Lonesome Bride

  Caitleen's eyes moved to where he pointed. Shorty had finally caught the ornery creature and hog-tied it. With a whoop, the cowboy loosed the rope, and the calf was again free.

  "Why did he let him go?"

  "He's practicing,” Jed explained. “It's just fun."

  "It does not look like much fun for the calf."

  Jed peered closely at her, trying to determine if she was truly offended. He saw her smile, and turned back to watch the scene in the corral. “Nope. But he isn't getting hurt."

  "How fortunate for him,” Caite said in a low voice. Then, louder, “I was hoping you might grant me a favor."

  Jed looked at her again. Holding out an envelope, she'd moved closer to him. The breeze that had kicked up wafted the sweet lilac scent of her to him, and suddenly his throat was as dry as a Kansas prairie. He could feel her closeness along the fine hairs of his forearms; they rose in mocking imitation of other parts of him struggling to rise as well.

  She was wearing her bonnet this time. Jed wanted suddenly to reach out, untie the strings and pull the offending cloth away from the glory of red curls beneath. He restrained himself. Barely.

  "Well, I reckon I might, Caite. What is it?"

  Caite smiled at him, obviously relieved he had agreed. She must have been thinking he would refuse her. Jed took satisfaction in having surprised her pleasantly for a change.

  "It is a letter. I was hoping you could post it the next time you went to Staghorn. Lorna says you are planning a trip there soon."

  "I was planning to go this afternoon.” Jed took the envelope, and for an instant, his rough brown fingers slid along her soft white ones. He caught her gaze for a moment before she pulled her hand away. Had she trembled?

  "I would be most grateful if you would mail it for me. I want to let Gerda know I'm all right."

  "Are you all right, Caitleen?” Jed's question was low, but she heard him all right. She stared at him, chewing her lower lip in a way he found deliciously distracting. Then she nodded firmly.

  "Yes, I am,” said Caite. He could imagine her adding, “No thanks to you,” but she didn't say anything else. Seemed she could manage to surprise him pleasantly, too.

  "Good,” was all he could manage to say.

  They stared at each other, the silence growing more awkward with each passing moment. The longer he looked at her, the more he wanted to sweep her into his arms and kiss the bejesus out of her.

  "Well, then, thank you,” Caite said suddenly, breaking the silence. She moved away from him, her movements causing her skirts to flutter becomingly around her ankles. Lord, she was gorgeous!

  She made it quite clear how she felt about me, Jed reminded himself fiercely. She didn't want anything to do with him, and he supposed he couldn't blame her. He just couldn't keep himself from trying.

  "Come with me, Caite,” he blurted.

  At his offer, she stopped and turned. “To Staghorn?"

  "Yeah.” Jed followed her. “You said you wanted to become a schoolteacher. If you really want to do it, Staghorn's the place. You can come on in with me and check things out."

  Her eyes narrowed at him suspiciously. “Ride to Staghorn with you, Jed? I seem to remember the last time I traveled with you, I only ended up in trouble."

  Jed laughed harshly. She could turn his most innocent of offers right around. All right, so maybe it hadn't been so innocent, but her lack of trust wounded his pride. “Don't worry, Caitleen,” he said casually. “I think I can resist your charms."

  Two bright spots of color appeared high on her otherwise creamy cheeks. “I see."

  "I reckon I'm not so sure I can trust you to keep your hands off me, though,” Jed remarked, purely to see her reaction. He waggled his eyebrows at her, feeling suddenly roguish. He was well rewarded when she began to splutter, her color rising dramatically.

  "You! I! I would never! I mean...” Caite trailed off as she must have realized the twinkle in his eyes was barely restrained mirth. “You're teasing me."

  "Yep, I reckon I am.” Jed waited to see if she would explode. As usual, she surprised him by laughing out loud instead. To his further surprise, she actually stepped forward and planted a demure kiss upon his left cheek.

  "Thank you, Jed,” Caite laughed, unaware of what havoc her simple gesture had wreaked on him. “It makes me feel so much at home."

