A Winning Hand

by Maria Lake

  At least with guitar lessons they didn't argue so much, not like the squabbling they got into over how to run the ranch. They'd been fighting about how to run the ranch since Daddy fell sick, and likely they'd be fighting about that until Sam finally got fed up enough to pack it in and move on. Not that she wanted that to happen, but still she wasn't one to draw back.

  They still argued over the ranch most days. That's why she was hiding the bills from him. She didn't want to have to make any more sacrifices anymore. If they sold any more of the herd, would there even be a ranch anymore?

  Stubborn, Sam called her, and she'd respond in kind.

  There'd be some stomping and slamming of doors and then Mrs. Martin would just kind of give her that stare of hers. Well, Mrs. Martin'd been giving her that stare for so many years, it didn't put her out much anymore.

  Mrs. Martin. That good old lady had already taken herself off to bed and Josie didn't mean to wake her, but right now, Josie was too awake, and in need of slamming something. She settled on the roll-top desk. She grabbed it as hard as she could, and pushed it up so fast that it got jammed up on top. She grumbled, grabbing all the miserable unpaid bills that were staring up at her. And then she shoved them in one of the desk drawers.

  There were too many bills sticking out for her to slam the drawer back properly, but there was a satisfying crunch as it squashed some of those darn bills.

  Josie sat back in her chair and watched Sam through the window as he made his way back to his cabin.

  Why couldn't they ever have a nice quiet evening together? She sighed. She knew the answer to that all right. There was just something that happened to her when she was alone with Sam-- there was too much energy crackling beneath the surface, and she didn't know what to do with it. She felt the urge to reach out to him, to press against him, to be wrapped up in his arms. But she didn't know how to do that, so mostly she just teased him or argued with him.

  Maybe things would have gone differently if she had taken him into her confidence.

  She was worried about the bills, but she didn't want his pity or his help. And worse, she was afraid that if he knew how badly the ranch was bleeding money, she was worried that he might feel forced to propose.

  She wanted him, she truly did, even if they'd argue their way through marriage, even if Sam would expect the right to put her over his knee if she was naughty. He was stern, she was stubborn, and his hand surely twitched whenever she gave him backtalk. But he was tall and good and honest, and he was the single most attractive man she would ever meet. Sam Everett made her heart flutter whenever he came near her, and the more time they spent together, the more she longed to be his wife. There was just one big problem-- Sam had never shown one drop of romantic interest in her. If he married her, he would marry her out of a sense of duty, of obligation, not love.

  Josie wasn't foolish enough to think life was like a romance novel, didn't expect a husband who showered her with lots of drivel about how pretty she was, but she did think she deserved one who was at least attracted to her. She might not shine like the Appleton girls, but she didn't clean up too badly. How much more did she have to alter the bodice of her dresses before Sam finally noticed that she looked like a woman?

  Chapter 16

  A coyote howling in the night roused Sam from his bed. As long as they kept off the ranch, he wasn't bothered by the animals, but he was sensitive to nighttime sounds. Staying vigilant was just part of Western living. He never knew when someone might ride up who didn't belong there, and the nearest place to the Lanshaw's ranch was the Appleton's, and that was a few miles off. Life just meant sleeping with a loaded shotgun nearby, just in case.

  The way Josie was these days, Sam felt that a small arsenal might be in order. That gal was playing with fire more than she knew. Men were restless in general, quick to respond to any encouragement, and she was giving way too much encouragement. He was constantly having to keep after the ranch hands to make sure they were staying in line. And they weren't the only ones with lust in their hearts. He knew he was just as guilty as the rest of them. Trying to keep impure thoughts out of his mind was a daily struggle, and as much as he kept himself restrained during the day... that only left him in greater need of unburdening himself in the dark of night. He gulped hard. Oh, the things he wanted to do to Josie Lanshaw...

