Chapter Twenty

Ance was on edge the next few days as the trio traveled. Audrey knew it was because of the close calls they'd had so far. It was clear the outlaw wanted to ensure he had his senses on high alert and no one else was able to get near Penelope. 

Audrey wished the man would relax--at least a little. Ance relaxed was grumpy enough; Ance tense was downright surly. Even Penelope seemed to have noticed the change in the man and begun giving him a much wider berth. She had even gone so far as to stop riding on Ance's horse and was now instead riding on with Audrey. 

"We'll camp here," Ance growled, pulling his horse to a stop beside the creek they'd been following for days. The water had been growing deeper and wider as they traveled and Audrey knew, based on the direction they were going, that they had to nearing Indian Territory if they hadn't entered it already. 

She wondered why Ance would bring them to such a dangerous land for safety but she didn't question him. He had done everything he could so far to keep them safe and they had lived this long... Audrey would trust him completely now. The man had certainly earned it. 

"It's earlier than when we usually stop," Audrey noted as she got down from the horses back and pulled Penelope off as well. 

Ance grunted as he pointed one thick finger up toward the sky and the dark clouds that were gathering quickly. "Would you rather ride through one hell of a rainstorm?" he snapped. 

"No," Audrey quickly replied with more than a little sarcasm in her voice. At the sound of her snappy tone, Ance raised a brow but said nothing before pulling all his gear off his mare and pack mule. Audrey did the same to her horse while Penelope walked to the creek bank and studied the rippling waves. 

"You and Penny go gather some berries," Ance's deep voice suddenly growled into her ear. 

Audrey's knees trembled as his warm breath caressed her. Before Audrey could form a response, Ance's calloused hand gently came to rest on her shoulder. 

Her stomach danced while her heart raced. The tips of his rough fingers danced across Audrey's skin and lightly grazed the bare skin of her collarbone. Audrey felt her womb clench deep within her. Dear Lord, what was happening to her? Desire flowing through her veins like blood and it took every ounce of control she had to keep from turning and throwing herself into Ance's strong arms. 

Those strong fingers grazed the tender flesh behind her ear and Audrey couldn't keep herself from moaning. Never had she felt a lust and want so powerful for any man but Alexander. 

Then, just as suddenly as he had begun to drive her wild, Audrey felt a small tug and Ance's warm touch was gone. Audrey turned on trembling legs just in time to see Ance tossing something too small for her to see away. 

"There was a bug," he mumbled. 

Audrey nibbled at her bottom lip as she studied his bearded face for any sign that he had been as aroused by the contact as she had. If Audrey was a betting woman, she would say that he had. She was nearly positive that the tops of his cheeks, above his beard, were heated, his pupils were dilated, his impossibly blue eyes even darker somehow than normal and his nostrils were flaring as he stared back down at her. 

"Um..thanks," Audrey stammered. 

"If you want a decent supper, you better go gather those berries." Was all Ance said in reply. 

To say that Audrey was feeling a bit off kilter as she and Penelope gathered their berries was an understatement. She was undeniably attracted to Ansel Adams. He was rude, bristly, possessive and a thieving, murdering outlaw...

He was also handsome, mysterious, tall, broad, strong and completely in love with her daughter. 

Audrey had been alone raising Penelope for five long years. She hadn't given any thought to being with a man since Alexander's death, no matter how many men had shown interest. 

But now...

"Wow!" Penelope exclaimed as they topped over the small hill and took in the sight of just how hard Ance had been working. He had a large cloth tarp strung up and draping from the large limbs of several massive oak trees. There was a campfire burning, bedrolls laid out and the last of their potatoes were boiling.  

The scene was quite...homey.. And not in the least something Audrey would have expected from Ance. 

"You've outdone yourself," Audrey stated as she held out the pot full of berries they had gathered and tried to push her thoughts of attraction for Ance aside. She had much bigger things to worry about just now...like all the people who wanted her daughter dead. 

"Just wanted to keep us dry when this rain hits," Ance replied without looking at her. 

"Why didn't you put this up before?" Penelope asked as she twilred around beneath the canvas. "We've gotten wet before when mama wasn't here." 

Audrey returned her gaze to Ance and realized the man was now staring straight back at her. His gaze was hot, hungry and surely if that rain began now it would sizzle upon their makeshift shelter. 

"Your mama is a woman, Penny, and I figured since she's a woman, she'd like a dry place to lay her head tonight." 

Audrey nodded, fidgeting as he continued to study her with ravenous blue eyes. "I think this is nice, Ance. Thank you for going to such trouble for me." 

Ance grunted and turned away, breaking the contact between them. "Yeah, well, if there's one thing women are, it's trouble." 

***

Ance was conflicted...around aroused. He was a conflicted, aroused mess and it was all Audrey's fault. 

Damn but he wanted that woman!  When he had seen that man standing so close to her all those nights ago and had heard him say he waned to take advantage of her, Ance had been filled with rage. He'd killed that bastard in a possessive haze because Audrey was his!

Damnation!

Ance didn't want a woman! Hell, he couldn't stand most women... but then again, he'd already learned that Audrey was different. 

Darkness had fallen, the heavy rain that had poured down for hours had finally ceased and Penelope and Audrey were sleeping soundly. Ance decided that what he needed was a bit of a walk to clear his head. He'd been on high alert for the last few days but now that they were in Indian Territory he could relax a bit. 

Ance trusted most Indians more than he trusted white men and he knew that most men wouldn't follow him here--their fear of losing their scalps would be far too high. 

Old man Thompson was a friend of the Indians and had his home here in the territory. A home that was only seven more days of riding away. Ance had to get Audrey and Penelope there, deal with Barnaby and then get them home. 

His chances of doing that and living to talk about it were slim to none and he damn well knew it... but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try his damndest to get it done. 

Ance let his feet carry him over a nearby hill and he sat down halfway down the other side. Pulling a cigar from his pocket, Ance lit it and as he puffed it slowly, he contemplated life and the way things turned out--the way they changed and shifted without warning. 

Footsteps sounded behind him and Ance cursed under his breath. "You're supposed to be sleeping, Audrey," he grumbled. 

"I could say the same about you," she snapped back. 

Ance was glad that his back was to her and she wouldn't be able to see him smile. Audrey had a snappy temper that rivaled even his. Before Ance could think of anything to say in response, Audrey let out a gasp. Ance turned just in time to see her slip in the mud and come tumbling his way. 

Throwing out his arms, Ance attempted to catch her but her momentum proved too great and knocked him off balance, sending them both rolling down the small hill. Ance kept a grip on her and when they landed he was above her. 

Quickly Ance braced himself up to avoid crushing her much smaller frame. He stared down into her wide brown eyes and she stared right back up at him. 

Ance breathed in her scent which was a mixture of lavender, berries and the horses they'd been living on. Her full freckled cheeks were flushed and her breasts rose and fell heavily as she lay beneath him. 

Ance felt large, powerful and.... Helpless. With Audrey looking up at him this way, Ance felt completely helpless. 

Audrey's pink tongue darted across her full bottom lip and suddenly Ance had to know what it tasted like. Without waiting a moment longer or seeking permission, Ance dipped his head down and captured her lips with his own.