Dixie Moon Read online

  “All right. Now lift one leg into the tub. I’ll support you.” Lena’s expression transitioned into one of supreme concentration as she braced herself for his weight. To the surprise of them both, he climbed into the tub with little effort. “Excellent. Now sit down. I don’t want to leave until you’re in the water.”

  He glared at her, his grip tightening on the towel.

  “Fine. Take the towel into the water with you. I’ll get another one.” Although she respected his right to privacy, the extreme amount of modesty he showed surprised her.

  He nodded, accepting her help as he lowered himself, letting out a sigh at how good the warm water felt, even though it only came up to within a couple inches of the stitches above his abdomen.

  Lena turned her back to him. “Do you need my help?”

  “No. I can do it.” He pulled the soaked towel from around him and held it in the air. “Here.”

  Not turning around, she glanced over her shoulder, then grabbed the dripping cloth. “I’ll get a dry one while you wash. Call me when you’re ready to get out.”

  Gabe thought he might never be ready to leave the warm water. Soaking the small washrag with water, he let it sluice over his shoulders and back, careful to keep as much moisture as possible away from the wound. Doc had told him it looked good, but the external appearance could be deceiving. He needed the injury to heal inside, which was where he felt most of the pain, a deep, almost burning sensation that turned into a dull, throbbing ache. Each time he moved, he felt as if he might be tearing skin, even though Doc had told him it was all part of the healing process.

  He finished washing, then leaned back in the water and closed his eyes. Lena’s soft humming drifted through the crack in the door and he found himself following the melody. It sounded like a lullaby his mother used to sing, but he couldn’t place it. The thought caused him to wonder if she’d ever thought of leaving the saloon business behind, marrying, and having children. A picture of her pregnant, hands rubbing her belly, flashed through his mind. Then, before he could stop it, another image of her lying naked on his bed with a contented grin took hold. A groan escaped his lips as the fantasy became more distinct and his body hardened.

  Gabe thought he had a difficult time keeping her from his thoughts before the shooting. She now occupied his mind most of each day, an occurrence he’d never encountered with any other woman. Most days, all he wanted was to reach out and draw her to him, discover if her full lips and soft curves felt as good as they did in his dreams.

  He let the image play out as he continued to soak in the now tepid water. In his daydream, she reached her hand toward him, beckoning him to join her on the soft bed, then reached both arms above her head, stretching leisurely. The visions produced another low growl, causing him to clench his hands to stifle the desire scorching through his body.

  “Gabe?”

  So caught up in his own yearning, he almost missed her soft voice.

  “Gabe, are you ready to get out?” He could hear the door creak open, soft footsteps moving toward him.

  Clearing his throat, he leaned forward, resting his arms across his bent knees. “Yes,” he rasped, trying to clear his mind, but he found her presence only made it worse. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the towel she held out to him. Determined not to ask for help, he set the towel aside and placed his hands on each side of the tub, using them to leverage himself up. Noah had built the tub for him. Although heavier than most, it also provided a more rigid frame.

  Using his arms, he pushed himself up, clenching his jaw at the sharp pain. A part of him welcomed the discomfort because it took his mind off the woman standing next to him. He muttered a curse as he felt his legs weaken, then her hand wrapped around his arm to steady him. She stood at his back, doing her best to keep her eyes level and not let them drift to the uncovered lower part of his body.

  “Are you all right?” Her voice sounded unsteady and thick, and she wondered if she should be asking herself the same question.

  When he nodded, she bent down to retrieve the towel. “Here.”

  He secured it around his waist and a firm arm circled his back.

  “Let’s get you out of the cold water.”

  The next few steps came easier. Within a few paces, he found himself at the edge of the bed. Feeling her arm around him, he closed his eyes tight, attempting to push away the temptation to pull her onto the bed and wrap his body around hers.

