by Marla Monroe
“Where will you put the panels?” she asked.
“Most of them will go on the roof of the house. We’ll have to keep them clear of snow this winter. We’re going to build a permanent ladder up to the roof to make it easier,” he told her.
“Where will the rest of them go?”
“We’ll save them in case any of the others get broken. Hope that doesn’t happen since I got all the panels they had in the store. We’d have to travel a good two or three hours farther away to another store, and there’s no guarantee they’ll have any.”
“What all can we run off of them?” she asked.
“We’ll hook the batteries up for the pump so we can have running water and the fridge to keep things cool. Don’t plan on always having it by loading it up. It’s mainly to allow us to have cool water in the summer and keep any leftovers for the next day. I’ll also hook up a few lights that we only use at night when necessary. Once we know what all they can sustain, we might be able to use the electricity from them for more things. For now, it’s just the basics.”
Gail nodded. She understood that. Just having running water would be a luxury she could barely remember. Being able to shower would be heaven.
“Know what I’m going to do as soon as you have it up and running?” she asked.
“Have a hot bath?” he asked.
“I’ll settle for a shower, but maybe a soak in the tub wouldn’t be so bad either.”
“Yeah, it won’t be long before it’s too cold to bathe outside in the stream. It’s already cool at night.” He sighed. “That reminds me of something else. We need to cut wood for the fireplace.”
Gail groaned for him. They worked so hard, and it never seemed to let up. She felt helpless to do anything. Of course, when they planted the garden next spring, she would have plenty to do watering it, weeding it, and gathering the vegetables. Then there was putting them up to have the next winter.
“What’s that look?” Benton asked, smiling softly down at her.
“Just thinking about all the work having this garden is going to mean come spring. I’m actually looking forward to being able to actually do something instead of standing around watching all the time.”
“You’ve done plenty cooking, getting us something to drink, and washing the clothes. That’s a lot. Rest while you can. Like you said, next spring there will be a lot more for you to do.”
Gail nodded and carried the other glass of tea over to where Travis was just turning the tiller around to start a new row. He stopped and accepted the glass with thankful eyes.
“I was beginning to get dry. Thanks, Gail. How’s supper coming?” Travis asked.
“Simmering. I wish we had something more substantial, but you wouldn’t let me go fishing by myself.”
“Too dangerous for you to ever be by yourself, hon. You never know who might be out there that might try to grab you. We’ll be fine with the soup today. We’ll either trap something tonight or fish tomorrow.”
“Okay. I’ve been thinking. If we grow some cauliflower, I can make something that’s a lot like bread. I just have to crush it then bake it. It will also make a great crust for beef pies.”
“Guess we can see if we have any seeds for that. I’m not sure what all kinds Benton grabbed at the store the other day.”
“I’m going to ask him if I can go through them while you guys finish up out here. I can get a better idea of what we need to plant.”
Gail took Travis’s empty glass and returned to check with Benton. He thought that was a great idea and kissed her lightly on the lips once more. She couldn’t stop her fingers from going to her lips as he chopped away at the stubborn dirt clods.
She grabbed the big box of seeds and carried it inside to the dining room table they didn’t use to sort them. By the time the men had come inside after washing up at the stream, she had the majority of the seed packets sorted on the table. She’d found two packets of cauliflower seeds. They’d have to let some go to seed so they’d have enough for each year. They really needed some gardening books. She knew some of what to do from working on the farm, but there was so much she didn’t know.
She’d ask the guys once they sat down for supper. She prayed the meal would be enough to silence their growling stomachs. She hated that they didn’t have something more substantial when they’d worked so hard all day.
* * * *
“Ready for bed, hon?”
Travis stood and stretched before reaching over to help her off the couch. She’d just about fallen asleep sitting there while the guys had been making plans for the next day. She was exhausted. Gail couldn’t understand how the men were still awake.
“I’m just about asleep on my feet.” She shuffled across the room toward the stairs. It took her two tries to get her feet to cooperate in navigating the stairs.
“Careful, Gail. Don’t trip and fall.” Benton caught her waist when she tripped on a step.
The feel of his hands at her waist stirred something deep inside her she hadn’t realized was there. Good old-fashioned lust burned like a fuse through her bloodstream. Tiny tingles of electricity popped and fizzed beneath her skin. She wanted Benson the way a woman wanted a man. If she were honest with herself, she wanted Travis just as badly. What could she do about it?
Nothing. I don’t have the guts to make the first move.
But it didn’t stop her from swaying to keep his hands at her waist. Once they reached the landing she dragged her feet as she walked in the direction of her bedroom. Benton kept pace with her.
“Are you going to be okay to get into bed without falling on your face?” He sounded amused to her.
“I’ll be fine. I don’t know why you guys aren’t dead on your feet. You worked like horses today.”
Benton smiled down at her. “We’re used to doing more than you are, hon. Now, have a good night’s sleep.” He bent down and gave her a kiss that was anything but sweet. When he released her Travis turned her around to face him and gave her one of his own. She searched their faces when he released her, but all she saw were smiles, then they were gone.
