Free Renegade Moon (CupidKey) by Karen E. Rigley, Ann M. House Page A

pebble followed the first one into the water. “I don’t know why Eric’s mother died in childbirth. She developed some condition and died before they could get help for her. We were pretty remote at the Bar-M in those days. I suppose we still are even now, to some people. I don’t really remember Eric’s mother’s death, I was so young. I do remember feeling jealous that there was a baby to fuss over, and it wasn’t me. I’d been the baby up until then. Not quite three years later his old man got pitched off a horse into a barn wall. Broke his neck. George became a dedicated drunk after his wife died, and he had a hangover. Eric and I were both a little older then, and I understood how he felt. It hurt to see him grieve for his father.”
    Martin weighed a couple of pebbles carefully, chose one, and sailed it into the creek. “We’ve always been in competition with each other, and for each other. I was jealous if anybody paid any attention to him, and if he paid attention to anyone else. I don’t know. Guess Eric and I have some pretty crazy mixed-up feelings about each other.”
    He turned to Destiny suddenly and flashed his brilliant smile. “Why am I telling you all this? I think you cast a spell on me.” He jumped to his feet and extended a hand to Destiny. “Come on. I want to show you something.”
    She allowed him to pull her to her feet. His hand felt warm and pleasant, but without the sparks that Eric’s touch ignited.
    “See those stones that cross the water? Let’s hop across.”
    The strange, up-thrust rocks, almost like giant toadstools spaced across the creek, fascinated her. Water truly must thunder through this canyon to carve those out like that. She glanced down at her rubber-soled tennis shoes and bare legs.
    “Why not?” she agreed with a laugh, joining in his light mood.
    Martin hopped onto the first stone. He waited, and Destiny followed. When her feet slipped, he caught her around her waist.
    “Careful.” He grinned, pulling her closer than she considered necessary.
    “I’ll go first. You take up too much room.” She leaped to the next boulder. Martin landed lightly beside her, his arms pinioning her body to prevent her from being knocked into the creek. For a moment he pressed his face against her hair.
    “There’s a legend about these stones,” he said softly.
    Destiny squirmed from his too-intimate embrace. To keep her balance, she extended one leg to rest a foot on the next boulder. “What kind of legend?”
    “Native American.” He freed her to jump to the next stone, following closely behind. They balanced atop it, midway across the creek bed, Destiny again with a foot stretched to the next rock.
    “Tell me.”
    “They’re called the Marriage Stones. According to ancient myth, if a brave lures his chosen maiden across these stepping stones, they’ll marry.”
    A giant thundercloud loomed up over the edge of the canyon, blocking the sun. A gust of wind whipped her hair into her face. She shivered. “Let’s go back. The wind is chilly.”
    “Come on. We’re almost across,” Martin coaxed, hopping to the next stone and tugging Destiny’s hand.
    “No, I’d rather not.” She stayed firmly planted upon her own pillar.
    “It’s only a silly Indian legend.”
    “I want to get back to the car before it starts raining.” She refused to admit that the story bothered her. To punctuate her statement, a deep rumble of thunder rolled across the sky. Other huge billows joined the first one. Destiny leaped from pillar to pillar until she reached the bank. Martin watched her a moment, then followed.
    Icy fat drops pelted them. Martin grabbed Destiny’s hand and raced for the Suburban. “We’ve got to get out of here,” he said, all teasing gone, as they leaped into the vehicle. Rain pelted down, coming at a steep slant. Martin drove as fast as possible through the swiftly rising water.
    “Is this four-wheel drive?” Destiny was truly frightened. Never had she