Lustful Intentions [Climax, Montana 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Reece Butler

  “That better not be Sam coming back,” she muttered to herself. She was finished but wanted them to find her working hard. So hard that she’d need to lie down and rest, alone, before supper. In other words, so she could read Marci’s books.

  “Oh, shoot, the books!”

  Heavy steps clomped across the porch before she could move. There was only one set of feet, so it wasn’t the men. She’d left the screen door open to let the air through and dry the floor. She wiped the sweat from her face and blinked at the dark shape.

  “I was right. You need a girl’s night out.”

  The voice was female, though deep. The woman toed off her boots and set them on the porch. “Mind if I come in?” She didn’t wait, pushing the door open and stepping in. Katie sat back on her heels. An extremely tall blonde woman with a well-rounded pregnant belly grinned down at her.

  “I’m Lila Frost from the Circle C next door. I am extremely fed up with two fiancés who insist I need to put my feet up. I say to heck with them since it’s karaoke night at the Roadhouse and there’s a new gal in town, as in you.” She patted her belly. “I can’t drink thanks to these two, but there ain’t nothing going to hold me back from dancing. You up for some good, clean fun, Katie?”

  Lila’s smile encouraged and challenged her. Katie decided she could finish the book later. She put her hand on the counter as she climbed stiffly to her feet. She winced and bent over to rub her sore knees.

  “Yep,” continued Lila, “you need some dancing to stretch out those muscles. Aunt Marci says you can sing. I love singing, but Pa says I sound like a bullfrog choking on a mayfly. My fiancés, Jet and Houston, don’t mind because they know it means I’m happy. And when I’m happy…”

  She leered, making Katie smile. Lila looked like she’d be a lot of fun, and of course she’d know everyone. Katie wanted to meet more people before she had to direct them during the haying.

  “I do love to sing,” she admitted. “Your offer is the best I’ve had in months. After the last couple days there’s no way I’ll turn you down.”

  “I heard about yesterday, but what made today a pain? Oh, wait,” said Lila, pausing dramatically. “Of course! You’re living in the same house as Sam and Trey Elliott.”

  “They’re driving me crazy,” admitted Katie.

  “What’s worse, Trey’s wildness or Sam’s wet blanket grumpiness?”

  She couldn’t say what had happened last night, and what had not, so kept it short. “Sam.”

  “That man is still stuck in the past.” Lila absently rubbed her lower belly as she checked Katie out. “Have you got boots, tight jeans, and a sexy shirt? Or even better, a dress?”

  “My jeans pretty much came apart in the last wash. Your aunt brought me some dresses, though they’re tight in the bust.”

  Lila’s eyes gleamed. “All the better. You are going to have every single man begging you to dance. Maybe some of the married ones as well. Houston will be after you because it’ll bug the hell—I mean heck—out of Trey. They both like the ladies.” She gave an obvious wink. “You should flirt with Jet and Houston. Even though they’re almost married to me, they’ll play along to wind Trey and Sam up.”

  “Almost married?”

  “Our wedding isn’t until after the haying so everyone can relax and have a good time at the community party after.”

  Lila was huge, loud, and made gestures that seemed to take up the room. She also looked like she’d be fun on a ladies night. Especially if a big part of the entertainment was driving Sam and Trey crazy.

  “You don’t mind me flirting with your husbands?”

  “Nope. I know I’m all they want. I dare you to dance with Houston real close and sexy while those Elliott boys watch.” Lila snickered. “Sam needs someone to grab him by the ears and shake that stick out of his ass.”

  “The idea has merit, but Sam must be six foot two, and Trey a couple inches taller. I can barely reach his ears.”

  “How tall are they when you’re all lying down? Don’t answer, I do not need to know.” Lila held up her hands, then relaxed and leaned a hip against the counter. Her bright blue eyes sparkled. “Jet is a very well-muscled six foot six. Houston is Trey’s size, and I’m five foot eleven. That’s all without boots. I think the three of us can take on your two, no problem. We’d best get going before they come home.”

  Katie hesitated. “I should leave a note.”

  “Good idea. Tell them you’re out with me, and will be home before breakfast.”

  “Breakfast? I won’t be able to work tomorrow if I’m up all night.”

