The Cowboy Who Strolled Into Town

by Riley Moreno

  "First- I love Jeremy with all of my heart. Second- I would stay devoted to him if he lost all of his money" Roberta hoped that Cynthia had chosen to reveal her two truths first. It would not make sense if either of those were a lie. They seemed to go hand in hand. Roberta could not imagine that a man as handsome and strong as Jeremy could be left for something as common as money. Cynthia seemed to be able to take care of herself. Roberta would not be surprised if she were to discover that Cynthia was worth twice as much as Jeremy Leon. Roberta braced herself for the lie." Third- I think that you are the softest, most beautiful thing I have ever seen." and she caressed Roberta's cheek before planting a soft but loaded kiss on Roberta's lips.

  Roberta's head was spinning, but she was sure that it was not from the amber liquid this time. She felt herself kissing Cynthia back, and enjoying the sensation. Cynthia pulled back and Jeremy leaned in and kissed her as well. Roberta felt the contrast of his masculine lips to Cynthia's more delicate ones. She enjoyed both. She was confused. She pulled back.

  "Do not over think it darling." Cynthia said "You are so beautiful. So utterly irresistible that Jeremy and I must both have you." She lifted her nightgown over her head and leaned in for another kiss. Roberta could feel Jeremy's mouth on her breasts and then trail down to her stomach. His hands and Cynthia's hands were greedily searching her body. She felt the contrast of Cynthia's delicate slender hands, smooth and soft to Jeremy's larger, rough hands that greedily dug into her skin. She decided to give into the moment, and when she did she felt a rumbling begin to grow in the back of her throat. Cynthia leaned her head back and heard a noise emit from her lips that could only be described as a purr.

  When it they were finished. Jeremy and Cynthia wordlessly led Roberta back to her room. They each kissed her once again and then Roberta laid down on the pale pink duvet and fell fast asleep.

  When she awoke in the morning, Roberta felt odd. She had a churning in her stomach that she had never experienced before. Roberta did not think that it was guilt that she was feeling. What had happened last night between the three of them had felt so good, so right. Roberta had never felt so desired in her life. All of her past boyfriends had tried their best in bed, but had never quite satisfied her the way that Cynthia and Jeremy had last night. She decided that she was most likely hungry, and could do with a bit to eat so she got up and out of bed. Henderson had left her a breakfast tray with an omelet, fresh strawberries, and toast. The only thing that looked appetizing was the toast. Roberta ate it dry and washed it down with some lukewarm tea. What was wrong with her, she hoped that she wasn't getting the flu. That was the last thing that she needed. She had a wedding to plan.

  Roberta took another long bath and got dressed. She opted for lose linen pants and a gauzy button-down shirt. She put a pair of golden dangling earrings on that always made her feel beautiful. Her mother had always taught her that the best way to start feeling better was to get dressed and go to work.

  Roberta looked around for the leather binder that contained all of Jeremy's desires for the wedding. She could not remember where she had placed it last night. She could not even remember the last time that she had seen in. She searched the room for it but it was nowhere to be found. Roberta decided that she would have to ask Henderson if he had seen it. She hoped that perhaps he had taken it when he dropped off her breakfast tray. Maybe Jeremy had instructed him to make a few last minute changes. She felt guilty that she had been at the estate for almost 24 hours and did not yet even know the color scheme for the wedding.

  Roberta went to open the door and stepped on something that made a crinkling noise beneath her foot. It was a letter. She stooped down and picked the letter up. Her name was on the front, written in elegant calligraphy. The stationary was weighty and expensive. It had seen sealed with an old-fashioned was seal. Roberta broke the seal open and read the letter.

