Dusty Haven#2 - AP & Epi 10/30/'13 - Page 4

Lasso-2 - Lord of the Lariat!

2013-08-08

First of all, THANK YOU!! all my wonderful readers for making it to Lasso-2. (Why use a thread when you can lasso? Thank you!)

Yes, Dusty Haven in back with Arnav also back at the Circle-R.

Before I move further with the story I thought the Answering Post deserved a little note.

So in Chapter 18, as many of you correctly observed, there were three tracks

• Khushi trying to tell the truth about Shyam
• Jadoo-Hai-Nasha-Hai
• Dupatta-Poolside kiss.

Let me reveal a little secret of mine:

When I started writing this story, I had three or four iconic moments from IPK in my head which I felt sure would translate beautifully in a Western and this was the first of them. The Dupatta-Kiss. This was perhaps the first scene that I had already translated in my head with a lasso, before I even started penning the story. Am so glad you guys enjoyed it.

I'd also wanted to have Khushi be bitten by a rattle snake - for the ankle-twist scene - but that was just too much trouble. Instead I used the cliff fall, and made a joke of the rattler.

The dreams now: Khushi used to dream, and they were never very good dreams. In fact, she almost always had nightmares - mostly populated by one Mr.Arnav Singh Raizada. So had to begin afresh with a dream, one that becomes a nightmare.

Chapter 19 - Betwixt the Cup and the Lip

He placed his palms on her shoulder, the heat from his hands burning into the fabric of her simple gown. Slowly he turned her around. She kept her eyes lowered, the faint blush on her cheeks and the soft rise and fall of her breasts under the modest neckline, revealing her anticipation, her trepidation.

'Look at me,' he commanded in a whisper, his voice aching with the need to see her beautiful eyes. His fingers lifted her chin, raising her face to his.

She lifted her eyelids as he slid his other hand down and held her trembling hand in his. He yanked her close, his arm coming around her, masterfully. His lips brushed over hers, softly, insistently, until she moaned, swaying forward into his chest, opening up and allowing him in. Fingers grasped his shirt, pulling him closer, filling her senses with his smell, as tongues tangled and breathing deepened.

His hands drifted lower, curving over her firm bottoms, fingers digging into the surprisingly hard flesh.

'Akash!' she moaned into his mouth.

'Shh!!' he swallowed her moan in his mouth, before nudging his nose into the hollows below her ear, his breath whispering over her skin.

He lifted her off her feet, his strong hands holding her firmly against him, her hands clinging tight to his shoulders, their lips still together. For a long moment, he let his tongue do the talking. Then, he slid her down his body, gently lowering her to the floor, before he pulled away, his eyes hooded as he looked into hers.

'Marry me, woman,' he growled.

She grinned up at him. 'Or else what?' she giggled, her lips rosy with his kisses.

He sighed. 'Nothing.' Holding her hands, he sank onto a knee. 'Now will you say yes?' he asked.

She swallowed, suddenly realizing what this meant - about Khushi. It still like a Damocles sword on all their heads. All of a sudden, this one piece of knowledge was affecting all their lives - just as it had all these years. Except the circle of people whom it affected had now grown. How could they tell anyone in the Raizada family about what Khushi knew?

He wasn't paying attention to her quiet distraction, busy as he was, putting a ring on her finger, before kissing it. Rising to his feet, he was surprised to see the sombre expression on her face.

'Payal? What's wrong?' concern softened his voice, gone was the playfulness of a minute ago.

She twirled the simple solitaire on her finger, swallowed, unable to meet his eyes.

'Tell me,' he urged, drawing her close, his fingers lacing across her back.

'Can we hold this off for a while?' she asked softly, her eyes on his collar.

He went still and for a moment, forgot to breathe. 'Sure. Can I ask why?' he didn't even know how to deal with this. He'd planned this for weeks. She'd always seemed receptive to his attentions. So what happened now? Had he - oh horrors!! - had he read her wrong?

'Akash. It's ...' she stopped, swallowed. 'I can't tell you about it. At least, not yet. It's for Khushi to tell and she's ... I don't even know where she is,' she looked around as if she would see her sister in the darkened parlour where she and Akash had taken refuge.

