by Becca Van
Bella didn’t stop to think. She moved around Marcus and headed straight for the sheriff’s. She was standing at the door before her men could stop her. She rapped her knuckles on the door and waited impatiently. She was reporting a crime and hoped the sheriff found David and hauled his ass to jail.
“Howdy, ma’am. You don’t need to knock. Come right on in.”
“Thank you, Sheriff…” Bella said, waiting expectantly for him to introduce himself.
“Sheriff Nate Ryder at your service, ma’am.”
“My name is Bella McPherson, Sheriff Ryder. I’d like to report a crime.”
“Come on in and take a load, I’m mean, a seat, Ms. McPherson. I don’t remember seeing you around these parts afore,” Sheriff Ryder stated, giving her the once-over.
“I’m lucky enough to be staying with the Aldridge brothers, Sheriff. They’ve been very kind. I want you to find the man who was working on the Aldridge ranch and haul his ass to jail. He was going to try and rape me and probably would have if I hadn’t clocked him one with a hot pan,” Bella explained, her anger rising as her mind went back that horrid day.
“Well, ma’am, as much as I would like to haul this man’s ass to jail, I can’t rightly say I know who you’re talking about.”
Bella couldn’t believe he wasn’t taking her seriously. She saw him watching her with narrowed eyes and a steely stare and wondered what the hell was going on. Was he hiding something?
“If you’ll wait here a moment, I’ll go and get one of the Aldridge brothers to give you all the appropriate information.”
“Bella, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” Clint snarled as he slammed through the door.
“I’m reporting a crime, that’s what I’m doing. Is there a law against a woman reporting to the sheriff she was nearly raped?” Bella spat back at Clint, giving him a good glare.
“Baby, come on outside. We have to get you some clothes, remember?” Clint said in a light, cajoling voice.
Bella could see him seething underneath and wondered what the hell was going on. She let him lead her out the door and back onto the street before she snatched her arm from his firm grip, spun around, and got in his face as much as possible from her diminutive height.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Bella, you need to hold your tongue just a little longer, baby. When we’re out of earshot from the sheriff’s office, you can let me have it as much as you want,” Clint said, turning her by placing his hands on her shoulders and heading her in the direction of the mercantile.
Bella held her tongue for a good twenty paces, and then her ire got the better of her. She spun around and faced Clint. He held his hand up before she could let loose her tongue.
“Baby, you need to know the sheriff has a son named David,” Clint explained.
Bella felt all the blood in her head drain down to her feet as she stared at Clint. He moved in closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her to him tightly since she felt as if she were going to pass out.
Bella breathed deeply, determined to fight the blackness threatening to consume her. She wrapped her arms around Clint’s waist and clung to him tighter. She was finally able to ease back slightly so she could see his face.
“I’m sorry, baby. I would’ve stopped you from going in there, but you were too quick. I wasn’t expecting you to go stomping off.”
“Are you telling me I brained the sheriff’s son? That he was the one to try and rape me?” Bella asked. She took a deep breath when Clint nodded in affirmation then released it. “Do you think he’ll arrest me for assaulting his son?”
“No, baby, but he’s not going to let anything happen to his son either. You should have let us go after him and kill him.”
“No, I should not. I don’t want you hanging because of something I did,” Bella sobbed.
“Shh, baby. You didn’t do anything. It wasn’t your fault, Bella,” Clint crooned, pulling her into his body tightly again, rubbing a hand up and down her back, soothing her.
“Oh God, Clint. What am I going to do?”
“Nothin’. There’s nothin’ any of us can do, except protect you. Just don’t go anywhere near the sheriff again. All right?”
Bella nodded her head and leaned her forehead on Clint’s chest. She was lucky she was still free. The sheriff could have locked her up in a jail cell when he realized she was accusing his son of rape. She eased away from Clint when he released her, took his offered hand in her own, and let him lead her into the mercantile.
Bella felt safe and protected when Marcus and Adam moved to her back with Clint at her side. She listened as Clint placed a large order for goods and supplies needed for fencing, as well as food staples needed, such as flour, sugar, coffee, et cetera. When he was done, he drew her to the back of the store where a rack of women’s dresses hung.
“You need clothes, baby. Pick out whatever you want.”
“But you can’t afford to buy me clothes. I don’t mind wearing your things,” Bella said quietly.
“Who said we couldn’t afford them? Bella, we could buy this whole damn town if we wanted to, including the sheriff. We’re rich, baby. Marcus found a cave full of gold on our land. We’ll never be able to spend it all in this lifetime. Now, come on over and pick out some clothes.”
“But I don’t like wearing dresses,” Bella wailed. “I only like to wear pants.”
“Baby, you can have all the pants and shirts you want, but I would like you to pick out a couple of dresses. You can’t be wandering around town in pants all the time. You’re going to cause a riot, and we may end up having to shoot someone for ogling that sweet little ass of yours. Besides, think of the fun we can have with you in your dress with nothing else beneath it,” Clint said with a waggle of his eyebrows. “Now, I want you to pick out everything you need, boots, drawers, anything at all, and don’t worry about the cost. Okay?”
