“No, no, it’s fine, ” she said. She walked into his arms, put her arms around his neck, leaned back and looked at him, and said, “Thank you for making me feel so welcome. I can’t begin to tell you how it makes me feel.”
“I’m relieved you like it. I was worried,” he said.
“You needn’t be. Your daughter is absolutely adorable, and the house is lovely. We had a nice home in Plymouth, but this home feels so warm. So much like a home and not a medieval castle.”
“After the tornado, I rebuilt most of it and Caroline and I added some on to it. Anna, it doesn’t make you uncomfortable my talking about Caroline?”
“No, why should it? I’m sure you loved her very much and you had a good marriage. If we work hard, we can make ours a good one too. I’m certainly going to try.” She looked at him through the deep blue melting pools that were her eyes, and moved into his arms. “I think it’s time we shared our first kiss, don’t you?”
He brought his lips down to touch hers and found them incredibly soft. He felt the tips of her breasts pressing against his chest. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. With his tongue, moved across the surface of her warm soft lips. He felt them part and his tongue moved inside her mouth as if it had a mind of its own. Her arms tightened against his neck, as she moved against the taste of his tongue. When they parted, and he looked at her face, he saw what Beulah had meant. She was just about the prettiest woman he had ever seen, with no disrespect to Caroline who had been a classic beauty. He pulled her into another embrace. “That was nice,” he said.
“Yes, it was, wasn’t it?” she said.
She took his hand, “Let's go find Rebecca. She has to understand I’m on her side and not here to take her father from her.”
“She knows that,” Josiah said. “We talked about it.”
“She needs to hear it from me too,” Anna said. “She has to understand and believe she is the most important person in this house. Not you, and certainly not me. I never had that feeling growing up, and I always said my children would know their value for certain.”
Rebecca’s bedroom…
The door was open, but Anna knocked. “Rebecca, may I come in please?” she asked.
“Yes,” the little girl’s voice came back.
“You know I’m going to be living here, don’t you?” Anna asked.
“Uh huh,” Rebecca answered. “Forever?”
“I hope so,” Anna said. “Would you like for me to stay?”
“Yes. Are you going to be my Mama?”
“Caroline is your mother, but she’s gone now. Your Papa is very lonely and asked me to be his wife. I was lonely too, so I said yes. I’m going to be your second mother and will always be here to help you and love you and take care of you. Auntie Beulah is going to help me do that. I want you to know I’m here when you need me. If you want to talk, I will be ready to listen. Did your mother read to you?”
“Uh huh. She read bedtime stories.”
“I like to read. Could I start reading you bedtime stories?” Anna asked.
“Uh huh.”
“Do you like Thumbelina?” Anna asked. “It’s one of my favorites.”
“I like Thumbelina,” Rebecca said.
“Then I will start reading a bedtime story for you.”
“Every night?” Rebecca asked.
“For as long as you want me to,” Anna said. She bent over and kissed Rebecca on the forehead. “I’ll let you get back to taking care of Susie and Mary. Thank you for talking to me.”
“Okay,” the little girl said, and picked up the two dolls and “Time for your nap, Mary, Susie.”
Anna walked back down the hall and into the parlor, where Josiah sat in a big overstuffed chair.
“How did it go?” he asked.
“I think it went pretty well. She mostly nodded her head and said “uh huh” a lot. I’m going to start reading bedtime stories at night.”
“Caroline did that. She would sit on the bed and read to her. She always said it was one of her favorite times.”
Anna said, “I hope I can make it special for her too.”
I”m sure you’ll be fine. She’s a special little girl. She didn’t get much attention from me right after Caroline died. It took Beulah, Doc Williams and a cowboy in a saloon fight to pound some sense into my head.”
That sure sound’s like an interesting story,” she said.
“I’ll tell you all about it someday,” he said.
Later…
“Anna, are you sure you don’t want to use another bedroom until we get to know each other better.”
She looked him straight in the eye, and asked, “Do you want me to use another room?”
“No, I’m just trying to make you at ease,” he said.
“Then it’s settled. I’m fine with the arrangements,” she said. “I’ll tell you if it changes. I don’t mind speaking up. That’s one way I upset my father. He didn’t like for a girl or woman to talk back to him. In fact, the last time I did that, he hit me on the backside with a fire shovel.”
“How long ago was that?” he asked.
“Last month,” Anna said. “Josiah, it’s been a long day, and I’m ready for bed.”
“You go ahead and I’ll be there directly,” he answered.
“I can get ready for bed with you in the room. Now stop treating me this way. Either I’m going to be your wife or I’m not. I’m ready, now it’s up to you.” With that, she stood and went to their bedroom. He followed.
CHAPTER 10: THE FIRST NIGHT
She turned her back to him. “Would you unbutton my dress for me, please”? she asked. After he unbuttoned it, she turned and said, “Josiah, I have no experience in this whatever, Please help me. Let me know what you need I want to make you happy and I want to make this work.”
