Katherine colored. She could feel it. The heat flooded her face intensely. Most of the heat caught in her throat for she was pretty sure she was going to choke.
Jack was not as drunk as she thought he was. His drinking didn’t seem to impede his ability to make love to her. Though she had no experience in that department, save for the unwanted advances of a few priests and nuns, and the other inmates of the convent. But instinct, and the amazing feeling, told Katherine that her husband was a gifted lover.
She had unwittingly ensnared herself in passion. Each time Jack’s lips brushed her vertebrae; tingles burst within her and rushed her whole body. Her nipples were hard and she was damp between her legs. These were things she probably should be mortified of but she could not find it possible to be so. Something within her desired to experience more and more. She wanted this.
She arched up against his kisses, like a cat. Jack gently encouraged her over. His mouth found her nipples. He suckled her, tugging slightly and running his tongue on her flesh. The hot wetness of his mouth plus the tension went straight to her core. Her belly was warmed and aching.
Jack nestled in between her legs. His torso rested on hers. He rose up and she could feel his erection pushing at her entrance. He took her mouth, ravishing it fiercely moaning into her as his hands found her between them.
He stroked her soft wetness, pressing on her in places that made her need for him surge. She trembled as he stroked her. He put one finger inside of her. It was a strange feeling. He moved it in and out of her. Her breathing rose and she could not focus. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around his hips.
He reached between them and put himself inside of her, just some.
“Hold on,” he said into her ear.
He wrapped his arms around the small of her back and thrust into her.
“Ohh,” she cried out in pain.
He paused and kissed her long and tenderly until she relaxed. Slowly he began to move. He took hold of her hips and thrust into slowly. Katherine liked the way it felt. She moved her hips against him mimicking his movement. He took hold of her thigh and pushed it back to push more deeply into her.
It was such a wicked and delicious move. It was wrong and so right at the same time. He pushed up on his hands locking his elbows and moved inside of her. He drew his leg up on to his shoulder and braced her legs as he moved into her some more.
Then he let her legs fall up like a v and her pressed between her legs. He made little circles till she thought she would burst. The more her body tensed, the quicker he moved. At last Jack was rocketing into her so quickly, working her center until she burst with pleasure.
Katherine’s breath hitched as wave after wave of rapture rushed her whole body. Tight sugared spasms rolled through her cove to her abdomen. Sweet. Sweet. As his hardness moved in and out, her flesh gripped him. His eyes rolled back as he looked upward, a smile curling his lips. He groaned like a bear until the ecstasy passed through them. Jack crumpled onto the bed.
Katherine was bewildered and amazed by the wondrous moment that they shared. Her entire life she was told these things were wrong and painful and yet they were joyous and pure rapture.
Jack’s hand rested on her flat belly. It was a comforting as well as arousing sensation. The weight of his hand felt protective. She felt a part of him. Like they had really joined in marriage and were a part of each other.
She thought he was slumbering but his hand moved down to gently stroke her between her legs. She was tendered but not where he was touching her. Her body was still alive with the passion that they shared – so sensitive and responsive. His touch caused her core to draw up and tighten. It sent shivers throughout her.
He eased over her slowly. He kissed the base of her neck and the pleasure was almost too much to bear. She cried out with it. It drove through her belly and out of her throat.
He parted her legs and rose above her. He swept her hair back away from her face and kissed her oh so tenderly. When he entered her again, there was some pain but that soon fell away. She was readied for him and she welcomed the feel of his hardness within her.
Passionate ignited her. Her nipples were at attention and hard against the soft skin of his chest. Her breasts bobbled back and forth with his rhythm. He was steady and purposeful. Somewhere within her she knew this would be fast.
His thrusts were rigorous and merciless. Each stroke fueling the sugared sensitivity of her channel. He was going to bring back to life that tempest that overtook her before. She knew it now.
Katherine breathed in and called to it. She willed her body to welcome the rapture she knew before. She rocked her hips up against his and spurred it on. She could hardly think to move. She was almost paralyzed with the bliss that he gave her.
“That’s a girl,” he murmured.
And just like that she shattered with the powerful sweet spasms that had rolled through before. They were so much stronger the second time. So much more reactive to his hard length as it gently battered into her body. Both of their cries filled the house. In their ecstasy each of them continued to push forward, milking every little seizure for all the sweetness it could give.
Finally both of them collapsed on the bed. Katherine was tender for sure. Her body was slick with sweat. He drew her to his incredibly warm body.
“I have to sleep,” he whispered apologetically. “I will make it up to you. I promise.”
She understood. She kissed him softly on his forehead and let him rest. She explored the little house some. She filled a basin with pump water and bathed herself. It was not a bathtub but it was not the horrid bathing situation at the convent where she had to be naked in front of others like hens in a coop. She dabbed her tender places and cleaned the sticky perspiration from her. She dressed and set about to do some chores.
