Dorothy Garlock (33 page)

He started the car to move it when he could no longer see Hunter walking down the road. The car inched forward, then turned the corner. He could see the object of his hatred ahead of him walking along the side of the road.

Suddenly he was engulfed with an unreasonable, uncontrollable fury. Blood rushed to his face. He felt as if his head would burst. With a cry of rage, he pressed his foot down on the gas pedal, gripped the steering wheel with both hands and aimed the car at his hated enemy.

Hunter, walking along the dark road happily reliving the kiss he'd shared with Laura and the miracle of being invited to dinner, had heard the purring of the car motor behind him, but was unaware that it was bearing down on him until it was no more than a few yards away. He glanced over his shoulder and saw it, without headlights, coming fast, aiming at him. He threw himself toward the side of the road, but it was too late.

The front fender of the car struck him. He felt a searing pain in his hip and thigh as he was flung into the dense thicket of thorny bushes that grew along the edge of a vacant lot. The wind was knocked out of him. He lay still, half dazed, but aware that whoever was driving that car had tried to kill him. He felt blood trickling down the side of his face but knew that was not his most serious injury.

Lord, he hoped that his thigh was not broken. He'd be a sitting duck for whoever ran him down if he came back to finish the job.

Hunter looked around for something with which to defend himself. His hand grasped a small branch he could use as a club. It wasn't stout, but it would have to do. Placing the club beside him, he explored his hip and thigh.

Who in hell had tried to kill him?

He straightened his leg, moved his hip joint. Thank God there were no broken bones! He lay quietly, listening for the sound of the car. Time passed slowly. His mind cleared.

Had the driver been waiting for him? If so, the man knew that he had been at Laura's. Half the single men in town had called on her at one time or another. It was logical that one of them, desperately in love with her and jealous of him, had run him down. He would think about it later. His only thought now should be to get home.

When he thought it safe to leave the thicket, he rolled to his side and, after several agonizing attempts, got to his feet. He stood swaying until his head cleared, then, after looking up and down the road for the car, began the painful journey home.

Chapter 23

J
USTINE WISHED TO GOD THAT SHE COULD DIE
. But dear Lord, it was unthinkable that her life would be taken by Lloyd Nathan Madison.

She lay in her bed looking at the ceiling. Never had she dreamed that when she left this world, she would leave it as helpless as the day she entered it. The body she had lived in all these years was old and useless, but her mind screamed that on the inside she was still young, still had her pride and an aching heart.

Fate had dealt her a double blow. Along with this paralyzing illness, fate had given her what she had yearned for, for more than twenty-five years. Now she wished to God that her desire had not been fulfilled. The disappointment was almost more than she could bear. She remembered the saying “Be careful what you wish for.”

Tears trickled from the corners of her eyes. She didn't often allow herself the luxury of self-pity. Through a blur of tears she looked to the bureau, where her husband, Ralph, in a jaunty straw hat, smiled at her.

“Say something, Ralph. Talk to me.”

“Sure, babe. What'a you want to talk about? ”

“I'm ugly and useless, Ralph.”

“Never. You're still the prettiest little sugarplum in the state of Oklahoma.”

“Damn you, Ralph. Don't lie to me. I'm a sight and you know it! I look like I've been run hard and put up wet.” She sniffed back tears.

“But still sassy. Smile for me, darlin'.”

“I've not had much to smile about. It's been hard without you, Ralph.”

“You did all right. You ran the best whorehouse in the Cherokee Strip. I was proud of you.”

“It wasn't a whorehouse, Ralph. It was rooming house for young ladies.”

“If you say so.”
He chuckled.
“How about you and me havin 'a party, sugarplum? ”
The face in the picture winked at her.
“That always made you smile.”

“In the afternoon? In broad daylight? ”

“We've done it before. Remember that time in the buggy coming up from Claremore? ”

“We were on the prairie. A man on horseback came toward us and you, you horny rascal, wouldn't let me up off your lap.”

“He thought I was teaching you to drive the team.”

“He'd have been an idiot to have thought that. You'd wrapped the reins around the brake handle and your hands were under my skirts.”

“l remember every delicious minute of it, babe.”

“Oh, so do I, Ralph, darlin'.”

“Aunt Justine? ”The door opened and Jill came into the room. “I was sure I heard someone talking in here. Are you all right? ”

“I'm all right, honey.”

