She gasped at the
make love to me
expression painted on his face. “Take me,” she whispered with an easy shift of her weight under his.
He didn’t break eye contact. She sucked in a sharp breath as he filled her with male sex. Nothing had ever felt this good. She gasped again as he began to move with deliberate thrusts all the while gazing at her—into her with those killer eyes.
Shye had difficulty focusing on the conversation with Trip and Remle once back in the cabin. Their deeply passionate lovemaking beside the lake still held her emotions captive. Every few minutes Trip would give her a wink and flash a dazzling smile as they chatted with his friend. Each time his hand brushed her leg beneath the table, flutters filled her stomach. She could tell that their intimate encounter had lingered with him as well. They could hardly stop gawking at one another long enough to speak with Remle yet matters needed discussed before dawn.
“Do you feel confident with all the weapons I’ve shown you?” Remle asked her.
His blue eyes sparkled with awareness and she felt heat flood her cheeks. Clearly he noticed the passionate afterglow between her and Trip.
“Yes, I do There aren’t many weapons that I can’t handle.”
Remle shook his head and raked one hand through his long blond hair then shot Trip a glance. “Good thing you found her first, my friend, or I’d be asking her to stay here with me. Nothing turns me on more than a woman who loves to play with ammo.”
Trip let out a casual laugh. “You’re not her type anyway. She’s too fast for you, old friend.”
The two men laughed as if sharing an inside joke. Shye imagined they had quite a few unspoken methods of communicating after serving in the military together. She recalled how surprised she’d been to learn that Remle had been Trip’s platoon leader. They exhibited a bond, which seemed deep and she liked that Trip had at least one friend he could trust. Losing his brother the way he did surely had left scars that would never heal.
Sitting in quiet observation, she listened to their casual banter, then the talk of how they’d handle Gage and his crew when they arrived. She wondered if Gage had really meant what he said about coming after her if she didn’t show up in seven days with a decision. There was no way she’d agree to marry him after discovering he was the mastermind behind the entire scheme to steal her land.
She had considered going through the nuptials just to gain partial ownership of the farm then find a way to have Gage taken out. But that plan carried way too many risks and potential fail factors. So until tonight she hadn’t any ideas on how they’d handle this predicament with Gage—an old friend of the family who had become their worst enemy. With a shake of her head, she sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Trip asked.
“Hm? Oh…I’m sorry. I was just thinking about how my parents trusted Gage and how things have changed.”
He placed a hand over hers. “Don’t worry, we’ll get them all.”
* * * *
Pike watched with disdain as his crew danced around a campfire taking turns with the rain stick. “You’ve all had too much booze and look like a bunch of idiots.”
“Hey you wanted rain for the crops. We’re just helping out,” one man chortled.
“Yeah well you won’t catch me hopping around looking like some Indian. There ain’t no magic in that stick. Just bring the damn thing here before ya break it.”
“You should loosen up once in a while, Draven. Have some fun. Money’s good but it’s not everything.”
Pike shook his head and scowled. “Let me hear you say that on payday when I withhold your cut for destroying my property.”
“Fine, you old tight ass, here’s your precious rain stick.” He dropped it at his feet. “Don’t go taking away the whiskey or you’ll be harvesting alone.”
“Drink yourselves into a stupor for all I care. Just be ready to work in the morning.” Pike lifted the stick off the ground and laid it in the bed of the pickup, then propped himself on the tailgate to enjoy the cool night air.
Tomorrow Shye would be back on the scene according to what Gage had said. He assumed the man intended to blackmail her somehow to gain her cooperation and wondered just how he planned on doing so. The woman seemed tough as nails and not likely easily persuaded.
What could Gage offer her that could force her to walk away from Viper?
He shrugged while lighting a smoke. Whatever the deal, as long as the pretty little Indian came back within reach suited him just fine.
And if she walks away from Viper to accept Gage’s terms, even better. The lawyer will be much easier to remove than the bounty hunter.
Everything seemed to be falling to his favor. He smiled to himself while enjoying his cigarette.
Glancing at the rain stick, he studied it for several minutes while his thoughts churned. If Shye rides back into town tomorrow and sees this, matters could become complicated. He decided to take a ride out to an auctioneer and look into selling the relic. His crew would begin work on renovating the barn into a more suitable place to conduct business and Gage would be busy with Shye.
This may be my only chance to sell the old thing before anything gets in my way.
He picked it up and toyed around, flipping it end over end in slow motion to hear the cactus needles slide back and forth. Though he rejected everything about his Native American heritage, the rain stick intrigued him. He did his best to ignore the half-breed blood cursing his veins.
Recollections of the black horse running him down the first day he caught Shye flashed through his mind. There was definitely an uncanny aura surrounding the woman. She appeared and disappeared in the most baffling way. He was determined to uncover the mystical veil guarding her.
“Hey, Draven!” one of the men called. “I think that stick is working.” He pointed toward the southwest. “Looks like rain is rolling in. Keep doing what you’re doing.”
Pike glanced at the cactus branch in his hand then at the night skies. Clouds—strange clouds had begun to form in the distance. He watched them take shape, unable to tear himself away.
Something isn’t right,
he thought. Yet instead of taking cover he slid off the tailgate and walked toward them for a closer look.
“You guys better head inside,” he muttered. “I think we’re in for a storm…maybe a tornado.”
They chuckled and laughed off his warning then continued partying around the fire. Flashes of light began streaking across the horizon, illuminating the darkness for seconds at a time. In those brief flashes he noticed the cloud formation become more organized. Rain began to fall.
“See?” The same man threw his hands up. “You wanted rain for the seeds we planted…here it comes.”
