by Dinah McLeod
“But between that, and train tickets… I sure hope you like Mama’s cookin’, cuz we won’t be able to take supper in town for a while.”
“I like it fine,” she sniffed. “But what makes you think I’m going back with you? I’ve planned for a long, long stay,” she said, forgiving herself the white lie.
Wesley arched his brows. “Oh? Is that so? One little misunderstanding, and you’re ready to move on, is that it?”
He didn’t sound like he believed her, and for some reason that galled her more than if he had.
“It just so happens that Mr. Spalding came over here especially to meet me, and I think things are going quite well.”
“Really.” To his credit, he didn’t smile, though she could swear she heard it in his voice. “Tell me, what’s his first name?”
Oh. He would ask that, the sneak! “Paul,” she said after a moment’s pause. What was one more fib? In for a penny, in for a pound.
“Well, I’m glad you and Paul are hitting it off so well. I’ll just step on in and give Paul my deepest congratulations.” He stood up.
“Wesley, wait!” she cried after he took a step forward.
“Let me guess. His name isn’t Paul.”
“Oh, I don’t know what his name is,” she snapped, throwing her hands up. “But is it so odd to think another man might be interested in me?”
“Not at all. I’m sure he is interested, but he doesn’t seem your type.”
“My type?” She put her hands on her hips.
“He doesn’t look like he’d ever get his hands dirty, for one, and he certainly wouldn’t spank his naughty fiancée. Which, by the way…” He sat and took her by the hand once more. It only took one yank to land her right over his lap. “I believe you know how I feel about lying.”
But he didn’t sound angry. He still sounded amused, damn him, and there was something lying beneath the laughter. It was pure unadulterated happiness, if she didn’t miss her guess. Despite the fact that she was face down over his lap, a position she found herself in all too often for her liking, she felt much the same.
He landed a quick, loud smack, but it didn’t hurt much. As he continued, she got the idea that he was only doing it for sport, and perhaps to embarrass her.
“Wesley! Please, they’ll hear you!”
“So what if they do? All they’ll hear is proof that I love you, that I will always come for you, always fight for you, whatever the cost.” Another loud, firm smack landed.
“Do you… do you mean that?”
He landed one more spank and helped her up to sit on his knee. “I mean it.” And then, with a finger hooked under her chin, he tilted her head up. Before she could ask what he meant to do, she saw his lips coming toward hers. Her heart leapt in her chest moments before his lips touched hers. Their kiss was a brief one, but long enough to send shivers of excitement up and down her arms to the point where she had goosebumps.
“Oh, Wesley,” she sighed.
“Shall you go and check with Paul for a comparison?”
She smacked his chest, hiding a smile. “Alright, alright. I’m sorry! You were being arrogant and it galled me.”
“Not overconfident, my love. I was just sure of myself, because I’m sure of us.”
Then and there, Libby Park melted into a puddle on her beau’s lap. She’d never felt safer or more loved in all her life. Yes, she’d willingly give up every creature comfort known to man to live with that feeling.
“I… I really am sorry about what happened with Maggie, Wesley. I never should have… I was insecure, knowing she didn’t like me. And she got me worried that your mother didn’t like me, either, and that there wouldn’t be a chance with you. I should have talked to you and told you how I felt.”
“You most certainly should have. And I should have found a way to get word to you, or gone out of the way to come myself when I was on the way for the vet. That was thoughtless of me, and if I’d had any idea how it made you feel, I would have done. Forgive me?”
“I do.” Then, feeling daring, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his once more, her skin tingling with the thrill of it.
“Better stop that,” he murmured to her as they broke apart. “We don’t want things to go too far?”
“We don’t?” She pouted.
“No,” he chuckled. “Not before we’re wed.”
Libby’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Wesley! Do you mean it?”
“‘Course I do. I’ve already bought a ring. I nearly brought it with me, but I thought it’d be better manners to ask your pa first.”
