Savage storm (10 page)

"Why not? I'll bet I can shoot a rifle as well as Paul can. He has more than enough to do taking care of us; I'll be happy to take his place when he is scheduled to stand guard." Gabrielle thought her plan very sensible, but she could tell from Jason's dark gaze that he did not.

"Miss MacLaren, I will not ask women to stand guard duty. That issue is not open to further discussion. Now if you will excuse me, I must be on my way." Jason finished tightening the cinch which held the saddle firmly in place upon his horse's back, then he lowered the stirrup and untied his mount's reins. "You'd better hurry too, it's time we got the wagons rolling." He'd not spoken to Gabrielle in several days, but there was no time to carry on a polite conversation now, much to his regret.

"Do you just naturally assume that all women are incompetent, Mr. Royal?" Gabrielle didn't like the way he'd treated her when she thought her offer was both generous and practical.

Seeking a quick end to what he considered a needless as well as an unexpected argument, Jason simply handed Gabrielle his rifle and pointed to a tree in the distance. "I won't make the mistake of asking who taught you to shoot since I have a good idea it wasn't your aunt. Let me see if you can hit that tree."

*'Where would you like me to aim, at the top or the large branch to the left?"

"Whichever you choose. Miss MacLaren." Jason folded his arms across his chest and waited while Gabrielle brought the rifle to her shoulder.

'The branch is a better target." Gabrielle lined up the tree in the sight and carefully squeezed the trigger sending the branch crashing to the earth while the loud report of the rifle still hung in the morning air. "Are you satisfied now, Mr. Royal?" Gabrielle considered herself very lucky indeed for she'd not used his rifle before and had had no idea how true its aim might be. Each weapon was different. She simply knew she'd been lucky to hit the branch with her first shot, but she planned to press that advantage for all it was worth. The fact that her right shoulder was now aching painfully from the recoil of the weapon was something she'd just have to ignore.

Jason continued to stare at the shorn limb, his easy solution to Gabrielle's outrageous offer to stand guard surprisingly ineffective. "Nice shot," he mumbled while he tried to think of something more profound to say.

"Does that mean I can take Paul's turn?" Gabrielle asked hopefully.

"No, it does not, but I'll remember how well you can shoot should the need arise." Jason took back his rifle, leaped upon his buckskin stallion, and was gone in an instant, leaving Gabrielle choking in a cloud of dust.

"Damn you!" Gabrielle swore loudly even though she knew

Jason would not be able to hear her curse.

Clayton Home had observed the scene she'd just played with Jason, and he came forward swiftly to offer some advice. "Miss MacLaren, I must caution you not to question Mr. Royal's authority. The emigrants in countless wagon trains have needlessly suffered through extremely difficult crossings because they lacked a strong leader. Men get overtired, fall into petty arguments, and when the leadership constantly changes, falling upon successively less capable shoulders, increasingly poor decisions result. Then the factions split up the train into several smaller ones, each with their own leader who thinks he knows what is best. Unfortunately, the result is always the same, disastrous and all too often tragic as well."

Gabrielle tried to hold her temper but failed, since she felt Clayton's lecture was completely beside the point. "I am not trying to cause unnecessary strife, nor to question Mr. Royal's authority. I merely attempted to volunteer to take Paul Slaughter's guard duty and he refused to listen to me."

"As well he should for your idea is absurd!" Clayton responded with a booming laugh, dismissing her request with a sweep of his hand.

Her cheeks burning with the anger she could no longer control, Gabrielle sprinted away for had she remained for another second she would have slapped the grin from Clayton's face and she knew that would have caused her no end of trouble. She took several deep breaths as she neared her wagon, and finding Erica ready to mount the spritely mare she preferred to ride, she leaped upon Sunny's back, dug her heels into his sides, and called to her friend to hurry. They often rode ahead of their wagon to escape the dust even though Paul usually managed to join the beginning of the wagon train where the trail was the cleanest. By the time Erica caught up with her, Gabrielle had already decided she'd keep her confrontations with Jason and Mr. Home to herself, but Erica could readily see something was wrong and tried to ascertain what it might be.

"Where did you go this morning?" The green-eyed beauty asked with a careless toss of her honey-blond curls.

"Nowhere, at least it turned out to be nowhere," Gabrielle replied tersely.

