Ballad Beauty (12 page)

CHAPTER 14

“We’ll leave on one condition.”

Noah suppressed a grin. “And that would be?”

“That we take things at a leisurely pace.”

He clucked his tongue. “You mean no buffalo hunting? No scalping Comanche? No—”

“You know what I mean, Noah.” Jenny glared at him from under her bonnet, her green eyes turning a dark emerald. “Although I am anxious to reach Prairie Dell, I won’t let my haste be at the expense of your health.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He began to break camp. He doused the fire as she rolled up the blanket on which they had lain. He watched her movements from the corner of his eye. Lord Almighty, she was a fine woman.

She had slept through the night without stirring, all her womanly curves pressed against him. He, on the other hand, had not slept much at all. He had never been confused by a woman before, but this little schoolmarm was about to do him in.

He saw her in a new light since the snake incident. He respected her fortitude and character. He even questioned his quick judgment of her. Maybe she wasn’t like Sam at all. Maybe she was more like her mama, who seemed to be a fine lady that had gotten mixed up with the wrong varmint. It was much like his own mama had done.

He finished loading the packhorse and turned to help her mount Sassy. She chattered away to the proud filly.

“Hey, sweet girl. Ready to ride today? We’ll get to take it nice and slow. I hope you and Star enjoyed your little break yesterday.” She gave the horse a hug and bumped into him as she stepped back.

He caught her before she tumbled to the ground. “Wouldn’t want you to sprawl face first.”

She touched the raw place self-consciously. The skin on her cheek had begun to scab over. He took her wrist and pulled it away.

“Don’t, honey. You look just fine.” He placed his hands around her waist and tossed her into the saddle.

They rode a ways in silence before she asked, “Where will we pass through next?”

He tipped his hat back and looked out across the desert. “We’ll cross the Pecos. Then head to Albuquerque. I’d like to go south around the mountains into Arizona Territory.”

She nodded. “Mr. Mulholland says that Arizona has a natural beauty all its own. I can’t wait to see mountains.” She paused and apologized. “I’ve only seen pictures of them in books.”

He whistled low. “You’ll be in for a treat. It’s like looking at the water from the ocean the first time. Only better.”

“Are the mountains in New Mexico the only ones you’ve ever seen, Noah?”

“No.” He thought back to his childhood. Pete never wanted to stay in one place for long. Not that he was ever around much. Mama had them try farming and horse breeding, but they’d never been able to meet with success, much less plant any roots. He’d enjoyed fishing the most. He and Mark tried their hand at it for a short while in San Francisco, and they both took to it faster than when they’d learned to hunt. He envied his brother being about to stay in Frisco. He wondered what it would be like to remain in one place and make it home.

“I’ve seen mountains in California. Nevada, too. I heard Utah has some nice ones. Never made it that far. My friend Patch likes it up Wyoming way.” He shook his head. “Too cold for me there, I think.”

“I’ve always wanted to travel,” she said in a pensive tone. “Many girls at The Thompson School traipsed up and down the Eastern seaboard. Some had even visited Europe. They used to tell the most marvelous stories.”

“Travel’s not all it’s cracked up to be.” He left it at that.

They passed a good-sized creek the next afternoon. The day had turned quite warm for early January, almost like the days of Indian summer in the Texas fall. Noah was used to a harsher wind this time of year, but today was calm. No breeze stirred the air. He’d already shed his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his white, cotton shirt.

“Let’s stop and water the horses. Maybe make camp here for the night.” He looked out over the spot. “Seems too pretty a place not to sit a spell and enjoy it.”

“Noah? Do you think . . . that is, would it be possible for me to . . . you know?”

He looked at her in bewilderment. “What?”

“Take a bath?” Her voice held a pleading tone, the one his sister always used when she wanted her way about something. The one to which he had no immunity.

“I suppose,” he said, hoping he sounded as properly disgruntled as a man should.

“Oh, thank you!” she cried. “You don’t know how I’ve been dying for a real bath.”

“Now the water’ll be plenty cold, I hope you know. Just because the day’s turned mild as spring doesn’t mean the chill’s gone.”

