Wagon Trail Bride Page 14

  “No,” he whispered. “I’m just going to try something different.”

  She relaxed and settled back on the ground, giving him a perfect view of her body. He leaned over her and kissed her sensitive nub. Letting out a murmur for him to continue, she spread her legs further to give him better access to her.

  He hadn’t seen her this uninhibited before. This was wonderful. More than wonderful really. It was exciting him to no end. He resumed his stroking, noting the way her core tightened around him, prompting him to stay there. And really, he had no intention of leaving. Not until she received the pleasure due to her.

  Opening his mouth, he brushed her sensitive nub with his tongue. This time when she gasped, he knew it was from enjoyment. It was taking time to learn her subtle cues, but each time they came together, he figured out something new. This one only furthered aroused him. He traced her nub with his tongue, and when this brought forth another gasp, he continued to tease that part of her body.

  Soon, she was rocking her hips, wiggling against him, and moaning in earnest. In time, she climaxed, grasping his arm and calling out his name. Then, her core clenched around his fingers and her body jerked with each wave of pleasure as her orgasm coursed through her.

  He lifted his head, intrigued to know what she looked like when she was at the height of ecstasy. And she looked just as he’d expected, absolutely beautiful. She was always beautiful, of course, but she looked even more so at this moment.

  When she relaxed, she opened her eyes and turned her gaze to him. He lowered the skirt of her dress then settled next to her. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her, mindful not to let his arousal prompt him to be more assertive than he should.

  He’d received pleasure so much already from their times together. This time was about her, not him. He fully intended to stop when they were finished kissing, but she prompted him on to his back.

  “Are you sure?” he asked in surprise, realizing she’d meant to keep going.

  “I want to touch you,” she replied, keeping her voice low. “To know what it’s like. Is that alright?”

  “Of course. Anything you want to do is alright.”

  He helped her unbutton his denims and slid them down to his ankles. He thought she intended to get on top of him, but instead she traced his erection with her fingers. Oh, that felt good. Much better than when he did it.

  “I don’t think I’m going to last long,” he warned her. Especially not after he’d just had the pleasure of bringing her to completion.

  This time she was the one who lowered her head to kiss him. With a shy smile, she said, “Don’t hold back. I want to get to know you better, and this is a part of you.”

  Reaching up, he cupped her face with one hand and gave her another kiss, this one far more passionate than the others. As much as he tried to restrain himself, he couldn’t. She was doing and saying all the right things, letting him know Joe was wrong, that she wasn’t pretending she wanted him.

  Her fingers went back to his erection, and this time, she didn’t seem so timid about touching him. She ran her fingers along his tip then down his shaft. He groaned and shifted his hips so his penis rubbed more intimately against her. In response, she wrapped her hand around him. Oh, this was better. And it got even better when she brought her hand up his shaft, to his tip, and then brought it back to his base.

  He brought his hand over hers and encouraged her to do it again. She followed his lead and continued the movement, soon establishing a rhythm that was guaranteed to have him at the peak before long.

  He released her hand and gave himself completely to the moment. His lips left hers, and he kissed her neck, murmuring her name as he teased her skin by brushing her sensitive skin with his tongue. Just as she’d rocked her hips, he found himself doing the same, an action which ensured her stroking was faster.

  He held off on the inevitable for as long as he could, but when he couldn’t take it anymore, he let her know he was about to peak. With a soft cry, he stilled and released his seed. She stopped stroking him. He thought she’d let go of him since things did get messy when he climaxed, but she continued holding him, and this only served to heighten his orgasm.

  Once the waves of pleasure subsided, she released him. He settled back and brought her into his arms. For the longest time, he couldn’t seem to focus. But slowly, in due time, his breathing and his heart rate returned to normal.

