Authors: Destiny's Surrender
The laughing Drew said, “I don’t think she’s ever been kissed that way before.”
Logan said, “Let’s hope she doesn’t take a bullwhip to him.”
Mariah cracked, “She’ll have to figure out where she is first.”
“She does look pretty woozy,” Naomi pointed out.
Billie had to agree. Her very formidable mother-in-law appeared to be a bit unsteady on her pins. She thought it wonderful that Alanza had found love at her stage in life. Max seemed to be just what she needed, and he obviously wasn’t afraid of her at all.
When the crowd finally quieted and she’d gathered herself again, Alanza added that the wedding would be held during her annual birthday celebration later in the summer, and that everyone was invited.
Billie was stunned at the announcement. “She’s inviting everyone here!”
Drew drawled. “May as well. She always invites half of creation anyway.”
“No one gives a birthday party the way she does,” Mariah added. “And it lasts at least three days.”
She’d never heard of such a thing. She hadn’t minded the small group of neighbors that attended Tonio’s and Maria’s birthday, but for Billie birthdays had never been anything to put on the dog for. She acknowledged it when she got up in the morning, then got on with her day. She wondered when Drew’s birthday was.
A bit later, while people were enjoying their ice cream and other desserts, Eli Braden walked to the spot in the clearing Max and Alanza had occupied earlier and in a loud voice called out Naomi’s name.
Everyone looked her way but her response was, “Eli Braden can kiss my grits.”
Billie spit punch and grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth.
Mariah said, “Now, Naomi.”
“Don’t now Naomi me.”
Logan said, “You’re bad as Alanza.”
“Hush,” she advised giving him a smoking glare.
“Hushing,” he replied, grinning.
“How long are you going to punish him?” Mariah asked her. “Eli loves you, and quiet as it’s kept, you love him, too.” Naomi opened her mouth to dispute that but Mariah stopped her. “Lie, and lightning will strike you dead.”
Naomi closed her mouth.
Billie sure wished she knew what this was all about but was having too much fun to interrupt and ask.
Logan said, “He’s still waiting for you.”
Lips tight, Naomi viewed the standing Eli as if weighing her decision. She finally let out an audible exasperated sigh and got to her feet. “Okay.” She strode off.
“Will someone please tell me what this is about?” Billie asked.
Logan explained. “A few years back when Eli was courting Naomi, she found out he had a few other women he was paying court to as well, so she gave him the boot. He tried to get her back by making her jealous and brought another woman with him to eat at her diner.”
“Didn’t go well, I’ll bet.”
Mariah interrupted, “From what I heard from Naomi, no. Apparently men don’t think these things through real well.”
“Hey!” Logan and Drew protested in unison.
She grinned but ignored them.
Logan took up the tale again, “Anyway, Eli’s lady friend decided she’d gloat a bit, and when Naomi came to take their order, she said, ‘Naomi, you might want to quit sampling your pies honey, otherwise you’re going to have to widen the doors.’ ”
Billie’s eyes went big. “What did Naomi say?”
“It wasn’t what she said, it’s what she did. She went in the back and got a pail of dishwater. She poured half of the dirty contents on the woman’s head and the other half on Eli’s.”
Billie stared and then laughed.
Logan added, “He had on his best suit, too. Never was able to wear it again.”
Drew chuckled. “The course of love never runs smooth, or something like that.” He turned to his son sitting in his lap, “If you see a woman coming with dishwater, run, okay?”
Billie grinned.
Meanwhile, up in the circle, whatever Eli was saying to Naomi was too quiet for anyone to hear, but he was on one knee and Naomi’s stern face was now soft with tears. He handed her a small box that she opened and then cried harder.
Mariah whispered, “Aww. So sweet. How come you didn’t propose to me on one knee?”
Logan gave her a look. “Fooling with you, I only had one knee, remember?”
Drew laughed so hard at the comment Billie thought he might hurt himself. Once again she was left in the dark.
Mariah leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I kicked him in the knee the day we met.”
“Ah.”
However the smile he beamed at his wife was filled with love, so apparently the incident was now a source of amusement.
Next they knew Eli was imitating Max and kissing Naomi in front of God and everybody. Once again cheers rang out across the meadow.
“Now, who’s looking woozy?” Mariah asked laughing. “Isn’t love wonderful?”
Billie’s eyes met Drew’s. “Yes it is.”