Her hands leapt to cover her hot, excited cheeks. “Really?”
“Truly. Between that and the train car I reserved to take us home… as I said, hope you like Mama’s cooking.”
She threw her arms around his neck with a squeal and clung to him. She’d never felt so excited. “I can’t wait to ask them!”
“I’ll do the askin’, and you won’t have to wait long. Our train leaves in the morning.”
She sat back to look at him. “In the morning? You were that sure I’d go back with you?”
Wesley grinned, making her heart flutter. “I already told you, darlin’. I was sure of us.”
Just then, the doors were thrown open and Mr. Spalding came stomping out. “Good day,” he snapped when he saw them.
“Good day,” Libby returned. She wanted to feel bad for him, but she just couldn’t. She was too happy right now to let anything spoil it—even sullen Mr. Spalding. He was just another in the long line of men she’d met that hadn’t worked out. He was, in fact, the very last.
* * *
Much to her surprise, her parents hadn’t even batted an eye at her sudden return home. And even more surprisingly, her mother had invited Wesley to stay for supper on the spot. They’d actually had a rather enjoyable time thus far, though Libby felt like she was sitting on an invisible tack. Waiting for Wesley to bring up the matter of his intentions made it hard to get comfortable.
“Perhaps Libby and I will take our dessert in the parlor,” her mother said at last.
Libby shot her a shocked look. Did she know? How could she know? And what was more, why did she want them to leave? She wanted to stay and listen!
But it was not meant to be. Her mother stood and Libby could do nothing but follow. It would do nothing to settle her anxiety over the matter at hand. Not that her pa would say no. He wouldn’t, would he? It had been his idea for Wesley to court her in the first place. And yet, even knowing that did nothing to dispel her nerves.
“Or would you rather eat on the porch?” Libby’s mother asked as they each held a plate with a piece of peach cobbler. “The weather is cooler and the mosquitos shouldn’t bother us.”
She swallowed a sigh and answered dutifully, “Whatever you want, Mama.”
So she led the two of them outside and they took seats next to each other on the rockers.
“You haven’t said a word about Charleston. How is Henry? And Juliette?”
That’s right, she’d been so lost in her own thoughts that she’d forgotten it’d been more than a decade since her mother had seen her brother. “He seems well, Mama. And Aunt Juliette is lovely. The house is just as you’ve always described it.”
Her mother’s eyes gleamed with memory. Libby expected she would soon be subject to an interrogation on how many pieces of silver had been used at the dinner table, but her mother only said, “It’s nice that some things never change.”
“You and Pa should go see them for a spell. I know they’d love to have you for a visit.”
“Oh, you know nothing would tear your father away from that mercantile,” she sighed. “But perhaps, one of these days. And speaking of change, if I don’t miss my guess I suppose some things are about to.”
Libby flushed and ducked her head in answer. “I’m sorry, Mama. I know it’s not what you wanted. I know you’d hoped…”
“It can’t be helped, I suppose.” She gave a long, worldly sigh. “
The heart cannot often be persuaded. It’s just as well that he came for you. At least you’ll be closer. Although,” she laughed, “I’d rather thought my best chance of getting to Charleston was if you lived there.”
Libby risked a glance upward and found, much to her surprise, that her mother didn’t seem angry, as she’d expected her to be. Maybe she was quietly disappointed, but that was all.
“I meant what I said, you know. What I care about most is your happiness. If you really, truly think that this Swift boy—” for the first time, she said the words without her usual rancor or haughtiness, “—will be the one to make you happy, then I won’t say a word against it.”
Her eyes widened in surprise and almost instantly filled with tears. “Thank you, Mama!” Normally, this would be the moment where two people hugged, but she’d never had a particularly affectionate family. But when she saw her mother’s eyes mist over, too, she decided to forgo tradition and leapt from her chair to embrace her.
