Margaret smiled at Lee. “What’s going on?”
Gideon’s voice came from behind them. “I’d like to know the same thing.”
Lee turned to his cousin. “Let’s sit down for dinner. I’ve got a lot to tell you.”
After introductions were done, they sat in the corner away from most diners and dug into the meatloaf and potatoes. Sophie didn’t say much, but she ate every bite on her plate. Lee didn’t remember eating beef when he was at the farm. Most times Genny served salted meat like ham and bacon, likely traded for flour or perhaps vegetables from the garden.
He made a vow to himself that this little girl who wanted him to be her pa would never go hungry. She was too precious to not know what meatloaf tasted like.
Gideon sipped coffee as he watched them eat. Lee knew his cousin was brimming with questions, but he was polite enough to keep them to himself until they finished dinner. Even if he should feel nervous, he didn’t. Even if Genny wasn’t perfect, she was perfect for him.
Gideon leaned over to Sophie. “I’ll bet if you go in the kitchen, Miss Margaret might have apple pie.”
The girl’s head snapped up from just about licking the gravy from her plate. She looked at her mother. “Mama, can I?”
“Yes, but stay in the kitchen and don’t bother Miss Margaret. She’s got lots of folks to feed.” Genny smiled at Gideon as Sophie scampered off her chair and headed to the kitchen, braids flying behind her.
“She’s a sweet girl.” Gideon glanced between them. “Can I speak freely?”
Lee looked at Genny and she nodded. “Yes.”
“Tell me what’s going on. Zeke came by and said you were out working at a farm for the harvest. You haven’t stepped foot in the restaurant for six months and now you appear with a family in tow and a smile on your face.” Gideon leaned forward. “Lee, I haven’t seen you smile in years.”
Lee couldn’t help but smile again. “I went out there to help Genny. Somehow in all the piles of horse shit and repairs, we sort of found each other.”
Gideon’s brows went up. “Found each other?”
Genny chimed in. “Mr. Blackwood, I don’t know if you knew Henry Blanchard. He was not a good husband or father. When your cousin came to the farm, he showed me what it means to be cared for. I asked him to marry me.”
“What?” Gideon blinked, his blue eyes wider than the plate on the table.
“She did.” Lee shook his head. “I said yes.”
This time it was Gideon’s turn to smile. “You’re getting married?”
“You’re the first to know, but I need to tell Zeke next. Then we’ve got to see Gregory at the church.”
Gideon whooped and picked Lee up into a bear hug, and this time, Lee didn’t shy away. He embraced his cousin and absorbed the love he could finally accept.
The rest of the day was a blur of congratulations and smiles. They never made it to the church to talk to the preacher. Gregory would be there the next day so they decided to gather at the mill for supper. Gabby insisted on cooking for everyone and Genny helped her along with Naomi. Lee stood outside with Jake, Zeke and Gideon as the night creatures serenaded them.
“Married?” Zeke whistled. “I have to say I thought it might happen given the way you were falling for her, but I didn’t expect you to show up a short time later and tell me you were getting married.”
“She proposed to him, did he tell you that?” Gideon teased.
“She did?” Zeke hooted and slapped Lee on the back of the head. “What’s wrong with you? Why didn’t you ask her?”
Lee pushed his brother away, tolerant for the teasing but not willing to get beat on for it. “She asked me first. Besides, I’m getting the better part of this deal. That woman is stronger and braver than me. She’s put me to shame with the steel in that spine of hers.”
The men sobered instantly.
“Things were that bad with Henry?” Jake frowned. “I met him a few times and never liked him. Genny was always silent and Sophie was a shadow behind her.”
“Not just Henry, but a lot of her life.” Lee wasn’t going to reveal what Genny had told him. It wasn’t his right and he didn’t want to betray her confidence. “I never met someone who took on so much shit head-on and didn’t flinch.”
“Then she’s perfect for you because all you do is shovel shit.” Zeke grinned and stepped out of reach when Lee tried to punch him.
“Well, she’s at least chosen the right Devil. She’s too much woman for Gid.” This time Lee did the teasing.
