Okay, I am going to post the cover I made for the second book: Kane
Also a teaser, this is a good one :)
KANE
LOVE ON THE WIND SERIES
Book 2
Copyright 1/2025
CHAPTER 1
The Unexpected
His hand laid over her hip, and it was all Kane could do not to move his fingers over the soft, firm feel of her. Why he touched the woman still puzzled him, and he held no answer for the question he faced in her shocked expression.
“I could see you were going to fall.” It was a lame excuse, but at the moment, Kane hung on to the lie. His hand moved up to her waist as she turned to face him. Such a perfect sapphire blue glowed in the warm depths of her eyes.
“I thank you for saving me that embarrassment.” Cassidy’s hand rose to capture the man she sensed poised for flight. Her sensitive fingers framed the contours of fine, strong cheekbones that held such commanding strength. She should pull away, yet something held her to the stranger, mesmerizing her by his touch.
Kane froze as her gentle fingers moved over his face. In an instant, he realized what he missed about the lady.
“What is your name?”
He couldn’t help the smile she earned. She certainly wasn’t shy. “Kane,” her head leaned slightly to the side, waiting for him to finish. “Kane Skylar.”
“I am Cassidy Mitchum. Are you riding the stagecoach to Denver, Mister Skylar?”
“Yes, I am, Miss Mitchum.” Odd, but he could feel the tension leave her. “Could I help you board?”
Her hand pulled slowly away, but not before her finger moved like a breeze over his lips. “I would like that very much, Mister Skylar.”
“Kane is fine, Miss Mitchum.” He picked up his satchel and the lady’s.
Her cheeks glowed under a light blush flooding her face. “If I use your first name, you must use mine, Cassidy; I can see things move at a faster pace out here in the west.”
He took hold of her elbow and moved her closer to him. “Yes, they do—Cassidy.”
The other passengers were moving to board, and Kane moved her with him to the front of the line. His glare at the man behind him stopped the objection in his sweaty throat. “There are two steps up Cassidy.” Kane placed her hand on the rail at the side of the coach door. “You can move in and go to the left to sit at the window. I’m right behind you.” He slid their bags under the seat. Only one man and what Kane took as the man’s wife boarded the stage.
He leaned closer to her, “There are two older passengers across from us. The bags are under our seat.”
“Thank you, Kane.”
He whispered his next question. “Why are you alone, Cassidy?”
She leaned closer to him and turned her face toward him.
“My companion became sick in Missouri.”
“And you continued alone?”
She sighed, “I need to reach my father. I had no choice.”
Kane thought a while about her statement. “Cassidy?”
“Yes.”
“Where do you need to go to?”
“North of Denver, I have directions to the ranch.”
He couldn’t help but frown over her reply, wondering how she would get there…alone.
“What a coincidence. I am going there as well.”
She didn’t answer for some time. Kane wondered if she would refuse his company.
“I would like it very much if you could accompany me, Kane.”
“Good, you’d best relax until our night stop.”
“How long before we make it there, Kane?”
“It is about eight now. I doubt if we will get there before five this afternoon.”
“That is a long way.”
He couldn’t say if he heard or sensed the fear in her words. He reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a light squeeze. “It will be fine, Cassidy.”
Kane watched the tension float off her shoulders. As if his own body was in tune with her, he also relaxed. Only Kane couldn’t stop the questions bombarding him about the beautiful woman at his side. If he held any questions that she was blind, he no longer needed answers. Miss Cassidy Mitchum was indeed sightless but possessed more courage than most men. He didn’t want to think about all the ills that the woman might face, knowing his company would prevent any harm from coming to her.
The makings of one of his headaches made him rub his neck. He didn’t have any idea why he was helping her. Something told him Miss Mitchum faced more than a sick father biting at her heels.
Kane slid his hat forward and rested his head on the seat cushion. He realized he still held her hand. He should let go, but something made him retain his hold on the woman beside him.
~*~
Cassidy didn’t allow the air to leave her chest until she heard his deep breathing. She wished she could actually see him. She smiled and faced the air and dust coming in through the window. She raised her kerchief to cover her mouth, deciding she’d already swallowed enough dirt.
She listened to the argument coming from the man and woman sitting across from them, glad when they stopped bickering and decided to rest. What Cassidy couldn’t determine is why Mr. Skylar joined her. She swallowed her giggle over the thought of “joining” with Mr. Skylar. A man like him wouldn’t be interested in a blind girl. But the blind girl could certainly be interested in him. She could feel the heat of the blush filling her cheeks as strongly as she could feel the gun he wore pressing into her thigh.
His strong fingers tightened over her own when she tried to pull her hand back. Why didn’t he let go of her? The question posed so many new questions to Cassidy.
She waved her free hand in front of her face, trying to rid the air of dust. The fine film settled over her entire being. The grit on her dress made her groan and brush at the offensive thing.
“It is alright, Cassidy; I promise to blow away all the nasty dust.”
She couldn’t help but smile at Kane, glad when he patted her hand.
“It’s disgusting.”
“Hmm, I, for one, never noticed it.”
She turned her face to the wind again. “You promised, my new friend.”
Kane smiled under his hat. He watched her until she finally settled down. She pulled the hat netting down over her face to help keep the dust out. Kane figured the lady would be beautiful even if covered in dust.
~*~