Lassoing the Virgin Mail-Order Bride Page 3

  “I think we’ve all got our own reasons for why we choose this life. And I’m sure she has hers.” Earl sets his clean plate down on the table next to us. “I know you told me to send her away. Do you still want me to?”

  “No.” The short word has a little panic on the end of it, and I set down my empty plate, hating that I can’t hide my emotions.

  “I didn’t think so.”

  We rock a little in silence, watching as the men leave the big house and head out to their bunks. Once the last of the men are gone, and Levi and Brandon let us know the kitchen is spotless, Earl looks to me and speaks again.

  “You may not want my advice, but since your daddy passed away, I’ve felt like it’s my job to look out for you. You were always like a son to me, too, Cash, so even if you don’t want to hear it, I’m going to say it.”

  I look over at him as he stands up off the swing and makes his way to the edge of the porch.

  “You got a choice to make. You can go through with this mail-order bride and make her yours, or you can send her on her away. Keeping her around and not putting a ring on her sure ain’t fair to all these other men who would give their left arm to take your place.”

  With that, he walks off the porch and heads out towards his little cabin next to the bunks where the men sleep. I watch him go, not moving from my spot but letting his words sink in. I may have started this thinking it was a quick solution, and I may have changed my mind because it’s a crazy scheme. But in the end, I want Clare like I’ve never wanted anything before in my life, and I don’t think I can keep that at bay.

  I stand up from the swing and go into the big house, closing the door behind me. I flip the lock, and it strikes me as odd at first because I can’t remember the last time I locked my front door. But with Clare here, I want us to have our privacy, and that means keep the boys out until we’re good and ready to feed them.

  I go to the hallway bathroom first, taking off my button-up shirt and jeans and boots. I toss my dirty clothes in the hamper before I strip out of my underwear and turn on the hot water. I get in the shower and let it wash away the dirt and sweat from today. All my muscles relax as my hand runs down my chest hair and over the ridges of my stomach until my big palm reaches my cock. It’s hard and straining, nearly purple with need, and I touch myself, thinking that I can’t remember the last time I jerked off. I’m usually so tired by the time I get done with the day's work that I just take a shower and fall into bed before starting all over again at first light.

  Not tonight. Right now I’ve got a burning need running up my balls and shaft that I have to take care of. Reaching out, I grab the soap and rub it in my hands, making some suds. I run both my hands up and down the long length of my cock, squeezing its thickness and trying to get relief. I let the hot water hit my back as I thrust into my hands, thinking about every little curve of Clare’s body. The way her big blue eyes looked up at me. The way her little blonde curls tickled around her neck, and the way she smelled like fresh apples behind her ear.

  No way can her tiny little curves take my cock. There’s no way. Maybe if I’m gentle with her, I can slide the tip in. That’s all I’d be able to fit in her, and I’d die a happy man if that’s all I ever got of her. Just the sweet taste of her little pussy on the end of my cock would be all I ever needed. Just the warm wetness on the tip and I’d cum inside her every night. She wouldn’t need to take every inch. Just the head, and we could do that for the rest of our lives.

  I run my hand over the bulging tip, thinking about how her tight pussy would squeeze it, and I feel my eyes roll to the back of my head. I’d love to spread her legs and see if she’s got blonde curls on her pussy, too. I don’t know why porn magazines always have women with bald ones. It does nothing for me. But thinking about Clare and her having a sweet little pussy with a patch of hair on it makes me want to bury my face in it and eat her.

  Licking my lips, I moan as I picture her tiny legs wrapped around my head, holding me to her as tight as she can. She has some curves under that apron, so I know she’d be so soft. She’d be sweet and ripe for the picking. I wonder if she’s on anything or if she’s fertile. I bet even by getting the tip of my cock into her, I could get her pregnant. I could work on shooting my cum out hard and long so that it could get inside her, even if I can’t go all the way.

