“Well, that makes up for this crazy, scary day. Come home as soon as possible.”
“I’ll make arrangements for us to fly back tonight. The sooner she finds her son, the quicker I’ll be home,” Heath said and hugged his Mom.
* * * *
Fletcher and his mom watched the plane take off. “I guess he’ll never forgive her. She’s the closest he’s been to falling in love.”
“You like her?” Fletch asked as they walked to his truck.
“You know me. I have a softness inside for lost souls. What a terrible decision she had to make, and then when she found out they planned to kill him, she had to make another one.”
“I guess she’s stronger than any of us guys thought. We only saw her betrayal.”
“Strange things have been happening lately. What about your girl?” she asked as he helped her up into the seat.
He climbed in and started the engine. “I don’t know, Mom. I love her, but she sees me as different than I am. I do have hope since she arrived today without me calling that her feelings have changed. She is certainly brave.”
“She must love you. Look at what happened. She’s smart, she gave you an opportunity to shoot the bad guy. I think she’s had time to think about you while you were gone. I’m glad she decided to stay behind and clean up after dinner, so we could talk. Look at her close when we get back. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. She loves you, and I think she knows it now.”
Chapter Ten
When Fletcher and Mrs. Garrison arrived back at the homestead, Abby rushed to Fletcher’s side, and fell into his arms.
“Are you all right? I was so afraid there might be others around and they’d stop you and Mom Garrison.” She pulled back and looked up and down his body.
“We’re fine. Taylor’s had his deputies checking the area. He called before we left and said they hadn’t found anyone else. I started to tell you, and then Heath arrived with Savannah and wanted to get right to the airport.”
Mom Garrison came to their side. “Come on in the kitchen. We’ll have iced tea and a snack before dinner.” She left then and went to get the snacks and tea out on the table.
Embarrassed by her behavior, Abby backed out the door. Fletcher took hold of her forearms and pulled her back inside. “You were glad to see me.”
“I came to check on all your family.” She knew her face was rosy-red.
“You came to see me. I missed you, too.”
Abby closed her eyes and breathed in his scent. “All right, I did miss you,” she mumbled against his strong chest. His hand ran through her hair as his arm clasped her tighter. His hard cock rubbed against her abdomen.
“I want you. Do you feel the same?” he whispered in her ear.
She nodded her head.
“Say the word?”
His hazel-green eyes stared into hers. Then he leaned down and kissed Abby softly.
“Yes, I want you, too,” she spoke against his lips.
“Let’s skip dinner. We’ll have our snack and then head to my house. It’s closest.”
“Sounds like a wonderful plan.”
“I called your names, but the two of you were distracted. Come on in the kitchen for a snack, then I’ll let you two go and do whatever. I expect you’d prefer not to stay for dinner.”
Abby blushed again, and Fletcher held her close to his side as they followed his mother. She was chuckling. Then in the kitchen, his Mom took a deep breath. “I think I smell a wedding in the air.”
“Don’t push, Mom.”
“Never, when have I ever pushed you boys into doing something?”
They all three laughed and sat at the table loaded with crackers, chips, cheese, and dips, plus some healthy vegetable choices. “Eat up. I have cake for dessert.”
“This is dinner,” Abby said and took a bite of crackers and cheese. “I’m hungrier than I thought.”
Justyn and Joel rushed into the kitchen. “Mom, we just heard. Is all the family okay?” Joel asked.
“Yes, Heath has returned to New York, your dad rode out with Devin, and as you can see Fletcher and Abby are fine. I suppose Cort will show up any minute to ask the same question. I talked to Hunter and Lacey on the phone. I don’t think I missed anyone. Sit and eat. Fletcher can tell you more. I have to start supper. I’m sure everyone will want to be here. Fletcher, you and Abby have to stay, so you can explain the whole story to all of the family.”
