Ezra woke to the sounds of a struggle and couldn't remember where he was at first. Mary thrashed, and talked in her sleep as the nightmare held her captive, forcing her to relive their narrow escape. He sat up and moved closer, grimacing when he moved the burned arm, but he noticed that it wasn't as painful as it had been earlier. He shook her gently to avoid startling her and knew she was awake when he heard her soft whimpers. "It's alright, you're safe now," he soothed.It took him by surprise when he suddenly found Mary sitting on his lap with her arms wrapped around his neck. She buried her face against his neck and made no attempt to stop the flood of tears that dropped on his bare skin. Her whole body trembled from the horror she had faced in her dreams. Ezra wrapped his arms snugly around her and placed a light kiss against her cheek. "Shhhhh….it was only a dream," he said as he rocked her like a frightened child.
"I thought we were going to die," she said softly, the fear and hopelessness still evident in her voice. "I can't remember ever being that scared before." Her breath caught in her throat as she tried to hold back a sob.
"Nor can I," he confessed.
They sat and held each other, drawing comfort from the simple act of touching. Ezra felt the first light kiss Mary pressed to his neck and shivered slightly at the sensation. Another kiss followed, this one a bit bolder. He sighed and turned to her just as she lifted her head from his shoulder in search of his lips.
+ + +
The dream had been terrifying. It had been so real that she could feel the heat and smell the smoke as powerfully as she had only a few hours earlier. The crackle of the flames and the crash of burning limbs as they fell all around her overwhelmed her, and she knew without a doubt that she was going to be burned alive.
Mary woke to find Ezra shaking her gently. She whimpered from the relief of finding that it was a dream, that they weren't still trapped in that inferno. His quiet reassurances were soothing, but they weren't enough to calm her and stop her from shaking so hard that she thought surely he must hear her teeth chatter. She honestly didn't know how she ended up on his lap with his arms wrapped protectively around her, but she needed that contact. She needed to feel him warm and breathing, pressed snugly against her.
An undeniable need took hold of her, and she found herself kissing his neck. He shivered when she flicked at the skin with the tip of her tongue. Emboldened by his reaction, she lifted her head just as he turned. Their lips met. There was no gentle teasing, only a hunger born of the need to celebrate the fact that they were both still alive. Mary pressed her lips to his with a force that took them both by surprise. One hand cupped the base of his skull, the fingers tangling themselves into his hair. The other slipped around his ribs and then slid down to his hip before working its way back between them to cup the swelling bulge she felt against her thigh.
Ezra moaned at the touch and devoured her mouth with his, plunging his tongue deep into its warm, moist depths when her lips parted. She captured it and sucked it deeper into her mouth, allowing her own tongue to caress the bottom and sides of his before rolling over the top and pressing forward to do some exploring of her own.
She felt him fumbling with the buttons of her shirt, but the normally nimble fingers were clumsy and he growled in frustration. Reluctantly, she drew back enough to open the shirt and pull it and her camisole over her head and toss it aside. Mary gasped when one hand roughly cupped her breast and firmly kneaded the soft flesh. She groaned loudly and pressed up into his hand, whimpering when the nipple was pinched and rolled between his thumb and forefinger. The intense sensations surged through her going straight to the core of her womanhood, making her wet as her arousal grew.
+ + +
Ezra dipped his head to her breast and sucked the hard bud into his mouth. He toyed with the already sensitive peak, rolling his tongue around it, and nipping at it with his teeth. The position they were in was awkward and made it impossible to give the same attention to her other breast. He released her and pushed her away. "Stand up," he urged her to her feet. Once free to move, he worked frantically at his belt and the buttons of his fly.
He saw Mary's riding skirt and pantaloons drop to the ground beside him. "Let me help!" She pushed his hands away and quickly unbuttoned the last two buttons, then leaned forward to claim his mouth in a fiery kiss before hooking her thumbs into the waistband of his pants. "Lift up." Ezra's arms shook from the exertion of holding his weight, but he used what little strength the day had left him to raise up enough for her to slide both garments off together. She pulled his boots off and tugged the trousers and socks off to leave him naked.
Her body was bathed in moonlight when she moved to his feet to remove his boots. He moaned when the sight of her made him painfully hard, and his swollen member twitched where it rested against his belly.
Ezra sat leaning back against the rock, barely registering its roughness against his back. He watched as Mary moved to straddle him and lowered herself to her knees. In a quick move he grabbed her and leaned her forward enough that he could capture the second nipple with his lips and then his teeth. His free hand ran up her thigh and detoured into the nest of tight curls when it reached the top. One finger slipped in to tease the throbbing nub.
