The Stafford Collection, Historical Western Romances (23 page)

Brock moved his hands and guided her face to his. He used his thumbs to wipe away the tears that fell. “Of course they will. They love you, how could anyone not? You did what you thought you had to do. I can’t change that, but I can help you fix it.”

She cupped his face with her hands and pulled him down to her. She tasted his lips which were salty from her tears. Leaning back, she pulled him down on top of her. Softly, gently, they made love.

Rising early, Brock and Sabrina headed over to make breakfast. They decided to use the stove, so Sabrina went in to light it while Brock went to collect eggs from the hens. Walking into the main house without thinking, she noticed Jaelyn and Thomas wrapped in each other’s arms on her bedding. They appeared to be fully dressed. However, she was still concerned about Brock’s reaction, so she went over and nudged Jaelyn awake.

It took a bit for Jaelyn to come fully awake and understand what Sabrina was saying. As if noticing Thomas next to her for the first time, she blushed and scrambled to her feet just as Brock came through the doorway. His calculating gaze took in the slumbering Thomas in the corner and the two women in front of him, smiling tentatively.

“Mornin’.” He handed the eggs to Sabrina and helped her light the fire. He kissed her cheek before going into the adjoining room to check on his father’s condition.

“Thanks,” Jaelyn whispered after he had left. She tried to straighten out the wrinkles in her clothing. Sabrina winked at her as Brock came back in to report.

“Still cool,” he said, happily wrapping his arms around Sabrina as he hugged her from behind.

Jaelyn watched them enviously. Why was she not allowed to express her feelings openly? Defiantly, she went back and lay down with Thomas. Noticing, Brock frowned and took a step toward them but was stopped by Sabrina standing in his way.

“Let them be.”

Brock hesitated, remembering her warning about pushing Jaelyn away. He opened his mouth to reply but was quieted when Sabrina stepped forward and kissed him soundly. By the time she stepped back there was only one thing on his mind. Sabrina’s eyes sparkled as she felt his manhood against her stomach.

“Aren’t you ever sated?” she whispered brazenly.

“I can never get enough of you,
” he murmured, kissing her as she pushed him away, giggling. Her giggle cut off abruptly as she noticed Anna standing in the doorway observing the two couples quietly.

“Good morning. We’re making breakfast,
” Sabrina stammered, still nervous around the older woman.

“It helps if you put the eggs in the pan,” she said with her eyes twinkling. Anne
stepped outside to freshen up. Blushing, Sabrina moved to cook the eggs and Brock went to sit with his father.

She heard movement from behind her and then whispering. Thomas was awake. Sabrina smiled at his red face as he stood straightening his clothes. Anna came back in and helped her finish breakfast.

Afterwards, she and Brock went for a ride. She was feeling much better by then, and the horses were getting antsy from lack of exercise. He led her to the falls he had mentioned to Chase the day before. She could hear the roar of the water before she saw it. Tying their horses to a tree, he led her over to a cliff where she could look down and see the falls below.

“Amazing.”

“They’re called the Dripping Springs. They were named by the Cherokee in the area.”

“Cherokee? I thought your family traded with the Comanches.”

“My father traded with many tribes and can speak many languages fluently. When he was younger, he was in the army and worked as a translator---a very dangerous job.” His face turned grim. “He eventually became disillusioned at how the Indians were being treated so he left the army and made his own way. He used to travel around hunting and going to different tribes to trade goods. Growing weary of travel, he decided to settle down. The Cherokees settled nearby after they were forced out of the South by the government many years ago.”

Taking her hand, he led her carefully down a steep rocky trail to the base of the falls. She slipped several times and was covered in dirt by the time she reached the bottom. Brock gave her an apologetic look as she looked down at her now soiled outfit. She looked over at him, noticing he didn’t have an ounce of dirt anywhere except on his boots.

