Devlin couldn't remember when her head had felt this bad.It was pounding like she'd been on a three day drunk.She couldn't suppress the groan that escaped from her throat when she opened her eyes, the sunlight bathing the entire room in a white light.Sarah was on her feet at once as soon as she heard the rider's voice.She hastily pulled the shirt back on that she had worn the previous evening.Every muscle in her back was sore after spending the night in the wooden rocking chair;she had pulled into the bedroom.Kneeling beside the rider, Sarah's cool hand brushed away the dark locks from the rider's face, the young woman's hand still felt the fever within the rider.Devlin's eyes opened and her soft blue gaze fixed on the smiling face of the woman above her."Hi," Sarah smiled."Why is it so damn bright in here?"was the surly rider's only answer.Sarah laughed and stood, moving to the window and pulling the heavy curtains across the opening.Devlin's body seemed to relax a little;the darkness hadn't done a thing for the pain in her head, however."Wasn't I shot in the gut?"The rider whispered hoarsely."Pretty much," Sarah answered."Then why does my head feel like it just got stomped by a bull?""Oh," Sarah looked a little guilty."I guess that was the moonshine.""The moon--what?"The rider asked."Let me get you something for that head first," Sarah walked out of the bedroom and returned with a cup, a pitcher of water, and a small bottle of colorless liquid.She poured a cup of water, then placed a few drops of the clear liquid into the cup."This tastes bitter, but it's just a pain killerit will make you sleepy, though."Sarah instructed."NoI need to get up," Devlin said, using all her strength just to get in a sitting position.The pain in the rider's side was like someone had just jabbed a hot poker into her middle.The groan of agony she let out then made her reach for her head, to stop the throbbing there.Finally, she knew she'd been beat, when Sarah put both hands on her shoulders and very effectively held her down."Sarah!""Devlin!"Just like that they had escalated their friendship to a first name basis.There were no momentous decisions about propriety, no heartfelt discussion.Just two women staring daggers at one another, wondering who would break first.The rider tried to intimidate the young woman with one of her famous stares, but it never seems to work if the person isn't afraid of you in the first place."Oh, give it to me," the rider held her hand out for the cup, downing it all in two long swallows."Why is it, medicine is supposed to be so good for you, but it always tastes so bad."Devlin groaned, making a face at the bitter tasting liquid.Sarah pushed the rider further into the covers, pulling them around her shoulders."Well, the next time I'll put some honey in it just like I do for Hannah," Sarah returned."Would that make you feel better?"she asked with mock sweetness."Yes," Devlin answered with as close to a pout as six feet of former outlaw can get."You're enjoying thisbeing in control, aren't you?"Dev asked."Relishing every moment of it!"Sarah replied with a wide grin.Devlin seemed to realize at that moment that she was completely naked under the covers."Where are my clothes?"The dark-haired woman asked."OhI had to take them off towell, I was going to wash" Sarah began to stammer.Sarah looked down into the rider's electric blue eyes, which seemed to be filled with amusement at the stammering woman.Sarah became a little perturbed at herself for her reaction, she didn't like losing her composure when she had been in full control only seconds before.Stopping to give the rider a look of superiority, she turned her back."I thought if you were naked I stood a better chance of keeping you in bed!"Sarah winced;not sure she liked the way that came out, but proceeded to ignore Devlin's amused reaction."Sarah" the rider drawled out the young woman's name.Sarah had turned her back to pull clean clothes for herself from a large chest of drawers.A definite shiver ran through her upon hearing her name roll of the rider's tongue that way.She slowly turned, afraid she might see the rider standing, naked, behind her.Of course, from somewhere unknown, very deep inside her, from a place that wouldn't even admit she felt that way, she was also desperately afraid she wouldn't.The medicine had begun to work it's magic as Devlin leaned painlessly up on one elbow, the blanket slipping off her shoulder slightly, one eyebrow arching under ebony bangs in that familiar combination of intimidation and seduction."Sarah, do you really think if I wanted to get up out of this bed, being naked would stop me?"Devlin said, lowering her voice an octave.Sarah opened her mouth to speak, but no sounds came out.Her face began to turn red as she turned back away from the rider.Devlin lay back down, a smug smile of satisfaction on her lips, as she realized the effect the visual image that was assaulting Sarah's brain, was having on the smaller woman.A knock on the door saved both women from having to continue the conversation any further."Come in," Sarah called out."Got your water mom," Matthew came through the door with a bucket in each hand."Son, you are a complete godsend! Every muscle in my body needs this!"his mother replied.Sarah walked to the far end of the large bedroom and pulled back the heavy curtains that led to a small alcove.From where she lay, Devlin took in the site of a large porcelain and brass tub.Matthew began pouring the buckets of water into the tub, as Sarah poured a small amount of liquid into the steaming water.Instantly the room was filled with the fresh scent of sandalwood.Dev let out a low whistle at the sight of the tub."I haven't seen a tub like that since--" she faltered, halting in mid sentence.Sarah had her back to the rider and smiled.She knew the only other place within a hundred miles of them, that had a tub like this, was in town at Ellen's place.She didn't smile from the knowledge that the beautiful rider had visited Ellen's establishment, but more so because Devlin had stopped herself, embarrassed at Sarah's reaction.Oh, Devif you only knew.Then Sarah's smile seemed to disappear at the thought of the dark-haired woman experiencing the favors of the girls at Ellen's.Did Devlin kiss themtouch them as she had Sarah last night?The young woman didn't quite understand what she was experiencing, but it felt a lot likejealousy.Matt poured the last bucket in and turned, shaking Sarah from her thoughts.He grinned at the rider as he left to get more water.Devlin took in the large bruise Matthew was sporting over his right eye."How'd he get that shiner?"Dev asked Sarah.Sarah didn't want to make the rider feel any worse, but she didn't want to lie to her either."He held you down last night while I took the bullet out of you."Was Sarah's only reply.A look of pain settled on Devlin's face and she quietly watched as the boy made half a dozen more trips before he had filled the large tub.He started to leave the room, but Dev called him back."Matt" she had never used his name before and it sounded rather strange to the young boy's ears."Pull up a seat," she said, as he turned over the bucket in his hand and sat next to the bed.She stared at the boy for a long minute, unsure of how to begin."I got a kick like a mule, don't I?"she gave him a lopsided grin and the boy smiled back, gingerly rubbing the area of the bruise."Sure donever knew a woman could be that strong. You gonna be okay?"he asked."Yeptakes more'n one bullet to stop me."Devlin sat with the boy for a few more minutes giving him instructions on which herd to pull in where.She also asked him to ride to his uncle's ranch, giving him explicit orders on what to tell Mr. Winston and to get Hank's help in bringing in the lost herd.Once Matthew had gone Devlin's eyes felt like lead and she could barely keep them open.Sarah came into the room with fresh bandages and the rider knew this wasn't going to be good news."Dev, I want to take a look at your wound and change the bandages," Sarah said as she sat down on the edge of the bed, next to the rider."It's okay, I can do it," Devlin said trying to stifle a yawn.Sarah didn't want to embarrass either of them further so she lifted the blanket at the middle of the rider's body, leaving her body covered, except for the spot of her injury.Devlin tried to grasp Sarah's hand to stop the young woman's progress, but the rider's muscles had gone weak as she fought against the medicine."You waited till now because you knew I'd be too tired to fight you, didn't you?"Devlin asked."Yep," Sarah answered."Sarahyou are a sneaky, devilish womanyou remind me of me."Devlin's eyes closed wearily, but a broad smile stretched across her face.Sarah removed the old bandages, examining the wound.The area was still red and swollen, but she couldn't tell if it was because of the trauma of the surgery or an infection.Just when Sarah thought Devlin had fallen asleep;she heard a sharp intake of breath by the rider."I'm sorry if this hurts, Dev" Sarah said.Devlin was suddenly having trouble with the proximity of the young woman's hands.Sarah changed the cloth bandages, resting her hand lightly on the flat hollow of skin where the rider's leg met her abdomen."You still have a slight fever," Sarah remarked."Your skin still feels pretty warm."You're telling me!Devlin thought inside her sleep-fogged brain, hoping she hadn't said that aloud.The rider closed her eyes tighter, fighting against the feel of Sarah's hands attending to her just inches away from where the rider desperatelywantedthe young woman's hands to be attending to her.Dev simply bit her lip until Sarah pulled the blanket back over her.Sarah gave the woman a sip of water and gently brushed the hair off her face."Sarahyou saved my life last night, thank you," Dev said.She took Sarah's free hand in her own and held it as the young woman continued to stroke the rider's forehead."I guess that makes us even, then."Sarah replied in a whisper."Hhmmm?"Dev asked, her eyes closed, enjoying the young woman's gentle touch."You saved my life the day you rode onto this ranch," Sarah said softly."Get some sleep, now," she finished as she attempted to move away.Devlin's fingers tightened around the ones in her hand, pulling Sarah back.The young woman smiled at the rider."Want me to stay till you fall asleep?"Sarah asked, renewing her gentle caresses on the rider's face and brow.Devlin felt herself slipping away as she nodded her head, once again feeling the gentling touch of the young woman's hands.She knew she didn't deserve this sort of kindness, but the medicine had lowered her reserve enough for her to ask for the soothing contact.She couldn't remember if it was reality or a dream, when she felt cool lips press softly against her forehead and murmur sweet words of comfort.

Devlin ran a fever on and off for the next three days, causing her body's delay in the healing process.Sarah cared for the dark-haired woman during that time, feeding, bathing, and offering strong arms to hold the woman.Sarah knew that if the rider had been completely aware of what was going on around her, she would have never let the young woman hold her as she did.As it turned out, during the times when Devlin thrashed about in a fever, the only thing to calm the beautiful woman had been for Sarah to open her arms, the rider snuggling into the caring embrace.Hannah stomped into the bedroom;the rider opened one eye to look down at the tiny creature.The little girl was clad only in her cotton slip and had a major pout going, her small arms folded against her chest.Dev couldn't help the smile that found it's way to her face."What's this all about, Princess?"The rider asked."I hate naps!""Me too," the rider agreed just as Sarah entered the room."Hannah Marie, what are you doing in here?"Sarah exclaimed.Children can be some of the best liars and the fastest thinkers around.Without batting an eye, Hannah jumped onto the covers with Devlin, curling herself in a ball into the crook of the rider's arm."Devlin wanted me to take a nap withher," she said convincingly."Oh, she did, did she?"Sarah looked at her daughter and then at the rider, who gestured to let the young girl stay.Sarah laid a gentle hand on the rider's forehead, happy about the fact that she was cool to the touch, and that her eyes no longer held their fever induced haze."Am I all better, mom?"Devlin's sarcasm was not lost on the young woman."Very funny," she replied."Do me a favor and load my guns," Devlin indicated the pistols that Sarah kept on the bedside table, close to the rider."What for?"Sarah asked, perplexed."Because if you don't let me up soon, to at least go to the outhouse by myself, instead of using that thing" she indicated the chamber pot that sat on the floor, then she covered Hannah's ears with both of her hands, "I'm going to shoot myself!"Sarah simply laughed at the rider."Allright then ladiesget some sleep," Sarah said quietly, pulling the curtains to darken the room.