  He tightened his hold on her and kissed her forehead. She had no idea how much all of this meant to him. There was no way she could know, and honestly, he couldn’t properly explain it to her anyway. It was just that, at this moment, he felt complete. There was no doubt in his mind that she was with him because she wanted to be, not because she had to be. She’d told him at the hotel she wouldn’t have married anyone else, and this only confirmed it. After what she went through with Mr. Price, she wouldn’t have been willing to do this with anyone else but him. Richard just knew it. Deep down, he had no doubt about her feelings for him. Maybe she didn’t know she loved him yet, but he knew it. He smiled and continued to enjoy this wonderful moment.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Two days later, the air was unusually humid, probably because of the rain from the day before. The rain had not only brought the humidity, but it’d also brought an onslaught of mosquitos. No matter how many times Amanda swatted the pesky things away, more would come. Even Laura, who was usually known for her cheerfulness, was grumbling about them.

  “If I’d known we’d be so miserable today, I wouldn’t have prayed for the rain,” she said.

  “Be careful what you wish for,” Amanda joked.

  Laura’s jaw dropped. “I can’t believe it.”

  “Can’t believe what?”

  “You told a joke.”

  Amanda bit her lower lip. Was she that somber?

  Laura smiled. “It’s nice to see you happy for a change.”

  Laura’s mother called out to her.

  “I better go to her,” Laura said. “Ma has a really hard time when it comes to bugs. She hates mosquitos more than I do.”

  Amanda watched Laura as she hurried over to her mother. Her eyebrows furrowed. Exactly how did Laura’s mother expect her to help out with the mosquitos? It wasn’t like Laura could will them away.

  Such a matter wasn’t her concern. Amanda hadn’t made it a habit of sticking her nose in other people’s business, and she wasn’t about to start now. Facing forward, she focused on the path in front of her. Another bug buzzed by her face, and she swatted at it. Soon, it returned, bringing over a couple of its friends. With a sigh, she lowered the bonnet around her face, hoping it would help. And it did, to a point.

  The day wore on, and it was probably the awful humidity and bugs that distracted her so she didn’t notice the pain in her lower back right away. By the time she did, it’d been going on for some time, and worse, the pain was winding its way to the front. It reminded her of menstrual cramps, but she knew she shouldn’t be having those, not when she was expecting. She quickly dismissed it as a side effect of walking on such a humid day, weighed down by damp petticoats and a skirt.

  But when the pain grew sharp and centered in her pubic region, she knew it wasn’t the unusually hot day that was to blame. Something was wrong with the pregnancy. Her sister had gone through two miscarriages, and the symptoms were too similar to ignore what was happening.

  She came to a stop, struggling to catch her breath. The world around her seemed to lose focus though she was acutely aware of a couple of things. The fly buzzing near her ear, the sweat trickling down her back, and the breeze that did nothing to cool her off. Nausea welled up in her stomach, and before she knew it, her knees buckled and she lost the contents of her breakfast.

  As soon as she was able to inhale, the stench only made her dry heave. Trembling, she crawled away from the spot so she could breathe in fresh air. She only had a moment’s relief before the pain in her abdomen returned. Gasping, she collapsed on the grass. The world til
ted around her. She closed her eyes to avoid dry heaving again. She didn’t realize she was crying until she felt the teardrops on her cheek.

  “Amanda! Amanda!”

  The voice seemed far away, and she couldn’t tell if it came from Richard or Joe. But it helped her focus so she didn’t lose consciousness.

  “Amanda,” someone said, taking her into his arms. He removed her bonnet, allowing more fresh air to get on her face.

  She opened her eyes, and through the tears, she saw Richard.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, brushing her hair from her face.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Swallowing, she finally managed to find her voice. “Don’t tell anyone,” she managed. “Please, don’t tell them.”

  Joe came over. “We need to get her covered. The sun isn’t going to help. Jesse Palmer’s getting his canopy. I’ll help him set it up, and you can put her inside.”

  “Alright,” Richard said.

