He penetrated her with one finger and then with the next, stretching her. Filling her. She almost had a conniption but he made no sudden move and Addie calmed. Then he drew his fingers in and out of her. She got used to it. She settled so that she could actually enjoy it.
His hand stayed where it was. He took the tip of his member and put it into her. Slowly at first. It was an altogether different sensation. Addie wanted more. Once again, on impulse she wrapped her ankles around his back and inadvertently impaled herself. Galen was completely inside of her. The pain was horrific. She whimpered.
“Shhh,” he said. “Let me take the lead.”
He kissed her more until her body relaxed. The pain gave away to melting warmth. Galen moved within her. Addie was alive with an excitement that made her want to move. She rocked her hips up against his. She drew her knees up boldly. Every which way she moved she experienced a new thrill.
He was possessed by the same spirit. They danced against each other. Addie was driven. She wanted something – chased something – but she did not know what. Every brush of his flesh against hers made her draw up tight around him. The feeling was so beautiful and delicious that it made her head swim.
She thrust against him with more power, more purposes until Galen clasped her buttocks and drove into her as though this were not her first time. But she kept pace with him, bucking and reeling until he cried out and collapsed.
Galen’s arm possessively laced around her though he was completely spent.
Or so she thought.
He moved. She thought it was to curl up and retreat to what would be his side of the bed. But he didn’t. He propped up on one elbow and drew his hand down between her legs. He pressed and he wagged his fingers. She writhed, exhilarated by the sensation.
“Shhh,” he said.
She closed her eyes and let it happen. Soon she was rocking against his touch, again with that age-old passion. Again with the pursuit of something she could not name. Galen did not let up until she burst from within with wave after wave of exquisite pleasure. It pushed through her, washing every part of her. Addie’s heart beat in her ears like Black Eagle Falls. She relaxed against the mattress and let it take over her.
Galen was inside of her again. Hard with desire for her. This time, after she had found her pleasure, the sensation of their union was quite different. The pleasure was almost too much for her to take. Galen moaned and groaned as he pumped. Both of them trembled and shook, weak with passion but driven to move.
Her ankles tangled around the wide expanse of their back. He rose up onto his knees and took her that. Addie’s curves shook with the force of his driving. She closed her eyes and decided she could be this way for every, it felt so wonderful.
Galen threw his head back and howled as pleasure took him. Addie copied what he did before and touched herself in back and forth motion. It was magic. It pleasured them both. She had his undivided attention. He struggled to watch as his lids were so heavy with passion. She climbed, climbed, climbed until once again she shattered with ecstasy. This time it struck it was all the more powerful. She wailed with all that she had.
It was not long after that, that they collapsed into a dreamless sleep until chores awoke them.
Chapter Four
Galen let Addie sleep late. She heard him rise from their bed before sun up but she fell back to sleep. He returned to wake her.
“Rise and shine. Time to get married,” he said. “We have time to have our breakfast after we dress. The preacher will be here nigh on an hour.”
Galen and his brother hoisted a tub of water into the bedroom for her to bathe. It was lovely and the first bath she had had in days. Addie squatted in the tin tub and splashed wherever the water did not reach. She had carried a cake of soap for herself. Oh but she was tender. The water was soothing. When she was through, she smelled of roses.
She dried off with her own personal towel and powdered everywhere. She slipped into her Sunday clothes and brushed her hair. She was ready to be married. When she was properly dressed she called to Galen to remove the tub.
He stopped in his tracks at the sight of her.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
Addie believed he meant it.
“I am going to take seconds on your tub. I’ll be but a moment,” he said.
Addie put on an apron and cracked some eggs in a skillet for them.
He too emerged from the bedroom looking sharp in his church finery. He called to his brother who entered the house in a suit. Together the men carried the tub out and dumped it. They returned and sat at the table as Addie dished them up breakfast.
“How's our rustler?” asked Galen, digging in robustly.
“He's fine. Resting comfortably in the barn. Funny thing is Gale; he says he is not a rustler,” said his brother.
The brother shoveled fried eggs into his mouth aggressively.
“No?” asked Galen. “Good cooking, Addie.”
Addie poured coffee all the way around and sat down and sipped a cup. She waited for her eggs to cool.
“Says he's after your bride," said the brother.
Addie’s eyes flew opened. Terror trickled to her belly. She wasn’t eating her eggs after all.
“Does he now?” said Galen like he was amused. “Oh you know what? Where are my manners? Adaline Filcher, I don't believe I properly introduced you to my brother.
"Emory Calhoun, Adaline Filcher," said Galen coldly.
Addie pushed back from the table. How small could the world be that the brother of the man she was about to marry was the man she swindled out of cash. Of course, it had been a set up. And she fell for it.
"What is this?" she asked, her face slack with fear. The rattle of the preacher’s rig grew louder and louder till it came to a halt. The preacher parked the rig out front. Galen came around behind her. He gripped her beneath her armpits and encouraged her to stand. Addie locked her legs but Galen scooted her out the door, in front of their house, to her place beside him in front of the preacher.
