Train from Marietta by Dorothy Garlock

Author:Dorothy Garlock [GARLOCK, DOROTHY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC027000
ISBN: 9780446549257
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2008-11-16T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

THE STORM GREW IN ITS INTENSITY; the rain fell in sheets, lightning flashed down from dark clouds, and thunder rolled. At one loud thunderclap followed by forked lightning, Kate jumped to her feet. Tate stepped back to shield her from the splatters of raindrops. Kate had never seen such a display. It was both thrilling and scary. Without being aware of it, she clutched Tate’s arm.

“Don’t be scared. This is a pretty ordinary storm for this part of the country.”

Another dazzling bolt of lightning flared, followed by a clap of thunder that sounded as if the very sky above was being ripped from end to end. The air was filled with a sul-furous stench. Their horse whinnied. Tate and Luke moved as far back as they could go under the overhang and sank down onto the ground, their backs to the storm. Tate pulled Kate down between his outstretched legs and then pulled a blanket up and around them, until only their heads could be seen. Luke produced a blanket of his own and rolled up in it. A flash of lightning revealed low, massive thunder-heads above the mesa’s black rim.

“Are you afraid, Katherine?” Tate’s lips were close to her ear.

A quiver of pure pleasure went through her as he spoke her name. She had never felt so wildly happy in her life. It wasn’t for fear of the storm that she trembled.

“No. I’m not afraid.” She turned her head and whispered against his cheek. “Tate?” She could feel his breath on her face and smelled the faint scent of tobacco. “Would you think I was crazy if I said I think the storm is exciting?”

“Is that why you’re trembling?” His voice was a soft purr in her ear, and she felt the vibrations when he chuckled. Being so close to him set her heart thundering, and little shivers ran down her back.

“You know it isn’t.” She laughed softly and brought her hand out from under the blanket to push the hair back from her eyes.

The arm around her tightened, and she snuggled contentedly against him.

“Then what is it?” The voice in her ear was lazily teasing, but beneath it was a hint of gentle possessiveness. She couldn’t stop the happy laughter that brimmed up in her throat. It was all so new, this wonderful intimacy: being free to tease him and touch him. She caught his hands with hers and held them. She was alive, soaring, her entire existence focused on him and exulting at being held close in his arms. She filled her lungs with the scent of him.

Oh blessed storm! Please go on forever!

Wrapped in her own special enchantment, Kate was scarcely aware of anything except the man who turned his back to the storm and put his arms around her, sheltering her. Rain was sliding off the overhang in a solid sheet. She reached around Tate to make sure his back was covered.

“Are you getting wet?”

“Not much.” Tate was silent after the whispered words. He wanted to tell her that she was nothing like he first thought she was.

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