Kurt: Cowboy (Members From Money Book 23)

by Katie Dowe

  “I know darling and it is not fair. On the other hand, I would hate to see you get hurt.”

  “You told me a long time ago that we have our own journey to take, good or bad. Painful or not. I am taking my journey, Mother. I have no idea if Jake will suddenly up and leave. I am hoping he will love me enough to stay or if he does leave he will take me with him. I cannot predict what is going to happen. All I know is that I enjoy being with him and I want to be with him. That’s enough for now.”

  Erica stared at her daughter for a moment, her expression contemplative. “You are right.” She said with a nod. “I sat around that fire and listened to all the stories of how those women met their husbands and I looked at their faces including my daughter in law’s face and I saw undulated love written there and I felt a sense of loneliness. I fear that one day you will leave and Tessa will be gone. I love Alexis because she not only loves my son, but she loves the place he lives and works. My greatest fear was that he would marry a woman who would take him away from all this.”

  “Oh Mom,” Kathy came around and hugged her mother. “I love this place too. It’s home and the greatest home a girl could ever hope for. We are not going anywhere.”

  “Thank you, darling.”

  *****

  “I am going to tell him tonight. As soon as he gets in. I am planning to set the stage. A bath and some hot chocolate because it is so freaking cold! It is the end of March and it feels as if winter is going to last forever.”

  “Around here the winters are brutal and long darling,” Erica told her with a whimsical smile. “I am honored that you told me first. My first grandchild!” she clapped her hands in delight. After you lost the baby last year I never expected you to want to as soon as this.”

  “We were planning on delaying it somewhat but I always wanted to. It’s going to be Kurt’s birthday the first of April and I think it is the perfect gift for him.”

  “And with Tessa and Ian getting married in June, the excitement is very hard to contain.” They both looked up as Tessa came into the office.

  “I am going crazy with all these wedding plans! It’s two months away for crying out loud and I have work to do. Ian is as anxious as a mother hen and the wedding planner makes me want to kill her! Mother, would you take over?”

  “I am so glad you asked, darling,” Erica got to her feet and took the book from her. She looked at her daughter in law with a wink. “Now back to work ladies.”

  *****

  “They burnt it to the ground the sons of bitches.” Mack stared at the shed they had so painstakingly erected for the vagrants. He had spotted the fire while he was attending to a break in the fence. “And it looks like they are up to their old tricks again boss.”

  Kurt did not respond as he stared at the smoking building. The snow on the ground had stopped the fire from reaching anywhere. It had taken them several weeks to put the building up and stocked it with food and now it was all gone. He had been on his rounds and had spotted men in there at one time or the other. He really thought it would have worked.

  “What are we going to do boss?” Paulie asked.

  “We are going to secure the perimeters and reinforce the fences all around.” Kurt said grimly. “Get to work. Jake with me.” He wheeled the horse around and galloped away with Jake behind him. He lengthened the space between them as he worked off his fury. The horse sensed his mood and picked up the pace. He pulled the reins as soon as they reached the stream and Thunderbolt came to a stop. Jake came by a few minutes later.

  “What happened Montgomery? Fell asleep?” he asked sardonically as he slid off his horse and looped the reins around his neck.

  “That animal of yours should be called lightning,” Jake said as he dismounted.

  Kurt laughed softly as he wandered around, his trained eyes looking for footprints. “Someone has been here.”

  “How do you know?” Jake asked as he looked on the ground. Snow was piled against the clear running water and onto the trees.

  “See the ridges?”

  “Barely. But it could be made by animals.”

  Kurt looked at him and shook his head. “You put us to shame.” He walked further and tried to follow the tracks but it petered out the further they went.

  Jake stopped and stared at the gazebo that rested on top of a small hill. “I never saw that before.”

  “You have never been this far out. Not even my wife knows it’s here.” Kurt walked over to it and found candy bar wrappings strewn on the floor. It was white painted with chairs and tables placed at strategic points and it was lovely. “Dad had it built for Mother as soon as they were married. I figured it would be perfect for Tessa and Ian to use when they get married.”