"This here's a wedding," said Galen answered finally.
Emory framed her in. Between two big brawny men there was no escaping. Addie shook her head.
"Oh yes. You're going through with this ceremony. You're taking your medicine," said Galen.
Addie resisted.
"Do I need to turn you over to the magistrate?" scolded Galen.
Addie's lip trembled but she remained silent.
"Then behave," said Galen.
Pictures of the moments she shared with Galen played through her mind like a salve to her broken heart. She felt she had fallen in love with him at the height of their passion. It was a bitter pill to swallow indeed to know that such tender exchanges could be made so callously. Galen was playing her. Sort of like the promises she made to Emory Calhoun without a second thought.
“What’s my name going to be?” she whispered.
“Calhoun,” he said with a scolding glare.
Addie decided that no matter her fate, she was going to take her vows to heart. If it made her right with God, she would not take her vows in vain. It was bothersome that the magistrate was shackled just off to the side of the ceremony venue. He and Addie looked one another in the eye a few times.
With a few words and promises, Addie Filcher was a married woman. Every other waking thought was a prayer. As soon as the brief ceremony was through and Emory loaded the magistrate into the preacher’s rig, Addie gripped Galen’s rock hard arm and begged him for mercy.
“If you take him back to town, they’ll hang me. Please at least let me tell you what happened,” she said.
Galen mulled it for a moment.
“Emory gets to hear. He has a right to listen to this,” said Galen.
“Fine by me,” she said.
“Hey preacher,” Galen called. “Hold up. We need an impartial witness.”
Then he looked to the magistrate. “You run off on me while I have words with the preacher, I will skin you
alive.”
The magistrate’s eyes flared with fear.
Emory, Galen and Addie sat at the meal table. The preacher leaned in the doorway, a pistol on the magistrate in case Galen’s threat did not hold. Addie folded her hands, gathering her thoughts.
“My father disappeared for a week. We had a little bit of farmland left just on the edge of the city proper. Just enough for a cow, chickens, pigs. Daddy was all the time getting offers on it. He had no intentions of selling. Anyhow, he disappeared. The next thing I know this man - the magistrate -- shows up at my door, explaining how daddy was strung up by a group of angry people -- “
Emotion broke her words. She drew a deep breath and continued.
“Said daddy sold the farm twice,” said Addie.
“Runs in the family,” Galen said acidly.
“So he showed me papers saying I had to pay back one of the buyers and vacate the property so the rightful owner could take possession,” said Addie.
“Mrs. Calhoun,” said the preacher. “You ever attend a formal proceeding? Were you ever arrested or meet these people who your father allegedly swindled?”
Addie searched. “No sir. I just only met the magistrate He said I had to come up with the money or they would hang me too,” she wept. “I had to do something.”
Galen and Emory and the preacher made the same face as though struck by the same thought. The brothers’ jaws popped and flexed intensely with a new fury.
“Are you going to kick his ass or am I?” growled Galen.
Both brothers rushed the door. The preacher blocked them.
“Now boys, you don’t want to be doing something foolish. Don’t want to be leaving this poor creature bereft of the only family she has now, do you?” counseled the preacher.
“I don’t understand!” cried Addie. “Will someone please explain to me?”
“Mrs. Calhoun,” said the preacher. “You were swindled. There was no double buyer or likely even a buyer for the farm.”
Addie brightened. “Then daddy –.”
The men shook their heads.
Emory charged. He said more in the next sentence than Addie heard the entire time she had arrived. He flew into a rage.
“You son of a bitch! I’m going to knock the living stuffing out of you!” he shouted.
“Now wait a minute!” protested the magistrate. “I didn’t figure on her going and being so stupid.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what you figured on,” said the preacher.
Addie staggered. Had her father been murdered for his prime real estate? Had she really been swindled? How could she be so dumb and not see the game? And then to flee thinking she was getting away from it all only to have been duped again.
“What you think preacher, think we should run his likeness by the sheriff and see if he’s wanted for something?” asked Emory.
“Might be reward money in it,” said the preacher coolly.
“How much did you take off of my wife?” asked Galen.
“I took no money,” insisted the magistrate.
“Try that again. How much?” growled Galen.
“I am a magistrate,” insisted the magistrate. “I am legitimate.”
“How the law can come after her for someone’s alleged crime? You ever see a body, Addie? Go to a burying?” asked Galen.
“They took care of all of that,” she said, her heart breaking just thinking about it.
The pain made her crumple where she sat. Galen braced a powerful arm around her.
“It’s not any kind of a weddin’ day to have us go back in town but I don’t think the preacher here should be left to fend against him by himself,” said Galen. “What’s say we drop him off at the jail and stay the night in Great Falls. Might be a nice place for a honeymoon.”
It was the first time since he was angry with her that he looked in her in the eye, gently. Vivid memories of him above her in their bed, flooded her mind’s eye. Her face was hot in an instant. Galen’s eyes twinkled. Once again, Emory could not look at her.
