Flames licked at the wood now, time to fill the large pot with water and set it on to boil. This was the hardest part of all, carrying a bucket from the porch to top up the pot so she could fill up the battered tin dish she had found.
Maybe she could wash her clothes as well. Then she could at least wear her own undergarments.
By the time she filled the pot she was exhausted and had to rest in the old rocking chair. Gazing out over the paddocks she wondered where Nick was and what he was doing.
Several horses grazed in a fenced off paddock next to the corral. Everything was well built and cared for. He obviously put the welfare of his animals above his own, an admirable quality.
“I like him.” She said out loud. Was he still mourning Li, or was it the bitterness and sadness caused by the way she died. How frightened the poor woman would have been. What kind of evil people would do such a thing to a woman whose man was away fighting in a war? It was so tragic Freddie felt like weeping at the injustice of it all.
With his hair cut and clean shaven, Nick would be a handsome man. He had beautiful blue eyes, and they lit up on the rare occasions he smiled.
“Watch it, Freddie Guilford, you’re setting yourself up for hurt if you let yourself feel anything more than friendship toward him,” she said out loud. He had made it quite clear, he didn’t want people in his life. In particular, he didn’t want her. He couldn’t wait to get rid of her. How would she get to Guilford Crossing from the town he was going to dump her in?
After washing her hair, she dried it on the towel and left it hanging damply about her shoulders. What bliss to have it clean again. She rinsed out her undergarments, also a shirt of Nick’s that he had discarded.
He had slept in his bedroll close to where she was for the first couple of nights, and by the looks of it he had slept on the back porch last night. Slumped in the rocking chair she closed her eyes and let herself drift off.
“What are you doing out here?”
Freddie awoke with a start.
“You should be resting.”
“I am, in the rocking chair.”
“That’s not having a proper rest.”
It was mid-afternoon by the position of the sun. “I had to wash my hair, it was so dirty and sticky with blood I couldn’t stand it any longer.” She eased herself out of the chair and stood.
He stared at her. “You.” He swallowed convulsively. “You have beautiful hair.” He reached up and ran his hand down it. “So silky,” he muttered.
“I was trying to get it dry, so I thought I’d sit out here and I must have fallen asleep. Lugging the water from the porch to the fire was exhausting,” she gabbled. “I hope you don’t mind, I washed your shirt, too.”
He reached out and placed two fingers against her lips. “Don’t talk.” With a strangled groan he dragged her into his arms and kissed her, holding her close with one hand at the small of her back, the other hand twisted into her hair to hold her head steady. He pressed his lips against hers and when she didn’t recoil, he deepened the kiss until she opened her mouth to give his thrusting tongue better access.
His beard tickled her face as she rested her uninjured arm on his hip. Flames of need shot through her body, scorching in their intensity. She felt their fiery path from the top of her head to the tip of her toes.
His hand moved to cup her breast, still she didn’t pull away. Suddenly he stepped back, leaving her bereft.
“This is why you have to leave.” His voice was rough. “You’re driving me to distraction, Freddie, and it has to stop.”
“Maybe I don’t want it to stop.”
“I’ve got nothing to offer you.” He took another step back. “In another couple of days you should be ready to go home.”
“How do I do that?” She couldn’t disguise the hurt in her voice.
“I told you, I’ll take you into Boynton. There is a daily stage from there to Austin. From there it wouldn’t take much for you to get home.”
“I don’t have any money. I’m wearing your dead wife’s clothing.”
“I told you, I’ll pay your expenses and you can keep Li’s clothes. I don’t know why I didn’t get rid of them years ago.”
“What if I don’t want to leave you?”
His features hardened. “Too bad. I don’t want you here.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re a menace to my sanity.” He dropped the words slowly one by one so there could be no mistaking what he meant. His eyes were cold now, whereas a few moments ago they blazed with desire. Innocent in the ways of men as she was, there was no mistake. He wanted her. It wouldn’t take much to push him over the edge. Did she want to do this? What if she shared his bed for a couple of nights and he still banished her. How much worse would that be?
“I understand,” she said sadly. “I won’t cause a fuss. When you think I’m well enough, I’ll go.”
“It’s for the best,” he said.
“Is it?” She stumbled into the cabin leaving him standing out on the porch. In the bedroom she kicked off her boots and climbed into bed, not knowing what else to do. Her strong feelings for Nick shocked her. She lay staring at the ceiling wondering whether things would be different had she been beautiful, instead of ordinary.
“Supper’s ready,” he called out after a time.
“I don’t want any.”
He strode into the bedroom. “You have to eat.”
“I know, to build up my strength so I can leave here.”
“Yes, it’s better this way.” He stared down at her.
“Better for who?” she yelled.
“Both of us.”
“No it isn’t,” she screamed at his retreating back. If she could have found something handy she would have thrown it at him.
Chapter Nine
Four days passed and the tension between them kept escalating. Freddie’s bruised and swollen face was almost back to normal, her ribs didn’t ache and the shoulder wound was healing up. She lived in dread Nick would say it was time for her to go.
