Lee stood perfectly still just inside the door. He saw her come from the bedroom, her body silhouetted by the soft light. He could make out that she wore a light cotton nightgown, translucent against the lamplight.
Corinne stepped up to him and took the top button between her fingertips. The soft scent of lavender touched Lee’s nose and Corinne kissed him firmly. She unfastened each button on his jacket and then slipped her hands inside. He could feel her touch, warm and firm against his chest. Corinne pushed open his jacket and slid it off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Lee stood perfectly still.
She began to undo the buttons on his shirt. One by one she unfastened them and when it was completely opened she untucked it from his trousers with firm tugs.
When he reached to take her in his arms she put her hands firmly on his biceps. “Not yet,” she whispered.
She slipped his shirt from his arms and let that too fall behind him.
“You’re half naked, Lieutenant. I had better catch up,” she said. Corinne unfastened the ribbon that gathered the top of her nightgown and let it fall to her waist and hang from her elbows.
Lee caught his breath. Corinne was beautiful in the soft light. Her breasts were round and firm and he watched her chest rise and fall slowly as she breathed softly. Lee waited. He wanted to touch her, to pull her to him but something in her eyes held him captive.
When she pressed up against him her breasts felt hot against his chest. Corinne reached up and mussed his hair and the movement of her breast against him was maddening. When she began to unbuckle his trousers he could not stand her seduction any longer and his arms encircled her and pulled her closer to him.
Corinne could feel his excitement and she pressed her thigh against him.
His kisses found her neck, her shoulder, her breast and she leaned back against his muscled arm and let him kiss her everywhere.
“Corinne,” his voice was throaty and deep.
She felt her own desire for him building and she pulled his belt free from his trousers in one firm stroke and dropped it on the floor. She undid each button of the slacks as she pressed up against him. His breathing was hot and ragged in her ear.
Every movement of her fingertips against him drove him mad and when he could take it no longer he swept her up into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up to him, pressing her lips against his ear.
“Lee,” she whispered. “Every bit of me belongs completely to you now. I am entirely yours.”
He carried her into the bedroom and set her on her feet. Corinne let her gown fall to the floor and he placed his hands on her hips looking at her in the moonlight that streamed in through the window. He saw the outline of the curve of her hip, the soft roundness of her belly, the curve of her breasts. When he looked up at her face he could see the love and desire in her eyes.
Corinne pushed his trousers from his hips and climbed onto the bed, waiting there on her knees. His hunger for her was clear in the darkness. His hips were slender and his chest broad.
He got onto the bed next to her and Corinne lay back and put her hands on his shoulders. She felt him press against her and she moved to welcome him.
Lee pushed against her, firm with desire and Corinne wanted him completely. He was able to please her, his desire not hampered by the alcohol. He wanted only her and his fervent desire was rigid and hungry against her own.
When he moved with her Corinne realized that all of the passions she had ever felt would only be unleashed with him. That her trust and love was only for him. Corinne surrendered all of her hunger and desires to Lee and she felt the pleasure of it building in her body.
Chapter Eighty-Seven
Corinne felt perfect beneath him. Her body welcomed him and her love and desire swept over his body until he felt it all fulfilled. She cried out his name loudly and he knew that only the stretches of the empty miles over the prairie were witness to their lovemaking. It was as perfect, he thought, as she was, with her limbs wrapped around him, whispering that she loved him through her passion and then again when she relaxed.
He looked down at her face in the moonlight and saw a soft smile on her lips. Her hair was a dark tangle, spread over the pillow and he was drenched in perspiration.
Corinne never took her eyes from his. She reached up and pushed his hair from his forehead lovingly with one fingertip. “Lieutenant Highland, you are surely somethin’ of a terrible mess.”
Lee kissed her lips, her neck. Corinne could feel his firm jawline along her collarbone and she shivered beneath him. He looked into her eyes seriously and she felt him stir again. Corinne smiled up to him and pulled him to her. She was certain that she would not go hungry for a man from now on.
