Waking Up Dead (The Western Werewolf Legend #1) (12 page)

“
Thank you for your help.”
Without waiting for a reply, Sonja strode past him. His presence
was unsettling to her and she needed the distance. Opening her
cooking box and removed the oil-skinned bag containing her most
prized cooking tool, her black iron skillet, she returned to the
warmth of the fire. She bent and lovingly removed the smooth, black
skillet from its protective cover. Before she could stand once
more, salt meat appeared at the corner of her vision. As if by
magic, the meat landed in the pan in several slender
slices.

Ty eased the skillet out of her
fingers and onto the grid above the cheerful flames.

The salt meat began to sizzle. So did
her insides. Hoping for a clandestine glance in his direction, she
froze when she found him watching her intently.

With an affable lopsided grin, he
rested on his haunches and began to move the meat around in the pan
using the tip of a bowie knife. “You’re awful quiet this morning.
Something wrong?”

Sonja could only stare. With a grace,
she often admired, he shifted and filled a tin cup with hot coffee.
Pivoting, he offered her the cup. “Thought you might need this,” he
said with a hint of humor. “It’ll get your voice working
again.”

His mouth creased in a faint smile.
She rubbed at her arm as his voice rolled over her like the low
growl of a tiger. Sonja had seen one once in a traveling circus in
Spotsylvania. Where had such an idea come from? A definite tingling
started in her stomach. Trying hard to work up a head-of-mad, she
took the cup from him.

“
Thank you,” she said in a
small clipped voice as her color rose. Why couldn’t she remain
calm? Her inner control rolled eyes at the question. Sonja wanted
desperately to throw her arms around him and kiss him
deeply.

Ty lifted two long fingers to the brim
of his dark Stetson. It was his only response before he rose like
the wild cat and stepped away from the fire.

The breeze carried his scent. He
smelled like soap and water, she mused. A barrel bath, she supposed
and glanced at him from under her lashes. His long muscled legs ate
up the ground eagerly as he moved to a saddlebag leaned against her
wagon’s back wheel. His hips shifted from agile side to agile side
before he bent to retrieve the bag. The tingling in her stomach
grew in intensity as a rush of heat filled her cheeks.

Quickly looking back into her coffee,
she released a slow breath and poked at the meat with the knife for
something to do.

“
Here” The low tremor of
his voice made her insides swim with lusty conjurings.

Unable to stop herself, Sonja flinched
before trying to cover the errant move by glancing at what he held
in his hand. Three bird’s eggs lay in his broad palm.

“
Where did those come
from?”

“
I found a nest in the
brush on the way back yesterday. They’re Groesbeck eggs,” he
offered matter-of-factly. “Mother has plenty, so she won’t miss
these.” He gave her another of his patented lopsided grins, before
cracking the first one open and plopped it in the skillet. “What
went on while I was gone? You’re all jittery this
morning.”

Trying for cheerful, she offered one
word. “Nothing.” She didn’t want to continue the same argument
they’d had a half-dozen times before. The one centering around
their living arrangement while among the humans. With an interested
examination, she tried to offer a compliment instead, saying,
“You’re doing a much better job at this than I could.” As the egg
began to sizzle and cook, Sonja stared into the skillet.

From the wagon next to hers, the
preacher emerged and stretched. His eyes didn’t miss what was going
on at the widow Brooks’ fire.

“
You think I have skills? I
have a few besides scouting for the train.” He peered at her with
something akin to humor in his smile.“Name’s Ty, Tyler Loflin.
What’s yours, ma’am?”

Her eyes bore into his. He was
pretending for the preacher’s sake and mocking her! Making fun of
the stipulations, she’d insisted on when they joined strangers’
wagons a ways back. With the preacher standing so close, the
situation would seem unseemly if he didn’t act as though they’d
just met. Surely, he didn’t find the fact neither of them could lay
in each other’s arms at night like they’d done only a few weeks
prior, or even kiss without raising questions a point of sport.
She’d show him. Pursing her lips, she sat straighter and glared at
him through squinted eyes. Two could play at this game. “Mrs.
Brooks is my name. Let me ask you, Mr. Loflin, do you make a habit
of intruding on other people’s fires and making breakfast for
yourself?” Sonja found the irritation in her voice necessary since
her gut swam with sexual tension.

