Page 5 of That Fateful Ride

C y rubbed the nape of his neck as he swung down from his roan gelding. He continued to ride a stockier horse than the slimmer faster ones used for the pony express. Not that his wasn’t fast, it wasn’t a draft horse, but the equine was bigger.

His horse snorted and shook his head, the black mane nearly hitting him in the face. On either side of him, two more of the guys who’d come to Demon Canyon with him dismounted as well. The next ride from his station wasn’t due for three more days so they were taking a bit of down time.

Did he want to be here? Not really.

Had he his choice in the matter he would have snagged Rebecca and not let her out of the bed until they’d both been completely sated. Hell, probably not even after that. In his mind, there wasn’t enough time to adequately explore that woman.

His woman.

My woman.

Once he’d ensured his leg would be just fine with his weight, he sighed and patted the horse on its neck.

Bill and Tyler glanced at him before moving toward the saloon. Tyler waggled his eyebrows at him.

“Coming with us?”

He had no wish to flirt with much less lay with another woman. Hell, even the mere thought of doing such a thing had his dick trying to hide.

Scratching his chest under his coat, he opened his mouth to refuse when a familiar dun caught his eye.

“Robert?”

The ones with him looked over to see Polaris moving toward them at a smooth jog trot, in the middle of the street, small dust swirls kicking up from the hooves as he moved.

Tyler held up a hand and whistled. The cowboy hat riding low over the rider lifted and he found himself snared by brown eyes. His heart turned over, even knowing that this was technically supposed to be Robert.

A small shift of the left hand on the reins, navigated Polaris closer to their side of the street even as the horse slowed.

“Didn’t know you were headed to town, Robert.” Cy secured his gelding then looked back at the rider.

“We’re heading to see the women.” Tyler grinned, showing off his misaligned teeth. “I heard both Sharla and Megan have taken a shine to you.”

Cy lifted an eyebrow as he held her gaze. Had they now?

Perhaps it was embarrassment which had her skin flushing, perhaps it was nothing more than the damn cold wind that never failed to whip through this canyon in winter.

“You joining us?” Why he asked the question he didn’t have a clue, it wasn’t like he wanted to partake in any of the women in there. No thanks. The one he wanted currently sat before him on a pony she’d gotten as a gift from the Indians in the area and was acting as her twin brother.

“No.”

That was it. One word. No further explanation.

Tyler stepped closer to the dun, head tipped back, black bandana around his neck fluttering in the wind. “Why not?”

Cy observed as the rider leaned down a tiny bit and shrugged. “Already been. Have to stop at the general store and pick up some staples.” That head popped up. “I was told I was making dinner because someone had other things to do today.”

Yeah, she was pissed. Cyrus knew this was going to take some doing to dig out of the hole he’d put himself in. Truth was, he had a lot of plans today and this hadn’t been one of them.

“Gonna make some of those biscuits you do, Robert? Your mama’s recipe?”

Tyler shifted closer and Cy swallowed back his possessive growl, not wanting any man close to his woman.

“That had been the plan, if I can get more flour from the store.” He sat up straight. “Reckon I’d best be getting along.” A tip of the cowboy hat and Polaris had moved on.

“No offense Cyrus,” Tyler said. “But that boy’s mama’s biscuits are damn good. Not hard like yours.”

He grunted, not wanting to talk about Rebecca posing as Robert cooking with him so he could keep her close to him. In his periphery he noticed how Bill watched him, calculating, wondering.

Without waiting for the others, he turned and stepped up onto the sidewalk and entered the saloon. Bill and Tyler right behind him. The riders immediately sought out women and headed up the stairs while he scanned the room for a game.

Adjusting the hat on his head, he walked to a table and took a seat with a nod to the others gathered. Across the room, he saw Sharla, her dark skin agleam in the light, she sat perched on the knee of a man he didn’t know.

“Haven’t seen you around in a while, Cy.”

“Don’t get a lot of free time running the station, Landon.” He took the cards that had been dealt him and took a peek. “Actually was just out to get some supplies.”

Landon James was a rancher in the area. His daddy was rich so he thought he could do whatever he wanted. From his perfectly coifed hair to his new clothing rarely was anything out of place on him. A womanizer and one who had no problem taking a woman even if she said no.

