Pioneer Passion (38 page)

From her tight throat, not too sure what to
do with her hands as Scott’s roamed all over her body. She felt
inept. Should she be doing something to please him? But what? Did
woman do such wanton things? Tears fell down her face, wishing she
weren’t so naive.

“Oh, baby, I’m sorry. Please don’t cry.”

Mortified for the way she was acting, she
swallowed hard and murmured into his chest, “I don’t want to
stop.”

“What?”

“I don’t understand. Why are you crying?” he
rasped.

“Because… because,” she hic-coughed, “I don’t
know how to please you. I mean, I wasn’t sure if I was ....” She
fell against his chest again and wept. “I… I didn’t k-know w-what
to do with m-my hands.” Her words seemed to have caught her lover
off guard and he became mute, and then chuckled softly. “Stop
laughing.” She swatted at him, hitting his sore shoulder. He
flinched and she gazed at him with a tear-streaked face sorry for
hurting him. Darn it all, she was doing everything all wrong. A
gentle finger was placed under her chin.

“Sweetheart,” he said, kissing her worried
brow. “By God, if you only knew how much you please me. No man
expects his partner to know what to do on her first time, or even a
few times after that. Honey, don’t feel ashamed. In fact, I wasn’t
too sure I was doing everything right.”

Her eyes flew open at his honesty. “But, but
you made me feel so good and I wasn’t doing anything. I want to
please you also.”

Scott sucked in his breath and hugged her
tightly. “You silly goose. I love you so much that sometimes I
think I’ll burst from the sheer joy of it. I feel as if I’m the
luckiest man on earth, finding you and getting a second chance in
life. Sometimes I don’t think I deserve you and all the happiness
you give me.” Susan didn’t think she could love Scott anymore than
she did at that moment. So filled with emotion, his declaration of
love fused somewhere in her brain and the only thing she could do
was hug him tighter and bury her face against his furry chest.
After a few moments, he kissed her again and this time she let him
bring her to sheer fulfillment, knowing that in time she’d be able
to touch him in private places as he touched her. Now she was happy
knowing that their union brought him to complete contentment.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

It’s been three weeks and a mirror on the
wall reflected Rusty who was still not sure that all that was
happening was real. Susan helped her dress in the most beautiful
cream-colored gown she had ever seen. A lace-trimmed bodice was
covered with tiny pearls. Susan fixed her hair in ringlets and
placed tiny yellow rosebuds over her ears. While her friend
continued to fuss and preen, she took this time to try and calm her
nerves as she reflected over the past few weeks.

The day her in-laws arrived, she was upstairs
getting ready to take a ride on Butterscotch. She and Guy had
planned a picnic and she was looking forward to it. Her riding
skirt was becoming a little snug and she knew it wouldn’t be long
before he forbade her to go riding. Rusty had spent half the
morning trying to convince him to go on this outing; he wasn’t too
sure if she should ride a horse. She had scoffed at his objection,
saying she didn’t see the harm in riding a little longer.

Sighing, she believed he was only looking
after her. How could she argue knowing that he loved her as deeply
as she loved him? There was a loud knock on the door as she
descended the staircase, and looking up, saw Susan open it, her
heart caught in her throat. Skye entered with Robert. It took her a
moment to realize she was standing with her mouth open.

“Skye!?” A smile exploded on her face as she
flew down the steps into the tall beauty’s arms. Then releasing
Skye, she stammered, “What, what are you doing here? I mean ... I’m
so surprised to see you.” She placed her hands over her chest,
feeling her heart beat with excitement. Robert cleared his throat
and Rusty turned to present him with the same affection she had
given her sister-in-law.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me you were coming?
Does Guy know you’re here?” she asked, leaving Robert’s embrace.
“Oh, this is so wonderful! Why are you here?” She rejoiced
excitedly, her eyes filled with water and she blinked away the
tears.

Skye laughed. “One question at a time,” she
replied, placing her arm around her shoulder.

“We’ve come for supper,” she giggled. “Well,
maybe it’s more that that. We came for your wedding, of course.”
She arched one eyebrow skeptically. “Of course Guy knows we’re
here, right?”