  When he turned to face her, desire roared to life, more intense than any of the images he’d created. Her arm dropped from his waist, but she didn’t take a step away. Reaching out his hand, he stroked his knuckles down her cheek, watching her lips part and hearing her sharp intake of breath. Her eyes flared as he moved his hand to her nape, drawing her to him, lowering his mouth to hers. A soft brush of his lips against hers felt like setting a burning torch to dry timber. The spark turned to a roaring blaze as his mouth captured hers, his arms tightening around her.

  Forgetting his injury, he moved his hands to her face, holding her in place, his tongue tracing the outline of her lips, then delving inside. A sigh escaped her as she clung to him, pulling him closer.

  “Lena, are you in here?” Nick’s voice broke the spell. They jumped apart at the same time, Gabe mumbling an oath, and lowering himself to the bed, pulling the covers over his legs. “Are you in with Gabe?”

  Taking a deep breath, she took a step backward, and turned toward the tub. “Yes. You can come in. In fact, I could use your help,” she said.

  He pushed the door open and took in the scene, not noticing the flushed look on either face as he spotted the washtub. “I’ll get a bucket and start emptying it.” He disappeared into the other room, leaving Lena and Gabe to look anywhere except at each other.

  When Nick returned, he went right to work, filling the bucket and tossing the contents out the back door. “I thought I’d sit with Gabe a while, let you take some time off.”

