Chapter Four
“I have finished washing.”
The soft huskiness of Sheridan’s voice pulled him from his reverie and Elijah inhaled the chill into his lungs. He launched to his feet and passed her in the doorway using sheer willpower to prevent himself from drawing her into his arms. He had thought after being away from her sensual softness for over a year that the burn of betrayal would have lessened. It had not, nor had the deep visceral need for her sighs, laughter, and kisses.
Ah fucking hell, she stood in one of his flannel shirts. She was a tiny thing, with all womanly curves, which were more than a handful. She had nothing else underneath as her breasts thrust against the material. Her hair hung loose and wild and she had no idea how sensual she looked. His willpower was tested, as he had the insane urge to tumble her, part her legs and feast on her sweetness.
He walked into the kitchen and she followed. There was a stone island in the center of the area, the only thing that separated the living area from the kitchen. She sat on one of the stools in front of the island, calmly waiting. In silence he poured coffee into two tin mugs and slid one towards her. He placed slices of cheese, cold meat, and bread on a plate and handed it to her.
“Thank you.”
Thunder rumbled distantly and he glanced through the window into the night sky. It was black and starless, and in a few hours the rain would come. She inhaled the aroma of the coffee deep before taking tentative sips. She made a small sound of pleasure at the back of her throat.
His jaw locked at the sound. The sensual sight of her as she took in the scent of the coffee hardened him. What was it about her that always roused him so easily?
Ignoring the reaction of his body he queried flatly, “Tell me about the boy.”
Her eyes widened, and he could see the pulse that fluttered at her throat. She gently lowered the tin cup, and raked her hand through her mass of hair and bit into her lips deeply. “Grayson is nine months old today, but he is Beth’s son. His resemblance to your family is unmistakable. He needs your protection. If Mr. Sullivan were to ever succeed in taking over the ranch…it would not bode well for Grayson, Beth, and me.”
Elijah had not known Thomas’s sister had a babe. It was also highly unlikely one of his brothers would have a child in the world unclaimed. Her claim was possibly a ruse to drag his presence to the ranch. He did not like the desperation it implied. “If the boy is a Kincaid, why did you not travel to the Triple K?”
“I…” her throat convulsed and the knuckles that gripped the tin cup whitened. She held her head with a proud tilt. “Triple K is in Colorado. You were closer. And the baby is not the only one in need of protection.”
“Why do you need my help?”
She was contemplative for an infinite amount of time. Her face was very expressive, and he wondered how he could have ever been duped by her.
“Mr. Sullivan now owns the Double Diamond spread. He has bought out the Moutons and several others. His spreads now rival the Whispering Creek. He had approached Thomas about watering and grazing rights for his cattle, because his cattle outnumber ours by three to one.”
She shivered despite the fire that blazed from the hearth. He strode over to the sofa and grabbed the blanket and threw it to her. She wrapped it around herself, chafing her hands together for warmth.
“He has approached me several times to buy the ridge, several acres of our land and the mines. I denied him and his persistence is turning underhanded. He then made it clear that he will have me.” She swallowed, and her cheeks burned bright red. “I refused, but he is getting frightening. I know he believes if he marries me he will get the land through me. I do not think he knows of your partnership with Thomas.”
“This does not tell me why you came up here, Sheridan. All you had to do was inform Sullivan of my ownership and let him bring the fight to me.”
She blushed. “I…He…he wants more than shares in the ranch. He wants…to marry me because of my inheritance.”
“And how is that my problem?”
The silence was tense as she looked at him with wide imploring eyes. “How can you be so indifferent to me? I made a mistake. I have tried to atone for it in so many ways, Elijah.”
She scooted off the stool when he prowled towards her. He looked down at her with a curious sense of emotional detachment. “Sheridan?”
“Yes?” She moistened her lips, hands gripping the blanket.
“You were lonely and I had an itch. We fucked. There is nothing more to it.”
Her face paled, but her head tilted at an even prouder angel. He almost smiled.
“I will tolerate no discussion on the matter. We will only discuss why you need my help and if I can give it. I already offered you a fair price for your shares in the ranch. Take it. I will take Beth and the baby to the Triple K.”
Her eyes flashed hot in defiance. “I am not selling! The reason you want me to sell is to avoid what simmers between us, Elijah. If you do not give me a chance to speak—”
“Test the truth of my words, Sheridan. I will return you tonight if you continue down this path.”
She remained silent for minutes glaring at him. He saw her need to press, but caution won out.
