Dorothy Garlock - [Route 66] (33 page)

After Yates left, Ruth Ann lingered, snuggling up to her aunt.

“The doctor said he wouldn't tell about…you know. But what if he does?”

“Don't worry, honey. He doesn't want to get Isaac in trouble. He thought it very brave of him to bring you home.”

“I don't want Isaac to get diphtheria.”

“The doctor will keep an eye on him. Show me the string of paper dolls Margie cut out for you. She said you'd put some pretty dresses on them with your crayons.”

Deke stayed for supper, then left for the Fleming ranch.

“If ya need me, darlin', send Yates and I'll come a flyin'.”

Leona was glad Yates wasn't near to hear Deke say that. The idea of her sending him to fetch Deke if she was in trouble was laughable to all but Deke, who didn't have an insincere bone in his body.

“I'll do that, Deke. Thanks for being here the last couple of days.”

“Take care, darlin'. I'll be over to see Andy when he gets back. He's goin to need a hand once in a while after Yates leaves.”

Deke crammed his hat in the leather pouch that hung on the side of his cycle and jumped on the start crank. The motor came to life.

Leona watched her faithful friend ride down the highway on his motorcycle, his straw-colored hair waving in the breeze, the sleeves of his shirt puffed out by the wind. He was dear to her and she wished with all her heart that she could have loved him the way he deserved to be loved.

She sat on the bench in front of the garage and watched the cars go by. During the warmest part of summer, some long-distance travelers preferred to travel during the cool part of the day and stop in the afternoon when the car or truck would be more likely to heat up. A few who passed by waved. Leona waved back and silently wished them a safe journey.

Saying that his horse needed exercise, Yates had saddled him; and after giving each of the girls a ride around the yard, he had ridden out across the pasture. Tomorrow or the next day Andy would be home and a few days after that Yates would leave. Lord, she hoped that she wouldn't disgrace herself and cry. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and vowed to do her utmost to send him on his way with her thanks and a smile.
Oh, but it would be hard!

The wind picked up bringing with it a cloud of dust from the southwest. It crossed Leona's mind that she should go to the house and close the windows. Although they were south of the dust bowl, winds often brought dust from the Texas prairies.

She didn't move and darkness came suddenly. Enjoying this time alone and allowing her face muscles and her shoulders to relax, she leaned back against the wall of the garage. Deep in thought, she did not notice Yates standing beneath the big tree between the garage and the house. She would have been surprised to see the expression in his pale eyes as he watched her.

He was thinking that his life was in danger of being changed, and all because of a slim, spunky woman with dark auburn hair and sky-blue eyes. There was a fastidiousness about her that he liked. She always looked neat and fresh even while milking the cow, working in the garden or a dozen other chores she did during the day. She had been treated badly by family and so-called friends, but it hadn't touched the pure inner core of her. She was sweet and loyal and even handled Deke's unwanted affection for her with compassion for his feelings.

Dammit, he couldn't find a single thing about her to dislike.

When Leona stood, he went toward her, hoping to keep her to himself a while longer. He saw in her intelligence and honor and beauty. God. Just looking at her gave him an erection. Taking off her clothes would be like unwrapping a treasure on Christmas morning.

He remembered the first time he had seen her. She had run out into the yard with the rifle to shoot the skunk. He saw her again when he passed the porch after taking his horse to the barn. His first impression was that she was rather plain. How could he have been so blind?

She didn't appear to be surprised to see him and spoke as if they had been carrying on a conversation.

“If the wind keeps up we'll have a dust storm. I'd better close the windows.”

“Margie was closing them when I came by the house. She told me you were out here.”

“Just catching my breath after a busy day.”

“Sit with me for a while. Margie is with the girls.”

“I should go in. There are a hundred things I should be doing.”

“Won't it keep until tomorrow? Stay with me. We won't have many more chances like this.”

“I know. You'll be going soon.” It hurt to say the words aloud.

“Not until the doctor gives Andy the okay to work.” He took her hand and pulled her down on the bench beside him. “I told Andy that I'd stay until he's well enough to handle things.”

