Renegade Wife

chapter Six


“It’s time for bed,” Molly repeated Kane’s words in her head as she made her way up the stairs behind her new husband. With both fear and great anticipation growing, her belly knotted from all the sensations whirling about.

Kane’s kisses nearly destroyed her. She could only imagine how his lovemaking might be. Mama had told her of some things to expect on her wedding night before she passed, her mother practical with her advice, but she hadn’t gone into any detail. Oh, how Molly wished she’d asked for details. She wished she knew exactly what to expect.

And as Molly took each step, glancing up at Kane, she noticed his tall frame, broad shoulders and well-muscled body. She noted his strength and power and recalled the sometimes savage look he’d cast her. She wondered if he’d be kind and gentle with her. She wondered if…

“Senorita—oh, Dios,” Lupe called up from the base of the stairs, “I mean Senora Jackson?”

Molly glanced down to find Lupe’s usual smile a bit worried.

“I will help you make ready, sí?”

“Oh, um—” Molly hesitated, biting her lip and wondering what she meant by making ready.

Kane took Molly’s hand and led her up the last step. “No need for that, Lupe. I’ll take care of Molly now.”

Kane dismissed Lupe as easy as that and suddenly Molly’s heart raced with trepidation. Kane led her into his bedroom and she immediately noted the contrast from her room.

His room held no warmth, no frilly curtains, no niceties to speak of, and his large four-poster bed—well it certainly could intimidate a lesser woman, made of stark dark wood and covered with vivid woven Indian blankets. Molly gulped and told herself she’d be all right. She told herself that she trusted Kane and knew him to be a man of honor. She plied herself with all good notions, hoping her impulsive fears weren’t apparent on her face. “It’s…it’s nice, Kane.”

Kane closed the door behind her, which didn’t help her jittery nerves. She heard the door lock catch, and she whirled around. Kane leaned heavily on the door, his arms folded. “Nervous, Molly?”

“No!” she fibbed, lifting her chin with bravado.

“There’s no need to be.”

Molly nodded with her head lifting up and down like a silly girl bobbing for apples. “I know.”

Kane’s sigh went deep and his breath whooshed out slowly. He moved away from the door and Molly backed up several steps until her legs hit the edge of his bed. “Oh.”

Kane stopped his approach and stood rigid, his lips quirking up slightly with just a hint of a smile. “Come here.”

Molly had never been one to cower or give in to her fears. Her mama had always said she had more bluster than most men she’d known. But Molly wasn’t feeling too daring now. Her heart raced wildly and her very breath stuck in her throat. Yet, she moved forward, meeting Kane’s penetrating gaze. When she finally reached him, she managed a small smile.

Kane chuckled aloud and Molly’s chest heaved with indignation.

Had he been silently laughing at her all this time? Did he not understand how awkward this was for her? Did he not realize that a young woman looked upon her wedding night with a full measure of uneasy anticipation and perplexed curiosity?

“Well?” she said, refraining from tapping her foot like a belabored schoolmarm.

“Turn around,” he commanded.

Molly blinked twice and stared at him, confounded.

“Unless you want to sleep in your wedding gown?”

Kane lifted one dark brow and his silver-gray eyes held firm, the blessed amusement from a moment ago gone now.

Molly whirled around, the swooshing of her dress the only sound in the quiet, dimly lit room.

With her back to him now, she felt Kane come closer, crushing the lace of her gown against his thighs. Then he parted her hair, his fingers nimble and gentle on her neck as he moved the tresses aside. His soft touch created tingles way down to her toes.

“You remind me of a little bird I used to watch as a boy,” he whispered. “The small creature had courage, coming right up to us, snatching corn and food scraps from right under our noses.”

“Do I?” she asked, finding comfort in the notion. She didn’t think Kane meant her injury, but rather paid her a small compliment. All too soon, the ease she experienced disappeared as a button was released, then another and another. Cool air struck her back, and the intimacy of Kane’s actions finally dawned on her. Her husband was undressing her.

A tremble skittered through her body.

