Forty

Gloom shrouded everything in sight by the time they stopped for the night. Pushing hard, they’d doubled the miles today. That should’ve satisfied Houston, but it didn’t. He wished they’d made fifty, or a hundred, and put themselves out of range of whatever was coming.

Danger crackled in the air like lightning did right before it struck. He felt it, and he knew by the men’s anxious glances and nervous laughter they did too.

Near the campfire, he squatted down beside his horse and picked up a handful of red dirt. Maybe it was this color because of all the spilled blood. Lord knew the lawless territory had seen plenty. The area was nothing but a haven for outlaws and mercenaries—the baddest of the bad.

Men with nothing to lose.

Men who killed for the sake of it.

Men such as Yuma Blackstone.

The pounding of hooves brought him to his feet. He slid his Colt from the holster, staring into the thick black night in the direction they’d come. The hair on his arms rose. Still he couldn’t see anything, and whoever it was kept coming. The sound grew louder and louder and his heart thudded painfully against his ribs.

Two riders materialized from around a stand of mesquite, riding straight for him.

“Hold it right there!” Houston barked.

The riders stopped. A voice called out, “Don’t shoot. It’s Sam and Luke.”

Relieved, Houston returned his Colt to the leather holster and watched them walk in. Both appeared dirty and tired. From the looks of them, they’d been in the saddle since daylight.

Dark stains covered their shirts. Appeared to be blood.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he said, clasping their hands. “I figured you for dead.”

Sam glanced at Luke and grinned. “You mean we’re not?”

Houston touched Sam’s shoulder to assure himself his brother was real. “Looks like you had a time of it. You’re about ready to keel over.”

From beneath the brim of his hat, Luke’s eyes glittered like bits of glass in the firelight. “We fought like hell to get here to warn you. They’re coming with a vengeance and they’ve got killing in mind.”

“’Course, they’re short by at least six,” Sam added. “Wish we could’ve whittled away a few more.”

Clay, Pony, and several other drovers gathered around. Houston watched Clay exchange a nod with Luke.

“Did you find Gus?” Pony asked.

“What there was left of him.” Luke accepted a cup of coffee Lara brought him, and she passed the next to Sam.

The drovers waited while Sam and Luke took several sips, letting the hot brew wash some of the trail dust from their throats.

Frank Farley stood apart, watching. Houston saw yearning in his eyes to be included. Yet, one question persisted. Was he really with them, or against them? Was he only pretending to be fed up with Yuma? Houston sighed. He couldn’t invite the man to join them until he was sure.

Luke turned to Lara, who stood with Houston. “Thank you, Miss Lara. This hits the spot…until I can find something stronger. Which I hope is sooner rather than later.”

Lara laid a hand on his shoulder. “Glad I can help.”

“Whiskey’s in my saddlebag. Help yourself.” Houston slid his arm around Lara and prodded his brothers. “I want to know everything from the time we left. But first, tell us about Gus. The men need information about their friend.”

“Miss Lara, what we have to say isn’t pretty,” Sam said with a question in his voice.

Lara stiffened. “I’m no weak lily, Sam. Of anyone here, I most know what Yuma is capable of.”

Before the brothers could go on, loud cries erupted. Caroline rushed toward Lara with Gracie. “She fell trying to pull up to that big rock over there and skinned her leg. I told her she was all right, but she wants her mama.”

Taking her, Lara moved away so the men could talk. Houston’s gaze followed as she comforted the child. Part of him yearned go with her, to plug his ears to more tales of killing, to simply be a family. But as head of the outfit, he had no choice but to stay.

“Go on, Sam.” He dragged his attention back to the circle.

“The day you left, we found the carcass of a dead cow,” Sam said. “Someone had skinned it and stripped away the meat. We assumed the culprits were hungry Indians from one of the tribes. Then three days later, we ran across Gus.”

Luke took up the story. “At first we thought it was another dead cow. Someone had wrapped the cowhide tightly around Gus and bound it while he was alive. They left him out in the sun to dry. The shrinking hide crushed him to death.”

A commotion drew Houston’s attention as Gus’s best friend, Pony, pushed through the wall of men. Tears trickled down his face. “Those dirty, low-down bastards. They could’ve killed him without torture! He never did one damn thing to them. I say we hunt down every stinkin’ one of ’em.”

It would be nice. But Yuma wanted him to leave Lara unprotected so he could get to her.

“You’ll ride into a death trap if you go.” Sam took the last swig of coffee and tossed the dregs onto the ground. “They’re ready and itching to kill more of us. I’ve been working as a lawman all my life. I’ve seen my share of killers eaten alive with bloodlust until it wiped out every trace of humanity, but this bunch is more evil than any I’ve ever seen.”

Luke shifted and stared at Houston. His words had a hard edge. “We’ve got to stop them from getting Lara and Gracie, at all costs. If they do… Well, just know after a few days with them, you won’t recognize her.”

