"We did and then he ruined it by kissing me and now he can't even look at me. I'm sorry Kimberly I didn't mean to."
"Nonsense, there's no need to apologize. You said he kissed you didn't you?"
"Yes, but I kissed him back and I liked it."
"Why wouldn't you like it? Clarkson’s a handsome man. But I don't want you worrying because he kissed you."
"But I feel guilty."
"Well, stop feeling that way this instant. Clarkson is the one at fault not you. He took advantage of your innocence. So hush now and came here to me. Let me hug you."
Missy rushed into Kimberly's arms. "Clarkson kissing me isn't the only thing that rests heavy on me." Missy said, close to Kimberly's ear.
Kimberly pushed her away, far enough for her to look in Missy face. "What else did he do to you?"
"Nothing else. That’s not what trouble me—it’s you."
"Me?"
"Yes you. I know you have a mind to send me away once you’re married."
"I'm not sending you anywhere? It’s vital that you come with me to Clarkson’s ranch for all our sakes. I'd never send you away."
"Then why do you wish me to sleep by your side if you’re not to be rid of me?"
"Because that space will no longer be vacant once I’m married. I just want to capture in my memory a little bit of time long gone. Not because I intend to send you away. Whatever would Clarkson do without you?"
Missy blinked. "I think I got a sample tonight of what Clarkson is capable of."
"Didn't you say you liked it?"
"That's beside the point. What type of marriage are you planning?” Missy sucked in a breath and exhaled. “You can both count me out."
"That will never happen. You are the most important part of my marital arrangement I couldn't do any of it without you."
"Just know this. I will not be sharing Clarkson with you."
"And I wouldn't ask you to." Kimberly took Missy's hand. "Now that's out of the way let’s go to bed so I can cuddle you one last time. You do know you’re my only friend."
They got into bed and Kimberly held Missy head to her bosom. "I will miss this the most."
"I won't. Let go of my head and go to sleep."
Kimberly laughed. "My dear sweet Missy, good night." She let Missy go and she turned her back to her. Kimberly sooched in closer and put her arm around her. Great I'll never get any sleep now.
When Missy opened her eyes she was alone in the bed. Kimberly was up with the birds and singing just as loudly but not as sweetly.
"You're awake sleepy head. You must get up this instant, if we are to take a trip through the maze before going to the ranch. It should be fun. She smiled and moved across to the door. I'll wait for you outside. Just pack up and leave the bags here. Rilla, said the help will bring them down later."
Left alone Missy had a quick wash and styled her hair in a bunch atop of her head. She picked up her scented water and then replaced it without using any, opting to apply some of Kimberly's honeysuckle instead. Packed and ready, she left the room to join Kimberly for the trip through the maze.
Voices flowed through the French windows to Missy’s ears. Kimberly bounced up and down like a child with a new toy. Missy stepped through the double doors and her heart froze. Clarkson stood beside Kimberly smiling, as she expressed her excitement of the fun she expected to have maneuvering through the maze.
"Oh, look Missy, Clarkson, said, he'd like to join us on our little adventure. Come quickly you have kept us waiting long enough. Take Clarkson’s other arm and let's go."
Clarkson tipped his hat. "Morning, I trust you slept well," he said offering his arm. Missy was astounded by his boldness. Did he think he could simply ignore her the night before and then greet her in the cold light of day like nothing ever happened? Missy sucked down her anger. This was Kimberly's moment and she didn't want to dampen it for her so she stayed silent.
Thankfully she didn't have to speak as Kimberly spoke for her. "She slept great, we both did. Now come on, we're wasting valuable time. Who knows when the three of us will be able to do things like this together? I want this morning to be perfect," Kimberly said, yanking on Clarkson’s hand as she propelled him forward. He reached out and grabbed Missy’s hand pulling her along with them.
As soon as they entered the maze Kimberly let go of Clarkson's hand and ran giggling ahead of the other two.