A growl rolled up from deep within her as he stroked her. Her head lolled back and her breath caught in ragged gasps. He could feel her juices flowing signaling that she was ready for him.
Mary raised her head to look at him when he pulled his hand away. She reached down to hold him in position and lowered herself down onto him, sheathing him fully inside her in one swift stroke. Ezra cried out when felt her impale herself on his rigid shaft. Neither moved as he gave her time to adjust to having him in her, but their need would not be denied for long.
She leaned forward slightly to brace her hands against the rock on each side and slightly above him. His hands slid up her legs to her grasp her hips. "Ohhhhh….move….please!" he begged her, his voice husky with passion.
Her eyes locked with his in the near dark as she slowly raised her hips and brought them down again. His fingers dug into her flesh as he gripped her, urging her to find the rhythm. He watched her face, memorizing each change he saw, as her need grew more and more urgent. She rocked in an ever-increasing tempo, taking him to the hilt as he rose to meet her on each down stroke.
Ezra knew he couldn't last much longer. He slipped one hand back between them, allowing her own movements to rub his fingers against that one sensitive spot that he knew would bring her over the edge with him. She cried out from the intensity of her orgasm. The sudden tightening of her muscles gripping him caused him to explode within her. He clutched at her hips and held her steady while he lifted his hips to thrust deep a few more times, milking him dry.
Mary's legs could no longer hold her up and she sagged against his chest. She still straddled his hips and held his softening shaft inside, reluctant to give up the feeling of having him there. Ezra reached out for one of their blankets and spread it out over them, so their sweat covered bodies wouldn't chill in the cool night air. He captured her lips in a long, tender kiss and wrapped his arms around her, content to let her stay there for as long as she wanted.
+ + +
Hot was the first thing that entered Ezra's thoughts when he gradually woke the next morning. Why was he hot, and why did he have this weight on his chest? He heard Mary sigh softly in her sleep and it all came back to him making him smile smugly at the memory. It was hard to believe that this was the same awkward woman from the cave, and he was still astonished that she had asked him to instruct her in the art of physical love.
Mary still sat straddling his hips and lying against his chest just as she had been when they went to sleep. The only real change was that during their sleep he had become flaccid and slipped from inside her. It had felt so incredible to drift off to sleep with her still encasing him. He felt a slight stirring in his groin from the memory and forced his mind back to here and now before his body could betray him further.
The first thing was to get rid of that hot blanket. He tugged it off and laid it next to them. It was full daylight, but it couldn't be very late form the length of the shadows he could see outside their shelter. Already it was getting horribly hot and sweat trickled down his chest to disappear into the space between her breasts where she rested against him. He nuzzled against her hair and slipped his arms up around her to slowly stroke her back.
She stirred and raised her head groggily to look at him, a satisfied smile on her lips and no hint of regret in her pale blue eyes. "Good morning."
"It is indeed a good morning," he responded and bent his head to give her a light kiss. "I find it quite pleasant to awaken with a beautiful woman in my arms, and you are quite beautiful." He let his hands wander over her bare back as he spoke. "And, if that beautiful woman also happens to be naked and sitting on my lap, it is an extraordinary way to begin a day."
"Well, I have to admit that this is the first time I ever woke up sitting on a naked man's lap." She blushed despite teasing him in return.
"As much as I am loath to move from this position, I find I must ask you to let me up."
"I don't think I can," she admitted, and rushed to explain when he looked at her with raised brows and a hint of alarm in his eyes. "It's just that I have been sitting in this position so long my whole body aches and my feet are asleep."
"My dear, if your feet are asleep, imagine the condition of my legs. If I don't get the blood moving again and get them functional very soon, I will be in a most embarrassing situation, because I desperately need to relieve myself."
"So do I!" she admitted as she tried to move one leg to lift it over him but couldn't manage it. "I think I am going to need some help."
Ezra slid a hand under her knee and helped her roll off of him into an awkward sprawl. "I apologize for such ungentlemanly assistance, but as they say 'desperate times, desperate measures.'" He grimaced as the blood worked its way back into his deprived limbs, sending sharp pains shooting through the muscles, and that tickling sensation like a million ants crawling over his skin. Before he had complete feeling back, he was dragging himself to his feet and hobbling ungracefully from under the outcropping they used for shelter. Normally, he would put some distance between them before giving in to the call of nature, but there was no waiting any longer. He was barely able to clear the little natural alcove, let alone make it around to the side out of sight, when he just had to go.
