Outlaw Valley Wolf (Silver Fox Ranch Book 2) Page 14

  An unspoken truce fell upon the group, and they followed Itsá towards the coyote band.

  ~*~

  Steam coiled up from the cup of hot tea that sat on the table as Charlotte chopped away at her hair with a pair of sewing scissors. Brown clumps of hair covered the floor. The length now fell to the center of her shoulders, and she couldn’t have been happier. Charlotte braided it up quickly and pinned it atop her head. She finished up before going to enjoy her breakfast. Being back on the ranch was nice after camping out on the ridge, but there was so much that had changed...Charlotte had changed, and she no longer knew if she was welcome.

  A knock on the door startled Charlotte from her thoughts. She grabbed her revolver and approached the door with cautious steps. “I know you’re in there. We need to talk,” Beth shouted from the other side. Charlotte smothered a smile and holstered the gun at her hip before allowing Beth and the others entrance. “Good morning to you too, ladies. What can I do for you?”

  “We’ve got a problem.”

  “Well, I’m sorry to inform you that we have several problems at the moment,” Charlotte chuckled. Beth was a good friend—if not a little heavy-handed at times. She was a woman who knew her mind and made no apologies for it. “What is it, anyway?”

  Mary Ann shuffled awkwardly beside the wardrobe. “I’m with child.”

  “How?” was the first thing that popped out of her mouth.

  Beth threw her head back and laughed. “We hear what goes on in this room, Charlotte. You know exactly how it happened.”

  Charlotte blushed with embarrassment. “You know what I mean, Beth.”

  Mary Ann took a seat at the table and glanced out the window. “Sam and I have been friends for a long time. I don’t want nothin’ to change that. Boone...he’s like family, you know? But Sam is different. He sees me for who I am, and I ain’t tryin’ to mess up what we’ve got goin’ on. I just don’t know what to do is all.”

  Abigail sat upon the edge of the bed. “You don’t have to do anything if you do not want to. What you must decide now is if you would like to keep the child. It will be a difficult decision, and I’m sure you would like time to think about it, but we are here for you.”

  The weight of Mary Ann’s situation sat heavily on all of their shoulders. Charlotte was both envious and worried about her friend. She would give anything to be pregnant with Wesley’s son or daughter, but fate would have it that they were destined to fight an immortal battle against dark spirits and their minions. Beth touched her arm. “What is it, Charlotte?”

  “You all know what I am, but you also know me. I suppose I am wondering where I fit in now. Abigail has a touch of instinct for what is right and what is wrong, but I’m different. None of you are like me...I’m dangerous, and I have hurt people.”

  “So have I,” Beth replied. “I’ve taken lives, Charlotte. I’m not proud of it, but I’m just as tainted as you are in that regard. But we’re all in this together. We were united for a reason, and I think we should stay united when we face these troubled times.”

  Abigail’s face gave something away, and Charlotte pressed her hand to her friend’s middle. “You’re pregnant as well!” she shrieked. Abigail hopped off of the bed and stood beside the door. Charlotte went after her. “Have you told Boone?”

  “Yes, he knows.”

  “Boone knows?” Mary Ann asked. “Then why did he fight with Sam about my child?”

  The look of shock in Abigail’s expression was followed by anger. Charlotte and Beth gave chase as Abigail stormed out of the room. She threw open the door to the study and saw her husband standing over his desk with a frown.

  Charlotte went to grab her friend but stopped herself as Abigail’s palm cracked over Boone’s left cheek. “How dare you? I told you to fix things with your brother, and yet you chose to berate him for the very thing you yourself are guilty of!” She then whirled around and looked at Sam, who was frozen with a stricken expression. “Did he tell you that I am pregnant as well?”

  “What?” Sam tackled Boone into the bookshelf.

  Charlotte and Beth forced Abigail out of the study and out of harm’s way. The men began to shift, but Wesley stood in front of them to block their view. “They need to work through this. You should go before it gets out of hand,” he suggested.

