Flint is the hero you dream about. A man of his time, his skills and patience are tested to their fullest to hold on to his DARLIN'
DARLIN’
By
Jewel Adams
Time Travel Sensual Romance
Flint is ready to give the brat fighting him to the Indians as he pushes the lad over the next waterfall. Once rinsed of mud, he discovers the frail boy is one nicely shaped woman. Learning his employer intends to marry off the girl, his Darlin’, with the indentured women, he marries her himself suspecting he has gone from the frying pan and into the fire.
Marrying Allen Flint isn’t as disturbing to Jolene as discovering she is in 1713. Dare she examine her feelings toward the mountain of a man, now a part of her life? Can she survive the wilds of the American Frontier?
When Indians capture Flint, Jolene prays she possesses the strength to save the man she loves from certain death. Time brought her to him, but Jolene realizes only their magic can hold them together, now.
ISBN: 978-1-935048-03-9 1-935048-03-1
Word Count: 47,801
DARLIN’
Prologue
“Alright, which one of you put her up to it?” Jolene glared at her friends.
The denial floated through the car.
Mary Joe leaned forward from the backseat. “Well, I sure didn’t. It wasn’t fair that you monopolized the whole séance, Jolene.”
“Not by choice.” Flicking the auburn wisps back behind her ear, Jolene’s brow creased again recalling the strange evening.
Jean dropped off Lynn and Mary Joe first, before driving back to her house where Jolene left her car.
“Why so quiet, Joe? You don’t really believe all that mumbo jumbo?”
“No, of course not.” But her answer sounded weak. “Why would she say something so off the wall like that?”
“Probably wanted to make an impression on us so we’d send her more business.”
“Yes, you’re right.” But did she have to scare her in the process? What did she say when they were leaving? Beware of what kills in silence.
Rubbing her arms, the goose bumps had little to do with the warm summer night. After saying goodnight to Jean, Jolene tried to forget the unsettling events of the evening. She didn’t believe in such nonsense. So why couldn’t she forget the woman’s words?
Half way home a roll of thunder vibrated through the car. Already upset, Joe scolded herself for going. “I’d be home by now and not out in a summer downpour.”
Just as her words fell silent, huge drops of rain splattered the windshield. She searched for the wiper switch as her foot went to the brake. When the wipers flew across the windshield she felt the tension ease out of her shoulders. She needed to lean forward to see the white line in the middle of the road, nearly missing her mailbox and the turn up the mountain to her home.
“I should have listened to Jean and rented old Teran’s place in town instead of living out here.” Shaking her head she knew she couldn’t give up her grandfather’s cabin. It had always been her home and would remain so. She loved her mountain.
At the sharp curve, she just came about the side when she saw the fallen tree across the road and slammed on the brakes. The car careened into the large tree trunk, throwing her forward over the impact. It took all her strength to bring her head off the steering wheel. She groaned as she raised her hands to hold the vicious throb at her temple. Sitting there Jolene fought off the dizzy sensation folding in on her. She started shaking all over, but only her head held pain, a sharp throbbing assault.
The storm gave no sign of letting up. Living her whole life at the threshold of the Smoky Mountains she knew this was an all nighter. Straining to see past her blurry vision the dashboard finally came into focus, eleven thirty-four. The prospect of sitting in the car all night ended over the ache in her head. She needed to get home. It was only half a mile up the road, a road no one else ever came up.
Jolene tried to get her purse off the floor, but the effort made her winch. She would get it tomorrow. She made sure everything was turned off then pocketed the keys in her jeans, wishing she’d thought to bring an umbrella. The sound of heavy rain hitting the hood in angry pulses, told her it wouldn’t have helped tonight.
Counting to three didn’t give her enough time to build up her courage so she sat there and counted to ten. Jolene pushed the door open against the storm’s wind and the branches that fell around the car.
Fighting her way through the limbs, her blouse became soaked by the time she reached the tree trunk. She didn’t have the strength to pull herself over it. Getting down on her knees she crawled along the fallen tree until she found a gap wide enough to slide under. The road bed turned into mud and she grimaced as she edged under the trunk. Once away from the fallen tree her head hurt so much she just laid there, letting the rain plummet her backside. She wanted to sleep, but the little voice of sanity told her to get up and make it to the cabin.
It took several tries before she came fully to her feet. The mud sucked at her loafers until Jolene wasn’t sure if she still wore them. All around her the storm raged, lightening flashed in ugly jagged scars, but the thunder filled her, its roaring vibration went on, stealing her breath away.
Stumbling, she fell. Lying there she felt the ground shake beneath her. “Oh no, not thunder!”
She frantically looked all around her, feeling the panic rise as the rumbling beneath her body increased. Using every bit of strength at her command, Jolene pushed to her feet to run, but feared she would run into the flash flood. She tried to clear the rivulets of water from her eyes and search the darkness, knowing that at any second, the terror would burst out upon her.
When it came, Jolene’s screams were lost in the rush of mud and water bombarding her. Over and over she rolled, carried by the sheet of moving earth. She felt so odd, almost detached from the fury, as if she couldn’t really feel anything…except her fear, and the deluge became her world, swallowing her up in the terror, until everything crashed down about her in a deafening swirl of darkness.
