Texas Bride

After what seemed forever he heard her methodic breathing and felt her slump in slumber. Jonah thanked Indian and white men’s deities equally for granting him relief.

One more day, he chanted silently. Surely he could endure one more day of nearly impossible temptation before she found another guide to lead her back to familiar territory.

Jonah winced when an odd sensation nipped at him. He didn’t want to visualize another man cuddling up with Maddie. He’d buy her a bedroll, Jonah decided immediately. And he’d make double damn certain that her next guide had the restraint and integrity to keep his hands off her.

Hell! Where in the blazes was he going to find a saint on such short notice?

Maddie awoke the following morning with a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach and a dull throb thudding against her skull. The whiskey, she recalled. Though drinking had taken the edge off her nerves, there seemed the devil to pay later.

Raising heavy-lidded eyes, she glanced sideways, not surprised to note that Jonah was up and gone. She smiled slightly, remembering that she’d practically had to twist his arm to get him to share the bedroll with her.

Drowsily Maddie pushed upright and scrubbed her hands over her face. She needed to get up and get moving. She predicted Jonah had the horses saddled already and was champing at the bit, eager to be on the way to the fort so he could drop her off.

Maddie stepped from the cave to draw in a deep breath and revel in the lingering scent of rain that hung in the early morning air. Her gaze drifted across the valley and she admired the spectacular view for a long moment. With her senses cleared—partially—she ambled over to the pool to wash her face, then reversed direction to gather the bedroll and gear.

Jonah glanced up to see Maddie, the saddlebags, satchel and bedroll slung over her shoulder, making her way down the trail. Her face was pale—the aftereffects of her bout with whiskey, he diagnosed. Nonetheless, she had gathered up the gear and climbed down from their elevated campsite to join him.

“How’s your head?” he asked without preamble.

“And good morning to you, too,” she replied. Maddie walked over to tie the gear behind the saddle. “Sleep well, Jonah?”

The casual tone of her voice provoked him to frown. She was laboring under the erroneous notion that resisting the temptation she presented wasn’t driving him crazy. Well, she was dead wrong about that, but he’d shoot himself in the foot a couple of times before he admitted it.

Jonah suspected that most men drooled over this fetching female, and he wasn’t about to join the ranks of her hopeless admirers. And for all he knew she could be a cunning crook who was using him to protect her stash of money during her getaway. Hell, there could be wanted posters out on Maddie Garret and he wouldn’t know for sure unless he visited the nearest sheriff’s office to check.

“Jonah?”

He corraled his rambling thoughts and shot her a quick glance. “I slept just fine, thanks for asking,” he replied in a clipped voice. “We’ll forgo breakfast since we’ll be at Fort Griffin by noon. Ready to ride, Garret?”

When Maddie swung into the saddle Jonah’s betraying gaze riveted on the shapely curve of her derriere. He swore ripely and mounted his horse.

Jonah circled the sandstone bluff and headed north. Although Maddie commented on the rugged beauty of the hills that were dotted with juniper and mesquite, Jonah kept a sharp lookout for unwanted company. Two hours into the journey they encountered a supply wagon. The ogling stares that the two bearded men directed toward Maddie didn’t escape him. Although she waved and smiled cordially, Jonah nodded curtly.

“Are you always this grumpy or are you having a bad day?” Maddie questioned belatedly.

“I’ve found that if you treat every stranger like a potential enemy you’re never surprised if trouble comes your way.”

When she shook her head in dismay sunlight blazed like fire in that mass of curly hair. Jonah did his damnedest not to notice how utterly appealing she was to him.

“You’ve spent entirely too much time associating with murderers and thieves. They are poisoning your outlook on life.”

Jonah didn’t reply, just headed north at a fast clip. When he spotted the flag flying on Government Hill, where the fort was located, he veered west to approach the community from the opposite direction than the two bushwhackers might have anticipated.

“Our first order of business is to find a guide,” Jonah said as they trotted into the Flat that sat at the base of the hill overlooking the river.

“I told you I’m going alone.”

“Not acceptable.” Jonah grabbed the mare’s rein, just in case Maddie decided to be contrary and tried to take off in the wrong direction.

“I am not your responsibility,” she muttered in annoyance. She reached into the pocket of her breeches for the money to pay Jonah for his services. “Here. Take this and go.”

Jonah ignored her as he weaved around the horses and wagons that filled the streets of the community. He made a beeline for the fort and rode right past the soldiers who tried to waylay him. Jonah wasn’t wasting his time with peons. He was going to speak to the highest-ranking officer at the fort.

“What’s your commander’s name?” Jonah asked the young soldier who was standing guard outside headquarters.

“Major Thorton,” the soldier informed him, though his eyes kept straying appreciatively to Maddie and the trim-fitting garments that advertised every shapely curve and swell she possessed.

“Jonah Danhill, Texas Ranger,” Jonah announced authoritatively, then flashed the badge he kept tucked in his pocket.

The soldier snapped to attention. “Yes, sir.” Turning an about-face, he preceded Jonah and Maddie through the door. After quick introductions, the soldier exited and Jonah got right down to business.