“You didn’t hurt me, Jed.” She didn’t think it could ever be any better, but she didn’t tell him this.
After a moment’s silence he asked, “Are you sure you’re all right? I know it’s uncomfortable for a woman the first time.”
“I’m fine. I don’t know why I was worried. I thought it was a terrible painful thing a woman had to endure because it’s a man’s right. I didn’t think women were supposed to like it.”
He pulled her against him. “Of course a woman can like it.”
She was quiet a minute then she asked, “Am I a whore now, Jed?”
“What?” He looked down at her as if he couldn’t believe she was asking such a question. “No, Amelia. You’ll never be a whore.”
“Miss Collier, at the school in Boston, said only whores enjoyed being with a man. Of course she called them women of loose morals, not whores.” He chuckled and she went on. “She said ladies had to give themselves to their husbands, but it was a duty, not a pleasure.”
“Miss Collier was an idiot. A lady can enjoy being with her man.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
“Good.”
“Why do you say good?”
She mumbled something and he added, “I didn’t understand.”
“I said, I hope we’ll do it again.”
He pulled her closer. “You can bet your life we’ll do it again, Amelia.”
Not only did they do it again, but before the night was out, she enjoyed it as much, if not better than the first time.
Chapter 7
Jed awoke with Amelia still in his arms. He didn’t understand why he felt so relaxed and fulfilled. He’d been with a lot of women since Marie’s death, most of them whores, but he’d always tried to be kind to them. That was the way he’d started out with Amelia last night. There was no question about her being a lady, and though he was going to treat her as one, he fully intended to collect on her agreement to give herself to him. He knew she was an innocent, but he also knew she was at the age some man was going to take her. He figured it might as well be him. At least he’d made it good for her. Her reaction proved it had been.
But this morning he couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. He’d only wanted to have her in his bed for the coming six months without any emotion or feelings other than relief of his physical need. Then he’d realized how pure she was. She knew so little about the human body. A woman’s or a man’s. Yet she’d trusted him completely and responded to his every touch. Then without resistance she’d given him the most precious gift a woman could give a man—her virginity.
At the time he thought it wouldn’t bother him to take it, but when he heard her little scream, he knew something had happened to him. Somewhere a voice told him he’d now taken this woman as a part of him, not for six months, but forever. He vaguely remembered calling out the word “mine”, an Indian custom his tribe followed when a man claimed his woman.
The same feeling that she was his forever filtered across his mind this morning, but he pushed it away. To keep it from settling into his soul he looked down to study her face. After only wanting women with dark hair and long voluminous bodies for so many years, why did he now think this tiny creature with wildflower blonde hair one of the most beautiful women he’d ever gazed upon?
She grunted, wiggled her head and snuggled against his chest. He watched for her to wake up, but she began breathing deeply. He didn’t mind. It was pleasant lying here with her naked body in his arms.
A small smile twisted his lips as he took his free hand and lifted the covers to gaze on her beautiful form. He thought he’d be able to study it last night, but their passion got in the way. Oh, he hadn’t completely ignored the shapely curves, but now he had time to see how lovely she was.
Her tiny soft and creamy body was pressed against his bonze muscled length. He studied the full breasts with their soft pale pink tips. Her legs were shapely and firm. Her feet were small and her stomach was flat below her tiny waist. He looked downward and his breath caught as he gazed at the triangle of soft golden hair which topped her secret place. Letting out his breath, he couldn’t help comparing how it contrasted with the jet black mass circling his manhood.
“Jed, what are you doing?” Her sharp voice caused him to drop the sheet and meet her eyes. She was blushing.
“I was only admiring my beautiful wife’s body.”
She turned redder. “I don’t think you should do that.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I…uh…”
“I don’t care if you raise the sheet and look at my body.” When she didn’t answer, he lifted it and said, “Here, look all you want to.”
“Jed…” She reached up and pulled the sheet down. “You’re terrible.”
