They mounted the horses and catered along the fence. Just after 11 am Clayton called a halt. He pointed out a small tree that fell over and was resting on the fence. Two posts were bent. They went closer and Clayton showed her the number etched into one of the posts. It read “CT141”. He made a note of the number. “I’ll send Eli and a crew here tomorrow to get rid of the tree fix the posts and fence. The number will lead them right to this spot.”
The rest if the morning was uneventful. Abigail was hot and sweaty by noon, but never complained. Clayton stopped often to rest the horses and spoke to her about the ranch non-stop. Every question she asked he answered with excitement. At two o’clock they reached the main gate, but Simon was not there. They dismounted and waited for a while. Abigail could see that Clayton was getting worried.
“Simon is never late,” said Clayton.
Abigail mounted again and replied, “You head back to get the Micro light, I’ll follow the road back to the house. If I find Simon I’ll send him back to the house.”
“Are you sure you will be alright on your own?”
“Of course, but it is a long ride, so let me be off.” She tuned and laughed at him, “I can look after myself!”
Clayton mounted and with one last look over his shoulder sped off in the direction they came from. Abigail rode for about half an hour when she saw a motorbike rushing towards her from quite a distance away. She spurred her horse on and met the rider in a few minutes. She did not know the man, but he asked if she was Abigail. After she said yes, he asked where Clayton was. She told him, and by his agitated state knew something was wrong. He confirmed her fear when he told her that Eli fell off his bike and was badly hurt.
She told him where Clayton was heading and spurred her horse on to the house. It took almost an hour, but she made it in one piece. Her legs were jelly and her body was cramping all over. A stable hand took her horse and she ran towards the house. She found Simon running from the kitchen with a large bucket in his hands. She followed him to a part of the house that she has not seen yet. He disappeared into a room and she entered a moment later. The scene that greeted her was surreal. Eli was lying on a single bed, and blood was oozing down his leg. “What happened?!” she asked.
Betty was cleaning the wound and looked up, “Stupid boy that loves speed to much! Now he broke his leg and the bone is sticking right out.”
Eli only groaned in answer.
“What can I do to help?” Abigail asked as she rolled up her sleeves.
No answer was forthcoming but she saw a white basin full of bloody water with rags floating at the top. She scooped it up replaced it with the bucket that Simon brought. She took the basin to the kitchen. Five minutes later she returned with clean hot water. She placed it next to Betty. Betty thanked her and told her that the doctor was on his way. Abigail said she will wait for the doctor and bring him to the room the moment he arrives.
She left them and rushed back to the kitchen first. There was boiling water on the stove and she made herself a quick cup of tea. She also poured two mugs of strong coffee and took it to Betty.
Betty accepted the coffee with trembling hands, “Thank you, child, I appreciate it. No go and see if the doctor has arrived yet.”
She rushed back to the front porch. She looked out over the yard, but saw no cars. She heard the roar of an engine, and was just in time to see Clayton lining up the Micro light to land.
She ran down to the compound to meet him. His face was drawn with worry when they met at the edge of the garden, “How’s he doing?” he asked.
“He is seemed OK when I saw him last. He has lost a lot of blood.”
Clayton ran to the house and she struggled to keep up. He knew where to go and Abigail stopped at the door to catch her breath.
After about 20 minutes the doctor arrived. The only reason she knew it was the doctor, was the black leather case he carried. He looked like a cowboy straight out of a movie. Hat, boots and all. Without preamble he asked her where Eli was. She took him to the room.
He took one look at the leg and told Betty to leave. “We’ll need to set it and get him to hospital.”
Abigail took Betty back to the kitchen. An hour later Clayton, Simon and the doctor loaded Eli into the van and they all left for the hospital. Betty was in a state.
“Betty, why don’t you go and clean up and change your clothes? There is nothing more to do now. Eli is in safe hands.”
“Yes Miss Abigail.” She left the kitchen looking very worried.
