by Rita Hestand
He chuckled and took her in his arms. The kiss went deep, and his hands were all over her. "I couldn't wait to get back." He whispered.
"I've got a roast," she smiled.
"I'm starved." He admitted with a grin. "Come outside, I've got something to show you."
He took her hand and led her to the porch where Jack was already playing with one of the pups in his lap.
"Oh," Lissa cried, "They are adorable."
"Nice looking, aren't they?"
"Oh," she picked one up and held it, careful not to let him hurt her.
"Looks like Jack and I have our work cut out for us." He grinned.
One of the pups was eating Jack up and Lissa cuddled one against her cheek.
Later as they sat around the table finishing up the best roast Moon ever ate, he leaned back in the chair. "So, you haven't been in that mine, have you?"
"No, I ain't. It's all just sittin' there, Moon." Jack sounded a bit frustrated.
"It'll wait until you are better. Have you given any thought to maybe selling it?"
"Selling it! There's a fortune in that mine boy!"
"I know, but you aren't able right now and I know very little about mining. Have it assayed and selling it might be the best thing? Lissa and I don't want for things here. We are happy, and we want to keep you around for a few more decades. If you sold it, you could relax and enjoy your years Jack."
"You ain't even interested in the money, are you?"
Moon hung his head, "I'm not miner, Jack, that's reality. We could train cubs, collect more mustangs, together, I might add, there's plenty of work we could get."
Jack exhaled sharply, then shook his head, "I guess, if I'm honest, I ain't eager to get in that mine again. I just wanted to leave you and Lissa something when I go."
"This place, it is beautiful here, Jack. We love it. That would be enough for us. What I want is for you to live your life out and be happy. I don't want you slaving every day in that old mine. It's not good for your lungs."
"Who would we sell to?"
"We could talk to the banker and let him find some buyers for us. That way no one would think we cheated them the chance."
"Is that what you want?"
"Jack, it's your mine, and it's probably worth a fortune. What do you want?"
"It would be nice to sit back and enjoy life, help you train those pups and do a little Mustangin'. Even nicer if I had a couple of grandkids to train up." He grinned.
Moon glanced at Lissa now, "I think we're working pretty steady on that."
"Glad to hear it, son." Jack grinned.
Lissa blushed. "Jack, I can't promise how soon."
"As long as you two are working on it, it's fine with me." He chuckled.
So, for the next two months Moon and Jack worked tirelessly with the pups. Jack became very fond of them and loved teaching them new tricks. Lissa kept the place clean, did the cooking and her and Moon found new ways to make love in the strangest of places and at times no one would think of. They took over the bedroom and every night they made love, but sometimes during the day, he glance at her and knew he had to have her. He took her to the pond several times and they played in the water, then he take her to the banks and make love with her all afternoon sometimes. Jack never complained, he figured they were seriously working on having some children and he could find no fault with that.
He worked hard with the pups and he was doing a bit of blacksmithing for some neighbors, so he was hot, tired, and ready for his wife almost every time he had an extra moment. Lissa never tired of his dreaming up new ways to sneak away. It was like a small adventure.
When Jack went to talk to the banker, Moon had been making some horseshoes, but since Jack was gonna be gone most of the morning, he went inside to see Lissa.
She stood there, looking at him, knowing Jack was gone, she smiled softly.
Moon took his pants off and sat in the kitchen chair, without even thinking about it, she took off her dress and straddled him in the chair. He kissed her hotly, pushing her hair away so he could trail hot kissed down her neck. "Do you mind me taking you like this?" he whispered, his warm breath feathering her ear.
"I don't mind anything," she closed her eyes and let his lips wander over her breasts as he kissed them into hard little nubs. "You do to me. I love the way you invent new places to be together. It's a compliment to be wanted as much as you want me."
He chuckled softly against the curve of her neck, "There hasn't been a day I've known you that I didn't want you."
She pushed him away to look into his eyes, "Even at the first."
He grinned sexily at her, "The first time I laid eyes upon you I understood why Earl wanted you so badly. Why do you think I let you come with me?"
"Because I was an insistent nag?" she laughed softly against his ear.
"Aw yes, but you were a sweet innocent nag…" he kisses her lips once more and she was lost to his persuasive ways. Suddenly he entered her, finding her hot and wet for him, he sighed with contentment. She rode him in the chair, and then the chair collapsed and they both laughed. Still the need was there to finish what they started, so they lay on the kitchen floor, making love for over an hour. They couldn't seem to get enough of each other.
Even afterwards, after the sensational orgasm left them weak, he kissed her breasts and touched her everywhere, lingering in the throes of their passion.
"You become more beautiful every day." He told her.
"There is not a day I don't want you, my husband," she cried with a smile and her kisses going over him.
They loved on each other, kissing off and on, touching each other in private places, then finally they put their clothes on again as a contentment filled them.
Jack returned almost at noon and she had prepared a meal for them.
"What did Hal Gordon say?" Moon asked.
"He was surprised and eager to help me find a buyer." Jack told him. "He seemed to try to talk me out of selling, but I told him I wanted to enjoy my life, what was left of it. He understood. He said if no one came up with the price I set, he'd buy it himself."
