The Cowboy Who Strolled Into Town (105 page)

‘I’ll be back tomorrow, but you need to rest that leg good and proper,’ the doctor instructed Lane and he grimaced.

‘I will make sure he does,’ Chivonn said, as the doctor left. She returned to Lane’s bed, and sat down on the chair beside it. She wanted to stroke his forehead or his hand, but dared not make the first move. She wished they were back in that moment after they had sung their duet, with all the unexpressed emotion spun like a web about them.

Lane allowed his eyes to rest on Chivonn, seeing the concern in her eyes and in her hands, restless in her lap. 

‘Thank you for rescuing me,’ Lane said, ‘But don’t ever do anything so damn foolhardy again.’

‘I couldn’t very well sit by while the others went off to find you. I waited four whole days in dread for your safety.’

‘It’s alright now,’ Lane said, placing his hand on both of hers. She turned her hands so that her palms were against his palm, the fingers of both her hands, interlaced with his. ‘I’m sorry I made you cry,’ Lane whispered and Chivonn’s lips trembled.

‘I know who you are,’ she said.

Lane looked alarmed. ‘What do you mean you know who I am?’

‘You’re the vigilante cowboy. The one who saved my life.’

Lane took a deep breath and looked down at her hands, her fingers caressing his.

‘Thank you for saving me that day,’ Chivonn whispered.

‘How do you know it was me?’ Lane asked.

Chivonn cocked her head in the direction of his closet. ‘I’m sorry for snooping, but I needed to find some clues as to where you could have gone. That’s when I found your shirt, with the blood on the shoulder. And your bandana. I remember your eyes above it. I always knew I’d seen your eyes before.’ She looked into his eyes as she spoke, wondering how much longer she could wait before she told him she was in love with him.

‘Chivonn Byrd, I lie here quite helpless before you at this present time, but I want you to know that I will protect you with every fiber of my being, for the rest of my life.’

‘Why?’ Chivonn was crying now.

‘Why? Don’t you know why? Because my darling, I love you! I love you Chivonn!’

Lane reached up and touched her cheek, brushing the tears away and she cupped his face in her hands and stroked his lips. Lane painfully raised himself up on his arm and Chivonn leaned in as his lips found hers. He kissed her gently and then fell back on the pillows.

‘This wounded cowboy promises you more of those when he’s out of his bed and bandages,’ Lane said softly as he fell asleep. Chivonn stroked his hair back from his forehead. He looked so vulnerable at that moment. She leaned over and kissed his forehead and his mouth.

CHAPTER V

The fiddlers’ frenzied playing and the sound of the dancers’ feet was almost deafening. Chivonn had chosen to stand on the sidelines and watch Lane dance. She had taken to doing that a lot these days – watching Lane. Today was special because Lane was back to normal and his leg was strong enough to hold up through a Hoe Down. Chivonn clapped and cheered. Lane looked even more dashing in black leather pants and jacket, a crisp white shirt, red and gold bolo tie and a black Stetson. Chivonn wore a white skirt and blouse with a red waistcoat and her hair tied back in a bunch of curls.

The fiddlers stopped and everyone cheered and clapped. Lane walked over to the stage, strapping his guitar across his shoulders as he did so. Chivonn waited in anticipation. He hadn’t mentioned he was going to sing that night, but then Lane loved springing surprises on her.

‘Friends, I’m going to sing you a song that I’ve sung here before. It’s called
Drink From The Beauty Of Your Eyes,
and I want to dedicate it to a beautiful lady – Chivonn Byrd.’  Chivonn’s hand flew to her chest as if to still her pounding heart.

Lane was into the third verse of the song and he hadn’t taken his eyes off Chivonn all that while. There was a hush over the gathering as Lane set his guitar down and delved into the pocket of his jacket.

‘Chivonn Byrd, will you come up here please my dear?’ Lane said.

Chivonn wondered if her legs were about to buckle as she nervously walked up to the stage and faced Lane. Her eyes misted over as she saw the ring in his hand. Lane got down on one knee, glad his wound had healed so well that he could do so. ‘Chivonn, fate brought you to me in the most wondrous of ways, and from the first moment I saw you I knew you would play a really important part in my life. Will you, my dear Chivonn, agree to sing an eternal duet with me and be my wife?’

Chivonn covered her face with her hands as the tears spilled over. She nodded, because she couldn’t speak, but when he kissed her she found her voice. ‘Yes my darling Lane, yes, yes, forever yes!’ she said.

As they pulled up in front of the Ranch House, Chivonn turned to Lane. ‘I’m going to move into Rosie’s cottage, if you don’t mind.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I’m an old fashioned girl and I have a wedding to plan.’

‘Alright then,’ Lane said, ‘I know how hard it’s been for me, walking past your bedroom door and preventing myself from begging you to let me in.’

‘Really?’ Chivonn laughed.