Mary had been trying to get to her own feet, so she could do the same, and was surprised to stand up just as Ezra gave up trying to be discreet. Even though she had been married for several years, she had never seen her husband relieve himself. There were just some things they had keep completely private, but she didn't have time to dwell on it because the sound of splattering water had her walking almost cross-legged to get behind the rocks. When she had tended to her own needs, she peeked back around and saw him waiting for her to return. He hadn't made any move to get dressed; he just stood with his back toward her, looking out at the river.
When he heard her behind him, he turned to face her and his cheeks colored slightly when he caught her eyes. "I apologize. That was terribly crass of me… but I just couldn't…"
"It's okay." She blushed and then looked at him with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "If I had the right parts, I would have been doing the same thing."
"My dear, if you had those parts we most certainly would not have shared the intimacies that we have." He laughed openly at the shocked expression on her face at his implication.
"You are incorrigible." She smiled at him and shook her head in disbelief. Her eyes landed on his bandaged arm and she grew serious. "Before you dress, let me check your arm. How does it feel?"
"It still hurts considerably, but it isn't as unbearable as it was at first." He watched her untie the strips holding it in place and unwrap the cloth binding. The aloe had definitely helped ease the burning and the pain. When Mary pulled the squashed leaves off of his arm the skin looked darker and somewhat leathery instead of the angry red it had been yesterday.
"It looks better," she commented. "I'll put a fresh poultice on it."
"Not yet. I find that I really do need to become better acquainted with that river. The scent of eau de sweat and smoke might be alluring to some, but I find it is becoming a tad overwhelming. Care to join me?" He let his eyes drift over her still naked form, somewhat surprised that she hadn't covered herself.
She placed one fist firmly against one bare hip and glared at him. "I do believe I should be offended. First you compare me to your horse and now you are implying that I stink!"
Ezra burst out laughing and smiled showing off his gold tooth and his dimples. "On the contrary, I am not implying anything. I am saying quite bluntly that WE stink."
Mary couldn't contain the smile that was trying to break loose, and she ended up laughing right along with him. "I don't know about you but I don't want to put on the clothes from the saddlebag either. They are going to smell of smoke too. As hot as it is out here, I think I can rinse out our extra clothes and they'll dry in no time."
"So, do you propose we stay au natural while we wait for them to dry?" He quirked an eyebrow at her and gave her a lopsided grin.
"We could just wrap up in the blankets until they dry."
"They reek of smoke even more than our clothing does. They didn't have even the limited protection of the saddlebags."
Mary ducked back into their small den and drug out the blankets and their spare clothes. She sniffed at them and wrinkled her nose. "I am going to spread these on the rocks to air out." She indicated the blankets she had over one arm. "And these, are getting rinsed out. I might not be able to get all the smell out of them without soap, but I'll settle for whatever improvement I can get."
Ezra took the blankets from her and flipped them open over the boulders nearby, and then turned to her with a wink. "Last one in has to do the cooking."
"Hey! No fair! You're halfway there already!" She chased after him as fast as she dared with her bare feet on pointy rocks.
The gambler waded into the water several seconds before she did. "What took you so long?" he asked, when she joined him.
"I repeat what I said earlier. You are incorrigible!" She tossed his clothes to him. "Just for that you can rinse out your own things."
They made their way out into the deepest water, but it still reached only to mid thigh. It didn't take long to wash some of the sweat and smoke smell out of the garments, and Mary relented and took them all to spread them out to dry.
Ezra was kneeling in the pool splashing water up over his chest and shoulders when he felt slender fingers gripping his shoulder while her other hand gently rubbed at his back, washing the stale odor of sweat from his skin. At the sound of her gasp he glanced back over his shoulder to see her staring at his back. "Is something amiss?" he asked hesitantly.
"Your back is covered with scratches." They weren't deep but they were all across his back.
"From the rocks, undoubtedly."
"Why didn't you say something? We could have put something behind you."
"My dear, a few scratches are a small price to pay for the joy of making love to you." He felt her tracing the path of one of the scratches lightly with the tip of her finger.
She moved around in front of him and rested her hands against his chest. For one of the few times since he had known her, Mary seemed to be at a loss for words. All she could do was look into his eyes, her own wide with surprise, and her mouth slightly agape.
Ezra reached out and pulled her to him; his mouth claimed hers, and she melted into his arms.
+ + +
Mary walked back into the water after laying their clothes out to dry and moved toward Ezra where he was kneeling in the water with his back to her, splashing water over his face and shoulders. She glanced down at herself and colored slightly. There had never been a time when she would have even considered walking around naked in front of a man; she hadn't even done that in front of her husband, even in the privacy of their bedroom. When they had made love he sometimes took her gown off of her, but usually he just pulled it up out of the way. Even when it was removed she always pulled it back on before going to sleep.
