Hurricane Watch

Chapter

Eighteen

IT WAS A very, tall horse, Kerry reflected, as she collected her reins, and gently nudged her chestnut mare in the ribs with hesitant knees. Wow, has it ever been a long time. She sighed, watching Dar enviously as the taller woman vaulted up on just the snazziest looking gray stallion, with neat black hooves, and a beautiful black mane and tail. The horse was restive, but Dar settled into her seat as though she was used to doing this on a daily basis, her calves pressing against the sleek gray sides, and calming the agitated horse down.

It figures she’s good at this too. Kerry sighed. She tried to remember exactly how she was supposed to direct the horse, sorting memories from her early high school days, when her mother had grudgingly allowed her English riding lessons from a local stable.

She’d loved the horses themselves, really, more than riding them.

The feel of the sleek, hard bodies under her hands as she learned how to clean them, and the soft feel of the tiny hairs on their muzzles as they lipped corn from her palm. They were simple, and undemanding, wanting only good grass and clean water, and from her, nothing but corn, and the odd apple if she felt so inclined.

Dominick had been her favorite, a stocky brown hunter, whose back she’d spent hours on learning to balance without holding on. She’d been so excited the first time she’d done the entire circuit without once grabbing for the front of the saddle, or the reins, or Dominick’s clipped mane.

Kerry smiled in memory, and patted her mare’s neck, comforted when the sedate animal craned her head around, and snorted a little at her. ”Hey there, girl. We’re gonna be good friends, right?”

The mare tossed her head, then looked up suspiciously as the gray stallion closed in, picking up his feet meticulously. ”Hey, you ready to move out?” Dar asked, reaching around to adjust the pack she carried behind her, which was full of a neatly wrapped picnic lunch. ”We can go up a nice trail just north of here. It ends up on a small plateau overlooking a little spring. It’s a nice place, and about a two hour ride.”

”Sounds great to me,” Kerry agreed, tipping her head back and drinking in the sunlight. The weather had cleared nicely, and it was cold with a light breeze. She was wearing a thick sweater and her Hurricane Watch

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heaviest jeans, complimented by a pair of boots Dar had insisted on buying for her, saying she couldn’t ride all that way in sneakers.

Sure I could, Kerry reasoned, glancing down at the soft, creamy tan leather that snugly covered her calves. Just glad I don’t have to.

She settled her heels contentedly and glanced over at Dar, who was resplendent in the very cheerful, heavy red sweater Kerry had insisted on reciprocating with. It contrasted nicely with her dark hair and tanned skin. Kerry decided she very much liked Dar in that color.

Her own hair was also neatly braided, and tucked into a knot at the back of her neck. She enjoyed the warmth of the sun on her skin and the cool touch of the wind which unexpectedly brushed across the bared back of her neck. She nudged her horse into a walk, following Dar’s stallion towards the start of a half hidden path going upward.

It was a wonderful day for a ride, and she nudged her horse a little faster, until she was side by side with Dar as they ambled up the path together. The trees, pines mostly, rustled over head, and she became aware of the small sounds of the forest around her.

Dead leaves rattling softly down.

The wind moving branches.

The soft, rhythmic footfalls of the horses.

Her breathing and the rustle of wool as Dar turned, and glanced at her. ”It’s beautiful,” she murmured, glancing back. ”God, it’s been so long since I’ve done this.”

Dar adjusted her hold on the reins, settling into her saddle with a feeling of quiet contentment. She’d managed to keep up her riding skills mostly due to a friend in the Redlands, who had a stable full of retired racers and half broken mustangs he’d let her rope and ride on during the odd weekend she could escape from the city.

It had been a while for her, though. The last time she’d gotten down there had been in early October, and she suspected her legs were going to remind her of that when the day was over. She watched Kerry out of the corner of her eye, and speculated they might be spending the evening giving each other massages.

A grin took over Dar’s face. ”Good boy.” She patted her stallion’s neck enthusiastically, finding nothing wrong with that prospective thought. ”Yeah, it is nice up here. I’ve been up here when the leaves are changing colors. That’s a sight,” she commented to Kerry.

”I know.” Kerry laughed. ”I’ve seen them. That was one of the weirdest things to get used to about living down there in Miami, no seasons.”

”Tch, there are too seasons.” Dar gave her a mock scowl.

”Summer’s different than winter.”

”Oh, right, eighty-eight degrees and one hundred percent humidity, versus eighty-eight degrees and seventy percent humidity.”

