Stone Maiden

by Tina Gerow

  “Deda,” Ariel warned.

  “So when I came upon them chomping on the udders, it was a pretty safe bet they weren’t your next door neighbors come for a visit.”

  “But why chew up the udders?” Logan asked, clearly trying to come to terms with the macabre scene.

  Ariel stood. “Because rokurokubi can’t reproduce. They’re sterile. So, anything else that can, angers them.”

  “Then why aren’t they extinct?”

  Odeda brushed some grass from her pants. “The dark one makes more ‘kubi’s out of humans. I’ve never heard what offense they commit to be consigned to this fate though.”

  “Great, so what does this tell us?” Logan stood and turned his back on the mutilated carcasses.

  “That whoever is after you doesn’t necessarily want you dead.” Ariel studied Logan’s back, trying to gauge how well he was taking this. “Like Deda said, this is another warning about you reproducing.”

  Logan faced her, his jaw clenched. “I’ll get the ranch hands to clean up the cattle.”

  Odeda stepped forward. “I’ve already called a priest. This site will have to be cleansed of the evil before any of your other animals will even come near it. I’ll get the ranch hands to help me after the priest is done.”

  She gestured in the general direction of the house. “You’d better go see what Dara and Kefira are doing. Dara rarely asks for help, it could be big. I tuned out when they were discussing it because I was busy here, but keep me in the loop.”

  “Thanks, I will.” Ariel pierced Odeda with a stern stare. “And, Deda, do me a favor and don’t seduce the priest this time.”

  *****

  Logan swung into his saddle before turning to Ariel. “She seduces priests?”

  The horses walked side by side at an easy pace. Ariel reached down to pat Scout’s neck in an absent gesture. “Well, Odeda seduces everyone. But Gabriel told us man imposed the celibacy restrictions on priests, not God. God meant for all men to take a mate. So, Deda has since dedicated herself to helping to relieve them of their burden of celibacy, much to Gabriel’s irritation.”

  Logan shook his head. He wasn’t Catholic, but he always wondered about the celibacy rule, himself. “So why doesn’t Gabriel just forbid it if it bothers him?”

  “That’s not how it works. God made a promise never to impede our free will, and the rule extends to all Her minions.”

  Logan would have to ponder the idea when he had more time. He’d been angry with God since his mother died, but he could see where leaving man free will would complicate things.

  But that still meant God let bad things happen to good people. And it was definitely within His—Her, he corrected, power to stop it. But then again, how could She without affecting free will? It was a dizzying concept.

  And on a more personal note, what about the attacks? Was this God’s way of punishing him for being angry with Her for twenty-five years? He had absolutely no intention of having a child purely to fulfill a prophecy. His mind replayed the scene earlier when he’d actually hoped Ariel would get pregnant. He pushed the thought aside. It was probably his karma that he finally found a woman he could spend the rest of his life with, and she only wanted him for sex.

  “Logan?”

  He started as he realized Ransom had stopped walking, and he had been staring off into space. He glanced at Ariel. “Sorry—lost in thought.” The breeze shifted, and Ariel’s vanilla scent wafted over to him. He breathed deep and sighed. How many years would it take him to forget her scent, and how she’d curled against him earlier in bed?

  “Why do you always smell like vanilla?” He purposely grinned at her and waited for an answer. If all she wanted was sex, then he would take away all the memories of her he could before she tired of him and moved on. Had any of the women he’d dated over the years felt the same way about him?

  Slowly, Ariel’s shoulders relaxed. That clearly wasn’t the question she expected.

  “It’s my shampoo.” She frowned and looked suddenly uncomfortable. “But I didn’t realize it was so strong.” She picked up a hank of her hair, brought it to her nose and sniffed.

  Logan turned in the saddle to face her. “It’s very subtle, and it’s been driving me crazy since I met you.” He reached out and rubbed a strand of her hair between his thumb and two forefingers, enjoying the soft silky flow through his fingers. “Don’t even think about changing it.”

