Cody's Montana Sweetheart: A New Montana Brides Ebook (The New Montana Brides) (4 page)

chapter Nine

The Map

At the church, Annabel introduced Cody to the preacher, Jack Owens and his wife, Letty. “Are you about ready to put this show on the road?” he asked.

“I am,” she said. To Jack and Letty, she said, “I promise I’ll try and make it to church more often.”

“Nice to have met you folks,” Cody said.

As they rode off, he said to Annabel, “Nice couple. If she wasn’t taken, I might make a run at her myself.”

“I still have my shotgun,” she reminded him. “I know how to use it too.

“By the way, I made a deal with Mose to buy Thunder. I’ll use one of your saddles, and I told him you would drop it off the next time you’re in town.”

After the dinner dishes had been cleaned away, he spread the newly purchased map out on the table. Annabel had received four letters from Jeremy. He put a mark on the map at each of the points where a letter had been posted.

“Look at this,” he said, “It looks to me like he’s headed for California. I’ll bet he’s going to where Bethany was.”

She leaned over to look, brushing against his shoulder, as she did so. “Mm, you smell good,” he said.

She blushed, “Thank you. It’s nice to hear a compliment once in a while, even if it is about the way I smell,” she said, with a grin. “I think you’re right about what he’s doing. How are you going to do this?” she asked.

“I thought I would take the train to where the last letter came from. I can put Thunder in a horse car. His last letter is, what, two months old?”

“About that,” she said. “Won’t that be expensive? I can help with it. I’ve got a little saved back.”

“That’s not necessary. I’m good to go. I didn’t spend much while I was in the Army, and I’m a pretty good poker player.”

She was still leaning over his shoulder, looking at his map. He turned his head; their lips were just a few inches apart. Her eyes met his, and almost without realizing it, their lips touched. She shuddered.

He straightened. “I’m sorry; I don’t know why I did that. It happened before I knew it.”

“”Who cares why? I didn’t mind.” she said. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down, so their lips met again. Shocks raced throughout her body. Pressing herself against him, she kissed him eagerly.

“In my dreams,” she said, “You kissed me thousands of times. This was the first time I’ve been kissed in years.” she said.

“Why?” he asked. “I don’t understand it. You are a stunningly beautiful woman. There must have been some who tried.”

“Oh, a few,” she said. “I just didn’t find them interesting.”

“Would you like some coffee?” she asked.

“It’s too much trouble, you’d have to heat the stove to make it.”

“Actually, I don’t. Start a fire in the fireplace, and I’ll hang a pot on the hook. The fire will knock down the chill.” She went back to the kitchen and returned with a pot, the bottom of which was blackened from fires in the past. “This was Ma’s old pot. She brought it when we left Ohio and came out here.”

Before long, they heard the sound of the water boiling. “I might as well do this the old way,” she said, and produced two tin cups, into which she poured the scalding brew. “On the trail, the women got up early. The first thing they put on was the coffee, while the menfolk tended the cattle inside the wagon ring,” she said.

“What was that like,” he asked.

“It was hard,” she replied. “Most of the time we walked, to ease the load on the horses. Papa traded them for oxen when we got to the mountains. It was a treat to be allowed to ride in the wagon.”

“It sounds like the Army, but since I was in the Cavalry, at least I had a horse, but the saddle felt hard at the end of a long day.”

“I want you to promise to write and let me know where you are, and how you’re doing,” she said.

“I’m not much for writing, but I will try. If you don’t hear from me for a while, it won’t mean I’ve given up. I won’t give up until I find him or I’m dead,” he said.

A distressed look came on her face. “Don’t talk like that. I want you to come back. You have to come back.” She came over and sat by him, and placed her hands on his shoulders. I need for you to come back. Promise me.” She shook him. “Promise me you’ll come back.”

He took her into his arms. He put his hand under her chin, and tilted her head up. “Annabel, I will come back. I will come back with Jeremy.”