“Mr. Sullivan intends to return with the preacher tomorrow. I do not want him. I alone cannot stand against him. I need your help. I have held my own so far, but he scares me. Our cattle are being rustled. Beth and I are accosted when we travel to town in subtle ways. But they are all his doing. I made several reports in town but he owns them. His brother is the town’s sheriff and his cousin is the town’s mayor. I was not sure where else to go for help,” she murmured without a trace of bitterness, only a flat acceptance that rankled him.
“Hell.” As much as he hated to admit it, she did the right thing in coming to him. “I will deal with Jericho. I will provide protection to the stage coach when you are ready to leave.”
She frowned and stepped up to him. “I will not leave.”
The anger that colored her cheeks made her look tempting beyond endurance.
“Are you willing to marry?”
Hope flared in her eyes. “To you?”
He did not like her hopeful question or the ache that stirred in his heart “No,” he growled.
“Then no, I am not.”
“Then you sell.”
She stiffened. “Are you saying you are not willing to help me?”
“I will aid you. I will escort you safely to the stage, to which ever destination you wish. I will give you enough gold to establish yourself in another town. That is, in addition to what I will pay for your shares in the ranch,” Elijah promised, closing himself off from the panic lining her face.
***
Fear sat tight and hard in Sheridan’s stomach. Her eyes searched Elijah’s face frantically and the cool blankness frightened her more than Mr. Sullivan’s advances. Where was the gentle teasing lover that had taught her to ride? To swim? That had introduced her to pleasure with such patience? Anger surged in her. “Elijah, Thomas used our farce of a marriage to control my inheritance. The money that he has funneled into the ranch is mine, by God that land is mine as much as it is yours.”
She spun away from him, anger eating at her. How could he be so impervious to her pleadings? “It was not easy for me to come here to ask you for help, Elijah. And you have offered me no solution but buying me out. This is my home and I cannot sell. I need protection. I am wealthy and I fear Mr. Sullivan knows this.”
“Even more reason for you to leave, Sheridan.”
She suddenly realized what a fool she had been. How foolish had she been to think that he would want her to remain if she told him the truth. She swallowed as it dawned on her that she would really have to execute the plan she had concocted with Beth. But in truth, what did she really know about seduction? Nothing. Their first time together had been achieved with little effort on her part. In truth, she had been the one to be devoured by his shocking sensuality and expertise.
She made another stab at eliciting understanding of what she faced. “You don’t understand. Mr. Sullivan has decided he wants me. I believe he had Thomas murdered. He will not just let me leave.” Nothing betrayed Elijah’s surprise, but she must have stunned him despite his calm facade.
He moved closer. “Why do you suppose this?” His voice was bland but she could sense his sudden alertness.
“Mr. Sullivan visited the ranch several times. I believe they were planning some venture together. Thomas liked to brag. One night at dinner he bragged to Mr. Sullivan about how much money I was worth. He had always made my skin crawl with the looks he gave me. But after that his intensity changed. He stopped calling me Mrs. Galloway and he touched—” she swallowed and forced herself to continue. “He tried to kiss me several times. I went to Thomas and he offered no protection. I think because Mr. Sullivan was ignorant of your stake in the Whispering Creek, he plotted to dispose of Thomas, and then force me to marry him so he could control all I own.”
“Did you tell this to anyone?”
“I took my supposition to the Sheriff. He dismissed my allegations as a grieving widow and I have no proof. I have nothing except my fear, gut feelings, and the belief that some of the cowhands we hired in the months before Thomas died were Mr. Sullivan’s men.”
Elijah seemed to consider her words and she waited in an agony of hope for him to say something positive.
“If what you say is true Sheridan, you are not safe here. Pick any destination, and I will ensure that you reach it safely. Then I’ll return and deal with Sullivan’s interest in the Creek.”
She gritted her teeth until they hurt. She wanted to shout and rail at him, but forced herself to speak calmly. “Elijah you cannot just expect me to leave. This is my home.”
“Yes I do. What did you think would happen when you trekked up here? I would remember how intense it had been between us and allow you to remain at the ranch?” His sardonic question was like a whip, sharp and flaying.
Sheridan flushed because her heart had harbored such secret dreams. Her heart pounded against her ribs with arduous force. She hadn’t realized how violently he disliked her. “Why are you so cold to me? I know you are angry, but I never thought you hated me.” Her words barreled from her before she could stop them.
He shrugged as if she were unimportant and returned to packing his bag. “I do not hate you, Sheridan. I simply do not feel anything for you.”
