Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology) (56 page)

He stared intently. “Do you have any
suave?”

“
I’ll get it.” Briann
headed for the wagon.

Again, as if struck dumb, Sonja only
stared. Those nearby saw everything. She needed to move away to a
presentable distance. They could ill afford their cover blown.
Still she stood rooted to the spot.

“
Mrs. Brooks?” He persisted
by giving her hand a gentle shake.

“
Uh… yes, I think so.”
Sonja stared up into his face. His intense blue eyes held the world
for her. “We need to separate,” she whispered. “People are starting
to gather.”

“
Sonja, where’s the suave
and I’ll get it.” His tone sounded polite but
undeterred.

“
I… I think Briann went to
get the suave.” She wasn’t about to let him in the wagon. The
tongues would never cease waging. Sonja turned and stumbled only
once as she headed for the wagon.

Inside, as Briann got out the suave,
Sonja stared at her hand. The cooling sensation Ty’s saliva caused
on her fingers was easing the pain. The man had put her fingers in
his mouth and sucked them in front of God and the train. The blood
filled her cheeks when she considered the queer things that action
did to her stomach, not to mention the moistness between her legs.
She was no stranger to her reaction around him. Having to control
such a reaction was something altogether foreign, though. Soon, she
reminded herself, soon they would be far away from the vampires and
near the Mississippi.

Outside the team brayed as he expertly
hooked them to her wagon. She shoved the contact with him to the
back of her mind as she shoved the wooden storage box back under
her small cot.

“
Here, let me wrap your
hand. You can’t afford the chance of infection.”

Her words sounded like those of a
mother and Sonja couldn’t help the smile across her flushed face.
“Yes, sister dear.”

The slight jostles and vibrations
meant the lieutenant was taking things in hand once more. It
pricked her ire before she heard another voice.

***

“
What are you saying?” Ty
didn’t try and hide his frustration with the wagon master’s latest
directive. His temper began to emerge. Complications would abound
with such an order. The blood rushed to his ears, a sure sign he
was in jeopardy of turning, something, which could not happen. Not
wanting to die before he got the matter straightened out, Ty worked
on focusing as the Guardian had taught him. The god-like Liken did
share certain valuable tactics with Ty to control his temper born
change from occurring. If he could remain calm until he got the
mess straightened out. Ty stepped toward Smoltz.

“
Just what I said. You’re
gonna have to escort Mrs. Brooks to Texas. We’re low on healthy men
to drive the teams and you’re gonna have to help out. Simple as
that.”

“
Earl, look. I’m a scout,
not a babysitter. This isn’t my job. I didn’t agree to drive
anybody’s team to Texas!” Slapping his Stetson against his thigh,
Ty glared at the man with the white handlebar mustache and leather
vest.

Smoltz didn’t budge. His bushy
eyebrows formed a single line across his weather beaten face.
Despite his short stature, he stared right back at Ty, though at an
incline.

“
I didn’t ask you, did I?
Seems to me, I’m still the ramrod of this outfit. If you don’t like
the way I run things, you can always head out on your
own.”

There was a pregnant pause as both men
glared at each other. Neither wanted to give an inch.

“
If you don’t mind, I’ve
got a wagon train to move.” Smoltz gave Ty one good clear look at
his faded blue eyes and wheeled on his boot heel.

Authority rang in every word the man
uttered, but Ty couldn’t leave it be. “Wait a minute.” Reaching
out, Ty did the unthinkable and gripped the Earl’s arm.

To his credit, the wagon master didn’t
yank free. He simply glared coolly at the persistent hand attached
to his upper arm.

Letting go, Ty raised both hands in
surrender. “Look, Earl, you can’t be serious. This is some kind of
joke, right?” Ty took a step back. “I get it.” Spreading his hands
wide in a plea for understanding, he started to laugh, a shaky
brittleness to his tone. “Yeah, this is a joke at my expense,
right?” Ty waited a beat. “The boys are behind this, right? Where
is Connors? I know he’s the ringleader behind this one, for sure.
Always stirring up something, that one.” Ty shook his
head.

Earl said nothing.

