by Dee Jones
Julia thought about his for a very brief moment as he leaned into her, biting and suckling her neck and collarbone. He nipped and teased her until she moaned; his large hands gripping her bottom with a tight squeeze that made her want more and she thought that a bit of pain could prove interesting; provided he was the one causing it. Besides, she knew how to defend herself. You didn’t grow up around a stable full of men and not know how to fight when the need arose.
“So I am to assume that your idea of playing will be more than a casual encounter?” she asked when he lifted his head.
“Far more; and far greater than anything you’ve experienced thus far. If we didn’t have so much planned today, I would take you back to the house and prove to you how desperately I want to play with you.” The hard bulge in his pants pressed against her thigh and she smiled.
"But you already have, several times."
"You're a troll," he teased her, throwing her words back at her as he kissed her lips again.
"Nope," she answered with a smile. "Just a love sick mutt in need of mating."
Daniel left Julia standing next to the Dearborn while he searched out Rally Overton. She watched him disappear around the corner of the new stables before taking a closer inspection of the large structure in front of her. She smiled as she looked at them, thinking they were perhaps exactly what her father would have approved of; yet reminding her very much of its designer and creator. Daniel had gone to a great deal of expense and time planning and plotting out every detail for the new stables, which they renamed Browning Estates.
Julia knew he was proud of his inheritance and all that came with it, and until last night, she hadn't considered herself among any of them. Now she felt as strong and confident of his love for her and as unbendable as the wood binding the walls of Daniel's creation. She knew beyond a doubt he was the mortar binding them together; he was her foundation.
The new stables were massive compared to the ones that had been destroyed by the fire. There were over forty stalls in the front half of the building and another thirty in the back with a hay loft large enough to hold feed for a good two years. There were two huge rooms at the side each equipped with ten bunks for the hired hands. Near the back of the stables was the tack room where Daniel had insisted all rakes, pitch forks, saddles and reins were to be kept so they wouldn't be in the way. The roof was nearly completed with the frame sloping to a perfect ninety degree peak. A couple more days and the shingles would be laid and then the exterior would receive several coats of whitewash before Daniel would feel comfortable to say they were finished.
The corral behind the stables were divided into three sections; one for training, another for holding and the third for mating. Years ago, Victor had set up a race track to run the horses around the west end of the property, which Daniel was using daily to train Roustabout. It was only half a mile, but it proved to be enough to get the horses’ legs strengthened and enough to test out those being sold.
Turner Stables had produced four winners of the Beaumont Cup over the past six years; a tradition Daniel was eager to keep going. He invested a great deal of his time in running the horses personally and even more effort in making certain only the best were ready for the annual sale. With the recent loss of two of their prize horses he planned on putting into the sale, he was forced to rethink which ones were ready and how many could be listed. It was a task he worked on every night after Julia fell asleep.
The smell of new lumber filled the open spaces around her and Julia closed her eyes enjoying the pleasant aroma. The sound of horses could be heard in the distance as well as those in the corrals. The mares ready for mating were left in the stalls at the back of the stables while those stallions young enough to be used for mating were placed in the holding corral out back. The anxiety of the animals filled the air with snorting and stomping hooves as they waited their turn for the debauchery. Julia listened to the noises around her, and she opened her eyes at the faint sound of gravel crunching under foot.
She opened her eyes and frowned, expecting to see Daniel but found instead a ranch hand walking toward; his eyes locked on her. He was tall and muscular, yet smaller in frame and stature than Daniel. Funny, she thought, how she was suddenly comparing every male she saw with her husband. This one was wearing a thin blue work shirt, unbuttoned and left open down the front to reveal a hairless brown chest. His pants were faded and in desperate need of repair, with large rips on the knees of both legs. His boots were covered with horse dung, caked mud and dried hay. His hair was dark and tousled, as though he hadn't combed it in days and his chin was covered with light stubble of a beard. He seemed to glared at her with cold unforgiving blackness, like the night itself.
"Hello," Julia said, hoping her voice sounded friendlier than she felt. The sudden rush of fear chilled her bones; her blood began to pump through her veins with the rapid pounding of her heart. "You must be new here?"
"Yep," the man replied, stepping closer. The smell of whiskey, a woman's cheap cologne and sweat filled the air replacing the sweet smell of morning with that of rancid filth.
"I'm Julia Browning," she told the man, feeling a slight flutter in her stomach for having used her married name for the first time.
"Dourn," he answered, still eyeing Julia as though she was last night's leftover desert.
"You look familiar; how long have you been with us, Mr. Dourn?"
"A few weeks; I's hired on, 'bout the time ya had yer accident at the swimmin' hole." Julia lowered her eyes. If there was one thing she didn't want to think about today, it was that dreadful night she was nearly taken away from Daniel's love.
"How did you know that pond is called the swimming hole?" she asked, urgent to distract him before the memories stole her away.
"People talk."
"Of course," she replied with a frown. How was it, the swimming hole and this man seemed to fit together in her mind?
"Rumor has it, ya'all was attacked by outlaws. I's be more careful, if'n I were goin’ out again at night."
