Chapter Eleven

 

 

 

“I don’t know if you ain’t eating because you don’t like my cooking or because you’re missing Hyacinth.”

Offer looked up from his leathery meat, feeling a flash of irritation ignite a slow burn in his gut. “I don’t like your cooking, old man.”

Bill nodded and patted his belly. “I got used to her too. No sense in worrying yourself sick, though.”

“I’m not.”

“Really?” Bill’s bushy eyebrows rose. “You’ve been moping since you came back from town yesterday. You look like you haven’t slept a wink all night and Jack told me you were so distracted this morning that you nearly got gored by the bull.”

The kid flinched and stared hard at his meal. Offer worked his jaw. “You’re wrong.”

Bill grinned. “About what?”

“I don’t fucking mope!” Offer shot to his feet and pushed away his uneaten dinner so hard the plate skittered across the table and crashed to the floor. “Mind your goddamned business, old man.”

Bill raised his hands and nodded. Jack shuffled his chair away. Offer turned on his heel and stormed from the bunkhouse.

He made it as far as the porch of the main house before the wobble in his knees forced him to sit down. He arranged himself on the edge of the porch in a slouch he feared would appear hopeless to any who observed him and stretched his legs out. The skinny dog he’d rescued from town the same day he brought Hyacinth home crawled over to him in a submissive crouch.

She whined and he patted her head absently. “Hyacinth will be home tomorrow, girl. I know you sorry curs probably miss her, but you should really be appreciating the opportunity for some silence around here. I swear, that woman is always yammering on about something.”

“Yeah, it is awful quiet around here without her. She’s changed lots of things, huh?”

Bill’s voice, so unexpected after just leaving him behind in the bunkhouse, startled Offer so badly he nearly fell off the porch. In the dim light of nightfall, Offer glared up at the old man as he walked closer on silent feet.

Bill waved a tin can. “Hell, I’ve even taken to carrying this thing around so as not to offend her when I chew my tobacco. You know what it’s like to carry around a can of spit, boy? But I do it, because I like her, and I want her to stick around.”

“She’ll be back, Bill.”

“Will she?”

Offer spoke through gritted teeth. “Her trial is tomorrow, as soon as Judge Wiggins gets to town.”

Bill looked up at the stars for a long moment before he said, “I suggest you tie that woman to you permanently, Offer. Before she realizes she could do better.”

“That’s not how this arrangement works.” Offer took a deep breath, trying to control his anger before it turned to rage. He wasn’t even certain why he was angry, he only knew that life had somehow gotten out of his control and too many things were piling up on top of him too fast to dig out from under it all. Bill was only making it worse by harping on something Offer had tried to stop, but couldn’t.

“She’s been a real help around here.” Bill waved his can, indicating the homestead in general. “You’ve been a mite more relaxed since she came out, and even Jack has smiled, a time or two.”

Offer pressed his fists against his thighs until pain made his anger fade a notch. “You talk like I’m going to leave her in town after her trial. What do you want me to do? The judge only has Horsham’s side right now, and he ordered her to stay in the jail. I can’t break her out.”

“Guess I’m just worried you’ll wash your hands of her, thinking she’s just one more problem for you to deal with.” Bill spat in his can. “Just trying to point out that she pulls her weight around here.”

Offer jumped to his feet. “I should wash my hands of all of you. God knows, I’d be better off trying to build this damned ranch on my own, rather than breaking my back trying to feed all you fucking leeches. Better yet, maybe I’ll burn the Double O down and be done with it.”

He didn’t wait for any more of Bill’s senseless ponderings. Offer banged his way into the house, slamming the door behind him. He toed off his boots and threw himself into the chair before the cold hearth, but only sat there a moment before leaping up to light the fire.

With the flames crackling, Offer settled down again, but his thoughts were running through his mind too quickly to sit still for long. He got back up and moved through the house, rearranging things, swiping at the dust that had gotten thick again since Hyacinth’s absence. After a little while, Offer gave up on house cleaning and got into bed.

Hours passed while Offer tossed and turned. Nighttime closed thick around the Double O, all but silent with only the distant hooting of owls to keep Offer company during his sleepless vigil. He rolled over and pulled the covers higher, but the bed seemed too cold. He rolled the other way and realized how much empty space was beside him.

And still his gut churned with anger and irritation. Acid bubbled up and boiled his throat until Offer got out of bed, cursing Bill and his cooking. He pulled on his clothes and boots and went out to count the stars. When that didn’t give him peace, he went to check on Zeus.

