Chapter Twenty
Natalie heated a cup of water and opened a tea bag to bob inside the mug. She opened her front door and stepped outside. The night air was cool and crisp, and she inhaled the fresh scent of the desert and the wildflowers that were coming back into bloom in the garden. She also smelled rain and looked up at the dark sky. Lightning ricocheted from cloud to cloud in the near distance and thunder growled, letting her know it was on its way.
The storm had been building all evening and it seemed as though it was finally time for it to show its strength. She eased down on the front step and sipped her tea, keen on watching the storm move in. There was something elemental about storms that she loved. They made her feel alive and at one with Mother Earth. They were beautiful.
She blew on her drink before she took another sip. As she did so, she heard the crunch of footfalls coming from around the side of the house. She lowered her mug and waited, and to her surprise, Vaughn appeared.
“Didn’t think I’d see you till morning,” Natalie said with a smile. She noticed that Vaughn still had on the same clothes she had on earlier, having spent all her time with the recovering mare once they’d arrived home.
Vaughn motioned to sit next to her.
“Please,” Natalie said, and Vaughn slowly sat with a groan.
“How’s your back?” Natalie asked. It seemed that every evening poor Vaughn was walking nearly hunched over with her hand on her lower back. How she got up and worked the ranch every day with pain like that, Natalie didn’t know.
“Oh, it’s cranking at me.”
“It must be awful,” Natalie said. “Having to work so physically hard with a bad back.”
“It’s an adventure,” Vaughn said. “I’ll say that much.”
“Would you like a cup of tea?” She looked as though she could use a good cup. That and a massage. But Natalie wasn’t about to offer that. Just the thought of rubbing Vaughn’s muscular back caused her heart to flip-flop in her chest. She fanned her face, suddenly feeling hot. She stopped when she saw that Vaughn was watching her curiously.
“You know, I think I would like a cup. It smells delicious.”
Natalie handed Vaughn her mug and pushed herself to a stand. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
“I’ll be right here.”
Natalie hurried inside and made Vaughn a cup of tea. It felt good to be doing something nice for her, even if it was something as simple as a hot drink on a stormy fall evening. She made her way back outside and traded mugs with Vaughn, who took the cup carefully, wrapping her hands around it like a hug. They sat and sipped quietly before Vaughn spoke.
“What kind of tea is this? It’s really good. Kind of spicy.”
“It’s a sweet and spicy blend with cinnamon and orange, along with notes of other flavors. I love having it when the weather starts to cool.”
“I can see why.”
Natalie smiled over at her. “Well, there’s more where that came from.” She immediately regretted voicing that out loud. She almost smacked her forehead in disbelief. There’s more where that came from? Can I sound anymore cheesy?
“I mean, well, you know. Anytime.”
Vaughn returned the smile. “Thanks.”
Natalie searched her mind for something to say. Something that wouldn’t make her seem like a total idiot. “How’s Miracle? She doing okay?” It wasn’t exactly a lighthearted topic, but it was better than telling her there’s more where that came from.
“She’s doing as well as can be expected.”
“And the vet? What did he say?”
“He thinks she’ll make a full recovery.”
“That’s wonderful, Vaughn.”
Vaughn stared into her steaming tea. “Yeah, but I just can’t get over it. The way I found her, what she’d gone through.” She shook her head. “If I ever get my hands on those two I’ll ring their necks. I swear I will.”
“Not if June gets to them first. She seemed pretty pissed as well.”
“She is. And you’re right, she’s more of a threat than I am. You do not want to piss off June Ruger, that’s for sure. She handles things the old-fashioned way. Back when ranchers took the law into their own hands. Back when your guns spoke for you.”
“Then they better stay away. If they know what’s good for them,” Natalie said, looking off into the flashing lightning. Thunder rumbled again, this time louder, closer.
“I don’t think they’re that smart,” Vaughn said, sipping her drink. “They haven’t proven to be so far.”
“I can’t believe you found the horse before the police. Why didn’t he know about that place? Isn’t the guy his cousin?”
“No. This was Pedro’s place. And he wasn’t legally leasing the building, so it would’ve been difficult to learn about unless the police heard it firsthand.”
“Still. A little detective work would’ve gone a long way.”
“Very true.”
“Did they end up finding the guys? Have you heard?”
“Last I heard they couldn’t locate them. And that was…” She checked her watch. “Two hours ago.”
“Geez maybe you’ll have to do that for them too. I bet you know where they like to hang out.”
“I do. And I’ve shared my knowledge, trust me. What they’ll do with that knowledge, I can’t say.”
“Well, hopefully they’ll give the case to someone other than the cousin.”
“One can hope.”
“Is that even ethical? To investigate a relative?”
“I don’t know. But it didn’t seem to scare him away from the case.”
“I would complain, Vaughn. That just doesn’t sound right.”
“I did.”
“Good.”
“But now I fear I’ve got another man upset with me. A man who has influence in these parts. I might end up regretting complaining.”
“Let’s hope not.”
