Christine Dorsey (35 page)

Jake chuckled. “Let’s pull the quilt up anyway.”

After he settled them comfortably, Samantha’s head resting on his shoulder, his arm around her, Jake turned and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I shouldn’t stay.” He paused. “Hell, I probably shouldn’t have come.”

Samantha leaned up on her elbow, giving Jake a wide-eyed innocent stare. “But you had to tell me about Landis Moore.”

A bark of laughter shook his chest and Samantha grinned down at him. “Landis Moore was the last thing on my mind when I came in here.” His head jerked up for a quick kiss before he pulled her back down. “But I guess we do need to talk about him.”

Samantha sighed. “The sheriff thinks he’s off to Tennessee and won’t come around these part again.”

“He also believes he was in Missouri last week when we know he was burning your cornfield.”

“And hurting Will.”

Jake tightened his grip on her shoulders. “And hurting Will,” he agreed. “I don’t know where he is but I still think we should keep an eye out for him—at least for a while.”

He said “we.”
We
should keep an eye out for him. Samantha knew he meant to leave soon. But maybe not right away. And the thought made her happier than she could say.

“Are you asleep?” Jake tucked in his chin to see Samantha’s face. She didn’t say anything about Moore, and that wasn’t like her.

“No. And I agree with you. We should be watchful.”

Jake sifted his fingers through her golden curls and wondered at his contentment. But even as he enjoyed it, a little voice reminded him it couldn’t last. Not this night with Samantha. Not the happiness he found with her.

“Jake.”

“Hmmm?” He was staring at the whitewashed ceiling thinking he really needed to get up and go to his own room—and wishing he didn’t have to when she spoke his name.

“Where in Texas are you headed?”

“I don’t know.” Jake shifted around to face her. “Haven’t really given it much thought. I didn’t decide on Texas until recently.”

“Oh.” Samantha rolled her head to look at him. His arm was beside her, elbow bent, and he used his hand to prop up his head.

“Why?”

“No reason. I just wondered.” Not for anything would she tell him she wanted to know where he’d be so she could picture him there after he left.

“Mmmm.” Jake lazily followed the curve of her breast with his finger. “Maybe Southeast Texas. Thomas...” Jake paused then glanced down and explained. “He was my brother. Anyway, he said it was pretty down there.”

“I’ll bet there are lots of towns that need a doctor too.”

Jake’s finger stilled. “My doctoring days are over.”

“They don’t have to be.”

Jake flopped onto his back, throwing an arm across his eyes. “They just are, that’s all. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“But why?”

Jake peeked from under his arm. “You are a pestery woman, you know that?”

Samantha leaned up on her arm. “Maybe. But I still want to know. Is it because of what happened to your wife and son?” She couldn’t imagine what possessed her to force the issue like this, but Samantha couldn’t seem to help herself.

“It’s not Lydia or Andrew, or even the war.” Jake scrubbed his hand over his chin. “It’s me. I just don’t think I have anything to offer anymore.”

“But that’s not true. Look what you did for Will. Doc Shelton said he’d never seen so fine a stitching job.”

This remark was met with silence, such complete silence that Samantha leaned closer. “Did you hear me?”

“Yes I heard you.” There was a twinge of annoyance in his voice, and he took a deep breath. With a quick movement Jake tugged on the arm supporting Samantha, sending her sprawling across his chest. “Listen, I know you’re trying to bolster my confidence.” He positioned her better on top of him. “But the fact is, I don’t want to be a doctor anymore.”

“I don’t be—”

Samantha’s response was cut off when Jake’s hand cupped her head, pulling her down for a deep, probing kiss. Her tongue met his for a sensual dance that heated his blood. But when he loosened his grip, she rested her elbows on his chest and looked him squarely in the eye. “—lieve you,” she finished. “I don’t believe you.”

“Oh, yeah,” Jake chuckled. “Looks like I’m going to have to use stronger measures than a kiss to end this conversation.”

“Jake.” She drew the word out. “Don’t do that. I think we should talk.”

