Day, Xondra - Menage on the Prairie (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (2 page)
Read Day, Xondra - Menage on the Prairie (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Online
Authors: Xondra Day
Together, side by side, they rode out of town.
* * * *
Joe Ryder held back the urge to burst wide open with laughter as he glanced at Kate sitting there, looking just like a bird, all stiff-like.
If there was one thing he had already determined in his mind during their brief time together, it was that he had his work cut out for him with the likes of her.
When he spotted her standing there on the street alone, he knew she had to be the one. She looked just as she had described herself in her brief letter to him, corn-silk hair and all.
“When we get back to the homestead, you can rest. I do hope you will find everything suited to your taste. You might find it all a bit primitive. And I’ve made arrangements with Preacher Dan to see us married just as soon as it suits you.”
He listened as she coughed, raising one hand to cover her mouth. “Yes, marriage. Of course. The sooner the better. I’m sure the homestead will meet my every expectation.” Did he detect just a hint of sarcasm tingeing her voice?
“It’s small, but come next spring I’m hoping to build a bigger house. I have it all marked out where I intend to build. Ryan has promised to help with it.”
“Ryan?”
He’d neglected to tell her about Ryan.
“Ryan is the hired hand that I employ to help work the land. I also consider him a good friend.”
“This Ryan—he lives nearby?” she asked.
“He lives with me. But I guess that will have to change. People won’t see it being proper and all, you living with two men and one of which isn’t any relation to you,” he explained.
“I could not care less what anyone thinks,” she snapped. “People are far too hasty with their judgments, and, well, to hell with what they think.” No sooner had she said it, a hand shot up and covered her mouth in surprise. “I’m sorry. I never meant to carry on so.” She blushed crimson.
They were nearing the homestead.
“There is nothing wrong with speaking your mind.”
“A lady should never cuss. It isn’t very becoming.”
“Perhaps. There it is, just up ahead.” He pointed to their right. “That’s Carney’s River, but it’s nothing more than a brook, really. It supplies us with water and irrigates the crops. Up yonder across the way is the upper pasture for the horses. We also keep a couple cows for milk and some hens.”
“Of course,” she agreed.
“We call the farm Cottonwood, hence the sign.” The wagon passed through the gates which now indicated they were on his land. “And we’re home.”
* * * *
So this was now home. Kate looked around as they pulled up to the small house. It was so foreign to what she had been used to in the city. Up until then she had only enjoyed a life of extreme privilege. This would take some adjustment.
“This is it,” said Joe, climbing out of the wagon. After he helped her down he retrieved her bags, leading her inside the structure.
“There are three rooms. This is the main area, there is the stove, the cupboards. We have a basin for washing up right over there and the two rooms at the back are bedrooms. We will share one while Ryan has the other. The outhouse is out back.”
From behind the curtain of one bedroom a man appeared. He was about her age. He was tall, at least a foot taller than Joe, and tanned. A mess of black curls covered his head and when he smiled, he revealed two deeply embedded dimples planted firm, one in each cheek. He stepped forward and held out his hand.
“I’m Ryan Starke, Joe’s hired hand. It’s good to meet you.”
“Kate Summers. Joe’s told me a little about you. How do you do?”
“I’m well thank you, and yourself?” He gently squeezed her hand.
Kate smiled. Already she liked him. He had manners. She was a great judge of character, and as she looked him over, her heart skipped a beat. He was so strong-looking, masculine, yet he retained this boyish charm that sparkled with wonderment in his deep-brown eyes. They certainly did not make men like this back in the city.
“I’m a little overwhelmed,” she replied. “It’s been a long journey here and everything is new. It’s a lot to absorb.”
“That is totally understandable.” He motioned to Joe, who now stood off to the side, looking a tad amused. “We will have to do our best to make you feel at home. After all this is
your
home now. I’ll go see to the horses now while the two of you become more acquainted.” Upon leaving, she noted that he’d winked at Joe.
“If you’re hungry I can fix you something. Ryan tells me I’m not half bad at cooking.”
“Coffee would be good,” she said, taking a seat at the small wooden table. “I’m not hungry, but coffee would be spot-on.”
Joe sat next her and sipped his own hot brew as she gingerly added sugar and milk to her own.
“How long has Ryan been with you?”
He paused for a moment. “I guess it’s been ’round about two years and a bit now. He’s not from around here. I met him by chance. He was just passing through looking for work. He seemed decent enough, so I took a chance and hired him. I have never regretted it.”
“It’s good to have someone to rely on like that.” Kate thought back to her father. The only person in her life she could ever rely on was her own departed mother. But that was the past and there was no use in thinking about it now. “Good friends are hard to come by,” she added.
“Yes. For tonight I will bunk with Ryan. It wouldn’t be the right thing for the both of us
.
Well
,
not until we’re married.”
