Sweetwater (Birdsong Series) (9 page)

Cassie was overjoyed that Adam was a part of all this. She
had fallen deeply in love with the handsome soldier and it was important to her
that the family accepts him.

Sunday was chilly, but you’d never know it by the warm glow
on the happy faces of the newlyweds. Frieda’s bell rang loud and clear from
the church steeple that morning, announcing to one and all, the marriage of
Bernard Allen to Dora Cambridge. People from all around stayed to celebrate
the love these two fine folks shared. They were well thought of in Hays City.

Whiskey took center stage, as he announced, “You all come
back to the hotel for some fine vittles. Dora made her own weddin’ cake,”
Whiskey laughed. “Said she didn’t trust anyone else to do it the way I like
it. Shucks, she’s a fine woman.”

“Oh, how you do go on, old man. I’m just kind of particular
about the kind of food I serve my guests, that’s all. Do come, all of you,”
Dora pleaded. And it soon appeared that the whole town had accepted her kind
invitation as they followed the happy twosome back to the hotel for
weddin’ day vittles
.

“Whew! I’m exhausted,” Emily sighed. “This has been some
day.”

Blake winked, “I could rub your feet for you, if you’d
like.”

Emily swatted his arm. “You hush. You’ll be giving people
something to talk about if you’re not careful. But it does sound good,” she
whispered so softly he could barely hear her.

He grinned. “Anytime, sweetheart. Anytime.”

After the reception and after a million hugs and kisses,
Whiskey and Dora packed up their buggy and headed out for Arizona. Whiskey had
folks living there, and he swore it was the prettiest country he’d ever seen.
It was filled with the colors of the sunset. Rocks were as red as the blazing
sky. Some were striped with vivid yellows and some were painted black.
Strange birds and critters called it home. “They got a bird that would rather
run than fly,” he said.

“The best thing about Arizona is—we’ll be on our own.
Just you and me, Dora. I can’t wait to get you alone and make you squeal with
happiness. I truly love you, darlin’.” Whiskey spoke softly to his new wife
as they pulled away from the hotel.

“God bless them,” Patty sighed, as she and the rest of the
women, at the Birdsong Hotel, watched the happy couple disappear over the
ridge. “Well, ladies, we’d better get to work. It looks like there was quite
a shindig here, and we’ve got to get things back in order before the train
arrives.” Looking up at the three very handsome men standing beside them on
the porch, she said, “You fellows can pitch in, if you have a mind to.”

Eve came forward holding little Carol. “I’m sorry, but Ty
has to get back to the ranch by tomorrow morning. They’re driving the last of
the steer to the stockyards in Dodge City. I’m afraid we have to leave right
away.”

“No,” they all cried, disappointed to see Eve and the baby
return with Ty.

“It’s been such a short visit.” Cassie complained.

“It’s been longer than we had planned. As it is, we’ll have
to travel most of the night. Please say you’ll all come and spend some time
with us. It’s a pretty ranch, and I’d like to show it to you. Unfortunately,
Ty isn’t going to let me travel back here until after the baby comes. I’m six
months along and growing larger every day. I miss you all terribly.”

The women exchanged hugs and kisses and many good wishes.

Ty laid his hand on Emily’s shoulder to get her attention
and whispered, “If you need a place to go, you just get word to Eve. I’ll come
and get you, myself. We’ll keep you safe.” He meant every word, and all its
implications.

She nodded gratefully. “I’ll keep that in mind, Ty. Thank
you.”

The little family loaded up their wagon, and after making
certain the baby was tucked in all cozy and warm, they waved their final
goodbyes and departed Hays City, going in the opposite direction of Whiskey and
Dora.

“I suddenly feel very lonely,” Cassie lamented. “The hotel
is going to feel so empty. Who did you say was going to do the cooking?” She
frowned, and looked up at Patty.

“Why you, of course.” Patty giggled.

“What?” the girl shrieked, disbelievingly.

