Beloved Texas Bride

by Ginny Sterling

  Obviously not.

  Cole slid a hand along the back of her spine to cup her head as he ever so slowly pulled her towards him. He would savor this moment forever and if he died tonight, he would be a happy man. Beth’s face in the moonlight would be forever etched on his brain. The way the shadows kissed her face, he planned on making sure that his touch was just as tender. Cole knew that their first kiss as man and wife would be one she would dream about and one that would make his body scream in discomfort, denying it the pleasure of taking her for his own.

  Ever so tenderly, he dropped several small kisses along her full bottom lip, each more delicate than the last. Feeling her lip curl upwards in a smile, he knew he would win her over someday. Gently, he turned her head and captured her lips in a soft, possessive kiss.

  She was his.

  Feelings raced over Beth’s body. He was so tender and her heart was dancing in her chest, racing wildly. His whiskers were tickling her and feeling his breath upon hers made her happier than she had been over the last several days. Beth loved the feeling of his lips on hers and felt her heart swell as she smiled with delight.

  She felt him deepen the kiss, but it was still not the devouring she had experienced before with him. Beth felt like she was still in control… somewhat. Cole was giving her that control, she felt. Before she could analyze it further, she felt him break the kiss, leaving her bereft. Beth opened her eyes and could see tense lines across his face. Her hand reached out of its own volition, smoothing his brow. This is what scared her. She wanted to touch him.

  Needed to.

  Cole held himself tightly as she touched his face ever so tenderly. He cupped her hand and kissed the inside of her tender palm, anything to keep himself from throwing her down on the blanket and sinking himself inside of her. “Was that so bad?” he asked gruffly, his emotions and desires riding high.

  Smiling, Beth shook her head. “No, it wasn’t. It was actually pretty wonderful, thank you.” Thank you for taking your time with me, she wanted to tell him but felt it was almost understood between them.

  Matching her smile, he grinned infectiously at his bride. “My pleasure. Thanks you for letting me kiss you. Maybe you will let me do it again someday,” he teased.

  “We are making progress, wife” he said tickling her and breaking the moment with some lighthearted banter. Tickling might be a bad idea he thought, feeling her squirm in his lap and put her quickly to the side of him. Tasting her lips and hearing Beth laugh might be worth the throbbing he felt in his groin.

  “Let’s get you back inside so you don’t get eaten alive by mosquitos tonight. Maybe we’ll do some star gazing again another night,” he suggested. Standing up, he offered his hand to her politely and prayed she would not notice the bulge in his pants.

  He pulled her up from the blanket, gathered it up and escorted her back down to the house. Cole went to put the blanket back onto his pallet of hay in the barn when Beth’s voice rang out as he was crossing the yard.

  Where was he going? she thought, surprised. She watched his dark figure cross the yard towards the barn as if they had not just come to a truce.

  “Are you not staying in the house tonight?” she questioned loudly, her voice carrying clearly on the night air.

  “Couldn’t keep me out of it, my Beth,” she heard him call back. “Just getting my things,” Cole explained and he was sincerely relieved that she hadn’t changed her mind. He had headed to the barn originally to give her the opportunity to put distance between the two of them if she needed it. He was thrilled she had not taken advantage of the silent offer. She wanted him with her, but just not “with her” yet. He couldn’t wait for the day that he could make her his wife in all ways.

  Thirteen

  The next few weeks were a flurry of activity for Beth. She had to explain the sour smell in the house and was mortified over the hysterical laughter from Cole at her story regarding the butter making attempt. The milk was still inside the churn but now curdling and gave off quite a stink. Beth never ventured into the kitchens at home, so how was she supposed to know it was to be kept cool? And since she had never been in the kitchens nor worked on a farm before, how in the hell was she to know to skim off the heavy cream for the butter? She ended up yelling at him during his fit of laughter.

