Chapter 23
Much like acting out a truce between warring armies, Katherine and Jake took opposite sides on the banks of the stream on his land. It was the first time he’d shown her the place which was situated far outside of town. Far from prying eyes. The buggy ride had been the first step in treaty negotiations. Painfully aware of Morgan’s feelings, Katherine and Jake had stepped cautiously, avoiding each other at all costs, seeing each other only at rehearsals. Now they’d agreed to spend some time alone. Katherine hoped it wasn’t a mistake.
“What do you think of the place?” Jake called across the water.
Her smile was spontaneous. “Wonderful.” She gazed around the surrounding land, Jake’s own piece of Kansas. Agreeing she wanted to see the land he’d chosen, they’d ridden out after lunch.
The gentle hills that sloped over the unfarmed plain led to a small cabin. Jake had purchased the land, complete with the one-room house, from a settler who’d had his fill of droughts, grasshoppers, and blight. The idle land was returning to its natural state of uneven ground that rolled up sharply to the north and west into hills, gullies, mounds, and small buttes. Undulating hills, where rock ruggedly broke the contours, was suitable only for grazing, not cultivation. Sedgelike grasses, red clover, and clusters of pink sparkling asters now filled the land the homesteader had futilely tried to plant with wheat and corn. It was a state Katherine found most intriguing.
She could almost imagine the great herds of buffalo that had once claimed the land as their own. It had only been a few years since the immense slaughter of the massive beasts. She could see them rearing their great heads in the dusty plain, challenging all interlopers. All, she thought sadly, except those armed with the rifles that ultimately ended the animals’ reign.
Still, when she closed her eyes she could hear their thundering hooves, feel their dominance. As always, she felt more empathy with animals and growing things than she did with people.
She sensed Jake’s presence before she felt his hands circle her waist and turn her around. “Still can’t pick a place to spread the quilt out?”
Laughing, she pointed straight ahead to a grove of trees. It was a perfect spot. A few ground squirrels scurried out of their way as they walked through the wild grass. Though they’d eaten their lunch some time ago, Katherine’s hamper held a jar of lemonade and slices of Hattie’s moist butter cake.
Once they settled on a spot and emptied the hamper, Katherine took time again to study Jake’s rugged features. She wished she knew what it was about this one man that fascinated her so. She knew as he did that they needed to divulge some of the secrets that shrouded their pasts. It was also time to come to grips with their feelings about the man they both held in high regard. Morgan’s unusual silence disturbed them both. He’d continued to spar with Jake, but the strain was evident. More painfully, Morgan’s attitude pervaded his relationship with Katherine, the only sustaining relationship she’d had since her parents died.
Jake reclined on the quilt, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, revealing muscled forearms. Katherine wondered if it were possible to wish for two opposite things at once. Part of her wanted him to roll his sleeves down and cover the fascinating muscles. But a more dominant part wished she could push open the buttons of his shirt and ply her fingers there. Gulping her lemonade, she certainly hoped preachers weren’t mind readers.
“Thirsty?” Jake asked.
She watched his lips move, remembered their feel against her own, and bolted down more of the drink. He rolled over, propping himself up on one elbow. Katherine’s hand grazed his arm, intending to offer a gesture of friendship.
Instead he felt the singe of her touch. Suddenly he didn’t want to speak of the past or the friend they both felt they were betraying. Like a bad taste, he wanted them gone. In their place he wanted only this woman. Catching the arm she offered him, he pulled her close. He heard her gasp of surprise, felt her stiffen suddenly and then slide closer. Without regard for her stylish ensemble, he pulled her hat off and tossed it on the grass. Within seconds he freed the pins that held her long tresses captive.
With the long midnight-colored hair strewn over her shoulders, she suddenly looked more vulnerable and infinitely more sensual. Her lips trembled, and he could see that his thoughts had transmitted themselves to her. One hand stroked her cheek, marveling at its silky texture. Instantly he wondered if the rest of her skin was equally alluring.
