The Case of the Gold Heist

by scullynmulder4ever

Della and Perry go away for a long two-week vacation away from the office. Della buys a book in local shop and falls into the character. If you like Perry Mason and Della Street together as a couple then this fic is for you. If not then you need to look elsewhere as this is a very steamy, sex filled fanfic.

The Case of the Gold Heist

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Perry Mason. ESG has all the rights to them. I just had some fun with them as this is a fanfic story and I will not claim any copyrights.

Rating: Explicit

Description: Della and Perry go away for a long two-week vacation away from the office. Della buys a book in local shop and falls into the character. If you like Perry Mason and Della Street together as a couple then this fic is for you. If not then you need to look elsewhere as this is a very steamy, sex filled fanfic.

Authors Note: I would like to thank my only beta Tamarra Green Lee for helping me on this. This one was a long one but so worth it.

The law office of Perry Mason's work schedule was grueling. Clients coming in month after month to no end. He was the most sought-after lawyer in the county and could not get a break. Newly married to his devoted secretary, Della Street, he saw she had been getting overwhelmed with paperwork. Although Perry had hired another receptionist, Gertie Lade, she had been hired to cover some of the duties in the office. Perry promised his wife and receptionist a two-week vacation for both of them once the final client was finished at the end of the calendar week. He knew they both had worked very diligently and deserved some time away from the office.

Paul was consistently in and out of his own office. Perry had mentioned to Paul last week that Della wanted to go away from the city and get some fresh air. Paul knew Perry had just recently purchased a lake house out in Lake Tahoe. It was one of Della's favorite places away from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy some peace and the tranquility of nature. Perry had a trial early in the morning and was finished by the afternoon. Upon entering the office, he saw Gertie typing on her typewriter. He figured Della must have stepped out for a moment.

"Gertie, can you come into my office, and would you please tell Della to join us when you see her." Perry's tone shot through her as if something important was going to be announced.

"Yes, Mr. Mason. I'll let her know you want to see us both." Gertie got up from her chair and went into the law library. She was dressed in a red and white striped shirt waist dress with matching red shoes.

Gertie noticed the law library door was slightly ajar. Seeing movement, she knocked and slightly opened the door to see Della placing books back onto the shelves. Della had on a dark blue skirt and matching blazer with a white blouse adorned with a pearl necklace and her gold bracelet that she hardly took off. Although she and Perry had been recently married, she took off her wedding ring not out of disrespect to their marriage vows, but to hide the fact that she was married to Perry. They didn't want their business associates to find out. Perry strode into his office and wondered what was keeping Della.

"Ms. Street, sorry to bother you, but Mr. Mason would like to see us in his office."

"Okay, I'll be right out." Della told her while she reached for another book from the table. Della emerged from the library to find Gertie sitting in front of Perry's desk and she took her seat beside him.

"Care to share with me what this is all about Perry?" Della gave him a raised eyebrow as a small smile played on her lips.

"I just wanted to let you both know that we are closing the office for two weeks. Gertie, you will be getting a two-week paid vacation and it starts tomorrow. You deserved it for all that you do for helping us in the office. Della, as soon as we get home, I want you to pack our bags. We are going out of town for two weeks. Paul already knows about us leaving so he will not be worried about our whereabouts. Also, no phone calls with clients will be taken until I return to the office. We only have about three hours left of work time, and Gertie I want all of the phone calls diverted back to the night clerk." Perry announced making it clear that no more clients would be handled until they returned.

"Yes, sir! Thank you, Mr. Mason, for the vacation. I can't tell you how much I needed this time off," she sighed in relief that her job position wasn't in jeopardy.

"No, Gertie. We thank you." Perry smiled then turned his attention to Della.

"Counselor, you are so sweet. We have been under a lot of stress here lately, and we needed this vacation. Just where are we going, Perry?" Della asked before she went back into the law library to finish the task she had started before Gertie interrupted her.

Perry lit up his cigarette and leaned back into his chair as he pondered on leaving the states for an overseas trip, or they could spend their two weeks in the cabin up at Lake Tahoe. Pulling a drag off his cigarette and blowing the smoke out of his lungs through pursed lips, he looked towards the law library to see if Della finished her task but still no sign of her. She was taking longer than usual to just tidy up the room. Perry snuffed out his cigarette into the ashtray, got up from his chair, and walked over to the room, and watched Della.

Della had her back turned towards him as she placed the last book back onto the bookcase. Perry quietly entered the room, leaned into her space, and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her flush against him. He angled his head to give her a chaste kiss on her neck and nuzzled her ear as she leaned into him.

"Della, how about we go to the cabin on Lake Tahoe? Or we could go to Europe for the two weeks' vacation?" He whispered into her ear, and she slightly turned her head giving him are your serious look while she turned in his arms.

"Perry, I think spending time at the cabin on the lakefront would be just fine. I love it up there, and you know that. It's very peaceful and not a soul to bother us while we are out there." Della looked into his blue, soulful eyes while she gave him a sincere grin and quick kiss before Gertie walked in on them.

"Oh, Mr. Mason and Ms. Street. I'm sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Drake is on the other line. You want his call or tell him your out for the day?" Gertie blushed at the sight before her. It wasn't unusual to see her boss and his wife a little flirty or tossing innuendoes at each other in the office. She was used to it seeing it, and sometimes it was unfortunate on their part, but they both knew Gertie could be trusted with their marriage.

"I'll take his call, Gertie. Tell him I'll be with him in a minute. Why is it every time you and I are in a romantic moment, Paul comes calling or interrupts us? Is there something going on between you two?" He teased her playfully as he looked down into her hazel eyes and they sparkled at him.

"He must have great timing Chief. That's all I can say about it. He's been your friend for a very long time. Maybe Paul is reading your mind." Della teased him. Perry gave her backside a quick squeeze, which made her jump slightly as he reluctantly left the room. Della observed his carefree attitude as he sat back down to take Paul's call on the other end of the line.

"Hello, Paul. The office is going to be closed in a half-hour," he growled into the phone.

"Oh, Perry I hope I'm not bothering you. I know your vacation is coming up but wanted to let you know I'll be working abroad on a case over in Italy. I'll be gone for two weeks. This guy wants me to spy on his wife. He is a wealthy business aristocrat and wanted the best of the best. He contacted me and he will pay me whatever I ask." Paul took a drag off his lit cigarette and blew it out of his lungs as he bid his friend goodbye and well wishes on his vacation with Della.

"Alright Paul, you have a good time. I'll see you in two weeks," Perry hung up the receiver and shook his head from side to side. What luck was it that Paul would be on his vacation across the globe and enjoying himself while working? Perry got up from his chair while Della joined him in the outer office at her desk. Perry helped her put her coat on over her shoulders as she grabbed her purse. Gertie already departed a few moments earlier. Perry shut the lights off and locked the door behind him. Della waited for him out in the hallway before they walked toward the elevator together.

Perry's Apartment

Next Day

The morning sunshine crept into the room to reveal two occupants in the bedroom still sound asleep. Perry stirred against Della and nudged her gently only to have her push her bottom back against his groin which made him groan.

"Della, if you want to make it to the cabin by nightfall, I suggest you stop doing that," he grabbed her waist tenderly and stroked her midsection before resting it on her hip. She turned her head at a slant to give him a passionate kiss on his lips. She tugged on his dark hair with her fingertips for a better angle. He kissed her thoroughly while she gave him a quick nip to his lips before she gasped against his mouth.

