Part 7 (1/2)
Tyler positioned himself between Zac and Daisy, but the wretched boy simply moved to one side. Infuriated, Tyler grabbed Zac by his s.h.i.+rt front and jerked him off his feet. Walking across the room, he opened the door and threw him out into the snow.
”You d.a.m.ned crazy son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h!” Zac shouted. ”What's gotten into you?” Zac got to his feet covered from head to foot with snow.
Tyler stepped outside and closed the door behind him. The freezing air did nothing to cool his senses or his anger. ”Who taught you to spy on a decent woman in her bath?”
”I wasn't spying. She was standing right in front of me.”
”There was nothing to keep you from turning your head.”
”I noticed you got an eyeful, too.”
Tyler couldn't explain that he had felt paralyzed, incapable of moving. Zac wouldn't understand. He wasn't certain he did himself.
Zac brushed himself off and attempted to walk by Tyler.
”You're going to stay outside until she finishes taking her bath.”
”Are you crazy? I'll freeze to death.”
”Not with your blood as hot as it is.” Tyler pushed Zac away from the door.
”What's gotten into you?” Zac demanded. He tried to pa.s.s Tyler and was repulsed again. ”You're acting like she's your wife. You hardly know the woman.”
”Even if she were a perfect stranger, she has the right to take a bath without being stared at. You might have been brought up in the brush country of south Texas, but you know that much.”
”All right,” Zac said, trying and failing to get around Tyler once more. ”I'll sit with my nose in the corner and not look at anything but my toes until she's done.”
”You'll stay out here,” Tyler said. ”I don't trust you.”
”Go to h.e.l.l! I'm not freezing my b.u.t.t off to please your Puritanical soul.”
”You can wrap up in one of the horse blankets.”
”You're crazy if you think I'll wrap up in anything worn by a mule.”
When Tyler continued to block Zac's path, Zac swung at him. Tyler avoided the blow. Zac's spoiled behavior belied the fact he was as strong and physically capable as the rest of his and Tyler's brothers. Seconds later they were rolling in the snow, locked in fierce combat. It took several minutes, but Tyler finally subdued his younger brother.
”You wouldn't have pinned me if you weren't so much heavier,” Zac managed to mutter between gasps for breath. Zac gave a heave, and he and Tyler were rolling in the snow once again.
”What on earth are you two doing?”
Neither man stopped until Tyler managed to pin Zac once more. Then Tyler looked up to see Daisy standing in the doorway of the cabin, her incredulous gaze on both of them.
”You'll both die of pneumonia.”
Tyler felt like an idiot. All the heat that had fueled his l.u.s.t and his anger evaporated, leaving him feeling cold and foolish.
”Just a friendly tussle,” he said. ”A man could go stir crazy sitting in that cabin day after day.”
”I'll be d.a.m.ned if that's true,” Zac said. ”It's all because this pious b.a.s.t.a.r.d didn't want me--”
Tyler slammed Zac's head into the snow. ”You agree with every word I say, or I'll turn your head into mush,” he hissed.
”You're not strong enough,” Zac grunted, struggling to break Tyler's hold.
”Promise,” Tyler whispered knowing that if Zac once gave his word, he wouldn't break it.
”Okay, okay, I promise! Just let me up before your break my ribs. I'm already bleeding.”
”It's your own fault,” Tyler hissed.
”Hypocritical son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h,” Zac muttered, rudely. ”My turn will come. Just remember that.”
”Your s.h.i.+rt's b.l.o.o.d.y,” Daisy said when Zac entered the cabin.
”Thanks to my thoughtful brother,” Zac said, casting Tyler a furious look.
”Sit down,” Tyler ordered. ”I'll take care of it.”
”The h.e.l.l you will!” Zac snapped. ”I'll do it myself.”
”I'll do it if you'll let me,” Daisy said. ”You'll never be able to reach it yourself.”
Tyler could see Zac start to refuse, think about it, then change his mind. ”I'd be ever so grateful if you would,” he said in that sweet, syrupy voice Tyler knew meant he was feeling diabolical. ”Tyler's so rough.”
”Here, sit down and take your s.h.i.+rt off.”
”I don't think you ought,” Tyler said.
”Why?” Daisy asked.
”Tyler thinks seeing me without my s.h.i.+rt might offend your modesty,” Zac said. ”Sorry, but I hadn't thought of that.”
Tyler itched to get his fingers around Zac's throat. There was n.o.body on earth who could pull the wool over people's eyes like Zac when he really wanted to. Those big black eyes, that youthful, handsome face, that incredible smile would have charmed the devil.
Poor Daisy didn't have a chance.
Chapter Six.
Tyler itched to toss Zac back into the snow. It didn't matter that Daisy wouldn't understand. At least she'd be safe. But he couldn't do that. The little beast was his brother. And when it came right down to it, he had been responsible for his wound.
Tyler gritted his teeth and put some water on to heat. Maybe he'd get it so hot it would scald the little weasel. He laid out some lint and strips of cloth for bandages. He glanced up as Zac removed his s.h.i.+rt. They really had made a mess of the wound. Blood was smeared all over his side.
”Does it hurt?” Daisy asked.