Lassoing the Virgin Mail-Order Bride (4 page)

K
nocking
some of the dust off my jeans, I walk towards the big house, thinking about how it’s just too damn coincidental to happen two days in a row. One fence breaking every now and then I can see, but two fences, one after the other, and something starts to smell fishy. We still haven’t been able to find our top bull, Sammy, and things aren’t adding up. I plan on giving the Johnson farm a call to see if they’ve spotted him. They’re a rival farm just next to us, and normally we’re not the best at communicating, but I’ve got to try everything.

My mind wanders back to Clare as it’s been doing all morning. I can’t seem to go more than thirty seconds without thinking of her, but I don’t mind it. It’s distracting, but for the first time in my life, I’m welcoming it. I’ve given all day, every day, to this farm, and for once, I’m taking something for myself. Something that can be a part of this life.

I’d bought a plain gold band for my mail-order bride thinking I’d just keep things simple. But once I saw Clare and felt what’s happening between us, I knew that she was special. I knew that she deserved something just as precious as she is, so that’s when I knew I wanted her to have my mother’s ring. My mama said on several occasions that her ring didn’t have a place on a farm and really wasn’t the kind of thing someone wore while cooking and cleaning like she did. Yet I never saw her take it off. That ring may have seemed silly to some people because of the simple life we led, but it was beautiful, and my dad wanted her to have it. I understand what that means now. Wanting something to reflect the beauty of the woman wearing it. Something that everyone could see. There was no missing she was a taken woman with that on her finger.

When I woke up and Clare wasn’t in bed, I’d scrambled around for a second realizing I’d slept in, something I’d never done in my life. Long ago I stopped setting an alarm because I could damn near set a watch to me waking up. I guess it was the power of having her in my arms and getting the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had. I pulled on some pants and went to my dresser, grabbing the ring. I wanted it on her, and I wanted everyone to see it was on her. I needed to mark her as mine because no way she wasn’t.

I walk up on the porch and head inside, going straight to the kitchen. There’s no sight of Clare, so I head to the bedroom, hoping maybe I’ll find her in here. I just want to see her for a second before I have to get back to work. Maybe she’s got time for a quick kiss. Or maybe a not-so-quick kiss.

“Clare?” I keep repeating as I walk through the house unable to find her. When I start to panic, I run out on the porch and see Earl coming towards the big house. “I can’t find Clare.” I can hear the panic in my voice. What if she changed her mind? She could be long gone.

“Simmer down, Cash. I sent her to town in the truck with Brandon.”

Earl’s words calm me for a moment before they fully sink in. “You did
what
?” The last word echoes around us, and a few of the guys that are within hearing distance stop what they’re doing and watch.

“She said she needed supplies and that she didn’t want to bother you. Don’t worry. I told her to get petty cash.”

Turning back to the house, I stomp in and grab my keys before turning around and heading to my truck at the side of the house.

“Calm down, Cash. She’s just getting groceries.”

Earl looks at me like I’m crazy, but I just grit my teeth and get in, cranking up my truck and heading out. I’m fuming so much I’m surprised steam isn’t coming out of my ears.

She can’t just go to town like that. What if she leaves and doesn’t come back? She went with Brandon. He’s one of the young guys on the farm. What if he tries to make a move? I hit the steering wheel as I speed up, thinking I could kick myself for not marrying her yesterday like I should have. This ends today. I’m not taking any more chances when it comes to Clare. She’s mine, and it’s damn sure going to stay that way.

When I finally get into town, I’m not sure where I should start first. I think maybe I should go to the train station, but if Earl was right, then maybe I’m just overreacting. I head towards the grocery store and spot the farm truck out front. I see Brandon loading up the back of it as Clare comes out of the store. I turn in, and the wheels barely stop before I’m out of the truck and going to her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask, and for some reason I sound out of breath. Did I run the whole way?

“Cash. What’s wrong?” Clare asks, looking around as if she can’t see the problem right in front of her.

“You need to go into town, I take you.” Reaching out, I take her arm and walk over to where Brandon is standing. “You get what you need?”

She looks up at me, and I see her starting to get mad. “Yes,” she snaps at me, and I can’t help but smile. I love when that fire lights in her eyes. I don’t normally take too kindly to being talked back to. I give orders and everyone follows. I can’t quite figure out why I like it when she does it.

Suddenly she’s smiling all sweet, but she turns and looks over at Brandon. “Thanks so much for the help, B. I really appreciate all of it.” Her words are sugary, and I want to reach out and snatch them so he doesn’t get them. Words like that are only meant for me.

