Devils on Horseback: Gideon, Book 5 (11 page)

“I thought you were one of the kidnappers or worse.” She ached to touch him, soothe the hurt she’d inflicted, but she just sat there and accepted his well-deserved scolding. “I’m sorry.”

“I guess I don’t have to worry about you getting hurt, then. If all you had was a stick and you managed to crack my skull, you don’t even need your knife.”

She spotted her knife on the ground by his feet. He had gotten concerned and gone looking for her. It wasn’t a big gesture, but damned if it didn’t make her lose control.

For the first time since her family had gone missing, Chloe burst into tears.

Gideon watched her from the corner of his eye. After her surprising tears and the knock on his head—which still hurt—he didn’t know what she was thinking. Just when he thought he had her figured out, she did something unexpected. Like crying. Of all the women he’d known in his life, Chloe was the last person he expected to break down like that. She was tougher than he was, for God’s sake.

She had pointed at the knife, then at his head and cried some more. He hadn’t known what to do but hand her his handkerchief and wait. She had gotten to her feet with the knife and handkerchief in hand and left him sitting on the forest floor with his head throbbing and his mind whirling. She had caught him off guard with the stick, but there was no real damage to speak of, although he’d probably be picking bark out of his hair for a few days.

By the time he made it back to camp, she had stopped crying. She had also packed the bedrolls, made coffee and put the leftover cornpone out to eat. He ate gratefully, keeping an eye on her, wondering what she was thinking. If she was more like every other woman, he might have asked her why she had cried, but he didn’t dare. They needed each other, and he was already on uncharted ground with her.

They packed up and were on their way before the sun was fully up. He was glad of the daylight and picked up a set of wagon tracks straight off.

“Do you see anything?” Her voice was a bit rusty, and he thought it might have been due to the hysterics earlier but didn’t think it wise to say anything.

“There’s some tracks but not fresh ones. At least twelve hours old.” He pointed at the side of the trail where the grass had grown high. “Keep your eye on the grass. If you see any that’s been trampled or stepped on, let me know.”

She nodded and focused intently on her task, giving him a chance to study her. Chloe’s face was drawn, with circles under her eyes and a tightness to her mouth that made her lips almost white. The clouds obscured the sun, and she hadn’t put her hideous hat on. The light breeze tickled the explosion of curls on her head.

She was beautiful.
Beautiful
.

Gideon stared at her, rendered mute by his recognition of just how lovely Chloe Ruskin was. Her beauty struck him between the eyes, stealing his thoughts. He could imagine waking up to her every morning, being able to stroke her freckled skin and kiss her plump lips. It would be a life he could love. Hell, a woman he could love.

His throat went dry, and the world beneath him shifted. Gideon knew what he was thinking, feeling and accepting. Well, holy hell. He did need to leave home to find where, and with whom, he belonged.

With Chloe Ruskin.

He should be smart enough not to let her go now that he’d found her. But he hadn’t ever fallen in love before, and his experience with women was limited enough to make him into an idiot.

She scowled so hard her eyebrows touched, and he had the urge to wipe away her unhappiness. “There, do you see it?”

He shook himself as if waking from a dream. “What?”

“There. Right there.” She smacked his arm. “Stop the damn wagon.”

With a quick yank on the reins, the horses came to a shuddering stop, not that they were going very fast anyway.

“What do you see?”

“A ribbon.” She jumped down before she even finished speaking.

He wanted to chastise her for nearly breaking her legs and running pell-mell away from the wagon, but he didn’t. She wasn’t one of his soldiers and she sure as hell wasn’t going to listen to him. He had no time to ponder what it might mean if she became his wife, because she stood up and whooped like a raider.

It surprised the hell out of him.

“Martha! I know it was Martha. She’s the one who always thinks up trouble, but she’s real smart.” Chloe held up a scrap of blue clutched in her fingers. “She tied a piece of ribbon to this bush.”

He glanced at the tattered-looking ribbon. “Are you sure? It looks like it’s been hanging there quite some time.”

She shook her fist. “I am absolutely sure. We bought the girls this ribbon right before we left Virginia. It’s the same shade of blue as their eyes. We could only buy one length, and the girls split it between them.” She pulled his face down and kissed him hard. “We found their trail!”

