Ballad Beauty (20 page)

“All right, girl. Here’s your treat.”

Mo’s horse delicately lifted her allotted lump from Jenny’s palm. Sassy nosed in as close as she could, curious as to what her friend had.

“You’re going to love this, sweet girl.” Jenny offered the lump to Sassy. She didn’t know if the horse had ever been given sugar before or if she simply followed Buffy’s example, but it was gone in a flash.

“My smart Sassy.” She stroked the horse’s neck for a moment and decided it was time to head back inside.

As she turned, Jenny saw a lone figure in the doorway. A form she knew only too well.

CHAPTER 23

Noah had been busy. Since he’d last seen Jenny the day before, he’d interviewed every person in Prairie Dell—all twelve of them—or at least the eight that could talk. One old geezer was mute, and two babies were less than a year apiece. Another died in his sleep two days after Sam passed on, but most residents still considered him part of the town.

He also found out that Sam hadn’t been buried yet. The town had his remains in a storage shed behind the general store. He would receive a proper Christian burial when the circuit preacher rode through. Fortunately, the winter was cold, and Noah was able to recognize Sam’s perfectly preserved body. He begged the old fellow that showed him the wasted corpse not to tell Jenny. He knew how badly she had wanted to see her daddy, but this was not the last impression anyone would want of a loved one. It made him glad that he hadn’t seen Pete’s bullet-ridden body.

No one had seen hide nor hare about the money or the treasury bonds Sam had stolen in Texas. The outlaw had ridden in on a single horse, looking like death warmed over, from several descriptions. Noah suspected Sam had hidden his cache before he came to Prairie Dell. He also realized if he had known he was dying, Sam would darn sure give Jenny and Mo the directions to the loot.

That’s why he’d come to see them both. He watched Mo leave, yellow eye patch and all, and make her way to what amounted to the local saloon—Sherm’s one-room shack. He remembered it was Thursday, the day of her weekly card game. Mo would demand Satan release her from hell if it interfered with her Thursday poker game. Actually, her poker marathon. Mo wouldn’t be back till the sun set if she followed her usual pattern of play.

Still, he hesitated. He wanted to see Jenny so badly. He needed to do his job. He stood there debating what to do and how to handle things until he was practically frozen to the spot. A raging swirl of conflicting emotions seemed to keep him inert. Then he watched as Jenny left and headed around to where the horses were. He followed her there.

Jenny glared at him, her breath visible in the crisp air. He stood, legs apart, hands resting easily on his hips, his hat pushed back far on his head as he drank her in. Those moss green eyes of hers glittered in anger.

“Get out of my way, Mr. Webster.”

Noah moved with a catlike grace, all speed and silence. Before she even blinked, he had her about the waist and pulled her to him. She threw her arms up in front for protection as he crushed her to his chest. As always, the contact between them ignited a spark of desire that heated his loins. He sensed her weakening as she responded to his fervent kiss. But he still had a job to accomplish.

He broke the kiss and caught his breath. “I need to know where Sam hid the money, Jenny.”

Her brows shot up. He sensed her anger returning, coiling within her as she spat out, “I don’t know anything about the money.”

His eyes pierced hers. “I don’t believe you.”

“I said I don’t know and if I did, you’d be the last person I’d tell, Noah Webster.” She tried to pry his hands from her, but his hold was unshakeable.

“Do you think you can force it from me? Sweet-talk me, maybe? Kiss me senseless? Well, I’m not the same innocent girl I used to be.”

He winced at her words. Regret filled him to the brim.

“Your betrayal caused me to grow up fast. You’re not man enough to own up and do the right thing.”

“And if I did?” His hands tightened around her waist. “Would you marry me?”

She didn’t miss a beat. “Are you asking?”

Noah cocked his head and studied her, keeping his emotions in check. “Sure. Why not?”

And then wanted to kick himself for his flippantcocky response.