"Kimberly, wait up," Missy said not wanting to be left alone with Clarkson. She watched Kimberly speed ahead. She’d have run after her, but Clarkson had a firm grip on her hand and refused to release her.
"No, let her have her fun. I want to talk to you." His gaze narrowed on her as she continue to struggle against his hold.
"What about?" she asked, giving up the fight to be free of his hold.
He stopped walking, and turned to her. "Last night and the kiss. I'm sorry—"
"What for? Kissing me then running away or for ignoring me after?"
"All of the above. I was a real jackass and I apologize."
Missy narrowed her gaze. "Did Kimberly say something to you?"
His eyes widened. "No. Why—did you tell her?"
Missy felt a twinge of satisfaction at his discomfort along with all the other feelings she had running riot throughout her being. "Of course I told her. You're to be married. I couldn't keep something so significant from her."
"Damn! What did she say?"
Missy smirked, as he removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair.
"She said you were being manly and she was okay with it."
He jaw tightened as did his hold on her. "That’s mighty generous of her."
Missy tried to pull away, her cheeks felt warm as embarrassment coupled with anger raged through her. "Would you have preferred if she’d slapped your face? As I should have, had I been given the opportunity?"
"You can do it now." He pulled her against his large frame and sniffed her. "Why did you change your smell? I like the other fragrance much better." His breath was hot against her cheek.
She tried to step back but he pressed her closer to him. "You...you don't get to tell me how to smell. Now let me go."
"Why? I'm just being manly." He laughed, it was a cold sound that chilled Missy’s spine.
"Clarkson Dalton, you let me go this instant." She wriggled against his solid structure, to no effect.
He whispered by her ear. "I will. After..."
Before Missy knew what was happening, she found herself in another long lingering kiss. Her feet gave way under her and she swooned. The neurons in her brain overloaded. Missy had no clue as to what happened next.
Chapter 17
Not again. There was something seriously wrong with him. He groaned as he stared at the unconscious Missy in his arms. He looked ahead of him to see if he could spot Kimberly, but she was nowhere in sight. Thankful they hadn't ventured too far into the maze before he decided to turn into a caveman and see fit to assault poor Missy with his lips.
He had to be afflicted with the curse of insanity and needed to be locked up. He'd frightened the poor girl senseless. Clarkson scooped Missy into his arms and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair. He carried her back to the entrance as Cal walked in.
"What in the world have you done to her this time?" Cal asked.
"Nothing, she fainted."
"Women don't faint without reason. What did you do to her Clarkson?"
"I didn’t do anything. Maybe her woman things are laced too tightly. Here take her," Clarkson said, pushing Missy into Cal hands. "I think she’ll feel better, if she should wake and see your face instead of mine."
"I know you did something to her and I'm not moving until you tell me what it was. Or we can simply stand here until Missy wakes up and tells me herself."
The ground just became the most interesting thing Clarkson could look at. It was more pleasing than the expression on Cal’s face. He exhaled. "Okay, I kissed her again."
"Yo
u did what? Are you an idiot? Is that why Kimberly ran off afraid of also being molested by my sex crazed brother."
"It wasn't like that, Kimberly had ran off, long before I kissed Missy, anyway."
"Oh really? That makes it all right then. I would hate for Kimberly to realize she's engaged to the notorious Don Giovanni." He narrowed his gaze and through pursed lips he said. "Stay away from Missy, if you're incapable of keeping your lips to yourself." Cal retreated carrying an unconscious Missy nestled in his arms.
Clarkson rubbed his hands over his face. Cal had every reason to be mad at him. He was mad at himself. How could he have been so stupid to make the same mistake, a second time and in less than twenty four hours.
Missy might have forgiven one transgression, but two? He didn't hold out much hope. He wasn't even sure he wanted her to forgive him. He'd become extremely apt at making a fool of himself, when it came to her—why change now?
