Sweet Talking Lawman

by M. B. Buckner

  Uci’s aged face melted into a smile and she nodded. “I can’t believe you even had to think about it. You know I’m always right.”

  “Hank will be sleeping in the room behind the kitchen tonight and until I’m back home again. I don’t want you here alone.” Rafe pushed a stray strand of hair off her dusky cheek and dropped another kiss there. “I need you to be careful and take care of yourself. If you feel uncomfortable, call Jenny and let her come get you.”

  She huffed and pushed him toward the door where Mesa waited, a smile on her face. “Despite what you think about my age, I’m still able to look after myself. Go do your job and don’t worry about me.”

  At the door he paused and turned to look back at her. “I love you, Uci. I need you to help keep me in line.”

  She chortled merrily. “I’ll be here to keep the rest of your children in line, too, now, go.”

  Chapter 15

  He didn’t have to call Spur. The animal was sitting quietly beside the SUV, determined not to be left behind. When Mesa opened the passenger door, he jumped in, then hopped over the back of the seat into the rear compartment. He considered that his own private space and was happy to be in it again. He whined with eagerness.

  Rafe slipped behind the wheel, a smile tilting one corner of his generous lips as he reached back to gently slap the big animal’s shoulder. “He’s convinced we’re going to work.”

  “Smart dog,” Mesa observed. “Will he be helpful tonight?”

  Nodding, the lawman turned the vehicle out onto the highway and headed toward the Rocking H. “Yeah, he’ll stick close to me and if he senses people in the woods, he’ll let me know. I can read his body language as well as he reads mine.”

  Once at the barn, Mesa asked Bob to keep in horses for her, Rafe and the two deputies. When he heard what was going down, he insisted he and Gibby be allowed to take part in the search. “That way,” he drove his point home. “If you find that bunch of snakes, Mesa can stay back with me and Gibby, and we’ll make sure she’s safe.”

  Finally Rafe agreed and called Levi with instructions to bring along two more Kevlar vests. “Thank the Lord, Jory and Rance are in Tennessee or I’d have to deal with them, as well.”

  Bob cackled. “Y’all go on and get a nap. Me’n Gibby’ll make sure the horses are saddled and waiting when y’all get up.”

  Once at the house beside the lake, Mesa placed a call to Jory’s old home in Memphis and they both had a quick minute of talk with Raale who’d been getting ready for bed. After the call, Rafe found it hard to send Mesa upstairs to her room alone, but he’d made Uci a vow that he was determined to keep. He knew the only way he could do it was to avoid the enticement of being on the same floor with her. It was temptation enough being in the same house, he decided, watching her walk up the stairs. In Rance’s downstairs bedroom, he stripped down to his t-shirt and snug, black jockey shorts and stretched out across the bed. He was tired, too. It had been a long day and promised to be an even longer night.

  The smell of coffee woke him later and after a brief flash of confusion of waking in unfamiliar surroundings, he pulled his thoughts together and dressed. When he made it to the kitchen, Mesa’s foreman, Bob Godfrey, and his next in command, Gibby Hall, had a quick supper of sorts in the making, but it was the coffee that drew Rafe. The two cowboys had prepared a pan full of hash browned potatoes, slabs of ham, and Bob’s specialty, home-made biscuits. Gibby was whipping eggs, getting them ready to scramble, so after a couple sips of coffee, Rafe slipped up the stairs to wake Mesa.

  He tapped lightly on her door, but then pushed it open a crack and stepped inside. His heart almost jumped out of his chest. She was sitting on the side of the bed wearing an oversized football jersey and maybe a pair of panties but he wasn’t sure about that. Her long hair was loose and she was drawing a comb through the silken strands. He swallowed his heart and wished his mouth didn’t feel as dry as the Arizona desert, but he couldn’t look away. Instead, he crossed the floor, pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her.

  “You take my breath away,” he growled, his head dropping to nuzzle along the pulse point in her throat.

