“Rattlers?”
“Snakes. Rattle snake. They’re poisonous and have rattles on the end of their tail they use to warn people and animals that they’re around. The horses probably heard one or saw one and took off.”
She leaned into him. “I want to go home. I’ve had enough of a lesson today.”
“Do you want to drive?” He held the reins up for her to take.
She shook her head. “No.” She shied away from them.
He got them turned around and headed back in the direction of their house.
When they pulled up to the hitching rail in the front yard, Ella wanted to jump down and run into the house before Nathan could help her. Before he could see what a coward she was. She didn’t want him to see the fear in her eyes. But she couldn’t get her legs to work.
Nathan set the brake, hopped out and came around to her side. He held his hand up to her. She took it and turned on the seat, but that’s as far as she could get.
“Ella. Oh baby, it’s alright. Come here.” He reached up and grasped her around the waist and lifted her down.
Once on her feet her knees buckled. Nathan caught her, picked her up and carried her inside to their bedroom where he set her down on the side of the bed. He sat down beside her and put his arm around her.
She burst into tears, grabbed him around the waist and buried her face in his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. Didn’t tell her to hush or that it would be alright, just let her cry.
“I’m sorry. I…it…it was like being in the carriage all over again. I couldn’t stop what was happening. I could see it, knew we were in trouble, but couldn’t stop it.” She sniffled and reached for the handkerchief in her sleeve. She dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose.
“This isn’t something that you have to do, not now, not ever if you don’t want. Why don’t you just lie down for awhile? I’ll go get the horses and put them away, then come back and check on you.”
She nodded and lay down on the bed.
Once Nathan left the room she allowed herself to cry again, to relive the hell that had been relegated to her nightmares. So real. It was back and it was so real. The terror. The pain.
She curled into herself and fell asleep.
When Nathan came back he found her that way, sound asleep. He knew from prior experience that she was reliving her accident. He lay down next to her and gathered her into his arms. She went willingly and molded to his body. He held her, felt her relax and breathe easier. She’d been frightened out of her mind today. But she handled it. Didn’t fall apart until they got to the house and even then she didn’t turn into a screaming ninny.
He was proud of her. Considering the severity of the original accident, that she would even consider driving the buggy had been a big step forward. He didn’t know if he’d get her back in it, but he thought she would. She was stronger than she thought she was, his little bride.
Ella awoke feeling warm and relaxed. Her head was pillowed on Nathan’s chest and his arms held her in a circle of warmth. She was loathe to leave his embrace, but nature called. She moved his arm down so she could get up, but it came back to her breast. She gave a small gasp at the intimate contact, turned and looked up into his blue eyes, smoldering with passion.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hello to you.”
Now both of his hands were busy with her breasts and she almost changed her mind about getting out of bed, but her body reminded her she needed to void.
“I have to get up. Now.”
“Only if you promise to come back to bed.”
“I promise.”
“Without your clothes.”
She nodded and he released her.
Staying behind the screen, she got out of her wrinkled clothes and, out of habit, arranged her hair carefully over her left side, hiding her scars. She went out into the room and ran for the bed.
“Stop. Don’t run,” he commanded.
She stopped and walked the rest of the way. Thinking to tease him she got in on his side of the bed, crawling over his naked body. He’d lost the covers, and his clothes, after she’d gotten up. He stopped her when she was fully on top of him, trapping her legs between his and allowing her to feel every aroused inch of him.
“Now that is the best idea you’ve had.” He pulled her up until he could kiss her. And kiss her he did, gently, thoroughly, leaving her no doubt that he wanted her.
“Nathan,” she breathed when he let her up. “Make love to me.”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
He rolled them until he was on top of her. Leaning down he nipped at her neck and then soothed with his tongue. Came back to her mouth and gave her a kiss before moving to the other side of her neck and down, down to her breast where he took one aching nipple into his mouth.
He moved her hair and she stiffened.
“Don’t hide yourself from me.” He kissed all along her scars, easing her, and then moved down to her other breast. “You are beautiful. All of you.”
She could almost believe him. He treated her body reverently like he really cared. There was no reticence, no hesitation, he kissed every part of her, then parted her legs and kissed her there, where she ached.
“Nathan. Please.”
He chuckled, but the next thing she knew his tongue was making her ache for more. Around and around her pleasure nub it went and then he sucked and licked again. The ache built until finally he sent her into oblivion, soaring among the stars.
As she started to return to earth, he drove home, her body slick and ready to receive him.
He lifted his head from her shoulder and smiled down at her. He pumped slowly. Each stroke rebuilding the fire in her. His eyes never left hers as she began to move with him, up when he pushed in and back when he pulled out. Each stroke buried him deeper and deeper until he touched her womb. He picked up that pace and she began to build toward that wonderful pinnacle she’d fallen off of before.
Nathan thrust twice more, reached between them and said, “Come with me, Ella,” as he touched her nubbin sending her over the precipice. She heard him groan and then he buried his face in her neck, among her scars and she didn’t care. This was right and so wonderful.