“Hey darlin’. Is this lovely lady teasing you? How about a
walk before cooking up that big dinner of yours?” Adam grinned, showing his
beautiful white teeth and sexy dimples.

“Oh, Adam. I can’t cook a lick. I just can’t. A walk
isn’t going to make a miracle. What’ll I do?”

“Never you mind, Cassie,” Emily said, trying not to laugh at
the young woman’s distress. “Mrs. Tompkins is going to do the cooking, but
we’ll have to help her with the preparations. I think we can handle that,
don’t you? Why don’t you go ahead and take that walk with Adam? It will do
you good. Are you going to stay for dinner, Corporal?”

“Sorry, ma’am, but we have to ride out at first light.
There’s some trouble brewin’ just west of here. We’ll be gone for a week or
so.”

“Hope to see you when you return. The invitation still
stands.”

Looking down at Cassie’s beautiful smile, he said, “Yes,
ma’am. I’ll come straight here.”

“It certainly is quiet this evening,” Emily sighed, as she
sat on the sofa, next to Blake. “I didn’t realize how much this hotel relies
on Dora and Whiskey. We agree that she’s the best cook in the state, but I
also believe she’s the beating heart of the Birdsong.”

Cassie sat across from Emily and the doctor, in the big
rocker—Whiskey’s favorite. “I miss Adam,” she declared, glumly, her chin
resting in her hand.

Dr. Donovan snickered a bit and then asked, “Just how
serious are the two of you, missy? You know you are too young to be thinking
about matters of the heart.”

“I am not. I think about matters of the heart, all the
time. Adam’s heart.” She turned quite pink at the thought of him. “I know
I’ve been foolish and
petuish
in the
past.”

Patty grinned. “I think you mean to say you have been
impetuous
in the past, dear.”

Cassie gritted her teeth. “Thank you for always correcting
me, Patty. Did it ever occur to you that other folks might not realize I’ve
made a small mistake with my grammar, if you didn’t always correct me? Not
everyone
went to school in Italy, you
know.”

“France, my dear. I studied in France, but you are
partially correct, as I lived in Italy for six months after having lived in
Germany for three months. Besides, if I didn’t correct you now, you would be
making the same mistakes throughout your entire life. You wouldn’t want to
make a
faux pas
in front of
strangers, would you?” Patty giggled.

“Huh?” Cassie was puzzled. “Well, I guess not . . .
whatever you said. But I do get embarrassed.”

Patty kissed Cassie’s pink cheek. “I’m truly sorry for
that, Cassie. Sometimes my humor is misunderstood, but I do mean to help. You
are so very lovely that I can see you being swept off your feet by a very
important man, someday. A man that may require a woman with not only beauty,
but with a certain degree of refinement, as well. I just want you to be all
that you are capable of being. I truly love you like a sister, and I want only
the best for you.”

“Adam likes me just the way I am and I like him. He doesn’t
notice that I may not always use the right fork or say the correct thing. He
says I’m adorable, and that he is willing to wait for me.” The young girl
looked down at her folded hands. She had never admitted her love of the
corporal to anyone.

A masculine voice interrupted her thoughts. “You say he is
willing to wait for your majority?”

She nodded.

Blake stood up and nodded his head several times before
speaking again. “I like the young man and as long as you act properly and he
honors the rules of this hotel, I approve of your seeing Corporal Adam Breyer.
Now ladies, I’m going to turn in. It’s been a good day, but a tiring one. See
you all in the morning. Good night.”

The ladies sat in silence until they could no longer hear
the man’s heavy boots walking overhead, on his way to his room. Hearing the
door close, they smiled, and all started to talk at once.

“Cassie, has he asked for your hand?” Emily inquired.

“Emily, are you and the young doctor serious about each
other?” Patty asked.

“I don’t want an important man, Patty. I want Adam,” Cassie
said seriously. This brought on gales of laughter from the other two women.

“You two are loco. I’m going upstairs to dream,” Cassie
said, as she jumped off the chair and flounced up the stairs, her curls
bouncing and her petticoats rustling.