Gail stripped out of her clothes before using the bowl of water she kept in the room to wash her face. She brushed her teeth and dressed for bed. Once she slipped beneath the covers, she thought over the way the guys had slowly been getting more and more intimate over the last few days. They were courting her, she decided. She liked it.
Chapter Six
Travis took over the tiller from Benton and started up the row. They’d finally managed to get all of the garden plot turned and were going back over it to smooth it out some. After Gail had gone to bed, they’d stayed up to talk a little about their moves to get her used to them touching and kissing her. Benton felt they were nearly ready to approach her about becoming their woman. He wasn’t so sure. He didn’t want to move too soon and spook her.
She definitely was perfect for them. Not only was she pretty, sweet, and fun, but she was also smart. She’d figured out about trying the battery for a truck at the store and was already making plans to can and put up every sort of vegetable that could be preserved. She’d asked for some books on that sort of thing, but all they found in the house were general magazines about farming and cattle ranching.
She’d suggested that they look at the store before winter set in. She knew they wouldn’t have time come spring. Benson was a little resistant to her idea, but Travis thought it was a good idea. Plus, they could get more gas from the cars Benson hadn’t gotten gas from. It never hurt to stock up on anything they might be able to use either.
Travis hoped Benson would agree. He felt like it was the best option. He’d volunteered to make the trip himself. First, they had to get the garden finished. He could already smell rain in the air. It wouldn’t be long before winter set in now. Normally, they already would have had their first frost, but with the changing climate, it was difficult to judge the weather patterns anymore. Everything was different than before.
Twenty minute
s later, Benton took over, and he walked behind him using the hoe on the clods that escaped the tiller. Gail brought them tea and water several times as they worked to clean up the newly broken ground. Another two trips around the area they’d marked out, and it would be ready for next spring. The winter would finish killing the weeds they’d tilled under so that it wouldn’t be nearly as tough plowing come spring.
Benton had caught another rabbit in their trap the night before, and they were having it for supper that night. It would be a good meal after the onion soup from the night before. Gail had been almost ecstatic about having meat to cook. He wished they had something more to go with it. Their rations had just about run out. They would be dependent on what they caught from now on.
“Hey guys, it’s getting dark. Come on in and eat.” Gail’s shout reached him, but Benton wouldn’t be able to hear her over the tiller.
He walked over and waved for the other man to cut off the engine. Benton released the lever that stopped the blades from turning and walked over so they could talk.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Supper’s ready. Gail’s calling us in.”
“I’ll put up the tiller and be right in once I’ve washed up. Why don’t you try getting a little close to her while I’m outside?”
“I don’t know, Benton. Do you think it’s too soon?”
“She’s been here nearly three weeks now, Travis. Winter’s coming, and I’d like her to be in our bed between us by then. It’s going to be cold for all of us if we don’t share a bed,” Benton said.
Travis drew in a deep breath, then let it out in a slow whoosh. Benton was right. She’d responded warmly to their soft touches and kisses so far. Maybe it was time to push the envelope some. He nodded and hurried to the stream to clean up. Afterward he carried back a bucket full of water so that they always had fresh water for cooking and making tea.
When he walked inside it was to find Gail in a dress with her hair down. Usually, she wore it pulled back out of her face. She looked sexy as hell. All doubts flew out the window with just one look.
* * * *
The look on Travis’s face told her she’d done the right thing. His eyes darkened even as the lids seemed to lower. His mouth dropped open before he snapped it closed.
“You look amazing, Gail.”
“Thanks. I thought I would dress up in celebration of the garden being finished and having rabbit to eat tonight.” She smiled at the other man and walked over to kiss him.
Travis didn’t move a muscle when she stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. When she licked at his lower lip, he opened, then pulled her into his arms and took over the kiss. Gail moaned into his mouth as his tongue swept inside of hers. God, the man could kiss. He clasped one hand at the back of her neck, holding her still for his attentions. When he pulled back to look into her eyes, Gail smiled up at him.
“You taste like cotton candy. I haven’t had that since I was a kid at the carnival,” he told her.
“You smell like autumn and bonfires. I haven’t smelled that since I was a kid at my school’s football game.”
“I could hold you for hours, Gail. You feel so good.” Travis buried his nose against her neck even as he wrapped her hair around his hand and pulled her head back to get closer to her.
The sound of the back door opening then closing had Gail pulling from Travis’s arms. Suddenly, she felt like a teenager necking on her parent’s front porch and getting caught by her dad. Heat rushed up her neck and burned her cheeks.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Gail. There’s nothing wrong with what we were doing.” Travis frowned.
“I know, but Benton came inside, and it startled me.” Truthfully, Gail felt as if she’d betrayed the other man by kissing Travis. It was silly, but she did.
