He smoothed the damp curls back from her forehead. She stared at him dewy-eyed. “Isn’t there more to this?”
“Oh, yes. We’re just getting started, darlin’.” He moved over her, spreading her legs apart with his knees. Taking his time, he eased into her. The moistness made his entrance easy, but then he hit the wall that he needed to break through to truly make her his. “I’m sorry, but this will hurt. But only for a minute.”
Shoving forward, he buried his head in her shoulders, mumbling words of apology, and sorrow at having hurt her.
Mindy let out a slow breath and ran her fingers through his hair. “It’s all right, Jed. I feel okay now. I promise.”
Groaning at the sensation of being inside her, feeling her softness and warmth surrounding him, he slowly began to move. “Does this hurt?”
She shook her head. “No. Well, yes, but only a little. In fact, it feels kinda nice. Not as wonderful as before, but still, nice.”
He grinned as he slid in and out of her, surprised, but happy when she began to move with him. His wife caught on fast. For as much and as long as he’d wanted her, he didn’t last, and was soon pouring himself into her, softly calling her name.
Resting on his elbows, he gulped for air as he looked down at her, loving her flushed cheeks and half-lidded eyes. “I love you, Mindy. I always have, and I always will.”
A lone tear ran down her cheek. “Oh, Jed. I’m still not sure how this is all going to work out.”
He pushed himself off her, his feet hitting the floor as he walked to the dresser, poured water into the bowl and dipped a cloth into it. Returning to the bed, he carefully cleaned her, then himself. When he returned to the bed after placing the cloth back on the dresser, she had pulled the sheet and quilt up to her chin.
All the words in the world were not going to convince his wife that they belonged together, and she was the very best wife, ever, for him. Time would prove it to her. Until then, he would do his best to make her happy. Joining her, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and said, “How about we take a walk to the café and get a bite to eat? The wedding cake was delicious, but I feel the need for some real food.”
Mindy smiled and nodded. “Yes. I believe I am hungry.”
Dressing would not have taken so long if they hadn’t spent so much time touching and kissing. He simply could not get enough of her. He was already looking forward to coming back after eating and loving her again.
They strolled hand-in-hand to the café. The town had never looked better to him, nor the smell of the air sweeter. He had the woman he loved by his side, and soon they would leave to take up his first church assignment.
“Evenin’, Jed, Mindy.” Grace Babbit, the waitress at the Dodge City café, greeted them as they settled into their seats. She narrowed her eyes and looked at them. “What are y’all grinning so much for?”
Mindy held up her left hand. “We got married today, Grace.”
She grabbed Mindy’s hand and stared at the gold band. “Well, glory be. It sure is about time you two got hitched. I’ve been watching the two of you dance around each other for years.” She gave them a warm smile. “Best of luck, kiddos. I hope y’all only have the very best.”
They thanked her, and ordered the supper special. Holding hands across the table, they were startled to hear a deep voice behind him. “Well, it’s about time I caught up with you, girl. I’m fixing to take you back to jail.”
Chapter Four
Marshal Jones stood in front of their table, hands fisted on his hips, right above his gun belt. “Miss Nellie tells me you’ve been missing for hours.”
Jed stood and shook hands with the marshal. “Sir, I’m afraid it’s my fault that Miss O’Brien, um, rather, my wife, Mrs. Nelson, was missing all day.”
The marshal’s eyes rose to his hairline. “You two get hitched today??”
“Yes, sir.” Jed grinned and glanced at Mindy, giving her a warm smile.
Mindy twisted her fingers in her lap, hoping she didn’t do something wrong. “Marshal, it all happened so fast. I was going to stop by the jail and let you know I won’t be going on the wagon train after all.”
Jed interrupted. “Actually, we will be going on the wagon train, Marshal. As far as Trinidad, Colorado. That’s where my church assignment is.”
