Surrender to Love

by Julia Templeton

  "Mr. Catalono, we are past the point of exhausted. I have blisters on my derriere from the rubbing of the saddle, and if I don't get something to eat soon, I'm going to scream."

  His gaze moved to where her dainty little rear made contact with the saddle. A mistake he found as his body hardened. "You're irritated with me, aren't you?" he asked in a low, smooth voice that seemed to anger her even more.

  "Trust me, I passed irritated miles ago," she replied with a sneer. "Are we going to stop?"

  His gaze lingered on her face for a long moment. He loved the way she looked when she was agitated. The way her eyes shot sparks, the way her color heightened, and the pulse at the base of her neck throbbed. She'd be one hell of a lover, he thought, his gaze drifting to where her shirt opened exposing the swell of her breasts. A sheen of perspiration glittered along the line of her collar bone. When his gaze returned to her face, her eyes were narrowed to suspicious slits.

  "Don't even think about it," she said, and turning from him, rode over to Jordan to announce they were stopping.

  From Jordan's relieved expression, he knew Kari was right--it was for the best that they stop. He was used to long hours in the saddle, the women weren't. Seeing a nice clearing in which to camp, he reined in and went over to help Rebecca and Jordan down.

  Kari was already off her horse by the time he came to help her. He didn't miss the glare she threw his way.

  "Are you happy, Miss Hoffman?" he asked mockingly.

  She planted both hands on her narrow hips. "Happy about what, Mr. Catalono?" she hissed.

  "Happy that we've stopped for you."

  With an exasperated sigh, Kari turned her back on him, knowing he was just waiting for her retort so he could continue to harass her. He loved to annoy her. Even now, when he was pushing them all to the extreme, he just couldn't resist and place all the blame on her shoulders. As her hands moved over her sore rear end, a strangled intake of breath came from his direction. The sound brought a smile to her lips as she lay a blanket out for Rebecca who was fighting sleep.

  "Miss Hoffman--Kari, could you help me with the horses?" Shane asked from behind her. Having just tucked the blanket under the girls chin, she turned to find Shane trying to hold all four thirsty horses in check. "Come on." He held two sets of reins out to her.

  Seeing that Jordan was already getting ready to prepare their dinner, Kari knew she was stuck. "Oh, all right," before ripping the reins from his grasp.

  He moved ahead of her through the brush, swearing when his hand made contact with a prickly branch. He looked back as though sensing her delight, but she masked her smile by biting the inside of her cheek.

  The horses were trying to rush forward long before Kari heard the sound of water over rocks. Once the animals had their fill, she tied them to a branch and went to her knees on the bank, cupping the water, letting it run down her face, neck, and arms. She wanted more than anything to get out of her dusty clothes and scrub herself until her skin tingled.

  She looked up and her pulse skittered to find Shane had thrown aside his shirt and stood naked to the waist. Muscular biceps moved as he soaped the hard planes of his well-defined chest. Sinew moved under his tanned skin, and Kari licked her dry lips as the water slid toward his flat abdomen and the dark path of hair that disappeared beneath the band of his pants. Her heart pounded in her ears. Why did the man have to be so virile and good-looking? Turning away from the sight, Kari willed her blood to cool.

  Sitting on the bank, she took off her boots, and rolled her pant legs to her knees. She unbuttoned her shirt until she was dangerously close to exposing her breasts. A wicked thought drifted through her mind. If seeing him unclothed did strange things to her, what if the tables were turned? She undid another button, then another for good measure.

  She knew the moment he noticed her. He went completely still. Not daring to look in his direction, she stepped into the cool water letting it lap at her calves. Cupping the water, she brought it to her face and closed her eyes as the water slid down her throat and trickled between her near naked breasts.

  "Want some soap?" His voice sounded forced, and when she turned, his gaze slipped from her chin to her breasts. Her nipples were already hard from the cold, and under his gaze they tightened more. The heat in his eyes made her pulse skip double time, and for once she felt like the one in control. She held out her hand.

