Trail of Destiny (Hot on the Trail Book 5)

by Merry Farmer

  She fell asleep at last, dreaming of horses and riding astride. She dreamed that she waved goodbye to Harry and rode off into the mountains of Wyoming, the way he’d waved goodbye to her when he rode off to war. He smiled and wished her well as she left, the same way she’d done with him, only instead of fear and anxiety in his eyes, they were filled with the confidence that she really and truly would be fine.

  They awoke the next morning to a brilliant sunrise and what promised to be another hot day. By all accounts, Alice should have been gloomy and droopy after dreaming about Harry, but instead she had a fluttering sense of adventure blooming inside of her.

  “You seem eager to get going,” Jarvis commented as she cleaned up their breakfast only a few minutes after they’d sat down to eat.

  “I want to try riding astride again,” she confessed. “I thought it would be much harder than it is.”

  “I told you you’d be a natural horsewoman.” Jarvis winked and nudged her arm as he walked past her to get the horses ready.

  “Wait until we’re at Father’s ranch,” Franklin said. He skipped over to help her load the last of their supplies into Thunder’s saddlebags and to tie the bedrolls to the back of the saddle. “I’ll let you ride Cassiopeia. She’s a beauty. Father bought her for Mother, but Mother still refuses to come back.”

  Alice blinked and lowered her arms from fastening a straw bonnet on her head. “Refuses to come back?”

  Franklin’s cheeks splashed with color and he cleared his throat. “She, uh, went to visit her family in Cincinnati.”

  There was more to that story, but Franklin darted away from her before she could ask.

  As soon as everything was cleaned up, packed, and sorted—and as soon as Alice had slipped into Franklin’s spare pair of trousers once more—Jarvis came over to Thunder’s side to help her mount.

  “You remember how to do it?” he asked, motioning for her to lift her foot to the stirrup.

  Alice bit her lip as she concentrated on raising her leg high enough to reach the stirrup. “I think so,” she said at last.

  He clasped his hands around her waist. A zip of excitement ran through her, from where his hands touched to every tiny corner of her body.

  “All right, ready? One, two, three.”

  He lifted her from her waist. All of Alice’s concentration went into swinging her leg around Thunder’s back and settling herself in the saddle. She let out a breath as soon as her backside hit the leather. She’d done it. A bright smile lit her face, and she reached for the reins.

  “Maybe I am a horsewoman after all,” she commented to no one in particular.

  Jarvis and Franklin mounted their own horses, and as soon as they flanked her, she tapped Thunder to walk forward. It was quite something to have such a big, powerful beast follow her slightest suggestion for how he should move. He continued to respond to the gentle commands she gave him to turn right or left as she needed him to as they crossed tiny creeks or circled around hills. Her father was right. She should be out trying new things. There were so many new things to try.

  They’d been walking at a steady clip for more than an hour before Franklin said, “We should pick up the pace. I know I said we would get there by afternoon at this rate, but we should try to get there sooner.”

  “Oh?” Alice wasn’t sure if she was afraid of the idea of speeding up or if she longed for it.

  “We’re fine going how we’re going,” Jarvis said, studying her with concerned eyes. “No use rushing things when someone isn’t ready.”

  “Oh, I—”

  Alice stopped when she saw the mischievous glint in Jarvis’s eyes. He wasn’t talking about riding horses. Their earlier conversation came to mind, and her face heated with the same mix of fear and excitement that the prospect of letting her horse go faster gave her.

  “I think she’s ready,” Franklin insisted. “She’s picked up the basics so fast. She has a fine seat and—” His face went red. “I… I mean… I didn’t mean it like that. I meant that you sit on the horse well, not that your bum….”

  Alice laughed. She couldn’t help herself.

  “That’s one way to put it.” Jarvis exchanged a glance with Alice and shook his head.

  “I’m sorry, I would never speak out of turn like that,” Franklin blustered on.

  Alice wanted to add, “And yet, you did,” but she held her tongue.

  “I just think we could go a little faster to get where we’re going.” Franklin switched back to demanding to hide his embarrassment.

