The Lady and the Cowboy (11 page)

“And now you’re winning races again, she wants you back?”

Sam nodded.

“She was right though. Truth is, even if I won a fortune, I’d still be a poor man at heart. I’ve got no time for baubles and glitz and fancy places; those things don’t seem real to me. I like working on the l
and, producing something. I knew I needed to scale back on work a little and I have, but if I didn’t have the horses to get up for each day, I might as well wither up and die. This ranch is my life and Sally would never have understood that.”

Ruth reached out and squeezed his hand. “I had the baubles and glitz and the fancy places,” she smiled, “but I was never happier than
when I was on horseback. There’s just something about having such a beautiful and powerful animal listen to your every command, that’s very… humbling. No Society parties could ever match up to that.”

Sam smiled. She understood.

“I suppose we’d better get back or Mamma will wonder what we’ve been up to.”

“She sent me back so I could escape Tobias, I don’t think she’ll mind if I take my time.”

Sam’s face darkened. “He’s here?”

“I’m afraid so, bold as brass he walked in, handing his horse off to Ben and Willy
, as if they were servants.”

Sam took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I suppose kicking him out would be churlish.”

Ruth wouldn’t mind but she didn’t say so.

“Come on,” he stood and pulled her to her feet. “Better go fill that water jug.”

Ruth stepped towards the back door, sorry that their time was over, when Sam pulled her back, his arms encircling her waist and holding her against him, as his lips pressed down on hers. His tongue sought entrance and Ruth allowed it, enjoying the feel of him pressed up against her. Her hands went to his head as she ran her fingers through his dark hair, holding him in place.

Suddenly Sam’s lips left hers and he
moved his head to the side, placing kisses along her neck. Ruth moved her hands down to his back and ran her hands over the planes of muscle she could feel, then she moaned as he nipped her neck.

He stopped but didn’t move away.

“God woman, do you have any idea what you do to me?”  he said, his voice deep with desire.

Ruth wondered if he had any idea what
he did to her. She was feeling things she had never felt before, like a pressure between her thighs that she didn’t recognise, and a warmth in her chest that made her feel as though, after months away, she had finally come home.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, just holding each other, both too wary to take things any further
but unwilling to end such a pleasant experience.

Then the front door opened and they looked at each other, each
wondering if being caught was worth it.

“I know I said we’d talk and we will, there’s just been-“

“I know, so little time.”

“We will talk, he assured her.” He stroked his hand down her cheek then finally stepped away as the footsteps got closer.

Mamma knowing smile as she came in told them that they hadn’t fooled her.

“I j
ust came to tell you that the music has started, if you wanted to join in.” She turned on her heel and left.

As soon as they heard the front door swing closed, they both began laughing
, as if they were naughty schoolchildren.

“I’d better fill this jug.”

“All right, just as long as you save the first dance for me.”

“I’m afraid I'm already promised,” she confessed.

“Tobias?” he asked, his expression darkening.

“Not if I can help it,” she laughed. “
It’s John. My first dance was his price for teaching me the dances.”

“Well, I guess I shouldn’t be jealous of family. Shall I meet you in the barn?”

“Better had, in case we start tongues wagging.”

Ruth filled the jug
, thinking that it really was a good thing they hadn’t been desperate for the water, then headed back to the barn. John was waiting by the refreshments table for her and as soon as the next dance started, he dragged her by the hand.

Ruth had never done any dancing like this before, it was so joyful and carefree. The dances
she did back home were always so stiff and elegant, with emphasis placed on getting it right rather than enjoying the dance. It took her a while to stop focusing on her steps and actually enjoy herself but once she did, she thought that she could get to like this.

Sam was waiting as soon as the music ended and claimed his dance. Whenever she looked over at him, he looked like the proudest person in the room to be dancing with her, despite her numerous mistakes.

Sam also claimed the third but Ruth needed a rest by the fourth, so she headed to the refreshments table for some water, then she and Sam stood by one of the wide open barn doors, to try and cool off a little.

She spoke with Jinny, Mammy, Mrs
Grant and Mrs Reeves. They all complimented her on her dancing but she knew they were just being polite.

Sam was beside her, chatting to Mr Reeves when Tobias approached again.

“I believe you promised me a dance,” he said, sounding smug.

Ruth wanted to say, ‘
And I believe you interrupted a discussion, which is rather rude of you
.’ Not wanting to make a scene, she smiled sweetly, apologised to Mrs Reeves and accepted Tobias’s hand. When the music started, she was glad to realise that it was one of the dances that was mostly in the promenade position, so he wouldn’t get to hold her close. She doubted that it would feel anywhere as nice as it did with Sam.

“So, I understand that you won that race in
Oklahoma City,” he said.

“I rode Angel, yes.”

“That’s mighty unusual for a woman, isn’t it?”

“I suppose
, but I can get the best out of her.”

“
Not exactly ladylike.”

Ruth smiled and for once, it
was genuine. He meant to shame her for riding, as she had shamed him for not behaving like a gentleman. His mood had definitely soured since earlier.

“No, Mr Middleton, it isn’t,” she agreed.

“I can’t help but think your family would be mighty upset if they ever found out.”

“Yes, I expect so.”

“That doesn’t bother you,
Lady
Adams?”

“Considering that they are four thousand miles away,
Mr
Middleton, no, I'm not too perturbed by the thought of them discovering that I am racing. Why, were you intending to tell them?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Ruth had the impression that he had intended to do just that.

