The Circle Eight: Caleb (13 page)

“I didn’t know you cared.” He was irked she called him stupid and that she resorted to pinching.

“I don’t, but now that we’re all in this together, I need to make sure no one gets left behind.” She blew out a breath. “You going back is more dangerous than running into the woods together.”

“I’m a Texas Ranger, honey. I know danger and I do what I need to.” He helped her to her feet. “Now I need you to take care of my brother until I get back to you.”

“You’re still a jackass. And don’t call me honey.” She stuck up her chin and her expression was thunderous in the meager light.

Something possessed him and he leaned down and kissed her again. He ignored her gasp and pulled her toward the door.

“Benjy, I’m only leaving for ten minutes, no longer. Stay with Rory and keep her safe, okay?” He handed him the supplies they’d taken.

The boy took the bundle, but his expression was unreadable in the semi-darkness. He was disappointed though, Caleb could feel it.

“I promise I’ll be there.” He pulled the boy in for another stiff hug and then kissed the top of his head. “You are very brave, Benjy, more than most men. I know you can do this.”

A reluctant nod and Caleb blew out a breath of relief. He watched his brother disappear through the door and then held out his hand to Rory. She slapped it away and stepped closer on her own.

“Don’t call me honey. And you need to stop kissing me,” she whispered harshly.

“Stop kissing me back.”

“I didn’t.”

“Oh yes you did.”

“You’re an infuriating man.”

“You’re an infuriating woman.”

“If I had my hammer, I’d pound you.”

“I guess it’s too bad you don’t then.”

To his utter surprise, this time she grabbed his face and planted a hard kiss on his lips. Before he could react, she scooted through the door and was gone. A stupid grin spread across his face and he had to remind himself he was in an enemy’s stronghold and to stop acting like a fool. Later on he would find out why she kissed him. For now, he would tuck it aside and focus on getting out of the Garza fortress.

However, he couldn’t help licking his lips and tasting essence of Aurora. The woman tasted like passion. It was going to be a long journey.

He shut the door and hoped no one noticed the lock was picked. As he made his way back through the garden, he picked up speed. Without the boy and a wounded woman to worry about he made it back to the tunnel in less than ten minutes. No one spotted him and he was able to get back inside and close the tunnel door behind him.

As he crept along, he kept touching patches of wetness and thought they were sweat. Whose he had no idea nor did he want to know. A bath in a creek would be in order for all of them eventually. For now he would wipe his hands on his trousers and move on.

He made it to the beginning of the tunnel and stopped moving. The night was silent around him, a loud silence buzzed in his ears. He eased the door open and stepped into the hallway. As he made his way back down to the room Rory had been in, he knew he needed to make himself a bit more presentable. Otherwise he would likely have dirt, grass and who knew what else all over him. Things that wouldn’t be in the house.

The door opened easily and he let out a breath of relief to find it empty. He reached for the pitcher to pour out fresh water when he saw his hands in the glow of the lamp. They were sticky with blood, not sweat. He stared at the crimson stains. Rory was bleeding, enough to leave patches of it in the tunnel. Panic and worry raced through him. She hadn’t said anything the entire time.

The woman had more than grit. She had courage many men would envy. He admired her for that at the same time he wanted to spank her for not mentioning her wound had opened up. Dammit.

He washed up quickly and made sure his shirt was tucked. Now for the performance of his life.

Caleb walked out of the room and made his way back to the front door. He kept his pace steady and unrushed, although inside he wanted to run out of there, guns blazing and shouting the Graham battle cry. Outside he was cool as a Texas Ranger.

A guard stood beside the door. He was a big man, taller than Caleb and broad as a barn door. He held a rifle across his chest and had a pistol riding his though. Caleb nodded at him and held up a pouch of tobacco. The guard opened the door and let him pass.

One down.

Caleb took a deep breath of the night air and opened the tobacco pouch. The last thing he wanted was a cigarette but he rolled one anyway and lit it with a match from his pocket. He walked over to Justice, who stood there waiting. His ears perked up when he caught a whiff of Caleb and he neighed in greeting.

“Hey there, boy.” Caleb scratched him behind his left ear, a favorite spot.

The gelding pushed his nose into Caleb’s side and if horses could sigh in pleasure, he would have. After a few more scratches, Caleb untied the reins from the hitching post and led the horse toward the gate.

“Where are you going, Ranger?” A man appeared from the shadows, this one well-dressed and wearing two pistols low on his hips.

“Miss Foster needs fresh clothes and asked me to check on the forge, make sure it’s burned out so it doesn’t burn down her smithy.” Caleb kept his voice casual, then yawned for effect. “I won’t be long. She’s sleeping with the laudanum the doc gave her.”

The man stared at him while Caleb puffed on the cigarette.

“Is there a problem with me leaving?” Caleb narrowed his gaze, the star on his belt clearly visible in the moonlight.

“Not at all. I can provide you with an escort.” The man whistled and two other men appeared out of the darkness.

“No need. I know my way back. Rangers are good trackers.” He vaulted up into the saddle. “Tell Mr. Garza I said thank you for all he’s done. I’ll be back in a while.”

As Caleb led Justice toward the gate, the men’s’ gazes nearly burned a hole in his back. Thirty feet. Twenty feet. Ten feet. Five feet. The gate was in front of him along with another two men.

“Evenin’, fellas. I’m off to Mrs. Foster’s smithy.” He puffed on the cigarette and waited.

The men looked behind him at someone, perhaps the well-dressed man, before they opened the gate. The squeal of the iron was music to his ears. He tipped his hat at the men before he trotted out into the night.

