Harnessed Passions

by Dee Jones

  "Oh darling, how wonderful! Have you told Daniel? No of course not, how could you have? Oh, I can't believe it; I'm going to be a grandmother. Are you alright? Do you need anything? Why don't you lie back and I'll do the packing for you, oh, you've already done that though, haven't you?"

  "Mother please," Julia giggled, wondering if Daniel would react the same way when he learned the news. "I'm pregnant not dying; I don't need to stay in bed, at least not here. Now will you please calm down and let's get things going. We only have a few hours before our train leaves."

  "Train? Good heavens, I'll have to wire Daniel and tell him we're coming home early."

  "I already have; he's expecting us. We just have to tell Aunt Lena now, and get you packed."

  "Good heavens, your Aunt Lena, I almost forgot." Louise hurried out the door and could be heard shouting for her sister all the way down the stairs. Julia knew it wasn't going to be long before her aunt was up in her room issuing just as many orders as her mother had, but until then, she had enough time to finish one thing. Julia slid the diary out from her night table and took the pen marking a big red circle around the day. This was one day, she'd never forget.

  The small two wheeled plum colored shay rattled up the dirt road, bringing with it an annoying sound from the three foot copper horn. Stevie Shepherd, the telegraph owner's son and town's only messenger loved to play with the horn since installing it on his small rig two months ago, making certain all around knew he was there and ready to do business.

  Daniel heard the noise from the back of the house and hurried around to see what was going on. He hadn't expected any more telegrams since most of the buyers had already wired to say they were coming to the sale next month. He saw Thompson accept the small yellow paper and hand the boy a coin. Daniel chuckled softly to himself, smiling as he thought of how much money the kid had made off them over the past several days. He must have nearly paid for his own tuition into college by now, he mused as he watched Thompson open the envelope.

  Although he was born and sold as an African slave, Thompson was one of the few black people in the county who could read and write; a fact Victor had insisted on years ago when he first bought him on the auction block as a young man. Victor was very proud of his own formal education and insisted any who worked closely with him know how to read; just in case the occasion ever rose he should convey his orders through word; which had occurred many times the past months of the man's life.

  "It's from Miss Julia," the man announced, noticing Daniel's approach. Thompson had been given the freedom of intercepting all messages, since Daniel was too busy to be interrupted every ten minutes with the more than two hundred telegrams arriving from prospective buyers. The words he spoke brought a quickness to Daniel's feet as he hurried toward the man taking the telegram from him. He could feel the sudden tightening in his throat and the erratic pounding of his heart as he read through the short message.

  "She's coming home!" Daniel's excitement echoed through his tired tone, telling Thompson the contents of the telegram as though he hadn't read it for himself. "She'll be here tomorrow. We've got to get this place in order before she gets here." Daniel hurried into the house leaving an amused butler to watch his reactions.

  "The way he acted you'd think he hadn't seen the woman in months," he mused to himself, following behind his employer.

  The rest of that day and into the next proved to be hectic and filled with urgent orders. The house was quickly cleaned from top to bottom, fresh flowers cut and put in bowls and vases in every room, and the curtains and carpets washed and hung out to air. Daniel ordered his room in particular to be spotless. Two vases of roses were placed beside the bed and the sheets changed fresh before he left for the train station.

  He was in such a hurry to get to the station that he hadn't noticed the woman waving eagerly to him. She stood there and watched in disgust as he and the stable boy he had brought to drive the family's Dearborn headed out of the yard toward the dirt road, leaving in their wake a cloud of dust.

  Sharon couldn't imagine what was so important to make him dress up the way he had, or totally ignore the fact that she was calling out him. Daniel had donned a freshly pressed suit that hugged his shoulders and chest like a second skin, his hair neatly combed and tied back in a leather restraint and the aroma of shaving soap lingered behind him in the afternoon air like a hypnotic call of the masculine wild.

