Adored By The Rancher: Mail Order Brides Box Set

by Dreams, Brittany

  Irene instructed him to rest. She made sure she understood everything that needed to be done and left him to rest as she called all the ranch hands to the house. She sent two of Finn’s most trusted men with about 300 head of cattle; they were to sell them and buy timber. One of the older more experienced ranchmen was asked to take stock of how much of the feed they had lost, and to make sure it got replenished.

  She asked the men to get her comparative prices, so she could keep her husband informed. She wanted the men to know that they couldn’t cheat her, this was her home and she had to be the one who took charge of the situation.

  Irene spent most of her day in Finn’s room, making him comfortable. She wiped him down daily, his pain made him sweat greatly and she made sure he didn’t stay uncomfortably warm.

  One of the male servants helped carry him to the outhouse, and she had also kept a bucket around, so he spent almost no time on his foot. She told him about the dealings with the men, the timber was here and they had started rebuilding the shed and the quarters.

  Finn had wanted to go see the progress once he felt a little better, but Irene forbade it. She had told him about the doctor’s warning and assured him that she was taking care of things.

  Finn had never really let go of any control he had over his ranch. He had worked on it since he was a child and it was his legacy to him, his life. But Irene seemed to be doing a good job. He was surprised to see how well she handled the men, she had told him about the prices the cattle had gone for. He could have gotten a slightly better price, but her sharp mind impressed him. She walked around the house like its true mistress now. The servants listened to her every command and Finn felt his worries melt away. For once, he felt he could relax and let someone else take over. She had been diligent and dutiful and Finn felt very grateful.

  Once the pain got a little better, he started spending the day sitting up in bed, reading. Irene would join him, and sit on a chair near his bed, her head buried in some book, or her hands busy with some needlework.

  There was suddenly affection between them that they both felt. Irene would caress his cheek or Finn would put his hand on hers. But they would both stop themselves, their love had started in a way that had left them both fearful and neither wanted to rush things again, now that they seemed to have found respect and friendship.

  Irene was sitting up in her bed one night, worrying about a ranch hand who had disappeared. His home had been destroyed in the fire and a day back, he had just left. One of the men had told her he had found employment elsewhere. With the rebuilding of the ranch and the regular work that needed to be put in, the workers were all overworked, despite the three new people she had hired.

  She was going over plans to divide the work evenly between them when she heard soft groans from Finn’s bed. She rushed out, entering his room to find him covered with sweat, tossing and turning.

  She quickly sat down next to him and put her hand on his forehead. His eyes fluttered open and he calmed down a bit.

  “Did I wake you up?” He asked her in a tired voice.

  “No, I was up. Does it hurt a lot?” Irene asked him, worried.

  “I moved it in my sleep. It will be alright.” He smiled weakly at her.

  Irene took a moist cloth and quietly took off his shirt, gently letting the water wash away his hot sweat. Finn closed his eyes and took his hand to hers.

  He guided her hand downwards, and she obliged him by removing the covers. He was completely naked, his manhood erect, even in his pain.

  “Maybe this will distract me from the pain.” Finn looked at her questioningly.

  Irene bent forward and kissed him on the lips.

  “Let me know if I can do anything at all to help.”

  She had left the cloth now, her hand wrapped around his member, his lips parted in pleasure.

  “You have been exceptionally good to me. I can’t imagine what I would have done without you.” Finn closed his eyes as he said it and Irene realized how hard it must have been for him, to be the one who calls the truce.

  “I just want to take care of you. I was so scared when I saw the fire; I was terrified something would happen to you. You are my husband, and this is but a broken leg. We have much to be grateful for.”

  She returned his kiss, took off her clothes and got into bed with him, making sure she was away from his bad leg. She turned to one side and looked into his face, her hands playing with his hair.

  “I will sleep in my room tonight, because your leg does need a bed all to itself. But as soon as you’re better, I think we should move into the same room.”

  Finn smiled at her, “I think that would be quite nice, in fact, I think my leg can share the bed with my beautiful wife. I think that might make him feel a lot better.”

  Finn’s hands groped at her body, and she rested her head on top of his, letting him feel every inch of her body. She felt his lips on her breasts as he sucked on her nipple, squeezing her breasts, making her moan.

  She wanted to please him, to take care of him. He had loved her, he was just incapable of showing it and she had let the unnerving first two weeks get to her. She had almost written their marriage off, resigning herself to a loveless life. But the tenderness in his caresses right now made her tear up.

  Finn looked up and saw her eyes moisten up.

  “Is anything wrong?” He asked her in a panicked voice.

  “No!” Irene explained “This is nice, I like this and I’m just happy.” She shed a few tears and smiled an embarrassed smile as she wiped them away.

  Finn kissed her, overwhelmed by the love in that moment.

  “I love you, Mrs. Edwards. I feel extremely lucky that I found you. I couldn’t have asked for more, and I just wish I hadn’t been so afraid before. I just wish I had known you were the one I was waiting for. I’m sorry I took so long to see it.”

