Oklahoma kiss by Unknown

But there was a glimmer of satisfaction when he saw the partially dressed steer still hanging from the tree. At least he had cost them something.
           He swore softly beneath his breath as he gently probed the tender spot on the back of his head. He had never stopped to consider that there had been more than two men involved. How could he have been so careless? It wasn't like him at all. He had simply been too intent on finding a way to stay on Talley's trail. That was a mistake he would not make again.
           His movements were jerky and sluggish as he made his way back to where he had left his horse and saddle. Everything was just as he had left it. Apparently those owlhoots had been too interested in making their getaway than to concern themselves with stealing his outfit. For that, he was relieved.
           Swallowing back the nausea that rose in his throat, he slowly knelt beside the pool of water and dipped his head into it. Withdrawing quickly and gasping from the icy coldness, he then dipped his handkerchief in the water, wrapped it around his head, and simply knelt there for a few minutes until the thudding pain eased a bit.
           After his thoughts cleared a bit more, Adam decided he might feel stronger if he ate something; remembering the steer the owlhoots had left behind, he figured there was no need in letting a perfectly good beef going to waste. A thick steak and a hot cup of coffee would taste mighty good.
           He had been making cold camps ever since he had been on Talley's trail, and while jerked beef and cold flour would keep a man alive for a long period of time, it wasn't satisfying or all that filling. Injured as he was, he'd need all the strength he could muster in order to reach that ranch.
     
     
     
     
     
           Blair rode with no purpose, direction, or destination in mind. Just to ride aimlessly and feel the sun on her skin and the clean, fresh wind blowing in her face was nothing but sheer heaven after being confined for years in that stuffy finishing school and crowded city. The exhilarating freedom she felt was enough to make her forget her dread of facing Warren and her anger at him for having such a tight control over her life. Those problems could be confronted later, but for now she was free!
           Pulling back on the bridle reins, she stopped her mare and looked about her, awe-struck. While living in Pennsylvania the winters were so harsh, she could hardly wait until spring. And as soon as the first flowers bloomed, she spent most of her spare time strolling through the school's tiny gardens, and, whenever a chaperone was available, through the city parks. But they always seemed to be so manicured, almost artificial. But here, it looked as though God had taken a huge handful of wildflower seeds and flung them into the wind. And absolutely nothing could compare with the scent of a crisp spring day in the countryside.
           Abruptly, Blair took a deep breath. "Well, almost nothing," she murmured aloud.
           A pleased smile spread across her pretty lips. She sniffed again, and her mouth watered. There was no mistaking the tantalizing aroma of woodsmoke and the scent of meat sizzling over an open campfire. It had been so long, she had almost forgotten how good it smelled.
           Feeling certain that the delicious aromas were coming from their chuckwagon, she turned her mount toward the woods. But the closer she got to the woods, the more puzzled she became.
           Something was not quite right, but she could not put her finger on it. It was a feeling, a sensation, rather than anything tangible. Then she realized it was the lack of noise. Usually, by this time in the afternoon. Cookie, their old trail cook, could be heard for a mile or better, belting out a song in his raspy off-key voice. The area should have been stirring with trail hands clamoring for their supper. And there should have been voices, noises,