He smiled ruefully. "I know it is."

A tingle of excitement shot through her. She wasn't going to pretend she didn't understand his meaning. He stood abruptly and cast his gaze to the last rays of sun fast disappearing behind the canyon wall. "Time to go. You wandered a long way. We should get back before dark." Solemn-faced, he reached down. "Take my hands." His powerful arms brought her to her feet with one easy pull. Instead of breaking apart, he remained close, still clasping her hands. She drew a deep breath, catching the dizzying, masculine smell of him: buckskin mixed with gunpowder, and maybe a touch of the towering pine trees thrown in. I'm almost in his arms again, and all I want is to get closer still. His eyes captured hers. She could see they'd softened, filled with longing ... pa.s.sion ... all the things that had been there before, that rainy day he'd taken her in his wagon. With a ragged breath, he moved his hands to her shoulders. She could feel their trembling. She leaned toward him, her heart beating madly. He pressed his lips to hers, caressing her mouth more than kissing it. When she flung her arms around his neck, he claimed her lips with crushing intensity. She returned his kiss with a hunger that spoke of her memory of their pa.s.sionate encounter in his wagon. When they finally pulled apart, he showered kisses around her lips and jaw. "I haven't forgotten. It's just so d.a.m.n hard to get you alone."

"Almost impossible." His hands slid a slow, eager path downward. She could feel the warmth of them pressing against the sides of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Then one slid over and cupped her breast. In a dreamy intimacy, she felt its warmth through the fabric of her gown. A hot ache grew in her throat. Don't stop now ...

Clint had to catch his breath. No woman had ever aroused him like this one. Just standing close to her caused such an animal urge within him he wanted to throw her on the ground, pull off those bloomers, and ram it in. He laughed to himself, thinking how thin the veneer of civilization men possessed was. A good thing women couldn't read their minds.

When he heard she'd gotten lost, he was sick with worry. So many dangers out here in the wilderness. As he'd frantically searched, he'd pictured the worst: wild animals, Indians, and of course the snake, which only proved he'd been right to worry. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but he cared deeply for this woman. Since the day they had met, thoughts of her had hung heavy on his mind, especially since they'd made love in his wagon. It wasn't just the s.e.x, although that had been wonderful beyond belief. Her beauty, bravery, saucy att.i.tude-everything about her kept him awake at night. Most of all, he kept imagining how he would make love to her again. No, not throw her on the ground. He longed to bring her to the heights of pa.s.sion again-hear her moan with pleasure when he kissed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, scream as loud as she liked when she climaxed, and not have to bury her head against his shoulder.

Good G.o.d, when could they be alone again?

"Lucy? Lucy where are you?" a voice intruded far in the distance.

With an oath, Clint firmly thrust her away and dropped his hands. "Should have known." She started to speak, but he shook his head. "Out of my mind. Come on, let's go." He scooped up her pail of berries. "Don't forget these."

She took the berries, the turbulence of their pent-up pa.s.sion still swirling within her. "We're not done yet."

He stared at her a moment, then burst out laughing. "No, we're not. It's still a long way to California."

She bit her lip. "Abner won't be too thrilled when he hears I've been in the woods with you."

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you think I'd let him hurt you?"

"Whether I like it or not, I'm obliged to do his bidding."

"For now."

"Well, you're right. We'd better go. They must be wondering where I am."

On the way back, Lucy followed closely behind Clint, clutching her pail of berries. At first all she could think about was Clint and how they'd kissed. Then she began to think about Abner and what he'd say when he discovered she'd spent time alone in the woods with the man he detested above all others. He was going to be angry. Would he try to hit her again? She would be compelled to take action if he did, but for the life of her, other than screaming at the top of her lungs-which she was loath to do-she wasn't sure how she could defend herself.

When they reached the edge of the clearing between the woods and the fort, she saw people milling about. Agnes and William Applegate were there, as well as Hannah, Inez, and their husbands, and ... Abner.

She stopped before anyone saw her and grabbed Clint's arm. "Wait. I must go ahead alone." She heard the panic in her voice but couldn't help it.

He gave her an easy grin. "You don't want to be seen with me? Wonder why."

"You know very well why. Do I have to spell it out?"

"Why don't you?"

She turned to face him. "I have a short-tempered brother-in-law who, for some reason, doesn't want me to a.s.sociate with you. He most especially doesn't like you."

"I know. He hit you because of me."

"Apparently, the whole world knows."

"There are no secrets-"

"I'm aware of all that." She placed her hand on his forearm. "Can't you see? How would it look if we came strolling out of the woods together? Lord only knows what he'd do."

"I wouldn't worry if I were you."

"You wouldn't?"

"You're not going to leave me hidden in the woods. Let's go."

"No! Abner will kill me."

"Abner will never hit you again."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Trust me."

"He's going to be very, very angry."

"Trust me."

"You're sure?"

"Positive."

Maybe she was a fool, but if Clint Palance said to trust him, then she would. When it came down to it, she'd trust her life to this man. "All right, if you're sure; let's go."

They stepped into the clearing and had barely started across when Hannah Richards pointed and joyfully called, "There she is!" Seconds later, her friends surrounded her, expressing their relief.

Smiling, Lucy held up her pail of berries. "Bessie's still going to get her pie."

"Lucy!"

Her smile faded.

Abner strode up. "Where have you been?"

"I got lost in the woods. I-"

"Come with me." He took her arm, none too gently.

She could tell from his strangled voice and the tightness of his grip he was furious. All eyes were watching them. Her legs began to tremble, but she returned a pleasant smile. "Of course, Abner."

They had just started off when Clint called, "Captain, I want a word with you."

Abner stopped in his tracks and turned. "Can't you see I'm busy now?"