  She didn’t think it was THAT funny, but it was nice to see him smiling and wiping tears of joy from his eyes. How can you be mad at someone that is happy and offers to teach you the proper way to do things while grinning the entire time? Couple that with Cole swinging her around the kitchen and kissing her quickly, it certainly had a way of diffusing the situation.

  Cole promised to teach Beth how to make butter on her own…properly. Cole showed Beth how to grab and squeeze the teat on the cow just so to get the most amount of milk with each pull. But seeing her small, delicate hands work the flesh was giving him the most wicked thoughts and he had to step back, leaving her with the heifer and the pail. Instead, while she worked, she was chatting with him about how it was fascinating to “yank the thingies and milk just sprays out”. The amazement coloring her voice would have been hysterical except for the mental image she was drawing with her innocent words.

  Groaning, he flung fresh straw into the stall for the horse. He could not keep the image from his mind and promised himself that she would milk him eventually. Giving the horse a serving of grain, he finally stepped over to see that she had almost filled the pails. Lifting them for her, he poured the milk carefully into a large glass jar kept in the pantry. He explained to Beth that they would put it in the cellar so it would cool and covered it with cloth. The cream could be skimmed tomorrow off the top to make the butter. Eventually, Beth ended up making a small round of butter after a long afternoon of churning and groaning at the soreness in her arms.

  “It’s going to be the best butter ever, darn it,” she said eventually, as she saw that she still had more churning to do for it to solidify. Progress was being made though and the thick cream was taking on a heavy consistency, finally.

  Cole showed her how to weed the garden, distinguishing between their vegetables they had spent such time planting versus a stray weed coming up. Who knew that there was such a difference? Beth mistakenly pulled a teeny radish from the ground and quickly replanted it, not saying a word. Weeds did not have red roots to them, this much she knew. However, she did not find out it was a radish she had actually pulled till she casually mentioned that they should be seeing something in the ground sooner rather than later. Cole told her the radishes would be first, then the carrots and finally the peas. Yup, it was a radish, definitely.

  Beth’s least favorite lesson so far had to be getting the eggs from the chickens. Cole must have a gift with the ladies of every kind because he never got pecked like she did. Beth was practically attacked by the stupid hens every time she went near. She put out the grain, just as Cole instructed and carefully reached in. As she grabbed the eggs from the warm nests, Beth found her hand pecked several times by a chicken that had not yet left the coop. On the third try, when reaching inside the coop, Beth screamed in horror.

  Cole raced from the yard where he was working on putting up a clothes line for Beth so she didn’t have to use the fig tree for her stockings when he heard the blood-curdling yell. Cole came around the corner to see Beth flapping her arms and squawking loudly. Almost as loudly at the chickens nearby. Racing over, he yelled out to her.

  Expecting a chicken peck was one thing, grabbing a warm smooth egg from a nest was another. However, grabbing a cool scaly snake was quite another! Beth was done with egg duty and would never toss her hand into another chicken nest again without looking carefully. Damn chickens! She was completely abhorred at the touching of the snake and the wiggling of it in her clenched hand would give her nightmares for years to come. Beth hated snakes!

  “Snake!” she cried hoarsely. She stopped her racing around. Seeing her basket on the ground, she picked it up viciously. “I am done with the eggs. There wa
s a snake in there! And I touched it. A snake!” she shouted at Cole.

  Cole looked at Beth’s flushed face and tendrils of hair that had slipped from her braid and smiled. So his woman was scared of snakes!

  “Did you get bit?” he asked guardedly. He knew they weren’t poisonous but it could still hurt like the dickens and that might explain the racing around she was doing in the dirt. She had put on quite the show.

  “No, I didn’t get bit,” she said horrified. “But I might have! I picked it up by mistake,” she said appalled. “I had no idea there might be a snake in there and you didn’t tell me,” she said accusingly and crossed her arms protectively over her chest.

  “Good. I’m glad,” Cole said. “It wouldn’t have killed you but it sure would have stung. How about I get the eggs for you? I’ll just teach you something else,” he offered. Cole crossed the yard and kissed her gently, stroking her cheek softly.