"Good to see you again, Mrs. Tolliver."Hank said, extending his hand."You too, Mr. Sutton," Sarah returned the handshake."Thank you for helping Matt bring that herd in.""Well, Mrs. Tolliver, I figured out pretty quick that Matt here could have done it by himself, but I was glad to oblige. I figure he must have had a good teacher."They both knew the huge man was referring to Devlin."How's Dev doing?"He said seriously."She had a pretty rough time for a while fighting off an infection, but I think all she has to do now is let her body heal. That is, of course, provided I can force her to rest any longer."Sarah laughed.Hank joined in the woman's laughter, realizing she had an uphill battle caring for his friend."Keepin' her down's kinda like climbin' a greased pole, huh?"He grinned."Why don't we take a peek and see if she's awakeI know she wants to talk to you about what happened."Sarah said, moving toward the bedroom, Hank following behind.Sarah quietly opened the bedroom door and the sight that met her, touched her heart like no other.Devlin was lying on her back, her long body stretched across the large bed, sound asleep.Curled into a little ball, her head on the rider's shoulder, was Hannah, Devlin's arm wrapped protectively around the tiny figure.Sarah and Hank both backed out of the room without a sound.Neither of them spoke until they were outside of the house again."Well, guess if I didn't see that with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it."Smiled the rider."Probably best if you don't tell Dev I saw her that way, if ya know what I mean."Sarah smiled back at the rider."I agreeit seems that allowing others see her when she's vulnerable, isn't one of thosemany skillsshe raves about."Hank pulled the reins over his horse's neck and prepared to mount before reaching out to shake Sarah's hand."You're a special woman, Mrs. Tolliver. Don't bother arguing with me," he added when Sarah opened her mouth to speak, " 'cause we both know that Devlin wouldn't let herself be taken care of by just anybody. This is only the third time in her life I've ever known her to accept help from somebody else. That kind of trust don't come easy to her.""She's told me about her time with the Choctaw, and of course there's nowwhen was the third?"Sarah asked."That's when she and I met," Hank replied, then proceeded to tell Sarah the story of how he met and cared for the wounded outlaw.He left out the part about why Devlin had been attacked by her own men.He didn't feel completely comfortable talking about his friend without her knowledge.He did tell her how much he had come to care for the woman after that."You two becamelovers, then?"Sarah asked, not really understanding why she felt such trepidation in hearing the answer.Hank watched the young woman's face, and in that instant he knew.Perhaps it was the way her head lowered as she waited for the answer, or the way her green eyes turned just a little greener.Envy, little one?You don't even know it yourself yet, do you?Boy, when you two figure it out, there's gonna be a whole mess of fireworks!"No, ma'am," Hank answered.Then he decided to put his trust in this special woman."Dev's not exactly my type.""Not your type? A beautiful, strong womannot your type?"Sarah said with astonishment."Well, you seethe key word there is woman," Hank said, hoping she would understand without him having to elaborate any further."Oh," Sarah said, not understanding.She and the rider just stared at each other for a long moment."Ohhhhh!"Sarah said as full realization hit her.Then the young woman smiled at the rider.She wanted to put him at ease, but she was also feeling something else, something that actually made herhappyto hear that Devlin and Hank weren't involved that way."Course, I'd be real obliged if you weren't to pass that on, Mrs. Tolliverespecially to your uncle."Sarah grasped the large man's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze."I understand, please don't worry about that."They warmly shook hands and Hank promised he would ride back at the end of the week to check up on their patient.Sarah watched as the man rode away, then she walked past the house toward the vegetable garden.Bending down to pull some errant weeds out of the soft earth, Sarah thought about what Hank had told her about himself.It didn't matter to her one way or another how others lived their lives, as long as they afforded her the same consideration.She mulled over the way she felt when she thought Devlin and Hank had been involved.Wasn't it the same feeling that tugged at her this morning, as her mind visualized Devlin at Ellen's place?Am I jealous?She stopped and looked up from her task as she pondered the words.No, no, nothis isn't happening.Then Sarah remembered Devlin's hand pressing her own against the wounded woman's breast, the way the small area of hardened flesh felt under her fingertips.The memory was enough to cause a heat within her body that made itself known right between her legs.Then there was the necklace.Ever since the evening she put the stone on she had indeed had the most vivid dreams.Hadn't Devlin said that the Choctaw believed if you were given a Teklia stone as a gift, you would dream of your heart's desire?Every night since then, Sarah had dreamed of the beautiful, dark-haired rider.Some of the dreams were quite innocent, but most of them ended just before Devlin would touch Sarah the way the young woman wanted the rider to touch her.Actually I don't even know if that's possible!Then there were the words Devlin had whispered in her earOh, god, womanI want youevidently the rider thought enjoying that kind of pleasure with another woman wasverypossible!Then there was the kiss.By this time Sarah was washing her face and hands outside the back of the house.She wiped them dry on the coarse towel she had set there earlier.Sarah, come to your senses.This is another woman we're talking about hereyour friend!A wild, beautiful woman trying just as hard as you to ride away from her past.Oh God, am I thinking with my body here?Yes, she obviously enjoys women in her bed, but you don'tdo you?This is ridiculous!She doesn't want you that way, Sarah!Even if she DID like women, and she DID kiss you, it was only because she was dead drunk.She didn't even remember doing it the next morning.Let's face ita widow with two children is hardly the type for a six-foot, dark haired, blue eyed rider.Tears filled Sarah's eyes, spilling onto her cheeks.She rushed away from the house and stood alone on the prairie as the sobs shook her small frame, leaving her spent and shaking.Might as well face itif you're waiting for an ex-outlaw to give you her heart, you're going to be alone for a very long time.

When she returned to the house, she silently made her way into the bedroom.Hannah and the rider still lay sleeping on the bed, Devlin having successfully kicked most of the blankets off her legs.Sarah splashed cool water on her face, then turned to replace the covers onto the 2 sleeping forms.Devlin slept in a pale blue shirt Sarah had provided from the chest of clothes given to the rider.Sarah couldn't help but take in the long legs and muscular thighs before she re-covered them with a blanket.The young woman tried to fight against more tears that were just beneath the surface.Suddenly a hand gripped her own.Sarah looked up in surprise to the sleepy eyes of the rider."Are you playing mom again?"Devlin teased, whispering so as not to wake Hannah."Yes," Sarah smiled back.That was when Devlin noticed Sarah's red, puffy eyes.It was obvious the woman had been crying, but Devlin had no idea why.It absolutely broke her heart to see the young woman unhappy."Sarah, are you allright?"She asked, pulling the young woman closer, until she sat on the bed."Yes," she replied softly."I guess I just get like this sometimesI'm allright."Sarah gently caressed her sleeping daughter's face, the youngster turning and snuggling into her mother's warm embrace.Sarah gently rocked the child until she was certain she had drifted off again.Devlin watched the woman and thought she'd never seen anything as loving as the way Sarah held her child.You hold Hannahyou held me when I had a fever, didn't you?But, who holds you, Sarah?As with most things in life, the things you don't think about, the impulses you just act on without thinking of the consequences usually turn out to be the best.It was the same with Devlin's next action.Acting on her heart's desire alone, the rider wrapped two strong arms around Sarah and tenderly pulled the young woman against her chest.She never felt any hesitation as the young woman let herself be enveloped by the heartfelt embrace.The rider's shoulder under her head felt so good to Sarah, she could literally feel the nerves that had been wrung taut by the day's emotions, start to let go and relax.Hannah wriggled herself until she was lying in the laps of both women, a child's soft snore coming from her parted lips.Sarah and Devlin looked at one another and had to stifle their laughter."This girl could sleep through a twister! And, if you even think about saying she takes after her mother, I'll shoot you myself, Devlin Brown!"Sarah whispered.Sarah let herself relax in Devlin's arms.The rider's hand stroking her hair had a calming effect, until she too slept as soundly as her daughter did.Dev hated the fact that it took Sarah's sadness to be able to hold the young woman in her arms this way.God, she feels so good.The rider thought to herself, burrowing her face into the sweet smell of Sarah's soft hair.I've never been in love like this Sarah.I never wanted to give anything to anyoneI only knew how to take, but with you it's so different.I feel guilty taking, when all I want to do is give to you, my love.Happiness, pleasure, loveonly for you, Sarah.Sarah slept deeply and the tiny snore that sounded just like Hannah's, caused the rider to smile against the young woman's hair.Looking down into the beautiful face Devlin felt herself losing the battle to kiss the lips of the very desirable woman in her arms.She carefully leaned in and brushed her lips against the soft, full ones of the young woman.A tear escaped from the rider's eye as she realized Sarah only considered her a friend, and the stolen kiss would be the only one to be shared between the two of them.Might as well face itif you're waiting for a lady like this to give you her heart, you're going to be alone for a very long time.

