Chapter One:
Homecoming
"How long are you going to be hiding out here for?" Buck Wilmington asked Chris Larabee as the two men sipped coffee on the front porch of Chris's shack. With the arrangements for his wedding to Mary Traviscurrently being the main occupation of almost everyone he knew in Four Corners, Chris fled the town in hopes of escaping the chaos of those preparations. Instead, he chose to take refuge in the familiar surroundings of the shack situated on the plot of land he had bought not long after his arrival in Four Corners.
The strange thing of it was, Chris never intended on staying in the dusty town he had more or less happened upon by chance during one hot day in summer, on his way from some place he no longer remembered, to somewhere else that mattered as much. He could not understand why he bothered to stop at all, save perhaps needing a drink because the day was hot and dry and he was in need of a shot of whiskey, which he never ended up drinking. At least not until after the gun battle that would changed the course of his whole life from that point on, had concluded.
"I'll ride in there sometime today." Chris remarked as he eased back into the chair, admiring the day beyond his porch and deciding with a secret smile he had not picked a bad spot to build.
It was late fall and the leaves were turning golden with beams of sunshine peering through the cracks of the foliage, bathing the place in a warm amber glow. Besides its aesthetic value, the land was also fertile as evidenced by the trees surrounding the shack and the waist length blades of grass covering most of the property. He supposed that one of these days he ought to think about doing something with it since the soil was good for growing. Still, Chris never fancied himself a farmer, nor could he bring himself to ruin the inordinate beauty of the place by trying to tame it.
"That's right," Buck nodded as he remembered what day it was. "Billy gets in today doesn't he?"
"Yeah." Chris nodded, feeling some pleasure at the eminent arrival of Mary's son. With the new school house being erected in readiness for the semester next year, Mary finally had reason to bring Billy home permanently to Four Corners.
She had been wrestling with the decision for quite some time now and Chris knew it was hard for her to be separated from her young son for such long periods of time. In some way, his pleasure at seeing Billy return home permanently had as much to do with how happy it would make Mary, as much as his own joy to see Billy again.
"For good." Chris added after a moment. Despite his usual laconic manner, he was unable to keep the pleasure from his voice at the boy's homecoming. Although it had been extremely difficult to admit to himself, Billy reminded Chris so much of Adam it ached just as much as it did for Mary whenever Billy had to return to school in Eagle Bend.
"So will you be keeping this place once you and Mary tie the knot?" Buck asked, his gaze sweeping over the landscape before him and could understand if Chris was reluctant to move into town and leave this all behind.
There was a serenity in the stillness of the woods around them that tended to offer peace of mind. Chris had certainly needed it. When he first arrived in Four Corners, the gunslinger was a notch or two above savage. Buck understood the reason for it of course and they remained friends, no matter how sullen and dark Chris had become in the wake of Sarah and Adam's death. He knew much of Chris's decision to live again had to do with the fellowship that formed between the seven men who acted as the law in Four Corners as well as the arrival of Mary Travis into his life.
Buck Wilmington knew people.
While his behaviour bordered on the buffoonish at times, there was more going on behind his blue eyes than most people suspected. His easy going manner masked a personality prone to watching and studying human responses. It was his insight that allowed him to be the most approachable of the seven. It was also the reason why he was such a success with the ladies.
From the moment Mary Travis asked him about Chris Larabee, Buck sensed the inquiry was motivated by more than just journalistic curiosity. Perhaps the prim and proper Mrs Travis might have been merely interested, but the beautiful creature beneath, whose blue grey eyes flared with hidden fire, desired something more. The empathy in her eyes as Buck told her about Sarah and Adam had given away to a deep understanding. Following that day, they were always skirting on the edge of something that was obvious to everyone but themselves.
Buck wondered if either suspected how inevitable their relationship was. Nevertheless, as far as Buck was concerned, Mary had done the impossible. Against all odds, she was the only person in years to penetrate the hard shell of Chris Larabee's grief. With Mary, Buck had seen Chris come alive the way nothing had since before Sarah and Adam's death. It was easy enough to understand how one woman could change a man's life so drastically if that woman was Mary Travis.
Even Buck had to recognize she was one of those rare women who could heal a man with nothing more than a breezy smile and a toss of her golden hair. Buck loved her as all the seven loved her. She was their friend and in the beginning of their time here, their most ardent supporter. She accepted all of them without question or doubt, knowing they all had a past but concerning herself with none of it because she had faith in them. At a time, when most of them spent their years as exiles from life, Mary welcomed them with open arms.
Mary had made them a family and it was why every one of the seven would die for her if need be.
"I thought I might have Vin stay at the shack." Chris announced, answering Buck's earlier question about the fate of this place once he and Mary were married. Chris had no difficulty staying in town with Mary at her home, since it made sense to do so with Mary's role as editor of the Clarion News, and Chris's responsibilities as one of the town's lawmen. The gunslinger also knew it was pointless making the offer to Buck because his old friend was a social creature who liked having people around him all the time and would soon tire of this place and its solitary location.
"He'd like that." Buck agreed, knowing the choice was a good one. Vin preferred the quiet and was accustomed to taking off in his wagon just to escape the noise of urban living, if a town like Four Corners could be perceived as such. While these forays into the wilderness had lessened in frequency since Alexandra Styles entered his life, Buck knew Vin would appreciate a place far away from the hustle and bustle of town living.