CHAPTER 1
Wild Ride
“Damn savages.” Using his elbows Flint soundlessly pulled himself into the thick underbrush. Never once did he loose track of the large hunting party skirting the far edge of the meadow. They were headed west with no guarantee they hadn’t already spotted the wagons. Maybe he should turn back and warn them?
Judging the distance to the east between them, Flint decided it made more sense to keep going west to Fort Pratt. He’d just have some unwanted company for a little while. At least he’d know if they were meeting another group and their true intent.
Staying downwind from the Cree, Flint moved to the pace they set, not liking it much that they were headed in exactly his direction. He didn’t like bringing the wagons into the Cherokee Territory riddled with Indian trouble, but that stubborn Scotsman wouldn’t listen to his advice. Flint knew the reason the man wanted to go to the Fort and it still bothered him. Right now he’d like to give Mathew Fergusson a good lashing for ever getting him involved with tracking for the self-serving McKean.
Brushing away his ire over the man, he needed all wits about him at the moment to play this dangerous game of tag, one slip and it could turn deadly.
* * * *
More confused than she ever remember being, Jolene sat heavily on the inviting log. Pulling at her shirt she tried to shake off the dried mud that now turned the white blouse a reddish brown. Curling her lip up over how filthy she felt, she gave up the effort. Being dirty seemed the least of her problems since coming around…this morning?
Gingerly touching the bruise at her forehead, she whispered, “How long was I out?”
It was daylight and because her jeans were still drying, she felt safe in concluding it must only be the next morning. She shuddered, recalling the flash flood.
What she didn’t have any answers for, is exactly where she ended up. “Lost…The obvious is always easy, Jolene.” Repeating her grandfather’s favorite saying didn’t take away the ill feeling that started once her head cleared a bit. There hadn’t been a familiar landmark anywhere. When she failed to locate the car or cabin it became obvious the slide took her a lot farther than she first imagined. She’d roamed these mountains all through her childhood. There wasn’t a nook or cranny within ten miles of the cabin that she didn’t know. So where the frig’ was she?
By her calculations, after deciding to head downhill, she’d gone at least two miles. It would be practically impossible not to stumble across some private dirt road, even a fire break or utility lines, something should have shown up.
Knowing how bad she ached, the thought of moving again made her hold her mud caked head. Touching the muck clinging to her hair made her want to laugh, but the effort would hurt too much. She’d probably scare the first person she came across.
At first Jolene didn’t pay any attention to the low sounds. But when the movement caught her gaze she grew stiff. Never rising off the log, she slowly parted the branches of a mountain laurel and cautiously leaned forward for a better look. “I’m hallucinating.”
Flint’s senses snapped to attention over the sound. What the hell! If the boy hadn’t spoken out, Flint would have moved right past him.
Quickly looking at his other unwanted companions he let his breath out in slow deliberation. They hadn’t heard the kid. Damn fool, the boy should know better living in these parts. By the grubby look of him he wasn’t a greenhorn.
Ready to dismiss the boy and move on, Flint’s heated curse never passed his lips when he realized the boy’s intention. Moving without thinking and the urgency driving him, Flint held only one conviction, when this was over that boy would get a what-for he’d never forget!
Jolene decided they must be Cherokee. It must be some re-enactment or something for the tourists. The thought raised her hopes. At least they could help her get back to civilization. That hit on her head must have muddled her sense of direction. Rising to call them before they disappeared into the woods… “Hey!”
The vicious curse behind the rough hold pulling her to the ground shocked her into silence. The large hand covering her mouth smothered her stunned expletives.
“You stupid little fool!”
Indignation welled up in a furious torrent inside Jolene.
“Come on!”
The man yanked her to her feet, knocking the breath out of her. The violent jerk on her arm dragged her uselessly backwards across the ground. Being forcibly pulled when she already hurt so terribly made her madder than a cat in water! She managed to gain her clumsy footing, but failed to shake off the iron clasp on her wrist. Running and catching up to the thick leather clad legs in front of her, Jolene reached out to claw at the breaking grip his massive fingers kept on her arm. “Let go!”
Growling at the man only made him jerk her up beside him. Nearly lifting her off her feet he hissed at her, “Shut up, before I let them have you!”
The threat came through chillingly clear even in her rattled condition. Pressing her lips tight, Jolene let her fuming rage lend strength into the flight the monster forced her maintain. Crashing through bushes, jumping rocks, unable to see what might come next, she put all her concentration on his powerful legs. Their next movement told her what to prepare for. God, they are so big!
Swallowing back a moan, she realized what kind of man held her, but Jolene didn’t have time to give in to the deserved panic knotting her battered body. Coming to an abrupt halt she plowed into him with the force of their inertia. His vile curses sent her cheeks flaming, but the great strength in his hands stilled her heated retort. Heavens, he could crush her without a thought!
“Get going!”
“What?” Looking where he suddenly pointed, her violet eyes grew two sizes over what she saw. Shaking her head in violent denial made her groan over the pain she caused herself. The open expanse of air before her made her gulp. The sheer slope of stones at her feet made her back into the solid wall of rock-solid muscle.
