"Well, goodnight and come to see me," she said. They waved goodbye and stood on the porch clutching each other.
"Hank, I love you more every day." Rose leaned against Hank and whispered.
"Show me tonight then." He smiled.
Rose nodded, then as they looked around the farm, admiring their handy work and slowly went back inside. And there in the middle of the room they saw Josey standing. Her eyes were going all over the place as though she’d just woke from a dream. She was holding the baby, and looking peculiar at Rose.
"My but he’s grown," Josey said. "How could he grow so fast…I don’t understand?"
"Josey! Honey you’ve been out of things for some time. We weren’t sure you would come back to us." She ran to grab hold of her and hugged her.
"Rose…what is goin’ on…what’s happened?" Josey sounded surprised, as if not understanding, especially when Rose broke down in tears.
"Oh my God, Hank…she’s come back to us." Rose cried as Hank came to hug Josey too.
Josey stood stiffly for a moment, and then cradled Rose against her. Rose felt her sister start to sink to the floor but Hank held them all up within his embrace.
As they sat at the table while Josey ate, Rose explained everything. Josey shook her head. "I’ve been out for over two months? How can that be? How’d I eat?"
"I fed you till you could feed yourself. You only started feeding yourself the past two weeks."
"You did all that for me?" Josey took both their hands in hers. "And the two of you are married now? How many others things have I missed?"
"Just today…Not much, except the baby has grown."
"They didn’t hurt the baby…did they?" Josey asked. Her eyes going hollow.
"No, darlin’ they didn’t hurt him." Rose sighed, happy to have her sister back with her.
"Oh I’m so happy for you…so very happy. Well…me and baby will sleep together tonight then." Josey laughed. "But have you figured on a name for him yet?"
Rose watched Hank stare at her sister, then look up at her with a loving smile. “Yes we have, we thought…well, we thought, we’d call him Jacob, Jake for short.”
Josey looked from one to the other and then broke into a beautiful smile. "Oh…I think that is so sweet of you…both of you."
Rose smiled at her sister and hugged her again. "I’m so happy, you made this day complete for me, Josey. I thought I’d lost you."
Josey glanced outside for the first time and smiled. "Nope…not yet." It was one of the happiest days of Rose’s life.
Chapter Twenty
Rose slipped between the covers of their bed that night, wearing nothing. She knew the action was bold of her, but she was married now and Hank could have anything he wanted. He deserved all she could give him, and she realized that her love and respect had grown for him. Not because he was a hero, but because he was a man, a very good man. At last she was ready to show him just how much she cared for him. Working so hard with him, and him helping her all the way. She could depend on him for anything. That meant a lot to Rose during the difficult times they shared. The care he took with Josey, the way he loved the baby. She had grown to love him beyond her wildest dreams. After tonight, he’d never doubt her again.
She heard him securing the front door, checking everything, blowing out the lamp in the other room.
As he slid in the bed, shock registered on his face at finding her awaiting him with bated breath and nothing on.
"I want us to make love."
She smiled into his surprised face.
He stared at her through the moonlight, pulling back the covers so he could look at her. Rose had kept her figure after the baby was born, except her breast had enlarged.
She was perfect.
The moonlight bathed her in a soft caressing light. His gaze went the length of her. Her dark hair splayed against the pillow, her eyes shone into his. His smile curled about her heart. She moaned in her throat.
"It’s been a long time…" his voice was low and husky.
"Too long, honey. Today was my wedding day and I didn't have to work one bit. So I'm rested, and relaxed and ready for my husband." Rose whispered as her hands went over him slowly, exploring as though she’d never done it before. She remembered the smooth of his chest and glories that it hadn't been marred by all the hard work. He laid beside her and as her hands moved slowly, explanatively over her, he sighed with such complete satisfaction.
"I've missed your hands on me…" He said.
"We've been through a lot, haven't we?" she kissed his nipple and he jerked from the shock and feel of it.
