Beyond the Heart

by Jeanie P Johnson

  The house, itself, was merely a skeleton with a roof, so far, and Callie could not wait until it was finished. Cooper informed her it may take a whole year to finish it completely.

  Now Cooper looked over his shoulder, as Callie made her way up the path that led to the construction-site. He thought she looked rather excited, and very beautiful, in her ‘morning dress’, as she had called it. In spite of her fancy clothes, she didn’t mind getting her hands dirty, when necessary, when helping out on the ranch, whenever she could, so this impressed Cooper. Her plans to expand the ranch, and hire on the seasonal drovers as permanent help, pleased him as well. Her ambition drew him, and he wanted to encourage her as much as he could, so she would continue to trust him, to help her run her ranch.

  Cooper planned to make himself irreplaceable, wanting to be assured a secure place there, and eventually convince her that he would be a better asset as her husband, someday.

  However, he had been finding it hard to work up to an intimate friendship with her, because she held herself aloof. Any conversation they shared had only to do with business, concerning the building of the house or running of the ranch. Although she fixed food for the men, they ate on a makeshift table out in the yard, and Callie informed him she was thinking of hiring on a cook, to not only do the cooking for the hired help but to be in charge of the chuck wagon, during the cattle drives.

  Cooper realized that she was trying to put a distance between herself, and the men she had hired, probably learned from her high-class family, she was born into. The servants and help were never considered part of the family, or even friends, for that matter, to those kinds of people, he grumbled to himself.

  At present, he gave her his most welcoming smile, as she approached him.

  “I hope the girls aren’t getting in your way,” Callie said, as she approached. “They are so excited about the house, and are eager to help.”

  “I have found simple chores that they can do to keep them busy, and in some ways they are a big help, doing little things, like collecting scrap wood from the cuttings, to keep it from cluttering the place.”

  “Connor and Ina are helping to feed the calves, but they will be finished soon and will want to help on the project,” she informed him.

  “I’m sure I can put them to work.”

  Cooper stopped and gave Callie a long appraising look.

  “You are looking in the pink of health, this morning, in that pretty pink gown you have on.”

  “Thank you. I just came to let you know that the cook will be showing up today. You will have to take care of his needs and show him where he will bunk. I believe, however, that you and the boys will have to stop work on the house, so you can build an outdoor kitchen shelter, where we can set up a cook stove, he claims he is bringing in his wagon. It will make it easier to make the meals outside, for the boys, than in my small cabin. Then I can return to cooking meals for my own family, in the future.”

  “If that is what you wish,” Cooper shrugged. “Why don’t you show me where you want this outdoor kitchen to be erected?”

  It made Cooper aware of the fact that his personal contact with her, would now be regulated only around future business concerns. Up until this new cook arrived, he had, at least, been able to see her three times a day, as she served him and the boys meals, along with her checking on the progress of the house or going over matters about the running of the ranch.

  “We will just need a roof, and polls to hold it up, and you can extend it over the eating table, in order to shade it, and protect it from water, during the rainy seasons. We could devise canvas sides to let down if the weather gets really bad,” Callie suggested.

  “Sounds like a good idea,” Cooper agreed.

  He offered Callie his arm, and she politely took it, which pleased him, as he guided her back down the path.

  The smell of her perfume filled Cooper’s head, and he longed to find a way to get closer to her. She just never gave him a chance to do it, though.

  “I will miss your cooking,” Cooper said, as they approached the spot where Callie wanted the outdoor kitchen to be built.

  “I am sure Mr. Daniels cooking will suit your needs. Mr. Pritchard recommended him to me,” Callie told him.

  “Mr. Pritchard is a fine neighbor,” Cooper murmured.

  He had noticed that Mr. Pritchard had been coming by regularly, claiming he was interested in the progress of the ranch. He, like Callie, was widowed, and while his being a successful cattle rancher may give him a certain advantage as a prospective husband for Callie, he felt Mr. Pritchard was much too old for her. Besides, she showed as much interest in Mr. Pritchard, as she showed in him, which was both hopeful and discouraging, to Cooper.

  Once Callie had shown Cooper where she wanted the shelter built, and explained what she expected, she excused herself.

  “I need to go feed the babies and afterwards, check on Bossy, who should be dropping a calf soon,” she said, and turned toward the house, leaving Cooper to stare after her, still at a loss as to how he could approach her, and convince her into becoming closer friends with him.

  Callie removed her morning dress and hung it in the small clothes press, in order to feed the babies, seeing as how she planned to put on another more practical dress to check up on Bossy, and later start to fix the afternoon meal.

  The babies seemed to be growing so fast, she thought to herself, as she first lifted Joey from the crib and looked into his dark Chayton eyes. She could see so many features about him that reminded her of Chayton, but it had been more than a month, since Chayton had left, and she worried she would never look into his eyes again.

