The Merry Widow of Tanner's Ford (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Reece Butler

  She sat up, suddenly furious. “Why? You both saved someone’s life!”

  Simon tightened his fingers around hers. “I can’t explain my mother, Marci. I don’t know why she married my father even though she knew of his background.” He held up their hands. “I’ve got white skin and red hair, just like my father, a proud member of the MacDougal Clan from the Scottish Highlands. That’s all my mother could see.”

  “What are you saying?”

  His heart contracted at saying the words. His mother had humiliated him all his life, if not directly, then by her treatment of his twin brother. She’d been dead a while and he’d thought he was over it. Having to tell Marci about her made him realize that a part of him still cringed in shame.

  “You are so beautiful,” he said, “and so is your skin. It’s soft and smooth, with feminine muscles underneath. But all that my mother would see, is that your skin isn’t white.”

  The swing rattled and squeaked as she bristled beside him. He had to hold tight to her hands so she couldn’t pull away.

  “Lance’s skin is brown. My two great-grandfathers were both Chiefs. One was Chief of the Bannock Tribe. Fergus and I got the MacDougal genes. Lance got the Bannock. My mother took one look at his dark skin and said he was no child of hers. She pretended she had only one baby, me, as well as her precious first son, Fergus. Nothing my father said or did could change her.”

  “Who took care of him?”

  “My mother was so big with us twins that my father hired a housekeeper. Because of Lance, Mrs. Larson stayed, and pretty much raised both of us. We had a connection Mom couldn’t break, which was good as she put all her efforts into Fergus. We had an open invitation to visit our Bannock relatives, but Mom refused to allow it. Dad wouldn’t go against Mom.”

  “You only had the one father?”

  He nodded. “I think that was why Dad gave in to Mom so much. He never had the link that many brothers have. He was all alone, except for Mom.”

  “So, what happened after you saved Keith?”

  “Mom told Dad that Lance was a bad influence on me, and she wanted him gone. He left the next morning on his new horse. I didn’t see him again until right before school started. After that, he spent every summer with them.”

  “That’s terrible! How could a parent act that way?”

  “I don’t know, but it was good for Lance. He was finally with people who looked like him. They respected his link with the ravens, and taught him many things. It’s why he has such a touch with horses, especially injured ones. He seems to know what’s wrong, and can reach them so they’re not crazed with pain and fear.”

  Having Lance gone wasn’t so good for him, though. Furious at his parents, and without Lance’s calming influence, he got into a lot of trouble. That meant being ordered to the woodshed too many nights. His father would dole out his punishment, muttering how he should’ve sent both boys to their grandfather. Simon had kept his mouth shut but the hurt went deep.

  “Did you ever meet your Indian relatives?”

  He nodded. “The next summer. Lance had been gone a couple of weeks. I got in another fight, this one after church, because of what people said about my mother and Lance. I hated how she treated him, but she was still my mother. When my dad said to get the switch and head for the woodshed, I said I’d gotten in a fight because they’d insulted my mother. It didn’t matter to my father. I was furious that I’d get a beating for protecting her when she was so against my own brother. I took off on my horse with nothing but the clothes I had on.”

  “You went to find Lance.”

  “Yep. But my parents were sure I was staying with one of the other valley families so they didn’t worry. But when Sunday rolled around again, and no one at church had seen me they got concerned. Then they got a note that I was safe with Lance.”

  Much to his surprise, his Bannock relatives had welcomed him. That summer challenged him, pushing him physically and mentally beyond anything his parents thought he was capable of. The People knew what to do with young men who didn’t think they fit anywhere. It was a tough time but he’d proven himself worthy. Only much later did he realize it was himself he’d had to prove his worth to. No one else’s opinion mattered. Lance knew it in his bones but Simon had to keep relearning.

  “So now you know my twin brother is dark brown, that my mother was crazy, and my father supported her over his children.”

  They rocked for a while. Back and forth, the only sound the squeak of the swing.

