A soft moan escaped her lips. Billy pulled away, smiled and then placed his finger on his lips to shush her.
“This man, Harvey, he seems to be a good man,” Billy said.
“Yes, he is a very good man,” Laura admitted.
She could feel her heart attaching to him, even if not as strongly as it had to Billy, there was something there.
“Then maybe you should entertain your father’s wants and have a future with this man,” Billy said.
“No, Billy,” Laura said, confused and torn.
“It would be better for you, and your ranch,” Billy said.
“I don’t care about what’s best for the ranch, I want only love,” Laura said sternly.
“You don’t think you could love Harvey Whitehall?” Billy asked.
Laura was silent, confused by his question, and even more so confused by her inability to answer.
“I love you and want only what’s best. Give him a chance, live your life and be happy Laura,” Billy said.
His hands lifted from her body, and he stepped back as he stared into her eyes. She felt tears well up as she let her heart beat rapidly against her chest and her breathing became shallow.
“I will always love you,” Billy said.
He turned and walked away, leaving Laura pressed against the stable wall. She let out a cry and ran toward the house.
Clara held her in her arms as she ran into the kitchen. She listened to everything and rubbed her hair with her large calloused hand as Laura let it all out.
“Maybe he is right child,” Clara said.
Laura was angry at her words. She loved Billy, how could being with Harvey just because it was easier be right she thought to herself?
Laura ran out the kitchen door and leaned over the railing letting her last meal fall from her mouth onto the ground.
Clara held her hair back and rubbed her back as she coughed up every last morsel in her stomach.
“You’ve been getting sick a lot lately,” Clara said calmly.
“Maybe we should call the doc,” She added.
“It’s stress. I’m fine,” Laura replied.
The next few days Billy was cool to Laura, not even looking her direction when she walked by. She knew the thought of losing her was as painful to him as it was to her to lose him, but he was stubborn and determined to let her be happy, even if that meant without him.
Harvey had shown up to discuss business with Mac when Laura walked onto the porch.
“All this talk about business. I could use a break,” Harvey said when she appeared on the porch.
“Let’s ride,” Harvey suggested.
Laura agreed and followed him to the stables. Billy set up their horses, making eye contact only when he had to and Laura felt her heart ache as they rode away together, leaving him once again.
They stopped the horse by the lake where Laura and Billy had made love. Harvey took her hand and complimented her on her beauty as he moved closer. His eyes were green and bright, his teeth white and his smile sincere as he let his lips push against hers.
Her body tingled, her pussy throbbed, not from the kiss from Harvey, but the thought of what had happened between her and Billy just under their feet.
“I’m sorry,” she said, pulling away.
“It’s the stable boy, isn’t it?” Harvey asked softly.
Laura felt her heart race and panic set in as she stared into his eyes.
“I see how he looks at you and you at him,” he said.
Laura felt tears well up in her eyes as she stood there open and vulnerable to this man whom she had just let down.
“Who am I to interfere with true love?” He asked with a smile.
“You don’t think poorly of me?” She asked.
“Poorly of you, why?” He asked with a chuckle.
“Because of who he is,” Laura said.
“A stable boy? My father was a stable boy, and my grandfather shoveled cow shit most his life,” Harvey said.
Laura laughed, feeling the tension and shame release from her body as Harvey left her without judgment in front of him.
“Money and success can be earned with hard work, but love only comes to the luckiest of people,” he said.
His hand brushed against her shoulder, pushing her hair from her face.
“Go to him, I will ride until dark giving your father reason to believe you are with me,” he said sweetly.
Laura hugged him tightly around his neck and jumped on her horse. She led it to the stables where she found Billy standing at the back entrance just out of sight of her father who still sat on the porch.
“Come with me,” she said, motioning for him to come closer.
He leapt onto the back of the horse and let Laura ride him away from the ranch and through the fields to the large opening of the lake.
Chapter Five
“What are you doing?” Billy asked once they stopped.
“Where is Harvey?” He asked.
Laura smiled, gripping Billy in her arms and pulling him close. Her lips pressed against his, her tongue tangled with his, and she let her body melt against his.
“What if he tells your father you took off. He will come looking for you,” Billy said.
Laura told him how Harvey noticed their love and let her take off to be with him. He was shocked that the man would cover for them, but grateful to have the chance to hold the woman he loved once again.
They fell to the grass, his cock pressing hard into her leg as he let his mouth wander on her breasts.