Unable to stop, Ty pressed on. “’Cause
you know I sure as hell ain’t escorting’ a helpless socialite to
Texas. I told you when I hired you, I was going as far as Texas and
that was all.” His hand cut the air between the two men in an
Indian gesture meaning ‘No’. With his infamous Loflin temper about
to explode, Ty struggled hard to corral the beast. The apprehension
over such a task rode roughshod over his common sense, causing his
pressure to build in his head. Trying to defuse his anger, he
shifted to a different tactic. “You were pullin’ my leg,
right?”

Smoltz didn’t say a word.

“
She doesn’t need my help
with making the trip. Why don’t you ask her?” The surge of the
werewolf came on without delay. Steady, boyo’. Needn't give away
everything right here.”

“
She’s a paying
customer.”

Ty’s eyes burned with the temper
rising unbidden in his temples. The pain of his skin growing taught
began to nudge at his consciousness. “Yeah, probably a well-paying
customer for sure.” When Earl tipped his hat and smiled at a point
over Ty’s shoulder, it sent the hackles on his back up. Werewolf’s
hair pierced his flesh and sprang along the back of his
neck.

“
Ma’am.”

***

Turning slowly, Ty came face to face
with Sonja. His eyes blazed blue ice but he couldn’t stop them.
Wishing the whole thing a joke at his expense, Ty tracked Sonja’s
eyes from Smoltz face to his.

“
Mr. Smoltz, what’s the
meaning of this?” Her tone was cool, her back straight and her head
tilted slightly. She was magnificent.

“
Well, ma’am, I’ve assigned
your…ugh, Lieutenant Loflin, to take care you. Mr. Loflin’s gonna
drive the team for you and watch out for your family’s safety.”
Nodding his head in the direction of her wagon, Smoltz tried to
pacify all concerned. “He’s gonna make sure your sister, her kids,
and you are protected the rest of the way.” Satisfied with his
explanation, Smoltz folded his hands over his paunch and rocked
back on his booted heels.

Sonja glared hard between the two men.
The tawny color of her eyes fired. She turned from them, least
Smoltz witness her temper. Ty suspected Smoltz surmised Sonja
needed help and from the look on her face, he wagered he was right.
She had to know, though, if they protested, Smoltz would surely
reveal their secret before casting them out there, where life had
teeth. Using his fledgling telepathic abilities, Ty tried to calm
Sonja. “Easy, what you say, Nymph.”

Glancing again at Sonja, and
recognizing the sparks heating in those hypnotic eyes, Ty paused.
Maybe she wanted him to refuse.

Sonja thinned her lips into a tight
line. “What makes you think I’ll be agreeable to such an
arrangement, Mr. Smoltz?”

She wrapped her good hand around her
injured one only minutes before in what Ty could only think of as a
defensive move.

“
Well, beggin’ your pardon,
ma’am, but you’re not as equipped as you need be to travel like
this. It’s prudent to have Lieutenant Loflin accompany you.” He
shoved his beefy hands into his pockets and peered at her over his
bulging nose as if she’d gone daft.

“
I can’t be watchin’ out
for your kind and drivin’ the train at the same time.”

He cut his eyes at Ty and missed the
flash of pure contempt in Sonja’s. “What are you saying, Smoltz?”
Sonja’s hackles grew with the wagon master’s placating words. “I’m
not capable of taking care of myself and my family?”

Pumping the air between them with his
palms, Smoltz smiled friendly like. The wagon master sensed he’d
overstepped his bounds and glanced at Ty as if in a plea for help.
When none came, he cleared his throat and tried again. “No, I
didn’t say that. I mean you’re a widow, without a man to protect
her from others who’d make unwanted advances. That’s all. There’s a
lot of dangerous things out here on the trail for a lone woman to
get into. It’s my job to see to everyone safety. So, I’ve asked the
lieutenant here, to look out for you.” Marginally pleased with his
own explanation, Smoltz patted his belly and nodded
nervously.

“
Does the lady in question
have any say in this, sir?” Sonja raised a brow.

