Untamed Fire (41 page)

“But how?”

“There is only one weapon we have that would
free our hands.”

Rosalita looked about them. “What
weapon?”

“Our bodies.”

“I don’t understand.”

“What do men always want from women?”

Rosalita smiled. “Oh, that.”

“Miguel seems interested. Perhaps we could
interest him in twins.”

“The two of us? At the same time?”

“Well, he’d certainly free our hands for
that.”

“I don’t know,” Rosalita said
doubtfully.

“He’s been drinking. He’s slow to react and
by the time he’s realized what we intended, he’d be out cold and
we’d be free. No one would come searching for him for awhile,
fearing they would disturb his fun.”

“It sounds as if it could work.”

“Of course it can. We only have to offer a
little encouragement.”

“I’m not good at that.”

Gaby produced a beautiful smile. “Leave that
to me.”

“With pleasure,” Rosalita said,
relieved.

Gaby’s smile was enough. Miguel continued to
stare. He moved uncomfortably on the ground. Then he stood, swayed
before gaining his balance, and walked toward the women.

“I think I’ll keep you,” he said, looking at
Gaby.

“Why not keep both of us?” she said softly.
“We both could pleasure you at the same time.”

Rosalita felt the color drain from her
face.

Miguel stood there, his head swaying back
and forth slightly as he gave her idea thought. “You’re both
good?”

“Very good,” Gaby teased with a lick of her
lips, glad the man was beyond intoxicated or her plan would never
work.

Miguel instantly stiffened... all over.

“Free our hands and take us somewhere where
the others can’t watch and we’ll make you happy.”

“Very happy,” Rosalita emphasized with a
smile.

Miguel leaned down and slipped his hand
beneath Gaby, pinching her buttocks. “I like the feel of this,” he
said and grinned.

Gaby forced a smile and held back from
spitting in his ugly face. He was the one who had chased her and
tried to rape her. His hands were the ones that had pinched her
unmercifully. She wanted to scream in revulsion but she didn’t. She
continued to smile pleasantly as if she enjoyed his touch.

Miguel grabbed the rope that held Gaby’s
wrists together and pulled her up with him. Then he reached for
Rosalita and pulled her up.

“You don’t need your hands untied. Your
mouths will do fine to start with.”

Rosalita choked at the disgusting thought.
And Gaby doubted the wisdom of her plan as he dragged them toward
the fire.

“Where are you taking us? I thought we were
going to have fun.” Gaby said, fearing the obvious.

“We are,” Miguel said with a laugh. “I enjoy
others watching as a woman takes me into her mouth.

Gaby received a jab in the ribs from
Rosalita.

Before Rosalita was pulled away from her,
she whispered, “Get ready to run.”

Miguel pushed her to her knees in front of
him. He laughed and took another drink from the bottle that the men
had been passing around. Then he reached down to open his
pants.

“Your mouth is forever getting you in
trouble.”

Gaby closed her eyes and thanked the heavens
for that stern, powerful voice.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Rafael
warned and walked into the camp.

The men instantly aimed their guns at
him.

Miguel stood, his hands still on his pants.
His eyes were bleary, but fixed intently on Rafael. “Why not?”

“She bites and hard!”

Miguel jumped back and closed his pants.
“Who are you?”

“You don’t know?”

Miguel stared long and hard at the man who
dared walk into his camp alone, unprotected, and who didn’t look a
bit bothered by the fact he was unarmed and all the weapons were
pointed on him.

“Welcome, Don Rafael,” he said, and jokingly
gave a slight bow.

Rafael acknowledged it with a superior nod
that annoyed the man. “I’ve come to claim what is mine.”

Miguel stepped toward Gaby, grabbed the back
of her hair and pulled her head back roughly. “This is the one
you’ve come to claim, the one with the ass that was made to be
grabbed?”

His men laughed.

Rafael’s jaw tightened. His eyes fixed with
evil intent on Miguel and he took another step closer to the fire.
“Take your hands off her.”

His voice sounded so ominous that the other
men backed away.

“
Si,
Senor Cabrillo,” Miguel said and
shoved Gaby’s face forward, smashing it against the dirt before
releasing it.

