Rocky Mountain Wild (Rocky Mountain Bride Series Book 6) (20 page)

With his help, she unbuttoned the outer dress, then stripped down to her corset. She wore no drawers or stockings, and loosening her stays, she pulled down the corset and under-chemise just enough to show her nipples.

“Oh, Phoebe, you’re a grand sight,” her husband breathed, and she knelt, a triumphant smile on her face.

Once down in front of him, she went to work, putting all her training into pleasing him. Unbuttoning his trousers, she drew him out. Her hands looked tiny against the large, throbbing member, but it no longer intimidated her. First, she licked up one side and down the other of his hot flesh, then lapped at the crown, tasting the first drops of desire.

One of Calum’s hands came to the side of her head, stroking her in encouragement, but not guiding her.

Straightening her spine, she arched over his lap as much as she could, and slid her mouth as far down as she could on his cock.

“Oh, Phoebe,” he cried, his head back, his thighs hard as iron under her hands. She pulled off and did it again, making sure to suck the whole time she moved her mouth up and down. One hand went to the sack, cupping it gently.

Her other followed her mouth up and then went down, wet. She kept her mouth and hand working in rhythm until his balls tightened and he released into her mouth. Some of his seed went down her chin and she licked it up.

“Well done.” He reached down and plucked at her exposed nipples. His cock was still hard.

“Please, Calum,” she whispered from her place on her knees. Her tongue flicked out to lick his member. She knew he couldn’t resist her this way.

“Up you come, then. Climb on.”

With a smile, she rose and did so, sinking down. She stopped, and they both groaned.

“Full,” she grunted.

“So tight.” He bent his head to her chest, worrying her nipples. One hand smacked her bum. “Ride me, lass.”

Throwing back her head, Phoebe rode her husband, letting her body take over. She was a wild thing, fast and free, and safe in her husband’s strong hands. She shook her breasts at Calum and his hands went to them, his fingers plucking at her nipples to guide her pace. At the sharp pain, her cunny clenched tight, and Calum’s whole body responded, bucking hard and stiffening as he came. Her mouth curved in satisfaction as she watched him come undone.

If only she could always feel this way: beautiful and powerful and strong. She’d spent her life cringing in the shadows, hiding away, and it was only in the dark bedroom, lost in the arms of her man, that she felt truly herself.

“You were a good girl today, Phoebe,” he told her when she lay in his embrace afterwards.

“Thank you.”

“I’m going to plug you every day now, and when you’re ready, I’ll tease you until you beg me to fuck your ass. What do you think of that?”

She caught her breath. Taking him inside her bottom hole seemed so naughty, but his words made her excited, though she didn’t want to admit it. “I don’t know.”

He chuckled. “Then we’ll have to find out.”

*

The days went on, growing colder. Phoebe felt her body getting stronger; she did her exercises faithfully and learned to balance on the poles. Calum let her have more freedom during the day, though he took care not to let her out of his sight. He kept to the yard, finishing his winter preparations, smoking and storing meat and splitting endless logs for firewood. As the days grew dark and colder, her husband became quieter, and Phoebe caught him looking very sad. Whenever she ventured to ask what was bothering him, he brushed her off. “Do not worry yourself, lass.”

Nights were her favorite time. Calum often bathed her, shaving her cunny and administering a clyster at least once a week. After bath time, he dressed her in thick socks and one of his shirts that served as a voluminous nightrail. Cradling her in his arms, he would settle them both in the great chair, pulling a fur robe over them as the nights turned cool.

Her eyes were usually tired from sewing all day, so it was nice to just sit in his lap, her cheek to his chest, and listen to him tell stories about growing up in Scotland with his pa.

As the fire died, as often as not, he would position her over his lap and spank her bum ‘to settle her’. She had to admit, the warm up her cheeks received had a calming effect. So did the pleasant release he always treated her to.

Calum took such good care of her, that almost before she knew it, the time came for the cast to come off.

She closed her eyes and squeezed Calum’s hand as Dr. Shepherd removed the mold, and stiffened when he washed her foot before examining it.

“Looks good.” At the satisfaction in the doctor’s voice, Phoebe furrowed her brow. She wanted to look, but was afraid to.

“Open your eyes, silly lass,” Calum breathed in her ear. “Your foot looks fine.” He sounded like he was almost laughing.

