Chapter Seven 8
"Make sure they don't misplace those gifts. I don't want to have to replace them." Audra said as one of the railroad workers took the extra luggage Scott handed them. Over the past year, Audra had received letters that included the fact that Jarrod was seriously courting Dr. Merar's niece, Polly. Now, having received an invitation to Jarrod's wedding, Audra had bought a few gifts for her brother and his bride. She would have preferred to keep the gifts with her, but Scott had said it wasn't necessary.
"They won't lose them." Scott smiled as he and Audra boarded the train and head towards the private car he had rented for the trip. Even though Jarrod Barkley's wedding wasn't for another two months, Scott had some business deals to take care of and figured they might as well combine the trips.
"Your car is ready, Mr. Breckenridge. However, it's the next one down." The conductor, who stood next to the car door handed Scott a set of keys, smiled at him and Audra and pointed to the car next to the one they'd just tried to enter.
Audra simply smiled back, as she followed Scott to the car the conductor had pointed to. As she and Scott climbed yet another set of steps Audra's mind was on Jarrod's letter, the one that he sent telling how much he hoped she would come to the wedding, even if she had Scott with her.
"Thank you," Audra said as Scott opened the door to the private car open. Stepping inside she walked over and sat down on the small couch the car held.
"Should I have our dinner brought in here?" Scott asked as Audra pulled the wedding invitation out of her handbag once more. Audra didn't answer at first. She was too busy looking at the picture of Jarrod and Polly. They looked so happy together. Only when Scott cleared his throat, did Audra look away from the invitation and answer him. "Sorry, I'm not that hungry."
Scott's eyes brows turned down. Audra had barely looked at the new dresses he'd bought her for the trip and now she wasn't hungry. He walked over and sat down next to Audra. Laying his hand on hers, he asked sincerely concerned, "What's wrong? I thought you were happy for Jarrod."
"Oh I am!" Audra's head snapped up in order to make it so she looked at Scott. "It's just…" she hesitated not knowing how to say what she was feeling. Scott had been so good to her and she had grown to care about him a great deal; no, if she was to be honest, she'd allowed herself to actually fall in love with him. Still…
Scott was a lot of things, only stupid wasn't one of them. He lifted his hands and cupped her face in his hands. "Audra, you are just as much a lady as Polly is and just as special." He paused as he ran the memories of the past year through his mind. Then, without warning, he lowered his head and pulled Audra to him. Bag telling her she was special or giving her material gifts to prove it, he was going to show her how he felt.
At first Audra thought nothing of Scott's kiss, as he'd kissed her many times through the months, but as his tongue ravished her mouth and the kiss deepened, and his hands ran up her back, Audra felt her heart skip a beat. When Scott ran his lips over her cheek and down her neck, and let his hands begin to wander, a gasp escaped Audra's mouth and her eyes widened. "Scott…" Audra gasped again as Scott pulled her off the couch, led her to the bed and lay her down, the whole time he was kissing her and letting his hands run over her.
"Don't talk," Scott whispered as he slid his hands underneath her blouse and move them upwards. "I told you," he kissed her again and then said as she found her blouse wide open, "You're just as special as this Polly, even more so. Don't ever let anyone tell you different." He then proceeded to tell her he thought it was high time he showed her how he felt.
Audra barely heard the train whistle blow as Scott continued whispering one thing after another to her, including the fact that he had fallen in love with her. He proceeded pushing her towards the edge of a fire she'd never felt before as his hands continued roaming over her skin and touching her in places she'd never been touched before. In between everything he was saying and everything he was doing Audra found herself doing everything he asked her to do. By the time he began the process of taking her, Audra was sure she was going to explode and, just as the heat came to a climax, Audra involuntarily screamed his name begging him to put the fire out.
"Like I said," Scott smiled as he lay on his side and looked down at Audra and ran his fingers down the side of her face. "When we get to Stockton, don't let yourself look at Jarrod and this Polly and think you're any less of a woman than she is." Scott then shocked Audra when he promised never to send her away and to make sure that, no matter what, she'd always be provided for. Scott was a man of his word, Audra knew that. So, with that being the case, after hearing his promise to her Audra, who had always worried about what kind of men would want her after Scott was through with her-even if he hadn't touched her in that way until now, couldn't stop the tears from coming.
Scott, knowing full well why she'd have reason to cry, started kissing the tears away, assuring her he would not change his mind and no other man would ever touch her as long as he was alive. Before he, or Audra, was half aware of it, Scott was loving her once more.
~oOo~
"I tell you, I heard Jarrod Barkley myself." Jack Anders, a ranch hand who had moved into the area shortly before Audra left with Scott, stood in the far right hand corner of the smoke filled saloon looking at the man who had hired him for a second, one time job. "That man has invited his sister and that financer to his wedding! They'll be arriving shortly before the wedding."
Jack couldn't help but took two steps backwards, as a fire shot out of the man's eyes. Then the same man sent chills down more than one back when he said, "Good! I've had plans for him ever since he had the nerve to take her when he left town. He's going to be sorry he ever came back, and I'll get Audra Barkley for myself yet!"
