She opened her eyes and looked up at him, and his lips moved swiftly down onto hers. He kissed her slowly, gently exploring and entwining her tongue with his. They were both breathing heavily as he slid his hand up her body and under the neck of her dress to cup one of her breasts. He kept kissing her, squeezing her breast gently, and pinching its nipple firmly until she let out a gasp. He moved his hand over to the other breast and continued to explore.
Kenna couldn't think about anything other than what his mouth and hands were doing to her. She was captive and would do whatever he wanted. She wanted him to take her right now! The warm wetness between her thighs was a reminder that she was ready.
He stopped kissing her and pulled back. "Damn," he said, shaking his head. "I can't keep going, or I won't be able to stop." His labored breathing slowed down.
Kenna wanted to tell him to shut up and keep kissing her. But she knew that was very unladylike and that they were just acquaintances. She had to mind her behavior around him at least until they knew each other better—and hoped that she'd get to know him a lot better! She wanted to see what swelled so enticingly when she wiggled against him. I have to get a hold of myself!
"I don't know what to say. I've never behaved that way with a strange man. I must be tired and not thinking straight." She tried to sound convincing.
"Yep, well, I don't usually drag a girl back to my office to have a discussion, either. This is different for both of us, I expect."
He set her on her feet and stood up. They both straightened their clothes and tried to regain some composure.
"Come on. I'll walk you home. It's getting late, and one of us has to be at work early in the morning." He looked down at her with a lazy smile as he guided her to the door of his office.
"Now, you promise not to venture out of town again?" he asked as he opened the door for her. "Have you learned your lesson, Kenna?" He locked the door behind them and put her arm in his, then he looked at her expectantly for an answer.
"Yes, I've learned my lesson. I know you just want me to be safe." She tried to sound sincere, whereas she was secretly looking forward to him teaching her another lesson next week when she went out of town again.
"All right, then." He looked down at her approvingly, and he walked her back to the boarding house.
As she lay in bed that night, Kenna couldn't stop thinking about the sheriff. She hated the indignity of the spanking. That was totally uncalled for. She could never have guessed a spanking could hurt so much or feel so good at the same time. That was crazy! She couldn't believe she actually wanted him to do it again. What was she thinking!
She knew it was dangerous and unladylike to ride by herself outside of town. But she had a job to do and couldn't tell Jack that. She'd have to be more careful and try not to have overnight expeditions from now on. Hopefully, she'd just have one or two more trips to the base, and then she'd leave town. But she wanted to spend some time with Jack before she went. And she still didn't know his last name!
5
Housekeeper
Kenna woke up the next morning to the sound of a knock on her door. Pauline didn't say anything when she knocked this time, and Kenna could hear her hurry away down the stairs.
She's probably still annoyed at me for staying out all night.
Kenna lay on her back and stared at the faint water stains on the ceiling. She yawned and stretched out her stiff muscles that were a result of horseback riding over the past two days. Her bottom was also a bit sore from Jack's punishment, and she was grateful she didn't have to go riding again today.
She knew she'd have to behave herself and act like a proper young woman for the next couple of weeks until she could return home. She missed the freedom of not being watched and doing whatever she wanted. But she had to admit that it felt nice to have someone in her life who was genuinely concerned for her safety, even if he had treated her roughly.
There wasn't much to occupy her time while living in the boarding house. It was a dull life for a single woman in this town. She'd have to figure out something to do. She could shop, but as there were only two general stores in town, shopping would be brief. She could go for short walks, but there weren't any pathways or walking trails like there were at home. If she went for a walk around Forest Hills, she'd be done in fifty minutes, even if she took her time. She could read, and although there were quite a few books downstairs to choose from, most were not to her taste. She could write her stories, and Kenna needed to look like she was doing the job she had said she was here to do, so writing would occupy a couple of hours each day. Maybe she could compile her stories into a book when she got home.
Even riding Arwen around close to town would be considered improper, and it was pointless. Everyone here was constantly busy performing the necessary tasks of everyday living. Everything was done by hand, so even basic survival took a lot of time and effort. Kenna didn't have to worry about that. She had enough money to survive. There was nothing she really had to do.
It would be different for a young woman who lived at home with her parents or who was married. There was always cooking, cleaning, and general maintenance to attend to in a household. But she was here alone and with no purpose other than waiting to go home. It would be a challenge to get through the next week as she didn't like the idea of sitting around doing nothing.
She heard the distant clatter of dishes and realized she would miss breakfast if she didn't get downstairs quickly. She freshened up and got dressed in record time then hurried downstairs.
When she arrived in the dining room, there were already empty dishes on the sideboard, and the room was emptying quickly. Breakfast was always a fast meal as most residents had business to attend to and were anxious to start their day.
She sat down at her usual table. Pauline saw her and brought her over a plate and a coffee. "Can you stick around until I'm done with these folks?" She indicated the remaining guests with a tilt of her head. "I'd like us to have a quick chat."