“Oh, you don’t know how much that means for me to hear you say that.” She leaned, putting her head on his shoulder as he held her tightly. She kissed his neck, and the crevice between his neck and shoulders. He lifted her head and brought his lips to hers. As she parted her lips, he traced their outline with his tongue. She tightened her arms around his neck to bring him closer. When her tongue touched his, she shivered, and moaned softly. When they broke, she put her head on his opposite shoulder and pressed against him tightly.

Cody felt her breasts, the nipples firm, pressing against his shirt, the heat burning through. “Annabel, we need to stop.”

“Why?” she asked.

“We just need to, or I won’t want to,” he said.

“So,” she murmured.

He held her at arm’s length, and said, “I will not ruin your life the way I ruined Bethany’s,” he said.

“I don’t want to talk about Bethany now,” she said. “Look at me, Cody. I’ve loved you since I was fourteen. Bethany’s gone. I’m not. I’m right here. In front of you. What are you going to do about it?”

“I’m going to sleep in the barn, is what I’m going to do about it,” he said.

Her look was determined, “Then I’m going to sleep in the barn too,” she said.

“Do women throw themselves at you like this all of the time?” she asked.

“There’s been no one since Bethany,” he said.

“I don’t believe that,” she said.

“It’s true,” he said.

“Talk about two wasted lives,” she said. “I’m going to bed.” You do as you like, but please, don’t sleep in the barn.”

chapter Ten

I’ll Be Back

Cody sat in front of the fireplace until the wood was all burned, leaving the smoldering embers.
Tomorrow, the adventure starts. First thing in the morning. Time to go to bed. I’ll sleep in Jeremy’s room. I don’t want to leave her mad.

Walking down the hall to Jeremy’s room, Cody looked to his left.
The room with the door closed. That must be Annabel’s room.
In the bedroom, the curtains were drawn, and allowed little of the moonlit sky to enter the room. Undressed, he felt his way to the bed, and pulled back the covers. He put his knee onto the bed, and started to get beneath the covers. He put his hand out… and felt soft, warm skin. With a start, he pulled his hand back.

“What are you doing here,” he asked.

“I knew you wouldn’t come to me, so I came to you. Now hush and get in the bed,” Annabel said.

“No. I told you how I felt about this,” he said.

Her voice soft, she said, “You don’t want me, is that it, Cody? If it is, say so, and I’ll go back to my room.”

“Damn it, Annabel, you know what I mean,” he said.

“Stop swearing,” she said, “and get in bed.”

He laid on the bed facing her. Unable to see her face in the darkness, he moved his hand over the contours. The high cheekbones, the soft smooth lips, the perfect nose, and the silky smooth hair.

“That feels good,” she said, and pulled his head toward her until her lips met his. She parted her lips and allowed her tongue to trace his lips and enter his mouth until their tongues met. Sparks passed between them, the current racing down her body to her treasure vault. Cody knew he was lost.

He put his arm out and felt a bare shoulder. As he moved his hand across the shoulder to her neck, he felt only skin. He slid his hand down and found the smooth, firm mound that was her breast.

She had a sharp intake of breath, and felt shivers down her spine, as he twisted the nipple between his fingers, feeling it become erect. He took possession of her mouth, kissing her hungrily, as he continued massaging her breast.

“Are you going to keep all those clothes on when you make love to me,” she asked.

“You’re really sure of yourself aren’t you?” he asked.

She grasped his fully erect member, and said, “I am now.” He sat up in bed and pulled his undershirt over his head and then slid his drawers down and kicked them off. Now they were in full body contact, the red hot tips of her breast searing his chest where they touched.

