by Kit Morgan
Adele blushed head to toe. “Thank you.”
He nodded to Hank and Maggie. “Thanks for having us over.”
“Maybe next time, we could come to your place,” Maggie suggested.
“Yeah, I’d love to see how domestic life looks for my little brother,” Hank said with a chuckled.
Percy smiled. “Give us a couple of weeks – we’re, uh … still working on getting the place tidied up.”
“Mm-hmm,” Hank said with a grin.
Percy turned to his parents. “Mama, Papa, good night.” He led Adele to his mother, where he bent down and kissed the woman on the cheek.
“Good night, son,” she replied, speaking for the first time.
Percy looked at his father and gave him a curt nod. His father did not respond.
“We’ll see you later!” Maggie said happily as she stood and walked them to the door. “Enjoy the moonlight – it’s quite beautiful tonight.” She gave Percy a pointed look and ushered them both out the door.
“Well!” Percy said in mock dudgeon. “You would think she doesn’t want our company.” He squeezed Adele’s hand.
“Maybe they think we need help.”
“With what?”
She looked him in the eye. It was now or never. She had to know if they would ever actually share a house. “With … us.”
“Oh …” He began to walk with her, down the porch steps and out onto the prairie. “You know … I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. Not anymore.”
“It won’t be much of a problem … what are you saying? Does that mean you’re going to sleep … inside?”
He stopped walking and turned to her. “Adele,” he whispered. “I … I just don’t want to hurt you ...”
She sucked in a breath. Oh no! Was he going to tell her he’d decided to annul the marriage? “Hurt me?” she rasped. “How?”
He glanced back at the house, but no one appeared to be following them. He cupped her face with one hand and drew closer. “I don’t want to …” He took a deep breath. “Oh God …” Then his lips were on hers, and his other arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her against him.
Oh, so that was why he was staying out on the prairie all night! All thoughts of an annulment fled as he crushed her to his chest to deepen the kiss. It was as if he was a starving man and she was the first meal he’d found. He was devouring her, and she could feel the power behind it. It frightened her a little, and she understood why it had frightened him.
But at the same time, she wanted more of it. A lot more!
He pulled away, breathing hard. “Adele …” he gasped. “I’m sorry …”
She gazed up at his shocked face, unable to speak. Good grief, if he wasn’t holding her so tight she’d fall on the ground! “I’m not.”
He stared into her eyes, his mouth half-open. “You’re … you’re not?”
She shook her head. “Percy, I know we didn’t get off to a very good start –”
She never got to finish, as he kissed her again! Her hands began to tremble, and she brought them to the back of his head to steady them – and to keep him right where she wanted him. These were her first real kisses – and she’d had no idea how much she’d longed for this!
Finally, ages later, he broke the kiss, and she almost slid down his shirtfront as her knees gave way. He chuckled, held her against him, then bent, put his other arm behind her knees and lifted her up.
“What are you doing?” she squeaked.
He grinned. “Taking you to our cabin, Mrs. Blue.”
*
Percy carried her all the way to their tiny home, and didn’t set her on her feet until they were inside. Without a word he lit the lantern, then went to build a fire just as he did every night. Adele watched and waited. Would he finish the chore, then leave, still afraid of his passion? Or would he stay? After the kisses he’d just given her, she certainly hoped he’d stay – and do a lot more than just kiss!
He stood and came to her. “I’m sorry, Adele. I’m sorry I’ve been so … inattentive.”
She loved the gentle way he spoke. “It’s all right. I think I understand a little better now.” She laughed softly. “Walton said you were a worrier.”
His brow furrowed. “Did he, now?”
She nodded. “And I see how you got that way. Pressure from your father, from your brothers … from yourself. Trying to be perfect all the time.”
He sighed. That was true enough. “But I can’t.”
“Of course you can’t – no one can. And you don’t have to.”
It was like a railcar was being lifted from his shoulders. He pulled her into his arms. “I was so afraid of hurting you ...”
She looked at him, their lips a hairsbreadth apart. “You’re not going to hurt me by kissing me.” She shook her head. “That didn’t hurt at all.”
“No, I mean, I … I want to make sure this is what you really want.”
She pressed her lips together a moment. “You mean, what you really want?”
“No, sweetie. Both of us. Not one or the other. We have to be in agreement.”
“I thought you were staying married to me to protect me.”
He gently kissed her on the forehead. “Yes, but not just that. I don’t want you to think we’ll have nothing between us. I … I want more than that for us. For you. I …”
“You what?”
Get past your worrying … “I want to be your husband in every possible way. But I need to know that’s what you want too. To know if you’re ready for it. If you … want it.”
“It?” Then it hit her. “Ohhh … it.”
“Yes, that it,” he repeated nervously as he looked into her eyes.
She thought for a moment, then looked at him and said, “Oh heavens, yes!” Then she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into another kiss before he had the chance to worry anymore.
The moonlight would have to fend for itself. Percy was not sleeping outside that night!
