Holdin' On for a Hero (32 page)

“Oh, yes,” she moaned, working to pull his shirt free from his pants.

“I must destroy Wyatt.” His hands moved to her skirt and jerked, splitting the zipper and the seam.

“And you will,” she promised, unfastening his jeans and pushing them down over his hips. “Trust me.”

Walker lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his powerful body. A cry of pain and pleasure came from her as he thrust into her. He smiled at the sound and shoved her down harder on his erection.

Iris did not resist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his face to hers. “Fuck me,” she moaned into his mouth.

Walker peeled her off him, turned her around and pressed her head down toward the ground. Iris eagerly complied, bending and spreading her legs to give him easier entrance.

It took only a couple of strokes before Iris was screaming. “Yes…God, yes…fuck me…fuck me harder…”

Walker fulfilled her demand with a vengeance, reaching around her to roughly stroke her.

“Yes,” she moaned. “Oh, Walker, we’re perfect for one another. Together no one can stop us.”

* * * * *

Chance ran after Wa’ya, heedless of the branches that tore at her clothes and the roots that snaked up from the ground to make her trip and stumble. All she could think about was finding Wyatt. She had been worried enough before she and John made it to Tsa’li’s. After hearing Tsa’li say that there was not much time and that Wyatt was in terrible peril she was absolutely terrified.

Wa’ya paused ahead of her and turned, barking one time sharply. She caught up with him. “Okay, where to?” She started past him but stopped when he did not move. “What?” She stopped and looked down at him. “Wa’ya, we have to hurry. Where is he?”

Wa’ya looked off to his left and Chance’s eyes turned in the same direction. “Over there?” In reply he growled softly in his throat. Chance needed no more confirmation. Without hesitation she took off, running up a short but steep incline. At the top she skidded to a stop.

“Wyatt?” Her voice was choked with emotion and shock as she saw him. He was lying on his back on the ground and Iris Waters was sitting astride him, her skirt bunched up around her waist and her shirt hanging open. It was not difficult to see what they were doing.

Chance felt hurt well up inside her. She could not believe that Wyatt would betray her like that. Her feet started carrying her forward toward them before she consciously made the decision to move. They did not hear or see her until she was upon them. She grabbed Iris’ hair in both hands and yanked as hard as she could. Iris fell away from Walker, reaching up and screaming as she tried to pry Chance’s hands from her hair.

Chance slung Iris as hard as she could. “You bitch!” she screamed.

Iris rolled over and stared up at Chance hatefully. “Don’t blame me if you can’t satisfy your man, princess. It’s obvious that you don’t know how to control a man like Walker, but I do.” She started to stand but Wa’ya moved close to her and growled menacingly and she immediately sat down, looking at him in fear.

Chance turned and it was then she realized it was not Wyatt she was seeing. Walker was glaring at her. She reacted with the first thing that came to mind. “Did you hear that?” she asked, waving her hand at Iris. “She thinks she can control you. You realize what that means, don’t you? Iris doesn’t care about you. She only wants to use you, to control you for her own purposes.”

“No one controls me!”

“Iris thinks she can. What did she promise you, Walker?”

He looked at Iris for a moment then returned his gaze to Chance. “She is going to help me defeat Wyatt.”

Chance laughed and shook her head. “Well, you’re a bigger fool than I thought if you believe that. She isn’t going to help anyone but herself. She has some hidden agenda all her own and she doesn’t care about you or anyone else. She’s not going to help you because it’s Wyatt she wants, not you.”

Surprise and anger registered on Walker’s face. He snarled and advanced on Iris. “You betrayed me. No one deceives me. You will be punished.”

Iris scrambled away on her rear as fast as she could. “No!” she exclaimed. “Don’t listen to her. She’s lying. She’s just trying to trick you. I don’t want Wyatt. It’s you I want. Together we can’t be defeated. Together we can succeed against those—”

“Enough!” he roared.

Wa’ya moved to stand beside Chance as Walker continued toward Iris. “No, please listen to me!” she begged, pushing herself up and backing away.

“You will pay,” he growled.

Iris gave a strangled scream and turned, running as fast as her bare feet would carry her over the rough terrain. Walker started after her and Chance called out to him. “Looks like she pulled a good one on you, Walker.”

He whirled around and faced her and she could see the rage on his face. There was no way she could stand against him. She heard Wa’ya’s growl and realized that unless she did something, one of them would end up hurt. She could not let that happen so she did the only thing she could think of.

