Destiny's Captive (19 page)

“I didn't mean to interrupt.”

“Nothing to apologize for. I was just about done anyway. Would you like some lunch?”

“I would.” After the ride into town and the time spent with the gun club, breakfast seemed like years ago.

“Then let's go down and see what we can beg from Bonnie.”

Bonnie packed them a picnic lunch and they drove a wagon out to the river that bordered the property. As he set the brake, he said, “It's not the ocean, but it is water.”

“And it's peaceful, too,” she replied taking in the wide-open land.

“There are some seats down at the edge. We can eat there.”

“Lead the way.”

Once they were settled they ate in a companionable silence.

“These seats are very convenient.”

“Max built them for my mother after my father died so she could come down here and grieve in peace. Everyone takes advantage of them now.”

She peered down the bank. “Whose home is that?”

“Drew and Billie's. He'd wanted to build on that spot since we were adolescents. Max designed it and the men of the valley helped with the construction.”

“Do Logan and Mariah live near the water, too?”

“No, they're closer to the main house.”

“Where do you want to live?”

“Not sure. Didn't think about it much until you came along,” he said, showing a smile. “Had planned to spend the rest of my life aboard a ship.”

“Not very practical if we have children.”

“No.” Noah wondered what their children might look like. Would they have their mother's proud chin and expressive dark eyes? Would they be tall and robust like him and play the piano? The only thing certain was that they wouldn't bear his scar and that was a good thing. “Do you mind waiting until I sort out what I'm going to do—now that Kingston is stepping away from our partnership—to decide where we want to live?”

“Not at all.”

My brothers and I each own a parcel of the ranch. Mine is west of here, so if we do decide we want to be here with family, we have a spot.”

“Can we go see it?”

“Sure.”

They gathered up the leavings of their meal and drove west, where the terrain was more wooded and rugged. The river was wider and the current ran stronger as well. There were huge boulders mid-stream and the mountains on the far bank stood like sentinels against the cloudy sky. Noah had always enjoyed the wild, untamed feel of his portion of the ranch and if he did decide to build a home there he'd have no complaints.

“I like this,” she said to him while balancing herself to walk out onto a rocky shelf above the fast moving water. “Reminds me a bit of home. I wouldn't mind living out here.”

“Good. It's close to the main house but far enough away to give us all the privacy we need.”

“And since I have such a shameless husband, privacy will be needed.”

He placed his hands on her waist and swung her down to where he stood and looked down into the face that was altering his take on life. “I'm not the only shameless one.”

“And aren't you glad?”

Laughing, he eased her in against him and savored the feel of her arms as they tightened around him. “Have I kissed you today?”

She leaned back and cracked, “If you have to ask, you have some rectifying to do.”

“Give me your sassy mouth, woman.”

As always, kissing her filled his soul with light, warmth, and joy. He drew back and asked, “How's that?”

She shrugged. “I've had better.”

He swatted her behind and pulled her in again, this time kissing her so deeply and thoroughly she softened against him and a quiet purr of pleasure slipped from her lips. “Better?”

“Very much,” she whispered.

Suddenly the wind picked up and with it came fat, cold drops of rain.

“Where'd this come from?” she screeched as it began pouring.

Laughing, they ran for the wagon. He pulled a tarp out of the bed, threw it over their heads, and headed the horses towards home.

That evening after dinner they were playing checkers in the sitting room when a knock sounded on the door. Pilar got up to answer but not before giving her pieces a quick look to verify their locations because she'd recently discovered that her husband liked to cheat. “Keep your hands off my men, Noah Yates.”

He dramatically placed his hand over his heart. “You wound me, fair maiden.”

“Yes I will, if you touch anything.”

When she opened the door, there stood Max. “Message from the telegraph office. It's addressed to you, Pilar.”

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

After closing the door, she excitedly tore open the envelope and read:

Happy
.

Leaving soon as possible
.

Love
,

Doneta

“It's from my sister! They're coming!”

“That's good news.”

“Yes, it is. I can't wait to see them. It's feels like years since I saw them last.”

She looked down at the board, saw his alterations, and looked up into his eyes. “You're truly rotten, do you know that?”

“Me?”

“Be glad I don't have my rapier.”

“We definitely have to get you one. That fire in your eyes makes me want to bring out my own sword, if you get my meaning.”

Heat scalded her cheeks. “I don't make love to cheaters.”

“Really?” he asked in a silken voice that hardened her nipples and increased her pulse. “I'll bet I can make you willingly lie on this table and do all manner of shameless things with me before the clock on the wall strikes the time.”