Dev fidgeted in the chair as she tried to find a comfortable position.The combination of the bullet in her side and fighting off the infection for a week had left her sore and physically drained.Today, Sarah had Matthew fill the brass tub and Devlin was able to have her first real bath in she didn't remember how long.It felt good to the rider to be clean and put on fresh clothes, but she hated to admit she needed Sarah's help to get her boots on.She relented, even leaning heavily on the young woman as she took her first steps out into the next room.Hannah was sitting on the floor, a slate and a piece of chalk in her hand.She smiled brightly up at the rider.Dev never seemed able to keep a smile off of her face when this small bundle of energy was around.Matthew sat at the kitchen table, a similar slate filled with sums in front of him."Are you going to school too, Dev?"Hannah asked."I'm learning to read."Sarah noticed a strange look pass across the rider's face, a look bordering on panic.She dismissed it as a look of pain, noting the way the tall woman fidgeted in her chair."Hannah, pay attention to what you're doing and let Dev rest."Sarah urged her daughter."I thought maybe Dev wants to learn to read too," the little girl looked up at her mother."Don't be silly," Matthew said to his sister, "grown ups already know how to read.""Matthew, please don't call your sister, sillynow, both of you get back to work."Sarah was going to roll her eyes in a 'why me' gesture at Devlin, but the rider had her head bowed staring directly at her boots.Her knuckles where white as they gripped the arms of the chair.At first Sarah thought the woman was experiencing a wave of pain, but Devlin ran her hands through her dark mane and looked up into Sarah's eyes.The rider gave a small smile, but it wasn't the smile the rider usually reserved for the young woman.Sarah thought it looked like a smile filled with apology, and she saw a definite touch of pain in those blue eyes.When the truth dawned on Sarah, she only wished she could do something to make the rider feel more at ease.The only thing to do would be to create the kind of environment where Dev would feel comfortable asking for help.Nearly a candlemark later and Matthew was still having problems with the sums he was attempting."No, honeylook, this number is multiplied by this number," Sarah indicated the problem on a large slate of her own."I can't do it," Matt said in frustration."There's too many numbers! Who knows what five hundred multiplied by three hundred twenty five is anyway.""One hundred sixty-two thousand, five hundred," Dev answered quickly.Everyone looked up at the rider and she sunk a little lower in her chair"Hey, do that again, Dev."Matt asked.Sarah gave the rider some more problems and she solved them all in her head in heartbeats.Sarah could barely write the whole figure on the slate before Devlin had the answer.The rider would be tapping her thumb against her fingers and suddenly come up with the answer."Dev, that is absolutely amazingis it a trick?"Sarah questioned."Kind of," Dev replied, appearing to be flattered and embarrassed at the same time."A ways back I traveled with a guy who ran a traveling medicine show. He taught me how to do it.""Can you teach me, Dev?"Matthew asked."Can she mom?""It's not really learnin' when you do it that way, Matt."Devlin replied."Nonsense. Of course it is."Sarah interjected."I'd rather you learn to do it Devlin's way and get it right than spend day after day doing it my way, and never grasping it. That is, provided Devwantsto teach us."Sarah smiled as she included herself in the group.Dev smiled her usual smile again, amazed that she would know something about schooling that she could teach them.

Devlin couldn't remember being this tired and worn out in a long time.Guess every year older I get, makes it a little harder to come back from this kind of stuff, she thought as Sarah came over to help her out of her chair.The rider had dozed off at sometime during the day;the next thing she knew Sarah was waking her up for dinner.It was a testament to how safe and relaxed the rider felt here, that she was able to sleep without one ear open.She could only pray to the Spirits above that no trouble would pass their way until she was physically able to protect Sarah and the children.Dev smiled wryly to herself at how Sarah would glare at her if she knew the rider thought about her as something to protect.How independent you are, Sarahmaybe that's why I love you so much.The rider had to lean on the small woman so as not to put too much weight on her injured side.Earlier, when she'd tried to stand by herself, she nearly dropped to one knee from the pain."Sarah, I can go out to the bunkhouse, I don't want you to have to sleep with Hannah anymore.""Dev, you can barely walk by yourself. What if something happened and you needed help in the middle of the night? I'd never even knowbesides, I wouldn't get a wink of sleep all night, even in this big bed, because I'd be worrying about you."Sarah replied with a slight smile.Devlin let herself be led to the young woman's bedroom, allowing Sarah to assist in lowering her body with a slight groan onto the edge of the bed.To Sarah's eyes, Dev still looked like she was going to get up and bolt, the minute the young woman's back was turned."Devlin you're such a no nonsense, sensible womanplease, be sensible now, not noble. Please, for me?"Sarah pleaded.It was the last two words of the woman's plea that snared the rider.For me?Sarah, I would do anything for you.So, the rider nodded her head and Sarah left her with a few moments of privacy to undress.When Sarah returned, Dev had changed into the shirt she slept in, and slipped under the covers of the large four poster bed.The young woman had pulled on a nightgown and wore a simple cotton robe over it, tied at the waist.She sat down at the small vanity and began to pull the braids from her hair.The young woman usually kept the front of her long hair braided and pulled back to keep it off her face, letting the mane at the back of her head fall free.Dev thought that there must be no more beautiful sight on this earth, as the one she was watching right now.Sarah slowly ran a brush through long locks the color of harvest wheat.When she got up she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, tucking her slim legs underneath her."Did you want me to read tonight?"She asked, reaching for a book she kept on the bed table.While the rider had been confined to her bed, Sarah had made a habit of reading to the injured woman fromThe Count of Monte Cristo.The rider seemed to enjoy the story immensely, but tonight she nodded her head sadly."You don't have to read to me, Sarah" Dev said."I'm sorry, you should have said something soonerI thought you were enjoying the story."Sarah replied."No, it's not that, it'sjust" Dev took the book from the smaller woman's grasp and returned it to the bedside table."You don'thaveto read to me."The rider finished, closing her eyes."You'll finish it yourself, then?"Sarah asked sadly.Dev opened her eyes, eyes that were suddenly filled with tears.When the tears began to spill onto her cheek, she raised her eyes to the ceiling, willing them to stop altogether."I think we both know that's not going to happen," Dev answered, realizing that Sarah already knew her secret."Dev, I could he--" Sarah was abruptly cut off."No. Sarah, pleasedon't."Dev said, cursing herself because now the tears were falling in earnest and it seemed she could do nothing to stop them.She couldn't even run."I don't want pityor charity, especially from you," Dev whispered."Is that why you think I want to help youout of pity?"Sarah asked as she reached up to brush the tears from the rider's beautiful face.Dev brusquely turned her head away from the young woman's touch, unable to control her own feelings of frustration."I didn't offer to help you because I felt sorry for you, Dev. I did it because that's what you do for someone when you care about them, when they're as close to you as your own sisterwhen you love them just as much as your own family. I know it must be embarrassing, not to mention frustrating for you. I just wanted to be able to helpnot make you feel worse."Sarah finished, tears in her own eyes."I'm sorryI just getI haven't cried since I was seven," The dark-haired woman admitted.The admission brought back a memory that Devlin had not visited in many years.The last time she ever cried was the day they brought her father's body home.His six foot six inch frame lay across a door as they carried him into the parlor.One bullet to his chest had been enough to take the lawman down.Dev remembered one of her father's deputies lifting the small girl up in his arms and telling her what a hero the sheriff had been.That day she cried for her father, the man she adored.It was also the last day that she ever remembered crying.Devlin could barely hold back the sobs that she desperately tried to catch in her throat.Sarah leaned back against the headboard of the bed and didn't have to ask twice before the rider fell into the smaller woman's embrace.Sarah's heart broke for the woman who found herself unable to cry all these years."Please, Devyou don't have to be afraid of being yourself in front of me. When you care about someone, you love all of themthe good, the bad, and everything in between."Sarah whispered against the rider's temple.The feel of Sarah's lips against her skin and the strong, loving embrace of this woman with such an open heart, finally tore through what small defenses the rider had left.Her heart-breaking sobs were let loose as Sarah cradled and held the woman, all the while whispering tender words of friendship and comfort to the distressed woman.Nearly an hour went by before Devlin had no tears left in her to cry.Still she lay in the smaller woman's embrace, simply enjoying the closeness and Sarah's tender caress.The young woman reached into the bedside table and produced a handkerchief that she handed to the rider."Thanks," Dev said, sitting up against the headboard."I don't know what came over me.""I bet you feel better."Sarah answered as she stood and wet a cloth from the pitcher on the vanity."ActuallyI do," Dev admitted with a sheepish grin, to the young woman.Sarah handed the cool fabric to the rider and Dev wiped her face and eyes with it.Once Sarah sat down on the bed again, the rider reached past her to pick up the book that still lay on the bed.She handed it to the young woman seated next to her."Teach me. I mean, I know a enough to get me by, butSarah, can you teach me to read the kind of words that are in this book?"Devlin was afraid to look the young woman in the eye, but mustering her courage, she raised her head and looked into warm green eyes.Sarah smiled and nodded at her friend."Can we start now?"Dev asked hesitantly.Sarah was so tired and she knew the rider must only be going on adrenaline right now, but she didn't want to take the chance that Dev might re-think the whole thing by morning.Again, she nodded her head."Your feet must be freezing. Here."Dev said as she pulled the comforter back and wrapped it around Sarah.Sparks of desire snapped around each woman's libido, but throughout all of the powerful emotions, Devlin and Sarah knew they had each found a lifelong friend.So, the stronger feelings were pushed down and they snuggled under the covers like schoolgirls as they began an interesting journey.

Sarah woke with a start as Hannah jumped onto her stomach."Mama, I'm hungry," the youngster whispered.Sarah still had her eyes closed."Hannah why are you whispering?"she found herself whispering back.When she opened her eyes, Hannah had her pudgy fingers held up to pursed lips as she motioned for her mother to be quiet, then pointed next to them.Devlin's still sleeping figure was curled up against Sarah's side.Sarah was afraid to move.Her daughter smiled down at the rider like it was the most natural thing in the world for her mother to be sharing her bed with the dark-haired woman."Hannah--" Sarah whispered, starting to move her body off the bed.The six-year-old couldn't resist poking out her index finger and touching the sleeping rider's lips.Just as she neared Devlin's mouth, the rider's white teeth gleamed in a huge crocodile-like grin, and with her eyes still closed, she snapped her teeth loudly at the offending finger.Dev knew exactly how far away Hannah's finger was and she had no intention of really biting the girl, but the youngster certainly didn't know that.Hannah jumped back with a scream and lots of gigglesright into her mother, who was trying to ease herself out of bed without waking the rider.Thirty pounds of squealing, laughing child came at Sarah.The force of the impact caused her to lose her balance and she was thrown off the bed.Devlin reached out and caught Hannah, keeping the girl from landing on top of her mother.Sarah leaned up on both elbows at the same time as two heads peeked over the edge of the bed.Devlin and Hannah looked at each other."See what you made me do," they said in unison.Sarah picked herself up off the floor and glared at both her bedmates as they tried to hide their smiles at her predicament."You two wear me outyou definitely wear me out."She said as she picked up her pillow and sailed it at the two heads that ducked the object easily.Sarah turned to leave the room and make breakfast, still shaking her head in exasperation.She stopped to watch Devlin tickle Hannah's ears, and the girl resumed her peals of laughter.The moment would live forever in her memory, she couldn't ever remember being this happy.Devlin watched as Sarah left the room, resuming her attack on the precious bundle in her arms.Finally Hannah tired herself out and fell silent in the rider's embrace.Devlin rocked the small girl and began to hum a tune that she remembered from her own childhood.Her memory took her to last night as both women fell asleep while reading.The book had been pushed aside as the two women snuggled together in sleep.Dev remembered waking in the middle of the night, feeling Sarah's warm body and deep, even breathing comfort her.She slipped her arm around the smaller woman's waist and felt Sarah unconsciously press her back against the taller woman's chest.Then Dev's eye caught the book that Sarah had replaced on the bedside table.She remembered the young woman's words.She told me she loved methat I was family.And, on some levels, it was more than the dark-haired rider could have hoped for."I guess that means you're my family now, too, Princess."Dev said as she kissed the top of the sleeping girl's headBy the time the cool winds of fall swept across the Oklahoma prairie, Devlin had finishedThe Count of Monte Cristo.Except this time, Devlin read to Sarah every evening.