  She grimaced as the pain intensified. If what happened to her sister also happened to her, then she was coming near the end of it. It had gotten unbearable for her sister right before it was over. And right now, Amanda could barely move, and she couldn’t stop crying no matter how hard she tried.

  “Richard, what do you need?” his mother asked, leaning over her.

  “I, um…” Richard looked down at Amanda, and she shook her head, willing him to understand what she couldn’t come out and say, not with his mother right there. “Um, I need some water. Cold water. Um, some cloths for her forehead. I think the heat got to her”

  “I’ll get them at once,” she said and ran off.

  Jesse and Joe set up the canopy, and Amanda couldn’t help but remember that Elsie had died in there. Despite her apprehension of taking shelter there, she welcomed the relief of the shade as Richard brought her into it and set her on the blanket.

  “I need to get her out of these clothes,” Richard told them. “Can you give us some privacy?”

  “Sure,” Jesse said and nodded for Joe to follow.

  Though Joe didn’t look like he wanted to leave, he sighed and did.

  Gathering her strength, Amanda clutched Richard’s shirt and brought him closer so no one would overhear. “I’m losing the baby. You can’t let anyone know. Please, Richard.”

  “Maybe it’s the heat.”

  She shook her head. “My sister’s been through this. I had to care for her while it happened. I need to get the bloomers and petticoats off. Help me with them.”

  With a nod, he hurried to lift her skirt, pausing for a moment before saying, “There’s blood.”

  “It’s normal.”

  “This isn’t normal, Amanda.”

  “It is for a woman having a miscarriage.” The last part, she barely got out as more pain shot straight into her uterus.

  Without saying anything else, he removed her bloomers and petticoats, and as he was about to roll them up and toss them aside, she grabbed his arm.

  “We need those,” she said through gritted teeth. “Put them under me then help me up.”

  He hesitated for a moment before he pushed her undergarments under her. Afterwards, he put his arms around her and helped her to her knees. As much as she tried to support herself, she had to lean against him. She thought gravity would help the process go quicker, but it was hard to tell if it was faster or not.

  “Richard?” his mother called out from behind the closed makeshift doorway.

  “Just leave the things out there,” he called out. “I’ll get them in a moment.”

  “Are you sure you don’t need me in there?”

  “No. There’s no room in here right now.”

  “Alright. If you need me, I’ll be nearby.”

  Relieved he hadn’t allowed her in, she whispered, “Thank you.”

  He settled his head on top of hers. “I won’t ever do anything you don’t want me to.”

  From there, they fell into silence with only her muffled tears filling the canopy. It was hard to keep track of time when all she wanted was for the pain to end. Mercifully, when the end did come, there was pressure between her legs, and as soon as the pressure was released, the pain came to a sudden end.

  She fell against him, and he tightened his hold on her.

  “Is it over?” he asked.

  “Yes.” Thankfully. “I can lay down now.”

  He helped her settle back on the blanket, wiping the sweat from her brow. “Do you feel better?”

  She nodded. “Yes.” She gestured to the soiled undergarments. “Don’t let anyone see what’s in them.”

  “I won’t.” His gaze went to them, and she noticed his solemn expression. “You were right. You miscarried.”

  He wrapped them up to conceal the evidence so no one would know the truth. Then he adjusted her skirt, making sure she was fully covered. She expected him to take the soiled clothes out when he went to the blanket that served as a doorway, but he brought in the water and cloth his mother had left outside. He dipped the cloth in the pail then pressed the wet cloth to her forehead and her cheeks.

  More tears filled her eyes, but these were different from the ones she’d shed moments ago. He loved her much more than she ever guessed. Who knew how long his love had been so unwavering and steadfast?

  “I don’t deserve you,” she whispered.

  “Don’t talk like that.”

  A tear slid down her cheek, and he wiped it away. She offered a smile before she became aware of how tired she was. She released her breath and closed her eyes. She heard him put the washcloth in the pail, ring out the cloth, and felt him place it on her forehead.