  “No reason to scare my pretty wife or get her injured, now is there?” he said gently with a small smile.

  “No there isn’t,” Beth agreed wholeheartedly as she stepped into his arms easily. “Maybe the next thing I go to learn around the house will have no chance of snakes, okay?” she said entreatingly.

  “Agreed, my love. No snakes, I promise.”

  Fourteen

  That night, Cole and Beth sat together for quite some time talking after their light dinner. It had been a long and exciting day for Beth after the incident with the snake and all the hard work they had been doing around the house. Cole promised to teach her how to make soap, but they had to get a few more supplies before they attempted it.

  The last few days, though they had been exhausting, had truly been wonderful as they fell into a routine. Each morning when rising, one started the coffee and breakfast while the other slept. Most days it was Cole that rose first, which suited Beth fine because she had a chance to tame her curly hair before coming out to greet him. He always kissed her “good morning” and it seemed the perfect way to start the day. Throughout the day, he would find excuses to kiss her again or hold her hand. It was truly heartwarming at how tender he was with her.

  Tonight was more of the same.

  Cole sat next to Beth in the large chairs by the hearth, studying her features. She was truly lovely and quite stunning to look upon. He was a lucky man to have chanced upon her and thanked God for having her put in his path. Getting up suddenly, he said, “I have a little something for you,” and quickly left the room.

  Beth saw Cole disappear into his room and heard him rummaging about. “What are you doing?” she inquired.

  “I have a gift for you to wear tomorrow. I want to show off my bride,” he said as he emerged, beaming, from the room holding a large, brown package.

  Suddenly shy at the attention, Beth watched as he moved towards the table and set the large package down. She got up to join him and thought better of it. Instead, she moved to her own room and retrieving the gloves she had purchased for him, as well as the gumdrops for a special occasion. Now was as good a time as any, wasn’t it?

  Beth looked at Cole’s proud expression and was painfully aware of how handsome he was standing there. He looked at her like she was the only woman on earth for him and it was intoxicating. “I have a little something for you, as well,” she said timidly.

  Cole accepted the small package from Beth gratefully as he gestured to the parcel. He was overly pleased at her thoughtfulness and figured she had purchased it when she was inside of the store in town. She really had no other opportunity to buy a surprise for him.

  “I wanted to get you a wedding present and thought maybe you’d look pretty in this,” he explained as he watched her untie the twine and fold back the waxed paper reverently.

  Gasping, Beth pulled the dress from the paper and shook it out, admiring the lovely ivory dress made of fawn material. It was so very lightweight for the summer, with large flounces at the sleeves and pleats that could be worn with or without a bustle. Tan trim braid outlined the wrists giving sharp contrast to the warm, rich, buttery tones of the fabric.

  “Oh my word, Cole, this is too much,” she exclaimed, protesting the gift but secretly could not wait to put it on. She knew it must have cost him a small fortune.

  Seeing her hold the fabric up against her body, he knew he had made the right decision. The coloring was perfect against her skin and hair, making them glow in the lamp light.

  “I thought maybe you could wear it tomorrow when I introduce you as my wife, as well as maybe when we get married in the church. You’ll need a wedding dress, Beth. You deserve one,” he said lovingly.

  Beth wasn’t quite sure what to say. It was such a tender gesture from him. She felt almost embarrassed that the gloves were not nearly as thoughtful a gift, but glad she had taken the time to get something for him. She would give him the gumdrops she had secretly been wanting to split. Beth fought back a grin at the thought. She watched as he took his turn and opened the small package from her.

  As Cole pulled back the waxed paper, he was surprised at the supple leather gloves inside. It was a set of dark nubuck gloves and lined with a thin material inside instead of the roughness of his own gloves now. Beth had excellent taste and he was sincerely impressed. Pulling the soft gloves on, he grinned at the perfect fit and knew she must have paid attention to his hands to even come close to getting the size correct. He liked that she watched him and thought of him, even if she didn’t realize it just yet.

