Now that Ruth and John are married, I decided that it is time to start a new story. The Cartwrights will still figure prominently as will the other characters I introduced in "Lizzie". I just think Ruth, John and Sally will have their own story to tell, now. Enjoy!
John had eyes for only Ruth and Ruth had eyes for only John. As they exchanged their vows, it felt like the world dropped away and it was just them. When they had exchanged their vows and shared their first public kiss, they turned to the small gathering. Everyone stood and came forward to congratulate Ruth and John.
"Come on everyone," Ben said, "the reception is in the hotel."
"Ben?" Ruth asked.
"It's my wedding gift to the two of you. When you two are settled, we'll have a proper welcome out at The Ponderosa so that you can meet your neighbors."
Joshua stood off the side of the gathering looking a bit unsure about what he should do. Hoss leaned down and whispered to Sally, "It looks like your grandpa needs his granddaughter. Why don't you go hold his hand, honey?"
Sally looked up at Hoss uncertainly, but did as he asked. When Joshua felt Sally's hand in his, he started, but then looked down and smiled at her.
"Thanks, Sally," he said quietly and squeezed her hand.
They proceeded to the meeting room of the hotel where Ben had had a cake brought in and some punch. The toasting and the laughing kept the room lively, but Adam grew tired quickly and found a seat on the couch, soon Ruth was wilting as well.
"I think my bride needs to rest, everyone. Thank you all for making our wedding day such a joyous one."
John walked over to Sally, knelt down and said, "you looked beautiful today. You'll be all right with the Cartwrights for just a little while longer, won't you? I'll come for you soon and show you your new home." He held his arms out to her and she accepted a hug. She then ran quickly to Ruth and gave her a hug.
"I love you, Sally. I'll see you soon, all right?"
"Yes, Mama," she said and took Joshua's hand.
Adam stood and rested his arm on Lizzie's shoulder as he walked over to once more congratulate the couple.
"Congratulations, I know you'll be very happy together."
"I know we will be too," John said as he swept Ruth up in his arms and began to carry her up the stairs.
"John, put me down, I'm able to walk you know."
'But Ruth, I want to carry you. I want to feel you safe in my arms. I had hoped that I could carry you over the threshold at our home, but I think we'll both be more comfortable here."
"We…?" Ruth asked nervously.
"Yes, we, I'm not going to let either of us spend our wedding night alone," he said as he opened the door and carried her through.
"Now," he said, before she could protest further, "let's get you back into your nightgown. You are lovely in your wedding gown, but you need to rest." He set her gently on her feet and began to undo the buttons at her back.
"John, I can get into my nightgown by myself," Ruth protested.
"What would be the fun in that?" He asked softly as he leaned forward and kissed her neck. "I'm looking forward to feasting my eyes on my beautiful bride."
"John, it's still daylight outside! It's not appropriate for you to see me in my all together!" Ruth blushed.
"Ruth, you're my wife. I want to look at you." He kissed her again. "It's not like I've never seen you in your all together. You were just unconscious at the time."
"John, please, you're embarrassing me." Ruth tried to pull away.
John stopped unbuttoning her dress and taking her hand in his he sat down on the bed.
"Ruth, I will never force my attentions on you, but I won't allow you to hide yourself from me. I love that you are a modest woman, but it is entirely appropriate for me to undress you and it is entirely appropriate for me to appreciate your beauty," He kissed her hand. "Please trust me, love. We're going to move slowly. I want you to grow used to my touch and learn to find pleasure in it." He squeezed her hand. "Do you trust me?"
Ruth nodded.
"Good, then turn around, love."
Ruth slowly turned away from him. John stood and rubbed her arms softly, feeling her trembling.
"I love you, Ruth," John said softly as he nuzzled her neck. His lips followed his fingers as he slowly undid the buttons down the back of her dress. He eased the dress slowly off of her shoulders, kissing each one as the silk slipped down. The dress fell to the ground and John moved around in front of Ruth to claim her lips.
"You are so lovely," he said between kisses. "Put your hands on my shoulders, Ruth and let me help you step out of your gown." He said as he crouched down before her.
Ruth did as he bid and slowly held up each foot as he pulled the gown away from her body leaving her in a camisole and pantalettes. He looked at her lovingly.
"Boots next," he said, guiding her to the sit on the bed. Standing, he placed her wedding gown over the chair and picked up the buttonhook from the chest of drawers. He eased each boot off her foot and took a few minutes to massage each of them.
