Sweetwater (Birdsong Series) (5 page)

In a hoarse voice, Blake spoke softly, “Tell me what has
frightened you, so. I know it’s not me. Who hurt you, darling?”

Her tears were flowing freely now, and Emily had not enough
strength to hold them back. Her body trembled as Blake pulled her into his
strong arms, breathing softly into her silken hair. She stood encased in his
embrace for several minutes, allowing herself to relax, until her legs began to
weaken in response to the pleasure she was receiving.

Blake led his beautiful Emmie over to the bed, and very
carefully positioned her back upon the pillows. Allowing his gaze to rest upon
her loveliness, he lowered his lips to hers and covered her face with soft
kisses. He kissed her eyes and her nose, nibbled at her ears and trailed hot
kisses down the column of her neck, all the while, breathing in her
intoxicating fragrance. He brushed his mouth lightly across her lips and took
thorough possession, gaining entrance to the luscious haven of her mouth, and
groaned with delight, as he tasted her. He could not get enough of her womanly
essence.

Blake continued his kisses, stealing her breath away. He
laid claim to her body with his lips. She was his. He could feel her
submission as she melted against him. But he also knew the timing wasn’t right.
Emily was running from something—perhaps she was afraid of
men—certainly she was angry with them. He needed to help her face her
demons before he could truly make her his own.

Reluctantly, Blake pulled away and looked down at Emily’s
swollen lips and smiled. “You are truly the most beautiful of God’s
creatures,” he whispered softly.

She looked up, incapable of response. Her heart was racing,
her flesh burned with the heat of desire for this man, and now he was pulling
away from her arms. With a quizzical look, she murmured, “Did I do something
wrong? Why have you stopped?”

Blake chuckled. “No, believe me, darling. You’ve done
everything exactly right, but my need to possess you is very strong and
powerful . . . too strong to allow me to continue before you are ready.”

She sat up. “But I
am
ready. I want you to touch me and make me feel something more. I want you to
make love to me, Doc.” She held out her arms inviting him to return to her.

Blake forced himself to stand. It was the most difficult
thing he had ever done. It was quite evident that his body had responded to
the beguiling woman lying beneath him, only a few moments ago. He smiled and
gently shook his head. “Come, sweetheart. We
need
to leave this room, or I may not be able to contain this urge
I have to feel you lying naked in my arms, to hear you call out my name. If
only you knew how seductive you are, darling.
Please, Emmie
. . . for my sake? Let’s go for a walk in the fresh
evening air.”

Emily didn’t want to go for a walk, but she knew there was
wisdom and truth in what he was saying. At this point, she would gladly have
taken him into her body, giving up her virtue to him. Her physical need for
him was overwhelming and her body ached for his touch. Her mind was in
turmoil.

“Give me a few minutes. I’ll meet you downstairs,” she
sighed.

*

Patty wasn’t surprised to see the young doctor descending
the steps, alone. “Did she kick you out? I swear that woman doesn’t have the
sense God gave rocks.”

Cassie giggled. “I’d have gone out with you, Doc, if you’d
only asked.”

“Really?” He hadn’t expected that from the pretty girl. “I
didn’t think you wanted to go to the dance. I take it you’ve forgiven me?”

Cassie’s hand waved him away. “Aw, that was years ago, Doc.
I was just a spoiled kid then. I didn’t really intend to go to the dance, but
I would have gone with you . . . to keep you company. I trust you.” Her face
fell, as if she had remembered something sad. “Will I ever be happy, again,
Doc?”

Blake walked over to Cassie and placed a light kiss on her
forehead. “One day, the man of your dreams will walk through that door and
he’ll make you forget all the bad and ugly things of that night. You just wait
for him, darlin’, and finish growing up a little.”

Her pretty face lit up like a candelabra. “Thanks, Doc.
I’ll wait for that special one. I have a gift for you. It’s not much, but I
made it to thank you for saving me. Even against my will, sometimes,” she
added. She ran back behind the desk and retrieved a pillow.

“Read it,” she said excitedly, as she thrust it into his
open hands.

