Justice Served
by Elise VanCise
Part1
Just
as he had hinted to Dan Evans his third incarceration at
Ben’s eyes flew open at a familiar clicking sound. Sitting up he reached only to find his gun missing from its holster. “Don’t bother I’ve already relieved you of your weapons Mr. Wade.” Before he could spin on his attacker the lights suddenly went out.
Damn that bunny must have not have cooked long enough or something. His head was pounding. When he tried to sit up he couldn’t. Come to think of it his eyes were open and he still couldn’t see. He was blindfolded and one arm was trussed to his back while the other was tied else where. “What the…”
"Good morning.” The voice was female and she was sitting to his right. He started to roll and there was that clicking again. The familiar cocking of a pistol.
“Have I done something to offend you Miss?”
“You killed my brother. This is how it’s going to work. I say you do or you’re dead.”
The rancher wasn’t alone out here after all. Woman or not this pissed him off. He put all his smooth charm into a deep seductive timber. “Just how are you going to encourage me to comply, Miss?”
There was a shot fired close enough for him to feel the breeze off the bullet whizzing by. “Oh.”
She tied his wrist to the pummel of her saddle and mounted the horse. Without a word to her captive the mystery woman raised the horse to his feet pulling Ben to his. He grunted in surprise and pain as his shoulder was pulled. When he staggered back into the horse and her leg she kicked him off. “This would be easier if I could see what was going on. “
“It would.” Was the only reply. The only warning they were about to move was the shifting of the saddle as she lightly kicked the horse.
He tried to keep his footing but blindfolded, one arm literally tied behind his back, and the other being yanked out of the socket made it a difficult task. He smelt no perfume but then he didn’t smell cattle on her either. “You left the cattle in the valley back there. You know there are rustlers in these parts.”
“There are murderers too.”
Fair enough. “I guess we’re going to find a marshal or maybe a Pinkerton.” Silence. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m…..”
“Ben Wade.” She knew who he was, called him by name last night. This woman had balls trussing him up and dragging him across… somewhere knowing what he might do to her if he got free. Correction what he would do to her when he got free.
“You know me but I am at a disadvantage, miss….” Silence. “I should at least know your name.” Silence. Sooner or later she would give. They always did none of them could resist him.
The sun began to beat down on them and the horse came to a sudden stop. He could hear her movements pulling something from a pack. As he tried to twist his wrist from the pommel not only did what ever kind of knot she used tighten cutting off his circulation, the little bit he had left. But there was the familiar press of a gun barrel at his temple. Once he stilled she moved the gun but it was close. He could smell the oil. Focused on the gun he started when something was pressed to his lips. “Drink.”
It was a cup. He parted his lips just enough for her to slowly pour water into his mouth. After a couple of mouthfuls he heard her finish the cup and drop it back into the pack. “Walk.” They were off again. After another hour of her delightful company he opted for a break.
“I need to stop.”
He could feel her gaze shift to the top of his head. “Hold it.”
Who the hell was this woman? He had tried twice more for conversation but got nothing but the beating of the horse’s hooves for answers. Was this his punishment for killing his boys? The men who had been loyal to him. Especially Charlie, Ben would say jump and good ole Charlie wouldn’t hesitate. “Is this high enough boss?”
Suddenly the horse came to another stop and he stumbled falling forward. “Agh.” The woman snickered and slid off the horse behind him. He felt the press of the gun at the back of his neck as she released the knot at the pommel. His arm ached as he flexed his fingers trying to regain feeling.
Pulling him like a dog on a leash she lead him a long until he felt weeds brush his legs. “Stop.” He obeyed. Not because there was a gun at his head but because he was amused by this mystery woman. She gave him barely enough slack to do the job. “I’ll need my other hand, miss.”
“I doubt it. Stop calling me miss.”
Fumbling one handed with his fly he wondered where she was standing. Then he felt the press of metal against his neck. He was starting to have mixed feelings of respect and true hatred for this woman. “It would be easier if I could see. I wouldn’t want to piss on my boots.”