“I wish you'd let me leave the door open so a breeze could swish through here. Lloyd isn't here.”

“Leave it open. If
he
comes,
he
comes. I'm tired of fighting him.”

“You'll not be left alone. Radna has gone to the garden, but I'll keep a close watch. By the way, Mr. Ridge is here to see you.”

“It sounds funny to hear you call Skeeter Mr. Ridge.”

“He isn't my favorite person, you know.”

“I know, but he's been a good friend.”

Jill stepped to the door and beckoned, then stepped aside so Skeeter Ridge could come into the room.

“Hello, Skeeter. Close the door, Jill. Skeeter isn't going to jump into bed with me.”

“Don't be too sure, ”Skeeter grumbled, as he squeezed past Jill to reach the chair beside the bed.

“Would you like a glass of tea, Aunt? The man at the drugstore gave Joe some paper straws he thought you could use and he said to tell you hello.”

“That would be Gary Rowe. He used to come here often … to see a girl who boarded here.” When Skeeter raised his brows, Justine said, “It's true, Skeeter. Her name was Elizabeth, but we called her Beth. She had beautiful red hair.”

“I never said anythin', ”Skeeter grumbled.

“Bring a glass of tea for Skeeter, Jill. He'll help me with mine.”

After Jill had delivered the iced tea, she closed the door and stood for a minute in the hallway. With a worried frown on her face, she went back to the front desk and stood beside the screen that separated the desk from the couch behind it. She was sure that she had heard her aunt talking to someone in the room, but when she opened the door, no one was there.

When an arm snaked around her waist and pulled her behind the screen, she let out a little squeak of surprise and lashed out with her arms.

“Shh …It's me. I'm sorry if I scared you.” Thad's voice was close to her ear. His arms came around her from behind, pulling her tightly against his chest.

“Let go of me. What the heck do you think you're doing? ”She stood stiffly in his embrace. Her hands folded over his as she tried to pry his arms from around her.

“I'm going to talk to you. You haven't given me a chance for three days and I'm about to go out of my mind.”

“Talk, but turn me loose, Thad. I have work to do.”

“I can't talk to you while you work.” His lips were rubbing the soft skin beneath her ear. His breath was warm on her cheek. “Sweetheart, you smell so good. Is that Blue Waltz perfume you're wearing? ”

“No, it's furniture polish, and I'm not your sweetheart! ”She tried to move her head to avoid the small nibbling bites he was making along her jaw.

“Yes, you are.”

“Thad! You're being …ridiculous! ”

“Why are you mad at me? You liked my kisses that night on the back porch. Since then you've avoided me like I'd been sprayed by a skunk.” His teeth nipped her earlobe. “And don't you dare say they
were fun
or I'll bite a chunk out of you, ”he teased.

“Let me go, Thad, or I'll tell Joe and he'll mop the floor with you.”

“No, he won't. He knows my intentions are honorable.” He held her possessively and repeated her name in a whispered chant, his lips moving against her ear. “Jill, Jill, darlin 'Jill. Loosen up a little bit, honey.”

“Stop it! ”

He folded first one of her arms and then the other across her waist and then held tightly to her hands, pulling her arms and his snugly up under her breasts, his knuckles nudging the undersides.

“I'm crazy about you, honey.” His tongue tickled the corner of her lips.

“Ha! You've had a lot of practice saying that.”

“I've never said it before. If you don't enjoy being like this with me, then why is your heart beating so fast? ”

“Because I'm… scared! ”

“You'll have to think of something better than that, because you're not scared of me. You know that I'd die before I'd hurt you or let anyone else hurt you.”

“There are different kinds …of hurt. I'm not going to let you hurt my …heart.” Her breath was so clogged in her lungs she thought they would burst from it.

“Why do you think I want to hurt you? I want to love you and I want you to love me.”

“I don't! I won't! ”Her breath was sobbing. “The man I give my heart to will want me and only me. Ten thousand beautiful women could strip naked in front of him and he'd still want me! ”

“You think I wouldn't? Ah, sweetheart, you don't know me at all.”

Thad's fingers moved a fraction and the tips raked lightly back and forth across the tip of her breast. Her nipple was instantly a small hard knot beneath her gingham dress. The sensation of pleasure was so intense that Jill's toes lifted and she rocked back on her heels. He continued to stroke, sending shafts of warm desire through her. It was even more intense than when he touched her breast the other day.

