“It smells good in here.” He smiled at her.
“Thanks. I filled the basin outside with fresh water so you two could clean up for dinner.” She looked at him pointedly. Ducking his head a little he nodded and grabbed Lily’s hand.
Sierra smiled as she heard their conversation.
“But daddy we never had to wash up for dinner before.”
“We did with your momma. We have a lady in the house now and this is her domain so we will do as she asks.”
“I just don’t see why we have to clean. And did you see the house? Whad she go and do something like that for? I mean it was fine just the way we had it wasn’t it Pa?”
“It may have been before but not anymore. I kind of like having real food don’t you? It smells like vegetable soup in there. Isn’t that better than the cold meat and bread that we get from town already made?”
“I don’t know. I kinda like it being us two. Like two peas in a pod you always say.”
“Yes, but some pods have three peas Lily.”
“Seems crowded to me in that pod.” The girl’s voice was gruff.
“Stop your fussing. You don’t cause her no trouble Lily Marie. Do you hear me? She came a long way to help us out. Understand?”
“Yes Pa. I promise I won’t put no frogs or snakes in her bed and I won’t try and scare her away.”
“You’re a good girl Lily and you need a woman around to help you fix your hair and stuff.”
“What’s wrong with my hair? And she’ll just make me wash it like Ma used to. I mean I liked it when ma did it. She was different wasn’t she Pa?”
“Yes she was honey. Now come on. Let’s go give Sierra the gratitude she deserves.”
“Yes sir.”
Sierra looked up when they came through the doorway. “The place looks amazing Sierra thank you. Did you get settled in alright?”
“Yes I did. Thank you.” She acknowledged, but she hadn’t even stepped into the bedroom except to grab the spices. It would be something she would have to tackle tomorrow. She watched as they both sat down at the table.
“If you don’t mind Sierra. I always say grace.”
“That is wonderful.” She looked at the hand he reached out to her and laying her hand in his she felt the warmth cover her own. She looked over at Lily and smiled as she reached her hand out. The little girl scowled but placed her hand into Sierra’s.
“Dear heavenly father. We thank you for this food and everything you have given us. You are our savior and without you, we would be meaningless. We would also like to thank you for bringing Sierra into our lives. We know she will become a great member to our family and we only hope for your guidance and love. We thank you again. In Jesus name. Amen.”
Sierra began to eat the soup in front of her and looked over at Lily. Her eyes widened with the first bite. She began to eat more. Without thinking she spoke. “This soup is really good uh Pa. Wow.”
“I’m glad you like it. I used spices from Boston I brought with me.”
“It is amazing Sierra thank you. We will have to get more of those spices sent in.” He smiled at her as he tore a piece of his biscuit off to dip into the bowl. After filling his bowl twice and Lily’s once she began to clean up the dishes. They both carried their dishes to the sink. He stood behind her and she could feel the heat radiate off of his body onto her own. “We normally go outside and sit after dinner. Lily tries to catch lightning flies and I use my pipe. We would like it if you would join us.”
She turned to smile at him and almost ran right into him. She sucked in a breath. “I would like that a lot. Thank you.”
They sat in the two rocking chairs and watched Lily play in the yard. Sierra saw herself on that porch rocking when she was older. The life in the west may be hard, but it was peaceful. It was simple and less stressful. She didn’t need to compare herself to other women or try to outdo them. She simply had to be herself and enjoy life. Not to mention it was absolutely breathtaking out there. She was amazed at how different it was from the city. The air smelled so clean and fresh. She took a big whiff and caught the scent of the pipe in the man’s mouth next to her. She remembered Liam and how he smoked his pipe in the foyer at night while she curled up with a good book in front of the fire. It had been so peaceful and comfortable to just share the silence together.
“I’m sorry does the pipe bother you. I can put it out.”
She looked over to see his worried look. “No. To tell you the truth I always loved the smell of a pipe when my husband smoked it. Like you, he wanted his at night after supper as well. I remember sitting with him while he puffed on it.”
“Ernest told me about your husband. I am sorry for your loss.”
“Yes. It was hard. Still is. I am sorry for yours as well. I would say people don’t understand, but I’m sure you do.” She looked over at him sadly.
He sighed deeply as he looked out at the yard where Lily was hopping around trying to catch lightning bugs inside her hands. Her laughter could be heard across the yard and Sierra watched him. “It is hard. And yes unfortunately I do understand. I would say that you will get over it, but you won’t. I miss Abigail every day, but it does get easier with time. You will see that you will remember the little things. Their laughter, her smile, the way she said good morning and the way she looked sitting just as you are now. That is the memories you remember the most. The little things such as your husband smoking a pipe every evening.”
She smiled sadly as she thought of what he said and realized that he was right. It was the small things in their marriage that she remembered the most. His smile and the way he used to call her his precious before he left every morning. It all came back to her and a smile spread across her face.
“I see you agree.” She turned to see him smiling in her direction.
“I have to say you are right. It is sad, but it is also good to remember as well.”
“Yeah it is.”
“Look Daddy I got one. Look. Look.” Lily came bounding up the stairs to show off her treasure. “Look Sierra.”
