Dusty Haven#2 - AP & Epi 10/30/'13 - Page 49

The Last Answering Post

I hope that in these last chapters I have answered all your questions, solved all the mysteries.

One question that no one thought to ask - perhaps because I trailed a red herring is - how did El Coyote know to fix on the Circle-R and the surrounding land?

The answer lies in the Epilogue.

As always - I try to tie back things that happened much earlier, people that were named in passing, dreams that were seen long ago and descriptions that were given in chapters past, of people and places.

Cuidado con mi corazon: This is taken from a Ricky Martin song featuring Madonna. It is probably one of his best ballads. It means Please be careful with my heart.

I do hope you enjoyed the ride with me.

On a related note: I might write a modern story with Arnav and Khushi's descendants. I haven't decided yet. I'm off on a vacation for two weeks to India. I don't know if and when I'll write another Arnav-Khushi story. But I'll see you all around in the forum.

Before I leave - I must doff my hat to all of you who stayed through patiently through this tale. Your comments and spamming have been more than welcome and I will definitely miss this story. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

On to the Epilogue!

Love,

GOF

Epilogue: ... Tied up in a Pretty Bow?

Three Months Later.

Khushi surveyed herself in the mirror. Her hair was held back from her face and clipped in place. Mamie had curled some of it, so a soft fall of ringlets hung over the straight long hair at the back. A white Stetson sat on the dresser waiting for her to put it on. She wore a full sleeved red-shirt tucked into her new blue jeans, her feet stuck into her new riding boots. What caught her eye were her cheeks that were flushed with the knowledge that she had within her.

This morning she had finally become Mrs. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada.

The wedding had been in the back yard of the Box-Lightning, the reverend James having come all the way from Yerba to perform the ceremony. The whole place had been decorated with flowers and ribbons and Khushi had worn a beautiful white dress that Payal had painstakingly made.

Oh yes, Payal had ended up marrying the good doctor Akash Raizada a month before and already was on the way to adding to their family. Of course, they hadn't yet told the family, since Khushi's wedding was right around the corner. But they hadn't been able to hide it from Nanny's sharp eyes either.

'Khushi!' Payal exclaimed as she pushed open the door and walked in.

'What, sis?' Khushi turned with a smile.

'Are you packed already? Why do you have only one little bag?' she looked with dismay at the small saddle bag sitting on the bed.

'No, sis!' Khushi caught her shoulders. 'That's what I'm taking with me right now. The rest of my things will go to Circle-R. Akash has promised to take them over.'

Payal flopped down on the bed, wiping her brows. 'Oh! He didn't tell me.'

'Well, I'm telling you now,' Khushi smiled.

Payal frowned at Khushi's ensemble. 'You're wearing jeans to go away in?' she looked a little scandalized.

'It's what Arnav asked me to wear. He wants to take me somewhere, I supposed,' she shrugged her shoulders.

'Didn't he ask you?' Payal was still a little in awe of her older brother-in-law, but Khushi was after all her younger sister and she was allowed to feel indignant on her behalf.

'He didn't have to,' Khushi tucked a last shirt into the saddlebag, smiling. 'He knew what I wanted.'

Her sister raised an eyebrow and said, 'that much in tune, are we?'

Khushi nodded. 'Yes, Sister mine.' She hugged her sister, her joy a tangible aura around her, imparting a glow to her face. 'What about you?' she asked her sister. 'Aren't you in tune with Akash as well?'

Payal slapped her shoulder lightly. 'Of course, I am,' a rosy blush tingeing her cheeks in turn.

Khush stepped back and sighed happily as she flopped onto the bed. 'Can you imagine, sis? We never thought this would happen. Both of us married to brothers. The two of us will live together all our lives. Ma and Papa are going to be close by. I couldn't be happier!' she threw her arms wide.

'Wait till you increase your family,' Payal giggled. 'Then you'll be even happier.'

Khushi sat up and looked at her sister. 'Are you ... ?' she asked incredulously.

Payal nodded.

'Oh my sweet Jesus! No wonder you glow, Sis,' she exclaimed.

'Oh, hush!' Payal whispered. 'We haven't told anyone yet. Besides you shouldn't swear.'

Khushi laughed at that. That was the sound Arnav heard as he pushed open the door to her bedchamber. Her laugh like clarion bells.

'What's so funny?' he asked, a brow raised quizzically, as Akash followed him into the room.

'Payal and Akash are to have a baby,' Khushi said, running to him and holding on to his arm with both her hands.

'I know,' he smiled indulgently.

