Stay With Me

by Rita Hestand

  It was raw and primitive moment between them, their breathing became labored, sweat poured over their bodies, as he massaged her butt gently with his hands. "You have a beautiful backside." He murmured.

  "You like it?" her eyes were half closed with ecstasy as the climax came unannounced. She leaned back and his head dipped to kiss her breasts once more. She moaned the sweet pleasure he gave her. The sweet feel of his lips on her nipples made the climax that much more intimate, she clawed his back, and when he came up from her breasts his eyes devoured her.

  "You're so beautiful when we make love." He told her.

  "I please you?" she murmured as the sensations ebbed.

  "More than you'll ever know. I've never known a more beautiful woman. Not just your body, but your heart." He grinned. "But honey we better get back."

  She leaned against him a moment, "when can we be together again?" she murmured, as she pushed him up against the shed wall brought his shaft into her sweetness and began kissing his nipples one at a time softly with her lips, playing with them, until he was again erect and pumping her like a wild mustang. His fingers captured her nipples and brought them to his lips as he kissed and laved them over and over. He'd never thought of sex being so fulfilling as now. She laid all the rules aside and was as eager as he to explore and love on him. She moaned the ecstasy of this moment as he worked her. Her breathing was magnified, as the orgasm began to spread through her, and he kissed her breasts as she leaned back and let him have his fill of her. His tongue flicked against the edge of her nipples, teasing her with pleasure. She moaned softly, as she grabbed his butt and pulled him ever closer to her.

  "Oh yes, my love, love me, I am yours." She encouraged.

  Nothing was as beautiful as the expression on her face as she opened herself to him. It excited him, thrilled him and he could not get enough of her. The smell of their sex permeated the air, as her body swayed and twisted, and her mouth took on a sensual curve. When the orgasm subsided, he took his fingers and gently rubbed her core. She was raw but overly stimulated. She tasted the sweat from his body, sucking on his shoulder, his neck, his ear, as his fingers delighted her and made her dance upon him. Long after the aftermath of the climax, he held and kissed her so.

  Her lips were raw, her breasts were raw, and she reveled in his need of her. She never complained but urged him further to explore and kiss every part of her.

  "I love you more than anything in my life," she whispered for his ears alone. "We should behave until the wedding. But after the wedding, I want you in a bed, all to myself."

  "You got it." He smiled.

  He held her there for a long time, as she cuddled into him now and just relaxed.

  "You are my lady," he told her firmly.

  "Yes!" she cried. "And you are my man!"

  "I don't know about you, but I'm worn out." He told her with a soft chuckle.

  "I must keep you that way, so you don't look at another woman," she chuckled.

  "Sweetheart after loving you I couldn't handle another woman if I wanted to, which I don't. You'll have no problem with that as long as you keep loving me with all your heart." He told her.

  "You are right, we should get back now. And I will always love you with my heart. Wherever we are, and you want me, I am yours." She sighed contentedly.

  "I like that. Your right, we better get dressed and put some of this stuff in the wagon, so it looks like we did a little bit of work at least."

  She nodded with a giggle.

  "We aren't fooling them, you know," she teased.

  He kissed her lips, put her dress on her, then got dressed himself.

  They loaded the wagon and headed back.

  It was dinner time by the time they drove into the yard.

  Chapter Twenty

  Charlie came out to see what he'd brought.

  Trying to look industrious, Clay had loaded the wagon nearly full of stuff quickly.

  The men unloaded the wagon and Willa went inside to set the table for supper.

  "Did you two enjoy your afternoon?" Cora smiled as though she knew exactly what they had done.

  "Yes, very much, thank you for watching Elan." She smiled.

  Cora chuckled. "We had fun too." Cora told her.

  At the supper table, Charlie told them he put the old place up for sale.

  He looked a bit aggravated, "Jim said Laura thought Indians did it. And it sounded as though Laura knew more about the burning than Jim did."

  "You think she did it?" Clay's brows knitted.