Rory was ready to hit something or someone. The tension around her and Benjamin was thicker than summer air in Texas. Neither one spoke but they were both thinking about Caleb, the man who had helped them escape and then walked right back in to get his horse. Damn him. A horse was not worth his life. If he had been there, she would have punched him. It sure as hell would have made her feel better.

She crouched in the bushes with her side throbbing and sticky with blood. To make it worse, her head was pounding. Her stomach had decided to roll around and throw bile up her throat every five minutes. The wonderful milk she’d had threatened to come back with a less sweet taste.

Benjy stared a hole at the house, his expression more intense than a ten-year-old should wear. She didn’t know exactly what he’d been through but it had been harsh enough to steal his voice. Sometimes people choose not to speak rather than an ailment taking their words. She expected Benjy was one of those who’d made a choice. Perhaps one day he would change his mind and put sound to his thoughts. For now, he stared and gestured, making himself understood well enough.

“He’ll make it out one way or another.” Rory as surprised to hear how ragged her voice was. Sounded like she was gargling rocks instead of hiding in the woods. “Texas Rangers can fight their way out of anything. I sure couldn’t shake him off my land. Stubborn cuss.”

The boy didn’t even blink.

“You did real good getting to the woods. You’re quiet as a mouse with socks. I didn’t even hear anything and I was two feet from you.” She smiled at him, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair or show any kind of affection. He’d always kept his distance from her each time she was at the ranch. Even though he was now reunited with his brother, it didn’t mean he would welcome her touch.

If Caleb didn’t come back soon, she had to come up with a strategy and quick. They had little time before her absence, and more importantly, Benjy’s absence, was noticed. On foot, her house and smithy were hours away. In her condition, definitely more. Eloise and Sven were closer. They might be able to help her get Benjy to his family. She was sure that was what Caleb would want if he was unable to be there to guide them.

The problem was, she had no idea where the Graham family was.

“Benjy, if necessary, could you remember where your family lives?”

At the question, he turned his head to look at her. His scowl was very much like his brother’s.

“If we get separated from Caleb, I want to make sure we can get you back to your family. Without him, I need to rely on you to guide us.”

His expression changed to one of panic, the face of a little boy who was lost.

“You’re tough, Benjy. I know you are. If necessary, you could find your way home. I’m sure of it. I know it’s northeast of here but that’s all I know. From there, I might need you to try to remember. Can you try?”

If he shook his head, she had no idea what she would do. More than likely head in the general direction and keep asking until she found someone who knew the Grahams. There wasn’t much else to pick from. She could only hope Benjy could remember some landmarks or something familiar to help them.

To her surprise, he nodded, a little, but it was an affirmative answer.

“Good. I always like to have a plan just in case I need it. It’s saved me more than once.” She looked behind them but saw nothing but shadows and fireflies. “If he doesn’t come in the next ten minutes, we’re going to start moving. He’ll catch up.”

Benjy shook his head vigorously and crossed his arms across his chest. A stubborn ten-year-old was not what she needed.

“Did Caleb ask you to look after me?”

A hesitant nod.

“Then you need to carry through with that promise and get me to my friend Eloise. She can help me. I’m bleeding, Benjy.” She held up one bloody palm. “I started bleeding when we were crawling through the tunnel. I’m a little woozy too.”

His eyes widened and he nodded slowly. Good. He would go with her even without Caleb. It was a bit of a dirty trick to play the wounded damsel, but she had to do it. Truth was, she
was
bleeding and woozy. Normally she would press on and ignore it. Today was different, the situation was different. She had stepped into a role she wasn’t used to—the weaker female.

A soft whoosh of air was her only warning before a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders, then one clamped across her mouth.

“Shh, it’s me,” Caleb’s welcome, but annoying, voice sounded in her ear.

She did not sag in relief. Absolutely not.

“Sorry about the hand on your mouth but I had to make sure you wouldn’t scream.”

She snorted. “I’ve never screamed in my life.”

“I don’t doubt you believe that.” He helped her to her feet. “Why didn’t you tell me the wound had started bleeding again?”

His accusatory tone made her bristle. “I am a grown woman, a widow and a blacksmith. I do not answer to you or any man.”

“I don’t care if you keep your own counsel, Aurora, but we are in this as a troop. All three of us. If something happens to one of us, our entire troop is affected.” He leaned in close enough their noses touched. “You kissed me.”

Surprised, Rory stared at him for a few beats before she managed a grin. “And you kissed me.”

Their breaths mingled in the cool, humid night air. She breathed in him and he breathed in her. For a moment the earth stopped spinning and there were only two. This close, Caleb’s blue-green eyes almost glowed in the moonlight. She could see a small scar that bisected his right eyebrow, the day’s worth of dark whiskers on his cheeks, and the full outline of his lips. Those she knew personally were soft and talented.

She wanted to kiss him again.

The thought shocked her and excited her. What was it about this man that made her act so far out of herself? She barely kissed Horatio once a week and she’d been married to him. With Caleb, she wanted to kiss him again and again until their bodies did more than touch lips. A shock rippled through her. She wanted him in her bed, in her body.

Now wasn’t the ideal time to realize she had cravings for the man. He was a fine specimen of manliness and she had no doubt there would be great pleasure had by both of them. Yet they were in the woods, hiding from Pablo Garza, she was wounded, and they had a ten-year-old mute boy who had been kidnapped five years ago, only to be taken by force again, this time by his brother.

The situation could not be any stranger.

Caleb cleared his throat and moved back, breaking the spell. “We need to get moving.”

“Yep and head straight for my smithy.” She allowed him to help her to stand. When had she gotten so stupidly weak? Damn tree and its damn branches.

“You and Benjy ride on Justice and I’ll lead him through the woods. Any way to get back to your place without crossing the bridge with Garza’s men?” Caleb kept his hand on her elbow as they picked their way through the forest, whispering their words.