Southern Seduction [Bride Train 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Reece Butler

  Oh, my God! Byron felt like he’d been kicked in the stomach. His horse danced sideways, picking up his tension. What did a life like that do to a woman? He was lucky Casey wanted anything to do with them. Yet she eagerly took them to her bed. She stared forward, blinking rapidly. Her right hand fingered her knife as if reassuring herself. But she wasn’t alone anymore. Far from it.

  “Casey,” he said quietly. “No one is going to hurt you here. Not if there’s anything me, Cole, Marshall, or Willy can do to stop it. And the whole valley will help, as well as most people in town.”

  She nodded, but he didn’t think she believed him. A few days of marriage didn’t change the way a person thought. Not after living her whole life in danger.

  He’d be having a long talk with his partners about what else Gibson said. The Pinkerton Agency was investigating every link that led to or from Orville Rivers. That included discovering where Hugh Jennet got the money to start his bank.

  The trail was cold since the Jennets arrived in 1863 when gold was found. But when Gibson checked into both the banker and his wife, he discovered gold went missing from an Eastern bank about six months before the Jennets arrived in town. The man complaining about the theft was named Sparling. He was Eudora Jennet’s younger brother. The Pinkertons did not believe in coincidences.

  They were still trying to find out why Jennet tried to shoot Rivers. Was it blackmail over stolen gold, or something more sinister? He shook off the thoughts. His job was to take care of Casey and the ranch.

  Chapter 21

  Casey barely saw her new husbands during the next week. Her night with Cole, and following day with Byron in the hotel, was almost like a dream. The fall gather was on and every day was filled with cooking, laughing, feeding, cleaning, and laughing some more. At night she and the other women fell into an exhausted sleep on a pallet. She was surprised when Sarah asked her to show them how to make redeye gravy and a few other Southern meals. She held her head a bit higher at the praise for what she considered simple meals.

  The men worked all day gathering cattle, branding them, selecting which ones to sell, and demolishing all the food the women prepared. At night they rolled in a blanket in a barn and snored until morning, when they started over.

  They started in the west end of the valley, with the Elliotts’ Bitterroot Ranch. Casey wasn’t the only woman wearing pants, though Jessie spent her days roping cattle in the branding pen rather than cooking with the women. Since she admitted she was little use in the kitchen, Amelia MacDougal spent her time with her twin six-month-old sons and Lily Elliott, who was about two months younger.

  There were twenty-four husbands in the valley, plus Willy and Daniel MacDougal. Billy O’Keefe and his father, Paddy, joined them. Sophie was needed at the hotel and Molly had taken over much of Patsy Tanner’s work at the mercantile, but Rosa Henley, who’d once been cook to Miss Lily, joined them. She brought along Grace, who was finally coming out of her shell. Though the woman couldn’t talk without a tongue, she kept a slate and chalk handy in case she couldn’t explain what she wanted with gestures. Casey noticed that Paddy O’Keefe was rarely far from her side when the men came in to eat. From Grace’s blushes and shy looks, she wasn’t against the attention. Florence Elliott and Amelia MacDougal, along with the Redmond sisters and Emma Elliott, kept the little ones busy.

  Between the time her mother died and she went to work for Sophie at the hotel, Casey hadn’t had anything to do with women. She’d never had friends since women in the hills didn’t go far from home because of the feud. She blossomed like a desert flower in spring rain. No one knew of her inheritance, yet she was still accepted as an equal by the other wives. Her hunting skills and ability with a knife were put to use as the men and older boys had to spend their days in the saddle.

  She put aside all thought of the potential dangers Gibson had warned her about. Who would touch her when she was surrounded by well-loved wives of tough ranchers?

  The last ranches to have cattle gathered were the Sweetwater and Running W. Because their home was much bigger than the one the McInneses shared, the cooking for the east end of the valley was done in Casey’s kitchen. The cattle going to market were held between the two ranches on the road to Bannack City.

