by Nora Nolan
AARON WATCHED her get into the bed, thinking again how lucky that shirt was that she was sleeping in it. He took off his boots and turned out the lamp. He removed his britches and shirt and lay down on the pallet she'd made.
"Good night, Aaron. And thank you."
"Good night. And you're welcome."
"Aaron? I wish I could be a lady. I really would like to be one."
He smiled into the darkness. "I can help with that. You'll have to mind me, though."
She sighed. "I have a feeling I don't mind well. Don't have much experience doing that, you know."
"I can help with that, too." He drifted off to sleep imagining her sweet and shapely bare backside turning red under his touch. Sweet dreams.
CHAPTER 3
T hey awoke the next morning to the sound of the rain still falling. Aaron was up first and dressed in the same britches he'd worn the day before, but he put on a fresh shirt. He pulled on the rain slicker and quietly stepped outside to relieve himself.
Although he was quiet, he wasn't quite quiet enough to keep from waking Evie. She woke up a little disoriented then remembered the events of last evening. The bed felt wonderful and she felt refreshed. She didn't usually sleep this soundly, especially when camping in the rough. I could get used to this. She stretched and yawned and allowed herself the unheard-of luxury of just lying in bed, enjoying the comfort.
AARON CAME BACK in and offered her the slicker so she, too, could go outside and attend to her needs. She pulled on her boots and pulled the slicker on over his shirt that she had slept in.
"Aren't you going to put on your own clothes now?"
"Maybe later. They're nice and clean and I don't want them to get wet and muddy just yet."
"Oh, all right." He watched her walk out the door, shaking his head. I never met a woman who didn't seem to care if she was dressed or not. And she wants to be a lady!
Aaron went to the shelf and pulled out the rest of the biscuits from where Evie had placed them. That should be enough for breakfast. He stoked the live coals in the ashes and added more wood. Then he got down the canister of coffee grounds and used the last of the fresh water to make coffee.
Evie came back in then, took off the slicker and hung it over the hook beside the door. "Oh, coffee's already on, wonderful!"
He noticed she had two more pieces of wood. Before she started carving them up, she asked him if he had any casting line for fishing. He did. "Good. I think, since it's still raining, I'll set up a snare for fish, too. What do you think? All I have left is thicker cord, and it's too thick for catching fish."
"Sounds like a good idea. I'm sure we can find plenty of worms on a day like today, under rocks or logs."
"I thought so, too. I checked the snare where I caught the rabbit and it had sprung but didn't catch anything. I think a little branch got blown against it. I reset it."
"All right, I'll be right back," he said as he pulled the slicker back on. "I'm going to get more water."
She smiled up at him. He looked at her, taking it all in. She was sitting there, smiling up at him with that short, bed-rumpled hair while still wearing his damned shirt. He managed to smile back at her nicely, but it wasn't what he felt. God help me, I just want to kiss that smile off your face and rip my shirt off your body and make you writhe underneath me.
He grabbed the two buckets and headed toward the water. The stream had swollen quite a bit and was running much faster than yesterday. He leaned down and dipped the buckets in the water, filling them both. I can't figure that woman out. Evie's from west of here, north of the railroad in the mountains. She won't say specifically where. She's headed east, maybe Laramie or Cheyenne. Lived with five big brothers, mother died, her father not around much. Raised like a little brother instead of a little sister. And that's all I know. Well, that's not exactly true. I know she has eyes that sparkle when she grins. She has breasts that cry out for my mouth, and an ass that… Oh, sweet Lord, that ass.
He came in the door and set down the water buckets then picked one back up and poured it into a pot ready to boil when hot water was needed.
Once he'd done that, he saw that she was busy notching the wood pieces for the fish snare. When she had the notches fitting like she wanted, she sharpened the long piece that goes in the ground. She took the hook piece and tied her thicker cord to the side that would attach to a sapling.
"Do you have that line handy? I'm about ready to go out and set this up. I already have a hook."
"Yes, let me get it." He reached into one of his packs and pulled out a little package that contained his hooks and line. He pulled the line out of the box and handed it to her.
She stood up and gathered up the cord, the wood pieces, the line and her knife. "I'm going to use your slicker and go set this up."
"Why don't you wait until after we eat and have coffee, then we can go out together and set it?" He thought that sounded like a pleasant way to pass some time.
"Why," she asked testily, "don't you think I can do it right?"
Confusion flashed across his face for a moment as he wondered what had brought that on. "I'm sure you can, based on the how you caught that rabbit. I just thought it would be an enjoyable thing to do together."
"Oh. I'm not used to doing things with other people."
"I guess not. Look, I plan to be here several days, maybe a week. You can't be leaving in this weather, either, so you might as well get used to being around me and make the best of it."
He could see that she bristled at his words, even though he said them in a reasonable tone. "You look here, you asshole, you can't tell me what I can and can't do! If I want to leave, I will. You can't stop me. I've been taking care of myself since I was twelve, and I don't need a man to take over that job."