  The touch of her lips against his face had his manhood rising so forcefully he thought for a moment he might burst the crotch of his trousers. Tarnation! All at once the rough cloth against his flesh was as tantalizing as a thousand tiny fingers stroking and caressing him. At the thought of Caite's fingers stroking and caressing him, Jed felt the tip of his rod pulse threateningly.

  "Do you want to go with me or not?” he asked harshly, turning back to the fence. He found if he gripped the top rail tightly enough, the splintered wood digging into his fingers was almost enough to distract him from the fire in his pants.

  If his sudden change of mood bothered Caite, she showed no sign. “I'm not sure Lorna can spare me. There's the quilt to be finished, and the garden to tend..."

  "You're not a servant, Caitleen. You don't have to earn your keep. Lorna can spare you,” Jed retorted.

  It was all at once imperative she come with him. The trip itself would take several hours. He had planned to stay the night in Staghorn, but could easily change his plans to stay a little longer. Once in the hotel, it would be easy enough to rig things so they had to share a room. As the pain in his fingers helped his erection to ease, Jed felt ashamed. He was plotting to seduce her again.

  "All right, I shall come with you,” Caite announced, just as he was ready to tell her not to come after all. “We'll only be gone overnight after all."

  "Change of plans,” Jed heard himself say. He knew he was talking from his crotch, but couldn't seem to stop himself. “I'd actually planned on staying at least two, maybe three nights. I have a lot of business to take care of."

  "Oh, I see,” Caite replied doubtfully. “Well, in that case perhaps..."

  "Now may be your only chance for a long time,” Jed cut in roughly. “We have a lot of work to do around here, Caitleen. Nobody has much time to spend dragging you back and forth all over creation."

  Caite's mouth thinned and she crossed her arms in annoyance, but she did not yell. “I shall just go and make sure Lorna doesn't need me."

  "Fine, go. But don't take too long!” Jed called to her retreating form. “I'm ready to roll out of here directly!"

  "You sure you want that ball o’ fire goin’ with you to Staghorn?” Shorty, tired of roping the calf, had dismounted Pinta and crossed to Jed.

  "If she wants to be a schoolmarm, I reckon she's got to find a good position,” Jed retorted uncomfortably.

  Shorty laughed. “Well, pard, I reckon you want to help her find that position more'n anyone."

  Jed scowled at Shorty's rather crude, but accurate, remark. “I'm just trying to be nice, Percival."

  Shorty winced at Jed's use of his given name. “Yowch, there, Jed. I didn't mean nothing by what I said. Just be careful, that's all. Don't get yourself into something you can't get out of."

  Jed tipped his hat to the other man and grinned. “Shorty, that woman ain't got nothing on her I want to get out of."

  Shorty clapped him on the back, but his expression turned serious. “She's a mighty fine lady, Miss Caite is. That's all, Jedson. I'd hate to see her get hurt."

  "Jed!"

  The feminine yell from the front porch curtailed Jed's reply. Caite was standing in the doorway, waving her handkerchief to get his attention. He waved back to show her he had heard her call.

  "Lorna says she can spare me for a few days!” Caite yelled. “I will be out in a few minutes, ready to go!"

  Jed turned back to Shorty. “You got designs on Caitleen, Shorty?"

  If the other man heard the distinct threat in Jed's voice, he was unruffled. He just met Jed's gaze unwaveringly, then looped his rope over his shoulder a
nd headed for the barn. Jed watched him go, cursing himself for acting like such a bandycock, and cursing Caite for being the woman who'd made him act that way.

  He turned at the sound of footsteps behind him. If Jed had thought Caitleen provocative wearing her faded gingham, the sight of her now was enough to make him rock hard and throbbing in an instant. Caite strode toward him clothed in a wide-brimmed straw hat, homespun cotton shirt ... and trousers. They must be an old pair of Cooky's, Jed had time to think distractedly, for they fit her almost perfectly. Too perfectly. His eyes were instantly drawn to the vee between her legs. Outlined as they were by the thick fabric of the trousers, her legs and the juncture between them were like a beacon to his eyes. He could not have torn his gaze away had he physically tried.

  "I thought this would be more practical for riding astride,” Caite explained, swinging her bundle. “I packed more suitable clothes for town in here."