Her heart slammed into her throat. How many times could she try to apologize? “I am sorry I lied to you. I was lonely and empty and so damn lost. I am sorry I foolishly told you I was free when I was not. If you will only listen to me, Elijah. Please let me explain—”
His eyes hardened. “I have told you Sheridan, there is nothing to discuss.”
She veered her eyes to the colt dragoon that lay on the polish oak table. She snatched it up, pointed and cocked the hammer.
He slowly spun and she was not sure what the smile that creased his lips meant. “Why have you pulled a gun on me?”
In the distance there was a roll of thunder and she jerked. Her hands trembled even though she knew she would not use it. “You are only so indifferent to me because you have refused to hear any apology or explanation from me as to what happened. I know I have done an unforgivable thing in the past, but I swear to you—”
He slowly stepped towards her. “What have I told you about drawing a weapon unless you are willing to stand by your action?”
She forced herself not to twitch at his cool drawl. Sheridan narrowed her eyes, hating the amusement that edged his lips. “You are not listening—”
She gasped and recoiled as he grabbed the gun, parried it, and twisted. Her hands stung as the twist broke her clasp on the weapon. He spun her around, pressing her front into the wall, holding her wrists above her head.
She craned her neck to meet his eyes. “Release me,” she hissed furiously, hating that he had easily gotten the better of her, hating herself for the tears of frustration prickling beneath her eyelids.
His mask slipped and hunger moved over his face. He tried to shutter his gaze but she saw it. He wanted her. She shifted pushing her body against him, and became still. She felt a twitch of hardness against her backside. Shame and hope surged through her. She had to mean something to him if he reacted so strongly to her closeness.
She wriggled against him, and he bit off a curse. He used one hand to clamp her wrists and the other to grip her hips tightly. For a moment he held her against him, his erection an erotic brand against her buttocks. Suddenly she knew the plan she concocted with Beth might work. Elijah could be tempted.
Her heart surged wildly. Need dampened between her legs, and she prayed he would kiss her. He wrapped her in his sexual need and she watched the expressions that swirled in his eyes—hunger and desire, and something else altogether too dark. Her womb clenched and she whimpered in loss when his resolve won and the shutters came down.
“Elijah, I—”
He surged from her muttering curses. She flinched at the virulent nature of his profanities. She should have felt despair, but what curled in her heart instead was hope. If he wanted her, all could not be lost.
***
Hell! His cock probably had the imprint of his buttons in it. Elijah snarled. He wanted her too much. He reigned in his lust with cool logic. He was determined to not sink into the need that blazed from her. She had always been weak to his touch and he just as damnably weak to hers. “Get a good’s night rest. We will be heading out at first light.”
“I insist that we discuss it now.”
She seemed to think on her words and he almost smiled when she grudgingly tacked on ‘please.’ She was a persistent thing, but he knew the best thing for her would be to leave the territory. Perhaps it would be best for his sanity as well. It would kill him if she were to be harmed.
“Beth is my dearest friend. She is very fragile and she needs me. Grayson is like my own son. The ranch is their home and if I were to leave Beth would not want to stay without me. I cannot protect them. I have a bargain to offer you.”
“I am not interested.”
“Whispering Creek is my home Elijah, my home.”
Her soft words punched into him, cracking the wall he had been trying to erect. He knew what having a place she called home meant to her. He ignored the pleading in her eyes, and gathered his weapons to clean and oil them for their journey in the morning. He did not believe in bringing a gunfight to what could be an amicable discussion, but he certainly believed in being prepared. “Mr. Sullivan truly offered marriage?”
Her eyes widened at his unexpected question. “I...Yes.”
“If you are not willing to leave, accept his suit. You will be on the neighboring ranch and will be able to see Beth and her son.” Denial burned in his gut at the very idea of her in another man’s arm.
Pain darkened her eyes. “I see.”
He had never heard her voice so hoarse. The devastation of her face was real. It gutted him to see it, but he would not offer false hope.
“You would easily relinquish me to another man?”
He slowly walked over to her. Her face looked bloodless, her eyes wide, huge pools of hurt. “You were never mine, Sheridan. There had been a time when I wished for it to be so. That time has passed. We will leave at first light…get some rest.”
He did not wait for her reaction. He slammed out of the cabin into the bracing cold, heading for the barn to ensure his horse was protected against the storm that was brewing. A snarl slipped from him as he slammed into the barn. Damn! She needed him. And he had to be there for her; even knowing to be in her presence would only slide him deeper into the abyss of failure and nightmares he’d been slowly pulling himself from. He would have to guard himself to ensure he never fell back into the trap a woman like her presented. A trap offering false hope, and certain death.