“That’s right, you had an Injun attack not to long ago.”

He waved for a card after tossing in some money. “Thanks for your concern.”

“Gentlemen,” the owner and madam strolled up. “I don’t allow fighting in my saloon. You want to have words, you take it outside.”

He nodded up at Gwendolyn Royal, she’d been a madam back east and had come this way thinking she was going to marry a man. Rumor had it, he wanted to put her to work on her back and she didn’t see it going that way. Now she was alone and had her own establishment. She may be a woman, but the men in this town didn’t push her for she was quick to draw and didn’t miss what she aimed at.

“I hear the army’s finally sending some soldiers out to help your riders.” She perched against his chair, long fingers smoothing along the nape of his neck and tangling in the hair that fell to his collar.

Cy wanted to move away, but he wasn’t wanting to explain why he was moving from a woman’s touch. Didn’t feel like telling the world he’d gone and fallen for Rebecca, not when he’d not told her yet.

“That’ll be nice. It will be good to have some extra protection there.” He wanted Rebecca protected at all times but also, didn’t want any of the soldiers to be near her.

“Perhaps you can come by more. I know the girls love you. All big and brawny.” She bent down, her breasts in Cy’s face. “And from what I hear, well versed in using that big dick of yours.”

“Perhaps.” That was the only concession he would give her. Avoiding the bosoms thrust in his face he flicked in another coin and leaned away from her.

“Just because I’m a bit older doesn’t mean I wouldn’t show you a time you’d never forget.”

“I’m sure that’s true Ms. Royal, but I don’t think I’m the one who is to get that special treatment.”

She dragged her knuckles down the back of his cheek. “You would tempt a nun and that’s the last thing I am. Although,” she plumped up her tits, “if you’re in to that kind of thing, I would be willing to find a habit.”

The men around the table whooped and hollered. Cy shook his head and folded.

This wasn’t what he wanted to be doing. She should be on her way back to the station right now.

Winter was bearing down on them and soon the plains would be covered in snow and the winds would be insufferable. The thought of Rebecca out in such weather cut him deep.

“You in?”

He glanced over the table at Landon. “Yeah.” Cy forced himself to stay there and not leave to track down his woman.

The wind brought with it the promise of snow. Blinking against the biting cold she dipped her chin as Polaris finished his trek to the general store. She needed to run home and get herself more winter clothes.

Exhaling slowly, she swung down, trying her best not to feel betrayed that Cy would be heading inside that damn saloon to the waiting women there. He would be a welcome change from a lot of the ones who visited there. A lot of the riders were small skinny men, perhaps wiry was a better word. Some of the larger ones tended to be fat but then there was Cy.

Hard bodied. Muscular. Large broad shoulders. Chiseled features. Shaggy hair and sometimes scruff on his face that she dreamed about skimming along places on her skin that would make her tremble.

It wasn’t fair. Muttering to herself, she tied off her ride and stomped onto the sidewalk and inside the general store. Two others were in there, a woman and her daughter. They were up by the front purchasing material. They glanced in her direction then sniffed and went back to finalizing their purchases.

It didn’t take her to long to figure what she needed to take back. “You from Buffalo Creek Station?”

Angling her head to view the older, rotund man approaching her. “Yes sir. Robert Freeman. I was sent to get some purchases. They need some staples.”

He nodded. “Names Buchannan. You have a wagon?”

“No sir.” She scratched her upper arm through the coat. “My horse is strong and I don’t weigh a lot. I can take the flour and sugar back on him.”

“That flour is a hundred pounds and the sugar is close to forty.”

“We can do it.”

“Fine. I’ll put it on the stations account. You have to load it yourself, I can’t be bothered to help.”

“No problem, sir. Am I allowed to take from the floor here or should I go around back?”

“Back. I’ll let my boy know you’re coming.”

Touching the brim of the cowboy hat, Rebecca walked outside and saw Polaris waiting but there were two others tied up beside him. Military men and she immediately went on guard. She knew how they acquired their horses. They liked what they saw and it became an acquisition.

