by Candi Fox
He would purr if he knew how his touch drove her wild. A loud moan escaped her lips as he kissed down her side, lingering on a hip bone before moving in between her legs.
Oh god, what is he doing? “Stop.”
He stopped looking up at her. “Trust me?”
Emma nodded her head. His tongue flicked across her swollen and needy lips. She gasped as her hips bucked of their own volition. Fire sped through her veins, igniting her body with need.
Mewls and whimpers escaped her lips with each lick, and when his tongue flicked across the inflamed bundle of nerves, she nearly came undone.
His name on her lips, she rode a wave of sensations that pushed her over the edge. Light exploded behind her eyes, her body trembled, her senses heightened.
When he slipped one long work-roughened finger inside her, her still sensitive body careened off the edge again.
Her moans came out louder than she expected, a deep crimson spreading across her cheeks. She heard him chuckle.
“I love hearing your moans.”
“I need you.” The words slipped from her thoughts and passed her lips.
A shocked look briefly crossed his face, then she heard a low growl. The intensity in his eyes caught her breath as he moved over top of her.
She could feel the head of his manhood pressing against her most intimate part. A small part of her brain warned that nothing good would come of this.
“Baby, I’m a little drunk. I don’t know how long I’ll last.”
In response, she bucked against him. She wanted, no, needed to feel him deep inside her. Some primal instinct took her over the edge. She felt bereft and incomplete. He would make her feel whole, even if for a little while.
He pushed in the head slowly, then with one swift motion, he pushed in to the hilt. A small gasp of pain left her lips as he tore through her maidenhead.
If he noticed, he didn’t pause. His hips now pounding in and out of her. A large, fat tear slid down her face. This is not how it’s supposed to be.
A few more hard thrusts and he came deep inside her before rolling off her and falling immediately asleep.
Emma lay there, silent tears streaming down her face. What had she allowed to happen?
Chapter 5
Emma
She dozed off, waking before sunrise. Memories inundated her being, causing fresh tears to prick her eyes. What have I done? I’ve gone and ruined myself forever. I can’t bear to bring shame to my family. I must get out of here before anyone sees me.
Carefully she looked over at the man lying beside her. She briefly studied his handsome face. Sinfully handsome. Heat bloomed on her cheeks and she forced her eyes away from his chiseled face, not without giving his lips one last longing look.
The sheriff lay still beside her in a deep slumber. She carefully slipped from the bed and began to get dressed as best she could. Her ruined corset rested on the floor a few feet from where her dress sat, carefully placed from the night before. Had she the time she would wonder over the behavior since shortly after he’d ripped her out of her clothing.
Deciding to leave the corset, she quickly dressed in the remainder of her garments before managing to find a few hairpins. In a flash, she managed to make her hair presentable. Pinning her hat on, she grabbed the reticule before carefully opening the door.
Her legs carried her numbly down the stairs and far from the saloon as dawn began to pierce the night sky. Near tears, again, she spotted a boarding house. Emma quickened her steps. Every fiber of her being ached, none more than her heart, or maybe her pride.
Quickly, she traversed the short distance between the plank sidewalk and the front porch. Emma raised her hand to knock when it opened. The smell of freshly baked bread greeted her. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
A handsome woman with scarlet red hair and kind blue eyes opened the door. Could this woman tell she became a light skirt? She opened her mouth to speak, instead, great wracking sobs shook her delicate shoulders.
The woman embraced her in a hug and ushered her inside the house. “There, there, tell Miss Maggie what happened.”
Through sobs and hiccups, Emma told her story, leaving out last night. No one need know she was a fallen woman.
“Oh, my dear, you’ve been through the wringer. Come let me show you a room. I’ll send Sara to get you some clothes then we will get you fed.”
Emma nodded mutely, allowing the woman to guide her through the house and up the stairs to a well-appointed bedroom.
“The bathroom has an adjoining door. I’ll have Hank bring heated water up. Do you need help getting undressed?”
She shook her head no and thanked Miss Maggie. Thankful to be alone and safe, she sank to the floor and let all the tears she’d been holding back since Amanda fell ill fall.
Emma listened to heavy footsteps as they came up the stairs a few minutes later. The footsteps passed her room and entered the bathroom. She had no idea what size tub sat in the other room, best guess it would take at least two more trips.
It took five more trips to fill the tub. Hank knocked as soon as he poured in the last bucket.
“Miss, your bath is ready.”
With a sigh of relief, she entered the bathroom, securing both doors before undressing. While many believed it to be a sin to fully undress and bathe in the nude, she was not one of them. Thanks to both her grandmother and her mother. After all, it’s much easier to get clean when you’re not wearing clothing.
Delighted to find scented soap, bath oils, and fresh linens, she sent up silent gratitude. Testing the water, she found it to be divinely hot. Emma slipped in, closing her eyes briefly before scrubbing every inch of her skin vigorously, turning it pink from the effort. She needed to scrub off more than just the dirt, she needed to scrub off the shame of what she allowed to happen last night. What she wanted to happen after he touched her.
