Boxed Set: Innocent Immigrant (14 page)

“You don’t have to talk of this, Ari,” I pleaded, for I knew how much it pained him. When I had caught Pastor Mackay assaulting Ari as a young lad, my parents had Ari removed from the Mission. He came to live with us but asked that we never speak again of what happened there. Although he was blameless, he took much shame from what I’d seen. It was an act of violence in direct opposition to the act of love we had committed many times together.

To this day, Ari continued to wrestle with the shame of the Pastor’s frequent assaults when he lived under his care. The hypocrisy he now witnessed was obviously too much for him to bear.

Ari pulled from my grasp and made a lunge for the Pastor. “He can come to hell with me,” he bellowed, knocking the Pastor to the ground.

I managed to haul him off before he did the man any damage, and before Mackay’s followers joined the fray. As I pulled him to his feet, I was relieved to find Katie had broken free during the scuffle and run to us. I didn’t know who to hold first, so I pushed Ari towards Katie. “Take her to the buggy, and wait for me.”

Ari gave the Pastor a final hateful look before uttering in his native tongue what I could only presume was some sort of curse, and then escorted Katie outside.

“Just us now, Mackay. Either you or Herbert can prove to me the amount Sid Watson paid to have Katie brought to New Zealand, and I’ll reimburse the Watson estate. Unlike yourself, I don’t have debts in this town—money or moral. If you wish to vanquish your moral debt, Pastor, I’ll happily unleash Ari. He keeps himself in check for my sake, and for Katie now, too. But he’s reckless when it comes to his loyalty and content to sacrifice everything to make sure Katie and I are happy. Let me know anytime you want to pursue that.”

I tucked the marriage licence back inside my coat pocket. “I will expect details of the financial transaction between the Mission and Sid Watson to be delivered to me at the warehouse. Good day.”

With that, I turned on my heel and left the chapel annex.

Book 2, Part 8

KATIE

I was not prone to fainting, but I have to admit the shock of seeing Ari attack the Pastor was almost the last straw for my nerves. Thankfully, I kept my head and during the distraction managed to pull free from the men guarding me and run to Griff. At last I felt safe, knowing that he and Ari would not leave me in the hands of the Mission or Mr Watson.

Later, the wait with Ari in the buggy for Griff to finish his negotiations with Pastor Mackay ensured I remained unnerved, and I stayed in a state of agitation until we were well down the road that led from the Mission into Kotuku lower township.

Finally, we turned onto the dirt track that would take us to the house. As I looked upon the pretty villa the warmth in my chest made me understand for the first time in my life what it must mean to have a home.

I felt safe.

Poor Maraea was in the kitchen polishing the floors which, despite their perfectly clean state, she’d begun scrubbing when the men had set off to rescue me. She clung to me when I entered the house, and when we finally parted my dress at the shoulder was damp from her tears. I promised her I was unharmed but knew she would blame herself for what happened for some time.

Griff and Ari stayed out the back, and I could hear their low voices earnestly discussing things that obviously weren’t for my ears. I prayed Ari was not in trouble for letting me go into town when Griff had expressly said I was to remain at the farm until he returned from Auckland. I had badgered Ari about accompanying Maraea when she went to meet Griff’s boat, and in the finish he’d given in and allowed me to go. Everything that had occurred had been through my own fault.

We ate a light supper that Maraea had prepared for us though she’d refused to stay and eat. I truly hoped my friend’s smile would return once she’d had a good night’s sleep. My appetite was low, and I picked at my food, the mood in the room sombre.

With supper finished, we retired to the drawing room. I was nervous, prepared to be punished for disobeying Griff. I sat on the edge of the settee picking at a thread caught in my skirt.

“You know you should be punished, Katie. Ari, too, for giving in to your begging instead of following my request that you remain at the farm during my absence. But I think all of us have been punished enough by today’s events, and what we need now is some time to recover. That doesn’t mean I’ve gone soft, Katie, and I want you to reflect on the consequences of your actions today. Sometimes when I make a request of you, it may seem unfair, but it is made with your best interests at heart. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Griff. I’m very sorry for the trouble I’ve put everyone through. And, Ari, I’m sorry to have worn you down with my pleadings until I made you give in to my request to accompany Maraea in town.” There was more I wanted to say to Ari about what I’d gleaned today at the Mission, but I was uncertain how to give voice to my thoughts.

