Love Under Two Prospectors [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Menage Everlasting)

by Cara Covington

  “Oh dear. I can’t imagine what his brother thought of that.”

  “By that time, Adam not only had found a lover in Warren Jessop, a lawyer who came to Waco from out east, he and Warren had also met and fallen in love with an independent woman named Amanda Dupree, a woman from Virginia, who was also a private investigator.”

  “Did women have careers in those days? We’re talking, what, the 1890s?”

  “About that time frame,” Henry said. “And to answer your question, not normally. But Amanda’s mother, who later came to live in Lusty with her daughter, was a demimonde.”

  “Ah, so Amanda wouldn’t have been considered ‘marriageable’ by so-called polite society.” Brittany knew some history and understood why Amanda would have sought her own way.

  “Exactly.” Henry smiled then sipped his coffee.

  “Anyway, shortly after Isaiah dropped them in Lusty, he left, and that was the last anyone saw of him. His wife died after a couple of months. Two of Adam’s sons and their wife took in the five boys. The two oldest helped out with the ranching, and the three youngest did, too, as well as being taught to read and write. The oldest, Thomas, decided to stay until the last of his brothers was old enough to be left on their own. I think his entire time in Lusty was nearly ten years.”

  “It was, though he returned to visit because he never forgot the kindness shown him by his Texas cousins. And he brought his wife and sons to visit, too,” Henry said. “That side of the family is referred to by our mother as the Nomadic Kendalls.” He grinned, saluted his cousins with his coffee cup, and took another sip.

  Sean raised his cup in return toast. “In his journal, great-grandfather Thomas admits to adoring Chelsea Benedict Jessop-Kendall for her kindness in taking them all in,” he said. “When they came to Texas, it was the first stability any of them had ever known, the first time they didn’t go to bed with empty bellies every night. Our grandfather, who is named Noah, would keep those visits up when his father could no longer travel easily. Our father also kept up the tradition. When Noah and I were in Alaska, one of Henry’s and Morgan’s brothers, also named Adam, came and stayed with us for a couple of months. We may have indeed been nomads, but we’ve always known that Lusty was synonymous with family, and home.”

  “There is only one major difference between the families descended from Isaiah and the Texas Kendalls. In Lusty, as you’ll soon discover, ménage marriages abound.”

  “So the little comment about you and your brother and about the first Adam Kendall…those were clues?”

  “More or less,” Henry said. “No one will look twice knowing that you’re staying with these two nomads,” Henry said. “Although I can almost guarantee my mother, Samantha, and Grandma Kate—Kate Benedict—will keep an eye to make sure they treat you well.”

  “So those two Benedicts who were gunslingers also formed a ménage marriage?”

  Henry nodded. “You’ll have to visit the museum in town and get that whole story. Suffice it to say, they married Sarah Carmichael Maddox and lived a very good life. Amanda, my great-great-grandmother, was Sarah’s cousin. And Chelsea, who figured prominently in the lives of so many young Kendalls, was Sarah, Caleb, and Joshua’s daughter.”

  “Lusty is built on private land set aside by the original two founding families,” Noah said. “Warren Jessop ensured the land would remain forever in the hands of family by setting up a trust—the Lusty Town Trust. That’s the entity that owns this jet.”

  “I think we’ve all made Brittany’s head swim,” Henry said.

  “Maybe a little,” she said. “But honestly, I find all of this so fascinating.” Then she looked from Sean to Noah. “Why did you decide to bring me to Texas?” She would have thought they’d take her to their own home in Wyoming. She immediately silenced the little voice that tried to cause trouble. It could just shut the hell up or else.

  “Because we wanted to bring you to the safest, and the best, place we knew.” Sean leaned forward and took her hand in his. “The one place where family is everything. We may kid around with our Texas cousins and poke at each other just for shits and giggles. That’s just a little thing we call cousin-speak. But the people of Lusty know how to love. And they know how to help a body heal.”

