A Run for Love (20 page)

Since she’d finished her housework, and supper baked in the oven, now would be a good time to do some investigating. She went to the kitchen, checked the mirror and studied her reflection.

Last night when Jesse stormed out, she was left as frustrated as he. To never again feel joy from Jesse’s hands and mouth depressed her. She craved the sensation of his hard body pressed against hers. Thoughts of his large hands moving over her naked flesh, caressing places he knew would bring her pleasure, heated her face.

“Tori, are you feeling all right?” Rachel entered through the back door, books in hand.

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s a little warm in here.”

“You’re flushed. Are you running a fever?” Rachel touched Tori’s forehead.

“No fever.” Tori scooted away. “I’m fine. I have a couple errands to run. Did you need me for something?”

“Yes, in fact. I wanted to drop off my report card.” Rachel whipped out a paper, handed it to Tori. “All A’s.” Her niece’s face glowed.

Tori unfolded the paper and scanned it. “Rachel, this is wonderful. You’re doing so well.” Tears sprang to her eyes.

“Thanks.” Rachel leaned over her aunt’s shoulder to peer at the paper again.

Tori glanced back at the girl, smiling at Rachel’s grin. “I’d like Jesse to see it.”

“Fine with me.” Rachel snagged a cookie from the plate on the table. “I’m off now. Big test tomorrow.”

Tori followed her out the door, then waved goodbye as she headed to town. Within two blocks, she stopped, two fingers pressed against her lips. Now that she was on her way, where could she go? Several ladies moved along the boardwalk, going in and out of stores. It wasn’t like she could saunter over to one of them to question her.

The town didn’t own a library yet, although it didn’t seem likely she could get that kind of information there anyway. Dr. Hendricks? Heat suffused her face, imagining how that conversation would go.

She glanced up and down the street, then her eyes settled on The Bottomless Bucket. The women who worked there would know all about preventing pregnancy. It wouldn’t be wise to walk up to the front door while the place was packed and request to speak with one of the saloon girls. Her reputation was already suspect since her last venture into the place.

She checked her watch. Barely four o’clock. The saloon didn’t start doing any type of business until well after eight or nine at night, so maybe she
could
sneak in unseen right now.

A few of the prostitutes from The Bottomless Bucket had shared a jail cell with her, but one in particular came to mind. She frowned, chewing her lip in concentration. What was her name again? Sally? Sheila? She snapped her fingers. No, Sadie.

Sadie, an older brunette who wore a lot of makeup, although it had run down her cheeks in the jail cell from crying. But she’d been nice to her, kept saying she’d get out right quick once her handsome husband discovered she was in jail.

She’d asked the older woman how she knew her husband, but Sadie assured her Jesse had never visited upstairs. He’d stopped in for a drink once in a while. The woman patted her hand and said Jesse was known among the girls as a faithful husband, one who loved his wife.

Did he love her? He’d spent quite a bit of effort to get her to move back with him. But love? Hmm. More likely lust.
The lust isn’t working out so well for him, though, is it?

Still reluctant, she dragged her feet the rest of the way to the saloon. Tori paced in front a few times, then decided she attracted more attention this way than if she entered. She took a deep breath, stepped to the batwing doors, then pushed them aside.

The inside appeared much different than the last time. But then, mortified at being in such a place, she didn’t take much notice of her surroundings. Now she took in the plush atmosphere, a painting of a naked lady on the wall—a requirement in a saloon?—and a long mirror behind the bar. The same bartender stood polishing glasses, with one lone customer slumped at a table in a corner, having a serious conversation with his beer.

“Ma’am, I believe the judge told you ladies not to come in here again.” The bartender leaned over to look behind her, no doubt to see how many ladies invaded the saloon this time. “The boss ain’t gonna be happy if you start busting up the place again.”

“No, no, I’m not with a group, sir.” Tori rubbed her hands along her dress as she stiffly walked forward. “I would like to speak with Sadie, please?”

“Sadie?” The bartender raised his bushy eyebrows. “What do you want with Sadie?”

“I, ah, would like to speak with her. If I may.” Despite only one inattentive customer in the saloon, she whispered her request.

The bartender walked over to the bottom of the stairs and bellowed. “Sadie!”

“What?” A rough female voice shouted.

“Someone here to see you.” He glowered at Tori as if he expected her to have disappeared.

“I don’t start work until six.” A belligerent voice echoed. “Tell him to come back later. Lord Almighty, a lady can’t even have some time to herself.”

“This ain’t no customer.” He grinned at Tori. “At least I don’t think so.”

Sweat beaded her forehead and she almost spun on her heel to leave, but her mission, so important to her husband, kept her where she stood.