“Don’t be frightened, Molly,” Kane said as he finished unbuttoning her gown. His breath warmed her back, bared to him now. And when he touched her skin, his palms stroking her and parting the material, Molly’s insides quaked with awareness. She was alert to everything now with vivid clarity, Kane’s hands on her shoulders, his breath caressing her throat, his body pressed against hers. She felt every single sensation, apart from each other, singled out and so clear in her mind.

And all of her fear vanished. “I’m not frightened anymore, Kane.”

“That’s good. You’ll find no reason to be.”

Kane kissed her throat once, a soft sweet kiss that lingered on her skin. Gently, he turned her around and Molly had a dickens of a time, keeping the dress from falling down around her. With a hand, she held tight the material, keeping some semblance of dignity, though there was no hope for her shoulders. The dress had slipped down enough to expose her entire neckline and then some.

Kane’s silver-gray gaze scorched her, taking a sweeping glance of her body, before looking into her eyes. And just when she thought she’d die from wanting his kiss, he took a step back, then another, leaving her there in the middle of the room, nearly unclothed and alone.

“I won’t touch you tonight, Molly. Or any other night. You have nothing to fear from me.”

Molly stood frozen, too stunned to speak. She repeated his words in her head, trying to fully comprehend.

“I’ll leave you now, to change into whatever it is you wear at night.”

“Kane?” Molly came out of her stupor long enough to pose a question, but then, words failed her. She couldn’t ask, but perhaps her expression had spoken silently to him after all, because he answered her.

“It’s for the best, Molly. You’ll be pure when we part. You can sleep in peace.”

On her wedding night, her husband reminded her of their eventual parting, the fact that they shared no future. The injustice of this whole arrangement struck like a slap to the face. Molly had entered into a false contract first with Bennett and now with Kane. And all she had truly wanted was a real marriage with someone she could hope to love. She wanted a family with her brother by her side. But Molly had been deceived and now, she, too, was a deceiver.

“And what of your peace, Kane?” Molly blurted, her mouth spurting out the exact sentiment she intended with no pretense.

Kane swept another glance over her body, the heat of his gaze enough to singe a block of ice. “I know something of sacrifice, Molly. You can’t live as a Cheyenne and not. I will not break my vow.”

Molly closed her eyes as anger surged forth. She gripped her bodice tight and headed for the door. “Then there’s no call for me to share this room with you. I shall sleep in my own room.”

She reached for the door just as Kane’s hand came out to stop her. He held her wrist firmly, his face red with tightly controlled anger. “You will sleep in here, with me.”

Molly struggled with his hold and only when he decided to let go, did she finally pull free.

“I don’t want to.”

Kane chuckled, a wry deprecating sound to Molly’s ears. “I don’t want to, either. We made a bargain, Molly. And that old man out there needs to believe that this marriage is real. We’ve gone too far to change our minds now. We will act as a married couple and that means sleeping in this room together.”

Molly turned to glance at the bed.

“It’s a big enough bed,” he said. “And don’t forget tomorrow we’ll be sharing a wagon and days alone together. You might as well get used to it.”

Molly put her head down. Quietly, she admitted, “I wanted a husband, a family.”

“One day, you’ll have the husband you deserve—and a family. But for now, we have our bargain.”

Molly nodded, realizing that Kane was right. Maybe someday she would have all that she wanted. But her husband made it painfully clear, he would not be sharing those sentiments. For now, Molly would focus on finding her brother. The idea of being reunited with Charlie renewed her fledging faith. “Yes, we have our bargain,” she agreed.

“Then, get to bed, Little Bird,” Kane said, soothingly. “We have a big day ahead.”

Kane woke before dawn, his eyes opening slowly as a songbird just outside the window chirped a morning greeting. But he was met with another greeting as well, one not so welcome as a melodic bird. No, this Little Bird had nestled up against him during the night, or perhaps he had been the one to seek her out in his sleep. Regardless, Kane found himself caught up in a tangle of sheets with Molly pressed to his side, her soft womanly curves and the sweet scent of female creating havoc with his body. His manhood erect, his body tight, Kane released himself from the sheets and moved aside.