“Okay. Thanks, Clint,” Bella replied then got to work picking out a wardrobe.
By the time she’d finished, Adam had been to the stables, hired a wagon, and the three men had it loaded down with supplies. Bella found a small bolt of white canvas that had been discounted since there wasn’t enough material to make a garment of clothing. She added that to the pile, as well as some string and cotton.
The three brothers took Bella to the saloon for a meal, and she found herself staring about the place rather than concentrating on the food. She was disappointed she didn’t get to see any of the prostitutes but guessed it was still too early in the day for them to make an appearance. Once the finished eating, Clint suggested she hire a room so she could take a bath and change into one of her pretty dresses. Bella agreed, looking forward to another bath. Bella was led up to a room, a bath waiting for her in front of a low fire. She stripped out of her borrowed clothes and sank down into the warm water with a groan. The water was heavenly, the warmth seeping into the tight muscles of her thighs and buttocks. She washed herself quickly, dried off, and began to get dressed. She picked up a cotton chemise and pantaloons, donned them, and then pulled the dress over her head. She made quick work of doing up the tiny buttons running over the length of her bodice. She smoothed her skirts out, finger-combed her hair, and shook it back over her shoulders. She looked around for a mirror and was disappointed when she couldn’t find one. She would have loved to see what she looked like wearing clothes from a different century. She gave a mental shrug, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
Bella looked around for her men as she came down the stairs. She smiled when she spotted them and knew they’d cleaned up, as well, as their hair was still damp. She was careful to pick up her skirts so she wouldn’t trip and headed down the steps. When she looked up again, she found Clint, Adam, and Marcus standing at the bottom of the stairs gaping at her.
“What? Do I look that bad?” Bella asked, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
“Darlin’, you are gorgeous,” Marcus said.
&n
bsp; “The most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” Adam exclaimed.
“Baby, you’re hot. I’m going to order some more white dresses for you so I can rip them off,” Clint said, his usual abruptness showing through.
“Do you really think so?” Bella asked, uncertain, then turned her gaze on Clint. “And don’t you dare rip any of my dresses.”
“Adam, get your gun out of its holster. You’re to shoot anyone who gawks at our woman,” Clint bit out. “Come on, baby. We have an appointment.”
“We do? Where are we going?”
“You’ll see soon enough,” Clint replied and took her hand.
They were leading her in the direction of the church. She couldn’t remember what day it was, but even if it was Sunday, it was way too late to be attending a church service. Marcus and Adam held the doors open, and Clint led her inside. Bella followed along blindly, blinking to help her eyes adjust to the dim interior of the church after the bright sunshine outside.
When Bella’s eyes adjusted, she noticed the minister standing in front of the altar. She looked from the minister to Clint and saw all the love he had for her shining out from his eyes. Her hand still in his, he got down on one knee, brought her hand up against his cheek then down to his mouth, and kissed her palm.
“Bella, I love you very much. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
Bella was flabbergasted. She’d had no idea Clint was going to do this, and as much as she wanted to say yes, she couldn’t. She loved all three of the Aldridge brothers equally and didn’t want to hurt any of them by choosing one over the other. She wished Clint had asked her when they were alone so she could give him his answer without hurting his feelings. She looked over to the minister and was grateful to see him moving away to a door behind the altar. She waited until he disappeared and closed the door quietly behind him.
“Clint, I love you so much. I would love to marry you, but I can’t. I can’t choose between the three of you. I love Marcus and Adam just as much as I love you. You can’t expect me to choose.”
Clint rose to his feet and motioned his brothers forward. They surrounded her with their bodies and heat, offering her comfort when she was in such turmoil.
“Baby, we have discussed this between the three of us and decided since I am the oldest, if you will accept us, you will marry me on paper. But you will be married to all of us in our hearts. Please, Bella, will you marry us?”
Bella threw herself at Clint, tears of happiness streaming down her face. “As God is our witness, I will love all of you and marry all of you today. I want to spend the rest of my life by each of your sides. Yes, Clint, I’ll marry you, Adam, and Marcus.”
“Baby, you won’t regret it. We’re gonna make you so happy. Adam, go and haul the preacher back out here. He has a wedding to perform.”
Bella took Clint’s proffered hand in hers and stepped up to his side. She saw Marcus rush off to the rectory to get the minister. She stood beside Clint as if in a dream. She listened to the traditional words of the wedding ceremony and tears spilled out over her cheeks. The minister asked the prerequisite words and she heard Clint answer them with heartfelt clarity.
Sun was streaming through the colorful leadlight windows and she felt so much peace and contentment, but also so full of love. She could see Adam and Marcus looking at her as they stood by their brother’s side, and she saw their lips moving with Clint as they silently repeated the words their brother did. Bella turned toward the preacher and waited for him to recite the words she would need to say. She was so overcome with emotion her chest and throat were tight.
When it came to her turn she had to keep clearing her throat to get to words out through a throat tight with emotion, but she managed it in the end. And then she felt him sliding a ring onto her finger. She looked down at her hand to see a beautiful sapphire-and-diamond ring gracing her finger.