  That was quite a testimonial, and most definitely sincere. Brittany reminded herself that the most important thing was that she’d be with Sean and Noah. In fact, that wasn’t only the most important thing.

  It was the only thing, period.

  * * * *

  Noah didn’t fully relax until his cousins announced they were descending for arrival in Lusty. He supposed he would be even more relaxed once they had Brit in their house…no, once they had her in their bed. There was a tiny part of him that was afraid if he did relax too soon, that everything would go to hell again and they’d be alone, again, without her.

  He and Sean had both known something had been bothering her back in San Diego. Her smiles hadn’t always reached her eyes, and his Grandma Maggie had always said that was a bad sign.

  He held Brittany’s hand as the plane touched down, and when it stopped, he lifted her hand to his lips.

  He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. Then he met her gaze. “I missed you, sweetheart.”

  “I missed you, too.” She said the words quietly, and when he really looked at her, he read the truth of her words in her eyes. He believed her. She’d missed him and Sean, even though she’d sent them away believing she didn’t deserve them. Thank God Margaret Phillips had awakened from a sound sleep that night and felt compelled to look in on her daughter.

  In that moment, despite that call from Margaret that had come a couple of weeks before, a call that had weakened their knees, the reality of what had nearly happened hit him right then and there. Henry passed them, preparing to open the hatch, but all Noah saw was the terror of what might have been.

  Brittany had come within moments of attempting to take her own life.

  “Noah?”

  His name, gentle on her lips, pulled him out of the black hole that had nearly swallowed him.

  “Brittany.” He saw the worry in her eyes but couldn’t speak of it, not then. He leaned over the armrests and kissed her.

  Sean had already unfastened his seat belt and was getting to his feet. He grabbed Brittany’s luggage and nodded to Noah.

  Sean understood where his thoughts had just taken him. He was giving Noah the privilege of escorting their woman from the plane, of holding on to her by himself just a little bit longer.

  Morgan held back and waited until he and Brit were on their feet. Deplaning, Noah preceded his woman down the few steps, giving her the option of taking his hand or hanging onto the rails. She took his hand and watched her feet as she stepped down. The pavement beneath them was smooth, and once she had both feet on the ground, she looked up and blinked as she noticed the three people who appeared to have formed a welcoming committee.

  Henry provided the introductions. “Brittany, this is our wife, Tamara, our brother, Adam. And this is our mother, Samantha Kincaid Kendall.”

  “Welcome to Lusty,” Tamara said. Her smile was as bright as ever, and though her stature seemed tiny—Noah had heard the story of how Henry had started out calling her itty bitty—he knew for a fact she gave good, bracing hugs—or punches, depending. Noah saw the signs of an oncoming hug fest, so he stepped back. Tamara gave Brittany a hug and then moved aside.

  “Thank you.”

  “We’re so glad you’re here, Brittany.” Aunt Samantha placed her hands upon Brit’s shoulders and rubbed them lightly. “Thank you for your service to our country.” The tall redhead engulfed their woman in a hug. He and Sean grinned at each other, knowing just how good that felt.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Kendall.” He saw the tears at the corners of his woman’s eyes and thought them fitting.

  “That’s Aunt Samantha to you, young lady.”

  Noah guessed her grin put Brittany at ease.

  Brittany no
dded. “Aunt Samantha, then.”

  “Lieutenant,” Adam Kendall stepped forward, and Brittany extended her hand.

  “Good to meet you, Sheriff.”

  He nodded then looked from him to Sean. “These two give you any trouble, you feel free to come and talk to me about it. My brothers and I will take great pleasure in straightening them out for you.”

  “It will take you and all four of your brothers, as well as Peter, your brother-in-law, to ‘straighten out’ the two of us.” Sean grinned, and Noah couldn’t help but take a stance that telegraphed he was on guard and ready.

  “Gentlemen.”

  Just that one word from Aunt Samantha proved powerful enough for all of them.

  “Sorry, Mother.” Three Texas Kendall men spoke as one.

  “Sorry, Aunt Samantha.” He and Sean were just as harmonious in their apology.

