GLITTER GULCH

Chapter 2: Angel Fire

Part C

They rode for most of the day the next day without talking to one another. Sage glanced uneasily about, expecting a sudden attack from a certain white tiger, but it never came. In fact, he wondered if the beast was still following them.

They stopped by a small stream to refresh themselves and their horses. Sage stripped off his shirt and used it to wash his back. He watched the Indian as he mimicked Sage’s ritual. The marks from last night’s beating were red and raised. The Indian winced when the cool water hit them. Sage sighed and shook his head. I’ll never understand how people can treat others that way. We’re all human after all.

"Thank you." Startled, Sage looked at the Indian’s face. "I didn’t get a chance to thank you last night. So, thanks." There were tears in the Indian’s eyes.

"You’re welcome. I’m Sage Halo by the way."

"Ryo Wildfire."

"Well, Ryo Wildfire, now that you’re a free man, what do you plan on doing?"

Ryo shrugged. "Don’t know. I’m a half-breed so I can’t do much. I don’t have any family, except White Blaze, so I don’t have anywhere to go either."

"Why don’t you come with me then? I could use the company, and I’m on my way to Texas to work in cattle drives. If you’re interested that is…"

Ryo grinned. "You mean you wouldn’t mind?"

Sage shook his head.

"Great! I’d love to go! I could use a friend right now." Ryo’s blue eyes glistened.

Sage liked the way Ryo smiled.

"Ryo? What are you eating?"

"Huh? Oh, that. Just one of the dried shrooms I found in your saddlebags."

"My saddlebag…? Oh, shit. Ryo, how many of the mushrooms have you eaten?"

"I dunno. 2 or 3."

"Shit! Goddammit, Ryo!"

"What?! There’s still some left. I’ll get you one."

"What?"

"Peyote. I use them for meditation. I only eat one of them."

"So? I’ll get you more. There’s one left…I can…" Ryo had never seen Sage this angry before. Did I do that to him? Is he really that mad at me for eating a couple of mushrooms?

"Ryo, you don’t understand. Peyote buttons are part of a cactus that has been dried…"

"I’m really sorry, Sage. I’ll go find some more…" Ryo stood up abruptly, the world spun on its axis.

"Ryo! Sit down. Listen to me. Peyote…well, it allows you to see things you wouldn’t otherwise see."

"Okay, so what’s the big deal?" Ryo plopped back down. His vision began to blur, and he suddenly liked the idea of Sage being mad at him. Maybe…

"It fucks with your head, Ryo!"

"Oh." Ryo eyed the dried mushroom. Hmmm… He smacked his lips. Come to mention it, it did taste a little funny. It was bitter and he could still taste it on his tongue. Too bad I can’t feel my tongue anymore… Ryo handed what was left of the button to Sage, who looked at him, took the button, and shook his head.

Ryo slinked back to his spot across from Sage. Moments of silence passed. "I’m really sorry, Sage. I’ll get you some more…I didn’t know."

Sage looked at Ryo and sighed. "I know, Ryo. Don’t worry about it. You didn’t know. I just don’t know what eating that many will do to you. That’s all."

Ryo lowered his head and stared into the fire. The flames began to flicker and dance. He blinked his eyes. Huh? Shapes began to form in the staccato movement of the fire’s glow. The forms danced a sensual and soothing rhythm, their mouths melded together in a passionate kiss. Ryo saw a flash of golden hair and violet eyes. Sage? Ryo leaned closer to the fire to get a better look. Sure enough, one of the images was Sage, head throw back in reckless abandon, performing the feverish dance with his shadowed partner. If only it were me… A flash of ice blue eyes and raven hair. What? The shadowed figured took shape and the mirror image of himself grinned mischievously back at him.

Ryo smirked.

The Indian watched the fire dance, and the flames gave him an idea. Sage will never go for it. Well, I’ll have to convince him or…trick him. Normally trying to trick Sage wouldn’t work in Ryo’s case. It might work for Rowan because he was the "brains" of the outfit. It could work. Sage isn’t exactly at his best right now. Besides, I’m feeling sorta invincible right now. It has to work.

He watched Sage sulk. He was huddled in a blanket and his boots. His clothes were strung on a line near the fire. A huge smile broke out on Ryo’s face. The makeshift clothesline was one element his "plan" had been lacking – a way to restrain Sage. Now I only need a way to ignite it. He didn’t have to wait long.

"Shit. I don’t think I can take much more of this. How much longer until we reach Glitter Gulch?"

Ryo shrugged. "A day or two." It was really only a couple of hours away, but the less Sage knew the better. Besides, Sage would want to ride into town tonight if he knew they were that close. Ryo wanted one more night alone with Sage. Just one. And what a night it’s going to be! There might even be some payback for that headdress thing.