  He'd told her Daddy he would look after her, but they hadn't actually used the word marriage. Sam had his reasons for that- Josie wasn't even twenty when her father passed, and she had somehow still seemed young for her age. No matter how naughty she might act, he didn't think she fully understood what happened between a man and his wife. He'd worried that he might be too much for her. He didn't like the idea of bringing Josie to their marital bed unless she understood what he was going to want from her-- their marriage wouldn’t work if she didn't desire him the way he desired her. And he wanted their lovemaking to feel good for her.

  'Course, not every part of their marriage might feel good for Josie. He had no intentions of letting her run wild or letting her fib to him. And if it took a few long trips over his lap to get her to behave right, then so be it. He was no wife beater, but he considered spanking to be part of his marital rights. Any offer of marriage would spell that out real clear-- if she wasn't willing to accept discipline from him, then he couldn’t claim her as his bride. He'd never take a horsewhip to her, but she'd need to understand that his hand, her slipper, his shaving strap and his belt would be a part of their marriage. Would a headstrong, feisty gal like Josie be willing to submit to his terms? Would she accept his dominion over her?

  Sam groaned, the pain of his attraction increasing as he tried to ignore his growing needs. It would be another losing battle tonight, his lusts would once more take the upper hand as his hands would work their way under his blanket, but he never felt right about it, and did his best to fight it as long as he could. It was a familiar war, one he waged with himself ever since that time he had caught her over by the Holiday Saloon.

  His remembrance of that day would be seared into his memory forever. Her fury at the way he had taken her over his lap outside the Holiday Saloon. The way she had argued with him, had tried to scratch and kick at him-- she had been a wild cat, all right. He had never had a doubt in his mind that she had deserved to be spanked for sneaking around the Saloon, but what later disturbed him was how much he'd grown to like the idea of spanking her.

  She'd felt so darn good pressed up against him like that. Her body had been warm against his, and it had been painfully obvious that there had been nothing covering her breasts but the front of her dress. He had surely not imagined the feel of them, particularly not the hardened ends of her nipples. When he had lifted her back onto her feet, he had to immediately avert his gaze, the brief sight of those pebbled ends causing him no end of personal misery. Some devil inside him urged him to grab her by the dress front and rip it right down to her middle, exposing her breasts so that he could take his pleasure with them. Fortunately, sanity and morals had prevailed, but that didn't mean he hadn't been sorely tempted.

  He was lost. His thoughts were so confused when it came to Josie Lanshaw that he could not think of disciplining her without it wreaking havoc on his groin. The idea of taking hand or strap to that bottom of hers never failed to rouse him. And so help him for it, when he dreamed about disciplining her, Josie didn't have a single speck of clothing on. It wasn't just that he made her take her drawers down, he insisted that she take all her clothes off. The agonizing wait as she slowly unbuttoned her dress, her heightened blushes as she was made to strip for him... he was absolutely lost once his thoughts turned to spanking her.

  Her bottom would be soft and smooth and just the right plumpness that would make him want to take a bite of her, like she was a sweet ripe fruit that he'd been gifted...

  “Oh, Josie,” he groaned into his pillow as he imagined her growing rosy under his firm palm, the clap of his flesh against her own, her shapely legs furiously kicking as he g
ot a fleeting glimpse of the glories that lay between them...

  “Oh Josie,” Sam groaned loudly as he finished his fantasy through to its inevitable and shameful end.

  Sam shook himself hard. Those kinds of imaginings were dangerous. He constantly had to check himself to make sure he didn't do anything too forward, didn't overstep his role. Because the things he wanted to do with Miss Josie Lanshaw could only happen if she became Mrs. Samuel Everett.

  He got up and stood at the window, looking over at the house. Her bedroom window was open, but it was far enough away that she wouldn’t have heard him moaning out her name. He knew it was wrong of him to do what he had just done, but it was all he could do to keep from losing his mind.

