CHAPTER TWO

"How did ya know I was here?" Sully asked as the woman advanced toward him and knelt down beside his chair, still with her back to the firelight.

He immediately noticed her perfume, some strange, garish fragrance he didn't recognize and didn't particularly like. This close he could see her hair was indeed blond (and smelled of cigarette smoke) and the dress she wore was tight fitting, gaudy and very revealing.

"I followed you here," she murmured in that low voice. "You see, I'm with the acting troupe, have been for years. When you were in the clinic talking to Michaela, I was on the interior stairs and I heard you tell her you'd be going to Pueblo. It all fell right into my plans. I didn't even have to think of a way to get you alone! My 'sister' doesn't suspect a thing."

She reached over and brushed a strand of hair from his eyes. "I've even been in the clinic talking to her the past few days," the woman laughingly added. "She looked right at me and didn't even notice our resemblance! She's so full of herself she doesn't notice anyone else. Oh, but after this night, she'll never forget me!"

He turned his head away, wondering what she had in mind and trying desperately to think of something to derail her plans. I never felt sa' helpless in my life! How could I a' been so dead asleep that I didn't know I was bein' trussed up like a Thanksgivin' turkey?

He flinched as he felt the woman's fingers touch his face. Taking firm hold of his chin, she forced his head back toward her, murmuring seductively, "By the way, my name is Miranda. Miranda Webster."

Sully felt like he was in the middle of a strange nightmare and longed desperately to wake up from it.

"Look, just get away from me," he warned, "I got no intention 'a bein' unfaithful ta my wife, no matter whatcha do. Just untie my hands right now and get out and I'll forget the whole thing, alright?"

Before he could blink, Miranda put her hands on both sides of his face and pressed her lips to his. He immediately reacted, jerking his head out of her grasp and growling, "NO! Didn't ya hear what I just said?! What are ya, crazy or somethin'?"

She only chuckled. "Hmm, this is going to be more difficult than I thought. Alright, I'll just have to rethink my strategy."

"Why ya doin' this?" Sully angrily demanded. "What'd Michaela ever do ta you?"

"I told you," she told him in that calm husky voice. "Michaela had everything – a father, a rich home, a large family, an expensive education, all the advantages. But what did I have? I had to work for everything I ever had. My own father was ashamed of me just because he wasn't married to my mother! I never got the chance to prove to him that I could be just as good as his precious baby girl!"

"But that ain't Michaela's fault! It's her pa's fault. And why ya singlin' out Michaela anyway? What about Rebecca or Maureen or Claudette?" Sully yelled, frustration getting the better of him.

"Because Michaela was 'Father's little darlin', that's why!" Miranda yelled back.

Sully ground his teeth together and put his head back, groaning in exasperation. At that moment he had never wanted anything so badly in his life than to be OUT OF THAT CABIN and away from this JEZABEL!

Realizing anger wasn't going to help in accomplishing her goal Miranda changed her tactics. Taking a deep breath, she stood up, straightened her dress, patted her hair, and took a few steps away from him.

"I apologize for losing my temper. You must be getting thirsty. Would you like something to drink? Some tea perhaps?"

Sully couldn't believe he was in the clutches of a crazy woman and couldn't do a thing to set himself free! Sighing in frustration, he shrugged his shoulders as he wracked his brain to think of some way to get through to her and extricate himself from this situation.

Finding a tin cup in the kitchen area, the woman walked to the pot over the fire that Sully had filled with water earlier. Dipping the cup in and drawing out some hot water, she crossed to the other side of the table. He could hear her moving around behind him, her skirt swishing as she prepared his tea.

Moving to his side again, Miranda knelt down and held the cup to his lips, letting him drink several sips. "Good?" she asked politely.

He just gave her a disgusted glance and continued sipping, only because he was extremely thirsty.

When he had finished more than half the cup, she smiled and took it away, reaching over him to set it on the table.

Standing up she walked back to the fireplace. Fanning herself like a Southern Belle, she murmured, "Oh dear, it does seem to be getting a trifle warm in here, don't you think?"