"I don't even feel like the same person anymore." He said as she continued to touch and kiss him, all over.
Of course Hank had filled out more too. He was all muscle and brawn, and his skin was still like silk. She loved his chest, the way it tapered off at the waist.
Hank shivered at her touch as she kissed his navel.
"You’ve given me, so very much to be thankful for. We've had it hard, but somehow it seems to all have been worth it. Now I want to give to you." She whispered, as her mouth devoured his in slow drugging kisses.
Her hands wouldn’t be still, until she had touched and caressed every inch of him.
When her lips ran over his manhood, he almost came off the bed. But she didn’t stop until he was satiated completely. She touched, laved and suckled until he was totally spent, and red-faced. Figuring he would go to sleep, she rolled over.
"My God…the way you loved me…" He whispered and smothered her with a hot kiss that shocked her.
But she was in for a delightful surprise. He put his lips to her ear and whispered. "You’re my wife now, and anything we do, is always pleasing to me. Just touching you, kissing you, and making love seems more than a little special to me. Looking at you now, is like heaven. You're beast are so beautiful, breathtaking."
She smiled and kissed him hard, her breast crushed against the silk of his chest.
He rolled her over, as he began to kiss her everywhere. It had been so long since they'd been together like this that they felt as though they were marking new territory. His hands gently took her breast and brought them together, as his lips covered each nipple, caressing it with his mouth.
Rose squirmed something was deliciously different about this taking, Rose mused with a thrill running up her spine. Hank was different. He made love to her like a man. Like a man that appreciated her.
Her body reacted, to his sweet and tender kisses. The way he looked at her, as though she were the most precious thing in his life.
"That night the jayhawkers came…I was so afraid for you and Josey." He whispered against her.
"When they told us they killed George, I thought….well I thought they might have done the same to you. That's when I realized how much I loved you and wanted you in my life forever. The night I thought I lost you."
"I don't ever want to go through that kind of torture again. And I don't want to ever lose you Rose. We've come too close. When you told me about Jacob, and then about you childhood, I was angry, but something inside me broke loose too. The thought of someone taking you like that, hurting you. You are the most giving, loving woman I've ever known. I realized too, that even though that evil man did that to you, it also opened up your heart. I began to see that you have a very deep passion for people. How could I not love you."
His kisses went all the way to her dark curls where his tongue shot out to open her up to him. He moaned, she moaned, as his lips ignited a fire within her. She squirmed, and clawed and kissed him as he kissed her over and over there, his tongue massaging the hard nub that swelled to a peak as she climaxed into a whirl of love and whispered sweet nothings. His hand at the same exact time reached to touch her nipples, caressing them gently.
Overwhelmed by his show of love, she let the feeling of euphoria sweep her away.
Moments later, she grinned at him. "Now it's my turn." She purred in his ear.
Her hand reach
ed down to touch his manhood.
Then she scooted down in the bed and covered him with her lips. He gasped.
Already primed she moved her lips slowly over him, until he was moving himself toward her. She kept it up, as he grabbed the bed and held on. When she had satiated him, she grabbed her and pulled her up to kiss her lips once more.
"My God Rose…I don't remember it being so good between us…" He whispered.
"It's been way too long my love, and the man that makes love to me tonight is a different man that I rolled in the hay with. You've surpassed the man I thought you would be. You've grown into maturity so beautifully. I never dreamed we would have so much together."
"You've changed too, and I'm glad. You've come into the woman I knew you would someday be. God has made it so right between you and me. We are one now, forever."
He kissed her nose, her eyelids, her brow, her ear, and then trailed kisses down her shoulder, around her breast, little breathless kisses on her nipples, and down further to her navel where he let his tongue wet her.
His manhood was so ready for her when she pulled him up and he slid inside her. She was on fire, and he propelled himself further inside her love nest. Over and over he entered her, taking himself out several times so he wouldn't spill so soon. Then plunging back inside her, and then slowly as he kissed her nipples, they reached the top of the mountain together. For some reason this time was different, this time the climax was in unison and it lasted longer than either expected, as they touched, kissed and whispered love words to each other.
