Yours Again (River City Series) (12 page)

No,
she was the bad guy here, not him, no matter what the rest of his family
thought. He was also protecting them in the long run. They just didn’t realize
it right now.

Taos
analyzed the situation from every angle, mentally trying different scenarios
and what-ifs. The whiskey slowly disappeared as the moon rose. He usually
didn’t drink much, and the alcohol went straight to his head. Taos shook the
growing cobwebs away and climbed the stairs.

Things
will look different in the morning.

His
room was dark and he didn’t bother to light the lamp. He quickly shed his shirt
and lay on top of the bed, sleep instantly claiming him. Sometime during the
night he dreamed of her snuggled close to him. The scent of flowers drifted
though his dreams.

A
few hours later as dawn tinged the sky, Taos struggled to consciousness. His
mind throbbed with the reminder of last night’s detour through a bottle. The
dream he’d had was still with him, and he refused to open his eyes. The feel of
a slim thigh crossed his knee, and he realized this was no dream. Taos strained
his eyes down to see the top of a blonde head.

Samantha
was curled up next to him, her head resting on his shoulder. His body quickly
leapt to full alert as she moved softly against him in her sleep. When did she
crawl into bed with him?
This is going to be harder than I thought.
His
body was way ahead on that one. He hesitated for a moment, then curled his arm
around her. Samantha sighed softly and snuggled deeper into his chest.

Taos
felt like a drowning man with boots full of water. He should wake her up and
throw her out for playing this little game with him. He should, and he would .
. . later. Her hand moved across his chest as every hair on his body strained
toward her.

Please,
God, just let me drown.

He
tried to bring back all the terrible things she’d said to him, to rouse his
anger and cool his pounding pulse. But it wasn’t working. At all. He placed a
soft kiss on Samantha’s head and rested his hand on her waist. Her warm curves
beckoned him. It was irresistible torture. He slid his hand up her side slowly,
remembering those warm curves. Samantha’s eyes fluttered open and met his.

“Hello,
sunshine,” he whispered

Samantha
tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip. The realization of where she was
dawned instantly, and she seemed mortified to be half-naked in his bed. The
shirt twisted around her waist and barely covered her hip.

She
summoned a shred of composure. “I need to get up, please.”

“If
you really wanted to get up, you wouldn’t have crawled into my bed in the first
place.”

“I
didn’t crawl into your bed. I just fell asleep after you locked me in my room!”

“This
isn’t your room.”

His
mouth came down on hers just as she opened it to argue. Her soft lips didn’t struggle.
They yielded and the temptation was too much. Taos breathed her in, tasted her,
and she tasted back. His hand slid down to her knee and up her thigh. He felt soft
skin quiver under his touch as his hands roamed freely. Rolling her onto her
back, Taos covered half her body with his.

She
moaned into his mouth and the pleasure made the blood pound in his ears. He deepened
his kiss, dominating her and taking as much as he was giving. He pulled one of
her knees up and ran his hand along the curve of her hip past her waist.

The
door clicked open as a rooster crowed in the distance, and a small head poked
into Taos’s room. Tommy frowned at the two people in the large bed.

“Are
y’all coming to breakfast?”

Taos
and Samantha jumped off the bed as if it had just caught fire. Taos glanced at Samantha
then at him. A few more minutes and they wouldn’t have had enough clothes on to
accomplish that maneuver.

Tommy
looked from one to the other.

Taos
cleared his throat, “We, ah, we’re on our way.”

“No
you weren’t. You were squishing her.”

“We
were just talking.” Samantha took Tommy’s arm and led him to the door.

“No
you weren’t, he had his mouth . . .”

“Tommy!
We’ll be right down.” Taos’s voice demanded obedience.

The
door closed and Samantha looked at Taos. They were both shaken and not just by
the boy’s unexpected entrance. She ducked her head and started toward the
adjoining door. He grabbed her arm as she tried to brush past.

She
whispered. “We’ll talk about this later.”

“I
don’t think we need to do any more
talking
. This is dangerous with both
of us here, together.” He cleared his throat, trying to get his thoughts
together. “This is going to get out of hand. What we need are some rules.”

“Rules?”