“Start sliding down!”
Her disbelieving eyes glared at him as she backed away from both threats. Jolene knew exactly where she was, Devil Falls. Nature’s thrill ride down the water slick rocks into the pools below. Maybe some people thought it was fun, but Jolene held little interest in this sick joy ride.
He moved so fast she didn’t have time to react, her squeal filled the air as he pushed her down onto the rocks. Before she could get up, those awesome legs came about her waist locking her in a human vise.
“No way! You are crazy!”
“You’re going to find out just how much so!” When the push came sending them forward to go over the falls, so did his hold on her hair.
Closing her eyes, the ride picked up speed as they rode the smooth curving slopes and skimmed over the rocks. The water carried them on, hitting them like a thousand tiny icicles as it splashed all around them. Roller coasters held nothing on this! The threat of losing her stomach over the sinking ups and downs, kept her jaw clenched and the screams sounding only in her head.
“Hold your breath!”
His warning wasn’t necessary, she’d never let it out.
The shock of dropping into the mountain chilled pool at first stunned her, then adrenaline shot through her veins. Jolene didn’t need any shove to start swimming, she wanted to escape this maniac. The man’s continued hold on her hair made her aim a few well placed kicks at his solid mass beside her.
Flint grunted. The boy kicked him in the gut. Maybe he should have let them have this boy! Why he was fighting mad at Flint made no sense. With a powerful grip, he pulled the boy beneath the water to cool his fire.
Gasping for breath, Jolene clung to the first thing her hands locked onto. “I’ll kill you, you bastard!”
“Now son, I’d save all that anger for them…you’ll need it.”
God, he was actually laughing at her!
“Over you go!” His hand covered her rump to push.
Jolene took all she could of his insolence and lashed out with some strong, lowdown remarks. “…take your vile hands off me.” Grinding out her threat through the wet veil of hair, she didn’t expect his next attack.
Gripping her jaw he forced her head away from him. “You want to stay and face that, so be it.”
She blinked. How could…? Why? The arrow embedded in the log by her head was still quivering from its deadly flight…beware of what kills in silence.
She felt him rise out of the water, then slide over the rock. When his outstretched hand filled her stunned vision Jolene no longer hesitated.
The next slide she took on her stomach, thankful that it wasn’t as long as the first.
Two more times she followed him blindly through the pools and next natural slide, until the last one sent them falling in the rapids of the rushing river.
His powerful hand wrapped tight in her hair was the only thing that kept her from being pulled under the rushing water. How long the terrifying ride in the current lasted she didn’t dare think about, all Jolene knew was she didn’t want to drown. Somewhere, through her fear she admitted this man was the only thing that kept her from doing so.
She didn’t realize they were out of the water until the cold, gritty bank lay beneath her out-stretched body. Taking deep revitalizing breaths, her gaze fell on the enormous feet sprawled beside her.
“Get up boy, they aren’t giving up.”
Pushing up with her elbow she shook her head to clear away the weakness and the crazy thoughts assaulting her. Was this some weird nightmare or was she really hallucinating? Shock sounded reasonable for what she felt.
Lifting the lad up by his shirt Flint set him on his…bare feet! Damn, he’d have to think of something, the boy’s feet wouldn’t last long running over this rock jagged terrain. The boy showed gumption, making Flint question the frailty he felt against his brawn. They were losing their lead on those Cree.
This was one big man. Seeing his full height coming to life before her, Jolene didn’t have the will left to keep her eyes from looking over his glorious build.
Broad as a tree, came unbidden to her thoughts, but lean in tough unyielding strength. She tried to force her gaze away from the flat trim hips and waist. Through the clinging wet leather that molded to his ample frame she sucked in her breath over the display of ripcord muscles. The open vee at his neck said he’d be sleek all over. The unbidden impression made her wondered how big he was…well there.
Nearly groaning when her eyes jumped down to see, she forced herself not to look. Swallowing hard, Jolene tried not to think too much on how he would look naked.
Big, very, very big! She couldn’t believe she was thinking thoughts like this…now! She looked up and followed the powerful line of his neck, “My word!”
Wet and hanging in golden curls, his hair framed the most exquisite male face she’d ever set eyes on. Handsome didn’t come close to the raw sensuality he exhibited. Thank God his attention wasn’t on her, but how she wished she could see the color of his eyes. The straight set of his nose in those high cheek bones and square jaw lent an air of authority to his commanding presence.
“Boy! I said we need to fix you up some shoes for…” But Flint forgot his intent as his eyes raced up the slim frame, coming to an abrupt halt over the white transparent cloth sticking to the very real…womanly breasts!
His jaw worked furiously over the stark evidence of what he’d failed to notice. Rinsed of the mud he blamed for blinding his sight and senses, he saw them now and they were in full awareness! The frail boy was one nicely shaped, if not soaked, woman.
Jolene silently agreed with the heated curse hissing out of the man’s full lips. Her awareness of this handsome and strong man proved just as shocking. His eyes were as blue as a deep lake on a winter day, yes, any other color would not work as nicely. God, she could drown in their heat…Ach!
