Desert Rogue (20 page)

“Well, Vicky?” Jed offered her the half-full bottle.

For a moment she just looked at it and then she nodded, accepted the liquor and tilted her head back to take a drink.

“Just take a small sip,” cautioned Jed, having second thoughts about introducing the feisty female to a stimulant she really didn't need.

“Are you rationing this, too? Well, Kincaid, you're too late,” retorted the woman, too annoyed to use his given name. And she had thought she might be attracted to him? To show him exactly what his advice meant to her, Victoria drank deeply, totally unprepared for the sudden inferno coursing its way down her throat to her stomach. Were she able, she would have spit out the burning venom, but she was much too busy coughing and wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Have you noticed she never listens the first time I say anything?” asked Jed in disgust as he rescued the precious bottle from the sand, wet where she had flung it. “See here, she's wasted nearly a third of what was left.”

“Damn you, Kincaid. You did that on purpose, knowing I would defy your orders. I could kill you.” Her arms extended, Victoria ran at the American, knocking him off-balance and landing atop him. Venting the frustration that had been growing for days, she angrily began to pummel his chest. “That is for making fun of Hayden and for making me swim in the Nile and—”

“Victoria, let Jed up. He is not at fault. You drank—”

“Ali, stay out of this. Someone has to teach him a lesson.”

“I can handle her, Ali,” said Jed, winking. “Leave us be.”

“Do not hurt her,” cautioned the Egyptian while she continued to batter Jed's chest and head with her fists.

“Hurt her?” Jed laughed.

“Don't even think of that happening,” yelled Victoria.

Then, before she could anticipate his movement, Jed rolled over, imprisoning her beneath him, his weight trapping her hands between them.

“You bastard, let me up right now.”

“Oh, uncomfortable, are you?”

“You—you miserable excuse for a man—”

“Careful now, Vicky. Don't say anything you might regret,” he drawled. “Your weapon of choice may have been your fists, but mine is my lips and you'll find they can be quite punishing.”

Even as the tiny shiver of anticipation quavered in her throat, his hands reached up to her hair and wrapped themselves in its length. Then, gently, he pulled her head up until her mouth met his. Rather than punishing, however, his evocative lips were artfully teasing. They caressed hers lengthily before dancing softly over the contours of her face, brushing feather-soft kisses on her temples and eyelids. When at last his lips returned to hers to nibble delicately, they traced the contours of her mouth in an unhurried exploration. Without warning, his tongue began to lick at the remains of the
zabeeb
on her chin.

Victoria moaned. She found herself responding willingly, pressuring his mouth as he crushed hers, sensing a deepening warmth throughout her body as it released her desires, welcoming the act of loving. Then, just as she was delighting in Jed's embrace, he ended it, rising abruptly to his feet.

“Jed?” she asked in surprise.

“Go to sleep now,” he said gruffly, striding away before he lost the will to do so. “Punishment is over.”

Punishment?
He called kissing her punishment? How dare he be such a fool? She wanted to scream at him in furious frustration, but her pride wouldn't permit it. Then, from deep in the confines of her heart, arose the question. If this heady experience was Jed's idea of discipline, how much more wonderful would it be if he loved her as a reward?

“Kincaid,” challenged Ali, moving into the American's path. “That was absolutely despicable. You are a man without shame.”

“I walked away from the woman, didn't I?”

“Not finishing what you ought never have started is no badge of honor. Your mother would be appalled by your conduct.”

“It wouldn't be the first time and assuredly not the last.” Jed gave a harsh laugh. “If you feel the need to protect Vicky's honor, however, you sleep beside her tonight to keep her warm. I'm going for a walk.”

“Now?”

“Unless you have a cold stream available, it's the only acceptable alternative,” muttered Jed as he strode off into the darkness. “Four more blasted days...”

Ali watched him go without further comment, shaking his head at the foolishness of this pair. Clearly they were attracted to each other, but, just as clearly, he was too stubborn and she was too principled to explore that attraction or even admit it existed. Looking up at the vast array of stars overhead, the Egyptian wondered at the mystery of it.