“Why? Because I like to look at you naked?” He put his hand under her chin and placed his lips on hers. “You didn’t complain last night.”
“But it’s morning. The sun is shining.”
“Making love is as much fun in the morning light.”
She turned even more redder, but said nothing.
“Want me to prove it?” He threw the cover back and pulled himself above her.
Amelia stared up at him, then her eyes went to his groin and she gasped. “I don’t think that’ll fit.”
“It fit perfectly last night and I’m going to show you how well it’ll fit this morning.”
He was right. It fit perfectly.
* * * *
“Where are you going, Rafe?” Elizabeth demanded.
“Amelia came back to Settlers Ridge last night. I’m going to get her.”
“The food is on the table, dear. I think you should eat first.”
“No, Elizabeth. The sooner I get to town, the sooner I get our daughter back where she belongs. I’m sure after a week with the savage, she’ll be happy to see me.”
“Mr. Olsen said she was happy. What if you’re wrong and she doesn’t want to come home?”
“I don’t care what Olsen said or what she thinks she wants. She’ll come home where she belongs.” He crossed the dining room with his wife on his heels. “I’ve had enough of her foolishness. It’s time she learned how to take orders.”
“Rafe, Amelia is not one of your cowhands. She’s your daughter. You don’t give her orders.”
“Orders are the only thing she understands.”
When they reached his study, he went to his desk and picked up his gun.
“You’re not going to wear a gun!”
“Oh, yes I am, Elizabeth. I don’t intend to kill anyone, but if a gun is the only thing to bring our daughter back…”
Elizabeth gasped. “You wouldn’t shoot Amelia!”
He laughed. “Don’t be foolish, woman. Of course I’m not going to shoot Amelia, but I’m not sure who else I might have to shoot.”
“Rafe Donahue, go in the dining room and eat with me. When we’re through, have Vince hitch up the buggy. I’m going to town with you.”
“Not this time, Elizabeth. Things could get sticky before I get her away from him. I don’t want you in the middle of it.”
“How do you know she’s back in town?”
“Slim spent the night there last night. He said somebody told him Amelia and the breed were having breakfast at the hotel this morning.” He shook his head. “It makes me sick to think of my little girl in a hotel room with him. No telling what he’s done to her and I can’t believe she’s foolish enough to let him do it.”
“I’m sure if Amelia didn’t want to be with him, she’d come home.”
“You’re naïve, woman. Wainwright’s a savage. Damn Indians don’t know how to treat a woman. They use them and they don’t care…” Seeing the fear on Elizabeth’s face, he changed his speech. “Amelia has had no dealings with Indians.”
“Now you’ve scared me, Rafe, and I’m going with you. I want to make sure my daughter is all right.”
“Elizabeth, I said…”
&nb
sp; “I know what you said and if you don’t let me go, I’ll follow after you leave. I don’t intend to let you go into town alone.”
“I’m not alone. Vince is going with me.”
“Vince is not family. If you show up with him, Amelia will surely bolt. I’m her mother. I may be able to talk her into coming home, but not if Vince is there.”
He seemed to think this over. “You could be right. She might listen to you. I can’t believe she’s being so hard-headed. For the first time in her life, I can’t make our little girl listen to me.”
Elizabeth didn’t tell him she didn’t think Amelia would listen to him now. Instead, she took his arm and led him to the dining room to eat his noon meal.
* * * *
It was almost eleven o’clock when Jed walked Amelia to Miss Purdy’s dress shop. “Do you mind if I don’t go in?” He gave her a pleading look.
“You don’t have to go in. I only want to pick out a couple of things.”
“How long do you think you’ll be?”
“About thirty minutes.”
“Good. I’ll come back by for you and we’ll go to the hotel and eat dinner.”
“Why don’t I meet you in the hotel dining room at noon?”
“I thought you wanted people to see me as an attentive husband.”
