B00BWX9H30 EBOK (9 page)

“So what? I just hang on and hope for the best?” She shook her head. “What would you do?”

“If I can’t get control and I can see a crash coming I’d probably jump for it.”

“Wouldn’t that be as bad as crashing?”

“Not necessarily. You wouldn’t get tangled in with the buggy if you jump before it crashes. But I don’t want you even thinking about that. You’re not going to give the horses free rein. Ever. And you won’t be going fast. Ever.” He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “God, you’ve got me terrified to teach you.”

She grasped his knee until he looked at her. “Nathan, I’ll be fine. This isn’t a carriage, so it doesn’t scare me. And I’ll be careful.”

“There’s just so much that can go wrong.”

“Not with you teaching me. I’ll learn to do this the right way from the beginning. I don’t have any bad habits to break.”

He bit his lower lip and then took a deep breath. “Okay. Here are the reins. Do you remember what to do?”

“Flick them on the horses behinds like this.” She slapped the straps down. There was a good ‘snap’ and the horses started walking.

She grinned at her husband. “Look, I did it. They’re moving.”

Nathan hugged her to him. “You did it. Now let’s get them moving a little faster so we can get to John and Sarah’s before tomorrow. Slap the reins a little harder this time and say ‘giddyup’.”

“Giddyup? You said that before. What’s it mean?”

“They understand. It means go faster to them.”

She slapped the horses hard on their rumps and they started to trot. The gait was very jerky even though they were in the buggy, so she slapped them again. They started to canter and now the buggy was really moving. At this rate they’d be to John and Sarah’s in no time.

They were moving along at a good clip when suddenly the horses shied, turned and began to gallop through the pasture next to the road. Out of control.

Ella tried to slow them. She pulled back on the reins for all she was worth. It wasn’t enough. Then Nathan was there. His big hands took the reins from her and he pulled back on them. The horses slowed and came to a stop.

Nathan set the brake and took her into his arms.

Her tears fell in earnest. “I couldn’t stop them. They didn’t respond to me. If you hadn’t been….”

“Sshh. Hush now. It’s alright. I was here. They just got spooked. It happens sometimes.”

“What could have spooked them? I didn’t see anything.”

“Probably a rattler. We have a lot of them in this country.”

“Rattlers?”

“Snakes. Rattle snake. They’re poisonous and have rattles on the end of their tail they use to warn people and animals that they’re around. The horses probably heard one or saw one and took off.”

She leaned into him. “I want to go home. I’ve had enough of a lesson today.”

“Do you want to drive?” He held the reins up for her to take.

She shook her head. “No.” She shied away from them.

He got them turned around and headed back in the direction of their house.

When they pulled up to the hitching rail in the front yard, Ella wanted to jump down and run into the house before Nathan could help her. Before he could see what a coward she was. She didn’t want him to see the fear in her eyes. But she couldn’t get her legs to work.

Nathan set the brake, hopped out and came around to her side. He held his hand up to her. She took it and turned on the seat, but that’s as far as she could get.

“Ella. Oh baby, it’s alright. Come here.” He reached up and grasped her around the waist and lifted her down.

Once on her feet her knees buckled. Nathan caught her, picked her up and carried her inside to their bedroom where he set her down on the side of the bed. He sat down beside her and put his arm around her.

She burst into tears, grabbed him around the waist and buried her face in his chest.

He wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. Didn’t tell her to hush or that it would be alright, just let her cry.

“I’m sorry. I…it…it was like being in the carriage all over again. I couldn’t stop what was happening. I could see it, knew we were in trouble, but couldn’t stop it.” She sniffled and reached for the handkerchief in her sleeve. She dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose.

“This isn’t something that you have to do, not now, not ever if you don’t want. Why don’t you just lie down for awhile? I’ll go get the horses and put them away, then come back and check on you.”

She nodded and lay down on the bed.

Once Nathan left the room she allowed herself to cry again, to relive the hell that had been relegated to her nightmares. So real. It was back and it was so real. The terror. The pain.

She curled into herself and fell asleep.

When Nathan came back he found her that way, sound asleep. He knew from prior experience that she was reliving her accident. He lay down next to her and gathered her into his arms. She went willingly and molded to his body. He held her, felt her relax and breathe easier. She’d been frightened out of her mind today. But she handled it. Didn’t fall apart until they got to the house and even then she didn’t turn into a screaming ninny.

He was proud of her. Considering the severity of the original accident, that she would even consider driving the buggy had been a big step forward. He didn’t know if he’d get her back in it, but he thought she would. She was stronger than she thought she was, his little bride.

Ella awoke feeling warm and relaxed. Her head was pillowed on Nathan’s chest and his arms held her in a circle of warmth. She was loathe to leave his embrace, but nature called. She moved his arm down so she could get up, but it came back to her breast. She gave a small gasp at the intimate contact, turned and looked up into his blue eyes, smoldering with passion.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hello to you.”

Now both of his hands were busy with her breasts and she almost changed her mind about getting out of bed, but her body reminded her she needed to void.

“I have to get up. Now.”

“Only if you promise to come back to bed.”

“I promise.”

“Without your clothes.”

She nodded and he released her.

Staying behind the screen, she got out of her wrinkled clothes and, out of habit, arranged her hair carefully over her left side, hiding her scars. She went out into the room and ran for the bed.

“Stop. Don’t run,” he commanded.

She stopped and walked the rest of the way. Thinking to tease him she got in on his side of the bed, crawling over his naked body. He’d lost the covers, and his clothes, after she’d gotten up. He stopped her when she was fully on top of him, trapping her legs between his and allowing her to feel every aroused inch of him.

