Lonesome Bride Read online

  "What kind of lady removes her hat?” Jed exploded. It was all he could think of to say. Her hair had triggered a sensual response him that was actually becoming painful.

  The sun on her hair had created a nimbus of light around her face, emphasizing her clear skin and those eyes, those stunning verdant eyes as bright as jewels. A man could lose himself in this woman's gaze for an eternity and neither notice nor care.

  Looking away, Caitleen quickly pinned her hat back into place. Discreetly pretending to tuck some stray hairs underneath its brim, she wiped her eyes. Through the haze of arousal clouding his vision, Jed saw her perfect mouth was drawn down in dismay. Blazes, now he'd gone and made the girl cry!

  Abruptly, Jed urged the horses to the side of the trail. Without a word, he hopped down from the bench and strode into the thicket of trees nearby. Once there, Jed forced himself to breathe deeply, pacing back and forth. Tarnation, but what this woman was doing to him! And seemingly without even realizing it. Jed was no stranger to the charms of women. In fact, he was rather used to women trying to catch his attention, but those were usually saloon girls, certainly not young ladies of higher breeding. Especially not a woman promised to marry his father.

  "Jed Peters! What in heaven are you doing?” Caitleen's voice came from beyond the trees.

  The fire in his groin was only partially subdued, but Jed strode out to the wagon nonetheless. Without a word, not trusting his voice, he motioned for her to get down from the bench.

  Caitleen remained seated, obviously reluctant to attempt the climb by herself. “Why have we stopped?"

  Her voice sent thrills through him. Low and melodic, it made him think of honey and chocolate, sweet and tangy all at once. Jed quickly reached up to the bench, grasped her around the waist and began to lift her down.

  Taken by surprise, Caitleen fell into his arms for the second time since they had met. For a long moment their bodies remained pressed together, Caitleen's arms wrapped firmly around Jed's neck. Jed fought against crushing his mouth to hers. She was staring up at him, sweet pink lips parted so tantalizingly, and her bosom heaving so prettily. The fall had knocked her hat loose, exposing that glorious hair again. She felt so good in his arms, with her full breasts pressing against his chest.

  "Why have we stopped?” Caitleen breathed. She was still allowing him to hold her. In fact, if anything, she was pressing against him even more.

  Abruptly, Jed pushed her from him, fearing what he would do if he remained touching her for one more moment. Still not trusting himself to speak, he turned and strode toward the back of the wagon. Pulling a basket from among the other bundles, he headed to a clear spot in the grass.

  "Mr. Peters! I am speaking to you!"

  Jed turned toward Caitleen, whose dreamy look had faded. Now she was glaring at him again, green eyes sparking and auburn hair flaming in the sun. She had put both hands on her full, sensuous hips, a posture emphasizing her tiny waist.

  "We are stopping to eat, Miss Chatterbox!” he snapped. “And put your hat back on. Are you some kind of hoyden?"

  Caitleen gasped. Before Jed even knew what was happening, she had strode to him and slapped him soundly across the face. The crack echoed loudly around them, startling him further. The wench had actually struck him! His face tingled, the imprint of her fingers burned against his skin.

  "You are the most insufferable, arrogant man I have ever met!” Caite raged, stretching to her full height. The top of her head came to just under his chin. “You knocked my hat off dragging me down from that wagon! How dare you accuse me of inappropriate dress or anything else! How dare you cast aspersions on my character!"

  She slapped him again. Jed could only stare in amazement. In her rage, she was, if it was possible, even more breathtaking. Caitleen continued to rant at him, but he scarcely heard a word she was saying.

  "Are you listening to me?” Caite cried angrily.

  She moved as if to slap him a third time, but Jed quickly grabbed her upraised hand and held it in the air. The force of his grip caused her to stumble against him. Now, for a third time, she was in his arms. Thankfully, her temper was so inflamed she didn't notice the way his arms tightened convulsively around her, drawing her against his chest for a moment. She felt so dratted good in his arms, like she was meant to be there. The softness of her belly was a delicious torture against the throbbing bulge in his trousers, and Jed struggled mightily to keep from kissing her delectable, upturned mouth.

  Furiously, Caitleen yanked her hand loose from his grip, forced herself out of his haphazard embrace, and stalked away. The two stood that way for a long moment, Caitleen facing away from him and Jed staring after her. Finally shaking himself mentally and physically, he strode to her and put his hand gently on her shoulder.

  "Look, Miss O'Neal..."

  Caite stiffened under his touch. “You may call me Caitleen, you know. Or even Caite. You need not be so formal."

  "Caitleen..."

  She turned to him abruptly. “After all, we are going to be a family now."

  Her comment took Jed by surprise. Then he nodded. “Yeah, I reckon so."

  "And families ought to get along, should they not?” Caite asked.

  Jed laughed wryly. “I reckon so."

  Caite smiled slightly. She held her hand to him. “Truce?"

  Startled, Jed shook her offered hand. “What?"

  "I call a truce,” said Caitleen. “Let us end this battle. We hardly know each other, Jed, but we're going to be stuck with each other for a long time. Shall we try to be friends?"

  "Fair enough,” Jed answered. Glancing down, he realized he still clasped her hand. Smooth and white, it was half the size of his, but she gripped him with surprising strength.

  "Very well then.” Caitleen released his grip, rubbed her hands together briskly, and stepped toward the wagon. “Now, what do we have for lunch?"

  Just like that, Jed thought. He wasn't aware he was smiling. She was furious, and now she's talking about lunch.

  "Lunch, Jed? Or are we going to climb back up in that wagon and ride until we drop of hunger?” Caite's words were scolding, but her tone was light, and a smile tugged the corner of her lips.

  "I had the Lonesome Hotel pack a basket for the trip,” Jed answered. “I reckon it won't be as good as our Cooky's back home, but it should be all right."

  Caitleen's full smile nearly knocked him backward with the force of her beauty. If he'd thought her breathtaking in anger, she was doubly so when she smiled.

  "See?” she said. “I knew we'd have something in common. We both like to eat!"

  Jed watched as Caitleen busied herself spreading the cotton blanket on the ground and unpacking the food. As she pulled more and more items from the basket, she started giggling softly. Soon, as she pulled each item from the seemingly bottomless basket, she progressed to laughing out loud.

  "What's so funny?” Jed asked, bemused by her reaction.

  "I never saw so much food for two people in my life!” Caite laughed, emptying the last of it. “Fried chicken, biscuits, corn on the cob, roast beef, apple pie ... you have enough food here for at least a week!"

  Jed thought of his expectations of what the mail-order bride would be. “I was expecting someone ... larger,” he stuttered awkwardly. The beautiful and slender woman before him was the complete opposite of what he had pictured.

  "Larger? Why on earth?” Caitleen asked, thoroughly puzzled.

  To his discomfort, Jed felt the beginnings of an embarrassed flush begin to spread up from his collar to his neck. “Well, I figured a woman who would consent to be a mail-order bride would ... well..."

  "Would what, Mr. Peters?” Caitleen asked suspiciously, her marvelous green eyes narrowing.

  "Well, have a healthy appetite,” Jed finished.

  "Fat, you mean,” Caite added. “Fat, homely and unable to get a man."

  "Yes, I thought that,” Jed admitted, bracing himself for her fury.

  Instead, Caitleen smiled