T
empers the next morning were short since neither Victoria nor Ali had slept well, and Jed, preferring to avoid Vicky's proximity, had never retired at all. After nearly a week on the trail, however, each knew his chores and went about them by rote, clearing signs of the camp and repacking the dwindling supplies. Two hours before dawn, they were traveling again, having exchanged barely a dozen words since rising.

If they rode until noon and then again from five until midnight or so, that would be fourteen hours in the saddle, calculated Jed silently, a lengthy day, but worth the price if they could complete the trip to the Egyptian border in three days rather than the four or five he had estimated earlier. It was becoming too dangerous to linger in the desert with Hayden's fiancée.

Behind him, he heard her speaking with Ali, but, still furious with himself for having taking advantage of Victoria, he couldn't be bothered listening. She was too damned desirable by far, but that was no excuse. At twenty-eight, he wasn't a callow youth, unable to control his urges. Ali had spoken the truth last night. His behavior had been despicable, Jed thought, removing his hat to run a restless hand through his dark hair. During his long sleepless night, he had concluded the only way he could possibly atone for his behavior was to return Victoria to Hayden as swiftly as he was able, avoiding contact with her whenever he could.

Hours later, looking over his shoulder at her, still fetching after days in the desert heat, Jed could not help but admire the woman's stamina. Despite her coddled existence in Cairo, she had blossomed in the desert, meeting each challenge admirably, though usually not silently. In other circumstances... But no, it was out of the question, he admonished himself, startled that his heart was so reluctant to abandon what his mind knew was but a fantasy. They were two completely different people, from two different worlds, and neither was familiar with the notion of compromise. A relationship between them could never succeed, he decided, trying to discard any idea of it once and for all.

“Rah,”
he bellowed suddenly, urging his camel into a faster pace. Based on the bearings he took at dawn, the oasis should be over the next ridge of sand dunes. They could have a midday break there and press on by late afternoon. “Let's find water.”

The expected watering hole was not over the next ridge, however, but two more distant ones. By now, even the usually stoic camels were anxious to slake their thirst, and as they spotted the telltale dwarf palms, Victoria's animal raced furiously down the incline toward the oasis, snorting loudly. She struggled to temper his frenzied run, but he was out of control. Flying past Jed's camel, he galloped straight into the pool itself and began to lap vigorously at the brownish fluid.

“Vicky, pull his nose out of there, right now,” instructed Jed sharply, holding his own animal back from the water's edge.

“Have you ever tried to make half a ton of muscle do what it doesn't want to?” she replied. After a few minutes of unsuccessful yanking on his bridle and kicking at his flanks, Victoria shook her own head and gave up. “You know what, Jed? I'm so thirsty I don't care if he did get here first. I'm going to enjoy a long drink, too. In fact, I think I'll follow his example and cool off and drink at the same time. Why don't you come join me?”

“No, Vicky, wait—”

Dropping from her saddle with a gleeful wave in Jed's direction, she landed rump first in the water, laughing in delight. While her camel snorted its annoyance and moved away from her, she splashed about in total joy, finally feeling comfortable for the first time in days.

“Considering the sun's heat, this feels like heaven,” she called, ducking her head beneath the muddy surface. As she came up sputtering and wiping the moisture from her eyes, Jed was there beside her, thigh deep in the pond as anger clouds warred behind his eyes.

“Out!” he ordered.

“What is wrong with you? Can't you ever relax and let go of that stern demeanor? Or are you looking for an excuse to ‘punish' me again?”

Without further prelude Jed lifted her out of the water and tossed her over his shoulder. Holding her in place with one arm, he grabbed the camel's lead with the other and headed for the sand.

“Kincaid, put me down at once,” she demanded, pounding on his back. It was to no avail though as he strode purposefully on, while Ali watched from where he held his and Jed's animals back from the pool.

“I suspect the water is bad, and I don't want to take a chance of your being sick from drinking something poisoned,” he explained, releasing Victoria. She slid down gently to stand, dripping on the hot sand. “We'll fill a few waterbags and use them later, if your camel doesn't show any ill effects.”

