Runaway Bride (15 page)

Now it seemed so simple, and especially
if he didn't mind so much.

He grew very silent. The expression she
saw through the darkness was contemplating.

"Okay, I suppose there's no harm in
it." He agreed almost too easily. "Especially since we won't have
to act it out."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about
that."

"I'm not a bit worried Savannah, as
long as the news of this doesn't spread any further."

Savannah bit her lip. "Oh it won't.
I'll make sure of it."

"Fine."

She felt like jumping for joy, like
kissing his cheek, but that would be a mistake. He'd agreed to help
her keep the secret, but she couldn't throw herself at him. Even if
it was tempting.

"Thank you, Sheriff." she smiled up
into his face.

Content that everything was going to
work out, she went to the door and stared out, leaning against the
door frame.

When she heard a howl, she tensed once
more and stood erect, waiting to hear the noise again. He came to
stand in front of her, "As long as you've gone that far, I can't
see any harm in enjoying it a little...." He tipped her chin up and
suddenly he was kissing her like no man had ever kissed her. Long
breathless kisses that left her weak and pliant and wanting more as
his lips feathered her neck he whispered, "The first thing you have
to remember about flirting, is not to melt into a man's
arms."

"I can't seem to help it...Ben." she
barely whispered.

He gasped.

Her chest rose and fell against his,
and he groaned.

When he pulled away to stare into her
face she barely got his name out before he gathered her to him and
kissed her again. This time his tongue darted against her lips and
she opened for him. She was lost in his arms. Never had a kiss
tasted so good, and she matched his dueling tongue and gave herself
to the moment. She felt like a piece of chocolate, melting little
by little with each thrust of his tongue.

His hands moved up and down her, and
then he felt her shiver.

"Are you cold....?"

She tried to pull away, but he held her
at arm’s distance, "I wish I were...."

It was as though her words ignited him,
he pulled her gently into the circle of his arms, as his lips
feathered hers over and over.

But this time, she pushed him away,
panting as she spoke, "I can't help that I melt in your arms
Ben...I can't help that I respond to your kisses. But...it's all
wrong and we both know it. I've just come from a near wedding. Just
broken it off with another man. But I'm not senseless. I'm
attracted to you. But, you don't want what I do. You've been
honest. So let's stop this madness...between us."

His smile curled around her like a warm
vapor, "It's not madness, honey, it's life. It's a man wanting a
woman. And a woman wanting a man. It's nature."

"I won't be your toy, so this goes no
further," she said bravely, wishing she could wipe his frown away,
knowing she shouldn't.

He stiffened, and moved
away.

"Let me get this straight, you're
saying you aren't interested in an affair, or a fling. You want the
whole nine yards. Wedding bells, is that it?"

"Don't mock me, Ben. But, yes, that's
it. And I know you don't, so there is absolutely no reason to get
involved."

He leaned against the door jam and
studied her long and hard. "You are one hard woman to figure,
Savannah. But no man is going to marry you without getting to know
you a little."

Savannah felt a deep flush, "That's
true, but you've made yourself very clear on the subject and I see
no reason to extend our relationship any further. I've been honest
too."

He stared through the darkness at her,
"Oh you've laid your cards on the table alright, but it doesn't
explain that little trip to the saloon, now does it? You went in
there trying to get picked up by a couple of cowboys that certainly
had no intention of marriage on their minds. That just doesn't add
up."

Savannah hung her head, "I know that
was out of character for me. I've never been good at just simply
flirting. I've seen my friends flirt, nothing like that ever
happened to them. It looked so easy. But I guess I'm just not
fickle enough to pull it off right. Chad hurt my ego a little, you
don't understand. I was trying to prove something to myself. I did,
I can't change what I am. I want the hearts and flowers and wedding
bells, Ben. So don't belittle me. I can't help it. I've faced the
fact that marriage is something I really want. Some women want
careers; want fame, money, glory. I simply want a good
marriage."

She looked over at him, "Is that so
wrong?"

There was a short silence, then Ben
nodded, "Not wrong, Savannah, I just think you are going about it
the wrong way."

"That's the problem; I don't know how
to go about it at all. I thought I knew Chad inside and out. I
dated him for years, we had such plans. Until one day I realized I
didn't know him at all. How can you think you know someone so well,
and be such a fool? And how can you know someone else so little,
and yet…know them."

Ben pushed his hat away and came
closer. "Maybe it's not how long you know someone, but how
well."

"Yeah...maybe."

"And Savannah," he said, reaching to
pull her chin up, he murmured, "You didn't fail at flirting; you
just didn't have the right man for the job."

Flashing lights interrupted them. She
just stood there, too weak to move or react.

Coming to her senses she mumbled to
herself, "I'm in big trouble, now!"

Chapter Seven

Arriving at the ranch with the Sheriff
on her arm gave her ammunition for her next tale. Ben gave the
impression they were more than friends, which furthered the
plotting. From his amorous kisses she knew he liked her a little,
but she wasn't foolish enough to believe she could get anywhere
with a man who swore against marriage. She was grateful... and yet
the lie still niggled. After all, Janet was her best
friend.

"I've been worried sick. The desk clerk
said you hadn't come home, and I didn't know what to think." Janet
was saying as she hugged Savannah, and gave Ben a complete once
over.

Ben smiled, "Sorry, Janet...is it?
She's been in good hands. I assure you, I wouldn't let anything
happen to Savannah."

