Tame A Honeymoon Heart

by Cynthia Woolf

  “Yes, we are.”

  “Then I must recommend that you go see the dinosaur exhibit at the Field Museum!” He suddenly seemed to be the boy he was, excitement coating every word. “And of course, you must go on the Ferris Wheel. It’s amazing to see and I’m told will be well worth the extra fifty cents to ride it.”

  “Thank you, young man. We’ll take your recommendations under advisement.”

  The boy nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

  Catherine whirled in a circle in the center of the room. “This is so nice.” She threw her hat on the bed and followed it down, bouncing when she landed on her back, arms spread wide. “I feel like a girl again.”

  Duncan took advantage of Catherine on the bed and covered her with his body, resting on his forearms, so as not to crush her. Then he kissed her soundly on the lips, followed by kisses behind her left ear and down her neck.

  “What do you say we break in this bed before we do anything else? Then maybe we can go get you some new dresses.” He kissed her some more and started unbuttoning her dress.

  “You do know how to sweet talk me. New clothes and making love with my amazingly handsome husband. What a way to start a honeymoon.”

  She’d decided to forgive him for now, for wanting to sell King George. She’d convince him, or perhaps the new buyers, when the time came. She’d lie if she had to. Tell the buyers that King George was only fit to be put out to pasture, that the only reason they kept him was for sentimental reasons, because he’d been their first stallion, that they’d only brought him to show them the sire of their stock, not to sell. She’d get Duncan to agree…or it was going to be a very short honeymoon.

  Catherine and Duncan spent their first afternoon in Chicago holed up in their hotel room making love. As far as Cat was concerned, it was the perfect way to start a honeymoon, even though they’d already been married for six years and had two children. Maybe it was having the kids and the years behind them that made this time so special. She’d bet from the contented smile on Duncan’s face that he didn’t have any complaints either.

  She lay on the bed next to him, propped on her left elbow, playing with the hair on his chest with her right hand. He was relaxed, his arms folded behind his head.

  “Where are you taking me shopping? Did you research that, too?”

  “As a matter of fact, I did. When I decided to do this and made the reservations, I asked them to send me information on what to do, where to shop, eat, what to see. I’m ready to show you the sites of Chicago. Now, for your question. There is a department store in town called Marshall Field and Company. I thought we could start there, and if we need to find a dressmaker, then I bet the hotel concierge can tell us where to go.”

  “What’s a department store?”

  “It’s a store that sells everything and everything has a separate department. They have a tool department, clothes department, one for shoes and undergarments and hats instead of it all being together like the general store back home.”

  “I hope they have something I can wear. I’d love to have a new dress or two for the fair and maybe a couple of hats, too.”

  “You look beautiful no matter what you wear.”

  She looked up at her husband. His eyes were sparkling with mischief. “You say the sweetest things.”

  “But I like you best when you’re wearing nothing at all.”

  He moved her sheet down to her waist, exposing her to him. He bent and took one of her dark rose nipples into his mouth and sucked hard, raked it lightly with his teeth, and then teased it with his tongue

  She arched her back and mewed with need.

  He chuckled and continued his ministrations.

  Catherine clasped his head to her, enjoying her husband’s attention as much now as she did the first time they were together. He was so good, so talented with his fingers, and especially with his tongue. He almost made her forget she was famished. Until her stomach growled.

  Duncan laughed. “Alright. I can take a hint. We’d better get you fed. Let’s get dressed and go eat.”

  Thirty minutes later, they were seated in the elegant Palmer House dining room. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each table was covered in a pristine white tablecloth, and the waiters all wore tuxedos. Catherine had never seen anything like it before.

  Duncan ordered a bottle of red wine and they both ordered Porterhouse steaks. Catherine had never been a light eater, and didn’t plan on starting now. Along with the steak, they were served a salad of mixed greens, boiled carrots, a baked potato, and fresh, hot rolls.

  When they were done, the waiter came by. “May I interest you in dessert?”

