Chapter 37:New Territory
Amy Gannon was ignored by everyone including her sister. It was too embarrassing for Audra and Heath to bring up the events of a few days ago. Therefore, it was ignored until the time was less raw with emotion. However, Ben Cartwright found himself with other problems that seemed over his head.
Ben Cartwright had no idea how to act with a daughter nor how to act with Tom Barkley's illegitimate son. With Audra, the father found having a daughter was much more difficult for him than having sons. With Heath, Ben was worried he'd do something to offend the young man. Ben definitely didn't know how to proceed with them as a couple.
After insisting Heath see a doctor about his ribs, Ben found keeping his nineteen year old daughter from Heath's room was proving almost a test of wills. Back at the Barkley Ranch, Ben surmised that Audra was used to helping Heath out when he was hurt. That included sitting in his room to keep watch over him. According to Dr. Angler, the town doctor, Heath had been hurt often. That fact still didn't help the uneasy feeling Ben got when Audra insisted on helping Heath with his cracked ribs.
The stubborn boy was more hurt than he let on. Dr. Angler said Heath shouldn't be on a horse for a least a couple of weeks so his ribs wouldn't break from the fracture and puncture a lung. Heath was a difficult patient but that was not what was causing Ben's unrest. It was the fact he had caught the two blondes in a very heated kiss days earlier. The kiss was a little too intense for an unmarried couple. At least that is what Ben felt. He wondered if it was because Audra was a daughter and not a son. Ben felt an overwhelming need to protect her from the opposite sex.
The only relief Ben got was after he received a reply from Victoria Barkley about his telegraph. Ben had sent Victoria a telegraph stating Heath had injured his ribs in the accident. It didn't take long before Victoria sent a message back saying she and her sons were catching the next train to Carson City. Ben could tell by the immediate reply that Victoria was waiting for a reason to come to Nevada. Now she had that reason. Maybe Victoria's presence would stop the couple from being alone together. Or would it get worse as Victoria thought of them as brother and sister? Ben was suddenly developing a headache.
Ben made his way up stairs to the guest room he had insisted Heath stay in while his ribs healed. Ben wished he had kept the boy in the bunkhouse. Worrying about Audra and Heath being alone was something he wasn't used to. He had told his sons to treat a lady with respect. Ben had hoped they followed his upbringing. However, he never really deterred his sons from dating nor did he check up on them to make sure they followed his teachings. Heath was very respectful with Audra. Ben had the wisdom to realize that didn't stop feelings from being heated. With Audra, it felt very different than with his sons. He realized he didn't want any man around her but especially a man, who had his little girl all flustered by just a crooked grin.
The thing was that Heath knew his charm with the ladies. Ben could tell. What many saw as shyness was really quiet wisdom. Heath only spoke when he had something to say. He wasn't one for idle chatter among the men. Heath seemed different with Audra. It seemed Heath loved to hear her prattle on about anything. When Heath spoke to Audra, it was with interest and respect. Ben appreciated the boy's manners and character. That appreciation stopped when he caught little things that Heath did around Audra to keep her heart fluttering and the girl off kilter.
Ben supposed he was watching too closely. This was his girl though; so wasn't that what fathers were supposed to do? Watching closely allowed Ben to see the subtle way Heath kept Audra infatuated with the boy. It was nothing for Heath to run his hand gently over Audra's neck every so slightly or push a tendril of hair behind Audra's ear. Ben had even noticed Heath lick his lips causing Audra to break out in a red hue. The one move Ben hated the most was when Heath would take his hand along her back to move to the front. He noticed Heath's hand would travel up Audra ever so slightly but stopped right before Ben was ready to break the boy's fingers. Ben caught his daughter gasping each time Heath pulled his little stunt. It infuriated Ben but he noticed Heath only did it when he thought he wouldn't get caught. Those times included helping Audra down from her horse or a buggy as well as pulling out her chair to help her sit. Ben knew if he blew up like he wanted to do with Heath, the whole family would think he was crazy. Yes, the boy was that good at being subtle.
Ben's thoughts were interrupted when he was almost at Heath's temporary bedroom. Ben stopped dead in his tracks at seeing Audra standing between Heath's legs while he sat on the dresser.
Obviously, Audra was helping Heath shave. That would be fine if she wasn't so close to the boy while she did.
Audra's hand shook slightly as she stepped even closer to Heath.
"Don't shake. Unless you plan to cut my throat." Heath placed his hand over hers trying to calm her.
"I'll need to be closer." Audra breathed in causing her chest to rise and fall.
The buttons of her shirt had managed to open slightly during her getting the supplies to shave Heath. She hadn't noticed the opening. However, Heath did. He opened his legs and pulled her between his taut thighs. Audra drew in her bottom lip slightly. She then scraped the sharp razor over Heath's face. His tanned skin came into view as the blade slid down his face. Audra leaned back to rinse the blade in the dry sink. Heath's eyes went immediately to her cleavage that was showing as she leaned down to rinse the razor's blade.
