Gold Raven (31 page)

Its design boasted a sweeping entrance hall with an open layout; the sitting room to the left lead to a huge dining room; the stairway to the upper level started fifteen feet directly across from the front entrance. To the right, another hallway began with a study and the next door a drawing room, and the next a day room, where the servant walkway began, connecting to a door which led to the pantry, prep room and out to the kitchen. A Grand fireplace dominated a wall in every room.

The upper level boasted four bedrooms, an upper drawing/day room and a separate large room with a bathtub, an ornate washbasin and a closed off privy. All rooms within the home were fully furnished; they stayed at the house and rested for three days. Everyday there Maria begged him to remain and not return to the camp.

He seriously considered leaving them there – but something inside had made him dismiss the idea. Too many times, he had watched his father leave his mother and himself. He remembered the longing and anxiety of waiting for his return. He swore that he would never do that to his children – to the woman he loved. He tried to explain that to her at the house the second night, but she yelled. “That is just an excuse! You leave us all the time in that camp! You leave us surrounded by hoodlums and thieves! Please, I’m begging you! Let us please - just stay here! Right here – make this our home! Right now - please Miguel.”

Mike grew resolute informing her – “They may be all that you say…perhaps it is true, but they are what I know. What I am sure of. This…this – scares me.”

“
Why?” She implored softly, trying to understand.

“
Damn it!” He growled down at her, trying to harness his temper, then he turned and walked away to put some distance between them; glaring across the room they were sharing with its large bed behind them.

“
Don’t you understand, this home and the lands surrounding it – is for a white man to own! No matter how I look the part - I am not! To remain here – I must pretend to be white and live what I am not!” He stated, trying to get her to see his side. “This life, this way – I - don’t - know. The camp – the people there – what I am now – that - I do know!”

Maria stood with tears gathering, staring at him. She was at a loss - with lifted hands she pleaded softly. “What do you want me to say?” She shook her head as it filled with stressful thoughts - increasing her anxiety. She looked at her husband and informed him. “I cannot continue to live - the way that you know. Because it is a way that will one day kill you, then what?” He couldn’t answer her.

“
Your choice may be easy for you to live with, but it is not one that takes into consideration your children. As their father – you owe them something better. You owe them a chance to learn a better way of life. You owe them a better heritage than that of an outlaw. You owe them that. There is nothing stopping you from giving them that – but your own fears.” She paused, mustering nerve to finish.

“
Is your fear bigger than your love and obligation to them? To me? To Hope? Or your mother, should we find her one day?”

Now there they were, back at the camp, those words echoing in his mind. According to what he was hearing from Hector – the day of hard and fast decisions seemed to have arrived sooner than he’d expected. He’d given his word to his wife that soon, he would hand leadership of the camp over to the one most qualified; at that point, they would return to Lake Charles as a family and begin the life she most desired for them.

“
We all know what a dog, Santiago is Jefé. I feel it in my bones, he has turned against us. He is a man who knows loyalty to no one. I fear the safety of our hideaway has been compromised. If what Jona says is true, we may all be in danger as I speak. He will not die for us – in exchange for his freedom, he will make a deal and sell us out for what he can get.”

Mike sat quiet…now regretting returning with his family,
‘I should have left them at Lake Charles.’
He thought. Faced with what might be, he was forced to do something he would never have imagined doing. In answer to his men sitting around him, watching, waiting for a plan he said.

“
We must prepare ourselves for what is to come. I don’t particularly care for being caught with my pants down…I must rest first. Tomorrow, we will gather the others together and begin a plan of readiness… goodnight.”

Mike walked into his hut and towards the back, shedding his clothes as he went. Maria lay on their tick mattress sleeping as he climbed in behind her, stripped of all clothing. He hated getting into bed and pulling her to his chest to be met with her reluctance to reciprocate and a barrier between them… her gown! When he grabbed for her, that’s what he wanted…her and nothing else. No matter how he tried to persuade her, Maria was not one to sleep in the nude as he so easily did. Even after making love, she would reach for her gown to put back on.

“
Miguel.” She groaned groggily.

He was removing her gown. “If you are cold, I will warm you. Off with this thing.” He ordered, even though he was carrying through with the deed himself.

“
I’m sleepy.”

“
I’m wanting you - now.” He informed her, pulling the gown over her head and tossing it across the room. “That’s better.” He moaned into the nape of her neck. Positioning her back to his chest, her buttocks nestled firmly at his groin, while his erection sought the warm heat between the back of her thighs.

Nibbling at her ear, brushing her heavy black, silky hair away from his target as his tongue traced a path over the length of her slender throat. She moaned though half asleep, her lower region swelled from arousal, growing moist as her husband pushed behind her, making her rock back caressing his thick erection, stirring him to a greater hardness – his immediate need intensifying.

Breathing heavily in her ear and at her nape, his hand was busy sliding over the front of her thighs, carefully lifting her leg as his pelvis pushed further, rubbing his manhood at her moist entrance. Content in stimulating her there, his hand traveled further up to her midriff, massaging all the way up to cup her soft warm breast. The tips of his fingers teasing the nipple to harden – she moaned, moving her lower body in position for him to enter her.

He pulled slightly away to tease her, his teeth nipping at her ear lobe. “Emm, please…Miguel.” She mewled softly. Ignoring her, his hand traveled back down her body to the triangular nest of moist hair shielding the place which throbbed and swelled from wanting him.

