Shotgun Groom Read online

  “I’m going to play in it, and I’m older than you,” Joel replied as he knelt down to pick up some snow which he molded into a snowball before he handed it to Nora.

  Nora took it in her hands which were covered with mittens and stared at it as if she wasn’t sure about it.

  “Live a little, Sep,” Joel said. “Life’s too short to be an old man before your time.”

  Sep’s response was to roll his eyes, pull the blankets up around him and shift so that his head was resting against the back of the seat.

  April lifted the hem of her dress and went over to Joel who broke off a small piece of the snowball and ate it. Nora wrinkled her nose but lifted the snowball to her nose and sniffed it.

  “Do you really like to eat snow?” April asked him as she knelt beside him.

  “Sure. It’s cold.”

  “And?”

  He shrugged and picked up a bit of snow which he held up to Nora’s lips. “That’s it. It’s cold.”

  “Does it taste like anything?”

  “Nope.”

  “So, you’re telling me the only thing you like about it is that it’s cold?”

  “Well, if you pack it down, it crunches when you eat it.”

  Though she had to admit it was strange, she decided to give it a try. She didn’t think he’d tell her he liked it if he didn’t, and if he liked it, then it stood to reason it couldn’t be bad. She dug up a handful of snow and packed it down between her hands so that it formed a nice round ball like the one he made. Bringing it up to her mouth, she bit into it and, sure enough, it didn’t really taste like anything, but it was fun to eat something that cold.

  “What do you think?” Joel asked, watching her.

  With a smile, she said, “It’s not bad.”

  “See? I told you. It’s a treat on a cold, winter’s day. I used to grab cups of snow and take it into the house while I was growing up.”

  “I take it your brothers did that, too?”

  “And sisters. We all had fun eating it. It was one of the best parts of winter. I think it’ll be one of Nora’s favorite memories, too, when she’s all grown up and looking back on her childhood.”

  “Oh, don’t say that. I like her as a baby. I don’t want to think of her growing up.”

  “It’s just the way of things, April. But don’t you mind it. We’ll have more children, and then they’ll have grandchildren.”

  “Well, even so, I’m in no hurry for her to grow up.” April brushed back a curl from Nora’s face and tucked it under her hat so her hair would stay out of her eyes.

  Joel chuckled and encouraged Nora to try the snow she was still holding in her hands. “I reckon a mother can’t help but fuss over her children.”

  “I just want her to be comfortable, that’s all.”

  “Exactly. Fussing.”

  She caught the teasing gleam in his eyes and laughed. “I admit it. I fuss over her. I can’t help it. It comes naturally to me.”

  Leaning closer to her, he said, “I wouldn’t mind it if you fussed over me.” Then he kissed her and turned his attention back to Nora.

  April’s lips tingled and a bolt of excitement shot straight to her toes. She hadn’t thought of fussing over a grown man before, but in this case, she rather liked the idea. She bit her lower lip and then asked, “How would I fuss over you?”

  Looking up from Nora who licked the snowball, he grinned. “I’m not exactly sure since I’ve never been married before. My ma used to bring my pa a cup of hot chocolate in the evenings while he rested in the parlor. When it was cold outside, she’d bring him a blanket and tuck it around him. It was small things, but they made him happy.”

  “Yes, but he fusses over her, too. Yesterday when I was in the kitchen, he got the large china bowl she wanted from the top shelf so she didn’t have to get on the stool to grab it.”

  “I don’t see how that’s fussing over her. It seems like a logical thing for him to do since he’s taller.”

  Shrugging, she said, “It was nice that he did that without her asking.”

  “I’ll tell you what. If I see that you need something and it’s out of your reach, I’ll get it for you.”

  Pleased, she replied, “And I can bring you hot chocolate and a blanket in the evenings when you sit in the parlor.”

  Smiling, he kissed her again. “We’re going to be alright, April.”

  Understanding that he meant he no longer resented being forced into the marriage, she smiled in return and nodded.

  He turned his attention back to Nora. “I knew she’d like snow. See? She’s eating it.”

