“You never did answer my question.” John said.
Cora thought about what he’d asked her earlier. “I feel wonderful, John. Thank you for giving me the best day of my life. I’ll remember it for as long as I live.”
“Sweetheart, I aim to make every day from now on, the best day of your life.” He kissed her tenderly. His groin stirred.
The carriage came to a stop at the front of the hotel. A porter opened the door and John jumped out. Cora stood poised in the doorway. He reached up and circled her waist with his hands. She felt like she was floating down to the ground. He hurried her inside and upstairs to her room. She noted John’s bags had been moved in during the day. It was now their room. He closed and locked the door before turning to face his wife.
“While you look more beautiful than any woman I’ve ever seen, the time has come for me to discover what is hidden under your petticoats.” He opened his arms and she dashed into them.
“It’s time for you to become a woman, my love.” His lips lowered to hers and Cora was lost.
The day had been beyond her wildest dreams but she knew, the night would be out of this world.
***
A hand shook her shoulder. John’s voice was husky and thick when he spoke. Her eyes snapped open. He sat next to her on the bed, his muscular chest, bare. She reached up, her fingers traced the ridges of his abdomen and she delighted in his shivers.
He placed his hand over hers. “If you keep that up, sweetheart, we won’t get out of this room. Heck, we won’t get out of this bed, today. The men have already left for the ranch and we need to leave too.” He leaned forward and kissed her. A gentle, sensual kiss, but every nerve end tingled.
Cora sighed and pushed back the blankets. She gasped, she was as naked as a new born babe. Memories from the previous night flooded back. When she dared to lift her eyes to her husband’s, she couldn’t miss the smoldering, desperate hunger in his eyes.
John groaned as his manhood reacted to her nakedness. “Please Cora,” he begged. “Get dressed sweetheart. We really do need to get home.”
She giggled and bounced from the bed. John followed the sway of her hips and naked behind as she sashayed to the wash basin.
He growled with want. Before he dragged her back into the bed, he turned away and finished dressing. His groin ached. “You’ll have to wait until tonight,” he chastised himself. It was going to be a very long day. How was he supposed to keep his mind on his work knowing Cora would be alone in their home?
***
The sun was shining and a gentle breeze blew as the horses clip clopped through the beautiful countryside. The road was obviously well travelled, it was extremely bumpy in places. Cora was thrown against John’s shoulder so often when the wagon hit ruts, he secured her against him, one arm holding her firmly in place.
“I’m surprised you only have one medium sized trunk and a travelling bag. When my Ma and sisters travel, half their houses go with them. It doesn’t seem to matter whether they go for a week or a month, it’s always the same. Do you have the rest of your things being sent out?” he asked.
“No, I brought everything I own with me. It’s not much but it’s all I have been able to afford. Apart from a few special bits and pieces, it’s all clothes.”
“Special, like your great grandmother’s fan?”
“Yes and a couple of things Millie and her family have given me over the years.”
“It still doesn’t seem like much. You said your father was rather wealthy, why didn’t he provide you with more clothes, bonnets and shoes?”
Cora snorted. “The moment I was old enough, he fired the housekeeper and made me do the cooking and the chores. He gave me a small allowance and told me I would have to buy what I needed because, from that point on, he would give me nothing. I learned to save and buy carefully. Millie’s mum helped by persuading her friends to give me the clothes their daughters had outgrown. I was small and didn’t grow much so I was able to wear what I was given for a long time. I was then able to save my money. When I started working at the factory, I would stay for an hour or so after I’d finished. I was given permission to use the machines to make my own dresses. It was cheaper to buy material than to buy readymade dresses. My wedding dress was the first dress I had bought for many years.”
“How old were you when your father fired the housekeeper?”
“Ten,” Cora whispered.
“Ten? Ten!” John pulled the wagon to a stop and swiveled to face Cora. Anger burned in his eyes. “Are you telling me that from the age of ten, you cooked, cleaned and washed for your father and brother as well as providing for yourself?”
“Yes.” She spoke so quietly he almost didn’t hear her.
“Goddamn, what kind of man treats a ten year old that way? It’s wrong at any age but ten? That’s downright cruel. Why the hell didn’t someone help you?”
Cora gathered his hands. “John, you have to understand. My father has a lot of powerful friends and no-one would dare cross him. Millie’s family did what they could but he threatened if they didn’t stay out of it, he would ensure Millie’s dad lost his job and never worked in town again.”
John pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. His voice cracked with emotion. “Darlin’, I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve been through. I’m so glad you answered my advertisement and you’re here.”
“So am I. I’m happy now. I don’t want to talk about my father again. Please?”