"It can't wait."

"Are you sure?"

"It can't wait."

"Very well. You go ahead, Lucy. I shall be right with you." Under his breath he muttered, "We have much to discuss."

He turned to Clint. Not disguising his annoyance, he inquired, "So, Mr. Palance, what was it you wanted?"

Chapter 10.

Charlie Dawes was sitting by his campfire, supper plate in hand, when his partner rode up. "So there you are. I hear you found the little lady."

"Yep." Clint dismounted, went to their wagon, and found the piece of sandstone he used for sharpening his knives. He returned and sat across from Charlie. "She got lost in the woods."

"I seen the captain come by just a minute ago. Had a funny look on his face. Sort of pale, like something just scared the s.h.i.t out of him."

Clint smiled.

"What happened?"

Clint drew his ten-inch Bowie knife from the sheath that hung on his belt. With great deliberation, he rubbed the sandstone along its curved, sharp edge. "He'll never even think of hitting her again."

Charlie regarded the gleaming, ten-inch blade. "Holy Jehosaphat! You threatened him with that? No wonder he looked bug-eyed."

"I never mentioned it. Never drew it out. Let's just say we came to an understanding."

"What about?"

"Do you remember down in Texas when the Comanche were on the warpath?"

Charlie nodded. "Them Comanches is surely an unpleasant bunch. You wouldn't want to be their captive, especially if you was white."

"Just what I mentioned to the captain. Do you recall that Army sergeant who fell into their hands a few years back?"

"You mean the one where they cut his eyelids off and buried him up to his chin in the blazing sun?"

"That's the one."

Charlie thoughtfully scooped up a forkful of beans. "What about the trader they staked out spread-eagled on a red ant hill? Ain't he the one where they cut off his private parts? Then they stuffed them in his mouth and sewed his lips together."

"The very same. I told the captain about him, too. Made it clear these things could happen to a man, especially one who raises a hand to a woman."

Charlie let out a deep chuckle and slammed his hand to his knee. "So that's why that tight-a.s.s son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h looked like death warmed over when he came by."

"Could be."

"You don't think he'll want to get his revenge?"

Clint slowly shook his head. "Abner's a weak man, as well as a coward. My guess is, he'll have nightmares tonight about someone cutting his b.a.l.l.s off and stuffing them in ..." a half smile crossed his face "... I can think of a couple of likely places." Clint ran a thumb along the sharp edge of his Bowie knife. "He won't hit her again, nor that poor wife of his, either. I guarantee it."

Lucy couldn't imagine what Clint had said to Abner. Whatever it was, the unbending captain of the wagon train acted like a different man when he returned to his wagon. She had braced for his wrath. Instead, he withdrew within himself and had never been so quiet. He even cut his nightly prayer service short and didn't quote a scripture all evening long, a record for him. As a result, she felt vastly relieved knowing she didn't have to concern herself about any further violence from her brother-in-law. A good thing, too. She could never have obeyed Abner's wishes and put Clint out of her head. Thoughts were one thing, acting upon them quite another. There were no secrets on a wagon train, and no privacy, either. To be alone with Clint again, she'd have to get stung by a scorpion, lost in the woods, or something equally dramatic. Yet the difficulties made her want him all the more. Who knew what the future had in store? So much had happened since she left Ma.s.sachusetts. What lay ahead, she didn't know, except that they still had a long way to go.

Two days out of Fort Laramie, the party had stopped for lunch by a small stream when Hannah came running to the Schneider wagon. "Captain, we can't go on. Bessie, it's her time."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Abner squinted his eyes shut in annoyance. "We must adhere to our schedule. We'll keep going, but we'll slow down."

"What!" Hannah jammed her hands on her hips. "How can you slow down from two miles an hour? We will do no such thing. Bessie's come to her time, and I ain't going to have her bounced around in the back of a wagon. Bad enough what the poor girl's got to go through."

Lucy, who'd been helping Martha with the midday meal, spoke up. "We must stop, I-"

"That will do." Abner swung his gaze to his wife, who stood staring at him, wide-eyed. "You, too."

If the situation hadn't been so serious, Lucy might have laughed. Poor, browbeaten Martha hadn't been about to open her mouth.

John Potts came on the half run, frowning with concern. "My wife can't go any farther."

Clint and Charlie rode up and immediately apprised the situation just as Inez Helmick arrived, closely followed by Agnes and some of the other women.

Clint addressed Abner. "It's best we don't move on." He nodded toward the small stream nearby. "We know we've got water here. We don't know if we'll find any ahead."

Charlie added, "Ladies in these situations have got to have water."

"How could you even think of moving on?" demanded Inez. "Mrs. Potts has certain complications, which might be aggrieved if we moved an inch farther."

Grim-faced Agnes folded her arms across her chest. "We're not moving. I don't give a hoot what you say."

For a time, Lucy remained silent, growing increasingly disgusted with Abner's stubborn att.i.tude. Had he no heart? How could he turn a deaf ear on such desperate pleas? She gripped Abner's arm. "We must stay. Can't you see-?"

"Hush!" Abner jerked his arm away. "I make the decisions here."

"Then you'd better make the right one."

Abner chose to ignore her, but the increasing hostility of the crowd must have finally wore down his resistance. "I see I'm outnumbered. Very well, then, against all common sense, I have decided we shall stay." He accompanied his grudging words with an expression so sour he could have been sucking a lemon.

Soon after, Lucy went to see how Bessie was doing. She found her friend lying atop several mattresses piled up in the middle of the narrow box of the wagon with barely enough room for one person to sit on either side. Propped up on one arm, Bessie gave Lucy a welcoming smile. "At least we're in a place where there's water."

Lucy sank down beside the bed. "That's just like you, always looking on the bright side."