Fallen for the mail-order bride?

King just shook his head. “Nobody’s fallen for anybody, we’re just…” Hell, he couldn’t even find words to explain what they were doing. “Not that it’s any of your business what I do.”

Domino dismounted and fell into step with King. They walked a few steps, before the doctor broke the awkward silence. “You’ve taken her to bed, haven’t you?”

King made some grumbling noises, then answered. “We’re both adults and we’re not hurting anyone.”

“Are you planning on marrying her?”

Domino’s stark question caused King to misstep, and he almost tripped. Righting himself, he glared at his friend. “You know how I feel about marriage.”

“Does Fancy know you’re taking advantage of her?”

“I’m not taking advantage of her! She’s a very willing participant!”

“She’s in love with you. It’s as obvious as the nose on your face. She came here ready to love you, took one look at your ugly mug, and offered you her heart.” Domino took off his hat and slapped his thigh with it. “If you’re just playing with her, one of us ought to take you out behind the barn.”

“I guess which ever one of you is brave enough, can give it a try.”

Their voices were even, but emotions were running high.

“You know how women are treated over such matters. We live in a very unforgiving world. Women who are used like this are shunned by society. Is that what you want?”

King waved his hand, indicating the ranch. “We’re isolated out here. Seldom get a visitor.  I don’t expect my own men to gossip about my affairs. So, who the hell is going to know?” Domino started to say something, but he didn’t give him a chance. “You know how alone I’ve been. In fact, your concern is what brought her here! It wasn’t any doing of mine!”

“Don’t try and blame us for your decision. Things like this have a tendency to become known. You know this isn’t what we had in mind. If we wanted to bring you a whore, we would have.”

King stopped and faced Domino, hands on hips, jaw set. “Don’t ever use that word in connection with Fancy, I forbid it!”

Domino stepped closer to King, getting right in his face. “Well, don’t treat her like one!”

Before Domino’s eyes, King seemed to deflate. His shoulders drooped. “I didn’t intend to. I just got caught up in…” He dry-scrubbed his face. “I’ve missed feeling like a man.”

“I understand, Cap. That’s why we were concerned in the first place.”

“I just need a little time to sort things out in my head.” He laughed dryly. “The woman swept me off my feet.”

Ever the physician, Domino addressed a concern. “Are you doing anything to prevent pregnancy?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I don’t have any of those French preventatives, those rubber sleeves.” King frowned. “I’ve never liked using them to tell you the truth.”

“Common complaint.” Domino sighed. “I’ll talk to Fancy, give her something.”

King grimaced. “Shit, Domino. I don’t like this at all.” He should just promise to stay away from her, but he didn’t think he could. “Whatever you were going to give her, give it to me, I’ll talk to her. I don’t want her to know we talked. I don’t want to embarrass her.”

“I was right about what I read on your face, you do feel something for her.” Domino sounded somewhat triumphant.

“Of course, I feel something. I’m not a monster.” King began walking toward the ranch. “Before you arrived, she risked her own safety to save me from a damn rattlesnake.” He huffed out a harsh breath. “I don’t know what I feel, to tell you the truth. I’ve been too caught up in the…”

“Our Fancy is a brave one, no one can dispute that.” King didn’t have to say anything else for Domino to know what he was feeling. “As far as women and sex are concerned, you’ve been closed off ever since…”

“Caroline.” King finished for him. “Yes, I know. I’ve let her betrayal affect me far more than I should have.” He could thank Fancy for bringing him back to life. “There’s one thing you should know before I leave.” King changed the subject. “I found a cow with its throat cut. You and Reno need to keep your eyes open.”

“Do you mean the cow was intact, no butchered for the meat?” This was strange. 

“No, it was just killed. Murdered. I doubt anyone could claim self-defense.”

“Vandalism, maybe.” Domino’s mind was spinning. “Somebody may be trying to get our attention.”

“Well, they’ve got it and they’re not going to like the consequences.”

