Without thinking much, he imitated the mating call of a mockingbird, making Cole’s eyes shine back at him as if he’d understood what Ned was trying to communicate without words, in a way that wouldn’t betray their secret either.
I want you, it said.
I need you.
You smell so wonderful I want to be with you more than I should.
But did Cole truly understand, or was he simply amused by Ned’s skill?
He put away the harmonica and attempted to imitate the call as well, but wasn’t very good at it.
“You’ve been excellent company, but we’ll be getting off here after all,” Craw said out of the blue.
Ned pulled on the reins, but looked back, unsure what this was about. The landscape around them was barren, with dry bushes growing out of dusty ground scattered with rocks. Nothing like the lush meadows and fragrant trees where he’d grown up. Only the whisper of the water promised respite from the midday heat.
Craw stared back at him but was already offering his hand to Tessa at the back of the wagon. “You’ll be all right without us, won’t you?” He held a rolled-up blanket under his arm.
The question snapped Ned out of his stupor and he had to suppress his smile or it might have split his face. “Sure. It’s a boring job anyway. Right, Cole?”
“Yes. No need to bother Tessa with such things. You two have fun. We’ll call out for you when we’re going back this way,” Cole said right away, sounding suitably uncaring, even though his foot shifted and was now pressing to Ned’s.
Tessa hesitated, teeth digging into her lower lip as she adjusted the brooch of her Grecian-inspired dress. “Can you perhaps… keep this a secret for now?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, darlin’. I’ve seen or heard nothing,” Cole said and waved them off, watching as the new couple ran off between the bushes, heading to the river bend.
Ned urged the horses forward before either of the young lovers changed their mind. “Can you believe our luck?” He leaned over to Cole and pressed a big smooch to his lips, still intoxicated by the fact that he was allowed to do so.
“Yes,” Cole said as the wagon rolled over uneven ground, his tan face golden in the glow of the peaking sun. “Think of me as your lucky charm. What was that sound you made? It was real pretty.”
Ned grinned. “A mockingbird’s mating call. Means it’s horny.”
Cole snorted, but a moment later his face froze in an astonished expression. “This could be our signal. You know, for meet me out of camp, or something of that sort!” he concluded and grabbed Ned’s hand in both of his.
Ned’s heart melted and he made the bird sound again. “No way around it. You’ll need to learn it then.”
Cole made another attempt, but it didn’t sound remotely similar, and they both chuckled while the landscape passed them by. Ned explained to Cole how to position his tongue and pressed on his cheeks to help him, but practice would be necessary. They laughed about it for a while before settling into easy conversation again.
Grey hills loomed close by, but the trading post was still three hours away, so they drove slowly, not wanting to rush the horses.
“Why do you wear all black anyway?” Ned asked as he wondered what kind of clothes he should get to look sufficiently attractive to satisfy his friend’s appetites.
Cole went still, playing with Ned’s fingers. “Promise you won’t laugh?”
It wasn’t mourning garb then. Ned squeezed his fingers. “Oh, this is gonna be good.”
Cole pulled Ned’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. “Pearl would have said it’s because I wanna be like Tom, but I started doing it, because that color makes folk take notice. People respect those they fear, and when I started riding with Tom, I realized that was everything. I’d much rather scare than be scared, and once I tasted another life, there was no way of going back. Also, bloodstains aren’t as easy to spot on black fabric,” he admitted.
Ned had expected to laugh, but didn’t. Would he also be unable to go back to a lawful life once he tasted this one? “I see. You stood out to me from the day we met, but it’s true. I instantly pinned you as someone to watch out for.”
Cole grinned. “Did you find me dangerously handsome? Like a hero from dime novels?”
Ned glanced at the road to make sure they were headed in the right direction. Yep, still only bushes, grey dirt, and a blue sky ahead. “Full of yourself, that’s for sure. But I can’t blame you, you’ve got reason to be.”
Cole’s lids drooped, slanting over the sides of his eyes, but they popped wide open when he spotted something and scrambled into the bed of the wagon. Unsure what to think about him rummaging through all the loot, Ned turned his face to the gray hills, thinking of the landscape he’d see in Arizona, but moments later, a strong arm slid across his chest, and Cole rested his chin on Ned’s shoulder.