by Rita Hestand
He'd been useless in her bed, since the accident. He had tried to please her at first, but her frustrations grew until he stopped trying. She didn't need him anyway, but being kicked off the ranch was too much. She had to think this through calmly. She had to make some plans and quick. She needed help, and there was only one man she could turn to.
First she had to get rid of her husband, then she'd take care of Jace. No man made of fool of her and got away with it. He'd soon understand that.
Bill Peterson, the head wrangler on the ranch, wanted her. He made no secret of it. They'd made love many times for the past five years and she knew he'd do anything for her. Anything!
She'd have a little talk with him and talk him into killing her husband. Then she had even bigger plans for Jace.
So keyed up she couldn't sleep, she paced her room, making plans, thinking how to go about getting rid of Sam so no one would be the wiser or at least couldn’t prove it.
She wondered if she could get a hold of Bill tonight. The thought excited her.
She waited until she heard her husband's bedroom door lock, then she slipped a robe on over her silk gown and pattered down the stairs. She'd done it many times to be with Bill. Bill was a good lover and he made no secret of the fact that he wanted her for himself.
It was late enough the hands were in bed, because they got up so early to go to work.
It was dark now and she wondered if she'd catch Bill before he went to bed. She didn't know how much time she had so everything had to be carried out quickly at least as far as her husband was concerned.
Bill was still working in the barn, he'd just delivered a foal and was cleaning up. The other men had left and gone to bed in the bunkhouse. As chief horse wrangler, Bill had a bed inside the barn office.
She went over to see the foal. "He's beautiful Bill." She cooed softly as she came up to him.
As she placed her hands on the stall gate, her robe came open. She didn't bother closing it and Bill stared at her a long while as he always did when they were alone.
"Kate, didn't hear you come in." Bill smiled at her and gave a quick appreciative glance at her. "Yeah, she was born about an hour ago. You're up a little late aren't you?"
"A little. I wanted to talk to you." She said when he glanced up at her. She posed provocatively against the stall door. He drew breath.
Kate perfected seduction, like a hobby. She knew how to walk in front of a man, how to throw her head back and how to pose provocatively so a man had to notice. Bill always noticed. He appreciated the woman in her.
"Now?"
"If you don't mind, can we go inside?" She motioned to the office as though she couldn't wait to be alone with him.
"Sure, but everyone's gone to bed."
"I'd rather go inside." She explained.
Bill had a wife in Tucson, she was ailing with consumption, and Bill merely waited on the doctors to tell him she was dead. He was lonely and he understood Kate's frustration with her husband being an invalid. They mutually sought each other out for comfort every now and then. Because of their similar circumstances they both allowed themselves the pleasure of each other's bodies whenever they could. Bill was crazy about her and would do anything for her, and that was to her great advantage now.
They went inside the small office and he closed the door behind them. She reached around him, and he turned to take her into his arms. His kiss was long and breathtakingly sweet.
"Let's go in there," she pointed to the bedroom.
"Alright honey," He said with a knowing smile.
They went into the bedroom and he closed the door again. He took off his hat, and turned to her.
She glanced at him, "Lock it, I want to spend some time with you and I don't want to be disturbed, tonight no matter who knocks on the door."
"Yes, ma'am." He smiled with satisfaction.
The minute he did, he grabbed her and kissed her.
She clung to him helplessly, and let a tear slide down her cheek.
He saw it and became concerned.
"What's the matter darlin'?" His voice raspy.
"I need you Bill…" she cried, kissing him back for all she was worth, snuggling against his neck and pressing herself against him. He was already hard and she knew it, smiling with contentment.
"I'm right here, honey." He said softly cradling her in his arms. "It's been a while. I've missed you so much."
"How's your wife?" She asked her lips moving against his skin as she continued to kiss his neck and jaw. She didn't care about his wife, she only cared about getting rid of Sam and then they could be together every night.
He sighed heavily and pulled her closer. "She's barely hanging on now." His hands went around her, pulling her against him hard.
"I'm at my wits end Bill." She cried, but right now," her voice was low, seductive and full of emotions. "I need you inside me, darling.".
"What's the matter darlin'." He asked enjoying her rubbing up against him like she always did. He took her robe off so he could look at her. The silk gown clung to all her better features. Her full breast were pronounced against the softness of material. He threw the robe on the other side of the room. He stared at the beautifully built body beneath the thin gown. "You are the most beautiful woman I've ever known. I keep forgettin' how beautiful you are. I'm glad you came to me…you know I'd do anything for you. But right now…I want you! It's been too long."
"Yes," she cried, glad that she enticed him so eagerly.
It was invigorating how Bill always wanted her. She felt so beautiful in his arms. She loosened his belt, unbuttoned his shirt and spread it wide open, as her lips torched his hot skin.
He took her into his arms, and laid her on the bed, then finished undressing. She watched because Bill was well built and she liked looking at his body as much as he did hers.
"Oh Bill darling. I can't take it anymore. He's sending me away Bill. And I don't want to go. We've got to do something this time. I think he wants a divorce. I won't let him tear us apart. We have to be together."
