In a skillet, rabbit meat sizzled and snapped.
He touched the blanket beside him.
It still bore the warm imprint of Jessie's body.
He lay still, watching as she moved about the fire.
From beneath a mound of hot stones, she removed a pan.
When she lifted the lid, the fragrance of freshly baked biscuits wafted on the breeze.
He sat up and the world tilted at a crazy angle.
Bringing a hand to his head, he waited until everything came back into focus.
Jessie turned, and he saw the way her lips curved into a surprised smile.
"I'm glad you're back in the land of the living."
He gave her a sheepish grin.
"Yeah. Me, too."
"Hungry?"
Cole realized he was ravenous.
"I guess I could eat something."
Like a small deer.
Raw.
She hurried over to him.
"It'll take a while to get strength back.
Here.
" Shoving a saddle behind him, she him back against it until he was sitting upright. Then si turned to the fire and poured him a steaming cup of o While he sipped it, she filled a plate with meat, graw.
biscuits and watched as he devoured it. When she filk plate a second time, he emptied that, as well.
"Whatever you did for me," he said, mopping up the with another biscuit, "it must have been magic."
"I didn't do anything. Danny was the healer."
He set down the plate and picked up his cup of cz Watching her over the rim of his cup, he said, "I don't your brother did it all alone. I seem to remember fightinl last night."
"It wasn't you fighting. Danny said it was the fever."
" All the same, I'm sorry.
Embarrassed by the awkward silence that followed, 2 stood.
"If you're feeling strong enough, you'd better your wounds. Danny said they have to be kept clean."
"Whatever the doctor orders. Who washed me yesterd At her flushed cheeks, he knew the answer. Tossing his blankets, he saw that he was naked. His pants and lay neatly folded beside his boots and gun belt.
Covering himself, Cole accepted her offer of a buc} water, a clean rag and a glob of yellow soap.
Jessie turned away quickly, embarrassed to have him that she had been the one who'd stripped him.
Somehow awake and feeling strong again was not at all like the who had lain still as death in his bedroll.
As Jessie turned away, he fumbled with the rag tied his shoulder.
"I think I'm going to need some help with dressings."
Jessie knelt and began untying the rags.
As soon a fingers came in contact with Cole's skin, she felt a ru heat.
Before, it had been easy to concentrate on his wit He had been unconscious.
But now, as she bent over him could feel his gaze burning into her.
Her cheeks flamed she fought to ignore the fluttering of her heart.
It was the same feeling she'd had earlier when she awoke beside Cole in his bedroll.
In her confusion she had rolled away from him and hurried to the creek, where she could escape this stranger and be alone with her thoughts.
"Call me when you've finished washing," she said, turning away quickly, "and I'll dress these wounds."
Sensing her discomfort, Cole swallowed back his laughter.
The look in her eyes spoke volumes.
She was aware of him as a man now, and not a wound to be tended.
What was worse, in the days since the shooting, he'd become aware of her as a woman.
He could not deny the stirrings he'd felt when she touched him.
He smeared the soap over his chest and let out a torrent of oaths.
Hearing him, Jessie gave him a murderous look.
"It's a good thing Thad is at the creek. Otherwise I'd wash out your mouth with that soap."
"Soap. It burns like lye. Where the hell did you get this stuff?."
"I made it."
"I should have known. What did you make it with?"
"Kitchen fats and wood ash."
"And lye. Don't forget the lye. It just took off a layer of skin.
What did you hope to do? Burn me alive with this?"
"It can't be that bad. My brothers and I use it all the time."
He gritted his teeth as he splashed water on his chest and rubbed vigorously until the soap was removed.
"No wonder you're all so tough.
You'd need elephant hides to bathe with this.
She shot him an angry look.
Without another word, he washed and rinsed quickly, then toweled himself dry.
He struggled into his clean pants and pulled on his boots.
It cost him a tremendous effort to stand.
For several seconds he stood very still, until he was certain his legs would support him.
"I'll have to ask for your help one more time," he said, holding up a clean strip of cloth.
She stood beside him and poured a liberal amount of whiskey over the wounds before binding them.
She heard his hiss of pain.
Odd, she thought as she tied the cloth at the back of his shoulder, she hadn't noticed the way the muscles of his arm flexed and bunched as he moved.
Odd, too, that she hadn't noticed the width of his shoulders, the slope of his chest, the narrowness of his waist.
While her hands moved over him, his weariness vanished.
She was so close.
Too close.
A little pulse began throbbing in his temple.
His throat went dry.
Last night when he drew her against him and covered her with his blankets, he'd felt the passion rise in him and threaten to swamp him with desire.
But sleep had come unbidden to rob him of his strength.
Now, by simply pulling her into his arms, he could do what he'd Wanted to do last night.
He could taste her lips.
He could feel the softness of her melt against him.
Slowly, ever so slowly, he drew her into his embrace.
