Kentucky Bride

by Norah Hess

  Maybe he could at least get a goodnight kiss from her, he thought. He hurried to the barn, picked up his blanket, and walked quickly to the cabin.

  His hopes for a kiss were dashed. D'lise had already retired and Scrag looked as if he would spring on Kane if he went near the bed.

  D'lise heard the cabin door open quietly and didn't know whether to be glad or to hold on to her suspicion that Kane had bedded Raven before sending her away. He had been gone close to an hour. How long did it take to tell the woman he was through with her?

  A tear ran down her cheek as she heard Kane remove his clothes, then the rustle of the blankets as he made his bed. Just because he had sent his lover away didn't mean that he wouldn't see her. There were a dozen ways that could be accomplished—in the barn in the early evenings, in the woods at any time of the day.

  It will be up to you to see that he doesn't need the woman anymore, her inner voice whispered.

  But I don't know the first thing about pleasing a man, she silently whispered back.

  You will learn, she was consoled.

  D'lise finally fell asleep, but only for a short time. Startled awake, at first she thought she was dreaming about the breaking glass and the rattling shutters. But when Hound began raising a ruckus and Kane began swearing, she knew immediately what was happening. The big bear had returned and was trying to break into the cabin.

  She sat up in bed, gripped with a terror that rendered her speechless. The great animal would kill her and Kane. But when Kane's gun spat sparks, its report filling the cabin with a deafening noise, her screams split the air.

  Kane dropped the rifle and hurried to D'lise. Murmuring softly to her, as one would to a child, he slid an arm across her back and lifted her to his bare chest.

  At first he thought only to soothe her as he held her tight and stroked her hair, trying to calm her shaking body. It took but a few minutes, however, for him to become aware of the two breasts pushed against his chest, burning him with their soft heat. He didn't stop to think that he might frighten her as his stroking hand moved over her breasts, his palm gently fitting itself over one of the firm mounds. He was beyond thinking clearly; he knew only that his blood was on fire to possess the warm body curled into his.

  Kane let his hand lie still; then, when several seconds passed and D'lise made no move to dislodge it, his fingers began to slowly massage the roundness, moving ever so slowly toward the sensitive tip.

  He had just begun to run a finger around the nipple, which had grown hard and pressed against her gown, when with a gasped, "No!" D'lise's slender fingers grasped his wrist.

  "Please, D'lise, let me," Kane whispered hoarsely. "I only want to touch you. I've dreamed about it so often."

  She opened her mouth to protest and the words were shut off by his descending lips. She stiffened, but only for a moment as their softness moved against hers, seeking, asking her to return the pressure.

  As though she were someone else, D'lise's lips moved to form themselves against his, quickly growing hot with a need she couldn't understand. She had never before felt the sensations that began in the pit of her being and traveled all the way up to where Kane's fingers had resumed the gentle, slow massaging.

  Her lips parted in a little sigh and Kane's tongue, as though waiting for the chance, darted into her mouth. She moaned softly, whether in denial or acceptance, Kane didn't know. Not waiting to find out which, he lay back on the bed, pulling her with him. His arm still around her back, his shoulders hanging over her, he lifted a leg across her hips, imprisoning her in his warmth. His tongue continued to move in and out of her mouth in a rhythm as old as time.

  When her arms crept up around his neck, he turned her to lie tightly against his body, positioning her so that his rock-hard length rested in the apex of her thighs. With a slow, measured motion, he began to rock his hips against hers.

  It was the thrusting of his masculinity against the core of her being that made D'lise stiffen again. In her mind she could see Rufus, his hard, ugly member in his hand, jerking Auntie into the bedroom. The bed would creak as he shoved her onto it; then shortly her smothered, pained cries would filter through the cabin as her niece sat with clenched fists, helpless to stop what was happening in the next room.

  She snatched her mouth away from Kane and pressed her hands against his chest. "What's wrong, honey?" His passion-ridden eyes looked down at her in bewilderment. "Surely I haven't hurt you."