"Do you remember me massaging your feet when we first met?"
"Yes, John," Ruth said timidly.
"I hope it's something you'll like me to do our whole married life," he said softly as he moved his hands up her calves. "Relax love. You're always going to be safe in my hands." He reached past her, drawing her nightgown off the bed and into his lap. Kneeling before her, he began to unfasten the buttons on her camisole. He watched the nervousness flit across her face. As he reached the top button, he slid the straps off her shoulders and placed his hands on hers so that she couldn't cover herself although he felt her try to raise her hands.
"So, beautiful," he said, leaning forward and kissing each of her breasts before placing the nightgown over her head and feeling her relax. When he released her hands, Ruth reached up to put her hands through the sleeves and her face softened.
"Stand up, love," he said softly, putting his hands on her hips.
Ruth immediately tensed again, but she stood, quivering before John, who was still kneeling on the ground.
"You have nothing to fear, Ruth," he whispered as he untied the ribbons holding her pantalettes up. He eased them down over her legs, softly brushing his hands down the sides of her legs and then over her feet as she once again placed her hands on his shoulders for support. He stood with the garment in his hand and kissed her again softly.
"Rest now," he said as he reached past her to hold up the covers. "I'll be right here when you wake."
Ruth blushed, unable to meet his eyes, and climbed into bed. John brushed her cheek lightly and picking up a medical book, he went to the overstuffed chair and began to read.
After several minutes, he felt her eyes on him.
"What are you thinking, Ruth?"
"I can't believe that we are here in the same room and that we're married."
John smiled, "I can't believe it either. Are you happy?"
Ruth nodded, "And a bit nervous."
John smiled a little bigger, "Me too."
"You? Nervous?" Ruth laughed.
"It's the first time I've been married too, Ruth," he said, closing the book on his finger. They held each other's gaze for a few moments before Ruth closed her eyes and fell deeply asleep.
As night drew on, there was a quiet knock on the door. John glanced over to where Ruth was still sleeping and quietly opened to door, stepping out into the hallway.
"My Lily insisted that I bring you two dinner. She said that you wouldn't want to venture out with Ruth not completely mended. So, there's dinner here for the two of you and I'll just be on my way," Jim Mason said quickly, pushing two covered dishes into John's hand. "I hope she was right?" Jim asked.
"Yes, Jim, thank Lily for me. This is exactly what we need. I was thinking about going out to bring something back for Ruth, but you have saved me having to do that. Thank you so much!"
"Good, I was a bit worried, but Lily was so sure I didn't put my foot down and tell her no. I'm glad she was right. Good night." Jim turned quickly and walked down the stairs.
John went back into the hotel room and put the plates down next to Ruth and began to stroke her face. "Wake up, love. Lily Mason sent us dinner."
Ruth opened her eyes slowly and asked, "What time is it?"
"Almost 6:00, you slept the afternoon away."
"I'm sorry, John…"
"No," he said, putting a finger to her lips, "you needed the rest. I like watching you sleep."
"You're easily entertained," she giggled. "What did Lily send?'
"I haven't checked yet, are you hungry?" He reached behind her to prop up her pillow and handed her one of the dishes, before removing one of the covers. "Looks like roast chicken and vegetables. I'll just take off my shoes and join you." He quickly removed his shoes and crawled over Ruth to take a place next to her.
"I think we've made some good friends in the Mason's," he said as he took a bite of chicken.
"Yes, Lily was so good to help me get ready today."
They ate and talked and laughed and when they had both finished their dinners, John climbed off the bed and took her plate from her putting them both on the bureau. Then he began to undress and Ruth blushed.
"What are you doing, John?' Ruth asked quietly.
"I'm joining my wife in bed," he said as he removed the rest of his clothes and drew his nightshirt over his head. He then proceeded to climb back into bed.
"Lie on your side, Ruth, so that I can hold you." Ruth rolled to her side and tensed as John slid up to spoon her and placed his hand across her stomach. "I just want to hold you, Ruth." When he felt her relax a bit, he began to lightly stroke his hand up and down her front, stopping every now and then to cup her breasts.
"John," Ruth said timidly as he continued to stroke her. "I know what goes on between men and women, I just don't know how I should be"
"Shh," he said, "just be yourself, you're doing fine. We have all the time in the world." He slowly explored her body with his hands, carefully touching her and feeling her response, staying away from those places that made her tense and frequenting the areas that she seemed to find pleasurable. As time drew on, he felt her begin to relax more and more as she got used to him touching her. He softly turned her toward him and put a leg between her legs, settling his knee at the junction of her thighs. He began to kiss her slowly and deeply.