I can do this.

Sadie stomped down the stairs, a bright flowered wrap around her corpulent body. Her brown lackluster hair fell in waves to her waist, while a half-smoked cigarette dangled from crimson lips.

“Hey, I know you!” The woman stopped halfway and shouted at Tori. “You’re that lawyer’s wife. We shared a jail cell.” She hooted and continued down the stairs.

The solitary customer leered at Tori and winked. The bartender stopped polishing glasses, watching the two women with interest.

“Go on back to work, Hank, this ain’t none of your business.” The whore flicked her wrist in his direction.

“Come on over here, honey, have a seat.” Sadie indicated a chair at one of the scarred wooden tables.

Tori sat on the edge of the chair, kept her head down and her hands in her lap. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.

“So, what brings you here, Mrs. Cochran? Ain’t that your name?” She bent her head to look at Tori’s face as she smashed the rest of her cigarette in an overflowing ashtray.

“Um, I need to get some advice,” Tori murmured, and glanced over her shoulder at the bartender, who still watched them closely.

“Hank, I told you to mind your own business. Now I want to have a conversation with this here nice lady, so you go on and finish washing your glasses.” Sadie slid her chair over and leaned closer to Tori. “What do you want advice on, hon?”

Strong perfume, mixed with cigarette smoke, made Tori want to gag, but she edged her chair closer, and whispered, “I need information on how to prevent pregnancy.”

Sadie snapped her head back and regarded her through narrowed eyes. “Now why would a nice lady like you, with such a handsome husband and all, want that kinda information?”

Tori twisted her hands in her lap, then sucked in a shaky breath. “I suffered a bad miscarriage a while back, and I don’t want to get pregnant again.” No point in saying more than necessary.

“But honey, don’t y’all want babies?” Sadie reached over and took her hand.

“Yes. Maybe. Oh, I don’t know.” She fluttered her free hand in the air. “But not yet, and my husband is getting, you know.” She used shaky fingers to wipe the sweat beading on her upper lip.
Good Lord, why did I think I could do this?

“I’m sure he is, Mrs. Cochran. If your miscarriage happened a while ago, I’m amazed the man is still walking.” She sat back and studied her. “What does your husband say about this?”

“Um, he, ah, doesn’t know I’m here.” Tori picked at her skirt.

Sadie lit another cigarette, blowing smoke directly into Tori’s face. “All right, I’ll tell you what I do. But if your husband finds out where you got this information, I’m going to lie and say I never met you before. Gentlemen don’t take kindly to having their wives ask my type of woman for advice.”

Tori took a deep breath and smiled. “That’s okay, he won’t find out.”

Sadie moved her chair forward. “What we do here is take a small sponge with a string attached and soak it in vinegar. Then put it in, you know.”

Tori frowned. “Put it in where?”

Sadie sighed. “Lord, girl, you don’t make this easy. You put it where he puts his, you know.”

“Oh.” Tori leaned back and wiped sweat from her forehead this time. A color in the rainbow did not exist to cover what she assumed her face must look like.

“Cause I like ya, honey,” Sadie said, leaning closer, causing Tori’s eyes to water with the smell. “I’ll give ya one from the new supply of sponges I just got in.”

“Well, I would appreciate that very much.” Somehow washing the dishes with a kitchen sponge, then shoving one into her body held little appeal.

Sadie lumbered up the stairs much faster than Tori would have given her credit for. She sank back with relief, pleased she’d gotten the needed information.

The next time Jesse watched her with hunger in his eyes, she would let him know everything was all right. Anticipation of the pleasure that awaited them both made her heart race. Thanks to Sadie, her former cellmate.

Tori and Jesse strolled along the river hand in hand. The setting sun behind them cast a rosy glow over the red dirt at their feet.

“So when are you going to show me the land you bought outside of town?”

“Anytime you want to go.” He glanced at her. “Are you getting cold? You’re shivering.”

“A little bit. A definite nip in the air tonight.”

Jesse put his arm around her shoulders, then tucked her against his warm body. “Let’s head for home.”

The walk home went much quicker than the leisurely stroll they’d taken after supper at The Café. Once inside, Tori ran her hands over her upper arms. The house even seemed chilly tonight.

Jesse took her in his arms from behind and nuzzled her neck. “I’ll start a fire. Why don’t you get into your nightgown and make some tea?”

Tori opened her dresser drawer to take out her nightgown. A little sponge with a string attached sat in one corner. Glancing over her shoulder, she pulled out the nightgown and slammed the drawer shut. Would she have the nerve to use it? Her heart beat faster at the possibilities.

