Page 153 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 1

She flushed; her mouth went dry. Unable to reply, she nodded.

He leaned in; she felt one large hand cup her neck, drawing her close. His face loomed and his lips grazed hers. She gasped as softly, sensually he plied her mouth apart and traced the seam of her lips with his tongue. Verity had never been kissed by another man. The sensation of his tongue on her was unbelievably intimate.

Relaxing, she allowed him to take the lead. His explorations grew bolder as his tongue swept deep inside her mouth. Parting for him, she allowed him access. His masculine taste and smell intoxicated her. Encouraged by her enjoyment, Verity decided she wanted to join in the game. Sliding her own tongue to tangle with his, she felt his intake of breath. He tugged her down onto his lap; his hands supported her shoulders as he plundered her mouth.

Removing his mouth from hers caused surprising disappointment. She mewled at the loss.

“Give me your answer now, honey. I ask again, will you marry me?” His husky voice combined with the male scent of him added fuel to her already heated blood.

“Yes, Jake.” The words spilled from her easily, without conscious thought. Her mind raised a whimper of caution, but her heated body forcefully overruled all common sense.

“I promise to love and protect you, Verity. I know I failed before with Meg, but I swear I’ll never make the same mistake again. I’ll keep you and our family from harm.”

Jake’s sincerity appeared genuine. She nodded and he lowered his mouth back to hers. This was what she wanted, more of the same and met him eagerly in a passionate kiss to seal their promise.

In the week leading up to their wedding, Jake took her into the Stark mercantile and general store and made introductions to the owner. “Mr. Stark, this here is my affianced, Miss Lasse. Come Sunday she will be my wife and I want to set up an account with you for her.”

“Congratulations, Jake. Miss Lasse, a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Casting her a warm smile, the aging store owner held out his hand.

Verity shook it. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Stark.”

“Honey, why don’t you go and find some material to make clothes for you and the twins,” Jake said and then looked awkward. “I’m sorry I should have you asked first, do you sew?”

“Yes, Jake. I am used to making my own clothes,” she reassured him.

“I do carry a selection of premade ladies’ gowns, if that helps?” Mr. Stark interjected. “Over there.” He pointed to a rail covered in a dust sheet.

“I expect they are rather pricey,” Verity murmured.

“Honey, I want you to go select two. I can afford them. Think of them as my wedding gift to you.”

“You’re sure?”

“I am,” Jake said firmly.

She reached out her hand and took his, giving it a brief squeeze. It felt very forward touching him this way in a public place.

While she was searching the rack for a suitable gown, she overheard Jake asking Mr. Stark about the purchase of a wedding band. She felt relieved because this was something she hadn’t wanted to voice. Her concern that she would be married using a dead woman’s ring had been weighing on her mind. Ordinarily she could have overlooked that aspect, but because Jake’s first wife had been murdered, Verity felt it cast a shadow over her future. She finished searching the ladies’ dresses; none were suitable for ranch life. She decided to add more fabric to her pile and make her own clothing.

Verity pondered long and hard on a wedding gift for him. She had her father’s gold pocket watch, the only item listed as hers in his will. It was the only item her aunt had been unable to keep after Verity’s parents had died. The corner of her mind that remained uncertain of Jake’s involvement in the murder, kept her from giving the watch to him as a gift. Instead, she purchased four neckerchiefs for him to wear around the ranch.

“What do you plan to wear on your wedding day?” Mary Campbell asked her the following morning.

“I’ve no time to make anything new, so my blue sprigged gown will have to do.” She shrugged, resigned.

Mrs. Campbell clicked her tongue. “You just hand that gown over to me and I’ll pretty it up some. I have a piece of lace that will look just fine at the cuffs and on neck. I even have enough to trim your blue bonnet. You’ll look pretty as a picture come Sunday!”

Verity hugged the older woman. “Thank you. You have been kinder to me than my own aunt ever was!” she exclaimed.

“You’re welcome, my dear. Don’t you give that nasty old aunt of yours another thought. She’s a darn fool if she didn’t realise how lucky she was to have a lovely girl like you for a niece. In fact, from now on as far as I’m concerned, you are my niece!”

Verity’s eyes misted over with emotion and she embraced her friend warmly.

On the day of her wedding Mary Campbell filled the copper tub and Verity bathed. They ate a light breakfast of scrambled eggs and then the older woman helped her to dress. The made-over blue sprigged gown with its newly trimmed blue bonnet looked very fine indeed.

Their wedding was a simple affair, held at the end of the Sunday service. No one walked Verity down the aisle, or gave her away. The Pastor simply called their names and they walked to the front of the church together. The twins came to the altar and stood flanking them, one either side. They wore matching cotton dresses and each girl held a bouquet of wildflowers. Verity held a bunch of the same; Jake had presented them to her upon her arrival at the church.

Jake looked smarter than Verity had ever seen him, dressed in clean dark pants, a white shirt worn with a fine embroidered waistcoat which, he later confessed, his mother, now deceased, had sewn for him on the occasion of his first wedding. Verity didn’t mind, for she fully appreciated that Megan was a part of their family. She held no jealousy for Jake’s first wife, the poor lady.

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