  When she finished feeding Joey, she fed Shanny, with her curly blond head, reminding her so much of little Rolletta, that it almost saddened her. She vowed she would never use a feeding bottle for any infants in the future. Since no one got sick, she was beginning to believe the drinking hose to the bottle had been contaminated and caused Rolletta’s death.

  Once the two had been fed and changed, she left them to sleep and went out to check on their milk cow.

  The barn was much bigger than the house, but it too was built out of hewn logs. When she closed the door, which had been built into the larger door, to make it easier to pass through, without opening the large barn doors, she headed towards Bossy’s stall. The cow seemed disinterested in her and didn’t look as though she was ready to give birth yet, so Callie turned, and started to leave.

  Just as she did, she felt a hand come over her mouth, stifling her scream, and then she was crushed in an embrace, with lips covering her mouth in the place of that hand. Callie stopped struggling when she discovered it was Chayton, who was smothering her with kisses.

  He didn’t give her a chance to react to the surprise of finding him there. Instead, he swept her up in his arms, and took her into one of the empty stalls, closing the door, and pulling her down onto the soft, clean straw, releasing the pins from her hair, so it fell over her shoulders, in an array of curls.

  No words were spoken, as Chayton’s hands impatiently, worked at removing Callie’s dress. Her hands were busy helping him, and then pulling his clothes free, as well.

  Chayton’s mouth consumed hers once again, seeking its depths with an unhindered passion, which would not be denied. His hands smoothed down over her waist, and hips, seeking the shape and softness of her; letting his mouth, find its way along her graceful neck, where her pulse beat wildly against his lips. He sucked her soft skin into his mouth and then continued on along her shoulder.

  The realization of how much he had missed her, caused a strong stirring in his loins, which he welcomed. Now he would have to accept the fact that she was a very part of him, he could never sever, and the frustration in the thought pained him. This very meeting was dangerous, and if anyone discovered them…; he didn’t want to think about it. All he wanted was the touch of her and the taste of her, so he proceeded to take that reward.

  An all-consuming emotion raced thr
ough Callie’s senses, as she released a soft murmur, at the touch of Chayton’s lips upon her skin. She marveled at how much she had longed for this moment when she could be caressed by him once again. Her heart raced, and her breath caught at every touch and trail his mouth took. She lived for this very experience and felt would die if it never came again.

  Cassie’s skin rippled in shivers, as Chayton’s seeking mouth roamed over her, promising more kisses to come along the way. She was his completely and was willing to offer whatever he wished of her.

  Chayton would not be satisfied until he could hear Callie whimper with pleasure, more than just a few times along the way. His intent was to bring her that pleasure, and never cease from his loving task. She felt soft and sweet beneath his lips and tongue. He wanted all of her softness, and all of her love, as he was determined to shower his own love over her. Every time her breath caught, it caused his heart to leap with excitement, intent on producing the next catch of her breath. When he felt her shiver against his lips, he wanted to intensify her shivers and drown in her sweetness, until neither of them could catch their breath.

  Callie’s fingers tangled in Chayton’s long, Indian soul, hair, hugging him against her, as his lips found their own path, and his mouth coaxed her soul to the surface. When she cried in the splendor of it, Chayton found his place, snuggly within her, continuing on his journey to meld their souls and hearts as one.

  Each lift and fall brought them closer together in mind and spirit. Each breath told of the delight they found through the other’s touch. The need to ever remain entangled together, the strands of their hair, mingling in light curls and dark, straight strands, as their bodies merged conjointly in light and dark contrast, as well, was ever compelling. Their fervent drive joined forces, which fed off the other, knowing what each needed, or wanted, as though they could read the other’s minds.

  Their journey peaked, and rose, then fell and rested, only to forge on to the next level of expression, until they could barely breathe, in their efforts to reach a higher plateau. Their hearts beat in the same rhythm, complementing the other, urging each on to reach their shared vision, letting the reward of complete love wash over them, calming the heart, but never putting out the flame.

  “I had to have you like this again,” Chayton breathed, as his heart tried to find its normal pace once more. “I need you like this. Only there is no way for me to remain here. I can’t even return to my tribe because they want to attack the white settlers, and I have lost the desire to do so.”

  “There must be a way,” Callie insisted.

  “The whites hate us. They would hate you too if you allowed me to remain here. Instead of my people attacking you, your own people would attack you instead.”

  “Once my ranch becomes a success, I won’t care what anyone else says,” Callie informed him.

  “But without the help of your workers, you cannot do that. Do you think they would remain working for you if they knew I was here, and you allowed it? They would most likely have me arrested for your husband’s death.”

  “But you were not the one who killed him,” Callie insisted.

  “I was with them. I would have done the same. I wish to protect you because my people are out attacking ranches and farms. For now, they are not in this area, but if they come this way, I will attempt to prevent them from harming you, or your men.”

  “What do you plan to do?”

  “I will remain as close as I dare, to make sure none of my people come to your ranch. My friends, who ride with them know of my feelings for you, so they may also hold them back since you are watching over my son. How is Joey doing?”

  “He is getting bigger every day.”

