“I still can’t believe how much food you can put away,” Chad said, sending her a special grin and wink that reduced her to melted butter. He had stolen a kiss here and there and if he caught her alone asked if she’d talked to his brothers yet. She told him late in the afternoon that she’d managed to talk to Sam.
“Corky’s cooking is amazing. She puts many a restaurant to shame. If I continue to eat this way, I’ll be the size of a house soon.”
“You said your mother never gained weight,” Johnny said.
“Yes. And until she became ill, she could eat as much as me.”
“So what are we all up to tonight?” Sam asked. “Want to play monopoly?”
“Lord, I haven’t played that in years.”
“I have to do a stack of paperwork tonight,” Chad told them. “Sam, I need you to go look after that broken fence I spotted earlier on. We can’t have cattle wandering out on the road.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. What’s wrong with that? You’ve done it at night plenty of times before.”
“Well it’s no fun playing monopoly with just two people. I’ll help you, Sam,” Johnny offered.
“No, that’s fine. It’s not a job for two people. I’ll do it.”
After dinner, Chad disappeared into the study and Sam left to go fix the fence. Topaz was left alone with Johnny. This was the time to talk to him but not the right place. “Want to go for a walk, Johnny?”
“It’s freezing out.”
“So? I’m not made of porcelain. I want to go and see Daisy. She’s sick.”
“I know. The vet says it’s not serious. She’ll be fine.”
“I still want to go and see her. Want to come along?”
“Yes, of course. Just wait while I go and get a sweater. And you’d better put on something warm, too,” he cautioned her.
Topaz’s heart beat a staccato rhythm as she pulled a warm sweater over her head. Soon she’d know Johnny’s reaction. And then she had to wait while he thought about it all. So far, Sam hadn’t mentioned anything. Then again, he hadn’t had that much time to think yet. Eagerly, she went downstairs where she found Johnny already waiting for her. He looked incredibly handsome in a white turtleneck, knitted sweater.
“That’s a lovely sweater, Johnny. Who knitted it?”
“Corky. She’s got more than one talent.”
“It’s fantastic. I hope she’ll knit me one.”
“Just buy the wool and she’ll be happy to, I’m sure. Let’s go.”
On the way to the stables, he took her hand. “I’ve so wanted to be alone with you, Topaz.”
“Then why did you offer to help Sam?”
“Usually we do things together. It’s kind of strange he wanted to do this one alone.”
Topaz didn’t find it strange at all. She knew Sam wanted her to talk to Johnny and this was an excellent opportunity. And maybe Chad had sent Sam out on purpose as well. “Maybe he just wanted to do it alone. Who knows?”
They had arrived at the stables. Johnny closed the door behind them. “It’s nice and warm in here.”
“Yes, it is.”
He held her hand while walking to Daisy’s stall. She quickly opened the stall door and saw the horse lying on her side. Topaz knelt beside her and stroked her while talking to her soothingly. Daisy lifted her head once and snorted a little as if to acknowledge the show of love. Topaz stroked and petted her until she closed her eyes and lay quietly sleeping, then she left the stall. Johnny was busy sweeping and cleaning up some of the stalls.
“I really have to talk to the new stable hand we hired. He isn’t doing a good job in here.”
“Did he have experience?”
“Not really. He’s just a young lad.”
“Then maybe you could show him the ropes?”
“Right. Come here, you,” he said, throwing the broom aside and closing the door of the stall he’d been cleaning. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. “So, my precious darling, have you been able to sort out your feelings?”
“Yes and no.”
“You can’t be in love with all three of us. You’ll need to choose.”
He pulled her tighter against him and kissed her on the forehead. “Johnny, I want to be with all three of you. I can’t make that choice, but I can marry the three of you and we can all be a family.”
“That’s against the law.”
“I’d have to marry one of you legally. Then the four of us can do a handfasting. It’s not recognized, but it’s done quite often and it binds us just as much. Have you heard of handfasting?”