  Roberta,

  You are the loveliest woman that I have ever met. I do not regret one moment of what transpired between us last night and hope that you will feel the same. It is because I care for you so, and sense that you have an understanding heart, that I feel I need to confess the truth to you. I knew all along of Jeremy's plans for a secret wedding. I love him and only wish to make him happy. That is why I cannot marry him. This is my great sadness, the misery of my life. Jeremy wants nothing more than to give life as a father. He wants to pass on his wealth and love to a son or daughter. He would be the most wonderful and caring father. I think that he has been patiently waiting for this pivotal milestone for as long as he can remember. I cannot fulfill that wish. That is my deepest secret.

  I am not able to carry his child. When I discovered this flaw in my body, I did everything that I could to correct it. I saw specialists, spiritual advisors and psychics. Nobody could help. That is when I found you. I searched for a woman who was the opposite of me. I hoped that a woman who had a soft and beautiful body would be strong enough to carry Jeremy's child.

  I have been watching you Roberta. I hope that does not scare you, but you deserve to know the truth. I hired detectives to trail you. I employed hackers to infiltrate your data. I read every email, every text. I had to be sure that you not only had a strong body, but a kind heart as well. I knew that you were not in love with your boyfriend. A woman can tell.

  After I had thoroughly investigated you and made my decision, I sought Henderson's help. He loves Jeremy as much as I do. Together we planted the seed of a secret wedding into Jeremy's mind. We knew that it would be the only way for you to meet. He cares for you; a woman can sense that as well. He might not yet know the depth of his emotion, but I assure you that a spark was ignited last night. I am so glad that we could join together, all three of us in one final act of love. I like to know that I was present at the moment that Jeremy became a father. I believe that you are carrying his child Roberta. Thank you for doing this for him. For fulfilling a desire that I could not. You will never know the depths of my gratitude.

  I took the wedding folder when I left this note. I watched you sleep. You looked so peaceful. I have also written Jeremy a letter, explaining the situation to him. I am leaving Roberta. I am disappearing into the night and neither you nor Jeremy will ever find me. So please do not try. Perhaps I will come back someday, if I can bear it. Just know that I love you both as I love your unborn child.

  All my love,

  Cynthia

  Roberta read the letter mechanically, and then she read it again this time allowing the emotions of every word sink in. She then folded it carefully and lovingly, then slipped in into her bag. Could what Cynthia was telling her be true? Was she carrying Jeremy's child? She could not help but hope that it was somehow true. Her hand gently touched her stomach as a smile crept over her face. She had not ever even thought about becoming a mother before. Perhaps this was because she had not yet met anybody who she wanted to make a father. She wanted to make Jeremy a father. Roberta laughed to herself. This was the craziest 24 hours she had ever experienced.

  She again padded down the familiar route to the kitchen. She had butterflies in her stomach. What would she say if she met Jeremy there again? She had met and cared for Cynthia after only knowing her for a few short hours. Cynthia had been the love of Jeremy's life, the woman that he wanted to bestow a lavish surprise wedding on, in the hopes that she would agree to spend the rest of her life with him.

  Jeremy was not in the kitchen, only the cook and kitchen staff. Busy as bees cleaning up the mess of the morning's breakfast while preparing for this afternoon's lunch. When they saw her they only paused briefly, calling her ma'am and nodding their heads with a smile after the ascertained that she needed nothing from them. She went to Henderson's office and knocked on the door. There was no answer. She attempted to turn the handle, but it was locked.

  Roberta made her way back to the lounge. Back to the place that had been the set of the most poignant and beautiful moment of her life. She opened the door and discovered that she was not the alone in
the desire to return. Jeremy was sitting in his leather chair. He was holding a crumpled up letter, written on the same expensive stationary that Roberta's had been. Tears were streaming down his face. He looked up at her with such pain in his eyes. Roberta knew that she would do anything if it meant that she could take that pain away. She walked over to him. He sunk down to the floor. She perched on the chair behind him and began to wordlessly stroke his hair. It was as softer than she imagined it would be. Every stroke seemed to increase her love and desire for this man. With every stroke, she had to admit to herself that she was finally falling more and more deeply in love with Jeremy. He looked up at her and finally spoke.

  "Do you think it could be true?"

