Deborah Camp (32 page)

The ominous click and pop of the misfiring charge spurred Copper. She raced for her Hawken
propped against the rock, snatched it up, and spun around to aim and fire. The weapon bucked against her shoulder and belched gunpowder. The breeze blew the gray, acrid cloud into her her eyes and nose. The griz screamed in pain. Through watering eyes, Copper saw that she’d hit the griz, but not fatally. Torn flesh hung from its backside. Most of its stubby tail had been blown off. Blind with pain and fury, the big griz charged Tucker, who was trying to reload his shotgun. The bear swung one paw and struck Tucker a blow that sent him sideways. He bumped off two tree trunks, but hung on to the shotgun he’d finished loading just before the griz had reached him.

Copper saw the blood streaming down the side of Tucker’s head and screamed with outrage. She jerked her hunting knife from its scabbard on her waist and held it high as she raced toward the raging bear.

“Stay out of the way!” Tucker’s gruff command sliced through her hysteria and broke her stride.

Tucker squeezed off another shot and thanked God when the shotgun fired true. Gunpowder rose up and the metal heated in his hands. The cartridge exploded, blowing apart the bear’s skull and felled the mighty beast, bringing its massive snout to rest on the toe of Tucker’s moccasin. Tucker staggered backward, ready to fire the second load if need be, but the bear had no more life in it.

Other sensations came back to him. His nose burned from breathing the gunpowder and one side of his face felt wet and tender. Valor’s lusty crying rent the air. Sentry and Patrol raced around the bear, sniffing and whining. Tucker looked toward the baby, but he located Copper instead. He’d never seen such naked fear on her face. She stared at him, her eyes huge and shiny with tears, her mouth agape, a knife raised above her head and clenched in a white-knuckled fist that trembled.
Slowly, she lowered her arm and dropped the knife.

“Tucker, you … you’re hurt.” She stumbled toward him, dodging the leaping hounds, arms outstretched. “Tucker, hold me.”

He released the shotgun to fill his arms with her. She sobbed uncontrollably against his shoulder, and he was stunned that she was so vulnerable, so frightened. Oddly, he felt no real fright. Only profound relief and private triumph. He smoothed his palms over her flaming hair.

“There, there. What’s this? Where’s that brave woman with all her talk of big medicine? The bear’s dead and we’re alive, Copper. Alive!” He cradled her face in his hands and tipped her head back so that their gazes could embrace. Hers held a respect for him he’d never seen before and his heart swelled with pride.

“Your f–face.” She lifted a hand to touch his bloody cheek. “Let’s get back to the cabin and I’ll see to it.”

“What about this griz? We’re not leaving it here for scavengers. That hide will bring a hefty trade, Copper, or make you a warm blanket for next winter.”

She found a small smile for him. “You sound like a mountain man, Tucker.”

He nodded. “Damn right I do. Get Valor. I’ll drag this prize back to the cabin.”

“No, it’s too far. Stay here with Valor and I’ll come back with Hauler.” She squeezed his forearms before sprinting through the snowy pine forest, looking like an auburn-haired wood nymph to Tucker’s worshipping eyes.

Copper had Tucker sit in a chair while she changed Valor’s napkin and laid the sleepy baby down for her nap. Then she spread her medicines on the table along with a bowl of water and washrags.

“Gus will be jealous of us bagging that griz,” Tucker said with a crooked smile.

Copper smiled back. “He’ll probably brag that it took two of us and would have taken only one of him. But it is the biggest grizzly I’ve ever felled. Don’t see them wandering around this time of year. I guess that one woke up early and was mad because of it.”

“I’d shot at a mountain cat the dogs treed, but missed it on purpose. That’s what I was coming to tell you when I walked up on that griz.”

“You missed the cat on purpose?”

“Yeah.” He shrugged one shoulder. “It was so pretty and so uncommon, I just couldn’t kill it.”

“That hide would make a good trade, too.”

“I know. I don’t have much taste for killing animals we can’t eat. Seems a waste just to skin them.” He offered an apologetic grimace.

“It’s okay,” she said, washing away the crusted blood from the side of his face. “I understand. I’ve missed on purpose a few times myself. I bet you would have shot that plenty fast if it had gotten after the horses.”

“Sure, I would. That’s different. Owww!” He moved his head back. “How deep are the cuts?”

