II probably look a mess.
There now, he said. When he drew her close, she forgot her fear of him and clung. He was breathing hard and fast, just like she was. But he was holding her gently, caressing her and letting her cling.
If you want to know, that scared the hell out of me, too, he said.
Im not scared.
Then maybe you wouldnt mind loosening your hands just a little. Your fingernails are slicing little hunks out of my back.
Oh Of course
Youre so much braver than me, he whispered reassuringly. If anything would have happened to you
A callused fingertip caressed her muddy cheek as he pulled a twig out of her dusty curls.
Never before had she been babied when she was afraid, and even though she knew she should push him away, she couldnt let go of him even when she stopped shaking. It was simply too pleasant to be soothed and comforted by someone so strong and solidand nice.
She didnt care what Daddy had said about him. Cole Knight had saved her life, and he was so nice he wouldnt make her ever get on a horse again if she didnt want to. He had a gentle voice, and he smelled real good, of leather and spice and his own clean male sweat. He didnt seem to mind that she was so dirty.
Cole was a full head taller than she was, and the skin above the top buttons of his white shirt was way darker than hers, and his hand that slid against the bare skin of her spine where her blouse was ripped into shreds was way rougher than hers. He was old, much too old for her, probably at least twenty-two. Old, and too experienced with girls. Worst of all, her daddy hated him. Still, he wasnice.
Finally they both got their breath. She glanced up at him, thinking hed release her. But he didnt, and somehow that was unbearably exciting.
She tilted her head a little to better study the mystery of Cole Knight, not that she could see much more than the sensual line of his mouth and his hard jawline. Still, he had a nice, kissable mouth. The mere thought of her lips against his caused a violent shiver to dart through her stomach.
How could she be attracted to him?
She wasnt. It was just that shed nearly died. Cole had saved her. Maybe it was only natural to feel some temporary affectionate bond with a man who saved your life even if he was your natural born enemy.
Cole bent his head and stared down at her lips with the same scary, burning intensity she remembered from the thicket, only now, her heart skittered faster.
The wind was warm on her face, but his stillness and watchful silence as he held her caused butterflies to dance in her stomach. Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it might burst. Shed never come close to such a wild dark thrill as Cole Knight, never dreamed of it even.
Until this moment, in his arms, shed been a child. Even before he lowered his face to hers, she lifted her lips and parted them, half-hoping he would be as bad as people said and steal a kiss from her.
Instead his mouth grazed her cheek so softly she could barely feel his breath. Still his gentle kiss left her aching. Without thinking, she wistfully traced a fingertip across her mouth. His eyes watched her, and maybe they dared her. Before she even knew what she was doing, her fingertip left her lips and traced the shape of his.
His mouth was hard and warm. Just touching him there had her body thrumming and sent heat through her like a lush wild wave. Her other hand inched up his wide chest and flexed around his neck. Then with an unfathomable yearning that bordered on pain, she pushed her innocent body into his, until her breasts were flat against his hard chest.
Oh, God. He groaned, sucking her fingertip inside his lips for a moment before his black head dipped closer to hers. You smell sweeter than the sweetest rose.
She stood on her tiptoes, hoping, aching for more.
It was worth nearly getting killed on a horsewell worthitto be here like this with him.
The moment went on and on, endlessly. Just when he might have kissed her, a horse with Lizzys daddy on its back thundered out of the brush. When a swarm of her relatives followed, shouting and cursing, Cole pushed her away from him.
Caesar pulled his stallion up in front of her, his face purple as dust whirled around them.
Lizzy, what in the hell are you doing? Caesars horse thrashed closer. Get away from that devil, girl!
Uncle B.B. s handsome face was as stern as her fathers. Even Aunt Nanette and her sons, Bobby Joe and Sam, who were Lizzys age, looked grim and unforgiving.
Lizzy lifted her chin and stepped in front of Cole to shield him from her family. Not that Cole was the type to cower behind a woman even for a second. He seized Lizzys hand firmly in his and swung her along beside him.