“Wa’ya, go to Tsa’li,” she said calmly. “Take care of him and John.”

Wa’ya growled once more, clearly hesitant to leave her side, and she reached down to stroke his head. “It’s okay. Go on. I’ll be fine.”

He looked up at her then at Walker. For a moment he didn’t move, then he turned and disappeared into the trees. Chance watched him leave then looked at Walker. “Okay, it’s just you and me,” she said as evenly as possible. “So do whatever it is you’re going to do.”

He laughed and drew near her. “Whatever? Have you any idea what it is I want to do, white woman?”

“Yes.” She met his eyes.

“You will scream when I take you.”

“Yes, but that won’t stop you, so go on. Do it and get it over with.”

“Then he is defeated.” Walker smiled victoriously.

“No,” she argued without raising her voice. “You can rape me, you can hurt me, you can even kill me. But it won’t change anything. You’ll still lose and I’ll still love Wyatt and I’ll never stop trying to get him back. See, the simple truth is that you can’t understand that kind of love because you don’t remember what love feels like. And that’s why you’ll lose.”

“I will not lose! I am stronger and smarter and it is I who deserves to live. He is weak and afraid. He is not worthy! And you, white woman—if you were smart you would see that it would be wiser to choose me. Wyatt is not half the man I am.”

“You’re absolutely right. He’s twice the man you are.”

Walker roared in anger and grabbed her by the throat. “Twice the man?” he sneered in her face. “Why don’t we put that to the test?”

Chance tried to scream but she could barely breathe. She beat at Walker with her fists and kicked like a caged animal but she could not break free. All her struggles served to do was excite him. He pushed her down and they rolled around on the ground as she fought to get away. In the end her strength ran out.

When he was done with her she lay on the ground, staring up into the darkness. Her mind was in shock at what had happened and she didn’t know what to do. All she wanted was to get Wyatt back, but she didn’t know how. Tsa’li said that everything hinged on love, but love didn’t seem to be enough. How then could she hope to win?

An idea occurred to her, one that made her break out in a cold sweat. She was afraid to try, but it was the only thing she could think of. Hesitantly she reached out and put her hand on Walker’s arm. “I’m sorry,” she said softly.

He turned and looked at her in surprise. “I’m so sorry,” she repeated, looking into his eyes. “Wyatt, I tried, I really tried, but I’m not strong enough alone. I can’t do it without you. If you can’t help me then Walker wins. I can’t fight him anymore. He’s too strong for me.”

She saw something flicker momentarily in his dark eyes and hope swelled within her. Then it died and Walker was once more in control. “Very good,” he said, sitting up and pulling her close to him. “At last you admit it. I am the strongest.”

“Yes, stronger than I. I can’t fight you, Walker. Only Wyatt has the strength. Without him I can’t stand against you.”

“Then you renounce your love for him?”

“No, never. I just can’t fight you anymore. Unless he saves me, then I guess I’m lost.”

Walker smiled and his hands tightened on her. She looked into his eyes and pleaded with what was trapped within him. “Wyatt, please. Save me.”

Walker’s smile faded and a series of expressions moved across his face as if he were experiencing some sort of muscle spasm. Suddenly he released her and moved back, clutching his head in both hands. Sweat beaded on his face and chest as his breath grew rapid and forced. Chance moved forward tentatively, reaching out to him. “Wyatt, please,” she whispered. “I need you. I’m afraid.”

Walker screamed and bolted to his feet, backing away from her as if he were the one who was afraid. Chance tried to stand. It took several attempts, but at last she got to her feet. “Wyatt,” she called, reaching out to him.

She stumbled and fell, crying out as she hit the ground. She heard Walker scream as if in terrible pain and looked up. The transformation was beginning. “Wyatt!” she screamed.

Suddenly it was finished. Wyatt staggered toward her, falling to his knees beside her. She pushed herself up to sit and reached for him. He came into her arms, shaking as if he were freezing. She held him tightly for a long time until the trembling stopped. Then he pulled back and looked at her. “Please tell me it was just a bad dream. That I…that he didn’t—”

She looked down for a moment. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” he asked as he tilted his head back and took a deep breath. He swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that welled in his eyes. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. But me—I have plenty to beg your forgiveness for.”

“Yes, you do,” she said in a tight voice.

He looked at her, surprised by her tone, and as soon as he did she slapped him as hard as she could. “How could you be so dumb as to go off with Iris? God, what were you thinking?”