“You didn’t have to stop just because I walked in. I’m glad you’re comfortable with Travis. I hope you’ll be comfortable with me, as well. Are you, Gail?” Benton asked.
Benton walked deliberately over to where she stood next to the other man. He reached out and brushed a finger over her swollen lips.
“It turns me on to see you with Travis.” Benton bent over her and slowly lowered his mouth as if giving her time to pull away. “Will you let me kiss you like you kissed Travis?”
All she could do was nod her head. Benton immediately struck, sealing his mouth over hers and thrusting his tongue inside to explore every nook and cranny. His tongue slid along hers as he thrust in and out of her mouth. She grasped his shirt in her hands as he wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug.
When he pulled back, his eyes were dark hazel and his lips looked as red as hers felt bruised. She wanted to be back in his arms, but she also wanted to feel Travis’s around her. It all confused her.
I want both of them. I know that’s how it is nowadays, but it feels weird to want two men.
“Easy, Gail. Don’t think about it too hard. We both want to be with you. We want you to be our woman, our wife. There’s nothing wrong with you kissing Travis and me both.” Benton brushed her hair back from her face. “You look amazing in that dress.”
“It’s a little tight through the chest and a little big through the waist, but I thought it would be okay,” she said, looking down.
“It’s more than okay. You dressed up for us. You have no idea what that means to us, Gail. Thanks.” Benton kissed her on the forehead then lifted her chin with one finger to stare down into her eyes. “You’re so special. You haven’t complained about a thing, and you’ve cooked and cleaned for us.”
“Well, you two are working like dogs trying to get things ready for spring. You deserve to have your meals ready when you can come in. It takes teamwork to make it out here. I don’t mind helping.” Gail turned away and indicated that the table was set and ready for them.
“That rabbit sure smells good,” Travis said as he walked over and sat down.
Benton followed, while Gail lifted the top off the Dutch oven to reveal roasted rabbit with some sort of roots around it. She’d dug up some of the onion grass and cut the roots off of them to cook with the rabbit.
They ate while talking about plans to start work on the solar panels. Benton was sure they’d get them set up before the first snow, but Travis wasn’t so certain.
“Maybe we should work on one grid first and set it up for the pump, then work on the second grid for the hot water heater. We can add the lights to one later and the refrigerator to the other one after that. Once it gets cold, we can use the snow and ice as a fridge.”
“I guess that would be smart in case we get surprised by an early snow. Having running water is better than nothing,” Benton said.
“We’ll need to wrap any of the exposed pipes to prevent them from freezing. Not sure what to use.”
“We’ve got all that clothing none of us can use.” Gail sipped her tea then took another bite of the rabbit.
“This is really good, Gail.” Travis scooped up another helping.
“Thanks.”
“There was several rolls of electrical tape out in the shed, and I think I saw some duct tape upstairs somewhere,” Travis said.
“It’s in the pantry now. I moved some of the stuff down here for easy access. Have either of you been down in the cellar yet?”
“No, we’ll have to save that for when we get electricity for the lights ready. Won’t be able to see anything down there until we do, and I don’t want to waste our candles just to check it out.” Benton poured more tea into his glass, then added some to Travis’s.
“I wonder what’s down there? If you can get electricity so we can see, I’d like to use that for our canned goods and root crops so we’ll have them most of the winter.” Gail got up and placed her dishes in the sink. She’d wash them with the stream water once the guys finished eating.
“I don’t know about you two, but I’m just about done for the day. Let’s finish making plans in the living room.” Benton stood up and carried his dishes to the sink, as
well.
“I’ll be in after I do the dishes.” She watched both men walk out of the kitchen then concentrated on cleaning up.
Gail enjoyed cooking for the two men, and she didn’t mind cleaning up afterward. They, by far, had the hardest jobs. All she had to do so far was cook, clean up afterward, and keep the house swept out. They always removed their dirty boots when they came inside. She appreciated that. They were good men. She was proud to have them as hers. Well, they would be hers once she agreed. So far, they hadn’t pushed her since Benton had made that statement that they wanted her as their woman.
Gail knew she’d have to talk to them about it. They deserved her answer. Gail wanted to give it to them, but she couldn’t help but be a little nervous about telling them that she’d like to be their woman. There was so much behind that. Sex, for one. Could she handle two men at one time?
Women all over the country are handling it. Hell, some even have three men as husbands. Surely, I can handle two. Especially considering how good they are to me.
Gail finished wiping down the countertops. She was dragging her feet, not wanting to face them right away. She could hear their soft murmurs in the other room. Were they talking about her or about their plans for the next day? She had to stiffen her spine and walk in there. If she didn’t, they’d think something was wrong and come check on her. She didn’t want them to know how nervous she was around them now that everything was out in the open.
When she strode into the room seconds later, both men stood up and waited for her to sit on the couch before sitting back down. It both amused her and humbled her that they treated her like a lady.
“I think we’ve pretty much got everything planned out, hon.”
Gail’s heart jumped into overdrive. Planned out? What did that mean?