He often felt that his family was more civil than the others around here, but she was several steps up the social ladder from him. He had gotten lucky because the man her father had agreed to marry her to was filth.
Nathaniel lifted her up so she was on the horse. He got up behind her, pulling her in tightly to him. He wanted to spend time alone with her like this often. They needed moments like this in their everyday life.
Emily couldn't stop a giggle that was bubbling up her throat. She had never in all of her life had so much fun. She was so glad that she chose this life for herself. This had been the right decision.
Nathaniel held his wife tight and showed her the land that their family owned. He pointed out where the neighbors lived and told her about them. He was filling her in on everything that she needed to know.
He stopped at a watering hole for the horse.
“Maybe, in time, you could have your own horse. We could still go riding together once a week. I would like to continue this. Would that be something that you would like, darling?”
Emily wasn't so sure. She didn't feel that she was all that good at riding. Nathaniel had done all of the work. “Do you think I could really learn how?”
“I'll teach you. You know, I like to teach. I would be next to you the whole time.”
“Can't we just ride like we did today?”
“My precious Emily, brave enough to leave her home, and everything she knows, but not brave enough to get on a horse.” He smiled at her while she made worried faces.
Nathaniel couldn't resist. He grabbed onto her head and pulled her in for a long kiss.
“This is clearly better than what we did last Wednesday.” She beamed up at him.
“I have to agree with you there. This is a lot more pleasurable.” He kissed her several more times until he felt that if he didn't stop now that he would have to have her right here. The risk of someone else coming by was just too great.
He had to protect her reputation. She was a fine lady and they were too far from the house. This evening he would take her up to bed early and slowly make love to her. He enjoy every second with her.
Chapter 10 Bribery
Victor was informed the second that the Stuarts arrived. He immediately rode over to their house and demanded entrance.
Edmund had been expecting him to call soon, but not within the hour of their arrival. He told the maid to have him wait for him in his study, knowing that he had to handle this situation perfectly,or his wife could end up being a widow. Now that Emily was gone Victoria had no one other than him.
He collected himself, gave his wife a reassuring look and went down to his study.
“Mr. Wellington, Good afternoon. I'm sorry that you had to wait but as you probably know we only arrived home an hour ago.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Stuart. I have come to collect my bride.” His jaw was clenched as he waited to hear if this tiny man would try to play games with him.
“Have a seat. This is a long story.” He motioned with his hand at one of the chairs opposite his desk, as he walked around and sat down behind it.
Victor looked torn but then he sat down, deciding that he would listen to this man's excuses before he threatened with his lawyer, but Emily would be his. She was the best. And just the very best was good enough for him. He was already going to punish her because of this delay.
“I asked you, kindly, to break the marriage contract. You refused. Emily didn't want to be forced into marrying you. She heard about your reputation and decided it would be better to leave and choose a husband on her own.”
“Are you saying that she isn't here!” He jumped to his feet as he yelled.
“No, she isn't,” Edmund quietly answered.
“Are you saying that she is out there somewhere looking for a husband?”
“No, she isn't looking anymore. She found one.”
“I forbid it. She was promised to me. I have papers signed by her father. She is mine. Get her back here as quickly as possible.”
“I'm afraid that I can't do that. Her husband won't allow it. We are dealing with a Fait accompli.”
“I don't care. Get her back here or I will destroy you. First, I will go after your money, then this house and then your wife and then in that moment when you have nothing left, first then will I take your life. I will be back in a week. If she isn't here then I will take action.”
“She won't be here. You can start whatever you wanted to do now.” Edmund felt so tired and broken.
“I would reconsider that if I were you.”
“Trust me, she is married. Her husband isn't the kind of man you can threaten and scare. He will keep her.”
“Who dared to marry her, when I had made it clear that I wanted her?”
“Victor, sit down. I'll be glad to explain everything.”
Victor sat, but his face clearly said that he felt that it was a waste of his time.
“Like I said, you have a reputation. Emily heard about it and refused to marry you. Apparently she has been answering announcements out of the paper. She corresponded with a man and they agreed to marry each other.
Our Emily took off one morning. We followed her but by the time we caught up with her it was too late. She is married now. There is nothing that anyone can do about it.”
Victor gave the older man a cold grin, that made chills go down his back. “There is always something that can be done. I'll make her a widow and then marry her as planned.” She would pay for this. This was more than a little inconvenience. “Where is she?”
“I believe that marriage is holy, and murder is unforgivable. I won't tell you.”
Victor nodded at the older man and stood. “You haven't heard the last of this.” He turned on his heels and swiftly walked out of the room.
Edmund's hand went to his heart. It was beating like mad. Should he call for a doctor? He decided against that. He needed to appear strong for his wife, who was already entering the room. She moved right over to him and sat on his lap, throwing her arms around his neck.
“Tell me what happened. I need to know.”