He watched her eyes go wide before she glanced down at the ground, trying to compose herself. Why had he said such a thing? Instead of declaring his love for her, he’d diced her heart into tiny pieces with his careless response.

When she lifted her eyes and met his, he saw a steely resolve in them. “You’d be the last man I’d marry, Mr. Webster. You’re a liar, just like every other man. That’s one life lesson I’ve learned. Every man I know lets me down. You’re like all the rest. You’d never live up to your promises.”

Her words infuriated him. He tightened his grip on her, his thoughts jumbled up till he acted on instinct.

He kissed her. Hard. It was a searing kiss, full of power and heat. Full of his rage and frustration and desire. He propelled her back, and they fell into the hay behind the horses. The sweet smell drifted up and enveloped them. He was aware of that scent, mingled with the lavender on her skin and in her hair. It drove everything from his mind.

She clung to his coat as one kiss became another and yet another. He lost count of where one ended and the next began as he rode the sensual waves of his mouth on hers, hot and lustful.

Noah realized he couldn’t get enough of Jenny. He’d dreamed of her taste, lived for it without admitting it to himself. He refused to fool himself any longer. He had to have her—forever—no matter what consequences it would bring. He’d thrown an offer of marriage out to her in anger, but now he meant it. Could he convince her?

“Jenny?” His voice was a hoarse whisper as he nuzzled her throat. When she didn’t answer, he stopped.

Her eyes were unfocused, glazed over in passion. “Honey?” He kissed the tip of her nose lightly. “I’ve been a first-class fool.”

She went totally still in his arms. She looked up at him, all the pain she’d suffered written across her lovely features.

In that moment, he didn’t only desire her physically. He yearned for her with a sweetness that words couldn’t express. He’d come to enjoy her company. Her intelligence. Her innocence. Her laughter. Her compassion. He hadn’t realized women were more than their physical sum. He’d never taken the time to learn that before. Jenny showed him that the outside package only wrapped up something much more important on the inside.

He wanted to spend every waking moment with this woman. It didn’t matter to him anymore that her daddy had been a big, bad outlaw. He didn’t even have to be a Ranger anymore if that’s what she’d want from him. Rangers made poor husbands, always gone and getting shot at and taking awful chances.

That’s when he knew he was deranged. Rangering had been his whole life. It proved that there was some good in him and that he could use that good to help others and make Texas a better, safer place. No one woman should make him give up on his chosen way of life.

Unless that woman was the one he held in his arms.

“I meant what I said before, honey. It just didn’t come out right. Would you do me the honor? Would you marry me?”

He knew the very moment she gave her trust back to him. Her body melted into his like butter on a hot griddle cake, her palms flat against his chest, working like a cat’s paws when it’s pleased about something. Noah pulled away from her long enough to stand and scoop her up in his arms and returned to her mouth, that sweet, sweet mouth. Oh, God, he’d missed that mouth more than he’d imagined.

He strode around the corner and opened the door to Mo’s one room cabin. As he shut the door, he relaxed his hold and set her down, only to push her against the closed entry way. His hands caught hers and raised them high above her head, his fingers entwined with them. He pressed his body into hers, his tongue greedily gaining entrance into her mouth. He wanted her, all of her. He couldn’t stop himself.

He took the ribbon from her bonnet in his teeth and slowly untied the bow under her chin. He caught her wrists in one hand and used the other to pull the bonnet from her head. The pins holding her hair came out with it, and those golden tresses fell around her shoulders and down her back. He ran his free fingers through the waves, lost in their silky texture.

He unhooked her cloak and pushed it aside. The blue wool fell to the ground at their feet. He reached to touch her breast. He could feel the nipple already erect through her layers of clothing. He massaged it slowly, enjoying the feel of it under his hand as he bent to kiss her elegant throat.