  “I’m pregnant,” said Lila with disgust. “With twins. Even if I can stay awake I’ll be hauled home well before ten. If you crash in my guest bedroom Sam and Trey might think a pair of cousins took you home.”

  “And that would be a good thing?” asked Katie, warming to the idea.

  “Oh, hell—” Lila stopped in mid-word and bared her teeth. “Oh. Heck. Yes.” She growled something under her breath.

  “You’ve decided not to swear anymore because of your babies?”

  “It was decided for me,” she replied grumpily. “Jet said he’d go riding with me tomorrow, very, very slowly because of the twins.” She rubbed her belly with one hand. “My ass will be too sore to ride if anyone lets on I’ve been cursing.”

  Katie’s face heated. She glanced at the books. The heroine in the first one got spanked for swearing. Was that what Lila was telling her, that she had a Dom who did the same thing?

  “Oho!” crowed Lila, seeing where Katie’s attention was. “Aunt Marci told me she lent you some books. I guess from the color of your face, you know why my butt would be sore.” Lila’s pale face showed her blush, yet she still grinned.

  “Jet and Houston would spank you? For real?”

  “It’s real, all right. And it can be very…interesting.” Lila winked.

  “I’ll, um, grab a few things and be right back.”

  Katie ran up the stairs. She didn’t know what to think about a strong, confident woman such as Lila changing her ways because a man told her to. The part of Katie which had fought against the oppression of her older male cousins cringed. Another part purred in satisfaction. That was the part that made her panties damp. She stared at the new-to-her clothes. She didn’t know what ranchers wore for a night out. The thump of big feet in the hallway warned her before Lila appeared.

  “I don’t think red goes with my hair,” said Katie, pointing to a knee-length dress made of silk. It looked like something she’d wear to an official function, if it was navy, gray, or black. “What about the yellow cotton one?”

  “Red’s too obvious and yellow’s too sweet. We want you to look like you could take any of the guys home, tie them to the bed, and leave in the morning well satisfied while they crawled to the barn to do chores, grinning like a jackass.”

  Katie choked. “Excuse me?”

  Lila nodded knowingly. “I bet Sam and Trey think they’ve put their stamp of ownership on you because you’re working at the Rocking E. I want them to see you all dolled up, dancing close and flirting with other men.”

  “Why?”

  Lila grinned wide. “Why not? Let them see you’re more than a hard-working woman down on her luck. I like this one.”

  Lila lifted an exquisite spring green dress that Katie had lusted over, but had shoved to the side because it was so short. It was made of jersey cut on the bias, and would cling to every curve.

  “Do you have shoes to match, or do you need boots? Cowboy boots go with anything,” added Lila.

  Katie thought it over for all of two seconds. “There’s a pair of comfortable, open-toed shoes with spike heels.” She bent over to grab them. “What do you think?”

  She held the dress against her body with the silver shoes in front. Lila’s wide mouth showed lots of pearly teeth.

  “Those Elliott boys won’t know what hit them. Nor will the cousins. Hell, Houston’s going to be all over you like bull ants on
honey.” She grimaced. “I mean heck.”

  * * * *

  Simon MacDougal jerked when his office door slammed open. He set down the historical journal he’d been reviewing, carefully marking the page as Marci blew in.

  “Have you seen Beth?”

  “Beth Elliott, the ghost?”

  “Ghost, angel, whatever. Have you seen her since she got Jet to propose to Lila?”

  “Jet’s proposal was his own idea, Marci. And no, I haven’t seen Beth.” It was true, though if Marci was thinking straight she would have asked if Beth had visited. If so, he would have had to say yes since the ghostly figure had stood behind him when she spoke. “Is there a problem?”

  “Dorothy asked me to bring some clothes to Katie, the young woman the Elliott boys hired.” She clasped her hands behind her sweet tush and looked at his desk. “It’s wonderful to be with an adult my height.”

  Twenty-five years together had taught him the signs of Marci wanting something. He set the tips of his fingers together, tapping them as she fidgeted.

  “And?” he prodded, dragging out the word.

  “I was wondering if Beth sent Katie here for Sam and Trey to marry.”

