Authors: Peggy Ann Craig
Upon noticing her confusion, however, Wade thought he would be helpful by offering clarification. “He wants to know if you’re still a virgin.”
Anna almost choked on the thick goo going down her throat. Her face burned with humiliation as she quickly looked away. No one had ever asked her that question before. Never had she ever been part of such a conversation.
She heard Wade chuckle. “I think that’s a yes, Joe.”
Some of the other men laughed and Anna hoped the subject was now dropped.
“We’ll have to do something about that.” Joe stated and when she looked over at him, he gave her a big wink. “Set you up with one of those gals down at the saloon. May not be the prettiest fillies this side of the Rockies, but hell can they ride.”
All the men broke out into agreeable laughter while a fresh heat filled Anna’s cheeks. To her humiliation, they did not let up on the subject. Affirmation to their carnal hunger. And more reason for Anna to withhold her silence and truth about her sex. At the least she was relieved the subject of her virginity was eventually dropped. The men might have thought otherwise, but Anna knew that wasn’t going to happen.
By the time the sun sunk beneath the horizon, Wade and his men had herded the last of his cattle into the holding pens in Lantern. Dust filled the air as the hundred or more cattle scurried into the tight quarters. The men whistled and sent shouts of commands to their horses and dogs until the last cow squeezed into the paddock and the gate closed behind her.
They drove their horses over to the livery where a man greeted them like old friends and took Wade’s horse into the barn. Chuck Rhodes scattered after him. The rest of the hands undressed their own horses and led them to their stalls where food and water waited. Anna could not see Wade, but she had seen him follow the owner of the livery into the building and would be exchanging a few words with him before he led his men to the restaurant for supper.
There a woman greeted them with a big friendly smile while the men filled all the tables in her establishment. Prescott had removed his hat and was quietly talking to her.
“Sit down, boy.” Wade shoved the chair closest to him in her direction. She took it and sat down. Having barely touched her lunch, she was starving and couldn’t wait for a home cooked meal.
In no time, the woman had placed a steaming plate of delicious food in front of Anna. She figured she must have help in the back as she didn’t think it possible the woman could have cooked up all these meals so quickly.
By the time her stomach was full and she was feeling a whole lot better, Wade polished off his plate as well and sat back to offer her a friendly grin. “Now that is a real meal. Much better than Joe’s stew, don’t you agree, kid?”
Joe lifted his head and shot Wade an evil look, but turned his attention back to his meal. Anna didn’t bother to agree since Wade had already turned his attention away also.
After all the wranglers had finished their supper they made their way over to the saloon that they had been talking about all day long. Admittedly, Anna wasn’t looking forward to it, but since she had no other choice, she followed Wade into the establishment. The place was deafening loud. It was impossible to hear anything over the racket. In the far back corner a pair of men played an upbeat melody on their matching banjos. However, the music could be barely heard over the hoots and laughter of far too many voices trying to be heard over the other.
The air was thick with smoke and Anna couldn’t help but cough as she followed Wade through a throng of people. If it wouldn’t look so obvious she would have liked to have fanned her hand across her face to stop the disgusting fumes from entering her lungs.
Being the place was so busy and there was barely enough room to walk, she lost sight of Wade momentarily before plowing into his back when he reappeared once more. He didn’t appear to notice, however and was leaning far over a long bar to speak to a man she assumed was the owner of the saloon. Naturally, she couldn’t hear a word, but wasn’t interested in the conversation anyway. She turned and studied her surroundings. Another first. Never before had she ever stepped inside a place like this.
There were elaborately dressed women whose clothing barely covered their breasts, and men whose brazen hands touched parts of the women that had Anna’s eyes bulging in disbelief.
“Well hello, lover.” A woman with deep red hair piled high on her head and wearing a far too provocative and revealing dress than Anna thought proper, came up behind Wade and cupped his buttocks in her hands. Anna instinctively looked away.
“Evening Marion.”
“You certainly are becoming a more regular feature around here.” she cooed and Anna turned in time to see the woman run a painted finger down his chest. Anna had an urge to slap it away. “Careful, or I’ll begin to think you can’t live without me.”
“You know me, I’m always careful,” he said beneath a smile she had never seen before. It was almost seductive. A tightening in her chest made her shift uncomfortably next to him.
As if noticing they had an audience for the first time, the woman turned and looked at Anna. “Honey, you can stare all you want. I don’t charge a dime for that, but you ain’t got pockets deep enough for a roll with me.”