"Your Aunt Mattie is going to be here for a month, Matthew, I'm sure there will be plenty of time for you to visit with your cousins in that time."Sarah said, looking in the back of the wagon at her son.Matthew and Hannah rode in the back as Devlin held the reins to the old wagon, Sarah sitting next to the rider.They were on their way to town, setting out just after the sun rose to prepare for the long ride.The sun was shining, but the cool October breeze blew up, adding a touch of color to Sarah's cheeks.The cold never seemed to affect the rider, but she threw her leather jacket over the front bench of the wagon just in case.Devlin held the reins comfortably in gloved hands.She had recuperated fully from her bullet wound, once again riding herd for the Double Deuce.Her injury and the time she spent with Sarah and the children had changed her somewhat.She was no longer the mysterious stranger they were in awe over.Now the dark-haired woman was a part of their family.She came in from the range at night and enjoyed dinner with the family, always taking the time to give Matt a math lesson and tell Hannah a bedtime story.The tall rider always finished the story by lifting the youngster high into her arms and placing a kiss on the top of her head.After the children went to sleep Devlin and Sarah spent their evenings either talking in low voices long into the night, sitting by the fireplace, or Devlin read aloud from their latest literary choice.They were in the middle ofTreasure Island, Devlin admitting that she loved the pirates in the story.Occasionally, Sarah fell asleep by the fire as Devlin read.The young woman enjoyed listening to the rich, low tone of her friend's voice, sometimes becoming so relaxed;she drifted off into a heavy sleep.These were the times when the tall rider would lift the woman, gently in her arms and carry her into the bedroom and tuck her under the covers.Then the rider would go around the back of the house to her own large room, usually to spend the rest of the night thinking about the woman on the other side of the wall.Dev listened while Sarah answered her children's questions about their Aunt and the cousins they hadn't seen in years.Sarah entertained the children with stories about herself and her sister Madeline and all the trouble they managed to get into on their Kentucky farm.Sarah looked over at the dark-haired woman next to her."What are you smiling about today?"Sarah asked.She had noticed the grin on her friend's face at breakfast, and saw it come and go all morning;usually it reappeared when the rider thought no one was watching."Can't I be in a good mood every once in a while?"Dev asked, not taking her eyes off the road."Sure," Sarah replied, "And, that would make thiswhat, the second time in how many years?"Dev looked at the younger woman, arching an eyebrow, and growled under her breath.Sarah was neither intimidated nor frightened of the ex outlaw's famous look.She simply laughed and pulled the brim of the rider's hat down over her eyes.Both women enjoyed their playful exchanges, but each, secretly longed for so much more.Neither was willing to take any measures to elevate their relationship any further, both of them feared losing the precious friendship that had developed between them over the last six months.Once Sarah had begun talking again to the children, Dev's secretive smile returned.The rider's heart was lighter today than it had been since she admitted to herself;she really was in love with Sarah.Last night a lot of the rider's last fears regarding her unrequited passion for Sarah, were put to rest.She felt like a woman who had suffered from a fever for the last six months, only to have the sickness break, her body still weak, but well on the way to recovery.Devlin's newfound reading skills came in handy when she started finding the tumbleweed notes again.The rider was now experiencing conflicting emotions surrounding the woman who wrote the notes, however.For so long, Devlin had pined away for the mysterious, heartbroken woman.Now, she had fallen hard for Sarah, but she couldn't explain why she still felt herself drawn to the emotional outpourings of a stranger.It had begun to concern the rider, wondering if she was truly in love with her young employer.It had been so long since she'd felt anything remotely similar to love for a woman;she now began to doubt her own heart.Last night had sealed not only her love for the woman who now sat next to her, but also her destiny.Yesterday started out innocently enough.**********Hank had an evening off and rode out to the Double Deuce to see if Dev wanted to make the trek into town for the evening, Hank had an itch to play cards.Of course, Hank had a feeling his friend would turn him down.Devlin made up an excuse about being too tired to chase skirts and having to get up at dawn to make a trip to town, but Hank understood.It seemed as if other women suddenly lost their appeal to the dark-haired rider, and when Sarah came outside to invite him to stay for dinner, he could certainly understand why his friend felt the way she did."You look happy and kinda sick at the same time, Devwhat's up?"Hank asked, as if he didn't know the answer to the question."I got something burnin' me up inside."Dev answered, her eyes looking back to the large cabin."You got tumbleweed fever is all," her friend laughed, slapping her on the back."What" Dev turned to face the man who stood next to her.She couldn't believe he knew."Close your mouth and don't look so surprised. Dev, half the cowhands in the Territory are passin' around those little pieces of parchment. Some gal got it into her mind to torment the rider's and she's doin' a good job too. If you went to Ellen's anymore you'd know they got a huge pool goin' about what the gal looks likethin and tall, short and fat. Hell, chances are she's married and has a screamin' brat on each hip."Devlin just continued to stare at her tall friend.He looked the woman right in the eye and decided to push matters a little."Look, Devyou got a good thing here, someone special in that girl," he motioned with his head toward the cabin."Don't mess it up by dreamin' you could ever find better 'n her."Dev looked away and ran her fingers through her hair, replacing her hat and pulling it firmly onto her head.She felt an ache in her gut as she prepared to say the words aloud for the first time."She doesn't belong to meshe'll never belong to me that way."Hank shook his head and grinned."Then you two are the only ones who don't know it."He smiled.Dev found her friend's humor infectious, even if it was at her expense.She punched the large rider in the arm and pulled him toward the house."Si usted piensa que ella es especial ahora, slo tiene que esperar hasta que el sabor de su cocina!"She smirked.Hank observaba el camino Dev interactu con la joven y sus hijos.Apenas poda creer que esto era la misma mujer que haba conocido durante el ltimo ao.Ella sonri y dej que Sarah se burlan de ella, tomar represalias con algunas de sus propias burlas bonachones.Era como si se tratara de su propia familia.Por otra parte, tambin disfrutamos viendo a las dos mujeres miran unos a otros, cuando pensaban que nadie estaba mirando.Hizo que su corazn espera ver a su amigo por lo general tranquila feliz y contento.La nica mujer que no poda llegar a tener para l era Hannah.El joven qued tan lejos del hombre enorme como sea posible.Se aferr a las faldas de su madre a travs de la mayor parte de la noche o se sentaba en el regazo de Sarah, mirando el extrao recelo.Cuando Sarah se levant para servir el postre, Hank y Dev quedaron como la joven dej la mesa.Cuando Hank mir al pequeo nio que ella aceler derecha ms all de su madre y, para sorpresa de todos, salt al regazo de Devlin.Ninguna cantidad de persuasin podra hablar al nio a abandonar la seguridad de regazo del conductor, mientras enterraba su cabeza en el hombro del jinete, y Hank era absolutamente sorprendido de lo cmoda apareci la mujer alta, para el resto de la noche, con los brazos envuelto alrededor de la joven.Ms tarde, Devlin y Sarah sentamos a pesar de que el aire de la noche tuvo un escalofro al mismo.El piloto sorprendi a la joven llevando a cabo dos tazas humeantes de caf.Entonces, la mujer alta envolvi su propio escudo de cuero alrededor de los hombros de la mujer ms pequea."Me sorprende que no queras algo con ms de una mordedura a l que esto", dijo Sarah con una sonrisa."Oh, esto te mantendr mucho calor", el piloto le devolvi la sonrisa.Sarah trag un sorbo del lquido caliente y exhal una bocanada de aire caliente de su boca.El piloto de la tom por sorpresa con ste, ya que ella sinti el whisky ya empiezan a calentar a su travs."S, tienes razn."Ella se ri de la mujer a su lado que simplemente puso los ojos y silb, fingiendo inocencia.Los dos hablaron como siempre, abierta y honestamente acerca de cualquier cosa que me vino a la mente.Ocasionalmente, fragmentos de su pasado entraran en sus conversaciones, pero por lo general mantienen sus pensamientos al aqu y ahora.La mente de Devlin se alej mientras observaba Sarah hablar, pero ella se ech hacia atrs rpidamente a algo que ella escuch la joven dicen."What did you say?"Pregunt Dev, no estoy seguro de que ha odo bien la mujer."Dije que encanta poder sentarse aqu, mirando las estrellas y escuchando el susurro del viento entre los rboles ... Me encanta este lugar, Dev ... esta tierra todo lo que mi corazn desea es aqu;. Sostengo que en el palma de mi mano, me alegra que por fin tengo alguien con quien compartirlo con ".Sarah observ como los ojos del piloto al cielo, sus pupilas dilatar hasta que slo haba un delgado anillo de azul claro izquierda.Oh, Dios ... Por qu dije eso!"Quiero decir ... Me alegro de que tengo alguien con quien compartir una hermosa noche as con."Sarah rpidamente trat de recuperarse.Dev compuso ella misma, pero no era lo mismo que el resto de la noche.Ella escuch y habl con Sarah, pero su mente era un milln de millas de distancia de la conversacin en la mano.Cuando el piloto de altura finalmente se excus, Sarah maldijo por revelar demasiado de su corazn, seguro de que es lo que haba impulsado el jinete a su comportamiento en silencio.Dev, mientras tanto, no pudo volver a su habitacin lo suficientemente rpido.Ella rebusc entre sus escasas pertenencias para el paquete de notas tumbleweed.Rpidamente sac la cinta y empez a rebuscar a travs de la recogida de papel algo en particular.Algo que ella se congel en su lugar como Sarah le habl.Ella haba vuelto en la ocasin de volver a leer las notas, sus habilidades de lectura elevados traen muchas de las notas en una nueva luz para ella.Pero, esta noche haba odo algo de Sarah que ella no lo poda creer.Aqu est el uno, pens para s misma, tirando de la nota del paquete.Nadie ha celebrado nunca mi corazn;no de la manera que sueo ...Es malo desear un amante que puede cautivar mi corazn, as como mi cuerpo?Demasiado tiempo he esperado para el guerrero de mi alma ... Pienso que siempre voy a estar solo,Mirando a las estrellas y escuchando el susurro del viento entre los rboles ...Todo lo que mi corazn desea es aqu;Lo sostengo en la palma de mi mano,An as, significa muy poco sin alguien con quien compartirlo.Sacudida de las manos a cabo la nota fuera delante de ella.Las tres ltimas lneas mantienen las mismas palabras exactas Sarah habl con ella esta noche.Se sent en el suelo, con la espalda apoyada en la cama, tirando de las notas del paquete al azar.Cada docena o as que ella reconocera la frase como algo Sarah haba dicho ...suSarah.Escenas y fragmentos de conversaciones apresuradas por los ojos de la mente consciente de Devlin.El piloto sac el sombrero de la cabeza y se pas los dedos por su melena de bano, su mirada cerleo mirando al frente.Dev se sent all como las notas, dispersos en frente de ella, tom vida y ella visualiz Sarah habla cada palabra ... su voz meldica susurrando los deseos secretos de su corazn.Las escenas se arremolinaron alrededor de su mente como un remolino, girando cada vez ms rpido, hasta que todos convergieron en un punto.Sarah escribi las notas tumbleweed.Dev record la visita de Kontonalah con el partido de comercio indio.Su abuelo le dijo que llamada Sarah en el Thunderbird clan porque Keeho tuvo una visin ... habl de un pequeo salmn siempre tratando de nadar contra la corriente, movindose contra la corriente.El curandero dijo Sarah envi mensajes a los del Spirit sobre las alas del viento.Ella se ri en voz alta las palabras del anciano volvi a ella.La vieron atar una nota a un pedazo de secado sagebrush!Dev se ri hasta que ella grit.Oh, Sarah ... no me extraa que me enamor de ti a primera vista, he estado soando por tanto tiempo.Esta hermosa mujer ... quin es tu guerrero oscuro, Sarah?Abre bien los ojos y darse la vuelta, mi amor ... estoy aqu.Dev tir de la camisa azul familiarizado ella se acostumbr a llevar a la cama, las botas y la ropa prolijamente apilados al lado de la cama, con las armas de fuego bajo la almohada.Ella apag la lmpara y cruz las manos detrs de la cabeza, una sonrisa pcara en sus labios.Fiebre Tumbleweed ... mecondenen,pens para s misma antes de rodar sobre a soar con el deseo de su corazn.