Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (90 page)

Chapter 26

Josh slowly opened the door to the bedroom. A lamp on the small corner table gave off a soft glow, throwing the corners of the room in shadows. He ran his hand through his damp hair, his gaze traveling the room. Danica leaned over the wicker bassinet that his uncle Chase had brought into the room for Dawn. Dani’s hair shone golden in the glow from the light, falling in long waves down her back. She wore a borrowed white night dress that completely obscured her curves.

After a lively reunion with his father, uncle, and cousin, the family had gathered for the evening meal, and he and Dani had taken turns to ease everyone’s curiosity about them, and about Dawn. With a wide smile on his face, Josh’s father had cradled the baby in his arms, as proud as any grandfather would be.

Kyle had pulled him aside during dinner, and whispered in his ear, “Guess your prediction came true, cousin.”

Josh had glared at him, wondering what he meant. “I recall you telling me you’d never let yourself be tied to a woman unless a gun was pointed at your head,” Kyle reminded him with a wide grin on his face. Josh vaguely remembered saying something like that several years ago.

While the women cleaned the kitchen, he’d stood in the living room with the men, telling them about his troubles with the poachers, and that he would be leaving in a couple of days to go after Jonathan Douglas.

“You want me to go with you?” Kyle offered.

“No, this has become more of a personal matter,” Josh said forcefully.

“I’ll send a telegram to the commanding officer at Fort Ellis. Unless Douglas has deserted, he’s got to check in there at some point.”

Josh had excused himself from his family shortly after. He was eager to be with Dani, who had gone upstairs to feed the baby. Hopefully Dawn would be asleep by the time he came to their room.

Josh cleared his throat, and closed the bedroom door behind him. Danica straightened, and turned her head. His gut tightened when their eyes met across the room. A soft smile spread across her face. He tossed the shirt he had slung over his shoulder toward the chair in the corner. The shirt missed the chair, and landed with a flutter on the ground. Dani didn’t take her eyes off him. Her emerald eyes sparkled as they reflected the light from the lamp on the corner table, and he saw desire in their depths to match the need coursing through his veins. She took several steps in his direction. His pulse quickened, and his gut tightened painfully.

Josh couldn’t wait any longer. He’d been denied his wife long enough. He rushed to her and clasped her face between his hands. For a split second, the baby sleeping in the bassinet entered his mind. He’d never survive another interruption. He’d already spent two painful nights on the trail with Dani sleeping in his arms on their way to Helena.

His mouth crushed down on hers. Dani’s lips parted under his assault, and his tongue sought entrance. She moaned like she promised she would earlier in the day, driving him nearly mad. He fumbled impatiently to unbutton her night gown.

“Why are there so many buttons?” he growled. Dani’s hands reached up to help him. When he had enough of them undone, he pushed the garment from her shoulders. She let her arms glide through the sleeves, and the fabric fell to the ground. Josh groaned. He cupped her full breasts in his hands, and kissed the satiny skin of her neck where her pulse beat strong. Abruptly, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. The covers had already been turned over.

She smiled up at him seductively, and held her arms open in an inviting gesture. Josh hesitated for a moment, then pushed his britches past his hips and leaned over her. Her eyes roamed over him, and he froze. Would she be afraid of him? The thought was never far from his mind. The one time he’d been completely nude in her presence was in total darkness. Dani gripped his arms, and pulled him toward her. He leaned over her, and sank onto the bed. Josh buried his face in her silky hair, trailing kisses up along her neck, and nipping at her earlobe.
Don’t rush this, Running Wolf
. The last thing he wanted was for her to remember Jonathan Douglas.

 ”You smell so good,” he whispered huskily.

“A little soap and water will do wonders to wash the trail dust off,” Danica said on a heated breath. She entwined her hands in his hair, and pulled his face to her, seeking his lips. Her legs parted, her foot gliding up along his outer thigh. Josh groaned. He would burst if he didn’t have her now.

“Dani, I love you,” he rasped.

“Josh, if you don’t take me now, I’m going to scream,” she whispered in a strained voice.

“You’ll wake the baby,” he reminded her, her bold request fueling his desire.

“Exactly.”

Josh pushed his fears aside, and slid into her moist depths. Dani gasped and arched her hips upward until he was buried fully inside her.

