The rope snaked taut, the stump tottering dangerously as Adam fought wildly to keep his balance.
"No!" Savanna screamed. "NO!"
Chapter 24
Heart in her throat, heels digging into the sides of her horse, Savanna was intent upon one thing: reaching her husband before he tipped over and stumbled into the water... and into the maw of one of the alligators half circled behind him.
Her horse started to leap forward when Micajah's voice rang out across the firelit darkness. "You stop right there, missy, if you don't want me to finish the job!" Micajah growled from the darkness beyond the fire.
Savanna brought her horse to a rearing stop. A tremor in her voice, she said again, "Get him off there! Drop the rope."
The tautness of the rope lessened, the block no longer teetering dangerously, and Micajah stepped out of the shadows. He held the rope in one hand, and even though he was staring at Savanna, there was a pistol aimed at Adam in his other hand. A leer on his face, he murmured, "If you ask me real sweet-like, I might. Then again..."
Her hands clenched into fists on the reins, she said through gritted teeth, "Micajah, drop the rope and lower the pistol, please!"
Micajah glanced from one strained face to the other. Smiling, he asked, "And if I don't?"
"If you don't," she said levelly, "I ride away." It was a bluff, but she had to try to gain some leverage—Micajah held all the cards.
A tight, uneasy silence spun out and then Micajah said thoughtfully, "You get off the horse, I drop the rope. The pistol stays."
It was, she realized helplessly, as much as he was going to give her. Wordlessly, she slid to the ground. Her heart racing painfully, she waited anxiously, and a second later, the rope dropped from Micajah's hand. The pistol was still pointed at Adam's head, but at least one form of danger had lessened.
Micajah, other than keeping the pistol aimed in his direction, wasn't paying attention to Adam anymore; instead, his lustful gaze was traveling hotly over Savanna's body. Adam took advantage of the other man's distraction, increasing his struggles to break free of the bonds that held him. If he didn't get free of the rawhide in minutes, he'd be dead and Savanna would be left at the mercy of Micajah. The image of her struggling in Micajah's arms, the thought of Micajah tasting those charms that had been for him and him alone, drove Adam insane; it was with the strength of a madman that he fought against his bonds. His wrists were slippery with blood from his desperate struggles, and with a sudden jolt of excitement he felt the nearly imperceptible give in the narrow strip of rawhide that kept his hands secured behind his back.
Micajah was smiling as he stared at Savanna, a smug, lewd smile that made Savanna shiver with revulsion. Her eyes were locked with his—she dared not risk a glance in Adam's direction. To save her husband, she needed to get within knife-range of Micajah and, equally important, she needed to keep his attention focused on her and away from Adam. As clearly as if she were privy to his thoughts, Savanna knew that Micajah had no intention of keeping his word to free Adam. Once he felt confident that she couldn't escape from him, right before her eyes he'd shoot her husband in cold blood... and laugh about it. Her lips tightened and one hand strayed to the knife tied beneath her hair. Just let me get close enough, she prayed silently. Let me have a chance. Just one!
"Step away from the horse," Micajah said, the smirk on his coarse face revealing how very much he was enjoying himself. When Savanna had done as he requested, he added, "Lift your arms and turn around."
Again Savanna did as he had ordered, her thoughts churning wildly in her mind. Would he let her get close enough to him before he killed Adam?
Micajah glanced again in Adam's direction and Adam froze, not moving a muscle, hoping desperately that his face did not reveal his savage elation—behind him, his hands were free! Micajah looked back at Savanna. "Strapping fellow you married," he commented. '"Course, I would've made you a better husband."
"I don't think so," Savanna said softly, and looking at Adam, her heart in her eyes, she added clearly, "You see, I love my husband very much."
Heedless of the circumstances, Adam stared at her, thunderstruck. "You love me?" he said hardly daring to believe his ears, the sapphire eyes darkening with some deep emotion.
This was hardly the way she had envisioned telling him, but the knowledge that she might fail, that Adam might die not knowing how she felt about him, had driven her to speak of what was in her heart. "Only you," she said passionately. "Only you!"