“Of course but know this, I’m going to spoil you and make every one of your dreams come true. And if your father ever tries to cause you any trouble, he will have me to deal with.”
“You don’t need to do that. I’m happy being your wife. I have everything I’ve always wanted.”
John kissed her and placed her back on the seat beside him. He wrapped his arm around her and flicked the reins. The horses trotted off.
“You are the sweetest person I’ve ever known. Let’s go home.”
“I can’t wait to see where we’ll live.” Cora answered.
***
The hills reached into the sky up ahead of them but John snapped the reins and the horses veered off the road to the right. They trotted under a huge archway. A sign above proclaimed they were on the road to the Bar 4F Ranch. The land around them rose and fell with gentle undulation. The horses picked up speed and raced along the dusty road.
“You’re almost home, sweetheart,” he said.
“The horses seem to know. I noticed they picked up speed after we turned off the main road.”
“They know there’s a rub down, a bucket of oats and a romp in the paddock up ahead. After being confined to stables in town for a couple of days, they look forward to a good run with others.”
“How many horses do you own?”
“It’s we now darlin’. Around thirty or so but some are only for breeding not for riding. I ride a black stallion called Bill and a mare called Thelma.”
Cora giggled. “They’re human names.”
He laughed. “I know, I get teased about it all the time. They’re my friends so I give ‘em names I like.” He shrugged. “How it goes, I guess.”
“What will I ride?” Cora asked.
He hesitated. He was beginning to have strong feelings for this little gal. He’d heard of greenhorn city folk who’d tumbled from horses and been killed. He couldn’t bear it if his beautiful Cora was hurt. No, he wouldn’t allow her to ride.
“John?”
“Sorry. I was thinking, maybe you don’t need to learn to ride a horse.”
“But, I want to be able to work with you, explore the ranch with you.” Then it hit her. “John Franklin.”
This ain’t gonna be good. He braced himself.
“Don’t you dare treat me like a porcelain doll who’ll break if she does anything other than house work. I’ve put up with a lot in my life. I’ve never been afraid to work hard and try new things. I’m not about to have you stop me now.”
Boy,
howdy, she sure was pretty when she got mad and turned red in the face. “I only want to protect you.” He defended himself.
“I know you do but I’m a big girl. I don’t want to be cossetted away because you’re afraid something will happen to me. I’ve been a prisoner to my father’s demands and wishes, please don’t make me a prisoner to yours.”
John’s gut clenched. She was right. It would be like making her his prisoner if he stopped her from learning about the ranch and everything that ranch life entailed. “I’m sorry. I’ll teach you to ride, Bess. She’s a quiet mare. Perfect for learning on.”
Cora thanked him and kissed his cheek as he pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the house.
Chapter Ten
Sam, Frank and Henry moseyed over from the barn to help empty and unhitch the wagon.
“John, Cora. Welcome home.” Sam greeted them with a grin.
Frank and Henry started releasing the horses.
John lifted Cora down from the seat. She slowly slid down his body and they smiled knowingly at each other.
Cora stood back to admire her new home. The whitewashed, two storey house boasted wrap around porches on both the upper and lower levels. A love seat was positioned to the right of the large wooden front door. Two rocking chairs sat off to the left. A huge barn was nearby and alongside was a stable block.
Horses and cattle grazed in the distance. The whole scene was nestled against a backdrop of hills. “It’s beautiful, John. So peaceful and pretty.”
“I love it here. Hopefully, given time, you will too.” he said.
“We’ll take care of all this. Take Cora inside and show her around,” Sam said.
“I’ll be in to make lunch when we’re finished here.” Frank told them.
“I’m happy to make our meals.” Cora had a stubborn edge to her voice.
John and Frank exchanged glances. Cora didn’t miss it.
“Cora, darlin’. How about you let Frank handle it. He’s been used to doing the cooking and cleaning.” John said carefully. He was aware she was becoming upset.
Cora shook her hand free from John’s, lifted her skirts, stomped up the front steps and disappeared into the house.
The men watched her disappear through the door.
Henry whistled through clenched teeth. “That ain’t good, John. She’s madder than a cat with its tail trapped under a table leg. I don’t think she’s happy about bein’ told someone else is cooking and cleaning in her home.”
“I wanted her to have a chance to relax and get to know the place before she took it all on. Guess I’d better go and smooth it over.”
“Good luck.” Frank chuckled.
John found Cora running her fingers over a picture of his family. It was one they’d had taken the previous Christmas. “Cora,” he said quietly.
She spun around, tears in her eyes. “Am I going to be allowed to do anything here, John, or am I here only for you to breed with? To carry on your name!” She turned away as tears flowed down her cheeks.
Two strides and John swung her around to face him. His arms held her firmly in place preventing her from twisting away from him.
