’s table said, “Excuse me, sir, but I would appreciate your not using that indelicate language in front of my wife and children.”
Tait picked up a roll from one of the young girl’s plate and took a bite. “That’s too bad. Tell ’em not to listen if it bothers ’em.”
“It bothers me, sir,” the man persi
sted.
“And you bother me, mister.” Tait took another bite of the roll, then smirked at the man. “Come to think of it, you’re spoilin’ my appetite.” He tossed the roll back onto the girl’s plate.
The woman put a hand on her husband’s arm. “Please, Joseph, let’s leave before there’s any trouble.”
“Joseph’s got trouble already, lady,” Tait said, “Less he wants to pay for my meal so’s I won’t wipe the floor up with him.”
The man leaped to his feet. “I am not paying for your meal, you foul-mouthed bully.”
The two young girls started to cry, and Tait glared at the woman. “Lady, tell ’em gals of yers to stop that wailin’, or I’ll give ’em somethin’ to cry about.”
“Don’t you dare threaten my family, or I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” Tail asked ominously. He put a hand on the butt of the pistol at his hip. “Hope yer packin’ iron to back up that threat.”
“I do not carry a weapon, sir,” Joseph said.
“Joseph, please let’s get out of here,” his wife pleaded.
Rose came out of the kitchen carrying a tray in time to see several of the customers hurrying out of the restaurant without finishing their meals. After a quick glance at Tait, it wasn’t difficult for her to guess the reason for their hasty exit.
She slammed down the tray and strode angrily over to the table. “Mr. Tait, you are disturbing the other customers. Either quiet down or get out of here.”
“You gonna make me, sister?”
“If I were a man I certainly would,” she said, with a quick glare in Zach’s direction. “Didn’t Mr. Rayburn warn you about causing a disturbance in here?”
“Oh, don’t tell him, girlie. He’ll spank me,” Tait whined mockingly. That provoked laughter from his three companions, and an actual giggle from Joe at the counter.
“Well, I intend to inform your boss as soon as he returns.”
She knew she was getting nowhere with the man, but it distracted Tait’s attention long enough for the couple and their children to leave.
“We have orders from Mr. Harvey not to serve you or your gang unless you pay for your meal in advance. I’ll be glad to take your orders as soon as I see your money.”
“Ain’t you heard, sister? That fella over there said he’d pay for my dinner.” He walked over to a nearby table and pounded it with a balled fist. “Ain’t that right, mister?”
“Oh, yes. Yes, of course,” the hapless man said. Quaking, he put the money on the table and then hurried out.
“You know, Tait, someday there’s going to be a man who’ll stand up to your bullying. I hope I’m around to see it.”
Tait snorted in amusement. “You ain’t gonna be around for nothin’ if I don’t get some food real quick, bitch.”
“You’ll just have to wait until we finish with our other customers. They have a train to catch.”
“I’m tired of waitin’.” Tait kicked a chair and it skimmed across the floor and crashed into the wall.
It was enough to start a mass exodus out the door until only Tait and his gang remained.
Tait’s lips curled in a taunting smirk. “Looks like you gals got plenty of time to serve us now.”
She trembled with rage but cloaked it with indifference. “Thanks to you, Mr. Tait, there’s plenty of food left on the plates. That ought to be ample for swine like you.” She pivoted and walked away, pausing only long enough to glare at Zach. “All of you.”
The girls went into the kitchen and listened to the string of threats and expletives coming from the dining room until the gang finally stormed out. Surprisingly, they didn’t break any of the dishes.
Billings locked the front door, and within the hour the dishes had been washed and everyone was ready to leave for the night.
Zach was waiting outside the restaurant.
“This is getting to be a habit, MacKenzie. What do you want now?”
“I need to talk to you, Rose.”
“I don’t think we have anything to say to each other.”
“Please, Rose. There’s something I’d like to tell you.”
“All right.” She nodded to Kate. “You girls go on.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Kate asked, with a derogatory glance at Zach.
“I have no intention of hurting her, Miss McDermott,” Zach said. “And I’ll have her home by ten o’clock.” He gave Kate one of his “melting on the spot” grins, which produced a round of giggles from everyone but Rose and Kate.
“See that you do, sir,” Kate declared. “Come on, girls.”
“Where are your cohorts in crime?” Rose asked when the girls walked away.
“Down at the Long Horn.”
When he led her over to a buggy, she stopped short. “What’s this? I have no intention of riding anywhere.”
“It’s such a hot night; I thought you might enjoy a ride before going back to your room.”