Kerry grinned at her. ”I forgot.” She straightened a little, then relaxed 240

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into her mare’s walk. ”This type of saddle’s more comfortable than the one I learned on.”

”English?” Dar inquired, receiving a nod in response. ”I learned bareback.”

”Figures.” Kerry laughed. ”I bet you open cans with your teeth, too.”Dar laughed with her. ”Not these pearly whites, thanks,” she disagreed cheerfully, then she pressed her knees into her mount’s sides, and urged him into a faster pace. ”C’mon, let's see if these guys can move.”

”Oh, um, er.” Kerry frantically tried to remember how to balance as her mare followed the now cantering stallion. ”I think I, oh—” She leaned forward a little and caught her balance over the horse’s stride.

”Okay, that’s better.” The mare was apparently encouraged, and she sped up, matching her stable mate’s pace. ”Good girl, yeah, that’s it.”

She gripped hard with her knees and leaned forward, as the mare caught up to Dar’s horse and she came even with her lover, who was grinning happily. ”Very nice Dar, very nice. I like this,” she shouted.

”You do?” The blue eyes twinkled merrily. ”Great!” With that, she leaned forward and gave the stallion a nudge, pushing him from a canter into a full gallop, as the path opened up into a long, narrow grassy area. ”C’mon!”

”Oh boy.” Kerry settled down and hung on, as her mare sped up doggedly to match the gray horse, her pace moving into a gallop that whipped the wind past Kerry’s ears and made her eyes tear up. It was very shaky for a moment, then she relaxed a little and began to enjoy it.

”Yeah!” She urged the mare forward. ”Go get ‘em.”

The two horses raced alongside each other, the grass whipping against their legs, and the wind tearing across their laughing riders’

forms.

Dar let the race continue until she knew they were coming to a narrowing in the path. She gently pulled the stallion up, and allowed Kerry to thunder past her. Kerry quickly started to slow when she saw Dar do so. She half stood in her stirrups and pulled back on the reins as the mare reluctantly slowed. They cantered down the narrowing path and up into a steepening slope for the next part of the ride. ”Wow, that was fun.” Kerry grinned. ”Brings back a lot of good memories.” She exhaled and caught her breath.

Dar gazed at her, smiling at the way the activity had brought a ready flush to her face. ”Yeah? For me too.” She slowed her mount to a walk, patting the warm neck with an idle hand. ”Here.” She handed over a water bottle.

”Thanks.” Kerry gratefully accepted it, and sucked down a mouthful, tasting the mineral tang of the local water as she swallowed.

”Oo, do you see that squirrel, Dar?” She pointed with the bottle at a bushy brownish red animal, who was clutching to the far side of a tree Hurricane Watch

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near the path, peering at them suspiciously.

”Sure do.” Dar slowed her horse and stopped him, then carefully fished a handful of nuts from her pouch, and tossed one at the ground under the squirrel's tree.

Then she waited, sitting in perfect silence, the wind blowing stray tendrils of dark hair about her face.

The squirrel peered at her, then slowly inched down the tree and scampered across the leaves, sniffing at her offering warily.

Kerry watched her lover, the angular face quietly intent, pale blue eyes flicking minutely as she watched the squirrel pick up the nut and nibble it. A smile pulled at Dar’s lips as she tossed another nut down, and the squirrel scampered right over to snatch it, apparently assured of her harmlessness.

Too bad I didn’t bring my camera, Kerry mused. Dar Roberts feeding squirrels. No one would believe it. I’d put it on my desktop as a wallpaper. ”He’s cute,” she commented softly, getting a suspicious glance from their tiny friend. ”Yeah, you,” she told him.

Dar shifted her eyes to Kerry, then she held a nut up at about shoulder level, near the tree the squirrel had been perching on.

Obligingly, the animal scuttled up the bark, edging around until his head was level with hers, and they could see his earnest brown eyes.

”Here you go,” Dar murmured softly, holding it closer.

”D...” Kerry held her breath, watching the creatures sharp teeth get closer to her lover’s hand.

One clawed foot worked itself loose and made a grab for the nut, brushing Dar’s fingers as she released it. The squirrel darted around the back of the tree, and onto a branch, where he sat, nibbling the nut and chittering at her impudently.

One long finger pointed at him. ”Watch it, buddy. There are Fortune 500 CEO’s who’ve gotten less from me with a whole lot more trouble.” She warned the animal, then pressed her knees into her horse’s side and moved away from the tree.

Kerry joined her, glancing back at the squirrel, who was watching her with a vaguely disappointed air. ”That was pretty amazing.”