Sully stared at her like she had two heads. I can't believe she's just standin' there actin' like everythin's normal!

"Look, I told ya, I ain't interested. Can't ya take the hint? I'm in love with my wife, and nothing' YOU do can change that! Untie me right now or when I do get loose..."

She continued like she didn't hear him.

"Yes, I do believe it's getting warm in here. Oh well, I'll just have to make myself a little more comfortable." With that, she reached around to the back of her dress and began unbuttoning.

"Whoa!! Hold on now!" Sully yelled, "don't be doin' that! Ain't ya got no modesty or nothin'? Stop that!" He bellowed even louder.

Miranda ignored his orders and continued unbuttoning, watching his face for his reaction, enjoying his panic.

Man I GOTTA get outta here! I hope this is some crazy nightmare and I'm gonna wake up! He tried again, in vain, to get his hands loose, or his feet. He was tied so firmly that he couldn't work loose, yet amazingly, not so tight that it cut off his circulation.

He heard her dress drop to the floor in a soft heap. Despite himself he looked over at her and immediately regretted it.

She was standing there in her chemise and pantaloons, her body exquisite in the flickering firelight. He could see the tops of her breasts peeking out above the lace, her long blonde hair cascading around her. She bent over to remove her boots and stockings, taking her time and giving him an even better view. He swallowed hard, shutting his eyes and turning his head away. Oh God I'm sorry Michaela! I swore to ya I'd never even look at another woman. I'd give anythin' if ya were here with me right now!

He jumped when he felt a hand on his knee. Suddenly his heart started to race and his palms started to sweat. Ain't there no way to stop Cloud Dancin's prediction from comin' true?

"You should be starting to feel the effects by now," she murmured in that seductive and throaty voice.

He opened his eyes to find her kneeling between his knees. He couldn't see her face in the shadows, but he was sure she must have been smiling with evil satisfaction. He was beginning to really despise this woman.

"Effects of what?" he growled, not sure he wanted to know.

She chuckled softly. "You really are too trusting. Your tea. I added a little something to...help reduce your inhibitions."

He swallowed hard as his mouth went dry. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his gut. "What did ya add?"

Reaching out a hand to his chest, her warm fingers began caressing his skin in the opening of his shirt. "Oh, just an interesting combination of herbs I learned about from a friend. It causes a man to...react more quickly to certain...stimulants – even if its against his will."

The woman then began slowly unbuttoning his shirt. Sully tried to flinch away, "Don't!" he snapped.

Ignoring his order she continued her chore, finally pulling his shirttail from his pants as he continued to protest and spreading the shirt open, bared his chest to her appreciative eyes.

He felt totally naked under her burning gaze and for the first time in his life he understood what women felt like to be ogled by men!

Suddenly she rose lithely to her feet and gripping his shoulders, quickly straddled his lap. "What'dya doin', get off me!" he ordered as he glared up at her.

"Not just yet," she murmured, gazing down at him, "you have the most mesmerizing blue eyes. I'm beginning to understand now why Michaela's so crazy about you." Twining her fingers in his soft wavy hair, she slowly brought her lips to his, kissing him lightly. Sully's mind was swirling. Something about this seemed so familiar he forgot to protest. Expecting resistance and pleased when he didn't draw away, she deepened the kiss.

He mentally jerked himself back to reality and wrenched his mouth from hers, "NO! Doggonnit! Get away from me!" he ordered through clenched teeth. "I'm married, don't ya understand? I love my wife!"

She cupped his face firmly in her hands, chuckling, and began nipping at his lips, trying to force her tongue into his mouth while he fought to keep it firmly shut, shaking his head 'no' and growling, "mm-mm." At one particularly firm nip, he flinched and gasped angrily, "Ow!" giving her the opportunity to seize his parted lips.