…Inside, Fancy put away the remnants of their picnic. Reno had escorted her home, then went to his own cabin to change clothes and rid himself of trail dust. He hadn’t mentioned the kiss he and Domino had witnessed, and she was grateful for the reprieve. Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she sat down a moment to collect her thoughts before beginning supper. Things were happening so fast, she didn’t know which end was up.

The memory of King’s near-miss with the snake made her shiver, then she blushed remembering what she’d done to him right before. In some ways, Fancy was having trouble recognizing herself. Having Reno and Domino ride up to find them kissing, made her realize they were going to have to be more careful. They could have easily shown up a little while before and caught her… “Oh, my word!” She covered her cheeks as her mind imagined how embarrassing that would’ve been. If the men knew they were a couple or if they were engaged, she might not feel so exposed and vulnerable. Taking a sip of coffee, Fancy tried to reassure herself. King would soon make everything right.

A noise at the door caused her to stand to her feet. King entered with hat in hand. “I wanted to tell you that I’m heading into town to make a statement to the Sheriff about Bohannon’s crime.”

“All right.” She nodded, wondering why he was standing across the room and looking decidedly uncomfortable. “Is something wrong?”

“No, no.” King reassured her. He wasn’t about to bring up Domino’s concern, not until he had the device in hand and time to talk about their situation. “Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to tell you goodbye and find out if there was anything you needed for me to pick up in town.”

“No.” Fancy shook her head. “We’re still good on supplies.” At the moment, she was more interested in the strange look on his face. Unwilling for them to part with doubts on her mind, she put aside her fears and walked up to him.

King drew in a hard breath when she cupped his cheek. “I’m sorry your friends saw us kissing. I know you wanted a chance to tell them first.”

Tell them what? This was King’s question. “Don’t worry about it, this will work itself out.” His words seemed inconsequential compared to how he was feeling when he was this close to her. Every part of his body was drawn to her, he couldn’t keep his hands from reaching for her. There was no way he could ever resist this woman. “Come here, I need to hold you.”

With absolute relief, she went into his arms, lifting her face for a kiss. He didn’t disappoint, fitting his mouth to hers, and threading his fingers through her hair. She clutched his shoulders, anchoring herself to him, wishing she could keep him this close forever. When he was away, she had doubts, but when they were touching, all misgivings fled.

King’s cock went hard in a rush and his skin burned with the need to feel her against him, soft and unclothed. She was so sweet, her response to him so genuine and caring. The tiny quiver of her lips made his heart lurch in his chest and the feel of chill bumps rising on her arms as he caressed her, let him know how much she felt when he touched her. He deepened the kiss, drawing her even closer to him, his hand moving down to cup her bottom. Fancy made a purring sound in her throat and her tongue brushed his lip. Fire shot from King’s mouth to his cock, he growled, moving his chest across hers so he could feel the hardness of her nipples pressing through the layers of clothing.

“Hey, King!”

Ace’s voice suddenly sounding in the room drove the couple apart as if dynamite had been set off.

King wiped his mouth, his eyes darting away from Fancy whose head was ducked as she sought to regain her composure.

“Ace, what’s up buddy?”

Ace looked at them suspiciously. “What were you two doing?”

“Nothing, just telling Miss Fancy goodbye. I’m going into town.”

“Yea, I know!” He brightened, the kiss forgotten. “Boone said you might let me go with you. I’ve done all my chores. It’s been a long time since I got to go. Would you like some company?”

 Fancy grinned at King’s discomfiture. Taking the boy wasn’t part of the plan, but he didn’t have the heart to tell him no. This was just one of the reasons she loved this man. “Let me pack you two some jerky and biscuits for the trail.”

“Go get your bedroll and put it in the back of the buckboard. Hook up the horses too, while you’re at it. We’ll be gone overnight, but I don’t plan on paying for a hotel room.”

“Heck, no. I want to camp out. We can tell ghost stories!”

As he ran off, Fancy ventured a glance at King. “Ghost stories, I almost want to go with you. Sounds fun.”

His earlier concerns abandoned, King could only think about what he was missing. “Staying here with you would be a helluva lot more fun.”

