Heart of a Lady (Book One of the Red River Valley Brides)

by Hestand, Rita

  "Well now, that's promising." Ma smiled at him. "I'll tell her you are here."

  "Thanks." Harry shifted his weight and turned to stare out the front door.

  Even though Jeff was fully capable of watching the jail for him, he still had a feeling Morey was going to try something before the hanging.

  He could hear Jo Ella come down the stairs, and he turned. His heart seemed to fall right down to his toes. She had a green gingham dress on that brought out the beauty of her eyes and hair.

  "I thought we'd go for a ride in the country. If you are free."

  "I'm free." She smiled.

  "Good." He waited until she walked over to him and took her hand in his. "I'll have her home early, Ma," he called over his shoulder.

  Again, he had rented a fine black buggy from the stables.

  "Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked when he helped her up in the buggy.

  "I wasn't expecting you." She settled in close to him as he joined her on the seat.

  "I thought it might do us both good to get away from here for a bit," he said, more confident than usual.

  "Any particular place we are going?"

  "No, not really. I brought us a basket of food. Well, actually, Ma got it ready while I waited for you."

  "Oh, that's nice." She kept glancing at him. "Are things better at the jail, now?"

  Harry shrugged. Then he stopped the buggy, turned to her and planted a more than amorous kiss to her lips. They were barely out of town, but he didn't care.

  The kiss lingered, sweet yet full of fire too.

  When he let her go, he smiled, blissful now, her presence gave him such joy. "I've been wanting to do that for days."

  "I'm glad you did," she finally said as she moved a bit closer to him. "I've missed you too."

  When they reached the same spot he had taken her before, he helped her down from the carriage and again he kissed her.

  She melted into his arms. He felt the rise and fall of her breathing and sensed her approval. He wanted so much more, but he had to remember she was a lady and he couldn't take the advantage, even if his own heart screamed out to her.

  "I didn't bring you hear to talk about the jail or what has happened there in the past few days. I brought you here to talk about you and me and where you stand with me…" He began, his determination to make an impression surprised her.

  "And where do I stand?" she murmured as she stared into his eyes.

  He pulled her once more into his arms, crushing her to him. "If you don't know how much I love you, then you've got to be blind." he murmured for her only.

  "Oh, Harry…" She gasped as he kissed her once more. This time, his hands came to cup her face as his lips did all the talking.

  The kiss was wild and free, and Harry never wanted to let her go, but they had to come up for air.

  "Why did you wait so long to tell me?" She breathed heavily as he spread the blanket out for her.

  Jo Ella joined him, and he kissed her again, totally submitting to his dominance. His lips feather touched hers. Then he nudged her lips apart, and his tongue joined hers in an eternal dance of love.

  She squirmed beneath him, as though a fire had suddenly built, consuming them. "Oh, Harry, it's hard to remember I'm a lady when I'm with you."

  "I thought I'd lost you to Dillon," he murmured against her cheek.

  She pulled away to look into his eyes. "I had to see Dillon for what he really was before I could put him in his place. I'll admit, I was impressed with his kisses. He knows how to charm any woman. But I think all along, I knew something was missing. Some very important ingredient was missing. He wasn't in love with me, Harry. He was in lust. And for a short while…so was I. Forgive me."

  Her words entered his heart. "At least you are honest enough to tell me. I appreciate that."

  "Harry, any woman could fall for that. But I wanted so much more in a man than that. I wanted you. But you wouldn't commit. I thought you really didn't care about me, after a while. You never said anything."

  He nodded. "I'm guilty. I should have said something. But I knew how Dillon worked his magic on women. I knew you were smitten with his charm. I didn't want to butt in."

  "Only smitten. Not in love with." She smiled.

  "Most women would lie and say they didn't care that much. I’m glad you are honest. It builds trust. When this is all over, when the hanging is finished, I want us to marry and make a family," Harry declared at last.

  Now she rushed to kiss him. The fires within began to burst into flames as he cradled her in his arms.