"You know I could stay in bed for those two weeks, Perry." Della gave his arm a slight squeeze while he still held her hip in his grip.

"I know you could Della, but I want to get out and enjoy some fresh air and get this city air out of my lungs. Don't you?" He whispered into her neck and kissed her shoulder. He settled back down on the mattress and enjoyed holding her for a few moments before she turned into his arms to fully look at him.

"I told you that buying that cabin at the lakefront was the best idea you ever had. Haven't I told you, Perry?" Della mumbled against his chest and closed her eyes while drifting off again.

"Yes, you've told me, Della." He whispered and caressed her brunette curls in his fingertips as her breathing became shallow puffs against his chest. Perry slept another half hour before he roused out of bed.

"Della, I'm going to shower and grab some outfits out of the closet. Since you haven't packed yet, I'm going to make reservations for our flight out to Lake Tahoe." Perry murmured against her head that was underneath his chin.

"Okay, I'll get a shower after you are finished, but don't use all hot water," Della warned him as she gave him a swat to his backside. She pulled the sheet back over her exposed flesh. Perry took a rushed shower to save the hot water for her. After putting coffee on, he returned to the bedroom and rummaged around in the closet noisily which woke her up from her slumber as the aroma of fresh coffee spilled into the apartment.

"Della, we better get packed and get to the airport." Perry glanced back to see her still snug under the sheets.

"I know Perry. I'm going to the shower, have some coffee, and pack." Della informed him as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. He watched her tread into the bathroom and shut the door. He grabbed her suitcase out of the other closet, picked a few outfits out for her, and stashed them into her suitcase. He found a sexy, black silk negligee she bought a few months back, but instead of putting it in her suitcase, he stowed it away in his. Della finished packing the essential clothing for their two-week vacation. Perry poured the coffee into their cups and walked back into the bedroom as Della finished her last-minute packing. He handed her coffee cup to her.

"Della, you want to grab breakfast at the airport or wait until we get to the cabin?" Perry asked her while he drank his coffee.

"We can grab a quick breakfast. Oh, Perry that shop out next to the cabin remember it has all kinds of gifts and such. Please, can we stop on our way out there?" Della requested while Perry took her empty cup from her hand. After he washed the cups in the sink, Perry turned to find Della once again in the closet contemplating on what to wear. She picked out a yellow sundress and white flat sandals while he had on tan khaki pants and a yellow polo shirt and loafers. They knew that they would change their clothing once they got to the cabin.

"Yes, of course, Della. Anything your heart desires," he called from the kitchen. Della smiled to herself knowing Perry would oblige to anything she wanted. She considered herself very lucky to have a husband like Perry. Although they both worked together, the feat alone was a rarity for most couples that she knew and considered it a blessing. There could be times that they did stress each other out in the office, and both needed a quick break from the other. After they had taken a break, they always came back to each other as nothing could keep them separated from the other, especially for a lengthy period. Perry would go crazy if he couldn't hear or touch her. That was just how he was, and she was too. They were each other's yin and yang in their relationship. They complemented each other. Della always considered the term soulmates as the perfect word for them. There wasn't a day that went by that she doesn't feel that in her mind. Even if she hadn't met him in law school, she knew they would have found each other.

"I'm going to start loading the car, Della. You want to grab the smaller suitcases because they'll fit in the back seat?" Perry said while he shifted the larger suitcase in his hand as he walked out of the apartment to the car.

"I'll be right behind you." Della locked up the apartment and joined Perry, who was patiently waiting beside the car. After he took the suitcase from her hand and placed it in the back of the car, he held open the car door for her and she got in. Perry walked in front of the car, opened the door, and got in. They checked into the airport, checked their bags, and walked to their terminal as Della put the tickets in her purse. The flight was scheduled to leave in a few hours, and they would have time to grab a quick bite to eat before they boarded their flight.

Lake Tahoe, NV

Afternoon

Upon arriving at the airport, Della rented a car while Perry gathered their suitcases from the carousel. Della filled out the paperwork and paid for the rental in advance before the clerk handed her the keys. As she took the receipt and placed it in her purse, she looked for Perry and found him with an attendant, who helped him with the suitcases.

"Perry, we are all set. The car is in lot B." Della handed him the keys to the car.

"I'll go get it. You stay with the baggage and try to not get too friendly with the attendant." He teased her playfully as he brushed his fingers with hers while he took the keys out of her hand. Della gave him a bashful smile and watched him exit the building to retrieve their car. Perry found their rental car and parked it out front before the young attendant helped him load their luggage into the car. Della got in the car while Perry shut the trunk of the car and placed the other two smaller bags in the backseat.

"Della, you still want to visit that local shop before we get to the cabin?" Perry asked before he started the Cadillac and pulled the car out onto the two-lane road.

"Why yes, Perry. Also, we need to get some provisions for the cabin. The cabin probably needs some dusting, but I'm sure the landscaper has been checking in on the place since we've been gone. I just can't wait to finally relax and get you all to myself without any interruptions." Della leered over at him from the passenger seat.

"Oh. I can't wait Della but first I need to see what needs to be done around the lakefront of the cabin." Perry interlaced his hand with hers.

The thrift shop that Della had wanted to visit was open. Perry pulled the car to a stop, looked over at her, and parked the car before he placed his arm on the bench seat behind her head. Della looked at him with a sideways glance as he pulled her into a heated kiss. She put her hand on his chest while he gave her a quick peck to the lips.

"Perry, you coming in there with me, or do I go alone?"

"Well, I still need to get the provisions for the cabin. I'm going to grab those next doors, and I'll meet you back here at the car, Della. Is that alright with you?" Perry told her as he caressed her cheek with his index finger while she leaned into his touch.

"Yes, perfectly fine Perry. I'll be back before you know it." Della exited the car. Perry opened the car door and observed her carefree attitude and loved it. As he smiled at her, he lit his cigarette and smoked it as he walked over to the other shop that carried groceries and essentials they needed to take back to the cabin.

As she entered the shop, Della looked around and noticed all kinds of gifts, trinkets, magazines, books, and maps for sale. While she took a quick walk around the shop, she noticed a few books on the shelves that were novels and some short stories. As she picked up one from the romance section, which was a western series, she read the introduction to the plotline. It was a steamy romance and had some violence in it. Outlaws robbing banks, train depots, cattle rustlers, etc. taking a schoolmarm hostage and the army in deep pursuit. Della took a chance and picked up the book as she was not interested in any other selection on the shelf that was offered. She also picked up some souvenirs for Gertie and Paul for when they returned.

Meanwhile, Perry bought groceries and made small talk with the older clerk while he packed his purchases into a box. He bought steak sirloin, milk, eggs, bread, potatoes, and other fresh vegetables and fruits the store offered along with some batteries, candles, and flashlights.

Della had exited the shop with her purchase in her hand and placed her hand over her sunglasses as the sun's bright rays shined down on her. Perry had already been waiting on her when she spotted him standing by the car, opened the car door for her as she met up to him.

"I see you found something that sparked your interest." Perry pointed to her book in her hand.

"Of course, I did. I couldn't pass this one up. It's very romantic, Perry." Della gave him a wicked grin, raised her eyebrow at him, and slipped past him while getting into the car.

PART 2
XXPMDSXX

As they pulled up into the secluded driveway, they both noticed the caretaker's vehicle parked out of the way from the main driveway. While they looked at each other, Perry knew the money was well spent on the upkeep since they've been away. Upon hearing a vehicle, two older men came from around the house to inspect the visitors that just pulled up. Della and Perry both exited the car to greet the men.

