Dashing Druid (Texas Druids) (14 page)

Stiffening, Tye lowered his bandanna. “We’ve some footsore animals back here, Mister Crawford. If we push them any harder they’ll drop in their tracks.” He knew the trail boss was well aware of this fact.

Crawford glowered at him. “Argue with me again, Devlin, and you can draw your pay. I’ll be glad to find another hand. There’s plenty who’ll do the job a damn sight better than you.”

Tye’s temper soared. He fought it, but lost the battle. “Perhaps, but I’m not so sure they’d put up –”

“Neither am I,
” MacClure
interrupted. “Devlin’s a hard worker. I dinna think he’ll be so easy ta replace.”

Surprised, Tye stared at him. He’d heard the quiet, craggy-faced Scotsman respectfully disagree with his boss before, but he hadn’t expected the man to speak up for him.

Crawford turned a furious red. “MacClure, when I want to hear from you, I’ll say so.” To Tye, he snarled, “Get these steers moving.” Then he spurred his horse back the way he’d come.

“I’m grateful to
ye
,” Tye told the
segundo
.

“Think
nothin
’ of it. I only spoke the truth.” The Scotsman nodded toward Crawford’s retreating back. “And he knows it.”

Tye had a sudden, rash idea. He eyed his companion closely. “I’ve a favor to ask, if ye don’t mind.”

Stacking his hands on his saddle horn, MacClure gave him a shrewd look. “Ask away. It’ll cost me
nothin
’ ta
listen
.”

* * *

Lil kept her horse to a slow walk as she circled the herd. Her night watch was half over. She hummed softly, reassuring the dozing cattle, while her thoughts gravitated to Tye. Her father had stared holes in him across the campfire at supper. She suspected there’d been trouble between them earlier. If Tye wasn’t careful, her father would send him packing as he’d vowed to do.

Wouldn’t that be for the best? Then she could stop worrying about what Pa might do if she so much as looked at the handsome rogue. The battle to ignore him was wearing her out. Why had he insisted on coming along, anyway? If he thought he could win her over, he was wrong. Not only did she not trust him, but she resented him for scoffing at the idea of her going on a trail drive.

Why then couldn’t she stop yearning for him? He wasn’t for her. She’d gone over all the reasons a thousand times.

The silhouette of another rider appeared against the cream-colored moon, approaching at a walk from the opposite direction. She knew it was Neil. He was the only man her father trusted out here alone with her at night.
Not that she couldn’t take care of herself.
She’d learned how to use a knife and a gun when she was a little mite.

“Lily, is that you, colleen?” the man called out low as they neared one another.

“You!
What are you doing out here?” she blurted, sawing on her reins, causing her horse to snort. Hearing the nearby cattle stir, she lowered her voice. “Where’s MacClure?”

“In his bedroll by now, I should think.” He grinned, teeth flashing in the moonlight. “I volunteered to take part of his shift so I could have a moment alone with
ye
.”

“Have you been eating locoweed again? If my father finds out –”

“I’ll risk it, since this seems to be the only way.”

“You dang fool!” she hissed, struggling not to yell. “Pa meant what he said. Unless you want to end up dead, you’d best stay away from me.” She kneed her horse ahead, paying no attention when Tye called softly after her.

They circled the herd and met again, but Lil refused to speak to him. Riding on, she heard a muttered curse behind her.

The third time they
met,
Tye prodded his horse close before she could get past him and gripped her arm. Lil squeaked in alarm as he leaned toward her without saying a word. His other hand reached out to cup the underside of her jaw. Her hat fell back to dangle by its chin strings as his mouth claimed hers.

Any resistance she might have offered gave way beneath his insistent kiss. She wanted this as much as he did. Laying a hand on his chest, she opened her mouth to his exploring tongue. A rush of heat swept through her, drawing a smothered moan from her throat. His answering groan told her he was just as affected as she was.

Her horse suddenly squealed in protest and shied away from Tye’s mount. Torn apart from him, Lil gasped and fought for balance. She quickly settled her ornery steed, but the ruckus brought several cattle to their feet.

Breathing hard, she faced Tye, sharing the frustration on his moonlit face.

His gaze went to the restless herd. “I shouldn’t have done that,” he said, husky-voiced. “I only meant to speak to ye, but –”

“Don’t talk,” she whispered urgently. “Just start riding and sing. And don’t try that again, or we’ll have a stampede on our hands.”

Nodding, he made no attempt to stop her as she walked her horse away. She resumed her soft crooning and heard his baritone pick up the melody a moment later. After that, he kept his distance each time they passed each other. She was both glad and sorry.

* * *

Two days later the herd crossed paths with a troop of wild mustangs. Lil knew from experience how these nomads enjoyed cutting and scattering a drove of cattle. Before this bunch could cause trouble, she headed them off, yelling and flapping her hat. She chased them back along the dusty swell of longhorns, aided by
Alabama
and a hand named Rusty Grayson, who rode at left swing and flank today. Fortunately, the
remuda
was on the far side of the herd, or their own horses would likely run off with the wild ones.

Lil signaled the two men to turn back when they neared the end of the herd, while she kept up the chase. From the corner of her eye, she saw another horseman angle toward her as she galloped past the last straggling steers. She glanced over her shoulder, already knowing it was Tye. He waved and grinned, blue eyes twinkling in the sunlight, much like the bluebonnets spread among the prairie grass and other wild flowers along the trail.

Suddenly lighthearted, Lil smiled and waved back. “We’d better drive them off a ways, or they’re liable to turn and come back,” she shouted above the thunder of hooves.

“Whatever ye say, milady,” he called. Flashing
her another
impudent grin, he took position on the other side of the horse herd.

