A firm slap of the reins across the horse’s rump set him running at a fast pace, sending great clouds of dust churning in the air behind the buckboard.
Tully raced ahead with Lily while Thane urged the horse to go faster. Jemma looked as bad as he felt when he suffered from seasickness. His prayers winged heavenward that they’d arrive at the ranch before she fainted.
Another ten minutes passed before they topped a hill and the ranch came into view. Thane breathed a sigh of relief as he guided the horse along the familiar trail to the cabin. Ranch hands poured out of the barn, corral, and bunkhouse to greet them. Tully handed Lily to one of the men while he dismounted.
Thane stopped the horse by the cabin and hurried around to Jemma’s side.
“Howdy, boss. We got your message and did as you asked,” said Sam, the bunkhouse cook, as he approached carrying Lily. “Congratulations on your kids. Is that the nanny?”
“Thank you, Sam. And no, she isn’t the nanny. Just give me a minute to settle my wife and I’ll be out to take a look over everything.” Thane scooped Jemma into his arms as Sam stared at him, dumbfounded.
“Wife? You didn’t mention a wife, just that you inherited two youngin’s. I thought you said that snowballs would fall ten feet deep in the desert before you’d saddle yourself to a woman.”
“Never mind what I said,” Thane growled as he strode across the barren yard and up the steps to the cabin door. Tully beat him there and held it open while Thane crossed the threshold with Jemma. “Did you add the bedroom?” Thane looked back at Sam as he stepped inside and set Lily down next to her brother.
“There.” Sam pointed to a door off the open kitchen area.
Thane stalked that direction and Tully opened the door for him. The large bed he’d asked Tully to order had been delivered and set up. Made of English oak, the headboard stood more than six-feet high with ornate carvings. A matching dresser sat against one wall while a washstand occupied the opposite wall. Although sparse, the room was well constructed and even had a plank floor.
Pleased with the room and the new furnishings, Thane was grateful someone had made the bed with the linens he’d ordered.
“Wish she’d decided to get sick before we left town so I could have taken her to Doc’s office,” Thane complained as he laid Jemma on the bed. She fluttered a hand at him and muttered something he couldn’t hear, so he turned to look at the men who crowded around the doorway.
“I appreciate all of you getting this room ready.”
“Well, shoot, boss, we didn’t know you ordered all that stuff for a new bride. Just thought maybe with the kids you’d gone and got civilized.” A cheeky young cowboy named Ben gave Thane a broad smile while the men laughed. Lily shoved her way through their legs until she stood inside the door.
“Auntie Jemma?” she asked, scampering over to the bed. She started to climb up on Jemma, making the woman moan. Thane quickly picked her up and handed her to Tully.
As he caught Jack’s eye, Thane bent over so he didn’t tower over the boy. “How about you two go see if Rigsly needs some attention? I bet he’ll be glad to see you both.”
“Rigsly?” Lily squealed, making two of the hands grimace at her high-pitched excitement. “I want to see our doggie! See Rigsly right now!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Tully took the two youngsters outside while the rest of the cowboys except Sam followed him.
“Do you need some help, Thane?”
Thane stared at the collapsed form of his wife on the bed. “I don’t know. Give me a few minutes to see if I can figure out what’s wrong. Go on outside and I’ll holler if I need help.”
“Might just be the change in climate and altitude, that sort of thing. Could be worn out from all the travel. Doubt it’s anything serious.” Sam nodded to Thane then pulled the door shut behind him, giving the couple some privacy.
Perplexed, Thane walked over to the bed and looked down at Jemma, unsure what to do. One thing was for certain, she needed to get out of her constrictive clothes so she could breathe and rest easier.
“Jemma, you need to get undressed. Can you do that?”
She didn’t respond but weakly lifted a hand before dropping it back beside her.
Loudly sighing, Thane tossed his hat on top of the dresser and began unbuttoning the jacket of Jemma’s traveling suit.