“I don’t know!” he yelled, then immediately lowered his voice. “I’m sorry. I guess I deserved that. I didn’t want to go with her but she kept at me, saying that Holling was cashing in some chips with some big shots at the capital and that I was going to be arrested for murdering those men at the Gap and that the only way she could defend me was to know exactly what happened and…and I finally just agreed to get her to shut up.”

Chance stared at him crossly for a moment then put her hands over her face. Wyatt didn’t speak or move and finally she lowered her hands. “I’m sorry I slapped you,” she apologized. “But you’ve got to stay away from her. There’s something very wrong here. She’s got some agenda that we don’t know about and I, for one, don’t want to have anything to do with her. I’m firing her as soon as I can. We’ll find another lawyer but I don’t want Iris Waters within twenty feet of you.”

“A hundred feet. Chance, I swear I didn’t think anything would happen. And I swear to you that if I had been able to stop Walker I would have. I don’t want Iris. I love you and I’d never betray you.”

She nodded and put her hand over the red imprint her slap had left. “I love you, too, Wyatt. I always will.”

“We have to get you home,” he said, stripping off his coat. “Here, put this on.”

She let him help her on with his coat. “Can you…” He hesitated. “Are you able to walk?”

Chance nodded and he pulled her up. “Are you sure?” he asked when she winced in pain.

“I’ll make it,” she assured him even though at that moment she would have preferred to just lie down and pass out.

He wrapped one arm around her, draping her arm across his shoulder for support. “Maybe it’d be best if I carried you.”

“I’ll be okay.” She smiled at him, thinking how lucky they both were that he had been able to overpower Walker and return. “Thank you for saving me. I was really afraid.”

“It wasn’t much of a rescue. And I guess I’m not much of a hero, but I do love you, and I swear that I’m going to find a way to either get rid of Walker or at least learn how to control him.”

“I know.”

They started walking. After a while she realized they were headed in the direction of John’s house. She stopped and looked up at him. “I think we better head over to Tsa’li’s.”

“Why?”

“Because I think that’s where your father will be staying for a while.”

A concerned look took hold on Wyatt’s face. “Has something else happened?”

She nodded and started walking again. “There was some trouble.”

Wyatt groaned but didn’t interrupt as she began to tell him what had happened.

Chapter Eleven

Iris was out of breath and her feet felt like chunks of ice by the time she found her way to John Wolfe’s house. She gasped in surprise as she walked into the backyard. The house was nothing more than a smoldering pile of rubble. Her car was still parked in the driveway, covered with a thick layer of ash and soot.

She hurried to get in the car,  locked all the doors and took a deep breath. What had happened had frightened her more than she would ever have admitted to anyone. The thing that Wyatt changed into was more like some vicious animal than a man. She wondered why he had called himself Walker, but dismissed the thought as something else claimed her attention.

Her expression changed to one of rage as she started the car and backed up. If Chance Davenport hadn’t shown up she would have been able to control Walker. It was Chance who ruined everything. Now Iris wasn’t sure she would be able to win Walker’s trust again.

But he
’
s still a man
, she thought with a smile, remembering the feel of his body on hers. And she had never had any trouble controlling men. You just had to know the right buttons to push.  Confidence in her own abilities reasserted itself. He might try to resist her, but in the end he would be like all the others—putty in her hands.

Chance was the problem. She was proving to be more of a nuisance than anticipated. Iris’ eyes narrowed as she thought about Chance. Perhaps she should have told Greg to kill her and get it over with.
No
,
if we stick to the original plan it
’
ll all work out
, she assured herself.

Suddenly she was eager to get back to her hotel. There was just one thing she needed before she could set the final phase of her plan into motion and she was anxious to see if it had been delivered to the hotel. As soon as she had the papers in her hands it would be time to close the chapter on the Davenports and the Hollings.

* * * * *

Tsa’li and John were sitting in the small kitchen of Tsa’li’s house when Chance and Wyatt entered. “Did Wa’ya come back?” she asked.

Tsa’li nodded with a frown on his face. John jumped up and helped Chance into a chair. She grimaced as she sat down and John looked at Wyatt in concern.

“I think you should call Doctor Black,” Wyatt said quietly.

“No!” Chance exclaimed.

“Yes,” he insisted quietly.

“What happened?” John’s eyes moved over Chance’s tangled hair and Wyatt’s coat hanging on her small frame.

She looked down at her feet, noticing how dirty they were and how scratched her bare legs were. Wyatt looked from his father to Tsa’li. “Walker raped her.”

