by Reece Butler
“It’s about Jessamine.”
“Jessie? She’s in Virginia.” Trace released Sin after a last shake and stepped back. “Or is she?” He straightened up. “What the hell do you know about my sister?”
Sin dropped his hands. He let the back of his head rest against the wall.
“Damn. I thought Ranger told you.” He took off his hat and scratched his head fast, as if his hair was full of lice.
“Told me what?”
Sin settled his hat and met Trace’s icy glare.
“Ranger sent a brat to beg Ace to hire on with the Double Diamond. Just for a few weeks, to prove himself. We’re only paying bed and board, but the kid still wanted the job. Ace thinks Jessie Bonham is a fourteen-year-old boy.”
“Jessie’s here? Shit!” Trace screwed up his mouth and turned his head away. “I thought two years in that fancy school would turn her into a lady.”
“She’s a lady as far as I’m concerned, but she’s also a damn good rancher. I’m the only one who knows, other than Ranger and maybe Patrick.”
“I haven’t seen Jessie in eight years.” Trace gazed at the mountains for a few minutes as if seeing something that wasn’t there. He shook his head and turned to Sin. “I guess two years in skirts can’t make up for over twenty years in a saddle.” One side of his mouth turned up in what might be a wide grin in another man. “Jessie had a few curves on her last time. She must have more now. They can’t tell?”
“Her hair’s chopped short, she binds her chest and wears a coat even when it’s hot in order to cover her sweet—uh, her back end.”
Trace rubbed his hand over his moustache.
“And Langford thinks she’s a boy?”
“Ace stays a long way from Jessie when he can. He says there’s something about the boy that bothers the hell out of him. He’d fire her if she wasn’t such a good worker.”
The corner of Trace’s lip twitched.
“I saw how Ace looked at Jessie when they met,” said Sin. “She got a rise out of him, which he blames on going without a woman for so long. We don’t have money to waste on whores. I’ll be honest with you. Ace is a man driven to prove himself to the hardest taskmaster in existence. Jessie is more than an irritant. She threatens his sense of self.”
Trace nodded for him to continue.
“The man’s so focused he sees only what’s in front of his face. Lately, that’s been cattle. He’s so tired he’d trip over his own horse if it didn’t move out of his way.”
“And Bennett?”
“Henry stays away as well. He knows something’s up but is keeping it under his hat.”
“You their nursemaid?”
Sin didn’t rise to the jibe.
“We’ve worked as a team since Ace and I stepped in to stop Henry getting pounded at school. Ace is the planning and mathematical genius, with lots of focus and drive. Henry can turn his hand to anything and make it work as long it’s got nothing to do with cards, women or money.”
“And you?”
“I’ve got the strength and ability to make anything they want happen. I usually stay in the background and watch. When I first saw her passing Baldy’s Saloon—”
“What! I’m gonna tan her ass!”
“Mr. Elliott, how old is your sister?”
Trace winced. “Damn, I guess she’s older than Beth.” The corners of his eyes crinkled. “I’d tan Beth’s ass if she went past the Mercantile, and she knows it.”
Sin gulped. His cock rose at the thought of Jessie lying across his lap, her round ass waiting for his hand.
“She came from Virginia on the Bride Train, disguised as a boy. She got to Tanner’s Ford on her own and found Ranger. She’s got more ability and sass than any woman I know, and she’s old enough to marry.”
“Too old. She’s stuck in her ways, ways few men want.” Trace turned and went back to soothe Sapphire.
Sin thought of the cold stream rushing downhill and how his cock shriveled when he washed up before saddling Emperor. When he had it under control he followed Trace. It wasn’t smart to let a man know he wanted his sister. Especially when he didn’t plan to marry her.
“Jessie’s right for the Double Diamond,” he said to Trace. He cleared his throat. “I came here to ask your permission to court her.”
“You want to marry my baby sister?”
“No, sir. I want Ace to marry her. He needs a wife more than Henry and me. He needs the roots that a wife and family will give him.”
