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  "Well, if that ain't the most asinine thing I've ever heard,” Black responded. “I think those men were trying to throw suspicion from themselves by planting those steers on Belle's place. When Jeb left the house last night he said he and the others would be back in the morning to check brands. Instead, they came back later and were there when the cattle were driven right to the box canyon. Now ain't it strange that those hombres knew exactly where Belle had taken the cattle?"

  "Rustlers are a strange lot,” Clayte said, regaining his composure. “They probably were watching when your whores drove the cattle to the winter pasture."

  "It don't matter none how they knew,” Black commented, defusing the tension he could feel growing between Clayte and Belle. “For now you have your steers back and we have a fence to mend, again."

  "Well, since one of them jaspers got away, don't be surprised if you get hit again. Once a rustler finds easy pickings, he usually strikes twice. They've found your ranch is a good one to hit. I wouldn't be surprised if you lost half your herd by spring."

  "Thanks for the warning, Clayte,” Belle said. “Like Black says, we have fences to mend and you have cattle to get back to your herd."

  "You know, if you took me up on my marriage proposal, you wouldn't have to worry about rustlers. You could leave that to me."

  "I'd rather ride herd on my own beeves than to do the same on that passel of younguns of yours. Find yourself another wife somewhere else. I'm not interested."

  "You'll be sorry you said that, Belle Barton. I'll be the one to laugh at your funeral when you die a dried up old maid when you could have been doing what a woman is meant to do ... raising children."

  Black could see the anger flashing from Belle's eyes as they rode back toward the Double Bar B.

  "How dare he?” she asked of no one in particular as soon as they were out of earshot. “I don't care if I do end up an old maid, I would never lower myself so much as to say ‘I do’ to that piece of scum."

  "I doubt that you'll have to. I'm certain he's behind the rustling that's been going on. He's the only one who knew where you took the cattle yesterday. How else would the rustlers been able to find them if they weren't in the East pasture?"

  "You've got a point there. He was at the house quick as scat when he found out that the cattle had been moved."

  "If I'm not mistaken, he got the others all riled up so that they would be wanting to check the brands on the cattle you have in that canyon. He thought that they'd wait until morning and he could get the men responsible for it to drive the stolen cattle up to your place last night. The last thing he expected was to have us waiting for them. Didn't you see how white his face went when I told him we'd met up with the rustlers?"

  "I certainly did, and when you told him that three of them were dead and the fourth got away, the relief was evident. He's scared, and with good reason. How long do you think it will be before you can arrest him?"

  "He's had a scare. I doubt that he'll do anything more before spring. Things have gotten too hot for him now. Besides the outsiders he hired for this job are either dead of long gone. He'll have to come up with a new bunch and no one is going to venture this far north during the winter. I think things will be quite quiet. If that's the case, then I'll be able to get more evidence on both Clayte and the sheriff."

  "But how? You know no one is going to cross either one of them."

  "That's why I'm the U.S. Marshal and you're the ranch owner. I have my ways and believe me, when this does come to a head, it will do so very quickly."

  * * * *

  By the time they reached the cut in the fence, the sun was directly overhead. It was Belle who suggested they eat before mending the fence. She could tell that Black was tired and thought if they ate first, he might fall asleep so that she could take care of the fence while he got the rest he so needed.

  She unpacked the sandwiches Annie put in her saddlebags earlier in the day. Thick slabs of fresh bread complimented the thin slices of cold roast beef topped with tangy horseradish. Since she had planned they would eat in this pasture, she'd packed nothing to drink. The spring-fed stream that ran through her property would be enough to quench their thirst.

  "After that breakfast Annie fixed, I didn't think I'd be hungry,” Black commented, “but those sandwiches look damn good to me."

  She handed him one. He took a big bite. From the look on his face, he had gotten a good helping of horseradish along with the meat.

  "What's on this beef?” he asked, once he swallowed what he had in his mouth and followed it with a good healthy drink of water.

  "It's horseradish."

  "It can't be. I've had horseradish and it's never this strong."

  "That's because it's fresh. Annie made Roy take her somewhere to get it last spring. He always puts up a fuss, but in the end they go there together and she spends the next several days putting it up for use in the winter. When I first tasted it, I thought it was some sort of poison. After a while, it sort of grows on you."

  Black laughed. “Guess it does. It's not that bad, but it was a shock when I first tasted it. After a couple of these sandwiches, I'll be ready for something sweet."

  "Annie packed some of her apple pie,” Belle replied.

  "That's not exactly what I had in mind.” He took her in his arms and kissed her.

  Any control she had over her body the night before was completely gone. Here in the middle of the east pasture, there was on one to see them, no one to pass judgment. When his tongue darted between her parted lips, she realized that she wanted more than just his kisses. Kate was right; he was different. She wanted him in the way a woman wants a man. Her dildo could never produce the spasms of excitement that ran through her body until they reached the sensitive area between her legs the way Black's kiss did.

  She reached up to put her hands on the back of his head and pull him closer to her, but he was even quicker. His free hand was working the buttons on her shirt. Without breaking their kiss, he untied the ribbon that held her camisole shut, completely revealing her breasts. The cool September air against her sensitive nipples made her gasp.

