Daring (7 page)

“Then that’s why you won’t mind me kissing you. We’ll just get this out of the way, and that way both of us will know it was in the past.”

She stared at him like he’d been drinking loco juice. And all he could do was gaze at the shape of her mouth, how full and curvaceous her lips were, and when she wore that red stuff on her mouth, it reminded him of a ripe cherry, his for the picking.

“You’re crazy. You’re just trying to kiss me.”

Nobody could accuse her of being dumb. Yes, he wanted to taste her once again, but he truly hoped that once they touched lips, they would know this attraction he felt was in the past. They’d no longer be affected by whatever feelings they’d once possessed for each other. He’d quit thinking about Ruby and remember his wife, Laura, once again.

“No, I’m trying to cure this awkwardness between us, so we can move forward to capture this guy without worrying about the other person. This way we’ll know it’s behind us.”

God, maybe he was the stupid one. Here he was talking to a woman about kissing, a woman whose kisses he often dreamed about. 

“I don’t see how this is going to help,” she said. “We just need to focus on our goal.”

She was gazing at him, and for just a minute, he thought he saw a spark of something that looked like desire, but then it was gone.

“You’re right. We do,” he said as his hand brushed hers, sending a tingle of awareness through him like a lightning bolt. The surge of hunger was enough to clear his mind of only one thing. “Oh, hell.”

He grabbed her, pulling her into his arms, and layered his mouth over hers. She tasted of heat and passion and longing, leaving him aching with the need for more. Just another taste of how she would feel in his arms, in his bed, and crying out his name. Ruby filled him with a hunger that couldn’t be quenched, and that couldn’t be good. Like a stampede of cattle charging toward him, all those hidden feelings for her from years ago poured over him, filling him with an urgency to throw her onto the ground and…

And that was how babies were made.

The thought made him go cold inside, while his body glowed with a sexual heat that wanted fulfillment. He wrangled with the thought of where this could lead.

Ruby moaned deeply in her throat, and he realized he was the crazy one. They couldn’t do this. He couldn’t do this.

He pulled back. “We can’t.”

Slowly, she opened her eyes, and he could see the desire lingering there. “Haven’t I heard those words before? Don’t you like to start something and then get cold feet? What’s your excuse this time?”

“I’m married.”

*

Ruby pushed out of his arms. For the first time in years, she’d relaxed and felt safe in a man’s arms. Once again, she’d let herself go, thinking maybe they should see if there was anything left between them before they found themselves in a dangerous situation. And once again, Deke Culver had proven just what a snake in the grass he was.

He was married! As in holy matrimony. He had a wife. And he’d kissed Ruby.

If she caught one of her brother-in-laws kissing someone other than her sister, they’d find a bullet hole in a very important part of their anatomy.

Without thinking, she reached up and walloped him upside the head. “Why the hell were you talking about kissing when you’re married? That ceremony means one woman—one man. No one else. Understand?”

“Ouch. You didn’t have to hit me.”

“The hell I didn’t. I’m not smooching a wedded man.”

“You just did.”

“I didn’t know. You’re lucky I’m not putting a bullet in you.” She turned and glared at him over the fire and then moved her bedroll as far from his as she could get. “This is why you didn’t want to tell me what happened to you in the last three years. This is why nothing much is going on in your life. You’re married.” Ruby couldn’t sit still.

He was hitched, as in a wife, ring, and vows of till death do us part. The shock of those words had not worn off. Revulsion swept through her like a band of Indians chasing the cavalry.

And to think he had a wife sitting at home waiting on him. Poor unknowing woman. Ungrateful bastard.

“When did you meet her?”

“I’ve known her all my life.”

“Oh, so even before you puckered up with me that very first time, she was in your life. Maybe I should do this woman a favor and make her a widow.”

How could he have betrayed the woman he was going to marry by kissing Ruby? He couldn’t be the man she’d believed he was if he had knowingly smacked his lips with hers all those years ago and then gone home to stand before a preacher man.

“No, I didn’t know we were going to marry. It wasn’t planned. I didn’t tie the knot with her until six months after I left your place.”