  “I can’t risk seeing him right now, but later tonight, bring him to the barn, so I can look upon his face. I will remain in the loft until you come.”

  “I’ll bring you some food, after dinner,” she offered.

  “Just be careful. I don’t want any of your workers to discover I am here.”

  “I have missed you so much,” Callie murmured, as she began to get dressed.

  “I also have missed you,” Chayton admitted.

  “There must be a way for you to remain here,” she insisted.

  “As long as my people keep raiding the ranches and travelers in the area, I will be considered a renegade, right along with them. We are to remain on the land allotted us, and your ranch is not part of that land. To step beyond the bounds of that land, in your people’s eyes, is a crime itself. If anyone found me here, I could be arrested for that alone.”

  “There must be some kind of exception,” Callie wondered, wrinkling her brow.

  “I know of none unless you become my wife. The trappers can take their Indian wives with them, wherever they travel because your people know they will not cause trouble for the whites if they are married to a white person.”

  “Are you saying you want me as your wife?” Callie asked, wondering if that is what she actually wanted.

  “You told me you loved me,” Chayton said quietly.

  “Only if I married you, my workers may leave, and they are in the middle of building my house. I can’t run my ranch without them.”

  Chayton’s head fell.

  “You are probably right. I would only with your own desires.”

  Callie rushed to him and enfolded him in her arms.

  “I do love you, Chayton. Only, for now, I have to build up my ranch and make sure my future is secure. Otherwise, I would have to return to my parent’s house in Carlisle, and never be able to see you again.”

  “It could be you would be better marrying one of your own people,” Chayton mumbled in her tousled hair.

  “No! It is you I wish to be with, but not until the time is right,” she insisted.

  “Will the time ever be right?” he asked, looking worried.

  “It has to be. I have made it this far. I hated being married to Chet, but now I have his ranch and the money it produces. Once I am established, I will have earned the respect of the other ranchers, and they will not question my choices, then. We need to be patient.”

  “I am not sure what will happen to my people by then. They are gathering others, determined to fight against your people. Our people are torn, between cooperating with your government, and wanting to rebel against it.”

  “You’ll never win, Chayton. We just ended a war between our own people trying to rebel against the government. They will never let anyone or anything stop them in their determination to make this land theirs, to run the way they see fit.”

  “Go back to your family, before they start to miss you. Later, you can bring my son to me. We will speak of this another time.”

  Callie gave Chayton one long kiss, before she opened the door to the stall, and started across the barn to the outer door. Just as she started to open it, she staggered back as Cooper came into the barn.

  “I started to worry that Bossy was having her calf since you have been in here so long. I decided to come see if you needed any help,” he told her.

  “No…no, she is being stubborn about it,” Callie smiled. “…No calf yet.”

  Cooper’s hand reached up and pulled some straw from Callie’s hair.

  “Your hair has tumbled down,” he said softly, “and is full of straw.”

  He gave her a questioning gaze, as he pulled another strand of straw from her curls.

  “Yes, well I was going to put some fresh straw in Bossy’s stall, and a whole pile of straw fell from the loft, and landed on my head. I ended up causing my hair to fall out of the pins when I was trying to get the straw out of my hair,” she fabricated.

  Cooper did not look like he believed her, but he gave a shrug.

  “Let me help you then,” he said, as he continued to remove more straw from her hair. “You have such beautiful hair,” he mumbled, as he took his time, running his fingers through her curls.

  “I’m sure I can manage it,” Callie said, lifting her hand to his, to remo
ve them from her hair.

  “But I wish to help,” Cooper insisted. “I love the scent of your perfume, so I hope you will indulge me.”

  “I don’t think it’s quite proper…”

  “Why do you keep me at such a distance, Callie? I only wish to become your friend. It is not like you don’t know me.”

  “I made a big mistake in marrying Chet, against my will. I can’t be anything more than a business acquaintance to you,” she insisted.

  “You have children, and a ranch to run. You are going to need a partner in your life sometime. I know Mr. Pritchard has his eye on you, but I thought I was a little closer at hand when you decide to take on a new husband.”

  “What makes you think I even want a husband? After my experience with Chet, I shall probably never marry again. All men want from a woman is to own her, take her wealth, and then use her body to fulfill their lustful needs. I am through letting a man own me and use me in such a manner.”

  “I am not like Chet,” Cooper stated.

  “How am I to know? By the time I could find out, I would already be married, and it would be too late to do anything about it. I won’t take that risk again.”

  “So you never plan to marry?” Cooper asked, feeling a little astonished.

  “Not if I can help it.”

  “You can’t run this ranch all on your own,” he insisted.

  “That is what I have hired you to do. If you think, you are getting me in the bargain, you are fooling yourself. Your only position here is my foreman. If that is not enough for you, I can always hire someone else to take your place.”

  “I have been with your husband for over ten years. I am the only one qualified to run this ranch if you want to know the truth.”

  “Then, don’t complain, because as long as you remain here, you will earn plenty of money, while you help me do the same.”