Fancy rushed to him to hug his neck. “Well, hurry home. I’ll be waiting and lonely without you.”

* * *

 

Having Ace tagging along was probably a good thing, for King didn’t spend any time worrying about Fancy or the problems on the ranch. The boy talked nonstop. From the time they left until they reached Kingsland, the boy chattered like a magpie. The only thing that seemed to quiet him was the spooky stories King had whispered around the campfire – tales of ghostly soldiers, and big-footed beasts that roamed the woods. Affection for the waif rose in King’s heart, he couldn’t help it, he’d become attached to the young man and any thought of him leaving was unacceptable.

As they drove the wagon into town, he gave Ace a few coins and told him to head to the mercantile for some licorice. “I’ll go speak to the sheriff and then meet you there. I want to pick up a few things for Miss Fancy.”

“Oh, boy! Licorice!” He tied the wagon to a hitching post, then scampered off, leaving King to venture into the lawman’s office alone. As he was stepping onto the boardwalk, he caught sight of a man peering at him from around a corner, some distance away. King stopped and stared back. “Hell, no.” Taking off at a run, he tried to apprehend the individual. Not that he’d done anything wrong, looking wasn’t a crime, but if he wasn’t mistaken, this particular onlooker was none other than Jubal Pierce. “What’s he doing in town?”

Try though he might, when King reached the point where he’d seen the skunk, there was no one in sight. He must’ve ducked into some doorway. “Oh, well, perhaps it was my imagination.” Maybe – but he didn’t think so. He had this gut feeling he was being followed. After searching for a few more seconds, he returned to the Sheriff’s office to file the official complaint against his neighbor.

“Kingston Ramsay, good to see you.” Sheriff Jeb Porter rose from his desk to shake hands with King.

“Jeb, good to see you too.” He didn’t know the lawman as well as he liked, although he’d been the one to bring him to Kingsland, even paying his salary until the town could grow sufficiently enough to support him. Despite the role he’d played, King expected no special treatment. “I see our prisoner is still doing well.” He pointed at the cell where Bohannon waited.

“Yea, he’s not happy, but he’s doing fine. He’s requested a lawyer, some relative of his that’s coming from Boston.”

King sat down at Jeb’s desk, ignoring the angry taunts coming from the cell. “I’m not pushing for anything harsh, Jeb. I know they’ve hung cattle thieves in the past, but I don’t think this man is a thief, generally. I think he needs time for his temper to cool. My men caught him red-handed with my bull.” He turned to look at Harvey Bohannon. “If I could get an apology and you keep him long enough for an attitude adjustment, I’d be willing to let it go at that.”

Jeb laid a paper on his desk with a fountain pen and pushed it closer to King. “Write all of that down and I’ll show the lawyer and the judge. Sounds more than fair to me, don’t you think so, Bohannon?”

Harvey wasn’t in total agreement, but King figured he’d come around. A few days in jail would beat dangling at the end of a rope.

When he was through, he leaned in on the wobbly wooden desk. “I just saw someone who reminds me of a man I met in the war. You wouldn’t happen to know Jubal Pierce, would you? He’s working as a newspaperman now.”

Jeb shook his head. “No, I haven’t seen any strangers in town for the past few days.”

“Would you keep an eye out for me? He’s got close set eyes, a heavy jowl, dark hair, and a scar just over his right eye.”

“Sure will. I’ll let you know if I see him. Friend of yours?”

“Hardly.” King chuckled. “The last time we parted was not on friendly terms.” He rose, then thought better of it. He decided to tell Jeb about the dead cow. “I’m not asking you to do anything about it, I just want you to know, in case something else happens.”

“I’m glad you did, that’s strange.” Jeb made a note of it in his journal. “If you have any more trouble, let me know.”

After tipping his hat toward Bohannon, King took his leave. He was mighty afraid that he’d have trouble with that man for many years to come.

The walk from the sheriff’s office to the mercantile store was eye opening for King. There was signs of growth and development everywhere. New stores. New people. Since he’d founded the town, donating the money for the first few buildings to be built, he was amazed at the people who’d left their homes back east to begin a new life in this untamed territory. Of course, every day that passed, the term ‘untamed’ applied less and less. Civilization had followed them west and King was pleased.

