Dorothy Garlock - [Annie Lash 03] (34 page)

Aee dropped the chicken inside and took off for the door. Eli closed the lid, hurried after her and caught her before she reached it.

“Wait a minute.” He held onto her arm. “What’s the matter with you? Why do you run every time I come near?”

“Run? Why’d I run from you, Mister Town-man Nielson? Ya don’t scare me.”

“I think I do. Are you mad because I told Light that you and I would take care of Maggie? Or is it because I put my arm around you?”

“
That
didn’t mean nothin’. But ya lied to Light when ya said ‘me and Aee.’
You’d
be the one to take her. Ya’d sure not want
me
taggin’ along.”

“You and me,” Eli insisted. “I said it to put his mind at ease, but I also said it, you stubborn little bunghead, because I
meant
it.”

“Did ya foller me out here jist to tell me that twaddle?”

“Yes. Paul saw me come in here, and I don’t doubt that Mac’s eagle-eye was on me too. I wasn’t trying to hide it.”

Aee’s heart was thumping as if it were trying to get out of her chest. She didn’t want to look at Eli, but she couldn’t help herself. Her eyes kept going back to his lips, his beard, his nose, his eyes. Her silly stomach was quivering like a dish of jelly.

“Now that you’ve said it, I got t’ go.” She tried to dart around him, but he caught her and pulled her into his arms.

“Not till I kiss you.”

“Ya can’t—”

“Why not?”

“’Cause . . . ’cause—” Her face was so close to his that all she could see was his mouth.

Lordy! A man was about to kiss her. Not any man, the wonderful, beautiful man she dreamed about every night.

The kiss was far from what Aee expected a kiss to be. His lips were soft and gently seeking. His beard against her face was a silken caress. He pulled her closer, lifting her as he kissed her. She breathed in the fresh, masculine scent of his body. The taste of his mouth was in hers. A tingling heat built within her. Aee felt the throbbing beat of her pulse, high in her throat, fluttering to her very ears, as she slowly drew her mouth from his so that she could look at him.

Eli made a kind of a groaning sound, unable for the moment to do or say anything. He could only look at her. His heated gaze took in her smooth golden skin, sweetly curved mouth and her eyes, large soft brown eyes that looked back at him in puzzlement.

“That was sweet. You’re sweet,” he said huskily. When she said nothing, he whispered, “I want to kiss you again.” She still said nothing, and he lowered his lips to hers again.

Slowly, deliberately, his mouth covered hers, pressing gently at first while he guided her arms up and around his neck, then wrapped her in his. His kiss deepened when he realized she was leaning into it. Everything was softly given and softly received. Caught in the throes of desire, she pressed herself against him.

“Do you like kissin’ me?” he asked, moving his lips a fraction away from her.

“I didn’t think it’d be like this.”

“What did you think it would be like?”

“Not . . . nice, like this.”

“Two people have to like each other for kisses to be nice . . . like this.”

“Then, ya like me?”

“Damn right, I like you.”

“Ya don’t act like it . . . sometimes.”

He chuckled, hugged her tight and kissed her again.

“Don’t pick a fight with me now, sweet thing. I want to make the most of being here alone with you.”

“Ya can kiss me again . . . if ya want to.”

“If I want to? Christ-a-mighty! I’ve been dying to kiss you for days and days and days—”

The soft utterance that came from her throat was a purr of pure pleasure as their lips met again. She leaned into him, oblivious to everything but the feel of his arms encircling her, the hard strength of his hands that lay flat on the taut swell of her hips, pressing her to him with urgent force. Her heart hammered crazily against his chest.

It was the most wonderful, exciting moment of her life.

“Aee! What the hell ya doin’?” MacMillan’s harsh voice blasted the silence.

Aee jumped when she heard her father’s voice. She would have run from the shed, but Eli’s hand tightened on hers and held her beside him. What she felt was total embarrassment. Blood rushed to her face. She couldn’t look at her father or Eli. She tried again to tug her hand from Eli’s, but he wouldn’t let go of it.

“Pa . . . I—”

“Go to the house!”

“Mac, wait. I grabbed her and kissed her. Aee didn’t do anything.”