"All I want to do it hold you love, close your eyes and just let me hold you." He closed his eyes then and after a while, the roaming hands and lips slowed as he fell asleep.
Ruth watched her sleeping husband for a long time, trying to get used to being this close to him. She had to acknowledge that it was not a totally unpleasurable feeling: being held in his arms. The one time she had been in this position, Sally's father had not been so careful with her and he certainly hadn't stopped with just kisses and caresses. She could feel John's knee between her legs and she found when she relaxed she liked the feeling of it nestled there so firmly.
Ruth woke to John's hands gently stroking her breasts. He was stretched out on his side next to her, propped up on his elbow. When her eyes opened, he leaned in to kiss her.
"Good morning, Ruth," John said with a quiet smile. He reached up to untie the ribbon at her throat. "I like this open. I don't remember tying it last night," he said kissing her chest. His hand began to roam down her body and when he reached the hem of her nightgown, he raised it to lie in folds across her hips. He insinuated his hand between her legs and began to stroke her softly as his lips claimed hers. As his lips traveled to the side of her neck, she giggled.
"Ticklish?" He asked, as he kept kissing her neck and continued to stroke her.
"Yes…" she giggled again.
"John," Ruth said desperately, as her hips began to move against his hand, She quickly put her hand on his, trying to stop his hand.
"Ruth, I can tell you're enjoying yourself. A man likes a woman who responds to his touch."
"I've never. I don't know what I'm feeling. How do you know I'm enjoying this?"
John laughed, "Ruth, your eyes are dilated, your face and chest are flushed, you're breathing quickly and before you put your hand over mine, your hips were moving and your legs were starting to part. That tells me very clearly that you are enjoying what we're doing."
He picked up the hand that was lying on his and bringing it to his lips, he set it next to her leg before he returned to petting her softly between her legs and kissing her.
"John," Ruth squeaked as she felt the soft contractions start, "What? What?"
"Shh, just let it happen. It's how a woman's body is supposed to respond to her man's touch."
Ruth whimpered, but did as John asked and willed herself to relax and enjoy his touch.
"Did you like that?" He asked with a smile as he felt the contractions slow and then stop.
"Oh, John, I've never felt anything like that."
Did you like it?" He asked again.
Ruth blushed and nodded. John pulled her into his arms and held for a long time.
"John," she leaned back to so she could see his eyes, "how many women have you been with?"
"It doesn't matter Ruth," he said softly, kissing her again.
"It does to me. Please tell me how you learned to do what you just did."
John sighed, "All right, Ruth. The story is that when I was in medical school, I met an older woman who was kind to a lonely Indiana boy who was far from home. I spent time at her home and as time went by she started to teach me about how to pleasure a woman; she taught me how women like to be touched, and I started to learn in medical school about how men and women's bodies respond when they are attracted to each other." John leaned back so he could look her in the face. "Even though I was twenty three, I was a pretty naïve farm boy and she was pretty and kind and I admit I was an eager learner."
Ruth nodded sadly.
"She gave me a home away from home and she was a friend, but we never went any farther than touching each other. You, my Ruth, will be my first."
When John said that, Ruth began to cry.
"Ruth, what's wrong?"
"I wish you were my first," Ruth cried.
"In all the important ways I am, Ruth. I take it Sally's father never made you feel the way you just did?"
"No, he said that a woman needs to just learn to lie back and accept what a man wants to do and allowing a man to do things is the way she shows that she loves him."
"Well, he was wrong," John said firmly. "and if I didn't know before, Gloria taught me that a woman can and should enjoy herself." John kissed her again softly. "I'm going to get up and get us some breakfast. I'll be right back." He sat up.
"John," Ruth said with a blush, "you shouldn't leave until…" she blushed again. "I'm your wife now." She said firmly, her eyes straying to his waist, before she looked him in the eye, trying to be brave.
"Tonight love. Something else Gloria taught me was self-control. She always said that a receptive woman is worth the wait. Tonight when you feel safe and receptive, then it will be my turn." He climbed out of bed and was quickly dressed and gone.
Ruth lay in bed missing John's touch. She smiled when she thought about how she had tensed last night when he had first touched her and how gentle he had been with her. She wasn't feeling nervous anymore, she actually felt what she could only call happy anticipation.