“Poisoned? That is absurd. How could it be poisoned?”

“One trade caravan might have wanted to eliminate another, or perhaps a dead animal contaminated it, but we will not drink here.”

“I think you are being ridiculous—”

“No, Victoria, Jed is right,” said Ali. “The grass is dead and the date palms are shriveled. Think how green the other oasis was and tell me you don't see a difference.”

“That doesn't mean poison—”

“Perhaps not, but as we came down the sands, I saw two half-rotten carcasses. Animals wouldn't have died so close to water if it were potable.”

“Can't we at least wade in it to cool off?” She knew she sounded like a petulant child, but the water had felt so splendid, it was difficult to believe it was tainted.

“Absolutely not,” answered Jed, eying her wet form regretfully as he struggled to keep himself in check. Were he not so committed to doing his duty, he might enjoy the temptations of the desert. “I'm sorry you exposed yourself to the water at all, but hopefully you won't suffer for it. As for your young camel, time will reveal soon enough whether he'll live to grow old. We may yet be lucky.”

* * *

Toward evening, however, it was clear that good fortune was not with them. Victoria's camel had been slowing down, unable to keep the pace Jed set, but gamely trekking across the sand nonetheless. Then, all at once, it began to shudder and dropped to its knees. Shouting a warning, Victoria jumped from its back just before the animal rolled to its side, bellowing its pain.

“Jed, what can we do?” she appealed helplessly as the large body shook violently, spasming out of control.

“End his suffering,” he answered, dismounting and grabbing his rifle.

“But, Jed—”

“To leave the beast in agony would be inhuman,” offered Ali sympathetically. “Come, walk a ways, Victoria, you need not watch.”

Turning aside did not make it any easier. The sound of the shots echoed over the open sand and Victoria knew all too well what they signified. Had she been able to control the animal, he would still be alive. And if Jed had not been able to control her, she realized suddenly with a shiver, her death might well have followed the camel's. Once more, the American had been her protector. When she looked back, Jed was untying the camel's saddlebags and blankets.

“We'll put the extra load on your animal, Ali, and I will take Victoria to ride with me,” he said.

“What about the waterbags we filled?” questioned the Egyptian.

“Empty them in the sand and then bury them. We cannot risk using them and carrying their contamination to other wells.”

“Jed—” Victoria began.

He was still unburdening the carcass, but he turned at the sound of her voice, anxiety fleeting across his rugged face.

“Are you all right, Vicky? No symptoms, I hope.”

“I am fine, except for being embarrassed for doubting you,” she admitted softly. He straightened from his task and she stood, unflinching, studying his searching eyes. “You have been right about everything since you rescued me and I've struggled against you every inch of the way. It may not mean much, but I am sorry, Jed. And I do appreciate your saving my life, yet again.”

“Who's keeping score?” interrupted the sun-burnished male with a laugh. He found this side of Victoria soft and enchanting and not as easy to dismiss.

“I am,” Victoria persisted, determined to let Jed know exactly how she felt. There had been enough hidden between them and she was tired of the subterfuge. “I know you see me as a spoiled debutante and perhaps I was, but I am trying to change.”

“And doing an admirable job of it,” Jed conceded, reaching down to brush a lock of hair out of her eyes despite his intent to keep his hand off. Worse yet, his fingers lingered on the soft curve of her cheek until he could finally force them to leave.

“It is still quite a distance to the next oasis, however, and even farther to Cairo. Help me carry this stuff to Ali's camel,” he ordered gruffly. He hoped the authoritative sound of his words would help
him
restore their relationship to what it had been before he touched her.

Watching Jed maneuver the added baggage onto the camel's back, Victoria was again aware of the gentleness of those strong hands. He was a rare combination of strength and compassion as he helped Ali. Hayden would have stood back complaining while he waited for a servant to complete the chores. But then Hayden was a gentleman, and Jed was just a man, a man with no fear of offending society with his behavior or opinions. A man who would scandalize her parents and Cairo society, warned her conscience.

