by Reece Butler
Having seen how the people in Climax behaved, she realized the people she’d grown up next to weren’t her family. They were just people to whom she was related by blood. She’d received far more caring and concern from strangers since punching Sam Elliott in the nose, than she had in the entire time she lived with her parents.
Matilda had made it clear Uncle Walter did not want her back. Except for Gran, the Winterbournes were now part of her past. It was up to her to craft her future. She took a couple of nuggets from the jar on the desk and lined them up. There was likely enough gold to send her on her way in style. Not that she would take any. They felt heavy and cool in her hand, though warmed quickly. Sam had been cool as well, though he’d warmed to her. Even a heart of gold was still a rock. Could Sam ever love freely? And if so, could he love her?
She wanted a family who loved, laughed, chastised, and interfered, all with positive intentions. She wanted a community that cared. Madison, a very pregnant teenager staying with the MacDougals, told her how her own parents wanted her to keep her baby so they could use her as their housekeeper and maid. Jet, Lila’s fiancé, had helped Madison find a couple to adopt her baby. She would go back to school, and to college. Madison had told her about another girl named Savannah and her genius siblings who, thanks to Jane’s husband Houston starting a scholarship program, would finally receive opportunities matching their abilities. When Madison was ready for college, she would get the benefit as well.
Katie wanted to live in Climax, sharing her life with people who cared. She wanted Sam and Trey Elliott to be part of her life, but unless they wanted her the same way, it didn’t matter. Considering she’d just prepared an online advertisement so Sam could attract a wife, it was not likely he wanted her to stay.
Trey did, but not Sam. Could she stay here and watch them marry another? None of the other sets of bachelors interested her as more than friends. Should she slink away, losing her friends in the town because Sam Elliott was too stubborn to open his heart? The man didn’t even have a dog in case he got too attached and it died.
“Sam is not going to get rid of me that easily!”
Ms. Katherine Winterbourne would have ducked her head and slipped away in her expensive boring skirt suit and silk blouse, not wishing to be a nuisance. Rough, tough Katie would stay and fight for what she wanted. And that meant Sam and Trey Elliott in her arms, her heart, and her bed.
“And bent over the table, up on the counter, and everywhere else!”
Her pussy purred in reply. She couldn’t sit still, not feeling like this. She needed to do some hard physical work. She’d cleaned the house, except for one room. After being locked for a decade it needed a lot of work.
The thought of going into that room made her heart thud. She wiped damp hands on her jeans. The room, and the things in it, both frightened and aroused her. What she’d told Matilda had come from her fantasies, not reality. Sam had told her not to clean it until he’d checked it out thoroughly. It was ridiculous to think she’d get hurt washing floors or dusting furniture.
Sam said they’d be gone for hours, and would get lunch elsewhere. She’d clean it now, while they were out. That way they wouldn’t be looking over her shoulder while she worked. She could also take time to investigate everything. After all, Keith Adams wanted to make this type of furniture. They couldn’t complain if it was all clean, and she was safe, when they returned. The worst they could do would be to spank her.
A delicious shiver made her pussy spasm at the thought.
She collected a bucket of water with oil soap, as well as dusting cloths and polishing rags. She set the bucket down inside the door and looked around, eyes wide. Where to start?
The big wooden cross looked scary, so she went there first. It wasn’t just an X. It had a shield-like middle with a padded place to put her face. She did so, discovering it rested against the edges of her forehead and cheeks, leaving her nose and mouth free so she could breathe. The metal rings at the top could be used to tie her hands up. There was also one in the middle. For her neck? She reached as high as she could with the dusting cloth. The top ends of the X, beyond her reach, had large cup hooks on them. Something was to hang from them. Floggers and paddles? She wouldn’t be able to easily reach them, but Sam and Trey could.
What would it be like to be tied here, naked? She shivered in anticipation before turning to the red padded bench. It had two parts, one lower than the other. She washed down the padded surface then dried it. It wouldn’t be a chair, since the guys would want her butt in the air. A spanking bench?
The thought made her pussy twitch. Since no one was home and they’d never know, she knelt on the lower part. The top was the perfect height to lie her torso across. She lifted her shirt, revealing her swollen breasts. She leaned forward, dragging her erect nipples across the chilly surface. She stretched her arms out, pretending she was naked, legs spread, her men behind her. One of them could kneel on the bench between her legs and thrust into her.
Katie groaned at the shock of pleasure that hit at the thought. She knelt and played with her breasts, squeezing them and pinching her nipples.
“Work first, pleasure second,” she said, copying Sam.
She wiped the sides of the bench with her damp cloth, discovering lots of rings to tie ropes to. Some had double-ended connectors hanging from them, ready to have things clipped to them.
When she finished the room she was hot and sweaty, and needed a shower. She decided if they found her here they’d order her to strip. She took her time with the fantasy, pretending she teased them. She dropped her clothes in a heap and, swishing her hips so her thighs rubbed against her pussy, started her shower.
The soap slipped over her skin as if it was their fingers. She groaned. How long before they would come home and she could jump their bones? Did she have to wait? They hadn’t said she shouldn’t come without them, though that was common in Marci’s books.