  He laid her down on the ground, and his lips ravaged her. "Will you marry me?" he asked as he kissed the round mound of her breast. "Will you be my bride, forever?"

  Jo Ella blossomed under his gaze. "Oh yes, yes, I'll marry you, Harry."

  She grabbed him now and pulled him down to her. His hands went around her. His lips followed a trail from her lips to her breast. He nudged the material away and drew one pert rosy nipple into his mouth and growled against her.

  "Oh, Harry," she cried, with such joy. "You better not do that long. I won't be able to wear white down the aisle."

  "I've been insane with wanting you, Jo," he whispered.

  "I love the way you call me Jo." She smiled against his cheek.

  He suddenly stood up and composed himself. Harry stared at her from a distance. "I've never wanted a woman like I want you. I've got something for you." He reached into his pocket and then he dropped on one knee. "Marry me." He opened the box to display a beautiful ring.

  "My God, Harry, that's a rock." She laughed.

  "Do you like it?"

  "I love it. What woman wouldn't? But you're a sheriff. You don't make enough money for something like this," she insisted, her eyes misting as she stared at the diamond.

  "No, I don't. It was the ring my father gave my mother."

  "Oh, it belonged to Ma?"

  "Yeah, she said she's been holding it for when the right lady came along. And you are the right lady, Jo."

  "Why do my knees get weak when you call me Jo?"

  He smiled. "Why do I want you so bad every day of my life?"

  "I don't know," she whispered, coming close and letting him fit the ring on her finger. Then she fell into his arms, and her lips ravaged his.

  "As soon as this is over, you'll be mine," he promised.

  "You are sure you have no doubts?"

  "No, ma'am, I have no doubts," he whispered.

  He continued to kiss her until she wanted him to take her. She was putty in his arms, and at last he felt confident she belonged to him.

  "We better get back, it's getting late. Your face is all red from my whiskers. I haven't shaved in a few days," he admitted.

  "I don't mind."

  "You and Ma can plan the wedding. Anyway you like. I don't care, as long as you are mine, and soon."

  "Oh, Harry, I'm so happy."

  "No regrets about Dillon?"

  "None." She kissed him again. "I told you the truth about Dillon. I want you to understand. He wanted me, and I… wanted him too for a while. Until I got to know him, that is. But I would never let him…. never. And I realized our wanting was nothing more than lust."

  "And what do you feel with me? How am I different?"

  She smiled. "I'm in lust for love. You offer so much more. You are so honest, so real."

  "I want you right now."

  "But I also know you will wait and make our honeymoon special. And that night, we won't sleep and we won't want to. I'll dream about that night until it comes, Harry. I'll dream about you taking me."

  "You aren't afraid?"

  Her eyes narrowed on him, and she seemed to reach out to him, but with a reserve. Had he said something wrong?

  "No, I'll never be afraid of you Harry. Maybe afraid for you, but not of you. I love you too much." She smiled.

  He helped her in the buggy once more. Then he picked up the blanket. They hadn't even eaten. Food was the last thing
on their minds today. And he rejoiced in it.

  He'd found the woman of his dreams.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Harry was so happy when he returned to the jail it was hard to wipe the smiles away.

  "Nothing going on today?" he asked Jeff.

  "Not a thing. It's been real quiet. Ma brought over some food for them. They been pretty quiet today, sleeping I think."

  "That's probably good."

  "Yeah, the kid seems to be quieting down a bit. I don't know why."

  "I think I do. Cole's been talking to him a lot. I think he's teaching him about religion and God. I can't think of anything else that would make the kid calm, can you?"

  Jeff thought about that a minute. "I guess not. Is Cole religious?"

  "Yeah, I think he is. Making peace with God is a good thing." Harry looked at his deputy and smiled.

  "Well, if you are gonna, now would be the time for them. I don't think Morey goes along with it." Jeff chuckled.

  "No, I don't think so either. Kind of sad, don't you think?"

  "A little, I guess. Although where Morey is concerned I don't have much feelin'," Jeff admitted looking at his arm that was beginning to really mend now.