Rusty stood stunned. “What?”

“Oh, now you’ve gone and spoiled the
surprise,” A sweet voice said from behind. Rusty’s eyes opened wide
and she looked over Robert’s shoulder to see her mother and
father-in-law standing there with big smiles on their faces. She
couldn’t move so Clair and Hal came up to her and gave her a big
hug and kiss. So astonished, she was speechless until she saw
Susan’s mother coming over to hug her daughter.

“I don’t understand,” Rusty finally uttered.
“Guy never mentioned any of you coming and what are you talking
about? A wedding?”

Her mother-in-law shook her finger at her
daughter, saying she had spoiled the surprise.

Looking crestfallen, her sister-in-law
defended herself. “Oh, mother what was I to tell her? She must be
told the truth. What do you think I should have said when we all
showed up on her doorstep?”

The next moment, Guy was beside her side,
placing his arm around her waist. “I’m sorry, Kid, if all this was
too much for you, but I wanted it to be a surprise. We never had a
proper wedding. I thought you’d be happy if we did it up right, you
know, all the fuss and, well, you know, what you women like about
these things.”

Rusty wrapped her arms around his waist and
sighed. “Oh, Guy, I am happy that you thought of this, and I am
happy to see your family. I mean our family, but I don’t need a big
wedding.” His face showed signs of an oncoming frown, and she
quickly added, “But I’m glad you did and I’m looking forward to
marrying you again.” She placed a grateful kiss on his cheek.

Guy smiled.

“Hey!” barked Kyle, “where do you want these
trunks?”

“Kyle!” Rusty squealed and ran into his
opened arms. “You came too?” She meant it to be a statement but by
the catch in her voice made the words come out the wrong way.

Feigning hurt, he released her saying, “Of
course, you silly goose. You thought I wouldn’t?”

“No. I mean, yes. Oh,” she started to weep,
so overcome was she by all the emotion.

Kyle smiled and hugged her tightly. “Hey, why
the tears, I thought you were a tough kid.”

She sniffled, wiping her wet face on her
sleeve. “I am big brother,” and gave him a kiss.

Later that night Rusty sat in bed, exhausted
from the excitement, still not believing in the day’s events. She
rested her head back onto the pillow and watched Guy undress. After
all these months, she never tired of looking at him; his long
muscular legs and flat stomach, his hard chest and broad shoulders.
Her gaze drifted down to an area that still made her blush,
especially when he was fully aroused as he was now. She thought of
her own body and how her girlish figure would soon vanish. Would
Guy still find her attractive and love her when she was heavy with
child? Closing her eyes, she sighed and felt the bed sink on her
left. Before she could open her lids to ask him the question that
had been on her mind, his hot lips were over hers.

Once again, as always, passion began to stir
between her legs. His kiss deepened as his masterful tongue curled
around hers, sending chills up her spine. When his lips left her
mouth and traveled slowly down her neck to find the treasure he
sought, she sighed dreamily. Although he was doing wonderful things
to her insides, she couldn’t completely enjoy his love making until
she asked. Her voice filled with concern, she whispered, “Guy, it
amazes me how you can stir my blood so easily after we’ve made love
so many times. I pray it will never end. Guy?”

“Mmmm?”

“Will you still love me when I’m as fat as a
cow?”

The sucking stopped and he looked up at her,
creasing his brow. “What kinda question is that when I’m making
sweet love to you?”

There was an edge of annoyance in his deep
voice. “Sorry, but I think my question is important. I said will
you still love me when I’m fat?” She bit her lower lip hoping not
to anger Guy too much after all he went through to make her happy.
She was being silly but she had to ask. Anyway, she would enjoy his
love making so much more if he put her mind at ease.

“Kid, are you really worried?” He kissed the
tip of her nose. “Well, my mother warned me about the mood swings
of pregnant woman. And I understand that women in your condition
feel awkward and embarrassed by their size, but right now I am
fully aroused, can’t this conversation wait?”

When her husband saw that she wasn’t going to
let the matter go, he rolled over onto his side and gathered her
into his arms. Placing his hand on her slightly swollen belly, he
kissed her frowning mouth.