  When she didn't protest, he manipulated her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, trailing kisses down her neck. His lips caressed first the top of her breast and then captured her nipple between them. As he sucked, she worked the buttons on his shirt and long johns until his chest was exposed to her view. She ran her hands over the mat of black hair that peppered his chest and rubbed his male nipples until they were as hard as her own.

  She hardly realized that he had unbuttoned her britches until his hand touched the mound covered by the V of hair that guarded her womanhood. Even if she had wanted to turn back, it was too late. His fingers found her clit. Until now, she had been the only one to touch that sensitive place. Ronald had shoved his cock into her, leading her to believe that this was the only way to have sex. His own pleasure had been first and foremost in his mind.

  It wasn't until after the girls arrived at the ranch and told her about the pleasures of sex did she find her little toy. Once she bought it, she began exploring her body and learning about the things they told her. It always amazed her that something so small as the nub the girls called their clit could give her such erotic pleasure.

  As Black rubbed her in a circular motion, she realized she'd only skimmed the surface when it came to giving and receiving sexual favors. Within her mind, colors exploded like the fireworks that she remembered watching on the Fourth of July with her aunt back in Ohio. The sensation also did wonderful things to her body until she whispered, “Take me, Black, take me now."

  With the expertise that could only have come with practice, he removed her boots. As each foot was exposed, he massaged her from her toes to her heels, again bringing about unexpected shockwaves of delight. With her boots off, he removed her britches and bloomers, leaving her naked from the waist down. The only garment remaining on her body was her shirt and camisole and they were open, exposing her bre
asts. Nothing about her was hidden from his view.

  Before returning to the business of loving her, he took off his shirt, boots, pants and long johns. As he did, she gasped at the sheer size of him. In full erection, he made her dildo look like a small stick.

  "Are you certain you're ready for this?” he asked, once he positioned himself over her.

  She reached up to touch the part of his body that she knew would give her great pleasure. “I'm more than ready."

  Before he entered her, he again massaged her clit, while putting his fingers into her cunt. She had never been this wet before and wished he wouldn't prolong her agony any longer.

  While he played with her, she explored the entire length of him with her hand. During her exploration, she accidentally touched his balls. He moaned with delight, prompting her to glide her fingers over the velvety sack. Before she had kept her eyes closed when Ronald fucked her, and her dildo didn't have anything this delightful to play with.

  "What are you doing to me, woman?” He removed his fingers and proceeded to slide his entire length into her body.

  With him inside of her, she couldn't even begin to answer his question. He was riding her as though she was an unbroken mustang, and she loved every minute of it.

  Their lovemaking lasted much longer than she remembered it lasting with Ronald. Time after time Black brought her to the brink of orgasm, only to pull back to prolong the delightful agony. Finally it seemed as though he could no longer deny himself release. They came at the same time, her internal juices mingling with his cum. She could feel it coursing into her body, warming her very being.

  It was no wonder that Kate had said he tickled her tonsils. He had tickled far more than that in the time they had spent joined as God had meant.

  * * * *

  Black lay for several moments, his cock still within her cunt. As it shriveled to its normal size, he realized he had never had sex this good. Maybe it was because she wasn't a paid companion. Perhaps it had been so good because he knew she was relatively inexperienced. The way she touched his balls attested to the fact that the only good fuck she'd ever had had come from the wooden dildo. Reluctantly he rolled off her. “Are you sorry?” he asked, pulling a smoke from the pocket of his discarded shirt.

  "Sorry?” she purred. “How could I ever be sorry about making love to you? That is what we did, isn't it? It wasn't just a good fuck like the girls get paid for having, was it?"

  He looked down at her. The look on her face was one of pure excitement. The innocence that had been there earlier had been stripped away over the past hour that they'd melded their bodies into one.

  "It was far from just a ‘good fuck', as you call it. I thought maybe you were a virgin. That's one thing I won't do is take a woman's virginity. That's something best left for her husband to ... hell, I wouldn't have cared if you were a virgin. I've wanted you since I first laid eyes on you."

  "Then you weren't disappointed about my lost virginity?"

  Black laughed and pulled her into his arms. “I'm not at all disappointed. The truth be told, I rather enjoyed the way your body responded. Do you want to tell me about the first man to enjoy you?"

  "Only if you tell me about the first woman you took to your bed. Was she one of your mother's whores?"

  Black smiled. “That was the plan, but my mother was killed and all of the plans were suddenly changed. I never got to enjoy Salina, but I'm certain she could have taught me more than one of her tricks. My first woman was a girl of fourteen. We lost our virginity together and after that, I realized that I didn't want to do that to another woman. Teresa thought that I would stay on my grandfather's ranchero and marry her, but I had other ideas. For all I know she could have my child, but when I left Mexico, I cut all ties with my family. I knew my grandfather would never approve of the life that I decided I wanted to live. He certainly would have approved of the man I killed to avenge my mother's death, though."

  He was surprised to see tears running down her cheeks and brushed them away with his forefinger. “It's nothing to cry over. At thirteen, I wouldn't have been a good husband to Teresa. I had too much hate in my heart to even consider loving a woman."