He decided to respond logically instead of going ahead and blistering her backside like he wanted to do. "I've been making conversation and being pleasant, even suggesting that we spend time together doing something we both enjoy. Why do you feel threatened by that? I didn't mean anything I've said in any kind of a negative way. I just wanted to enjoy your company."
She looked a little sheepish. "I'm not used to having anybody's company. I guess I need to forget that not everybody's like my family."
"You don't enjoy their company?"
"Not much to enjoy. I'd call them all sonsabitches except that our mother was the only good thing about them."
"Why don't you tell me about them?"
"I don't want to talk about them."
"All right," he sighed. "Come on and sit down here and let's have the coffee and biscuits. Maybe we can find something you are willing to talk about."
They sat down and Aaron divided up the remaining warmed up biscuits. They were still fairly soft since they were reheated in a damp towel. He set the plate down in front of her.
"Would you really leave here with this storm going on? I wouldn't want to travel in it."
"I can take care of myself." She was obstinately pouting.
"Evie. Listen to me. Look at me." He waited. "There. Please understand what I'm saying. I don't question your ability to take care of yourself. It's clear you can. I can take care of myself, too, but I don't travel in a mess like this when there's a warm cabin available to me. Just because I can take care of myself in just about any situation, doesn't mean I'm going to make a bad decision and put myself in a position where I have to take special measures to do it. Do you understand that?"
She glared at him. "Yes."
"Good. Then let's talk about this lady thing."
"Forget it. You'll never make a lady out of me."
He smiled a very charming smile. "You know, you shouldn't tell me what I can and can't do, either."
"Fine. What do you want to talk about?"
"Are you still interested in learning how ladies act?"
"Do you think there's any hope for me?"
"Oh, there's always hope. Tell you what. Let's start small. We'll start with your mouth."
He looked at her mouth and smirked. "Oh, nothing at all, Evie. It's a very nice mouth. I meant your language."
"Oh. I guess ladies don't cuss."
"As a general rule, no, they don't. Maybe in extreme circumstances, or in private with their husbands, but not in public or around strangers."
"So there are cuss words a lady could say with her husband and it's all right?"
"In certain situations, yes, but that's another lesson for another time. Right now, let's assume ladies don't use cuss words. Can you keep from saying them?"
"I can try."
"Great! We'll make it a game. See if you can keep from swearing for the next hour."
"I can do that, easy." Her foul countenance brightened a bit.
Good. Crisis averted. Let her get comfortable with you, then you can find out more about her and her situation.
After they ate and cleaned up, they went outside to the stream and found a sapling in the perfect spot next to the stream to use to set up the fish snare. The rain had lightened up, but there were still ominous dark clouds to the west. Aaron kept a close watch because, in these foothills, dangerous weather could hit almost out of nowhere. He kept the conversation light and comfortable, not wanting to appear to tell her what to do as they set up the snare together and baited it with a worm. He was gratified that she seemed to enjoy working with him. He didn't want her to get angry and leave with the threat of more storms on the way. He didn't really want her to leave at all.
He let her wear the slicker because she was still wearing his shirt and nothing else. It was getting the better of his imagination knowing that such treasures were right there with only loose hanging fabric between him and a little bit of heaven. He was again grateful that with the light rain wetting and cooling him a bit and a slight breeze from the northwest, his manly parts weren't reacting as they might have if they'd been inside in the warmth. She looked adorable in the slicker and boots with several inches of bare leg showing. Ladies keep themselves covered better than this, but he didn't mind delaying that particular lesson.
"What are you looking for?" he asked when he saw her walking around looking at the ground.
"A long, straight fallen branch that I can make into a spear. They might not bite after this storm, and if they don't, I might have to spear one for our next meal."
He laughed again. "You aren't the only one responsible for our food. I can pitch in, too, you know."
"Maybe I just want to show off," she said as she looked at him, smiling.
I think she's flirting with me. "Well, then, I guess I better help you look for a long, straight branch." He did help, and they found one. After checking the other snare, they went back in the cabin where Evie got to work fashioning a spear. Aaron took off his wet shirt and hung it from the corner of the table near the cook stove and dried his hair with one of the towels.
"You can take off your britches if you want to," Evie commented. "They're wet, too, and they'll take longer to dry."
"I'll just sit near the stove and hope for the best. I'll probably be going outside again soon."
"Suit yourself. Aaron?"
"Yes?"
"What exactly makes a lady a lady? I mean, what do you look for in a lady?"
"You mean, what would I look for in a wife? Or just what I think makes someone a lady?"
"There's a difference?"
"Hmm. That's kind of hard to answer, now that I think of it. When I think of the ladies I've met in my life, some common things stand out. They've been gracious. They make other people at ease, so the people they're with are comfortable in their company."
"How do they do that? How are they gracious?"
"Well, a smile goes a long way. Mainly, I think they act like they're glad to be in your company. Some have a way with words and know just what to say. Others just have a manner about them."
"Dammit. Maybe it is hopeless for me. I'd never know the right thing to say."
