Content, he settled back into her arms and waited for when he had enough energy to make love to her again.
Chapter Fourteen
Jenny scanned the crowd of people the next morning. She didn’t want to go into the church until she saw Sally. But Sally wasn’t anywhere, and that wasn’t like her sister. She couldn’t even focus on what her brothers were telling Owen...or what Jessica and Mary were talking about.
An uneasy feeling swelled in the pit of her stomach. Perhaps she should have run after her sister last night. But then she wouldn’t have taken care of Owen and then... She blushed. She didn’t know lovemaking could involve such bliss. She glanced at him, recalling the way his hands and mouth felt on her skin. Her body tingled from the memory. She couldn’t wait to be alone with him again.
“Jenny?” Someone nudged her in the side.
She jumped back and cleared her throat. She realized that Mary and Jessica were staring at her. “What?” she asked, hoping they didn’t detect what she’d been thinking about.
“Sally’s here,” Mary said. “You wanted us to tell you if we saw her.”
Jenny looked in the direction where Mary pointed. “Oh good! Thank you.” She wove through two groups until she reached her sister. “Sally, how are you? Where’s Rick and Greg?”
Sally sighed and shrugged. “They’re going to his parents.”
“You don’t sound happy.”
“Well, I’m not. I don’t feel like being here. You know how hard it is to sing hymns about loving and forgiving people when all you want to do is hit your husband over the head with a rolling pin?”
“I’m sorry, Sally. Everything started out so well. I don’t understand what went wrong.”
“What’s there to understand? Rick would rather chase a squirrel than be with me.”
“Surely, that isn’t true.”
“Maybe not. But it’s how I feel. I could take off all my clothes and go right up to him, and he wouldn’t even look up from his work.”
Jenny blinked. “Did you actually try that?”
“Well...no.”
“Maybe you should.”
Sally gasped and clutched Jenny’s arm. “Oh, I couldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“It’s just...it’s not something women do. They don’t go parading themselves in front of their husbands in broad daylight.”
“But you’re in the privacy of your own home.”
“Maybe but...” She let go of Jenny’s coat sleeve and clasped her hands together. “I’d lose the nerve.”
“Hasn’t he seen you naked before?”
“Sure he has. We’ve been married for a good eight years. It’s just that we’re in bed.”
“I’m surprised at you, Sally. You have more experience in this area than I do, but even I know that men have a hard time resisting a woman who undresses in front of them.”
“Really?”
“Try it. I guarantee that if you casually go around the room and slip off a piece of clothing here and there, you’ll have his full attention.”
Sally bit her lower lip and tapped her foot on the grass. “Can something that simple work?”
“Oh, it can.”
It worked like a charm on Owen. She grinned at the memory. She hadn’t thought he’d be able to have or maintain an erection. She didn’t understand it. Maybe he was so distraught from his accident that he feared he couldn’t make love. Maybe seeing a naked woman was all it took for him to forget his fears. Well, whatever the reason, she didn’t care. The point was they spent hours—instead of minutes like it’d been with Clyde—enjoying each other. Once Owen got going, there was no stopping him. She was sure that Rick would respond similarly to Sally if she stripped in front of him.
Jenny winked at her sister. “I bet it’ll be just the thing to put the spark right back into your marriage.”
Sally seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding. “It can’t hurt.”
“No, it can’t!”
Sally finally broke into one of her familiar smiles. “You’re right, Jenny. It really just might work.”
“And to show you how sure I am it will, let me and Owen take Greg off your hands for the day.”
“Oh, there’s no need for that. His parents are taking him to their house after the service. Thank you, Jenny. I feel much better. Maybe now I can get through the sermon without wanting to strangle my husband.”
And now Jenny could get through the sermon without driving herself crazy over her sister’s predicament. Giving a contented sigh, she returned to Owen.
***
Rick led Greg to his parents before he went to find Mr. White. He hated it when Sally was mad at him. He realized his workload caused a strain in their marriage, but it didn’t occur to him how upset Sally was about it until the previous night. Something as small as him wanting to help Irving track down a squirrel wouldn’t usually upset her. She was too levelheaded for that kind of thing. No. He knew what bothered her. It was the fact he consistently put her aside for his work that bothered her.
If there was one thing he knew, it was that marriages had to be nurtured. He’d seen enough miserable men and women come through in his line of work to see what a lack of care and attention did to a spouse. Though divorce wasn’t common back east, it happened in the west quite a bit, especially in places where the men outnumbered the women. But even if the couples didn’t choose divorce, they sometimes chose to live their lives apart from each other. And he didn’t want that to be the case with him and Sally.
He found his boss lingering in a group by a tree and approached him. “Mr. White, may I have a moment of your time?”
The middle-aged man nodded and excused himself from his family. “Is something troubling you, Rick?”
“Actually, yes.” He put his hands in his pockets since he didn’t know what else to do with them. “Sir, I was wondering about Carl Townsend. Do you think he’ll be well enough to return to work?”
“I don’t know. Some days he feels better and other days he doesn’t.”