“Josh,” she breathed, and trembled in his arms. “I’ve waited so long for you.” She wrapped her legs around his waist, and Josh lost all sense of time. He’d hoped to make their first time last, give her the pleasure she deserved, but his restraint faltered.  He moved within her, and she met each of his thrusts with her hips. To his surprise, her release happened just before his own. He collapsed on top of her, their sweat-slicked bodies molding together perfectly. He quickly rolled onto his back, pulling her with him. Nothing in the world could get him to relinquish his hold on her at the moment.

Looking up into her passion-glazed eyes, Josh pushed some damp strands of hair from her face. His chest clenched tight at seeing her warm smile, erasing any remaining doubts that she hadn’t enjoyed their consummation. She snuggled into his embrace, and their lips met for one long and languid kiss.

Dani rested her head in the crook of his arm, one leg draped over his thigh. Her fingers softly traced patterns around the now-healed bullet wound on his shoulder. The golden strands of her hair spilled over her front, tickling his chest.

“I always dreamed that you’d be my first,” Dani whispered softly, a deep regret in her voice.

His hold on her tightened. “I am your first, Dani. Your first, and your last. I don’t know how I overlooked you that day in the mercantile.” Josh kissed the top of her head.

“Oh, you didn’t overlook me,” Dani grinned up at him. “But I’m glad you’ve finally taken notice.”

“Oh, yeah. I sure have,” he growled, and pulled her on top of him. “Come here, Mrs. Osborne, and let me show you how much I notice you.”

*****

“Oh, Dani, this one looks nice. It matches your eyes.” Kate pulled Danica toward the dress in the far corner of the dressmaker’s shop. She still didn’t know what possessed her to let Kate talk her into a stroll through town with the intent on buying new clothes. Admittedly, she could use a new dress.  At the moment, she wore one of Kate’s. Her other dress was so soiled and dirty from the days on the trail, it had required two washings, and now hung on the line in the small yard behind the mercantile to dry.

Sarah Russell had graciously offered to watch Kate’s daughter, Ashlynn, as well as Dawn. After Dawn’s mid-morning feeding, she’d fallen asleep for her customary nap. Sarah had ushered Danica out the door with Kate, telling them to enjoy a few hours to themselves. Josh had gone with Kyle to the telegraph office to send a wire to Fort Ellis.

“I just don’t want to impose like this. I have no money with me. It’s all at the cabin,” Danica protested, when Kate asked the dressmaker to prepare Dani for a fitting. “I can just as easily sew a new dress with some of the fabric from the store.”

“Nonsense,” Kate waved her off. “You deserve to treat yourself.  Besides, we’re all family now.”

Danica relented. There had been a time when she enjoyed shopping for new dresses. It didn’t seem so important any more these days. An hour later, she left the store with a parcel under her hand. The dress wasn’t fancy by any means, but it was certainly a bit more lavish than practical everyday fare. As they headed back toward the mercantile, a commotion at the front of the store drew her attention.

“What’s going on?” Kate wondered, and they both increased their steps. Danica’s heart sped up inexplicably. At that moment, she saw Josh running down the middle of the street from the opposite direction. His hair whipped behind him as if a hoard of hostile Indians were after him. Her stomach tied in knots.  She thrust the package at Kate, and ran. Some inner voice told her that something bad had happened.

Out of breath, she pushed her way past the people and into the store. If Josh had seen her, he hadn’t stopped to wait for her. He was already inside, talking to a very distraught Sarah Russell. Her husband, Chase, stood at her side with a comforting arm around her shoulder. Josh’s father, Samuel Osborne, held Kate’s two-year-old daughter in his arms.

All eyes turned to her when she entered. Josh rushed up to her and pulled her into a fierce embrace. His chest heaved.

“Let me through, folks. Move aside,” a firm voice behind her shouted. She looked up to see a man with a star pinned to his dark vest enter the store.

“What’s going on, Josh?” Danica asked. She pulled out of his embrace, and saw the wicker bassinet on the mercantile counter. Her heart dropped, and bile rose in her throat.

“Where’s Dawn?” She rushed to the basket. To her horror, it was empty.

“Dani, it’s all my fault,” Sarah cried behind her. Her hand grasped at Danica’s arm. “I had to tend to a customer, so I brought the basket out here with me. I only turned my head for a moment. A man in a soldier’s uniform rushed in and . . .” She buried her hands in her face, and sobbed. “He grabbed her and ran out the door.”