“It really is much, much better,” the doctor said. “It was a mild deformity and the bones have shifted perfectly. I’m very pleased.”

Phoebe finally looked at the appendage that had caused her so much misery. Wrinkled and a little smaller than her left foot, it was now straighter. It looked a bit different than her left foot, but the bend was mostly gone.

“Here,” Calum handed her the poles, “try walking with these.”

Dr. Shepherd cleared his throat. “Use the poles to walk for a few days, and gradually put more weight on it. Don’t push yourself too much.”

Still focused on her feet, Phoebe saw Calum nodding out of the corner of her eye. She swung her legs around off the surgery table, and tested her bare foot. The bottom of her foot planted tentatively on the ground, she used the poles to stand and marveled. Instead of having to walk on the edge of her twisted foot, she could step with the sole of her foot on the ground. Because of the exercises, the muscles in her leg were ready and able to correctly take her weight.

“Come to me, Phoebe.” Calum backed up and beckoned. Using the poles, she walked to her husband for what felt like the first time.

When she reached him and looked up into his eyes, she could’ve sworn she saw tears shining there. They hugged until Dr. Shepherd cleared his throat and continued his lecture.

“I still want you to take care on it, and keep doing your exercises and stretches. The method works but your muscles may want to return to their own ways, especially in times of stress.”

“We’ll do it,” Phoebe heard her husband answer. She was still in a daze. She could walk, and wear proper shoes like a pretty lady. It was too good to be true.

Esther came up and grabbed her hand. “Phoebe, it’s so wonderful; we must have a party. When’s your birthday?”

“In the fall, I think.”

“Wonderful. It’s October. We’ll have to celebrate it now.” Esther clapped her hands. “And you and Calum’s wedding at the same time. It’ll be wonderful.”

Phoebe swallowed hard, but didn’t say no. She didn’t want to offend the happy woman. But when Esther left the room, she grabbed Calum’s shirt.

“Please, a party—”

“It’ll be good for you, lass. I’ll speak to Esther, make sure she understands only a few couples who are my friends. Esther came from a large family, and she has none to speak of out here. She loves a great gathering, and wants to do something nice for you. Can you handle that?”

He made it sound like a party for her was a favor to Esther. Phoebe frowned a little to let him know she knew what he was doing, but she nodded.

“Good lass.”

She caught his sleeve before he turned away. “It’s just, I don’t want everyone to know.” She nodded to her foot.

Calum grinned broadly. “Trust me, lass, they’ll know something’s different, but most will not ken what. When you walk into a room, no one’s going to be looking at your feet.”

*

And so Phoebe found herself in a new blue gown with white ribbons in her black hair, sitting at the end of a table in the Shepherds’ large barn like building. Half the town was there, which is to say, six couples. Calum hovered, his usual melancholy banished as he mingled with people he knew.

Mrs. Martin commandeered a seat beside Phoebe. “There’s the birthday girl. I’ve been looking forward to this ever since Esther told us this celebration is for you. Laurie, do you have the gifts?”

Her husband, a short, balding man who did everything his wife said with a happy look, handed her a sack, and Phoebe’s eyes grew big as the woman pulled out parcel after parcel: thread, cloth, needles, a new thimble, plus a ham and few jars of preserves.

“Mrs. Martin, thank you,” Phoebe stammered. “It seems too much…”

“Pish posh, it’s your birthday, wedding and welcome celebration all in one. And it’s selfish of me, really. The way I see it, it’s just good business. You’ll be sitting at home all winter by the fire, with your wild husband tromping around the woods. Come spring you’ll have more than enough merchandise to sell me.”

Phoebe started to protest, and Mrs. Martin just waved her hand, “No, no, don’t thank me. This all would just lie on the stock shelves, no use to anyone. Now, we have to get back to the store. Come, Laurie.”

“Happy birthday, Mrs. MacDonnell,” Mr. Martin stammered, and flushing, followed his wife out.

Phoebe sat staring at the pile in front of her.

“We got you gifts too,” Esther said. “It’s not as fancy, but here.” The blonde showed Phoebe a little packet of bulbs. “I’ll help you plant them in front of your porch for spring.”

“Carrie wanted to give you a bridle for your mule.” Miles Donovan stepped up and laid the polished leather on the table. His wife had her arms full of their squirming daughter, but smiled at Phoebe from the big stone fireplace.

