Jodi Thomas - The Lone Texan

"Besides the fact that fifty men are tracking us right now planning to kill us on sight?"

"Yes," she whispered. "Besides that. You haven't said a handful of words to me since we left town”

"It's nothing”

"No," she corrected. "It's something. I didn't grow up with three brothers without learning that when a man is silent, something is bothering him."

He felt like a fool for ever thinking about the way she'd kissed Daniel for bringing her a horse. "All right. You asked. Daniel handed you a horse, and you kissed him. I saved your life, and you shot me." Drum was sorry he said anything before the words were out. She'd probably give him a lecture on being childish, or worse, tell him she fancied Daniel Torry. He never knew what she'd do. Maybe that was what fascinated him about Sage McMurray. She was like watching a tornado.

"I'm worried about that shot," she whispered, as if her worry made up for all his pain.

"It's all right. You can tend to it again when we're somewhere safe."

"No, it's not that." She laughed. "But now you mention the wound, I would like to check it as soon as we have both the time and some light."

"Then what are you worried about?"

She fretted for a minute before answering. "Maybe I've been away from home too long. Four years ago I wouldn't have missed your heart. What if I'm losing my skills with a gun? That's not good, Drum”

He groaned. "So you're worried about not killing me?" She realized what she'd said and smiled. "Of course I am."

Her tone turned teasing. "What if you'd been some crazed man determined to bed me?"

Now it was his turn to grin. "I am some crazed man determined to bed you, Sage. I've made no secret of it for years” She laughed as if she thought he was teasing. "I'm too tired to think anymore. Can't we argue about this later?"

He tossed her his blanket. "Sleep. I'll wake you when it's dark enough to travel”

He stared out into the valley, watching for any movement as he listened to her wiggling behind him. Every now and then her leg brushed his.

Finally, he ordered, "Sage, go to sleep”

"I can't," she answered. "I'm cold and so homesick I can't think. Would you mind if I curl up beside you?"

She didn't wait for an answer. She tugged her bedroll to his side and spread his blanket over them both. When she nestled down again, her bottom pushed against his hip.

Drum swore to himself. He had to stop thinking about her body parts, but she wasn't making it easy.

He put his arm over her, and she stilled. She felt warm against his side, and he knew when she fell asleep by the long breaths. "Sage," he said. "Sage?"

Nothing. The woman hadn't changed. When she went to sleep, the end of the world wouldn't wake her.

He tugged on her long braid. When she leaned her head back, he kissed her. She felt so good next to him, but kissing her while she slept wasn't what he wanted. He wanted her wild and awake in his arms. He wanted her wanting him.

Clouds moved in over the valley, and a drizzling rain began to fall. Drum knew they were safe now. The outlaws couldn't track them, and the rain made it unlikely they'd hear the horses, even if they were close.

He rested his chin on the top of Sage's head and closed his eyes. She was in his arms; that was enough for now.

Drum slept.

BONNIE MADE SURE THE BOYS WERE ASLEEP BEFORE she went back to the parlor to talk to Sage's brother-in-law, Shelley Lander. He'd insisted on coming to see her as soon as his doctor had said he could move from his bed.

She looked at him now, grateful that he hadn't come to her to be doctored. It was hard enough seeing the man. The last thing she wanted to do was touch him. In the days she'd been back, she'd learned that he'd let the robbers take Sage, and that fact alone made her hate him.

Bullet lay on the settee. Shelley tried to shoo the cat off without touching her. "I hate cats” he said. "Can't you do something about this animal?"

Bonnie picked the cat up and took a seat on one of the chairs. She didn't try to make small talk. She wasn't sure she could. After a full minute of silence, she lifted her new glasses and picked up her sewing. Shelley Lander could stay if he liked, but he'd not waste any more of her time.

Finally, he found something to say. "What kind of name is Bullet, anyway? The cat's fat, slow, and looks blind in one eye."

Bonnie petted her cat. "She's the color of a bullet."

Shelley brushed one of the cushions off and took his place on the settee, ignoring her explanation. "I've come to see if there is anything I can do” he began as if he'd been waiting for the curtain to rise so he could start his act. "We need to face the fact that there is a possibility that Sage might not be coming back, and as her nearest, if not next of kin, I may need to make some arrangements."

Bonnie had already faced that. She'd sent a telegraph to Sage's brother in Austin. She'd also dipped into Sage's money belt, kept locked away in the hotel safe, for enough money to continue to pay the bill at the hotel and buy her and the boys' meals. With each withdrawal, she'd replaced the bill with a detailed note accounting her expenditures.

"Sage will be back," Bonnie said without doubt showing in her tone. "As long as Drummond Roak is hunting for her, it's only a matter of time." She stood and moved to the door, but he didn't get up. "Good night, Mr. Lander. It's late and not proper for you to be in this room any longer."

"I'm not leaving until I know where my dear brother's wife's valuables are…"

Bonnie opened the door, and a young Ranger stepped inside. He didn't look a day over eighteen, but he seemed to know his job. She didn't have to say a word; he'd probably been listening through the thin door.

"Mr. Lander." He smiled politely, but his hand rested on the butt of his gun. "I thought I'd help you down the stairs. A man with the use of only one arm could easily fall and break his neck."

Shelley looked like he'd been threatened, but he didn't say anything. He gathered his cane and hat. "I'll be back," he said as he stood.