All of them howled with laughter except Gideon. He pointed at Lee. “You’d better watch it, Cornelius. I’ll bet you haven’t even told her about your real name.”
Lee’s blood froze. “You wouldn’t.”
“Oh yes I would!” Gideon ran for the door with Lee hot on his heels. Zeke and Jake tried to trip him, but ended up falling in the door behind him.
Genny heard a commotion by the front of the house, but didn’t pay much attention. The men were outside drinking whiskey and talking. Naomi made her feel as if she were already her sister-in-law. The blonde woman was so beautiful, it made Genny’s eyes hurt to look at her for too long.
While Genny mashed the potatoes, Naomi set the table and Gabby sliced the roast. Beef twice in one day was almost sinful, but Genny wasn’t about to refuse.
With a gigantic crash, the four men tumbled into the kitchen like a pack of puppies, punching, laughing and hollering at each other. She couldn’t figure out what was so funny about acting foolish, but Gabby smiled while Naomi shook her head.
“What are you doing? Get up off my floor.” Gabby waggled her finger at them. “You’re tracking in mud, and God knows I don’t want to clean it up.”
“It’s his fault, Gabby.” Jake pointed at Lee. “He went after Gid and dragged me and Zeke into it.”
“Why you redheaded liar! I did no such thing. Gid was going to tell Genny and I—” He stopped and stared at her, mouth open.
Genny raised her brows, waiting for him to explain exactly what they were doing and why he wanted to stop Gideon. “I’m all ears, Misters Blackwood.”
“That leaves me out.” Jake climbed to his feet, shaking off Lee’s hold on his ankle.
Lee frowned up at Jake, then turned to push Zeke’s legs off his. “Get off me.” He looked guilty when he glanced at Genny. “It’s nothing, really.”
Zeke got to his feet and helped Gideon up off the floor. Both of them watched Lee with identical smirks.
“Is that right?” Gideon brushed off the front of his trousers. “Then you tell her.”
Genny didn’t know what to expect, but apparently the rest of them did. It couldn’t be that bad, could it?
“Yeah, go ahead and tell her.” Zeke smiled at Naomi. “You’d be surprised at how sexy your name can sound when it’s whispered in the dark.”
Naomi blushed and winked at her husband. Now Genny was really intrigued. What was Lee hiding?
He took her elbow and led her out to the mill where the machines were blessedly still for the night. She was starting to get nervous when he paced back and forth in front of the huge wheel while he ran his hand down his face.
“Just tell me, dammit.”
He let out a huge sigh. “My real name isn’t Lee.”
“Is that all? That’s the big secret that had you tussling on the ground like a five-year-old?” Relief washed over her. “Is it something horrible?”
“It’s a big deal to me and Zeke. You see, our father wanted us to be pious men so he gave us Biblical names. We hated them and thought of short versions to use.” Lee shrugged. “It became a game of sorts, make each other loco by using the real ones. I guess I kind of got lost in the memory of it.”
She approached him and stopped the mad pacing with one touch on his chest. “There is absolutely nothing you can be named that would make me walk out that door. Although if your name was Delores, I might have to think about it.” Genny chuckled as she pulled him close, pressing her belly into his, feeli
ng the twitch of his cock beneath the trousers she’d made for him. “So are you going to tell me?”
Moments passed and she thought perhaps she needed to step back, concerned his first name would affect their marriage, silly as it sounded.
“Cornelius.”
Genny had no idea about Biblical names since she’d never heard or read the Bible, but it didn’t sound too bad to her. “I like it. Maybe your brother is right. We should test it out in the dark.” She leaned forward, pushing her breasts into his chest, then leaned up to whisper, “Cornelius.”
He shivered against her. Apparently Zeke wasn’t mistaken at all.
“Say it again.” His voice was husky with need.
She reached up to kiss him. “Cornelius.” Genny lapped at his lips and he crushed her to him, hard and fast. Her body heated immediately, growing damp between her legs, her nipples hardening almost painfully. “We can’t do this here,” she breathed against his lips.
