Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter One
Billy held Laura’s hand tightly as they ran towards the stables. Inside, he grabbed a blanket used for the horses and wrapped it around her as he found them a place to sit on the bales of hay.
His eyes were so blue, so deep, that Laura was already lost in them as he lit the lantern and illuminated the stables.
Her hands trembled as she gripped the wool blanket around her.
“Why are you protecting me?” He asked softly.
His eyes turned dark, his lips were pressed tightly together after he spoke. She could tell he was aggravated with her for being so stubborn.
She didn’t have the answer he was searching for. She didn’t really know why she was protecting him so fiercely.
Her eyes welled with tears as she struggled to find the answer, any answer.
Billy moved his hand towards her face and gently wiped the tear that fell down her cheek. He was gentle, his eyes lightening and his expression softening as he stared into her eyes trying to find a reason for her refusal to protect herself and not him.
“He’s made up his mind about Martin. There isn’t anyone who can change his mind now,” Laura cooed.
“So, you are just going to marry that bastard?” Billy asked.
His anger was apparent, stronger than the aggravation he had shown earlier. Laura watched his eyes twitch and his fists clench by his sides. There was a real hate for the man he had only met once. Her heart swelled as she realized the hate was only because he had hurt her, and Billy too was protecting her just as she was protecting him.
“No,” Laura said.
Billy pulled a clean handkerchief from his back pocket and handed it to Laura to wipe her nose from the sobbing.
“He is giving him the ranch, regardless,” Laura said.
Billy’s fist clenched tightly, and Laura flinched as it rose and slammed into the side of the stable.
“You have to tell him,” Billy said.
“Or I will,” he added sternly.
“No, it won’t do any good,” Laura said.
She rose to her feet and moved toward Billy. Her arms wrapped around him, pulling him into her to calm him down. The blanket fell from her shoulders and to the ground as Billy gripped her tightly around the waist and squeezed her a little too hard.
His mouth searched for hers, finding her neck and sucking hard on the sensitive skin. Laura turned her head, moving her mouth toward his she met his lips with a passionate embrace.
His hands gripped her hips, pulling her into him as his tongue tangled around hers. She felt her knees become weak and her head light as she let her body return to the sexually charged state it had been in before Billy tapped at her window.
Her pussy moistened, her curly hairs becoming tacky once again with the juices she released for Billy.
His mouth pulled from hers, his eyes intense as they started into her own. She could feel the hardness in his pants against her hip, similar to what she felt with Martin, but this time welcomed and not offensive.
She wanted him to throw her down on the floor of the stable and take her right then and there, and she could tell by the look in his eyes that he wanted it as well.
“Tell him, Laura,” Billy said.
Her heart fluttered at hearing her name come from his lips. She wasn’t even aware he had known her first name. It sounded sweet, perfect, even though his tone was stern and serious.
“I have to find the right time,” she said.
“And the right way,” she added.
“That’s all that I ask,” he said, his voice softened, and his eyes became brighter.
“I will only tell him if I find a way that won’t cause you to lose your job,” Laura said.
Billy’s eyes looked curious and soft as he stared at her. His hand reached up and brushed the hair from her face softly.
The frigid night air blew into the thin material of her gown. Her nipples were hard and erect as they pushed through the cotton and her pussy began to throb as she anticipated Billy throwing her to the ground to have his way with her.
He reached down, gripped the blanket from around her feet and brought it back up around her shoulders. He leaned in, kissed her softly on the cheek and then reached for her hand.
“Let’s get you back inside before you get sick,” he said fussing over her.
Laura didn’t argue. She let him lead her back to the house where he stopped to kiss her once again, this time on the lips gently before he ushered her towards her front door.
Her heart swelled at the kindness of this boy. She knew he was something special. She knew she was falling hard for him.
Chapter Two
Laura sat in the kitchen with Clara and the twins as she prepared pies for the workers. Her hands worked quickly and efficiently as she rolled out each top crust and then expertly cut it to fit over the fruit in the pies.
“You need to watch yourself, child,” Clara warned.
Laura wasn’t sure what she was referring to.
“Whatever do you mean?” Laura asked.
“I saw you sneak off to the stables last night with Billy,” she said.
Her eyes never left the pies as she spoke. Laura felt her chest tighten and her heart start to race. If Clara had seen them, then her father may have as well.
The twins placed their lips into a tight circle and made kissing noises to each other as Clara scolded them.
“I really like him,” Laura said.
Clara lifted her eyes from the pies and stared at Laura. Her dark eyes were round and warm, her lips tight and scornful as they began to offer up the slight hint of a smile.
“I think you best tell your father about Martin, before you get caught up in a mess,” Clara scolded.
Clara placed the pies in the oven and then started packing the sandwiches Myrna and Myra had made into a picnic basket. Laura knew the basket was for the workers, and she knew Billy was in the stables.
“I’ll take that,” Laura said.
She quickly grabbed the basket and moved toward the back door. Clara smiled at her with concern as she ignored her warnings and left out the back door.