“Don’t start crying now,” she chided gently. “It will spoil your complexion, and you don’t want that to be how Wesley remembers you when he comes to speak to you, now, do you?”
Leave it to her mother to worry about a thing like that! At least she sounded more like herself.
“I think I have something that will help. Here, sit back down.” She patted Libby’s back tentatively and then dropped her arms. “I have something for you.”
“You do?” she asked as she went back to her chair.
“You’ll get your dowry, of course, but this is a little wedding gift.”
“We’re not married yet, Mama.”
“No, but I thought perhaps you’d find a use for it before then.”
Libby watched quizzically as her mother reached down and pulled a box out from underneath the rocker. “You planned this!” she accused, giggling.
“Yes, I rather expect I knew a wedding would take place one way or another.”
Libby wasted no time in lifting the lid. It took her a moment for her eyes to make out what she was looking at. Then, when she gasped, it was for more reason than one. Nestled inside was an ornate carved ivory mirror and brush set. It was beautiful, no doubt about it, but the hairbrush back was large and flat and the only thing Libby could think about when she looked at it was that Wesley would find a use for it, too.
She shot her mother a look, wondering if the older woman was thinking the same thing. Her face was serene and betrayed not a thing.
“Thank you, Mama,” she managed to get out before she burst into a fit of giggles.
“Why, you are in a silly mood today, Libby,” she scolded, but it only made her daughter laugh harder.
* * *
He opened the door and was pleased to hear his wife-to-be laughing on the porch with her mother. He loved the sound of her laughter and heard it all too rarely, in his opinion. He aimed to change that.
“Libby? Would you care to go for a stroll?”
Her violet-blue eyes were wide when she looked up at him. And then, for some reason he didn’t understand, she quickly hid the box she’d been holding. “Ah, yes. Of course. You go on, I’ll be right along.”
Must be some mother-daughter thing, he supposed. Ah, well. As eager as he was to talk to her right then and there, it was nice for the two of them to be finally getting on.
Even though he walked a bit away, he never took his eyes off her. He was aware of every movement she made, and his body tingled with alertness as she stood and began to move toward him. He watched Libby approach, wondering if she had any notion of the effect she’d come to have over him. As she walked, her hips swayed in a way that made her more fetching than any woman had a right to be. Even better were the smiles she’d started giving him. Each one warmed him right up like a ray of sunshine.
“Howdy, Libby,” he called as she drew closer.
“Wesley,” she replied, her voice soft and sweet.
Between that gentle, feminine tone and the way her skirts swished as she moved, his trousers were uncomfortably tight. God, it would feel good to finally claim her as his own! Assuming she agreed, of course. After the long talk they’d had on the train ride back, Wesley had thought himself quite sure of her feelings, but now that he had permission to officially ask her, doubt crept in, hard as he tried to shake free of its tight grip.
“Did you and Pa have a nice talk?” she asked as she took his arm.
Was it his imagination, or did her voice sound unusually high? Was it possible that she was as nervous as he was? “We did.”
“Are you going to keep me in suspense?”
Yes, she was definitely nervous alright. Hearing it made him feel better. “No, not for long, darlin’. Let’s just walk a bit. I want to have a talk.”
Now, the Libby he’d spanked in the mercantile all those weeks ago would have stamped her tiny foot and demanded that he tell her this instant. But she had shown herself to be malleable, too—particularly when the threat of a good spanking loomed. And so, she only nodded and followed where he lead. Not that he took her far—he was just as eager to have this out of the way and get her answer.
“We talked about a great many things on the way back, but there were a few we didn’t speak of. And I need you to know, if you become my wife, I expect you to be obedient. I think that needs repeatin’: I’ll demand your respect. But I also want your love, Libby, if you can find it in your heart to give it. And even if you can’t, you’ll have mine from the moment I say ‘I do.’ I’ll always look out for you, and protect you. I’ll work hard to make sure there’s always a roof over your head and food on your plate. It’s not much, certainly not what you’re accustomed to, but it’s all I can offer.”