"Is that Chet and his son, Luke?" Della asked as she walked with Perry up to the house.

"I think so, Della. Luke has grown so much and looks just like his father." Perry took her elbow as they continued towards the men.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mason, glad you made it safely. We completed some minor repairs on the outside of the cabin. A few loose panels from the wind, and my wife came in
yesterday, straightened up the place, and dusted. There is fresh linen also on the bed. Although I haven't stocked up the refrigerator yet, I figured you'd do that." Chet said as he shook Perry's hand and grinned at Della. Luke slowly approached the couple to stand by his father.

"Thank you for taking care of the place while we are in the city. It means so much to have a quiet, special place away from all that noise." Della told them before she diverted her attention to Perry, who looked down at her and knew exactly what she meant by getting away from the noise.

"You're welcome, and if you need anything while you are here, just give me a call, and we'll be right out. We live just about a mile down the road. Is there anything we can help you two with before we take off?" Chet asked them as he grabbed his toolbox in one hand while his son walked towards their vehicle.

"No, we will be alright. Thanks again." Perry shook Chet's hand.

Della grabbed the smaller suitcases out of the backseat while Perry opened the trunk to grab the heavier ones. After they walked up to the front door, Perry dropped the suitcases with a loud thud and looked at her with a mischievous grin on his lips. Della wrinkled her brow only for a moment when he grabbed her, picked her up by surprise, and made her laugh at him before she dropped the lighter suitcases on the ground with a thud. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, he cradled her in his strong arms and looked at her like the day he carried her of the threshold after their wedding day. He tilted his head gave her a long fervent kiss to her lips, and she stroked his dark hair as he kissed her sensitive neck, which made her giggle before she pulled back from him.

"Perry, just what are you doing? Put me down!" She giggled before she returned his kiss to his lips, and then he obliged her after he opened the door and carried her into the cabin.

"The place looks beautiful. Just the way we left it, the last time we were here." Della craned her head around before he lowered her to her feet. She smoothed out her clothes while Perry inspected the rooms to make sure they were alone. He came back into the living room, grabbed her by the waist, pulled her towards him, looked down at her with darkened features, gripped her hips, and nuzzled her neck where he planted a wet kiss there.

"Della, we are alone finally. We can rest without anybody interfering with our vacation." Perry leaned back and caressed her hair.

"Finally, counselor. You better be sure of that because if Paul comes to call, you and I both know that we will not have a minute's peace." Della gave him a serious tone, and he released her from his clutches to retrieve the rest of the luggage from outside.

"You don't have to remind me, Della. Paul will be out of town with a case. No need to worry about him I promise you that." Perry brought in the heavy suitcases, placed them in the front room, and went back out to grab Della's smaller suitcases that were left outside by the doorway.

Della walked into the kitchen while Perry went to the car to grab the groceries. He placed the bag and box in front of Della so she could put them in the refrigerator. As she put the goods away, the steaks were left in the refrigerator so Perry would cook them later for dinner with a bottle of good red wine for relaxation.

"Since we still have a lot of daylight and I know you plan on doing a walk around the property, would you put up the hammock out by the oak tree? I know how much you get frustrated putting it out there, but it would mean so much to me." Della called from the kitchen as Perry was about to step back outside.

"Yes, Della I'll get right on it. Just know if I didn't love you so much, I would have put that thing in the fireplace since I get all tangled up in that thing. Good thing you helped me stow it away the last time you used it."

"What would you do without me, Perry? It just takes a woman's touch in all things." She kissed him on the cheek, and he watch her disappear back into their bedroom to unpack their belongings.

Perry had no trouble hanging the hammock this time around to the oak tree. He walked the perimeter of the property and when he came back towards the cabin, Della wasn't anywhere to be found. He looked out onto the dock where he fished, but she was not there. The only place he could think of where she would be was in the hammock out by the big oak tree. He figured that would be the last place to look. He took a walk around the side of the cabin and found her indulging in the book she bought at the thrift shop. He leaned up against another tree nearby and took the sight of her in. God, she was beautiful. The birds chirped in the nearby trees and the rustling of the woodland creatures didn't stir her at all as she flipped open the book.

"You are so engrossed in that book, Della. Just what do you find so interesting about it?" Perry asked her with a twinkle in his eye and smiled at her before he approached her.

"It's very exciting Perry. Very adventurous and romantic." Della gave him a wanton look, and he leaned in for a kiss.

"From reading the introduction, you think you're going to enjoy it? Fine, you read your book, and I'm going to gather firewood and kindling for the fireplace. I'm going to change out of these clothes and get into some work clothes. I'll be making dinner tonight. Would you like red wine or white wine with dinner?" He whispered into her ear, which made her flinch slightly as his lips brushed her outer ear, and his nose found her sensitive area in the crook of her neck, which made her squirm under his touch.

"I know I'm going to enjoy it, Perry, and red wine is fine." Della kissed him slowly. Tongues wrestled for control as he leaned into her kiss. He hummed in the back of his throat as he took his time kissing her and finally let his mouth trail away from her hungry lips and down the side of her neck. He breathed in the sweet fragrance that she dotted her neck from earlier this morning. He placed a wet kiss there before reeling back to look at her half-closed lids and waiting for her to look at him. Della opened her eyes and touched his stubbled cheek as he leaned into her palm and placed a chaste kiss there before he gained his composure.

"You enjoy your book, and I'll be back for you later when dinner is ready. Unless you want to sleep out here all night with all the creatures and unknown beasts that are drawn to you." Perry taunted her and stroked her arm with his fingertips.

"Perry, you're are the only beast that I'm drawn to." Della giggled at him as he made her jump when he retreated from her hammock and lightly pushed her in a swinging motion. "Perry! You are going to pay for that!" She giggled uncontrollably almost flipping out of the contraption as it slowed in the swinging motion, she settled back calmly, and opened the book again, and read the intro.

As she read the book, Della secretly envisioned herself inside the book as the story unfolded. The army was in pursuit after a group of bandits that had robbed banks, trains, and cattle rustled because huge heists of money were being delivered. This gang was so clever not even the best lawman could track them. The army was called in to take control of the situation and take them in. The gang was one step ahead of them. It was getting frustrating for the captain as the troops were getting completely worn out by false leads and still came up empty-handed. Della smiled to herself as she continued reading on further into the book as the hammock moved with her as she swung calmly.

Juniper Junction

Texas

1888

The heat of the day was grueling. The engineer of the locomotive shoveled more coal into the burner. The train traveled at a high rate of speed as it barreled towards the nearby town awaiting the gold shipment for the fort. The army troops swarmed the entire area as their Captain had ordered them. The gang would be close or might be lying in wait for this huge delivery. The captain of the brigade was a light-haired, strict man and had a sense about him that reminded Della of Hamilton Burger, his name was, Captain Hamilton Wyatt. The second in command of the troops was an older wiser gentleman, who Della imagined to be Lieutenant Tragg. A very wise man who was old enough to retire, but he still had a bit of life left in him to chase these bandits. His name was Lieutenant Charles Brick. Another recruit, that had been under Lt. Brick was a young man, who was robust, tall, strong as an ox, and dark-featured with a brutish look about him. No one in the troop would mess around when he broke up a fight, and when his presence was known, everyone stepped aside. His name was Sergeant James Bryce, who incidentally Della concluded that he would make a great family resemblance to Sergeant Brice.

