Chapter Sixteen
Matthew yawned and opened his eyes. There was something soft and warm in his bed. He could not believe he had gone to sleep then decided his injuries and recurrent bouts of fever had taken their toll as everyone had warned him they would. He glanced down and realized the soft warmth he was clutching close was Abigail. He grinned. The night may have been lost but the new day had only just begun, he mused.
He pulled her close and kissed her throat. She was warm and sweet. To his delight she had shed her gown before crawling into bed with him. She wore her drawers, stockings, and chemise. He unlaced her chemise and kissed her soft rounded breasts. A soft murmur escaped her and she cuddled up closer.
Abbie slowly woke up and snuggled into the warmth. Drowsy, she murmured in pleasure when a damp warmth played over her breasts. Slowly she realized that Matthew was wide-awake now and taking full advantage. She wondered if she should get angry but found no inclination to do so and smiled as he ran his hands over her back.
She slipped her hands over his chest and realized he was in as great a state of undress as she was. Then he kissed her and she realized he sensed she was awake. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with a sleepy passion.
Matthew knew Abbie was awake but she was also still caught in the last hold of sleep, her kiss slow and delicious but her every move equally slow. She acted as if she was in some strange waking dream.
Even as his own body grew more demanding, he wondered if he should stop this until she was fully herself. He turned so that she was on her back and he sprawled on top of her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and held him close.
“Abbie, are ye really awake?”
“Of course I am.” She kissed the hollow at the base of his throat. “Do you think I could even move if I wasn’t?”
“No idea. Have never really slept with ye.” She rubbed herself against his groin and his eyes crossed. “I just wanted to be sure.”
“Are you always so talkative in the morning?”
“Ah, nay.”
“Thank God.”
His laughter was cut off by her mouth. Her kiss was hungry, even greedy, and he held her tightly as he returned that hunger. Whatever was making Abbie so willing, even subtly demanding, he would have to figure it out later. He was reaching the sharp edge of his ability to play, his body demanding the satisfaction her kisses promised. He tried to hold fast as he wanted slow and easy, felt they had both earned it, but with each moment that ticked by he knew that this would not be the time.
When his mouth closed over the tip of her breast, Abbie’s body bowed upward. She knew he was taking off her drawers but did not care, simply lifted her hips to make it easier. He eased into her so slowly she was tempted to pound her fists on his back so that he would move. She slid her hands down his back and clutched at his bottom, which prompted the movement she was seeking. As she settled into the rhythm he set, meeting his every thrust, she told herself she should remember that.
Matthew pushed himself up on his forearms and watched the way their bodies moved together. He looked at her breasts, neither too large nor too small, with their hard red nipples, and had to have a taste. He tasted the other and by then his body was tightening, the sharp need for release building with every thrust. He bent his head and kissed her as she tightened her grip on his hips.
When he felt her begin to tense, her grip on him tighten, he rubbed at her breasts. She was making very soft little sounds of pleasure that were music to his ears. Then he felt her reach her release, felt her whole body clench on his, and slammed home to join her. As soon as his body was done emptying into hers, he slumped down, twisting a little to the side so that his whole weight did not rest on her. They both panted for a short time while they got their breathing back under control.
“Good morning,” Abbie said in as prim a voice as she could muster and felt Matthew grin against her shoulder.
“Good morning to ye as weel.”
“Do we have to move anytime soon?”
“Nay. I am a sick mon, recall.”
“Oh no! I can’t believe I didn’t even think of that.”
Abbie patted his chest, looked at his wounds, and sat up enough to give him a delightful look at her breasts. He crossed his arms beneath his head and just smiled as he enjoyed her frantic checking to make sure she had not hurt him. Then she spoiled his pleasure by yanking on the hair on his chest.
“I am all concerned and you are just lying there grinning like a buffoon.”
“A lusty buffoon. And I wasnae just lying here, I was enjoying the scenery. I was watching your lovely breasts bounce a bit as ye checked my poor used body for signs of injury caused by your voracious hunger.”
