Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

W illa spooned chunky guacamole over the shredded beef burritos and brought the plates out to the couch. Mac had been in a pensive mood since his phone call with John. She’d asked him about it, but he’d deflected her concerns.

“Mac?”

“Yeah.”

“This isn’t going to work if you shut me out.”

“You’re right.” He smiled and kissed her. “I’d almost forgotten you’re sexy, sultry, great cook, and smart as hell.”

“So?”

“I don’t like the idea of you going as our tracker. I know you’re the best and can out ride and shoot as well as anyone going, but Eastwick already wants you dead and… Hell, you’re my woman, I just got you back, and I want you safe. There, I said it.”

“First, big points for telling me straight out what you think. Second, that last bit about being your woman, only now getting me back, and wanting me to be safe? I already knew all of that, and it makes me go all gooey inside when you say things like that. But don’t you think I could say the same? Eastwick already tried to kill you as well, and I just got you back, and I want you safe. I love that you have no issue with me being a better rider than most anyone you know and being able to hold my own with your team, but like you said, I’m the best tracker in the area, and I know this country better than anyone. If we can figure out where he’s headed, we may be able to cut him off.”

“John will have a Kevlar vest for you. You put it on the moment we get there, and it doesn’t come off until I take it off you. Got that?”

“Yes, Mac.”

“And if I give you an order, I expect you to obey it the same as with anybody else under my command would.”

“Are you planning to spank one of them if they don’t mind you?”

“I’m not kidding, Willa. You step out of line, and I’ll find a private spot and paddle your ass so hard, they’ll need to call a chopper in to get you home, and I’ll shut this whole thing down.”

“Mac?”

“What?” he growled.

“I love you, too. And I will be on my very best behavior.”

“See that you are,” he grumbled.

“Do you really want to snarl at me? Wouldn’t you rather take me to bed and hear me purr while I claw up your back?”

He grinned. “Don’t think, for even a nanosecond, you’ll ever seduce your way out of spanking. ‘Cause you won’t. I?—”

The rest of his tirade was cut short as Willa removed first her sweater, then her bra, flinging both in his face and made to run past him to the bedroom. He grabbed her, swinging her up in his arms, and latched on to her nipple as he carried her. He dumped her unceremoniously on the bed, causing her to wince at the reignited sting across her bottom.

“Get your cute little ass in bed. I’ll make one last round of the house to make sure we’re secure, then lock us in.”

“Is that standard operating procedure?”

“It is. When I’m done making sure we’re secure, I’ll come take care of you. That, too, will be standard operating procedure from here on out.”

T he night had gone far too fast for Mac. He and Willa had made love twice with equal intensity and passion. Willa had showered first and gone to make something quick and easy for breakfast. As the savory popovers baked, she brought Mac a cup of coffee in the shower.

“Here you go,” she said, handing him the mug.

“Why don’t you bring it in here to me?” he asked in a voice heavy with residual sleep and lust.

“Because if I do, there is absolutely no chance we’ll arrive at the rendezvous on time.”

“Maybe not, but I’ll be in such a good mood, I won’t care.”

She giggled at his silliness and exited before he could drag her under the water with him. A few minutes later, he walked out of the bedroom in jeans and boots, carrying a T-shirt and sweater. He wrapped himself around her from behind, kissing the side of her neck and inhaling deeply.

“God, you smell good, although I liked the way you smelled before your shower better.”

“Before my shower, I smelled of sex with you.”

“Precisely.”

Willa rolled her eyes, and Mac laughed before kissing her parted lips.

They grabbed their popovers, and Mac put on his T-shirt, tucking it into his jeans and using the holster on his belt in the back for his handgun. He tossed Willa his sweater.

“I’m going out to make sure we’re still secure?—”

“Don’t you think you’re being a bit overly cautious?”

“No, Willa. This is how we do things. It’s the reason we rarely lose anybody. You stay inside with the front door locked. Once I’m sure it’s safe, I’ll start the SUV and bring it to the door. When I give you the all-clear, you can come out and get in the cab… not before.”

Again, she said nothing but rolled her eyes.

Mac leaned against the closed door. “You don’t have to come along, you know. I can have someone come here and keep you safe.”

“I’m the best tracker.”

“Yes, but not the only one. If you won’t follow my orders now from the house to the SUV, how am I supposed to believe you have any intention of following them once we’re on Eastwick’s trail?”

“Fine,” she said in a tone that said it was anything but.

“Keep it up, Cowgirl. I can correct that attitude for you any time you need me to.”