* * * *
They’d changed their plans. Fletcher followed Abby home after dinner. Abby sensed tonight would be a memorable night, one way or the other. She’d watched him and his brothers talking, teasing, hugging when they went to leave. It was obvious they were a close-knit family. One that would close the doors on anyone who endangered one of them.
Abby’s heart ached for the woman who had to choose between the man she was growing to love and her son. They’d all agreed Heath, the older brother, would not forgive her. At least they’d kept the woman out of jail.
Fletcher unlocked the door and opened it for her. “You’ve been very quiet during our ride here. Is something troubling you?”
“I was thinking about the woman who your brother escorted back to New York. I feel sorry for her. It’s difficult to not have a family, but to have them and have a mother who would threaten to give your son away is even worse.” Abby threw her purse on a chair and sat on the sofa. She glanced up at Fletcher. “I have to tell you, if I had to sacrifice you or our son, as much as it would hurt, I’d have to save our child.”
“You’re talking about our child. Does that mean you’re considering me for a husband?” He cupped her face and grinned.
“I believe it does.”
He sat beside her and pulled her close. “I’d do anything for our child. Hopefully, we’ll never have to make that kind of decision.” He reached up and unfastened her hair, then he ran his fingers through the reddish-blonde waves. Taking a deep breath, he tipped her face and looked into her eyes. “I want to make slow love to you tonight. Your scent has made my cock go rock hard.”
Fletch kissed her forehead, along the side of her face, and nibbled at her earlobe. She shivered. He stopped for a second.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered.
Nodding, he trailed kisses across her cheek. He licked her lips, and when she opened her mouth, his tongue swept inside and tangled with hers.
Abby slipped down on the sofa, and he lay beside her. They stared into each other’s eyes.
“I love you. I want to marry you, to have children with you, and to grow old with you.”
His words brought tears to her eyes. She swallowed around a lump in her throat. “I was so frightened when I arrived in Pleasure Valley, and then when I was stood up, my world rocked around me. You rescued me, treated me with respect, and scared me because what you saw as helping me, I saw as ordering me.”
“I…”
She put her fingers over his lips. “Let me finish. Everyone I talked to said I misunderstood you. They all claimed you were the sweetest, kindest of the brothers. Then Uncle Jack and I talked. He pointed out it was my problem, that I’d learned not to trust others and to dislike my father’s orders.”
Fletch tried to speak again. She grinned. “You are so impatient. I did a lot of thinking while you were gone. Mary Lowell and I have agreed to be partners. I don’t have the money right now, but each paycheck I’ll pay a little on the partnership. We like each other, and I’ve brought in more business with my designs and sewing. I can see where I’m beginning to take care of myself. I have more confidence in me.”
“For goodness sakes, sweetheart, my cock is going to explode if you don’t let me make love to you. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, but if you get bossy, I’ll let you know.”
He lifted her off the couch and marched into the bedroom where he dropped her on the bed. Then he took her shoes off, unbuttoned her jeans and pulled them down with her panties.
Fletch slid down on the bed and kiss
ed her foot, along her calf, and nuzzled his face against her pussy. “You smell so sweet.” Then he kissed her abdomen and pulled off her shirt.
He’d heated her body, and now the cool air made Abby shiver. “Don’t worry, baby. When I get through, you’ll be on fire.”
After unfastening her bra, he threw it on the floor. Her pert, pink nipples stood up, begging for attention. His big hands cupped them, and he kissed each one. Ripples of desire rushed through her body. She wanted more and more from him.
He hadn’t finished. He ran his teeth across her pebbled nipples. Abby gasped and moaned with pleasure when he sucked on one.
“My body is on fire for you,” she moaned.
“Good.” His eyes glowed like dazzling emeralds, and his gaze couldn’t hide the smoldering impatience he’d held tight on a rein inside him. He pulled away for only a minute to undress. But before he got back in bed, he grabbed a condom from his back pocket.
