“Yes actually I am hungry.”, She admitted.
“Great. There is one place in town that we can go to eat. Well besides the bar. But they have really good food. I should know.” He laughed and patted his belly.
Sara laughed too. “You aren’t really that big.” She said to him.
“You don’t think so?”, he asked, and looked down at his own body.
“No I think you look great.”, she admitted freely.
“Well I think you look great too. You’re the perfect size for me.” Jeb said and looked over her body hungrily.
She blushed at the hungry look in his eyes. “You are embarrassing me now.”, she said shyly.
“I shouldn’t be embarrassing you. I’m telling you how I feel. By the way I feel we always need to be honest with each other. Even if it hurts to hear, I’ll tell you. I expect the same thing from you too.” Jeb said.
Sara wondered if his honesty would include the mean words she heard from Jake so many times. But then she realized he had just told her she was the perfect size for him. She felt another icy grasp let go of her heart. “I will always be honest with you. I have to tell you I think I’m in love with you already.” Sara said.
Jeb wiped the tears that came down her face. He was sure it was out of fear of being hurt. “Well Sara the feeling is mutual.”, he admitted.
He kissed her lightly on the lips. She kissed him back. Jeb pulled back. “I’m sorry but I’m really hungry though. I haven’t had a lot to eat lately because I’ve been worried about you getting here.” Jeb said.
She laughed. “I’m really hungry too!”
Jeb pulled out her seat when they got to the restaurant. “Madam, I truly hope you enjoy this meal as much as I’m sure I will!” He said and pushed her seat in.
“Well I’m sure I will, if you speak so highly of it.” Sara said.
“I’m talking more about the company I’m sharing then the food!” Jeb complimented.
She blushed brightly. “Thank you.”, she said shyly once again.
“You’ll have to get used to me complimenting you.” Jeb said.
She shook her head in agreement.
“Sara, I really am very happy to meet you. I know it was a very short courtship. But I would like to get to know you better now. Tell me a bit about yourself, your late husband, anything you can think to share.” Jeb said.
Sara wondered what she should share with him; there were some things she had kept to herself. But she figured she would just talk and let him know whatever she could think of saying.
“Well you know my age and of course what I look like now. I enjoy sunsets a lot, and am looking forward to seeing more of this area. It is so much different from where I come from. There aren’t any kind of trees like we had in South Carolina.” She started out by saying. “Jake that is my late husband. He never liked the fact that I was a little bigger framed female. He always thought I should lose weight, and I was lighter when he was alive. I’ve gained a bit more weight since then honestly.” She blushed as she admitted this to Jeb.
“From where I’m sitting you look perfect.” He smiled.
Sara choked a bit at the compliment, but smiled too. “Thank you. I never heard a kind word from him about my weight. He would do it when we are alone, usually when we had just started eating any meal. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never told another person this either. I used to eat and then go and get sick, just so that I wouldn’t gain any weight. I lost a bit at first, like 10 pounds, so I was maybe 125 at that point. He still complained that I was too heavy. You know for the longest time I thought it was me who wasn’t good enough for him.” Sara said a tear was forming in her eye. She stopped for a minute to gain her composure.
“Sara, I don’t know what to say to you. He seems like he was a real idiot. Why should we judge someone by their weight? I’ve never been like that. Of course it might be because I’m a larger gentleman myself. But please don’t put yourself down because he wasn’t a real man.” Jeb said.
He grabbed her hand and held it in his. “I would be so happy if you would be my wife.”, he said.
She looked up at him and smiled. “I think I would like that a lot.”
“Perfect, once we are done here, we’ll go and get the rings. I think I can get the judge to do a ceremony today. That is unless you want to have a little wedding?” Jeb asked.
“I don’t know anyone here really. But if you do, can we just bring them with us to the judge. I don’t think I want to wait.” Sara smiled.
Jeb shook his head. “I know one person who will want to be there.”
Sara took a bit of the food that had been delivered to the table. The meat melted in her mouth and she sighed. “Wow this food is amazing.”
“It is really good, isn’t it? I have to admit I’ve eaten here one too many times in the past!” Jeb laughed.
She smiled at him.
“So tell me more about Jake, if you don’t mind.” Jeb prompted.
“He never hit me, but he didn’t need to. His words cut me deeply and quite often. I can’t say that I really miss him much now that I think about it more clearly. Well actually since I’ve found out that not all men are like him. I really expected you to find me too fat, and start putting me down immediately. I thought for the longest time that I had to be skinny in order to find a good man.” Sara admitted. “I began to wonder if I could ever find love again. Not that Jake loved me. I think at first I thought I was in love with him. After he was gone, there weren’t many men my age, or close to that came back from the war. My friend, not so kindly, pointed out that I wasn’t getting any younger. That I needed to find a man before I couldn’t have a child and no man wanted me. I do have to say though she never told me I was too fat. It was nice to at least have someone who liked me for me.” She stopped and took a drink of the water.
“Sometimes people can be cruel. I don’t understand why he married you if he didn’t like the way you looked though.” Jeb wondered.