"Where is he anyway?" Buck inquired, aware Vin had left town but little else. "Don't tell me he's off pining somewhere for Alex because she's gone to Sweetwater for a few days."
Chris threw Buck a look that told him to take another guess.
"Well I'll be..." Buck laughed as it finally dawned on him what Chris was alluding to. "I never thought Vin had it in him to be so sneaky."
"I'm guessing they're probably together somewhere out of the way." Chris glanced at Buck with a wolfish grin as he thought of what Alex and Vin were probably doing at this moment.
"No doubt signing the hotel register as Mr and Mrs Smith." Buck added.
"Something like that." Chris answered. "I think Vin wanted to get her away from town after everything she'd been through the last few months."
"Can't say I blame him," Buck agreed, aware that it had been a trying number of months for Vin and Alex. First with Randall Mason, then the whole ugly business with the Klan and last but not least goddamn Riley Marshall. Hopefully, the couple were somewhere enjoying some heated quality time together, in the confines of an out of the way hotel, in a town no one had probably heard of. Buck found himself sighing with envy. "Well at least they're engaged now."
"Yep, it does stop the tongues wagging for some reason." Chris replied, remembering how much simpler things became when Mary and he made their relationship public with news of their engagement. Although it was a mixed blessing considering what was happening in town at this moment. Inez was organizing the wedding with Julia Pemberton in assistance since Mary was too filled with excitement at the notion of having Billy home, to give any thought to such arrangements.
Chris who hated fanfare of any kind was starting to have this terrible suspicion his wedding was going to be about as low key as a three-ringed circus. When he had told Mary to do what she wished, he assumed there would be a quiet ceremony with close friends and a tasteful get together after. With so much to do, what with the paper and Billy coming home, Mary had unwisely given over the organization of the wedding to Inez who was more than thrilled to do this thing for her best friend.
Unfortunately, it did not take very long before they soon discovered the scope of Inez's vision for the day and suddenly, Chris decided Mary had made a mistake of biblical proportions. Unfortunately there was no way to stop it, without offending just about everyone Inez had dragged in putting thhis together. Thus Chris decided the safest place for him to be at this time was right here, away of the line of fire. He could almost understand why Vin and Alex had decided to take this trip out of town to avoid being recruited as Inez's wedding helpers.
"Inez is driving Ezra crazy planning this thing for you." Buck said with a smile, remembering the gambler's state of mind this morning when he learned he was required to take over the bartending duties for the day while Inez ran errands for the forthcoming nuptials.
"All I'm doing is turning up for the thing." Chris said firmly, having no wish to become embroiled in the preparations. As it was, he was shuddering at what a debacle the actual event was turning into and kept telling himself it would be worth all this trouble when Mary was his bride.
Keeping that thought firmly in his mind was the only thing preventing Chris from riding very far out of town. He had no wish to become a part of a community or to be considered respectable for that matter. Chris still saw himself as the town's bad element even though it was somewhat difficult to maintain the image when his fiancee was a pillar of the community and his wedding was turning out to be the social event of the year.
Perhaps there was time to make it to Mexico.
"Well, I got an interesting bachelor party planned for you." Buck grinned with just enough mischief on his face to give Chris cause for concern.
Chris stared at him sharply, perfectly aware of what kind of parties Buck was inclined to throw. His head was starting to throb just remembering how he felt the morning after the party Buck threw him when he married Sarah. If Buck had anything like that planned for him then Chris had good reason to be very afraid.
"Buck, I want to be able to walk down the aisle not be carried down it, so whatever you're planning, it better not be like it was the last time you threw me a stag party."
"Aw come on Chris," Buck exclaimed, throwing him a look of mock hurt. "You had a great time at your bachelor party." He reminded.
"A great time?" Chris stared at him. "I woke up in the middle of a field at Hank's place, with a bell tied around my neck and not much else! The man was already gunning for me for marrying his daughter!"
"Yeah," Buck smiled completely unrepentant and wished there had been a way to capture the moment, especially when Chris had to sneak into town wearing little more than his boots and that cow bell. "But trust me, you had fun."
"I'll take your word for it," Chris grizzled. "I still don't remember a thing."
"This time, I promise it will be different."
Chris gave him a stern look and warned in no uncertain terms, using a voice reserved for manic Confederate generals and errant ranch owners with delusions of grandeur. "If I wake up anywhere strange with less than I got on when I came into this world, I will hunt you down and kill you Buck. Wedding day or not."
"Would I let anything to happen you pard, especially on your big day?"
Chris did not even bother to answer.
Her son was coming home.
Beyond that, Mary Travis had let nothing else penetrate her thoughts today as she made preparations for the arrival of Billy on the next stage. Although Billy had returned home on numerous occasions before this, today was special because he was coming home for good and with her impending marriage less than a week away, Mary had a lot of reason to be happy. The past year had seen many changes in her life. Mary never suspected when she first cast her eyes on that black garbed stranger who rode into town with an air of mystery surrounding him, how much chaos he would bring to her own existence.
Not that she would have traded one moment of it for anything.
