Bound For Eden (26 page)

She pushed aside her gloomy thoughts. She was tired of the way her mind ran in circles since she had met Luke, going over the same things time and time again. She left Victoria to prepare dinner – she felt she'd earned a night off after the exertions of the afternoon – and headed for one of the freshwater springs, near where Adam was grooming Luke's horse.

‘That man sure is good at getting other people to do his work for him,' she muttered as she sank into the pillowy grasses. The spring water was sweet and cold, and Alex couldn't resist removing her boots and submerging her feet. It felt heavenly.

‘It ain't your feet that need a wash, runt,' an all-too-familiar deep voice said, fracturing her peace. ‘Have you had a look at your face lately?'

Alex sighed as he set himself up at the same spring with his saddlebag. Why couldn't he let her be? She dropped onto her back, without removing her feet from the water, and scrunched her eyes closed. Maybe if she couldn't see him, she could forget he was there.

‘You've gone surly again,' Luke observed as he removed his shaving gear. ‘I thought we were getting along just fine lately.'

‘We are,' she mumbled, not opening her eyes. He was right. They had lapsed into a comfortable relationship . . . so why was she feeling out of sorts with him? She listened to the sound of him soaping his face, and then she heard the dull rasp of his razor.

‘It's your sister, isn't it?'

Alex's eyes snapped open. ‘What about my sister?' She struggled upright and fixed him with a stern look. ‘You haven't touched her, have you?'

Luke cocked an eyebrow. ‘And when would I have had a chance to do that? You're never more than an arm's length away.' She shot him a dark look. ‘I just meant . . .' Luke paused, looking like he was trying to choose his words carefully, ‘I just meant, are you surly with me again because . . .' he cleared his throat, ‘because she's set her cap for me?'

‘Her cap?' Alex echoed.

‘Look, runt, I've known a fair few women and I know when one has serious designs on me.'

‘You should marry her,' Adam chimed, from where he was giving Delilah a good brush. The horse whickered, seemingly in agreement. Alex scowled at them both. She had a great sense of satisfaction when she turned back to find that Luke had nicked himself with the razor.

‘Now, Adam, don't get me wrong,' he said, as he mopped at the blood with his hand, ‘I like your sister a great deal, but I ain't looking to marry her.'

‘That's a shame,' Adam sighed. ‘I would have liked living with you and all your horses.' He brightened suddenly. ‘Hey, if you don't want to marry Victoria, you could always marry Al—'

‘Adam!' Alex yelped, cutting him off. ‘Didn't you hear the man? He's not looking to get married!'

Adam visibly wilted. His big eyes filled with tears and he turned back to Delilah and began brushing furiously.

‘I'm sorry, Adam,' Alex apologised, feeling awful, ‘but you can't go pestering people like that.' She'd have to get him alone later so she could explain herself. And he obviously needed reminding about her situation.

‘Don't worry, Adam,' Luke called, ‘I'm not offended.' He gave Alex an evaluating look. ‘A little harsh, don't you think?'

‘You're still bleeding,' Alex told him tartly. She watched as he staunched the blood and resumed his shaving. She kicked her heels in the water, more than a little peevishly. ‘So are you going to marry this sweetheart of yours?' she asked, despite herself. It was like prodding a sore tooth; she just couldn't resist doing it, even though it caused her pain. ‘Adelia, was it?' She knew very well it wasn't.

‘Amelia.'

‘Oh, right. Amelia. Are you going to marry her, then?'

Luke frowned down at his reflection and didn't answer. The truth was he'd asked her. Twice. And both times she'd said no. Luke had never met a woman who could resist him until he met Amelia.

It gave his brothers no end of amusement to watch him pretty himself up every Sunday in a vain attempt to win her favour.

‘I hear Josh Masters dined at the Hardings' last night,' Tom would say, with a wink at Matt. ‘I reckon there could be an announcement soon.'

‘Josh Masters? Why, I heard she favoured Dell Pritchard,' Matt would say to play along. And they'd both laugh long and hard at his black looks. Well, not any more. When he had that stallion and the wealth it would bring, Amelia wouldn't have a reason left to say ‘no' to him. It was his trump card. He just had to get the horse back off the Gradys. Victoria seemed amendable to letting him buy the horse and, as the adult in the family, she had the final say over their property, as far as Luke could see. The runt had been rash buying the animal. In fact, if you thought about it, Luke would be doing them a favour, taking the stallion off their hands. And once he had the horse, he'd be established. As established as Amelia's father, who was the richest man in the valley.

Alex felt sick as she watched him. Every time the subject of Amelia came up he retreated deep into himself, and she had no idea what he was thinking. He was probably remembering how beautiful she looked in her Sunday best, or the soft press of her hand against his, or the enchantment of her kisses . . .

Damn it, there she went again. ‘Sorry,' she apologised. ‘It's none of my business.'

Luke cleared his throat and when he looked up he gave Alex a grimace. ‘I guess it is, runt, if you're worried about your sister. I promised you I'd treat her like a lady, and I will.'

‘I don't think that's going to help.' Luke gave her a quizzical look and she decided to be blunt. ‘Listen,' she explained, ‘I don't think you can help it, but you lead her on every time you even look at her.' She paused, aware of his gathering frown. ‘Could you try not to . . . well, to act so much like
you
around her?'

‘Try not to act like me?' he echoed dubiously.

‘I know it sounds stupid,' she sighed, ‘but when you look at women, they do this whole melty thing.'

‘You want me to not look at her?'

‘That would be a start. Just keep your eyes on your boots or something.'

‘So she won't do the whole melty thing?'

She could hear the amusement in his voice and she scowled. ‘Fine. Mock me. But you won't be the one having to pick up the pieces after you've gone and married that Adelia woman.'