“From my view there’s not much to see. Piss and let’s go.” Well well what was that edge to her voice. Had she looked? There may be hope for him after all. He took his time. He heard her frustrated breath. “Shake it off Wade.”
He “fumbled” getting himself back together. “It seems you now know me intimately and I don’t even know your name.”
She used his sore arm and wrist as a tool to keep him in line a bit as she led them back to the campsite. “Seeing your dick is not interment. “
As she
used the line to pull him to the ground he used the opportunity to fall into
her. He was rewarded with an elbow to the face. He spat blood from a split
lip on the ground half hoping it was in her direction. There was no indication
as she yanked his wrist up and tied him off. “I’ll just give you a name.
Martha.” No comment as he felt a rope slide around an ankle and then the sound
of it being tied off. “No, how about
The wrist
at his back was released and tied. This was a relief actually but be damned if
he was going to let her know that. “No, no not
He tried to keep his speech light though he felt like a hog about to be dressed for dinner. There was more rattling around in the packs then he felt her sit next to him. Something else was being pressed against his lips. Maybe he was loosing his mind or maybe it was the enigma of his capture but his imagination surged at what could be pressed to his lips. “Eat.” That lovely vision was destroyed as she shoved a piece of jerky in his mouth.
He heard her chewing and tried to envision what she looked like by the few words she had uttered. Justice had a strong commanding voice. A few moments after he swallowed another piece of dried meat appeared. The tips of her fingers brushed him this time. They were rough from hard work. They ate like this in silence.
The pack rustled again and the cup pressed to his lips. When she took it away he tested the waters. “May I have another drink?” With an exasperated sigh the cup was refilled and he was given another sip. “Thank you.”
“Go to sleep.” There was the sound of cloth and he pictured her lying back on a sleeping roll.
Ben began to whistle softly at first then louder. He heard her toss and turn. “Will you shut up Wade!”
Smiling he nodded. “I tell you what we’ll trade.” He could almost see the glare on her face. There must have been one he could feel the intensity of it.
“Trade?”
“Trade. If you answer three questions I’ll let you sleep in peace. I even promise not to try and escape until tomorrow night.”
“Umph. Yeah right.” He began to whistle again. “Fine three questions then you shut the hell up!”
“Such language from a lady must be from being the only girl on the ranch.”
“I’m not a lady. Being the only girl on a ranch you learn how to survive. Next question.”
Damn she twisted the game already. “Alright. What color is your hair?”
“Brown.” Well she’s not prissy. Most women go on and on about the way it falls or the curl. Was it soft he wondered?
Listening as she settled down. “How good a shot are you?” A second later three shots were fired. One above his head, one by his left side, and one he swore clipped the heel of his boot. “What the hell was that for?” He shouted pulling at his bonds.
“You’re answer, now go to sleep.”
After a few moments he could hear the rhythmic breathing of sleep. He decided to honour his word and stay put. For now.
Ben shot awake as one of his arms was being twisted in a direction it just wasn’t meant to. “What was that for?” As usual no reply. She untied the other arm and tugged on the painful one until he was on his feet. She allowed him his morning “duties”. Still only one handed and this time he couldn’t even get a smart-alecky retort. To further his aggravation he couldn’t put himself together again.
Standing there with his pants around his ankles in the middle of who knew where. She secured the leashed arm at his back and gun pressed to his throat took hold of the other. Once this “free” hand was leashed she finally spoke. “Anything funny and you’ll be dead.”
Next he felt his dignity being pulled up around his legs on one side. He pulled up the other and with her help managed to redress. “Raise your arm and do not lower it until I say.” She even tucked in his shirt. Why the hell would she go to the trouble of tucking in his shirt? As her hands slid into his waist smoothing the shirt as she went it seemed methodical. A habit from the long term care of whom, he wondered.
Once again
he was trussed to the pommel. As they started walking he realized he was on
the opposite side of the horse today. After what seemed like an hour he
decided to try a little conversation. “Have you ever been to
She gave a heavy sigh. He could almost see her shake her head and wondered if her hair was long or short. Who gave a shit? It took a while but to his surprise she answered him. “Dodge is too busy. I like small towns.”
