She had flattered him, cooked for him, and given him the praise and admiring glances that had worked so well on her father when she wanted something from him. She had found out which colours Herd liked best and had endeavoured to wear those when he was around. She wore her luxuriant dark hair several ways when he was around at first, and she watched to see which style pleased him the most. And when she saw that special look of favour for a particular style, she henceforth wore her hair down, flowing free to beneath her shoulders—ignoring her father's looks of disapproval. And then the other special looks from Herd began, and she returned them demurely, as she hoped. Herd was an outspoken man in the book, and she didn't want to scare him off.But Herd was also a man. And she was a young, beautiful, and ripe woman. It didn't take much. A few warm apple pies, a dress in cornflower blue, a special smile, and fluttering eyelashes. Then moments alone on the porch swing after a good dinner,
Abegail sat paralysed, her dream world collapsing about her, as her father and Leonard briefly talked of Leonard's leaving. He was going farther west, into the new Colorado territory. Not east. He was leaving. He was leaving without her, and he was going west, not east—to the even more primitive wilds than the dreary Nolana, not to the opulent, lively cities of the east.Herd hadn't gotten a foot off the front porch, however, before Abegail let out a wail of betrayal and despair and ran past her father to the door out onto the porch, spewing out all that she and Leonard had done and that she was sure that she was pregnant by him now and that, as a man of God, he surely understood that they were already man and wife.Still not looking at her, Herd covered his embarrassment with his own raging."Man and wife?" he blustered. "I have not lain with you in the eyes of the Book, woman. We have not fornicated within the biblical context. I did nothing in your womb. That would be a sin. You ca
Wally blushed a deep red. "Oh, I'm sorry, so sorry, Abegail. Forgive me. I don't know.""Oh, you needn't be so shy, Wally," she said, giving him an "almost" coquettish smile, not wanting to scare him away, though. "You've been so good to me. It's the twentieth century now. We can show our feelings for each other.""Our feelings for each other? You have feelings for me too, Abegail? Oh, Abegail."It didn't seem he was going to take the moment any further now, almost as if he'd already surpassed his slow, deliberate courting plan. So Abegail turned his shoulders towards her and took his lips gently with hers.His kiss was sweet, but he was handling her like glass. This just wasn't developing fast enough for Abegail. If the length and breadth of her world were going to be Slater and Wally Holland, they might as well get on with it. She opened her lips to his light touch there, took his hand, and placed it on her breast. There wasn't much for Wally to feel th
The pressure of his fingers on Abegail's hand was almost unbearable. He was electricity; he was fire. She melted to his touch. "Yes, oh yes, I would," she managed to say in a strained, small voice."And what would you do to be able to go to the World's Fair, Abegail?""Anything... anything," Abegail answered breathlessly. He was stripping away all defences and anything but a totally honest response."If you come with me back to my room, Abegail, I will take you to the World's Fair tomorrow."When Wally returned, not having found the catalogue anywhere in the storeroom, the store proper was, of course, empty. The missing catalogue was lying on top of the showcase Cole had been leaning against.Cole had Abegail stripped down to her corselet expertly in no time after they had gotten to his room at the hotel. She had no idea what to do, but he was doing it all. They were sitting side by side on his bed, and he was encasing her shoulders with one arm and pushing her bodice down to below he
And she lifted her arms to him, and he came to and into her. And he was gentle and he was expert, and she arched her back and cried out in pleasured pain as his gentle-as-possible piercing deflowered her, and then, increasingly, she cried out in passion and shared lust and pleasure as he moved more assuredly and deeper and more possessively inside her and as he held her tightly to him, one hand on the small of her back and the other buried in her hair. He devoured her lips and nipples with kisses even as he filled and stretched her and moved in and out relentlessly to a mutual flow, sighing and crying out.Abegail was in ecstasy. Just by going down the Pike, pulling an amused Cole Raven behind her, she was transported to Rome, Jerusalem, Paris, the Tyrolean Alps, Siberia, an Eskimo village, Japan, and a floating trip through the whole of creation. Her world was limitless now, just as she had known it would be if only she could get to the St. Louis World's Fair. The Pike was t
"We'll see, Cole," she said in a prissy little voice, and he removed his stroking hand from her forearm. "We'll just have to see." At least she now knew what Cole had been giving her such a complete and hurried course in lovemaking. And there was a glimmer now of leverage she could have over Cole. Yes, she'd try—but she'd just have to see what he was suggesting.They met Cole's brother, Jasper, at a restaurant in a pavilion at the Palace of Fine Arts for lunch. Jasper was a little like his brother. He was as handsome and finely constructed as Cole, but he was more like Wally Holland in disposition than he was like Cole. He was very shy and quiet. But he was Cole's brother, so Abegail turned her full charm on him, and Jasper was mesmerised by her. Before lunch was over, Abegail was convinced that Jasper would follow her anywhere or do anything for her that she asked him to do. She learned that Jasper lived in the Lake District of north-central Indiana, where he would be opening an insu