Oh, how she liked his doing that. Standing beside him gave her a new confidence, and she squared her shoulders. To her surprise, her voice was quiet and level, a womans voice. Daddyhe saved my
Her fathers bushy, amber eyebrows snapped together as he stared at her fingers knotted in Coles. His lips thinned as he hunched forward in his saddle.
Lizzy recognized the signs his temper was on the rise and, removing her hand from Coles, nervously rubbed her bare arms, which were sunburned and bloody with scratches. Tatters of her blouse fluttered against her exposed rib cage.
Daddy, he didnt hurt me. He didnt tear my blouse. Motherhe saved my life.
As if mortified by Lizzys conduct, Joanne looked away.
Caesars blazing eyes remained fixed on Cole. You, boy! Yes, Knight, Im talking to you! You get the hell off my land!
You stole this land, Kemble. You and yours. You drove my brother away! But you cant bully me.
You stay away from my daughter!
Cole smiled lazily. Well, Id say thats more her choice than yours, wouldnt you?
Coles gaze softened as he regarded her, and Lizzy felt herself melting like hard chocolate on a hot stove.
Of all the impudent To his men Caesar roared, Boys, throw this damn trespasser off my land!
My land! Cole snapped.
When Kinky Hernandez, Daddys loyal foreman, along with half a dozen vaqueros, materialized out of the thicket, Coles expression darkened. His low voice was hoarse, almost a growl, as he reached out and squeezed Lizzys hand one last time. Maybe youre not calling all the shots anymore, old man.
Hes right, Daddy! Leave him alone! Im all grown up! You cant tell him or me what
Get on your horse, boy
Cole whistled, and his big horse trotted up to him like a trick horse in a rodeo. Before he swung his long leg over his saddle, Cole glanced down at Lizzy with another hot look and a smile that cut off her breath and filled her with unbearable joy.
He tipped his hat to her. See ya round, little girl, he said in that gentle tone that mocked her father and made butterflies fly in her stomach.
See ya, she whispered, bringing her fingertips to her lips, unable to say more, not even goodbye.
Dismounting, her mother slipped up beside her. If youre smart, youll forget you ever met that no-good scoundrel, she said. No telling what he would have done to you if we hadnt
He would have kissed memaybe. The thought made Lizzy ache.
Hes the son of thieves and ingratestroublemakers and gamblers, the whole lot, her father asserted. I ran his no-good brother off a few years back when he threatened to sue me, and Ill do the same to this oneif you dont leave him the hell alone. He drew in a savage breath at Lizzys dazed expression. Take her back to the house, Joanne. Talk some sense into her.
Lizzy barely heard them. She was too busy watching Cole ride away, too busy wondering if shed ever see him again.
Even when her mother took her by the arm, she turned her head, still watching the spot where shed glimpsed the last of his broad shoulders.
Forget him, girl. Hes a Knight and youre a Kemble. He doesnt want you. He wants our land. And hell do anythinghell use you in any wayto get it. He wants the ranchnot you!
Oh, if only, if only shed listened.
BOOK ONE
Smart Cowboy Saying:
Letting a cat out of the bag is a lot easier than putting it back.
Anonymous
One
Eleven years later
South Texas
The Golden Spurs Ranch
Pawing and snorting, hooves clattering on concrete, Domino exploded out of the barn as if a dozen of Satans meanest horse flies had flown up straight from hell and stung him on his powerful rump.
Whoa, boy! Whats lit into you?
It was late April. The last of the wildflowers sweetened the warm air that smelled of grass, cattle and horse.
Caesar Kemble leaned back in the saddle and pulled in on the leather reins. Youre mighty anxious for our morning ride, arent you, fella? More anxious maybe than me. Which is saying one helluva lot.
A few yards away in front of the blazing sea of wildflowers that surrounded the vast ranch house, dozens of spurs sparkled like golden Christmas ornaments in the branches of the thin-leafed, thorny mesquite tree.
Caesar scowled. Damnation!
To some, the tree was a pretty sight against the glow of the sky this time of year, but he hated that tree. Hell, he should have cut the damn thing down years ago. Trouble was, the Spur Tree had stood there for more than a hundred years and was part of the ranchs tradition. Not that the spurs had anything to do with something as joyous as Christmas. They represented loss and pain and death and sufferingbut courage, too. When a man or a woman left the ranch, their spurs were hung on the tree.