Marrying into the Elliotts and MacDougals would give Ace so many roots that he’d never leave. Not just the land, but the eight or nine brothers-in-law and their families. As damn near an only child, Sin wanted his children to have lots of family near. Even Henry, the youngest of nine, wanted lots of young ones around.
“How’ll you get Ace to marry Jessie when he thinks she’s a boy?”
Now he knew Trace was on their side, Sin let the tension release. He leaned his arms on the loose box and rubbed Sapphire’s head.
“I believe the lady will be the one pushing the suit. I see how she watches Ace when he doesn’t know she’s there. It’s the same with Ace. And the way she moans when I rub her shoulders—” Sin backed up a step and held his hands up. “Just her sore shoulders.” He dropped his hands when Trace grunted and turned his attention back to the horse. “Jessie needs a husband, and soon. If you don’t want her with us, I hear the Circle C is hunting for a wife.”
“If Ranger figures you’re right for Jessie, I won’t complain.” He rubbed Sapphire behind an ear. “I guess my baby sister’s grown up. If she’s looking at Ace that way, it’s time to find her a husband. Or three.” He narrowed his eyes at Sin. “How come you came asking to court her?”
“I don’t want eight or nine of her brothers and cousins going after me if she says I kissed her.” Sin planned to do one hell of a lot more with Jessie, but a big brother wouldn’t want it pointed out. “We’ve been raised to be honorable gentleman. Unless Jessie makes a move, Ace won’t see what’s under her padding and binding. He wouldn’t touch a virgin unless he planned to marry her.”
Neither Sin nor Henry would touch Jessie until Ace claimed her. After that, Sin planned to bed her well, and often.
“He’d better not touch her until after the wedding.” Trace looked to the east where the evening star rose in the heavens. “Be good to have the Double Diamond join the family. Other than the Circle C, we’d own this end of the valley.”
“Is that an approval?”
Trace made a fist and looked down at it. “Ben’s not here, so there’s only five of us Elliotts. Five against three ain’t bad odds.”
Sin braced his feet. He rolled his shoulders and let his hands hang free. “Five against one, and I’ll take you any time you like. One at a time or all together.”
Trace tilted his head. “Got it bad, have you?”
“That woman—!” He shut up before he said something which would make Trace want to clean his clock.
“You want the Double Diamond to share her, like we do Beth.”
“Only if the lady’s willing.”
“And if she’s not?”
Sin inhaled. He let it out, shaking his head. “Then maybe Ace won’t be the one marrying her. And that would be a pity because without a legal wife to birth Langford sons, he’ll drift.”
“Which would you choose? Your partner or Jessie?”
“I aim to make sure I never have to cross that bridge.”
Trace looked at him, up and down. Sin stuck his hands in his pockets and contemplated the mountains.
“Unless she’s changed, Jessie’s such a wildcat it’ll take three of you to keep her in line.”
“I figure she’s the one who’ll be keeping us in line, Mr. Elliott.”
A smile changed Trace’s face from carved granite to almost handsome.
“You’re a smart man, Statham. This lady could use both of us tonight. It’s her first, so it may take a while.”
“Glad to
help as long as you need it.”
“You can put your black in the corral.” He snorted a laugh. “Maybe he’ll be good enough for Nightwind. Ranger brought Jessie’s black mare from Texas. She’s in season, and Ranger’s too busy to keep an eye on her, so he stashed her here. She’s never been bred, too damn picky to let a MacDougal stallion near her. None of mine are good enough for her, either.”
“If Emperor wants to cover her, he’ll find a way. You get the first colt, I get the next.”
Sin shook hands with Trace, sealing an agreement for more than colts. Trace didn’t try to crush Sin’s hand. To Sin’s mind, that meant a man was confident enough in himself that he didn’t have to prove anything.