When his potent lips eased before her Jolene had to shake herself out of her blatant study of him. Seeing exactly where his gaze rested brought her arms up in a decidingly defensive measure, folding them firmly across her chest.
Flint silently groaned. If she realized the effect her action struck against his heightened senses, the way the sweet roundness of her breasts pressed up against the material in such abandon… Snapping his gaze away, his awareness of the present dangers stalking them practically kicked him hard enough to take away his breath. The threat in her stormy gaze did more to cool him than their dunks in the mountain pools. He wasted no more time.
When he pulled his shirt up and over his head, Jolene’s arms dropped and her feet tensed for flight. But when he took out his huge knife and cut away the bottom half of the shirt her curiosity kept her rooted to the spot. Seeing the full rippling evidence of his massive shoulders left her knees shaking. His body reflected copper and bronze, he reeked of pure unadulterated power!
When he lifted her foot she automatically grasped his steeled shoulder to keep from falling.
“The moss will help soften the rocks.”
Captured by the heat infusing her sensitive fingertips, she almost missed his meaning over the makeshift shoes.
As he rose to his full height before her, Jolene almost fell back following his progress. When his hand reached out towards her face her eyes closed in slow apprehension. She snapped her eyes open at the surprising gentle brush of his fingers on the sore bruise on her brow. Biting her lip, she stopped herself from leaning into his strength.
“Will you be able to run?”
Answer him Jolene, before he thinks you are an idiot. “Yes, I think so.”
Nodding at her answer Flint didn’t miss one nuance of her behavior, unfortunately his own reaction to her wasn’t much better. What Flint didn’t like was the ugly darkness at her temple. She hadn’t gotten it during their escape. No, it wouldn’t be that dark yet. It was a wonder she could stand at all. What they still faced ahead of them made every nerve in his body rise in concern. The prospect of failing and what she’d face in those savages’ hands brought on a rage so intense Flint thought he could kill them all bare handed. If need be he’d give it one hell of a try!
CHAPTER 2
Discovery
Grinding her teeth together, Jolene suffered in silence. She kept telling herself not to look away from his legs, knowing it would mean falling again. But, her head wouldn’t stop throbbing and each running step made the pounding more intense.
She wanted to cry out and make him stop, but his last words to her forbade the weakness. As if to confirm their meaning her fingers felt for the large knife he’d stuck into her belt.
“If they get us…use it.” No, she’d not mistaken the cold meaning as his gaze touched her face, she knew exactly what act he wanted her to commit and it made the bile rise and tighten her throat. This couldn’t be happening.
Her denial faded the deeper they ran into the mountains. The grueling distance made it very real. She may have missed a road or a house before, but Jolene finally started to figure out her location. They were headed southwest, even if they somehow managed not to cross it, she felt positive she should see the Blue Ridge parkway. She kept scanning the massive mountains each time they topped another rise…nothing!
Worse, there had been nothing to lend credence to the civilization she knew should be in the hollows and open valleys. Maybe she feared the answers she’d get if she asked the man anything. Because of the threat still following them, neither of them spoke. He used hand signals to tell her when she could rest. Jolene realized each time he left her he went to check and see if they were still being followed. She refused to think what she might do if he didn’t come back. She didn’t even know his name…
Flint heard her slight whimper, cursing the cause. For such a little thing she sure carried around a lot of stamina. She didn’t complain, not once, but Flint could see the pain etched across her face. No longer were her eyes that clear blue violet. They were glassed over to fight the pain she kept silent, leaving them almost gray.
The Cree braves weren’t giving up, damn them. They were being forced further south, no matter how hard he tried to veer back west. When he back-tracked this time, if they were any closer Flint would have to head east and hope he could lose them. It meant leaving her. He didn’t have any choice she couldn’t take anymore of this grueling pace.
He sensed the change in her, turning he grabbed hold of her to keep her from colliding into him. Flint felt her sway before she went limp. He gently lifted her up in his arms and started to search for somewhere to hide her.
Placing her carefully into a group of bushes, he pushed the leaves over her tiny body. Squatting down beside her he surveyed his handiwork, satisfied they’d have to fall over her to find her. He brushed back the reddish wisps of hair from her face. “Now, my Darlin’, stay quiet and they won’t find you.”
He actually held his breath as those thick lashes of gold fluttered open. Flint sucked in his breath over the smile she looked up at him with. “I’ll be back when I’ve led them away, Darlin’. Don’t move or make a sound.”
Jolene liked this strange man, his eyes were so soft. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
“You did good, Darlin’.”
“I’m sorry, my head hurts so.”
Flint’s finger gently caressed the dark bruise. He wished there was time to help her. “I’m going to draw them east.”
Before he could rise, her small fingers grasped his arm and stilled his leave.
“Not east, there is a deep ravine, you’ll be trapped. Go south through the next hollow, it will lead you around the cliffs. There will be a meadow, you can head east through the pass. Half way down is a cave, you really have to look for the entrance. If you find it you could hide there until they pass.” The directions exhausted the last of her strength.
“Don’t go anywhere Darlin’,” he said patting her hand.
She gave him a small hurting laugh. “What’s your name?”
“Flint.” She started drifting off, he barely heard her.