He’d spoken to Molly of sacrifice last night, and his vow to leave her pure and untouched. He fully intended to keep that promise, but he also surmised that waking up next to her pliant, giving body each day would prove a true test to his willpower.

Molly was all woman, young and petite and perhaps naive of the world, but he couldn’t deny her femininity. He would be a fool to deny the physical attributes the woman held or the pronounced effect her kisses had on him.

She gave with all she had, and Kane figured that would be the case in everything Molly did. He figured she would never allow only a fraction of herself, so when their lips met, he felt the generous giving she offered and knew instinctively the exact moment when Molly’s innocent body would have been his for the taking.

“And what of your peace, Kane?” she had asked last night.

Kane now knew he would find little peace in her bed, waking and sleeping and nestling close with his new bride. Yet what choice did he have? To keep up the ruse of marriage, Kane had to act as a new groom, if only to keep one old man happy until he passed on.

Molly turned in her sleep to face him, a restful expression on her face. And even through her chaste white cotton nightgown, Kane found her womanly form enough to cause more havoc to his body. He ached to touch her and weigh the soft-firm breasts in his hands, to mold and caress them and kiss the tips until they grew pebble hard. The Cheyenne taught him that once a man touches a woman’s breasts, he considered her to belong to him. It was not something a woman allowed without the benefit of marriage, for if she did, she would lose her reputation within the tribe.

Kane had already saved Molly’s reputation. He’d married her but she would never belong to him. He’d known love once and for him, that was enough.

Molly made a little sound, a sigh of contentment as she sought warmth, wiggling her body closer. Kane backed away from Molly, so much so that he rolled right off the bed.

“Damn,” he muttered, angry with himself as he thudded onto the floor. But his anger didn’t stem from the clumsy move but rather from the fear he had of his new bride. As an adult, Kane had feared little. Gray Wolf had been a strong warrior and a man revered in the tribe even though he had white man’s blood. Surely, one Little Bird could not cause him this much grief.

Kane rose from the floor and cast Molly one last glance before donning his clothes and heading outside. He had to ready the wagon for their “honeymoon.”

Soon they would begin their long journey.

Together.

Alone.

The thought brought him no measure of comfort.

Morning sun warmed Molly’s cheeks, and she squinted slightly as she looked upon Bennett Jackson. Standing by the barn beside the wagon loaded down with supplies, she hugged the ailing man goodbye and kissed his cheek. “I hope to return soon and God willing, with my brother.”

Even though he’d deceived her, she hadn’t a harsh thought for him. Somehow, in just the time she’d known him, Bennett had wedged himself into her heart. Her Irish temper being what it was, Molly didn’t quite understand her full acceptance of the man’s deeds, except to say that after having a dealing or two with Kane herself, she could understand Bennett undertaking the deception. Her newly acquired groom had a strong will and a stubborn streak. In that, she didn’t believe the blood kin differed much. Bennett simply had had more experience in being sly. He was a man who got what he wanted in life.

But it was knowing the ill man now, seeing the light go out of his eyes at times, noting how his skin paled and his body grew weak that caused Molly a moment of hesitation.

What if Bennett needed Kane in the weeks to come? What if his health took a rapid decline? Molly bit down on her lip and fretted.

Bennett glanced at her with a frown. “Molly, did my grandson do something to upset you again? Did you have a bad night of it?”

Bennett shot a quick look at Kane, who, at the moment, was hitching the horses to the wagon.

Molly gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “Oh, no. Nothing like that, Bennett… I mean, Grandfather.” Burning heat rushed to her face. “I mean to say, I wasn’t thinking of Kane at all.”

Bennett shot Kane another glance, narrowing his eyes this time. Kane continued his task, paying his grandfather no mind. “A new bride doesn’t have a thought for her groom? What should I make of that?”