“I can’t wait, Genny. I need you.” It was the first time he’d ever admitted to her that he needed anything, much less to join with her.
She couldn’t refuse.
He led her deeper into the mill so they were hidden from view by the giant wheel. Hopefully his family would leave them alone, thinking they were discussing Cornelius. She almost laughed at the silliness of it, but then he pressed his very hard cock against her and she wasn’t feeling humorous any longer.
“Pull up your dress, God, hurry, Genny, hurry.”
She heard him yanking at his trouser buttons, ones she’d made big enough to handle with one hand. She pulled up her dress and yanked down her drawers. She’d sewn up the slits in all her drawers years earlier to make Henry’s access that much more difficult.
Genny made a note to open the slits back up for her new husband.
As she bent forward to take off the cotton drawers, her cheek brushed against his cock. He was hot, so hot, and harder than steel. She laved his staff, but he hauled her up before she could do more.
“Much as I love your mouth on me, darlin’, I need to be inside you. Now.” He pushed her up against the wall, and she wrapped her legs around him. His right arm made a shelf for her ass, even as he moved in. “Put it in, Genny.”
She reached between them and guided the throbbing erection to her willing pussy. He entered her with one hard thrust. Genny’s breath caught in her throat as her body closed around him in utter satisfaction.
Yes, yes, yes. This was perfect, this was meant to be.
Genny braced herself on the beams around her as his mouth captured hers in a fiery kiss. His tongue twined with hers as he began to move. The angle allowed him to enter her completely, to fill her until she couldn’t tell where he ended and she began.
“You feel so good.” He pumped into her, keeping her pinned to the wall behind her. She pushed down with each thrust up, taking him all.
Genny bit his lip as her body began to contract with release. She’d never had an orgasm with a man inside her, until Lee. She’d never had an orgasm within minutes of having him inside her, until now. It was as if her body knew he was her soul mate, her perfect match, and took the joy along with the emotions to form a perfect song of pleasure.
“Now, Genny. Now,” he whispered roughly. His whiskers scraped against her neck as he fucked her fiercely, so hard her head banged against the wall. He came with a husky groan and within seconds her body responded in kind.
Waves of ecstasy shook her, stretching out the pure bliss as it washed over her skin like a hard summer rain. She bucked against him, her nails digging into the wood beams. The only sound she heard was the frantic beating of her heart and the short staccato breaths she managed to suck in.
“Holy shit.”
She chuckled softly. “Holy shit indeed, Cornelius.”
He pressed his forehead into her breasts. “Now that was, ah, a perfect way to spend five minutes.”
Lee let her down slowly until her legs could support her, wobbly as they were. Genny and Lee took a few minutes to try to straighten their clothes, then he suggested walking out to the river to perform a discreet wash. Genny followed him outside, where the sound of the river was soothing. He showed her a small pool beside the mill where water had been warmed by the afternoon sun.
The water was perfect temperature by then, not too warm but cool enough on her heated flesh. The very fact they’d been inside fucking against the wall in the mill made a short laugh escape.
“Something funny?” He was barely discernible in the gloom around them.
“No, just a happy thought.” She took his arm as they walked back to the mill. “Life is just so perfect, Lee. I just want to keep it tucked close to my chest and hang on.”
He tightened his grip on her arm. “Yeah, me too.”
Supper was a lively affair with everyone teasing, laughing and enjoying the feast. Toasts were made in Genny and Lee’s honor. She couldn’t remember ever being so relaxed and happy. Lee’s family was wonderful and she already felt connected to them.
When a knock sounded at the door during dessert, none of them expected Margaret to be standing in the doorway. She looked at Gideon and Lee with enough worry to make Genny’s stomach flip.
Gabby took Margaret’s hand. “Please, come in. Do you want some coffee or peach pie? It’s not nearly as good as yours but—”
“No, I need to talk to Lee and Gideon.” She nodded toward the door. “Outside please.”
Genny stood as the men did. “I’m coming too.”
Margaret looked at Lee and he nodded. “Okay. Let’s all go outside.”