Now, here she was, not only walking around naked in front of Ezra, but she wasn't ashamed to be doing it. Despite the fact that she knew she still blushed at times around him, she found she liked the feeling it gave her when his eyes traveled over her and she could see in his eyes that he liked what he saw. Just a look from those incredible green eyes would send all these new sensations flooding through her, most of them headed straight for the very core of her womanhood. All these new feelings and experiences emboldened her in a way she never would have thought possible.
Careful to avoid his burned arm, Mary rubbed her hands over his shoulders to help him wash. The skin on his back felt rougher than she knew it should, and she looked to see why. His back was covered with small scratches and abrasions and when she pointed them out to him, he was totally unconcerned about the damage caused by the rough rock wall. "My dear, a few scratches are a small price to pay for the joy of making love to you." Had he actually just said that?
She moved in front of him and studied his face for any hint of deception or teasing. What she saw was sincerity and it made her breath catch in her throat. She rested her hands on his chest, enjoying the feel of the smooth hairless skin and the firm muscles beneath it. When he pulled her into his arms, she went willingly. His kiss shot straight through her to gather in a nest of butterflies in her stomach, before surging on downward to her nether regions. Coherent thought fled under the onslaught of physical sensations, and she gave herself over to them completely.
Their hands roamed freely seeking those special spots they had discovered they both had, those places where even a light touch would leave them gasping and wanting more. Ezra nuzzled at her neck, sending shivers through her body with each flick of his tongue against the sensitive skin. Mary caressed his hips with feather-light touches that caused an instant reaction in the rapidly hardening shaft pressed against her thigh.
She felt his hands urging her legs around him and she complied without hesitation. His arms wrapped more firmly around her, and she gripped his waist more tightly with her legs when she felt him move to stand up. Her position put her breasts within easy reach of his mouth, and she knew she had to be dreaming because nothing real could ever feel as incredible as it did when his mouth claimed one hard nipple.
Suddenly, he released the tight bud and began walking, but instead of heading toward the edge of the water and out to their den, he moved with the current of the water heading downstream. It wasn't until she felt him bending over that she realized he was laying her down; but where? The contact of the smooth wet stone was a shock to her sun-warmed skin for a few moments, but then the contrast between the chill at her back and the heat pressed to her front was almost intoxicating.
The rock had been smoothed by the water tumbling over it, making it feel almost silky. The top of the flat rock was submerged barely a couple inches below the surface, just enough to keep it from soaking up the heat of the sun. What had once been hidden beneath the churning water of the river, now became her bed.
Ezra stood in the thigh deep water, drinking in the sight before him. Mary felt his eyes on her and teased him by running her hands over her own body, pausing to rub light circles over both breasts, bringing both nipples to full attention. She felt her hands pulled away just an instant before a warm, moist mouth took the place of one and his hand claimed the other. He suckled at the breast, teasing the nipple with his tongue and teeth until she moaned and arched her back, pressing her breast to his mouth.
+ + +
Ezra carried her to the rock he had seen a short distance away and set her on its edge after he made a point of checking to see if he was right, that it had been washed smooth from a lifetime of being worn away by the moving water. It was smooth to the touch and he didn't hesitate to lay her back against its cool hard surface. The water that flowed over it was barely two inches deep, but it kept it cool.
He was amazed at the trust she placed in him as she lay there exposed on the rock, her hair fanning out in the water around her head like a golden halo in the sun. Her skin was as pale as alabaster, making her look so fragile that he was sure she would shatter like a soap bubble if he dared to touch her.
She reached for him, drawing him over her and pulling his head down for a hungry kiss. He pressed his lips against hers, forcing hers to open to admit his probing tongue. Twin moans filled the air around them. Determinedly, he pulled away from her mouth and worked his way down her body, stopping at each spot that made her gasp or squirm beneath the attention of his lips and tongue. When he reached his ultimate goal and delved into that nest of curls, she arched up and opened herself wider to him. He groaned deep in his throat when she pressed herself more firmly to his mouth. His tongue and lips alternately teased and sucked at that hypersensitive nub of flesh nestled there. He felt her start to tremble and stopped, so he could move back up to cover her body with his.
"Ezra, please!"
The gambler kissed her neck and nibbled at her earlobe. "Please what?" he asked her huskily. "Tell me what you want, Mary."
"I need you now, Ezra, please!" she begged.
"I am here for your bidding." He moved lower to reclaim one breast and nip at the nipple with his teeth. One hand found its way down to tease her and keep her on edge. He suckled a little harder at the taut peak, before letting go for a moment. "Tell me."
