Lily served the leftover stew and bread for supper. “It will be nice when the pass opens and we can go into town. I’d like to get some dried fruit so I can make pies and cobblers. I’m afraid I have a bit of a sweet tooth.”
“That’s fine with me, darlin’. I’ve been known to put away an entire pie in one sitting.”
Lily laughed, not surprised given what she’d witnessed of Caleb’s appetite so far. “What are your favorites?”
“Just about anything. Apple, pumpkin, raisin, peach. . .”
“My specialty is baked apple pudding. My mama made it all the time. My sister and I loved it.”
“I’m willing to try it. I have a sweet tooth, too.” Caleb leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“Yes. Patty is two years younger than me. She’s been married for a few years and has four children.”
“Four?”
Lily grinned. “Yes. A three-year-old boy, a two-year-old girl, and twin girls, just eight months old.”
Caleb let out with a long, slow whistle.
“Does she live in your town?”
Your town. Apparently her new husband still hadn’t accepted her, or he would have realized that this was now her home, and Angel Springs her town.
“No. Patty and Stephen live in Arizona.”
Once the dishes were finished—Caleb surprising her by drying while she washed—they sat side by side on the settee in the main room. Her husband drummed his fingers on the cushion, his knee bouncing to a cadence only he could hear.
Lily cleared her throat. “Is there something you usually do in the evenings? I like to read.”
The heated glance he threw her set off the fluttering in her stomach once again. She licked her suddenly dry lips and swore Caleb made a slight groan. “Are you all right?”
“Yes.” He hopped up. “I think I’ll take a walk over to the bunkhouse and see if I can get a poker game going.”
Disappointed that he hadn’t suggested they do something together, she smiled anyway. “Oh. Well, have a good time. I think I’ll read one of my books.”
“Yes. That sounds like a good idea” He headed to the door and took his coat off the hook, then stopped and tossed it on a chair. He walked back to her with a determined step. “Lily, I understand your wanting to go slow since we don’t know each other very well, but unless we at least kiss you’re never going to get over your ladylike sensibilities.”
Ladylike sensibilities? Good heavens how would she ever find the nerve to tell him about her very unladylike sensibilities?
Almost as if she was made of glass, he drew her up from the settee and put his arms around her, pulling her close. He tilted her chin up with his knuckle, and slowly, his head descended until his warm, moist lips covered hers.
Oh my.
Kisses from neither Sydney nor Fred had made her toes curl in her shoes. Nor did they make her heart thump and her breathing hitch—all the things Caleb’s kiss did. Once more he eased her mouth open and delved in, touching parts of her mouth she never knew were sensitive. Cupping her head with both hands, he moved it in such a way that his tongue went deeper, stroking, teasing.
Her hair pins went flying when he shoved his hands into her hair. Her body came alive, and she was aware of places she rarely thought of. Moisture grew in her woman’s place, and the tips of her breasts ached with the need to have Caleb’s strong hands there, massaging and tweaking. No wonder the man was renowned for his lovemaking skills. One kiss and she was already clinging to his muscular arms to keep from melting into a puddle at his feet.
Slowly his hand moved down to her collarbone, then the tops of her breasts. Silently, she urged him to move his hand lower, to ease the ache in her breast. As if he heard her inner plea, he slid his palm down, covering the full mound. She sighed in his mouth, pushing herself against his hand, needing the pressure.
Just as she was thinking how nice it would be if he unbuttoned her dress, he pulled back. His blue eyes darkened to deep navy, he took deep breaths, and his nostrils flared. She felt his erection pressing against her stomach. His arm dropped and he took a few steps back, running his fingers through his hair.
Before she could say anything, he turned and strode from the room, the heels of his boots thudding on the wooden floor. Snatching up his coat, he didn’t even put it on before he sailed through the door into the cold night air.
Finally giving in to her weakness, Lily dropped to the settee.
Oh my, indeed.
Caleb took great gulps of air as he barreled over the well-packed snow, the crunch under his feet marking each step he took away from temptation. And Lily was a temptation. For a minute there, he forgot he was dealing with an untried virgin and almost carried her to the bed and tossed her skirts up. No way to treat a wife.
Why in heaven’s name did he have to end up married to a librarian? At least if given the choice, he would have found a woman a bit more sophisticated to settle down with. But then, a sophisticated wife might be one of those who thought it was just fine to crawl naked into another man’s bed. Like Lucy. Thank God he wasn’t married to a woman like that.
