by West, Everly
And going to church...sleeping in the same bed, sharing a room and yet they planned to get an annulment. Attending church appeared blasphemous.
"You do attend?" his grandmother turned and asked her.
"Of course," Cora said. "My mother insisted her children attend every Sunday unless we were sick."
Sometime her sisters and she tried to fake an illness, but her mother was a shrewd woman who always sensed mutiny. When they got caught, they received extra chores for their trickery.
Entering the chicken coop, they began to scoop the eggs from the nests.
"August said you wanted to be a dress designer."
"Yes," she said.
"Sometimes I sew for the young women in town. I've been working on a wedding dress for a girl who is getting married next month. I'm having some problems with the cloth and the pattern. Would you mind looking at it?"
Over a week had passed since Cora touched cloth or sewed or worked on a dress. Oh, the ill-fated Valentine's Day ball gown. While the dress was stunning, she needed a new project. The thought of once again taking fabric and creating something new and unique thrilled her. Even if she had a pattern, she would put her own touches to the design.
"Of course," she said. "As soon as we go back in the house, I'll take a look at it."
"Let's finish gathering the eggs and milk poor Geranium."
Eager to return to the house, she hurried through the hen house. The excitement of working on a wedding gown filled her with happiness.
A laugh came from Cora as she stared at the animal. "The cow's name is Geranium?"
"Yes, she's named after a wildflower patch where she came into this world."
"Oh," Cora said. "Our cows names were not nearly as unusual."
"While you get the eggs, I'll milk her. Then we can work on the dress."
The barn door opened, and the two men rode in. "Hi," Cora said, gazing at how handsome her husband sat a horse. Warmth spiraled from her center down to her toes and back again. August Moonlite was a striking man who entered her life at the wrong time.
If only he had come five years from now, she would have been ready to flirt with him. August was quite dashing.
"What have you men been doing?" his grandmother said while Cora stood there staring.
"Spent the day riding the fence line and repairing it. Spring is only a couple months away."
August swung his leg over his horse and dropped to the ground and walked toward her. For a moment, Cora's breath seized in her chest. When he reached her side, he looked into her eyes as warmth filled her. "What are you doing out here. Shouldn't you be inside resting."
The words demonstrated he cared about her wellbeing and that made her smile.
"No, I'm much better and I needed to do something. So I'm helping you grandmother collect the eggs."
He brushed a piece of hair away from her face. "Don't do too much. You were a pretty sick woman."
The caress of his fingers against her flesh had her tensing at the heat that exploded throughout her. What was happening between them? Never had she experienced these types of feelings and emotions toward a man. Yet her husband showed her he was concerned about her health, which made her like him even more.
"Grandpa's going to help Grandma with the cow, why don't you and I go back to the house," he said.
"All right," she said, taking his arm as they walked across the yard. "Did you tell your grandparents we plan on getting our marriage annulled?"
She needed to remind herself and him this union would never last and his grandparents needed to learn the reason for their relationship.
A sigh escaped him as he placed her hand on his arm. "Grandpa is a sharp old man. They didn't know of the marriage in advance, so he understood something was wrong. After I explained the situation to him, we decided not to say anything to Grandma just yet. Except if you said something."
How did you tell someone of the older generation that you planned to dissolve your marriage when they believed wedding vows lasted until the end of time? How could she tell Bessie the truth about her grandson and her?
"No, I didn't have the heart to tell her we don't plan to stay together." With a smile, she said, "Thank you for taking such good care of me."
"Just being a good husband," he said, teasing her as they walked back inside the kitchen.
The sarcastic tone of his words let her know they both realized they were only acting as a married couple, not really living as one.
"Well, thank you," she said. "How long are we going to stay here?"
A frown creased his face. "No idea. The weather is so dangerous right now, it probably will be spring. Unless I get a hankering to leave. Nothing would draw me back to Cheyenne. Is that all right with you?"
After the way his father acted at the ball and the way he spoke of his stepmother she had no desire to go to Cheyenne. Yet, how could they remain in the same room for the next two months, sleeping in the same bed and still be celibate?
Especially since she was beginning to notice the smooth touch of her husband's skin. The rough texture of his beard and his soft breathing at night let her know he was by her side.
The way he curled around her when they slept, keeping her warm and the feel of him hard against her buttocks. One wrong step and they would find themselves entwined forever.
Gazing at him, a sudden urge to taste his full lips once again overcame her. They shared a kiss the night they married and suddenly she was curious to see if they tasted the same. Only this time, she wouldn't be angry or sad or upset.
Leaning toward him, she heard the door open and his grandmother say, "Oh, August, Cora is going to help me with one of the ladies at church, her wedding dress. The pattern has given me nothing but trouble."
A grin spread across his face like he knew what she wanted and then the moment ended. "Wonderful, I can't wait to see what she can do. Her own wedding gown was a beautiful dress."
Cora snorted. "It wasn't a wedding gown. It was a ball gown."
"Still, you were a gorgeous bride," he said.
