Last Bride, Last Man (Book Three of the Red River Valley Brides Series)

by Hestand, Rita

  "Now that's a dress." He said as his voice went husky.

  "You really like it?" She asked twirling around him.

  "Nadine you look good in all your clothes. You hold yourself so regal. You have grace about you. It was one of the first things I noticed about you. But that dress brings out the best in you. I surely do like it." His eyes raked her then settled on her face.

  "Well then, let's go. We got some food?"

  "Yes," She grabbed the basket she had packed earlier.

  He took her by the hand and guided her to the wagon. His hand was sweaty but warm and firm as he helped her into the seat of the wagon.

  Then he joined her.

  They rode for a while then he stopped. He pointed to the line of trees. "There, that line of trees is our dividing line. That's where our property stops."

  "All of this?" She glanced around at how far they'd come. "You mean all of this is yours?"

  "All of this is ours." He said huskily looking into her surprised face.

  His inclusion of her as an owner shocked her. Her eyes widened. "I never imagined so much…" She gasped. "I had no idea."

  "This land out here, the townspeople gave to the colored people who settled out here. At the time it wouldn't grow much of anything, just a pile of dust. But that was years ago. Most of the colored people didn't bother buying no land. Gerty tried to tell them it was the only way to own land. But most was happy just share-croppin'. They were scared of everything. They didn't want to have to pay taxes on it. Gerty didn't mind at all. I sent her the tax money every year and then some. When she wrote me about it, I told her I'd send money home, and that I wanted her to invest in the land itself. Land is something that ain't goin' nowhere. It will always have a value on it. Unlike Gold and Silver, it can't be spent. It has to be earned. I told her to buy as much as she could of it. I sent Gerty money home every so often to buy more of the land. She'd pick up an acre or two at a time, and write me. She said there would be room for both of us here. That one day, when I was ready to settle down, I could make my homestead right here beside her. It made me feel like I helped to pay for it, like I deserved it. I knew I had a home to come home to. It was a good feelin'." He glanced at her. "She said it would always be my home, no matter where I was. That was a good feelin'. Knowing I had somewhere to call home."

  She grabbed his hand, sliding hers against his, when she realized how much it affected her, she stopped. He stared.

  "Looks like I married a very smart man." Nadine looked at him, her voice lowering as his eyes captured her.

  His gaze took her in.

  "Now I'm comin' full circle, Nadine. I've got the land, I've got a house. And I got a wife. And in case I haven't told you…you are a beautiful woman, Mrs. Lewis." He said throatily.

  She was tongue-tied at first. But when she was able to speak, she didn't realize she squeezed his hand in hers. "Thank you for this…" She nodded. "For showing it to me. For making me feel as though I belonged here. I've never belonged anywhere. Never in my whole life. Never owned property. It does give you a feeling of security, doesn't it?"

  "You do now, as long as you want to. And yes, we have something. It's ours, it's our home, Nadine."

  He cleared his throat and helped her down off the wagon. As he did, their eyes met and he tightened his hold of her. "Very beautiful woman," He whispered.

  They walked in the woods for a long while until they came to a small clearing. He spread the blanket he had thrown in the back of the wagon, and she put the basket down on it.

  As they sat down she looked about. "I never thought I'd own anything of my own. But I never dreamed of anything so big and wonderful as having our own land. Gerty and I never spoke much of how much she had or her husband had. That's why it comes as such a surprise. She wasn't concerned with material things I guess."

  "It's a good feelin'." He agreed. "Ain't it?"

  She nodded, and then she moved to lean against him, "Yes, it is. Does everyone know you own the land?" She laid her head on his shoulder and settled against him. He wrapped his arms around her, creating a snug and secure feeling for them.

  "Everyone that is interested does. It's all legal, and all paid for. I checked with the bank before I ever came home. I wanted to take care of anything she might owe. She had it all paid up, just like she told me. I was so proud she done it."

  "Where did you get the money?" She asked, glancing up at him as she leaned on his shoulder. "I mean to add to the land?"

  "I was a buffalo soldier. I got regular pay. I sent it to Gerty. Most of it, anyways. I planned to come home here and settle down one day, have a family. I wanted something that belonged to me. I didn't want to feel as though I was livin' off of Gerty or anyone else."

  "I can understand that. Was soldiering hard?" She looked up at him.

  "Yes. It taught me how to kill a man. It taught me how to fight for what I believed in. It taught me discipline when I needed it the most. But there wasn't a day went by that was easy." He put his arms around her for a moment, enjoying the feel of her resting in his arms.

  Her head was a little below his chin.

  ~*~

  She liked the way he felt comfortable with holding her.

  She cuddled against him. It felt right to be here in his arms.

  "Are you hungry," She asked when he sat up straight to look into her eyes.

  "Y-yeah."

  She laid two napkins out and they ate fresh fried chicken, potato salad and beans.

  She was about to wipe her mouth, when he leaned over and kissed her, licking the grease from the chicken off her lips. "Now that tasted good." He laughed.

  She tingled when he came close. Sensations went through her when he kissed her so easily. Her nerves were all jangled with desire and she forced herself not to act upon her feelings. He didn't want a whore, she thought to herself. He wanted a lady, but being in his arms, enjoying his kisses, it made it hard not to respond in kind.

