Sea Of Grass (16 page)

“I’d like to waltz with you all around Montana, Claire Redmond,” Tess said.

Claire smiled tenderly at the admission. “Montana is a big state, Tess Rawlins. That could take a lifetime,” she whispered. The look of pure devotion and desire spread across her tanned features, causing a shiver to run up Claire’s spine.

Tess gazed at the red full lips and lowered her head. She stopped for a moment, their lips inches apart.

“Then let it take a lifetime,” Tess assured her in a low confident voice. Claire sighed, slipped her fingers up the back of her neck, and pulled her close.

“Tess,” Claire started. “I don’t. I mean I do, but there’s so much you don’t know.”

Tess stepped back. “I’m sorry. I got all caught up in the moment here.” She laughed nervously and put her hands behind her back. “A little impetuous, sorry. You’re just so pretty, and I’m starting to care for you.”

Both women laughed, then Claire leaned against the corral post and looked up at the moon. “Life just can’t be simple, can it?”

Tess cocked her head and stood next to her and rested her forearms on the fence. She stared out at the darkness. “No, it can’t. Though I don’t know much about your life, I can see it in your eyes that you’ve experienced some pain. If you ever want to tell me, you know I’ll listen.”

“I know you will. And I will tell you, just not tonight. It’s been me and Jack for so long, and I haven’t been with another woman in so long, I honestly don’t know how to react to this,” Claire whispered. She then looked over as Tess stared blankly into the night. “So you think I’m pretty, eh?”

Tess grinned but still did not look her way. “Yes, ma’am. I do.”

“Thank you,” Claire said in a quivering voice.

Tess turned to her then and stepped closer. “You’re welcome. And I will listen when you’re ready. But right now, Claire…” Tess’s heart was beating like a drum as she gently pulled Claire close to her body. “Please tell me it’s all right to kiss you. I mean no disrespect to you or your son. I want you to understand I care for you and…”

Claire smiled warmly and let go of Tess’s hand to reach up and put her fingertips against the warm lips that she would soon know. “Yes, Tess. It’s all right, please.”

Tess sighed as their lips met in a warm brief kiss. She felt Claire shiver as she pulled back; her body was on fire with just one kiss. “It may be a long time for you, Claire, but my God, woman, that was a wonderful kiss.”

Claire was trying to breathe as she laid her head against the post and closed her eyes. Tess smiled and lightly brushed the wayward strand of hair from her face. She couldn’t help it; she leaned in and kissed her once more, moaning as Claire reacted by slightly parting her lips. With her heart pounding and her body on fire, Tess cupped her cheek, then lightly traced Claire’s jaw with the back of her fingertips.

Claire whimpered, then placed her hand on Tess’s shoulder, pushing her back. Resting their foreheads against each other, both chuckled.

“I feel like a schoolgirl,” Tess said and pulled back.

“That was a lovely kiss, Tess.” Claire looked up into her eyes.

“I hope there’ll be more, but for now, we’d better get back inside before I forget myself.”

As she took Claire’s hand, Claire stopped her. “Thank you.”

Tess was shocked to see tears in her blue eyes. She kissed the back of Claire’s hand. “It was my pleasure.”

They walked back into the kitchen where Claire put the plates and glasses in the sink. Tess turned off the kitchen light and led the way down the hall; she stopped by Claire’s room.

Tess chuckled and scratched the back of her neck. “Well,
g’night
.” She offered her hand.

Claire blushed horribly and took the offering. “Good night.”

As she opened her door, Claire turned back and gave Tess a quick kiss, then quietly slipped into the room, closing the door.

Chapter 9

“Where’s Jack?” Claire asked as she wiped her hands on the towel.

“In the stable. He’s a little upset. They have to get Clover back in the herd. Tess is talking to him,” Jed said as he read the paper. He looked over at Claire, who was looking out the kitchen window, and couldn’t help but see the difference from the previous night to that morning.

“What is she doing?” Claire asked as she looked.

Jed walked to the back door and blinked. Tess had a rope around Clover’s neck as she led the calf to the corral. She pushed the calf in and took off the rope. Jack was grinning as he jumped over the fence and hugged the calf around the neck. Tess was talking to him and wagging a finger in his direction. Jack nodded, then leapt at Tess, hugging her around the waist. For an instant, Tess did not know what to do. Then she wrapped her arms around the teenager and ran her fingers through his short dark hair.

She pushed him away then and wagged the warning finger once again. Jack nodded and grinned.

“Hey, Dad,” Tess said as she came in and tossed her hat on the table.

“Take that dirty thing off my table,” Claire insisted.

Tess laughed as she hung it on the back of the chair. “And good morning to you, too, Claire,” Tess said, grinning.

Jed watched for a moment and cleared his throat. “I thought you were putting Clover back in the herd,” he said with a stern voice.

Tess avoided Claire’s curious look. “W-well, I tried a few times. No cow would let her near her milk. I’m thinking maybe one of them that was caught in the thicket might have been Clover’s mama…”

Jed gave her a smug grin. “So?”
 

