It took a while for the tub to fill. She turned on the jets and climbed into the bubbling water. “Oh, I’ve died and gone to Heaven,” she said softly as she rested her head and closed her eyes. The soothing massage of the jets relaxed her completely, took the knots out of her muscles.
Images of the day flitted through her mind. Sam’s naked body pressed against her. Sam’s naked body on the small beach, standing there looking at her. His magnificent body, his cock she’d felt so briefly against her and was springing back to life again. She’d seen two of the Douglas men naked now. Her heartbeat sped up. Blood raged through her veins and within a short time, her libido surged. She couldn’t help but imagine their hands on her body, making love to her, kissing her, their fingers between her legs, entering her. Spreading her legs, she rubbed her cleft, thumbed her clit. A soft moan escaped from her lips as she imagined the men doing this to her. She came fast. But it wasn’t entirely satisfactory.
Their faces, all three of them, looked at her, their dark eyes filled with desire. What the hell is wrong with me? She wanted all three brothers and she couldn’t distinguish her feelings for one from the other.
It had to be almost dinnertime so she got out of the tub, drained it and wrapping a towel around her still-wet body and another around her hair. She went back to the bedroom. Just as she’d dried her hair, a knock came on the door.
Quickly she grabbed the towel on the floor and covered her nakedness. “Yes?”
“It’s me,” Johnny said.
“Oh. I’m not dressed yet.”
“I thought I’d go down with you.”
“Give me ten minutes?”
“It’s seven. They’ll be waiting.”
“Ye gads and heaven forbid Chad would be angry, huh? I told Corky we’ll have dinner as usual in the kitchen, Johnny. I’ll be there shortly.”
She hurried into her jeans and a clean shirt, then braided her still-wet hair. When she opened the door, Johnny was waiting for her.
“Did you enjoy your ride today, Topaz?”
“Yes, it was great. Your brother went with me instead of Hank.”
“Chad?” Johnny’s face was a mask of surprise.
“No, Sam.”
“I’d like to ride with you tomorrow if you feel like going out again.”
“I’d love that. Sam showed me a whole lot, but I’m sure he didn’t show me everything. That would take more than just a few hours.”
“I’m free early in the morning. If the weather holds, I’ll go with you.”
Like a true gentleman, he offered her his right arm and she walked down the hallway and down the stairs with him. His touch set her on fire. She placed her hand over his and squeezed it slightly, only to have him cover her hand with his left hand, which sent thrills all the way down her body.
He only let go when they entered the kitchen and as she’d asked Corky, dinner was casual and at the kitchen table. Chad and Sam were already there, Chad tapping his fork impatiently.
“Sorry we’re late. It’s my fault for soaking in the tub too long,” Topaz said as she sat opposite them. Johnny sat next to his brothers.
“Yes, talking about that tub, I really resent you taking the master bedroom for yourself,” Chad told her. “I just found out about that today. That was our parents’ room.”
“I know. I won’t change a thing, I promise. But right now, as owner of the ranch, don’t I have the right to choose which room I want?”
“You can’t just waltz in here and take over! What the hell do you know about the Douglas Ranch anyway and its history?”
“Calm down, Chad. Remember what we talked about earlier,” Sam said.
Corky, who was about to dish up something from a large pot, stopped midstream and looked at the brothers. “What’s wrong with you? Mizz Topaz is the owner now. She can do as she wants!”
“Corky, it’s none of your business!” Chad snapped.
“Listen, big man Master Chad, I changed your shitty diapers. Don’t you give me no lip!”
Topaz felt mortified, but at the same time, glad that Corky stood up for her.
“I’m not hungry,” Chad said, shoved his chair back and left the kitchen.
“I told you,” Johnny said sending her a woeful grin.
“Yeah. Taking our parents’ old room wasn’t a good move on your part, Topaz,” Sam agreed.
“He’ll have to deal with it. I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving and whatever Corky has in that pot smells great!”
Corky’s words had imprinted in her mind. She’d changed Chad’s diapers. That meant she was around when John’s wife was still alive. When she had a chance, she’d talk to Corky and see if she could find out more about the past.