“Victoria?”

It was Jed, standing before her and using her full name. Why?

“I'll help you mount. You shouldn't be too uncomfortable.”

“You called me
Victoria.
”

“Isn't that what you prefer?” he asked, his hard green eyes dancing up at her as she settled herself in his saddle.

He was offering her a choice, she realized, noting the tentative smile gracing his lips, as if uncertain it would be appreciated.

“Victoria will do, unless you wish to address me as
Queen
Victoria,” she admitted, her laughter bubbling over as she recalled her decidedly imperial attitude in their first days together.

“Nah, you're too skinny to tote that title,” he retorted with a grin. In an instant, he was seated behind her on the camel and was urging the animal to its feet.
“Rah!”

* * *

It was hard to keep her eyes open when she was so comfortable, Victoria noticed later that afternoon. While she had been responsible for her own camel, she had to be alert, but it was so pleasant to lie back against Jed's broad chest she didn't care about anything else. Besides, it was still so damnably hot she felt as though she was on fire. Certainly she was completely drained of energy.

“Jed, is there any water left at all, even a few drops? I'm parched so, I don't think I can go on much farther—”

Jed looked down at his companion, disturbed to see that her face was flushed and her skin clammy. Could she have absorbed the poison from the bad water after all and be starting to show the symptoms? Or was she suffering sunstroke or dehydration? In either case there was little he could do until they reached the next oasis, and even with the strenuous pace he had been setting, that would not be for another three or four hours, at least.

“There might be a tiny bit,” he said, halting the camel and reaching back to one of the saddlebags. Carefully he put a cloth over the top and upended the container. A few droplets fell on the piece of fabric and he handed it to Victoria. “Suck on that for a while. It should ease the discomfort somewhat. I'm sorry, but it's the best I can do.”

It was enough, decided Victoria. Jed
was
protecting her, and that was all that mattered now.

* * *

They had seen the campfire at the oasis from the distance before they had doubled back to make camp, and Ali was leery about Jed's plan. They had counted four figures huddled about the flames, but that didn't mean there weren't more.

“Maybe we should just wait until tomorrow morning after they have left,” suggested Ali.

“And if they're traveling in this direction, they'll find us before that happens. We can't take that chance. Don't you think that they'll be tempted to take Vicky, just like the others?” disputed Jed, his brow creased with worry. He didn't like the way she continued to sleep so soundly even though he and Ali had set up the camp around her. Her body was warm to the touch, but he consoled himself that it could be the effects of the journey as easily as an illness. “I'll go in on foot and fetch the water under the cover of darkness tonight. Then before dawn, we can circle farther west and avoid them altogether.”

“Suppose they catch you filling the water bags?” protested Ali.

“I'll tell them I got lost in the sandstorm and my camel collapsed.”

“I would be more believable traveling alone in the desert.”

“Ali, you're not strong enough to walk as far as their camp unaided, let alone return here carrying water. No, I'll go. You keep my rifle in case of trouble and look after Vicky.” Kneeling beside the sleeping woman, Jed stroked her cheek and once again felt her forehead. “She doesn't seem any warmer than before. When I return, we'll bathe her head.”

“And if you don't return?”

“Another day should see you across the Egyptian border, and if need be, you can return to the river for the rest of the trip.”

“If you are determined to do this, may Allah walk before you.”

“May he abide with you, as well.”

* * *

His destination was perhaps two miles away, but Jed preferred to be extra cautious in his approach. With a bit of luck, he should be able to sneak into the oasis, obtain the necessary water and escape without notice. Staying close to the ground, he concentrated on stealth rather than speed.

Thankful there was no moon to reveal his silhouette against the sand, the man who found himself so at home in the desert reached his objective in under an hour. The darkness of the sky lent him a tenuous sense of security, yet at the same time it made him all too aware of his smallness amid the workings of the universe. Were he to disappear on this outing, he realized, it would only be Ali and perhaps Vicky who would notice, a sobering thought guaranteed to insure his care.