Pioneer Passion (25 page)

Her legs turned to mush and the grandfather
clock in the foyer chimed ten times before she opened her eyes. She
blinked and wanted so not to blush but she knew she failed when she
felt heat rise in her face and travel down the length of her again.
However, she couldn’t close her eyes, for she was transfixed with
his powerful body. But Guy was wrong, his body wasn’t pleasant, it
was magnificent! Feeling a glorious flow of passion deep in her
womanhood, she licked her dry lips, impatient for their love making
to commence.

Her husband was breathing laboriously and she
was having trouble breathing herself. She trembled in his arms,
feeling the fast beating of her heart and she wondered if it would
burst. She felt his heart was beating at its own rapid pace as he
picked her up, and laid her on the bed. Her eyes boldly traveled
over him and her inquiring gaze seemed to heighten his arousal and
he moaned as if he were in pain. Without further hesitation, he
removed the sheer gown from her body and blended himself to her
form. He whispered that she was more beautiful than he remembered,
if possible.

Guy kissed her nose, sweet mouth, and
traveled down to a breast, and Rusty felt it pearl under his warm
lips. Not content with a delicate lobe he slid his hot, wet mouth
down to a taut little ruby, licking, sucking and groaning. After
paying homage to her flat belly and inside her tender thighs, he
entered her quickly, and she was ready for him.

Rusty did not close her eyes, she wanted to
see the love in his eyes which grew luminous; his pupils dilated
instantly, practically filling the irises when he climaxed with a
grunt. She was not far behind and felt a kaleidoscope explosion and
he stayed content in her hot, wet embrace for many minutes. He
smiled, and she gave him rewarded with a satisfied grin. He ran his
tongue lightly over her swollen lips, and kissed her deeply. Her
small tongue met his willingly and her heart nearly flipped
over.

“I crave to touch you everywhere, you smell
so enticing. Like roses and yourself.” His voice came out grainy as
he flicked his hot tongue lightly on her neck, claiming her skin
tasted salty. Not content, he continued on and suckled the velvety
hardness of her nipple, then nipped it playfully with his
teeth.

His hands worked magic over her body in
places Rusty never knew could feel so wonderful and she gasped with
delight. Her nerve endings became raw, sending a rush of desire to
the very core of her being. Her body quaked with renewed desire as
his fingers stoked the nub of her desire. Rusty’s body was consumed
by a slow delicious burn and she cried out with pleasure. She
wantonly arched her body against his, she wanted, again, for Guy to
bury his hardness inside her softness. Her wonderful husband made
sweet passionate love to her twice more; these times in a very slow
and deliberate manner.

Wonderful new feelings boggled her mind and
it pleaded, Pleeease, no more. But her heart begged, nooo, please
more. Nooo...God! Don’t stop!

Rusty fell asleep with her nipples tingling
knowing that her love for him knew no bounds.

On her journey back home, Rusty replayed in
her mind the blissful last two days, the tearful good-byes that
were said, coupled with many pledges making her feel a bit sad to
leave the family she was so welcomed into and their generosity.

Butterscotch is yours my dear and the mare
will be delivered with the cattle, stated Hal. She and Guy promised
to return for Skye’s wedding next year, after Robert and Kyle
graduated from law school. Susan bid farewell to her mother, Martha
with mixed emotions. Oh, mama, I’m happy for the chance for a new
life, but sad because I’ll miss you, her friend wept. Martha
insisted her daughter was very lucky to have a chance to be
something other than a servant. I’ll also return next year mama
with Rusty for the wedding, Susan promised. Claire made Guy promise
that he’d treat his wife with love and respect, the way Hal had
always treated her. Guy gave his word with a hug. Hal declared for
the tenth time his cattle would arrive in two months and Guy shook
his father’s hand warmly.

She smiled secretly knowing that Guy’s father
was now proud of her husband. He had finally earned Hal’s
respect.

Guy was glad to be back on his own ranch and
happy to see that the sign he ordered before leaving had arrived
and been erected. The big carved letters of the oak plank hung with
pride, proclaiming the ranch’s name. Saddle Sore Ranch. He was also
relieved that his foreman had run the place with only minor
problems. He learned that a few head of longhorns were missing and
that Nick handled the situation by tracking the rustlers for a few
miles until the trail went cold. Although pleased with the young
man, Guy wanted to check things himself, after they all settled
in.

