RYE
"We really are in the wilds of Montana. I’ve never traveled this far from the city or at least not this deep into the unsettled part of the territory. The scenery is breathtaking." Lily gazed into the distance, and I enjoyed seeing things anew from her perspective.
We’d stopped midway along our journey for food and to rest briefly, and Lily had switched to riding with me for the final leg of our trip to Bridgewater.
"I am glad to have time alone, to get to know you," she said to me. "What was it like growing up and being a lord?"
She blushed a bit, I assumed because she thought it was a personal question. That struck me as ironic considering the many and varied physical intimacies we’d shared. Had I not knelt before her and suckled at her clit until she came in a shattering orgasm on my mouth?
But it was her prim and proper ways that made me determined to corrupt her even more, though I hoped she’d always retain a bit of her polished manner. It made her screaming, out of control, orgasms even more pleasurable.
I gazed down at her and smiled. I did not have Keane’s glib way about me, but I found I smiled more readily and easily in Lily’s company.
"I grew up with many advantages. My family traces its roots back many generations, and I was raised to take my place in society. But"—I paused to consider the rest of my answer—"things didn’t go as planned." I shook my head back and forth ruefully. "However"—I kissed the top of her head—"I can see now it was all those things that brought me here. To you."
She leaned into me and rested her head on my shoulder with a contented sigh. "I’m glad it did."
I chuckled. It felt good to have her relax and draw nearer to me.
"How do you and Keane know each other?"
"His father was the steward on our country estate. He was my father’s right-hand man and, when his father died, my father took Keane under his wing. We’re close to the same age, and my brothers are much older than me. We were more like brothers than I ever was with my actual siblings."
I smiled, again, thinking back to our boyhood. "We sure did get into a lot of trouble. It was mostly Keane’s doing."
"Mostly?" she asked with a laugh. "I like imagining my two virile husbands as mischievous boys."
"Don’t be pert, Lily." I tried for a stern tone, but it was difficult as her company put me into a good mood.
Feeling bold, she queried further, "How did the two of you end up all the way out here? It’s a long way from the English countryside."
"It is certainly that," I answered. "Though my father had offered to assist Keane with an education or learning a trade, he was determined to make his own way. He joined the British Army and ended up in Mohamir where he met Rhys. He’s one of the men who lives at Bridgewater."
She watched and waited for me to continue.
"In Mohamir, a woman has two husbands, sometimes more. To see to her protection and pleasure. Many of the foreign soldiers saw the wisdom of this custom. Some of them came here, to Montana Territory, to buy up land where they could live in peace, the way they wanted."
"That explains how Keane got here. But what about you?"
"I had a broken engagement. I was extremely down in the mouth about it. One day, a letter from Keane arrived, urging me to travel to America to be part of a place called Bridgewater. I wasn’t exactly sure what it entailed, but life in England for a man who was tossed aside by a high society lady is not particularly enjoyable. I boarded a ship, sailed to New York, rode across North America and, voila. Bridgewater."
"What does your family think?"
With anyone else, I would have thought they were pressing their luck with so many questions, but I felt unusually chatty this day.
"Oh, they are certain that I have gone mad. Why would anyone give up the sights and luxuries of London for the wilderness of Montana?"
We rode up a ridge, and the horses stopped. I sighed contentedly and gazed into the distance. Lily perked up and looked in the same direction. In the valley below, nestled among the trees was a large ranch with well-tended paddocks and barns and several cabins of varying sizes sprinkled about. A feeling of serenity washed over me.
"This is why." My heart filled with pleasure at the sight in a way no number of British country estates could ever do.
"Is that Bridgewater?" she asked.
"Yes," I said, almost reverently.
Keane and Cherry Blossom came up next to us, excitement evident on Keane’s face. "Ah, we’re almost home. I’ve missed Bridgewater. What do you think, Lily?"
She stared out toward the horizon, taking in the bright green of the trees, the scent of pine and cool mountain air. "It’s beautiful. More beautiful than I had even imagined."
"Welcome home." I leaned down to give her a kiss that left her clinging to the front of my shirt.
Then Keane took his turn kissing her. I should have been insane with jealousy, but I wasn’t. It was the most natural thing in the world for us to share our sweet Lily.
"Let’s go home," Keane said.
"Yes!" Lily replied.
"Hang on, Lily." I wrapped an arm around her to hold her safely before I spurred my horse, Annabelle, onward.
"Oh!" Lily gasped as we took off, much faster than the steady pace we’d traveled thus far.