“Topaz, there’s something I’ve been wondering about. You speak English fluently without an accent. How did you manage that?” Sam asked.
“Your father had me attend an English-speaking school. I speak both languages fluently.”
“It’s almost like he was preparing you to take over the ranch,” Johnny said softly.
“I don’t know about that. As I’ve told you both, I didn’t even have a clue he owned a ranch. He often told me he thought of me as the daughter he never had. So perhaps that’s why he did all those things.”
“Why didn’t he ever marry your mother and bring her back to the ranch?” Sam asked.
“I don’t know. He loved my mother, I’m sure of that.”
“Wouldn’t he have told your mother about the ranch, about us?”
“If he did, I don’t know about it. I can’t imagine why it would be such a big secret. I’m just as much in the dark as the three of you,” Topaz said while munching on the delicious stew and a slice of freshly baked bread.
* * * *
The next morning Topaz got up very early and as soon as she’d showered and dressed, rushed down to the kitchen hoping to beat the men there.
“You’re up early, Mizz Topaz.” Corky greeted her with a broad smile.
“Morning, Corky. I usually get up early, unless I work graveyard shift.”
“What kind of work do you do, Mizz Topaz?”
“I’m a nurse.”
“Are you now? That could be very useful around here if you’re wanting to do some charity work.”
That perked Topaz’s interest, but she changed the conversation. “Corky, you were here when the Douglas brothers were born, right?”
“Yes, Mizz. I was here when their daddy was just a little one. I’m getting on in age.”
“You don’t look a day over fifty. What was their mother like? What was her name?”
“Isabella. She was the sweetest little thing. As pretty as a picture, but she was very frail. Couldn’t talk much English when she first came to the ranch. Master John met her in Mexico, married her there and brought her home to the ranch.”
“Mexico? I suspected as much looking at the photos in the bedroom. Did Daddy John ever talk to you? I mean, on a personal basis? Did he talk to you about my mother? About Juanita?”
“A little. Master John told me he’d fallen in love with another woman, but she didn’t want to leave Mexico and he wouldn’t give up the ranch. Mind you, no one could ever take Isabella’s place in his heart. But he loved your mother, too.”
“Why didn’t they ever tell me about the ranch? About his sons?”
“Mizz Topaz, if you would have known about life here on the ranch, wouldn’t that have fired a little girl’s dreams? Master John always hoped Juanita would change her mind, but it didn’t happen. He had to be satisfied with seeing her twice a year.”
“Why wouldn’t my mother want to live here?” Topaz thought about her hardworking, strong mother for a moment.
“Maybe she was afraid, Mizz. Fear of the unknown and scared the boys wouldn’t accept her.”
“That’s a possibility. She was a good woman, Corky. Daddy John wanted to buy a nice house for her, didn’t want her to work anymore, but she always refused that, too. She was very
independent.”
“I’m sorry you lost her, Mizz. It must have been hard.”
“Yes, it was and still is. I miss her so much. Is there anything else you can tell me? Did Daddy John confide to you why he left me everything?”
“No, Mizz. That was a huge surprise for all of us. I have my suspicions, but I’ll keep those to myself for now.”
“Oh, come on. Tell me?” Topaz wheedled.
“Nope.”
“I’m surprised that you knew about my mother, yet Daddy John’s sons didn’t. He never told them anything? Did you know about me, Corky?”
“Nope.”
Topaz could tell by the firm set of Corky’s lips that she wasn’t about to tell her anything else. Gratefully, she took the mug of freshly brewed coffee. Corky set a plate down on the table.
“Would you like eggs and sausages, Mizz?”
“It smells great, Corky, but just toast please. I’m not a big breakfast eater. I’m surprised not one of the brothers is married or even engaged.”
“All three have brought various women home at one point or another. Master Sam was engaged for a while, but it broke off. Master Chad was engaged to be married when Master John passed away. When she found out the Master had left everything to a stranger, she broke it off. Rachel made a fool of him in front of a lot of people. Told him he was nothing but a ranch hand and she had no intentions of marrying a man who was just an ordinary workman. I always knew that woman was just after money.”
