Jodi Thomas - The Lone Texan

Travis put his arm around the boy. "You don't have to," he said. "I don't know who those men were at the bridge last week trying to take you, but I went all the way to the governor. I've applied to have Drummond here named your and Andy's legal guardian, if you have no objection.^-

Will fought back tears. "That would be all right with me and Andy."

"When you're an adult," Drum said, "if you want, I'll go with you back to where your father is from."

"No. I'll never ask. Andy and me belong here” He leaned his arm on Drum's shoulder. "Mr. Roak will protect us."

"You bet he will.” Travis smiled. "Now you're married, you might as well have a family.”

Drum smiled at Will. "Go get your brother. If we're going to be a family, we might as well start by having breakfast together."

As soon as the boy was far enough away that he couldn't hear them, Drum turned on Travis. "I'm not so sure I like you planning my life for me.”

"Would you turn them away?"

"No," Drum admitted, "but my wife only likes me a few hours a night. What makes you think we'd be a good home for them?"

Travis stood and tossed the coffee. "You're a good man, Roak, and you know what it's like not to have anyone in the world to turn to. They'll be grown and out of the house before Sage and you have enough kids to fill the dinner table.”

He stared at the cup. "And by the way, you sure didn't marry my sister for her cooking skills. That's the worst coffee I've had in years."

Sage had heard enough. She turned to Travis. "I agree with Drum. Stop planning our life for us. What if the carriages and the hired guns come back?"

"They won't. They stayed around town looking for you for a few days, then headed south. I've got two men following them. My trackers sent two messages, saying they're still heading toward the coast.”

"But they might return, and Drum can't promise he'll always be near," Sage said, thinking of what his next assignment might be. "He's a Ranger. You remember what that was like. You were away two years once."

Travis gave up. "All right. You win. I'll take them back to Austin with me.”

"No," Drum said. "They are safer here. If they're my responsibility. I'll make the plans. For the time being, we'll keep them with us at Whispering Mountain, but not in Teagen's house. I'd be more comfortable in the barn. Anytime they leave the ranch, Daniel or I will be riding guard.”

"You can have our place. Rainey's ready to get home to Austin, and I've got work piling up” He thought about it a minute and added, "Come spring, you and Sage might want to build your own place. I checked on that investment you made with that drunken sailor.”

Sage felt lost again. "What investment? You loaned money to a drunk?"

Drum shrugged. "It seemed like a good idea at the time. I had money in the bank I wasn't using, so I signed papers so he could draw on it as needed” Before Sage could question, he asked Travis, "Is there enough money in my account to buy a house in town?"

Travis smiled. "There's enough to buy half the town.” Sage sat down on the blankets and gave up. Too much information, too fast.

Travis kept talking. "Mind my asking why you loaned a man you met in a saloon your savings?"

"I didn't need it." Drum shrugged. "And I saw the dream in his eyes”

Travis nodded as if Drum made sense and walked back toward camp. "See you back at the ranch," he said without turning around.

An hour later, the boys waved good-bye to Sage and Drum as they headed back to the ranch with Travis. They'd made friends in the camp. Will missed little. If trouble came, he knew he could get back to the ranch.

Drum had insisted he and Sage ride into town and spend a night or two at the hotel. He claimed he wasn't ready to face the entire McMurray clan just yet, and Sage needed to check on the clinic.

She had a feeling what he really wanted was a night with her in a real bed. In all the times she'd slept in his arms, they'd never once been in bed.

SAGE AND DRUMMOND CHECKED INTO THE HOTEL and ordered dinner and baths delivered to the room. The desk clerk thought it strange they didn't use the same tub. After all, a tub full of water should be good for half a dozen scrubbings, but for an extra two dollars, he sent two tubs up with hot water for both.

With the food and wine waiting on the table, Sage stripped down and stepped into the tub. Drum did the same, making no pretense to follow her order not to look. He turned, watching her.

"Stop staring at me.” she finally ordered.

"I can't. I spent years dreaming about what you'd look like without clothes and, I got to tell you, you look far better than I could imagine. I'm crazy about the way your-"

"Stop right there”

"Mind if I stare as long as I keep my mouth shut?"

