Texas Rain

CHAPTER 19

Rainey ran as fast as her skirts and long cape would allow. She crossed to the last block before the Askew House. Thirty more feet and she'd be safe. She'd stayed too late again at Pearl and Owen's place, but the orders for pies were increasing every day. She'd burned her fingers several times trying to hurry, and now the cold made them ache.

She focused on the dim lantern that marked the boarding-house's front porch. With luck, she'd make it in before Mrs. Vivian locked the door; if not, she'd have to use the laundry window. The landlord truly didn't care if everyone was safely inside. She never bothered to check on anyone, either. Rainey could climb in the window, sneak up the back stairs, and claim she retired early. Mrs. Vivian would never know the difference.

But if she had to use the laundry room window, she'd have to walk alone down the alley after dark. It had been frightening enough when Dottie was with her. Rainey didn't know if her heart could take it if she had to walk into the alley alone.

"I'll make it before she locks the door. I have to," she almost said aloud as she forced herself to move faster.

Suddenly, from nowhere, something slammed into her just below the chest and swung her off her feet. For a moment she thought it was a tree branch, then she felt it curl around her, holding her in a solid vise.

She opened her mouth to scream. A gloved hand slapped across her face with efficient force to halt any sound. A second later her back hit the wall of a building so hard she thought she heard her teeth rattle.

Panicked, Rainey flew into action, fighting and kicking for her life. A man's body leaned into her, smothering her completely and making her efforts wasted. He was much taller than she, and solid. The smell of him seemed oddly familiar… a memory she couldn't get thought around as she fought for freedom. The only thing she owned worth stealing was in the tiny pouch around her neck, and she'd die before she gave her grandmother's ring up to a thief.

He leaned closer, pressing her against the building.

She froze, waiting for her chance to run or scream. One chance was all she needed, and she'd make him pay for the attack.

"Rainey," the man said, out of breath. "Rainey. It's me."

She knew no one in Austin who knew her name… no man called her Rainey except Owen, and he'd make little more than half the giant trapping her.

She clawed into her pocket looking for the knife Owen had insisted she carry when she walked alone. He'd told her twice to keep it in hand while she hurried home. "It will do you no good," he'd said, "if you can't get to it when needed. A murderer isn't going to stand around while you look for it."

The body eased off her just enough to let her breathe. "I didn't mean to frighten you, but you were moving so fast."

Her hand closed around the knife.

He freed her and stepped back.

Rainey saw her chance. She pulled the knife and raised it to his chest. If she were to die in this alley, it would not be without a fight. She thrust the blade forward with all her strength aiming for her attacker's heart.

He moved with an easy swiftness of one never off guard.

He grabbed her wrist an inch before the knife would have cut him. "Rainey…" He sounded less sure. "Is it you?" He released her hand. "Don't tell me I caught the wrong woman. There couldn't be two fairies your size roaming this part of Texas."

She looked up at the shadow before her. Big, frightening. Tall and strong as an oak. "Travis?" she whispered.

The shadow's head jerked up. "Thank God. I thought I'd just attacked the wrong woman."

Rainey moved toward the light. "You meant to attack me?"

He followed. "No. I only meant to stop you. The attack part sort of happened. Thank goodness it was you or I'd be explaining myself to the sheriff."

She heard his cane tap against the walk as they moved into the light of the street. There was no doubt Travis McMurray stood before her, all six feet four, two hundred pounds of him. He might be a little thinner than she remembered him, but no less powerful.

"You frightened a year off my life," she scolded. "I should turn you in myself. I don't believe I know you well enough, Mr. McMurray, to be attacked without complaint. My heart stopped in fear."

"Well, you almost stopped mine as well with that blade." He didn't sound like he believed his own defense.

As panic melted into anger, Rainey walked toward home. "What are you here for? To arrest me? Or did you plan to just scare me to death to save the cost of a noose?"

He tried to keep up with her. "No. I came to help you."

She stopped so suddenly, he almost tumbled over her.

"I don't need your help. I don't need anyone's help. No matter what you or my father thinks I can make it on my own." Waving her hands as she left him, she added, "Why is it men think a woman can't make it alone?"

He couldn't hide his smile. She looked like a toy someone had wound up too tightly.

Grabbing her hand, he whirled her around and placed her fingers on his arm. "Slow down, Rainey. Walk with me."

She tried to pull away, but he locked her hand between his arm and his chest.

"Walk with me," he insisted.

She had no choice unless she planned to be arrested for brawling with a Texas Ranger on the streets of Austin. "It's not safe out after dark," she said as her steps matched his. "No one should be alone, so I'll keep you company if you are walking my way."