Katherine tried to swallow but found it impossible. She felt as though he’d speared and captured her with only his eyes. It was ridiculous, but he’d accomplished more with a glance than a hundred men had in a thousand ingenious ways. Unconsciously she moved back, thinking to put space between them. She connected with the trunk of a tree and realized there was no escape. Even if she ran away into the fields on all sides, her destiny was written on his face. And she knew she wanted to accept that fate.
Their lips met again, and this time she felt the insistent push of his tongue as it explored her mouth. Suddenly weak, she grasped his shoulders for support, feeling an unaccustomed tingle work its way through her body. He dragged her away from the tree, pulling her up with him, pushing her breasts into his chest, her legs against his. The contact seared them both. He pulled back, and they gasped at each other. Desire was clear, insistent. He no longer wondered if ministers had the same wants and needs of other men.
Lightning zinged through the sky, accompanied by a clap of thunder. Both looked inanely at the darkened sky. Consumed by one another, neither had noticed the approaching storm. Another bolt of lightning lit the sky, coming precariously close to the trees they stood under. The horse reared in fright and galloped off with the buggy. Jake grabbed Katherine’s arm, and together they ran toward the cabin. The rain poured down as they dashed across the rocky field.
Pulling Katherine in behind him, Jake entered the dusky cabin. Unused, unlit, it was as inviting as an occupied bear cave. Having read dime novels with heroines trapped in similar circumstances, Katherine had always romanticized such a situation. Dust, cobwebs, and barren sod killed such notions rapidly. Soaked, they gazed at their shelter in despair.
He found his voice first. “I guess we ought to make the best of it.” He spotted a pile of dry lumber and went to work. Katherine rubbed her arms in an attempt to warm her drenched limbs, while gazing about the sad little house. A rickety table and chairs and one large bed took up most of the space. A small loft above no doubt held more sleeping space. The hearth was sturdy, though, and soon a fire leapt up the stone chimney, lending warmth and light.
Still she shivered, and Jake rooted around until he uncovered a ragged blanket. He offered it to Katherine along with an apology. “I know it’s not much, but it’ll help. The storm should pass soon, and when the horse shows up in town, Morgan should send a posse after us.”
Katherine smiled feebly, realizing that only minutes before she’d been ready to throw herself into Jake’s arms. Right now, in the ugly little cabin, passion was the farthest thing from her mind. Jake told her to remove her shoes and stockings, and he did likewise, putting them near the hearth to dry. Spying a broom, Katherine brushed aside the worst of the cobwebs and swept the floor, wondering about the family who’d poured their dreams into this place, only to abandon it.
Jake continued to search the cabin and found some dried carrot coffee. It wasn’t the best substitute in the world, but since they were drenched and cold, the hot drink would taste wonderful. It was easy to collect the water to boil. A seemingly never-ending waterfall was available outside the door. Jake boiled their cups and then made a fresh batch of coffee.
Tentatively at first, Katherine sipped the coffee substitute. The warm liquid traced a pleasing path through her body, and she soon felt more relaxed. Now that the fire had warmed the room and lit the dark recesses with a cheery light, the cabin didn’t seem quite so dreary. They’d found a secure haven to protect themselves from the pounding rain. Jake added more logs to the fire, and the sn
apping sparks lit the room further.
“It reminds me of the fireworks display,” Katherine said, lowering the warm cup to rest on the table.
“That was something,” Jake agreed, grabbing a poker to distribute the logs evenly. “It was a night to remember.”
Her smile was soft. “Yes, it was.”
“Does this remind you of your home when your parents were alive?”
She glanced about the shabby cabin, remembering the clean, well-ordered house her mother ran. “Only in that it is safe and secure.”
“Is that important to you?”
Katherine thought of the money she’d hoarded to make sure she was never again at anyone’s mercy. “Very important. And I want to make sure Beth’s happily married so that security is something she takes for granted.”
