Arizona Temptress

by Smith, Bobbi

  “Then who?”

  “His name is Rick Peralta and he’s an old friend of Jake’s. You’ll like him. He’ll be staying with us, along with his grandfather, Juan.”

  Hildago sighed her exasperation. “How did you meet these men?”

  “The outlaws who took Jennie captive,” he said as they crossed the veranda and entered the shadowed coolness of the house, “had also taken Juan Peralta captive. He supposedly knew the location of a gold mine, and they were forcing him to lead them there. Rick was trying to rescue his grandfather and had worked his way into the gang—Miguel Malo’s by the way—as one of the gunslingers.”

  “So, this fiance of Jennie’s is an outlaw?” Hildago exclaimed.

  “No, not really. He just pretended to be one in order to help Juan. Anyway,” Mac went on, “he was taking care of Jennie, too, but she didn’t know who he really was, so the first chance she got, she ran away from him. Luckily, we showed up right afterward and found her and then, at her insistence, we went after Malo to rescue Juan.”

  “And you did,” she concluded for him, beaming her pleasure at his successes. “Did you kill Malo? They say he is a vicious dog.”

  “No. We tried. We got all of his men, but he somehow managed to slip away from us.”

  “And the Indians?”

  “They ambushed us when we were on our way back.”

  She nodded and asked no further questions.

  “So, how are you? Did you do all right while we were gone?”

  “Oh, yes. Everything ran smoothly. My only concern was you,” Hildago answered quickly, not yet ready to tell him about the letter. There would be plenty of time to bring that up, later.

  Going to the liquor cabinet, she poured him a glass of whiskey and handed it to him.

  “Thank you.” He sighed deeply as he took a drink.

  “You look like you could use more than one.”

  “Just tired, that’s all. It’s been hell.” Mac’s tone was solemn.

  At the sound of horses nearing the house, they went back outside to greet the others.

  “I suppose I should tell you this before you start worrying about Todd’s feelings being hurt over Jennie’s engagement to another man.”

  “Tell me what.” She was practically wide-eyed as she looked up at him. “There’s more news?”

  “Well, Todd’s going to marry Carrie.” Mac was thoroughly enjoying giving her the good news.

  Hildago was momentarily stunned. “Todd and Carrie? But I thought he was in love with Jennie!”

  “So did he until he was alone with Carrie on the trail.” He was smiling widely. “You know, that girl is a lot like me in some ways.”

  Hildago was speechless at this unexpected praise of Carrie. She didn’t know what had happened during the time they were on the trail together, but she certainly knew that whatever it was, it had been for the best. Never in all the time she’d known Mac had she ever heard a kind word from him for his youngest child.

  “And you’re pleased about this?” she asked, still disbelieving the changes that had occurred.

  “Very. They love each other very much, Hildago. Just as Jennie and Rick do.” He looked down at her tenderly. “You’ll see. Here they are now.”

  “Jennie!” Hildago hurried from Mac’s side to hug Jennie as she reined in at the hitching post and dismounted. “Thank God, you’re all right. I was so worried. I prayed and prayed.”

  “I’m fine, Hildago, and I’m so glad to be home.” Jennie turned and gestured to a tall, handsome man to come forward. “I have someone I want you to meet. Hildago, this is Rick. Rick, this is Hildago.”

  “So, you are the one who has stolen my Jennie’s heart?”

  “I hope so.” He grinned, slipping an arm around Jennie’s waist as he met her gaze openly. “I know she has stolen mine.”

  Pleased with his answer, Hildago smiled her approval. “This is your grandfather?”

  “Yes, Juan. Grandfather, this is Hildago.”

  “My pleasure,” Juan told her courteously.

  “And these ladies are Lucia and Chica,” Mac added.

  “It’s nice to meet all of you,” she said cordially. “Now, where are Carrie and Todd? Mac tells me that they have news for me, too?”

  “We do,” Todd announced as he stepped forward with Carrie by his side. And then he asked teasingly, “How do you feel about double weddings?”

  At that everyone laughed and then started inside, glad to be back to civilization.