Dar glanced at her. ”What, that he ate nuts?” She raised an eyebrow. ”No it wasn’t.”

A gentle laugh. ”Okay, if you say so,” Kerry agreed amiably. ”But I know you wouldn’t have caught me getting my hands that close to something with teeth that sharp.”

Dar just laughed, and led the way upward.

It was a pleasant ride, mostly in the shade, mostly passing quiet trees and soft mossy rocks. The scent of the forest was strong around them, and the cold air brushed against their skin. Finally, the climb let out on a small plateau, which sloped to a rock surrounded spring. It was sunny, and Kerry found a smile crossing her face as they pulled the horses to a halt and she leaned back in the saddle. ”Wow. This is nice.”

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”Thanks. Glad you like it.” Dar shook her boots free of her stirrups and swung her leg over her stallion’s neck, dropping down off his back and landing with a little thump. ”Whoo.” She stretched cautiously, moderately pleased at the relative lack of stiffness. ”You up for some lunch?” She laid a hand on the mare’s neck. ”There’s a nice spot over there. I used to come up here and just spend some time, listening to the water and,” she paused, ”mostly just thinking.”

”Sure.” Kerry got off her mare in a more conventional manner, getting her boots on the ground and easing her knees straight. ”Oh brother.” She rubbed her thigh. ”I’m going to feel this, that’s for sure.”

Dar took the mare’s reins. ”Come over here. I’ll get the lunch and try to work the kinks out of you, okay?” She felt a little guilty about dragging Kerry out on a ride this long. ”You could have said you wanted to do something shorter.”

”No, no. I’m fine.” Kerry tensed and relaxed her quadriceps.

”Really.” She walked gingerly after her lover, feeling the cramping ease as she kept moving. ”It was great. It was definitely worth it, Dar.”

”Uh huh.” Dar tied the horses under a tree, where there was a patch of mostly dried but still edible grass. She removed the lunch pack, carrying it with her as she guided Kerry up to a sunny spot near the spring. She set the pack down and dropped to the ground next to it, patting the earth. ”Siddown.”

Kerry did so, cautiously stretching her legs out in front of her and leaning back on her hands. ”I feel bowlegged. That horse is a lot bigger than the ones I rode.” She studied her mare. ”A lot chunkier, too.”

Dar chuckled, and eased down with one knee between her lover’s calves. ”Okay just relax.” She began to work on the tense muscles under the snug denim.

”Ungh.” Kerry closed her eyes in pleasure and exhaled. ”You are sooo good at that.” She relaxed as the long fingers worked their magic, easing the tight cramping.

”Better?” Dar finished, patting her leg lightly.

”Uh huh,” Kerry agreed, gazing at her through half closed eyes.

”Do I get a repeat when we get back?”

Dar settled on the ground cross legged, tucking her boots under her knees and pulling the pack over. ”Sure,” she answered with a chuckle.

”That hot Jacuzzi sounds good, doesn’t it?”

”Mmmmm.” Kerry sat up and gingerly crossed her legs. ”You bet.

Whacha got?”

Dar pulled out packages containing sandwiches. ”Chicken sandwiches,” she told her companion innocently, handing Kerry hers.

”Just like you asked for.”

Kerry peeked under the wrapping and burst into laughter. ”Dar, you are just a...a...” She slapped the taller woman on the leg. ”You’re so bad.” She smoothed the paper out and sighed. ”Smells good, though,”

she admitted, as the scent of the crispy fried chicken sandwich rose to Hurricane Watch

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her. ”What else?”

Dar pulled out two padded cases and handed one to Kerry.

”Newest gadget, keeps things warm for over three hours.” She opened up a large napkin onto the ground and set her case on it, then pulled out small dispensers of salt, pepper, and three small jars.

”What in th...” Kerry unzipped the container, and was surprised when steam escaped, bathing her face in a gentle, familiar scent. ”You brought Mr. Potato Head on a wilderness picnic?”

Dar peered inside. ”Yep.” She indicated her own container. ”I have salt, butter, pepper, chives, sour cream, and bacon bits for them, too,”

she announced in a satisfied tone, as she speared a mini carrot with a toothpick and stuck it in Kerry’s potato. ”There. I even brought you a carrot.” She pointed. ”Look, Mr. Potato Head has a nose.”

Kerry removed it and stuck it in her mouth.” Not anymore,” she disagreed, munching the carrot.

