Wildflower

by Lynda Bailey

  Daisy took the list. “How will you pay for all this?”

  Matt hesitated. How would she pay? She pulled back her shoulders. “Put it all on the Standing T bill.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Twenty minutes and nine dollars later, Matt left Upton’s Emporium, a package under her arm. She regretted having to put so much money on the ranch bill, but vowed to pay back every cent from of her share of the stock yard sale.

  After tying the bundle to Turk’s saddle, she hurried to the saloon to get Dave, anxious to get the material and pattern to Elisabeth. “I want to stop at the Applegate place,” she said, swinging onto Turk’s back.

  The little man frowned up at her. “What for?”

  She fidgeted with the reins. “I need to see Elisabeth.”

  Dave hoisted himself onto his horse. “But that’s ten miles outta our way. Logan didn’t say nuthin’ about this. He said I was to come to town with you then get to the herd. We have to relieve the boys there, ya know.”

  “Fine. You ride to the herd. I can go by myself to see Elisabeth.”

  “Doggone it, Matt. You know I’m supposed to stay with you.”

  “Then stay with me to the Applegates’.” She pivoted her horse. “The sooner we get there, the sooner we get to the herd, without Logan knowing anything about this.”

  She didn’t wait for an answer, but encouraged Turk into an easy lope. Moments later, Dave rode up beside her, still frowning.

  The ride to the Applegate ranch only took an extra thirty minutes. Matt had the package in Elisabeth’s hands and was out the door before Dave could even dismount. Together, she and Dave turned their horses toward the east pasture.

  Joy tripped down her spine. Elisabeth had promised to have the dress ready for her to try on in a week. A week. She didn’t know if she could wait that long.

  Shortly past midday, the faint lowing of cattle met her ears. They were close to the herd. She breathed a sigh. They weren’t so late as to cause any suspicion. Rounding a stand of trees, Dave pulled his horse to an abrupt stop. She followed his gaze to the small rise that bordered the eastern pasture.

  Two men on horseback, wearing chaps and looking road weary, stared down at the herd. By their movements and their position, it was clear they didn’t want to be seen by the men riding guard. They also hadn’t heard her and Dave approach. Something about how the bigger man sat in the saddle peppered Matt’s memory.

  Dave dismounted and gave her a stern glare when she started to do the same. He handed her his horse’s reins then pointed back at the trees. She narrowed her eyes in defiance and shook her head. She wasn’t about to run and hide. He pointed more emphatically, but she crossed her arms, not budging. With an irritated huff, he turned his attention back to the men on the hill.

  Turk chose that moment to whinny. Both men whipped around, their guns instantly drawn and pointed at them.

  Alarm crawled along her skin. Time stood still. She knew if they decided to shoot, she and Dave were dead since neither of them had thought to draw their own guns.

  Then the larger man grinned, a big, leering sneer. Even from the distance, she recognized Roscoe’s smirk. What was he doing here? And who was that riding with him? After an anxious moment, the two men holstered their guns and rode in the opposite direction.

  “That was Roscoe, wasn’t it?” she asked Dave even though she knew the answer.

  He swung onto his horse. “Sure looked like him.”

  “What do you think he was doing here?”

  “Nuthin’ good, that’s for certain. We need to tell Logan.”

  Needles of panic stabbed her gut. Telling Logan about seeing Roscoe would only raise more questions. Like how she and Dave spotted him and his companion when they were supposed to come up on the herd from the west and not the south. If she told him about stopping at the Applegate place, he’d want to know why. How could she explain visiting Elisabeth twice in as many days without confessing about the dress? “Why does Logan need to know about this?”

  Dave scowled. “Why you think? Those two weren’t out for a Sunday ride, Matt. They were checking out the herd.”

  “You think Roscoe’s turned to rustling?”

  “I don’t know, but Logan did fire him.” Dave turned toward the herd.

  She blocked his path. “That doesn’t mean Roscoe plans to do us harm. Telling Logan might just cause more trouble.”

  “You want to chance losing the herd?”