Edmund calmed himself down. It took a couple if minutes but he managed it. “I told him that she took off and that she is married now. He told me, he wants to make her a widow and then marry her. I have to warn Nathaniel.” He set his wife to the side and went off to the telegraph office.
He didn't see the man following him.
“Mr. Wellington, I have the information that you need right here.”
Victor sat up in bed as his man walked into his bedroom. He pushed the woman next to him to the side and got up. He didn't want her to hear anything that she could sell for a bit of money to his enemies. The covers fell away from her body as he got up. He didn't care about her, she was just a whore, only good for one night.
“Mr. Stuart sent off a telegram. To one, Mr. Nathaniel Tate in Texas. It cost me a pretty penny, but I got the good man down at the telegraph office to remember exactly what he sent. It was a warning about you.”
“Good, I'm leaving tomorrow morning. I wouldn't want to make Mr. Stuart a liar.”
It was once again Sunday. They were leaving church and heading for their carriage. Emily had been with the Tates for over a month now. In that time she had yet to get her monthly flow. Both she and Nathaniel were looking forward to the baby. He was very respectful of her, treating her like a raw egg.
“Mr. Tate, a telegram came for you yesterday. It's important. I would have rode out to your ranch but seeing as how I knew that you folks would be in town today, I decided to wait.” He handed it over to him and turned away, glad that he wasn't in Mr. Tate's shoes. Such a pretty wife came with a high price.
Nathaniel thanked the man. He turned away from his family to read the telegram. He was surprised to see that it was from Emily's uncle. He quickly read it and then turned back to his wife and smiled at her. He gave the telegram to Edward before he very carefully helped Emily into their carriage. Once she was in her tur
ned back to his brother.
Edward's stern face was focused on his youngest brother. He was worried. He saw it as his job to watch over and protect everyone in his growing family. He wouldn't let anyone hurt his baby brother, or kidnap his sister-in-law.
Edward handed the telegram to Charles as Nathaniel help Bessie and Katie into the carriage. The two women were fussing over Emily, who was sick every morning. They asked her how she was holding up. They wanted to have a baby in the house so they could spoil it. Everyone believed that that was what the family needed.
The three men traded worried glances. None wanted to tell the women what was going on. They rode home very watchful of their surroundings.
Victor sat on his horse and looked over the land. It all looked the same. There were few points of interests that could help someone know the way. He had a feeling that he was lost again. He hated Texas and would make Emily pay for dragging him out here.
Were people lying to him, or had they really never heard of Nathaniel Tate.
Victor was pleased when he saw a small dusty town. He rode in to visit the local whorehouse. There he could get a decent meal and see to his other needs, while obtaining the information that he needed.
He gave his horse to a stableboy and headed over to the pretty ladies. He couldn't believe that Emily was making him do this. He would make her sorry once they were married.
The women all turned to look at him. They could easily see that he was a man of money.
Victor looked around and picked out the prettiest one. He motioned her to his side with a wave of his hand. He told another woman to get him a warm meal.
He sat down on one of the sofas and let the pretty woman open the buttons on his shirt and pet his chest a little. He removed his tie and looked around the room. He was younger and stronger than the men here. None of them posed a threat to him.
His lawyer had warned him not to go alone, but Victor didn't want to waste time and money hiring some unknown men. He didn't need any witnesses when he made his Emily a widow.
“Do you want to go upstairs after you eat something to gain strength?”
Victor looked at her and took in that she wasn't as clean and pretty as the women that he was used to. “Naturally.” He grinned at her. He would have a bit of fun with her before he headed out again.
“I'm out here to visit my family. I don't suppose that you have ever heard of Nathaniel Tate.”
“Why, sure I have. He was the youngest brother. There were three of them. The two older ones took away two of our girls. They married them and took them out to their ranch.”
“They married whores?”
She was a little offended. “You see, there aren't that many women out here. A man has to take what he can get.”
“A that is why I will be returning home after my visit. I never settle for what I can get. I want the best.” A picture of Emily flashed in front of his eyes. She was the most beautiful of all of the girls at church. He had even waited for her, like her father had said. She had been ripe for married at the age of fifteen, when he first noticed her.
He could have had any woman in Boston but he wanted Emily. He had even bragged about her to his friends. They had been jealous of him. She would be his. She had to be his wife. He wouldn't let her make a fool out of him. Once she was his she would have to learn her place. He would enjoy teaching her exactly where her place was.
He got everything that he wanted to out of his visit to the whorehouse, directions, his bodily needs had been seen to and now he even had information to blackmail the Tate's with. It was clear that the two older brothers were passing off their whore wives as respectable women.
Chapter 11 Obey Me
Nathaniel rode proudly next to the carriage on their way to church. He had been married for two months now. But every time he smiled at his little bride, she blushed. He was amazed how important she had become to him.
When they arrived at church he carefully helped his wife to the ground.