She nodded enthusiastically. “I don’t care. I’ll pretend I’m a penguin who’s gone astray, but I’ve simply got to get in that water with a bar of soap.”

He led them down close to the creek where a nice patch of flat land lay. “We’ll make camp here. I promise you a hearty stew tonight, Miss McShanahan. We’ve got the time for it.”

He flung a leg over Star’s back and went to help Jenny dismount.

“Just think, Sassy. I’ll be a new woman.” She eyed her filly speculatively. “It wouldn’t hurt if you went in, too.”

“I think Sassy might draw the line at bathing with her mistress.” Noah looked up at Jenny with his hands outstretched. She pursed her lips in that prissy teacher way of hers. He lifted her to the ground. She did have the tiniest waist.

“Betcha don’t miss that corset one bit.”

“Mr. Webster!” She pretended to look taken aback, but she couldn’t keep the laughter out of her voice. “A gentlemen doesn’t discuss such topics as undergarments with a lady.”

“I’m a simple cowpoke, ma’am.” He cocked his hat back off his face. “Don’t go in for those fancy-smancy gentleman ways.”

She placed her hands on her hips. “I won’t hear such talk, Noah Webster. Being a gentleman has to do with good manners and a heart in the right place. Why, Mr. Mulholland says that most all cowboys are gentlemen to their core. His guidebook even said that—”

“Give it a rest, Jenny. I don’t need to hear about Mr. Know-It-All today.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Hmmph! Maybe I’ve misjudged you. Maybe you aren’t a gentleman after all.”

“Maybe I’m not.” He flashed her a devilish grin. “Let’s get unloaded. Then you can have that bath. Although as cold as the water will feel, I think you’ll do an in and out.” He ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek. “I think I’ll give you under a minute.”

“I accept your challenge. I’ll venture to say that I will be in there longer than five minutes. Possibly ten—if I feel like it.”

“You, my girl, have a smart mouth on you.”

Her eyes sparkled as her reply.

Noah told her he’d stand guard while she was indisposed. “Wouldn’t want a stranger coming to steal your clothes,” he quipped.

“As long as you keep your back turned, Mr. Webster, I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

He plopped down near the water and extended his hand to the creek beyond. “Be my guest, Miss McShanahan.”

He heard a rustling of clothes as he drew his heels close. The thought of Jenny McShanahan naked just a few paces behind him had him in a cold sweat.

He sensed as she moved into the water since his back was to her. He closed his eyes and imagined her gliding slowly through the water.

“Oh. My.”

He chuckled. He pulled his pocket watch from his vest. “Clock’s on,” he called out.

“No need for that,” she responded, but he heard the surprise in her voice. He imagined her unmarred flesh covered in goose bumps. He longed to yank her out of the water and wrap his arms around her. He would rub every inch of her smooth, alabaster skin till those goose bumps disappeared.

Her timid splashes grew bolder. He pictured her rubbing a cake of soap into a fine lather and running her hands along her arms and shoulders. He couldn’t help it. He was a man, after all. Wasn’t it his mama who’d said that all men would burn in hell? He stole a glance over his shoulder. If he were going to hell, he might as well enjoy the ride there.

Jenny concentrated on her ministrations. Her cheeks were flushed a dewy pink. Her hair cascaded down her back. The sunlight caught shades of amber and gold as she turned in the water. Her back was a milky white and tapered into her waist. The rest was hidden froam view.

He ached to see such perfection. No soiled dove ever looked as good to him as Jenny McShanahan did at this moment. He imagined his tongue running along that creamy back and beyond.

He whipped his head around. He could just hear what she’d say if she caught him snatching a look at her. He knew he’d be dressed down but good with her quick tongue and quicker temper. He grinned at the thought of Little Miss Hellcat on his case. Yes, deep waters ran through Jenny McShanahan. He almost decided it might be worth getting caught just to get her riled up.

He sneaked one last glimpse. Her eyes were closed as she rinsed the soap from her hair, a contented look on her face. This woman was sheer perfection. He hungered for her in a way that he couldn’t comprehend. They were from such different worlds. He didn’t understand why he possessed this fierce attraction to her.