More than
one word he stopped walking until the horse pulled him forward again. “Too
busy, yeah I suppose it is too busy. A good place for poker, women, whiskey,
but, what would the sister of a rancher have to do in a place like
“I worked for the carpenter.” He was about to inquire what she meant when she said. “I built coffins; he couldn’t keep up with the body count.”
“I see, brown hair, good shot at close range, rancher, and coffin maker. Justice you are a puzzle of a woman.” The horse jerked to a stop.
“I’m not your puzzle to solve. I have no problem delivering you in pieces Ben Wade. Another thing to add to your list, I have killed a man and I don’t regret it. I won’t regret killing you.”
There was such coldness to those last words he almost shivered. Could it be that this woman was his female counterpart? Not a chance. He was Ben Wade and he was starting to get tired of being Ben Wade.
They ate in the saddle, well she did. It was a good thing he could chew and walk at the same time. He could feel night falling this time. The air was cooler on his skin. She tied him but not his feet this time. She didn’t talk to him anymore but he listened as she moved around making a small fire and pouring a bit of water in a pot. It didn’t take long for the pot to boil and the aroma of beans tickle his nose.
The familiar ting of a spoon on a bowl as she ate first. He smelled the food first then her scent mixed with horse. “Eat.” He opened his mouth a bit and she gently spooned in a small amount of beans. She was careful not to drip it down his chin and took care to keep it from his cloths. Who the hell was she? Keeping him like a tiger ready to strike then playing gentle nursemaid. After every three or four bites she would offer him water with the same patient care.
It didn’t seem like it took her long to eat. “You eat the rest Justice; I’m stuffed full as a Christmas goose.” She tried to give him one more bite but he turned away. He heard her sit back and finish off the meal. The warmth of the fire soon disappeared. Before he could ask.
“We’re
close to
“Justice?”
“There are two blankets, I only need one. Besides if you get sick on me I’ll just have to drag you and that would be hard on the horse.”
He couldn’t help but feel warm as she tucked him in. Her hands gentle and delicate just as when she tucked in his shirt. She was a lady. There was not groping or suggestions just tender care. Yes Justice was a lady, a bit rough around the edges maybe. Maybe she would play again. “Three more questions, Justice. I kept my promise.” She didn’t respond so he just asked the first one. “Do you have a husband worried about where you’ve gone Justice?”
“No, the only family I had left was my brother and he’s dead.”
Oh that was the wrong question to ask. Like it mattered anyway. “Who taught you to shoot?”
“I learned to shoot during the war. Now shut up.”
“Wait I’ve got one more!”
Was that a growl? “What!”
“What color are your eyes?”
“Brown and you can forget it. I can see what you are thinking from here.”
What did
she mean…. Oh. His wondering mind had wandered lower than he wanted. He had
been betrayed by his own parts. He let her fall asleep then carefully removed
a boot. It took some doing but he managed to get a twig or something with his
toes and undo one of his hands. As he reached for the other he felt something
at the back of his head. He sat back with a disgusted look. She started to
retie the one hand. “A gypsy in
Blindfolded he gave her the best insulted expression he could. There was sound and it didn’t come from her. “Justice.” She had heard. The sound of another pistol being drawn was over shadowed by a foreign yell.
Shots were fired and he felt the breeze off something fly by him. Justice returned fire and was rewarded with a distant thud. Another volley and she cried out. He heard her body hit the dirt. Ben had his other hand free and was pulling off the blind when he heard the attackers running toward them. It took a few seconds to adjust to the actual darkness of night. There was a pistol by his feet and he immediately started firing as the Indians filed into camp. After two or three fell the remaining few ran off. Probably for reinforcements.
His first site of her. Justice lay on the ground an arrow through her side. He rolled her on her back. It was close to going all the way through. It didn’t seem to have hit any vitals. She was alert and watching him examine the wound. “We have to get it out. If I pull it out I’ll do more damage. It has to go on through Justice.”