  Beth ducked under his arm, and Charlotte followed. They put themselves in the middle of the fight. Sam came just a hair's breadth from hitting Charlotte, but he stopped short. “Get out of my way!” the red-eyed shifter roared. Charlotte did just the opposite. She grabbed Sam and forced her vision into his mind…

  A swell of power roiled towards a sky streaked with amber clouds.

  Wesley called her name, but Sam stood before him with a sword of flame clutched in his hand. The red-eyed wolf shifter was pulled halfway into his wolf form, black veins covering his body. Charlotte came to stand beside Sam and placed her hand upon his shoulder. He handed her the sword. Charlotte tilted her head back and screamed towards the heavens as the power continued to build. The windows of the ranch house shattered.

  Her eyes opened, and she looked up at the sky.

  Millions of stars appeared and night eclipsed day.

  The sun and the moon had eclipsed into a red glow as blood began to rain from the sky.

  “Charlotte!” Wesley roared.

  She smiled as she drove the sword through his belly. His eyes were darkened with betrayal, and Charlotte pressed a kiss to his forehead. “I love you.”

  Through the puddles of blackening blood, hundreds of eyes peered out of a swirling portal. Charlotte kicked Wesley off of her blade and looked to where the others waited. The Wendigo Spirit stood at the center. Boone and Sam stood to his right as Abigail and Mary Ann stood at his left. The ground was littered with the bodies of those who had defied him.

  The realm had fallen through the cracks.

  Creatures of nightmares crawled up from the ground as the world burned asunder. Humans ran screaming while others were torn to pieces.

  “This is what will become of us if you do not control yourself,” she whispered and then fell unconscious as blood trickled from her nose.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Wesley returned to the study and waved off the looks of concern. Sam held a handkerchief to his nose as blood continued to pour in a steady stream. He was tired of the rift between them. Luckily, Itsá arrived with Ace just in time to provide a distraction. The coyote shifter eyed Wesley. “You stink of witch,” the other man snickered. “Is it true what they say? Do they all scream when you’re buried deep inside—”

  The next words were cut off by a brutal punch that caused Wesley’s knuckles to ache. “That witch you speak of is my wife, Ace. Better remember that before I tear your heart out with my teeth.” He shook off Itsá and Gabriel’s hold after they forced him away from Ace. “Besides, I still owe you one after you stabbed me in the chest.”

  “That what this is about?”

  “No,” Boone answered. “This is about what we found at the bandit outpost near Boulder.”

  Ace stiffened. “What about it?”

  “I found coyote tracks in the area, and you’re the only band in this region. Every single last one of them was killed, and their bodies were left behind. That ain’t your usual way, Ace.” Wesley stood toe to toe with the coyote. “What happened?”

  “Not long after we hear of a witch in these parts, our den is raided by outlaws. They weren’t there to steal our money or anythin’ like that. I’m a gunslinger by trade, so I was expectin’ somebody to find us eventually, but not like this. Our women and children were taken. The men who died in the fight? Their bodies were dragged into wagons and hauled off somewhere.”

  Sam let out a drawn-out whistle. “How did you track them?”

  “They leave behind a residue that’s easy to pick up once you know what you’re lookin’ for.” Ace grabbed a rag from his back pocket and tossed it to Wesley, who caught it in one hand.

  Wesley
used his sense and sniffed the rag. At first, he did not smell anything out of sorts, but then a pungent funk assaulted his nose. “What the heck is that?”

  “Don’t know. It seeps through their skin, though.”

  “Have any luck killing them?” Jesse asked.

  “Nah, we used fire and everythin’, but they wouldn’t die. Eventually, we just had to fight them off until they ate their fill and left. Things ain’t lookin’ too good down in my parts. Can’t imagine it’s gettin’ any better in other places, either.” Ace turned to Boone. “This place lights up my senses like a forest fire. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve got skinwalkers and other skinshifters around. There are marks on the trees that say the Comanche are still in the area as well.”

  “Thanks, Ace.”

  “I need to get back to my people,” he answered. “But if you need me in this fight, then I’ll bring as many bodies as I can. For now, you might want to think about gettin’ some better protection for this ranch. If the wendigo smell those humans you got patrolin’ the border, they’re goin’ to be in danger real soon.”