However, with Billy coming home, Mary looked upon the future with a sense of expectation of what tomorrow would bring. The nature of who she was and the man she loved had more or less written it in stone her life would never be quiet or normal. The only thing that marred an otherwise exciting existence was the absence of her son and as of today all that would change.
Mary rose early this morning and immediately aired out Billy's room, spending an hour changing the linen on his bed and ensuring everything was perfect for him when he finally arrived. She dusted and cleaned, performing all the domestic duties a mother was supposed to do for her only son, blissfully happy to know she would soon be doing these things on a daily basis. She took note of the carved horse on his bureau and recalled with a smile when he first received the tiny figurine carved from wood.
It had come to Billy during his first meeting with Chris and Mary recalled with fondness how Chris managed to draw a smile out of Billy where none had been for so long. At the time, Billy was hiding the secret regarding his father's death, a burden which manifested itself as terrible nightmares that left Mary no choice but to send him away to Eagle Bend, to protect his sanity. Thanks to Chris and the rest of the seven, Billy was able to reveal the true identity of Steven's killers and bring the men responsible to justice. However, more importantly then that, the boy started the first tentative steps to healing from the wounds of that terrible experience.
After that, Mary became accustomed to sharing Billy's time whenever he was home from school and it was time she gave up willingly when she saw how much her son adored Chris, even before they became lovers. Man and boy were able to fill a void within each other that had been vacant for far too long. Chris was the only person Billy had truly connected with since Steven died and Mary liked to think her son touched a part of Chris still grieving for his own child.
Mary spent most of the morning, preparing Billy's room for his return until she was changing the linen twice and three times because of her determination to have everything perfect when he finally stepped through the door. She wanted nothing to mar this day and was adamant everything was ready and waiting by the time the stagecoach brought Billy into Four Corners. Following her preparations in his bedroom, Mary started thinking he would be hungry and thus found herself in the kitchen where she was soon preparing a dozen different dishes she knew were Billy's favourite.
She was in the middle of slicing apples for a pie when she heard a knock on her kitchen door. With a knife and bowl of apples in hand, Mary made her way to the door and saw Julia Pemberton waiting outside the front step. Since her miscarriage some time ago, Julia's relationship with Mary had improved after the turbulence of the emporium owner's first few days in Four Corners. Unlike Alex who was a sardonic wit and Inez who was a storm waiting released, Julia was vain, egocentric but capable of surprising everyone with a streak of warmth she detested anyone to see. Slowly but surely, Mary had come to realize despite her manner, Julia considered her, Alex and Inez the first real friends she ever had.
"You look busy." Julia pointed out as the red head followed Mary into the kitchen after the lady let her in through the door.
Mary Travis's kitchen appeared to be a work in progress with pots and pans covering the counter tops and ingredients awaiting preparation on the kitchen table. Julia was not much of a cook but she knew when a feast was being readied.
"Billy is coming home today." Mary smiled, unashamed of how happy she felt at this moment. The joy of knowing her son was coming home to her was making her positively giddy and she radiated delight from every pore.
"I know," Julia said with a straight face. "You've been telling us this at least three times a day for the past week. I take it from the look of this kitchen you're planning to cook all his meals for the next week today?"
"He's a growing boy." Mary pouted but could not deny there was enough food on the table to feed the entire Union Army.
"What do you want him to grow into, a horse?"
"Are you here for a reason?" Mary scowled at the woman sarcastically, unwilling to hear any rebuke today because her son was coming home. Besides, she huffed silently; it was a mother's prerogative to see her son had a decent home cooked meal with as wide a selection to choose from.
Julia chuckled deciding to give Mary a break.
"Actually, I'm here for Inez. She wants you to pick which flower you would like for the reception."
"Flower?" Mary wrinkled her brow in exasperation, telling herself yet again Inez was only trying to make things perfect for her with this escalation of her simple wedding to a full blown social event.
"Yes," Julia reached into the basket she brought with her and produced two small bundles of local flowers. Mary could not remember what they were called but one was a pale lavender shade and the other was a vibrant red. "Pick." The emporium owner said holding them both up for Mary's scrutiny.
Mary studied both bundles for a moment and decided to go with the lavender because while the red on its own was pretty, as an arrangement in volume, would appear quite garish. The burst of colour on the day would probably kill the groom whose sole appreciation of colour was a grim black. "Tell her the lavender."
"Good choice." Julia nodded with approval and then secreted the flowers into her basket once more. "Incidentally, you do realize you have created a monster, do you not?"
"I know, I know," Mary groaned as she went back to peeling her apples. "I had no idea Inez's idea of a wedding could be so grandiose. Yesterday, she had me picking up the kind of napkins we would like at the reception."
"Considering half the guests are barely house broken, it does seem to be a redundant gesture." Julia agreed perfectly aware of how maniacal Inez was getting since most of the linen for the wedding was coming from her Emporium.
Julia had not forgotten how comforting Mary had been when she lost her baby and had donated all linen for the reception as her wedding gift to the couple. "Why do you think Alex got out of town so fast?"
"Because she wanted a sinful weekend with Vin?" Mary looked at Julia with a raised brow and an evil smile.
"Why Mrs Travis," Julia laughed with mock reproach in her voice. "I thought a respectable journalist like yourself would be above such tawdry gossip."