Blake’s cheeks turned bright red as he read the sentiments
sewn so carefully onto the face of the beautiful pillow. “Doc, My Hero.” He
was touched by the simple words. “I don’t know what to say, Cassie. I don’t
feel much like a hero, but I’m glad you think I am. I’ll put it in my office
and keep it, always. It isn’t everyday a man gets a gift, of this quality,
from such a lovely young lady.”

Clapping her hands, Cassie was delighted in Blake’s
response. She felt like her old self—almost.

“Hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long, Doc, but I needed
to repair my hair. I’m ready to go, now,” Emily said in a husky voice. She
glided down the stairs and practically floated into the arms of the man waiting
for her.

He laughed. “I would wait forever for you,
darling
, but I must admit, I have been
kept thoroughly entertained by this delightful young lady. She even gave me a
special gift.” Blake held up the pillow for Emily’s inspection. “It’s really
something,” he said, as he winked at Cassie, standing proudly by his side.

Blake knew the others had heard his term of endearment for
Emily, but that was a good thing. He wanted everyone to know that he had
claimed her for his very own. Holding out his arm to her, he smiled. “Come,
sweetheart. Let’s get some fresh air.”

Patty and Cassie stood by, watching and learning. “Wow,”
Cassie muttered. “That was
some
entrance.”

Patty nodded. “It certainly was. I think our lady doth
protest too much.”

Cassie shot her friend a puzzled look. “What?”

Patty laughed. “Oh, never mind.”

The cool evening breeze was just what the doctor ordered.
It was refreshing and it helped clear their heads—not to mention, it
cooled their fevers. The music, from the dance, drifted down the street,
lending an air of celebration to the otherwise, silence of the night. The
stars twinkled overhead; as the young couple walked silently, arm in arm, down
the wooden sidewalk.

Blake swallowed, clearing his throat before speaking.
“Emmie, I want you to know that I love you. I’ve loved you for a very long
time, now, and I refuse to give up on us. I will do anything to make you
happy. If you need a farm, we’ll find one, together. My grandparents had a
farm here, a long time ago. I could sell the land and take the money and buy
any farm you want—maybe even the one that got away. What do you say,
darling? Could you learn to love me in time? Would you be willing to try?”

Emily thought for several minutes. How much should she
divulge to this wonderful man, she asked herself? Should she risk her heart?
It was not an easy decision for her to make, as she trusted no man. She’d been
on her own for a very long time. However, she had never felt this way about
another man. The emotions running wild through her brain were deep and
powerful. Her skin still tingled from his touch and her nostrils were filled
his masculine fragrance—an aphrodisiac to her senses. She possessed no
defense against his allure, and realized she had no choice but to trust him.
Emily stopped walking and looked deep into his soulful, brown eyes.

“Doc, as you’ve probably guessed, I had a bad childhood. It
is something I try never to think about, but I can’t always escape the
memories. Until I arrived here, at the Birdsong, I was angry all the time. I
hated all men. I’ve never known a man that didn’t want me for my body.” She
waited to see Blake’s reaction.

“When Eve advertised for women to come here and work . . .
women who really
needed
a job . . . I
knew it was my one chance at happiness. Don’t ask me how I knew, I just did.”
She laughed. “The truth be told, I think Eve was only planning to hire one or
two of us, but her heart is so big, that after seeing how badly we all wanted
the job, she declared she had need of exactly four women.”

Smiling, she sniffed before continuing. “We worked well
together, and now, we’ve become a real family of sisters. I’d do anything for
them. Then you happened upon the scene, and I must say, when I saw you
standing at the door, you stole my breath away. I may not have liked men, but
I sure admired the looks of you. You are quite the handsomest of men, you
know.”

The tips of Blake’s ears turned pink with embarrassment.
“You think I’m good lookin?”

She giggled. “I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned that part.
Oh, well, too late now. Yes, Doc. I think you’re prettier than a newborn pup!
A veritable God among men! A superb human specimen! A . . .”

Holding up his hand to halt Emily’s oration, he shouted,
“Okay! That’s quite enough. I’ll just assume that there are simply not enough
adjectives to describe my masculine magnificence,” he chuckled.

“Oh, dear. I fear I may have created a vain varmint.”

After the laughter subsided, Blake grew serious. “Tell me
more, Emmie.”