  Jake looked at him swiftly and then looked away. He had thought about leaving after the holidays but he was drawn to the place or rather a certain ravishing blonde. “Kathy and I are not there yet.”

  Kurt turned to look at him. “I should hope not. She is still a baby.”

  “She is going to be twenty-four in July,” Jake said in amusement. “You treat her like a baby but she is a woman.”

  “Watch it.” Kurt said sharply. “I still think of her as my baby sister. Have you spoken to your dad?”

  Jake opened his mouth to tell him it was none of his business but decided against it. “I have. We came to an agreement of sorts. At least we are communicating.”

  “Good.” Kurt nodded as he looked around. “Let’s go back I have to tell the men we had visitors.”

  *****

  “What’s this?” Kurt came wandering into the bathroom, feeling the weariness dropping off him like a cloak as he saw her sitting on the edge of the bath with a robe on.

  “You had a rough day so I am making it right.” She smiled up at him. “Take off your clothes.”

  “With pleasure.” He undressed hurriedly dropping his clothes onto the floor and walked towards her naked. Alexis never gets tired looking at his magnificent body “Are you going to make me take this bath alone?” he asked his heavy blonde brows lifting.

  “No,” she got to her feet and took of her filmy robe revealing that she was naked. “I would never do that.” He helped her into the large bath and got in, pulling her into his arms with her back to him. “It smells like raspberry and something else.” He murmured as he nuzzled her neck.

  “Cinnamon.” She leaned back against him. “Talk to me.”

  “About?”

  “Work. I know you think I should be shielded but I am okay hearing what happens out there.”

  “I think we have vagrants walking the grounds again.” he told her about the fire and what he had discovered. “We are reinforcing the fences but I don’t know if it will.” He used the sponge to dribble water over her skin.

  “I hope it does. In the long run I would hate to be afraid that our children were in danger.”

  “That’s a long way off.”

  “No. I would say about another eight months give or take a few days.” She murmured airily. She smiled as she felt him stiffened.

  “What are you saying?” he asked her hoarsely as she turned to face him.

  “I am saying that I am carrying my husband’s child.”

  His hands snaked out and he gripped her upper arms. “Are you sure?”

  “Well I took several tests and then I went to Ian and he confirmed it yesterday. Happy birthday darling. It is officially your birthday now since it is almost one a.m.”

  “Alexis,” his throat was clogged as he looked at her.

  “I know you said that we should wait a little bit but--” he cut her off as his mouth took hers in a kiss that had her skin tingling! He pulled her up and over him as his tongued dived into her mouth, his hands gripping her hips. He released her mouth and looked down at her, his blue eyes darkened.

  “I take it you are happy?” she asked him huskily as she wrapped her hands around his neck.

  “You think?” he whispered hoarsely. “Baby, why didn’t you say something
?”

  “I wanted to surprise you.” She pushed her fingers through his damp hair and held him. “I want this baby Kurt. I want to start our family. I want to be a mother and I want us to have children together. I don’t care about the timing.”

  “Neither do I,” he whispered. “Christ baby! This is wonderful news and I feel as if I need to shout it from the rooftop.”

  “Not yet. Now I want to celebrate.” She reached between them and felt for his semi hard penis.

  “Wait,” he urged. “I want to taste you.” He lifted her up and slid downwards a little bit. His tongue reached out and touched her mound licking at the water there before venturing inside. Alexis curled her fingers tight in his hair as he held her in place, his tongue thrusting into her rapidly. His teeth grazed the protruding skin causing her to jump and shudder. She arched her body to his as she felt the sensation running through her. She did not last long and with a low cry she came inside his mouth!

  Later that night as he held her to him, his body wrung dry from their intense passion he could not help but think about the fact that he was going to be a father!

  “What do you want it to be?” he whispered.

  “Healthy.” She murmured in his chest. “You?”