“…like my mountains.”
He forced himself to pull his gaze away from her face as her eyes closed. Covering her with the last of the leaves, Flint worked his way back from where she laid hidden, hiding all evidence of their presence.
Taking off in a run, he made sure he left tracks. He wondered how long they’d follow him before they noticed her absence. Flint didn’t like leaving her, but the alternative meant sure failure. Using the girl’s directions, he moved with confidence through the terrain. He now held speed on his side, but he couldn’t get her out of his mind.
Prologue
“Alright, which one of you put her up to it?” Jolene glared at her friends.
The denial floated through the car.
Mary Joe leaned forward from the backseat. “Well, I sure didn’t. It wasn’t fair that you monopolized the whole séance, Jolene.”
“Not by choice.” Flicking the auburn wisps back behind her ear, Jolene’s brow creased again recalling the strange evening.
Jean dropped off Lynn and Mary Joe first, before driving back to her house where Jolene left her car.
“Why so quiet, Joe? You don’t really believe all that mumbo jumbo?”
“No, of course not.” But her answer sounded weak. “Why would she say something so off the wall like that?”
“Probably wanted to make an impression on us so we’d send her more business.”
“Yes, you’re right.” But did she have to scare her in the process? What did she say when they were leaving? Beware of what kills in silence.
Rubbing her arms, the goose bumps had little to do with the warm summer night. After saying goodnight to Jean, Jolene tried to forget the unsettling events of the evening. She didn’t believe in such nonsense. So why couldn’t she forget the woman’s words?
Half way home a roll of thunder vibrated through the car. Already upset, Joe scolded herself for going. “I’d be home by now and not out in a summer downpour.”
Just as her words fell silent, huge drops of rain splattered the windshield. She searched for the wiper switch as her foot went to the brake. When the wipers flew across the windshield she felt the tension ease out of her shoulders. She needed to lean forward to see the white line in the middle of the road, nearly missing her mailbox and the turn up the mountain to her home.
“I should have listened to Jean and rented old Teran’s place in town instead of living out here.” Shaking her head she knew she couldn’t give up her grandfather’s cabin. It had always been her home and would remain so. She loved her mountain.
At the sharp curve, she just came about the side when she saw the fallen tree across the road and slammed on the brakes. The car careened into the large tree trunk, throwing her forward over the impact. It took all her strength to bring her head off the steering wheel. She groaned as she raised her hands to hold the vicious throb at her temple. Sitting there Jolene fought off the dizzy sensation folding in on her. She started shaking all over, but only her head held pain, a sharp throbbing assault.
The storm gave no sign of letting up. Living her whole life at the threshold of the Smoky Mountains she knew this was an all nighter. Straining to see past her blurry vision the dashboard finally came into focus, eleven thirty-four. The prospect of sitting in the car all night ended over the ache in her head. She needed to get home. It was only half a mile up the road, a road no one else ever came up.
Jolene tried to get her purse off the floor, but the effort made her winch. She would get it tomorrow. She made sure everything was turned off then pocketed the keys in her jeans, wishing she’d thought to bring an umbrella. The sound of heavy rain hitting the hood in angry pulses, told her it wouldn’t have helped tonight.
Counting to three didn’t give her enough time to build up her courage so she sat there and counted to ten. Jolene pushed the door open against the storm’s wind and the branches that fell around the car.
Fighting her way through the limbs, her blouse became soaked by the time she reached the tree trunk. She didn’t have the strength to pull herself over it. Getting down on her knees she crawled along the fallen tree until she found a gap wide enough to slide under. The road bed turned into mud and she grimaced as she edged under the trunk. Once away from the fallen tree her head hurt so much she just laid there, letting the rain plummet her backside. She wanted to sleep, but the little voice of sanity told her to get up and make it to the cabin.
It took several tries before she came fully to her feet. The mud sucked at her loafers until Jolene wasn’t sure if she still wore them. All around her the storm raged, lightening flashed in ugly jagged scars, but the thunder filled her, its roaring vibration went on, stealing her breath away.
Stumbling, she fell. Lying there she felt the ground shake beneath her. “Oh no, not thunder!”
She frantically looked all around her, feeling the panic rise as the rumbling beneath her body increased. Using every bit of strength at her command, Jolene pushed to her feet to run, but feared she would run into the flash flood. She tried to clear the rivulets of water from her eyes and search the darkness, knowing that at any second, the terror would burst out upon her.
When it came, Jolene’s screams were lost in the rush of mud and water bombarding her. Over and over she rolled, carried by the sheet of moving earth. She felt so odd, almost detached from the fury, as if she couldn’t really feel anything…except her fear, and the deluge became her world, swallowing her up in the terror, until everything crashed down about her in a deafening swirl of darkness.
CHAPTER 1
Wild Ride
“Damn savages.” Using his elbows Flint soundlessly pulled himself into the thick underbrush. Never once did he loose track of the large hunting party skirting the far edge of the meadow. They were headed west with no guarantee they hadn’t already spotted the wagons. Maybe he should turn back and warn them?
Judging the distance to the east between them, Flint decided it made more sense to keep going west to Fort Pratt. He’d just have some unwanted company for a little while. At least he’d know if they were meeting another group and their true intent.
