Rocky Mountain Match (17 page)

“Do you smell that?” she asked, sniffing again.

“Smell what?” he responded, wondering if maybe she’d caught the scent of fire in the distance. He dragged in a long breath, but the only distinct scent he caught was a faint whiff of some kind of tobacco smoke.

“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing,” she dismissed on a shaky sigh.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes—I mean, I just thought I smelled cigar smoke out here. But I’m sure it’s fine.”

“I smell it, too. In these parts you could throw a rock and probably hit someone who smokes those things.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” She sighed.

He tried to ease the tension cording his neck muscles, letting the music wash over him like some gentle waterfall. “It’s a beautiful night,” he uttered, awkwardly searching for something to say.

“Gorgeous.” Katie gave a wistful sigh, making Joseph yearn to see the expression on her face. “Oh, Joseph. The sky is
so
beautiful tonight.”

He swallowed hard. “What does it look like?”

“Hmm… Like a deep, dark blanket soaked with brilliant stars,” she breathed, her carefully selected words painting a vivid, poignant picture. “And the moon—it’s full. Like some perfect, priceless pearl hung over the barn just for this occasion.”

Joseph’s heart squeezed tight. Closing his eyes, he felt an irrepressible smile curl his lips. Although he’d never told her, she intuitively knew how important words were to him now, and had made such a touching, magnificent effort just for him.

Never once had he felt pity from her or been treated
with kid gloves. Never once had she responded to him as though he was incapable of handling a situation. She’d been a friend and a driving force in helping him find his way to normalcy.

She’d warmed to his show of concern, melted to his touch and given a part of herself he knew hadn’t come easy for her. She’d given him her trust.

“Katie,” he said, his voice low as he turned toward her. He clutched his cane between his hands, his knuckles tight. His heart thudded against his chest. “Would you dance with me?”

Throwing his cane to the side, he held his hand out to her.

When she slipped her hand in his, a connection traveled far beyond his fingers, flowing all the way to his heart.

The musicians began a familiar waltz and he closed his eyes, picturing the surroundings. The hard-packed ground, flat and free of obstacles. The barn with its doors swung wide, spilling a soft yellow glow of lantern light out into the dark night. The long, thick row of hearty pines, their boughs draped heavily with snug cones this time of year. The setting wasn’t some grand ballroom or even a crude barn, but as far as Joseph was concerned it was the most perfect setting for a waltz.

With a slow intake of breath he set his hand at her back, pulling her a little closer, relishing the way she trembled ever so slightly at his touch. Before he lost his courage, he took the lead, stepping back, side, together, forward, side, together. Back, side, together…

He danced with Katie, drawing her nearer as he glided her across nature’s ballroom with just the moon and the stars as his witness. He held this beautiful treasure, feeling something tug at his heart, then settle deep inside his soul.

After the song ended and another began, Joseph slowed to a stop, the space between them charged with some invisible, tangible force. He twined his fingers with hers, splayed his other hand at her waist. His heart drummed a steady, fast beat, and his breathing grew shallow.

Wanting to drink in this moment, he grasped both of her hands and drew them to his chest. He stared down at where he grazed her fingers with the pads of his thumbs. Felt her soft skin that belied her perseverance and hard work.

“Sam asked me to dance with you in his stead.” He raised his sightless gaze. “But that dance—that was for me.”

A small whimper came from her lips. “Oh, Joseph, you are so sweet.”

He stared down at her, straining to see through the darkness. “I wish I could see you, Katie,” he ground out, swallowing hard. “From the moment I first met you, I’ve wanted to see your face.”

She drew his hands to her cheeks, holding them there for a long moment. “You can.”

Awkward shyness crept over him at the idea of taking in her features with his fingertips. When he hesitated, she gave his hands a tender squeeze.

“It’s all right,” she whispered.

He swallowed hard, and then with a feather-light touch, moved his hands little by little over her smooth skin. Her warm, shallow breath fanned his palms, seeping into him like the welcoming spring sun thawing the frozen ground.

When she released her hold, he gently, hesitantly slid his fingertips to her forehead where a line of silken hair framed soft skin. Then to her brows, perfectly arched over closed eyes, her lids, satiny as rose petals. Her lashes,
dense and long, fluttered like a butterfly’s wings beneath his fingertips.

He smiled.

