by Cheri Chaise
Our land.
I breathed deep, noticing the freshening that signaled the coming change in the weather. Heard the stamping of the horses tied up in the copse across the way.
And there. Just beyond a thicket of scrub brush, two gleams sparkled brightly in the moonlight. The dog had successfully navigated her way to us.
We watched each other in silence. Neither of us moved.
Until the breeze brought the hint of an almost imperceptible whine.
Ever so quietly I squatted down and crept forward. Like a brave on the hunt. The dog quivered as if she struggled with the decision of whether to stay or run away. I took pity on her and stopped to drop a few bits of cooked fish on a rock before backing up again.
It was her turn to creep forward, her stare never leaving mine as she greedily lapped up the bits I left for her – before her ears perked up and she darted away.
“You’ll never be able to sneak up on me, brother.”
The deep rumble of Cole’s chuckle rippled softly in the small distance left separating us. “I think we might be adding to our brood soon.”
I was pretty sure he wasn’t speaking about mine and Essie’s baby this time.
Cole came up beside me as I stood and wiped my hands on my trousers. “I’m pretty sure that animal was once someone’s pet.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured that.” He stretched and stared off through the brush and trees, but the dog was well-hidden again. “You notice anything out tonight?”
I shook my head. “Nothing but the dog.”
“Then it’s time for you to get some shuteye, brother.”
I yawned, not realizing until then how tired I was. After not sleeping very well before this journey had started and then caring for my patients at the reservation, I think the lack of sleep was starting to catch up with me.
“Happy to oblige.”
The air grew heavy just as I was about to head back toward the fire. “It’s colder out tonight.”
“Yeah…winter’s not too far off now.”
“Keep Stella warm for me while I’m gone.”
I sighed. “You know I can’t do that right now.”
“Why the fuck not, Bret?” Cole hissed. “If Abby isn’t planning to head back east, does that mean you’re never gonna come back to Stella’s bed? Our bed?”
“Keep your voice down.”
“Fuck this sleeping apart shit. You’ve as much right to be there as I do. Stella’s our wife. All of ours.”
“It’s not as simple as that for Essie.” I’d finally come to see that now. Accept my fate for the time being. “How’s she going to explain this mess to her sister?”
“The way she should’ve when those two first arrived.”
Leaves and brush rattled and snapped. “Would you two pipe down?” Essie whispered. “This is not the time or place for such a discussion.”
“I tried to tell him,” I offered, trying to lighten the dark mood that had settled around us.
“Then when is it?” Cole practically barked.
Essie’s dander was up the moment her fists planted firmly on her hips. Those lush, round hips that begged for me to grab and hold on tight as I thrust my cock in and out of her pussy. Slow and deep. Faster and faster. Until we cried out from our frenzied fucking.
“I’m going to bed,” I grumbled as my cocked swelled.
And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it now.
I left two of the people I loved most in the world to hammer out this impossible situation – only to hear them eventually hammering each other as Cole slammed his cock deep into our wife’s hot, quivering, and dripping pussy. Right where I wanted to be.
Instead I rolled over on my side in my bedroll.
And locked eyes with Abby on the other side of the fire. Wide awake. Staring at me with lust in her gaze as we listened to Cole and Essie come to completion.
When her tongue darted out to lick her lips, my mind imagined it licking the thick head of my cock. Wrapping around to slide down my hard length.
I clenched my eyes closed to block out the sight. But nothing impeded the image from replaying across the backs of my eyelids.
And my dreams only amplified it.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Estella
There was always something about returning to the homestead after being away that brought a joy I felt deep in my bones. The moment we turned the trail’s corner and headed down before the landscape started to rise again. Catching our first views of the barn and stable roofs in that moment. The northern edge of the house peeking out from around the trees.
The sight of my children pouring off of the porch to greet us with squeals and peels of pure, unadulterated glee.
My husbands leaping from their horses to snatch up their little ones, wriggling with excitement after the separation.
Until my sister’s question sent my stomach into my throat.
“Why does Meghan always run to Bret first?” Abby asked as I slowly drove the wagon team past the melee.
My mind scrambled to come up with a plausible explanation as I set the hand brake. “Well…Cole only has two arms.”
“Mmm-hmm.” She studied the dark-headed loves of my life with her artist’s eye. As if truly seeing them for the first time.
“And…uh…she has always gravitated toward Bret.” Not a lie, but not quite the truth either. “Perhaps because they both have such dark hair.”
“They do rather resemble each other, don’t you think?”
I stopped myself from staring after them. “They are family, you know.”
“Of a sort.”
If she only knew. “Besides, I have dark hair too.”
“Oh yes. Of course.”
I had the distinct impression this conversation was far from over. Just interrupted as Sean and Seth both scrambled to Abby’s side of the wagon and reached up to assist her, while Drew appeared next to me.
There was that grin I so loved – and had missed these last few weeks with him or I away from the house so much. “Glad to see ya back home safe and sound.”
“Glad to be home again, Drew,” I returned, enjoying the warmth of his hands around my waist as I climbed down. But I had to unfortunately jerk back when his sensual mouth headed toward mine. “Remember, Drew,” I whispered, shaking out my skirts to cover over the heat of his closeness. “Not in front of my sister.”
