Echoes of the Heart (24 page)

Inch by inch he
slid through her tight walls.
 
When he
filled her completely, he remained still and he tilted her up with his hands
around her rear.
 
“Look at us, Rae.”

Her eyes moved to
where they joined, united in passion and the sight made her eyes misty.

“Can you feel how
much I want you?”

“Oh yes, Cash
darling, now show me.”

He drew back then
plunged deep, deeper while his rhythm increased. The sensation of his friction
against the tight walls drove her into a fevered frenzy until she exploded from
within.
 
White lights passed through her
brain as she held him tightly in her arms.
 
A low growl rose from his throat when he stilled the thrusts and his
muscles tensed.

This must be what it’s like to be in heaven.

Staying inside her,
he rolled over on his back then sought her lips in a fervent kiss while she
straddled his hips.
 
She laid her head on
his chest as the fire spread a dreamy glow around them, flickering light across
his sun-bronzed skin and the contours of his muscles.
 
The wind shrilled around their shelter an
eerie whistle as they lay entwined in each other until they both fell asleep.

Thirty

           
Diane
paced the sitting room floor while Mike poured brandy.
 
“Oh, God Mike, do you think he will find
her?”
 
Tears streamed down her cheeks as
she wrenched her hands.
 
Mike set down
the crystal glasses, wrapped an arm around her and led her to the divan.

           
He
sat down beside her and held her hand.
 
“Of course, my dear, Cash is part bloodhound.
 
He won’t give up until she’s home safe and
sound.”

           
She
sipped the brandy and recalled her own youth.
 
Like Raeden, she had been rebellious since childhood, a disappointment
to her mother who wished she had been more like Sophia.
 
Her mother desired her to marry a nice man
with prestige and money like Raeden’s father, Samuel Newell, the banker.

           
Diane
desired freedom from bonds and preferred to ride full speed through the meadows
releasing her restless spirit and feeling the wind in her hair.
 
Turning down many proposals, she had not been
ready to settle into a mundane life.

           
On
a warm summer afternoon while walking to the bakery, she spotted a tall
handsome young man going into the hardware store.
 
He exuded an air of assurance and pride,
dressed in his blue jeans and western style shirt.

           
Feeling
bold, she strolled into the store to get a better look at the cowboy drawing
her attention.
 
To remain subtle she
would buy something.
 
That would work.

           
He
glanced her way.
 
His full head of dark
brown hair needed a trim.
 
He tipped his
hat, “ma’am.”
 
Their eyes met and held
for a moment.
 
She blushed and turned,
leaving the store with his image imprinted on her mind.

           
The
next morning, having lunch with some friends, the sound of boots nearing their
table caused her to turn and glance upward into the face she had seen the
previous day.
 
His hair trimmed, he wore
a black western suit with a black leather vest.
 
He smiled down, removing his hat.

           
“My
name is Mike Adams and it is a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

           
His
confidence amazed her.
 
She fidgeted in
her seat.
 
“And I’m delighted to meet
you, Mr. Adams.
 
I am Diane Madison and
these are my friends Rebecca, Jessica and Joan.”

           
He
gave a slight bow in their direction.
 
“Ladies.
 
I must say you have
lovely friends.”

           
They
started to giggle and glanced toward Diane while she blushed under his gaze.

           
“Miss
Madison, would you care to have dinner with me tomorrow evening?
 
I’m staying at the Palace Hotel, here on
business.
 
I hear the dining is superb.”

           
Being
of age, she saw no reason to refuse his request.
 
After giving him directions to her home, he
said he would arrive by eight.

***

While dining, they
talked easily and found much in common—art, books and current events.
 
He had gone to school in the east and
partnered with his father in the only store in Chamberlain, South
Dakota.
 
Twice
a year he drove a wagon in for supplies to restock.

           
He
extended his stay and they met daily—love from the start.
 
They married at the Justice of the Peace then
broke the news to her family.
 
Her mother
fainted and her father did not look pleased, however gave them his
congratulations.
 
Sophia pretended
happiness.
 

Only a child at
the time, Raeden bawled when she realized the extent of the separation.
 
Diane assured her she would be back twice a
year with Mike and they could spend the time together.
 
She had always encouraged Rae’s independence
and now this happened.
 
The same
independence may be her demise.

           
Diane
had three miscarriages and could no longer have children.
 
She thought of Raeden as the daughter she would
never have.
 
The idea of losing her
became agonizing but somewhere deep in her heart she knew Cash, a survivor,
would find and protect her until she came safely back home.
 

Except for the
years back east attending school, he had spent his entire life in South
Dakota, the time spent with the Cheyenne
honed his animal instincts, and the rules of survival always served him well.

           
The
storm continued through the night as well as the next day.
 
Gales vibrated the windowpanes and a high-pitched
shrill passed in a torrent of sleet and ice. Clouds blocking out sunlight made
her feel even more dismal than the previous day.

Thirty-one

           
Raeden
stirred from a dream-filled slumber when she felt Cash swell inside her and the
new sensations he had shown her smoldered as she thought about their
lovemaking.
 