She stepped out of the tub and reached for a towel. "I doubt if I can stop you”

He grinned, noticing she took her time drying off and letting him see slices of her body not completely covered by the towel. "You're so beautiful, Sage. I look forward to spending the rest of my life watching you.”

She stopped and faced him, the towel dangerously low over her breasts. "We're truly married, I guess. I'm even bathing in front of you. Something I thought I'd never do, but I guess married couples make a habit of it”

He grinned, not surprised the idea was just registering. "You've always been my woman, Sage. From the first time I met you. It doesn't matter to me how many times we marry or don't marry; nothing changes that.”

"But we've never talked of the things people plan, like children and where we'll live. There are so many things I don't know about you”

He stepped from the water and wrapped a towel around his waist. "You know I'd die to keep you safe.” He crossed to stand in front of her. "You know you matter to me more than anyone ever has or ever will." He gently wrapped her in his arms. "And no matter how many fights we have, I'll still be dying to do this at the end of the day.”

His mouth closed over hers before she could ask any more questions. Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her up and carried her to the bed. He tugged his towel off before he joined her. "I'm dying to hear those little moans you make.” He shoved her towel down and gripped her breasts with the assurance of a man who knows his advance is welcomed.

When she moaned, he smiled down at her. "Like that” he whispered against her ear as his hand moved over her damp body. "How about we plan tonight and worry about the rest of our lives in the morning?"

She agreed as he moved over her. He kissed her long and deep as his body brushed hers. He smiled when she tried to pull him closer, her body begging for attention.

"All right, honey.” he whispered against her ear as he gripped her thigh and eased her legs open. "I agree, it's time.”

When he entered her, there was no resistance this time, and her body arched to meet his. He moved slowly at first, making sure she was climbing into passion with him. Her body was hot beneath him. When he felt her tighten and begin to shake, he pushed deep inside her and sent her over the edge of all control.

She clung to him, making little sounds of pleasure as he moved above her, then he tumbled out of control also, and they held each other, becoming one completely.

When he could form a thought, he rolled, pulling her against his side. He could feel her heart pounding against his. He pulled the covers over them both, but his hands still stroked her bare body. He'd discovered the round softness of her hips and decided that was now his favorite part of her to touch. His hand moved back to her breast, then her hip. He couldn't make up his mind. They were both wonderful. Maybe if he tasted them, it would help make up his mind.

"Drummond?" she whispered. "What are you thinking?" "Nothing.” He decided being brain dead was preferable to answering.

"Did you know it would be like that?"

"No, but I prayed it would."

She stretched, pushing her breasts against his side. He gripped her leg and pulled it over him, enjoying the feel of her inner thigh against his skin. God, he loved the feel of her, all soft and damp from their lovemaking. About the time he was considering kissing the inside of her thigh, she asked another question.

"Will it always be like that? Can we do it again?"

God bless her, he was crazy about every inch of this woman. "We can, and we will, but I'll need a little rest first." He had to think of something, or she'd be the death of him tonight. "How about we eat before we start again? We've got all night."

She stretched again. He'd never thought of himself being a man who'd die in bed, but the woman was definitely going to be the death of him. Drum smiled. He'd go without a single complaint.

Watching her stand, he almost forgot about the food. She slipped into his shirt. It hung almost to her knees, and she looked adorable. He stood and pulled on his trousers, already thinking about the next time between the sheets while she uncovered the dinner.

He moved behind her and lifted her hair so he could kiss her neck. She sighed and leaned against him.

He felt her shiver and knew this time it was from the cold.

"I'll light the fire” he said, thinking he'd much rather have a fire than have her put on any more clothes.

As he lit the logs, he watched her.

"I love you, Drummond," she said calmly with her back to him.

"Don't say that.” He fought to keep anger from his voice. What they'd just done was nothing like what his mother did for a living. "I don't want to hear it.^-

Sage faced him. She knew he'd never been loved. Maybe he couldn't accept it, but she would. She'd tell him until he understood that she meant the words. "I love you." she said again, direct, without emotion in her voice. More slowly, she repeated, "I love you”