“Aw fuck.” But the good-natured grin remained in place as his voice dipped to a whisper. “Come find me later then.”
Cole approached with the boys still in his arms before I could remind the youngest of why I couldn’t do that. My husband leaned the twins over one at a time to shower me with kisses and hugs, and I them in return.
“You gonna miss our birthday?” Jude’s infectious smile stretched from ear-to-ear.
“I would never miss my favorite boys’ birthday.” I tweaked their little noses. “Besides, it isn’t for a few more days yet.
Jake picked up right where his twin brother left off. “Edna gonna make cake.”
“That’s Mrs. Barker to you,” I reminded them.
“But she say Edna.”
“You’ll do what your mother says,” Cole said, setting them down and shooing them away to the house so we could unpack the wagon and settle the horses in peace.
Edna came out on the porch, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. “Impeccable timing. Supper’s nearly ready.”
“What’re we having tonight?” Drew called out, leading the wagon team toward the barn.
“A hearty pork roast, red potatoes and stewed carrots…and there’s plenty of your favorite, Drew.”
“Biscuits!”
“What’s for dessert,” Meghan asked as Bret led her to the porch.
Edna didn’t even acknowledge Bret, snatching up my little girl’s hand and leading her up the stairs as if her father was disease ridden. “That, my dear, is a surprise.”
The subtle twitch of his cheek wasn’t lost on me when Bre
t turned around. My heart broke and ached anew for him. After such an incredible breakthrough with members of the tribe, the respect and honor they’d shown him, to face such dismissal had to be a devastating blow.
I reached a hand to touch his forearm. “I’ll talk to her again.”
He stopped long enough to look down into my eyes. The hardness had returned. The hurt. As had the anger.
But his flat voice belied none of that. “Don’t bother.”
I tightened my fingers into a firm grip that stopped him before he could walk away. “Carston Ranch is your home. She should respect that.”
“Does it matter?” The hint of bitterness seeped through before he sighed. “She’ll be gone soon anyway.”
“I’ll talk to Cole,” I offered, releasing his arm.
“It’s not necessary.” And he disappeared with the horses into the stables to clean and bed them down for the night.”
Evan sauntered up, carrying a crate of goods we’d traded for with the tribe. “This is his battle, Ee. No one can fight it for him.”
The depth of his soft timbre rolled through me and sent a quiver of want thrumming in my belly. Not having the Carston second-born in my bed only increased my longing for him. Even after five years of marriage, Evan still hadn’t claimed his rights to my body or my womb.
Bret and Cole had told me countless times that Evan would come to me of his own accord. When he was ready. But I’d been ready long ago. And I was getting tired of waiting to have this soft-spoken – and achingly lonely – man fill me.
With darkness rapidly descending and everyone having escaped to the house or stables, Evan and I were all alone in the front yard. I placed a hand on his grizzled cheek and traced my thumb across his firm lips.
“And what about your battles, Evan?”
“What do you mean?”
“What darkness in your soul keeps you from my bed?”
There. I’d said it. Said what my heart had yearned to ask all these years.
Green eyes like Cole’s and Drew’s sparkled in the light coming from the front window. It reflected only for a moment before his defenses again rose into place to dull them with indifference.
But he didn’t respond.
I searched to see behind the locked door of his soul. “Do you even care about me?”
My question was a ragged whisper. The last cry of my heart.
“Of course I do.” He adjusted the crate under one strong arm to cup his calloused hand over mine and turned his head to kiss my palm before letting it go to drop at my side. “But this isn’t the time for this conversation.”
He started to walk past me. “When will it be time?”
Evan’s step faltered for just a moment before he continued up the porch stairs and into the house in silence.
A warm hand settled against my lower back moments later as Cole came up beside me and escorted me into the house. “I’m starved. Let’s get inside before it’s all gone.”
I glanced over his shoulder. “Where’s Bret?”
“He’ll be along shortly.”
But plates were scraped clean and the blackberry cobbler but a memory while I listened for the familiar scuff of boots on the porch stairs.
A sound that never came.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Bret
I finished scraping away the torn bits of Buck’s hoof then rasped the edges to make everything clean and neat before setting the new shoe against the freshly prepared hoof. I wiped the sweat from my eyes as I tugged a nail from my mouth and tapped it through the hole, setting the horseshoe and nailing it firmly into place.
Sweat streamed down my bare back as I released Buck’s leg and straightened. Shoeing was hot, sweaty work. With the chill nights now, tendrils of steam rose like mist from my skin as I led my brother’s horse away from the forge back to his stall and brushed him down.
I’d much rather have had Essie’s skin beneath my palms as I bedded her than Buck’s flanks.
But with all of the strange goings on, I’d remain on the sofa for now. There were even more reasons than ever to stand watch over the door.
Though the tack room had been straightened up in our absence, it was obvious more tools and equipment were missing. I’d completed a quick and rough inventory to discover we were down another saddle, harnesses, and more bridles, not to mention a few tools and brushes.
