Harvest of Fury by Jeanne Williams

Author:Jeanne Williams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
Published: 2016-02-29T05:00:00+00:00

XVI

She woke to violent hands, a hoarse, enraged voice that panted in Spanish as a hard knee parted her legs, “Have it, then, whore! I need a woman, even you!”

Something rammed painfully at that secret place which had occasionally, when she was riding, brought her an urgent pleasure she hadn’t known how to bring to a finish, which had one time throbbed to delight in a half-waking dream of James. But this was a nightmare. She cried out, writhing: “James!”

The cruel rigidity thrust convulsively deep, then seemed to melt, no longer hurting, laving her torn entrance with a slow, warm seep of juices. Shuddering, he wrenched himself from her, setting his hands on either side of her face as if that would help him see her in the darkness.

“Caterina! Not you—”

“I—I wanted to see you.”

She heard his teeth grit together. “So you lay in my bed and I took you for that town puta who’s been after me every payday!”

She put her arms around him, forgetting her shock and hurt in the joy of touching him, holding him like this. After all, if that was what happened with men and women, it’s what she would have wanted after they were married. She was sure it would be a lot different when he was loving her, kissing and caressing her. But even if it always hurt like that, she could stand it if he’d do the nice things first.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she said. “What could you think, when you found a woman in your bed?”

He sat up, not touching her. “You are a child.”

She sat up, too, stung by his tone. “I’m seventeen. From what you’ve told us of Apaches, I’d probably be a mother now if I were one of them.”

“If you were an Apache girl, you wouldn’t be a child.”

“Ohhh!” She searched her fund of vaqueros’ words for something bad enough to hurl at him. “Cabroncito! Sangrón! Man because the midwife said so—”

Startled laughter burst from him. She hit him as hard as she could. It was like striking rock. Wrist and knuckles smarting, she realized her behavior had confirmed his slighting remark. She wanted to cry, but that would only make things worse. Pride warred with her love for him. Who was he, a half-breed, to attack and mock her? She should get up and walk away now, put him out of her heart. Smile at Jordan or some young officer.

But that would be a lie. Lifting her head, she tried to keep her voice steady. “Maybe I do seem a child to you. But I can learn. I love you, James. Let me be your woman.”

He was silent.

What could she say now? What could she do? A withering thought pierced her. All the time, she’d been sure he loved her. What if he didn’t? What if he cared for her only as an older brother?

She took a long, slow breath. If that were so, she had to leave him in peace, of course, without any more begging.

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