When he walked into the mercantile, he saw Ace sitting on a barrel, chewing licorice, and talking the store owner’s ear off. “Have you eaten all of Mr. Hansen’s candy in one sitting?”

“No, King. I left him some,” Ace replied happily, one jaw distended and full of candy.

“Hello, Mr. Ramsay. How are you, sir?” Clarence Hansen nodded his head and wiped both hands on the front of his apron before extending one in greeting.

“I’m good. I’d like to settle up with you for whatever Ace has consumed and I’d like to see your ready-made dresses.”

“Oh? Dresses, you say?” He came from around the counter and headed toward the back of the store. “Follow me. I got a new shipment in last week. Maybe you’ll see something you like.”

King hoped so, he did want to replace the dress ruined by the cougar’s sharp claws. Once he was faced with the selection, he felt awkward. His hands felt too big. Too rough. To think he’d caressed her silky skin with his callused hands was crazy. As he looked without touching, his eyes fell on a light pink garment with a square neck, lace on the sleeves, and dainty ties that cinched up the back. He thought, other than Fancy herself, that this garment was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. “Let me see that one.” He hoped it would fit her. King didn’t know diddly about sizes, but he held the dress up and imagined how it would look over her breasts and hips. After ascertaining that the bust and hip width looked about right, he nodded. “I’ll take this one.” He remembered what she’d said about not being able to wear pink and he looked forward to proving her wrong.

“Oh, marvelous! You have very good taste, Mr. Ramsay. Could I interest you in a matching umbrella or some lace handkerchiefs, perhaps?”

King didn’t see any need in an umbrella, but the lace hankies sounded nice. “I’ll take a lace handkerchief, if you please.”

“Coming right up! Is this for someone special?”

As soon as the proprietor asked the question, King felt uneasy. “A female relative.” A lie. To alleviate his guilt, he told himself he was protecting Fancy’s reputation.

“Very good, let me wrap these up for you.”

After settling the account, King grabbed his package and directed Ace to head for the buckboard. “If we hurry, we can make it home by supper. Does that sound good?”

“It sure does, Miss Fancy cooks a lot better than you!”

King couldn’t argue with the boy’s logic.

…At home, Fancy had spent an uneasy night. How was it possible she missed King in her bed after only one night? She worried about him and Ace and wondered how they were doing. As she cleared the breakfast dishes, her mind turned to supper the night before.

The men were subdued for some reason. They seemed to watch her with questions in their eyes, but none were ever voiced. To break the ice, she’d talked and joked with them about everything she could think to talk about. “I’m certainly glad Jericho moved the albino cougar to a safer location. Every time I went outside, I expected to hear him snarl.”

Jericho grinned. “I forgot to tell you the best part. As soon as I trapped her in that wooden cage, I heard some little meows coming from a nearby cave.” At Fancy’s wide-eyed glance, he explained. “She had four kits, I packed them up and took them with us. When I released them, they hightailed it away from me in a blue streak.”

“Were they white too?” Fancy asked.

“Nope, regular. Like their papa, I guess.”

Fancy nodded at Jericho. “I’m so glad you found them. It would’ve been awful for the babies to starve to death.”

Boone grabbed another biscuit. “You’ve got a soft heart, Miss Fancy, but I bet you’ll be relieved to learn that I found a mama cow to accept Little John. You won’t have to wrestle that fast-growing little bull two or three times a day.”

“Oh, thank you, I’m grateful.” She was also a little sad. “I will miss him, though.”

Reno drained his glass of water and Fancy jumped up to refill it. “Thank you, ma’am,” he acknowledged her kindness. “I have some news. I heard from that lawyer Gentry recommended and he’s agreed to take Cole’s case. I plan on traveling to North Carolina for the trial as soon as a date is set.”

“If you need one of us to go with you, let us know,” Domino told him.

“I will.”