A sharp intake of breath from John made Chance look up. Wyatt pulled out a chair for John, who sank into it with a sick expression on his face. “My god.” He propped his elbows on the table and lowered his head down into his hands.

Tsa’li looked at Chance. “Do you require the attention of a doctor?”

“No.”

“Yes,” Wyatt insisted at the same time.

Tsa’li looked from one of them to the other then walked over and picked up the receiver of the old rotary phone that hung on the kitchen wall by the ancient refrigerator. He dialed a number and waited for several moments. “This is Tsa’li. There is someone here who needs your help.”

A moment later he hung up and looked at Wyatt. “Fill the tub. She will want to bathe.”

“Thank you.” She nodded in appreciation to him as Wyatt left the room to do as he ordered. That was exactly what she wanted. To get clean. Just thinking about what Walker had done made her feel ashamed and somehow soiled. She felt as if she should have been able to stop him. She was angry and part of her hated him, but another part of her could not hate him for what he did, because even as it was happening, she could not help but see Wyatt in him. And she could never hate Wyatt.

She looked up to see Tsa’li staring at her intently and John watching her with a pitying expression on his face. She didn’t know what to say to either one of them so she returned her gaze to the floor. Something had come to mind while she was in the forest with Walker. A new possibility had occurred to her that she had not considered before and it was one that concerned her deeply.

“Tsa’li…” She didn’t look up as she spoke. “There’s no way to destroy Walker, is there?”

“Is that what you want? To destroy him?”

She looked up at him and for a moment was caught in his dark eyes. She searched herself for the answer to his question then shook her head. “No, not really. I only want him to leave Wyatt in peace. But I don’t know how we’re supposed to convince him to do that when he’s so full of hate and rage.”

Tsa’li nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, that is so. But even against hate and rage there are weapons that are effective.”

“What? If you know then please tell me.”

“The answers lie within your own heart.”

She looked at him in perplexity and frustration. She didn’t know how much more she could take. She felt like she had already reached the end of her rope and it was badly frayed. Wyatt came back into the room. “The tub’s ready.”

He helped Chance up and walked her into the bathroom. As soon as they left the room, John looked over at Tsa’li. “I’ve already lost one son. I don’t want to lose another. Is there a way to set Walker free without destroying Wyatt?”

Tsa’li reached over and put his hand on top of John’s. “There is always a way, my friend. One only has to see the path and follow it.”

John sighed and looked away. “Well, that makes about as much sense as anything else I’ve heard lately.”

Wyatt was pacing the kitchen floor when the doctor entered the room. “Is she okay?”

Doctor Black nodded. “As far as I can tell. Barring any unforeseen internal damage, or disease, she should be fine.”

“Internal damage? Disease?” Wyatt’s face paled. “What do you mean by that?”

“Just what I said. Wyatt, without x-rays and such there’s only so much I can determine. And she refuses to go to a hospital. She could have internal damage and god only knows what diseases she got from… Well, the point is I’ve done all I can.”

Wyatt looked at his father. “We have to talk her into going to the hospital.”

“She does not need a hospital,” Tsa’li said, standing from his place as the table.

“With all due respect,” Wyatt argued. “I think in this instance modern medicine is better equipped to deal with—”

“She does not need a hospital,” Tsa’li repeated and left the room.

Wyatt looked from his father to the doctor. “Do you think she should be in the hospital?”

Doctor Black shook his head. “At this point, no. Aside from some bruising she appears to be undamaged. I would advise rest, however. And I would advise that she be tested for HIV in a couple of weeks. In fact, periodic testing over the next six months would be wise. In cases of rape where there was no protection used, there is always the chance of contracting some such disease.”

Wyatt nodded and said nothing. No one had told the doctor who the man was who had raped Chance and he was not going to try and explain it now. He knew that she wasn’t in danger of contracting HIV from him. Until he had been with her, he had made a religion out of safe sex.
Oh
,
shit
! Iris! The thought of what Iris and Walker had done made him feel sick. He could have put Chance at risk.

Doctor Black looked at John. “How’re you feeling?”

“Better. Thanks for coming over. How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing. John, I know what all of you are trying to do and I want you to know that you have my support. The Holling family has been riding rough-herd over all of us far too long. It’s time for it to stop. If there’s anything I can do to help, you just let me know.”

“Thanks.” John shook his hand.

The doctor turned to Wyatt. “That’s some woman you have there, Wyatt. I’d hang on to her if I was you.”

“I intend to. Thank you.”

