what had transpired. Spring listened to a bit of it, but McCray, alone in her cabin, was on her mind and she wondered how he was faring. Needing to find out, she offered her goodbyes and rode for home.
In light of the attack on McCray, she kept an eye out as best she could for ambush. That Ketchum had turned what was once an uneventful ride into one that might cost her her life made her curse him inwardly. With any luck, the guilty would be found, tried, and jailed, and things would go back to being slow and peaceful again, but she didn’t count on it being anytime soon.
McCray was in bed reading. His smile at her entrance touched her heart in a way that had become familiar as of late. Rather than question or ignore it, she chose to enjoy how it made her feel. He’d come into her life in the middle of a blizzard and proceeded to quietly challenge many things she thought she knew about herself. “Glad to find you in one piece.”
“Welcome back. I told you I’d be fine.” He set the book aside as she settled into the chair by the bed.
“What are you reading?” she asked. Other than Colt, she knew very few men who read sheerly for pleasure.
“The third installment of Fred Douglass’s autobiography. How’d the meeting go?”
She gave him a quick rundown of the events, adding, “And Banker Cale was hopping mad having his integrity questioned.”
“What do you think will happen next?”
“I have no idea. I do know that Randolph Nelson isn’t going to be bullied by a big-city charlatan who thinks we’re a bunch of ignorant small-town rubes. Nelson’s wife, Audrey, has ties to people in the territorial government and they might be helpful getting this resolved. Jarvis should probably take Nelson’s advice and leave town.”
“He’s probably not smart enough to do that.”
“No. He seems hell-bent on getting his way.”
“Are you worried about the lawsuit he’s threatening?”
“I’d be naive to say no, but Odell and the others are certain his case won’t hold water, so I’m choosing to believe them—at least for now.” If she lost her land she wasn’t sure what she’d do. More than likely, Odell and Ben would allow her to carve out a small piece from their extensive holdings, but she didn’t want to start over someplace else. She’d worked hard to be able to afford the place she now called home, and after a decade of ownership, her roots ran deep.
“As a lawyer, I agree with Odell. If the bank owned the land, Cale had every right to sell it as he saw fit.”
“Jarvis disagrees. I have to wonder how long he’s known Matt to have put such faith in his side of the story.”
“Sounds to me like there’s some things we aren’t being told.”
“Wish we knew what it was so we could send the lot of them packing.”
“The truth always rises.”
“I’m hoping you’re right. In the meantime, I’m hungry. Do you want a sandwich?”
“A few kisses would be better.”
Amused by that, she said, “I thought you didn’t want to get riled up?”
“I’m willing to risk a little commotion. It’s helping me heal.”
She laughed softly. “So kisses are medicinal?”
“Yours are.”
Leaning close, she brushed her lips over his. “I wish I could give you more . . .”
The kiss was gentle at first, a short whispery reacquaintance that soon bloomed into the desire that had been left to simmer since his attack. They knew there’d be no full expression of their mutual passion, but she savored the tastes of him, the slide of her tongue against the parted corner of his mouth and the heat that slowly rose in her blood. He moved a bent finger teasingly over her nipple, reminding her how much she loved his touch and she murmured, “You really need to hurry up and get well, McCray.”
“Open your shirt for me . . .”
Spurred by his tone and the intensity in his eyes, she moved closer to give him access. The slow licks and seductive tugs that followed made her melt and moan softly in pleasure-filled response. Reaching down, she found his hardness hidden beneath the blankets and once again sought his lips. Her hand played, he groaned. He raised his hips for more. Pain instantly tightened his face and his frame. “Too much,” he panted.
She stopped. Feeling terrible, she laid her cheek against his brow and felt the slight sheen of perspiration on his skin. “I’m sorry.”