His familiar scowl was back. “Well, Miz Haynes, I can't deny that I care something for you. But those words I told Esperanza, well, they won't come easy out of my mouth again. You might never hear me say them. And you do know I need fresh air on my face and stirrups underneath my boot heels.”
“I do know that,” she said, tingling that he admitted he had feelings, but the desolation crept back, too. Then he moved to place his head in her lap like Jake and Gracey had done for an enviable time on the picnic.
“But I can't deny either that I like a light shining in the window and a woman waiting inside.” He smiled crookedly up at her. Then he tensed. “I can't say how long I'll stay, but I reckon I won't be leaving tomorrow.” His eyes gleamed with sudden wickedness. “It would mean sharing a bed.”
“Mr. Haynes, that was all your doing, sleeping out under the stars,” she said primly, swallowing her elation so as not to scare him off. Then he lay down and reached for her, lips brushing across her hair.
“Sorry about your hat, Minda.”
She shrugged against his chest. “Yes, well, it was rather impressive.”
“Your hat or my roping?”
“Both.” She giggled, snuggling tighter. His lips found hers then, and not for the first time, she realized the perfect fit.
“Prettiest you ever looked outside of that wedding veil,” he murmured before his tongue teased hers. Her breasts heaved and her body all but cried out.
But reality, and thoughts of the children, intruded. Still, she could hardly speak. “Mercy, that was better than the gallows.”
“Gallows?”
“Where we had our victory kiss.
“Gallows.” He laughed loudly but not in derision. “Hell—beg pardon, Minda—that's nothing but the scaffold for orations whenever the alderman needs re-electing.”
She helped him to his feet just as much as he helped her, already breathless for the night ahead in bed with him.
Like a regular family, they found the children and enjoyed the fair. Geraldine Hackett relinquished Priscilla without a qualm and loaned the pram that Katie and Ned took turns pushing. Minda and her husband held hands just like Jake and Gracey.
“Gracey allow she's expecting another child?” Brixton said in a voice she hadn't heard before.
She nodded against her husband's shoulder but couldn't find words of her own.
“It's time for prizes now,” Katie shrieked, saving Minda from mouthing any sort of reply.
Strawberry wore a ring of flowers around his neck, and Brixton went to coddle him affectionately as he accepted his prize money. But Dicey had won, too.
“We got a green ribbon, Uncle Brix,” Ned said. “It isn't the blue one we came for, but we love it just as much.”
* * * *
Night had fallen soft and warm. It was almost bedtime, and Minda trembled with delight and anticipation. The family had stuffed themselves full at the fair with cakes and fried chicken. Minda had been spared the preparation of another meal.
Now Brixton was washing up outside, getting ready for bed.
“Mama,” Neddie said, hanging around her suddenly trembling knees, “our new puppy can sleep with me, can't he?”
It was hard to resist the child. His demeanor all day had been one of cheerful excitement, but he hadn't convinced her that his bad dreams had diminished. The soft warmth of another living creature was sure to keep him good company.
But Clem had warned otherwise, temporarily.
“Sweetheart, Clem says the pup can do his business outside, but we were gone all day and couldn't practice with him. Won't you let him keep Dicey company in the barn for a night or two, just until we're sure? You know what a special day this has been for Dicey. She needs a friend, too.”
Ned opened his mouth, but she said, “No. You and Uncle Brix are not sleeping in the barn with them. You can cuddle with your toy dog, all right?”
“All right.” He nodded, weariness clouding his big blue eyes. “I love them both.” Bending down, he caressed the puppy into a wriggling ball of happy fur.
“Now, clean your teeth and get to bed. Uncle Brix will be in to tuck you both.” It had become Brixton's special tradition with the children, and her heart warmed again. He wasn't leaving. It wasn't forever, but at least they had a while. And he would cuddle her each and every night until he went. There'd be no more barn or bedroll sleeping for her husband.
She was already naked under the covers, filled with a tumultuous anticipation greater than any of the other times, when she heard Brixton begin the children's lullabies. Soon, he came in the bedroom bearing a lit candle, and she quivered deliciously at the sight of him.
“This was quite a day.” He smiled down at her as he slid from his clothes. In the candle glow, she saw how ready and willing he was. She rose up on one elbow, her right hand extended to caress his turgid flesh.