The army troops fanned out in the town, watching, and waiting on any unfamiliar townsfolks. They had been stationed in this town for three days, and nothing out of the ordinary. No strangers, no unwanted thievery, and very polite townspeople welcomed their arrival. Some out of townsfolk didn't like the idea that their little town would be a target of violence and had already packed up and left town and went further west of the area. When the army comes to town, one may never know if it would be peaceful or mayhem. They had a saloon on the far east of town, a sheriff, a post office, and one room red schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was located away from all the businesses, but it was just out of the way so that the children could do their learning and writing.

On the outskirts of town, the gang of five waited and watched patiently from afar. The gang of bandits consisted of an army deserter from the Mexican Army, Sal. He was the sharpshooter and look out when help was needed. He was rugged, lanky, and unkempt most of the time, but when the boss told him he needed to clean up, he did. A Native American, who's the name of Grey Wolf, disbanded from his tribe while the army relocated them to a reservation. He did not want to live a lie as the so-called government wanted them to. He was an excellent tracker, a medicine man, which he learned from his grandmother, and was an excellent source of knowledge. He was adorned with buckskin clothing and a turquoise necklace for luck with an eagle feather in his hat.

The only woman in the gang knew everything about a town and would go through the townsfolk just to be nosy to relay information back to the gang. She was young, blonde-haired, very attractive, and was orphaned. She did not know where she came, but only from what the headmistress told her about her parents. Her parents were in an accident and had died. Her name was Dixie. The young woman reminded Della of receptionist Gertie, who was innocent, would do anything you asked of her. The second in command, who followed out the orders, was a young man, who was blonde fair-haired, tall, and loved the ladies. He wore a leather duster and Stetson hat that had seen its better days as it was his favorite.

Although he was very friendly with Dixie. The confident young fellow reminded Della of Paul. He was always up and eager to rush into danger and get himself into trouble but was learning fast that he needed to control his impulses. His name was, Paul. Della continued reading the book down to the main character, the mastermind of all this robbing of huge heists without getting caught.

The man that ruled over all of them was Texas Jack a.k.a. The Boss. The gang had to go through him to do anything, such as eat, sleep, or drink. He was a tall, muscular, dark-haired, and blue-eyed mastermind. He was a robust man. He had a scar on his cheek from a bar fight because someone assaulted him over a saloon girl when he thought she was taking an interest in Texas Jack. She flirted with him because she wanted to make another man jealous. The poor fool did not realize who he was dealing with until later. The result was the guy ended up with a broken arm and two broken teeth. Texas Jack didn't seem to care for any woman that he encountered over time. He had met friendly ladies, but no one to call his 'woman' nor an attachment. The crime life he led didn't qualify him for having anyone. He was a solitary man and did enjoy the company of a fine woman once in a while, but as their crime sprees got hotter by the minute, he could no longer look at hurting a woman's feelings in case he would not return to her. On the other hand, the other guys in the posse could care less because they needed to unwind when they were in a specific town. They went to see the 'painted ladies' of the saloons and so Jack didn't interfere but warned them all not to say anything. Gertie was warned if she wanted to be with Paul, that was fine, but secrets must be kept.

Texas Jack, who was dressed in all dark clothing with pearl buttons down his front shirt, had been unshaven and wore a black gambler's hat with a gold band. He didn't go long without a bath from a nearby stream. He would shave when he wanted, and when he wanted to disguise himself, he would grow a beard. He had two .45 army colt revolvers at his side, that he had stolen off an army recruit. If he liked a certain item, he took them if it was to his advantage. A long broad knife, also known as a pig sticker, was sheathed and tied with a leather string on the inside of his leg. He never knew when he would need it. He always kept it at his ready in case he run out of bullets. It was there for a reason and was handy when he needed it. He also had Henry Repeating Rifle just within reach on his horse's saddle. The seriousness of the gang's crimes caught up to them when he heard of the army hot on their heels. He warned his partners in crime that this must be the last hold up, and if they were successful, they would go down to the Mexican border and then go abroad.

Meanwhile, the heat of the day was scorching their clothing to their skin while they waited on Dixie to relay the message back to them. Gray Wolf signaled with his mirror against the sun's light to Paul. Paul then acknowledged as a sign to tell the boss that Dixie was coming into view as she rode her palomino back to their hideout. The rocky area had a small forming cave, where they had been held up for almost four days while they waited on this gold shipment. Gray Wolf had accompanied Dixie back with his spotted appaloosa horse, running in full gallop. The dust kicked up under the horse's hooves as they crushed the hardened ground.

"Well, what did you find out?" Paul asked her as he took her reins to the bridle. Slowly, Dixie was helped out of the saddle by Gray Wolf as he stepped back to give her room to approach Sal and Jack.

"The army surrounded the entire town. I was close to a few fellows and found out they have been guarding this gold shipment like clockwork. When shift changes, another trooper will intermittently be relieved and so on. It's going to be difficult to get this claim. One of us might be killed trying to attempt to even get near the stronghold box. We've held up some difficult banks, but this is not the bank, this is the army we are talking about." Dixie had concern in her voice while the boys just laughed at her as they knew it was coming from a woman. The guys boasted out loud. While they never feared anything, Gray Wolf remained silent and brave.

"You worried Dixie?" Paul gave her a smirk, lit up his cigar, blew out the smoke from his lungs before he looked over at Jack. He knew Jack was in deep thought and masterminding how he could steal the gold.

"Well, what do you want to boss?" He asked him before he leaned up against a rock by the entrance to their cave.

"Oh, I don't know yet. I'm going to have to think about this. Like Dixie said it's the army, and we are going to have to figure out the best plan to get in there and out without being noticed. The changing of the guards is what concerns me. We are going to need more diversions to get at the stronghold box." He told the gang as he rolled his cigarette and drew a match out of his shirt pocket to light it up.

"What if it's a trap, Boss? We're just bait for them. It's a setup. How are we going to know that's real gold there are guarding? Or a bunch of rocks in a box?" Sal spoke up nervously not wanting to piss off anyone.

"There is always a way to find out things. It's going to take a day or two but we're going to find out. I'm not going to risk getting caught if it's a setup, and that might be what it is." The boss rolled his cigarette between his lips and took a drag on it before he blew the smoke out of his lungs and looked towards the town.

"Well, I'm not waiting around. Let's go to the edge of town at dawn, and we can cautiously make our way. We can have a drink at the saloon and find out what the news is." Paul eagerly said and looked at the boss who was still in deep thought.

"You're right Paul. You take Sal with you and Gertie too. Gray Wolf can scan out the situation before you three make your move. I'll be out on the front street after I grab a beer so I don't look too conspicuous. He snuffed out his cigarette, took his canteen off his saddle, and drank out of it.

The army was getting wary by the moment from the nearby anxious townsfolk. Many people were talking about how long they would be occupying their town. They were sitting ducks for gang violence if this gold shipment stayed any longer.

Captain Hamilton Wyatt enjoyed his couple of days in the town as he was keen on the schoolmarm on the outside of town. She would come to town once in a while to work in the local saloon for her mother. He was attracted to her, and what man wouldn't be. Her name was, Ms. Nell. She was tall, brunette, and dressed moderately for the occasion as she was the schoolmarm. Not a single day went by that Capt. Wyatt didn't go into the "BLUE DOG SALOON" to see if she was working. In the short time, he was there, he had only seen her once and was smitten immediately. Although she didn't share his interest, she did her best to be polite to him only to say she had another suitor. Captain Wyatt believed her, but Sergeant Brice told him the truth as he tried to hit on her at the saloon, and she spilled the beans that she was unattached. Finding out the truth from the associate he confronted, Ms. Nell.

