Her mind swirled. Russell had a way of twisting everything until she saw it his way. She pressed a hand to her forehead. 149
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He smiled, his eyes connecting with hers. "Can't you see everything I've done was for you? Didn't I promise you all of this? A house, beautiful clothes, plenty of food." She closed her eyes, shutting out his mesmerizing gaze.
"Jessie, look at me. It's me, your brother, the only kin you have. The only one who cares about you," he coaxed. Both hands covered her eyes, forcing them not to open and look at him. Anxiety rose. She had to think. Think beyond his persuading tone.
"I've done everything for you, and here you are not willing to help me at all."
Kid. She had to think of Kid, he could block any other visions from her mind. She pulled her hands away, balling them into fists as they fell to her sides and glared at her brother.
"Not do anything for you? I think keeping your neck from being stretched is something." The weight lifted off her feet. As if Sammy could sense her frustration, the dog stood, snarling at Russell while the hairs on his back popped to stand on end and form a long trail down his silky back.
"Jessie, that was all part of my plan," Russell cooed. "And now it's time for the second part to start."
"The second part?" she wondered aloud.
"Yes, look at you. You have everything you need. But look at me, I'm living in a bunk house, eating scraps not fit for the dog that's always at your feet. I have to work from sun up to sun set, while you're living the life of luxury. It's not fair, Jessie. The brother of a rich rancher's wife is a prominent position. I should be helping with the books, taking trips to 150
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buy and sell cattle, making deals with the railroad to ship our cattle."
Her brain started to fuzz over again. "Our cattle?"
"Yes, our cattle. Everything here is half yours. And since I'm your brother, half of yours is mine." She shook her head, needing to see and hear clearly. "No, it's not. It's not yours, and it's not mine. It's Kid's. He's worked hard to build what he has. Why, he even built this whole house by himself." A sense of pride at her husband's accomplishments filled her chest.
"And he's married to you. If something were to happen to him, as his wife, it would all be yours." A shiver rose up her spine. The muscles in her neck tightened, making it hard to breathe. A lump stuck in her throat.
"No. No, Russell. Oh, God, what have you done?"
"Done? I haven't done anything, yet. And if you want to keep it that way, you'll talk to your husband when he returns, and convince him how smart I am. How I could be more help to him than a simple cow hand."
A small bit of relief oozed from her pores. Russell had been around the past few days, she'd seen him now and again, so he couldn't have harmed Kid. The thought was also like a splash of cold water making her thoughts clear again.
"No, Russell. I've made a choice. I'll never be a part of one of your schemes again."
He gave her a look laced with disgust. "You've made a choice? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" 151
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The red haze of anger floated before her eyes. "It means I don't have to do what you say. I'm eighteen. I can make my own decisions and live my own life, one that doesn't revolve around you. Get out, Russell, get out of my house!" She pointed to the back door.
"Your house? You just said this isn't your house. It's Kid's." His eyes narrowed into slits. He stared at her for a long moment.
"You know what Jessie? You're right. It's not your house, and it never will be. As soon as Kid Quinter has extracted his money from me, he'll kick you out. Back to the snake infested shanty you'll go. It'll be the dead of winter, and you won't have any wood, any food, not even have a blanket to keep you warm."
"Kid won't do that. He's a kind man. I know he'll help me," she argued, her voice rising close to a scream. Russell's voice, laced with anger rose above hers. "Why?
Why should he help you? You're not the wife he wants. Ask any of his brothers, they'll tell you, he's planning on going to Europe to find a beautiful, refined woman to be his wife. The kind of woman a rich rancher needs." Her knees grew weak, trembling beneath her skirt like wheat heads in the wind.
