She grew even more solemn. “My papa’s not here, and Mama’s not feeling well.”
“I was afraid of this,” Mitch mumbled to her as he helped her out of the buggy and they made their way into the house. Priscilla had brought a basket of food items, not at all sure what she was going to find.
Mrs. Beeker was lying on a sofa in the parlor, bundled up in blankets and looking quite miserable. Mr. Beeker was nowhere in sight.
Priscilla removed her coat and knelt down alongside the woman. “Mrs. Beeker, I’m Emily’s teacher, Miss Cochran. I don’t think we’ve met.”
The woman stared to rise on one elbow and fell back down again. “Oh, Lordy, am I embarrassed as all get out to have you see me and my place looking like this.” Tears formed in her eyes and slid down her gaunt cheeks.
“It looks to me like you’re ill.”
She nodded. “I think it’s the influenza that’s got me. I can’t hardly get off this sofa to even take care of Emily. Every time I stand up I feel like I’m about to fall over.”
“Where’s Emmet?” Mitch said.
“Last week he went to Denver to see his own ma who’s been feeling poorly, to help her out since he’s all caught up with the farm work for a while. Me and Emily were taking care of the animals just fine until I got sick, now she’s doing it all.” She bent from the waist and coughed, falling back on the pillows.
“Tell us what we can do, Mrs. Beeker.” Priscilla took the woman’s hand in hers.
“The best thing you can do is to bring Emily to my sister’s house so she can take care of her until I’m feeling better.”
Priscilla turned to Mitch. Do you know where Mrs. Beeker’s sister lives?”
“Isn’t she out there by Milkens’ farm?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I know it’s a bit out of your way, going the opposite direction from town and all, but I feel I can get better if I know my little girl is taken care of, and that way I won’t have to worry that she’ll catch this, too.”
“Ma, I don’t want to go to Aunt Suzie’s. I want to stay here and take care of you.” Emily wiped a tear from her face.
Priscilla stood and put her arm around the little girl. “Your mama is right, Emily. If you stay here you might catch what she has. Also, your mama is worried about taking care of you. You want her to get better fast, don’t you?”
Emily nodded.
“Mr. Beaumont and I will take care of her now, and your mama will start to feel better if she knows someone is looking after you.”
“What about school? I can’t walk to school from Aunt Suzie’s house.”
“I told the child not to walk to school by herself each day, but I know she’s been going.” Mrs. Beeker said before another fit of coughing took over.
“I’ll give you work to do while you’re at your aunt’s house, and I’ll stop in a few days from now and bring you more. You’ll catch up.”
Emily’s shoulders slumped. “Okay. I’ll go.”
Priscilla patted her on the head. “Good. Now go and pack a few things to take with you while I fix something for your mama.”
“Mrs. Beeker, I was down with influenza a few years ago. What I remember the most was the doctor told me to drink a lot of liquids. That’s the best thing you can do. But it should be nutritious things, like soup, broth, and tea with milk and sugar. If you feel up to it, you might have some toast.” Priscilla stood and removed her gloves, ready to go to work.
“I’ll check to see what you have and maybe I can put together a soup for you.” She turned to Mitch. “Can you check her firewood supply? Maybe chop some for her? We need to get this room warmer.”
With Emily packing and Mitch off to the woodpile, Priscilla made tea for Mrs. Beeker and forced her to drink almost the entire cup. She placed a glass of water by her side and ordered her to drink.
In the kitchen she found a soup bone in the icebox, along with some vegetables that she put into a pot of water to make a soup. Emily came into the kitchen and helped her make biscuits and cookies. Priscilla scrambled up some eggs for the child, which she devoured, along with the biscuits and cookies
Mitch came in a few times, filling up the firewood box by the door. Taking Priscilla aside, he said, “It’s looking more threatening out there every minute. We should probably finish up so we can get Emily to her aunt’s house and us back to town.”
“Emily is all packed, and I have soup on the stove and the biscuits and cookies are done. I think we can leave Mrs. Beeker now.”
“Good.”