"Sure, I'm not in a hurry this morning," Kenna said.
Pauline nodded and went back to collecting dishes and cleaning up the kitchen.
Kenna chewed on a small piece of bread and wondered what the "quick chat" would be about. Was Pauline going to kick her out of the boarding house for acting inappropriately? Had the sheriff told her how Kenna had reacted to him last night? Did he think she was too forward and behaved like a girl from the saloon? She felt herself getting nervous and tried to calm down as she considered what to do if that happened. She had to be logical.
Actually, it wouldn't be that bad. She could go to the general store and stock up on food and supplies, then head to the base and stay there if she had to. Kenna knew that Barrett had lived there full time, rather than staying in town. She would be alone, but there were movies to watch, and maybe she could even talk to some of her co-workers back at the lab over the computer. She might be allowed to email her personal friends and surf the net. It may not be a bad idea, no matter what Pauline wanted to discuss. At least she'd have something to do other than worry about her behavior being scrutinized by people she barely knew. Her employers wouldn't be happy. Until the portal was up and running, the lab couldn't send her anything, so they wanted her to stay in town and watch for Barrett.
And she would miss the sheriff. Would she have enough time to get to know him better? This was a difficult situation. She wanted to go home, but she knew the more time she spent with him, the more she would want to stay. Would he want her to stay? Should she wait to see if the word marriage came up in their conversations? In this century, "friends with benefits" wasn't a thing. If she had a relationship like that here, her reputation would be ruined and she'd have to live in a room over one of the saloons in town. She knew she wanted more—a real relationship where she felt wanted and valued by her man.
She had finished her breakfast and her first cup of coffee by the time Pauline walked over to her with the coffee pot. She sat down and poured Kenna a refill then filled h
er own cup. "Thanks for waitin' for me," she said with a smile.
Kenna returned her smile. "No problem. What's on your mind?"
"I just wanted to say sorry for being annoyed with you. You're a boarder here, and what you do on your own time is none of my business. You've paid your room and board for the next month, so I ain't got no quarrel with you. I was just worried about you since you're new in town." She looked remorseful.
"No need to apologize for caring about my welfare. I know I do things that aren't proper for a young lady," Kenna said as she thoughtfully took a sip of her coffee and then a deep breath. "I was raised by my father, and he treated me like a son. I learned to ride, shoot, and camp outdoors at a young age. I'm just doing what comes naturally for me. But I know it must seem strange to you."
Pauline's expression softened, and she smiled warmly. "Well, that makes sense. I thought maybe you had a man you were stayin' with or something."
Kenna laughed. "No. My exciting evening was with my horse and a nice warm campfire. I wouldn't spend the night with a man unless I were married to him." She thought this sounded like a good thing to say to stop any gossip. If she was going to get to know the sheriff better, she didn't want him thinking she was interested in another man.
"That's good to hear, Kenna. But try not to go riding by yourself again. Folks will start to talk, and that could make your future in this town difficult," she said, sounding concerned.
"I can't promise that I won't go riding, but I'll do my best not to stay out all night again."
Kenna was pleased when Pauline seemed to accept her explanation.
"Well, all righty then. I won't worry so much now that I know how you was raised." She smiled at Kenna again and took a sip of hot coffee. Then a worried look came over her face. "I did want to warn you about something else. A lot of railroad men are coming to town for some kind of meeting. Some are bringing their wives and are thinking of settling here. This boarding house is going to be busy after tomorrow and I ain't going to have much time to chat about anything. I'm a little worried about being able to keep up, actually. I thought I'd warn you that you'll be sharin' a table with a whole lot of strangers for the next few weeks and I'll be slower getting the meals out."
This was the way to alleviate her boredom! "Can I help? I have to write for a couple hours a day, but other than that, I have nothing else to do. To be honest, I'll be bored if I don't find something to keep me busy. That's why I got a horse and went for a long ride," Kenna explained.
"Sorry, Kenna, I can't really afford a helper. If I can do this on my own, I might be able to pay off the bank and own this house free and clear with the extra cash."
"I'm not interested in money. I get paid well enough for my writing. I just need something to keep me busy until I go back east. I can't cook, but I'd like to learn. I do like cleaning and keeping a home organized. I've never done laundry, to be honest, but I'm sure I could learn that too."
"Yer serious, ain't ya?"
Kenna grinned. "Yes, teach me how to cook and do laundry and take care of this house, and I'll consider us even. I'll have to do my writing in the morning, and I can't promise you every day, but I can help you with lunch and supper most days."
"Well, all righty then! I'll sure appreciate the help whenever you want to pitch in."
Kenna was so relieved that she'd found something to do. Not only would it give her a taste of what day-to-day life was like as a woman in the Old West, but it would also give her something to write about.
They got up from the table, and Kenna followed Pauline to the kitchen to begin her new job.