“Well my friend Mary Ann once told me, though I didn’t accept it then. She said that Jake had married me only because of my family. I didn’t think she was telling me the truth, but it could be the case. I guess he hadn’t started to talk me into using a lot of my money to do much yet.” Sara stated.
“I don’t think I’ve heard of your family either, I’m sorry.” Jeb admitted.
“You probably haven’t. My father is one of the men behind the banking empire.” Sara said.
Jeb laughed. “So you’re rich?” He asked, befuddled.
Sara looked at him. “Yeah kind of, my family is one of the first millionaires in the country.” She shrugged her shoulders.
He shook his head and laughed harder.
“I don’t think I understand why it is so funny.” Sara looked at him.
“Because I didn’t tell you about my wealth, I wanted to make sure you weren’t marrying me for the money.” He laughed and she joined in. It was a hearty felt laugh.
“Well you see that I didn’t mention it, or rather my friend Mary Ann didn’t mention it in my classified either.” Sara said.
“You didn’t write your own classified?” He asked.
“I’m lucky that I found out from her that she was placing it. She was going to do it behind my back and tell me once she got a reply.” Sara said.
Jeb had a look of shock on his face, he was sure of it. “Wow, I don’t know if I would call her a friend or not!” But he laughed, sure that this Mary Ann truly cared about Sara.
“She is just a very blunt girl. When most people think before they say something, she doesn’t. I can’t tell you how many times she would say something so rude to me, but not even realize it. That was just Mary Ann. I’ve known her since I was about 4 years old. That’s a long time, and she’s always been that way. Just imagine a little girl like that, opinionated, and not afraid to say anything. I can’t tell you how many times I saw her mouth get washed out with soap.” Sara laughed at the memory.
He joined
in laughing. “She sounds like a treat. Maybe they could come and visit us one day, you did say she was married earlier right?” He asked.
“Yes, they have a little one on the way; she’s 6 months pregnant now. She wanted to be sure that I could find the same happiness she has experienced in her life. She told me that one day, and I understood why she was going to put the classified in for me. She knew how much I would fight the idea, and I did.” Sara admitted.
“So what changed your mind and do it?” Jeb asked.
“Honestly, she would have done it even if I said no, I knew that. So why fight it? She was right; I would die alone if I stayed in South Carolina. Or I would have had to marry one of my father’s friend’s sons. Men that weren’t looking at me as anything more than a money chip.” Sara stated.
“I’m really glad that she put the classified in though. I wouldn’t have met you if she would have left the decision in your hands!”, he laughed.
“Your right, I would have continued to stall and wallow in the past. I could have continued to live through my old life every day for the rest of my life. But now instead here I am with a man who I wished I would have met years ago.” Sara stated.
It was Jeb’s turn to blush brightly. “Wow thank you. I’m really honestly honored that you feel that way. I have to be honest; I did love my late wife a lot. But I didn’t have this instant connection with her. We had to work at being good together. You just seem to be made just for me.” Jeb admitted.
Sara’s eyes opened wide in shock at the comment. “I felt it too, as soon as I was off the train.”
“Well are you done eating, I’d like to get to the ceremony as quickly as we can. Otherwise, I’ll just take you home and we can come out in a few days.” Jeb stated.
She saw in his eyes how brightly his passion was burning.
“Oh!” She looked shocked. She felt the heat spread through her body as she thought of him and her making love. Sara could feel like his hands were flowing over her skin right now. Just by the way his eyes devoured her whole body.
He looked up in her eyes. “Let’s go my dear before we are in real danger of me simply taking you back home right now!” He stood up and lead the way. He opened the door for her and let her through first. “The ring store is here.” He guided her to the right and around a corner.
“Oh I like that one.” Sara said and pointed towards a nice pair. They weren’t too gaudy and big. She was as simple woman who didn’t like to flaunt her wealth in anyone’s face.
“It is nice.” He said to her. Jeb turned towards the man in the store and told him. “Well take those.”
He paid the bill and they left the store. “Now we can go find the judge.” Jeb turned towards the left and walked with her arm in his.
“What about your friend?” She asked.
“I’ll tell him later. If we invite him, he’ll want to do something after the ceremony. But I don’t want to do anything besides taking you back home.”
Sara felt the heat of his stare on her body and felt the blush as it shot across her body. “Okay, we can tell him later.”, she said finally.
He could hear the passion in her voice as she spoke. “He better be in now.” He stated under his breathe.
She laughed lightly.
“It isn’t funny!” But he laughed as well. “You’re right, it is kind of funny really. Who would have ever thought we would have this kind of connection right away!”
“I know.” Sara shook her head.
They knocked on a door, and it was opened shortly by a little old man. “Hey Jeb, how are you today?” The man shook Jeb’s hand. “And who do I have the pleasure to meet?”, he asked as he turned towards Sara.
“This is Sara Adams, soon to be Howard though. She’s my fiancée.” Jeb smiled broadly.
“Oh she’s sure pretty. You’ll have some really cute kids!” The judge laughed and turned to the side letting Jeb and Sara inside.
Jeb and Sara laughed at the judge’s comment. They were soon married and on their way back home. As soon as they were in the door, he grabbed her and hugged her. She turned her head up and they kissed deeply. Their tongues were soon wrestling in a symphony of passion and lust.