Abbie really wanted to laugh but she also did not want to encourage him. She could not quite form an offended expression so she just shook her head and hid her expression by turning to pick up her clothes. She was finding it a little difficult to believe what had just happened. She had been having a nice dream, a romantic one, as she had slowly roused herself from a good, deep sleep and somehow that dream had turned into a rather lusty reality. A few times she had caught her mother laughing and blushing at some strange comment her father had made about mornings and she was suddenly sure she knew what the joke had been.
The moment she got her chemise done up and her drawers back on she stood up to put on her dress. The man had left her stockings on but she decided not to mention that and ask why, as she was afraid of what he would say. It appeared she was a thoroughly naughty woman and should probably do what several people had advised and just do the proposing herself.
Unfortunately, he could just say no, and the thought alone broke her heart. She would never be able to stand it. So she would go and try to have something to eat and some coffee before Jeremiah woke and started to demand food, a change, and some affection.
“I need food and coffee,” she said and started for the door.
“Going to bring me some?”
He sounded so annoyingly cheerful, she thought as she turned to stare at him, pausing as if in thought. There was the look of a sweet hopeful puppy on his face and she had to wonder how a grown man could do that. She tapped her finger against her chin a couple of times, took a deep breath, and said “No.” With her back straight she walked out of the room and quietly shut the door behind her.
The moment the door shut, Matthew buried his face in his pillow and howled with laughter. As he caught his breath, he then wondered if he had offended her with his teasing but could not feel that he had. Getting out of bed he washed up, cleaned his teeth, and started to get dressed. He had no idea what he should or should not do now that a new day was here and hoped someone would have some project or job he could help with. He needed something to do, something useful yet not enough to strain his wounds. He suspected Iain would have some simple but needed chores he could dole out to him.
* * *
Abigail followed the scent of food and coffee into the kitchen. “Morning, Emily. Hope you had a good and quiet night.”
“Actually I did. Young Niall’s teeth have broken through and I had nearly a full night of sleep. Sadly I then woke up to a man.”
“Oh yes, waking up to a man can be a sore trial.” Abbie poured herself some coffee and set it on the table then looked for something to eat.
“I know. I was in a good, playful mood and now it has flown.”
“As was I, and it is also gone, because they will then spoil that mood by talking.”
“Exactly. Or even worse, attempt to make a joke, at that time of the day.”
“The sheer effrontery of it leaves one speechless.”
Abbie heard a giggle by the stove and peeked behind her to see Mrs. O’Neal making eggs and chortling away to herself. “Perhaps it flew to her.”
“Well, then, she will have a very, very good day.”
“I should say so.”
Mrs. O’Neal ran out of the kitchen and stood on the back porch laughing heartily. Emily and Abbie just smiled at each other and began to help themselves to oatmeal and some fruit. Abbie stood up to deal with the eggs and Emily got some cream to put on the fruit. By the time they sat back down to eat Mrs. O’Neal was back at the stove cooking bacon.
“I thought I might wander into town today,” said Emily.
“I thought it was nearly deserted because of all the troubles?”
“No. People have been carefully slipping back and trying to have normal lives for a year or so now. The general store has reopened. It is next to the saloon, which was utterly ruined last year. I thought it would be enjoyable to go see what they are carrying, if anything. I was rather hoping some of the trading routes had opened up again. Do you wish to come along? You too, Mrs. O’Neal?”
“Very nice of you to ask, Emily, but I have several things I need to bake and store, others to just store. Just picked a lot of the first berries of the spring and need to make them into jam.”
“Perhaps we should stay and help,” said Abbie.
“No. I don’t need help so badly you two cannot go do a little shopping. You can lend a hand before you go and after you come back if you want. I have been doing these things for so many years, it is barely work at all.”
“I doubt we will be in town all that long anyway. Even if a store is open it must be having a difficult time getting supplies or stock to sell. I just like to go in every now and then so I can see what is changing, what is coming back, and what is truly gone.”
“That is a very good idea. We need to know that to know if where we go now is still the best choice or if we may soon have a proper place to get our supplies closer at hand. Just be careful. There are still a lot of rough men about who seem to be eager to kill anyone and steal anything.”
