“It is all my fault, Ruth.” Dave confessed. “I lied and told him you were rich and had inherited your husband’s wealth and properties. I fabricated your fortunes and even went to great measures to keep the lies from being discovered. Tom Franklin sent someone to check out your story and I paid a few townspeople to lie for us. Now, he believes he will gain a fortune upon your death, just like he did his other wives.”
“Why was he not arrested for the first two wives? How can he be free to kill again?”
“Everyone in this town knows that he is guilty but they are helpless to his schemes since he is friends with the sheriff and the women’s family lived too far away to know better. The people around here fear him and will not stand up to the terrifying man.” Dave shook his head as he spoke about Tom.
“But he seems nothing like that. He seems so nice and genuinely kind.” She felt ill at the thought of how good he had made her feel. “I thought he was a good man.”
“He is a lunatic, of course he had you fooled. The man is a con-artist and plays on desperate weak woman like yourself.” Her brother’s words cut into her heart. “But do not fear, I am here now.”
“Why did you let me get on the train, knowing that my life was in danger? You sent your own nephew to a murderer’s home to be caught in the middle of a killer’s plot. How could you do this?”
“I had no choice. I had already sold most of our belongings and what was left of our farm. We would have nothing left if we had turned back then.” He sighed. “I had no choice, sister.”
“Now what?” She grew angry. “Now that we are in the web of a killer, dangling helplessly within his fangs, how do you suppose we get out from his hold?”
“You kill him before he kills you.” Dave grabbed her shoulders and looked directly into her eyes. “Kill the man that will surely take your life, and the life of your son.”
Billy’s face came to her mind, causing panic to overwhelm her.
“Billy.” She jumped to her feet and ran to her young son’s room, fearing that he had been harmed.
Thankfully, the boy was sound asleep in his royal bed, oblivious to the horrible plans going on around him. She would die before she let harm come his way. The boy was all she had left in this world, and no one would take that form her.
“He is safe, for now.” Dave whispered to her. “But how long before Tom decides that your son is a nuisance in his home and to his plan?”
“I won’t let him be harmed.” She said.
“Then you know what you must do.” His whisper sounded louder than thunder in her ear.
Ruth nodded in agreement.
“But you have to wait until after the wedding.” Dave told his sister. “That is the only way your son can have a good life. The inheritance will become yours, and we shall never have to worry about giving Billy a good life again.”
“Alright.” She agreed. “I’ll do it.”
“Good.” He headed towards the door. “I will be around. Never goodbye.”
He crossed his heart.
“Never goodbye.” Ruth crossed her heart the same.
Chapter Six
“Rise and shine!” Mary threw the curtains open and brought in the cruel morning sun.
Ruth squinted as the sun was too bright for her newly opened eyes.
“How did I sleep so late?” Ruth asked as she figured in was probably past breakfast. “Billy must have been exhausted to not get out of bed by now.”
“Oh, Billy woke up hours ago.” Mary said. “He is helping Tom with the pigs on the ranch.”
Shooting out of bed like a cannon ball, Ruth jumped to her feet and rushed out of the bedroom in only her night gown.
“Ruth! Ruth wait!” Mary grabbed her arm. “Please, what is going on?”
“Billy, where is my Billy?” Ruth could hardly breathe as she thought about her son alone with a murderous man like Tom.
“Do not worry. Billy is fine. Tom is great with kids. They only went to feed the pigs.”
“Where are the pigs kept?” Ruth asked.
“Come, have a cup of tea while the boys bond.”
“Where are the damn pigs!” Ruth shook Mary as she yelled into her face.
“The back barn…in the back barn to the right.” Her eyes were wide with fear of Ruth, as she should have been. The mother was ready to knock down anyone who stood in the way of her and her son.
Mary’s grip loosened as she stood shocked by the crazed mother. Ruth pulled away and ran out of the cabin and towards the back of the home. Mary stayed on her tail. Up ahead, to her right, she saw the large barn with the pigs feeding on something.
“No.” She said softly. “Oh, Billy.”
She rushed to the fence around the pigs and feared the worse.
“There.” Mary said as she pointed across the ranch. “There is your boy and Mr. Franklin.”
Ruth looked up and saw Tom and Billy brushing a horse, both too busy to notice her nearby.
“He is okay.” Ruth cried quietly. “Billy is okay.”
“Your son is fine, as I told you.” Mary put her hand on Ruth’s shoulder. “Mr. Franklin is a great man. He would never let harm come to your boy.”
Billy giggled as Tom lifted him up into the air and sat him on the horse.
“Mama!” Billy saw Ruth and called out for her. “Horsey.”
Tom turned to see her. His blue eyes sparkling in the morning sun. How could someone so beautiful be so dangerous? He hardly seemed like a killer as brought Billy down from the horse, tickling him mid-air, and safely setting him down to his feet. The boy ran to his mother and hugged her tight.
“You are in your night gown.” Tom took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. “I wish no one but me to see you like that.”
He winked at her. She hated herself for being attracted to him still.
“She feared for Billy’s safety.” Mary told him. “I assured her that he was in good hands with you.”