  D'lise gazed up at him in the moonlight that now shone through the broken window, remnants of her panic still in her eyes. She shook her head. "Of course you didn't hurt me." Her fingers picked nervously at the ribbon tied at her throat. "I just remembered how Auntie would cry when Rufus would shove her into the bedroom." She looked up at him through tear-brightened eyes. "I'm sorry, Kane. Do you still want to marry me?"

  "Sure I do," Kane answered, trying to keep the relief out of his voice. He'd had the terrible thought that she would change her mind. He sat up and helped her back under the covers. "We'll lick this fear of yours." He brushed the tumbled curls off her forehead. "But you must trust me, let me show you how beautiful it can be between us. Will you do that?"

  D'lise's lips curled in a small, shy smile. "I'll try, Kane. I truly will."

  "That's all I ask." Kane dropped a kiss on her forehead. "I'm gonna get dressed now and see how much damage our visitor has done."

  Is he naked? D'lise wondered, then saw that he was as he lit the candle on the table. She ducked her head under the covers. She had never thought a man's body could be almost beautiful, she mused, listening to Kane pull on his trousers, then stamp on his moccasins.

  She fell asleep listening to the sound of the broom sweeping up glass.

  When Kane finally got back to his blankets, after checking to see if his bullet had killed the bear, he lay a long time, wide awake with unappeased hunger gnawing at his loins. He wanted D'lise so badly, he felt like howling at the moon. When at last he fell asleep he was cursing Rufus Enger to the depths of hell.

  Chapter Twelve

  Kane left his blanket just as the rising sun shone its light into the cabin. He drew on his clothes, washed up as quietly as possible, and went to saddle Snowy. There was an urgency inside him, something telling him to push his marriage forward with all haste. D'lise was like a wary, unbroken colt, and could change her mind about marrying him at any minute.

  An hour later, a disgruntled Reverend House was answering Kane's firm knock at the door. "Kane Devlin," he grumbled, "what in the blue blazes do you want at this early hour?"

  Kane bit back a grin. The preacher looked like a scarecrow, his long, scrawny body clad only in his long johns, his sparse hair standing on end all over his head. When he stated his business, the man of the cloth stared at him, his mouth agape.

  After his Adam's apple bobbed a couple of times, he croaked, "What poor unfortunate female has agreed to be your wife? Did you lie to her, promise to give up your whores and squaws?"

  "Look, Reverend, that's none of your business." Kane's voice was dangerously cold. "All I want to know is will you marry me to Miss D'lise Alexander this coming Saturday?"

  The answer was so long in coming Kane was sure it would be no. His mind was racing as he wondered where he could find another preacher when House spoke.

  "I'll marry you for that innocent girl's sake. God would never forgive me if I let her live in sin. Be here at two o'clock Saturday afternoon."

  It was by pure willpower that Kane didn't wrap his fingers around the self-righteous man's long neck. Not trusting himself to speak, he turned and walked to where he had tied the stallion to the white picket fence enclosing the preacher's yard. A smile of satisfaction curved his lips as he swung into the saddle. The stallion had cropped the heads off half the blooming flowers lining the fence.

  He turned the mount in the direction of the Patton farm. He had a big favor to ask of Sarah. He wanted to surprise D'lise with a fine wedding dress, and he hoped that Sarah would make it.
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br />   At the Patton place he was again greeted with surprise. "Kane!" Sarah exclaimed when she opened the door to him. "Is anything wrong at your place? Is D'lise sick?"

  "No and yes, Sarah." Kane stepped inside the warm kitchen. "I'm gettin' married, and I want you to do somethin' for me."

  Sarah was so staggered by his announcement she had to sit down. "Oh, Kane," she gasped, "please don't tell me you're gonna marry that Raven."

  "Oh, for heaven's sake, Sarah," Kane snapped impatiently. "Why in the world would I want to marry that one?"

  "Well, who then?"

  Her face wore the same expression that Reverend House's had when Kane said quietly, "D'lise has agreed to marry me." The half-wild trapper standing before her, his eyes shining with a quiet happiness, had shunned beautiful women all his life, and he was going to marry the most comely girl she'd ever seen.