  “Oh, I don’t think I could eat another thing,” said Catherine.

  “Is this your first trip to our hotel? Have you heard of our delicious new creation? The Brownie? Surely you want to try one of them,” said the waiter.

  “What is a brownie?” asked Catherine.

  “Oh, madam, it is the most wonderful chocolate concoction, invented and baked here by our chef. Our owner, Mrs. Bertha Palmer, wanted something sweet that she and her lady friends could take on a picnic in the park. Our chef came up with the brownie, and it’s been a great success. Let me bring you one. You can share it, but I’ll bet you want another one once you taste it. If you don’t like it, there will be no charge.”

  The waiter returned a few minutes later with what looked like a square of brown cake on a plate. On top was a glaze he told them was made of apricot preserves.

  When Catherine cut into it, she discovered it was cold, practically frozen. It was amazing. She had never tasted anything like it. It was decadent and thoroughly delightful. “Mmm. Oh my God!”

  “Let me taste it,” said Duncan.

  Catherine passed the plate and fork over to him.

  “Well, what do you think?” asked the waiter. “Would you like another one?”

  “Oh, yes, please,” said Catherine, “and two cups of coffee, if you don’t mind.”

  The waiter gave them a big smile. “Coming right up.”

  He returned a few minutes later with the second brownie and cups of coffee on a tray. He set the drinks in front of Catherine and Duncan and the dessert between them.

  “Please take your time and enjoy.” He put the bill down on the table in front of Duncan. “. I’ll take this when you’re ready.”

  “Not too bad,” said Duncan, examining the bill for their meal. “Three dollars and twenty-eight cents.”

  Catherine nodded, her mouth full of brownie.

  “I’ve got to get this recipe. It would be perfect for the wranglers as a snack.” She took another bite of the chocolaty concoction.

  Duncan snorted with laughter. “Not to mention that you adore it.”

  She grinned. “Well, there is that, too.”

  The next day they spent shopping at Marshall Field and Company. The store has everything I could ask for. I’ve never seen so many choices outside of the Montgomery Ward catalog.

  They found clothes for the kids and a new dress for Bridget. New shirts and pants for Duncan, all in black, of course. A shirt for each of the wranglers.

  Catherine found four ensembles for herself. The last one she tried on was perhaps her favorite of the dresses. Light brown with black trim and tightly fitted black cuffs at the bottom of a puffy, light brown leg-o-mutton sleeve. There was a slim, black belt at the waist and lines of black embroidery from just below the hip leading to two black roses on the skirt at about the knees. On the bottom of the skirt was an elaborate pattern of waves embroidered in black, cream and brown thread. It was the prettiest day dress she’d ever owned and she knew she would wear it often.

  She purchased three hats to go with the dresses. A burgundy one for the two dresses she bought of that color, a small black one that could go with any of the dresses, and a magnificent brown one with wide brim and wide black ribbon trailing off the back beneath black roses that matched the ones on her brown dress. She was so
excited to have some lovely new clothes, she couldn’t wait to wear them.

  Happy with their purchases, which included a new steamer trunk to transport them back home to Creede, they returned to the hotel.

  “Do you think we went over board?” she asked.

  “Are you happy?” he responded.

  “Oh, yes. Very.”

  “Then we did great. So good, that I have a present for you to wear tonight to dinner.”

  “What? Tell me,” she demanded.

  “Why don’t I show you?”

  He pulled out one of the dress boxes and lifted the cover to reveal an evening dress that Catherine had rejected as too impractical. It had a burgundy silk bodice under a printed, cream colored linen dress with short puffy sleeves and a deep ‘V’ neckline that revealed the burgundy silk underneath.

  “Oh, Duncan, it’s beautiful, but so extravagant. When will I ever wear it back home?”

  “Wear it to the barn dances, to church, to milk the cows for all I care. It looked beautiful on you and I saw how your eyes lit up. I’d pay anything to see that sparkle in your eyes.”

  She went to her husband, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Just a graze at first, then she touched his lips with her tongue. He crushed her to him, returned her ardor, sparring with her, tasting her, devouring her.

