“This is more than a scratch sister. I don't know if I can fix this!”
“Try anyway and if not, we can ask for the doctor.”
Leah cleaned it and put on a new cloth to help keep it clean. From looking at the wound in a mirror, it looked to Amanda that she was grazed by a bullet. She did not tell that to Leah – it was bad enough that her sister was upset by it. Fortunately, the crease the bullet made did not seem to require stitches. Once it was bandaged, Amanda felt better and convinced Leah she would be fine.
* * * * *
The rest of the day went well for the both of them, given what had happened. They ended up selling some sheep to Blackrock and he promised to look in on them from time to time. Leah of course was enchanted by him.
“Isn't he just charming Amanda?” she questioned as they both were making dinner.
“Indeed, he is. Handsome too, I noticed,” she told her with a grin. Her attempt to smile caused a tug at her wound so she eased up on it.
“He seems interested in you!” Leah said.
“I mean he is handsome, but I am not interested in a man right now. You can have him!”
Leah giggled a little. Amanda always found her sister’s shyness around the topic of men and dating adorable. Naive, but adorable. Leah was two years younger and Amanda was only twenty-two years old herself. Unlike Leah though, Amanda had had a few discrete encounters with gentlemen out of curiosity, mostly, so she was not as inexperienced as Leah. The two-year age difference had always seemed a big difference to Amanda.
“Do you really think I should throw my cap at his feet Amanda?”
Amanda shrugged as they placed the food on the table.
“Actually I don't think you will have to, Leah. I would wager he will be pursuing you my dear. He seemed quite smitten with your lovely self.”
Only time would tell, Leah thought.
Leah said the evening prayers and they began to eat dinner.
Chapter Two
Amanda heard gunshots and rolled out of bed. She almost called out for Leah but remembered she was in town, making the final arrangements for her wedding. She moved quietly to the front of the house and once again grabbed her father’s Winchester. This time she stayed inside and went to the window.
The sun was just coming up and lightening the area as she waited. There was another shot and then silence. She cocked the gun, looking everywhere for a sign of the gunmen. After a moment she could see him coming from the west over field from the direction of Elkland's homestead. Then she saw the second man, traveling behind him.
She wanted to make sure they were sheep killers before she killed them.
They were in the clearing not far from the post road on that side, away from any brush when one took aim at one of her sheep. That was all she needed.
Amanda fired once, cocked the gun, fired again. Both men were thrown from their horses to the ground. She gazed at them to see if any of them were still alive. She heard rapid hooves and saw three riders come pelting up the post road
Amanda was in her nightgown, but opened the door anyway and shouted to them what happened, pointing to the men she had shot. They hurried over immediately and she ran back to her room to change.
It was the first time in three weeks that they had had any trouble and thought that theft was over for good. Apparently they were wrong.
I guess not, she said softly to herself and she pulled on her britches. Once she was dressed she tied back her hair and took a quick look in the mirror. The bullet wound was now a pink scar that ran from the corner of her eyes back across her temple into her hair. She had a feeling the scar was going to be permanent. This was a slight blow to her vanity, but she shrugged it away as she had more important matters to deal with.
Amanda made sure her blouse was buttoned up far enough to cover any immodest views of her ample cleavage and went out to see the men out front.
“Well ma’am, they are dead, that’s for sure?” Rodney, her chief hand asked as she walked up to the bodies.
As usual the men didn’t have any distinguishing marks that she recognized either. She had hit the man on the right dead in the heart. She frowned slightly because she initially wounded the one on the left which explained why he moved some afterward, Amanda thought, taking him longer to die. He looked strange to her. His head was at odd angle. She crouched down to look closer.
“I think his neck broke in the fall Miss Amanda. At least that's what it looks like. You shot ‘em off their horses, right?” She glanced back at him and nodded.
“Send someone to Blackrock and inform them we got two more, and that no one here was hurt.”
“Will do.”
“Thanks Rodney.” Amanda went back inside.
Amanda decided to take her mind off what had just happened. There wasn't anything else to do around the house and she began to think about her sister’s upcoming nuptials. Yet the second man she shot remained in her mind. He had to have been in agony. Amanda shook her head trying to dispel that thought. It was not easy, especially since there was something else that was bothering her about the incident but she could not put her finger on what it was.
Her sister’s wedding was to be held at Jake Blackrock's ranch; a big and much fancier place than the Morgan sisters’ home. Amanda was the maid of honor and also the bridesmaid. All of their childhood friends had moved away and they had few others in town so she got to play dual roles in the wedding which she considered to be an honor.
Blackrock had moved fast, and after only a month of courting Leah, he had proposed to her as Amanda knew he would. Her sister was beautiful and would make the perfect wife for him, she thought. Jake liked Leah's meekness and abilities in the home, all of those things Amanda lacked. Fortunately, Amanda liked herself that way, or at least tried to convince herself.
With all of the marriage talk and her sister’s happiness she had begun to wonder if she would ever get married.
* * * * *
It was the day of Leah’s wedding. Amanda made her way to town to try on the bridesmaid dresses which was custom made for her in the early hours of the morning.