  A chill sweat broke out along his brow. At her words, he had pictured Caite astride the horse, the animal heaving and thrusting powerfully between her legs. Why had he ever thought this was a good idea? He could hardly even look at her without nearly spilling himself like a gawky schoolboy. Even if he did manage to seduce her, an event her very confidence seemed bound to deter, he wouldn't have mounted her for more than a minute before losing control.

  Tarnation! It hadn't been that long since he'd been with a woman. The trouble was, he thought as Caite looked at him curiously, Caitleen was the last woman I was with, and the scent and taste of her are still woefully fresh in my his mind.

  "You look...” She was looking at him expectantly, almost as if she was waiting for him to make some comment on the inappropriateness of her attire. “Fine."

  She raised her eyebrow at him, seemingly pleased. “I am glad you approve, Jed. I borrowed some of Albert's old things. They fit me well, don't you think?"

  Watching as she twirled around to show him all the angles of her outfit, Jed inwardly groaned. Even dressed in male attire, she looked beautiful. The cotton shirt clung enticingly to the curve of her breasts, the worn trousers equally so around her hips. The wide-brimmed hat hid much of her face, but left her luscious mouth completely bare to his view. She quirked her tempting lips into a saucy smile, almost as if she knew what he was thinking.

  "Well, Jed?"

  "Sure, they fit you well if you're trying to look like a boy,” Jed said with forced disdain. “If I didn't know you were in there, Caitleen, I'd reckon you were one of the Langston twins from over yonder. They're about fourteen."

  The quirky smile faded ever so slightly. Caite stopped her twirling. “I look like a fourteen-year-old boy?"

  Jed shrugged, tilting the brim of his own hat down to hide his face. “Yeah, I reckon."

  "Oh.” She seemed disappointed. Good. Jed didn't want her getting any ideas. The seduction was going to be his game, if he played it right, and Miss Caitleen O'Neal was not going to tease him into it before he was ready.

  "I reckon we'd better get a move on then.” He jerked his thumb toward the barn. “You'll be riding Tripper. He's in the barn. You'd better get saddled up."

  Caite tipped the hat off her face so it hung down her back from its cord. Her vibrant green eyes widened and she chewed her lower lip nervously. “You want me to saddle the horse?"

  "Saddle your own mount? Sure.” Now it was his turn to smile, but he restrained himself. He'd show her who had the upper hand. “Don't tell me you've never saddled a horse before, Caite."

  "Of course I have,” she snapped back so quickly he knew she was lying. He struggled to keep his smile away from his face. This should be good.

  "Well, then, I reckon you'd better get in there and do it. We've only got a couple of hours before it'll be too late to ride to Staghorn. Unless you fancy camping out overnight."

  Those emerald eyes narrowed. “I most certainly do not, Jed. I'm looking forward to a nice stay in a reputable hotel. I had thought perhaps, after I have sought a position, I might even do some shopping while you conduct your business. I have no intention of camping out anywhere."

  This time, Jed could not longer hold back his grin. Instead, he turned his back so she would not see the mirth on his face. If Caite thought she was going to the lap of luxury in Staghorn, she'd be sorely mistaken.

  "I'll get my things and meet you back here in twenty minutes,” he said instead of telling her the truth about the town. “Think you can be ready in that amount of time? Or do you need help?"

  "I most certainly do not, and yes, I will,” she replied tartly, pulling up the trousers around her waist and heading determinedly toward the barn.

  Jed watched her pert backside sway for a full minute before remembering he was supposed to be getting himself ready to leave. It's going to be one heck of a trip, all right, he thought with a mixture of bemusement and erotic anticipation. One heck of a trip indeed.

  CHAPTER 11

  It was bad enough Shorty had had to come to my rescue, Caite thought sullenly, but now Jed's laughing at me. So she had lied about knowing how to saddle a horse. So what? So she had dropped the saddle on her foot, nearly breaking her toes. Did that mean Jed had the right to laugh at her? She cast a sideways glance at him from under her hat. Astride Zeus, Jed appeared to be staring straight ahead at the trail, but his shaking shoulders gave him away.

  "Go ahead and laugh aloud,” she said loudly, forcing the dapple-gray gelding into a canter. Patient Tripper did as she requested, until they were slightly ahead of Jed and Zeus. “You are not fooling anybody, Jed."