"I'm not worried," Travis answered. "After all, I'm traveling with someone who's armed with a butter knife."

"Paring knife," she corrected. "The blade is plenty long enough to reach your heart if you ever try attacking me again."

"I promise I'll do my best to remember that."

"You do that, Mr. McMurray."

"Have you had supper?" He asked in a voice that sounded more like he was interrogating her then asking her out.

"Don't change the subject. And no I haven't."

"Want to go over a few blocks and eat with me?"

"No."

Travis laughed. "I've got to be the worst man in the world at asking a woman to step out. First, I frighten you to death, then you try to kill me, and now you won't go out to eat with me even though we are both hungry. Somewhere along the line I need to work on my approach."

"You are the worst." Rainey fought down a smile. She had nothing to compare to, but he still seemed bad. "To start with right now and move backward, you are not supposed to hold a lady's hand captive while you walk beside her."

"But if I turn loose, you'll bolt."

"True." At this rate she'd never get to her long list of what he'd done wrong. "And don't argue with me. It's not considered polite," she said in her most teachery voice.

They reached the steps of the porch, and he took her hand in his. "Would it help if I said I'm sorry?"

He brushed his thumb across her fingers and felt the blisters. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." Rainey pulled her hand away but didn't run. "I just burned my fingers a little. They'll be all right."

Travis studied her, but asked no more questions. He removed his hat and leaned against the railing. "I would like to talk to you about what you overhead from your window above the alley." He swallowed hard and she knew words did not come easy for this man. "I'd like to just talk to you before you decide to run again. I came all the way from Whispering Mountain to find you," he finally said in little more than a whisper.

Rainey took one step up the stairs so she could see his face more clearly. There was something so strong, so hard about this man. His jaw seemed already set to take any blow the world gave him.

"Is that all, just talk?" She studied his dark eyes in the dim light. The memory of his letters made her blush slightly. Thinking of him and standing in front of him were two completely different things.

"No," he answered. "I'd like to look at you, really look." He shifted as if knowing he wasn't saying what he needed to say correctly. "I won't frighten you again, I promise."

He straightened, widening his stance, this man of oak preparing for anything. When she didn't answer, he slowly turned to leave.

"I am hungry," she whispered, wondering if she was making a mistake. In her dreams he could be controlled, but in real life, she wasn't so sure. "Can you afford pie as well as dinner?"

He grinned and put back on his hat. He offered her his arm and didn't try to hold it prisoner. "I can."

They walked the two blocks to one of the cafes where Rainey sold her pies. The hostess smiled at Rainey and gave them a private table by the window.

"You've eaten here before?" Travis asked as he pulled out her chair.

"No," Rainey said. "But it always smells so good."

She watched the way he studied the room and the people. Within a minute she'd bet he knew where every exit was located and how many men in the room were armed. She told herself it was just part of his job, but she couldn't help but wonder if it were not also part of his nature.

They ordered. She asked about everyone at the ranch house and finally the boy named Duck.

"You got that letter." He looked back from where he'd glanced out the window. "I had no idea if you would or not."

"Four," she answered and stared down at her plate, not wanting him to see how much they'd meant to her. "And you?"

"Three, but I mailed five."

"So did I." She remembered how open she'd been in her letters, how close she'd felt to him. And now… it was like someone else sat across from her. She almost laughed when the thought crossed her mind to run home and write Travis about the strange man she'd met tonight whom she thought of as Mr. McMurray. Travis's letters were informative and funny. In them he'd asked honest questions and let her see a hint of his dreams when he'd talked of raising Duck. The stranger before her seemed distant, guarded.

Yes, she thought, she'd love to write the Travis she knew on paper about the hard man claiming his name. The man before her would never say the things written in the letters.

"What's so funny?" he asked without smiling. He pushed his half-eaten meal away.

She raised an eyebrow. "I was just thinking how I feel like I know you better by letter than I do the man sitting across from me."

"A paper man is a lot less threatening than a real one."

"Something like that," she admitted. "A paper one can't bruise my ribs."

He frowned. "I didn't mean to. You're about the size of Sage and I've never hurt her." He smiled. "She's here with me, you know. Jumps in every wagon leaving the ranch these days. Worse than a yard dog."

Rainey laughed. "You'd better not let her hear you say that."

He raised his hands. "Don't worry. I couldn't take another woman in my life mad at me."

Rainey smiled as the waitress delivered two slices of one of the pies she'd baked that morning. She found it interesting that Travis thought of her as one of the women in his life.

She took one bite of the pie, but after smelling it cooking all day, she'd lost her appetite.

He looked up as he finished his slice. "The pie is the best thing here."

Rainey pushed hers away. "I ate too much dinner."

