WM02 - Texas Princess (9 page)

When she did what he said, his hands caught her waist and guided her down.

“That’s good,” he added as both of her feet touched the ground. “Even if you’l probably always have people to help you mount and dismount, it’s a good idea to know how to do it yourself.”

Liberty had had enough of him. “Don’t bother to pat me on the head or try to be polite.

I’m ful y aware of what you think of me and I don’t care. Just teach me to ride.”

He handed her Sunny’s reins. “Water your horse, then tie him over where the grass is high so he can graze. Once he’s taken care of, you’ve got half an hour to rest before we head back.”

Liberty wanted to scream that he should water the horse, but she didn’t say a word.

Somewhere in his mind he probably thought he was doing her a favor by insisting she learn how to take care of her own mount. Her backside might be kil ing her, but she wouldn’t complain. He’d probably just pat it and say it would be ne.

She did as told. When she looked back, he was stretched out on the grass a few feet from where his horse grazed. His hands were behind his head, his hat covered his face. She had a feeling he wasn’t asleep, but at least he wasn’t watching her and correcting every move she made. Tobin McMurray could have been one ne-looking man if he made half an effort to be nice, but the frown he wore seemed permanently tatooed across his face.

Sitting on a rock beside the stream, she tugged off her boots, wishing she owned a pair of the knee-high moccasins like he wore. One of her stockings had slipped down and the leather of the boot rubbed her skin raw near her knee. Checking to make sure he hadn’t turned in her direction, she tugged up her skirt and slipped her leg into the cold water al the way to her knee.

Smiling, she realized she felt freer at this moment than she had in months.

Washington, D.C., was exciting, but there were always people watching, judging her every move, evaluating everything she said. No one watched her now. Except for the sleeping man behind her, no one even knew where she was. She could wiggle her toes in the stream without worry that it would appear in Mrs. Prescott’s social news column the next day.

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Tobin lifted his hat showing no sign that he’d been dozing. “We’d better be getting back.”

A spark of lightning cracked the sky a few hundred yards away. Liberty let out a scream as she scrambled to her feet, her boots forgotten in the grass.

Tobin rose in one uid movement and reached for his horse as the storm rol ed across the land like a downhil train.

“Grab your mount!” he shouted, but it was too late. Sunny had pul ed free from the bush he’d been tied to and was in ful gal op toward the barn.

Liberty ran a few feet, then stopped and stomped her foot in frustration. Tobin rode up beside her and offered her a hand. “Climb up. We’d better race him to the barn or we’l be soaked.”

She’d expected him to give her a lecture about keeping her horse tied, but he didn’t. In fact he smiled down at her as the rst raindrops splattered her face.

Taking his hand, she swung up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

She felt the powerful muscles in his legs kick the bay into action, and suddenly they were racing the storm.

Liberty laughed. She would have thought she’d been frightened at the speed he took, but she felt safe against his solid back. He knew what he was doing. The man had probably been born in the saddle.

As the wind and rain increased, Liberty and Tobin sliced through the air toward the barn. His back protected her from the rage of the storm. Someday, she thought, I’l ride like this. I’l be one with the horse and have no fear.

Twice, Tobin’s arm covered hers where she held tight. Both times he rubbed her hand, warming it with his own.

The downpour had soaked through their clothes by the time they reached the barn.

Dermot waited, ready to take the horse. “Thank the Lord ye made it, Miss Liberty. I was worried about ye when that horse came in alone.”

Tobin lowered her to the ground, then climbed off laughing. “What about me, Dermot?

Were you worried about me?”

The old man shook his head. “Ye were riding like the devil was chasing ye, lad. My guess is ’tis not the rst time ye’ve outrun the lightning.”

“You’re right.” Tobin turned and winked at Liberty. “That’s the way to real y ride—fast on a good horse.”

Liberty grinned back thinking of how he looked younger when he smiled and wondering why he did it so rarely.

“Riding that fast didn’t frighten you, did it?” he asked, concern in his voice.

“No. I loved it.”

Dermot moved away with the horses.

Tobin glanced down the length of her. “You’re soaked.” He frowned. “Where are your boots?”

