The Touch of Sage (48 page)

“
Sage,
”
he breathed.
She looked up to him as his hand suddenly encircled her throat.
“
Don
’
t touch me unless ya intend to let me…
”

“
I love you,
”
she breathed, sliding her hand upward from the scars on his chest, over his shoulder and along his neck, finally resting her palm against his cheek.
“
I love you.
”

Reb
’
s brow puckered.
He winced as if some sort of
deepening
ache had just gripped his heart.

More tears spilled from Sage
’
s eyes as his hand moved from her throat to cup her face.

As his thumb caressively traveled over her lips, he breathed,
“
I love you, Sage,
”
a moment before his mouth crushed against her own in a driven, passion-drenched kiss.

There was no measured, careful kiss between them then.
Only the heated storm of amorous fervor!
The searin
g intensity of fiery affection—
barely restrained desire ignited and burned!

Reb drew Sage into his arms, against the strong, powerful protection of his body. Sage me
lted into his dominant embrace—
careless of anything else in the world around her.
She did not care that his loving aggression on her mouth took her breath away.
She did not care that his powerful embrace crushed her ribs or that his hands tangled her tender tresses.

Pressed against him, she desired only to be closer to him.
Held by him, she wanted only to be held tighter.
Kissing him, she wanted him to k
iss her more aggressively—
never separating their lips.

Suddenly, however, he broke the seal of their affection, holding her against him and breathlessly whispering,
“
I love you.
I love you.
”

“
I love you,
”
she told him, resplendent in the feel of the back of his neck beneath her palms, the breadth of his shoulders in her arms.

Suddenly he reached behind her, opening the door.
Sweeping her into his arms he said,
“
I gotta get ya home.
”

“
But…
”
Sage began to argue, reaching out to hold his face between her hands.

“
Don
’
t argue with me.
Please,
”
he said, striding out of the bedroom and through the kitchen.
“
It ain
’
t safe…you bein
’
here with me like this.
”

“
You mean it isn
’
t proper,
”
Sage said, smiling at him.

“
I mean it ain
’
t safe,
”
he corrected.

“
Really?
”
Sage asked, still smiling.

“
Really,
”
he chuckled.
“
I don
’
t know what them old hens were thinkin
’
droppin
’ ya off
lookin
’ like ya do…
w
ith nobody left to protect you
from me.
”

“
They knew
you
would protect me,
”
Sage told him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her.
“
They knew I didn
’
t need anybody else.
”

Dropping her feet to the kitchen floor, Reb opened the front door to the ranch
house.

“
Well, they shoulda known I
’
d have a hard time protectin
’ you
from myself!
”
he said.
“
Wait here while I get the horses saddled.
We
’
ll ride home quick.
Before I change my mind.
”
He kissed her once, so deliciously it caused her to sigh as he broke from her and headed toward the barn.

Sage watched him go—wishing she could stay—
wishing she never had to leave him again.
Love had c
hased the fear from her heart—
Reb
’s love. He loved her!
His eyes, his kiss, his words told her so
,
and she knew it was true.

What the devil was his Aunt Eugenia thinking?
Reb shook his head, amazed by the mischief those old women could get into.
Bless their little impish souls for working the mischief that tore down the walls between Sage and him.
Dang, she was delicious!
So
soft and beautiful and tempting.
Reb knew he had to get her home quick before he lost his head and proved Reverend Tippetts a fool for trusting in Reb Mitchell
’
s self-restraint.

As he entered the barn, Charlie looked up, smiling.

“
I see ya found the present them ladies at the boardin
’
house left for ya,
”
Charlie said.

“
You knew it all along, didn
’
t ya?
”
Reb said, taking the horse blanket Charlie held in his hands and throwing
it
over Ned
’
s back.
“
I
daresay
you were in on it.
”

Charlie chuckled and nodded.
“
Well, somebody had to get the two a you to talkin
’
,
”
he said.

Reb nodded, offering a hand to his friend.
Charlie took hold of Reb
’
s hand, squeezing it tight.

“
I thank ya for all ya done for me, Charlie,
”
Reb said.
“
Yer a true friend.
”

“
Yer welcome, Reb,
”
Charlie said with a smile.
“
Now get that little filly on home
’
fore ya do somethin
’
the Reverend Tippetts regrets.
”
Charlie nodded his approval once more and left the barn.