Thunder boomed loudly and Natalie startled. “Maybe we’d better go inside.” She stood and lightning flashed directly overhead and another crack of thunder came, along with a downpour of cold rain. She and Vaughn hurried into the bungalow, closing the door behind them.
“Is it me or did that come really quickly?” Vaughn asked. “Or was I just too preoccupied today to notice all the buildup?”
“You had a lot on your plate.”
“I did, didn’t I?”
Natalie set her mug on the kitchen counter. “You most definitely did.” She welcomed Vaughn farther inside. “I’ll go get us some towels.” She breezed into the bathroom and returned with two towels. She handed one to Vaughn and busied drying herself with the other. Then she grabbed her cup of tea and led the way into the cozy living room. “Please, have a seat.”
Natalie sat in the leather armchair as Vaughn stood awkwardly next to the couch, holding her mug as well as her towel and her hat. “I don’t know. I should probably get back to Miracle. I don’t want her to be alone tonight. Not after all she’s been through.”
Natalie stood, placing her mug on the small side table. She felt panicked and spoke quickly. “No, don’t go. Not yet.”
Vaughn looked confused. Natalie explained.
“You always…leave. We never really get a chance to talk.”
“I have things to do. A ranch to run.”
“I know,” Natalie said as she walked to her. “But it seems like it’s more than that. It seems like you avoid me.”
Vaughn stared at her in silence, her hands going slack by her side. She noticed that she was spilling her tea onto the dark tile and she hurriedly righted the mug and apologized. “I’m sorry. Here, I’ll clean it up.” She knelt to dry up the spill with her towel, pushing her hat aside on the tile, but Natalie knelt too, stopping her.
“It’s okay,” she said.
“No, it’s not. I should’ve been paying more attention.” She wiped at the spill as if she’d spilled nuclear waste. Natalie, this time, stopped her by gripping her hand securely in her own.
“Vaughn. It’s okay. Really. It’s just tea.”
Vaughn stopped and looked into her eyes. Natalie felt her breath catch as she searched the windows of her soul. What she saw there both awed and fascinated her. Love, loss, desire, all of it brimming and swirling together in a hurricane of fear and confusion. She reached out, wanting to quell that inner storm. She grazed her cheek with her fingertips. Whispered to her.
“Vaughn. It’s okay.” She drew closer. Touched her lips, shared her breath. She closed her eyes, pressed into her, against her, their lips caressing. Lightly, deftly, like the touch of a feather, both of them so tentative, like they were afraid to even breathe.
Natalie grew dizzy, both from the feel of Vaughn’s warm lips, and from the lack of oxygen from holding her breath. She trembled as she reached up and held Vaughn’s face. Trembled again as she felt Vaughn shake and inhale a quick, shaky breath.
“Natalie,” she whispered and the kiss deepened, Vaughn parting her lips to tug on Natalie’s. Natalie responded by doing the same, tasting Vaughn fervently, feverishly, clinging to her shirt with her hands. They stood, fused together, feeding, dying of thirst for one another. Vaughn pulled her closer, tightly against her and moaned into her. “Natalie,” she said again.
“Oh, Vaughn,” Natalie breathed as Vaughn attached herself to the sensitive skin of her neck. Natalie leaned back in offering, giving herself completely, melting beneath her hot and hungry mouth. Vaughn grabbed her hips and lifted her with ease and led them onto the couch, where she lay Natalie down and crawled atop her.
“Vaughn,” Natalie said. “Oh, Vaughn I’ve dreamt of this.”
Vaughn nibbled her neck, came back up to her ear and whispered, “For how long?”
“For a while now,” she said, running her hands along the strong planes of her back. “I’ve thought of you for a while now.”
Vaughn positioned her firm thigh between Natalie’s legs. “Yeah?”
“Oh, yes.”
“I’ve been fighting it,” she said. “For a while now.”
Natalie sighed, clawing at her back as the pressure from her thigh rubbed against her throbbing center. “Oh, Vaughn. Don’t fight it. Don’t fight me.”
Vaughn paused and hovered above her. She stared deep into her eyes. She looked as though she was willing to confess her soul to Natalie, to confess all her deepest feelings, but a short knock came from the door and a split second later it opened and June walked in beneath an umbrella, staring at a sheet of paper as she moved.
“Natalie, I’ve been looking over this interview schedule and I’m not sure if Vaughn will have the time tomorrow—” She froze as she finally looked up and spotted them on the couch. Vaughn jumped up and tried to straighten her clothes. Natalie sat up and absently touched her lips.
“I’m sorry,” June said, truly surprised. She turned away from them as if to give them some privacy. “I’ll come back later.”
But Vaughn beat her to the door, scooping up her hat along the way. “No, you stay,” she said, placing her hat on her head to pull open the door. “I need to get back to the horse.”
June seemed as frazzled as Natalie felt.
“But—”
“It’s fine,” Vaughn said. “You and Natalie talk business.” She looked to Natalie and gave a little wave. An awkward wave. One that said, I have no idea what to do. “I’ll see you later.”
Natalie said the only thing she could say. “Okay.” And Vaughn was out the door as thunder clapped again loudly overhead, followed by a bright flash of lightning, illuminating the empty doorframe.