They pounded onward for a couple of miles. By then, Lil felt reasonably sure the mustangs wouldn’t return to harass the cattle. Spying a buffalo wallow partly filled with rain water, she waved her arm, catching Tye’s attention and signing for him to pull up.

“Let’s water our horses,” she called, pointing to the wallow.

“Grand idea.
I could use a drink myself.” He wiped a dusty shirtsleeve across his forehead. “And a bath wouldn’t hurt.”

Lil glanced at him sharply as they approached the pond. Was he serious? If so, he could forget it. She wasn’t about to strip down in front of him. That would be asking for trouble, maybe more than she could handle.”

“That can wait,” she declared. “We’ve got to get back to the herd.”

He looked at her and sighed. “Aye, I know. But a man can wish, no?” His warm gaze said he wished for more than a bath, causing Lil to hastily avert her eyes.

Dismounting, they led their horses to the wallow. While the animals drank their fill, she and Tye knelt nearby to drink. Though tepid and a little murky, the water tasted a lot better than trail dust. Once she’d quenched her thirst, Lil splashed water on her face, washing away some of the grit. She, too, longed for a bath. If her father located a creek where they could bed down tonight, maybe she’d find a hidden spot and clean up proper. For now, she pulled off her grimy bandanna, rinsed it out and swabbed her throat and neck.

Beside her, Tye plunged his head into the water, swished it back and forth vigorously and threw more water over his neck. He came up dripping, shirt half-soaked. Swiping water from his face, he took a breath and slicked back his hair. The wet tendrils immediately sprang back into unruly waves, making Lil long to run her fingers through the glistening black strands.

Tye turned his head and caught her staring. Stunned by the instant leap of desire in his eyes, she gazed into their beckoning depths. Her mouth went dry and her heart pounded wildly.

She still held the wet bandanna pressed to her throat. Shifting to face her, Tye took the wadded up material from her and tossed it aside. She was mesmerized by his caressing gaze, but when he leaned close, panic set in. He mustn’t kiss her again. That would be playing with fire.

“No!” she cried, pushing him away. She jumped up, but before she’d taken two steps, he was on his feet, catching her arms.

“Lily!” he murmured, soft tone imploring her not to run.

This time she couldn’t force herself to stop him as he bent toward her. His mouth settled on hers, courting her with gentle kisses. When his tongue teased her lips, she parted them with a shudder of longing. A groan rumbled low in his throat as he dipped into her mouth, stroking the tender surfaces within, setting her senses ablaze.

Her hands climbed up his muscular chest to the corded column of his neck. Twining her fingers through his wet hair as she’d longed to do, she slanted her mouth across his, kissing him back. He smelled of horse and honest hard work, and that unnamable something that was only Tye. Glorying in his rugged, manly strength, she pressed closer, fanning the flames.

His hands kneaded her back. Then one slid down to cup her bottom, molding her to him, making her feel his hard shaft against her belly through layers of rough cloth.

Dragging his mouth from hers, he seared a path across her cheek and down her throat. She threw her head back, breathing fast as his lips and tongue danced over her skin. He nibbled at the hollow of her throat, making her shiver and moan. His hand came around to enclose her breast, and she gasped. She’d never considered herself well-endowed, but as he teased one nipple and then the other to pebble hardness beneath her shirt, her breasts seemed to swell and tingle. A molten, throbbing ache began in the pit of her belly.

“Tye!” she cried, clinging to him.

In answer, his mouth came back to plunder hers with devastating thoroughness, while his hand continued its explorations.

“Sweet Lily,” he whispered brokenly against her lips, “I’ve no right.
None.
But, God, I need
ye
so.”

Lil was almost beyond coherent thought, but his meaning got through when he started to unbutton her shirt. Jolted from the hot haze he’d created, she knocked his hand away. “No, stop!” she cried, pushing at his shoulders. “Turn loose!”

“Begorra!”
he rasped, releasing her with obvious reluctance. Chest heaving, he watched her stumble backward. “I’m sorry, Lily, but I’ve wanted ye for so long. When I felt ye respond, I couldn’t help myself.” Hands clamped to his hips, he turned away and lowered his head.
“Lord, woman!
You’ve no idea what ye do to me.”

“Don’t I?” she whispered between trembling lips.

He pivoted to study her. His expression softened and he held out his hand. “Come here, love. Let me hold ye. I promise I won’t –”

“No.” She made a regretful sound. “I . . . I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have let this start.” Whirling, she ran to her horse.

Tye came after her. “Lil, wait. We must talk, don’t ye see?”

“No, I said!” She threw up her hand, warding him off. “There’s nothing to talk about. This was a mistake, that’s all. It won’t happen again.”

“You’re fooling yourself if ye think that,” he snapped as she mounted up.

“Just stay away from me, you pigheaded Irishman!”
Swinging her horse around, she kicked it into a gallop, fleeing from her own weakness. If something like this happened again, she feared she’d be unable to resist the hunger Tye stirred within her. Then he’d own her heart, and when he tired of her, as he surely would, she’d curl up and die.

“Now I’m a
pigheaded
Irishman, am I?” Tye muttered, snatching up his hat as she thundered away. She never seemed to run out of colorful labels for him, always with
Irish
attached to them.

Frustrated more than angry, he asked himself why he was letting one skittish tomboy turn him inside out. It made no sense. He should quit the drive and go someplace where he’d never see Lil Crawford again. Much as the idea froze his blood, even descending into a mine shaft might be easier to endure than this torture. And wouldn’t it be kinder to Lil if he left? He didn’t
want
to hurt her, didn’t want to saddle her with his worthless self. Aye, he should leave.