by Eden Carson
“Well, I thought you might need some food,” Ruth whispered rather contritely, knowing the older woman was right. Her father had been a big believer in the idea of microscopic organisms causing most disease.
“I appreciate the offer,” Sue nodded her head. “But I’m sure you’d agree that even taking the food would not be wise. You two go off and enjoy it. There’s no sense in letting it go to waste. It smells wonderful.”
With no further discussion, Sue firmly shut the door in Ruth’s face.
Chapter 66
“Come on, Miss Ruth,” Jackson challenged. “Let’s see what you can do on one of my own mounts. It’s a two mile ride over tough terrain to the perfect spot for a picnic.”
“And what do I get if I win?” Ruth countered, not ready to concede the fact that she had been outmaneuvered.
“Anything you want,” he promised as he rode up beside her, lifted her gloved hand off the pommel, and raised it to his lips. He brushed aside the edge of her riding glove and placed a careful kiss at the base of her wrist. “Tell me what you want, Ruth.”
Her pupils dilated in immediate response to Jackson’s careful nip at the base of her thumb. “I want to win, of course.”
Jackson carefully stroked the tip of his tongue along the path his teeth had just taken, watching for Ruth’s reaction. “So do I,” he admitted. “But I’m bound to win, seeing as you’re riding my horse, over my land.”
She chucked Jackson’s too-confident grin on the chin before snatching her hand back. “My daddy was one of the best horsemen in the county and he taught me well. You don’t have a chance.”
Jackson let out a full body laugh at her challenge. “Well, then, you won’t mind wagering a kiss on the outcome? Although I must remind you that my daddy was a Cavalry man for thirty years. And rumor has it I was conceived in the saddle.”
She snorted at the absurdity of that claim, even while her traitorous thoughts started painting a picture of just how much trouble she could find herself in, riding double with Jackson at her back.
“Then it’s a bet?” he prompted.
“You just kissed me, so by my count, you’re already in my debt,” she said.
“A kiss on the hand hardly counts,” he replied. “I thought I taught you better last night.”
Her body flushed with heat at the memories his words conjured up. “If I win, I want a week to myself. I need some time to think.”
“As long as you promise to think about me for that week, you’ve got yourself a wager,” Jackson replied, certain Ruth’s natural curiosity would get the better of her in much less time. Win or lose, he would come out on top.
“What’s the course?” She asked.
“We start at that large pine tree up ahead, and end at that stand of boulders over the rise there.” Jackson pointed to the northeast. “The trees thin out some after that first bend. Then it’s a straight shot through the meadow. The last quarter mile is a steep climb up to the finish line.”
“Done,” Ruth nodded her agreement. “I’m ready when you are.”
“At the count of three then,” he replied. “One, two, three…”
Ruth’s horse shot out in front at the firm kick of her heels. She took an immediate lead, being the lighter rider. The narrow path forced Jackson to follow behind, as they wove and ducked through tall pines.
When the trees began to thin, he darted to the side and jumped over a fallen log, paralleling the cleared path she was on. The obstacles before him were all low to the ground, and his well-trained horse quickly cleared them without breaking stride.
What Ruth did not realize was that Jackson rode his favorite mount regularly through this forest, in preparation for longer treks through similar terrain. He often pursued wanted men through un-cleared land, and needed reliable mounts that were exceptionally stable on their feet.
Jackson’s more direct path through the woods brought him out ahead of Ruth by two lengths, and he quickly gave his stallion free rein the minute they hit flat land.
Ruth cleared the woods and set off after Jackson, determined to make up the distance. She kept pace with him through the mile of straight meadow, until they reached the final quarter mile of uphill terrain. She urged her mount on, leaning forward in the saddle as much as she could without losing her balance. With her lighter weight, she slowly gained on Jackson, coming neck and neck with his stallion.
Jackson’s horse kept his lead by a length, determined not to lose to a mare.
Both riders kicked in one last surge of energy as the finish line came in sight.