He would introduce his wife to lovemaking and then teach her all the wonderful things they could do together. There had to be some reward for tying himself to the same woman for the rest of his life.
There was no reason to doubt that Lily could keep him happy in the bedroom. She had responded quite well to his kiss, and hadn’t screamed or slapped him when his hand wandered to her breast. Her soft, full breast. He’d thought from the first time he’d seen her standing in Mama’s parlor with the other girls that there was an enticing, voluptuous body underneath those long-sleeved, high-necked blouses. It was nice to have been proven right.
He shrugged into his coat, needing to get his thoughts under control or he wouldn’t be able to face the men in the bunkhouse. The sound of shouting reached his ears before he pulled open the door to the building.
A loud poker game was in progress. If any of the men wondered why he was here with their sorry asses instead of rolling around in bed with his new wife, no one said. And with the mood he was in now, no one better comment, either.
He tossed his hat onto a table near the raucous group and pulled up a chair. “Deal me in the next hand.”
Spunky Barton nodded and shifted a wad of tobacco in his mouth as he continued dealing to the other three players. Caleb leaned back, resting his booted ankle on his knee. Once again the vision of Lily spread out naked on his bed, her curly black hair draped over his pillow flashed into his mind. He shifted in the seat, trying to concentrate on the game being played.
“Why ain’t ya home with that new wife of yer’s?” Old Monty McCall spoke to him from where he sat on his bunk playing solitaire. He tossed the butt of a cigarette to the center of the floor.
“What the hell’s the matter with you, old man?” Caleb frowned. “Go stamp on that thing before you burn the place down.”
“Hang onto yer pants there, junior. It was out before I tossed it.”
“Doesn’t matter. Butts mess up the place, anyway.”
“Yegads! What in hell’s name is wrong with y’all? Ever since yer mama dragged the four of ya to the altar the Frasers’ have been actin’ like horses with a burr under yer saddles. Ain’t seen none of ya smile in days. I thought havin’ a wife in yer bed was supposed to make a man real happy.”
Caleb jumped to his feet, his hands clenching and unclenching. He really wanted to hit something, but not this old man. “Don’t you talk about my wife.”
“Settle down, boy. He didn’t say nothin’.” Spunky gestured to Caleb with his chin. “You in or not?”
“Yeah.” Giving Old Monty a last glaring look, Caleb sat back down and picked up his cards.
The old man was right. Caleb should have been pretty content right about now. He had a beautiful, soft, warm woman sitting in his house and where was he? With this bunch of saddle bums playing cards. If he was still single, he’d be entertaining Desiree in his house right now, availing himself of her generous spirit. And amazing mouth. “Hey, old man, you got any whiskey?”
Old Monty dragged a bottle out from under his bunk and pulled the cork out with his teeth. “Here ya go, son.” He handed the bottle to Caleb who took a swig and darn near spit it out. “Where in hell did you get this stuff?”
“It’s all I got, boy. Take it or leave it.”
Caleb took another swallow, the liquid burning its way down to his stomach, then handed it back to Old Monty “You’re gonna kill yourself with this shit.”
The man shrugged and took a long swallow.
After a few hours of cards, Caleb shrugged into his jacket and made the trek back to his house. The moonlight on the snow cast the entire area in light. He stopped and inhaled deeply, taking in the sight of the mountains surrounding them. It had been a few days since the snow stopped. Pretty soon they would be able to make the trip into town.
He glanced at Pete’s house, wondering how Desiree was getting on. Gideon was supposed to drive her back into town once the pass was cleared. He was tempted to turn his feet into a different direction and just wander over to say hello. Then he shook himself. No point in looking for trouble. As much as he wanted to sink into the warm moistness of a woman, once he’d tied the knot, all other women except Mrs. Lily Fraser were off limits.
Damn, he needed to move along with Lily. Celibacy just wasn’t in his nature.
The road between the ranch and town was finally open. Caleb had promised Lily as soon as his morning chores were finished, he would take her into town. She was very excited, and anxious to get a better look at the place she now called home. Caleb’s house was comfortable, but small. Being used to a town, where she could walk to stores, and had contact with people every day as they visited the library she’d felt the isolation of the ranch lonely. She’d been up to the main house once to borrow some flour and found Mrs. Fraser in the kitchen teaching Beth how to cook. From what she could see of the petulant expression on the girl’s face, it wasn’t going well.