Her sigh nearly undid him. His gentleness fled. He wanted her. Now. Forever. He released her hands, and they locked around his neck. She drew him to her for a wet, passionate kiss as he dropped his hands behind her to curve around her bottom and pull her close against his hardness.

“I want you, Jenny McShanahan,” he said hoarsely, his breathing ragged and uneven.

“I want you, too.” Her voice was like warm honey and whiskey sliding down a parched throat. He’d died and gone to heaven.

Somehow he backed her over to the cot, and he removed her clothes as quickly as the myriad of buttons allowed.

“My God,” he said softly as he pulled her shift over her head. He sat back on his heels and stared at her. She blushed from her lovely, long toes to the roots of her honeyed hair.

“You’re beautiful.” He had touched the beauty that night in the cave, but the low lantern hadn’t let him witness the wonders of seeing her body. Her milky white skin and womanly curves spoke of absolute perfection. He’d never been more moved by the sight of a woman.

“Noah.” Jenny tried to sit up, but he pushed her back down.

“Just let me drink you in a minute, honey.” He reached out and touched a palm to her cheek. “You are flawless.”

Suddenly the heat and desire built again, and he quickly doffed his clothes, leaving them in a heap near the cot. The cool cabin was forgotten as he climbed next to her, his torso covering her body. He touched her everywhere. He heard the gentle sighs and felt the ripples of pleasure as he skimmed her smooth skin.

“Are you nervous, sweetheart?”

“No.” Her luminous, green eyes were full of faith in him. He kissed each lid gently. He was the nervous one. He’d never been with a virgin before. From what he gathered, nice girls had very little idea about the actual act of love. Since her mama died so many years ago, he was pretty sure she was as uninformed as a novice nun.

He cupped her face. “It always hurts a woman her first time. But not after that. I promise.”

She nodded. His fingers found her slick and ready for him. He slid into her before she realized it, his mouth over hers, and thrust once. She stiffened, her nails digging into his shoulders, and he remained still.

“Talk to me, honey.”

“It . . . hurts. I wanted to push you away, but I don’t feel any pain now. But, oh my . . . something’s happening.”

He chuckled. “That’s what you’re doing to me. Being inside you, I want to fill you up. Relax, honey. There’s more.”

He buried himself in her neck, nipping and licking her salty skin. She lifted her hips to him. He pulled away from her slightly and then pushed back in again in one, delicious motion.

“How was that?” he whispered in her ear.

She nodded her head. He repeated the movement, and each time she rose to meet him. He knew she didn’t understand why she did it, only that she had to. He began an easy rhythm, slow and leisurely.

A little at a time, he increased his pace, and her hips continued to rise and meet each thrust, now long and deep. She began to whimper and moan. Each little noise satisfied his ego. He wanted to pleasure her. He wanted her to enjoy their dance of love.

“Oh, Noah!” she cried out as he came in her.

He seized her mouth with his and smothered her with heartfelt kisses. He turned on his side, still in her, his arms wrapped around her.

“That . . . it was . . .” Her words hung in the air.

“Good?” he asked playfully.

She grinned. “I’d say better than good.”

He kissed her sweetly, savoring the moment like never before. He rubbed his cheek to her forehead. Sex had never been like this before.

Because it wasn’t just sex.

For the first time, Noah knew he’d found love.

CHAPTER 24

They cuddled awhile until Jenny fell asleep in his arms, exhausted. Noah had noticed the circles under her eyes and guessed at her restless night.

He looked down at her, his emotions brimming near the surface, threatening to spill over. They were a combination of tenderness and love, fear and possessiveness. He wanted to love her and protect her, laugh with her, be with her. These feelings, so new and fragile, frightened him. He would do anything, go anywhere, give up everything.

For Jenny.

He must have dozed himself, for the next thing he knew there were soft, tentative kisses tickling his jaw line. He opened his eyes slowly.

“You are the best thing I’ve ever awakened to, Miss McShanahan.” He grinned at her, a lop-sided, lazy grin, knowing it had a bit of mischief in it.