He continued his loud rant, "He's already got the trip paid for, leaving right after the first of the year. Why would he want to help some scrawny, homely, orphan prostitute? He'll have no use for you. You better hope your evening activities don't land you in the family way. Then you'll really be up a 152
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creek without a paddle, nothing more than a used up whore with a squalling bastard to take care of." Before Jessie could respond, the back door slammed open. Bug flew past her, knocking Russell and the chair over backwards as he screamed, "Don't talk to Jessie like that!" Arms and legs flew in all directions as the two rolled across the floor, fists slammed at each other and legs kicked. Sammy's barks grew loud as he leaped around them, teeth nipping at pant legs and arm sleeves.
Coming out of shock, and not knowing what else to do, Jessie screamed, "Bug! Sammy!" Another body rushed past yelling, "Get her the hell out of here!"
"Kid?" She recognized the voice the same moment solid arms wrapped around her waist. Someone lifted her feet from the floor and turned to haul her towards the door. She twisted and bucked, trying to see who held her. "No! Put me down!" The arms around her waist tightened.
Scratching at the hands locked on her stomach, she kicked in protest as crashing noises behind her mingled with shouts, grunts and barks.
"Put me down!"
A grunt sounded as her heel met a knee cap. "Ouch, Jessie, calm down," Snake's voice sounded next to her ear. She eased her fighting as Snake carried her across the yard. Near the well he set her feet on the ground. Ready to run back to the house, she turned but firm hands landed on her shoulders. "Kid will handle it, Jessie," he said. 153
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"Kid's home?" She twisted, searching over Snake's shoulder.
"Yes, he's home. He'll handle it. You just stay here with me."
The back door hung at an odd angle. Banging, clanging and loud barks continued to float through the open area.
"Snake, Bug's in there." Tears began to flow. "I have to go help him." She pushed at the arms holding her in place and tried to twist away.
His solid grasps didn't lessen as he shook his head. "Kid won't let anything happen to Bug."
Joe and a couple other men ran across the yard and onto the porch. Snake turned her around, and with an arm across her shoulders, refused to allow her to look toward the house. He tried to ease her mind, making her walk further away from the house. "Do you want to go see where we planted the trees?" he asked.
"No!"
"It's not far. One is just right over there." Snake continued to refuse to allow her to turn around.
"No! I don't want to see any trees." Tears burned her eyes.
"I want to go see if Bug's all right. I want..." A sob escaped as she admitted, "I want Kid."
Snake wrapped his other arm around her and pressed her face onto his chest. "Shh, in a minute, Jessie, you'll see Kid in a few minutes."
Her chest burned, and her head pounded with pain, uncontrollable weeping made every ache worse. The arms around her shoulders lessened. A swift movement twisted her 154
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around and a familiar scent filled her nostrils as a firm hold guided her face to once again press against a male chest. Gentle hands rubbed her shoulders and ran down her back, folding her curves against hard contours she'd felt before. She wrapped her arms around Kid's waist, clinging to the sculptured form.
"Shh, sweetheart, don't cry." The brush of warm breath tickled her ear.
"Kid?" She tried to lift her head, needing to make sure it was him, but a strong hand held it in place.
"Yes, it's me. And I won't let anyone hurt you ever again." Lips touched the top of her head.
A moan bubbled out her throat, the warm, caring embrace shattering any bits of control she had left. Kid was home. She went limp, melting against his strength. Her feet rose from the ground. One strong arm wrapped beneath her knees while the other encompassed her shoulders, Kid cradled her as a mother would a crying infant. Her arms went around his neck and her face pressed against the warm skin near the top of his shirt, where his scent could fill each intake of breath.
Kid carried her around the house. They entered through the front door, his long strides taking the stairs two at a time. He weaved through the great room and climbed the inside set of stairs. When his body lowered, he cuddled her on his lap, swaying back and forth while filling her ears with soft words of comfort.
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wiped at her face, using the sleeve of her dress to dry the moisture. Not sure if she'd been crying because of Russell, or the fear of Bug being hurt, or the fact that Kid was home.
"I'm sorry, Kid. I'm so sorry," she choked.
