Page 24 of Their Wanted Bride (Bridgewater Brides 1)

When we reached the ranch, my chest eased as she passed under the wooden sign marking our property. We’d gotten her home safely, but I still worried she wouldn’t like it. She was a fine lady, despite her initial appearance as a man, and had obviously come from money, something Caleb and I didn’t have in great abundance.

She dismounted and smiled as she gazed at the snowcapped peaks in the distance, framed in azure blue sky. “It’s beautiful here,” she said quietly. “Almost like a painting.”

Although the day had warmed, she shivered as we led our horses to the pasture and turned them loose. “Are you ready to go inside?” I asked.

“Yes, please. I hope it warms up soon.”

“You’ll get used to it,” Caleb promised, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

We took her inside and I hung her coat on the hook next to mine, then knelt to unlace her boots. She looked around, and Caleb and I both let out a sigh of relief when she didn’t immediately communicate her displeasure.

Her stockinged feet made no sound as she walked across the kitchen to the pantry. “Do you have something besides beans and flour?” she asked.

“We have coffee and salt,” Caleb said.

“Oh. Well, I suppose it’s too cold for a kitchen garden, but surely you have eggs and milk.”

I glanced at Caleb, then shook my head. “I’m afraid we’ll have to make do until our next trip into town.”

Her face fell and she gave us a pleading look. “But—”

“No,” Caleb said sternly. “We’ll go another time.”

A mutinous expression crossed her face and she pouted, but turned to the pantry and poured beans into a bowl to soak, then filled another with flour and water and covered it with a plate.

“What’s that for?” Caleb asked.

“It will be sourdough in a few days. It’s the best I can do without proper staples.” She wiped her hands on a tea towel, then faced us. “What should we do now?”

I shared a look with Caleb, then we turned our smiles upon our new wife.

9

CALEB

* * *

“I believe it’s time for us to show you the bedroom.” I said, pulling her to me. Justin loomed behind her and made quick work of the buttons on her bodice, baring her lovely breasts.

“But it’s daylight!” she squeaked, turning pink. I adored making our pretty wife blush.

“All the better to see you, darling,” Justin murmured, tugging the pins from her hair. It curled down her back in a river of sunset. I’d have to heat up water after supper so we could wash the last bit of dark dye from the flaming tresses.

I slid her dress down her arms, kissing her soft shoulders as it fell to the floor, leaving her clad only in her stockings. Her nipples budded in the chilly air and I bent to suck one into my mouth. She tasted delicious.

“Oh!” Maddy arched her back, her hand coming to rest on my head.

Justin took the other one and stroked a large hand down her belly to her succulent pussy, delving between her folds. She cried out again and pushed her hips forward, chasing the delight he offered. Without warning, he pulled his hand away, making her whimper in disappointment.

“Let’s move this to our bedroom,” he said. “It’s broad daylight, after all.”

Without giving her a chance to respond, I swung her into my arms and carried her through the simple wooden door dividing the kitchen from our sleeping area.

Small and cozy, it boasted little more than a fireplace, a washstand and our new marriage bed with a matching night table.

I laid her on the bed, and Justin and I took a few seconds to simply look at her. She was so beautiful and sweet. And she was ours.

Rolling to her side, she propped herself up on a pillow, a teasing smile on her lips. “It hardly seems fair I’m the only one naked. I want to see you too.”

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