"Okay, honey, I won't ask you to hold anything back this time. Just promise me. Promise me this fire is only for me. Always."
"Of course it is, yes, yes. Only for you.” She punished him with a gentle bite to his chest.
"Ashley!"
Going down to her knees on the soft patch of grass, she invited him to go with her, trying to pull him down to her.
He resisted. He gave her a mischievousness look. “I like the way you look down there."
"Of course you'd like me in this position. It's a lot like supplication, submission,” she said.
"I won't make that mistake. I swear it."
Her warm hand tugged again.
He allowed it this time, joining her, pressing her back to the grass until they touched thigh to thigh, pelvis to pelvis.
With trembling fingers, Ashley sought his waist band, unfastening the front of his jeans and freeing his manhood.
He almost lost it from the look in her eyes alone. Waves of yearning washed over him.
She began to push the pants down his legs, but the suede riding chaps he wore over the jeans frustrated her efforts.
"Zippers in the sides, honey.” Reese offered helpfully.
"Oh,” she said. “Good. I like these things. Sexy. Too slow to get them off though."
"They're not in the way.” Reese nudged her legs and Ashley accepted the weight of him. “Now, baby?"
"Now is fine, now is perfect.” She showed him with her legs. She was ready to welcome him, to accept his invasion. “Yes, please,” she moaned.
He entered her softness. Oh God. He gasped for air at the force of his body's urgent reaction. He stilled, grimacing, seeking control, wanting the loving to last for her.
Her hands, her silken fingers on the curve of his ass coaxed him, drawing him closer, reminding him to move again. And he obliged, rocking with her, setting the pace they both needed.
"Reese, Reese,” she cried, her voice thrumming through him like a song.
His woman met him thrust for thrust.
He increased his movements, drawing an uninhibited scream of release from her lips.
"Ash, baby, this is. God. I.... “With a harsh groan, he followed her to ecstasy.
They collapsed boneless and weak together, breathing hard.
"We didn't even make it out of our clothes this time,” he whispered.
"I know. I know. Those chaps defeated my efforts to remove them. But they felt so coarse and good against my legs. Sinful."
"And that sexy blouse of yours is too damn easy to get up under,” he said, grinning wide. “Knew it would be when I saw you ride up.” He lifted himself to gaze down at the picture she made with her pretty top more than half open. “I'll remember this for a long, long time."
Ashley blushed, all cute pink cheeks.
"The lady is back now,” he teased, smiling a flash of white teeth. Then he kissed her again.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Twenty Nine
"Heard you're not from around here,” a skinny woman with permanent frown lines between her eyes addressed Ashley without a formal introduction.
They were at the barbecue hosted by Reese's neighbor, Zeke Fredericks, the next day. They stood under a colorful canvas tent, erected for the event. The sprawling ranch home was palatial, with long stretches of black wrought iron fencing along the gardens and an infinity pool in the back. To Ashley, it looked like the ranch home from a famous TV nighttime soap.
At Ashley's enquiring glance, Reese performed the introductions.
"It's so nice to meet you Mrs. Adams,” Ashley offered with a smile.
"Heard you're a Yankee girl.” The woman kept to her verbal path with the single-mindedness of a migrating lemming. The other woman's nose was in the air. The words 'Yankee girl' were soaked with disdain, as though the woman spoke of some undesirable species of rodent or bug.
"Yes, I'm from Ohio,” Ashley said, trying again with a polite and friendly smile.
"A Yankee girl won't last with one of our local boys, won't fit in,” the woman spat. “Everyone is speaking of the hasty wedding you all had."
Ashley noticed a scowl darkening Reese's face.
"Veronica,” he warned.
"Just plain speaking, now,” she justified.
Hmmm. Ashley suspected some of this woman's venom came from Reese's sudden absence from the local eligible bachelor population. She struggled with an uncharacteristic urge to physically remove the woman's self-superior smile from her face. No doubt the woman's miserable disposition was to blame for the permanent frown lines.