“Indeed.” Tom playfully nudged the boy and tickled him once more. “He is great company.”
“Mama, can I see the pigs again?” Billy’s little voice asked.
“Yes, Billy.” Ruth allowed him to go with Tom to the pig sty and throw feed to the pigs.
“Is everything alright, Ruth?” Mary asked as she stood beside her.
“How well do you know Tom?” Ruth asked.
“I have known him for years. My father used to sell chicken to him before I met Robert and moved to the ranch.”
“And do you know of his wives’ deaths? Do you know exactly how it is they passed away?’ Ruth looked to Mary to see the truth in her eyes as she spoke.
“It’s tragic, really. His first wife died only a month after marriage. She got deadly sick one day and died the next. The second wife’s death was even worse, because she fell from a wild horse and died in his arms, only a week after they marriage.” Mary sighed. “The poor man has been through so much. My Robert was there for both deaths. He said that Mr. Franklin is a strong man to make it through such horror.”
Watching Tom and Billy from a distance, Ruth could not imagine him as the man her brother described.
“Were they wealthy women?” Ruth asked bluntly.
“Wealthy?” Mary looked at her with a puzzled face. “I suppose so, yes, they were from wealthy families.”
“We have a wedding to ready for, correct?” Ruth changed the subject. “What needs to be done before tomorrow?”
“Oh Mr. Franklin has already taken care of the arrangements.” She suddenly got really excited. “But something arrived for you this morning. Come, you must see!”
“Billy?” Ruth started to go to her son.
“Leave him be, he is safe with Mr. Franklin.” Mary told her, and for some strange reason, Ruth believed her.
Dragging her to the cabin and up the stairs, Mary took Ruth to a guest room and pulled her inside.
“What is this?” Ruth asked as they stood in front of a something hanging from the closet door with a l
arge piece of material draped over.
“Your dress!” Mary yanked the material away to reveal a wedding dress unlike anything Ruth had ever seen. “Mr. Franklin had it made just for you.”
Ruth ran her finger over the white beads and delicate lace. There was no way she could fall for this man, no way at all. She tried to convince herself to not care about the murderer as she tried on the dress, but it was impossible when she looked at her image in the mirror. No man could be evil and yet make her dreams come true, could he?
Chapter Seven
The wedding was only minutes away and Ruth felt so overwhelmed she could faint. There were dozens of people from the town there to see them unite in marriage. With her blond hair iron curled and make painted upon her face, she stood looking at herself in the mirror. The wedding dress fit perfect and she looked prettier than ever, yet she felt at odds with her own self.
According to her brother, she was about to marry a killer, and she was his prey. It hardly seemed like that to her, but nevertheless, she believed her devoted brother.
“You look beautiful, sister.” Dave appeared in her room.
“Dave, you will be caught in here. There are so many people around, go before someone sees you.” She stood up and looked out the window to the guest waiting below.
“Relax, I have this under control.” He sat a small bottle on her vanity. “I brought you this. Consider it a wedding gift.”
“What is it?” She picked up the bottle and looked at the small glass container with liquid inside.
“It’s poison.” Her brother’s statement made her almost drop the bottle.
“Poison?” She sat in back down and covered it with a handkerchief.
“Not just any poison, this one is important because it makes the victim have pneumonia like symptoms, leaving everyone to believe they caught ill and died naturally.”
“And you want me to give this to Tom?” She assumed she was right when he smiled. “I don’t know if I can do this. What if you are wrong? What if he is innocent? Tom seems like a great man, and Mary says his wives died naturally. Her husband Robert was even there.”
“They are both in on his plans. Who do you think helped cover up the murders?” Dave took her hand in his. “Sister, these people are greedy evil killers. The sooner you take his life, the better. We will remove them from the ranch and start our new life.”
“But Mary is not evil. I met her on the train before even arriving here.” She looked out the window at the woman who was playing with Billy by the ceremony.
“She was on that train because she is the one who came to scope out your story and riches. Mary is the person who came to our town and questioned about you.” Dave claimed.
Ruth felt sick to her stomach as she thought about Mary sitting next to her on a train full of empty seats. Had the woman planned it all?
A loud knock came on the door and the person on the other side let her know it was time.
“Go, marry him.” Dave pointed to the bottle on the vanity. “Then put that in his cup this eve. You can have him too ill to even share a bed on the night of your wedding.”
Her brother kissed her crossed his heart, and she did the same.
The ceremony was so beautiful that Ruth had to keep reminding herself that it was not as meaningful as it felt. When the preacher told the groom to kiss the bride, she felt herself anxiously waiting for his lips upon her own. The moment their lips touched was magical. His lips were soft and warm, leaving her wanting more. It was in that moment that she thought of him as her husband, and not a cold blooded killer. As soon as their lips parted, she shook the moment off and told herself what a horrible man he was.
As the wedding ceremony ended, the celebration started. A band played music while all the guest danced the night away. Ruth watched as all the townspeople gathered around Tom and danced in a circle.
“Come on!” Tom called to her. “Come on out here with us!”