“
Brandon
.” I make an exaggerated use of his name while looking at Clare. “Take the truck back to the farm and have the boys help you unload it. Thank you for bringing my wife into town. I’ve got it from here.”

“Yes, sir,” he says and goes about his business like nothing is abnormal here.

Taking Clare by the arm, I lead her over to the driver’s side of my truck and open the door, not missing some of the townspeople watching what is playing out. Probably wondering what’s going on. Gossip will surely start to spread.

“I’m not your wife yet,” she says under her breath, but loud enough for me to hear it.

“Oh, trust me, darling. I’m about to change that.”

Grabbing her by the waist, I pick her up and put her on the bench seat and then pull myself in behind her. She scoots over all the way to the passenger side, but I reach out, grabbing her thigh and slide her back over so she’s right beside me.

“You’re a big old brute, you know that, Cash? You can’t just manhandle something when it doesn’t do what you want,” Clare huffs out, and crosses her arms over her chest.

“When it’s mine, I do.”

I put the truck in gear and drive us over to City Hall. I’m ready to get this little matter taken care of. Once we pull up, I feel her tense beside me.

“Cash, I didn’t even wear a dress!”

I laugh at her words, thinking that she’s more concerned with the way she looks than the fact that she’s about to marry me. I like it. I don’t want her to change her mind.

“Afraid it can’t happen today, sweetheart. According to the state of Texas, we can get a marriage license, but we have to wait three days. So let’s go get this started and on Friday we can come back here and you can wear a dress.”

I look down and see her bite her lip as if she’s thinking about it. I grab her chin and turn her head so she’s looking at me.

“Still want to marry me, don’t you?” I stare down into her bright blue eyes, scared of what she might say. I’m not accustomed to the feeling.

She nods her head, making her gold curls bounce, and I can’t stand it anymore. I’ve got to put my mouth on her. Bringing my lips down on hers, the heat of her soft lips makes me moan. I feel her little tongue sweep into my mouth, and her sweetness fills me. Suddenly our hands are exploring, and it’s as if we can’t get close enough. I’m pulling her to me while she’s climbing up my body, and suddenly she’s straddling me in the cab of my truck. I feel her jean-covered pussy start to grind against me, and I break the kiss to look down at it. My hands go to her hips to hold her still as I look around us to see a few people walking by.

“Not here, Clare. I don’t want people seeing you gone like this, baby.”

My words seem to wake her from her lust-filled fog, and her cheeks burn with embarrassment. When she tries to pull off my lap, I hold her to me tighter so she can’t go.

“Not yet, darling. Just let me enjoy you for one more second.”

I nuzzle my face into her neck and smell her sweet apple scent. She wraps her hands around me, and her fingers grip the short hair at the back of my head. My Stetson fell off in our make-out session.

“I get lost when you kiss me,” she whispers.

Running my hands up and down her back, I smile against her skin. “Good thing I’m right here to find you when it’s over. Now come inside and let’s make this legal.”

I open the door, slide out, and discreetly adjust myself before I help her out of the truck.

It doesn’t take long for us to fill out our paperwork and then get the form. All that’s required is proof we are who we say we are, and then we need to wait three days. I watched Clare fill out the form stating that she’d never been married before, and it made me smile. I like knowing that she hasn’t ever done this before, because she sure won’t be doing it again.

When we get in the truck to go back to the farm, she tries to sit on the passenger side again, but once again I grab her thigh and slide her over next to me as close as I can get her. Hell, I’d ride with her in my lap if I could, but I’d be too busy feeling her curves bounce on me that I’d probably run us into a ditch.

“Which farm is that?” she asks as we ride down a road close to home.

“That’s the Johnson ranch. They’ve had a problem recently with cattle prices on their ranch and the owner has been trying to undercut me on calves. I told him he can buy from me, but only at fair prices. I’m afraid the guy they let take over is going to get them into trouble.”

“What happened?”

“The family that owns the farm wanted to sell but couldn’t get the money they wanted. So instead of waiting it out, they brought in someone to run the place, and I think he might be trying to pull one over on them.”

“Oh, that’s awful,” Clare says, and I hear the worry in her voice.

“I need to call and talk to the owner today anyway to see if they’ve seen Sammy. Might need to check and make sure he’s keeping his eye on the place.”

“Who’s Sammy?”