"I know, I know, " Mary replied showing no sign of guilt. "I feel absolutely sick about it."
"Are you and Chris planning some sort of honeymoon after the wedding?" Julia asked since no mention of it was made, at least from Inez.
"I don't know," Mary replied. Honestly, the thought of such a thing never occurred to her. What with the wedding and Billy coming home, the idea of a honeymoon had completely slipped her mind. "I don't really want to leave Billy with strangers. He's going to have a hard enough time fitting back into life at Four Corners on a permanent basis. Not to mention, he doesn't know any of the local children."
"Well he'll get to know them when school opens." Julia pointed out. "Have you acquired a school teacher yet?"
"Yes as a matter of fact," Mary said brightly, glad she was prepared for at least one thing. Mary had sent letters of inquiry across the state in search of someone who would be willing to accept a teaching post in such rugged surroundings. Despite the fact that Four Corners was reaching some semblance of civilization, the news had yet to reach the rest of America and finding someone to fill the post had been quite an effort. Still, Mary was pleased she found someone who was suitably qualified.
"Her name is Audrey King and she's been teaching for fifteen years. Apparently, her husband passed on recently and she wants to get a new start somewhere with her twelve-year-old daughter. Her references are quite impressive. She'll be here sometime this week, apparently to get settled in before the school year begins."
"This is the place for beginnings." Julia replied, being able to attest to that fact personally. "Well, I've got to get going." she sighed as she remembered she had a dozen other errands to run for Inez today. If she had known how determined Inez was to make this wedding nothing less than perfect, Julia might have reconsidered her offer to lend the woman a hand. Still, Julia had to admit she liked being able to help.
Back in Philadelphia, her female relations never liked her enough to ask her assistance in such matters and it felt good to be finally included in such an event. Looking at the list Inez had given her with instructions of what she was required to do, Julia met Mary's gaze and responded. "I apparently have to go find Gloria Potter and put the wind up her about getting a three-layered cake ready for the ceremony with a dozen icing roses on each section."
"Oh my God." Mary exclaimed, having enough expertise at cake making to know how much of a chore that was going to be. "A dozen roses?"
"I told you," Julia said as she started to leave, "you've created a monster."
"You're telling me," Mary groaned.
"Mary," Julia paused as she was about to walk out the door. "Want a piece of advice?"
"Conditionally," she stared at Julia suspiciously.
"I think Billy is going to be so happy to be home with his mother, he's not going to care what he has for dinner." Julia gave her a little wink and swept out of her kitchen.
Mary knew Julia was right but in the meantime, she still had a pie to bake.
Warning: Adult Scene
It was afternoon and Vin Tanner had not remembered ever spending such a prolonged period indoors or in bed for that matter. He peeked out the window and saw the morning was almost over as the sun reached its apex in the sky. Outside, the main street of this quiet town showed no more activity then when he and Alex first arrived here. It was Alex who suggested they pick this particular place for their escape from Four Corners. Not only was it half deserted and off the main travelling routes but it was also the town she liberated him from bounty hunters when he was delivered into their hands by Randall Mason.
Vin liked her sense of irony.
The hotel they were registered in was one of those places Vin knew to be a favourite of those who did not wish to be found, which was exactly what they were. It was by no means lavish but had a door with a lock on it and a nice big bed which was all Vin and Alex wanted or needed. For the past two days, neither had come up for air as they indulged their desires in this vacation away from their lives. For once, Vin had the thrill of waking up next to Alex and sharing and entire night in her bed without having to sneak away in the morning, for fear of inciting gossip.
After the business with Francis Lamont and more recently Riley Marshall, Vin decided they needed to recover from the trials of the last few months. Alex had been through something of an emotional time and though she was now on the mend, Vin felt the time away from being Doctor Styles would do her some good. Thus as far as Four Corners knew, the doctor was going to Sweetwater for a few days and he was heading out to the Indian Village to visit with Kojay and Chano. Besides, they knew he preferred soaking up the solitude denied him in the lively atmosphere of town. Alex left first and Vin let a day pass before they met up at the arranged place so they could journey here together.
He watched her sleep, basking in the loveliness of her as she dreamed all things wonderful he hoped. It was still a source of astonishment to him to know he was engaged to a woman like her. Alexandra Styles was a true lady in every sense of the word and yet she was willing to accept him for what he was, even though he had no fortune to speak of and a price on his head. He knew before there could be any question of marriage, he would have to deal with his ongoing situation in Tascosa.
Still it was nice to know she was his.
Alex lay within the sheets next to him, oblivious to his observations and Vin felt the familiar tingle of arousal as he took in the sight of her body, separated from his touch by a thin layer of cotton. She was lying on her stomach, dark hair covering most of her face when Vin nuzzled closer to her as another wave of desire took control of him. Vin brushed aside her tousled dark hair, seeking the soft skin of her neck through the strands of jet.
She pushed up against him in her sleep, not at all minding his weight on top of her as she slumbered. Letting out a pleasured sigh when Vin found her neck, the tracker smiled as he lowered his mouth and started teasing her skin by tracing circles with his tongue. She was still asleep but he could feel her body responding immediately to the gentle nips he made along the length of her neck before sucking the curve where it met her shoulder.