  I start rubbing my cock in longer strokes thinking about it. How I need to cum inside her and make her mine. Each thrust into my hand is getting wilder and less controlled. I can’t hold on much longer.

  Picturing her sweet face looking up at me as she licks her lips, I toss my head back and grunt out my release. I feel the force of my cum shoot out of me and onto the shower wall in front of where I’m standing. I open my eyes and smile at the white splatter on the stone. Should be a good enough length to get the job done.

  I soap myself up and wash off, thinking about what I need to do to keep Clare. First off, we need to go into town in the morning and set this marriage thing right. She’s going to be Mrs. McCallister, and that’s the end of it.

  I grab a towel off the rack and dry myself off. When I’m finished I stand there for a second thinking about what I’m going to do. Normally I just go into my room and get into bed naked. But I know Clare is in there, and I don’t know if she’s asleep or not. She may not be used to the hours on a farm and the frequent early nights and early mornings.

  No matter what, my clothes are in my room, so I need to go in there.

  Walking from the bathroom, I go to my bedroom and turn the knob slowly. It’s not locked and that makes me feel good. At least she isn’t trying to keep me out. Once I go in, I close the door behind me.

  The room is almost completely dark. I see Clare asleep on the bed, the moonlight streaming in, showing her on her side, still fully dressed. I can’t help the pull I feel to her as I walk over to the bed and put my knee on the mattress. I hesitate for a second, but then pull my towel off and drop it to the floor as I pull back the covers and slide in. I spoon up behind Clare, thinking she could get cold, and I pull some of the covers over her as well. She moans a little in her sleep, and I stay stock-still as she moves a bit to cuddle into me. Once she’s settled, I put my head next to hers and bury my face in her hair. She smells like fresh-cut apples and home. It’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever smelled in my life, and as I drift off to sleep, I can feel the smile on my face.

  She’s my home.

  Chapter 5

  Clare

  I melt into his embrace, loving the feeling of having his arms around me. I feel cherished. Even if it isn’t real, I’m going to soak it up for a little longer. I can’t remember the last time I was cuddled. As a child maybe? A range of feelings flood through me at the thought. My mama and I loved each other, but she wasn’t super affectionate.

  I breathe in his scent as he nuzzles into me a little more, his lips against my neck. He still smells like the sun, but this time it has a hint of soap. I shouldn’t be surprised that telling him to sleep on the couch wouldn’t work. He didn’t seem like the kind of man who could be told what to do. He did the telling and everyone jumped. I bet even when he was a little boy he probably stood his ground. The image flutters into my mind. I imagine a small, dark-haired boy wearing a cowboy hat that’s a little too big for him, but he still has that commanding look on his face. I’d guess Cash could stop a bull right in its tracks.

  I don’t know if I should be irritated that he climbed into bed with me, but this is his house, and we’re getting married. Well, I think we are anyways. He hadn’t chased me down last night, or rebuffed my comment about him picking a bride more to his liking. Though at the moment, he seems to like me a lot. The man has yet to introduce himself to me properly, but he can’t seem to keep his hands off me.

  Right now he has me locked up tight. It’s going to take some serious maneuvering to break free without waking him. I keep telling myself to get up from the bed, that I need to get a start on breakfast before everyone else rises
, but here I lie, wanting to keep breathing him in.

  When I finally see a sliver of light peek through the window, I slowly unwrap myself from his arms until I can slip free and off the bed. I turn to look at him, but the room is still too dark to get a good look. Tiptoeing to the door, I grab my bag off the floor before pulling the door closed behind me as quietly as I can. I opt to use the bathroom in the hallway once again to keep from waking Cash.

  I make quick work in the shower. I fly through my morning routine and slip on my jean shorts and a white T-shirt. I want to get done as fast as possible. I already feel behind, knowing the men will be looking for their breakfast any minute now. I don’t want to get off to a bad start with everyone here. I’m already feeling a little embarrassed about snapping in front of all of them.