  “All in good time,” Jarvis said.

  “I think that time should be now,” Franklin insisted. “What do you think, Alice?”

  Alice peeked at Jarvis before saying, “I wouldn’t mind trying to go a little faster.”

  “There,” Franklin said as if his point was proven.

  “All right,” Jarvis conceded. He twisted to face Alice more fully. “Make sure you’re well settled in that fine seat of yours.”

  A snort escaped from Alice.

  “And make sure you have a firm grip on the reins,” Jarvis went on. “Then all you need to do is—”

  “Lean forward over your mount’s neck and kick hard,” Franklin interrupted. “Like this.”

  He stretched out over his horse’s neck with a “Hyah!” and shot forward.

  Thunder must have thought the command was for him. Before Alice could put two thoughts together or sort out how to hold the reins, he shot forward himself, chasing after Franklin.

  Alice yelped in shock and dropped the reins. She tipped dangerously to the side, and screamed louder. On instinct alone, she grabbed for whatever handhold she could find on the saddle and leaned over Thunder’s neck to balance and steady herself.

  Thunder took that as a signal to run harder. He shot forward, zipping past Franklin—who had pulled to a stop and stood gaping—and charged on across the stretch of flat, empty land they’d come to. Alice found herself screaming—or perhaps shouting out the emotion that had pushed its way up to her chest and out through her lungs. The wind whipped past her, kissing her face and tugging at her bonnet ribbons. She lifted herself a few inches to look where she was going, and the wind caught hold of her bonnet and tugged it straight off her head, taking several pins with it.

  A few more breathless seconds of charging across the wild landscape and her hair flew out of its style altogether. The way it tugged behind her, the way Thunder’s speed made her feel as though she was flying, sent an unexpected rush of exhilaration through her. As she held on to the saddle for all she was worth, her heart lifted higher and higher in her chest, expanding until she wasn’t sure how her body could contain it. She gasped, and her screaming turned to laughter.

  Jarvis wasn’t sure which he wanted to do more—beat Franklin to a bloody pulp for his antics or chase after Alice to save her. On second thought, Franklin could kick his own backside. Alice needed him.

  He spurred Blossom into a run, hoping the old mare was up to chasing after Thunder at a full gallop. Blossom surprised him, running flat out as soon as she was given a chance. She shot right past Franklin and out across the plain. Thunder had more than a little head start, though, and ran as though he was laughing at them with every great, galloping step.

  Only, as Jarvis closed the gap between them, he realized it wasn’t Thunder laughing. It was Alice. Her bonnet had flown off and her hair streamed out behind her like the tail of a silver-gold comet. Jarvis could see Thunder’s reins flapping loose to the side, but somehow Alice held to the saddle with enough strength to stay upright. More than upright, she moved with the horse, as if the two of them had known each other for years. The light in Alice’s eyes as he pushed Blossom to run alongside her was brighter than the sun.

  Jarvis had never wanted any woman more in his life. She was beauty itself. She was freedom and excitement. His heart hammered against his chest, and sitting on Blossom’s bare back became more uncomfortable than ever as parts of him that should know better reacted to h
er. Even in black, Alice was alight with joy.

  All that changed on a dime when she snapped her head to the side as she noticed him. She gasped, and her perfect balance with Thunder was thrown off. The sync of horse and rider gave way to scrambling as Alice clutched at the saddle for dear life. She shrieked, but at least she had the good sense to try to grab hold of the reins.

  Lucky for Jarvis, they had slipped to the side where he was. He edged Blossom closer to Thunder, and did his best to slow both of them down as he reached for the reins. Thunder either sensed the jig was up or realized how tired he was. As Blossom dropped out of a gallop and slowed her steps, he followed suit. By the time Jarvis snatched up the reins and handed them to Alice, Thunder was done with his escapade.

  Jarvis tugged Blossom to a stop and jumped off in one smooth movement. He pivoted to where Thunder was now stepping in place and breathing hard, and scooped Alice into his arms. As soon as he tugged her out of the saddle and set her feet on solid ground, he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed.