Sage threw down his tin in disgust. "I’m sick of eating this crap! I’m sick of bugs in my teeth! I’m sick of running! I’m sick of smelling like shit and having a thin layer of dust, grit, and grime!" Sage’s bottom lip stuck out. Ryo felt overwhelming urge to suck on that lip. "I want to sleep in a normal bed! I want to drink out of a glass!" Sage’s normally calm composure had finally cracked like earth during a drought.

"It won’t be much longer, Sage. Quit whining." Ryo hid a grin behind his hand.

Sage scowled and clamped his mouth shut.

Sage pulled his blanket tighter around him and kicked his pan with his boot. It landed in the fire. Ryo jumped up and kicked it back out. "Dammit, Sage. Just because you’re pissed off doesn’t mean you can go around destroying stuff! Get a grip, Blondie."

Sage hated that nickname. It was one of Ryo’s little defense mechanisms against Sage when he started badgering him about one thing or another. Normally when he used it, Sage’s ears would turn bright red and he wouldn’t talk to Ryo until he apologized. But this time, Ryo hoped it would have a different effect. He wasn’t disappointed.

"Why you snot-nosed, circus performing, lunatic half-breed…"

Ryo leapt up and in one swift motion had his knife drawn and at Sage’s throat. Sage was so startled by the sudden shift in his demeanor that he didn’t have time to react.

"Care to repeat that, Blondie?" The knife dug in a little. The small cut bled.

"Ryo? What the hell…"

He crept around behind Sage, keeping the knife at his throat. "You know I don’t like it when you call me ‘half-breed’," Ryo whispered.

Sage swallowed hard, causing the cut to bleed more. "Ryo, I’m sorry. Look, if you don’t want me to, I won’t call you that anymore. I promise." Sage’s voice was calming, his "mother" voice. "Just put the knife away. We’ll talk about it."

Ryo had a hard time containing his laughter. He didn’t care if Sage called him half-breed or not, as long as Sage talked to him. That was all that mattered. His plan was working perfectly. Certainly Sage didn’t really think he’d hurt him…

"Come on, Ryo. What do you say? Will you put down the knife and talk about it?"

Sage’s answer came in the form of a blow to the head, rendering him unconscious.

"I don’t think so. You’re not getting off that easy." Ryo went over to the clothesline and began cutting the rope, measuring the distance between the two trees.

Sage heard a noise off to his right. He craned his neck to see. Ryo was standing there nude, searching through his stuff. He watched as Ryo rummaged through the saddlebags – the way his hardened back muscles tensed and shifted. The smooth plane of his back marred by scars that would never heal.

Sage admired Ryo’s tenacity – his ability to seemingly bounce back after all the suffering he had endured. The first few weeks had been tough. Ryo would cry out at night and burst into tears, all the while murmuring Star Wolf. Sage didn’t know what this Star Wolf was, but it greatly upset Ryo. At first, he didn’t know what to do. He would pretend he was still asleep but after the first two or three days, he couldn’t take it any longer. The next night when Ryo had cried out, Sage got up and went to him. He lightly touched Ryo on the shoulder. The Indian shrank from his touch, but he didn’t let go. He gathered the dark haired man in his arms and whispered to him. The hurt and desperation in Ryo’s eyes tore at Sage’s heart. He held Ryo through the tears and through the night – keeping the Indian brave’s nightmares at bay with a kind word or soft touch.

Ryo had apparently found what he was searching for and turned around. Sage gasped. Ryo’s normally bound ebon hair formed a wild mane framing his tanned face. His eyes were mostly black; his pupils dilated from the effects of the peyote. A large red symbol was painted on his chest. It looked like a letter T and an equal sign. He had a savage, feral presence and a chill ran through Sage’s body. Ryo’s eyes met his and Ryo licked his lips. Primal. That’s what he is. I don’t stand a chance. He’s the hunter and I’m the prey. He began to get aroused – the idea of someone stalking him was strangely appealing and immensely erotic. Fear heightened his senses and he thought he could actually smell Ryo’s arousal. Then he noticed what Ryo had appropriated from his saddlebags – a plain white taper candle. Ryo followed his gaze and chuckled. "Want to know what this is for, don’t ya?" Ryo’s voice was husky and Sage began to chew on his bottom lip. This was a different Ryo from the one he thought he knew. This one was far more dangerous. He liked it. But he was vulnerable, and he didn’t like that. He watched as Ryo came over and crouched beside him.

"Ryo…" Sage’s voice came out shakier than usual.

"Yeah?" Ryo’s eyes scanned his body and the beginnings of his arousal. Sage’s face flushed red.

"Uh…Don’t you think this is a little extreme?" Ryo’s hand hovered just above the blonde’s skin. He moved it lightly up his arm. Sage’s eyelids drooped and goosebumps appeared all over his flesh.

"Nope. It’s just what you needed."

"What I needed?" Is this some sort of Indian payback thing? "Ryo, if this is about the half-breed thing, I said I…"

Ryo placed a long finger on Sage’s lips. "You talk too much," he purred.