”What about an ear?” Dar next poked a bit of cold broccoli in place, and then evaded Kerry’s hands and added a slice of melon as a mouth.

”There.”

”Stop it.” Kerry slapped her. ”Stop playing with my food, Dar, or I’ll turn Mr. Potato Head into Mashed Potatoes ala Dar’s shirt.”

Dar took the hint and chuckled, then broke open her own potato and applied everything to it she could get her hands on. ”Steven sort of reminded me of a Mr. Potato Head.” She commented wryly. ”Must have been those ears.”

Kerry laughed, as she neatly sliced up her lunch and ate it. ”Yeah, maybe. I’ll have to get you one of those to keep in your office.”

A dark brow cocked. ”So when I say 'off with his head' I can demonstrate?” she inquired wryly. ”No thanks. It sends a very mixed message.” She finished up her sandwich and scooted back a little, leaning against a sun warmed rock and stretching her legs out. Kerry tucked her wrappers away as well and crawled over to her, snuggling up against her chest and relaxing as Dar wound an arm around her waist and she leaned back.

Dar felt the warmth of the rock at her back, and the warmth of her lover against her, and decided it was about the most pleasant feeling she’d ever had. She gazed over Kerry’s shoulder, watching the running spring with a peaceful sense of contentment.

And familiarity. Her brow creased. No, she and Kerry had never done this before, that she was pretty sure of, and yet...

She gave Kerry a little squeeze, and Kerry reciprocated by pressing a hand against hers, and laying her other hand on Dar’s leg, stroking it gently.

Dar could smell the clean scent of shampoo, where Kerry’s head was resting just under her chin. Dar let her cheek drop a little, to rest against it, feeling a sudden wash of strong familiarity that brought a faint, pained smile to her face.

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It was her dream, one of them. One of those strange ones, where she clearly remembered resting in a quiet glade not too different from this one, with the soft sound of water and the smell of the forest around them. She’d been leaning on a rock, her arm wrapped around a warm, somnolent body, whose fingers had gently traced across her thigh just...

Exactly...

As they were now.

Dar shivered in pure reflex, her eyes opening, as a silver hued image of the dream flashed through her mind.

”Hey?” Kerry turned to look up at her. ”What’s wrong?”

A soft exhale. ”Just a bit of, I don’t know, déjà vu, I guess.” She forced a laugh. ”Or something from a dream I—”

Kerry's eyebrows knit. ”You know, I get that a lot around you,” she commented casually. ”Or, I have these weird dreams where you and I are doing really strange stuff.”

Dar gazed at her. ”Me too,” she admitted softly. ”Like just now.”

Her eyes shifted. ”I think I had a dream a lot like this, trees, water, you and I lying like this. I was holding onto you.” She paused, considering.

”Weird.”

Kerry shrugged. ”It happens. I used to have dreams like that when I was in school, about stuff going on there. It’s just your brain cleaning house.”

”Yeah,” Dar agreed, feeling a sense of relief. ”You’re right. Hey.”

She picked up a flat stone and flipped it towards the spring. ”Can you do that?”

”Oh god, I’ve always wanted to, figures you can.” Kerry dug into the ground next to them and came up with a couple more relatively flat stones. ”Here, teach me.”

With a tender smile, Dar reached and arm around her and guided her arm, feeling a sweet echo in her words. ”Okay, like this, sideways.”

They spent a very pleasant hour just tossing rocks and snuggling in the sun, as the horses contentedly cropped grass, and the sun rose over head. Finally Dar patted her leg.” You ready to head back?”

”Mm.” Kerry had her head pillowed in Dar’s lap, and was stretching her legs out in lazy bliss. ”At least we get to sit down this afternoon. Are you up for some sailing?”

”Sure,” Dar agreed readily. ”I’ve never been on one of those small boats. The big ones you just keep out of the way of the crew. I’m looking forward to it.” She tickled Kerry’s ear. ”C’mon, let’s get going.”

They stood and gathered their things, with Dar packing everything neatly back inside the lunch pack while Kerry wandered over to the spring and tasted its water. ”Hey that’s not bad.” She grinned at Dar.

”It’s sweet.”

Dar glanced over. ”Yeah, watch it. Looks like there’s a beehive over there. Be careful.”

Kerry blinked. ”Oh, thanks.” She carefully skirted the spot and Hurricane Watch

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walked over to where her mare was, untying her and gathering up the reins. ”Okay, girl. What’s your name again? Cookie?”

”Brownie,” Dar supplied wryly. ”But you were close.” She got up into her saddle and settled her knees, tucking her reins in one hand as she half turned the stallion towards Kerry's horse.