A blush went all the way to the roots of her hair. Even on the worst night of their life, he thought her beautiful? A rush of heat gripped her chest and she smiled at him.
"That night, you weren't too bad looking yourself."
* * *
From the day they arrived at the ranch, August had made it a habit to come to bed after Cora. Trying to give her some privacy and praying she would be asleep when he came to bed. After all, he couldn't exactly ravish a woman if she were asleep, could he?
Everyone in the house slept except for him as he steadily climbed the stairs. No glow from a lamp came from beneath the door as he quietly opened and shut the door. As he stood in the doorway, he listened. No sounds came from her side as he hurried inside and removed his shirt, shoes, and finally his pants.
For a while, he wore his clothes to bed, but that grew tiresome and he liked the freedom of crawling under the covers in only his long johns. With a sigh, he crawled into bed and lay very still.
A giggle came from her side of the bed. "You're like a nervous little mouse sneaking in here."
He'd been caught.
"You've been ill. I've been trying to keep from waking you when I came to bed."
"Well, I'm wide awake. Too much rest and not enough work. We're not supposed to be sleeping together."
If she thought he would sleep on the icy, hard floor, she was crazy. Besides, he enjoyed being next to her. The way she warmed the bed and when he became cold, he snuggled into her.
"You taking the floor?"
"No," she said.
"Neither am I," he whispered in the dark.
"How about a quilt between us?"
"How about you go to sleep and not worry about what others think."
Yes, they were flirting with fire, but he didn't care. A time might come that she would not be by his side at night. All those nights in the tent, he spent curling around her. When the annulment came through, he wou
ld be lonely and lost without her.
"Have you noticed how we're growing more accustomed to one another?"
"Yes," he said, thinking if she knew the thoughts reverberating in his head, she would be kicking him downstairs to the sofa. Seeing her naked in that bathtub had not been ideal if she wanted to keep her virginity.
Rolling over on her back, her arm bumped him.
"You're a bed hog," he told her.
"Oh really? My two sisters never complained."
So logical and practical, and somehow, he longed to rile her, not in a bad way, but in a teasing manner, hoping he would cause her to laugh. The pleasant sound of her laughter often caused him to smile.
"All the time?"
"No," she said.
"Your sisters are polite. You're a bed hog," he reiterated.
She shoved him with her hips knocking him a good inch. Again, she hit him. His body moved maybe three inches and he laughed at her. Finally, she gave him a big smack with her butt scooting him to the edge of the bed. But he rolled over on top of her causing her to shriek with giggles as he tickled her unmercifully.
Laughing and giggling, suddenly he realized he could feel her womanly curves through her nightgown. Only two thin pieces of clothing separated them. The smell of lilacs drifted to his nose and he groaned as her breasts crushed against his chest. All he could hear was their breathing, harsh and fast and loud.
With a moan, his lips came crashing down on hers. How long had he waited and wanted to do this as he caressed her mouth claiming her in a kiss he'd held back since the night they said I do.
It was a kiss of passion and desperation and longing that had built up inside him. It was a kiss that promised so much more if they weren't careful. It was a reconfirming that no matter what happened between them, a spark existed they both denied.
As desire raged through him, he had to stop or completely lose control. With a final moan, he pressed his fully aroused manhood into her center and she broke their lips apart gasping.
Just as the slat on the bed crashed to the ground, sending them plummeting to the floor.
Cora started giggling as August shifted off her, chuckling. "Now that's what I call a kiss."
"A bed breaking, wake up call of a kiss."
Why did this seem so right? Like this was meant to be. For the first time since college, in her arms, he felt like this was where he belonged. Being in Cora's arms was a safe, welcoming place.
Rising, they put the bed back together, but when they crawled back in, they didn't touch. And August missed the feel of her body next to his. Why was he starting to want so much more with this woman?
* * *
The next morning, they traveled to Doggett to attend church. After the services ended, his grandmother introduced her to the woman whose wedding dress she worked on the day before.
"Martha, I want to introduce you to my new granddaughter-in-law. Before her marriage to my grandson, she had planned on attending seamstress design school, but once she saw him, her plans have been put on hold. Now she's helping me with your wedding dress."
Oh, if Grandmother knew the truth about her attending the school, she might choose not to tell everyone. As of now, Cora still had every intention of getting to New York, somehow.
"I worked on the material last night and wondered if you would like some seed pearls added to the skirt. It would be so easy and I can also put them on the lace on the top if you like."
There was so much more that Cora wanted to add to the design, but reminded herself this was not her wedding gown, but rather this woman's. If she were in business for herself, it would be the client's desire, not the dressmaker's.
The woman stared at her in stunned surprise. "Yes, of course, please do whatever you need. When can I come out and see it?"
Cora thought for a moment, if she spent time on the it this week, she would finish the dress before next Sunday. "Why don't we bring it to church with us next week and you can try it on then we can see what adjustments we need to make."
The woman clapped her hands together. "Oh, thank you."
"Doesn't Doggett have a dress shop?" Cora asked surprised.