Marshal Jones slapped Jed on the back. “Well, congratulations, son. I’m very happy for you both.” He pulled out a chair and turned it around, straddling the seat, resting his crossed arms on the back of the chair. “It’s good you’re both leaving Dodge City. It’s getting pretty bad out there. I’ve been chasing outlaws and facing the business side of a gun a little bit too long.”
Grace deposited their supper plates in front of them. “You want something to eat, Marshal?”
“Just coffee, Grace, I can’t stay long.”
Once the waitress left them, Jed asked, “Sounds like you’re thinking of retirin’ Marshal.”
Mindy bit into the roast beef and almost groaned out loud. She couldn’t remember the last time she had something this good. Her wages at the saloon barely kept her rent paid, with a little bit left for food. But she rarely had enough money to buy meat. Once in a while she got a few bones from the butcher that she made into a soup at the saloon kitchen. Most times she only got one bowl out of it, since everyone seemed to think it was all right to help themselves while she ran drinks.
It occurred to her that while she was thoroughly enjoying her meal of roast beef, potatoes in brown gravy, and green beans, the marshal and Jed had been chatting away. She finally tuned in to what the marshal said. “I might think about retirin’ soon. I got some money put aside. In fact I might just make a trip to Santa Fe myself one of these days.”
He chatted with them as he drank his coffee. Then, taking the last sip, he slapped his hands on his thighs and stood. “I’ll let you youngsters get settled for the night.” He looked in Mindy’s direction. “I’ll let Miss Nellie know you won’t be joining them. The other lady, Mrs. Markham, already got herself married, too. So now there’s only Miss Davidson and Miss Beamer left to find husbands.” He pulled on the brim of his hat. “Have a good night.”
“Would you like a piece of pie?” Jed eyed her plate that she had practically scraped clean.
“Yes, I believe I would,” she said, hoping she wasn’t making a pig of herself. But everything tasted so gosh darned good, and all that activity she and Jed engaged in before—she blushed—had given her quite an appetite.
Once she finally felt full, they walked back to the hotel and entered their room. “I’m sure you’re a little sore from before—“ He chuckled and dipped his head to see her face when she blushed a bright red and lowered her head. “—so I think it would be a good idea for us to get to sleep. We’ll be quite busy the next couple of weeks.”
Although she was a bit sore in places she was never before aware of, she had hoped they would have a repeat from before, but he was probably right. “I agree.”
“Do you have a nightgown?”
“No. I sleep in my underwear.” She’d always wanted a pretty nightgown to wear to bed, but even if the extra money had been there, it had been difficult to shop in the mercantile most times. Mrs. Davis who ran the store with her husband was always pleasant to her, but if any of the ‘respectable’ women were shopping, they gave her such dirty looks and comments that she was driven out. Usually she’d hurled enough insults of her own back at them to keep their sewing circles busy with gossip for a month.
Jed moved toward her and eyed her in such a way that she felt he hadn’t had enough to eat. Like she was his dessert. “I have a better idea. Why don’t you take everything off, and we’ll both sleep in the nude.”
If she grew any warmer, her clothes would flat-out burn up, and what she would wear to bed would not be an issue.
“Come on, wife, let’s do something different.” He began removing his clothes and grinned at her. “Don’t tell me the tough-talking Cinnamon O’Brien Nelson is
scared?” His eyebrows lifted.
“No, I ain’t scared, and don’t call me Cinnamon.” With those words, she unbuttoned her dress and continued to stare him down as she removed every stitch of clothing. Then she ruined it all by giggling like a two year old, and dove for the bed, pulling the covers up to her neck while Jed roared with laughter.
The next morning Jed reached for her before she was fully awake. She was a bit tender, but still enjoyed his love making. She could get used to waking up every morning like this.
“I need to help Papa get our wagon ready for the trip. Plus, Mama wants to load us down with things for our new home.” Jed addressed her over their breakfast at the café. “What will occupy your time today?”
“I’ll pack my things, tell Mrs. Gruber I won’t need her room any more, and I suppose I’ll have to see my ma before we leave.”
Jed stood and kissed her on the forehead. “Take your time finishing your breakfast. Come by my parents’ house when you’re all packed and seen your ma.”