'You do? And you didn't tell me?' she asked indignantly.

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her ear. 'I would've if I had known earlier. Akash just told me.'

Khushi pulled away to turn on Akash. Giving him an impulsive hug, she smiled delightedly at him. 'I am so happy for you, bro,' she smiled.

Akash blushed. Payal blushed. And then Akash said, 'Payal, we should let Khushi finish getting ready. Everyone is waiting downstairs for them.'

With a small smile, they left the room arm-in-arm.

'Ready?' Arnav leaned against the bedpost, his hot gaze making heat run through her veins.

She picked up her hat and placed it on her head.

'Yes,' she replied. He picked up the saddle bag and opened the door for her.

Downstairs the entire crowd was waiting for them as they stepped onto the verandah. Red and Shadow stood saddled and ready held by two of Arnav's men. Behind them Shining Cloud and some of his braves sat waiting on their horses.

Khushi took a deep breath and looked around her. She was married. She would live the rest of her life with a man who annoyed her, drove her crazy and who would give his life for her. She couldn't want anything more.

Except perhaps, happiness for her sister-in-law.

Anjali stood in front of the crowd with Nanny Raizada a teary smile on her face, holding Drew by the hand. At her shoulder NK stood, Dev in his arms, smiling as Anjali looked up at him and said something. The love in his eyes was there for all the world to see. If only Anjali would see it, too. He was wonderful with the children and they adored him. Nanny was smiling on them, too, as if tacitly giving her approval. NK had spent more time at the Circle-R ranch than before. Somehow, his taciturn, somber presence seemed to cheer Anjali up. She'd started to turn to him in her time of need.

Arnav saw all this and sighed in his heart. He knew NK. He couldn't wish for a better man by his side. Nor at his sister's side. Someday soon, he thought.

The crowd cheered at them as they walked to their horses and Arnav helped Khushi into the saddle.

'Where are we going, Arnav?' she asked.

'It's a secret,' he said, smiling at her. 'Hold your horses.'

'I am,' she replied pertly, picking up Red's reins and gesturing to him with them. He laughed as he swung into his saddle.

'We'll see you in a few days,' he called over his shoulder as he swung Shadow around, raising a hand in a salute.

The two of them, followed by Shining Cloud and his group galloped out of the yard.

****

They traveled as fast as they could until they came to the little valley. Tall mountains covered with pines surrounded them. A green meadow lay at the base. Pretty yellow flowers dotted the dark green of the tall grass around them. Khushi stared around her. It looked so familiar! She walked to the edge of the meadow, and saw the brook gurgling by. Sunlight sparkled on the surface, like a hazy mirror, flashing light into her eyes. She closed her eyes against the brilliance of the rays.

Slowly she opened them again.

Arnav sat on his horse, his hands resting on the pommel, looking at her. Then he looked away, pointing his chin the other way. A wigwam stood in the clearing, a fire burning brightly in front of it. He swung gracefully out of his saddle and came over to her, to help her down.

'We are staying here tonight?' she asked him. He nodded.

Turning to Shining Cloud and his men, he went forward as his friend also came off his horse's back.

'I thank you,' he held out his hand, and bowed slightly.

'We will keep guard,' the Apache replied. Then a wicked grin sliced his face for just an instant. 'Enjoy yourself.'

Arnav grinned back, 'I plan to.' He watched the Apache fade away into the shadows of the trees.

Straightening his face he turned around to see Khushi still looking around her with a dazed look on her face. 'Arnav!' she called.

He was puzzled. She didn't have to call. She was just a few feet away from him. 'You don't have to call,' he said. 'I'll always hear you.'

'I ... ' she stopped and looked at him. 'I've been here before,' she said slowly.

He looked at her strangely. 'Have you?' he asked.

She nodded.

'And have you been to the little clearing inside the forest?' he needed to know.

She nodded.

He closed his eyes for a moment. He didn't believe in this, and he doubted she believed it. He'd scoured his land, riding the trails to find this meadow and the clearing. When he'd found it, he knew it. Something had told him that this meadow was important, so here they were and here it was! And it was important.

For they even had the same dreams!

He held out his hand for her and she placed a small palm in his. Opening the wigwam, he led her in. A small fire burnt in one corner, providing warmth for when the night turned cold.

Turning to her, he gazed into her eyes for a long moment. Then he lifted her hands in his and placed a small kiss on each palm, closing her fingers over them.

'I promise, I will keep you safe and happy all the days of our lives,' he whispered. 'I will love you with every last breath of my body. You have my heart in your hands, Khushi. Cuidado con mi corazon.'