Perhaps Molly would have had Kane in her thoughts this morning, if she’d had a true wedding night. But she couldn’t admit to Kane’s grandfather that she was untouched and as pure as the day she’d been born. But she could tell Bennett another truth. “I’m worried about you,” Molly admitted. “You look pale today and fatigued.”

Bennett patted Molly’s hand. “I’ll be just fine, Molly, dear. You just concentrate on your husband from now on. No need to worry over me.”

Kane came around to stand beside her. “We’ll be back in a few weeks’ time. Toby will oversee the ranch while I’m gone. I trust you’ll keep out of trouble, while we’re away?” Kane asked pointedly.

“Me?” Bennett appeared surprised. “You have a very colorful imagination, boy.”

Kane removed his hat and scratched his head, right behind the ear. “Do I? I guess it wasn’t you who sent out letters on my behalf? It wasn’t you who contracted me a wife? It wasn’t you who—”

“Kane,” Molly interjected, placing her hand on his arm, stopping his quiet tirade. Bennett wasn’t up to doing battle today.

Kane glanced down at Molly’s hand as anger lit his eyes.

Molly smiled up at him, hoping to ease some of his frustration. “It’s done.”

Bennett grinned then and suddenly he appeared twenty years younger and healthy again. “She’s right, boy. What’s done is done. Now, you both have a safe trip and don’t go worrying after me. I’ll be here when you get back.”

Kane stared at his grandfather, but slowly those hard steely eyes softened, and he nodded. “You make sure that you are.”

There was no denying the love and admiration Kane had for his grandfather even though there was no overt display.

“And Molly, I’ll send someone to post wires with your brother’s name and description, just like I promised,” Bennett said. “I should have news when you get back home.”

“Thank you.”

Molly took one last long look at Bennett before Kane helped her up onto the wagon bench. She smiled and waved, just as Lupe had come outside to stand beside Bennett.

“Vaya con Dios,” Lupe called out.

“I’ll see you soon,” she said, waving as the wagon lurched forward, making its way out of the gate and off Jackson property.

Kane tossed a straw hat her way. “Better put that on. We’ll be on the road most of the day.”

Molly glanced at the weather-beaten hat and smiled, yanking it on her head and tying the string under her chin. Kane, too, wore a hat, the leather nearly matching the color of his buckskin pants. He appeared part Cheyenne and part rancher, and Molly realized that perhaps the man she married belonged in two worlds, yet really didn’t quite belong to either. “Where’s our first stop?”

Kane slid her a sideways glance. She could barely see his eyes from underneath the hat he wore so low on his forehead. “Somewhere between here and Odessa. One thing you’ll find, Texas is bigger than you imagined. Most towns are spread out, separated by ranches or nothing but cactus and dust. We won’t make a town today.”

“We won’t?” Disappointment settled quickly and Molly fought the urge to cry. She’d been so eager to make her inquiries about Charlie, that she hadn’t given thought to the route that they would take. She’d left that up to Kane.

“No, but tomorrow we’ll hit two or three towns. I plan to make a complete circle around the Bar J. When we return we should have a pretty good idea about your brother. Unless we get lucky and find him straight away.”

Molly couldn’t help but smile. “I hope we get lucky, Kane.”

He shook his head. “Then you married the wrong man. My luck ran out years ago.”

Molly sighed silently, not believing Kane for one minute. Whether he knew it or not, Kane had been lucky. An unscrupulous sheriff had almost unjustly hanged him but as luck would have it, Bennett had rescued him in time. He’d brought Kane back to his childhood home, shown him love and offered him a legacy that many would envy.

Molly settled her backside onto the seat and decided to make the best of today’s journey. Glancing at Kane’s stony face, she knew she’d not have much conversation today, so she decided to take in the scenery and lose herself in her own thoughts.

This was just the first of many days to come on the road. With trepidation she surmised that west Texas was as big as it was unsettled. She’d never seen so much flat land in her life. She only hoped that somewhere out there, in a distant town or settlement, she’d find her brother. It was that hope, sent up by way of prayer to the Almighty, that had brought Molly west. She wouldn’t think what she would do if Charlie was not to be found.