The warning drenched Houston like a bucket of icy water. It took great effort to drag his gaze from Luke’s cold green eyes. When he did, he glanced at Lara sitting with young Caroline. Blue flames from the fire played across her beautiful features, but the shadows made the long, jagged scar on her face appear deep. He watched her kiss Gracie and hug her tight. The backs of his eyes burned.

If anyone hurt either of them, he’d not rest until he wiped them from the earth.

Houston pried the words from his back teeth. “Don’t worry, Luke. They’ll have to drain every last drop of blood from my body first, and doing that will take more fighters and strength than they’ve got.”

Murmurs of solidarity went around the circle and he knew they’d protect her and Gracie with their lives.

“We were able to pick off six from a cliff top but the bastards just seem to multiply like a bunch of roaches. Sam and I got back here as quick as possible to warn you. They’re riding hard and fast. You don’t want to see what this group can do.” Luke let out a string of curses.

“We found something to show you.” Sam walked to his horse and reached into his saddlebag. “We have another group on our trail.”

The former Texas Ranger took about a dozen broken arrows from his saddlebag.

Houston nodded and told his brothers about the burned-out village they’d discovered.

“What’s to make them think you didn’t do it?” Luke asked.

“Nothing.” Not one blessed thing. Houston rubbed his day-old whiskers. They could have the Indians after them too. How would they survive both groups?

Henry climbed down from the chuck wagon and went to sit with the women. Even from this distance, Houston could see the dark circles under his eyes.

“Sam, did you and Luke happen to hear of a raid on the Ledbetters’ wagon?”

“We stopped it. Why?”

Houston told them about Henry’s ordeal and how he walked all that way to them. “He said the outlaws killed them all.”

“So that’s what happened to him.” Sam glanced toward the boy. “We worried when we couldn’t find him.”

Luke crossed his arms. “In the dark, it’s easy to see how he’d think they’d all been killed. Hiram had told them to play dead if they ever came under attack. That’s what they did. They’re alive, Houston, but almost everyone, including the children, had bad wounds. After helping Hiram doctor them, we escorted them out of danger and they went on.”

“It’s a relief that they survived the slaughter.” Houston glanced at the boy. “Will you tell Henry? He needs to know.”

Maybe, somehow, the boy could find his laughter again.

“Sure.” Luke walked to the campfire and dropped next to Henry.

“I want your opinion, Sam.” Houston rubbed the back of his neck. “I have half a notion to leave the herd and make a run for Fort Supply. The only thing stopping me is not knowing if we could move fast enough to stay ahead of them.”

“Luke and I discussed that,” Sam answered. “But we’d risk an attack in the open, where they’d cut us down. I say send the women on with one man and make a stand right here, in the shadow of this rocky cliff. We could hold them up and let the women escape. It seems our best option to me. If they were my family, that’s what I’d do.”

As long as his family and Caroline were out of danger, Houston would draw a line and stay put. He’d take whatever came: life—or death.

The end of Clay’s cigarette glowed when he inhaled. He blew the smoke out slowly. “We didn’t bring a lot of shovels, but if we work through the night, the men could dig a long trench. Doubt the gang would even see us until it was too late.”

Houston mulled that over. Yuma’s force had shrunk by six. The drovers outnumbered them now. With luck, the fight would end fast. “I like that idea, Clay. We can set things around to make it appear that Lara is still here. How far behind are they, Sam?”

“A day maybe but could be less,” Sam said, rubbing his eyes. “Say, do you mind if I get some grub? Luke and I haven’t eaten since yesterday and my belly’s letting me know it.”

“Go ahead. We’ll talk while you eat.” Houston strode to the chuck wagon with his little brother. His gaze went to Henry, who sat with Luke. The boy sniffled and wiped his nose but so far held the tears at bay.

Henry glanced at Houston. “They’re not all dead. They’re not.”

“Good news, Henry. Every cloud has a silver lining.”

He just prayed this cloud did.

* * *

Lara lay in Houston’s arms under the chuck wagon, listening to the sound of the men digging, hearing each time they struck rock. He’d been out most of the night helping but had come back to seek a little rest with her.

She shifted and glanced over to find him staring at the underside of the wagon. “You’re so still I thought you might be asleep.”

“Thinking.”

The deep rumble of his voice brought comfort. “Perhaps you could explain something.”

“Anything for you.” He kissed her upturned face.

“You’re always so calm. Do you ever get afraid you’ll die?”

“Sometimes.”

“How do you manage to hide it?”

“Lord knows I fail miserably. Maybe what helps is forcing myself to stare danger in the face and move toward it, even when I want to run.” He draped his arm protectively across her stomach and she savored the weight.

Lara snuggled against him, listening to his heart beating. “I’m terrified. Not for me, but for Gracie and Henry. And you.”

Hot tears lurked behind her eyes. To lose her husband would banish every bit of sunshine and laughter from the earth. She meant to soak up every second of being in his arms.