Liberty hugged her sides. “By the stream.”

Tobin took a step toward her. He opened his mouth to say something, then changed his mind. With a swift movement, he lifted her into his arms. “I’l get you through the mud and to the back porch.”

“Thank you, Mr. McMurray,” she whispered, leaning her cheek against his shoulder already feeling the warmth of his body through wet clothes.

A moment later they were back in the rain. His arms held her tightly as he ran for the house. Circling her arms around his neck, she did what she’d done when they’d been riding, she hung on tightly. Tobin McMurray was tal , a bit on the slim side, but he seemed to be made up of solid muscle. She felt no fear of fal ing as they splashed toward home.

When they reached the porch he set her legs down gently, letting them brush against his as he lowered her. Then, far too quickly, he stepped away.

She shivered with the sudden absence of warmth.

A moment later, he was back in front of her and the blanket kept on the porch swing circled her shoulders.

Liberty snuggled into its comfort, laughing. “Thanks,” she said looking up at him. “But you’re dripping wet also.”

Lifting one blanket-covered hand, she wiped the rain from his face. Then, without Lifting one blanket-covered hand, she wiped the rain from his face. Then, without thought of anything but warmth, she circled her arms once more around him, enclosing him within the blanket.

For a moment he stood stil letting the heat from their bodies blend. Then he lowered his mouth to hers, his hands closed over the sides of her ribs and pul ed her hard against him.

His kiss was soft, but held no hesitance as he shifted her body to t perfectly against him. When she didn’t pul away, his kiss grew bolder, drinking her in as if he were dying of thirst.

The rain curtained them off from the rest of the world, but she didn’t feel the cold. Al she felt was his rm, hungry mouth pressed against hers, tasting her lips. And his hands, sliding over her back, pul ing her closer. With each breath, her breasts pressed against his chest as both their heartbeats pounded.

They were once more in a storm, only this time they raced ful speed ahead. Every caress he made along her body sent lightning dancing through her veins and his warm kiss thundered a passion she’d never before felt cross her mind.

When she opened her mouth to him, he moaned low in his throat and the kiss deepened. His hand slid over her hip and cupped her bottom, holding her boldly.

The storm beyond the porch drifted away and al Lib-erty’s world began and ended in the circle of Tobin’s arms. His hands. His mouth. His body against her. He smel ed wild and free and tasted of a pleasure she craved.

Her grip around his neck tightened. She feared he might slip away before she could have her l . She felt the rumble of a laugh more than heard it as he straightened without loosening his grip around her. Lifting her off the ground, his caress took her breath away. She melted in his embrace knowing he wouldn’t let her fal .

When he nal y lowered her back to earth and broke the kiss, he whispered low in her ear, “You al right?”

Closing her eyes, letting the paradise oat through her, she whispered, “Yes, Mr.

McMurray, I’m ne.”

He nuzzled her throat as he responded. “Don’t you think you should cal me Tobin?”

His kisses along her neck were sending waves of heat al the way to her toes. “Al right.”

He pul ed away so only his breath brushed her damp throat. “Al right, what?”

“Al right, Tobin,” she answered and felt his mouth return hungrily to the spot where her blood pulsed.

She heard the creak of the kitchen door a moment before he did. She didn’t move, as if by staying stil no one could interrupt them, but he raised his head.

“Miss Liber . . .” Stel a’s voice trailed off.

Beneath the blanket Liberty felt Tobin’s arm tighten protectively around her middle; then he moved in front of her like an ancient warrior shielding his mate.

She was attered, but she didn’t need protecting from the kitchen help. “Yes, Stel a, what is it?” Liberty snapped in her most proper voice.

Stel a looked down at Liberty’s bare feet. “The captain sent me to see if you were back from your ride. He wishes to have a drink with you in the study before dinner. Said he has pressing matters to discuss.”

Liberty moved around Tobin, feeling his resistance to step aside. “Tel him I’l be there in twenty minutes.”

The maid nodded and rushed back inside.

