“In about a week, no more than ten days. We have other towns to cover.” Not for him.
He was through with this crap, no doubt in his mind about that. After this he was going to New Orleans and never pull another deal like this one or any other. Unless the plan skirting around in his mind worked. He prayed he could pull it off.
Sarah said, “Yes, I guess you would. Will you spend several weeks in each one? Maybe I could bring the children and visit.”
“No, not like here. I came ahead because, for a change, I had the time. It will be a rush from now on. We’ll be on the move almost constantly.”
She pointed at a narrow road and surprised him. “Turn right here. Let me show you my school.”
He looked at her but she refused to meet his gaze. Blood pumped through his body. She couldn’t mean what he thought. No, there had to be some other reason for the detour.
Soon her small schoolhouse appeared outlined in the bright moonlight from a cloudless sky. The building stood nestled among a grove of live oaks. A dozen or more horses grazed nearby, the only sign of life. To the side of the small building playground, swings stood like lonely sentinels waiting for the school day’s clamoring children. Two privies stood behind the playground.
Stopping the buggy near the hitching post, he helped her down. She took the key from her reticule and opened the door. Moving as if from memory, she lit a lantern and kept the wick low.
She gestured around her. “Well, this is it.”
He took the lantern from her. Examining each picture, piece of sculpture or rock she’d set out for the children to see, he moved slowly around the room.
“It reminds me of a museum I saw once in Chicago. Natural science and art combined.”
“Some of these children will never see a museum. If they stay in our school they learn to read and write well, but many will never leave this county and will have low paying jobs with little chance for any luxuries. I want them to know about the beauty as well as the drudgery of life.”
What a wonderful person she was, helping people every day. Imagine what good she would do here. Just looking at her made him smile.
“If I’d had a teacher like you when I was a kid, I would have done a lot better in school.”
She returned his grin. “If you had a woman teacher, I’ll bet you had only to ply her with that smile and she let you get away with murder.”
Embarrassed that she had guessed correctly, he marveled at her knowledge of human nature. He would have thought she could that see he didn’t deserve her or her trust. This minute he should whisk her out of here and deliver her home before he had a chance to sample what he thought she meant to offer him tonight.
A week. Unless his plan worked, he probably had seven more days left in this town, ten at the most. Most of those he wouldn’t even see her. Try as he might, he couldn’t force himself away from her.
He saw her two natures warring within her and knew she fought the same battle. It wasn’t proper for her to be here alone with him, much less carry through the invitation her gaze proclaimed. She stepped toward him and her beautiful lavender blue eyes almost mesmerized him.
He set the lantern on her desk and tried to explain his reluctance. When he took her hand in his, he saw his mother’s ruby ring on her hand. No longer did he resent her having it.
Cal had the ring made for Nate's mother on the occasion of Nate's birth. The ruby hearts symbolized eternal love. She had treasured it, intended that it someday go to Nate's wife. How angry he'd been when Cal gave the ring to Roxie, and angrier on learning the rubies had passed on to Sarah. Now Nate took pleasure knowing that the only woman besides his mother who’d ever been important to him wore that symbol.
“I should never have taken you in my room that night. I can’t honestly say I’m sorry it happened, but I wish I had been strong enough to resist sullying you.”
“As I remember it was a mutual thing, and I’m glad we were together. I felt fulfilled, not sullied, and I want it again. Now.” She placed her hands on his chest and lifted her lips to his.
He cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. “Sarah, you know I can’t stay? Don’t think this will change that.” He wished it could, prayed it would, wished he could hold her forever.
“It’s because you can’t stay that it’s so important. I never asked for false assurances. I want to savor your body while you’re here. I want a lifetime of memories.”
Dear Lord, save me from myself. He wanted to weep or crumple in a heap at her feet. “Don’t. You don’t know what you’re doing. You could get pregnant, if you aren’t already.”
“I would love to have your child, Nate. If I’ve already conceived, then I’ll raise our child with pleasure and pride. But I, um, I’m wearing a, um, a pessary to prevent conception.”