  She inhaled a tight breath. “All right. But I’ll tell Logan. It was my idea to go to the Applegates instead of riding straight here. I don’t want him getting riled at you.”

  Dave kicked his horse into a trot. “Me neither.”

  At the herd, she said a silent prayer of thanks because Logan wasn’t there. While he probably wouldn’t be too upset about the nine dollars, the prospect of confessing what she’d spent the money on was far more troubling.

  What would he think about her wanting to be pretty? Would he think less of her? And what if she couldn’t be pretty, even in a dress? Air squeezed from her lungs.

  No, she needed to keep the dress a secret, at least for now. Maybe once she was sure—positively sure—she wouldn’t make the biggest fool out of herself, she’d wear it for Logan. Her skin purred at the thought of him sliding that silky material off her body.

  As she circled the herd counterclockwise to Dave’s clockwise, she worked to figure a way of telling Logan about Roscoe without giving anything else away. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t think of a way. Chances were Roscoe probably didn’t mean them any harm. Though Logan had fired him, the former foreman wasn’t the type to turn vengeful. At least she hoped he wasn’t.

  ~ ~ ~

  Logan sat on the edge of the bed and pulled on his boots. Just over two weeks had passed since he and Matt exchanged vows.

  Two weeks. Fourteen days of the most intense, erotic sex he’d ever experienced.

  He stood. His wife might have been a virgin—hell, was still a virgin—but she possessed a wicked, adventurous side. He had yet to find a time or place where she said no to him. Whether in the hay loft at midday or out by the wood pile at dusk, she was always willing and always ready for his cock. She’d even allowed him to take her in the ass. So why was the vast emptiness in his chest growing larger and more empty with each day?

  Because she wasn’t his. Not truly. Not completely.

  He hadn’t taken her in that one place which haunted him every waking moment. He hadn’t pumped his seed into her womb, binding her to him. Forever.

  He stood and tucked in his shirt then turned around. She was bent over, picking up her boots, the rounded curve of her backside perched so pretty in the air.

  In an instant, he was hard. Though he’d filled her mouth with his seed just a few hours before, he wanted her again.

  Hell, he wanted her always.

  Why couldn’t he satisfy his hunger for her? Slack this insatiable lust? No matter how hard he tried—and Lord knew he had tried—he couldn’t. The more he had her, the more he wanted her. He wanted her coming against his tongue. Wanted her thrashing with complete fulfillment. Wanted her cries ringing in his ears.

  But mostly he wanted his cock in her pussy.

  He’d made a promise to himself to allow Matt the time to change her mind about their marital bed. But time was fast running out.

  It was just the first of April, but the snow was melting faster than expected. They could be driving the herd up to Abilene in another month. Then she’d have her money. And then she’d be gone. A thought that lodged knives in his heart.

  Maybe he should just take her. Throw her down and bury himself inside her. He shook his head with an inward chuckle. Right. She’d shoot him if he tried something that stupid.

  He followed her out of the bedroom. The swaying of her hips diverted his attention from what he didn’t have to what he could have. Right now.

  She stopped in front of the table and he wrapped his arms around her from behind. His pa
lms molded around her breasts and she melted into his chest. He nuzzled her neck. “How ‘bout we go back to bed for a bit? I’m not feeling all that rested.”

  She reached her arms up behind her head to circle his neck, giving him better access to her breasts. “You don’t have rest on your mind, Logan Cartwright.” Desire edged her scold.

  “True.” He sucked her earlobe into his mouth then slowly released it. “Any objections?” His hand cupped her crotch to bring her delectable rear cleft closer to the prominent bulge in his Levi’s. He tweaked her nipples between his finger and thumb. Her breathy moan further heated his blood.

  “Do I have any objections?” she panted. “No, but—”

  “No buts.” Logan took her hands from his neck then leaned her over the table. “At least not that kind of butt.” He worked the fly of her denims. If he couldn’t slack his lust, he shouldn’t try.

  She pushed herself upright. “No. Wait. We don’t have time. There are chores to do.” Her argument would have sounded better if her voice wasn’t a husky whisper.

