Way Out West (9 page)

Anna Mae sent her a
curious look. “Now, you didn’t purposely stay behind that bolt all this time,
did you? Cuz if you did, then I guess there’s no need to wrap this tie for your
gentleman friend.” Anna Mae peered closely at Callie.

Callie tugged at her
blouse. “On second thought, I’ll just take it as it is.” She quickly stuffed
her purchases in her purse and counted out her money. As she briskly headed for
the door she heard Anna Mae’s light chuckle behind her.

Once outside, Callie
looked up the street to see where Rand had gone. She spotted him about two
blocks up going into the telegraph office. Turning on her heel, she headed back
to the saloon. She didn’t know why she felt so guilty, she just knew she couldn’t
face him after hearing him talk about her.

* * *

Rand
was about to step into the telegraph office when
he looked down the street and spotted the beautiful flowing blond locks he’d
recognize anywhere. He’d stared long and hard at them yesterday for three
torturous miles. He’d nearly buried his nose in her hair to experience the full
rush of her scent. Her beauty and smell had been the most invigorating stimuli
for someone so long in a state of numbness.

Without another thought,
Rand took off in her direction, the paper kite flapping in the wind of his
haste. He jumped down at the end of the next boardwalk and continued running in
the street to hasten his progress. Dirt and dust flew everywhere. He had to
dodge a horse or two and nearly toppled a woman about to cross the street.

“Sorry, ma’am.” He
caught up with Callie as she was about to enter the saloon. “Well,” he puffed, “fancy
meeting you here.” His chest heaved heavily.

Callie’s eyes opened
wide with surprise. “Where did you come from?” She looked over his shoulder and
up the street, a puzzled look on her face.

“I was just happening by
when I saw you.” His breathing slowed somewhat, his speech almost returned to
normal. “I thought to myself, what would a lovely lady like Miss Callie be
wanting to do on such a beautiful day as today?”

Callie narrowed her eyes
and looked suspiciously at the crumpled paper kite in his arms. “And what was
the answer?”

“Well, the obvious
answer was to spend it with me. But...” He held a finger to her lips as she opened
her mouth to protest his bold suggestion. “But, I knew I needed a little
something to make the proposition a bit more enticing.”

Her eyes grew wide
again. God, how he loved those eyes.

“It just so happens I
recently purchased this beautiful kite and I couldn’t think of anything better
than having a beautiful woman help me fly it.”

Callie smiled and cast
her eyes down for a shy moment. “And what woman did you decide on, sir?”

With a slight bow, his
voice husky, he said, “Why, you, Miss Callie. The brightest star in this here
sky.”

“You sure know how to
flatter a girl.”

“I may be a little
rusty, but I remember the basics.” He lifted a forearm for her to take hold of.
“Shall we?”

She raised her hand then
looked down at the string purse hanging from her wrist.

“Can you give me a
minute? I need to go upstairs and dispose of...this.” A rosy glow colored her
cheeks. “I don’t imagine I’ll be needing my purse to fly a kite.”

“Take your time.” The
sight of the string purse triggered something in his mind. “In fact, I need to
run back to the general store for some string. Can I get you anything?”

“No!” she blurted. “I
mean, no, thank you. I have everything I need.”

“Then I’ll meet you
inside the saloon in five minutes.”

* * *

Callie ran up the stairs
to her room, dropped her purse on the bed, and headed straight for the basin. She
scooped cool water onto her face, washing down the heat and excitement that had
risen the moment she heard Rand’s voice in the general store. Their meeting
just now had only intensified the feelings tenfold.

What that man could do
to her! The things he said, the look in his eye, the singe of his touch. She
licked her lips, remembering the light touch of his finger and tasting its
residue. After drying her face she spied her anxiety-lined reflection in the
mirror. Eyes closed, she took some deep breaths.