  They were close to the Elliotts as they’d stood in as fathers when Pat, and then Ben, had passed. Both had died in tragic accidents. Lance accepted such things but she did not understand why Stella and her sons had to lose both of them.

  “What makes you think Beth would bring someone to Climax for them, or even that she could?”

  From Marci’s expression, her sharp index finger would have been shoved in his belly if there hadn’t been a desk between them. He hadn’t yet broken her of the habit. He’d never let her know he found it cute.

  “Oh, please!” she scoffed. “A total stranger, a well-educated young woman, shows up in the middle of the night in Tom’s doorway, having lost almost everything. She punches Sam in the face, knocking some sense into him. And then Stella hurts her arm so Katie has to live at the Rocking E with Sam and Trey.”

  “And?” he prodded when she stopped.

  “Sam’s been too serious to have a girlfriend and Trey hasn’t been serious enough. I heard about the way they act around Katie. She told me she loved living on her grandmother’s farm, and how nasty her father’s family is. So I lent her a few of my books.”

  Simon lifted an eyebrow. “Those books?”

  Marci nodded. “Katie’s perfect for Sam and Trey. I think Beth had something to do with her showing up.”

  While Simon wouldn’t put it past Beth, he hadn’t heard anything about Beth using her hat pin. Yet. She might have other resources he didn’t know about, though.

  “Perhaps you’re right,” he admitted. “There’s no such thing as mere coincidence.”

  “You’re almost as bad as Lance,” replied Marci with a scowl. “He won’t tell me anything except it will all work out.” She looked around the room, rubbing her bare arms. “If you see Beth, I expect you to tell me everything she says!”

  Marci stomped out, leaving the door ajar. The hair at the back of Simon’s neck rose. He felt a cool breeze, though nothing moved. A black paw pushed at the door, widening the gap enough for Barney to trot in, white belly fur swaying. He leaped onto the desk and stared over Simon’s shoulder, purring like a Harley.

  “If you don’t turn around,” said a sultry voice behind him, “you won’t have to lie to your wife about seeing me.”

  “I don’t lie,” said Simon, recognizing the voice. So did Barney, who slowly blinked his eyes in feline adoration. “Was Marci right, that you had something to do with Katie coming to Climax?”

  “Of course, dear boy!” replied Beth Elliott. “Just as you are working to bring in new industries to keep the town going, I’m helping the next generation find partners to produce children. I think Katie will do those Elliott boys well. Though she’s a lot shorter, she reminds me of, well, me.”

  Beth paused for his expected chuckle, so he gave her one.

  “Sam’s a big stick in the mud,” she continued, “but he’ll change once Katie helps him realize a few things. I trained Trace, Simon, and Jack, and I have no doubt Katie will do the same to her men. Trey will provide the fun while Sam gives her stability.”

  “I can’t see how your trusty hatpin could have caused someone to steal everything but the clothes on her back.”

  “Haven’t used my hatpin yet,” she replied smugly. “I did, however, encourage the possibilities to help Katie sleep deeper than normal. She was exhausted, so it wasn’t difficult.”

  Simon’s chair squeaked its complaint as he turned around. Beth, this time in a pale blue satin gown with puffed sleeves, fluttered her silk fan at him. It did nothing to calm him.

  “You wanted Katie to lose everything?”

  He had to fight to keep his voice down. Beth closed her fan with an elegant flick of her hand. From the fire in her eyes she would have whacked him on the head with it if she could.

  “That cowboy was beyond desperate, Simon MacDougal! He got injured at a rodeo trying to raise money for his hungry family. His wife had paid the mortgage instead of buying food. The garden isn't producing yet. He used the last of his cash to get as far as he could on that bus because he couldn’t walk, or stand long enough to hitchhike. He hadn’t eaten in two days. He got off the bus with Katie’s money and went home to a hungry child and a pregnant wife who had barely enough food to keep her from fainting. Katie’s five hundred dollars will keep them alive until the crop comes in. He has her address and will repay the money as soon as he can.”

  Simon winced in sympathy. Tom said Katie came from a wealthy family. All she had to do was make one call and she could get money from her bank account. She was stubborn, though, and insisted on doing things herself. That attitude was appreciated by everyone in Climax. But the cowboy wouldn’t know she had access to money.

  “It’s still theft, Beth.”