“If you want to go, Deke may be able to come help.”

“Trying to get rid of me?” he teased, then said, “Deke is busy with the machinery out at the ranch. It was good of Fleming to spare him the last couple of days.”

“Mr. Fleming thinks a lot of Andy. Do you think he'll bring him home tomorrow?”

“If his business keeps him late, he'll bring him the next day.” Yates reached for her hand and laced his fingers with hers. They lapsed into silence.

“It's going to be dusty tonight,” Leona said, because she couldn't think of anything else to say.

“The wind is high up so maybe it won't be too bad.” He released her hand and put his arm around her. “I like having you close to me. You're soft and sweet.”

“And …available?” She wished she hadn't said that.

His arm tightened around her; his fingers tilted her face toward him. When she tried to turn it away, he cupped her cheek and held it.

“You don't have a very high opinion of yourself, do you, little sweetheart?”

“Yes, I do. I know what I am and I know what others think of me.”

“Do you know what I think of you?”

“I've a pretty good idea. You think I'm a fairly good cook, that I'm good with Andy's girls—”

“Is that all?”

“Well …you probably think that I'm a naive country girl who is flattered to be kissed by a man who has been everywhere and done everything.”

“I don't think that at all. I think that I'm a man who has been
privileged
to kiss a sweet, pretty woman, who has more integrity in her little finger than most people I know have in their entire bodies.”

“You …don't know me very well. I can be bitchy, mean and hateful—”

“I've not seen that.”

“Maybe it's because I'm so deceitful that I can keep it hidden.”

“I don't think so.” He laughed and pressed his mouth lightly to hers. His lips felt wonderful and strangely familiar. She let her eyes drift shut. “You're a hatful all right.” He kissed her again. “I like to kiss you. I could sit here and kiss you all night long.”

“You'd soon get tired.”

“You may be right,” he murmured between nibbling kisses. “Kissing you makes me want to do more …
intimate
things with you.”

Leona was incapable of reply. She gave a tiny sigh against his lips. She was melting against him when she felt him pull away. She knew an instant of disappointment, then realized a big sedan had come to an abrupt stop on the highway and was backing up to turn into the drive.

Chapter 27

Y
ATES WAS INSTANTLY ALERT
.7 “Gas customer.” He removed his arm as the car pulled up beside the gas pump and spotlighted them in the headlights. “My rifle is just inside the garage door,” he whispered

Two men got out of the car. “Where's the cripple?” one demanded.

“In the hospital. You want gas?”

“Yeah. That ain't all we want.”

“I know. Andy told me. You want gas and you want me to keep my mouth shut.”

“Yeah. That's what we want.”

Yates was already unlocking the gas pump and working the lever to fill the glass cylinder. When he inserted the nozzle in the gas tank, he noticed the back springs on the sedan were sagging. The car was heavily loaded. Bootleggers.

The man who walked over toward the bench where Leona sat was thick-necked and meaty. She stood as he approached. The driver reached in and switched off the headlights. Yates jerked the nozzle from the tank, stepped over the hose and in quick strides was between the man and Leona.

“She belongs to me. I don't share.”

The man laughed. “Just wanted to look at her. I see now that she ain't fancy enough to suit me.”

“She suits me just fine.” Yates took her hand and brought her along when he went back to the gas pump. He positioned her beside the pump, inserted the nozzle again and spoke to the driver, who came to lean against the car. “How many gallons?”

“Fill it.”

The man who had approached Leona came to stand behind the car to watch Yates. He pulled a cigar from his pocket.

“Don't light that,” Yates said sharply. “You could blow us to hell and back.”

“You don't have to tell me that. I'm no fool.”

Yates ignored him and spoke to the driver. “Eleven gallons is all it'll hold.” He pulled out the nozzle and screwed the cap on the gas tank. “That'll be a dollar fifty-four.”

The man put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a handful of change. Out of it he picked out three fifty-cent pieces and a nickel and put them in Yates's hand.

“You takin' over the cripple's woman?”

“She isn't
Andy's
woman.”

“She lives here with him.”