He unsaddled Emperor and brought him to the corral. He’d barely closed the gate before Emperor’s cock emerged, hard and ready. He snorted and moved toward a large black mare with a white star between her ears. She bared her teeth and whinnied, but lifted her tail. Usually he enjoyed watching Emperor take a mare, but he was already too damn hard from thinking about Jessie.
He turned for the barn as Emperor reared on his hind legs to cover Nightwind. His damn horse was getting more action than he was, and the situation wasn’t likely to change for a while.
Chapter Seven
Doc Henley pulled the rented buggy to a stop in front of the small Double Diamond cabin. He looked around as the August dust, turned up by the wheels, settled. The log cabin had a deserted air to it. Ragged curtains hung in the windows, left over from when the original family lived there. The Sinclairs sold out after saying they never would, and moved to California.
“Langford and his partners haven’t done much to the house since the Sinclairs left, but the barn looks in good shape,” said Doc quietly to Miss Rosa. Ranger had asked them to check on Jessie, knowing both kept many secrets.
“On a ranch, the house is always last to get fixed,” she replied, “especially with bachelors.”
George took his time getting down. At forty-five, he didn’t move as fast as when he was sparking his first wife. That word might not be used much now, but he felt it was right with his wooing of Rosa. She’d been through things that would kill many women, and he was afraid to move too quickly and burn her. A spark now and then, however, might kindle a bit of a flame. He held his arms up. Rosa bit her lip then gave a terse nod. He smiled his approval of her acceptance. He gently lifted her down, gauging how long he could hold her before she began to stiffen in fear. He released her quickly once her feet touched down.
“I got a few more seconds out of you that time, Rosa.” She flushed, but he saw the corner of her mouth twitch. “Since there’s no one here, maybe you want to steal a kiss from me?”
He put his hands behind his back, closed his eyes, and waited. He’d developed both patience and a knowledge of people over the years. Rosa would come to him when she was ready and not a moment sooner. They rarely got a chance to go sparking where no one could see them, and he wasn’t going to miss the chance.
He inhaled her scent, cinnamon and vanilla, as she approached. A warm hand rested on his left shoulder. Her front brushed against his chest. He tightened his grip on his hands. She’d not been so bold before, and he didn’t want anything to spook her.
Rosa kissed his shaven cheek. It was just a peck, but he’d take and be happy. Since she didn’t remove her hand, he stayed still. She brushed her lips against his, once. He gave her a soft smile of encouragement and opened his eyes. She nodded her acceptance of his praise and backed away. She’d survived being a Comanchero slave from age twelve to eighteen when Miss Lily bought and released her. Luckily, the leader kept her to himself for the first four years before tossing her to his second in command. Surviving the next two years would have killed many women, or at least taken their minds. Though she was terrified of most men, for some reason she trusted, and liked, him. He loved her, with all his heart, and would do anything to have her love. He’d accepted she would never share a bed with him, but he hadn’t given up hope they could share a life.
She looked at the basket on the wagon. “If Jessie’s not here, we’d better leave the buns in the house.”
He handed her the basket, admiring the curve of her breast when she reached for it, and followed her into the cabin. Rosa set the basket down on the scrubbed table and looked around.
“Do you think Jessie’s doing all the cooking?”
“Shall we wake her and ask?”
He pointed to the neatly made bed in the corner. Jessie lay on her back, fully dressed except for boots. A cap of short brown curls covered her head. He could make out the stubborn Elliott chin, though it was the size of an elf in comparison to her huge brothers. Freckles speckled her nose and cheeks. From what he could see of her limbs, she was like a yearling colt, slender and muscled.
“How could anyone think that darling young woman is a boy?”
“Men see what they want to,” replied Rosa.
She walked over to the table, putting her boot heels down sharply. Jessie startled and shot to her feet. A knife appeared in each hand, poised and ready to throw.
“Who the hell are you?”
* * * *
Jessie blinked at the older man and woman. She’d forgotten to make her voice sound low, but it was too late. The old man looked a bit embarrassed, but the woman snorted like a horse.
“Ross teach you how to defend yourself with those knives?”