Later that afternoon, he tried to explain to
his angry wife why it was necessary for him to go out on the range.
Not only did he have to do some tracking, to look for clues before
the sun went down or rain washed them away, but he also wanted to
be with his men in case the rustlers returned. Rusty refused to see
it his way and she asked him if a few head of cows were more
important than their first night home? The argument heated and he
said things he would regret, but didn’t Rusty realize he would much
rather spend the night next to her warm body than out on a cold
range? He also had a responsibility to his men, he informed her
flatly.

“One never lets others do things one is
capable of doing himself.” This was his ranch and his first duty
was to see everything ran with as few problems as possible. He
slapped his hat on his head, grumbling about how unreasonable women
were and then left.

Rusty voiced her frustrations even thought he
was out of hearing distance. “You care more about those stupid cows
than me. I hope you find their company fitting!” But, as the
shadows of the night crept into her lonely room, she regretted some
of the things she said to Guy. She busied herself unpacking her new
wardrobe and moved her personal things from her old room into her
husband’s big bedroom but wondered where she’d wear all those fancy
dresses. Not able to refuse the Strong’s generosity, she was glad
she insisted on a few plain cotton dresses, since Guy forbid her to
wear her boy’s apparel.

“Humph!” she scoffed. “We’ll see about that
because I won’t work my field in a darn dress!”

All the while Rusty was unpacking, she knew
she had been unreasonable; of course Guy had to look after the
missing cattle. Scott had done his best to track them but he wasn’t
the tracker her husband was. When would she learn to control her
temper? She pouted, looked into the oval mirror and reprimanded
herself. “You dumb mutton-head. You acted like a fish wife and you
are married less than a week.” She saw her hot tears make shiny
tracks down her cheeks. It was a cold and empty bed that welcomed
her that night. Hugging her pillow she fell into an exhausted sleep
awaking well past dawn.

The early morning sun bleached the inky sky,
promising a sunny day; Rusty’s feelings were not as bright as the
new day. Her argument with Guy taxed her physically as well as
emotionally making her depressed. With a weary, self-pitying sigh,
she joined Susan and ate a light breakfast, listening to the
rambling voice of the cook.

Rusty showed Susan her ruined plot of land,
and said more for her own benefit than her friend’s. “I’ll be
replanting, and that’s a promise I plan to keep, too!”

“I’ll be looking forward to taste some of
those juicy fruits you’ve raved about,” declared Susan. “And I’m
also curious about the young cowboy, err, Nick, how long has he
worked here? He’s kinda cute, don’t’cha think? When he smiled at
me, his beautiful green eyes sparkling, it took all my strength to
smile back.”

Susan spoke candidly and Rusty appreciated
the trust her friend gave but she wasn’t happy. What could she say
about her brother without lying too much? She avoided Susan’s eyes
when she spoke. “I don’t know very much about Nick. He came to work
for Guy one week before we left to visit his family. He seems like
a nice boy,” her voice cracked. Shucks. All these untruths are
strangling her. Now she was not being honest with her best
friend.

Once again Rusty played over in her mind her
conversation with Scott and her efforts to convince him to disclose
the truth. She had only managed a few words with him before he rode
out with Guy. He claimed he needed more time to prove himself and
wanted to build a good friendship with his boss, so that when he
confessed, his job wouldn’t be at stake. His reason might be
logical as far as her brother was concerned, but she still wished
he’d come clean. It was like pushing a boulder uphill, so she put
that problem in the back of her mind for now.

“Susan,” she asked as she hugged herself. “Do
you know today’s date?”

“I think it is December nineteenth. Yes, I’m
sure. Why?”

Rusty shrugged, “Just curious. No
reason.”

“Rusty, you can tell me to mind my own
business but I suspect you’re not being truthful with me. I know
you tried to sound cheerful, but your voice is laced with sadness,
and see you’re trying to withhold tears. You know I’m here for you.
You just seem to be too remorseful for someone whose husband will
be back soon. And the date must mean something.”