She felt her juices flowing… down there and knew she was moist, and ready. Another sharp intake of breath came when he took her breast in his mouth and began suckling. His hand left the breast it had been massaging and began a slow movement down her belly. She felt it move through the silky thatch that guarded the entrance to her inner being. It paused and manipulated the folds, then moved inside. She arched her back and elevated her hips to meet his hand. The finger found her magic spot, and began to move over it, so lightly it barely seemed to touch. Involuntarily, she began moving her hips against his hand. She felt an oncoming surge, and then lost control, thrashing wildly about the bed. On and on it came, then it was there. One… two… three… five thrusts of her hips before it began to subside. She lay back on the bed, limp, out of breath.

Tugging at him, she said, “Make love to me Cody. I want you to make love to me so bad it aches.”

He mounted her, and guided his staff to the entrance, where he paused, teasing her, until she put her hands on his hips and pulled him in, until he met resistance. “Push hard, make it quick.” She pulled him down and he pushed into her. She cried out in pain. He started to retract.

“No, don’t stop. It’s better now,” she said, and began to move with him. She felt him tense, and then he began to pulse. She could feel him moving in and out, deep within her body, even as she felt her body tensing up, as it began its rush toward the second climax of her life.

Afterward, she lay in his arms, her finger moving around his chest. “Cody?”

“Yes?”

“It was better than I imagined it would be,” she said.

“So you’ve thought about this?” he asked.

“Many times,” she said. “Think of all of the time we’ve wasted, being alone.

“Are you going to remember this while you’re gone?” she asked.

“Nah, I’ll forget it before I get to Helena.”

“Don’t tease, not about this. There are no strings attached. I wanted to. I don’t want you feeling guilty about it or anything. I mean it,” she said.

“I won’t forget this, ever,” he said. “Would you do something for me?”

“What would you like for me to do,” she asked.

“I want to open the curtains, and I want you to stand in the light and slowly turn around. I’ve felt all of you. Now, I’d like to see all of you.”

“Gladly,” she said. She opened the curtains and faced him. She slowly raised her hands above her head and clasped them together in the classic ballerina pose, her breasts tightened, pert and firm, as she slowly turned in a circle.

Smiling, she said, “Again?” and turned in the opposite direction. “Come dance with me?” she asked.

He stood, and took her in his arms and they moved slowly, keeping time with the music they held in their heads. “You have a perfect body. You are absolutely the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.”

“Say that again,” she whispered.

He did.

“That makes two times I’ve been told I am beautiful. I feel beautiful. I feel wonderful; better than I have ever felt in my life. Now, take me back to bed and make love to me again.” She looked at him and grinned. “You may have created a monster.”

chapter Eleven

The Search Begins

Cody awakened slowly. It was still dark outside. He stood by the bed and realized he had no clothes on. He got dressed. “Good morning,” said a sleepy voice from the bed he had just vacated. His movements had awakened Annabel.

“You weren’t going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?” she asked.

“Of course not. I was going to take care of the animals, like any good Cavalry officer,” he replied.

“You’re not in the Cavalry anymore. They can wait. Come back to bed for a little while,” she said.

“But I’m already dressed,” he said in a faked whiny voice.

She threw back the covers, and lay there in her naked splendor. “Suit yourself,” Cowboy,” she said.

“On the other hand,” he said, “that’s a mighty tempting offer and besides, it won’t take that long to dress again.”

He quickly undressed and returned to the bed and the outstretched arms. She squirmed around until she was half on top and half to the side of him. He inserted himself into her love box. “That’s what I’m talking about,” she said and began to move, and for the third time in less than twelve hours, they made love.

When they had completed the act, she looked at him. “Okay, you’ve taken care of the lady, now you can take care of the animals while I dress and make breakfast.”

“Cody?”

He turned and looked at her.

“I meant what I said last night. No strings attached,” she said.

“I know,” he said. “I am already attached. You are a part of me now.”

She began to cry. “I never wanted anything so much in all of my life, as I wanted to hear you say something like that.”

He sat on the bed beside her. As he looked into that lovely face, a shiver came over his body. He leaned down, and kissed her thoroughly, while one hand cupped her breast. He was watching her face as he took the breast into his mouth. She closed her eyes, as her expression changed to one of happy contentment.

