Suzanna

by Stevie MacFarlane

  Her mother was still young and beautiful, but the loss of her husband turned her into a bitter and vengeful woman. Without Clayton Jefferies to guide them, the women floundered, losing Everwood with its acres of fallow fields to the tax collector. It was auctioned off and bought by Yankee investors.

  Suzanna and her mother moved into a small house with her grandmother. The two women fought constantly, pushing Suzanna to make a suitable match, but the slim pickings of southern gentlemen who had survived the war and its aftermath seemed unwilling to overlook the cloud of disgrace that hovered over her family.

  She needed to try harder, her mother insisted, be more charming, sweeter, defer to a gentleman’s opinions and Suzanna tried. It was never enough; she was never enough.

  By accident she stumbled across the ad for a mail order bride. Hopeful for the first time, she answered it as carefully as she could, extoling her virtues. She made no mention of the desperate straits her family was experiencing or the scandal that surrounded the Jefferies name.

  When the marriage offer and travel fare arrived, she packed her trunk and left immediately. Both her mother and grandmother disowned her, but Suzanna didn’t let it stop her. She would make good and return home someday with a rich husband on her arm. As soon as she married Hugh Jordon she would start sending money home so her kin could take their proper place in society. If she’d learned anything, it was that money made all the difference. Even wealthy blue-bellies were treated with more respect than the Jefferies.

  Suzanna sighed and opened her eyes. The water had grown cool and she washed hurriedly knowing Dalton would soon return. Nothing had turned out the way she’d hoped and planned and she was no better off than if she’d stayed in Georgia. Now a whole new group of people despised her and wished her gone. She’d be lucky if Cole didn’t lock her up and throw away the key.

  Oh how Effie must be crowing. It made Suzanna slightly nauseous to think about it. If only there was a chance she could get away and not have to face any of them again, but Dalton seemed determined to hold her accountable for her actions. There were ships leaving the harbor every day. Why couldn’t she make her way onto one of them and disappear from Seattle forever?

  The sound of the key in the lock startled her and she grabbed the towel, holding it over the top of the tub.

  “I’m not finished,” she called out when Dalton opened the door.

  “I’ve given you plenty of time to be bathed and dressed,” he replied casually as he closed the door behind him.

  “But I’m not,” she insisted, watching as he went to a wing backed chair and sat, crossing his legs.

  “I’ll wait for you to get ready,” he answered, his interested eyes roving over her as she struggled to rise.

  “You’re no gentleman,” she snapped, stepping out of the tub, water sloshing everywhere. Wrapping the towel around her, she glared at him.

  “Despite what you say, Suzanna, I don’t think you’re really suited to a gentleman,” Dalton pointed out. “You seem to respond much better to… what is that scent?” he asked, sniffing.

  “Honeysuckle.”

  “Ah yes, the soap you stole from the mercantile.”

  “I did not!” Stomping her feet, she gathered her robe and moved behind the dressing screen.

  “Another lie. Will you ever learn?” he asked, shaking his head.

  “What did Cole say?” she demanded as she tugged her robe on over damp skin.

  “Well he seemed very amused that I’d changed my opinion on corporal punishment and suggested I employee it regularly,” Dalton replied with a cheeky smile.

  “You did not tell him you spanked me?” she cried, rounding the screen and staring at him in horror.

  “I most certainly did. I felt it only fair to tell the man he was right.”

  “You are a complete barbarian,” Suzanna hissed as she stomped to the bureau and began taking down her hair. “What did he say about me?” Brushing her hair furiously, she glared at him in the mirror.

  “He said in his opinion you’re an incorrigible brat and he’s very thankful you ran out on him as he’s not sure he has the stamina for dealing with such a hellion on a regular basis.”

  For some reason this struck Suzanna as funny and she laughed before hurling the brush at Dalton. He caught it and instantly her hand flew to her mouth, astounded at what she’d done.

  “This is an interesting piece,” he observed, turning the mahogany object in his hand. Solidly, he smacked the back against his palm, the resounding noise making Suzanna gasp.