It had taken a lot from a lot of men to hold on to this ranch. His daddys spurs hung there. So did Jacks, his oldest brothers.
The tree was more than a tree. It had a strange power, more power than most churches. Many a time Caesar had watched a vaquero who was feeling low come and stand in the shade of the Spur Tree for a spell.
Caesar lowered his Stetson to avoid looking at the tree. He was king of these million acres that bordered the Gulf of Mexico on the east and spread out to the west, at least he told himself he was. And he ruled with more authority than many true kings governed their kingdoms or generals commanded their armies. From his birth, there had always been people trying to steal his empire from him.
Jack, his older brother, had been the golden boy, the heir apparent, Daddys favorite, until hed broken his damn fool neck in a fall off a bronc in the dunes near the bay. Nobody had ever crossed Jack. Nobody had ever dared say maybe Jack should have had better sense than to ride off alone on an animal like that in the first place.
Coming to power after Jacks death, Caesar had become a helluva lot more spoiled than Jack had ever been. He was used to being obeyedinstantly. Just like Jack, he hated being crossed. Maybe that was the reason that thorny tree stabbed such a big hole in him. His enemies werent just outsiders.
Childrenyou thought they were yoursuntil theycommitted the unforgivable crime of growing up and showingyou different.
Hed had such grand plans for his children, especially Lizzy, his first, his favorite. Shed been born a mere hour before Mia. Oh, but how hed reveled in that small victory.
Free-spirited, softhearted urchin that she was, Lizzy had attempted a defiant grin when shed slung her spurs at the tree. Yes, the memory of her slim shaking fingers tossing those spurs before shed left for New York was burned into his soul like a brand.
The crybaby in the family had dared to stand up to him.First by loving that no-good Cole. Then by leaving.
Nor would he soon forget the rainy afternoon of Mias memorial service three months ago when hed hung his second daughters spurs on a branch beside Lizzys while Mias husband, Cole, yes, Cole, fifty vaqueros and five hundred mourners had watched. Joanne, who never cried, had sobbed beneath the Spur Tree, while Lizzy, who was ashamed of crying and too wary of Cole, had watched from the nursery window while she rocked Coles fretful, month-old baby daughter, Vanilla. After the plane crash that had left Mia dead and Cole so dazed he couldnt remember people, not even his little daughter, Lizzy had come home for a while.
For the first time, shed helped Caesar run things. Shed been surprisingly adept at dealing with the books and figures and computer work. Just when Caesar had begun to get used to having her around, shed left again.
Yes, sir, the mere sight of that tree was enough to make his temple throb for hours. Ignoring the pain in his head, he jammed his own spurs against Dominos flank and yelled, Giddyup, boy!
Horse and rider flew until the Spur Tree was well behind them.
Both daughters had fallen for the same ruthless, vengeful man. Now they were gone for goodone dead and one simply foolish, irresponsible and ungrateful. And he still had Cole to put up with.
Lizzy had damn near gutted him alive by leaving Texas. As if his little girl, who could barely sit a horse, could make it in the cold cruel world without him pulling strings.
Im all grown up now, Daddy. Im twenty-three. Ive gota college degree. Its time I left home.
Youre a big grown-up crybaby, thats what you are.
Hed said that because she hated the fact that she had a soft heart and wept more than most girls her age. Then hed gone for the guilt button.
You cant leave your daddy now that youre old enoughto be of some use to him around here for a changeafter allthe trouble youve put him to raising you
Lizzy, whod been more trouble than most kids, had kissed him on the cheek as hed turned away from her and said a tear-choked goodbye. I know Im a crybaby. I know Iwas trouble, but I have to grow up sometime. And, Daddy,you were trouble for me, too.
If only shed been born a boy. Maybe everything would have been different. Why couldnt she have been more like Sam, his nephew? Hell, for that matter, why couldnt Hawk and Walker have been more like Sam? Sam had loved the ranch so much hed moved in with Caesar when he was ten and still lived on the ranch, although no longer in the main house.