  Straightening her arms, she pulled back to catch her breath.

  “Why is it when we’re alone, our kisses always end us up in bed making love?”

  “Probably because when we’re home, unless we lock our door, we’re rarely alone long enough to make love, or we’re so exhausted all we want is to sleep,” answered Duncan.

  Giggling, she said, “They do keep us busy.”

  He chuckled with her. “Keep us on our toes, you mean. Remember when you found Ian in the chicken coop pretending to be a chicken and eating their feed?”

  “Oh, God, yes. I made him rinse his mouth and then had you put a latch high on the top of the door where he couldn’t reach it.”

  Duncan became serious. “I love our children dearly, and wouldn’t change our life for anything, but I do miss our time alone.”

  Catherine kissed him. “I do, too. So we should take advantage of our time here. Make the most of it. And from now on, maybe we should plan a trip once a month for a weekend to Creede, Alamosa, or Denver or even just camping. Just so we have some special time to ourselves, without the children.”

  “That’s a fantastic idea. Wonder why I didn’t think of it sooner.”

  She swatted his arm. “You didn’t think of it now.”

  “Shall we go see the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show?” he asked, completely and effectively changing the subject.

  “Oh yes. It’s still early, and I’ve always wanted to see him. He’s almost as famous as you, my love.”

  She pulled her palm over his jaw and down his neck, the shadow of his whiskers rough on her palm. At the top of his shirt she stopped and undid the top button and then the next and the next until, he was bare to the waist.

  “We’re not going to go see the show if you keep that up,” he groaned.

  “Then we’ll go tomorrow.”

  She opened his belt buckle and the buttons on his pants, leaving his shaft straining at his under drawers. Then she pushed all of his clothes down and his erect shaft sprang free.

  Dropping to her knees, she reached up and grasped him in her hand.

  “God, Cat, what you do to me.” He threw his head back and moaned.

  She smiled saucily. “The same as you’re going to do to me in a little while.”

  They never did get to see the Wild West Show that afternoon.

  CHAPTER 3

  It was June eighteenth, their third day in Chicago, and they were determined to actually get out of their hotel room for the whole day and see some of the sights. Catherine wore one of her new burgundy dresses; this one with a striped jacket and matching burgundy hat. She felt like the epitome of style, something she’d never felt before in her entire life. Up until now, everything she owned, except her wedding dress, was practical, but not necessarily pretty. At least not as pretty as those she bought yesterday.

  After she dressed, she whirled in a circle. “What do you think? Can you manage to be seen with me today and not be embarrassed?”

  Duncan wrapped her in his arms. “I’m never embarrassed to be seen with you. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.” He gave her a little squeeze. “Now that you’ve gotten the compliment you were fishing for, are you ready to go?”

  “Caught me. Yes, I’m ready when you are, Mr. McKenzie.”

  He held out his arm. “Then let’s go see the wild west, shall we?”

  Having lived in the west all of her life, Catherine was eager to see how it was depicted by Buffalo Bill. She knew it would be exaggerated for spectacle, because that’s what the public wanted to see.

  She watched the Indian attack on the Deadwood stage in horror, having only known the peaceful Ute people of White Buffalo’s tribe. Never in her life could she imagine White Buffalo, or any of his people, acting the way these Indians were, although she was well aware that there were those tribes who did. She wasn’t completely naïve!

  Annie Oakley was a delight to watch, the best shot with a rifle, next to Duncan, that Catherine had ever seen. Known as Little Sure Shot, she was exactly that. She hit everything she aimed at, right down to a dime.

  When the show was over Catherine got up to leave, but Duncan pulled her aside. “I have a treat for you.”

  “Another one?” She touched his arm and smiled, “you’ve already done so much. This has been a wonderful honeymoon, and it’s just started. You’re spoiling me.”

  “You deserve to be spoiled.” He lightly kissed her lips. “But in this case, I have someone I want you to meet.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Here? At the show?”