Plunging her tongue into his mouth, she immediately became more aggressive and pressed herself to his bare chest. He could feel the woman's breasts through the thin material of her chemise and he tried to squirm away as she consumed his mouth with her kiss. Winding her arms tightly around his neck, her body draped intimately across his lap, she ground herself seductively against his manhood. Feeling the heat between her legs even through his buckskins, he tried even harder to escape from the contact, but he was tied too firmly. What's a man supposed ta do in a situation like this? He thought desperately.

He was shocked at the audacity of this woman, while amazed at the strength of her arms and hands holding his head still. Dang it, I'm only human! I can't take much more 'a this! his mind screamed as he continued twisting and straining as far as his restraints would allow.

Then to his horror, he felt his body begin to respond. No, NO, NO! NOT NOW! Fighting desperately to control his rapidly hardening manhood, he groaned in panic and frustration as the woman moaned seductively into his mouth, having felt his response as well. He couldn't believe his own body was betraying him like this! His heart was pounding in his chest, his ears buzzing, and he knew he was quickly losing control. Cloud Dancing's prediction replayed in his mind, "For a time...she will succeed... succeed... succeed." God help me, I must be losin' my mind... she kisses just like Michaela! That thought shocked him. No, what am I thinkin'? This hussy's nothin' like my wife! Michaela's a lady, she's sweet, and gentle and......

Suddenly Miranda broke off the kiss, panting, and brought her mouth to his neck, kissing and nipping sensuously at the tender skin below his left ear as he groaned in frustration, "STOP IT, you're drivin' me crazy!" Tingles shot through his entire body and down his spine. Every nerve ending he possessed had become super sensitive and he felt light headed. What's wrong with me? How 'm I gonna explain this? Who'd believe me? If another man tol' me this happened ta him, I'd call him a dang liar! He was barely holding on to his sanity and weakly continued trying to squirm away from her.

"I can feel how much you want me," she taunted naughtily, grinding against him again. "Come on, give in! One time with me and I'll make you forget all about her." Nipping his earlobe and running her tongue around the edges of his ear while he fought to control his errant body, she sultrily breathed, "Mmm, what a kisser you are."

Somehow that was his undoing.

Hearing familiar words his wife always used to fan the flames of his passion, he moaned in defeat as the woman's mouth came back to his. His mind slipped into neutral as his body somehow became convinced he was with his wife! Her plan coming together like clockwork, the woman gleefully found him a willing participant. Kissing more passionately by the second, they were soon panting and moaning in each other's mouths. His manhood throbbed painfully with need, overpowering all reason, as his conscience seemed to spin across the galaxy and out of his control.

She knew she had him now and without breaking the kiss she reached around behind him, in moments magically freeing his arms. Instead of pushing her away, however, those arms traitorously wound around her body as if they had minds of their own, pulling her even tighter against him.

Desperately trying to rein in his raging passions, his mind was in turmoil, fluctuating wildly between agonizing guilt and intense consuming desire. Do ya wanna betray Michaela??! His conscience screamed. What's wrong with you? It must be the concoction this she-devil fed me. He answered his own question. What the heck is IN that stuff!? God help me, I can't stop! ... But ... I HAVE TO! I MUST stop this NOW!!!

Using every ounce of his willpower to fight the fire burning in his body, he broke the kiss, gasping, "This ain't right! I can't do this!"

"Oh Sully, please don't stop," she moaned, trying to recapture his mouth, "I need you so much. Please make love to me!"

"NO!" He roared, putting his hands on her arms to push her off him while anger came to his rescue like the Fifth Cavalry. Her arms clung firm around him as he pushed at her, trying to dislodge from her grasp.

"Sully, why are you pushing me away?" she pleaded desperately.

"GET OFF ME WOMAN!"

"Oh Sully, PLEASE!! Ba-"

At that instant a voice interrupted loudly from the doorway, "What in tarnation's goin' on here!?", whereupon three things happened in rapid succession:

-- The woman screamed and jumped up off Sully's lap.

-- Sully jumped up, but since his feet were still tied he lost his balance and fell flat on his face with the chair on top of him.

-- The intruder burst out laughing.

On to chapter Three!