Wilson's Hard Lesson (75 page)

“I guess I better go try to sleep again.”

“Yeah.” Her foot caught on a rock and she began falling
headfirst. His arms wrapped around hers and brought her tightly against him
where he was now standing. Her arms came up to wrap around his neck and his
lips dropped to hers in instinct. She moaned deeply as his tongue slipped into
her mouth tracing each corner. She pressed herself tightly against him. He
pushed her up against the door and kissed her harder. “Come on.” Turning he
took her hand and pulled her towards the barn. One inside, he lit the lantern
there with the matches on the side and then pulled her down into the hay with
him. She was surprised to see that it was actually quite soft and comfortable
as his body laid over hers. He began kissing down her neck and back up to her
lips before he was helping her to remove the dress and then her long underwear
underneath. She quickly helped him to remove his shirt and pants. She gasped at
the first contact of his skin on hers and she moaned as he kissed along her
collarbone and down to gently bite her nipple.

“Oh god.”

He lavished her breasts with his mouth and tongue, not
leaving one piece of them untouched and the he grasped her hips as he looked
down at her he positioned himself at her entrance. She looked up at him with
half hooded eyes and marvelled at him looking down at her. As he slowly began
to push inside her she gasped at the feeling of herself stretching. It had been
so long since she had sex that she had forgotten the feeling. Her head fell
back as she closed her eyes and just felt him slide into her. He pulled out
before thrusting inside her again, repeating himself over and over. She felt
her body slide along the hay as he pushed inside of her over and over. He began
to thrust faster and harder and she couldn’t help but want more. She was making
small mewling sounds as she met each of his thrusts with her hips. He watched
her head toss back and forth on the ground. Grabbing both sides of her head
with his, hands he lowered his mouth to kiss her deep as he began thrusting
more and more. She was glad when he leaned up again so that she could see the
desire across his face. The pleasure was building inside her and she couldn’t
fight in anymore. She knew he was holding back, making sure she got pleasure
from their union. She felt herself clench around him with her climax as she
burst in ecstasy. Somewhere in the midst of her orgasm she heard him utter his
satisfaction as he himself exploded above her. They laid there for a few
minutes in each other’s arms and then he sat up on the hay.

“I am sorry. That should not have happened.” He felt
horrible taking advantage of her. She deserved better than that. She was almost
dressed when she looked at him and answered. Thinking he was having second
thoughts due to his wife she wanted to make sure he understood. Nodding she
turned to head back to the house.

“It’s ok. I understand. You didn’t do anything I didn’t want
you to. I better get back.” She hurried back to the house before he could see
the tears welling into her eyes. She didn’t want to make him feel any worse
than he already did. She laid on the bed with her head in the pillow as she
heard the door a few minutes later. Soon she was fast asleep.

The next day they Lexi awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs.
“Oh man that smells so good.” Lexi laughed as she made her way down the ladder.

“Thank you.” Clara turned to smile at her.

“Pa said we could go to the lake today and have a picnic.
Can you swim? We go swimming there too when we go.”

“I wanted to make sure it was ok with her first Lexi.
Breakfast smells wonderful.”

“Thank you.” She handed him a cup of coffee as she flipped
the eggs. She avoided his gaze feeling a little embarrassed about what had
happened the night before. She did, however, tell herself that morning that it
wouldn’t change anything. She wouldn’t let it. “So a picnic uh? Well, I have
just the thing. I have some chicken I can put with some biscuits I made this
morning. I made extra for dinner and I have something special. Lemonade.”

“What’s that?”

Clara looked over at Lexi in wonder. “You have never had
lemonade? Well, honey, you are in for a treat today. It is so refreshing and
sweet. You will love it. I promise. I put some in a jug we can put into the
lake to keep cool.”

Lexi bounded up and down in excitement. “Ok and there’s a
pear tree and peach tree there too.”

“Yum. Maybe we can pick some before we leave and I’ll make
some jam.”

“Yes, please. But I have to help Pa plant tomorrow.”

“That’s ok. How about this. We can both help him tomorrow
and then the next day we will make the jam.”

“Can we Pa? Uh?”