“I will take my rifle with us,” said Abbie.
“Can you shoot it well?” asked Mrs. O’Neal.
“Better than me,” said Matthew as he walked into the kitchen, a yawning Iain right behind him.
“Who’s getting shot?” asked Iain as he sat down next to Emily and swiftly kissed her cheek.
“I was just talking about Abbie’s skill with a rifle.” Matthew poured himself some coffee and took a seat next to her. “Her da said she had a good eye.”
“Huh.”
“Why huh?” asked Emily.
“Because it is not often a skill a woman has. They can use the gun, maybe wound something, but a good eye and a good shot is just not something you often find in a woman.” He narrowed his eyes at his wife. “And ye will let me keep rambling until I say something ye can start a fight about, aye?”
“Aye,” Emily said cheerfully then finished her coffee. “You were doing very well. It would have been a fine argument if you had not caught on and shut your mouth.” She winked at Matthew who was having a quiet laugh. “We are planning a trip to town.”
“If ye take your rifle and plenty of ammunition and dinnae stay too long, it should be all right,” said Matthew “After all, they have hit the town so often it emptied out and a lot of the Confederates are running after the battles, which means heading down Virginia way. I would say we could take a ride round the town to do a wee bit of scouting but I am nay allowed to ride until my wounds close.”
“Weel, there are seven of us, we ought to be able to find enough to do that without risking your delicate health.”
“Thank ye, dear brother, your kindness is boundless.”
“Shall we go then?” asked Abbie.
“We’ll just collect up what we need and what we must.”
Emily stood and headed out of the kitchen and Abbie quickly followed her. Matthew frowned but could not see any true danger to what they planned. Charlotte and George still lived in the town and several others had begun to return to the place. The men that had chased him and the others as they traveled here had not come from the direction of the town but from the direction of the troublesome border with Missouri.
“Are ye sure Abbie can protect them if it is needed?” asked Iain.
“Aye. She is nearly a crack shot. Steady arm and keen eye.”
“And she has no trouble shooting men?”
“I don’t think so. Only showed a hint once and that was when the man turned and faced her and he was not that far away. But otherwise, I think she soothes her mind and heart about it somehow.”
* * *
“I truly cannot believe they let us go. With both the babies!” Emily shook her head as she drove the cart along the road to the town. “We better not get injured or endangered in any way or I will be bound to the house until I am old and gray.”
“I can shoot, you know,” said Abbie.
“I’m sure you can, but it has been rather dangerous around here for several years now and Iain is good at worrying. To be fair, I know why, I have all his children with me, Nuala, his son, and Ned. How did you learn to shoot so well?”
“My da had a rifle and I think he was just playing about when he handed it to me one day and pointed out a pinecone he wanted me to shoot. He showed me how to hold the gun, aim it, and fire it. Then I did. Hit the pinecone. He said I had the gift, that some people just can and others can practice all they want and can’t. For a while he took bets on what I could shoot and made a nice little pile of money.”
“You can make money off shooting?”
“Lots of men are more than ready to take a bet on what some little woman can or cannot shoot. They are so sure they can beat her.”
“I would like to be able to shoot but all I manage to do is accidentally kill some poor bird flying by. The minute I try to fire the rifle up, it goes and I get rained on by feathers.” As she waited for Abbie to stop laughing, she looked at the shawl Abbie was carrying Jeremiah in. “How do you tie those on and keep the babe safe inside?”
“I will show you when we get back to the house. It is surprisingly easy. I was taught by a pretty farmgirl down the road from us in Pennsylvania. She traded the knowledge and a pretty scarf for hints on how to shoot her gun as she was fed up with the teasing of her brothers when they went hunting.”
Abbie looked all around her as they drove. It was a nice piece of woodland but she did not trust tree coverage. It was a favorite place for the outlaws to hide and attack. She hoped the men were successful in their circular scouting party because she really was fed up with the attacks she had been under lately.
