by Everly West
"They were all killed together. But here, it’s mostly me and Bacon and now you," he said.
"Speaking of, where is that big mutt?" she asked, smiling.
"He's in the barn. While you were sleeping, I didn't want him to jump on the bed. He thinks he belongs curled up in the covers with me."
She laughed.
Sighing, he put the cornbread into the oven and then sat across from her in a rocker he'd made himself. It had been a project to keep him occupied two winters ago so he wouldn't concentrate on feeling so alone.
Sitting with her feet tucked up underneath her skirts, hair loose about her shoulders, and dark cobalt eyes gazing at him with empathy and kindness, she was beautiful and she was dangerous. Her womanly scent mixed with roses and lavender reached him across the room and he stared at her full lips so rich and inviting that he wanted to taste them again. But at this moment, that was not a good idea.
The plan was to court his wife slowly, but there was that stubborn part that wanted this to be a race.
"So why haven't you found someone to marry you?"
When he first arrived, he lived with his brother, sister-in-law and their family, and then he found this place. But there was so much work that he'd stayed busy until the winter and then the loneliness overwhelmed him.
"I've been busy. That first year, I had to rebuild the barn, stock it with hay and prepare for the winter. Slowly I've been building my herd and trying to fix up the place. You're the first woman who's been here."
Silence filled the room as she stared down at her hands. Then she looked up at him. "There was no one in town?"
"Now, that's funny," he said. "Only the barmaid, and I think she's been around the block once or twice, if you get my drift. Ordering a woman I didn't know was a risky deal, but living out here alone is lonely. And I'll be honest, I miss my family so much. Now, it's time for me to start my own family."
A blush spread across her cheeks. Their children would be beautiful and he couldn't wait to start a family with his new bride. If she didn't run back to Charleston.
"Just not right away," he said, reassuring her.
Of course, he was, but he wasn't a man who jumped into something without knowing what he was getting. But he also wasn't a man who was easy to get to know. And yet with Anna, it hadn't been hard. Sure, at first, they'd butted heads, but they'd also been facing a life-threatening situation, which had them both under a lot of stress.
"Someday, I want a family."
"Me too," she said. "I didn't realize how much I wanted children until there was no one. But now, I'd like to have a husband and children of my own."
The sound of the bubbling chili splashing on the stove had him jumping up and running into the kitchen.
Why did it seem they were both yearning for the same things, yet they were completely opposite? His humble beginnings on the Kansas prairie never included balls and galas or owning a business. While on the other hand, she attended society events and wrote about them.
Then again, she had been seventeen when the war started. Young enough to be courted, young enough to be married, so why had she not married a man from Charleston?
Several days later, Anna felt the need to get up and help Levi. Aunt Flo had come and gone and she was back to normal. It wasn't like this didn't happen on a regular basis, and next time, she would remember the hot toddy. Fortunately, the snowstorm had diminished and even the sun was trying to peek out from behind the clouds.
Married for over a week, they spent most of the time together in this cabin.
"You don't have to help me," he said. "Go, sit down."
Glancing at him, she stared into his eyes, remembering how it felt when he'd smashed her against his chest and kissed her senseless. Why did she long for that again? "I have to do something. I think I'm getting cabin fever. I just can't sit here anymore. It's been over a week."
He smiled. "Understand. Then you can wash and I'll dry."
"That’s a good plan."
He poured the hot water into a big dishpan and added soap. Handing her a rag, she started with their silverware. "I can't believe you cook and clean for yourself."
"Who else is going to do it? It's not like I can hire a maid, and no woman is going to live out here without a ring on her finger."
Chuckling, she turned to him. "I guess not. Very practical, Levi."
"That's what my mother used to say to me. I was the practical one of her children."
How lucky he was to have a sister and brother. She'd never thought being an only child was bad until her father died and there had been no one to share the grief with. No one to talk about the good times. Sure, she had friends, but no family. Not even a nearby aunt or uncle.
She reached around him to wipe off the table and bumped into his back, her breasts brushed against his arm, sending a delicious tingle zipping along her spine straight to her groin. She gave a little gasp and glanced at him to see if he noticed. His eyes darkened, and his lips squeezed together tightly, drawing his cheekbones taut.
Since the day he kissed her, there seemed to be this connection coursing between them that had her on edge, trying to avoid his touch, his smell, the very memory of his kiss.
Yet, she wanted to explore those full luscious lips of his and enjoy the sanctity of his arms around her. Whenever he was near, she'd almost gone up in flames.
He moved closer to the cabinet to avoid her, and she quickly wiped down the table. Turning back, he stepped backward and bumped into her chest, almost knocking her down. He grabbed her arm to keep her from falling. This kitchen was so small, two people could barely maneuver.
"Excuse me," he said, gazing into her eyes.
His fingers still gripped her by the arm as they stared at one another. He licked his lips and then he was crushing her against him, his mouth covering hers, sealing them together, taking her like a raging storm.
Demanding, crushing, and yet tender at the same time. He kissed her like she'd never been kissed, sliding his tongue along her lips, tormenting her, leaving her aching with an unknown need.
