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  Not knowing if it was right or wrong to do so, I was not the kind of woman then to touch myself for my own pleasure. But on this night, between the liquor and the looks across the table, my loins ached with a desire I'd never felt. Biting my lip, I pulled at the hem of my night shirt until it was half way up my thighs. I pushed the other hand between my legs, pushing aside the underwear I was wearing to feel the warmth and wetness that was there.

  I gasped and shivered at the sensation of my finger grazing my own soft flesh. Still somewhat woozy from the whisky, I couldn't resist the urge to bring the finger up to my nose first, to smell the scent of my own desire, then run the warm liquid across my tongue. A musky tang filled my senses and made the ache grow even stronger. As I plunged my hand back down between my thighs the vivid memory of seeing Becca's body impaled on the ranch hands deep purple member, her mouth opened in an 'O', sent a fresh swell of wetness out of me and made it easy to part my own lips.

  My thighs shuddered as I touched my womanhood, running my finger in between the slick folds on either side. Curious and never having touched what was further inside, I pushed the tip of my finger deeper, exploring myself until I came to a soft wall that prevented me from going further. I pressed on it slightly and it did give way, but not knowing what it was or its purpose, I decided things were best left the way they were.

  Moving my finger back up and out of myself, I slid it slowly upward, each fraction of an inch it travelled sending my body into grateful shudders until finally I found the little nub that brought me most relief and began to run slow circles around it, as that seemed to be what felt best.

  My eyes closed and my thighs flexed each time I rounded the bump and I couldn't help but gasp as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me. The thought of Becca came again and went, the image of her on her cowboy replaced in my imagination with my own body, lying as it was on the bed. Then, there he was. Austin, unclothed and in what I imagined his naked form would look like between my legs. Gone was the friendly expression, the tenderness in his voice. Now there was only a stern but hungry gaze as his eyes drank in curves, like an animal crawling towards its prey.

  It was as if my mind ran away from me, conjuring the cowboy up to devour me. I was helpless to resist the thoughts, not that I wanted to. His hands didn't travel softly across my body, as his voice had with empathy and compassion at my plight. His weathered fingers grasped the inside of my thigh and crawled up its length slowly, firmly, demanding my attention. I looked down to see his jaw jut out, to see him lower himself between my legs, both hands still holding onto them.

  Cole appeared beside me, just as rough and strong and just as nude and even in my imagination I felt the heat of embarrassment at the thought of the position I was in, with two men there to tame me. He lay down beside me, not wasting time but lowering his lips to my neck and gorging on the soft skin with his rough lips. I felt his hand hover across my belly and up towards my chest until the warmth of this palm was wrapped firmly around my breast.

  The sting of my nipple, pinched between two fingers sent a shock of pleasant pain through my body, but broke me of my trance and I looked down to find my own hand squeezing at my breast as the other worked between my legs. Closing my eyes once more, I sank back into the fantasy.

  Now Cole's kisses were more insistent, hungrier as if I had something that he deserved, something that was his. My stomach tightened and my legs lifted of their own accord as I could have sworn I felt Austin's breath on the tender lips of my sweating slit. I yearned to feel him taste me, to feel his wetness mix with mine, to feel the pull of his tongue as he suckled on my middle. But the thought itself proved too much for my body and my hand began to move furiously at my middle, as I felt the massive wave of my own pleasure begin to crest.

  I stifled a cry, first with my lips, then with the hand that had been at my breast as visions of the men's thick members, pushing at my body, their hands grabbing me in places only I had seen sent me careening over the edge of a giant climax and into the dark abyss of the greatest pleasure that I'd ever felt.

  I don't know how long I lay there, panting, drifting slowly back down into the bed. At some point I must have fallen into sleep but I can't recall a single dream I may have had that night.

  The next thing I do recall was Sam Spencer's growling voice, barking in the yard.

  Chapter 5: A sleepless night

  Austin did try to sleep that night and should have been able to. The long ride, coupled with the excitement at the end of the day and doused with a few swigs of whisky should have made sleep an easy job. But it did not come easily at all.

  Lying first on one side of his body, then the other, every time he turned his head filled with visions of the beautiful woman in whose home he was lying and their conversation that evening. After some time, it was difficult to tell whether an hour or two had passed, he got up and walked quietly out the door and into the room where Cole was on the bed.

  "Cole," Austin whispered, standing at the foot of the bed.

  "Yup," Cole's voice responded in the darkness.

  "You sleeping?"

  "Nope."

  "Me neither." Austin paused, then sat on the edge of the bed. After a few moments he broke the silence with another whisper. "Why not?" Cole thought for a moment.

  "Havin' trouble thinking of a way to tell the sheriff that we stole his bride."

  Chapter 6: The proposal

  The sound of Sam Spencer yelling at someone was abrasive enough, though I'd not heard it before, that it roused me from the deepest sleep. Throwing on what clothes I'd worn the day before, I burst out of the room, forgetting completely about the two men who had slept under my roof in my groggy stupor. When I opened the door to the outside the sun was already bright and the summer day burst into the house on a cool mountain wind and a million rays of sunshine.