It wasn't his intention to hurt Missy. But when she told him Kimberly thought his advances toward her, was him simply being manly. It lit a fire inside of him. He wasn't a Neanderthal, he had breeding, and training. His behavior was not driven by instinct but desire.
His attraction to Missy was becoming more powerful every second he stayed in her presence. He had more feelings bubbling around inside of him then he cared for, or knew what to do with. This was going to be a problem. Cal made a valid argument. How could he share a roof with her, if he felt this way? He wasn't sure if he could keep his lips to himself.
There seemed to be some deep unsatiated desires rising to the surface like an erupting volcano, and he couldn't control it. His behavior so far was proof of that.
Clarkson stuck his hands in his pockets and began a slow walk through the maze. There was no use trying to figure it out now. He needed to find Kimberly, and tell her what happened between him and Missy as well as the outcome of it. They had a decision to make before they left for the Ponderosa.
Together maybe he and Kimberly could come up with a workable solution to save Missy from his amorous advances. The Ponderosa was a large property but not so large it could prevent him and Missy from bumping into one another.
Why was he worried? After he'd confessed his sins to Kimberly, there was no doubt in his mind, wild horses could drag neither one of these women to within ten feet of any property owned by him. The way he'd been behaving Clarkson thought if they did chose to stay away from him, it would be the best decision for all of them.
Clarkson wandered through the twists and turns of the many leafy shrubs entwined with thorny rose bushes, which made up the maze; in search of Kimberly. He called out to her but she didn't respond. He eventually found her in its center, sitting on the ground reading something, which she put away as soon as she heard him approaching and before looking up at him.
Then she looked past him squinting against the sunlight. Her face scrunched up in confusion.
"Where's Missy?"
"Eh, about Missy—"
"What about her?"
"There's something I need to tell you," Clarkson said, taking a seat next to her on the ground.
"If it's to confess you’re less than chivalrous behavior, I already know, Missy, told me. That was not very gentlemanly of you. I dare say you almost gave the poor girl a seizure with your brutish ways."
"That’s not how Missy told it. She said you thought I was just being manly." He raised his eyebrows at her.
"I only told her that to spare her further embarrassment. What's come over you? You used to care very deeply for Missy’s feelings. To approach her in such a manner is unbecoming, especial from you. I expected so much more."
"I'm sorry. It’s not like I planned to take advantage of her. It sort of just happened."
"You’re telling me your lips just sort of happened to fasten to hers, by some stroke of fate and without any directing from your brain telling them to do so... And they call me giddy headed." She rolled her eyes and then stared above his head as if thinking.
"That's not what I'm saying at all—"
Her eyes fell back to his face as she cut him short. "Anyway, where is she? This was to be our experience."
"She went back with Calvin."
Kimberly tilted her head, her brow creased. "Calvin? Why would she go back with him?"
"We had a bit of an incident."
Her face hardened. "What kind of incident?"
"I may have kissed her again."
"You may have? Aren't you sure?" Kimberly asked, her tone flat with an icy undertone.
"I'm sure. I did kiss her again and she passed out."
Kimberly rose to her feet, her face like thunder. "If you have messed up what I have spent years building, you will regret it Clarkson. If it comes down to Missy’s happiness or yours, you will lose every time. Your antics had better stop and soon. Figure yourself out and remember you’re supposed to be a gentleman. Living in the west doesn't make you a cowboy."
Before he could reply to anything Kimberly said. He found himself staring at the tail end of her frock as she disappeared behind the bushes.
Kimberly’s words couldn't make him hurt any worse, if she'd slapped him clean across the face with both hands. He was despicable and no closer to knowing if he would be traveling to the Ponderosa with the two women in his life or on his lonesome.
He needed to catch up to Kimberly and find out. As if finding his feet again, Clarkson chased after Kimberly, calling out her name. This time she did answer him telling him to go to blazes and a few other fiery places not of this world.