“You’re forgiven, Katie,” Griff continued. “Now, we shall each retire tonight to our own beds. I suggest we spend some time before sleep reflecting on the vows we will make tomorrow and the new life we are about to embark on; a trinity where each of us are equal and one that should enrich us all.”

Book 2, Part 9

KATIE

I had lain awake for some time listening first to the cry of the seabirds, and then later a morepork. Even though Ari had shown me the little owl in the daytime, it was hard not to be unsettled when alone in your bed listening to its mournful cry drifted through the darkness. But I must have finally slept well because I woke refreshed by the melodious dawn choir of
tui
and the bell-like chimes of the
korimako
. Their bird-song was like nothing I’d ever heard in England and was the perfect wake-up for a bride on her wedding day.

It felt as though noon would never arrive. Maraea came to the house around ten to help me bathe and prepare myself for the ceremony. I was so pleased to have her with me because I couldn’t even take my hairbrush without dropping it.

“Are you nervous, Keiti?”

“Very much so. You’ve been married, Maraea. What’s it like...the first time with your husband?”

Maraea was pinning my hair, and she paused, her hands still. “If a man cares properly for his wife, the way Griff cares for you, it should be wonderful. Maybe a little uncomfortable at first, but nothing to be frightened off. Don’t be worrying yourself; Griff will take care of you.”

“Is that how it was for you?”

Maraea shook her head and went back to fixing my hair though I noticed her hands weren’t as steady as they usually were. “My husband was brutal and did not care for me. We won’t talk of it on your special day.”

Dawn had been obscured by a sea mist hiding the eastern horizon and sunrise, but this lifted through the morning revealing a warm spring day filled with promise. The native trees seemed filled with more birds than usual, including Huhu, Ari’s pet tui who chatted and sang throughout the short ceremony.

Maraea had fixed my hair so that it flowed in long red ringlets down my back and had surprised me with a veil she’d made prettier with wildflowers from her garden. Maraea and I walked together across the lawn to where Griff and Ari waited with the celebrant, Doctor Blandford. The way Griff and Ari looked at me with such adoration made me physically weak, yet strengthened me emotionally. We’d only known each other a short time, but we had a base of kindness and caring that would be a foundation upon which to build our lives.

Doctor Blandford was a good friend of the men and knew of our unique situation. Although legally Griff would be on the register as my husband, Ari was included in our vows. My hand trembled as Griff slipped the gold ring that used to belong to his beloved mother, on my finger. The tremor in my voice confirmed my nerves as I vowed to love, honour and obey both Griff and Ari. When it came time to seal the union with a kiss, both men took my mouth with restrained passion.

After the ceremony, we had afternoon tea prepared by Maraea, who in the short time frame had cleverly managed to gather together the ingredients and bake us a fine rich wedding cake. Doctor Blandford joked that we could save some of it to use as a christening cake for our first baby which did little to settle my nerves about the second part of celebrating a marriage: the consummation.

The Doctor departed shortly after the meal, and Maraea cleared away the room and left us in private. The time had come, and I looked to the two strong men with trepidation. Somehow, entrusting them with my future wellbeing had been much easier than trusting them to care for me physically through what was about to occur.

Griff stood and reached out his hand to me. “Come, Katie, it’s time to make you our wife.”

BOOK TWO ENDS

ARI

I
t was dusk, and the soft orange light filled Griff’s bedroom. Katie’s steps along the hall had been short and hesitant making me wish she was looking forward to the act more than it appeared. But I took it as a challenge to change her views and give her the pleasure she couldn’t possibly yet imagine. Hopefully in the coming days she would lose her apprehension and bring more enthusiasm to the bedroom.

She glanced at the open window, the curtain billowing in the soft breeze. “Someone might see us,” she said.

“And what a beautiful sight they will enjoy,” I countered.

Her eyes widened in alarm.