For a bit there was silence, then Jericho spoke up again. “Since Ace is with King, I guess it’s okay to say this out loud.” He drew in a breath. “I’m worried about Gentry and Clay. We haven’t heard anything from them and their search for Amelia. We have no way of knowing if they’re alive or dead.”

“Clay has his own guardian angel and the Englishman is hard to kill,” Boone said, almost reverently. “Don’t you remember the day when he ran through that rain of cannon fire to rescue me? No one in their right mind would’ve done that.”

He stared at the table and Fancy felt a shiver run through her as she pictured what he was saying.

“I was down on the ground with that damn bayonet in my side.” He ran a hand over his ribcage under his heart. “I was a goner for sure.” He smiled sadly. “But that hard-headed Yank risked everything to come to me. He picked me up and carried me to safety, bullets flying all around us. Damndest thing, I don’t even think he broke a sweat.”

While the men talked, she served dessert, still amazed at the love that flowed between them. As they ate, she walked to the back to sit on the steps, looking out over her garden. Unbidden, a prayer came to her lips. “Let me stay here, Lord. Let me belong. Please let King love me as much as I love him.”

She didn’t know if her prayer made it to heaven or not, she hoped so. Fancy had never known if people such as herself were noticed by the Almighty. For most of her life, any entreaties she made to the Supreme Being seemed to go unanswered. Was she not good enough? Was she a sinner? She’d always tried to do good, to be good. Her thoughts turned to King and she wondered if what they’d done together was a sin.

Surely not.

How could something so beautiful be wrong?

And they would marry. Someday. He hadn’t mentioned it, but he would, she was certain.

…The next day, Fancy was going about her chores – feeding the chickens, milking the cow, and making bread. At the moment, her attention was so focused on basting the top of the dough with butter, she’d almost missed the sound of an approaching wagon. “King!” she squealed, turning to run to the front.

But when she opened the door, King wasn’t standing on the other side of it.

Fancy was more than surprised to find Glady Hewitt standing there. “Oh, hello, Mrs. Hewitt.”

“Fancy.”

Fancy opened the door, noticing for the first time a stunning blonde woman standing a few steps back. “Hello. I’m so glad you’re here. Won’t you two come in?”

“We only have a few minutes to spare,” Gladys began. “I promised Mr. Ramsay that I’d bring my sister over to meet him once she arrived.”

“I seem to remember something about that.” Fancy stepped back so they could enter.

“Yes, Mavis, this is Fancy, King’s domestic. Fancy, this is Mavis Talmadge, my sister. She is very accomplished, having attended school in New York. Mavis possesses all the social graces.”

“I’m sure she does.” She gestured toward the settee. “If you’ll take a seat, I’ll make you a cup of tea to refresh yourself after your journey.”

Mavis sat primly, but Gladys stood. “Actually, we’d prefer to take tea with Mr. Ramsay. Is he at home?”

“No.” Fancy was glad to be able to say. “He’s gone to town.” Crossing her fingers behind her back, she embellished a little. “I’m not certain when he’ll be back.”

“Oh, how disappointing,” Gladys muttered. “I suppose we’ll take that tea anyway.”

Fancy, anxious to be out of their presence, ran to the kitchen to prepare tea. Once she had the kettle on, she leaned against the counter to catch her breath. Her stomach hurt badly. She knew very well why the women were here – Gladys was trying to make a match between her sister and King. “Well, too bad, Sister. King is taken.”

She hated to leave the women in King’s house alone, she wasn’t sure why, except she just didn’t trust them. Fancy still remembered how cruel Gladys and Mrs. Bohannon had been to her the day King’s wagon had crashed. To keep an eye on them, she stood in the kitchen door, close enough to hear the kettle, yet able to see the ladies in the front room. As she expected, they did some snooping, looking around, under, and on top of everything. They didn’t take anything, but she saw them touch things that were none of their business, even checking for dust. She was glad she kept King’s home clean enough to pass the inspection of the busybodies.