Erica had already learned that while Gabrielle was the most patient of teachers, never tiring until she'd helped Marlene and Margaret, as well as several of the girls from the other two wagons, to become both confident and proficient riders, she was nonetheless maddeningly stubborn when it came to her own privacy. That she seemed to be filled with tantalizing secrets perplexed Erica all the more.

"Forget that I asked then," she replied flippantly. "I know you'll tell only what you wish to reveal and nothing more."

Startled by Erica's insight, Gabrielle drew back on Sunny's reins to pull him to a halt. "What does that remark mean?"

"I meant only that you are a very private person, that's all. It is not an insult and I did not mean you to take it as such." The last thing Erica wanted was to start a fight with Gabrielle since she liked her so much, but the young woman's refusal to confide in her frustrated her greatly.

Gabrielle nodded slightly, then turned Sunny back toward the trail. "I simply don't think my life is all that interesting a topic to discuss. I didn't mean to offend you."

With a bright smile. Erica accepted that apology. "We are friends then, aren't we?"

"Of course," Gabrielle replied promptly, the question seeming a silly one to her for she did not think a friendship already established could be so easily destroyed.

"Good. Now tell me who gave you your first kiss," Erica asked with a saucy grin.

Rather than be angry, Gabrielle replied with a jest of her own. "What makes you think any man has ever kissed me?" She'd never speak Beau's name, but she tried to recall just when he had kissed her for the first time. It had been years ago, at Christmas time. He'd brought her a bright green ribbon for her hair and she'd been so pleased she'd kissed his cheek. He

had quickly responded by kissing her upon the lips. Her aunt had come into the parlor then and had been very stern with them, sending Beau away and appearing to be as shocked as if she'd caught them making love upon her velvet love seat. Beau had winked as he'd run from the room, and she had thought him very brave for daring to be so bold in front of her aunt.

"Oh, I'm certain you've been kissed, and probably by more than one man too, but if you'll not admit il, I'll tell you about my first love. His name was Leonard."

"Leonard?" Gabrielle began to laugh for that name seemed so unlikely for any man Erica would love. "Yes, please do tell me about him for he sounds like a most romantic soul!" Marlene joined them then and Barbara too, and laughing happily, they all rode along, the hours and miles passing swiftly as they recalled young men they'd known, parties they'd attended, and stolen kisses they remembered fondly. Gabrielle enjoyed her new friends' tales, but none save Erica noticed that she alone revealed nothing of her past.

That same good humor carried the young women through days when Jason's prediction proved correct and they did indeed have to unload their wagon five or six times when the countless streams which crossed the prairie threatened to keep its wheels permanently lodged in the slimy mud of the stream bed. The sun always rose too early after such days as those, but after the less strenuous ones Gabrielle was often a restless sleeper, waking frequently and unable to find a comfortable pose no matter how many she tried. On one such night as she lay staring up into the darkness, she heard the plaintive strains of a far off melody. Sitting up she tried to identify its source. Someone was playing a harmonica, a slow mournful tune which brought tears to her eyes as she listened. Her curiosity would not allow her to rest until she had found the musician so she slipped quietly out of the wagon and with a stealthy step moved toward the hauntingly beautiful music.

Jason laid the harmonica aside as he reached for his rifle, he felt rather than heard someone approaching but he wanted to

take no chances. He was seated just outside the circle of light thrown by the flickering fire so his silhouette would not provide a target for some brave's arrow. Every muscle of his powerful body grew tense as he waited in the darkness for the unseen enemy to appear so he could blast him to kingdom come.

"Please don't stop. I didn't mean to disturb you; I simply wanted to listen to the music," Gabrielle called out softly.

"Gabrielle?" Dropping the rifle, Jason got to his feet, moved swiftly to her side, then led her around the edge of the fire into the shadows where he'd been seated. He pulled her down beside him as he gave her a stern warning. "I'm sorry if I disturbed your rest, but you mustn't wander around the camp in the darkness. A less experienced guard would have shot first and then gone to see who you were."

Gabrielle sighed sadly as she looked away. "I meant only to compliment a musician, not to disappoint you again." She could not even recall how many days it had been since she'd spoken to the man about taking a turn at standing guard. She saw him frequently for his responsibilities took him along the line of wagons several times each day, but he had not given her so much as a wave or nod, nor had she expected such attention.