He pushed her down on the bed once her clothes were off. “You have a beautiful body Sara. I love you very much.”
She smiled up at him and said. “I love you too Jeb.”
He came down and kissed her again, his hands roamed lower and felt her sex. She was wet and ready; Jeb didn’t want to wait any longer. The past few hours had seemed like an eternity.
Their bodies melded together and slid around. He thrust into her deeply and slowly. Sara came up to meet his thrusts and their skin collided in a loud clap. They both sped up and were soon both breathing loudly. “Oh Jeb, don’t stop.” Sara yelled out as her body was ripped apart in fragments by an orgasm that seemed to last forever.
Jeb felt her squeeze him tightly as she experienced her climax. He thrust inside of her deeply one last time and could feel his juices spill into her. Sara was still thrusting upward and he felt her legs begin to quiver against his body and she yelled out something unintelligible.
They continued to move for a few more minutes as their minds finally returned from another place where they were as one. He kissed her. Jeb wrapped her up tightly in his arms and soon they were both fast asleep.
THE END
The Bride’s Claim
Mail Order Bride Western Romance
By: Sam Slater
The Bride’s Claim
Description: Sam Beckett is 27 years old and has a prying mother. She wants him to have grandchildren, but Sam has no time for romance. He keeps putting it off, so his mother takes it into her own hands. She writes to, and finds him a mail-order bride. Sam finds out what his mother has done the day that Sally Palms arrives in town.
Sally’s life had been tough so far. Out of the 24 years she has lived; she can’t remember many happy times. But Sam’s mother has made it seem like Sam might offer her something she’s always hoped to find...love. She finds out he didn’t know about her and her dreams may be short lived.
But they decide to get to know each other and see how it goes from there. Will they find love?
“Sammy, you need to find you a good girl and settle down.” Sam Beckett listened to his mother. It was the same old story every visit.
“Mom I haven’t found any good girls out here.” Sam stated.
“You’re a good looking guy, and you’re getting older now. You should really find a woman and have some grandchildren for me.”, his mother stated.
Sam shook his head. “Mom don’t you listen to me? I told you there aren’t any out here right now. Plus why do I need to settle down already, I’m still pretty young.” He puffed out his chest.
“Pfff, you’re already 27 years old, and I’m not getting any younger. I’d like to be able to spoil some little grandchildren before I pass on.”, she looked at him and said.
“One day mom, I’ll settle down, just not yet.” Sam said as left the room.
That had been 7 months ago now, and here he was listening to his mother once again. But this time it was a different story.
“Sammy, I’d like you to meet Sally Palms, she is to be your new wife.” His mother introduced him to a girl.
“Who are you? Mom, what have you done?” Sam looked at his mother, his eyes blazing with anger.
“Well you wouldn’t find a woman, so I found one for you. Here she is. Sally is from South Carolina. She is 24 years old and wanted to find a husband.”, his mother explained.
Sam looked at the brown haired, green eyed woman in front of him. She was pretty, but he didn’t know a thing about her. Now here he was listening to his mother who said she paid for her to come out to Arizona to marry him. “Mom, I don’t even know her, how can I marry her?”, he shouted at his mother.
“Now you keep your voice down son, your mother was only trying to help you out.” His father interrupted the argument.
“But dad, she found a woman for me, brought her out here and everything. Couldn’t you guys have just waited for me to find a woman?” Sam was agitated about this situation.
“You’re taking far too long, and I want grandchildren. Sally here wants to have children and was hoping to find a stable man to marry.”, his mother explained.
He looked at the woman; she was standing there, her mouth wide open. Obviously, she hadn’t known that the man she was coming to marry had no idea about her.
“Look I’m really sorry about this, my mother, well she didn’t even tell me about you.” Sam said to Sally.
She just shook her head. He studied her to see what she might be thinking, but her face was a mask.
“I understand.”, she finally said after a few minutes of processing the scene around her.
“Sammy you are not sending her away. That was a big chunk of money we put out, and we won’t be able to get it back. You’ll just have to marry her and learn to love her. Have some children so that I can spoil them.”, his mother ordered him.
He turned towards her his mouth open wide. “Mother, I don’t know what Sally and I will do, but it will be between us. I think you’ve done enough.” Sam said and grabbed Sally’s arm, taking her out of the room.
“Sammy you best not send her back, I’m warning you.” He heard his mother from the other room.
He looked at the girl and shook his head. “Look I’m really sorry that you are thrown into this mad storm. I would rather get to know you first and then we can decide on whether we are compatible. My mother doesn’t think of things like this.”, he explained.
“She sent me a few letters and told me quite a bit about you actually. So I guess I have an unfair advantage. The truth is, if I didn’t think I would like you, I wouldn’t have agreed to come out here. Your mother is a very nice woman. I’ve enjoyed our correspondence over the past few months.” Sally said.
Sam looked at her closely; he was intrigued and curious at the same time. “How many months have you been talking? Oh wow, how long ago did she do this?” He looked like he was going to go back and have some words with his mother.
The Duke's Dilemma: Regency Romance Menage Short Stories Page 32