It almost did not seem
real.
 
All the wondrous emotions trapped
and dormant inside had finally escaped guiding her down a path into a magical
realm.

           
She
drew her knees up to feel him more deeply; his sleepy eyes opened, a widespread
smile spread across his handsome face.
 
“Well, good morning, my sweet.
 
I
see you have wasted no time luring me into your spell.”

           
He
reached to run his hands over her breasts.
 
Her nipples grew hard under his touch.
 
He urged her mouth down to kiss him, slow, deep and sensual.
 
Moving her upright his hands passed over her
back and down to her slender hips.
 
He
motioned her in a slow circular movement.
 
She fought for air as the once smoldering embers began to ignite into
flames.
 
An urge now becoming familiar,
began driving her into the place she wanted to be.

           
His
hands returned to the soft firm mounds on her chest, increasing her wanton
desire.
 
She arched her back, releasing
soft moans while he rolled each nipple between his thumb and fingers.
 
He shifted his hands once again to her waist
and rocked her forward and back, increasing the cadence until she screamed out
calling his name when he quaked beneath her.

           
Warm
mist covered their bodies when he drew her to him, both short of breath, their
chests heaving, pulling in air.
 
She
rested her cheek on his shoulder until he laid her to the side and
withdrew.
 
Raeden snuggled under his arm
and draped hers over his chest feeling gloriously sated.
 
He held her tight against him, rubbing his
hands slowly down her back.

           
“Rae,
do you want to get married?”
 
A question,
not a proposal.
 
“I will do it if you
want.
 
What has happened is my
responsibility.”

           
Damn
his duty and protective instincts.
 
She
did not want to get married and neither did he and it angered her think of his
pious condescending attitude.
 
What may
have started as a forceful misunderstanding had changed.
 
She had given herself to him willingly in the
end, after all.

She compelled
herself to remain composed.
 
“You know,
Cash.
 
I don’t need marriage, I wanted
you, also.
 
Our first joining had not
been one-sided.
 
Perhaps we can just see
each other on occasion.
 
I would like
that.”

He did not appear
relieved when he stood up, leaving her on the blankets.

           
“I
need to get dressed and see to the horses.
 
I melted snow, so I’ll take them some water and see if there is any feed
in the barn.”
 
He finished putting on his
clothes.
 
“I’ll come back with the
canteens and some food Sadie sent along.”

           
He
came back with the food and water and sat cross-legged facing her.
 
I found some grain in a stall in the barn to
tide over the horses.”

“It looks like
Sadie planned on feeding a posse.
 
How is
it there is firewood here and food for the animals?” Raeden asked.

“It is an unwritten
law out here to replace what you use for the next person who may need to find
shelter.
 
I will have to return and
replenish what we’ve used.”

           
“Well,
I have to admit it’s a good ethic.”
 
Raeden watched him remove the food from the rucksack, admiring his
rugged features.
 
How did he manage to
find her out here in the middle of a snowstorm?
 
Whatever the reason, she felt grateful for his rescue.

           
“Cash,
thank you for saving my life.
 
I would
surely have died out there if you had not found me.”

           
He
cracked a smile and bent to give her a quick kiss.
 
“Think nothing of it, ma’am.
 
Only doing my job.”

           
She
could not help but laugh at his gentle mocking.

They shared sliced
ham with biscuits, boiled eggs and apples while nestled in their blankets then
spent the morning talking and laughing.
 
She listened intently while he spoke of the ranch.

“I will be getting
a couple of cow dog pups from Mitch as soon as their weaned.”

“Dogs?
 
I thought you used horses.”

           
“We
use horses, of course.
 
The dogs protect
them from wolves and mountain lion.
 
They
also keep them herded when its time for branding.
 
You’ll have to come out and see them
work.
 
It’s really something.”

           
She
told him about her desires to visit Paris
but stopped when he glared through shuttered squinted eyes, not really
understanding the cause.

 
They laughed about the disastrous wedding
plans and her escape from St. Louis.
 

When the weather
cleared and the sun warmed to melt the snow, they made love again, hesitant to
leave their isolated shelter and their time together.

           
Under
the afternoon sun, the snow began to melt, clearing their path.
 
Cash saddled up the horses and carried Raeden
through the slosh, and sat behind her on Rabbit, leading Arte alongside.

The bright light reflected
off crystalline snow, mirrored by the sun’s rays in a kaleidoscopic display
while they rode toward Chamberlain and the end of a glorious time she would
never forget as long as she lived.

           
His
arm tightly around her waist she leaned back against him, glad she had gotten
to know him better and laughed to herself when she wondered if they would ever
make love somewhere other than a floor or bathtub.

           
The
luminous glow of the sun welcomed their arrival at Diane’s house.
 
Avoiding the mud, Cash lowered Raeden onto
the front porch then tended their horses.

           
Raeden
bolted inside to greet Diane, a tearful reunion.
 
They hugged each other then wiped their
eyes.
 
She brought out her cherished
English bone china set and steeped tea while they talked.