Reb chuckled.
Charlie was a good friend.
The kind a man only had one of his whole life.

He saddled Ned and his new gelding.
Leading them out of the barn and toward the house, his resolve to get Sage home was almost vanquished.
She stood on the fron
t porch, gazing up at the moon—her hair loose—
a strand of it blowing in the breeze.
For a moment he stood, just looking at her.
He couldn
’
t believe it was true.
He couldn
’
t believe Sage Willows was in love with him.
He felt excess moisture in his eyes as his heart swelled near to bursting with his love for her.

It
’
s too soon
, he thought.
Even for the revelation waiti
ng for her back at the boarding house
, it was too soon to hope
Sage would consider what he ha
d in mind.
Wasn
’
t it?

Chapter Fifteen

The wind in her hair as they rode gave Sage an indescribable sense of freedom and joy!
Somet
hing about her hair being free—
even the lack of stockings and shoes on her legs and feet—it liberated her soul.

She looked at Reb riding next to her, having completely forgotten to grab up a shirt to wear on their way back.
He was so
handsome—
so perfect!

“
What a pair we make,
”
she said as they slowed their horses
’
gaits to a walk for a moment.

“
Must look like a couple of mad bandits ourselves,
”
he chuckled.
The fire in his eyes was evident even for the low light of the moon and stars.
“
Hold up,
”
he said, reaching over and taking hold of Ned
’
s bit.
“
Whoa there, Ned,
”
he said, reining in the gelding he rode.

Chuckling with mischief, Reb led his mount around in front of Ned,
un
til he was right up beside Sage, facing the way they
’
d just come.

“
Just give me one more kiss
’
fore we get there, darlin
’
,
”
he said, leaning over and putting an arm around Sage
’
s waist.

Sage giggled and leaned toward him, placing one palm against his rugged jaw.
“
What if I can
’
t keep it to just one?
”
she teased.

Leaning forward, she met his mouth with her own, warmth flooding her being like the
warm
summer sun.

“
Mmmm,
”
he sighed as he pulled away from her.
“
That
’
s why I
’
m takin
’
ya home.
”
Slapping Ned smartly on the flank, he hollered,
“Get her home, boy! ’
Fore the Reverend Tippetts tans my hide!
”



Reb lifted Sage down from the saddle, pulling her against him and kissing her.
Still kissing her, he reached behind her to ope
n the back door of the boarding house
.
Sage wrapped her arms around his neck, returning his playful kisses as he tightened his arms around her waist and lifted her over the threshold.

Sage sighed, letting her fingers comb his soft, tousled hair.

“
Well
,
for cryin
’
in the bucket!
”
Mary exclaimed.
“Reb Mitchell! You
know we got company.
”

Sage giggled as Reb kissed her once more before releasing her.

“
I know it, Miss Mary,
”
Reb said, smiling at the older woman.

“
Well, then why
’
re ya carryin
’
on like some hungry animal?
”
Mary scolded.
“
We been waitin
’
half the night for you two.
”

Only then did Sage remember.
Some
one had arrived at the boarding house
while the widows were about their shenanigans.
Livie had gone to greet who
m
ever it was, returned
,
and written the note Eugenia pinned to her dress bodice for Reb to find.

“
Mary,
”
Sage began,
“
I can
’
t possibly meet anybody lookin
’
like this.
”

“
Yes
,
ya can,
”
Mary said.
“
We been tellin
’
her the whole story.
”

“
What story?
”
Sage asked.

“
The story
’
bout you and Reb,
”
Mary answered.

“
Well
,
who exactly have you been tellin
’
, Miss Mary?
”
Sage asked.
“
Who arrived just before you all drug me off?
”

“
Ya best be askin
’
Reb that question, Sage,
”
Mary said.

Sage looked t
o Reb. His face had softened—
his eyes burning with deep emotion.

“
I thought…I thought if I could do somethin
’
,
”
he began,
“
Somethin
’
meanin
’
ful…somethin
’
that would show ya how deep I been thinkin
’
of ya and for how long.
I thought maybe then ya might…I thought ya might see somethin
’
in me worth carin
’
for.
”

“
All you have to do is exist, Reb Mitchell,
”
Sage said, caressing his cheek lovingly.