Ty admired her spunk, even if she was
barking up the wrong tree. He garnered her attention with the
inclination of his head. From under the cover of his Stetson, he
studied her. Intent on supporting her opinion they’d be less fodder
for gossip, if they remained separated during the trip, he tried
again. “Mrs. Brooks, of course you do. I wouldn’t presume to
intrude. I believe you when you declare you’re perfectly capable of
making your own way.” Ty could tell she was mentally calculating
the predicament this new task would put them in with the
possibility of a change into the werewolf state.

“
Really?” Sonja drew the
one word out as she took a step toward him. “That’s peculiar
because I could’ve sworn I heard you tell the trail boss that I
didn’t have any business being on this train.” Her pencil thin lips
turned up at one corner with disdain.

Ty couldn’t believe his ears. He’d
said no such thing to Smoltz – maybe to Smitty. “Don’t worry, Mrs.
Brooks, I don’t want to deal with you or any other widow any more
than you want to put up with me.”

Her dismissive sniff irked him on a
truly basic level. Why was she acting like this? He was the one who
would have to face her every day. Being in close quarters with the
totally intoxicating Sonja would drive his lust for her beyond his
control.

Smoltz’s shook his shaggy head and the
jowls of his cheeks drooped lower with the seriousness of his
words. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Brooks, but if you don’t take my offer of
assistance, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to ask you to leave the
train.”

The color drained from her
face.

Ty could see the realization in
Sonja’s expression. She’d misjudged the old wagon master and he’d
managed to turn the tables on her. Something tugged at his heart.
Damn, but he couldn’t let her be turned back. Genuinely irritated
by Smoltz’s directive, Ty sighed deeply, before throwing his hands
up in a dramatic show of surrender. “Okay, okay, I’ll do it. Don’t
go getting’ all bent out of shape, Earl. I’ll watch the widow.
Nobody will have to turn back.”

Sonja’s face tightened as she whirled
on him. “I’d appreciate it if you’d stay out of this,” She
snapped.

Ty could only stare at her. Was she
actually willing to take the chance of Smoltz turning her
back?

Smoltz didn’t have a stake in her
latest attack and smiled with satisfaction. “Well, good. That’s
settled.” Patting his protruding belly, he turned on his heels and
sauntered off with a whistle and a command. “Ty, get your gear. You
can bunk under Mr. Brooks’ wagon tonight. Use that tent you brought
with you when you ran off from the Confederates.” He turned, and
giving Smitty, who’d arrived, an absent pat on the back, left them
all standing there staring after him.

Ty fisted his hands and ground down on
his back molars. He gave Sonja one good glaring scan before
stomping after Smoltz.

Smitty intervened and held out a hand
bringing Ty up short. “Easy, Boyo.” He patted Ty’s chest
good-naturedly but with enough force to keep his friend in place
until Ty’s breathing slowed. “You said it yourself. She needs help
whether she’s willing to admit it or not. One of us will escort her
to St. Louis. Hadn’t you rather it be you?” Giving his friend a
solid nudge, Smitty managed to turn Ty around. “Here now, don’t go
gettin’ all bent out of shape over Smoltz. He’s only doing what he
sees as prudent. That’s a fact. And, besides, you hired him.”
Smitty let out a little snort and a curt nod before nudging Ty in
the arm again. Besides, this is what you wanted isn’t
it?”

Ty shrugged.

“
After all, she’s your
woman. You should be lookin’ out for her.” The grin he shot Ty had
him relaxing some.

“
I could’ve sworn we were
careful around Smoltz and the others. Sonja has this idea that the
others will object to our sharing quarters without being man and
wife.” Ty scanned the distant tree line. Without missing a beat, he
shifted his focus. “We need to get a move on. Let’s make the most
of this daylight and keep your eyes peeled for Indian
trouble.

Smitty walked back with Ty before
heading out to get his own rig ready to move.

With his hands shoved into his front
pockets, Ty released another breath. Smitty was right again. He
could feel the blood boiling in his veins. War could blur a man’s
sense of right and wrong, but Ty hadn’t not run off from the
conflict. He glanced in Sonja’s direction. She ignored his stare.
She’d been the reason he’d disappeared. The Irishman knew the truth
about Ty’s gift and how he’d come by it. Ty trusted Smitty to keep
their secrets. After all, the Irishman’s levelheaded thinking had
been the reason for his securing him as his sergeant in the first
place.