“Yes,
like no crawling into my bed.” Taos’s voice wavered a bit. He already hated
that rule. Waking up with her in his bed was the best thing that had happened
to him in years.

“Ohhhh,
those kind of rules.” A smile played at the corner of Samantha’s mouth. “Like
no squishing before breakfast?”

He
smiled in spite of himself. “Yeah, like no squishing.”

“Well,”
she whispered, “that’s probably a good rule, especially without the door locked.
Any others?”

“We
should just give each other some distance.”

“I’ll
consider it, but you know I don’t take instruction very well.” She said. “You
have the same problem, you know.”

“Me?
I wasn’t the one who came in and crawled in someone else’s bed.”

“And
I wasn’t the one doing the squishing.” She left him staring after her.

 Samantha
was the last one to arrive in the kitchen.

Darren
and Tommy munched leftover cornbread at the table while Taos sipped his coffee.
Charlie was nowhere in sight. Samantha quickly set about starting breakfast.

She
glanced over at Taos. He held her gaze as a slow, lazy smile crossed his lips.
“Mornin’, Sammy.”

“Morning,
Taos.” Her voice gave nothing away.

“You’re
up a little late, Sammy.” Darren looked her over from head to toe. “Why is your
face so red?“

“We
were having a little chat.” Taos winked at her and was rewarded with a hint of
color that rose to her cheeks.

“What
kind of chat?”

“Never
mind, Darren,” they both said.

The
house seemed to get smaller by the minute.

Chapter 12

Charlie
had left early for a short stint as deputy in River City while Sheriff Blake
was out of pocket in Raton. After Darren and Taos saddled up and rode out, Samantha
finally got a few minutes of peace to herself as Tommy tended to a few chores.
She watched him running toward the barn, his huge dog loping along beside him.

Her
mind strayed back to the way she and Taos had leapt off the bed when Tommy
walked in this morning. Samantha giggled to herself. At least it wasn’t Charlie
or Darren. This morning’s
conversation
confirmed one thing in her mind.
He wasn’t afraid of her, he was afraid of them—together. And he did have a
point. This house didn’t allow for much space, especially with their rooms
right beside one another. But rules? Really! Next thing you knew he would be
drawing a line down the center of the house. Of course, that would only last
until he realized the kitchen was on her side.

The
men had talked this morning about branding the spring calves and warned her the
next few days would be long, especially without Charlie around to help. Perhaps
it wouldn’t be all that hard to comply with Taos’s suggestion. She certainly
had no desire to give Tommy any more unwitting lessons on the birds and the
bees, and she’d gotten what she wanted: a place to hide, at least for now.

As
it turned out, Samantha found plenty to occupy her time. The house cleaning
turned into a multi-day project. She had no idea so much filth could accumulate
in one place. Tommy was a real help, lugging water and keeping her company. Darren
and Taos worked hard to finish the branding, coming in at dusk each day bone
tired. They fell into bed only to rise before dawn the next day.

Taos
stuck to his part of the bargain, though Samantha felt his gaze follow her constantly.
It seemed whatever room she was in, he was in. She talked to him, or at him,
most of the time. He didn’t say much, just watched.

Darren,
on the other hand, talked her leg off. It was as if he hadn’t had a friend
since she left, and she honestly wondered if he hadn’t. Only a year apart, they
had shared a childhood. Of all the Williams brothers he was truly the most like
a real brother to her. She knew he felt the same about her and would do
anything for her. She so wanted him to be happy.

Most
evenings Samantha and Darren talked and laughed, catching up on the last nine
years. Taos kept his silence. He also continued to keep his distance, and so
did she. But at night she heard him tossing and turning, chasing sleep and
never catching it. She had the same problem.

Tonight
was no different. Samantha lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. It had been
more than a week since she had felt Taos’s touch, and her body almost ached for
it. She heard the clock downstairs strike one in the morning. A low rumble of
thunder echoed in the distance. Rain. She longed for a cool breeze and the
sweet smell of moisture in the air. She flipped the covers back and went to the
window. Pushing on the sash she tried to raise it a little, but it wouldn’t
budge. She banged each side with both hands and it finally moved, but only an
inch.

“Need
some help?” Taos reached around her and easily lifted the window.