Jackson nudged his stallion into a jump, to avoid a small ditch.
Ruth’s careful tracking caught sight of the ditch, but not in time to take it at a jump. She was forced to turn her horse around it, and lost the race by just three feet.
Ruth pulled her mare to a walk, patting her laboring sides in encouragement. She looked over her shoulder to congratulate Jackson on his win. “You train excellent horses. Congratulations.”
Jackson tipped his hat in acknowledgement. “You ride as well as you claim, Miss Ruth. I’m genuinely impressed. Once you call this place home and learn the terrain, I’ll be hard pressed to win again.”
He dismounted and quickly removed the saddle from his now cool horse. He hobbled the stallion, and with a pat on the rump, the horse wandered off toward the nearby stream in search of a drink and fresh grass.
Jackson walked up behind Ruth, who had cooled down her mount, but still struggled with the weight of her saddle.
“Let me do that.” Without waiting for a reply, he reached over and pulled Ruth’s saddle off one handed.
“Thank you,” Ruth replied. “She’s already hobbled.”
Jackson nodded his understanding and sent the mare after the stallion. He turned to ask her where the food was, but was interrupted by Ruth herself.
“I suppose you want your prize now?” she asked quickly before she lost her nerve. She gently placed both hands against his chest and turned her face up for the winning kiss.
“Don’t rush me, woman.” He grasped both of Ruth’s hands with a twinkle in his dark eyes and carefully pulled them behind her back, where he grasped both with his left hand. He placed his right hand on Ruth’s chin, pulling her perplexed gaze directly in line with his own teasing eyes. “When I win, I pick the time and place. When you win, you can decide.”
Jackson’s glance narrowed and settled on her parted lips, making it clear where his thoughts lay.
Her lips tingled in anticipation of his warm mouth and teasing tongue, but she was quickly disappointed when he freed her hands and stepped away.
“We’ll eat first,” he announced, going in search of Ruth’s saddlebags and their impromptu picnic fare.
Jackson spread out a blanket he kept tied behind the saddle as protection against the sudden cold. The weather could turn bad in a matter of hours this close to winter. As luck would have it, warmer than normal weather was still lingering, making the thought of spending the afternoon outdoors welcome.
“Thank you for this day, Jackson,” Ruth sighed in pleasure as she sat back on the blanket and relished the warm rays of the sun beating down on her skin.
He turned towards Ruth and caught her gaze before replying, “It’s my pleasure.”
She felt her heart beat rapidly in response to Jackson’s look. She quickly started talking, in an attempt to keep the atmosphere light between them. “It’s been a very long time since I rode just for the joy of it. I haven’t been out riding in the open since my father left for the War. I didn’t realize until today how much I miss that feeling of freedom – to relax my guard and not worry about what’s around the corner.”
Jackson smiled at Ruth’s words, pleased she felt safe in his presence.
“I have something for you,” he offered.
“What is it?” she asked.
“See for yourself,” Jackson replied, handing Ruth an envelope he had pulled from his saddlebags before sitting down next t
o her.
She shook out the papers and started to read. She looked up quickly into Jackson’s eyes as she read her own name. “This looks like a land deed. I don’t understand.”
“It’s a homestead claim – for one hundred and sixty acres, all in your name,” he explained, watching her reaction carefully. “The edge of your land starts right here, in this meadow.”
Ruth allowed herself a few moments of silence as she savored the feeling of independence that owning her own land might bring. She quickly tamped down the joy building inside her, not sure she could trust this change in luck. “I can’t accept this from you. It’s too much.”
“You misunderstand. It’s not a gift, as I never owned this land. It’s gone unclaimed all these years. There’s no gold or silver to be found in these parts, and the water is only seasonal. But we can irrigate it for you, if you wanted to farm. Or raise horses, or even just sell it.”
“Why?” she asked, studying Jackson’s dark eyes.
“I want you to marry me freely,” he replied, meeting her gaze. “I don’t want to be your only choice this side of starvation. This land is yours and yours alone. You can stay and marry me, or sell and have enough money to travel to San Francisco in style.”