Then skimmed his fingertips down a little farther to high cheekbones that rimmed eyes he knew must sparkle with life and wonder. To her small nose, just the right size for her perfect oval-shaped face. He trailed his fingertips down to her mouth, where full, soft lips met his trembling touch. He moved the pads of his fingers slowly, reverently over her supple mouth, admiring the most perfect, flawless Cupid’s bow. From these perfect lips came a constant flow of encouragement that had changed his life forever.

Cupping his hands around her face, he lowered his head, his lips settling on hers. He adored her with a soft, gentle kiss, the slight brush of his mouth against hers, awakening every emotion he’d tried so hard to bury.

Joseph pulled back and slid his fingertips down the line of her jaw to her silky smooth neck where her pulse, beating hard and fast, met his touch.

“You’re so beautiful, Katie.” His voice came as a harsh whisper. “So beautiful.”

He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, loving the way she snuggled into his chest as though hiding herself in him. She molded so flawlessly to him, her body the perfect mix of soft, rounded curves and long, steady lines.

Boldly, he smoothed trembling hands up to the nape of her neck, where petal-soft skin seared his sensitive fingertips. He breathed deep, resting his cheek against her head.

His heart skipped a beat and his pulse pounded faster, louder in his ears. In spite of the cool August night, he was
suddenly warm. He released her, shuddering as an unexpected revelation hit him soundly. He’d never felt like this before, so moved, so taken by beauty he couldn’t even see.

K
atie could hardly believe the sensations and emotions that still rocked her as she made her way behind the barn again. Regretting every step away from Joseph’s consuming presence and exhilarating touch, she’d left him waiting in front of the barn for Zach, remembering that she’d forgotten the treasured purse Ellie had given her out by the trees. She’d said she’d be right back because he’d insisted on walking her home, and she was now inching along the tree line peering into the deepening darkness to find the purse.

As she neared the place where they’d danced, she set a hand to her lips, recalling how she’d been hard-pressed to find her voice after Joseph had kissed her. She reveled in the way he’d held her, demonstrating to her what it means to be cherished.

The thick grove of pines whispered softly to her in the slight breeze. She stood, hugging her arms to her chest, relishing the memory of his embrace. Peering up at the stars, she swayed back and forth, made a slow lazy turn,
compelled by the age-old love song Joseph had awakened in her heart.

He was the best thing, the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to her. God bless her Uncle Sven and Ben for asking her to come out here and work with Joseph.

A fading dread tried snatching her attention as she remembered how, after suffering through that first awful attack a year ago, her soul had been shattered. Then to have the same horrible man stalk and accost her again, leaving her with the lethal threat of a loved one’s death and the wicked assurance of her ill repute, she’d given up hope of ever entrusting another man’s touch to promise something other than pain.

But tonight she’d allowed herself to fully melt to Joseph’s wonderful touch. His strong hands meant her no harm, only tender care, and his powerfully muscled body was like a shield of protection.

She swallowed hard, lifting her chin a notch.

Frank Fowler may have taken her innocence, but for the first time since he’d devastated her, she felt as if maybe, just maybe she could be free. Free from the clutches of his control. Free from the threat that promised she’d always belong to him. That no man would want her.

Doubt nipped like jealous demons at her newfound joy. Katie fluttered her eyes closed, knowing that she had to tell Joseph about her past, but not knowing how. She could only hope that he’d still find her desirable.

The uncertainty that perhaps he would reject her made her wonder if she’d ever be free from Frank’s grip.

A chill worked up her spine, setting her hair on end. That scent, that bitter, musky cigar scent had been here by the pine trees when they’d stepped outside. For a brief
second, her breath had caught in her throat and her blood had gone ice-cold. She’d remember that scent till her dying day. The way Frank Fowler’s tainted cigar breath had fanned over her face, making her struggle for fresh air. For weeks after both attacks, the taste lingered on her tongue and she’d wondered if it was like some evil, sick mark. A lasting stain of contamination.

She caught a whiff of it again, and an icy chill blasted through her. She hugged her arms closer to her chest. Tried to ignore the familiar fear that had plagued her for so long.

She was being silly—plain and simple.

Like Joseph had said, many people smoked cigars. It was probably the pungent residue of someone else’s crude vice. Besides, she was clear out here in Colorado, hundreds of miles from Frank Fowler. But even as she reminded herself of those things, fear coursed through her. She wanted to run and hide, but instead she slowly turned, determined to resist the urge to dart back inside—

A hand grabbed her hard and firm. Another wrapped around her waist, pulled her back against a solid wall of flesh.

She screamed. Struggled to break free from the hard, unrelenting grip. Kicked hard against the man’s shins, her hair prickling on end.

