Arizona Temptress

by Smith, Bobbi

  “No. Go ahead. I’ll be fine,” he told her, eyeing the brown bottle of medicine skeptically.

  Without further delay, she proceeded with the most painful part of her ministrations, and Todd bit back the cry of agony that threatened as the medicine seared into his shoulder.

  “I’m sorry.” Carrie truly felt his pain and wanted to comfort him, but she knew it was important to get him bandaged up as soon as possible.

  “It’s all right.” He drew a long, ragged breath and then relaxed as the burning eased.

  With more efficiency than she thought herself capable, Carrie soon had his wound bound tightly with fresh, clean wrappings.

  “There. I think you’re all set.” She helped him sit up and watched as he flexed his massive arms, his face reflecting only a minimum of discomfort.

  “Thank you. It feels much better.” He smiled at her.

  Carrie was pleased with her handiwork and had enjoyed immensely the intimacy of tending him. How she wished she could go with them when they left. It would be perfect to be with Todd out on the range. She wasn’t overly fond of riding horseback, but it would be worth it just to be with him on some dark, moonless night.

  Maybe there was a way. A glimmer of an idea flared to life, and Carrie smiled as she considered the possibility. It would require a lot of acting on her part, but she was sure she could pull it off.

  “Todd?” Jake’s call preceded him into the room. “I found this shirt. It looks like it should fit.” He handed the muted plaid, soft cotton garment to him.

  “Thanks.”

  “Did Carrie take care of you?”

  “She did just fine. Is Mac ready to go yet?” He stood up, anxious to be on his way.

  “They’re waiting for us now.”

  “Do you want to take these extra bandages along?” Carrie suggested helpfully.

  “It can’t hurt.” Jake took them from his sister and left the room.

  “Do you need any help with the shirt?” she offered, going to stand by Todd after her brother had gone.

  “Yes, please.” He handed her the garment and then slipped his arms into the sleeves as Carrie held it for him.

  Now that Carrie knew he was out of pain, she longed to run her hands across the width of hard-muscled back, to smooth the shirt over his massive shoulder. But her common sense restrained her. She knew any such overtures on her part would startle and possibly distract him. No, she would have to wait until the time was right and Jennie wasn’t on his mind.

  “Are you sure you feel up to this?” she questioned, wanting to reassure herself that he was strong enough.

  “I have to go, Carrie. Jennie’s in very real danger.”

  “You’ll be careful?” She couldn’t stop the note of true concern that crept into her voice.

  Todd paused and looked at her, slightly puzzled by her manner. “Of course. This time.” His words were bitter and he strode from the room, without looking back.

  Carrie joined Hildago on the veranda just as Mac rode up. She longed to ask his permission to go along, but she knew what his answer would be. Managing to look very worried, she went to meet him.

  “Is there anything else we can do to help?” she asked.

  Mac, surprised by her show of concern, replied gruffly, “No, but if by some chance Jennie should turn up back here, send one of the men after us. We’ll be heading due north from Tracker’s Boulder.

  Carrie nodded her understanding, inwardly gloating over the information he’d just given her.

  “Good luck!” she and Hildago told him and, with that, he returned to the head of the group.

  After her father had rejoined the men, Carrie turned her attention to Todd. He had mounted up and was sitting on the saddle easily as he listened intently to Mac’s instructions, his relaxed manner giving no indication of the trauma he had so recently suffered. Her eyes traced over him lovingly as she quietly admired his strength and goodness. With any luck, she thought delightedly, she’d be riding by his side tonight.

  Carrie was so completely enamored with Todd and her plot to join him that she hadn’t even noticed Steve or seen the hungry, knowing look on his face when he’d glanced in her direction before riding off.

  When they had disappeared from view, she followed Hildago inside.

  “Would you like some lunch?” the older woman offered.

  “No. No thanks,” Carrie said distractedly as she headed back to her bedroom. “I think I’ll just go rest for a while.”