Corinne discovered later that night and again near dawn he was always ready for her. When she awoke beside him she touched him boldly and felt him stir again. Corinne could not believe it when he opened his eyes slowly and turned to her with desire in his grey eyes.
“Lieutenant, I have to say that I am very impressed.” Corinne sat up in the bed beside him and he looked over her glistening body with appreciation. “I never imagined you were so virile,” she said.
Lee smiled broadly.
“Now you need to quit that,” she said. “That smile of yours just drives me mad.”
“I have something in mind for you,” Lee grinned.
“If it is what I think it is, I’m afraid I’ll never get out of this bed.” Corinne put her palm gently against his chest. She moved her thigh across his waist and pressed down against him.
“No, that’s not it,” he said. “But I could be persuaded.”
“Then, what is it?” she asked. “Since you are so rudely turnin’ me down.”
“Turning you down?” Corinne could feel the muscles of his stomach against her as he laughed. “I thought you were complaining about never getting out of bed.”
“You can count on that never happenin’,” she said, running her fingertips along his chest. Lee could not help but notice that her body was even more beautiful in the dawning light.
“I had another goal in mind, actually,” he said.
Corinne slid from him when she saw his face grow serious and she slipped her nightgown over her head. Lee watched it fall like a curtain over her body.
“I intend to rid you of that again before the day is out,” he said, sitting up and pulling the sheet across his lap.
“I will await that with great anticipation,” she said. Corinne took her brush from the bedside and tried to pull it through her tangled hair.
“Give me that,” he said. Corinne handed him the brush curiously. When he patted the bed beside him she sat down. Lee brushed her hair gently and she moaned softly.
“That is wonderful,” she purred, letting her head fall back. “Is this what you were sayin’ was in your plans?”
She heard his chuckle behind her, deep and low.
“No,” he said. “My plan is to fill that empty cradle beside the hearth.”
Corinne stood up suddenly. He set the brush on the bed and looked up at her.
She wanted to run. Suddenly Corinne felt terrified. She could see herself dressing in a dash and running out to ride Boomer hard across the plains. Then she stopped.
Lee sat in front of her wearing nothing at all. His hair was ruffled and, for the first time ever, she noticed he needed a shave. She really had made a mess of him.
Lee saw the veil come up in her eyes. He looked down at the floor and took a deep breath.
“You want me, us, to have a baby? Together? Really?”
“I was thinking…” He stopped and looked into her eyes. He saw that they were open and trusting once again. “Yes. I would,” he said clearly. “Why not?”
Corinne sat down on the bed beside him and took his hand. She looked up at him and smiled and then she ran her fingertip along his cheek. The soft stubble was perfect, she thought. He was real and good and all hers.
“I would love t
hat,” she said. “It would be perfect.”
Lee pulled her close to him and she laid her head on his shoulder. He felt the warmth of her tear against his skin.
“Let’s have something to eat and try again,” he said.
He felt her chuckle and kissed the top of her head.
Chapter Eighty-Eight
Mince stood up suddenly, his chest rumbling deep and low. He did not go unnoticed by the couple as they lay spent in the bed.
Corinne got to her feet and donned her gown. “I’ll get the gun. It’s probably Hawkins. I saw him at the contest. I don’t think he was exactly excited that Eve and I won anything.”
“Wait.” Lee pulled on his trousers. “Stay inside.”
The guard hairs stood up along the dog’s back.
“While he shoots you in the yard on my weddin’ night? Don’t be a fool, Lee.”
“Please,” he said, strapping on his own gun. “I’ve talked to him before. Let me handle this, Corinne. It’s what I’ve been trained to do. It’s my honeymoon too and I plan to continue enjoying it, not spending the day answering questions about how Tupper Hawkins came to be shot on your land.”
Corinne shook her head and took a deep breath. “Our land. If he hurts you…” Her words trailed off.