  Shock registered on her face and slowly turned into a wary mask. “And I just thought it did great things for my hair.” She clucked to Scout and the horses began to walk side by side again.

  She glanced over at him, under her long dark lashes. “Logan, about this morning….”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said cutting her off. If sex is all you’re ready for, then I’ll make sure you get plenty.” Logan forced himself to grin at her. “It’s definitely not a hardship for me to supply it.”

  Ariel studied his expression for a few moments before answering. “So you’re not mad at me?” she said, sounding almost disappointed.

  “Why should I be mad? A beautiful woman wants my body. I’m just going to enjoy the ride.” When Ariel said nothing, but just continued to study him, he said, “That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. Of course it is. We barely know each other.” She sounded like she was still trying to convince herself and not just him.

  “Ariel, I’ve been attracted to you from the first minute. Something just clicked between us and I know you felt it too.” He tipped his straw cowboy hat up away from his face with one finger and struggled to put into words what he’d noticed about her over the past week.

  “But even beyond that, I admire the way you are your own person, the way you stand up for yourself, and the way you see the best in people. I want a chance to get to know you better, if you’ll let me. And I promise, I’ll keep it at the level of friends…with privileges, of course.”

  Ariel laughed aloud at his comment. “Friends with privileges, huh?” A smile blossomed across her face, and she nodded in agreement. “I’d like to get to know you better too, Logan. As long as it doesn’t interfere with my job here.”

  “Agreed,” he said and let them fall into a companionable silence. Logan refused to think about what would happen to his heart when she chose to move on. But he pushed the thought from his mind. He wouldn’t waste their time together worrying about what was to come.

  Logan stared out over his ranch and let the familiar sights and sounds comfort him. There were cattle grazing off in the pasture to their right and horses strolling beyond the pasture fence to their left. The smell of sweet Texas grass and manure scented the air, and the gentle mooing of his cattle made him smile, as it always did.

  “Logan,” Ariel began. “About what James said the other day….”

  “James was angry and jealous and had no right to say anything like that to you.” Logan was surprised at the hard edge in his voice.

  Ariel faced Logan and met his gaze. “There’s a lot of history between James and I. We ended our relationship badly, and I think there are still some unresolved feelings on both sides.”

  She looked away and stared out across the pasture toward the horses. “I’m just sorry you got dragged into it. James tried to hurt me, and he did. But I want to make sure you know I’m not in the habit of—“ She trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

  “Falling into bed with every man you’ve known over twenty-four hours?” he asked, mimicking James’ words.

  Ariel looked over at him and her inviting mouth quirked up on one side. “Exactly. In fact, the last man I ‘fell into bed with’ was James.”

  Logan stared and then noticed Ariel watching him. “But, that means, you haven’t…for two hundred years?” he asked incredulously.

  He hid a smile as he watched Ariel’s chin thrust into a stubborn tilt.

  “It’s the age of technology, you know. Women are perfectly capable of getting along without a man.”

 
; “Whoa.” Logan held up his hands in a defensive gesture. “I didn’t mean to insult you. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and you can actually hold a man’s interest for more than a few hours and…” Logan trailed off as he realized what he said. “I mean—“

  Ariel narrowed her eyes and glared at him. “And you figured I wouldn’t be independent enough to keep my legs together if some handsome man came along to charm me out of my panties?” she asked archly.

  “No, not exactly like that.” Logan scrambled to get his thoughts in line. Where had this conversation taken such a dangerous turn?

  “Then how, exactly?” Ariel asked from behind a tight smile.

  Logan knew she was needling him and breathed a silent sigh of relief that she wasn’t really angry. But he tried to put what he was thinking into words anyway. “You know how when you meet someone for the first time, you set them at a certain attractiveness level?”

  Ariel tightened Scout’s reins around her hand. “I suppose.”