“The boy’s my newest ranch hand.” Wade told her and thanked the bartender who passed him a glass of brew. “We thought tonight would be his initiation.”
The woman’s brows shot upwards and the face she turned back to Anna held a different look. “Well, that makes a whole lot of difference when your pockets are in Wade Haddock’s pants. What were you thinking? A trio?”
Wade shook his head. “I think for his first time it should be special. And with someone more his age.”
The woman narrowed her eyes at Wade in feigned insult. “It’s a good thing you are a good screw Mr. Haddock, or I’d slap your gentleman face.”
Wade barked with laughter and reached over to slap the woman on her backside. “Gentleman, eh? If that was what you were expecting tonight—”
Anna had heard and seen enough. She turned and walked into the crowd, drowning out Wade’s words. Suddenly desperate for fresh air, she became frustrated when she couldn’t remember the direction of the exit. Brushing past bodies, she was pushed, shoved and hollered at until she was thrust into a corner near a set of stairs leading up to the second floor.
It wasn’t outside, but at least she was as far away from Wade and that overly painted woman as she could get. From her place she could still see them huddled close together near the bar. Their heads within inches of each other. More than likely because that was the only way to be heard, but still it bothered her more than she cared.
Feeling uneasy she looked around at all the unfamiliar faces and suddenly felt very overwhelmed. For the first time since this charade had begun, she felt maybe she had gotten herself in far over her head.
From amongst the saloon chatter filling the overcrowded tavern, one recognizable voice reached her ears. It was barely audible, but its familiarity reached Anna like a bullwhip. A trickle of terror ran down her spine. She spun around, trying to place the voice with the person. But there were too many faces. As if being unmercifully teased she heard it again and spun around in the opposite direction. The words were unclear, but the voice triggered a recollection that had a flood of fear coursing through her veins.
Wade leaned back against the bar and allowed Marion to cape herself across his lap. He took a swig of his brew and looked across the room. The boy was tucked under a small alcove beneath the stairs, and as usual looked like a frightened kitten. The redhead on his lap lifted her dress in order to get a better position on his leg. She dropped the billowing skirt around them and started grinding herself up against him, momentarily drawing his attention away from the boy.
He groaned inside and felt his member begin to stir. Hell, he needed to get upstairs as soon as possible. He had no idea what was going on with his body this past week, but he had felt hornier then a bull during mating season. Take just that morning, when he had awoken with the boy cradled in his arms. He had figured because of the very cold temperatures he had instinctively searched out body warmth and since the boy was closest, that was who he grabbed. He and his ranch hands had used each other’s body heat many times before when the nights became too unbearable. But, hell, not one of them felt soft and warm and smelled like the valley fresh after a rainfall. Nor had any of them left him with a stiff member.
Simply remembering the incident had him cursing himself silently. Maybe it was the boy’s small frame, so similar to a girl’s. Hell, Joe was right on one account. He had never recalled any of his ranch hands smelling so sweet. Wade figured it was the boy’s age and youth which was still on his side. What the boy needed was a little real life, hard-core experience. And the saloon was as good a place as any to get it.
“Why don’t we take this up to my bed, lover,” Marion purred into his ear.
Wade eyed her beneath heavy lids before finishing the last of his drink and grabbed her by the arm. “Let’s go.”
“I love it when you get rough.”
No matter what the state his libido was in, the day had been long and he was beginning to feel the effects. The mention of bed sounded far too welcoming. But first, he would have to speak to the boy. As he approached the staircase, the kid at first wasn’t visible until upon closer notice Wade could see him huddled in a corner in the far back. A memory of that first night when he found him curled up in a fetal position in the furthest bunk came to mind.
“Boy?”
Frightened eyes looked up and a flood of relief filled their chocolate depths before he leaped to his feet and reached for Wade. Startled, Wade took an instinctive step back.
“Hell, kid, relax,” he said and frowned down at the boy. “No one is going to bite you here.”
“Unless, of course, you want them to.” Marion cooed running a seductive hand along his jaw.
Irritated, Wade brushed it aside and studied the boy’s face. He was surprised to see his brows dip toward his nose in anger, but Wade wouldn’t let himself worry whether he had upset the boy or not. The kid had to learn to grow a tougher backside. At the least, the fear had vanished from his eyes. Temporarily, Wade thought with a grimace, knowing full well the boy’s next reaction.