  "Where on earth is Daniel going in such a hurry?" she asked the butler, making herself at home in the library. The man was becoming increasingly irritated with the woman's intrusions; she had been there every day since Julia left for Boston, issuing orders and bossing the household staff around as though she were the queen of England herself.

  "Mr. Brownin' has gone ta pick his wife up at the train station," the dark skinned man said, feeling pleased for the expression that appeared on the woman's face.

  "Julia's coming home? Why so soon?" she snapped, tossing her gloves to the small reading table with such force the magazine underneath them flipped up several pages at the corners.

  "I reckon it's because she missed her husband. I know he's been missin' her somethin' awful."

  "Missing her? Nonsense. Daniel has hardly noticed her absence. I should know; he and I have become very...close since she's been gone."

  "Be that as it is, Mr. Brownin' has missed his wife and was very pleased ta hear she was comin' back early. If ya really did know him as much as ya claim, ya'd know how much in love he is with her. Now if ya'all will excuse me, Miss Farnsworth, I have work ta do ta get supper ready for when Mrs. Brownin' comes home and I don’t reckon they want you here when they return." Thompson left the woman alone in the room as he went back to the kitchen. He felt proud and pleased at having called the woman's bluff and even more pleased Daniel hadn't noticed her when he pulled away.

  Sharon paced the room for several long minutes, fuming at the unfortunate timing of Julia's arrival. She had spent many frustrating hours over the past weeks trying to get Daniel into her bed; unfortunately it had been wasted time. He no more noticed the difference between her than the mares in the stables. She had to do something; the thought of him making love to Julia made her face burn hot and her fists clutch tight. She just needed a little more time or something that would set Julia off enough to cause suspicion and friction between the young lovers. She reached up tugging at her ear, smiling wickedly. This should do it, she thought removing the gold bobble from her ear lobe.

  With the silence of a church mouse, Sharon crept out of the room and up the stairs making her way silently along the hall until she reached her destination. Quietly she opened the door and slipped in, hurrying over to the bed. She took a look at the roses that awaited the mistress of the mansion and snorted softly, then slid the earring under the blankets and smoothed the covers back down making certain there were no wrinkles to give her away. With a chuckle of cruel delight, she removed a rose from the vase and left the room and the house, anxious to get as far away from there as possible before Daniel returned with his little bride.

  The train huffed and puffed to a halt alongside the wooden platform, as a loud whistle sounded its arrival. Julia gazed out the window next to her watching the many people who stood there, but through the smoke from the train she couldn't make out who they were.

  A strange surge of anticipation twisted in Julia's stomach, thinking of the possibility Daniel might not be there to meet them. What if he hadn't received the cable? What if he didn't know she was coming home? The thoughts and fears continued to plague her until she stepped down the metal stairs and looked around. Her name was called out and she turned to see the man she had been praying for waving with enthusiasm to her, a bouquet of wild roses gripped in his large tanned hand. Julia hurried to meet him and was instantly swept up in an overwhelming embrace she had missed nearly as much as the man himself.

  Daniel hugged her to him, his hands caressing her back, his lips spreading heated kisses across her cheek and neck. He
just couldn't find the strength to let her go; she was like a dream come true. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her since the day she'd left. He imagined holding her against him like this every night and now that he had her he just didn't want the dream to end. It wasn't until their lips met that Daniel came to the realization she was home and she was still in love with him. He had secretly feared she had left a sweetheart waiting for her in Boston, and when she arrived there they'd run off together leaving him alone and miserable the rest of his life.

  But here she was, warm and real and his, and he wasn't willing to let her loose, not yet.

  He felt a soft touch on his shoulder, his mind awoke to the scent of lilacs drifting between them even before he became aware of the fact he was practically seducing his wife in the open public as people passed by and smiled or whispered. Reluctantly Daniel released his hold on his wife, keeping her within arm's length as he hugged his mother-in-law.

  "How was your trip?" he asked, pulling Julia to his side as they walked to the waiting carriage. They talked about the trip, the train, the parties and the shopping until Daniel was dizzy just from listening. He motioned to the young stable boy to get the trunks and waited until he followed before continuing on.