She turned her head as she raised it, but
not before Rafael saw the blood trickling from her nose.

His anger was about to explode, but he spoke
calmly. “Hand the women over to me.”

Miguel laughed, tossing his head back. “You
are a fool. You enter my camp alone and demand I obey you. You
think me stupid?”

“I know you’re stupid if you honestly think
I’ve come alone,” Rafael said and raised his hand.

The camp was surrounded instantly by his
vaqueros, their guns drawn and two aimed at every man there.

Miguel didn’t hesitate, he grabbed for Gaby.
She wasn’t about to let him touch her. She brought her tied hands
up with force aiming for Miguel’s face. His hand lashed out at her
and chaos erupted.

Rosalita kicked the large man that held her
and rushed to help Gaby. Rafael was prevented from getting to her
when one of Miguel’s men jumped him.

Rosalita pounded Miguel’s back as he tried
to drag Gaby out of the camp. Gaby bit his hand. Rosalita kicked.
Miguel swung. Rosalita hit the ground with a thud. Gaby bit harder
and Miguel drew the gun that was tucked in his sash.

She heard Rafael’s intense scream. “Let her
go!”

She heard the shot.

She watched the blood spill from Miguel’s
chest before he fell to the ground, dead.

Rafael’s arms were around her instantly,
holding her, comforting her, protecting her. She buried her face in
his chest, listened to his pounding heart and knew she was safe,
alive, loved.

“You are foolish,” he whispered harshly when
she looked up at him. He gently wiped the blood from her nose with
his handkerchief.

She smiled and raised her arms to slip over
his head and around his neck. “I love you too,” she said and
brought his mouth to hers.

Their kiss was urgent.

Rafael had to taste her, feel her, know she
was alive and well in his arms.

“Are you all right? The baby?” he asked,
softly touching her belly, wanting to protect, yet fearing he was
too late.

Gaby covered his hand and held it against
her stomach. “He is safe; you saved us both.”

Rafael smiled at her words. She was
attempting to rid him of any guilt he felt when the guilt actually
all belonged to her. “You are stubborn and from this day forward
you shall—”

“Rosalita?” Gaby yelled, interrupting
Rafael’s orders and frantically looking around for the woman.

Rafael helped her to stand and followed her
to where Rosalita lay unmoving, a slight bruise darkening her right
cheek and chin.

“Rosalita,” Gaby said anxiously lowering
herself down beside the woman who had become like a sister to her
in such a short time. “Rosalita!”

The girl stirred and her eyes fluttered.
“Gaby.”