  Or maybe he had already gone so far as to lose his mind. She might have captured his heart, but he knew Josie Lanshaw was all wrong for him. He'd always thought he'd settle down with a nice girl, sweet and innocent, quiet and demure. The perfect little wife. Josie was none of those things, and yet he wanted her more than anything.

  Sam wanted her so badly, he was left staggering back to his bed, left having to close his eyes, pretending that she was arching under him, as he once more drove himself against his own rough hands, trying to find a relief that was only fleeting.

  He wanted to make love to her, hard and fast, relentlessly. But, darn it, he also wanted more. He wanted to love and care for the stubborn gal. He wanted her respect, he wanted her heart. And he wanted to give her a houseful of babies.

  Chapter 17

  After helping Mrs. Martin put away the clean dishes, Josie stepped out onto the front porch. She had her hand by her forehead, trying to shield the sun from her eyes as she gazed out, trying to find a familiar shape amidst the riders in the distance.

  She was so focused on the horizon that she wasn't paying attention to anything else.

  “Looking for someone?” Sam asked, startling her. He was walking his horse, Stormy, and Spots, her Palomino, was following right along.

  “No one in particular,” Josie replied. She sure wasn't going to admit that she had been looking for him. “Where are you riding to? And why do you have my horse out with you?”

  “Thought you could use the ride. You've been spending too much time cooped up inside.”

  “Can't really ride, like this,” she said, pointing to her dress.

  “Go on and change, I'll wait.” And I'll do my best not to think about what you just looked like in that dress, Sam told himself harshly, angry at himself for letting his eyes wander over her soft curves.

  It had been ages since Josie had last gone for a good ride on her horse. She spent most of her time indoors, either at her house or at the Appletons. And when she went into town, it was always in a carriage with Mrs. Martin, with one of the ranch hands driving them.

  In no time at all, she found herself a pair of old trousers and a man's shirt, and changed for riding. She loosened her corset enough so riding wouldn't be painful, and then she ran out of the house. She was so excited to go for a ride, she didn't even stop to think how ugly she would look in her get-up.

  “Poor Spots,” she cooed to her horse, cradling her muzzle. “I've missed you, girl.”

  Sam nodded. “She's been taken out daily, but its not the same, is it? Just be careful, its been a while, and she might not take to having a rider.”

  “Oh, not my Spots. She's a good girl,” Josie said, swinging herself into her saddle. “She'd never misbehave with me around.”

  If that was true, Sam thought, then the horse was better behaved than her owner.

  “Where are we off to?”

  “I still have plenty to do,” Sam said, “so I surely can't take the whole day, but I think we can make it to the bluffs and back without leaving me awake past midnight finishing my chores.”

  “Hmm... sure this isn't an excuse to get out of your chores?”

  “When have I ever shirked?”

  “First time for everything,” Josie said. “Maybe I should deduct the time from your wages.”

  Sam narrowed his eyes at her. “You sure that's a good idea?” They both knew that he worked at least three times as hard as anyone else on the ranch, and often turned down his salary to make sure the other men got paid. The amount that the ranch owed Sam was getting real steep, yet he hadn't said one word about quitting.

  “Tell, you what, if I make it to there first,” Josie said pointing to the bluffs in the distance, “and I'll see what I can do about paying some of your back wages.”

  “Well, don't you worry yourself about paying me then,” Sam said, “because Stormy and I will see you there first.”

  And with a loud hoot, Sam galloped off, riding hard across the land.

  Darn it, what did I do? Josie thought, chiding herself. We could have had a nice relaxing ride together, and now we won't have a chance to talk. And by the time we see each other again, I'll be nothing but a hot and sweaty mess. Still, arriving hot and sweaty was better than losing to Sam, and she soon put Spots up to a gallop too.

