Rustlers and Ribbons

by Kirsten Osbourne

Josie considered that for a few seconds. If he was telling the truth, that would explain why she wanted to feel his lips on hers, feel his hands on her skin. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’ve never even been kissed before today.”

  “You’ve never had a suitor?”

  She shook her head. “The only man I’ve ever spoken to for more than a few minutes is Hank.”

  “Is that all that’s bothering you?”

  Now that he’d eased her fears, that was all she was concerned about. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”

  “You won’t,” he said. “You definitely won’t.”

  Her nerve endings tingled as he closed the gap between them, his eyes locked on hers. He took the dresses out of her arms and tossed them on a chair in the corner of the room. Then his arms enfolded her and drew her against his hard chest as his head lowered to hers.

  Her breath caught in her throat when his lips touched hers and moved against hers, softly and slowly at first. His kiss deepened. One hand splayed across her back, the other moved to sink his fingers into her hair.

  Her body turned to liquid and she could feel his heart beating against her chest. Or was it the sound of her heated blood rushing through her veins.

  Heat engulfed her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, and a heavy sensation settled low in her stomach.

  She clutched at his shirt as his tongue pressed against the seam of her lips, urging her to open her mouth. As soon as she did, his tongue plunged inside, tangling with hers in an intimate dance.

  She wanted more. Needed more.

  She heard him groan, and he gripped her shoulders as he released her mouth. Her lips felt swollen and her breath came in heavy gasps.

  His eyes were heavy, his voice gruff. “Are you sure, Josie? Really sure?”

  She nodded, her eyes closing as waves of sensation washed over her. “Yes. Oh, yes.”

  Drawing her close again, he held her tenderly against his chest as he turned down the lamp.

  Chapter 6

  Josie woke as dawn was breaking the next morning. She lay in the dim light, listening to Cooper breathing for a few seconds before she turned on her side to look at him.

  What she’d experienced the night before in his arms was earth-shattering, nothing at all like what Sally had described.

  Not only had Josie felt things she’d never even imagined, she’d acted in ways she never would have thought she was capable of.

  And now, in the semi-darkness, she wished she had the nerve to wake Cooper so they could do it again.

  As if he sensed he was being watched, his eyes opened and he smiled. “Good morning,” he said, his voice hoarse. “How do you feel?”

  “Fine,” she replied.

  He raised himself up and kissed her lightly. “I’m glad. I was worried. The first time isn’t always good for a woman.”

  She was a little tender, now that he mentioned it. Her face warmed, and she was glad he couldn’t see her embarrassment at the turn of the conversation.

  She didn’t have to worry.

  The rooster crowing outside the window drew his attention away from her. He rolled over and got up, reaching for his pants. “I’ll go get started on the chores,” he said. “Can you handle breakfast?”

  “Of course,” she replied.

  Quickly, she climbed out of bed and pulled on a pale blue work dress. She only had two summer dresses besides the one she’d worn for the trip west. Her only other work dress was almost worn through from washing so much.

  She’d never enjoyed sewing so she hadn’t practiced much. It looked like she should have since she’d need to sew herself at least one more dress before winter.

  Bacon was already sizzling in the skillet on the stove and she was cracking eggs into a bowl when the front door opened. Moments later, she heard Andy’s footsteps racing through the house toward the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Andy,” she said.

  A frown furrowed his forehead. “Where’s Auntie Nora?”

  “She’s at Mr. Grimsby’s ranch. She’s going to live there now.”

  “Why?”

  “They got married yesterday, remember?”

  Drew appeared in the kitchen doorway. “I’ve told him three times already,” he said with a laugh. “Andy doesn’t like change.”

  “There are a lot of people who don’t like change,” she murmured.

  Turning her attention back to Andy, she crouched to meet him at eye level. “I’m going to look after you now when your papa and Uncle Cooper are out working.”

