To Wed a Wanton Woman (4 page)

“That isn’t true. But even if it were, it wouldn’t
matter to Joseph,” Allison said. “In the beginning, he thought I was a working
girl.” She put a plate of diced pork from the previous night in front of
Michael along with a piece of buttered bread. “He didn’t care.” She shrugged.
“He only worried that I had done, you know…with TJ.” She licked strawberry
preserve from her thumb.

Marion
thought for a moment while she ate the bread with jam Allison set in front of
her. “I can’t have children. Men who marry want sons to carry on their name.”

“I have two children now.” She kissed
Michael on the head. “I didn’t give birth to him, but I still feel like his
mother.”

Marion
sighed. “Actually, I hate children. Every time one of the girls finds herself with
a baby, I silently thank God he knew I was never meant to procreate.”

Allison’s mouth fell open. “That’s a
terrible thing to say.”

“Terrible would be having me for a mother.
Worse would be having me for a wife! You have to talk to him. Tell Train he’s
being foolish.”

“Marion, that is a wicked smile spreading
across your face. What are you thinking?”

“Just don’t discourage him completely. I’ve
always wanted to ride on a Train.”

Allison hurled a dishtowel across the room,
hitting Marion on the shoulder.

“Where’s your husband this morning?” Marion asked, changing the subject.

“He took Sis for a ride.” She put a cup of
milk in front of Michael. “Betty, you met her, Cake’s wife, asked if I wanted
her to keep Michael. I told her no, but I’m sure she’d be happy if I changed my
mind. We can meet up with TJ and Sissy.”

“Where’s Sandy? I haven’t seen her since the
reception.”

“She wanted to go home. TJ sent someone with
her. You seemed to be having a good time and she didn’t want to spoil it for
you. Don’t worry. When you’re ready, we’ll take you back to town.” She tucked a
tendril of hair behind her ear. “TJ wanted to go on a honeymoon. I convinced
him to stay home. Sissy has become his shadow. I know she’s excited for me to
be her mother, but I don’t think she understands that she has to share her
father. Hence, the reason for the ride.”

Marion
shook her head. “I like the sound of it, but I’m not very good on a horse.”

“I heard you could ride just about
anything,” Allison said, teasing. “In fact you’ve told me you prefer a big
stallion.” Allison’s skirt billowed around her as she dodged a piece of flying
pork Marion threw from Michael’s plate.

“You’re right,” Marion stated. “I can ride
anything.”

Marion and Allison walked across the ground
sending up puffs of dust around the hems of their full-length dresses. Allison
carried Michael in her arms. Once inside the shack, he squirmed to be let down.

Betty squatted down and opened her arms. “Howdy,
big boy.” Betty scooped him up and faced Allison. “You need me to watch him,
Sugar?”

“Yes, and Sissy, too, as soon as TJ
returns.”

“You bring her on by.”

Allison kissed Michael’s cheek. “We’ll be by
later to drop Sissy off.”

Marion and Allison giggled on their way to
the stable. “This is ridiculous. I’m terrified.” Marion held out her hand to
Allison. “I’m shaking inside.”

Allison and Marion walked up and down the
stalls looking at the horses. “I don’t know which one you should ride. I always
ride Sugar.”

Marion
giggled. “Are you going to tell me the story?”

Allison raised her brows.

“I’ve heard several men refer to you as
Sugar. I know they weren’t talking about your horse.”

Allison groaned. “I hate it. I know they all
think it has some filthy overtone.” Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “Okay, so
it does, but they don’t know it! TJ gave me the name. He said I remind him of
the horse because I’m sweet tempered and easy to ride.”

Marion
continued to chuckle.

“Afternoon ladies.” Train stepped into the
stables and tipped his hat.

“Joseph, you’re the man we need.”

His gaze never wavered from Marion although Allison was the one speaking to him. Marion’s heart spurred to a gallop.
His stare created a hot pooling in her center. It had been a long time since
she’d anticipated a man’s attention.