She sipped her coffee, felt the warmth float down through her. “That’s only right. I had my doubts about you, Joe, I’ll be up front about that. But you’re a proper gentleman and I thank you for it. It’s a rare thing to find this day and age.” She paused for a moment and thought of Darcy and all that he was—nothing more than a liar and a rake. Even now with the time that had passed, she still harbored ill feelings toward him.
“It’s just who I am.” He stood and pushed his chair into the table. “You should rest. I’ll go help Ryan. I also have some other things that need attending. If by chance you need me before I get back, all you need to do is holler.”
Chapter Two
Ryan had just walked the horse into the barn to brush him down when Joe entered.
“What do you think,” Joe asked, “of Kate? She’s something isn’t she?”
He nodded, saying nothing.
“It’s going to take some getting used to having a woman around Cottonwood,” continued Joe. “But I think she’ll do well, once she settles.”
“She’s nice, Joe. I’m glad for you and I wish you both the best.” It was a bold-faced lie and one that shouldn’t have been told, yet he said it anyway.
“Ryan, I never meant for things to turn out like this. You know that
,
right?”
He didn’t dare look Joe in the face. The pleading in the man’s voice said more than enough. And while his heart screamed one thing, his mind told him to stay firm and strong.
He felt Joe’s strong hands on both his shoulders, massaging. “Tell me you don’t hate me. I need to hear that now.”
“Hate isn’t something I feel, Joe. You’re doing what has to be done. I do understand, it’s just going to take some time for me to adjust, and I will. I just need time is all.”
Joe’s hands now left his shoulders and then entwined around his waist, pulling him close. He could feel Joe’s breath, hot against his ear. “I still love you, for what it’s worth. That will never change.”
Ryan nodded and closed his eyes, doing his best to not let his emotions take over. “You should get back. She’ll wonder where you are.”
“She’s taking a nap. She will probably sleep for hours after that trip. You smell so damned good. I never tire of your scent.”
Ryan shuddered as he felt Joe’s hand slide inside his shirt.
“This isn’t right. If she should come out here, it would just confirm the rumors about us.”
It was the rumors that had started this whole kerfuffle.
Two bachelors couldn’t run a farm together, living side by side in these parts, without being the brunt of vicious gossip.
Ryan knew it was Mrs. Roswell who started to seed ideas into the minds of their fellow townsfolk. The sad thing was it had really started to affect them. The men of the town had avoided them, and to go into town to trade became a real chore. Between the looks and the whispers, neither man could bear it.
It was Joe who came up with the idea to find a wife. A wife would make all the gossips and naysayers eat their words. So, he placed an ad in the paper, an ad that would be syndicated. Many responses flowed in, but only three had held any interest for Joe.
A Miss Beulah Belfridge and a Miss Fanny Merriweather had been the other two respondents. In the end, Miss Beulah, who had included a small photograph, wasn’t in any way his type, looks-wise. And Miss Fanny, in her three-page letter, came off as rather boring and stuffy.
So here they were. This was to be their new life. Roles would soon change and nothing would ever be the same.
Ryan felt Joe pull away from him. “This would never have had to happen if the people in this damned town had kept to their own business.” Anger welled in Joe’s voice. “They couldn’t leave us alone.”
Ryan shrugged his shoulders and went back to brushing the horse, this time paying particular attention to the mane. “They’d never leave us alone, Joe. You know that. Our kind or anyone different will never be welcomed in Cotton Plains.”
He turned and watched as Joe stormed off upon hearing those words. However, it was true and often the truth hurt the most.
* * * *
Joe loved Ryan with every fiber of his being. It hurt to know that they had to hide and lie about their love. It wasn’t something they had planned, it just happened. He needed to get away for a bit, and a walk down to the river would do him good. It would help clear his head and when he went back to Kate, he’d be calm once again.
Joe thought back to the first time he’d met Ryan as he walked. A cool breeze blew across his face. Looking upward to the clear, blue sky, angry as he was, a smile crossed his lips.
It was early spring and the first year of planting for Cottonwood. The land had come his way via his father who had purchased it with his own intentions of settling in the area to work the land with his only son. But when a heart attack took him suddenly their first month there, Joe was left on his own. His mother had passed away five years previous. He was now alone in the world for the first time ever.
He remembered sitting on the steps to the house, wondering how in the hell he was going to manage all the work on his own, when a shadow appeared, standing over him.
He looked up and squinted to see who it was, and there was Ryan, standing there, shuffling awkwardly from side to side, holding his hat in hand.
“Can I help you?” he asked, standing up.
The man nodded. They were around and about the same age, give or take a year. “I was wondering if you had any work. I’m passing through and, well, I just thought I’d chance it and come and ask.”
He needed the help. Hell, there was no way he’d be able to plant the fields on his own. “I can’t pay ya. I’m just about flat broke. All I have is my animals and the seed. I can offer you a place to stay and food.” He paused, waiting for an answer.
“Name’s Ryan, and, sir, that’s the best offer I’ve had in a long time. I’d be mighty pleased to take you up on it.”
