Maggie turned away from him to face Adam. “I kissed him. What are you doing here anyway?”
He didn’t even bother to look ashamed. “First time we could get through. I wanted to check and make sure you were all right. I thought it was just you and your pa here now.”
William noticed Adam didn’t mention checking on anyone else, only Maggie. The other man’s anger toward him started to make sense, even if there was no real reason for it.
He still took a step away from Maggie, putting some distance between them. She turned toward him, her smile just as bright. “I’ll get both of you coffee, and breakfast will be ready soon.”
She brushed his arm again as she moved back to the fire. The touch was enough to heat his blood. He took a deep breath and settled down at the table. He couldn’t deny his feelings, but he didn’t have to act on them.
He couldn’t stay, no matter how much he suddenly wanted to.
#
William started down the hallway but stopped at the loud, hacking cough. He hurried on then stopped in the doorway to George’s room. Maggie sat on the side of the bed, trying to hold her father down. “What’s going on?” he asked, taking long strides to her side.
“He’s sick,” she said. “He needs to stay in bed.”
“I have a ranch to deal with, girl. Get out of my way.” His last sentence was barely understandable through the coughing fit.
“I can take care of things, George,” William said.
“Not on your own. You’ll end up in bed, too.”
“I’ll help.” The gravelly voice came from behind him, and William turned his head to see Adam standing in the doorway. It was the first time he’d heard the other man speak since he’d walked in on William and Maggie the morning before.
George looked between the two of them then nodded before letting his head fall back to the pillow. Maggie glanced at her father once more before turning to William. “Thank you.” She lifted a hand to his cheek. “He needs to stay in bed today. He should be back up in another day or two. There’s not much that keeps him down for long.”
William stayed there for a moment, liking the way the simple touch felt. He finally took a step back. “We’ll be back once the animals are taken care of.”
He walked past Adam without another word. He could have handled the barn chores on his own. The wound in his side had nearly healed. He doubted it would open again. The shoulder wound healed slower, but it didn’t bother him unless he lifted something over his head.
When they got outside, William said, “I’ll take care of the animals while you cut some firewood.”
“Why don’t we switch?”
William finally turned to him. “The reason George sent you out here with me is so I don’t end up back in bed with another torn open wound. Which cutting firewood would do. I’d rather not risk that happening.”
“Why would it open a wound?
“Because I was shot four months ago. I would have died if it wasn’t for those two in there. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure George doesn’t have to worry about patching me up yet again.”
Adam fell silent, and William walked on to the barn without looking to see if Adam went to the woodpile or not. He didn’t really care.
He fed and watered the horses and was brushing his horse before moving on to the others when Adam’s voice came from outside the stall. “What’d you do to get yourself shot?”
William nearly dropped the brush at the question, then his grip tightened, and he continued his grooming. He took a moment to clear his thoughts before answering. “I was tracking down the man who killed my wife and son and burned my home to the ground. I caught up to him, and he shot me twice. I should have died out there. George didn’t let that happen.”
Silence fell over them, and William kept stroking the brush down his horse’s side. A long moment passed before Adam spoke again. “Did you take him down with you at least?”
The laugh burst out and surprised William. It wasn’t funny. “No. He left me for dead and rode away. I haven’t been able to ride out and track him down again. The first time took me weeks. I didn’t even start until my wife had been buried for almost six months.”
“What took you so long?” Adam had come closer now and bent to grab a hoof pick. He lifted the horse’s hoof to clean it.
“My son had a bullet in his back. We thought he would pull through, but he got an infection and the bullet moved. He bled to death inside, and we didn’t even realize it was happening.”
Adam released the horse’s leg and dropped back to his heels. “That’s awful. Who would do something like that?”
William dropped his hand and looked over the horse’s back, even though he saw nothing. “My brother.”
Adam cursed behind him, but William shook his head. “I will find him and bring him in. Right now, we have four more horses to take care of before we can go inside. Let’s get to it.”
Adam didn’t say anything as they worked together to groom the rest of the horses.
#
March 20, 1888
A week passed since George had been laid up in bed, and he'd been forced to work with Adam. Something had happened, a tenuous thread of understanding forming between them. Even with George back on his feet, Adam found excuses to stick around.
William hauled a dead log over to an already burning pile of wood. More debris like this lay around the ranch. Not good for in the fireplace, but it still needed to be removed. He tossed the log at the fire, maybe a little harder than necessary.
He didn't have any more excuses, either. His shoulder still ached and was too weak to lift much. He wasn’t too worried about it. The snow hadn't all melted, but the trails were passable. He should ride out.
He couldn't bring himself to saddle his horse.
Maggie crossed the yard toward him. She was the only excuse left. They had only kissed once more, a brief caress of lips before George had come down the hall. He couldn't stop thinking about her or wanting her.
He should ride out. Thomas would never pay if he stayed here. Yet he kept letting one more day pass by.
He stepped back from the heat of the flames. Sliding his hat back on his head, he wiped his sleeve over his forehead. Her hand brushed over his back, and he stiffened. "You shouldn't be back here, Maggie."