Aaron got a wicked grin on his face and pulled out his pocket watch from his britches. "Oh, no. Your trial hour with no swearing is over. That means in this phase of the game, you have to suffer the consequences." He stood up and took the stick and knife from her hand and pulled her to her feet. Then he sat down and pulled her over his lap before she registered what he was doing."
"Let me up! You can't do this! What kind of man are you?"
He laughed at her struggles. She might be strong and capable and able to take care of herself, but there was no way five feet four inches of her could get free from six feet four inches of him. He pulled up her shirt—his shirt—to reveal that image he'd been envisioning since last night. "I'm the kind of man who's going to help you remember to keep your language in check." With that, he let loose with three or four light swats. He didn't mean for it to hurt; he was mostly playing.
"Stop that! You can't do this to me!"
"Sure, I can." He laid on a few more licks, none even approaching pain. Sting, yes, but nothing painful.
"Let me up! Who said you had the right to do this?"
"My house, my rules. That's just how it is." A few more swats followed, and he landed a few on her upper thighs.
"Ow, those sting on my legs!"
"Well, that's the idea," he said as he stopped to rub her bottom and thighs. Damn, this rubbing is going to get me in trouble. Too close to other parts.
"All right, all right, I think I'll remember not to cuss now. That's enough. Let me up."
"Oh, I'm not sure that's enough. We need to make sure the lesson soaks in." He delivered a few more light swats and stopped to massage again. His hand gently stroked and caressed each cheek, then moved down to her thighs. He moved his hand very slowly, enjoying the slight warmth from the area that had been lightly shaded pink.
EVIE HAD no idea what was happening to her. Is this a game we're playing? This is horribly embarrassing. I feel so much more naked than I did last night when I was completely bare. And his hand! The swats didn't hurt, but they did do something to me. And what those swats started, his rubbing is making even worse. Damn! Better not say that out loud—no telling what he'd do. He's got to let me up. I feel all wet and mushy down there. What's happening? I have to get up!
Aaron continued with more swats, followed by more massaging. When his hand ventured a little more inward on her thighs, she was afraid he'd see her wetness.
"Stop! That's enough! Now let me up."
AARON FELT APPROPRIATELY REBUKED, assuming she was letting him know that this wasn't part of any kind of proper spanking. He'd taken liberties.
"I guess that's enough. Are you going to swear anymore?"
"Are you going to do this again if I do?"
"I'll do it a bit harder next time."
"Then I won't do it again. I promise."
"I'll hold you to that, you know."
"I believe you." He let her up, and she managed a smile. She picked up the spear again and continued sharpening the point.
Aaron still felt it was a victory because she hadn't pitched a fit when he turned her over his knee. But the biggest victory came when he had noticed the wetness and scent of her arousal. How the hell am I going to hide this raging hard-on? He needn't have worried.
"I can see you got hard. I have five brothers. I know it happens."
Well, this is embarrassing. "A lady might not have mentioned it," was all he said as he smiled at her and walked outside.
Outside, once he'd taken care of his personal business, he checked on the snares again and was rewarded to find that they'd caught a fish. He turned over an old piece of a fallen log and found another worm to rebait the hook. He reset the snare and took the fish in the cabin to show Evie.
"Look what we did! I was thinking I'll clean it and cut off the head to bait the other snare with. What do you think?"
"That sounds good. Did you reset it?"
"Sure did."
"Good. How about you clean it, and I'll fry it up for lunch?"
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br /> "Yes, ma'am. That sounds perfect." He went outside to clean the trout. It was big enough to filet. He set the head inside the noose of the first snare and made sure the cording was a little elevated to get a better purchase on the animal. He went down to the water to rinse off the filets and his bloody hands before going back inside the cabin.
Evie had finished the spear and stoked the fire in the stove. She put some lard in the iron skillet and was chopping some onion and potatoes to fry along with the fish. She found some meal in his supply pack and salted and peppered it to dredge the fish.
He found her at the table, finishing up the vegetable preparations. It struck him what a nice domestic scene this made. He couldn't keep from smiling. He could get used to walking in and finding a woman cooking his meals. This woman. His woman. Where did that come from? You've known her one day, and you still don't know jack about her!
"Well, you look happy," she said, smiling back at him.
"Yes, ma'am. Why wouldn't I be? Got a roof over my head, food to eat and good company. What more could I ask for?"
She cocked her head oddly. "Oh. I guess I'm not used to people being very happy. My brothers always snarled. Believe me, they could always find more to ask for."
"I'm sorry you've had to live like that. What more did they want?"
"Let's not talk about them. These potatoes and onions are starting to get tender, so it'll be time to put the fish in soon." She reached and picked up the filets from the plate where he'd put them and dredged them in the meal, then put them in the pan where they sizzled. "Perfect," she proclaimed.
Evie divvied up the food while Aaron got them water to drink. When he sat down to take a bite, he was sure to let her know how good it tasted. "It sure is nice not to have to eat my own cooking."
"You aren't a good cook?"
"Oh, I'm a decent cook. I just don't really enjoy cooking for myself. Back in Big Rock, I tend to eat a few times a week at the restaurant. The food's good, and there's always someone there to talk to."