“She's his sister. Not that's it's any business of yours.”

“Touchy, ain't ya?”

“About her, I am.”

“Tell the cripple that Ramsey was here.” The driver slid under the wheel and started the motor. After giving Yates a menacing look, the passenger got in and slammed the door.

The car left the drive and Leona sputtered, “I hate it when they call Andy
'cripple'
or
'crip.'”

“That's the second late bootlegger that's stopped since I've been here.” Yates put the lock back on the gas pump.

“You never told me—”

“A few nights ago a truck pulled in about midnight with four guys riding in the truck bed. The driver asked for Andy. He wanted gas and a bulb for his taillight. I figure he'd made a delivery and he'd broken out his taillight to keep from being followed.”

“Andy says Prohibition is wrong. All it is doing is making a few men rich. He thinks that what folks do is their own business. He's in the business to sell gas and supplies, and he'll sell them to whomever needs them.”

“Has the sheriff ever questioned him?”

“I think he has a time or two.”

“I need to wash my hands, honey. I've got gasoline on them.”

“Well … I was going in anyway. Goodnight.”

“Don't go in yet,” he said quickly and caught her arm. “I can wash at the pump. Then we can walk, sit or whatever you want to do. Stay with me for a while.”

“All right.” Her heart thumped wildly.
He wanted to be with her.
Knowing that made her happy even though she was aware that there was heartbreak ahead.

They walked around the house. It was dark except for a light in the bedroom. Through the window, Leona could see Margie on the double bed with a girl on each side of her. She was turning the pages of a
Silver Screen
magazine and telling the girls about the pictures.

“It looks like Margie has won Ruth Ann over.” Yates led her back around the house to the porch swing after he washed in the basin on the back porch.

“Margie just eats up anything about movie stars. She told me she saved to go to Hollywood so that she could see some of them in person.”

“She'd be lucky to see one or two. They don't mingle much with the common folk.” He sat down beside her. “I'm glad Deke greased these chains.” His arm arched over her head and he pulled her close to his side as if it were something he did every day. “Where were we when we were interrupted? Ah, yes. I remember now. Kiss me, sweet woman,” his deep voice demanded.

When he bent his head, she blindly obeyed him. His lips were warm and urgent. He had expected her to participate in the kiss and wasn't disappointed. As before, her nerves ignited, and she accepted the stroking of his tongue along her lower lip. With her nose buried against his cheek, the kiss deepened and she leaned into it, floating in a sea of sensuality where everything was softly given and softly received.

His lips eased from hers and moved over her cheek to her ear. His breath was as much a caress as his searching lips.

“Do you still think I'm a rude, arrogant, know-it-all?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I don't blame you. You've made me kind of step back and take a look at myself.” He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, planting a hot kiss in the palm. “I took it for granted that you'd want me here.”

“I didn't really like you, but—”

“But you like me now. Say it, sweetheart.” Without giving her a chance to answer, he kissed her again, with hard, deep kisses. She knew she should tell him to stop, but she had no strength or will to resist him.

When he had drunk his fill of her lips, he moved to her neck. Tremors vibrated through her body. His hand moved up from her waist to her breast and cupped it lightly. His fingertips found the hardening nipple and gently stroked it. His tongue laved her earlobe, then caught it between his teeth and nibbled on it gently.

She never remembered wrapping her arm around his neck. He captured her mouth again with his and kissed her with reckless abandonment. Her nipple was like a hard pebble in the center of his palm. His relentless caresses sensitized her whole body and made it quake with an unknown desire.

“Oh, God, I want to love you.” The soft utterance that came from his throat was a purr of pure pleasure.

His murmured words fought their way through the muddle of her feeling to her foggy brain, where she had ignored the blaring horns that had sounded an alarm. He expanded the kiss with a pressure that sought deeper satisfaction. The fervor of his passion excited her, and she met it with unrestrained response.

Leona felt her mind whirl, and her nerves become acutely sensitized with the almost overwhelming need to melt into him and ease the ache of her aroused body. Caught in the throes of desire, she pressed herself against him, her arms holding him with surprising strength.