  Willy was over the moon to be asked to help bring the cattle to Virginia City with Ranger, Patrick, and Jack Elliott. Casey finally had a chance to talk with him about their grandmother. She only had a few minutes so decided not to say anything about the money. She did speak to Ben Elliott to get the lawyer’s advice. Ben said he’d arrange for their money to come from a Helena bank as he didn’t trust Hugh Jennet. Gibson had suggested the same thing when he finally spoke with Casey. She got the impression the Pinkerton agent was investigating more than Smythe and Isaac.

  Gillis MacDougal planned to bring Daniel and Billy with him on the trip. Jessie refused to stay home with her baby, so Sin and Ace would accompany their two feisty females, leaving Henry to keep things going as usual. The J Bar C Ranch would be represented by Riley and Clint, and the Running W by Gideon and Rusty McInnes. The Sweetwater partners would stay home, trusting the others to get a good price for their Flying X brand. If they were lucky with feed, water, and weather, they might move as much as twenty miles a day on the straight. Once they started climbing, they’d have to slow down or the cattle would lose weight.

  Casey heaved a sigh as she watched the herd head out. As one side of their ranch ran along the Bannack City road, she had a clear view. It would be days before they were totally out of sight. She’d filled the stove and put water on for a bath before the last woman had left for home. Eager to finally bed her husbands again, she washed all over with the rose soap Beth had given her. She was finger-combing her damp hair when exhaustion hit. She lay on the bed on her stomach to let her hair dry, for just a moment.

  * * * *

  “Cabin’s dark,” said Marshall as they rode up. “Where do you think Casey is?” He yawned, wide and loud. The wash in the cold creek woke him up enough to ride home, but fatigue was pulling him down once more. Byron and Cole joined him in another yawn.

  “If she’s anything as tired as us, she’s inside, asleep,” said Byron as he dismounted. “Sarah wasn’t in Gabe’s arms more than two minutes before she was asleep. Those women worked just as hard as we did, and half of them are growing babies.”

  Marshall grunted. He’d watched Luke hand Sarah up to Gabe. His horse, Blue, was huge and could easily hold them both. Sarah had snuggled into Gabe’s arms, sighed, and was out like a blown candle. As for babies, Marshall had plans to see if he could start one with Casey. His hip ached but the stitches had held during the week’s strenuous work, thank God.

  “She’d better be asleep,” said Cole. He glanced toward the house. “Ben Elliott said Buford Hames wrote some stories about Rivers for the Helena newspaper. They’re stirring up trouble and someone might get riled at the attention. If they’re already after Casey like that damn Pinkerton agent said—”

  “Don’t borrow trouble,” interrupted Byron. “No one with any smarts would come into a heavily defended valley and try to take one of our wives.”

  “Most ranches will only have one, maybe two men on them for the next couple of weeks,” reminded Cole. We’d best keep a sharp eye to the north and east. That’s where trouble would be coming from. Once the longhorns have crossed the pass into Bannack City, we might see strangers nosing around.”

  “That won’t be for a week or so,” said Marshall.

  He finished brushing down his horse and led it to the corral. Since it was dark, he didn’t try to hide his wince every time his right leg hit the dirt. Because he moved slow, he was the last to enter the cabin. Casey was nowhere to be seen, but her scent was in the air.

  He shucked his boots, setting them neatly beside the others. Cole had a lantern going and Byron was already bent over, setting kindling in the stove. There was enough light that he wouldn’t trip over something and injure himself again, so he left the
m to it and headed for bed.

  “She’s here,” he said, just loud enough. She was curled on her side wearing a nightgown so thin that even in the dim light he could see the shadow between her cheeks.

  “Holy Hannah,” whispered Cole behind him.

  “This makes up for a cold, dark cabin,” added Byron.

  “Yep. Casey’s what makes coming home worthwhile.”

  Marshall’s leg throbbed from him pushing himself to do a regular job even with a partly healed hole in his thigh. He hauled his shirt over his head and dropped his pants. Cole and Byron started shucking their clothes.

  Casey lay in the middle of the bed, so Marshall decided the safest place for him was next to the wall. That meant climbing up from the bottom. He managed it before he collapsed on his back with a whoosh of relief. Though there was a good space between them, he didn’t care. He’d hoped for more hot sex, but lying next to Casey while his cousins pleasured her would have to do.

