Lady Star

by Claudy Conn

  He watched the Berkley chit take a fence and for a moment he lost sight of her over the slope of the rolling hill. He pointed his poor animal in the fence’s direction and took it with little grace, landing hard on the horse’s kidneys. His horse made a sound and dipped, but he yanked hard on the reins bringing the horse’s head up and forced him forward, cropping him hard and sharply for more speed. “Aye,” he murmured, “There ye be missy…there ye be.”

  * * *

  “Well, this is turning out to be quite a morning,” Sir Edward told his horse as he trotted toward the open gate to Stamford’s back pastures.

  He had left his buckskin riding coat at the barn as it was a sultry day and the breeze felt good against the open neckline of his white shirt.

  His mind had been racing all night and sleep had been impossible. He hoped the ride would dissipate the cobwebs taking over his brain. Fate, he decided, was a trickster and no doubt a female. Fate had brought him to Rye. Fate had made him run into his good friend and fate had plopped a woman-child, a hoyden, a rough and tumble beauty to play with his resolves to avoid any entanglement at this stage of his life.

  He had played at love and had lost badly only a short time ago. He didn’t want to get involved and here he was…what? Involved?

  His pride had been wounded by the Lady Babs and although he had, and surprisingly so, quickly recovered from the experience, he had no wish to repeat it.

  Jules still seemed to think Star was the light in his eyes, yet he rather doubted it. Jules had rebounded from his sad affair also only a short time ago. Edward was certain Star was only a diversion for his friend and just as certain that Jules’s attention was already turning elsewhere.

  Right then, why shouldn’t he enjoy the dark eyed beauty? Her kisses were delicious and there was no denying that when his lips touched hers, something beyond his imagination had been ignited in him. What was that? It hadn’t been the same with Lady Babs. She had said he had yet to fall in love and that he would know it when it happened. Was this love?

  He had not wanted to stop kissing Star. He had wanted to go on touching her and for a moment, he thought he would bed her right there in the library on the Oriental rug.

  He was jolted out of this reverie by his horse when he jerked his head and pulled on the reins for a run. Edward laughed and patted his neck, “There now, easy lad.”

  Wanting to stretch, his horse pranced in place as though begging for release and Sir Edward sighed and said, “Oh very well, you want a run, eh? So be it.”

  They took off across the grassy field and Prancer feeling his oats, jumped in the air with a back kick in show of exuberant spirits.

  “Aye,” Sir Edward chuckled as he brought him back under him and settled him into a trot. “That was grand and just for fun, eh? Perhaps that is all this is…this feeling I have for the pretty Star—just for fun?”

  At that moment, the woman he had been thinking of every waking moment, came into view. He could clearly see her piquant beautiful face, her flaxen hair windblown and framing her loveliness. All at once and with a certainty he could almost see, he knew he wanted her back in his arms. He wanted her lips against his own, her tongue dancing with his and her body.

  Damn, but that way led to trouble. She was gentry. He couldn’t bed her and move off. Bedding her would lead to marriage and he was not yet certain that she was the one…was he? Perhaps this was all an illusion?

  He turned his horse away. Better not ride toward her…safer to keep away from her.

  * * *

  Star pulled her horse up to a total stop. Jules Stamford’s estate was not far now. Why oh why had she ridden in this direction? Even if Edward did miracously appear on horseback, what would he think? What could he think, but that she had come to see him…and he would feel hounded. She was in fact, hounding him, riding here hoping to catch him up. She should wait until he came to Berkley to find her. That was what she should do.

  She turned her horse about and started for the deer path that led to the bordering wooded trails. Nothing for it but to return home. She had just gone over the ridge of the hill once again and stopped short, but for a very different reason.

  She couldn’t believe it and sat her Butch for a moment as she composed herself. Slowly, she moved her free hand beneath her skirt and retrieved the little pistol from its strap around her leg, a promise she had made to Vern recently to keep it near when riding alone.