  “My turn,” said Marci. “My mother fell in love with a man who promised to marry her. He even gave her a ring. But once he found out she was pregnant, he disappeared.”

  “That’s not unusual,” said Simon, reassuring her.

  Marci snorted. “The same thing happened with my older sister as well.”

  “She didn’t use birth control?”

  “Oh, yes, she did. And after getting pregnant with my sister, my mother was doubly careful. But she was as fertile as a rabbit. It took six weeks for her to get pregnant with my sister, and three months for me.”

  “Did either man pay to support his child?”

  Marci shook her head. “I think they paid a lump sum for Mom’s medical fees. Both of them were wealthy foreign students. Even if she could have proven they promised marriage, they left the country and married someone else. Someone equally wealthy.”

  “Did your mother have a good job?” Simon noticed she bit her lip when unsure of herself. “After what I just told you, you think I’ll judge you for your past?”

  He took her slight shrug as an apology.

  “We moved around a lot when I was little, but Mom got regular work when I started grade four. She didn’t have one good job, she had two lousy ones,” she said. “Her day job was doing alterations at a clothing store. She taught me to sew. And she cleaned office buildings until late.” Marci lifted her eyes to the mountains. “I never saw so much open land until I got to Montana.”

  “Did you have a small apartment in the city?”

  “No, we didn’t have that much money. I guess we could’ve moved into one of the projects, but Mom had pride. I grew up in a trailer park.”

  “A trailer park is nothing to be ashamed of,” he said quietly. “You can live in the most expensive house in town and be filled with the filth of your soul.”

  This time it was Marci who squeezed her hand to give him comfort.

  “It was old and rusted, but we kept that trailer as clean and neat as we could. That’s how I learned so much about fixing things.” She slid him a small smile. “Thank goodness for duct tape. It fixes ripped chair seats, cracked windows, and rusted out holes that are so big creepy crawlies can get through without their wings touching the metal.”

  He laughed along with her. He’d had everything to keep him alive. Food, shelter, clothing appropriate to the weather. But Marci had had love. He wanted his children to have both.

  “My sister and I did well at school. My mother had to quit school after tenth grade when her mother died. Her father insisted she take over the house so he was well cared for. So education was very important to Mom. She gave up paying hours to make it to school appointments.”

  He couldn’t imagine his mother doing so much for her children, unless it was her firstborn. He and Lance would’ve starved before she’d take on extra work to feed them.

  “The first time I felt truly accepted was when I met his grandfathers, Keir and Gavin MacDougal, that summer on the land.”

  “I knew my mother loved me with all her heart.”

  “She’s gone?”

  “Yes, just before my sister graduated from—” she suddenly leaned forward, coughing. He patted her back.

  “Your sister did well, then?”

  Marci nodded. “I was the disappointment. I married a week after I left high school. I had a state college scholarship, but Ted said he needed me. I was foolish and didn’t listen.” She shrugged. “And now I’m here.”

  “That
you are.” He kissed her knuckles. “Time for a nap.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Marci opened the fridge, thinking about what to make for supper. Nikki said many of the ranch families had everyone over on Sundays after church for a big meal. If this was her home, she’d be making something from a leftover roast, as it was Monday.

  Now that Simon had a cast that ended at the top of his calf he could get around, even climb stairs. Brenda had told him to stay off the walking cast for a few days. Of course, the first thing he did when he got home was to haul himself upstairs. He’d tripped halfway up, but a hard grip on the sturdy carved handrail had saved his dignity, and his other leg. He was working in his office down the hall. He’d grumbled, but agreed to put his foot up after what had happened earlier.

  She’d wanted to talk to her sister when they went to the clinic that morning, but Brenda said Nikki was checking over Stella Elliott’s five-year-old son, TJ. Jordan Gibson had dared TJ to jump off the porch roof. Marci decided doing crazy things when told not to must be a male thing.

  “It’s chilly out,” she mused. “There’s carrots, parsnips, and onions. I could make a stew if I thawed one of the older packages from the freezer.”