  He helped Louise into the carriage, holding Julia back for a minute as he secured the older woman in the seat. He turned gazing at his wife and traced her full, kissable lips with his thumb.

  "Do you have any idea how much I've missed you?" he whispered softly, kissing her with such passion her knees nearly buckled beneath her. He eased Julia into the Dearborn and shut the door to help the boy with the baggage.

  "Did you tell him?" Louise asked nervously. Julia sighed, unwilling to allow anything to erase the feelings he had erupted in her.

  "Mother I just got here."

  "Well, when are you going to tell him?" the buggy swayed under his weight as Daniel climbed in and sat next to Julia.

  "Tell me what?" he demanded, eyeing the two women suspiciously. Julia had to think fast. She didn't want to tell him her happy news here in a carriage with her mother only inches away.

  "My mother was referring to the amount of money I spent, while we were gone," she lied, hoping her story didn't appear too made up.

  "Is that all?" he sighed pulling her closer to his side, wishing now he hadn't sent her mother with her. At least this way, they'd be alone and he'd be able to touch and kiss her the way he wanted to.

  "You don't know how much I've spent, Daniel. I don't think you'll be very pleased when you see the receipts."

  "Did you enjoy yourself, Princess?" he asked in a low seductive tone. Julia blushed knowing her mother was still watching.

  "Except for missing you," she said as visions of being alone with him passed before her green eyes.

  "Then stop worrying. I told you to have fun and spend money. If anybody's to blame for the bills, it's to be me."

  "I don't think you'll mind quite so much when Julia shows you the things she bought," Louise added, after clearing her throat to bring the two out of their eye lock to look at the woman who sat in the seat in front of them.

  "What did you buy?" Daniel's tone was soft and low, yet anxious to find a subject which would bring some sanity to his racing libido.

  "Dresses mainly; Aunt Lena had us running all over Boston, buying gowns for one party after another. I never thought it would end."

  "Is that why you came home so early? Because you were tired and wanted to rest?" Julia stole a quick glance at her mother through thick lashes and gazed back at Daniel.

  "Not entirely," she answered softly. Louise waited anxiously for her daughter to break the news, but frowned with disapproval as she continued. "I was eager to see how things were progressing for the sale and I thought perhaps I could help out."

  "Is that the only reason Princess?" Daniel urged; his tone barely above a whisper as he nuzzled her ear with his lips; desperately begging her to tell him what he wanted to hear.

  "No," she replied in turn, a tiny smile curving her lips as the color stole into her cheeks. Daniel smiled as the carriage pulled away from the front of the train station.

  Conversation steered back to safer subjects as they drove back to the ranch, avoiding anything to stoke the heat growing between them. Julia looked out the window and smiled; it was all so different than the last time she came home. She didn't dread the outcome or the events yet to take place. Rather she looked forward to them. She thought of the smell and how clean it actually was, not at all like the manure she had known as a child.

  "I'll have the bags brought in, if you want to get cleaned up and rest for a while," Daniel suggested, helping the two women down from the carriage.

  "I'm not tired in the least," Julia retorted, hoping her voice held the silent invitation she had intended.

  "You should still rest," she heard her mother's soft correction, turning to see the stern objection shining in her sapphire eyes. "You've been on a train for hours. You need to lie down and take a nap."

  "Your mother's right, Princess," Daniel added, slipping his arm around her waist. "You go on up and rest, I'll bring your things up for you." Julia frowned, feeling like a smothered child until she saw the secret expression in her husband's eyes. A soft color tinted her cheeks again and she no longer argued. Instead she nodded her head and followed her mother into the house.

  Upstairs Louise took her daughter off to the side and glanced back down the stairs for any uninvited ears and then turned a frowning face to Julia, showing her disapproval.

  "You should have told him when you had the chance," she scolded in whispered tones.