  His brow arched in question, before he mumbled, "Oh, yeah, the soap." He handed her the bar that was forgotten only seconds before.

  "Thank you," she replied, trying to ignore the delicious feel of his fingers against hers as she took the bar from him.

  Shane watched her for the next ten minutes as she washed and re-washed her hair. Sure it was dirty, but that dirty? Of course, he enjoyed watching her--what hot-blooded man wouldn't? He could clearly see her rose-colored nipples through her shirt, pebble hard, straining against the white linen. She bent over, stretching the material of her breeches against her firm bottom that he ached to take within his hands, pulling her up against the length of his hard--

  "Mr. Catalono?"

  Hearing her soft voice, Shane forced his thoughts away from their dangerous wanderings. Despite the innocent look on her beautiful face, it was obvious to him she knew exactly what he was thinking by the little smirk on her lips.

  "I asked how long it would take before we reached the ranch?" she asked, one delicate brow lifted in question as she twisted the water out of her long hair. His gaze moved to her now soaked shirt. He could barely think, let alone breathe. Shaking her head, she flipped her hair forward, then quickly back again, where it hit her back with a slap.

  He swallowed so hard he was surprised she couldn't hear him gulp. She may as well be naked for all that the transparent shirt covered. "About four more days, maybe more, maybe less," he said in a strained voice. Clearing his throat, he tried to keep his eyes averted from the fetching sight, but it was impossible. He was like a man starved.

  She looked like a water nymph standing before him with her firm breasts exposed to his all-consuming gaze, and her pants clinging to shapely legs. With her wet hair slicked back off her forehead, her delicate features were even more accented. Her blue eyes appeared huge in her face as she stared at him. When she combed her fingers through her hair, she arched her back, thrusting her breasts out. He groaned inwardly.

  It was all he could do to keep his gaze from slipping past her chin as he watched her, watching him. Dark lashes were spiked from the water, her lips full and pink, and as she smiled, he caught a glimpse of straight, tiny white teeth. He'd seen the smile so rarely that the magnitude of it took his breath away.

  Kari shifted under his intense gaze. His very presence made her uneasy. He was so close she could smell his manly scent and feel the warmth of his strong body.

  "I understand Gray Hawk found you and Jordan alone on the prairie," Shane asked, sitting down on the bank, lighting a cigarette. He stared at her under long, dark lashes. "And what may I ask were the two of you doing out in the middle of this God forsaken country alone?"

  Kari squirmed under his stare. If she told him the truth, quite possibly he wouldn't take them with him to Brogan, or worse, he could wire her father thinking he was doing the right thing, when actually it would be the worst. They had never told a soul about where they truly came from. She knew from the pounding of her heart that now was not the time either.

  "Well?"

  "We were traveling west--"

  "By yourselves?" he asked, the tone of his voice saying he found it hard to believe.

  "No...with--my husband."

  His brow shot up. "Your husband?"

  Kari nodded, looking at her feet as she continued the lie. "Yes...he died."

  Shane blew a ring of smoke above his head. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "How did he die?"

  She'd never been any good at fabricating stories, and when she looked up, she saw the rolling water and blurted, "He drowned." Meeting
his gaze again, she noticed he watched her intently, his look somewhat skeptical, but she saw a hint of sympathy there too. To her chagrin, she realized she would have preferred his scowl for once.

  "I know how tough it is to lose a spouse. A part of you dies in a way..."

  His words had the same effect as a blow to the stomach, and before she could stop herself, she asked, "Your wife?"

  All he did was nod in response. It appeared he had nothing else to say on the subject, which disappointed her. She wondered what kind of a woman Shane Catalono had married. Had she been beautiful? Certainly, she would have to be. A man like him could get anyone. Uncomfortable under his searching gaze, she waded through the water toward a large, flat rock where she stretched out.

  Shane's heart hammered mercilessly. The blood soared through his veins as Kari sat on the rock, kicked her feet in the water, then leaned back on her elbows, her face lifting to the sun as though worshiping its warmth. Her breasts strained against the shirt until he swore it would burst open. A coincidence, since he felt he would explode at any moment so tight were the pants on his crotch.