”Yeah, yeah, what’s his name, Silver?” Kerry put a foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself up, feeling the mare shift under her. ”Ah ah, none of that.”

”Smokey,” Dar replied amiably. ”Careful.”

Kerry slid forward a little in the saddle and tried to find a comfortable place for her knees to grip. They were still a little sore and she shifted, then half turned. ”Do yo...whoa!”

The mare had stepped sideways, and one hoof caught on a root.

With a snort, the horse crab hopped sideways, bucking a little and almost throwing Kerry off. ”Whoa!” The blonde woman hung on, though, and pulled the mare’s head around, grabbing tight as she jumped up out of the little hollow she’d moved into and bolted towards the stream for a few steps.

Enough to bring her right up against the bush with the beehive, her hindquarters brushing its outer leaves, and disturbing the sluggish insects.

”Kerry, uh.” Dar’s eyes widened a little. ” Be careful there. I...”

”I am being careful,” Kerry complained, trying to get the mare straightened out. ”C’mon, you... a...holy— Whoa,whoa! Shit!”

The mare snorted as several bees settled and stung her, then she squealed and bolted, jerking the reins out of Kerry’s hands as she headed out and down the long, sloping path. ”Hey! Hey! Slow down!”

”Son of —” Dar slapped her stallion on the side, kicking him into a run as she gave chase. ”Kerry!”

I’M IN TROUBLE. Kerry hung on to the front of the saddle, watching the reins fly uselessly near the ground. Shit. ”Hey, c’mon, c’mon slow down!” She called to the mare, who was snorting. Both back heels kicked up, almost tossing Kerry over the horse's head, and she gripped the saddle frantically. ”Okay, okay.”

The mare whinnied, and bucked, then chose a cedared path down the hillside, shaking her head as the reins irritated her. Kerry heard hoof beats catching up, and she half turned to see the gray stallion bearing down on her, Dar’s body pressed to his back, one hand free, the other clenching leather reins.

Cursing, she turned around, and leaned forward, trying to grab one of the flapping pieces of leather, which flicked annoyingly just out of her reach.

”Hang on, Kerry,” Dar yelled as she closed in, her horse snorting as his nose neared the mare’s flying tail.

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Unfortunately, this only scared the already terrified mare, who redoubled her pace, slipping a little in the cedar chips. ”Whoa, whoa!”

Kerry yelled, her eyes widening as she saw a bend coming up. ”Whoa, take it easy, wh—” The horse spun, and kicked, and she lost her grip, her body going the opposite direction and flying through the air.

The mare got around the bend and took off running, as her former rider slammed unceremoniously against a tree trunk, then dropped to the ground with a leaf scattering thump.

Oh my god. Kerry just lay there for a long moment trying to get air back into her lungs, almost not hearing the rapidly slowing hoof beats, and the thump as something large hit the ground running, scattering cedar chips all over her as the steps came skidding to a halt at her side.

Hands touched her, and then Dar’s urgent voice reached her ears.

”Don’t move.”

”Couldn’t if I wanted to,” she murmured, counting the stars circling her head. ”Ow. Damn that hurt.”

”Where did you hit?” the low voice asked. ”You got any shooting pain anywhere? How about your neck?”

Kerry had to think about it. ”My shoulder.” She flexed her hands a little. ”Fortunately it was my butt that hit the ground. I’m sure I didn’t take any damage there.” The numbness was wearing off, replaced by aching. ”Whoo.”

”Can you feel everything?” Dar asked nervously. ”Your hands, feet, no numbness?”

Fingers, toes, eyelashes.” Yeah, ” Kerry sighed, moving her head a little. ”It’s all there. It just hurts. I think I just got the wind knocked out of me,” she told her companion. ”We weren’t going that fast.”

Dar sat down heavily next to her. ”Jesus.” She gently eased Kerry back from her curled up position, examining her carefully. Her sweater and heavy jeans had protected her from the tree bark and she appeared relatively unharmed. ”You scared the hell out of me.”

Kerry managed a grin. ”Me too. What on earth happened?” She moved her arms and legs, shifting her feet to a more comfortable position, and took a deep breath. ”Did that horse go nuts, or what?”

”I think she got stung,” Dar explained, slipping an arm over Kerry’s shoulders and supporting her solicitously. ”You sure you’re okay?”

Kerry leaned her head against the convenient shoulder and sighed.

”I’m shaking like a leaf, but yeah.” She glanced off down the path.