  Somehow, Roberta knew that he was not referring to Cynthia's departure, but rather asking if his deepest desire could possibly be growing inside her at this very moment. She looked down at him.

  "Yes" was her simple reply.

  Jeremy embraced her with gentle strength. He kissed her forehead and whispered "thank you".

  "Cynthia", she whispered and Jeremy shared her sorrow. "She didn't have to leave."

  "She is a woman who knows what she wants. That's why she left us so suddenly," He laughed. "To think, I wanted to throw her a surprise wedding, when all along she had been planning the biggest surprise of all."

  Roberta kissed away Jeremy's tears, and he kissed away hers. They made love again, in the same spot that they had been with Cynthia the night before. It was a sacred spot, christened with the spirit of the woman that had orchestrated their love. She had known that they were what each other was looking for, before they even knew that they were looking. This time their bodies intertwined more tenderly. Jeremy was gentle with her this morning when last night he had been aggressive and rough. Roberta was again satisfied, in a way that was so different from the irresistible, almost uncontrollable climax. Today they swayed together softly and took their time. They held each other for a long while afterwards.

  "We have to find her" Roberta interrupted their mutual reverie.

  "We have to at least try." Jeremy agreed.

  Roberta went back to her bedroom and gave a start when she saw her cell phone lying on the made up bed. She had missed several calls from Marianna. It was a jolt to be reminded of her previous life, before she had felt whole and complete. She checked her voicemail. There were three in a row, all from Mariana.

  "Hi Bertie, I've only just arrived. I thought that I would let you know that I landed safely. My hotel is so opulent, you would love it. We will have to come back for a girl's weekend when you complete your mystery assignment. I am going to head down to the pool and see if I can spot any bronzed bodies that look a little lonely."

  "Bertie, I just met the most gorgeous man. He looks like he could be on the cover of a romance novel. He is all bronze skin, brown eyes and muscle. I am going to meet him for drinks right now, I thought I would catch you to see if you thought it was a good idea. We only just met and it's against my rules, but I kind of feel like I need to see where this is going. If I don't hear from you in the next five minutes, I am on my way."

  "Bertie. He's the one. I don't know how to explain to you how I know he is the one, he just is. I am deeply and madly in love with him. I want to have his little bronze babies. Bertie, I think that I might not come home, or rather, I think that I have found my new home. It is here with him. Don't kill me, but I have to resign. Maybe we can work something out. St. Bart's is a perfect place for destination weddings. We could expand. Let me know what you think. Love you girl.

  Roberta smiled to herself. It looked as if cupid was saving the two friends arrows to be used in tandem.

  Roberta settled into her new life with Jeremy with surprising ease. She sold her wedding practice to a competitor and then bestowed the money upon Marianna so that she could start up her own business in St. Bart’s. Henderson made sure that she had every comfort. He fed her food that was so delicious, she swore it could not be healthy, but it was. Best of all, she had seen Jeremy's private physician who confirmed what they had hoped. She was expecting Jeremy's child. Roberta was so happy that she felt like she could burst with joy. There was only one sadness in her life now. One hole that had been left vacant, and would not be filled until they found out what had happened to Cynthia.

  Jeremy tried everything in his power to trace her trail, but Cynthia was so meticulous that she had not left any breadcrumbs. He hired an onslaught of private detectives who continued to follow false trails until they reached dead ends. They had been searching for months, but had no luck. Roberta and Jeremy did not speak of it. Instead, they spoke of their plans for the baby. They decided to wait and not find out the gender of their child. They wanted it to be a surprise.

  Roberta decided to enlist the help of Henderson. He had patiently admitted every detective into Jeremy's office, and lurked in the background. He never seemed shocked when they reported that the trail they had been following had come up cold. Roberta decided that he was too calm. Henderson was a professional who would die before he revealed any of his master's secrets, but Roberta knew that he also wanted Jeremy to be happy. She knocked on his office door.