Twelve
Adele awoke slowly, her body deliciously warm. Percy was lying next to her, both of them on their side – the only position in which they could both fit on his cot. Well, not the only position – they’d proved that last night – but the only position in which they could get any sleep …
And last night had been glorious. Now she understood why he’d kept away from her the past few days, letting her have the cabin to herself. He had still been protecting her … and protecting their newfound and still fragile marriage. As her husband, he’d had every right to take her to bed the first night he’d brought her home. But he hadn’t. He’d given her time to feel comfortable with him, given her the chance to decide where and when they would become more intimate, let her find out if she had at least some twinge of feeling for him beforehand.
Looking back, she was grateful he had. And what she felt for him was definitely more than a little twinge.
She gazed at Percy as he slept, his breathing steady and slow. He was handsome and, she was surprised to discover, as innocent as she was when it came to making love. But they’d had all night to figure things out, and between the two of them, they’d managed to figure out a lot.
She stretched, being careful not to wake him from his contented slumber. They were definitely going to have to get a new bed. Once again she marveled at the pleasure he was able to give her upon it, cramped though it was.
Once up, she slipped on her clothes, tiptoed to the stove and stoked it to get the fire going again. After she added some wood, she set about the task of making coffee. It would be the first time she’d made any for Percy and she hoped she didn’t burn it like she’d done so many other things the last few days. Thankfully, last night’s dinner had turned out fine. She hoped that she would do as well when Maggie and Hank came Thursday.
Adele put the coffee pot on the stove, then turned to study the cabin with what little light was coming through the windows. It was going to be a lot of work to make the place presentable for compan
y …
A soft moan from Percy drew her away from thoughts of cleaning and brought her to his side. He’d turned onto his back while she was getting the coffee made, so she had to kneel by the cot. “Good morning,” she said and kissed him on the forehead.
He smiled, eyes still closed. “Morning. How’s my beautiful wife?”
She blushed at his words. “A little cold, but I got the fire going.”
Percy’s eyes sprang open. “Good grief! What time is it?” He sat up and glanced around the cabin. “I’m late!”
She shivered at the sight of his bare chest. “Do you think your brothers will understand?”
He noticed her movement and smiled at her. “You mean why I’m late?” he asked as he pulled her into his arms.
She gazed at him as he drew her closer. “Uh-huh …”
“I reckon they’ll figure it out,” he said just before joining his mouth with hers. The kiss was slow, languid, all-consuming. And before Adele knew it, she and her husband were making good use of the cot again.
*
An hour later Percy had his coffee, a couple of biscuits and was out the door. Adele stretched her tired muscles and groaned after he left. If this is what marriage was going to be like all the time, a new bed couldn’t come fast enough!
But, no rest for the weary. She rolled up her sleeves and set to work.
She took the bucket near the stove outside to the pump, filled it, then came back in and set it on the stove. She knew she’d require a lot of hot water for what needed to be done. Her cleaning skills were about as good as her cooking skills, but at least she couldn’t burn anything.
While the water heated she found a broom – good thing Percy already had one – and swept the cabin. There was also a scrub brush, but it appeared to have never been used, if the state of the cabin was any indication. “Oh dear,” she muttered as she stared at it. “I do hope this doesn’t hurt too much.” She shrugged, took the water from the stove and went about scrubbing the floor.
By the time she was done, her back ached and her hands cramped from holding the brush so tightly. She wiped her forehead with the back of her arm as she studied the result and smiled. The cabin was so small there wasn’t that much to do, but what there was took a lot of elbow grease.
Next, she made the bed (while telling it to get ready to find a new home), found a few stray articles of Percy’s clothing which she set on a chair to mend later, then looked to see what food was in the house. It wasn’t hard to do; except for a few stale biscuits in the basket Gwen gave her several nights ago, there wasn’t any. She searched around for a pencil and paper, and made a list of basic provisions she’d need, based on what she’d seen in the kitchens of the other Dalton houses – and what she knew how to make so far.
That done, she decided a short break was in order, poured herself what was left of the coffee and plopped into a chair. She sipped on the hot brew and occasionally dipped one of the biscuits in it. She’d eaten some pretty elaborate dinners when her parents were alive, but at the moment, nothing tasted so good as this. Mainly because she was eating it in her own little home, one she shared with her new husband.
The thought brought another smile to her lips as she sighed in contentment and gazed at the meager furnishings in the tiny haven. “Thank you, Lord,” she whispered. “Thank you for making this all work out.”
Adele finished her snack, and was about to take up the mending when she realized she didn’t have a needle or thread. She thought for a second, then grabbed the picnic basket, threw the clothes in it and headed for the main house. They would have what she needed, and if she required help with anything, the other women of the family would be more than happy to assist.
She didn’t even mind the extra walk. She was safe, she was happy and, if her guess was right, she was in love.