**********La familia no convencional sac su carro en frente de la tienda general.Sarah tena un poco de suministros para poner en antes de que los vientos fros del golpe de invierno, de esta manera los hombres jvenes en la tienda podan cargar sus suministros directamente en la gran carreta.Dev salt y se movi para ayudar a Sarah de la parte delantera de la carreta.Las manos del jinete alrededor de caderas delgadas de Sarah causaron la devolucin de la sonrisa reticente, tambin trajo un ligero rubor a las mejillas de la joven.Despus de levantar fcilmente Hannah desde la parte trasera de la carreta, el piloto silencio sigui al grupo en la tienda.No haba estado aqu en ms de un ao, cuando compr la longitud de la cinta verde, y se senta un poco incmodo en la memoria.Los recuerdos de esta tienda no iban a conseguir nada mejor."Dev, me levante."Hannah solicit del jinete de altura."Levante para arriba, qu?"Dev asked."Pleeeaase," Hannah sonri a la mujer."Eso est mejor", respondi ella, levantando la chica para mirar a los frascos de caramelos en el mostrador."Cul, princesa?"Devlin asked.Hannah seal un frasco de cerezas dulces duros.Dev sonri ... su favorito tambin.Despus de que el piloto compr un pequeo saco de los caramelos, les dividi entre los dos hijos y se meti una en su propia boca."No me importa si tienes el dinero ... no servimos a tu especie. Vamos, git!"Un joven detrs del mostrador mercanca seca fue alzando la voz a un joven y valiente indio.Debe haber sido la familia de los valientes que esperaba en un rincn de la tienda.Una mujer muy joven y una nia de la edad de Hannah estaban nerviosos en las sombras.Sarah sonri y se acerc a la joven, la madre y el nio le devolvi la sonrisa."Kantakiya", dijo Sarah en voz baja cuando reconoci la marca de la Thunderbird clan en cuero y cordn de la correa de la joven."Kantakiya ... oya whyay no", la joven le devolvi el saludo.Hannah tena Devlin de la mano, tirando al jinete de altura hacia donde su madre se puso de pie.Hannah media se escondi detrs de las piernas de la mujer de cabello oscuro y sonri tmidamente a la pequea muchacha india.El joven meti la mano en el saco de caramelos Devlin haba comprado y sac un out.La celebracin de la mano hacia el nio, Hannah esper a que la otra chica para tomar el caramelo ofrecido de su palma.La nia india mir asustado, pero Devlin se arrodill hasta que ella fue ms largo de la altura de los dos jvenes y habl a la nia asustada."Tay oh noa ... Koah digamos Ohna", dijo mientras el rostro de la joven se ilumin y ella sac el caramelo a la palma de Hannah.Las dos chicas sonrieron y rieron el uno al otro.Sarah haba conseguido bastante bueno en el idioma Devlin le ense.Ella convers brevemente con la madre de la joven hasta que el valiente se puso delante de ella, mirndola con recelo.Rpidamente se hizo un gesto con la mano para que su esposa se fuera.Dev se levant en toda su estatura y mir a los valientes por sus malos modales.Buscando un poco disgustado, el valiente tendi el brazo para el piloto, quien lo acept."Kaya, Redhawk", dijo.Despus de unos momentos, la familia Choctaw se fue, dejando a Sarah a preguntarse qu haba sucedido para que los valientes tan enojado.Cuando ella cuestion Devlin, el piloto susurr por lo que no sera escuchada por nadie en la tienda."Queran comprar 10 mantas ... tenan el dinero, pero el empleado no le cualquier venderan."Explic Dev."Debido a que eran indios", pregunt Sarah, sorprendido por el comportamiento del empleado.El piloto asinti con la cabeza.Viejo amigo de Sarah propiedad esta tienda y ella se sorprendi de que alguien que trabajaba para el seor Grayson actuara de esa manera.Con todo Devlin le haba hablado de la gente Choctaw, Sarah saba que no poda hablar a los indios para que acepten las mantas de ella, pero ella empez a formular un plan en su cabeza.Sarah se acerc al mostrador de productos secos a las sonrisas de un nmero de los empleados.No viva en la ciudad, pero todos la conocan.Tambin saban del jinete oscuro que estaba ligeramente por detrs de ella, mirando todo Sarah hizo a travs de los ojos de proteccin.La mayora de ellos se dieron cuenta de que la joven posea un rancho prspero y cuando se trataba de la colocacin de los suministros de invierno que podra hacer o deshacer la tienda con el valor de las compras de un ao.La mayora de ellos, excepto el desafortunado joven que tambin estaba a punto de ver temperamento de primera mano de la joven."El carro est justo enfrente, por favor cargar esta lista de suministros, verdad ... Sr. Alexander?"Sarah pregunt dulcemente, inclinndose un poco para leer el nombre cosido en la chaqueta del joven."Ah, y le agregue 10 mantas de lana a esa lista, el Sr. Alexander?"Agreg Sarah.El joven frunci el ceo y la mir con recelo."Who Are Ya comprando ellos por?"He snapped.Las cejas de Sarah levant y su sonrisa se congel en su lugar.Ella dio un paso ms y puso sus manos en la parte superior de la barra.Dev estaba empezando a disfrutar de ella ahora.Oh, hombre ... alguien debera haber advertido alnio,el piloto pens para s misma, al ver el fuego verde en los ojos de Sarah."I beg your pardon, young man?"Sarah dijo, la sonrisa congelada en el lugar, pero un toque de hielo se aadi a la dulce voz.Una de las chicas detrs del mostrador haba escabullido y regres en un instante con un hombre de unos cincuenta aos, que era tan grande alrededor de la mitad como alto.Chicainteligente,Dev felicit al secretario cuando reconoci el dueo de la tienda corriendo a interceptar la prdida de uno de sus mejores clientes."Sarah!"Corri hacia ella y recorri la pequea mujer en sus brazos.Sarah no pudo evitar rer al hombre mayor, su sonrisa era contagiosa y la joven poda sentir su mal humor disipando poco."Franklin ... ha sido demasiado tiempo, cmo es Marie?"Sarah asked."La media como siempre!"He laughed."He odo que, viejo!"Una mujer tan pequeo como Sarah sali corriendo de la trastienda y le ech los brazos alrededor de Sarah."Eres tan guapa como siempre", felicit a la mujer mayor."Y, es esta pequea Hannah ... por qu no era ms que un poco de nada ltima vez que estuvo aqu, y Mateo ... mi lo que un hombre joven y fuerte que eres."Introducciones rodearon, y luego Sarah hizo algo que Dev no esperaba."Me gustara que conozcas a un amigo mo," Sarah mir detrs de ella en Devlin, el piloto se dio cuenta de que en realidad estaba introduciendo ella."Dev ... este es Frank y Marie Grayson ... esto es Devlin Brown."Sarah hizo las presentaciones y vio como Frank tom la mano de Dev inmediatamente.El piloto mir un poco sorprendido, pero record a quitarse el sombrero cuando salud a la esposa del hombre corpulento."Estabas encontrando todo lo que necesita, Devlin?"Frank Grayson dijo en un intento de comenzar una conversacin informal."En realidad," Dev hizo una pausa para mirar a Sarah, "Sarah parece estar teniendo un poco de problemas."Sarah mir a la mirada azul.Oh, nosotros hacemos un buen equipo,Dev.Luego se coloca una dulce sonrisa en su cara y se ech a rer."En realidad, Frank ... no me di cuenta que tena que justificar todas mis compras ahora. Es una nueva poltica?"She asked.El dueo de la tienda mir al empleado detrs del mostrador."Donald, ests teniendo un problema en el llenado de la orden de la seora Tolliver?"Frank le pregunt en un tono severo.Dev pens que el joven empleado debera haber sabido que dejar las cosas como estaban.Usted habra pensado despus de ver lo que los amigos de la Grayson estaban con la pequea rubia y su familia cercana, l simplemente ha pedido disculpas y se fue sobre su negocio.Algunos hombres nunca aprenden y al tipo joven Donald estaba progresando, no haran lejos en su virilidad antes de que l iba a cabrear a alguien con un conjunto de armas de fuego en torno a su cintura."Ella estaba tratando de comprar mantas para los indios me ech de aqu antes."Donald se burl.Franks ojos se estrecharon al joven."Te refieres a decirme tu diste la vuelta pagar los clientes?"Frank asked."Pero, eran Indians--" se quej."Donald ...", dijo el hombre de ms edad, con el rostro perder su aspecto natural, cordial "Fuera de mi tienda ... ests despedido".El joven empleado mir sorprendido, pero no hizo ningn intento de salir, hasta que Devlin alz los ojos y le dispar al muchacho una mirada fulminante que casi doblaron las rodillas.Recogi sus pertenencias y rpidamente se fue."Evie, crees que puedes conseguir el fin de la seora Tolliver juntos por ella?"Frank le pidi a la joven que se haba pensado rpidamente a llamar al dueo de la tienda en el primer lugar."S, seor Grayson," ella le sonri a Sara."Hay que ir, pequea," dijo Frank a Sarah con una sonrisa, utilizando la expresin de cario que se haba vuelto familiar para la mujer joven."Mi nuevo secretario de cabeza, Evie Sinclair se encargar de todo para usted."Evie jade y dio las gracias al hombre mayor antes de que l volvi a su cuarto de atrs, pero no antes de que l y su esposa se extrae una promesa de la cena con Sarah y su familia.Sarah sonri a la joven."Felicitaciones por su promocin, la seorita Sinclair".Las dos mujeres brillaron sonrisas conspirativas y Sara tomaron Hannah de los brazos de Devlin, lo que lleva al joven hacia las piezas de tela.Es curioso cmo en realidad conocer a una persona que hace mucho bien.La ltima vez que Dev estaba en la tienda, los empleados dispersos como el piloto iba a llamar a cabo durante un tiroteo en pleno medioda.Ahora, ella estaba aqu con Sarah, la celebracin de Hannah en sus brazos, y se lleg a ver lo que era la mujer en realidad.Hasta ese momento, Dev era ms que un bandido legendario, el tipo de persona a la que slo se lee en las novelas de centavo, no alguien que en realidad podra ser bueno para usted.De repente, uno o dos de las chicas en la tienda se dio cuenta de lo encantador realmente era la sonrisa del jinete, y cmo impecablemente tena los ojos.Podan haberse ahorrado algunos problemas si slo se haban molestado en ver que la sonrisa y espumosos encantadores ojos solamente eran para una mujer.Evie vio al piloto mientras comprobaba los elementos de la lista de Sarah, asignndolos a los hombres jvenes a cargar la carreta."Te vi aqu una vez antes, ya sabes", dijo Dev.El piloto de repente se dio cuenta de que se est calentando en la tienda como la joven comenz a coquetear, Sarah no de pie a cinco pies de distancia, una mirada divertida en su rostro."Usted compr un pedazo de cinta ... era para su novia?"Pregunt Evie, mirando con curiosidad a Sarah.Dev neg con la cabeza.Sarah, mientras tanto, pareca estar disfrutando de la difcil situacin del jinete.Ella mir por encima de mirar Dev y se dio cuenta de los odos de la pobre jinete casi se haban vuelto escarlata, la mujer alta, nervioso mirando hacia donde Sarah se puso de pie.Le gustaba lo absolutamente lindo Dev mir, tratando de defenderse de los avances de la joven."Si usted est interesado ... me baje el trabajo pronto", susurr Evie, pero no lo suficientemente tranquilo para Sarah perderse.Una pequea punzada de dolor atraves Sarah mientras ella escuchaba a escondidas, esperando or la respuesta del piloto."Lo siento, cario," el piloto sonri, de repente completamente consciente de que Sarah se esforzaba para escuchar la conversacin."Pero, estoy hablado de".Sarah estaba contento de que ella estaba de espaldas al jinete de pelo oscuro porque no poda detener la enorme sonrisa que se extendi por su cara.

