Another Chance (39 page)

"Let me
." He reached to take the linen.

"No, thee must only watch
." She drew the small piece of material across her chest and down her stomach.

"
Sarah, you are tormenting me." He breathed deeply.

"Is thee enjoy
ing what thee is seeing?" Her words caressed him.

"Enjoying?"
He swallowed. "Agonizing would be a closer word."

"Soon thy suffering will end
."

He rubbed his scalp lock
. "If it doesn't, I will explode right in front of you.

Giggling, she again prepared the cloth
. Slowly, she kneaded the rag between her two hands. With infinite care, she placed the warm cloth over his manhood.

He stiffened
.

"Shall I stop?"

"Never," he managed to say.

Time moved slowly, yet rapidly as she stroked his strong shaft
. He pulsed beneath her light, easy movements. With difficulty, he kept his body from twisting and reeling beneath her touch. Then, she cradled his twin sacks with the cloth.

"E-e!"

She changed her soft movements to a stronger, yet still arousing caress.

He arched his back, and she placed her mouth over him
.

With difficulty, he sucked in his breath
. She lathered his skin with her tongue, twisting from one side to the other, taking him deep inside her. He reached for her, but she pushed his hands away. Grabbing the edges of the bed, he kept himself fully inside her. "I need you. Let me love you while you love me."

She continued ministering to him
.

"Please
."

Her lips freed him and she said, "I must wash
."

"No
. My mouth will clean you, while I will enjoy the flavors of our lovemaking. "Before she could object, he twisted on top of her and began his assault. She smelled like a woman should when aroused. The aroma added another spark to the passion flaming inside him. Moisture greeted his tongue when he touched the short curls that guarded the entrance to her womanhood. He drew them into his mouth and sucked the salty-sweet juice. His tongue lapped her nether lips and teased her seat of desire, helping it to grow. He drank again, and his thirst increased. Plunging into her dark well, he sought to find and claim her soul.

Gasping, she cried, "Take me!"

He wrenched around and placed her on top.

She covered his throbbing manhood with her wet sheath and locked her legs beneath his buttocks
. Each move she made, he matched. The light from the fireplace gleamed off her damp face. His hands caressed her breasts, kneading her nipples. She shoved herself toward him. He pushed deeper inside her.

"Together," she said
. "We must come together."

"Yes!" he managed
.

She rode him like a stallion, while he bucked and swayed within her
. The veins on her neck stretched against her skin as she arched her back and claimed more of him.

"Now!" he shouted
.

Her cry of pleasure joined his, and their duet filled the cabin
.

She collapsed against him
. They clung to each other. Their hearts raced, synchronized with one another.

He enjoyed having her body touching his, enjoyed supporting her,
and enjoyed the intimacy of their lovemaking. For a long while, they lay without speaking or moving. Finally, he rolled her to her side, caught a tendril of hair, and kissed the end. "I wonder if making love to a spirit-woman will give me extra power," he teased.

"Men
."

He laughed aloud
.

She placed the flat of her palms against his chest and pushed
.

Wolf nearly fell off the bed, but saved himself by grabbing hold of her
. They teetered for a moment before he rolled on top of her and started loving her all over again.

             
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The first star of the evening greeted them as they left the cabin and headed toward the farmhouse
. A sense of contentment and serenity surrounded Sarah as they strolled hand in hand.  Wolf had received her announcement about her "other life" more easily than she would have done under the same circumstances. Perhaps his religious beliefs allowed him to accept more on trust and faith than hers did. Whatever the reason, his reaction definitely pleased her.

As they walked into the kitchen, Little Turtle greeted them
. "Where have you been? Jeremiah Low has been waiting for the longest time."

Stepping forward, Jeremiah shook Wolf's hand and nodded to
Sarah. "Actually, I barely had a chance to taste my berry water before you arrived.

"Little Turtle told me about the incident with the corporal
." A frown replaced his affable expression. "Damn! I wanted him."

"No more than I
." Wolf's harsh tone, more than words, displayed his deep feelings. He gestured for Jeremiah to retake his seat. "Did you get the supplies to Washington?"

"Safely delivered
." He took a quick swallow and cradled the earthenware mug in his hands.

"The soldiers?" Wolf asked
.

"Those, too," he said, nodding his head for added emphasis
.

Sarah
broke in, "Jeremiah. Does thou know where Long Knife and Daniel Woodley's unit is?"

His warm smiled pleased her
. "Not off hand, but headquarters will. Why?"

"Quick Rabbit asked for her son today," she said, but did not add her own concern
.

"She spoke?" asked Jeremiah, who knew about the tragedy
. "She's better?" His wide eyes showed his surprise as he glanced from Sarah to Wolf and back again.

"A little,"
Sarah said. "At least, she showed interest in Long Knife."

"That's splendid
. Luke has kept me informed about her condition," Jeremiah responded. "Perhaps he told you since both of us had lost our mothers while we were quite young, Quick Rabbit often tried to take their places." He laughed. "She was only a few years older, and I can't say we appreciated her attempts. Did we?" Jeremiah punched Wolf's biceps.

Her lover's lips curved upward, and a sparkle twinkled in his eyes
. "No, we didn't."

Had she imagined the
coolness between the two men? Tonight, they appeared congenial.