She rolled on her side. “Just kill me and get it over with.” He pushed the arrow on through and she screamed. He quickly snapped off the offending tip and yanked out the shaft in one move. She was lost in the pain unable to make another sound. The blood began to pour they didn’t have time for this.
He straddled her legs and pulled a bullet from her gun. “Justice, listen to me.” He grabbed her face roughly and made her look at him. “Are you listening to me?” She nodded and started to look pale. “I’m going to close the wound. It’s going to hurt like a son of a bitch.”
“Like it doesn’t hurt now with a son of a bitch sitting on me!” Damn she just might live through this. He pulled the tip of the bullet free and poured the powder into the wound front and back. Using a small twig he lit the end and touched it to her skin. It burned all the through her and she gripped his leg trying not to scream again. He was thankful she had working hands and not like some of those dragon nailed saloon girls or he would have been bleeding. As soon as the shock was over she graciously passed out.
Ben knew they wouldn’t have long before the reds were back with help. He quickly gathered up what was absolutely needed and stuffed the saddle bags. As he slung them over the horse he stopped for a moment and blinked. It was his horse. Another quick glance verified it had been his own gun being pointed at him. Shaking his head he scooped her up and set her in the saddle before swinging up himself.
They rode until daylight when he was sure they were out of reach. Justice stayed out the entire trip. Her breathing was starting to get shallow. He stopped and pulled her down with him. She was burning up. Damn could the tip have been poisoned? He wrapped her in the blankets and built a fire. He found some honey and whiskey in his packs and warmed them over the flames. There was a whimper when she stirred and tried to move.
“Be still Justice.” He scolded her. The look she gave him in return surely would melt stone. “Drink this you’re getting a fever.” He tried to be gentle like she was with him but it wasn’t his nature and she grimaced and cried out as she was leaned up enough to drink.
“Why are you doing this?” She took a sip and tried for another before falling back.
Why was he doing this? He should just leave her ass here and head for the border. “I don’t know. Just drink. We can rest for a bit but we’ll have to keep moving until we’re clear of their land.”
He got her to drink one more time then sat back and watched her try to keep her eyes open. She never took them off of him. When those eyes finally closed he took a better look at his capture. She was a small woman and her hair was brown it had been shorn to just above her shoulders. She was pretty with a dimple in her chin. He looked at her hands and they were trembling in her sleep. Her whole body shook. Damn she was feverish. He stripped his cloths and stripped hers. He tossed the blood soaked shirt into the fire and wrapped the blankets and his warm body around hers.
She was clammy and shivering so hard her teeth chattered. When her face met his chest she came awake fighting. Weakly but she tried to push him away. “Get off me!”
He pulled her hair back so he was looking into those brown eyes. They weren’t brown at all they were two dark pools a man could get lost in. “Justice stop! I may be capable of many things but I won’t take what another woman would willingly give. This is the only way to get you warm again.”
She
struggled a bit more then either seeing it was useless or just giving up she
settled. He tried his best to think about the horse, his recent stay at
Then he
felt something wet on his chest. Tears. That took care of the problem. He was
careful in how he moved her holding her close. What was he doing? He didn’t
know how to comfort her ease her fears. Especially knowing it was him she was
afraid of. What would Dan do? Nothing Dan’s dead. But what would Dan do if
She finally quieted and fell back asleep. Justice still shivered and trembled. He rubbed her arms and back to keep circulation. How had this little waif held him prisoner? He drifted off for a bit refusing to think about it any more.
“Stop. Get out! This is our home!” She was calling out in her sleep. He stroked her hair and she quieted some still talking in her dream. “Leave us alone! We didn’t pick a side. Don’t touch her! Leave! NO!” Her eyes shot open and her mouth opened as if to scream. She looked up into his face stilled by fear.
" It was only a dream. I’m not going to hurt you Justice.” She shook her head and tried to turn away but the pain ripping through her side stopped the movement.
“Not just a dream.” She said through clenched teeth. “Stop playing your games Wade and just kill me.”