“Do you ever think about getting married, Katherine?”
She laughed softly. “Me? The queen of the Crystal Palace? I hardly think so.” But her laughter died when she saw the serious regard in his eyes.
“Don’t you ever want a special relationship? One that makes you forget the saloon?”
The ache intensified. He’d just verbalized her deepest longing. She’d once envisioned a home, a husband, even children.
“Katherine, I don’t care what’s happened in the past.”
He drew close, pulling the blanket from her shoulders, and it slid to the floor. The wash of the firelight flickered over his face as he lowered it to hers.
Just one taste, he told himself as he brought her against him. He could feel the heat of her body through their damp clothing. Unable to resist, his hands splayed her back, feeling her resistance melt away. Her long hair had dried into soft waves that curled through his fingers and teased him as she swayed in his arms.
He closed his mind to reason as he pulled them both to the floor in front of the fire. Drawing back, he examined the beauty of her face and the truth in her eyes. One hand reached out to trail down her cheek, to her neck, and finally to trace her breast. He heard her gasp, felt her shudder. Slowly, reverently he eased the buttons of her blouse open. The lace chemise beckoned to him, and he could see the hint of dusky peaks. Feeling the proof of her corset stays, he wanted to swear in frustration.
Instead he lowered his lips to her neck, trailing them over skin that was as silky as he had imagined. By the time he reached her breasts, he’d dispatched with her blouse. When she didn’t protest, he unfastened her skirt, working his hands over the strings of her corset.
Katherine felt herself floating, despite the hard floor beneath and the strong body bending over hers. When Jake’s mouth fastened on her nipple, she moaned aloud. The material still covering her breasts only intensified the sensations, the roughness of the fabric stimulating her desire. Feeling the warmth wash between her thighs, she knew she could no more stop him than she could stop herself. His mouth traveled back to hers, and she feasted on his taste, intoxicated by what his hands and mouth were doing to her.
A rush of warmth from the fire danced over their bodies, and Katherine gave in to her desire to peel Jake’s shirt open and bury her hands in the hair covering his muscled chest. He shrugged the shirt off, and Katherine ran her fingers over the cords in his back, marveling that the skin covering such strength could be so smooth. Feasting on his body so close to hers, she realized vaguely that he’d scattered her clothing, and she wore nothing but her chemise and pantalets. When he moved his hands slowly down the length of her body, she ceased to care about her state of undress. His fingers trailed between her breasts and over her hipbones. Each movement was a symphony of new pleasure.
He disposed of her chemise, and she gasped as her breasts became exposed to the air. This time when his tongue washed over her she dug her fingers into his shoulders, silently demanding more. He tugged at the waistband of her pantalets, and they, too, slipped free. Taking time only to shed the remainder of his clothes, he kept teasing her with his hands, his mouth, and finally his body.
Gasping at the shock of their bodies fitting intimately together, Katherine reveled in the feel of his naked skin against hers. His leg slipped between hers, nudging them apart. She felt a fleeting panic as his hands reached for her. Feeling the unaccustomed wetness there, she reacted instinctively, trying to bar his entrance. Insistently he probed, and she relaxed under his fingers.
Jake trailed his hands over the perfect body in his arms. He’d imagined her often, but the reality far eclipsed the dream. Cupping her full breasts in his hands, he reveled in their heaviness, delighted in their reaction to his touch. Like an apt pupil, her body responded to each touch, each taste.
Feeling her budding moisture, he knew she was ready. He raised himself over her, memorizing each incredible feature, the flush in her cheeks, the desire etched in her velvet eyes.
Gasping at the unexpected pain, Katherine arched away and then drew close again. His movements were suddenly gentle, exquisitely slow. Her legs tangled with his, and she reveled in the sensations he created. Her fingers trailed over his back, down his buttocks, and caressed his thighs. Her touch seemed to ignite him, and suddenly his strokes deepened, filling her. She reached out with him, feeling the burst of energy when he did. The shudder against her intensified. When his body lay still, she reached out to stroke his skin.