She returned in a few minutes, snug in a nightgown and wrap. Jesse stood in front of the fireplace, his forearm resting on the mantle, staring at the flames. Tori’s mouth went dry at the sight of his broad back and trim waist, both above firm buttocks. His muscles rippled under his white shirt as he poked at the fire.

Lord, it’s getting warm in here.

Tori joined him at the fireplace. “Did you want some tea, because I don’t feel like it myself.”

“No. Just skip it.” Jesse pulled her into his arms. He removed her spectacles, then placed them on the mantle. “I’ve wanted to do this all day.”

“What?” She croaked. His burning eyes held her still.

He kissed her lightly, brushing his lips back and forth. Never leaving her mouth, he swept her into his arms and crossed the room, settling them in one of the plush new chairs. His mouth covered hers hungrily, and she returned his kiss with reckless abandon.

Jesse was already hard, and a whimper escaped her at the sensation pressing against her bottom. She shifted. Jesse pulled away, leaning his forehead against hers. “Darlin’, don’t do that. You’re killing me already.”

A wonderful warm feeling crept from her toes to pool in her most private part. Jesse sought her lips a second time, easing his tongue into her mouth, touching all her sensitive parts he knew drove her crazy. She moaned again, then slid her hands up his shoulders and around his neck, reveling in the bunched muscles of his back. He moved his lips to her jaw, then her neck, using a series of slow, shivery kisses. She leaned her head back to give him greater access. He untied her wrap and with one hand spread it open and unbuttoned the nightgown.

On fire, the wetness between her legs increased. It had been so long, so very long. His touch and smell pushed her to the edge. Unable to hold back her urges, she ran her hands up his arms, squeezing until a rumble rose from deep inside his chest.

His hands shook, ever so slightly, against her skin as he slid the nightgown off her shoulders. He sucked in a deep breath as his gaze lingered on the sight of her bare breasts, illuminated by soft flames of fire. A fine mist of sweat filled his brow.

Like he handled a fine piece of china, Jesse cupped her breast, his lips touching her nipple with tantalizing possessiveness. Her hands dug into his hair and held on, less she slide to the floor in a puddle at his feet.

Somewhere in her crazed mind, a picture of the little sponge flashed in her mind. Yes! She pulled away and Jesse growled.

“I’m going to turn down the covers on the bed.” Tori bolted from his lap, clutching her nightgown in her fists, and raced toward bedroom. Jesse sat alone, slightly dazed. She’d just been here, nice and warm and soft.
What did she say? Something about covers.
He stared stupidly at his lap, where she’d been only a second ago.

Before he could process her words, she’d disappeared. He shook his head, replaying her words in his mind. Smiling, he headed to the bedroom to get the box of condoms out of his drawer where he’d hid them.

Tori flew out of the bedroom as he went in. She hadn’t pulled the covers down. He grabbed her arm. “Where are you going now?”

“I need a drink of water.” She yanked her arm away and raced toward kitchen. Drawers opened and closed. Something heavy slammed on the counter.

With nimble hands, Jesse took one of the condoms out. He tore off his clothes, hopping up and down on one foot as he fumbled to get out of his pants.

Tori returned to the bedroom, panting, her face flushed. Jesse sat in the big bed, leaning back, his hands crossed over the back of his head. He wasn’t wearing anything under the sheet, his erection obvious. Tori scampered across the room, then dove into bed.

The minute she hit the mattress, Jesse was all over her. Frantically, they lifted her nightgown over her head. He slid both their bodies down and captured her lips, his hands wandering across her soft warm body. Tori pushed herself against him, then ran her hands over his back.

Jesse rained kisses over her face. “Honey, we can keep going. I got something to protect you.”
“No need.” Her hands dug into his scalp. She threw her leg over his, pulling him close. “I took care of it.”

“You don’t understand,” Jesse mumbled as he suckled her breast. “There’s no longer a problem.”

Tori arched her back. “I know. No problem, all taken care of.” She moaned and shifted.

Jesse ran his fingers through her hair, nipped at her earlobe, then sucked it. His heart pounded in his ears. All the weeks of waiting to touch her, hold her in his arms, disappeared as his hand wandered over soft-scented skin.

With his condom in place, there would be a finish this time. He could protect her, keep her from worrying about pregnancy. He had it all taken care of. The words echoed in his mind.
Wait a minute.
Someone else just said that.

Her comments finally got through to his lust-crazed brain. He pulled back and regarded her. Tori whimpered, then reached for him and tried to drag him back. He resisted, holding her at arm’s length.

“What?” Tori snapped, taking gulps of air.

“Did I just hear you say ‘
all taken care of’
?”