With a growl she grabbed him and pulled him back up over her. "Damn it, Ezra! Fuck me now!"
Ezra's eyebrows shot up to his hairline in surprise, even as a wide grin claimed his lips. "Your wish is my command." In a quick move, he positioned himself and buried his shaft up to the hilt into her welcoming warmth. That action alone pushed her over the edge and left him gritting his teeth and gasping for breath as he rode out her orgasm, intent on not letting himself go yet.
He waited until he was sure of his own control before he let himself begin to move, starting very slowly and gradually picking up the pace. Putting his hands on the rock at each side of her, he pushed himself up so he could see her. Her eyes were nearly closed, the lashes fluttering each time he touched just the right spot inside her. Her lips parted slightly and an occasional whimper escaped them as her need grew stronger. As their sense of urgency took control, he continued to watch her, enjoying seeing her caught up in the throes of passion for the first time in the light of day. He wanted to remember it all; her touch, her kisses, her expressions, the way it felt to bury himself inside her, the gentle bouncing of her breasts each time they rocked together, and the cool splash of the water against his balls each time her hips slapped back against the rock after rising to meet him for each thrust.
"Oh, please!" she begged, her voice barely audible.
Ezra knew what she wanted and pumped faster, plunging in to the hilt on each down-stroke. She writhed on the rocks below him, desperate for release. He looked down between them to the point where their bodies joined. He moaned when he caught a glimpse of himself thrusting into her; it was a sight he had longed to see. He groaned as he felt the familiar tightening that signaled he was close. As he watched, Mary slipped her hand down her belly to slip one finger in to touch that small button of flesh. A couple of strokes was all it took. She screamed as she bucked beneath him. The power of her orgasm had him crying out from his own, and he continued to pump frantically several more times as he emptied himself into her.
His arms shook so violently that he couldn't stop himself from collapsing on top of her. They stayed like that until their breathing steadied enough that they could speak. Ezra's head rested on her shoulder while he waited for his legs to turn from the gelatinous mass they had become, back into something that would support his weight. He breathed against her neck, and moved that tiny bit closer needed to nuzzle at the tender skin there where her neck and shoulder met. "Oh, what you do to me," he said with a sigh.
"I kind of thought you were doing things to me," she teased.
"Ah… but isn't it best when both are equal?" He raised himself on shaky arms to look down into her face. "You never cease to amaze me."
She ran her hands up over his shoulders. "I would bet that you would get tired of me soon."
Green eyes caught and held her blue ones. "If I could make love to you every hour of every day for the rest of my life, I would never be able to get my fill of you." He kissed her lightly when he saw her cheeks color from his compliment; then his demeanor became less serious. "Now, considering that neither of us has any soap with us, I must find another way to handle this situation." He smiled when he saw the question in her eyes. "What shall we do about this sudden inclination of yours toward vulgarities? The usual punishment is having one's mouth washed out with soap. I do suppose I shall have to find another way to manage that task."
When she opened her mouth to respond, he pressed his lips to hers and urged her mouth open wider. He probed deeply with his tongue, not wanting to miss even a tiny spot inside her mouth. The kiss was slow and sensuous, until the need to breathe forced them apart.
"Ummmm… if that was my punishment, I think I am going to take up swearing," Mary said with satisfied smile.
+ + +
Their undergarments were dry when they got out of the water, but the heavier items weren't. They dressed in the thin garments and took the horses to drink, then walked them to limber up abused muscles. Mary treated their burns with the aloe pulp and was pleased to see that Rosie's large one was doing well. Once the animals had been settled in a new patch of grass, they could turn their attention back to their own needs. Ezra's arm had a new aloe poultice applied, and they ate sparingly from their meager supplies. Much of the day was spent sleeping or talking quietly, giving their bodies time to recover from their narrow escape.
They spent the night in each other's arms, loving then sleeping, only to wake up to love again. Ezra pushed away the thoughts that this would all change when they got back to town, and allowed himself to enjoy this time with her.
+ + +
The gambler awoke to find Mary curled up against his side with her head on his shoulder and her arm across his chest. He loved waking up this way. He loved her, but she had made it clear that she didn't love him in that way, so he kept the true depth of his feelings to himself. There was no way he wanted to risk losing the closeness and trust that had developed between them by pressuring for more than she could give him. He resigned himself to accepting these rare interludes as all there would ever be between them. Selfishly, he thought that if there happened to be another baby come from one of the liaisons, she might again agree to marry him.