“Look, kid, here’s the thing. I’ve got a room booked for you upstairs with Noelle. She’s French and doesn’t speak much English, but she’s a young filly and you might even take a liking to her.” He saw the boy’s eyes begin to widen. “Don’t give me a hard time, kid. It’s been a long day and I’m tired. You either take my offer or you can bunk out in the livery with Chuck Rhodes. But if you want to be a prude about the whole thing, then let me know because I’ll have to let her go to a customer who will only be too happy to sleep with her.”
Deep brown eyes stared up at him with a coldness like that he never felt before, but since the kid made no move for the livery, he figured he had succumbed to Wade’s ultimatum. He gave the boy a short nod before turning to Marion. “Fetch Noelle.”
Then turning his attention back to the boy said, “Relax, kid. You might actually enjoy yourself. Hell, you’ll probably even thank me in the morning.”
But the boy looked far from thankful and Wade wondered how a boy of his age could still be a virgin. He had called him a prude, but the fact was, Wade feared, the boy’s morals ran a lot deeper than he ever figured. Maybe his innocent heart was still pining for that one true love. Wade nearly laughed out loud. Then he reckoned he was doing the kid a favor. There was no such thing. He had learned early on that everything had a place and purpose in life. Cattle had their use, horses had their function, men had their place and women had theirs. It was the same across the animal race. The only difference was man’s place was at the top of the food chain.
* * *
Anna did her best to suppress the burning rage inside. Wade knew full well she had no wish to accompany a woman to her room, yet he was practically forcing it upon her. He left her no alternative. There was no way she was going to sleep out in the barn with old Chuck Rhodes. Especially after what happened last night.
She looked around the people closest to her and listened for that voice she had heard earlier. This time there was nothing. She frowned and wondered why the voice had frightened her so much. What was it that caused an overwhelming sense of panic?
Her thoughts were dragged away from the mysterious voice when a woman around Anna’s age came to stand beside Wade, the redheaded woman next to her.
“This here is the boy I told you about,” she said to the younger girl. “He don’t speak a word so you won’t have to worry about being understood.”
“Je ne comprends pas.” The French girl’s painted face frowned at the redheaded woman Wade referred to as Marion.
“Sweetheart, how many times have I told you,” Marion put her hands on her full hips. “I don’t speak a word of your tongue, so don’t bother speaking it to me.”
The girl only frowned even more. Marion heaved a heavy sigh and reached out for Anna then thrust her against the French girl's half exposed bosom. “Take the boy upstairs.”
Noelle, the French saloon lady Wade had hired for Anna’s service, broke out into a full smile exposing crooked and yellow teeth. “Oui, j'aime le garçon. Peux-je l'avoir?”
Marion rolled her eyes and waved toward the stairs. “Go and make the boy a man.”
Anna felt her arm being tugged and tried to pull herself free. The French girl was visibly excited about the idea of taking Anna to her room. Anna, on the other hand, knew the fatal consequences if she did. The girl was stronger than Anna guessed and found herself being hauled up the stairs. Wade and Marion following behind.
With panic in her eyes, she shot a glance in Wade’s direction. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Wade entered a room a few doors down and Noelle dragged Anna into their room. The girl giggled as she tugged off Anna’s tweed coat and then reached for the cuff of her pullover shirt. Anna quickly yanked it back down. This only caused the girl to giggle some more. Shaking her head from side to side, Anna tried to get Noelle’s attention. Perhaps if she could get the message to the woman that she was not interested, there was a chance the French girl would leave her alone.
She spoke something in French, her yellowish teeth flashing as she smiled at Anna and attempted to reach for the zipper on her pants. Not understanding a word of the woman’s speech, she truthfully didn’t care what she said. The only thing on Anna’s mind was getting out of that room. She attempted without success to stop the hands still working ferociously on her pants. Fear gurgled deep inside as the woman became relentless. With a force, she pushed Anna’s hands away and shoved her until she fell back against the bed. In one swift movement, she leaped on top of her and straddled her little body.
The French girl laughed hard and spat out more foreign words while rubbing her clothed privates up and down on Anna’s belly.
A new enraged terror took over Anna and from out of nowhere she found the strength she needed to push the girl off. She sprang to her feet and swung open the door. Heedless of where she was going, she ran down the hall to the door that she had last seen Wade enter. Without a second thought, she swung open the door and came to an abrupt halt.
