“Lean your head back against my shoulder.”
She did.
“That’s right. Now close your eyes, Rosie. Relax and just feel.”
“Tom, I…”
“Shh. Feel me.” He’d soaped up his hands and ran them up and down her arms. Up to her shoulders where he massaged her aching muscles. She already felt calmer than she had since she’d arrived on that train platform little more than a month ago.
His hands left her a moment before he used the washcloth to rinse her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, easing his hands up over her stomach, up again to each breast over and around, tweaking each nipple then soothing it. His hands glided easily over her slick, soapy body.
Rosie leaned back against his chest and sighed. “This feels wonderful.”
“Good. I’m glad.” He licked the side of her neck, bit it softly and then suckled, marking her lightly.
She arched her neck and rolled her head away giving him easy access to this sensitive part of her body.
His wonderful, talented hands moved down, caressed her belly and continued downward till he reached her nether lips. Gifted fingers opened her and ran up and down her slit, around her pleasure bud and back down again.
She moaned. Without warning he plunged one finger into her slick passage, bending it just enough to hit a particularly sensitive spot.
Her body clamped down around his finger. It felt so good. He slid another and then another inside her and moved them stretching her, preparing her and pleasuring her.
She pressed back into him needing the anchor his body provided. He pressed her little love bud and teased it with his thumb while he moved in and out of her with his fingers.
Pressure built within her. Glorious feelings. She was on a precipice. Needed something to send her off. He rubbed her little bud harder and she cried out his name while her body shattered. A thousand lamps couldn’t compare to the lightning that whipped through her.
Soothing her until she settled, he said. “Let’s get out of here. The water’s cold and I have so much more to show you and do to you before this night is done.
They rose from the tub. Tom wrapped a towel around her before he grabbed one for himself. He wrapped it around his waist and proceeded to dry her. Every inch of her. He paid special attention to her nipples, the fabric of the towel rough against them until they were hard as rocks. Little shocks went straight to her core each time he touched them.
Rosie couldn’t help her moans. “God, what are you doing to me?”
“I’m making love to you. Something I should have done as soon as you got here. I’m marking you as mine. For always. Mine.”
“Yours. Always.” She took his beloved face between her hands. “I’m yours with or without your mark. You’re stuck with me.”
“I want you now, Rosie.” He held her close and his erection pressed into her belly. “Feel how much I want you.” He ground himself against her.
She nodded. Now was not the time to be shy. “Yes. I need you to come into me. Please.”
“Get on the bed.”’
She lay down and then moved up until her head hit the pillows.
He rose over her, erect and ready. “I’ve tried my best to prepare you for this first time, but there’s still liable to be some pain and for that I’m really sorry.”
Slowly, with infinite care, he entered her. Slick and ready for him, she felt nothing except wonder. This was so right. “More.” It was so frustrating he was going so slow and she wanted it now. But Tom wouldn’t be hurried.
He entered then pulled back, a little more then pulled back again.
“I’m sorry, baby,” he reared back and then slammed home, pushing through her maidenhead. She stopped breathing. Tom stopped moving.
“What now? Is that it?” she asked.
“God no. I’m just trying to let your body adjust to me.”
“I think it’s adjusted. I want to move, I want you to move. It’s exquisite, but I need more.”
Tom rested his forehead against hers. “You constantly surprise me.”
He started moving in her. Slowly at first, then he picked up the pace. In. Out. Faster. Harder.
Rosie was awkward to begin with. Her strokes were off, but she soon got the rhythm and moved up at each of his down strokes and back when he did. She was so close to that precipice she’d been over once tonight. So close. “Tom,” she panted, asking for completion without knowing the words.
But he knew. He reached between them and rubbed her little bud. He barely had to touch it before she fragmented again, calling out his name and invoking the name of God as well.
Tom pressed in once, twice and grabbed her, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He groaned out his hot release deep within her. She hoped they’d made a baby tonight, but regardless, she was sure she’d have a lot more chances in the coming years.
