Sweetwater (Birdsong Series) (14 page)

Blake put his arm around her small shoulders, “He knows,
Cassie. He knows.”

The days that followed were difficult for everyone at the
Birdsong, and Blake was exhausted. He doctored the injured and the sick during
the day, and then, after the women had retired for the night, he would leave
the hotel and try to pick up information on Lucas. He was certain he had
wounded the man just before he made his getaway.

Emily worked extra long hours in her gardens and lawn, but
she was always under the constant watch of Whiskey or Dora or Blake. The
season had changed and she had made certain everything was as neat and as tidy
as possible. She lovingly planted fall bulbs and lifted plants in preparation
for spring. Not one blade of grass was out of place.

When there was nothing more to do in the yard, she washed
windows, cleaned outdoor furniture, and repaired the picket fencing. Dora just
about had a heart attack when she accidentally discovered Emily up on the roof,
removing a bird’s nest from the chimney.

Cassie was a mere shadow of her former self. She almost
never smiled, but she didn’t cry, either. She was surviving—but just
barely. Blake figured she needed something to care about, and he knew the
perfect solution.

“Cassie, dear, could you come into the kitchen?” Dora
hollered up the stairs. She crossed her fingers, hoping that Dr. Donovan’s
plan would work.

Cassie came through the door, just as expected. She was
always willing to lend a hand, whenever needed. “Did you need something,
Dora?”

At that moment, a movement from behind the warm stove caught
her eye. “What was that?” she shrieked, as she jumped back. It could have
been a rat. It was then she noticed that the kitchen was filled with all her
friends and they were giggling and smiling as if they had no sense at all.

Blake got on his knees and reached behind the stove, pulling
a silky, but very reluctant little puppy out for her inspection. “This little
guy needs someone to care for him, Cassie, and no one is inclined to help him.
You’re my last hope. Could you find the time to feed him and give him the love
he needs? He’s had a pretty hard time of it. When I found him, he was nothing
but bones, but he’s healthy enough now. He just needs a home.”

Cassie stared at the precious little bundle. His eyes were
huge and his coat was curly and black with a white tip on the end of his tail.
She really didn’t know if she could care for a puppy. She’d never had one
before.

Cassie decided she could not get involved. “I’m sorry, Doc,
but . . .”

Just then, the little pup whimpered the saddest and most
pathetic cry anyone could imagine. He whimpered over and over again and looked
directly to Cassie for help. Now and then, his tail gave the slightest wag.

“Fine! Fine. I’ll take him,” she grumbled, “but I don’t
know a thing about dogs. I don’t know how come I have to care for him. You
all are no busier than I am . . . He is kind of sweet though . . . in a sort of
pathetic way . . . and I think you’re holding him wrong, Doc. That’s probably
his trouble. Dora, will you get him a saucer of milk? You should probably
heat it some. Oh, and Emily, he’s going to need his own place to do his
business. You pick the spot and then, maybe you can fence it off or something?
Patty, he needs some bedding. I will not allow a dog to share my bed.
Mercy boocoo
, everyone.”

“You’re welcome, Cassie,” Patty giggled.

“I might as well get started now. I don’t know how I get
stuck with all the jobs nobody else wants. It’s not fair, I tell you. I
suppose he doesn’t have a name, either. You expect me to name him too? Ha!
Of course you do. I have to take care of everything.

“Hand him over, Doc,” Cassie said, as she gently removed the
puppy from Blake’s arms and nuzzled his small floppy ears against her cheek.
As she headed back through the doors, she talked constantly . . . giving orders
to anyone who would listen.

As soon as she had disappeared, everyone felt like shouting,
but stifled their excitement. They all agreed that this was the most she had
spoken since Adam was killed, and she seemed to truly care for the little
orphaned creature.

Emily smiled at Blake, thinking he was the smartest and
kindest man in the world. “That’s my puppy,” she whispered. “The one I
rescued that horrible night. When did you take him?”

“I went back looking for Lucas and found the little guy was
still in the shack, back in the corner, quivering and shaking from fear and
hunger. I brought him home with me. I thought about gifting him to you, but
then I realized you have me and Cassie has no one to care for. You don’t mind,
do you?”