Alex moaned languidly, pressing her body further into his as he continued this seductive assault, still asleep but aware of his caresses by her dreamy responses to him. Vin's hand slid in the space between her breast and the soft mattress, searching for the nipple pressing hard against the linen. He enjoyed the journey there, savouring the soft round warmth beneath his palm, the supple curve of her breast and the texture of skin pulling taut against muscle. He felt her sharp intake of breath as he kneaded the ripe flesh, teasing her nipple until it tightened with aching pleasure she could feel, even in this dreamy state. Unconsciously, her back arched slightly into him so he could take up her whole breast.
Vin grunted softly at the feel of her in his hand. The sensation was strong enough to send waves of heat rippling through his arms and continuing all the way down to his cock. He felt himself stiffen with growing need as he continued caressing her this way, thrilling in the soft sounds she made each time he did something that touched her in just the right way. He kneaded her flesh harder, drawing pleasured moans from her as she started to come out of her sleep.
Plucking her taut nipples mercilessly between his finger tips, Alex started moving beneath him, trying to grind her body into his. Vin closed his eyes, feeling the arousal building in his hardening cock as Alex writhed under him, the firm flesh of her bottom pushing into the hard ridge of his manhood. It strained for stimulation and before he even knew it, he was rubbing himself against her, relishing the feel of her skin against him while the swollen head of his erection started pushing against the inside of her thighs.
"Can I do something for you cowboy?" She mumbled, coming out of her sleep almost purring.
"Whatever you want darlin'," he smiled and continued kissing her neck, moving to her shoulders before showering her bronzed skin with light kisses. Alex purred in delight as his other hand journeyed down her side to her hip. Vin loved the feel of her skin under his hands, almost as much as he craved hearing the sounds of pleasure escaping her.
"I could take this for a few more hours." Alex smiled as she pushed herself against him, feeling a wicked gush of moisture between her legs at the sensation of his chest against her bare back. She could feel his cock pressing into her, demanding entry as his hips involuntarily thrust against her.
His kisses had become more fervent now as his desire building steadily in the erection making itself felt so prolifically between her legs. Alex parted her thighs slightly, immediately allowing him to run his shaft along the heat of her damp sex.
The sudden slide against the length of his cock made Vin pause a moment as the pleasure of it forced a small groan from him.
"Jesus." He whispered and felt his hips moving of their accord as he pushed against the velvet folds but not far enough to penetrate. As he slid up and down, he could feel her moistening with each delicious stroke, until she was very silent and her breaths were little more than shallow gasps of anticipation. Vin positioned himself so his cock would make contact with her clit and pushed again.
"Oh Vin." She whispered as she felt him tease that tiny pearl of flesh as he ran his shaft against it. The sensation made her buck against him and he squeezed her breast with renewed intensity as his own desires gripped him with similar abandon.
Vin was covered in her juices now and the need to enter her was so overwhelming he could barely stand it. He left her breast and moved both hands to her hips, sliding down her sides with a firm descent so that she could feel every inch of his journey in the rough calluses of his palms. When he reached the curve of her waist, he slid his hand underneath her belly until he reached the thatch of dark hair. Sliding past her wet thighs, he relished the musk of her arousal in his nostrils as he explored her moist folds. Gently, inserting a finger inside her, Vin groaned immediately at the feel of wet and tight muscle enveloping him upon entry.
"God." She whimpered, her hips pushing into his hand as he strained to plunge his fingers as deeply into her as he could. Quivering flesh enveloped his insistent digits, promising him all kinds of pleasure as he pressed his fingers within the passage his cock would soon invade. Her hips started to lift slightly off the bed, attempting to give him more access to her until the texture of her round bottom, grinding against his pelvis was enough to drive him insane with hunger.
"Get on your knees," he whispered huskily, his blue eyes dark with feral need.
"Yes." She whimpered softly, moaning with disappoinment when he drew away from her to allow the movement. She did not wish for his hand to stop what it was doing to her body but she was burning with need for him now. Alex wanted to feel him inside her, perfectly aware of how wonderful he would be when he started fucking her hard and savagely.
Vin felt his cock impossibly harden when he drew back and saw her raising herself upon her hands and knees, offering him a full view of her sex as she did so. He wanted to be inside her so badly he could not even wait before he was up against her, forcing himself through the silky folds. As the head of his cock penetrated the tight ring of wet flesh, Vin had to hold onto her hips or else he would have completely lost control and forced himself into her brutally. His need for her was such now it was driving the sense from his world.
"Jesus, you feel good." He groaned as he pushed into her, enjoying every inch of flesh coaxing him further and further inside.
Alex was moaning incorehently as he made his invasion, parting her legs wider, feeling as if he could never be deep enough inside her as she pushed down hard, until what care he was taking was washed away in the totality of complete penetration. She heard him groan as he was embedded inside her, until his hips was pressed hard against her bottom and she could feel the weight of his semen engorged sacs bouncing against her flesh. His hands dug into her hips with such force she was almost aroused by the pain. Their lust had become almost animalistic in its intensity.
"Harder Vin," she gasped. "Harder."