“We’re gonna get more than rain…” He stood captivated by the most bizarre storm configuration he’d ever seen.
The moon turned an eerie shade of red and strangely enough the clouds didn’t conceal it. A reddish black hue transformed the black sky into a ghastly color. Vivid streaks of light veined from cloud to cloud. Thunder rumbled overhead but not the thunder of a storm. The sound was more of a rhythmic din—unlike the off and on peals of thunder associated with typical storms.
He cocked his head to one side, simply standing in one spot, riveted to the scene unfolding before him. Another intense flash of lightning shattered the darkness.
Then he saw
them
.
“Holy shit…” His feet felt frozen to the ground.
The men turned abruptly and looked up too. Shouts of panic rang through the air as they watched the riders come. His crew scattered, taking off in all directions as the clouds ushered in black horses carrying what appeared to be Indian warriors. The horses’ hooves touched down just below the tree line and they barreled through the field snorting fiery breaths. The heavens opened up to release bands of rain so forceful they sliced at his bare arms like tiny knives.
He suddenly realized that Aiden had been right and raced back to the pickup. With his heart pounding in his ears and the rain stick clutched in one hand, he dove under the truck. The sound of thundering hooves split the night and among them he heard the drums. His mind reeled.
How can I be hearing drums in the midst of this rain and those wild horses?
Yet he did.
They were as loud as if the one playing was sitting next to him. Foreign chanting rose amidst the chaos followed by ear-splitting shrieks of the men attempting to flee. Taking tight hold of an axle, Pike pulled himself up far enough to steal a peek. His mouth dropped open. One of his crewmembers was running for his life with a massive black steed chasing him down. A warrior straddled the horse’s bare back while waving a weapon of some sort. He had a hard time bringing it into focus.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered. “That’s not a weapon he’s holding…it’s a rain stick…like this one.”
What he saw next he knew would be forever etched in his mind. The warrior gave a loud whooping sound from his mouth while closing in on the man.
Poor Nate, run, man…run!
His silent pleas did nothing. Nate glanced back to see the rider swing his long stick like a sickle. A look of sheer terror flashed through Nate’s eyes seconds before the warrior struck. He didn’t even have time to scream. His body instantly turned black like a shadow—then crumbled as dust before the wind and rain carried his soul away.
Pike watched in horror as Nate’s silhouette rode off into the storm on the back of that fiery looking horse with the warrior driving it on.
As the screaming died down he became aware that whoever had not escaped had been taken by whatever had ridden in. When the storm cleared—only silence remained. Pike lay under the truck shaking uncontrollably. He’d never believed in the spirit world, ghosts, or Indian legends.
What he’d just witnessed was without a doubt supernatural. The Rain Riders had come and exacted their punishment just as Aiden had feared—he’d been wise to walk away. Assuming they’d fulfilled their mission—Pike crawled from beneath the truck and did his best to compose himself.
How the hell am I going to explain this?
He wondered if anyone else had survived and if they had, would they be willing to talk about what just went down? If not, he’d have to remain silent for fear of appearing foolish or even worse, weak.
Chapter Three
Shye sat quietly while listening to Trip and Remle wrap up details on handling the pending invasion. Her thoughts began to drift and she wondered why. Bothered by her inability to remain focused on their conversation, she began to get restless. The beating of drums and familiar chanting sounded in the distance.
Nagi
…
Howiwacipi…
She recognized the call.
Shadow…the Ghost Dancer.
The spirit world was summoning her.
“I have to go,” Shye said out of the blue.
“What?” Trip’s brows shot up as he looked at her.
“It’s the Ghost Dancer…she’s calling me…I must go.”
“Shye, no. You can’t run off by yourself. Gage and Pike will be on the hunt for you in a matter of hours.” He reached for her hand but she pulled away.
She stared at him with pleading eyes. “I’m sorry, my love. But
Nagi
calls me. I must become Shadow now.”
“But there is no sun yet. How can you find a shadow to borrow? And you can’t change at night…remember? You’ll be lost in darkness forever. Please…baby…don’t go.”
“This is different. The Rain Riders have arrived. I am to join them.” Even as she spoke the words her voice sounded like someone else’s. She’d heard the legend but had never known anyone who’d actually seen them.
“
Rain Riders
?” Extreme concern hung on Trip’s voice. “What are they?”
“I-I’m not sure. But I have to go. Something is wrong. I hear the drums of my past calling me.”
He stunned her by quickly wrapping strong arms around her and pulling her tight against his chest. “No. I refuse to let you go. This isn’t like you.” He buried his face in the curve of her neck.
“I’ll be back,” she said while stroking his hair.
“I’m not letting go. We are so close to ending this nightmare.” He cupped her chin with a tender hand and stared into her eyes.
“Gage is coming for me as you said but I won’t be here. I don’t know why
Nagi
calls me now. Still, I cannot deny her. I cannot deny what I am and neither can you. You knew this before we committed to each other. Please don’t try and change me.”
Sorrow flooded the depths of his beautiful eyes. “I would never want you to change. I just don’t want you to leave. Not tonight…not like this.”
“I must. I am sorry.” Gently she pushed away from his chest. “Promise you will wait for me.”
His expression forced tears to her eyes but she fought them back. He seemed so utterly distraught yet there was nothing she could do to ease his pain. Reaching up, she placed a soft lingering kiss on his lips.
He didn’t voice the words but she felt the promise in his kiss. Without looking at him again for fear she’d not be able to answer their call, she turned and walked away.
“Shye, wait!” Trip blocked her at the door, heartache written all over his face.