  Her arms swept up around his broad shoulders and her head rocked back, giving him easier access to her neck. “And that’s what you’re doing to me,” she whispered. She could feel the length of his body against hers and it was easily apparent that he was fully aroused.

  One of his large hands stroked down her back onto the firm muscles of her derriere, pulling her against him. “I wish we had more time,” then he captured her mouth beneath his for a long, deeply sensual kiss. “But we don’t,” he groaned, lifting his head and reluctantly stepping back. “Bob and Gibby have fixed breakfast for us.”

  Mesa nodded, her legs still weak from his attention. “I’ll get dressed.”

  Rafe grinned. “I’ll wait. I need a few minutes before I can walk comfortably.”

  “So, watching me dress will do that for you?” she teased.

  He shrugged. “Maybe not, but it can’t hurt.”

  Turning away, she pulled the jersey over her head and hearing Rafe’s deep groan, she looked over one shoulder at him. “Are you sure?”

  His heart was in his throat again, but he gathered his determination and stayed where he was when she turned sideways to reach her bra. His umber eyes followed every movement she made until she was completely dressed. As she tied her Roper boots, they heard either Bob or Gibby banging loudly on a pan, probably with a big spoon.

  “I guess it’s time to eat,” she smiled, standing and crossing the floor to join him at the door.

  He slipped his arms around her again. “You know I promised Uci that I’d be respectful of you, from now on.” He held her against him.

  She nodded. “I’ve never thought you treated me any other way.”

  He sighed deeply. “We need to get married, Mesa.” It came out a coarse groan.

  She pushed back from him, her eyes flashing green fire. “Because you made Uci a promise?”

  He shook his head negatively. “Because we have a child together, because I can’t keep my hands off you, because I want you in my bed every night, because I want to wake up with you in my arms every mornin’, because I love you, and because we need to make Raale a little brother or sister.”

  The fire in her eyes changed and grew softer. “Can you say that again?”

  He grinned, his white teeth flashing between his tempting lips. “Because I can’t keep my hands off you, because I want you in my bed mornin’ and night, and because we need to give Raale siblings.”

  “And?” she prodded, hoping he didn’t see the hurt in her eyes because she’d felt compelled to drag it from him.

  His head dropped and he nibbled along her bottom lip. “And I love you,” he whispered, thinking only about how sweet she tasted.

  The loud banging started again only now it was right outside the bedroom door, followed by masculine laughter and heavy steps as the two men beat a quick retreat toward the stairs.

  She frowned. Alright so she had almost forced him to say those three words that every woman needs to hear, but he could at least ask her to marry him, not simply inform her, like it was a chore they needed to get finished with.

  Mesa reached around Rafe and opened the door, just in time to see Gibby hurrying down the steps. She started to follow him, but Rafe pulled her back.

  “I need an answer,” he said.

  She shook her head negatively and Rafe’s heart dropped.

  “You didn’t ask me a question,” she said firmly, pulling away from him and walking out the door.

  Following her, he caught her at the top of the stairs. “Yes I did,” he insisted, turning her to face him.

  Again she shook her head from side to side. “Think about what you said, Rafe. You did not ask me a question.”

  He frowned while his mind rethought the brief conversation they’d had, but with his baser nature so involved at the time, it was impossible to
remember it exactly. “Maybe not,” he conceded, “but it was implied.”

  She shrugged and peeled his fingers off her shoulders then turned and started down the step. “My answer is not implied,” she shot back at him. “I don’t do, implied.”

  Rafe felt his temper rising as he watched her walking away from him. Where did she get off flashing that hurt kitten look at him? She knew what he’d been trying to say. He knew she did. There was no basis for him to rephrase it, just to satisfy her desire for a formal proposal. After all, he’d told her he loved her, not once but twice. Did she think he was going to jump through hoops for her? Women! He snorted and followed her down the stairs and on the ground floor, he brushed past her and entered the kitchen first. He snatched out a chair and dropped into it, glowering at the two cowboys already seated. Mesa pulled out a chair and sat down, leaving plenty of room between her and Rafe.