"Isn't the fall weather beautiful here?” Ashley asked, steering the conversation to safer ground.
"Yes. If you'll excuse me,” the woman said and left.
No doubt Reese's warning glare worked to speed her departure.
"I'm impressed with your restraint,” he commented.
"I'm a peace loving person. I hate confrontations."
"I forgot to warn you about Veronica's hateful disposition."
"A heads up would have been nice. She's a joy."
He chuckled. “You're so pretty when your feathers are all ruffled.
"Hah."
"I'm glad I wasn't the cause of that stormy look for a change."
"Thanks for running her away."
"I didn't need to protect you from Veronica Adam's poison tongue. You held your own just fine. Didn't take the bait."
"Mmmm,” she murmured noncommittally.
"I went to school with Veronica,” Reese went on. “As a little girl, she took gleeful delight in reporting my every misdeed to the teacher."
"That fits."
"I was a terror in school. Poor teachers were at their wits end."
"I'm sure you were just a normal, active young boy."
Reese grinned, enjoying that Ashley defended him.
He couldn't seem to stop smiling since they'd made love out on the ranch yesterday. Some of his uncertainty where Ashley was concerned had been lifted from his shoulders.
"Congratulations on your marriage, Mrs. Caldwell. Reese.” This time the words came from a very tall and very striking young woman with honey blond hair and deep blue eyes.
"Ashley, this is our host's daughter, Anne Fredericks."
Ashley held her breath a moment. This woman was just the type she'd always pictured more Reese's type than she herself.
"I'm pleased to meet you,” Ashley said, wondering if she'd have to defend her husband from another disappointed female. Would the encounter with Veronica Adams be followed by a procession of similar confrontations? If so, she'd beg off and leave early. Ashley's grasp tightened a bit on Reese's elbow, but she was prepared to give the woman a courteous benefit of the doubt. At least this one was mannerly.
"I'm so gratified to see Reese looking so happy."
Miss Fredericks seemed sincere.
"Did you find plenty to eat, Mrs. Caldwell?” the other woman asked.
"Please, call me, Ashley,” she offered.
"Yes, I will, thank you.” The woman said with a smile that softened the sculptured angles of her face to beauty. “And you must call me Anne."
Yes, manners were important to Anne. She stood tall, and radiated confidence and sophistication and was dressed in a lovely tan designer's slacks and pale pink blouse. But on second glance, Ashley realized Anne wasn't as confident as she seemed on the surface at first impression.
Anne glanced toward Clay, who'd just come to stand on Reese's left, as if she was uncertain what to expect. She couldn't seem to look away from Reese's brother.
"How are you, Barbie Anne?” Clay asked with a hard look in his gaze, looking her up and down as if he really didn't give a damn.
Ashley was shocked by the insolence and disrespect in her brother-in-law's tone and in his gray eyes. She'd never seen him behave in such a stiff and ungentlemanly fashion.
She also saw a disturbing flash of anger and pain in Anne's eyes. These two had a history, she'd bet.
>
"Please don't call me Barbie Anne.” Anne smiled graciously. “I've worked hard to get past that childish nickname from my school days. My friends call me Anne now,” she said with a defiant look at Clay.
"Where's Edward Branson-Stuart the Third this evening?” Clay asked.
"Not far away, Clay. He's talking to dad,” the lady answered with the unmistakable weariness for an old argument.
Fascinated, Ashley surmised that Clay was jealous because of Anne's escort. His expression and clenched jaw indicated he resented the emotion.
"Old Ed's never far away from you these days,” Clay said.
"It's nice to see you again, Anne,” Reese interjected with a thoughtful frown in his brother's direction.
Ashley was so relieved Reese spoke into the tension sparking and tightening between his brother and Anne, she could have kissed him.
"Thank you, Reese.” The woman smiled, not hiding her own relief.
"Anne's just home after finishing college and graduate work. Another person we went to school with. And a good friend,” Reese said with a grin. Clay's scowl deepened but he remained silent.
"Your husband will always be my friend. I owe him for saving me from Veronica Adams conniving back in school."