Caminaron por la acera tablones de madera en frente de las tiendas, Hannah saltar por delante juguetonamente."Qu tal si vamos al hotel para el almuerzo?"Sarah asked.Cuando recibi un acuerdo de los otros tres miembros del grupo, Mateo y Hannah corrieron delante.Sarah haba comenzado a sentir muy culpable, no slo para espiar conversaciones de Dev con la chica de la tienda, sino tambin el hecho de que el piloto probablemente la rechaz debido a Sarah y los nios.No tard mucho en darse cuenta de que ella era absolutamente y positivamente enamorado de esta mujer fuerte.La comprensin no se molest en ella se acerque tanto como preguntndose por qu albergaba ninguna reaccin adversa a la idea de estar enamorado de otra mujer.Se dio cuenta tambin de queellaera probablemente la ltima cosa en esta tierra Devlin tena en mente para un amante."Dev ..." comenz Sarah, "Yo no quiero que pienses que tienes que cuidar a nosotros todo el da. Escuch esa chica ... Quiero decir, si quieres salir con ella ..." Sarah no poda traer a s misma para terminar el pensamiento.Devlin mir a Sarah por el rabillo del ojo como la joven luch por encontrar las palabras correctas.Eres simplemente avergonzado, Sarah, o es algo ms?Dev se detuvo y se volvi para mirar a la mujer joven."Sarah, mrame," el piloto orden, pero no con dureza.Sarah mir en las profundidades azules, esperando or algo que saba que iba a romper el corazn.Mientras tanto, el piloto de cabello oscuro crey ver el brillo brumoso de una lgrima en los ojos color jade.Devlin se inclin y le dio una sonrisa de medio lado."Sarah ... creo que mi silla de montar es ms antigua que esa chica. Ella no es exactamente lo que estoy buscando."El piloto termin.No creo que yo podra hacerme ser lo que estsbuscando,pens Sarah.En lugar de expresar el sentimiento que ella sonri mientras Dev la tom del brazo y se mudaron a ponerse al da con los nios.

Entrando en el restaurante del pequeo hotel, que escucharon el sonido de la risa voces masculinas y Sara se dieron cuenta de que sus viejos amigos de la barbacoa estaban todos reunidos en torno a una gran mesa redonda.Varios de los hombres levant la vista y vio a Sarah y el jinete de altura y se volvi a su mesa, la risa estridente llenar el restaurante."Mateo, Hannah ... ven aqu", Sarah orden en voz baja."He cambiado de opinin ... no sera parte de la torta de chocolate de Margie ser mejor que las verduras?"She smiled.Tanto los nios asintieron con la cabeza con entusiasmo."Uno va a la cafetera y dice Margie dije para que usted tenga un gran pedazo de pastel de chocolate y un vaso de leche ... Dev y yo estaremos all en breve, allright?"Ella dijo, presionando dos monedas en la mano de Matt.Observ cmo los hijos se van y se dirigi hacia la mesa de los ganaderos, seguido de cerca por el piloto tranquilo.El silencio era ensordecedor, una vez que lleg a su mesa."Seores, no paran de rer enmicuenta ... es decir," ella sonri como un tigre jugando con su cena, "a menos que ests riendo en micuenta."Por lo menos un nmero de los hombres tena la buena voluntad de parecer avergonzado, pero John Montgomery solo dio una calada a su cigarro, mirando dagas en el jinete, y mirando de reojo abiertamente a Sarah."Bueno, la seora Tolliver, que tambin podra saberlo ahora ... lo que la gente piensa que ests haciendo en ese rancho con una mujer, y yo uso ese trmino vagamente, como ella."Termin sealando hacia Dev.El piloto ya haba acercado a Sarah.Ella habra querido tomar este payaso, pero no se atrevi a iniciar una pelea en la que Sarah posiblemente podra salir lastimado."Vamos, Sarah," Dev inst a la joven a salir."No!"Sarah se volvi y se volvi hacia Devlin.El piloto se dio cuenta de que el temperamento de Sarah era una fuerza a tener en cuenta, y ms tranquilo que ella actu en el exterior, ms se estaba perdiendo en el interior.En este momento, ella estaba tan tranquilo que estaba asustando a la mierda de Devlin, y la mujer de cabello oscuro quera ser ni de lejos el extremo receptor de sta."Sintate," Sarah orden Devlin.Al ver la mirada en los ojos de la joven, sintiendo el calor que irradiaba de su cuerpo y la lenta sonrisa salvaje que se extendi por sus labios, Devlin hizo lo que cualquier otro hombre que se precie o mujer habra hecho en su lugar.Ella inmediatamente se sent."Ahora, el seor Montgomery ... acerca de loquehago enmirancho."Se puso de pie detrs del hombre y se inclin cerca de su odo."Quieres saber lo que pasa?"Sin esperar respuesta, comenz a susurrar al odo del hombre.La pequea sonrisa maligna que Sarah tena en la cara y el cambio repentino en la palidez de la tez de Montgomery hizo Devlin gemir a s misma.Oh, dios ... por la sonrisa en su rostro y la forma en que se ve, slo sabe lo que spitfire est diciendo l!Sarah se puso de pie hacia arriba, caminando hacia un lugar en la cabecera de la mesa, con las manos apoyadas sobre las espaldas de dos sillas separadas."Puede que no me gusta mucho, seores ... confa en m, no estoy terriblemente tomado con alguno de ustedes tampoco, pero todos somos ganaderos. Yo no voy a ninguna parte, estoy aqu para quedarse ... as obtener encima de eso.""Siempre se puede vender ... Yo estara encantado de ofrecer un precio justo."Montgomery dijo con una sonrisa sincera."Por ltima vez ... nunca tendrs mi tierra, John Montgomery!"Sarah dijo con vehemencia."Bueno, tal vez tu to se sentir diferente", se burl.Sara se ri en la cara del hombre."Mi to morira antes de que l se entreg a alguien como t", respondi ella.Eso ciertamente se puede arreglar, seorita alto ypoderoso,Montgomery pens para s mismo.Sarah se acerc a Devlin, las manos comienzan a temblar ligeramente en ira."Ahora,estamos listos para salir," dijo ella moviendo hacia la puerta, sin molestarse en ver si el piloto sigui.Ella saba que tena que salir de all antes de que las lgrimas que quem la parte posterior de sus ojos cay.Dev dio un salto y se encontraba frente a la joven enojado, tirando la puerta abierta delante de ella.La hermosa piloto inclin su sombrero como Sarah pasaba, ya travs de la puerta abierta."S, seora", dijo Dev con asombro a la mujer cuyo tamao ciertamente no refleja la fuerza que llev a cabo en su interior.

