“When are you going to marry her?”
“As soon as I can, which will be as soon as she lets me.”
“Congratulations, little brother. I’m very happy for you.”
“She makes me so…”
“Yeah, I understand,” Win said with a grin.
“Richardson treated her like crap. When she got here she was afraid of her own shadow.”
“Well, that seems different now.”
“It is. Now I just have to get her to, um…”
Win laughed. “Something tells me you won’t have to work too hard at it.”
Vanessa’s laugh pulled Rob back to the dining room. She was grinning at Frank, who was standing next to her and offering to take her plate to the kitchen.
“Oh my, Dawn. Your boys are so polite. I hope our own children will take after them.”
Rob jerked his head toward his brother who smiled and nodded.
“Why you little toad,” Rob said. “All that time outside and you never told me you were going to be a daddy?”
“Vanessa wanted to tell you,” Win said. “She’s told everyone else in town, but you’re never in town anymore. Something must be holding you here.”
Rob jumped from his chair and quickly enveloped his sister-in-law in a hug.
When the boys came back from the kitchen, they exchanged nervous glances.
“Vanessa’s going to have a baby,” Dawn said with a smile.
They all offered their congratulations, and then Win cleared his throat.
“Frank. Rob tells me you’re quite a chess player now.”
Frank smiled. “I’m trying.”
“Well, how about taking me on in a match? It’s been some time since I’ve played, and I’d like to practice some.”
Rob hid a grin at the eager smile that crossed Frank’s face. The young man still wasn’t thrilled about what he knew was happening with his mother, but he’d not made a fuss about it lately. Maybe, just maybe, he would come around in the long run.
* * *
When everyone was gone, Dawn stood in the kitchen with her boys, giving them each several pieces of taffy.
“Thank you for being on your best behavior,” she said. She kissed Mark and Anthony on the cheek, but when she started to kiss Frank, he pulled away.
“Ma.”
She could tell from the tone in his voice that he didn’t want her to kiss him not because he didn’t love her, but because he was too big to be kissed by his mother.
“She’s pretty,” Mark said. “I like her.”
“I think she liked you too, all of you. Now, it’s time for bed. Go on down and I’ll see you all in the morning.”
They left quickly, and as they walked toward the bunkhouse she could hear them arguing about who got to play the first game of chess tomorrow afternoon. Even Frank joined in the discussion, his voice lighter than she’d heard it in a while.
When Rob appeared in the kitchen and said it was ‘time for bed’, her stomach lurched. She stood and looked outside the window, watching the boys’ lamp disappear toward the bunkhouse.
“I’ll build a bigger house,” he said softly. “The boys can then stay up here with us. Would you like that?”
“Yes.”
“It shouldn’t take long if we just add on a few rooms,” he said. “I know the hands will help for extra money, and if you bake them some extra biscuits once in a while.”
“Thank you.” She turned to him and he held out his hand. He felt her trembles as he took her smaller hand in his.
“Just sleep,” he whispered. “It’ll be fine.”
“I’ll go and change,” she said.
He watched her go down the hall. When she disappeared inside his room, he groaned.
It’ll be fine. Down, boy, down. He looked down and willed his body to obey him. He didn’t want to frighten her. Instead, he wanted to hold her, and to feel her close to him. He wanted tonight to be the first of many nights that they fell asleep in each other’s arms.
* * *
Dawn stirred, then gasped when she realized where she was. Rob was lying next to her, his soft snores moving his chest up and down gently. She turned toward him and watched him sleep.
He’d been so sweet last night, so gentle and kind. He knew that she was nervous, that she was afraid of what might happen once they were in bed together. So he’d made sure that nothing happened.
He’d kissed her a few times, his hand gently caressing her back. Then he’d pulled her head into his chest and told her to sleep.
At first, she’d stared at his bare chest, marveling at the soft curls that covered it. Then, she’d drifted off to sleep, feeling happy and safe in his arms.
Now, she watched him as his chest rose and fell, wondering what he would do if she leaned over and kissed him. When Hank was alive, she’d always made sure that she was out of the bed before he was. That way she didn’t have to put up with his attentions.
She knew now that she wanted Rob’s attentions. Wanted to feel his hands on her body, wanted to feel his lips on her breasts. Yes, she knew that she even wanted to feel him between her thighs, warm and hard, thrusting into her.
“What are you thinking?” His deep voice jolted her.
“Um, about the shirts that I never finished.”
He opened his eyes and stared at her. “You’re kidding, right?”
She bit her lip. “Maybe.”
“You little minx.” He pulled her close to him and slapped her ass.
She screeched in pretend anger, then laughed when he slapped it again.
“You could make a guy lose all confidence talking about that.”
For an answer, she lifted her lips to his, kissing him boldly and pushing herself into his mouth. He groaned and when their lips broke, he sighed.
“Dawn, don’t do that. I’m not sure I can hold back.”
“Then don’t. You said once that it didn’t have to be a man rutting on a woman. Show me.”
She almost melted at the look of desire that crossed his face.