When Emily drew up in front of what had undoubtedly been a saloon, Abbie was shocked by how much had been destroyed. All the glass had been cleaned up off the walk in front of it but none of the smashed windows had been fixed.
“The store is the attached building. It has all its windows.” Emily got down and then lifted her basket. Abbie got a quick view of waving little arms before Emily covered them with a blanket.
Adjusting Jeremiah against her chest, Abbie followed. There were people outside the store and a decent amount of people inside. The store may have lagged in its selection but its prices were edging swiftly up into the highway robbery range. She suspected most general stores were the same. Just out of curiosity’s sake she would have to think of someone back East she could write to and ask.
While Ned and Nuala looked over the candy, she walked toward a small collection of children’s books and sighed. These would have been useful to her a month ago. Carefully going through the pile she decided she would have to give it some thought because once she collected Noah and Wags, storybooks were definitely going to be needed.
“You need some books?”
Looking at Emily, Abbie nodded. “Where I was staying they had very few and, unless you wanted to steal from some person’s house, you just had to make up a story for the children.”
“And you are thinking it might be a wise thing to get for young Noah when he joins you.”
“Exactly.” Abbie frowned. “Unless he is so angry with me he has tossed out the idea of living with me.”
* * *
“Do you think she will be mad at me for coming?”
“You have asked that a hundred times. No, I don’t believe so. If she really said you were to join her, then you will join her, just earlier than she had planned. So why not go back and wait?”
“No, I will give her that chance.”
Reid looked over his shoulder. “That is truly noble of you, son.”
“I know you are just being scratchy, but this is serious.”
“Scratchy?”
“Yup. You know, saying something just to poke at a people.” He made a strange noise and twisted his fingers.
“Do you mean rub it in?”
“That’s it! Abbie might be a little mad with me to start, but then she’ll be all happy to see me. I bet even the lieutenant will be.”
“If you believe it. I will like meeting this man traveling around with my sister.” Reid felt a nudge at his side and looked down to see a red curly head peering around his arm, big brown eyes narrowed as the boy tried to detect a lie or insult.
“You know you really shouldn’t have made me take you along with me.”
“Why? You’re going to find Abbie and I know where she was going and I want to see her, too.”
“Logic from a four-year-old. What is the world coming to?”
“I’m five.”
“So old.”
“It is my birthday today.”
“Happy birthday.” He pulled a stick of beef jerky out of his coat and handed it over his shoulder to the child. “Here you go. A treat.”
“It’s brown. Treats aren’t s’posed to be brown. ’Less it’s chocolate.”
“This one is brown.”
There was peace and quiet for a moment or two and Reid smiled. He suspected the boy was struggling to eat it but he paid no attention. He had little to do with children but he did not think they were supposed to talk so much. He had to wonder if he was being lied to, but the child had been so determined, following him for a long way with his bag and his puppy, that he had finally given up trying to make him go away. It did not help that he could not make himself desert the boy.
He thought of Abbie and smiled. She may not have promised she would take him in but he doubted she would send the child away either. She had a soft heart. He rather thought the two of them would make a great pair. He hoped she was still all right.
Thinking of her made him think of his parents but he forced the sadness that brought aside. There had been nothing he could have done about it except grieve, and he had done enough of that lately. All he had to worry about now was that he was not found by the Confederate Army, for they could well charge him with being a deserter. The fate of such men was not one he wished to meet.
* * *
Abbie looked around when they stepped back out onto the street. They had each bought a few small things and enough material to make something for the babies. The cloth was the most expensive, and she suspected it would be costly for quite a while. Matthew said they had yarn made from the wool so she might be able to get some of that to make something.
She stroked Jeremiah’s back as she walked, noticing that, although there were not many people, at least the town was not completely deserted. She did not think it would come back to what it appeared to have been though. There were some messages and grim notices hanging on a few of the houses. Notes to whatever relative might come by to tell them where the family was or a death notice, probably put up so the person searching would know there was no more point in doing so. She thought of the message she had left for her brother and hoped he would see it. He would at least find out that she still lived.
“I rather think this town is going to die, don’t you?”