  “Dear Lord.” It was the only thing he was capable of saying. All of the fear that he’d kept in check while chasing her seemed to burst out through his skin as trembling. He held her closer, feeling the fast rise and fall of her chest against his.

  The only thing keeping him from falling apart completely was the fact that she was hugging him back just as hard. She made tiny yelping sounds as she breathed—sounds that turned into breathy, high-pitched laughter. When she tugged against him to free herself, he loosened his hold and leaned back.

  “That was,” she panted, “that was invigorating.”

  “Invigor—?”

  With the word only halfway out of his mouth, she pressed up on her toes and kissed him.

  Jarvis’s world tipped sideways. Alice’s lips were warm and soft, her kiss hard and eager. She slipped a hand behind his neck and pressed him more firmly to her mouth. He could feel her hunger through every part of him. Her chest pressed against his, her hips swayed into him. He spread his hands across her back as if he could draw all of her closer to him. She would probably scold him for the stiffness between his legs as he ground against her, but in that moment, he couldn’t have cared less.

  But it was her mouth, the intensity of the way she explored his, drawing a low moan from his lungs that caused Jarvis to lose his mind entirely. She devoured him, body and soul. He was hers in every way possible.

  And then it was over.

  With a smack and a gasp, she came to her senses and yanked away. Jarvis was too startled to hold on to her, and she was able to take a huge step back. She pressed a hand to her mouth, blue eyes wide.

  “I shouldn’t have done that,” she said, chest still heaving.

  “Like hell you shouldn’t,” Jarvis growled before he could find his manners. He stepped into her, encircling her with his arms and pulling her close.

  He managed to kiss her again for half a beautiful second before she hummed in protest and wriggled free. The gentleman in Jarvis stopped him from pursuing her.

  “No, no I mean I really shouldn’t have,” she protested. Her face pinched with regret for a moment before shining with excitement. “I shouldn’t have, it’s just that that was so thrilling. So… so lively.”

  She gasped for breath, stepping from foot to foot with leftover energy. Jarvis wasn’t sure if he would rather watch her bristle with excitement or kiss her until she was still.

  “You just about scared me half to death,” he confessed with a weak laugh, pushing a hand through his hair, which was coming as loose as hers.

  “No, not death.” Alice shook her head, grinning like a mad thing. “Life. I’ve never felt so alive. I’ve never felt so… so unfettered. That was amazing. Who would have thought that riding… that danger was so tempting.”

  At her last words, her eyes snapped back to meet his. There was more to the fire that lit them than the danger of being carried away by a wild horse. Delicious tension pulsed through Jarvis, his staff as hard as ever, and if it wasn’t for Franklin galloping up to join them, he wasn’t sure he would have been able to stop himself from scooping Alice in his arms right then, laying her out in the sun-parched grass, and having his way with her until they both cried out in blessed relief.

  “What happened?” Franklin’s high-pitched shout squelched that mood. “Are you all right, Alice? I should have that horse flogged for taking off like that, the no-good nag.”

  “No,” Alice cried out. “No, he was wonderful. The whole thing was wonderful.”

  As if to prove her point, she danced away from Jarvis and skipped across the grass to where Thunder had stopped to rest. She caught the reins in one hand and, to Jarvis’s surprise, hugged Thunder’s neck.

  “Well I’ll be,” Franklin mumbled, watching her and shaking his head. “I was sure she’d be a bundle of tears right about now.”

  Jarvis cleared his throat, turning and walking toward Blossom, both to get the blood flowing to places other than his groin and so that Franklin couldn’t see what Alice had done to him.

  “She hasn’t stopped surprising me since the moment I met her,” he managed to say in a hoarse voice.

  “I’ll say,” Franklin agreed. He continued to watch her with heated admiration as Alice rubbed Thunder’s snout and thanked him for the glorious ride.

  Keeping the important parts of his body turned toward Blossom and out of sight of prying eyes, Jarvis frowned over his shoulder at Franklin and said, “Next time, don’t be such a fool. You’re the one that started this adventure.”