  “I don’t want you to.” Andy’s face scrunched into a scowl. “I want Auntie Nora.”

  Josie didn’t know how to respond. She couldn’t show up at Lewis’s door the first day and ask Nora to come back to look after Andy.

  There had been youngsters at the orphanage who’d had trouble adjusting, but she’d never had to deal with them. She had no idea how.

  “Andy, don’t be rude.” Drew’s voice was stern, and he gave Nora a wry smile. “I’m sorry,” he mouthed. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

  Andy glared at his father and ran out of the room.

  As Josie put the scrambled eggs and bacon on the table a few minutes later, she could see Andy sitting in the corner of the parlor, his knees drawn up to his chest, his head down.

  It was obvious he was upset and he missed his aunt, but she didn’t know how to comfort him, or even if she should.

  Drew glanced over at his son but ignored him.”He’ll come around,” he said to Josie. “He barely remembers his mother already, so he’s used to Nora. It’ll just take a little time. I’m real sorry I have to leave you to deal with him today, but we have to get that fence fixed out in the north pasture.”

  Cooper nodded. “Will you be okay with him by yourself?”

  “It’ll be fine,” Josie replied. “I’ll have to deal with him alone eventually. Might as well get it over with.”

  As the door closed behind Cooper and Drew a few minutes later, she frowned at Andy still sitting in the corner.

  This was going to be a very long day.

  By the time Cooper and Drew loaded up the extra fence posts and tools into the wagon and made their way back to the farmhouse that evening, Cooper was exhausted.

  It had been hotter than Hades out in the fields, and he was sure he’d lost ten pounds in sweat. All he wanted now was a tall glass of cold lemonade, some supper, and sleep.

  A flash of blue on the front porch caught his attention as he crested the hill leading to the house.

  “Looks like Josie managed with Andy,” Drew commented once they got close enough to see that both Josie and Andy were sitting on the porch floor facing each other.

  As Cooper drew the wagon to a stop in front of the house, Andy scrambled to his feet and raced down the stairs toward Drew. Drew scooped him up and swung him in the air, Andy’s squeals of delight piercing the air.

  Cooper climbed down out of the wagon and went up the stairs. Josie looked up at him and gave him a shy smile. Her face was flushed from the heat and her dress clung to her curves. Strands of her hair had escaped the tight bun she’d started out with that morning and hung in limp strands. Still, her eyes sparkled and for the first time, he noticed a tiny dimple near the corner of her mouth. He had a sudden urge to kiss it, an urge he tamped down.

  “Looks like you and Andy worked things out,” he commented.

  Josie grinned. “It took an hour or so, but eventually he figured out I’m not the enemy.”

  “Playing games helped, I expect.”

  She nodded. “He loves Tiddledywinks.”

  He looked down at the brightly colored wooden discs on the floor. “Where did they come from?”

  She picked up the wooden cup and began putting the discs into it. “I brought it from Chicago,” she told him with a short laugh. “It seems silly now, but it was a Christmas gift when I was a child and I’ve always kept it. I always thought I’d play it with my own children one day
.”

  Cooper’s gaze slid over her. Was it possible she was already in the family way? A strange warmth filled him at the thought of a little girl with her wheat-colored hair – and that dimple. Or a son like Andy. For the first time in his life, the thought of having a family of his own wasn’t a sour one.

  He didn’t have to love his children’s mother to be a good father. He could provide for her and treat her kindly, but love … that was not going to happen. That’s when the arguments began. He refused to live that way.

  “Are you ready for supper?” Josie’s voice filtered through his thoughts. “It’s ready whenever you are.”

  “I’ll be in as soon as I can,” he said, turning away and climbing back into the wagon.

  As he unharnessed the horse from the wagon and settled her for the night, he found himself hurrying through his chores.

  “It’s the strangest thing, Moonbeam,” he said to the horse as he filled a pail of oats in her stall. “I missed her today, and I looked forward to coming home.”