She gave the clock a quick glance. Five minutes. “And I say you can't.” She knew she was destined to lose and in truth looked forward to it, but this was a dance, a game—their own seductive version of
Destreza
and she hoped they'd play it together for the rest of their lives.

He made a great show of slowly removing the checkerboard from the table. His gaze was searing as he went about the task and her anticipation made it difficult to maintain her regal pose.

“I think I want you partially nude,” he voiced and she swayed in her chair. “You can start by removing your blouse.”

Like a puppet on a string her fingers slowly worked the buttons free. Seconds later, she set it aside.

“Now the corset, but don't remove it. I love the way it frames your beautiful breasts when it's open . . .”

Pilar complied, making sure she did it slowly so she could savor the blaze in his gaze. Seducing him while he seduced her filled her with a decadent sense of power. Holding his eyes, she ran her hand lazily over her bared breasts. He smiled.

“Stand please. Drawers next. You have about two minutes before the clock strikes.” She stood and even though he hadn't asked, she lifted her skirt so he could watch her unveil herself and tossed the garment aside.

He soundlessly patted the tabletop. She let her skirt drop and eased herself up onto the edge of the large wooden dining table. He kissed her and the passion possessing them both flared and bloomed. He filled his hands with her breasts, then bent to greet them until she purred and the drumbeat between her thighs quickened.

“Lie back.”

She did and he embarked upon a meandering journey that paid smoldering tribute to all she had to offer. Her skirt was skimmed up to her waist and his touches widened her thighs in beguiling invitation. He dropped his head and the lick he placed there sat her straight up with shock. A smile curved his lips and he gave her a brazen wink. The clock chimed. His finger found her, again bringing with it such dazzling delight, she laid down again and let herself be enjoyed until she was arching and twisting and gasping. When the orgasm tore her apart, she screamed so loudly, her hand flew to her mouth to keep from being heard back in Cuba and rode the wave of her completion until she finally washed up on the shore, spent. And as she lay there, shuddering, open, and satisfied, he entered her boldly. Groaning with the glory of his hard pulsing conquering, she greedily took him in and began to move in tandem with his rhythm. It was a memorable evening and she was certain she'd never see their dining table the same way again.

Later that night, while Pilar slept, a sated Noah sat in the sitting room. He picked up the message from her sister and read it. It would be good to see them. He was certain her mother worried how her daughter was faring and he wanted her to see with her own eyes that he and Pilar were making a good go of their life together. There were still issues and questions to be mulled over, like how he would restructure his life now that King wanted out, where he and Pilar might live, and finding something to keep Pilar busy so she could contribute without taking on the ranch with a machete. He smiled. What a woman.

T
he following morning, Pilar wanted to take Mariah up on the invitation she'd extended last evening at dinner to visit her dress shop. Noah's plan for the day was to ride into town with Max and Logan and lend a hand with the ongoing construction.

As they got dressed, he noticed her smiling to herself.

“Why the smile?”

“Just thinking about last night. With all this lovemaking there's a good chance we've made a child.”

His eyes shone with pleasure. “Would you prefer a girl or a boy?”

“Having seen the havoc Tonio causes in just the short time we've been here—definitely a girl.”

He laughed.

“What about you?” she asked. “Do you have a preference?”

“Yes, a boy. It's what most men want, I think. Either way you'll make a wonderful mother.”

“I'm glad you think so. I'm not so certain.”

“You'll do fine.”

She hugged him tightly, then raised herself on her toes and placed a soft kiss on his scarred cheek. “Thank you for your confidence. I'll see you when you return from town.”

“It will probably be late in the day.”

“As long as you come home to me, I won't care.”

He drew her into his body and held her as tightly as she'd held him. “Thank you for marrying me.”

And as always, she quipped, “I didn't have a choice.”

He gave her a swat on the behind. Laughing, she left the room.

Alanza was seated on the patio having coffee when Pilar stepped outdoors.

“Are you off to Mariah's?” she asked in Spanish.

Pilar smiled at this very special woman and responded in her native tongue. “Yes. She said to follow the trail out front, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Is it okay if I ride over? It's been so long since I've ridden on a regular basis, I'm enjoying being on horseback.”

“Of course. Feel free to ride anytime, anywhere—except back to Florida of course.”

Pilar inclined her head. “I'm afraid it's too late to get rid of me, now.”

“Then you're enjoying being here?”

