Comanche Haven (The Loflin Legacy: Book 1) Read online

  Her eyes bore into his with the honest he’d witnessed in the young girl so long ago. “I want you, my husband. I always have.” Following his lead, she took his hand and placed his long fingers over her breast in a show of trust. “Take me as a wife and lover. Take me as yours.”

  With the need running hot through his veins, he traced the rip, full mound of her breast and watched her eyes flutter closed. A soft sigh escaped her and she reached up to pull his head toward the rosy peak of her nipple.

  Seth suckled her aerial like a man who’d just broke a fast. Tormenting the taught peak, he sought its mate and devoured her lush flesh. “Celia…” Breathing her name, he let his fingers tug the laces of the thin cotton chemise free so he could better view the swells of her breasts. Her skin was smoothly bronze and the corset pushed the gleaming mounds up for his pleasure. Celia rolled and urged him to free her from the bonds of the whalebone. Reaching behind her as he worked she taunted him with her hand as she glided down the front of his trousers, teasing muscle and flesh in a torturous search for his pride. Working his belt loose, she unbuttoned his pants and sought him out. Freed of the boning, the pantalets draped across the nightstand, Celia lay bare for his eyes to feast on. Wasting little time in admiration, he took her mouth in a savage kiss. The heat between them raced to a head with each stroke and every touch. Gasps of pleasure and moans of desire gave way to a silent urgency as he shoved two fingers into her wet center. She came on an explosive release and cried out in ecstasy. Holding on to his control by a thread, he parted her long legs and slid deep inside the wet folds of her core. She fisted around him caressing his shaft in a mindless dance of passion. With their need running hot to the point of implosion, Seth took what she offered as they fell this time together.

  ***

  So, this was what being a newlywed was like. Celia absorbed the feeling of his nearness as Seth squired her down the street. Details she never dreamed he would pay attention to were suddenly the only things he focused on. On this particular outing, they were in search of the perfect dessert for dinner that evening.

  Seth had found a woman who made cakes and since their wedding had been so hasty, a wedding cake hadn’t been part of the day’s accompaniments. Now, here they were strolling down the street with the taste of a delectable treat still lingering on their tongues. The beautiful desert they’d just sampled would be delivered to the hotel that evening. The baker assured the couple it would be awaiting them in their room after the supper hour.

  Celia basked in the glow of the attention he was lavishing on her. Gone was the ill-tempered tyrant that she’d married and in his place a man of genuine affection and consideration had taken his place. He was courting her. It was truly a wonder. She’d already made up her mind that after dinner that evening she would take her new husband to their bed and show him just how much she appreciated the new Seth.

  They were on their way to speak to Charles before heading back to the hotel and rest before the evening got under way. Outside the lawyer’s door, Charles was speaking to client as they approached.

  She glimpsed a man walking toward them as Charles waved goodbye to his client. Her heart constricted in her chest when she recognized the man headed toward them. Without realizing it, she planted her feet and tugged on her husband’s sleeve urging him to move in the opposite direction. The world began to slow around them and she watched in horrified slow motion as the Texas Ranger advanced on their position like a stalking predator. Ty had seen the man’s approach and was lowering his rifle.

  “Celia, what’s wrong?” Seth hadn’t seen Brannon yet. “Are you all right?”

  “Hey, Loflin,” Brannon’s voice seemed to reverberate off the buildings and echo down the street. “Loflin– I’m talkin’ to you!”

  He slowed only a moment as recognition had him going on alert.

  Celia saw his gun hand cover his revolver while he gripped her with the other.

  The Ranger stalked down the boardwalk his spurs making an eerie jangling in the growing silence around them. The few citizens that were still on the street scurried away like rats.

  “Seth?” His name in a question held everything for Celia at the moment. Panic took hold as she realized his focus had shifted to the Ranger.

  “You’ve broke the law taking a Comanche as your wife. I’m arresting you for the offense. She’s government property, Loflin. She belongs to me!”

  Celia thought she heard the hammer of a revolver cock. She reached out for him only moments after he’d shoved her hard in Ty’s direction. “Take her, Ty.” The voice sounded like a stranger’s. Helpless to stop the wheels from turning, she watched as Seth wheeled toward Brannon.