Rick feared that was the case. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that Sally was talking to Jenny. He hated knowing she was mad at him, and quite frankly, he couldn’t blame her. Turning back to his boss, he said, “I was wondering if you would consider hiring a third judge and hire Jack full-time to take care of the clerical duties?”
Mr. White sighed. “You’ve been having a rough time of it for the past six months, haven’t you?”
The admission was hard, but he managed to say, “Yes, sir.”
“I’ve been wondering what to do about Carl. He’s a good man. I don’t want to let him go.”
“Of course not.” Rick liked Carl and didn’t want to see him go either.
“But I don’t want to make things harder on you than they have been.” Mr. White nodded. “I will hire Jack full-time, and I’ll see about finding a temporary judge. It might mean a slight pay cut.”
“That is fine, sir.” He didn’t mind taking a little less home if it meant he didn’t have to work overtime. Sally, he figured, would be happy with the arrangement.
“I’ll get to it tomorrow morning then.”
Rick breathed a sigh of relief. If he’d known it was going to be this easy, he wouldn’t have delayed the discussion for as long as he had. “Thank you, sir.”
The man returned to his family, so Rick headed off to find his wife. She had just finished talking to Jenny.
“Sally?” he called out to her, excited that he could finally give her some good news for a change.
She stopped on her way to her parents and strode over to him. “What is it?”
He took her hand and smiled at her. “I just want to let you know that you’re as beautiful today as the day we got married.”
She frowned as if she couldn’t believe her ears. “What?”
“I’m sorry about last night. You’re right. I have been working too hard. I just talked to Mr. White, and he said he’d hire a temporary judge a
nd let Jack work full-time.”
Her eyes lit up and she squeezed his hand. “Really, Rick?”
“It’ll mean a cut in my pay,” he warned her.
“Oh. Well, how much of a cut?”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “And I thought you cared more about me than the money.”
She giggled and patted his arm. “Oh, I was teasing and you know it.”
He let go of her hand so he could slip his arm around her waist and pull her closer. “I have missed being with you.”
“Rick,” she whispered, glancing around, “you shouldn’t be holding me this close in public.”
A sly grin crossed his face as he leaned forward and whispered, “This is nothing, honey. Just wait until we get home. My parents agreed to take care of Greg until six.”
She blushed but her eyes twinkled with excitement. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Really? What is it?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“I can’t wait,” he told her, enjoying the anticipation, even as it was killing him. Knowing Sally, it was going to be worth the wait. His body was already anxious to be alone with her. It’d been much too long since they had time to be together for a decent amount of time. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Rick.”
Glad that things were no longer tense between them, he led her into the church when it was time for the service to begin.
***
Owen pounded the last board onto the attic floor and tested it to make sure it was in place. Good. Setting down the hammer, he stood up and walked over the new section of flooring. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked. No one else would be falling through the floor.
Satisfied, he went over to the board he had set over the hole in the side of the wall. It was a temporary fix. He needed to take care of the outside of the house. But that would have to be on a day when he didn’t have work. As it was, he was going to be late if he didn’t get a move on.
He collected the rest of the boards, the hammer and box of nails and carefully went down the ladder. Once he put everything away in the little shed out back, he found Jenny sitting in the parlor making a dress for one of the women in town. Jeremy was outside playing with what little snow covered the ground. She looked out the window and watched him.
Since they had a moment of privacy, Owen hurried over to her and gave her a big hug.
She shrieked and then laughed. “You scared me.” Setting her things aside, she hugged him back. “Did you secure the attic?”
“I did.” He kissed her neck.
She giggled and ran her hands down his back. “So no more squirrels will get into the house?”
“Not unless you want them to.”
Wrapping her legs around his waist, she brought him closer to her.
He groaned. “I have to go to work.”
“Just giving you an idea of what’ll happen tonight.”
Giving her a long kiss, he caressed her breasts. Reluctant, he pulled away from her. “I can’t wait.”
“Me neither.” She squeezed his bottom.
“You don’t play fair, honey.” He removed himself from the tempting position so he could sit next to her. He took her hands in his and debated, once again, if he should tell her the truth.
She snuggled against him and smiled. “I thought you had to go to work.”
“I do. But I thought I should tell you something first.”
“What is it?”
He hesitated. Could he actually do this? Would she still love him if she knew he lied to her...to everyone? He looked into her eyes. What if she didn’t love him once she knew he wasn’t the invincible Irving Spencer? He released his breath. It was wrong to withhold the truth. He knew it was. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell her.
Not day.
Maybe tomorrow.
Maybe next week.
He just needed time to think of the right words. Then he’d tell her in a way that would ease the shock, and she’d understand why he did the things he did. Yes. He’d figure out what to say first.
After he gave her another kiss, he asked, “Will you make a pie?”
She laughed and nudged him in the side. “You sure did look serious for someone who wanted something simple. Yes. I’ll make you a pie.” She kissed him on the cheek.
“Thanks, Jenny.” He grinned and kissed her back. Standing, he took a deep breath and patted his vest. Once he slipped his badge on, he’d be in proper attire. “I should be back around eight.”