The Ranger continued to smile. "We'll be waiting to help you up and down when you return”

Shelley glared at the man. "I don't understand the Rangers' interest in my brother's wife. There must be far more important things to guard than a nurse and two wild children”

"No, sir” the young man said without explaining. He turned to Bonnie. "You let me know if you need anything, Miss Pierce. I'll be right down at the foot of the stairs or on the landing if someone comes up”

"Thank you. I'm glad to know I'm safe” She glanced at Shelley. "I don't expect any more visitors.”

He nodded once in understanding.

She heard Shelley huff from the hallway in indignation.

Bonnie closed the door. She'd noticed a Ranger in the lobby every time she'd gone downstairs. The man usually only tipped his hat and fell into step behind her and the boys. This was the first time she'd seen one outside her door, but then, this was the first time anyone had climbed the stairs to their rooms.

Ruffling Bullet's hair, she whispered, "He doesn't like cats. That's as good a reason as any to keep you around”

When she checked on the boys, Bullet jumped up and took his place on Andy's bed.

Crossing the hallway, Bonnie washed her face and pulled on her long cotton gown. In the mirror, she studied her reflection. She was plain. Not homely, not ugly, but plain. Turning away, she remembered the way her cowboy had looked at her. To him, she'd been beautiful. She knew his name had been Bradford, but she simply thought of him as her cowboy.

Each night she lay awake as long as she could and tried to remember every detail of what had happened. Then she'd read her Bible and confess the sin she'd committed. She didn't ask for forgiveness. She didn't want it.

In the mornings as she dressed, she'd try to list all the ways they were different. He hadn't had a book in his cabin, not even a Bible. Guns hung on the walls, not pictures. His life was outdoors, working the land, living in a place still wild. His brother was an outlaw, and maybe he was too. But at night, she remembered the way they were the same. They both wanted one taste of love, and they wanted it so badly they'd give away any future happiness for the one night.

Sometime during the third day after he'd dropped her at the Ranger station, Bonnie made up her mind. If Sage didn't make it back, she'd ask one of Sage's brothers to help her find employment at a hospital in Austin. If there was no work available, she'd go back to Boston where she belonged. She'd even talk to the captain about letting the boys go back with her. Both boys had told her that they wanted to stay with her. Will even said she could have all the money from the sale of their land if she'd let them stay with her until they were old enough to join the Rangers.

Bonnie wasn't sure what she'd do if Sage didn't return. Maybe she'd stay. Maybe she'd go home.

It didn't matter where she was; her memories would be with her. Her life had been forever changed.

SAGE TRIED TO IGNORE DRUM AND KEEP SLEEPING but when he said they had to get back to Will and little Andy, everything, including the danger they were in, registered.

"Where are the boys?" she asked as she sat up and pushed back loose strands of hair. She'd spent the last week so worried about herself, she hadn't thought of the boys. She assumed Bonnie would look after them.

"They're safe with the Rangers.”

"Bonnie? Isn't she with them?" It seemed like a lifetime ago that she'd called for the nurse's help in Shelley's office, and Bonnie hadn't answered. Drum hesitated too long. She knew something was wrong. "What has happened to Bonnie?"

He didn't try to sugarcoat the news. "She's missing.” He hurried to add, "She wasn't among the body count, but someone said he thought he saw a man dragging her out of Shelley's place and dropping off the dock into the shallow water below."

"Did anyone go after her?"

"There were no tracks to follow. We don't even know who could have taken her. Six men rowed in. Six men and you rowed away. Whoever took Bonnie wasn't one of them, so maybe he was saving her. She's probably fine back at the hotel by now and wondering where you are."

Sage collected her things. "I hope so. She's not like me. She was raised in a city by parents who never allowed her to do anything. She puts on a good act, but this whole country frightens her.”

"Maybe she ran off with a fellow. Maybe some man looked at her and saw six feet of love at first sight."

"No, not Bonnie. Even if someone did fancy her, she'd never go along. She'll never marry. She believes her mission as a nurse is as great a calling as a nun's to the church.”

Drum handed Sage the reins to her bay. "Well, if she jumped off that dock with a man, you might want to reconsider your measure of her.”

"No. Trust me, Bonnie would die of fright before she'd ever let a man touch her hand.”

He offered Sage a step up into the saddle, then brushed her leg as he made sure her boot was solid in the stirrup. "How about you? You ever going to let another man touch you?"

"No," she answered. "And do me a favor; don't ask me again."

They didn't speak for an hour. She followed close behind him as he picked a path through the rocks, heading northeast. Since Skull Alley was to the south, she guessed most of the men chasing them would be searching in that direction. The few who came north, if any did, had the rain to slow them down. There was also a good chance none of them knew about the passage. Only a boy climbing around on rocks would have found it.

Drum pulled up and climbed off his mount. When he reached her, he whispered, "We'll have to walk for a while. The ground slopes off in a long slide from here on. If we make it down, we're home free, but it's too dangerous to risk riding”

She understood. A horse tumbling with a rider could very easily crush the rider in a fall.

They led the mounts. The slope was steep, but the rain had softened the earth. Sage dug her heels in with each step, knowing that if she tumbled, it would be more than a hundred feet before she stopped.

The moon seemed to follow them down the incline. She kept her distance from Drum. If she fell, she didn't want to take him with her. Halfway down, they both froze at the sound of a coyote howling in the distance. The black, sleeping earth spread for miles before her. She felt so alone and couldn't help wondering if the coyote felt the same. She'd never been afraid of the dark, but being alone was another matter. Her vision of hell wasn't fire and brimstone but isolation.