Yours Again (River City Series) (5 page)

As
the kiss deepened, his hands slid over her butt and down the backs of her
thighs. He slid them under the shirt and up her hips. Smooth fleshed molded to
his hands as he glided them over her body at will. He trailed hot, wet kisses from
her mouth to her neck, nibbling until her breath came in short gasps. She let
out a small moan as his hands crept up her ribs toward her breasts.

He
chuckled, “Miss Sadie would be proud. I haven’t seen a performance like this in
ages.”

She
went from passion to white hot fury in a heartbeat.

“Let
me go you . . . you!" She struggled backward pounding her fists on his
chest until his hands fell away. She gathered her wet things in a huff and
headed to the door.

“Scare
you off, sweetheart?”

“Not
on your life,
mister.
You can deal with me
and
your brothers in
the morning. I hope they beat the snot out of you for this." Her irritated
steps echoed down the hall.

Taos
lay back across the bed.
Why would his brothers care how he treated her?
The past hour hadn't lessened his confusion one bit or offered any hint as to
her identity.

He
stared at his hands, still warm from the feel of her soft skin. They trembled
as he balled them into fists. Another few minutes and he might never have
stopped. Going without for so long must have affected his self-control.

That’s
all it was.
He nodded to himself. Just a normal man’s reaction to a
half-naked female. A very dangerous female. She had been much more beautiful
than he’d imagined during their ride and there was no way she could hang around
here. He had to get rid of her, and soon.

The
long day and frustration of dealing with the mysterious woman finally caught up
with him. Sleep clouded his mind as he drifted off.

Honeysuckle.
She tasted like honeysuckle.

Chapter 6

The
sun had yet to make an appearance as Samantha pulled on her wrinkled yellow
dress. It didn’t look like much, but at least it was clean. Thank goodness Darren
had recognized her immediately, and he’d gladly given her his bed for the night
while he slept on the bench in the parlor. She hadn’t had to wake anyone else. Not
that she’d slept much.

She
couldn’t believe Taos hadn’t recognized her, and she had no idea how to explain
what happened between them. She’d had her share of suitors in Boston so it’s
certainly not like she’d never been kissed, but she’d never felt anything like
that before. Just thinking about his hands roaming over her naked skin vibrated
warmth through her body. Her face flamed. It was as though she had no control
over her own body and it molded to his as if she’d done it hundreds of times.

Why
wouldn’t he think she was a whore? She’d certainly acted like one. She should
be embarrassed, but the truth is she’d liked it. Not that she’d ever admit it
to anyone, or even say it out loud, but as soon as Taos figured out who she was
that would end it, and he’d go back to treating her like a little sister again.
It gave her a twinge of wistful sadness.

Darren
had been thrilled to see her, so at least one brother was glad she was back. The
sun would be up soon. Samantha quickly ran a brush through her hair, then stuck
her head out the door. In the predawn shadows, only the faint sound of snoring
reached her ears. Hunger rattled restlessly in the pit of her stomach as she
crept downstairs. The last thing she’d eaten was a piece of crusty roll and
some cheese when the stage stopped for lunch on the trail yesterday.

Quiet
stillness permeated the kitchen. It was exactly as she remembered it. In fact
she’d bet not one thing had been changed in the last nine years. A long table
with five chairs took up most of the room. It may have been a little more worn,
but it was the same one she remembered.

She’d
spent months in this house, in this kitchen, after her parents died. Somewhere
in her fourteen-year-old mind she’d thought that Jake Williams would let her
stay with them instead of being sent to Boston to live with an aunt she’d never
met. Now she could see how silly that idea was. There was no way Jake could
handle a girl on the edge of puberty when he had three boys himself, two still
in their teens. It had been the right choice, though she sure hadn’t thought so
at the time.

Samantha
rummaged around in the cabinets and quickly found the coffee, flour, milk, and
some bacon. Within fifteen minutes, bacon and flapjacks sizzled in the hot
skillet, the enticing smell mingling with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

In
the kitchen she felt at peace. At Mattie’s the kitchen had always been a place
where she could collect her thoughts and prepare for the day. Many of Mattie’s
friends had frowned on Samantha’s love of cooking. The ladies of society
considered it a serious contest to see who could employ the most desirable cook.
Most viewed the art of cooking as a lower-class function, not fit for a young
woman of means. Thankfully, Mattie ignored them and encouraged her niece to do
what made her happy. Samantha spent years perfecting her skill, covered head to
toe in flour most days and she longed to be able to feed more than just herself
and Mattie.