  “A daughter.” He said without hesitation.

  She lifted her head and looked at him. “Really?”

  “Hmm. I want her to look just like you my love.”

  Chapter 12

  “It’s amazing that you approaching three months and you have not started showing yet,” Kathy commented as she watched her sister-in-law finished putting on her make-up. Tessa had asked her to be the matron of honor and she was wearing a lovely cerulean dress with thin spaghetti straps with dozens of glittering diamonds on the straps. It had a cinched in waist and a floating skirt with shades of green between the folds.

  “It’s not that amazing,” Alexis met her eyes in the mirror. Kathy was wearing the most beautiful shell pink she had ever seen with her long blonde hair twisted into an elegant chignon at the nape of her neck. “Are you sure you don’t mind me being maid of honor?”

  “Darling for the hundredth time no.” she came into the room to give her a hug. “Since you got here, this ranch has been given new life! You are carrying the next generation of Murphy and my sister is marrying the man she should have chosen before she got her heart broken. I am happy. Mother is in her element with all that’s going on.”

  “And if we don’t get out there Ian will start thinking that I stood him up.” Tessa said softly from the doorway. They both turned and looked at her framed in the doorway. “I spotted your husband in the living room and he sent me to make sure you are okay. That man is like a mother hen where you are concerned.”

  “And you look like a movie star!” Alexis said in admiration. Tessa’s dress was simpler than hers. It was also a Romano’s original but fitting for the bright summer afternoon

  with straps crisscrossed at the back and a gently floating skirt that barely touched her knees. It was a kind of ice blue that brought out the faint blue flecks in her green eyes. Her hair was piled on top of her head and secured by pins. She had already moved out of her suite and into the house attached to Ian’s medical center. She would still be traveling the distance from their place to come to work at the ranch. There had been a party of sorts and her brother and mother had handed her a wedding present of five million dollars.

  “We all do,” Tessa took a deep breath. “Ian keeps calling me. He is afraid I am going to change my mind.” She looked around her brother and sister in law’s suite. Very soon one of the rooms will be decorated as the nursery and there would be a baby in the cot. Her niece or nephew. She hoped she would be able to get pregnant pretty soon as well. “I am going to miss being here.” She turned to her sister. “I am going to miss you charging into my room without knocking.”

  “And I am going to miss the late night talks we used to have — that is before I started seeing Jake and you started spending all your nights over at Ian’s,” Kathy said tearfully as she gripped her sister’s hands.

  “Okay break it up you two!” Alexis said briskly. “You are going to be here every day Tessa because you work here and you love your work. If anything Ian is going to have to come and get you bodily. And you Kathy spend most if your nights out in that cabin he has. And if you are here at nights you have me. Kurt does not get home until late.”

  “You are right. You are going to make a perfect substitute.” Kathy said with a big smile. “Okay sis, let’s go get you married.”

  *****

  The ceremony was simple and was over in less than an hour. They were married at the gazebo that Kurt had had repainted and decorated. The entire ranch hand and household staff had been given the time off. The reception was being held outdoors right near the stream where the oranges were ripened and ready to be picked.

  “You happy?” Kurt asked his sister as they circled the carpeted ground. The entire area where the reception was being held had been covered by moss green carpet that blend in with the grass. A live band was playing and there was a large trestle table covered with sumptuous food.

  Tessa put her hands loosely around his neck and looked into his amazing blue eyes. She remembered times when they were little and how she would tag around behind him, trying to follow him and Ian while they played cowboys out in the barn. “I am,” she smiled whimsically. “Did you know he was in love with me since we were little?”

  “I kind of figured he had a huge crush on you when he used to spend the time we had trying to learn the art of lassoing a colt talking about you,” he said in amusement. “It used to piss me off.”

