An Unexpected Welcome

by Rita Hestand

  His hand kept following the curve of her hips and he cupped her there gently. "All mine, every inch of you." He sighed. "I'll never let you out of my site. You're like discovering a gold mine."

  But as he held her buttocks gently in his hands, he moved down on her, with his mouth, easily parting her legs so his lips could massage the very center of her. She moved her body against him now, but his hands lifted her to his mouth as he suckled her there until she was clutching the sheets, then his back and his hair. He realized she'd climaxed at one point, but he didn't stop, he wanted to build the fire again and then take her.

  She moaned softly her approval of every touch, every kiss. She didn't stop him, she egged him on. Her scent was so sweet, like lavender, he smiled against her there.

  Suddenly he moved up to her breasts and murmured, "I want you now, sweetheart."

  "Yes," she begged, opening her legs wide for him.

  When he entered her, she swooned at his eagerness and met his every stroke. Her legs ran up and down the side of him, clutching him. Her muscles worked him and he gasped with delight as she pulled him into the center of the vortex of love. His thrusts moved achingly over her core and she wrapped her legs around him and urged him even deeper.

  It was a long and lasting climax that had her grabbing him on the backside and squeezing hard. He was like a rutting bull, unable to stop the glorious moment as he took her into heaven with his thrusts. She gave herself completely over to his mastery. He was a gentle but very thorough lover, giving her every pleasure, as his own reached a pivotal point. She moaned softly the glory of their coming together in such a complete orgasm, and he knew exactly how to prolong the moment of euphoria for them both. She gasped at his knowledge of pleasing a woman.

  They collapsed in each other's arms, and slept for a short while.

  When they woke, they ate cheese and nibbled fruit, drank Champaign and explored each other with their lips and hands.

  Three times they made love before a deep sleep overcame them. His hand rested on her breasts, hers on his chest.

  Then next morning they didn't get up, they played with each other, teasing, taunting, tasting each other.

  "You're going to be a hellova wife to come home to, lady." He grinned at her as he pulled the sheet up over her and held her against him.

  "Think I can keep you happy?" She asked with a purr.

  "I think you might kill me with happiness, woman. But I'll sure die with a grin on my face, won't I?"

  She laughed. "I love you Mr. McCall." She said as she fed him a grape.

  He took her finger and stroked it in his mouth, in and out. She giggled.

  Her breasts tightened with renewed excitement.

  He laid his head on her breast, and moving his head he kissed her there for a long time, as though looking, and kissing were his pleasure.

  He stared at her breasts. "I knew you had a prize here, but I didn't know how beautiful a prize it was. I could only imagine. And believe me, I did a lot of imagining."

  As he kissed her nipples, his hands ran all over her, dipping between her legs to stimulate. She moaned. 'How come you know exactly where to touch me?"

  He shrugged, "Pleasuring you, is my pleasure. Making love is something a man should learn to be an expert at. He should treat it like learning to tame a horse."

  "No one's ever made love to me the way you do. You don't even have to touch me, sometimes. I used to get so worked up when you'd come in the saloon out of the blue and start kissing me. You turned me on so much I wasn't sure I could turn it off. I mean out of the blue, there you were. But what thrilled me most was that you came for a kiss. I wanted to pull you into a room and make love all night, but…"

  "I'm glad it made an impression. I don't want to go anywhere, or do anything, I just want to be with you, love you, kiss you, and tell you how happy you've made me." He whispered.

  He rubbed her tummy, "How many more babies do you want?"

  "Oh, I don't know. As many as you like I guess."

  "I want kids, but…I want you too. So half a dozen will be enough. Charlie will be the oldest and can help us herd them along." Cord chuckled. "And you'll have to suckle them for a while, so I can have you a while in between."

  "Sounds reasonable to me." She cooed.

  "Your breasts are raw; I didn't mean to hurt you." He began.

  "You have a shadow on your chin. Want me to shave you?" She asked sexily.