Ezra didn't want this time to end, but they needed to get started toward home. He just hoped he could figure out where to find home. There had been no way to keep track of direction as they made that headlong dash to save their lives. Oh, he knew how to tell which direction he was headed, and as long as he had a reasonable idea of where he was he could find a town, but this needed more than just knowing how to tell north from south. If they had veered too far one way or another they could miss the town entirely. The best they could hope for was to find a road and follow it to whatever town it led to, so they could get their bearings.
They had been headed south toward Four Corners, and the fire had driven them in a general easterly direction. He had a feeling that they had been pushed back north a bit too, but he had no way to tell. There was no way they could ride back over the burned land, because they had no idea how far the devastation extended. The horses would need what meager grass they could find and there would be none in that charred landscape. Southwest seemed to be the best direction to start out. They could follow the canyon for some distance to the south, giving them the benefit of water and some forage for the animals.
That decision made, he couldn't put off waking Mary any longer, at least not and be able to justify it to her. She sighed and snuggled closer when he shook her gently by the shoulder. "Mary, time to get up," he said softly so he wouldn't startle her.
She stretched and then forced her eyes open while stifling a yawn. "Do we have to?"
"You are a woman after my own heart," he said with a soft chuckle. "But, we must start moving toward home. If we had more supplies, we could take more time without much concern."
"Alright, I'm awake," she said unenthusiastically.
They drug themselves out of their blankets and took care of their morning needs. A quick rinse in the river did wonders toward waking them up more. They opened and shared a can of cold beans, glad now that they had taken Vin's advice about always carrying some extra provisions, just in case game was scarce. It was more than scarce right now; it wasn't there at all. Unfortunately, this long delay was depleting their supplies very quickly, even with them cutting back on rations.
Ezra secured both sets of saddlebags on Chaucer's back. Rosie's burn was right at the edge of where the bag would sit, and it would be very painful if that heavy leather rubbed the damaged flesh. The horses seemed ready to be underway. There were still occasionally whiffs of smoke from beyond the rim of the canyon, most likely from the heavily wooded areas where the dense growth still smoldered. A few stray plumes of smoke could still be seen, although there were a lot less than there had been the day before. Even that small trace of smoke, after the ordeal they had been through, had the horses more than a little skittish.
"Do you know where we are?" Mary asked.
"Honestly, no I don't. I have a general idea, but I am in an area that is unfamiliar to me." He looked at her hopefully. "Do you have any idea?"
She shook her head. "Not really. I remember Vin mentioning a canyon off to the east, but I don't know if it is this one or any real details about it."
"We were still north by nearly a day's ride, and if Vin said there was a canyon to the east it surely must be this one, just considering the size of it alone. If we go south through the canyon for most of the day, we might be able to get beyond the burned out areas up there." He nodded toward the canyon rim. "Once we can get back up there and head back west, we should find some familiar landmarks."
+ + +
They rode on through most of the day, stopping to water the horses and let them rest and to share another can of beans. It was mid afternoon when Mary commented, "I haven't seen any signs of smoke for quite a while. Do you think we might be past it?"
"I had noticed that also, and I have been looking for a way to get the horses out of here. It won't be easy for them to climb to the rim, everything is just so steep." He continued to scan the canyon walls as they rode.
They had ridden another couple of miles when he saw a possible way out. It was a steep switchback trail that looked to be an animal trail of some sort. It had apparently been worn there from years, probably even decades of use, by animals that were most likely heading for the river. Ezra pointed the trail out to Mary. "That looks steep, but it might be our only chance for a long while. Do you think Rosie can handle it?"
"I don't think she can with me riding, but if I lead her she should be able to. Is it my imagination or is the canyon getting shallower?"
"It is," he agreed. "Leading them would undoubtedly be the best course of action. Let's see if we can get up out of here." They took a few minutes and let the horses drink before heading toward the animal trail.
They both dismounted and led the horses up the first part of the trail. It wasn't overly steep and they managed it quite well, but the next section was another story. It was rough going for them all, with each slipping on loose rock on the steep slope at least once before they reached the next level. The climb was long and grueling for man and animal alike. They had to stop at the top long enough to catch their breath before they could head out again.
They had gotten past the last of the burned out grass and woodlands, and now they could head west in the hopes that they would encounter some familiar territory.
After about three hours of steady riding, they still had not found anything either of them recognized. "I think we should be looking for a place to camp for the night," Ezra announced.
"Can we give it one more hour?" Mary asked. "I would feel better to know that we aren't totally lost, if that is possible. Maybe just a little farther and we'll find something, please?"
"A little farther then." It would be getting late to make camp but through this entire ordeal she had not asked for special favors, so he had no intentions of denying her this one.