Jessie's eyes widened, and he saw the surprise that gradually turned to knowledge.
The knowledge that he was going to kiss her.
Her lashes lowered, veiling the fear that coursed through her veins.
"Jessie."
With his thumb and finger he lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his steady gaze.
"Don't, C01e."
She started to push away, and he tightened his grip on her shoulders.
"One kiss."
He drew her closer until they were nearly touching.
He lowered his head and she felt the warmth of his breath on her cheek.
Her hands were balled into little fists that she kept firmly between them as a protective barrier.
When his lips touched hers, she froze.
Icy needles skittered along her spine, leaving her shocked and trembling.
When she tried to pull away, he held her firmly while his lips moved over hers.
"Don't hurt me."
The words were out before she could stop them.
Remorse flooded him.
How could he forget what she'd been through with those men in the woods?
With great tenderness, he lifted his big hands to frame her face.
He stared into eyes that were wide with fear.
"Jessie, I won't hurt you. I promise."
Once more he lowered his head and touched his lips to hers.
It was the merest whisper of mouth to mouth.
Slowly, gently, he rubbed his lips over hers until her mouth softened, opening to him almost against her will.
Jessie forgot to breathe.
Her heart skipped a beat, and then another, until it began a wild rhythm in her breast.
With a will of their own, her hands opened and splayed across his ribs.
At the first contact with his naked flesh, she jerked her ha
nds away.
But as he continued to kiss her, she was forced to lean lightly against him.
There was nothing to do but allow her palms to rest on his chest.
She tasted clean and fresh like cold water on a sultry day.
As his lips moved over hers, he felt the wild racing of her heart like the flutter of a caged bird.
She smelled of evergreen and wildflowers, and he yearned to lie with her here in the sand and love her until both were sated.
The thought brought a new rush of heat, and he had to exert all his willpower to keep from crushing her in his arms.
From the way she hesitated, he knew that she'd never before been kissed with any tenderness.
It worried him.
It exhilarated him.
It frustrated him.
He had to take it slowly, he warned himself.
If he tried to rush her, she'd run like a frightened deer.
There was no pressure, no force, no touching, except his hands on her face and her hands splayed across his chest.
"Jessie."
He spoke her name against her lips, and she felt the warmth of his breath mingle with hers.
And again, "Jesshe," and she thought no one had ever said her name with such reverence.
So this was what it felt like to kiss, to be kissed by, a man.
Such tenderness.
Such gentleness.
Such feelings flooding her mind.
She wanted to run away so that she could sort out her feelings.
She wanted to stay here forever so that this kiss would never end.
She wanted.
Oh, she wanted so much.
And yet she didn't know just what she wanted anymore.
She knew only that all her life she had wanted to hear a man speak her name this way, and kiss her as if she were the most beautiful, desirable woman in the world.
She heard the sound of the horses' hooves a moment before they registered in her brain.
She jerked and pushed away.
"My brothers.
They're coming.
She hurried to the fire, where she tried to look as though she'd been busy serving up their plates.
Cole slumped down on his bedroll and Sat with his back against the saddle, watching her through narrowed eyes.
What the hell was the matter with him, acting like some fool dandy courting the town beauty?
He had no right.
Not with a girl who had her whole life ahead of her.
He felt a wave of bitterness.
He was a man with no future.
A man on the run who couldn't stop.
For the first time, he wished he could end the chase long enough to get to know her.
Now he knew what she tasted like.
Knew the sweetness of her lips, the softness of her skin.
What was worse, he could imagine the way her body would mold itself to his.
He was aware of the way she responded to his touch.
Though she was afraid and far too innocent, there was fire there, carefully banked.
And there was, just below the surface, smoldering passion and wild, willful desire.
Trouble, he reminded himself again.
He rolled a cigarette and drew the smoke deep into his lungs.
Jessie Conway was going to cause him nothing but trouble unless he got rid of her soon.
Tomorrow.
He made himself a promise and exhaled a stream of smoke.
By tomorrow he'd be strong enough to ride.
He'd thank her for her trouble and get out of her life.
For good.
Chapter Six
What are you doing?
" Seeing Cole rummaging through his saddlebags; Jessie rolled from her blankets and straggled to pull on her boots.
Though barely awake, she forced herself to move quickly.
"Getting ready to hit the trail."
Beside her, Danny and Thad sat up, rubbing sleep from their eyes.
"Is your fever gone?"
She had to resist an urge to touch a hand to his forehead.
Instead she crossed to the camp fire and poked at the glowing coals before adding a log.
"I feel fine."
The troth was, he felt like hell.
But he wasn't certain whether it was because of his injuries or because of the expectant look On her face that had just disappeared at his first words.
All he knew was, he had to get out of here.
"Want some coffee before you ride?"
Jessie set the pot over the fire.
"I'd like that."