  "Me either. Listen, thanks for stayin here while I got out of here. It really helped." Harry could count on Jeff.

  "Yeah, I noticed how you were all smiles coming back. What happened?" Jeff punched him on the arm.

  "I'm getting married when this all blows over."

  "No kidding?" Jeff looked at him in surprise.

  "Yep. She said yes!"

  "I'm happy for ya. I like marriage myself. It's nice to go home and have someone to be glad to see ya. To cook you a decent meal, to care about you."

  "Yeah, I can't wait. And Ma is nearly as excited about it, as I am."

  "Congratulations." Jeff shook his hand.

  "Thanks."

  After a bit of he-hawing, Jeff and the other deputies left.

  Harry relaxed for the first time in a long time. Just being able to tell Jo Ella how he felt had done him a world of good. Maybe now he could deal with the hanging a little better.

  As he fed the prisoners their supper, he noticed Danny had quit crying and was solemn but not upset.

  "Anything I can get you fellas?" Harry asked.

  "Yeah…" Cole began. He seemed to be hedging. "Can you bring us a bible?"

  "Well, sure I can. I'll fetch one for you from the church."

  "Thanks," Cole said, not looking directly at him.

  Harry nodded.

  "A bible ain't gonna do that kid no good now. He's about to hang. Let him be a man, Cole," Morey instructed.

  "He can be a man with a bible, Morey," Cole said. "Any man can. You and I got him in this mess. The least we can do is make it easier on him."

  Morey went on and on about how Danny should act like a man and for Cole to quit coddling him, but Cole persisted.

  Harry glanced outside. No one was about this windy night, and now that he had sent his deputies home, he had no one to run such an errand for him. "It'll have to wait until tomorrow."

  "That's okay. That'll be soon enough. " Cole nodded.

  "I'll get it first thing for you," Harry promised.

  "Thanks, Harry."

  Harry settled in for the night at his bunk, and he slept for hours, stirring when Ma came in with breakfast.

  "I hated to wake you up. You looked so peaceful," Ma said.

  "It's time I was up. Here, let's take them their food." He unlocked the door to the jail, took the basket from Ma, and gave it to them.

  "Thanks, Ma, I really have gotten a cravin' for your food," Cole said jovially.

  "Well, I'm glad, Cole. Have a good breakfast," she encouraged.

  While they were eating, she returned with Harry to the office. "Jo Ella tells me there is a wedding in the near future, is that true?"

  "Yeah, as soon as this is over."

  "Then I'll get busy seein to her a dress, and you a suit. Where you gonna have the wedding, son?"

  "I figured at the church."

  "Good. We'll be ready for it. I'm so happy for you," she gushed.

  "So am I. I really feel better since I've had a chance to be with her and talk to her. As soon as this is behind me, we'll do it."

  "That's less than a week, isn't it?"

  "Yeah. Why?"

  "I've got to get busy. It takes time to make a wedding dress. And plan for all the food and flowers. I can't lollygag around here," Ma said in a flurry of excitement.

  Harry laughed. "Okay, I guess I'll see you later."

  "Yeah." She left.

  Shortly thereafter, he watched as Mae made her usual trip in to see Cole, and together the three of them prayed.

  Morey sat in a corner, scoffing at them. "That prayin' don't do a bit of good. We are still gonna die!"

  "We'll pray for you too, Morey." Mae said as she opened her bible and Cole opened the one Mae had brought him.

  Morey raised his hand as though it were of no use to him. "Do what you want. I'll meet my maker without all that hullabaloo."

  That night, Jo Ella delivered supper for them and Harry was overjoyed to see her. She came every day, and every day he spent some time kissing and loving upon her.

  Jo Ella sat in his lap this time, and he pulled her back against him so he could kiss her melting lips. She tasted sweet, and he wanted more. His hand wandered down across her breast, and she shivered with delight.

  "I shouldn't be doing this, especially in a jail, but it's about the only time I get to see you," he said as his hand went inside her dress and accustomed itself to the soft mold of her round full breast.