Cradled against his pelvis, she could feel the rigid hardness of him and was shocked at the wantonness. Yet a part of her also wanted to push toward that male hard flesh that seemed so intriguing. Moaning a rough, brusque sound, he deepened the kiss until she thought she would faint. His strong, tanned hands gripped her head and held her lips captive as he plundered her mouth.
Suddenly, he stopped, his breathing harsh, his eyes glazed as he looked at her, his swollen manhood still firmly planted between her thighs. What was she doing? They still had well over twenty days to go before they could...she couldn't think about that now as she dragged in lungfuls of air.
"I've got to get out of here," he gasped.
Releasing her, he stepped away putting distance between them. Distance she didn't want. She wanted to continue what he'd started. She wanted to feel what happened next. She wanted Levi in a way she'd never imagined wanting a man.
Grabbing his coat, he yanked it on. "Don't come looking for me. I'll be out in the barn until late."
Shoving his hat on his head, he walked to the door and then glanced back at her. "Goodnight."
Standing there with the dish rag still in her hand, she watched him walk out the door, feeling stunned at what just happened. Sure, he'd kissed her before, but this time it had been different. It had been intimate and left her confused and frustrated and angry.
She threw the rag at the door. Why had he stopped? They were married and she wanted more.
Chapter 5
Howling accompanied by growling woke Anna from a deep sleep. The sound was coming from right outside. Rising from the warm comfort of the bed, she tiptoed across the cold floor to the window and peeked outside. She couldn't see anything.
Bacon barked, the sound loud and deep, threatening.
"Hush," she heard Levi command the dog. But still he gave a deep throated growl.
Something was wrong. A trickle of fear snaked down
her spine causing her to shiver. Wrapping a blanket around her, she walked to the bedroom door and opened it. The glow of the fireplace cast an eerie glimmer in the darkened house and reflected off the dog who stood at attention beside Levi.
"What's that noise?" she asked.
Levi was pulling his boots on. "A pack of wolves. I think they're trying to find a way into the barn. They must be hungry."
"You're not going out there, are you?" she asked, her heart racing, her chest tightening as she realized the danger.
"I have to protect my livestock," he said, standing to grab his coat off the rack. He gazed at her in the semi-light. "Don't let Bacon out."
Picking up the rifle sitting by the entrance, he pulled open the door and stepped outside, taking a piece of her heart with him.
Anna stood frozen to the spot, shaking as he walked into the snow and cold to face the waiting pack of wolves.
Needing to do something, she put coffee on to heat, knowing he'd be cold when he returned.
At the sound of a shot, she jumped, her chest tightening more as panic clenched her insides.
Bacon came to her and whined, looking up expectantly, and she sank onto the couch and held the giant dog, giving comfort to the animal and herself.
While she knew he had to protect the animals, she feared he would get hurt. What would she do if he was injured? What would she do if he was killed? She'd been here over a week. The time had come for her to step up and help. She needed to learn what to do in case Levi became incapacitated. As his wife, it would be her job to care for their livestock.
The growling intensified and another shot rang out in the dark. Then there was silence except for her rapidly beating heart. She wanted to throw open the door, run outside, and make certain he was all right, but worried the dog would take that moment to dash out, and then Levi would have to chase him down in the snow.
For thirty minutes, she waited for him to come through that door. Fear gnawed at her insides and she wondered if he was safe. At the thought of him injured or hurt or even dying, her chest ached and her heart pounded.
Levi was a good man she was starting to have feelings for. And now he was out in the snow facing danger, and she hadn't expressed or showed him how she felt.
Just when she was about to don warmer clothes and go searching for him, the door opened and Levi walked in.
She ran to him and threw herself in his arms. "I was so scared you'd been hurt."
He held her against his chest, his cold nose pressed against the side of her neck, his lips close to her ear. "They managed to get one of my calves and were fighting over the meat. I killed two of them before they took off and then I had to bury the bodies in the snow, until I can either burn or drag them far enough away not to attract other animals."
He set the rifle on the floor just as the blanket slipped from her fingers and he pressed into her. "Anna..."
Turning her head, his lips found hers, his mouth covering, claiming her with a passion she could no longer deny. A hot, demanding need rose in her clamoring for consummation. Her body thrummed, every nerve tightly wound with an urgency she'd never experienced. She could feel his arousal solid against her center and God, help her, she wanted more than just the feel of him against her pelvis.
Finally, she put her hand on his chest and broke the kiss, her breathing heavy as she stared up into his emerald eyes. "I fixed you coffee," she gasped.
When he stepped away from her, she picked up the blanket and returned it to her shoulders.
The first rays of sunshine were beginning to lighten the eastern sky as she went into the kitchen and poured him a cup of the warm liquid. "Here," she said, taking it to him. "All I could think about was what if you were killed or injured. How would I get you into town? I don't know how to hook up the sleigh, ride a horse even.”
They both sat at the table and he smiled at her. "If you're going to stay, you need to learn how to be a rancher’s wife. You'll learn to hitch the wagon, the sleigh, and even a horse. Your job will be to collect the eggs each morning, milk a cow, and even clean the stalls sometimes. During round-up, I'll need your help. There is always something to do to keep this operation going. Are you ready to learn?"