“Of course. I grew up with Corky. So, how can you be married to the three of us? You make love to Chad one night, Sam the next and then me the day following that?”
She reached up and placed the palm of her hand on the side of his face and stroked him lovingly. “We can all be together. A ménage.”
He kissed her then, long, sweet, lovingly, with all the love he felt in his heart. When he broke the kiss, he looked into her eyes for a very long time almost as if he was searching for answers deep in her heart, in her soul. “How would my brothers feel about that?”
“I’ve already told them. Both Chad and Sam have asked me to marry them.”
“Damn, you mean they’ve beat me to it? They always beat me at everything.”
“Now you sound like a spoiled brat.” Topaz laughed. “It’s actually right. Chad asked me first, then Sam. And you haven’t asked me yet, but it’s all done in the right order, from oldest to youngest.”
“I love you and yes, I want to marry you if you’ll have me. And if my brothers agree, I have no objection to the handfasting and the four of us making love together. But you’ll have to marry one brother first according to the law. Which one?”
“Chad.”
He nodded. “That makes sense. So Chad and Sam are completely in agreement? It’s actually quite an aphrodisiac to think about the three of us in bed with you.”
“They’re both still thinking about it. You’re the only one who agreed immediately.”
“Sweetheart, if it’s the only way I can have you, yes. And as I said, I’ve heard of people having ménages, but usually just out of sexual lust, orgies and all that. This would be a union of love. Completely different.”
“Yes, because I love the three of you and all three of you love me. It’s not like the sexual excitement that people crave and do it because of that. Next time I talk to Chad and Sam, I’ll tell them you’re in agreement. Actually, it might be better if the three of you got together and talked. You might be brothers, but you’ve probably never engaged in sexual activities together. I mean a ménage.”
Johnny had guided them to the bales of hay in the meantime and he pulled Topaz down onto his lap. “Actually, not quite that way, no. But we’ve gone out together many a time and there have been times when we’ve screwed a woman taking turns. And I use that term, because she was usually a slut. Or we’ve engaged in having sex with some girls all in the same room and exchanged partners. Don’t worry, we always wore protection. And obviously, we have no problem being naked in each other’s presence.”
“You’re the only one who wasn’t shocked when I told you about the handfasting and ménage.”
“I don’t shock easily and I don’t know why Sam and Chad would have been shocked. Not after everything we got up to when we were younger. But what will you do if Chad and Sam reject the handfasting and the three of us being with you?”
“Hell, I don’t know. I love you all so much. I don’t even want to contemplate that right now. It would present me with a huge dilemma. Marry Chad and sleep with you and Sam on the sly? That’s probably what would happen in the long run. Or cause a rift between the three of you and have you move away? I don’t even want to think about it.”
“Life does throw us some curve balls at times. Whoever would have thought that we three would fall in love with the same woman.”
“And who would have thought I’d fall i
n love with three men? Heart, body and soul. So much that it hurts. It’s all too unbelievable.”
“I’ll accept you unconditionally and I hope my brothers will, too. Now kiss me, my love. I’ve so longed for you,” he said and pulled her with him to lie down on the hay.
They didn’t get naked. It was too dangerous in case one of the ranch hands came in, but they loved, kissed, fondled, laughed and teased. Topaz loved Johnny’s sweetness, his sense of humor and most of all, his young, carefree nature. He was wise, yet there was an innocence about him that she adored. Now, if only Chad and Sam could come to terms about sharing the woman they loved.
While walking back to the house hand in hand, she thought about what life would be like being tied to three men. It wouldn’t be easy for her. She’d always have to make sure to show each man the affection he needed, to divide her attention equally between them, to share everything with all three of them, if she wanted harmony in her home. It would be much harder for her than it would be for them.
They found Chad and Sam in the living room near the fireplace. Sam was kneeling down putting more wood on the fire.