They were silent for a moment, until Tobias spotted Sally dancing with Sam.

“They make a handsome couple, don’t they.” Tobias directed her attention to them.

Sam didn’t
look at all comfortable dancing with her and Ruth guessed that he had been railroaded into it.

“You know, I hear that there will be wedding bells between those two soon.”

“Really?” she asked, knowing that he was trying to goad her. “I heard that Sam isn’t interested.”

“And I suppose he told you that?” Tobias smirked.

“Actually no, I overheard him telling
her
that.”

Tobias’s smile turned into a frown and thankfully the music ended then. Jinny’s husband, Clyde stepped in to ask her to dance and she gratefully accepted.

Ruth danced more than she rested, switching partners with almost every dance and by the time the revellers began to leave, she was exhausted but in a very pleasant way.

“Please tell me we’re leaving the clean up until tomorrow,” she begged
Mamma as she helped her carry her crockery back to the house.

“We’ll just rinse the dishes
off, the rest can wait,” she assured Ruth.

Whi
lst Mamma and Cassy got to work, Ruth made repeated trips back, along with the hands, to collect all the plates, cups and glasses, many of which had been left in odd places, such as under chairs, outside on the ground and on beams. She returned one final time for a last check, just as Sam was locking up the barn.

“Did you have a good evening?” he asked her.

“Very,” she grinned. “And I think half the people here said they’d be coming to our next race.” She knew they were just being polite; life around here was too hard to allow most to take days off during the week.

Sam waited for her to exit then padlocked the second door.

“Why are you locking up when there’s nothing inside?” she asked.

“Itinerants like to sleep in barns.”

“Would that be so bad?” she asked.

“Probably not but people don’t respect what isn’t theirs. Plus, some of those itinerants are outlaws and I don’t like the idea of a gang of bank
robbers right next door.”

Ruth couldn’t argue with that.

“So,” Sam said as he turned to her. “Do you want to take a walk? It’s a nice night.”

Ruth considered it
, knowing that the talk was coming but she couldn’t put it off forever.

“Okay.” Sam took her hand and they headed towards the fields, where most of their horses had been turned out for the weekend.

They paused by one of the fences, looking out over the field, and Angel began to make his way over to them.

“Ruth, I’ve never met anyone like you before. You’re sweet and kind and stronger than I could have believed. I think we could be great together, don’t you?”

“Sam.” The sadness in her voice prepared him for bad news. “I do like you, and I care for you very much but… I don’t want to get married again.”

Sam took it well, gazing out over the field and reaching out to pet Angel as he arrived.

“Can I ask why?”

“The only reason I can see to get married is to have a family and, well, I don’t want a family.”

“You don’t want children?” he asked, trying to make sense of her. She was a loving woman and had enjoyed holding baby Jake earlier; he just didn’t see her as someone who would want to remain childless.

“It’s not about children, per se, it’s the act that creates them. I don’t enjoy
it; in fact I find it very painful and never want to try it again. I am sorry Sam, and I do like you but…” her words trailed off as she didn’t have an adequate vocabulary to explain her dislike of sex.

“So you’re saying sex was painful?”

“Yes.” She blushed a deep shade of red.

“And how many times did you and your husband…
” he didn’t want to be so blunt again and cause her to clam up. “Have relations?”

“Just once.”

She risked a glance at him and was surprised to see what he was grinning, laughing at her. Her hackles rose.

“Now, Ruth, simmer down, I don’t mean to laugh at you. Just let me explain
.” His smile faded and he waited for her nod to continue. “You already know that before I decided to settle down about a year ago, I was pretty much all work, but I still had needs. Once or twice a month I used to visit Miss Ellie’s establishment.”

Ruth looked positively shocked.

“You consorted with prostitutes?”

“I did and before you go judging them you should remember, most girls in that life don’t choose it, it’s forced upon them
as their only means to survive. A lot were widows, some had children to support. How is a single woman out here supposed to support herself, let alone a family?”

Her brow creased as she considered his argument.

“Anyway, I considered it a fair exchange of services for money, I never looked down on them and I never abused them. They began to trust me, to see me as a friend. They taught me how to please a woman; what they liked, what they didn’t like, how to get a woman ready for sex… and they told me stories about how it could be if I woman wasn’t ready.”

“Is there a point to this story?” Ruth asked.

“The point, is that I think you didn’t enjoy sex because Ivor didn’t prepare you. The first time is always painful but it shouldn’t be that painful and knowing what a selfish, self-serving ass Ivor was, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he just dropped his pants and pushed right in.”

That was actually surprisingly close to what happened and Ruth’s head bowed with shame
.

“Seems like all my
secrets are coming out tonight,” Sam said when Ruth hadn’t spoken for a while.

Now that the initial wave of embarrassment had passed, Ruth was rethinking what he had said.

“Do you mean to tell me that if I had… relations with you, that it wouldn’t hurt?”

“More than that, Ruth, when done right, it’s one of the best feelings there is.”

She looked into his eyes, trying to gauge the truth of his statement. Sam moved behind her, thinking that a practical demonstration might be more effective. He pushed her hair out of the way, wrapped his arms around her waist and began kissing her neck. He soon felt her relax against him and her hands rested over his on her stomach, almost holding him in place. She gave a low moan of desire and he paused.