  “I’m sorry,” she sputtered. “I don’t know what came over me.”

  “That seems to be a pattern with you,” he drawled, rising, “acting before you think things through.”

  Suzanna backed up as he approached her, stunned when he merely turned her to face the mirror and began brushing her hair. Slowly, gently he untangled her golden locks and smoothed them down her back.

  “I suggest you work on breaking it.” Moving her hair aside, he kissed the curve of her neck. Her wide brown eyes watched his reflection as he set the brush down and slipped his arms around her waist, drawing her back against him.

  A shiver shook her frame and he smiled against her skin, nibbling along her neck to her ear.

  “Hmm, maybe spanking your ass isn’t the only way to deal with you,” he whispered before turning her in his arms.

  Tilting her head up, Suzanna looked into his eyes. His head lowered and he took her lips in a gentle kiss. Suddenly she was reaching up and threading her fingers through his hair. The kiss deepened, breath was exchanged and his hand moved down to cup her bottom, pressing her against him. She felt her nipples tighten, her knees trembled and the room began to sway strangely, forcing her to hang on for dear life.

  The very air around her felt hot, heavy and she opened her mouth to draw in a breath but his tongue stole it away as it swept into her mouth. He tasted slightly of brandy and immediately it replaced champagne as her favorite drink. She wanted more, another sip, another taste and her tongue dove into his mouth to get it.

  She heard his groan as though from a great distance as he tore his mouth away. Still she clung to him, hoping for the strength to return to her legs. Short pants escaped from her mouth and she licked her lips, trying to recapture the taste of him. Her heartbeat pulsed in her ears, in her breasts, between her legs, an insistent throbbing she’d never imagined.

  Dalton rested his forehead against hers, moving his hands to her upper arms. He too seemed shaken and out of breath and it reassured her. She was not alone.

  “Marry me, Suzanna,” he ordered. “Now, today, marry me.”

  It was as though he’d doused her in cold water. The enormity of what they’d almost done, what she’d wanted to do, swamped her and she began to shake uncontrollably.

  “I can’t, Dalton. You know I can’t,” she cried out.

  “Because of money?” he growled.

  “Yes.”

  “What if I told you I was rich? Beyond your wildest dreams, rich,” he demanded, releasing her.

  “Then I’d marry you in a heartbeat,” she answered realizing it was the truth. “Are you?” she asked hopefully.

  “No,” he snapped, turning away from her. “Have you no feelings for me?”

  “I think we both know the answer to that,” she said sadly.

  He stood there staring at her and after a moment she began to gather up her clothes. Moving slowly, she went behind the screen to dress.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Cole’s decided not to arrest you,” Dalton informed her as they waited for their dinner to arrive.

  “Thank goodness.” Suzanna’s hand went to her breast as her shoulders sagged in relief.

  “There are conditions,” Dalton added.

  “What sort of conditions?” she asked weakly as she twisted her napkin.

  “You have to return everything you’ve stolen and apologize personally to each woman. He suggests you do your best to make amends. If th
ey insist on filing a complaint, he’ll have no choice but to bring you in front of the judge.”

  “I see,” she whispered. The waiter set her plate in front of her.

  “The one thing you have going for you is that Cole doesn’t want you to become a resident of the jailhouse. He prefers to spend his nights at home with his new bride and, if he arrests you, you’ll need to be supervised.

  “You’ll also have to explain yourself to Hugh Jordon and find a way to repay him. When Cole offered to give back the money you swindled out of Hugh, he refused. I think you’ll have to find a job.”

  Suzanna nodded and pushed her food around on her plate.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” Dalton asked.

  “How could I be?” she replied. “Just the thought of having to go and humble myself to those people is enough to make me sick,” she hissed. “Dalton, please just take me away from here,” she implored him, reaching across the table and grabbing his hand. “I don’t think I can do it.”

  “Suzanna, you made this mess and you’re going to have to clean it up,” he insisted, shaking off her hand and cutting a pork chop in half with his fork.