"Well, that's something to look forward to." Lissa told him with a smile.
In the next two months Moon and Jack had the cubs trained pretty well, but Moon didn't want to turn them over to the new owners until he was sure they'd take instructions from them. They were still young, and he had to be sure that it would be safe for the new owners.
Then one day, the doc drove up in the yard unexpectedly.
"Doc, what brings you out here?"
The doc walked up to the porch, saw the pups and hesitated. "They won't bother you, come on up."
"I've got some news, are Moon and Melissa here?"
Jack looked a bit startled at his question. Jack didn't know that the Doc knew about Melissa.
But he hollered for Moon, and they came out on the porch.
"Doc, what bring you out?" Moon asked.
Lissa stayed close to Moon.
"Melissa, your father… he's dead!" The Doc said.
Melissa stared straight at him now, "My father?"
"Yes." The Doc seemed to watch her now.
"What happened?"
"It's called alcohol poisoning. It killed him. By the time he came to me he was too far gone. I'm sorry, I thought you had a right to know." The doc looked away.
"But before he died, he said he killed Earl."
"What?" Lissa's eyes pinned him now.
"He said they got in an argument over a poker game, they were both drunk, and he chased Earl into the barn that night and killed him. He said he barely remembered doing it, that's why he blamed you."
Lissa sat stone still. "It's not true!"
The doc stared into her stormy eyed glance, "You think a dying man lies?"
"Well no, but… "
He took his hand and covered hers. "Let's don't go any further, Melissa. He told the Sheriff, as he was there when he died. The Sheriff nodded and said he'd take the poster
s down. It's all over… "
Lissa stared, her mouth open, but not knowing what to say about the matter. Why would her father lie on his deathbed… for her?
Moon took her in his arms.
"Melissa," the Doc started to get up now from his chair that Jack had insisted he sit down in. "It's over, leave it."
Lissa wanted to confess about the man she killed but the Doc went on with other news.
"The Sheriff said the posters would come down, and you aren't wanted any longer and the case was closed."
"I can't believe it!"
Jack smiled, "God does work in mysterious ways, don't he, Doc?"
"Yes, he does. Oh, and strangely but last week a man came into town with a body on his pack horse. Well, what was left of a body. It was all eaten up by a bear torn to shreds, couldn't even identify him. Said he found the body up by Sutter's Ridge. The body had been buried at some point, but the bear dug him up and had him for supper. The man found the bear tracks all over the place. Bears are known for buryin' their prey for a while, then digging them up and eating them. It was the most gruesome case I ever had. And no one knows who the man was. I guess we'll never know. Probably some drifter. Had a big write up in the paper about it, the town was going into hysterics worrying about that bear."
"Sounds like you been busy, Doc!" Jack laughed.
"Do we need to get a hunt up for the bear?"
"Yes, I have been busy. But the town hired a well-known bear tracker. Someday, years from now, they'll be able to identify people like that, but right now, we have no way of telling. We buried the bones up on Boot Hill, but there's no name on the grave. It's kind of sad when you think someone can die and you don't even know his name."
"No ones been missing?" Jack asked.
"No, no reports of anyone we know."
"Well, at least he got a burial." Moon told him.
The Doc patted Lissa's hand. "I'm sorry about your Pa, but the way the man drank, it's no wonder. In case you want to visit, we buried him by your Ma."
Lissa nodded, tears were streaming silently down her cheeks now. "Thanks Doc, for everything." Lissa stood up and hugged the man.
"Just take care of yourself Melissa and have a good life. You ought to come to town more often now, no one gets to see you much. And," He looked down at her. "You don't have to dress like an Indian, unless you want to."
Lissa turned red. "But Doc, Moon and I are married. Won't they be upset about me marrying an Indian?"
"Well, not after I tell them all how he took care of you after what your father did and hid you out so he couldn’t find you. No, everyone in our town has known Moon for a lot of years. And maybe some will be standoffish, some of the women, but they'll learn to accept it in time. The thing is you need to hold your head up and be proud.
"Oh, and Jack, I bought the mine."
Jack's head reared, "You did?"
"Well, I intend to if you don't mind, I couldn't believe after all these years you would sell it, especially when it finally paid off."
Jack smiled and stood up. "Happiness don't come in gold Doc. It comes from having a family and lots of love."
The Doc smiled at him now, "I guess you are right, Jack."
"So, what are you going to do with it?" Moon asked.
"I got a nephew, who came west to become a man. He always wanted to go to California to find gold. When you put the sign up that it was for sale, I asked him if he'd work the mine himself, he said he would be glad to. So now he's really gonna become a man. The thing is Jack, he could use some pointers on how to work it. I figure together we might make a fortune and I could pay you for helping him out."
"That's great. It will certainly do that, he'll learn a lot, it's hard word, Doc, and I'd be glad to help any way I can."
"That's what I was hoping. Well, I just wanted to deliver the news. We didn't have a funeral for your Pa Melissa, but if you want one, and you need some support, just let us know, the town is behind you all the way."