  Charlie sighed. "It ain't right to accuse when you got no proof, but I'd bet my last dollar it was her, or she put someone up to it."

  "I'm inclined to agree with you dad. Aside from Ed, she's the most likely. And even if she didn't do it herself, she could have had it done."

  "Does she hate me that much?" Willa cried.

  "Not you personally, but she hates all Indians." Clay told her. "She's been hating so long, she can't stop."

  "She is young, it is sad when someone hates that much, and is consumed with it. She has a life to lead, instead she wastes her life with hate." Willa shook her head.

  "I'm just glad you weren't there when it happened." Cora told them.

  "Those men, that attacked Willa at the pond, did you know them Clay?" Charlie asked.

  "No, I figure they were someone's hands or something. They looked like the ranching type." Clay said.

  "If they find that grave there could be some problems. Especially since I've put it up for sale.

  "I know a way to disguise it, so no one will bother it." Willa told them. "We must dig him up and pound the ground solid once more. Then, we shall make it look as though wolves had him."

  "You can do that?"

  "Yes, it is a trick the Indian has done many times to fool the white man."

  "Then we better tend to that tomorrow." Clay told her.

  "It was our property they were on, Dad. Plus, one of them definitely tried to attack Willa. I was merely defending her and Elan, when he pulled the gun. But if someone wanted to raise hell about it, I could be in some trouble."

  "They will not accuse you. I promise." Willa told him.

  "Alright. You'll have to show us how."

  "Good." She smiled; glad they had solved one problem.

  "I don't doubt you son. Just trying to put it all together. Strange that it happened on the same day as the fire, isn't it?"

  "Yeah, it is."

  "Would you know the man if you saw him again?"

  "Probably."

  "Well, we won't worry with it, as you say, the guilty usually end up telling on themselves."

  "I figure it that way too." Clay nodded. "If it is Laura behind it, do you think she'll try something again?"

  "Maybe when she finds out you and Willa are married. You know her, she'll find out soon enough."

  "How about Ed, what if he done it."

  "I don't know. I just don't know. It will be interesting to see who wants to buy the place though." Charlie told him. "No matter what happens, Clay, I want you armed at all times, and I'll do the same. I want us to pay attention to this place and if anyone suspicious comes around we'll be able to handle things. Once you two are married and the preacher leaves, the news will spread all over that there were two weddings out here. People will put it together and then the fur will fly."

  "I hope you are wrong about all this," Cora cried.

  "So, do I, sweetheart, so do I." Charlie grabbed her hand at the table. "But we gotta be prepared just in case."

  As they all sat out on the porch that evening, Cora looked at Charlie, "How long ago did Laura's mother die?"

  "About fifteen years ago, if I recall, just before the Indians were rounded up and put on the reservations. They lived in that mansion on the south hill. And the Indians came and killed her mother and made a mess of things. She wasn't that old at the time, died right there in her arms. I know something like that is hard to bear, but she's had enough time to get over it."
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br />   "That's a long time to hate, isn't it?"

  "Yep, it is. Some people let hate consume them."

  Willa hung her head, "She wants to see me dead, me and Elan. She told me so."

  "When?" Clay demanded his glance narrowing on her now.

  Willa sighed and looked at him and Charlie. "Not long after I first came. I was in the garden and she came up to me. She let me know she hated me, and all Indians. She cares for you Clay, and she hates me." Willa sighed sadly.

  "She's marrying the that jack dandy new lawyer in town. The say his family has money." Cora told her.

  "Perhaps, but she loves Clay." Willa's eyes filled with tears. "Or thinks she does."

  "I wish I'd known when she said this." Clay told her.

  "I do not know if it was her that burnt the cabin. I only know she hates." Willa told him. "And a woman can't really love with that much hate in her heart."

  Cora nodded, "You're right about that, Willa."

  "I doubt she's ever loved anything in a long time." Clay told her.

  "Well," Cora suddenly smiled, "I don't know who did it, but I can tell you I'm almost happy they did."