”Looks like I’m walking home, though.” She exhaled as the throbbing receded.

”You most certainly are not,” Dar snapped, her adrenaline still surging, making her hands shake almost uncontrollably. She took a few deep breaths, willing her heart to calm.

Surprised green eyes glanced at her, reading the ghosts of recent terror there. ”Hey, it’s okay,” she added gently. ”I’m all right. I’m not Hurricane Watch

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the first person who ever fell off a horse.” She laid a hand on Dar’s chest in comfort, then inhaled, as she felt the racing heartbeat under her fingers. ”Take it easy there, tiger.”

”I’m fine,” Dar replied, a little shortly. ”You can ride my horse. I’ll lead him.”

Kerry put a hand on her lover’s knee. ”No, you forgot to wear your brace, Dar. You’re not going to walk five miles back to the cabin. Now, just relax. I’m fine. I just got shook up a little.”

Stubborn blue eyes glared at her. ”We’ll both ride then. He’s a big horse,” she replied. ”We’ll take it real slow.”

Kerry considered arguing, then saw the set jaw, and the tensed muscles, and decided to let this one go. ”Okay,” she agreed. ”Poor horsie. You better get him some apples when we get back.”

”He’ll survive.” Dar relaxed a little. ”We’re still under the weight limit,” she added, letting a slight grin cross her lips now that the crisis was over.

Kerry poked her. ”Not by that much,” she teased. ”You still owe him apples.” She allowed Dar to lift her up to her feet, though, and she stood gingerly, testing her body out before she nodded. ”Okay. I’m all right. Let’s go.”

Smokey stood, watching them suspiciously as Dar collected his reins, and studied him. ”I’ll drive,” she decided, putting a foot in the stirrup and pulling herself up, then neatly sidestepping the horse over to where Kerry was standing, and extending an arm down. ”Grab on.

I’ll pull you up.”

Kerry felt herself smiling for no apparent reason, and as she reached up, her hand slid past Dar’s to grip the taller woman’s arm above the elbow, giving her a handle as she also reached for the back of the saddle.

The sensation of being lifted was so familiar, she almost laughed, as she threw her leg over the horse’s hindquarters, and settled in behind Dar in the large saddle. ”I’m going to squish you,” she warned.

”No problem,” Dar advised her, feeling the warm pressure as Kerry’s body melded into hers. ”Just hang on.”

A gentle laugh bubbled its way up through her lips as Kerry wrapped her arms around Dar’s body, squeezing her a little.

”Absolutely no problem there,” she assured her lover. ”Where you go, I go, buddy.”

Dar stopped, and half turned, gazing back at her with one eyebrow lifted. ”Buddy?”

Kerry grinned charmingly at her. ”Aren’t you my buddy?”

A shake of the dark head, then Dar turned back around and nudged her mount down the trail. ”Okay, Smokey, nice and easy. I don’t want any road bumps.”

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of her. The smell of sun warmed wool tickled her senses and she let her chin rest against Dar’s shoulder blades, feeling the bones move a little as Dar shifted.

”Mm.” She rubbed her cheek against the soft fabric, then blinked as it reminded her of her dream a while back. ”Hey.”

”What?” Dar whirled, almost unseating her, glancing back anxiously. ”Are you okay? You’re not starting to feel dizzy or anything, right? How’s your shoulder.”

Kerry cleared her throat, and resettled her legs, finding the contact with Dar both familiar and comforting. ”Well, it’d be a lot better if you’d stop jerking around like that,” she admonished her companion.

”Would you relax already? I just wanted to mention that this whole thing reminded me of that dream I had.”

Dar faced forward, feeling a little embarrassed. ”What dream?” she asked gruffly.

”The one with you in the armor,” Kerry placidly answered. ” You remember?”

”Oh yeah,” Dar grunted. ”Me in armor, silliest thing I ever heard.”

Kerry closed her eyes, trying to remember the sensations. ”And no pants.”

The horse stopped stock still. ”What?” Dar looked cautiously around at her.

”Your legs were bare,” Kerry replied, opening her eyes and patting her companion’s thigh. ”So were mine for that matter,” she giggled. ”Half naked horseback riding. I’m quite the wild thing in my dreams, huh?”

Dar started laughing.” Doesn’t say much for me. What kind of idiot would wear armor and no pants?”

”Hmm, there must be something deep and Freudian in that,” Kerry mused.

”Kerry?” Dar hesitated.

”Hmm?”

”Don’t go there.”

