A Lesson in Patience (19 page)

Ginny pushed her husband down against the sheets and straddled him. Leaning down, she grabbed his hands and brought them up to her breasts. Colby needed no further encouragement, and rubbed and teased each breast. Ginny pushed her hair over to one side and kissed her husband with every emotion she had: passion, lust, security and love.

Ginny lowered herself down slowly onto the head of his erection, using her hand to guide him in. As she took him in, slowly, she watched the play of emotions across Colby's face. Primarily, she saw relief. Whether that was because of how long they'd waited or because he never thought this moment would come, she didn't know. His stare became intense, watching her to make sure she was alright.

Ginny was more than alright. She moved smoothly, up and down, creating the friction that would lead to their mutual orgasm. She had to concentrate to keep her movements even. It had been so long coming, that Ginny was too afraid of it being over too quickly.

Colby's hands moved to her hips, helping keep the rhythm. When he felt himself about to let go, he increased her tempo, moving her hips quicker, watching to make sure she was almost ready.

Ginny's orgasm was glorious. She had felt it building but had no idea that it would spring forth so explosively. Her muscles clenched, with a heat that spread throughout her body, starting in her middle and spreading to each limb. Her fingernails raked his chest, then, without ceremony, she fell forward, her face inches from his. Colby's eyes were still closed, his face scrunched from spilling his seed deep inside her.

When his eyes opened, his hands grabbed her face, and he kissed her tenderly. He wanted to say so much to her, tell her how it had been better than he could have imagined. Colby wanted to say that he had never felt such completion, such fulfillment. That he finally understood all the love poetry. How she completed him.

Instead, he moved her next to him and pulled her up against him. Kissing her forehead, the only words to escape his mouth were, “I love you.”

Ginny closed her eyes, and replied, “I love you, too.” And she thought, for the first time in her life, she just might mean it. They moved under the covers, Colby lay behind her, cradling her body with his own. She felt his love, his protection and with it, came peaceful sleep.

It was completely black when Ginny was startled awake. She laid still for a moment, trying to figure out what it was that woke her. Still disoriented from sleep, she struggled to remember where she was. Slowly, it came to her: Vas' house, Colby and her finally had sex.

Then she heard the sound that woke her. A scream, from outside, coming toward the house. The disembodied voice was calling for Colby. It sounded like Nate.

Turning toward her bed partner, Ginny shook Colby awake. He woke in an instant, sitting straight up and looking at her.

“What... What is it?”

“I hear Nate screaming for you,” Ginny said as she climbed out of bed and promptly fell over in the dark.

Colby lit the kerosene lamp next to the bed. “Get dressed. I'll go outside to see what's going on.”

Colby grabbed his pants from the pile he'd left on the floor and went down the stairs. Ginny grabbed her clothes, pulling on each piece as quickly as possible. When done, she ran down the steps and left through the open front door.

She saw two figures in the dark and cursed herself for not thinking to grab the lantern. Deciding not to run, figuring she would break an ankle on something, Ginny walked toward the two as fast as she dared. She knew this was it. The “it.” Whatever her father had decided to do, it was happening as she walked toward her husband and his brother.

When Ginny finally reached the two, she saw that Nate's arms were wrapped around Colby. With the limited moonlight, Ginny saw streams of tears running down Nate's cheeks. Colby was trying to soothe him, but was clearly getting aggravated. Ginny got down on her knees and looked up into the boy's eyes.

Taking him from Colby, Nate started to hug Ginny hard. She could hear him babbling something, but couldn't tell what it was.

“Nate, look at me,” Ginny said as she pulled him away and grabbed his face with her hands. “You have to tell me what's going on, or I can't help you.”

Nate took a shuddering breath and spoke in a whisper. “They took her.”

Colby practically yelled, “Took who!?”

This sent Nate back to shivering and sniveling. Ginny shot Colby a look to shut up, but doubted he could even see it in the dark. Settling her tone down, she lifted Nate's face again and asked, “What are you talking about, Nate?”

“I was asleep, but I heard a crash downstairs. When I walked out of my room, two men were taking Georgia. She was screaming. I started to scream for Vas, but one of the guys hit me and sent me flying back into the room.”

Colby took off in a run toward the ranch house, with Ginny towing Nate behind her. By the time Ginny had caught up, Colby was in the parlor, with Vas sitting on the couch holding his head. Georgia and Frank were nowhere to be seen.