Staying downwind from the Cree, Flint moved to the pace they set, not liking it much that they were headed in exactly his direction. He didn’t like bringing the wagons into the Cherokee Territory riddled with Indian trouble, but that stubborn Scotsman wouldn’t listen to his advice. Flint knew the reason the man wanted to go to the Fort and it still bothered him. Right now he’d like to give Mathew Fergusson a good lashing for ever getting him involved with tracking for the self-serving McKean.
Brushing away his ire over the man, he needed all wits about him at the moment to play this dangerous game of tag, one slip and it could turn deadly.
* * * *
More confused than she ever remember being, Jolene sat heavily on the inviting log. Pulling at her shirt she tried to shake off the dried mud that now turned the white blouse a reddish brown. Curling her lip up over how filthy she felt, she gave up the effort. Being dirty seemed the least of her problems since coming around…this morning?
Gingerly touching the bruise at her forehead, she whispered, “How long was I out?”
It was daylight and because her jeans were still drying, she felt safe in concluding it must only be the next morning. She shuddered, recalling the flash flood.
What she didn’t have any answers for, is exactly where she ended up. “Lost…The obvious is always easy, Jolene.” Repeating her grandfather’s favorite saying didn’t take away the ill feeling that started once her head cleared a bit. There hadn’t been a familiar landmark anywhere. When she failed to locate the car or cabin it became obvious the slide took her a lot farther than she first imagined. She’d roamed these mountains all through her childhood. There wasn’t a nook or cranny within ten miles of the cabin that she didn’t know. So where the frig’ was she?
By her calculations, after deciding to head downhill, she’d gone at least two miles. It would be practically impossible not to stumble across some private dirt road, even a fire break or utility lines, something should have shown up.
Knowing how bad she ached, the thought of moving again made her hold her mud caked head. Touching the muck clinging to her hair made her want to laugh, but the effort would hurt too much. She’d probably scare the first person she came across.
At first Jolene didn’t pay any attention to the low sounds. But when the movement caught her gaze she grew stiff. Never rising off the log, she slowly parted the branches of a mountain laurel and cautiously leaned forward for a better look. “I’m hallucinating.”
Flint’s senses snapped to attention over the sound. What the hell! If the boy hadn’t spoken out, Flint would have moved right past him.
Quickly looking at his other unwanted companions he let his breath out in slow deliberation. They hadn’t heard the kid. Damn fool, the boy should know better living in these parts. By the grubby look of him he wasn’t a greenhorn.
Ready to dismiss the boy and move on, Flint’s heated curse never passed his lips when he realized the boy’s intention. Moving without thinking and the urgency driving him, Flint held only one conviction, when this was over that boy would get a what-for he’d never forget!
Jolene decided they must be Cherokee. It must be some re-enactment or something for the tourists. The thought raised her hopes. At least they could help her get back to civilization. That hit on her head must have muddled her sense of direction. Rising to call them before they disappeared into the woods… “Hey!”
The vicious curse behind the rough hold pulling her to the ground shocked her into silence. The large hand covering her mouth smothered her stunned expletives.
“You stupid little fool!”
Indignation welled up in a furious torrent inside Jolene.
“Come on!”
The man yanked her to her feet, knocking the breath out of her. The violent jerk on her arm dragged her uselessly backwards across the ground. Being forcibly pulled when she already hurt so terribly made her madder than a cat in water! She managed to gain her clumsy footing, but failed to shake off the iron clasp on her wrist. Running and catching up to the thick leather clad legs in front of her, Jolene reached out to claw at the breaking grip his massive fingers kept on her arm. “Let go!”
Growling at the man only made him jerk her up beside him. Nearly lifting her off her feet he hissed at her, “Shut up, before I let them have you!”
The threat came through chillingly clear even in her rattled condition. Pressing her lips tight, Jolene let her fuming rage lend strength into the flight the monster forced her maintain. Crashing through bushes, jumping rocks, unable to see what might come next, she put all her concentration on his powerful legs. Their next movement told her what to prepare for. God, they are so big!
Swallowing back a moan, she realized what kind of man held her, but Jolene didn’t have time to give in to the deserved panic knotting her battered body. Coming to an abrupt halt she plowed into him with the force of their inertia. His vile curses sent her cheeks flaming, but the great strength in his hands stilled her heated retort. Heavens, he could crush her without a thought!
“Get going!”
“What?” Looking where he suddenly pointed, her violet eyes grew two sizes over what she saw. Shaking her head in violent denial made her groan over the pain she caused herself. The open expanse of air before her made her gulp. The sheer slope of stones at her feet made her back into the solid wall of rock-solid muscle.
“Start sliding down!”
Her disbelieving eyes glared at him as she backed away from both threats. Jolene knew exactly where she was, Devil Falls. Nature’s thrill ride down the water slick rocks into the pools below. Maybe some people thought it was fun, but Jolene held little interest in this sick joy ride.
He moved so fast she didn’t have time to react, her squeal filled the air as he pushed her down onto the rocks. Before she could get up, those awesome legs came about her waist locking her in a human vise.
“No way! You are crazy!”