“Help! Someone, help!” she got out before the man clamped a hand over her mouth.

She snapped her jaws shut, catching skin between her teeth.

“You little wench!” the man snarled, grinding his hand against her face.

That voice. Never in her life would she forget that voice.

Frank Fowler.

She fought to wrench her head around to see him, but he had a powerful grip on her. When he removed the hand from around her waist and reached for something, she broke free.

But he yanked her back, dragging her, kicking and fighting, away from the barn and farther into the trees. She thrashed about. Shrieked for help. But her screams died fast when he jammed an acrid-smelling wad of cloth into her mouth, and tightened his grip around her middle.

“Didn’t think you’d see me here, did you?” he growled.

Her pulse pounded in her ears and her stomach churned with nausea as she strained to see in the darkness. The deeper into the trees he hauled her, the farther from help she was. And the lights from the barn were being doused one by one.

She tried again to scream, but it just came out as a muffled groan.

“Thought I’d pay you a little visit. But I’m disappointed, Katherine. I didn’t expect to find you throwing yourself at some man.” He dragged the backside of his hand down her cheek, his icy, rough touch sending a shiver of horror through her body.

She yanked her head away from his touch, sickened by the foulness of his words.

He gripped her chin and jerked her around to face him. “Here you are, off in some remote mountain town acting like a brazen woman.” He heaved her hard against himself, his tight grip sending pain stabbing like hot irons through her. “How soon you forget that you belong to me.”

She didn’t move a muscle. Didn’t make a sound. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“I suppose with him being blind, you’re as good as he’s
going to get.” He spun her around to face him and slowly pulled her up next to his unyielding body. “He’ll have to find some other soiled dove because you won’t be around to show him your kind of charity.”

Her heart clenched tight. She forced his ruthless, cutting words away from her heart. If she didn’t, she’d be right back where she started before she came out here to Boulder a few weeks ago. Before she started finding healing.

He dipped his head. Dug his fingers deeper into her flesh.

Refusing even a glance his way, she averted her gaze, trying to devise a way to get to safety. She could barely see in the darkness, but if she could just make her way back through the trees and run toward where she could still hear the faint sound of people’s voices….

“Don’t think you’re going to escape from me now.”

She swallowed the bile burning in her throat. Tears sprang to her eyes. She blinked them away, knowing that he’d love it all the more if she showed weakness, finding some sick satisfaction in seeing her vulnerability.

Joseph. She just wanted Joseph. To feel his arms wrapped around her, a refuge of warm protection.

“You’re mine, Katherine,” he taunted, his cigar-tainted breath fanning her face as he grabbed her bodice. “And I’m going to take what rightly belongs to me—again.”

Her eyes grew wide as she stared at his black form, barely visible. When she saw his white teeth gleaming in a smile, she wrenched her arms, fighting to break free. Kicked at his legs. Bucked against his tightening grip.

He gave her a brutal shove, hurling her to the hard ground, where he pinned her firmly beneath him.

Her shoulder jammed into a protruding rock and she whimpered. Ignoring the searing pain in her shoulder, she
scrambled to get out from underneath him, grunting with her effort. She couldn’t bear this again. Not again.

For a brief moment, she felt herself drifting away, far away from the humiliation and agony of what seemed inevitable. But she had to fight back. She couldn’t let it happen again.

Katie slid her hands over the ground, frantically searching for something she could use as a weapon. A rock, a branch, anything. When he snatched her wrists and slammed them above her head, she knew the possibility for escape was dwindling.

“Now, let’s see if you can please me,” he growled.

She felt the barrel of a gun, its cold, hard steel jammed into her ribs. As he thrust the gun deeper, she knew there was no way she’d escape now.

Katie squeezed her eyes tight and stifled a whimper as she held very still.

He laughed, an evil laugh that made her stomach churn. When Frank released her hands for a brief moment, she heard his belt give way.

Now. She had to make her move now!

Balling her fists, she jabbed them hard into his groin. Kicked and bucked to get him off her.

He yowled and drew back, leaning off balance. “You’ll pay for that,” he ground out.

Katie pushed hard against him.

He teetered.

She scrambled to get up. Felt a surge of hope as her feet gained ground.

He grabbed her leg. Held on with crushing force.

She kicked with all her might and as she grabbed for the cloth in her mouth, he gained his feet and caught her hand.

“You want it that way? Fine,” he spat out, spittle spraying her face.

He jammed the cloth into her mouth again. Gripped her arms tight and slammed her into a tree.