They rode silently as the sun began to slip down in the west. Ezra chuckled softly, earning himself a quizzical look from Mary. "I was just suddenly reminded of the ending to some of those dime novels our young Mr. Dunne is so fond of reading. The part where the hero and his lady ride off into the sunset together." He grinned, showing a flash of gold, and two deep dimples.
"Oh, and how do you know how those end? I thought they were beneath your standards for reading material." She laughed and looked at him in question.
"My dear, there are times that one of those… literary disasters is preferable to absolute boredom."
"Ezra! Over there is that…?"
He looked to where she was pointing and let out whoop. "Indeed it is, and might I say that the Wells’ farm has never looked so good. What do you say, do we go there and beg for hospitality for the night, or do you wish to travel on to town?"
"We are so close to home," she looked at him with pleading eyes.
"I, too, long for the comfort of my feather bed; we'll ride on, but it could be getting quite dark by the time we reach town."
"I don't care if it is dark. We can take it slow if it gets hard to see. We are just so close I don't want to stop now."
+ + +
The streets were dark when the pair rode in, and the fires were lit that would show the way for those moving around the town. The moment they reached the outskirts of town their energy left them. They were home and now they could rest.
Vin was the first to see the pair and walked out into the street to catch them. "Ya had us all gettin' worried. We thought ya would be back by yesterday."
"We could have, but we ran into a little trouble," Ezra offered.
"What kind of trouble?" Chris stepped out of the shadows and into the firelight.
"Mr. Larabee, we are both exhausted beyond words. Could you allow us to tend to our horses and provide you with the details after a good night's rest? I assure you that it is nothing that will be a threat to our municipality during the next several hours."
Chris nodded, seeing in their posture and their faces just how tired they really were. "Sure, but I do want a report tomorrow first thing. If there is trouble of any kind out there, we need to know about it."
"Understood," Ezra responded.
"I can take care of yer horses for you if ya want," JD offered. "You both look like yer about ready to fall over."
"Mr. Dunne, you are truly a good man. I would be very grateful, and I am sure Mrs. Travis would be too, if you took care of them for us." He dismounted and reached up to help Mary down.
+ + +
JD led the horses to the livery and put them in their stalls before getting them a measure of oats and a pitchfork full of hay for each. Vin joined him and stood leaning on the open stall door while the kid was removing the saddle and tack from the mare. "Looks like Rosie got into somethin' that got her hurt," the sharpshooter pointed out.
"Yeah! It almost looks like a burn, but how could she get a burn that bad?"
"Don't know, but reckon we'll find out in the mornin'. Ya want some help with them?"
+ + +
After Ezra filled Chris and the others in on the details of the fire, Nathan insisted on checking his burned arm. "It's healin' real nice. Good thing Mrs. Travis remembered about the aloe. How's it feel?"
"It is still a little tender, but much less so than I would have expected." He glanced at the large leathery looking patch of skin and wrinkled his nose in distaste. "I do hope it will not remain like this."
"It won't. That burned skin will peel off when the new skin is ready," Nathan informed him.
"That is a relief," the gambler said with a sigh. "Now, if we are finished, I have obligations elsewhere."
"I think we can leave it unwrapped now. Just keep an eye on it," the healer instructed.
"I assure you, Mr. Jackson, I will seek your skills if they are needed." Ezra nodded his thanks with a touch to the brim of his hat and ducked out the door before he could be stopped.
He made his way quickly down the boardwalk and headed straight for the Clarion office. When he opened the door, Mary looked up and smiled.
"You look well rested," she observed.
"So do you," he responded, "and might I add that you are looking quite lovely today; however, I suggest that you change into something old."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"We both have promises to keep that will undoubtedly result in getting dirty." He watched her as she tried to remember what promises he could be referring to. "I will wait while you change."
"I'll just be a few minutes," she said, obviously puzzled by Ezra's request.
She rejoined him after several minutes, dressed in some of her oldest clothes. "Now are you going to tell me what is going on?"
"No, my dear, I will show you." He led her out of the office and to the livery, where he handed her a bucket and various items used for horse grooming. "If you will accompany me, please," he said after handing her Rosie's lead.
"Ezra, what's going on?" she asked.
"We made promises to these noble steeds to reward them for their role in saving our lives, and those are promises we will both honor. We wouldn't be here now, if not for them."
Mary gave Rosie a pat on the neck. "We certainly do owe them our lives. Alright, you promised them carrots and oats, and I understand the grooming tools, but why the buckets?"