"Relax, Will. Pa and Adam went out to check the trails."
Getting caught by one of them wasn't his main concern. Getting caught in her was. He couldn't bring himself to push her away.
His hand went to her waist and pulled her closer. "We shouldn't be doing this," he said as his lips brushed up the side of her throat. "It's not right."
She moaned and turned into him, her arms sliding up until her hands came together behind his neck. "It's not wrong either, Will."
At the moment, he wasn't sure he could care. She pressed up against him, and it felt too good. One hand stayed at her waist, and the other moved up into her hair as his lips came to hers. He nearly forgot his arguments against this.
Maggie gasped into the kiss, and William's tongue slid over her bottom lip. Her arms tightened around his neck, and he pulled her closer. He didn't hear her moan as their mouths stayed locked together, but it vibrated through both their bodies.
"Will," she murmured.
He should step away from her. He couldn't do it. Instead he brought both hands to her face, his fingers brushing strands of her brown hair away. His thumb stroked over her bottom lip, and she trembled against him.
She said his name again, and this time he trembled. His hat fell to the ground as he dragged her close again, but he ignored it. Her hands slid down his back as he devoured her mouth. He felt a brief twinge of guilt that this desire betrayed his love for his wife, as well as the man who saved him. It disappeared, and he drowned in her.
They didn't pull apart again until Adam and George's voices approached.
He stepped back with a bitten off curse, but he stroked her cheek before bending down to pick up
his hat. "I have to get back to work." He couldn't help it. He stole one more kiss. "You should get back to the house."
He watched her walk to the house before he turned back to his work. He set his hat back on his head and sighed. Probably already too late to step away from this. He'd been snared in her net from the moment he saw her.
Chapter 17
March 22, 1888
William avoided Maggie for the next two days. George sent Adam back up to the line shack to check in with the foreman, so keeping busy wasn’t too difficult. They’d be getting ready for the Spring round-up soon, which would keep him even busier. It would still be at least a month before that could start, when hopefully the last of the snow melted, but they could prepare now.
Now, he barely even had time to think about his feelings for Maggie or the guilt of them. Would Anna hold it against him for moving on? It was closing in on a year since Thomas had taken her from him. He hadn’t made Thomas pay for that yet. He couldn’t help but think that wouldn’t be what Anna wanted anyway. For revenge to take over everything else.
He leaned against the pitchfork and closed his eyes. His brother needed to face justice. That voice piped up again, asking why it had to be him to see to it. “Because he killed my family,” he growled under his breath. He needed to stop finding excuses to put it off. He needed to find Thomas and take him in.
“William?”
His shoulders tightened at Maggie’s voice. She hadn’t seemed so eager to avoid him. In fact, she tried to step in his way as many times a day as she could. She wasn’t making this any easier.
He took a moment to compose himself before turning to her. “What is it?”
“Pa went out to check how the trails are faring from all the melting snow. I wondered if you wanted me to throw something together for your lunch.”
She stepped closer, her fingers brushing over his arm. His stomach tightened at even the light touch. He should step away, but he didn’t. He stood there, accepting it. “Yeah,” he said, his voice rough. “I’ll be in.”
She smiled again, and he died right then. “I’ll get something together for you.”
She turned and left the barn, and he watched her walk away as something tore at his chest. He needed to leave. He couldn’t do this to her or to himself.
In the morning. When George returned, he would tell him he’d ride out in the morning.
He finished cleaning out the stall and leaned the pitchfork against the wall. It was a warm day, so the horses were out in the corral. He could leave the rest until after lunch. He made his way up to the house, not sure why he had this unsettled feeling in his stomach. He pushed it away. Nothing was going to happen. He would eat lunch then go back out to finish his chores. That was it.
Maggie already had his lunch on the table by the time he’d cleaned up in the trough outside and headed in. He sat down with a nod to her before bringing a bite of meat to his mouth. She moved around behind him. He felt every time she passed. Occasionally her hand even brushed along his back. His muscles were so tight, he was sure he frayed at the seams. His hand trembled as he scooped the last of his beans off the plate with his bread. She leaned over him to grab the plate.
Her breasts pressed against his back for a moment, and he snapped.
The plate clattered to the floor as he shot to his feet and turned to her. No fear showed in her eyes. Maybe she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. Her pulse fluttered in her throat, and her shoulders heaved as she took in quick breaths. Her eyes were bright with something.
He took a step toward her, his hand sliding up her side. “You’ve been tormenting me for days, Maggie.”
She gave a little shake of her head. “You’ve been avoiding me. I thought you hated me for what we did.”
He leaned his forehead against hers. “What we did was kiss, and I hated myself. I won’t lead you on, Maggie. I’ll be riding out soon.” He couldn’t do it. Couldn’t tell her it would be in the morning. He was the worst kind of coyote around, but he couldn’t do it. “I’ll try to come back when it’s finished.”
Her body stiffened, and he pulled back to look down at her. Her face paled, and her eyes clouded. “What is it?”
She glanced away from him. “I’ve been told those words before.”
The words were like a blow right to his gut. “There’s someone else.”