Katherine stoked the stove and set some water on it to boil. As she went outside to check out the barn and the critters she remembered Hattie. She thought she would introduce herself. Hattie was mucking stalls in the barn. She turned to Katherine with a vinegar face. Katherine knew that look. It was on the face of every nun in the convent. She did her best to be brave and civil.
“Hello I am Katherine Clearwater,” she extended her hand to Hattie.
Hattie was not much older than she was. The way Jack had described her she got the impression that she was much older.
“I know who you are,” Hattie said reluctantly accepting Katherine’s hand.
“What needs to be done?” Katherine said enthusiastically.
“Well if I have to tell you how to run a house,” Hattie smirked.
“Not at all,” said Katherine not rising to the bait. She used her best nun tone with her. “I am asking you to tell me what you’ve done so far so that I can take it from here.”
Katherine’s sternness was effective. Hattie backed down.
“Muck that side,” she said.
The two women worked quietly and efficiently until the barn was fresh and tidy. They worked in tandem to put the morning meal on. Hattie collected eggs from the chickens. Katherine went to the stove and fried up bacon. She then cooked dough she flattened out in a frying pan. One of the other girls in the convent made bread this way and as simple as it was, it was delicious.
Hattie liked it. They ate scrambled eggs and bacon and the bread cooked in the bacon drippings that Katherine then cut up into wedges. She loaded up another plate. Katherine eyeballed her. Maybe there was another person who lived with them after all?
“Who is that for?” asked Katherine politely.
“It’s for Jack,” Hattie replied and then stopped.
There was an awkward silence and Hattie continued.
“I thought you might like to take it in to him,” said Hattie. “I’ll get the laundry started. We can go down to the stream or we can fill up a tub at the pump. I do it both ways.”
Katherine was not sure what had just transpired but there was something strange about the moment that just passed. She smiled
and accepted the plate. She rose from the table. Pain flickered as she moved.
She pressed the door to their room opened.
“Hey,” she whispered. “I know you have to sleep but I thought you might like some food.”
With his eyes still closed he reached his arm around her hips.
“What a sweet wife,” he said. “Thank you.”
He sat up just enough to eat the breakfast. He took a bite of the bread.
“My goodness,” he said. “This is right delicious. I think I might like them better than biscuits. Come here.”
He touched her chin as he kissed her lightly. Katherine’s stomach was warm butterflies. She was so pleased he liked her cooking. The strange feeling she had about Hattie went away. She took the plate from him.
“I will be up before the next meal. And then we can go to bed early tonight,” he said flirtatiously.
Katherine leaned down again and kissed.
“That sounds like a good idea,” she said.
She brought the plate out and took the dishes off of the table to wash.
“That was sure fast,” said Hattie.
Katherine looked at her. “Pardon?”
“He gobbled that up fast. I would have thought it would take at least that long to wake him after he got in so late,” Hattie said.
Again Hattie’s words hit a nerve but Katherine was silent. She dunked the dishes in the tub water and stacked them. She bought them inside to put them away. She and Hattie took the laundry to the river. She unpacked a few things from her trunk to wash as well.
Katherine was fairly good at doing laundry since they did a lot of it in the convent. She knew little tricks to getting good results. She and Hattie worked for a couple of hours, chatting very little but what they did exchange was pleasant.
She saw Hattie smile, looking beyond them. Katherine looked over her shoulder to see what she was smiling at and saw Jack. She wasn’t so sure if she liked it that Hattie a woman who had been basically living with her husband was so happy to see him. She was officially jealous.
He was so good looking thought Katherine. He shuffled through the straggled grass, the sound of it flicking on his boots. His black hat shaded his eyes. Katherine guessed his hair to be the color of hers. He had blue eyes like her too. The notion of what their children might look like crossed her mind.
“Ladies,” he said. “I thought I thought we might like to go into town later for some shopping and maybe give that meal at Delmonico’s another try.”
“Delmonico’s? Did you win at cards or some such?” asked Hattie, grinning.
Katherine’s eyes flared.
“You already interrupted one day’s work. We are behind,” said Hattie.
Katherine was silent. She lived a life of intense subordination at the convent. She didn’t want to disturb the way things were in Jack’s home but she did not like having to filter her responses through Hattie. She was thinking Hattie might have to go. She piled laundry into a tub.
“Jack will you help with this?” asked Katherine.
She was going to have him hang it on the line by the house and have a little talk with him at the same time.
“Is that rinse?” asked Hattie.
Katherine looked at Jack sternly. Jack winked.
“It’s fine,” he pronounced and he lifted the tub.
He and Katherine strolled to the house. A few steps away from the creek bank and Jack took her hand.
“She’s been running the house for so long it will take some adjusting for us all now that I am a married man,” said Jack.
He set the tub down by the laundry line.
“Why would she need to adjust to the fact that you are married?” Katherine said trying not to snap.
Jack grinned. “Mrs. Clearwater, are you worried there might have been something between me and Hattie?”
Katherine was too flustered to speak.