“I am. More than I ever believed I would. Your family has been very kind.”

“We take our family ties very seriously, and thank you for what you've done for Noah. He hasn't been the same since being shanghaied but he seems more relaxed now, and I attribute that to you.”

“I'm not sure that's the reason but I enjoy being with him and hope he feels the same way.”

“He does. I've seen the way he watches you. Having him back is more precious than anything I can ever possess. You'll stay in my heart forever.”

Pilar found the words very moving. “Thank you.”

“Now go before I begin to cry, but don't forget, we'll be leaving for the train early tomorrow for our shopping excursion.”

She'd announced the outing last night at dinner and although Pilar was a bit apprehensive about having to pick out clothes and such, she was looking forward to getting to know the three women better. “I will be up and ready. Oh, before I go: I received a telegram last night from my sister. She and my mother will be here soon.”

“How exciting, then we'll wait and have the party for you and Noah when they arrive. Would that be okay?”

“That would wonderful. Thank you.”

“You're welcome. I'll see you later on.”

She inclined her head and struck out for the stables.

When she arrived at Mariah's house, she was surprised at its size. Unlike Alanza's big sprawling home, this one was smaller and cozier and the bright flowers blooming on both sides of the porch framed it beautifully.

Mariah opened the door to her knock. “Morning. Come on in.”

The interior was as lovely as the exterior. It was well furnished but not extravagant.

“My shop's in the back.”

Her second surprise was to see Billie there. Pilar had enjoyed her company immensely at the gun club meeting. “Morning, Billie. I wasn't expecting to see you here, too.”

“I didn't want to hear all your secrets secondhand. You're our new sister and 'Riah and I want to know
everything
, especially how you and Noah met. He seems so mysterious.”

Mariah laughed. “Can I at least take her measurements before we subject her to the ‘Inquisition'?”

“Of course. I'll go out and make sure the prisoners haven't escaped.”

Pilar's confusion must have shown because Billie explained,. “Our babies. They're playing in the pen we call the Baby Jail.”

Pilar laughed.

“And with a third prisoner coming in the spring we may have to add a wing.”

“You're carrying?”

“Yes and praying every night and day for a girl this time.”

Pilar thought back on the conversation she and Noah shared earlier. Would she be next in line to bring a new Yates baby into the world? Setting that aside, she glanced around Mariah's small shop and was amazed at all the fabric and notions stored and displayed so neatly. A few dress forms held gowns in progress. “I must say I admire you being able to do all this. I can replace a button and do a few stitches but not much more.”

“I grew up working in my mother's dress shop in Philadelphia.”

“That must've been fun.”

“No. My mother's a witch. I couldn't wait to come to California.”

“Do you have family here?”

She shook her head. “Alanza ran an advertisement in the Philadelphia newspaper for a housekeeper for Logan and I got the job and wound up being his wife.”

“How long have you been married?”

“Just two years.”

“And Billie and Drew?”

Billie stepped back in on the heels of the question and provided the answer. “Drew and I have been married since May.”

Pilar was confused.

“I know,” Billie replied. “He and I knew each other in the past, which is why our son is older than our marriage. And before you hear it from someone outside the family, I was Drew's whore in those days.”

Pilar began coughing, which put quiet smiles on the faces of her sisters-in-law.

“Let's get you measured while Billie tells you the whole sordid tale.”

So Pilar listened while Billie talked and Mariah had her turn this way and that, and wrote down numbers. Pilar had no idea what she was being measured for but assumed she would be told the purpose at some point. Billie's story of the abduction of her and Tonio was as heartbreaking as it was frightening.

“But DuChance fell into the bay and drowned,” she said, winding down the tale. “Drew found our son and we all came back to the ranch.”

Pilar was pleased that the ordeal had ended happily.

“So, Pilar, now your turn. We know you were the pirate that took his boat, but why?”

“Needed it to pick up some guns.”

Twin mouths dropped.

Pilar chuckled. “Let me start at the beginning.” So she told them about her ties to the rebels and her need of a ship and then about Noah's abduction.

Mariah said, “He was very upset about it when he came for Alanza's wedding but he said nothing about being abducted.”

“Manly pride, probably,” Billie cracked.

Pilar then told them about Noah showing up at her uncle's birthday party, the sword fight, and his demanding her hand.

“You fought him with a sword?” Mariah gasped.

“And here I thought my marriage was a story for the ages,” Billie said in a wondrous tone. “Mine is a child's bedtime story in comparison.”