He exchanged plates and ate her pie without commenting. Rainey guessed that anyone watching would presume they'd been together a long time.

She leaned back, thinking they'd talk when he finished eating, but as soon as he laid down his napkin, he asked for the bill and paid out. Without asking if she were ready, he stood and held her cape for her.

Without a word he led her out of the restaurant and across the street toward the capital. They crossed the grounds and took the first side street leading to a bam where the wealthy people stabled their animals. Travis opened a thin side door and stepped back for her to enter.

Rainey hesitated.

"It's all right," Travis said from just behind her. "They keep a lantern on in the barn."

She didn't have the nerve to tell him that she was afraid of far more than the light. But, she reasoned, if he were planning to kill her, he probably would not have bought her dinner first. She stepped inside.

Travis followed, his hand resting lightly at the small of her back. "Wait here," he whispered and vanished into one of the stalls where wagons were stored.

A moment later he returned with a bag. Rainey followed as he moved into the light and opened the bag that contained several little compartments. He tugged at one, pulling it free of the others.

"Open your hands," he ordered as he pulled the string on the bag wide.

Rainey did as he said, but stood ready to run.

Travis put his finger into the leather pouch and pulled out a milky salve. He took one of her hands and slowly moved his finger over the blisters. The cream cooled her burns like magic.

"What is that?" she asked as he rubbed the medicine gently over her fingers.

"It's a poultice Sage makes of slippery elm sap, beeswax, and aloe plant." His fingers moved over her skin. "I wish I'd remembered that she packed it earlier, but we left it in the wagon and didn't bother to bring it inside." His hand continued to gently touch hers. "Do your burns feel better?"

"Yes."

His fingers brushed over her palm where there were no burns. "Your hand is so small," he said to himself. "You should wear gloves."

She slowly pulled her hands away. "I'll remember that," she said. "Thank you for the salve."

He studied her in the shadowy glow of the lantern, then turned and helped her back through the side door. His hand rested on her shoulder in almost a caress.

As they walked out into the night, she said more to herself than him, "I guess you're finished looking at me."

He covered her hand that rested on his arm and walked across the street to the grounds of the state capital without saying a word. Lanterns glowed around the fine new building, but the windows inside were dark. "I'm almost finished," he finally said as he led her up one step and waited for her to turn to face him when he didn't follow. "Though I would like it if you removed your hood once more. I remember your hair blond and short that night after I'd been shot. I'd like to feel what it's like to the touch."

His request was so odd, she couldn't refuse. In the chilly air she removed her hood and shook her head slightly as blond curls tumbled down almost to her shoulders.

He was doing it again. Staring at her as if he were trying to remember how to describe her for a Wanted poster.

She ran her fingers through her hair self-consciously. "In another month it'll be long enough to put up in a proper bun. When I used to teach, I always wore my hair up, even on Saturday."

To her surprise, his hand gently covered hers. When she lowered her fingers, his remained tangled in her curls.

Everything about him seemed so hard and cold, but when he touched her the gentleness surprised her. It was as if he hesitated, as if he feared he might break her.

"I don't think I've seen hair just this color before." He didn't smile as he studied the hair curling around his fingers. "It's like a clear morning sunrise. It doesn't fit your name."

She didn't know whether to say thank you or not. She could have moved away. One step and she'd no longer feel his hand in her hair. But, in truth, she liked the way he touched her, as if brushing something rare and priceless.

When his gaze shifted from her hair to her face, the warmth in his brown eyes surprised her. He lowered his hand to his side.

"Rainey," he said slowly. "I can think of ten reasons I came to Austin, but the true one is I'd like to give you back something you gave me."

Before she could ask any questions, he lowered his mouth to hers.

Rainey felt her body grow warm all the way to her toes. He wasn't holding her anywhere, but she couldn't have pulled away. His lips were warm and surprisingly soft against hers. They moved slightly as if asking for something she didn't know how to give.

She sighed and closed her eyes. His kiss was almost as good as it had been in her dreams.

He pulled a few inches away.

When she opened one eye, he was studying her.

"Again?" His voice was low, a breath away from her lips. "Would you mind if I continued?"

"Please," she whispered and his mouth returned.

She leaned into him, loving the way his warmth surrounded her. Finally the Ranger she'd felt before months ago was against her making every part of her feel alive.

His big hand circled her waist as his gentle kiss continued. Then, as if he were teasing her, his tongue brushed a thin line across her bottom lip.

Rainey opened her eyes, braced her hands on his shoulders and shoved a few inches away. "I don't think you are supposed to do that." Her teachery voice sounded again.

He smiled. "Didn't you like it?" His hands were easy now on the small of her waist. She could feel the warmth of them through the layers of clothing she wore. She could feel him caressing her gently even as he studied her.

