The Enchanted Land (12 page)

She gazed up at him, hunger apparent in her eyes. “I reckon you don’t look like a lawman.” She paused. “I sure do like big men.”

Seth leaned closer to her, seeing more clearly the cracks in the heavy makeup she wore. “Well, I got me a partiality to women—all of ’em.” She opened her mouth to speak, and Seth smelled the stale odor of her breath.

“Anything you want, mister, and it’s yours. It’d be my pleasure.” She fluttered skimpy eyelashes at him.

Seth smiled knowingly at her. “What about this Boss I keep hearin’ about?” He motioned his head slightly at Luke and the other men nearby.

Janie looked around to make sure no one could hear. She leaned toward Seth. “Boss Martin’s the leader. He don’t come to town much, but when he does, he stays in that big white house at the end of the road.”

“Well, Janie.” He put his hand on her arm. “How could I get in touch with this Boss Martin?”

Janie put her hand over Seth’s big one. “Cat Man rode in yesterday, and is stayin’ at the Boss’s house.”

“Cat Man?”

Janie shivered. “Yeah, he looks like a cat—real slanty eyes. Walks like one, too. None of the girls like to go upstairs with him. I thought he was goin’ to kill me one time.” Janie smiled. “But this time he brought his own woman. Dressed her up like a boy and took her down to Boss’s house. She’s a real snooty bitch, but nobody deserves what Cat Man does to a woman.”

Seth worked the muscles in his jaw. “This woman he brought—what’d she look like?”

Janie frowned and looked at Seth, but he was staring across the bar, away from her, his eyes seeing nothing. “Yella hair … little, like a kid. What you want to know for? You interested in her?” Janie’s voice was hostile.

Seth turned to her and smiled, showing his even, white teeth, and the long dimples in his cheeks. “I was just wondering what somebody’d bring into town, when they already had so much here.”

Janie smiled back at him, showing a broken tooth on the left side of her mouth.

Seth drained his beer. “I got to be goin’ now.”

“Don’t go yet, mister. I don’t even know your name.” She followed him to the door, hanging onto his arm. “I told you I’d give you whatever you want.” She smiled up at him, coquettishly. “Tell me, is all of you as big as your arm?”

“It sure is, honey.” He pinched her earlobe and left her.

Seth rode out of town past the big, white house. There were two men on the porch, both drinking and arguing loudly. Neither fit the description of Cat Man.

Seth tied his horse not far from the back of the house, hidden halfway down the side of a deep arroyo. When it was completely dark, he made his way down to the house.

“I don’t know why Cat Man has to take so goddamn
long, and why one of us ain’t enough to stay with the little girl. What are you laughin’ at?”

“I’s just rememberin’ that woman in the cabin—on the way here.”

“Yeah, she warn’t bad. Not bad at all.”

Seth listened carefully. It seemed that there were only the two of them in the house. He listened a while longer to their bragging, and knew they were very drunk. Silently, he stepped through an open window. Through the open doorway across the hall, he could see both of the men in the lantern light. Remembering his promise to the raped woman’s husband, he regretted not being able to kill the men now, but marked them well for a later fate.

Seth figured Morgan would be kept upstairs. He cautiously crossed the hall to the stairs and began making his way to the second floor.

“What was that?”

Seth froze on the stairway.

“I didn’t hear nothin’. Give me that bottle and quit worryin’. Ain’t nobody goin’ fool with Boss Martin’s property.”

Joe laughed. “You’re right. Give me the bottle back.”

Seth found only one door locked upstairs. He couldn’t risk the noise of trying to break it open, so he entered the bedroom next to it. As he had hoped, there was an adjoining door, also locked, but a quick search of a night table revealed a key.

Quietly he entered Morgan’s bedroom and saw her snuggled under the sheet, her long, golden hair spread around her, making a halo. He smiled his relief.

To keep her from crying out, he put his hand over her mouth. Instantly, her eyes flew open in terror. When he saw recognition reflected there, he removed his hand. Her arms flew around his neck, the sheet falling away from her nude body.

He held her close, burying his face in her clean, soft hair.

“I knew you’d come, Seth,” she whispered tearfully. “I knew it. They said no one could find us, but I knew they were wrong.” She pulled him closer. “I’m sorry for all the mean things I’ve ever said to you.” She kissed him on the neck.