Okay, calm down. Think
quiet thoughts. Think fresh air and soft breezes. Walking in a field. Chasing
the wind. Rand’s lips touching mine
—

Her eyes snapped open. So
much for calm thoughts.

She quickly got out the
new laces and replaced the old ones, then, with a sigh, she stuffed the tie in
her pocket. For a simple kind of life, things were getting awfully complicated.

Chapter Six

Descending the stairs,
Callie saw Rand bent over one of the card tables, his arms spread wide while he
pulled at a stick. The paper kite rustled against his effort to make it conform
to the bend of the stick. His upper teeth clamped firmly on his bottom lip
creating a comical grimace on the handsome face.

Callie approached
quietly. “Need a hand?”

The stick snapped back
and Rand heaved a frustrating sigh. “Don’t sneak up on me when I don’t know
you’re there.”

“Oh, now that makes a
lot of sense.”

“You know what I mean.”
He tightened his lips and looked at the kite determinedly. “I’m afraid if I
pull too hard I’ll either break the stick or rip the paper. Can you put your
hand here,” he pointed to the place where the sticks crossed, “and press firmly
while I try to stretch it one more time?”

Putting her hand where
he indicated, she smiled and asked sweetly, “Sir, is this another one of your
propositions?”

One eyebrow rose in a
menacing look. “Callie, I swear, I don’t know whether to kiss you or take you
over my knee.”

“Why, Rand! You say the
most flattering things.”

He grumbled under his
breath and returned his attention to the kite. A few more minutes of grunting
and groaning successfully rendered one ready-to-fly kite.

“There. Now, I’ll just
add some of these cloth strips for the tail.” He tied several knots until the
tail was twice as long as the kite. “Okay, we’re ready for flight.”

He held the kite up for
her to admire, but then he stood motionless, staring deeply into her eyes.

“What is it?” she asked,
uncomfortably.

“I think it’s an omen. The
yellow in the kite matches your hair and the blue of the streamers is the same
as your eyes.” He touched a strand of her hair, pushing it over her shoulder.

Nervously, she brushed
back the strand on the other side. “I probably should have tied it back if
we’re going out to a windy field.”

“There’s plenty of cloth
left over.” He put the kite down and lifted a piece of blue material. “Would
you like me to tie a strip at the back of your hair?”

The mere suggestion sent
her pulse racing again, but she calmly turned her back to allow him access to
her long tresses. His fingers gently grazed her jaw, first one side, then the
other, as he gathered in the stray hairs. The backs of his fingers brushed ever
so lightly against her nape as he pulled all the hair together. He held it in
place while reaching for a cloth piece. The strip tickled her neck when he
threaded it under the hair and pulled to adjust the length. When Rand finally tightened the knot and twisted the ends into a bow, he placed his hands on her
shoulders and breathed near her ear.

“Beautiful.”

One word had never
sounded so enticing. She had to stop herself from leaning into his chest and
begging for his lips on her neck.

“Let’s go before we get
too much of an audience,” he whispered, distracting her from her musings.

Callie looked around to
see Smitty, Sasha, and two customers all staring with glib smiles. She gave a
curt wave and led the way out of the saloon. They both laughed as the doors
swung behind them. But Callie soon cut her laughter short, which caused Rand to cock his head with concern.

“What it is?” he asked.

Wordlessly, she jutted
her chin in the direction across the street where Tyler stood leaning against a
hitching post.

“Don’t worry about him,”
he said. “He’s harmless.”

“How can you be so
sure?”

“You saw what happened
last night. He knows when he’s met his match.”

Callie wanted to believe
him but she’d seen Tyler’s maniacal eyes up close. She knew he’d be like Spider
and not back down easily from something he thought was his. If he truly thought
Rand had cheated him, she fully expected him to jump headfirst back into the
fire.

Rand
was a different matter. Unlike Tyler, or Spider,
or even her ex-fiancé, he cared for others beside himself, cared that no one
got hurt. He was also levelheaded and thought things out before acting.