They weren’t here, and she was so horny…
Chapter Twenty-Five
Sam twisted the steering wheel to the right. It felt strange to do so at the end of the lane. He hadn’t driven to the RB Connected in a long while. It was faster to ride. He and Trey took care of the RB cattle because both ranches belonged to the Elliotts. No one had lived there for years, or even visited, since his aunt and uncle died. Not even Princess Ashley. He opened the windows to let in fresh air, hoping it would clear his head.
“Damn that Trey!”
He didn’t want to lose Katie. Not now, and not in ten years. But unless he accepted her now he’d not get ten more days with her. If she didn’t have a job in Oregon he could offer her accommodation until she found a new one. Maybe in a few more weeks he’d feel confident enough to show he cared for her.
What if she left, just like that?
The whole town would blame him for pushing her away. He’d be in deep trouble. Tom White would be disappointed. That would hurt a lot. Dorothy might be so mad she’d bar him from the Roadhouse. He’d miss the food, but their disappointment in him would hurt more.
“Dammit!”
He slammed his hand against the steering wheel. He misjudged and hit the horn. High-pitched yelps replied.
“What the…?”
He carefully applied the brakes, then slowly reversed back to where he’d heard the sound. It had been a long time since he’d found unwanted pets dropped off. Predators easily took down family pets, especially young ones. He looked around, checking the ditch for movement. Was that a cardboard box? He put the truck in park, turned it off, and got out, leaving the door open. It was silent except for wind blowing past his ears. He squinted to sift between the shadows of scrubby trees and tall grass. A low whine made him pause. He whistled, as if calling a dog. A couple of yips replied off to his left, toward the river. He spotted the cardboard box near the water and headed toward it. One corner was in the water.
“Hey, pup,” he said soothingly. The lid bounced as if a head tried to open it. He scrambled dow
n the bank to the box. “Anybody in there?” he asked before carefully lifting the lid. Three furry bodies looked at him, blinking at the light.
Puppies. Some bastard had dumped a box of puppies as if they were trash!
One managed to stand, though the others could barely lift their heads. All three were filthy. His eyes teared up at their fearful yet pleading looks.
“Some people ought to be horsewhipped!” He wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve. “That box is falling apart. I’ll get something from the truck for you.”
He turned to go. A pitiful howl made him look back. The stronger one stood over the others, protecting them. The weaker two had dropped their heads again, as if they’d given up, thinking he’d abandoned them. He couldn’t walk away, even as far as the truck. He stripped off his shirt and set it on dry grass beside the box. He gently ran his hands over them, looking for injuries. One had a sore paw, another’s ribs were tender, as if it had been kicked. The strong one watched carefully, ready to attack if needed. Sam checked him last.
“Aw, shit.” The dog’s tail had been chopped off a couple inches from his butt. The cut was too clean for it to be accidental. “If I find out who did this, Uncle Lance and I will be using those knives he keeps for special occasions.”
He wiped away more tears. There was no reason for him to cry over a trio of abandoned, abused puppies. He was a man, a rough, tough rancher. Yet seeing these three dogs made his heart hurt. Trey was right. He didn’t want to feel like this. If a couple of puppies made him bawl like a baby, how would he feel if Katie was hurt?
He transferred the dogs into his shirt and gathered them up. Supporting their scrawny bodies between his chest and arms, he made his way to the truck. The strong one licked his cheek. The others tried to lick his hands. He placed them in the front seat, glad he’d left the door open. He tucked an extra blanket around them to help them warm up and so they wouldn’t fall off the seat.
“Hey, pups, I have to pick up two buddies then I’ll take you to the vet. We’ll find out what’s the matter, get you all fixed up, and we’ll find you homes. Don’t know who wants a dog, much less three of them, but we’ll find you a forever home. I promise.”
Sniffling, he drove up to the long-abandoned house at the end of the road. A new board on the front step showed the guys had done some work already, though there was a lot more to be done.
“Shotgun!” yelled Hunter, running out the door and leaping off the porch as if they were still kids. He yanked open the passenger door and looked down. The healthier dog growled up at him. “What the hell?”
“Shh, he’s a friend,” said Sam as he carefully rubbed the dog’s ears. “Some bastard dumped them by the river. I just found them. I have to make a detour to the vet before dropping you off.”
The truck rocked as Hunt slid into the passenger seat. “No worries. This is more important.”
Dax strolled over to the truck. “What’s up?”
“We got an emergency situation here,” said Hunter.
Dax looked past Hunt. His face got hard. Sam was reminded of why he liked to have these two buddies at his back when there was a brawl at a rodeo bar. The man could scare a grizzly into backing off.
“We heading to the vet?” asked Dax as he climbed into the back seat. The truck rocked once more.
“Yep.”
“Then get going, boy!”
Hunter and Dax, the latter leaning over the seat, made friends with the pups while Sam drove into town. The men growled under their breath when he told them about the injuries and chopped tail. He didn’t recognize the truck parked at the veterinary clinic, but it wasn’t important as long as someone was there to help. Each man carried a dog inside. A stranger about his age greeted them. He looked vaguely familiar.