His features never wavered. “No,
ma’am. It’s just with the storm last night. Thought you could use a
hand. That’s all.”

She had her comeback on the tip of her
tongue but couldn’t get it out. His face held such honest concern,
she faltered. “Well, it was the first storm we’ve been through
since…since…” she stammered slightly. “Since we left Pennsylvania,
for sure. But I can take care of myself just fine.” She nodded in
affirmation and tossed her head for effect. “Your kindness is
appreciated, but you’re free to go now.” Had she just dismissed him
like one would a servant? She was probably carrying the game past
the limit.

He flicked a glance of disbelief at
her before pouring himself another cup of coffee. A thin swirl of
steam curled up and around his eyes like smoke from a voodoo
incantation candle. The lieutenant was grinning yet his jaw
worked.

Mentally shaking herself, Sonja dodged
his hand when he moved to grip her forearm. An intense sexual draw
sparked between them and she found she needed to move away from the
source of her uneasiness. Sonja turned to find him watching
her.

“
Are you still here?” She
asked curtly. Out of the corner of her eye, the preacher hung on
every word spoken between them.

“
I’ll go when I’m ready.”
No inflection in those words for certain.

His answer came with such plain
candor, Sonja found she could only stare. Alone, she’d remind him
how arrogant and intrusive he’d been.

“
How do you feel this
morning?” His vibrant blue eyes bore into her. She flicked a glance
down at her clothing to make sure she hadn’t missed a button. He
eyed her as if she didn’t have on a stitch.

Stop staring at me to get people
talking, her mind pleaded. Again, her words came clipped and stern.
“I rested well, you?” Inwardly, Sonja relished in the heat of his
stare. A gentleman shouldn’t look at a lady so.

The preacher moved away, probably to
relieve himself.

Ty stepped to her, gripping her arm.
“To holy hell with what people say. I haven’t seen you in five days
and I’ll look my fill. It’s the only damn thing I’m allowed to do
these days. I asked you how you feel.” His growl was deep and
wolfish.

Sonja flinched. “I’m fine. Thank
you.”

“
Your food is getting
cold.” He inclined his dark head and a muscle worked along his jaw.
“Would you like me to warm it for you?”

“
Warm it up?” Sonja spoke
the words before she could stop it. “I… no, that won’t be
necessary.” She eased back down near her plate. “Don’t you have
work to do?” There was petulance in her voice. It was time to quit
playing parts for the curious minds of others but she couldn’t help
herself. “How was your scouting trip?”

“
It went well.” No further
explanation was forthcoming.

Sonja dropped her eyes to the food on
her plate. He’d expertly scrambled the small eggs and the salt meat
was crisp and brown. “I suppose I’m a special case. Your assistance
is appreciated, Mr. Loflin.” Her mouth set over the last words. The
trail boss had made a point of voicing his dislikes about her when
they’d requested he take the train to St. Louis. Lone women weren’t
allowed to travel with them. The only reason he’d made an exception
was due to the size of the deposit she’d put down. She’d handed
over Ty’s medallion and her silver cross with the promise she would
exchange it for cash when they arrived in Texas.

“
After last night’s storm,
I considered helping out if I could. Seeing as your campfire was
wet, I cleared the debris and started you a new one. No one will
find fault with me trying to be a Good Samaritan, Nymph,” he said
for her ears only.

“
You decided.” Sonja
couldn’t help the cool eyes she used to study him. “Is it part of
your job to access a person’s situation and simply take
action?”

“
Yes, it is, Mrs. Brooks.”
The calm in his eyes more frightening than if he’d shouted at
her.

“
It would seem you have
been inquiring about me, sir. I don’t appreciate being the object
of idle gossip.” She made sure her nose came up a
fraction.