  "Sounds good to me." He smiled. "You can do just about anything you want to me, sweetheart."

  She put her camisole on and he put his pants on and she shaved him, leaning over him seductively to do it. He reached several times to kiss her. "I like that thing…" he touched her camisole

  "Then I'll wear it often, just for you." She smiled.

  "You sure are obliging."

  "Honey, any way I can keep you home, I'll do it." She sighed. And let him nest his face against her there.

  "You don't have to worry about that, sweetheart. There isn't anyone better than you in the state of Texas." He smiled temptingly at her.

  "You think so?" She whispered.

  "I know so." He smiled.

  When she was through, she leaned to kiss him, and he undid her camisole. She stepped out of it. Then she straddled the chair he was sitting in. He lifted her long enough to shimmy out of his pants and took her right there. She let her hair fall back and his lips caressed her nipples, first one, then the other. He stared unbelieving how any woman could look so provocative. Her glorious read hair streaming over her creamy white shoulders, her lips pursed, her breasts lifted for his attention.

  "You have a way about you cowboy." She murmured.

  He held her to him, and kissed her senseless. The climaxes came quickly and they held on to each other for long dizzying seconds. But she didn't get up, instead she laid her head on his shoulder and sighed, her hands going over his chest with such a satisfied sigh.

  "We're so good together," he smiled against her shoulder then kissed it.

  "I never dreamed it could be this good…" Her voice was low, seductive and full of emotion. "I never dreamed you'd want this much."

  "You have no idea, honey. That unexpected welcome I got from you, told me. You are the woman I love and the woman I have always loved. I'm just sorry it took so long to get to this place. But maybe it was the waiting that made it so worthwhile. When we were younger, I wanted you then, but you were even younger than me, and I knew I had no right. Ma said she knew how I felt, but she told me to be gentle with you. But you are everything a man could ever want. And I've wanted you a long time. But I never realized I loved you until that day that you welcomed me home."

  "But you didn't tell me then." She said softly.

  "No, I had just discovered it. That kiss told me that despite the fact that I ran out on you, you still cared for me. I mean, I'd known you so long, and we'd been such good friends. I didn't want to lose that friendship either. I was afraid if I come on too strong you would run away from me, instead of toward me. You see, I've known you a long time. And because you were afraid of love, so long, I wanted to keep you near without scaring you off. You thought your folks didn't love you, because they threw you out. You thought Sam didn't love you because he raped you then left. You thought I was your friend for life, but I left too, didn't I? I had to win your trust again, and your love. But I've known since I've been back that you are the only woman for me. The only one. And now, we are one, as God himself ordained. I'll never let you go, never leave you and try never to hurt you. Nor Charlie. I love him like he was my own, because he's a big part of you, Lilly. He's family. And I meant it when I told you I'd make that legal too."

  "I was going to cook something, but you know what? I'd rather just lay in your arms for a while. But first, I want to tell you, I do love you. And, I can honestly say, you are the only man, I've ever loved before. The only man I've let touch me like you do. But I trust that you'll never hurt me. And even though we're married, we're one, your still m
y best friend too!"

  This kiss was different, full of their dreams and hopes for the future, full of their promises to each other.

  He guided her back to the bed and he folded her against him, curling their legs around each other and sleeping. It was a peaceful sleep.

  When they finally did dress, she dressed him and he dressed her.

  Three days of total bliss had them blushing when they looked at each other and they finally returned to the ranch.

  She knew there would never again be days like this at this cabin, but she'd cherish each day with him and love him for all she was worth.

  After three days, they headed back to the ranch.

  When she got to the ranch she noticed all the little things he'd done to it. Like putting in an inside water pump and fancy lamps.

  She whirled around in the kitchen smiling. "I love this place, Cord. You've done so much work on the place, I mean the bunkhouse, the shed, the blacksmith shed and even made improvements on the barn. It's a place to be proud of."

  "I'm glad you like your new home."