”Mm, yeah, okay.”

THEY GOT IN an hour later than they expected to, since Dar insisted on keeping poor Smokey to a pace somewhere between a turtle and a turtle. The stable man ran out to greet them and took Smokey’s reins, while Dar jumped down, then solicitously caught Kerry as she tried to follow, and let her down gently to the ground. ”The mare got bee stung, threw her and took off,” she explained tersely.

”We figured,” the man nodded. ”Had to pull four or five stingers out of her butt. Sorry about that. You all right, ma’am?” His eyes turned anxiously to Kerry.

”I’m just peachy, thanks,” Kerry assured him, as she looked up at Dar. ”You can let me go now, I think.” She straightened her legs with a Hurricane Watch

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wince, but they held.

”Oh. Sorry.” Dar gave her a little pat on the back and cleared her throat. ”Listen, let’s save the sailing for tomorrow, okay?” Her eyes flicked to the stable man’s. ”Anything going on here tonight?”

He considered. ”We’ve got a hay ride scheduled,” he offered. ”Out to the big fire pit after dinner.”

”That sounds wonderful,” Kerry spoke up, with a grin. ”I love hayrides. C’mon, Dar, I bet they’ll have marshmallows.”

”Yes, ma’am, we do. The riders make s’mores, in fact.” The man smiled back at her. ”And we’ve got a couple folks who play guitar, and some that tell stories, too.”

Kerry gave Dar a wishful look, and was rewarded with a tolerantly knowing grin. ”Sure,” Dar agreed. ”C’mon, let’s go change into something that smells less like horses, and relax before dinner.” She put her arm around Kerry’s shoulders and they headed off towards the cabin, pausing as they noticed a large group clustered around the tailgate of a work worn blue pickup truck.

”What’s up?” Dar inquired, as they neared it.

Millie turned, and shook her head. ”Poor people, they’ve had an awful rain out in Arizona, just look at it,” she pointed.

In the back of the truck was a portable television, running off the truck’s engine. A grainy picture showed a hapless man in a blue poncho, standing with his microphone in a complete downpour as bits of trees and small animals floated by in the background. A caption at the bottom was labeled Channel 12 News. ”Man, look at that,” one of the workers whistled softly. ”And that damn storm’s heading our way, too.”Dar and Kerry exchanged glances. ”When?” they both asked together.

The worker blinked, surprised, and glanced at them. ”Um, Monday night, Tuesday morning. Why?”

”Thanks, we were just curious.” Kerry smiled at him. ”C’mon, Dar.

I hear a Jacuzzi calling my name.”

”Right,” Dar agreed, shaking her head at the screen as cactus floated by past the reporter. ”I wonder if that’s causing us any problems?”

Kerry tugged her forward. ”I’m sure they’d call if it was,” she assured her lover.

”Right,” Dar murmured again, as they walked away.

THE WARM WATER felt absolutely wonderful, Kerry decided, as she squirmed around to let the jets rush against her ribs. She watched Dar approach bearing a couple of nicely chilled glasses. Not that she noticed the glasses, especially, since her eyes were mostly fully engaged by her hormones due to the fact that her lover was jaunting around the 250

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cabin buck naked.

”Here.” Dar sighed, handing her a glass and seating herself, stretching her long legs out and letting her head rest against the edge of the tub. ”Boy, that feels great.” She paused, expecting an answer, then glanced over when all she got was silence. ”Kerry?”

”Sorry.” Kerry took a sip of the chilled champagne and swallowed it. ”Just thinking.” She wiggled her toes contentedly and exhaled. ”I suppose it could have been worse. We could have gone skiing.”

”Probably would have been me that slammed into a tree then,” Dar remarked. ”How’s your shoulder?” She peered worriedly at the muscled body part in question, examining the bruise that covered Kerry’s arm. ”You sure nothing else hurts?”

”Dar, can I ask you a question?” Kerry peered at her. ”How can a person so oblivious of their own physical well being be so damned solicitous of mine?”

Dar stopped, and drew back in silence. ”Sorry,” she muttered.

”Didn’t realize I was bothering you.”

Kerry studied her, a little bewildered. ”No, it doesn’t bother me. I just didn’t expect that of you.”

Dar gave a little nod, and took a sip of her drink. Truth be told, she hardly knew why she was so damned concerned herself. The woman was obviously all right, so she should just back off and let her be. After all, that’s exactly what she’d want in Kerry’s place, right?

Right. She hated when people fussed over her, and here she was being the biggest fusspot this side of an old fashioned nursery nanny.