Abigail did not know what to do. She saw fresh vegetables on a counter and assumed that Betty was going to use it for dinner. She rummaged through a couple of drawers and found a sharp knife. She sat at the massive kitchen table and started preparing the vegetables. Her thoughts were with Eli and his family, and she missed her own family very much. Through streams of tears she managed to prepare all the vegetables. She was just taking out a large pot when Betty returned. Betty saw her tear stained cheeks, and immediately asked if she was OK.
“I’m just missing my family,” She replied.
“The ones in London?” Betty asked while taking the pot from her hands.
“No Betty, they all died in an accident, I’m the only one that survived. Seeing Eli on that bed made me think about my own brother. I just felt so helpless in that room.”
Betty’s eyes welled with tears, but she kept her composure. “I’m so sorry Miss Abigail, I did not know. It must have been terrible!”
“Thank you Betty, it still hurts, and seeing Eli lying there was just too much to bear.”
Betty squeezed her shoulder. “I understand, child. Why don’t you go upstairs and let me finish up here. I’ll call you for dinner.”
Betty carried a board of vegetables to Betty “I don’t think either of us should be alone right now. Please let me help you with supper.”
Betty gave her a smile, “Very well. Please pass me those and let us whip up a nice pudding to go with dinner.”
They both laughed and cried through the evening. It was after nine when the men returned from the hospital. Clayton and Simon said good bye to the doctor at his car and he left. Hey were both exhausted as they fell into chairs around the kitchen table.
When Simon saw Betty he said “Eli is OK. He will stay in hospital for a couple of days, but he is fine.”
Betty was visibly relieved. She started getting plates out for dinner. “Why don’t you guys wash up? Miss Abigail and I’ll bring the food to the dining room.”
Clayton and Simon gave each other a look of surprise.
Abigail was too tired to carry the food through. “Wait”, she said as the men got up, “wash your hands in that sink. We can all eat right here. There is no reason to go to the dining room.”
“Miss Abigail, that’s not proper,” said Betty. “Guests don’t eat in the kitchen!”
“I know that this is only my second day here Betty, but even you should realize by now that I’m not a guest.”
Betty was taken aback, but she knew that she could not keep up fighting the inevitable. “Yes, Miss Abigail. You’re right… Now you too listen to her and wash your hands, the food must be all dried up by now.”
Dinner was a loud affair with all of them telling each other about their day. They all laughed when Betty imitated Abigail’s scream as they took off in the Micro light that morning.
That night Betty fell into an exhausted sleep. She remembered to set the alarm clock, but forgot to phone Sally. Her last thought before falling asleep was filled with a pair of piercing blue eyes…
Abigail groaned as the alarm went off. Her body was sore in places that she did not know existed. She dragged herself out of bed and into a hot bath. As she stepped out of the bath there was a soft knock on her door. She wrapped herself in a bathrobe and opened the door. Betty was standing there with a tray.
“I did not mean to wake you Miss Abigail, but I thought you might enjoy some tea. Simon and I’ll be leaving soon to go to the hospital and I ne
ver got a change to thank you for everything you did yesterday.”
Abigail took the tray and placed it on a side table. She saw two cups and invited Betty in.
Abigail saw a plate with fresh scones and a bowl with whipped cream. “Scones!” she exclaimed. Betty smiled at her, “I had to look up a recipe for those… Please don’t judge me too harshly.”
Betty was pouring tea while Abigail filled two plates with the still-warm scones. They ate in silence but Abigail felt no tension between them. Betty finished her tea and got up, “Thank you very much Betty. I really appreciate the effort. Please give Eli a big hug from me and Clayton.”
“I’ll Miss Abigail. Thank you.”
The door closed softly and Abigail dressed in a hurry. She took the stairs two at a time and was greeted by an empty and silent house. She checked the kitchen, dining room, patio and deck; and at the same time explored a couple of rooms she has not seen yet. It was after six when she found her way to the pool for a second time. Clayton was sitting at the small table still in a gown squeezing oranges.