  When the meeting came to an end, Wesley stayed behind to talk to Boone. “How are things between you and Abigail?” he asked cautiously.

  “She cried for an hour after slappin’ me. I don’t think she’ll ever forgive herself for lettin’ her emotions get the best of her like that, but it ain’t no problem in my eyes. I deserved it, and I needed to wake up. Sam did not deserve the way I treated him.”

  “Having a baby is a big step.”

  “So was gettin’ married,” Boone chuckled.

  “But Abigail ain’t helpless. What happened to Ace is proof that we can’t predict what the Wendigo Spirit might be up to next.”

  “Maybe not, but if he attacks us, we won’t give up until every last one of us is dead.”

  “We’ll help protect your child, Boone,” Wesley stated. “And Sam’s. He might not be happy about now, but eventually, he’ll see this as a chance to start over.” Wesley clapped Boone on the shoulder and returned to Charlotte’s side. She sat on the edge of the bed with her knees tucked to her chest. “Is Sam alright?” she asked sheepishly.

  “Aside from that head injury he’s suffered from since birth, I think he’ll be alright.”

  “Abigail and Mary Ann,” Charlotte said with a frown. “What are the odds of that happening in the middle of this chaos? I did not see this coming at all, Wesley. This wasn’t in any of my visions. I don’t know what to do.”

  “If it ain’t part of your visions, that’s a good thing.” Wesley climbed into bed beside her and kissed her cheek. “All of your visions so far have been dark and terrifying. Maybe something that’s unexpected is a good thing. That means we ain’t going down that path.”

  Wesley kissed his way to her lips and claimed her mouth. The slow, sensual slide of her tongue caused him to groan. Charlotte broke the kiss and pulled her nightdress over her head. It floated to the floor as she unbuttoned his shirt. “Make me forget, Wesley. I don’t want to be inside my head anymore.” She kissed her way down his chest, and Wesley clenched his hands into the bedsheets beneath him. Charlotte raked her teeth against his sternum, and he bucked.

  ~*~

  Charlotte held her breath as Wesley parted her legs in a manner that seemed almost obscene. She glanced down and saw the glistening crown of his member protruding from the top of his trousers. Hazel eyes snapped up to meet the breathtaking gaze of her lover. Charlotte silently begged him to claim her. And he did. Wesley stood up for a moment and peeled off the layers of his clothing as she gawked up at his impeccable body.

  Her hot palms slid up the length of his chest, and he growled like a beast.

  Charlotte climbed up Wesley sucked on the spot beneath his jaw that she knew made his mind go blank. His large hands gripped her hips and tossed her back onto the bed. Charlotte loved the way Wesley watched her like she was his prey as her fingers slipped down to pet her nether curls. She had never done anything so erotic. Wesley fell over her and replaced her hand with his own. Charlotte gasped and tried to squirm away from her love, but it was pointless.

  Wesley pressed Charlotte into the mattress to keep her from moving around too much, but he moved slightly to impale her deeper upon his fingers. Wesley worked in a third finger, and her hips thrusted to meet every stroke. Wesley kissed Charlotte’s neck and nipped at her ear before he spread his fingers to stretch the taut muscles a bit more. “Stop teasing me, Wesley,” Charlotte screamed. Her thighs clenched, and he chuckled into the crook of her neck.

  Charlotte couldn't take the teasing anymore. She reached down and gripped Wesley’s impressive length and led him to her opening. He fisted himself and pumped the impressive length of his cock a few times, watching as Charlotte’s body clenched on air, just begging to be fucked. Sam did not want to hurt her, he couldn't just slide in even with the two of them being more than ready. So, he turned her around and forced him to his knees.

  Hot air wafted between them, causing them both to sweat a little.

  Charlotte inhaled and pressed up against Wesley as his hands gripped her legs and pushed them towards her chest. "Look at me, Charlotte," he moaned, and her gaze was summoned to his as if by magic. Wesley worked himself deeper and deeper. Charlotte felt the stretch and burn that always came when she accepted him into her body.