She then told them about the visit from Calvo. “So I had no choice but to ask him to marry me and now, we're here.”

“Smart woman,” Mariah said. “He probably fell in love with you the moment he set eyes on you that night though.”

This was the second time Noah being in love with her had been mentioned that day. “Not sure he loves me, but we're getting along rather well.” She thought about last night on the table and couldn't hide her smile.

As if possessing the abilities of a mind reader, Billie quipped, “Our husbands are known for their manly talents.”

“Billie!” Mariah gasped around a laugh.

“What?” Billie countered. “Are you saying Logan doesn't make you scream?”

Mariah's fair skin showed her blush to the roots of her hair.

Pilar raised a hand. “No bedroom complaints here.”

Laughter greeted that confession and Billie announced, “Pilar, you are now an official member of the Yates Sisters-in-Law Society. Glad to have you aboard.”

“Thank you.”

I
n town, Noah was working on the new roof that would top off the new general store when Will Sally appeared below and called up, “Message just came in for you, Noah.”

While the rest of the crew continued to work, he came down the ladder and took the message from Will's outstretched hand. “Thanks.”

“You betcha.”

It was from Lavinia Douglas. His lips tightened.

Will be in Stewart tomorrow
.

Father wants to talk to you
.

Business proposition
.

He wondered what the business proposition entailed. Walter Douglas was one of the most well respected shipyard owners in San Francisco. Whenever the
Alanza
had been in need of repairs, Noah had taken her to Walt. With no way to answer his questions, he pocketed the message and climbed back to the roof.

A
fter leaving Mariah and Billie, Pilar mounted her horse and decided to tour the ranch. She saw the orchards and the grapes, the fields where vegetables were grown, and the small army of workers tending them. She marveled again at how large the Yates enterprise was and the bustling air of the place. It was so different from where she'd grown up. There'd be no foraging for food here or nights sleeping on an empty stomach, which is why she was so set on finding a way to contribute. It would be her way of saying thank you.

Heading back to the house, she came upon some corrals holding horses. She knew from talks with Noah that Logan often rounded up wild horses and brought them back to the ranch to sell. One of her uncles had been an excellent horseman and spent his life breaking them in for the wealthy to ride. She and her cousins often helped and it was a task Pilar particularly enjoyed, but the method being used by these ranch hands made her stop her mount and watch. Apparently preparing the horse for the saddle involved nothing more than a rider mounting and letting him be thrown until the horse tired and gave in, or at least that's how it appeared. Granted, she hadn't seen the earlier process, but she found the practice quite strange. Standing outside of the corral were a group of men egging the rider on and howling gleefully each time the rider sailed off the back of the bucking horse. She watched for a moment more and dismounted.

The animal was a beautiful cinnamon-gold stallion and from the way he was charging around and bellowing, he was not pleased. She walked to the fence and stood next to a man watching the show inside the enclosure.

“Hi there, little lady. Are you Noah's wife? Name's Eli Braden.”

“I am. Name's Pilar. A pleasure meeting you.”

The rider was tossed again, to the sound of much laughter and razzing. He dusted himself and scrambled out of the way of the rearing and bellowing stallion.

“What's going on here?”

“Breaking a horse. Been at it a couple days. Doesn't want to take a rider or the saddle.”

“I wouldn't want a stranger on my back either after living my entire life free.”

He paused and raised an eyebrow.

“It's not my place to tell you your business but an animal as beautiful as that deserves better than to have his spirit broken just so he can be ridden.”

“Are you speaking from experience?”

“Yes.”

Once again the rider tried to get into the saddle and the stallion did his best to flatten the man against the rails of the fence in an effort to keep that from happening.

“We've been doing this for years, Mrs. Yates.”

“Understood, but there are other ways. May I go into the ring?”

“No.”

She watched the horse tear around the enclosure at full speed as if seeking the exit. Upon not finding one, it reared angrily and the rider ran to the fence to keep from being a victim of its hooves. “Why not?” She felt sorry for the animal.

“Because if you get hurt, Logan will kill me, and whatever is left, your husband will kill.”

“Don't be ridiculous. Does the horse have a name?”

“No. Only been here less than a week.”

Pilar debated what to do. The stallion continued to storm around the pen. “I will take full responsibility if anything happens.”

“Doesn't matter. Logan will still feed me to a buzz saw.”

She sighed. “Have you ever struck or hurt a woman, Mr. Braden?”

“Of course not.”

“Good.” She climbed the fence and dropped down into the pen.