“Marion has as much experience with horses
as I did.”

Train shook his head. “That’s a damn shame.”
There was a trace of laughter in his voice. “Come here,” he said to Marion.

Allison gave her a little shove when she
didn’t respond. Marion narrowed her eyes as he ran his hands along her arms.
“Is this really necessary?” she asked with a thread of annoyance.

“Oh absolutely.” Allison winked at Train.
“Joseph knows everything about horses. He’ll even teach you how to ride
bareback.”

He swung his head around to look at Allison.

“What am I missing?” Marion asked.

“Nothing,” Train mumbled. “Use this to tie
your hair.” He handed her a piece of rawhide. She clenched the rope between her
lips and then reached around to put her hair into a ponytail. “Let me help.” He
turned her around and gently gathered her hair. Shivers ran down her back. He
pulled the rope from between her teeth.

“Thank you,” she said, struggling with the
awareness of his intentions. When he looked at her now, it sent an alarming
heat into her chest. She stiffened her shoulders, swallowed hard, and boldly
met his gaze. “Well, you’re the expert. Which horse should I ride?”

His eyes twinkled. “This is Midnight
Dancer.” He harnessed a beautiful black gelding. “He likes to run, but I think
you can handle him.” He patted the horse on the back as Marion approached with
caution.

“He’s too big.” With hesitant fingers, she touched
the horse’s snout. He whinnied and tossed his head, flipping his black mane.
She smiled and tried again.

“You like big,” Allison whispered in her
ear.

Marion
glared.

“Remind you of someone?” Train asked.

The horse’s hooves landed heavy on the
ground as he followed Train out of the stable. When the sun hit his black coat,
it shone like polished onyx. “Give me a minute and I’ll saddle Sugar, too.” He
went back into the stables, disappearing into the shadows to get the other
horse.

“We’re going to find TJ. Do you want to come?”
Allison asked.

“Don’t mind if I do,” he called.

“What are you doing?” Marion whispered, grabbing
Allison’s arm. “You’re supposed to help me discourage him, not create
opportunities.”

“Marion, I love you.” She touched her cheek.
“That’s why I’m on his side.”

“Side saddle or astride?” Train asked.

Marion
looked to Allison for an answer.

“It isn’t proper, but I ride astride,”
Allison said. “Out here on the ranch, who’s going to care?”

“I’d rather ride in a buggy if you’re giving
me a choice.”

“Just like Allison,” Train said putting a
saddle on Sugar.

Marion
noticed the quiet assurance he had with the animals. His knowing hands moved
gracefully over the horse’s back. The strength in his shoulders strained
against the fabric of his shirt. She wondered if he treated a woman in the same
fashion.

Sugar, the horse, stood still as Allison
mounted. She adjusted in her saddle until she felt comfortable, then she
pranced the horse around in a circle. “You’re a good girl,” Allison said, patting
Sugar’s neck.

Train stood in front of Marion. His chest
blocked the horses from her view. She looked up into his eyes, shadowed by his
cowboy hat. “Don’t worry. I’m going to have my eyes on you all day.”

The overt sensuality of his words surprised
her and made her warm. “I’d appreciate it if you’d also find time to watch the
trail. I don’t want to get lost.” She put her hands on his shoulders while he
helped her onto the horse. “Try to stay focused on the task at hand.” She
smoothed the folds of her dress, and then looked over to find him watching her.
“What are we waiting for? Get on your horse and tell me what to do.”

Allison laughed. “A few months ago, I said
the same thing. TJ and Joseph taught me how to control a horse. I struggled,
too.”

Marion
grappled with the simplest of commands.

Train continued to correct Marion without
sounding impatient, although Marion grew tired of the exchange. Midnight Dancer
pranced, anxious with the inexperienced rider.

“Relax, Sweetheart,” Train said, keeping his
horse close to hers to keep the animal calm.