Her whole body convulsed with sharp, stabbing sensations.

With an eerie calm, he held the gun at her heart, his breathing heavy and ragged. “You’ll either stop your fighting and come with me,” he growled, “or you’ll die right here. Right now.” He drove the barrel of the pistol deeper into her ribs. “What’ll it be?”

She clenched her eyes shut. Forced her thoughts to rest on the sweet memory of Joseph, his protective strength, tender caressing touch and his warm, promise-filled kiss. She’d have to take that beautiful memory with her to her grave, because there was no way she’d go with Frank Fowler without a fight.

Joseph’s blood ran cold as ice at the sound of a gun cocking not fifteen feet in front of him. His heart pounded loud as thunder.

He crouched low, advancing forward step by silent step, honing in on the repulsive noise of the man’s ragged breath. And the heart-wrenching sound of Katie’s whimper. He could only hope that the element of surprise would be enough to save her.

While he’d waited for Zach outside the front barn doors minutes ago, he’d heard a scream. Then another. The voice had sounded too much like Katie’s. He’d charged toward the cry in spite of the taunting that crept through his mind, reminding him of his blindness. He’d called for Zach on the run, but there was no time to waste. He had to get to Katie.

His pulse pounded hard and fast now. Untapped power pumped through his veins at breakneck speed. He tightened his grip on the thick branch he’d found on the ground, hoping, praying it would be a solid weapon and not decayed on the inside.

He heard the man shift, his feet crunching against the dried bed of pine needles.

When Katie made another whimper, the hairs on the back of his neck prickled to ready attention. He’d kill the man—whoever he was—before he’d let him harm his sweet Katie. When he’d gotten within earshot and heard the man threaten Katie, Joseph had felt something snap inside him. It took every amount of self-control he possessed to move with stealthy silence in the cover of darkness, using his sharpened sense of hearing to his greatest advantage.

He clenched his jaw taut, drawing on the raw anger coursing through his veins. Narrowed his focus on the sound of her attacker’s heavy breathing. He took a careful, measured step forward. Tried to determine the man’s height and where he stood in proximity to Katie, each second praying she’d be all right.

Joseph’s heart slammed against his chest. His pulse pounded in his ears. He inhaled quietly, steadying himself. Bolted forward, zeroing in on the man’s heavy panting. Hauled the bulky branch over his shoulder. Aimed his focus and brought it down with full, concentrated force.

A gust of air whooshed from Joseph’s lungs as the power-packed branch thudded heavily against the man.

With a grunt, the man’s gun dropped to the ground with a solid clink of steel.

Katie whimpered.

The man gave an eerie howl, his breath forced through clenched teeth.

“Run, Katie! Run!” Joseph commanded.

Her skirts swished with sudden movement. Her feet shuffling slowly, laboriously over the bed of pine needles.

“Joseph! Where are you?” Zach’s call came from near the barn, as Katie’s assailant spat a vile string of curses.

“Over here. In the pines,” Joseph yelled.

Joseph could hear the man struggling over the ground. He honed in on the sound. Brought the branch back. Focused every bit of power he had into his taut muscles. He let the swing loose. As the branch sliced through the air toward its point of focus, a gunshot sounded. The awful, unmistakable noise ricocheted through the dense grove of trees.

The branch slammed against the man, dropping him to the ground with a dull thud.

Joseph’s stomach convulsed with horror as Katie whimpered not more than fifteen feet away. Fell hard to the ground.

“Noooo!” Joseph raged, aiming his raised branch at where the man lay, moaning.

“What are you going to do now, blind man?” the man jeered, his words forced between clenched teeth. “I’m going to kill you, too.”

Joseph’s emotions stormed between fierce wrath and enormous sorrow. All he wanted to do was get to Katie. Hold her in his arms. But when he heard the man’s low, evil chuckle, he felt something untamed, something wholly violent, rise within him and he launched himself in the man’s direction, landing hard on top of the attacker.

The man cocked the gun again.

Joseph zeroed in on the sound and grappled for the weapon. When his fingers connected with metal, he grasped hard, crushed the man’s hand and flung the gun well out of the way.

Every muscle in his body bunched rock-solid. He balled his fists and pummeled Katie’s attacker.

The man’s fingers bit into Joseph’s wrists, but Joseph jerked free. Then swung harder, faster, deeper. Slamming his fists into the man’s face, one blow after another after another. Time stood still as he punished the man with every bit of force he could muster. So relentless that the form beneath him no longer tried to fight back, but was out stone-cold.