  Closing the door behind her, Carrie locked it securely, not wanting any interruptions while she finalized her plans. Going to her window, she stared out in the direction of Tracker’s Boulder. Getting there would be the easy part. What was going to be difficult, she realized, was staying on their trail past that point. Never before had Carrie ever regretted not taking a more active interest in the ranch, but at this moment she did. She determined that she wouldn’t get lost while trying to follow them. She couldn’t afford to catch up with the men much before sundown for there was no doubt in her mind that if there was enough daylight left, her father would send her directly back home.

  With no further hesitation, she pulled her riding clothes out of her armoire. And it took her only a few minutes to change, shedding her sedate daygown in favor of a pale yellow shirt and a pair of breeches, not unlike those the men wore. Though her father thought the snug-fitting pants she’d had designed for herself back East were scandalous and had forbidden her to wear them, today she didn’t care. She was going to do everything in her power to attract Todd. Pulling on her boots, she donned her low-brimmed white hat and, picking up her leather riding gloves, she left her room.

  Easily avoiding Hildago, she made her way to the stable. “Dusty?”

  The young stableboy quickly answered her. “Yes, ma’am?”

  “I need a horse,” she told him.

  “Any one in particular?” Dusty asked, his eyes widening at the sight of her in men’s breeches. He had never seen a woman in pants before.

  “No. Just make sure it’s one that’s not too spirited.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll get Poker for you.”

  “Fine. And I’ll need a bedroll, a rifle, and a canteen of water, too,” Carrie ordered, thoroughly enjoying his discomfort over her unorthodox attire.

  Dusty nodded and hurried to do her bidding. It took him only a short time to saddle the horse and he led it out and handed her the reins. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks. I’ll need a hand up.”

  He was unable to stop the sudden flush that stained his cheeks at the thought of touching her. “Um—yes, ma’am, Miss Carrie. Just grab the pommel and I’ll help you.”

  In one smooth move, she was in the saddle and ready to ride.

  “You be careful,” he said automatically and then wondered where she was going.

  “If anyone asks, tell them I’ve gone to join the men. Otherwise, don’t say a word.” Her tone was imperious.

  “But won’t you have trouble finding them? They’ve been gone for over an hour!” he said.

  “That is none of your business,” she said sharply.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he replied and then watched as she rode slowly off in the same direction the others had gone.

  As the encroaching darkness threatened to make tracking impossible, Mac regrettably instructed the men to set up camp. The afternoon had been a long, tense one for him for he had passed each mile fearful of finding Jennie dead along the side of the trail. But, as the hours and miles had passed with no sign of her, he began to feel more confident that there was a chance for them to rescue her. Now, as they tethered the horses and settled in for the night, he sat down with Todd to plan their strategy for the next day.

  “We made some progress today, but not enough. I want to be riding out of here at sun-up”

  Todd nodded and was about to respond when Steve shouted, “There’s a rider coming!”

  “Which direction?” Mac stood up, grabbing his rifle, and rushed to his for
eman’s side.

  “From the ranch, Mac,” Steve answered, and Mac’s hopes grew as he imagined it to be a messenger informing them of Jennie’s safe return.

  “Is he armed?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Maybe he’s got some good news,” Todd said as he joined them, his thoughts the same as his friend’s.

  “Lord, I hope so, but I wonder who it is. He doesn’t look familiar.” At first, in the dim light of the early evening, he could not identify the man making directly for their camp. Then, suddenly, he recognized his daughter. “What the hell!”

  Mac’s sudden comment surprised Todd and Steve and they looked at each other in bewilderment as he raced off in the rider’s direction, leaving them to follow.

  Carrie saw her father coming and girded herself for the upcoming confrontation.

  “Carrie! I’d expected one of the men to bring the news, not you.”

  “News?—” She was startled by his manner.

  “Of Jennie—she is back, isn’t she?” Mac asked, eager to have word of her safety.