Just as he was doing
with their relationship.

Rand
touched her elbow and guided her down the
boardwalk. “Come on. I need to make a quick stop in the telegraph office.”

* * *

Taking long strides, Rand hustled Callie down the street until she tugged back on her arm.

“What’s the hurry? My
little legs can only go so fast.”

“Sorry. I’m just anxious
to get this thing in the air.”

That wasn’t the entire
truth. He was anxious to get away from the watchful eyes of Tyler and get to
the telegraph office.

After seeing the menace
glaring from across the street, Rand was relieved to have Callie with him. He
had a bad feeling about this Tyler. No telling what he’d do if he got her
alone.

At the telegraph office,
Rand turned to Callie. “Would you hold this?” Handing her the kite, he went to
the counter.

“How do, Rand,” said the serious man in the visor cap and tied up sleeves. “Need something?”

“Yes, Willard. I need to
send two messages.” He pulled two slips of paper from his coat pocket and
glanced over his shoulder at Callie. She smiled sweetly. He smiled back. Then,
in a lowered voice, “I need you to be discreet about this.”

“Did you want to wait?”
asked the clerk.

“No. We’re on our way to
the fields.” Rand motioned to the kite in Callie’s hands, then fished money out
of his pocket to settle his bill. “Just get them out as quickly as possible.”

Back on the street, they
headed for the open land and left the noise of the town behind. No more
chatter, no more boot falls on the boardwalk or horses snorting. Instead, the
sounds were those of quiet wind ruffling tall grass, locust clicking their
monotonous calls, birds chirping about the fine weather.

“I didn’t realize how
busy the town was until we got away from it,” Callie remarked, slowing her pace
until she stopped in the middle of the field. “What a difference out here.”

“Isn’t it wonderful?” Rand wished he could squeeze her hand but both of his were on the kite. “Sometimes I just
sit out here and stare at the horizon. I find it very soothing.”

“Mmmm. Once Spider and I
rode up into the hills over Hollywood and I asked him to stop so I could see
the view. He didn’t get it. Said it was a waste of time.”

Rand
glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. It
wasn’t his place to ask about Spider. The basic rule of Way Out West was the
right to privacy. If he insisted on keeping his own identity hidden, he had to
afford her the same courtesy.

Still, he wondered. “The
guy on the motorcycle, right?”

She turned her head.
“Yes. You see, Spider—“

With a raised hand, Rand stopped her. “You don’t have to tell me anything and I’m not going to press you.”

“I know,” she murmured.
“But I want you to understand.” Her innocent gaze swept over his face, her
smile softened as her eyes settled on his. “We’d been together a year but all
he really wanted was a trophy for his bike, something to show off when we rode
out with his friends. Once the sting of my desertion wears off, I’m sure it
won’t be long before he finds a replacement.”

Wishing a huge gust of
wind would come along and take the kite out of his hands, Rand stared
helplessly at the sky blue of Callie’s inviting eyes. His hands itched to be on
her, to hold her close. Lowering his gaze to her lips, he wanted to feel them
against his, to taste the sweetness of her mouth once more. With her fresh
looks and lust for adventure, she belonged here. Way Out West could be like a
second home to her, too.

“That’s why I ran,” she
continued. “Breaking up with him would’ve been impossible. When I saw that ad
for Way Out West, I knew it was my only salvation.”

He needed to comfort
her, tell her that not all men were so insensitive. He said in a husky tone,
“Come here.” He opened his arms and Callie stepped in without hesitation. “I’d
never treat you like that. A man should always respect what a woman wants.”

Callie smiled up at him.
He rubbed his nose against hers and gave her a quick, teasing kiss. A strong
breeze kicked up, rustling the nearly forgotten kite in his hands.

“Let’s take advantage of
that wind.”

* * *

They walked further into
the field overgrown with tall grass and wildflowers. Callie picked a long stem
of grass and twirled it between her fingers, listening to rustling sounds from
all around and feeling the sun warm her skin.

