Whirlwind Groom (27 page)

Having never spent the night outside, Josie looked around uneasily. Pulling out her pocket revolver, she quickly loaded it. The light was fading fast so she turned her energy to building a fire. Stacking the kindling inside the circle, she lit it with one of the matches she'd brought.

By the low-burning flames of her small fire, she unsaddled her horse, dumping the saddle onto the ground behind her and rubbing the gelding down with a handful of grass. The faraway howl of a coyote had her edging closer to her horse. Undoubtedly all manner of animals came out at night. That was one thing Josie hadn't given any thought. Sitting on the ground, much less sleeping there, seemed an invitation for anything to crawl over her. She'd heard cowboys slept on their saddled horses; she would try that.

With the gun a comforting weight in her coat pocket, she went in search of more kindling. The firelight cast a weak
circle so she didn't wander far. As she started back with an armful of wood, her horse blew out a heavy breath. He stomped one foot, then blew again. She carefully put down the wood, then edged her way behind the nearest tree and pulled the revolver out of her pocket.

She peeked out to see what had disturbed the gelding. The wind strummed across the darkened prairie, teasing her skirt. In the shadows, Josie made out her horse, his head down as he grazed.

He seemed fine now. She started out from behind the tree and saw something move in the shadows beyond her gelding. Her breath jammed hard under her ribs. Another horse, saddled but riderless, grazed its way toward Josie's animal.

Where was the horse's rider? Was it McDougal? Would he come back this way? Trying not to panic, she carefully and quietly thumbed down the hammer on her revolver. In the next breath, a hand clapped over her mouth, another locked around her gun.

Her scream muffled, she was yanked back against an iron-hard chest. She tried to bite the rough palm on her face. Her gun was ripped out of her hand and tossed away before she could do more than land an elbow to a stomach that was as solid as stone. A grunt sounded as a powerful arm locked around her middle, squeezing her breath out.

“Don't scream.” The harsh voice was male. And familiar. “It's me. All right?”

Davis Lee! She stiffened, then nodded. As soon as he released her, she whirled, pushing at him and whispering roughly, “You scared me to death!”

“I meant to!” He grabbed her by the shoulders, towering over her like a black shadow. “What are you doing out here?”

“How did you find me?” Still breathing hard, she nudged a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. “You were ahead of me.”

He released her, his expression furious in the fire's yellow glow. “We don't have to whisper. I circled the whole area and we're the only people around.”

“I lost sight of you sometime ago.”

“I knew someone was behind me. I doubled back, hoping to come across McDougal, but instead I find you.”

Josie didn't care how mad he was. She was relieved at no longer being alone. He picked up her gun and handed it to her. She slid it into her coat pocket while he strode through the grass to his horse and untied his bedroll. Carrying his blanket and his saddlebags, Davis Lee stalked back toward her.

“Are you staying?”

“Of course. I can't go any farther in the dark. And you can't—”

“I'm going to find McDougal,” she said hotly. “I got this far, Davis Lee. You can say what you want, order me around all you want, but I'm not turning back.”

“I know better than to expect you to go back and I don't have time to make sure you actually do it. The only choice I have is to take you with me. In case there's any question, I'm not happy about it.”

“That's obvious.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice strained with patience. “Josie, I know you want this guy. So do I. But what were you thinking to come out here?”

“I was thinking I could keep up with you, which I did.” At his flat stare, she added, “Until a while ago.”

He dragged a hand over his face, then pulled off his hat and dropped it onto his saddle. “Are you willing to go so far in your revenge against Ian that you'll risk your own life?”

“I don't think I'm risking my life any more than you are.”

“I can hit where I aim.”

“Well, so can I.” Most of the time. She was glad he couldn't see her face burning. “I have my gun and ammunition. Matches and an extra canteen of water, a bedroll, a coat. I think I've done just fine.”

He glared at her.

“It's my life to risk.” Because of the shadows, she couldn't be sure, but she thought he paled at her words.

In the next instant, fury tightened his features and he clamped one hand around her upper arm, pulling her to him. “And what about my life? Has it occurred to you that what you're doing puts me at risk? Makes me have to divide my attention between you and him, makes me less likely to anticipate something he might do. Did you think about that?”