  I squinted at the sudden light and put a hand up to my face. Only then did it dawn on me that my head was pounding for the second day in a row, though this time not because I'd been injured in any way but by the fiery liquid I'd ingested the night before. I guess I really wasn't much of a drinker.

  Slowly the shapes of Sam Spencer and his posse sitting tall on their horses in the yard came into focus. In front of them, that is to say between them and me at the house, stood the muscular frames of the two men I'd met the night before. They turned at the sound of the door opening and looked at me, each bringing a finger up to the brim of his hat in greeting. I nodded at them both, the memory of my secret fantasy from the night before coming back upon seeing them.

  "What's the meaning of this? What's going on here?" I asked, trying to put on my sternest voice. I could already tell by the look of the men Sam had brought that no good could come of this.

  "I come to take what's rightfully mine," Sam growled, holding up the paper that bore the title to my land. My eyes narrowed and my blood began to boil at the nerve of the man. What was rightfully his indeed! I didn't know what the hell I was going to do about it, but I sure knew I wasn't going to give in without a fight. Turned out someone else had the same idea. Austin turned around to face me, Cole keeping a close eye on the man a few dozen feet away, his one hand hovering at his side close to the gun slung lazily at his belt.

  "Mornin' Grace," Austin said with a smile. I felt my heart skip a beat and if they all hadn't been staring at me I would have rolled my eyes at my own reaction. "We were just explaining to the sheriff here that he no longer holds claim on this here land, nor on your hand as his bride."

  For a second I couldn't comprehend what on earth he was talking about. Though I did wish it were true, that the sheriff had no authority over me or the ranch, I knew it wasn't so. Doc had explained it all the day before.

  "Look," I began, stepping towards the cowboy, "I appreciate your help and all but..." But Austin held up a hand and silenced me.

  "Now let me finish. As I was saying, we were just telling the good sheriff and his men that we have come to this fine corner of the world at
your behest," Austin said, staring at me with an intensity I couldn't understand. "That we have in fact been in correspondence for some months about the matter of our courtship and that you had finally, just a few short weeks ago, agreed that we may come and claim you for our own."

  I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The man I'd had such a strong reaction to, the man that had made me touch myself in ways I never had before, was standing in front of the sheriff and a posse of his men, telling them he was here to marry me! I stifled a guffaw as Austin's eyes continued to bore into me, impressing upon me the importance of playing along with his charade, with his gaze. So instead of laughing, I composed myself, stood a little straighter and folded my hands together over my waist and looked straight at Sam Spencer's smug expression.

  "That is in fact true, Sheriff Spencer," I said, addressing him by his formal title for the first time since...well, possibly ever. I saw his dark eyes narrow as he stared back at me, obviously not believing a word coming out of either mine or Austin's mouth.

  "That's a load of horse shit and you know it!" Sam roared, pointing a crooked finger at me. "Why didn't I hear a word about this yesterday at Doc Thompson's? How come you didn't say anything to him about it?!?"

  Austin turned around, stepped straight towards Sam's horse so quickly the poor animal seemed to cower and step backward. He looked Sam Spencer straight in the eye and spoke in a low rumble.

  "You'll watch your language in front of the lady."

  Sam's face began to turn fifty shades of red, his blood starting to boil at the stranger's insolence. Sam wasn't the kind of man that was usually talked to like that, what with being the sheriff and all. When he finally did get his voice back, the words came out seething, punctuated by flecks of his spittle.

  "You better watch it, runnin' yer mouth like that at me in front of my men!" was the best he could manage. Austin held him fast with his stare, his expression quiet and composed.

  "Sam," I said, stepping forward and hoping to soothe the situation somewhat. Last thing I wanted was to see someone get hurt, even stupid old Sam Spencer. But Austin wouldn't let me finish. He raised a hand without looking at me, still holding Sam with his stare.

  "I'll handle this Grace. Sheriff, we got no problem with you or your men. We sure are sorry we got started off on the wrong foot last night and we'll be happy to make it up to you any way we can, but for the time being we've got a wedding to get ready for, small as it may be. So if you'll kindly turn around and head back, to town, we'll all be able to get on with our day."

  It seemed like even the birds that had been chirping in the morning sun stopped singing in the silence that followed Austin's speech. I must admit I was still somewhat taken aback at being told that someone was going to handle any of my affairs and I made a note to set the man straight later. But that silence was unlike anything I'd ever heard, thick and heavy and full of danger as the men stared each other down. The posse buzzed with nervous energy and Austin and Cole standing looking cool and relaxed like this was something they did every day.

  Just when it seemed that the air itself might burst from all the tension, Sam Spencer took a long, deep breath, then let out a heavy sigh.

  "Alright then, seein' as how that's yer story," Sam said, his voice much calmer now, "who's to be the husband?"