  He didn’t look at her once while he ate his meal but, when it was finished, he cast a frown in her direction as he pushed back his chair and stood up. His eyes moved to include Bob and Gibby. “How long will it take to get the horses ready?”

  Bob pushed his chair back and stood. “They’ll be ready when we get to the barn. I saw Levi pulling in just before…you came downstairs.”

  Gibby stood up and began gathering the dishes together. “I’ll just set these things in the dishwasher.”

  When she looked at him, Mesa’s eyes did not reflect the hurt she felt. They look cold and hard. She slid her chair back and, without a word, walked to the back door, took her cap from the peg there and left the house. She would not let him see how hurt she was that he looked at their relationship as a chore that needed to be made legal. And for what reason did it need to be made legal? So he wouldn’t have to feel guilty about it, that’s why, she decided as she strode along the shortcut path to the barn.

  Rafe swore softly, having watched her exit, before he stalked into the living room and strapped his gun and holster with his badge affixed to the belt, around his hips. “Are y’all ridin’ to the barn with me?”

  The two cowboys looked at each other only briefly. “Coming, Sheriff. Just let me get my hat.” Bob said while Gibby set the dishes in the sink.

  When they reached the barn, Mesa was already there, leading the blue roan colt she’d been riding lately from the illuminated interior of the huge edifice where other saddled horses waited tied in front of their stalls, out into the shadows of the night. Without speaking to any of them, she slipped one foot into the stirrup and swung up on the young stallion’s back, stretching one hand to pat his neck gently.

  Rafe’s frown deepened. He’d expected her to ride the palomino mare. The animal was saddled and waiting patiently with the rest of the group. He walked over to Mesa. “You don’t need to ride a green colt tonight, ride the mare.” His words were spoken more tersely than he’d intended, but when they were out, there was no changing how they sounded.

  She looked down at him angrily. “You ride the mare. I’m riding this horse.” Her words were clipped with sharpness and when she’d spoken them, she turned her mount and started down the lane that led to the sinkhole, but she heard his heated reply as she rode away.

  “Damn, hard headed woman,” Rafe swore again and walked to where the men were starting to mount. He took the mare’s reins and swung up into the saddle using the saddle horn and ignoring the stirrups. He whistled softly and Spur materialized out of the barn. “Let’s go,” he said when the dog was beside him.

  The group turned and followed the lane Mesa had taken and soon caught up with her. Rafe moved up to ride alongside her but neither looked at her, nor spoke.

  Spur trotted between their horses, his long tail wagging as his busy nose took in the scents that filled the air and his brain translated them into categories of; four legged, fowl, fauna or skunks. Skunks being the scent he feared most.

  There was little talking among the riders and what there was, was spoken softly and answered in the same tone. The occasional equine nose blowing, the clink of curb chains against metal bits, the squeaking of leather against leather, and the soft clopping of hooves against the soft ground were the dominate sounds of the night.

  Making a point of not looking at Mesa, Rafe rode silently, but his thoughts swirled. She was the one person in his life that could turn him inside out without even thinking about it. He’d tried to forget her for years and that had not happened, and trying to treat her as an acquaintance hadn’t worked out either. He loved her. He wanted her. He accepted that. That was just never gonna change. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her wipe away what could only have been a tear on her cheek. Mesa was crying? His head swung toward her and he realized he was right only in a limited sense. For the most part, she was holding the tears back. Now he felt like an ass. He’d never meant to make her cry. Hell, all he really wanted was to marry the woman and make them both happy.

  Mesa frowned and turned away when he looked directly at her. She would not cry! Well, alright one little tear had escaped, but no more. She would not allow it. Her whole life she’d guarded and protected her heart from hurt by never risking a relationship with anyone, but she’d never been able to protect it from Rafe. She’d lost control of that when she was still a kid. He had hurt her by refusing to forgive her for not telling him about Raale and now, in spite of that, he expected her to marry him, because it was what they should do? Well, she wouldn’t marry him unless he asked her and if he couldn’t do that, she didn’t hold out much hope that he’d ever forgive her.