“No,” she said, suddenly feeling selfish.

“Your being out here alone isn't smart, Josie. What if your horse went lame? Or you ran out of water? Or you were hurt?”

“You don't need to worry about me.” She tried to pull away from him. “I didn't come here to make things harder for you. I came because I had to.”

“What if McDougal had been the one to find you?” he roared. “Josie, I couldn't—” He broke off, grabbed her face in his hands.

For an instant, she thought he would kiss her.

Moving his hands back to grip her upper arms, he stared at her, his face dark, his eyes glittering. “I don't like you being here.”

She was bone-tired and sick of the friction between them. “You don't have to stay with me. I got this far. I'll get where I need to without you.”

“Stop.”

“You stop! It will be better if we separate. You can't concentrate with me around and I…can't, either.”

His hands tightened on her. “I'm sure as hell not leaving you alone.”

“I don't want you to stay.”

“Well, I am.”

“Why? So you can remind me over and over of how I hurt you, how I ruined things, how I betrayed you? Believe me, I know. I know it every single minute.” The words felt choked out of her. “Please, let's don't say any more. When this is over, I'll go away. You won't have to see me ever again.”

“Go away?” He went utterly still, his eyes hot with emotion. “You mean after you kill McDougal?”

“I owe it to my family.”

“You owe them justice. And you can get that with Judge Satterly.”

“We don't know that. Look what happened the last time Ian was supposed to be tried.”

“Do you know what you're saying? Do you know what that means?” He released her and took a step back. “I'm the law. If you kill him in cold blood—if you even
try
— I'll have to do something about it.”

“Like what? Arrest me?”

“Yes. I can't turn a blind eye, Josie. I won't. I'll haul you back to Whirlwind and lock you in the cell next to McDougal's.”

She studied him, bitterness warring with understanding. “You've sworn an oath to do what you have to do, Davis Lee. So have I.”

Hands clenched, he stalked to the other side of the fire and spread out his bedroll.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting some sleep. I suggest you do the same. We're going to need it.”

She hated this distance between them. Numbly, she
picked up her bedroll and stepped on the saddle to mount the gelding.

Davis Lee put his hands on his hips. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere. I'm sleeping up here.”

“You'll fall off.”

“No, I won't.” She probably would.

“Dammit, bring your bedroll over here by the fire.”

“I don't want to sleep next to you when you're so mad.”

He looked up at the sky, a muscle working in his jaw. “It's safer if we're together.”

“Doesn't feel like it.”

“Have it your way.” Muttering under his breath, he eased down to his blanket, turning his head to look at her. “If you're really going to sleep on your horse, don't put him under a tree. Snakes fall out of the branches sometimes.”

Snakes?
She immediately stepped off the saddle, considering the space he'd left for her between him and the fire. Irritated as all get-out, she stomped over and spread her bedroll.

She lay down and drew her blanket over her shoulders. It was nice and warm here. And though she wouldn't admit it to Davis Lee, she felt safer with him at her back.

“The fire will keep away the bugs,” he mumbled sleepily. “The horses will keep anything bigger at bay.”

Josie watched the fire slowly die. Despite Davis Lee's even breathing, she knew he wasn't asleep. Would he ever forgive her for using him to get information on McDougal? For sleeping with him with a huge secret between them?

She rolled to her back, looking up at the black velvet sky. Beside her she could feel Davis Lee's body heat. “The sky's really clear tonight. There must be a million stars up there.”

He didn't speak.

“I can't stop seeing my parents' bloody bodies, and Wil
liam's.” Her voice cracked. “I can't let Ian get away again. I just
can't.
”

Again Davis Lee said nothing. Her throat grew tight. “I hope someday you'll believe that I truly care for you. And that you'll forgive me.”

She turned her head and looked at him. The firelight played across the lean angles of his face, tipped his eyelashes with gold. She wanted to reach over and touch him. Instead, she rolled to her side away from him and went to sleep.