Mrs. Beeker was sound asleep when they put on their coats. Emily went to her mother and kissed her on the cheek. “Bye, Ma. I hope you feel better soon.”
She opened her eyes and reached up to cup her daughter’s cheek. “You be good for Aunt Suzie. Tell her I’ll be by to fetch you when I’m feeling better.” She rose up on one elbow and looked at Mitch and Priscilla. “Thank you so much for doing this. I’m relieved to have Emily go to my sister’s.”
“We’re happy to do it. Just take care of yourself and drink a lot of water and eat a lot of that soup.” Priscilla wrapped her scarf around her neck, and checked Emily to make sure the girl was warm enough. “Come on, let’s go.”
The air had turned considerably colder while they’d been in the house. The first snowflakes fell as they entered the buggy and headed north toward the Milken farm. Emily was bundled up between her and Mitch, with the blanket wrapped around all three of them.
Mitch glanced again at the sky. The snow was falling harder, and he was beginning to worry about dropping Emily off and getting back to town. If the snow started to accumulate, it would be near impossible for the horses to pull the buggy. He sighed with relief when he saw smoke coming from Emily’s Aunt Suzie’s house close by.
“I’m just going to walk her in. We won’t have time to dawdle with the snow falling as fast as it is.” Mitch helped Emily down and grabbed her satchel. Hurrying her to the door, he knocked and was grateful when Suzie answered the door right away.
“My goodness, Mitch, what are you doing here with Emily in this weather?”
“I can’t stay. I have the new teacher, Miss Cochran, in the buggy. We have to get back to town. Martha is down with influenza, and she wanted me to bring Emily here so you can take care of her until she’s feeling better.”
“Oh, of course. Come on in, honey,” the woman said, wrapping her arm around Emily. She drew the child to her. “You best be on your way. It’s getting pretty bad out there.”
Mitch nodded and strode back to the buggy, his feet slipping out from under him. This wasn’t good. They still had a good forty-minute ride back to town, and that was without the snow. It would be better if he took another route that was shorter, opposite of the Beeker farm.
“Everything all right?” Priscilla asked as he settled in alongside her.
“As right as could be. For Emily, anyway. It’s going to be a tough ride for us.” He snapped the reins and the horses took off, the buggy already sliding as he continued down the road.
Within fifteen minutes he could not see the road, and the horses were having a hard time keeping the buggy moving forward. The snow fell so hard, he wasn’t even sure he was going in the right direction. “I think we’re in trouble here.”
“I think so, too. Are we anywhere near Emily’s house? Can we stay there until the snow stops?”
He shook his head. “No. I took a different route that would be faster, but it also took us away from the Beeker farm. If I remember correctly, there’s an abandoned hunting lodge somewhere in this area. It will be hard to spot, but give it a try on your side and I’ll keep an eye out here.”
If they didn’t find the lodge they would be in a lot of trouble. People had died in these circumstances. It was hard to believe they could be so close to civilization and still freeze to death.
“I think I see something!” Priscilla pointed to the right.
He stared through the snow and blinked several times. “Yes. You’re rig
ht.” With a sigh of relief he steered the buggy toward the small cabin. He had no idea if there was wood for a fire or any food there, but at least they would be out of the snow.
The buggy slid to a stop near the cabin. Mitch helped Priscilla out of the vehicle. “Go on inside. I’ll put the horses in that small shed over there.” He pointed to the rickety stable. It wouldn’t provide a great deal of comfort for the horses, but at least they would be out of the snow and wind.
By the time he reached the cabin after taking care of the horses, the snow had already drifted up to the door, making it difficult to open. Priscilla still had her coat and hat on, but was bending over the fireplace, trying to light kindling with shaky hands.
“Here, let me do that.” He rubbed his hands together and blew warm breath on them, then took the flint from her hand and lit the kindling. “Do we have logs?”
“Yes, they’re over in that box by the window.”
He threw two logs on the fire and searched the rest of the house. There was an old bed that he took the mattress from and dragged near the fire.