“Our best bull. He’s made more calves on this farm than he’s probably willing to admit. Maybe he just wandered off looking for some loving.” I look down at Clare and give her a wink. “Can’t really blame him. I think I know how he feels.”

Her cheeks burn and she looks away from me and crosses her arms. “Oh, yeah? He’s just gonna go around to all the farms nearby, hopping from bed to bed? Sounds terrible, if you ask me.”

I can’t help but laugh at her words. “No darlin’, I don’t think he’ll be getting into anyone’s bed. And I meant that I know how he feels what with the way I chased you into town today. I suspect I’d follow you to the end of the earth if it meant getting close to you.”

Her arms uncross, and I take her hand in mine, bringing it up to my lips. I kiss the back of her hand. Everything about her is soft. She’s really not made for a farm life. I’m going to have to keep an eye on her.

That blush hits her cheeks again, making my cock ache even more. It’s going to be a long three days before I can make her mine.

I
can’t stop looking
over at Cash while he drives us back to the farm. Every time I try to sneak a peek, I swear he fights a smile. One of the dimples under his short stubble gives him away.

This man is so confusing. Or rather, what I’ve gotten to know about him in the past twenty-four hours is confusing. He can go from barking orders to acting sweet as peach pie. I want to smack him for being a brute, then melt into one of those kisses he keeps laying on me. It’s messing with my head. I’m not sure I even like him. Lie. I shake my head at myself. Or maybe it’s not a lie. I more than like this man.

Maybe this whole mail-order-bride thing isn’t going to be so bad after all. I was worried about who I’d get roped with. I never thought I’d I have to worry about losing my heart to someone. I’d pushed the thoughts of romance aside, but now they’re starting to bleed back in every time Cash touches me.

I go from crazy mad to a pile of goo that wants to climb his giant body. I’ve never in my life acted like this with a man. He makes my anger wash away, turning to lust. I wonder how far I would have gone if Cash had let me. He’d been the one to pull us back.

“I want you to stay away from Brandon.” Cash easily slips back into his commanding tone, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I snap my eyes up to him. I like Brandon. He’s nice. He and Earl are really the only people I know here.

“I’ll spend time with whoever I choose,” I snark back

“Don’t push it, Clare.” His eyes narrow on mine as if in warning before focusing on the road. I’d come here planning to play nice. Be a doting wife, just try to get by for a while, but for some reason with Cash I can’t stop myself from pushing back.

Then a thought hits me, one that warms me deep in my stomach, reminding me of things he threw at me when he came up on Brandon and me in town.
Mine
, he’d said. I’d gotten the warm feeling then, too. “Are you jealous?” I raise my eyebrows almost in disbelief.

“Hell yes, I’m jealous, so if I were you, I’d stay real clear of him.” I watch his fingers tighten on the steering wheel, his knuckles starting to go white.

“You’re ridiculous, Cash.” I lift my hand, showing him my ring. The very ring he’d put on me hours ago. The thing is unmissable. “It’s clear as day I’m taken. Besides, I’d never do that to you.” I know we don’t know each other well, but it still doesn’t sit right that he doesn’t trust me. Heck, I’m a freaking virgin. It’s not like I go hopping from bed to bed, but he doesn’t know that. Neither one of us has talked much about our past.

“Not worried about you,” he clips, keeping his death grip on the wheel, the house coming into view in the distance.

“Oh, so you don’t trust your own men?” I question. He doesn’t seem like he’d keep men on his land he didn’t trust.

“I don’t even trust myself around you.” He looks at me again, his eyes running over my body. I can almost feel them like a touch on my skin as his gaze roams down my legs.

“You seemed in control in the parking lot,” I remind him.

“Only because thinking about anyone seeing you getting all turned on, working that sweet little body over your husband's cock, watching your legs open so easily just for me like they were made to do, rode me harder than the need to strip you bare and fuck you right there in my truck.”

My mouth falls open at his crude words, and my body comes back to life like it had in that parking lot.

“No one sees that shit. As far as they’re concerned, you spend your days cooking and sewing, and we’re so old fashioned we sleep in double beds.”

“With that mouth, double beds will become a reality real soon.”

“You could try, but I saw how quickly your body gave into me. I had to pull you off me.” He says it like it’s a sweet reminder.

“Oh, you…” I stutter, unable to think of what I should say. I opt to just smack his arm, which only makes him smile widely, pissing me off. I want him mad, too. Or am I turned on? Grr. I don’t know up from down with this man.