  Spots did her best, but she was no match for Stormy. Only a few minutes separated them, but it felt much longer than that, particularly given that Sam and Stormy seemed so calm that they gave the impression of having had to do little more than trot in order to win. Meanwhile, Josie found herself panting hard, and struggling to catch her breath. Maybe she hadn't loosened her corset enough after all, although any looser and her bosom would have endured no end of pain from bouncing. But, she was here now, and if she wasn't victorious, at least she had shown Sam that she could ride nearly as well as he could.

  Josie may have ridden well, but it had been some time since she'd last rode, and she certainly hadn't felt so tired afterward. When she swung herself out of her saddle, she faltered, and her foot caught in her stirrup. Before she even had a chance to twist her ankle, Sam's hands were firmly around her waist, and he was lowering her the rest of the way down.

  If she was having trouble breathing before, she surely was now. They were far from her house, and far from view. Suddenly Josie felt how alone they were, and felt more aware of Sam than she ever had.

  “Think you overdid it?”

  Josie glared at him, not willing to let her warm feelings for Sam get the better of her competitive spirit. “Just been a while since I was on a horse. Might need to rest a bit before we go back,” she said, leaning into him.

  Instead of pushing her away, Sam sat down on the ground, letting Josie's body ease against his own. It was too much, he knew it was too much, but he couldn't help himself. The way she was glowing, those hard breaths she was taking- he felt it all the way down to his cock. If they were married she would have been on her back by now, and those trousers she was wearing would be down by her ankles. He'd give her good reason to breathe heavy as his hips bucked against her own.

  But she wasn't his wife. She wasn't even his betrothed. And despite the words that had passed between her Daddy and himself, Josie was his boss. So as much as he wanted to watch the rise and fall of her heaving bosom, as much as he wanted to taste her, as much as he wanted to heave himself between her legs and fill her over and over again until his seed took, he knew had to do the right thing. So Sam sat there stiffly, like a gentleman, as Josie rested against him.

  When Josie reached for his hand, Sam understood the danger in it, and reluctantly sat on his hand, anything to prevent the feel of her warm flesh pressed up against his own. He never should have suggested this ride- how had he been so blind to its dangers?

  Sam sat there as long as he could without moving, but as he noticed the changes in the sky, he realized that he had spent more of his day sitting there than he had ever expected.

  “Got to be getting back now,” he said gruffly. “Think you can manage your horse?”

  The pride in her bridled at the question, but the woman in her wasn't ready to give up this strange new closeness they had. Even if Sam wasn't one for conversation, and even though he wouldn't let her hold his hand, Josie couldn't help but feel li
ke their bodies had been somehow talking to each other, and she wasn't ready to give that up.

  “I don't think I can,” she said, blushing slightly. “Do you think Stormy could carry both of us?”

  They both knew that Stormy was a good, strong horse who could easily carry a passenger far bigger than Josie. The only question would be where she sat.

  “Spots can follow us. Do you think you can hold tight enough to my back?”

  Josie shook her head. “I'm feeling rather faint. If I took a swoon, I could fall off, and you wouldn't notice in time. Only way to be safe is if you put me in the front of the saddle.”

  Sam nodded, his face grim rather than elated. He should be overjoyed at the thought of having Josie's body right there in his lap, but every jostle would be treacherous. There would be no way to keep from rubbing up against her, and all he could pray for was that his body would behave itself when it did.

  The ride back to the ranch was better than anything she could have imagined. Somehow, she'd managed to get herself in Sam's arms, and Josie could feel his warmth everywhere. His breath was against her hair, against the sensitive skin on her neck. She felt womanly. She felt safe, and yet, she also felt slightly scared. If she sat a little further back in the saddle, she'd really be right up against him. Not an accidental brush, but really pressing against him. And she was both excited and terrified at what she might find.

  With Annie Appleton getting married, she and Annie had spent some time wondering about what happens between a husband and wife. Annie's mama had told her to just grit her teeth and let her husband do his duty, which had sounded quite awful. But Nellie, the servant girl who helped the Appleton's cook, had taken them both aside and told them a very different tale.