"Thank you for the advice, but it's not necessary. I have no plans on riding off alone again." Silence fell between the two as Dourn continued to examine the woman. Julia felt uncomfortable with this man standing so close to her, inspecting her as though he were judging everything she did and said.
"How do you like working here, Mr. Dourn?" she asked at last, hoping to distract the man's attentions from her.
I's like it right fine."
"Where is it you said you come from?"
"I’s didn't." Julia fell back into an uneasy silence. There was something about this man that made her certain she'd met him before, but where and when she couldn't remember.
"Have we met somewhere before, Mr. Dourn?" she braved.
"No ma'am, not right out. I's were at yer weddin' though. I's the one who caught yer weddin' garter."
"Oh," Julia said, a slight blush coloring her delicate features.
The sound of Daniel and Rally Overton's voices sliced through the silence, forcing both Julia and Dourn to turn in their direction. Daniel walked beside the foreman, issuing instructions of all sorts. They discussed the future mating of Biscuit and Roustabout and the three mares they had already mated over the past week. Daniel's eyes met Julia's and he smiled seductively at her then caught sight of Dourn standing only inches away from his wife. The idea of any man being so close to her made his blood boil, but thinking of this man in particular, made him see red.
"Dourn," Daniel snapped, walking closer to the man. "I've been trying to talk to you for weeks. Where have you been?"
"I's been busy. Wayne and I’s just got back from the south end," the man explained, his eyes - much to Julia's relief - no longer fused with hers as he answered his employer. "We's found some tracks 'n thought it mighta been the fellers who attacked Miss Julia 'ere. So we's went lookin'."
"Did you find anything?"
"Nothin' but a couple a strays."
"Well, when you have the time I want
to have a word with you. I should be back by sunset, we'll talk then. Don't leave the ranch, I don't want to have to come searching for you."
"Y’sir." Daniel slid his hand protectively around Julia's waist lifting her into the carriage. He turned back to Dourn and Rally and nodded at both before climbing into the seat next to his wife.
"What were ya talkin' 'bout ta Miss Julia?" Rally asked Dourn, when he was sure the carriage was out of ear shot.
"Nothin' but niceties, Pa." Dourn looked straight at Julia, his eyes never straying from their target while Rally frowned his disapproval.
"I's don't want no more trouble, ya hear? I's gettin' too old ta be cleanin' up yer mistakes."
"What's that supposed ta mean?"
"Just ya stay away from that there gal, less'n ya be wantin' yer past ta catch up with ya. She's not right fer ya son, no matter how much ya may think so."
Rally turned and went back to work, leaving his son to stare after him. Dourn didn't understand his father; he knew he'd been far from being the ideal child, hell raising came second nature to him, but he couldn't ever remember his father 'cleanin' up' behind him. He'd usually just high tailed it out of town before anything really troublesome happened. That is, with the exception of Kentucky. He didn't get the chance to leave before his world came to a crashing end.
He glanced back in the direction the carriage that disappeared down the road and grunted. It was Julia's fault he didn't get away in time. Her fault he had lost everything that meant anything to him and he was damned well going to make her pay for it.
Daniel pulled the buggy's team around and headed out toward town. He didn't look at Julia for a long time, he just sat there whistling and clicking his tongue at the horses. She waited patiently for him to say something, but as the silence wore on, her nerves began to wear thin, forcing an unfamiliar feeling of insecurity to rise in her voice.
"Did I do something to upset you?" she asked, bringing his attention to her.
"Of course not; why do you ask?"
"You're not exactly the best company right now. You're just sitting there ignoring me. I could have stayed home for all the attention I'm getting."
"I'm sorry Princess," he apologized, leaning back in the seat and pulling her close beside him. "I guess I just had other things on my mind."
"Like what?"
"Like that Dourn bloke. I swear I've seen him before, but I just can't put my finger on where."
"That's odd, I had the same feeling, but I don't remember his name being Dourn."
"Do you know what it is?"
"No, but I'm sure I know him. I know I've never met anyone called Dourn before; it’s an odd enough name, I’m sure I’d remember it. And he knows we call the pond our swimming hole. It's strange, but somehow I relate him with that place."
"Why?"
"I don't know for sure, but I'm certain I've seen him there before."
"Could you have seen him the night you nearly drowned?" This could be the link he'd been searching for, Daniel thought.
"I told you I only saw...I didn't see him there." Julia cringed. She didn't want to go over all of this again.
"Perhaps he was an acquaintance of your father's," Daniel suggested, the need to avoid any further arguments was shared mutually.
"I haven't the slightest idea. My father never introduced me to anybody related to his business. He thought a woman needed to be pampered and looked after. I was just in the way at the stables."
"I can't imagine you ever being in the way," Daniel chuckled, kissing her forehead. "But I do agree with your father. You should be pampered and spoiled and very well protected."
"Is that advice from my husband or my knight?"
"Is there a difference?" Daniel smiled and Julia wound her arms around his waist, hugging him tight, causing him to smile. Having a wife wasn't quite as bad as he had always imagined it would be.