  Charlie looked at her with surprise, "Why?"

  "It brought us all together as a family. That's why." She smiled at him. "And I like that."

  He chuckled, "I never considered that, but I guess you're right."

  "What would be the worst thing anyone could do to you?" Cora asked Willa.

  "I don't know, harm Elan, or any of you!" she said.

  "Well, I hate to say this, but she won't kill Clay, if she loves him, or thinks she does, and Charlie and I don't really count for much in her books. It's Elan we have to protect, for she will figure this out and start planning something, if it's her."

  "I hadn't thought of that, but you are right." Willa's eyes widened. "How could a woman hurt a child?"

  "It wouldn't be hard, she don't think of him as a child, she thinks of him as an Indian. That's how!"

  Clay nodded slowly, "You're right Cora. Then someone has to be around Elan at all times, preferably two of us at a time."

  "I agree," Willa looked completely shocked now. She glanced over to see Elan sleeping on his blanket. "He is such an innocent."

  Charlie nodded, "Yeah, but we got to think like the enemy, if we want to put a stop to this."

  They stared at the baby who looked so sweet in his slumber.

  "Dad, did you report our place burning down to the Sheriff?"

  "No, I didn't bother. I'm sure he knows though."

  "Maybe we should have."

  "Why, everyone in town knows about it. He didn't come out to check on it as far as we know."

  "He's a good man, dad. He'd be fair."

  "Leave it son, it won't do any good. Tomorrow we should go get your mother's and Willa's father's bodies and bury them here. Then the next day we can take Willa out to the place where you buried that other fella."

  "I just got another idea." Clay told him.

  "Oh, what's that?"

  "Bring him over too. Bury him in the cemetery here on Cora's place. If anyone asked, she can tell them that some old man came by wanting water and keeled over on her place. Something like that anyway."

  "You think that's better?" Clay asked, twisting his head.

  "Well son, the more innocent you look the better. When you hide something, it usually has a way of showing up later. We can take anything that was his and say it was on him when he died. Ain't nobody could prove what he died of by now?"

  "If you say so." Clay nodded.

  "Good. We can take Elan with us tomorrow. I don't like you two beauties being here alone. Too many things can happen."

  "You're expecting some trouble, aren't you Charlie?" Cora eyed him. "Well, you don't have to worry about us. I've been taking care of myself for some time, and I certainly know how to use my shotgun."

  "Just want to be ready for it, that's all."

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Clay found it bothersome digging up his mother's grave. She'd been in the ground a long time and Clay couldn't quite get rid of the lump in his throat. He looked at his father and saw the same expression. It wasn't something either could talk about. But it had to be done. Because when the place sold no telling what would be done with the small cemetery.

  But it got more complicated since it had been so long since his mother died, the box had rotted and there was nothing, but bones left.

  "What do we do now, Dad?" Clay looked at the bones and a tear slipped down his cheek.

  Charlie grimaced and it looked as though his face might crack from the frown. "We wrap her good and bury her, there ain't nothing left to rot now. So, we'll wrap her as good as we can and bury her as fast as we can."

  Clay nodded.

  It was not a good day.

  After they meticulously wrapped what was left of his mother, Clay laid her in the wagon. Willa's father was still not decayed completely so there was no problem with that.

  Wiping the sweat away Charlie looked at Clay, "Now show me where you buried that man."

  Clay took him out to the place, and they dug him up. The grave hadn't been bothered. Willa told them how to fix the grave, so it no longer looked like one, it took a while, but they got it done. By the time they had the three bodies in the wagon it was time to go home.

  "I'm sorry we had to do this son, but I didn't think it was a good idea to leave them there."

  Clay nodded, "I know, and you're right. I wouldn't want us living one place and her buried somewhere else. I’m glad Cora didn't mind. I think it pleased Willa to include her father."

  "Cora understood, and the cemetery there is much nicer. Cora said now Sam would have some company. Sam liked your mother; he just didn't have any use for me." Charlie chuckled.

  "I'll just be glad when we get them settled once more." Clay told him.