Fletch handed her the condom. She laid it aside and motioned for him to lie down. With shaking hands, she rubbed his shoulders and kissed his face. When she kissed his mouth, he grabbed the condom, and slid down her body.
“I’m starving. We can play later.” He rolled the condom onto his cock and placed it at her opening. Then while watching her eyes, he slowly moved inside. When he closed his eyes for a second, his face looked tight and drawn.
“Damn, that feels so good.” Fletch moved in and out and rubbed his fingers across her nipples. The soft walls of her pussy clenched tighter as ripples of excitement and heat rolled over her.
When Fletcher raised her hips and went deeper, she yelled out and moved her hips quicker.
“Ah, that is so good, don’t stop.” Fletcher’s eyes blazed with desire. He plunged faster and faster until her blood raced through her veins and she screamed.
Her hands held his buttocks tight to her. When she let go, he plunged harder several more times before groaning and lying gently on her. Then when he got his breath, he rolled to the side but held her tight.
“If that were any better, honey, I’d die.” Fletcher raised up on one elbow. “How soon can we marry?”
“I don’t have many people to ask,” Abby said and traced her finger along his stubbled jaw. “How long does it take to get your family ready?”
“Mom and the rest of the family can arrange it fast. Also, if you want Jack to walk you down the aisle, he’s doing better.”
“Then let’s set a date for two weeks from now.”
Fletcher kissed her. “A girl after my own heart.” He grabbed her up and carried her into the bathroom.
* * * *
“Have you made love in the shower?” Fletcher asked.
“No.”
“You have been deprived, but I’ll fix that.” He let her stand while he adjusted the water. “Shall I go get the condom?” he asked. “I’d love to start our family right away.”
“All right, but four is the most I’m willing to have.”
“A hard woman. Actually, I was going to suggest three, but four is an even number.” Fletch grinned, soaped the washcloth, and then rubbed it over her delectable back. When he turned her, he dropped the cloth and with soapy hands caressed her breasts. “They’re just the right size,” he whispered in her ear.
Abby reached down and held on to his cock. “And so are you.” She slid down, and Fletch stepped back so she wouldn’t drown. She kissed the head of his cock, and then her tongue swirled around the sides. Abby glanced up at him, then she took his cock into her mouth and moved back and forth along his length. Fletch groaned. Desire and heat rushed through his body. Knowing he couldn’t hold back much longer, he pulled her up. He placed her legs around his hips.
“I can’t wait, my love. I can’t seem to get enough of you. Hold on, darlin’, we’re going to fly.” He put her back against the shower wall and pushed his hard cock into her hot pussy.
Her pussy caressed his cock as he went in and out, slow at first and then faster. He kissed her neck and held her tight as waves of desire swept over them. They both shook as he helped her stand. He moved them under the shower, soaped his hands and lightly ran then other her body. Once they’d both rinsed the soap away, he reached back and turned off the water. Then Fletch wrapped a warm towel around her. After quickly drying Abby and himself, he carried her to bed and licked some of the residual dampness from her skin. To complete the job, he rubbed the towel over her once more, before tucking her in bed and holding her close.
“I love you. Tomorrow, I’ll give you a ring I bought hoping you’d agree to marry me sooner or later. Then, we’ll tell Mom and Dad and let Mom know she has two weeks to prepare our wedding.”
“Will they be surprised?”
“Naw, they knew I’d lost my heart to you the first time you met them.”
“Surely not.”
“Yep, it didn’t take me long. Not once the right woman crossed my path.”
Abby fell asleep in his arms. Fletcher lay and looked at her. She’d stolen his heart, and he didn’t want to think of living without her. Small and dainty, she’d wrapped her hand around his heart. He wasn’t ever letting her go.
Thank goodness, Arthur Clements had married before Abby arrived. Fletch chuckled, and Abby stirred in her sleep. I’d have fought him for her.