“I can’t wait,” she replied, winking.
Neither could he. He recalled how her body felt under his. The male part of him did as well since it made no fuss to remind him of how eager it was to spend time alone with her. He sighed and retrieved his coat. Glancing back at her, he hoped that bedtime would come very soon. If Sheriff Meyer kept him busy enough, the time would go fast. Hopefully, it would be a busy day.
Once he had his coat on, he put on his hat and left the house. He saw Jeremy rolling a snowball across the lawn, picking up fragments of the snow as he went along. “How are you doing, squirt?” Owen called out as he fastened the top buttons of his coat.
“I’m making a big ball!” Jeremy replied.
“You know, where I grew up, we only had snow once, and as soon as the flakes touched the ground, they melted.”
Jeremy stopped rolling his ball and frowned at him. “That’s not fun.”
“But I could fish this time of year without having to wear a coat.”
He shrugged. “I can do that when it gets warm.”
He had to admire the kid’s logic. “True. Maybe being in Nebraska is better than being down south.” He didn’t miss being in Louisiana. Not with Jenny and Jeremy right here. But sometimes, he did wonder how his aunt was doing. He prayed Big Roy never figured out that she had the money. As long as he believed Owen deposited the cash into the bank, then she was safe. He adjusted his collar to brace against the chill in the air and waved at the youngster. “I’ll see you when I get back. Be sure to take care of your ma while I’m gone.”
The boy nodded, but he’d already turned his attention back to his snowball.
A grin on Owen’s face, he went to get the horse ready for the ride into town.
Chapter Fifteen
Owen patted his stomach and leaned back in the chair at the sheriff’s desk. If he had to eat another bite of anything, he was going to burst. Those Larson women knew how to stuff a man senseless. Who knew Thanksgiving could render a man comatose for days on end?
He sat up straight. He couldn’t even take a deep breath. In an effort to finish up the leftovers, Jenny persuaded him to have an extra helping of “thanksgiving breakfast” that morning. He hoped that they were officially done. He’d had enough of turkey to last a lifetime. Now it was time for his poor stomach to get a break.
He picked up the latest papers on Meyer’s desk and sorted through them. Good. None were of him. But there was one on Robert Scott. Owen frowned. Why did the name Robert sound familiar? Oh yes. He was the name Joshua had written and placed in his wallet when Owen went to Guy Ike’s house. That was the day of the shoot-out. He shivered at the memory. He hoped shoot-outs didn’t happen often in Omaha.
He looked back at the paper and read the caption under the rough sketch of the bearded man. Kidnapping children. Owen’s jaw clenched. What in the world would a man do that for? He thought of Jeremy. If someone kidnapped him... For once, Owen was glad he was a deputy. At least he had some leads that another father didn’t. He studied Robert’s face. If he came across this man, he’d definitely get him, even if he had to use a dozen fishing rods...or try his hand at the gun in his holster.
But what if Robert isn’t guilty? What if he was framed for something to cover up for someone else?
Owen sat back for a moment and considered the implications. How many men were falsely accused of something and put on a Wanted poster? Probably most of those men were guilty.
But how could one be sure? Still, Robert had a connection to Guy and Jimmy.
But I have a connection to Big Roy.
He looked back at Robert’s picture. Innocent until proven guilty. If I do find you, I’ll make sure that this is accurate. And if it is... Well, if it was, then all bets were off, and he’d do his part to make sure justice was served.
The door opened and someone asked, “Is Sheriff Meyer here?”
Owen stilled. He didn’t look up from the paper right away. He didn’t have to because he recognized that low rumble. He winced and set the paper down. So this was it. The moment he’d dreaded ever since he married Jenny.
Steeling his resolve, he dared to look in Irving Spencer’s direction. The blood drained from Owen’s face. The man was larger than he remembered. Irving Spencer wasn’t six or six-and-a-half feet tall. This monster was seven feet! And Owen barely made it to five-eight. The man was also built like a brick wall.
He’s going to kill me! It’d be an easy thing for him to do too. All Irving needed to do was pound him once on the head and into the ground he’d go. Irving didn’t even need to dig a hole first. Well, Owen gulped, at least I had my last meal.
Irving narrowed his eyes at him. His bushy black eyebrows formed a perfect V. “You look familiar. Do I know you?”
“No,” Owen squeaked. He cleared his throat and tried to say “No” again, but he only squeaked a higher note.
“Oh wait. I remember you. You were in the forest in Tennessee. That’s where I found Big Roy.” Then Irving gave him a huge smile and balled his fists. “He underestimated me.”
Owen gulped. How anyone could underestimate this monster of a man bewildered him. Surely, Irving realized that too.
“No matter. He won’t be causing trouble anymore.”
“Really?” That meant his aunt was safe!
Irving’s eyes fell to Owen’s badge. “I see Meyer found another deputy.”
Not exactly. And Irving wasn’t going to be happy at all when he discovered who had the job.
The door opened again and this time the sheriff walked in.
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