  Supper should be like this every night, Josie thought, her gaze drifting to take in those at the table. Conversation, laughter … yes, she’d do her best to make supper as pleasant as she could every day.

  “I’m thinking about taking Andy to see Leta’s parents for a few days,” Drew said while Josie was clearing the dinner plates. That’ll give you two some time to really get acquainted—”

  Josie and Cooper spoke in unison.

  “That’s not necessary—”

  “You don’t have to do that—”

  “When Leta was …” Drew looked away for a moment before he faced them again. “When we first got married, we lived alone. It was a good thing, helped us to get used to each other. You both need that. Besides, Andy’s grandparents haven’t seen him since we moved here, so it’s time we went for a visit. If you can handle everything here, that is.”

  Cooper nodded. “No problem. When are you planning on going?”

  “I was thinking about going the day after tomorrow.”

  Josie brought a dish of cherry crumble to the table.

  “Smells good,” Cooper said as she spooned it into four bowls.

  Josie hoped it tasted as good as it looked. “If you have time one day when Drew gets back, I would like to go into town and stock up on a few things.”

  “There’s nothing pressing tomorrow, is there?” Cooper asked, sending a questioning glance in Drew’s direction.

  Drew swallowed a mouthful of crumble and shook his head.

  “I’ll take you tomorrow then, if you like. That way you don’t have to wait until Drew gets back,” Cooper said to Josie. “Do you have a list?”

  Josie shook her head. “I’ll make one after I clear from supper. Would it be all right …?” She wasn’t sure how much money they had, so she was hesitant to ask for anything.

  “What is it, Josie?”

  “I wondered … I’d like to buy some fabric for a new work dress, a thin one. In this weather—”

  He took a close look her dress. Josie blushed under his scrutiny. He seemed to be staring at her far longer than necessary.

  “You’re right,” he said finally. “Buy enough fabric for two or three if you like. We don’t want you swooning from being overheated.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly, then continued to dish out a bowl for herself.

  “You’re a good cook, Josie,” Cooper commented a few minutes later, pushing his empty dessert bowl away and leaning back in his chair. “Don’t ever tell Nora I said it, but that crumble is even better than hers.”

  Josie blushed. She’d been cooking practically her whole life but she’d always been restricted to what she cooked. She loved the thought of being able to cook whatever she wanted for her family.

  Her family. She still found it hard to believe she was part of a family, and a wife, even if Cooper didn’t really want her.

  She didn’t love him – at least she didn’t think she did – but she was finding she liked him more and more every day. She respected him, and if that was all she’d ever have, it was enough.

  Dark clouds scudded across the sky the next afternoon on the way back from town. “Do you think we’ll get home before it starts raining?” Josie asked Cooper.

  A raindrop splattered on Josie’s nose. Cooper reached up and wiped it off with his finger. “I think you have your answer,” he said with a smile.

  Another drop. And another. Soon, they were both drenched. Luckily, their supplies in the bed of the wagon were covered with canvas.

  “Should we find shelter somewhere?” she asked. She’d never noticed any other cabins or anywhere that would provide protection from the weather, but she wasn’t as familiar with the surroundings as Cooper was.

  He shook his head. “We’re wet now. We might as well keep going.”

  The hardened dirt trail became a river of mud, so it took much longer to reach the ranch than usual. Finally, though, Cooper drew on the reins in front of the house and jumped down. Drew appeared on the porch and between the two men, they quickly got the supplies into the house.

  “If you don’t need me for anything else right now, Andy needs a nap,” Drew said. “We’ll be back in time for supper.”

  “I’ll be a little late getting started,” Josie told him, “but it should be ready by six.”

  Josie was in the midst of undressing a few minutes later when Cooper walked into the bedroom. “Oh …” she cried out, her face burning with embarrassment.

  He crossed the room toward her, unbuttoning his wet shirt and peeling it off. He tossed it on the floor on top of her discarded dress. “You’re pretty when your cheeks are flushed,” he said.