  "I'm a very happy woman!" She glanced out the window with a sigh.

  He smiled, he'd found his heaven in her arms. It wasn't the house that mattered. It was her!

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Over three months passed, and life on the ranch was good. Lilly spent a lot of time learning to cook better and Charlie was so pleased to have both a mother and father at home too.

  Now that he was feeling so at home, Cord assigned him and Juan some regular chores and they did them together. Cord paid them a very small allowance and they saved their money for new fishing poles at the General Store.

  One project Cord set for himself was building a smokehouse, and him, Pedro, and Liam worked on it until it was built. Don Diego tended the cattle and fencing, along with his older sons.

  Cord had hired five men, then he'd purchased more cattle and a breeding bull too.

  "Well boys, looks like we need to go hunting and get some meat in here before winter sets in." Cord told them.

  "Si," Pedro smiled.

  "Well Pedro, I don't know if you should go or not. That baby may come any time now." Cord cautioned.

  Pedro nodded and smiled, "Si, any time now."

  "Tell you what, why don't you and Don Diego switch jobs for a while, until the baby comes, that way you can tend the cattle and fencing and stuff around here, while we stock this smokehouse for the winter."

  Pedro nodded, "It is a good idea. I do not want to miss the birth of my child."

  "No, and we'll have Lilly and Doc out here for that too." Cord assured him.

  So Cord, Don Diego, Juan and Charlie planned a hunting trip. Don Diego assured Pedro he would instruct Juan on what to do and Cord was there for Charlie. The women weren't all that happy about it, but the boys were excited to go hunting with the men.

  "They need to start learning these things sometime, and now is as good as any. We'll be there for any problems, don't worry," Cord flashed her a brilliant smile and kissed her. "I want him to learn to use the rifle and shotgun well, but we'll hold off any handguns."

  Lilly sighed, Cord's kisses could settle anything. Since their honeymoon life had been hectic, but fun too. They made love nearly every night and never tired of each other. Cord had become a very affectionate husband and he was teaching Charlie so much about survival and life itself. That in itself told her how much he loved her.

  Just the little things that Cord did for her and Charlie made her love grow for him day by day.

  That afternoon Liam asked if he could go. Cord looked at him. "Well sure, I didn't mean to leave you out, can you handle a gun."

  "I'm pretty good with a rifle." Liam told him.

  "Fine, get your gear ready, we'll ride out in the morning."

  That evening Maria looked at Pedro, "I am sorry you will miss the hunt."

  Pedro sent her a warm smile, "I do not wish to miss the birth of our child. There will be other hunts, but a child coming is important and I want to be here for it."

  "I know, but I know you want to go too." She pouted.

  "I will go next time." Pedro told her. "So how are you feeling today?"

  "I feel fine, just fine. In fact, I'm going to clean the room for the baby today and get things ready." She told him. "I seem to have more energy today than usual."

  "Let me know if you need me, just ring that bell out there."

  "I will…" She smiled. "But I feel extra energetic today. I want to get it done while I still can."

  He smiled and went to work.

  Juan and Charlie were excited to be on a hunt, and not have chores to do. But to shoot the guns would be an experience for them and maybe even hit something.

  The women waved them off that morning and settled into cleaning while the men were gone.

  Pedro was the only man on property, but things had been going so well lately, he didn't expect any trouble.

  The doc stopped off to see them later that morning. He went to see Lilly first.

  "So, how's married life?" He asked as he had a cup of coffee with her.

  Lilly poured them both a cup and sat at the table with him to catch up on any town news. "It's wonderful doc. I've never been this happy in my life."

  The doc's face lit, "I knew you'd like it. Yes, sir, I'm really happy for the both of you. And Cord has fixed this place up proper for you. People in town are wondering how he could afford to fix it up this nice."

