Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
* * *
As the days turned into weeks, Cy knew something must seriously be wrong for Robert to not have returned yet and Rebecca was worried. She continued to assist with meals occasionally and the men definitely preferred it when she had a hand in them, but otherwise, there was definite distance between them.
Winter had since changed to spring and the days began again to get warmer, although the nights were still cool. And this would be the case until summer arrived and turned everything hot as hades.
Which is why I’m always cutting more wood. For the stove to cook, for the stove to stay warm.
Stacking the wood he’d cut, he looked up and his heart leapt to his throat. Five Indians on horses watched him. He dropped the wood and grabbed his rifle.
He showed no fear. There was no one at the station other than him and he was glad. He didn’t want Rebecca in this danger. There were friendly Indians, he just wasn’t sure if these were able to be lumped in that category, or if they were in the “hostile” category.
“What do you want?” The man in the middle gestured to the horses. Cy shook his head. “Those are my horses, move along.”
More chattering and gesturing. He shook his head again and moved himself between the men and his stock.
“You steal.”
“What?” Not only the accusation but also that the language it came in had been English shocked him.
“You steal horse.”
“I’ve stolen nothing. They’re all mine.”
“No. Polaris not yours.”
He’d forgotten Polaris was here. He’d been too exhausted to carry on so Rebecca had left him behind. Cy looked to the corral where the horse in question watched them.
“That’s not yours either. I’m not giving you her horse.” He wasn’t sure he liked this man knowing Rebecca’s horse. It could all be a lie. Polaris was by far the best piece of horseflesh here. He did call him by name though.
“Rebecca’s. Where Rebecca?”
“You know her?”
“Where!”
He flexed his fingers on the rifle. “Not here right now.”
They spoke amongst themselves. “She hurt?”
“No.”
Hoof beats entered the terse silence. He turned to see who rode up and when he looked back, they were gone. He blew out a breath and hurried to meet the rider. It was Rebecca. She sawed hard on the reins of her lathered horse.
“I have no other rider here. He didn’t show.”
She wiped a gloved hand along her mouth before spitting. “Saddle up Polaris, give me two minutes, and I’ll be ready.”
He couldn’t argue, no matter how much he wished. The mail had to go on. The moment, she dismounted he took the reins and headed for the stable. She showed up as he hefted the saddle on Polaris. He noticed she chewed on a biscuit.
“An Indian asked about you right before you rode in,” he commented, tightening the cinch.
“For me?”
“Claimed I stole Polaris and asked if you were hurt.”
She gave a non-committal grunt. He glanced at her over the back of the horse where she stood securing the mochila.
“Who was he?”
“A friend.”
Anger spurt to life within him. Ducking beneath the muscled neck, he went to her side. She watched him from under her hat and he swore low before kissing her. It demanded. He demanded. Beneath him, she opened, willingly accepting him in. Their tongues danced along one another and he moaned encouragingly as her hands tore hungrily at his clothing. He worked quick and soon had her against the wall with his cock deep in her.
She undulated and moved in tandem with him. Hot, passionate, and fierce, he came in her as she crested.
“I love you,” she whispered on a faint breath as tiny tremors continued to rack her body.
He froze and so did she. Her eyes grew wide as he withdrew from her heat. He’d never seen anyone dress so fast and he had to hurry in order to keep up. A fistful of her long-sleeved shirt and coat brought her right back before him. Her eyes smoky and lips slightly swollen. It was a punch to his gut, he wanted so much more.
“Wait.”
“No. I…forget I even said that.” She jerked free, swung up easily onto Polaris’ back without the stirrups, and they were gone.
He watched her leave unable to believe what he’d heard. But you did hear it. She’d said she loved him. Followed by the command to forget she had. Forget it? Not a chance.
When you return Rebecca, we are going to have one hell of a discussion. To hell with what is right or not.
Not much later, a group rode in and he found himself staring up at an Army company. A man on a large chestnut gelding—a major based on what he wore—gestured to another to swing down then snapped a salute. Cy almost returned it, hard not to after all the time he served. As it was, he still stood straighter.