“I could get used to that,” she said.

“You do that,” he replied. “It won’t the last time.”

He left the room, went to the kitchen and started a fire in the stove. Then he went to the barn and took care of his horse and the other animals. Just as any good Cavalryman would.

When he returned to the kitchen, she had dressed, brushed her hair and was making breakfast.

“Annabel, you look especially lovely this morning,” he said.

Over her shoulder, she said, “Thank you. I feel lovely, and loved.”

“You are, you know? Loved, I mean.”

She laid the spatula down and turned and came into his arms. And kissed him. She had tears in her eyes again, but they were tears of joy. “You Cavalrymen don’t waste any time, do you?”

“You know, it’s funny, I’ve known you most of my life, but I never knew you until last night,” he said. “I hate to leave you so soon. It’s not practical, but I wish you were going with me.”

“I’ll be here when you get back. With or without Jeremy,” she said.

* * *

The saddlebags were packed; his rifle was in the scabbard, loaded, and his bedroll was lashed behind the saddle.. There had been one last, emotional goodbye kiss, and he swung into the saddle with a move learned from long experience. “Goodbye, Annabel, I’ll write, but check with Western Union once in a while. When I can find a Western Union, I’ll send a telegram. It won’t take nearly as long to get here as a letter.”

“Let’s go, Thunder,” he said, and the large brown horse moved out. He turned, and waved one last time, before he disappeared into the trees, as he rode off to find his son and bring him home.

The train pulled into Ogden in mid afternoon. Cody decided to leave the train, since it was one of the places a letter had been mailed.

Ogden lies on what was known as the California Trail. If you were on the way to California, you passed through Ogden. Cody and Annabel reasoned Jeremy would need to earn his keep since he had left home with nothing. There wasn’t much a boy of fourteen could do, so Cody could limit his search along those lines.

He saddled Thunder and rode from the depot to the livery stable, where he made arrangements for the feeding and care of Thunder.

“I’m going to be here for a couple of days, and need you to care for my horse,” he said to the proprietor of the stable.

“Glad to, stranger. That’s a dollar a day, the owner said.

“Whew, that’s kind of steep, don’t you think?” Cody asked.

“This is the only stable in town,” the owner said.

Cody laughed, and said, “Okay, point taken. Now, I’m looking for a runaway boy. He’s my son, and he’s fourteen.” He took the daguerreotype from his pocket and said “This was taken a while back. Does he look familiar?”

The man studied the picture, and said, “Can’t say as it does. Sorry.”

“Do the wagon trains follow the railroad pretty much?” he asked.

“We don’t get many wagons through here,” the man said. “They mostly follow the Humboldt River up north Not enough water around here, for their animals. We just get the railroad traffic.”

“Do any of the businesses hire people off the train?” Cody asked.

“I don’t think so. You might ask one of the elders at the church. They’re pretty good about helping those down on their luck,”

Cody touched the tip of his hat. “Much obliged. I appreciate the information. I’ll collect my horse either tomorrow or the next day,” he said.

He took a room at the hotel, and on the off chance, showed the picture of Jeremy to the clerk. “The face looks a little familiar, but I’m not sure,” the clerk said.

In his room, Cody composed a letter to Annabel.

Dear Annabel,

Let me start off by telling you how much I miss you, and I’ve only begun my trip. The days I spent with you were the best days of my life and I look forward to many more.

I’m stopping in Ogden, Utah, since one of Jeremy’s letters came from here. I asked at the places where he might have stopped, but had no luck. The hotel clerk here said he might look a little familiar, but he wasn’t sure. The stable owner is sure he never saw him. I also asked at the Mormon Church. They said they feed and house a few hard up people from the trains, but no one remembered Jeremy.

Tomorrow, I will leave Reno, in the Nevada Territory. Did I tell you how much I miss you?”

With love,

Cody

The next afternoon, Cody and Thunder boarded the train that would take them to Reno.