"Tomorrow, I will find out where the scouts camp and ride over," Jeremiah said
. "If Long Knife is there, he might be home before sundown. If not, I will leave a message. His commanding officer, I am sure, will send him back as quickly as possible."

Sarah
flashed him a look of thanks. "Seeing him may help her," she said with confidence, forbidding any doubt from suggesting otherwise.

"Jeremiah,
Sarah was wondering how her father is. Do you have any knowledge?"

Hope filled her heart
. She looked at Wolf with gratitude for asking.

Shaking his head, Jeremiah gave his attention to
Sarah. "My last report was just after you arrived at Long Meadow. If you wish, I will send a man to find out."

"No," she said
. "That won't be necessary. Wolf and I will go tomorrow. I need to see for myself."

"I will come too," said Little Turtle
.

All three adults stared at the boy
.

"If
Sarah is going, I think I should too since my father asked me to help protect her." He plunked his elbows on the table, cupped his chin in his hands, and focused on his father. A defiant expression marred his young face.

She glanced at the two men waiting for one to object, but neither spoke.
"I am sure my father would be pleased to see thee," she said, unwilling to be the one to reject the child's offer.

"Little Turtle, I
asked you to help while I was gone. Tomorrow, I will be there and will have enough to do defending Sarah, without having to guard you as well," Wolf replied tartly.

The boy pouted briefly, before sitting up straight
. "You will not have to protect me. I will take my bola and my bow and arrows." He pounded his small chest. "I will help defend Sarah Stone, just as I did before."

His words warmed her heart
. Was he softening toward her?

"I can spare a man," said Jeremiah
.

"That is not necessary," Wolf replied sharply
.

"Since some of thy braves have returned, perhaps White Owl would enjoy going with us?"
Sarah offered. "My father will be pleased to see him again." She hoped her words were true, for she remembered Benjamin's lack of enthusiasm about the burial service.

Nodding, Wolf said, "I will ask
." He sounded pleased and relieved by her suggestion.

             
* * * *

Smoke rose from the inn's chimney, making
Sarah's heart soar. Before her companions could help her dismount, she jumped down and raced toward the tavern. "Father," she called with joy as she neared the front steps.

A moment later, hands gripped her waist from behind, lifted her off her feet, and twisted her half-way round
. "Sarah," Wolf said, staring at her, "take care. You have no idea who might be inside." He eased his hold, and the soles of her shoes touched the dirt.

She gasped as if dashed with cold water
. Glancing over her shoulder at her home, but seeing nothing but a peaceful setting, she asked, "Does thee have knowledge that I do not?"

Before Wolf replied, the door opened
.

Benjamin stood at the entrance-way
. "Sarah!" As he stepped onto the small porch, sunlight caught and danced off his gray hair.

Happiness surrounded and filled her
.
He looks fine.

When he extended his arms in welcome, she dashed across the path and flew up the three steps
. He grasped her in a tight embrace. "How I have missed thee."

"And I thee, father
." Without thinking, she had used the word 'thee'. She realized she had meant it. Sarah cherished this dear man. He deserved the more endearing form. She kissed his leathery cheek. Easing back so that she could see his face more clearly, but not breaking the hold, she asked, "Is thee all right?"  He appeared so, but she searched his eyes, looking for the truth.

"I am well
. But why art thee here?" He looked concerned when he glanced at her escort. "Everything is fine." A puzzled expression washed over his face.

Unwilling to reveal her encounter with the corporal, she said, "With these troubled times and news difficult to get, I worried about thee
. I asked Wolf to bring me so that I might see for myself that thee is well."

"Will thee be staying?"

"Does thee want me to?"  Her heart sank. Instead of his request pleasing her, it filled her with sadness. Seeing the tavern she had considered the lifeline to her real world, she shivered. Must she return when she wished only to stay with Wolf?

"Of course, I would like thee to remain with me
. However, until the area is safe, I would never allow thee to take the chance."

She hugged him, partially because she loved him and partially because he had given her permission to do what she wanted
. Then, remembering her manners, she moved aside so he could greet his guests.

"Where is thy cap?" he admonished her, before releasing his grip
.

She studied his face, but saw no anger in his eyes
. "Wolf forgot to pack any, and the one I wore when I left is filthy." She carefully failed to mention she had used the cap as a dust mop. "So I came without one."

"Tis not becoming for one who believes in the principles of the Society," he reminded her in his firm, gentle manner
.

Sarah
refused to allow his strict rules to dampen her visit, so she kissed his other cheek. "Forgive me."

He smiled
. "Always. However, a word of caution, when we put off our external trappings, some of our internal beliefs change as well."

His words sounded a faint alarm within her, but she refused to spoil her time with him
. "Look who came with me."

"Welcome," he called in a hearty voice, as he and
Sarah walked down the steps. "Come in. Refresh thyselves. Make my home thine." Benjamin ushered them into the inn. "Mistress Westcoat, we have guests."

A tall woman standing near the hearth and partially hidden by the subdued lighting approached
. Her indigo-and-white striped linen short gown did little to hide her plump shape. She grasped the edges of her apron and bobbed a curtsey, directed at all of them. "How pleased I am to see you again and,” she glanced from Sarah to Benjamin and back again, "to meet your friends." Two red circles popped out on her cheeks.