“Where’s Doc Williams?” asked Sam. He had the weakest pup, a female. She cuddled against him, trembling with cold and fear.
“I’m filling in while he’s looking for a place to retire in Arizona,” replied the stranger. He beckoned for them to follow him into the examination room. “I’m Mike Chambers. You might know my brother, Luke. Josh Gibson hired him on as Deputy.” He motioned to the metal table. “You can put them down here.”
“Sorry, Doc, these puppies are too cold and scared for that,” said Sam. “This one has a sore paw, and Hunter’s got the one with bruised ribs. Dax’s pup had his tail chopped off, likely by the bastard who dumped them by the river.”
“Thank God you found them in time.” The vet got out an old blanket. He folded it and set it on the table. “If you set them down here, and hold onto them so they feel safe, I can work more easily.”
After the vet checked the puppies it took the four of them to bathe and dry them. They were skinny and hungry, but basically healthy. They ate and drank well, and then fell asleep in a pile in a big cage lined with the soft blanket. Doc Chambers would keep them for a bit before giving them their shots.
“What are they?” asked Dax.
“Border collie mostly, though their thick fur suggests some husky in the mix,” said Doc Chambers.
“Their feet are big,” said Hunter. “That means the dogs will be, too, right?”
“I expect so. You know anyone who can take three pups?”
“They’re coming home with me,” said Sam. The words appeared without thought but when he heard himself say it, he knew it was right.
“Good!” Dax grinned. “You’ve been needing a dog for a long, long time.” He slapped Sam on the back. “Congratulations. When that little woman of yours gets fed up with you and moves over to our bed, you and Trey won’t be alone.”
“Katie’s not going anywhere,” said Sam, narrowing his eyes in warning.
“She will unless you and Trey can promise her more than sex and housework.”
Sam’s face flashed with heat. Luckily the vet had his head down, scrubbing the table. Sam realized he was scrubbing the parts he’d just gone over. Sam groaned to himself. Maybe because the vet was a stranger the comment wouldn’t be all over town by supper time.
Yeah, and maybe Katie would be waiting for them, naked and eager, when he and Trey returned from the meeting.
Much to Sam’s surprise, Keith Adams didn’t condemn them for arriving late. The general consensus was that an animal in need came before humans any time. Sam got a lot of ribbing about trying to one-up Jet and Houston’s twins by finding triplets to start his new family. He and Trey drove home in separate trucks, Sam following.
Doc Chambers had said the pups would need someone day and night for a couple of weeks. God, he was so pathetic he hoped the puppies would convince Katie to stay. The pups needed her, even if she didn’t need him and Trey. He’d parked and was cursing himself when Trey came over.
“Hunter said you cried over the dogs.” Trey threw the accusation at him.
“Hunter has a big mouth.”
“He’s got a big heart, too. So, is it true? Does the Iceman actually have a heart?”
Sam sagged against the seat. He had a heart, all right. He’d forced it into a cage thinking to protect it, and himself. Instead, he’d let it shrivel in the dark. Hugs, and accepting the love of others, fed a heart. He’d starved his, refusing his family’s love and affection. He was the cause of his own miserable state.
He winced, hating to admit he’d wallowed in self-pity for years, all the time thinking he was protecting those he loved. He rubbed the knuckles of his right hand against the side of his breastbone, above the organ that ached. Admitting what he’d done to his family was humiliating. He deserved whatever Trey, his mom, and the rest of the family threw at him.
Trey had looked up to him for guidance and hope for the future. And he’d shoved him away. A man protected his family, putting himself in danger to keep them alive. He’d been a selfish bastard, pushing away the brother and mother who needed him, afraid to participate yet resenting Trey for enjoying his own life.
It was way past time to man up.
“Yeah, I have a heart, a
nd it hurts like hell,” he admitted. “Those pups were going to die until I heard them and stopped. They looked up at me with hope as well as fear.” He blinked, looking up to stop the flow. “I turned to get something from the truck and the bigger one cried out. I looked back. The other two were ready to give up on me, having had their hopes smashed too often. But though this fella was in pain, and had been treated the same as the others, he wasn’t giving up. He was scared, and hurt, yet still fighting. And when I saw that, something broke inside. I cried like a damn baby.” His eyes started to water again. He sniffed it back.
“That the first time you cried since Dad died?”
Sam wiped his face. He shrugged, which was as close to admitting it as he was ready for.
“It hurts because you saw that pup as yourself as a kid, abandoned by your father’s death, again. Only you gave up, and the dog didn’t.”
“I didn’t give up! I kept working, and—”
“You were like a robot, cold and controlled. Josh said you were like the Terminator, programmed to do a job. And then you met Katie, and she broke through.” A half smile crooked up one side of Trey’s mouth. “Doctor Phil would say that by rescuing the pups, you’ve rescued yourself. Welcome back, brother.”
Trey punched him in the shoulder. Sam rocked sideways, taken by surprise. He glared, but it was half-hearted.
“Where did that bull come from?”
“Mom and I went to a grief counselor, remember?”
Sam rubbed his shoulder. “Yeah? So did I.”
“Once, and I bet you wouldn’t listen to a thing.”