  “Thank you,” Cole started and stopped when he saw Beth’s grinning face holding another bag for him. “Two things?” he asked, surprised. He took the other bag and made a moue.

  “What is this?” he asked curiously. The bag gave a strange movement and was oddly flexible. Opening the top, he peered inside and gave a bark of laughter.

  “Beth, between the two of us, we have a heckuva sweet tooth,” he said chuckling. “How about we split?” he offered generously.

  Beth let out a large whoosh of air. “I was hoping you would say just that,” she confessed with a smile. “I do adore gumdrops and thought about keeping the bag for myself,” she teased. She liked seeing him lighthearted like this. It made her heart flutter and felt special knowing she could make him happy.

  Cole liked that she felt she could be herself with him- he doubted she would have ever said anything before against her family, but he could be very wrong as well. She seemed to have opened up quite a bit since he had first laid eyes on her. Not wanting to push her too far, he thanked her again giving her a brief kiss and stepping back quickly.

  “Let’s enjoy them later. It’s late,” he said gently and moved towards his room.

  Beth stared at his retreating back bewildered. Why had he ended their evening so quickly? She wasn’t ready to say goodnight and was enjoying his company. Deep in thought, Beth gathered the lovely dress and placed it on a hook in her room.

  Hesitating, she listened for any sounds coming from his room, hoping he was still awake and maybe would change his mind. It was eye opening to realize how alone she had been versus how much he filled her life. She didn’t want to be alone any longer.

  Her mind racing, she donned her nightgown and plaited her hair. Gathering her courage, she stepped forward and gently rapped on his door. Part of her prayed he answered and part was scared he would. She wanted to be with him, but afraid as well.

  Lying in bed, his body starving for her touch and listening to her move about the house, Cole waited for sleep to claim him. He knew it would be a long night. He could not quit thinking about her smile, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear or the way Beth’s eyes lit when he walked in a room. Cole would be patient and wait for her, it would be worth it.

  Listening, he heard a knock split the silence and was stunned. Had she changed her mind finally or was something wrong? Cole flew out of the bed and pulled the door open with a whoosh.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, surprised that she was standing there.

  “Yes, she hesit
ated. “Can I join you?” Beth stammered, blushing fiercely. “I thought maybe we could just sleep together and take things one step at a time.” Seeing his shocked expression, she stepped back. This may have been a horrible idea, she thought, bracing herself for denial. Beth felt Cole grab her hand as she turned and looked at him surprised.

  “Certainly. Most married people share beds. I told you we would never do anything you didn’t want,” he reassured her gently. There was no way in hell he was going to shoot down any suggestion for contact with her. His body craved it and, at first, he thought he was hallucinating. But seeing her standing there looking shy made him realize that he better act fast or she would bolt. Cole took her hands and pulled her gently inside the room to join him.

  Beth swallowed hard seeing his bare chest, noticing that he had a loose pair of breeches slung low on his hips. She saw the contours of his stomach and swallowed once again.

  This may have been my best idea ever, she thought and shook her head. Ladies did not think like that! But did most men look like that undressed? she thought wildly. The room felt so small, suddenly, and Cole’s hand felt so very hot as he pulled her into the room.

  Cole knew she was looking at him. He wished he hadn’t laid down in the breeches but was glad that he had for her sake. It was going to be a poor exercise in hiding the evidence of his desire for her.

  “You want the inside or the outside of the bed? Lady’s choice, my Beth”. Cole was glad the darkness would cover some of the signs of desire, because he could feel himself swelling even further asking her the preferred position in his bed.

  Clearing her throat mindlessly, Beth could not pull her eyes from him. “Doesn’t matter to me,” she said distractedly. It really didn’t. Looking at him, she realized that he would probably take most of the tiny bed. Her pulse was racing thinking about lying down with him.