  “He didn’t want to do it, Simon. I had to nudge him. Katie’s strong and healthy and can find work. His family would have been very hungry if he didn’t get home with some cash in time.” She raised her chin. “Katie would have handed over that money, and her ticket, if she’d known.”

  Beth flipped the fan open and did some tricks with it. Simon got the impression she was stalling.

  “Unfortunately, I did not anticipate the truck driver’s actions.” She snapped the fan shut, gripping it in her fist. “He will get what’s coming to him. In this life, and after.”

  “He’s the one you’re going to stick a pin in?” Simon didn’t hide his sarcasm.

  “Perhaps. Katie gave excellent information, which Tom passed on to Josh Gibson. The sheriff takes such things very seriously.”

  “Good,” said Simon grudgingly. “But I still don’t like what you did.”

  Beth pressed her lips together and gave him a glare that reminded him of his wife.

  “Why would such an excellent young woman come to Climax unless she was desperate?” demanded Beth.

  Simon had no good answer, so stayed quiet. They needed to bring in good people with new ideas or cash to start businesses. Otherwise, Climax could slowly die like so many other small towns in America. They needed adventurous spirits who knew how to work hard and be good neighbors. He had to admit that Jet and Houston, the men Beth had encouraged to marry Lila, were great additions to Climax and Tanner’s Ford Valley. He’d contacted Luke Chambers for the same reason, though the man had gotten the Deputy Sheriff job all on his own. Luke’s brother was a veterinarian looking for a place to settle. Simon hoped he’d take over the veterinary practice in town.

  “Katie deserves a few good men,” continued Beth, “just as my great-whatever grandsons deserve a good woman. She won’t even admit it to herself, but she’s desperate for a loving home and children. That’s not going to happen if she returns to that family of hers.” Beth made a face that resembled Emily’s when she got too near the pigpen. “Katie should fall in love, stay here where she’s appreciated, an
d make babies. And,” Beth added before Simon could comment on her old-fashioned ideas, “Katie’s training and education is exactly what the Tanner’s Ford Valley Association needs in a business manager. And since her family company makes wooden furniture, I bet she could give Keith and his buddies a hand in that kinky company they’re starting.”

  Simon narrowed his eyes at her. The need for someone trained in management techniques, especially a person with a background in marketing, had come up at the recent executive meeting. Only he as secretary, Keith Adams as chair, Sandra Gibson as treasurer, and Tom White, who provided security and hospitality, had been there. He might have to bring Barney to the next meeting. The cat knew whenever Beth was around, even before she showed herself.

  “Shouldn’t Katie have a choice in her future?”

  Beth reached out to rap him on the head with her fan. Though he knew he couldn’t feel anything, he still ducked. She snickered.

  “Of course it will be Katie’s choice, with maybe a nudge or two from me.”

  “How do you know they’re right for each other?” he demanded.

  “Experience and intuition, dear boy.”

  “In other words, you don’t know,” he replied, holding back a far more sarcastic comment. He wasn’t going to enrage a ghost with a very sharp hatpin. She was likely to stab him in the rear—or worse—at a very important time. Lance insisted Beth, and other spirits, had been banned from their bedroom, bath, and playroom, but Simon wasn’t going to take chances. “Katie could be all wrong for them, and vice versa.”

  “Not likely, but just in case, you’re going to watch over Sam and Trey. Just like you have since their fathers died,” she added before he could jump in. “Katie’s a lot like Marci. They both get joy from taking care of people. She’s also a lot like my sister-in-law, Jessie Elliott Langford. Once she knows more, Katie will push her men in order to get spanked, just like Aggie now, and Jessie back then.”

  Simon had enjoyed Beth’s journal entries about Jessie, who’d been a tough ranch gal during a time when fathers and husbands owned their children and wives under the law. They could beat them to near death and the law wouldn’t touch them for doing so. Jessie had been set up by five of her six brothers and three cousins. Well compromised, she’d grudgingly married the three English aristocrats she’d bedded, but only because her horse was part of the marriage settlement. A small cask of gold nuggets had also changed hands. Henry, one of her husbands, had buried it somewhere within a half hour walk of the cabin. Simon was still trying to work out where. Beth dangled hints but refused to help him outright.