  "Come in"

  "Hello Henderson" Roberta came into the room and shifted at an awkward angle in order to sit in the chair opposite Henderson. She recalled the first time that she had sat in that chair. It felt so much smaller now. Her stomach had grown so large, that it was now touching Henderson's desk.

  "Roberta, you are growing more and more each day."

  "It's because you are feeding me so well." She grinned her million-dollar movie star smile and winked. That always gave Henderson a start. She wanted to unsettle him before she made her request.

  "What can I do for you Miss?"

  Roberta didn't say anything for a long time, she waited until Henderson began to squirm in his seat.

  "I know you miss her too."

  "Who?"

  "Don't play dumb with me Henderson, you know perfectly well."

  "I wish that there was something that could be done."

  They stared at each other again. Both of them stone faced and unwilling to show emotion or look away.

  "I have sworn my secrecy Roberta. I will never go back on my word.

  "I know Henderson"

  "Then what are you asking me?"

  "What would Cynthia do if our situations were reversed?"

  Henderson was taken aback. He did not expect this question. His eyes left hers and gazed upon a spot on the while behind Roberta's head.

  "Cynthia made it perfectly clear that she watched you for quite some time before orchestrating your introduction to Mr. Leon, did she not?"

  "She did"

  "Then do you not think that it would be ludicrous to assume that she has stopped watching you and Jeremy? Do you really think that a woman as dedicated and detail oriented as Cynthia could ever just truly walk away?"

  "Henderson, you are a genius!" Roberta jumped out of her chair, quite surprised that she still could, and kissed Henderson on the top of his head before she rushed out of the room. As she left, she glanced over her shoulder in enough time to see Henderson blush for a split second before he regained his composure, put on the mask of a professional Butler, and resumed his work.

  A month later, Roberta and Jeremy were sitting together in the lounge, this time curled up on a sofa. Roberta's feet were in Jeremy's lap and she purred as he massaged away her aches and pains. Her feet were so swollen now, she couldn't fit in any of her shoes. Jeremy performed this act of service every night. He said that it was his way of thanking her for sacrificing her body, in order to cultivate his child.

  "Did you see the newspaper today?" She asked casually.

  "No my love, I did not. Why?

  "You might want to take a look at it. Henderson left a copy for you right there on the coffee table."

  Jeremy gave Roberta's swollen foot one last gentle squeeze, then placed positioned them on top of a pillow. He reached for the
newspaper lying of the coffee table. He flipped it open to the page that Roberta had dog-eared. Roberta watched Jeremy's face. It went from confusion, to recognition as tears rolled down his cheeks. When he finished reading, he gently folded the paper then knelt before Roberta and said through his tears.

  "Thank you. It is perfect. How did you know what to do? I have been racking my brain for months, I have paced the halls, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on private detectives who are the best in their business. None of it worked but this Roberta" He kissed her now then said. "This will work"

  "I hope so" she answered, then asked "Will you read it to me Jeremy? I want to hear my words roll off your tongue. Jeremy obliged.

  Local Police Report:

  The Leon estate has reported that they are missing an irreplaceable part of an invaluable trio. In order to protect the privacy of the Leon family, the specifics of the object have been kept confidential. Henderson, the family butler, has issued a statement to the public, imploring anyone who might know the whereabouts of the mysterious object to come forward. "When this particular set is broken apart, the pieces are worthless. However, when the three pieces are together under the same roof, the complete set is priceless." He went on to state that Mr. Jeremy Leon would like to have the three parts of the trio reunited before the upcoming birth of his first child, who is expected to arrive early next month. If anyone can help the Leon Estate, we urge you to report the missing piece immediately.

  A week later, Roberta was fast asleep in her bed. Sleep came so easily to her now. Her body had been working overtime to produce the nutrients necessary for the child growing within her to thrive. She felt a body slip in next to her and smiled in her half-asleep, half-awake state.

  "Darling," a sultry and confident voice purred. "I have returned."

  The End

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