He kissed her again, more intently, his hand on her cheek before he reached back to cup her neck and pull her closer to him.
His hands caressed her body, gently touching her breasts and ribs and making her shiver in delight. When he gripped the hem of her gown and started to lift it up she didn’t fight him. Instead, she lifted her hips to allow the material room to move.
When he reached her shoulders, she lifted her arms and shivered as she became naked before him.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. “How did I get so lucky?”
“You? I think the lucky one is me.”
His hands and lips roamed her body, caressing and kissing her, gently tugging on her nipples until Dawn thought she would go crazy. She twisted and turned under him, begging for attention here, or there.
She’d never felt so wanton, so brazen. Or so wonderfully excited. When she felt him probing at her entrance she felt a wonderful feeling of completion. She lifted her hips toward him and moaned when he sank inside her.
“I think I love you,” she said as he began to move.
He stopped and laughed. “I already know that. I love you, too.”
The tears that slipped from her eyes were tears of joy. She shivered when he licked them from her face, then groaned in disappointment when he lifted up on his knees, his body leaving her own.
“What?”
“Hush.” His fingers began to explore her, and a tingly feeling enveloped her body. It was unlike anything she’d ever felt before and it was the most exquisite thing. Her hips began to rock as he rubbed her folds.
When he rolled over onto his back and pulled her down onto him, she shivered.
“I don’t know what to do.”
He grabbed her hips and set her in rhythm. She leaned over to kiss him and he slapped her ass, causing her to laugh and groan at the same time. He slapped it several more times before his fingers went back to her wetness.
When the tingly feeling tur
ned more intense, she tried to pull back but he held her close. Seconds later, the feeling exploded in her body and she moved faster and faster on him until she heard him groan.
She knew that he’d filled her with his seed and for the first time in years, she prayed that it would take root.
* * *
A year later
“Frank, please take the buggy round back with the others,” Rob said, handing him the reins.
The young man nodded, but didn’t smile at him. Rob knew that his mother’s marriage had been hardest on Frank, but he was happy that the teen was making an effort. They’d added three bedrooms to the house, taken off the roof and built a second story.
The hands had all helped, and the addition had been done a month before Dawn and Rob had married in late September.
Now, his family, his wife and three sons, were in town to attend the christening of the latest addition to the MacAllister family.
Vanessa had given birth to young Winthorp Jacob MacAllister III a few months ago. The newest addition to the MacAllister family was strong and healthy and had powerful lungs that had filled the church when the minister had poured the water over his head.
Rob looked toward his wife, who stood on the porch talking with his Aunt Matty, who was now an integral part of Mac’s Crossing. Sometimes Rob thought they all wanted Matty and her way of trying to care to go back to Boston. But Vanessa had told him, however, that Matty had been a big help, and she was happy to have her around.
Frank had just returned when Win called them all inside. “I want to thank you all for going to the church, and hope that you enjoy the food that’s been laid out for us. Young Jacob has seen fit to take a nap, but we’ll wake him up later to make sure that he gets to say hello to everyone before they leave.
“In the meantime, enjoy the food and company and thank you again.”
The crowd clapped and Rob watched as Win made his way across the room.
“I hired a photographer for the event,” his brother said. “They’re taking family pictures so that we have some memories of today. So gather yours close and go get it made. He’s in the parlor.”
Rob nodded and walked toward Dawn, who stood with the boys near the entrance. The smile that she gave him reached to her eyes and beyond, and aroused him instantly. He couldn’t get enough of her.
She’d told him everything about her ex, and it had only strengthened his resolve to dig her late husband up and kick him in the ass. Rob was slowly working through the barriers that she’d put up against the pain, and it had been an interesting experience.
He’d been surprised to find his new wife making up excuses for spankings, which he readily delivered.
“We’re going to get a family photo taken,” he said. “Win hired a photographer for the day.”
The two younger boys jumped for joy, until Frank cleared his throat.
“He means him and Ma, not us. We’re not his sons.”
“Yes, you are,” Rob replied. “You’re all my family. The five of us.”
“Six,” Dawn whispered. “Although I don’t think the youngest one will smile for the camera.”
Rob turned to her, his jaw dropping.
“What? When?”
She bit her lip and smiled. “I hope you have enough wood to build a cradle. I didn’t want to announce it today, so as to take away from Jacob’s christening. We’ll tell them another time, right?”
Rob nodded, tears swimming in his eyes.
“A year ago I had no children. Now I’m going to have four?” He wiped his eyes and then pulled Dawn in for a kiss. He stayed close so they could whisper to each other.
“You know, you should have told me sooner. Then I wouldn’t have… last night…”
“I know. That’s why I didn’t tell you. I’m not a china doll, Rob. I’m having a baby, and I’ve done it before. If you treat me differently I’m going to turn that hairbrush on you.”
He pulled back. His mousy, scared-of-her-shadow Dawn was gone. In her place was a beautiful woman who was confident and sure of herself.
“Don’t be getting any ideas,” he said. “That hairbrush will be still available a year and a half from now when the child is born and you’re all healed. And a lot of swats can build up between now and then.”