Della shook her head as she continued reading the book's plotline. She knew she had imagined herself as the schoolmarm and wanted nothing to do with this Capt. Wyatt a.k.a. Hamilton Burger. Ms. Nell had taught in the small red schoolhouse for a year now. Her family had moved into town a few years earlier, and she was favored by the townsfolk to teach the local children. Upon getting her teaching certificate and degree, she taught the children. A strong-willed woman, who went above and beyond what any man could do what she wanted. She wanted to be around children. She was unwed, with no husband, or children of her own. She did have a beau, but he was killed in the stagecoach hold-up. She never wanted to go through the heartbreak again. She remained alone that is until now. For certain circumstances would be changing her future before she knew it, and it was on the horizon.

Lake Tahoe

Present Day

Perry kept busy as he cleaned up the fallen debris in a pile and loaded it into the kindling box. He found a few fallen logs that would last until they left the cabin to go back to the city. After he brought the full tinder box on the back porch, he stretched his back and cracked his neck to loosen up. He returned to the woods. He picked up the large limbs off the ground and took them back to the cabin to chop them up. It was a good workout to ease the stress out of his body and made up a good sweat too. After he made a few stacks of wood by the side of the cabin, he swiped his forehead with his handkerchief and tucked it back into his back pocket. He looked in Della's direction and noticed she hadn't moved out of the hammock. As he went back inside to the cabin, he took it upon himself to grab a cold glass of tea and drank it. He refilled another glass and walked out to where Della was so involved with her novel to give her the glass.

Della looked up at him as she put her digit in the crease of the book to not lose her place. As she was admired him, she noticed his shirt and was drenched and was sweating profusely. As she raised her eyebrows at him, she gave him a sly grin.

"Just what have you been doing Counselor? I hope you had not entertained certain company at the cabin." Della teased him with a wink and tilted her head at him.

"No, I've been busy unlike yourself, my dear, Della. I thought you'd like a cold glass of tea because you haven't moved since I left you, and that book must be good for you to still be engrossed in it." He handed her the glass of tea, and she sipped it slowly as he watched her drink the whole glass.

"Thank you for the tea. This book is fascinating Perry. It's about a gang going after a shipment of gold. The army has surrounded this town, and not only that there is a woman in this gang but she is also helping them. How often do you hear of a woman in a gang? By the way, the boss of the gang reminds me of you." Della narrowed her eyes at him as she gave him a hint of what is to come later on.

"What gives you the impression?" He asked her before he knelt before her which took her by surprise and gave her a heated kiss making her breathless. She leaned her forehead against him momentarily.

"Taking what you want when you want it." She whispered in his ear and he leaned back from her giving her a grin.

"Of course, I take what I want within reason." He took her hand in his, gave her a kiss to her knuckles, took the empty glass from her hands, and walked back to the cabin to finish chopping the wood.

Della watched him strode away from her when she returned to her book. She knew things were about to get interesting as the gang approached the town.

Juniper Junction

1888 TX

The townsfolk went about their daily activities as Paul, Dixie, and Sal came into town. Gray Wolf lingered at the furthest town after they had made their way into the town easily. Texas Jack walked down the main street absentmindedly bumping into a few men. He kept watching and waiting for a sign from Paul and Gertie. Sal came from the livery stable and overheard some of the soldiers talking about the gold shipment. He listened carefully as the young men talked. The shift changes every two hours for relief. Meanwhile, Paul was in Blue Dog Saloon having a few drinks at the bar. The bartender served him without a thought that he was in the most wanted gang right in front of him.

Dixie, however, was in the dress shop checking out a few dresses and shoes. When Ms. Nell walked into the shop to see if her order, which she had recently placed, came in on the delivery this afternoon. Dixie hid behind a hat stand looking at the embroidery and feathers sticking out of the ladies' hats. As she talked to the clerk and retrieved her items, Ms. Nell had paid for her items, gathered her packages, and left the store. Dixie peeked over the hat stand while she watched and observed the young woman.

Texas Jack strolled down the dusty sidewalk and kept his eye on the saloon. Then Sal came from the other end of the alleyway to inform the boss what he just heard from the troops. Paul walked calmly out of the dusty saloon and met up with Dixie as they both crossed the dusty street. As they met up in the alleyway, they gave one another head nods as the plan would go down. They had a gold shipment that was a fact. The troops that were in the saloon boasted drunkenly that they indeed had a shipment of gold, but Dixie still wasn't sure if it was all a setup. It was still in the back of her mind that it was a complete setup and wanted to know more, they needed just one more day to find out the truth, but how would they get the answers they needed?

"Okay, we will take this heist tonight. Dixie, are you still second-guessing this? Because if you want out now, then you can leave. I don't want to see you harmed. It's up to you if you want to continue with us. I completely understand that you might want out." Jack told her stoned faced unnerving.

"I still think we need more time. We have no more dynamite from our last heist. We need to get our hands on some more bullets as we have our last box of ammo." Sal spoke up in support of her.

"Fine, we'll get more ammo. Paul, you get in the army supply wagon and steal what you can of dynamite sticks. I'll be the lookout, and I'll go get Gray Wolf him bring down from the lookout post." The boss told them and lit his cigarette as they moved out to do their tasks. The gang did what was needed of them and met back up with the boss who was waiting patiently with Gray Wolf at his side.

"Okay, we got what we needed boss. Let's get the hell out of here before we are found out." Paul swung the duffle bag over his shoulder.

"Hey! Stop right there!" A young trooper bellowed out sounding an alarm to the others in the squadrons that suspicious activity was detected.

"Great! Let's get out of here." Texas Jack called out to them and looked at Paul who stepped up on the stirrup of his saddle and swung his leg up and over the horse. The gang left in a hurry as they kicked their horses to go faster and made dust trails as the troops got mounted and were in hot pursuit.

The officers informed the captain that the gang had stolen a large number of supplies from the wagon without being detected. He was furious as to who was in charge of the wagon. He wanted the responsible party brought before him and punished for this incident. The gang got away only by minutes, but the army was still tailing them and knew they would not be able to run for long. Daylight turned to evening as the gang zigzagged their hoof prints trying to divert their directions to lose their army tracker confusing them. Paul spotted a building from afar. It was red and looked like a barn, but wasn't it was a school house with a bell that was in the top. Just what they needed, risking the young innocent children.

"Looks like we got our getaway. What you say, Boss?" Sal finally spoke up as he too spotted the building.

"We have no other choice but to hide in there. The horses are about to drop, and we can't run on foot for long. I mean we can hide up in the rocks, but would be too risky as it would just give them more time to call more troops on us." Paul informed them.

"Alright, hopefully, there is no one in there. The children should have been sent home by now." Jack told them all as he turned his horse towards the building and kicked his horse once again in the ribs.

Their horses were out of breath, and sweat dripped off their heated bodies from exhaustion as the gang pushed them further towards the structure. Only taking note that a horse-drawn wagon was nearby, they all looked concerned to whom might be waiting inside. Ms. Nell had a few lingering students left inside the building. A pair of siblings were finishing up their assignments when she heard hoof beats approaching. She thought to herself who could it be as she would assist the siblings back to their home as it was on her way home.