6
Waiting
As Kenna finished preparing the first meal in her new line of work, hungry customers began streaming into the dining room for lunch. Her stomach growled with hunger, and she realized she wouldn't be eating anything until the guests were satisfied. That would be at least another hour and a half! She wondered if she would last that long as she stirred the thick, delicious stew on the top of the stove.
Thankfully, it had rained all morning, bringing in a cool breeze from the north, but the humidity still combined with the enormous amount of heat emitting from the wood stove to make the kitchen suffocating. Kenna wiped at her brow as Pauline instructed her to start filling plates before she left to serve her guests. The dining room was always full at lunch and dinner. Breakfast was usually quiet as it was just the boarders and a few other regulars, but the boarding house was only half-full and that would change in the next day or two.
Before Kenna knew it, lunch was over. She'd been so busy filling plates, making coffee and doing dishes that the time flew by. She heard familiar footsteps coming behind her as she bent over the sink. She turned around and looked up at those deep-blue eyes and very kissable lips.
"I see you're finally actin' like a proper young lady," the sheriff said as he smiled down at her. "Our discussion last night must have worked."
She smiled. "Why did I know you were going to say that? I'm just helping Pauline out for a while. I like to keep busy." She wanted him to offer his arm and take her for a walk or maybe suggest that they have lunch together.
"Well, that's mighty kind of you. Pauline's been worried about trying to handle a full house by herself." He shook his head. "I never thought you'd be the one to help her, though."
"Why? You think I don't know how to cook and take care of a house?" she teased.
"I've actually pondered that. I figured you probably had servants and such back east. You don't seem like the domestic type." He wasn't smiling, and she couldn't tell if he was teasing or not.
"Thanks for your confidence in my abilities as a housekeeper, Sheriff." She said it sarcastically but with a small smile. It had been a good idea to volunteer for this job!
He looked at her with approval as he brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. "Are you helping with dinner tonight?"
"Yes, and because some of the new boarders will be arriving tomorrow and Pauline wants to get the rooms ready, I'll be busy."
"All right, I'll wait for you to finish up, and then we can go for a walk and get some air."
"Okay. As long as it's just a walk and not another discussion!" Kenna said with raised eyebrows. Her rear end was still sore from last night. It had been uncomfortable to sit down during breakfast.
"No discussion needed tonight. Just a walk and a friendly conversation." He winked at her as he turned and walked out of the kitchen.
She sighed happily and went back to her sink full of dishes. As she scrubbed, she was admittedly surprised that she had such positive feelings for a man who had hurt her the night before. Was she making excuses for his behavior just because he was so handsome? Men who looked like Jack had never been attracted to her back home. Was she willing to allow him to hurt her so she could be with him? She understood it was the only way he knew to keep her safe. No one had ever been so concerned about her safety—other than her parents, of course. As a young woman alone in the world, his concern for her welfare drew her to him even more than his appearance did. She knew from his reputation as sheriff that he was more than able to keep her safe. His concern for her would be backed up by his actions.
Kenna worked hard all afternoon helping Pauline get ready for the new guests. As she learned how to bake sugar cookies, she thought about how she would never bake cookies at home because, living by herself, she'd eat them all. Her tendency to gain weight made her constantly aware of everything consumed. With her job consisting of sitting in a lab all day mostly doing paperwork, the pounds could pile up quickly if she weren't careful. She dreaded getting on her bathroom scale every morning. If she was down a pound or two, it was a good day, but if she gained—not so good. In this century, everything was done by hand, and there was no time to snack between meals. Gaining weight with this lifestyle wouldn't be a problem. She smiled to herself, thinking that if she stayed here, she would never have to weigh herself again! No more counting calories. No more rushing to the gym after work. I
t was almost worth staying here just for that!
The preparations for the new arrivals were finished by the time the two women started cooking dinner. They had accomplished more that afternoon than expected, and Pauline let Kenna know that she was pleased with her new helper. Kenna had worked at breakneck speed all afternoon so she wouldn't miss going for a walk with the sheriff.
When dinner was over and the dishwashing had begun, Kenna was surprised at how tired she felt. The only thing that kept her going was thinking about those blue eyes looking down at her and a possible kiss… and maybe more. Her breath caught in her throat at that thought. She could almost feel his hands on her.
As she was daydreaming, the familiar footsteps came up behind her. "Almost done?" he asked in his deep growl.
"Yes, I'll be ready to go in an hour or so," she said as she turned around and looked up at the breathtakingly handsome man who looked down at her.
"All right, I'll be on the porch. Come get me when you're done." No smile.
"Okay." She turned around and picked up her washing speed considerably. No more daydreaming.
Pauline came into the kitchen with the last of the dishes from the dining room, and they worked together to finish them up quickly. Kenna went out to the porch to find the sheriff as promised, but he was nowhere to be seen. Disappointment washed over her. She went back in to eat with Pauline.
Sheriff's Desire: Time-Travel (Escape To The Wild West Book 1) Page 5