He stared at her, slowly understanding her words. Of course, she would know of a pessary from her sister. The idea still astounded him. “You? You’re wearing—“
She pressed a finger to his lips to silence him. “Please don’t think badly of me. It’s not because I’m cold or calculating, as it might seem. I know you’re leaving, and this may be the last time we have a chance to share this between us.”
She turned away. “You know my mother and father weren’t married, that my mother put me with Pearl to help me. I would never willingly subject my child to the taunts I heard. At the same time, I’d never do anything to stop a pregnancy once it began. I’ve known women to do that, but I could never kill my own child.”
Knowing what it must have cost her to resort to the device, he took her shoulders and turned her to him. “Of course not, sweetheart. You were wise to be prepared knowing I can’t resist you when we’re alone.” He kissed her forehead, her eyes. “In all the world, no one is more loving and compassionate than you. You’re also the most desirable woman I’ve ever known.”
He heard her sigh of relief. With a flick of her wrist she doused the lamp. Only a slice of moonlight filtered through the trees outside the windows, but it showered across her.
She took the combs from her hair and it spilled like moonbeams on her shoulders. After unfastening the buttons of her dress, she let it slip to the floor. “I wish we had days to explore one another, but we can’t stay here very long or someone will come to investigate.”
“Sarah—“
“Shhhh.” She took his hand and led him to the cloakroom where she kept a single bed. “I have this for children who become ill at school.”
His arms cradled her, but still he protested. “Sarah, you’re a beautiful, wonderful woman, but I can’t give you what you need, what you deserve.”
She leaned into his embrace. “This is what I need from you,” she whispered before her mouth claimed his.
He couldn’t get enough of the taste of her. His tongue brushed against hers. She met his probe and matched her strokes to his. His blood boiled and his heart banged in his chest like a parade drum on the Fourth of July. Her fingers kneaded his back and pulled him close.
She slid her hands to his chest and worked to undo the buttons of his shirt. He broke his embrace long enough to divest himself of clothes.
When he stood as naked as a babe, he lowered his mouth to her cheek. After raining a trail of kisses down her neck and across her shoulders, his teeth tugged at the ties of her chemise.
“I’m glad you left off the corset,” he murmured.
“It seemed best, considering what I had planned for you.” She unfastened her petticoat and drawers and kicked them aside.
Reaching out, she took his hand to guide him to her. He joined her on the narrow mattress. She scooted back and jumped.
Startled, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
She giggled. “The bed is narrow and my backside is pressed against a cold wall.”
“Mmm. I can warm you.” He rose and pulled her to the center of the cot then spread himself over her.
Hating the narrow space, he wanted her in his bed, in his room. He nee
ded her with him to stave off the nightmares, to feel her soft, sweet body next to his all night. He craved the pleasure of waking to find her curled next to him.
The hard, hot evidence of his need pressed against her abdomen but she didn’t move away. Instead, she spread her legs and thrust herself to him. The sensation of her warm skin moving against his manhood almost caused his undoing.
“Now, Nate. I need you now.”
No more than he needed her. He’d hungered for the feel of her, the taste. So long. He’d been hungry so long. Before he knew her, before he knew only she could meet this terrible hunger aching inside him.
Slipping his fingers to her soft core, he started at the string he found there. The pessary ribbon, of course. That his sweet innocent Sarah wore a pessary for him made him hate himself more, but he lacked the willpower to halt their lovemaking.
“Now, Nate,” she begged. “Please now.”
Delay meant the risk of discovery, but he intended to go slow for a few more minutes, wanted to stretch their loving out. Suddenly he couldn’t wait. Her urging heated his already boiling passion. Sliding his manhood into her intimate folds, her moist heat spurred him forward and he plunged inside her, deeper, deeper.
Intense pleasure reverberated through him in steadily increasing waves. His lips claimed her rigid nipple as his palm cupped her other breast. Her fingers threaded through his hair and she pressed him to her.