Realizing he had every intention of leaving her behind if she didn’t toe the line, she answered, “No, I can behave. I told you I would.”

“I know what you told me, but I’m looking at body language that says the chances of you behaving are fairly slim. Keep in mind, it’s a four-hour drive if I have to send you to the safe house. I think riding that far on a freshly spanked behind wouldn’t be a good way to end the day, especially as I wouldn’t be here to alleviate your need. We clear?”

Willa sighed. “Yes, Mac.”

He gave her another quick kiss, drew his gun, and let himself out. Willa watched from behind the bulletproof glass as he made his way around the barnyard and checked under the hood of the SUV as well as its undercarriage. Mac started the vehicle and turned around, so he was close to the front of the house and motioned to Willa.

She trotted out to join him. “What does it say about me that watching you move like that may be one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen you do with your clothes on.”

“It says you’re my woman, and I think you’re pretty damn sexy in or out of your clothes and every stage in between.”

Driving to the rendezvous point, Willa was reminded how much she enjoyed Mac’s company, even doing the simplest things. The difference in the atmosphere between them was far different than it had been when they had made their escape to the safe house. They parked amongst the other SUVs, and as he’d requested, Willa waited for Mac to get out and open the door for her. Before doing so, he retrieved the Kevlar vest from John.

“Put it on over your T-shirt and under your sweater. That way, when it warms up, you can pull off your sweater without taking the vest off,” Mac instructed.

“How come nobody else is wearing a vest?”

“Because I didn’t make them mandatory for anyone else. Put it on, Willa, or I send you to the safe house.” She rolled her eyes again, and Mac stepped close enough to whisper so only she could hear, “One more eye roll, Cowgirl, and I’ll send you home with a freshly paddled backside. Clear?”

She sighed. “I suppose I should be happy you’re letting me help at all.”

“You should,” John said. “I’m not sure I’d let Mandy do it.”

“Of course not,” Willa retorted. “Mandy couldn’t track her way out of the grocery store and would get lost on a racetrack without her navigation unit.”

Mandy’s lack of directional ability was a well-worn joke between John, Mandy, Willa, and Mac and caused the three of them to laugh. Gus helped John distribute horses to the men riding out with them before he mounted one of his own and handed Willa a pair of chaps to go over her leggings.

“Gus? What do you think you’re doing?” Mac asked.

“Willa always rides in chaps, and I’m going with you. The only one of you who can ride almost as well as Willa and keep up with her is you. You’re also the only one who rides well enough to take care of his own mount and a packhorse. Since you and Willa are out, I elected myself as ramrod for this crew.”

Mac thought about it a minute and nodded. “Much obliged, Gus. You’re right, it’ll allow all of us to watch for trouble, and I can focus on Willa.”

And focus he did on Willa as she pulled on the skintight black chaps of his fantasies—it was going to be a long ride. Mac held Gator while Willa mounted.

“I think those,” he said, nodding to her chaps, “ought to come back to the safe house with us.”

Willa blushed and looked down at him. “You, Marshal McDaniel, are pretty single-minded.”

“Yep, out here, all I want to think about is catching Eastwick. Once we’re home or at the safe house, all I want to focus on is you.”

“Would it be unseemly if I kissed you?”

Mac looked at the men with them. They were no fools, and Mac was certain they had quickly figured out their boss was once again keeping company with the fair-and-feisty Willa Reynolds.

“Completely, but what the hell?” He tenderly drew her face down and kissed her deeply.

“All right, you two, break it up. Daylight’s wasting, and we have a bad guy to catch,” John said, grinning from ear to ear.

Willa took the lead on Gator with Mac on her right, riding about midway along her side, John doing the same on her left, and two of Mac’s men forming a close V-formation behind her. It didn’t take long for her to find where Eastwick had dumped the two warmbloods in favor of the more-experienced quarter horses for his trip south. John had informed them, per Gus’ suggestion, one set of baggies full of debris from one of Eastwick’s original mounts had been sent to the lab in Scottsdale. The other set, Gus had with him. Gus pointed out when they took a break, he and Willa could sift through it to see if they could learn anything useful.

“We’re moving kind of fast, aren’t we?” one of Mac’s men asked.

Willa stopped and looked over her shoulder at him.

“No. Eastwick is an idiot. One of the horses he took has a very distinctive horseshoe, which leaves an easily tracked impression. Makes it pretty simple to track.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Reynolds. I wasn’t questioning your ability.”

Willa smiled at him. “I didn’t think you were. I figured I’d reassure you why we could move as quickly as we are.”