She shook her head. “Not for almost a year. That’s when he rode away and said he’d come back for me if he got a chance. He’s long gone by now.”
A tear formed, and he brushed it away with his thumb. “The only thing that will keep me away is my death. I mean it, Maggie.” He brought her face up so she could look at him again. “You’ve dug into me so deep. I have to finish this, but I don’t think I can stand to stay away from you.”
She lifted up on her toes and brushed her lips against the side of his mouth. His arms came around her, pulling her close. He changed the direction of the kiss, taking it deeper. Her hands caught against his chest, and it felt like a fire started there.
His mouth left her lips and brushed across her cheek. “Tell me to get back to work, Maggie. Tell me to go, or this isn’t going to end with a kiss.”
Her breasts pressed against him. “I don’t want you to go, Will.”
He crushed her mouth again, and the plate was forgotten on the floor as he walked her back toward the bedrooms. “In mine,” she murmured as they headed past the door. “Yours was my brother’s. There’s still too much of him in there.”
William’s lips softened, and he turned them into her bedroom. She stepped back and turned the blankets down on her bed. Her hand trembled slightly, and he bit down on a curse. “I’ll go back out if you don’t want this, Maggie. I won’t make you do anything.”
She glanced up at him, alarm in her eyes. “I said I don’t want you to go.”
He stepped up to her and took her hand. “You’re frightened.”
She shook her head and brought their hands up to her lips. “Nervous, but I trust you.”
He bent his head and took her lips again, the kiss gentle this time. He dropped her hand and undid the long line of buttons down the front of her dress. His fingers brushed over the chemise she wore under the dress, and she trembled. He looked up at her as his fingers reached her waist and saw confusion in her eyes. His fingers trailed up her sides as he stood back up, and he went to slide the sleeves of the dress off her shoulders. “What’s the matter?” he asked.
“You’re taking the dress off,” she murmured.
His fingers stilled on her shoulders then bent to brush his lips there. “It does make it easier.”
“I thought you’d lift it and be done.”
Her words, barely a whisper, brought his head up. “Someone did you wrong,” he told her. “That wouldn’t be satisfying to either of us. I want to see you.”
He let the dress fall to the floor and ran his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. He couldn’t steady his fingers as he ran his hands down her body over the chemise before lifting it up over her head.
She let out a quick gasp as she stood there before him, mostly nude. His blood pumped fast through him, and he struggled to control his own breath. He moved her so she sat on the bed and bent down to remove her boots and stockings. It also gave him a moment to compose himself. He didn’t want this to be over fast. It may be his only time with her, and he wanted to savor that.
Her eyes widened when he came back up to look at her. He was glad it was with wonder, not fear. She reached for him. Her hands were unsteady on the buttons of his shirt, and he helped her with it. Neither said a word as she finished undressing him, but they didn’t take their eyes from each other, either. Something swelled up in his chest. He wasn’t sure how much he could take before it tore him apart.
He climbed onto the bed, pressing her down into the mattress. She held her body still, braced for something. William brushed kisses over her collarbone, holding himself up with one hand while the other traced circles along her chest
and abdomen. She shuddered, melted, then rose up.
“Will, please,” she begged.
“Not yet,” he murmured, his mouth moving down her skin. It rubbed against the side of her breast, his tongue darting out to caress her before sliding to the other breast. She drew in a long breath as his mouth continued the journey down her body. Her hands fisted in the sheets as his head moved between her legs. His tongue stroked over her sensitive flesh until she cried out his name.
Her body shuddered as it came back down from the crest, and he moved back up her. His mouth lowered to hers again as he lined up their bodies. Her eyes flew open as he slid slowly into her and fear flashed through her eyes. She uttered a breathy “Oh” as he filled her, and the fear fled.
William moved as slowly as he could stand until she gripped him tight, digging her nails into his back. His hands moved down her body and pulled her hips closer to him. He closed his eyes as he pulsed inside her then let it all go.
Her arms stayed around him as he shifted off of her. He let himself relax for several minutes before he opened his eyes. Her gaze looked stunned and satisfied. He brought his thumb up to caress her cheek. “I want to stay here with you,” he murmured. He couldn’t do it. “I have to finish chores. If your pa finds us…” That brought a slash of guilt. He had betrayed the man who saved his life.
She brought her hand up to cup his cheek. “It’s okay, Will. I understand.”
He rolled away before he changed his mind and held her against him. When he fastened the last button of his shirt and tucked the tails in, he turned back to her. She did up the buttons of her dress, but there was still a smile on her face. It must be infectious because his own spread. He leaned in and kissed her again.
The smile didn’t drop from his face until he was back outside. How was he supposed to go after Thomas now? All he wanted to do was go inside and love her again.
Riding away would kill him.
Chapter 18
William stayed away from her most of the afternoon, but they had stolen another kiss in front of the milk shed. He pulled back from her, and she’d seen shadows in his eyes. She didn’t know what they meant. He’d been so sweet and gentle with her when they’d been in her room. Absolutely nothing like Thomas. Now, he seemed distant again. She wasn’t sure what to think about it.
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