The next morning at first light, Josie felt Davis Lee stir. She woke, tucked warmly against him. Neither of them spoke as they ate a few of the biscuits Davis Lee had brought, some of her cheese. After drinking their fill from the canteens, they refilled them from the creek. They were soon on their way.

Josie rode slightly behind him so as not to disturb any tracks he might see on either side of the horses. Her heart aching, she let her gaze trace the strong line of his back, the broad shoulders, his big hands.

She loved him, but she had also sworn a vow to others she loved. Now, all she had left was that vow.

T
hough he wasn't thrilled that Josie was tagging along, Davis Lee couldn't find fault with her efforts. She quietly kept up with his pace, didn't become impatient when he stopped to check the tracks.

They'd ridden ahead for an hour and found more than one set of tracks. The ones that looked freshest were headed in the direction from where they'd come. He and Josie turned their horses around and rode back. He kept a careful eye on the ground; Josie stayed slightly behind so as not to compromise anything new he might find.

They were past their campsite and about an hour or so from Whirlwind when he stopped and dismounted near a line of trees. He knelt, studied the ground then walked back to her. “There are some specks on the grass. I think they're blood.”

“Blood!”

“Jake said McDougal was coughing up blood last night. Maybe he still is.”

“Do you think we might be close to finding him?”

“I don't know. I want to walk ahead a bit and see if I come across any more.”

She nodded.

He motioned her down. “You need to stay with me.”

“Afraid I'll get to him first?” she asked coolly.

He looked right at her. “I don't want him getting to you.”

“Oh.” That shut her up.

“We need to be prepared if we find him,” he said quietly. “Since he's sickly, he always has his gun at the ready. Aimed. Cocked. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“That's why I'm letting you keep your weapon. If McDougal shoots first, you have a right to defend yourself. Understand?”

“Yes.”

They hadn't walked more than ten feet when he paused next to a mesquite tree and held up his hand. She stopped behind him. Someone coughed repeatedly, sharp and hard. Davis Lee's gaze swerved to hers.

The noise came from their left, behind a screen of pines and a few half-grown juniper trees. Josie followed Davis Lee, trying to move as quietly as he did, her hand going to the revolver in her pocket.

They heard more coughing, then a strangled “Who are you?”

Davis Lee eased around the first tree, his gun drawn. To her left, Josie heard the crackle of dried leaves and twigs. She turned and saw someone run out of the stand of trees into a small clearing. Automatically, she took off after them.

Davis Lee hissed her name, but she didn't stop. If the person she'd seen was McDougal, he couldn't get away. Not again.

She dodged a few trees and came out in a small clearing. About thirty feet away, Ian stood with his back to her. A few yards in front of the outlaw, a man held a gun on him. Loren Barnes!

“Josie!” He sounded pained. “I know you followed Davis Lee to chase this piece of filth, but why?”

“He killed my family.”

“Then you understand.”

She heard the thud of boots as Davis Lee rushed up behind her. Loren thumbed down the hammer on his revolver.

Josie cried out, “Loren, don't! Think about Cora!”

“I am! You know how she's suffered. All because of this murdering bastard.”

“If something happens to you, it will be worse for her.”

“I have to do this.” His voice was cold, clear.

“Put the gun down, Barnes,” Davis Lee ordered, cocking his revolver.

Loren's face went blank, but his eyes burned with purpose. Josie cried out as he shot at McDougal, who threw himself on the ground then scrambled to a half-sitting position.

Davis Lee fired at Cora's brother. McDougal squeezed off two more shots. In her direction! Josie ducked. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Davis Lee do the same.

Loren bolted, disappearing behind a pine tree. Ian now lay on the ground, his shirt stained with blood. She didn't know if it was from his lung condition, a bullet wound or both. She stepped toward him and saw more blood at the top of his shirtsleeve.

He grabbed his arm, squinted up at her. “Hey, I know you.”

“Yes.” Josie stared at him. Finally, the man who'd killed her parents was in front of her. And he couldn't escape, not this time. She brought her own gun up, snared in a vacuum of memory.

All she could see were her mother's sightless eyes, her father's hand reaching for his wife. William's hand clenched around a handkerchief she'd given him just after he'd proposed. Josie leveled her gun at the outlaw, pleased when she saw fear flare in his eyes. Maybe the same kind of fear
that her parents and William had felt. She felt a strange sense of power that she could do that to him.