“Not now, Samantha.”

Samantha tore her mouth away from his next kiss before she was completely lost in a sensual haze. “I know what you’re trying to do.”

“Good.” Jake grasped her buttocks and slid her up over him. “Then why don’t you help?”

There was nothing she could say to that; besides, Samantha really didn’t want to talk when they could be making love.

She moaned in acquiescence when he urged her down for another kiss. Her hair curled around them, a shimmering veil of gold that held the world and its troubles at bay—at least for the moment.

Her breasts pressed against his chest, her entire body, soft and smooth, molded to his hair-roughened flesh as he held her. Samantha’s thighs spread and he arched, teasing her for only a moment before he thrust, filling her with his heat.

Samantha gasped as each movement she made created a surge of tension within her. She wriggled and his hands clamped on her hips.

“Take it slow or I can’t be responsible,” he murmured as she threw back her head.

She found a rhythm, exalted in it, and kept it up as Jake’s body tensed beneath her. Then he slid his thumbs over her taut nipples before slipping his hand to where their bodies met. Deliberately, provocatively, he searched for the treasure buried deep in her tight curls.

He stroked and she writhed, her control gone, her body jolting to meet his wild, powerful thrusts.

Samantha collapsed on Jake’s chest, her skin as slick as his, her body as spent. Jake gathered her close, rolled them to the side, and they both fell asleep, still intimately joined.

It was the commotion on the street beneath his window that woke Jake up. He shifted, smiling when he felt Samantha’s warm, soft body cuddled with his. Just as quickly, his eyes popped open and the smile disappeared. “Damnit,” he said, throwing back the quilt.

“What’s wrong.” Samantha drifted up from a marvelous dream to find it reality. She was entwined with Jake, though he seemed bent on changing that.

“I fell asleep in here.” Jake rolled to the edge of the bed, then thought better of his haste and leaned forward, pressing his lips against Samantha’s. “Good morning,” he said when she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Mmmm” was Samantha’s only response.

“I have to go.” Jake unfolded her hands at his nape and guided them to his mouth. “I never meant to stay here last night. Maybe Will isn’t awake yet.”

“Is that what you’re worried about? Will finding out?”

Jake yanked on his pants. “Not for myself. But I thought you might care.”

“I do, I guess. At least I think I should.” Samantha pulled the quilt up to her chin and leaned back against the wooden headboard. “But I doubt Will’s still asleep. Not with all that noise outside. What is it anyway?”

Jake stomped his foot into the boot and strode to the window, sliding back the cotton curtains. He peered through the grimy glass then closed his eyes. Turning toward Samantha, he met her stare. “The army’s here.”

~ ~ ~

“I don’t know why you’re being so obstinate about this.”

“I’m not obstinate.” Jake wiped his mouth on the homespun napkin and stood.

“What do you call it then?” Samantha pushed back her chair without waiting for Jake to do it.

“I call it, not seeing any reason for me to meet with the army lieutenant.”

“Because it’s the Union Army.”

“Maybe.” Jake lowered his voice when he noticed Will regarding him strangely. The three of them had just finished a late breakfast in Hager’s Flats’ only restaurant. Now Samantha was pestering him to go with her to the sheriff’s office, where the army had set up a temporary headquarters.

“The war is over, you know.”

“Ha!” Jake flattened his palms on the table between plates of leftover pancakes. “Look who’s talking, Miss Shoot First Ask Questions Later.”

“I thought that was behind us,” Samantha said, leaning forward herself.

“It is.” Jake straightened, glancing around the room, glad to see they were the only patrons remaining in the place. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want to go have a sit-down chat with some Union officer, nor do I think it’s necessary. Will and I can hitch up the wagon and have everything ready for you when you’re finished.”

Samantha gave an exaggerated sigh. “Well, if that’s the way it has to be.” She gathered up her reticule.

“It is.” Jake bent over to help Will. “You don’t need me, Samantha.”

Need him or no, she wanted him, Samantha thought, as she headed down the boardwalk toward the sheriff’s office. Soldiers milled around in front of the false-fronted building. They moved aside as she came to a stop and then went in the office.