"Pa wasn't much for religion. I'll go visit, say a prayer for him and that'll do. Besides, he'll be happy now, he's with my mother."
"I guess you are right about that."
"Well, good day to you. And Jack if you can get to the bank to sign the papers, it will be over and done with. If you are sure!"
"I'm sure, Doc, thanks, I'll be in tomorrow to take care of it."
"Thanks, see ya." He waved at them and rode off.
Lissa stared after him. "I can't believe it! I can't believe Pa would say something like that!"
Moon stood up with her now, gathering her too him, "I guess, in the end he wanted to do right by you."
"And the other man… we know who that was, I mean, not his name… but… we know."
"God's plan, Lissa." Jack smiled at them now. "It was all God's plan. Things usually work out like they are supposed to, when you are in the right."
Jack was about to go inside when she turned around, glanced at Moon and smiled, "I-I have sort of an announcement too."
Jack turned to look at her, "Oh?"
She swelled with pride now and stared at Moon, "I think I'm going to have your grandchild now, Jack!"
Moon stared, "You're pregnant?"
"I think so. I'll have to let the doc examine me, but I’m pretty certain."
Moon lifted her gently in the air and whirled her around, staring into her shining brown eyes. "God, I love you!"
Jack came down the steps, kissed her on the forehead, laughed and started walking back to the house, "'Bout time, all that monkeying around the two of you been doin'." He Laughed again. "Yes sir, it's about time!"
Two weeks later, after the doc confirmed her pregnancy, Jack, Moon and Lissa went up the mountain to pay their respects to her father.
They found the burial site and Lissa said a prayer over the grave, she even sang a hymn for him. As she stared at the grave, she shook her head. "I don't know why you did it, Pa. But I thank you, and my baby thanks you for it. I'm sorry we didn't spend more time getting along, but you certainly made up for it now. I guess you are happy now that you are with Ma. It gives me pleasure too knowing you are finally with her again. Tell her hello for me. And again… thanks Pa!" she said as tears streamed down her face.
Jack and Moon stood over the grave. "At least he done right by her at the end."
"Yes, and I think his actions will make her accept everything that happened a little easier now. It's just sad he could never tell he loved her!"
"I think he did, Moon. I think this was his way of saying sorry and that he did care."
"Maybe you're right. I'd like to thank him too, for her sake."
"Rest easy Mr. Carter, she's well loved now, and we'll take care of her from now on!" Moon promised.
Jack smiled and they went home.
Lissa didn't sell the property, but she gave it to a needy family in the community. The couple had three kids and no where to live. So, she opened the place up and told them they had a home as long as they wanted it, all she asked was the right to visit the graves every now and then. The couple was so happy and couldn't wait to move in.
"That was a nice thing you did, Lissa." Jack told her later. "Lettin' those folks move in there."
"I don't need it, I've got all I need right here." She smiled shooting Moon a sweet look and leaning to kiss Jack's forehead.
Jack got up with a red-face. "I made a mistake Moon."
"Oh, how's that?
"I should have married Lissa myself." He chuckled.
Moon laughed as Lissa came into his arms. "You got a place in her heart already Jack. You're going to be a grandpa soon… "
Jack turned to look at them and smiled, "I can hardly wait!" he chuckled and sat down on his porch with a satisfied smile.
Moon kissed Lissa softly on the lips and whispered, "Neither can I!"
Then they both joined Jack and the four wolf pups. Cole came to sit by Jack and Jack reached a hand to pet him. It was mid-winter and too cold to sit out long Lissa found a co
ntentment she never thought possible here in this valley with Moon and Jack. It took her a long time to get over what her step-father had done for her, but Moon convinced her, it was simply his way of showing love.
She was guilty as sin of loving her husband, he brought her through a journey she'd never forget. He'd taught her, loved her, and protected her. And the most wonderful thing was that she now had a family that was filled with love. Not all the townspeople approved of their marriage, but Lissa understood it and coped. The ones that didn't approve would never approve and they no longer cared. For they had something others didn't… happiness!
The End
About the Author
Author Rita Hestand brings you Wandering Heart, a sensual Romance that warms the heart, a story of family. A story of love and romance, where two opposite kinds of people meet and fall in love.
Rita is the mother of two, the grandmother of seven, and great grandmother of three. She has dabbled in writing since her teens. Rita feels romance is something the world needs more of and spreading it around is her pleasure.
Rita's Other Books
The Travers Brothers Series
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Courting Abby
Hannah's Man
Along Came Love
Avalanche of the Heart
The Amory's
Heart of the Wild
Sweeter Than Wine
Mail Order Nanny
The McKay's
Raining in my Heart
Ring of Fire
Twelfth of Never
Stand by Me
The Red River Valley Brides:
Heart of a Lady
Dancing the Preacherman
Last Bride, Last Man
Winning the Lady
Maggie's Dreams
Brides of the West Series
Heart of a Family
Delivering the Bride
Heart of a Woman
Wanted: Bride
This Side of Forever
Shotgun Bride
A Love as Big as Texas
Heart of a Captive
Wherever My Heart Roams
In the Arms of an Angel