  “Get her out of here,” he growled his eyes never leaving Brannon’s. Ty’s hand clamped down on her arm with an iron grip. She glanced pleadingly from Charles to Hawk who’d emerged from Charles’ office with the yelling. Each man’s attention never left Brannon or his men who slinked up to stand beside him. She watched with mounting apprehension as both men unsnapped their holster straps.

  “Seth, don’t please!” Celia fought the tears gathering as her heart banged against the wall of her chest.

  “I said get her out of here!” Her heart rate increased tenfold as he shot the order at Ty in a tone Celia had never heard him use before. Feral and base, he had become someone she didn’t recognize. Ty had a death grip on her, but she was able to crane her head and watch Seth plant his feet as his hand hovered over his gun.

  “He’s mine. Back off!” Brannon yelled at the men beside him. With the order, the men dissolved into the shadows of the nearby buildings on either side of the street. She saw they’d armed themselves to the hilt ready to defend their position when necessary.

  “All right, Loflin, are you coming peaceful or am I gonna have to kill you?” Brannon’s lips twitched in a sardonic grin. “Makes no never mind to me. Either way, winner gets the girl.”

  “Seth, don’t!” Celia heard the edge of hysteria in her voice.

  Smitty Jones, who was sweeping the sidewalk in front of his store, witnessed the commotion and scurried down, like one of those frightened rats, to help Ty get her out of the street and onto the boardwalk. “Here, now, Miss Celia. Everything will be all right.” Patting her hand, he tried to lead her into the mercantile.

  She looked blindly at the thick, but agile little man as he hauled her up the steps to the store. Surreal, the scene was something like that out of a dime novel. It couldn’t be happening, but it was. “Seth, wait. Don’t do this, please,” she called over her shoulder as the two men bodily shoved her into the interior of the mercantile.

  “Seth, I can get the sheriff.” Ty’s voice was steady even though his hands were shaking as he called from the stoop of the store.

  “Don’t!” The snarl was Seth’s only reply.

  Smitty and Ty barricaded the doorway, so Celia peered powerlessly out the dirt smudged front window. Rose came to stand beside her and mumbled words of comfort she paid no attention to. She watched as Charles gripped Hawk’s arm and motioned for him to clear the street. “He’ll be okay, men,” he yelled to those who huddled on either side of the street. “Seth, we got your second,” he hollered load enough for Brannon’s men to understand they’d take up the fight if Seth fell. Seth gave a nod without taking his gaze off Brannon.

  Tears began to trickle down Celia’s cheeks as she watched Charles watching the standoff intensely. It was just a nightmare, that’s all it was…a nightmare like the one she’d had a night or so back. Why couldn’t she wake up?

  Brannon walked to the middle of the street. “Are you ready to die, rancher?”

  “I should be asking you that, Ranger.” Seth shook his hands loosely at his sides. His gun hand settled just above the revolver in his holster.

  Time stopped for Celia. She couldn’t watch she told herself, but couldn’t turn away. Rose’s arms were around her offering comfort. Celia’s vision tunneled in and her chest constricted. This couldn’t be happening
.

  “Rose, I have to do something. Please, I have to stop this!” She tugged at the arms that held her.

  “No, child,” Rose’s tender voice was only a whisper. “This is something neither of us can help.”

  Shots split the air. He jerked once and then fell. She broke free from Rose’s arms and bolted for the door. “Seth!”

  Tearing out of the mercantile, she flew to his side. He lay sprawled in the dirt. Blood oozed from his temple.

  Frantically checking his pulse, Celia screamed for Ty who already mirrored her position on Seth’s opposite side. With hands trembling, she found a pulse. “We have to hurry. Hurry I said!” Her words sounded like someone else’s commands.

  “I don’t know how much damage there is.” Her voice hitched and gave out. She found she couldn’t get air in her lungs. Her fingers seemed to be someone else’s as they trembled along his temple. “He’s taken a shot to the head. It looks like the bullet grazed his temple. Oh, thank God! But he’s out – unconscious.” Mechanically, Celia tore at her petticoat and attempted to staunch the flow as Ty gathered his brother under the armpits. Carefully caressing his cheek, she glanced in Brannon’s direction. Charles stood with the rifle cocked and pointed at Brannon. The Ranger was down but moving in the dirt. The other Rangers moved to pick Brannon up by the boots and the armpits while they watched Charles carefully.