Twenty minutes later, Offer was only vaguely surprised to find himself on the road to town. He wasn’t certain when he’d made the decision to travel by the weak light of the crescent moon, or what insanity had caught hold of him and prompted him into endangering his precious horse’s legs by traveling through the darkness, but he knew it had felt right when he picked up his saddle and threw it over Zeus’ back.

Beyond that, he didn’t know what he felt, what he wanted or what he intended to do, though he spent the rest of his journey to Creek Bend trying to figure it out. By the time he arrived at the jail, he was more confused than ever and tired of thinking on the mess his life had become.

Just inside his office, Sheriff Colton snored away on a cot under a dying oil lamp affixed to the wall. His narrow bed was crammed into the space between a desk and the doorway leading to the two holding cells gracing Creek Bend’s humble prison. Anyone who wanted to get to Hyacinth had to climb over Colton first.

Offer shook him awake. Colton sat up groggily, rubbing at his eyes and glaring at the jailhouse door that Offer hadn’t closed behind him. Offer held out his hand and waggled his fingers.

“Give me the keys.”

“I’m not giving you the keys so you can break her out,” the sheriff mumbled.

“I’m not breaking her out, I’m putting me in.” Offer wiggled his fingers again. “Come on, the judge didn’t say she couldn’t have company.”

Colton considered for a moment, but dug a heavy key ring out from under his pillow and handed it over. “Don’t you take her out or I’ll make sure you’re the next person in Creek Bend on trial. You understand?”

“I got it.” Offer made his way over the cot and stepped into the holding cell area.

Colton had done what he could for Hyacinth’s comfort, Offer had seen to that when the man had first arrested her. The lantern in her cell was filled enough to cast a good measure of light over the thick blanket and feather pillow Colton had provided to decorate the inhospitably narrow bunk. At some point in the day, the man must also have picked her some flowers, because a thin bouquet drooped out of a cracked teacup on the window sill.

But Offer barely spared a glance for Hyacinth’s surroundings, so wholly focused on the pitiful figure of the woman herself that nothing else mattered. She was huddled beneath her blanket with her knees pulled all the way to her chest, the side of her face sunk in the pillow. Her dark curls spread around her in a tangled mess, emphasizing the misery in her wide-open eyes.

Offer stepped up to the bars holding her prisoner and fumbled with the key. “You all right, darlin’?”

“What are you doing here?”

He let himself in before he shrugged. “I don’t know. I couldn’t sleep, so I figured I’d check up on you.”

Hyacinth sat up. She tried to smile, but her lip wobbled and tears filled her eyes. Her breath hitched and she moaned a sound just short of a sob. “I couldn’t sleep either. I’m so scared, Offer. I don’t know what to do.”

He rushed to her side, the anger within him clicking into place in such a way he finally understood all the agitation within him. Bleak helplessness dropped away the moment he got his hands on her. “Shh, darlin’, I’m going to take care of all of this. It’s gonna be all right.”

He slid onto the cot, maneuvering her on top of him as he went because there wasn’t enough room for the two of them to lie next to each other. She pressed her face into his throat and held his shoulders tightly as he arranged her legs over his and pulled her close. Wrapping his arms around her, Offer felt more collected than he had in nearly two days.

Every irritated nerve in his body pulled taut and demanded action. A large part of some seething monster at his core was calmed by Hyacinth’s presence, by her fading rosewater scent and the lush feel of her breasts pressed to his chest. But a larger part demanded he fuck her so hard, so deep, that no judge in the land could tear them apart. That need was nearly impossible to achieve on the narrow cot, but Offer couldn’t keep from trying.

He never gave her a chance to protest, he simply took it for granted that she wouldn’t.

He stroked down her back in a single, urgent press of his palms. He caught her bottom and hauled her higher, then slid his hands up her thighs to yank them into a more accommodating position. He tore at her skirts until they fluffed over his knuckles and foamed around their waists.

Hyacinth gasped and raised her head. “What are you doing?” she whispered roughly.

“I need to be inside you, right now.” Offer reached between her legs and found the slit in her drawers. Boldly, he stroked in, deeply, over her clit to push between her folds, thrusting down until he reached her entrance.

Hyacinth’s flesh flinched, but her near-soundless words were discouraging. “Sheriff Colton is just through that door, and he’s not snoring! He’s wide awake, Offer. He’ll hear.”