He fought his own urges to touch her silky skin. She was so delicate and vulnerable. It made Heath want to hold her and cradle her against his body. He knew his thoughts were of making love to her. Heath closed his eyes. He didn't make love to a lady if you weren't married. It wasn't how it was supposed to be. He only pleasured himself on prostitutes. Even that had been before falling in love with Audra.
Audra watched as the blade raked across Heath's strong jaw. Slowly, his manly features were being drawn out as his beard disappeared. His thick lips moistened by his tongue caused her to want to touch them. She took the pad of her thumb across his lips softly. Heath's eyes looked at her quizzical.
"Lather was on your lip." Audra made an excuse. A lie. She couldn't resist touching his lips.
Taking a chance of crossing boundaries, Heath placed his hands on her waist. Then he pushed down his hands to Audra's hips. He then slipped his hands to her back. He pulled her closer very slowly. His hands caressed her back. Audra's breath hitched in her lungs at his actions. However, she didn't try to move or fight his advances. The more the razor took off his beard. The more she wanted to touch his gorgeous face.
"You 're breathin' heavy." Heath spoke with a voice laced with a husky lust. "Do ya like bein' near me, Audra?"
"I am nervous that it tempts me." Audra answered in a whisper. Was he tempting her or was she tempting him?
"Me too." Heath slid his hands back to Audra's waist.
"Hold still." Audra stepped in closer to Heath's open thighs. Her body was pressed against his body now. "I don't want to cut you."
"I can shave myself, Audra." Heath's hands continued to grip Audra around her waist. He pulled her closer even though it was almost impossible. "But I reckon I like this better."
"Are you teasing me, Heath Barkley?" Audra felt Heath's fingers brush along her bare skin at her waist. Somehow, Heath had managed to pull her shirt free from her riding skirt without Audra realizing it. That was until his calloused fingers played on her skin.
"I ain't teasin', Audra Cartwright." Heath flicked his tongue against his lower lip as he reached one hand up to grasp around Audra's neck. He pulled her face down to his face. "I'm rather serious."
At first, it pleased Ben to hear his daughter being called Cartwright by Heath. That was short lived when Heath pulled Audra into one of those heated kisses that caused his daughter's knees to go weak. Ben couldn't believe the audacity of the young man kissing his daughter in his house! Ben came out of his shock when he heard the clanking of the razor against the wood of the dresser. Audra had dropped it as she entangled her fingers in Heath's hair.
When Ben heard his daughter moaning due to Heath Barkley's over zealous kissing, Ben saw red. Ben clinched his fists until his knuckles turned white. He thought his head was going to explode in a billow of smoke. He was that angry at the young cowboy because he was kissing his beautiful, innocent daughter. He could beat the boy into a bloody pulp. This was new territory for him. It still made the older man feel a protective need to stop Heath Barkley from kissing Audra Cartwright.
As Ben took a step towards the offending cowboy, he stopped again at Heath's words as the cowboy pulled away from the kiss.
"Audra, ummmm. This is new territory for me." Heath swallowed as he looked into Audra's eyes. "I know this is definitely new territory for you."
Audra bit her lip nervously not knowing what Heath was talking about. "You've been with women, Heath. I'm not that naive."
"Yeah. I have." Heath slid his hand over Audra's cheek. "What I mean by new territory is that I ain't never wanted a lady like I do ya. I've had women but not a lady. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Audra squeaked out as she fluttered her eyelashes.
"So I think maybe you shouldn't be in a bedroom alone with me." Heath hoped she understood. It wasn't that he didn't want her there. Therefore he said what he was feeling. "It's not that I don't want ya here, Audra. Boy howdy, I do want ya here. But I don't think it is proper now. NOT with the way I'm feelin' towards ya and you're feelin' towards me. Do ya understand?"
Audra nodded her head as she sniffled. Tears started to flow down her cheeks. Heath took both of his hands to cup her cheeks. His thumbs wiped away the flow of tears.
"Don't cry, Darlin'. I really want ya. The fact is that I want ya too much. Ya might be in control of your own feelings but I'm not sure I can be." Heath teased with a wink. " I just don't want another Barkley bastard runnin' around. One is enough for the family."
Audra giggled as she stepped away from Heath. "I guess you better shave on your own."
It was that moment that Ben respected the boy even more. Ben breathed out a sigh of relief before playing innocent on his approach. "There you are, Audra. I see you're taking care of the patient."
"Hello." Audra wiped her face quickly hoping her face was dry from the tears. "I was trying to shave him. Heath informed me that he can shave himself. Was you needing me for something?"
"I wanted to inform you both. Victoria and your brothers are coming to Carson City." Ben grinned widely when he saw both Heath and Audra pale at the news.
Ben Cartwright may have been in new territory of having a daughter. However, he already figured out how to throw cold water on the couple. It was as easy as mentioning Victoria Barkley's name.