“I ain’t blind. I could see it. She warn’t fightin’ ya off, that’s certain.”

“I’ve been going to talk to you—was as soon as I knew how Aee felt about me. With your permission, I’d like to . . . walk out with her. Court her.”

“Ya want to court her? Why didn’t ya come right out an’ ask like a man? Hidin’ out in the shed a-huggin an’ a-kissin’ ain’t no decent way a courtin’ to my way a thinkin’.”

“We wasn’t hidin’ out, Pa.” Aee had found her tongue at last.

“That’s what I’d call it.” MacMillan’s eyes stayed for a while on his daughter’s red face, then went back to Eli. “Ya got a notion t’ take my girl to wife?”

“Pa!” Aee screeched. “Ain’t nothin’ been said . . . ’bout that.”

“Then it’s time it was. It’s goin’ to be a long winter. I got more t’ do than be a watchin’ ya don’t go slitherin’ off in the dark with ’im an’ gettin’ . . . ah . . . with a babe.”

“I resent that!” Eli was shocked and angry. “I would never dishonor Aee.”

“Didn’t say ya would. But there’s times the juices run high in a young buck, especially in cold weather. I ort t’ know. Got six younguns now.” He chuckled. “Ever’one of ’em got planted in the wintertime.”

Aee was so humiliated she could not look at her father. She wanted to melt and run down into the ground and never have to look at him or Eli again. The thought of running to the river, wading out into the current and drowning herself crossed her mind. Then her father did the unexpected thing. He turned to leave.

“I said my piece, Eli. Ya’ve said yores. Ya can court her, if ya’ve got a mind to an’ she’s willin’. Ya ort to know one thin’ right up front. She ain’t goin’ to be easy to deal with. I spoilt her. Let her have her own way too much of the time. She can be stubborn as a mule an’ meaner’n a cornered she-wolf with two pups hangin’ on her tits. But I’ll say one thin’ in her favor—she’s a crack shot.”

Relief flooded Eli when he saw the glimmer of amusement in MacMillan’s eyes.

“That’s good to know, Mac. But I was counting on a woman who could cut and tote a load a firewood, kill and skin out a bear, and chew deerhide to make me soft moccasins. Can she do that?”

“I ain’t knowin’ ’bout the bear—”

“Hush-up! Both of ya. Ya make me so mad. I got some say in this—”

“I got t’ go. Say it to Eli.” At the door, MacMillan turned for a parting remark. “I’ll be watchin’ for when ya come out.”

On the way to the house MacMillan passed Paul, jerked his head toward the shed and winked.

*  *  *

Alone in the sickroom Light sat up on the side of the bunk. He had to be careful not to move his head too fast, or breathe too deeply. Maggie seldom left his side. She was bitter toward Eli for shooting him and stood guard in case he came near. Paul had explained that the shooting was an accident. Light had no doubt that it was exactly that. He had arrived at the cutting site just as the Delaware were springing their unexpected attack. There had been no time to make his presence known.

What worried Light now was how he was going to pay MacMillan for his and Maggie’s keep until he was able to hunt again. Never in all his life had he been beholden to anyone. It was humiliating, almost as much as having to use the chamber pot.

The first few times the need arose he had let Maggie help. His wonderful Maggie, a cherished part of himself. He knew every curve, dip and secret place in her body and she knew his as well. He had turned on his side on the edge of the bunk and she held the tin pot. But when he needed to sit on it, it was a different matter. He asked her to leave. She pleaded to stay. Finally she left in tears, but minutes later Paul opened the door and came in.

If not for the dizziness in his head Light would have been able to manage, but as it was, he was grateful for Paul’s strong arm that helped him back upon the bunk.

Later in the day Eli walked in.

“Paul says you’re feeling better.”

“I am.”

Nothing else was said. Eli picked up the chamber pot and went out. When he returned, he moved it under the bunk and stood awkwardly looking down at Light.

“You didn’t need to do that,” Light said.

“I think I did.”

The door flew open. Maggie bolted into the room and got between Eli and Light’s bunk.

