Ride The Wind (Vincente 3) (30 page)

"You aren't going to get away from me that
easily, Reese Starrett," she said with determination. "You have never come up against a Vincente before. But you are going to know you
have a war on your hands with me."

Reese dismounted at the Broken Spur and
rapped at the door. Rachel welcomed him and
ushered him inside.

Reese held his hat in his hand. "I can see why
you love this ranch, Rachel. It's something to be
proud of."

"It was once my whole life. But not anymore.
I'm content to let my sister and her husband take
over here." She steered him toward the library,
where Noble was going over the ledgers.

Noble glanced up and frowned. "I didn't expect you here today. Is Saber with you?"

"No. I got this a while ago. I think you'd better
look at it." He handed the letter to Noble. "I'm
leaving for Fort Worth immediately."

Rachel left the two men alone while Noble
quickly read the letter. "So Sheriff Davis thinks
Graham Felton is hiding out in Dallas."

"So it would seem. I want to talk to the sheriff and find out what he knows. Then I'll go to Dallas and see what I can discover there. Saber will
never be safe as long as that man is on the loose."

"Did you tell her?"

"I didn't see any reason to upset her. I told her
to stay at Casa del Sol until I return."

Noble nodded in agreement. "That sounds like
a good plan."

Reese took the letter and headed for the door.
He paused. "Thank you for the wedding, and foreverything you've done for us."

Noble smiled. "It was our pleasure. We are
family now." He stood up and walked Reese to
the door. "Send me word. If you need me, I'll
come at once."

Reese nodded and placed his hat on his head.
"I'll do that."

He turned his mount and rode away, leaving
Noble to wonder how Reese had managed to
convince Saber to remain at Casa del Sol.

He went back to the desk and tried to work at
the ledger, but his mind kept drifting to his sister. Suddenly he jumped to his feet. Knowing
her so well, he knew she would already be making plans to leave.

He ran through the house calling for Rachel.
"I've got to get back to the ranch! Saber is probably about to do something dangerous, and I
have to stop her."

As Reese rode within sight of his ranch, the failure of his mission lay heavily on his shoulders.
Graham Felton was clever, and Reese always
seemed to be one step behind him. He dismounted and led his horse into the barn.

Jake found him there unsaddling his horse.
"Boss, you never said anything to me and Gabe
about your getting married. We were plumb surprised when we found out. Congratulations."

Reese threw the saddle over the railing and
looked at the young boy. "It happened suddenly.
There wasn't much time to let everyone know."

"Did you have any luck finding Felton, Reese?"

"No. But how did you know I was searching
for him?"

"Mr. Vincente told me. He brought Mrs. Starrett home, but then he had to leave. Said he
wanted to catch up with you."

Reese's heart leaped with joy. "She's here?"

"Yes, sir. She and a dozen men from Casa del
Sol. This place is like an armed fortress. Mr. Vincente instructed us all to be on the lookout for
strangers," Jake told him.

Reese took a deep breath. Noble hadn't been
able to keep Saber at Casa del Sol, but he had
made sure she was protected. He liked his
brother-in-law more every day.

"There's some kind of government man up at
the house talking to Mrs. Starrett."

Reese walked to the barn door and glanced at
the house. He'd been so buried in his thoughts
that he hadn't noticed the buggy. With purposeful steps, he strode toward the house with Jake
walking beside him as far as the front yard. "We
bedded down all Mr. Vincente's men in the
bunkhouse, boss. It's a bit crowded, but they
ain't complaining. There's an old man with them
named Zeb who does the cooking for us. His
food ain't so bad, but his coffee would wake the
dead."

Reese grinned. "I know that character. You might as well get ready for him to settle in for a
long time. He probably won't leave Saber."

"That's kinda what he said. I like him, and he's
full of tales that he swears are true."

"How is my wife?"

"Reese, she's mighty fine. She's had me and
the others moving furniture and toting water,
and she even had Gabe help her hang curtains.
She's surely a wonder."

Reese frowned. He probably wouldn't even
recognize the place when she got through with
it. Well, he supposed women liked fixing things
up, he admitted to himself grudgingly.

"Just keep a close lookout for any strangers,
Jake."

"We'll watch things for you, boss. Don't you
worry about Graham Felton getting near the
place."

When Reese opened the door, his eyes went
first to Saber, and then to the stranger. Saber
had served the man a cup of coffee and was sitting on the chair across from him. Reese wanted
to go to her and tell her he was sorry for the way
he'd left her, but that would have to wait until
later.

"Reese," Saber said. "I'd like you to meet Mr.
Williams. He's come all the way from Austin to
see you."

Reese shook hands with the elderly man, who was dressed in a brown suit and cowboy boots.
"Would that be Carl Williams?"

The older man smiled. "That would be me."

"I've heard of you. You work for the governor."

"I do. And it's at his request that I'm here."

"I'll leave you gentlemen to talk," Saber said,
moving to Reese and brushing a light kiss on his
cheek. "I'm glad you're home."

He stared into her eyes, not knowing whether
to hug her to him or turn her over his knee. He
had wanted her to stay at Casa del Sol until Graham Felton was found, but he couldn't be sorry
that his wife was home.

After Saber left the room, Reese drew up a
chair and sat down. "You've come a long way,
Mr. Williams."

"I think you'd better start calling me Carl if we
are going to be doing business together."

In half an hour, Carl Williams had outlined
the proposal that the government was offering
Reese. "How does all that sound to you?"

