Lonesome Bride Read online

  Caite stared at him, mischief glinting in her eyes. Then, amazingly, she opened her mouth and let fly a reverberating, earsplitting blast that seemed to come from her toes.

  "Top that,” she said smugly.

  Jed looked at the woman before him in admiration. “That's a challenge, Caite."

  "Don't feel bad if you can't match it,” Caite consoled teasingly.

  She should not have been so confident. Jed blasted her right back with a double-barreled belch that nearly knocked her over. Caite dissolved into giggles, and after a moment, Jed joined her.

  "You must think I have no manners at all!” she managed to gasp after a while.

  "Not a one,” Jed agreed. He could not believe he had found her gross behavior so refreshing, but he had. Of course he had heard a woman belch before, but those were tavern slatterns, uneducated, slothful and frowzy. He had never heard a proper young lady let loose with such abandon. But then, he reflected, it seemed Caitleen O'Neal did everything with abandon.

  Caite did blush then. She shrugged. “I have no excuse for my behavior. I grew up with an Irish drunk of a father. He had no manners either. I just forgot myself for a minute, Jed. I feel comfortable with you."

  Jed was pleased and could not help smiling at her. “If you belch like that on hotel food, I can't wait to see what you come up with from Cooky's grub."

  Caite laughed. “I can not wait to see if you're correct."

  Jed thought of Heatherfield, his father and the household staff. What would they make of a red-haired, green-eyed woman who belched? He smiled to himself. In a short time, he'd find out.

  "Hey,” he said suddenly, clapping his hands to his knees. “I happen to know there's a box of checkers on the shelf over there. What say we have a game?"

  "That sounds lovely. How do you play?"

  "I'll show you,” Jed answered, glad to have a pastime handy. A different pastime. “And, I'll beat you."

  "We shall see about that.” Caite chortled. “While you set up the game, I believe I shall get dressed. I've been an awful laze-about, still wearing my nightgown."

  Jed placed his hand on her arm so she was unable to get to her feet. “Don't,” he said.

  "What?"

  "Don't get dressed, Caite. Let's just stay the way we are, the whole day."

  Caite looked at him, puzzled. “But Jed..."

  "Please?” Jed could not find the words to explain to her that he did not want the reality of their situation to intrude. He wanted to revel in this brief time they were sharing. He wanted to play checkers with her, talk about her past, make love to her in front of the fire. He wanted to forget they would ever have to leave, and things would have to change.

  "All right, if that is what you wish,” said Caite quietly. She pressed her hand to his cheek. “If it pleases you, Jed."

  Jed kissed her fingertips, then jumped to his feet to retrieve the game from the shelf. Teaching Caitleen the rules was easy, he soon discovered. She learned quickly, and soon was beating him at least one out of three games. He was tempted to let her win more often, just so he could enjoy the delight on her face when she triumphed. He correctly suspected, however, that Caite would take no joy in winning by default, so he played to beat her.

  The day and evening wore on. They left the checkers and moved again to the bed, this time just to cuddle close against the damp chill still in the air. Every hour that passed wrenched at Jed's heart because he knew they were growing ever closer to the time they would have to leave.

  "I'm surprised it's so cold,” Caite remarked, warming her icy toes between his calves. “The days were so hot."

  "Night and the rain can change the temperature drastically. You never know what's going to happen next."

  "Like you,” said Caite.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I never know what you'll say or do next,” she said, peering up at him through a fringe of auburn silk. “We didn't start out to be the best of friends, you know."

  "And now?” It seemed suddenly important to him how she felt about him. Even if her feelings would hardly matter after tonight.

  "I would say we are more than friends,” she said softly, planting a light kiss on his shoulder.

  Jed was quiet.

  "Tell me more about yourself,” Caite urged. She ran her fingers through the crisp, curling hairs of his chest almost absentmindedly. “Tell me about Heatherfield. Tell me about this cabin."

  He looked at her in surprise. “You want to know about the cabin?"

  "It seems too well-stocked not to be used frequently,” she noted. “I was just wondering why."

  "It's a convenient stopping point from Lonesome. We keep it stocked so when we have to stay over, we don't starve.” He was suddenly, inexplicably, reluctant to tell her this was his land and cabin. His plans to move out here and start his own stable seemed all at once unappealing compared to staying at Heatherfield where he could be near her. He wasn't lying anyway. They did use the cabin as a stopover. His answer seemed to satisfy her.

  "How do you manage with Heatherfield so far away from everything?” Caite asked next. “How do you do your shopping, or get letters? How did you get the telegram I was coming?"

  "We're pretty far from Lonesome,” Jed told her. “But on the other side of Heatherfield, it's only a few hours ride to the trading post in Staghorn. I got your telegram in Lonesome because me and Shorty happened to be there for a few days.” Carousing, he did not bother to add.

  "Shorty?” Caite looked up at him, amusement twinkling in her eyes.

  "He's a ranch hand,” Jed told her. “Don't make fun of his name. He's likely to take a switch to that behind of yours."

  Caite laughed. “Why did he not come back with us?"

  "I sent him on ahead to let everyone at home know to expect you."

  "Oh.” She was silent for a minute. “How did you know when I would get there?"

  "I just waited until an unattended woman showed up at the station ... Look Caite,” Jed said impatiently. “Why all the questions?"

  She sighed wistfully before she replied. “I just like hearing you talk, Jed. Your voice is so soothing."

  They both fell silent, feeling the upcoming journey weighing on them. Then, wordlessly, Jed rolled her into his arms and began to take advantage of the short time they had left. When they had finished making love, each fell into a satisfied, dreamless sleep.

  * * * *

  Jed rose before Caitleen again the next morning. He had woken just before dawn, his heart pounding anxiously as if he had been having a nightmare. In a way, he was. Today they would leave this idyllic cabin and head for home. All of this would have to remain a memory.

  Jed slipped away from the still-dreaming Caite. She murmured a low sound of protest, but did not stir. He left the cabin to relieve his bladder, staring up a sky just beginning to blush as pink as a baby's cheeks. There was no way around it. The sky was clear, the sun would be hot, and by this afternoon, they could be home. He grimaced. Already he was in a bad mood.

  "Jed?” Caite was standing in the doorway, still clad in the now rumpled nightshift. She had thrown a quilt over her shoulders. Her hair tumbled about her face as she rubbed sleepy eyes. “You woke so early."

  "Nothing ever gets done by being lazy,” he replied too curtly. She flinched, and his heart twinged. Well, no time to waste on sentiment. If things were going to change, they might as well start right now.

  "I see,” said Caite quietly, pulling the quilt closer around her. Jed saw her back stiffen almost imperceptibly. “Well, then just let me get washed and dressed, and I'll be right out to help."

  She disappeared back into the cabin. Remorse flooded Jed. He wanted to go after her, even if it was only to explain himself. The sun grew higher in the sky while he warred with himself. Finally, his emotions won him over, and he sought her out.

  Caitleen had already dressed and washed her face by the time Jed found her. He looked at her closely, but if he had brought her to tears, she had alre