She
stared at the flapjacks, mesmerized by the tiny bubbles that rose and then
burst in the batter as they cooked. Last night refused to leave her mind, even
for a minute. Well, not the whole night, just that kiss. Pinpricks rolled up
her arms and she shivered, remembering his touch, his lips, his heartbeat under
her fingertips. Heat rose to her face yet again. She had to stop this or
everyone would think she had a permanent sunburn from blushing so much.

Most
of the men who came to call on her in Boston lived a life of luxury, their days
spent in mindless pursuits. To he, they seemed shallow and petty and none held
her interest very long. Mattie had never pushed her into a relationship; she always
said when the right one came along she’d know. Taos had a rugged strength about
him, as wild and untamed as a river flowing wherever it willed—something that
scared and excited her at the same time. He was definitely out of the ordinary.

Samantha
sighed, it wouldn’t take him long to figure out her identity this morning. How
would he react when he did find out? Would he be intrigued, or irritated? Would
he still see her as the same annoying pest she had been as a kid? He might push
her aside and ignore her. Could she handle seeing him every day after that? Never
getting close enough to touch again?

It
was just one kiss for heaven’s sake!
It didn’t mean anything. She flipped
the flapjacks over to brown the other side and glanced out the window next to
the stove. The warm glow of dawn splashed across the ground. The grassland
glinted like polished marble from the rain. The mountains glowed pink and
orange, the tall pine and aspen cloaking their slopes. It made her breath
catch. She’d seen this same scene everyday growing up, but it was easy to take
it for granted when there was nothing else. Nine years in Boston had taught her
that. Even though the ocean was beautiful in its own way, it still didn’t
instill the majesty and inspiration in her heart that the mountains did.

Out
of the corner of her eye she saw a small head peek around the corner then
disappear.

“Good
morning, Tommy,” she said.

The
head appeared again. Darren told her that Taos’s son was the spitting image of
him, and she could certainly agree. Already tall for a seven-year-old, he had
wavy brown hair that bordered on unruly and piercing blue eyes. The boy inched
toward the stove.

“What
are those?” He asked as she lifted the hot, steaming flapjacks onto a plate.

“Flapjacks.
Would you like some?” She held out the plate and smiled as the boy licked his
lips.

“Uh,
thank you ma’am, but no. Pa says we all gotta fend for ourselves in the
mornings. Can’t depend on nobody to do it for ya.”

She
frowned as he pulled a heavy chair across the floor toward the cabinets.
Stubborn
must be inherited.
Samantha watched him reach for the oatmeal and fill a
small pot. One of Mattie’s old sayings came to mind.

There
are four words a woman can say that a man can’t resist: Can you help me?
If it works on a man who is thirty, why not one that’s
seven?

“Tommy?”
She watched him while she poured more batter into the skillet.

“Yes,
ma’am?”

“Does
your father let you waste good food?”

The
boy looked at her like she’d just bit him. “No ma’am!” He shook his small head.
“He’d whoop my hide for sure!”

“Well,
I cooked too many of these for myself, and they’ll just go to waste if someone
doesn’t help me eat them.” The boy stole a glance at the flapjacks Samantha set
on the table.

“Can
you help me, Tommy?” she asked softly, “Please?”

The
boy jumped down and ran to the table, the oatmeal already a memory. “As long as
you’re sure they’ll just go to waste.” Nearly drooling, Tommy proceeded to
stuff his mouth as full as possible. She watched in absolute amazement at how
much food he could get into such a small space.

Noise
and heavy footsteps announced Charlie and Darren’s arrival.

“Sammy!”
Charlie gave her a big hug, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around.
“I told Darren I wouldn’t believe it ’til I saw you for myself.”

Breathless
and laughing, Samantha kissed his cheek as Taos walked in.

“Well,
you seem to be making the rounds this morning,” Taos’s eyes narrowed at her.

Samantha
gave Charlie an exasperated look and shrugged her shoulders. He grinned at
Darren, who winked back. She’d told Darren about Taos not recognizing her. It
looked like they were willing to play along and have some fun at his expense. Taos
certainly deserved it.

Charlie
put her down and headed to the stove. “What smells so good?” He poked a finger
at one of the bubbles.