Reese gazed about the room, noticing the
changes Saber had made. There was a green rug
on the floor and darker green curtains at the
windows. There was a comfortable new brown
sofa that matched the two new brown-and-green
chairs. There were other touches scattered
about the room that made it warm and inviting. He hadn't known that the house could look this
good. His mind went back to the man before
him. "It sounds like my brother-in-law had a
hand in this somewhere."

"Not as much as you'd think. Oh, the governor
spoke to him about you, but only because he'd
heard you had enough land to support our endeavor. On poking into your background, we
discovered that you're an honest, hardworking
man. This comes to you by way of your own reputation, Mr. Starrett." Mr. Williams smiled.
"And your ranch is close to most of the forts."

"I don't suppose it hurts any that my wife is a
Vincente." Reese looked skeptical. "Does it,
Carl?"

Carl Williams looked sheepish and nodded. "It
doesn't hurt a damned bit. You married into
Texas royalty, and that's a fact. But not even that
would have helped you if we in the State House
didn't think you were the man we have been
looking for." He stood and held out his hand.
"What do you say? Do we have a deal?"

Reese stood as well and clasped Carl's hand in
a friendly shake. "We have a deal."

"Good. You'll be hearing from me right away.
We'd like you to get started as soon as possible.
Can you start delivering cattle to the forts by
early fall?"

"It will be done."

"Give my salutations to your charming wife. I
want to be at the Barley ranch before sundown.
Me and Ted grew up together, and I like his
wife's cooking."

Reese walked Carl to his buggy, and after he'd
gone he went back into the house. He could hear
Saber humming in the kitchen, and he hurried
toward her.

She had been setting the table for lunch, and
she turned toward the door when she heard
Reese's footsteps.

The kitchen was the biggest surprise. A round
table had taken the place of the rickety old one
he'd used for years. There was a white cloth on
the table, along with candles and fancy blue
dishes. "I'm glad you're home," she said, watching him closely.

In two strides he was across the floor, folding
her in his arms. His head dipped, and he covered
her lips with a searing kiss. She clung to him,
returning his kiss, her arms going around his
broad shoulders.

"Reese," she said, breaking off the kiss, her
cheeks flushed. "I missed you so terribly. Did
you miss me just a little?"

He swelled with desire and wondered how she
could doubt it. His hand went to her breast, and
she snuggled closer to him.

"I'm going to take that as a yes," she said, smiling.

He lifted her in his arms. "I'm taking you to
the bedroom, if it's still where I left it."

"Wait," she said, reaching toward the stove.
"That will bum."

He shoved the pot to the back of the stove in
his haste to get her to bed. After carrying her
into the bedroom, he set her on her feet and unbuttoned her gown, revealing her breasts. He
lowered her to the bed and pinned her beneath
his body.

Saber pulled the back of his shirt out of his
trousers and ran her hand up his bare skin. "I
have been thinking about this for days," she admitted.

Her honesty touched him deeply. Most
women would be coy and flirtatious, but Saber
was not ashamed to show her feelings. She was
just the right woman for him.

He moved her gown upward, feeling her
silken skin. "The whole time I was gone, I
couldn't think of anything but you," he told her,
his eyes closing as he touched his lips to her exposed breast. "You feel so good."

Moments later they were both naked, and his
hands were roaming at will over her body. His
lips became more demanding, his hands more insistent, and she gave him everything he asked
for.

When he finally entered her, she met his
thrusts with earth-shattering moves of her own.
Reese knew that if he died at that moment, he
would have really lived. Saber had given her
sweetness to him, and he had taken it hungrily.

Exhausted from their lovemaking, Saber lay in
Reese's arms, watching a gentle breeze stir the
curtains at the window. She gave him a radiant
smile that went right to his heart.

"I'm afraid your lunch is cold and probably
inedible."

He nuzzled her neck and let his lips explore a
creamy breast. "Who can think of food when I
have you in my arms?"

She snuggled closer. "I was afraid you might
not like the changes I made in the house. I know
I should have consulted you first, but-"

He silenced her with a quick kiss. "This is your
home now, Saber. I leave you to do whatever
will make you happy." He pulled back and said
in a decisive voice, "But please, no pink or lace."

She trailed a finger through the mat of hair on
his chest. "You make me happy, Reese."

He lifted her hand and kissed the palm. "You
are only intrigued by me for now because you've
never met a man like me."

She knew he was still unable to accept that she
loved him, and telling him would not help convince him. She would have to show him over the
days, weeks, and months to come. But he would
realize it in the end. "You're right about one
thing, husband: I've never met a man like you
before. But I'm beginning to know you." A gleam
came into her eyes. "And I like what I know."

Her hand went lower, and she clasped him until he swelled in her hand. Reese groaned and
pulled her beneath him. "You little hellcat, I may
not live long enough for you to get to know the
real me. You are probably going to kill me in
bed."

Their bodies melded into one, and he sank
into her, catching her moan beneath his kiss.
She caught her breath with each forward lunge
and let it out in a groan when he pulled back.
Her nails dug into his back, and she raised her
body to meet his powerful thrusts.

Much later, he kissed her damp forehead and
pushed her hair away from her face. "I need you,
Saber."

She closed her eyes, knowing what it had cost
him to make that admission. But she would be
satisfied with nothing less than a full declaration
of love. He would come to trust her one day and
confess his love for her. On that day he would
know that she loved him more than her own life.