“
Oh, the sweet
’
s thicker in here than syrup,
”
Mary said.
Sage looked to Mary to find her
smiling, however. With a nod, M
ary added,
“
And if ya weren
’
t in love with the boy already, which the girls and I knew ya were…well then, this would sure have done it.
”

“
Will you two get in here?
”
Rose
exclaimed, appearing behind them suddenly.
“
She
’
s been waitin
’
half the night.
”

Sage felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle
. It was a good feeling, however—
with nothing ominous or frightening in the sense of it.

“
My goodness, Reb!
”
Rose
exclaimed.
“
You might at least have taken the time to put your shirt back on.
”

“
I wasn
’
t thinkin
’
about what I was or wasn
’
t wearin
’
when I came into my house to find my lover kidnapped and all tied up,
”
Reb teased.
“
Way I hear it, three wild-eyed, white-haired banditas are to blame.
”

“
Oh, go on with you, Reb,
”
Rose
giggled.
“
Now get in there.
The poor woman
’
s gotta be beat to death with fatigue.
”

Reb smiled at Sage, taking her hand in his.
“
This is for you,
”
he said.
“
And our little friend.
”

Sage frowned, puzzled.
Reb led her into the parlor where she saw Livie and Eugenia sitting on the sofa.
Another woman, a lovely elderly woman with snow-white hair
,
sat in the chair next to them.
Sage did not recognize the woman, she was certain.

“
My stars and garters, Reb!
”
Eugenia exclaimed.
“
Dahlia will think you
’
re nothin
’
next to a heathen!
”

“
Nothing in all the world could make me think badly of this young man,
”
the woman said, rising from her chair
. Slowly she walked toward Reb—
her lovely blue eyes radiant with emotion as she approached him.
“
I
’
m Dahlia,
”
she said, offering her hand to Reb.

“
Reb Mitchell, Miss Dahlia,
”
Reb said, taking her hand in his and covering it with his other.
“
It
’
s a pleasure to finally meet you.
”

“
Your letters meant everything to me, Mr. Mitchell,
”
the woman said.
“
You
’
ll never know the healing power of those sweet letters.
”

“
I
’
m glad to hear that, ma
’
am,
”
Reb said.
“
I
’
m real glad to hear that.
”

Sage frowned—completely confused—
entirely bewildered.
Before she had a chance to ask a question, inquire about who the woman was or why Reb had been writing letters to her, however, the woman looked to Sage and smiled.

“
And is this your Sage?
”
Dahlia asked.
“
Is this the girl who has captured your heart?
”

“
Yes, ma
’
am,
”
Reb said.
Taking Sage
’
s hands in her own, Dahlia
’
s eyes brimmed with tears as she gazed adoringly, gratefully somehow at Sage.
“
Sage Willows,
”
Reb began as tears spilled from Dahlia
’
s eyes and over her cheeks,
“
Meet Dahlia.
”

“
Hello, Dahlia.
I
’
m very pleased to meet you,
”
Sage said.
So distracted by what had previously transpired that evening
—what had transpired between her and Reb only moments before—
Sage could not understand who the woman might be.
She could
not understand why Reb would have
gone to all the trouble of finding her.
Was she a long
-
lost relative?
A great-aunt she had not been aware existed?

“
Oh, you lovely girl!
”
Dahlia exclaimed in a whisper, tears still trickling down her wrinkled cheeks.
“
God bless you for your kind heart and heavenly goodness.
”

Sage smiled, still perplexed.
She look
ed to Reb, but he only grinned—
his eyes holding excess moisture as he looked at her.

“
I
’m
afraid I don
’
t understand,
”
Sage said.

“
Wait!
”
Dahlia said, holding up a hand.
“
I
’
ve brought something for you, my darling.
”

“
Reb?
”
Sage whispered as Dahlia hurried back over
to
the chair she
’
d been sitting in.

Reb only smiled at her, mouthing a silent,
“
I love you.
”

Dahlia reached behind the chair, producing a rather large, oval object wrapped in brown paper secured with twine.
Returning to Sage, Dahlia held the package out to Sage.

“
It
’
s for you, Sage,
”
Dahlia said.
“
She would want you to have it.
I want you to have it.
”

Sage frowned.
She looked to Eugenia
,
wh
ose eyes were filled with tears—
to Livie
,
who s
eemed to be holding her breath—
to
Rose,
smiling
with pure resplendence
.
Even Mary
’
s face was pale with emotion, her weathered eyes bright with moist sentiment.