"What happened?” Ashley asked, curious.
Anne laughed. “When I was in kindergarten, I accidentally broke our bus driver's favorite coffee cup. I was looking at it, you see. It slipped from my hands. The handle fell off. Veronica ran to tell the driver. Reese moved her out of his way and beat her to it, taking the blame himself. It was hero worship for me ever after."
Clay watched the conversation with impassive eyes now, not giving a thing away. The strong emotion banished now.
Reese shook his head at the memory. “Heck, I was always in trouble, anyway. One more time meant little to me. You were never in trouble and too sensitive to angry adults."
"It was so heroic of you. I shouldn't have accepted you protection, but I was mortified at the thought of being found out,” Anne admitted.
Reese laughed. “You sure weren't in trouble very often."
"Never. I fell in love with Reese that day,” Anne admitted with a conspiratorial smile directed at Ashley. Ashley thought she heard a sharp intake of breath from Clay.
"If you ladies will pardon us, we need to talk to Jacobson about some land he has for sale,” Clay spoke up in a sour tone.
"Good idea.” Reese looked puzzled by the abrupt suggestion, but motioned for Clay to lead the way. Clay seemed reluctant for a moment to take his challenging gaze off Anne and leave.
Anne's eyes followed Clay's retreating form with a look that mirrored the feelings Ashley had always had after a confrontation with Reese. There was nothing calm or peaceful in the look, nothing but earth-spinning jolts of fire.
Ashley watched as Anne seemed to shake herself free of Clay's spell.
"You could have left the Dark Prince at home,” she said with laughing eyes. Ashley admired her recovery. She didn't bother with subterfuge. A gutsy lady. And her intuition told her this woman could be a friend.
"The Dark Prince?"
"Right, doesn't he look like and evil vampire, prince of darkness?"
"I've never seen him so grumpy.” Ashley looked to where the two brothers were speaking to the other rancher.
"I have that effect on him.” She smiled sadly. “It's nice to have you here, Ashley,” Anne changed the subject. “I couldn't help but notice that you've encountered Lucinda Beacon and Veronica Adams and a few others."
"Yes, Veronica told me what a bad choice in wife my husband has made. A Yankee."
"I'm afraid she's one of several women in this area who had to give up on snaring Reese for themselves."
Ashley laughed. Her own position in Reese's life might not be secure enough to afford laughter, she tried to remind herself. “I guessed as much."
"Don't pay them any attention. They're sure to give you a hard time and try to bully you for a while. Like the boss mare in the herd, you know? Try not to pay them any mind."
"I won't. Thank you.” Ashley was surprised at how reassuring the kind words were. She wished for equal wisdom to reassure Anne in the matter of her silent duel with Clay.
The other girl's eyes sought and found Clay on the other side of the room. And for a moment, Ashley witnessed a cloud of sheer pain cross her expression.
"Men are a puzzle,” Ashley commiserated.
"Too true. You noticed my losing battle of wills with Clay?"
"Yes,” Ashley admitted. “I mean you didn't lose...."
"I swear when he calls me Barbie Anne in that condescending way of his, I could almost smack him. He's a stubborn man. Strong and stubborn and an unpleasant enemy to have."
"Is it that bad?"
"Yes, beyond hope.” Anne's eyes were sad. “Come with me, Ashley. I'll make sure you get to meet some of the nicer people here."
From the outskirts of the gathering, Reese stood with his father and brother, watching as his wife mingled with the crowd. She charmed the people Anne introduced her to with her open smile and enjoyment of life and the festive atmosphere of the barbeque.
"How many cattle do you plan to carry over the winter, Reese?” Wade Caldwell automatically asked the question of him.
"That decision is Clay's to make now.” Reese didn't hesitate. His home was with Ashley and Mandy now. He realized that and accepted it.
"All of them,” Clay supplied, sparking a surprised glance from the other two men and a debate of the wisdom of such an ambitious goal.
"You're really planning to leave Texas?” Reese's father asked after Clay moved away to speak with some friends.