Akash frowned. Obviously this wasn't anything to do with their relationship. Then what was it?

'What about Khushi?' he led her to a couch, seating her, before sitting down himself, an arm around her.

'We wanted to tell you, but ... then tonight with the celebration, we couldn't,' she shook her head, her distress palpable.

'Tell what?' he was more puzzled.

'I can't.' She stood up. 'We should go back.'

He stood up with her. 'Payal, we can't have secrets from each other,' he said softly.

'Then trust me,' her voice was low, entreating.

He searched her eyes for a long moment. 'Do you love me?' he asked, low.

'Yes,' lower.

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. ' All right then. Let's go back outside,' he offered her his arm.

*****

Arnav felt her melt in his arms. Long hours of sitting on a saddle, long days and weeks away from her when he'd imagined how it would feel to be with her again. Eyes closed, his large hands framing her face, he breathed her in. Felt himself come to life again, as his lips brushed hers over and over. Tongue stroking into the softness of her pink lips.

Khushi drew back, resisted a little, and then wondered why she was resisting him. Her lips parted, and he slipped in, tangling his tongue with hers, his hands moving down over to her waist, wrapping her securely in his arms. Her hands slid to the nape of his neck, clutching at his dark, silky, slightly long hair.

Slowly he drew back, breathing deeply, trying to control the fever rushing through his blood. There was nothing he wanted to do more than throw her on the back of his horse and take off with her somewhere, where the two of them would be alone. Instead he drew back a bit, rested his forehead against hers, his eyes narrowed as they took in the flush along her cheekbones, the fingers still clutching at his collar.

'I missed you,' he said softly.

She smiled at that, her eyelashes lowered, so he couldn't look into her eyes, frustrating him.

'Look at me,' he ordered, low voiced. She shook her head, and raised her heavy eyelids. He caught his breath at the blatant darkness of her eyes. Leaning down, he kissed her cheek once more. Her lashes drifted shut again.

'Turn around,' he told her.

Her eyes flew open. 'Why?' she asked.

He rolled his eyes at her. 'For once, can you just do what I tell you to?' he asked exasperated.

She huffed at him, but obediently turned around, gasping in shock as a moment later, she felt the touch of metal to her skin, warmed by the heat of his body. The very thought of it brought a blush to her cheeks! She could feel him moving her hair aside to hook the chain. Lifting the locket from where it hung round her neck, she looked at it closely. 'It's beautiful,' she smiled.

'I thought of you when I saw it,' he told her, turning her around. He took the locket from her fingers, arranging it so it lay nestled between her breasts, the back of his knuckles brushing against the slopes. His eyes narrowed as she shuddered at the touch. 'Shi'aad. My butterfly,' hoarse with the need streaking through him.

'You're being silly, shikaa,' she retorted on a gasp, her eyes flying to his. 'Why would I be like a butterfly?'

He didn't tell her why he'd thought of her as a butterfly. She was as gorgeous and fragile and flitted about as if she had diaphanous wings. And was just as difficult to hold in his hands. Instead, he watched his thumb brushing the pulse at her throat that pounded in rhythm with his heart.

Leaning forward, he replaced his finger with his mouth, feeling her blood beat against his tongue. She quivered, gasping, but then suddenly, she started pushing away. He mumbled, protesting the loss of her softness.

'What?' he asked her.

'I have something to tell you,' she said, her eyes wide, stricken.

'Khushi, are you okay?' his eyes widened with concern at the note in her voice.

She took a breath, opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted.

'Arnav! Is that you?' Nanny's voice came from just behind him.

Khushi's eyes rounded as did her mouth. 'Nanny!' she breathed, blushing furiously.

Arnav closed his eyes in frustration. Sighing, he turned around. 'Yes, Nanny,' he called, blocking Nanny's view of Khushi's very red face.

'Is Khushi with you, Arnav?' she asked.

'Yes, she is,' he could barely keep his annoyance in check, and to top it all, he could feel Khushi silently giggling into his back.

She stepped out from behind him, with a straight face. 'Nanny Raizada, did you need me for something?' she moved towards the older lady.

'My dear, Drew and Dev are falling asleep. Mamie is busy with in the kitchen with HP and JP, would you mind...?' Nanny hesitated to ask her, but Mamie was really busy, and Anjali was obviously otherwise occupied.

