Free Belle Gone Bad by Sabine Starr Page B

the trail. If Diana is smart, she’ll delay them every step of the way, hoping somebody is coming to rescue her.”
    â€œThat’s what she’ll do. She’s smart and she knows I . . . the Bend won’t let her down.”
    Belle felt another twinge over her heart. Only this time it felt like jealousy. If it’d been over Hackett, she could’ve understood the feeling. Her fiancé had been the perfect man. But Mercy preferred paint brushes to six-shooters. His skills lay in his creativity, not in his fists. He was weak, not strong. Yet she couldn’t forget his fingertip sensually playing with Lulu’s ring as if he played with her own sensitive nub. That memory alone made her hot all over, especially in her deep, inner core. No, she didn’t like the fact that Mercy admired Diana and might be her lover. But she didn’t like to feel petty, either.
    What was it about this man that called to her at such a deep level? He felt it, too. He’d let her know with looks and words. She’d have to be careful. It wouldn’t take much for either of them to throw caution to the wind, create a wild storm, and set their senses on fire.
    She urged Juniper forward, wanting to get away from her thoughts, feelings, and Mercy.
    â€œHey, wait up!” he called.
    She glanced back. She could run from him, but she couldn’t hide from herself.

Chapter 13
    N ights were always the worst. Mercy dreaded trying to sleep with Belle around. She was too sharp. She noticed everything. But he owed Diana. Even more, he wanted to get her safely home. Yet he was sickening fast.
    As the Sun slowly sank in the west, Belle led him off the road. He followed her north on a trail that wound its way along Buffalo Creek. He hung on to the reins with one hand and the saddle horn with the other. If he could get his saddle blanket rolled out, he wanted nothing more than to collapse on it and rest his aching bones.
    â€œLooks like nobody’s been by here lately.” Belle glanced back at him. “There’s a rise up ahead and a big old sycamore to camp under.”
    â€œWe can’t get there soon enough for me.”
    â€œI’ll scout the area to make sure we’re alone. You go ahead and start camp.”
    He watched her ride away, looking as fresh as if they hadn’t already had a long day. He remembered a time when he’d had stamina, too. If not for the curse, he might even now.
    A little later, he found the sycamore that rose majestically on a hill above a bend of the creek. Sunlight splashed through the limbs to turn the leaves silvery-gold as they spun in a breeze. He’d always admired the green of Earth juxtaposed with the blue of sky. Early evening shadows created so many shades of blue and green that he was tempted to try his hand at painting a bucolic scene. Maybe he’d even live to do it. For now, the place represented a safe cocoon. He was glad to be there for no other reason than to rest.
    He rode Kirby over to the stream, noticing the play of light across water, rock, and red dirt. Surprisingly, he’d like to capture such beauty, particularly if he could persuade Belle to pose in the water. He imagined her naked or with artfully draped fabric around her hips. Maybe she’d even have a seductive pout on her luscious lips. But that was so far-fetched that he immediately cast aside the thought.
    He dismounted on shaky legs and let Kirby drink. Mercy took a deep breath, drawing in air scented by the wilderness around him. He heard rustling in the underbrush and tree frogs singing up a storm. This would be a perfect place to woo a lady, but those days were sadly behind him.
    When Kirby finished, Mercy led the bay over to the sycamore, then loosened the cinch. He lifted the saddle, staggered under its weight, and quickly set it down under the huge tree. He rested a moment and then led Kirby over to a grassy area, removed the bridle, and hobbled him.
    He was glad