Jodi Thomas - The Lone Texan

Sage decided to ignore it rather than argue. She liked the odd peace they'd worked out and didn't want to upset it for once. He had a passion for her, but in all else, Drum was levelheaded, calming the folks in the waiting area as easily as Bonnie did.

On the fifth night, Sage had had a hard day and needed to feel alive. She wrapped her arms around his neck and wanted the kiss to last longer.

He was happy to oblige. When she spread her hand over the wall of his chest, she whispered, "More, please.”

He gave her what she wanted, long warm kisses that buckled her knees.

The next night when it was time for them to say good night, she drew him into her study and locked the door. The last light of the sun flooded into the silent room.

He didn't wait for her to touch him: he guided her to the nearest chair. When she sat, he knelt in front of her so that she was almost at eye level with hint. Without a word, he unbuttoned her blouse.

Sage laughed. “This is not part of the twilight kiss” "Oh yes it is." He smiled. "You'll see."

He pulled her blouse open, then brushed his fingers gently over the soft material covering her breasts. The sensation was so sweet, she couldn't move. Her body seemed to come alive beneath his touch.

"Where'd you learn that?" she whispered against his ear. "Lessons," he answered as he covered her mouth once more with his.

His tender, loving touch continued as he kissed her. He wasn't holding or gripping but lightly brushing over the satin. The caress warmed her far more than if he'd pressed harder. She found herself moving into his hand when he passed over the tips of her breasts, gently demanding more of his attention.

He laughed against her lips and continued the sweet torture, while his kiss drank her in completely.

Finally, when the room had grown completely dark, she touched his shoulder and pushed him away.

He smiled at her as he buttoned her top. "When you're ready, I'll be waiting. Feel free to come any night”

“And if I'm never ready?" she asked as she stood and moved toward the door.

He leaned down and touched her lips. "Then I’ll wait a lifetime."

When he walked away, Sage felt an ache deep inside. What kind of man would let her set the rules? Would wait forever?

The answer rattled her heart. The kind of man who truly loved her.

She didn't sleep well, and the morning brought more patients than she could handle. Apparently there had been a saloon fight just before dawn, leaving several men with broken noses and cuts that needed stitching. By nine the second wave of trouble came. The fight moved into homes. Drunken warriors and sober wives were an even match. She treated as many men as women. A few couples came through her door still slinging fists and blood.

Daniel and Drum helped get the injured in for treatment and arrested all the men involved in the fight as they left. By noon the new jail was packed.

When Sage finally had a minute, she went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and found Drummond alone. He insisted she sit down while he served her a cup.

"Where's Daniel Tony?" she asked in passing. "I'm surprised he wasn't part of the fight at the saloon. Isn't that where he plays cards every night?"

Drum took a seat across from her. "I asked him. He said he went to bed early. He seems to be cutting down on the drinking as well." Drum winked. "Maybe you're working him too hard around here."

"I couldn't have done it without the two of you this morning.” She realized the truth of her statement as she said it. "What's the marshal planning to do with all the drunks?"

"He says after the husbands sober up, he'll release them to their wives with a warning. The men will promise anything just to get released. The whole jail is packed with men throwing up, urinating, and swearing. Those with no wives to claim them will probably be the cleanup crew once they sober. It'll take a week to get the smell out of that cell.”

Sage laughed. "I'm just thankful no one was shot."

Drum pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. "In case I forget to tell you, Doc, you were wonderful in the chaos this morning."

She looked down. "I've been doing it for a while” "You do it well. I'm proud of you”

He tilted her head with his fingers and leaned across the table.

"It's not dusk," she said without moving.

"Close your eyes and pretend” he whispered.

And she did.

BONNIE FAYE WATCHED THEM ALL LEAVE FOR Whispering Mountain: Sage, Drummond Roak, the boys, and even Daniel Tony. She'd been invited, but she said no. She needed time alone. It had been two months since the night with her cowboy, and she no longer had any doubt that she was pregnant. She knew there would be problems around the corner, but she never thought she'd have a child, and she wanted to treasure every moment. A baby grew inside of her. Her baby. His baby.

She needed time to remember that one night. He'd said so few words. She knew so little about him, but she had a feeling the night had been as rare an encounter for him as for her. Neither of them had spoken of the future. Both knew they'd share only a night.

Smiling to herself, she realized that he'd left her a gift. From now on she'd have to be strong. She'd have to be brave. Not for herself but for her child.

Putting out the Closed sign. Bonnie locked the front door. Unless there was an emergency, everyone in town would be having Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.

Except her, of course. She planned to spend her day dreaming and planning.

Bonnie picked up the clinic waiting room and walked to the kitchen. She had plenty of food; at least she wouldn't be hungry.

She ate her meal in silence, then went to the back of the house where her rooms were. Sage had insisted she have both a bedroom and a small sitting area. Bonnie had protested that she didn't need the extra space, but she loved the little room.

Just before she turned in for the night, she walked the darkened rooms, checking the back and front doors to make sure everything was locked up tight. At the back door, she stared out the long panes and saw the black hills beyond. Will and Andy were just beyond that first hill, sleeping at Whispering Mountain Ranch tonight. They'd talked about it all afternoon.