  "I shouldn't be letting you, but I can't stop you. It feels… so good. My whole body tingles when you touch me, especially there," she cooed in his ear.

  His lips dipped down to kiss the soft mounds protruding from her dress. "I sure do like your dresses."

  "And I like the way you feel so comfortable going inside my dress to help yourself. I can't wait to have you to myself, in a bed. I plan on giving you many nights of splendor, my love," Her mouth fell open and she moaned lightly at his touches. "I'm sure glad there's a door between us and the jail cells."

  His hand wandered to the hem of her dress and started gliding upward.

  But she put a hand over his. "Not yet, we have to save some for the wedding night."

  "Hmmm. You are so tempting." He stirred against her, and she gasped. He turned the chair away from the prisoners view.

  His head bent, and he captured a nipple, gently teasing it into a rigid peak with the flick of his tongue.

  Jo Ella groaned, "That's not fair. I can't take anything out and play." She giggled.

  "You could, but we might both be arrested. And I've got to use my head. This really isn't the right place to make love. I want our first time to be special." He breathed against the tip of her breast and feasted on it with his eyes. "You are so much woman. I hope I’m man enough to handle you."

  "Oh, I’m sure you are," She squirmed against him. "I'm so warm I need a breath of fresh air."

  "You better get back. It's getting closer to time for them. I don't know what Morey has up his sleeve, but I'd bet on some kind of break soon." Harry kissed her nipple one last time before he tucked it inside her dress and sighed heavily. "I'm not sure I can get up just yet."

  "That's okay. I'll see you later." But before she left, she laid her hand on him, which let him know she was aware of his full arousal. "Soon, my darling."

  Harry kissed her on the nose. "Not soon enough." He almost frowned.

  After thinking on just how far she let him go, he felt almost embarrassed. Were all women that way? He doubted it, but he sure enjoyed the torture she created.

  He waited until he was sure he could walk again then got up and checked on the men in jail. They were all quiet and resting, so he locked up and went to bed, dreaming of the day he would really hold her in his arms and make love to her.

  The next night w
hen Ma came, he waited until his deputies left to ask, "Ma, do all women let their fiancés touch and kiss them?"

  "Some do. Some don't. Why?"

  "I can't keep my hands off her now. I want her so bad. I know she's a gentle lady and I don't want to frighten her, but she seems almost as eager as me. Is that unusual? I mean I thought women were supposed to be… I don't know naïve about it."

  Ma laughed aloud. "Land sakes, if she's willing, why are you complaining?"

  "I'm not. I love it, but I was just wondering."

  "Well, I think I'd be more disturbed if she was skittish and afraid of making love than eager to try." Ma chuckled. "And I gotta say, this is a fine conversation to have with your ma."

  He felt himself blushing. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a little surprised is all. But I'm certainly not complaining. The only thing wrong is how hard it is to control around her."

  "When two people love each other, it is not wrong to want to be together. It's natural, son. Be glad she isn't the opposite, I say."

  He nodded. "It won't be long now."

  "No, it won't. How are they holdin' out?" She pointed to the cells.

  "Pretty good, I think. I haven't heard a lot out of them since I brought them a bible," Harry said. "Cole asked for one."

  "Well, I swan, I reckon he did get religion. Good fer him."

  "Yeah, and he's workin' on Danny now." Harry gestured toward the cell.

  "You don't say. Does Mae know?" Ma asked, eager to hear his answer.

  "Oh yeah they hold regular like prayers in there every day now. I don't mess with them. I think if anything makes this all easier for them, then that's great. But I do still feel that Danny shouldn't hang." Harry slammed the drawer to his desk a little harder than usual.

  "Aside from letting him loose, what can you do?"

  "Nothing."

  "Exactly, so quit fretting and let God handle it. He knows what to do."

  "All right, Ma. Thanks, and for the talk too."

  "I'd say you was mighty lucky to have a girl who wants you so much."

  "Of that I'm sure."

  "Good. Now take care, and see ya tomorrow." She paused as something seemed to dawn on her. She turned to look at her son and smiled. "Maybe I'll have a grandbaby before too long."