"We are going to wash them. We can shed our clothing to rid ourselves of the scent of smoke. They can't. It is with them wherever they go until it wears off on its own. They don't deserve that constant reminder of something so terrifying." He tied Chaucer's lead to a post and went to fill his bucket from the nearby pump. "I suggest we work together, it will make it easier."
He moved toward the mare, but Mary stopped him. "I'll help with Chaucer first," she insisted.
Ezra produced a couple bars of soap from his pockets and the two set about bathing the usually cantankerous animal. Today, however, he was thoroughly enjoying all the attention. "You are a fickle beast." The gambler teased the gelding. "You have to show off your good manners for the ladies."
They had drawn the attention of the remaining peacekeepers, who now stood back watching. The men laughed when Chaucer flipped his wet tail and slapped Ezra right in the face.
"Hey, Ezra! Reckon he didn’t like bein' called fickle," Buck taunted.
"Gotta say this is the first time I ever saw anyone give a horse a bath," Nathan added.
"I've seen it," JD said. "Used to have to do it to the horses the ladies rode when I worked in the stables. The didn't want to ride them all dirty and smelly."
"Horses are so afraid of fire. I think it makes sense to wash the smell off of 'em." Vin voiced his approval.
By now they had finished with Chaucer, and he stood drying in the sun. Rosie leaned into them as they scrubbed, nearly knocking Mary over in her enthusiasm. "If I had known you would like this so much, I would have done it before," she told the mare.
"We may have created a pair of monsters out of these two. After this they will be expecting a bath after every excursion." Ezra gave the broad rump a pat and went to fill the bucket so they could rinse the soap off the large animal. On his way back, a sudden mischievous glint appeared in those expressive green eyes of his. He started pouring the water over the animal's haunches, but before the bucket was empty he struck. "Mrs. Travis." He waited for her to turn to him. "I do believe you missed a spot," he accused just before he gave the remaining water a toss, soaking the pretty blonde from head to waist.
Mary stared at him open-mouthed, while their audience edged back a little farther from the two. Most of them had been on the receiving end of her wrath in the past, and they just knew Ezra was a dead man.
The gambler didn't have time to even try to run. Once the shock wore off, his victim snatched up the bucket of dirty water she had been dousing the brush in to wet and rinse it. Ezra didn't have a chance. It hit him full force, right in the chest.
"I do believe, madam, that you just declared war." A few steps and a few pumps to the pump handle had his bucket half filled again.
Mary squealed when the cold water hit her as she tried to slip around Ezra to get to the pump. Before they knew it, they were both soaked from head to toe, and they stood leaning against Rosie's wet, soapy side in fits of laughter.
Six other peacekeepers could only watch in amazement as two of the most image-conscious people that they knew ended up looking like drowned rats… dirty drowned rats.
+ + +
Ezra went back into the saloon after a quick bath and a change of clothes. He retrieved some items he had requested earlier and headed back out the door. When he reached Mary's back door, he knocked very lightly and then threw the latch so he could duck quickly inside. The sound of Mary's startled gasp stopped him in his tracks, and he grinned when he turned to see her soaking in her bathtub. He had thought he would find her there. The first time he had visited, he had seen the tub pushed under a wide shelf in the pantry, and he was sure she pulled it out into the kitchen when it was needed.
"I apologize for the intrusion. I only wanted to drop something off for you." He pulled two chairs over next to the tub and used one for a table to hold the large pitcher of fresh lemonade he had asked Inez to make. Next to it he sat two glasses, one large and one small. "I do recall that there were three things you wished for when we returned to town, a long soak in a cool bath, a whole pitcher of lemonade, and a large steak dinner." He took a seat on the second chair as he spoke. "I see you have settled in for your soak, I have brought your lemonade, and if you'll be my guest this evening, I would like nothing better than to provide you with the large steak dinner that was your third wish."
Mary eyed the lemonade and started to reach for it to pour a glass, but Ezra beat her to it and handed her the filled glass. She took a tentative sip and closed her eyes as she sighed in contentment. "I would love to go to dinner with you," she replied, then looked at him quizzically. "What about you? I seem to remember you had the same wishes."
"I have already bathed, although I didn't take time to soak. The dinner wish will be fulfilled tonight, and I did not wish for the lemonade." He winked at her and reached into his pocket to pull out a small bottle of fine scotch whiskey. After filling the smaller glass, he raised his in a toast. "To life! And to the special friends who share it."
She lifted her glass and clinked it to his. "To life! And to receiving a second chance to live it."
They drank and then set the glasses aside. Ezra grinned, showing off his dimples and raised his eyebrows in question. "What say you, fair lady? Need some help washing your back?"
The End
Author’s Email: Luna6438@aol.com