"Paul, take Gray Wolf with you. Find out if the building is occupied and get back here immediately." The boss instructed him with darkened eyes.

"And if there is anyone in there? What do you want me to do with them?" He asked curiously as he dismounted his horse.

"Let me deal with them. You got that? I don't want unnecessary gun play if I can help it. Understand me?" He made his point clear as he narrowed his eyes and motioned for him to get on the move. Paul and Gray Wolf quietly made their move on the school house. They made their presence known as they opened the door to find only a pair of young children and their school teacher at her desk. Paul eyed the attractive, young woman. He was staring too long at her when Gray Wolf nudged him to speak up.

"Can I help you?" She spoke up as if nothing was wrong or out of the ordinary as she remained calm in front of the children. She was attired in a pink lightweight gown and matching bonnet which was draped over her desk.

"Miss, you're going to need to move on out of here. If you don't want to be harmed. You are going to have to leave and take these children with you. Sorry but class is over, and you better get while the getting is good." Paul sauntered in as Gray Wolf stayed at his side. The children started to worry as they had not seen a real-life Native American up close only heard the horror stories from the townsfolk and their own family up north in Kansas.

"What gives you the right to order me around? Just what do you think you are doing coming in here and ordering me out? I don't see why I should leave?" She got to her feet and approached the two men unnerved as she had seen this act before in the saloon. The dirty, filthy men pushing each other around in the saloon she was familiar with this kind of stuff. She wanted to know why they came in and intruded on her place in the first place.

"Boy, the boss is going to love this one. She isn't afraid of us Paul."

"Yes, she isn't budging, is she? He is not going to like this one bit." Paul gave him a sideways glance and noticed the door fly open revealing Sal, who got impatient, wanting to know what the holdup was.

"Paul, the boss is waiting on you. Oh, what do we have here?" He approached her and stroked her fine silky hair as it curled at the nape of her neck and sniffed her fragrance before Paul grabbed him by his shoulders and pulled him away from her, but he brushed him off like he was a buzzing bee.

The boss started to worry that something was truly wrong as he dismounted his horse, and Dixie took his reins. As he made his way up to the school house cautiously as he did, he could hear the men conversing in the room with what sounded like another voice, that of a young woman. He entered the school house, opened the door suddenly, swung it violently only to see Sal approaching a young woman, who was being manhandled by him. He strode up to Sal and with his large hands pulled him away from the young woman while she had her face turned away from him. Jack took all his strength, shoved him against the wall, and pinned him up by his shoulders. Jack was strong as a bull. Nothing could stop him from breaking his bones and succumbing as the boss's temper raged.

"I told you if you harmed another woman, I'd have your damn hide. What part of that don't you understand, Sal? I meant what I said if you can't play by my rules, then I'm afraid I'm going to have to teach you a lesson. Paul, get this rat out of here and away from me. I don't want to deal with him right now. Maybe later I will address this, but for now, get him out of my sight." Jack instructed his pal.

"Sure, thing Boss." Paul did as was asked of him.

Jack turned his attention to the woman who still had her head turned slightly. When he noticed she was unharmed, he took in her figure as she was very attractive.

Their eyes finally met and the attraction was immediate between them. Ms. Nell was surprised to see how he saved her from being mauled by his cohort. He was tall, muscular, roguish, and unshaven but knew how to handle himself. He was surely the boss of the outfit as he was called, and she knew it by the way he ordered his crew around. He looked into her eyes and found her soul. Reading her features as if she was afraid at first, he reached out to gently touch her cheek to make sure she knew he wasn't going to harm her. The passion in his eyes rose as he stared at her as a beautiful desert rose. Ms. Nell leaned into his touch gently as his thumb caressed her cheek. She hadn't felt a loving touch from a man in a long time, but for a stranger, whom she just met who might be a wanted criminal, was the gentlest she's ever felt for a very long time.

"Uh, Boss, what do you want to do now? Do you want us to hide out here or go for the rocks?" Paul asked nervously as he waited.

"Split up, Paul. You take Gray Wolf and the others up in the rocks. I'm going to stay here. She knows we are here. I'll make sure if they come here to ask questions, she will not reveal anything about us. Go now! Move it, Paul!" Jack turned his attention back to Ms. Nell, who watched Paul leave and slammed the door which caused the children to jump.

"Okay, Ms. You have never seen us, and I'm going to make sure of that. That's why I'm staying here. In case the army drops in here to ask nosy questions." Jack informed her while she looked at him with wide eyes.

"And what about the children? I don't want them in here. Can I send them away?" She eyed the children then looked back at him.

"No, they stay here. Not until we know that our lives are out of danger, they can leave." He eyed her while he leered at her nice figure once again, and looked at her up and down. As she left him standing there in the middle of the room, she went back to her desk and seated herself as if nothing was wrong. The children were worried but as she looked at them, she calmed them with her unnerving demeanor. Jack went to look out the window for any incoming danger as he saw dust flying in the foreground. He knew the army was going to be arriving soon.

Part 3

XXPMDXX

Lieutenant Tragg and Sargent Brice were now on a mission of the pursuit of the responsible party that had made off with the ammunition. They rode their horses in full gallop behind their army scout. The scout followed the hoofprints, which resulted in a whole confusion of hooves going out in different directions as he stopped his mount. He held up his hand to the troops who were coming at him full speed. Sargent Brice held up his hand to slow the fellow officers, and they pulled on their horses' reins hard and made the anxious horses await their directions.

"Look! They've split up or they're making us think they've divided up." The Sarge informed him with an unnerving tone in his deep voice and turned his attention to the scout who then nodded in agreement.

"Okay, you take some men in that direction and I'll take the rest this way with me. They've got to be around here somewhere. They just couldn't have disappeared out of thin air." Lt. Tragg shook his head in disdain.

The troops spread out and followed orders from their Sargent as they looked for a clue as they followed the hoof prints that quickly diverted into a circle. Darkness quickly overcame them while clouds thickened up in the sky. Rain would soon be approaching as thunder rumbled in the evening sky.

Paul had lain low with Dixie while Sal and Gray Wolf had gone higher up into the rocks, silently watching from atop their perch. Not making a sound, they thought they were safe when Sal accidentally slipped on loose dirt that tumbled down the hilltop, which startled one of the troops. The young soldier looked in the direction of the tumbling rocks and decided to investigate and dismounted his horse alone. Leaving his mount behind as the others rode ahead with Lt. Tragg would be a costly mistake. As he investigated further up the rocky cliff side and surveyed the area for any activity, he only to spot a desert lizard as it scurried away from him.

Gray Wolf snuck up behind him and quietly knocked him out cold as his body rolled away from him and down the side of the rocky edge of the stones. A few straggling troops found him at the foot of the hill and cautiously drew their guns out of their holsters. They expected impending danger would soon follow, but never did. The young officer kept his gun drawn while his fellow officer checked on his fallen comrade.

"George, are you alright? What happened?" The soldier took his canteen off his saddle and splashed a few drops of water on his face, but it was to no avail. He couldn't wake up him. Suddenly, Lt. Tragg and Sargent Brice came full gallop towards the accident at the foothill.

"What's going on here? You boys better not be fooling around out here. We're going to be caught in a rainstorm if you boys don't hurry up!"

"Sir, we just found him like this! We don't know what happened. There is no blood, marks, or anything." The soldier informed him.