Mike smiled, his fingers found her hot, wet and ready for him. He rubbed in a slow rhythm intended to make her crazy, every stroke reaching deeper until his two middle fingers entered her only to withdraw slow enough to make her turn her head towards his mouth, seeking his tongue. She reached behind to take him into her hand…the end of her thumb rubbing his moist tip.

He groaned. That was enough – he had to enter her. “Put it there… now… now.” He breathed in torture. She shifted her rear back and leaned forward to angle just enough for him to enter her. Both groaned as their eyes closed from the shear pleasure of it.

As his length slid forward, she moved back to completely swallow him deep within. She gasped from the feel of his enormous organ filling her so completely. His powerful hips began a slow withdrawal and re-entrance, stroking her, building the flames that would soon engulf them both. His fingers were once again stimulating the tiny bud as his thrusts grew in force.

Maria was wide awake and conscious that her body was on the verge of explosion. “Miguel!” Her head shook. He couldn’t talk – his focus was clear from the growing tension in his body. “Miguel.” She whimpered. It was happening and she couldn’t hold back. She cried out, gripping him tighter as the convulsion shook her. He was enjoying it too much to hurry about it. He wanted this dance, this motion of man with his woman, his wife.

He wanted to lose himself in it, holding back for as long as he could while his body tingled with short spasms leading him to a climax. Suddenly he was beyond holding back as he stiffened and groaned, his body braced tensely with the
powerful ejaculation.

Five minutes later after their breathing and hearts had returned to normal, Maria lay purring content in her husband’s arms. Softly, his deep sexy voice called her name.

“
Maria.”

“
Hmm?”

“
There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“
Sure – what?” She whispered blissfully.

He took a deep breath, hesitant about what he was going to tell her, but he had no choice.

“
In the morning…first thing; I want you…and Hope, to refresh the wagons once again. I want you to pack everything you think you may need. I want you and her, to take the children, and go back to Lake Charles.”

She grew still; he could feel the change in her. She turned her head to look back at him and stared a moment trying to get her head around what he had just said.

“
What about you? Won’t you be with us?”

“
No.”

She hesitated to respond. Turning away she resumed her position in his arms. “When you are ready to go – we will all go.” She returned softly.

“
No. You will go without me.”

“
No…I will not.”

“
Maria. I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.”

“
Come with me – and I will gladly leave this place but not without you.”

“
You have to.”

“
I can’t.”

“
You will.”

“
I won’t.” She shot, flipping onto her back to look up at him through the dark, his silhouette hovering above her.

“
Maria!”

“
I will not leave without you.”

“
Damn it Maria! If I have to tie you up and send you with an escort, I will. You will do as I say, and you will not argue! I demand that you go! That is final!”

“
Why Miguel - why are sending us away?”

“
Because I have strong reason to believe there is going to be trouble here. I won’t have my family in the center of it.”

“
How can you then expect your family to leave you in the center of it?” She asked incredulously, the unfairness she felt, clearly evident in her tone.

“
You’re all going. That’s that.” He maintained.

“
No. You come with us. If there is trouble, then we will leave together. Don’t expect me to leave without you.” She argued.

He grasped her face in his hand, his grip tighter than he intended. “You don’t understand do you!? I love you more… than I do my own life! But I can’t – I can’t just up and leave! I can’t just abandon these people to whatever may befall them because of me! I am – their leader-…”

“
You are – my husband,” She cried, twisting her face from his grasp “and the father of our children.” He grabbed her shoulders turning her back. “I am – their leader! They depend on me! I fought for that position – I killed for it! I have an obligation to uphold it!”

“
And I cannot just up and leave you! I am your wife – and I fought for that! I have an obligation to stand with you!”

“
Maria.” He expelled a sigh as he shook his head. “We have five children…will you subject them to uncertain danger to stay by my side? Will you not see to their safety before me?”

With her eyes wide in pain, she stared up at him, knowing she would lay down her life for her children. “How can you do this to us? We are a family – your obligation is to us first…not these people.”

“
Me – or your children, which means more to you?” He asked, ignoring her words.

“
Why must you be this way? Pleeease!”

He stared down at her in silence, refusing to give in. Maria reached up and wiped at her tears. Clenching her teeth, she snatched herself from him, turning her back. She could not force him to leave and there was no way she would jeopardize the lives of their children because he was so stubborn. Despite her bold and angry front she couldn’t stop herself from shaking. She wiggled to the edge of the bed, as far from him as she could get.

Mike was leaning up with his head resting in his palm smiling. He watched her snatch up her gown, pulling it back on, fully aware that she was angry and hurt.

“
Come here.” He whispered softly.

“
You go to hell!”

He chuckled, “You don’t mean that…you love me too much to mean that.” He reached for her, tugging at her gown, pulling her back across the bed to him.

“
Let – go! Keep your hands off of me! If you wish that I leave you – I might as well start now!” She grunted pushing against him to maintain her distance. “Stop this silliness and give in to me.” He said scooting closer to her, wrapping his arm around her waist.

“
No! Why should I!? What do you care if I am gone tonight – or gone tomorrow? As long as I am gone.” She huffed in anguish. She wanted him to take her seriously, through her frustration she began to cry. His strong arms held her tighter, making her feel secure.

“
I love you.” He declared softly, kissing at her brow and along her cheek wet with her tears.

“
I don’t – I don’t care.” She sobbed.

“
You do…I know it and you know as well.”

“
Please – don’t.”

“
Shhh – shhh – everything will be alright. You will see… and before long all will be over and I will be there at our new home with you. You will see – I will never again leave you. Where I go…you will go. I promise…I promise.”