Two woolen blankets were added to the pile while Priscilla stood running her palms up and down her arms. “I’ll check the kitchen to see if there’s any food.”
She turned up some canned meat, a jar of green beans, and a tin of peaches. “Well, this won’t be as spectacular as the Thanksgiving feast we had a couple of weeks ago, but it will fill our stomachs.” She handed the cans to Mitch who punctured the tops with his knife.
“What about Ian? Will he be all right by himself?”
“He knows enough to close the store when the snow started. He’ll take the walk home before it gets too bad. He’s a pretty self-reliant kid.” Mitch poked the blazing fire with a stick. “I guess he had to be, growing up with no mother.”
Priscilla found a few cracked dishes in the cupboard and arranged the food on the plates and set them on the mattress next to where Mitch stood, leaning his forearm on the mantle.
“Come and eat. It will warm you up.” She settled on the mattress, her legs tucked under her.
This was a big mistake. The two of them here all night long, with one mattress to share. He could see trouble coming. Even now with her sitting there, her huge hazel eyes staring at him, her plump lips begging to be kissed. Were he a gentleman, he would spend the night in the rickety stable with the horses. Anywhere except next to Miss Priscilla Cochran with the full curves, golden brown hair, and warm smile.
Trouble? Hell he was in as deep as a man could go.
He removed his coat and settled cross-legged in front of her, and took a bit of the meat in his fingers. Priscilla tilted her head back, the smooth pale skin of her neck teasing him, aching to be kissed, nibbled on. She slid a piece of peach into her mouth, and he watched, fascinated, as her throat worked to swallow the fruit. Then she smiled at him and licked her lips. Were he not so absolutely sure she was an innocent, he would think she was bent on seduction.
“Try a peach; they’re good.” She held out a glistening slice to him. Instead of taking it from her hand, he leaned in and sucked the piece from her fingers. She gasped and pulled her hand back. He took her hand in his and sucked the end of each of her fingers. He turned her hand and placed a small kiss on the inside of her wrist, noting the pulse beating frantically.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
He studied her under shuttered lashes. Her breathing was erratic, the pulse in her neck beat a matching rhythm where he still held his lips against her wrist. “You can’t still be cold. Take your coat off.”
She licked her lips and unbuttoned the coat. She took her hand back and shrugged off the garment. “It is rather warm in here now with the fire going.”
“Oh, yes, darlin’, there is a fire going.”
“What do you mean?”
He held his hand out, aware that the outcome was inevitable. He’d known since Priscilla stepped off the mail coach and fell at his feet in the mud that this moment would arrive. “Come here, Priscilla.”
She rose to her knees and shuffled over to him. “What?”
He grabbed her hand and tugged, until she landed on his lap. His head slowly descended and his lips covered hers. She tasted sweet and spicy from the combination of the meat and peaches. He swept his tongue into her mouth, his fingers busy pulling her hair free of the sensible bun. Once he had it undone, he ran his fingers through her hair. “Like silk,” he murmured, inhaling its sweet scent.
Tilting her head, he rained kisses over her cheeks, eyelids, jaw, and neck. He nibbled on the sensitive skin under her ear. “There’s only one mattress,” he whispered as he ran his tongue over the outside shell of her ear. “We have to sleep together to keep from freezing.”
His hand crept up her body, and his fingers unbuttoned the front of her dress.
“You can’t do that,” she moaned, not convincing anyone.
“Shh. Let me feel your skin. So soft. So sweet.” His head dipped and he kissed her collarbone, pushing the dress off her shoulders until the bodice landed in her lap. He stared in her eyes as he unhooked her corset. Separating the pieces, he removed the garment as Priscilla took a deep breath.
“I don’t know why you women wear these things.”
He slipped the straps of her chemise off her shoulders, revealing her perfect breasts. Plump, dark-tipped nipples, already pouting, aching for his mouth. He accommodated her.
She wrapped her hands around his head, making small mewling sounds that drove him further over the brink. He eased his hands around her slender back and moved her closer, the span of his hands almost covering her entire back. He kissed his way up her chest to her jaw and back to her mouth. He anchored her face with his hands and turned her head to deepen the kiss.