Liberty closed her eyes. She had to say something to Tobin before she stepped back into the real world. What had just happened between them had been wild and wonderful, but it didn’t belong in her world. Tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest, she’d talk to her father and convince him to al ow her to break the engagement and return to Washington. Soon neither the captain nor this rancher would be a part of her life.

She faced him, but when their eyes met she saw anger, not understanding as she’d expected.

“I owe you an apology,” he snapped as if he’d already read her mind. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

His dismissal hit her hard. Even though she knew there could be no future, she would liked to have cherished what they shared for a little longer, and to believe that he would also.

But he hadn’t. He’d already buried it.

“Forgotten,” she snapped back, then pul ed propriety over her like a cape. “Thank you for the lesson.”

He was off the porch and back into the rain before she nished. His long legs took him into the gray rain, washing him from her sight in seconds.

“Tobin,” she whispered, before turning and running al the way up the back stairs to her room.

chapter 8

Y

Tobin stomped through the rain not caring

that mud splattered al the way to his knees. Most of his anger was turned inward. He’d made a fool of himself. He’d acted on impulse, not reason. Al his life he’d prided himself on holding back. His brothers might re up and act, but he thought things through rst. Only this time—this time he’d kissed Miss Liberty Mayeld, a senator’s daughter. And he’d kissed her ful out, no light hesitant rst kiss, but one that promised more, far more.

Liberty wasn’t to blame. She’d simply hugged him for warmth and he’d taken it from there. She was stubborn, and proud, and more beautiful than any woman had a right to be. “And,” he mumbled to himself, “about to be married to another man.”

But when he’d looked down at her deep green eyes, something misred in his brain.

The next thing he knew he was pul ing her so close he could feel her heart pounding. If Stel a hadn’t stepped out on the porch, Liberty would probably stil be in his arms.

Liberty had every right to tel her father, and the senator would more than likely have him shot on sight. He went way over the line of teaching her to ride a horse. If he had any sense, he should rol up his bed now and head out while it was stil raining. He’d be harder to track in this weather. If Liberty told anyone what had just happened, there would denitely be men gunning for him.

He stopped suddenly and raised his face to the rain, no longer caring that he was soaked. One thought kept him rooted... she might want to forget the kiss... she might even have run inside...but she’d kissed him back.

The warm rain did nothing to wash away the feel of her lips, or the taste of her tongue timidly exploring his mouth. She might be engaged. She might be a senator’s daughter.

She might have even been surprised when his mouth covered hers. But she’d welcomed his touch. She hadn’t protested when his hands moved over her.

She’d kissed him back!

Tobin straightened and walked the rest of the way to the barn. If he’d gone mad on the porch, he wasn’t the only one.

As he stepped out of the downpour, he slung his hat and shook his head to remove a little of the water. The musty, familiar smel of hay greeted him, anchoring him in the real world.

Dermot tossed him a towel. “Enjoy the riding lesson, lad?”

Tobin smiled. “I did.” He’d ride al day in the rain if he could spend a few minutes alone on the porch with Liberty again. “What’s happening here?” From the sound of it, the number of horses in the barn had doubled since he’d left a few hours ago. Two carriages now blocked most of the entry.

“Al the guests are moving into the hotel in town. Buchanan asked the Texas Rangers to return with these two carriages. The captain and the rangers have been inside meeting with hisself for an hour.” Dermot shook his head. “Trouble’s coming in like a loaded freight train. I can feel it.”

Tobin knew even if he wanted to leave, he could never desert Liberty if there was even a smal chance that Dermot was right. He remembered how tired the senator had looked when he’d asked for two favors. Teach her to ride, he said, and promise to kidnap her if I’m attacked tomorrow.

The senator must want her out of harm’s way if trouble thundered in, and the old soldier in him sensed the danger and prepared.

Late last night Tobin had lain awake trying to think of why the senator had used the word
kidnap.
No t
take,
o r
rescue,
or even
escort,
b u t
kidnap.
It was almost as if Mayeld had asked Tobin to commit what everyone would consider a crime. Tobin frowned. Everyone including Liberty probably. Maybe the old man just didn’t want to take time to explain to her, or anyone else, why Tobin was taking her.