  She was surprised that Farley would dare approach her during the daylight and waited, wondering what he was about to do.

  Farley displayed his toothless grin as he slowly walked his horse directly at her and Star felt a tension rivet her spine. She wouldn’t show him that she was afraid. She would stand ready to shoot him if need be. She had never shot anything but targets in her life. Could she shoot a man? She would have to shoot to kill, because if she didn’t, Farley would turn into an enraged animal and come at her in the future. She had to be resigned to hold her ground and take him unawares, for she was sure he was up to no good.

  As he got closer to her, he draped the reins of his horse across his saddle, leaned forward and tipped his woolen cap at her, making a show of bowing his head. As he straightened up he said, “Well and good day to ye, Miss Berkley. Fine bright afternoon, is it not?”

  “So it is, but you have the advantage of me, as you know my name and I do not know yours,” Star spoke as haughtily as she could muster.

  Farley rode up closer, too close for her comfort and said on a low hard note, “Oi have a feelin’ ye know m’name, but Oi’m happy to remind ye of it. Farley…that’s right and ye and me…well now, Oi’m thinking it wasn’t so very long ago that we met.”

  “You are mistaken, Mr. Farley. I have no notion who you are and have never met you.” Star lied without guilt, but even so felt a twitch take over one eye.

  “Here now, no cause fer alarm, just yet that is. Oi’m an acquaintance of yer brothers’ Oi am, so wait till ye have heard me out.”

  She poised herself regally, “I am sorry, but I am not in the habit of talking to strangers alone in a field. If you are a friend of my brother’s, he has never mentioned you.”

  “Aw now,” he leered. “Oi knows better Oi do. Oi know ye were in a most disreputable inn not so long ago…and met with me and m’lads.”

  “I have no notion of what you speak.” She started her horse forward, but he kicked his horse to move in front of her and got in her way. He reached out and audaciously tried to get hold of her reins.

  If she had a crop she would have given him another scar.

  At that moment, she was so outraged at his audacity, that she forgot to be frightened and pulled out her gun, aiming it directly at his heart. She seethed and said, “Release my reins and get out of my way, or you will regret this, I promise you.”

  “Full of pluck ain’t ye?” He eyed her, “Oi’m thinking ye won’t shoot me…Oi’m thinking ye will hear me out, cuz if ye don’t Oi’ll tell everyone yer brother sent his sister to meet with me and the lads, Oi will.”

  “As I said you are gravely mistaken…and do not think I will not shoot you, for I was taught early on just how to use this.”

  “Oi told ye, Oi knows yer brother. Ye see, he and me… we have had dealings together, and Oi mean to have more. Whot would yer fine society do, if Oi set it about that ye and yer brother were in cahoots with me and mine?”

  “I know that my brother frequents the Mermaid, as do most of the men in our lovely Rye. There is nothing untoward in that. I, however, do not frequent it. I advise you to get out of my way Mr. Farley, for I won’t stay here with you another moment.” She was sure he was bluffing. He had no proof it was her and no one would believe such an outrageous claim.

  “Oi have more to say Missy and ye won’t be leaving until Oi says it.” He yanked hard on her reins pulling them completely out of her hold and made her horse spook to one side.

  Butch was unused to such rough handling and went into the air with a high pitched screa
m and for the moment it was all Star could do to keep her seat and hold onto her gun!

  * * *

  Sir Edward had pointed his horse away from Berkley Grange and started west. His determination to avoid seeing Star Berkley was only exceeded by his need to see her. He grappled with himself and suddenly found that his hands worked the reins without consulting his brain. He turned his horse back toward Berkley!

  As he trotted along, a sound over the rolling hill caught his attention. It sounded like a horse in trouble and he hurried up the slope and found a scene that both startled and infuriated him all at once.

  He heard Star yell, “Get out of my way or die!”

  A burley man laughed outright and bellowed, “We both know ye won’t shoot me!”