When he moved his hand between them to find the pulse of her femininity, she moaned with delight. They moved together, bodies synchronized in rapture. When he thought he would explode from pleasure, his release came and she cried out his name from her own zenith. He lay atop her braced on his forearms, her head cradled in the nook of his shoulder. Gently he kissed her hair, each eye, then rolled off her to stand.
Wishing again he could keep her with him all night, he knew he had to get her home soon or their absence would arouse suspicion. He hurried to dress, unwilling to create trouble for her with her family. A soft curse escaped his lips when he banged his toe as he searched for his clothes and boots.
She called out, “Wait. I’m used to the building and I know where things are.”
As soon as they were dressed, they left the school. She locked the door behind them and he helped her into the buggy.
He joined her and sat hunched over, the reins in his hands. “I’m not proud of taking you like a thief in the night, Sarah. But I’m grateful for the time we’ve had together. I can’t tell you how much I wish things were different.”
She slipped her hand through his arm and gave him a pat. “I wish they were different, too, but I’m also grateful we’ve had all we have.”
Nate flicked the reins and they made their way to the ranch house. It was dark when they arrived. He walked her to the door and kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow in town.”
Sarah hated that the door had to be kept locked now because of that horrid Ingles person. She unlocked it and slipped inside, closed it and went toward her room.
Storm sat in the main room and stood when she came in. Puzzled, she asked, “You just get home?”
He looked uncomfortable. “No. I rode by the school on my way home from Lorena’s to check on the horses. Saw Grandpa’s buggy in front and you and Nate inside. Seemed a strange time to be looking at the school.”
“You were waiting up for me?” she asked, astonished he would think it necessary. An angry retort sprang to her mind, but before she spoke she realized his concern was justified. The very thing he hoped to avoid had happened.
“I just wondered is all.” He paused, eyeing her suspiciously and waiting for her to explain.
She strove to remain calm and said casually, “Of course, we had to wait in town until all the people were through asking questions. Since Nate had seen that school but not mine, I showed him through. Unlike that stupid Peter Dorfmeyer, Nate immediately saw what I had tried to create with the artwork and science displays. He said it reminded him of a museum he’d seen in Chicago.”
Storm regarded her closely. He chewed his lip a few seconds then asked, “What else did he say?”
Suddenly it was all more than she could stand. The sneaking around, the chances she’d taken, the threat to Joe, and Nate’s impending departure. She rushed to her big brother and put her face against the front pocket of his favorite blue shirt. His arms went around her to pat her back gently.
“Oh, Storm,” she sobbed. “He’s not going to stay.”
“I know. I know,” he said as she sobbed against his chest.
***
By Saturday, Sarah’s frazzled nerves had her jumping at every sound. She spent all her time worrying about Nate leaving and whether or not Ingles would appear. The children were too smart not to notice something was going on, but so far she’d been able to keep knowledge of the Pinkerton wire from Joe.
He watched her warily, though. Clearly his guard never relaxed and she knew he expected his stepfather to appear at any minute. Maybe he noticed he was never alone, never without an adult nearby.
She’d promised the children a trip into town as a treat. They planned to shop, then go for a drive and picnic with Nate after the law office’s one o’clock Saturday closing time. After church on Sunday, all the Kincaids planned to gather at Grandpa’s, but this afternoon would be just Nate, Cindy, Luke, and Joe with Sarah. Their family. She sighed and wished it were so.
Cindy looked sweet in her new blue gingham with a matching blue bow in her blonde curls. Both boys were scrubbed and their hair slicked down—not that Sarah expected it to stay that way for long. She hoped Nate liked her new green sprigged muslin dress. She’d finished it only this morning. Pearl had pressed it for her while Sarah herded the children through their preparations. When they were ready, she carried the picnic basket and tucked it behind the buggy’s back seat. Storm rode his horse near.
“Say, I believe I’ll ride in with you and make sure these two boys don’t rob the bank.”
Joe smiled while Luke and Cindy giggled, oblivious to the look exchanged by Storm and Sarah. The children climbed into the buggy and Sarah clicked to start the horse.