“I do. I was just reading a few of these papers tacked up on some of the houses. They are not hopeful. Not a single one saying, ‘Wait here. I will come back.’ New directions or death notices. Mostly for young men. That is one of the saddest things about wars. I have read a lot about wars, from the ancient wars to the English wars, to the Greek wars, and they all share one thing. War devours the young and strong.”
“It does, doesn’t it? It is as if someone decides we are getting too many and starts one of these to cut down the numbers.”
“I really hope that is not the case. It is darker and holds less hope than what I said. My dark remark was just a cold fact whereas yours is almost a prophecy.”
“I’m English.”
“Yes, I noticed. What does that have to do with it?”
“We are a naturally dour people.”
“I thought it was the Scots who were dour.”
“Huh, I think you may be right. Well, the English are definitely gloomy. Our weather is terrible and it is all we ever talk about.” Emily smiled when Abbie giggled.
“I think it is nearing the middle of the day,” Emily said a short while later as she glanced up at the sky.
“The sun certainly feels like it.”
“Then let us go home and have some lunch. At least we don’t have to buy food.”
“And that is a true blessing.”
Looking behind them Abbie saw a couple of rough-looking men ambling along as if they were not following them, but they were not walking toward anything either, and that made her wonder. They were the first lone men she had seen in the town. Abbie hoped they were not as bad as they looked, but she took Emily by the arm and gently urged her toward the wagon.
“Is something wrong?” Emily asked quietly.
“I don’t think so, or rather have no proof. It is just that two men are walking along behind us, but what are they walking toward? There is nothing down here to interest them.”
“Another reason to head home.”
Emily hurried the children into the wagon, settled the babies in their little boxes then climbed in and picked up the reins. Abbie got up beside her and pulled out her rifle, holding it openly across her arms. As Emily started the wagon rolling, Abbie checked the ammunition in her rifle. She had known it was loaded but this action let the men know it was loaded as well. They did not run off but they did suddenly find something of interest in the opposite direction.
“I do hope the rough ones brought out by the war disappear soon,” Abbie said.
“They’ll head west like many others. Everyone thinks they can make their fortune out there in the mines and so on.”
“Only if they discover the mine.”
“That is what I said to a friend of mine once when she talked of her fiancé going out there. Well, he went, ending up working some horrible mine for a year, and then got blown up in some silly mine accident. You would have thought I had personally cursed the fool. Fortunately, we moved from that place in a very short while so being treated as an evil witch was short-lived.”
“I didn’t know anyone believed in witches any longer.”
“In some areas they do, enough so one tale can grow and grow until it sounds absurd to anyone not from the area.”
“Sometimes not being from the area is enough.”
“True, and unfortunately I cannot hide the fact that I am English.”
“Get Iain to teach you how to talk like he does.”
Emily laughed. “Tempting, but I am what I am.” Emily looked at Abbie for a while and asked, “Are you in love with Matthew?”
Abigail sighed. “I rather think I am. Why?”
“Just wondering. I think he is in love with you.”
“And why do you think that?”
“Just the way he acts. And talks. And made sure the chests with your things in them were put in his room. Mrs. O’Neal started to lecture him, just as she lectured Iain once upon a time, and he just looked at her and said, ‘Don’t,’ and she didn’t.”
“And what does that prove?”
“That he wouldn’t let the woman say anything that might make you sound less of a lady. She wouldn’t mean that you were, but her lecture can get a bit colorful. He also had no intention no matter what she said of having you be separate from him.”
Abbie frowned. “I suspect those could be good signs, but I want words.”
“Doesn’t every girl?”
“I know, deep inside, the man would never speak the words unless he meant them.”
“I had to hear the words, too.” Emily sighed. “Some of it was because I believed they should be said and some because I can be a silly romantic but, under it all, is just what you said. I knew if he said the words they were true, they were meant, and I could trust in them. So, are you going to make him say it first or will you marry him if asked and hope for them after?”
“He will say them before or I will punch him right in the nose.”
Emily laughed so hard she woke her son and had to spend the remainder of the ride home calming him down.