"That's enough!" Micajah ground out furiously. "I didn't set this up to listen to your mawkish sentiment." As if becoming aware of something for the first time, he narrowed his eyes and, staring hard at Savanna, demanded, "Where's Jeremy? He was supposed to warn me when you showed up."
With an effort, Savanna brought her gaze from Adam's lean face and looked contemptuously at Micajah. Almost with relish, she said, "Jeremy's dead. I killed him."
To her astonishment, instead of angering Micajah, her words pleased him.
"Well, well," he murmured. "So you finally got your gumption up, did you? I alwus knew you had it in you, girl." He smiled hugely. "Glad you took care of that little chore for me."
Savanna's face showed her shock. "You were going to kill Jeremy?"
Micajah nodded, his earlier jovial mood restored. "Surely was. You saved me the trouble."
"But what about the gold?" she demanded. "Without him, you'll never find it."
Micajah looked sly. "Well, you see, I figure different. You're going to lead me to it!"
"Me!" Savanna burst out, confused by this turn of events. "I don't know where the gold is. I never even knew about it until you and Jeremy told me. How can I lead you to it?"
Keeping a wary eye on Micajah while he was intent on his conversation with Savanna, Adam carefully hunkered down until his fingers could touch the knots that kept his feet bound. The knots seemed to be hopelessly snarled together, and no matter how nimbly Adam's fingers tugged and scrabbled about, the knots refused to budge. Fearful that Micajah would notice his actions, he gave up after a few seconds and very slowly assumed his original position, holding his hands behind his back to continue the illusion that he was still completely bound.
One of the alligators let out an angry roar, startling the three people. The fire had begun to die down, and with the lessening of the flickering light, a huge male had become bolder and had approached within a few feet of where Adam was perched on the block of wood.
It wasn't in Micajah's plans for Adam to die just yet, and with a curse, he threw several more pieces of wood on the fire, the sudden blaze of light driving the alligator back to join its mates. The night air was filled with the sound of churning water and the furious bellows of the reptiles as they fought among themselves before breaking ranks and allowing the big bull to assume his previous position in their midst. It was only when a relative silence had fallen and Micajah was confident the fire would keep the alligators a safe distance away that he returned to the matter at hand.
"I think you know more about that gold than you ever let on," he told Savanna. "Yore daddy told Jeremy that you had the golden armband. I figure if he left you the armband, he probably left you some instructions on how to find the place where the gold is hidden."
Her face white and strained, Savanna snapped, "Micajah! I've told you, I don't have any damned golden armband! Jeremy had to misunderstand Davalos—or he made up the entire thing."
Micajah rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Nope. Talked a lot to Jeremy these past months, questioned him real close-like. Davalos told him that you had the golden armband." He grinned at her. "You and me are going to be partners."
His eyes and ears trained on Micajah, Adam fought to free himself. Since undoing the knots that kept his feet tied together was not feasible, he was attempting to wiggle out of his boots. If he could get just one foot free...
But Micajah was growing impatient with the situation. Savanna was so close, almost within his reach, and his entire body ha
d responded to her nearness, his swollen shaft nearly bursting from his breeches as he stared at her. Soon he'd have all that soft white flesh beneath him. He'd teach her to forget that husband of hers. He'd show her what a real man was like! His breathing deepened just at the thought of what he was going to do to her, and for the moment, he had forgotten Adam, all his attention focused on Savanna and the charms that had been so long denied him. But he wasn't so far gone with lust that he had forgotten that Savanna could prove deadly to him, and, his voice thick, Micajah muttered, "Take off your clothes." A noxious grin on his face, he added, "Got to make sure you don't have any weapons. So take 'em off—all of them. Real slow. And don't try any tricks, or I'll shoot him."
Bile rose in Savanna's throat, and though she'd expected this, the thought of Micajah staring at her naked body was revolting. But Adam's life depended upon it and so, with fingers that trembled, she reached for the fastening of her breeches.