Bonnie laughed, remembering how the boys said they loved the horses at the ranch but hated Teagen's girls. When she'd asked why, Will claimed it was because the girls thought they could ride better then he could. Andy admitted pretty much everyone on the ranch could ride better then he could.

As she turned to go back to her room, Bonnie caught a movement out of the corner of her eye: a shadow crossing between the moon and the house, nothing more.

Fear gripped her body in panic. She stood frozen, watching. There was no reason for anyone to be between her and the hills. All of town lay behind her. The small barn and corral stood to the left. Whatever the shadow was, it hadn't been a horse.

"I should have gone with Sage and the boys," she whispered as the cat rubbed against her nightgown.

But it was too late now.

Bonnie backed away from the door. Nothing else moved. The night lay cold and silent around her.

Step by step, she made it to her room and locked both her doors.

DRUM WAITED UNTIL THE KIDS WERE SETTLED INTO the rooms in the new wing of the house. Jessie, Teagen's wife, and Rainey, Travis's wife, returned to what everyone called the new kitchen to talk. Travis and his family had made it home for the holiday.

The two brothers moved to the old study, where they could enjoy their cigars without the wives noticing. Drum had always admired how close the brothers were. When they'd been eleven and twelve, they'd had to defend the ranch, Teagen had taken the lead, but some in town claimed that it had been Travis's skill in the fighting that had truly saved Whispering Mountain. Drum knew, to the brothers, it didn't really matter.

Drum stood in the dining room, listening to all the family around him and feeling a part of none of it.

"You going to stand there all day, Drum?" Martha asked as she pulled off her apron, "Or are you going to walk me to my place by the pond?"

He smiled at the old housekeeper. The rest of the McMurrays might ignore him from time to time, but Martha always saw him. "I'd be honored” He offered his arm.

They walked in silence across the yard. Martha didn't care for most men, so he felt lucky she talked to him now and then. He didn't want to push his luck.

When they reached her place, he said. "I sure do like your ginger cookies, Martha.”

She grinned. "I know. That's why I make them.”

He pushed his luck. "I guess you know I'm crazy about Sage."

She laughed. "Everyone in Texas probably knows that." "You wouldn't happen to know where she is?"

"Nope," Martha answered, "but if I was looking, I'd start in the last room on the second floor, where the boys used to sleep years ago.” Martha turned and headed to her door, but he heard her add, "Not that I'd tell you, Drummond, even if you was to ask me.”

He stepped away, fighting the need to run. If he planned to see Sage at dusk, he'd better hurry.

Teagen noticed him when Drum crossed back into the house. "Join us in the study, Ronk,^” he said friendly enough.

"No, thanks.” Drum picked up his hat as if that were the reason he'd come. "I think I'll check on my horse before turning in.”

Teagen laughed. "Enjoy the loft.”

"Thanks.” Drum almost added that the barn seemed to be his room on this place. He'd spent more than one night there. When Teagen turned to walk back into the study, Drum added, "She's my woman. You and your brothers better get used to that idea."

Teagen didn't turn around, but his back straightened. "Only if she comes willingly to you, Roak."

"I wouldn't have it any other way.”

Teagen didn't turn around, but Drum knew his face would be set. The McMurrays were just going to get used to the idea, Drum decided. If he had to, he'd fight all three of them, but they wouldn't stand between him and Sage.

He circled the house, flipped up on the mud room roof, and slipped into a second-floor window.

Moving swiftly through the hallway of the old part of the house, Drum found the last room on the second floor. He guessed Teagen would have insisted Sage stay there. It was small, made for one person, leaving the larger rooms for the couples.

They should have been a couple, he thought as he walked the darkened house he knew so well. They were a couple. Each day he spent with her was torture in heaven. He loved seeing her, watching her, touching her, but she hadn't come to him. If it killed him, he'd keep his word and wait until she came to his bed.

Every evening, after kissing her, he left and spent the rest of the night longing for her. When she'd moved to Boston, if what he'd felt for her hadn't been real, he would have moved on to someone else, but for him there was no one else. She was his. Or more accurately, he was hers.

He tapped on the last door. Only a few seconds passed before she opened, and the sight of her slammed against his heart like it always did.

"You shouldn't be here.” she whispered as she let him in. Giggling, she poked him in the chest with her finger. "You must have a death wish, Drummond.”

"Wrong” he answered as he pulled her into his arms. "This is exactly where I should be”

He kissed her with more hunger than he'd planned and was surprised when she answered in kind. If nothing else, his one rule had allowed her to react to him without hesitation. She didn't have to decide to kiss him. She was simply following rules they'd agreed on. He knew he was building a fire inside her, a fire he'd someday satisfy.

When he finally broke the kiss, she leaned into him, their breaths and heartbeats blending.

"I never thought I'd like doing that so much," she whispered. "I look forward to dusk just because you'll make my heart race."

"You've been kissed far too little in your life” he whispered and felt her sigh in agreement.

"I think you're right," she mumbled as she pulled him closer.

They were too busy to talk for a while, then she pulled her mouth from his. "It's not just any kiss," she whispered so close he could feel her words. "I think it's your kiss. There's a drug in it that makes me want more.”

He smiled, knowing exactly what she was asking for. He lifted her off the ground in his hug and captured her mouth. She liked it wild and deep. She liked the kiss to be so complete that they had to break to breathe.