The day she visited, Gideon and Ruby had been away from the house. She’d had a short conversation with a frazzled looking Olivia who indicated Gideon was anxious to have the pass open so he could return to his home in town. Ethan and Beth were using space in the barn, which had to be much worse than Caleb’s little house. At least once spring arrived, they would be outdoors more and she wouldn’t be so lonely.
She had found it hard to be more than just polite to Mrs. Fraser. She was still angry about the meddling woman sending for four brides for her sons and not telling the men what she’d done. It had really been a dirty trick.
Although she and Caleb were getting along to a certain degree, she would have felt a whole lot better if he had actually wanted to marry her. Then she might not have found it so difficult to admit to her youthful blunder. She couldn’t help but think once he found out, it would give him the excuse he needed to send her back to North Grove. Men could play around all they wanted, but they expected their wives to come to the marriage bed pure.
“Are you ready to go?” Caleb strode into the house, his cheeks flushed from the cold.
“Yes. I’ll just grab my list of needed supplies and then I’ll be ready.” Lily tore the paper from the pad in the kitchen and stuffed the list into her reticule. At the door, she turned as Caleb helped her into her coat. Once she was buttoned up, he grasped her shoulders and turned her toward him. With the look that always melted her bones, his head descended and he took her mouth in a scorching kiss.
He drew back and scattered kisses over her eyelids, nose and the sensitive skin under her ear. “What do you say we skip the trip into town and think of other ways to occupy our time?” His deep voice and warm breath close to her ear made her want to grab his hand and yank him into the bedroom.
But not yet. She had to be more confident of his feelings before she allowed that. But, oh, how she longed to feel his strong, work-roughened hands on her naked flesh. To run her palms over his golden skin, feel the muscles ripple under her hands.
He unbuttoned the coat she’d just fastened and continued to kiss her throat, then eased his mouth to the tops of her breasts. Before she was aware of what he was doing, she felt the cool air on her breasts. He’d opened her blouse and tugged down her chemise, exposing her. Instead of embarrassment, excitement raced through her.
Caleb leaned back and studied her. “Oh, baby, you are gorgeous.” His hands came up and he cupped her breasts, rubbing his thumbs back and forth over the peaks until she grew flushed and restless.
A banging on the front door had both of them jumping. Caleb pulled her chemise up and shouted. “What?”
“I’m waiting out here with the sleigh. Are y’all going into town or not?” A raspy male’s voice came through the door.
“Damn.” Caleb threw her a forlorn glance. “Yeah. We’ll be right there.”
Lily buttoned her blouse and fastened her coat, her heart still pounding. Caleb grabbed her by the hand and led her out the door. An older man stood there, stomping his feet and rubbing his hands. “It’s cold out here, ya know.”
“Lily, this is Old Monty. He’s older than God and thinks he knows as much.”
Monty tugged on the brim of his hat. “Ma’am. Pleased to meet ya.”
They hurried to the sleigh. Once they were settled and bundled up, Caleb snapped the reins and the horse moved forward. They stopped briefly to drop Old Monty off at the bunkhouse. “Old Monty drove Gideon and Ruby into town earlier.” He grinned in her direction. “I told him to bring the sleigh to my house when he returned. I’m sure sorry he interrupted us.”
She wasn’t, and until she felt Caleb was actually fond of her, and wouldn’t find it easy to send her away, she had to be careful. Nothing that she’d ever experienced with Sydney or her long drawn out ‘courtship’ with Fred had affected her the way Caleb did. Even sitting next to him now, their legs touching under the blanket stirred her. The man had only to look at her and she was ready to strip off her clothes and lie down.
The ride into town was pleasant, with Caleb pointing out various sights as they rode along. They passed the church where Gideon was pastor, the local school with children playing outside, and a string of stores. Angel Springs was a busy little town, apparently with a number of thriving businesses.
Caleb stopped the sleigh in front of the mercantile. “Patience and Nick Farmer own the mercantile. I have an account here. All you need do is tell them what you want and they’ll add it to my account.”
He helped her down, and she strolled with him into the store.
“Well, Caleb Fraser. Rumor has it that your mama sent for brides for you and all your brothers.” Mrs. Farmer greeted them cheerfully, her rotund figure heading straight for them. “And this must be one of the wives.” She reached out and grabbed Lily, hugging her to her bosom as if she was a long-lost daughter. “You’re the first bride I’ve met.”