'Not at all, Nanny,' she said moving forward, all the while aware of Arnav's burning gaze on her back. She shivered at the touch of that stabbing look.

Nanny hid a smile as she watched the frustrated expression on his face. When, oh when, was Arnav going to come out and tell them about Khushi, she thought, laughing in her head.

****

'So where is Arnav?' asked Shyam in a low voice to Anjali as they stood together, now that most of the guests had arrived, they had a little time to themselves. His arm was around her waist and she leaned into him.

'I don't know,' she looked around, aware that she'd had a glass too many of the punch that Mamie had made. It was delicious. She just didn't know what was in it that made everything seem so rosy right now, and did the room tilt just a little bit?

She blinked rapidly. Arnav was nowhere in sight.

'He must be tired, he just returned a few days ago,' he offered.

Anjali nodded. Then frowned. 'But he usually is okay after a muster,' she articulated carefully.

'Come, sit,' he led her to a vacant chair on one side of the raised dais that had been made for the musicians, who were thankfully taking a small break right now.

She sank gracefully into a chair then turned to him, as he followed her into another chair. 'Why are you asking?' she wondered.

'Asking?' he echoed, a small bewildered smile on his face.

'After Arnav,' she frowned, gathering her thoughts.

'That's because I haven't seen him since I got here. I shook hands with him and then he vanished,' Shyam said.

'Oh!' Anjali pondered that.

'He must be with some little wench,' Shyam suggested with a little laugh.

She looked at him strangely and said, 'why would you say that?'

He looked at her, raised an eyebrow and said, 'because I saw him with that girl from the Wild Bull.'

'Which wench?' Anjali's eyes were round.

'Khushi, I think her name is,' he replied, his smile revealing a little dimple on one cheek. 'The younger one?'

'Really?!' Anjali's voice went up a few decibels.

'Shhh!!' he shushed her, just before NK appeared before them.

He bowed to Anjali and shook Shyam's hand. 'Congratulations!' he said, his serious face softening into a genuine smile as he looked at Anjali.

'Thank you, NK,' she smiled back at him. 'You're late.'

'I was out on the range,' he offered. 'It took a little while to get here. My apologies.' He bowed low, sweeping the hat off his head.

She laughed delightedly. 'You're forgiven. Today, all is forgiven.' She waved her hands magnanimously.

'I am very happy for you, Miss Anjali,' he said sincerely. All his attention had been focused on her. He turned and looked at Shyam standing by her side. 'I hope you'll take good care of her,' there was underlying steel in his words.

'I will,' vowed Shyam, glancing tenderly at Anjali.

NK nodded. 'If you'll excuse me,' he bowed again and stepped back, before turning away, his eyes scanning the crowds for ASR.

He'd overheard most of the conversation between Shyam and Anjali. What was ASR thinking? But then, he'd seen how ASR had behaved around Miss Khushi. There was something there, between the two of them, and it seemed like Shyam seemed to know about it. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw Anjali smile at something Shyam had said. A wistful half-smile played on his lips as he moved away towards the back of the house.

*****

Nanny followed Khushi into the house.

'Where are Drew and Dev?' Khushi asked.

'In the living room,' Nanny said.

'Poor babies,' Khushi crooned as she spotted the two of them, sitting on a couch, with their thumbs in their mouths, eyes drooping with fatigue. Arnav came up behind her. 'Can you get one?' she asked him.

He picked up Drew and she picked up Dev, and together they took the two toddlers to their bedroom. Nanny held the door open, while they entered.

'Arnav, you can leave this in Khushi's hands,' said Nanny. Khushi was undressing Dev already before she put him to bed. He put Drew down on the bed and nodded, with a swift glance at her. She smiled back at him, and he turned around and left.

Nanny waited until he was out of hearing before she closed the door and remarked, 'it's nice to have Arnav back, isn't it?'

Khushi blushed, but made a noncommittal 'umm-humm' sound, keeping her back to Nanny, busying herself with the children.

'Did he tell you why he was looking for you?' Nanny asked, seating herself by the window, as Khushi tucked the boys in.

She looked at Nanny, surprised. Arnav hadn't said anything about looking for her! 'He was looking for me?' she asked.