With a low whistle for her mount, she made her way to his ide and swiftly unwrapped the reins and walked toward the alley around back the general store and mercantile. Behind her, she heard them talking and her gut churned as their discussion swung to her mount. She wasn’t about to give him up for anything.

Or anyone.

Steps brisk as she moved through the alley to the back door of the store, she positioned him at the hitching post there and hastened to the door, pounding on it three times. A man, young and a lot like his father but with more hair on his head opened the door. Blue eyes ran over her as his lip turned up.

“One bag of flour and one of sugar.” He jerked his thumb to the left. “Don’t be touching anything else.”

“No sir.” She swallowed back the anger, but again, nothing she’d not faced before.

Just like lifting a hundred pound bag of flour wasn’t something new. Didn’t mean she enjoyed it and it definitely meant she would feel it later but she did it, under the watchful glare of the owner’s son.

Thankfully, Polaris stood for it as she flopped the hundred pound sack over the saddle followed by the sugar that set more up by his withers. A quick assessment of how best to secure it and where she would ride and she was on her way, tucked behind the cantle. His reins were long enough she had somewhat of a hold.

Tipping her hat, she pushed through town desperate to get away from the soldiers and back before dark. It wasn’t the best situation if she had to ride fast.

“Hey boy.”

She kept going, hoping they weren’t talking to her.

“Boy. I’m speaking to you.”

Two horses went in her path and she halted Polaris and looked up at a sourfaced sergeant.

“Yes sir?”

“That’s a nice horse.”

“Thank you sir.” She nudged him and he moved, not caring there were things in front of him. He would go through or around them.

“He’s strong and would make a good horse for the army.”

“He has a job, sir. One I need to be getting back to.”

The man smoothed his hand down over his black moustache and grunted. Two riders swung down and moved toward her.

“We like him.”

Ears back, Polaris crowhopped and backed away from the first man grabbing at him. She balanced the items on his back best she could.

“He’s not for sale, Sergeant.”

“Don’t right recall asking you boy if he was or not.”

Another man reached and her horse snapped at him. Good boy. He jumped back with a curse.

“Don’t much appreciate you trying to take horses from my riders.”

Cy’s deep voice wove around her bringing a sense of calm she hadn’t expected.

“And you are?” The sergeant demanded.

“Cyrus Spencer, station master at Buffalo Creek Station. This horse ain’t for sale and you need to leave the rider alone.” He rode up beside her barely cutting her a glance but the brief one singed her. “Unless you want me to take it up with Major Olson.”

The men swallowed. “You know the Major?” A hard cough. “You’re that Cyrus Spencer? Former First Lieutenant Cyrus Spencer?”

He’d been a First Lieutenant? An officer? What am I doing?

With a grin she would consider bared teeth more than anything, he nodded. “I am. Move along and don’t fucking bother my rider again.”

One of them shook his head. “Why you defending a darkie? Who cares if we take his horse?”

“Boy,” Cy growled voice down an octave. “You ain’t even earned the right to wear a stripe yet, keep your opinions to yourself. All the riders at that station are mine and I suggest you don’t forget it. They’re off limits for harassment and their rides are off limits. Don’t reckon I want to have this conversation again.” He shifted in the saddle. “Ride on, Robert.”

She listened knowing he moved in behind her and rode there silent until they got out of town, then he maneuvered his gelding up beside her.

“Why are you carrying all this on his back? You can’t outrun anything weighing him down like that.”

“It’s still less than some carry with one person,” she snapped. “I had it handled. Why don’t you go back to your whores.”

He reached over and drew Polaris to a halt. Before she could say anything he deadlifted the nearly forty pound bag of sugar off him and settled it across his saddle.

“Jealous? You want to renegotiate the terms of my silence and I’m all up for it.”

Heat sluiced through her as she thought about the time in the tub. Squirming on the back of her horse, she shook her head. “I’ll keep what we have thank you. Besides, based on how the madam draped over you, I’m not your type.”

She encouraged Polaris on to a faster trot, wind slamming into them from the left.

“Baby, you shouldn’t challenge me like that to show you just how much my type you are.”

His words reached her with no problems but she didn’t answer, just held onto the heat they gave birth to in her gut and kept riding. Horses hooves pounding into the hard ground. Cy at her side as they returned to the station to get the food ready for the men.