  Franklin ripped his eyes away from Alice. “Me?” He recoiled, straightening as though Jarvis had insulted his grandma. “I didn’t make that stupid old horse run like that.”

  “No?” Jarvis’s temper seeped in around the edges of his desire. It actually cooled him. “You’re the idiot that spurred one horse to run when you were standing right next to another, restless horse.”

  “But I didn’t make Thunder take off,” Franklin argued.

  “You might as well have. Think things through next time.”

  “You can’t talk to me like that,” Franklin blustered. “Do you have any idea who I am?”

  Jarvis’s fever had cooled enough for him to turn fully to Franklin. “Yeah, I do know who you are. You’re a spoiled fool who thinks—”

  “Boys!”

  Alice’s sharp reprimand stopped Jarvis and drew Franklin up. They both turned to her. Somehow she was still smiling.

  “What’s done is done,” she told them, “and I had a wonderful time doing it. We’re here to make peace, not to cause more conflict. So bury the hatchet, and someone help me back up on Thunder.”

  She said the last with a little too much relish. Jarvis cursed under his breath, but he also laughed. He left Blossom where she was for a moment and went to help Alice mount. She already had her foot in the stirrups and was trying to lift herself when he got to her. Yep, he’d created some sort of a monster by suggesting she learn to ride astride.

  As they continued on, Alice was surprisingly sensible about her new skill. Jarvis half expected her to try to charge off again, but either she or Thunder was too tired. Instead, she asked every question about riding that she could think of. By the time they rounded a low hill and came within sight of a spreading farm with a scattering of buildings fanning out against the backdrop of the mountains, Jarvis was as worn out as Thunder.

  “We’re here,” Franklin cut into the conversation. He sent a sullen look to Jarvis and a hopeful one to Alice. “My father’s ranch.”

  “Does it have a name?” Alice asked. “I’ve read that many of these large farms and ranches have been given names.”

  Franklin shrugged. “Father started out calling it Green Stream Ranch, but says he wants Mother to rename it, but….”

  “But she’s not here,” Alice finished.

  Considering the son she had, Jarvis wasn’t sure he blamed the woman.

  As soon as he had the thought, he scolded himself. Any man of ho
nor reserved his judgment until a boy like Franklin proved or disproved himself.

  Of course, he would have been happier if that little proverb hadn’t rung in his memory in his father’s voice.

  By the time they reached the expansive green between the big house, a large stable, and an even larger barn, Jarvis had made up his mind to be on his best behavior. He stopped Blossom and dismounted as a couple of stable helpers came forward to greet them, then strode over to Thunder to help Alice.

  Just his luck, Franklin had beaten him to it.

  “This is home,” he said, all smiles as he helped her down.

  Alice misjudged how strong Franklin was, and the two of them stumbled when he nearly dropped her. Jarvis shook his head. Next time he would get there first.

  Chapter Eight

  “Franklin! What in blazes are you doing here, and who are these people?”

  Alice steadied herself and yanked away from Franklin when he kept his arms around her after helping—if that’s what it could be called—her off of Thunder. His arms were weak in comparison to Jarvis’s.

  No, no she shouldn’t be thinking like that. She took a breath and smoothed her skirts, then focused on the man who had marched out onto the porch of the great house.

  “Father, I’ve brought help,” Franklin said as soon as he’d recovered himself, and started toward the porch. He gestured for Alice and Jarvis to follow.

  “What do you mean help?” the older gentleman asked.

  He was tall, taller than Franklin, but with the weight of age around his middle. The fine suit he wore fit well, though, and his silver hair and beard were trimmed and groomed, reminding her of the photos she’d see of General Robert E. Lee in his distinction.

  She wasn’t sure she liked that comparison, all things considered, and held back until Jarvis reached her side. It was safer to continue on with him than to march into what sounded like it could be a battle on her own.

  “Help with the dispute,” Franklin went on.

  “Dispute? Poppycock.” Mr. Haskell bristled. “Who are these two anyhow?”