Radclyffe - Homestead

“Even after tonight?”

“I like being with you.” Ella stopped by Tess’s front porch, put the SUV in park, and turned to Tess. “We don’t have to make it about anything more than that, right now.”

“Are you sure?”

Ella lifted Tess’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Very sure.”

“Thank you.”

“Like I said, some things can just be that simple.”

Tess wasn’t so sure, but her heart was weary and bruised, and she let herself be persuaded by the certainty in Ella’s voice and the warmth of her touch. She leaned across the space between them and kissed Ella lightly on the cheek. “I hope you’re right. Good night, Ella.”

Ella cupped her chin, brushed a thumb along her jaw. “Good night, Tess.”

* * *

Clay watched the lights of the SUV disappear around the corner. Tess was gone. For the briefest of moments with Tess in her arms, she’d shed all the lies and pretenses—she’d felt herself come alive, known the truth of herself again. Tess had always called to the best of her, and without her, she’d been little more than a chess piece on a board game of her father’s design. She’d willingly played along, and why not? She had nothing else. Only Tess had ever seen the deepest part of her.

Clay walked back into the tavern and up to the bar. Kelly appeared at her side, sipping a club soda.

“Staying for a while?” Kelly asked.

“I’m taking the Jeep out to the job site,” Clay said to her. “I’ll drop you at the motel.”

“I’ll come with you,” Kelly said amiably. “The TV reception in the motel room is so bad I was forced to try the pay channels last night, and the selections were, well, interesting.”

Clay didn’t want company. She wanted to break something. She needed to get the taste of Tess, sweet and tempting, out of her blood.

“What will you have?” The bartender, a redhead in a tight white T-shirt proclaiming Dairy Maids Are Fresher in bright pink letters, swiped the wood bar top in front of Clay and gave her a friendly once-over.

Clay noted her nipples created intriguing little bumps beneath the thin cotton and looked away. “A shot of Jameson, please. Make it a double.”

“Beer chaser?”

“Why not.” When the drink came she downed it in two swallows. The burn helped smother the acid eating away at her stomach, but Tess’s taste was still on her tongue, clover and rain. Her hands trembled, and the need rose up so hard and fast she wanted to throw back her head and howl. She chugged half the mug of beer and stared at the empty shot glass, considering another. Alcohol had never helped quench the fire that was Tess, but on rare occasions it had brought her forgetting. She tightened her fist around the glass.

“If it makes a difference,” Kelly said after a second, “I’ll be driving.”

Clay pushed the glass away. “I don’t want to forget.”

“Sorry?”

“Never mind.” Clay left a twenty on the bar and walked outside. The moon had risen—full and bright. The parking lot was lit up as if it were noon. Slivers of dark clouds slashed across the face of the moon as she watched, and were just as quickly gone.

Kelly walked up beside her. “Good night for a hayride.”

“Ever been?”

“No,” Kelly said, “but up here, it seems like something I ought to try.”

“Don’t take your clothes off. Hay itches like hell and you can never seem to find every last piece.”

“Is that the voice of experience?”

“Once,” Clay said softly. “Once I kissed a girl under a moon just like this in her daddy’s hayloft.” She looked at Kelly, who was staring at her intently. “Best kiss of my life.”

“Moon’s still up there,” Kelly said, her voice so gentle Clay hardly recognized it. “And I bet the loft and the girl are too.”

Clay shook her head. “No, not anymore.”

“Why don’t I take you home.”

“Just drive me to the site.”

Kelly didn’t argue and didn’t try to make conversation. Clay looked for Ella to pass them on the one road out of town, returning from Tess’s, but the SUV never appeared. Ella must still be at Tess’s. Clay focused on the lights marking the entrance to the NorthAm camp up ahead and not the pictures her mind wanted to paint of Ella and Tess.

The site was dark and quiet, the only lights those marking the turnoff to the access road through the woods. Until they were up and running, they only had a skeleton crew on-site at night, and most of them were either out or already asleep in the bunkhouses at the far end of the compound.

“I’ll get the gate.” Clay jumped out when Kelly slowed and pulled her key ring off her belt to unlock the heavy chain securing the twelve-foot-wide gate. When she got closer, she saw the length of chain dangling freely. The security lock lay in the dirt at her feet. Tensing, she scanned the woods on either side of her. Nothing moved. Here the moonlight was fractured by the tall evergreens, and shadows danced like wraiths. Someone could be standing ten feet away and she wouldn’t see them.