  Brittany laughed. “You’re going to have to show me how to do that, Aunt Samantha!”

  To his chagrin, his aunt grinned and nodded. “Don’t you worry. We’ll talk, sweetheart. We’ll likely have a nice afternoon tea, just the women of Lusty, so we can all get to know you and you can get to know us.”

  He and Sean had heard stories, so he completely understood the wariness and ashen complexion that came over the sheriff of Lusty at that announcement.

  Aunt Samantha turned her attention to him and Sean. “There’s a supper for y’all in the crockpot on your kitchen counter, as well as a plate of Anna Jessop’s pecan cookies and a fresh loaf of bread Bernice made. We wanted to ensure Brittany’s first night with us here in Lusty was special.”

  Brittany blushed beautifully. “Thank you, Aunt Samantha. Thanks to all of you—Morgan, Henry, Tamara, and Adam.” She looked at each person in turn, and Noah was reminded of the woman they’d met in Namibia—the one they’d fallen in love with. “My first night is going to be special because I’m spending it with the men I love.”

  Noah reached for Brit’s hand. He squeezed it then brought it to his lips. He knew she saw the tears in his eyes, but right then and there, he didn’t care. Sean repeated his gesture, her sweet words clearly affecting him as much as they had Noah.

  He loved this branch of his family dearly. But just then he wished they’d all simply go away. He could hardly wait to get Brit between him and Sean. He knew they had her heart and her mind, and he didn’t think it was too fanciful to believe they had her soul, as well. He glanced at his brother and could see the same emotions playing on Sean’s face as he felt in his own heart.

  They both wanted to claim her body and to give her theirs in turn. They wanted to be naked and alone with their woman.

  Chapter Five

  When he’d traveled the rodeo circuits and people in places like Montana or Wyoming would ask him what Texas was like, Ricoh Stone would admit that summer lasted from March to November and that autumn, winter, and spring occurred from December to February.

  Texas had always been home. He’d worked for a rich man when he had barely been a man himself and fallen in love with the rich man’s young daughter. Angela Monroe was everything he was not—blonde haired, blue eyed, and white. She’d also been the only woman Ricoh had ever loved. And when he’d lost her—he’d thought at the time, falsely, because he had only been a poor vaquero—he’d left his home state, determined to make his mark and to never live in Texas again.

  He’d eventually matured, and understood that, for him, home would always be the Lone Star State. So, when a former rodeo friend, Julián Alvarez, called and offered him the chance to become the foreman of a good-sized ranch just outside of Lusty, Texas, he’d grabbed the opportunity offered him with both hands. And, coming home, he’d eventually found everything he’d thought he’d lost forever.

  A breeze danced through the open bedroom window, a rare refreshing and mild June breeze with just a hint of rain. He knew it was nearly time to get out of bed. He might have the weekend off, but he always kept an eye on the ranches and the men he supervised. Beside him, his woman stirred.

  Unable to resist, he turned to her. Nuzzling her neck, he used his lips to rain kisses from her ear to her chin to, finally, her mouth.

  “Good morning.” Those two words from her sweet lips never ceased to enthrall him.

  “Good morning, mi Ángel.” He kissed her again as he moved, laying her flat.

  When he ended the kiss, she was on her back, looking up at him with a smile on her lips and love in her eyes. She was his miracle. She had been his miracle when he had been eighteen and she a virginal sixteen. She’d remained his miracle through all the years they’d been apart, despite the lies he’d believed.

  Emotion filled him, and he said the words he would never tire of saying. “I love you, Angela.”

  Angela reached up and caressed his face. She used a finger to trace a path across his brows, down his nose, and when she touched his lips, he opened them and moistened her finger with his tongue. “I love you, Ricoh. You brought my heart back to life when I thought I would never feel anything good ever again.”

  “As you did for me. Waking up each morning with you—whether here in the manager’s house or in your house—feels so damn right. Please, querida, won’t you please marry me?”