Her entrance produced a scowl from Sheriff Hughes, who was bent over his desk explaining something to the man sitting in his seat. That man, an officer in his early thirties, looked up and smiled before jerking to his feet.

“Lieutenant Matthew Farrow at your service, ma’am. How may I help you?”

“Lieutenant.” Samantha sat in the chair he offered. “I’m Samantha Lowery.”

“Ah.” Farrow touched his dark mustache. “The lady that sent Colonel Adams the telegram. I had no idea you’d be so lovely.”

Samantha felt her blush all the way to her toes, especially when she heard Sheriff Hughes’s grunt of disbelief. Apparently the lieutenant heard it, too, for he turned on the man, an expression of disdain on his face. “I believe I’m finished with you for the time being, Hughes. I’ll let you know if I have any more questions.”

Hughes bristled at the dismissal. “But... but this is my office. I’m the law in Hager’s Flats.”

“Not as long as the army’s in town. I have the authority to make that official if you’d rather.”

Hughes grabbed his sweat-stained hat from the hook near the door and retreated in a muttering mass.

“Bunch of Southern sympathizers,” Lieutenant Farrow said after the door slammed shut. “What an ordeal it must be for you.”

“There have been moments,” Samantha admitted, then smiled because Matthew Farrow was smiling at her. “I imagine everything will work out now that you’re here.”

“I should very well hope so. Now tell me all that’s happened.”

For the next half-hour or so, Samantha related everything she could think of, including her father’s hanging, vandalism on her farm, Jake’s conversation with Ab Moore, and Will’s attempted murder. Matthew Farrow was an attentive listener, seldom interrupting, and then only to ask pertinent questions.

When Samantha finished, Lieutenant Farrow assured her she would have no more problems from Landis Moore. “I intend to clamp down on this town, especially the Rebel element.”

“They aren’t all bad,” Samantha countered, only to have her hand patted by the lieutenant.

“I know what I’m doing, lovely lady. Don’t worry your pretty head over it. Now”—the lieutenant stood when Samantha did—“please allow me to escort you home.”

“There’s no need.”

“But I insist. You shouldn’t be roaming about the countryside alone until we’ve brought Moore to justice.”

“I truly don’t believe he’s in the area.” Samantha thought of Jake’s futile search for him “Besides, I have my brother and... and a man I’ve hired to help harvest the corn with me.”

“If you’re sure you’ll be all right then...”

“I’m quite sure.” Even though he was a Union soldier, Samantha didn’t think she cared for Matthew Farrow. He seemed nice enough, and he was certainly willing to be of service to her. And with his straight dark brown hair and deep-set brown eyes, he was handsome, but...

“You will allow me to call on you once I’ve taken care of things in town, won’t you?” Lieutenant Farrow reached for her hand.

“Yes... I suppose so.”

“Excellent. I’ll look forward to it.”

Samantha nodded in agreement. But she was more than happy to leave the sheriff’s office and see Jake and Will waiting with the wagon at the end of the street.

“W
hat are you singing about?” Jake came up behind Samantha as she scooped water from the creek into a wooden bucket. He took it from her as she straightened.

Samantha brushed hair from her eyes. “Was I singing?”

“Sure were. Sounded mighty pretty too.” Jake draped his arm around Samantha’s shoulders and gave her a quick kiss. “I’m leaving for the field now. Will’s going along again to keep me company. We should finish up today.”

Finish up. The day Samantha dreaded. The day there was no real reason for Jake to stay on. “That’s good,” she said, hoping her true feelings weren’t too obvious.

Apparently Jake didn’t notice any trepidation in her voice for he went on in obvious good humor. “If we get done this morning, I’m going to ride into town and see about getting that wheel fixed again. You need anything else?”

“Not that I can think of.” Samantha smiled up at him. Jake didn’t act like he was aching to leave. He seemed happy and lighthearted. In the five days since they’d returned from town, Samantha and Jake and Will had gotten on fine.