The doctor left and Wyatt looked at his father. “I better go check on Chance.”

He went into the bedroom to find Chance sitting up in bed and Tsa’li sitting beside her. Both of them looked up as he entered. “Chance, I wish you’d change your mind and let me take you to the hospital.”

“I don’t need to be in a hospital,” she argued and slid off the bed with the sheet wrapped around her. “I’m okay, Wyatt. Really.”

Wyatt looked at Tsa’li and Tsa’li stood. “I gave her something to help her body heal. She will be fine. She just needs rest. Take her to the place of healing and remain with her for three days. When the third sun sets return here.”

“See?” Chance smiled and walked over to Wyatt. “Tsa’li wouldn’t lie to you.”

Wyatt looked at his grandfather. “When must we leave?”

“Now. Gather what provisions you need,” Tsa’li replied then looked over at Chance. “I will find clothing for you. As soon as you are dressed you must go.”

Wyatt didn’t argue but left the room. Tsa’li provided Chance with a pair of worn jeans that were too large, a soft white T-shirt and a well-worn flannel shirt, both also too big. She strapped a belt around her thin middle to hold up the jeans while Tsa’li located a pair of old knee-high lace-up moccasins that had belonged to his daughter, Sarah.

By the time Chance was dressed, Wyatt was waiting in the kitchen with one large backpack strapped over his broad shoulders and another in his hand. He and Tsa’li were engaged in a low-toned conversation that ended the moment she entered the room.

“Sundown of the third day you begin the journey home,” Tsa’li instructed.

Wyatt inclined his head, gave his father a pat on the shoulder and walked to the door. Chance gave both Tsa’li and John a kiss on the cheek and followed Wyatt out.

“You sure you’re up to this?” Wyatt asked. “It’s a good four-hour hike, maybe longer in the dark.”

“I can make it,” she assured him.

Wyatt wasn’t convinced she was being completely honest, but decided to take her at her word. He’d keep an eye on her and if she started to look like she was struggling he’d either stop or carry her.

Twilight had fallen by the time Wyatt and Chance reached their destination, a stand of old oaks bordered a deep lake, sheltered at the base of the mountains. They were miles from the nearest sign of civilization and it was high unlikely they would encounter anyone. For all practical purposes, they had the wilderness entirely to themselves.

Chance was shocked at herself. Here she’d just been forced into sex by some spirit inhabiting the body of the man she loved, and she was admiring his long muscular legs, tight ass and brawny arms. The fact that he was her lover filled her with a glow that was incomparable to anything she’d ever felt before.

Wyatt set about building a campfire and soon flames were dancing in tongues of gold, nearly a match to the last streaks of light slanting across the sky. She found the small brown bottle that Tsa’li had prepared and instructed her to drink when they made camp. He said it would help her body to heal and soothe her. It tasted bad enough to either heal or kill, but she drank all of it.

Wyatt spread out one of the bedrolls then turned to her, taking her in his arms.

“Chance, I don’t know how to start apologizing for what happened. I swear on all that’s holy that I’d never—”

“Shhhh.” She raised two fingers to his lips to still his words. “I know, Wyatt. I know. It wasn’t you and I don’t hold you accountable. Besides, it’s done. We survived and we’re together. Nothing else really matters now, does it? I mean, here we are, surrounded by all this beauty, alone like there’s no one else in the world. Do you really want to waste the time we have on that?”

“No, but—”

“But nothing,” she said firmly. “Now, since we
are
all alone, are you going to just stand there, or are you going to kiss me?”

Wyatt felt such a surge of relief and love wash through him that it made him feel weak in the knees. With infinite tenderness he lowered his lips to hers. Chance sighed as his tongue gently invaded her mouth, and wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting nothing more than to melt into him so that they became one and the moment would last forever.

* * * * *

When Chance woke, she was confused. The sun was past its zenith in the sky. Had she slept that long? She rolled over and saw Wyatt coming up out of the water of the lake. Water glistened on his bronze skin and ran in rivulets from his long hair, creating tantalizing trails of liquid light on his magnificent body. He was not aware she was watching until he drew near the fire and picked up a towel he had draped over a branch.

“Hmmmm, nice show,” she said. “Can I get an instant replay?”

“Well hello, sleepyhead.”

She sat up and stretched, the covering falling away from her nude form. “What time is it? How long have you been up?”

“For two days,” he replied, drying his hair.

“Two days?” She couldn’t believe it. “I slept for two whole days? Damn, what was in that stuff Tsa’li gave me?”