Rose had never experienced this deep a satisfaction, even with Jacob, it hadn't quite reached this point. Suddenly she realized with such clarity that Hank was her world now. Him and the baby, and the babies to come. For she wanted many babies with Hank. The thought thrilled her so.
"Oh Hank…" she said breathlessly, as they lay side by side, touching and smiling at each other like two children pleased with themselves. "That was so incredible."
"Yeah, it was. I've missed you, Rose."
He kissed the top of her nose.
"I want a lot of babies, Hank." She giggled when his lips dipped to take a nipple into his mouth. His touches were so tender now, not rushed and brash like they used to be. His whole way of making love to her had changed.
"Sounds good to me." He murmured. "You're a good mother, you know."
"Am I?" She smiled.
"Do you want another one right away?" She asked breathlessly as his touches and kisses began to stir her lust for him again.
"I want to make sure you are healed but yes, as soon as you feel it's good. We could have another."
She giggled when he blew his breath against her ear.
"I'm very strong Hank. And the doctor said I had the hips to have children."
"Then I guess we'll have to keep working on that big family, won't we…"
He dipped his head under the covers, kissed her dark curls again and saw her hips coming up to greet him.
After making love a second time they curled up against each other, naked and held each other through the night.
In the wee hours of the morning his hand began to massage her breasts, as he stared at her while she slept. She moaned and curled into him tight.
His manhood announced itself against her. She rolled over and stared into his eyes, a smile as big as Texas on her face. "You want me again?" she teased.
"I want you always," he smiled and kissed her possessively on the lips.
They collapsed, as pre-dawn came.
His fingers splayed across her breast as he sighed and went back to sleep for a few more minutes.
~*~
The next day Rose was helping Josey fix breakfast when Josey asked, "So…is everything okay between you and Hank?"
Rose colored, her blush must have been crimson. "Oh Josey…I’m so happy. This scares me."
"I am so glad." Josey said slowly, watching her. "See the truth did help."
"You remember that?" Rose smiled.
"Of course I do…just not much after that."
"We’ve grown into each other Josey. We are right for each other. I never thought I’d be saying this. But our life…is so peaceful and good. And the fact that I can tell him anything, it is such a blessing to me. And I have you to thank for that, dear sister."
"So…maybe you’ll have another baby before long, huh?" Josey smiled and touched her arm.
"I wouldn’t mind…" Rose sighed. "You know at first it scared me witless to be pregnant, but little Jake is so much fun. I wouldn't mind having a houseful.”
"That’s wonderful. I am so glad you have finally found happiness Rose." Josey sighed, as she fried the bacon. "I can’t wait to have my first baby…"
Rose tensed. Josey didn’t know…
"Josey…I’m very glad you are better, honey. But I do want the doctor to check you out again. And make sure everything is going to be good for you."
Josey stiffened a bit, but didn’t say anything. "I feel like I lost some of my life, sleeping in a coma for so long. I wake up and you are married and the baby has grown and everything seems to have changed. I guess I’m glad I didn’t know how I really was. The Lord protected me from that. But you’re right, it is strange…"
"Did you hear me?"
"Yes Rose, I heard you. I’m fine though," Josey insisted. "I’m still a little weak in the knees when I walk, but I’m feelin’ better."
"Do you remember what happened?" Rose asked, pouring coffee for her and Josey.
"I was raped…I know…" Josey said quietly. “I don’t remember much, I must have fainted or something. And glad of it."
"Yes, you were, but honey…there’s something more you need to know…" Josey stopped tending the bacon to look at her. "What?"
"The doc took care of you that next morning. You were out of your head, you didn’t know what was going on. He had to sew you up, Josey. And he said…well…honey…he said…"
"What did he say?"
"He said you might never have any children…you were tore up too bad." Rose said taking her hand in hers.
