Page 36 of That Fateful Ride

“I have no other rider here. He didn’t show.”

She wiped a gloved hand along her mouth before spitting. “Saddle up Polaris, give me two minutes, and I’ll be ready.”

He couldn’t argue, no matter how much he wished. The mail had to go on. The moment, she dismounted he took the reins and headed for the stable. She showed up as he hefted the saddle on Polaris. He noticed she chewed on a biscuit.

“An Indian asked about you right before you rode in,” he commented, tightening the cinch.

“For me?”

“Claimed I stole Polaris and asked if you were hurt.”

She gave a non-committal grunt. He glanced at her over the back of the horse where she stood securing the mochila.

“Who was he?”

“A friend.”

Anger spurt to life within him. Ducking beneath the muscled neck, he went to her side. She watched him from under her hat and he swore low before kissing her. It demanded. He demanded. Beneath him, she opened, willingly accepting him in. Their tongues danced along one another and he moaned encouragingly as her hands tore hungrily at his clothing. He worked quick and soon had her against the wall with his cock deep in her.

She undulated and moved in tandem with him. Hot, passionate, and fierce, he came in her as she crested.

“I love you,” she whispered on a faint breath as tiny tremors continued to rack her body.

He froze and so did she. Her eyes grew wide as he withdrew from her heat. He’d never seen anyone dress so fast and he had to hurry in order to keep up. A fistful of her long-sleeved shirt and coat brought her right back before him. Her eyes smoky and lips slightly swollen. It was a punch to his gut, he wanted so much more.

“Wait.”

“No. I…forget I even said that.” She jerked free, swung up easily onto Polaris’ back without the stirrups, and they were gone.

He watched her leave unable to believe what he’d heard.But you did hear it.She’d said she loved him. Followed by the command to forget she had. Forget it? Not a chance.

When you return Rebecca, we are going to have one hell of a discussion. To hell with what is right or not.

Not much later, a group rode in and he found himself staring up at an Army company. A man on a large chestnut gelding—a major based on what he wore—gestured to another to swing down then snapped a salute. Cy almost returned it, hard not to after all the time he served. As it was, he still stood straighter.

“You the station master, Cyrus Spencer?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Major Bolden.” He glanced at the sergeant on the ground, who handed him a letter. Cy opened it and read the message. A knot filled his stomach and he reread it twice more. “Is this for real?”

“Yes. We need to protect the riders from those heathens as well as the stations and animals. So some of the men here will be staying and there will be a soldier accompanying every rider from now on. Or at least until we take care of the pests.”

The major’s opinion on Indians was obvious; Cy didn’t need to ask how he felt. As annoying as that was, it wasn’t his main concern. A solider would be riding alone on the trail with Rebecca. His woman. There was no way he’d let her ride off with another man. Who knew what could happen to her.

“Very well. There is a bunkhouse over there they can use. It will need to be cleaned first.”

Major Bolden gestured to six men. “Your riders can move and clean.”

He frowned. “No, sir. Your men want to stay, they clean. My duty is to my riders as well as Russell, Waddell, and Majors, not the Army. Not anymore.”

Grudging respect filled his face. “Fine, my men will take the other one.”

“We have a code around here they will have to follow. The riders agreed when they signed on so I will not have problems at my station because of them. No drinking to excess or cussing is top along with respecting others.”

“Still have the Army in you, son. I can see it. So can my men. They’ll listen to you. You. We need to water our horses before we press on.”

Cy showed them where to do that and got back to his duties while the soldiers got to work cleaning out their quarters. His night was restless as he envisioned Rebecca’s body broken and beaten. That morning he set off the first rider with a solider as escort. He didn’t think it was a good idea but orders were orders.

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