  “Yup. Come on.”

  They walked behind the staging area to the cast quarters. There in the middle of everything was a splendid tent, larger than the others. Poking his head in, Duncan called out, “Anybody home?”

  “Come in. Come in, my friend,” said a male voice.

  Duncan held the tent flap back for Catherine to enter and followed her in. Then he walked up to the man with a graying brown hair, beard, and mustache. They gave each other a bear hug in greeting.

  “Hi, Bill. Great show.”

  “Thanks. The folks seem to like it. Sit down. Please.” He pointed at the two camp chairs situated around a small round coffee table. “Can I offer you a whiskey? Sorry, that’s all I have right now.”

  “No thanks,” replied Duncan with a smile. “Appreciate, it though.”

  As if suddenly seeing her, Cody turned to Catherine, “Who is this lovely lady with you?”

  Duncan brought her forward, but kept a possessive hand on her waist. “Bill Cody, my wife, Catherine McKenzie. Catherine, Bill.”

  Cody took her hand and kissed it. “I’m pleased to meet the woman who lassoed Duncan McKenzie.”

  Catherine felt the heat rise to her cheeks.

  “She always had me, I just didn’t know it,” said Duncan, with a squeeze. “So, Bill, why aren’t you inside with the rest of the exhibitors for the World’s Fair?”

  Cody laughed. “Funny thing, that. Apparently the powers that be, the organizers of the World’s Fair, thought me and my little show here, was too lowbrow, so they rejected my request. I decided to show them and set up outside their gates. Lots of people can only do one or the other. Guess which one they choose? It’s sad really. Folks could have had both for the same price, if those uppity, muckety-mucks hadn’t denied me.”

  “That’s really too bad. I enjoy your show. Always have. You don’t have the best female gunman in the west, though,” said Duncan conversationally, while examining his fingernails.

  “I don’t? I thought Annie pretty much put everyone else to shame,” said Cody.

  “Oh, she does,” said Catherine quickly
. She saw where this was going and wasn’t sure she liked it.

  “No, she doesn’t,” insisted Duncan. “Cat here is the best I’ve ever seen with a revolver. She’s not quite as good as Miss Oakley with a rifle, but with a pistol, she’s got no equal.”

  Cody turned to Catherine. “I’d love to see a demonstration, my dear.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t! I didn’t bring my pistol with me.”

  “Don’t worry, sweetheart, you’ll be great,” said Duncan.

  Catherine looked at him, saw the pride in his eyes and heard it in his voice. She cocked an eyebrow. “You knew. You knew he’d ask, so why didn’t you bring my gun?”

  “You mean this one?” asked Cody.

  He leaned over and reached behind his chair, returning with her pistol and gun belt.

  Her gaze flew to Duncan who just grinned. “Not fair. I’ve been ambushed.” She sighed. “Very well. What would you like to see?”

  “Nothing too elaborate, just a bit of target practice,” replied Cody. “I’ve got them set up.”

  “Very sure of yourselves, weren’t you?” she said to both grinning men.

  “I was hopeful,” said Cody.

  “I was sure,” said Duncan. “I brought your gun didn’t I?”

  She rose an eyebrow at her naughty-eyed husband. “How did you get it here without my knowing?”

  “I slipped it in the trunk after you’d finished packing and then took it out while you freshened up after we got to the room.”

  She felt her cheeks heat, knowing she hadn’t freshened up until after they’d made love. “Oh.”

  “I sent it over here this morning by way of a bellboy. They are very accommodating at the Palmer House, and Bill left word at the gates to expect it.”

  Catherine stared at him in wonder. “How long have you been planning this?”

  He grinned. “Since I told you to pack. I knew Bill would be here, and I’ve always wanted you two to meet and for him to see your skills.”

  Duncan was proud of her and wanted her to know it. Wanted to show her off to his friend, who just happened to be a famous showman. She shook her head slightly and smiled. Then they followed Buffalo Bill to where he had targets of various sizes and distances set up.