To Wed In Texas

TWENTY-FOUR

VALERIE MADE DANIEL TELL THE STORY TWICE about how he'd given away his first wife's ring to save Allie's life. He told her every detail of how his brother Wes had saved Allie from being treated like an outcast because she'd grown up as a captive in an Apache camp. Daniel described how men were at the door, planning to take Allie back to a cage, when he set the ring beside Allie and told her she wouldn't have to go if she were married to his brother.

“Well.” Daniel laughed. “We all know Wes is no handsome catch with that scar running across his face, but Allie must have seen the good within. She picked up May's ring and slipped it on her finger as I pronounced them man and wife.”

Valerie sighed. “How romantic.”

“Don't you miss the ring?” Gerilyn asked. “After all, you gave it to my sister.”

“No. I see it often when Allie and Wes visit. The love she has for Wes shines just like May's love for me did.”

“And Karlee's,” Valerie added. “Tell me about how the two of you fell in love.”

Gerilyn leaned forward. “Yes, tell us. I'd be interested in that story.”

The tightening of Daniel's jawline was so slight only Karlee saw it. She waited along with the others to see what he would say.

“I'm afraid,” he said slowly, “we'll have to save that story for another night. It's long past the twins' bed-time.”

Valerie whined in disappointment, but stood and began gathering the twins. Gerilyn excused herself as Karlee wiped the table clean.

When all but Karlee and Daniel had left the room, Wolf pulled on his rain slicker. “I'll see you later.” He looked at Daniel. “I've things to do before the meeting, but don't worry Danny boy, I'll be there.”

“We'll both be there as well,” Daniel answered.

Wolf frowned. “But…”

Daniel held up his hand. “It's time she knew.”

“Whatever you think.” Wolf opened the back door. “I'll see you there at midnight.”

Without another word he was gone, leaving Daniel and Karlee standing alone in the kitchen.

Karlee glanced down at the ring as Daniel watched the rain.

“I'll put your mother's ring back in the box after Gerilyn leaves.”

“There's no need to. It's yours now.” His thoughts seemed to be far away. “There's an old buggy in the barn I could hitch up. It'll offer some cover in the rain if you still want to go with me. We're early, but the rain may slow us down.”

“All right.” She wasn't sure he wanted her along, but after all, he'd asked her. “I'll get my cape.”

“Grab some towels, too, and a change of clothes. If we're soaked to the bone by the time we get there, we may want to change.”

He pulled on his rain coat and disappeared into the sheet of water.

Karlee quickly collected their things and was waiting on the porch when he pulled the buggy close to the house. In truth, the buggy was old with frayed leather and a worn seat, but the bonnet was wide and deep keeping the passengers dry.

They drove out of town into the night. If Daniel hadn't known the road, he would have never found it in the rain for the land was liquid. Karlee felt like they were closed off from the world inside the buggy, truly alone for the first time. She relaxed against the crackly leather and snuggled near him.

Daniel, as always, didn't say a word. He seemed to enjoy silence the way some folks love music.

Karlee slipped her hand beneath his elbow. She wished she knew what he was thinking but realized she probably never would. She'd even tried to read some of his articles in the study, but found them far above her head. She'd been surprised at where his writing appeared, journals, magazines, chapters in books.

As they left the lights of town behind, she leaned against him and rested her head on his shoulder. The slow rocking of the buggy made her sleepy.

After awhile, he pulled the horse off into a grove of trees so thick the rain stopped pattering on the bonnet when they moved beneath the branches.

“I want to show you something,” he whispered as if he thought she might not be awake. “But I'm not sure you can see much in this light.” He fumbled for a lantern in the boot of the buggy.

Helping her down, Daniel held her hand while they walked beneath hundred-year-old branches bearded with moss. The light of the lantern made a yellow circle, casting more shadow than light.

“This is Caddo Lake.” Daniel's voice was low, respectful. “The locals say it's haunted by the ancestors of the Caddo Indians who once lived here.”

Karlee could hear the slosh of the water as it circled between the huge knees of the cypress trees. “It's beautiful,” she whispered as though she might wake the ghosts.

“Legend has it that, years ago, a village was in the center of this area. The chief was warned by the Great White Spirit to move his people to higher ground. But he ignored the warning and went on a hunting party. When the party returned, the village was gone along with all his people and this lake was here.

“The Caddo said the earth shook and buckled. The current of the Father of Waters reversed suddenly, toppling trees, swallowing the settlement whole, and creating the lake from waters of the bayou.”

She moved to the edge of the dark water. Twenty feet out, beyond the branches, she could hear raindrops hitting the surface, but here all was quiet.

“The locals say there are all kinds of dangers in this area. They warn people not to go near the lake without one of the old Indian guides, but I found this little cove and it seems safe enough. There's even a small German settlement on the other side of the lake. Their campfires look like fireflies on a clear night.”

Karlee stared through the midnight hoping to see campfires on the other side, but the rain shielded them into the cove.