She watched him stroll out the door, still having a hard time believing that Jedediah Nelson, her best friend and champion, was now her husband. Truth be known, aside from feeling completely unsuited for her new role as a preacher’s wife, she worried about protecting her heart. She’d liked Jed a whole lot all her life, and probably loved him as a friend. But now it would be ever so easy to fall in love with him in such a way that one day would crush her. Deep down she knew he would eventually wake up and realize she was not the wife for him. When that day happened, she didn’t want to watch him walk away while she held her broken heart in her hands.
***
Jed whistled a tune while his boots tapped a rhythm on the boardwalk as he headed to his parents’ house. Everything felt right. He finally convinced Mindy to marry him, and he had his first church assignment. He pushed aside the niggling doubt that preaching was not what he really wanted to do. It was expected. He would succeed at it, and make his papa proud.
He was anxious to begin his work and his marriage. To be honest, he was a little concerned about how well Mindy would fit into her new role as a preacher’s wife.
She certainly had the compassion and friendly demeanor to work well alongside him. Due to her upbringing, no doubt she would need some guidance in running a home, and doing all the domestic things a woman learned at her mother’s knee.
Her mother. Ha!
Never had he disliked a person as much as Mindy’s ma. Lizzie O’Brien was a hard, brittle woman. She had absolutely no mothering instincts and never cared to develop any. He’d watched Mindy grow up with very little love and no affection. She’d been neglected, forgotten, and pushed aside. The other whores in the house were more mother to her than the woman who’d given her life. And that was about all Lizzie had given her daughter.
He intended to make it all up to her. He would smother her in love and show her every day that she was a worthwhile person, capable of running a home and helping him in his work. Never would she go without proper clothes, or a decent meal. She deserved the best, and he intended to make sure she got it.
“You’re looking chipper this morning, son.” Jed entered his parents’ kitchen to Pastor Nelson’s greeting as he sat at the table drinking his coffee. Once again Jed was grateful for the parents who raised him, and the rules and guidance they’d provided his entire life. Re-settlers from Boston, Pastor Nelson and his wife had traveled west to bring the word of God to Indians. They’d gotten as far as Dodge City and decided the early settlement was in need of their work. His papa and mama had worked hard to build a strong church, and a church community. They’d raised four sons, Caleb, Micah, David and Jedediah. Caleb and David had made their homes in Nebraska and Texas with their wives and children, establishing churches to serve their communities.
Micah had remained in Dodge City and worked with his parents. Eventually, Pastor Nelson would pass his life’s work onto his son, and take a well-deserved rest.
“Yes, I am feeling chipper. I’m about to start an adventure I’ve been working toward and praying on, for years now.” Jed joined his papa at the table and thanked his mama for the coffee she set in front of him.
“And we are very proud of you, son. At last all four of our boys are doing the Lord’s work.” Papa beamed at him, causing a slight ripple of guilt in Jed’s stomach.
“Where is your bride this morning?” Mrs. Nelson sat across from Jed and snapped beans, most likely for the family’s dinner at noon. Her hands were never still. She always had something to occupy her time and fingers.
“She went off to see her ma.”
Mrs. Nelson’s lips tightened, and she began to snap the beans with a lot more force than the poor vegetable deserved. “That woman. She had absolutely no right to raise that lovely girl in a brothel!” She sniffed. “It’s a wonder Mindy turned out as well as she did.”
“Mama, I want to thank you,” he turned to his papa, “both of you, for how you treated Mindy all the years. I know you both received snide remarks about how you allowed her here for visits.”
“Son, the work of the Lord doesn’t always involve dealing with the righteous. Sometimes those who think they have the ear of the Lord are actually less deserving than those they look down upon. Remember your bible, James 2:3. The most worthy are not the ones who appear to be.”
Micah entered the kitchen from the back door. “Got the wagon ready to go to the livery and get your cattle.” He slapped Jed on the back. “Imagine, my little brother going off to the wilds of Colorado to his own church. And with his own wife!” He grinned and leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed. “You about ready to get this wagon fit to travel, little brother?”