  But the next kiss was long, lingering, and he licked her lips before he pulled away.

  "I like chicken, but I think I like it better when I taste it on you…" He said huskily.

  She felt her heartbeat quicken, she saw the flash of desire in his eyes and her whole body fluttered with excitement. She never dreamed her husband could be so romantic. Why had she ever doubted him?

  The air around them was a buzz. A new tension lay between them now, an anticipation of things to come.

  "You surprise me, sometimes."

  "How?" He asked smiling at her.

  "You know a lot about women…" She said breathlessly. "You know what they like, what they want to hear, and exactly when to say it."

  "I've had my fair share of women in my time, Nadine, I won't lie." His gaze became intense. "But none like you. None with such fire about her."

  She felt that fire now, burning, building, and all the while she tried her best to temper it.

  His expression grew serious as he pulled her to him once more and cradled her against him. "Nadine you are the kind of woman that needs an experienced man. A man that knows how to hold the controls, and yet can please you. I want to be that man."

  "I think…you are that man." She said staring up at him.

  "That's for you to decide." He said tightening his hold of her.

  They stood there embracing, basking in the feel of it. She had to admit she'd never been this content in her whole life. She'd never wanted a man like she wanted him right this moment.

  When they finished eating she put the food away and started to get up and put it in the wagon, but he pulled her down. He laid her head in his lap and he leaned against a tree, holding her there.

  She didn't pull away. She loved the tenderness he exuded. She wanted this day to go on forever. This was as it should be. This was what falling in love was about.

  In fact, she wanted to move closer, but she was suddenly afraid she might look too brazen to him. She would have to give him leave to do as he wished.

  She waited.
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  The moment came that she had waited for. When she asked about his feelings for Martina.

  "Did you love her…you can tell me. I want you to feel like you can tell me anything. You know so much about me, but now I want to know about you."

  His expression looked questioning at her, then he raised her up close, his lips hovered over hers. "I didn't bring you out here to talk about Martina."

  "Why did you bring me out here?" She heard herself ask in a low whisper.

  "For this,…" He pulled her close and covered her lips with his own. This was what she had waited for. He rewarded her efforts with a kiss that sent her senses into overload. Now she began to realize just how much her husband knew about women. He was right, she needed an experienced man.

  She smelled the fresh clean scent of him. She felt the warmth of his kiss. She felt his body tighten against hers with the same tension she was feeling. She even felt the restraint he used not to take it too far, but to enjoy what it was…a kiss.

  She slowly wrapped her arms around him, enjoying the way he took the controls of their love-making to new levels. She didn't have to do anything but respond, and she was more than ready to do that.

  His tongue searched hers and found it melting against his own. The slow waltz they did of it, had them both breathing heavy.

  When he finally let her go, he held her at arms distance and stared into her confused gaze. "It's gonna be hard not to rush things with you. But lady I aim to court you right. I can tell you are gonna be well worth it."

  Everything he said set her on fire.

  She opened her mouth to say something and he kissed her again. This time there was no doubts about how stirred he was. The tension between them rocked the ground they lay on. Like a drum her heart beat thudded.

  But before it went too far, he pulled away again and smiled at her. "We've had ourselves a good first date, I'd say. What do you think?"

  "I think I could stand a few more like this one…" She said breathless.

  "Good," He dipped his head to hers and kissed her sweetly on the lips once more. She couldn't get enough of him and responded in surrendering to him.

  She let her breathing settle down before replying. "You’re an accomplished lover, aren't you?"

  "You think so?" He twisted his head in surprise.

  "I know so," She grabbed her chest. "I've never been with a man like you."

  He pulled her up and they grabbed the blanket and basket and went back to the wagon.

  "Any complaints?" He asked as he joined her on the wagon seat."

  "None at all…"She smiled brightly at him and looped her arm in his. There was this satisfying feeling as though she belonged here, with this man, at this time. And she hoped it lasted forever.

  Chapter Twelve

  His courting continued for weeks on end. And each time he took her somewhere nice. He took her out to eat in town. He took her to see a rodeo. He introduced her to all his friends and he proudly told everyone she was his wife. He'd brag on her in public, and flirt with her and she rejoiced at this newfound freedom of expression.

  Some of her curiosity of his past was answered and she began to understand his silent nature better.

  Getting to know Gabe was like fitting puzzle pieces together, and what she knew she liked. She saw what a self-less man he was. How he cared for people and how he was always willing to help anyone who came to him.

  From Junior Hornby who was hunted for stealin' a cow, to Mrs. Draper who had taken ill. Gabe was a fortress of a man.

  He hid Hornby in the shed when the Sheriff came out looking for him. Harry seemed to sense that Gabe was not telling the whole truth, but he let it slide. After all, it was just a cow.

  "I reckon if that cow was paid for, there'd be no trouble." Harry remarked.

  Gabe nodded and handed him money. Poor Hornby didn't know a thing about it.

  He asked Nadine to cook up some vitals one day and they took meals over to Mrs. Draper who had consumption.