‘Yes, really,’ Lane said, cupping her face in his hands and bringing his lips down to meet hers. He kissed her with a passion that stirred the flame within her into a furnace, crushing her soft contours against the hardness of his chest. She inhaled the fragrance of his skin – the hint of musk merging with just the barest hint of sweat from the frenzied dancing earlier in the evening – and buried her face in the rough hairs on his chest, as she unbuttoned his shirt.

Lane groaned. ‘Don’t do that, please. You’re tormenting me.’

Chivonn pressed her lips against his skin, arching her body against his so that she could feel his arousal burn through her skirt. Lane’s hand lingered on her buttocks, stroking the fabric that concealed her hips. With a suddenness that startled Chivonn, he cupped her bottom with both hands and pulled her pelvis against his. Chivonn knew they were now treading on dangerous ground and weak though she was to resist him, she must break free. But Lane’s lips were burning into the side of her neck, his teeth were nibbling her ear lobes and she was on fire. Through the mists of desire, Chivonn sought and found a small vestige of strength and she broke free of Lane’s embrace, gasping as she did so. Lane’s breathing was labored as she pulled away from him.

‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,’ He said, stumbling up the porch steps. He turned around and took her in his arms again. ‘It’s just that I love you so much.’

‘I love you too, Lane,’ Chivonn breathed.

‘How long does a wedding take to plan?’ Lane asked, kissing her nose, and brushing his lips against hers.

‘I will get all the help I can and make sure it doesn’t take longer than necessary,’ Chivonn laughed.

A truck roared up the driveway and stopped by the porch. Lane released Chivonn as Jake jumped out of the truck and walked up the steps.

‘Jake! What brings you here?’ Lane was on his guard.

‘Can we talk in front of the lady?’ Jake asked.

‘Yes,’ Lane said, taking Chivonn’s hand. ‘You can say anything you like in front of my fiancée.’

‘Congratulations!’ Jake said, extending his hand to Lane and Chivonn in turn. ‘You do move fast, Lane! Speaking of which, I’m glad you got out of that shed. I was hoping you would.’

‘Thanks for leaving that piece of wood right where I could find it.’

‘Well, you’ll be glad to know that we’ve got Bill and the rest of the masked gang.’

‘I sure am glad you did, Jake,’ Lane said.

‘Now for your own sake and the sake of this lovely lady here, stop spending nights over by the railway tracks. Mary’s death is avenged, by you and by me.’

‘I know you cared about her, Jake.’

‘I dreamed of asking her to marry me one day, Lane.’

Lane put his hand on Jake’s shoulder. ‘Jake my man, I don’t know you all that well, but you did a good thing tonight and by all accounts you’ve been working on this for months. I don’t get close to anyone, so I don’t really have anyone to stand up for me at my wedding. Would you be my best man?’

Jake felt a lump well up in his throat. He swallowed a few times and looked away, unable to speak.

‘Well, would you?’ Lane prompted.

Jake thumped Lane on his shoulder and this time Lane didn’t wince. ‘Of course I will Lane Hayes. Of course I will!’

CHAPTER VI

The grounds of the Ranch House were festooned with flowers and white ribbons. Staff and temporary hired help hurried about laying tables and stringing up fairy lights.

In Rosie’s cottage Chivonn took a bath and massaged scented lotion into her skin. Rosie worked on Chivonn’s hair, piling the curls on the top of her head, leaving some to fall down the sides of her face.

‘Thank you for everything, Rosie,’ Chivonn said, hugging Rosie who was dressed in her bridesmaid’s gown of peach tulle.

‘Oh, stop now, you’re making me tear up and I’ll spoil my make-up,’ Rosie scolded. and helped Chivonn into her white lace wedding dress. The dress was full and flouncy with a bodice studded with white rhinestones. Chivonn wore a silver tiara and a veil that covered her face and flowed down her back to form a long train. Rosie placed a bouquet of peach colored roses into Chivonn’s hands and clasped a bracelet around her wrist. ‘Something borrowed,’ she whispered.

Outside the flurry of activity had stopped as everyone prepared to leave for the Church. Lane’s Ford was bedecked with flowers.

‘You look nervous,’ Jake remarked as he got in beside him.

‘I am,’ Lane admitted, feeling slightly inhibited by his tuxedo.

At the Church Lane shifted from one foot to the other.

‘Calm down, man,’ Jake scolded.

‘What if she’s changed her mind?’

‘Why would she?’

‘Because of my past? My days as a vigilante?’

‘It was for a good cause and Chivonn knows that. She’s coming. In fact, here she is now.’

Lane caught his breath when his eyes fell on Chivonn, as she floated up to him in soft waves of white lace. She walked alone, with Rosie holding her train, and Lane walked over to take her hand and lead her up to where the priest stood waiting.

They spoke their vows with an earnestness that overflowed from the depths of their hearts, their love warming their souls as they held hands, looked deep into each other’s eyes and pledged to love each other through sickness and health, for richer or for poorer, till death do them part.