  "And now? Do you still have too much hate to love?"

  "The hate burned out a long time ago, but I never found anyone worth loving, until now. Since that one time, I've never been with a woman I haven't paid. I always thought it was better that way. It was different with you. I can't explain it."

  She reached up and stroked his cheek, making him painfully aware of the fact he hadn't taken the time to shave before bringing the cattle back to the Diamond A. He had wanted everything to be perfect when he made love to her, and he had taken her as though he was a bull servicing a cow in heat.

  "I think I know what you mean,” she replied. “I never wanted anything to do with men, not after what happened in Ohio. Then you came along and, well, everything changed. I don't understand it, but I've wanted you so badly. I know it's only been a couple of days, but it seems like a lifetime."

  Her comment piqued his interest. “Do you want to talk about Ohio?” He played with her breasts.

  She bit her lip and nodded, but only slightly. “It was eleven years ago,” she began. “I was just a kid, really, but I thought I was a woman. The preacher's son, Ronald, came calling quite often. Aunt Mable thought he was a real catch and was already planning the wedding. Ronald said that because we were going to be getting married, we should experiment with sex. He said no one would buy a pair of shoes without trying them on, so why would we not try and see if we fit well together? I was so in love with the idea of being a wife, I agreed. The first time hurt, but he assured me it wouldn't hurt again."

  "He used you?"

  She nodded. “He most certainly did. It was all about his pleasure, and to hell with mine. When I told him I was carrying his child, he denied that it was his and accused me of being with every boy in the county. I was branded a whore, and my aunt took me to a convent. While I was there, I spent many hours on my knees on the stone floor praying for the redemption of my soul. When the baby was finally born, she was ripped from my arms. I only got to see her briefly. They told me she would go to a good home and that I should forget that I ever had her."

  Sobs cut off her words, prompting Black to hold her while she cried. “Does anyone out here know about the baby?” he finally asked.

  He could feel her shake her head no. “Everyone thinks I'm a virgin, everyone but Kate, that is. She's the only one I ever told about what happened. She insisted that I buy the dildo. She understood that I didn't want anything to do with the men who came on the stage, but she said I needed some kind of release. It really did help, but it couldn't compare to what we just did."

  "We have a long winter ahead of us,” he whispered. “I promise, I'll teach you everything I know about lovemaking."

  "And come spring, you'll leave me."

  He didn't like the sorrow he detected in her voice. “Yes, I'll leave, but it won't be because I don't want you. I'll leave because I have a job to do and when I've finished here, there will be another assignment waiting for me. Ed keeps me busy."

  "I can understand that. I promise I won't make you stay when there's work to be done. I'll be thankful for whatever time we have together and there will be nothing to bind you to me when it's time to leave."

  "I hope not, but I also want you to know what it's like to be with a man. The life you're living isn't right. There should be someone to make you complete. I don't want you to ever have to use that dildo again. It's downright unnatural."

  They lay in each other's arms and surprisingly fell into a deep sleep. Black was the first to awaken. A cold wind had started to blow, promising a storm in the making.

  She stirred in his arms. “We must have fallen asleep,” she said, stretching.

  "We did, but there's a storm brewing. We'd best get dressed and get out of here.” He got up and pulled on his clothes. While she dressed, he mended the break in the fe
nce. With the job completed, he turned to see her watching him intently.

  "Did you mean what you said before we went to sleep?” she asked.

  "Every word and more,” he replied, pulling her into his embrace. “I've never wanted a woman the way I want you. I always thought it was best if I paid for the release I needed. Now I know I was only fooling myself. Paying for something that should come naturally isn't nearly as fulfilling as what we just shared. I know that's how the girls at your place make their living and I don't fault them for that, but I doubt I'll ever pay for it again."

  She took two steps forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I was hoping you'd feel that way. I don't expect marriage, but I also want you in my bed for as long as you want to stay."

  "What if you find yourself in the situation that you did in Ohio?"

  "I won't. The girls told me about a tea that prevents such things. I make it for them every night. Even though I wasn't having sex with anyone, I've been drinking it as well. It's actually quite good, and very relaxing."

  Black pulled her into a tight embrace. He wondered if she was pleased that she wouldn't find herself in a family way or if he was disappointed that she wouldn't be carrying his child. The thought was a sobering one. For the first time in the past fifteen years, he wanted to be part of a family. He wanted Belle to be his, not just for the winter but for always, but in his line of work, he couldn't ask her to wait while he went on his assignments. He would be content with what he was allowed to experience for the few months he would be at the Double Bar B. He might even write to his grandfather and let him know that no man's bullet had taken his life.

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  Chapter Seven

  By the time they returned to the house, both Black and Belle were soaked to the skin.

  "You go on in the house,” Black shouted over the howl of the wind. “I'll take care of your horse."

  Belle nodded. She was so chilled, it was all she could do to dismount and make her way to the porch. Once she stepped into the warmth of the kitchen, she began to shake from the chills that overtook her body. “Get her upstairs and out of those wet clothes,” Annie ordered. “I've got water on, heating, so you can have a hot bath."