  He glanced at the water, then back at Kari, who still had her eyes closed. Slowly her lips parted looking like she was waiting for her lover. For a moment he envisioned he was that lover...the blood coursed through his veins straight to his groin.

  He ground the cigarette into the ground and dove into the frigid water.

  NO MATTER how hard Jordan tried, she couldn't keep her thoughts from Gray Hawk. In the days since she'd left his village, she thought of nothing but him. Sure, for a few minutes here and there she could focus enough on the landscape, letting her mind go blank, but then she would see something that would remind her of him and she had to fight the urge to cry.

  If her thoughts were traitorous, her dreams were downright cruel. Last night she'd dreamt of him again--his hands on her, bringing her body to life.

  "You're thinking of him again, aren't you?"

  Jordan jumped at the sound of Kari's voice. She turned to her cousin with a half-hearted smile.

  "You'll see Gray Hawk again."

  "How can you be so sure?"

  Kari shrugged. "I just believe it, that's all. Everything will be all right once we reach Brogan. I can't wait to see it. I just know things are going to work out for us. Like Shane said, we'll find jobs, and we'll start saving our money, and before you know it, we'll have the ranch."

  Kari's enthusiasm was catching, and Jordan decided the best thing to do was focus on the future and forget the past. After all, this is what they'd come west for. She wanted her ranch more than anything, and now she had to fight to keep it. She wouldn't spend her days pining away for a man that wasn't meant to be hers. He probably was with Running Deer anyway. It would do her good to put him from her mind.

  "There it is. Do you see it?"

  Both Jordan and Kari stared past Shane to the ranch in the distance. An enormous log house with a wrap around porch sat among numerous outbuildings', corrals and stables. Men who had been working stopped what they were doing, and began waving their arms in welcome.

  "Oh my gosh," Kari said under her breath, unable to help the smile that came readily to her lips. "This is huge!"

  Jordan couldn't help but grin. The Triple T was far grander than she imagined. The house itself was built of honey-colored logs, rising three stories, with a wraparound porch, and a balcony off the top level.

  If Jordan thought the outside was impressive, then the inside was everything her dreams for her own ranch were made of.

  Two enormous couches dominated the living room. A touch of culture was evident with bookcases filled with classic literature. She traced her fingers across one of the two oak side tables adorned with oil lamps. With a sigh, she settled into the folds of the only chair and admired the large stone fireplace that was set and ready for the chilly night. With an impressive glance around the room again, Jordan knew she was meant for this kind of life.

  An older gentleman with silver hair and a quick smile came into the room. Shane introduced him as Hank, the foreman of the Triple T. Hank was friendly and went out of his way to make them feel welcome.

  A minute after they sat down, a thunderous pounding came up the porch steps and a proud, beaming smile came to Shane's face as the door flew open.

  "Dad!" A boy on the brink of manhood bounded through the door. With a smile identical to Shane's, he hugged his dad. "What took you so long? I've been waiting for weeks to hear from you."

  Jordan glanced at Kari with a smile.

  "I'm sorry, Tanner, but you know I couldn't come home without Rebecca, but I'm back now, and I have another surprise."

  Noticing their presence for the first time, Tanner stepped back from his father, looking embarrassed at his display of affection. His smile faltered as he looked from Kari to Jordan, then back to Shane.

  "This is Miss Hoffman, and...Miss Hoffman, but I bet they wouldn't mind if you called them Kari and Jordan. It's a long story, but let's just suffice it to say they helped me get Rebecca out of the Indian camp, and until they get back on their feet, they'll be staying here?"

  "Miss Kari--Miss Jordan," Tanner said, taking his hat from his head. "Nice to meet you."

  Tanner Catalono was the spitting image of his father: dark skin, dark hair, light eyes framed by long, dark lashes any girl would kill to have.