  The old telephone on the wall bleated, making her jump. She hurried over, hand on her rapidly beating heart. Too many people knew she was here for her to pretend otherwise.

  “Hello? I mean, MD Connected ranch, housekeeper speaking.”

  “Marci?”

  “Nikki!” She released her breath at hearing her sister’s bright voice instead of that of an accusing officer. “How’s the boy who can’t fly?”

  “TJ’s doing fine. What’s funny is that Jordy is Max Gibson’s oldest son.”

  “I thought they were all called Max, and were expected to be sheriff when they grew up?”

  “Max, I mean the one now sheriff, refused,” explained Nikki. “He said his children could forge their own paths. Brenda said her father and grandfather are just now starting to calm down, and Jordy’s eight.”

  “So not all Tanner’s Ford traditions are being kept.”

  “The one where two men share a woman seems to be doing fine. And speaking of hot sex, how are things going with Simon? I’d hoped to see you this morning to ask how your plan to seduce Simon went. Brenda said you had the three oldest Adams children with you Saturday night. How can you have hot sex with your cowboy if there’s kids around?”

  Heat flashed up Marci’s body. She curled the long cord in her fingers and looked out the kitchen window. She’d missed having Nikki to talk to, but at least now they were in the same area code.

  She lowered her voice even though Simon was down the hall. “I jumped him that first night, Nikki. And, oh my God!” Just thinking about Simon had her hormones on overdrive. She pressed her thighs together, wishing there was something between them.

  “Tell me about it,” urged Nikki. “Think of it as research in case I have other patients confined to their beds.”

  “Two words,” said Marci. “Oral sex.”

  “It was good?”

  “Wow! I mean, the, um, cowgirl position is great, too, but…” She blew out her breath. “I can’t describe it, Nikki. Just having a man want to pleasure you instead of selfishly taking care of only himself, is wonderful. But knowing what to do, and insisting on making you come again and again…I never knew it could be like this.”

  “You’re making me want to bash a guy on the head, tie him to the bed, and blindfold him so he doesn’t know it’s me.”

  Marci winced. “Oh, God, Nikki, I’m sorry to rub it in. I’m sure there’s got to be an intelligent, secure man who’ll jump at the chance to give you what Simon’s given me. You’ve only been here for a few months, and you said you’ve been too busy to mingle. You just haven’t met a man worthy of you yet.”

  “Thanks, but I’m not holding my breath. I’m just glad that things are working out for you. So”—she pulled the word out into three syllables—”have you forgotten about Ted?”

  Marci laughed. “Who? I can’t remember anything because my ears are still buzzing from those masses of orgasms you prescribed for me.” Marci thought back to what else Nikki had said. “And yes, Simon does have magic fingers, a mobile tongue, and a long, hard cock. One of these days I want him to tie me to the bed, and—”

  “Whoa! That’s too much detail for my virgin ears.”

  “You want less detail, sister, dear? Then yes, Doctor Meshevski, thanks to your prescription I’ve had masses of orgasms, thank you very much.” She laughed. “And I want lots more, but I’ve got to get back to making supper. You did tell me to take care of”—she dropped her voice into a sexy purr—“all of Mr. MacDougal’s appetites. Food and wild sex are on the top of his list. Not necessarily in that order!”

  Nikki’s laughter suddenly sounded forced. Marci’s good feeling faded. “What is it?” she asked.

  “You got a letter. Or I did, and when I opened it up there was one inside addressed to Mrs. Ted Grant.”

  Marci reached for a chair. She hauled it over and fell into it.

  “What is it?” she whispered.

  “It’s from the insurance agency. You want me to open it and read it to you?”

  “No! I mean, I’ll wait until I can get it from you.”

  “It looks official, Marci. Are you sure you want to wait?”

  “Nikki, I’m finally enjoying myself. It can wait until this”—she waved her hand, unable to express herself—“this thing is over.”

  Silence rang across the wire. Marci swallowed hard. She could hear Nikki’s accusations without a word being spoken.