Clay backed up to the Jeep. “Someone’s cut the lock. Call Ella. Tell her to check the equipment at Tess’s.”

“You want her to come over here if it’s all clear?”

“No. Tell her to stay with Tess.” Clay pulled a flashlight from the rack behind the seat.

Kelly cut the engine. “Should I roust the locals?”

“No. I want to check out the place first.”

“Clay—”

Clay headed back toward the gate and the road that disappeared into the dark. “Take care of Tess first. I’ll be fine.”

Too agitated to contemplate sleep after Ella drove off, Tess walked down to the pasture behind the barn to check the horses. They didn’t need checking, but she needed company. If she went inside now, she’d start thinking about Clay. And the kiss. She really didn’t want to think about the kiss. The last person she’d kissed had been a teacher she’d met at the county fair in the arts and crafts building. They’d started talking about the dioramas Beth’s fifth graders had made and how creative the kids were, making cornfields out of toothpicks and pastures from little bits of indoor-outdoor carpet. The dinner date that followed had been pleasant. The good-night kiss was pleasant too. Warm and tender and safe.

Clay’s kiss had been anything but tender and safe. Clay’s kiss was volcanic—a rush of molten desire immolating her down to the bone. Thinking about the low rough growl that had escaped Clay’s throat when Clay had pressed her to the tree made her hot and wet again, right now. Her thighs trembled, and a terrible urgency pulsed deep inside. She wanted Clay inside her right this minute. Not someone safe, not someone gentle and tender. Not anyone but Clay.

“God,” Tess murmured, leaning against the wide metal pasture gate. Would she ever be free? Would she ever want to be? The answers had to be yes or she would lose her mind. She couldn’t fight her heart and her body too.

“Hey, guys,” she whispered, wishing she could ride away into the moonlit fields and emerge in a world where love made sense and promises were never broken.

The big gelding ambled over, followed by the others. She only kept four, two fat minis who weren’t good for much of anything except a smile, and two mustangs she rode whenever she had the chance. The horses stayed long enough for a quick scratch and to confirm she had no treats for them before wandering away to graze in the stubbly grass, tails flicking at flies, graceful, muscular bodies ethereal in the moonlight. One of the barn cats twined around her legs, and she leaned over to pet him. The air lay close on her bare arms, still warm, even going on midnight. Overhead, the moon raced through a blue-black sky, bright and mocking in its perfect solitude.

The sound of an engine rumbling grew louder, and she turned, frowning. No one came out this late at night unless there was a problem. She hurried back toward the house as the familiar SUV pulled up by the porch again. Ella got out, closed the door, and started toward her.

“Did you forget something?” Tess called.

“I’d like you to go in the house, Tess.” Ella’s tone was flat and impersonal, steely with command. Not quite an order, but not a request.

Tess didn’t move. “What’s wrong?”

“Possibly nothing.” Ella walked around to the rear of the SUV, leaned in, and came out with a large flashlight. “I’m going up on the hill to look around. It would just be best if you waited inside.”

“Why?”

“Someone’s broken into the job site. Clay wants to be sure everything is all right over here.”

“Broken in?” Dread coiled in Tess’s stomach. “Where’s Clay?”

“She’s at the site.”

“Alone?”

“Kelly’s there. She just called me.” Ella flicked on the light, shone it around the yard and barn. A skunk skittered away into the underbrush by the pasture. Otherwise they were alone.

“Shouldn’t you go over there? Why would anyone be interested in my place?”

“If it’s industrial sabotage, they may be trying to destroy the equipment here. I’ll be back as soon as I check things out.”

Tess shook her head. “We should go over to Hansen’s. Clay might need your help.”

“She wants you to stay here.”

Tess nearly choked on her anger. “I’m sorry. Clay wants me to stay here? I don’t answer to Clay. She’s not in charge of my life.”

“No, but I answer to her, and she’s right.” Ella took Tess’s arm but didn’t try to move her. “There’s no point in you being in danger.”

“Oh, but it’s all right if she is?” Tess had trouble keeping her voice down. The horses whinnied softly and shuffled closer. She took a breath and shook off the image of Clay in the road, nearly killed. Panic would not help anyone, but fear clawed at her throat. “Should I remind you that she’s barely recovered from the last time someone tried to kill her?”