“Yes. Lexi that sounds good.” He looked up and his eyes met
Clara’s. They both smiled at the other aware that the other was thinking the
same thing they were. Their kiss the night before.

The picnic was wonderful and Clara was marvelled in the
beauty of the landscape as she sat on the side and watched the two of them jump
into the water in their long underwear. She had worn her own as well and wanted
to go in but was a little embarrassed about undressing in front of Craig.

“Come on Clara. You have to come in. It’s fun right Pa?”

“Yes please do. It’s nice and cool.”

Shrugging she walked over to the side of a huge rock and
began to undress. Laying her clothes on the rock, she gently stepped into the
water. She was unaware that the man right down from her watched every move she
made.

Craig watched as she began to walk to the lake. He would
have thought them crazy if a man had told him that a woman looked sexy in long
underwear, but there was Clara looking gorgeous as always. The underwear did
little to hide her curves or her body either and he could only imagine what
they were going to look like when they were wet and plastered against her skin.
He needed to think about something else. Turning, he hoisted Lexi high in the
air and laughed at her squeal as he tossed her. She came up sputtering and
laughing.  He felt her presence beside him before he heard her.

“You were right. This is great.” Just then Lexi jumped up
and splashed her. “Why you little fish.” She dived under the water to tickle
her toes and Lexi swam away as fast as she could before coming back to her
father and asking him to throw her again. After two more, times, she laughed
and came up.

“Throw Clara daddy. Like you used to momma.”

“I don’t think…” He started but was cut off.

“I don’t think your daddy can lift me that high.” Clara
laughed.

“Is that a challenge?”

Her eyes widened at his statement. Just then his hands were
around her waist. She squealed loudly when she felt herself being thrown into
the air and then splashing down into the water. She came up laughing. “That was
no fair. You didn’t give me a chance to run.”

“You can’t run in this family honey.” They were all laughing
soon and he was taking turns throwing the both of them. Lexi continued to play
in the water as Clara decided to get out. Following behind her to the blanket
they had spread out Craig sat beside her. He was right. The wet underwear made
her look even more beautiful.

They sat there and laughed as they watched Lexi.

“How long were you planning on staying Clara?”

She turned to look at him with a stricken look. “What do you
mean?”

“I mean I know James said that you needed a place until you
got back on your feet. Lexi is becoming attached to you so… I just don’t want
to see her hurt is all.”

“Oh. I understand.” The smile fell from her face quickly as
she listened to his words. “I guess I will leave on the next stage back home
then. With the money, you have given me I can find a place to live until I find
work.”

“Ok.”

“Ok.” The rest of the time was spent in silence as they were
both caught up in their own thoughts.

She felt her stomach turn and do a flip-flop. Did he
suddenly not want her there anymore? Why was he trying so hard to get rid of
her? Was it because of what had happened last night? She didn’t know but she
knew know it was time to move on. She wouldn’t stay where she wasn’t wanted.
Especially with the feelings that she was developing for him.

Time went by slowly over the next few days. Clara began to
slowly pack up her things. She was removing the books off the shelves and
putting them in her bag when Lexi came in.

“What are you doing?”

“Well, the stage leaves the day after tomorrow.” She had
assumed that Craig told Lexi she was leaving but by the look on the young girls
face she knew that she was mistaken.

“You mean you’re leaving? Why? I thought you liked us? I
thought you liked it here? I thought you were going to stay?”

“Honey, I can’t. I don’t fit in here. It isn’t where I
belong.”

“You’re wrong. You do belong here. You were supposed to be
my new momma. I saw you and papa kiss. I know you like each other? At least I
thought you did. Why don’t you like me and papa?” There were tears streaming
down her face as she looked up at her.

Lexi ran from the home and Clara went to go after her.
Unknowingly tears were streaming down her own face. She came to the porch and
watched Lexi run from the yard. Her eyes came up to meet Craig’s as he left the
barn. Looking towards where Lexi was running away he made his way over to her.
“What’s going on? What happened?”

Suddenly upset she glared at him. “You should have told her.
You tell me to go and then you don’t even tell your daughter I am leaving.
Shame on you Craig. Shame on you.” Turning she ran back into the cabin and slammed
the bedroom door shut.