Emily smiled. “Come here. I’ll show you how much I mind.”

Blake leaned over and Emily wrapped her long and lovely arms
around his neck and proceeded to kiss his eyes, his cheeks, the tip of his
chin, and settled on his firm lips. She drank him in, her tongue searching for
a way to enter the warmth of his mouth. A small breach formed and she slipped
in.

Everyone had silently vacated the kitchen, leaving Emily and
Blake to themselves. He allowed his hands to roam up and down her back,
stroking her feminine curves with his fingers. Her breasts pressed up tightly
against his chest and her hips fit snugly against his own. Blake took command
of the kiss, while being uncommonly gentle.

Emily moaned softly, expressing her need for something more.
Her sounds of passion were almost his undoing. Blake wanted to be a
gentleman, but she was his obsession and she was bringing him perilously close
to the edge of no return.

“Darling,” he whispered hoarsely, his voice trembling with
need, “ we have to slow down. I must step back a moment or I may not be able
to stop myself.”

“I don’t want you to stop. I want you to make love to me.
I’m a woman, Blake, and I need you.”

God, . . . he
knew
she was a woman. That was just the problem. “All right, sweetheart. Step
over by the pantry,” he said softly.

Looking around the darkened room, Blake made certain that
they would not likely be intruded upon. Still, he needed to be swift. With
Emily up against the corner, he placed his hand just under the hem of her
skirts. “I’m going to bring you pleasure, my darling. Close your eyes and
enjoy it.”

In only a few minutes, his hand, wet with her desire,
brought Emily to the precipice and forced her over the edge. Trembling with
every spasm, he knew she was experiencing pure erotic satisfaction. Slowly,
her quaking subsided and a smile settled on her lips. When she opened her
eyes, it was obvious that she was still reveling in the afterglow of her sexual
fulfillment.

Blake’s own body, however, was in agony. Never had he been
harder or in more need of having his woman beneath him. He knew it would be a
long and sleepless night.

“Blake?” Emily whispered. “I can touch you like I did
before.”

“No, darling. This is something that I must take care of.”

“I could kiss you,” she offered.

Laughter escaped his throat. “That’s all I need, Emmie.”
He had to catch his breath. Being so close to her and smelling her slight,
musky fragrance, was overwhelming for him.

“What I need Emmie, is for you to say you’ll marry me. That
would solve all my problems and I’m certain it would please you, as well. You
know, angel, what we’ve done here is such a very small part of what we could be
enjoying every night. I can show you so much more. You’ve no idea the ecstasy
we could reach, together.”

“Yes.”

“No, I don’t think you do,” he insisted.

“Yes, Blake.”

“Ha. You are a stubborn woman, Emmie.”

“And I believe you are deaf, darling. I am saying
yes
to your proposal, Blake. But of
course, we will want to wait a respectable amount of time—for Cassie’s
sake.”

Blake was speechless. He simply stood there, with his arms
at his side and his mouth hanging half open, looking stunned.

“You could catch flies, if you’re not careful,” Emily
laughed. “Say something, darling.”

“I can’t believe it. Oh Emmie, I swear you’ll not be sorry.
You’ve made me the happiest man in the world. Emmie, sweetheart, . . . thank
you. Thank you so much!”

“About my farm . . . ”

“Oh yeah, about your farm. I’m real sorry you lost the one
you had your eye on, but like I said before, I used to have one.”

“Used to?” Emmie muttered.

“Yes, angel. I had no real use for it, so I recently gave
it away.”

It was Emily’s turn to look shocked and dumbfounded. “You
simply gave it away?
A farm?
How
could you have done something so foolish? If I had a farm, I’d live there ‘til
I died.”

Blake could barely contain his laughter, seeing her so wide
eyed at his announcement. But it was cruel to let her get so distressed over
nothing. “Yes, I didn’t want it any more, so I gave it away to a very pretty
lady.”

“What?” Emily was not only bewildered by Blake’s actions,
but if she had heard correctly, he had given the gift of a farm to another
woman. She took a firm stand, with her hands on her hips, and waited for an
explanation. “Who? And this had better be good, Doc,” she huffed.