No wonder Kerry was annoyed. With an effort, she relaxed, and closed her eyes, trying to recapture the good mood she’d been in at lunch.

She was surprised when a warm body fit itself around hers unexpectedly, and her eyes popped open in startlement, to see two pale green ones peering back at her from a very close distance. ”Uh, hi.”

”Hi,” Kerry answered, with a quietly apologetic look. ”Sorry. I assumed that because you hate people pawing over you that you naturally would just expect everyone else to buck up and pretend gaping head wounds are nothing.”

”No,” Dar acknowledged quietly. ”I don’t expect that at all.”

”Good. Then could you give me a hug, please? I really feel like crap. My legs are killing me, and my entire back feels like an accordion,” Kerry sighed. ”And what kind of good drugs did you bring that might help?”

Dar felt a curious smile crossing her face as she put her glass down and folded her arms around her lover, then lifted her, gently cradling her in the frothy water. ”Let me take some tension off your back, then,”

she replied, as Kerry nestled her head against one of Dar’s shoulders.

”Just put your arms around my...yeah.” She gently stretched Kerry’s body out, working the stiffened muscles with one hand while supporting her with the other. ”I’ve got some Percogesic. It’s a pain Hurricane Watch

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killer and a muscle relaxant. How does that sound.”

”It sounds great,” Kerry mumbled. ”But I feel much better already.

I think you’re one kick ass drug yourself, Dar.” She snuggled closer, absorbing the clean, chlorine tinted warmth of the water, and the even warmer silkiness of the skin she was nestled against.

Dar felt a sincere, thorough sense of relief. ”Well, I doubt it.,” she joked. ”The AMA would never approve me, that’s for sure. Let’s get you out of here and comfortable, okay?”

”Sure,” Kerry agreed amiably. ”Wh— Dar!” She grabbed a tighter hold as she was lifted out of the Jacuzzi. ”Stop that, you’ll hurt you knee!”

”Nah.” Dar stepped carefully out of the tub. ”Grab that towel,” she instructed, then carried Kerry out into the nicely warmed cabin, and set her on the bed. Taking the towel, she knelt. ”Hold still. This won’t hurt.”

”Bu...” Kerry spluttered, then subsided, slowly relaxing as Dar dried her gently.

It was remarkably erotic and she had a hard time keeping her hands still, as the towel brushed against suddenly sensitized skin. She had to force herself not to react, force herself to let Dar take complete control.

To trust completely.

Her breathing slowed, and she let herself become aware of Dar’s close presence, to feel the warmth as her still damp skin brushed by Kerry’s hand. She could hear the soft breaths, and the whispery sounds of Dar’s hair as it slipped over her bare shoulders. She could smell her, that inimitable faintly spicy musk that clung to her lover’s skin, along with the chlorine scent of the water. Her world stilled for a perfect instant.

And then lips touched hers, and the towel’s rough warmth was replaced by knowing fingertips that traced a path across her skin leaving a shiver of anticipation in their wake. She let her eyes slide open, to see Dar’s looking back at her, a teasing grin moving her lips.

One long finger came up and balanced itself on her nose. ”Don’t go away,” Dar told her softly, as she stood and went to their baggage, coming back with a bottle and a cup of water. She knelt down again and shook out two pills, handing them to Kerry. ”Here.”

Kerry gazed at her, mesmerized. ”Do I need these?” she asked softly. ”It doesn’t hurt anymore.” She reached out and bypassed the pills, resting her hand on Dar’s cheek. ”I just need you.”

Dar put the bottle down without breaking eye contact, and eased down on the bed, stretching her body out next to Kerry’s and laying a hand on her stomach. She felt the muscles contract under her fingers, and watched as the pale green eyes darkened at no more than that light touch. ”All right.” She leaned over and brushed her lips against the soft curve of a breast. ”I can’t guarantee it’s going to be relaxing, though.”

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Melissa Good

She moved up, feeling the sudden intake of breath as Kerry felt the teasing pressure. ”You sure you’re up to it?”

Kerry finally let her hands loose, and they greedily reached for Dar’s close presence, tugging her closer as her body growled with desire.

”Guess that answered that,” Dar chuckled low in her throat, and succumbed to the insistent tug, feeling a warmth of connection between them that was pulling her closer, and closer, until she could swear...

That they were simply two halves of a whole.

Of course you are. Her mind whispered at her, as she let go and allowed the passion to take her, hearing a faint, knowing chuckle somewhere deep in the back of her mind.