Danica gasped. “Dear God. Douglas.”

Josh cursed loudly. He didn’t stop to talk to anyone else, and hurried through the back door of the mercantile. He re-emerged seconds later, his rifle in his hands, loading the chamber with bullets as he rushed back into the store.

“Hold on there, you can’t just go off like some vigilante. Let the law handle this,” the sheriff said, holding up a hand to stop Josh from leaving the store. “Let me investigate what’s going on here.”

Josh glared at the man, his eyes filled with rage. “Like hell I’m gonna wait around. That sick bastard kidnapped my daughter, and I’m going after him before it’s too late.”

“Let him go, Eli. We can’t waste any more time,” Samuel said to the lawman.

Danica’s mind barely registered the people around her. Faces became blurry, voices sounded like faraway echoes in her head. That madman had her daughter. It was all she could comprehend at the moment. Someone pulled her into a tight embrace, and Josh’s familiar voice penetrated her mind.

“I’ll get her back, Dani. Witnesses saw a soldier ride out of town in a big hurry. I’ll bring our daughter back.” She nodded, too numb for any other response.

Kate’s arm was around her in the next instance, and she was ushered through the store, and down the corridor to the family’s living room. Her legs refused to support her any longer. She stumbled to the settee.

“Why did I leave her?” she whispered, and buried her face in her hands.

“Josh will get her back, Dani. Everything’s going to be all right.” Kate tried to sound reassuring. She hugged her arm around Danica’s shoulders. Kate’s body was as tense as her own.

Danica nodded. Josh would get her back. Fear paralyzed her. He would get Dawn back, but would she be alive?

Chapter 27

Josh urged his horse to greater speed as he raced down the dirt road heading south out of town. The straight impressions of buggy wheels and countless hoof prints scarred the road, but his focus was on the freshly churned up dirt created by a horse running at top speed. At least the tracks were easy to follow. The spring snowmelts had left the earth moist, and even soggy in places.

With one hand on the reins, the other gripping his rifle, Josh’s body tensed like granite, his mind consumed with rage. How could he have been so stupid? He could have easily shot and apprehended Douglas several days ago when he caught up with him and his men. A few well-aimed rifle shots had disarmed the lot of them, and they’d run like scared rabbits. His shot at Douglas hadn’t missed its mark. In hindsight, he should have aimed a little higher.

He simply hadn’t confirmed at the time if Dawn was truly Douglas’ daughter, or if Dani wanted to marry him. Even while his mind was overrun with jealously, Josh wouldn’t have denied the baby her true father.  His crimes as a poacher would have earned him little or no jail time, and the army would simply discharge him dishonorably. Nothing a man couldn’t overcome. 

Douglas wasn’t about to get a second chance this time.  If he harmed Dawn in any way, Josh’s mind conjured up countless ways to torture the man before he killed him. He wouldn’t allow himself to even think that Dawn was already hurt, or worse. This hellish race through the countryside was dangerous for the fragile baby. Douglas would not take the infant’s safety into account.

That he was riding straight into an ambush had already occurred to Josh.  Dawn was merely the bait.  As long as he kept his focus on the tracks on the ground, he could read them for any indication in the horse’s change in speed. He would be ready.

No sooner had the thought occurred to him, and the tracks veered off the road into the open sagebrush heading in an easterly direction. Josh slowed his heavily breathing horse, and scanned into the distance. Snow-covered mountainous terrain loomed ahead of him, taking over from the rolling sagebrush-covered landscape. A man could hide among any number of canyons and gullies up ahead. It was also a prime area for an ambush.

Shots rang out in the distance. Josh pulled his horse to a stop. He listened. Several more shots rang out.  He kicked his horse into a fast lope, his eyes and ears trained on his surroundings. Who the hell was shooting out here, and at what? What was Douglas up to?

Josh had his answer a half hour later. He brought his horse to an abrupt halt at the top of a grassy rise. In the shallow valley below, scattered amongst the snow drifts, a small herd of bison bellowed. Several dead animals littered the ground.  Men on horseback sat their mounts, shooting senselessly into the herd. Since these bison were not within the boundaries of the national park, they were fair game to anyone. This would not be considered poaching. Josh sneered in disgust at the needless killing.