  When I get to the kitchen, I start pulling everything out to make eggs, bacon, and some toast. It’s really the only option with what I have here. I’m really going to have to get to town today and get some food. If I want to stock up for a whole week, I’m going to have to take a truck. Maybe Cash will let me take one of the men with me to help.

  I flip the bacon but look up when I hear what sounds like someone running into the front door, a string of curses following it. Then a soft knock. When I flip the lock and open the door, I see Brandon, the same man who came in yesterday for the first-aid kit. He’s rubbing his head, his cowboy hat in hand. A red blotch is already forming on his forehead. He stops rubbing the spot, his hand going to his hair like he’s trying to fix it. It’s clear he didn’t do anything with it this morning and just flipped on a cowboy hat. The dirty-blond shaggy hair still looks good. Almost like that messy look you see the men in magazines try to do, but I don’t think that’s what he’s going for.

  “Not used to the door being locked.” His brown eyes crinkle at the edges like he’s still trying to catch his bearings.

  “Sorry. Is that not normal?” I ask, pulling the door open wider to let him in.

  “No, but I’m thinking a lot of things aren’t going to be are normal anymore.” He smiles at me and heads straight for the dining room table where I have already put the first round of food down.

  “Why is that? Not used to having a woman in the house?” My stomach tightens at my own words, realizing what I just said. I don’t know if there were women in this house before me. Hell, for all I know, Cash could have been married and divorced or have a string of women coming and going.

  “Well, that and,” Brandon glances at the clock on the wall, “the boss is still in bed, I take it?”

  I turn, going back to the stove, knowing my whole face is probably cherry red. I know what he’s thinking. What everyone is thinking. I shouldn’t be embarrassed. The man is going to be my husband. Of course we shared a bed, and people would just assume we did everything that went along with that.

  “Yes, he is,” I answer, keeping my back to him as I start pulling the bacon off the stove and placing it on a plate, adding another round to the skillet.

  “He’s usually the first up.” I turn to see Brandon now in the kitchen, grabbing the pot of coffee and taking it to the table.

  More men start to trickle into the house, making plates and eating. I keep cooking and adding to the plates on the table. They seem to just eat right through them as fast as I can make them. Grabbing an extra plate, I make one for Cash just in case, because I’m close to being out of stuff to cook for them.

  “Miss Clare, you have got to be God's gift to the ranch,” Kent, one for the men, says as he rubs his belly, making me giggle.

  “Mrs. McCallister.” I peek over my shoulder to see Cash standing in the kitchen, his eyes on Kent before they come to me. I feel my breath freeze in my lungs. He’s got on a pair a flannel pants and nothing else. The pants hang low, showing off his perfect V, a line of dark hair trailing down his navel.

  When he starts to move towards me, I still can’t seem to bring myself to move. Then he’s on me, his mouth coming down onto mine. I stay still until I feel his tongue lick the seam of my mouth and I open for him. My body does as he commands. One of his hands snakes into my still-damp hair, the other grabbing my hand, locking his fingers with mine.

  I melt into him, my eyelids falling closed. His kiss is just as intense as he is. I have no idea what I’m doing as he devours my mouth like he’s starving. When I hear a throat clear, I jump back, having completely forgotten we’re in a room full of people, but when I look over at the dining room table it’s empty and only Earl is standing there eating a piece of bacon. We cleared the room. It’s like one embarrassing thing after another around here.

  “I can’t believe you did that,” I say, my hand going to my mouth. My voice is all breathy.

  “What, kissed my wife?” He looks down at me like I’m crazy. That it’s normal. Like we’ve been kissing forever. That this wasn’t my first kiss ever.

  “First off, I’m not your wife.” I take a step towards him, pointing up at him. A half smile forms on his face like he thinks it’s cute I’m getting all up in his face.

  “Yet,” he adds, but I just ignore him.

  “Secondly, as of last night this thing wasn’t totally on.” I motion between us. Then I stop when I see a ring on my finger.