  “Well, as you get to know that person, their attractiveness factor will go up or down, depending on their personality. You know, someone only marginally attractive will become more attractive if they have a great personality and a sense of humor, whereas someone drop-dead gorgeous will become less attractive if they are self-centered and petty.”

  Ariel seemed to be thinking about what he said. Then finally, she laughed. “You know, I’ve never thought about it quite that way, but you’re right.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and out of her face. “So, I guess you paid me a backhanded compliment by saying I can hold someone’s interest for more than a few hours?”

  Logan smiled at her. “It was definitely meant as a compliment.”

  Ariel looked down at her saddle. “I’m sorry, Logan. I didn’t mean to be so quick to think the worst of you. You’d think a few hundred years would dull some of the aftermath of what happened with James and me. But I guess if you don’t deal with something, it can stay with you.”

  Logan noticed the look of pain flash across Ariel’s face and a knife turned in his gut. He wished he could break his promise to James and tell her everything as it really happened. Anything to remove the anguish in her expression.

  “I’m sorry you were hurt,” Logan said and sidled Ransom closer to Scout. He reached out, took Ariel’s left hand in his right, and brought it to his lips. “I have no control over the past. All I can do is make sure I never hurt you.”

  Logan caught his breath at the raw vulnerability in her gaze. He’d make damn sure never to put that look there because of something he did.

  He stopped short as he realized it was the first time he ever wanted to protect anyone other than himself in a relationship. He wasn’t sure if he should be happy about that or terrified. But with Ariel filling up his senses, happy won out.

  The horses had slowed to a stop, and Logan used pressure from his thighs to move Ransom closer to Scout. Taking off his hat, he leaned toward Ariel. After a moment of hesitation, she leaned toward him as well.

  Logan’s pulse quickened like thundering hoof beats inside his head. The anticipation of drowning in her kiss thrummed through his body. His lips were close enough to hers that her breath feathered against his skin, and he inhaled her soft vanilla scent.

  All he had to do was lean in and he could lose himself inside her luscious mouth. He reached up with his free hand, cupped her cheek and leaned in to close the last wisp of distance between them.

  A shrill shout reached his ears, and Ariel jumped back like she’d been bitten.

  A ball of lead settled in his stomach. He recognized that voice. And he’d just promised Ariel he’d never hurt her. But if all she wanted from him was sex, maybe she wouldn’t care. In a backward way, he hoped she cared very much.

  He turned his head to look over at Ariel. She was looking at him, the question clearly in her gaze. He opened his mouth to explain, but wasn’t sure what he could say that wouldn’t make him sound exactly like what he was. Or at least what he was before he met Ariel.

  Impeccable timing as usual, McAllister.

  “Logan.” The shout sounded again and ice churned through his veins. Charity Taylor. Damn, damn, damn.

  Chapter Eight

  Ariel saw guilt fill Logan’s gaze and her heart sank. He’d been seducing her, and she’d fallen for it. Even after all her bravado about just wanting sex, she’d been softening toward him and had almost told him so.

  You were always a sucker for pretty words.

  The happy shout sounded again, and Ariel turned to study the woman jogging toward them. She was tall, probably a few inches more than Ariel, even without the extra height the heels of the designer cowboy boots added. Her blonde hair tumbled around her to end near her waist. Large luminous green eyes sparkled with happiness on a flawless co-ed face.

  She had the figure of a supermodel, encased in form fitting designer jeans and a clingy silk top, which matched her eyes. A perfect candidate for men to use as arm candy.

  For the first time in her life, Ariel wondered what it would be like to be so thin. She had never doubted her own attractiveness before, and she didn’t like how it felt now.

  She recognized Charity Taylor from television and several country music magazines. An up-and-coming star who was up for the Horizon award at this year’s CMA’s for best new country artist.

  Inwardly, Ariel groaned. The tabloids had linked Logan and Charity romantically for the last few years. But when Logan hadn’t mentioned a girlfriend, Ariel had just written it off as tabloid gossip.