Her plea was so raw and full of need it almost undid his control. He felt a gush of fluid escape him in the arousal from those three words. He was more than happy to oblige her because the sensation of her all around him was beyond belief. He was somewhat amazed he had not begun a frantic fit of furious thrusting because his cock was so hard and bursting he did not know how much longer he could have maintain his control. Pulling her hips forcefully into his throbbing member, he began pumping her hard, his own gyrations making this melding of flesh into a dance of brutal pleasure.
Sweet Jesus, Vin thought inwardly as the sensation washed over him. The intense pressure of her inner muscles was crushing his cock into submission with each hard thrust into her body. He pounded her with such relentless force, before he even knew what was happening, Vin was groaning her name through his gritted teeth.
"Oh God Vin, don't stop!" She whimpered and threw her head back, her dark hair splaying across her back, intermingling with the sweat of her skin.
Vin saw the cascade of jet before him, a stark contrast against her golden coloured skin and immediately felt himself pumping even harder, until the pleasure of her was so unbelievable all he could do in response was to hold on and enjoy the ride. He rode her hard and fast, knowing despite her lady like manner, she liked to be handled rough. Without ever knowing how he had managed to be so fortunate, Vin knew he had a wildcat in his bed.
He slammed into her again, his cock reaching such heights of ecstasy neither it nor him was going to recover for a good while after this incredible session. Judging with Alex's whimpers, he could tell that she was very close and rammed into her with continued force until he could go no deeper. The sensation that came from being completely sheathed was more than he could bear, forcing him to bury his face in the sheen of her jet coloured hair.
Suddenly, he felt her stiffen under him. Her back straightening like an animal that had awoken from a deep sleep and felt the need to stretch out. All sense left his mind when her wet insides contracted around his cock in a powerful display of orgasmic pre-eminence. She cried out his name like she was in worship, as if the word chanted would make her plunge over the abyss of pleasure all the more powerful. He felt her warmth sweep over him and that it would take whatever control he had with it.
"Oh Christ!" He groaned, feeling himself explode inside her until all he could see before him were stars amidst a canvas of jet. His body spasmed as he continued pumping into her, forcing Alex to accept every last drop of seed until finally he collapsed against her body, bathing them both in each other's perspiration. For a moment, he could do nothing but remained draped over her, trying to catch his breath from yet another affirmation of why he could never be without her.
They lay there still for a few seconds, holding each other as they recovered, their bodies pressed against each other. Vin rubbed the rough stubble of his cheek against the smooth skin of her back and felt Alex wriggle.
"Stop it." She tried to suppress a laugh. "That tickles."
Vin repeated the action again and drew another sharp giggle from her. "I hadn't noticed." He smiled.
"Stop it," she laughed again and squirmed from under him. "That drives me crazy."
"Well then," he said with a devilishly grin. "I'll just have to keep doing it."
With that, he covered his body with hers and filled the room with their playful laughter.
"Is the stage here yet?" Chris asked when he met Mary in front of the Clarion office later that day.
His fiancee was pacing the boardwalk in front of the premises, looking every bit as impatient as he knew she was feeling. Chris tried not to smile as he saw Mary attempting to look normal even though she was bursting with impatience over the impending arrival of her son. This was something he had become accustomed to seeing throughout the months of their courtship. Billy's arrival was the only thing that could make Mary Travis heady to such an extent.
"No," she glanced at the small watch she had been keeping in her pocket. "Its ten minutes late." She said unhappily as she glanced up the main street once more, to see if the stagecoach had appeared on the horizon since the last time she looked thirty seconds ago. "This tardiness is most unacceptable." She grumbled with her hands on her hips and continued pacing. People were starting to look at her curiously as they passed by and reacted only by throwing Chris a sympathetic glance as they continued on their way.
"Mary you're going to wear a hole in the ground." Chris pointed out. "Relax."
"I can't relax!" She exclaimed, knowing he could not possibly understand how she was feeling at this moment. There were butterflies in her stomach at the thought of having her son home permanently, not just for a few days or weeks but forever! She was so happy she could barely form the words but this wait was driving her insane! "Where is that damn stage! I want my son!"
Chris raised a brow at her tantrum and found himself unable to contain the smile that sneaked past his lips almost involuntarily. Mary noticed it and narrowed her eyes, realizing he was having some amusement at her expense. She was about to open her mouth and reply when the timely arrival of Ezra, Josiah, Buck and JD saved him from any bloodshed. Mary was in that kind of mood right now but she tended to keep her temper from public view unless absolutely necessary.
"I take it young William has yet to arrive." Ezra stated the obvious.
"Good to see you out from behind the bar." Chris responded, unable to hide the amusement in his voice.
Ezra glared at him. "Inez has finally liberated me from that tiresome chore. Apparently, the wedding of the century can take a break for the rest of the day."
"Thank goodness," Mary sighed, glad that for today anyway, she would not have any flower arrangements to preside over, any dinner plate patterns to select and furthermore, any talk of the bridal shower Inez intended on throwing her. All she was interested in today was her son.
"The hard work is just too much for him." Josiah commented, giving Ezra a bemused look.
"I told you once and I shall it again reiterate again, a gentlemen does not perform menial labour." Ezra pointed out in the dignified way that only Ezra could do. "I just hope you and Mrs Travis appreciate the sacrifice some of us have been forced to make for your coming nuptials.