“Not too bad. Scratches mostly.” She wet a rag with clear liquid from a bottle and applied it to his cheek. “This will head off infection and make it scab over quick.” She concentrated on the cuts and scratches for a few minutes before telling him, “You were very brave out there, Tucker. I can see why you were made a captain in the Union army. You put other lives before your own.”

“Of course, the lives in question have a lot to do with how far I’ll go.” His green eyes shone with tenderness. “I’d give my life for you or Valor. You know that, don’t you?”

The danger had passed and a deeper bond had been forged between them. She dropped the washrag onto the table and fitted one hand against the
uninjured side of his face. A powerful emotion welled inside her. Her throat thickened and her eyes filled with tears as the emotion turned incredibly sweet and her heart swelled in her breast. She shook her head slightly as her tears spilled onto her cheeks. She wanted to tell him how much she loved the color of his eyes, the shape of his brows, the bow of his upper lip, the kindness of his heart, but she couldn’t form the words or get them past the lump in her throat. She opened her mouth, tried to talk, felt an onrush of sentimentality, and shook her head again.

“What’s wrong, sugar?” He rested a hand at her waist. “Don’t cry. It’s all over and done and nobody but that old bear got damaged. These scratches aren’t anything to cry about.”

She smiled warmly at him and saw that he caught the nuance of it and realized she was beset by tender feelings for him. She swallowed hard and her voice emerged in a whisper.

“What benevolent spirit put you in my path, Tucker Jones?” She swallowed again, determined to speak her heart’s words. “How am I worthy of such a gift as you?”

Now his eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Copper?” His voice was hoarse, halting. “Are you saying that you want me?”

She laughed lightly and ran her free hand through his hair. “Yes, I believe I do. I believe I’d be the most foolish woman on the face of the earth if I didn’t.” Her thumb caressed his eyebrow. “When that bear attacked you, all the clouds lifted from my soul and I saw clearly that there are many things in this world for me to fear, but you aren’t one of them.” She bent at the waist and nudged his lips with hers. “I want to touch the stars, Tucker.”

When his eyes darkened to forest green, Copper took a long, backward step and untied the front of her dress. She wriggled it from her shoulders and
pushed it down her hips. The leather shift with its sunburst design of beads across the bodice pooled at her feet and she stepped out of it to remove her moccasins and wool undies. Straightening, she smiled when she saw the sparkling pleasure in his eyes.

“I’m not a young girl,” she said, shrugging. “I’ve had two children.” She traced the stretch marks on her stomach with her forefingers. “My skin is far from unblemished.”

“But you’re who I want.” He stood up, somewhat shakily, and reached for her. His hands circled her waist and he brought her flush against him. He kissed her neck and cheek before opening his lips over hers. She tangled her fingers in the hair growing long on his nape. He ended the kiss and smiled down into her dewy face. “I’m no young buck myself. I’m a war-scarred soldier, and it has been years since my skin was unblemished—if it ever was.”

She laughed and smoothed her hands over his shoulders. “Take this shirt off and those leggings. I want to see for myself.”

“As if you don’t already know what I possess.” He released her to pull the shirt over his head. “Help me,” he said, voice muffled against the doeskin.

Copper tugged him free of the garment. He removed his britches and moccasins by himself and gathered her close to him, skin to skin, heartbeat to heartbeat. His kiss was deep and lush and greedy. It took her breath away. Then he let go of her again to push the table and chair against the wall.

“What are you doing?” Copper asked.

“Making us a bed wide enough for what I have in mind.” He spread two buffalo robes on the floor in front of the hearth, then added two blankets. Sitting in the center of the bedclothes, he looked up at her as if she were a goddess. He captured
her hands and pulled her down beside him. “I don’t want to tangle with you in one of those narrow bunks. One of us is sure to fall out at a most crucial moment.”

She laughed nervously and shifted uneasily against him. Her smile quivered at the corners.

“Hey there, lovely lady.” He touched one corner of her trembling smile. “Relax.”

Tucker allowed himself the luxury of looking at her from her fiery hair to her pink toes. Her skin was milky white except where the sun had darkened it to a light cinnamon and had sprinkled freckles across her shoulders and nose. His hand found her skin to be smooth and soft. His nose discovered her musky, womanly scent. She caused his senses to riot, his head to spin.

“You’re so beautiful, Copper.”