“You’d just let me go?” Ruth asked.
“If that’s what you truly want. I can’t force you to stay. But that’s not to say I can’t try a bit of persuasion.”
Chapter 67
Jackson pulled Ruth into his lap and claimed her lips, thrusting his tongue into her waiting mouth until he could taste the heat of her. “Tell me you want to stay,” Jackson demanded, running his lips along the side of her neck, just grazing along the surface of her warm skin until he heard her breath catch.
Ruth’s body flooded with heat and wet as Jackson’s strong hands stroked her from nape to hips. She let the joy and lightness of the choice before her turn into passion, as she stroked Jackson’s strength and marveled that it was hers. She slowly ran her hands across Jackson’s shoulders, then down each muscled curve. Finally, she grasped his hands in hers, reveling in the power she felt to respond freely at last. She wanted this man and would no longer let worries of the past stop her from joining with him.
“I want to hear you say it, Ruth.” Jackson stroked his hands lightly across her nipples, persuading her body to accept him so her mind would follow.
“Yes,” Ruth whispered, pulling Jackson’s rough palms closer to her breasts, demanding more of his touch.
“Yes, what?” Jackson prompted, as he ignored her demanding tugs and slowly circled her tightened nipples, not touching until she gave him the words he wanted.
“Yes, I want to stay,” Ruth responded, pulling Jackson’s lips back to hers and instinctively sliding her hips across his straining erection.
At Jackson’s sudden intake of breath, Ruth slowly and deliberately repeated the caress, sliding across the hardness she knew she had caused. She let go of her reservations and reveled in the freedom to feel, and want, and act. She promised herself she would never again hold back from this man as she slowly stroked her hands down his chest. She grasped him in her hands, feeling each rapid heartbeat as she returned his kisses.
Jackson thrust into Ruth’s seductive touch, and cupped her swelling breasts fully in his large hands, unable to deny her. He grasped her waist, lifting and turning her until she faced him, straddling him fully.
She gasped at the feel of Jackson between her legs, immediately resenting the barrier of clothing. She rose to her knees, pressing up against him, wanting more of his touch.
Jackson watched Ruth’s lips part in wonder as he carefully suckled her breast until the wet of his tongue penetrated the thin barrier of her dress. He repeated the caress against her other breast, but more slowly this time, as he watched her anticipate the feel of his mouth over her straining nipple. He slowly released the fullness of her breast – then lingered with just the tip held carefully in his teeth.
Ruth nearly screamed in pleasure when Jackson scraped his teeth lightly, releasing her nipple to the cooling breeze.
He undid the laces down the back of her dress, until he could slide the cloth over her breasts and expose her bare skin to his touch. He caressed her deliberately with the back of his hand, stroking back and forth until her nipple clenched in time with her heartbeat and the throbbing between her legs.
Ruth slid both hands through Jackson’s thick hair, pulling his mouth back to her aching breast. She savored the feel of his lips on her sensitized skin, as he suckled her nipple and breast into his waiting mouth. When he caressed the underside of her breast with the smooth surface of his tongue, the throbbing pulse in Ruth surged upward from her sex to the tip of her nipple, still fully-encased in Jackson’s warm mouth. She moved her hips in time with his tongue, thrusting her breast further into his mouth, wanting more of his touch.
Jackson deliberately separated Ruth from his kiss with one final stroke, circling her puckered nipple. He placed delicate kisses an inch, then two, from her glistening nipple, provoking her as he moved slowly away from the tip of her aching breast.
Her heartbeat raced in frustration, as she felt Jackson gentling his touch when her body demanded more. When he moved his lips to her other breast, and kissed only the still-covered underside, she pushed the offending cloth off her shoulders. The movement bared her fully to the waist, and she locked eyes with Jackson.
When he offered only a slow smile in response, she pulled his mouth to her lips, where she kissed him slowly.