“Morgan, sweet, we’ve got to get out of here. Get dressed, and don’t make a sound.”

Her face showed her fear. “Seth, they’re horrible. You don’t know. They’ve done horrible things. I don’t like to remember.” Her eyes were full of tears.

“There’s no time for that now! Get dressed!”

Quickly, she put on the tight pants and shirt.

“Let’s go,” he hurried her. “Follow me, and no noise.”

Quietly and easily they made their way past the two drunken men and out of the house. Soon, they reached Seth’s horse. He mounted and pulled her up to the saddle in front of him. He kissed the top of her head, murmuring a quick prayer of thanks for her safety. Then he nudged his horse up the hill.

T
HEY
rode all night. Morgan snuggled against Seth and slept part of the way, safe with his enormous arms around her.

At dawn, Morgan awoke to a very different countryside than that surrounding Boss Martin’s white house. The trees were tall here, straight, with white bark. They looked eerie, since they had markings that looked like eyes. The leaves were nearly round, and the gentle breeze made a rustling sound through the trees. It was quiet here, and cool, and somewhere in the distance she could hear the sound of running water.

“Where are we, Seth?”

“We’re in the mountains of New Mexico. I came through here years ago and found the place where I’m going to leave you. There aren’t many white men who have been there.”

“Leave me?” She turned to look up at him. The sunlight shining through his hair made it seem very blond. His skin was tanned, and there were little lines at the corners of his eyes. “You’re not going to leave me alone somewhere, are you?”

“I have to for a while. Cat Man and those two buffoons will be following us.” He grimaced. “I don’t believe he’ll let you escape without trying to find you. I have to go back and find them first.”

“No. They might hurt you. Please don’t leave me. Let’s just go on and get away from them.”

“Little Morgan, how long do you think two of us can ride on one horse? We can’t possibly lose them.” At her worried look, he kissed her forehead. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon, and then I’ll take you to my ranch.”

She smiled up at him. “I want to see your ranch. Is it as pretty as this place?”

“No, it’s not this high. There are no aspen trees there.”

At the foot of a wall of growth, they dismounted. Seth tied the horse, then led Morgan between some trees. Now she could see an ancient trail, nearly overgrown with brush, spiraling upward. They climbed, Seth holding her hand and guiding her.

After several minutes, they came to a flat, worn place in a sheer rock face. There were several steps, and then they saw the village. There was an opening in the face of the rock about one hundred feet long and about forty feet high. Set back under the protection of the overhanging rock were ancient mud buildings. Some were crumbled, but others were still whole.

“What is it, Seth?” Morgan whispered, awed by the ghostlike city.

“It’s an old Indian ruin. Frank, Jake, and I came down here years ago, and an old cowboy showed us this place. You’ll be safe here.”

Morgan left him to peer inside the nearest house. It was tiny. There was barely enough room for her to stand up. The ledge in front of the houses was bright and sunny, but the houses were cool and dark. She didn’t feel as though she and Seth were alone. It seemed the spirits of people long dead were still there, watching. She smiled. She felt the spirits were protective.

“I like it here. The people are good.”

Seth looked at her strangely, and then returned her smile. “You’re right. They’ll take care of you while I’m gone.”

She ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist,
burying her head against his chest. “Seth, let’s stay here. They can’t find us here. We’ll wait a while—a week—and then when they’re gone we’ll leave.”

He lifted her chin. “I want no more tears. I am going back. That’s it.”

She smiled and wiped her tears away.

“Do you have any kisses left?” he asked.

She stood on her toes and her arms slipped around his neck. His kiss was gentle at first, and then they both gave in to their need for one another. He kissed her cheek and then her neck. “Sweet little Morgan. I hate to leave you.”

Abruptly, he held her at arm’s length. “I have to fill the canteens. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

For a second, Morgan was startled by his brusque way of leaving her, but then she smiled and hugged herself. She wanted to dance and laugh and cry all at the same time. She began humming and whirled around the shaded courtyard doing a waltz step. She would buy beautiful clothes, and she’d wear her hair loose. Or any way Seth wanted. Anything her beautiful, darling Seth wanted was his.

“May I join in?” Seth took her in his arms, and they glided gracefully to the music in their heads. Laughing, they collapsed on the floor, and in an unconscious gesture, Seth put his arm around her shoulders and drew her head to his chest.