Chapter 3
Coming over to peek in between her little hands she smiled when she saw the little light coming from inside. “Wow. Look at that.” She laughed as she looked at the tiny bug in wonder. She had never in her life seen such a thing. Her reddish blond hair fell in front of her face and she impatiently swept it behind her ear. “I have never seen such a bug.”
“You ain’t never seen a firefly before?”
She laughed at the shocked look on the little girls face. “No I can’t really say that I have. We don’t have them in Ireland and I would assume you wouldn’t be able to see them in the city with all the lights and such.”
“Wow. Guess there are some things that you ain’t never seen too uh?”
“Yes Lily there are.”
“Ok. Let him go Lily then it’s off to bed with you.”
“Oh Pa. Do I have to go to bed?”
“Yes. Off with you young lady. I’ll be up in a minute.”
Sierra laid on the bed in the bedroom some time later and smiled before she drifted off. That night she slept better than she had in over a year.
It had been weeks since she had come to the ranch and Sierra began to feel herself fitting in. She was sitting on the porch one day when she saw Lilly come up behind her. She felt the small of her hand caress her braid slowly. It now reached to her waist and she found it easier to just braid it out here.
“I like your hair.”
“Thank you Lily.”
“My momma used to braid my hair but I never learned how she did it. I liked it though. She would let me sit in her chair in the bedroom when she did it.”
“If you want Lily, I can braid your hair.”
“Really?”
“But you have to do something for me.”
The little girl stepped back so that she could look at her. There was a frown on her face as she looked at the older woman skeptically. “What’s that?”
&
nbsp; “You have to take a bath.”
“Oh man. I knew it. You’re like momma. You want me to be clean first. She used to help me with my bath though. Would you help me?”
“I would love to. Come on. We’ll heat up some water and get out that old tub I saw in the corner of the living room.”
“Really? A hot bath?”
“Yes. And if you would like I have some lavender oil I can put into it.”
“Wow. Ok. You got a deal.” The little girl stuck out her hand and smiling Sierra took it and shook it.
It was some time later that Lily wondered if she had made the right decision. It had taken them a long time to fill the tub and then even longer for Sierra to scrub her clean and scrub her she did. It seemed like she had layers of dust and dirt. Finally Lily sat in the small chair in front of the mirror. She looked through the mirror at the woman he tried to get a comb through the knots in her hair. It took a couple hours, but she finally had her hair clean and combed through. Taking up the ends she looked in the mirror and smiled at the young girl before she began to braid her hair. The long braid laid against Lily’s back.
“Wow. It is great. It looks like how momma did it.”
“You are a beautiful young girl Lily. You should show it off more. You will be a young lady soon and then you will want to marry a nice young man. How about a nice dress?”
“No way. I’m not wearing no frilly and foo foo dress. No way, no how.”
“Ok. We will take one step at a time.”
Later on Lily was standing beside her kneading dough when Jacob came through the door. “Sierra have you seen Lily? I haven’t seen her all day. Oh.” His eyes widened when he looked over at the table where Lily was kneading dough. “Wow. Lily you look beautiful.”
“Thank you Pa. And you know what? Sierra said she will do my hair every day. It’s just like how momma used to do it.” As she heard Sierra clear her voice she made a face and went on. “That is she said if I keep it clean. Every day Pa. She said I have to take a bath every day. Don’t know how I’m gonna do it but we made a deal and she made me shake on it.” Flour puffed out as the little girl folded her arms in despair.
“That’s good. You need to.” His laughter died when Sierra went on.
“Good. You will show a good example by doing the same thing.” Sierra’s word cut through.
“You mean Pa is going to take a bath every day too. Like when momma was here. She made him take one before he ate.”
“That is perfect Lily.” Sierra smiled as Jacob scowled down at his daughter. He had come in happy and it seemed that the tables had turned on him. “I can warm you a bath or you can go to the river whichever you prefer. We can start tonight.”
“Fine.” It was the only word he said before stomping from the house.
It became a routine every day. It was close to that time one evening and she had decided to run him a bath. Pulling the large tub from the corner she set out getting everything prepared. Jacob had thanked her as she made her way out the cabin to give him some privacy. She decided to take a walk. Lily had gone to a neighbor’s house and was staying there for the night. It would just be the two of them and he had thought that she would bend the rules since the enforcer wasn’t there but she had held her ground. He came out sometime later and helped her to empty the tub.
Seeing there was no reason to waste the use of the tub herself she began heating water to take a bath herself. She knew that Jacob was outside. He had said he would walk down to the apple tree and pick some for her to make a pie. She had just finished and stood when the door opened. Tucking in the towel, she turned in the direction of the door opening. There stood Jacob. His eyes traveled the length of her body and not thinking twice he made his way to her. She was crushed to him as his mouth devoured hers. He nipped at the edges and kissed her for what seemed like forever. Sierra had never kissed a man other than her husband. He had been the only man to touch her. As she found herself in this man’s arms, she couldn’t do anything but kiss him back.