  Without another thought, she directed Ty and Hawk in getting Seth out of the street and back to the hotel.

  ***

  “He’s resting now.” Celia kept her explanation brief so as not to upset Casey any more. Her hands were steady - thank the Great Spirit. She couldn’t afford to break down yet. Straightening the covers on Casey’s bed, she smiled for her patient though her insides were numb.

  “Tell me what happened? I heard gun shots.” Casey struggled against the pain to rise up and garner the information she needed. “Then Charles Harrison came in and told me Seth had been shot.” She reached out for Celia’s hand. “How bad is he?” Her voice was pleading now.

  The concern was evident in the young woman’s eyes. For some reason, that fact comforted Celia, to see that emotion, so raw and unchecked, staring back at her garnered respect for Casey in her eyes. At that moment, she reveled in a new and tender emotion for the youngest Loflin. Despite her words to the contrary, Casey cared, which in turn made her want to be closer to Seth’s sister.

  “Oh, I want out of this bed. I want out, damn it!” Casey punched the cover with a tiny fist.

  Celia smiled with empathy for her young charge. “It won’t do you any good to fume. he’s as safe and comfortable as we can make him.”

  Casey wouldn’t be mollified with so simple an answer. “Tell me what happened, please. Charles wouldn’t say because he didn’t want to upset me.” The girl’s expressive eyes gazed at her with more urgent pleading.

  “Charles, is it?” Celia’s mouth turned up at the corners in consideration. To her credit, Casey blushed and waved away the innuendo of her question with a wrist.

  “That’s not important. Please tell me what happened and why, Celia, please?”

  There was more here than she’d imagined and certainly more feeling for Seth than Casey wanted to admit, she mused. When she had finished relaying all she remembered about the shooting, she realized it had indeed helped. Grateful for the release, Celia laid her head against the back of the brocade-covered chair she slumped into and closed her eyes. She’d not had a minute to consider the details since the gun fight.

  “You need to get some rest,” Casey frowned as she considered Celia. “You look horrible. If you’re gonna help him, then you’re gonna have to get some rest.” The girl’s words were earnest.

  Celia’s mouth turned up in a baleful grin. “Out of the mouths of babes.” Studying Seth’s sister a moment longer, She considered her next question carefully. “What else did Mr. Charles have to say?”

  Casey frowned, her innocent stare almost believable. “Nothing.”

  The girl wasn’t a very convincing liar, but now wasn’t the time for advice on keeping secrets. Gently shaking her head, she reached out and smoothed a stray strand of hair out of the girl’s eyes. It was late or early depending on one’s prospective. “Get some rest, Casey. Good night.”

  With the girl’s dinner tray and a discarded water glass from the nightstand, Celia turned to leave.

  Casey reached up to touch her arm.

  Celia paused and looked to Casey, who was smiling, tremulously.

  “Thank you,” she said in a quivering voice.

  “No need to thank me, but you’re welcome.” Celia didn’t try to conceal the warmth that she was beginning to feel for the girl. Closing the door behind her, Celia considered Casey’s words. Touched and a bit shaken by the girl’s truthful reaction, she walked down the hall to the honeymoon suite. Much like Seth a couple of nights before, she stood swaying in the dim light from the hall.

  Celia opened the door. The room wasn’t dark or unoccupied. Ty sat with Seth. Reminded of how a bond between brothers grew stronger in the face of danger, she blinked at the man in the bed. If Casey’s reaction were any indication, it looked as though the bond between estranged brother and sister could improve as well. Somehow, the expression of concern by Ty and Casey and their trust in her ability fortified her. Slipping into the room she’d shared with Seth as man and wife, only the night before, she found herself drawn to the bed with such concern she wondered at her emotional well-being.

  Cutter stretched out on the bed with his hind legs extended behind him in a deep stretch. Thumping his black and white tail enthusiastically for her, the cattle dog stood up, made a circle and then settled again next to his master’s legs.