Once the tea was brewed, she carried a tray with two cups, knowing they’d lay an egg if she opted to join them. “Here we go, I brought some tea cakes I baked also.” As she served them, she couldn’t help but admire Gladys’ sister. She was one of the prettiest women Fancy had ever seen. This was probably what Anita Mae looked like, the kind of woman King deserved. Sadness pierced her heart, she felt inadequate. If King were here, would he be attracted to this woman? Of course, he would. He wasn’t blind. Self-preservation teamed up with jealousy, and the duo reared its ugly head. “I’m very sorry King wasn’t here to greet you. We plan on throwing a party soon to celebrate.”

“To celebrate?” This time perfect Mavis spoke up. “Celebrate what?”

Fancy had to bite her tongue. She wanted to say they were celebrating their engagement so bad she could taste it. But that kind of lie had a way of coming back to bite you in the behind. Even though an engagement and marriage were her dearest dreams, she wouldn’t presume anything. Proposing to her was King’s prerogative. “The holidays, of course. Since I’m here to help, we’ll probably be throwing a Christmas party.”

Mavis and Gladys seem relieved. Gladys nodded. “Make sure King adds us to the guest list and tell him that if he needs a hostess, Mavis will be available. She has much experience directing the duties of a maid such as yourself.”

Fancy bristled. Over her dead body. “I will let him know.”

She stood politely by as they sipped their tea. Fancy hoped they’d drink it fast and leave quickly.

No such luck.

“I understand Mr. Bohannon is facing serious charges over his taking King’s prize bull?” Gladys asked.

Fancy wondered how word spread so fast out here in the wilderness. If she didn’t know better, she’d think they were sending up smoke signals to one another. “Yes, I believe you’re right.”

Gladys cleared her throat. “Actually, another gentleman called at our house the other day.”

“Oh, really?” She gave the ladies a small smile. “I’m sure Miss Mavis will receive many male callers.”

“Something you’re not familiar with, I presume,” Gladys muttered hatefully. When Fancy blushed, she snickered. “As beautiful as Mavis is, the man who visited was seeking information on Kingston Ramsay.”

“Really? Like what?” This concerned Fancy, she felt very protective of King.

“I’m sure discussing something so important with a mere servant isn’t appropriate.” Finally, Mavis deemed it time to speak.

Fancy wanted to argue, to claim her place and position in King’s home, but she just didn’t have the courage to take that leap of faith. “I don’t know when Mr. Ramsay will be coming home, and I have work to do. Since you’ve come unannounced, I don’t think it’s appropriate to leave you alone here.” They just sat there looking at her like a tree full of owls. So…Fancy just spelled it out. “I think you should leave.”

“Well, I never.” Gladys huffed as she set her tea cup on the table so hard, the remaining few drops splashed out onto the wooden surface.

Mavis stood and turned her pert nose up at Fancy. “I plan on attracting Kingston’s Ramsay’s attention, and I don’t think I’ll have a problem doing it. You can be sure once I’m lady of this house, you won’t be here.”

Fancy felt her patience reach its limit. “I’ll be sure and tell Mr. Ramsay everything you said, exactly what you said, and how you said it.” She turned her own nose up at the two women. “I very much doubt he’ll be calling on you.” Narrowing her eyes, she glared at Mavis. “King has better taste in women.”

As Gladys and Mavis huffed out, a chuckle behind Fancy caused her to whirl around.

Jericho stood there snickering, then he clapped his hands together. “Bravo, Miss Fancy. Bravo. I couldn’t have told them better myself.”

Fancy blushed. “I had no right.”

“From what I saw yesterday, you have every right.”

Covering her face, Fancy groaned. “I’m afraid I’m putting my cart before the horse, Jericho. King is good to me. He’s wonderful and I love…” She blushed furiously, knowing every freckle stood out on her face like a beacon. “I’ve said too much.”

“Don’t be embarrassed, Fancy. I’m a man, I understand the ways of men and women together.”

Fancy just hoped that King would understand, for she had no doubt that the events of this visit would be reported to him in great detail.