Turning her head slightly, she answered. "I'm not sure. I think I like it. Do it again so I can tell." This might be the one and only time in the whole of her life that a man kissed her. She wanted to make sure they were doing it right.

His fingers tugged her against him as his mouth lowered once more. This time his lips didn't stay closed completely and when his tongue slid along her mouth, he parted her lips slightly.

She straightened again despite his groan. "Where'd you learn to kiss like that?"

Travis laughed. "How'd you get to be a full-grown woman without learning how to kiss, Rainey?"

She didn't want to tell him how few times she'd been around boys, or men, near her age, so she leaned forward and touched her lips to his.

He didn't respond.

She tried again.

He waited.

Frustrated, she opened her mouth slightly and touched his full bottom lip.

He reacted, pulling her close and continuing the lesson.

She'd done it, she thought. She'd finally kissed a man the way a woman kisses a lover. As he nibbled on the corners of her lip, she decided maybe she should be writing this down. She'd never remember all she was learning.

She pulled away. "How…"

He pulled her back. "Stop asking questions."

She meant to protest. How else would she learn if she didn't ask questions? But suddenly she was lost in the pleasure of it all. This was no boy kissing her in the shadows of the ballroom. This was a man probably unaware that he was her first. She could feel a hunger in his kiss. He tasted of excitement spiced with a pleasure she'd never known.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as his hands moved slowly up and down her back. The warmth of his touch melted all the way into her bones. She sighed, loving the feelings dancing in her veins.

He pulled back slightly. "You like kissing?"

"Very much." She leaned into him, letting the softness of her body press against him.

His hand moved along her back, molding her against him. "You feel so good against me."

She sighed again as he slid his fingers inside her cape so that not as many layers stood between them. He kissed her while his touch gently moved over her as if he needed to memorize the feel of her.

His mouth covered hers fully when his hand brushed along the bottom of her breasts. She jerked with the pleasure of it and might have fallen if he hadn't been holding her so tightly. When he repeated his action, she sighed softly and swayed with the wave of pleasure.

With the sigh, her mouth opened and he deepened the kiss, tasting her fully as though he'd been starving.

She didn't move, didn't protest as he molded her to him.

"This is what I've missed," he whispered against her lips, "since the last time I saw you."

His mouth moved from hers and trailed down her throat. She cried softly, missing the kiss.

He raised his head and stared down at her. She could see a fire in his eyes, a hunger and also uncertainty.

Placing her hands on either side of his face, she pulled his mouth back to hers. After a moment he understood and returned to kissing her.

She knew what he was doing would never be considered proper, but when he whispered her name, she held him closer.

His hand grew bolder, passing gently over her breast. Even through the layers of material she could feel the warmth in his touch.

Shaking with the wave of feelings flooding over her, Rainey cried out softly against his ear.

He held her tenderly, stroking her until she took his touch without fear. When he moved freely once more over her body, his caress seemed familiar, and she silently welcomed it as if it were something she hadn't known to miss all her life.

With his hand capturing her breast, he raised his head enough so that their eyes met. "You like this?"

"Yes," she whispered as he tightened his grip slightly and sent fire dancing through her veins.

"And this." He kissed her so gently she ached for more.

"Yes," she answered as she pressed against him, feeling his palm flatten against her soft flesh.

His words came low, whispered in her ear as almost a thought passing between them. "Then marry me, Rainey."

She pushed out of his arms and bolted several feet down the street before she heard him whisper her name once more.

The wind seemed suddenly bitter cold after being next to him, but she didn't turn around. She knew he followed but she wouldn't, couldn't face him.

Here she'd thought how nice the evening was after he finished scaring her half to death and bullying her. They'd had a pleasant meal, he'd doctored her hand as if he truly cared. They'd enjoyed great kisses and a touching that still made her shake with pleasure, then he proved himself insane by asking her to marry him.

All she thought she wanted was his letters. They were enough. Why did he have to show her more tonight? She liked the kissing, the touching, but that didn't mean she wanted marriage. She'd crossed half a country to be free, and she would not be giving that freedom up just because he made her heart race. She had more sense than that.

As she hurried along it crossed her thoughts that maybe Travis only wanted her for a night. Maybe he'd just offered marriage without ever planning to carry through. She didn't know whether to be insulted or relieved.

The dream of Travis McMurray was safe, but the reality was frightening. All these months she'd told herself that she would never give up her freedom and be ruled by some man. She'd fight to the death before she'd let her father catch her and force her to marry.

Then Travis appeared and tried to chain her with kisses.

She wasn't falling for it, no matter how much she liked the way he touched her.