By the time evening rolled around people were packing up to head home. Hugs of good-bye were shared and children and families were rounded up. Billie saw Jenna Lane walking with a woman and a young boy she assumed to be her Benjamin. Jenna waved and Billie waved in return. She didn’t know if their reconnecting today would evolve into a friendship but she wished Wanda well.
Drew and the workers were calling it a day, too, so carrying her worn-out son, she went to meet him. As she was walking, she ran into Bonnie. They stopped and spoke for a moment about what a good time everyone had. Bonnie then reached into the pocket of her skirt and withdrew an envelope. “With all the goings on, I forgot to give you this wire. Messenger delivered it earlier.”
“Thanks.”
While Bonnie walked on Billie opened the wire and read:
SOON.
P. DuChance.
A chill coursed through her and she was left shaken by the unexpected warning. It had been sent to both frighten and intimidate and had done its job well. She drew in a breath and stuck the warning in her pocket. With her hate for Prince rekindled she went to find her husband.
A
fter the departure of the workers and their families, Alanza sat with Max on the bench overlooking the river. He had his arm draped over the back of the seat. His nearness rendered her as nervously aware of him as a young girl with her
novio.
“It was a good day,” he said.
“Yes, it was.”
“How’d folks treat Billie?”
“Very well for the most part. There were a few gawkers, and I had to ask Felicity Deeb to leave. She said her moral standards were too high to associate with an adventuress, as she called Billie.”
“I saw her and Jim arguing, but didn’t know what it was about, or much care considering who it was. Jim looked livid when she stormed off toward the road. I could tell he didn’t want to follow, but he had no choice. She wears the pants and everyone knows it.”
“He’s going to be even more livid when he’s not invited to the wedding because I don’t want Felicity there.”
“Fine with me.”
Jim Deeb was the former head of the cattlemen’s association. When he lost the office to Logan a bit over a year ago, he threw his hat in the ring for mayor. Alanza doubted he’d be voted in due to his penchant for taking bribes, the main reason why the cattlemen relieved him of his gavel.
“Speaking of choices: Where are we going to live?” Max asked.
“I assumed you’d move into the house with me.”
“Did you now?”
“No?”
“I suppose I could. Be nice if we had a place of our own.”
“Soon as Drew and Billie move into their house, it will be our own.”
He glanced her way and then turned back to the water.
“What?” she asked.
“I’m building us a bed.”
“I have a bed.”
“And how long has it been in your family?”
“I’m not sure. It originally belonged to my mother.”
“We’re not having our wedding night in your mother’s bed.”
“Oh.”
He chuckled softly.
“What’s so funny?”
“You, my love. I feel like I’m marrying someone who should have a duenna nearby.”
“I’ve had two children, Max Rudd.”
“I know that and this is not a swipe at Abe but have you ever screamed in bed? From pleasure, I mean.”
“Screamed? Of course not. I did my duty and Abe was very tender and respectful but there was never any screaming involved. Why would there be?”
“Because sometimes the pleasure can be so much you have to let it out.”
She stared at him, confused. “What are you talking about?”
He traced her cheek. “Nothing, Lanz. We’ll talk about it on the wedding night.”
Alanza knew she was missing something but had no idea what it was. She sensed he was amused by her and she wasn’t sure what her response should be other than storming off, but she set that aside.
“Didn’t mean to get you upset.”
“I’m not upset.”
He leaned close and brushed his lips softly against hers. “Yeah, you are . . .”
Every inch of her body fluttered in response. She’d never had a man do to her what he was doing to her; never had her lips coaxed with such sweet softness, or had the corners kissed gently until they parted as if possessing a mind of their own. Only then did he press his mouth to hers and kiss her truly. The fluttering turned into tiny shooting stars and somewhere inside a presence awakened that she had no name for. When his mouth strayed over her jawline she lost touch with where and who she was, so she forced herself to back away.
He traced a finger slowly over her lips. “Come. I’ll walk you back.”
Later, alone in her bedroom, Alanza studied herself in the mirror. She touched her lips. Why was kissing him so different than it had been with Abe?
Abe didn’t love you. I do. It’ll make a difference.
His words came back to her as clearly as if he were standing at her side. Apparently it made a world of difference. She’d never lost herself the way she had for those few short moments. It occurred to her that she needed to have a talk with someone about all this, because apparently there was more to what went on between a man and a woman than she knew.