  Sir Edward moved into action without thought and his gun was out of its saddle holster and aimed at Farley as he brought his horse’s gallop to a resounding stop only a few feet away. “She may not shoot you, but I, sir, will blow your head clean off with great pleasure.”

  Star turned grateful eyes to him, as she got her frightened horse under her and clamored to keep control of her own gun. She murmured, “Sir Edward…oh thank you.”

  “Get behind me, Miss Berkley, at once!” He returned sharply never wavering his gaze from the brute before him. “Now, what shall it be?” He asked the toothless man whose eyes had narrowed as he contemplated his situation.

  “Oi mean no harm. The young lady got spooked…that’s all.”

  “Is that so? Let me tell you what is going to happen now. You will turn yourself about and get off Stamford land. Furthermore, you will never cross Miss Berkley’s path ever again on Berkley or Stamford land, for fear of your life. I shan’t bother to bring you to trial for trespassing this time. Perhaps if you are so unwise as to dare a next time, I shall simply shoot you as a poacher and be pleased to do so. Do you understand me?”

  “Oi do, but let me say flash, it ain’t over,” Farley said as he whipped his horse around and kicked him into a gallop.

  “Horrid odious man. I think we should shoot him just for the way he treats his horse!” Star said suddenly and she swiped a stray tear from her cheek.

  He was off his horse in a moment and reaching for her to lift her off hers. He could see she was determined not to cry. He held her close, noted the gun was still in her hand and gently removed it from the fingers clutching it so tightly.

  “Everything is fine,” he told her. “He is gone and I don’t think he will bother you again.”

  She sucked in air and in a trembling voice said, “I was prepared to kill him.”

  “Were you, love? I am happy to hear it. For he is an ugly customer and I do believe you and I must talk about this.”

  “Oh…” she clenched and unclenched her fingers. “I want to tell you everything—I do, but right now all I want to do is get away from here.”

  “Not yet, love.” He took the horses in tow, walked her to a nearby clump of evergreens and tethered them. He felt her watching him as he loosened the saddles and pulled out his saddle blanket, chose a spot and laid it on the ground. He reached out his hand and said encouragingly, “Come, let us sit and enjoy the summer air a bit before I escort you home.”

  He sat and watched her as she hesitated and then she approached and plopped down beside him, sighing heavily. He didn’t say anything for a moment but his eyes raked over her. Her gown of pale blue was weathered and had certainly seen better days. It irked him that such a beauty should forever be in rags. When she was his he would see her in the finest…what was he thinking? When she was his? He shook away such thoughts and instead dove into the subject that occupied his mind. “What did that scoundrel want with you?”

  “His name is Farley and he means to make trouble for my brother one way or another,” she offered and bit her lip.

  He tried another avenue for he could see he would get no more down that road. “How do you know him?”

  “I don’t…well not really. You know already that I was disguised as a lad and at the Mermaid Inn. It was to deliver a message to that blackguard.”

  He could see she was distressed. She didn’t want to tell him even this much and in essence, she hadn’t told him very much more than he already surmised. “For your brother? You were there for your brother?”

  Her eyes found her lap and she would not bring them to his face. He lifted her chin, “Star, don’t you realize…? Don’t you know you can trust me? Won’t you trust me?”

  “I want to, but as I said, what you are asking…what you want to know, is not mine to tell. Don’t you men have a code of honor about keeping secrets and such?”

  “Indeed, we do, but neither do we allow one another to be fed to the wolves and Star, you and your brother are in the act of having just that done. He isn’t equipped to see himself out of this and neither are you. I, however, can help.”

  “Let me discuss this with Vern. When I tell him how Farley accosted me today and how you helped, he may want to confide in you himself.”

  “Fair enough,” Sir Edward said on a sigh.

  “You are so good,” Star returned.