He put his hands on her shoulders and looked her directly in the eye, “I want it to work too. Just be yourself. I’m not all experienced that myself. There’s been only Caroline. He pushed the now loosened dress and let it slide to the floor and she stepped out of it. “May I make a suggestion?”
“Please do, she said.
“Let’s go ahead and get ready for bed, and just see what happens. No rush, and just let things happen, if they will. If they don’t, there’s always tomorrow,” he said.
“That sounds good, but I have a suggestion. Instead of getting dressed for bed, let’s… just get in.”
He started laughing.
“I wasn’t trying to be funny,” she said.
“I know, but think about our conversation,” he replied. “You’d think we were talking about the weather instead of one of the most natural things a man and woman do.”
“I’ll be all right, Don’t worry about me,” she said, as she began to remove the next layer of her clothes. Once she was divested of her clothing, she stood before him, completely nude, blushing but without shame.
“Will you return the favor and help me?” he asked.
She grinned and began to unbutton his shirt. He shrugged out of it and let it fall to the floor. He bent over so she could pull his undershirt over his head, Next, she unbuckled his belt, and unbuttoned the top of his trousers. He let them fall to the floor and stepped out of them. He slid his underwear off and stepped out of them.
He took her hand and held it high and led her through a pirouette as he took in the full beauty of her body. “Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?” he asked.
She shook her head and said, “Other than my mother, you’re the only one that has ever seen me. I mean, all of me.”
“Then I’m the luckiest man in all of Wyoming,” he said. He held his arms extended in front of him and she stepped into them and pressed her body against him. He felt her breasts crush against his chest, the white hot nipples searing his flesh. He could feel the warmth of her nest against his manhood. He stared into the depths of those big blue eyes, put his hand under her chin. He tilted her head back and bent to kiss her.
> As soon as their lips met, she parted hers, allowing him the entry he sought. His tongue explored the wonderment of the inside, When it touched hers, he felt the heat surge within him reach all the way to the root of his manhood.
She entwined her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with a mounting passion, emitting low moans of pleasure. She felt his hand move and cup her breast. She could feel the nipples harden as he massaged one between his fingers. He laid her onto the bed, on her back. As she watched with wide open eyes, she felt his lips on the tenderest part of her neck, as he slowly kissed his way down.
She could feel the moisture rise in her vault, a feeling she had never had before. At first she thought she had wet herself. She had, but not in the way she thought. “Oh God, he’s… he’s… He has my breast in his mouth. I can’t stand any more.” As he began to gently suckle the breast, she felt his hand slide slowly down her belly, and then through the sensitive, curly hairs that guarded her entrance. As he massaged the folds at the entrance, her moans of pleasure grew in volume. Then she felt his finger penetrate her body. As it began to move and probe, her eyes closed and she lost control of her body. The throaty cries of “Oh… oh… oh… “ were not unlike the sound of a locomotive as it began to leave the station. Suddenly, she felt an urge and she began undulating her hips against his hand and the finger that was inside her. Faster and faster they moved until with a long sigh, she was finished.
She heard the sound as he sheathed his manhood, Then, using the juices from her body, he lubricated the staff. He moved it against the entrance, in a slow teasing manner. Then he tested the entrance with the tip. She groaned with pleasure. He slid it inside about an inch. At her ear, she felt his tongue, then he whispered, “I’ll be as gentle as I can but this is going to hurt when I push further.”
“I know,” she said softly. “Go ahead. I want to do this.” He pushed and felt resistance, then pushed harder. His rod broke through the membrane, and as she cried out in pain, he was inside.
“I’m sorry. I tried to be easy,” he said.
“No, it’s all right now. It’s easing off.” She began to move against him. He felt her tense and then she began to thrust upward. His strokes increased in speed, penetrating to the depths of her being. She lost control again, moving hard against him, her arms pulling him more firmly against her and into her. He felt the beginning of his rush to completion. He began pumping, as he emptied himself. Finished, he lay against her, their bodies slick from their exertions.
She lay there, eyes closed, and she heard him say, “You were wonderful. I’m sorry it hurt so much, but it will be easier the next time.” She smiled as his lips met hers in a soft lingering kiss She could feel his member still inside her, growing as she slowly began to move beneath him. He placed both hands on her firm hips and pulled them to him as her passion rose to a climax once more. He joined her, but she won the race, finishing just before his peak was attained.
Lying there, her head on his arm, she looked at him and asked, “Still think I might be more comfortable in another room?”
“I think you’re right where you need to be,” he said.
“So do I,” she replied, and snuggled closer. For the first time in several months she would go to sleep without worrying about her father’s plan to marry her to Throckmorton.
CHAPTER 11: THE MORNING AFTER
In the kitchen…
As are most ranchers, Josiah was up and at his chores before daylight. He was trying to be quiet, but Anna was awake. “Do you get up this early every day,” she asked.