  She braved a quick look at him. Desire shone in his eyes, and a strange kind of warmth stole over her. He closed the gap and kissed her gently.

  “I could get used to this,” Cooper said a while later, tucking her hair behind her ear and nuzzling her neck.

  Josie’s voice deserted her, but if she could speak, she would have told him she could get used to it, too. It had only been one day she’d been the mistress of her own home, but she already knew she loved every minute of it. She’d be happy taking care of Cooper, Drew and Andy for the rest of her life.

  She hoped Cooper felt the same way.

  Cooper’s stomach rumbled as he drove the wagon over the crest of a hill toward the ranch house a few afternoons later. Drew and Andy were still away, so he’d hurried through his chores, eager to get back to the house to see Josie. He was finding he missed her during the day when he was out working, and looked forward to seeing her welcoming smile and gentle ways when he came home.

  The fact that he liked spending time with her bothered him. He didn’t want to like her too much, but she was making it really hard not to. She worked from dusk until dawn in the house, and in the evenings, she mended clothes or sewed by lamplight until she went to bed.

  And she never complained about being tired … or too tired for him.

  He liked her, and if he wasn’t careful, he might even grow to love her.

  He wouldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t let someone else have control over his happiness.

  As he neared the house, he thought he heard the sound of hammering coming from inside. It couldn’t be, could it? But if not, what was going on?

  He drew on the reins in front of the house and climbed down. Suddenly, there was a loud crash from inside the house His heartbeat thumped. What the—?

  He raced up the stairs and threw open the door. His eyes widened when he saw Josie sitting cross-legged on the floor, her skirt above her knees, her legs and feet bare. She had a hammer in her hand and she her lips were pressed together around a nail. An upturned chair lay on the floor in front of her.

  She looked up and took the nail out of her mouth as he rushed inside. “What happened? Are you all right?”

  She smiled. “I’m fine,” she replied. “I’m fixing this chair. It’s been wobbly since I got here and one of these days, it
’s going to break completely if it isn’t fixed.”

  “What was the crash I heard?”

  “The chair fell over, that’s all.”

  Relief filled him. “You don’t need to be doing repairs,” he said, crossing the room and holding out his hand to take the hammer. “That’s a man’s job. I’ll do it for you.”

  Her brows lifted. “A man’s job?”

  “That’s right.”

  “I know how to fix a wobbly chair,” she pointed out. “I can do it myself. You have enough work to do outside the house.”

  “I don’t mind—”

  “Neither do I. If there’s a repair I can’t handle, you’re more than welcome to take care of it, but if it’s something simple like this, I’ll do it. I miss doing this kind of work. I used to help Hank with something almost every day.”

  She glared at him. When she spoke again, he could hear the controlled anger in her voice. “Unless you have some objection that makes sense, that is.”

  He didn’t answer immediately. He couldn’t think of any reason why she couldn’t do what she wanted to do, other than the fact she was a woman. And that wasn’t really a reason at all. Finally, he shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  She smiled. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled.” She laid the hammer on the floor and got to her feet, smoothing down her skirt as she did. Cooper had to admit the sight of her long, shapely bare legs had made him forget about food and start thinking about something else.

  “Now go and wash up,” she said, shooing him out of the kitchen. “I cooked supper early so I’d have time to fix the chair, so it’s ready whenever you are.”

  Cooper nodded and went back outside to wash his hands in the basin Josie always set out for him. As he lathered up the soap and scrubbed his hands, he couldn’t help thinking about the woman he’d married. Women cooked and cleaned and had babies. They didn’t do repairs. They didn’t stack logs. They didn’t do many of the chores Josie had done since she’d arrived.

  And when he’d heard the crash … For that few seconds until he’d seen Josie, alive and well, on the floor, he’d been scared. Scared that she’d been hurt … or worse.