  April’s gaze went to her daughter who was taking another bite from her snowball.

  “Want to build a snowman?” Joel asked.

  Looking up at him, she replied, “Is that something else you did when you were a kid?”

  “Sure. Didn’t you?”

  “No.”

  “Didn’t you have any fun in the snow while you were growing up?”

  “I didn’t know snow was for playing in.”

  “It can be. Some think it’s something you just shovel, but it doesn’t have to be all work. Just like anything, you can find a way to have fun with it.”

  “Well, then I see no reason not to make a snowman.”

  “Good.”

  He stood up and set Nora on her feet. April thought Nora would protest since he was no longer holding her, but she was too happy eating her snowball to care.

  “We’ll start with a snowball and roll it in the snow so it gets bigger,” Joel told April.

  With a glance at Sep who was still resting in the sleigh, she packed down the snowball in her hand to smooth it into a ball like the one Joel made. She took note of how he rolled his ball in the snow and did the same.

  “You don’t have to get your snowball as big as mine,” he told her as he circled around Nora who was watching him. “I’ll make the bottom one. That’s the largest.”

  “Alright,” April replied and rolled her ball as it got bigger.

  As they proceeded to make the snowman, April glanced at Nora who went from tentatively eating the snow to happily scooping up more of it and eating it as if it was candy. Amused, she nudged Joel in the side as he rounded out the snowman. “You’d think she can’t get enough,” she told him.

  Smiling, he said, “That’s my girl.”

  He finished smoothing the snowman out and then made a face on it. “Usually, I’d use something like a stick or buttons for the eyes, nose and mouth, but we’ll have to make do without those things.”

  She stared at the snowman that was almost as tall as her. “It’s pretty big.”

  “I see no reason to do anything halfway,” he replied as he poked a hole to make the rest of its mouth. “If I’m going to build a snowman, it’s going to be a tall one.” When he was done, he stood back and nodded. “It’ll do.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Sep lifted his head to take a look at the snowman. Joel must have noticed it, too, because he snickered.

  “I suppose it goes against a fourteen-year-old’s pride to admit he’s still a kid at heart,” Joel said as he bent down to pick up some snow. He packed it into a snowball and shot her a wicked grin. “Too bad for him, I’m old enough to know that it’s alright to still have fun.”

  She opened her mouth to ask what he planned to do, but he was already on his way over to the sleigh where Sep had, once again, closed his eyes. When Joel closed in on him, Sep brought his head up and pointed to the snowball in Joel’s hand. April wished she could hear what they were saying because by the way Joel was grinning, she knew he was playing around. Sep shook his head, Joel shrugged, and then Joel threw the snowball at Sep. Surprised, she clasped her hands over her mouth so she wouldn’t laugh. Nora, however, had no such control and giggled.

  Sep stood up in the sleigh and shook the snow off of him. Joel hurried to pick more snow up, and Sep bolted out of the sleigh, grabbing some snow of his own. What ensued was a snowbal
l fight as Joel and Sep ran across the field, throwing and dodging snowballs the other flung his way. As April continued to watch, tears came to her eyes. Sep was laughing. Not just a chuckle under his breath, but he was laughing out loud for all to hear. She couldn’t remember the last time he laughed like that, and it warmed her heart to see him happy.

  Brushing away the tears that slid down her cheeks, she went to Nora and picked her up. She carried her daughter to the sleigh and sat down. Nora continued to eat the snow in her hands, oblivious to Joel and Sep as they ran across the field, playing like little kids.

  When they were done, they returned to the sleigh, their faces red from exertion. They sat on either side of her, and Joel took off his hat and ran his fingers through his damp hair. “I didn’t know he had it in him, but Sep’s got good aim,” he told her.

  “I won,” Sep said, breathing hard.

  Joel glanced at him and snickered. “Wishful thinking, Sep.”

  “I did. I got you more than you got me.”

  “But my snowballs were bigger.”

  “So?”

