Chapter Six

"I suppose I should be on my way," Justin admitted several hours and endless boring conversations later.

Susie had been asleep with her eyes open but jerked back to alertness at his words. Justin stood and Jacob cleared his throat when Susie remained in her seat, "Shouldn't you walk our guest out?" he asked.

Susie quickly jumped to her feet. Where were her manners? She had always prided herself on being polite, "Of course," she agreed, giving Justin an apologetic smile, "Forgive me, I did not mean to be rude."

Justin wiped his sweaty hands on his pants and nodded, "It is okay," he replied and Susie was unable to completely hide her frown. He should have insisted that she wasn't rude, not told her it was okay that she was. Justin held out his arm, leaving Susie no choice but to loop her arm through it. He led her outside and to his waiting cart, "I had a good time here today," he said, his voice slightly shaky. "I would like to spend more time with you," he added.

Should he tell her that he was married? No, he decided, there was no reason to tell her about that shrew. He had no intention of ever seeing Lorainne again so there was no reason to let Susie know she existed. He knew he'd have to leave Bakerstown soon since Lorainne's father had found him but he'd like to get to know Susie Atkinson better before he did.

"Sure," Susie offered, forcing a smile on her face. Truthfully the last few hours had been the most boring of her life but she couldn't bring herself to be rude and let him know that. She had never before had a man show interest in her until the last couple of days and she wasn't about to tell the man to go away. The way she saw it she would have to pick between Justin and Ryder.

Ryder was not safe... Sure he might be the one that her body reacted too and he might be the one that said sweet things that made her blush and he might be the one that made her laugh one moment and annoyed the next. He might even be the one that seemed to have taken over every single thought her mind had throughout the day but he was dangerous. He would hurt her.

Justin, however, seemed safe. Sure he was boring and dull. He didn't say sweet words, at least he hadn't so far. Her body felt nothing when he was near and he didn't make her heart beat any faster but he was kind and she was sure that a life with him would be painless and uneventful.....

Suddenly Susie felt completely overwhelmed and sad but Justin didn't seem to notice her change in mood, "Perhaps I could come by tomorrow evening after work and we could take a walk along the river?" he asked.

Susie nodded as she watched a bead of sweat run down his temple, "That sounds nice," she lied.

Justin smiled and she realized that his teeth were too small for his mouth, "Good."

He felt a moment of guilt as he watched her smooth a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He was playing her. He planned on wooing her tomorrow and over the next few days and hopefully he would at least get to bed her before he had to run for his life from Sergeant Jonathon Williams. There had been several women like Susie since he had left his wife... Several while he'd been with his wife. He loved their innocence, their naiveté and their gentle spirits. Perhaps he felt the need to mislead and use them in order to make himself feel better about his own insecurities as a man. Or perhaps he was just a man whore the way his screeching wife had accused him of being. Either way he had his sights set on Susie and he would have her. If only he wasn't so nervous all the time.... He hated that about himself.

"I'll see you tomorrow then, Susie," he brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them gently before climbing on his cart and riding away. Susie stood there feeling even more disappointed and confused than ever before. When Ryder had kissed her hand yesterday she had felt the shock and heat of it all the way down to her toes.... When Justin kissed her knuckles, it just left her hand feeling wet and cold.

She shook her head and walked back into the house. When she got to the kitchen she was surprised to see a cup on the table filled with bright pink wildflowers. Where had that come from?

She walked over to the flowers and breathed in their sweet scent. Ellie must have picked them sometime today, "Pretty, aren't they?" Ellie asked when she walked into the kitchen.

Susie nodded, "Very."

"They're for you."

"For me?" Susie asked with surprise.

"Ryder brought them in. He climbed through the window and asked me to put them in a cup and give them to you. He said something about you not believing his words so he was going to try to show you that he was serious."

"He did?" Susie asked as she felt her confusion grow. She wanted to believe Ryder but what if he hurt her? She couldn't stand it! She wasn't strong or brave like her sister and brothers... She would never make it if she gave her heart away only to have it shattered apart.

"I have work to do," Susie whispered and she quickly left the kitchen.

***

"Brody!" Ryder called out as he saw the man riding past the ranch house toward his own home late that evening. Ryder jumped down from the barn loft, landing on his feet with a thud and then ran toward the man. Brody pulled up the reins and let out a long irritated sigh. He was tired. He wanted to go home and he wanted to go to sleep. The one thing he did not want was to talk to Ryder, "What is it?" he demanded.

Ryder grabbed onto the bridle of the large brown gelding and looked up at Brody, "I tried to ask Susie to spend some time with me but she seems to think that I went about it the wrong way and that I should have asked you for permission first so....." Ryder forced the most serious expression onto his face that he could muster and looked up at the scarred sheriff in the saddle, "Can I court your sister?"