“We know who she’ll be dreaming about, too,” laughed Emily.
“I, on the other hand, dream about a little piece of land with a lake filled with
the sweetest tasting water in all the state.”

“Do you never dream about the handsome doc?”

“Nope. Only my farm,” she insisted.

“You’re fooling yourself, Emily,” Patty announced. “If that
man had paid me half the attention he so willingly gave to you, I’d be dreaming
of him and of the life we would share together. He’s quite a catch, Em, and I
find it infuriating that you do not seem to appreciate him. In case you
haven’t noticed, the man’s head over heels in love with you.”

Emily grew suddenly serious. “I know he loves me. I know
we could have a good life together. How can I explain it? Ever since I was a
small child, I’ve dreamed of having my own farm. Everything I’ve done in my
life, I’ve done in preparation of obtaining that farm. There was never any
room for love and romance. Until now.” She let out a long sigh. “I do think
of Blake that way. Oh, Patty, his kisses are divine. When he touches me . . .
I simply can’t breathe or even think straight. At night, I imagine his hands
on me. Is that bad? Am I just a wanton harlot?” Her eyes were pleading for
the truth.

Patty smiled, thoughtfully. “Darling, you’re certainly not
a wanton harlot. If anything, you’re as innocent as our dear Cassie. It’s
perfectly natural for a woman to have those feelings for the man she loves.
And I do believe he returns your affections. Do not shut him out of your life,
for I have no doubt that you will obtain your farm, someday, and you’ll need
two strong arms to hold you at the end of that day. You’ll need a good man to
father the children that you’ll want to raise on your beloved farm. I think
Dr. Donovan is that man. Listen to your heart, Em. Don’t walk away from
happiness.”

Emily noticed a tear run down Patty’s soft cheek. She
recognized a profound sadness hidden deep within her green eyes. “Patty, you
never speak of your past. Did you say no to your heart?”

“Something like that, dear. It’s too late for me, but I
can’t sit back and watch you throw every good thing in your life away with both
hands. My story is over, but yours has just begun. Let him love you.”

Having said that, Patty stood up and stretched her petite
frame. Smiling down at the still seated Emily, she looked closer in age to
Cassie than to her own thirty years. “Off to the comfort of my
boudoir
. These old bones need sleep,”
she giggled. “Good night. Lock up, dear.”

“Good night, Patty, and thank you for your advice. I plan
to make some changes in my life,” Emily said, smilingly.

Emily stood up and closed up the hotel for the night. She
turned down all the lamps and banked the fires. She quietly went and secured
the door locks. It was necessary, these days, to lock up at night. How sad,
she thought, as she threw the last bolt, that people must be locked in at night
for protection from their fellow citizens. It didn’t used to be that way.
That was just another reason for her to buy her farm and move on out of town.

The kitchen was dark when Emily entered to lock and secure
the rear door. As the key turned in the lock, she heard a noise coming from
the porch. Spinning around, she spied a large shadow running from the hotel
and across the yard, knocking the bucket off the pump as it fled. Whoever it
was, her locking the door had surprised them. For a moment, Emily felt her
throat close with fear. Her blood ran cold. As she returned to the lobby,
self-consciously rubbing her arms, she knew the prowler had been up to no good.
The unexpected encounter with the trespasser left the hair on her arms
standing on end, and she was frightened.

Emily had intended to retire to her own room, when she saw
the faintest glow of light coming out from under Blake’s door. After her
fright downstairs, she needed the comfort that only he could provide. Standing
before his door, she stiffened her spine, and her resolve, and turned the
handle.

“Blake?” she whispered.

He was sitting at the small table in front of the window
with legal papers spread out in front of him. Looking up, he smiled and
quickly stuffed the papers in his saddlebag.

“You surprise me, Emmie. What are you doing here? Can’t
you sleep?”

“I’ve just this moment come upstairs.” She paused. “I was
frightened and I needed to be with you for a little while. Is that all right?”

“Of course, but what frightened you?”