The way he called her name made her
shiver. But she couldn't forget this was all just a act, either.
Ben had been honest with her, and she knew what she was getting
into. This time!

Men kissed women every day, and there
was no use making a big deal out of it. Still, she knew deep down
that they had shared much more than a few kisses and truths. Odd as
it seemed she felt closer to Ben now.

"Yes, well, I'm really bushed. I think
I need a bath and some rest. Thank you for...handling everything
for me."

He winked, bent and kissed her cheek,
tipped his hat to Janet and left.

"Now he's a living doll." Janet said
when the door finally closed and left them in privacy.

"Yes, isn't he?" she
managed.

It wasn't a lie. She thought Ben was
very good looking. All she had to do was reprogram her heart not to
think so.

It was a tall order, because while her
brain told her that there could never be anything between them, her
heart told her differently.

As long as she didn't lose her head,
she could pull this off. Of course keeping her heart safe from Ben
Hogg was one heck of a job, especially after those
kisses!

"Did he do anything?" Janet
asked.

Savannah chuckled and turned beet red.
Did he do anything? How could she begin to answer her
questions?

"Oh yeah, something happened, I can
tell. You are blushing down to your toes."

"Nothing happened really...I mean...he
did kiss me...but." she admitted.

"Is he getting serious?"

"Oh, I don't know. It's a little early
to tell. I'm not rushing things, Janet." Savannah said not wanting
to play it up too much.

"Well don't let him think you're nuts
about him."

"No?" She queried as they mounted the
stairs together.

"No. It's the worst thing you can do.
Play a little hard to get. But give in...eventually."

Savannah giggled all the way up, and
headed for the tub where she could relax and warm up or cool
down...

* * *

"Just how close to these critters do
you aim to get, ma'am?" her guide ask her the next
morning.

"As close as I can," she replied,
"Why?"

"Well, some animals are kinda dangerous
ma'am." the cowboy answered in a drawl Savannah wasn't sure was
real.

"I wouldn't want to put anyone in
danger, but the magazine says I get better pay, for better shots.
So as close as I can get without getting hurt," she answered him
with a smile.

Her horse was one of the tamer of the
outfit, and she was thankful. She hadn't ridden in so long, she
wasn't sure she remembered how. Mounting and dismounting wouldn't
be a feat for a cowboy, but for a woman who hadn't been on a horse
in a long time, it was almost painful. Still, the inborn excitement
of a hawk in flight, or a prairie dog peeking out of his hole, or
the graceful alertness of the sheep feeding kept her going. But as
they went further into the back pastures, there were more animals
that needed to be zoomed in on.

The guide was more than helpful in
pointing out game, stock, and wild animals to her. He went at a
leisurely pace, so keeping up wasn't hard. Plus he kept them at a
steady, safe distance. He even managed to find the young of several
animal groups, and their dens and Savannah got all manners of
pictures. She had taken scores of pictures and she could make a
perfect layout with this material. Maybe her luck was
changing.

By noon Savannah was hot, tired and
sore, and the excitement of the early morning was wearing off. She
wanted to call it a day but the guide seemed determined to show her
more places of interest. Her backside was killing her, but she was
reluctant to complain since the cowboy had done everything to show
her the best possible pictures.

Around two, she called it a day, sure
she wouldn't be able to walk the next day.

"I'm sorry, tomorrow I'll do better."
She called down to the guide who watched her with amusement as she
dismounted.

"Yes ma'am." he nodded with a
grin.

The desk clerk hollered at her and she
had to turn around and go down the stairs again, she grimaced all
the way. "Ms. Kingsley?" he asked.

Savannah eyed the clerk with passing
interest as he was young and eager to please. "Yes?"

"I have a message for you, from Sheriff
Hogg."

"Thank you," she said as she took the
note from his hand. He winked and Savannah couldn't help but wonder
if he was one of the "drug store cowboys" Ben had warned her
about.

She read the note all the way up the
stairs, nearly in tears from the pain of her raw thighs. "Your Aunt
will be home tomorrow, just thought I'd let you know...and good
luck with your little scheme."

It sounded like a brush off, and that
was best, she told herself.

Savannah sighed heavily.

A movie now and then wasn't too bad,
but every night she had to come up with something different. That
could be tiresome. Still, she started this lie, she would have to
carry it through, at least until Janet went home.

She'd have to be careful.

She went inside her room, glancing
about the room with vague interest. Decorated in old fashioned
western style decor, complete with western boot style lamps, iron
railed beds and home-made quilts, she couldn't help but wonder if
anyone ever tired of advertising the old west.

On her way out here she had stopped off
at several places, all complete with antique shops and malls. But
once you'd seen one, a half a dozen more got boring.

Janet was still asleep in the other
twin bed, a western outfit lay across Savannah's bed. Savannah went
to the closet and pulled out a purple dress, soft, not too sexy,
but very alluring. This would work. Thank goodness she and Janet
were the same size, she'd borrow the dress. How many times had that
come in handy?

She drew a bath, and soaked for a
while. When she heard Janet get up, she decided she better get out.
Draping the towel around her she walked into the
bedroom.

"Hello sleepy-head."

"Hi. I'm starved. Are you going to the
cook out tonight? I saw it on the schedule. It sounds like such
fun, and I met this cute cowboy, his name is...get this...Leroy."
Janet asked as she stretched herself. "Barbequed chicken, steaks
and rabbit. I can't wait."

"No, I'm afraid Ben wants to take me to
dinner, in town. Do you mind?"