“You’re being awfully formal, Mr. Webster,” she replied.

“Now I wouldn’t want to stand on formality.” He brushed his lips against hers as he slid his fingers into her hair. She shivered.

“Cold?”

“No,” she said softly and snuggled against him. “You’re as warm as a campfire.”

“Be careful, darlin’. You just might be playing with fire.”

He brought his mouth down on hers in a possessive kiss. She opened up to him, and his tongue delved in, stroking hers till his pulse quickened. Her breasts began to swell as he kneaded them leisurely.

He trailed kisses down her throat to her breasts, then down even further, running his mouth down to her flat stomach. He moved lower, and she sat up abruptly.

“Noah!”

He splayed his fingers across her stomach. “Hush, sweetheart. Just lie back and enjoy. There are all kinds of ways I can make love to you. We’re going to try every one of them. Even if it takes a lifetime.”

She hesitated a moment. “I trust you know what you’re doing, Noah,” she said primly and eased back down.

He couldn’t help but smile. His schoolmarm was back. “I know you’re used to doing the instructing, Miss McShanahan. You just tell me if I pass muster.”

He pushed her legs up and lowered himself between her thighs. As his tongue brushed against her, she gasped.

“Noah!”

He flicked it lightly. Twice. “Is that all right?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

He cupped her bottom in his hands and pushed his tongue inside, caressing her.

“And what about that?”

“Oh . . .”

“How about this?” He began to make love to her with his mouth, slowly, sensually. She moaned softly.

He raised his head. “Should I stop?”

She shook her head. “No. Don’t. Stop,” she choked out.

He continued to touch her intimately. She began writhing beneath him, pushing her hands into his hair and pulling him closer. He sensed the slow ripples of pleasure that washed over her. Her breathing became shallow, and she shuddered with their intensity until she trembled from head to foot. She cried out his name again as the waves peaked.

When she grew still, he lifted his head and met her gaze. “So. Did I pass?”

She laughed weakly. “I’d say you are at the top of your class, Mr. Webster.”

He frowned. I’m not sure. I think I might need more practice.” He winked at her. “A lot more practice.”

She laughed heartily then, a deep, rich laugh that he’d never heard. He kissed her soundly, thoroughly, and then asked, “Do you think we can take a break? I’m starving.”

After they’d eaten, Jenny pulled out the two folded pieces of Sam’s homemade map. She opened them on the table and fit them together.

“Sam sent me the right half while I was still in Boston. I had no idea what it was when I received it. He gave me strict instructions to guard it, so I knew it had to be important.”

“And Mo had the other part?”

“Yes. We were able to tell the two halves belonged together. But the labels seemed so odd.”

He took her hand in his. “We’ll figure it out together.”

She squeezed his hand in appreciation. “I’ve made a good start so far.” She pulled out the list she’d made only a few hours ago. “As I lay awake last night, I began to have lyrics run through my head. I recorded every ballad I could think of that Sam ever sang to me and wrote down whatever words I could remember.”

She handed him the list. “Let me study this awhile.” He sat back in his chair, deep in concentration.

As she viewed the map in front of them for the umpteenth time that day, a sudden clarity formed. The pieces began to swiftly fall into place. She didn’t know if it was the way she’d grouped the ballads or the lyrics that kept playing over and over in her head, but all at once her father’s cryptic markings and directions began to make sense.

“Noah, I think I’m onto something.”

He pulled his attention from the reams of sheets she’d handed him. “Take it slow, honey. Talk it through. If something doesn’t fit, backtrack and try another route.”

She nodded, taking a deep breath. “Look at the place names on the map. In the lower right corner Sam labeled it
TUAM.
Two inches away, he’s marked the name
MULLIGAN,
and farther up to the left is
DUBLIN.
”

Her cheeks flushed with excitement, and she started singing “
The Rocky Road to Dublin”
to him. He shuffled through the papers until he came to the lyrics she’d written down and followed along as she sang.