“Ya come to hurt him again? Get out. Go on. Shoo! Shoo!” She fluttered her hands in a shooing motion.

“
Chérie,
” Light reached for Maggie’s hand. “Don’t fret yourself.”

“He hurt ya, Light. I don’t want him here.”

“I’ve told you that I didn’t mean to shoot him,” Eli said in an exasperated tone. “Why don’t you believe me?”

“’Cause I ain’t wantin’ to. Stay ’way from him.”

“Godamighty! You think I came in here to attack a man lying flat on his back?”

“Ya do and ya’ll get my knife in ya. I can throw it. Not as good as Light, but I could hit ya, big as ya are.”

Eli looked over Maggie’s head and spoke to Light.

“I came to tell you that Paul and I were lucky enough to get two big bucks this morning. MacMillan’s smokehouse will be full. There’ll be no shortage of meat.”

“I thank you for that too.”

“Too,” Maggie echoed. “Ya ain’t thankin’ him for shootin’ ya, are ya?”

“No, sweet pet.”

Eli spun around and went out the door. Damn! He had missed his chance again. The burden of what he had to say to Baptiste Lightbody was bearing down hard on him. He wanted it over and out of the way so he would be free to plan his life with Aee.

They had walked out last night with Mac’s approval. Eli had taken her to Light’s lodge and built a fire. They had talked for several hours—the longest uninterrupted time he had spent with her and the first time they had talked without sniping at each other. He had been surprised and pleased with her intelligence and her commonsense approach to life.

It had been difficult, there in the cozy lodge with his sweet woman in his arms, but he had managed to keep their kisses from getting out of hand.

Eli had not realized until now what it meant to love a woman and have her love him in return. The feeling was so warm and wonderful that when they left the lodge, he felt that he was walking several feet above the ground. In all his thirty years, he had not known such a love between a man and a woman existed. Since falling in love with Aee, he had a better understanding of how it was between Maggie and Light.

*  *  *

“
Chérie,
you are being unreasonable.”

“I don’t like him anymore.” She had a sulky look on her face. “He hurt ya, Light.”

“It wasn’t as if he shot me deliberately. He had no way of knowing I was not a Delaware—”

“I don’t care,” she said stubbornly. “I don’t know why Aee likes him. She’s lettin’ him court her.”

“You told me last night. Does it make you sad that he’s courting her?”

“No. Aee’s happy. She smiles all the time. Bee teases her, her pa teases her. Mr. Bodkin isn’t happy. He wanted to court her too. I’m glad she chose Eli.”

Maggie began to smile, then giggle. Her magnificent green eyes shone like polished stones.

“I ain’t still mad at him, but I ain’t tellin’ him yet. I want him to feel bad ’bout hurtin’ ya. But I told Aee. She said it wasn’t nice of me t’ carry on like that. But she won’t tell him.”

“Ah,
ma chéri.
What will I do with you?”

She leaned over him. “Ya can kiss me. I’ve missed our lovin’.” They exchanged tender, sweet kisses. “When can we go to our lodge?”

“Soon, pet. As soon as I can protect you should the need arise.”

Maggie lay down beside him. He pillowed her head on his uninjured shoulder. His doubts that perhaps someday she would prefer a man like Eli, one who was completely white, had vanished. He pressed his lips to her forehead.

“Tell me how it’ll be when we get to our mountain,” she whispered.

When two days of exceptionally warm weather went by, Light began to chafe at being cooped up in the room. He now dressed with Maggie’s help and tended the fire. Mrs. MacMillan had removed the bandage from around his head and, according to her, the other wound was healing too. She thought it a miracle he hadn’t come down with a fever.

The accident had made Light realize how easily his life could be taken. His worries about Maggie and what torments she would endure if she were left alone in the wilderness confirmed his resolve to speak to Caleb. The Negro had expressed an interest in the new land. Other than Jefferson Merrick or Will Murdock, Light knew of no one more capable to entrust with Maggie’s safety than Caleb.

The men at the homestead were taking advantage of the good weather to work on the potash. Eli had become interested in the byproduct gleaned from burning patches of forest to use for farmland. MacMillan had convinced him that potash sold well in the east.