As they looked into one another’s eyes, their smiles faded and their lips met in a quiet, searching kiss. Gently, Seth lowered Morgan to the floor and began caressing her body. Expertly he unfastened the buttons of her shirt and exposed her warm, full breasts to his touch.

She returned his kisses with ardor, her tongue and teeth gently massaging the muscles of his neck and the open part of his shirt. She began to writhe and arch against him in the ancient manner of women. She
rubbed his lean, hard thighs, searching. Gently, she kneaded the bulge she found between his legs.

An animal sound broke from Seth’s throat. He rolled off her, his heart pounding and his breath coming in gasps. He sat up quickly and held both her hands in front of her. His eyes were glazed and his hair was rumpled. Silently, he buttoned her shirt. “Not now, little one.” His voice was low and husky. “When I make love to my bride, it won’t be hurried, it’ll be when there is plenty of time.”

He took a deep breath. “Stand up and listen to me. I have quite a few things to tell you before I go.”

She listened. She was not to leave the ruins for any reason, not even to sit in the sunlight in front of the houses. He left her food, water, and blankets.

“Now, if I don’t return within three days, try to make it east. About four days from here is the cabin where Meg and John live.” At the question in her eyes, he said, “Yes, I met them. They will help you.”

She put her arms around his neck and held him, desperately. “Please stay, Seth. I don’t want to lose you again.”

“You’ll have time to think. I want you to be sure about us.”

She looked at him. “What about you, Seth? Do you want me?” Her eyes hardened as an ugly thought crossed her mind. “Maybe you don’t want me. Maybe you just want to enjoy your year as a husband before collecting your reward money.”

The words were out before she realized, and she was frightened. Seth’s reaction astonished her. He threw back his head and laughed and then picked her up in his arms and twirled her around. “Sweet little Morgan. Do you know so little about me that you think I’d marry for money? I think I must have fallen in love with you when you flashed Cynthia Ferguson that first look of hate. You were so sad in that ugly brown dress.
The way you hung your head wrung my heart. But then, just for a second, your eyes lit up. And I was trapped.” Laughing, he kissed her.

“Do you really mean that, Seth? You do love me?”

“Always.”

She frowned slightly. “Then why didn’t you tell me before?”

He laughed again. “And have you tell me off? You wouldn’t have believed me if I had told you.” He kissed her thoroughly. “I must go now, love. You’ll do as I say and stay here?” At her nod, he continued. “I’ll be back soon. Will you still love me … or will you have changed your mind again?”

“Oh, no! Seth, I won’t. I do love you.” She stopped, eyes narrowed. “You’re laughing at me!”

He smiled and hugged her close, then set her on the ground. “I’ll think of you every moment, my love.” He turned, grinned, and was gone.

Morgan listened intently to the quiet sounds of Seth’s horse trotting away. When it was silent once again, she turned to face the wall. It wasn’t as warm now as it had been when Seth was there. She felt small and very alone.

The tears began to run down her cheeks. “No!” she said aloud. “I won’t cry, because Seth will be back soon, and there’s absolutely no reason to cry.”

After a few moments she decided to explore the ruins, and thus fill up the long period of waiting for Seth. The back of the village seemed to have been a waste area, and she found many pieces of pottery and bones.

After two days she grew bored with the village and its great numbers of broken pots and scraps of ancient fabrics. Her clothes were dirty, and she had unwisely drunk nearly all of the water Seth had left her.

Cautiously she began to make her way down the
worn stone steps to the bottom of the canyon. She made sure that she was always hidden under trees or brush and never exposed to the full view of anyone in the canyon or on the ridge above.

She followed along the stream and found a little pool surrounded by cattails and boulders. She removed her clothing and stepped into the clear, cold water. After bathing, she washed her cotton pants and shirt, and spread them on a rock to dry. She lay down on a rock and dozed in the fading sunlight. The sensual pleasure of the heated sandstone against her bare flesh made her remember Seth even more vividly.

Smack! The sharp pain on her bare buttocks made her eyes fly open. Quickly turning over, she saw Seth towering above her, his eyes blazing.

“I told you to stay out of sight! What are you doing down here stretched out for the world to see?”

She frowned, becoming angry herself, and opened her mouth to speak.

“I don’t want to hear one damn word from you. I heard you come down that path like a buffalo.”