  It’s stunning. A big circular diamond sits in the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds in a halo. It looks antique.

  “It was my mother's.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal.

  “I can’t take this.” I go to pull it off, but he grabs my wrist to stop me.

  “You’ll wear it,” he says, using the same tone on me he does his men.

  “It doesn’t seem right,” I try to protest. This is his mother’s ring. It’s something I’m sure was given in love. I’d seen a picture of his mom and dad last night in his bedroom. I knew it was them. Cash has a mix of both of them in him. His mother had dark hair and gray eyes, but he is built like his father. The look on his father’s face as he’d looked down at Cash’s mom was full of so much love. It was so beautiful and hurt to look at. I wanted a marriage like that.

  “You’re going to be my wife.” He pushes back.

  “It’s not the same.”

  “You’ll wear it and that’s final.” His words are hard. He’s clearly upset that I’m pushing against him, but then he places a kiss on the palm of my hand before releasing my wrist. The action is so soft and sweet. It doesn’t match his hard words.

  I just nod. There’s no point fighting with him. I’m here to marry him, and if this is the ring he wants me to wear, I guess I’ll wear it. It just feels wrong. Like I’m tainting it. I know this marriage probably won’t last.

  “And I’ll kiss you anytime I like. Even more so to make a point to my men.” With that, he turns, leaving me standing there while he goes over and starts eating the plate I’d left on the kitchen counter. It’s as if he knew I made it for him.

  He glances at the table, then at his own plate, stopping mid-bite.

  “You eat?”

  I just nod again and he goes back to eating the plate of food. It warms me that he was concerned that he was eating the last of the breakfast and he wanted to make sure I’d eaten before he finished it off.

  “How is everything looking?” Cash asks Earl.

  “Another fence is down and we can’t find Sammy anywhere.”

  Cash drops his fork. “You’re fucking kidding me.”

  “Nope. Something is starting to stink,” Earl adds, taking a drink of his coffee.

  “I’ll get dressed and be out in a few.” Cash takes a few more bites of his breakfast, then heads down the hallway. I follow behind him, but not before catching anther wink from Earl.

  “I need to go to the city to go shopping,” I tell him when I enter the room. He drops his pants, and I turn around quickly, giving him my back. I hear him chuckle.

  “I’ll take you tomorrow, and we’ll get our marriage licenses then, too. I planned today, but it looks like I got another mess to clean up.”

  I want to pr
otest, but I know he’s got enough on his plate. “Okay,” is all I say as I leave the room, heading back to the kitchen to clean up.

  “Even your coffee is wonderful, ma’am. There anything you can’t make?” Earl says, pouring himself another cup.

  “Well, that’s all I have until I can make it out to the store,” I tell him as a thought hits me. “If any of your men aren’t too busy, do you think they could take me into town? I’d love to get it out of the way and not bother Cash with it. I can tell he’s real busy and he doesn’t need to spend hours in town getting supplies.”

  “I think I can do that. I’ll send Brandon back to take you. Just go grab some petty cash out of Cash’s office. Bottom drawer of his desk in a metal box. Take what you need. We’re done spoiled and would love to come home to a dinner like last night.”

  “Thank you. I’ll make sure I set you aside something special for dessert tonight.”

  “I’ll be looking forward to it all day.”

  Just then Cash comes back into the room, coming right at me and planting another one of those kisses on me, leaving me breathless.

  “Lock the door.”

  With that, he’s gone. He really needs to get some manners, or maybe I like him without them.

  Chapter 6

  Cash

  Knocking some of the dust off my jeans, I walk towards the big house, thinking about how it’s just too damn coincidental to happen two days in a row. One fence breaking every now and then I can see, but two fences, one after the other, and something starts to smell fishy. We still haven’t been able to find our top bull, Sammy, and things aren’t adding up. I plan on giving the Johnson farm a call to see if they’ve spotted him. They’re a rival farm just next to us, and normally we’re not the best at communicating, but I’ve got to try everything.