She
breathed in the leather-and-spice scent of him. He turned to go, and she reached
out and touched his arm. “Thank you. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“I
wasn’t asleep.” He looked at her and frowned. “Why are you still wearing my
shirt?”

She
shrugged and stared out the window.
Because it makes me feel safe
, she
thought
.

He
raised his hand as if to touch her then let it drop to his side. He walked back
to his room and closed the door without a word. Samantha let her head fall
forward and thunk on the wooden window sash. How was she supposed to sleep now?
She puffed up her pillow so she could see out the window and watched the storm
roll toward the ranch. The lightning intensified, and thunder rattled the glass.
She drifted off to sleep as the rain began softly drumming on the roof.

Suddenly
she was in John’s office, feeling his cold touch and vile breath. She stared into
the depths of those beady eyes as his tongue flicked across her skin. Her body
jerked and moaned in disgust.

Now
she was riding, rain pelting her.
Have to go faster, he’s following.
The
man closed in as hooves pounded the wet ground. A big clap of thunder shook her
to the core, and she screamed, “No!”

Samantha
sat straight up in the darkness. Her breath came in short gasps and her heart
pounded. The door swung open and Taos rushed to her. “What’s th-”

She
leaped into his arms and buried her head in his chest.

“You’re
okay, shhh.” He comforted her, stroking her hair and holding her tight. “It’s
just a storm.”

She
shook her head, “It’s not that, it’s just. . .”

He
didn’t let her go, and she didn’t want him too. After a few minutes he picked
her up and carried her to his bed. He tucked her in next to him. One long arm
curled around and pulled her close.

“It’s
okay. You’re safe,” he whispered, stroking her hair. Samantha fought fatigue,
wanting to enjoy every touch, every whisper, but eventually a peaceful slumber
overtook her.

The
next morning Samantha stood on the porch as the sun licked the shadows into
retreat. She watched Taos saddle his horse and prepare to leave for the day
with Darren. The air was cool from the rain, and tiny insects danced in the
orange light of dawn. Birds chirped, and the slight, sweet scent of honeysuckle
floated on the air.

What
if he could tell by looking? Her body fairly hummed with excitement now just as
it had when he walked into the kitchen that morning. He had been gone when she
woke, and neither one said a word about last night.

The
urge to run inside, to hide these feelings, tugged at her, but the desire to
stay was too strong. She picked at her fingers nervously and glanced at Taos
out of the corner of her eye. There was no doubt she was heading down a
dangerous road but she’d given up the idea she had any control over it. It was
fun at first to toy with him, tempting him with her jokes and innuendos, but
last night, lying in his arms, she had felt safe and at peace. That
compassionate, caring person she remembered still existed under Taos’s gruff
exterior and there was no more denying the fact that she wanted more.

The
muscles of Taos’s back rippled under his shirt as he tossed first the blanket,
then the saddle atop his horse. Her gaze slid down his torso all the way to his
boots. Aunt Mattie would have called him a long tall drink of water, and
Samantha was parched. The men mounted and headed out. directing the horses past
the house toward the back pasture. Taos met her gaze with a slow smile. The
curve of his lips sent a warm rush through Samantha, and she smiled back.

Did
he think she was pretty? Last night he had held her close, which was wonderful,
but he didn’t even try to kiss her. He’d liked her well enough when he woke
with her in his bed the first time. She rubbed her forehead with her fingers
and closed her eyes. What must he think? He hadn’t pushed her away, but was she
any different to him than the women at Miss Sadie’s? His gentle touch and soft
lips could wipe her mind of any control she might have and leave her powerless
to resist, not that she wanted to.

How
do you ask a man what he really thinks?
Do they think about things like
love, or do they just grab what comes by? She could sit him down and be
completely honest and just ask him flat out. He might laugh. Could she handle
it if he turned her away? The conflicting emotions distracted, thrilled, and
annoyed her as she set about cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom with a
vengeance once again.

She
practiced the different possibilities in her mind. What if he had the same thoughts
and feelings she did? Would they eventually get married? Her heart fairly
tripped over the thought of being his wife, of really belonging here—to him. The
idea of waking up in his arms every morning was intoxicating. What if they had
another little boy like Tommy, or maybe a girl with his beautiful blue eyes?

