Day, Xondra - Menage on the Prairie (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (9 page)

Kate stretched lazily, her arms moving down to her side, feeling for him. She stopped once one hand rested on Joe’s solid form.

She listened to him snoring, soft and even. Just the sound brought a grin to her face, and that feeling
…
It was sensational. She still tingled down there. That feeling only came from superb lovemaking, and Joe was one heck of a lover. She’d take him again, right now, if only he was awake.

Answering his ad had been so out of character for her, but darn it, it was the best thing she had ever done in her life thus far. She was ecstatic, giddy, and totally enamored. Never had she experienced such emotions and feelings.

Turning onto her side, she spooned up to Joe’s back. Sliding one arm over him, her hand nestled onto his chest, her fingers dancing across his pectoral muscles. He stirred.

“Hey,” he murmured, coming to life. He sounded like a bear.

She giggled.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, turning to face her.

“You sound like a big old bear.”

He nodded. “That’s me first thing in the morning. I always rise early, but I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed it. I guess it just comes with the life. There’s so much work that has to be done in a day and I’m not one to shirk my duty.”

Work.
She hadn’t really ever become acquainted with the word in its truest sense. But she supposed she would soon enough. She not only had to pull her own weight, but was expected to.

“It’s hard work, isn’t it?” Kate motioned with one hand to everything and nothing at the same time surrounding them. “One man could never do it alone.”

“Definitely not,” answered Joe, sliding out bed. He stood and stretched, his naked, sculpted form rippling as he worked out the kinks in his muscles. “Ryan is a huge help, in fact, he probably does more than I do around here.”

Kate paused for a moment before she spoke. “I like Ryan, but I feel like an intruder whenever I’m around him.”

“He’ll get used to you. He hasn’t a choice, nor say in the matter. We’re married, you’re my wife, and that’s the end of it. I’ll speak to him when I see him today. I thought I heard him earlier, up and about. My guess is that he’s already set about working this morning.”

Kate hesitated again. “I don’t want to stir any trouble between you two. I’d like for us to all get along.”

Joe cast her a knowing look. “You’re not stirring anything that perhaps hasn’t already been there way before you came along. I will talk to him, and hopefully all will be fine.”

Kate watched Joe slip into his clothes. She climbed out of bed and dressed, following him.

“Yup, he’s already up and gone.” Joe touched the coffee pot on the stove. “It’s still hot.” He poured two cups and offered one to her before taking his seat at the table.

Bacon, eggs, and toasted bread were soon served up as Kate made her way around,
her surroundings becoming more familiar to her.

Watching Joe eat was a joy in itself. Her eyes never left him as she sat there trying not to be obvious, sipping her coffee, yet marveling at the man’s more-than-adequate appetite. She’d definitely have to brush up on her culinary skills. Perhaps she could order a cookbook or two, or maybe the shop in town stocked them. The next time she ventured that way she’d be sure to check.

“Well, I’m off,” proclaimed Joe, stepping away from the table. “That breakfast was great.” He leaned down, kissing her gently on the cheek. “I’ll be back at noon for dinner. And you might want to think about doing the wash.”

The wash?

She must have looked clueless to him.

“Clothes,” he added. “There’s a huge kettle set up out in the yard to the left of here. Just fill it with water, start a fire underneath, and the washtub and scrubbing board is there too. The laundry soap’s in the pantry on the lowest shelf.”

Get the look of stupid off your face,
she told herself, forcing a smile.

“I’ll get right on it once I clean up in here.” She watched him grab his hat, looking back at her waving good-bye.

Looking around, Kate sighed. She had a long day set forth ahead of her and she figured she best dig in.

* * * *

Where the heck was he? Joe searched the property twice and still, no Ryan.

Fear now crept into his heart. What if Ryan had just decided to take off without telling him? What if this was it, and he never saw him again?

It’s nothing. He’s probably just screwing off somewhere, letting out steam. If he’s not back at day’s end, then I’ll go looking for him.

Joe kicked at a rock in frustration and nearly slipped in the mud. The rain had done a number on the land turning everything to muck.

Joe looked back to the
house. Kate was fumbling with the washtub, she looked to be hauling it in place. He shook his head as he watched her, she was a fish out of water, but what she lacked in experience, she made up for in determination. He admired that
.

Last night had been his second time with a woman and this time, it had been much better than the first.

Kate had been more attentive, she had opened herself to him in more ways than just the physical. Of course the physical was
…
great, but it was also nice to feel an attachment.

* * * *

The city. Okay, well it wasn’t quite a city but rather a large town. But it was as close enough for Ryan to get lost in the crowd if he wished to do so.

He ran the length of one of many main drags, which linked everything together, and then his eyes settled on just what he had been looking for—a saloon.