She was close enough that she couldn't miss. She wouldn't. “I've been waiting for you a long time, Ian.”

“Lady, I'm already shot. Don't fill me full of lead.”

It was quiet behind her. Too quiet. And she realized, as if coming out of a fog, that Davis Lee hadn't tried to stop her. He hadn't said anything for a long time.

She turned and saw him lying motionless on his back, eyes closed. Blood seeped from his side. “No!”

She rushed to him, falling on her knees.

Setting her gun aside, she found a pulse in his neck and shook his shoulder, trying to rouse him. She jerked off her coat, then her bodice and pressed it to his side. It was blood-soaked within seconds. “Davis Lee, please wake up.”

His eyes stayed closed. He didn't move.

“Please don't die,” she cried. “Please talk to me.”

He stirred, his eyes opening to slits. “Josie?”

“I'm here.” She took a breath, trying to steady herself. “You're hurt and I don't know how badly. I need to get you to a doctor, but I can't get you up.”

“I think…I can do it.”

“How?”

He pushed himself to one elbow, a groan tearing from his throat.

Josie bit her lip.

“Bring my horse.”

She didn't want to leave him, but it was his only chance for help. Scooping up her coat, she pulled it on over her underwear as she ran back the way they'd come. She led Davis Lee's buckskin over. “What do I do?”

“Bring her here. Stand her with her left side to me, like I would normally mount.”

She did it.

“I need something to grab on to once I stand up. I'm pretty woozy.”

“You can hang on to me.”

Balancing his weight on his right arm, he pushed himself to his feet, teetered. He clutched at the saddle as Josie braced one shoulder under his right arm. She didn't see any fresh blood coming from his wound. Maybe she'd stopped the bleeding for now. She held tight to his arm as he grabbed the saddle horn with his right hand and after a moment hoisted himself up, muscles straining in his arms and shoulders, his neck.

Cursing, he dragged his right leg over. Breathing hard, he slumped forward, his head resting against the horse's neck.

Josie picked up her gun and turned to see Ian scrambling away. Her finger went to the trigger and she started after him. There was nothing and no one to stop her from killing him.

Except the feelings she had for the man who leaned in the saddle, bleeding. Her head urged her to go after McDougal, but her heart… She looked back at Davis Lee. Her love for Davis Lee burned stronger than her need to go after the outlaw who'd murdered her family.

Decision made, Josie ran back to her own horse, mounted, then returned to take Davis Lee's horse's reins and lead him to Whirlwind.

“Davis Lee, hold on. You have to hold on.” The words pounded through her brain.

She kept talking to him, checking to make sure he was still breathing. He couldn't die. She couldn't lose another person to McDougal.

McDougal. She could've easily killed him and she hadn't. She waited for the swell of anger that she always felt when thinking of Ian, the loathing that had dogged her for the past two years, but neither came. She looked back at Davis Lee, offering up a silent prayer that she could get help in time.

Ian had escaped. Again. And she found she didn't care. All that mattered was that Davis Lee lived.

 

A couple of hours later, Davis Lee was in his own bed being tended by Catherine. Josie paced in and out of his bedroom. He'd been unconscious for a while now. Jericho and Riley had met up with her just outside of town, on their way to help look for McDougal.

While Charlie Haskell went for Catherine, Jericho and Riley got Davis Lee into bed. A few minutes later, the nurse asked both men to hold the patient down while she removed the bullet in his side.

Josie stood in the kitchen with her eyes squeezed shut. When she heard a raw moan of pain tear out of his throat, her knees buckled. Charlie caught her and settled her in a chair. She was still trying to take in all that had happened. Cora's brother, Loren, had been the one to try and kill McDougal in the jail that night. He'd found Ian today because last night, Loren, like the others there, had heard Jake tell Davis Lee which direction the outlaw was headed. And now Cora's brother had vanished like McDougal. She didn't care what happened to Ian, but she worried about Loren.