He could only shake his head. “Not today Justice.” He got up not worried about modesty. He made sure to give her a knowing smile. Of course he had looked he was a bastard. She must have figured the futility of it because she just tossed the blanket aside. He dressed and watched her struggle with her own pants as she wasn’t able to get up from the ground. She managed finally and looked around for her shirt. He buttoned his and tossed her one out of his pack. “I burned it.”
She only glared at him. He knelt beside her and pushed her hands away from the buttons. She shoved him back and grunted at the discomfort she had caused herself. Grinning Ben sat back and watched her. He liked the way she watched him with those dark eyes. There were daggers in them. The fear was gone and she was back to her cold demeanor. “All that blood would have called every animal in the vicinity to us.”
Turing those cold dark eyes on him she sat for a moment trying to steel herself for the task of getting to her feet. “Is that what it is for you? Does the blood call to you Wade?”
“Are you saying I’m an animal? I suppose we all are in someway. I see it in your eyes Justice; if you had a gun you would spill mine just as easily as I would yours. We’re more alike than either of us think.”
He watched her try to get to her feet but she couldn’t do more than get on all fours. Interesting proposition as it was Ben walked over and scooped her up. None too gentle he set her on her feet. She pushed him away only to find she couldn’t stay standing, too weak. He caught her and put her up on the horse. “Well, I should truss you up, but somehow I don’t think there’s much fight in you just now. When you can stand on your own we’ll see what happens.”
She didn’t say a word as he mounted the stallion behind her. The pain was still too much though she refused to let him see it. After a short time she gave in and leaned back against him. The rhythmic sounds he made guiding the horse sent shivers down her spine. He was in utter control now.
It wasn’t
long before she was out again. Ben had slipped a bit of laudanum in her drink.
She felt good pressed to the front of him, his arms resting around her. His
manly urges were going to get him killed one day. Ben’s mind drifted back to
Bisbee and the saloon girl. She had actually scoffed at his offer to take her
with him to
He stole a glance at Justice. She had used his own gun against him, had trussed him up like a thanksgiving turkey. And she had done it alone. He almost felt sorry for killing her brother. No then he wouldn’t have had her tender care the last two days. He wondered if she would have gone out that window with him.
With a shake of his head he quickly banished the thoughts. Why was he thinking them to begin with? He needed to just dump her somewhere and head south. Just as he had made the decision to do just that she began to shiver in his arms. “Damn Justice.”
There was a small stream up ahead that would do it. Once the fever was broke he could leave her. She would survive.
She barely stirred as he pulled her from the saddle. She didn’t have anymore cloths that he saw so he began to undress her again. She tried to fight him again. Fighting the urge to slap her for he cupped her face. “Listen I’m going to put you in that stream. I can throw you in if you prefer. You’ll need dry cloths when you come out.”
She stopped fighting him the look on her face said she just gave up. For some odd reason he didn’t want her to give up. He wanted her to swear at him, glare at him anything but give up. Maybe it was just the loss of blood and the fever. Why the hell did he care, if she died it would make it easier on him.
That thought brought a strange sensation. Scooping her up he lowered them into the water. She gasped a bit and her arm tightened around his neck when the cool liquid touched her bare skin. Here he was naked for the second time with a woman and nothing happening. Was he going soft? Nah it was the ice cold stream.
Justice felt like her strength had been pulled from her body. Never had she been so cold or frightened. What had possessed her to take Ben Wade prisoner? He was a cold hearted murdering son of a bitch. Not the first one she had come across.
The stream was freezing and her teeth began to chatter harder. To her surprise Wade cradled her body with one arm and her head with the other. She looked into those eyes and saw the devil in him but there was a tiny spark of something else. It couldn’t be concern for her. She watched him soot down the rancher just for the hell of it. He had actually giggled over it.
He looked down at her smiled a crooked smile. “Hold your breath.” They quickly dunked under. Shit it was like drowning in ice. When they resurfaced she was shaking even harder.