  "Sit down," Shane said, pulling his son down next to him. He flung an arm around his neck, pulling him up against him and kissing the top of his head. Jordan's heart constricted, smiling as Tanner's cheeks flamed red.

  Tanner cleared his throat, pulling away. "I'm going to get some of those cookies Hank is baking." He was halfway to the kitchen when he turned. "I'm glad you're home, Dad," he said, before disappearing into the kitchen.

  Jordan watched Shane as he watched his son leave. "You must be very proud."

  He nodded. "I couldn't have asked for a better son."

  "His mother?" They were only two words, but the reaction was unforeseen. For an instant pain crossed his features before he quickly hid it beneath that tough exterior she'd become accustomed to this past week.

  "She died giving birth to Tanner. He's a lot like she was; caring, kind, loving." The last was said with a longing that surprised Jordan.

  He looked up. "Sorry, I can drag on at times. I'm sure you know what that's like," he said, glancing over at Kari.

  Jordan was feeling awful for having brought up his wife, but as she glanced at Kari, she was even more perplexed when her cousin sank down into the cushions, her face turning white.

  She nodded at Shane. "Yes, I suppose I do."

  Feeling like she was on the outside looking in, Jordan sat back and waited to be let-in on what appeared to be a private conversation.

  "How old was your husband when he was killed?"

  Jordan barely concealed her gasp of disbelief with an exaggerated cough. She turned to Kari, anxious to hear a response.

  Kari cleared her throat. "Uhmm...forty-one."

  He nodded, his face soft with understanding as he sat back and ran a hand down his face.

  Kari finally met her gaze, her expression pleading.

  "Were you traveling with your husband as well, or were you with Kari--"

  "I'm not married," Jordan said quickly, stepping on Kari's foot for the lie she was making her tell.

  "It must have been so difficult for the both of you to survive after he drowned."

  Jordan bit the inside of her lip and nodded. Unable to continue looking Shane in the eye while lying through her teeth, considering everything he'd done for them, she stood abruptly. "You know, I'm really tired, and I think it would be a good time for us to take a nap, don't you?" she asked, turning to Kari who quickly agreed.

  "Hope you ladies don't mind sharing a room."

  Jordan smiled. "Not at all. It's perfect and we're grateful to have a place to stay."

  "Don't think anything of it. You've gone through a lot, and you deserve a chance to get back
on your feet. Don't worry about anything."

  Jordan's hand slid along the slick log banister as she walked up the steps to the second story where the bedrooms were. Once they were safely on the other side of their bedroom door, she cornered Kari. "Your dead husband? Where did that come from? What else haven't you told me, Miss Hoffman? How did you explain that we both have the same last name if you're married? Or am I your dead husband's sister, instead of your cousin?"

  Kari shifted on her feet, looking like a guilty child. "Well...he was asking me where we were going, and why we were alone when Gray Hawk took us, and I just thought it up. I didn't know that his wife died. If I had, I would have been more--"

  "Creative?"

  She shrugged. "Well, what would you have done?"

  Jordan sighed. "You could have at least prepared me. What if he would have questioned me when you weren't around?"

  "I completely forgot about it. I guess I was hoping that he would forget, too."

  Jordan sighed heavily. "Well, it appears he hasn't."

  GRAY HAWK rode beside his brother and Young Wolf. Iron Bear pointed to the sea of buffalo that grazed in the valley below. "Letting the women go was what the Great Spirit wanted. It has brought back our buffalo."

  Avoiding his brother's gaze, Gray Hawk looked over the land he'd spent his entire life defending against other tribes. With every day more whites came, a force he feared would not be overtaken.

  "The herd heads North. Let's move our village this night."

  Gray Hawk heard his brother's words, but didn't comment. He for one had no desire to move their village, but for a selfish reason. He wanted to believe that Jordan, having realized she loved him, would make her way back to him one day. If they moved, she would never be able to find him.

  Why was he thinking this way? She was where she wanted to be, living in the white world again. She was probably trying to forget her stay in his village--and forget him. The best thing he could do was move on and try to forget her. "We will speak with father when we return."