“That was amazing,” she said once her breathing returned to normal. “Do I have this to look forward to very often or just special occasions?”
Laughter rumbled deep in his chest and worked its way out. “Oh, you have this to look forward to, at least nightly and that’s only assuming I can keep my hands off you during the day.”
He rolled to his side, taking her with him, tucking her head on his shoulder. She loved the feel of him, the weight of his body on hers after completion. It was so…right. And yet this, cuddling, feeling his hard body next to hers, her leg draped over his thigh was almost as good. Almost.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
She sat up and grinned at him. “Famished. I seemed to have worked up an appetite. Let me fix us a plate. We can eat it in bed and pretend we’re on a picnic.”
He let her up and swatted her bottom when she stood.
“Oh!”
“Get me fed, woman,” he said, laughing.
*****
Carolyn stood on the bluff overlooking the ranch. The place she’d spent nine years of her life. Nine long boring years. Thank God, Frank had taken her away from all of that. It may not have worked out with Frank, he wasn’t rich enough for long enough for her tastes but she’d fix that herself. She might even go back to him for a little while. Of course, with the seed money she was going to get from this little job, she could lure a rich husband. All she had to do was appear rich until it was too late for them to know the truth. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman had taken a rich man for a ride. Anyway, they got to fuck her, that was worth the cost as far as she was concerned.
She thought back to her marriage. It was too bad Tom hadn’t been rich; he’d been the only man to take his time and make sure she had pleasure when they had sex. Oh well, that was then, this was now.
Now she waited. Watched and waited. Finally she saw the boy go to the barn by himself. No one followed him. It was her chance. She knew the layout of the ranch. Knew where to stay to remain out of sight. She walked her horse around through the trees to the north side of the barn, next to the forest. She left the horse tied to one of the trees and walked to the barn.
Ben was in one of the empty stalls reading a book when Carolyn found him.
“Ben?”
He looked up. Carolyn took off her hat.
“Mama? Mama is that you?” Ben got up and ran to his mother. “Where have you been. I’ve missed you, Mama.” He locked his arms around her waist.
Carolyn wrapped her arms around the boy and kissed the top of his head. “I had to go away for a while, but I’ve come back for you, Ben. Come with me.”
“What about Papa and Suzie? And Rosie? What about Rosie?”
“I came back for you, Ben. Just you. I couldn’t stand being away from you, from my baby for any longer. Come with me now.”
He nodded.
She smiled.
CHAPTER 10
Tom and Rosie lay in bed. Both sweaty. Both satisfied.
There was a knock at the door.
“Just a minute,” called Tom.
“Hurry, Tom, it’s important.” T
he urgency in Mary’s voice made Tom jump out of bed and jam his legs in his pants. Rosie brought the covers up to her neck.
He went to the door and threw it wide.
“What’s wrong?” he asked Mary.
“Charley from your ranch was just downstairs. He said to tell you Ben is missing and to give you this.” She handed him a plain envelope. Written on the outside For Tom Harris. “They found it tacked on the barn door.”
Tom ripped the envelope open. Inside was a lone sheet of paper.
If you want to see your boy alive again bring $5,000 and leave it outside the abandoned mine shack two hours north of your ranch. Leave it by the well on the side facing the door.
He rammed his fingers through his hair.
“Damn! God, damn!” he shouted.
Rosie threw back the covers. It was only Mary after all and now was not the time for modesty. She grabbed her chemise from the floor and went behind the Chinese screen where the rest of her clothes were.
“Thanks, Mary,” said Tom. “Would you send someone for the sheriff?”
“Already have. Soon as your man told me that Ben was gone, I took the note and sent him on to get Dan.”
Rosie came out from behind the changing screen fully dressed
Mary left shutting the door behind her.
“Who would do this? Tom, why would someone take Ben?”
