Cowboy Caveat Read Online Free PDF Page B

was
an exciting time for womenfolk, and he knew there was a lot to
organize before Sunday. He was only worried when he saw the trap
arrive back with just his wife on board.
    Lucy had time to think about what to tell Ed
while she drove the buggy home. The hands that worked for Ed
wouldn’t go into town until Saturday night for a drink and so it
was unlikely that Ed would find out about what had happened in town
today. So when he met her as she slowed the walking horse to a stop
outside the ranch house, she gave him a wide smile and although she
was tense inside, she hoped Ed wouldn’t realize something was
wrong.
    “ Hi, honey, where are the
boys?” Lucy called as she tied the reins up.
    “ I was just going to
ask you where the
girls are,” Ed replied, helping his wife down and kissing her as he
set her down on her feet.
    “ Oh, they are staying at
Jayne’s overnight, talking weddings!” Lucy said, moving toward the
stoop.
    Ed frowned. “Jayne Littleton? But I thought
she was after Ethan and Amy loathed the sight of her.”
    “ I-I know. Isn’t that the
oddest thing? They were at school together so maybe they were
friendlier than we thought. Jayne has set her hat at Max, now that
Ethan is engaged, and Max seems smitten with Jayne.”
    Lucy turned her head away lest Ed see her
blushing; goodness, she hated all this lying! If she told Ed what
had happened now, Lucy was sure he would fetch the girls straight
home. If Henderson pressed charges against Amy, the Sheriff would
come and take her into town and lock her up. No, the best thing was
to get the girls away before that could happen, then she’d tell Ed
later in the morning. Lucy played with her boys all evening,
finishing up with a game of checkers, and after bathing them, she
tucked them into their beds.
    Later, while Lucy was brushing her hair, Ed
came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, his thumbs
caressing her nipples through her gossamer-thin nightgown. Lucy
stopped her brushing and watched in her dressing table mirror as
her nipples surged to hard peaks under her husband’s teasing
fingers. Ed grinned as Lucy let out a shuddering sigh and leaned
back into his naked embrace.
    “ You look beautiful,
darlin’. Can you feel how much I want you?” he whispered in her
ear. Lucy could feel it, his hardness pressed up against her
buttocks, and as she reached a hand around to the front of him to
grasp his aching member, it was Ed’s turn to sigh. He turned her
around and reached down for the hem of her nightdress, pulling it
up over her head and tossing it into a corner. Lucy fell into his
arms; this was what she needed, the reassuring arms of her husband
holding her close. Ed lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her,
their tongues dancing, teasing and tasting.
    Ed scooped his wife up and placed her onto
the bed, settling beside her, and then he stroked her with
work-callused hands. Pressing her soft flesh firmly, he slid his
hands slowly down from her shoulders, stopping briefly to cup her
breasts, and then tweak her nipples playfully. Keeping one hand on
her breast, his hand followed the slope of her belly. Lucy parted
her legs with a pretty blush and lowered eyes.
    Afterwards they lay satiated, still and
drowsy, drifting gently into sleep. Suddenly a loud hammering on
the door below shocked them apart. Ed sat upright, listening, and
when the pounding at the door began again, he leaped up and dragged
on his trousers. He ran barefoot and bare-chested down the stairs
to the door, grabbing his rifle as he went.
    Ed recognized Ethan’s voice as he pulled
open the door, and Ethan pushed his way inside.
    “ Where is
Amy ?” Ethan yelled at his
sister.
    “ Where is who ?” Ed asked,
bewildered. “She stayed at Jayne’s in town and Millie’s with
her.”
    “ What? No, she
ain’t! Where’s Lucy !” Ethan shouted, starting toward the stairs.
    Ed stretched out his arm and grabbed
Ethan.“Woah, there! What’s going on, Eth?”
    Ethan spun round