He hesitated and shifted, suddenly embarrassed. “I usually swim here and bathe. It's hard for a man of my size to get clean in a hip tub. If you wouldn't mind waiting in the buggy, I'll only be a minute.”

It was too dark for her to see his face.

“Is there any reason I can't swim also?”

“You swim?”

Karlee laughed. “I'm a sea captain's daughter. Of course I swim.”

“Then I guess there is no reason you shouldn't. It's so dark out here, no one could see us if they were an arms' length away. The water's warm but deep.”

Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness enough that she could see the shadows of trees banking the water. “I'll undress on one side of the buggy. I can swim in my underthings. I brought dry ones.”

He didn't say a word as he moved to the other side and placed the lantern between them on the buggy's seat. She heard a splash and knew he was in the water before she even took off her stockings. She pulled the pins from her hair and placed them carefully beside the lantern so she could find them later.

“Daniel?” she whispered as she neared the water's edge.

“I'm here,” he answered. “To your right. The bank drops off fast at the edge of the trees. The water may be over your head. Are you sure you can swim?”

“I'm sure,” she answered as she stepped off the bank. The water covered her, warm and thick. For a long moment she floated downward, enjoying the feeling of surrendering to the lake. Then she touched bottom and kicked upward.

Karlee broke the surface, spitting and fighting her hair from her face. As she kicked to keep above water, a strong hand gripped her arm.

“Are you all right?” He pulled her close enough that she felt his words against her cheek.

Karlee laughed with pure delight. “Wonderful. Come on.”

They swam out to where the rain met the surface. The downpour was so great, it became hard to tell when they were above water. Karlee hadn't felt so free in years.

Daniel stayed near, swimming at her side, touching her gently to steady her. They floated in the rain, letting the drops cool them as the lake warmed. The night hid their movements. She knew he was near more by sound than by sight.

They might not know how to dance, but as they swam, they danced in the waves. Their bodies brushed lightly in the water, naturally.

Without a word, they finally swam back to the bank. He pulled himself out first, then reached down to help her. Karlee couldn't help but wonder if she'd have the nerve to do what she'd done in daylight. Now, he couldn't see her body. Now he didn't have to look at her to be with her. Now, in the darkness she could be beautiful.

He grabbed a towel he'd hung in a branch. “Did you enjoy that?” he asked as he wrapped it around her.

“Oh, yes.” She couldn't help but smile. “It was grand. Thank you for bringing me here.” Her words sounded more formal than she'd meant them.

“You're welcome.” He turned away and moved to his side of the buggy.

She could hear him getting dressed, but she didn't want the time together to end. He seemed suddenly in a hurry. He was a man who allowed himself very little time for freedom, she guessed. She felt honored that he shared the time with her. But why had he closed off so quickly? It was as though a clock had chimed somewhere in his mind and he had to go back to being the serious loner again.

Gripping the towel tightly, she maneuvered around the buggy. She could barely see him in the shadowy light as he buttoned his trousers. The white shirt he wore hung open. The lantern behind him put his face in shadow.

“Daniel? What is it?” She moved closer.

“Nothing.” He turned from her. “We need to get dressed.”

Karlee didn't move. She knew something was bothering him. The night had been so perfect. Now suddenly he was cold and silent.

“Tell me,” she asked and waited, wondering if he ever would… if he could.

“No. Just get dressed.” He didn't look at her.

Karlee placed her hand on his shoulder and waited still feeling the closeness they'd had in the water.

He stammered, fighting for words as he finally faced her. “I-I can't pretend any longer with you, Karlee.”

Tears sprang to her eyes as the laughter died in her throat. Just when she thought they were getting along so well, he was going to tell her to go. Not even the shame of divorce would make him stay married to her.

“I…”

He must have waited for this darkness, not wanting to see her face when he told her good-bye. She pulled the towel tighter. She'd heard it many times before, why did the words hurt so much now.

“I've always been honest, with others, and with myself.” He got the words out one after the other.

She couldn't speak even though she wanted to yell, “Stop. Don't send me away, don't make me be nothing again, mattering to no one. I've earned my place beside you.”

“From that day you smuggled me the derringer,” his voice grew stronger, “all I could think about was how brave you were… and how much I wanted to touch you.”

“What?” She raised her head so quickly, water flew from her hair.

“It may sound strange, even distasteful to you, but I'd like to touch you.” His voice lowered. “Not through layers of material. But truly touch you.”

She couldn't answer. Somehow she'd changed trains at full speed and had no idea where she was heading.

“Of course, if you object, I'd understand and respect that.” He turned toward the lake, paying little notice that the rain had almost stopped. “I've tried to think of other things. I've told myself it is wrong. There is far more between a man and wife than touching.”

He stared into the night seeing only his falling. “There must be something warped in the way I feel. But I can find no sin in a man wanting to touch his wife. And the only dishonesty is not being straightforward about my request.”

Karlee tried to breathe, but she felt like she was underwater again. “Why?” she whispered.