His shoulders slumped and he sighed, he hadn't been paying attention to where he was going and lost his bearing. He was now lost and trapped in the maze. He'd have to circle back and find the center, if he was ever going to get out there before noon. Maybe it would be safer for him to stay where he was, for a few hours—until tempers died down a little.
Both Cal and Kimberly had looked at him as if they were about ready to have him drawn and quartered. Lord only knows what Missy would want to do to him.
He got back to the center of the maze and tried to remember the instructions given to him by Rilla of how to find his way out. The last thing he needed right now, was to have someone come in and rescue him to add to his many humiliations. He’d had enough for one day. Sure of his way out, Clarkson walked like a man heading to his own hanging, until he got to the exit.
Clarkson spotted Rilla sitting alone on the veranda outside of the breakfast parlor and headed toward her. He needed some advice from someone who didn't hate him. She was the next best thing seeing as Calvin was out of the running, his sister-in-law would know what to do. After all, there’s nothing she could say to him, which could make his situation any worse.
Chapter 18
The murmurs grew louder and louder the closer Missy came to consciousness. She didn't want to open her eyes, as she didn't want to see anyone. All she wished for was a quiet corner somewhere where she could hide her embarrassment from the world. Who fainted from a kiss? She did, that's who, and in front of the last person she would ever want to faint in front of.
What must he think of her? A scared little virgin frightened to death by a kiss. Oh, how she'd welcome death to free her from this shame. But she feared neither death nor solitude would be hers. She'd alerted the room to her awakening by her movements. Kimberly was already stroking her hand and calling her name.
Years of servitude would not allow her to disobey a direct command to open her eyes. She did as Kimberly asked and looked at her. Tears swelled in her eyes as she stared at her mistress and friend. All she wanted to do was beg Kimberly to take her away from the prying eyes filled with pity, all focussed on her, except one.
Clarkson stood with his back to the wall, his hands in his pockets staring at his boots. Was he about to ignore her again, after stirring up all these latent feelings—once asleep and now swimming around inside of her like a rapid river. She blinked and pulled herself upright on the sofa.
"I'm sorry to
have caused so much anxiety. I think it must be the long journey to get here catching up with me."
"It's all right Missy, Clarkson, has told us what he did to you," Kimberly said shooting him a deadly glare.
Missy stared at him openmouthed her hand flew across it. How could he shame her like this in front of everyone? At least this time he had the decency to look at her, even if it was only for a moment. She couldn't believe it. Everyone in the room knew. Her eyes darted from Kimberly, to Cal, to Rilla and back to Clarkson.
Would someone please just shoot me now and be done with it. Missy hadn't realized she said the words out loud until Kimberly said.
"If anyone wants shooting it’s Clarkson."
Missy was mortified. She groaned and buried her overly warm cheeks in Kimberly's gown. "Everything will be all right, but we do have to ask you something. Considering the circumstances. Rilla has offered to have you stay here at the mansion, or you can still come with me and Clarkson to the Ponderosa. It’s up to you," Kimberly stroked her hair as she spoke.
Why would they ask her such a question? Didn't Clarkson want her around anymore? "Have I done something wrong?" She spoke as if she was asking the room, but the question was for Clarkson. Why would he want her gone? Her gaze caught his eye, and he gave a single shake of the head, then continued to stare at the ground. She should be angry with him. But his slight head movement reassured her and told her he had shouldered the blame. Which made all their pitying stares more bearable.
Clarkson wanted her to go with them.
"It's not you we're worried about." Calvin said and glanced at Clarkson who shifted but said nothing.
"If it’s all right with you Kimberly. I'd still like to come with you."
Kimberly exhaled a sigh of relief and squeezed Missy’s hand. "I knew you wouldn't let me down." She kissed Missy’s forehead. "That's settled then, we leave as planned. Thank you for offering to look after Missy for me Rilla, but I will be honest. I'm glad she's coming with me."
"Think nothing of it. Our door is always open to family." Rilla said.
Love Letters (Unbridled Book 3) Page 8