"I'll keep you in mind when I write the thank you cards." Mary said rolling her eyes in resignation wondering how Julia put up with the man sometimes. Still, Julia's personality lent well to Ezra's southern gentlemen persona and Mary was sure the woman humored him a great deal.
"Don't worry Ezra," Buck grinned. "It will be all worth it when I throw the bachelor party."
"Bachelor party?" Mary turned slowly to Chris with an expression on her face revealing she was not at all enthusiastic about his having a stag party. She heard what commonly went on at these affairs to know she did not want Chris hung over on the day of their wedding.
"Nice going Buck." Chris grimaced, noting the frown that suddenly developed on his future wife's face.
"Don't worry Mary," Buck stepped forward, quick to defend his friend and his stag night. "It will be perfectly respectable, even my mother would be proud to attend." He oozed charm as he tried to convince her nothing sleazy would be taking place even though it was an outright lie that neither Mary nor any of the seven believed.
"I'll believe that when I see it." Josiah remarked, giving Chris and Ezra a knowing look. If Buck could do anything with complete expertise, it was to organize celebrations that included plenty of libations and all the vices to make it an evening to remember. Of course, such parties would give any potential groom much cause for consternation with all the temptations that would undoubtedly be present on the night.
"Stage is here!" JD announced and immediately moved everyone's attention from what was possibly an incendiary subject.
As they made their way to the stage depot, Mary easily outdistanced them as she hurried forward, raising her skirts so it would not hamper her swift approach. The stage rumbled into Four Corners, trailing a small cloud of dust as it travelled through the outskirts of town and meandered into the main street. Mary felt her heart pounding with excitement, oblivious to the men who were attempting to keep up with her as she strode purposefully along the boardwalk.
By the time she reached the depot, the stage had already pulled up and the driver had alighted and was preparing to open the door for the passengers.
Unsurprisingly, it was Billy who bundled out of the carriage first, even before the driver could swing the door open completely. The long confinement during the journey had strained his youthful patience to such an extent he was extremely grateful to be free of it as he hurried out of the Concord, in search of the mother who was no doubt waiting for him like she always did.
"Billy!" Mary called out happily and the boy ran straight into her arms as mother and son exchanged a warm and happy embrace of greeting.
"Let me look at you," Mary said trying not to let her emotions get the better of her as she spoke. Every time she saw him, it just felt as if it was years since he had been gone. Upon observation, she noted he had grown a little taller and he was in need of a haircut but other than that he was still her little boy and that alone was enough to make Mary forget everything else.
"Is it true ma?" Billy asked enthusiastically. "Am I home to stay?"
"Yes," she said delighted he was happy about this. "You don't have to go back." There had been a moment of darkness when Mary considered the possibility Billy may not want to leave his friends and grandparents in Eagle Bend. After all, Eagle Bend had so many things Four Corners did not and she worried bringing him home would just make him miserable.
"And I can go to school here?" He questioned further.
"When school opens." Mary nodded and her response was rewarded with another warm hug from her son that just about broke her resolve to keep from crying. She looked up to see Chris approach with a smile on his face he rarely showed anyone. This one was real and was mostly reserved for those occasions when Billy came home.
"Hey pardner." Chris greeted the boy as Mary disengaged herself from him and ran towards the gunslinger.
"Hi Chris!" Billy grinned, staring at the tall man in black with nothing less than adoration as he ran to Chris and hugged him with just as much affection as he had done to his mother. Chris had dropped to his knees to hug the boy back, showing his comrades a side of him rarely displayed except when in the presence of this child.
The next few minutes were a chorus of greetings and ruffled hair as Billy was offered warm salutations from all the lawmen present who were just as enamored with Mary's young son as Chris Larabee himself. In a way, though none would admit it, they all felt warmly towards the boy and felt some measure of responsibility for the child as they did for his mother. Ever since they arrived in Four Corners, each one of them had adopted Billy in one fashion or another and the young Master Travis could always be counted to be in their company whenever he was home from school.
It was Ezra who noticed the other passenger that alighted from the stage.
"Oh my Lord." He said with wide eyes, watching the young woman who climbed out of the stagecoach with nothing more than a wrapped bundle as her luggage. He recognized her immediately of course. After all, the part she played in their lives during those turbulent days on the trail had left an impression that time could not dispel no matter how much of it hurtled by.
"Mrs Travis, is that who I think it is?" Ezra asked, calling their attention to the new arrival's presence.
"What?" Mary asked as she followed Ezra's gaze and looked over her shoulder. Her mind was still wrapped in euphoria over her son's arrival so she did not realize immediately what had captured his attention until she concentrated. When she did, it made her stop short in astonishment at the sight of the familiar face.
The woman let her hazel eyes sweep over the area, taking in her new surroundings while at the same time, collecting herself after her long journey. She brushed a strand of red hair out of her eyes as she adjusted her straw hat on her head before her line of sight shifted in their direction. It took an instant longer before those eyes came to rest upon then and their faces registered in her memory. Recognition flooded her face immediately and she broke into a wide smile as she made her way towards them.
"Mary, its me Charlotte, Charlotte Richmond." She announced upon reaching them, as if any introductions was necessary.
