Every word was at the top of his lungs and Houston blinked several times at the volume breaking the still night air.
Kane didn’t say another word as he dismounted and led his horse over a small hill and into a grove of trees. Houston followed his lead as he unsaddled his horse and made a camp for the night. She wanted to go on longer, to put more distance between them and the posse from Chandler, but perhaps Kane had been hurt in the blast and needed rest. It would take a long time before the citizens could be organized, so perhaps they had time.
She had the saddle in her hands when she glanced toward Kane and saw that he was looking at her in a way that was almost frightening.
Very slowly, he took the saddle out of her arms, tossed it to the ground, and after one look that she couldn’t interpret, he was upon her.
He was like a hungry animal and, after Houston got over her surprise, she reacted in kind. Buttons flew off her dusty riding suit like corn popping in a skillet. His mouth was all over her body at once, with his big, strong hands tearing away all that inhibited his contact with her skin.
“Kane,” she half-cried, half-laughed. “Kane. My only love, my true love.”
He didn’t seem to need words as he pushed her nude body to the ground and thrust inside her with the strength of the dynamite they’d set off that morning. Houston felt as if she were like the stone wall crumbling and, as they moved together in a sweaty, fierce passion, she was sure that this was all she needed in life, and that what she’d done today had been right.
When at last they erupted together, Houston shivered with the force of her passion and the depth of her love for this man.
They lay together for a while, Kane holding her tightly in his arms, as if he never meant to let her go. And Houston clung to him just as tightly, afraid now when she thought how close she’d come to losing him, how close he’d come to being hanged.
After a long while, Kane stood and went to the horses to care for them. Houston started to help but he motioned her to lie still, tossing her a blanket to cover her from the cool night air.
Even when he built a fire, he wouldn’t let her help. Houston started to protest that perhaps they’d be seen, but Kane shouted that she should trust him, and she did. She was glad to turn over the mastery of this wild escape to him, and she was glad to lie back and be wa
ited on. He brought a plate of beans to her, with a tortilla and a cup of dreadful coffee. But Houston thought it was the most delicious meal of her life.
When they’d finished eating, Kane put out the fire, lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms. In minutes, both of them were asleep.
Chapter 32
When Houston woke, it was full light and Kane was holding her and smiling angelically.
“We have to go,” she said, sitting up, shrugging off his hands and pulling on the remnants of her torn clothing. The front of her riding habit was missing so many buttons that it was decidedly indecent. “They’ll be after us soon, and I don’t imagine they’ll stop to rest this long.”
He caught her arm. “Hot after the murderer, right?”
“I really don’t think this is any time for laughter.”
“Houston, I want you to tell me what you have planned. Why are you runnin’ toward Mexico?”
“I’ll tell you as we get the horses saddled,” she said and stood, waiting impatiently until Kane also rose. “I think we can hide in Mexico,” she said, putting the saddle blanket on her horse.
“For how long?”
“Forever, of course,” she answered. “I don’t think that the law ever forgives one for murder. I think we can live there quite frugally, and I hear that people don’t ask as many questions there as they do in this country.”
He caught her arm. “Wait a minute. You mean that you’re plannin’ to live in Mexico with me? That if I’m an outlaw, you’re gonna be one, too?”
“Yes, certainly, I’m planning to live with you. Now, will you please saddle your horse so that we can ride?”
Houston didn’t say any more because Kane grabbed her about the waist and twirled her around. “Honey, that’s the best thing that anybody’s ever said to me. You don’t care about the money after all.”
“Kane!” she said, exasperated. “Please put me down. They’ll find us and you’ll—.”
She stopped because he planted a hearty kiss on her mouth.
“Ain’t nobody comin’ after us, unless it’s the sheriff’ cause he’s mad at you for tearin’ up his jail. Oh, Houston, honey, I wish I could see that man’s face.”
Houston took a step back from him. What he was saying made no sense to her, but in the pit of her stomach was a little feeling of fear. “Perhaps you should explain that remark.”
Kane drew three circles in the dirt with his toe. “I just wanted to see how you . . . ah, felt about the fact that I wasn’t a rich man anymore.”