Josey jerked her hand out of Rose’s.
"That’s not true," she cried out.
"He sewed me up good. Why couldn’t I?"
"I’m afraid it is the truth honey."
"He-he said I couldn’t have…children?” Josey repeated dully.
"He said you probably couldn’t yes," Rose answered. "Honey they tore your insides up."
"That's a lie." Josey screamed, tears running down her cheek.
"No…Josey, he said you were hurt bad. That he wasn’t sure you’d ever be able to have a child…"
"No—you must have misunderstood."
Josey’s eyes were wild with rejection now. Her hand trembled against Rose’s.
"This can’t be true."
"Oh honey…you’re alive that’s what counts."
"He said he didn’t know, "Josey explained.
"Josey, ask him. When he comes," Rose insisted. "I’d have given anything to have stopped the filthy man who touched you. Anything I kept screaming out to you, but either you didn't hear or what he was doing was so awful you just went out of it."
Josey stared at her and then ran from the kitchen, outside, to the fields.
Rose stared after her, wondering if she should have told her such a thing. But she had to know. She started to run after her, but wanted to give her some time to think first.
~*~
Josey sat there in the field weeping silently for a long time.
Rose finally came out to sit with her. She glanced up at the sky, and saw the pillars of clouds that danced across the blue horizon. She looked about the cornfield and saw how her and Hank and plowed it under. She plopped herself in the middle of the corn field and looked at her sister with a hard glance.
"I’m sorry I told you. I should have let the doc explain things. But honey, it pains me to see you this way. Josey, we thought we had lost you. Don’t you see, you was close to death, honey?
You were out for so long. We thought you were gone. You lost a lot of blood. They didn’t exactly rape you…they used a knife, that’s why you were hurt so bad. And now, to see you alive again, to see you here, it’s like a miracle. God gave you another chance. Don’t you see? You’re lucky to be alive…that animal nearly killed you, honey."
Josey groaned, and frowned at Rose.
"I should have died. What good am I now to Leroy, to our hopes and dreams?"
Rose took her hand.
"Josey," Tears welled in Rose's eyes. To see her sister hurting so badly was more than she could bear, " …this war…done some bad things to us all. It took Mama, took Jacob, and killed George. We are all that’s left. But somehow, life is still worth living. I know exactly how you feel right now. You can't see the better side of life, like I was when Jacob went away."
Josey turned her head away.
"We got a beautiful baby. And I’ll share him with you, I promise. He’ll love you just as much, you’ll see. We got hope for a future. When Jacob left, I thought I’d shrivel up and die from the pain of losing him. He was such a gentle creature."
"I don’t want to hear all this. "Josey put her hands on her ears.
"I know you don’t. I guess I embarrass you, I’m sorry. I've always embarrassed you with my blunt talk of sex. But you need to hear some of this, you have to understand, it was real, Josey. Understand. But I’m trying to explain so you understand. Josey, you’ll still have the man you love."
Josey stared at her long and hard.
"You mean…you still love Jacob…more than Hank?"
"Not more…no…but I still love Jacob too. I'd never hurt Hank, I love him so. My love for Hank has grown more than I ever thought it would. And I know you don't understand how a woman can love more than one man. But…because Hank is a good man, and he truly loves me, and I love him too, and he treats me so wonderful, I love him for that. I love that I can be honest with Hank about anything. I can tell him anything, and he’s still right there at my side, wanting to be with me. That’s kind of rare for a man to love you in spite of your faults. I understand now, I love them both. But I do love Jacob too. I can't stop that. I know that’s hard for you to understand, and I wish I could make you understand. You have Leroy, he’s the love of your life. He’s yours. Children…well… you can play and love mine all you want. Don’t you see? You will be as big a part of their lives as I will. They will love you truly. And you’ll still have Leroy. We have to go on Josey with our hurts and pains. Life goes on, and God gave us that life, so we have to live up to him."
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