"Oooh, esos ... los hombres!"Sarah dijo entre dientes apretados, ya que ella y Devlin se dirigi a la cafetera.La joven se dio cuenta del silencio del jinete y la pona nerviosa."Vas a decir nada en absoluto?"She asked."No en su vida", Dev respondi, sus dientes blancos brillando en una amplia sonrisa.Ah es cuando Sarah tena que rer.Ella y Dev casi se cay en uno en brazos del otro, se estaban riendo tan duro, y se senta tan bien despus de los ltimos momentos de tensin.Haba demasiada gente y los carros bulliciosas alrededor en el camino de tierra ocupada para tomar nota de las dos mujeres, como Dev alcanz a darle un abrazo reconfortante a la mujer ms pequea."Bueno, hola, Stretch".Una voz femenina vino de atrs Sarah.El corazn de Dev hundido.Oh, genial ... estoy en un tren y va directo al infierno!Sarah liber del abrazo luz del piloto de encontrar la fuente de la voz familiar."Ellen!"Sarah dijo con deleite."Sarah?"La seora mir detenidamente sorprendido.Dev se qued con la boca abierta, a las dos mujeres, el que ella amaba y la madame del burdel local de ... amigos obvias.De tren parado ... todo lo alto, es oficial ... Estoy en el infierno!Las dos mujeres se abrazaron unos a otros y Dev trataron de integrarse en el paisaje.Mientras que haba en realidad nunca disfrut del placer de la cama de la seora, que haba coqueteado con ella lo suficiente como para ser lo suficientemente avergonzado ahora mismo.Ellen era unos quince aos mayor que ella petite amigo rubio era, pero ella todava tena el cuerpo de una chica que trabaja la mitad de su edad.Ella ahora era dueo de un negocio prspero con diez chicas en su casa.Ellen ya no se ganaba la vida en la espalda, pero lo hizo entretener a ciertos hombres y mujeres cuando el estado de nimo la golpe."Te ves absolutamente maravilloso", dijo a la anciana Sara."Estaba tan lo de Pedro.""Gracias", Sarah apret la mano de su amiga."Te ves muy relajado a ti mismo en estos das. La vida de las altas finanzas debe estar de acuerdo con usted!"She smiled.Hannah y Matt se acerc corriendo a las mujeres, la joven haba el chocolate todava manchado por la boca y las mejillas."Dev, me levante."Hannah salt arriba y abajo, pidiendo el jinete de altura."Levante para arriba, qu?"Dev asked."Pleeeaase," Hannah le dedic una sonrisa de chocolate."Eso est mejor", respondi ella, levantando la chica como el joven se ri de su broma recurrente.Sarah sac un pauelo y se limpi el lo de la cara de su hija."Es esto Hannah ... y Matthew?"Ella mir al muchacho como Dev accion un delgado dedo en el ala del sombrero del muchacho.Matt sac rpidamente el sombrero de la cabeza y estrech la mano de la mujer."T eres casi un hombre adulto!"Ellen coment."Oh, por favor, El ... tengo suficientes problemas como es."Sarah rolled her eyes."Y, preciosa, Hannah. Creo que estaba tomando una siesta en una cuna de la ltima vez que te vi," ella le sonri a la joven que sonri de vuelta."Yo no tengo ta dormir en una cuna ms. Duermo en mi cama, yo solo ... excepto cuando duermo con mam y Dev."Tres pares de ojos se agrandaron adultos ante las palabras de la chica.Ellen apenas poda creer lo que haba odo, y fue pensando que ella no saba que su amigo medio tan bien como ella pensaba.Sarah haba perdido la voz por completo, pero sus ojos estaban en Devlin, viendo la expresin de asombro en el rostro del jinete.El joven al parecer solo a todo vapor en su conversacin, cuando Devlin se desliz rpidamente una mano sobre la boca de la chica."No dijiste que queras pastel de chocolate?"Ella le solt la mano."Pero, Dev ... yo ya tena algo.""Vamos a buscar un poco ms ... vamos, Matt."Dev camin rpidamente hacia atrs hacia la cafetera, el pequeo parlanchn todava en sus brazos."Por supuesto que podra hacer peor", coment Ellen mientras ella y Sarah mir la figura que se alejaba rpidamente del jinete.Sarah lo mir a la cara divertida de su amiga y ella sinti que los ltimos momentos vienen de estrellarse en en ella.Tears formed in her eyes."Vamos, chica ... definitivamente Parece que necesitas una copa."Ellen sac un brazo por el hombro de la mujer ms pequea y la gui en la direccin de su establecimiento.Sentado en una habitacin con cortinas fuera lejos del saln principal, Ellen vierte cada uno de ellos una generosa porcin de Kentucky Bourbon y sali de la botella en la mesa.Se sent y mir a su joven amiga, esperando a que ella hablara."Lo que has odo decir Hannah ... que no es exactamente lo que pas."Rpidamente explic cmo Dev haba conseguido tiro y su recuperacin."Nosotros no estamos juntos as", termin, secndose una lgrima errante de su mejilla."Pero, usted quiere ser, no?"Ellen le pregunt suavemente, reconociendo el dolor en el rostro de la joven."No s cmo algo as podra pasar a m!"Sarah solt."Soy una viuda ... He estado casado ... con un hombre. Tengo dos hijos ... esto no es exactamente lo que haba planeado. El, no entiendo ninguno de los sentimientos que estoy teniendo de esta mujer . Cmo poda mi corazn ... mi cuerpo, slo tiene que ir y cambiar todas las reglas en torno de esta manera? "Ellen haba odo el sentimiento antes, y ella entiende completamente."Sarah ... es as ... la mayora de cada da de tu vida has patatas hervidas con su cena ... da a da, los papas siempre se hierven. Entonces, un da, de repente y sin razn aparente, usted tiene sus papas fritos. Algunas personas eventualmente regresar a sus patatas cocidas ... algunas personas les gusta tener ellos en ambos sentidos, y algunas personas terminan dndose cuenta de que este es el camino que realmente queran ellos todo el tiempo. Recuerde una cosa, chico, "la mujer mayor levant la barbilla de Sarah en un agarre suave ", el muymejorcosa en este mundo es cuando encuentras a alguien que los ama, de la manera que usted lo hace.Sarah sonri a su amiga y levant su copa a la mujer.Tocaron las gafas y Sarah comenzaron a confiar en Elena de todo lo que haba ocurrido en los ltimos seis meses.

Dev camin por la acera con Hannah y Matthew.El piloto observ Ellen y Sarah de la ventana de la cafetera, con los ojos registran completa sorpresa cuando vio a las dos mujeres caminan en lugar de Ellen."Matt, qudate aqu y ver a tu hermana ... me voy a poner a tu madre. No vamos a ser demasiado largo."Dijo Dev."Pero, yo quiero ir tambin," el muchacho declar.Se tira para arriba en toda su estatura, intent hacer su voz ms profunda, para diversin del jinete."Soy lo suficientemente mayor como para ir all y no meterse en problemas."Matt finished.Dev solt una carcajada y golpe al chico en la parte posterior de una manera amistosa."Muchacho, yo ni siquiera es lo suficientemente mayor como para ir all y no meterse en problemas!"Dev continu a rer."Stay here."Cuando Dev entr en la sala del frente, saba que esto no iba a ser fcil.Ella casualmente luch contra los avances de dos chicas jvenes y fue en busca del dueo del burdel.Por ltimo, se encontr Ellen manejo de una pelea que se desat entre dos de las nias que trabajan."Dnde est Sara?"she asked the older woman."Vamos, estiramiento ... en la espalda."Ellen corri la cortina a un lado para Dev para recorrer y la mujer de cabello oscuro se reuni con el sitio de Sarah se mueve hacia atrs hacia el conductor, un joven amorosa avanzar en la mujer joven."Mira, yo realmente no trabajo aqu," Sarah estaba explicando como ella continu retrocediendo hacia la puerta.El joven se registr a los recin llegados antes de que Sarah hizo, pero se dio cuenta de ella misma cuando ella sali corriendo de la habitacin y respaldada en una pared del cuerpo caliente.Ella saba que en un instante que se trataba desujinete;el olor reconfortante de cuero y madera de humo atacando sus fosas nasales.Fue entonces cuando sinti la vibracin contra su espalda.Devlin sinti el cuerpo de prensa de Sarah contra su pecho, y todo pensamiento racional la dej.El piloto mir al hombre, su mirada azul palideciendo, y tan fra como el hielo.No pareca estar recibiendo el mensaje, dando un paso ms cerca de la pequea mujer que estaba entre los dos pilotos.Respuesta involuntaria de Dev era el gruido que se inici el fondo de su pecho.Sarah haba odo ese sonido antes.Cuando era una nia que sac la mano demasiado cerca de uno de los perros de la familia, mientras que l estaba disfrutando de un hueso.El gruido amenazador proveniente del jinete de altura detrs de ella, sonaba igual gruido de ese perro.Sarah saba en su corazn que significaba lo mismo ahora como lo hizo el ... atrs porque no entiendo el concepto de compartir!El joven era evidentemente mucho menos terco que Sarah era.Mientras que brome al perro hasta que lleg poco, el hombre levant las manos y dio dos pasos atrs de Sarah."Ella no vale la pena luchar ms, amigo."He drawled.Ah es donde teequivocas,Dev pens para s misma."Ests bien?"Pregunt el piloto, una vez que Ellen haba llevado al joven y le present a un compaero ms dispuestos."Yo estoy bien, gracias ... otra vez. Ests sincronizacin es impecable."Ella sonri y Dev sinti que sus rodillas van dbiles ante la vista.Los dos se sentaron a la mesa, a la espera de Ellen para reaparecer.Sarah vierte el piloto de una bebida y sus ojos azules brillaban como el lquido se desliz por su garganta.Agarrando la botella mir la etiqueta, y luego a Sarah, una ceja casi desaparecer bajo el flequillo de bano."Bueno, tengo que conseguirlo de alguna parte", explic Sarah con una sonrisa irnica.Dev no poda mantenerlo en ms tiempo."Sarah ... cmo en el mundo sabes Ellen?""No es ms que un viejo amigo," respondi Sarah."No dejes que la cara bonita engaar ya, estiramiento," Ellen entr en la habitacin de nuevo."Tan astuto una mujer de negocios del Este como vienen. Cuando yo no tena ni un centavo izquierda para mantener este lugar de ir hace cinco aos, hacer ya pensar esas bonitas, ganaderos respetables me iban a ayudar. Utilizaron el lugar un montn, pero no quieren que sus esposas lo sepan ".Ellen se sent y se sirvi otra copa.Observ Devlin, quien a su vez, mir a Sarah, con los ojos de la joven mirando a su vaso."Francamente, asust el infierno fuera de m, este pequeo trozo de una nia de valses en mi lugar a plena luz del da y plunks quinientos dlares en mi regazo. Al principio pens que quera acostarse conmigo, y yo saba que iba a tiene que tirar todos los trucos de la bolsa para ganar esa cantidad de dinero! "Ellen se ri en voz alta.Dev descubri el rostro de Sarah estaba convirtiendo un bonito tono rosado.Sarah estaba recordando el incidente tambin.Ella mayormente recordado lo mal que sus rodillas temblaban cuando ella entr y pidi hablar con el propietario.Luego, cuando empez a comprender lo que pens la mujer mayor que ella iba a tener que hacer por el dinero, Sarah casi se desmay.Ella no haba dicho alguna vez a Pedro, pero se espera que lo escuch de algunos de los hombres, si lo haca, nunca lo llev hasta ella.Era su dinero y Peter siempre supo que la joven se movi al ritmo de un baterista no convencional.Ella estara condenada si dejara que esos ganaderos ejecutar esta mujer fuera de la ciudad.As, ella se retir el dinero y se lo entreg al desconocido."Ella me da el dinero y dice que no le importa qu tipo de negocio que estoy, pero ella va a morir antes de que ella se entrega a Montgomery y sus compinches. Ella me dijo que poda devolver el dinero cuando poda, si quera. El nico problema era ... Nunca quise. Algo as le gusta havin 'esta chica testaruda como mi socio de negocios ".Ellen sonri y extendi la mano para colocar una mano sobre la de Sarah, recibiendo una dulce sonrisa de su joven amigo."Y, en el fondo ... No creo que Sarah me quiere, tampoco. Creo que un poco le gusta spittin 'en esos tipos ojos de esta manera. Una seora respetable como ella, ownin' una casa de putas."Dev no haba dicho una palabra a travs de toda la historia.En la superficie que pareca ser el manejo de la noticia bastante bien, pero por debajo de su mundo haba sido sacudido.No es una mala noticia ... definitivamente no es algo malo.Dios, la ltima cosa que necesitaba era una virgen inmaculada.sta puede ser una dama, pero ella tiene un buen conjunto de joyas en ella.El piloto encontr que a ella le gustaba eso ... a ella le gustaba mucho eso.Sarah y Devlin dijo que sus adioses a Ellen y se dirigieron fuera.Como Hannah salt a los brazos de su madre, Ellen sac discretamente al piloto a un lado."Usted toma el buen cuidado de ella, Stretch. Usted nunca encontrar a nadie que le podra amar ms".Ellen dijo rpidamente a un jinete sorprendido.Despus de asegurar los suministros y hacer que todos cmodos, Dev liderar el regreso a casa vagn.A ella le gustaba el sonido de eso ... a casa.Despus de una hora de silencio, Sarah susurr al jinete."Yo, socio silencioso en un burdel ... es que el nunca vio venir?"Sin perder el ritmo, el piloto respondi."Completamente me blind-sided".Otro de unos momentos de silencio pasaban antes de que Sarah volvi a hablar."Dev, qu te molesta?"She asked.Devlin sonri ante el gesto de preocupacin en el rostro de Sarah.Alcanzar sobre ella coloc una mano clida en la ms pequea de su amiga."No, Sarah ... ni un poco."Su sonrisa se hizo ms grande."Es el tipo de cosa ..." baj la voz a apenas un susurro, "... Supongo que es el tipo de cosas slo le hara a alguien. Me pone contento yo--"Quera decir las palabras.Me pone contento que estoy enamorado de una mujer comot.Ella no poda reunir el valor de la accin."... Me hace contento de que soy tu amigo."Dev dijo finalmente.Sarah estaba segura por la mirada en los ojos azules que Dev haba querido decir ms, pero el jinete volvi sus ojos hacia la carretera, su sonrisa de regresar cuando sinti deslizamiento brazo de Sarah a travs de su propia cuenta."Ah, se me olvidaba, Dev. Cree usted que usted puede hacer que se vea como diez mantas eran un regalo de los Espritus a la joven pareja que conocimos hoy?"Sarah asked."Estoy seguro de que puedo", el piloto respondi con una sonrisa.