Nathaniel couldn't be happier. He doubted that Victor Wellington would ever find is way to this tiny town. It had been a month since he received the telegram.
This was rough country and a city man would stick out like a sore thumb hereabouts. To be on the safe side he would sit his Emily down tonight and warn her to stay in the house. He would use the baby as an excuse. There was no need to scare her about something that would probably never happen. He didn't want her to stop eating again.
He worried about her. She was doing so well out here, but she still needed someone to watch over her. And now the baby, too.
They went into church and sat down. The church was only half full now. Some men still came to look at the three beautiful Tate women, but it was clear that all three women were true to their men. None of them even glanced at the other men.
Still the men in town like to look at them.
Nathaniel sat down on the bed and beckoned his wife to his side. “Emily, we need to talk.”
Emily's forehead wrinkled up. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, darling. You did everything right. You were in danger and came to me so I could help you. I want you to know that I think that it was a very brave thing for you to do. Only a very smart woman gets out of dangers way.
“I need you to do that do again, especially now.” He laid his hand over her stomach. “I want you to stay inside the house. You may only go out when I am with you.”
Emily was surprised. “But my chores?”
“I was really clear, Emily. You are to stay inside.”
“I understand, but I'm worried that the others will become bitter if they have to do all of the work.”
“Emily, you are expecting. It is normal that you take things a little slower. No one wants anything to happen to the baby.”
“Still, my chores are simple things like collecting eggs and hanging the wash out.”
Nathaniel was losing his patience. “Emily, if you say one more word about it, I will strap your hand.”
Emily hid her hand behind her back. She had had her hand strapped at school a couple of times. It hurt like the dickens. If he had wanted to be a teacher then he would know how to do something like that. She said nothing.
“Good, you won't be getting spankings while you are expecting, but a couple with the strap to your hand can be very effective too.”
Emily just nodded at him. She guessed that that was fair, but still – She was picturing him actually doing it. It would mean she would have to face him. He would see her face when the strap hit her. Emily didn't want him to see her that way.
She had always pulled her hand away at school. Or she rolled it up into a fist. But that didn't matter because if she couldn't leave the house she couldn't get into any trouble. A punishment like that could take a long time. She would do what she could to avoid it.
“I'll listen to you.”
“That's good because I will except no excuses. None, what so ever. You stay in the house.”
Emily nodded at him. Hundreds of questions were going through her mind. His request seemed so odd. It hadn't even been a request, he had demanded it, even threatening with punishment. Was there something dangerous outside, some sort of an animal?
“Emily, I have said my piece. We can go to sleep now.” He stood, removing his clothes. He sure hoped that he wouldn't have to punish her. She was just so delicate.
Emily also got out of her clothes, laying them on the chair next to her side of the bed.
She climbed into bed naked, moving over to the center of the bed. She opened her legs wide.
Nathaniel got into bed next her, carefully rolling on top of her. This was his favorite time of day.
Her arms wrapped around him. Her fingertips would run up and down his back. Her hands even cupped onto his buttocks to pull him closer. Visions of other times that they had made love were going through her head, helping to ready her for him. She could feel that he was ready.
His mouth latched onto her nipples,
sucking them until they were red and hard.
Emily's hand was on his backside, trying to push him closer. She wanted him inside of her. She needed to make the most of their nightly love making. Tomorrow morning she would be too sick for anything along those lines.
Nathaniel could feel that she was ready, but he, too, wanted to enjoy this. He took his time, kissing her neck and slowly kissing his way back down to her breasts. He felt that the pregnancy had already made them a bit larger.
Nathaniel was so pleased with her. She was so much more than he had expected. He was thankful that it had been her, who had stepped off the stagecoach. If Victor Wellington ever did show up, then he would make it clear to him that Emily would be staying with him, her husband. The man she chose. If need be, he would act in self defense and protect his wife. She was too sweet and too good, for him to let anything happen to her.
Emily reached down between them, taking hold of his firm penis. She tilted her hips up and positioned him so he would just have to thrust into her. She was shaking with need for him. “Please,” she whispered into his ear.
Nathaniel loved the feeling of him in her hand. He couldn't help it. His body demanded that he push forward into her hand, which was tightly holding him. The tip of his penis pushed into her soft wet folds.
His eyes squinted, trying not to look down, but still he knew what he would see if they were open. He would see her soft body, open for him, wanting him.
Emily removed her hand. She sighed loudly as he thrust into her, purring louder than her cat ever could. Finally, this was what she needed. Her head pushed back into the pillow, her hips raised up, giving him better excess while her fingers gripped into his hair.
Nathaniel's body was moving over hers and in hers, like waves lapping hard on the shore. He had a steady motion going. He had been watching her closely while they made love. He knew that she liked it best when he held everything constant, the same movements, at the same intervals.
Southern Discomfort Page 9