“So…” Tess countered. “I can’t let the calf die, for
chrissakes
. She needs milk.”

“Normally, we’d have veal for dinner,” Jed said.

Claire dropped a fork with a clang and whirled around.

“Dad!” Tess argued and stole a glance at Claire’s horrified face. “He’s joking. Aren’t you, Dad?” Tess glared at Jed, who chuckled.

“Yes, I’m joking.”

Claire was not buying any of it. “You are not, Jed Rawlins. You…you can’t be thinking of killing Clover?”

“We are not killing Clover. Are we, Dad?”

Jed couldn’t help it. He started laughing. Claire just gaped at him, and Tess started to laugh, as well. It was true. When a calf could not be weaned back into the herd, it was sold to the butcher. However, Clover was different.

“She’s family. We can’t just eat her for dinner,” Tess said seriously as her lips twitched.

“That is not funny, Tess Rawlins!” Claire scolded, and Tess stopped laughing. “Would you like to go out and tell that story to Jack?”

Father and daughter contemplated the idea. They looked out the back door to see Jack walking around the corral and Clover trotting behind him. He had the bottle of milk in his hand.

“Nope. I do not run the day-to-day business of the Double R,” Jed said seriously and read the paper.

Later that morning, Claire was in their room stripping the sheets off the bed thinking of poor Clover.

“Mom?” Jack yelled from the hallway.

“Jack, stop yelling. I’m in here,” she yelled back.

“Tess needs you. She’s in the stable,” he said and flounced on his bed.

“Why? I don’t know anything about that stable.”

As she neared the stable, Claire winced. “Smelly place,” she said to herself as she tentatively walked in. “Tess?” she called out.

“Over here, Claire,” Tess said; she was in a stall, brushing a black horse.

“Jack said you needed me,” she said. “That’s a pretty horse.”

Tess grinned. “This is a stallion and he is handsome, not pretty.”

“Okay,” Claire said, watching Tess as she finished brushing the silky mane. “Now what do you want?”

Tess came out of the stall. “I want to ask your permission to do something.”

Claire grinned. “You don’t need my permission. After that kiss last night…”

“Oh, that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“It’s not?”

Tess laughed as she put the brushes away. “You’re
kinda
cute when you’re all
pissy
.”

“I am not …” Claire stopped and took a deep breath. “My permission for what?”

“Jack has been riding that mare, but I think this guy will suit him better. I’d like to give this horse to Jack.”

“Give? Tess, I’m no judge of animals.”

“Understatement.”

“But this has to be an expensive animal. You just can’t give it to Jack.”

“Why not? He’s gonna be seventeen in the fall, and he’s taking to ranching and riding so quickly. He needs a reliable horse.”

Claire ran her fingers through her hair. “This is very generous. I…” She stopped and chewed her bottom lip while Tess waited. “What happens when Maria gets back?”

“What about it?”

“The only reason I’m here is because Maria had to go home. When she gets back, I won’t be needed. You don’t need two cooks.”

From the look on Tess’s face, Claire knew she had not thought of the inevitable. When Tess smiled, Claire’s heart skipped a beat. “We’ll work something out when the time comes. Do you want to go back to Helena?”

“What? Tess—”

“Do you like it here?” Tess now stood in front of Claire, who took a step back.

“Well, yes. Of course I do.”

Tess took another step toward her and Claire stepped back again, this time bumping into the stall door. “Do you like me?”

Claire heard the vulnerable tone; her mouth was instantly dry. She merely nodded. When Tess cupped her cheeks with her hands, Claire’s body temperature rose; her heart beat wildly in her chest.

“Then we’ll work something out.” Tess kissed her forehead, then her cheek. “I’m growing very fond of you, Mrs. Redmond. And I honestly don’t want you to get away from me.” She kissed Claire tenderly, her tongue lightly dancing across her lips.

Claire moaned and sagged against the door; she put her arms around Tess’s neck and pulled her closer at the same time, deepening the kiss.

“God, Claire,” she breathed as she pulled away for an instant. Claire grabbed her hair and pulled her back, kissing her deeply.

In a moment, Tess pulled back once again, barely breathing as Claire looked up into the crystal blue eyes filled with want.

“I’m sorry.” Tess groaned and leaned against the opposite wall. “Since last night, I’ve tried, but I can’t think of anything else but kissing you and holding you. I couldn’t sleep at all,” she mumbled and ran her fingers through her hair.

Claire smiled and walked up, gently cupping Tess’s face.

Tess groaned and closed her eyes. “Don’t touch me, Claire. I am not responsible for my actions right now. I’m on fire.”

“So am I. You made me this way,” she said in a low voice.

“I know I shouldn’t have done that. I—”

Claire grinned and kissed her deeply. Tess swayed, then pulled Claire into her arms and kissed her again. Her tongue slightly begging for entrance, Claire shivered and parted her lips in submission.