Samantha
paused and frowned. She was just as bad as he thought she was! She’d tried her
best to convince him she had no interest in any man, and that had been true
when she got here. But now, something had shifted. She’d gone from finding new
ways to irritate him to wanting to have his babies in a matter of days, which
was ridiculous. She punched the pillow she was holding and then set it on the
newly made bed. It wasn’t like she was fourteen with some school girl crush.
She was a grown woman who knew her own mind—at least she thought she did.

Taos
was certainly an adult as well and all man. Her mind wondered back to the feel
of his weight on her in bed. She’d wanted so much more and her imagination had
worked overtime with the erotic ideas she’d learned at Miss Sadie’s. If Tommy
hadn’t walked in things would have gone much farther. What if they had?

She
stirred up another batch of cookies, rolled the dough onto the table, and cut
them with an upturned glass. While they baked, she cleaned the parlor again. If
this mental turmoil kept up she’d scrub right through the floor. Dust rose in
clouds from the chair cushions as she whacked the fabric with a broom.

The
office posed the biggest challenge. She hadn’t cleaned at all in here yet, and
the idea still overwhelmed her a bit. But this is where she felt his presence
the most. She stood at the door and stared. Where to begin? The pile on the
desk seemed the least intimidating. She stacked and sorted until the papers
were in some sort of order.

Bills,
cattle receipts, bank deposits, and miscellaneous correspondence. Even at first
glance, it appeared to her the ranches were doing well. She looked for a ledger
book in the drawers. She found one and blew the dust off it. The date of the
last entry was more than a year ago.

She
entered each receipt she had piled on the desk, then looked through every
drawer, around and behind every piece of furniture, and through every book for
other receipts. She carefully added these to her previous entries and totaled
them. She frowned and totaled them again. The ranch wasn’t doing well . . . It
was doing
very
well. So why did they live like paupers? Her mind
struggled for a reason. Why does he not want me to know how well things are
going? There was plenty of money. Why would he lie?

He’s
doesn’t want me to know how much my ranch is worth.
She tossed out the
idea. But it crept back, causing an unmistakable chill in her heart. He wants
both ranches. The old Taos wouldn’t have even considered keeping what wasn’t
his, but this man was not the same person—at least sometimes. It was like he
was two different people: cold and unyielding sometimes, warm and irresistible
others. Was he manipulating her?

Taos
said repeatedly he didn’t want her, yet he’d given up completely on getting rid
of her. It had been a little too easy as he could just have plopped her on the
next train to Boston. Was he just pacifying her until he figured out a way to
keep her out of his business?

He
didn’t really want her, did he? Even now she wanted to believe he did. The
attraction was just too strong for it to be one-sided, but he’d kept his
distance. Even last night with her right there in his bed, he hadn’t touched
her or kissed her the way he did that first night. She wanted his touch, needed
it so badly it was driving her insane. She couldn’t go on like this; she didn’t
want to, and it was high time they ditched those stupid rules.

She
turned her attention to the pile of correspondence. She stacked the letters and
looked for a place to put them. The drawer with the ink and paper seemed the
logical place. She moved everything to the front and piled the papers in the
back of the drawer. A folded piece of paper fell from the stack. She unfolded
it and read:

Dear
Mattie,

Must send Samantha back to
you. No place for her here at this time. Please advise.

Taos

Fear
shook her. If John Lawson got a hold of this he’d know exactly where to find
her. The letter was by itself in the drawer. Maybe he hadn’t sent it. Maybe he’d
changed his mind. She didn’t know what to think anymore. She shoved the letter
into her pocket and returned to the kitchen.

She
popped another pan of cookies into the oven and slammed the door shut. She
paced around the room as they baked, working herself into a frenzy of “what ifs.”
What if Lawson had already gotten the letter and was on his way. What if Mattie
were in danger, too? Taos had no idea the kinds of problems he may have set in
motion. By the time Taos and Darren stepped through the back door for dinner,
she was an emotional wreck.

Taos
was a little startled at the hostility he sensed. Darren didn’t seem to notice,
and slid into a chair, exhausted. Taos walked over to the pot of coffee and stole
a quick glance toward Samantha.

“Whoa
boy, it’s warm out today.” Darren flipped his sweaty hat into a chair.