AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He released his hold, and she let go of him as he leaned back. His grin was as brash and charming as ever. “Feeling better?”
Not overly sure what she was feeling, yet inclined to answer, Maddie nodded.
“You scared the life out of me, Maddie, girl.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead again. While his lips were still pressed against her skin, he whispered, “The very life out of me.”
He was so kind and understanding. Had been right from the start, and that was unusual for her life. She was used to looking out for herself, and had been amiss in not paying attention, watching the valley instead of the trail.
Everything returned in a rush, though this time worry overtook her instead of fear. “The mules.”
“They’re right there.” He pointed to where all four animals stood against the mountainside a few feet away before he took hold of both of her elbows. “Do you think you can stand?”
“Yes,” she answered. “I’m fine.”
Although her legs felt as rickety and unsteady as a three-legged chair, she willed her knees to do their job as he helped her to her feet. Lucky didn’t let loose of her elbows, even after she nodded, silently telling him she could stand on her own.
His smile grew remarkably tender, and his gaze held something Maddie couldn’t describe. She’d never seen anything like it and had to close her eyes, hoping to seal it in her memory so she could analyze it later, because right now it was causing her heart to miss beats uncontrollably.
“Aw, darling.”
She opened her eyes at his whisper, but he was too close to see, and the next instant his lips, warm and moist, connected with hers. The sensation was like being struck by lightning, or something out of the realm of the world she’d known all her life. Her eyes closed once again, as if her mind, without telling her why, wanted to seal this, too, into her memory.
His lips left hers but only to return again, like a flat rock thrown just right, so it would gently skim over the top of a pond. She’d always been amazed by that, and this was just as incredible. When Lucky’s lips settled upon hers for an extended length of time, her knees threatened to give way all over again.
As gentle and perfect as the kiss had started—she was sure this time that it was a kiss—it ended, and Lucky once again folded his arms around her and held her tight. She didn’t know when her arms had wrapped around his waist, but they had, and she kept them there, hugging him in return.
They parted by some mutual, silent understanding a short time later. Maddie wasn’t sure what to do, how to react, and wondered if she should be embarrassed, letting him kiss her like that, but couldn’t come up with a reason why. Not when deep inside she was longing to be as close to him as possible. It was strong, similar to how badly she wanted gold.
But that couldn’t be. She didn’t want anything as badly as she wanted gold. “Why—why’d you do that?”
“Do what?”
Her cheeks burned. “Kiss me.”
He stared at her for a long time, but it wasn’t a harsh or unkind stare. It was thoughtful and that confused her, or maybe scared her, a bit.
“That wasn’t a kiss,” he finally said.
“Yes, it was,” she argued. “You kissed me. Why?”
He sighed. “Because I’m glad you’re all right, but that wasn’t a kiss. If I were to kiss you, really kiss you, you’d know it.” He turned her around by her shoulders. “You walk ahead of me. I’ll bring the mules.”
More confused than ever, but having no idea what to say or do, she replied, “You can’t lead all four mules.”
“Sure I can.”
She had no doubt he could. He seemed capable of doing most anything, yet she had to pull her own weight. Always had. “No, I’ll follow you. I can lead my own mules.”
He laughed and she spun around. There was a teasing glimmer in his brown eyes. “I know you can, darling, but this one time, you’re going to do what I say.” He spun her back around. “Until we’re off this ridge, you’ll walk in front of me and I’ll lead all four mules. Now start walking. Just go slow and stay next to the wall.”
“But—”
“Maddie,” he said sterner than before. “Start walking.”
For a moment she considered protesting again, but he had just saved her life; therefore, she put one wobbly foot in front of the other. Considering how her entire being trembled, not leading mules was probably smart, at least for a short distance.