The minister announced them as man and wife, and Clint gathered her close and kissed her with so much love and emotion she ended up sobbing into his mouth. He held her steady but released her, and the sight of him laughing with joy filled her to overflowing with love. She wasn’t surprised when Adam and then Marcus pulled her to them and kissed her soundly. Her cheeks heated with embarrassment, and she turned to look at the minister but sighed with relief when she saw his back was to them. The preacher turned to her and Clint, and they signed the necessary paperwork, declaring them as man and wife, and then Bella followed her husband as he clasped her hand and led her outside.
* * * *
Bella walked away from the church in a daze. It still hadn’t sunk in that she was now Mrs. Clint Aldridge. Clint led her by the hand back to the loaded wagon waiting for them. When they reached the buckboard, Clint spun Bella around, swept her back over the arm at her back, and kissed her soundly. When he let her up, she could feel heat beginning to tinge her cheeks and looked around to see if anyone was watching. The sheriff gave her a hard stare but tipped his hat to her in courtesy. Bella inclined her head as she glared at the man. Then she clutched Clint’s shoulders as he lifted her up into the wagon. She settled herself on the hard wooden seat and stared down at the sparkling sapphire and diamond set in the gold ring on the ring finger on her left hand.
They were heading home, and Bella couldn’t wait to get her husbands’ into bed.
Chapter Eleven
They arrived back at the ranch just at dusk. Adam swept Bella out of the wagon and carried her up the steps to the deck where he proceeded to hand her over to Marcus. Marcus carried Bella into the house and set her down on her feet, pulled her in, and devoured her mouth. He eased back after a moment, both of them breathing heavily as Marcus rested his forehead against Bella’s.
“Why don’t you get a simple supper ready while I help unload the supplies? Don’t go making anything too fancy, darlin’. We have plans for you tonight,” Marcus advised Bella, then drew away to head on out.
Bella made quick work of changing into the borrowed clothes she’d tucked under her arm before she was carried inside then went back to the kitchen to start a simple supper of toasted roast beef sandwiches. By the time her husbands sauntered into the kitchen, their arms full of bags of flour and sugar, Bella had a stack of sandwiches warming on the stove.
She ogled her men’s asses as they walked by to the pantry cellar and caught Adam smirking back over his shoulder at her. She gave him a saucy grin and shrug, and turned back to the griddle. She had everything ready to go when they had finished bringing in the last of the supplies.
They all sat down at the table to eat the simple fare, but Bella was too excited to more than pick at the food.
“Why did you change out of your pretty dress, baby?” Clint asked after swallowing the food in his mouth.
“I didn’t want to get it dirty or have you ripping it off,” Bella said with a glare.
“Aw, honey, you ruin all our fun,” Adam said with a smirk.
“That’s the first pretty dress I’ve ever owned. I wasn’t about to let any of you ruin it.”
“Why didn’t you have other dresses, baby?” asked Clint.
“I couldn’t afford them. I was raised in foster homes most of my life, and the people who took me in were more interested in lining their own pockets than what I did or didn’t have to wear.”
“Where were your parents, darlin’?” Marcus asked gently.
“They were killed in a bank holdup when I was a toddler. The welfare department was called in when they didn’t come to pick me up from day care, and I was moved from house to house, living with strangers until they got sick of me and sent me away again.”
“Shit, what is wrong with the people in your time? Don’t they know the value of children?” Clint asked, indignant on Bella’s behalf.
Bella reached over to give Clint’s hand a pat, tears in her eyes that he cared about her even when he hadn’t known she existed.
“Things are different in my time. There are a lot of people who care for their kids more th
an anything, but there are some who just don’t seem to care at all,” Bella said with a sigh. “I don’t know how I came to be here, but I’m so glad I found you all.”
“We are, too, baby. No, leave the cleanup. We’ll help you in the morning. Right now it’s time for bed,” Clint said, scooping Bella up into his arms.
Bella laughed as he practically ran to the bedroom.
Clint eased Bella down the length of his body, making sure she felt his hard cock as he did so. Bella purred and arched her hips, making sure her mound connected with his turgid flesh. He eased her back onto the bed. Clint stood staring down at her for a moment, and then as one, they moved to her. Their hands were everywhere—on her shirt, pulling her sneakers off, and at the waistband of her pants.
Bella waited for their reaction when they found she wore no underwear.
“Hot damn, woman, if I’d have known you didn’t have any skivvies on, I would have fucked you on the dining table,” Adam rumbled, pulling her trousers off over her feet.
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t know. The bed is much more comfortable,” Bella replied with a smile and wink.
Bella watched as her three men concentrated on removing their own clothes now that they had her naked. Adam was the first to finish and crawled onto the bed, spreading her thighs to make room for himself. He didn’t wait for his brothers. He dove right in. He hooked her limbs up over his arms and lifted her legs up and out so she was spread wide open to his eyes. He gave her a heated stare as he bent his head toward her weeping cunt.