“Ass.” She had cursed him and he chuckled as he pushed her wet hair from her face. Damn that chuckle did something to her. She shivered amongst the shaking. “Why are you doing this? Why don’t you just leave me somewhere and go? I know you want to.”
He gave her a knowing grin that had a warmth all its own. “Now how do you know what I want Justice.” She swallowed and tried to look away from him. But between the feel of their skin and the weight of his gaze she couldn’t. He let her feet dangle as he pressed her breasts to his chest. She felt weak and not just from being wounded.
Ben stopped thinking for a while he just let the way she felt pressed to him sink in. He didn’t want her to fear him. For the first time he wanted to give something not just take it. It took every ounce of his control not take her then and there. She wasn’t making it any easier as she relaxed in his arms letting him touch her. Suddenly tears welled up in those dark pools and slid down her cheeks. Her expression seemed as torn as his emotions.
He rested her head on his shoulder and cradled her like a child. Mostly to separate their bodies some. “Tell me who you killed Justice.”
She closed her eyes it was a story she didn’t want to relive. Yet before she could stop it tumbled out. “I took a job as a privet tutor for a plantation. My family tried to get me to come home to the north but I couldn’t. I refused to leave. The people I worked for had been more family to me than they had. Except my brother. He begged me in letters to come home. In my mind I was home. The plantation had tried to stay neutral. They wanted no part of it. We thought it would keep us safe. The fighting crept closer and closer until one morning it was on our front lawn.
“I hid in the kitchen with the children, a fourteen year old girl Anna, and six year old twin boys Philip and Mark. We were found of course. The slaves were rounded up and led off to fight for a war not even they wanted. The children’s parents were shot and killed during a scuffle in the house. I was all they had left. “She took a long calming breath as she trembled not because of cold but anger. The fury that still welled up filled every ounce of her.
“A small regimen was left on the plantation with us as their captives. The boys never stopped crying so one of the soldiers beat them. When I tried to stop it I was beaten in return. Anna was taken from me. I could hear her screams. When they tiered of her they turned on me for entertainment. I fought but it wasn’t enough.
They had killed the entire family mother, father, children. I knew I was going to die but I was determined a few of them were going with me. I played dead when they were done. They decided I wasn’t a threat and fell into drunken slumbers. They weren’t soldiers they were butchers. That’s why they were left behind. An easy way to rid the army of undesirables and destroy your enemy at the same time. “
She had stopped talking for a while. Ben had unconsciously pressed her closer as if trying to protect her from the memory. “What happened Justice, what did you do?” He needed to hear it. He needed to hear her say the words tell him she could do it. That her earlier threat was real.
She pushed away from him looking him eye to eye. “I killed them. There was four of them. Two upstairs, two downstairs. I slit their throats as they slept. My hand covering their mouths so no warning would come. I can still feel the way the blade cut though the skin. It was so much easier than I thought it would be. I can still feel the last hot breaths on my palm. After I watched the first two bleed and die I went down stairs and repeated the act. I sat on the stair and watched the gleam of their eyes fade to a dead stare.
Then I went home but it didn’t fit. My brother was wounded in the war and gave up on life for a long time. I traveled from town to town. Nothing fit anymore. I went back to the only family I had left my brother and you took that from me too. You bastard.”
He could see the hate and the rage in her face. She was swimming on her own the fever had fled. Probably in fear. He knew now that she would have pulled that trigger. She would have killed him and not thought twice. There in the face of all that rage he wanted her. He didn’t want a timid saloon girl he wanted this a woman filled with rage and the power of it.
His thoughts must have shown because she punched him. Opening his lip again. He grabbed her she grunted with pain but fought with him. Their skin slick made it hard to keep a hold but when he did he lowered his mouth to hers and she flailed then returned his kiss.
There was nothing gentle from either of them. He roughly ran hands over her body as she clutched and pulled at his. Pushing her back into a rock on the water’s edge he didn’t care if she was ready for him or not he was taking Justice.