Until she'd taken the chance and come to Montana, she had no idea what a rancher's life was like. And now, here she was in the midst of the Montana wilderness. The dog came to her and bumped his head with her hand, wanting attention. She glanced down at him.
What did she have to go back to? Sure, if she could have kept the paper, she would never have left, but that was owned by the Union army.
Reaching out, she rubbed the dog behind the ears and gazed up at Levi. "Maybe you should start teaching me what I need to know."
He grinned at her and grabbed her hand, his touch sending chills through her body. "It's stopped snowing. Later this morning after breakfast, why don't I give you your first lesson and then we can take the sled out to feed the cattle and show you the ranch.”
Part of her knew she had to accept this was her life and forget about Charleston, but her heart remained there. All she could remember was how she loved the ocean breezes at night. The squawk of the sea gulls. All her life, she'd been blessed to have such an incredible existence - until the war destroyed everything.
She squeezed his hand determined to adjust to her new life, though being poor was the absolute worst.
Hours later, Levi stood in the cold showing his wife how to harness a horse. The back end of the sleigh was loaded down with fresh hay to take to his herd out in the snow. He would also need to bust the frozen water on the pond for them to drink fresh water.
It was going to be a busy day. But this morning, she asked him to teach her, and that left him excited. While the storm had kept them snowed in together, then her not feeling well, this was her first chance to really see the acreage he was so proud of.
Today was the first time she'd showed an interest in learning about her new life and he hoped that meant she planned on staying, because he liked Anna a lot and if he had his way, they would have already consummated their marriage to seal the deal.
Levi brought Anna around to the side of the horse.
"Never show fear around an animal," he said, taking her hand, rubbing the horse’s ears with her fingers.
After her reaction with the dog, he thought she would do very well with animals, but she still needed some instruction. His citified wife had a lot to learn about living on a ranch.
"So soft," she said. "Will she bite me?"
"If you show you're afraid. Just keep your fingers away from her mouth. Now, take the bridal and gently push the horse’s head down, then slip the horse’s nose and mouth through the harness and then up around her ears. It's simple once you get the hang of it. Now you try."
He watched her bite her lip and he wanted to groan. It was a habit that he adored, and each time left him hungry to taste her again. The horse gave a deep throated sound as the mare lifted her head and Anna tried to force the harness on. "No, not that way."
Taking the harness, he pulled it away from the horse. "The mare's head should be down. Once she starts lifting, you should already have it on or you need to start again. So head down, slip over the nose, the bit goes between her teeth, pull up and slip over her ears. Let's try again."
With his hand, he pushed down on the mare's head and this time Anna was successful in getting the bridal on the horse. She turned to him and smiled in that way that had his heart melting. If she ever learned how her smile affected him, he would be in so much trouble.
"I did it," she exclaimed as she reached up and rubbed the animal’s ears. The joy in her voice thrilled him.
"Now, we need to put her collar on and then I'll show you how to hook her up to the sled. Until you've done this several times, I don't want you driving the sleigh by yourself," he said, thinking he didn't want to lose his wife in a snowstorm. Becoming a young widower was not exactly his idea of a good marriage.
When she didn't respond, h
e noticed she was looking away and he wondered if his wife would go against his wishes. Somehow he got the feeling that Anna could become very stubborn.
"You won't leave the ranch without me," he said again.
Lifting her gaze to him, she smiled. "Why would I go to town without you?"
"Your friends," he said, hooking the horse to the sleigh. While he was glad his wife had friends, he didn't want her traveling the road alone.
She smiled. "I'm sure they are busy adjusting to their new life, just like I am mine. None of us are used to this cold weather."
Taking her hand, he helped her climb into the sleigh and then crawled in after her. He wrapped the fur pelt around them. "This Sunday, we'll be going to my brother’s house for lunch. Christmas is only a couple weeks away and his kids like for all of us to decorate their tree."
She frowned at him. "Christmas?"
With a shrug, he flicked the reins and the horse pulled the sleigh through the snow. "Yes, I mentioned my brother lives over the ridge, has a wife and three kids. We help each other out and get together about once a month trying to keep the family close. If we hadn't had a blizzard, I'm sure he would have already been here to meet you."
"They have children?"
"Yes," he said, staring at her, noticing she seemed to have become uneasy. "You don't like children?"
With a jerk, she turned toward him. "Of course, I do. I want a family."
"Then what's the problem?" he asked as they came into the first pasture of cattle.
"No problem. It will be okay," she said with a sigh.
Why did he have the feeling she really wasn't looking forward to meeting his nieces and nephews and his brother and sister-in-law. He couldn't wait to show her off, but she didn't seem as excited. Maybe she was a little shy. Maybe having to explain to everyone how they met, she felt embarrassed.
He pulled the sleigh to a stop, and as soon as the cattle saw him, they started toward him.
"Here they come," he said with a laugh.
The cattle started braying and running as he went to the back of the sleigh and tossed several bales of hay off. He broke them open and loosened the straw for the animals who eagerly munched on the feed.