The woman turned to Caleb and waggled her finger at him. “Now you better be treating this gal here well, or you’ll have to answer to me.” She turned to Lily and lowered her voice. “You know your husband here has been dodging the ladies in town for a long time. There’s been lots of them looking for him to put a ring on their finger. I always wondered about the gal who would lead him to the altar.”
Lily glanced at Caleb who glowered at the storekeeper. “Mrs. Farmer, this is my wife, Lily.”
“Oh, what a charmin’ name, dear. Lily. Why, just like the flower.” She beamed at her and took her by the hand. “Let me show you around, so you can shop anytime you please, and know right where everything is.” She waved at Caleb. “You can go on and take care of what you need to do. I’ll show your wife what she needs to know.” She winked at Lily and pulled her down the aisle.
Lily glanced over her shoulder as Caleb headed for the door. “How long will you be?” Even though Mrs. Farmer was friendly enough, suddenly Lily felt anxious, like Caleb was leaving her here, never to return.
“Not long. Maybe half an hour. Just have a good time and get your list taken care of.” He tipped his hat at two ladies who entered the store, both of them giggling in his direction. Before Lily and Mrs. Farmer were able to take more than a few steps, Caleb came back into the store. “Oh, uh, Lily. If there’s anything you, uh, you need. Like, ah, ladies’ things, just go ahead and put it on my account.” After that statement, he shoved his hat onto his head and made a quick exit.
The two ladies who had entered the store turned and followed Caleb with their eyes and then put their heads together to chat. Mrs. Farmer ignored them while she showed Lily around. “Don’t let them women bother you. You’re gonna get a lot of looks from the gals in town who had their eyes on those Fraser boys. Good looking, all of them. But none ready to stand before the preacher. Frankly, I’m glad Fiona stepped in and sent for brides for them all. I doubt any one of them would have married anytime soon. And she’s been hankering for more grandbabies.”
Lily thought about Mrs. Farmer’s comments as she marched her up and down the aisles, whipping things off the shelves as the pile of goods from Lily’s list grew larger on the counter.
A lot of ladies in town would be unhappy about the Frasers marrying? Hopefully those ladies would not become a problem. Losing four available men would probably not sit well. She imagined decent husbands weren’t any easier to come by here than they were in North Grove. Oh, there seemed to be a lot of men on the streets, but how many of them were husband material?
Mrs. Farmer was adding up the bill when Caleb returned. He eyed the pile, and began loading the items into the sleigh. She sighed in relief when he didn’t question the large order.
“You be sure to have that husband of yours bring you into town on a regular basis,” Mrs. Fraser said as Caleb carried out the last of her things.
“Yes, I will.” Lily gave the woman a bright smile and joined Caleb on the boardwalk in front of the store.
“I hope you don’t think I spent too much.” She eyed the back of the sleigh loaded down with parcels and bundles.
“I imagine this is all stuff we need?”
“Yes.”
“Did you buy anything for yourself?”
“Um, actually, I did buy a bar of soap I like to use. And some cream for my hands.”
He leaned close and spoke softly. “I like the soap you use. Maybe I’ll help you with your bath tonight.”
Her heartbeat sped up and she licked her lips, visions of her sitting in the tub, the steam rising while Caleb rubbed her fine soap over her slick skin caused her knees to buckle.
Oh, my.
“Caleb!” They both turned as a woman came hurrying down the boardwalk, waving her arm.
“That’s the woman who was in Pete’s house the other day.” Lily peered at the girl as she barreled past the stores, practically mowing people down in her quest to reach Caleb. Pretty in a common sort of way, she wore an outfit that only came to her knees. Lily’s eyes grew wide as she watched the girl’s bosom bounce, greatly testing the bodice of her skimpy dress. All she could think was the girl must be freezing. She had a bright red ribbon in her hair and wore face paint.
She placed her hand on her exposed chest and took deep breaths as she approached them. For a minute Lily thought the girl would run right into Caleb’s arms. “Did you find my necklace?”
Caleb just stared at her. “What?”
“My necklace? Did you find my necklace?”
“No, Desiree. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She sighed and placed her hands on her ample hips. “When I slept in your bed the night before your wedding, I must have lost my necklace. It’s my lucky charm. Did you find it?”