“T
he only parts of my body that don’t ache are my eyebrows,” Drew confessed tiredly while soaking in the tub. “Climbing the stairs just now nearly killed me.”
Billie chuckled. “Physical labor not much called for in your line of work, eh, Mr. Lawyer?”
“Don’t start. It was bad enough having to endure Logan’s teasing.”
“You poor thing.” She stood behind him and slowly kneaded the muscles in his shoulders and neck.
After a minute or two of silence, he purred, “A good woman is worth her weight in gold.” His eyes closed. “Think I’ll just slip beneath the water and let drowning put me out of misery.”
“Don’t you dare.”
“Have I told you I loved you today?”
“Not that I remember, no.”
“Well I do, and not because you have the hands of a goddess.”
She moved her ministrations higher up his neck. “Liking this, are you?”
“
Dios,
yes. I’d let you work on something a bit lower if I had the strength.”
She peeked over his shoulder and saw him rising to the occasion. “I think it’s jealous.”
“I know it is.”
Moving to the edge of the tub, she took a seat and reached down into the warm water. “Maybe . . . if we go very slow . . .”
He groaned with pleasure.
“Slow enough?”
“Oh, hell yes.” He was moving sinuously to the decadent rhythm. Drew considered himself the luckiest man in the world. His wife was not only beautiful and a wonderful mother, she was absolutely scandalous behind closed doors—every husband’s dream. “Don’t ever leave me.”
She laughed softly. “Don’t worry. You’re stuck with me now, Andrew Yates.”
“Hmm. Not a bad idea.” He lifted her and set her atop him.
“Drew!” she cried as she entered the water. “I thought you were tired.”
“I was.” He raised the hem of her nightgown and slowly pushed his way home. Watching her eyes flutter closed and her features soften in response to his own decadent rhythm made him harden even more. “We’re going to wind up with more little conquistadores running us ragged if we keep doing this without a sponge.”
She sighed. “As long as there are a couple of little queens too, I don’t mind if you don’t.”
Her nightgown was drenched and clinging to her skin, throwing the tight buds of her breasts into tempting relief. Unable to resist he brought her closer so he could play.
She moaned. “There’s going to be water all over the floor again . . .”
He didn’t reply. He was too busy savoring the way her gorgeous breasts flexed in his hands and swelled in response to his tonguing and tender bites. Moving the sodden gown up to her waist, he cupped her hips to increase the pace and the water rippled and sloshed over the sides. “Let’s make a queen.”
By the time they were done and stretched out in bed, sated and dry, Drew was exhausted and Billie felt like they’d made a passel of queens. Lying side by side in the dark, she said, “Got a wire from Prince today.”
“What did it say?”
“Soon.”
“Soon?”
“Yes.”
He sighed. “Can I kill him the moment I see him?”
“Be my guest.”
He turned over. “Soon,” he echoed sarcastically. A heartbeat later he was snoring.
But because Prince had already shown what he was capable of, Billie laid awake for a long time thinking and wondering when he’d make his move. She was glad she’d been holding the gun classes because her skills with her Colt were sharp as ever. If she had to defend herself she might only get one chance to save her life.
When she awakened the following morning Drew was dressed and putting clothes into a valise. She struggled up. “What are you doing?”
“Packing. I’m going to San Francisco for a couple days.”
“Why?”
“To confront Prince DuChance. I’ll not have us looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives wondering when he’s going to show his ugly face.”
“Drew?”
“Nor will I have you terrorized, Mina.”
Billie studied the hard set of his features. “I don’t want you to end up dead, Drew Yates.”
“Neither do I, but this has to stop.”
She searched for a way to make him reconsider. “Will you at least take Logan with you.”
“No, this is my fight, not my brother’s.”
“I suppose all I get to say is, okay?”
He paused and met her eyes. “I’m sure you and I will have plenty to fight over in the years to come, but don’t fight me on this.”
Her lips thinned at his tone.
With his clothes and toiletries in the bag, he set it aside and came and sat near her on the bed. He reached out and traced a finger slowly down her cheek. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“As much as I love you.”
“And that’s why this needs to be done. I don’t want either of us walking around on eggshells because of a piece of offal named DuChance.”
“I understand, but you have to promise to keep yourself safe and come back to me.”
“Don’t worry. I’m going to be the first person to hold Callie after she’s born.”
“Callie?”