“I want more,” she whispered, sliding her hands into his black hair. She scraped her nails lightly across his scalp, then pulled his laughing mouth to her naked breast, until she felt his warmth enclose her.
Jackson pulled her back to her knees, taking her breast into his mouth and lightly stroking her from nape to waist.
She arched her back in pleasure when she felt Jackson’s hands slide under her dress to unlace her pantalets. When she felt his large hands slide inside, stroking down her bare skin, she cried out his name, needing more.
He stroked the globes of her buttocks with the lightest of touches, caressing the undersides with the tips of his fingers, sliding back and forth until Ruth’s moans became his name. Jackson slowly released the tip of her breast, and pulled her lips to his for a slow, deep kiss. He cupped her fully with both hands, and began to knead her heated flesh in rhythm to the pulses slowly arcing out from her body.
She thrust her hips back, demanding a firmer touch, as the heat consuming her body centered itself between her waiting thighs. She felt empty and alone, and wanted the remembered feel of Jackson’s flesh, hard and hot inside her clutching thighs.
Ruth felt Jackson glide the rough pad of one finger along the crease of her backside, then slowly reverse his touch, until coming within an inch of her throbbing flesh. He stopped just shy of where she needed to be touched, thrusting his tongue harder and faster into her waiting mouth, holding back his caress.
Ruth’s body flushed with too much heat as he continued to tease her, stroking lightly along the soft flesh where her thighs met her torso. She knew his fingers hovered near her humid, aching flesh, denying her release, while his mouth rained hot kisses along her lips and neck.
She pulled Jackson’s unbuttoned shirt off his chest, exposing his naked chest and arms to her touch. She stroked her breasts hard against Jackson’s muscled front, straining against the firm hold around her waist as she tried to rub herself back and forth against his greater strength. She stroked her hands over his shoulders and down his arms, until she settled her soft hands on the fastening of his pants.
She undid him with fingers made clumsy from need, exposing just enough of his flesh to stroke one delicate finger down the length of him, until a glistening drop of his need coated the tip of her finger. She relished the salty taste of him, as curiosity had her licking the taste of Jackson off the pad of her thumb.
Jackson groaned in denial as he forced himself to grasp Ruth’s hands an
d pull her curious fingers away. He was too close to the edge to feel her soft skin again without flipping her on her back and thrusting into her madly.
“Sit back,” he ordered, breathing rapidly. “Let me take your weight in my hands.”
Ruth’s eyes fluttered open in excitement at his words. She complied, settling slowly into his strong hands, as he began to knead her buttocks. She felt each of his fingers splay out and separate her, holding her flesh gently open and exposed to the cold air. Her body clutched tightly as the breeze played over her too hot flesh, offering no real relief. Her mind obsessed over the rough skin of his fingers, and where she would feel his touch next.
Ruth thrust back again, demanding that he move.
Jackson smiled slowly, as he let go of her buttocks and let the flesh close in on itself, untouched. When she groaned in protest, he repeated the caress, once again splaying his fingers over her, to separate her swollen flesh to the feel of the cool air.
Ruth clutched Jackson’s shoulders, unconsciously biting into his back with her nails as he denied her release. The throbbing between her legs burned and ached as she stroked herself against him, seeking relief.
“Do you want more now?” He teased, as he began the pattern of the caress once again, separating Ruth’s flesh.
“Yes. Yes,” she cried out, wanting the waves of pleasure he could give her.
“Where should I touch you?” Jackson asked, as he lightly stroked one finger across her sex, reveling in the heat and damp he had caused.
She felt herself rain wet over his finger as he explored the folds of her body, gently caressing each surface, sliding her milk over and around her. Her body heated and expanded as waves began to undulate through her body, in rhythm to his touch.
Jackson stroked three fingers across her, over and over, until she thrust wildly against his touch, reaching for the pleasure of release. He separated her flesh once again, to glide first one, then two fingers up into her slick, hot flesh. He paused, holding Ruth suspended in his hands as she faced him on her knees, until she came undone.