  "D'lise is not your usual taste in women, Kane, but I wish you both all the happiness in the world." She stood up and brought the coffee pot to the table. "Sit down, Kane, and have some breakfast while you tell me what it is I can do for you."

  "Thanks, Sarah, but I've got a lot of things to do. A bear broke our window last night and I've got to pick up a new piece of glass." A gleam of gratification shone in his eyes as he added, "I want to see what kind of wedding rings Majors carries too." It was going to give him great pleasure to let the fancy storekeeper know that he had been wasting his time shining up to D'lise.

  "You haven't told me what the favor is you want of me." Sarah placed a cup of coffee in front of him.

  "I want to surprise D'lise with a weddin' dress. Will you make it for her?"

  "I'd be happy to." Sarah's face glowed at his request. Pouring a generous amount of milk into her own coffee, she said, "You'll want it to be white, of course. It's plain that she's never known a man before."

  Kane hoped that Sarah wouldn't notice the guilty red flush spreading over his face. D'lise had very nearly known a man last night. "White, of course," he answered. "A nice material."

  "I'll pick out a soft muslin," Sarah mused aloud, mostly to herself, already planning what pattern she would use. "Maybe Samuel will have some veils in his store too. D'lise would look lovely wearing a veil."

  Kane started to ask Sarah if she would stand up with D'lise, then realized it was up to D'lise to choose that important person. It struck him then that he, too, would need someone to stand with him. His mind ran over his friends and he wished he could have them all stand beside him. For if he chose one over the others there would be hurt feelings. An idea came to him and he turned hopeful eyes on Sarah.

  "Do you think David would stand up with me in front of the preacher?"

  Sarah didn't hesitate to answer for her husband. "He'd be proud to do it, Kane."

  Kane finished his coffee, the first he'd had this morning, and with Sarah's assurance that the wedding gown would be ready on time, he left to tie up the last threads in his preparation for his wedding.

  Arriving at the village, he went straight to Samuel's store, anticipating with much glee the storekeeper's disappointment when he was told of his marriage to D'lise. However, when, with a hint of crowing in his voice, he announced that he wanted to look at wedding bands, that he and D'lise were going to get married, there was only a flicker of interest in the man's eyes as he smiled and stuck out his hand to shake Kane's in congratulations.

  "You're a lucky man, Devlin." He smiled. "D'lise is a lovely young woman."

  Kane frowned. This wasn't the reaction he had expected. As he shook the offered hand, he told himself that this man was a master at hiding his true feelings.

  "Kane, let me offer my best wishes also," a feminine voice spoke behind him. "You're getting the best little wife these hills could offer. D'lise is the sweetest, most caring young woman I've ever met. Maybe you can take the sadness out of her eyes."

  "Thank you, Ellen." Kane turned and smiled at the attractive widow. "We're gettin' married next Saturday at two o'clock. I hope you can come. I know that D'lise would like for you to be there."

  "Oh, we'll be there." Ellen smiled at Samuel as he placed a tray of gold wedding bands on the counter.

  Kane gazed down at the plain gold bands laid out on a black shiny material. They were all the same, he had only to choose the size. D'lise had long slender fingers and he dithered between two rings.

  "Perhaps I can help you, Kane." Ellen moved to stand beside him. "I think D'lise and I take the same size."

  "I need some help all right," Kane said and pushed the tray toward her.

  The smallest ring winking in the sunlight slid smoothly along Ellen's wedding finger. "I think this will fit her perfectly, Kane," she said quietly, a slight sadness in her tone. She removed the wide band and handed it to Samuel. "Who has D'lise chosen to stand beside her?"

  "I don't know, actually. We haven't talked much about our wedding yet. We only decided last night to get married."

  As Ellen and Kane talked, Samuel put the golden circle into a small box. Kane fished his money out of his shirt pocket, then remembered the glass.

  "You want the same size, I expect," Samuel asked, leading the way to the storage room.

  "Yes, but I'm not sure of the dimensions. I forgot to measure the window."

  "That's all right. I've got it written down. Windows are always getting broken around here for some reason or other." He walked over to a piece of paper pinned to the wall and ran a finger down a list of names until he came to Kane's.