She pushed at him and whispered, “don’t touch me,” making him smile.
“Too late for that, Lady Jemma. I’m about to discover just how tightly you lace that corset you wear.”
Thane heard her whisper an insult but chose to ignore it. Since his big hands weren’t meant for such tiny closures, he fumbled with the buttons on her jacket. Doubtful her outfit would be the same after days of collecting soot and dust from the train, he took out his pocketknife and sliced down the front of the jacket.
“Stop!” she screamed, only it came out as a hoarse plea.
“I’ll buy you a dozen new dresses to make up for it, but everything has to come off so you can breathe. Now hush and hold still.” Thane slid his knife down the length of her skirt then carefully cut away her frilled white blouse. Jemma cried as he pulled off her petticoats and corset cover.
The corset proved to be a foreign item of clothing, drawing his intense scrutiny. It took him only a moment to decide to slice the stays on the back. As he rolled her onto her side, poising his knife at the ready, Jemma grasped the front of it with a strength he wouldn’t have thought she could possess and began unhooking the busk.
He shoved her hands away and unhooked it then tossed her corset to the floor with the rest of her ruined attire.
She took in a deep breath, followed by another. A little color began to return to her face.
After removing her shoes, he pushed up the legs of her drawers. He rolled down her stockings while she made idle threats, calling him a cad and bully. As he lifted her head and pulled out the pins in her hair, Thane had to close his mind to the number of times he’d envisioned doing that very thing, only with her looking at him with yearning instead of bordering on the edge of incoherency.
Mindful of her modesty, he left her attired in her chemise and drawers. He pulled back the coverings on the bed and settled her against the pillows.
Recalling how good it felt when she bathed his face and hands with a cool cloth while he was sick, he hurried to the kitchen and found a clean rag then held it beneath the pump. Rapidly working the handle until water splashed out, he soaked the rag, filled a glass with water, and returned to the bedroom.
He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted Jemma’s head, making her take a long drink of the water. After setting the glass aside, he wiped her face, along her neck, across her chest, and down her arms and hands with the cool rag.
Heat spiraled through him followed by an incontestable longing for his wife. The unobstructed view of her exposed creamy, smooth skin, combined with the sensations created by touching her as he removed her clothes, made it perfectly clear what a desirable woman he’d married.
Before giving her another sip of water, he swallowed hard and squeezed his eyes shut to clear his thoughts.
“Better?” he asked, hoping she was only exceedingly tired or overheated. He hadn’t counted on it being quite so warm this far into the autumn, but the area had been known to get a few scorching days in October followed by early snowstorms.
“Yes.” Jemma reached out a hand to him and he took it, kissing her palm. “Thank you.”
“Just rest for a while, my lady. I’ll keep the kids outside with me.”
He opened the window, allowing fresh air to blow in along with the sounds of Jack and Lily laughing and Rigsly barking.
After tucking a sheet over her shoulder, Thane left the room and closed the door behind him. He walked across the large open space that comprised his kitchen and sitting area. On the other side of it was his former bedroom. The men had cut a hole in the wall near his bedroom door and added a second bedroom, as he’d requested. A new single bed
occupied the space. He planned for it to be Lily’s room while Jack took over his old room.
He’d move out his clothes and belongings later into the bedroom he planned to share with his wife. Now that they were home, she’d just have to come around to the idea of sharing a bedroom with him because he wouldn’t give her any other options.
Chapter Thirteen
Slowly awakening, Jemma lingered on the edge of consciousness where Thane held her close and told her how much he loved her. His masculine scent teased her nose while his warmth settled around her like a cozy blanket.
Unsettled and thinking herself silly for such romantic notions, she didn’t know why visions of him shirtless and bronzed plagued her dreams and often interrupted her during the day.
She circled her thoughts back to the moment at hand and recalled feeling ill on the way to the ranch. Recollections of anything beyond Thane ordering her not to swoon seemed fuzzy.