“Anyways, like I was saying, I’ll hang out with whoever I like.” I turn to look out the window, happy we’re almost out of this truck together. It’s like all we can do is kiss or fight.

“Alright then.”

I snap my head around to look at him suspiciously. That was way too easy of a give.

“Alright?”

“Yeah, good luck traveling to wherever his new place of employment might be.”

“You wouldn’t!”

The truck comes to a stop in front of the house. “Oh, when it comes to you, I don’t think there isn’t a lot I wouldn’t do. Like I told you, you’re mine.”

“Brute,” I throw at him for the millionth time today.

He leans in towards me, and I know what’s coming. I slap my hand over my mouth and scurry to the other side of the truck. He wasn’t using that trick on me again. He throws his head back and laughs loudly. His laugh is deep and rich, and I have to clench my teeth to keep from smiling.

“You’re unreasonable.” I grab the door handle, but stop when Cash’s hand comes down on my thigh.

“I know you’re mad, sweetheart, but let me help you down.”

“I can get out of a truck by myself, Cash.”

“No, you’ll wait for me to help you, and you just proved my point.”

“What point was that? That you think I’m a child?”

“There’s nothing childlike about you.” The hand on my thigh slides a little higher, his thumb running little circles, making my skin break out in goose bumps even in this crazy Texas heat. “That even if I ask nicely you’ll still fight me, so I might as well just manhandle you.”

And that’s what he does as he pulls me from the truck, then throws me over his shoulder.

“Not that I don’t like doing it. Keep fighting me. I like picking you up and putting you where I want you.”

I wiggle in his hold like I’m trying to get free, just glad he can’t see my face and the stupid smile I’m sporting when I should be yelling at him for a list of things.

“Cash?”

The sound of a soft female voice stills my movements.

“Miss June,” I hear Cash say, stopping in his tracks. I push some of my hair out of my face and try to see where the voice came from. That’s when I see a girl who looks maybe a few years older than me standing on the porch. I have no idea how I missed her when we pulled up. Maybe she came from around the house or something.

Her eyes go to me, catching me sneaking a look at her. They narrow for a flash, so quick I’m not even sure if it happened. But one thing is clear. She’s been crying. Her eyes are a little red, but the make-up she has coated on still looks good.

Everything about her is put together. She looks like the country girl next door. Pink cowboy boots lead up to legs that seem to go on for days, ending in a pair of short jean shorts. I wouldn’t be surprised if she turned around and I could see her butt cheeks.

Even with her toned long legs, she has hips and a bust. Some women have all the luck. I had some curves before, but nothing like she has.

“Hey, Cash, I wondered if we could talk for a minute.” She sniffles again, and a pang of guilt runs through me. Something is clearly wrong. “Alone,” she adds.

“Busy with my wife at the moment,” is all he says, clearly dismissing her.

“Cash, she’s crying,” I whisper quietly so only he can hear me.

He just lets out an irritated huff like he couldn’t care less.

“Don’t be a jerk.” This time it’s not a whisper. He pulls me off his shoulder, sliding me down his body. His eyes train on mine. He reaches up and brushes a few curls out of my face. The act is so gentle, so incongruous coming from a hulk like him. I get lost in him for a minute, almost forgetting there’s a woman behind me watching us.

“I’m Clare,” I say, turning to face her. I go to step towards the porch to shake her hand, but Cash’s hands go to my waist to keep me in place. I roll my eyes.

“Don’t mind him. I’m still teaching him manners.” I try to joke to lighten the situation. Then June’s eyes turn a little colder, making me wonder if I had been wrong in thinking she’d been crying. Am I standing in the middle of a lovers’ spat?

That makes my blood run cold. She’s stunning, and it’s hard not to compare myself to her. I wonder if she’s his type. If they’ve dated before. Both of us are blonde, but that’s where the physical similarities end.

Even with her curves, she still looks like she’s built for farm life. I might blow over with a good wind.

“I’m June Johnson, but everyone calls me JJ, don’t they, Cash?” she finally says, a sweet smile melting away the cold I’d seen moments ago. She steps off the porch, reaching out and shaking my hand.

I can feel Cash just shrug. His indifference couldn’t be clearer.

“What do you need, June?” His tone is flat.

“Your mama would roll over in her grave if she heard you talk to a lady like that.” That’s when it clicks. Johnson. The farm next to Cash’s. The one he’d just told me about. These two probably grew up together. A montage of young, sweet, first love flickers through my mind—first kisses, dances, and other things I don’t want to think about. Cash will be my first everything, and I hate to think this woman in front of me is his first everything. I instantly dislike her for something that isn’t even her fault, but I just can’t help myself. I’m getting a taste of the same jealously Cash was feeling minutes ago. Wow, karma sure works fast.