“Any idea where he’s heading?” Mac asked.

Willa turned Gator toward the trail and picked up to a slow jog trot that would allow them to move slightly faster than a walk and make faster progress but wouldn’t tire the horses or the riders. She was glad they were all riding her stock, having selected each and every horse, one of her criteria a smooth and easy gait.

“Willa?” Mac asked.

“Oh, sorry. My guess is he’s headed to Nogales. It’s the straightest shot from here. There are two good places near there to safely cross the Rio Grande. Eastwick isn’t much of an outdoorsman, so I’m guessing he’ll use one of those. At our current rate of travel, we have about eighteen hours of riding. I suggest we ride until the heat of the day, take a break, then continue on until after dark. Gus, you brought the lanterns, didn’t you?”

Gus laughed. “Yes, ma’am. And provisions for a cold camp, for eating in the middle of the saddle, and some of your good cooking.”

Willa smiled at the look of confusion on the faces of the men.

“Cold camp, we take a break to sleep but no campfire. My good cooking, we have a campfire, and I fix something for us to eat. Middle of the saddle is just that—something we can eat while on the move.”

“A campfire wouldn’t show during daylight, would it?” Mac asked.

“No. I think I know what you’re thinking, and it’s a good idea. There’s a nice shady spot with a good-sized water hole where we can stop for the heat of the day, let the horses rest, and I can fix everyone something to eat. Then we break camp and ride on from there until we catch Eastwick, or we have to stop because of complete darkness. We’ll be roughing it.”

One of the men directly behind Willa laughed. “I’m awfully glad we brought you along. My girlfriend sent for one of your brochures and wants us to take a trip with you.”

“I promise to feed you a damn sight better on a planned trip than on this little foray into the wilderness.”

They rode at a steady pace for the next six hours, and as the sun hit its zenith in heat production, they arrived at the spot Willa intended. The small canyon was a bit off the path they’d been following but provided cover. Once the group entered the area, Gus threw the packhorse’s lead to Mac, dismounted, and strung up a makeshift gate to close in the canyon.

“This way, we can unsaddle everybody and let them relax, graze, drink water, lie in the sunshine, and take a much-needed break,” she said to the unasked questions. Willa stopped and dismounted, and the others did the same.

“No way,” said one of the men, stepping up to take the packhorse from Mac. “I may not know a lot about horses, but I can set up a cookfire. I think Ms. Reynolds?—”

“Please, call me Willa.”

He tipped his hat. “I think Willa should take a break. She’s been leading us all this time and is going to cook.”

“I agree with Baez.” Mac stepped off Roscoe then helped Willa down. “Go sit under the tree. I’ll unsaddle Gator and make him comfortable, and we’ll set up our temporary camp.”

Willa laughed. “You big strong men do know I do this for a living, right?”

They all nodded, smiled, and continued on with what they were doing.

“Mac?”

“Yes?” He swung the saddle off Gator.

“Is it okay if I roll my eyes at others when they’re being as silly as you?”

She watched as Mac’s men hid their smiles and stifled their laughter.

“As long as all you do is roll your eyes and don’t give them any of your sass, I suppose I can live with that.”

“Oh, heavens, no. I save all my sass for you,” she said sweetly. With that, she cracked through his men’s reserve. She was glad to see them relax and watch their boss, their looks of admiration and envy easy to see.

Having taken care of Roscoe and Gator, Mac sat beside her.

“Thanks, babe. You put them at ease. Sometimes, it’s hard to bring in someone they don’t know, haven’t trained with.”

“I figured. I also figured I’d probably be seeing a lot of these guys, so they may as well get to know me and lighten up.”

Once the campfire was blazing, she and Gus prepared a simple meal that was filling, nutritious, and not too heavy. Willa enjoyed seeing the men tuck in and eat heartily. Each man went out of his way to compliment her, and Taylor went so far as telling Mac he thought she should come along on all their missions.

“Not happening, Taylor. This is a once-in-a-lifetime exception. I don’t like her being in harm’s way.”

“We’ll keep her safe, Mac. You know that.”

Mac smiled. “I do, or best tracker or not, she wouldn’t be out here with us.”

The men put out the campfire after everything was cooked, so the equipment could cool before repacking, and they could ensure the fire was completely out. As the heat of the day abated, they broke camp, resaddled, loaded their gear, and once more, set out on Eastwick’s trail.

They followed the trail of the two stolen horses until after sunset. As it became too dark to ride or track, Mac called the group to a halt, so he and John could make their way around the butte they’d been traveling by to ensure the way was clear.