* * *

 

 King was anxious to get home. He and Ace were both trail weary. The buckboard seat seemed to get harder with every mile. He wondered if Fancy might make some type of cushion for them to sit on if he asked. King smiled. He couldn’t imagine Fancy telling him no, which bode well for some night time activities he had planned. Domino’s warning had given him something to think about, and he intended to visit the doctor this evening and collect whatever apparatus he had to prevent getting her with child. King was more than willing to do whatever it took to protect Fancy, the one thing he wasn’t willing to do was give her up.

He was addicted to her kiss, to her touch, to how it felt to be deep inside of her.

“What are you groaning about, King?” Ace asked out of the blue.

“Uh…thinking about what Miss Fancy might have ready for us. I’m starving.” Not quite a lie. Not quite the truth.

“Yea, I remember how things were before she came,” he acknowledged something they both knew. “Everything’s better now.”

Yea, everything was better now.

When they neared the ranch, King felt a thrill much like he used to feel when Christmas time came. He hadn’t felt such joyful anticipation in a long time. Seeing no one about, he pulled up to the barn. “Do you think you can handle taking care of the team?”

“I sure can!” Ace was excited to be given responsibility.

“Great, you do a good job and we’ll see if Santa won’t bring you a rifle for Christmas.”

Ace beamed. “Would you take me hunting?”

“I would.” King smiled as he gathered the packages from the mercantile store. Placing them under his arm, he hurried to Domino’s cabin to see if he was about. On the way over, he gazed around at the cabins surrounding his own – his friends – his family. They’d survived a horrific war, then decided the trust they’d fostered on the battlefield was one that could carry them through a lifetime. Building a town. Building a ranch. Building a legacy. Despite what King had lost, he was very aware of what he’d gained.

And one of those things was Fancy. She filled a tremendous void in his life. Where once there’d been loneliness, now there was laughter. His once empty arms were now filled with a woman so caring and giving, she constantly awed him with her kindness.

Upon arriving at Domino’s door, he tapped on it.

“Come in!”

King opened the door and went in, surprised to find the good doctor cleaning his gun. “Getting ready for target practice?”

“Maybe, I’ve heard tell there are some banditos about, a dangerous gang. I told the rest of the men to keep their eyes open and their guns ready.” He laid the rifle down. “Did you take care of Bohannon?”

“I think so, I decided to be lenient, give Bohannon a second chance.” He folded his arms over his chest. “We all deserve a second chance.”

Domino nodded sagely. “Well said, I’d say you were getting yours now.” He stood and walked back to a large apothecary cabinet. “Are you here for the sponge?”

A sponge? He wasn’t sure he wanted to know. “Whatever will protect her.”

“Well, abstinence…”

“Except that,” King was quick to add, and Domino smiled. Handing him a small box, he tapped the top of it. “Inside there’s a small sponge, tell her to dip it in vinegar, then insert it up inside of her before having intercourse.”

“Vinegar, huh?”

“Yea, it’s acidic, that’s what will do the job.”

“If you say so.” King slipped the box in his pocket. “Thanks, Domino. I’ll explain all this to her a little later.” He held up the package. “I have something else to give her first.”

...Across the way, Fancy took a second chess pie from the oven. Everything was done and keeping warm. She kept glancing at the grandfather clock, hoping King would come home soon. When she heard bootsteps in the front, she ran to see who was coming in, and was more than relieved when she saw King’s big form filling the doorway. “You’re home!” She knew she should tell him about his visitors, and she would, but not just yet. “I’m so glad you’re safe!”

“I am.” He wanted to grab her and hold her, but the time he’d spent away from her made him a little shy. “I got you a gift.”

Her heart jumped in her chest. “A gift?”

“Yea, open it.” He placed the package into her outstretched hands.

“Thank you.” She held it to her heart. “Whatever it is, I’m grateful…but there’s something I want more.”

King was confused. “But you don’t know what it is, yet.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Fancy stepped even closer. “I need for you to kiss me more than I need anything else.”

King didn’t delay another second. “You’re something else, did you know that?” He drew her into his arms. “What am I going to do with you?”   

As she wrapped her arms around his neck, she gave him her best advice. “Keep me, I hope.”