Chapter 26
By evening, Tempest was so ready to get off Anna that she was squirming in the saddle. They’d taken several breaks during the day, but it wasn’t nearly enough. She’d had time to think about Lucky’s words, but she still found what he’d told her almost unbelievable. If she didn’t see ghosts, she’d question his truth. Yet as she well knew, life didn’t come wrapped up in neat little packages.
“We’re nearing the Boggy River,” Lucky said. “Burnt Boggy Saloon will be north of us somewhere near the juncture at Clear Boggy Creek.”
“Aren’t saloons illegal in Indian Territory?”
“Whiskey and Choc, or Choctaw beer, are illegal. But folks can play poker and eat beans and beef in Burnt Boggy.”
“And if the law stops by, they hide the liquor?”
“Most likely. But first the law would have to find the place. It’s kept on the move. It’s burned to the ground in a couple of brawls. And there’s a lookout.”
“Sounds like somebody is resourceful.”
“Outlaws. No way to keep whiskey out of the Territory. Lighthorsemen and Deputy U.S. Marshals do their best to limit it.”
“Do you think the artist is still at Burnt Boggy?”
“If he’s trading art for whiskey, I can’t think of a better place.”
“I hope it won’t be another Red River Saloon for me.”
“Was that so bad? Made you famous. Got you jobs.”
“And I met you.” She glanced over at him, feeling amazed at this journey she was sharing with him. “I wonder how Mrs. Bartholomew and the TSPT members are getting along?”
“Bet they’re staying close to towns along the Katy line.”
“I can’t imagine them venturing out into Indian Territory.”
“Maybe they’ve already gone back to Texas.”
“Mrs. Bartholomew was pretty determined to carry the word north of the Red River.” She hesitated, thinking about the harsh words they’d exchanged in the Bend. “I wish I’d left things better with her.”
“Don’t know how you could’ve.”
“It was a strange situation.” She could still hardly believe her life had changed so quickly.
He chuckled. “It was funny, too.”
“Now it is.” She glanced over and met his intense gaze. Once she’d thought his eyes the color of whiskey, but now she saw luminous amber that reflected his complicated character.
“Let’s find a good place to make camp off the beaten track before we get too close to Burnt Boggy.”
“I’d like to rest.” She felt her body flush at the thought of being alone on a blanket with him again. She wanted to pick up where they’d left off before Haig had intruded into their lives.
“You’re holding up well for all the miles we’ve covered.”
“Thanks. I’m sore, but I’m okay.” She took a deep breath, catching the scent of pine. “Do you think it’s safe to stop for the night? I’m worried that Haig might catch up with us.”
“Doubtful. He’s in a wagon loaded down with whiskey, so we ought to be making twice the time. And we got a head start on him, too.”
She felt a sense of relief. She’d feared Haig might surprise them again. This time, she wanted to be ready and waiting for him. She touched the S&W .32 in its holster on a belt around her waist. Haig couldn’t threaten her or outshoot her. She stroked the pearl handle of her revolver. When she saw Haig, she’d demand her grandma’s money. And she had the firepower to back up her words.
She was grateful to Lucky for teaching her how to load, hold, and shoot a revolver. She’d practiced each time they’d stopped for a break. She wasn’t a deadeye yet, not by any means, but at close range she could hold her own. Most likely, it’d never come to her needing to draw her weapon. She couldn’t even imagine actually shooting somebody. Yet if worst came to worst, she stood a chance of coming out alive.
When they reached the Boggy River, Lucky pointed north. “Let’s camp away from the bank and on a rise. It’ll be safer.”
Once more she felt grateful that she was with him. Otherwise, she’d never have found her way in the wilderness.
She followed him up a trail that meandered along the river past hackberry, blackjack, and post oak trees. Birds trilled in the treetops, insects buzzed past her ears, and the horses grabbed mouthfuls of tall grass. She felt at peace with the world, as if there was no past or future. She only existed in the present with a desirable man at her side.
She watched as Lucky turned off the trail, rode down to the river, and let his mount slurp up water. She stopped beside him. He grabbed their canteens, quickly filled them, and then returned hers. She took a drink, enjoying the cool liquid as it slid down her throat.
Soon he led the way through high grass to a rise overlooking the river. A tall hackberry shaded the area so little grew under the tree. She glanced around, but could see no other person or building. Spectacular nature ran riot, not yet tamed by human hand. She hoped the land would stay this way for a long time to come.