“You’re going to find out just how much so!” When the push came sending them forward to go over the falls, so did his hold on her hair.
Closing her eyes, the ride picked up speed as they rode the smooth curving slopes and skimmed over the rocks. The water carried them on, hitting them like a thousand tiny icicles as it splashed all around them. Roller coasters held nothing on this! The threat of losing her stomach over the sinking ups and downs, kept her jaw clenched and the screams sounding only in her head.
“Hold your breath!”
His warning wasn’t necessary, she’d never let it out.
The shock of dropping into the mountain chilled pool at first stunned her, then adrenaline shot through her veins. Jolene didn’t need any shove to start swimming, she wanted to escape this maniac. The man’s continued hold on her hair made her aim a few well placed kicks at his solid mass beside her.
Flint grunted. The boy kicked him in the gut. Maybe he should have let them have this boy! Why he was fighting mad at Flint made no sense. With a powerful grip, he pulled the boy beneath the water to cool his fire.
Gasping for breath, Jolene clung to the first thing her hands locked onto. “I’ll kill you, you bastard!”
“Now son, I’d save all that anger for them…you’ll need it.”
God, he was actually laughing at her!
“Over you go!” His hand covered her rump to push.
Jolene took all she could of his insolence and lashed out with some strong, lowdown remarks. “…take your vile hands off me.” Grinding out her threat through the wet veil of hair, she didn’t expect his next attack.
Gripping her jaw he forced her head away from him. “You want to stay and face that, so be it.”
She blinked. How could…? Why? The arrow embedded in the log by her head was still quivering from its deadly flight…beware of what kills in silence.
She felt him rise out of the water, then slide over the rock. When his outstretched hand filled her stunned vision Jolene no longer hesitated.
The next slide she took on her stomach, thankful that it wasn’t as long as the first.
Two more times she followed him blindly through the pools and next natural slide, until the last one sent them falling in the rapids of the rushing river.
His powerful hand wrapped tight in her hair was the only thing that kept her from being pulled under the rushing water. How long the terrifying ride in the current lasted she didn’t dare think about, all Jolene knew was she didn’t want to drown. Somewhere, through her fear she admitted this man was the only thing that kept her from doing so.
She didn’t realize they were out of the water until the cold, gritty bank lay beneath her out-stretched body. Taking deep revitalizing breaths, her gaze fell on the enormous feet sprawled beside her.
“Get up boy, they aren’t giving up.”
Pushing up with her elbow she shook her head to clear away the weakness and the crazy thoughts assaulting her. Was this some weird nightmare or was she really hallucinating? Shock sounded reasonable for what she felt.
Lifting the lad up by his shirt Flint set him on his…bare feet! Damn, he’d have to think of something, the boy’s feet wouldn’t last long running over this rock jagged terrain. The boy showed gumption, making Flint question the frailty he felt against his brawn. They were losing their lead on those Cree.
This was one big man. Seeing his full height coming to life before her, Jolene didn’t have the will left to keep her eyes from looking over his glorious build.
Broad as a tree, came unbidden to her thoughts, but lean in tough unyielding strength. She tried to force her gaze away from the flat trim hips and waist. Through the clinging wet leather that molded to his ample frame she sucked in her breath over the display of ripcord muscles. The open vee at his neck said he’d be sleek all over. The unbidden impression made her wondered how big he was…well there.
Nearly groaning when her eyes jumped down to see, she forced herself not to look. Swallowing hard, Jolene tried not to think too much on how he would look naked.
Big, very, very big! She couldn’t believe she was thinking thoughts like this…now! She looked up and followed the powerful line of his neck, “My word!”
Wet and hanging in golden curls, his hair framed the most exquisite male face she’d ever set eyes on. Handsome didn’t come close to the raw sensuality he exhibited. Thank God his attention wasn’t on her, but how she wished she could see the color of his eyes. The straight set of his nose in those high cheek bones and square jaw lent an air of authority to his commanding presence.
“Boy! I said we need to fix you up some shoes for…” But Flint forgot his intent as his eyes raced up the slim frame, coming to an abrupt halt over the white transparent cloth sticking to the very real…womanly breasts!
His jaw worked furiously over the stark evidence of what he’d failed to notice. Rinsed of the mud he blamed for blinding his sight and senses, he saw them now and they were in full awareness! The frail boy was one nicely shaped, if not soaked, woman.
Jolene silently agreed with the heated curse hissing out of the man’s full lips. Her awareness of this handsome and strong man proved just as shocking. His eyes were as blue as a deep lake on a winter day, yes, any other color would not work as nicely. God, she could drown in their heat…Ach!
When his potent lips eased before her Jolene had to shake herself out of her blatant study of him. Seeing exactly where his gaze rested brought her arms up in a decidingly defensive measure, folding them firmly across her chest.
Flint silently groaned. If she realized the effect her action struck against his heightened senses, the way the sweet roundness of her breasts pressed up against the material in such abandon… Snapping his gaze away, his awareness of the present dangers stalking them practically kicked him hard enough to take away his breath. The threat in her stormy gaze did more to cool him than their dunks in the mountain pools. He wasted no more time.