So she closed her eyes against the vile Texas sun and prayed once again.

Molly stretched, pulling her arms up high, her head falling back and her hair flowing in soft waves down past her shoulders. As she stood by the firelight with dusk settling on the horizon, Kane witnessed a smile of relief cross her features. He figured she’d be sore from a day of travel in the wagon, but if she ached terribly, she hadn’t yet complained.

Kane admired her gumption—she was a determined woman who knew something of suffering in her young life. But as she stood before him stretching and sighing, all he could see was the soft feminine woman he married, the small fire-haired woman who had come into his life like a wild wind. Watching her twist and sway reminded him of a young bay mare just coming into her own, fully unaware of her graceful innocent beauty.

Kane glanced at the two blankets he’d laid out, wishing he’d set them farther apart. “Lupe sent along a meal for tonight. Fried chicken and biscuits. And something sweet, too.”

Molly’s green eyes rounded with delight. She rubbed her stomach and smiled. “I’m just about famished.”

“Sit down on the blanket. You’ll be filling your belly soon enough.”

Molly walked over to him. “Let me help.”

Kane shook his head. “Not tonight. If you’re not sore now, you will be tomorrow. Get some rest, Molly.”

“But shouldn’t a wife do the cooking?”

“A wife should obey her husband.” Kane said the words without thought, and then realized he’d said those words a hundred times before to his first wife, his real wife, Little Swan. She’d been as spirited as Molly and he’d had to remind her over and over that her main duty as a wife was to listen to her husband.

Kane’s gut clenched at the reminder, seeing Little Swan in his mind, bending over him, her body brushing his, her dark oval eyes gleaming as they lay by the fire in their tipi. “I will obey my husband tonight,” she’d say with a coy smile and Kane’s heart would soar. He would gaze at his wife with love and devotion and promise to protect her with his own life.

But Kane had failed her. He hadn’t protected her.

And she’d died as a result.

He would never forget, or forgive himself.

“Is that the Cheyenne way?” Molly asked quietly.

“It’s the way it must be,” he said harshly. “You will obey me, Molly. Or I’ll turn the wagon around and head home right now. There are dangers on the road and dangers in the towns and you must listen to me at all times. I need your promise.”

Molly stared at him and for one moment, Kane thought that he had rendered her speechless. Her eyes searched his and finally she nodded. “I promise.”

He nodded back.

His heart had grown hard and cold over the years. He had no room for Molly and her young innocent ways. Yes, he would protect her with his life, for Kane couldn’t have another woman’s death on his conscience, but he would not open his heart to her. That part of him had been closed off forever.

He watched as Molly sank down on her blanket. Kane set about heating the meal Lupe had prepared. Tonight they would eat and turn in early.

And Kane prayed he would not relive the nightmare of finding Little Swan’s body in his dreams tonight.

Molly tossed her fourth chicken bone on her plate, licking the grease off her fingers. She’d never eaten better chicken. “Lupe sure knows how to fix up a good meal. What did she put on this chicken, anyway?”

Kane shrugged, sitting on the blanket beside her, finishing off his meal. “Don’t know exactly. But I’d guess she’s got some jalapenos ground in, somewhere. Those chile peppers will cure what ails you.”

Molly groaned as a quick jolt buckled in her stomach. “Oh,” she said, too embarrassed to admit she’d eaten far too much of the spicy food. Her stomach grumbled and she squirmed on her blanket, clutching the edges with both hands.

Kane grinned, a rare gesture, one that exposed his perfect mouth and strong teeth. “Lupe’s food will do that to you.” He reached over to pick up her plate. “Give it a minute for your belly to figure it all out.”

Molly managed a sickly smile. “Coffee might help.”

Kane nodded. “It’s heating up.”

Molly lied down on the blanket, holding her stomach, mortified that she’d eaten so heartily in front of her husband. What must he think of her? “I never eat like that.”

Kane swept a leisurely glance over her body. “I wouldn’t think so, Little Bird.”