Samantha
nudged him out of the way with her elbow and turned the flapjacks. “Remember
your manners, or I’ll starve you.”

He
held his chest like he was dying. “You’d let me wither away to nothing?”

She
smiled, “Maybe.”

He
pecked her on the cheek and winked at Tommy. “At least it’s a maybe.”

Taos
poured a cup of coffee and sat at the table. Samantha glanced at him under her
lashes. His scowl indicated he hadn’t slept any better than she had apparently.
His eyes strayed to Tommy as his son stuff half a flapjack into his mouth. The
boy grinned at Taos as best he could. Pieces of flapjack stuck out between the
gaps in his teeth. Samantha’s heart melted. Tommy was adorable.

“Where’d
you get those, son?”

The
boy pointed at Samantha with his fork, his eyes wide at the tone of his father’s
voice.

“You
know we all do for ourselves in the morning.”

The
boy nodded and tried to swallow.

“He
was helping me.” Samantha glared at Taos as she heaped bacon onto a plate. “I
cooked too many for myself and didn’t want them to go to waste.”

Charlie
shuffled up behind her and inhaled the rising scent from the stove. “You gonna
eat all those, honey?” He nodded toward the second plate of flapjacks.

“Oh
my, it looks like I cooked too many again.” She feigned surprise. “I don’t
suppose you would be kind enough to help me eat them?”

 “Oh
yes ma’am, I would love to help.” She served Charlie very generous portions of
both bacon and flapjacks, then poured more on the griddle. She arched an
eyebrow at Taos, daring him to object. He ignored her.

Darren
prepared two cups of coffee and sat next to Charlie at the table. He pushed one
of the cups in Charlie’s direction.

“I
hate that stuff,” Charlie whispered.

Darren
insisted. “You’ll love this.”

Charlie
took a small sip and groaned as the rich brown liquid rolled down his throat. “I’ve
died and gone to heaven,” he said stuffing the better part of a flapjack into
his mouth. He poked the back of Darren’s hand with his fork, defending his pile
of bacon. “Get your own,” he mumbled.

Taos
studied her as she prepared a plate for Darren. She was obviously at home in
the kitchen. She caught him staring and he immediately shifted his gaze away .
. . for a moment. A return look revealed a slow smile spreading across her lips.
Taos stared at her. As tired as he’d been last night, he dreamed of those lips
and that smile. He’d awakened, wondering where she had spent the night—besides
in his dreams. Curiosity finally got the best of him.

“So
where’d you sleep last night,
honey
?” he just realized he’d never even
asked her name.

“In
my bed,” Charlie said between bites.

Taos’s
cheek flinched as he ground his teeth together.

He
saw a strange look flow between the woman and Darren. Darren shrugged at her.

“You
know, damsel in distress and all that,” Charlie continued. “I’m sure you would
have done the same thing.” He beamed as Taos’s face heated. “Course I didn’t
have to tie her up first.” Darren and the woman snickered. Taos thunked his
coffee cup on the table and glared at Charlie.

She
ignored the exchange and chatted as if she hadn’t a care in the world. “I need
to go into town and get a few things this morning. Could one of you take me?”

“How
long you s-stayin’?” Darren asked, intent on his breakfast. His childhood
speech impediment was barely noticeable, but Taos realized he wasn’t the least
bit embarrassed to talk in front of this stranger for once.

What
the hell?
Darren would hardly set
foot in town at all anymore just to avoid people, and even when he did, he
didn’t utter a word. But Darren had no problem chatting with this woman.

“She’s
not.” Taos took the plate she offered him and almost dropped it as she flashed
him one of those smiles. She held a powerful attraction for a man. His brothers
were already her slaves, but not him.

“Sure
she is,” Charlie piped up. “I’m not about to go back to your cookin’ after
this.”

“She’s
not
staying. We don’t know anything about her, not even her name.”

“Her
name’s Sammy,” the boy piped up. Every person in the room turned toward him,
except for Taos.

He
stared hard at the woman and slowly picked out the features that should have
been obvious: the straight blonde hair the color of golden silk, and those eyes.
Those deep, emerald green eyes.

It
couldn’t be!

Taos
scanned her appearance from head to toe. She was the spitting image of Claire.
Why hadn’t he recognized her? He continued to stare, his mouth slightly open. The
skinny little girl he had put on the train nine years ago had grown into an
extremely beautiful woman. His mind stumbled through his memory and settled on
last night. He looked away quickly.