Moon Racer (34 page)

Fort Fannin

The sun was just going down when Jonah made his
way across the compound to his quarters. His
footsteps were hurried because he could not wait to
get home to Abby. His life was so full and happy he
sometimes wondered how he had survived before
he met her.

Abby had the kind of personality that drew
people to her, and the ladies at the fort had readily
taken her into their group, not altogether
because she was the commander's wife, but
because they liked to be with her. The children
seemed to flock to her. They knew that if
they found themselves at her door, they were likely
to get a sweet treat and a hug. She often played
games with them, and they jealously vied for a place at her side. He wanted the laughter of
children in their home. He could not wait to become
a father.

He was welcomed home by the soft glow of
lamplight and delicious smells coming from the
kitchen.

When Jonah appeared at the kitchen door, Abby
was just taking a loaf of bread out of the oven. She
wore a green gingham gown with her hair drawn
back in a matching ribbon. She came readily into
his arms, nestling her cheek against his shoulder.

Abby still could not believe that this wonderful
man loved her. He had changed her life in so many
ways. With him she felt alive and happy; there were
no longer any dark clouds hanging over her-he
had swept them all away.

She pulled back and looked at him. That
afternoon the fort had been visited by dignitaries
from Fort Worth, and Jonah was still dressed in his
formal regalia, and looked so handsome.

His arms tightened about her and he rested his
chin against her forehead. "Something smells
good." He laughed softly, cupping her face in his
hands. "A wife who is beautiful, delightful, and can
cook as well-I'm a most fortunate husband."

"Frances was determined that if I ever did get
married-which she doubted-I would know how
to cook. It's lucky she taught me, since she insisted
on remaining at Moon Racer Ranch. Someone has
to feed you."

He caressed her cheek with his thumb. "Can the
meal wait?"

She sensed the urgency in him. Moving out of his
arms, she set the bubbling pot on the back of the
stove, then took the hand he offered.

She laughed when he lifted her into his arms and
carried her toward their bedroom. Once inside, he
slid her down the length of his body, his mouth
covering hers in a kiss that made her insides melt.

She suddenly pulled away from him, her eyes
gleaming, her dark hair swirling about her face. Her
tongue darted out to wet her lips, and she became
the perfect seductress. He watched, fascinated, as
she unbuckled his gun belt and placed it carefully
on a chair. He was spellbound when she removed
his saber, then stood back and tapped the point
against his brass buttons.

"Take it off," she said.

He stared into the eyes of a temptress, arched his
brow, and unbuttoned his jacket to let it slide to the
floor.

"The shirt as well."

His shirt soon lay at his feet.

She tapped the saber against his boots. "Remove
them."

He did as she said, a slight smile curving his lips.

Next she pointed the saber at his trousers. "Take
them off."

He readily obeyed and soon stood before her in
all his masculine glory.

She laid the saber across her bent arm, offering it
in surrender.

He ignored her gesture. Grabbing her to him, he
allowed the saber to clatter to the floor. He lifted her in his arms, need tearing at him. "Abby, Abby, do
you know what you do to me?"

"I think so-if it's anything like what you do to
me." Her fingers laced through his thick black hair.
"I know I love you so much it hurts."

His gaze softened. "I can hardly get through a
day without wanting to be with you. I never knew
love could be like this."

He slowly removed her garments, kissing her as
he went and setting her heart on fire.

As Jonah gathered her close, the cooling meal
was all but forgotten. They made love, slowly and
lingeringly, and then fast and hungrily.

Abby threw her head back and bit her lip as he
filled her with his velvet hardness.

His blue gaze captured and held hers while he
murmured words of love-the emotion he had once
denied existed.

As she lay with her head against his shoulder and
his fingertips slowly caressing her skin, she
trembled with a powerful need.

Later, she would tell him that she was going to
have his baby.

Diablo

Edmund Montgomery stood just inside the door of
Sam Larkin's office, impatiently watching the
lawyer finish his business with Spindle, the owner
of the general store.

"It's always good to get these unpleasant transactions over with," Larkin said, standing and shak ing Spindle's hand. "I'll have your will drawn up so
you can sign it next week. Just come by anytime."

Montgomery ground his teeth together but
managed to smile at Spindle as he nodded and
walked out the door. He waited until the storekeeper
had disappeared down the street before he spoke.

"I told you I wanted to see you earlier, and that
means you come to me-I shouldn't have to wait
around while you do mundane tasks like Ed
Spindle's will."