“I’m sorry, I forgot how difficult the trail is,” he said, kissing her scraped hand. But Sabrina wasn’t listening. She was gazing in awe up, up, up at the cascading falls, now high above them.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. Where does all the water come from?”

“It’s run-off from the mountain streams…heaviest in the spring after the rains.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“This is where my parents met.”

She looked at him in wonder. It was hard to picture the older couple frolicking in the water. Her eyes drifted lower and she noticed large caverns behind the falls. They were chiseled into the side of the cliff. Curious, she asked about them.

“There are all kinds of caves and caverns ‘round here; it’s part of the Ozarks. Outlaws used them to hide out during the war. Then the army cracked down on them and cleaned ‘em out.”

“The caverns were formed from the water?”

Brock nodded. “The cliff is made out of limestone. It is very porous and the flowing water washes it away. The water snakes its way down into the fractures of the rock and forms the caverns. My father used to come out here and explore them when he was younger.”

“Your father is very brave.”

“Yes, he is.”

They sat in silence watching nature’s glory. After a while he reluctantly interrupted her reverie so they could head back. It was a long climb back up to the top.

They were greeted by a grinning Chase when they returned.

“He’s awake and lookin’ good!” he announced, happily offering to care for their horses so they could go see.

When they entered the bedroom they found Jonathan sitting up, sipping on some chicken broth. “They’re trying to starve me,” he explained as he slurped another swallow.

Brock grinned as he went over and greeted him. Sabrina hung back, a little unsure of his reaction to her since she had yelled at him the last time he was coherent. He noticed her and gave her a reassuring wink. Anna was nearby, smiling happily.

Feeling a little better, she took a couple of steps closer so that she was next to Brock. Brock reached over, giving her hand a squeeze as his father set his bowl down.

Jonathan grinned at her. “I know you can talk; you proved that the other day. “

Sabrina smiled sadly. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“Yes, you should have. I knew the leg was bad; I was just too stubborn to admit it. Guess I was scared. Men do get scared sometimes. Not very often, but sometimes,” he said, winking at her.

“How are you feeling?” Brock asked.

“Well, feels like my leg has been cut off,
” He chuckled and Brock sent Sabrina an apologetic look. Sabrina smiled seeing where Chase got his wry sense of humor. Brock was more serious like his mother and Jaelyn was kind of a combination of the two. “I don’t really remember much of it. Don’t hurt too much unless I move around. But, I gotta say, it’s itching like a dog with fleas.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re still here. You had all of us worried,” Brock said.

“I hear there’s gonna be a wedding?”

“Yes, Sabrina has agreed to be my wife,” Brock said, proudly hugging her to him.

“Well, I guess you’re a stronger man than me. She seems to be a handful,” he said, impressed with his son’s choice.

“You have no idea,” Brock murmured as Sabrina blushed and hid her face in Brock’s chest. “We’ll let you get some rest,” he said pulling her from the room.

“I’m sorry,” said Brock, “He’s always like that.”

Sabrina laughed aloud. “He’s wonderful. I’m so glad he’s doing well.”

Brock snorted. “Yeah, too bad his mouth wasn’t injured.” Sabrina bopped him on his head as they joined the others for supper.

“I was thinking we should leave the day after tomorrow,” Brock said in between bites. Sabrina agreed, although she knew he would miss being with this family. She noticed Jaelyn and Thomas glance at each other.

“About that,” Thomas began and hesitated as everyone looked at him expectantly. “I’m not going back with you. I’m gonna stay here for a while. With Jaelyn.”

Brock choked on his food and Sabrina had to pound on his back a few times. “And what, pray tell, should I report to your family?” he asked when he could speak.

“You don’t have to tell them anything. I’ll write a letter for my father and sister; you just need to give it to them. Jonathan still needs care and Anna needs Jaelyn’s help until he is back on his feet again. I want to be with Jaelyn and when I do leave I hope she chooses to come with me.” For the last part, he turned and addressed only Jaelyn. Her whole face lit up and he kissed her unabashedly.