She didn't know how long Shaffer had been standing in the room, watching them in their possessed lust, before she noticed him. But when she did, he was standing there, near the table, with a sloppy grin on his face and his eyes hooded in arousal. He held both the brandy snifter and a smoking cigar in one hand, and he had his trousers fly open and his penis out and was stroking himself with the other hand. His member wasn't as big as Abegail thought Vaughn's must be, but it was a large one.At length, he came over behind Vaughn and leaned down, put his head on Vaughn's shoulder, and took Abegail's lips in his. He was a fine, sensual kisser. Then he put his lips in Abegail's ear, told her she was beautiful, and then spoke. "Cole tells me of your lovemaking with your Kansas beau. I want you now too. May I have permission to join you two, Mam? May I mount?"Abegail was gasping, lost in the ploughing that Vaughn was giving her. And she wanted Shaffer too. She simply rolled her eyes and smi
But Abegail's world was destined to challenge and surprise her and deny her any promise of stability. Just as she was beginning to adjust to this world and a future with Wally Holland, her world had collapsed inside her.She let out a little, involuntary sob as the last of the children filed out of the schoolhouse. She busied herself briefly inside, setting up for the lessons of the next day, and then, with a sigh of resignation, a sigh that had a little catch of a sob in it, she closed the schoolhouse door and walked down the path to the street, easel and paints in hand, bound for an escape into the world of her art."Howdy, Miss Abegail," Horace the postman sang out as he came up the road on his bicycle."Howdy back at you, Mr. Trap," Abegail called to him.He tipped his hat. "Mighty fine day, Miss Abegail, but it will turn cold soon enough. You off to Holland's to be the first to snag one of those newfangled electric heaters that man from the fair over in St. Louis is pushing?"Tha
Our kisses continued. It was as if once we started, we couldn’t stop. I managed to unbutton several of the buttons on Lyca’s dress and, when I slipped my hand inside it, I made a delightful discovery. “You…you aren’t wearing a bra!” I whispered between kisses.“I know, I feel so naughty,” Lyca whispered in reply. Her hand slid up my leg and encountered my swollen organ, which was straining uncomfortably against my slacks. A smile formed on Lyca’s lips “What’s this?” she murmured. She gently moved her hand over it.“Uh!” I moaned softly. I knew we had to be careful because we certainly didn’t want the other passengers waking up and seeing what we were doing. “What...what do you think it is?” Delightful sensations were sweeping through me as a result of her gentle caresses and kisses.Lyca kept stroking me, making me even harder. At the same time, I was caressing her breasts and nipples, which had grown erect. I could feel her shudder when I flicked my thumb over one of them. I slipped m
It was a while before either of us had enough strength to move. Finally, Lyca put her arms around me and laid her head on my shoulder. “You are incredible!” she murmured. “I...I can’t get enough of you. The minute you touch me I want you!”“I feel the same way about you,” I told her.She looked at me and smiled. “You know, we should really get out of the shower before we wind up looking like a couple of pink prunes,” she giggled.We finished washing, then got out and playfully toweled each other dry. While Lyca finished doing what she needed to do in the bathroom, I went back to her bedroom and got dressed.Wearing the purple robe, Lyca walked into the bedroom a few minutes later. “After I get dressed, I’m going to call the travel agent,” she said.“All right,” I said. “I love you.”She smiled at me and said, “I love you, too.” Then she walked across the room and hugged me fiercely. “I didn’t ever think I’d say that to anyone,” she said softly. “You can’t imagine how wonderful it feel
We got up. Lyca began clearing the table while I rinsed off the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. After I put the last of the dishes in the machine I dried my hands on a dish towel, walked over to the table, which Lyca had just finished wiping. I put my arms around her, and kissed her. She returned the kiss avidly.After the kiss ended, I cupped Lyca’s delectable bottom in my hands and pulled her middle against mine. Then I turned her around, backed her to the kitchen table, lifted her up and sat her on it.“What on earth do you think you’re doing?” Lyca asked.My lips again covered hers and I untied the belt that held her robe closed. My hands slid inside the robe, onto her soft, warm skin, and I cupped her breasts and my thumbs tweaked her nipples to full, tingling erection.My penis grew erect and tented the front of my slacks as I worked on Lyca’s glorious breasts. I spread Lyca’s robe even farther apart, moved between her bare, silken legs, cupped her buttocks, and pressed a