'Yes,' said Nanny, frowning hard, as if she were thinking. 'I think he said something like have you seen shi'aad? He was very disappointed that you'd left without meeting him.' She tsk-ed and shook her head.

'Oh!' Khushi stood there, wringing her hands. 'Stupid shikaa,' she muttered.

Nanny was having a hard time keeping the delighted grin from showing on her face. 'Er. Khushi, my child,' she kept her voice low and serious. 'Why does he call you shi'aad?'

Khushi swallowed. 'I don't know, Nanny,' she mumbled.

'And you call him shikaa?' Nany asked sternly.

Khushi nodded, now unable to speak. Evidently, Nanny had seen her with Arnav. And not only that, she'd heard what they called each other. Oh the mortification! She wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole.

'Do you know what it means, dear child?' Nanny asked her kindly, her bright eyes looking into Khushi's horrified yet mesmerized ones. Khushi shook her head. Nanny's laugh tinkled in the room. 'Just like Arnav,' she sputtered. 'Ask him what it means,' she said, patted her cheek and walked away, leaving Khushi standing open-mouthed behind her, till Drew tugged at her arm to get her attention.

She finished putting the boys down to sleep, grumbling to herself all the while. Then she tiptoed out of the room, finding her way to the stairs and heading down. The party was barely showing signs of abating.

She walked onto the porch, her glance grazing over the crowd, spotting Ela dancing with a young man whom she'd never seen before. Turning to walk back into the house again, she bumped into a solid wall. Of pure masculine pectorals. Arnav.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. He grabbed her hand and began walking her into the house. She looked over her shoulder. That's when she saw him, walking towards the corral.

She stopped. Her breath caught in her throat. What was he doing here? But then, Arnav knew him, he'd been speaking to him that night at the bar, too.

Arnav stopped and turned, puzzled as to why she'd stopped. 'Khushi?' he asked.

She swiveled towards him. 'Arnav,' he could sense the urgency in her voice. 'Who is he?'

'He? who?' He looked in the direction she pointed.

'Him!' she said, turning to look. There was no one there. She looked around frantically. 'Where did he go?' she muttered.

'Where did who go, Khushi?' he was still being patient with her, although he didn't exactly sound it.

'Arnav,' she stopped. 'We can't talk here.'

He frowned. She'd said something earlier about wanting to speak to him. Perhaps this was what she wanted to talk about, whoever this 'Him' person was. He led her inside, with a succinct 'Come.' They swiftly made their way to his study. He seated her in a chair and locked the door.

'Can you tell me now? You wanted to say something earlier,' he reminded her, seating himself on a footstool in front of her and holding on to her hands.

She nodded her head, her eyes on their entwined fingers. 'Khushi,' he coaxed. 'Tell me?'

'I ... ' she swallowed, cleared her throat. He looked up at her quietly, patiently, waiting. 'I know who killed Miss Anjali's husband.'

Her voice was low, the words hurried, almost as if she never wanted to say them, but they were pulled out of her. She had to trust him with this. She had no more ground to run from this anymore.

Of all the things Arnav was expecting her to say, this was not one of them! They never spoke of Anjali's husband in the house. Drew and Dev barely remembered him now. But Arnav was more than certain that Anjali still missed him terribly - especially if it were something to do with the kids. Birthdays, Thanksgivings and Christmas - his absence was felt, even though both Arnav and Akash tried to make it up to them. He'd done his darnedest best to see that they wanted for nothing. But now here was Khushi telling him something that he didn't even know if he wanted to know, anymore! Anjali was ready for another chance at happiness. Why bring up the past now?

Anger, bubbling and boiling rose through him. 'How long have you known?' he asked her.

Her face paled. She could read him easily, his eyes lightening to brown fire. She shrank back from him. 'Two years. I saw it.' She dropped her gaze, not wanting to see if she'd made a mistake in telling him this here and now. 'I didn't know it was Miss Anjali's husband till I saw his photograph. The day you came back,' she added.

That's why she'd left, he realized now. It wasn't because she'd been avoiding him. But if she'd known for two years?

'Start from the beginning, Khushi,' he said. 'Where did you see this?'

And so she told him.