  Her senses still reeling and her body pulsing, she flashed a look at Gabe, then turned toward Nick. “Yes. I need to stop at the millinery and general store.” Without another word, she walked into the front area, picked up her reticule, and walked into the fading mid-afternoon sun.

  ~~~~~

  Chapter Five

  “Can I help you?” Al, the bartender at the Wild Rose, looked at the stranger across the bar. It had been a slow Saturday afternoon and he’d begun to wonder if everyone had gone to the Dixie.

  “A whiskey, if you please.”

  The moment he heard the words, Al knew who stood across from him. They’d been waiting for the owner of the gold claim to make his way into Splendor. Tall and lean, he fit the description provided by the miners who frequented the Rose.

  Setting the whiskey down, Al rested both hands on the bar. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Al. You must be new to Splendor.”

  “William Randolph Carlyle. I’ve only been into town once to file my claim.” He tipped the glass toward Al, then took a sip, gazing around the saloon. Most tables were empty, still waiting for the onslaught of Saturday night cowhands. “It appears I’m too early for a game of cards.”

  “I expect they’ll be crowding in before long. Saturday nights are the busiest.”

  The words were barely out of Al’s mouth when the swinging doors slammed open and several men from the Pelletier ranch walked in, taking seats at two tables.

  “Hey, Al. Can we get a round of drinks here?” Bull Mason glanced around, not seeing either of the usual girls who served the men. “Where are Belle and Dinah?”

  “They’ll be down in a bit.” Al grabbed a bottle and glasses, setting them on a tray as Belle walked down the stairs and scooped it from the bar.

  “Evening, Bull.” Since she had arrived in town, Belle had tried several times to get Bull upstairs. Although always polite, he’d never taken her up on it. She’d finally given up.

  “Belle. You’re looking lovely, as usual.” Accepting the bottle, he filled his glass, th
en passed the bottle around.

  “You have any coffee back there, Belle?” Travis Dixon, another of the Pelletier top hands, rarely came to town with the others. Like Bull, he never accepted offers from any of the girls, preferring to relax and joke with the men.

  “I’ll get you some, Travis. You know, we have a new girl. She came in on the stage from Big Pine a few days ago. Amos hired her right off before she had a chance to see the Dixie.” The Wild Rose had opened when Splendor first became a town, having no competition until Nick and Lena opened the Dixie. They now vied for customers and saloon girls.

  “What’s her name?” Bull asked, taking a sip of whiskey.

  “Dolly.”

  Bull choked on his drink, hoping it wasn’t the same woman Gabe visited whenever he went to Big Pine. It would make things mighty interesting if it were, especially now with Lena looking after him.

  “You all right?” Travis slapped him on the back.

  “Fine,” he coughed again. “Just wondering if it might be the same girl I met in a saloon there a while back.”

  “Could be. I understand she’s been in Big Pine for quite a spell.” At the sound of footsteps on the stairs, Belle glanced over her shoulder. “Here she comes now.”

  Bull shifted enough to see her. Sure enough, it was the same woman.

  “Good evening, gentlemen. I’m Dolly.” Her gaze traveled from one man to the next until it landed on Bull. “I do believe we’ve met before.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Bull Mason.”

  “I remember now. You’re a friend of Sheriff Evans’. Will he be in tonight?”

  “He’s a little laid up. Got shot a few days ago and has some mending to do.”

  “Nothing serious, I hope.” Her face lost all humor. She liked Gabe, enjoyed their conversations when he visited her in Big Pine. She knew nothing would ever come of it, but she still cared about him.

  “Could’ve been, but the doc took good care of him.” Bull picked up his cards, attempting to end the conversation.

  “Well, I’ll have to stop by and give him my regards. Let me know if you boys need anything.”

  “How does she know Gabe?” Travis asked as he studied his cards, throwing down two.

  “Don’t know for certain,” he lied, not wanting to mess in his friend’s business. “I’m out.” He tossed down his cards. “I believe I’ll see how Gabe is doing.” Nodding at Dolly, he left through the back, heading straight for the house behind the jail.

  “Didn’t he ride into town last night to check on him?” one of the ranch hands asked.

  “Yep.” Travis placed his cards on the table and scooped up his winnings, having a pretty good idea why Bull wanted to check on Gabe again.

  Carlyle watched as first one barmaid, then another spoke with the men at one table. He’d been looking for the right game to join, deciding to take the empty chair vacated by the tall, broad-shouldered man.

  “Gentlemen, I see you have an open spot. May I join you?”

  The men glanced at each other, shrugging.

  “Suit yourself.” Travis scanned the expensive clothing, noting the revolvers resting on each hip as he sat down. “You just get into town?”

  “Yes and no. I came into town on business earlier in the week. This trip is for pleasure.” His mouth curved into a vague smile as he picked up his cards.

  “Well, I hope you find good fortune.”

  “I have no doubt I will.”

  “Dolly? In Splendor?” Noah chuckled at the news. He’d taken over for Lena an hour before and now waited for Abby to bring their supper over from Suzanne’s.

  “Yep. I thought Gabe would want to know before he walked into the Rose and saw her,” Bull said.

  “Or before she shows up here at Gabe’s place.” Noah had met her the same way Bull had. On a trip with Gabe to the territorial capital. Attractive and congenial, without the heavy makeup worn by most soiled doves, he could see Gabe’s attraction and willingness to travel a day’s journey to keep his life private.

  “Think he’ll visit her at the Rose?”

