He’d stretched his feet out in front and tried to get comfortable. He must have been more tired than he thought, because he did fall asleep. And when he woke, Minnie had shifted during the night and had her head resting on his lap.
Oh lord.
His cock stirred and he feared he might wake her if it got any more active.
In sleep, her face was even more beautiful. Her dark lashes stood out against the creaminess of her skin. A bit of her hair had come loose and he brushed it off her face with his fingers, indulging himself for a moment by enjoying the silken feel of it.
She’d stirred and smiled up at him dreamily before drifting back to sleep.
He’d spent the rest of the night watching her sleep.
Glancing out the window at the setting sun, another night loomed.
Oh lord help him.
* * *
“Roy! Roy!” Minnie grabbed his sleeve and pointed out the window. “Oh no,” she groaned.
“What is it?” She was standing up and had her nose pressed to the glass, making it almost impossible for him to see out, let alone understand what she was so excited about.
They had stopped in Cheyenne and new passengers were getting on board.
“It’s him!” She turned around and started dragging Roy into the train aisle where they blocked several people who were trying to find seats. “We have to hurry. We have to do something. He’s here.” Her hands shook as she clutched at him.
“Woah, there, little Minnie.”
Little Minnie, where did that come from?
He grabbed her by the upper arms and forced her to look at him while moving the two of them back to stand in front of their seats. “Take a deep breath and tell me what the problem is.” His police training for dealing with the public came in handy.
She drew in a deep breath. And another. “Mr. Pendleton,” she said, whispering and looking from side to side as though not wanting anyone to know who she was talking about. Her eyes were wild. “Miss Elizabeth’s father. Remember, I told you I had to get to Juniper Junction to warn her that her father was on his way to find her and drag her back to St. Louis to marry that yucky Pettit man? Well, I just saw him.” She pulled free of his grip and pointed out the window to a private train car where a well-dressed man, followed by two less expensively attired men, presumably a couple of lackeys, exited.
He studied the man for the few moments it took him to cross from his private car to the first-class section of their train. Glancing ahead he could see mountainous terrain. The private car would need to be left in Cheyenne.
Next to him, Minnie’s breathing came in shallow pants and he feared she’d pass out. He settled her next to him on the seat and supported her with an arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him through her thick lashes, her beautiful brown eyes full of fear. It cut him to the core. “Hush now, Minnie. I’m right here with you. There’s nothing to worry about. Besides, now we know exactly where he is. He won’t get to Juniper Junction any faster than us.”
“I kn-know, but I-I’d forgotten how awful he is. I’d been having such a nice time traveling and having an adventure and then seeing him. Oh...it just reminded me of poor Miss Elizabeth.”
“Is that all it reminded you of?”
She drew in a shuddering breath. “N-no.” She lowered her voice even further. “He scares me. He’s got a horrible temper. I’ll never get my job back now.”
“You were planning to go back to St. Louis?”
“I-I don’t know. I didn’t give it much thought, I just know I have to warn Miss Elizabeth.”
Why did the thought of her returning to St. Louis bother him so much? He ought to be the first one to put her on the train going east.
“Let’s just calm down and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow we’ll arrive in Juniper Junction and I’ll help you find Elizabeth and warn her. Don’t worry, Minnie. Everything will work out. I promise.”
She gave him a sweet smile. “You’re like a knight in shining armor.”
* * *
“You know something, Lizzie? I think food tastes better when we eat it off these new dishes,” Matt said playfully.
“Well, I’ll take any assistance I can get. And thank you. The new dishes are so pretty.” She was at the sink washing the dinner dishes.
“You’re the prettiest thing around here.” He came up behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, and whispered in her ear. “You’re also the best thing to eat.”
“Matt!” she screeched, shocked at his brazen words, though her tummy fluttered.
He turned her to face him, then dried her hands. “Leave the dishes. I think I’d like a bit of dessert. It’ll help me dance better tonight.”
“Matt! You’re scandalous!”
“And you’re my scandalous wife.” He tossed her over his shoulder and hurried up the stairs, tossing her onto the bed and pushing her skirts up around her waist in one swift motion. Before Lizzie could catch her breath, Matt had her drawers opened and his mouth upon her sex, his eager tongue darting in and out of her core.
She clutched at the blankets atop the bed while her husband focused on pleasuring her.
“Oh, Matt. Oh,” she moaned and tossed her head from side to side while she continued to mumble and moan.
“You taste too good, Lizzie,” Matt said, his voice strained. He shoved two fingers deep into her core. “Oh, you’re so wet and ready for me.”
He stood and lowered his pants, pushing them down around his ankles before he pulled her to the edge of the bed and buried himself in her womanhood in one smooth stroke.
“Ah. Yes,” he said.
The look of ecstasy on his handsome face filled her