  “I’m glad to see my distress hasn’t affected your appetite,” she spat, glowering at him.

  “You know the sooner you stop blaming others for your troubles and accept responsibility for your bad behavior, the better off you’ll be,” he advised, chewing thoughtfully.

  “Well, thank you very much for your stellar advice,” she replied, stabbing at her steak. “I’ll be sure to listen to you, once you’ve been in my shoes. You have no idea what I’ve been through, so kindly keep your opinions to yourself. It seems to me that not too long ago you were a wanted man with a price on your head. Who are you to tell me what to do?” she demanded angrily.

  “That’s true, but not through any fault of my own. I was wrongfully accused, whereas you are guilty of everything you’ve been accused of and probably a whole lot more than I know nothing about.”

  Suzanna snorted and took a bite, chewing violently.

  “Care to confess?” he asked, smiling wickedly. “I’d be glad to help you atone for your misdeeds over my knees.”

  “Not likely,” she sassed.

  “Well, think about it. You could consider it a positive step on your road to redemption,” he winked.

  “I think your offer has more to do with pleasing you than saving me,” she pointed out.

  “Could be, you do have a mighty cute bottom and I wouldn’t mind having another crack at it, so to speak,” he teased.

  “I’d sooner rot in jail,” she replied sweetly. “I suppose I’ll have to do as Cole asks,” she sighed. “Tomorrow I’ll ride out to the Jordon’s and make my apologies, but you’ll have to give me the things I took so I can return them.”

  Dalton laughed, throwing his head back as his shoulders shook with delight.

  “How dumb do you think I am?” he demanded once he’d stopped chuckling. “If I handed those do-dads over to you, you’d sell them and be on the first ship out of the harbor. No, I’ll take you to see Hugh in the morning and then we’ll decide when we’re going to make a house call. Perhaps he can smooth the way for you even though you don’t deserve it.”

  “Fine! I’d like to know one thing. Why do you hate me so much?” she hissed, her eyes flashing in annoyance.

  “Hate you? Whatever gave you that idea?” he asked, genuinely shocked.

  “Well, you dragged me back here, knowing how painful it would be for me to have to face women who despise me. You had no way of knowing whether Cole was going to throw me in jail and you… struck me,” she insisted. “I would guess you hate me all right.”

  “What would you have me do with you, leave you in Portland with no means of support? Sooner or later you’d have been out of that boarding house on your ear with no job and no money. Your light-fingered habits would have landed you in jail,” he pointed out reasonably. “If I hated you, I’d have left you there to fend for yourself.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “Truthfully, I’m not sure. I guess I sort of feel sorry for you, despite your piss-poor attitude.”

  “Is that why you asked me to marry you, because you pity me?” she gasped.

  “No,” he smiled, “I asked you to marry me because you’re so damn pretty. That and I’m fairly certain I can keep you on the straight and narrow.”

  “I’m not interested in the straight and narrow,” she shot back. “I’m looking for a wild ride and that takes money, lots of it. The next time I set foot in Georgia it’s going to be with a rich husband on my arm and plenty of money to throw around. Then those arrogant so and so’s will be sorry!”

  “What so and so’s? Who’ll be sorry?” he asked.

  Suzanna squirmed under his intense gaze wishing she’d kept her mouth shut.

  “Oh nobody, I’m just… well, never mind. It’s my business, not yours,” she informed him sharply, staring at her plate.

  “I see,” Dalton replied coldly. “Finish your dinner. It’s been a long day and I’m tired.”

  “I’m done.” Pushing away her plate, Suzanna rose and started toward the stairs. Before she was halfway up, Dalton was at her side, gripping her arm firmly.

  “Don’t do that again,” he ordered. “I’m not letting you out of my sight until your debt is paid.”

  “What are you going to do, go to work with me if I find a job?” she snorted.