Keane rode ahead of us and took off his hat, waving it in the air, his long hair blowing in the breeze. He shouted with jubilation, and it was contagious.
"Yahoo," Lily cried out, holding tightly to my arm. Glancing down, I saw the exhilaration on her face. Uninhibited joy. She shouted again, and I joined in, whooping with my own elation.
It was not the sort of thing a proper English lord did, but I was a cowboy, a Bridgewater man, now.
We must have created quite a commotion because several people exited the cabins and stood on porches, gazing in our direction.
Keane slowed up so we could all enter together. A couple of the men had rushed to greet us, opening the gate for the three of us to ride in together.
"Welcome home!" Rhys shouted.
"We weren’t expecting you for a few more days," Simon said.
"Woah! Is that a bride?" Cross called out, a huge smile spreading over his face.
A crowd had gathered around us, and I could tell Lily felt self-conscious. "Oh my," she said, breathing hard after the exciting ride from the top of the ridge. She reached up to straighten her hat, tucking clumps of her hair under the brim. "This was hardly the way I wanted to meet my new neighbors. I was screaming like a child all the way down from the ridge. What must they think of me?" she murmured, eyes filled with worry.
"You have no need to fret, sweet Lily," I leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You are among friends here."
She gazed up at me and nodded, but the concern remained.
Keane dismounted and strode toward us. "Come, Lily, and meet some of our Bridgewater friends."
I could feel her stiffen with anxiety, but a couple of the women had stepped forward, smiling. "Welcome to Bridgewater!" they called out and she seemed to relax a tiny amount.
"Oh good! Another woman. Maybe we’ll outnumber the men soon," someone in the crowd said, and laughter followed.
The warmth of their welcome quieted her nerves and when Keane grasped her waist she smiled happily and slid down into his arms, though she blushed when his hand slipped lower and squeezed her bottom as he propelled her forward to meet our friends. I dismounted and joined them, draping my arm over her shoulders.
"Everyone, we’d like to introduce our bride, Lily."
LILY
Somehow I found myself swept up in a group of strangers. Friendly and welcoming, but strangers nonetheless. It seemed there was an abundance of broad-shouldered-and-handsome men at Bridgewater. Of course, none could hold a candle to Rye and Keane, though I am sure all the other wives felt the same about their men. As it should be.
In the crush of people and excited chatter, Rye and Keane kept a watchful eye on me, which I found immensely comforting. I had not anticipated such a welcome, though. Of course, other than the rantings of Mr. Richard Garner, which contrasted dramatically with the clear affection Rye and Keane had for the ranch and its inhabitants, I knew very little of life at Bridgewater and nothing at all about the other residents.
We’d managed to arrive just in time for the noon meal and were ushered inside a cozy home where Rhys, Cross, Simon, and their wife Olivia lived. I tried to hide my surprise when I realized that Olivia had not two husbands, but three.
"Oh, don’t you worry about that," Olivia laughed, patting my arm. "I’m a bit shocked by it myself." Then she leaned in close and whispered, "but I couldn’t be happier. I know you’ll be happy too, with Rye and Keane. Though I’ll admit I was skeptical when they claimed they were going to find a bride in a week, but those two did it in half that time." She laughed again, and her blue eyes sparkled with warmth and good humor.
"It has been a whirlwind." That was a large understatement.
"Well, welcome to Bridgewater," she said, glancing over my shoulder. "I can see that your men are watching you with hungry eyes. And I don’t think it’s because of the stew I’ve got on the stove." Olivia winked at me. "Being a Bridgewater bride is the best. I can’t wait for us to get to know each other better. But I suspect it might be a few days before those two let you out of the bedroom. You’d best eat up. You’ll need your strength." She laughed again then paused, taking in my heated blush.
"Oh, Lily," she said, "forgive me. I forget that not everyone is used to the way we talk around here. I certainly meant no offense. I’ve been out here in the wilderness too long. I guess I’m starting to act uncivilized."
"Please," I implored, leaning toward her. Something about her drew me in, and I hoped we’d become friends. It had been a long time since I’d had a friend. "Do not concern yourself. I am rather new to all of this, but"—I glanced around and caught Keane and Rye looking at me. Their heated gazes caused the pulses between my thighs to begin in earnest—"I am quite happy to be here and especially happy to meet you."
"I’m sure we’ll become great friends. We’ll have a little get-together in a few days, and you can meet some of the other girls."
"How many are there?"
"Hm." She counted on her fingers. "I guess about fourteen."
I reared back. I had no idea. "Oh my."
Olivia laughed again. "Don’t worry, we don’t bite."
