Ryder (Prairie Grooms, Book Two) (13 page)

“I am?” Constance asked in shock.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Oh dear, poor Eloise …”

“So I guess this means we’ll be seeing you in a couple of days,” Harrison said as he approached and took Honoria from her arms. He nuzzled the baby. “How’s my little plum cake?” he said in a high-pitched voice. Honoria squealed in delight and drooled.

Ryder smiled as he put his arm around
Constance. “We’ll be there, ya’all can count on it.  This sounds like it’s gonna be a sewin’ emergency.”

  “More like
a sewing surgery,” Sadie said flatly.

Constance giggle at the remark as Harrison handed her the baby. “Hold this a moment, will you?” She took Honoria from his arm
s and watched him help Sadie onto the wagon seat.  He then took the baby and handed her to his wife.  His little family settled, Harrison climbed up, sat, and took up the reins. “Two days it is then,” he said with a wave.

Constance felt her heart sink down to her stomach. For crying out loud, it was only two days!  She could get by for two days on Ryder and
Cutty’s company.  Oh yes, Cutty … she glanced to the barn and wondered what had become of him. He’d disappeared as soon as he saw Sadie. 

She sighed. Not only did she and Ryder need a new bed in order to start working on a family, they also n
eeded to get rid of their house guest. But from the looks of it, he was already gone.

* * *

Cutty trudged down a small path that led across the prairie to the tree line. He’d given Ryder the excuse he was going out to search for Camas bulbs, an edible plant the boy had shown him how to find when they first met. He ignored Ryder when he said it was too early in the year to find any, grunted some sort of answer, and set off anyway.  He had to get away from the ranch while Harrison Cooke and his wife were there, lest they get too close and recognize him. It wouldn’t do to be found out now, he’d not completed his work.

He stopped in the middle of the trail and looked at Ryder’s small cabin in the distance. “What work?” he said to himself with an impeccable English accent. “You blighter, the only work you have is to stay alive.”  He turned toward the trees and continued on. “But what about your grand plan of revenge, hmmm?”

He stopped again. “E-gads, I’m talking to myself! Has it really come to that?” He looked at his careworn clothing, stroked his long beard, then reached up and touched his matted hair. “Oh for the love of … I
have
to do something! Bloody Cookes! You’ve ruined everything!  Took all I ever had!” He tripped on a rock and stubbed his toe. “OW!” He grabbed his booted foot, and hopped around as he tried in vain to make the pain go away. “It should be me living the life of a duke!” He stopped jumping and shook a fist at the sky. “You! You did this to me! You and your … ohhh, bugger off!”

He stood there, breathing hard, and sat down. “All I ever wanted was an easy life. Was that too much to ask? A nice castle, a few estates, a wife,
three or four mistresses …” he shrugged. “I’m not greedy, just entitled. But noooo, Duncan Cooke holds the title while I sit here and rot!” He struck the grass with his fist. “No more. Maybe if I gave my dear cousin a reason to come back … that’s it!” He scrambled to his feet. “I’ll make it so Duncan
has
to come back to Clear Creek! Why didn’t I think of this before? Why, it’s brilliant!” He rubbed his hands together in glee and started to cackle. “Good Heavens! I do believe I’ve become a true villain!” He cackled again, in fact, he cackled so hard he started to cough and hack. Catching his breath, he once again sunk to the ground. “By the time I get through with you, Duncan Cooke, you’ll have nothing left! And then I’ll take your place …”

Ten

Because of Harrison and Sadie’s visit, some of the morning chores still needed to be done. Namely, Harriet, and Ryder was determined to make sure Harriet and Constance had a proper introduction.  Milking a cow, however, was not the sort of introduction to the beast Constance imagined, but here she sat, staring at parts of a cow’s anatomy she’d never seen before, and feeling completely out of place.

“Now, take the teat in
your hand like this, see?” Ryder said as he began his demonstration. 

Constance cringed. Harriet turned her head, looked at her, and mooed. “Are you sure she’s going to like this? She looks angry.”

“She’s not angry, Sugar, she’s not feelin’ too good on account she didn’t get milked on time.”

“
Ohhh, I don’t know if I can do this …”

“Sure ya can,” he said as he knelt in the h
ay beside her and patted her hip. 

She sat on a small three-
legged stool, her skirts about her, and leaned forward.  Thank Heaven she wasn’t wearing a corset! It would have made the job harder. “All right, show me again.”

He took the teat between his thumb and fore finger at the base, smiled at her, then gently squeezed. Milk squirted into the metal bucket he’d placed under Harriet
earlier. “See, that ain’t so hard is it? Now you try.”

She gulped, reached out, and placed her fingers in the same position she’d seen him do. “Like this?” she asked.

“Yep, now do what I did.”

She did, but nothing happened.

He chuckled. “You have to give ol Harriet a little squeeze, darlin’ or we’re gonna be sittin’ here all day.”

She gave him a lop-
sided smile, and tried again. This time, it worked. “I did it!”

“There ya go! Now, give Harriet a few more just like it.”

She did, and began to feel quite proud of herself, when Ryder motioned her to stop.  He took the bucket and dumped the milk.  First few pulls I get rid of, then get down to business. Ready?”

“Why do you dump it out?”

“On account the first few pulls get the dirt off her udder, if’n there is any.  Then I get down to the serious milkin’.”

“Oh, I see.” She readjusted herself on the stool, eyed Harriet’s udders with pure determination, and put her hands in the proper place. “I’m ready.”

“Good, you do that, and I’m gonna go chop us some wood.”

“Wait, you’re leaving?”

“Course, you’re an expert already, ya don’t need me here.”