Just in case they didn’t make it.

He brushed her temple with his lips and the touch was so tender it made the backs of her eyes burn.

“Tell me about this house I’m going to build for you. Anything special in mind?” he asked.

Lara knew he was trying to take her mind off the looming fight and she loved him for it. “I want a wide porch going all the way around. In the mornings, I can sit out there and watch the sun come up, and in the evenings I can see the sunset.”

“How big is this house?”

“Two-story. Four large bedrooms upstairs.” She absently created circles on his leather vest with a finger. “A bathing room with hot and cold running water and a water closet. Big windows downstairs that let light flood in.”

“Anything else?”

The way they spoke in hushed voices, little more than whispers, Lara felt as though they were locked in their own private world.

“A tall flagpole at the corner of the house so we can fly our own Texas flag. That means a lot to me. That flag honors the men who paid the ultimate price so I might live free.” She glanced up and smiled. “This state has seen so much bloodshed, yet we Texans still stand tall. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”

“Me either. It’s the best place this side of heaven.”

Lara glanced at a few men grabbing what sleep they could a few yards away, wishing she could make love to Houston, yet knowing she couldn’t.

As though sensing her thoughts, Houston nibbled his way across her lips until he coaxed them open. Lara gave a soft sigh and welcomed his tongue, curling hers around it. His mouth seemed like velvet as he created a seal, locking in the hunger of his kiss.

His rough palm slid along the curves of her body, sending warm waves of pleasure down to her toes. God in heaven, she wanted him. This man had taken her into his heart and she cherished him more than her own life.

Sliding her hand into his hair, she melted into his arms, glad she had come on this cattle drive, remembering making love beside the Canadian River in the moonlight. She was meant to be with Houston Legend. Surely the God who’d brought them together despite the odds wouldn’t separate them now. He wouldn’t be that cruel.

Houston was hers.

As their lips parted, she murmured against his mouth, “I love you, cowboy. Don’t ever forget.”

“No chance.” Houston smoothed back her hair. “No matter what tomorrow brings, I will always cherish this time with you.”

“Looking back, it amazes me how we ever got to the altar. One misstep or changed event and we’d never have met.” The magnitude still boggled her mind.

Rising on an elbow, he ran the tip of his finger down her scarred cheek. “You’ve given me more happiness than I have a right to.”

“I’m glad. You have me too.”

With a rumble in his chest, he took her hand and brought it to his lips. “When we get to Dodge, I’m going to deck you out in silk. And when you walk down the street on my arm, who do you think they’ll be looking at?”

“You,” she breathed. “No man ever cut a finer figure.”

“Nope. They’ll pay me no mind, because you’ll blind them with your beauty. And I’ll be the proudest man you ever saw.”

Lara snuggled against him, soaking up the happiness of being with Houston. She never wanted this to end. But would tomorrow sever them forever? A thickness formed in her throat. If he died, she wanted to die with him. She couldn’t imagine a world without him in it.

Heavy silence enveloped them as Lara laid her head on his chest and listened to the sound of his soft breathing.

This man she’d married would never falter or waver from the rules he’d created deep within his soul—things like love, honor, and protect.

She thought he’d gone to sleep until another rumble came from his chest. “Lara, tomorrow I’m going to send you, Caroline, and the children ahead.”

A fist closed around her heart. He couldn’t ask this. “No.”

“Listen to me,” he said gently, rising up on an elbow. His touch was tender on her skin. “I can’t have you here. It’s too risky. No matter what happens, it will end right here.”

“I’m staying.” Leaving him would kill her.

He turned her head to look into her eyes. “I wish I could let you, but I can’t this time. I need you to ride as fast as you can to Fort Supply. Probably take a little over two days in the wagon. Wait there. I’ll join you when I can.”

“Please don’t ask this of me. To leave you will rip out my heart.” Her voice was thick with an ache no words could express. He needed her. She needed him.

Houston brushed her ear with his lips. “I’d rather I rip it out than Yuma. Think of Gracie, Henry, Caroline. If they stay here, they’ll die. They’re counting on you to lead them to safety. Be strong for me.”

He asked the impossible. She couldn’t do this. What made him think she was strong? She ran from trouble like some whimpering, frightened, pathetic animal.

She’d let Yuma instill fear so deep inside, the sun’s warmth couldn’t reach it. Even worse, she’d almost let the man break her. How could she ride off and hide where she was safe and let Houston face the demons that rightfully belonged to her?

“You have to, for the children and that young girl,” he whispered in her ear as though he’d read her thoughts. “For them, you have to do this. Do it for me.”

“I’ll do most anything you ask.” Lara tried to calm the mass of quivers inside her. “You’re my partner, my best friend, my lover. Just don’t ask me to bury you, because I can’t. We’re going to give Yuma Blackstone a whipping he won’t ever forget.”