“Hawkins!” Lee called out as he stood against the adobe wall and opened the door a few inches.
“Stay,” Corinne whispered to Mince.
“Highland,” Hawkins responded. “I know you married that woman. You’re a sooner as sure as I am livin’ and I plan to take you back to the fort and have them know all about you. You stole my land from me, you and that woman, and I intend to have it and the house as well!”
“Fine,” Lee called back. “If that’s what we have to do to put an end to all of this I will go with you peacefully. We’ll straighten it out at the fort and get past this. I can help you, Hawkins. Help you get good land, to make a better life.”
“The way you helped yourself onto this here claim?” Hawkins called back. “I will get it from you legally. Then my wife will see I was right all along. You didn’t help me before, sayin’ I should move in with some old folks. You’re comin’ with me back to the fort if I have to kill you first and drag back your cold dead body.”
“You are not going with him!” Corinne whispered. “He’s drunk and crazy.”
“I’ll come with you, Hawkins, but only if you put down your weapon. I will come out unarmed.”
“Lee!” Corinne said in a low voice.
“I ain’t no fool, Highland. You’ll put a bullet ‘tween my eyes and then you’ll get away with what you did. Come out here and meet your fate!”
“Hawk?” Eve Hawkins called out to her husband in the darkness.
“This don’t concern you, woman.” Hawkins called back.
“You’ve been comin’ out here every night, haven’t you?” Eve called out. “Is this where you’ve been ridin’ to at night? Sleepin’ the day away so you can come out here and concern yourself with these poor folks?”
“They’re sooners. They took the best land and left us nothin’. I’m takin’ it back for us.”
“Hawk, you are wrong. I talked to the Goodsons and the Blanes and that family closer to the fort there. They all said that he helped them. They asked for directions and he helped them all. The Lieutenant tried to help you too, Hawk. This is their land and we need to get off it. Come back with me, Hawk and we can build our own home. Come on now.”
Lee tiptoed across the room and Corinne scowled at him as he climbed out the bedroom window into the dusky light.
“If she doesn’t keep him talking, you talk to him,” he said as he ducked out.
Corinne thought she would spit she was so angry and worried.
“Please come home!” Eve called out into the night.
“That sooner woman took your blue ribbon too. They fixed the contest!” Hawkins insisted.
“That’s not true,” Eve called out. “I tasted that woman’s pie, Hawk, and it was the best I had ever eaten. I was even goin’ to come out and ask her for some help. Please, let’s just go.”
Corinne heard the sharp report of a gun and her heart stopped.
“Don’t hurt him, please!” she heard Eve call out.
“Lee?” Corinne yelled. An eerie silence hung in the air.
“It’s alright, you can come out!” he called back.
When Corinne threw open the door she saw Tupper Hawkins face down in the dirt, Lee’s knee planted firmly in the center of his back. Hawkins’ gun lay a few feet away smoking in the dust and he struggled and cursed as Eve ran to his side.
“That’s enough!” Eve’s face was streaked with tears. “Take him away. I can’t take it anymore. I’m tired of starvin’ and watchin’ my children go hungry while you blame someone else for everythin’, Hawk.” Eve looked at Highland as she stood beside them in the yard. “I’m sorry,” she said. “He’s wrong. It’s always this way, always someone else who took somethin’ away or that he thinks cheated him out of somethin’. Well now, Hawk,” she cried, kicking the dirt. “Now you got nothin’. Nothin’ at all! Take him away, Lieutenant. I can see he won’t ever change.”
“Corrine, get my cuffs out of the desk drawer.”
Corinne tossed the cuffs to Lee and listened to Eve’s pitiful sobs as she watched Lee cuff Hawkins and put him back on the saddle of his horse. He dressed quickly and kissed her goodbye, taking the reins to Hawkins’ horse and leading him back towards the fort.