Ruby sighed. Thank goodness he’d never taken her up on her offer. But still, the man was attached with a ring and a vow; he shouldn’t be smacking lips with Ruby now.

“Maybe it’s time we caught some shut eye.” She climbed into her bedroll, still smarting from the fact that for once she’d felt safe in a man’s arms. She’d enjoyed his touch and hadn’t cringed until after the kiss when she’d learned he was married.

Listening, she heard him rustling around getting into his bedroll. Finally, he settled down and she began to relax.

“Just like your father dying unexpectedly, sometimes things happen to people and they have no control. I hadn’t planned on marrying Laura,” he said from across the fire in the darkness.

Years ago, she’d been so angry when he’d ridden off that afternoon after telling her no, she’d even pulled out her gun and fired at him. Then he’d gone home and married another woman. If this didn’t prove to her that men were simple-minded creatures who didn’t know what they wanted, what would? She didn’t need the heartache. Her independence was much more satisfying.

“After kissing me, you married Laura.” Not that kissing was a commitment, more like a promise.

“I had no choice.”

“Well, I do. Goodnight, Deke. As soon as we catch Rivera, we part ways forever. Do you understand?”

“Clearly.”

Hopefully after tomorrow, they would never see each other again.

A
s they rode into Hide Town, Ruby noticed that though the town was small, a fair amount of people bustled about. There was a hotel, a mercantile, a saloon, the sheriff’s office, a barber, livery stable, blacksmith, and a church. Several homes were on the outskirts of town, and then there were the shanties. Those tiny buildings, built of scrap, where men and women lived with barely enough room to survive.

Ruby cringed at the thought of having to live in a dwelling that was more like a cell than a home. Usually, they consisted of a kitchen and a bed. Nothing else.

“I’ve been thinking, Ruby. Maybe we should check into the hotel and pretend we’re married. That way you’ll be protected,” Deke said, glancing over at her.

She shot him her surliest look, her lungs freezing at the audacity of him. The man
was
married. And she wasn’t sharing a hotel room with a man who had a wife. “Absolutely not.”

“Why?”

“If I need to explain the reason why a single woman and a married man do not share a hotel room, then you’re not the man I thought you were. In fact, I’m going to check into the Hide Town Hotel and pretend I don’t even know you. I would suggest you do the same. This way we can both be scouting around town without anyone knowing we’re connected.” Though Ruby had never lain with a man before, she knew most people assumed the worst about her. They thought that because she was strong and hunted criminals for a living she’d probably slept with half of Texas. Well, surprise, she was a virgin.

And she intended to stay one for a while. There was no hurry or reason for her to lay with a man.

Their horses clip clopped along the street as they headed toward the livery stables. People stopped and stared at the two of them riding into town.

“We’ve already been spotted coming in together,” Deke said.

“That doesn’t mean we know each other.”

“No, but they’re going to wonder if we do.”

So what. This was a town filled with criminals; they probably suspected everyone who rode into town. The townspeople would want to protect themselves and their families from people like her and Deke. “Well, good for them.”

“Ruby, don’t be difficult.”

“Difficult? You think I’m being difficult?” A surge of red hot anger spilled into her bloodstream, and she could almost hear the sizzle pulsing through her veins. She turned and slanted her eyes at him. “You haven’t begun to see difficult. I don’t kiss married men.”

She wondered what his wife looked like. And if they were in love, why was he smooching with Ruby? Where did she live? There was more to this story than Deke was telling, and if she ever met his spouse, she would fill the woman’s ears full of information on the cad she’d tied her wagon too.

Passing through town, Ruby ducked her head, so her hat covered her face, yet she tried to peer at the people along the sidewalk. Was Rivera here? She spurred her mustang toward the livery stable. Once she dropped him off, she’d search the town, do some investigating.

And no, Mr. Married Deke Culver was not going with her. She needed some time away from him. Some distance to clear her head and remind her body that yes, she was attracted to him, but he was strictly off limits as in wedding band restrictions.

“I’m going to check into the hotel, and then I’m going exploring,” she informed him as they rode down Main Street.