Tempest watched Lucky dismount in one graceful movement and then turn toward her. When he smiled, his eyes lit up at the sight of her.
“It’ll be dark soon. Let’s set up camp.” He walked over and held out his arms. “Let me help you down.”
“Thanks.” She was stronger than when she’d crossed the Red River, but she’d still be a little shaky after so many hours on horseback.
She swung her leg over the saddle, stepped down, and felt Lucky’s arms around her. She leaned back against his chest, basking in his strength and warmth. When his hands rose to cup her breasts, she moaned and swiveled to throw her arms around his neck. She knocked off his hat at about the same time he removed hers. She ran her fingers into his thick, dark hair, reveling in the feel of him. He followed her movements and pulled the pins from her chignon to let her long hair cascade down her back.
“I’ve thought of little else,” he murmured. “We’ve got all night.”
“I want you all night.”
When he pressed soft kisses across her cheek to her lips, then lingered there to trace with the tip of his tongue, she pulled him closer. She felt the strong muscles of his shoulders as he kissed her with a ferocity that left her breathless. She kissed him back, nipping his tongue, drawing him deeper, feeling scorched by him. As his hands roamed lower, down her back to clasp her butt so that he could push his hard shaft against her, she shivered with mounting need.
He pressed heated kisses down her throat and lingered on the fabric of her blouse over her heart.
“That place is on fire,” she moaned, feeling as she couldn’t get close enough to him.
“So is mine.”
“Yours?” She raised her head to look at him in puzzlement. “That solar cross?”
He gazed back at her, eyes dark as molasses. “Soleil Wheel.”
She felt chilled as she rubbed the place over her heart. “It’s not a rash or poison ivy, is it?”
“No.”
She stood very still as he slowly unbuttoned her blouse till he exposed the reddened area. She glanced down. It was taking on the same shape as the one on his chest. She stepped back, shaking her head.
“Did that Moon Rattler do something to me?”
He put his hands on her shoulders and drew her back close to him. He bent his head and placed a kiss on the burning place.
She felt his touch go straight to the center of her. She was suddenly hungering for him and feeling hot and wet and swollen. She needed him like she’d never needed anything or anyone before. And yet, she didn’t trust him or what was happening to her. She stepped back, putting distance between them.
“You didn’t tell me everything, did you?”
“I didn’t want to rush you.”
“I don’t know what’s real around you.”
“Everything we feel is real.” He held out his hand, palm up in supplication. “I want you.”
“Am I being manipulated?” She rubbed the place over her heart again. Hotter now. She felt as if she was being irrevocably drawn to Lucky. But she no longer trusted her feelings.
“We are what we are. Rattlers. Do you want to deny it?”
She spun away from him, but turned back. “I want us to be normal. That’s all.”
“For us, this is normal.” He took a step toward her. “Tempest, give us a chance.”
“Is this place on me like yours?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I didn’t want to lose you.”
“I feel branded.”
“You’re protected.” He put his hands on her shoulders, squeezed, and drew her against his chest. “Let me protect you.”
She rubbed her face against his shirt, feeling the heat in her intensify at the touch of him. She burned for him, wanting him buried deep inside her as if they could never be parted again. She felt him move his chest until his solar wheel was opposite hers. And she felt her world whirl, as if their Soleil Wheels were moving together, turning faster and faster, creating more and more heat between them, more and more need to be joined together. She groaned, pressing closer, feeling his shaft hard against her stomach. She realized that he needed her as much as she needed him. Were they now incomplete without each other?
She raised her face to ask him to explain, although her body didn’t care. All she really wanted to do was ride him till sunrise. But she heard twigs crack nearby, as if someone walked on them.
“Put your hands in the air,” a gravelly voice commanded.
She felt Lucky freeze and tense against her.
“Do as the man says.” Lucky stepped away from her and slowly raised his hands.
She looked beyond him and could hardly believe her eyes. An outlaw, surely. He was a rough-looking man wearing a grimy shirt, blue jeans, vest, and cowboy boots. He stood with legs spread and Colt drawn.
“You better hope to hell you ain’t a Deputy U.S. Marshal. You’re in Burnt Boggy country and that ain’t a healthy place for the law.”
Tempest slowly raised her hands, realizing that her .32 was no use whatsoever.