“He doesn’t like me,” she said. “I should be
riding a calm horse like Sugar.”

Train shook his head. “Marion, it would be a
lot easier for both of us if you accept that I know what you need.”

Allison broke into laughter. “Tie a lead on,
Joseph. We’ll walk for a while until she feels comfortable.”

Sugar and Allison led them. Marion’s horse didn’t appear to like being tied to Train’s. He liked the inconsistent
directions from Marion less. He followed with his head down breathing heavy
through his nostrils.

Train kept peering over his shoulder. Marion mimicked his moves trying to get a feel for the reins.

She gave him a half-hearted smile and tried
to look more composed than she felt.

“There’s TJ,” Allison said, spurring her
horse into a gallop, leaving them.

Train stopped his horse and dismounted. “Ready
to go it on your own?”

Marion
’s
heart jumped in her chest. She took a deep breath and tried to relax. “Will you
stay close?” Her voice cracked.

He rested one hand on her thigh and the
other on the saddle. “As close as you’ll let me.”

She found his proximity disturbing and
exciting. Yesterday, all she could think about was the physical attraction she
felt. Now that she knew his intentions ran much deeper, her stomach was
unsettled. Never had a man wanted her for anything but to bed.

“I should think a couple of yards would be
fine.” Her answer was so serious he started to laugh.

By the time Train was back in the saddle,
TJ, Allison, and Sissy had returned.

“Sissy rides alone?” Marion asked in horror.
The little girl sat upon a large brown and tan paint. “Well, if she can do it,
so will I. She’s only a child.” Marion sat up straighter.

“I’ll ride with her over to Betty’s,”
Allison said.

“I’ll go with you.” TJ maneuvered his horse
along side Allison’s. “Train, why don’t you take Marion into the north fields? We’ll
meet you in about an hour.”

Allison and TJ took off in an easy pace for
Sissy to keep up with. Her little form bounced on top of her horse as she
followed close behind her parents.

“I can’t believe Sissy rides that big
horse.” Marion shook her head. She watched them ride away.

“She’s been riding since she was old enough
to sit on a horse.” Train’s mount fell into step beside hers. “Do you want
children someday?”

Marion
choked as she laughed. “In my business, children are a distraction.”

“I see your point.” He glanced out over the fields
of brush and scrub. “I’ll race you to the lake,” he said, changing the serious
nature of the conversation.

“You just put me on a horse, and now you
want me to race this beast? You must think I’m a loon.”

He sent a daring smile in her direction.
“You can name the prize.”

She looked down at her horse’s strong legs.
His tail swished against the insects buzzing around. Something in the way his
hooves pranced on the ground said he itched to stretch his legs and run. Marion figured with what she lacked in experience, she made up for in weight differential.
Where her stature was thin, the mold of Train’s body was like twisted steel.
“If I win, we go swimming.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Not what I
expected. Hardly scandalous at all.”

“Naked, Train. We drop our clothes at the
water’s edge and frolic naked. And that’s not all. I can’t swim so you have to
stay close to me.” She winked. “Very close.”

Train licked his lips. “I’m not sure whether
I should give Clive his head. What if I win?”

“What do you want? And be reasonable,” she
said. “Don’t ask for anything you know I won’t do. This isn’t a difficult choice
considering what I want.”

“I want you to stay an extra couple of days
and get to know me better.”

Marion
didn’t give Train a response, but instead dug her heels into Midnight Dancer
and took off in what she hoped was the direction of the lake. She heard Train
shout an expletive as he issued a command to his horse.

Marion
leaned in close to the horse and tried not to look at the blur of ground
underneath the thundering hooves. She closed her eyes to the sting of the wind
and hoped Midnight Dancer knew to stop when he got close to the lake. The
pounding of the horse’s hooves vibrated through her body as she leaned into the
mane and prayed she wouldn’t fall.