“My-oh-my,” said Abigail, “did you over sleep?”
“No,” he replied “it is Sunday and there is no work on the ranch except in an emergency.” Abigail realised that she lost track of the days. He offered her a glass of orange juice and poured one for himself. He gulped it down, got up and threw off his robe. He dove into the pool and swam two lengths before resting on the steps in the shallow end, “Jump in Abigail! The water is nice.”
Abigail removed her shoes and rolled up her jeans. She sat on the edge of the pool with just her feet in the water. To her surprise the water was warm. “I did not pack a bikini, Clayton, I really did not know you had a pool.”
He took her hand and pulled her into the water. She gave a small yelp, but giggled as he dragged her to deeper water. They both laughed as she struggled to swim in jeans. She made it back to the shallow end and asked, “Are you sure we are alone?” Her wet blouse clung to her body and Clayton stared in wonder at her curves. “Um, yes, we are alone.”
Abigail wiggled out of her jeans and threw them onto the paving. “That is much better,” she said as she returned to the deep end. She reached him and he brushed a tray hair from her cheek, “Please don’t be offended for me saying this, but you’re truly beautiful Abigail.”
She looked at him blushing, “Thank you Clayton, I have not heard those words in many years.”
She pushed away from the side leaving him stranded. She got out of the pool and said “You’re not bad either. Come get out so that I can make you something to eat.”
Clayton fired up the grill and in short order they had breakfast ready. Both of them were dry by the time they finished eating. “So what do you do on the ranch on a Sunday?”
Clayton shrugged, “Not much really. I normally have breakfast, a swim and then I just relax around the pool all day. Betty comes in early just to check that everything is OK then she spends the day with her family.”
“I need a day of rest after that horse ride yesterday. My whole body is sore. I’m just going to run upstairs to get a pair of shorts. I’ll be back in a moment.”
He watched her walk away and admired her lithe body. She returned armed with sunscreen. She opened her blouse and tied the front ends into a knot. He stared at her applying the sunscreen to her legs and feet. She removed the blouse and asked him to get her back. He stood behind her and with a trembling hand started rubbing sunscreen over her back. Her flesh was both warm and soft. She leaned into his hands, enjoying the impromptu massage. “I have a better idea”, she said. She removed her bra settled on a towel on the lawn. He moved closer and started massaging the sunscreen into her back and neck. She moaned softly as his big hands worked her aching muscles. After a few minutes Abigail felt sleepy, so she got up quickly and grabbed the bottle from him. “Your turn” she said and squirted a blob in sunscreen into her hand. He lay down onto the towel she just vacated. She started with his back and neck. She took her time as she worked down his torso to his legs. Just as she started working on his thighs, he jumped up turned his back on her and jumped into the pool.
“What now?” she asked.
“Please don’t laugh at me Abigale.” He blushed. “No one has touched me in years, and I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of you.”
Abigail has never been self-conscious. She got into the water without her bra and swam up to him. “Are you still a virgin?”
“No!” he laughed, “but I may as well be. It has been six years since I’ve been with a girl.”
“So you’re gay?”
“Hell no! Not at all...” he awkwardly reached for her hand. “Look at where I live Abigail. I cannot just go out and party and meet women. I have been born on this farm and I worked here since I was four. I was home schooled until I was ready for college. I went to college in Dallas. There I met Jason, our mutual acquaintance, and Lisa.”
“Lisa?”
“Lisa was my first and last girlfriend. She was from Amsterdam and we shared a few classes. She was very sexual and very patient with me. We were together for almost two years. We graduated at the same time, but she left to go back to Europe. I came back to the farm. That was six years ago.”
Abigale touched his hand. “It has been years for me too, Clayton. I just could not get back into the whole dating thing after the accident…”
They both fell silent for a while. It was Abigail that broke the silence. “We are to be married, Clayton. I know it is just a business transaction, but are we not going to make the best of the next two years?”