“Attentive is fine, but you don’t have to spend every minute with me.” She smiled at him. “Now don’t argue. I’ll meet you there. It’s only a few blocks from here.”
“If you really want me to.”
She nodded and went inside.
As Jed turned toward the street, he saw Curt coming in his direction. He waited.
Curt stopped beside him and eyed the dress shop. “You going to buy a fancy new hat or something?”
“No, I’m not buying a hat or anything else.”
“Ah, I’m disappointed. I wanted to see you in a frilly one with pink feathers and red flowers.”
Jed shook his head. “What are you doing this morning?”
“Actually I was looking for you. Happened to see you and Amelia here.”
“What do you want?”
“There’s something going on in the saloon I thought you needed to check out. If Amelia’s going to be shopping for a little while, let’s head there.”
Jed walked beside his friend. “Isn’t it a little early for the saloon to be having action?”
Curt shrugged. “There’s a card game going on.”
“Why do I need to check out a card game?”
“You don’t. It’s the four young men in there who seem to think taking you down and stealing your wife might be easy. They’re drinking beer and talking loud. I’m a stranger so they didn’t pay any attention to me. I heard your name mentioned a couple of times. Also heard them mention Donahue. I started listening and it looks like they want the reward her father has offered for her return.”
They reached the swinging doors of the Wildcat Saloon. “Then I guess I’d better check those fellows out.” Jed pulled his hat down and stepped inside. Curt followed.
When they entered, a silence fell over the room. Even the poker game stopped. Jed and Curt paid the small crowd no mind and headed to the bar.
The tired-looking bartender moved in front of them. “What can I get you fellows?”
“Beer,” Curt said.
Jed nodded and laid money on the bar. Two mugs of beer appeared. From the corner of his eye he saw some movement to the left. There was the almost unnoticeable scuff of a boot. He was sure he heard a gun sliding from a holster. Jed whirled around and pointed his pistol at the young man before the boy’s gun cleared leather.
“Unless you want to lose your hand, I’d move it away from your gun,” Jed said.
The young man’s eyes widened and he eased his hand away from his gun. “I wasn’t going to draw on you, Mister.”
“What’s your name?” Jed’s eyes didn’t blink.
“Milt Gordon,” the scared-looking guy said.
Jed guessed the guy to be about sixteen. In a gruff voice, he said as he holstered his gun, “Well, Milt Gordon, next time I won’t give you a chance to change your mind and I guarantee you won’t be able to ever pull your gun on anyone else.”
“Why don’t you fellows go on home? I don’t want no trouble in here,” the bartender said.
“We ain’t causing no trouble,” another young man said. “We got a right to be here.”
Jed ignored him. He was still eying the guy who tried to draw, but he saw Curt shift. Jed looked at Milt’s companions without moving his head. He saw one guy slipping a gun upward.
Without a word, Jed drew his gun and fired.
The young man cursed and grabbed his hand. “You shot me,” he yelled.
“Be thankful I didn’t kill you.” He waved his gun toward them. “Anybody else want to see if I mean what I say?”
“We didn’t mean nothing,” Milt said. “All we wanted to do was tie you up so we could get the money.”
“I think he’s talking about the money Donahue said he’d give anyone who brought his daughter home.” Curt took a sip of his beer.
“And what were you going to do, attack my wife?”
“No, sir. Mr. Donahue said she wouldn’t fight because she’d want to go with us.”
Curt laughed out loud and Jed sneered. “My wife has no intention of going with you or anyone else to Mr. Donahue’s ranch, and if anyone tries to make her go they better have visited the undertaker for their coffin measurements.”
Milt frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I’ll put a bullet in any man who touches my wife.” Jed looked to the gamblers. “That doesn’t only apply to these young hooligans. It goes for any man in town. If you don’t believe me, ask Stumpy Deerman.”
“What happened to Stumpy?” a man in his forties sitting at the poker table asked.