She examined the large chink that Hawkins’ bullet had taken out of the adobe beside the door and she shivered. Corinne crossed the yard and put her arm around Eve’s shoulder and led her silently into the house where she made a pot of tea and put a piece of pie in front of her on the table.
“I was a fool to listen to his lies. Always an empty promise,” Eve said as she sipped the hot tea.
“Promises like piecrust,” Corinne said softly. “I believed in them once myself. Lee and I will help you, Eve. I promise you that.”
Eve Hawkins looked across the table and knew that she could believe Corinne’s words.
“Thank you,” Eve whispered softly.
Chapter Eighty-Nin e
Daniel watched Corinne rolling the dough at the table and the way she fit it into the new pie tin. He and Barnette had arrived the day earlier with a wagon from the hotel filled with their wedding gifts. Lee and Corinne could not believe the generosity of their neighbors. Included in the gifts were several new pie tins and a lovely handmade ceramic pie plate. Corinne said the stoneware was too beautiful to hide beneath a pie and tucked it away in the hutch. Lee said that if she did bake a pie in them part of the fun would be eating it until you could see how fancy the plate was underneath it. Daniel had watched her face as Lee had said it. He knew what she had in mind.
“Did you ever get your pie?” Daniel asked Lee as they sat at the table for supper. Lee had piled books into his chair and was tying Elijah in with an apron string.
Corinne laughed. Lee had fastened the apron around the toddler’s waist and he sat at the table smiling happily.
“He looks like he’s ready to make pie himself,” Corinne giggled.
“Not yet,” Lee said, answering Daniel’s question and he sat down at the table. “I’ve had one damned good double crust apple, and a good meat pie. Of course the pie at your place and a blueberry one made by the gal at the hotel. Oh, and that blackberry pie I ate in the contest. That was a touch bitter, but no, I have not had my pie.”
“He will.” Corinne winked.
“I think they’re waitin’ for us to leave again.” Barnette set a steaming bowl of green beans on the table and smiled. “Corinne, I don’t know what you two did with that garden in the yard. For the first year it’s doin’ really well.”
“It’s sitting in a bowl.” Lee piled potatoes onto his plate.
“How’s that?” Daniel filled a small plate for Elijah.
“Corinne made a pit there to mix the clay bric
ks. We filled it in with a hay mix. Every time it rains it fills with water like a sink, then the water slowly drains away. Any water you put in it gives the plants a good soaking. I was afraid it would drown everything, but it’s working beautifully.”
Corinne looked around at her family eating around the table. She’d need a highchair, she thought. There would be other things as well. It had only been days but Corinne felt her body changing. She didn’t need her time of the month to pass by. She felt the tenderness in her breasts and the queasy feeling at sunset if she didn’t eat early enough. She’d felt all of those things before. In the early spring there would be a new baby in the house, she was certain of it.
Barnette looked up and caught Corinne’s expression and saw her take tiny bites of her food, sipping water each time in between. Barnette had been there several times, but she knew she suffered special problems, problems Corinne did not have. Corinne was expecting. Barnette was sure.
Chapter Ninety
Lee and Corinne stood in the yard long after Daniel had pulled the wagon out onto the prairie. They had waved goodbye with laughter and a few tears. Corinne knew it would be spring before she saw them again. So many things would change by then, herself included.
“We’ll visit them soon,” Lee assured her.
“Probably not before spring,” she said.
“Maybe for Christmas. That would be nice.”
Corinne thought it would depend on things Lee hadn’t thought about.
“You said somethin’ earlier about an offer your commandin’ officer had suggested.” Corinne knew that in two days there would be a ceremony to honor him. She thought it was simply because he had been in the service so many years.
“I haven’t decided yet.” His face turned serious.
“Maybe I can help.”
“Actually my decision would very much depend on you.” Lee faced her. “They’re going to appoint a sheriff in town. To cover a good part of the territory.”
Piecrust Promise Page 20