He took her in his arms and cradled her there, as her hands went all over him, her lips following. They hugged, as Bill continued to kiss her. She kissed his face, smothering him with little love nips. "Make love to me Bill, I need you so. It's been too long."
He curled up to her, "I can't let you go. You mean too much to me." He growled in her ear. "You and I, we can't make it without each other."
"If we got rid of him for good, we could marry as soon as your wife dies." She spread her hands on his warm chest, as her lips covered his nipples. He tasted hot and sweaty and so manly. She laved his hard nipples, making him come alive with needs. Her hand went to his manhood, and she pet him there, as he grew rock hard for her.
She grew wet and hot and so needy.
He drew breath, "I love you so much. I'm out of my head for you. I can't imagine being able to wake up in the morning with you in my arms. What do you want to do about him and when? I'm as ready as you are of being rid of them both. So we can finally be together. It's come to that point Kate."
"I know darling. I agree. The sooner the better. But, we have to be careful and make it look like an accident." She raised up over him, her breasts crushed to his chest.
"That makes sense." He looked at her and brought her against him to kiss her. Bill took his time, enjoying every moment of her lips, tugging on her bottom lip with his teeth, then mating with her tongue, while his hands were everywhere.
"I've missed you in my bed." He growled and took her gown away.
She smiled and posed for him on his bed as he took her all in.
She smiled and cooed. "Me too darling. It's been way too long. But it's been too dangerous to come to you, lately. Tonight, I knew I had to be with you."
Bill was only thirty and quite a handsome man. He had brown hair and eyes, a nice build, and welcomed her with open arms any time she wanted.
"My God, it's a wonder God didn't stop making women at all when he made you
." he sighed, his hands going over her with such pleasure.
"You do want to marry me, don't you Bill?" She asked as he kissed her.
"You know I do. I've wanted to ever since I came here. I lost my heart the first time I saw you, but I tried to remain faithful to my wife. I just couldn't. I fell in love with you. Right or wrong you and I belong together and we both know it."
"But darling, what if your wife doesn't die…have you thought of that. We have to do something. We need to be together for always. I need you by my side to run this place, you know I can't trust Doug to do as I say." she pouted, he pulled away to look into her eyes.
"You mean that, about always being together?"
"I love you Bill, I always have." She cooed in his ear, raising up to kiss him tenderly. He pulled her higher so he could caress her breasts. He sucked hard and she moved restlessly.
He cupped her ample breasts in his hands, kissed her nipples and pulled her to him. She straddled his lap on the edge of the bed and they made love until they climaxed.
"I know this might hurt you, but if we want to be together, we may have to do something to her, too. She's been sick so long. We'll have to do something to be together, darling. You realize that, don't you?"
"I can tend to that." He assured her as he pulled her back down on the bed. This time he dipped his head between her legs and supped upon her there. She wrapped her legs around his head and urged him with her hips, offering him herself as she moaned the pleasures he gave.
She had a wild climax and he came up to hold her tight against him moments later.
"Does that tell you how much I love you?" He asked.
"Oh yes, darling…" She murmured. "You love me that much?" she sent him a sultry glance when she managed to get a breath.
"This every now and then, isn't enough for me. I need you in my bed, every night." He insisted.
"Oh yes, darling, yes." She cooed.
For hours they made love and kissed, planned and plotted.
Raw and sore in spots, she leaned back in another provocative pose on the bed and sighed happily. Bill could give her everything. She knew it.
But she needed to get back to the house before daylight. She woke him before dawn and kissed him thoroughly. He roused, touched her and caressed her. "I sure like waking up with you in my arms."
"At last, we can be together forever Bill. I'm so happy. Now don't forget. Today, you visit him upstairs, and push him into the hall and accidentally down the stairs. Then we tell the Sheriff he was trying to get your attention before you walked out the door. No one will be the wiser and we'll be free."
"Almost honey, almost." He smiled and kissed her hotly before she grabbed her robe and went back to the house.
"Well, you will take care of her, won't you?" She asked kissing his jaw.
"You better believe I will. One word to a friend of mine and it will all be over." He smiled and pulled her into his lap. "All I've been waiting for all these years is for us to do something about that damned useless husband of yours."
"I can't believe it. And after the funeral you'll join me in the main house and Doug will finally realize he's lost this ranch."
With the plan cemented in Bill's head, she felt confident she wouldn't have to ever worry about Sam again. Safely back in her room, she smiled and stretched on her bed, naked remembering the feel of Bill's hands. Remembering how he made love to her. It felt good, and she remembered every moment with him. He was such a good lover. She wouldn't mind being married to him, he might be able to satiate her sexual appetite. No one else even came close. No one else was as wild in bed as Bill. That's why she called him Wild Bill. She giggled to herself.
She wrapped her arms around herself, "It's all coming around my way now. He'd kill his wife for me now, he must love me endlessly to do that." She purred.
***
Sam heard a door open downstairs and he came out of his room to see who was there. He had tucked a gun under his blanket just in case his wife gave him any more trouble. It was Bill. Bill seldom came to the house and this alarmed Sam. He glanced under Kate's door, he saw a shadow so he knew she was in there.