  He’d been asking her since they’d reconnected, since after the first time they made love again in more than thirty years. She’d never said “no.” She’d only said, “not yet.” He wasn’t going to give up. He understood what she’d been through, what she’d suffered, victimized first by her soulless father and then by the bastard husband her father had sold her to.

  She’d been tortured and virtually enslaved, and Ricoh understood how deep those wounds could go. Hadn’t his heart carried a deep gash for all the years he’d been without her? Learning the truth, along with receiving her complete and unconditional love, had healed him. He knew in time, his love would heal her, too.

  She met his gaze, and he read her heart in her eyes. And something new, something he’d longed to see but hadn’t. Not until this very moment.

  “Yes, my love. I will marry you.”

  Ricoh felt his heart turn over. His face would likely crack from the force of the smile he wore.

  “Sí?”

  “Sí, mi corazón.”

  My heart. “What do you want? Any kind of wedding, it’s yours. I only want to make you happy.”

  “You have. In the last two and a half years since we found each other again, since we talked—really talked—you’ve made me very happy. We’re both older, Ricoh. But there’s a part of you, that core of you that is real and honest and full of integrity, that is the same as the young man I first met and fell in love with all those years ago. You are the same man now as then—the man I gave my heart and my virginity to.”

  “You humble me, Angela, with your words and your forgiveness.” He would have said more, but she placed a finger on his lips.

  “No more regrets, mi esposo. I thought of you as my husband since that first time in my daddy’s hayloft. Nothing that happened to me after you left ever changed that feeling in my heart.”

  “I think I may have damaged it some the first time we exchanged words here in Lusty.” He saw the look in her eyes. This was one of the most noticeable changes in her, the main difference between Angela as a girl and Angela the woman.

  A fierce light shot from her eyes, a light that told him to let go of his guilt and get with the program. His woman was as fiery in heart and spirit as any man could ever want. The girl hadn’t known to ask for what she wanted. The woman demanded what she needed and damn well expected to get it.

  He loved her more than he loved his own life.

  He kissed her, his tongue drinking her as if he was parched for her. Her arms enveloped him, and the hand that combed his hair and held tight felt strong and competent. When Angela kissed him, when she held him, he felt well and truly claimed.

  “I don’t want a big fancy wedding. We’re both past that. But I don’t want to run off, either. That…well, I ju
st don’t.” She didn’t have to explain. Her father had drugged her and had her married with only a judge he had in his pocket and a couple of business associates in attendance.

  “Then what if we have a small gathering. Just our friends. I’d like Julián, Chris, and Gwen to attend, as well as the people here we know.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  “I don’t know if you were aware that Samantha Kendall is the magistrate here in Lusty. She has the authority to perform the service.”

  “You’ve been thinking about this.”

  “Every moment of every day since you gave me the privilege of loving you again.” He flashed her a grin then gave her a swift kiss. He got out of the bed and headed to his dresser. The top drawer held a white box, one that had been there for more than a year.

  When he turned back to her, Angela’s eyes had widened. She sat up in the bed, stuffing a pillow behind her back. She didn’t bother to cover her breasts with the sheet. It wasn’t a question of a lack of modesty, he knew. It was that, with him, she felt free to really be naked with him.

  She’d told him he was the only person, other than her physician, to see her naked—more, to see the scars on her back.

  Scars left by her father’s whip and added to by her husband. Ricoh really hated that those two bastards were already dead. He’d have enjoyed killing them for what they’d done to her.

  He willed away the bad thoughts as, also naked and equally free to be so with her, he held out the box.

  “I knew you wouldn’t want anything showy or elaborate. That’s not us—either of us. I had this made for you, using the gold and some of the stones from my mother’s engagement ring, which I have had since she died.”

  Angela took the box and opened it. She gasped, and her face softened even as her eyes filled with tears.

  “I asked Clay Cook, over in Divine, to create something that would be ours. Our story as art, I suppose. The twisted ropes of gold represent our path, which has been far from smooth. The heart in the center is a ruby, and the three diamonds surrounding it…”