Cole tossed his saddle over his shoulder and caught his breath at the thrust of pain.
Gritting his teeth, he walked to his horse, then turned toward the two boys who were shrugging into their boots.
It went against the grain to ask for help, but the pain was coming in waves.
"Can one of you give me a hand? I guess I'm not as strong as I thought."
Ignoring him, Danny hung back, deliberately staring at the toe of his boot.
Little Thad ran toward Cole, eager to help.
Within moments he'd neatly tossed Cole's saddle blanket over the stallion's back.
Cole set the saddle over the blanket and stood aside as the little boy led the horse to a boulder.
Climbing on top for height, Thad secured the cinch, then deftly applied bit and bridle before jumping down and leading the horse back to Cole.
When he handed him the reins, Cole couldn't hide his surprise at the little boy's skill.
"Where'd you learn to handle a horse like that, boy?"
"My pa taught me all about horses as soon as I could walk," Thad said proudly.
"Pa said I was born to be a horseman."
The stallion nudged the boy's hand until Thad ran his chubby fingers over the velvet muzzle.
"Your pa's a smart man."
Cole ruffled the boy's hair.
Thad beamed at the unexpected praise.
From the other side of the camp fire, Danny rolled their blankets and watched through narrowed eyes.
The buffalo gun lay menacingly at his feet.
"Coffee's done," Jessie called.
She handed Cole a cup and poured three more.
She heaped four plates with the last of the rabbit meat, leftover biscuits and warm gravy.
Cole ate slowly, enjoying his final meal with the Conways.
If it killed him, he intended to be civil on this last morning together.
He cleared his throat.
"You're a good cook, Jessie."
While Jessie blushed at the compliment, Thad and Danny seemed surprised at Cole's words.
"Pa says she's not nearly as good a cook as Ma was."
"Does he now?"
Cole glanced at Thad.
"To my way of thinking, it doesn't seem fair for Jessie to have to compete with a memory."
"You calling my pa a liar?"
Danny'S face was nearly as purple as the shadows creeping upward over the mountains in the distance.
Cole swallowed back the words that sprang to his lips.
It was obvious that this awkward youth was spoiling for a fight.
Cole searched for a way to deflect Danny's anger.
"I'm just saying a man's memory of something long past is often a lot sweeter than the actual thing. Maybe your ma was the best cook in all of Texas. Or maybe your pa's memories of your ma just make her seem that way now."
"I'm old enough to remember my ma's cooking," Danny said with pride.
"And no one could come close to her his-cults."
"I'll lay money that in a couple of years you'll meet a young lady whose cooking will make you forget everything you've ever tasted up to that moment."
"Is that what Jessie's cooking does to you?"
Thad asked innocently.
Cole nearly choked on his biscuit.
Flustered, Jessie sprang to her feet and poured the last of the cof
fee, then busied herself at the fire until the heat had left her cheeks.
"Are you riding with us to find our pa?"
Thad was unaware of the embarrassment he'd caused.
"I'll ride with you until I turn off at Little Creek."
Cole said.
"Then you'll be riding alone."
"Can't we go to Little Creek, Jessie?"
Danny and Thad turned to her.
Annoyed, she said, "I'd hoped to avoid it, but now that there are three of us traveling, I'll need some supplies. I guess we can make a stop in town."
When Jessie looked up, she found Cole studying her closely.
She knew what he was thinking.
Once in town, she'd change her mind and take her brothers back home.
But Cole didn't know the depth of her determination.
Being careful to show no emotion, she lifted her chin in a defiant gesture.
"But we'll only stop in Little Creek long enough to get what we need."
They ate quickly.
When they were finished, the three saddled their horses while Cole extinguished the fire.
He meticulously swept the camp with tree branches until it was clean.
Pulling himself into the saddle, Cole surveyed their campsite.
Satisfied, he flicked the reins and took the lead.
Thad rode directly behind him, with Jessie following.
Danny stayed a short distance behind them, the buffalo rifle resting across his saddle.
It took them nearly six hours to reach Little Creek.
The town consisted of a couple of run-down buildings that turned out to be a stable, a saloon, a general store and several houses that had been hastily thrown together.
On a distant hill were six or seven more houses and a wooden building with a cross on the roof.
"Looks like the churchgoing people of Little Creek don't want to live too close to the riffraff."
Thad glanced at Cole.
"What's riffraff?."
"People who swear and drink and don't bother to go to church on Sunday," Jessie said before he could answer.
Thad glanced innocently at Cole.
"Do you go to church?"
"I figure the church building might fall down if I set foot in it."
"And I've heard you swear. Does that make you riffraff?"
Instead of getting angry as Jessie expected, Cole laughed low and deep in his throat.
The sound danced across her nerves.
"I guess it does, Half-pint."
Thad smiled, as much at the gift of a new nickname as at Cole's easy agreement.
All his life he'd been called "Tadpole" by his family.