“No, Minda. It might be time...” He looked away for a second.
Alarm flared. His manhood raged but his voice sounded unsure, somehow. She drew her hand away almost in shame. Did he want to prevent a child?
“Minda, what I mean is, I want you to hold me, there. Like you do. But sometimes a woman pleasures her man. Like I pleasured you, with my mouth.”
“You mean?” Her wonder increased. But instead of waiting for further instruction, she moved toward his manhood and he stood as close as he could to the bedside. His manhood angled perfectly toward her mouth. For a second, she looked close up at the length and hardness and the heat, and her womanhood tightened.
She met his eyes with a little nod and bent to blow out the candle.
“No, don't.” His hand landed on her hair. “It's a special thing between a man and wife, Minda. I want to watch.”
With a maidenly gulp, she took the length of him inside her mouth, her tongue tickling the tip that had taken her virginity with such firm gentleness. Remembering his thrusts, she moved her head back and forth, keeping him from her teeth. At his groans, her nipples ached for his touch, and her emptiness below was almost excruciating. But she wanted to be generous. This moment was for him. For a flash, she let him slip out so her tongue could travel the length of him, and that was when his knees buckled.
“Oh God, Minda.” He choked almost desperately.
With no chance to stroke her own magic places, he plunged deep into her core. She gasped, for she was still nearly as tight as a maiden, but she was ready. Already her body knew how to respond to him, this man, her husband. Her thighs wrapped about his waist, and she matched his force and motion. Her blissful spot exploded just as his face shuddered in what she knew was the moment his seed reached the richness of her womb.
He blew out the candle with another of his wicked smiles and climbed in beside her. He fell sleep almost at once, holding her as if he'd never let her go.
For Minda, sleep took a while coming. She was satiated. Brixton had made her a woman all the way, and a wife as well as he knew how. But her happiness had a sprinkle of sadness.
Just after sunup, she woke, hearing the puppy's plaintive whines all the way from the barn. It was nearly time to milk Mabel. She grinned to herself. Brixton was an awfully good teacher in so many ways. As she dressed, she watched the shadows of him sleeping tight in the tussled bedclothes. The memory of their love sport started her breathless and nearly moaning.
The purple gown he liked could last another day of chores, but Minda promised herself she'd head for the mercantile and buy a new length of dress goods as soon as she could. Shafts of dawn from the window above the loft brightened the barn as did the large open door. Even still, she couldn't see the little dog anywhere. But his whimpers touched her heart. He wasn't on the blanket she'd shaped into a bed for him, but no way had he gotten into the horse or cow stalls.
Then, above her, mixed in with the mews of the barn cats that inhabited the loft, she heard agitated whimpers. Why on earth had Brixton put the pup to bed in the loft, chancing that the poor little thing would come tumbling down? She'd definitely have to speak her mind.
“I'm coming, little one,” she crooned, as she started up the ladder, wondering if Brixton had built this, as well. It was firm and strong.
“Come right on up, little lady. I'm sitting here awaiting,” hissed a terrible voice as she reached the top rung. A strong hand gripped her hair and pulled her into the loft, then let her go. She sank into a heap, heart pounding with indescribable horror. Her lips parted.
“And I suggest you don't scream. ‘Less you want this dog skinned alive right in front of you.” Hot smelly breath shaped the words as the intruder held a knife to the belly of the squirming dog. He was young, but his smirk was brown with missing teeth.
She hesitated. Her lungs held no air. Her blood had stopped running. Even the hair on her head tensed, although he no longer had his miserable fingers on it.
“Who are you? What is this about?” she finally asked. His filthy eyes roaming her up and down made her feel like she needed a bath.
“Name's Delaware Peavy, ma'am. You can all me Del. That man you just sent on to jail, why, Brentwood and me are cousins. And you're gonna pay.”
Her throat tightened like it had a noose around it. Sacrificing the puppy was not as terrible an option as costing her own life, but she couldn't give in without a fight.
“You men are horse thieves. What do you want with a dog?”
“Dog don't matter. A ruse to get you up here. Busted the lock easy and saw you coming out here with your milking pail. I figured then and there your horses aren't enough. I want you.”