Emily looked around the room for another chair. Not being
able to locate one, she was forced to sit on the side of the bed. “It was
probably nothing, but as I was locking the kitchen door, I heard a noise
outside on the porch. As I approached the door, a large man stood up and ran
across the yard. I didn’t see his face. Maybe he was simply sleeping or
perhaps he was drunk. In any event, he left.”

Before she was finished telling her story, Blake was on his
feet and pulling her into his arms. “Oh darling. You’ve had a hard day. Let
me make it better. I’ll help you forget all the bad things.” His voice was
deep and soft, and so reassuring. He practically purred in her ear.

“Kiss me, Blake,” she begged. “Make me forget.”

Being a man, he was certainly not averse to kissing a
beautiful woman. His lips lightly grazed her ear. He kissed and nibbled his
way down her neck and back up again. Emily moaned with the pleasure he gave
her, but she longed for something more.

“Darling, open your mouth to me,” he whispered. Closing the
slight distance between them, he settled his mouth over hers and stole her
breath away. He entered her hot moist mouth and tasted the sweetness of her.
Their tongues dueled for possession, causing their temperatures to rise.

“More, I want more,” she sighed, when he ended the kiss.
Emily fought an absurd desire to touch him, to feel his strength and his
muscles undulating beneath his shirt. It would be terribly wicked to feel his
hardness, but she licked her lips and smiled at the thought of it.

“I need you, Blake. I want to know what it’s like to be
loved.” She was desperate for something more.

Slowly, Blake untied the bow at her neck and slipped her
blouse down over her shoulders, exposing her camisole. It was delicate, with
lace edging and satin ribbons tying it up. “It’s beautiful, Emmie, as are
you.”

He let his hands roam down to her tiny waist and pulled her
tightly against him. He cupped her bottom, gently squeezing the delectable
roundness. She could feel his growing erection press hard against her belly.

Blake stepped back and turned down the lamp, and then made
absolutely certain the shade was pulled completely. When he returned to the
lovely lady, he noticed his hands were shaking.

“Do you want me to go on, Emmie?”

She nodded, unable to respond with mere words. Her eyes
told him all that he needed to know. They burned with unspent passion.

“Emmie, I have dreamed of his moment for so long. I’ve
never wanted a woman the way I want you. You consume my every thought. My
hands are trembling with the anticipation of touching you. If you have any
doubts, please, tell me now. If you wait, I may not be able to stop myself.”
Blake struggled to control his emotions.

She smiled. Emily reached forward and brought Blake closer.
“I need you to fill me. I desire your touch, your love. You’re the only man
for me, Blake. I want to give myself to you. Will you let me?”

He groaned with pleasure. “Sweetheart, you humble me.” He
wrapped his arms around her slender body and felt her feminine charms beneath
his fingers. He breathed in the seductive scent that was hers alone. “You’re
a temptress and I’m helpless under your spell.”

Emily felt the blood coursing through her veins, every nerve
ending tingling for his touch. Her heart was beating like a drum. “Blake,” she
muttered. Primal instincts took over as she reached for his open shirt. She
fumbled with the last few remaining buttons and forced the garment back off his
chest, revealing the soft curls and the small copper nipples hidden there. Her
lips grew moist.

Blake allowed her to look her fill. “Do you like what you
see?”

“Mmmm,” she sighed, as her tongue licked over the nub of one
nipple. She then pulled it into her mouth and sucked deeply, bringing Blake
practically to his knees. Her firm breasts pillowed against his chest.

“Emmie! For God’s sake, darling, slow down.”

She looked up at him with her big blue eyes questioning.
“Don’t you like that? I like tasting and nibbling on you. Do I have to quit?”

Blake groaned. “I like it too much, sweetie. That’s the
problem. I want this evening to last for a good long time, seeing as how I’ve
waited so long, but if you do that any longer, I’ll finish much too soon.
Understand?”

“No, not really. Can I do something else?” she asked
innocently. “Can I touch you here?” She slid her long fingers down over his
stomach, dangerously close to crossing
that
line.