The heat from his body seemed to intertwine with her own and she gasped at the sensations and tingling she felt in her nipples. He grinned at her before dipping his head down to grasp one of them into his mouth.
“Oh! God!”
He gently licked it through the material of her slip. She felt her nipples pucker and tighten as he twined his hand in her hair wrapping the long lengths around his hand. Her body felt like it was on fire and she moaned when he kept up his onslaught on her nipples going from one to the next until they stood out like two pebbles.
“I have waited to do that since the moment I saw you. I have wanted that and so much more. Maybe I should just show you.” Before she realized what he had said, he had picked her up and carried her into the bedroom to the small bed in the corner. She knew she should try to fight him and push away but something wouldn’t let her. She let him lift the slip from her and watched his tan hand caress her stomach. The contrast in his tanned hand against her milky white skin almost made her giggle.
He gently kissed her and without thinking again, she kissed him back. She wanted to feel everything. She was tired of fighting the sensations that were coursing through her body. She wanted, no she needed to feel him. She ran her hands up along his chest and back down his arms. Suddenly he crushed her to him and devoured her mouth as he had before. She gasped as she felt his hand glide over her hip and down to gently slip between her legs.
Jacob gently rubbed the nub that was engorged with her desire. She moaned into his mouth and he slipped a finger inside her. His dick was so hard he thought he would bust the button from his trousers. The mewls of pleasure coming from her mouth as his finger slowly moved inside her were driving him mad with need. His mouth returned to her breasts gently sucking and nipping at the nipples.
“You are so hot and wet. I want to sink inside you.”
“Yes please. I need you. It’s been so long. I feel like my skin is on fire. God please help me.”
He stood and quickly shed his trousers. His dick sprang out and he felt himself harden even more as his eyes roamed her body. She laid with her legs slightly spread. He could see her juices glistening on her sex and he shuddered when he thought of how good it was going to be when he was inside her. He smiled as her eyes roamed his body. Standing tall he let her look over him.
Sierra blushed when she saw him watch her stare at his body. She looked at the muscles that bulged in his arms and legs then her eyes traveled to his penis sticking out towards her. It bobbed at her stare and she heard his chuckle.
Chapter 4
She felt his hands gently caress her calves and then move up to her thighs. He gently coaxed her to relaxation. She felt his lips on the inside of her thigh and she gasped. She tried to close her legs thinking it wasn’t proper. “Oh no sweet. I will taste you. Come on. I promise it will be something unimaginable. Open up.” He gently pushed her legs and she let him expose her to his sight. She blushed deeply when he just sat there and looked at her most private parts. “You are beautiful.” She felt his tongue against the crease of her ass and thigh and gasped at the incredible feeling it invoked. She felt his tongue circle her clit and moaned deep when it slipped inside her. Her hands gripped his shoulders as his tongue became frantic licking and touching her everywhere.
Jacob chuckled when her legs fell completely open. She was writhing on the bed and moaning. He quickly leaned over her and nudged her legs as open as they would go. She looked up at him gasping as he gently eased the head of his penis between her folds. She sucked in a breath when she felt the invasion.
He took her mouth in a deep kiss as he sank in completely to the hilt. Her shriek of ecstasy was captured in his mouth. He kissed her deeply and then traveled his lips down her throat to capture a nipple into his mouth coaxing it back into a hard pebble.
She was breathing heavy as she felt his mouth travel down her throat to her nipple. The burning sensation subsided and a fullness replaced it. She suddenly needed to move and wigg
led against him wanting something she could not explain. Her body craved more.
“Don’t move. Oh God you are so damn tight I can barely keep myself from taking you hard and I want you to enjoy this too.” He looked down into her crystal blue eyes and almost lost it again as she smiled up at him. He kissed her again as he began to move inside her slowly at first. She reacted instantly and soon he felt her meeting his thrusts with her hips. He growled deep into the crook of her neck and suddenly couldn’t hold back. He slammed into her over and over and she squealed with pleasure.
Sierra watched as beads of sweat trickled down his neck. Reaching up she wiped them away with her tongue. He sat up on his knees and grabbed her ass with his hands bringing her up to meet the oncoming penetration. His pace increased faster and faster and she felt his hand trail down her body to her clit. He applied pressure circling it with his thumb. She gasped as an explosion happened behind her eyelids. She grabbed his shoulders and she felt her nails sink in. It was like fireworks inside her and the most intense and amazing feeling she had ever felt.
Jacob couldn’t hold out any longer when he felt her tighten around him even more. He groaned deep as he emptied himself inside her. He had never had such an intense orgasm in his life. He looked down at her face that stared up at him in wonder. Chuckling he eased from inside her. He sat on the bed with her for a while before laying down and pulling the cover over the both of them for the night.
They both woke the next morning when they heard a rider getting close to the house. Jacob was instantly alarmed and jumped from the bed. Sierra had just dressed and come outside to see a man sitting atop a horse talking to Jacob. They seemed to be friendly and she knew instantly there was no threat. The man was about their age and smiled over at her.
Hang Em' Up: A Bad Boy Sports Pregnancy Romance Page 50