“Let me go!” Her voice was frantic as she struggled.
“Cora,” he snapped. The sharpness of his voice caused her to flinch. He softened his voice. “Sweetheart, listen to me.” She stopped struggling. “I suggested Frank do the cooking and cleaning for a few days, I did not say it would be permanent. I wanted to give you time to settle in, become familiar with your new home and arrange things as you want them before you took on the responsibility of cooking for four hungry cowboys. The men have their own place but they will have their midday meals here. Now and again, they will probably come for supper too.”
“Ok,” she sniffed. What he said made sense.
“I have NOT brought you here to breed,” he continued. “Hell, if you don’t want kids, I’d be disappointed but it’d be fine.”
“But, I do want children,” she protested.
“Well, that’s good but it’s a decision for you to make.”
“Why?”
“Because darlin’, I would NEVER force you to do something you don’t want to. As much as I want children with you, it’s you who will have to take care of them while I work the ranch.” He gave her a killer smile that melted her. “I get to have the fun times with them at the end of the day.”
Cora felt dreadful for having misjudged her husband’s intentions. “I’m sorry, I’ll apologize to the men. They must think I’m some crazy shrew.”
“Come and sit with me. There’s one more serious issue we need to discuss.”
Cora followed him to the couch and sat beside him. They twisted in their seats so they faced each other.
He reached out to sweep tendrils of hair from her face.
She flinched.
John inwardly seethed but was determined not to allow his anger to show. He breathed deeply before speaking. “Who hit you?”
Wow, he doesn’t beat around the bush. She dropped her head to her chest.
He placed his fingers under her chin and tilted her face to him. “It was your father, wasn’t it?”
She didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer. Tears washed her cheeks, dripped from her chin and splashed onto their hands. What is it about this damn man? I didn’t cry when my father beat me, I never cried when Peter teased me, I didn’t even cry when father locked me in my room. Two days, two damn days and all I seem to have done is cry! What’s wrong with me? You’re ashamed he knows how worthless you are.
“Cora, sweetheart. Please talk to me. I can see it’s eating you up inside.”
Suddenly she snapped, she felt like a cornered animal. Tugging her hands from John’s, she jumped up, brushed angrily at her tears, and paced the floor.
As tempted as he was to wrap her in his arms, he suspected she needed to release her years of hurt and anger. Until then she couldn’t be happy. After a few moments, she stopped, threw her hands on her hips and raised her voice.
“Yes, my father beat me. You know why?” She didn’t stop for an answer. “Because, I’ve always been useless, worthless. Everything I did was wrong. Happy now? You’re stuck with a wife who can’t do anything right. I wouldn’t want me cooking and cleaning either.”
She was beyond distressed. Like an avalanche, the words tumbled from her.
He refused to see her become any more upset than she already was. He catapulted from the couch and reached out for her. Mistake! It broke his heart to see her cringe in terror. For God’s sake! I’ll kill him. I swear if I ever set eyes on him, I’ll take great delight in giving him a slow, painful death for what he’s done.
He retreated and dragged his fingers through his hair. It stuck out in all directions. If Cora hadn’t been so upset, the sight would have made her laugh. When he stood still and opened his arms, she rushed into them. The warmth of his hug calmed her. She felt him place a kiss on top of her head. His heart beat erratically. They remained locked together, comforting each other.
“Cora, I’m so sorry. There is NO reason, NO Reason, for an adult to beat a child. For a father to beat his own daughter, I find…..I’m lost for words. It angers me more than anything has ever angered me, to know how you’ve been treated. But, my darling wife I promise you, from the bottom of my heart, no-one will EVER hit you again.”
He stroked her back as he spoke, and it soothed her.
When she raised her head, she was shocked to see tears in his eyes. “Thank you.”
He kissed her gently. “How about I show you the rest of our home?”
***
John held the reins and ensured Bess stayed steady. “Place your foot in the stirrup, hold the saddle and pull yourself up,” he instructed. As easy as it would have been to sweep her up and plant her pretty little behind into the saddle, he wanted her to learn how to mount and dismount on her own. The ranch was isolated and he understood the need for her to be able to mount up and raise an alarm or go for help if it was
needed.
Cora bounced on one foot trying to propel herself high enough to throw her leg over the horse’s back.
“Did I tell you how cute you look in those breeches?” he asked.
She withdrew her foot from the stirrup and stamped it on the ground in frustration. “Yes, you have. Numerous times!”
“Getting’ all fired up ain’t gonna get you on that horse’s back,” Sam said from where he watched, perched on the fence next to Henry.
“I’m too short.” Cora stamped her foot again, dust particles wafted around her. She fisted her hands on her hips and glared towards John.
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