"We don't have time to play games, here." The older officer said. He didn't want to waste another minute when Sarge Brice dismounted his horse and looked at the fallen soldier.

"I see no evidence of knife wounds or even gunshots." Sargent Brice told his superior. Thunder and lightning sounded as if it was just over several miles away as lightning danced across the darkness and illuminated through the clouds as it was fast approaching.

"Just great. When you think you're going to catch a criminal, mother nature has other plans for you.

"Come on boys, let's go back to town!" Lt. Tragg bellowed out in disgust as another young officer came to him running his horse at full gallop. Sargent Brice rounded up the men.

"Sir, I spotted a red schoolhouse. Do you think they might be held up over there? I think it's a good idea we check it out before we head back to town, Sir." The young, eager soldier said as his horse nervously chomped on his bit and stomped sideways excitedly.

"Yes, Sargent Brice and I will join you." The troops gathered into their riding posse and headed for the red schoolhouse. Unknown to them, it was occupied.

Hearing the thundering hoofbeats of the incoming army, Jack took refuge in the schoolhouse because it was too late to run and be caught out alone with a whole regiment after him. He would be shot and killed if he bolted now. The children remained calm as did their teacher. Ms. Nell read her book and looked up to glance at Jack, who remained stoned-faced, making sure his gang's whereabouts remained secret from her lips. She knew he was dangerous, just how he presented himself she knew he was different from the others. She had seen how violent men got towards the ladies in the saloon and out on the streets in the town, but Jack wasn't like that, especially towards her. He could have let the younger gang member do as he pleased. Instead, he intervened and had protected her. Was it because of the children being present? He could have killed them if he wanted to and not have a second thought about it. His gang was wanted by the army, but that would not have stopped him if he wanted to have his sexual gratification with Ms. Nell. Was it because he wasn't attracted to her at all? Or maybe he already had a significant other? Ms. Nell glanced up from her book and observed him as he stared in her direction and met her eyes with his. She couldn't understand why she was attracted to him. He was mesmerized by her alluring features as well.

The soldiers surrounded the red schoolhouse and a few men spotted the occupants. One soldier held up four digits indicating the occupants and waved his hand to another armed comrade. He entered cautiously with guns drawn followed by Lt. Tragg and Sgt. Brice.

"Well, what do we have here? Care to fill me in, Ms. Nell Lane.

"What seems to be the trouble, Lt. Tragg? Interrupting the children. They have been behind on their school work. Their father had been out of town, and they had to work on the farm. He came back yesterday evening and brought them here to get all caught up." Ms. Nell knew she could be thrown in jail for deliberately lying to the army Lieutenant.

"I've never seen this man about town. Who is he? You better tell the truth or there will be trouble." Sargent Brice stepped up towards her and looked in Jack's direction while he waited on an explanation from her. The children nervously shifted in their desk chairs as the Lt. and Sgt. approached the menacing man who was seated on the far bench of the room with his boots propped up as he tipped his hat acknowledging the officers.

"He is working for my father on our farm. He hurt his arm in an accident when his wagon wheel busted over the trail a few days ago. He's been out on our family farm helping him. He drove the wagon out here to come to pick me up as he worked out in the field nearby." Ms. Nell covered for Jack and did not reveal the truth. Jack was like a rattlesnake and would strike the two officers down before they knew what hit them. Trusting her words, Jack gave them a smug look and then tipped his hat towards Ms. Nell giving her a small smile before he shot daggers at the two officers and his troops. Lt. Tragg was weary about the stranger as he hadn't seen him before and noticed he was awfully quiet, and he looked like a criminal that he'd seen on a wanted poster a few weeks back.

"You look familiar but I just can't place you? Where do you come from anyway, Mister?" Lt. Tragg tried to get information from this stranger.

"I'm just passing through Sir. I don't plan on staying long. I saw a farmer in need of help out on the prairie, and I assisted him just like she told you. I've been helping him ever since, but I plan on moving on once he gets well." Jack informed them then returned his gaze upon Ms. Nell, who was shocked he would be leaving sooner than she expected. Turning his attention back to the innocent young pupils, Lt. Tragg and Sgt. Brice approached them slowly, then looked back at Ms. Nell and then back to the stranger in the room. The children seemed nervous as the officers questioned them, but they concealed the truth about Jack and they were catching up on their school work. Since they didn't get the answers that the Lt. and Sgt. Wanted, they retreated outside to gather the troops and headed back towards the town.

Jack watched from the other side of the window as they rode out into the darkness. He waited for what seemed like forever, but it had been only thirty minutes, giving them time to ride off without warning them of any evidence that he'd lied to them or the fact that Ms. Nell lied to them as well. Jack's gang had watched all this unfold before their eyes, and they knew they would be in the clear as the last soldier disappeared. The three of them came back down to the schoolhouse. Cautiously, they entered it. Jack drew his gun on Paul and placed it back in his holster.

"Don't shoot Pal! We're coming in for the night. Looks like a storm is brewing, and we need shelter." Paul said while Gray Fox, Sal, and Dixie joined them.

Ms. Nell looked at her meddlesome company and noticed that a young blonde woman was in the gang. She thought to herself, was this the reason why Jack hadn't touched her. Was she involved with him? Or was she just along for the ride? Dixie looked at Ms. Nell and then the children who were still seated in their chairs.

"Sorry to be a bothersome troupe, but we appreciate that you hadn't blown our cover," Dixie spoke out of respect.

"I just didn't want bloodshed especially in front of the children. Do you mind if we leave now? I have a wagon in the back, and I need to get these children home before the storm comes in. They don't live that far from here, only a few miles. Then I'm going home. I never saw you and never heard of you, nor do I care to know any of you." Ms. Nell spoke her mind.

She started to gather her belongings from her desk and started to escort the children out the front door. They were held up by Sal, who held his hand on the door, and looked at her seductively as he stroked her dress and then her soft curls, which made her jerk her head away from him. Jack quickly grabbed Sal by the shoulder, twisted his arm behind his back, and shoved him against the wall violently.

"I thought I told you not to touch her Sal? What part of that don't you understand?" Jack forced Sal's face up against the wall, pushed him further into the wooden panel, and held his firm grip on his arm. Twisting his arm further behind his back, Jack made him squirm in agony as he was unrelenting this time around. Jack slammed Sal's face against the wooden wall a few times making him bust his lip as he bit his tongue in the violent bout.

"What's the matter, Jack? Can't you make a move on her? Or afraid she'll insult your manhood? You are a coward? What woman would want you? She was there for the taking Jack, no ring and no jewelry. You have to admit, she's not taken and not spoken for. I made a move, and now I want her. You get in my way again and I'll kill you. Do you hear me, Jack?" Sal threatened him to know he was going to act out on his promise. Gray Wolf watched silently as the scene played out before him, and knew that nobody threatened Jack. That meant their life was in danger, and if it came to killing Sal, Gray Wolf would have nothing to do with it. It was between the Boss and Sal, which didn't concern him.

"What do you want me to do, Jack? Kill him or teach him a lesson? Or we could just mame him? What do you think, Boss?" Paul took over grabbing his cohort's shoulder and pinning him up against the wall so he couldn't move.

"Not in front of the children Paul. I'm not letting her go alone. In case, she decides to change her mind about us and double back towards town alerting the army. You stay here until dawn, and I'll meet you back in town later in the afternoon, and then we'll hit the strongbox. We don't want the dynamite to get wet. I know you have some food in your saddlebags, that should carry you over until tomorrow. If you need to grab a bite to eat, send Dixie in for the food. They will not suspect anything with a lady going in for food." He stated firmly then eyed Sal again as Paul kept him against the wall.