He worked from daylight to dusk outside as she had started doing chores. Milking the cow, cantankerous old thing that she was, collecting the eggs and cooking supper. The meals weren’t fancy as cooking didn’t have much appeal to her. Their diet was a little more varied than before. She baked biscuits almost daily, made dessert using eggs and milk, even a cake once.
She had put sheets on the bed and tidied up the bedroom.
Nick always thanked her for the meal, but their table talk was stilted. Occasionally, he would drop his guard enabling them to talk on various topics. She was surprised at how knowledgeable he was considering the reclusive life he lived.
Another of his good points was the way he cared for his animals, a trait she rated highly.
Her growing feelings toward him were frightening. Each time he arrived home, her stomach muscles clenched, and her heart beat quickened. She couldn’t believe how much she missed him each time he left the cabin. Purposely she never got out of bed until he had gone.
****
One afternoon she heard the sound of horses in the front yard. Instinctively she dashed over to unhook Nick’s Winchester from the wall bracket. By the time she got it, there was loud banging on the front door.
“You there, Nick? It’s Sheriff O’Grady from Boynton.”
The man could be lying.
With the rifle held in her hands, Freddie stepped into the doorway and saw a tall, thin man wearing a sheriff’s badge, standing on the porch. Several other cowboys were mounted on sweaty horses.
“Is Nick Brown here?”
“No. Why?”
“And you are, Miss?”
“Freddie Guilford. I’m staying with Nick for a few days, I’m his cousin.”
“Oh, yeah! Looks like he’s been using his fists on you.” It was a statement not a question.
She decided partial truth might be the way to go. “No, he hasn’t. I was on my way to visit him with my brother and we we
re ambushed. Billy managed to get away and I was captured.
“What did the men look like?”
“There were at least three of them, could have been four. They shot me, bashed me unconscious then kept me a prisoner at the old ghost town.”
“Everton?”
“Yes. The leader was dressed all in black. I finally escaped and hid behind a bolder on a hill. They set fire to the grass. I nearly got roasted alive. Nick found me and saved my life.”
“A real coincidence him finding you?” the sheriff said.
“Well, he was expecting us, and when we didn’t show up he went searching for us.” She shuddered. “Luckily he found me.”
“They sound like the gang we’re hunting. They’re wanted for robbery. They held up the bank and shot a bank clerk.”
“They’re vicious enough to do it,” Freddie said. She didn’t mention the rifles she had hidden because it would lead to questions about where they came from, and what she was doing with them.
“Yeah, well, keep your door locked and be vigilant.”
“You didn’t say what you wanted, Sheriff.”
“We’re checking all the outlying ranches in case anyone saw them. I thought it might give us a handle on to which way they’re heading. Keep your doors locked and your gun handy. I suppose you can use it?”
“You bet your britches I can.”
If only they knew she was a crack shot. She had once heard Pa telling someone she was good enough to have been an army sniper, because the man was worried about his goods being stolen if the wagon was held up on the road. Pa never said anything nice about her unless it suited his purposes.
She watched the sheriff mount up and ride away with his posse. She was certain the outlaws would be long gone, but she would be careful from now on.
****
Nick arrived home earlier than expected, stomping into the cabin his eyes blazing. “What in tarnation was the sheriff and his posse doing out here?”
“They were hunting a gang of outlaws who robbed the bank and killed one of the bank clerks. Those robbers could be the ones who bashed me.”
“I doubt it, they’ll be long gone, and if they did rob the bank they wouldn’t be hanging around here. They’ll have hightailed it to the badlands or crossed over the border.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes, stands to reason. Did they ask who you were?”
“Yes.”
“And?” His eyes flashed.
“I said I was your cousin, and was on my way to visit you with Billy when we were attacked.”
“My cousin?”
“Well, I couldn’t think of anything else on the spur of the moment.”
“You should have told them to mind their own damn business. O’Grady, the sheriff, is as useless as tits on a bull.”
“Would you like a coffee?”
“No thanks, water will do.” He grabbed up a cup and dipped it in the bucket of water on the end of the table.
Suddenly Freddie had an awful thought. Nick must have seen the sheriff and his posse and couldn’t be bothered to come over.
“You saw the posse?” she accused.
“Yeah, so what?”
“You didn’t think I might need help?” Hurt made her voice shrill. He hadn’t cared enough to make sure she was safe. “You dirty, low down skunk?”
The breath hissed from between his teeth. “Don’t abuse me, I won’t stand for it.”
“You’re a selfish varmint, Nick. You didn’t even have the guts to front the sheriff and his posse.”
“I’m warning you. Shut your mouth.”
“What kind of man are you?”
“I’m the man who saved your life, took you into my home, and cared for you as if you were my own wife.”
“Yes, you did all that. What about me?”
“What about you?” he snarled, glaring at her.
“Since I was able to get around, I’ve been cooking for you, washing your clothes.” She stood with her hands on her hips staring him down. “Doing everything expected of a good little wife.”