Laura delivered the basket to the picnic table that sat between the stables and the barn. The men started moving towards her, hungry and ready for their lunch, but she didn’t see Billy.
“What a pleasure,” Guthry said, the old man that tended to the cattle.
“Where’s Billy?” Laura asked.
“Billy?” Guthry asked.
“He works in the stables,” Laura said.
“Oh, Billy, I haven’t seen him today,” Guthry said.
Laura left the basket and ran toward the stables. Inside, she found Queen and the other horses, but no Billy.
Laura ran back towards the house, her heart racing fast in her chest. In the kitchen, Clara stared at her in confusion as she slammed the door and threw her back against the wall.
“He’s gone,” Laura said.
“Who’s gone?” Clara asked.
“Billy,” Laura said, letting her body slowly drop to the floor.
“I’m sure he’ll be here child,” Clara said.
“No, what if Daddy saw us last night too?” Laura asked in a panic.
Clara rolled her eyes. “You need to calm yourself. If your daddy seen the likes of you two sneaking off, he would have certainly made it clear what he saw,” she said.
Laura felt her heart start to calm as she realized that Clara was probably right, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she may possibly be wrong.
Mac entered the kitchen, pushing the door open wide and fast. His eyes drifted quickly to his daughter who sat on the floor of the kitchen against the back door.
“Clara, we will be having dinner guests this evening,” he said, his eyes still on Laura the whole time he spoke.
“Laura, get up off the floor,” he sa
id sternly, and then walked out.
She got up and ran toward the door, catching him by the arm as he walked through the main room.
“Who’s coming for dinner?” Laura asked.
“Martin and his father, and I expect you to be on your best behavior. I do not want any more of your nonsense,” Mac said.
“Daddy, Martin is a horrible man, a crude man with hands like an octopus,” Laura said.
Mac chuckled. “Laura, I am certain your virtue is safe with Mr. Adler,” he said.
“Where’s Billy?” She asked.
He stopped, turning to look at his daughter in confusion. “Billy?” He asked.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she stared into her father’s dark eyes.
“The stable boy?” He asked.
His voice was amused as he spoke, but his eyes looked angry and aggravated.
“Yes, he’s not here today,” Laura said.
“I’m sure he has a good reason,” Mac said.
“What interest is it of yours?” He asked.
“He was going to help me with Queen,” she lied.
He rolled his eyes.
“Laura, pull yourself together. I expect you at dinner tonight in your best form,” he ordered.
Laura felt her body drain of all energy as her father walked out the front door. She didn’t want to have dinner with Martin again, and especially not with him and his father.
She knew it was a business meeting, an arrangement to tell Martin of his plans. Laura felt relieved that he would no longer need to pursue her to take over the ranch, but fearful of what would happen to her once he did have control.
Mac turned at the door before he let it shut behind him. His eyes were cold and dark.
“Laura, I am serious about your behavior tonight,” He warned.
“Yes, Father,” She agreed.
Her head was reeling, she wondered why she hadn’t taken the opportunity to tell her father about Martin or how Billy helped protect her. She couldn’t understand why he thought so highly of the boy, and why his word seemed more valuable than her own.
She sat in the large chair by the window and stared out toward the stables. Her heart ached for Billy. Her body tingled with the anticipation of his touch.
Chapter Three
An image of a man emerged from behind the stables, tall, blonde hair and muscular. Laura jumped from her chair as she realized it was Billy and ran across the yard toward the stables where he entered.
“Billy!” She exclaimed.
He turned, his eyes were so blue and dreamy, his lips so full and ready for touch. She ran towards him, his arms opened and pulled her in close.
She took in his scent, the strong odor of masculinity that oozed from his skin and then let her body go limp in his arms.
His hot breath pushed against her neck as his hands brushed the hair that clung to her shoulders.
Laura looked up and into his eyes. She was lost in them quickly as his lips neared hers.
He pulled her from her feet, lifting her in his arms and moved her to the empty stable near the entrance. His lips pushed against hers. Her back pressed against the wood slats of the stable and her pussy throbbed at the excitement of his tongue dancing in her mouth.
“Oh Billy, I was afraid you wouldn’t come back,” she said.
His eyes looked confused as his lips curled into a smile.
“Of course, I came back,” he said.
“I thought Father sent you away,” she said.
“Did you tell him?” Billy asked, his eyes hopeful and anxious.
Laura shook her head and tightened her lips together. Billy shook his head and let out a sigh as his arms pulled away from her.
“You have to tell him, Laura,” he said.
“But, what if he doesn’t believe me?” She asked.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t tell him Martin is going to take over anyway and do you really think I will still be here when he does?” He asked.
“And what about you, what will happen to you when he has control and your father is gone on his travels?” He asked.
She could see the fear in his eyes and hear the concern in his voice as he spoke. She was worried about that as well.
“I’ll tell him tonight,” Laura promised.