“Oh Amanda you really look so beautiful in a such a lovely gown!”
“Thanks Leah, although I don’t feel it looks that great on me. Not half as good as you, at least but this it is your wedding and it would be rude for me to outshine you on your special day.” They both laughed and hugged.
“Are you happy sis?” Amanda asked in a serious tone. Leah's smile said it all.
“So happy, you can't even imagine. I hope someday you will find this amazing bliss too!”
Amanda again wondered if she ever would as others didn’t see her as marriage material.
“So when does the dancing start?” Amanda asked.
“Soon, I hope. Jake is taking care of some business. No matter how hard he tried, some business had to be taken care of today. He said it would not be long.”
Amanda liked that Jake was so practical. He made a good match for Leah that way.
Jake returned just in time for the celebration. There was delicious food, dancing and a good time was had by all. Amanda met their neighbors more formally and was unable to decide if any of them were involved with the troubles the Morgan land was having but decided not to focus on that on her sister’s wedding day. Only good times and good thoughts on this day, she thought to herself.
Chapter Three
Leah watched her husband enter their bedroom. The guests were gone and the night was theirs. Finally, I can have him all to myself, Leah thought. Although she had enjoyed the wedding ceremony and celebration very much, this was the part of wedding that she was looking forward to.
Amanda had teased her about being a virgin, however she felt at ease with Jake. She was eager to consummate their wedding once and for all.
Jake began to take off his jacket, smiling at her. His handsome face, the lamplight sparkling in his dark eyes and the strength in his body turned her on. They had shared many a kiss and she wa
s looking forward to many more with him tonight. Leah was sitting on the bed and he walked over smiling, undoing his shirt. Leah began unlacing her petticoats.
“I have waited so long for this my love. From the first moment I saw you, I knew it was you I wanted.” her husband told her. Leah felt tears and desire coming over her.
“I am so glad Jake. My darling, for I too loved you the moment you rode up to save us. I am so glad you chose me; I know Amanda is better looking than me in many ways.”
“There was no chance my lovely. She is certainly a beautiful woman, but I was made for you as you are for me, and you are the most beautiful woman in the world. I am constantly amazed that you are mine.
. As he moved near her, his naked chest so muscled and alluring to her, she trembled slightly with her desire. She could smell his maleness and felt a need that she had never felt before and it was for him. All of him.
As her clothes fell to the floor they moved towards the bed and lay back on it. As she lay, he positioned himself above her on one arm, next to her and he reached forward and cupped her cheek, leaning in to kiss her lips. She eagerly received him. His hand moved down over her naked body, caressing trails of tingling desire. She moved to unbuckle his belt as he explored between her thighs, which she opened readily for him. His lips on her breasts were like a fire she did not want put out. His hand between her thighs made her so wet. This feels so right, she thought to herself.
She moaned uncontrollably and soon he was moaning right along with her as they kissed each other and explored each other’s bodies.
“Oh yes Jake, yes! Take me right now!” She gasped and his hardened cock entered her waiting center of pleasure and it filled her completely as he rose and came back down, over and over causing her to squeal and moan with complete abandon, feeling more pleasure than she could have ever believed was possible. They both came at the same time. She felt so complete and satisfied with pleasure in a way that felt completely unreal.
* * * * *
Leah's life continued in what she considered a perfect way. She managed the house and all of its affairs and Jake handled the business of the land and. They were great partners in life and in bed. Leah was always amazed at the joy she felt when they spent time in their wonderful bed making love on a daily basis.
Traditionally when two people got married, the property and possessions technically came under the ownership of the husband. Leah had no problem with her share going to Jake because she knew he would do right by the land. She did not, however, want her sister to lose out on anything. Their father had left the land to both of them. Fortunately, Amanda did not have a problem with Jake being a part of the family in that way. Jake too was content with Amanda staying at their sheep farm and running things. He just would make suggestions from time to time and let her run it. It was a good agreement that worked for everyone, especially now, as Leah was two months pregnant and beginning to show.
Jake came back from the grazing land just as dinner was ready. He checked and made sure she was ok, as usual, and then they sat to dinner.
“So how did your day go Jake?”
He smiled and swallowed the bread he had been chewing on.
“Good my love. I saw Amanda today and she had a thought. Remember that time, just before our wedding, when she shot those two sheep killers outside the Morgan ranch?” Leah nodded. She had been very proud of her sister. It was an amazing shot.
“She said something bothered her about it and she thinks she knows what it was. The second man she shot, she saw him move afterward, but Rodney had said his neck appeared broke in the fall.”
“Yes, I remember that, she was very puzzled over it.” He nodded.
“Indeed and she said she believes from the way the neck looked broke, there was no way he could have moved. Men with severely broken necks do not move around afterward, yet she saw him move.”
“Ok dear, then either Amanda was mistaken or Rodney. Which made me think back.” Her husband said. “I remember the angle of the body when I went to the ranch. The break was severe enough to kill him, even if the bullet hadn't been. I’m convinced that if Amanda said she saw him move, she was right. There are many things your sister may not be the best at, but when it comes to an emergency like that, I have no doubt that would remember every detail.”