"I remember," Mary smiled politely, still somewhat surprised at seeing this face from their recent past. "How are you Charlotte?"
It was difficult to not remember Charlotte Richmond after her illicit affair with Vin Tanner during the time the seven was required to escort a wagon train further west. Vin who until that point had very little experience with women, had fallen head over heels in love with Charlotte whose relations with her husband were strained. While Mary thought Charlotte was merely using Vin to forget her marital troubles, the tracker had taken the relationship very seriously and was prepared to throw everything away just to be with her. The subsequent affair had damaged Chris and Vin's friendship for a time and strained relations between the seven as nothing had done before.
Fortunately, Vin had come to his senses and dissolved the affair by sending Charlotte back to her husband after a brief flight and neutralized a situation that was on the fast track to becoming explosive. The affair left the tracker sullen withdrawn for quite some time as he came to grips with losing the first love he ever had. Secretly, both Chris and Mary were of the firm belief Charlotte had merely taken advantage of Vin's inexperience for her gratification.
"I'm fine," Charlotte said breathlessly completely unaware Mary did not think much of her for the injury she caused Vin. Instead, her eyes searched the faces of the men behind Mary, seeking one in particular only to find he was not present. "I'm in town for a few days. I thought I would catch up with Vin while I'm here. Is he in town?" She asked, forcing her voice to sound as nonchalant as possible even though Mary saw through the ruse easily enough. Charlotte had come to Four Corners specifically for Vin and nothing else.
"Chris?" Mary looked to her fiancee with some help as to what she ought to say to Charlotte considering Vin's situation at present. She wanted to blurt out Vin was no longer free and Charlotte should leave the young man alone considering there was someone else in his life but it was not her place to make that decision. It was Vin's.
The gunslinger fidgeted uncomfortably, gripped with the same conflict running through Mary's head at this moment. Like Mary, he was wrestling with whether or not it was his business to tell Charlotte that Vin was not only attached to someone else, he was also engaged. Chris cleared his throat and finally made the safest response he could think of since he was unwilling to do anything until he spoke to Vin and heard it from the tracker how he wished to handle things.
"He's out of town." He said abruptly, revealing in no uncertain terms he was unhappy to see her. Charlotte had brought Vin a great deal of pain by playing with his affections the way she had. Like Mary, Chris knew Charlotte's reason for coming to Four Corners involved his best friend.
"Oh." Charlotte said with clear disappointment before she was aware of the eyes watching her closely. She knew Chris Larabee had not approved of her relationship with Vin and the lack of his understanding contributed to Vin making the decision she ought to return to her husband. She returned his piercing gaze with a hard look of her own, unwilling to let his imposing manner keep her from what she wanted.
Vin was no one's creature and he loved her. The choice was always his to make, not Chris Almighty Larabee's. Recovering quickly, Charlotte shrugged off the stares of the men before her and decided there was nothing to be done until Vin returned to Four Corners and she was certain they would be no help to her.
"Well, could you please tell him that I'm in town when he does get back? I'll be staying at the hotel for awhile." She gestured to the establishment as she spoke. With no further reason to linger, Charlotte decided that it was wiser to depart. "I guess I'll be seeing you around town." She said with a small smile before sweeping out of their presence as suddenly as she had stepped into it.
For a few seconds after her departure, no one spoke.
Finally it was Billy who broke the silence. Youth spared him from knowing the history of the woman who had just appeared before them. "Can we go home now ma?" He asked looking up at Mary and oblivious to the shock currently running across the faces of his older companions.
"Absolutely," Mary nodded, still staring after Charlotte who was continuing down the boardwalk towards Heidegger's. It took a further second for Mary to free herself from the distraction before she remembered her son once again.
"Are you hungry Billy?" She asked as she started to lead him away from the stage back to the house.
"Grandma gave me sandwiches," he informed her dutifully. "But I didn't like them much."
"Never mind," Mary said brushing a strand of blond hair out of his face. "I got some afternoon lunch ready for you." She smiled and then regarded the men who had been very silent following their encounter with Charlotte. "If you gentlemen would like to join us, I have plenty." It was more or less a forgone conclusion Chris would accept but Mary knew home cooked meals were somewhat of a luxury for the others.
"Much obliged Madam." Ezra finally responded, shaking thoughts of Charlotte Richmond out of his head as he looked at Mary.
"You go on ahead," Chris replied. "We'll join you shortly."
Mary nodded and continued towards home with Billy at her side. Chris could not help but let a jaded smile steal across his face as he saw the mother and son walking down the boardwalk, hand in hand as they spoke in the language outsiders could never grasp. Chris recalled how he used to watch Sarah and Adam do the same thing, lost in their own world and felt a profound feeling of gratitude at having them back again in Mary and Billy.
After a moment, he turned to his companions who were still rather silent in light of Charlotte's arrival at Four Corners. In their eyes, he saw the same thing he was feeling at the woman's unexpected presence in town. Even though it was none of his business really, he immediately felt concern Charlotte's presence in Four Corners was going to complicate things considerably for Vin when he finally did return from his little vacation with Alex.
"You know something?" Buck asked no one in particular.
"What?" JD responded since no one else did.
"Vin is in for a world of trouble." Buck stated firmly and sadly no one could disagree.