“Whatever you have to say, I can listen to right here.”
“Come on, Rose. It will cool you off.”
Against her better judgment, she let him help her into the buggy. “The last time you took me for a ride, I wound up getting shot at.” She removed her apron and released a couple of the dress’s top buttons to try and cool off.
Flicking the reins, he turned his head and glanced at her. “I’m sure whoever took those shots at us isn’t still hanging around.”
“I’m not so sure. Whoever it was is probably watching us right now.” She glanced back. The other girls had reached the rooming house, and the sound of the door slamming as they entered it carried to her ears in the still night.
Zach was right about the heat. It lay heavily on the night air, extinguishing any hope of a breeze. Paralleling the railroad track, he kept the horse at a slow trot, skirting the town before he turned off and headed toward higher ground.
Rose relaxed, leaned back, and closed her eyes. As they moved away from the town an occasional breeze fanned her face, but not enough to stir a hair on her head. Regardless, she had to admit it was better than returning to a hot, stuffy room. The quiet night soon became a soothing balm, and the trotting horse’s hooffalls dulled into a rhythmic lullaby.
Her face was in shadows as she slept.
Zach reined in and climbed out of the buggy. Gently, so as not to wake her, he lifted her out and carried her beneath a cottonwood. They were high enough to catch a breeze now, and his gaze roamed her face as she slept, her head in his lap. The soft glow of moonlight had deepened her hair and the provocative fragrance of her perfume embraced him.
He was a fool. He’d allowed himself to let his emotions get involved in this flirtation with her. Lord, how she fired his blood! All he could think about was making love to her. Trouble was, as much as he didn’t want to admit it, his feelings for her were beginning to go beyond just wanting her physically.
It had taken him a while to figure out what there was about her that fascinated him so, that put her above any woman he’d kissed and ridden away from before. That one element he hadn’t been able to identify until today, when she’d spoken about Wes Sturges. It was her vulnerability. Underneath all that feistiness, grit, and toughness lay a sensitive little girl who’d been knocked down so often it was a wonder how she could keep picking herself up.
And he wanted her so badly, he ached. Yet he knew he’d end up hurting her, just like her father and that bastard Sturges had done. If he had any decency, he’d stay away from her and give her a chance to get on with her life.
But the die had been cast from the moment he’d walked into that Harvey restaurant and looked into her eyes. He could tell she realized it, too. The chemistry between them was undeniable—on the verge of boiling over. It no longer was if, it had become when.
Rose opened her eyes and for a long moment stared up at him.
“You’re so beautiful, Rose.” With passion-filled eyes he gazed down at her. The air was charged with a hushed expectancy.
“What’s happening between us, Zach?”
The warmth of his smile carried to his eyes, and he tenderly cupped her cheek. “Don’t you know, honey?” he asked in a husky whisper.
She closed her eyes when he lowered his head. Their mouths fit perfectly to one another’s. He increased the pressure and felt her hand on his neck, holding him. Her lips were soft, moist, and tasted delicious. She parted her lips and he slipped his tongue between them. As their tongues coupled and dueled, hot passion surged through him like a brushfire out of control. He was so hard and aching he thought he’d explode.
Zach slid his hand down the column of her neck and found the opened neckline of her gown. Her skin felt like satin, and he dipped his head and licked it with his tongue. It was warm, sweet, soft; it tasted like Rose. He had to taste more of her.
Opening more of the buttons, he parted the front of her gown, then slid his hand under her chemise and cupped her breast. It was firm and full, and the nub hardened to a peak.
Lord, she felt good. Hot blood pounded at his temples. Lowering his head, he rasped the nipple with his tongue, then sucked it into his mouth. She moaned and arched her back. The pressure of her hand on his nape encouraged him further, and he shoved up the chemise and caressed her breasts with his hand, mouth, and tongue until she clutched at his shoulders, moaning and writhing.
Raising his head, he reclaimed the divine taste of her lips.
“Don’t stop, Zach. For a few moments, make me forget everything but you and me.”
Her words froze him. Tears were glistening in her eyes, and she looked helpless, vulnerable. Dammit!
He’d never wanted any woman as much as he wanted her at that moment—but he couldn’t do it. He’d be damned if he’d use her like Sturges or her father, for whatever suited their purpose.
He pulled her dress together, then kissed her on the tip of her nose. “I’m not going to take advantage of you. I promised, remember? I apologize, Rose.”
Even in the dark he could tell she was blushing. “I guess we kind of got carried away. That kiss of yours is very potent,” she said lightly. “I apologize for my part in it, too.”
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