Emory. He had sent such tender letters and she in response. It was an ugly but necessary game she played or so she thought to save her hide. If had been another place and time, Addie might have been married to him instead of Galen. But Galen had her heart. She was in love with him and there was no turning back.
Though she had genuine feelings for both men, there was one thing for certain. If this magistrate turned out to be con, Addie vowed she would kill him. No matter what Galen told her to do, if he told her to wait outside while he talked to the authorities, she would disobey. She was going to hear for herself what kind of man had her so afraid. And took her father from her.
“I can ride in with preacher,” said Emory.
“No, no,” insisted Addie. “We can ride together. I like the idea of staying the night in town.”
She cozied up to Galen, leaning against his mountain hard form.
“No sense in you being burdened by my stupidity any further,” said Addie. “This is my mess. If I hadn’t been so dumb—.”
She choked.
“You’re a woman,” said Emory. “You should have had someone protecting you.”
He kicked the ground and stomped off. The magistrate laughed. He was reveling in the drama caused by trying to avoid him all this time.
“Did I interrupt a love triangle?” he asked.
The preacher drew back his boot and kicked him hard.
“Ow!” complained the magistrate. “You call yourself a man of God?”
“You call yourself a man of the law?” retorted the preacher. “Let’s get while the getting is good. We ought to be there in time for you all to settle in nicely for the evening.”
They took two rigs into town. Galen and Emory quick made sure that all the animals were watered and fed even though they did so, on a daily basis. The plan was to be back after breakfast in the morning.
Chapter Five
Galen sandwiched Addie in between Emory and him. It was the darnedest thing that Emory made her feel the same way that Galen made her feel. She felt all wishy washy inside. And she had thoughts of laying down on the bed for him as well.
It was just because she was worked up, she told herself. She was not in her right mind because of the news of her dad, she said. But sitting next to Emory gave her tingles. Tingles so comforting and pleasurable that made her eyes close tight and drift a little.
The bumps of the rig didn’t help at all. With her body humming and knowing what she now knew about what exactly went on between a man and a woman, having her body jolted in a similar way that Galen slammed into her the night before, did not calm her any.
The buzz of the Black Eagle Falls was now not a bothersome thing. They were alluring. Captivating. Addie liked them this time as their sound got the strongest.
“The falls are right there, Galen. He’s not from here. Who’s to say he didn’t have himself a little greenhorn accident?” said Emory.
Galen’s shoulder shook with laughter.
“You mean dump him? No. I want to see what he’s done with the money and who has the farm. I want those things back.”
Addie straightened up. It never occurred to her that she might get those things back.
“You mean it?” she asked her husband with wonder in her eye.
“Don’t doubt it,” he said to her sure. “You be straight with me and I will return the favor. You understand me?”
“Yes Galen I do,” she said.
Chapter Six
All the way out to the sheriff’s, the magistrate bargained. He did everything but offer Addie her money back. Galen didn’t budge. Finally, Emory ordered him to shut up.
“I’m just saying,” said the magistrate. “If you take me to the sheriff and they decide I am a crook and they hang me, you’ll never find Addie’s father and there goes any chance of Addie getting her money back.”
The preacher shook his head.
“Don’t listen to him, boys,” said the preacher. “He
is the devil.”
“Are you even a magistrate?” asked Galen.
“You’re running the risk of your wife going to jail, you know that don’t you?” said the magistrate. “It could go either way.”
“The devil,” said the preacher.
When they arrived in town, to the sheriff’s office and laid out the story, the sheriff had another proposition. He suggested he send a wire to Chicago to learn everything there was to learn about the situation from the Chicago police. In the meantime, the sheriff could only charge the magistrate with trespassing and rustling if the brothers wanted to prefer charges.
“Can you ask about Addie’s father?” inquired Emory. “See if there is any record of his double dealing and getting hung?”
“If they authorities hung him --” began the sheriff.
But Addie’s shook her head and interrupted him.
“It wasn’t a legal hanging. He was lynched,” Addie barely managed to say.
“Ah, extra judiciously,” said sheriff. “Well if they are on their game, the authorities will know about that as well.”
“If there are people residing in the farm have any claim? You know like squatters?” asked Emory.
“Don't worry Emory,” said the sheriff. “We'll sort it out. Let me send this wire and see what's what. Go enjoy your weddin' day."
"It's not my wedding day," growled Emory.
Addie shrank. For the first real time, she felt truly horrible about how she played with Emory's feelings. It actually confused her she cared that much. Even though Galen himself was toying with her when he held her the night before. She only had to close her eyes and feeling lingering effects of his magic.
Chapter Seven
Many things were out in the open and that changed how it was between all concerned. The three invited the preacher for a drink at the restaurant at the inn where they were to stay.
“You all enjoy your meal,” said the preacher. “I best be getting off.”
Romance: Yes, Stepbrother! Page 36