  “Chores can wait.”

  “Chuck wants to start spring cleaning.”

  “Too early for spring cleaning,” he answered on a growl as he struggled with the buttons of her pants. They finally gave way. His cock drummed in anticipation of what was to come.

  With a sigh, she stretched out across the table and he felt her body relax. After fumbling with his Levi’s, they hit the floor. He wiggled his large hands between her denims and her skin.

  Slowly. Torturously.

  He knew what to expect. There wasn’t an inch of her body he hadn’t intimately explored. But he still so enjoyed the unveiling.

  Her pants slid down her legs and he parted her bare butt cheeks with his hands. He rubbed the broad wedge of his cock down to her pussy opening, coating it with her slick juices. He then tucked the burgeoning head at her puckered ass entrance. With a hand on the back of her neck to hold her secure, he shifted her feet to a wider stance. He canted forward. Pressed his cock forward…

  Loud knocking on the door froze his insides as she went rigid beneath him.

  “Hallo!” Arch called from the front porch.

  A half a blink later, Logan pulled away. “Goddamn it.”

  In one motion, he yanked up her denims then scrabbled to do the same with his own.

  “Hallo!” Arch hollered again. “Boss? Matt?”

  “Yeah, Arch,” Logan bit out. “Be right there.”

  He worked to right his pants—damn, if they weren’t tight—when giggling swiveled his head around.

  With her face flushed and merriment dancing in her green eyes, Matt was the picture of youthful beauty. He restrained his own grin and gave her his best severe look. She only giggled louder. She clamped a hand over her mouth, lest Arch hear her.

  With a last look to make sure they were both decent, he yanked the door open. She stood by his side, a grin still on her face.

  “What is it?” Logan demanded of Arch.

  “Rider’s coming in. Looks to be one of the Applegate brothers.”

  Matt’s smile vanished. “Which brother?”

  “Can’t tell,” Arch answered. “But he’s probably riding into the yard right now.”

  She hustled onto the porch as Logan grabbed their coats and followed behind. He handed Matt hers.

  Sam Applegate loped toward them then reined his horse to a stop at the house. “Morning, folks.”

  Logan went down the steps. “Applegate.” He extended his hand. “What brings you out so early in the morning?”

  “My brother wants to talk some cattle business with you.”

  “Oh?” He looked across the yard. “Where is he?”

  Sam crossed his hands on the saddle horn. “Coming. He’s driving the buckboard with Elisabeth, so he’s lagging behind.

  Matt came off the porch like a bolt of lightning. “Elisabeth? Is she all right? Is it safe for her to travel?”

  Her reaction startled Logan. Why would she be so worried about Elisabeth? When had they become such dear friends?

  “She’s fine,” Sam assured her. “Stubborn, but fine. This trip was her idea. Said she had something important to discuss with you, Matt. George talked hisself blue to convince her not to come, but she wouldn’t listen.” Sam swung down from his horse. “Elisabeth was bound and determined to come calling.”

  “So she’s all right?” Matt pressed.

  Sam smiled. “Like I said, she’s fine.”

  Logan stepped forward. “What cattle business did you and your brother have in mind?”

  “We were wonderin’ if you’d be interested in buying our herd.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Why you selling? Not moving on, are you?”

  “No.” Sam slapped his reins against his gloved palm. “Selling is my brother’s idea. He won’t leave that wife of his for two minutes let alone two months to drive our beeves north. I’d drive the herd myself, but with hiring extra drovers and buying supplies, we’d lose more money than we’d make in Abilene.”

  “Why not sell to one of the bigger drives coming through?” Arch suggested.

  “For three cents on the hoof?” Sam shook his head. “We figured a neighbor wouldn’t be so mean greedy and give us a fair price. One we could use to rebuild for next year.” Sam snorted. “‘Course, with all the rustling in these parts, we might be better off selling the land like that Dobson character at the bank suggested. Moving on to somewhere else.”