Craig quickly followed behind her and stood outside her
door. His hand raised to knock but instead he stood there and listened to the
muffled sounds of her cries. Shaking his head in despair he made his way back
outside. He went in search of the person he could talk to and help. Lexi.

Two days had passed and Clara hadn’t spoken a word to him
since that evening except what was needed. She didn’t sit on the porch at night
either. After dinner she made her way into her room and shut the door for the
night. Lexi didn’t come out either. She went to the loft to lie down. He
listened to her cries and the first night fell asleep in the rocking chair not
wanting to disturb her.  He loaded the luggage onto the wagon and turned back
to look at Clara. She quickly averted her gaze. Just then Lexi came out and
decided she would rather sit in the back of the buggy by herself. They rode in
silence until they finally reached the town limits.

“Ms. Sterling I’m sorry to tell you that the stage won’t be
here for at least another day. They got caught up.”

“That is fine. I will get a room at the inn.”

“Ok ma’am. I will have one of the boys sit your stuff
upstairs in your room when you get settled.”

“Thank you.”

She turned to look at Craig and stared into his eyes. She
felt like her heart was breaking into a million pieces. Holding out her hand
she tried to smile. “Thank you, Mr. Wilson. It was good to meet you. Where is
Lexi?”

“She ran off when we got here. Thank you, Clara, for
everything.”

“Thank you.” She turned around to walk away as she felt the
tears well into her eyes. Just then she was ambushed by a little body.

“Thank, you, Ms. Clara. I will miss you forever. I love
you.”

Bending down she hugged the little girl tight to her chest.
“Oh, Lexi honey. I love you too. I will miss you greatly.”

“Will you miss Pa too?” The little girl asked in a pained
voice.

Clara looked up to meet Craig’s eyes. “Yes, I will.” Looking
back down, she kissed the little girl on the head. “Goodbye, honey. Remember
what I told you.”

“Yes, ma’am. Be there for papa and be good. Always remember
my manners and be a lady first.”

“That’s right.” Clara hugged her again and turned to walk
away without looking back. Lexi made her way back over to her father.

“Why’s she leaving papa?”

“Cause I wanted her to and she wants to go back home.”

“But her home is with us, papa. I know she doesn't want to
go back to Boston. She said so herself.”

He looked down at his daughter in wonder. “She did uh?”

“Yep. She said she would be glad if she never had to go back
to the big city. Do you feel about her the way you did momma?”

“I care about her yes. Your momma was special.”

“She’s special too Pa.”

“Yes, she is.”

“Then what are you doing still standing there like a bump on
a log? Go on up there and get her son.” He turned around to see Linnie standing
there with her hands on her hips. Her eyes were angry as she looked at him.
Standing beside her was a disgruntled Jones who just shook his head at him.

“Take it from me son if you are able to find a woman that
makes you feel the way she does then don’t let her walk outta your life. This
is your second chance son. What’re you waiting for?”

He looked down to see Lexi smiling up at him. Kissing her on
the cheek he quickly made his way to the inn and the room he knew Clara was in.
He knocked quickly on the door and it slowly opened. There stood a red faced
Clara. Her eyes were puffy and swollen and red rimmed from the tears that
steadily rolled down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I’m such a fool. Please come home.”

She wiped her face as he stepped closer and closer to her.
“What are you talking about. I thought you said?”

“I know. Now I’m saying come home. Your home is with me and
Lexi. Your place is beside me. I don’t want you to leave.”

“But I thought...”

“I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“I could never leave you and Lexi. Not of my own doing.”

“Oh. Clara, I was a fool please forgive me.”

“Tell me why you want me to go home with you Craig. Give me
a reason to stay.”

“Because I love you damn it. Isn’t that reason enough?”

“You love me?” Her eyes looked up with wonder as they met
his. “Really?”

“Would I be standing here telling you if I didn’t?”

“Oh, I love you too Craig.”

“Good then marry me then.”

“Yes. Yes, I will marry you.” His lips met hers and she felt
his arms wrap around her and bring her closer to him.

Behind them, they were faintly aware of the cheering from
down below and one little girls voice.

“Thank goodness. I needed a momma. And I think he picked the
best one. Bout time.”