  Coming around to the side of the bed, Celia examined the patient. The wound on his temple was still oozing slightly. With a fresh cloth, she blotted the blood. The bandage needed changing soon. Casey’s words came back to her. She’d sounded so much like Seth that it tugged at Celia’s heart. Ty slept in the chair next to the bed and hadn’t stirred. Slumping into the adjoining chair, she put her head in her hands.

  A sudden chill ran up her spin and she stiffened. What if Brannon came back? What if Seth died? Celia’s hands trembled and she had to clinch them to quell the sudden urge to panic. Wasn’t there a man on guard, even now at the top of the stairs? Perhaps it was best not to be alone with her fears too much. Or perhaps she needed a plan of action.

  The violence hadn’t been something she’d expected or envisioned. Fear had rocked her and she was exhausted, that was all. Looking over at the man she now called husband lying so still in the bed, she trembled with loneliness. Brannon had attacked them in broad daylight. From all accounts, the Texas Rangers were highly respected lawmen. So why had Brannon pulled a gun on Seth rather than taking him in for questioning or something. It didn’t add up. The Ranger had called him out. Is that how they settled things here in Texas? Logically, it shouldn’t have escalated to that point. But it had. No, things didn’t add up and until she got some answers, she wasn’t letting Seth out of her sight. Not only would she see to it, but she would make it her personal mission to protect her husband at all costs. The law be damned, she vowed.

  Almost losing him, again, had brought her full circle. Celia could now see clearly how she had to take charge of her own life, her new life here in Texas, and make her own decisions. Hopefully, soon, she would have the chance to explain her feelings to him, but in the meantime she was in charge.

  ***

  Celia asked Charles to send someone to the Shooter Creek. Jake and the men had arrived quickly and a guard had sat outside all the entrances to the hotel. Night had fallen on the second day and she glanced down at the fires that burned in the streets surrounding the hotel. Set by the ranch hands as much in vigil as to protect those working inside, she was comforted, and somehow bolstered by their light. They’d erected a small fortress around the hotel and had gone so far as to check each guest entering or leaving the establishme
nt since the shoot-out. She’d seen the somber faces of Jake, Shorty, and the others as they’d come to pay their respects. Their presence gave Celia the support she needed.

  ***

  Jake spat chewing tobacco onto the ground. The fire’s flames flickered in a frantic dance over his weathered face. From under his Stetson, Jake eyed each man individually. “Charles said Seth was protecting Celia. Said Brannon came up demanding that he turn her over to him. Told them, he was taking her to scout for Red Bear.” The foreman paused to spit into the fire. He stared hard into the flames as the spewing died down.

  “Somethin’ ain’t right, Jake.” Shorty peered at his old friend. “Rangers are supposed to have a code they go by. This don’t sound like part of that there code when a man pulls a gun on another in a shoot-out. There was no cause. It just ain’t right.” Scratching his beard, Shorty scanned those who’d ridden in to form a posy once they had enough light.

  “I know. Cole’s concerned but not doing anything about it. That means it’s up to us.”

  “And why is that?”

  “What do you mean?” Jake scowled at Shorty.

  “I mean, why ain’t Cole forming a posy and getting ready to ride after these sons-a-bitches himself?”

  “Said he’s got to send a wire or some such bullshit to verify the vermin is really Brannon.”

  “Really Brannon?” Shorty’s white eyebrows shot up. “Well, hell, who else would he be?” Shorty’s baffled expression said he hadn’t considered anything else.

  The foreman considered the fire a moment. “Cole’s no fool. He smells a rat. Just got to go by the book is all.” Jake glanced up. “But us – we ain’t got to go by nothing, but what’s right.” He spit again into the flames and made them sizzle. “Time’s wasting. Tell the men to get their gear together. I’m gonna check on Celia. Be ready to ride when I get back.”

  ***

  Celia glanced at the old grandfather clock in the corner. Time, there was so much time now, she mused. It seemed so long ago when she’d directed the men to deposit her husband in the big four-poster bed. When she’d extracted the bullet and staunched the bleeding. When she’d stitched him up and silently prayed he would wake up. Jake stood next to the bed telling her she was in charge.