He’d had his share of women over the years, but never had he burned like this for a woman. Everything about her surrounded him, the scent of lemons, her soft touch, her whimpering sounds, the sweet and salty taste of her skin. His fingers wrapped around her hair, fisting the locks.
“God, I want you so much.” About to explode, he craved her with a raw desire that consumed him. He wanted her underneath him, naked and crying his name as he took her over the edge, to be the first—and only—man to teach her about the pleasures to be had between a man and a woman.
Priscilla swore all her bones had melted. Were she required to run for her life right now, she would die on the spot. Mitch’s hands were everywhere, as was his mouth. Just as she thought she couldn’t take any more, he would move his hands and mouth from one place on her body and torture her in another spot. She was restless, unable to sit still. Her clothes felt restrictive, as if she needed to tear them off.
Instead, she unbuttoned his shirt, tugging it off his shoulders. Once his shirt was loosened, he yanked the bottom from his pants and tossed it aside. Then he eased her down on the mattress and leaned over her body, once more suckling her breast as he teased the nipple on the other one, rolling it with his fingers. She shifted and moaned, tossing her head back and forth.
“Darlin’, I have to see all of you. Help me with your dress.” He shifted and tugged the garment over her hips and down her legs, dragging her bloomers with the skirt, leaving her in only her stockings and half boots. Instead of embarrassment, she relished the heat in his gaze as his eyes ate her up from the top of her head to her feet.
The flames from the fireplace cast a glow over the room, bathing them in the warm light. Sweat beaded Mitch’s forehead, and her heart pounded as if it would jump from her chest. Unknown feelings raced through her body, making her aware of places she never thought of.
Her breathing was so erratic she wasn’t sure she would ever draw another deep breath. He slipped her half boots off and stretched out, settling alongside her, braced on his elbow. His hand ran over her curves. “You’re so beautiful.”
His fingers drifted up the inside of her leg as he studied the movement.
“Mitch.”
“Yes, sweetheart. Tell me what you want.
”
“I don’t know. But I need something, I feel as if something is missing.”
He dragged his hand up until he cupped her intimately, using his fingertip to circle her opening, the moistness there making his finger slippery and her legs to shift. She pressed against his hand. “What’s happening to me?”
“Ah, honey, you’re getting ready for me. Your body is preparing for what comes next.” He smoothed the damp curls back from her face. “You do know where we’re headed, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Please…”
“Are you sure? Once we take this step, there’s no turning back.”
She reached up and cupped his face. “I need you. I need you to make this feeling end.”
Mitch sat up and unfastened his trousers. He slid them off, along with his drawers, and turned to her. She might be a virgin, but she was not unaware of what he intended to do. Gingerly she reached down and fisted his member. It was silky smooth and hard at the same time.
Mitch let out with a groan and moved over her, capturing her mouth with an intensity that only made her more frantic to have him help her reach what her body craved.
He spread he legs apart and settled between them. “Sweetheart, this will hurt, but only briefly. I’m sorry.” He covered her mouth and slid into her body. A slight pinch made her jerk, but the pain went away immediately. What she noticed more was the fullness of their joining, the pleasure as he stared into her eyes and moved his hips forward, then back.
She encircled his neck and pulled his head down for a kiss. Their panting filled the room, their sweat-slicked bodies sliding against each other. Mitch reached between them and used his thumb to tease the flesh between her legs. “Come with me, baby,” he said, his voice raspy.
The closer she came to an edge, the more frantic she grew. “Oh, Mitch, please.”
“Hang on, darlin’, you’re almost there. Relax. Don’t tense up on me.”
He no sooner got the words out than she pushed hard against his hand and a wave of pleasure as she’d never felt before in her entire life washed over her. He covered her mouth with his and swallowed her moan. Before the last ripples of pleasure faded, he threw his head back and poured himself into her. He gasped out her name and collapsed on top of her.
Merry Christmas, My Love Page 17