  The mention of the sleazy banker pricked the skin on Logan’s neck. “How bad’s your rustling trouble?”

  Another snort. “Bad. With just me and George to guard it, our herd is easy pickings.”

  Logan intertwined his fingers with Matt’s. “Well you’re welcome to put your beeves with ours in the east pasture. That should cut down on the number of longhorns you lose.” He led Matt across the yard. “We can chew all this over once your brother arrives. For now, head to the barn with Arch. He’ll help you tend to your horse. Then meet us in the cookhouse for breakfast.”

  Sam dipped his head. “Much obliged.”

  “You think George and Sam will sell out and move on?” Matt asked as they walked.

  Sorrow laced her voice. He hadn’t realized how close she’d gotten to Applegate’s wife. For Matt to lose her only woman friend would be tough. “I don’t know,” he answered. “Maybe. In the best of conditions, working cattle on the prairie isn’t an easy life. You add in rustling and what wasn’t easy gets a whole lot harder.”

  “Yeah.” She sighed. “I know.”

  “Having them move their herd in with ours at the east pasture should help though.”

  She walked up the cookhouse steps. “What do you make of Dobson suggesting they sell out?”

  The hair on the back of Logan’s neck continued to tickle. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”

  “Me neither. Kinda strange, considering he wanted us to do the same thing, don’t you think?”

  He held the door for her. “Yeah, I do.”

  “Still seems desperate for George and Sam to consider selling.”

  “What’s desperate to one man might seem reasonable to another.” He nodded a greeting to Chuck then he hung up their coats. “Without the money from the stockyard sale, they probably wouldn’t make it through the year.”

  She took a plate. “But if they combined herds with other ranchers for the drive, they’d be able to get their cows to Abilene and not be forced to start all over.”

  Logan pulled up short, his hand on her arm. “What’d you say?”

  Confusion arched her eyebrow. “That maybe the Applegate brothers should consider combining herds with other ranchers from around here.”

  He stared at her. “Where’d you come with such a notion?”

  Her hackles visibly rose. “Why? You think it’s dim-witted?”

  “I never said that. I just wondered where the idea came from.”

  “It came from my head about four years ago.” She held
out her plate for a helping of Chuck’s scrambled eggs. “Pa never cared for the suggestion, though. Said no one could count on anyone for help, but themselves. Best just to go it alone.”

  “I see your pa’s point. But that doesn’t take from the fact I think you’re on to something.” He took his own plate. “We should consider joining herds with some of the other ranchers.”

  She paused in snagging a piece of cornbread, her eyes wide. “You mean you like the idea?”

  He nodded once. “I do. There’d be shared cost and shared responsibility. For the smaller spreads that could be the difference between staying here and being forced to leave.”

  Matt seemed to hold her head a bit higher as she accepted a cup of tea from Chuck. Logan cursed Gene, once again. This time because the old man never realized just how damn smart his daughter was. And how beautiful.

  He edged close to her, his voice low so only she could hear. “It’s such a fine idea, maybe I should show you my appreciation. In bed.”

  The most attractive blush brightened her cheeks right before her elbow landed in his ribs. “Behave, Logan Cartwright,” she hissed.

  He eased away with a small grumble. “If I must.”

  “You must.” She slid a glance to him. “At least for now.”

  Desire darkened her eyes and she turned to sit at the table. A moment later, he sat beside her, his leg solid against hers. Unfulfilled tension vibrated through him. He would have liked a morning tumble with his wife, but there’d be time later. He applied himself to his breakfast.

  Sam and Arch came in, along with Josh, and Chuck piled their plates high. Little conversation was shared as the sound of scraping forks occupied the room. The squeal of buckboard wheels turned everyone’s attention to the door.

  “That’d be George and Elisabeth,” Sam announced.

  Plates and cups were quickly stacked in the wash bucket and everyone walked out the door in time to see George help his very pregnant wife down from the buckboard.

  Logan trailed behind his wife as she hurried down the steps. She gave Elisabeth a quick hug. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine. Tired and bigger than a barn, but fine.”