The Education of Madeline (23 page)

“Please…”

“Be quiet. You will speak when I tell you to.”

Somehow having Teague tell her what to do was natural. In the darkness of their bedroom, he was master, and she was his to command. It was right. It was meant to be.

“Do you want me to touch you anyplace else?” he asked silkily as his hands tickled her inner thighs.

“Yes.”

His thumbs brushed dangerously close to her nether lips. She had to exert all her concentration not to push up into his hands.

“Where, Maddie, girl? Where do you want me to touch you?”

“There, between my legs.”

His thumbs brushed her again. “Do you know what I call this? It's your cunt. Say it.”

“Cunt.” The word made her clench and throb that much harder. He was right. The anticipation was heightening her pleasure, right along with her master's words.

“Do you want me to lick, suck, and bite it?”

“Oh, God, yes,” she nearly sobbed.

“Tell me.”

Maddie took a deep breath. “I want you to lick, suck, and bite my cunt.”

“Mmmm, I think I will. You are so wet and ready, aren't you? I can smell you, Maddie.”

As one finger lightly trailed up and down her wetness, she waited patiently. He stopped, and she could hear him suck her juices off the tip.

“Delicious. After I taste this sweet cunt of yours, then do you know what I'm going to do?”

Madeline hoped she knew. She wanted it more than anything.

“I'm going to fuck you, dear sweet Maddie, until neither one of us can see straight. You will lay there and not move, do you hear me?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“Good girl. Now for my feast.”

His thumbs spread her lips wide, and he licked her from top to bottom—one long lick of his wide tongue that nearly made her scream. She just barely didn't jump a foot off the bed. Teague proceeded to lick, nibble, and suckle her with his tongue while one thumb slid in and out of her pussy, and the second thumb out of her other hole. It was incredible. It was indescribable.

He sucked her clit like he had her nipples and then bit and licked it again. His thumbs moved faster and faster as his mouth kept pace. Madeline felt an enormous orgasm building, and she rode along, happy to give Teague control, ready for an intensity she'd never felt before.

As the pleasure reached its crescendo, he put two fingers, along with his thumb, inside both holes and sucked her clit hard. She heard herself scream his name hoarsely as he held her down and prolonged her orgasm. Wave after wave tumbled over and down her body. His mouth kept pulling and pulling at her until she saw stars behind her eyes.

Just when she thought she would lose consciousness, his mouth was gone, and his cock filled her. Hard, fast, and deep. He slid in and out of her wetness easily. Her body clenched around him, hungry for more.

Madeline didn't think it was possible, but energy infused her again. She wanted to move with him, but she kept still as he pumped in and out, over and over, deeper, faster.

Oh, God, yes!

She reached another peak as he thrust inside her so deeply he touched her womb. She tumbled again and again, feeling his warm seed spilling inside her. Her body was slick with sweat, sliding against him as he stretched their pleasure out.

He rolled off her and lay beside her, breathing heavily. After a moment, he untied the sheets, releasing her from her binds. He pulled her against him, and she rested her head on his chest, giddy and more satisfied than she had ever thought possible.

“Teague?”

“Hmmm?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Maddie, girl.”

He kissed her gently, his tongue swirling with hers slowly, exquisitely. Then they slept in each other's arms.

T
he courtroom filled again. Neither a seat nor a space was available anywhere. Madeline had confidence that Elizabeth would present a solid defense, but still she was afraid. Afraid to lose all the wonderful things she had found with Teague.

He sat beside her, his big hand holding hers under the table, lending her the courage she needed.

Judge Montgomery walked in, and everyone sat.

“The same rules that applied yesterday apply today to everyone in this courtroom. Mouths shut and ears open.” He gestured for Elizabeth to proceed. “Whenever you're ready, Miss Mitchell.”

Elizabeth stood. “The defense calls Sheriff Jackson Webster.”

A low murmur arose from the spectators.

“Quiet!” Judge Montgomery yelled.

The sheriff made his way up to the witness stand and with his usual smirk sat down in the witness chair. After the clerk swore him in, Elizabeth began.

“Sheriff Webster, did you enter into an agreement with Teague O'Neal to pay him five hundred dollars to spy on and gather evidence against Madeline Brewster?”

“No, I didn't.” Jackson looked properly affronted.

“Did you and Judge Earl Martin conspire to siphon money from First Bank of Plum Creek and use that money for your own gain?” Elizabeth said as she walked toward the witness.

“Absolutely not!” Jackson's face flushed.

“According to records filed in Denver, you own over a hundred thousand acres of land hereabouts. How is it you can afford that on a sheriff's salary?” She pulled a sheaf of papers from behind her back and looked through it. “Defense exhibit A, your honor. Land sale records in the name of Jackson Ezra Webster. Seventeen sales in the past twelve months, totaling one hundred twenty-three thousand two hundred six dollars.”

The crowd gasped, and Judge Montgomery frowned them into silence. “Sheriff Webster?” he asked. “How do you explain this?”

“I didn't buy those properties. She made that stuff up.”

Madeline stopped herself from rolling her eyes.

“These are sealed by the deed office in Denver—very official, as far as I can tell.”

“Not mine,” Jackson said. “She's lying.”

Judge Montgomery hmphed. “Proceed, Miss Mitchell.”

She walked back to the defense table. “Can you also explain how you have six bank accounts in Denver alone with over five thousand dollars in each of them?”

Jackson's face was now bright red. “Why are you making up such lies about me?”

Elizabeth's eyebrows rose. “These are records from the six banks attesting to the fact that Jackson Ezra Webster deposited these funds over the past six months. I also have ledgers from the Plum Creek bank records from the past month, originals and forgeries, with funds missing in the exact amounts deposited into Mr. Webster's accounts. Defense exhibit B.”