Genny’s heart thumped, wondering what it was that made Margaret leave the restaurant during the supper crowd to find Lee and Gideon. The fireflies lit up the night as Margaret paced on the porch.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your meal.”
“Get on it with it, Margaret. We know each other better than to apologize.” Gideon put his hands on his hips. “What’s going on?”
“There’s a woman and a man in the restaurant. She says her name is Camille.” Margaret shot a glance at Genny. “And the man with her is named Willard. She’s looking for Henry Blanchard.”
The world seemed to open up and swallow Genny whole as she tried to hold on to something. She looked at Lee and everything started turning black, then the ground rushed up at her.
Lee carried her upstairs to his old room, catching Cindy Cooley in the hallway apparently returning from the washroom. He didn’t have time to reassure her or even talk to her, so he just brushed past the startled, pale blonde. Gideon’s murmur followed Lee into the room.
“It’s okay, Cindy. Lee’s intended just had a bit of a spell. We’re going to let her lie down for a while.”
Lee laid Genny on the bed, concerned that she’d actually fainted. Fainted! The woman could hire thugs to kill a man, but fainted on the front porch after hearing about a woman named Camille. Who’d have thought that would have sent her into a fit of vapors?
He brushed the curls away from her face and felt her forehead. Her skin was cool and clammy to the touch, her breathing a bit ragged.
“What do you need?” Gideon hovered in the doorway.
“Cool water, a cloth and quiet.”
“Be right back.” Gideon disappeared in a wink, leaving Lee with an unconscious Genny.
There weren’t many things in life that frightened Lee. Not many he’d admit to anyway, but seeing Genny like this made him scared out of his wits. She was so strong, but maybe just tired. After all she worked really hard every day. Another horrible thought hit him—perhaps it was the rough sex in the mill. He hadn’t intended on fucking her against the wall, but once they started, well, he didn’t seem to be able to stop especially after the way she said Cornelius.
He stifled a hysterical laugh at the thought. Taking her in the mill was a stupid thing to do really and if it caused her harm, he’d never forgive himself. Gideon returned in moments with a pitcher, basin and a clean rag. He set them down on
the floor beside the bed and poured the water into the basin to soak the cloth. Lee took the cloth from him and gently wiped her face.
Gideon left them alone while Lee wrestled with his own guilt. Perhaps he’d already ruined what had been gifted to him. Gabby poked her head in the door.
“Let me sit with her, Lee. Margaret’s about to wear a hole in the front porch so you need to get downstairs and talk to her.”
Lee looked down at Genny, so pale and small on the bed. Gabby put her hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, I’ll take care of her, I promise.”
With a reluctant nod, he stood and left the room, ready to find out just who this Camille was and what she wanted. He found Zeke, Jake and Gideon outside with Margaret.
“I’m going to the restaurant to find out what’s going on. Will you come with me?” he asked Gideon.
“No need to even ask.” Gideon was once again their captain. “Jake, you stay here with the women. Zeke, you come with us as sheriff of Tanger. We don’t know what this woman’s game is and I’d like the law there to witness whatever happens.”
They split up, doing as he bade them. The three men walked in silence to the restaurant, Margaret trying to keep up with their long strides.
“If you’d slow down, I could catch my breath and tell you what I know.” Margaret came to a stop and sucked in a lungful of air.
“I’m sorry.” Gideon put his hand on her shoulder. “Matthew would have my hide if I did that in front of him. No need for your new husband to throw canned goods at my head.”
Lee thought about what Gideon said. “Husband?”
“Yes, you fool. If you took your head out of your ass once in a while, you’d know that Matthew and Margaret got married four months ago.” Zeke folded his arms across his chest and glared. “You’ve been hiding from the world at that mill for too long.”
“Well I’m not hiding now, am I?” Lee snapped at him. “Don’t you go judging me now, brother.”
“I ain’t judging you. You’re just—”
“Stop it, both of you.” Margaret huffed out an impatient breath. “Now I know we didn’t part on the best of terms, Lee, but I wish you well with your new lady. I’m happy with my choice and I love him dearly. Now let’s move on, okay?”
Lee: Devils on Horseback, Book 4 Page 13