“Yes.” She gasped. “I did something.” Her arms slid off his shoulders, and she propped herself up on both elbows.

He leaned over her, his hands on either side of her body. “Explain, if you please, exactly what you did.” He narrowed his eyes.

“I, um, put something there.”

“Where there?”

“You know. Down there.” She waved in the general direction of the area between her legs.

“Tori, what the devil are you talking about? What did you put ‘
down there
?’”

“A sponge soaked in vinegar.” Using her elbows, she edged back.

Jesse’s jaw dropped, and he sat back on his heels. “Where in hell did you learn to do that?”

“From Sadie,” she squeaked.

Jesse shook his head. “Who the devil is Sadie?”

“Um, one of the women I shared a jail cell with.”

“You mean a
whore
?” Jesse roared.

“Yes, where else do you suppose I would get that information?” she snapped, pushing her chin forward. “The Pastor’s wife was busy today.”

Ignoring her sarcasm, he growled. “And how did you get this
information
?”

“I went to the Bottomless Bucket to talk to her.”

Jesse groaned and dropped his head in his hands. “Didn’t Judge Blaine order you not to go near that place?”

“Nobody saw me,” she said. “I went in the afternoon.”

“I don’t want you near saloons, Tori. I don’t want you getting advice from whores.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t believe you think it’s your responsibility to take care of this.”

“I told you, no one saw me.” She skirted back and leaned against the headboard, arms crossed.

“And I told you
I
would take care of it.”

“Oh, and what did you do, talk to a different whore?”

“I bought condoms,” he shouted.

She tilted her head to one side. “What’s that?”

“It’s something a man uses,” he mumbled. This conversation got crazier by the minute.

She smiled, apparently enjoying his uneasiness. “Where did you get it?”

He blew out a breath. “Alton’s Drug Store.

“Oh, so it’s okay for you to walk into a drugstore in the middle of town where everyone knows us and ask for something
a man uses
?” She clucked her tongue. “Did Mr. Alton ask you who you were going to use it with?”

“Of course not,” Jesse sputtered, his face heating up. “And even if he did, it isn’t any of his business.”

They stared at each other for a few minutes, and then Jesse grinned. “At least we’re prepared.”

She smiled. “So it seems.”

“Come here.” He put his hand out. “Now where were we?”

Tori smiled as she folded the clean wash. She breathed in the fresh scent, cotton and sunshine filling her lungs. She and Jesse made good use of the sponge and condoms. They’d made love every night, sometimes more than once, as if making up for lost time.

Things would be perfect, except for Jesse’s hints she would make a wonderful mother. He didn’t understand how deep-rooted her fears were. She shoved the thought to the back of her mind. As long as they continued to use the soaked sponge and condom, she felt secure enough to engage in some pretty ambitious activities with her husband. They both smiled a lot.

“Mr. and Mrs. Cochran, how nice to see you, it’s been weeks.” Mrs. Boswell’s booming voice grated on Jesse’s ears.

“Mrs. Boswell, good evening.” Tori and Jesse stopped their stroll to speak with the former president of the Ladies League for Decency.

“And it’s ever so nice to see the two of you together,” she tittered, batting her eyelashes at Jesse. He gulped.

Mrs. Boswell turned to Tori, sizing her up with a critical eye. “Well, I would think by now you would have a biscuit in the basket, young lady.”

Jesse rubbed his chin, thinking he knew what she meant, but refused to believe even she would be so rude. He glanced at Tori, who’d gone pasty white. She grabbed his hand, like she needed help to stand upright.

Mrs. Boswell winked at Jesse. “It’s your job, young man, to see to it, or you’ll never have little ones running around.”

Rage started in his stomach, then pulsed throughout his body. How dare the old harridan butt into their business! He put his arm around Tori and squeezed.

“If you’ll excuse us, Mrs. Boswell, we were just hurrying home.” He tipped his hat, then turned abruptly, with Tori pressed against his side.

They walked the rest of the way in silence. Jesse kept glancing in Tori’s direction.

Damn that old fool!

He released her to open the door, his heart heavy with the sadness enveloping her. She walked stiffly to the bedroom, her back ramrod straight.

Jesse leaned his forearm against the window frame and stared out at the darkness. Lights flickered in a few houses and the businesses were all dark. Sort of like his life with Tori. Lightness in some areas, deep darkness in others.

After a few minutes, he joined her in the bedroom. She lay on the bed, turned away from him. The first time she’d done that since they began using protection. His insides shifted. She appeared to be a small bundle of misery huddled in the middle of the bed.