“Hey, you two. Where have you been?” Chad asked.
“To the stables to see Daisy,” Topaz answered and it wasn’t a lie. But looking at Chad’s face, there was a question in his eyes. She nodded and smiled. He knew then that’s she’d talked to Johnny.
“Johnny, before you make yourself comfortable, want to pour us some wine?” he asked holding his empty glass out to Johnny.
Johnny nodded. “Want one, too, Topaz?”
“Yes, please.”
She sank into one of the armchairs near the fireplace and curled up in it. Suddenly, she realized how tired she was. Not just from the exercise she’d had that day, but all the emotions had taken their toll. “Did you call the sheriff today, Sam?” she asked.
“Yes. Rachel and her father are out on bail. They confessed to everything, the cattle rustling, the kidnapping and she named the two hired hands she paid to kidnap you. Her father continues to hold steadfast to his claim he didn’t know anything about the rustling. The two thugs are in Mexico. They’re keeping a watch on their families in case they return. As long as they’re in Mexico, they’re safe.”
“I have a confession to make,” Chad said. “I hired a private investigator to investigate you and your mother. He never found anything that you haven’t told us already and I phoned him the other day that he could stop his investigation. The one thing he did find out is that your mother and our mother went to school together and were close friends. That’s most probably how our father met your mother.”
Topaz frowned, for a moment, her blood chilled at the thought of being investigated and a second of anger filled her heart but only a second. She kept her mouth shut and didn’t utter the retort she would have a couple of weeks ago. Instead, she thought why he would have done that and she knew why. “I understand. In your place, I would have been very suspicious as well. It’s rather interesting that our mothers were close friends. My mother never mentioned Isabella to me.”
“From what the PI found out from some of your more distant family, your mother was heartbroken when her best friend died at such a young age. Wouldn’t there be pictures of them together?”
“There might have been. But when I was five, the house we lived in burnt to the ground. Everything was gone and my mother had to start from scratch.”
“I can’t imagine that. It would be devastating to lose everything,” Sam said. “Chad, remind me to start scanning all our old photos into the computer. I’ll put them on an external drive and we’ll put it in the safety deposit box.”
“Good thought. It’ll be a nice project for winter evenings,” Chad said.
“I believe there is a serious matter we need to talk about,” Johnny said, finally breaking the ice.
“I’ll leave the three of you to talk.” Topaz started to get up from her chair.
“No, you stay. This involves you after all,” Chad told her. “So, Johnny, you’ve proposed to our princess as well.”
Johnny shifted uncomfortably and looked kind of wary. She surmised that he was probably feeling the same as her, wondering if Chad and Sam had made up their minds, or if everything would be blown to hell and back.
“Sam, have you thought about Topaz’s plan?”
“Yes. And if that’s the only way I can have her as my wife, then I’m all for it. It’ll be a first, the three of us in bed with one woman, but hey, I’m all for new and exciting things. That leaves you, Chad. What are your thoughts?”
Chad rubbed the stubble on his chin. “I need a shave.”
“Damn, never mind your beard. Tell us what you think,” Topaz snapped.
“Oh, oh, she’s getting snappy,” he said. “Yes. If you two think it can work without us wanting to murder each other, then I’m in.”
Topaz didn’t realize she’d held her breath waiting for his answer. She let it out now and felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her chest. Almost spilling her glass of wine, she jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around each of them and kissed them fully on the lips. “You’ve got no idea how happy you’ve made me,” she said and turned to pick up her glass of wine. “To us!”
“To us,” they echoed in chorus, clinked glasses and sipped their wine.
“And now there is a lot to plan. First, the legal wedding. Then the handfasting and God only knows who we’d invite to that one,” Chad said.