  “No, but as Cole’s deputy I’m sure I can keep an eye on you. Seattle isn’t that big. Maybe I’ll make good on your debt to Hugh Jordon and find me a little house. You can be my housekeeper and work off the money,” he drawled.

  “I’d sooner take a job in the saloon,” she shot back as he opened the door to their room.

  “And that would be a huge mistake,” he warned. “Get undressed. I’ll wait in the hall for a few minutes but let me remind you what happened the last time you climbed out a window.”

  “I’m not likely to forget,” Suzanna responded, feeling the heat in her face.

  “Good, you have ten minutes,” Dalton replied, looking at his watch.

  Certain he’d put the fear of God into her, Dalton went down to the bar for a drink. When he returned, Suzanna was sound asleep. Her small body was as close to the edge of the bed as was humanly possible. A long golden braid was tossed over one shoulder and Dalton longed to unbraid it, running his fingers through her soft tresses.

  Tomorrow he’d talk to Jonah Blackthorn and see what he could find out about Suzanna’s life in Georgia. He had the connections to get that information. Something happened to make her the way she was and Dalton intended to get to the bottom of it. Surely she wasn’t completely irredeemable despite her erratic and destructive behavior?

  Undressing down to his underwear, he lay on top of the covers facing away from her. She was too tempting by far and the kiss they’d shared had upped the ante. If he wasn’t careful, the little miscreant would wrap him around her finger and he’d be no use to either of them.

  He woke to find her curled against his side; a slim, silky leg thrown over his. Her head rested on his chest, her warm breath teasing his nipple. Sometime during the night she’d apparently kicked the covers off. Now his arm was securely around her, holding her close as his hand cupped her bottom. Dalton decided it was a wonderful way to wake up and it would have been even better if the possibility of doing something to relieve his raging hard-on existed.

  When he moved to slip away from her, she wiggled closer, her pink lips pouting in annoyance. Sighing, he settled back, patting her bottom soothingly. He smiled when her hand roamed down his chest, coming to rest on his cock. She gripped it as though it was a handle of some sort. There was no way in hell he could stop himself from arching his hips as a low throaty groan escaped. For a moment he thought about doing the gentlemanly thing and removing her hand but decided against it. Instead he patted her bottom a little harder.

  “Suzanna, it’s time to wake up, darlin’” he
whispered into her hair.

  “Hmm,” she replied.

  Patting a little harder still, he continued.

  “Come on, your highness, it’s time to get up. We have a lot of things to do today.”

  “No,” she moaned, snuggling closer.

  “Yes,” he replied, giving her a crisp swat that had her head popping up.

  Sleepy brown eyes peered at him as she puffed a lock of hair off her forehead. Slowly she became aware of their positions and her eyes traveled downward until they settled on the location of her hand.

  With a scream, she snatched her hand away. Bare limbs flashed and covers flew as she nearly tumbled from the bed. Leaping off her side, she rounded on him furiously.

  “How could you?” she screeched, as she held her nightdress down.

  “How could I what?” he asked, grinning as he tucked his arms behind his head.

  “How could you let me… I mean… it’s indecent,” she hissed, looking around as though someone could have seen what she’d done.

  “I liked it,” he replied with a wink. “Far be it from me to stop you from exploring.”

  “I was not exploring,” she snapped. “You took advantage of me!”

  “Me? I slept on top of the covers, on my side of the bed,” he pointed out, watching her face redden even further. “Just because you were curious is no reason to blame me.”

  “I was not curious,” she moaned, covering her face. “I didn’t know what I was doing. You just felt so warm and… well, I must have kicked the covers off during the night and gotten cold,” she explained, her voice trailing off to a whisper.

  In a flash, Dalton was off the bed and by her side. Taking her wrist, he sat and pulled her down onto his lap.

  “So you turned to me for warmth and comfort,” he said softly, holding her close to his chest. “Nothing wrong with that, darlin’, in fact, I like it,” he informed her as his hand traveled from her neck to her bottom, rubbing. He could feel her relaxing against him and his heart swelled. “I wish you’d come to me with all your problems.”