'I will,' she vowed, raising her palms to cup his face. Rising on tippy-toes, she kissed him, her soft lips brushing against his.

She felt him draw a breath at the touch. For all the days while they'd been courting, he'd been restrained, his passions under a tight leash. She'd known he was a passionate man. She'd wanted to see it, feel it, glory in it. But he'd held back, and she'd wondered if he had been as frustrated as she felt. Her heart pounded in exultation. Tonight, there would be no holding back, no leashes, no barriers, no nothing. Just the two of them, she thought hazily as she felt his mouth make its way across her jaw, and his hands on her waist and her hips.

His fingers brushed over her back, over the cotton of her shirt. She shivered and clung to his shoulders, her hands mimicking his. He cupped her bottom, and brought her closer, as his tongue crashed through the barrier of her lips and delicately flicked against hers. She sighed, feeling the familiar jolt go through to the tips of her toes.

He gathered her closer moulding into his body, even as he turned harder, a counterpoint to the softness of hers. He moaned softly into the hollow between her breasts, his fingers hastily unbuttoning her shirt. She was running her hand along the corded muscles of his neck, inside her shirt, bringing them forward as she helped his shirt off. He breathed deeply of the perfume of her skin. It wasn't something he could name or he knew. It was uniquely her, fresh, elusive, reminding him of sunshine and air.

Shirt off, he stepped back and finished unbuttoning her shirt, slowly pushing the sides apart, his fingers sliding along her collarbones. She stared back into his eyes, before dropping her gaze to his lips, her chest heaving with arousal, lips parted as she struggled to keep breathing.

He leaned in close for another kiss, her shirt dangling from the ends of his fingers before he dropped it on the fur-covered floor. Scooping her up in her arms, he moved the few feet to the pile of rugs and knelt on the pile of rugs.

He leaned over her, holding up his hand on one elbow, his muscles rippling as she stared at his chest wide-eyed, her eyes following her hands, discovering each ridge and hollow. They'd never been this way before and allowing her to explore him to her heart's content was testing his control in the extreme. So he breathed in deeply and allowed her to continue. Until she dipped her fingers below the small indentation of his navel and found the belt on his jeans.

He gasped and grabbed her hand, tugging it over her head, lowering his face to hers. 'My turn now, I think,' he whispered before capturing her lips in a soul-searing kiss. She arched her back into him, and he groaned as he felt her soft breasts crushing into the hardness of his chest.

His hands went to her waist, hurriedly tugging her shift up and over her arms. Finally, they were skin to skin and he watched fascinated, as her eyelids drooped over her darkened eyes.

Khushi could feel every nerve ending under her skin, shuddering when she came in touch with his chest. 'Arnav,' she groaned as his head dipped lower, his tongue flicking across the tops of her breasts, teasing her wildly as she waited for something, anything to relieve the winding spiral of need inside her. It pulled her insides taut and hot, and her nails dug into his shoulders to hold him in place.

'Now, Arnav,' she whimpered.

'Hush,' he said. 'I've waited too long to feast, my love. Let me taste each and every inch of delicious you.' His mouth closed over her breast finally as his fingers found her core and he flicked her sensitive little bud.

He caught her scream with his lips, as the taut string inside her broke, crashing through her in waves of pleasure, as she spiraled out of control, and then floated down safely into his arms.

She opened her eyes and looked at him, still breathing deeply. 'Was that it?' she panted.

'That was just the start, shi'aad. There's more,' he smirked.

'More?' she looked intrigued.

He lifted his head from her chest and nodded. 'And I plan to take all my life showing you,' he promised as he dropped his head for another kiss.

***

Same day. Washinton D.C.

The manor was a tall building and as wide as it was tall. Lights shone in every window. A stream of carriages were disgorging their passengers at the front door. Ladies in beautiful gowns and men in equally fashionable attire walked up the wide steps leading to the terrace. The front door stood open, and a butler greeted the arrivals, announcing them in his stentorian tones. Music could be heard through the open front portals, a background noise to the chattering and laughing of the crowd. The party was in full swing and everyone who was anyone in Washington was there that day.

A back unmarked coach with shaded windows and two black horses pulling it, turned onto the driveway and stopped.The coachman jumped off his bench and came around to open the door.