"Yes, I am. I won't let Ashley out of my life again. Not for our land. Or anything else."
"We'll always be here if you need us,” Wade Caldwell said, a bit uncomfortable with the words.
"I know you will, Dad."
"Have a second home down here, if you want. We'd like to see a lot of Mandy."
His dad went on, “Fatherhood will be good for you. In a way, it gives a man a chance to live his own childhood a second time. Right some wrongs. When your mother and I first set up housekeeping, I was satisfied with being married to a woman who was raising the children. I wasn't much help to her at all."
Reese turned his attention from following his beautiful wife as she floated through the group to center on his father. “I don't remember it that way."
"No, your mama didn't stand for it too long. Said it was a two-person job. She's right. When you graduated with honors from that fancy college of business in Boston, and Clay from Texas A and M., I felt it was partly my accomplishment with all the homework we did together. I owe your mother for that."
"And the three of us kids owe you both,” Reese said.
His dad smiled proudly. “You can more than pay us back by being a good father to your own children."
"I'll do my best."
"I'm worried about Lori. She looks so damned sad these days. All that depressing black she wears,” his dad said. “And Clay is pining for Frederick's daughter. I could see the sparks all the way over here. Kids, you never stop worrying about them."
"No, I guess not."
"What do you think of this feedlot idea your brother is planning?” His father changed the subject.
"I think ranching takes patient money. I just hope Clay has enough patience."
"Yes, you'll be a phone call away if he needs help."
"Of course. But he won't call."
"Nope, I suppose not."
* * * *
The next morning, Ashley looked out at the Texas landscape beyond the kitchen window, a cup of tea in her hand. Out in the arena, a young ranch hand trained a black colt to lead. A cotton rope was looped over the baby's hindquarters to nudge him along. It tossed its head with a little bit of sass.
This morning marked their third week at the Triple C and Reese was waiting for a scheduled check-in call from Braxton. He paced the kitchen. She kn
ew he grew more and more tired of waiting for some kind of development. Some action that would free them to live normally.
Josie stamped her small foot in irritation. “Reese, I tell you, you're ruining my beautiful Saltillo tile floor with your back and forth, back and forth. You'll wear the pretty glazing right off. Take a seat, will you?"
Ashley hid her smile behind her cup. Josie was petite with color treated blond hair. Along with her great skin, it made her look younger than her years. The woman had a natural energy that made her the hardest working woman Ashley had ever seen. She was the best cook she'd ever known, too. Reese smiled, his expression indulgent as Josie continued her lecture. Josie's manner indicated she felt entitled to boss him around. Ashley knew she'd been his baby sitter from an early age.
Santos, the foreman, came in just in time to pilfer a morning cup of coffee for himself.
Stephanie, Reese's mom, had told her the foreman had loved Josie for years. Ashley saw it in the man's eyes.
Santos just loved to look at Josie, to worship her from afar. Josie didn't seem to notice his interest. Never had, they said.
"Clean your feet,” Josie ordered Santos.
He moved to do as she asked. “Yes, Señora, I will."
Reese had also told her that most of the time Santos had loved Josie, she'd been married to someone else. Josie's husband had died only two years ago. After that blow, even Josie's sunshine spirit had been subdued and distracted for a long while. She'd immersed herself in her kitchen and was only now beginning to slow down and reach for normal ground again
It pleased Ashley to hear their little girl brought a new spark to Josie's eyes. Mandy seemed to be just the healing potion she'd needed. Reese explained that Josie often could help Mandy understand the Peacewatcher dreams that often foretold the future.
Across the room, Reese noticed the soft look on Ashley's face and wondered what put it there. She seemed to become more beautiful every day. And the tight fit of the jeans she had on almost took his mind off the call they waited for.
"Call come yet?” Santos asked.
No need to specify what call. They all knew.
"Not yet."
"What will you eat this fine morning, Ashley?” Josie asked.
"Just a piece of toast, please."
The Horseman's Heritage Page 24