The lawyer stared at Edmund with a funny
expression. "I hadn't noticed before, but there is
something different about your face since you got
back from your trip. Where did you go, anyway?"

"I'm not here to talk about my face, and where I
was is of no importance to you."

"I know what it is," Larkin continued doggedly.
"Your nose is different, wider at the bridge. Has it
been broken?"

Edmund glared at the rail-thin lawyer, realizing
he was going to have to come up with some kind of
story, because everyone was commenting on his
nose. His anger toward Jonah Tremain was
limitless. But he would have to wait for another day
to exact his revenge.

"It's nothing. Just a simple carriage accident." He
eased himself down in a chair because his ribs were
still bothering him. "Now can we get down to
business?"

Sam Larkin had not missed the edge to Montgomeiy's voice. He was more afraid of the banker than of any
man he had ever known. Edmund was always in control and controlled everyone. If the people of
this town knew just how much they had been
manipulated by him, they would be shocked and
more than angry.

Larkin sat down at his desk, his hands nervously
drumming the surface. "I heard Abby Hunter,
er ... I guess I should say, Abby Tremain, is
living at Fort Fannin with her husband."

Fury had control of Edmund, and he grabbed the
lawyer's hands to still them by slamming them
down on the desk. "Stop that thumping, and don't
ever, as long as you live, mention Abby to me
again!"

-Larkin's usually florid complexion paled, and he
ran his hand through his thinning brown hair. He
had never seen Edmund in such a state-his eyes
were hard and frightening. "I... what did you want
to speak to me about?"

Edmund closed his eyes, trying to empty his
mind of Abby. "I was wondering if you have heard
anything from my stepdaughter, Juliana?"

"Not lately."

Edmund smiled. "So it doesn't look like she will
be returning to Texas. Not surprising, since she has
no family here and nothing to come back to. She
never liked me, so she won't be coming back to see
me."

"I hope she never comes back."

Edmund laughed, and it wasn't a pretty sound. "I
just bet you do. I don't like her any more than she
likes me, but she's smart. If she comes back, you
may be in for real trouble."

The lawyer stood and started pacing. "You have
to help me here, Edmund. I invested her trust
fund-that's all."

"You spent it. And you lost it."

"She'll probably look at it that way," he said
bitterly.

"When the news gets out, so will everyone else."

"I don't know what I'm going to do."

Edmund cast him a hostile glare. "Will you sit
down and stop pacing?" he gritted through his teeth.
"Your fidgeting is getting on my nerves."

Larkin did as he was told and clamped his hands
in his lap so Edmund couldn't see them trembling.
He wished he had a drink-he had a bottle in his
drawer, but he couldn't take it out until Edmund
left. "I'm scared, Edmund."

"You should be. But I may be able to help you."

"You would help me?"

"For a price."

I... A price?"

"I need legal work done from time to time. It's no
secret to you that I want to get my hands on the
Half-Moon Ranch, and I may need your help to do
it. I know you will be discreet, since you don't want
anyone to find out you are a thief." Edmund leaned
in closer, his gaze fixed on the sweating lawyer.
"You keep my secrets, and I keep yours."

Larkin knew he was making a deal with the devil,
but what choice did he have? "I can do that."

"Good."

"If you hear from your stepdaughter that she's
coming back, will you let me know?"

Edmund stood and straightened his coat, his
cordial smile sliding into place. "If Juliana does
come back, I'll be the last person to know."

"You have to keep her away."

"I don't need her here stirring things up any more
than you do. I need a clear mind for what I'm about
to do." His eyes flashed and he swiveled to face the
lawyer. "If it's the last thing I ever do, I will bring
down every one of those Hunters!"

Constance is a native Texan who makes her home
in San Antonio with her husband, Jim, and their son,
Jason. Her books range from historical to
contemporary and include several novellas. Many of
her books have been published in trade paperback.
Her books have been published in Canada, England,
Australia, Africa, Spain, China, Germany, Italy,
Russia and France. Among her many awards, she is
the recipient of the 1996 Romantic Times Career
Achievement Award. There are eight million copies
of her books in print.

"I have always loved history, and I loved
storytelling-it was only natural that I would one day
put them both together. I must have lived in another
life and time, because when I write, I can almost feel I
was there. My favorite part of writing is the research.
Whenever possible, I will go to the place I am writing
about to walk the land and smell the air."

Readers can e-mail Constance at &texas.net. obanyon