“Does that feel good, honey? It feels so good to have you in my arms. Someday my mouth is going to be where my fingers are right now.”

Heaven help her! She didn't want his fingers to stop their tender torment. Her head drooped. Shame brought tears to her eyes and they fell onto the hand on her breast.

“My God! ”he groaned. “You're crying.” He turned her quickly toward him and wrapped her protectively in his arms. “I didn't mean to make you cry. Please, don't. Ah … sweet girl, I'm so desperate to have you want me that, at times, I don't use good sense. I'm trying to prove to you that you do have feelings for me. That you respond to my touch.” He pressed her cheek to his shoulder, his lips moving over her hair. “Where's my sassy girl? ”he whispered. “I want my mouthy Jill back. Hit me, kick me, yell at me.” His palms framed her face and turned it up to his. “Oh, Lord. I've gone about this all wrong — ”His thumbs wiped at the tears on her cheeks.

“If I'd fallen all over you and chased you, you wouldn't want me.” Her words came out in gasps.

“How do you know that? If you'd just chase me a little bit, I'd be the happiest man in the world.”

“I'll not do it! ”Her voice was firm again. “I'll not run with the herd.”

“I'm going to knock Joe's teeth out for telling you that. But first I'm going to kiss you.”

His face was very close. Jill looked up at him, up at the square chin and high cheekbones, up into green eyes that gleamed down at her from beneath drooping lids. She met his gaze and read his hunger for her. She saw, not a flirting, devil-may-care Thad, but her Thad. Serious, tender, loving. A man far more dangerous to her peace of mind. Her heartbeat quickened.

“No! ”

“Yes.”

His lips lowered to hers. Her eyes were open. She saw his close when his lips brushed hers. The touch was gentle, sweet, so sweet that she could almost believe that he really cared for her and that she was not just a mere challenge to his ego. His lips sipped at the tears on her cheeks. He was breathing hard. She felt the strong thump of his heart.

“Your mouth is so … sweet. Sweetheart, believe me. I've been miserable these last few days.”

As soon as he uttered the words, he lifted his head, instantly alert. Jill heard the squeak of the screen door and footsteps crossing the lobby.

“Stay here. I'll take care of it, ”Thad whispered. His hands caressed her arms before he put her away from him. As soon as he stepped from behind the screen, she sank down on the couch.

“Where's Jill? ”Lloyd Madison's voice was hostile, and it brought Jill to her feet.

“Miss Jones
is busy, ”Thad answered with equal hostility.

“Well, never mind. I really came to see Mrs. Byers.”

“She's busy, too.”

“Yeah? Doing what? Counting the flyspecks on the ceiling? ”

“It's none of your business what she's doing. You can't see her.”

“And who's going to stop me? ”Lloyd moved toward the hall that ran alongside the stairs as Jill darted from behind the screen.

“I am, ”Thad said calmly, and he moved swiftly to block Lloyd's path. “She doesn't want to see you.”

“She will have to tell me that. I've spoken to the sheriff and laid down my case about you people keeping my client prisoner here. I'm to report back to him if you should refuse to let me see her.”

“She isn't your client.”

Lloyd turned when he heard Jill's voice. “Ah …there you are, darlin'. I'm sorry I had to leave early this morning and miss our little …ah …tryst.” He winked at her. “I've been horny all day.”

“What… are you talking about? ”Jill stammered.

Lloyd frowned. “Doesn't he know? ”He jerked his head toward Thad.

“Know what? ”

“About you and me, darlin'.”

“You're crazy as a bedbug. There is no
you and me,
you stinking horse's patoot! ”

Lloyd gave her a tolerant smile. “I understand why you're mad, honey, and I'm sorry I disappointed you. I'll explain it to you tonight when you come to my room. Meanwhile, I need to see Mrs. Byers.”

Leaving Jill with her mouth agape, he started down the hallway and ran up against Thad. Appalled by the crazy things Lloyd had said, Jill was almost frightened by the look of pure rage on Thad's face. His hand shot out and fastened to the front of Lloyd's shirt, almost lifting the lighter man off the floor. The muscles in his forearm bulged; his jaw was clenched and jutted forward.