  “Carrie McCaine! I intend to have a word with you!” Hildago gave her a mock stern look as they moved to enter the house. “Just riding off and leaving me like that without a word! I was worried sick about you!”

  “But everything turned out just fine, Hildago,” Carrie smiled at her in spite of her menacing tone.

  “Better than fine,” Todd added as he pulled Carrie close for a quick kiss.

  “Oh! You’re impossible!” She laughed. “Let’s get everybody settled in, and then I want to know everything that happened.”

  “Mac?” One of the men called out to him before he could go inside.

  “What is it?” Mac stepped back out on the veranda.

  “What should we do with him?” He indicated Pablo, who was still riding with them, tied up.

  “Lock him up in one of the outbuildings for tonight, and we’ll take him into town, tomorrow.”

  “Right.” The rest of the hands rode off then in the direction of the bunk house.

  Lucia heard the instructions and smiled to herself as she followed the others indoors where they settled in the main sitting room to relax after the long trip.

  “It certainly feels good to be back.” Mac groaned contentedly as he sat in his favorite chair. “I want everyone to feel at home, so make yourselves comfortable. If you don’t see what you want, then just ask for it,” he told them happily.

  Hildago set the servants to preparing a meal and then rejoined them. “We’ll probably eat in about an hour.”

  “Oh, good.” Carrie got up from where she’d been sitting beside Todd. “That gives me time for a bath.”

  “I’ll have the girls prepare the water for you,” Hildago offered.

  “Thank you.” She gave Todd a quick kiss and started from the room. “I’ll be back in a little while.”

  “Chica—Lucia? Would you like me to show you to your rooms so you can freshen up before we eat?” Hildago asked them.

  “Thank you, that would be very nice,” Chica said gratefully, but Lucia only nodded, her attitude toward Hildago almost sullen.

  “Do you have clean clothing?” she asked as she led them down the hall toward the guest bedrooms.

  “No ma’am, we don’t”

  “Then I’ll have one of the serving girls bring you something to wear,” Hildago offered as she opened the door to a spacious cool bedroom that opened both into the main house and into the courtyard formed by the U-shape of the ranch house. “Take your pick. This room or the room across the hall.” She hurried to open the other door to an equally comfortable room.

  “I’ll take this one,” Lucia proclaimed as she settled on the bed in the room opening onto the yard.

  “This one will be fine for me,” Chica said easily, moving into the other. “Thank you, Hildago.”

  “Would you like to bathe?”

  “It would be heaven!” Chica laughed.

  “Good. I’ll have the girls fix you a bath, too, then.”

  “Thanks so much.”

  “You are guests here. Relax and enjoy. I’m sure after all that time you spent with the posse, you need a little rest.” Hildago was sympathetic. “Whenever you feel like it, join us.”

  Chica nodded as the older woman left them.

  “Lucia! Isn’t this wonderful! Look at this house! It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” She was enchanted with this glimpse of ranch life, but Lucia only stared at her, her eyes hard and cold.

  “Of course it’s beautiful! And look who it belongs to! Jennie.”
Lucia spat her name, seething with jealousy.

  Chica gave her an exasperated look. “You’re stupid and what is worse is that you do not realize it!”

  As Chica disappeared into her room, shutting the door behind her with emphasis, Lucia shrugged her indifference and rose from the bed. She hated Jennie McCaine with a passion, and before she left this place she was determined to make her pay—one way or another. Feeling angry and restless, she wandered out into the courtyard to await the coming of the servant girls with her bath.

  “Since we do have so long before we eat, I think I’ll bathe, too,” Jennie was saying as Hildago returned from seeing the other two women to their rooms. “Rick? Would you like to get cleaned up?”

  His eyes glinted with a delightful answering wickedness that only she witnessed as he thought of their getting cleaned up together. “It sure couldn’t hurt.” He grinned easily when she looked quickly away.

  “Pa, I’ll show Rick to one of the guest rooms and then we’ll meet you back here for dinner.”