She’d kissed other men; well they had kissed her. None of them stirred her the way he did. None ignited a fire. One that still burned within her. Emma closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the edge of the tub. Her skin tingled with the memory of his touch.
One hand slipped between her legs to touch the delicate bud. She bit her lip to keep from moaning aloud. A knock on the door brought her hand away as if she was burned.
She heard Miss Maggie’s voice. “Are you all right, lass? Fresh clothes on your bed and breakfast is cooking.”
“Thank you. I’ll be out presently.”
“Take your time dear, no rush.”
Quickly she washed her hair and climbed out of the tub. One towel wrapped around her hair, the other wrapped firmly about her body, she picked up her clothes and headed back to the bedroom. Once again securing the doors.
Crossing back to the bed, she found a lovely white shirt and a full blue walking skirt laid out along with all the undergarments she would need lay neatly across it. A ray of sunlight caught something silver out of the corner of her eye. She turned, finding a set of silver grooming tools on the vanity.
Thanking her lucky stars for stumbling upon the boarding house, Emma quickly brushed and plaited her long dark hair before putting it up still wet. It would take hours to dry.
Memories of her mother brushing her hair in front of the fire brought the first real smile to her face in days.
She rushed through her toilette hurrying down the stairs. A smiling Maggie greeted her. The woman’s kindly blue eyes made her feel welcome.
“I see everything fits well.”
“Yes, thank you. I am extremely grateful for your assistance.”
A girl of about fifteen entered the room. Wisps of stringy blonde hair fell out of her double braids. She wore a plain blue gown with a white apron over it. Her deep brown eyes showed genuine warmth.
“Your breakfast is ready, Miss.”
“You must be Sara?”
“Yes’ em”
“Thank you for the clothes.”
> “’Tweren’t nothing, Miss. I borrowed them from one of Miss Maggie’s girls.”
Emma turned her attention back to Maggie. “Please thank your daughter for me. I’m appreciative of her assistance.”
“Think nothing of it, dear. Let’s get you fed.”
She followed Maggie down the hall and through a door into the dining room. Red floral wallpaper covered each wall. The carpets and drapes were accent colors chosen to match the flowers.
A massive oaken table filled most of the room with over a dozen large, sturdy wooden chairs sitting around it. Maggie led them to the other end of the room. Two plates of hot food waited for them. The older woman sat at the head of the table, while Emma sat to her right.
Her stomach rumbled with hunger as the smell of the food hit her full force. Thick slices of still-warm bread sat on a saucer to the left of a plate filled with bacon, ham, diced potatoes, and scrambled eggs. Several jars of jam, jelly, and butter were arranged in between her plate and Maggie’s. It would be an easy reach for either of them.
She slathered the bread with butter and jam, savoring the first bite. The creamy taste of freshly churned butter washed over her taste buds, followed immediately with the sweet taste of blackberry jam.
It took all her years of proper training not to moan aloud. The fluffy biscuit as light as air made her want to devour the one on her plate and ask for another. Carefully she ate the biscuit before diving into the rest of her plate. Emma finished the last bite of her biscuit, looking to find another already took its place. She smiled, slathering this one with wild strawberry jam. That’s what the label proclaimed it to be. The red fruit did not disappoint. The jam was even more flavorful than the last. Something Emma hadn’t thought possible until just then. Travel had not afforded her a decent meal in quite some time.
The two women sat in amiable silence while they enjoyed their meal. After the dishes were cleared away, Sara brought them fresh coffee. Emma didn’t care for it as much as tea but didn’t want to insult her host by refusing.
She poured a generous amount of cream and sugar into the bitter brew and sipped it slowly. Maggie surprised her by reaching out and placing her hand on top of Emma’s.
“I should have tea later today. It’s due on the late morning train.”
Emma smiled. “I do love tea. What time does the bank open?”
“It should open around nine. I’ll take you. I need to make a deposit myself. Mr. Rosenbaugh, the bank president, will be able to take care of that banknote for you.”
“Thank you, Miss Maggie.”
“You’re welcome, dear. Do you have the address of the home your father rented?”
Emma smiled. “I have it memorized along with directions from the town hall. Father made sure I had it memorized.”
“Well, we don’t want to make him regret sending you and your companion along. I know Zeke Adams. I’m still surprised he didn’t see you to town before heading off after those killers. His thirst for vengeance must be mighty powerful for him to just leave you alone.”
“He did at least wait until help arrived.” She smiled wanly.
She had a tough time understanding why a man her father hired deserted her. Try as she might to wrap her head around it, she just hadn't managed it so far.
The older woman nodded her head sympathetically.
“The bank will be open soon. Sara, fetch two parasols.”
Maggie stood up from the table beckoning Emma to follow her. As they strolled into the parlor Sara handed each of them a parasol. Emma thanked the girl, wishing she had a hat to go with the parasol.
She made a mental note to head straight for the millenary after the bank. Her skin took color too fast in the sunlight. Proper ladies must keep their skin milky white.
Emma followed Maggie out the door and down the street. They passed a few people along the way. Some greeted them with an open, friendly nature while others seemed to snub Maggie and move in another direction.