“See!” she cried. “This was all about a man who left his family and the girls brokenhearted in Tuam. He went about his travels, resting in Mulligan, until he finally reached Dublin.”

She studied the homemade map. “I’m sure
Tuam
was Texas, where he robbed this last bank and left the people there brokenhearted. He then moved on and waited for me in Apple Blossom.” She pointed to
Mulligan.
“Finally, he reached
Dublin
—Prairie Dell!”

Her excitement grew. “He’s marked this large square to the left of Dublin
VAN DIEMANS LAND.
See the
“X”
?

He leaned forward. “Yes, but why’s
MOUNTAIN DEW
written next to it? And why did he put
THE BLACK VELVET BAND
beneath that?”

She laughed. “
The Black Velvet Band”
was a song I clamored for again and again when I was small. It’s about an apprenticed young man who passes a fine colleen as he walks down Broadway. She pulls a watch from her pocket and slips it into his hand. The man is bewitched by her eyes that shine like diamonds and her long hair tied up with a black velvet band.

“Unfortunately, the young apprentice is taken to court the next day and given seven years transportation for possessing a stolen watch. He’s sent to Van Diemans Land.”

She consulted the map again. “Sam marked an
“X”
here where he left the stolen goods. The
MOUNTAIN DEW
makes sense, too.”

She began to sing –

Let the grasses grow and the waters flow,

In a free and easy way,

But give me enough of that rare old stuff,

That’s made near Galway Bay.

Come gougers all,

From Donegal,

Sligo and Leitrim too,

And we’ll give you the slip as we take a sip,

Of the rare old mountain dew.

At the foot of the hill there’s a neat little still,

Where the smoke curls up to the sky;

By the whiff of the smell you can plainly tell

There’s poitin boys nearby.

For it fills the air, with a perfume rare

That betwixt both me and you,

And as on we roll, we’ll drink a bowl,

Or a bucketful of mountain dew.

“That finishes the verse. The rare old mountain dew has to be what Sam hid. It was supposedly the best in all of Ireland.”

“And this last haul was Sam’s best ever. That’s the connection!” Noah kissed her enthusiastically. “You’ve linked the clues together.”

She read the directions in the top right-hand corner of the map aloud. “Go to one million bags of the best Sligo rags. Left two million barrels of stone. Connaught way to the five hogs. You’ve arrived in Sally Gardens, so watch for the Galway Races.”

Jenny scrunched her eyes shut, willing herself to hear the vague melody pulling at the back of her memory. As she concentrated, it began to form. She softly hummed along as it became clearer to her.

“The Irish Rover!”

She grabbed a pencil and slipped a new sheet of paper in front of her. She wrote out the words to the song dancing in her head. When she’d finished, the last puzzle piece fell into place.

“Millions must be miles. If we go one mile Sligo way that’s north, because Sligo is in the north. Left is west, and then
back north again for Connaught.”
She smiled triumphantly. “And Sally Gardens is where a couple in love met in a field down by a river. Maybe Sam marked it for me somehow.”

She stood and started to pace the small cabin. “Sally Gardens is down by a river in the song. With what I’ve seen of Nevada so far, it would probably be some barely running stream that passes where the money’s buried.”

She returned to point at the last words her father had written in the corner. “He mentions to ‘
watch for the Galway Races’
here. That ballad has a line about
‘when the bell was run for starting.’
”

“I’ll bet he’s attached a bell where he’s hidden his treasure. You’ve made sense of everything here.” He took her hand. “No one but you could have figured out all the nuances and names Sam used.”

Noah pulled her down onto his lap and nuzzled her neck. “I can’t get enough of your mouth or this swanlike neck.” He smiled. “Mo won’t be back for a bit. I think we need to celebrate how clever you are.”

“How should we celebrate?”

“We’ll think of something.” His mouth met hers.