  “Fine.” Mac waved them on, and Rick rose slowly from where he was seated to follow Jennie from the room. “Your grandson is a good man,” he told Juan when they had disappeard from sight. “They’ll do well together.”

  Juan nodded in agreement after watching them go. “Indeed.”

  Walking slowly down the cool expanse of the hall to the men’s quarters, Rick slipped an arm about her waist and stopped, pulling her to him.

  “Your idea about showing me to my room was wonderful.” He smiled softly. “I’ve been needing to do this for hours.” With slow precision, he lowered his head to hers and claimed her mouth in a raging kiss of pure passion.

  Jennie, too, had been longing to be near him, and she clutched at his shoulders for support as she swayed against him. Hands cupping her hips, Rick pressed her to his body, letting her feel his bold response to her tantalizing nearness. A low moan escaped her as she wriggled against his hardness, wanting all of him—not wanting to wait.

  But the sound of Jake and Todd who followed after them drove them apart.

  “Where’s my room?” he asked quickly as he released her.

  “Right down here. I’ll give you one that opens onto the courtyard.” She smiled at him conspiratorily as she opened the door to a large, airy bedroom furnished in massive, masculine tastes.

  “That’s good?”

  “My room just happens to open onto the courtyard, too.” She gazed up at him, trying to keep her expression innocent, but the sparkle of excitement was unmistakable in her eyes.

  “That sounds inviting.” Rick closed the door quickly once they’d moved inside.

  “I would certainly hope so.” Jennie turned to him and looped her arms behind his neck.

  “I can hardly wait for bedtime.” Rick growled in anticipation, shifting his lower body closer to hers.

  “I know.” She pouted. “It’s been so hard being so close together and not being able to—”

  “To what?”

  “To kiss you.” Jennie pressed a soft kiss on his mouth. “Or touch you.” She ran a hand lightly down his chest. “Or—make love to you.”

  “I know. You can’t imagine how many times during the last two days I’ve wanted to drag you off behind a saguaro cactus!” He rested his forehead against hers.

  “Probably about as many times as I wanted to do it to you!” A throaty laugh gurgled from her.

  “How soon can we be married?” he asked quickly.

  “How about tonight?”

  “How about yesterday?” Rick gave a rueful laugh.

  “We can talk to Pa and Hildago about it at dinner. I’m sure he’ll help us all he can.”

  “Good. The sooner we’re married, the better. I want you with me every moment of every day.” He kissed her deeply. “And night.”

  As the fires of their desires threatened to flare out of control, they moved reluctantly apart.

  “Nice,” he remarked approvingly as he followed her to the open french doors and looked out across the courtyard. “Which room is yours?”

  Jennie shivered as he came up close behind her. “That one.” Jennie pointed out her bedroom, her heart racing at the thought that in a few hours she would be slipping silently through the dark to spend the night with Rick.

  As his arms came around her, he told her huskily. “I’ll be waiting for you tonight.”

  Leaning back against him, she sighed. “I love you, Rick. Very much.”

  “I know, love,” he said softly, as his lips sought the sensitive cords of her neck.

  Jennie arched at the touch of his mouth, her body aching for union with his. “Oh, Rick.”

  Turning in his embrace, she rubbed sinuously against him as their gazes locked in understanding.

  “Tonight.” His voice was deep with promise.

  “Tonight.” She answered that promise.

  Rick was tempted to take her then for his passion was nearly overwhelming, but he carefully held himself in check. He did not want a heated, frenzied joining. Instead, the next time they made love, he was determined to relish every moment.

  With mesmerizing slowness, he bent to her, his mouth finding hers in a soft pledge of the delights to come. They broke apart only when the sound of Todd and Jake out in the hallway intruded into their consciousness.

  “I’d better go.” She sighed.

  “I’ll meet you in the sitting room.” He walked to the door with her.

  Jennie reached up to kiss him one last time and then hurried from the room.

  Lucia moved quickly back into her room from where she’d stood unobserved on the patio. So! Jennie planned to sneak into Rick’s room tonight, did she? Lucia’s mouth curled into a sneering smile as a devious plot to spoil their happiness began to take shape in her mind. With any luck at all, she mused, after tonight Jennie would no longer want Rick and then he would be free—free to come to her.