“You already have my heart, Wesley Swift,” she answered, her eyes intent on his own. Just then, a breeze wafted by, pulling one of her curls loose from its braid.
Almost without thinking, he lifted his hand to caress it. “Well, then, I don’t ‘spect there’s much more to say. Unless there’s anything you’d like to add?”
Wordlessly, she shook her head.
Wesley reached into his shirt and pulled out the thin piece of leather he’d been wearing around his neck. With quick, deft fingers he untied it and a thin gold band slid off. Without waiting another moment, he took her hand in his and slid it onto her finger.
Libby gave a little gasp and then held it out to the sunlight and together they both watched it sparkle. It was more than a piece of jewelry—it signified his intentions and his love for the woman who wore it. When she turned to him, she was smiling, and then she threw herself into his arms, kissing him wildly.
For the briefest of moments, he thought of putting her off, and scolding her for acting so boldly when they had yet to be wed. But the moment faded and his arms came around her, holding her tightly to him and returning her kiss with just as much fervor. Besides—she would be his soon enough. He didn’t want to wait so much as another day, if he didn’t have to.
* * *
Libby’s pa had arranged for them to spend their first night as man and wife at a respectable saloon in town. She’d been profoundly grateful and thanked him profusely. She wanted to enjoy their wedding night without giving a thought to Mrs. Swift or, God forbid, his sister. Wesley should be the only one on her mind tonight.
Her new husband, who was normally so take-charge in his everyday life, was suddenly stammering as he stood in front of her, his fingers trembling ever-so-slightly as he reached to untie her bonnet.
Her mother had told her what to expect, of course. “It will hurt. It will hurt and then it will be over, at least until the next night. And then you will have him eating out of your palm for the rest of your life.”
Libby had taken it all in with wide eyes, trying not to appear the least bit shaken by this news. She’d hoped for a better report. After all, it felt so wonderful when he held her hand. And when they kissed, her body had turned to liquid. She’d hoped that being together as man and wife would be just as pleasurable. But if
it wasn’t, so be it. At least she could kiss him all she wanted now, now that he was her husband. With enough kissing, perhaps the other wouldn’t matter so much.
The wedding had been a rather simple affair. When they’d gone to stand before the preacher, Libby had worn the blue muslin gown she’d ordered from the seamstress. It was, ironically, the same one that had gotten her spanked the very first time, and given how things had unraveled, she’d thought it appropriate that it be the same one she married in.
The only ones in attendance were her parents and his family. It certainly wasn’t anything like the wedding day she’d envisioned for herself, but then again, neither was the man who was to be her husband. Bearing that in mind helped her to temper down any disappointment she would have felt otherwise, because fancy dress or no, she truly loved the man she was pledging her life to.
And much to her relief, when she’d seen Mrs. Swift the woman had embraced her, holding her tight and telling her how happy she was that she would be joining the family. Those kind, heartfelt words had let her know that she was indeed forgiven and had made the day even sweeter.
Libby put her hand on Wesley’s and gave him a small, knowing smile. “Let me.” Then, she reached for her hairpins and pulled them out one by one. When she’d found the last one, Libby shook her head side to side, letting her locks fall free.
“Oh, Libby,” he ground out, his desire for her plain as day.
The eager excitement coursing through her belied her mother’s words that it would be anything but marvelous to lie together. But she had been right about one thing—after this, she would have Wesley eating out of her hand. She could see it on every inch of his handsome face. Giving him a naughty smile, she turned her back to him.
“Help me with my buttons.”
He did, though it took longer to have him do it than if she’d done it herself. His fingers still must be trembling, she supposed. She didn’t mind—it built the anticipation. Her own tummy was doing flips, her pulse was racing, and there was a warmth between her thighs that she didn’t quite understand. Not that it was at all unpleasant. She found it to be quite the opposite, actually—both mysterious and wonderful.