The pain in her side was swallowed by the feel of his hands and the animalistic look in his eyes when he shoved her against the rock. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he searched to fill her. She was tight and it hurt when he drove inside her. She relished in it.
He quickened the pace sending her immediately over the edge. She bit into his shoulder as she came again in time with him. He yanked her hair forcing her to look into his eyes before collapsing against her. Oh God what have I done?
Ben was trembling now from exertion. What the hell was that? He looked into her face searching. His question was reflected back at him. Did he rape her? He wasn’t sure. It just erupted. He thought she had kissed him back. “Justice?”
Her mind was reeling. All she could do was stare at him. She had never had a man other than the soldiers who took her. This was different. There was a feel to it like the charging of the air just before lightning strikes. It took twice to find her voice. “Ben?”
He started to chuckle which with him still inside her sent vibrations through her body and she gasped and clutched at him. He pressed his lips to hers again no less aggressive but more thorough. When they parted she felt cold.
She tasted so good to him. And she didn’t flinch at his touch. He didn’t do to her what those soldiers had. Separating their bodies seemed wrong somehow. Then he saw a tinge to the water. He carried her out and saw that the would had reopened a bit.
He started a small fire after wrapping her in a blanket. When he placed the tip of a knife in the hot ash he heard her curse. “For a woman you curse a lot.”
“For a man you talk a lot.” He grinned his Justice was back. He could see it in her eyes. The same woman who had blindfolded and trussed him up was sitting there. When the blade was hot enough he held a cup of water in one hand and the red hot metal in the other. She laid back and he almost for got what he was doing. Until she snorted. “Do you want me to do it myself?”
He washed the blood away and as the hot blade seared the wound he found her mouth. She hissed then let the feel of him take it away. Tossing the knife he looked down into those dark eyes. “What have you done to me?”
“I could ask the same of you?” She watched him try to understand her. Everything had been simple for him until now. For her until now. She had set out to bring justice to her bother and his family. Now she wanted something else. “Just kiss me Wade.”
He obliged but it wasn’t like earlier. This was light, slow, tasting. He nibbled at her throat and caressed her body making her feel heat everywhere he touched. What was this? When his fingers trailed around her breasts then his mouth she gasped at the sensation and was even more confused as each touch brought more. “Ben I...”
He looked up at her with a intensity in his eyes. “Regrets?”
She didn’t know how to say it. “I… I don’t know what’s happening. I’ve never….. The soldiers were the only men who…..Damn!”
Understanding dawned. “You were never with a man before?” She looked away and nodded. He smoothed her hair back it was still damp. He kissed her stomach and watched as her eyes fluttered at his touch. “It’s alright. I won’t be one of those men. Earlier in the stream was something else. I couldn’t control it.” He let his whiskey voice rumble through her. “I’ll show you how it should have been.”
He made love to her. Taking his time, letting her take hers. Relishing every minute because he knew it wouldn’t last. It couldn’t he was a bad man and she was Justice. For now she felt so good and showing her just how good was what he wanted. He showed her how could be between a man and a woman.
As night fell and she lay sated beside a man she hated two days ago. Ben laid on his back looking at the stars. She wrapped one of his errant curls around her finger. “What now?”
Ben
shrugged and stole a glance at her lying bathed in nothing but moonlight.
“Have you ever been to
“
“Can you sing?” She laughed it was like music to his ears.
“I’ve done a little singing for my supper.”
“There’s a cantina that would pay handsomely a white woman who can sing.”
She sat up and studied him. He was perfectly still expressionless. This was the face men saw before they died. “Is that an invitation?”
He sat and pressed his lips to her ear. His breath warm on her face and neck. “Pretend this is a room in a saloon. Pinks are surrounding the place ready to spring. Right behind us is an open window.”
She turned around her lips brushing his. “I’ll go first. You can pick up the pieces when I fall off the roof.”
They
laughed but he thought she was rejecting him just like the saloon girl. Until
she closed the distance and kissed him. “Shut up and go to sleep Wade. It’s a
long ride to
If he had
anything to do with it, it would be a very long ride to
....to be continued