A few puffy white clouds dotted the brilliant blue sky. Bright green leaves already decorated the willows along the river, and forsythia bloomed where Pearl and Sarah had planted it along the trail through the ranch. A soft breeze cooled the effect of the sun’s rays.
In town, Sarah pulled up in front of the law office. Storm helped Sarah down from the buggy.
“I’ll be around if you need me,” Storm said. “Promised Zed I’d get him some stuff at the hardware store.”
“We’ll be fine. Thanks for the escort.”
Storm pointed a finger at the two boys. “I’ll be watching you. No bank robberies.”
The children laughed and ran to the law office. Sarah followed them inside. Gabe and Nate stopped working to talk to the three youngsters.
“Can we go outside?” Luke asked Sarah. “We brought our marbles so we could play quiet.”
Sarah nodded. “But only if you stay where I can see you from the window. I need to speak with Gabe about the adoption. Then we’ll go to the mercantile until Nate is through here.”
Cindy stayed with Sarah, but the boys rushed outside. Eager to get everything finished, Sarah pelted Gabe with questions. He answered patiently, though he had nothing new to tell her. It took time, she knew, but she was so eager to have the children officially hers.
A shout startled her and Luke burst into the office.
“A man grabbed Joe and took him,” Luke cried.
“Where did they go?” Nate asked as he stood and reached for his hat.
He led Luke outside and the others followed.
Luke pointed at the back of the building. “A man grabbed Joe. He tried to grab me too, but Joe pushed me out of the way and jumped at the man.” Luke looked up at Nate, wonder in his voice. “Joe talked, Nate. He talked. He yelled at me to run get you.”
“Sarah, I’m ta
king Storm’s horse. You get the sheriff, then tell Storm and Drake.”
Sarah raced to alert the sheriff, Luke and Cindy on her heels.
Nate had left his gun at the Judge’s house, so he turned to Gabe. “You have a gun in there?”
“Yeah, and I’m coming with you,” Gabe said. They rushed into the office where Gabe opened a drawer and took out a gun belt, strapping it on as he followed Nate. “I know the area around here.”
They hurried outside to the street and Gabe called to a passing rider, “Tom, we have an emergency. Let me borrow your horse and your gun.”
Gabe tossed the gun to Nate and mounted the horse. The two men rode South as Luke had pointed.
Rage drove Nate like a beast. He directed his anger at himself for letting Joe be kidnapped, and at Ingles for daring to harm Joe. Storm’s horse was a fine animal easily able to outdistance the one Gabe rode, but Nate had to let Gabe take the lead. They rode through territory Nate had never seen.
Soon Gabe held up his hand and halted to look for tracks. They were at the top of a rocky ravine. Apparently Ingles had made no attempt to hide his trail.
“He has to be making for the caves,” Gabe said. “Let’s cut him off.”
Not a cave, thought Nate. No, not a dark, confined hole in the earth. His belly knotted in fear. Dear God in heaven, have mercy. His heart pounded so hard he thought Gabe must hear. What will I do? How can I go into a cave?
Gabe turned his horse and angled West. In spite of his terror, Nate kneed his horse forward. After a few minutes they topped a rise and saw a lone horseman in the distance. The rider stopped in front of a limestone cliff face. No doubt, it was Ingles. The man dismounted and dragged an uncooperative child behind him as he entered a small cave opening.
Thank God they were in time, but how could they rescue Joe? Gabe pointed to a group of trees about fifty yards from the cave. Once there, Nate slid off his horse and tied the reins to a tree limb while Gabe did the same.
“Any idea where we are?” Nate asked.
“Yeah. We’re on Holsapples’ place.”
Could Nate force himself to enter that cavern? He’d have to do it. Somehow, he had to conquer his overwhelming fear of black, closed places and help Joe. Sweat gathered on his lip and forehead. His hands shook with the memory of being trapped in the coffin. Joe depended on him, though. With an iron will he forced his legs to support him and move him toward the dreadful hole.
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