“Honey, you have our child growing inside of
you. A gift that is so valuable, no man could put a price on it.
You have given me this gift. How could I stop loving you when
you’re carrying our baby there?” He placed a kiss where his hand
was, then kneaded her tummy gently. “It was my seed that started
this life and your love that will carry it. Do you think I cannot
love a woman who is doing this for me?”

He kissed her passionately again and Rusty
melted in his embrace, tears of joy trickling down her face. In her
heart, she believed he’d love her, but those tender words put her
emotions over the edge. She didn’t believe she could love him more
than she did at that moment. Rusty gasped slightly, causing Guy to
quickly pull his hand off her stomach. She smiled and took back his
hand, laying it again on her abdomen.

“The baby must have heard your beautiful
words because I’m sure I felt a flutter. He was telling me he
thinks his father is terrific.”

She didn’t miss the fact that tears clouded
his eyes.

During the days that followed, Rusty felt
like she was floating on air. Guy hired on extra cooks and servants
to prepare the wedding feast and take care of the guests. Mattie
didn’t take too kindly to all the people in her kitchen, but behind
her fussing and mumbling, Rusty knew she was just as happy and
excited. Local merchants whom she hardly knew were invited along
with some neighbors Guy had become friendly with. Of course, the
Brown’s were invited, including their four children. On the day of
the wedding, flowers arrived to fill up the house, making her home
smell like a garden, taking her breath away.

The place was a buzz with zealous servants
scurrying here and there, trying to set everything up in time.
Mattie’s voice could be heard above the noise ordering the help to
do things to her liking. Rusty noticed that the men folks tried to
stay out of the way but there were times a servant or two bumped
into them. Finally, they took to hiding in the den and having
relaxing drinks, but ever so often, Skye or Claire would stick
their head in asking for assistance with a matter they couldn’t
handle themselves. Rusty knew Guy was starting to have slight
regrets, wondering if all this ado was worth it. But he soothed her
anxiety telling her it was all worth while when he saw the
happiness that shown in her eyes.

The orchestra arrived shortly before the
nuptials. Rusty could hear them practicing as she donned her
wedding dress. She was living the life of a fairy princess with all
the attention and had never dreamed she could be this happy. Her
heart nearly burst from all the joy and love she felt. Claire
presented her with a pearl necklace and matching earrings that she
had worn on her wedding day. Skye gave her a lace handkerchief and
Kyle gave the bride a blue garter, making her giggle and blush.

Rusty hugged Susan saying, “I wish we could
have made this a double wedding but it all happened so fast, and
you….” she feigned annoyance, “you knew all the time.” She arched a
questioning eyebrow and her friend hugged her. It was at that time
Rusty heard the wedding march and she stiffened.

“You mustn’t be nervous. All the people
waiting down there love you.”

Susan was her maid of honor and Skye was her
bridesmaid. Rusty walked down the aisle with Scott who gave her
away. Kyle was Guy’s best man, and she was glad the young man’s
feelings were now of brotherly love. She nearly swooned with
happiness when she saw Guy standing at the alter looking so
handsome in his dark jacket and trousers. He took her small hand
and placed in his and whispered, “Could this beautiful woman and
that wildcat tomboy who had once driven me crazy have anything in
common?” he winked.

“We have a lifetime to find out,” she
whispered back.

EPILOGUE

“Mama! Mama!

Rusty had just finished nursing Sarah Ann
when her excited six-year old son ran into the house, slamming the
front door behind him. She knew he would come running up the
stairs, traipsing with dirty feet on her plush carpet, but when he
ran into the room, with that crooked little smile, looking so much
like his father, her heart, once again melted at the sight of him.
Russell was a carbon copy of Guy, except his hair was more auburn
than the rich darkness of his fathers.

“Mother!” Her son was trying to sound all
grown up. “Look, your first orange of the season fell off the
tree.” His dark blue eyes lit up with pride. He, like her, loved
the rich sweet juice of the orange and he had helped her toil in
her area of land at planting time. Her heart filled with joy
knowing her son cared more for the crops than his father’s cattle.
He would be a farmer some day. Cattle and oranges do mix…