  When he was fully seated within her channel, Wesley set a slow pace. Her toes curled and panting breaths puffed against his shoulder. Charlotte saw stars in her vision as tendrils of pleasure crept across her nerves. She bit her lip to keep from screaming and squeezed her eyes shut tight. Wesley loved her with every fiber of his being. He touched places inside of Charlotte that caused her to twitch and flutter around him.

  She felt the wet slide of her body’s essence aiding their movements as he rotated his hips. Charlotte sank her teeth into his arm and held on for dear life. She felt his hips jerk, and he slammed into her roughly, punching a wave of pleasure through her entire body. "Wesley!"

  “Did I hurt you?” he whispered harshly.

  “More!” Charlotte could only lay there helplessly as Wesley shoved them over the edge. She fell down a well of darkness until she exploded into a ray of light. Hands touched her sides and caressed her legs, prickles of sensation that kept her locked in an abyss of ecstasy. When the world returned to her once more, Charlotte threw herself from the bed and gulped down mouthfuls of air. Wesley was by her side in an instant.

  She pushed her hair out of her face and stared up at him. “Oh my…”

  “Are you alright?” he asked, worry pinching his brow into a stern frown. “Talk to me.”

  “I cannot feel my legs, and I think you may have broken my body.”

  Wesley snorted and lifted her back onto the bed. She lay in the center as a trembling mess while he stroked her face and kissed every inch of her body. The twitching came to an end, and Charlotte was able to do more than just lay still. She propped herself up on her elbows and looked into his eyes. “What do you think your life would be like if that storm hadn’t brought me to you?”

  “Mundane.”

  “How so?”

  “Day in and day out, we worked with the horses while Boone manages the cattle. Itsá stopped by every once in a while, but we lived quiet lives despite Sam’s outbursts,” Wesley explained. “The folks in town barely gave us a passing glance unless they needed something, and I ain’t too big on making friends with the men who spend their time at the saloon.”

  “But you’ve been with women before…”

  He pouted over at her and Charlotte kissed his lips to tell him that she was not upset by the thought. “I tried my hand at courting and even took a few ladies home. They were married, of course, so I felt like I did not owe them more than a good time. It wasn’t love, Charlotte. They weren’t you. I don't think I could ever love somebody if they weren’t you.”

  Charlotte nodded her head.

  “Where would you be? If you hadn’t come here, of cour
se?”

  “Still scrubbing floors at the inn, of course,” she replied. “Or I would have joined Ariel at the brothel. Anything was better than staying with Baxter. People used to look at me and assume that I had a perfect life. But they did not know that I was very broken inside.”

  “I’m not perfect, either. Maybe that’s why we love one another so much.”

  She smiled at that and kissed the dimple in his cheek. The stubble along his jaw was scratchy, but she loved the marks it left behind between her thighs or on her shoulder. “I love you, Wesley. More than you know.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Silver Fox Ranch

  April 1876

  “Beth has been taken!” Itsá’s voice boomed through the house, and Wesley lurched out of bed. Charlotte was close behind as they hurried down the stairs. The native man collapsed in the doorway with blood pouring down his belly. Boone lifted Itsá and carried him to the table in the dining room. Mary Ann went to fetch Abigail from her office. Itsá gripped the front of Boone’s shirt with blood-smeared hands. “The Comanche have her. They say she belongs to them.”

  Abigail moved swiftly from the kitchen. She batted Itsá’s hand away and looked at the wound in his belly. “Oh, dear. You’ve lost quite a bit of blood.” Abigail worked diligently with the help of Mary Ann and Charlotte. The others stood by to make sure that the shaman was alright.

  Gabriel appeared a moment later and grabbed Wesley by the shirt. “What have you done to him?” the shifter demanded. “What did you do to my brother?”

  “The Comanche did it. He came to us for help.”

  Gabriel released Wesley and moved to Itsá’s side. “Where is the tribe?”

  Itsá was unable to answer. Wesley winced when footsteps came from the stairs. Sam and Jesse stood in the doorway. “What happened?” Jesse asked. He stared around in confusion.

  Wesley took him aside. “Beth was taken by the Comanche. They think they have some sort of claim on her.” The shifter jumped out of his reach and ran out the front door shirtless and with no shoes. Spring had brought the warmer weather and melted the snow, but there was still a chill in the air.