"I do?"
"You do." He sighed.
"Don't let it go to your head. I don’t' wantto come back to find you working in a saloon or something." He toldher.
"I wasn't serious about that. I mean, unlessI had to, of course." She chuckled.
"Good to see you smiling again." He saidsoftly. "But Kate there is one thing I want before I go."
"Oh?" she looked puzzled again. "What'sthat."
"You might not want to do it."
"You want me to do something for you?"
"Oh yeah. I sure do."
"What?" she asked.
"I want you to kiss me like there's notomorrow." He said softly coming closer now. "I want you to notthink about Jim, or Frank Campbell, or Dickens, or even Moby, justme. I want you to kiss me like you mean it!" he told her.
"Tell me why?" she said softer.
"Because a man can carry a kiss like thatforever and be happy. Whether he's a success or failure. Whetherhe's rich or poor. And I want you to know, I've been dying to kissyou like that for days now." He said coming to stand in front ofher. "I'm leaving early in the morning. I wouldn't go so soon, butDickens offering to pay you made it easier to go. I don't want anygoodbyes, but I need this kiss."
"I'm gonna miss you Wes."
"I know that, And I'll miss you too, honey.More than you'll know. Now prove it to me. Kiss me."
"Then why leave?"
"I have to, now shut up and kiss me, Kate!"he said bringing her into his arms.
"Oh Wes," she cried, and she tiptoed andwound her arms around his neck and touched her lips to his oncemore. It was like fire and ice meeting. A slow melting of the mindand heart. His lips swept her into a void she got lost in. Only hemattered, only them being together like this mattered. The way hislips caressed hers over and over until she was squirming to becloser. She wanted to climb him, tare his clothes off him and makelove to him, she wanted him so badly. And yet the pure torture ofhis abrasive shadow on his cheek, made her open her mouth as histongue slid inside to waltz with hers. She'd never known a mancould be so gentle with her, and yet set her on fire. The smells ofa man that worked hard in the noonday sun. She wasn't breathing,she was somewhere dancing on a cloud as he made love to her lipsover and over leaving her breathless and wanting more. How could aman kiss her and make her feel as though he'd taken her? And thethought of him taking her, made her respond all the more amorously.As he slowly pulled away, he smiled into her shining eyes.
He moved away, but the smile lingered,"Don't let any man change you, nor make you a lady. You’re a woman,a damned fine woman, and don't let anyone put you down. Don't getmarried while I'm gone…"
"I'll always remember you Wes, always."
"I hope so, honey, because I won't forgetthis moment, ever!" He told her as she backed away. "Sometimes akiss can be better than making love."
She stared, her lips still warm from histouching, "Yes," she murmured. "It can."
He smiled sexily at her and she felt herheart race from his smile.
As he disappeared into the barn, shewhispered, "I love you Wes Dolan."
He didn't hear her, but that was okay. He'dmade her feel like a real woman tonight and she'd never forgetthat, nor him.
She touched her lips, they were raw, butthat didn't matter. Wes Dolan had kissed her tonight and made herfeel like the woman she had always wanted to be. He'd made love toher with his lips and she knew she'd given him her heart tonight.She couldn't imagine anything feeling better than that kiss.
She went to bed and dreamed of him. Shewouldn't think of his leaving. She wouldn't be disheartened. She'dwait for him to return in April. It was a hope that he lit insideher, a promise, a drifter's promise. And she'd hold it dear to herheart.
Perhaps she was being too childish anddreamy, but that was alright too. He'd made her feel like a womanfor the first time in her life and she'd never forget him for that.He'd showed her a softer side of a man. And she needed to see thatside of a man, to know it was real. And he'd given her a smallpiece of hope for the future.
All she could think about was April, andwhat it might feel like if he did come back!
ChapterTwenty-Two
"So you're really leaving huh?" Dickens saidsoftly as he watched Wes pack his gear on his horse. He never couldfigure how a man could live with so little as Wes did. He crossedhis arms over his chest and paced the barn, trying to figure Wesout.
Wes turned around slowly, his face a bitsomber but his smile lingered on his lips. "Yeah, I'm reallyleaving." He answered with a long sigh. "And please don't try totalk me out of it."
"But son, we need you around here."
"Yeah, I know that too."
"I know you didn't want any goodbyes. I wentto bed early so you and Kate could kind of say your goodbyes. Ihope you did at least. I'd hoped it would make it easier for you toleave by paying Kate's mortgage next year."
"It did! And you are right, we said ourgoodbyes. God, I never knew a woman could kiss so good." heanswered with a smile. "Dickens, I've never said this before toanother soul, but I've always looked at you as sort of a fatherfigure, as mine died early on. You not only saved my life, but youand Kate… "
"I feel the same, son. Don't go gettingmushy on me or I might cry. But have you thought this through?Kate's a young and beautiful woman, what if some dandy comes alongand sweeps her off her feet?"
Wes smiled confidently. "Well, I guess I'llknow it wasn't meant to be."
"I just wish you weren't leaving again. WithBubba gone, and selling my place, it's hard on an old