He hardly had time to react before she went barreling through the brush looking for more signs. In no time, they’d found the campsite with the ashes not quite cool. The grass on the side of the road was beaten down as if there had been something heavy resting on it.

Gideon smiled grimly at Chloe. “We found their trail.”

She whooped again, waving that tiny scrap of blue as if she had found a fortune in gold. He scooped her up and flipped her on his shoulder, carrying her back to the wagon as she protested loudly.

“What in tarnation are you doing?” She punched his back hard enough to make him wince.

He set her on the seat to stop any more protests. Then he kissed her, catching her breath of surprise in a hot meeting of their lips.

“Getting back on the trail so we can find your family.”

She rewarded him with a wide smile on her flushed face.

“Then let’s hit that trail, Blackwood.”

Gideon jumped into the wagon and used as much gusto as he could to get the nags moving. They were back on the scent.

* * * * *

He thought perhaps they would find more evidence of the kidnappers, but as the day wore on, they encountered nothing but dirt and a faint set of tracks. It was something but not much. Chloe’s jubilation at finding Martha’s ribbon waned as the afternoon faded into evening. It was hot and uncomfortable, and they needed real food. The meager supplies they had were nearly gone, and if they didn’t find sustenance soon, they might not ever catch up with the Ruskin family.

His stomach yowled loud enough it scared some birds out of a tree. Chloe looked at him askance but didn’t say anything. They had nothing but a few strips of jerky, some coffee beans and whatever water they could find. It wouldn’t last another day.

“We can catch a rabbit or something.” She touched the butt of the rifle. “I’m a good shot.”

“I don’t want to stop just yet. We still have a bit more daylight left.”

She nodded, and he had a feeling she was grateful. Every minute they spent looking was another minute her family didn’t have to spend with whatever bastards took them. He could have wept when he saw the buildings in the distance.

Miraculously they’d arrived at a town.

“Where are we?”

“I don’t know, never been this way, but I’m guessing they’ll have supplies.” He glanced at her weary face. “We need supplies.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have any money. Hell, Gid, everything I owned was on that wagon or back in the field where we left the furniture.” She looked away. “I don’t have anything.”

He took her hand, turned it palm up and placed a kiss in the center. “You have me.”

Her mouth fell open, and her eyes reflected confusion and what he dared to guess was hope.

“You just want your horse back.”

He kissed her forehead next. “I think Domino would be fine without me.”

“Domino? That’s his name?” She snorted softly. “I had that all wrong.”

By the time he kissed her mouth, his breath was ragged and his body practically begged to be with her. “No, you’ve got it all right.”

To his surprise, she pushed him back. “Don’t get all cow-eyed on me, Blackwood. We’ve got a long road to travel before we’re done.”

He stared into her narrowed eyes and realized he’d acted like an ass. Chloe seemed to have that effect on him. Where the hell was his famous captain’s ability to focus? It was as if she’d thrown a bucket of water on him. He was shocked but stupidly grateful. His brother or cousins would have told him what an ass he’d been if they’d been there. Now it fell to a little slip of a woman with a harsh mouth and a stiff spine.

“You’re right.”

She raised one brow. “Don’t think I’ve heard that before.”

He nodded tightly. “I assure you that you won’t hear it again.”

Chloe waved a hand toward the town. “Get a move on, then. Time is ticking away.”

Gideon slipped away from his own confusion, shutting the door on it until they accomplished what they’d set out to do. He rode into town with the eye of a trained soldier, taking in the sleepy feel of it, the well-swept wood-planked sidewalks and the curtains in the windows. It had the air of a safe place, but he would remain on guard.

They stopped the wagon at the end of the street next to the mercantile. The livery was close by as well. Chloe looked around with more suspicion than he did. He still wished the Devils were there with him too and not just one small, ornery woman.

“What now?”

He jumped down, and before he could get to the other side of the wagon, she was down and waiting for him. With a frown, he took her arm.

“We’ll go into the mercantile and make friends, so be a good girl and pretend we’re happily married.”

As they walked in, a small bell tinkled over the door. She pinched him under the arm hard enough to make his eyes water. Instead of annoying him, her gesture made him smile. She was a warrior, full of fight and life.