"Shh, you didn't do anything," he whispered. She'd missed him so much, missed that handsome, gentle face looking down at her. She lifted her hand to press a palm against the rough growth of whiskers covering his cheek, and looked deep into dark, intense eyes, wishing she could read his thoughts.
His face lowered. The soft touch of his lips stole her breath away. She tried to think, wanting to remember how the women in the stories responded to kisses. But the soft, warm, wet lips roaming over hers sent hot, sizzling sparks throughout her body, dissolving her thoughts. Sweet, fulfilling nectar quenched his thirst, flowing through his body hotter and faster than any amber liquor he'd ever tasted. Kid licked at the tonic, swallowing each drop, wanting more and more with each taste. His hands moved swiftly, roaming over contours he'd only dreamed of exploring. The soft mattress floated up to surround their bodies as he slipped her off his lap so they could recline, giving room for deeper and more thorough discoveries. Kid, positioned above her frame, forced his hands to slow so he could stroke the soft curves, appreciating each inch, while savoring the deep, sensual kisses. The small, searching hands flowing over his back and neck sent additional rivers of pleasure through his body.
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Something tugged his leg, he kicked at the intrusion, but it came again, this time with more force. Opening one eye, he peeked at the invasion. Sammy's teeth clutched the cuff of his pant leg. The dog tugged again, his front paws braced against the side of the mattress. Kid tried to pull the material from the dog's mouth. A low growl emitted as Sammy tightened his hold.
The soft lips moving below his stilled and brought his full attention back to the woman beneath him. Dark lashes, fluttered. He pressed one last kiss across the moist lips, and with a wide smile, waited for her eyes to open. His heart pounded harder than a stampede of Texas longhorns. The warmth of a small palm cupped his jaw, one fingertip ran along the healed scratched on his cheek. "I missed you," she whispered.
The sound filled him with a new wave of gratification. "I missed you too, sweet Jessie." He had. Three days away from her had felt like three years. Poor Jack, he'd pushed the horse hard the final ten miles of the trip an unexplainable urgency overriding common sense.
A long, black chin settled itself on the mattress near her shoulder. A wet nose sniffed her dress as worried brown eyes looked at them. Her smiling face turned to glance at the dog.
"Hi, Sammy," she said.
His tail thumped the floor, much like the rhythm pounding in Kid's chest. A twinge, similar to a snake bite bit in the same area. Jealousy? Could a man be jealous of a dog? Or was it irritation at being so rudely interrupted?
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The soft gaze of the blue eyes became shadowed, turning to worry, or fear as they wandered back to meet his. "Is—" she paused to swallow. "Is Bug all right?" Wrapping his hand around the fingers settled on his cheek, he kissed each knuckle, regretting how reality had settled in the room.
"Yes, Bug is fine."
Her brows furrowed and her eyes squeezed shut. "I'm so sorry, so very sorry."
Forgotten fury began to renew itself. Holding it in check, he pulled his body upright, bringing hers with him. As they settled on the edge of the bed, Sammy laid his head across her skirt and released a small whimper, as if he too apologized. Neither of them had anything to be sorry for, it was that damned brother. If Joe hadn't stepped in when he did, Kid would have killed the man. His fingers tingled, recalling how close they'd come to squeezing Russell's neck. He tugged Jessie's head onto his shoulder, bending to press his lips against her temple. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"But he's my brother, and..." A deep sigh made her shoulders slump. "I don't know how to make him behave."
"It's not up to you to make him behave. You have no more control over your brother than I have over mine," he said. Her head tilted so she could look up at him. A deep frown pulled at her brows and her lips puckered. "But your brothers are good boys. They've helped me so much since I came to live here."
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The recollections of how the boys had bound and gagged him didn't increase his anger, instead a glow of delight settle somewhere in his chest. Their actions that night had brought her to him. He smiled and said, "Yeah, they can be good boys." For no reason, other than wanting to erase the pained look on her precious face, he added, "Just as I'm sure your brother can be once in awhile."