“I like you calling me, Emmie. Did I ever tell you that?”

Blake shook his head.

“Yes, well,” she continued, “I’ve been happy here. One day,
Eve took all of us girls out to a little farm, for a picnic, and showed me the
property. She knew how I loved planting things and caring for them, and she
thought that this would be the perfect place for me to buy. Eve split the
profits of the hotel with all of us, making us financially comfortable, you
know.

“I realize it’s silly and irrational, but since I first set
eyes on that farm, I have thought of it as mine. Never in my life, have I ever
wanted anything so badly. Night and day, it’s never far from my thoughts. Am
I crazy, Doc?”

“Yeah, you are, but so am I. I’m that crazy in love with
you. I’ll help you get that damn farm, if it means so much to you, Emmie.
Have you met with the owners?”

Emily stuck out her bottom lip in a delightful pout. Blake
had the strongest urge too suck on that puffy little lip.

“No. I don’t even know their names. They don’t live in
Hays City. I’m not sure they live in Kansas. Why won’t they sell it to me? I
rode out one day, just for a look-see, and they’ve done nothing with the place.
They’re not living there or raising crops and it’s falling into disrepair.
They’re just being stubborn and mean.” She stomped her foot to make her point.

She was adorable, Blake thought. “I’ll look into the
matter, Emmie. Don’t worry about it any longer. You and I, together, we can
get to the bottom of this.”

They crossed the street and headed back in the direction of
the hotel. As they were passing one of the thirty-four saloons, now open in
Hays, two rough, dirty men stumbled out of the open doors. Blake tried to pull
Emily out of the way, but she stumbled and the older man fell against her.

Cursing and spitting mad, the man grabbed her by the upper
arm, as if it was her fault they collided. “Bitch! Get outta’ my way,” he
snarled. Barely able to stand up straight, he tried to focus on the lady’s
stunned face. “Shit, Dusty. Lookee here. She’s a real beauty.”

Blake quickly dragged Emily away from the ruffians. He felt
her body stiffen with shock, and as he gazed into her face, he could sense she
was terrified. She was petrified with fear. He ignored the crude and vulgar
things the men were saying, as he cared nothing for them. His only concern was
for Emmie. Two steps, then two more . . . two steps further . . . before she
fainted in his arms.

“Emmie? What’s wrong?” He could hear the stranger’s
raucous laughter behind them, coming from the doorway of the seedy saloon.

She lay quietly in his arms, totally helpless. He scooped
her up as easily as if she were a child, and ran back to the hotel. He
couldn’t understand what had brought this on. The men are obnoxious, but they
did no real harm to her. Why had she swooned?

Bursting through the lobby doors, the doctor placed an
unconscious Emily on the settee. “Cassie, get me some whiskey. Patty, bring
me a cool wet cloth.”

The women were already running to do his bidding. Rubbing
her cold, delicate hands between his own roughened ones, he tried to figure out
what had happened. He urged Emily to wake up.

“Darling, open your eyes. We’re back at the hotel. Emmie,
wake up.” Hearing returning footsteps, he looked up and gratefully took the
small glass of whiskey from Cassie. Propping Emily up against his chest, he
tried to coax a little of the hot burning liquid past her lips. Sputtering,
Emily opened her gorgeous blue eyes and stared up at Blake, as if she had
witnessed something horrible.

“Oh, my God. Where is he?” She looked frantically around
the room. Her entire body was trembling with what looked to be fear. “Where?”
she screamed.

“Emmie, darling. There’s nobody here. What are you afraid
of, sweetheart? Those drunks can’t you hurt you here. I’d never let them
touch you. They’re probably riding out about now, anyway. Oh, darling, they
can’t harm you.” He held her tight, willing his strength into her.

Emily started crying, almost hysterically.

“Doc, what on earth happened?” Patty asked, as she placed
the cool wet cloth on Emily’s forehead. “Did someone attack her?”

He shook his head. “No. It was the queerest thing. Two
drunks stumbled out of the Dollar Saloon and startled her. One of them fell
against her, knocking her to her knees. By the time I had hold of her, she was
already frozen in shock. It happened just that fast. One look at the old
man’s face, and she was as you see her now.”