‘You may now kiss the bride,’ the priest said and Lane locked eyes with Chivonn. His kiss was a promise of things to come and Chivonn’s pulse quickened. When they drove back to the Reception at the Ranch House, Chivonn wondered if she would be able to get through it at all. She was desperate for her husband and she knew he was longing to claim her once for all. She had all but managed to make it down the Church steps, amidst a shower of confetti, where they posed for photographs that seemed to take an eternity for the cameraman to get just right. They laughed through the toasts, and cut their cake, their desire building. Their first dance was a test of their restraint as the proximity of their bodies and the fact that they could finally be together, made it difficult to hold back any more.

‘I want you so much Mrs. Hayes,’ Lane whispered in his wife’s ear.

‘Would I be considered too forward if I said I long for you with a passion so intense it is threatening to overwhelm me right now?’

Lane’s grasp on her waist tightened and he drew her closer to him, so that the heat of his body engulfed her and left her breathless.

‘Oh Lane, may we leave now?’

‘What? And not partake of the magnificent feast that has been arranged in our honor?’

‘I couldn’t eat a thing, Lane. My appetite is for another kind of food.’

‘Hmmm, mine too,’ Lane whispered against her ear.

Chivonn tossed her bouquet and Rosie sprang forward to catch it. Even as she did so, Jake noticed her for the first time and asked her to dance. Lane and Chivonn watched Jake and Rosie dancing, before they bid their guests farewell and got into the Ford, leaving amidst the clatter of tin cans.

‘Finally alone!’

‘And where are we going?’ Chivonn asked, as Lane drove out of the Ranch, turned around and re-entered through another gate where a stable hand was waiting with Beaumont.  Chivonn looked questioningly at Lane. He said nothing, but assisted her out of the car and swung her up onto the horse.

‘My dress!’ Chivonn squealed.

‘It’ll be ok,’ Lane reassured her, springing up behind her and taking the reins.

They rode in the darkness up to that part of the countryside where the train swings by. Chivonn twisted about, trying to get a glimpse of Lane’s face.

‘It’s ok, Mrs. Hayes, I’m not wearing a bandana…but we are going to get onto that train.’

‘How?’ Chivonn asked, ‘It only stops further up at the Station. Perhaps we should go there?’

‘Don’t worry,’ Lane reassured her again, as the sound of the train whistle rent the air.

‘We’re not going to jump onto the train are we?’ Chivonn sounded concerned.

The train swung along the tracks and slowed down, coming to a halt. ‘Welcome aboard, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes!’ the guard shouted.

‘All we have is a few seconds,’ Lane said, as he swung Chivonn off Beaumont and onto the train, and following swiftly after.

‘Home, Beaumont!’ Lane shouted to his horse and watched Beaumont take off as the train began to move again.

‘This way,’ Lane said, guiding Chivonn into a private carriage and shutting the door behind them.

‘How did you accomplish that?’ Chivonn asked.

‘I called in a favor,’ Lane explained, taking Chivonn into his arms.

‘We could have got on at the Station,’ Chivonn said.

‘Ah, but then we’d have to drive there, and the wait would be so much longer. This way, I have you now…finally.’

‘Are we…umm…private here?’ Chivonn asked.

‘Yes,’ Lane said.

‘And where are we headed?’

‘To a little town two hours away where we have a cottage waiting for us.’

‘How did you find it?’

‘I own it.’

‘Oh! Our very own honeymoon cottage!’ Chivonn said happily.

Lane took her in his arms and suddenly she was at a loss for words. His lips were hard on hers, his tongue stirring up flames in deep hidden places. Then he pushed her from him.

‘This is your last chance to save that wedding dress. Do take it off before I tear it off your body,’ Lane growled. Chivonn giggled and pulled off her veil and began to slowly shrug off her dress. She stood before him in a lace slip, her voluptuousness on display. Lane pulled her roughly into his arms again, grabbing her buttocks and grinding his pelvis into hers. She groaned.

‘Now take off the rest of your clothes for me,’ Lane breathed agonizedly, watching the slip slide off Chivonn’s shoulders. Her breasts overflowed the cups of her bra and Lane reached for them as they broke free. He lay her carefully down on the berth and tore off his own clothes, and Chivonn couldn’t take her eyes away from his manhood, rearing up like a stallion, pulsating with a fullness that she wanted inside of her. She trembled as he took her, moaning softly, completely tuned in to her instincts as she responded to his lovemaking with both skill and fervor. He called out her name over and over as he climaxed and she moaned his name out loud as the volcano erupted inside of her and spilled burning lava that inflamed her senses and took her to the point of no return.

It was still dark when they reached the cottage and only then Chivonn realized they had no clothes or cases with them.

Lane laughed when she drew his attention to the fact that they had travelled with no luggage whatsoever and she had been in such a haze of happiness that she never noticed.