“That explains Chad’s double anger. He thinks he’s lost everything—his heritage plus the woman he was going to marry dumped him right after his father died. What a bitch!”
“Yes, she cut him to the core. I doubt Master Chad will trust any woman now.”
“Well, at least a woman wouldn’t be after him for his money or the ranch now. I’m going to have Mr. Havilland make up a will leaving everything to the Douglas brothers. The only stipulation being that if I marry and have children, they’ll be taken care of if anything happened to me.”
“I have a feeling you’re going to live a long life, Missy. You might be just a little lady and look frail, but I think you’re a lot stronger than you look. I don’t think that making up such a will, will pacify the boys though.”
“I’m not going to tell them yet. I know they’re going to contest Daddy John’s will, but that could take quite a while. Daddy John wanted this for me and I have no intention of giving it up. It won’t affect their lives any. Nothing will change except that I live here.”
“Is that so?” Chad’s voice sounded behind her. She’d not heard him come into the kitchen.
“And what is it you’re not going to tell us?”
Topaz almost choked on her coffee and coughed. “Nothing. Corky and I were just talking.”
“Corky? What is it she’s not going to tell us?”
Corky just shook her head indicating she’d tell him nothing and set a place for him. “Eggs and sausages, Master Chad?”
Chad planted himself at the opposite end of the table and glared at Topaz. “I don’t appreciate you talking to the hired help. Don’t make yourself too much at home.”
“I’ll talk to whomever I want,” Topaz retorted. “And you had no right to eavesdrop.”
“I wasn’t exactly eavesdropping. I walked in on a conversation and caught the last sentences.”
“Master Chad, you haven’t given me a shopping list for the Christmas party.” Corky quickly changed the conversation. “I have the guest list. Master John gave me that a month ago.”
“I suppose he invited the usual crowd? About eighty guests? Corky, you’ve looked after this for many years. You don’t need my help. Just do what you always do.”
“When is the party?” Topaz asked.
“Christmas Eve.” Chad almost spat out the words.
“It’s the first time in many years that there’ll be a real hostess,” Corky said, a broad smile aimed at Topaz.
“Heavens. I wouldn’t know what to do, Corky.”
“You’ll be greeting people as they come, Mizz, along with the boys.”
“You’re all up early,” Johnny sat next to Topaz and Sam followed shortly after. “It’s good. We’ll get an early start, Topaz.”
“Early start for what?” Chad asked.
“Riding. I’m sure she didn’t see everything yesterday.”
“Let Topaz find her own amusement. There’s too much work. You’re not going.”
Johnny’s fist hit the table and at that moment, Chad and Johnny could have been twins. Topaz wouldn’t have thought there was any anger in the youngest of the brothers, but she’d been wrong. Beneath that sweet surface lay a will of steel.
“I’ll do what I want. You’re not my boss or my father!”
Chad drank the last of his coffee, almost smashing the cup by planting it on the wooden table very hard, then marched out of the kitchen.
“He needs to lighten up,” Sam said.
“Don’t forget he got hit by a double whammy, Master Sam. He’s a bitter man,” Corky softly reminded them.
“I haven’t forgotten. It still doesn’t give him the right to be so goddamn rude.”
Topaz felt uncomfortable to say the least. “I’ll meet you at the stables, Johnny. That’s if you still want to go?”
“Of course I do.”
“Thanks for breakfast, Corky. I’ll see you later.”
* * * *
It was still quite cool out so she put on a sweater before heading to the stables. Johnny was already there waiting for her, Daisy saddled and snorting impatiently.
“I’m sorry, Topaz.”
“For what? Your brother’s rudeness? It’s not your fault. And I understand him better now. Corky told me about Rachel and what she did.”
“Good thing, too. Sam and I knew the bitch was just after money and position. Being the wife of the oldest of the Douglas brothers would have given her the social status she wants.”
“I don’t know how some women can be like that.”