  Cole lay on the outside and gathered Casey into his arms, settling her head on his chest. She snuggled, bringing one of her legs over his. She murmured something but didn’t wake. With half of her cuddled on top of Cole there was room for Byron, just. He lay on his side, back to Marshall, and started kissing and caressing Casey.

  The fact he was exhausted and in pain did nothing to stop Marshall’s cock from reacting to the noises Casey made in the back of her throat. If he couldn’t participate, at least he’d shift until he had a good view. He moved on his left hip, the good one, and pressed his back against the wall.

  That gave Byron room to play. He lifted Casey’s thin nightgown to her waist and spread her legs wider. Marshall would know her scent anywhere. Sweet and musky, he could almost taste her. But it was Byron who pressed her ass cheeks wide. She arched her back, raising herself off Cole enough for By to press his face right between her cheeks. She gasped, likely as he’d tongued her little brown ring.

  “I know you’re not sleeping.” Byron winked when she opened her eyes. “This is about the best way a woman can welcome her men home.”

  Her eyes half closed and she groaned. Marshall moved his head to see Byron’s face deep between her legs. When Byron came up for air, Cole shifted Casey higher on his chest. She reached for him, pulling him into a deep kiss. Marshall licked his lips, remembering teaching her to suck her tongue deep inside his mouth. How she’d done the same with his cock, swallowing his cum and then licking up every spilled drop.

  He’d been the first to give her pleasure, and to receive, but she’d given her virginity to Cole. That was his right, as her husband. From the way the two of them were covering her in kisses, their fingers going everywhere, he expected she’d done just about everything with them in that hotel room. Everything but opening her ass. Fingers would’ve gone in there, but not a cock. Not yet. That would be Byron’s pleasure.

  Each of them will have opened one part her, he mused, giving and receiving pleasure. Partners, still.

  He loved Casey, no doubt about it. Loved her like he’d never thought possible. It wasn’t her body and face, though he was happy she was beautiful. Like them, she’d been through a lot. Not only had she survived, she still had a joy of life. Even better, she wanted to share it with them. His heart spasmed with a fierce need to protect her. If anyone, man, woman, or beast, even threatened to harm her, they would receive the same a hundredfold back.

  Something white flew high to disappear over the side of the bed. Her nightgown. She was now on her back, Byron’s blond head moving between her spread-eagled legs. He held her thighs open, though Marshall didn’t think she would have closed them to keep him out. Maybe she’d do it to press his face closer to her pussy, though.

  Cole had shifted down the bed. His mouth was all over one breast while his hand worked on her other. That left Casey available from the neck up. Marshall’s fingers weren’t injured, so he reached out for her hair. Silky and soft, it easily ran through his fingers. He traced her ear with a finger. She looked at him, eyes twinkling in approval before she closed them in a gasp, arching her back.

  “Found it with my finger,” said Byron.

  His smile of smug satisfaction glistened from pussy juice. He’d released her thighs and his palm rested on her pubic bone. As soon as Casey relaxed he pushed his finger inside her again. She arched once more, this time spreading her bent knees wide as she moaned. Another twitch of a finger and she shuddered. She turned pink from belly to forehead when she came, moaning and shuddering. Byron pulled his hand out to make room for his mouth on her clit. She opened her mouth, gasping.

  “Want to trade places?” asked Byron.

  Cole shook his head. “After Casey catches her breath, she’ll be taking my cock in her greedy mouth. You can have her pussy this time.”

  Though Cole said it as an order, none of them would ever force her to do anything.

  “You’d better put that monster where my mouth is, or all you’ll get is my hand.” Casey had growled the same as Cole, only in a higher pitch.

  The bed shook as Byron and Cole moved into position to satisfy their woman. She guided Cole into her mouth as Byron inserted the head of his cock into her pussy. All three groaned. Marshall took his own cock in hand. The tip was wet, and he spread the fluid over his palm. More leaked as he watched his partners slowly move in and out of their wife. At first they moved in the same rhythm, and Marshall kept time with his hand.