*
Percy rode alongside his brothers at a steady pace and did his best to ignore their snorts and chuckles. His brothers weren’t stupid, after all, and knew exactly why he was late that morning. The worst teasing had come from Nate, who thankfully had gone with Bart and Walton to check their stock on the other side of the Dalton spread. It was bad enough he had to put up with Hank and Benedict; he didn’t think he could stand taking it from all three brothers-in-law on top of it!
“Yes, before you know it we’ll have another little one running around,” Benedict called over the sound of their horses’ hooves as they cantered across the grasslands.
“You wouldn’t happen to be talking about Libby and Nate, would you?” Percy shouted back.
“No … I’m talking about you, little brother!”
“Oh, stop. Give a man some peace.”
Hank and Benedict laughed and spurred their horses on. Their spirits high, the three brothers started to race to see who could get to the lower pastures first. As usual, Hank won – he had the best horse, after all.
They brought their horses to a stop, dismounted near a small stream and let them drink. “Just once,” Percy said as he knelt next to his steed, “I’d like to have Hank’s horse when we take off like that. Then I’d know I’d win.”
“You have won, little brother,” Hank said with a wide grin. “And your prize is back at your cabin. You just be sure to treat her as the prize she is, understand?”
Percy stood. “Yes, I do. More than you know.” He looked at both of his brothers. “I don’t know what it was like for you two, but the thought of anything happening to Adele makes my stomach knot up like … I can’t explain it.”
Benedict slapped him on the back. “We know what you mean.”
Hank nodded. “I swear, if anything ever happened to Maggie I’d hang the scoundrels from the highest tree myself.”
“But why is that?” Percy asked. “I’ve never felt this way before about a woman.”
Hank laughed. “It means you’re in love, little brother. Just like the rest of us. Now let’s get to work.”
For the remainder of the day, Percy pondered his brother’s words. Hank was right – he was in love with his wife! Walton had told him years ago that he’d fallen in love with Gwen within a few days, but Percy didn’t believe him, not until Gwen confirmed it. Then Percy had chalked it up to one of those things that happens on rare occasions. But now it had happened to him too …
The thought made him smile all the way home. But when he got there, what he and his brothers found was anything but a blessing …
*
Percy, Hank and Benedict returned to the ranch ahead of their brothers-in-law that evening. Everything looked normal until they dismounted. “Where is everybody?” Hank asked as he glanced around.
“A good question,” Benedict commented. “Odd …”
Percy led his horse to a hitching post and tethered him. “Maybe the women decided to bake something for the hands and they’re all up at the main house eating.”
“Could be,” said Hank as his eyes darted between buildings. It didn’t sound like he believed it, though.
Percy stilled and listened. “It’s too quiet,” he said and looked at his two brothers. They clearly felt it too – something was very wrong. “I’ve got to check on Adele. I’ll see you two later.”
Benedict nodded, his reins still in his hand. “I’m going to check the barn.”
“I’ll check the main house,” Hank added. “Maybe everything’s fine, but …” He didn’t finish the sentence.
Percy could feel the dread like a lump in the pit of his stomach as he untethered his horse. “If everything’s all right at home, I’ll meet you back here.”
“I’ll take your horse to the barn for you if you want,” Hank offered. “It’s the least I can do for whipping the pants off you when we raced.”
“No thank you,” Percy said as he mounted up. He snapped the reins and set off for his cabin at top speed. Something wasn’t right, he knew it!
He made it there in short order, tethered up his horse again and hurried through the door. “Adele?” he called. He studied
the small space. It was immaculate – she’d worked hard today! The thought cheered him, and he told himself to dismiss the fear he felt. But if nothing was amiss, where was his bride?
Then he heard Benedict shouting his name. Looking outside, he saw his brother standing in front of the barn, waving his arms madly. “Oh no …”
No time to get the horse ready – he launched himself from the cabin and broke into a run. By the time he arrived, Hank was helping a dazed Justin out of the barn. He had a gash on his forehead just above his eye patch, and it looked like his nose had been bleeding. “What happened?” he asked as he came to a skidding stop in front of them.
“It’s like I told yer brothers,” Justin said. “They came out of nowhere and stormed the place! None of us even heard ‘em comin’!”
Hank took off like a shot at his words, running as fast as he could toward Walton and Gwen’s. “The others must be there!” he shouted over his shoulder.
“I ‘spect they are,” Justin agreed. “After they tied us up, they headed for the main house. But I didn’t hear no screamin’ and hollerin’. I think yer women are okay.”
Percy grabbed Justin and spun him around to face him. “What are you talking about? What happened here?”
“Bandits,” Benedict said. He looked at Percy, his face grave.
Percy felt his heart sink. “Good God, no …”
Benedict turned to Justin. “How many were there?”
“A dozen or more that I could tell. We were lucky they didn’t shoot us! They sure got the drop on us, though. I’m sorry, boss … I dunno what they stole from the main house, but I’m sure they took somethin’.”
“Bandits,” Percy repeated, then looked at Justin again. “Did you see three men with them that didn’t fight when they attacked you, only watched? They’d have been older.”
“I think I saw one. White-haired fella, thin and kinda tall?”