Molly saw no mockery on his face, heard no ridicule in his tone. She assumed he meant if she had taken to eating like that every day, she’d be the size of the Bar J by now. At least his fierce temperament from earlier today, when he’d asked for her promise to obey him, had simmered some. She had so many questions for him, and she’d spent the best part of the day in silence. She didn’t think she could possibly remain quiet the rest of the evening.

“Kane?”

“Mmmm?”

“After your grandfather found you and brought you home, what did he tell you of your mother and father.”

Kane turned away for a moment, keeping busy with the coffeepot. She watched him pour the hot liquid into two tin mugs. He reached over to hand one to her then sat down on the blanket facing her.

Molly sat up to receive the mug. “Thank you.”

Kane sipped his coffee.

Molly sipped hers. The heat and rich flavor helped ease the grumblings in her stomach as she waited patiently for his answer.

“My father was asked to meet with the kidnappers outside of town, at an old feed shack miles away with a valise full of money. He never returned home and no one really knew what happened to him. They searched for days, but he was never found. My mother pined away for my father for years, hoping that he would return with her son. And after a time, she took ill. Grandfather thinks he was right in never telling her that months after my father left to meet with the kidnappers, his body was found, murdered. He didn’t think she could take both losses in her frail state—the loss of her only child and the loss of her husband. Grandfather tends to take matters into his own hands. To the world, it’s still a mystery, but Bennett and I know the truth. For years my grandfather sheltered my mother, hoping that one day he would find me and bring some joy back into her life. But my mother had given up on me and had given in to her frailty.”

“Seems to me, your mother might have been better off if she’d been told the truth. I think I’d want to know the truth.”

“Grandfather does what he sees fit. At the time, he did what he thought best. He protected my mother from the truth.”

Molly thought on that for a time, but she didn’t agree with what Bennett had done. Kane’s mother had had a right to know that her husband hadn’t run off with the money as was rumored. She had a right to know that her husband’s body had been found, but that her son’s hadn’t. She might have held on to the hope that somewhere out there her little boy, her son Kane, was still alive. “Sometimes the truth is less painful than the not knowing.”

Kane sipped from his cup, eyeing her over the rim of his mug. “I guess one could argue that with my grandfather. But there’s no point now. What’s done is done.”

Molly began, “If Charlie is… I mean to say if we don’t find him and later on…oh, dear, I can’t even think it, much less speak the words.” Molly’s heart clenched, her nerves raw with pain. She couldn’t think of anything bad happening to Charlie. He was all she had left and she loved him dearly.

“You have my word. I’ll tell you the truth.”

“Thank you,” she managed, her voice tight. She believed him. For all of Kane’s unpredictable and mulish ways, Molly held firm that she married an honorable man. He would not lie to her. “But I can’t think about that. Charlie’s alive, having himself a grand old time somewhere and when I get a hold of him, he’s gonna get a big piece of my mind, for worrying me so.”

“He’s a man now, Molly. He doesn’t answer to you.”

“He’s family, Kane. A young boy who doesn’t even know that his mama is gone.”

Molly finished her coffee then stood abruptly, nearly losing her balance from the stiffness in her legs. “I need to… I need to have some privacy.”

Kane glanced around the deserted area surrounding the camp he’d set up. Night had fallen, only the stars above shedding a hint of light outside the fire circle he’d built. He set down his coffee mug and stood. “I’ll take you…for your privacy.”

Molly shook her head, as her eyes grew wide with Kane’s comment. “I need privacy…from you,” she said, more than slightly dismayed.

Kane’s face took on a stubborn set, his jaw tightening. “No, you’ll not walk away from camp without me.”

Molly fumed, her dignity at stake. She didn’t understand Kane’s behavior. Surely, she couldn’t be in any danger, out in the middle of nowhere, with the stars overhead to guide her steps.

