‘‘Good, make sure one of them is at every entrance every hour, night and day. Let no other take a watch. Trust none but the Old Guard. There are several young hands I saw around when we came last time that I don’t know.’’
‘‘I already figured that out. I’ll keep them busy with the horses.’’ Wes had thought he’d have to use the male servants for a turn at watch. But once he saw Victoria’s army, he’d changed his mind.
‘‘Michael won’t come, but he might send someone. There are enough men out of work who’ll do anything for a price, even kill a woman. Keep Allie by your side whenever she isn’t in this room.’’
Maxwell patted his side. ‘‘I got Allie to put my pistol right here. If anyone should get this close, he’ll never leave the room.’’ Even injured, the sheriff hadn’t lost sight of his mission. ‘‘With the doors open I have a clear view of the hallway and stairs.’’
‘‘I’ll station the guards, then I’m going to get a few hours’ sleep.’’ Nights without rest started to catch up to Wes. ‘‘It could be a long night ahead.’’
Hardy touched his arm. ‘‘Tell Jason to find Crandall Cutler. He likes kids more than most and loves to talk about horses. He’ll keep the boy busy and safe.’’
‘‘Thanks.’’ Wes glanced at Jason sitting in the windowsill.
The boy nodded and hurried out, thankful to have been freed.
Thirty minutes later, Wes asked Victoria if she had a place he could bed down for a while. The old woman hadn’t said a word about the possibility of Allie truly being her granddaughter, but he’d learned there was little the blind woman missed.
‘‘The second room off the stairs has been made ready for you and Allie.’’ Victoria sat beside Maxwell while he slept, showing no sign of needing to rest herself. ‘‘The door next to mine.’’
Wes climbed the stairs, too tired to think about anything but closing his eyes. He didn’t bother striking a light when he noticed the windows were closed and shuttered. He pulled off his gun belt and boots. Now, while Victoria’s army was fresh, would be a good time to sleep. He figured if an advance came, it would probably be in the night hours. Michael seemed the type.
Stretching out on the quilt, Wes folded an arm over his eyes to block the thin rays of sun shining through the shutters. All he needed to do was let out a breath and he’d be sound asleep.
‘‘Wes?’’ Allie whispered from the doorway. ‘‘The sheriff told me to stay close to you. Can I stay in here?’’
He stretched out his arm in welcome. ‘‘Come along, Blue Eyes.’’
He’d expected her to slip into bed as she always did, quietly. He’d noticed a small step stool had been put on her side to make climbing onto the high bed easier. But she jumped forward in a mighty leap, tumbling against him as she bounced.
Opening his eyes, he laughed. ‘‘You’re a hard woman to get in bed.’’
‘‘I’ve been waiting to be alone with you. You should have told me you were coming up to our room. I would have followed.’’
He leaned back against the pillows. ‘‘I didn’t figure you’d be too tired, the way you were curled up in that overstuffed chair for several hours early this morning.’’
‘‘I’m not sleepy.’’ She sat cross-legged beside him and wiggled until she felt comfortable.
Wes opened his eyes once more, thinking he was getting to the point of being too tired to hear. If she wasn’t sleepy, why was she here?
Allie sat facing him, calmly unbuttoning her blouse. ‘‘I’ve been waiting for you to touch me again. You said you would.’’
She had the nerve to look like she requested a favor. Her huge eyes stared at him, as if she were bracing herself to be disappointed. ‘‘You will, won’t you? Touch me like you did before we left the station? You said we could do it when we were alone.’’
Wes’s blood pumped from dead-tired slow to full gallop in one heartbeat. All he could do was stare as the top of her dress fell away. He told himself he had to stay alert to protect her, and in order to do that, he needed a little sleep. But he could see the outline of her entire body as she slipped from her dress. The undergarments were wrinkled from having been pressed against her and now, even without the dress, held their place.
‘‘Would you like me to take off more?’’ she asked as though trying to encourage him to keep his promise. ‘‘I don’t mind you watching me undress now that I know that’s the way it is between husband and wife.’’
He couldn’t believe what she said. He must already be dreaming. He found it impossible to fathom that all night, while he’d been pacing, she’d been thinking of asking him to touch her again.
Raising his hand, he lowered first one of her straps,then the other. The camisole draped over her breasts lightly, threatening to fall at any moment. The sight was intoxicating. He wet his lips and took great pleasure in just watching her breathe.
She waited. ‘‘
‘‘Why are you doing this?’’ he whispered as his fingers brushed over the soft flesh at her throat.
‘‘I have to learn not to be afraid.’’
He moved his hand lower. She drew in a breath. Her chin lifted slightly with determination.
Her action strained the material, outlining the peak of each breast beneath the lace.This is too good to be a dream, Wes thought. Studying her closely, he tried to understand.
He saw it then, in the set of her eyes and the carriage of her body. She was testing the limits. Like a man taking one more step into a lion’s cage each day. Being near him was her way of conquering her fears.
Wes rose to his elbow and brushed her mouth with his thumb, pulling slightly so that her lips parted. He wanted her not to be afraid, but he needed her to want him. She meant more to him than any woman ever had in his life, but he wasn’t sure what he meant to her. Sure, she turned to him when she needed him. But did she want him?
There was no doubt he wanted her. Lord, how he wanted her. She’d been like a flash flood that washed over him all at once when he wasn’t even expecting it. A few days ago, he would have been happy to help her and let her go on her way. But now, looking at her like this stirred something deep inside him. She didn’t even know the games played between men and women. She didn’t have to.
The thin layer of cotton and lace slipped beneath the left side of her breast, and Wes no longer breathed, much less thought.
He leaned forward and kissed her peak lightly, then shoved the material away to her waist with only the tips of his fingers.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, but she didn’t pull away. His light touch made every nerve alive. Barely brushing her flesh, he allowed his fingers to drift from her waist to her throat. She closed her eyes, wanting the full press of his hand against her, but waiting. If he wanted to lightly touch her first, she could wait for the warmth.
Lying back against his pillow, Wes watched her. Again, he lightly brushed her skin from waist to chin, only this time, he slowed to circle the borders of each breast.
Allie let out a cry.
‘‘Did I hurt you?’’ His voice was low and thick with a hunger.
‘‘No,’’ she whispered, out of breath. ‘‘It didn’t hurt. Again, please.’’
Yes, he could take his time in the touching, she thought, for he made her feel treasured. She sat very still and allowed him to continue.
His fingers circled her breasts once more then moved upward, brushing her mouth open with his touch.
She closed her eyes, feeling his thumb press against her bottom lip and his fingers caress her face. Then his hand moved downward, brushing her throat. As his fingers closed gently over her breast, Allie straightened slightly.
‘‘You’re beautiful, Allie,’’ he whispered as he circled lightly over the tip of one breast.
‘‘Come to me, Allie.’’ He placed his hands behind his head, letting her know this would be her advance, not his.
For a long while, she didn’t move. Then, very slowly, she leaned over him, kissing him fully. As before, the taste of him blended with the smells that always surrounded him, giving her a sense of safety and warmth.
Wes fought the urge to reach for her as she played with his lips until she coaxed just the kiss she wanted from him. Dear Lord, the way she kissed him was perfection. But he allowed her to end the kiss.
Hesitantly, she raised above him until the tip of her breast touched his lips. She shook with uncertainty, but she offered freely.