A pair of highly polished boots descended, followed by a pair of long legs encased in black fitted trousers. A hand appeared at one of the windows, the single diamond in the signet ring on the little finger catching the last rays of the sun, throwing a myriad prisms of color around it. The man emerged. Tall, well-built, with just a tiniest tell-tale signs of a belly, dressed all in black, except for the froth of white lace at his throat. He was handsome in a florid sort of way, sweating slightly in the heat. He looked around and took a deep breath, his lips parting to catch the slight breeze, his tongue flicking out.

He walked up the steps and stopped to hand the butler his card.

'Mr. Francois Dumas,' the butler intoned.

'Francois! You're back!' a melodious voice chimed.

He turned to look at her, taking in the dark hair, piled atop her head, the creamy shoulders and chest visible above the shallow neckline of her gold silk dress. A smile curved his lips.

'Reina,' he held out his hands, and she came across and held both of them. 'Yes, I'm back.'

She frowned. 'It's been too long, Francois.'

'I know that,' he drew her nearer. 'Where's your papa?' he asked in a voice for her ears only.

'Go to the library. I'll send him there. He's not very happy with you, you know,' she looked worriedly at him.

He nodded. 'I'll wait for him,' he said, raising her hands and kissing her fingers, before heading out to the library. He stood by the window, looking out at the serene back garden of the manor. Lamps were lit along the garden paths and a few couples strolled in the balmy evening air. The door clicked open and he turned to face it.

'Sir.' He bowed.

'Sit!' gestured his host, seating himself behind the large mahogany desk.

Francois sat down, and waited for him to speak.

'You failed,' said Mahi Singh Raizada.

Francois dropped his gaze and nodded.

'You had months in which to plan, months in which to execute and this, This, is what you came up with?' Mahi's voice was a muted roar. 'You couldn't get rid of a man with an old grandmother, a clingy sister and two brats? And after all the money I spent on you.'

Francois stayed silent. Mahi breathed in deeply, the caramel eyes he shared with his nephew resembled cold chips of agate.

'Of what use is a son-in-law to me if he cannot get me back my birthright?' he snarled.

'Your nephew had help,' Francois muttered. 'Help from unexpected sources, including the Sheriff. There wasn't much I could do. If I'd stayed behind, I'd have been arrested,' he looked straight into his the eyes of the man who would be his father-in-law. 'And I had work in Austin.' His eyes flicked up. 'I did tell you.'

'Indeed,' said Mahi, sarcasm dripping from the one word. 'So you decided to stay in Austin until the dust settled?'

'Arnav and Khushi were married to day,' Dumas said instead. 'I think you should forget about ever getting your hands on the Circle-R again.'

'And I think you should forget getting your hands on my daughter, sir,' Mahi retorted.

Francois lips lifted in a smirk. Really? He seemed to say. 'You have the Striking-S now,' he said, tossing a folder of papers on the desk. 'You still have a shot at the Circle-R.' He shook his head. 'But I'm out of this scheme of yours.'

'You've been out of the scheme ever since you failed to get Circle-R,' Mahi said. He picked up the papers and started quickly skimming through them. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. 'Come!' he called.

The door swung open silently and Reina stepped in. 'Can I have Francois back now, papa?' she asked. 'The dancing is about to begin!'

Before he could answer, a sharp female voice came from the corridor. 'Reina, is your father in here?'

Manorama Raizada walked in, her fuchsia and gold dress filling the doorway. 'There you are,' she spotted her husband who was struggling to his feet.

Francois rose to his feet too.

'Francois!' she squealed in delight. 'My dear boy, when did you get back to town?' She kissed him on both cheeks as he smiled/grimaced.

'This morning, madame. And I took the first opportunity to come by,' he snaked a glance at Mahi.

'Welcome back. Why don't you take Reina and go join the party?' she asked not so subtly.

Reina wrapped her hands around his arm and fluttered her lashes at him. He bowed to Mahi, turned and bowed to Manorama before he led Reina out of the room.

Manorama waited until the door had shut behind them, and their footsteps faded away.

'Well?' she slid into the chair Francois had been sitting in.

Mahi shook his head and sat down. 'He couldn't do it. Arnav has become too big, even for him.'

'Well then, leave them be,' she said gently. 'Sometimes it's better to walk away from some things.'

'It should have been mine,' he growled.

She nodded, leaning across and holding his hand. 'For now. Leave them be. Another day will come. You are after all, one of the richest men in the land. Arnav is but small fry. Recoup first. Strike later.'

'You are right as always, my dear,' he said, rising to his feet. 'Come, let us go back and join our daughter's betrothal party.'

'With pleasure,' she smiled, holding onto his arm as he led her out of the door.

*****

Fin

*****