Lyca rolled over and was kissing me, hugging me, and babbling excitedly. "I love you! Oh, God, I love you!" she gushed. "That was fantastic! I never knew making love could feel that wonderful! God! I love you! I love you!""I love you, too," I told her, returning her kisses. "What just happened was the best it's ever been for me."Lyca gazed down at me, her eyes wide and filled with adoration. "Was it really?" she asked, looking surprised. "Not even with your wife?""It never came close to that with Natalie," I told her. "I never knew making love could be that wonderful." I kissed her again."I'm glad you came back into my life," she whispered. "You can't imagine how glad." Her hands were traveling over me and her face took on a serious expression when she touched the bandage on my shoulder. "How is your shoulder?" she asked."It's getting better all the time," I replied."It terrifies me to think you could have been killed," she said as her hands continued moving over me."It kinda s
My emotions were in turmoil. From dreading what she was going to say I'd gone to a state of near-euphoria. "I...love you, too," I stammered. I took another sip of my coffee, another deep breath, then said, "I'm in love with you."Lyca gazed at me, her expression unreadable. My heart thudded like a jackhammer. What was her response going to be?She squeezed my arm, smiled, and said, "I'm in love with you, too. I knew it the minute you walked back into my life the other day."I couldn't breathe. Lyca had just told me she was in love with me! I couldn't believe it! My fondest dream had become reality!Then, for some reason, things seemed to get strained between us. For some reason, having admitted our love for each other left us not knowing what to do or say next. We at there on the sofa, looking at each other.It was clear to me nothing was going to happen unless one of us did something, so I slid closer to Lyca. She kept staring at me.When I put my arm around her shoulder, she sighed
“No, and I’m not sure I want to again,” I replied. “I’ve never seen anyone as wild as Gleason was.” My ribs still hurt like mad. I winced when I opened the door of my car.Harkins shook his head. “You ought to get those ribs looked at,” he said. “He coulda broke one, kicking you like that.”“Probably did,” I said. “Maybe I will stop at the hospital and have them checked.”“You take care,” he said. “I’m not sure I’d have done it the way you did, but you got two prime assholes out of our hair this week. I’d say that’s enough for anyone. Take it easy for a while, OK?”“You have my word on it, Lieutenant,” I said.The doctor in the emergency room told me my ribs were seriously bruised, but not broken. “Take it easy for a while and you’ll be just fine,” he said. “And I’d stay away from strenuous exercise for a week or so.”“Doc, I plan to sleep for a week or so,” I told him.I left the hospital and drove home. I wanted to see Lyca, but I needed rest, too, and she probably could stand some
I dropped the binoculars, stood up and, standing in the combat position, aimed my pistol at him. He fired another shot. Before he could work the bolt action on his rifle, I yelled, “Freeze, Gleason! Drop the gun!”He stiffened, turned, and continued working the action on the rifle. I fired at him, aiming for the middle of his body. The rifle flew out of his hands and he went over backward.Moving carefully, I approached him, holding my gun on him. I was pretty sure I’d hit him. I seldom miss what I’m shooting at. He laid there on his back, very still, with his eyes closed. I peered at him, trying to see where the wound was. I couldn’t, so I stepped closer. Too close.Gleason suddenly came to life. His leg came up quickly, too quickly for me to avoid it, and he kicked the gun out of my hand. The next thing I knew, roaring like a wild man, he was on me, his weight carrying me back, taking me off my feet. When we hit the ground, the wind was knocked out of me and, before I could get to m
“Noticed that he checked the brakes,” Moose said. “You’d think he’d trust a couple of trustworthy-looking guys like us.”I handed Moose a hundred dollars.“What’s this?” he asked.“A bonus for doing a good job today,” I said.“What do you think he’s going to do when he hears that tape you put in the car?” Moose asked.The only thing I did to Gleason’s car was put a tape I made up in the tape deck. It was set to run quietly for a while before the message kicked in, so he’d be well away from the building before he heard it. The message said, “We could have gotten you again today, but we didn’t. This is your last warning. Leave Mrs. Wilkins alone or we’ll get serious. We’ve already proved we can get to you any time we want. By the way, have you gotten your place cleaned up yet?”“I hope he cans this shit he’s been pulling on our client, but I don’t think he will,” I said.“So that shit you planned for tonight is still on?” Moose asked as he wheeled the van through traffic.I nodded. “I t
“You want me to call the police, Mr. Gleason?” the security guard asked.Gleason looked at the guard, then at me. I tried to look impatient. Moose shuffled around, looking as if he wanted to go, too.“They’re not going to find anything, any more than they did yesterday, the incompetent fools,” Gleason said finally. He looked at the car, then at me. “You sure you can have it done and back here by three?” he asked.“No problem, Mr. Gleason,” I said. “Me and Moose, we’ll do the job ourselfs, won’t we, Moose. We’ll tell the boss it’s one ‘a them priority jobs, right?”“Yeah, we’ll do that,” Moose said.Gleason looked at the security guard. “File a report on this with the police, but tell them I sent the car to be repaired and they don’t have to come over,” he said. He turned to me. “Go ahead and fix it. If I have the damn lease company fix it, they’ll just charge me extra and they probably wouldn’t get it fixed today.”“Where do you want me to bring it at, what, three?” I asked.“Be out f