  Nadine nursed her and helped to feed her. Gabe was eager to do his part. Since both the Drapers were ill, he picked their crop for them while Nadine nursed them to health again.

  Although he was seldom gone, he did spend time talking to the old timers that had settled the land. And he came home telling tales of what he had learned. Nadine never minded his trips because she got more work done when he was gone, but she liked his returning even better because most of the time she got a big welcome kiss.

  Every day was new and good to Nadine.

  They read the bible together, and Nadine offered grace at every meal. She was getting more familiar with a subject that before had only eluded her.

  "You do believe in God don't you?" She asked him.

  "I wouldn't read the bible if I didn't. No man on this earth can look at a sunset and doubt that someone bigger and better than himself hadn't made this old world. And you?"

  "What do you mean, me?"

  "Tell me how you feel about God, Nadine…"

  "Being with you has made me take it much more serious than I used to. I think I tended to take things for granted. Not anymore. I like sitting here every night and reading the bible with you. I like that you help me pronounce the names I can't read. I like saying my prayers with you. That you don't laugh at me when I goof up. I like the fact that you know God. Some men never speak of such. I like that you take me to the white church and you sit in the second pew every Sunday, proud as a peacock. You hold your head up and people respect you. I love to hear you sing and whistle. You have such a deep beautiful voice. And I like that you take flowers to Gerty's grave and pray over her."

  "I'm prayin' for somethin' new now." He gazed at her.

  "Oh what is that?"

  "Mrs. Lewis, do you still want a baby?"

  Speechless, she didn't know what to say. She stared into his face. "Yes," she barely breathed.

  She seemed to hold her breath for his next words.

  "Then we'll get started on that soon…" He promised.

  "You mean it?" She barely uttered.

  He held her at arm's length and smiled into her surprised face. "I want you Nadine. I want you in my bed, in my life. You are my wife, but I want to make you my bride. I want to be one with you like we are supposed to be. But only if you are ready to commit the same to me. I got to hear it in your own words first."

  She sank into a chair, for her knees wouldn't hold her up any longer. She had wondered if the day would ever come. Now that it had, she was flabbergasted. She didn't want to appear too anxious, but her heart was beating like a drum.

  "Nadine?" He questioned when she was silent too long.

  She stood up and faced him, her hand reached to touch his face. She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. "I thought you'd never want me…" She cried in a whisper.

  He shook his head, his lips mere inches from hers. "Lady, I've wanted you all along, I've just been waitin' for you to feel the same about me. And now, when I look at you I see something new. When you look at me, you see me. And I know you want to know me…It ain't right to hold back any longer. I think you love me…I think we want the same things in life now. I think we can be one now."

  "Oh Gabe…" she whispered, moving the slight distance to kiss his lips. Her lips touched his eyes, his nose, his forehead, and back to his waiting lips once more. "Oh yes, I do love you…I've been afraid to tell you. I didn't want to seem too anxious. But what I love most about you isn't that fantastic body of yours, or that sexy smile you have. What I love most is your pure and loving heart. You always give more than you take. You are always fair and honest in your dealings with others. And most of all, you care about people. So…yes, I love you, with all my heart and soul."

  "Why?" He looked incredulous.

  "Why what?"

  "Why were you afraid you'd look too anxious?" His eyes glazed over from her words as he soaked them in.

  She fumbled with her apron. "Because of my past. I didn't want to make the same mistakes with y
ou that I did with others. You treated me like a lady. I'd never been treated that way. I liked it. I enjoyed your courting. I enjoyed your looking at me. I enjoy the way you always treat me like some beautiful lady."

  He picked her up in his arms and looked into her eyes. "I love you…and I'd never reject you."

  The three words she longed to hear spilled from his mouth.

  In three bold strides he was at the bedroom door. He took her inside, closing the door with his booted heel.

  Like everything she had learned about him, his touch was gentle and caring. He laid her across the bed and stared down at her.

  "Come to me woman, and let me love you…" He reached out his hand to her to pull her up against him. She stood on her knees on the bed, waiting.

  She felt his readiness as he crushed her to him.

  She threw back her head and let his lips caress her neck and shoulders. But he didn't rush, he thoroughly kissed her all over. The way he etched his way slowly down her neck had goosebumps springing up all over her. She shivered.

  One hand held her against him, the other undid her dress. The way he did it let her know he was well versed in women's dresses and how to undo them.

  But rather than be upset, she relished it. She did want a seasoned man. A man that knew how to please her on all levels. A man that would take control of her and cast her under his spell. Gabe was that man.

  The dress loosened, and as it did, he pushed it downward so he could caress her delicate skin. The air cooled her skin, but his lips heated her.

  Her camisole came next, and he flung it across the room. Now she had only her bloomers on.

  His eyes feasted on her pert little breast that saluted him with a pucker.

  She'd never worried if she could please a man, but self-doubt did stir her. Martina was full breasted, perhaps he didn't want her, since he was now staring at her so.

  But he stood and stared at her, like she was a painting. His eyes glazed at each new find.

  "I knew…you were beautiful," He whispered between kisses. "But I didn't know you were this beautiful. Your breasts are a woman's perfection made by God himself."