Wade was stretched out on the bed, his arms resting behind his head still fully dressed except for his pants undone at the waistline. At first Anna thought he was alone, until a movement caught her attention. At the foot of his bed, the voluptuous redheaded woman lay stretched out. When she noticed Anna, she sat up causing her long silky hair to fall freely down the length of her body. Her naked body.
“Christ, kid, what the hell are you doing?” Wade’s startled face drew her attention back.
The saloon lady took her time pulling the robe she had just discarded back over her shoulders, apparently nonplussed by the intruder. However, left the entire front of her body exposed.
Anna felt the blood drain from her face and a shudder rip across her body, regardless of the saloon’s warm air. An anguish so severe slashed across her heart and had her literally gasping for air. Wade shoved off the bed, zipping up his pants as he moved. “Jesus, kid, ever hear of knocking?”
For a moment, Anna thought her heart had stopped all together, but thankfully from somewhere deep inside, she found the strength to turn and run down the hall toward the staircase. She heard Wade holler after her, but she did not stop. Not caring where she headed, she ran out of the establishment into the cold night and kept running until the brightly lit town disappeared behind her and the welcoming darkness of the forest engulfed her.
* * *
Wade cursed for the umpteenth time. What the hell was wrong with that kid? He dragged his boots over his feet and reached for his wool coat.
“You’re not really going after him, are you?” Marion sat down on the edge of the bed, her huge breasts bobbing from the movement. “I haven’t even begun.”
“I’ll have to take a rain check.” He told her and picked his hat up off the dresser.
“He’s not worth it, Wade.”
His eyes shot in her direction, and knew without question she was wrong. That boy came into his life for a reason.
He tossed her a few bills and then hurried out of the room, stopping only long enough to bang on Joe’s door. The man took far longer than he liked, so he banged harder.
“Okay, okay, I’m up,” he muttered, opening the door while at the same time trying to fasten his pants with clumsy hands.
“The boy ran off. I’m going to go look for him. Round up a few more hands and meet me outside in five minutes.”
“Right.” Joe gave a quick nod and turned back into the room to get his gear. Wade knew, even if at times Joe was a little gruff, he came to like the kid as well.
Taking the steps two at a time, he flew down the staircase and through the still busy saloon until he stood outside in the middle of the dirt road. He looked down the street, but only saw darkness. He swore and headed for the boardwalk calling for the boy, but received no response. Five minutes later, Joe, Neil and Frank showed up and they split up to start searching the deserted street.
He hadn’t been gone long and Wade didn’t figure he could have gotten far. He had just passed the restaurant when Prescott came from within. Elizabeth next to him. “I heard all the shouting. What’s going on?”
“The boy’s missing.”
“How did that happen?” Wade paused and felt a sense of guilt. For what, he wasn’t sure, but he knew he had something to do with it. His reaction in finding him with Marion was startling to say the least. The boy must have been more of a softy than he imagined.
Ignoring his question, he said instead, “We’ve searched the entire town. There’s no sign of him. I’m getting my horse and heading into the woods.”
“You don’t think he went there, do you?”
“He found us, didn’t he?” Wade reminded his brother.
Prescott nodded, then said, “Let me get dressed and I’ll join you.”
“Fine.” He turned and took off at a fast walk toward the stables.
Chuck Rhodes stood by the large steel door. Wade suspected he had been watching and listening to the whole scene on the street. “Have you seen the boy?”
The old man shook his head and scurried back into the barn. Wade frowned, but decided to ignore him. He didn’t have time to deal with him now.
“Saddle up Prescott’s horse. I’ll look after Sty.”
Joe and the other men were already there with their horses ready. By the time Wade had finished saddling up, Prescott arrived and the five men headed out into the night. Another cold evening with a strong gale blew through the trees as they entered the black forest. It was impossible to see anything and Wade knew their efforts would be futile, but he also knew the boy had nothing on but his shirt and pants and would surely freeze to death if not found.
Joe and Neil started hollering for the boy. There was no moon that night and the forest had an eerie quality. The high winds made the branches sway to and fro, and the leaves on the ground swept up in swirls around the horse’s ankles. Above, a bat swooped low, but the only other creature that moved were the five men and their horses. The wind carried the unmistakable scent of pine through the forest arousing a sense of familiarity with Wade. He hadn’t been able to place the boy’s scent until now. It was as fresh and untainted as the wilderness.