She handed the papers to Judge Montgomery.

“I think this proves, your honor, that the missing funds from Plum Creek were not taken nor spent by Madeline Brewster. They were in Sheriff Webster's hands.”

“You're lying! Earl did all this! I didn't buy any of those properties! He did! It was him!” Webster jumped up and ran toward a very frightened Earl Martin, who cowered behind Matthew Worthington. The attorney looked completely shocked.

The marshals stopped Webster from actually hurting Earl, but the damage from his outburst was clear. The marshals backed Webster into a corner, where they bodily restrained him. The room lay in silence until Elizabeth spoke.

“No more questions, your honor. The defense now calls Isaiah Harper to the stand.”

Another murmur drifted through the crowd as the young black man entered the room and walked toward the witness chair on visibly shaking legs.

Elizabeth approached him with a smile after the swearing-in. “Mr. Harper, can you tell me what Sheriff Webster asked you to do?”

“The sheriff told me to spy on Mr. Teague and Miss Madeline and catch them up to no good, if'n you know what I mean,” he finished with a loud gulp.

“Did he offer to pay you?” she asked.

“No, ma'am. He told me he would fire my granddaddy and leave him out in the cold with no job and make sure no one would hire him again.” Isaiah seemed to be growing stronger as he spoke.

“Who is your granddaddy?”

“Orion. Mrs. Webster's servant.”

“Did you find any evidence that Madeline and Teague were up to no good?” Elizabeth asked.

“No, ma'am. Mr. Teague was nice and kind to me. Miss Madeline gave me a room, food, and a job when no one else would. Two good people there. I hated to spy on them. Just hated it.” He shook his head and frowned.

“Did you tell Sheriff Webster any falsehoods about what you saw?”

Isaiah grinned. “Yes, ma'am. I surely did. I told him some whoppers. It wasn't any of his business anyhow.”

“Thank you, Isaiah. No more questions, your honor.”

Matthew Worthington mumbled that he had no questions for the witness. His expression was that of a man kicked in the privates by a mule.

Elizabeth next called Judge Martin to the stand, but in the excitement, he seemed to have disappeared. Madeline hoped the marshals caught up with him before he could reach Wyoming.

Elizabeth recalled Mr. Cleeson and presented him with a bank record that indicated he had ten thousand dollars in Denver. He broke down in tears and sobbed about how they had bullied him into it. He wasted no time backstabbing Earl Martin and Jackson Webster, despite the clear evidence of his own involvement. Honor among thieves certainly wasn't holding true. More like rats deserting the sinking ship.

One by one, Elizabeth brought up witnesses to testify on behalf of Madeline and her kindness to them. People spoke of help during hard times, extensions on loans, and generosity that seemed to know no bounds. Candice tearily testified how she would have lost her store without Madeline's help.

As she heard herself praised and thanked, Madeline's faith in the town grew. It was heartening to know that not everyone thought her a bad person or an evil Black Widow.

As Elizabeth was about to call another witness, the judge held up his hand.

“Please, no more sunshine and puppies, Miss Mitchell. I've heard enough. I find the defendant, Madeline Brewster O'Neal, not guilty. All charges against Teague O'Neal are dismissed. I order the immediate arrest of Jackson Webster, Brady Cleeson, and Earl Martin, wherever that little weasel may be hiding. They are to be held in the Denver jail until such time as they can be tried for embezzlement and fraud. Their bank accounts are to be seized and returned to the bank in Plum Creek.”

He banged the gavel, and Madeline's heart began beating again.

“This court is dismissed!”

Teague jumped up and kissed Elizabeth on the mouth. As she plopped down in her chair in surprise, he picked up Madeline in his arms and tossed her in the air. No one had ever, ever done that, even as a child, and the experience was heady.

“Stop, Teague! You crazy man!” She laughed as he set her back on her feet and kissed her quickly.

“I love you, Mrs. O'Neal.”

“I love you, too!” she cried and then hugged him, breathing in his scent, reveling in the fact that she was free! She turned to Elizabeth. “I don't know how to thank you.”

“My fee is enough; besides, this was great fun. I love beating the bad guys.” Elizabeth smiled and wiped her brow. “You'd better keep that husband of yours locked up. He's liable to have hordes of women chasing him. Kissing like that! I never!”

They all laughed and hugged as the crowd filed out of the room. Victory had never tasted so sweet.

P
lum Creek returned to normal within a few weeks, and life went on as it had before. Some people continued to distrust Madeline. Others were glad to see her vindicated.

Madeline had a specialist come in from St. Louis to look at Eppie. He pronounced her in a “coma,” a kind of sleeping death from which most patients never awoke. Madeline grieved for her friend and wished she could change what had happened.

The doctor told Madeline in confidence that Eppie was pregnant, probably three months gone. He didn't know if a baby would survive the coma. He also told her that Eppie's body would heal itself. Now her mind had to do the same.

Micah still refused to leave Eppie's side. Madeline told him about the baby, and he wept in her arms, confessing his love for the sleeping beauty.

Madeline and Teague decided to move to Denver. She gave the house to Micah, who would watch over Eppie and their child, praying for a miracle. Orion Harper moved into the house to help Micah care for the house and property. Isaiah visited often and helped with the heavier work.

Madeline and Teague promised to return every month to visit their friends. She left the bank with Mr. Finley. He was competent enough to run it and seemed eager for the challenge. The only thing she took from the house was the furniture from her mother's sitting room and the bench Teague had made her. As they drove away in her father's carriage from the Brewster house, Madeline said good-bye to the Black Widow, to her father, and, lastly, to her mother's spirit, which had guided and protected her.

Life had finally begun for Madeline O'Neal.