Fletch tried to sleep, but too many thoughts ran through his head. He finally dozed for a few hours and woke at six o’clock. Stumbling through the house, he got to the kitchen and turned on the coffee maker. There were eggs and bacon in the fridge. Soon, he had coffee perking and bacon frying.
“I couldn’t sleep with all those fragrances of food wafting into my bedroom.”
She’d thrown on a thin gown, and the light from the kitchen windows outlined her curvy body. “Go get dressed before I let the bacon burn and take you back to bed. We have a lot to do today, so hurry up.” He handed her a cup of coffee to take with her and put the bacon on a plate before it burned.
* * * *
Abby took a quick shower and hummed as she got dressed. Her life was so different since she came to Wyoming. People cared about her, she had a job she loved, and a man who was more wonderful than she’d dreamed about ever meeting. She danced around the room as she got out the clothes she’d wear for the day. She had a rosy blouse that brought out the red in her hair, and her black slacks went well with it.
Abby dialed her boss. “Hi, Mary. May I have the day off? I’ll make it up.”
“Of course, you can. You don’t have to make it up. I know how many hours you’ve been working at home, at night. Have a good time with Fletcher.”
“How do you know I’ll be with him?”
“You have a certain lift in your voice, a happy one when he’s around.”
“We’ll stop by and see you later.”
“You better. I don’t want to be the last to hear of your engagement.”
“What makes you think we’re getting married?”
“Most people suspected you all would get together, and it wouldn’t take long. Be happy, see you later.”
Blushing, Abby walked into the kitchen. “Did you know everyone expected us to get married?”
Grinning, Fletcher put his arms around her. “It’s a small town, and people like a love story to end happily. You know we’ll have to invite most of the town to the wedding.” She started to speak, but Fletch put his finger over her lips. “I know it’s a lot, so I thought perhaps if you’d agree, we’d have an old fashioned country wedding in the local church with family and close friends. Then we’d invite all the other families and children to come to Mom and Dad’s.”
“I like the idea, but won’t that be a lot of work for your parents?”
“No, the daughters-in-law will help and some of the ladies from the church. There’ll be plenty of food and games for the local children. What do you think?”
“I love the idea. Do I dress in a country dress?”
“No, you dress in a lovely satin gown of your choice. I’ll dress lik
e a cowboy at his wedding.”
“I can’t wait to see you. Right now, I’m hungry. Feed me, and we’ll go see your parents before the rumor gets to them.”
“Mom’s expecting this news. It’ll be another son to mark off the unmarried list.”
“I really like your Mom.”
* * * *
“Two weeks? That will take some planning, but I’m sure we can manage.” Fletch’s mom hugged them both at once. “I knew you two were right for each other. Here’s your dad coming in the door. Guess what?”
“These two are getting married,” he said with a grin.
“How did you know?” his wife asked, standing with her hands on her hips.
“All you have to do is look at them. We’ve seen the love between two of our sons and their future wives, and they married soon afterward.”
“Dad, I didn’t know you had such an interest in getting us all married,” Fletch razzed him.
“I wasn’t, but anything that makes your mother happy pleases me.”
“Is two weeks too soon for you, Mom Garrison?” Abby asked.
“Not at all. I have daughters-in-law who will help and several friends. You worry about picking out a dress. We’ll take care of the rest.”
“Thanks, Mom. We have to go. I have something at my house to give Abby.”
“Come to dinner. I’ll have all the family here to celebrate, and your father will get Jack and bring him.”
Tears came into Abby’s eyes. She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Thank you for bringing him to join us and for taking such good care of someone you didn’t even know.”
Fletcher, his dad, and Mom all hugged her at once. When they parted, Mrs. Garrison handed her a tissue. “You are part of our family from now on, and I like that you call me Mom Garrison like my sons’ wives.”
“It’s an honor.”
“Okay, I’m getting you out of here before there are any more tears,” Fletch said. He told his parents good-bye and hurried her out to his truck.
The Unclaimed Mail Order Bride [Brides for the Garrison Brothers 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 14