Bill spotted him at the top of the stairs.
"You need something Bill?" Sam called to him.
"Yeah, I couldn't find the Mrs. so I thought I'd ask you. That white stallion, the one Noah Hawkes gentled, is he ready for her to ride. I mean, is it safe enough? I didn't want to turn her loose with him if he wasn't."
"It should be fine. If Noah's had a hold of him, he should be gentle as a lamb. But she won't be riding. Mrs. Williams is going to visit her family back east. I'm seeing her to the train station today." He told him.
"Oh, I didn't know." Bill started walking toward the door.
"Would you mind helping me down the stairs, I want to talk to Doug this morning before we leave."
"Sure," Bill firmed his lips and walked up the stairs.
"Let me just turn myself around then you can take me down backwards." Sam told him.
"Sure…" Sam came up behind him and whispered in his ear, "Your woman belongs to me now." Then he shoved him hard. Sam went flying down the stairs. The look on his face was pure horror. Bill chuckled, "She deserves better than you."
Kate came out of her room. She saw what he'd done, and smiled, then kissed Bill tenderly on the lips. Bill gave her a gentle pat on the rump. His hand lingering there for a minute. "Hmm…. I'm looking forward to more of this."
"Get down stairs now honey; we have to finish this right in case someone heard the fall."
Knowing it made a noise, Sam hurried down the stairs to the doorway.
He opened the door and then Kate came out in her riding clothes. She peered down the stairs. "Oh my God, what happened?" she screamed.
"I don't know" Bill yelled. "I was talking to him, and then leaving and he called to me and suddenly he came flying down the stairs." Bill looked at her with a sexy grin.
"Oh Sam…" She cried effectively.
She came running down the stairs and sat on the floor close with her husband's body. She positioned herself there, spreading her skirt out and pushing back her hat and placing Sam's head in her lap, then inventing tears that rolled down her cheek effectively. "What will I do now?" she moaned, glancing up at Bill. "He's gone Bill, he's gone!"
Bill grimaced, watched her performance and whispered for her ears only. "We'll think of something honey." Bill stood over her now.
Some of the men that were working near the corral had heard the ruckus and came running to find her sprawled on the floor with her dead husband, crying.
One of them helped her to her feet, "There, there now, Mrs. Williams, let us take care of this. What happened?"
"He fell…" she cried and hid her eyes.
She glanced at Bill.
"Don't you fret now; we'll take care of this for you. You go on up the stairs…" One of the hands was directing her. Bill was helping the other men lift him up from the chair and carry him outside.
Much later that day, the Sheriff came out to investigate it. He brought the doctor with him. The Sheriff was a tall, big man with graying hair and bushy brows. The doc was a short little man with a mustache bigger than the rest of him.
The doctor found her in her room, visibly shaking, tears running silently down her cheek. She had practiced this moment so long, she almost grinned. They were all swallowing her grief. But most men swallowed anything she said or did.
"When did this happen?" The doctor asked her.
"I-I don't know, this morning, I wasn't paying much attention to the time, doctor." She fretted. "Have they moved him…" she asked.
"Yes, your boys moved him to the old barn. How are you feeling?" He asked checking her heart rate and observing her closely.
"I'm fine doctor, other than being so shocked. I can't imagine my life without him."
"Yes, I can see that." The doctor's brows knitted and the Sheriff came up with Bill.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Williams, but I need to ask a f
ew questions."
"Of course Sheriff, please come in."
"Now Bill here is the only one that actually saw what happened, and I've taken his statement. Can you tell me in your own words what you know about it?"
Kate paused effectively, drying her tears and straightening herself as she faced the stone faced Sheriff. She didn't look at Bill when she spoke, which made her story much more believable.
"Well, I didn't actually see the accident, Sheriff." She paused to blow her nose, and wipe another tear away. "I did hear my husband talking from the hallway, and I think I heard Bill come in and was talking to him, I couldn't be sure it was him, but it sounded like him. Then I heard a horrible noise and I came out of my bedroom. I looked around and when I looked downstairs, my husband was laying at the foot of the stairs, his poor mangled body lifeless."
"All right. Well, did you happen to hear what they were talking about?"
"No, it was muffled, it was just voices to me. I was getting dressed so I wasn't actually listening to the conversation after I identified who he was talking with I knew it was just ranch business." She told him.
"Very well, I appreciate you making a statement Mrs. Williams. This is a very unfortunate accident. The doctor determined that he didn't die from the fall."
Her head jerked about. "He didn't, then…"
"No, the actual cause of death was a heart attack, probably brought on by the fall." The doctor told her.
"I had no idea…I thought the fall…"
"He wasn't actually dead when he fell down the stairs, but not long afterwards. No, sometimes when one is confined to very little movement for so long, they weaken. I'd checked him several times in the past year and his heart had become bad, but on top of his other problems I thought if I monitored it, he'd be all right. But trauma can cause this and a fall would have triggered it."