Rose, a striking redhead with a large, pregnant belly, spoke up. “I would’ve made you slippers, but I can’t stitch as fine as you.” The redhead looked embarrassed.

“My wife has many other talents,” her husband Lyle broke in, and at Rose’s nod, he set a parcel before Phoebe. “She picked this cloth for you.”

The shimmering blue silk was the finest Phoebe had ever seen.

“If you like, make something for yourself,” Rose said. “Calum, don’t let her sell it to Mrs. Martin.”

Calum agreed.

“Now we eat cake,” Esther announced.

As people milled about, eating and laughing and enjoying themselves, Phoebe sat staring at the pile of presents in front of her, biting her lip.

“You do not like your cake, lass?” Calum knelt beside her chair, and picked up her fork to offer her a bite. “Go on,” he crooned and fed her the sweet mouthful.

Phoebe tucked her head close to his, and when he put his arms around her, she pressed her face to his chest, grateful for the chance to hide.

“Oh, Phoebe, why are you crying?”

“I’m just happy.” She hugged him hard.

“I know you are.” The partygoers’ voices swirled around them, but in his arms she felt like they were a world apart, in their own little cocoon. “But you’re all right.”

Sniffling, she nodded.

“Tis a tad overwhelming, though.” He turned her in his arms so they both could look at the pile of presents. “I’m glad Miles gave us the mule in private, otherwise I’m sure Mrs. Martin would’ve made you parade around on it.”

She laughed.

“There’s my happy bairn.” He thumbed her cheek. “Enjoy your day. You deserve it.”

And Phoebe did. She still felt shy, but it didn’t matter. The couples came up one by one to wish her the best; Calum entertained the men while the ladies chatted with her. Esther played hostess, offering food and drink until everyone was bursting. If ever people clustered too close and Phoebe felt overwhelmed, Esther seemed to always know the right moment to swoop in and draw the attention from the birthday girl. Esther’s husband was much quieter, content to sit in the shadows with a smile on his face, watching his wife.

“Enjoying the party, Phoebe?” he asked during a lull, when everyone was watching Esther tell a story involving her, a trio of miners, a stubborn team of oxen and a cave of bats.

“Yes, Dr. Shepherd. I’m very grateful to your wife for planning it. And to you—” she added hastily. “For everything.”

He waved his hand. “It was a pleasure to help such a lovely young woman.” For a moment, they watched Esther regale her laughing audience, standing on a chair and miming the punchline. “You know,” Johnathan said. “My wife is much better at medicine than I. I may set bones and prescribe treatments to my patients, but she talks to them, feeds them, makes them laugh.”

“She’s wonderful,” Phoebe said.

“She is that. I work to heal my patients’ bodies, but she knows how to heal the soul.”

His eyes were glued to his blonde wife, which is why, when the chair under Esther wobbled a little and she let out a squawk as she almost lost her balance, the normally dignified Johnathan Shepherd shot out of his chair to steady the chair and help his wife down with a stern wag of his finger. Cheeks bright, Esther laughed and laughed, so of course everyone laughed with her. All except her beleaguered husband.

Clasping her hands together, Phoebe prayed she’d be able to live and grow in this community. She’d never had friends before. It was wonderful, and scary, to be so happy. What would she do if her family came for her and tried to take it away?

As if sensing her worry, Calum turned from his conversation. Catching her eye, he winked at her.

*

“You found a good man in Mr. MacDonnell,” Susannah said. The meal done, the men had gone outside to look at some land Jesse was considering building on. The women had settled around the table, taking turns holding or playing with Carrie’s daughter Mary. “I’ll never forget the first time I saw him burst out the woods with his wolf. He rescued me and my husband from members of the Royal Mountain gang when we first came to town.”

“And you know the story of the mother and son he carried through the snow on Christmas day?” Rose asked.

“I told her,” Esther said. “He was the hero of the night. And Carrie.”

“Calum’s very good with children.” Carrie smiled at Phoebe. “For such a big man, it’s very sweet.”

Once again, Phoebe had the vision of a troupe of sandy haired children in moccasins, following their father down a trail in silent single file.

“Carrie had Mary last year, and Rose will have her baby soon,” Esther said, watching the redhead rub her big belly. “So I bet you two are next.” She pointed to Susannah and Phoebe.