Chase looked amused but Brock looked impressed by the younger man. His sister could do far worse, he finally decided. Sabrina stood up to help clean up the dishes, but Chase waved her away. She whispered to Brock that she wanted to check on the horses before heading to bed and he joined her. Wanting to make sure that Thomas’ horse was fully healed, she checked him out first. Justice snorted for lack of attention and she came over to pet him next, and then Troy.

She was rubbing down Troy when she felt warm hands on her shoulders massaging her neck. To Brock’s surprise, she spun around quickly.

“What?”

“Just making sure it was you this time,” she said, turning back around to enjoy the special treatment. Brock stepped forward and wrapped one hand around her abdomen, pressing her back against his hardness.

She slid his hand lower to massage between her legs.  “Are you sure?”  he whispered in her ear.

“Mmmmmm. Oh yes,” she replied, leaning back against him.

He kissed her ear as he
slid his hand up under her skirt and underthings. She had wanted, no, needed, to discuss something with him but as soon as he touched her, her mind went blank. Every neuron in her brain focused in on the wonderful sensations he was causing in her core.

She still had one hand on Troy to prevent herself from collapsing and turning into a quivering puddle on the floor. Her other hand was covering his hand around her waist. She entwined her fingers through his as she lost herself. Her head thrashed back against his chest as soft cries tore form her throat. Every nerve in her body was in spasm as she cried out and sagged back against his chest, trusting him to hold her. In the past she would have been mortified by her reaction to his touch. Now she was just too tired to care. Chuckling, he lifted her up into his strong arms and carried her back to Chase’s cabin as she curled sleepily against his chest.

Laying her on the thick bedding, he kissed her cheek and went out to visit with his family. Thomas was inside with Anna, changing out Jonathan’s bandages; but the twins were milling about outside.

“Where’s your sidekick?” Chase asked, his eyes twinkling.

“She’s resting,” Brock said, feeling crimson creep into his cheeks. Chase laughed.

Jaelyn looked at him thoughtfully. “How long have you two been together? Perhaps there’s a reason she’s tired.”

Brock frowned up at her from his seat on the log. “What do you mean?”

Jaelyn rolled her eyes; she didn’t know how she put up with her brothers for so long. “I assume you’ve bedded her.”

Chase snorted. “On a regular basis, I can assure you.”  As Brock moved to stand, Jaelyn pushed him back down. “Shut up, Chase.” And she stared him down until he left, chuckling. She turned her attention back to Brock. “Brock, I’m just concerned is all. You do know where babies come from don’t you.”

“Of course. I’m not ignorant,” Brock spat out angrily as Jaelyn sat patiently waiting for his thick brain to connect the dots. She sighed and repeated her first question.

“How long have you two been together?”

“What do you mean together? I’ve known her for months.”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

Brock blushed a bit more and shrugged. “About six weeks, I guess.”

“And how many cycles has she had?”

Brock shrugged as he thought about it. “She had one before we…” Brock’s voice trailed off and he wondered how on earth he
had gotten roped into this discussion with his little sister, of all people.

“But none since,” Jaelyn prodded.

“No.”

“And you would have known if she had, right?” She asked.

Brock laughed aloud. “Yes, I would have noticed.”

Jaelyn sighed; still no connection. She had to be more abrupt. “She could be with child.”

Brock froze as the words sank in. A flurry of emotions ripped through him. Of course he had realized that on some level. It was partly why he had put off being intimate with her in the beginning. Somehow, along the way, his brain had stopped and his body had taken over. He’d become so wrapped up in the wonderment of being with her, all rational thought had left him..

He looked up to see Jaelyn staring at him. At a loss for words, he stood and walked off into the woods. He took no trail as he tried to sort out the scenarios going through his head. He had not forced himself on her. He gave her every opportunity to choose a different bed. Didn’t he? So why was he feeling guilty. Like he had taken advantage of her.