"No."

Ryder's face fell, "Really? That's not what I thought you'd say... I really thought you'd say yes."

"No," Brody repeated.

Ryder let go of the bridle and smiled, "Guess I'll ask the other brother."

"He'll say no too. You're not good enough for Susie. She is a sweet, innocent and loving woman. You are a drunk who acts no better than a boy and knows the whorehouse just a little too well. You've been in jail and I have no doubt that you'd be back in jail already if you were allowed to go back into that saloon. You stay the hell away from my sister." With that Brody flicked the reins and rode away.

Ryder tapped his fingers against his leg as he watched the man ride away., "Sounded like a yes to me." he said with a shrug and a smile and then he headed toward the bunkhouse where Cookie had supper waiting.

***

"You told him no?" Elizabeth demanded of her husband as she sat his supper on the table, "Why?"

"Why?" Brody repeated as if he couldn't believe she was asking, "He's no good for Susie."

"He cares about her," Elizabeth countered, "Isn't is up to Susie whether or not he'd be good for her?"

Brody shook his head as he shoved a bite of food into his mouth, "Nope," he said. "I wish I'd have made it home before the kids went to bed."

"They were wore out. Ryder played with them today... I believe he has more energy than they do."

Brody growled, "I'm tired of hearing about Ryder."

"I think you made a mistake," Elizabeth said as she sat down on his knee, "You need to go talk to him and tell him that you changed your mind."

"And why would I do that?" Brody demanded, trying to ignore the way his body was already on fire for his wife... It amazed him that after all this time all she had to do was look at him and he was ready to make love to her.

"Because I asked you to. He cares about her and he is better for her than Justin."

Brody had to agree with his wife on that count. Something just wasn't right about that Justin Vicks, "I still don't like Ryder though. Susie deserves better."

"Let her make that decision," Elizabeth urged.

A devilish grin lit up her face and told Brody she was up to no good. Elizabeth lowered her lips to his neck. Brody growled and quickly dropped his fork onto his plate before gripping her tight and pulling her against him, "You're going to start something, boss," he breathed against her ear.

He smiled when he felt her tremble but then she got up from his lap and smiled, "And I'll finish it just as soon as you go talk to Ryder."

Brody shook his head and stood. He stalked toward her like a lion stalking its prey, "I'll finish it now and then I'll go talk to Ryder."

Elizabeth gasped as he pressed his body against hers, "Promise?" Brody raised a brow, "That I'll finish it?"

"No, I know you can do that." Elizabeth assured him as she bit her lip, "Promise you'll talk to Ryder."

"I promise." Brody vowed, "I'll tell him he can call on Susie if he wants to and I'll let her decide whether or not he's good enough for her."

Elizabeth stared deep into his eyes and she saw that fire that still shown for her in the green depths, "Come and get me then," she called as she twisted around him and bounded up the stairs.

"I was going to get you either way," Brody assured her as he followed quickly after her.

***

Susie couldn't sleep that night. She tossed and turned as she fought her loneliness and wondered what she was going to do. Should she trust Ryder and possibly find what the rest of her family had or go with the safer option and settle for Justin?

Susie stood from her bed, pulled on her robe over her white nightdress and slipped silently through the house and outside into the warm summer night. She walked across the cool grass and down to the river.

Staring down into the water, Susie let a tear slip down her cheek. She was twenty years old and had never even been kissed. Twenty years old and never had she had a man show any interest in her, until now.....

A big part of her wanted to take a chance on Ryder. But the cautious part, the part that she always listened to and let guide her, told her that Ryder was dangerous and Justin was who she should focus on despite her lack of attraction or affection for the man.

Susie wrapped her arms tight around herself despite the heat and looked up at the stars. Jacob and Ellie had never said anything about her getting married and moving out but Susie knew that having her around all the time had to annoy them. Poor Jacob had been taking care of her for seventeen years. It was time for her to find a husband of her own, get a house of her own and have her own family.

Susie sniffed and swiped her hand across her face.

"Are you crying?"

Susie let out a cry of shock and fear at the sudden deep voice behind her and she turned quickly. Her foot slipped on the dew covered grass and she saw the look of alarm on Ryder's face just before she lost her footing and felt herself going over the edge of the riverbank.

She braced herself for the pain she would no doubt feel when she hit the rocky riverbed but before she touched the water, Ryder was there. She had no idea how he moved that quickly, but he grabbed hold of her robe and nightdress. The sound of tearing fabric filled the night air as he pulled her away from the edge of the water and scooped her up into his arms.

