Cullen Bohannon sat listening to Thomas Durant babble on and on about something to do with getting the railroad done as quickly and as cheaply as possible. He hadn't been listening for some time. He just nodded every once and a while he would nod pretending to be interested.
His eyes fell to the photo on Durant's desk that held a photo of his niece Kate, the woman Cullen had been seeing secretly for almost 3 months now. If he had it his way he would have just told Durant and went on with it. Kate was the one that wanted to wait. She didn't want to rock the boat. No matter how many times Cullen had told her not to worry or be afraid it didn't seem to help.
"He won't do anything to us."
He had said just the night before as Kate snuggled to his side.
"Nothing except fire you and send me away to some awful place."
Cullen shook his head.
"Again he isn't going to do squat to us. I won't let him. You should know me by now."
She seemed satisfied enough with his response and didn't say anything else instead went back to snuggling against his side. They both knew that soon the sun would rise and she would have to go before her uncle realized that she was gone.
"What do you think Mr. Bohannon?"
Durant asked. Cullen looked up nodding not realizing he hadn't made a response in some time. He knew his mind wasn't in the right place at the moment. The last thing that he needed to be doing was worrying with a woman but for once he couldn't help it. Normally he could block stuff when it displeased him but with Kate it was different. The moment he saw her something was different. It wasn't the way it was with Mary. Hell, he didn't even know how to describe it.
The moment the petite woman stepped into Durant's office, Cullen didn't know what to do with himself. She didn't look at him with apprehension or fear. Instead, she only looked at him with a dainty smile.
Over the next few weeks
The night everything changed was like any other. Cullen had left the Starlight after a few drinks and was on his way back to his place when he noticed Kate standing near the edge of town looking out into the woods. With a frown he walked towards the young woman.
"Ms. Kate you all right?"
She looked at him with a smile.
"Oh yes. What's beyond the wood line?"
Cullen shrugged,
"I know there is a river about half a mile from here."
Kate nodded.
"Lovely."
Cullen blinked.
"You aint goin out there yourself are you?"
Kate nodded.
"I need some quiet. Away from all of this. You can come with me. Keep me safe if you want."
She started to walk forward. Cullen stood a moment before quickly walking after her.
"You can't be runnin off in the woods alone."
Kate smirked.
"Well here you are. If anyone can keep me safe I think you can."
30 minutes later, Cullen stood beside Kate as she looked around with a pleased smile on her face.
"This the kind of quiet you want?"
Kate nodded.
"It's peaceful here. Isn't it nice?"
Cullen shrugged.
"I don't really do peaceful Ms. Kate."
Kate smirked.
"You can just call me Kate. . You don't strike me as a person who does peace. You were a solider for the south wasn't you?"
Cullen nodded finally looking into her deep blue eyes.
"Yes ma'am. You going to judge me for it?"
Kate shook her head before reaching out taking his hands in hers.
"Not at all. You have honor. It's something that a lot of these jokers here don't have. I am usually good at reading people. You I can't though. I see a lot of pain in you."
Kate reached forward brushing a strand of his hair from his face. She stood a moment longer before pressing a tender kiss to his lips. For a moment, Kate thought she had made a mistake until Cullen began to kiss back. The kiss lasted a moment longer until he pulled away. Cullen remained close leaning his forehead down against hers.
"I'm a bad match for you"
Kate reached up stroking his face.
"That is yet to be seen:
Cullen raised an eyebrow.
"I'm too old for you"
Kate sighed.
"Would you stop being stubborn?"
Cullen stood a moment longer before pulling her into his arms pressing another long kiss to her lips. Soft kisses led to long passionate ones. Cullen tried to keep his hands in a decent location on the woman's body.
"You can touch me."
She whispered. Cullen sighed.
"You're a lady...probably a virgin too. This isn't exactly the place to be given that up. That finishin school your uncle sent you to not warn you about guys like me? This what you want? Right here by the river?"
Kate stepped away slowly beginning to undo her dress before stepping into the river. Cullen watched her for a few moments longer wondering if this was going too far too quick or if this woman would be what he needed to heal him. She was innocent. She hadn't seen the things he did.