  From behind her, Jed let out a huge, whooping guffaw. He laughed so loudly and so long, she meanly began to hope he'd fall off his mount. It would serve him right. She heard the clopping of Zeus’ hooves catching up to her, and she focused her attention squarely on the route ahead of her.

  "Oh, Caite,” Jed exclaimed finally. Laughter had left his voice rough. “I reckon watching you try to get that saddle on Tripper was about the funniest sight I ever saw!"

  She looked at him, lower lip thrust into a pout she could not control. “If you saw I was having trouble, why didn't you offer to help me?"

  "If I recall correctly, Caitleen, you proudly denied needing any assistance,” Jed pointed out.

  She sniffed. “Shorty didn't seem to mind helping me."

  Jed turned to look at her suspiciously. “What's that supposed to mean?"

  Now it was Caite's turn to smile. “I'm only stating that Shorty was more than happy to help me, Jed. You, on the other hand, seemed to find more pleasure in mocking my efforts."

  "Shorty was just being nice,” Jed said roughly.

  He was scowling, she noted with pleasure.

  "Why, Jed Peters!” she exclaimed, her voice practically dripping honey. “Are you jealous?"

  Jed barked out a laugh markedly absent of humor. “Don't be a fool, Caitleen. Jealous of Shorty? Why in tarnation would I be jealous of that beat up, old trail hound?"

  Caite shrugged artlessly. “We are often jealous of those who have what we do not..."

  Before she had barely finished speaking, Jed had reached over and grabbed Tripper's reins from her hands. Ignoring her gasp of surprise, Jed halted both horses side by side, so close he was able to lean over to her.

  "Does Shorty have you?” he growled, nose to nose with her.

  Frightened by his sudden intensity, Caite realized she had taken the joke too far. Before she could explain to Jed what she had meant, he had grasped her shoulder with his free hand. His face grim, he shook her none-too-gently with each word.

  "Does he?” Jed spat the question as if it had left a sour taste in his mouth.

  "Jed, stop! I..."

  "Answer my question, Caitleen! Does Shorty have you? Is that the game you're playing?"

  His eyes were burning so fiercely Caite's first thought was to pull away. Still seated on Tripper as she was, however, she could not move far enough to escape his grasp or his questions. She had never seen him so angry.

  "S
o you're spreading your legs for Shorty, is that it?"

  "Jed, stop it!” Caite cried tearfully, jerking her arm out of his grasp. Her movement overbalanced her. With a strangled cry, she slid off of Tripper, unable to stop herself. She hit the ground with a muffled cry, pain instantly erupting everywhere.

  "Caitleen!"

  She heard Jed's shout, but ignored him. Let him think she was dead, for all she cared. She was a mass of aches and pains, not to mention severely frightened, and all because of him. He's lower than a worm, she thought grimly, rolling herself into a tiny ball.

  "Caite, are you all right?” Jed was kneeling beside her, trying to uncurl her.

  "Leave me alone,” she muttered, unable to put much force behind her words. The fall had knocked the wind right out of her. She gathered up as much strength as she could from her aching leg and kicked out at him. She caught him right in the shin, and managed to smile at his yelp of pain.

  "Caite, I'm sorry,” Jed said, rubbing his shin and keeping his distance from her warily. “I didn't mean..."

  "No, you never do.” She was able to breathe a touch more easily now, and although she knew she would be black and blue from head to foot on the morrow, her aches were fading. Caite rolled to a sitting position, slapping off the dust.

  "You're all right.” He sounded so relieved she looked up at him.

  "Jed, what got into you?"

  "Just tell me one thing.” He reached out a hand to help her to her feet, but she declined his offer, preferring instead to risk getting up on her own. “Are you?"

  "Am I what, Jed?” she asked in exasperation.

  "Are you intimate with Shorty?"

  "Intimate with Shorty!” Caite was flabbergasted. “How dare you suggest such a thing?"

  "But you said I was jealous of what Shorty had that I don't,” Jed said. “What in the heck did you mean then?"

  Caite just goggled at him for a few seconds. She was not sure to be flattered or appalled by the conclusions he had drawn from her comment. She finally decided to be neither.