She shook her head no, playing too shy to dance among them, but her new husband laughed and came to her.
“You are too beautiful to sit alone at your own wedding!” He pulled her to her feet and spun her around in a circle.
Forgetting her suspicions, she giggles and allowed herself to enjoy the moment. The people all locked arms and danced in a circle. A young girl, maybe ten years old, ran up to Tom and took his hands in hers. Ruth watched as the two of them danced in the circle, laughing and smiling as the young girl showed her skills. There was no way that these people feared this man. All the town was there, and they seemed to look at Tom more like family, than a suspected killer.
“May I have this dance?” Tom held his hand out to her.
“Yes, please.” She felt his other hand link around her back as the music slowed down.
“I am happy to have you as my wife, Mrs. Ruth Franklin.” Tom whispered into her ear.
Ruth could not believe it, but she was happy to be Mrs. Ruth Franklin as well.
After the music had stopped and the guest had all gone home, the night came to an end. Billy had fallen asleep while mumbling about how much he loved Tom. The boy was smitten with the man.
“He had a long day.” Tom said when Ruth ran into him in the hall. “The boy has so much energy, it makes me feel like a kids again when I am with him.”
“He seems to really like you.” She looked up at his eyes. The man’s sky blue eyes were too much to handle, so she quickly turned away. “Goodnight, Tom.”
“Goodnight, Ruth.” They parted ways and went to their own bedrooms, but Ruth could not escape her thoughts of him and her brother’s plans.
Grabbing the bottle from her vanity, she went to the kitchen and poured two glasses of wine. As she knocked on his door, she questioned herself and whether she could go through with what she was about to do.
“Ruth?” Tom opened his bedroom door.
“Can I come in?” She held up the glasses of wine. “It is our wedding night, you know.”
“Please.” He stepped aside for her to enter.
If her son’s room was fit for a prince, and her own for a queen, Tom’s bedroom was fit for the most magnificent king around. His bed was larger than her room back home.
“I thought we could have a glass of wine before bed.” She sat his in front of him. “Perhaps to settle our nerves.”
“Are you nervous, Ruth?” Tom stepped closer to her.
“Yes.” She sipped her wine. “I find I get nervous around you.”
“Well, I don’t get nervous around you.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “I feel many ways when I am with you, but nervous is not one.”
“So you aren’t going to drink your wine?” She asked as she pushed it towards him.
“I’d rather watch your lips drink from your cup.” He smiled at her.
“Perhaps you will drink it for me then, to calm my nerves as well.” She urged him to drink it.
“Fine.” He picked up the glass of wine. “To us.”
“To us.” She drank the sweet wine at the same time as him. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything?” He took another drink from his cup as she thought about asking about his wives, their deaths, or the money he had inherited. Instead she sat down her cup and looked up at his enchanting eyes.
“Can I share your bed tonight?” The words sounded so seductive as they left her lips. Even as she said them out loud, the nervousness tingled inside of her.
“I would love nothing more than to have you in my bed.” He sat down his cup and picked her up in his arms, carrying her to the bed and setting her gently down on it. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes.” She pulled his lips to hers.
His mouth was powerful and sexy, proving to her that he had longed to kiss her like that. When his tongue found hers, it twisted and intertwined, as though he never wanted to let her go. Tom’s hand searched her curves with a frenzy, like he could not get enough of her body.
“Take me.” Sh
e pleaded with him. “Take me right now.”
Tom ripped her gown open to expose her large breast and bare body. Ruth gasped with excitement, waiting for him to touch her once more. He leaned over her and brought his mouth to her nipple, circling the peak with his tongue before sucking it completely. She moaned loudly, unable to quiet her arousal.
“Yes, Tom! Oh yes!” She urged him for more as he licked from her breast, over her stomach, and down her hips.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever set eyes on.” He told her. “I want to taste your sweetness.”
Dropping to his knees, he spread her legs apart and entered her with his tongue. No man had ever done so to her, not even her William had tasted her so. It was exhilarating and tantalizing. His tongue rippled inside of her as his fingers rubbed her bud. All of it was too much for her to handle. A strong climax rushed through her, bringing his name loudly from her lips as she exploded onto his tongue.
Just when she thought it could not feel any better, Tom stood up and entered her with his hard erection. His size was massive and his passion was great. The rancher’s strong muscles bulged as he pumped in and out of her. Thrusting with all his might, he went deeper and deeper into her, bringing arousal through her body that she had never felt before.
“Oh, Tom!” She screamed once more before climaxing again.
Her trembling legs and moist explosion must have sent him over the edge and he joined her orgasm with his own. When they had finished, he pulled her close to him on his bed and held her tight.
“Goodnight, wife.” Tom kissed her head.
“Goodnight, husband.” She kissed his chest and closed her eyes and prayed her brother would forgive her for getting rid of the poison instead of giving it to Tom.
Chapter Eight
It had been a week since Ruth married Tom Franklin. Each day had been like a dream come true. The man was a truly amazing person, and an even better lover. Today, he was gone fishing with Billy and she counted down the seconds until they returned.
Romance: Yes, Stepbrother! Page 33