“Now that is the best idea you’ve had.” He pulled her up until he could kiss her. And kiss her he did, gently, thoroughly, leaving her no doubt that he wanted her.

“Nathan,” she breathed when he let her up. “Make love to me.”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

He rolled them until he was on top of her. Leaning down he nipped at her neck and then soothed with his tongue. Came back to her mouth and gave her a kiss before moving to the other side of her neck and down, down to her breast where he took one aching nipple into his mouth.

He moved her hair and she stiffened.

“Don’t hide yourself from me.” He kissed all along her scars, easing her, and then moved down to her other breast. “You are beautiful. All of you.”

She could almost believe him. He treated her body reverently like he really cared. There was no reticence, no hesitation, he kissed every part of her, then parted her legs and kissed her there, where she ached.

“Nathan. Please.”

He chuckled, but the next thing she knew his tongue was making her ache for more. Around and around her pleasure nub it went and then he sucked and licked again. The ache built until finally he sent her into oblivion, soaring among the stars.

As she started to return to earth, he drove home, her body slick and ready to receive him.

He lifted his head from her shoulder and smiled down at her. He pumped slowly. Each stroke rebuilding the fire in her. His eyes never left hers as she began to move with him, up when he pushed in and back when he pulled out. Each stroke buried him deeper and deeper until he touched her womb. He picked up that pace and she began to build toward that wonderful pinnacle she’d fallen off of before.

Nathan thrust twice more, reached between them and said, “Come with me, Ella,” as he touched her nubbin sending her over the precipice. She heard him groan and then he buried his face in her neck, among her scars and she didn’t care. This was right and so wonderful.

He lay heavy upon her, still inside her and then he rolled taking her with him, throwing one leg over hers, he pulled her close.

These were the moments she loved. Having him hold her after they made love could almost make her believe he loved her. Almost. She had to remind herself not to fall in love with him. He couldn’t love her back. Handsome men like him didn’t fall in love with women like her. She was heir to a fortune, but men only wanted the money, not her. But, a little voice reminded her, Nathan doesn’t know you’re rich. You’ve never told him. Maybe you should. It’s his money now, too.

“Nathan.”

“Hmm.”

“Don’t go to sleep yet. We need to talk.”

He hugged her close. “What about?”

“Us.”

She felt him tense up. “What about us?”

“I’m rich.”

He relaxed. “So am I. I have you.”

She sighed. He wasn’t going to make this easy. “No. Really. I’m rich. My brother and I inherited my father’s shipyard when he was killed.”

“That’s nice.”

“It doesn’t bother you?”

“Why should it? Every man wants a rich wife. Besides,” he gave her a hug. “I’m wealthy on my own and I’ll inherit from my father one day. He’s a very rich man. The fact that you have money means nothing to me. Keep it or spend it, as you please.”

“You really don’t care?” she hugged him and rubbed her hand over his smooth chest. “Since I can spend it, you just said I could, I want to hire someone to put a bathroom and running water in the house.”

“I can pay for that,” he grumbled.

“I know, but so can I. Please let me do this. For us. For our children.”

“For the children?” He cocked an eyebrow.

“Yes, it will be ever so much easier to keep the little buggers clean with running water in the house and a bathroom with a big tub in it. Maybe one big enough for the two of us together.” She winked at him.

“Are you flirting with me in order to get your way?”

She laughed. “Yes. Is it working? Can I hire a plumber to come put water in the house?”

“I suppose so. Will that make you happy?”

“Ecstatic.”

“Good. Now let’s go to sleep. Morning comes early and you’ve already kept me up with your incessant demands to make love.”

“Me?! It was you—”

He chuckled.

She shook her head. “You love to get me all riled up.”

“Well, you
are
easy to rile. It’s fun to watch.”

“I’m going to stop taking anything you say seriously.”

He rolled her until she lay atop him. “I’m very serious when I say I want you.” He pushed his pelvis up so she was sure of his erection. “But if I take you again, we won’t get any sleep. So,” he rolled to his side, “close your beautiful brown eyes and go to sleep.” He turned over and blew out the lamp.

She was much too excited to sleep. Her mind raced and she thought of babies. Touching her still flat stomach she wondered if her children would have their father’s dark good looks or her pale skin? It didn’t matter who her babies took after, they were already loved.

Or might they take after her father with his golden blond coloring. That was who Joshua favored. He had blond hair and bronzed skin from working in the shipyard. At least he had until their father was murdered. Now he worked in the office as her father had. Joshua still kept his hand in the actual building of the ships. It’s what he loved. He worked one day a week in the yard and the rest of the time in the office. It was enough to keep his skin sun kissed.

Thinking about Joshua made her a little homesick. Would she be able to see him again? Would Nathan want to go to New York? Could he even spend that much time away from the ranch? She knew she didn’t want to make the trip alone. The trip had been bad enough alone the first time.

What about when she had the child? Could Joshua come there? He surely could leave the business for a time. Benjamin, his assistant, could handle it and they had a telegraph in Golden City, if Joshua’s input was really necessary.

Finally, she decided she’d have Nathan take her to town so she could telegraph Joshua. Just making the decision relaxed her and she rolled over to go to sleep. Nathan’s arms still held her loosely. She rolled out of them and to her side. Even in his sleep he reached for her and laid one arm over her. Very possessive, her husband, yet he understood her need to be independent, too. He wanted her to learn to drive the buggy and she wanted to. She was afraid, but she would overcome her fear by facing it. She had the basics of driving and she would face her fear head on. Tomorrow. She’d think about it tomorrow. That would be soon enough, she thought as sleep overtook her.