‘Amelia.'

‘I know her name!'

‘So if I stop looking at your sister, you'll stop being surly?'

Alex looked up, startled. ‘Yeah,' she admitted, ‘I guess. Can you not talk to her too?'

‘No, runt,' he shook his head, exasperated, ‘I can't stop talking to her. She's a paying customer.'

‘Well, at least stop giving her roses, then.'

‘It's a deal.' Luke held out his hand for Alex to shake. ‘Friends?'

Alex looked at his hand. Now was the time, she decided, to stop running in circles. Luke Slater belonged to another woman. And she was welcome to him, shameless flirt that he was. He was willing to treat Victoria honourably, and he genuinely liked Adam. So perhaps they could be friends. Taking a deep breath, and telling herself that she was letting go of her feelings for him, Alex took his hand.

‘Friends,' she agreed.

It was as though a great weight had been lifted. Alex found she could relax by the spring as he went about his grooming, without being bothered in the slightest when he changed shirts. Well, almost . . . she peeked a little. She was only human after all.

Dinner that night was a festive affair. The women had prepared a feast and everything was declared communal. Alex was starving after her hard day's work and had three helpings of Ilse's dumplings. She also accepted a mug of Sebastian's precious whiskey, pointedly ignoring Victoria's disapproving glare.

By the time she'd finished the whiskey she was having a fine old time. Sebastian dug out his accordion and she joined in the singing lustily. She was aware of Adam yawning and noticed when Victoria bid Luke goodnight – glad to see he kept his gaze on the dancing flames of the campfire when he answered her – but she felt no desire to go to bed herself. She was perfectly happy lolling in the warmth of the fire, listening to the low chatter and watching the stars flicker overhead.

It was only when Henry Watts passed out on the opposite side of the fire and began snoring loudly that Alex became aware how late it was. Joseph threw a blanket over his brother, and he and Sebastian wandered into the darkness. Adam had also fallen asleep, curled up into a ball on his side. Alex noticed that Luke had tucked his own bedding around him.

‘I guess I'd best get to bed,' she sighed.

‘A little too much whiskey, runt?'

‘I only had one mug.'

‘Sebastian poured a mighty full mug, and I'm guessing you ain't used to it.'

Alex tried to rise and gave a short scream. She couldn't move. Her muscles had frozen solid. She looked around wildly.

Luke started at the sound of the scream.

‘I can't move,' Alex whimpered, feeling a stab of panic. She tried again; she managed to force her petrified muscles an inch, but it was agony.

‘Calm down,' Luke soothed, as he got to his feet and made his way over to her. ‘It's just from those wagons today. Your body isn't used to it.'

‘Suppose I'm paralysed,' she yelped. ‘I can't afford to be a cripple. Who'll look after Victoria and Adam?'

‘You won't be a cripple,' he sighed as he sank down behind her. ‘Stop being so dramatic. You do give yourself airs. “Who'll look after Victoria and Adam?” I don't know if you've noticed, runt, but seeing as how you're the youngest, I reckon
they
are supposed to be looking after
you
.'

Alex yelped again as Luke's big hands settled on her shoulders. ‘What are you doing?'

‘Just relax.' The big hands began to dig into her knotted muscles. ‘Trust me, this will help.'

‘It's not helping!' Every movement of his fingers caused her pain.

‘It will in a moment. It'll hurt until your muscles loosen up a little.'

‘Hurt! This isn't hurt, this is torture.'

‘You know your problem?' he mused, as he kneaded her rock-hard shoulders. ‘You manage to find the worst in every situation.'

‘I do not,' Alex protested, ‘I'm always optimistic.' She ignored his snort of disbelief. And then suddenly his fingers weren't causing her pain any more. Suddenly his touch was sending the most glorious sensations swirling through her body. His thumbs rubbed lazy circles and she had to bite back a moan. ‘You can stop now,' she breathed, but she didn't really mean it. ‘It doesn't hurt any more.'

‘I just want to make sure all the knots are out.'

There wasn't a single muscle in her back he left untouched. And those muscles were connected to the oddest places – her toes were tingling, shivers raced up and down her arms, and there was an aching throb . . .

His hands drifted back to her neck, his thumbs circling again behind her ears and Alex was liquefying under their touch. Her head tilted, exposing the long line of her neck, and her eyelids fluttered closed. She'd been mad to think he had no power over her as long as she was a boy. It wasn't only his burning black gaze that could turn a woman to mush . . . his hands were just as dangerous.

Alex was so drugged with sensation that she barely noticed when he dropped his head close to her ear, so close that his lips brushed her earlobe, and his breath swirled hot against her skin.

But then he spoke and, with a shock, she was suddenly stone-cold sober.

‘So, now that we've agreed to be friends, do you want to tell me why you're all dressed up like a boy . . .
Alexandra
?'

Twenty-Three

Luke had been suspicious for a while. A dozen little things had given her away. There was that voice for a start – although it might be a pleasant pitch for a girl, it was far too high for a sixteen-year-old boy. And then there was her habit of crossing her ankles every time she sat down. Not to mention that ear-splitting scream she was prone to. Luke had never heard a male scream like that.

Even if she
had
managed to give a perfect performance, Victoria and Adam were hopeless. Both of them slipped several times a day. Luke couldn't count the number of times they'd referred to Alex as ‘she'. And then there was this morning in the wagon, when Victoria had said it outright. Even though he'd suspected as much, it was a shock to hear her say it.
Just because you're dressed as a boy is no reason to act like one.

His mind ran back over his encounters with the runt. No wonder Victoria had torn a strip off Alex that first night, when she'd tended to Luke's bath. Good Lord, if she was his little sister he would have bent her over his knee and tarred the hide right off her for a stunt like that. What was she thinking being alone with a naked man?