He wasn’t much of a drinker. The last time he’d touched the stuff he ended up getting sloshed with Joe, and they’d both been rendered useless for a day, subsequently vowing never to touch the devil’s brew again.

Given the recent events in his life, he needed an escape. He needed to relax, and, to hell with it,
he needed a drink. With the horse secured in front of the large wooden structure, he waltzed inside.

“What’ll ya have?” asked the bartender who looked to be about his own age. The young man looked him over and smiled. “You’re new to these parts. I haven’t seen you in here before. Are you from around here?”

“I’m just passing through. It’s one heck of a hot day outside, and I thought a drink would be refreshing.”

“That it is,” said the bartender with a nod. “So what’ll it be?”

“Whiskey.”

“House best.” The bartender slid a glass in front of Ryan, accepting the coins Ryan handed him.

“Slow day?” asked Ryan, taking a sip of the strong liquor. He winced and forced it down, feeling the warmth wash down his throat and into his belly.

The bartender shrugged his shoulders. “The usual. The weekdays are quiet, the nights pick up, and on the weekend, the place is blocked from daylight well on into the morning.”

“Makes sense. I suspect most are looking to let off a bit of steam after working their asses off all week.”

“And then some,” added the bartender with a wink. “We keep a couple of girls on to see to their
needs.” He motioned to a large staircase that wound its way up to the second floor. “If you’re looking for some entertainment, it’s easily arranged, for a price.”

“Not right now. But perhaps later.”

The bartended grinned and extended his hand. “Name’s Winter. And yes it’s an odd name. My mother loved the season.”

“Ryan,” he replied, gripping the man’s hand. “This is quite the place you have here.”

“My father started it, and when he passed on three years ago, I took hold of the reins. It’s a living, and a honest one, even if some folks in town don’t think so.”

Their eyes met for a moment. A moment of understanding passed between the two men.

Ryan lowered his eyes to the top of the bar, concentrating on finishing his drink. After downing the last drops, he asked for another.

After his fifth, he tried to stand. He wasn’t much of a drinker. Taking two steps forward, the last thing he remembered was the floor coming to meet him.

* * * *

Once night had fallen, that’s when Joe started to get seriously worried. Ryan had yet to return, and his intuition told him that something had to be wrong.

Even in Ryan’s most scatterbrained moments, he wouldn’t just run off like this, not for this long.

Kate sat across from him, watching him as he ate. “He hasn’t come back,” she said, fiddling with her fork. “It’s just as I have suspected all along. If I had known that I would be putting someone out like this with my presence, I would never have come here. This was his home way before it ever became mine.” Pushing her plate away, Kate stood up from the table and walked to the front door. Opening it, she looked out into the night. “I just hope nothing has happened to him.”

He should just tell her, be outright with everything. If honesty truly was the best policy, then it was the right thing to
do. He opened his mouth and went to start, but words didn’t come.

What made him think that Kate would be any different from the rest? The rumors about him and Ryan,
the looks and the gossip that had hounded them. No, they certainly didn’t understand, and they had only just suspected. She wouldn’t either. How could she accept her husband sleeping with another man, or better yet, loving one?

“If it’s meant, he’ll come back to us.”

She turned and glared at him. “You don’t get it, Joe. I’ve done this. I’ve chased him off. I don’t feel right about this.”

Her eyes flickered with concern.

“Kate, there’s something I think you should know.”

“Joe? I don’t like that look you’re giving me. What’s going on? I’ve stepped into something haven’t it?”

He nodded. “Yes Kate, yes you have.”

Chapter Eight

I’m dead.
The two words that echoed first in his mind came out of his mouth. “I’m dead.”

A voice chuckled. “Not dead, but I suspect you may feel like you are for the next day or so.” It was the bartender, Winter.

“Where the heck am I, and what happened? Did someone take a swing at me? My head feels like it’s about to bust wide open.”

Winter grinned. “You had a bit too much drink and when you went to stand, down you went. This is my room. I figured you needed a place to rest until you’re up and on the go again.”

“Thanks—er, I feel fine now, so I can go and leave you be.” Ryan attempted to stand but fell back onto the bed. His head throbbed to no end. “Damn it!” he muttered.

Winter sat on the bed next to him, his eyes wide with amusement and a smirk crossing his lips. “You’re staying put, at least until tomorrow.”

“But—”

“No buts. And that’s all there is to say about it.”

Ryan settled back onto the bed, his head resting on the pillow. Embarrassment washed over him. “I never could handle my drink.”

“No harm done.” Winter smiled, pressing one hand down upon Ryan’s shoulder.

Hot damn, the guy had sexy eyes. Through the dimly lit room, he could see that they were light green with tiny specks of brown.