His eyes scanned for the familiar figure of Jonathan Douglas. His tracks had led straight to here. Josh had no doubt his nemesis was close by, and those were his men in that valley. The question was, where was Dawn? Josh clenched his jaw in frustration, trying to decide what to do next. This display of carnage was surely for him, to draw him out.

Josh counted six men. One of them wore a soldier’s uniform, but he distinctly saw the brand of the US cavalry on all of their horses’ shoulders. Douglas had seven men under his control. The three Josh had left tied up at his cabin were surely among them.

Slowly, he guided his horse down the ridge. He didn’t bother to conceal his presence. He’d been lured to this exact spot, and he wanted to end this game as quickly as possible. At least three of those men had bullet holes in their arms, a gift from him from several days ago. He doubted they would be all too quick on the draw. Where the hell was Douglas? And more importantly, where was Dawn? It disturbed Josh that he couldn’t hear a baby’s cry.  His blood boiled with the thought that any harm had come to his daughter.

As he drew closer, guiding his horse around the bison herd, he raised his rifle. He was well within shooting range now. A shout erupted from the men. Josh scoffed. It took them long enough to finally notice him. Two steered their mounts in his direction. Josh aimed his rifle. Shots fired. Both men dropped from their horses like sacks of potatoes. He ignored the hot pain in his left arm where one of the bullets grazed him.

Josh quickly dismounted his horse. Crouching low to the ground, he used every shrub and boulder for cover. A third rider came galloping toward him. Josh dropped to the ground. He aimed his rifle and fired. The man fell just like the others. Josh waited. The remaining riders huddled together, and Josh sensed they were undecided as to their course of action. One yanked his horse’s reins around, and took off at a fast gallop in the opposite direction. These men were nothing but cowards. The last stood his ground, but made no move to come within shooting distance.

Behind him, Josh heard mocking laughter, and a man slowly clapping his hands. Josh sprang to his feet, and aimed his rifle.

“Well done, half-breed.” Jonathan Douglas stood twenty yards away, a wide leer on his face.  “Guess it’s just you and me now.”

“Where’s the baby?” Josh shouted.

Douglas laughed. “You’ll never find her. The only use I have for that screaming brat is to get her mother to cooperate with me. Right now, I need you out here, so I can finally finish you off. You’ve interfered with my operation long enough.”

Josh clenched his jaw. The urge to rush the man, and pound his fist into Douglas’ face, overwhelmed his senses. A quick shot to end his life would be too easy. His blood boiled with rage. The man’s mind was deranged, but he couldn’t end his life until he knew where Dawn was.

“Go ahead and shoot me, Douglas. You’re not gonna get another chance,” Josh taunted.

Douglas raised his pistol. “Once you’re gone, that Injun-loving whore of yours will be mine. She’ll do anything to protect that brat of hers. Once I dispose of her father, I won’t have to ride these hills, killing bison anymore. That should give you some peace.”

Josh dropped to the ground, and rolled quickly behind a large rock. Douglas fired his pistol repeatedly, sending up chunks of dirt all around him. In his frenzy, his aim was off. Josh counted the gun blasts. When he heard the sixth one, he quickly pushed himself off the ground and aimed his rifle. Douglas roared when the bullet entered his left shoulder, and he dropped his weapon.

“That’s for the wound you or one of your cohorts inflicted on me two months ago,” Josh said calmly. He threw his rifle on the ground. There would be no satisfaction in killing an unarmed man. He was determined to win this fight on even terms. He also needed to find out where the bastard was keeping his daughter.

Douglas’ eyes widened in sudden fear. He clutched his arm, his eyes darting around, probably hoping one of his cowardly men would come to his rescue. Slowly and with his face set in a fierce determination, Josh closed the distance between them. Douglas stumbled backwards, and Josh caught him by his shirt. He balled his hand into a fist and took a hard swing. Douglas’ head snapped to the side from the impact. Blood gushed from his nose.

Josh threw the man to the ground, and waited for him to get up.

“Where’s the baby?” he said between clenched teeth. Douglas scrambled to his feet, and sneered. He wiped his arm across his face. Then he laughed. He backed up slowly.  Josh sensed the instant the coward decided to bolt. Unconcerned, Josh kept walking. He could play this game all day. Let the fool wear himself out.  He rotated his aching shoulder, and glanced at the flesh wound on his arm. Luckily, the shot from one of Douglas’ men had only grazed him this time.