“
On the trail, a person’s
living conditions are public knowledge, Mrs. Brooks. I’m sure
you’re aware of that fact.” Sarcasm dripped from his mouth with the
retort. Without so much as an inflection, he studied her. Those
chiseled features firm and unyielding.

Sonja’s mingled frustration was at a
boiling point. She’d had about all she could stand. She sat her
plate down and stood.

“
Not hungry?”

“
No, I’m not,” Sonja lied.
“And, furthermore, I would appreciate your departure now.” She
hoped the finality in her words got through his thick-headed brain
this time.

“
As you wish.” His wry
smile coupled with those devastating blue eyes spoke for him. “I’ll
be nearby if you decide you need help hooking up the team this
morning.” With two fingers to the brim of his hat, he turned
smoothly and sauntered off in the direction of the cook
wagon.

Watching him go, Sonja realized he’d
given up so easily. Why that irritated her, she couldn’t say. She
fisted her fingers in the folds of her skirt and recalled how good
his butt felt in her hands.

Chapter 6

Responsibilities

With Tyler still on her mind, Sonja
engaged Briann’s help with the team. The sisters, as different as
night and day remained fiercely loyal to each other. Sonja’s golden
curls, a direct opposite to Briann’s dark auburn mane and her
statue slight to Briann’s curves, the two sisters favored little,
but they shared similar personalities.

“
Have you seen General
Stewart this morning?” Sonja tried to keep the accusation out of
her words but failed. She only wanted what was best for her sister.
Falling in love with a shifter or a vampire didn’t make for a
happily-ever-after match.

“
I saw him before sunrise
this morning. Why?”

“
Oh, I wondered how he was
doing is all.”

Briann’s eyes flickered warily at her
sister. “The General is fine or as well as can be expected.” She
busied herself with slipping the bit and bridle on one of the
mules.

“
Does he chaff with the
responsibility of watching over us?” Sonja’s heart did go out to
the Major General. Stewart was an honorable and decent man in life
an after his creation. He shouldn’t have been turned.

“
Your thoughts give away
your opinion of Jeb’s plight, sister. He will do what he has to do
to protect us.”

Briann read her thoughts. Her sister’s
empathic skills weren’t something she spoke of freely. Sonja, Ty
and now General Stewart knew of her skills. For Briann to have
shared her secret with Stewart pricked Sonja’s ire some. Her sister
must be in love.

Feeling the barb, Sonja changed the
subject to one more easily handled by them without squabbling. “Ty
came back last night during the storm.” Smiling at the mere mention
of his name, she glanced awkwardly at Briann. Talking about her
relationship with the lieutenant was still hard.

“
Yes, I know. I heard you
both outside at daylight.”

“
Oh.” Sonja’s color rose.
“I didn’t mean to wake you. Sorry.”

“
Not to worry. I understand
your excitement in seeing him.” She shifted to the next mule with a
bridle in her hand. “Here, put this one on Daisy.”

Sonja took the bridle and started to
slip it over the mule’s head. The mule named Daisy saw her
opportunity. With a low bray, the animal planted her feet and
refused to budge.

Brought out of her head, Sonja glared
at the mule. “You’re not going to start this again. I have a team
to hitch, and you’re going to obey me or else.” With tiny-gloved
hands, Sonja tugged on the lead rope. Ty’s instructions from the
last time he’d helped hitch the team came back to her. “Don’t hold
the line like that, you’ll lose a finger.”She anchored herself
deeper in the rain-softened earth and slung her head. The low growl
she emitted startled the mule. The animal froze in place and
stepped away in fright as if he’d come across a wild
animal.

Sonja winced in pain and cried out.
The rope, looped over her small hand, pinched her fingers before
she could finish the notion. “Woo, stop it! Woo!” The pain took the
rest of her words as the mule tugged on the rope and drug Sonja
forward.

Strong, nimble hands came around her
and releasing the tension on her fingers before Sonja’s tears
spilled over.