  Lilly smiled shyly, "I figured they would wonder. Well, to be fair, I gave him some of the saloon sale money, and his mother left him some she'd saved for a while, but the bulk of it came from Cord. You see, those years he hired his gun out, he made good money. And since he didn’t have a female to spend it on, he saved it. He said he didn't know why he was saving it, but that his expenses just didn't amount to much. I never realized how thrifty he was, and it's hard to believe, but he gives me money any time I need it. He said he wants me to dress nice, and Charlie to look good in school, he's very generous with his money, that's part of the reason I gave him some of my profits. I wanted us to share everything in life. And he was all for sharing everything."

  "Well now that's good and very sensible too. No secrets between you?"

  "Not a one. I gotta admit, he's the only man, save for you, that I'd trust with mine or Charlie's life."

  "That's as it should be." Doc nodded. "I'm happy for the both of you, and Charlie too. I know it means a lot to Charlie to have a Pa for once."

  "It does. Him and Cord, they get along so well."

  "Well, I don't have to worry about you…"

  "No, you don't." She smiled. "Are you worried about anything else?"

  "Oh, that gambler you sold the saloon to, well, he's got every kind of table you can think of in there, and it gets loud and rowdy sometimes. The Sheriff's been in there several times warning him that he better keep things under control. That Rose lady runs the place though and she rough as nails. It's just so different than it used to be. Used to you could go in there during the day and sit and talk to someone half the morning, but not now. It's way too loud and too much anger going around. I don't go there, if I want bourbon, I send Peter, Mrs. Jones boy over to buy it for me."

  "I'm sorry doc. I knew it would change, but there wasn't anything short of not selling that I could do about it. The sale came at just the right time for the amount I was asking. I couldn't very well turn it down."

  "It's not your fault. Everything changes in time. And I'm just missing the old ways. Now, I've got to check on Maria and see how she's coming along." Doc told her.

  "Doc, you are welcome out here any time you want to come by, just to chat or visit a while, please do. I welcome the company and I love talking to you."

  "I'll do that." Doc smiled.

  "Pedro is here, the others went hunting."

  "Hunting huh."

  "Well, Cord built a smokehouse and now he wants something to put in it for the winter, so we'll all have meat this win
ter, and if you need or want some, you can come out here and get what you need. Cord already told me that." Lilly smiled.

  "Well that generous of you both. And I might just take you up on that." Doc sort of perked up, hearing that.

  "I'll go on over and check on her, and holler before I leave." The Doc told her.

  "All right Doc, thanks for checking on her."

  "You bet."

  When he left, Lilly busied herself with making a peach cobbler. If it turned out good she'd make another before the men came home, but she could share her first with Maria.

  Doc in the meantime knocked on Maria's front door.

  Maria came running out of the baby's room and unlocked the door.

  "Doc, how good to see you."

  "Maria, I wanted to stop by and check on you."

  "Oh, how sweet. I'm feeling fine."

  "Well, what say we take a look, you could already be dilated you know. This certainly isn't your first, and each baby seems to come a little easier."

  "If you think it's necessary, yes." She agreed.

  He examined her and had a strange look on his face.

  "What's wrong?" Maria stared at him as she put her clothes on.

  "You are dilated nearly five centimeters. You've got to take it easy, your about to have this baby, Maria. Any pains?"

  Maria started to shake her head then looked a bit puzzled, "Well, yes, a little back pain."

  "I suspect we're going to have this baby today or tonight Maria."

  "Mama Mia, I need to finish the room." She exclaimed.

  "The room will have to wait. Now I want you to relax, and rest. I'm going to run back to get Lilly."

  "Si, I am that close?"

  "You are my dear. Since you've had children before it could come quickly."

  "Yes, I understand. But I feel very good."

  "Most women do, just before they deliver."

  She nodded.

  "Now you just go lay down, and put your oldest gown on, and I'll be back."

  She nodded.

  Doc went to fetch Lilly.

  "It's her time?" Lilly looked surprised and yet happy.

  "Yes, do you know where Pedro is?"