And this time, I couldn’t lay blame at Seth and Sean’s feet. The twins had been with us throughout the days we’d spent at the reservation.
It couldn’t be any of our hands either, as they’d all proven to be loyal employees. It’d been years since we’d brought on anyone new, and we’d never had a single problem with any of the hardworking men.
The only other consideration I could think of was that maybe the twins were working in cahoots with someone else. Someone who they might be selling to on the side – and who’d decided to take up the slack in our absence.
Which would help explain why they were so eager to head out to Glendive with Cole soon to snatch up those abandoned claims on our southern border – and had the money available to pay for them.
My thoughts drifted again to what had brought them to Carston Ranch all those weeks ago. The supposed death of their father. Was it possible even that was a ruse? Maybe the Carston ne’re-do-well uncle was alive and using his sons to play us once again.
I was so focused on the train of my thoughts that I didn’t hear Essie enter the stables until she stood right outside Buck’s stall.
“You missed dinner.” She held up a plate layered with slices of roast and piled with vegetables. “So I brought it to you.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, dropping the brush into a bucket.
A tentative smile graced her beautiful, heart-shaped face. “I even managed to snatch the last spoonful of blackberry cobbler before Drew finished it off.”
I latched the stall gate and headed over to a water bucket to wash up. “It’s a dangerous undertaking to come between Drew and dessert.”
“I even still have all my fingers.” Essie’s blue eyes glittered with good humor as she held up first one hand then the other and twiddled her digits.
I filled my tin cup then made quick work scrubbing my hands and splashing my face to cool the warmth in my cheeks.
But nothing tempered the heat that simmered and sizzled between us as I accepted the plate. Especially when Essie sat right next to me on the bench while I ate, her gaze as hungry as my empty stomach as it swept over my bare torso.
The food rolled around in my mouth as I shoveled it in as fast as I could. I hardly tasted a thing each time I swallowed. Not the roast. Nor the carrots and potatoes. Not even the tender and juicy cobbler made a dent on my tongue.
Not when she stared at me like that. Not when lust pulsed between us like an intoxicating wine. Between me and my wife.
The only thing I wanted to taste was Essie’s sweet pussy, dripping with the juicy nectar of our love. That was the only meal I could think about.
The only meal I wanted.
I tossed the plate aside and drank in the taste of Essie’s tongue as it tangled with mine. Her softness enveloped me as I slid her over onto my lap. She tortured my rock hard cock as she ground against it, and tore at my belt in her struggle to free my manhood from its confines.
But I grabbed her hands and stood, holding her up as she tumbled from my lap. “Essie…stop.”
Words I never thought I’d say to my wife.
Tears swam in her eyes. In her pleading, desperate eyes. “Take me, Bret Carston…before you’re lost to me forever.”
Pain like a knife to my heart shuddered through me. “I’m already lost, Essie.”
“No.” Her voice was a thready whisper as tears spilled over and down her cheeks.
I took her chin in my hand and forced her to look into my eyes. Those blue orbs swam with misery. Crestfallen. Inconsolable. Full of misunderstanding.
“I’m lost in my love for you,” I clarified
with a kiss to her pert little nose. So like our Meg.
Relief was palpable as she collapsed against me, molding her warm and supple body to mine. “I was so afraid I’d lost you to her.”
“Who her?” I asked, stroking my hands over her piled hair just begging for me to remove the pins and let it spill down around us.
She swallowed hard. “My sister.”
My shock was like a jolt of lightning. I held Essie at arm’s length. “Abby?”
Essie sniffled. “It’s just that you and she…” She hesitated. “At the reservation and all…” Another hesitation as she visibly struggled to bring her emotions under control and organize her thoughts. “Well, she’s an available women and all…”
I threw my head back and laughed. Truly laughed before pressing my forehead to Essie’s. “Hear me now, my love. No matter how long your sister is under our roof. No matter how long I must shy from your bed…”
“Our…”
My finger against her lips silenced her objection. “No matter how long I must pretend our children are my brother’s, my heart will belong to none other than you, my Essie.”
Worry turned to acceptance. Acceptance to resolve. Then a slow and sensual smile tipped the edges of those pouty lips as a seductive gleam appeared in my wife’s eye.
“Prove it.” Her hand pressed against my groin left no doubt as to her meaning. Or intention.
I glanced around to ensure we were alone then dragged her to the nearest empty stall to help shield us from prying eyes. My swollen cock strained against my trousers as I bent Essie over and placed her hands on the rails.
“Don’t move from this spot,” I commanded.
Her breath hitched as I licked my way from her ear to her neck then shoved aside her skirts and tore her bloomers away from her thighs with a satisfying rip that freed her wetness to my fingers.
“Essie,” I hissed as I swirled her juices. “You’re so wet.”
“I’m always wet for you.” She tried to back against me but I held her in place.
“Spread your legs apart.”
I stepped from the stall for an instant to grab the lantern to hang on the wall. Her glistening seam was displayed before me in all her beautiful and luxurious glory. I wanted nothing more than to bury my tongue in her pussy and drink my fill of her.