He grinned from ear to ear. “Yes, ma’am.” Blake cleared
his throat. “You heard right. I had my lawyer give my farm to the prettiest
woman in Hays City. You might even be acquainted with her,” he chuckled.
“Miss Emily Falkenrath is the new owner of my old farm. It’s small, but it’s
all yours, honey.”

Emily flew into Blake’s arms. “Oh! I never thought! You
just gave me your farm? I love you so much, Blake. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you accepted my proposal before I told you about
the farm, otherwise I’d be worried that you were marrying me for my barn,” he
laughed.

“You’re silly, Doc. When can we go see it? I can go
anytime. When? When?”

Blake grinned. Watching Emily get this excited was like
discovering a small window into her childhood. What a beautiful child she must
have been. If he had been in her life when she was small, he would have taken
great delight in spoiling her, just to see this glow of happiness on her pretty
face. She had had so little joy in her life and so much sadness, but he swore
to change all that and do whatever was in his power to make her happy.

“I have to stay close to town until Marla Schneider delivers
her babe, but we can go the next day. Is that good for you?”

Emily kissed him all over, again, dancing up on her toes.
“That’s perfect, Doc. You’ve made me so unbelievably happy. I love you, I
love you, I love you.”

Blake kissed her luscious lips and succeeded in taking her
breath away, nearly causing her to swoon.

“Seriously, Doc, did I ever tell you I love you?”

Blake laughed. “Can’t say as if I recall you saying
anything of the sort. So, to get the record straight . . . do you love me,
Emmie?”

“You know I do,” she said softly.

“That’s good to hear, angel. Now I think it’s time I took
you upstairs and put you to bed, young lady. Tomorrow is going to be a long
day.”

*

“I can’t find him anywhere!” Cassie cried. “I’ve looked
under all the beds, in the closets, and . . .”

Suddenly, a man’s voice yelled angrily from an upstairs
room. Quickly, the hotel staff ran up to see the cause of their guest’s
distress, whereupon, they all stopped dead in their tracks and observed Mr.
Bingham through the open door. There, they discovered the cause of his
surprise and obvious anger. It was Cassie’s newest crisis. The large man was
holding the tiny black puppy by the scruff of his delicate little neck, and was
shaking him, unmercifully. The white tip, on the end of his tail, was pulled
up between his legs in a defensive posture, while the terrified pup yelped and
whined for rescue.

“Oh, you’ve found Tippy. Thank you, Mr. Bingham,” Cassie
wailed, as she rushed to rescue the dog from the angry Englishman.

“I say, miss! This small varmint was hiding in my boot.
When I put in my foot, I’m most fortunate that he did not take off my toe.
He’s a nuisance, young lady, and I believe he should be confined to a small box
or put out of his misery.” Unfortunately, the pup chose just that moment to
empty his bladder—all down Mr. Bingham’s left trouser leg. The cursing
that followed was not fit for feminine ears.

Whiskey felt it was his duty to rescue the ladies. “Now see
here, mister. You are in the presence of ladies and I’d appreciate it if you
watched your language.”

Cassie caught the naughty puppy as the irate man let it drop
to the floor.

“It pissed on me! I have never been so insulted. I will
NOT pay for these miserable lodgings, and you may rest assured, I will register
a complaint and tell everyone I know that they need to avoid this hotel at all
costs.”

“Well, you miserable skunk! If you’d not been a yellin’
like a wild man, maybe the pup wouldn’t have been so damned scared and he
wouldn’t have relieved himself on ya’. ‘Course, maybe he just don’t cotton to
your kind. You can leave whenever you want and keep your dirty money. Your
stay’s on us,” growled Whiskey. “Lucky he didn’t do worse than piss on ya’,”
the old man said under his breath, as he stomped off.

Cassie looked at the red-faced man and stuck out her tongue.
It was the only thing she could think to do that wouldn’t involve physically
striking the man. She would have liked that too, but it would have caused
problems for the others.

“Tippy, you’ve been a very naughty little puppy . . . hiding
like that. That mean old man could have stepped on you. He’s so fat and all,
he would have squashed you flat. I’m going to have to tie you up for your own
safety, while I’m working. I love you, Tippy,” she cooed, as she kissed his
shiny black head—
as black as a
raven’s wing
.