His boots thunked on the well-swept but worn floor. It wasn’t the largest store he’d been in, but it was neat and looked cared for. A young man appeared from behind a blue-curtained doorway on the left.

“Evening, folks.” He stepped toward them.

Gideon took the man’s measure and saw nothing in his stance or demeanor that suggested he was a threat. “Good evening. I’m Gideon Blackwood and this is my wife, Chloe.”

She accidentally stepped on his foot. “Pleased to meetcha.”

“Likewise, Mrs. Blackwood. I’m Joseph Newton. What can I help you with?” The stranger’s blue gaze was guileless.

“We were ambushed about two days back. We lost our money and my good horse. I was hoping there was a bank in town, and I could get some money wired to me to buy new supplies.”

The man nodded, his black curls bobbing with the movement. “Sure thing. Ambrose Moore runs the bank. He’s likely still there. Why don’t I take you over there, and Mrs. Blackwood can start getting what you all need.”

Gideon glanced down at her. She looked like she had no idea how to even pick a spool of thread much less what was needed for a hard trail ride.

“You have someone who can help her?”

“Yup, my wife Daisy is upstairs taking care of her daddy. This used to be his store.” Joseph stepped toward the curtain and pulled it back. “Daisy, can you come down and help some folks?”

Gideon heard a faint feminine response, then the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. When Mrs. Newton appeared, he couldn’t help but smile. She was as small as Chloe, with light brown hair, a bit plumper, but she could help his “wife” pick out clothes that would fit her.

“Mrs. Newton, my name’s Gideon Blackwood and this is my wife, Chloe. I’d be grateful if you could help her pick out new clothes, any sundries she needs and food for a week’s trail ride on horseback.” He tipped his hat, and she smiled broadly, her apple cheeks rosy in the evening light.

“Sure thing, Mr. Blackwood. I’d be happy to help.” She stepped toward the corner of the store stocked full of ready-made clothes, but Chloe didn’t follow.

“I don’t need no clothes.” Her fierce whisper was meant for his ears only.

“Yes, you do. You need a split skirt to ride, and I would actually pay her to burn that thing you’re wearing.” He leaned down, seemingly to kiss her cheek, but instead he bit her earlobe.

She jumped a few inches and stared at him with wide eyes.

“Spend as much as you want. We’re not leaving here until you have the clothes you need.”

“You’re loco, Gid.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

He turned to follow Joseph out of the store before she could say another word. Gideon glanced back and was pleased to see Chloe over by the clothing while Mrs. Newton chattered away at her.

Chloe had never bought ready-made clothes before. Heck, she’d never even touched them before. The storekeeper’s wife was friendly enough, but she was pulling out all kinds of frilly things Chloe wasn’t sure what to do with.

She finally had to say something, much as it pained her. “My husband and me ain’t been married long. I don’t know much about how to dress proper.”

Daisy stopped and regarded her with her pretty brown eyes. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Blackwood. I can show you everything you need to know.”

Chloe wasn’t sure what “everything” meant, but she nodded anyway. Then her lesson began in how ladies dressed. There were layers and layers, plus something called a corset—which she refused to wear—and lacy stuff until she thought she’d run from the store.

When Daisy pulled out a simple cotton chemise and drawers, Chloe was grateful to see just how plain they were.

“Those two.”

The shopkeeper frowned at them. “Are you sure? These are just cotton.”

“I’m sure. I don’t need anything fancy.” She took the garments from Daisy, surprised by how soft they were.

“Now you’re about the same height as me, so I know what will fit you.” Daisy fussed around for a few minutes, pulling out a few dresses, skirts and blouses. She stopped and snapped her fingers. “I know just the thing. One of the rancher’s wives makes leather clothing for me to sell. She made this riding skirt last year, but it’s too small for most everyone. It was a leftover piece of leather, and she thought maybe someone would buy it for their daughter. Nobody did.”

Daisy dug around on a shelf until she pulled out the most beautiful skirt Chloe had ever seen. It was the color of butternut squash, obviously well tanned and softened. She reached out to touch it and found it softer than the cotton undergarments in her hand.