Nevada Nights by Ruth Ryan Langan Page B

Dawn softened the darkened hills that littered the barren landscape. In the silent hours while the world slept, she had allowed her mind to travel the miles back to her beloved Allumette Island. There she rode wild and free, the hooves of her horse flattening the grass as he broke into a run. From a crest above her, a mysterious rider on a black stallion moved effortlessly toward her until their paths converged. Strong arms lifted her from her saddle and settled her firmly against a body corded with muscles, which complemented her soft curves. She melted into an embrace that spoke of tenderness, and unending love, and endless delights. She actually blushed at some of the images that flitted through her mind, as she wondered what it would be like to be loved completely by her dream lover.
    Renewed by her fantasy visit to that gentler place, she crossed to the door, safely barricaded by the dresser. Shoving the barrier aside, she hurried out to escape to the hills before the rest of the brooding household awoke.
    In the secret hours of night, resolutions are easily made. But in the harsh light of day, the reality of her situation came back to grip her.
    She was no longer that child of her memory. She would never again feel completely secure. Here, in this hostile land, there were vipers coiled to strike. Who among these could be counted on as friend?
    When the horse had carried her a safe distance, Cameron tethered him in a shady spot and pulled the Remington from the folds of her gown. Loading it as the shopkeeper had instructed, she held it in shaking hands and squeezed the trigger. The bullet ricocheted off a nearby rock, whistling through the air, and imbedded itself in the trunk of the tree directly beside her.
    "Damn little fool! A couple of inches more and it could have killed you!"
    Cameron whirled at the sound of Colt’s voice.
    "You! What are you doing here? Did you follow me?"
    "Don’t flatter yourself. I have better things to do than make camp outside your door all night."
    "And I have better things to do than stand here wasting my time with a gunfighter."
    He saw the flash of fire in her eyes and smiled thinly. "Who better to teach you how to handle this thing?" Taking the pistol from her hand, he examined it carefully before returning it to her.
    "By now, everyone in Virginia City knows that the newest member of the McCormick clan bought herself a gun."
    He studied her intently, noting the eyes rimmed from lack of sleep, the overly bright color to her cheeks. He cursed silently at the faint bruises on her wrists.
    "So you’ve decided to throw in with that pack?" He watched her lips thin. "Then you’d better become an expert with this gun, little Cammy. Mad dogs have been known to turn on their own if they spot any weakness."
    "What makes you think I didn’t buy this to use on you, Colt?"
    He saw the glitter of hard emeralds before she lowered her lashes.
    After a silent pause, he murmured, "All right, Cammy. Fair enough. But it wouldn’t even be a contest unless you learn how to handle this first. And I’m the expert on guns."
    He caught her by the shoulders and twisted her around. Surprised, she tried to resist as his arms encircled her from behind and came up under her arms to clutch the gun. Positioning her fingers around the pistol, he lifted it to eye level. His lips grazed her ear.
    "Think of this as part of your hand. Hold it, fondle it, until you’re so familiar with this little piece of metal that you know every groove, every angle, every edge."
    "You make it sound like a lover."
    She heard his sudden intake of breath. Ignoring her taunt, he tightened his grip over her hands. "Close your eyes. Feel it with your fingertips. Balance it in your palm. Know it, Cammy, so that you can be comfortable with it even in the dark."
    She obeyed, dropping her lids, letting the warmth of his voice flow over her. She felt a tingle curl itself along her spine as his lips continued to brush her temple and cheek. It