Every available light was on and the parlor was as bright as day. Ginny ran to the back of the house, in search of Nizhoni. Vas' mother was fast asleep outside, in a small tent she kept for herself. Ginny asked for some supplies and went back to Vas in the parlor.

Vas was speaking when she came in to check to see if he was hurt. “I tried, Colby. There were two of them, and they caught me by surprise. I don't know what they hit me with, but... They took Georgia. Why would they do that?”

It was Ginny who answered. “Because my father never does anything on his own. He probably hired the men to kidnap me. The men were looking for a girl, not knowing it wasn't me.” It wasn't hard to figure the plot out. It may give them the advantage when going after Georgia.

Colby stood up. “I'll go and saddle my horse. There is only one way they could have gone safely in the dark. I'll try to head them off at the pass.” Ginny would have giggled at the line if the situation weren't so serious.

“You are not going anywhere without me, Colby. She's going to be my wife.”

Ginny knelt in front of Vas and started to look at his head. Probing the large welt on his right temple, Ginny asked, “Where's Frank?”

Colby started to look around him fruitlessly, when Vas spoke up. “He was downstairs with me. He'd had a nightmare or something and asked if he could sit with me awhile. When I heard the noise outside, I told him to stay put. He might be hiding somewhere.”

Nizhoni entered the parlor and started talking in rapid Navajo. Ginny had no idea what she was saying until Vas told her that his mother had a remedy for him. Ginny spoke back to her in rapid fire Spanish to make it quick.

Meanwhile, Colby and Nate went looking for Frank. When they couldn't find him, they came back into the parlor. Looking at Ginny, Colby asked the question he'd been dreading. “Do you think Frank went after them on his own?”

Ginny wasn't about to sugarcoat her answer. “Yes. But I don't think he'll try to get her away from them. I think he'll just keep an eye on them unless they try to do something to Georgia.”

Nate had a sudden idea and went to the kitchen to see if he was right. Upon his return, he said, “Frank's rifle is gone.”

“Dammit. He isn't this stupid.” Colby looked itchy from standing there. “I'll go saddle the horses.”

Before he could leave, Ginny said, “Make it three, Colby.” Then she turned back to Vas, checking to see if he had any other wounds.

Colby turned to her and said, “I haven't got time for this, Ginny. You'll just slow us down. You don't know the trail like we do.” His voice was a mixture of anger and desperation.

Ginny stood up and stared at her husband. “Like I slowed you down searching for Nate? Georgia was taken because of me. If worse comes to worse, I'll use myself to get her away from them. I won't have your sister in the hands of Fitzhume. We already know how that will turn out.”

Colby's eyes widened. Ginny didn't know if it was the thought of his sister with that monster or the fact that Ginny would sacrifice herself to save Georgia. Either way, he didn't look thrilled at the notion of her joining the search party.

“No. You're not coming. Say what you want, but you will stay here if I have to lock you in my bedroom.” He turned and left without another word.

It was Vas who filled the sudden silence. “Ginny, you got to stay here and take care of Nate. Colby and I know what we're doing. We will get her back.” The last words came out with a strength that reassured Ginny. But, in the end, Ginny knew that she would have to be there to resolve this. That was what happened in romance novels. She needed to put herself in danger, so her hero could save her. Then again, when did she ever do things the way they were supposed to be done?

She nodded her head and went back to caring for his wound. “Any dizziness or nausea, you need to let me know.” Her words were half-hearted at best. Nizhoni appeared with a poultice to put on the bump. Ginny figured it was some sort of analgesic or anti-inflammatory, but didn't ask and for that matter, didn't care. Her mind was working on other things, like what to do to help her husband and soon-to-be brother-in-law.

Colby screamed from outside for Vas to join him, although the words were far less polite. Ginny, Nate and Nizhoni all went to the porch to watch them go. As they rode off, it occurred to Ginny that she may not know the the trails, but she had two people with her that did. And then the plan started to work itself out in her head. She had little doubt that Georgia would be returned to them by morning. Hopefully in the same condition she was in when she left.

*******

When the three entered the house, it was Nizhoni who spoke up first. “
¿
Usted no se va quedar a solo aqui?”

Just sit here?
she thought.
Not bloody likely.
So, in the next ten minutes, Ginny explained her plan to both Nate and Nizhoni. They argued over a few points, then came to a consensus. Nizhoni left to get the necessary supplies, Nate went to saddle the horses, and Ginny went to change into something she could ride in. They all met again outside the barn.