She swallowed. “But what if Harriet deci
des she wants to be someplace else?  She’s not even tied to anything!”

“She
don’t need to be. She’s a good ol gal, ain’t ya Harriet?” he said as he gave the cow a friendly pat. “She’ll wait til your done, besides, she’s too full and
wants
to be milked.”

Constance looked between his smiling face and Harriet. “If you
say so.” She took a deep breath, and started to milk the cow.

Ryder chuckled, kissed her on the cheek, and left.  She could hear him outside in the barnyard, and soon heard the distinct sound of wood splitting. She smiled, and began to imagine doing this everyday, she and her husband working together to make
their little ranch the best it could be.  There was a raw satisfaction in the simple task of milking Harriet as she listened to Ryder work, and it gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling. She even discovered that milking Harriet was relaxing, and began humming a merry tune as she did.

Soon the pail was almost full, and Harriet began to fi
dget.  “By Jove, I think we’re done!” Harriet mooed in answer, and started to walk off.  Constance grabbed the bucket before the cow could knock it over.  “Well! You could at least say thank you!”

Harriet ignored her and sauntered out of the barn, past Ryder, and headed for the nearest patch of grass.  Constance sighed. “Until
tomorrow then, sweet Harriet, adieu.” She waved, shook her head in amusement, and stood. 

Her position on the low stool put a kink in her back, and she stretched to get it out. Two arms suddenly wrapped around her from beh
ind, and she almost screamed, then realized it was Ryder. “Done already, Sugar?” he whispered in her ear.

She blushed as heat shot through her. “Yes.”

“Good, next I’m gonna show ya how to gather eggs. How does that sound?”

Without thinking she leaned against him, and noted how his scent mingled with the other smells of the barn. There was a natural beauty to it all, and she had to close her eyes a moment so she could take it all in.

“Sugar?”

“Hmmm?”

He let go a shaky breath, and pulled her against his chest even further. He began to nibble on her ear. “I never thought chores could be this much fun, did you?”

She smiled, eyes still closed. “I wouldn’t know
, I’ve never done these things before.”

“Never?
” he whispered against her neck and then kissed it.

She shuddered in his arms. “Ne … never.”

He turned her around to face him. “Well then, I best teach you a thing or two about not being a distraction to your husband in the barn.”

“Distraction?” She was looking up at him now, and
watched as his eyes grew dark. She sucked in a breath without thinking, and felt the familiar weakness in her knees. “Oh dear,” she whispered.

“Oh dear …” he repeated, his voice dropped in pitch. “I dare say,” he said, imitating her accent. “I do believe I must kiss you now.”

She giggled. “That was horrible.”

“I never sai
d I was good at talking like an Englishman.” He bent his head to hers and rested it there. “But I do know one thing I’m good at.”

“What’s that?” she asked with a smile, anticipation mounting.

He tucked a finger under her chin, and lifted her face to his. “This, darlin’.”

Though she knew the kiss was coming, she wasn’t prepared for the sheer strength of it. He didn’t plunder her mouth
as she half expected, he didn’t even kiss her like he did the night before. What was different about this kiss was the intent behind it.  She could
feel
him like she’d never felt him before, and began to understand how powerful love could be. True, they’d only been married a few days and had a long way to go in getting to know one another. But Ryder was able to let her know how he felt in that moment within one, single, solitary kiss. And it made her heart swell with emotion. Ones she’d never felt before.  Good Heavens! If he was able to do this to her so early in their marriage, what would it be like a year from now?

She broke the kiss and stared up at him, her mouth half open in astonishment.

“What is it?” he asked.

She shook her head, her heart and mind still trying to comprehend the beautiful gift he was. “I … I …” she shook her head again, unable to speak. “I cannot say …”

He studied her. “You’re all moony-eyed, Sugar.” He bent his face to hers again, and her whole body shuddered in response. “I think maybe that’s enough for you this mornin’, or we’re gonna find ourselves up in that there hay loft.”

“What have you done to me?” she breathed.

“Nothin’ any other good husband has a mind to do.”

“What’s that?”

He grinned. “Showin’ ya how I feel, that I think you’re the prettiest thing I ever did see.”

She sta
red at him. In England he would be considered far beneath her station, and her father would turn over in his grave if she’d so much as pondered him as a match. But out here in the wilds of America, he was priceless. “I’m married to you …” she said as if realizing it for the first time.

“I sure hope so, Sugar, or Preacher Jo might have himself a
kanipshin fit and think he ain’t legally marryin’ folks.”

She laughed, the sound snapping her out of her kiss-induced stupor. “I’m sorry, it’s just that everything is sinking in, I suppose.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No, not at all. In fact I think it’s a very good thing, and …” her eyes roamed his face, “… and I’m sure it will only get better.” Her last word trailed off as she began to stand on tiptoe. Once again, she was going to kiss him, and couldn’t for the life
of her fight the automatic urge to do so.  Before she knew it, her lips were on his, and she found herself lost once again in the fold of his arms and the sweet, gentle sensation that held her more than his physical body ever could. For Ryder Jones, this wonderful man she was now married to, was somehow able to hold her heart.

* * *

Ryder broke the kiss, his body shaking, and pushed them apart. “Now it’s my turn to ask, what are ya doin’ to me?” he breathed.

Constance could only stare at him. “I’m sorry, did I do something wrong?”

He took a deep breath and swallowed. “No, darlin’… ya just … ya just … make me want to love ya all the more.” He gazed at her, his eyes roaming her face. “I’m startin’ to understand all that talk I’ve heard folks say about what it’s like to feel for a woman. I used to think it was a lot of hog wash.”