Twelfth Moon (6 page)

He’d said, ‘
Other woman.
’ Could there be some kind of significance to that? It was obvious the kid was upset. Maybe it was just an innocent slip. But then again, maybe it was a clue to what had really happened.

“I need to…to…relieve myself,” the kid said, breaking into Jonah’s thoughts.

That was another thing. Cade seemed to be a might sensitive about his calls of nature. Along the trail today, he’d made a big fuss about having his privacy. Whenever Jonah felt the need, he just opened his drawers and did his business. It’s not like there was anyone around out here – not like there was a group of debutantes nearby to impress with fine manners. But the kid seemed embarrassed, turning his head each time, and Jonah was sure he’d seen a flush color his dirty cheeks.

Jonah sighed. “Fine.” He picked up a length of rope and tied it around Cade’s ankle. “Let’s go.” The kid’s lips tightened, but he didn’t say a word.

Jonah followed him to a grouping of boulders just outside the camp perimeter. There was just enough light to see a faint outline of the kid’s form. As they walked, Jonah suddenly felt irritable over the way he was catering to the kid’s needs like a nursemaid. “This is the last time I’m going to do this,” he snapped. “Next time you gotta piss, you can do it like any other man, not like some prissy girl with fragile sensibilities.”

A low growl came from behind the rocks, which made Jonah almost chuckle out loud. At least the kid wasn’t completely beaten.

Cadence could have clawed Jonah’s eyes out at his pronouncement. How was she going to relieve herself if he was watching? Prissy girl, indeed.
“I
am
a girl!”
she wanted to scream. Instead, she unbuttoned her trousers with shaking fingers, finishing as quickly as possible. She didn’t want him to become impatient and get an eyeful.

Still feeling weak, she buttoned herself back up and stepped out from behind the rocks. But instead of heading in the direction of the camp, Jonah walked toward a low ridge to the left of the rock formation she’d just come from. She stumbled after him. “Where are we going?”

“I spotted a small stream out this way.”

When they reached the stream, Jonah bent down, removed his bandana and dipped it in the water. He washed his face, rinsed and then wrung out the bandana, tying it back around his neck. He looked up at Cadence. “Aren’t you going to wash up before supper?”

“No, thanks.” Without the protective layer of dirt covering her face, it might be too obvious she was a
she
.

Jonah shrugged. “Suit yourself. For now.” His steely-eyed gaze pinned Cadence to the spot. “But when we get to San Antonio, you’re taking a bath.”

Jonah narrowed his eyes. “I care and, yes, you
are
going to have a bath if I have to remove your clothes myself, throw you in head first and scrub behind your greenhorn ears.” It was a softly issued threat, but very effective.

“Bastard,” Cadence hissed just as softly, but with meaning.

“Maybe I should wash that mouth out with soap while I’m at it.”

Jonah stood, turning back toward their camp. He pulled the rope so that Cadence had to practically run to keep up with his long strides, or else have her feet yanked out from under her. It ruined her chance to stomp out her frustration.

Goddamn him!
Cadence railed inwardly. What did it matter to
him
how she smelled? Somehow, she needed to escape before they reached San Antonio. Once there and he insisted on her taking a bath, the situation could get ugly. She would fight him every step of the way, of course, but he was much bigger and stronger, and would eventually win that battle. Chances were pretty darn good he would discover she was no boy.

As they neared the area of the camp, the scent of cooking meat wafted to her nostrils. The strength of her hunger hit her full force, outranking her earlier malaise. Once she’d eaten, she would be stronger. She’d take her chance if one presented itself.

Jonah pulled the smallest rabbit from the spit, leaving the others to continue cooking. He tore a portion off, set it on a tin plate and handed it to Cadence. She took the plate, and breaking the meat apart with her fingers, began stuffing the pieces into her mouth. It was tender and succulent, the skin crisped to a golden brown. She almost groaned with pleasure. Instead, she licked her fingers noisily, and then looked up, ready to ask for more.