  “No, Pa, I’m sorry. There’s been no word.”

  “Then why are you here?” He was confused as he stared up at her.

  “I had to come.” She managed just the right amount of desperation in her voice. “I was so worried about Jennie and I couldn’t bear to just stay at the ranch and wait.”

  Mac’s gaze turned icy as he stared at her in disbelief. “You came to ride with us?”

  “I want to help, Pa.”

  “You could best have helped us by staying home where you belong!” he snarled. “You’ve been nothing but a tribulation to me since the day you were born!” The emotional strain of the day caught up with him and he lost control.

  Todd and Steve joined them just as Mac finished his tirade.

  “I’ll ride back first thing in the morning, Pa. I just thought maybe I could do something to help.” She spoke softly as if she were contrite, and Todd immediately jumped to her defense.

  “Mac, she can’t go back alone. It’s a miracle that she caught up with us without running into trouble.”

  Mac snorted derisively. “Well, missy, since I can’t spare any men to escort you back home, it looks like you got your wish. You can ride along, but I don’t want to see you or hear you. If I get wind of any complaints on your part, I’ll leave you behind, no matter where we are. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes, sir.” She affected the perfect amount of humility in her answer.

  “Don’t worry, Mac. I’ll keep an eye on her.” Todd said, wanting suddenly to protect her from Mac’s irrational anger. She seemed so fragile and helpless before his onslaught.

  “You do that,” he said with finality and stalked away, gesturing for Steve to follow him.

  Steve was sure that Carrie had staged the entire scene just to be with him, but he had no time to compliment her on a job well done. Mac was the boss and his every command had to be obeyed. Giving her a quick knowing glance, he followed Mac to the other side of the camp.

  Carrie shivered as she read the message in Steve’s eyes. In her haste to be with Todd, she hadn’t even considered his presence, and now the prospect of being in camp with both of them really excited her.

  Smiling tremulously up at Todd, she feigned a very believable, helpless little sigh. “Thank you for defending me.”

  Chapter Six

  It was twilight and the strength of the sun was failing before the night’s unrelenting siege. The breeze had quieted and the Earth seemed to pause in tired contemplation of the death of yet another day.

  The long hours of riding had left Jennie exhausted and she remembered, with no little irony, the previous night when she’d complained of being tired to Hildago. Had it not required such effort, she would have smiled at the thought for, until today, she hadn’t known the meaning of tired. Shifting awkwardly, she sought to relieve her aching muscles by seeking a different position, but Cazador’s quickly voiced protest stopped her squirming and forced her to sit still once again.

  How was it possible for her life to change so drastically in less than twenty-four hours? This morning, she had been the protected daughter of one of the territory’s richest men, and tonight she was the captive of a mysterious gunfighter who was dragging her off across the country against her will.

  Jennis was confident that Star’s return to the ranch had alerted her family to her disappearance and that even now they were searching for her. She knew Steve was an expert tracker and would have no problem following the trail because no effort had been made to cover their tracks. It was just a matter of time before they caught up with them and then—Jennie frowned as she wondered what would happen.

  While it was true that Cazador had taken her hostage, she realized that he had done it primarily to protect her from Luis and Ray and, though he had kissed her when they were at the watering hole, he had been cool and indifferent to her ever since: an attitude on his part that had left Jennie both relieved and bewildered. She was glad that she didn’t have to fight him off, but she wondered why he didn’t find her desirable. Certainly the other men did. Dismissing her thoughts as too confusing, Jennie rode silently on, ever conscious of Cazador’s disquieting nearness.

  As they continued ever onward, the night finally claimed the land for its own, but the only concession the men made to the victorious darkness was a slowdown of the steady ground-eating pace they’d maintained since morning.

  When there had been light, Rick had been content to follow a short distance behind the other men’s lead, but, now, with the advent of the night, he’d closed the gap between them.