  That’s what I get for assuming.

  “Logan,” gushed Charity. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” She stepped forward and placed a hand on Logan’s thigh in an obvious show of ownership, while looking Ariel up and down critically. Charity raised her eyebrow in a look of disdain and turned her back on Ariel, effectively dismissing her.

  “I thought about just killing her at the gate, but I was hoping you’d get on with that kiss before she interrupted,” came Kefira’s voice inside Ariel’s head.

  “Charity.” Logan picked her hand up off his thigh and held it for a moment before releasing it. “I wasn’t expecting to see you.” Ransom pranced closer to Scout—no doubt sensing his rider’s nervousness.

  A smile lit Charity’s face, so dazzling it rivaled the sun, and made Ariel want to vomit. “Now, Logan, don’t tell me you forgot our date?”

  Ariel slid her gaze from Charity to Logan to see his reaction.

  Logan closed his eyes and sighed, his mouth firmed into a thin tight line. “The awards event. I’m sorry, I totally forgot. It isn’t until next week.”

  Ariel watched Logan squirm under both women’s intense gazes. She almost felt sorry for him—almost.

  “I figured we could go to Whiskey River tonight, and listen to the new songs you’re playing,” said Charity with a definite purr in her voice. “We’d also have time to talk.”

  “Whiskey River was last night and I don’t think I’ll be going back for a while.” Logan laid his hand protectively on his thigh where the two bite marks had been. “You could’ve called, Charity.” Logan put his hat back on and stared down at her. “Lots has happened since the last time I saw you, as you can probably tell by the security guards.”

  Charity looked up at him under lowered lashes, her lips puckered in a designer pout. “I was hoping to surprise you, Logan.” She glanced over at Ariel and then back. “You always used to like my surprises.”

  Nice, she doesn’t even care why he needs security guards. And she obviously hasn’t been around enough to know. Maybe they aren’t as close as Charity wants me to believe.

  When Logan didn’t answer, Charity turned her attention to Ariel. “You must be one of Logan’s new bodyguards.” She studied Ariel up and down making sure her expression let Ariel know she didn’t approve of what she saw. “I met your sisters out at the gate and you’re all—built about the same.”

  Ariel’s temper flashed. Enou
gh was enough. Logan obviously had a past with this woman, and she was here staking her claim. If Charity Taylor thought she was going to do battle with Ariel and win, she was mistaken.

  Ariel pasted on a saccharine smile and drew upon some of the other tabloid gossip she’d heard. “Yes, my sisters and I are blessed with bodies that don’t require store-bought boobs, liposuction and a nose job.”

  Charity narrowed her eyes, irritation plain on her lovely face. “How dare you!” She turned her mock outrage toward Logan. “Are you going to let the hired help speak to me that way?”

  “Ariel and her sisters are much more than hired help, and they saved my life. You’ll speak to them with respect, or you’re welcome to leave, Charity.”

  Ariel faced Logan, ignoring the satisfying way Charity’s face turned red.

  After visibly fighting her temper, Charity smoothed her face into a serene mask and turned to nod toward Ariel. “Well, then I suppose I should thank you for taking care of Logan.”

  Ariel didn’t buy the fake sincerity for a moment. I notice she didn’t even ask why his life was in danger. What an evil bitch!

  Logan turned his attention back to Charity. “You’ve caught me at a bad time. Why don’t you head home and I’ll call you before the charity event.”

  “I really need to talk to you alone, Logan.” Charity glanced at Ariel, and then fixed her gaze back on Logan.

  Logan appeared impatient now, the guilt and uncomfortable tension all but gone. “Charity, we haven’t been alone in two and a half months. I’m sure whatever it is can wait a week.”

  Charity’s eyes misted as her gaze became soft and vulnerable.

  You missed your calling, honey. You should’ve been an actress.

  Ariel resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

  “Logan,” Charity began and flipped her long blonde hair back over her shoulder. “I’m pregnant.”