"Disappoint me? That's an unusual way to describe a near catastrophe! Damn it, I could have killed you just now!" Jason was nearly shaking with rage, for his rebuke seemed to have made no impression upon the lively redhead.

"Well, you didn't, so you needn't be so angry with me." Gabrielle leaned forward, hugging her knees as she smoothed the folds of her soft linen nightgown into place.

Jason opened his mouth to argue, then thought better of it since he knew he'd only be wasting his breath. "No, thank God, I did not, but you must promise me you'll not leave your wagon again at night no matter what you hear. It could be an entire symphony orchestra playing dance melodies—I don't care what it is—I want you to remain in your bed!"

Gabrielle stared into the glowing embers of the fire and tried

to imagine how such festive music would sound as it came drifting through the stillness of the prairie air. "I love to dance, do you?" she inquired softly.

"Of course/' Jason responded without needing time to think, for he would use any excuse to hold a beautiful woman in his arms. He realized her question was completely irrelevant to their discussion, hut suddenly he didn't care. She was so very lovely he did not want to remain angry with her. "Unfortunately, I can't play the harmonica and dance at the same time."

Pleased that his mood seemed to have improved dramatically, Gabrielle asked a question. "Does the piece you were playing have a name? It was so terribly sad and yet beautiful at the same time." She'd been astonished to find Jason was the musician, but truly the man's talents seemed to be limitless from what little she'd learned about him.

"No, I was just making it up as I went along. It wasn't anything special."

"Oh, but it was!" Gabrielle protested instantly. "The tune was simply perfection, just like your sketches."

"If it could have lured you to your death, Gabrielle, it wasn't worth playing," Jason responded sadly. A wolf howled in the distance as if underscoring his words, but truly she had given him a bad fright. That he might have shot such a lovely creature in so senseless an accident appalled him.

"None of us knows when fate will overtake us, Mr. Royal, but since you are so cautious a sentry I doubt you would have fired a shot at anyone you couldn't see. I think I was quite safe despite your remarks to the contrary."

"Safe?" Jason pronounced the word skeptically, his mind suddenly painting a far different picture indeed. He had just begun his turn at watch and would not be relieved before dawn. The wagons were neatly arranged in a circle, the livestock grazing contentedly in the center. The travelers were all asleep, and while there was more than one guard, they did not communicate with each other so he and Gabrielle were quite

alone. Perhaps the true danger was one she had yet to recognize. "Please call me Jason." He whispered hoarsely but before she could respond he pulled her into his arms, lowering her gently onto the grass which covered the plain with a soft blanket of green. He found her mouth slightly open as she took a breath to protest the strength of his embrace, but he gave her no time to speak as his tongue slipped between her soft pink lips in a kiss he hoped would finally subdue her defiant spirit.

Gabrielle pressed her palms against his chest, but her attempts to shove Jason away proved futile. He was a strong and agile young man, and she realized instantly how foolish she'd been to assume she was safe seated by his side. Perhaps he meant only to teach her a lesson, she thought suddenly; and knowing two could play that game she ceased to struggle and instead slipped her arms around his neck, her fingertips moving through his thick dark curls as she returned his kiss with an ardor she hoped would shock him to his senses.

Far from having the desired effect, however, Jason greeted Gabrielle's unexpected surrender with a grateful shudder that made his passion all the more intense. Her nightgown seemed to be fashioned of endless yards of fabric, but he at last found the hem and slipped his hand beneath it to trace the elegant curve of her calf and then the line of her slender thigh. Her skin was smooth, with the creamy feel of the finest satin, and when he heard her breath quicken he did not stop but raised his hand higher still, his fingertips seeking the soft triangle of red curls as his touch grew increasingly intimate.

Realizing she'd just made the greatest mistake of her young life, Gabrielle found herself unable to resist Jason's gentle touch while his delicious kiss plunged her ever deeper into the madness of desire. She relaxed in his arms, wanting more of the demanding affection she'd first sought to escape. Smooth and sweet, his mouth and hands created a need she could neither deny nor fight, and she wove her fingers in his tangled curls to hold his mouth to hers while her whole body shook at the splendor of his slow, sensuous touch.