  Cole shouted as he came. When he pulled out to kiss Casey, Byron sped up. With Cole’s body blocking his view, Marshall concentrated on watching Casey’s pussy getting filled. His hand wasn’t as hot or wet as her channel, but this was all he was going to get for now. Casey suddenly arched, her body tight and frozen. When she relaxed Byron let himself go, pounding into her.

  Though the sight was a total turn-on it wasn’t enough for Marshall. He still had a hard cock when Cole and Byron lay on their backs, panting in exhaustion. Casey’s nap must have done her good as she rose to her knees. She snickered at the two who were nearly asleep, and turned a wide smile on Marshall.

  “You well enough for a ride, cowboy? These two are no good to me for now, but I see something that just might fill me up.”

  “Hell, yeah, sugar!”

  Marshall groaned as Casey slid down his cock. She suddenly stopped.

  “Am I hurting you?” she asked.

  Instead of answering he took hold of her hips and pulled her down. She was full of juice from both her orgasm and Byron’s and had no problem hitting bottom. Marshall held her there for a moment, basking in the feeling. He and Casey were right where they should be. Joined at the hip. He shifted his hands farther around and pulled at her cheeks. Her heightened color, wide eyes, and flared nostrils proved he was on the right track.

  Still keeping her from moving, he rubbed a finger up and down her crack. She leaned forward, her palms on his chest, silently begging for more. This time he used his middle finger, pressing into her wet ass up to the first knuckle.

  He twisted it. Her pussy clamped down on his cock. He pressed farther, about halfway to the next knuckle. She opened up, relaxing to easily take him. His cock throbbed, begging to move. He let go of her hip and nodded for her to ride.

  She tentatively moved up and down. When she realized his finger would stay in her asshole, going in and out with her movements, she closed her eyes and let loose. She ground her clit against his pubic bone in a forward and back motion that pulled on his cock in a new way. He had to keep from exploding until she had another orgasm. Byron and Cole could do it, and dammit, so could he!

  She suddenly leaned back, impaling herself deeper on his finger. She rested her hands on his thighs, holding on while she raised and lowered her ass and pussy. She was fucking him, using his finger and cock for her enjoyment, ignoring what he wanted.

  Damn, she was fine!

  Her wet heat clenched his cock and hand. Her hands splayed over his thighs as she humped him hard, thrusting her pussy in the air. If she popped him out he could break
his cock in half when she came down again. He put his free hand on her thigh to guide her.

  Then Byron and Cole, grinning wide, each took one of her nipples in hand. They pinched, making her gasp. The hot wire of impending orgasm burned. He pulled his fingers out and held on to her hips, helping her to rise up and slam down to shaft his cock. She screamed and clenched his cock so damn hard that his orgasm came out of nowhere, roaring through him like a night-bound train.

  Casey collapsed on his chest. Her brown head rose and fell every time he hauled air into his lungs. Byron lay on one side, and Cole on the other. After an eternity, Marshall could finally think again. His stomach rumbled. One need taken care of, with another to follow.

  “What’s for supper?”

  Casey placed her palms on his chest and pushed herself halfway to sitting. Sleepy hazel eyes looked down on him. He licked a clean finger and traced around her nipple. It crinkled.

  “There’s lots of leftovers,” she said. “The other women took their pies home, but there’s corn fritters, pone, sausages, pickles, bread, and more. You can have them cold, or heat them up. But I’m not cooking tonight.”

  “You did enough cooking last week,” said Cole. He patted her bottom. “You impressed the other ranchers, men and women.” He winked. “We’re proud of you.”

  “So, would this be a good time to ask about buying that bull?”

  “What bull?”

  “Casey wants to get something for the ranch from the money her granny sent,” said Byron. “I thought that bull of Ranger’s, the one you’ve had your eye on for a while, would do.”

  Cole frowned. “I don’t want my wife thinking she has to buy—”

  Casey put her hand over Cole’s lips. “I want to do this, Cole. Please.”

  “I think it’ll make her feel more like the Sweetwater Ranch is her home,” said Marshall. Casey’s smile of relief at his understanding warmed his heart.

  “Of course it’s her home,” said Cole grumpily. “Casey’s our wife, for God’s sake. We just did things that I never, ever believed would happen, and—”