  “Here.” Luis’s command was sudden and unexpected as he swung his horse abruptly through a well-camouflaged opening in the massive jumble of rocks they had been skirting for the past few hours.

  The heavy cloak of the moonless night made the going slow up the narrow rutted trail, and they were forced to guide the horses with great care, lest they injure themselves on the tricky footing. They followed the twisting path a short distance to where it opened into a natural campsite that was protected on three sides by boulders and offered an unobstructed view of the cactus-studded flatlands they’d just crossed.

  Rick was exhausted as he reined in near Luis and Ray. He had gone without sleep for almost forty-eight hours and tonight he needed to rest. Swinging slowly down out of the saddle, he paused to stretch his cramped muscles before reaching up to help Jennie dismount.

  Jennie felt awkward as he lifted her from the saddle. “I’m not sure I still know how to walk.” She groaned, gingerly testing her legs.

  “I’m sure it’ll come back to you with a little practice,” he remarked offhandedly as he unfastened his bedroll and handed it to her. “Find a spot and bed-down while I talk to them.”

  “Where are you going to sleep? You’ve only got one blanket here.” Her question was innocently put and she was totally unprepared for his answer.

  “Jennie,” he began with exaggerated patience. “I’ll be sleeping with you ...”

  “But—”

  “Be quiet.” His tone was cold. “If you think for one minute I’m going to give up my bedroll, you’re mistaken. We’ll share it. Besides, it’ll be safer that way.”

  “Safer?” she asked nervously.

  “They won’t think of coming near you as long as you’re with me.” Rick nodded toward Luis and Ray, who were busy bedding their horses down for the night.

  “But how safe am I going to be from you?” she asked in a heated whisper. “You practically mauled me this morning and—”

  “Mauled you?” He sounded incredulous and angry at the same time. “As I remember it, what we shared has hardly a mauling. You were quite the willing participant—” Rick paused when she gasped in dismay. “But you don’t have to worry. It was only a momentary lapse on my part. It won’t happen again. I find experienced woman more to my liking, not naive young virgins. Now, get busy while I find out where we go from here.”
<
br />   Jennie glared at him as he moved easily away to speak with the other two men and then set about her task, her upset reflected in her every move.

  Naive! Young! She fumed to herself as she spread out the blanket on the rocky ground.

  His words reminded her of Hildago’s comments the night before, and a seed of self-doubt was born within her. Was that why he’d been so uninterested in her? Was she really so ignorant of men and their ways? What more had he expected of her?

  At the sound of his return, she jumped up nervously to face him.

  “Roll that back up,” Rick directed without explanation.

  “But why?” she asked automatically.

  Rick was growing tired of her constant questioning of his orders but tonight he was too worn out to call her on it.

  “Because,” he drawled. “I’m taking first watch tonight and I want you to stay with me.”

  A quick glance at Luis and Ray convinced Jennie of the wisdom of his plan. Hurriedly scooping up the blanket, she followed him past the other two men and up a steep incline to the top of one of the encircling boulders. As they reached the pinnacle, Rick quickly began his search for the best vantage point from which to maintain his watch, leaving Jennie by herself.

  Fascinated by the glory of the diamond-dusted night sky, Jennie stared out across the pale image of the unending expanse of flatlands below. Without the other men’s threatening presence, the night seemed suddenly peaceful to her, and she enjoyed the quiet moment of solitude. Gazing up at the myriad of twinkling stars above, she sighed. “It’s beautiful tonight.”

  Having found the best spot from which to keep watch, Rick was intent on scanning the darkness and paid little attention to her. When he found no trace of a campfire on the distant horizon, he allowed himself to relax a little.

  “Did you say something?” he inquired indifferently, turning briefly away from his vigil.

  “No. Nothing important.” Jennie suddenly felt very alone and very vulnerable, and she wondered why his detached attitude bothered her so much.

  “You might as well find a place and lie down.” he said casually. “I’ll wake you when it’s time to go back.”