Blake groaned, his body painfully hard, throbbing with heat
and need. His Emily was magnificent. Instinctively she knew how to arouse a
man, to bring him to the edge of insanity, and that was just the problem. He
grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips.

“Darling, let me bring pleasure to you.” With a flick of
his hand, buttons flew across the room and her skirt dropped to the floor in a
lofty pool of fabric, immediately followed by mountains of petticoats and
finally revealing an extremely desirable woman.

There, Emily stood, not embarrassed in the least, but more
alluring than he could have ever imagined. The sight of her glorious sexuality
sent his senses reeling. He drew in a shaky breath as he stared at her
glorious body. She was perfect. She had long sculpted legs with a feminine
bottom just asking for his touch. Her waist was incredibly small, while her
breasts were firm, magnificent mounds, of just the right size. She stood there
proudly, willing him to take possession of her.

Blake wanted to be inside her more than he needed air, but
now was the time when he needed to retain some measure of control over his
urges. He had to think of her, first. He must go slowly with her.

“Lie down, sweetheart. I want to taste you.” His voice was
part growl—part groan. It was exquisite torture to want her this much
and knowing he would not take her—not tonight.

Overcome by her erotic scent, he feasted upon her body until
she could no longer think clearly, only feel the bliss of his caress. She had
never known such immense pleasure. It was paradise, she thought, until her
body reached that ultimate plateau of desire, of which she was totally
unfamiliar.

“Blake, I want . . . I want . . . I don’t know what’s
happening,” she gasped, while writhing on the bed, with her hands fisted in the
sheets.

“Let it happen, sweetheart. Go with your senses,” he
murmured to her, while he continued to bring her closer to the edge. Suddenly,
he could feel her tense up and her body started to tremble.

“Ooh, Blake . . .” she screamed.

Quickly, he muffled the sounds of her release with a kiss,
sucking her mouth into his, savoring its taste, while Emily experienced the
overwhelming sensation of sexual gratification, for the very first time.

As they recovered, wrapped around one another on the soft
bed, Emily got lost in thought. “Blake?”

“Mmm?”

“Why didn’t you . . . you know?” Emily didn’t know what to
call it, but she knew that Blake had not found his own release. She knew that
he had stopped before the act of love was completed.

He chuckled, softly. “I’ll probably be asking myself that
question for many years to come. Heaven knows I wanted to. I still do, but as
eager as you were to experience everything, tonight, I didn’t want to rush you.
When I make love to you, I want it to mean something—something
permanent. I want to marry you, Emmie, and I know you’re not ready for that.”

“But I do love you, Blake, or I wouldn’t have come to your
room.”

“You may love me, but are you willing to leave the hotel,
this town perhaps, and follow me anywhere I go?”

Emily started to fret. “I love you, really, but I can’t
leave Hays City.”

Blake was getting irritated. After what they had just
experienced, she still wanted that damn farm. “It’s that farm, isn’t it? How
do you know they haven’t torn it down or moved in with all ten children? Face
it, Emmie. This is a fool’s errand you’re on. I’ve told you before. I’ll
give you a farm, if you’ll just marry me. I’ll even live on it with you.”

Emily bristled at Blake’s
generous
offer. “That’s mighty generous of you, Doc, but your farm
isn’t my farm.”

“Hell, Emmie. Sometimes I think you’re daft.
Your
farm isn’t your farm. It belongs
to some stranger that you haven’t even met. He’s not willing to sell it to
you, so you might as well forget it! You’re wasting precious time while
waiting for something that isn’t going to happen.”

Sitting up in the big bed, Emily suddenly felt naked and
embarrassed to be in the company of this man, whom she felt she barely knew.
“Don’t you yell at me, Dr. Donovan. Just because I’ve allowed you some
privileges, doesn’t mean you own me, and you can’t tell me what to do. I’ve
talked to the owner, for your information, and he’s thinking things over. So
there! I’m leaving. Shut your eyes.”