Rusty shrugged. “It did and I appreciate your
concern but I’m too withdrawn to be good company, so let’s go back
to the house. I’m sure I’ll be better company tomorrow.” She gave
Susan a forced smile and the girl accepted it, as would any good
friend.

Happy belated Birthday, she wished
herself.

Chapter Twenty-Five

When Guy and the ranch hands didn’t come home
that night, Rusty began to worry. If her husband returned unharmed,
she vowed be the perfect, agreeable wife. A shiver ran up her spine
thinking he might be lying somewhere wounded by one of the
rustlers. All night, she prayed for his safe return.

Late the next afternoon, Rusty leapt with joy
when she saw her haggard looking husband swing out of the saddle.
Guy and one of his men rode into the yard and he looked as though
he hadn’t sleep at all for the last two nights. She also noticed
the sour look on his rugged face. The urge to run up to him and
throw her arms around him, begging forgiveness, was there; but she
feared he’d be still annoyed at her, so she hesitated lest he
reject her. And to her disbelief, that exactly what he did. He rode
off without so much as “howdy!”

Rusty, stood with her mouth open feeling so
rejected and she believed him to be still mad at her. Assuming that
he shunned her because of a stupid fight; she slammed the front
door and went into her room to sulk. “Bah! The hell with being
perfect!” she grumbled.

You were only fooling yourself if you thought
you could be dutiful, egged her conscience. Your right, she agreed
with herself. I might as well throw my promises out the window.

A few minutes lapsed when she heard a light
tap on the door.

“Come in!” she called, wiping the wetness
from her eyes.

“Sorry to disturb you Rusty,” said Susan. But
I believe you should know why Guy rushed off in such haste
before.”

She shrugged with indifference pretending she
cared less and when Susan rolled her eyes she sighed. She knew
Susan loved her, even thought she had a short fuse.

“Look,” her friend came right to the point.
“Haystack was shot and Guy had to see the marshal to report that
the rustlers had hit again, so---”

“Oh, no, they didn’t strike again! And
Haystack, how bad is he?” Rusty asked anxiously.

“I didn’t know he was injured.” This
information rattled her and she felt foolish over her childish
behavior and jumping to the wrong conclusion.

Maybe Guy is right, I’m still a kid.

She plopped onto the bed; she began to shake
as the fearful images plagued her mind. Her body shuddered;
terrible regrets assaulted her because the next time it might be
Guy or Scott. And, it might be more serious. She felt Susan’s arms
around her, trying to convince her that Haystacks’ injury was
minor.

“He’s fine and he even boasted that it would
take more than a bullet to take him down and I have to agree with
the huge man. He’s so big. I had to crane my neck just to see his
large chest. I’m glad he’s a friend,” Susan commented with a
smile.

“I feel like an addle-brained fool,” Rusty
confessed to the floor, then murmured her thanks. She was trying to
damn up the flow of tears that were building up. After spending
four days in fear of losing him, she knew life would be impossible
without her cowboy. The only thing that would make her happiness
complete was to have his love in return. Oh, he lusted after her,
this she knew for a fact and that she pleased him in bed thrilled
her, but she was sure many women could do the same. It was his
heart she wanted and she prayed that someday he would feel the same
towards her.

Guy was sorry to leave his bride under such
conditions the other day. He hadn’t time to reflect on their heated
words because when he arrived on the range, the men informed him
that the rustlers had struck again, taking a dozen or so cattle and
slightly wounding one of the men. He had fumed over the latest hit
and the injury to a good man. Home now, Guy ordered the injured
ranch hand to have Mattie see to the wound; she had many home
remedies. It wasn’t serious but he didn’t want Haystacks to get an
infection.

Not giving a thought to his worried wife who
he had seen standing watching from the porch, he unsaddled
Blizzard, saddled a fresh horse swung onto his mount, and rode off
to see the marshal. He couldn’t tell by her expression if she was
still angry and he wasn’t sure what her reaction would be if he
approached her again with the news that he’d be gone again longer
than planned. And, he couldn’t take the time to explain or risk
another argument.