“Sweetheart,” he said. “I will try to put this as delicately as possible.”
With that, Katherine covered her ears with her hands.
“Sweetheart,” he laughed.
He got real close to her ear. “She prefers the love of women, not men. If anyone has competition with her it would be me and not you.”
Katherine was overcome with a powerful blush. She reeled. Jack took her into his arms, laughing hard.
“My poor delicate, saucy bride. We both are bushed. Let me take you into town. I am fond of Hattie but she really wasn’t invited. I will tell her to take the day off.”
Katherine changed into a nicer dress and road into town with her husband. He was right. They were both exhausted. It would be nice to have dinner just the two of them and to go to bed.
It was a wonder they made it dinner at all. Jack Clearwater was flirtatious and affectionate. They stopped and kissed or didn’t stop and kissed and had to re-route the team. They laughed. It was about the most fun Katherine had ever. He even said they might stay at Dodge House for the night.
“That would be lovely,” said Katherine. “But can we spare the expense?”
“Don’t you worry about such things,” admonished Jack lightly.
“Our home is just fine,” she said. “Hattie had her own place so we have privacy.”
“I want us to have a wedding night,” he said with a wink.
“We already had a wedding morning,” Katherine giggled.
“Mrs. Clearwater, I am liable to take you in the back of this wagon if you continue talk like that,” he said with a kiss.
It was a much nicer experience sitting to supper now that she was settled. She and Jack each had a steak and mashed potatoes. They were having a lovely moment when the nun and the priest who Katherine spied when she arrived, passed in front of the restaurant. How that could have completely pushed from her mind she didn’t know. But there they were where she was. They must have seen her come in to town with Jack.
Jack noticed the transformation in Katherine. It was impossible to miss. She was shaking.
“What is it?” he demanded quietly.
She didn’t answer. It was just like the other time all over again. He was going to be impatient with her. But she could tell him. The convent was after her, she knew it.
“Katherine,” he said with a touch of warning in his voice.
She looked at him with big eyes.
“I think I may be coming down with something,” she fibbed.
He looked at her with a scold.
“Katherine,” he arched his brow.
She touched his hand.
“I want you know to know how much I enjoy being married you,” she said cryptically.
Jack Clearwater was a smart man and she wasn’t evading him at all. After a brief interaction with the waiter, the nun and the priest left the restaurant. Katherine was able to settle down some.
“I feel better,” she said. “Don’t let my silliness spoil our evening.”
“I am your husband. We took a vow to trust one another,” he said.
“Yes and I do. You mentioned Dodge House earlier. If that idea still appeals to you, it appeals to me to,” she said sweetly.
He knew when he was being manipulated.
“No ma’am,” he said. “That’s twice you turned white as ash for no apparent reason and it’s not because of traveling. Or anything else. You tell me now and you tell me true.”
She swallowed hard.
“Promise please you won’t send me away if I tell you,” she said in a shaky voice.
He glared at her. “My word,” he said. “What have you done?”
“I ran away from a convent,” she said. “And I won’t go back. All the things I told you in my letter were true. I am from Philadelphia. I come from a large family but –“
“But what?” he asked.
His voice was surprisingly tempered.
“My family put me in a convent where they were mean and cruel and awful. And you can unmarry me or whatever it is people do, but I am not going back,” she d
eclared.
She tried to keep her voice down. She didn’t want to spoil the evening any further with the nonsense but it did feel good to get it out.
“I see and what makes you think that you might have to go back?” he asked gently.
“Did you see that priest and the nun?” she asked. “You would have to be blind.”
He smirked at her boldness. She touched her fingertips to her lips coyly.
“Pardon,” she said.
“So you saw those two clergy walking around and you thought that they were coming to get you from back East?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said with relief.
“Perhaps you if you shared that with me when it first upset you, I could have explained it to you,” he said.
“Explained what?” she asked.
“What those clergy are doing here,” he said. “They are about to build a church of their own. I was talking to Harley about it. In fact if you want, we can go on over say hello to him and he can explain it to you. Would that make you feel better?”
Katherine wasn’t sure. If they were building a church here someone could easily find out she had run from the convent.
“Sweetheart, you are my wife. You are a married woman. You are not going anywhere,” he said.
He was so adamant that she was reassured.
“I am going to go get Harley and asked him flat out if under any circumstances could they take you back,” he said.
“No no,” she said now feeling a little silly.
“Oh yes ma’am,” he flirted. “I am getting Harley and he’s going to make sure you know that you and I are lawfully wed. And then I am buying him a drink for marrying me the best darn wife a man could have dreamed of. Even if I did buy her from a catalog.”
Jack kissed her but Katherine stopped it, burning it up with a blush. She could barely tolerate a public display though from him she was willing to try to make an exception. But in perfect timing, in walked the Reverend Harley.
“Oh my goodness,” smiled Jack. “Speak of the devil.”
A Fall From Grace. Mail Order Bride Western Page 2