  “I’ll let it go for now,” said Nikki. “But you’re going to have to face things soon.”

  “I know,” whispered Marci. “But at least I’ll have good memories when I’m in prison.”

  “You’re not going to prison!”

  “Of course not,” she automatically replied, keeping her voice low. “I was just joking.”

  “That’s no joke, and you know it. So stop saying it. Stop thinking it!”

  “Yes, Nikki. Look, I’ve got to get going. I’ll pick up that letter the when I’m in town.”

  “If you forget I’ll be bringing it out to you. I love you, and you’re all I have.”

  “You’re all I’ve got as well. Big hugs.”

  She hung up the phone and slumped in the chair. Covering her eyes with her hands, she let quiet tears escape. Just when she thought she could enjoy her life, her past had caught up with her.

  * * * *

  Simon had hauled himself to his feet when he heard the telephone. He expected Lance, but had come to a complete halt when he heard Marci say “oral sex.” He was damn lucky he hadn’t tripped and bitten his tongue off when his jaw snapped shut. And then she said things about his body that made him very glad his tongue was still working.

  To heck with supper, he wanted to show her even more of what his tongue, fingers, and cock could do! He could get on his knees now, and his long, hard cock was raring to prove a few things!

  Marci’s conversation with her sister should have been private. But she hadn’t kept her voice down until the end. She’d all but shouted that she wanted more hot sex, as soon as possible. He could do that, but there was more to the conversation. While the two women hadn’t spoken a falsehood, they’d lied by omission.

  Okay, Simon, time to regroup. He turned to lean his back against the wall, rather than just one shoulder.

  Three things stood out. Sweet, sexy Marci and the Amazon doctor were sisters. Doctor Nikki had set him up with Marci, hoping she’d have sex with him to forget her dead husband. And when Marci said yes Friday night, she’d enjoyed herself thoroughly.

  But why did she think she had to keep her identity a secret? Yeah, his first impression of the Doc wasn’t a great one, but hell, he hadn’t been that pleasant either.

  He’d known Brenda was up to something that night. He’d never have guessed the two women were sisters. The
Doc’s short blonde hair and light skin were different enough. But she was as tall and likely weighed almost as much as he did.

  Marci was small and dark and full of life. If the Doc was an ice queen, Marci was fire. And he couldn’t wait for her to take hold of his fuse. It throbbed for her hand—or even better, her mouth.

  If she wanted to be tied to the bed, he wouldn’t worry about how she’d take Lance’s domineering attitude. Marci might not want to be spanked, but there were other things he bet she might like to try. Lance would enjoy playing sex games with her. Hell, he’d enjoy it!

  He imagined her lying on her back on their king-size bed. There was a reason the iron headboard had bars, as did the footboard. They could tie her wrists over her head and spread her legs wide for easy access with their mouths and fingers.

  Blindfolded.

  They’d massage and lick and suck her from toes on up. Then they’d flip her over and start again. By then she’d be begging for their cocks.

  Lance was an ass man. He’d want her on her knees, head on the bed, as he took his time stretching her virgin anus with his fingers. Maybe he’d fill her pussy while Simon played with her nipples and clit. Watching her explode in an orgasm they provided would make Simon boil. It would take a while before she could ride him while Lance filled her ass.

  Thank God he was wearing sweats. His cock stuck straight out, throbbing as if she’d been sucking him for hours without release. It wouldn’t be going down anytime soon. Not unless a certain woman wanted more of those orgasms.

  He step-thumped into the kitchen. Marci was bent over, looking in the fridge. There she was, meeting his two top needs at once. Getting food ready while showing him one of her best assets. Lance would enjoy giving her a few pats on those back cheeks to get her attention. And Simon would enjoy kissing her better afterward. Didn’t matter where. He was happy to kiss her rounded ass, her pussy, her mouth, and everywhere in between. Starting now.

  “You’re right,” he said. “Wild sex is higher on my list than food.”