  They looked across the place and both of them sighed a bit. It was hard to say goodbye to the land they'd worked so long and hard on. But the move would be good, and they both agreed.

  Clay threw a blanket over the bodies and they pulled out to go home.

  Ed came up to them just then. "Charlie, what's goin' on?"

  Charlie glanced at Ed as Clay squirmed a bit on the seat.

  "Not much." Charlie replied casually.

  Clay mused how his father could put on the smoothest face when in a bind.

  "Heard you're selling the place. Is that right?" Ed twisted his head and waited for Charlie to answer.

  "Yeah, it is." Charlie noticed Ed didn't say a word about the fire. But his eyes kept drifting to the back of the wagon.

  "What are you carrying in the wagon?"

  "We're moving Ma over to Cora's place." Clay answered with a husky voice.

  "Looks like you got more than Ma in there," Ed moved closer to the wagon.

  "Willa's dad!" he told him.

  "Oh, so you're moving to Cora's?" Ed asked. "For good?"

  "Word gets around, doesn't it, Ed?" Charlie bit his lip to sound neighborly. "You know as well as I that we're getting married."

  "Ain't no secrets in these parts and you know it. You also know I'm interested in buyin' the place. Are you interested in selling to me?" Ed asked eyeing Charlie now.

  "I'll sell to anyone who agrees to the stipulation, Ed." Charlie said matter-of-factly.

  "What stipulation?" Ed's brow raised a notch.

  "The water rights have to be shared with the community. It's the one and only stipulation. Now are you still interested."

  "You put that in a contract or something?" Ed asked a bit surprised he thought of it.

  "I did."

  "How much are you selling for?"

  "I figure ten thousand."

  Ed scratched his chin. "I sure could use your land and water." He glance back at the ashes of the house and turned to look at Charlie once more. "But the house ain't on it now more," Ed considered. "Got any idea who burnt you out, Charlie?"

  "I got some ideas, but no proof."
Charlie cleared his throat.

  "It weren't me Charlie. I'd tell you straight out, if I'd done it."

  Charlie shot him a quick glance

  "Yeah, I guess you would Ed."

  "You marryin' the widow Williams to get a better place, are you?"

  "Dammit Ed, don't start nothin'. Cora and I have known each other forever. You know that, and it's been some years since our spouses died. I was sort of hopin' people would understand two lonely people comin' together. Ain't no shame in marryin' Ed. Maybe you should consider it. Might relieve some of your orneriness." Charlie told him, in a strained voice.

  "Sarah is the only woman I ever loved, Charlie, you know that."

  "Even after twenty years?" Charlie twisted his head.

  Charlie eyed Ed for a long moment. "I never gave it much thought Ed, but your Sarah's been gone twenty years now. Don't you get a bit lonely?"

  "No, I don't. I got one son to help me run my place, ain't got time to be lonely."

  "Well, if you weren't so stingy, you could hire some help."

  "We do alright."

  "Well, I give you this, you are a hard worker Ed. But a wife might improve your onry disposition." Charlie quipped.

  For a long moment Ed studied him, then nodded as though suddenly the fight was over with him. "Guess you didn't hear, not long after your place burnt down, someone set fire to my hay field." Ed told him.

  Charlie's mouth flew open and he glanced at Clay. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear. You know who done it?"

  "Nope, thought at first those Indians might have done it, but it was someone in a wagon, no Indian tracks at all around the place."

  "A wagon huh?"

  "My son Burt is still lookin' for the one that done it. Don't make no sense to me. 'Course you know the people in town has always been envious of mine and your places. I got to where I don't trust none of the people in town much, not even Laura and her dad."

  "How's Milburn doing?" Charlie asked, curious about Laura's dad all of a sudden.

  "The onry ole cuss still got a chip on his shoulder. He thinks the Indians burnt you out."

  "No, they didn't. in fact, all we found was wagon tracks too."

  Ed stared, his mouth flew open. "Them Indians ain't been back?"