Swiftly he removed his clothes and blew out the lamp on the dresser. He rubbed his temples with his thumb and index finger, and crossed the room. The bed dipped as he climbed in, scooting next to her.

“Don’t pay attention to that woman.” He rubbed Tori’s back. “It’s none of her business.”

No words, just a slight shaking of her shoulders. He wrapped his arm around her middle, pulled her against him, her heart thumping against his wrist. Soon she relaxed in his arms and drifted off to sleep. He closed his eyes and remembered the long dark months of her depression. They’d come so far since then.

Every day, every smile, every heated glance, made him love her more. To lose her again would tear him apart. So many times he started to tell her how he felt, but that last bit of trust she didn’t have, that together their love could conquer anything they needed to face, stopped him. She didn’t love him enough to take a chance. So he kept silent.

Dark clouds with flashes of lightning heralded the start of a typical Oklahoma spring storm. Tori closed the window over the kitchen sink to keep the rain from blowing in. Unsettled weather always frightened her. Aunt Martha told her the thunder and lightning was God’s way of punishing her for nasty thoughts. By the time she grew old enough to know it to be a lie, the fear had become ingrained.

She ticked off the whereabouts of her family. Michael worked his part time job at the newspaper, Rachel helped at The Café, Hunter did his homework next door, and Ellie had begged to go to her best friend’s house.

Jesse. The only one not accounted for. She checked her watch. He left over an hour ago, said he had a couple of appointments, and he’d be home by six. Her stomach clenched. Two more hours to fill.

A meatloaf for their supper would take some time, and keep her mind off the noise from the thunder and bright flashes. She got busy in the kitchen, singing a tune she’d heard played on the piano in the hotel lobby.

The wind blew stronger, bending bushes and trees, and blowing papers, leaves, and debris along the street. With the meatloaf in the oven and the table set, Tori took refuge on the sofa, her chin propped on her fist as she watched through the front window for her husband’s return. She flinched every time lightning struck. An uneasy feeling settled over her, one she couldn’t shake.

Jesse opened the heavy door of the bank. Paul Sommers, the bank’s owner, had sent all the way to Italy for the specially made door. A dark oak, with carvings of what most townspeople thought were disgraceful images of naked men and women. Jesse always laughed when he opened the door because the people of Guthrie didn’t recognize Italian art. He didn’t know who Sommers tried to impress, but it sure lacked an appreciative audience here.

Jenny McCall came out as Jesse entered. She wore the distracted air of most young mothers, dragging a whining small child with her, a drooling baby attached to her hip. He tipped his hat to the young woman, and spotted Paul across the room. A few minutes before closing time, the teller on duty still counted money.

Paul greeted Jesse, held out his hand and they shook. As soon as the bank closed, they would head to Paul’s back office to go over Jesse’s thriving accounts.

“Wind’s kicking up out there.” Jesse shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over a chair.

Paul locked the front door after biding his employee good night. “I think we’re in for a pretty big storm, if you ask me.”

The banker poured them both a drink and, after gesturing to each other with their glasses, they sat in the comfortable leather chairs in Paul’s office. The expensive brandy he always kept on hand went down smoothly.

“Your investments look good,” Paul said, glancing at the papers spread out in front of him. “In fact, better than good. The last railroad investment we made has almost doubled your balance. I suspect you’ll be a wealthy man before long.”

Rosie’s inheritance had started Jesse’s portfolio. He made deposits on a regular basis from his thriving law practice, and enjoyed being financially secure. Providing well for the family he still hoped to have one day was his top priority.

The wind outside had stopped, replaced by an eerie silence. They continued to flip through pages of numbers, sipping their drinks, until Jesse glanced up. “What’s that? Sounds like a train coming through here.”

“Damned if I know.” Paul cast a glance around. “The train station’s too far north.”

Jesse straightened in his seat. “Hey!” He rose and walked to the window. “The sky is green.”

Hail thundered down on the roof of the bank, ice chunks as large as pebbles striking the ground, bouncing up. With a flash, Jesse turned to Paul and shouted, “We need to get to the basement.”

Paul’s answer, had there been one, was lost in the sound of cracking and splintering. Jesse turned as a part of the wall alongside Paul flew apart, a board with a nail attached hitting the banker in the face. He went down with a thud, banging his head on the marble top of the heavy desk.

Jesse threw his arms over his face and backed away from the window as it shattered, spewing small pieces of glass over him. Wind whipped through the building, slamming books, papers, and debris into his body. He backed away, then tripped over Paul as another wall crashed down. Stunned, he shook his head and tried to get up as the desk flew into the air, knocking him sideways. He rolled over and covered his head as the rest of the building fell in. His last thought of Tori was snatched away when everything went black.