  “No, no I am not, or I would not be doing this,” he said and took her into his arms. He could control himself no longer. His mind had turned into fodder. His manhood throbbed for attention. His fingers itched to feel her flesh and his mouth watered for her kiss. His tongue found hers in an instant and heaven was at hand.

  * * *

  She wanted him with all her heart. Her mind told her she was diving into quicksand and her heart answered that he had hold of her and wouldn’t let go. She trusted him. She did. When he was near, touching her like this, all was well and would be forever right.

  When his lips touched hers, she gave herself to him with a frenzy she had not realized she was capable of feeling. Her arms went around his neck and she pressed herself into him for more.

  His delicious kiss grew into another and yet another and then his lips covered her neck and back up to her mouth. He whispered, “You taste so good love…so good…” and the sound and meaning of the words traveled through her body and made her yearn for things she had never experienced. She wanted it all and she wanted it with him, this man who filled her universe with bright hope and red hot passion.

  She heard herself murmur his name and wondered at the sound of her voice, so low, so husky, someone else’s voice. She felt the buttons of her gown released, were those her fingers helping his? She saw him remove his shirt and marveled at his muscular form, his handsome face and his hungry expression. She found her thighs clenching with desire.

  He opened the buttons of his pants and thought he was nearly as large as one of her studs for she had never seen a man naked like this before. Were they all hung like horses? No, she did not think so.

  “Exquisite,” he said as he ran his hands over her body and cupped her breasts. She had known when he laid the horse blanket down, this would happen. She had known and eagerly awaited it.

  His lips brushed one of her nipples, his tongue licked at it, his finger flicked it as his other hand moved over her belly and then his mouth was on hers again. He whispered words of praises scarcely audible as he took her fingers and led them to his manhood.

  Excited beyond her expectations, she touched him, ran her fingers up and down its length. He moaned and wrapped her hand around it and said, “Oh love, love, your fingers feel so good…do you like it? Do you?”

  “Yes,” she said breathlessly. “I do…I do…” and as she spoke she squeezed his manhood, thrilled by the feel of it in her hand. She stroked it, pulled on it as she experienced a driving sensation she had never thought possible before. She was wanton, a wanton woman, and it felt right, so completely right.

  He moaned and came down beside her once more and took her lips between his teeth, nibbling hungrily before his tongue once more was inside her mouth teaching her what was to come.

  “Edward…” she said his name, as his fingers found the cleft between her thighs and pressed h
ard. She jerked with pleasure. “Oh…yes…”

  His finger worked its way inside and this time she was the one moaning. His free hand moved over her belly and then came to part her thighs as his kisses traveled over her and then he rubbed his cheek against her inner thigh, kissed it as his lips traveled higher and she arched.

  Riveted by the ecstasy he aroused in her, every nerve ending was alive and sending messages to her brain. Messages that said ‘yes, more, yes’ and made her tense to his tongue, which lapped and licked her into a frenzy as his teeth gently nibbled. She was transported into pleasure, swept away with emotions that whispered his name and as he gently sought her wetness with his finger.

  Her body jerked from his ministrations. She felt primal and wanted to cry out when all at once, her entire body exploded with sensation so great she did in fact scream out his name, “EDWARD.”

  His moans incorporated sweet words of hunger, “Sweet Star…my own beauty…” he murmured huskily before he put himself between her thighs.

  She could feel his rod there at her opening. She knew what was coming and trembled as she waited for it.

  He whispered hoarsely, “Are you ready for this…are you sure…?”

  “Yes, yes…want…” she answered, still trembling from the aftershocks of her climax.

  He rubbed his cock at her cleft before pushing in just a bit. His voice was low, erotic sounding as he told her, “So tight, oh but sweetheart, so wet and tight…”

  All she knew was that she had turned feral at his touch. She wanted everything he had to give in every single imaginable way. Then, as he rammed into her, she felt an immediate tearing and a sharp pain. It was over almost as soon as it occurred and he was rocking himself inside of her. She matched his movements and pumped against him for he had worked her into a frenzy of sexual need.