"Did you know Dourn caught my wedding garter?" Julia announced, a few minutes later. Daniel's eyes narrowed as he looked at her.
"He did what?"
"He said he was at the wedding and he caught my garter."
"I'll have to have a word with our Mr. Dourn," Daniel's eyes held a spark of warning Julia had never seen before. She'd seen him angry, usually with her, but she'd never seen him like this; quiet and tense. He looked like he was teetering somewhere between dangerous and lethal.
"Why are you so upset? It's just a garter and I have more. You knew somebody had to catch it when you threw it."
"Not him," Daniel snapped sharply. "He has a piece of you and I don't like that."
"He has no such thing," she argued. "He has a piece of material, nothing more. You don't see me getting upset about Sharon Farnsworth catching my bouquet, do you?"
"Why should that upset you? It's just flowers."
"But they're mine dammit and she has them," now it was her turn to get angry and Daniel's look turned to concern when she pushed away from him and sat with her arms across her chest.
"She really bothers you doesn't she?"
"I hate her," Julia admitted, looking out across the open space of land. Daniel looked at his wife before falling back into silence. He understood the animosity she felt for the woman, but it wouldn't do any good to talk to her about it. Julia would feel as though he was trying to pry personal information from her about the seductive brunette, rather than information to help with his investigation.
"Do you really think there could have been outlaws at the ranch?" she asked, hoping to distract both of their attentions from less than nice thoughts.
"I don't know,” he answered gently. “There have been rumors going around that several of the hands have seen a stranger lurking about the stables. We haven't been able to find any proof to support their sightings though."
"Daniel," she asked again, this time more solemn and reserved. "Do you really think it could have been somebody playing a trick on me, at the pond?"
"I don't know Princess, but I do know it wasn't a ghost you saw. There's too much evidence to indicate a live person was there that night and possibly responsible for your injuries."
"But who? Daniel I swear it was Heather, she spoke to me. I couldn't have imagined all of it...it was so real."
"Honey please; I don't want to get into all of that again. I'll find out who's behind this and once I do, I'll have their hides nailed to the barn door. Just give me a chance to pull everything together, alright?" Julia nodded softly, but the feeling of doom still weighed heavy on her shoulders. She knew what she had seen and no matter how much Daniel insisted otherwise, Julia would never believe it wasn't Heather Farnsworth at the pond or at the stables the night of the fire.
"Tell me honestly," Daniel began, anxious to change the subject. "What are you and Margie going to do while I'm at the office?"
"I don't know. Perhaps we'll go to the dressmaker's shop. I ordered some gowns the last time I was in town; I can see if she has them finished yet. If not, we can just visit."
"You're not going to tell her anything about last night, are you?"
"She's going to ask Daniel. I really do owe her an explanation. After all, you said it yourself; if it wasn't for her, you and I would still be friendly enemies."
"We were never enemies, Princess, merely distracted lovers. It just took time to break through your shyness."
"My shyness? What about yours? As I recall you told me no more than once yourself."
"That's different. You weren't ready for what I had in mind."
"That's a poor excuse if ever I've heard one." Julia snuggled closer to Daniel again and laid her head on his shoulder. She couldn't image ever being more content or happier than she was right now. She had her husband, she had her life and perhaps someday, she'd have a child. The thought brought a smile to Julia's lips. A child would prove to everyone she loved Daniel, but most of all it would prove to Daniel how eternal their love really was.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, noticing the soft smile and gentle blush o
f her cheeks. Julia lowered her lashes and deepened her smile.
"I was just thinking about us," she answered. "What do you think our future will be like?"
"Happy," he told her, with a hug.
"I think so too, but I can't help wondering."
"About what?"
"What my life would have been like if father hadn't made out his will the way he did. Why do you think he made those conditions?"
"Probably, because he wanted you to be happy and he knew how much I loved this land."
"But you said you didn't marry me for the land?" Julia pushed away from his shoulder and frowned. She didn't want to believe he had lied to her, but the implications were there, nevertheless.
"I didn't marry you for the land, so stop frowning and quit thinking I did. Your father left me half of it - which I knew he was going to - but I didn't marry you in order to obtain the whole mass. I wanted you Julia; I've wanted you since he first told me about you, only I didn't think he knew. He described you as young, beautiful and stubborn. You sounded like my kind of woman, thought I wasn’t anticipating marrying you at the time. It wasn't until I saw you that day in the stables, that I realized just how much I wanted you."
"Do you love me Daniel, or do you just want me?"
"I love you and I want you. I can't have either one without the other, Princess."
"Why do you insist on calling me that? I'm not a princess." Julia felt the blush darkening as she laid her head back against his shoulder.
"Yes you are. Your father once said you were a spoiled little princess. The title fits."
"Meaning you think I'm spoiled?" she snapped, sitting up straight in the seat yet again. Daniel chuckled and pulled her back toward him, holding her tight in the bend of his arm.
"Meaning, you're a little princess. You're my Little Princess."
"I have a feeling I've just been insulted," she snorted, snuggling down against his side feeling the rumble of his laughter against her cheek. "But I've never enjoyed being insulted so much before."