  “He never gave up on me Kurt,” she looked over to where her husband was dancing with Alexis. “He loved me through all that time even when I was with--”

  Kurt put a finger over her lip. “That’s all past now. Ian is a good guy.” He looked over at his friend and felt himself stiffened as Ian leaned over and kissed his wife on her cheek. “And he is going to be a dead man if he continues to touch my wife.”

  “Look at you!” Tessa said with a delighted laugh. “Being all possessive. Relax darling, he is also her brother-in-law.”

  “You are right,” Kurt said with a smile. He bent and kissed his sister’s cheek. “I am happy for you.”

  *****

  “We should probably head on back to the ranch,” Kurt said lazily as he ran his hand down her back. The reception was finished and the left over foods had been cleared away as well as the table and chairs. Ian and Tessa had gone on their honeymoon to Paris which left Kurt and Alexis lying on a blanket near the stream enjoying the rest of the afternoon. Kurt had pilfered a bottle of nonalcoholic wine, some ribs and several slices of the delicious pink champagne cake.

  “Not yet,” Alexis murmured drowsily as she rested her head on her husband’s chest. “It is just nine and the sun is still out.”

  “Baby, wouldn’t you feel more comfortable in our bed?”

  “It’s beautiful out here. Smell that? It is the scent of summer and that includes flowers in full bloom and the trees blossoming. I want to enjoy it for another hour or so.”

  “We could go and take a dip in the pool.” Kurt suggested.

  “Hmm,” Alexis closed her eyes as his arms went around her body to hold her close. “How about Vanessa if it’s a girl and Alec Kenneth if it’s a boy.”

  “My dad’s name,” Kurt said with a whimsical smile.

  “I know. Tell me about him.”

  “He was all work because he loved being a cowboy. My mother understood all that and she never complained and because of that he loved her and would have given her the world. She raised up practically by herself but he would wait around and eat breakfast with us every morning and in summers he would take us riding with him. We got to watch him take care of the cattle and rope steer.” She lifted her head to look at him. “I promise that it will never be that way with you and our children.”

  “I know you love me
,” she told him softly. “As a matter of fact, the entire ranch knows it, it is hard to miss. I know how much you love your work and I understand all that. I am not going to be raising our child alone because I have your mother and Kathy and an entire community of people who love the Murphy’s.”

  “Still I am going to here.”

  “I know.” She bent her head and kissed him lingeringly.

  “Baby what are you doing?” he whispered huskily.

  “I have no idea what you are talking about.” She slipped the thin straps from her shoulders exposing her white lace off bra.

  “One of the ranch hands--”

  “They know that we are here and they would not dare come this way.”

  He lifted his hands and cupped her breasts in his palms. His thumbs moved over her sensitive nipples causing her to arch her body. He lifted his head and took a nipple into his mouth. Alexis bit her lip to stop the scream from rushing out. The intense feeling of his mouth on her nipple sent the feeling rushing through her body. “Kurt,” she breathed out sharply.

  “I know baby.” He switched position, bending his head to take her lips.

  Alexis wrapped her hands around his neck and let go!

  *****

  “You got your wish,” Alexis leaned back against her husband as he stood behind her in the newly decorated pink and sea foam green nursery. The name Vanessa was displayed in bright letters and could be seen as soon as you entered the nursery. Everything was in place and even the clothes had been neatly packed away in drawers and in the large walk-through closet. Brightly colored rugs were strewn on the parquet floor. A whimsical mobile hung suspended from the cot and when turned on played several lovely nursery rhyme jingles.

  “And she is going to look exactly like you,” Kurt predicted as he ran his hands over her protruding stomach.

  “I kind of want her to have your amazing blue eyes.” She twisted her head to look up at him.

  “I have amazing blue eyes?” he asked her teasingly as he looked down at her. It was her eighth month and she was due the second week of December. Her birthday had been in July and she had conquered her fear of flying. He had taken her to Paris for a week and then to Italy. He shivered a little as he thought back to last year November when she had almost lost her life because of Connie. Now it was so different! There was a buzz of activities around as they prepared for the Thanksgiving Dance that had not taken place last year.