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, I’m doing this alone,” she said, turning in the saddle and glaring at him. Sometimes a girl needed some solitary time. They’d been together for three days. Enough.

“Why? Why can’t I go?”

“Because people don’t talk to me as easy if you’re around. I want them to open up and tell me what I need to know. If you’re near, they’re uneasy, glancing over my shoulder watching you, waiting for you to pounce.”

When another man looked at Ruby, Deke’s stare could scare a buzzard off a dead animal. Since he wasn’t responsible for Ruby, he had no right, and at the moment, she wanted to make herself familiar with the town and the people who lived here.

“I don’t know why. I’m not going to pounce on anyone,” he said.

“Well, let’s see. Could it be the guns on your hips or the way your black hat sits low on your forehead or the chaps you wear on your thighs? Or the scowl on your face?” She put a finger to her mouth and pretended to concentrate. “I just don’t know which one stands out more.”

“Smart ass.”

“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Where are you going?”

“If I knew, I wouldn’t tell you, but I’m not certain.” Oh, she knew exactly where she was headed, but he didn’t need to know. She didn’t want to listen to his lecture on her personal safety.

She pulled up in front of the livery stable and slid down from her horse. She began to unfasten her saddle, pulling the straps free.

An eager young man came running out. “Can I help you, miss?”

“Why, thank you. I need to board my horse.”

“Sure. I can take care of that for you. Do you want us to feed him?”

“No, she wants you to starve him,” Deke replied.

The boy shot him a look that had it been a bullet, Deke would be dead. Just what she didn’t need, Deke alienating the livery boy. They were some of the best resources of knowledge for the comings and goings of just about everyone in town. This was why she refused to pretend they were husband and wife. Their association had to be kept to a minimum, starting right now.

“Don’t mind him. He’s a cranky old man I met on the trail. We’re parting ways right here,” she whispered to the stable boy.

“Oh,” the kid said kind of surprised. “I thought you were together.”

She looked at Deke. “No, I’m alone.”

“Are you visiting someone in town?” the boy asked.

A horse neighed in the background, and she glanced over to see Deke wandering over to the animal. He put his hand on the horse’s nose and stared into the animal’s eyes. What he was doing?

“I do,” she lied. “I’m looking for the Rivera family. I’m a distant relation, and I wanted to say hello while I was in town. Don’t know how long I’ll be staying, but it would be nice to say hello.”

“I don’t know them.”

“Too bad,” she said, trying to pay attention to the livery kid, but also watching Deke caressing the horse’s face with his fingertips.

“Hey, mister, I wouldn’t get too close to that horse. He’s a mean one,” the kid warned.

“He’s not so bad. What you’re feeding him is giving him gas. He’s in pain.”

The kid stared at Deke like he’d lost his mind, and Ruby wondered how Deke knew these things about horses that no one else did. After Deke had recommended they separate Ruby’s and Caroline’s horses at night, Caroline’s mare had done better. But just watching him with the animals, Ruby didn’t know how Deke determined what the horse needed.

The stable boy turned back to Ruby. “Miss, I’d be happy to bring your saddle down to the hotel for you.”

“Why, thank you. What’s your name?”

“Tim, ma’am.”

“Nice to meet you, Tim. I’m Ruby Callahan,” she lied, not willing to give her real name. Afraid if the town had heard of Ruby McKenzie, they would indeed go after her.

An older man appeared in the doorway, his hat pushed back, his stomach hanging over his pants, with a gun slung low around his hips, staring at them. A star was pinned to his shirt. He glanced over them from head to toe as if memorizing every detail. “Who are you folks?” he asked.

“I’m Ruby Callahan,” she said, stepping forward and offering him her hand, smiling. “I don’t know the name of this gentleman. We just happened to ride into town at the same time.”

“Deke Culver.” Deke’s voice was low, and she watched the two men eyeing each other like a pair of bullfighters in a ring, circling.

“What’s your business here in town?” the sheriff asked.

Boy, what a friendly place this was. The welcoming committee was the local law wanting to know why you were here.

“What’s your name?” Ruby asked, lifting her chin, staring him in the eyes.