Jason shifted only slightly to unbutton the high ruffled neckline of her gown, and his lips left hers to move down her slender throat in teasing nibbles before lingering at the soft fullness of her breast. Her body delighted him. She responded so readily to his loving caresses he would never tire of holding her in his arms and leading her ever deeper into the mysteries of love. This was what he'd wanted, to make her feel alive, to make her crave his kiss as desperately as he craved hers, but the time and place were so shockingly inappropriate he drew back, wanting only to be certain she was as willing for him to continue as he hoped she would be. She had resisted his affection for no more than an instant; then she'd welcomed his advance with a grace which captivated him. But he wanted to hear her speak the words before he moved to possess her fully for he'd not take her like this, with the wild strength of a stallion rather than with the considerate tenderness of a man. He drew back only slightly as he spoke softly. '*Say only that you want me as badly as I want you, for that is all I need to hear."

His voice seemed to float on the warm breeze, caressing her as seductively as his fiery kiss, but drawing a sudden deep breath, Gabrielle tried to clear her mind, forcing herself to remember who she was and what she was doing with such wanton abandon. "No, no!" She scrambled away, tugging her wrinkled gown into place as she leaped to her feet. She swayed slightly, her senses too full of him to provide the guidance she needed to remain upright.

"Gabrielle, what is wrong with you?" Instantly Jason was standing too, but as he reached out to draw her back into his arms, she shoved him away.

Sweeping her long auburn hair from her eyes with a defiant toss of her head, Gabrielle responded in a low whisper, "Everything is wrong! Dreadfully wrong! Is this how you men stand guard? Nearly shooting defenseless members of our party while our animals are left to fend for themselves? Should Sunny be stolen I will hold you personally responsible, Jason

Royal whether or not the guard duty was yours to perform!" With that threat she was gone, a flash of white as she streaked away, her feet barely touching the ground as she vanished with the speed of a ghost.

Jason began to swear in one long string of incredibly vile epithets. Was the woman crazy? So out of her mind with grief for her lost love she'd never permit another man to make love to her? He'd been a stupid fool to stop when her response had been so furious a denial of the passion he knew she'd felt as strongly as he had. "Damn!" He swore again and taking up his rifle he decided to patrol his portion of the camp until his senses cooled enough to allow him to again rest by the fire. 'The next time, Gabrielle MacLaren, I won't ask since you tell only lies, I'll simply take the gift you're too proud to admit you want to give!" That vow brought a smile to his lips not even the loneliness of the plain could erase. There would be other nights, and he'd have Gabrielle for his own. It was only a matter of time; he was certain she knew that simple fact as well as he did.

"^Aa/Ue^^

Gabrielle had been unable to get back to sleep after she'd fled Jason's embrace, and she moved so slowly when she began to get dressed the next morning that Erica became concerned.

"Are you ill?" she said, reaching out to touch her friend's forehead lightly. "You don't seem feverish."

Trying to smile though her head ached dreadfully, Gabrielle offered what reassurance she could. "I just didn't sleep well so I'm rather tired, that's all."

"Why don't you ride with Paul today then? You're the only one of us who never has, and I'd say you deserve a turn to rest."

"No, really, I'll be fine."

But she wasn't, she was still horribly angry, and with herself not with Jason Royal for he'd shown her what he was truly like the first night they'd met. No, she was furious only with herself for having so little restraint where the man was concerned. His slightest touch set her blood aflame, and it was torture to recall how close she'd come to giving herself to him and for what? Not for love, for there was no hint of that tender emotion in his words, nor was there even the smallest measure of devotion in his actions. He either issued stern lectures on how he wished her to behave or ignored her completely. Obviously he cared nothing for her feelings, but as always he

had simply seized an opportunity to pursue his own lusts with no thought of what the consequences might be to her. Still, she could not erase the memory of his forceful kiss from her mind and her lips burned with a shame she found nearly impossible to endure in silence. But there was no way she could escape the prying eyes of her companions and give in to the torrent of tears which blocked her throat with a painful knot. When breakfast was over she took Erica's advice, and her hands shaking with a tremor she hoped Paul would not notice, she cHmbed up onto the seat beside him.

"Ah, I've waited a long time for your company, miss, but you look a mite downcast this morning." Paul flapped the reins upon the oxen's backs and the sturdy beasts began to pull the heavily laden wagon at the slow, lumbering pace they would maintain until he drew them to a halt for the noon break.

Gabrielle shook her head. "I'm simply tired; I didn't sleep well. I'm afraid I won't be very good company for you."