“But the Perkins gang...”
“Ahab and his cronies don't mean a thing. We just rode with them for a week or two. It's always been Del and Brent. But now I'm alone and it's your fault. And it's been an age since I had a woman.” He leered as his knife point nicked the puppy's tender flesh. A stream of blood trickled to the straw, and the animal yelped.
Minda's disgust and fury outweighed any fear. She'd dealt with this man's cowardly cousin not long ago. Her husband had taught her well.
“Oh, Peavy. Put down the dog. At least be a man.”
“Don't give me orders, little lady. I am all man.” His smirk disgusted rather than terrified her. “I'm gonna have some fun with you. Slice up this dog then slit your throat and nab those horses ‘afore your man gets out of bed.”
Minda held on to her composure. “If you honestly think that, you're terribly wrong.”
Her sitting position was actually a fortunate one. It was easier to lift her skirt and reach for the gun Brixton had suggested she always keep with her.
Her actions were quick. But Peavy was just as quick. He tossed the dog away and grabbed her ankle.
“Ah, no you don't, little lady.”
Chapter Sixteen
Brix stretched, missing Minda. Her side of the bed wasn't warm anymore, but he still smelled those roses on the pillow they'd shared. Milking time. His manhood rose in morning joy as he remembered claiming her soft body in the straw, and last night, loving her special heat.
The kids were all asleep. Thrilled at the opportunities ahead, Brix slipped into trousers and boots and set out for the barn. The dawn breeze teased his bare nipples and tightened them, but nothing compared to Minda's fingertips.
From somewhere inside the barn, the pup whined. Probably needed its breakfast. His forehead furrowed a bit. It wasn't like Minda not to tend any needy thing. Stepping through the barn door, he heard scuffles and the loud grunts of struggle coming from the loft.
“Minda? You all right?” He ran for the ladder, unease clawing his back. His lungs breathed more dread than air.
“Brixton, he's got a knife,” Minda shrieked. A boot kicked the ladder to the ground.
“And don't you go raising that ladder up, mister.” A pocked-face, skinny man rose on his knees and yanked Minda's long hair until she was dragged to the edge of the loft. Her eyes met Brix's with a message he tried hard to read.
Brix lunged on instinct alone.
“Now, now,” the man taunted, holding Minda tight with a knife at her neck. “Won't take much to slit this pretty little throat.”
Blood trickled down Minda's white skin and turned black on the purple dress. Sweat drenched Brix, and his heart slammed hard against his ribs. A good twenty feet separated them, and for now, he had no way up. Minda would be murdered before he could lift the ladder, much less climb up.
Unless she wore a gun like he'd told her.
“Del Peavy at your service, mister. And damn ready to service your woman. Now, now, missy,” the man said to Minda, “seems your man taught you well, that gun on your leg. Too bad you couldn't get past ole Del to reach it.” His empty eyes stared down at Brix in a measuring way. “Hmm. Your man came out here unprotected. More's the pity.”
Brix's spirits crashed to the soles of his feet. Minda had lost her weapon. Dismay turned to mortal dread. Once again, he might lose something he hadn't known he wanted to keep. Who was this Peavy? Somebody left behind by Ahab Perkins?
Minda had been grabbing for the man's knife, but now she stopped and sank into the straw, lowering Peavy's knife arm along with her. But Peavy still knelt tall, smirking down at him. Minda looked down at Brix with determination.
Truth to tell, her face was full of feistiness, not defeat or fear. And then he knew what her wide eyes and small nods told him. She was remembering the knife he always kept in his boot.
She was getting out of his knife's way as well as she could. “Not much of a man, here, Brixton. Threatening to kill a little dog. And a woman.”
Peavy scowled at her insult, eyes off Brix and his guard down as he nodded. “Worked though, didn't it, lady? Don't think your man's gonna like—” His knife blade sliced off her top button. “—what I do next.”
Brix's teeth ground with a loud noise, seeing the man's hands on his wife. But with the knife off her neck, Minda wrenched free and punched Peavy's nose with her fist. Quick as lightning, Brix raised his left knee and slipped his hand into his left boot at the same time. His knife sliced through the air in an upward arc, meeting its aim.