“I'm sorry, Dalton.” She whispers against his throat as he walks into a cavern.
“You don't have anything to be sorry for, darlin.” Walking on she feels a warm breeze, and he whispers, “Open your eyes for me.”
It takes a moment for her eyes to adjust and her mouth falls open in shock. “Is this a dream?”
He is standing next to a bubbling pool of aquamarine water, surrounded on all sides by green velvet moss covered rocks. The pre-dawn sky is open above, and the fading stars are reflecting off the pool.
“This is our own private Eden.” He walks over to a ledge and sets her down carefully. He squats down to explain. “When I was little my father discovered this cavern and the hot spring. Once we were old enough, he brought us here. It is safe to swim in and will keep us out of sight. We will camp here today. I'm going to get the horses brought inside.”
Cassie looks around, “It is so beautiful.” She stretches out a hand over the steaming water touching the surface with her fingertips. After a few seconds, she stands up and walks slowly around taking in the beauty, hoping to burn it in her memory forever. “Who knew that these mountains hide treasures like this?” Dalton returns and laughs.
“Just wait until I get you in the water.”
Once their saddles are removed, the horses are watered, and fed. Cassie turns to find Dalton removing his clothes. He piles his clothes neatly on the ledge, and her breath is taken away by the sculpted beauty of his body.
He steps into the water with a moan, and he dives under, swimming a few laps before rising out of the steam.
Her mouth waters as she stares at the steaming water sheeting off his hard body. Cassie laughs when he wiggles his eyebrows at her.
“Join me beautiful. Don't make me come after you.” Cassie doesn't need to be told twice. She removes her hat and duster, followed by her boots. He swims closer to the edge to watch, and his eyes follow the trail of her hand. She swiftly jerks the long sleeve blouse over her head, and he is shocked by the sight of her money stuffed corset.
“I had it made before we left,” she explains with a blush.
“Genius, the paper will act as an insulator. I'm glad I didn't throw you in like I thought about.” He chuckles until she drops her jeans revealing the purple and black bruises on her legs.
When the corset comes off, and her white shift is removed, he is given a true view of her injuries. “Cassandra! Why didn't you tell me?” he rushes from the water and starts prodding her ribs.
Cassie tries to block her bare body from his sight, but he refuses to allow it. He presses and prods on her black and blue ribs looking for signs of broken or fractured bones. Cassie shivers and grabs his hands, “Dalton, I am okay, but I’m freezing.”
Horrified at the amount of bruising her body has taken, he swiftly lifts her from her feet, and she gasps. “I can walk you, oaf. You have to stop picking me up,” she starts to say, but the ecstasy of the hot water bubbling around her naked body has her moaning.
“Oh, my!”
He laughs and carries her deeper. When he starts to release her, she spins and wraps her legs around his waist, “NO! Don't let me go.”
“I'm trying to be good here, Cassie and not ravish you, but this is killing me!”
Her face is buried in his neck, and she mumbles, “I can't swim.”
“Not a problem. This spring is only about five feet deep in the center. You should be able to stand.” He walks to the center and stops allowing the hot bubbles to soothe her body, and she sighs. When she looks up at him, she feels his arousal pressing against her hot center.
“Don’t let me go,” she whispers and leans back with her legs wrapped around his waist, she eases back taking him deep into her body.
“Never, Cassie.” They spend the next hour enjoying the water and their passion for each other. They explore each other, bringing their bodies to new heights of ecstasy before the final blush of dawn dusts the sky overhead.
Later, when she is tucked safely in his bedroll, he checks on the horses inside and scouts around outside the caverns to remove any trace of their entrance. When Dalton returns, he gathers her close, and they sleep, unaware of the storm closing in on them.
Chapter 29
Aiden checks his pocket watch from his seat on the train.
“Next stop, Promontory.” The conductor says moving through the cabin. Aiden's arm snakes out, and he grabs the conductor’s wrist, “This train was supposed to take us to Brigham City.”
“We have to stop for coal and water, sir.” He pulls his arm away, “I assure you we will make Brigham City by nightfall.” Aiden lets him leave and sits back again watching the scenery pass. He has heard stories of “Hell City,” it is said that a fog of evil covers the town and Aiden can't wait to immerse himself in the waters of its glory.
The train comes to a slow stop, with a grinding of heavy wheels. Slowly the people on board begin to depart.
Aiden steps down and heads inside the main depot. It's a small, run down town, with neglected buildings. Some passengers depart the train, but most stay on board. Promontory has nothing to offer. Aiden heads to the desk and rings the bell. An old man chews on his pipe as he walks to the desk and waits.
“Perhaps you could help me. I'm looking for someone who may have passed through on the last