  Joel undid the brake and lifted the reins. “So, it’s the size of the ball that counts because the bigger the ball, the more damage you do.”

  “Oh please,” Sep replied, rolling his eyes. “You’re just sore because I run faster than you.”

  “What you have in speed, I make up for in strength.” Joel urged the horses forward and put his arm around April’s shoulders, pulling her closer to him. “Tell him, sweetheart. You saw the whole thing.”

  “No fair,” Sep said with a laugh. “You can’t sweet talk my sister and expect her to tell the truth. She’s a pushover. She’ll agree with you just because you’re loving on her.”

  “I’m not so easily won over, Sep,” April argued, even though she had the desire to back her husband up simply because he was holding her again. Forcing the desire aside, she said, “Both of you did good out there.”

  Sep snorted and shook his head. “Typical. She doesn’t want to pick a winner in case she hurts someone’s feelings.”

  “My ma and sisters are the same way,” Joel replied, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “It’s just the way women are made. But I won.”

  While they continued their good-natured dispute, April settled against Joel and enjoyed the rest of the ride back home.

  Chapter Seventeen

  After April put a sleeping Nora in her crib that night, she went to the dresser and brushed her hair in the dim light of the kerosene lamp.

  Joel entered the bedroom. “Is Nora asleep?” he whispered.

  “I think so,” she replied, glancing his way as he went to the large blanket and peered into Nora’s part of the room. Her eyes traveled the length of the rope that ran from one wall to another. She had to admit it was sturdy since the blanket remained hanging up by the clothes pins he used to keep it in place. When he set the blanket back in place, she asked, “Well?”

  “She’s asleep.”

  She turned her attention back to the mirror, fully expecting him to get ready for bed like he did every other night, but tonight he walked over to her and smiled at her reflection.

  “You sure are a pretty thing.”

  Her skin grew warm under his intense stare, so she had to look away from his reflection in the mirror. She couldn’t recall a man studying her with a mixture of awe and adoration before. How did a woman respond to something so wonderful?

  He stepped closer to her and cupped her face in his hands, tilting her head before his mouth claimed hers. Surprised, she remained still, unable to respond to him.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked, pulling slightly away from her so he could look into her eyes.

  She cleared her throat and shook her head. “No. Nothing’s wrong. I just didn’t expect it, that’s all.” But she should have, considering the pleasant day they’d had.

  “Well, maybe some things are good unexpected,” he teased, his eyes lit with mirth and a slight smile on his lips.

  “In that case, maybe you should surprise me again.” April closed her eyes and waited for him to kiss her.

  A chuckle rose up in his throat. “For some reason, I don’t think you’ll be surprised this time around.”

  She thought to mention he could kiss her cheek or forehead and surprise her that way, but his mouth descended on hers and all thoughts of how he might kiss her differently flew out the window. His lips were warm and gentle, just as all his previous kisses had been.

  She pushed aside her doubts about the impending event and tried to focus on enjoying the kissing, for she did like the way Joel took his time with that. He held her in his arms in a way that made her feel protected from everything outside in the world, and she liked that a lot. His mouth left hers, and he kissed her cheek, her neck, and the skin behind her ear. A tingle of delight shot through her, and she wiggled closer to him. A low groan escaped his lips before he brought his mouth back to hers, this time a sense of urgency mixing in with the slow gentleness of his previous kiss. But she didn’t mind this type of urgency. It didn’t speak of force or a command. It was passion and protection rolled into one. How she wished this could go on forever!

  His lips parted, and she opened her mouth to receive his tongue which brushed hers. Again, he was still gentle, allowing her time to adapt to what he was doing. As he deepened the kiss, he brought one of his hands to her breast and lightly stroked it. Though she was fully clothed, her nipple hardened under his thumb. There was no grabbing or tugging. He cupped the fullness of her breast in his hand and continued to brush the edge of it with his thumb. Now this she also enjoyed, and as he continued to caress her, she became aware of a strange feeling between her legs. An ache was forming there, but it wasn’t painful, exactly. She wasn’t sure what to make of it, except that in a strange way, she liked it.