"Hey, woman." A dark haired man wrapped his arm around Olivia’s slim waist. "We’re getting hungry. And I don’t think Rye and Keane want to be hanging around here all afternoon, if you know what I mean." He gave her bottom a sharp swat, and she squealed and giggled. "Simon!" she cried out. "We have company!"
"Oh, nothing she isn’t going to get used to very quickly herself," he replied then turned to me with a smile that went all the way to his dark eyes. "I’d never want to embarrass a woman on purpose, especially not a newcomer to Bridgewater. I hope you’ll forgive my exuberance, Lily."
"Of course," I said. He was certainly charming, and the way he looked at Olivia made me like him immediately.
"Let’s go and have a seat." Keane came up and put his arm around my waist. "Thanks for inviting us to eat with you, Simon."
"Happy to do it," our host replied.
I was settled into a seat between Rye and Keane. I did a hurried count and determined about ten people were around the table, each woman situated between two men. I wondered how Olivia’s three husbands managed. I’d have to ask her about that sometime.
Then I giggled to myself. Who’d ever have thought that would be a topic of conversation in my life?
"What’s so funny, Lily?" Rye whispered in my ear, his hot breath sending a shiver through me.
"I-I’m happy to be here," I replied. True, but not exactly the correct answer to his question.
Olivia and another man, I assumed it was one of her husbands, entered the room. He carried a large pot of stew, which he set on the table while Olivia distributed two plates of steaming cornbread. Keane put a slice of cornbread on my plate while Rye filled my glass with milk. Then Keane took my plate and ladled a helping of stew onto it.
I hadn’t thought I was hungry, but the sights and smells of Olivia’s meal opened up my appetite. "This looks delicious, Olivia, thank you," I said, spreading my napkin over my lap.
The meal was a raucous affair with lots of chatter and good natured ribbing around the table, particularly amongst the men, though a couple of the women gave as good as they got.
This was not like any meal I’d had at the Garners’ house.
"I understand you’re from Butte," another woman—oh, why wasn’t I better with names?—said to me from across the table.
"Yes, I am," I replied.
"But now she’s from Bridgewater," Rye interjected, pulling me close and kissing me, right there in front of everyone. When it ended I was dazed and blushing. I glanced around the table, certain I’d see shocked expressions from the others, but no one acted as though they’d even noticed.
The woman across the table gave me a smile. "They’re all so possessive." She shook her head. "And I love it."
"You’d better," a man on her left growled before ravishing her mouth.
I’d never observed such a passionate kiss, and I felt a flush cross my cheeks. I should have turned away, but I couldn’t.
"I bet they never taught you about this sort of thing at finishing school, did they?" Keane whispered in my ear. "What does it do to you when you watch the way Tyler is taking care of Emily?"
"I-I..."
On my left, Rye’s hand slid up my skirt. I gasped when he slipped his finger between the folds of my sex. "She’s very wet," he said, barely even trying to keep his voice low. "I think she likes watching."
"Well, if that’s the case," Simon answered, cupping Olivia’s face between his palms and lowering his mouth to hers. She moaned deep in her throat and buried her fingers in his hair, responding enthusiastically to his kiss, and when Simon finished, she turned to the husband on her other side.
Before I knew it, men and women all around the table were engaging in what might have looked like a kissing competition. Or an orgy. The room echoed with moans and sighs of pleasure.
Meanwhile, my breath caught in my throat, and I squirmed in my seat. Rye’s fingers were fully engulfed in my pussy while Keane’s lips caressed the delicate flesh near my ear. "You like watching, don’t you? Oh, naughty, naughty, Lily."
I wanted to object to his statement, but what could I say? The evidence was there, oozing between the lips of my sex.
Rye removed his hand, and an involuntary protest flew from my lips. Both my husbands stood, pulling me up between them. "Olivia," Keane said, "thank you for a lovely meal, but it seems we need to get home and attend to our bride."
I shrieked with embarrassment. "Keane!"
"You need to learn the most important rule at Bridgewater," Rye said.
"Wh-what’s that?" I asked, almost afraid to find out the answer.
"At Bridgewater," Rye called out.
"A woman’s needs come first!" the others chimed in.
We left the house to the shouts and applause of the others. I’d never been so embarrassed and proud at the same time. My men wanted me, and they didn’t care who knew it. On the other hand, all those people in there, my new neighbors, surely believed I was wanton. A hussy. Scandalous!
As we stepped off the porch, Rhys rushed out the door, a brown-paper-wrapped parcel in his hands. "You’re gonna need these," he said, passing the package to Keane and giving him a wink.