Every muscle in Adam's body clenched in furious denial and he cried out, "No! For God's sake, Savanna, don't do it! I'm not worth it. He's only playing with you."
Micajah laughed. "Well, now, maybe I am and maybe I ain't, but I don't think she has any choice." He looked at Savanna and licked his lips. "Either you take them off or I'll shoot him between the eyes right now. And don't think I don't know that you'd like to kill me—that's why you're not getting any closer to me until I know you don't have a weapon on you. Now get busy!"
For one wild moment Adam even considered lunging at Micajah, envisioning the feel of the man's neck beneath his choking hands, but he knew that with his feet bound together he'd never reach him in time. All he would accomplish would be to betray the fact that his hands were free and get himself killed, without doing Savanna any good at all; their only hope lay in his being able to free his feet. Adam knew that his task was difficult, almost impossible, but, outwardly stoic, he continued his struggle, the occasional bellow of the alligators keeping him chillingly aware of what even the tiniest slip would mean, aware that he must remain as still as possible to avoid falling—or worse, alerting Micajah to what he was trying to do. With grim concentration, he renewed his delicate maneuvers to get his foot free of his boot. His heart nearly stopped a second later when he actually felt his foot begin to slide ever so slowly upward.
Savanna never looked at Adam. She dared not. All her attention was centered on the leering man in front of her. A man she intended to kill. Not bothering to hide the hatred she felt for Micajah, Savanna kicked off her boots and gracefully stepped free of her breeches, the firelight flickering on her long, beautiful legs. Mindful of the need to get nearer to Micajah while he was distracted by staring lasciviously at her naked flesh, she casually took several steps in his direction.
His jaw slack, Micajah gaped greedily at her legs, imagining them locked around him, imagining what it was going to feel like when he was buried deep within her. He was so lost in his erotic imaginings that he was hardly aware of Savanna's actions, and she had closed half the distance that separated them before he realized what she was up to. Grinning maliciously, he drawled, "Hold it right there! I think you've forgotten something... like taking off the rest of your clothing."
The pistol was still on Adam, and attempting to even the odds, Savanna halted and pleaded, "Lower the pistol."
Again Micajah looked from one to the other, nearly laughing out loud at the expression on Adam's face.
Despite his best efforts, Adam's features were contorted by the tortured rage that filled him. His big body was tensed as if for a blow, the powerful bunching of the muscles of his shoulders and arms revealing how very much he would like to hurl himself upon his tormentor.
Micajah smiled at him. "Think I'll let you watch us before..." He glanced back at Savanna and, smirking, said, "Why not?"
He kept the pistol in his hand, but he did lower it, and Savanna felt a surge of elation course through her body. Now to get close enough to him...
Savanna considered rushing him, but she was too far away, and though the pistol was no longer aimed at Adam, one false move on her part would have Micajah shoot Adam before her eyes. She had no choice.
She took a deep breath and, suddenly eager to get it over with, with one rapid motion she flung aside her shirt, standing tall and proud in the firelight, indifferent to Micajah's stare. She was indifferent to her nakedness, a curiously dreamlike state having overtaken her, all her emotions and energies, every fiber of her being, focused on the dangerous, deadly task before her.
Micajah shook with excitement as he stared at Savanna. One of her breasts was vulnerable to his hot gaze, only the nipple of the other one peeking through the thick, nearly waist-length hair that spilled over her shoulder. His mouth was dry and his body quivering at the notion that she was his for the taking. Salaciously his gaze traveled down to the narrow waist and the seductive flare of her hips. When his eyes reached the red-gold hair at the junction of her thighs, his breathing increased ; he was mesmerized by those luxurious curls burning against the whiteness of her skin.
Her mind curiously blank, Savanna glided forward.
Breaking his absorption, he glanced up as she came toward him and in a movement Micajah mistakenly attributed to shyness one of her hands reached up to touch the fire-bright waves that cascaded over her breast. He was enthralled by her, Adam forgotten, everything forgotten but the vision of loveliness that was approaching him. The pistol slipped from his slackened grasp and, dazed by the knowledge that he had won at last, that in seconds he'd ease the ache of his body with hers, he stumbled forward, clasping Savanna in his arms, his mouth brutally closing over hers.