“Yeah, she probably would roll over in her grave if I didn’t get my woman into the house, out of this heat, and fed. I bet you didn’t even have lunch, did you?” He says the last part softly and next to my ear, his concern for me clear.

“I…” I can’t even think what to say here. I’m too busy trying to figure out what’s going on with Cash and June. “Why don’t I go in and make us a few sandwiches while you talk to June?” I offer.

“I’m not sure there’s much to talk about. June, if your father needs something he can call me. I’d planned to call him tonight anyways about Sammy getting out.”

“Why are you being like this?” she huffs, a little pout forming on her glossy lips. I really don’t want to be here for this. I would love to tell her to step back and keep away from my husband, but the truth is, I don’t want Cash to have feelings for another woman. It would be best to figure this out now before I sink deeper into him.

I don’t want something like that sitting in the back of my head, even less so if she’s going to be living right next door. It’d always be on my mind. It would already linger some if what I’m thinking about them is true.

“I’m not being like anything. I just don’t have time for your little games today. I’m not playing it. I’ve never played it.”

Her hands go to her hips, that pout dropping from her lips. “I can’t believe you’re going to marry her. If you wanted a wife, you knew I would do it. End this little war that has been going between our families. Bring the land together. We’d be good together. Why can’t you just accept that?”

I try to jerk out of Cash’s hold, desperate not to be standing in between them, but Cash just grips me tighter.

“This fucking town. I bet the ink on the marriage license wasn’t even dry before everyone knew,” Cash says.

“Yeah, because no one can believe you’re doing this. We’ve just been waiting for you to jerk your head out of your ass and ask me.”

“I’m marring Clare come Friday, so I reckon you and this town should get used to it.” His tone is still bored, like he doesn’t actually care if the town gets used to it or not. I doubt Cash cares what anyone thinks of him. He doesn’t seem the type to care about those things.

“Is that your mama’s ring?” she gasps in shock, taking a step towards me like she’s going to grab my hand, but before she can I’m once again over Cash’s shoulder.

“Go home, June, and don’t come back without an invitation,” Cash says, making his way towards the front door.

“Don’t do this, Cash. She’s not built for this life,” I hear her yell as the front door slams.

“Please put me down.” I hate how small my voice sounds. I don’t know what to make of what just happened. It hurt me a little, but in a way, I’d liked it. It hurt to think he’d been with her, that they’d shared something special at one time. She even knew his family. But I liked how Cash made it clear I was his and that was final.

He was so cold with her it made me think maybe she hurt him. It was clear he didn’t want to be with her. She offered herself up on a silver platter, but he turned her down like it was nothing. The emotions from the past twenty-four hours feel like they’re pressing down on me. The weight of them just makes me want to collapse into bed.

She might be right. I don’t know if I’m built for this life. I know Cash doesn’t think I am, considering how he treats me like I’m made of spun glass.

“Sweetheart, don’t do that.” I hear the lock click on the front door, then he lays me down on the couch and comes over me. “Get mad, but don’t do that with your voice.”

“My voice?”

His head nestles in my neck like he’s trying to nuzzle me, his short facial hair brushing my skin. “With no emotion. Go back to mad.”

“Should I be mad?”

“Yes,” he says, then places a kiss on my neck.

A feel a lump form in my throat. “Why should I be mad?”

“No one should question our getting married. It’s none of their business, but that's small-town life for you. Worse, she shouldn’t have said that shit in front of you. If the situation had been reversed, I’d be in jail right now.” He growls the last part like he’s actually mad at the imaginary scenario of someone offering to marry me.

“Cash, I wanna see your face.”

In one quick move, Cash pulls us into a sitting position, him under me as I straddle him.

“Why didn’t you take this June up on her offer of marriage instead of getting a mail-order bride? She must have really hurt you for you to do that.”

His big hands come to my face, his thumb brushing over my lips, making me lick them.

“No, sweetheart, she never hurt me. Irritated the shit out of me? Yes.” He lets out a breath like he doesn’t really want to talk about it. “We grew up together. Kind of, but not really. I didn’t pay her much mind. I wasn’t girl crazy growing up. More horse crazy than anything. If I wasn’t in school or helping my pa, I was on my horse. I didn’t give anything much mind. A girl like June doesn’t like that much.”