“You fool!” Josh shouted when he realized Douglas ran straight for the group of bison. The beasts had been undeterred, even as gunshots had felled them like nothing more than timber. This small mountain group must have been untouched up to this point by the hands of men.

Too late, Douglas realized his mistake. Josh could only watch in silent horror when a large bull obviously saw the human as a threat. With his head lowered, the massive beast charged at Douglas, scooping him high up in the air, and tossing him like a ragdoll. Douglas screamed, and landed with a loud thud ten feet away from the enraged bison. His body moved, and he tried to push himself off the ground. The bull charged again, tossing him over his head. This time, Jonathan Douglas did not get up. His limbs lay in grotesquely disfigured arrays in the dirt.

Some ancient, primordial echo in Josh’s mind told him that the bison was extracting revenge on this man for the injustice that had been done to his kind. Josh couldn’t agree with the animal more. Douglas’ death, however, left him with a sinking feeling in his gut. How would he ever find Dawn now?  Worse, could he face Dani without the baby?

*****

Danica paced the floor in the living room. Her nails were chewed to the quick. Her eyes felt gritty, and hurt each time she blinked. Even the tea that Sarah Russell had made her hadn’t been effective to calm her frazzled nerves. The clock on the mantle chimed five times. It had been more than sixteen hours since Douglas kidnapped Dawn. Danica glanced out the window. The stark darkness from outside seemed to wrap itself around her heart.

Danica couldn’t stay optimistic anymore. Her breasts ached, swollen with milk. Dawn had to be starving at this point. Douglas had no patience for the baby. Once she started crying, what had he done to her to keep her quiet? Danica’s hands shook when she reached up to swipe her palm across her eyes. She glanced at every member of the family. They were all gathered in the living room, each of them absorbed in their own thoughts.

Little Ashlynn lay asleep, cradled in her father’s arms. Kate sat next to her husband, her head leaning against his shoulder. Their daughter was the only one without a care in the world. Visions of Dawn as a happy, carefree toddler seeped into Danica’s mind, and the tears spilled down her cheeks. Was it too late for her daughter? The waiting, the not knowing, was driving her insane.

“Would you like me to go upstairs with you, so you can lay down for a while?” Sarah asked gently, and stood from her seat next to her husband on the settee. Danica vigorously shook her head.

“I can’t sleep, not without knowing . . .”

“Some more tea, perhaps? I’ll go make us a fresh pot.” The old woman shuffled toward the kitchen without waiting for an answer. Danica knew Sarah was overcome with guilt over Dawn’s kidnapping. She had assured Sarah that she was not to blame.

The clock on the mantle ticked away the minutes, the sound amplified by the stillness in the room. The darkness outside took on a grayish hue, as night slowly gave way to the coming of a new day. The walls in the room seemed to close in around her, and Danica couldn’t breathe. She had to do something! She couldn’t stand the wait any longer.

A sudden loud crash sounded in the kitchen, like glass shattering on the floor, startling everyone. Chase leapt from his seat, his agility belying his age, and he rushed through the kitchen door. Samuel followed quickly on Chase’s heels. Kate sat up straight, and exchanged a worried look with her husband.

A loud gasp, then a cry of joy came from Sarah in the kitchen. She uttered Josh’s name. Danica’s heart leapt up into her throat. The veins in her temples pulsed, and her ears rang. She stood rooted to the spot. As if in slow motion, the swinging door from the kitchen to the living room opened, and Josh emerged. Danica’s hands flew to her mouth, and tears spilled down her face. In his arms rested a bundle wrapped in red lace and satin.

Their eyes met across the room. Danica didn’t dare move. The bundle didn’t move, either. In the deepest recesses of her mind, she wondered at the red material.

Slowly, Josh’s weary eyes brightened. A slow grin spread across his face. Dirt covered every inch of his clothing. Grime smeared his face, and his hair hung in limp strands down the sides of his cheeks. His left shirtsleeve was ripped, and stained dark with blood.

Danica finally found her legs again, and rushed to his side, her body shaking. Josh quietly held the bundle out to her. One glance told her the baby was sound asleep. The air left Danica’s lungs, and she gathered the infant in her arms. She held her daughter close, sobbing and kissing the baby’s face. Dawn grimaced in her sleep, and squirmed. Apparently she couldn’t figure out what the fuss was all about, and seemed annoyed by the disturbance to her rest.