As Rand prepared the
string, she marveled at this man who fancied himself a gentleman, and her a
lady. He was everything Spider and Keith weren’t, yet she had no idea who he
was. How could she start a relationship based on something so intangible?

Finished with the
string, Rand abandoned the kite and removed first his hat, then his coat, then
his gun belt. She watched the strong movement of his shoulders beneath the
white linen shirt as he placed them in a pile, hiding the gun belt under the
coat. He then rolled up his sleeves, revealing strong forearms with generous
amounts of black hair.

“Okay, let’s see if we
can get this thing to fly.” Rand picked up the kite and held it up to test the
direction of the wind. The paper puffed out slightly and fought against the
restraining string. He eased out the line and took some quick steps back to let
the wind catch with gusto. In seconds, the paper rustled loudly and the kite
soared upward as Rand gave it more line. The tail waggled like a snake in the
sky.

“Yay! You did it,”
Callie yelled. She tilted her head high, shielding her light-sensitive eyes
from the sun with her hand, then remembering Rand’s hat, she stooped to pick it
up and plopped it on her head before running to join him. “Oh, it looks so
regal just sitting there aloft, waving majestically.”

Rand
smiled down at her proudly. He hooked the string
around a finger, then pulled Callie in close with his free arm.

“It’s beautiful, just
like you.”

She snuggled close to
his chest and they watched the kite dance in the wind for endless moments without
a word. Rand finally squeezed her shoulder.

“Would you like to take
the helm for awhile?”

She squinted with
delight. “Sure, why not? I haven’t done it since I was a kid, but I’m sure I
can handle it.”

“Here.” He placed
himself behind her. His arms surrounded her and met in front where his hands
prepared to turn over the string. “I’ll hold the string. You take the ball and
when it’s secure in your hand, wind a little bit around two fingers. Then I’ll
release my finger from above.”

His cheek pressed close
to hers as they both concentrated on the exchange. She felt his warm breath on
her skin. The feel of his strong arms against hers made her weak.

“Are you ready?”

She nodded. He released
his fingers and the kite jerked slightly as it fought to soar higher into the
heavens. “Eeeee!” she squealed. “It’s really pulling.”

“Just hang on tight.
You’re in command.”

“Oh, look at it, Rand. It’s waving to me.”

“You’re doing great.” He
placed his hands on her upper arms and she tensed to his touch.

A sudden down draft
caught the kite and it responded with a quick nosedive. “Oh, no!” Callie cried.

“Pull the string,” Rand shouted.

She did several times
and the kite finally resumed its quiet swaying. A moment later, another gust
came along and shook the kite and string with a violent rhythm. Callie shrieked
and Rand grabbed for the line just as it snapped from her hands. His quick
action wasn’t enough. The force of the upward pull dragged the string from his
hands and they watched helplessly as the kite rose out of site into the yonder.

Callie sighed. “We lost
it.”

Rand
put his arm around her shoulders. “That’s okay,
the fun was in getting it to fly.”

“But you won’t get it
back now.” She held up her hand with the string still attached.

He lifted the string and
pulled her around to face him. “I’d rather have what’s on this end of the
string.” He smoothed a hand across her forehead, brushing away some stray hairs
and tipping the hat up with one finger.

“You look mighty
tempting in that hat, ma’am.” His voice was husky, a hint of playfulness
accenting the words.

A smile pulled at her
lips. “Oh? And just what are you going to do about it?”

He snaked a hand around
her waist, pulling her closer. “First, I’m going to kiss you.” He lowered his
mouth to tenderly buff against hers. “Then I’m going to taste you.” He nibbled
at her ear lobe and moaned softly in her ear.

Callie’s arms readily
circled his neck as she shivered against the sensations tripping through her
body. His words, his actions, everything enticed her into a world of excitement
totally unfamiliar to her.