“There is nobody about, Katie. In any case, the dogs will bark if anyone comes onto the property. Forget about the window, sweetheart and concern yourself only with what we’re about to do.”

“I believe I’m more than filled enough with concern about what we’re about to do.” Katie grimaced.

As was usual in these situations, I allowed Griff to take the lead. He took hold of her chin and dipped his head down to take a kiss. His gentle nibbling on her lips and the rough catch of her breath had my cock filling in no time. Griff pulled away from her mouth and gave me a nod before moving back in. This time, I saw his thumb press on her chin, opening her mouth, and his tongue slipped inside.

That was enough for me. I moved behind her and took the few pins from her hair that kept it away from her face. The scent from the flowers threaded in her veil lingered in her hair, mingling with the lemon and herbs Maraea liked to use as a rinse. I’d heard her telling Katie the special concoction would bring out the gold highlights and make them shine.

I twisted her hair in a knot beneath my fist, lifted it and place my mouth to the back of her slender neck. She tasted heavenly and sounded even better when a muffled cry escaped her.

Now it was time to overwhelm her. I stepped back and slipped free the buttons on the back of her dress. Her shoulders tightened, lifting as if trying to prevent me undressing her.

“Let him,” Griff whispered to her. “We’ll all be naked soon.”

I moved quickly now, not wanting to give Katie time to protest or think too much. In no time, I had the dress unbuttoned to her waist, and I slipped it from her shoulders, tugging it from her grip as she tried to prevent it falling to the floor. I placed her hands on Griff’s shoulders, and as he continued to kiss her, I crouched, lifting each of her feet, freeing her completely from her garments.

Now she stood in her chemise and knickers, and I saw her shiver briefly.

“Cold?” I asked, rubbing a thumb along her upper arm.

“No,” she mumbled into Griff’s mouth. She may have been innocent and shy, but it certainly appeared she couldn’t get enough of kissing her new husband.

The strap of her chemise fell slightly from one shoulder, and I shifted it further, placing a line of kisses where it had been, finishing in a trail up her neck. This time she moved into me, bringing a smile to my lips. Responding already; we couldn’t ask for more.

Griff pulled away, taking the chemise in one quick move over her head. Her hands flew up to cover her exposed breasts, and I caught them, taking them to the small of her back.

“Don’t cover yourself, you naughty girl,” Griff said in a low voice. “Come now, onto the bed.”

I wanted to see her face, taste her lips but knew there would be plenty of time for that. Griff was undressing as I held her, and I was desirous to see the state of him. All the while, I expect Katie was probably equally anxious to not see him naked at all.

With my free hand, I undid the tie on her drawers, and they fell to the ground.

“Please...” She looked at them as if they were a precious thing about to be stolen away.

Griff took her back from me, ducking his head to her breasts. They were small with tight rose pink nipples, her skin so pale as to almost appear translucent. I don’t think I’d seen anything more pretty in my life. When Griff put his mouth to them, her hands gripped his head. The tension in her forearms suggested first she was trying to push him away, then, with a gasp, she pulled him harder to her.

I couldn’t get out of my clothes fast enough, and I discarded them, not caring how they lay about the floor. I went to the bed and pulled the covers back so that only the linen covering the mattress remained. There would be no hiding beneath the covers for Katie tonight.

I propped up the pillows and sat back against them, my knees spread, my hand comforting my cock which stood hard against my belly.

Griff turned Katie towards me, and I noticed she looked everywhere except at my nakedness. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen from Griff’s mouth.

“Go to Ari.” He gave her a little nudge and with tentative steps she reached the side of the bed. I stretched out my hand and took hers. It was warm, damp with perspiration and beautifully soft.

“Onto the bed, sweetheart,” I said.

She crawled alongside me, seeming uncertain how to lie, and I pulled her in against my side, turning her face to claim her mouth. Like Griff, I started gently but it seemed she had liked the taste of kissing she’d already had, and immediately the tip of her little tongue poked at my lips. I opened my mouth and let her explore inside. Soon her breath came in harsh gasps, and our tongues crossed as I stroked in and out of her. The bed dipped when Griff climbed on behind her, and she jumped in my arms as he ran a hand up her calves.