“The little queen we made last night. We’re naming her Callie after Queen Calafia.”
Billie laughed. “We are?”
“Yes.”
“And, I suppose all I get is say on this is okay, too.”
“Yes.” And he kissed her sweetly.
When the kiss ended, she placed a loving hand against his cheek. “Get yourself killed and I’ll dig you up and kill you again.”
“Understood.” He got to his feet. “Going to go say good morning to our son, and then set out for the train. I’ll leave you to tell Mama.”
“Coward.”
“Yes, I am. I’ll be back soon as I can.” With that he departed.
Billie sat in the silence he left behind and for the first time in a long time prayed.
L
ater, after breakfast, she let her mother-in-law know where her son had gone and why.
Alanza shook her head. “He’s always been more hotheaded than he should. Are you worried?”
“Yes.”
“So am I. But the fact that this DuChance had the nerve to send you a wire is infuriating. In a way I can’t blame Drew. I do wish he’d taken his brother, however.”
“Taken me where?” Logan asked walking into the parlor.
“To San Francisco to confront DuChance.”
“What?”
So the story was told again.
Logan said, “If this wasn’t so serious I’d say he left just so he wouldn’t have to work on the house today. Carpentry is not his strong suit. However, were someone holding a sword over my family’s head I’d be just as angry. Do wish he’d said something to me though. He knows I would’ve gone with him.”
Billie wished he had, but there was nothing they could do about his decision now.
Logan looked to Billie. “My brother can take care of himself. He’ll be back.”
His assurances were appreciated.
“Going to go meet Max out at your place. I’m going to town later. Let me know if either of you need anything.”
His exit left her and Alanza alone. Billie watched Tonio toddle over to one of the tables that held his
abuela’
s most prized vase. He eyed it then glanced at his mother as if gauging his chances of grabbing it, but his mother shook her head. “You’re going to get in trouble,” she warned. But knowing how determined he could be and the quickness he was capable of exhibiting, she walked over and picked him up. He wasn’t happy, and as he cried, she asked Alanza, “Do you think I could get Max to build a baby jail just for him?”
Alanza laughed. “I’m sure he would, and speaking of Max, may I ask you something, Billie?”
Billie handed her son the little stuffed chicken Lupe Gutierrez made for him a few weeks ago. The tears ceased and he immediately put it in his mouth. “Sure.”
“Have you ever screamed in bed?”
Billie’s eyebrow rose. “Um.” She had no idea what may have sparked the question or where the conversation might be headed, but she didn’t wish to make her mother-in-law any more uncomfortable than she already appeared to be. Had she heard them making love last night? “How about you tell me what this is all about first.”
“Max asked if I’d ever screamed in bed and I told him of course not. He said something about letting the pleasure out. I was hoping you could possibly explain it to me.”
Billie held on to her smile. She was liking Max Rudd more and more. “So do you want the unvarnished version or a roundabout kind of explanation?”
“Unvarnished, I suppose.”
“Then yes, I have screamed in bed with your son on numerous occasions. And if Max knows what he’s about you’ll scream, too.”
Her eyes grew large.
“You asked me, Alanza.”
“I know. I know. I just—go on.”
“The screaming part usually comes when you have an orgasm.”
Alanza’s blank look made Billie ask, “Do you know what that is?”
“No.”
She wondered how on earth that could be. “When you and your first husband made love, you never felt like you were going to fly apart?”
She shook her head. “No.”
Billie sat back and reminded herself that Alanza was part of an older generation and like many good women were discouraged from enjoying the pleasures lovemaking could bring. It wasn’t something discussed or even whispered about. Drew once told her some men believed good women didn’t have orgasms. “Okay. If the man you’re with knows what he’s about, as I said, the pleasure he gives you builds up inside, sort of like a pressure cooker or a boiler that has too much steam. When it blows, that’s called an orgasm and you feel like you’re flying apart.”
“Is it painful?”
“Not at all. I think it’s one of the best feelings in the world.”
“And it makes you scream,” she stated dubiously.
“Sometimes to the heavens. You lose your mind a little bit, too.”
The doubt on her face was so precious, Billie wanted to give her a reassuring hug.
“And this happens, how often?”
“If you’re lucky, it’ll be every time you make love.”
“Really?”
Billie nodded and waited as Alanza appeared to think that over.
“This is all very new,” she confessed.
“But it’s okay. Max seems like a good man. You’ll figure it out together.”