She blushed and her lashes fanned the tops of her cheeks. Her nerves were all aflutter being so close to the body that had fueled her dreams and stoked her curiosity. Tentatively, she rested a hand on his shoulder and then let it casually trail to his chest where the hair felt wonderfully silky. She raked her nails through it and he flexed his chest muscles, giving her an additional thrill.

“My husband had no hair on his body, except down there, and not much of that,” she explained, her fingers delving through the damp hair and brushing his nipple, which beaded with excitement. She smiled and kissed the bud. “Your body is sensitive.”

“More than you know,” he said, sucking in air with each word. “What about yours?” He cupped her right breast and tongued her nipple. She arched into him and he felt her body quicken, her pulse leap like a flame. “Before this gets totally out of hand, turn over onto your stomach.”

“Wh–why?”

“Just do it. I’m going to take care of you for a change.”

“Tucker, you don’t have to—”

He patted her hip. “Turn over, sugar. You’re going to love this almost as much as I am.”

She snuggled her breasts, belly, and thighs against the soft buffalo robe. Crossing her arms, she rested her cheek against them and closed her eyes to show him that she wasn’t the least bit wary, although a trickle of trepidation ran through her. Would he find her ugly? Would he want to cover her with one of the robes? Seconds ticked by. She heard his breathing, a catch in it, and then a long sigh. All niggling worry was dispelled by the gentle massage of his hands, first on her shoulders and then along the length of her spine. Never had she felt more like a preening, petted, pampered cat! If she’d had a bowl of cream in front of her, she would have lapped it up and purred with contentment.

For his part, Tucker enjoyed spoiling her, especially after the firelight illuminated for him the faint scars crisscrossing her beautiful back. He inspected the lines when he was sure she wouldn’t notice and counted twelve slanting, wicked threads of scar tissue.

A bitter ache worked its way from his heart to his throat. Stands Tall, he thought. He had no greater enemy than that dead man, and his only means of defeating that swine was by healing this woman.

He blew along her spine, raising bumps and her breathy laugh. He kneaded her sides and her firm buttocks. Her legs were equally firm from thigh to ankle, and beautifully shaped. The backs of her knees beckoned and he planted kisses there where the skin was sensitive and seldom touched. She sighed. He kissed the places again, left wet spots with his tongue, blew them dry.

“I never believed there was a man like you,” she murmured. “A man as gentle as a woman.”

“You bring out the best in me, Copper.” He
trailed kisses down her spine, then licked all the way back up it to her nape. Gathering her heavy hair to one side, he nuzzled the back of her neck and languished in the erotic scent of her.

When she moved, Tucker pushed himself up on stiff arms and she rolled over beneath him. He draped himself gently upon her, evenly distributing his body weight on her so that she wouldn’t be uncomfortable. With his hair-roughened chest courting her delicate-skinned breasts, Copper offered up a diffident smile.

“It’s silly, but I feel like a virgin,” she admitted.

He shook his head and cupped one side of her face in his hand. “Not so silly. So do I.” He kissed her lips lightly before sprinkling the same over the tops of her breasts, which had a faint milky smell he found highly arousing.

As his mouth loved her breasts, lassitude stole through Copper. She lay supine in his arms, content to let him be her guide for he seemed to know the territory better than she. His lips and tongue discovered her nipples and sent concentric flashes of delight through her. Holding his head in her hands, she marvelled that she felt no impatience in him. Indeed, he seemed satisfied to roll her nipple on the tip of his dexterous tongue while he teased the other with his fingertips. Her pleasure built until she couldn’t lie still and had to allow her body its ancient stirrings. Her hips rocked and her spine arched. His hips answered with a nudge. One of his thighs insinuated itself between hers.

Answering another instinct, she sent one hand to his rising member. He flung back his head and his eyes widened with an adorable mixture of shock and utter delight.

“Holy …” He lost his voice in the movement of her hand, then it rattled out of him in the next hot stroke of her fingers. “Christ! No! Don’t stop. Please, don’t … stop.” He bowed his head, touching
his forehead to hers. “Oh, sugar. You are a sweet surprise.”

She outlined his body with her free hand, from his manly neck, over the wedge of his shoulder, along his tapering side to his narrow hips. She found his body flawless, scars and all. Her lips inched out for his and their mouths merged in a confluence of stored emotion. She bent one knee and his lower body settled comfortably between her thighs.