“Men do it, too, Topaz. Marry for money, I mean.”
“I suppose.”
“You’ll be a target now that you own the estate, which is common knowledge. Gossip flies fast in these parts. You watch. At the Christmas party, the single men will flock around you.”
“Like Scarlett.”
“Excuse me?”
“Scarlett, in the movie Gone with the Wind. Men flocked around her like bees drawn to honey. Except I wouldn’t just foolishly marry another man if I couldn’t have the man I’d fallen in love with.”
“I haven’t seen that movie. I heard it’s a woman’s flick.”
“Scarlett fell in love, but then he announced his engagement unexpectedly and in retaliation, she married the first man who asked her.” Topaz mounted and started to walk Daisy off the property.
Johnny was beside her. “Have you ever been in love, Topaz?”
“No. I’ve had boyfriends, but none of them were Mr. Right.” Until now, she thought. I think I’m falling in love, but with all three of you, even angry Chad. As soon as they were in open territory, she spurred Daisy into a gallop. Again, she reveled in the scenery, the freedom, the wind whipping her hair around her face. Johnny had passed her and led the way. He took her in a completely different direction than Sam had taken her. After they’d been riding for some time, he led the way down a slope, to the river but a different spot.
“Time for a break. This is my favorite place,” Johnny said as he dismounted.
Topaz jumped down and let the horse roam free to the river’s edge. “Sam took me to the river yesterday, but it’s not as beautiful as this spot.” The river narrowed at the end of a fairly large pond. Large rocks poked from between trees and shrubs and water cascaded down them. She drank half the bottle of water Johnny offered her. “I wish I’d bought the digital camera I’ve been eyeing for a while,” she muttered under her breath, making a mental note to buy one soon.
“Corky packed some lunch for
us. Are you hungry?” he asked.
“Not yet. Heck, it can’t be lunchtime yet.”
“We’ve been riding for quite a while.” He looked up at the sun. “It’s almost noon.”
“Wow. It doesn’t seem that long. I’m going for a swim.”
“You’re kidding. The water is cold.”
“Yes, but once you’re in, it’s beautiful. I swam yesterday.” This time she’d come prepared and wore a bikini under her clothes.
“I didn’t bring swimming trunks,” Johnny said.
“Don’t let that stop you.” Grinning at him, she took off her clothes and ran to the water’s edge. The sand felt warm under her feet. The water felt colder than it had yesterday so she walked in carefully first to let her body get accustomed to the sudden cold. Once it was up to her chest, she dove beneath the water and surfaced spluttering. “Come on, chicken. It’s beautiful once you’re in,” she yelled out to Johnny who was still watching her from shore. “I’ll turn around. I won’t look.”
She gave him a minute or so and turned around to look and just saw him gingerly stepping into the water. When he saw her gaze on him, he dove right in but not before she’d seen him in full-naked glory. He was as gorgeous as his two brothers and his cock just as big, if not bigger. It stood to attention but as soon as he stepped into the cold water, she watched it wilt and lie dormant on a bed of springy dark pubic hair. Johnny was hairier than Chad and Sam. His skin, also, looked as if he’d been tanning, but now she knew that Sam and Johnny had their mother’s Mexican coloring, whereas Chad, though he looked like Isabella, had inherited his father’s lighter skin.
Johnny swam up to her with strong strokes. “Brrrr, it’s cold.”
“Once you’re in for a few minutes, it’s fine. I’ll race you to those rocks,” she said.
They reached the rocks at the same time. Johnny turned to face her. “See that ledge over there? I used to love climbing onto it when I was a boy and stand under the fall.”
“What’s stopping you now?”
“Uh, I’m not wearing anything.”
“I’m a nurse. I’ve seen everything you’ve got and more.” Topaz grinned, then swam toward the ledge and promptly climbed onto it. She stepped under the stream of water that cascaded down and felt as if she were getting an invigorating massage. “It’s terrific! Come and join me!” She knew she was playing with fire, but it was a fire she wanted to step into. Which one of these three men will claim my heart?
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