  The glass was soon cut, and Kane was carrying it back through the store to lash onto the stallion's back. He nodded at Ellen and stepped outside.

  "He's a surly one," Smauel said, watching Kane through the window. "He and D'lise are an unlikely pair. He's so big and rough, and she's so delicate and ladylike. Do you think he will treat her kindly?"

  "He loves her very much," Ellen said with firm belief. "They'll be fine together. He'll treasure her, and she'll adore him."

  While Kane ran his errands, D'lise sat in front of the fire, trying to decide if she was happy or scared half to death. Her soul-searching revealed two things. She loved Kane Devlin. But it was a love she must never let him know about. For he did not return that love. This marriage was only to save her reputation. She felt sure that he would never treat her harshly, but was Raven really out of his life?

  One question in particular troubled her. Could she bring herself to consummate their marriage on the wedding night? Could she overcome the fear that she knew would come? Scripture said that she must, but her mind still screamed, "No!"

  Kane's image floated before her, his strong body, his hard, clean-cut features, his cold eyes—but eyes that grew soft when he looked at her. She came out of her reverie when the door opened and Kane walked inside, carrying the glass.

  Her face flamed as memories of last night merged with reality. Kane pretended not to see her embarrassment, and sniffed the air.

  "Did you leave any bacon for me?" he teased.

  D'lise relaxed. Last night wasn't going to be brought up. She smiled, rose, and lifted the lid off the skillet of ham and potatoes keeping warm on the hearth. "I haven't eaten yet. I've been waiting for you." She looked at him as if to say, "Where were you?"

  "I had some things to see to, the glass and all," Kane answered, dipping water into the wash basin. "And I wanted to see the Reverend House."

  D'lise waited until he dried his face and sat down at the table before asking, "Is everything set?"

  Kane beamed her a wide smile. "Everything is goin' along real smooth. Next Saturday by this time you will be Mrs. Kane Devlin." He frowned when D'lise's face paled. Was the thought of marriage that abhorrent to her, or was it just that she was marrying him?

  He laid his fork down and said quietly, "D'lise, if you have any doubts about this marriage, of spending the rest of your life with me, you'd better examine them real close and come to a firm decision before tomorrow afternoon. Once we stand in front of the preacher and he binds us together, it wil
l be too late to change your mind."

  "Oh, no, Kane." D'lise reached across the table and laid her hand on his. "I have no doubts about us having a good marriage. I'll be the best wife I know how." She removed her hand and lowered her lids. "I'm concerned about my wifely duty in bed. I know I can't be what you're used to."

  A smile tilted Kane's lips. He took her chin and tilted it up so that he could gaze into her eyes. "What does such an innocent girl know about what I'm used to?" He stroked a finger across her bottom lip. "Maybe I'm tired of what I'm used to. I've got a feelin' that you're gonna suit me just fine. I've wanted you from the moment I saw you fightin' off that fat Rufus."

  Elation jumped in D'lise breast at his words, then slowly died. Kane had only said that he had wanted her. He had made no mention of love. She worried a piece of bread between her fingers. Did happy marriages exist where only one partner loved? She knew there were many marriages where neither mate loved, and they were easy to spot. Both parties wore long, sour faces, neither ever speaking to the other more than necessary, or hurling insults between them from the time they got out of bed.

  D'lise mentally shook her head. Strangely enough, such couples seemed to have the most children. Was it possible the only thing they had in common was the coupling of their bodies, to forget for a while the bleakness of the trap they were caught in?

  "Please, dear Lord," she prayed silently, "don't let this happen to Kane and me."

  Kane ran his finger over her lip again. "Don't worry about the marriage bed." His eyes were warm and understanding. "Everything will be fine, you'll see."

  He sounded so sure that some of the doubt left D'lise. On her wedding night she would try to relax and put herself in his hands.

  The clock struck eleven as Kane and D'lise pushed away from their late breakfast. As D'lise began to clear the table, Kane walked toward the door. "If you have the time," D'lise called after him, "would you please ride with me to Ellen's cabin? I want to ask her to be my witness."