His eyes were furious. “Anyone on that ridge could have seen you taking a bath. And now here you are stretched out, inviting trouble.”

The fury she had felt left her, and she barely suppressed a giggle.

“What the hell are you laughing at! I try to make sure you’re safe, while I risk my life to keep you that way, and you lie there and laugh!”

She smiled up at him, falsely innocent. “If you heard me coming down the path, why didn’t you come to me then? Why did you wait until I’d finished bathing?” She turned on her side, her nude body tantalizing him. “You said I was inviting trouble. What kind of trouble were you thinking of?”

The tension left his body, and he gathered her to him. “Damn you, Morgan! You shouldn’t have left the
ruins. You weren’t safe coming down here.” He was serious.

“But what could happen to me now that you are here?”

He laughed. “I ought to spank you here and now, but I’m afraid you’d enjoy it.” His voice lowered, and he said flatly, “I worried about you a lot. Please don’t take chances like that again.”

She was sorry she had caused him worry. “No, I won’t again. Seth, is everything … finished?”

He stroked her hair, her head on his shoulders. “Yes. It’s done now, and we won’t speak of it again. I sent a message on to the ranch, to let them know we’re all right.” He drew her head back to look at her, his eyes teasing. “I met a woman in the saloon, and she was very friendly. I got the idea that if I ever wanted to go back, I’d be welcome.”

“What do you mean, go back? And who is this bitch anyway?”

“Bitch! My, my, you have certainly learned a lot in the last few months. I could almost think you’re jealous.”

She said coolly, “I don’t think she would be so interested in you if she knew your wife of four months was still a virgin.” She turned to look at the water, idly running her fingers through her damp hair. “Of course, we did have geldings back home. Maybe she’d understand.”

Seth’s quick intake of breath was audible. “Lord! You would think that at my age I’d learn not to try to tease a woman. Come here, viper.” He kissed her and ran his hand freely over her nude flesh. “Tonight you are my bride.”

“Seth…” she began.

“What’s this? Fear? From someone who has just called me a gelding?” He laughed and crushed her to the granite hardness of his chest. “Don’t worry, my
little one,” he whispered. “I love you too much to hurt you.”

He held her silently for a moment. “That water looks inviting. Help me out of these clothes, wife!”

In an instant they both were nude: two golden bodies drenched in the dappled sunlight. One body was big, strength showing in every contour, the other was small and delicate. Morgan stretched out a tentative hand to touch the steely muscles of his chest. “I like you like this,” she whispered.

Seth smiled down at her, then quickly jumped in to bathe in the clear pool. This time Morgan watched him unabashedly, glorying in the way the water glistened on his magnificent back and arms. She sat on the edge of the pool and briefly wondered at the changes that had occurred in herself in the last few months. As Seth stood up, the water sliding over his glistening body, she thought, I’m in love now, and love changes everything! She stood up and ran to meet him, his arms enclosing her.

He led her to a grassy spot near the pool, sat down, and pulled Morgan beside him. At the nearness of her, and the sight of her perfect body, his manhood rose with an iron strength. He pulled her to him, and she felt his throbbing strength against her thigh. Her searching hand found him and held him in a firm grasp. Seth emitted the low moan that she had heard earlier. The size of him startled her, and she was afraid.

Seth sensed this. Gently, he kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts, teasing the pink tips with his tongue. His mouth traveled farther, while his hands stroked her inner thighs. Her legs separated of their own accord, as his tongue touched her most secret place.

His mouth found her lips again, and gently she felt him probing her. Slowly, he entered her, until she felt he filled her entirely. He lay still until the first, sharp pain faded and she began to move her hips. Following her lead, careful not to hurt her, Seth began to move
with her, very slowly. Then, unable to contain himself, he moved more quickly until he lay quietly on top of her, supporting his weight on his elbows.

Morgan felt Seth’s warm breath in her ear. What she had just experienced was so different from what she had imagined. It made her feel good to give pleasure to Seth, the man she loved. He hadn’t hurt her, but neither had she felt the mounting excitement that he had, and then the quick relief.

“Did I hurt you,
mi querida
?” he whispered.

She hugged him closer, her arms not reaching across the broad expanse of his back. “No.” She didn’t want to tell him that she didn’t find making love the joyous experience she had expected it to be.

Seth rolled off her, and rested his head on his elbow. He smiled at her. “Don’t worry, little bride—it will get better.”