  “Doubtful. Of course, that doesn’t mean he won’t be friendly toward her.”

  “Who are you talking about, Noah?” Abby walked in carrying the food Suzanne prepared. “Hello, Bull. Will you join us for supper? We have plenty.”

  He’d already eaten, but the thought of Suzanne’s cooking had his mouth watering. “Don’t mind if I do, Abby. I’ll grab plates.”

  Abby set the food on the small dining table and glanced at Noah. “How’s he feeling?”

  “I feel fine.” Gabe’s voice had them turning toward the bedroom door where he clung to the wall, steadying himself.

  “What are you doing out of bed?” Abby reprimanded. “You’re going to tear those stitches and start bleeding. Noah, Bull…help Gabe back to bed.”

  “No. I’m tired of lying in there day and night. I need to move around.” His eyes lit up at the sight of the food. “Smells good.” He released his grip on the wall as Noah stepped to his side.

  “Stubborn fool. You could’ve called me to help.”

  He looked at Noah, his eyes narrowing, his voice low. “I have to do this.”

  Noah nodded, knowing he’d feel the same if the situation were reversed.

  The four crowded around the small table, filling their plates and eating in silence. After a while, Gabe sat back to rest.

  “How has it been going with Lena?” Abby thought it sweet of her to volunteer to help.

  “Fine.”

  She grinned at his short response. “Has the doc told you how much longer until you can go back to work?”

  “Too long. Maybe one more week, although I told him I’m fine now.”

  No one responded to his ridiculous assertion. They all knew he’d never be able to do his job properly when he couldn’t even make it out of the bedroom without pain.

  “Is Lena fine with staying until you’re healed?” Abby asked.

  “That’s what she said, even though I told her I didn’t want her to come back.”

  “What? You didn’t say such a thing, did you?” Abby’s wide eyes signaled her shock at his apparent lack of tact, a trait she had always admired in him.

  Gabe shifted in the seat, trying to relieve the discomfort he felt at sitting in a hard chair. “I did. She doesn’t belong here and I don’t need her help. Lena’s a saloon girl, not a nurse.” He grimaced at the harsh way he’d treated her during her time helping him, then hid a grin when he remembered her uninhibited response when he took her in his arms.

  Abby pushed up from the table, hands resting on her hips. “That’s the most ridiculous comment I’ve ever heard you make. Besides, she isn’t a saloon girl. She runs the business with Nick. There’s a big difference.” Grabbing the empty plates, she strode the short distance to the sink, mumbling to herself.

  Bull leaned toward Gabe, lowering his voice. “There may be someone else who can come by and help.”

  “That so?” Gabe’s brows drew together as he waited to hear who Bull had in mind.

  “Dolly’s working at the Rose now. Came in on the stage this week.”

  Gabe’s expression changed at the mention of the saloon girl he’d visited for well over a year. Although he knew other lawmen who didn’t care how the town perceived their personal lives, he’d been careful to keep his activities in Big Pine private, preferring not to give the few local gossips reason to talk.

  “What’s your point?”

  Bull stared at him as if he’d gone daft, his voice lowering to a whisper. “No reason for Lena to come by each day when Dolly would be willing to do the same.”

  “It’s not a bad idea,” Noah added, watching as Abby glanced over her shoulder at them.

  “You may be right.” Gabe both dreaded and looked forward to the hours Lena spent with him. It would be more enjoyable if she came by choice, not out of a sense of obligation. Bull and Noah were right. It would be best to let her get on with her own activities. Besides, it would onl
y be for a few more days. “Bull, do you mind asking Dolly if she can come by tomorrow for a spell?”

  “I’ll do it now, before I ride back to the ranch. What about Lena?”

  “Leave that to me. She won’t have any problem with it.” At least that’s what Gabe told himself.

  “Of course I understand, Gabe. I’ll just wait around until he gets here so I can let him know what Doc told me.” Lena worked to control the disappointment at not having this to look forward to each day. After his churlish behavior the day after he’d kissed her, she knew this might happen. For what must have been the hundredth time, he mentioned he no longer needed her help, but she’d ignored it. Now, as a dull ache grew in the area of her heart, she knew he’d been serious.

  Before their kiss, they’d settled into a comfortable routine, their bickering giving way to a friendly truce. He’d even told her a few stories of growing up in New York with Noah, while she’d been careful to offer little about herself. She’d gone to sleep each night anxious to see him again the following morning. It now became obvious he didn’t feel the same.

  He grimaced, knowing he’d left out the fact the replacement would be a woman. “I’ll explain everything, Lena. You don’t need to stay.”

  “But I’d like to. He may have questions you won’t be able to answer. Besides, I’d like to meet him.”

  “Trust me, you won’t need to explain anything. I have it handled. I don’t want to keep you from your work any longer.” Gabe cringed at the thought of Lena meeting Dolly. Although they shared the same profession and he admired them both, he felt a strong sense of unease at Lena meeting the woman he’d shared time with over the last year. He knew Dolly wouldn’t bring it up in front of her, but Lena was a bright woman. She’d quickly figure it out.

  “You know Nick doesn’t need me until evenings, so you’re not keeping me from my work. I have…” Her voice trailed off at the light tapping on the door. “That must be him now.” She walked out of the bedroom toward the front door, plastering a smile on her face before grabbing the knob and pulling it open. The sight nearly knocked her backwards. “May I help you?”