  “I’ll be back,” he said.

  She wanted to reply, but she was too tired. The absence of pain was such a relief, and before she knew it, she drifted off to sleep.

  ***

  As soon as Richard left the makeshift canopy, his mother and Joe came over to him.

  “What happened?” his mother asked. “Is Amanda alright?”

  “She’ll be fine,” he replied.

  Richard glanced at Joe. What was he doing there? Before he snapped at Joe to mind his own business, he recalled Joe was their leader, and that being the case, he was responsible for the welfare of the group. Joe had, after all, been with Jesse while Elsie was giving birth. But even as he reminded himself of these things, he still couldn’t get rid of the nagging sensation that told him there was more to Joe’s interest than whether Amanda was well or not.

  “What can I do to help?” Richard’s mother asked, dragging his attention back to her.

  “Not much,” Richard replied. “She’s asleep.”

  “What happened to her?”

  He hesitated. Amanda didn’t want his mother to find out about the pregnancy, and since Amanda had miscarried, there was no reason to tell her now. It would forever be his and Amanda’s secret. Finally, he said, “She started her woman’s time of month. That’s why these are bloody.” He nodded to the soiled clothes.

  His mother sighed with relief and pressed her hand to her heart. “That’s good. We worried it was something serious. It must have been the heat that made her vomit. That happens to Sally on the first day of her flow if she doesn’t get enough rest when it’s hot out.”

  “It is hotter today than it has been so far this trip,” Joe slowly stated, his guarded expression indicating he wasn’t convinced.

  Well, Richard didn’t need to convince Joe. He only needed to convince his mother. Ignoring Joe, Richard said, “Amanda will need something for her flow. You mind getting whatever that is?”

  “Not at all,” she said. She reached for the soiled clothes. “I’ll wash those.”

  Richard clutched them to his side. “No. I’ll take care of it.” Noting Joe’s raised eyebrows, he explained, “It’s too much work to clean all of this blood. I’m going to bury them.”

  Before Joe could say anything, he stormed off. He shouldn’t let Joe get to him. There was no point in dwelling on their la
st conversation. Richard’s first priority was Amanda. He couldn’t focus on her if he let Joe get under his skin. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Joe wasn’t following him. Good. He wasn’t.

  When he reached his wagon, he took his shirt off and added it to the soiled clothes. Then he washed up and put on a new shirt. From there, he searched through the wagon until he found the shovel his father had insisted on taking along. At the time, he’d thought his father was taking way too much. But now, he was glad his father had a tendency to be a packrat.

  After he found the shovel, he scrambled out of the wagon and retrieved the soiled clothes. When he got back, he’d have to make sure to bring a new dress and new undergarments to Amanda. Then, if she wanted to save the dress, he’d let his mother wash it. Once he finished burying everything, he took a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow.

  Still out of breath, he took the shovel and returned to the wagons. He caught sight of a group of people who were gathered around Joe, and from the looks of it, they weren’t happy. Among the group was his father, but it was hard to tell what his father was saying.

  Richard set the shovel by his wagon and retrieved one of Amanda’s dresses. On his way to the canopy, he heard someone mention Amanda. This couldn’t be good. He made a beeline right for them. If this was about Amanda, then it was his business to know what was going on.

  By the time he reached the group, his father told them, “We’re not going to leave them here. My wife said this is nothing serious. Amanda’s having her woman’s time of month. There’s no reason to panic.”

  “No reason to panic?” Mr. Carmichael snapped. “She threw up.”

  “That’s right,” Mrs. Carmichael agreed. “A woman doesn’t throw up when she’s having her time of month.”

  “She does if she’s hot and exhausted,” Richard’s father said. “It happens to my daughter on occasion. Besides, she had all that blood on her undergarments. If it was something serious, she would have thrown up the blood.”

  “It could be the beginning of something serious,” a woman said. “This could be cholera or typhoid.”