The End
Ruby’s Delight
The MacAllister Brothers, Book Three
Chapter 1
June 1891, Mac’s Crossing, Colorado
“If you’re not going to help, you need to move.” Corbin MacAllister pushed past his brother and worked his way around stacks of papers to get to the counter.
“Hello, Mrs. Griggs, what can I do for you?” He plastered a smile on his handsome face even though he wanted to reach out and throttle someone.
“I need to send a telegram, right now, Corbin. It must be back east by tomorrow afternoon.”
Corbin sighed. Everyone was in a hurry. He pushed a pencil and paper toward her. “Write it down and I’ll see that it gets done later tonight.”
“No, Corbin, I want it done right now. I want to be assured that my brother will receive it by tomorrow.”
“Mrs. Griggs, I’m afraid that I can’t stop what I’m doing at this moment. I have to get these newspapers ready to be on the stage in less than half an hour. I promise you that your telegram will be sent out this afternoon, in plenty of time to be delivered tomorrow morning. It just won’t go out at this very moment.”
“I’m sorry, Corbin, but that’s not good enough. You must do this for me this instant!”
Corbin stepped back from the counter and put his hands on his hips.
“Mrs. Griggs, I would love to accommodate you, but unfortunately, I can’t. I can promise that your telegram will be sent this afternoon.”
“Mr. MacAllister, I simply must…”
“And I simply must get back to setting type. The Gazette goes out today, and if I don’t hurry, it will never make the stage to Denver and I will lose advertisers. As you have probably realized, Mrs. Seavers is no longer with me. She and her husband left town on Monday. So, I am working alone. Mrs. Griggs, I beg of you, be reasonable. All this arguing is doing is wasting both our times.”
Mrs. Griggs gave a delicate sniff of disgust, but Corbin was happy to watch her fill out the form. She passed it back to him and opened her reticule.
“No charge for you, Mrs. Griggs, to make up for your wait.”
“I should hope so. Good day.” She turned and flounced out of the store and Corbin fought the urge to stick his tongue out at her. He turned and almost collided with his brother again.
“Josh, what are you doing here? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
“I was going to offer Sarah’s help, until you can find a clerk to replace Mrs. Seavers.”
“Thank you, but no. People have been trying to push Sarah and I together for quite some time. Neither of us is interested.”
“Maybe not interested romantically, but she’s a good worker.”
“For you. She’s in love with you.”
Corbin ignored Josh’s shocked look and moved to the back of the shop. He put on his printer’s apron and picked up the blocks of type he’d been working with before Mrs. Griggs’ interruption.
“In love with me? I think you’re wrong,” Josh said. “You took her to the boxed lunch at the church last month.”
“You’re right, I did. And all she could talk about was you. Josh did this, and Josh did that. Josh is so good at this, and Josh is so good at that.”
Corbin put the last few blocks of type into line and slammed the frame home, wincing at the idea that he might have damaged one of the delicate, and expensive, pieces of wood. He examined them and sighed with relief.
Then, he put the plate into the machine and cranked it up. The Gazette had to be on today’s stage, or he’d lose advertisers. And he couldn’t afford to lose advertisers.
“Now that the machine’s working, can we talk?”
Corbin laughed and turned to hi
s brother. “Sorry. Is something wrong?”
“No. I wanted to check on you, but Sarah? Why didn’t you tell me that all she did was talk about me?”
“Because, Josh, you work with her every day. You should be able to figure that one out on your own.”
Corbin walked to the counter and picked up Mrs. Griggs’ telegram. He read it, then walked to the telegraph machine to type in the message and its destination code.
“So, what happened to Jessica Seavers and her husband, anyway?”
“If you’re to believe Jake Bradford, Seavers stole the silver from the Bradford House, and then the couple took off. They left in the middle of the night Friday. I got to work Monday and poof, no office assistant.”
“Did she take anything from you?” Josh raised his voice so he could be heard over the whirr of the machines.
“No. She was a great employee, but I know that her husband was scum, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Jake is right.”
Corbin stopped in the middle of the shop and looked around. He let out a satisfied breath of air.
“Caught up. For now.” He clapped his brother on the shoulder and moved to his desk. “So, on the subject of Sarah. What’s stopping you?”
“You,” Josh said. “Everybody always said she wanted you.”
“I can assure you, they’re wrong. Go over there right now and plant a big wet kiss on her pretty lips. See if she doesn’t wrap her arms around your neck.”
“Actually, she’s going back east with her mother on Thursday. She’ll be gone a few months.”
“Well, that stinks. Kiss her before she goes. Give her something to think about so she doesn’t take a shine to one of those eastern boys while she’s gone.”
“I just might do that,” Josh said. “But what are we going to do about getting you an assistant?”
“You let me worry about that,” Corbin said. “You go and worry about your own affairs. You’re getting old. You need to marry and settle down.”
“Thirty’s not that old,” Josh said.
Heart and Home: The MacAllister Brothers Page 15