“So what do we do?” Leah asked.
“Amanda wants to set a trap for him because if someone killed that man before the bullet did, it was to prevent Amanda from getting information from him. I believe that Rodney is an inside man with whomever is after the Morgan Ranch. I feel we are definitively on the right track to finally catching the culprit. Amanda is going to wait before doing anything in the hopes she can find out who he works for.” She smiled at him happily and he returned it.
“She will be ok?” Leah asked.
“I think she’ll be fine. She’s a tough cookie as you know”.
Immediately, Leah began to feel a cramp and winced. They had been coming stronger today and she had not expected it. It passed slowly and everything felt better. It was not long though before she felt another one.
The cramps continued into the evening becoming stronger and stronger. She finally sent Jake out to get the Doc, but by the time he got back with him, she was bleeding.
It was only a few hours after that that the doctor informed her that she had lost the baby.
Chapter Four
Amanda awoke in a great mood. She had taken a solid step in finding out about Rodney. She had not wanted the man to know her suspicions because she needed him to find out who was trying to get her land.
Two days prior she ran into a childhood friend who was back in town to look for a job. They had lunch and she told him about what had been going on in her life and caught up on his. He had grown up a lot since they had last saw each other as had she yet they realized that they were still just as good of friends as before when they were kids.
She offered him a job on the sheep ranch and he agreed to do it. Looking after Rodney to see what could be learned was part of the job. He understood the risks and did not have a problem with it.
After lunch she had gone home to find a way to let Rodney know she had a new hire for him and Rodney saved her the trouble. He waved as she rode up and came over as she dismounted and began taking the saddle off of her horse, Minny.
“Miss Amanda, may I have a word?”
“Of course Rodney, any time. What can I do for you?” She responded naturally. She swung the saddle up on the fence railing for a moment and pulled off the saddle blanket.
“I was wondering if we can afford another hand? The attacks have slowed down and we could use the extra help now that we are doing better.” Amanda was amazed and pleased with the opening.
“That is a great idea Rodney and you bring to mind a friend of mine who I have heard could use the work. He will fit right in. Thank you for bringing the subject up, I will have him out tomorrow!” Rodney had smiled his thanks looking less than enthusiastic about her choosing the new ranch hand, but he couldn't protest. Amanda was always particular about who worked on her land and Rodney knew it. So by the next day, Hernandez, her childhood friend had arrived on the ranch.
Everything was going smoothly until several hours after the sun was up a rider came in telling her she had to get to Blackrock as quickly as possible, it was an emergency. As soon as he spoke she knew something bad happened, just not what and the messenger was not telling. She went to saddle Minnie and Hernandez was already taking care of it. He strapped the bridle gear on and passed the reins over.
“Let me know if you need anything.” Was his kind request. Then she was riding hard across the plains, not wanting to waste time on the road and Minnie could handle it. She got there and she found out about her sister’s miscarriage. It felt like she had been kicked in the stomach. She walked in alone to her sister’s room and Jake excused himself looking like a beaten man. Leah gazed at her sadly and Amanda could see her lips lift slightly and then fall, tr
ying to smile. As usual she as trying to make things easier for Amanda.
“Stop that.” She told Leah moving over to sit on the bed and take her hand.
“It is my turn to help you. You do not have to make me feel better.” She tugged her forward into a hug and she dissolved into a flood of tears and Amanda joined her. It had been since their father had died that they had cried together like this, Amanda thought, trying to sniff back tears. She encouraged Leah to let it out.
“It’s ok sis. You deserve the right to cry, let it flow, it will be good for you.” Amanda remembered actually feeling a little better after her sobbing breakdown over her father’s death. She did not know if the rules would be the same for the loss of a child, but it was worth a try, anything to help Leah. When they had cried themselves out, they sat, holding hands in silence for a long while. Amanda had no idea what to say and knew anything she did say would not help her grieving sister. So she sat in silence. It was not long before her exhausted sister slowly fell asleep. The first time since she had started feeling the pain. Amanda left her sleeping and went out to see Jake.
Jake was sitting at the dining table with a drink in front of him. It did not look like he had touched it. He just stared at it. He looked drained. His sparkling eyes no longer sparkled and his shoulders slumped. Dejection showed in every line of his usual robust shape.
“Leah is sleeping. You need to do some of that too Jake. It would be good if you are there for her when she wakes as well.” He nodded and looked back to the drink.
“How am I supposed to handle this? Our baby is gone and Leah.” He choked off his words. Amanda understood. Seeing the usually vibrant Leah like that was a shock and frightening to those that loved her.
“Just be there for each other. There is nothing else you can do that I know of. What did the Doc say?” he sighed.
“The same thing. He gave us something to help sleep, but Leah won't take it. She does not like how that sort of medicine feels.” Amanda nodded again. She knew Leah did not like most medicine for that reason.
Romance: Yes, Stepbrother! Page 23