“Fine.” She began walking quickly away, anger simmering on the edge. She didn’t know how on earth she managed to marry such an obstinate mule of a man. And to make matters worse, her body ached as though she’d rolled down a steep cliff. Goodness, every muscle seemed unhappy, crying out with tender pain. But she marched on determined to keep her pride intact.

“Oh!” Her boot tangled with something and she lost her balance. She tumbled head first, her legs too weak to keep her upright. Molly fell right smack onto the unforgiving ground, her cheek grazing something sharp. She rolled to the side and glanced at the large broken wagon wheel she’d tripped on, as warm blood began to seep from her face. She reached up to touch her cheek. Sticky crimson liquid oozed through her fingers, rolling down onto her chin. The potent, pungent smell of her own blood frightened her.

In an instant, Kane was by her side, lifting her up, his touch as gentle as a summer breeze. He held her in his arms carefully, studying her face, then began to carry her back to camp. “I’m bleeding all over you,” she said lamely.

“You cut your cheek, but it’s just a scrape. You were lucky, Molly McGuire. You might have lost more than a slice of skin off your pretty face.”

The thought did not soothe her. She realized he was right. She’d fallen face first onto a splintered wagon wheel, and the gash could very well have taken half her face. She shuddered and Kane brought her closer into his arms, as if he had understood her fear. “It’s Molly Jackson,” she said softly.

Kane’s gaze shifted down to meet her eyes and Molly caught a glimmer of the man beneath the hard exterior. For one instance, she witnessed concern and sympathy and perhaps even compassion in those silver-gray eyes.

“For now.”

The moment was lost. Kane had once again reminded her of their temporary marriage. In her heart, she knew he thought her less a wife and more a burden. She would always be Molly McGuire to him.

When they reached their camp, Kane set Molly down on the blanket, then walked over to the wagon to retrieve some items. When he returned, he knelt down next to her.

“Does it look terrible?” Molly asked, suddenly fearful that maybe she had done permanent damage to her face.

“It’ll heal just fine. But you hit your cheek hard. I expect tomorrow you’ll have a dark bruise.”

He took out a clean bandana, one she’d worn once already around her ripped skirt the day she’d met him, moistened it with water from his canteen, then cautioned her. “Hold still, this might sting.”

Molly braced herself, but Kane’s touch was gentle as he cleaned up her bloodied face. He dabbed at her cut, the slash as long as her little finger, she calculated. “You have a soft touch, Kane.”

His eyes met with hers again and lingered a moment. Molly’s breath caught in her throat having Kane so near. She noticed the breadth and length of his dark lashes, the vivid silvery hue of his eyes and the deep, dark intensity of his gaze.

And once again, Molly braced herself, but not from the sting of her injury. This time she braced herself against the rapid thudding of her heart, the heat that burned through her body and the warm feelings she was developing for her husband. She’d never had these feelings before, couldn’t quite name them. But she knew by sheer womanly instinct, that she’d be more than a fool to succumb to those feelings.

Kane reached for a pouch he’d brought over from the wagon and opened the leather thong. “It’s Cheyenne medicine, Molly. It’ll help you heal.”

Molly didn’t flinch when Kane applied the salve to her cut, not even when she took a good strong whiff of the medicine. “What’s in it?” she asked.

“Roots, herbs, sumac and…”

When Kane hesitated, Molly’s curiosity peaked. “And?”

“It’s best you don’t know.”

“I want to know.”

“That’s because you’re a curious little bird. But you have to sleep with the salve on your face. Are you sure you want to know?”

She nodded.

“Animal scrapings, bear grease and—”

“Thank you,” Molly interrupted, deciding she really didn’t want to know. “Smells like a pack of wild dogs.” Then Molly’s eyes widened and she lifted her brows in question.

Kane shook his head.

Relieved, Molly figured she could live with the foul-smelling salve for one night. Besides, it wasn’t as though she were on a real honeymoon with a man who might want to kiss her or anything.

“Still in need of…?” Kane asked.

Molly nodded.

Kane stood and offered her his hand.

Without hesitating, Molly accepted his hand and together they walked off, away from the firelight, into the darkness.