Dancing with the Devil

Chapter Twenty

He was also handsome, mysterious, tall, broad, strong and completely in love with her daughter. 

Audrey had been alone raising Penelope for five long years. She hadn't given any thought to being with a man since Alexander's death, no matter how many men had shown interest. 

But now...

"Wow!" Penelope exclaimed as they topped over the small hill and took in the sight of just how hard Ance had been working. He had a large cloth tarp strung up and draping from the large limbs of several massive oak trees. There was a campfire burning, bedrolls laid out and the last of their potatoes were boiling.  

The scene was quite...homey.. And not in the least something Audrey would have expected from Ance. 

"You've outdone yourself," Audrey stated as she held out the pot full of berries they had gathered and tried to push her thoughts of attraction for Ance aside. She had much bigger things to worry about just now...like all the people who wanted her daughter dead. 

"Just wanted to keep us dry when this rain hits," Ance replied without looking at her. 

"Why didn't you put this up before?" Penelope asked as she twilred around beneath the canvas. "We've gotten wet before when mama wasn't here." 

Audrey returned her gaze to Ance and realized the man was now staring straight back at her. His gaze was hot, hungry and surely if that rain began now it would sizzle upon their makeshift shelter. 

"Your mama is a woman, Penny, and I figured since she's a woman, she'd like a dry place to lay her head tonight." 

Audrey nodded, fidgeting as he continued to study her with ravenous blue eyes. "I think this is nice, Ance. Thank you for going to such trouble for me." 

Ance grunted and turned away, breaking the contact between them. "Yeah, well, if there's one thing women are, it's trouble." 

***

Ance was conflicted...around aroused. He was a conflicted, aroused mess and it was all Audrey's fault. 

Damn but he wanted that woman!  When he had seen that man standing so close to her all those nights ago and had heard him say he waned to take advantage of her, Ance had been filled with rage. He'd killed that bastard in a possessive haze because Audrey was his!

Damnation!

Ance didn't want a woman! Hell, he couldn't stand most women... but then again, he'd already learned that Audrey was different. 

Darkness had fallen, the heavy rain that had poured down for hours had finally ceased and Penelope and Audrey were sleeping soundly. Ance decided that what he needed was a bit of a walk to clear his head. He'd been on high alert for the last few days but now that they were in Indian Territory he could relax a bit. 

Ance trusted most Indians more than he trusted white men and he knew that most men wouldn't follow him here--their fear of losing their scalps would be far too high. 

Old man Thompson was a friend of the Indians and had his home here in the territory. A home that was only seven more days of riding away. Ance had to get Audrey and Penelope there, deal with Barnaby and then get them home. 

His chances of doing that and living to talk about it were slim to none and he damn well knew it... but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try his damndest to get it done. 

Ance let his feet carry him over a nearby hill and he sat down halfway down the other side. Pulling a cigar from his pocket, Ance lit it and as he puffed it slowly, he contemplated life and the way things turned out--the way they changed and shifted without warning. 

Footsteps sounded behind him and Ance cursed under his breath. "You're supposed to be sleeping, Audrey," he grumbled. 

"I could say the same about you," she snapped back. 

Ance was glad that his back was to her and she wouldn't be able to see him smile. Audrey had a snappy temper that rivaled even his. Before Ance could think of anything to say in response, Audrey let out a gasp. Ance turned just in time to see her slip in the mud and come tumbling his way. 

Throwing out his arms, Ance attempted to catch her but her momentum proved too great and knocked him off balance, sending them both rolling down the small hill. Ance kept a grip on her and when they landed he was above her. 

Quickly Ance braced himself up to avoid crushing her much smaller frame. He stared down into her wide brown eyes and she stared right back up at him. 

Ance breathed in her scent which was a mixture of lavender, berries and the horses they'd been living on. Her full freckled cheeks were flushed and her breasts rose and fell heavily as she lay beneath him. 

Ance felt large, powerful and.... Helpless. With Audrey looking up at him this way, Ance felt completely helpless. 

Audrey's pink tongue darted across her full bottom lip and suddenly Ance had to know what it tasted like. Without waiting a moment longer or seeking permission, Ance dipped his head down and captured her lips with his own.