He had to keep in mind that he was after Sam. His mission had to be what drove him. Jenny would instantly hate his guts the minute he whipped out his cuffs and arrested her papa on the spot. He couldn’t afford any emotional entanglement with her. He had a job to do and his reputation as a Texas Ranger to maintain.

But, oh, did he ache right now.

“Brr.” He heard her come closer to the bank through the water, sloshing mere yards behind him.

“I do believe I outlasted your one minute estimation of me, Noah.” She snapped her drawers—or what he imagined were her drawers dancing in the breeze. “Although if I catch the pneumonia, it will be from my own stubbornness, I’m sure.”

He stood without moving, willing himself to look straight ahead. “I’m sorry. I should’ve made a fire for you. Guess I took this guard duty a little too seriously.”

Jenny watched Noah lope off and felt a tug at her heart. All the strange feelings she’d experienced the past few days bewildered her. She hadn’t been able to get his kisses out of her mind, no matter how hard she tried. Then when he risked his life for her, she knew he would die because of her stupidity.

As she’d sucked the poison from his calf, she prayed over and over that he would live. Now here he was, merely days later, and he looked as if nothing had happened to him at all. She supposed Mr. Mulholland was correct when he said that cowboys were a breed apart, tougher than the tumbleweeds that rolled across the plains. That certainly seemed to be true of Noah Daniel Webster.

She finished buttoning her dress and decided to unpack some of their supplies. Noah soon returned and had a fire going.

“Sit by the fire,” he instructed. “It’ll dry your hair faster.”

She removed her comb from one of the saddle bags and began to work on the tangles. “I may be clean, but I think I have a rat’s nest in here,” she joked.

He walked to her and took the comb from her hand.

“What—”

He crouched down behind her and ran it through her hair. “I used to help get my little sister’s tangles out all the time.” He reached a knot and began patiently working on it.

“Noah, really, I can—”

“I know you can, honey. Just let me help.” He sighed. “I sure miss Elizabeth. I taught her to ride and read, both when she was barely out of diapers.” He chuckled. “She was a spitfire, but she’s a real sweetheart, too.”

She heard the pride in his voice. “Where is she now?”

“She’s married and homesteading out in Arizona Territory. She and Bill have a herd of ponies. Turned a profit for the first time last year.”

“Will you live with them?”

“What do you mean?” He finished with the knot, and she sensed him separate the strands.

“You said that because of your health you were moving to Arizona Territory. I wondered if you’d stay with family once you arrived.”

He laughed. “No, though I’ll sure go visit some. She and Bill have two of the loudest boys that walk the earth. They can grate on my nerves but good after about twenty minutes. I guess I’m not much one for little ones underfoot.”

“Oh.” She wondered why his words caused such melancholy within her. She fought to concentrate on that feeling instead of on what he now did. His very nearness drove her to distraction, more than two small boys ever could.

He rested one hand on her head as he combed her hair in long, smooth strokes. Whenever he hit a rough spot, he worked patiently until the curl unsnarled, then he continued on. She found herself short of breath, her heartbeat erratic, her throat dry. More than anything, she wished he would kiss her again. She knew that must make her wanton. Noah had already explained he wasn’t the marrying kind, and yet all she wanted to do was kiss him anyway.

“There.” He handed her the comb over her shoulder.

She turned and gazed at him. “Thank you,” she said, her voice small and tight.

He gave her a funny look and shook his head. “I think if a woman can brave it, so can I.” He rose, his knees popping loudly. “I’m going to get me a bath, too, right after I find us a rabbit and get some stew going.” He picked up his Winchester and tipped his hat to her as he left.

Good to his word, Noah returned with the said rabbit in hand. He skinned it, cut it into small pieces, and placed it in the pot with water. He took out his spice bag, as he called it, and shook a little of this and that into the pot, stirring it well.

“Why don’t you sit and nurse this now while I get cleaned up.” He smiled at her. “And no looking, either. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”