Ginny asked Nizhoni if she was sure about the trail she was going to take them on. The old woman just tsked her disapproval at being questioned. As they climbed up on their horses, the old woman went on about how she had been in this valley for most of her life and she knew it better than even her son or Colby. After fifteen minutes of riding, she finally quieted down, much to Ginny's relief.

It was dark when they set off, and Ginny realized that she had no idea what time it was. None of them seemed tired, with all the excitement acting like ten cups of coffee, flooding their systems. The going was slow, especially as they began their climb up the mountain. This narrow pass was far east of the one Ginny took when she first came to the ranch. She probably wouldn't have even called it a pass, but Nizhoni navigated it as if she could see in the dark.

Through the narrow passages, Nizhoni led, Nate stayed in the middle and Ginny took up the rear. Nate was good on a horse, but he was only ten. Her plan did not involve putting Nate in any danger. As a matter of fact, after Nizhoni got them to the road leading to Cheyenne, she would take Nate home and leave Ginny to find the others. That had been one of the sticking points. Nate wanted to stay with Ginny, but neither Nizhoni or Ginny would allow that. The only reason he came with them now was because neither women would leave him at home alone.

Minutes turned to hours, as they continued their climb. They stopped only once to allow the horses a break. Ginny knew they had climbed in altitude, as it became harder to breath. If she had been hiking, she probably would have given up by then. Thankfully, the horses were doing all the hard work. Just when Ginny felt they would never stop climbing, they reached a plateau and were able to ride along side each other for a few minutes.

“
¿
Cuanto mas?” Ginny asked Nizhoni how much further they needed to travel. Instead of answering, they cleared some trees, and Nizhoni pointed to the road. The sun was just breaking over the horizon.

Ginny came up beside Nizhoni, and they tried to calculate where everyone would be. If, that is, the bad guys were bringing Georgia to Cheyenne. Based on the timing, Nizhoni speculated that the bad guys were probably already past them on the road to Cheyenne, but that Colby and Vas were at least thirty minutes behind.

Not bothering with Spanish, since Ginny knew Nizhoni could understand English, she said, “Okay. Take Nate home and I'll see if I can catch up to the bad guys.” They had taken to calling them that since they had nothing else to call them. Ginny had a few names she could have used, and that Frank would have loved to learn, but it was just easiest to call them bad guys.

Ginny set off down the road and Nizhoni turned her horse to return home, when Nate spoke to her.

“We should wait for Colby and Vas, to let them know Ginny's on her way.”

Nizhoni, who was wise after so many years on earth, considered what he'd said. In Navajo, she asked him if he was worried about his new teacher.

“Of course. She's really special, ain't she?” Nate felt the tears forming in his eyes. Nizhoni had been wonderful by keeping them fed and making sure their clothes were clean, but she wasn't the loving type. She didn't offer hugs and kisses, she wouldn't read them books or talk to them. Ginny had offered him everything he'd lost when his mother died. She had become the missing piece in his life that he'd longed for. Having all his physical needs met was one thing, but having his emotional needs met was just as important, especially to a ten year old.

They allowed the horses to graze, while waiting for Colby and Vas. Nizhoni had been wrong about the timing, as it was only fifteen minutes later that the two came over a small hill. When they recognized who was stopped at the side of the road, Colby's face turned murderous. Nate was suddenly afraid of his older brother, as he'd never been before.

Getting off his horse, Colby barked, “Where is she?”

Nate looked at his shoes, and Nizhoni simply raised her eyebrows, as if to ask, “Where is who?” Colby wasn't having any of it.

“Nizhoni, you know damn well who I mean. Where is Ginny and why aren't you three at home where we left you?”

Vas, who despite the fear he held for Georgia, had to ask, “And how did you get here before us?”

Nizhoni went off in Navajo to her son and his friend. Colby turned toward Vas during the speech, eyes rolling. Finally, Colby put his hands across his eyes and called a halt to her complaining. He decided a more civil approach was warranted.

“Please Nizhoni, where is Ginny? Did you see Georgia? Please tell me.”

Nizhoni explained that Ginny was only twenty minutes ahead of them and if they hurried along, they would catch her. Turning toward her son, she told him that she took a little used passage, that she would have been happy to explain where it was if anyone had bothered to ask her.

Grumbling, both men took off on their horses at a gallop, hoping to catch up with Ginny before she encountered the kidnappers. Colby knew that his wife was not the most confident rider, so he was surprised when most of the work was done by the time they'd caught up.