  Austin and Cole glanced at each other, obviously weighing their response. After a consideration that was a bit too long to not appear suspicious, Cole replied with a single word.

  "Him."

  Sam looked from one cowboy to the other, his look betraying that this was a matter far from over. When he finally looked at me, he sent a chill up my spine that ended in shivers at the base of my neck ten times worse than the day before. He stared me down for a while, a smirk crawling across his already crooked lips with the men watching him closely for what to do next. Finally, he shook his head, tilted his hat towards me and turned his horse away.

  "Come on boys," he said to the men who'd come with him, "let's go see how warm the beer is down at the saloon." A couple of the men chuckled, but all of them turned along with the Sheriff and began to head down the hill. Once they were all gone, Cole and Austin both turned to face me. It was hard to tell what they were thinking, just from the looks on their faces. I narrowed my eyes at Austin, the memory of him interrupting me while I was talking to the sheriff bubbling to the surface.

  "Now listen here, mister," I said, pointing a stiff finger at him in admonishment, "I can right well handle myself with the Sheriff and I don't need you or your friend sticking up for me!" My voice had gotten louder as I was speaking and I took a deep breath, but Austin just stood there, the same cool look in his eye that Cole had. "I've been managing just fine here before you showed up and I'll manage just fine after you leave. I won't have you bossing me around like some sort of..."

  But Austin raised his hand in the air again and cut me off in mid-sentence.

  "So you're not interested in our proposition then?" he asked simply.

  The question caught me off guard and I looked away for a second, not sure how to answer. Truth was, I hadn't felt this way about any man in my whole life, not to mention two of them. Truth was, I did want to accept his proposition. I wanted nothing more than to be his...or I suppose their wife. But I'd be damned if I did it on anyone's terms but my own!

  "So...the proposition was...a real one then?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from shaking with nervousness.

  "It most certainly was. You're a beautiful, smart woman Grace, even if you are a little bit wild. Cole and I, well we talked it over a good long time and if you'll have us, we want to make you ours."

  I heard the birds singing again, right at that moment, in time with the rhythm of my own pounding heart. I felt my hands start to shake slightly. Was I really about to get engaged to two men I'd just met the day before? I didn't know anything about these men, save for what they told me and who even knew how true that was? But instinct is a difficult thing to fight and there was something in my body that told me this was the right thing to do.

  "We'll settle here," Cole said quietly, "help you get the ranch back on its feet."

  Austin nodded as his friend spoke. I took a few deep breaths and calmed myself. The slow plodded of hooves on the road stole my attention.

  Slowly, lazily, Destiny's shape emerged from beyond the ridge, up over it and towards us. My eyes grew wide. With all the excitement I'd completely forgotten about that horse.

  "Well I'll be," I whispered, watching the stallion plod along, past the house and towards the barn. Austin and Cole both looked at the horse, their faces puzzled. "That's my horse. That's the only horse they didn't steal," I said, jumping off the porch and running towards the giant animal. It stopped before the barn and whinnied.

  "Grace!" I heard Austin yell out from behind me, but I didn't care. I ran towards Destiny, feeling like that horse was the only thing left of my old life. But right as I got close, he reared like he was terrified of something, pawing at the air with his hooves. The sudden movement scared me and I lost my footing on the gravely path and fell straight onto my backside, the wind knocked out of me.

  Destiny came back down to the earth with a thud, his massive hooves landing just inches away from my feet. I felt myself being swept up into Austin's arms, then slung over his arm, my sore backside protruding up into the air over his shoulder. The shock at being picked up like that didn't last long and was quickly replaced by a fury for being manhandled so.

  "Hey! You let me go!" I cried, beating my fists on his muscular back. Once we'd reached the porch, he bent over and put me down, then took a step back and looked me in the eye.

  "Grace, if you're going to be my wife," Austin said, his voice almost a growl, "you can't be jumping under horses like that."

  I felt my temper start to rise.

  "I'll be doing whatever the hell I please, wife of yours or not!" I snapped, bracing my fists against my hips, ready for a fight. Austin raised an eyebrow. Slowly, he turned to look a
t Cole who'd been standing there, watching the whole thing. Cole looked at him for a spell then, gave a shrug, stuck his hands in his pockets, kicked a rock and started walking towards the barn.

  "I'll go get the horses," he said, walking right past Destiny who was eyeing him warily. When Austin turned back to look at me, my face was still tense with rage. I hadn't had a man tell me how to act my whole life and I wasn't about to start now.

  "Why don't you go find something nice to wear. There a preacher in town?"

  "Yes there is. Preacher Amos," I replied through my fury.

  "Good. Go change into your Sunday best. We'll ride down when you're ready." My temper flared at his calmly spoken commands. No man was going to talk to me like that!

  "I'll wear what I please and if this is what I please to wear, then this is what you're going to get!" I heard the bark in my voice but couldn't do anything to control it. But Austin just smiled and let out a chuckle.