He was watching her, his hand suspended in mid-flight, a piece of rabbit between his long fingers. His silver-burnished eyes were focused on her mouth and for a heart-stopping moment, Cadence thought he’d seen through her disguise. She nervously licked the grease from her lips, and then scrubbed them on her sleeve. He glanced away, slipping the piece of meat into his mouth. It seemed to break whatever spell hovered between them.

He chewed slowly, as though contemplating something important. And then without really looking at her, he tossed another piece of rabbit onto her plate. “Are you from New Orleans?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes, I was born there.” Which was no secret. Cadence nibbled at the meat, a bit slower now that the edge had been taken off her hunger.

Jonah hesitated. “Were you acquainted with my brother?”

“I never knew him…before that night,” she whispered hoarsely, not only because of the damage to her throat, but from the emotions the topic engendered.

It was obvious Jonah wanted to know more about what had happened that night. And it was also obvious he was caught between doing his duty as a U.S. Marshal and a brother itching to take his pain out on her.

Cadence snorted at that, earning a scowl from Jonah. “We always did what needed doing,” was all she said. There was a long pause, and then she asked, “What about you – do you have any…other brothers or sisters?” She was sorry she’d asked such a stupid question when she caught the dark look on his face.

He was quiet for so long, she didn’t think he was going to answer, but then he said, “My parents are both still alive and I have a younger sister. She’s sixteen and quite a little imp,” he added, his lips quirking up in a wry smile.

Cadence’s stomach dropped to her toes. He was so incredibly handsome and looked so heartbreakingly sad at the same time.

She wanted to cry.

She wanted to curl up in a ball and blubber like a baby for what she’d done, how it effected her father and sisters by having to leave them, to be hunted as a murderer, and for what she’d taken away from Jonah and his family. The first town she’d stopped at, she’d sent a letter to Jaelene and Kara, telling them that she was all right. She was sure they were terribly worried for her, but there was nothing she could do about it for now.

“She sounds very sweet.” Cadence regretted her words when he gave her an odd look. A boy would probably not have said something like that. “For a girl,” she thought to add.

Jonah just harrumphed, turning his attention to the other two rabbits. He pulled them off the spit and Cadence watched in fascination as he finished one off entirely by himself, belching loudly afterward. She couldn’t contain a small giggle, but then stifled it in case he might think it too girlish.

He dumped the scraps into the fire and wrapped the remaining rabbit for breakfast in the morning. Then he stood, stretching, and gave a jaw-cracking yawn. “Well, I’d say it’s time to turn in.”

Her eyes were drawn to his thick thighs, the sculpted curve of his buttocks and inexorably, to the front of his trousers. She wondered what lay behind that denim barrier, causing a languid rush of desire to flood her veins. It was hot and demanding, the distant howl of a coyote punctuating the wildness lurking inside her.

Cadence snapped her attention back to reality, chastising herself for her loss of control. Glancing away from the object of her unholy obsession, she noticed several small logs and sticks lying in a pile near the fire. It was within her reach. If he were to—

Jonah dropped onto one knee, reaching to straighten his bedroll.

SHE DIDN’T STOP TO think. She just grabbed one of the thicker logs with both hands and without a second thought, whacked him on the back of the head. He grunted, but didn’t go down completely, catching himself with his other hand. Cadence didn’t take the time to check, but bolted for the darkness – and freedom, beyond the camp.

Her heart pounded with exhilaration, while her feet took her farther and farther from Jonah. She’d need to remove her clothes, as she usually did, before shifting into the panther. As soon as she could risk it, she would stop, roll her clothes into a bundle and carry them in her teeth. The panther ran much faster and she would gain more distance that way.