“I saw him this morning and he had his hand all bandaged up,” another gambler said.
“It’ll be a long time before he’ll use a gun again.” Jed nodded at Curt. “My friend here decided to let him live. If I had seen him creeping up to steal my wife he wouldn’t be alive.”
Jed turned around, picked up his beer and downed it. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the saloon. Curt followed.
* * * *
Grace came to the table and gave Amelia a fresh cup of tea then poured more coffee for Jed and Curt.
“The food was mighty good, miss,” Curt said as he picked up his cup. “I wouldn’t mind having a dinner like this every day.”
“I’m glad you liked it, sir. Effie Vaughn is a wonderful cook and Mrs. Olsen is a great baker. She makes most of the desserts.” She gave him a shy smile.
“No wonder Mr. Olsen is such a happy man.” Jed looked at Amelia. “By the way, can you cook anything except what can be cooked at a campfire?”
She raised her eyebrow. “Would I dare marry a man like you if I couldn’t cook?”
“I don’t know. Would you?” he teased.
“I bet there are a lot of men who would have married you whether you can cook or not, Amelia. I don’t see how he ever talked a lady like you into hooking up with him in the first place.” Curt laughed.
“He promised me he’d buy a ranch and take me away from all this.” She waved her hand toward the town.
“Aren’t you going to live on the Double D, Amelia?” Grace asked.
“Jed and Curt want a ranch of their own and I’ll live wherever they buy it.”
“The problem is finding the right place,” Jed said. “Don’t happen to know of anything around for sale do you, Grace?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. John Lawson was in here the other day. He said he offered his place to Amelia’s daddy, but Mr. Donahue put him off because he was trying to find Amelia.”
“Do you think the place is still available?”
“Probably. I know Mrs. Lawson wants to go to Texas where she inherited a ranch from an uncle. I’m sure she wants to sell as
soon as they can.”
“This might be worth looking into, Curt.” Jed nodded at him.
“Where is this place, Grace?” Curt asked.
“It’s south of town. You know where the Lawson place is, don’t you, Amelia?”
“Of course. Mrs. Lawson and Mother are friends. I’ve been there several times.” She giggled. “Mrs. Lawson doesn’t like me, though. She says I’m a bad influence on her daughter, Wilma.”
Curt raised his eyebrow. “Why in the world would she say that?”
Amelia dropped her eyes, picked up her cup and took a sip.
Grace bit her lip and giggled.
“Okay. What’s the story?” Jed asked.
“There wasn’t much to it.” Amelia looked at him and batted her eyes. “Some time back, Wilma and I wanted to see what you men find so attractive in a saloon so we decided to pay one a visit.”
“Wilma and you?” Jed raised an eyebrow.
“Okay. I thought it up, but it didn’t take long for Wilma and Grace to join me.”
“So, you were in on it, too?” Curt looked at Grace and she turned red.
“They talked me into it.”
“What I want to know is, did you discover anything surprising about the saloon?” Jed leaned toward Amelia.
“Not really. There was a woman in a short red dress trying to sing, but nobody was paying her any attention. A couple of other scantily-dressed women were hanging on some rough-looking cowboys and the place was stinky and nasty. We didn’t get very far before Wilma’s brother, Ralph, came in and made us leave. Of course, we couldn’t have seen much more anyway. Smoke hovered over everything.” She leaned closer to Jed. “I still don’t see what the draw is to you men.”
Jed reached out and touched her cheek. “Maybe it’s the beer.”
“Okay, you two,” Curt said, “stop acting like newlyweds.”
“We are newlyweds,” Jed said.
“Well, now you know about your bride’s sordid past; I want to hear more about this ranch Grace said might be for sale.” Curt laughed and looked at Grace.
Jed leaned back. “I agree. It sounds like something we should check out right away.”
Amelia looked at them. “Why don’t we ride out there this afternoon and if it’s still available, you can look it over?”
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