He lay heavy upon her, still inside her and then he rolled taking her with him, throwing one leg over hers, he pulled her close.
These were the moments she loved. Having him hold her after they made love could almost make her believe he loved her. Almost. She had to remind herself not to fall in love with him. He couldn’t love her back. Handsome men like him didn’t fall in love with women like her. She was heir to a fortune, but men only wanted the money, not her. But, a little voice reminded her, Nathan doesn’t know you’re rich. You’ve never told him. Maybe you should. It’s his money now, too.
“Nathan.”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t go to sleep yet. We need to talk.”
He hugged her close. “What about?”
“Us.”
She felt him tense up. “What about us?”
“I’m rich.”
He relaxed. “So am I. I have you.”
She sighed. He wasn’t going to make this easy. “No. Really. I’m rich. My brother and I inherited my father’s shipyard when he was killed.”
“That’s nice.”
“It doesn’t bother you?”
“Why should it? Every man wants a rich wife. Besides,” he gave her a hug. “I’m wealthy on my own and I’ll inherit from my father one day. He’s a very rich man. The fact that you have money means nothing to me. Keep it or spend it, as you please.”
“You really don’t care?” she hugged him and rubbed her hand over his smooth chest. “Since I can spend it, you just said I could, I want to hire someone to put a bathroom and running water in the house.”
“I can pay for that,” he grumbled.
“I know, but so can I. Please let me do this. For us. For our children.”
“
For the children?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Yes, it will be ever so much easier to keep the little buggers clean with running water in the house and a bathroom with a big tub in it. Maybe one big enough for the two of us together.” She winked at him.
“Are you flirting with me in order to get your way?”
She laughed. “Yes. Is it working? Can I hire a plumber to come put water in the house?”
“I suppose so. Will that make you happy?”
“Ecstatic.”
“Good. Now let’s go to sleep. Morning comes early and you’ve already kept me up with your incessant demands to make love.”
“Me?! It was you—”
He chuckled.
She shook her head. “You love to get me all riled up.”
“Well, you are easy to rile. It’s fun to watch.”
“I’m going to stop taking anything you say seriously.”
He rolled her until she lay atop him. “I’m very serious when I say I want you.” He pushed his pelvis up so she was sure of his erection. “But if I take you again, we won’t get any sleep. So,” he rolled to his side, “close your beautiful brown eyes and go to sleep.” He turned over and blew out the lamp.
She was much too excited to sleep. Her mind raced and she thought of babies. Touching her still flat stomach she wondered if her children would have their father’s dark good looks or her pale skin? It didn’t matter who her babies took after, they were already loved.
Or might they take after her father with his golden blond coloring. That was who Joshua favored. He had blond hair and bronzed skin from working in the shipyard. At least he had until their father was murdered. Now he worked in the office as her father had. Joshua still kept his hand in the actual building of the ships. It’s what he loved. He worked one day a week in the yard and the rest of the time in the office. It was enough to keep his skin sun kissed.
Thinking about Joshua made her a little homesick. Would she be able to see him again? Would Nathan want to go to New York? Could he even spend that much time away from the ranch? She knew she didn’t want to make the trip alone. The trip had been bad enough alone the first time.
What about when she had the child? Could Joshua come there? He surely could leave the business for a time. Benjamin, his assistant, could handle it and they had a telegraph in Golden City, if Joshua’s input was really necessary.
Finally, she decided she’d have Nathan take her to town so she could telegraph Joshua. Just making the decision relaxed her and she rolled over to go to sleep. Nathan’s arms still held her loosely. She rolled out of them and to her side. Even in his sleep he reached for her and laid one arm over her. Very possessive, her husband, yet he understood her need to be independent, too. He wanted her to learn to drive the buggy and she wanted to. She was afraid, but she would overcome her fear by facing it. She had the basics of driving and she would face her fear head on. Tomorrow. She’d think about it tomorrow. That would be soon enough, she thought as sleep overtook her.
* * *
She kicked at the irritant. Something tickled her feet.
“Wake up, sleepy head.” His deep voice rolled over her and she felt just delicious.
She sighed. “Is is morning already?”
“Yup and you’ve got breakfast to make. Martha has already got the coffee going and is gathering the eggs as we speak. So get your beautiful ass out of bed.” He swatted said ass.
“Ow. All right. I’m up. I’m up.” She kicked off the covers and sat up. Thank goodness she’d gotten a nap yesterday because she didn’t get much sleep last night. The thought made her smile.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
He chuckled. “Well, nothing has you blushing right down to your toes. And nothing is going to happen again tonight.”
She was sure her cheeks and other naked parts were flaming. She grabbed the first thing she found, a black bombazine dress. Much too heavy for the work she had to to today, she hung it back in the closet and traded it for a light cotton dress in red with small white flowers. It was quite fitted showing off her figure.
Nathan gave her a wicked smile and said, “You look good enough to eat, but I’ll wait until tonight.”