Billy let his hands reach for her waist, and he pulled her back in with his strong arms. His lips were so soft and gentle against hers as he kissed her that Laura felt her heart swell inside her chest.
“Meet me later?” Billy asked.
“Daddy is having Martin and his father over for dinner to discuss the ranch and Martin’s take over I am certain,” Laura informed him.
“You have to tell him before he does,” Billy said.
“I will. I will meet you after dinner,” Laura said.
“Out past the stables, near the lake,” Billy said.
Laura snuck one last kiss before leaving him to his job.
“I’ll be waiting,” Billy said.
Laura felt as though she was walking on clouds as she pranced through the house and into the kitchen.
Clara was pulling the pies from the oven and placing them on the racks to cool as she walked in.
“Well, you are in a better mood,” she said cheerfully.
Laura rolled her eyes and let her lips curl into a large smile.
“I take it you found Billy,” she said.
Laura nodded and let her body drop into the chair at the dark wooden table.
Myrna and Myra were already in the fields working on harvesting the crops as Clara sat down beside Laura.
“So, what are you going to do child?” She asked.
“What do you mean?” Laura asked.
“About tonight, about Martin,” Clara said with aggravation in her voice.
“I promised Billy I would tell Father about Martin tonight,” Laura said.
She still wasn’t convinced that she wanted to bring Billy into the equation, but she made him a promise, so she would at least tell her father about Martin’s unwanted advances. She only hoped that would be enough to stop him from allowing the man to take over their ranch.
“Good girl,” Clara said with a smile.
“You make certain you don’t do anything foolish tonight and be on your best behavior as your father warned,” Clara said.
“I will,” Laura agreed.
She knew any type of aggravation she caused her father or embarrassment, he would surely not want to listen to her or anything she had to say, especially if it was to do with his precious Martin.
Clara sliced a large piece of pie and placed it onto a white plate. She pulled two forks from the cabinet drawer and placed them alongside the plate in front of Laura.
Clara sat down beside Laura and grabbed the forks, handing one to Laura. They shared the pie and Clara gave her all the latest gossip around town.
Laura loved her moments with Clara, and she knew her promise to Billy meant more than just saving her from losing her ranch, it meant keeping her from losing Clara. Martin was a mean man, and anyone that Laura felt close to would surely be gone once he realized he couldn’t have his way with her.
She smiled at the woman who had been like a mother to her all those years since her own had passed and listened as she laughed and gossiped about people that Laura had never even met.
“You better get yourself ready for tonight child,” Clara said.
Laura had been in the kitchen listening to Clara for hours and knew that she needed to get started on the dinner for Mac’s guests. Myra and Myrna walked in the back door with a basket full of fresh vegetables and fruits and sat them on the table.
They waved to Laura as Clara ushered her out of the kitchen.
Her heart raced as she made her way to her bedroom in the back of the large house. She couldn’t figure out how she was going to tell her father, or exactly when, but she knew it had to be tonight to keep her word to Billy.
Chapter Four
Laura made her entrance into
the dining room, her hair pulled tightly into a bun at the back of her head, and her dress firmly pressed with the lace delicately accentuating her corset shaped breasts.
The men stood from the table, Mac smiled as she made her way to her chair.
Martin pulled her chair out from the table, smiled at her as he let her take her seat and pushed it in with her to the table.
Martin’s father, Mr. Eugene Adler was a large man, his belly full and his cheeks plump. He smiled at Laura as she took her seat and she couldn’t help but snicker under her breath as she imagined Martin one day in the same shape of his father.
The dinner was boring, mostly talk about business. Laura smiled at Clara knowingly as she brought in each course. She wanted desperately to retreat to the kitchen with her and the twins when she was clearing plates, but she knew that was the behavior her father thought to be rude and unladylike, so she remained seated.
“I do think Martin will do a great job here on the ranch,” Mac said to Eugene.
His eyes were beady and brown, his hair almost balding. Laura listened as his breath seemed winded as he stood from the table and tried to speak.
“I’m certain he will do fine. I would certainly prefer that he was starting a family and building a future here, though, not just a business,” Mr. Adler said.
Mac’s eyes pushed onto Laura with forceful intent. She could feel his embarrassment and disappointment fall onto her as he continued to glare across the table.
“Why don’t we discuss your concerns on the patio with a cigar,” Mac said, standing and motioning for Eugene Adler to follow him outside.
His eyes glared at Laura, almost as a warning to stay put.
“Laura and Martin can entertain their selves,” Mac said.
Eugene Adler seemed very pleased at the idea of leaving his son alone with Laura. She felt her stomach twist and turn at the thought of not being able to run away from him this time. She knew she had to keep her father happy, at least through dinner so she could make him listen to her after.
“You two will be fine?” Mac asked with more of a statement than a question.
“Yes, Father,” Laura nodded.
Martin’s head was red and slightly bruised from the fence post that Billy slammed upside his skull. She wondered what he told his father or hers about the injury.
Man of the House: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance Page 118