“I don’t know. I’m not a rich man. I do well enough but I’m not rich. You know that.”
Before she could answer, there was another knock at the door. Rosie answered it this time, while Tom finished dressing. There was a tall, blond man who looked like any other cowboy except he was wearing a star on his chest. She guessed this was the sheriff.
“Dan, thanks for getting here so soon.” Tom went over and shook his hand.
“I came immediately.”
“Rosie, this is Dan Baker, the county sheriff.”
“My pleasure, Mrs. Harris. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances.”
“So do I, sheriff.” She took his hand. It engulfed hers.
“What do we know?” asked Dan.
“Someone has kidnapped Ben and is holding him in exchange for five thousand dollars.”
“Five thousand dollars is a hell of a lot of money.”
“Why would someone do this? I don’t have five thousand dollars.” He slammed his fist into the hard wood of the wall. She doubted he even felt the pain.
“No, but I do or very nearly. Twenty-five dollars short of that. Remember?” said Rosie.
She said it calmly. No need in both of them being crazy. She’d leave that emotion for Tom right now.
He looked at her, “You don’t think that I—“
“No! Don’t even say it. Someone is out to hurt not only you but me. I would never, ever believe that you would use my feelings for Ben against me. Let’s look at this logically.”
“How can you be so calm?” he demanded.
“It won’t do any good for me to cry and carry on. That’s exactly what I want to do, but it won’t bring Ben back.”
“You’re right I’m sorry.” He hugged her to him. “I’m just worried.”
“I know. So am I.”
Dan interrupted, “Other than you two and me who else knew about your money?”
Rosie had forgotten he was in the room.
“No one.” said Tom.
“Not true,” said Rosie. “Anyone working at the bank could have known. There could have been someone who overheard me telling you I need to deposit it, though I don’t remember anyone being near. We were lucky. It was just as it opened that we went to the bank and there were no other customers yet. For sure Sam Kent, but it could be anyone who works there.”
“There are only two tellers in addition to Sam. It had to be one of those two.”
“Three,” said Rosie.
“What? Why three?” asked Tom.
“I’m not ruling out Sam Kent. Here,” she handed him his socks out from under the bed.
Tom pulled them on, followed by his boots.
“You can’t seriously believe Sam had anything to do with this. He’s the bank president for Christ’s sake.”
“It’s unlikely, that’s true, but we can’t rule anyone out,” she insisted.
“Fine.”
The two men sat at the table. Rosie stood behind Tom.
“There could be a lot of suspects but the most likely are those at the bank. Sam, Joshua and Pete are the only people who work there. So it would have to be one of them,” said Dan.
“Or someone they might have told,” said Rosie.
“She’s right,” said Tom. “They all have family they could have told. Well, all except Sam, he doesn’t have anyone that we know of.”
“How long have you known, Sam?” asked Rosie.
“Less than two years. Isn’t that right, Dan?”
“Yeah, he came just after you got that telegram about Sarah,” said Dan.
“And he’s never had anyone come visit that I know of,” said Tom.
“That still doesn’t eliminate him,” insisted Rosie. “After all he’s the only one we told directly. He’s the one who did the deposit.”
“But who would he tell?” countered Tom.
“I don’t know. None of it really matters until after we get Ben back.” She started pacing the room.
“Rosie. It’s everything you have. I can’t ask you for your money. I’ll take a mortgage on the ranch.”
“You most certainly will take the money. Everything I have and need is you, Ben and Suzie. You’re all that matters.”
Tom took her in his arms and kissed her. “I’ll make it up to you. Someday I will,” he whispered for her ears only.
“You already did.” She smiled and ran her finger down his jaw to his chin. “You gave me a family of my own.”
Dan cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt but I have to agree with Mrs. Harris, er, Rosie. I’m not eliminating anyone just yet.”
“You know best,” said Tom. “The bank won’t open till tomorrow. But I’m going to see if Sam will open it now. Hell. We don’t even know if he has that much cash on hand.”