"No me gusta esta idea, Sarah ... ni un poco", el piloto mostr ojos azules elctricos a la joven.Sarah estaba vestido con su traje de montar consuetudinario, lo que significaba que la ropa de su hijo.Devlin haba ensillado Telmaco, pero haba sido el argumento para la ltima media hora con la rubia obstinada acerca de tomar el semental a cabo.No es que yo no he hecho esto antes, Dev.Es slo veinticinco millas hasta el lugar del to Art.Voy a pasar el da con los nios y Mattie y estar en casa antes de que el sol, incluso se pone.Mateo y Hannah estaban gastando las prximas tres semanas en el rancho de su to, jugar y visitar a sus primos.Mattie haba ofrecido a salir a la Deuce doble, pero Sarah perdido a sus hijos desesperadamente despus de unos das.El viaje hacia la casa de su to fue agradable y que no le importaba tener el tiempo solo, a pesar de que hubiera sido bueno tener la hermosa jinete lo largo de la empresa."Voy a venir junto con usted", dijo Dev llegando al final de su paciencia.Sarah se detuvo y cruz los brazos sobre su pecho.Dios, Te amo mujer, pero no me tratan como un nio!"Y, quin sera correr manada sobre este bien rancho de los nuestros, mientras que usted me est cuidando nios?"Sarah asked.Dev busc en su cerebro, slo para ser incapaz de formular una respuesta a la pregunta de la joven.Ella abri la boca un par de veces, pero no pudo conseguir su lengua fuera del camino."Aaaarrrrgggh!"She groaned.Girando y pisando fuerte en la casa, el piloto sali con uno de los rifles Winchester de sobre la chimenea."De acuerdo, no disparen, no voy a ir", Sarah brome con sus manos en el aire.Devlin simplemente mir a la joven mujer y su sentido del humor.El piloto doble comprob la carga del fusil y la meti en su funda de cuero en el lado izquierdo de la silla de montar, el relleno de una caja extra de cartuchos en la alforja.Sac uno de sus propios seis caones de ella de la pistolera y sac la cmara abierta para asegurar la misma haba hecho seis balas en el cartucho.Luego se llev a cabo la pistola de Sarah a tomar."Dev--" Sarah comenz."Mire, usted debe ser honrado de lo mucho que confo en ti ... HeNuncadejesque nadieutilice uno de mis armas antes.""Dev--""Es slo un poco de proteccin adicional ... mantenerlo en su cinturn, mientras que usted est montando, as ...""Dev",dijo Sarah con voz levantada, su pequea mano parando para envolver grandes, uno delgado del jinete."No s cmo disparar uno de ellos."Sarah dijo con calma."What?!""Dije--""Te escuch la primera vez, simplemente no puedo creerlo! Te refieres a decirme que puede disparar las alas a un mosquito a cincuenta yardas con un rifle, pero nunca he disparado una pistola antes?"Pregunt Dev, asombrado.Sarah dio una pequea sonrisa de medio lado y se encogi de hombros."Est bien", dijo Dev medio arrastrando a la joven hacia fuera sobre la pradera abierta, lejos de la casa."Todo lo que tienes que hacer es levantarla, tire hacia atrs el martillo, y disparar."Ella demostr elevando lentamente la pistola, ladeando el martillo con el pulgar, y disparando una pequea rama de un rbol cercano.Luego le entreg la pistola a Sarah.Sarah hizo exactamente lo que el piloto dio instrucciones, Devlin estaba feliz de ver la mano de la joven lo suficientemente fuerte como para tirar el martillo con bastante facilidad.Sarah dispar el arma y una vieja lata vol un puesto cercano.Ella sonri hacia el jinete."Not bad, huh?""Sarah", Devlin arrastrando las palabras, "A qu te referas a golpear esa lata?""Um ... no, en realidad yo estaba filmando para el mismo rbol se golpea."Ella sonri tmidamente, con indicacin de los rboles de diez pies de la izquierda de la entrada.Dev neg con la cabeza y se pas la mano por la cara.Agarrando el arma de la mano de la joven, ella vuelve a cargar y se lo meti en el cinturn de Sarah.Entonces los dos caminaron de vuelta a donde tena que cargar Telmaco."Esperemos que cualquiera que significa para darle problemas tendr una mirada en ella ycreoque sabes cmo usarlo."Dijo Devlin.Sarah se abroch la chaqueta cerrada, volvindose hacia la mujer ms alta."Si esperas que mate a nadie con esto, l va a tener que empezar a problemas de unos diez pies a mi izquierda."She joked.Una mirada de dolor pas por delante de los ojos azules del jinete."Sarah", dijo ella, poco a poco llegando a ms y tirando abierta la chaqueta de la joven, deslizndose suavemente el arma de su cintura."Yo no quiero que tengas que matar a nadie ... nunca.""Why?"Pregunt Sarah, confundido al repentino cambio del jinete del corazn."Debido a quitarle la vida a otra persona cambia las cosas ... lo cambia todo."Ella contest, sus ojos no pueden satisfacer Sarah.Sarah apret con ternura el antebrazo de la mujer de pelo oscuro."Es Allright, Dev ... voy a estar bien, ya lo vers."Devlin quera poner sus brazos alrededor de esta joven y besarla por todo lo que vala la pena, pero ella se qued all, como Sarah se volvi a montar el gran caballo negro.Despus Dev le dio un pie hacia arriba, Sarah lleg a su mano hacia abajo para agarrar el piloto de."No estoy acostumbrado a cualquiera manada cabalgando sobre m tampoco ... supongo que no estoy acostumbrado a que alguien de preocuparte por m.""Hay que acostumbrarse a ella," Dev no poda dejar de decir a la mujer sonrindole."No se olvide de comer algo ..." Sarah llam antes de que ella se perdi de vista.

Dev se paseaba frente a la puerta de la cabina grande.Nubarrones negros masivos se reunan por la cresta norte, el sol haca tiempo que haba escondido detrs de la tormenta que se acerca, y relmpagos empezaban a iluminar el cielo en la distancia.Antes de ponerse el sol, ella dijo ... antes que establece el sol ... ella me prometi.Dej su to o es que ella sigue ah?! Maldita sea, SarahEl piloto continu a discutir con ella misma.No quera que Sarah pensara que la estaba tratando como un nio indefenso, pero ella estaba empezando a preocuparme.La temperatura haba bajado considerablemente, el piloto pens que era probable que ya nevando en las montaas.Un fro que incluso tena su clido temblor corporal sangre tom una decisin.Tornillo sus sentimientos acerca de la independencia de este tiempo, Sarah!El piloto arroj apresuradamente algunas fuentes en su alforja y bucle mango de una linterna alrededor del Saddlehorn.Ella tir de su propia capa de cuero pesado y se fue, con suerte para reunirse con el dueo del rancho prdigo.

"Fcil, muchacho", dijo Sarah en tonos suaves al semental asustadizos.Otro relmpago, ms cerca que la ltima, tena Sarah rechazado en todas partes en la silla, usando toda la fuerza superior del cuerpo que pudo para mantener las riendas tensada y abajo de la cabeza de los caballos.El semental bien entrenado hizo todo lo posible para cumplir rdenes de su ama, pero los destellos de luz pronto fueron acompaados por las grietas de divisin del odo de los truenos.Telmaco se encabrit vez y Sarah luch contra l hacia abajo, sacudindose el bit ms o menos en un movimiento hacia abajo, luchando por mantener su asiento.Las riendas se clavaron en los dedos congelados de la joven mientras se maldijo por no incluso trayendo consigo sus guantes de mon