  "Mother please, leave this to me. I have it all planned out, when and how I'll tell Daniel. Just let me take care of it."

  "Alright, but I should warn you I've never been a very patient person." Julia hugged her mother and smiled before hurrying to her own room. She knew her mother was anxious to tell the whole world the news of Julia's condition, and forcing her to keep quiet about it until Daniel was told wasn't easy. Julia had to do everything short of threatening her mother's life to win her silence, but deep down she could sympathize with the woman. She too wanted to tell the world, but more important she wanted to tell her husband.

  Julia took quick advantage of the bath Bridget had drawn for her, making certain she was dressed and waiting when Daniel came upstairs. He had sent her bags up with an apology for not coming himself, since he was called to the stables to check on one of the new foals.

  She chose the sexiest of the four nightgowns she had brought home with her from Boston. The pale pink satin caressed her slender hips and waist, hugging her every curve like a glove, complimenting her still tiny figure exquisitely. It's neckline plunged deeply, opening nearly to her navel with a hand knitted lace of deep carnation pink accenting the split. The tight bodice was covered in an off-white lace that was not only see-through but assured of the lack of material beneath. The dark circles of her nipples were outlined through the lace bodice as well as the firm mounds peeking out from the exposed cleavage. Julia blushed as she examined her image in her vanity mirror, feeling wicked and wantonly seductive. She was determined to make this reunion one Daniel would remember forever.

  Julia had just finished combing her hair to a soft gleam when the handle to the door turned and the image of her husband slipped through. The curtains had been drawn leaving the room in soft shadows with very little sun lighting the darkness. He looked around the room and settled his stare on the woman who rose slowly from the vanity. He could smell her soft musky scent even before he saw her, making him vividly aware she was home. He examined her attire - or lack thereof - with eager lustful eyes before he smiled at her tenderly. Julia found her legs responding to his presence on their own accord carrying her into his embrace and his waiting lips.

  Daniel locked his mouth to hers, hungrily taking all she offered him. Her presence and her burning desires were too much to resist, forcing him to carry her to the bed and lie her against the covers
. Julia's arms circled his neck urging his lips to travel the course she had so long dreamt of. Daniel in turn answered her demands tugging at the soft lace covering her delicate breasts. With one nipple firmly between his teeth, his hand freed the other massaging and playing until Julia moaned with restrained delight.

  He stood up from the bed and tugged impatiently at the buttons of his shirt freeing his chest for her arousing touch. Julia laid against the covers, unwilling and unwanting to look away. She had envisioned his body, his hands and his lips so often over the past weeks, to actually see them now was like a miracle and she was quite certain she'd never get her fill of him.

  Daniel popped the buttons of his breeches loose one at a time, watching Julia's reactions as his hands worked a slow methodical rhythm. He smiled, knowing exactly how hard it was for her to keep her hands off him. He felt as though he was physically being pulled away from her, the resistance not to touch her was pure hell.

  Julia watched as he released the last button sliding the material across his lean, muscular thighs. Her heart began to pound, her palms sweated, she reached for him, sliding her hands around his waist urging him to lay on top of her. She was too anxious to experience his loving to wait for his playing to end. She felt eager and erotic as he stretched out across her. Julia moaned when he touched her, the tip of his manhood teasing the her moist portal. He wanted her as desperately as she needed him, but he wasn't going to rush through this.

  Daniel's hands molded and caressed her, burning a path of pure ecstasy across her flesh. Julia's moans increased, her hips arching toward him, her delicate frame writhing beneath his touch. She needed him; she couldn't deny it even if she was forced to. She had wanted to feel his love making for so long, she'd nearly forgotten how wonderful it could really be. Daniel rolled to his back, pulling her along with him. Julia didn't want to be played with; she wanted to have her urgent desires fulfilled in a way only he knew. She sat up straddling his hips like a horse and rubbing against him until he groaned his acceptance. He couldn't hold back any longer, she had brought him to the point of no return, he needed her now, more urgently than he had thought possible.