  As they approached the sinkhole where Rance had been shot, Rafe lifted a hand and the group came to a stop. The distant sound of a night bird and the occasional squeak of leather against leather as a horse shifted restlessly were the only sounds audible as they waited quietly, their ears straining. They sat silently, listening, Rafe’s eyes on Spur, watching for any subtle changes that might signal the presence of people. After a few minutes of casting around the area, his nose to the ground, the bulldog trotted back over and sat down on the grass beside Rafe’s mount, his tail wagging, completely relaxed.

  Levi nudged his mount forward and stopped beside Rafe. “What do you think?” his voice barely above a whisper.

  His coffee brown eyes black in the darkness, the sheriff never looked at his deputy as he continued to scan the darkness around them. “I was hoping Spur would show some interest around here, but I guess not.” He cast a quick look over his shoulder at the men behind him and came to rest on Mesa on the other side of him.

  Lord have mercy, he thought mutely. It should be a crime for a woman to look so beautiful sitting astride a half trained horse, in the middle of a group of lawmen, searching the night for God only knew what might be out there. He must be out of his mind bringing her along tonight. But what choice did he have? Whoever took that shot at her could get to her, if he left her at the house. He couldn’t allow that to happen, even if she was the most bullheaded, stubborn, independent woman he’d ever been around, he wouldn’t allow that to happen. He simply would not think about how good her body felt against his, or how her sweet kisses robbed him of all reason. He shook his head, trying to redirect his thoughts, but it didn’t work. He swore softly and bumped his heel against the mare’s side, asking her to move sideways toward Mesa on the blue roan stallion. When their knees touched, it drew her attention and she looked at him.

  The look in his eyes melted her anger.

  He leaned toward her and spoke softly. “Mesa, I love you. Will you marry me?”

  Her perfectly shaped brows arched in disbelief. “Really, out here in the woods in the middle of all these men. You’re asking me now?”

  A slow smile melted across his face and he nodded. “You can think about it ‘til we get back to the house, but then we need to let Uci know so she and Jenny can help you plan the weddin’.” He cast a quick glance around him before looking back at her. “It needs to be soon.”

  In spite of her earlier pique, her heart melted just like her anger had
, and she lifted one hand to touch his face as she nodded. “Yes.”

  He grinned, then swung around and looked at Levi. “Let’s split into two groups. I’ll take Anderson, Mesa and Bob. You take Clark and Gibby.”

  Levi nodded. “I’ll head for the main road to the highway and work in from there.”

  Rafe nodded. “We’ll ride toward the national forest and see what we can pick up. Keep your radios on but low volume, and if you spot anything back off and let me know. These people are dangerous, but we don’t want to let them get away.”

  Levi nodded.

  Bob nudged his horse toward the group. “I didn’t quite hear her answer. Did she say yes?”

  Mesa laughed behind her hand as Rafe turned to face the old man.

  “You got super hearin’?” he asked.

  Bob shook his head. “Don’t need it out here. As quiet as it is tonight, you can hear a cricket fart. I heard her, I just didn’t understand what she said.”

  The rest of the group snickered softly.

  “Then ask the damn cricket what she said,” Rafe groused as he turned his horse and rode away. Mesa fell in behind him, smiling at Bob and nodding her head.

  They rode the woods for another two hours, searching for any sign of vehicular traffic, without success. Spur trotted along, enjoying the unexpected outing in his own canine way.

  Rafe’s group was paused for a listening break when the radio crackled and Levi’s voice came through softly.

  “Sheriff, we got a truck moving real slow onto the back side of the ranch from the national forest. It’s following an old logging road, moving to the southwest.”

  Rafe smiled. “I think we’re close to that road, probably a couple of miles inside the ranch. Just sit tight where you are for now. If you see any more traffic, key the radio, but don’t talk. I’m gonna see if we can follow the truck if it comes this way. If it turns or stops before it gets here, we’ll start movin’ toward it.”