Suddenly, she saw stars as a solid force rammed into her from behind, knocking her to the ground. The air in her lungs was expelled in a loud whoosh as she hit the dirt and for what seemed an eternity, she couldn’t draw a breath. When she did, she wheezed and choked, spitting grit out of her mouth, creating clouds of dust with each breath. Tiny pebbles dug into her cheek. Every bone in her body wanted to crack under the crushing weight on top of her.

A large hand clasped the back of her neck, fingers like a vice. Of course it was Jonah. Who else could it be? She felt his heavy breaths fanning her ear – could smell his scent.

“You little bastard!” he rasped near her ear. He roughly crammed his knee into her back. “I oughta kick the shit out of you right now.”

She couldn’t move. If she did, a bone would surely break, probably more than one. He held her immobile, restraining her as easily as a child with a rag doll, filling her with rage. She snarled like the animal she was.

Jonah fisted his hand into the back of her shirt and hoisted her to her feet. Twisting one arm behind her back until it almost snapped, he literally dragged her back toward the camp, her feet barely touching the ground.

Cadence’s heart pounded with something other than exhilaration this time – it was fear. Images of the last time a Kincaid had manhandled her flitted through her mind, and suddenly she wasn’t so sure this Kincaid could be trusted to stop before he killed her.

But she had to control her terror, had to fight to contain the beast that was attempting to emerge in a natural instinct to survive. She would not be responsible for another man’s death – even if it meant sacrificing her own life in his place.

When they reached camp, Jonah gave her a shove and she landed on her bedroll. She grunted in pain as her shoulder met the ground hard. She slowly inched her body so she could watch him. He was standing near the fire several feet away, bent over, his hands resting on his knees. He was breathing hard.

She noticed a thin line of red trailing from behind his ear, which was covered mostly by his dark, thick hair. It had trickled down the side of his neck. Just that small bit of blood, the fact that she’d been the cause of it, turned her stomach.
Oh, God!
Cadence prayed she hadn’t hurt him too badly.

She had to say something. “I’m sorr—”

“Don’t,” he ground out, “say a word.”

Jonah hung his head, closing his eyes for a moment. He took a deep breath, letting it out in a harsh sigh, and then moved to pick up a length of rope. He brought it over to where Cadence lay and with jerky movements, tied her hands behind her back. When he grabbed her ankles, pulling them backward, she let out a protest. “What – what are you doing?”

“I’m not taking any chances with you.” He secured the rope so her feet and hands were trussed behind her back.

“I promise I won’t–”

“Shut your mouth, kid, before I lose what little is left of my control and cram your teeth down your throat. Get some sleep. We ride hard tomorrow.”

Jonah collapsed down onto his bedroll. He couldn’t believe his own stupidity. How long had it been since he’d allowed someone to sneak past his defenses like that?

Years.

But Cade had those big, green eyes and he’d already been through hell. And the kid was just so scrawny, Jonah had doubted he could beat his way out of a grain sack. He’d felt sorry for him, wanted to take it easy on him. He’d let his guard down and in his arrogance, Jonah hadn’t believed the kid capable of putting one over on him.

Now he had a goose-egg the size of his boot heel on the back of his head for his foolishness. Who would have thought the kid had it in him, had the strength to pick up that piece of wood and not only give it a good swing, but hit anything with any measure of success? Well, he did hit something – Jonah’s head. Good thing it was harder than most. Jonah snorted. It would take more than a big stick to best him.

Maybe that was how Cade had overpowered Robert – taking him by surprise.

Five

CADENCE WOKE UP THE next morning to the chorus of every muscle…every bone, joint, tendon – and even her skin – screaming in agony. If it had a name, it was in pain. That late-night tumble into the sandy, gritty pit of hell called the Texas desert plain, combined with one big, heavy-as-a-boulder U.S. Marshal had come back to haunt her.

His face came into view, looming above hers and she was sorely tempted to spit in it. “I’m going to untie you,” he said, not looking the least bit sorry that he’d done it in the first place. “Take it slow before you move too much. You need to work the circulation back.”