It maybe took Cullen about 2 minutes to decide this would probably be a good thing and was in the water after her. Kate didn't fight him when his hands went around her waist and began to press tender kisses to her neck and shoulders.
"I take you like this you're mine."
Kate nodded feeling her heart begin to pound as she turned wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders. Cullen gently eased her down onto the soft sand of the river bank. He watched her eyes for any signs of regret. Upon seeing none, he let his hand fall between their bodies and began to let his fingers rub over her soft flesh. It has been too long since he had been with a woman. He had missed the softness and the way she seemed to mold to him.
Kate took a breath as Cullen began to push into her. She pressed her lips together trying to repress the cry as she felt her body was being torn into. Finally, the pain began to fade into pleasure.
"Don't stop"
She whispered as Cullen pulled her into a sitting position so they were both in the water as he continued to push into her sealing their new love.
Cullen was pulled from his memory when Sean McGinnis came running in.
"Mr. Bohannon, Mr. Durant! Come quick! Ms. Katherine is about to kill the Swede."
Cullen and Duran quickly stood following the young Irishman into the town center where sure enough Kate stood holding the Swede at gunpoint. People were gathered around looking watching with apprehensive faces. No one had quiet seen Kate Durant act like this. To most people she was uncommonly kind. She had friends with almost every class in the camp but here she was holding the overgrown menace to society at gunpoint.
Cullen and Durant both looked clearly shocked.
"Katherine drop the gun."
Durant said in his authoritative voice. Kate meanwhile, didn't budge nor lower the gun. Cullen watched his lover carefully for a moment before walking to her.
"Come now drop the gun."
He caught himself when he almost called her "darlin." The Swede meanwhile, laughed.
"Mr. Bohannon will you please get your whore under control."
All eyes rolled to Cullen and Kate who went pale. Durant turned looking at Bohannon and his niece with shocked eyes then looked back to the Swede.
"What are you talking about Mr. Gundersen?"
The Swede smiled innocently.
"I have caught Mr. Bohannon and your dear niece in the thoroughs of love making on numerous occasions."
Every became even more silent again as all eyes went back and forth. This was clearly the best entertainment any of them had in a while. Cullen had his hand going to the gun on his hip. Durant meanwhile, look absolutely livid.
"Both of you in my office now."
He turned storming off without another word. Cullen looked back to Kate who looked honestly afraid now.
"It's gonna be all right darlin."
He said calmly. Kate quickly walked to Cullen's side.
'I hope"
He reached down squeezing her hand at this point not caring that people were watching.
"Calm down darlin. I'm serious"
He said soothingly trying to ignore the stares of the people he knew. Elam caught his eye right away.
Walking into Durant's office, Kate immediately noticed her uncle pacing. He turned looking at them with furious eyes.
"How long has this been going on?"
Kate pressed her lips together.
"3 months."
Durant shook his head.
"This is completely inappropriate! Kate I want you to wait outside. I have nothing further to say to you."
Kate looked back at Cullen who gave her a gentle nod and she turned and walked out. Sitting in the hot sun, she looked up as Eva Toole approached.
"Mornin Ms. Kate."
She nodded.
"Good morning Eva."
Eva motioned to the bench as Kate nodded.
"So you and Mr. Bohannon huh?"
Kate's eyes teared up.
"Yes. If he and my uncle don't kill each other in there. Damn I should have shot that bastard earlier."
Eva chuckled.
"Woulda been amusin. No one here likes 'em. Back to you and Mr. Bohannon, you got nuthin to be ashamed of. He's a good man. Would keep you safe. I think a lot of 'em."
Kate smiled squeezing Eva's hand as Cullen walked out his blue eyes blazing. He quickly walked past not even looking at Kate who quickly stood and followed him.
"Cullen wait!"
He didn't stop. Kate quickly grabbed a hold of him arm making him stop.
"Cullen stop! What is going on?"
The look on his face was almost alien. He had never looked at Kate like that before.
"It's over Kate."
He didn't give her a chance to respond before turning and storming away leaving Kate looking after him in tears.
(Find out what Durant said to Cullen in the next chapter)