“Sweetheart, we can’t make this public knowledge. The handfasting will be quiet. It’ll be between just the four of us. Corky will be there of course. To the world, we’ll be husband and wife and I have two very loving brothers-in-law who will remain bachelors for the rest of their lives according to the world. But we’ll know differently. A bond will grow between us that can’t be broken. A bond we’ll form as we unite and consummate our love for each other and as I bear children for all three of you. And just wait, I want lots and lots of kids!”
“That’s something I hadn’t thought of,” Johnny said. “What are the kids going to call us? We can’t be uncle to our own kids.”
“Chad and I already talked about that. Didn’t I call your father Daddy John? Our children can do the same. If anyone comes to visit, they won’t find it that strange. After all, you’re bachelors so the kids will be all of ours.”
“It still all sounds very complicated to me. I wish we could just be open about it,” Sam said. “I want to be there when you have a baby, Topaz. I’m sure Chad and Johnny do, too. I doubt a hospital would allow three of us in the delivery room.”
“Oh, they allow all sorts of things nowadays, whole families in the room. But who says I have to have the baby in a hospital? I can have it at home if all is well. That’s often done again. Midwives nowadays are a lot more knowledgeable than they were years ago.”
Chad stopped the conversation about babies. “Okay, aren’t we jumping the gun here? For starters, Topaz isn’t pregnant and we have a wedding or two to plan.”
Chapter Fifteen
The ring Chad had given her was now on her finger. On her other hand she word Sam’s ring. He had taken her to shop for it. It was an emerald with a diamond on either side. And Johnny had done something completely different. Topaz sat on the verandah enjoying a cup of coffee and thought back to that day just before New Year’s.
“Honey, I’d like you to go shopping with me today,” Johnny said.
“What are you going shopping for?”
“Oh, I need some clothes and I want your opinion.”
Topaz didn’t argue. She loved being with her men and she appreciated them wanting to involve her in everything. “Sure. I’ll finish my breakfast and will go up and change. I’ve been helping in the stables so I’m kind of dirty.”
Once they were in the mall, he’d steered her to a jewelry store. “I’m going to buy you my engagement gift,” he said.
To her amazement, the jeweler already knew why he was there and produ
ced a red velvet box. Inside it was a beautiful gold slave bracelet with Celtic symbols engraved on it. When she took it out of the box, she saw the engraving on the inside. For all eternity, Johnny, it said. Johnny took it from her fingers and placed it on her wrist and nodded to the jeweler who asked her to step behind the counter into his little working cubicle.
“I have to do this very carefully so not to burn you,” he said.
“Do what?”
“Solder this closed. You’ll never be able to take it off. It can only be cut off.”
“Oh.” Still overwhelmed by the engagement gift, a ring that could never be broken, just like her wedding rings would be, she waited impatiently for the jeweler to finish his job. Once he was done, the band looked like it was endless, as if it had never had an opening.
Outside the mall, she threw both arms around Johnny’s neck and kissed him on the lips. “Johnny, that is so unique. Who would have thought of it? It’s beautiful and it means just as much to me as the rings, if not more!”
Johnny had beamed from ear to ear. And talk about the devil, “Hey, beautiful lady. Getting nervous yet?”
“A little. Mainly about meeting all of your extended family.”
“Ah, that’s no big deal. They’re a happy-go-lucky lot. Booking them all into a hotel instead of having them stay at the house will help. Imagine waking up to forty or so people and kids in the morning.”
“Has that happened before?”
“Oh, once in a while if a bunch of them decided to spend Christmas here. But not for quite a few years now.”
“I’m so looking forward to our honeymoon. I’m still wondering if people won’t find it strange that the three of you all disappear at the same time. Chad and I supposedly on our honeymoon and you and Sam on a business trip?”
“I don’t really give a damn what they think. Let them wonder.”
“In just a few days, we’ll be married. It’s hard to imagine.” She held her wrist up and proudly looked at the gold slave bracelet. “This already ties me to you. You know that, don’t you?”
Johnny smiled and kissed her. “Yes, my love. That was the whole purpose of it.”
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