  Loving the feeling of being back home, Jennie made her way peacefully through the house, marveling that everything had turned out so well. Wanting to speak with her sister, she paused at Carrie’s room and knocked on the closed door.

  “Carrie?”

  “Come on in, Jennie,” she called out.

  Jennie entered the room to find Carrie, her hair damp, wearing only a silken dressing gown, seated at her dressing table.

  “You already took a bath?”

  “Yes, I didn’t want to keep Todd waiting,” she told her excitedly. “Oh, Jennie, I can’t believe it! Isn’t it wonderful! You have Rick and I have Todd.”

  “I really am glad things worked out between you,” Jennie told her sincerely.

  “So am I. He’s the most wonderful, thoughtful man in the whole wide world!”

  “Todd is a very special man. You’re very lucky to have him,” she answered.

  “And you, Rick! He’s absolutely gorgeous, Jennie.”

  “I kind of think so, too.” Jennie laughed as she started from the room. “Well, I’d better hurry and get my bath, too.”

  Her spirits were light as she entered her own room, and she was pleased to find that Hildago had already had her bath arranged. Quickly stripping off her filthy clothes, she stretched tiredly before stepping into the perfumed, heated water. Enfolded in its welcoming warmth, Jennie sighed in pure, heavenly pleasure and lay back to enjoy the bliss of the moment.

  Rick—Rick—Rick—Her heart was filled with love for him as she rested in the steaming bath. She thought of the time they’d spent together when she’d thought he was El Cazador, and she smiled, He had been trying so hard to protect her, and all she had done was make things more difficult for him. Well, Jennie decided, she would have the rest of her life to make it up to him. Starting tonight!

  The thought of spending the entire night in his embrace thrilled her, and she hoped that they could be married soon, so they could be together every night. Her lips curved sensuously as she imagined the hours to come. True, they’d have to suffer through a long dinner with every one e
lse, but then, when things got quiet, she and Rick could finally satisfy their desire.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  The delicious meal Hildago arranged seemed gourmet fare after the food they’d existed on during the trek, and everyone ate heartily, enjoying each other’s company and the sense of peaceful intimacy that came from finally being home.

  “What do you suppose happened to Malo?” Todd asked as they moved into the sitting room after dinner.

  “I was wondering that myself,” Mac replied, pouring whiskey for the men. “I can’t help but think that he ran into the Apache before we did.”

  “If you want, Pa, I’ll take Pablo into town in the morning,” Jake offered.

  “That’ll be fine. I’ve got a lot of work to catch up on here at the ranch.” He glanced over to Chica and Lucia. “In fact, Jake, why don’t you plan on escorting Chica and Lucia, too, and then you can make all the arrangements for their transportation back home. Would that suit you ladies?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Chica answered quickly, but Lucia only gave him a curt nod.

  “Fine, we’ll take care of it first thing in the morning.” He looked to his daughters, his eyes twinkling. “I think there’s only one other matter that needs settling, now.”

  “What’s that, Pa?” Jake asked.

  “Well, the small matter of weddings has yet to be discussed.” He smiled widely at his offspring.

  “Grandfather and I have to return to El Rancho Grande as soon as possible, and I would like to take Jennie back with me—as my wife.” Rick spoke to Mac, but his eyes were on Jennie.

  Lucia listened to his words and was barely able to suppress the smile that threatened. Rick might think that he was going to marry Jennie, but if she had anything to do with it, the wedding would never take place.

  “If that suits Jennie, then it’s fine with me,” Mac said. “What about you, Todd? Carrie?”

  “We’d like to marry soon, too,” Todd answered.

  “Well, why don’t you and Rick ride into town in the morning with Jake and speak with the preacher? Then we can be more definite about making plans.”

  “Sounds good. What time do you want to go, Jake?”

  “Why don’t we plan to go early, right after breakfast. That way, if there is a stage due in, Chica and Lucia won’t miss it.”