Cool air blew above her although she felt content and safe. She could smell freshly cut wood and Thane’s manly scent, along with something tangy bringing sage to mind.
The terrifying howl of a beast outside made her eyes pop open and she started to sit upright in bed. Something heavy held her down.
Tentatively reaching along her waist, her fingers brushed over an arm corded with muscles pinning her to the soft, warm bed.
A gasp of distress escaped her. She felt something stir behind her and concluded she’d been sleeping on her side.
“What’s wrong, Jemma?” Thane’s deep voice rumbled in his chest in a sleepy, altogether enthralling tone, while he tightened his hold around her. “Do you need something?”
“An explanation, sir, as to why you are in my bed and have taken liberties with my person.” As she attempted to roll over to face the infuriating man, she found she couldn’t move between his arm weighing her down and his body close behind her.
She reached back a hand to smack him and connected with the bare skin of his chest. Swiftly jerking her hand in front of her, she drew in another gulp of air. Memories of him carrying her inside the house and removing her clothes, despite her feeble protests, assaulted her.
Curious as to how long she’d slept, she worried about Jack and Lily.
Thane squeezed her waist. “Calm down. We’re all worn out and in need of sleep. The kids are tucked into their beds. I guess I rolled over here in my sleep. That’s all. We can argue about who sleeps where in the morning. For now, rest assured nothing happened. I’ve certainly not taken any liberties with your person or anything else, although I’d be happy to oblige if that’s what you want.”
“You are an insufferable rake!” Jemma shoved at his arm and rolled onto her back, realizing too late her mistake. It put her face next to Thane’s and his mouth mere inches from her own. Still lying on his side, his body touched hers from shoulder to knee and she couldn’t will away the delightful sensations his nearness produced. The ridiculous desire to roll into him, into his strength and ruggedness, made her head swim as she fought to bring her thoughts under control.
Thane smirked. “So you’ve mentioned before. If it makes you feel better, I’m only that way with you.”
Subtle moonbeams slipping through the open window glided in a gentle caress on his wife, highlighting the fine curve of her cheek, the fullness of her bottom lip, and alabaster skin. Thane could plainly see concern on her face mixed with something he refused to identify.
He hadn’t intentionally set out to hold her. When he fell asleep, he’d been on the far side of the bed. It wasn’t his fault her enticing curves and the soft temptation she unknowingly offered drew him like a magnet to metal.
As he raised himself on one elbow, he noticed the strap of her chemise had slid off one shoulder. Auburn hair flowed all around her face and down her back in a tempting mass. He reached out one finger and gently traced it along the smooth skin of her collarbone then fingered a lock of hair where it rested above her heaving chest. Heat zinged through his veins as her decidedly feminine fragrance filled his nose.
Aware that any move on his part would push her further away, he unwillingly rolled onto his back.
“Do you need anything?” he asked, when Jemma continued to stare at him.
“I need to um… could I please… might I inquire as to the whereabouts of your lavatory.” Need currently trumped prudence, although her cheeks flamed with embarrassment at asking the question.
Thane chuckled. “You might as well get used to calling it the outhouse or privy, because that’s what we call it in these parts and no one will know what you’re talking about if you ask for it by something different. There aren’t many indoor bathrooms in Baker City, although I think one or two of the hotels offer them to their guests as well as the train depot. A few of the newer homes have added them, too. Come on. I’ll show you where it’s at.”
Quickly sliding out of bed, he turned his back to her and yanked on the Levi’s he’d left on the floor. After stuffing his feet into his boots, he lit a lamp he’d carried in earlier and set on the bedside table.
Jemma sat in the bed, unmoving.
“Are you coming? Are you still sick?” he asked, setting the lamp down on the dresser and holding a hand out to her, wondering if she felt dizzy.
“No, I feel much better. It must have been a combination of exhaustion and the heat. Perhaps the vile reptile added to my discomfort.” She clutched the sheet to her chin as he wiggled his hand at her, indicating she should rise from the bed. “I don’t have my dressing gown or slippers.”