“Not everything.” He took a couple of steps forward, reached out and grabbed her plait. Slamming her body into his he lowered his head and ravished her mouth with his. His tongue thrust against her teeth and instinctively she opened her mouth and let him in.
Their tongues entwined, darting and thrusting in a primitive love dance. His hand came up to cup her breast and shards of heat shot through her body, finally coming to rest in the forbidden area between her thighs.
He fumbled with the buttons on her blouse, opening it and pushing the material aside as she wore no camisole. When his tongue came out to caress one of her nipples it hardened. He suckled it into his mouth causing her to gasp with was it pain or pleasure? She couldn’t be quite sure which.
Her skirt had shimmied down to her ankles and she stepped out of it and kicked it to one side. Now she only wore her drawers. Her trembling fingers fumbled with his shirt. If she didn’t feel his hot flesh searing hers she would die. Her private parts ached and throbbed. She was in the throes of a never before passion.
He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom and deposited her on the bed. She had never been with a man before, had never wanted to be.
His hands trembled as he leaned over and removed her drawers. Once she was naked he stared at her. Blue flames leapt from his eyes. He straightened up to undress. Released from the bondage of his clothing, his manhood stretched out, in all its hard, glistening glory. She had seen aroused stallions as they mounted a mare. Never a man, though.
He came down beside her and as he kissed her long and deep, his erection speared into her upper thigh.
“Beautiful.” The word was slurred. Great tremors shook his body, his back was damp with perspiration.
She liked the sensation of his beard tickling her bare skin. He nudged her thighs apart, put his hands under her hips, lifted her slightly and thrust into her. She squealed with pain as he broke through the barrier that had been present until now.
“Holy hell,” she heard him mutter.
She wrapped her legs around him in case he pulled away, and they rocked together in a maddened frenzy. Instinct and sheer primitive need showed her what to do. She grabbed hold of his backside and pushed with all her might. With a roar he exploded deep within her feminine cave.
When he lifted himself away she cried out until he gathered her close and held her within the circle of his arms.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you. I didn’t realize you were still a virgin.”
“It doesn’t matter now….”
“It does. I was rough and insensitive. I hate myself for taking something so special from you when I’m so unworthy.”
“You’re not unworthy.” She grabbed a piece of his beard in each hand. “You hear me. You are not unworthy. Not to me, anyway.”
“I took you in anger. You riled me up and I lost my head.”
“I’m not sorry.”
“Well, I am. I didn’t have the right.”
“I gave you the right, Nick. I could have stopped you anytime I wanted.”
“I mightn’t have been able to stop. I’ve been so long without a woman, but I’ll never know, will I?”
“Does it matter?” she whispered.
“To me it does.”
“Make love to me again, Nick. I want you to.”
He readily obliged, and the second time was even better than the first. Freddie hadn’t realized she was capable of such passion. But only with him. Only with Nick.
“I love you,” she whispered.
He made no reply. She realized he was asleep. She lay next to him for a while savoring his nearness, the male scent of him, the heat of his skin. Finally, she eased herself out of his arms and crept out of the bedroom to wash and dress and start on the preparation of their supper.
****
In the kitchen, she cut a piece of salted meat into bite sized chunks and with carrots, potatoes, onions an
d greens it made a nice stew, which only needed to be heated through. She couldn’t make bread as she had no yeast, but biscuits left over from last night would be perfect to soak up the juices.
She could remember some of the recipes she had read in an old cooking book, which had belonged to her mother. It was tattered and torn now, but still useful. She didn’t particularly like cooking, there again, she didn’t dislike it, as long as she was left alone to concoct her own meals.
She always added a few extra ingredients if she could, whereas Alex and Alfie, when it was their turn to cook, always followed recipes to the letter.
She was bending over the stove stirring the stew when she felt Nick’s warm breath on the back of her neck. The fingers of either hand fanned out over her breasts causing desire to shoot through her. Well brought up ladies didn’t feel like this she felt sure, but she wasn’t one of them. Her upbringing had been too rough and ready, devoid of tenderness.
“I’m hungry.” He nuzzled the side of her throat.
“Don’t be greedy.” She spun around to face him. “You’ve had enough for one day.”
He was grinning like a weasel in a henhouse. “Darlin’, I can’t get enough of you.”
“Well, if you want supper you better go and wash up. It will be ready in five minutes. Oh, put a shirt on, too.” She glanced at his bare chest, which was covered in whorls of dark hair. “Or I’ll eat you instead of the stew.”
“I wouldn’t mind.” His voice was low and husky.
“Well, your critters will when there’s no-one to look after them.”
“You’ve always got the ready comeback, Freddie.”
“I know. Alfie says I’ve got a big mouth and one day it will get me into a lot of trouble.”
“You’re close to your sisters?”
“Yes, Billy too, well as much as it was possible to be, with the way he is.”
“Your Pa?”
“He’s been ornery and mean since Ma died. She was a strong, devout woman and kept him under control as far as I can remember, I was only ten when she passed.”
“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely, and she realized this man had a compassionate nature even if it was hidden behind his long beard and hair, and his reclusive lifestyle.
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