"You okay?" he asked as he held her tight, cradling her soft body against him. She felt so good in his arms. She was soft and warm and he knew he could hold her for the rest of his life and never grow tired. He had never felt anything like this before. All the women before her had not meant anything to him. He had only wanted them for that moment and then he would move on to the next but Susie was different. He didn't just want her for a night or a day or a week or a year... .He wanted her forever.

"You picked me up," Susie gasped her voice full of wonder.

Ryder smiled and his dimples deepened, "Yep and I must say that you feel damn good in my arms too. I think God made you to be right here." Susie had never had a man say anything like that to her before and she felt her heart skip a beat. Why did he have to be so good? "I can't believe you can hold me like this.... Justin couldn't even push my chair back in," she admitted.

Ryder wiggled his brow suggestively, "That's not the only thing I can do that that soft little city boy can't," he promised.

Susie felt her mouth go dry, "You can put me down now," she stated as she squirmed in his arms. She had to get away from him now before her entire body self combusted from the heat of him.

"I'd rather not," Ryder replied. Most of the time Ryder couldn't stand to stay still but holding her in his arms he was content.

"Put me down," she said more sternly and he nodded and sat her on her feet.

His eyes immediately went to her chest and her torn nightdress. Her robe had come open and her nightdress was ripped, revealing the pale skin of her chest and the tops of her breasts. Ryder felt his hand itching to reach out and touch that skin... His lips ached to see what she tasted like.

"What the hell is going on?!" Brody's angry voice broke through Ryder's lust and he turned his head to see the man storming toward them with rage on his face. Ryder looked back at Susie and suddenly realized what the situation looked like.

Susie's face was flushed, her golden hair loose and messy around her face. Her torn nightdress and open robe and his own passion darkened eyes...

Ryder held up his hand, "It's not what it...." He stopped talking and dodged to the side as Brody's fist flew at his face. "...looks like," he finished.

Brody swung again and again Ryder dodged him, "Stop it!" Susie exclaimed as she jerked her robe closed, "It's not what it..."

"You son of a bitch! You tried to rape my sister!" Brody shouted and it shocked Susie into silence. Brody never shouted.

"No I...."

"Shut up!" Brody exclaimed and he went for his gun, "I'll kill you for touching her."

"No!" Susie cried, "Please don't hurt him!"

Brody grabbed Ryder by the collar of his shirt and jerked him toward him, "She just saved your life, you worthless waste of air. Get your stuff and get off my ranch, out of my town and away from my sister. I better not ever see you again or else I'll kill you."

"Brody..." Susie argued but Brody's green eyes flashed with anger and she fell silent.

"You go change those clothes," he told her.

Susie gave Ryder a helpless look, "But, Brody, he didn't...."

"Go!" Brody exclaimed.

Ryder jerked out of Brody's grasp and glared at the man, "Don't you yell at her," he warned.

Brody had had enough. He pulled his gun and Ryder realized he'd been wrong to think he didn't need to obey the sheriff. Brody's gun pressed into his forehead and Ryder stared the lawman in the eye.

Brody saw no fear in Ryder's eyes and he realized the man must be more than just a little crazy, "Get out."

"Brody, don't you dare shoot him! He didn't mean any harm.. It was an accident!" Susie exclaimed.

"What's going on?" Jacob demanded, coming out of the house with a rifle.

"He tried to take advantage of Susie," Brody replied, "Get her in the house."

A muscle ticked in Jacob's jaw and he nodded as he wrapped his arm around Susie and began dragging her toward the door, "I'm sorry Ryder!" she cried, "Brody, you better not hurt him. Don't make him leave! I'll never forgive you!"

Brody was deaf to her words as he glared at the man in front of him. The sound of the door shutting signaled the Jacob had gotten her into the house, "I should kill you," Brody growled.

Ryder moved his neck back so his head separated from the gun barrel and he stuck his finger down into the opening, "You can't shoot me now. I plugged your gun."

Brody shook his head and holstered his gun. How in the hell was he supposed to shoot a man who said and did things like that? "Leave. Don't come back."

Ryder knew he didn't have a choice. Brody would kill him if he pushed him too far and Ryder wasn't ready to die yet. He had too much he still wanted to do. Like kiss Susie's soft pink lips, hold her soft, warm body naked against his own. Marry her. Start a family with her. Grow old and have matching rocking chairs on the porch as they watched their great grandchildren running in the yard.... None of those things would happen if Brody shot him.

"I've been wanting a vacation anyway," he admitted to Brody as he headed toward the bunkhouse to collect his belongings with the man close behind him. He would go find Ty. His brother would give him advice and help him figure out what to do. Ty was always trying to help him and this time Ryder would be grateful for the help. He glanced back at Brody as smiled, "Your wife is a regular slave driver around here."