Blake shut his eyes tightly and only peeked once or twice.
“You’ve got your feathers all ruffled, now, sweetheart. I’m sorry if I said
something I shouldn’t have. Can I look now?” He peeked.

“NO!”

“Well, all right. It sure takes you a while to get dressed.
Need help?” He grinned and peeked again.

“NO!”

“Emmie, I’ve already seen the most private parts of you, and
you can be assured, you’re beautiful all over. It’s kind of silly to be shy
now, don’t you think?”

“Well,” she huffed as she struggled to button the last
button on her skirt. “You can look now, I suppose.”

Blake opened his eyes and took in the sight of this woman,
so recently loved. She absolutely glowed. His breath caught. He was in total
awe of her. “Emmie, you’re stunning. I’ve never seen another woman that
compares to your beauty. Thank you for letting me love you.”

Emily giggled at his well-meant compliment. “Thank you, I
think. I know my hair is a disheveled mess, and I can see that my skirt is a
rumpled disaster . . . and yet, you think I’m beautiful. I think that deserves
a kiss, doctor.”

She walked slowly back to the bed and carefully bent down to
bestow a polite kiss on the handsome face smiling up at her. Emily was no
dummy. She knew what he was thinking and perhaps planning. She kept up her
guard, having no intention of falling back into his warm bed. What she didn’t
expect was the effect that one kiss would have on her. He tasted so good.
Emily could happily drown in that kiss, if it were possible. It lasted a
couple of seconds too long for her to pretend it was just a friendly token of
her esteem.

Blake’s arms reached up and very easily pulled her back down
on the mattress, next to him. “Stay, darling. Stay in my arms, forever. It’s
where you belong, and my heart rests easy with you here. I need you, Emmie.”

Their lips remained locked together in love and desire.
Their breathing synced as one, as well as the beating of their two hearts. For
a while, they were truly one being. Finally, after having obtained their
blissful release, sleep conquered the lovers and settled softly over them,
allowing them to dream the dreams of people in love.

*

“It’s the strangest thing,” Patty said. “I had to go out
and bring in the wood to start up the stove, when I noticed the door.
Someone’s been trying to force the lock. It’s clearly been tampered with. Who
do you suppose would do that?”

Cassie shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe it happened a long
time ago and you’re just now noticing it.”

“No. I don’t think so. I’ll ask Emily when she comes down.
Where is she anyway? Usually, she’s up at the crack of dawn. And where is
Doc?” Patty smiled, slyly. “You don’t suppose . . .?”

“Patty! You know Emily wouldn’t do anything like
that
.”

“Humpf! I know that Emily Falkenrath is a red-blooded
American woman and she’s young and healthy. What else does she need? Doc is
one handsome man and he’s obviously crazy in love with her. I know what I’d do
. . . so, yes . . . I’m saying exactly what you think. Wouldn’t it be
wonderful if we had another wedding here, soon?”

Cassie’s eyes grew round in surprise. “No. It would be
most awful. Neither you nor I know the smallest thing about gardening. What
would we eat or serve the guests? Dora is going to be busy cooking and taking
care of Whiskey. Can you grow things?”

Patty laughed. “Emily doesn’t have to move away. If she
married the doc, they’d probably live right here, in town. Things wouldn’t
have to change too much. In the meantime, she could teach you.”

“What?” Cassie shrieked, as she covered her face with her
hands in abject horror. “I’d have to get in the dirt! I’d ruin my nails.”
She looked at her perfectly white and well cared for hands. “I can’t imagine
my hands pulling weeds. I couldn’t do it.” She shook her head. “No, I would
not be able to get down in the dirt the way Emily does.”

“Did I hear my name mentioned?” Emily strode into the
kitchen looking lovelier than usual. “You don’t want to get in the dark, rich,
soil and play with me, Cassie?” She smiled. “I think I’m hurt,” she said,
sticking out her lower lip in a sad little pout, while her eyes twinkled in
merriment.