He lifted her skirt, pushing it high above her hips and let his hand rest on her belly as he let his eyes linger on her readied cunt.
His hands worked fast to remove his hard cock. Laura let her back arch, pushing her body towards him as he mounted her in the tall grass.
The head of his cock spread her pussy open wide, pushing past her plump lips until he was settled deep inside her body.
“I don’t want anyone but you,” she whispered in his ear.
His cock pushed hard between her legs, pulling at the skin around her pussy and teasing the clit that stood erect above her bush.
Her body humming with waves of pleasure as she felt her juices flowing around his hard cock.
“I’m yours,” Billy said as his cock swelled between her legs.
Her orgasm exploded against his throbbing cock, sending them both into a state of ecstasy. Her arms tightened around his body, his mouth moved quickly to her neck, and their breathing became one as they tangled together.
Billy cleaned her up with his handkerchief and placed his hand back upon her belly.
“It’s swollen,” he said.
His eyes drove into hers as he filled with emotion. “Are you with child?” He asked.
Laura knew she had been sick, and her monthly had missed its date by two weeks or more by now, but she hadn’t thought of that being a possibility.
Her eyes welled with tears as she reached around Billy’s neck. “I must be,” she said cheerfully.
They rode back to the stable, this time with Billy leading the horse. Harvey stood at the back entrance, smiling at the two as they entered.
“Thank you,” Billy said, extending his hand to the man he once envied.
“It’s none of my business, but I do think you should tell Mac,” he said.
Laura felt sick at his suggestion, but she knew there was no avoiding it if she were having Billy’s baby.
“He will fire Billy,” Laura exclaimed.
“That doesn’t matter,” Billy said sternly.
“I can come with you if you would like,” Harvey said.
“Yes, please,” Laura said, knowing how fond of Harvey her father had become.
As they walked onto the porch, Mac stood and looked confused at the trio.
“Mac, I was thinking that there is no way I can take on this ranch and run it on my own, not alone,” Harvey said.
“And you want to escape this lonely town, so you will need a
man here you can trust,” he added.
Mac was staring at Billy with intensity as Harvey spoke.
“My father was a stable boy, just like Billy here, and I would feel most comfortable with the merge if he was in charge,” Harvey said.
Laura felt grateful that he was offering such a kindness and confused as to why he would do so.
Billy’s chest puffed out and his chin squared as he waited for Mac to push down the idea.
“And, with the fact, your daughter is obviously in love with this fine young man, what better way to handle things?” Harvey said.
Mac’s face turned blood red at the comment from Harvey. He knew his daughter was in love with the stable boy, but he certainly didn’t want anyone else to know.
“She has no business with a stable boy,” Mac said.
“Ah, but as he is given the reigns to the ranch so to speak, no more a stable boy he will be,” Harvey said with a smile.
“That is how my father got his start,” he added.
Mac looked defeated as he listened to the man’s reasoning. He stared into his daughter's eyes and watched as her bottom lip trembled with anticipation.
“I don’t need any favors. I can take care of Laura the baby on my own,” Billy said sternly.
Both Mac and Harvey stared at the boy as he spoke of the news of a baby. Laura felt her heart sink as she worried the outcome to this news being given so bluntly.
“Even more, reason to ensure the future of your family,” Harvey said.
Mac sat down. His feet pushed the chair back to rock as he stared at Billy.
He moved his eyes to Laura.
“Is this what you truly want?” He asked.
“Yes, it is, more than anything,” she said.
“And you, you are in love with my daughter?” Mac asked Billy.
“I am, sir,” he said vehemently.
“Then it’s settled, you will begin training this week and move into the main house,” Mac said.
Laura could see the tears welling in his eyes and knew he was feeling the pain of losing his own true love.
Harvey shook Mac’s hand and then Billy’s before hugging Laura tightly.
Over the next few months, Laura’s belly grew, and Billy learned all he needed to know about the ranch. Mac took his first trip, determined to find another companion. Laura knew he craved one he could love, not just one to spend time with, and Harvey became a regular fixture in their lives as he helped Billy learn the ropes of running a large ranch.
The success of the business grew quickly with the merged businesses. Harvey was named the godfather to Billy and Laura’s child, and they both agreed that when it was born, if a boy, it would be named Lee Harvey after Billy’s father and of course the man that helped bring them together.
The End of the Story
Thank you so much for reading…
* * *
Man of the House: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance Page 122