With a careworn sigh, he stepped to the far side of the room and opened the trunk she’d used both on the ship and in New York. He dug around until he found what he thought was her dressing gown. She had so many fancy, frilly clothes it was hard for him to decide what she considered undergarments and what served as outerwear.
When he held out the piece of lace-trimmed silk, she reluctantly climbed out of bed and hastened to stuff her arms in the sleeves then fasten the front. She rummaged through the trunk until she found her slippers and tugged them on her feet.
Quietly opening the bedroom door, Thane led the way through the kitchen to the front door then took her arm as he walked her down the porch steps and around the corner of the cabin to a small structure located away from the other buildings.
“Here you are, my lady.” Thane bowed ceremoniously as he opened the door, checked to make sure no snakes lurked inside, then handed her the lamp.
Her scowl made him bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing as she stepped inside and slammed the door closed.
“Would you like me to wait for you?” he asked, entertained as gasps of disgust filtered through the cracks.
“That most certainly will not be necessary. Please return to the house.”
“Yes, Lady Jemma.” Thane strolled back to the cabin. Rigsly bumped into him and whined. Thane forgot he’d let the dog in the house before he went to bed. He stood on the porch, waiting for Jemma as he looked out over his ranch and scratched the dog behind his ears.
After a few days of settling in, he planned to leave Rigsly outside with the other ranch dogs. Until then, he didn’t mind having the animal in the cabin. Apparently, Rigsly was so happy to see familiar faces, he no longer considered Thane a stranger but a friend.
The silvery glow from the moon enabled him to see the barn. The newly constructed addition at the back held the horses he’d brought from England along with all of Jemma’s trunks.
His hired men did a good job on both the new bedrooms at the house as well as the added space to the barn. They’d kept things running just like he was there during his absence. Tully checked on them periodically, made sure they received their pay, and took care of buying supplies for them.
Blessed to have such good friends and loyal ranch hands, Thane smiled as he looked over the bunkhouse, the open shed where they kept equipment, the smokehouse, chicken coop, and springhouse.
Part of his remuda milled around in the corral nex
t to the barn while fat cattle grazed on the pasture grass he’d planted on the surrounding hills. He’d built the ranch from the sweat of his brow and long, hard hours of labor, but he loved it. He prayed Jack and Lily would learn to love it too. In time, he hoped their prim and proper aunt would think of it as home.
Although he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, especially her, Jemma somehow worked her way into his thoughts and his heart.
Despite his assumption that all women were like his mother, he knew to the very core of his being Jemma would never run off and leave him or the children. She’d given up everything familiar to her, everything she loved, to make sure they were cared for even though it took her thousands of miles from her home.
He trusted Jemma, admired her, and found himself completely infatuated with her.
Unless she returned his growing feelings in the foreseeable future, he needed to find a way to block her from his mind, build another bedroom, or get used to sleeping in the barn. He couldn’t take too many nights of holding her close without making her his.
However, winters were too cold for sleeping in the barn, the men would tease him mercilessly if he slept in the bunkhouse, and he’d never live it down if he added another bedroom. He needed to learn to keep his longings in check and pretend Jemma was someone there to care for the children who happened to sleep on the other side of his bed.
The coyotes along the ridge continued their nocturnal serenade and Thane listened to them howl. He’d missed the sounds of his home during his absence and breathed in the sagebrush-scented air.
“Mercy!” Jemma’s strained voice preceded her hurried footsteps as she ran around the corner of the house and jumped onto the porch. Wide, alarmed eyes gazed toward the hill where the coyotes yipped back and forth.
Frightened, she clutched Thane’s arm in her free hand and took a step behind him, tugging him toward the door. “Will they try to eat us? Will they hurt the horses or cattle? What do you do to get rid of wolves?”
Crumpets & Cowpies: (Sweet Historical Western Romance) (Baker City Brides Book 1) Page 16