“What do you mean Abigale?”
“Show me your room, and let me show you.”
He scooped her up and carried her out of the pool. They left a wet trail all the way up the stairs that ended in front of his room. He gently placed her on his bed and she pulled him closer. She kissed him and he returned the kiss. His strong arms enveloped her and she could feel his excitement press against her leg. He was big and heavy and she felt a bit claustrophobic. She gently pushed him away and got out from under him. They both got up and removed that last bits of clothing. He blushed when she looked down at his erection. She pushed him back onto the bed and straddled him. She took his hands and placed them on her breasts. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she felt him pulse against her. She took his wrists into her hands and pushed his arms all the way back onto the bed. As she leaned forward, she brushed herself against the entire length of his erection. She lined up the tip of his cock with her wet entrance and slowly sat back – taking all of him into herself in one long, slow movement. She sighed feeling him fill her up.
He did not move. His face was a study of concentration. “You OK?” she asked. “Yes,” his tight-lipped reply, “but I don’t think I’ll last very long.” He closed his eyes when she leaned forward again to kiss him. He returned the kiss but she could feel his orgasm building. She broke off the kiss and moved down on him again. His whole body shuddered as he his orgasm took control over his body. Abigale felt a bit disappointed, but she did not say anything. She lifted away from him, but he pulled her close “Please don’t stop. Not now, please.”
She kissed him again and felt him move under her. She lifted herself up slightly to make room for him to trust into her. She quickly matched his thrusts and slammed herself against his body every time he moved his hips up. She leaned forward to kiss him again and he slowed down a bit. She broke off the kiss and arched her back so that she could take all of him into her. He placed both hands on her breasts. Her breathing increased as his one hand moved down her torso and over her abs. He used a bent finger against her clitoris as she rocked against his hardness. Time stood still as her orgasm bloomed. Her whole body was on fire. She lost control over her motions, and they were out of sync. Clayton knew that she was close and knew what she needed. He pulled her onto his chest and started slamming himself hard into her. She screamed her orgasm into his shoulder and she collapsed onto his chest as she felt him
shudder again. With a long moan he joined her in ecstasy.
It took them a long time to float back to reality. He stroked her hair and whispered “Want to go again?”
“Hold your horses cowboy! I need to go to the bathroom.”
She got up and let him slowly slide out of her. He was still rock hard.
She went to the bathroom and on her return he was fast asleep. She climbed onto the bed next to him and placed her head on his chest. His soft breathing gently rocked her to sleep.
It was late evening when Simon came to the house. He found them in the kitchen eating a late dinner. “Sorry for the intrusion,” he said “I just came by to tell you that Eli is doing well. They operated on his leg, and he will be out of hospital in time for the wedding!”
Abigail got up and gave him a hug. “That’s great news Simon, thanks for letting us know.”
Simon bid then a good night and left the kitchen.
The next two weeks flew by in a blur. Abigail’s days were filled from dawn to late at night. Their love making brought them close to each other and they indulged at every opportunity. Abigail started falling in love with Clayton. She learned about him in a thousand small ways laying in his arms and listening do his now familiar drawl.
One afternoon she asked him about his parents, and the way he changed the subject made her realize that she might never know. She also realized that the never asked her about her parents or the accident. For the first time in years a whole day would pass without her thinking about it. It made her incredibly happy and sad at the same time.
Her emails to Sally got longer and longer as she shared her life and emotions with her best friend.
The wedding day arrived and Betty was like a field general organizing her troops. A giant marquee dominated the garden and the barbeque fires were lit before the sun came up. Large trays filled with home-made sausage and steaks stood in neat rows on the kitchen table. Betty removed another tray of Kolaches from the oven and set it aside to cool as Abigail finished her tea.
The Highlander's Taken Bride (Scottish Highlander Romance) Page 30