W illa sat and waited.

“This sucks,” she said emphatically.

“Now you know how the marshal felt when you went out after them mustangs without any kind of back up,” Gus remarked.

“I forgot you were always on his side,” Willa said drolly

“Yes, ma’am, and I’m not ashamed to say I’m damn glad to see he’s returned. I take it the two of you figured out what the rest of us knew—that you were always supposed to be together?”

“Yeah. I guess all it took was a murder, two gunshot wounds, and being locked up in the same house together,” she said, smiling. “I didn’t realize how much I’d missed him until I was with him again. I love him, Gus.”

“He loves you, too, Willa,” John said as he joined them. “He never stopped loving you.”

“Where is he?” she asked anxiously.

“Not to worry. He took Roscoe to the top of the butte to see if he can spot anything with the night-vision binoculars.”

Willa stepped down off Gator, walked to the hoofprints, squatted, and felt the impressions. Without saying a word to anyone, Willa swung up on Gator and loped off. She’d caught the marshals unaware, but two of them and John were hot on her heels within moments.

“Damn it, Willa. Mac told you to stay put,” John said as he caught up to her.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I heard him.” She dismounted and again bent down to check the hoof impressions.

“What are you seeing, Willa?” Baez asked.

“Something’s not right, but I can’t tell without better light. Can one of you go get Gus and have him bring one of the lanterns?”

Taylor loped toward Gus and brought the requested instrument. Willa swapped the lantern for Gator’s reins, then turned on the bright light and held it close to the ground. She swept the lantern back and forth, covering a wider expanse of ground.

“Shit!”

“What?” John rode up beside her, leading Gator.

“Somebody’s been here and brushed away some kind of tracks. I’d have noticed it in the daylight, but they did a decent job trying to erase them. I’m not going to be able to tell what it might have been, how long ago, or whether it was before, after, or during the time Eastwick was here. Shit!”

“Willa? The boss is headed down from the butte. I think we’d best be where he left you. I’ve worked with him since the two of you split up, and he isn’t going to like you taking off like this.”

“Who’s to tell him?” she said sweetly.

“That may work on his guys, but not on me, Willa Reynolds,” John said. “Mount up, and let’s rejoin the rest of the group.”

“You really are a killjoy, Hampton, you know that?”

John chuckled but wisely said nothing. Willa mounted Gator and loped toward the rest of the group as Mac arrived.

“And you have been where?” he asked.

“Checking the track. I think we need to stop for the night. There’s something fishy going on over there, and I won’t be able to tell exactly what until I have daylight. Did you see anything?”

“No, and I had a chance to take a good look. Let’s set up camp close to this butte. That way, we’ll have it at our backs.”

They found a good place to make camp and created a banked fire they could keep mostly hidden with thermal blankets, so it cast its glow on the wall of stone behind them and gave them adequate light and heat.

Willa was busy setting up a double bed for Mac and her to share.

“Am I going to have to separate you two, or do you think you can keep your hands to yourselves?” John teased.

Mac grumbled something inaudible under his breath about getting even.

“Hampton? Do you want to eat something I cooked in the morning or hardtack? ’Cause I can arrange either,” Willa called to John.

John laughed. “Ya know I love ya, Willa.”

“Laugh it up, law dog. I can also make sure a burr finds its way under your saddle blanket.”

“Hey, Mac, a little help here for an old friend?”

“You started it, and you’ve known her as long as I have, so don’t come looking to me to bail your sorry ass out.”

His men and Gus were enjoying the easy banter, and after a long day in the saddle, most were asleep within minutes of bedding down. Willa and Mac cuddled together.

“Not exactly the romantic night under the stars I was planning,” Mac said.

“As long as I’m with you, I’m good.” Willa snuggled closer and drifted her hand down his torso.

“That hand goes lower than my belt, Cowgirl, and you and I are going to have a major disagreement.”

“Can’t we sneak off somewhere to have a quickie?” she whispered.

“God, Willa, don’t start. I’d like nothing better than to have you naked beneath me with your legs wrapped around my waist, my cock buried deep inside you, and you raking my back with your nails. But you’re going to have to settle for… well, nothing until we’re home. Then, Cowgirl, I’ll give you all you want and then some.”

“Promise?” she said dreamily as exhaustion overtook her.

“I do,” he whispered, kissing her forehead.

“You getting some practice in with that phrase, Marshal?” Gus asked.

“No need to practice something that feels as natural as breathing,” he said, settling down to sleep as well.