  His mouth left hers and he whispered, “Will you come to bed with me?”

  Even as he asked, he was kissing her neck and letting his hands travel to the buttons of her dress. Unable to keep out the humor in her voice, she said, “It seems you’ve already made up your mind.”

  “If you tell me to stop, I will.”

  “I don’t think you can.”

  He let his hands fall back to her hips and stopped kissing her. “I can. I will. Just say the word and I’ll stop.”

  His breathing was heavy and fingers moving in circular motions on the small of her back. He was highly aroused, and she suspected it would take a significant amount of willpower to stop what he’d started. She felt his erection pressing into her abdomen and knew what it meant. That part of him would soon be in her, and as much as she dreaded that part of making love, she was enjoying his kisses and touches far too much to stop. Maybe it would end up stinging her, but she knew it would give him pleasure and she wanted him to enjoy her body.

  “No, I don’t want to stop,” she softly said as she brought her hands to her buttons and started undoing them. “Joel?”

  “Hmm?” he asked as he brought his hands up to help her.

  “Will you hold me tonight, like you did last night?”

  “Of course. I like holding you in my arms at night.”

  Glad, she continued to help him undress her. If he’d hold her, then she had that to look forward to as they proceeded with what they started. Once she removed the last of her clothing, she helped him with his clothes, and when her hands went to his underwear, she traced his erection through the fabric beneath her fingers. He let out a soft moan and directed her hands under his underwear and brought her hands around the silky feel of his bare flesh which throbbed in response. So that’s what that part of a man felt like when it wasn’t inside her. Since it was dark, she didn’t feel as embarrassed as she’d otherwise be. He guided her hands up, and she traced the tip of him, noting the moisture at the slit.

  “Alright. We’ll have to do more of this later,” Joel whispered, his breathing ragged as he slipped off his underwear. “I can’t handle any more of that right now.”r />
  Intrigued, she thought to ask him why, but he picked her up and carried her to the bed, signaling an end to any conversation. He placed her on the mattress and settled next to her. She parted her legs and held her breath. They hadn’t done it before, and he hadn’t gone out to a whore so maybe it would be quick. Then they could get to the part where he’d hold her.

  But he didn’t enter her as she expected. Instead, he settled next to her and kissed her on the mouth. Surprised, she didn’t react right away. What was he doing? Didn’t he want to get to business?

  Ending the kiss, he chuckled and gave her a playful squeeze on her hip. “I never thought kisses could put a woman off guard so much.”

  Despite her nervousness, she giggled. “I didn’t expect it.”

  “That’s odd since we were just doing it a moment ago by the dresser.”

  “Well, I know, but I…”

  His hand cupped her breast again, and she lost track of her thoughts. “Do you like this?” he softly asked.

  “Yes.”

  He brought his mouth to her nipple and traced the budded area with his tongue. She sharply inhaled at the pleasure of it. It felt wonderful. Who knew that she was so sensitive there? The ache between her legs returned and she shifted so that she was closer to him. Keeping his mouth over her nipple, he let go of her breast, his hand gliding down her stomach, down her abdomen, and down to the area that ached. His fingers brushed over her curls and found her entrance. On instinct, she moved her hips up, making it easy for him to slip a finger into her.

  She gripped the blanket under her and moaned. It felt good. Wonderful even. Too bad making love didn’t require this and nothing more. But then she reasoned that the man had to be inside a woman in order for her to get with child. As he stroked her, she focused on the way he slipped another finger into her and caressed her tender flesh. The action was satisfying her on one level and increasing a sense of tension on another. She’d never experienced such sensations and wasn’t sure where it was leading, but something in her knew she had to keep going.

  He brought his mouth to her other breast and teased her nipple. Between tingles traveling up and down her body from her breast to the building pleasure between her legs, she lost any ability to think. All she could do was murmur Joel’s name and move her hips to aid him in what he was doing. All too soon, however, his fingers slipped out of her and his mouth left her breast.