Hardly aware of Micajah's fumbling movements, barely aware of his hand seeking her breast, of his rapacious tongue plundering her mouth, almost dreamily Savanna closed her fingers around the dagger. As if from a great distance, she heard Adam's cry of tormented rage, and in that same instant, the knife came free in her hand.
Micajah was not so overpowered with lust that he didn't realize that there was something strange about Savanna's surrender, and he lifted his mouth from her bruised lips. Eyes narrowed, he stared down at her, trying to gauge her mood.
A sudden fierce smile on her lips, Savanna met his gaze squarely and in one lightning movement plunged her dagger deep into his breast. An expression of utter astonishment crossed Micajah's features and with a half-surprised sigh, he sank to the ground beside the pistol.
As Savanna stabbed Micajah, Adam's foot came free of the boot, and with a bellow of rage he charged awkwardly across the space that separated him from the other two. He'd crossed only half the distance when Micajah slumped to the ground, and wearing an expression almost as astonished as Micajah's, Adam halted. It took him a split second longer to realize what had happened, and, his face blazing with frank admiration and all the love he felt for her, Adam closed the distance between him and Savanna and jerked her into his arms.
Oblivious of their surroundings, of Micajah's body on the ground, of the occasional roar of the alligators, of Savanna's nakedness, they kissed each other with a desperate, grateful abandon, their bodies melding together to form one telling silhouette against the fire. Frantic kisses were rained on faces and lips, hands urgently explored as if reassuring themselves that it was true—they were safe and in each other's arms.
His breathing ragged, Adam finally raised his head and gazed into Savanna's lovely face. "Oh, Jesus, sweetheart! I do love you!" he said thickly. "I've wanted to tell you for weeks, but somehow the time was never right." He kissed her again, the fiercely tender kiss of one lover to another. Reluctantly ending the kiss, blue eyes black with emotion, he muttered, "Before anything else happens, I want you to know that I've loved you practically from the moment I laid eyes on you—only like a damned fool, I didn't realize it."
A tremulous smile curved Savanna's lips. His words were everything she had ever wanted to hear, a sweet flood of delight coursing through her body. He loved her! She smiled shyly up at him, her aquamarine eyes
soft and glowing. "We were both fools. I've loved you for almost as long. When I read Micajah's note, I was so afraid that I'd never get to tell you."
Unable to help himself, Adam kissed her again, hardly daring to believe that he could be so happy. She loved him!
Despite Savanna's burgeoning joy, there was still a niggle of doubt, and a shadow flitted across her face. Hesitancy in her voice, she asked, "When you married me, it wasn't just because of the baby, was it?"
His hand caressing her fiery hair, Adam smiled gently and murmured, "If you'll remember, I asked you to marry me before I even knew of the baby's existence."
"But I thought that was just because you felt you should offer it—not because you cared anything for me."
Adam's lips twisted. "I cared for you—I might not have admitted to myself that I loved you, I only knew that the thought of never seeing you again was tearing me apart." Looking wry, he added, "When I got Bodene's letter telling me of your pregnancy, I was overjoyed! Not, I'm ashamed to admit, because of my impending fatherhood, but because I was so certain that since there was to be a child, you would be more agreeable to the idea of marrying me. I was positive that when I arrived in New Orleans I could woo you, exert my reputed charm and convince you to marry me—if only for the child's sake." His lips twisted again. "You gave my pride a thorough battering, sweetheart, and when nothing I could say would convince you, I'm afraid that I let my hurt and anger prompt me into forcing you to marry me. I didn't plan it—I was just so blasted furious at you that the words popped out before I even had time to think about it."
A glint appeared in Savanna's eyes. "Well! I'm pleased to hear that you don't normally go around blackmailing people to get your way. Even though I forgive you for it, it was a dastardly thing to do, Adam."
Each Time We Love Page 37