Jake raised up over her, searching her features, swallowing his paramount question. Why, Katherine? Why didn’t you tell me? Did you think I alone guessed you’d kept your virginity in a business that turns most women into prostitutes? Instead he asked, “Did I hurt you?”
She shook her head in age-old fashion. He could see it in her eyes. The pain was gone. Only the pleasure remained.
The trust she’d extended seared him anew, along with the responsibility. The only thing she’d managed to preserve from her horrendous childhood had been the gift she’d now bestowed on him. There wasn’t another man on earth who would ever know as he did how pure she’d really been.
Tenderly he kissed her swollen lips. The flush of their passion still glistened on her face. Firelight washed over their bodies as he gazed at their perfect fit.
The enormity of their action was a double-edged sword. He’d thrown aside his commitment as a preacher, embarking on the very path he counseled against. He knew his reputation was already highly tainted. An openly acknowledged relationship with Katherine would crack his already faltering credibility.
But gazing at the trust in her eyes, he knew he couldn’t turn his back on her. With a jolt he remembered the friend they’d both forgotten in their passion. What of Morgan? Katherine raised her fingers to touch his cheek, and he bent his head close to hers again. For this time, this moment, all else was forgotten.
Chapter 24
Katherine rechecked the pages of the play and then frowned at the actors. Jake and Morgan, who played the suitors in love with the same woman, played their parts well. Almost too well. The casting was an eerie echo of their own lives.
Although Sadie was still entranced by her husband’s participation in the play, Able was less enthusiastic. Still stiff and awkward after all the rehearsals, he apparently felt uncomfortable. But it was equally obvious he intended to carry through with the part. Katherine wondered why the man couldn’t be as perceptive about his feelings for his wife.
She saw the signs of flagging energy on the stage and realized they’d been working nonstop for three hours. “Why don’t we take a short break?” Relieved, everyone scattered, the babble of rising voices drowning out any specific conversation. Katherine watched as Jake and Morgan departed together. She crossed her fingers and hoped that was a good sign.
“Katherine!” She turned and waited for Minerva Atkins, one of the women who’d so opposed her help. As the woman approached, Katherine gazed at the decorations that Minerva was in charge of. The whitewashed boards Katherine had suggested stood in place, looking far more realistic than the limp fabric the woman had originally used for scenery.
At Katherine’s suggestion, husbands had
lent their help, building the sets after she had assured them they wouldn’t be drafted to act in the production. She had felt strange directing the efforts of people so opposed to her. But as the days passed, much of the awkwardness disappeared. Women who wouldn’t have given her the time of day now consulted her eagerly and listened to her opinions. Katherine knew that in the long course of events their changed view of her probably wouldn’t last, but for now she simply enjoyed it.
Minerva twisted her hands as she asked, “What do you think of the columns?”
“I like them.” Katherine walked with Minerva to the sets they were constructing. “Your husband’s doing a wonderful job. I especially like the blue in the background panels. It’s very realistic.”
Minerva blushed. “Well, I painted that.”
“I didn’t know you were so artistic.”
“I used to fool around with paints when I was a kid, but I never had any time once I had a family. You really think it looks all right?”
Continuing to be surprised by the women’s growing acceptance, Katherine was still taken aback by how they sought and weighed her opinion. “It’s truly lovely, Minerva. You should make the time to continue your art.”
Minerva gazed at the panels wistfully. “I never realized how good it’d feel to take up a brush again.”
These pioneer women seemed to believe a moment taken for themselves was paramount to committing a crime. To Katherine it seemed a crime that they should feel so. “Do you paint landscapes?”
“I did once.” Minerva’s laugh was self-deprecating.
Katherine thought rapidly. “I would love to have a landscape of the plains to hang in my office. But I suppose you’d be too busy to paint one.”
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