The woman didn’t wait for Jessie to answer. She turned her back and bent over the table to empty a basket. She pulled out a pie plate and lifted off the cover. Jessie’s mouth flooded at the smell of cinnamon and yeast.
“I’m Rosa, and that handsome man is Doctor Henley. Now, are you gonna put those knives away and have a cinnamon bun, or should I leave all these for your men?”
Jessie absorbed both knives back into their holders and stomped into her boots.
“They’re not my men,” she automatically replied. “Welcome to the Double Diamond, Miss Rosa, Doc. I, uh, better not eat anything you brought. They wouldn’t like a hired boy taking what’s theirs.”
“I brought these for Jessamine Bonham Elliott. I know that’s you, so get your skinny ass over here and hold out your hand.” Rosa cut a square and set it on a tin plate.
Jessie decided to eat now and worry how they knew who she was later. She moaned when she bit into the light dough. She tasted sweet butter, raisins, and spices. She chewed, the texture like nothing else.
“Her ass isn’t skinny, Rosa. It’s round, and fits her body just right.”
Jessie choked on a mouthful. Doc winked at her.
“It’s skinny compared to mine!”
“I like a woman’s ass to be big and round and kissable.”
“Kissable?” squeaked Rosa. Her face, from forehead to the tight edge of her collar, flushed the color of her name.
Jessie stared as she finished chewing. They looked at each other as if unaware she was in the room. She suddenly realized they were sparking!
“Every inch of you is kissable, Rosa. Inside and out.”
“Excuse me, maybe I’d better go to the barn and let you two, uh, talk.”
“George Henley!” Rosa stuck both fists on her hips and glared.
“You’d better give that present to Jessie before one of the men returns,” said Doc. “Jessie needs it. You can tell me off all the way back to town.”
Rosa, face still flushed, stomped around the table. Doc winked as she passed. She grumbled and almost shoved Jessie out the door. She stomped over to the buggy, took a cloth-wrapped parcel from under the seat, and continued to the barn. Jessie followed, not sure what was going on but willing to find out.
* * * *
Sin unsaddled his horse and turned it into the remuda. He’d seen the trail of dust heading for the cabin but had to take care of a few things before he could get home. He hurried behind the barn on his way toward the house.
“Take off your shirt and show me what you’ve done.”
Sin sto
pped so fast his upper body kept on going. He caught himself and stood still. Jessie’s little room was in this corner of the barn. The voice was deep, but sounded female, thank God.
“Dammit, girl, how many days and nights have you worn those bindings?”
“Just since I started here. Um, three days? Four?”
It was Jessie’s voice, but she spoke clearly and used proper grammar.
“I’ve come just in time. Get it off.”
Sin waited, imagining Jessie unwrapping cloth bindings from her chest. His cock twitched in his pants.
“Goodness. You’ve got enough for two women your size!”
A vision of Jessie’s slender body with a set of large, full breasts made his cock ache. He’d expected her to have small breasts to perfectly fit his mouth. Any extra was a bonus.
“They just kept growing, Rosa. I wish they were smaller.”
Rosa was here? That meant Doc was around.
“If you’d worn those bindings any longer, those welts would be even worse. Let me rub on the ointment Doc sent.”
Jessie hissed. Sin heard nothing for a minute. His imagination went wild.
“There, how much does it hurt now?”
“About the same as when Fin MacDougal almost broke a couple of my ribs.”
Sin’s fists formed instantly as rage flowed into him. How could anyone beat a woman, especially one half his size?
“You do anything to get back at him?”
Jessie’s laugh floated past, sinking into his soul. He wanted to make her laugh like that. She sounded somewhat like Henry’s middle sister, the nice one.
“One night Fin drank so much he passed out by the fire. He’d left his pants unbuttoned after he took a leak. I smeared honey over his cock and made a trail to a red ant nest. He was so drunk he didn’t realize until his pants were full of them chomping down. He swelled up so much he couldn’t walk for a days.”