  He took her hand in his and kissed it. Irene’s tears flowed a little more freely now as she buried her head in his chest. She started to nip at his chest hair and her legs started to coil around his good leg.

  “I want to make you feel good, forget about the pain for a little while.”

  She got up and lowered herself on to his lap.

  “Tell me if anything hurts and tell me whenever you need me to move.”

  Finn nodded as his erection grew. Irene was facing him and sitting on his thighs, her ample breasts right in front of him. Swaying as she bent forward to kiss him.

  Finn pulled her closer to his cock so he could rub himself against her moist and warm mound. Irene shuddered and closed her eyes, scooting forward and letting his cock slide against her pussy.

  She moaned and clutched at her chest, squeezing her breasts as he watched, his hands on her hips, moving her as he groaned in pleasure, his eyes hungrily devouring her body.

  Irene raised herself on her hunches and guided his cock inside her, her pussy was slick with juices and Finn felt his cock slide inside her as she eased herself on to him.

  She felt him tear inside her, and she dropped suddenly, sitting on top of him, his cock impaling her. She could feel him fill her, her pussy stretched out by his girth.

  She waited till she felt more comfortable and started to move on top of him. She tried a couple of different movements, before she settled on her hunches, lowering herself on and off his cock.

  Finn was groaning with pleasure and she could feel his legs stared to tremble under her. Finn groped at her breasts and her belly, squeezing her flesh with his fingers as she fucked him.

  He took one hand to her pussy and started to massage her clit and she rode him. Irene was thrashing on top of him now, her body started to shake as Finn started to thrust back a little under her. Their bodies crashed together as Irene came, her pussy shuddered around him and he felt her juices flow around his cock, making him pour his cum inside her, as his fingers drew little circles on her pussy.

  They both collapsed after they came, Finn had his arms around Irene, pressing her to him, try
ing to hug her as tightly as he could.

  Irene suddenly sat up, remembering his injury and she turned to look at his foot.

  “Did I hurt you? How’s your leg?” she asked him, her eyes wide with worry.

  “What leg?” Finn grinned at her.

  Irene got off him gingerly and lay down next to him, getting under the covers; they both lay in each other’s arms for a while before she heard Finn’s soft snores. She didn’t want to disturb his sleep so she stayed unmoving in his arms till sleep took over.

  When they woke up the next day, Irene had to hurriedly dress while Sally knocked on their door. They had slept till seven and there was business to attend to.

  Sally smiled at Irene as she opened the door, and Irene blushed back at her, her mind giddy with joy.

  She hurriedly got dressed and went to take care of business. She was going to hire more men today, so the rebuilding was completed before Finn got back on his feet.

  Chapter 6

  Finn’s foot got better soon, he had spent rather long on the bed and he couldn’t wait to get back to work. He went over the work that Irene had handled and he felt pride surge through him. He had married a smart and capable woman, and she had taken care of his business surprisingly well.

  They had lost some money with the fire, but he knew it was all going to be okay now. It was time for a trip to New Orleans, so they could replenish the herd a little. And he had taken a steer that he knew would fetch him a good price.

  Irene had gone with him; they had visited Finn’s aunt who was quite taken by Irene. Impressed at the change in Finn’s demeanor, she could see that Irene was keeping him happy. They even went to the cattle market together as he showed her the ropes. The men they did business with were prone to be less stubborn around a woman and Irene was capable of driving a hard bargain herself. She was really good at the business and Finn wanted them to be a team from now on, together they would bring back the old days of glory to the farm. Together, they were going to be an unstoppable force.

  As soon as they got back home, they settled into a life of domestic bliss. Their love had an extremely satisfying physical side and they both worked hard, making the ranch a happy and prosperous home.

  Finn woke up one morning and found Irene retching outside the door. He had been awakened by her hurrying off the bed and he was suddenly worried.

  “Are you okay?” Finn had rushed to her side.

  “I am, please go back inside.”

  Irene didn’t want to be seen like that and Finn obeyed her wishes. He asked her later if she had eaten something that had disagreed with her. But Irene had kept quiet, her face slightly ashen.

  “I think we should send for the doctor. You don’t look very well.”

  Irene smiled at him shyly, “We don’t need a doctor, my love.” Irene had been around enough pregnant women to know what ailed her.

  “We’re going to need a midwife.”

  Finn seemed confused for a while and when it finally dawned on him, he almost danced with joy. Irene had been his most fruitful business deal. He could hardly believe his luck, but somehow his mail order bride had arrived as a stranger and become his entire life.

  They were going to have a child and his American dream had finally been realized on the frontier. His life was finally all coming together. If only his father would be here to see him.

  The End

  Falling From Grace

  A Mail Order Bride Historical Romance

  Chapter One

  Katherine sat tight lipped while her intended talked. Counseled. Persuaded. He went to the trouble to order a meal and she could hardly eat. She was famished yet her nerves stole her appetite. And her husband –to-be was taking it personally.