"I'll be the judge of that. Crawl into the wagon and go to sleep if you like; I won't be offended," Paul suggested with a ready smile.

"Thank you, but I think I'll ride with you for awhile." He was such a pleasant man she didn't want him to have to suffer the foulness of her mood, and while the prospect of sleep was an appealing one, she thought she should try and stay awake for a little while at least.

They had traveled no more than half a mile when Jason Royal appeared upon his nimble stallion and greeted them all with remarkably good humor. His smile was wide, but his glance barely included Gabrielle and Paul as he turned his mount to take up a position beside Iris Stewart. His invitation was spoken in such a low tone that the other young women could not overhear, but with a lilting laugh Iris urged her horse to a brisk canter and rode away with him.

Gabrielle turned away. She'd dreaded having to face the young man for there were simply no words to describe the scandalous nature of her behavior during the hours before

dawn, but to have him snub her so rudely after their passion-filled encounter stunned her. She had expected, at the very least, an apology. She felt he owed her one since the whole incident had been his fault, but to be ignored as if nothing had happened was intolerable. She felt even worse then, sick to her stomach to think how casually he'd used her and then tossed her aside without a thought when she'd refused to give in to him.

Paul needed no more than a sidelong glance to perceive Gabrielle's deepening depression and to rightly guess its cause. "He would have asked you to ride with him had you been riding Sunny as you usually do. I've no doubt of it. Don't let the fact that he took his second choice upset you so badly."

"Second choice?" Gabrielle's blue eyes flashed angrily as she turned toward the friendly driver. "I have no idea what you mean. Mr. Royal may choose whomever he pleases for company, and I will never object for it is no business of mine!"

Paul cringed in mock horror, his expression one of deep remorse. "Forgive me for mentioning the man, miss. I didn't mean to offend. Apparently Mr. Royal has."

"He did not offend me!" Gabrielle denied hostilely. "He does not even exist in my opinion!"

"Yes, ma'am, whatever you say," Paul agreed promptly, and giving his full attention to the team, he did not risk looking Gabrielle's way again for clearly she was in no mood for conversation on any subject.

The pain in her head grew increasingly more severe until Gabrielle had no choice but to climb over the back of the seat and lie down in the wagon. When they stopped for the midday meal and rest she didn't awaken, and by suppertime she felt far better physically if no less guilty emotionally. Kissing Beau had been a natural expression of her love for him, but Jason's wild kisses had led her into a far different realm, not one filled with the beauty of love but one tormented by untamed desire, the memory of which made her tremble. She would never forgive him for the spell he'd woven on her emotions, never.

In sharp contrast to Gabrielle, Iris was in a festive mood that evening. She had found Jason Royal to be an entertaining companion and could not seem to stop talking about the young man. Since there was no way she could join in any discussion of Jason's considerable charm, Gabrielle excused herself from the group and went to check upon Sunny's comfort. The stallion had trotted behind the wagon all day, and he now greeted his mistress enthusiastically as she gave him the apple she'd been served with her dinner. She stayed with the stallion for a long while, enjoying his sincere affection, and when she finally returned to her wagon, everyone was preparing for bed. She wished that she had another nightgown to wear so she could throw away the one she'd worn the previous night, but she had only the one. The soft fabric slid over her bare skin with the same sensuous glide as Jason Royal's deeply tanned fingertips, and she shivered as she tried to force that erotic image from her mind. Sleep was a long time coming since she'd rested all day, but Gabrielle kept her eyes closed and her breathing even, not wanting her friends to speak to her. Eventually she fell into a troubled sleep.

The next day Jason took a petite blonde from one of the other wagons with him when he rode ahead to scout the trail. The following day another beauty had caught his eye and rode by his side. Gabrielle could not believe the man could be so low as to play one woman against another, but each seemed enormously pleased by his attentions and deeply disappointed when he invited someone new the following day. When that pattern continued, she decided his need to surround himself with beautiful women was a craving she'd never again satisfy. She gave her full attention to her new friends and the passing scene, and none to Jason Royal and his ceaseless pursuit of every female on the train. Whenever she saw him he seemed to be smiling, always in high spirits, and she wanted to shriek, to tell everyone what a devil he was, but she bit her tongue and swallowed the vile names she knew he deserved to be called.