“What if he doesn’t? How will we get the money? If anything happens to Ben….” She stopped long enough to ask the questions and then paced the floor again.
Tom grabbed her by her shoulders. “It won’t do any good to wear a hole in Mary’s rug.”
“What about Suzie? Is she all right? We need to get home now,” worried Rosie.
“Suzie wasn’t mentioned in the note or by Charley. Let’s go talk to him first. Then I’m sending instructions back with him. Everyone is to be armed and Suzie doesn’t leave the house for any reason. We’ll go back once we get the money. Dan will you ride with me when I take the ransom to the drop off?
“You bet. Until you leave it by the shack, me and that money are one.”
“Thanks. I don’t want to leave Rosie or Suzie alone. I can’t take a chance with either of them. But once we get to the ranch I’ll have one of my men with them every minute I’m not.”
Rosie stopped her pacing. It was the nicest thing he could have said and she was sure he didn’t realize it’s implications. He cared for her. As soon as they got Ben back she was going to explore this but right now Ben was the only one that mattered.
The three of them walked over to Sam Kent’s house. They knocked, waited and were about to leave when the door opened. Sam stood there with a towel around his neck and his undershirt on.
“Tom, Rosie and Dan, too. Goodness gracious, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Sam, I need you to open the bank and give us Rosie’s money,” said Tom with no preamble.
Sam cocked his head to one side. “Tom, I can’t do that. We open at nine tomorrow morning. You know that.”
“It can’t wait, Sam. Someone’s kidnapped Ben and is demanding five thousand dollars to return him.”
Sam closed his eyes and shook his head. “Tom, I’m so sorry. Of
course, I’ll open the bank. Let me grab my shirt.” When he got back he said, “You got lucky. Normally there is no way I’d have that much cash on hand but the mine payroll arrived yesterday so there’s plenty to cover this.” He paused for a moment. “Do you think whoever did this knew the cash would be here now?”
“I don’t know,” said Dan, “but I don’t believe in coincidences.”
CHAPTER 11
She had to wait at the mining shack until they dropped off the money. Then she’d leave the boy there where he could be found and hightail it out of this podunk backwater town forever.
Carolyn tied her horse far back into the trees. Hobbled it with plenty to eat so it should stay happy and quiet. Unfortunately, she’d had to tie up her son and gag him. He wouldn’t stop crying about leaving his sister and father. Now he just sat in a corner and stared at her. She wished he’d look away. The condemnation in his eyes was almost enough to make her regret what she was doing. Almost.
She watched through a hole in the wall. They were supposed to leave the money and ride away. The front of the shack faced a large meadow and she’d be able to watch them go and see if they stopped or veered off the path.
Finally, she saw two horses. Her heart raced and her stomach roiled. Now was not the time to be sick. Tom and Sheriff Dan. Good that’s how it was supposed to be. Tom looked around, trying to see her she knew, though he didn’t know it was her he was looking for. Sheriff Dan followed the instructions to the letter. Leave the money on the side of the well facing the door. Then leave.
Carolyn watched until they were gone and then waited and waited some more. She had to be sure that they were really gone.
At dusk, she came out of the shack and picked up the money. She left the boy tied up. They would be on their way back to get the boy. She had to leave now. Had to be long gone by the time they got there.
She rode hard. The old hay burner that Sam gave her to ride, didn’t like to gallop and would only do it for a short while and then slow to a walk again. Carolyn dug in her spurs and got the horse moving. She kept at it to keep the nag going. She had to get out of there.
Carolyn heard the horses behind her before they saw them. She could barely recognize who it was. The sheriff, Dan Baker. Along with Duncan McKenzie, the best tracker and an infamous bounty hunter. She cursed. She’d forgotten that McKenzie was friends with Tom. He was hunting her not for a bounty but to help a friend. Either way she was screwed.
Tame a Wild Bride, a Western Romance Page 10