Though she made a mental note, she did not ask the older woman about the incidents. The walk to the bank didn’t take long. The newly built structure stood two stories tall. A freshly painted sign announced it as ‘The First National Bank of Cooperstown’.
An older gentleman coming out the bank held the door open for them tipping his hat. His sparkling blue eyes seemed familiar somehow.
“Thank you, Hollis.”
Maggie turned to Emma. “Miss Emma, this is Mr. Hollis Masterson, Mayor of Cooperstown, this is Miss Emma Monteith, her father Guy rented that big empty house on Main Street.”
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Monteith, welcome to our community. How do you find it so far?”
“Oh, Hollis, the poor girl. Her maid got sick; Zeke abandoned her after the train was robbed by the same bandits that killed his brother. She lost everything: clothes, money, jewelry, all gone.”
“You poor dear. Please come into the bank with me. We will go directly to the banker’s office.”
Chapter 6
Cord
“Who did you have in my room, Cord Masterson?”
With a pounding head and heavy lids, he forced his eyes open. His vision blurry, he saw Evanora standing beside the bed fully dressed.
“Why do you have clothes on?”
Festus burst through the door. “Sheriff, I’ been lookin’ for ye everywhere. Miss Nora isn’t going to make your date.”
“Thank you, Festus, for giving the sheriff my message.”
“Oh, Miss Nora. I didn’t see you there. Welcome back.”
Festus took off his battered dusty hat and nodded his head toward Evanora. It might have amused Cord if his head wasn’t pounding. What the hell happened last night?
“Festus, I’ll see you at the office later. Tell Dutch I’m back.”
Evanora waited until Festus’ footsteps faded before she turned her attention towards him. She held up a set of corset ties.
“Who did you sleep with in my bedroom?”
Cord saw the fire in her beautiful amber eyes. How the hell do I get out of this and who the fuck did I sleep with?
“I thought it was you.”
“You what?!”
He knew the moment the words left his lips; he’d live to regret them. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Drawing a deep breath, he sat up in bed and let the covers fall to his bare waist. Though her eyes were drawn to him, she only gave him the briefest look before her eyes met with his once again.
“I was drunk. It was dark. She’s dressed all fancy like you with dark hair.”
“You didn’t notice any difference when you undressed her.”
“Hell, Nora, she wore the same irritatin’ frippery you do.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Just how drunk were you?”
“I had a hell of a lot of bug juice.”
“From that savage?”
“Iron Wolf is not a savage, he’s a friend and a damn good man to have at your back. I don’t know why you have a problem with him.”
“Indians are savages. They rape, and murder, and burn houses.”
“Yes, some of them are savage. We are, after all, on their land.”
She scoffed, then her eyes narrowed. “You’re just trying to distract me from the whore you brought into my room. My bed!”
Cord moved the edge of the bed sending the covers to the floor in his haste to reach Evanora. Her eyes widened and she pointed to the sheets. Looking beside him, he saw a bloodstain on the sheet.
“Fuck!”
“You bedded a virgin and in my room?”
“Damnit Nora. I know you’re pissed, give me a moment here.”
He sat on the side of the bed, head in hands, trying to put the pieces of last night together. He remembered thinking she was different than Nora but shrugged it off in his drunken stupor. To top it off, he bedded a virgin. One in fancy clothes, which most likely meant she’s a lady.
He’d have to find her and make it right. Standing up without a word, he found his clothes.
“Where are y
ou going?”
Evanora grabbed his arm as he reached for the door. “I’ve got to find her and make this right.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean in my drunken stupor I took some poor girl’s virginity and ruined her life. I’m going to find her and we’re getting hitched.”
“Wait!”
He turned around letting go of the door.
“How are you going to find her?”
“I’m a sheriff, I know how to run an investigation.”
He took her into his arms kissing her with every ounce of feelings he had.
“This isn’t what I had planned for my life.”
“I know.”
“Why didn’t you ever say yes?”
“You know why.”
“Because you're older than I am?”
“That’s part of it. Let’s be honest. I’m a whore who's too old to have your children. I know you want a family.”
“I told you I’d be fine with fostering children. That orphan train goes through Kansas.”
“I know. I never told you, I don’t want children.”
His mind reeled. Why did she never tell him? He was never shy about wanting kids, a family. Being an only child had made him yearn for a large family. He always wanted brothers and sisters of his own.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did in a thousand ways. I told you I’m not right for you.”
He watched fat tears slide down her face. “It doesn’t matter anymore. Not now, not after last night.”
“I have to marry the girl. I don’t have to love her. I’ll be kind and gentle, provide for her, but you’ll always have my heart.”
“I don’t know if I can play the other woman.”
He leaned in, kissing her lips softly. His hand reached to pull the pins from her dark hair. He clutched the silken strands in one hand pulling her closer.
“You’ll never be the other woman. I’ll make sure of it. Whoever this girl is, last night wasn’t her fault. If I hadn’t been drunk, it would have never happened.”
“You always do the right thing, don’t you?”