Gaby began to cry. She didn’t know why; she
didn’t care. They were safe and everything was going to be just
fine.

~~~

“What do you mean you
forbid
me to go
riding ever again?” Gaby demanded.

Rosalita sat with a cool cloth to her
swollen cheek. The vaqueros smiled and shook their heads.

“You heard me,” Rafael said, adding more
sticks to the fire.

“I’m not deaf—”

“Just obstinate,” he finished.

“You’re being unreasonable.”

“I’m being a good husband.”

“We aren’t married yet.”

“We will be soon enough.”

“You can’t—”

“I can.”

“I won’t—”

“You will.”

“Why are you being so unreasonable?”

“Because I love you,” he shouted.

A silence descended over the camp.

“And I love you, Rafael,” she said for all
to hear. She leaned over and kissed him and he kissed her back.

The vaqueros cheered and Rosalita cried.

The late night took over with its familiar
sounds; the fire crackled, a twig snapped here and there, and an
owl gave a lonesome hoot.

Rafael sat on the blanket he shared with
Gaby, his long legs stretched out in front of him and his back
braced against his saddle. Gaby sat cuddled next to him in his
arms, a blanket wrapped around her.

Rosalita sat across the fire from them. She
clutched the blanket that was wrapped around her tightly in her
hands against her chest.

“Does Don Felipe know what his wife did?”
Rosalita asked.

“No,” Rafael answered. “He doesn’t know
anything. When I left he was joyously making plans to leave for
Spain with his
family.
”

“He had no idea we were in danger?” Gaby
asked, forgetting that Rosalita wasn’t really her sister.

Rafael shook his head sadly. “He is blind to
so many things. He assumes all people have a place in life and they
must do what is expected of them. As his daughters, he assumed that
of both of you. You would do as he directed without question.”

“Just as his wife did all those years,”
Rosalita sighed.

“You mean as she led him to believe she
did,” Gaby corrected.

“She was a cruel woman,” Rosalita added.

“You take after your father,” Rafael said,
sensing the girl’s concern. “You’re kind and thoughtful like
him.”

“Thank you. Is... is he all right?” Rosalita
asked, reluctant to hear the answer.

“I don’t really know. His wound was serious
and I had to leave. I left him in capable hands. My people will see
that he is well cared for.”

“He’s probably fine. We’ll find out as soon
as we return tomorrow,” Gaby assured the worried woman.

Rafael suddenly sat up straight and looked
about, his brows drawn in a frown and his lips set tightly.

“Is something wrong?” Gaby asked, feeling
the tension in his body.

“I thought for a moment...” He let his words
trail off. “It’s nothing.”

“Your instincts are as good as ever,
Rafael.”

Rafael remained still at the sound of the
deep voice that seemed to echo out of the darkness.

His men instantly aimed their rifles into
the blackness that surrounded them.

“Hold your fire!” Rafael yelled. “And put
the weapons down.”

“Wise decision, my friend,” the voice
said.

“I know you too well. Your men surround my
camp. We have no chance against you.”

“This is true.”

Rafael released Gaby and stood. He spoke
into the darkness as if the strong voice had the power to be
everywhere at once. “What is it you want, Esteban?”

A dark figure emerged from the shadows of
the night, but kept on the outskirts of the campfire’s light so as
not to be seen.

“You have something that belongs to me.”

Rafael stared at the black figure, puzzled.
“I have something that belongs to you?”

“Yes, although through no fault of yours,
but I must insist you return it.”

“I don’t know of what you speak, but if I
have it in my possession and am free to return it, I will gladly do
so.”

“Good, then you’ll receive no trouble from
me.”

“I’m glad to hear this. Now, what is it I
have?”

“My wife.”

“Your what?”

“Wife!”

“I don’t have your wife. Gaby belongs to me
and Rosalita—”

“Is my wife and belongs to me.”

Rafael turned and looked at Rosalita as if
it could not be possible. This sweet young woman could not be
married to such a monster.

Rosalita stood slowly. “I’m sorry. I should
have told you.”

“I can understand why you didn’t. Esteban
isn’t known for his kindness,” Rafael whispered, feeling sorry for
the young woman. “Do you wish to go with him?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Of course you have a choice,” Gaby said,
standing and joining the three by the fire.

Rosalita smiled at Gaby as if she was a
child unaware of the danger that surrounded them. “It is best I
go.”

“Rafael, tell her she doesn’t have to,” Gaby
insisted.

“No,” Rosalita said. “I will not place any
of you in danger.”

Gaby turned and stepped away from the fire.
“Rosalita is staying here with us,” she shouted.

Rafael ran his hand over his face in
frustration and Rosalita cringed.

“You control your woman good, Rafael,”
Esteban said with a laugh.

“She is my sister,” Rosalita yelled to
protect Gaby. “You will not hurt her.”

There was a heavy silence. Rafael reached
out and pulled Gaby back behind him.

“Rafael may not object to his wife speaking
such, but you will hold your tongue or suffer the
consequences.”

Gaby opened her mouth and Rafael quickly
clamped his hand over it. “Shut up,” he ordered sternly. “You will
only make it worse for Rosalita.”

He released her and she remained quiet.

“I will go,” Rosalita said.

“But—”

“No, Gaby, I must go,” she insisted before
Gaby could object any further. “You have given me strength and
courage, and I am grateful.”

Gaby threw her arms around her and hugged
her tightly. “I shall miss you.”

“And I you,” Rosalita said with tears in her
eyes.”

“Will I see you again?” Gaby asked.

“I will be in touch with you somehow. I must
learn how my father is. Take care and thank you for all you have
done for me.”

Rafael stopped her from going any farther
with his hand to her arm. It got the desired response.

A fierce growl sounded before Esteban
warned, “Let go of her.”