“I do, and sometimes even earlier. There are chores to be done and I like to be out there with the hands. They seem to appreciate that I am willing to work along side.”
“How many, you called them hands, do you have?” she asked.
“We,” he said pointedly, “have six, including Jud, the foreman. We have a cook for the hands, a housekeeper, and Beulah, who pretty much runs the house. I call them ‘hands’ which is short for ranch hands. I said six, I forgot, Jud hired another yesterday. Grandpa started the spread with a homestead and added onto it, and now we’re around 12,000 acres. It’s one of the largest ones in Wyoming. I’ll introduce you to everyone later today.” He leaned over and gave a modest peck on the cheek. “Gotta go now, I’ll be back in for breakfast later. Beulah knows my schedule.” Dressed in jeans and a work shirt and boots, he put on a worn, sweat stained Stetson and was out the door.
Anna rose and got dressed. She removed the sheets, one of which had a blood stain and took them to the kitchen, where she found Beulah at work preparing breakfast. “Good morning, Beulah,” she said. “Does everyone get up early around here?”
“Land sakes, child. This ain’t early. On a ranch, the livestock has to be fed and turned out in the pasture. The men have to go out and check on the herds. Lots to be done on a ranch.
How are you this morning? I’ll have your breakfast in a bit unless you want to wait until Mr Josiah comes in for his.”
“I’ll wait,” she said. “In the meantime, where can I wash these sheets? They’re stained..”
“Bless your heart, you don’t do the washing. Maybelle, the housekeeper takes care of that, and makes the bed too,” Beulah said.
“Beulah, these are stained. I don’t want to just sit around doing nothing,” she said.
“Miss Anna, you can maybe help Mr Josiah with the books, but I do all of the cooking and Maybell does the cleaning.”
“I don’t know how to cook. I don’t think I could even boil water,” she laughed. “Do you think you could teach me? You’ve earned some rest and I want to help. It’s important to me. I intend to take care of Rebecca, and when she’s a bit older, teach her to read and write. If we had a piano, I could teach her that too. I’ve taken piano lessons for years.”
“Miss Anna, could you teach me letters and reading,” she asked.
“Yes, I can, and I would love to do that,” Anna replied. “Would it be all right if I just looked around?”
“Miss Anna, you the lady of the house. You can do anything you want to do. You just tell me if you want something done and I’ll take care of it.”
“What time does Rebecca usually get up?” asked Anna.
“I get her up in time for breakfast. Mr Josiah likes to eat with her,” Beulah said.
“That’s something I can do. Her clothes are in her room?” asked Anna.
“Yessm, they in the closet and the big chest of drawers.”
Anna went down the hall to Rebecca’s room. She smiled when she saw the little girl asleep with Susie and Mary in her arms. She went to the bed and sat on the side, and laid her hand on the sleeping girl’s cheek. “Rebecca,” she said softly. “Rebecca?”
Rebecca opened her eyes and saw who had called her name. “Hello,” she said sleepily.
“Would you let me help you get dressed for breakfast?” asked Anna.
“Uh huh,” Rebecca said.
“Okay, let me get a wash cloth and I’ll wipe the sleep out of your eyes,” she said. There was a pitcher of water and a wash basin, so Anna wet the cloth and gently washed Rebecca’s face. “Would you like to help me pick out your clothes for today?”
“Uh huh, ” said Rebecca. She took Anna’s hand and together, they picked what she was to wear.
“Where is your hairbrush?” Anna asked.
Rebecca pointed to the dresser. Anna found a comb and a brush. She sat in the rocker, and had Rebecca stand between her legs and brushed her hair to its full, lustrous best. “What color ribbon do you like? Can you show me?” she asked.
She picked Rebecca up and took her to the dresser drawer she had indicated, In the drawer was an array of ribbons. “You pick the one you like and I’ll fix it in your hair.” Rebecca picked one and Anna sat back down and put it in the front part of Rebecca’s hair, offset to the left. “Now, if you can get your shoes, I’ll help you with them.”
With Rebecca sitting in her lap, Anna soon had her shoes and socks on. Sh
e held her in front of the mirror and asked, “Now, see how pretty you look?” Rebecca smiled at the image in the mirror and nodded her head. “Now, let’s go see if your Papa is back.” They went into the kitchen. “Well, Auntie Beulah, what do you think of our little girl? Isn’t she just about the prettiest girl you’ve ever seen?”
Beulah nodded in agreement. They heard the stamping of boots on the back porch and then Josiah came striding into the kitchen. “Don’t you look pretty this morning? Who got you dressed?”
Rebecca pointed to Anna, and said, “She did.” She hugged Josiah, her short arms wrapped around his neck. He pulled the child’s chair to the table and placed Rebecca in and lowered the tray.
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