Catherine stepped out of Davis Lee's bedroom, interrupting Josie's thoughts. The dark-haired woman's white apron was streaked with blood as were the rolled-up sleeves of her blue wool dress.

Josie stood, her hands trembling. “Is he—”

“He's going to be all right,” the other woman said.

“Thank you,” she breathed.

“But he's lost a lot of blood and will be weak for a while. He needs rest and food.”

“I'll make sure he gets it.”

Jericho and Riley stepped out of the room. Riley jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “He's asking for you, Josie.”

“Thank you.” She rushed past them and went to the right side of his bed to avoid jostling his wound. “Davis Lee?”

“Come here,” he said in a guttural voice.

She sat down carefully, taking the hand he held out to her. “Catherine said you're going to be all right.”

“You didn't kill him.” His blue eyes were bleak with pain. “You had McDougal in your sights and you didn't take a shot. Why not?”

She didn't want any more lies between them, but would he believe her?

“Josie?” he asked hoarsely.

She stroked his hand. “The reason I didn't shoot Ian is because I love you. Even if we don't see each other after this, I want you to know that.”

“I'm fadin'.” His eyes closed, but his fingers tightened on hers. “Promise you won't leave.”

“I promise.”

He slept and she did, too. When she woke, he was sitting up in bed, still holding her hand. “Do you need anything?”

“Just you.” He tugged her over into his lap and rested his head against hers.

He was warm and solid beneath her. For the first time since she'd seen him bleeding on the ground, she truly felt he would be all right. “I shouldn't be in your lap. You're going to hurt yourself.”

“I wasn't shot there.”

She smiled into his eyes, wanting to remember every second with him. No matter where she went, he would be part of her.

“Before I passed out, you said you loved me,” he said huskily.

She kept her gaze on his, her stomach knotting. “Yes.”

“You said you told me that in case we never saw each other again. Are you planning to leave?”

“I thought I should.”

For a long minute, he didn't speak. She studied her hands. She should get up, end things cleanly, but she couldn't make herself move. Not yet.

“I have regrets in my life, Josie.” He slid a knuckle under her chin and tilted her face up. “If I let you walk away from me, I'll regret that for the rest of my days.”

“Really?”

“I can't let you go. Don't leave. I love you.”

She stilled, half-afraid she was hearing things. “Even though I lied?”

“That went deep,” he admitted. “But it doesn't change the way I feel.”

“Have you forgiven me?
Can
you? Will you be sorry someday for loving me?”

“You showed me what's in your heart, Josie. You turned away from revenge, from murder. What would make me sorry is if I lost you.”

“You won't.” She lifted a hand and stroked his whisker-stubbled jaw. “I won't go. I won't ever go.”

He kissed her, soft and slow and so thoroughly that when he lifted his head, she melted against him, feeling as if she were floating in a dream.

“You know…” Careful of the bruise on her jaw, he nudged her head back and nuzzled her throat. “Everyone saw you come into my house, an unmarried woman alone with an unmarried man. And—” he lowered his voice to a deep velvet whisper “—people have seen you in my bedroom. All sorts of rumors will fly now.”

“The only ones who saw me in here were your brother, Catherine and Jericho. They won't say anything.”

“Well, I have a reputation to think of,” he said. “You have to make an honest man of me.”

She laughed. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. You're gonna have to marry me.”

She sat straight up, staring into his eyes. “Davis Lee!”

“Is that a yes?”

“Have you thought this through?”

He nodded, his gaze hot on her.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

She looked down at herself, grimacing. “My hair is a mess and my dress—”

“Josie,” he groaned. “Answer me before I expire.”

“Yes.” She laughed. “Yes, I'll—”

He took her mouth in a sweet, hot kiss.

Long seconds or minutes later, the front door burst open. They jerked apart at his brother came into the bedroom.

“Riley,” Davis Lee growled. “This better be good.”

“You're never gonna believe this!”

The grin on his brother's face was infectious and Josie found herself smiling, too.

“Loren Barnes just rode into town with Ian McDougal hog-tied and slung over his saddle. Jericho's putting them both in jail right now.”

“Loren
and
Ian?” Davis Lee's jaw dropped. “That beats all.”