Jed drank the last of the coffee and stood. “I am. According to the marshal I need to get this wagon out to Fort Dodge by today if I plan to join the wagon train.”
“Papa, are you coming with us?” Jed wanted to know.
“Yep. There’s a few bits of advice I haven’t finished giving you yet. Now, you wouldn’t want to miss out on that would you?” The three men headed to the back door. Once his papa and Micah left, Jed turned back to his mama.
“Will you help Mindy when she comes by to get the things you’re setting us up with?”
She stood and pulled him in for a fierce hug. “I sure will. I like that gal, and I know she will be a good wife to you.” She leaned back and placed her hands on his forearms. “Just give her time, Jedediah. She will need a lot of help.
“And love.”
“That’s no problem. I’ve loved Mindy all my life.”
***
“Ma?” Mindy tapped lightly on her mother’s door. When she didn’t receive an answer, she pushed the door open. Her ma laid sprawled on the bed, the sheets twisted around her legs. “Ma?”
Lizzie stirred and rolled over, opening one eye. “Is that you, Cinnamon?”
Don’t call me Cinnamon
“Yeah, Ma. I want to talk to you.” She walked closer to the bed.
“Now? Girl, do you know what time it is? I just got into bed.” She rolled back over on her stomach. “Go away. Talk to me later.”
“I can’t, Ma. This is important and I need to talk to you now.”
A loud sigh was Ma’s only response. Then she turned back over and narrowed her eyes at her. “I heard you got your ass thrown in jail for practically killing the mayor. What the hell you doing here?”
“I did get arrested, and that’s what I want to talk to you about.” She sat on the end of the bed, the smell of stale cigars and whiskey floating up from the sheets.
“You ain’t gonna leave me be, are you?” Lizzie pushed herself up until she leaned against the wall behind her bed. She fumbled on the table next to her and pulled a cigar from a box and struck a match to light it. Mindy waved as the smoke drifted over her.
“Ma, I don’t know why you smoke those things.”
“Ain’t none of your business, girl. Now tell me why I should be sitting here listening to you instead
of getting my well-deserved sleep. You mighta been laying around the jail, but I worked all night.”
“Actually, no, Ma. I wasn’t at the jail last night.” She held up her left hand. “I got married.”
Lizzie’s lips twitched. “Hell, no. Don’t tell me you got married. Did you hitch up with one of them cowboys coming through town yesterday? I always knew you wouldn’t be spreadin’ for anyone unless you got a ring on your finger.”
Mindy shook her head, cringing at the thought of the cowboys who passed through Dodge City. “No, Ma. I didn’t marry up with no smelly cowboy.”
Her mama narrowed her eyes as the cigar smoke circled her head. “You didn’t go and get yourself married to that preacher boy, did you?”
Mindy drew herself up, and raised her chin. “Yes. I married Jedediah Nelson yesterday, and we’re leaving tomorrow to join a wagon train headed to Trinidad, Colorado to a church there.”
Shaking her head, her mama said. “You are one stupid girl, you know that? What makes you think you’re good enough for some preacher?”
“I am good enough, Ma.” Mindy twisted the edge of the pillow slip. “Jed said so.”
Lizzie huffed. “Then he’s stupider than you are. You’re no more fit to be a preacher’s wife than I am to be a gunslinger.” She squashed the end of her cigar in a cracked china plate, and pointed her finger at her daughter. “Let me tell you something. I know you always looked down your nose at me. You think you’re some high and mighty lady. Well, you know what? You ain’t, and you’re no better than me. You were born right here in this here room, and you slept right there on the floor at my feet for nigh on fourteen years.”
She leaned forward, the lines in her face more noticeable with the sunlight streaming through the window. Ma looked old, worn out. Tired. Used up. Everything Mindy had sworn all her life she would never be.
Prisoners of Love: Cinnamon Page 4