“Then be quiet, darlin’.” Offer gave her a hard kiss. “I can’t stop, Hyacinth. I need you.”

He rubbed her folds as she stared into his eyes. Hers were wide and scandalized, but whatever she saw in his expression gained her agreement. The set of her features relaxed and her pussy dampened. Hyacinth pushed her hand down between their bodies and fumbled with the buttons at his waistband.

Offer bit his lip and struggled to slow down, to build her need as high as his, but it was an impossible feat. He circled her clit, tugging and flicking in the way she liked, stroking his fingers to either side and clamping them around the little peak in a move that usually had her arching with desire.

It took less than a minute for his touch to have an effect on her. She began to rock against his rapid fondling, gasping softly every time he shifted to a new place as though she were unprepared for the pleasure he gave her. Her pussy grew wet and his fingers finally stroked over her with silky ease.

Offer sighed with relief. “Yes, darlin’. Like that. Let me feel how soft you are, how hot and wet. Let me feel how much you need my cock buried inside you.”

Hyacinth arched and jerked, her clever fingers finally unbuttoning his pants and releasing his dick. Slim fingers stroked down his length and held tight. Hyacinth dug her knee into the thin mattress at Offer’s hip and levered her body up.

Offer closed his eyes as the tip of his dick smoothed through hot, liquid silk. Hyacinth’s soft flesh closed around his crest as she tucked him against her entrance and Offer couldn’t find the will to take her slowly. He lifted his hips with a violent jerk, pushing into her body and pulling her down his shaft with a heavy thrust that did not stop until he was fully buried inside her.

Then he went still. He wrapped one arm around her hips to hold her still as well while he raised his other hand to her jaw. He lifted his lids and stared up into her two-toned eyes as the strangest sensation he’d ever felt swept through him. A raging river of heat plucked at every nerve in his body from his scalp to his toes. It paralyzed him and transformed his need.

Whatever it was, Hyacinth saw. Vulnerability ate into Offer, but the feeling of weakness was battled back very effectively by the heat of her flexing pussy. Hyacinth tightened every inner muscle she had around his cock and leaned down, a surprised and hopeful expression etched onto her face.

“Offer?” Hyacinth whispered close to his lips. “Why are you doing this? Why did you come here?”

The arm he wrapped around her hips knotted of its own accord. A lump lodged in Offer’s throat but he tried to push words past the constriction. “I don’t know. Because I…” He shook his head. “Because…”

He gave up trying to explain. With his hand holding her chin, he dragged her lips to his and consumed her. Demanding entrance, he pushed his tongue inside her mouth and sent it sliding over hers. Wanting her participation, he withdrew and thrust in again, over and over until she made a small noise and kissed him back. He fell into the caress and craved more.

Hyacinth gave him everything he wanted, everything he needed. She tightened her inner muscles in a hypnotizing rhythm while Offer held them both still otherwise. So subtle, but so erotically wicked against his sensitized cock. She ran her hands through his hair and tangled her tongue with his, sucking and nipping in time to the muscle control she exhibited below her waist.

Offer wanted to move. Offer wanted to drive into her body repeatedly, to roll them to the floor if need be and fuck Hyacinth hard enough she wouldn’t be able to sit for her trial. He wanted to push to the ends of her, merge with her, find his pleasure inside her.

But the raging heat snaking through him held him still. The most it would let him do was shift his hold from her hips to her ass, which he pushed against harder to hold himself as deeply inside her as he could. And he kissed her while his emotions roiled.

It was Hyacinth who jerked over him, shuddering and moaning into his mouth as her pussy softened, gushed and convulsed. It was Hyacinth who rode his cock in hard jolts that barely moved her an inch against his hold—but it was the most glorious inch Offer had ever experienced. It was Hyacinth’s pleasure that gave Offer his own, as her body rippled and sucked his length, inspiring his balls to clench and implode.

He held her to him as he thrust a single time. Deep into her hot body, his motion hard to the point of violence. His spine locked and flashed with heated release. Offer clutched her ass as he came so forcefully that light streaked before his eyes, an endless wave of pleasure and contentment that scared him senseless at the same time it filled some void inside his chest he’d never known about.

The only thing he did know, as he clamped his arms around Hyacinth’s shuddering body and ravaged her mouth, was that she had chosen him, had accepted his outrageous offer, and he would—by God—take care of her to the best of his ability.

No matter what he had to do.