Her grandmother made a humph noise. "Not for the last five years. All the women in Doggett help each other out. Unless, you and August decide to settle here and we could open a little boutique."
If they remained married, the idea didn't sound bad, but she still planned on getting that annulment and going to New York. The grandparents didn't know of their plans.
"I'll think about it," she said, not wanting to disappoint his grandmother.
Suddenly, a squeal filled the air as a young woman ran across the vestibule and threw herself into Cora's husband's arms. Well, that was certainly uncalled for.
"August, you're back. No one said a word about you returning."
The woman's breasts were planted firmly against his chest and Cora didn't like it one bit.
"Excuse me," she said as she moved toward the couple. Pulling her shoulders straight, her head held high, she stopped in front of August and put on her best phony smile.
No, she didn't hold any claims on him since they planned to end the marriage, but no one else had knowledge of their decision. Well, she didn't like another woman throwing herself at her husband.
"A friend of yours, darling," she said in a sarcastic tone.
August jumped and pushed the woman out, his hands holding her at arm’s length. His sapphire eyes twinkling with merriment and what looked a little like guilt.
"Dear, this is my childhood friend Mary," he said. "We grew up together. Mary, this is my wife, Cora."
The woman barely acknowledged her, and for a moment, a surge of animosity so strong rushed through her, she felt a fight brewing. The woman needed to take her hands off August, or she would show her an old-fashioned hair pulling contest.
"You married," Mary said rather sullenly. "No one told me a thing about your wedding."
"We've only been married a week," Cora said, wishing the woman would stop touching August. She didn't like feeling this jealousy. With regards to her husband, she shouldn't feel anything. But she did. Why? Could she be starting to care for August?
"Oh," Mary said stepping back. "Well, congratulations, you two. Are you moving back here?"
"That decision is still undecided," August said, gazing at Cora like don't blame me.
Don't blame him that he let the woman cling to him for so long? Oh no.
"I'm sure your grandparents would love to have you," the girl said as she turned to Cora. "Again, congratulations. Hearts all across Doggett will be breaking at this news. You're a very lucky lady."
Was she a lucky lady? And it wasn't just Doggett where hearts were breaking. Certainly in Cheyenne and Laramie as well. Cora was not the girl supposed to marry August. He was meant for one of the other debutantes whose mothers pushed their daughters at him.
"Thank you, I know I am," Cora acknowledged while trying not to roll her eyes. The look she gave August warned him he was playing with fire. "My husband is very good at breaking hearts. Especially ones in a library."
August grinned at her and held out his arm. "Ready to go, love?"
"Anywhere with you," she said sarcastically.
The grin he gave her sent tremors through her body. This couldn't be happening. How could she be falling for her husband? That would only lead to heartache as he didn't want this marriage any more than she did.
Chapter 7
All day yesterday, August smiled. His wife was jealous. When his childhood girlfriend all but jumped into his arms, Cora had not been happy, though he doubted she would admit to the emotion. In fact, she'd crossed the room to make certain the woman learned he was married. For some reason, her jealousy made him happy.
Being at his grandparents’ ranch, he felt useful and needed, not like he was being used. In the last few weeks, August had been happier than he had in years. No, he didn't miss Cheyenne and the life of balls and women and drinking and fightin
g with his father.
Climbing out of bed before the sun rose, he had gotten into the habit of drinking coffee with his grandfather. Later, the two of them would ride out to care for the cattle before coming back to a nice hot lunch.
This morning the touch of Cora's near naked buttocks snug against his manhood was almost more temptation than he could handle. Quickly, he threw back the covers, rose and dressed, leaving his sleeping bride in bed alone.
Glancing at her one last time before he left for the day, he smiled. Maybe they had a chance after all. That not only surprised him, but his groin tightened in anticipation.
As he hurried down the stairs, his grandmother met him in the kitchen. "Sit down, son."
Concern rushed through him and his chest tightened, fear coming over him at the serious look on her face. "What's wrong."
"Nothing. Your grandfather is a mite weak today. He's going to stay in bed and rest. Thank goodness you're here to help," she said pouring him a cup of coffee. They both sat at the kitchen table and he could see the concern on his grandmother's face.
"Your grandfather is aging so quickly. I don't know how much longer he can work the ranch," she confided. "As our only grandson, if you don't want the ranch, we understand. We'll move into town, but your grandfather cannot continue at this rate. It seems he grows weaker all the time and I worry about him."
August sipped his coffee. "The first thing I noticed when we drove up is how much he'd aged. I'm not ready for him to die."
"Neither am I, and that's why I'm insisting come spring, we move to town."
August wanted to promise his grandmother he would stay and keep working the ranch, but he also wanted to be certain. Over the last few weeks he enjoyed being here, but fourteen days and a lifetime were totally different.
"Grandmother, since I got out of college, my nights and even some days I spent drinking and going to parties and hanging with women I had no interest in only because I hated being in Cheyenne. And it upset Father."
"Oh, son," she said softly.