Daniel shook his head. “I don't know. I've never felt this way with a woman before. It's just that whenever you're near, I want you to be just a little closer. I want to feel you and hold you. The only times I've slept solidly in years have been the nights we've been together.”

She moved beside him. “All right. Where do you want to start?”

He turned toward her and lay his hand over the knot where she'd twisted her towel together across her chest. There was no need for words. She understood.

Slowly, she let the towel fall. The thin cotton of her camisole clung to her like a second skin and seemed to glow as little more than spider web covering in the lantern light.

His fingers tugged at the ribbon, then unbuttoned the first button. His hands were warm. Hesitantly, he tugged at the second button.

Karlee closed her eyes. His hand gently spread the material away from the valley between her breasts. He moved his knuckles along the silken slope.

She shuddered, suddenly almost falling. His arms were around her instantly, bracing her against him.

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing,” she answered and straightened away from him. “Please continue.”

“You feel like warm velvet, you know.” He lifted her damp camisole and peeled the material from her breasts.

She fought to stand still and control her breathing. If he wanted to touch her, for as long as he wanted, she'd not stop him.

His hand caressed her skin with such tenderness, she sighed. He wasn't examining, or evaluating, but worshipping. His hands circled over her, learning, memorizing.

As he passed his thumb over the tip of one peak, she sighed again and swayed toward him. His hands locked around her shoulders and held her so that they barely touched. He shifted, keeping a fraction from her as she felt the warmth of him so near. He was testing himself, seeing just how much he could endure, how much he could stand of being so close. So very close.

His knee sliced between her legs and she felt the brush of wool against the inside of her thigh. She sighed and would have reached for him, but he held her arms at her side. He shifted again and the buckle of his belt pressed against her belly. She felt the hardness of him press against her where a child would grow.

“Daniel,” she whispered, but he held her from melting against him.

Slowly, as if torturing himself, he pulled her until the rise and fall of her breasts moved against his heart. The soft hair on his chest brushed her, and she lost her mind to the pleasure.

When his mouth finally covered hers, she was ready and hungry for his kiss.

His grip moved to her waist as her mouth invited him to taste deeper, and her arms lifted to his shoulders. She pressed against him, desperate for the feel of him after his heavenly torturing. She needed the pressure of his hands moving along her back and over her hips. The kiss continued. He slid her undergarments away from her slowly, enjoying each inch of flesh revealed.

The slight breeze cooled her skin, but his hands moved over her, warming her with his exploration. As she whispered her pleasure, he turned her in his arms, pressing her hips against him as his fingers spread wide on their journey from her throat downward. His mouth was warm on her neck while he took his time learning every part of her.

She whispered his name, a plea for him to continue. He turned her roughly to face him and kissed her so completely that thoughts no longer came to her mind.

He'd longed for this nearness since the night he'd first kissed her and he would drink his fill of her tonight. She moved to his every wish, taking all his caresses and kisses before offering more. He knew he was bruising her flesh, but he had to know fully the feel of her or he'd go mad.

Again and again, she moved against him, turning in his arms, giving him all of heaven he could hold. She learned with each kiss and when he returned to her mouth offered him more pleasure.

When he finally pulled away, he was out of breath and seemed shaken. “Get dressed, Karlee.” His voice sounded unsteady. “We have to go.”

He seemed to be fighting himself. He touched only her lips with the tip of his fingers as he moved away.

They dressed in silence and he helped her in the buggy. Before he raised the reins, he turned to her. “You must think me completely mad.”

“Once more,” she asked with her hand resting on his arm. “Hold me once more before we have to go, Daniel.”

His control shattered. He pulled her wildly onto his lap and found her mouth. As the kiss deepened, he tugged at the buttons of her dress, shoving the material away in haste. His hands were as hungry as his mouth. He bared her breasts so quickly she felt the material rip.

He could no more explain his need for her than he could have denied it. He'd thought the taste of her, the feel of her, would satisfy the hunger inside him, but all it did was make him want more.

When he ended the kiss, she lay across his lap, her head cradled in his arm, her breast bare. He gently caressed her left breast as though he had petted her so tenderly for years. And, as he knew she would, she responded to his touch with a little sound that made him want to give her more, far more. She felt so good in his arms, warm, welcoming. A gift he hadn't asked for but could never return.

“I take it you've no objections to your husband's touch?” He closed his fingers around her flesh and watched her arch her back in pleasure.

“No,” she whispered almost mindlessly. “I've no objections.”

Daniel pulled her close, hugging her to him. “Then promise to come to me again, dear gift. Come to me again as you did tonight.” She was a woman of such fire and opinions, yet she molded to his desires without question.

He kissed her on the cheek and sat her beside him. There was no need for her to answer his request. He could see her answer in her eyes.

While she worked the buttons of her clothing, he drove toward the last stronghold of the Confederacy. The only place he knew of where men still fought a war already lost. His hands held the reins, but his thoughts were still holding Karlee.