When he pulled his shirt up and over his head, Jolene’s arms dropped and her feet tensed for flight. But when he took out his huge knife and cut away the bottom half of the shirt her curiosity kept her rooted to the spot. Seeing the full rippling evidence of his massive shoulders left her knees shaking. His body reflected copper and bronze, he reeked of pure unadulterated power!
When he lifted her foot she automatically grasped his steeled shoulder to keep from falling.
“The moss will help soften the rocks.”
Captured by the heat infusing her sensitive fingertips, she almost missed his meaning over the makeshift shoes.
As he rose to his full height before her, Jolene almost fell back following his progress. When his hand reached out towards her face her eyes closed in slow apprehension. She snapped her eyes open at the surprising gentle brush of his fingers on the sore bruise on her brow. Biting her lip, she stopped herself from leaning into his strength.
“Will you be able to run?”
Answer him Jolene, before he thinks you are an idiot. “Yes, I think so.”
Nodding at her answer Flint didn’t miss one nuance of her behavior, unfortunately his own reaction to her wasn’t much better. What Flint didn’t like was the ugly darkness at her temple. She hadn’t gotten it during their escape. No, it wouldn’t be that dark yet. It was a wonder she could stand at all. What they still faced ahead of them made every nerve in his body rise in concern. The prospect of failing and what she’d face in those savages’ hands brought on a rage so intense Flint thought he could kill them all bare handed. If need be he’d give it one hell of a try!
CHAPTER 2
Discovery
Grinding her teeth together, Jolene suffered in silence. She kept telling herself not to look away from his legs, knowing it would mean falling again. But, her head wouldn’t stop throbbing and each running step made the pounding more intense.
She wanted to cry out and make him stop, but his last words to her forbade the weakness. As if to confirm their meaning her fingers felt for the large knife he’d stuck into her belt.
“If they get us…use it.” No, she’d not mistaken the cold meaning as his gaze touched her face, she knew exactly what act he wanted her to commit and it made the bile rise and tighten her throat. This couldn’t be happening.
Her denial faded the deeper they ran into the mountains. The grueling distance made it very real. She may have missed a road or a house before, but Jolene finally started to figure out her location. They were headed southwest, even if they somehow managed not to cross it, she felt positive she should see the Blue Ridge parkway. She kept scanning the massive mountains each time they topped another rise…nothing!
Worse, there had been nothing to lend credence to the civilization she knew should be in the hollows and open valleys. Maybe she feared the answers she’d get if she asked the man anything. Because of the threat still following them, neither of them spoke. He used hand signals to tell her when she could rest. Jolene realized each time he left her he went to check and see if they were still being followed. She refused to think what she might do if he didn’t come back. She didn’t even know his name…
Flint heard her slight whimper, cursing the cause. For such a little thing she sure carried around a lot of stamina. She didn’t complain, not once, but Flint could see the pain etched across her face. No longer were her eyes that clear blue violet. They were glassed over to fight the pain she kept silent, leaving them almost gray.
The Cree braves weren’t giving up, damn them. They were being forced further south, no matter how hard he tried to veer back west. When he back-tracked this time, if they were any closer Flint would have to head east and hope he could lose them. It meant leaving her. He didn’t have any choice she couldn’t take anymore of this grueling pace.
He sensed the change in her, turning he grabbed hold of her to keep her from colliding into him. Flint felt her sway before she went limp. He gently lifted her up in his arms and started to search for somewhere to hide her.
Placing her carefully into a group of bushes, he pushed the leaves over her tiny body. Squatting down beside her he surveyed his handiwork, satisfied they’d have to fall over her to find her. He brushed back the reddish wisps of hair from her face. “Now, my Darlin’, stay quiet and they won’t find you.”
He actually held his breath as those thick lashes of gold fluttered open. Flint sucked in his breath over the smile she looked up at him with. “I’ll be back when I’ve led them away, Darlin’. Don’t move or make a sound.”
Jolene liked this strange man, his eyes were so soft. “I don’t think you have to worry about that.”
“You did good, Darlin’.”
“I’m sorry, my head hurts so.”
Flint’s finger gently caressed the dark bruise. He wished there was time to help her. “I’m going to draw them east.”
Before he could rise, her small fingers grasped his arm and stilled his leave.
“Not east, there is a deep ravine, you’ll be trapped. Go south through the next hollow, it will lead you around the cliffs. There will be a meadow, you can head east through the pass. Half way down is a cave, you really have to look for the entrance. If you find it you could hide there until they pass.” The directions exhausted the last of her strength.
“Don’t go anywhere Darlin’,” he said patting her hand.
She gave him a small hurting laugh. “What’s your name?”
“Flint.” She started drifting off, he barely heard her.
“…like my mountains.”
He forced himself to pull his gaze away from her face as her eyes closed. Covering her with the last of the leaves, Flint worked his way back from where she laid hidden, hiding all evidence of their presence.
Taking off in a run, he made sure he left tracks. He wondered how long they’d follow him before they noticed her absence. Flint didn’t like leaving her, but the alternative meant sure failure. Using the girl’s directions, he moved with confidence through the terrain. He now held speed on his side, but he couldn’t get her out of his mind.
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