  He was a handsome enough man. More than enough. The second she laid eyes on him, her insides hiccupped and warmth spread throughout her. She was pretty sure the nuns back at Precious Blood would beat her soundly if they knew she took such delight in looking at a man.

  Jack Clearwater was more than delightful to look at. He was tall and lean but not a skinny man. He was broad and his body was cut with well-formed muscle apparent through his cowboy’s clothes. There was no problem with attraction as far Katherine was concerned.

  And she herself knew she was a handsome woman. She came from handsome parentage. Philadelphia society. But she was the ninth of ten and though her family had lots of money and just about as many servants, they stuck her in a convent. She took her last beating and broke out. It was time she left anyway. She was eighteen. She was pretty sure. Yes she was eighteen.

  Though her family all but forgot her, Katherine was afraid they would come after her and make her go back. There were women in the convent that were older than dust or at least looked like they were made of dust. She did not want that for herself.

  Yes, even though her family never visited her or expressed a thought towards her, Katherine was consumed with fear that suddenly they chased her. She had earned privileges to tidy the rectory for the priests adjacent to the convent itself. She performed administrative duties for the convent office. She was being groomed to be a nun for sure and Katherine had to escape.

  Fate intervened. She spied a newspaper which contained an ad for mail order brides. She took amazing risk in responding. She smuggled her letter in with the rest of the post, checking the mail daily for a response.

  When her letter from Jack Clearwater came, Katherine stole two gold lip chalices and sold them for just enough money to get somewhere. With all the money she had in the world, she caught a train to Dodge City to meet her future husband. She arrived half-starved and thirsty.

  Now sitting across from him at a dirty saloon table, Katherine felt the same sort of imprisonment she knew in the convent. She felt like she had no choice. And yet there was something in her reaction to Jack that made her feel a little bit of hope. Like she wanted more of that. Like she could like him. But she was so afraid of it.

  “You sure are pretty,” said Jack, lightly touching her hand.

  Katherine trembled. From the time she was a little girl, from those first days in the convent, where she had craved affection, she had wanted human contact. And now that she had it, it filled her with terror.

  She saw his face wrench up with frustration. Like he was stuck with her but he didn’t want her. Well he wanted her but not like this.

  “Have a drink,” he said tensely. “’Scuze me.”

  He shoved away from the table. Katherine stared at the thimble full of liquor waiting for her. Now this she could do. Growing up in a convent she acquired a taste for alcohol. She knew what it would do. She would definitely relax. She knocked it back and let it warm her.

  Jack returned to the table, pleased that her drink was gone. His lips bent into something of a smile.

  “That’s better,” he looked at her with smoky gaze. “Maybe we can come to an understanding. It’s almost time for us to go stand before the preacher. Are you ready?”

  Katherine was weak but she didn’t dare complain. Complaining was beaten out of her at the convent and she could already see he was disappointed in her. She didn’t dare push it.

  “Yes,” she said weakly.

  Drinking on an empty stomach might not have been a great idea. When she stood up she wobbled. He was quick to brace her. She was hungry and thirsty for a glass of water but the liquor let her relax enough to fully enjoy the effect his touch had on her. He sent tingles throughout her. If Katherine could get past herself, and not get on his nerves too much, she may have just found another human being with whom she could share joy.

  Jack politely carried her bag out to the wagon he had waiting for them. He flicked a coin to a boy loitering out front.

  “Here, you watch my belongings here. We’ll only be a bit. Don’t you help yourself to anything that doesn’t belong to you or I will take that money back and I’ll tan your hide,” he said.

  Katherine saw that he was smiling and probably teasing but she recoiled. She planted her fe
et in the ground and Jack jerked forward. He turned and glared at her. Tears jeweled her eyes. That softened him immediately. He swept her up like she was nothing, lifting her off of her feet just inside an alley for privacy.

  “What is it, sweet? You aren’t changing your mind now are you?”

  “I don’t want you to hit that boy,” she summoned her courage to say.

  Jack just happened to look down to her forearm that was exposed. A tiny scar traversed it. She had forgotten about that one momentarily, though she noticed it when she dressed.

  “What is this from?” he asked.

  “Someone tanned my hide,” she choked.

  “Okay,” he said softly. He put his lips to her hair. “Okay. I was just joshing that boy. He knows me well. I promise no one is going to hit you ever again. I am not that kind of a man.”

  She let him take her hand as they walked to Union Church to marry. At once she was plagued by the fear that to step foot into a church that was not Catholic was a sin. And that if she were to marry in a church that was not Catholic, the marriage would not be valid.

  She had considered these things when she took flight from Philadelphia but now that the moment was on her, she was really scared. She sucked it up. Even if she wanted to be married in a Catholic church which she did not, she knew there was no such church in Dodge City. In so many ways, that let her off of the hook. But being damned for all time was better than living in a convent or with any family who would put her in one.

  “You okay?” asked Jack.

  She was so afraid she had tested his patience to the limit.

  “Yes I am,” she said with a smile.