“You have to stop saying those things; I’m in a perpetual state of embarrassment.”
“It becomes you.” He gave her a quick kiss and headed out to start his morning chores. There were horses, pigs and milk cows to be fed.
She finished dressing and doing her morning ablutions and then went to the kitchen. There she put three big cast iron skillets on the stove filled with bacon and sausage. After that she poured herself a cup of the coffee Martha made and started on the first batch of biscuits. Feeding fifteen hungry cowboys was a lot of work and when that was done there was still housework to do.
Except for some light cooking all of these were things she’d never done until now. She’d had maids and cooks for all of her twenty-four years. Her old nursemaid, Bridget, had taken care of her after the accident. That had been the hardest thing to do, saying goodbye to Bridget.
She’d thought of bringing her along, but didn’t want to subject the elderly woman to the hardships of the trip. It was for the best all around. Bridget would have tried to do all the work and Ella would have learned nothing.
In these last two months, her whole life had changed. She had a husband, a home of her own, not her father’s or her brother’s, but hers. She was going to have a baby soon, well in seven months, but that was soon enough. She’d have someone she could love unconditionally and who would love her back. Maybe when she gave Nathan a child he would fall in love with her, too. She knew she’d already fallen in love with her husband. He was strong yet kind and intelligent. He treated her gently. A powerful combination. He was all man. The best kind of man.
CHAPTER 6
Laundry day. The worst day of the week as far as Ella was concerned. She hated standing over the wash tub and stirring the clothes in boiling water with the long wooden paddle. Even when the water got cool enough for her to put her hands in, the harsh lye soap still ate at them. They were no longer the lily white, soft appendages she’d arrived in Golden City with. Now, more often than not, they were red and chapped and sometimes hurt like hell.
She chastised herself for her language. That was another thing she’d learned. How to cuss. Martha was good at it, her language often very colorful. Nathan tended to watch his language in front of her, but she heard him, when he didn’t think she could hear, cuss a blue streak more than once. Usually over something that one of the cowboys did. He never disciplined them in front of the other men, but they heard about whatever it was in private.
Laundry was almost done. All she had to do was hang it. She put it in the basket and carried it to the clothes line. She started to put the basket down when she saw it. A snake coiled right in front of her. She stopped, but not soon enough. It struck and caught her on the leg above her ankle.
She dropped the laundry basket. It landed on the snake, blocking it from striking again. “Nathan!”
Martha heard her and came running. “What in the world is wrong?”
Ella walked to her. “I got bit by a snake. Get Nathan. Hurry.”
She sat down on the porch steps and waited for what seemed like an eternity. Knowing that with every heartbeat the poison pushed its deadly way through her system. Her leg hurt like the dickens.
Nathan came running with Martha far behind. His long legs ate up the distance between the barn and the house.
“Ella. Honey. Show me the bite.”
She lifted her dress. There were two distinct marks on her leg.
“We have to get the poison out.” He took his knife and cut across the two bites. Then he put his mouth on her and sucked. He spit the blood out and repeated the procedure. “I know that some of the poison is still in your system, but you’re going to be fine.”
Ella nodded. “I don’t feel well, Nathan. I’m scared.”
> He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. There he undressed her and put her in her nightgown. “I’ll get you some water. I sent one of the boys for the doctor.”
Ella closed her eyes and the tears began to fall. “I’m going to die aren’t I?”
“No. You’re not. Snake bites aren’t usually fatal, but you’re going to be very sick for awhile. I’ll get you some water. You just lie here and rest.”
“Nathan. I don’t want to die. What about the baby?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know, Ella.” He sat on the bed and took her in his arms.
She cried harder clutching his shirt, holding him to her. “I can’t lose the baby. Oh, God, please don’t let me lose this baby.”
“We’ll get through this no matter what happens. I think I hear a buggy. That’s probably the doc. You just lie here for a bit. I’ll be right back.”
The tears fell faster after Nathan left and she was still crying when the doctor came in the room.
“Mrs. Ravenclaw, you must calm down. I’m going to give you a little bit of laudanum. I want you to drink it all down,” said the doctor.
Knowing she needed to relax and still unable to, she did as she was told.
“Did you kill the snake? I dropped the laundry basket on it. It’s probably still trapped.” She grabbed Nathan’s shirt. “You have to go kill it. I want to know it’s dead.”
“All right.” He unwound her hands from the front of his shirt. “I’ll go do that now while the doctor is here and can watch you. Now just relax and let the medicine take effect.”
She lay back and tried to calm herself. Tried to slow her racing heart. It was a lost cause. Worry for the baby made her cry again. “I can’t stop worrying about my baby,” she told the doctor.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but the most help you can give that little one is to calm yourself.”
A few minutes later Nathan came back in the room. He smiled at her and the doctor. “Well, I killed the snake you trapped with the basket. It wasn’t a rattler. Just a bull snake. An easy mistake to make. They look alike, but the bull snake doesn’t have the rattles…or the venom. You’re going to be fine.”
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