by Reece Butler
When Casey reached ten, she had to obey them for a night. Anything and everything they wanted. Rubbing their sore feet, baking a favorite dessert, or stripping naked and—
She cursed again, not quite under her breath. He stood up, stretched, and walked over to the shelf where they kept her swear jar. He took a token from the waiting line and dropped it into the jar. The clink and rattle was closely followed by her gasp.
“Cole Taylor, I did not swear!”
He picked up another token. The last. Grinning, he tossed it in his hand. She narrowed her eyes at him, but he caught her rising color. He held up the token and, ever so slowly, let it drop into the jar.
“That’s ten, sweetheart. Put away your mending.”
She pushed out her lips in a pout as she narrowed her eyes at him. He smirked in return and motioned for her to stand. She jammed the darning needle into the sock and stood up. Her hands were fisted at her side. He braced himself. She was up to something, but he didn’t know what. That was one of the best things about his wife. He never knew for sure what she’d do. He gave Marshall and Byron a silent signal.
She quivered in place. Some might think she was furious, but they knew better. They hadn’t had a hot loving session for too long. She dashed toward the parlor. Once she closed the door, they wouldn’t disturb her. Byron caught her around her waist. She shrieked and pummeled his chest. He set her down to get a better grip, and she escaped. Right into Marshall’s arms.
“Howdy, ma’am,” he said as she struggled. “Y’all got plans for the evening?”
“Yes!” she growled, still fighting. “I’m going to sleep. Alone!”
Cole unbuttoned his shirt as he watched her fight his cousins. Only once had she shown that she didn’t want to play, and that was by standing still and quietly saying no. Turned out she had a belly ache. The next few nights she’d slept alone, mourning that she wasn’t already with child. That was a couple of months ago. She’d slept in their bed every night since. She hadn’t gone out and told them, but he had a good idea that the fifth member of their family was already well on the way.
“You won’t be doing much sleeping tonight, wife,” he said in a deep growl.
Cole tossed his shirt aside and strolled over. Byron held one of her arms and Marshall the other. He brushed his knuckles over the buttons of her dress. He hadn’t noticed that she’d put on one of her oldest, worn, and frayed. He held back a smirk. She’d planned this. The minx knew how many tokens were left and made sure she used them up tonight.
She glowered up at him, playing the reluctant captive. He chuckled, took a handful of fabric in each fist and ripped. Buttons flew as her breasts spilled out.
“Brute. Ogre. Beast.”
Her words were said with a pout rather than a yell. Her nostrils flared and her chest heaved.
“Oh, Casey, how I love you.”
Her pout turned into a sly smile. She looked at each of them and held out her arms.
“Prove it.”
THE END
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AUTHOR’S NOTE
The fictional town of Tanner’s Ford is located in a valley running from northwest downhill to southeast, with the town to the east. The setting is based on Montana’s Big Hole Valley.
Tanner’s Ford Valley, north of the river, west to east:
The Bitterroot Ranch (using the RB brand) is run by Ranger Elliott, his twin, Ben, and their younger brother, Patrick. Florence is Ben’s wife since A Convenient Husband, Bride Train #4.
The Rocking E is one of the two original ranches, established in the late 1840s. Trace Elliott married Beth and shares the ranch with his younger twin brothers, Simon and Jack, in Barefoot Bride for Three, Bride Train #1.
The Circle C ranch is owned by a trio of battered veterans, Luke Frost, Gabe Downey, and Oscar (Oz) Cutler. Luke marries Sarah in Beauty and the Beasts, Bride Train #6.
The last ranch on the north with the Flying X brand, known as the Sweetwater Ranch, is owned by Cole Taylor, Byron Ashcroft, and Marshall Stevens, three bachelors from the South. In Southern Seduction, Bride Train #8, they get more than they expected when they hire a cook.
South of the river, west to east:
The MD Connected was the second original ranch, also established in the late 1840s. Gillis MacDougal is the ramrod and shares the ranch with his two half brothers, Ross and Nevin. Amelia married Ross in A Contract Bride’s Triple Surprise, Bride Train #2.
Kenrick (Ace) Langford, Charles (Sin) Statham, and Henry Bennett are English aristocrats who won the Double D ranch from fellow Englishman Frederick Smythe in a card game. Jessie Elliott married Ace in Compromised Cowgirl, Bride Train #3.
Cousins Jed Adams, Riley Jansen, and Clint Fortune own the J Bar C (J–C). Jed married Victoria twice in 1 Bed, 2 Weddings, 3 Husbands, Bride Train #5.
Walt Chamberlain owned the Running W ranch, but in The Badger City Gang, Bride Train #7, he gifts it to Zach, Dusty, and Roy McInnes after Zach insists on marrying Kate Mason, the woman he took from the bride train. The McInnes men then discover she is Walt’s daughter.
To the east of town, on the road to Bannack City, is a ranch which was owned by Mayor Orville Rivers, shot by the twelve-year-old boy Casey Wright in The Badger City Gang.
Maps of the town of Tanner’s Ford, and of the valley ranches, can be viewed at www.ReeceButler.net. Photos of the land, cabins, and other research material provided by the author can be found at www.facebook.com/Reece.Butler.568 on Reece Butler’s Facebook page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I’m told I read my first adult book, Anne of Green Gables, when I was six. Over the next forty years I read everything but horror and romance. When I discovered the right antidepressant medication and realized life could have a happy ending, I began reading, then writing, romance. I still don’t read horror, perhaps because I have such an active imagination.
That imagination helps me write about hot cowboys and strong heroines. I temper my imagination with research so that my loyal readers won’t throw their e-reader or paperbacks across the room in frustration (though I’m sure I’ve made factual errors along the way).
Conducting research is part of my reward for writing. It gives me a chance to enjoy myself thoroughly without guilt. Research includes learning the Texas two-step at the Cowboys Dancehall in Dallas. I also spent a month west of Billings, Montana, working on three different cattle ranches (Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there really are hot cowboys in Montana. And oh, my, can they swing dance!).
What is really wonderful is attending conferences where I am privileged to meet readers. Spending most of my life in front of a monitor while my fingers skip across a keyboard is worthwhile when I get to meet people who enjoy what I’ve created. I would love to hear your comments, complaints, criticisms, kudos, and suggestions for future novels.
For all titles by Reece Butler, please visit
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