"Well, what if she goes back for more food. What do you expect her to tell the restaurant cook? She's pregnant or feeding needy cowpoke's down on their luck." Paul questioned him then looked over at Ms. Nell, who could care less about their plans.

"Don't worry Paul. I'll see you in town tomorrow. If I'm late getting there just keep a low profile and mingle with the townsfolk, but keep a watchful eye on the army. I don't want our cover blown." Jack told them and opened the door while he held it for the children as Ms. Nell escorted them out to the wagon. Jack helped the children in first then took Ms. Nell's hand in his only to have it refused by her, and he shrugged his broad shoulders at her refusal. He climbed up into the wagon buckboard as Paul tied Jack's horse to the wagon and walked up beside the wagon wheel.

"You be careful Jack. You don't know who she has at her house, nor who is lying in wait on the trail." Paul gave him a worried look as he looked off in the direction they were headed.

"I'll be alright. You just meet me in town tomorrow." Jack assured him and slapped the reins on the horses to move forward, and they lurched moving at a steady pace.

The storm was approaching quickly upon them as the wind whipped around them. Thunder and lightning were getting intense on their trek ahead. Finally arriving at the children's homestead, Ms. Nell spoke to them softly and assured them everything would be just fine. They were not to mention anything that happened today at the schoolhouse. They promised their teacher, and she gave them a quick hug and they bolted to the house as the lightning and thunder came more frequently. Jack waited for Ms. Nell to climb abroad, but he didn't help her as she refused him before. Once she was seated beside him, the wagon lurched forward towards the direction of her home that she shared with her parents. It was a two-story farmhouse that she shared with her older sister and younger brother. Her sister visited off and on as she was away because of studying abroad back East and would stay when she was visiting her family.

Jack pulled the wagon up to the barn climbed down and waited for Ms. Nell to join him. He watched her walk around to the front of the horses and took the reins from his hands and led them into the barn. She started to unhitch the team from the wagon as she had done countless times, but he stopped her with his large hand.

"Let me help you."

"I don't need your help, Jack. I can do this myself."

"I just bet you can do it all by yourself. You have some other hand working for you to help out here, or just wanted to cover for me back there?" He stilled her small hand from her task of reaching for the rustic pin before getting interrupted by her younger brother.

"Sis, I heard the wagon coming in, and I tended to the cows out in the field. I just got back in from getting another stray calf. Who is this?" He questioned her.

"Joe, this is Jack. He was nice enough to help me fix my wagon wheel on my way home. By the way, you were just leaving, weren't you Jack?" She eyed him and then looked at her brother who knew. His sister always had admirers, but she always turned them away. Joe felt different about this man he knew he would be staying as a storm was approaching quickly.

"Sure, sis. Mom should have dinner ready on the table in case you are hungry. I don't think she'd mind your guest either." Joe gave her a boyish smirk, unhitched the team for her, and took Jack's horse into another vacant stall. He unsaddled him and placed the saddle and bridle to the side before he fed and watered the hungry animal.

Joe was younger than her, but he was a big help and would do anything for his sister. Joe took the other horses to their stalls while Jack helped unharness them and put them on the wall. He unfastened their collars and hung them on the nail by their harness. The storm brewed outside, and Joe had retreated to the house before the rain pelted the tin roof of the barn. The rain pounded on the tin roof as the wind furiously blew through the slate barn, they took shelter from the wind, rain, and lightning. Jack secured the barn door shut so it wouldn't fly open leaving the two of them alone.

The darkness surrounded them while the lightning flashed through the window for her to locate the lantern. She found it along with wooden matches, removed the glass cover, and lit the wick. She hung it up on the nail on the wall just to have a little bit of light and not get knocked over whilst they waited out the storm. The soft glow surrounded her as she turned around to find him staring at her from the shadows. As he waited and watched, he knew he had feelings for her. He knew it was wrong to think that way of her, but she fueled a passion in him that was unlike any other woman.

Ms. Nell stepped up to him finally not afraid of his stature her heart beat faster from not knowing what he was about to do. They were alone with no interference as the storm approached outside. He couldn't control his eagerness to have her in his arms and pulled her to him for a bruising kiss while the thunder and lightning illuminated the pane of glass. She gave in to his aggressive kiss and claimed his mouth with hers while she wrapped her arms behind his head. Taking his black Gambler's hat off his head, she tossed it to the ground, she skimmed her fingernails through his dark unruly hair. He pulled her fully against his chest as their kiss deepened, tongues clashed for control as she moaned into his mouth. While he nipped at the crease of her mouth, he trailed wet kisses down the nape of her neck. He fondled her breasts through her clothing which made her gasp into his ear. He bowed his head as her breathing became hitched in her throat, and unbuttoned her dress and exposed her shoulders to him. When she tilted her head to the side, she allowed him complete access to her body, she ached to be touched by him and demanded it for it had been a very long time since she had been with a man.

He stepped back from her only for a moment to look into her emerald greens making sure she wanted this as much as he did. He looked at her wanton nature as she took in his dark blue orbs with a sparkle in them. She licked her bottom lip worried as if he was second-guessing himself and had changed his mind about her. He took her chin in his index finger and lifted her head to meet his gaze. As she looked around the room for anything to use as a makeshift blanket, she spotted some clean linen that would make due for their rendezvous. He laid it out on the hard floor while she watched him from a few feet from where she stood. Standing in the half-lit barn, she only saw him in jeans, with an open shirt hanging loosely on his masculine frame and boots. She was turned-on, but little did she know what she was stirring inside him as he approached her slowly, reached for her hand, and pulled her towards him gently.

"God, you are so beautiful. Who wouldn't want you as a wife?" He whispered against her lips before he passionately consumed her mouth again so she couldn't speak. As she kissed him fervently, she pushed him back against the wooden wall and took the aroused sight of him. The disheveled hair and unbuttoned pearl button shirt had exposed his heaving broad chest. Finally speaking since their heated kiss, she touched his heated flesh and made him flinch under her nimble touch as she caressed his sparse chest hairs.

"I did have a boyfriend, but he didn't make me feel like you're doing right now. I wasn't with him very long. His stagecoach got ambushed by bandits, and he was killed since then I've not been with anyone. Although, I've had admiring men pursue me, although nothing ever came of it. You saved me not once but twice by your cohort. You must have some kind of feelings for me or was your partner in crime, right? You can't tell me how you feel or don't know how?" She licked his bottom lip before slipping her tongue inside his mouth once again. He pulled her into his embrace and backed her up against the wall so that she was now trapped and unnerved at his ministrations. He continued to jerk her dress off and away from her exposing her nakedness to him. She kissed his mouth hungrily and removed his vest before she discarded his shirt off his broad shoulders. She ran her hands down his chest before reaching his belt buckle and unfastened the holster to his revolvers as they fell to the ground with a loud thud. As she reached for his button on his jeans, she was rudely stopped by his larger hands which covered hers and halted her movements.

"You have no idea how desperately I want and need you right now. I just didn't know how you felt about me. The glances you give me back in the classroom. They made me very anxious not being able to take you in my arms right there and have my way with you. But I had to control myself in front of innocent eyes. You do understand that I'm not all that bad, especially when it comes to a woman and children. I made sure that my troupe knows that no harm would ever come to women or children, and I meant that." He whispered into her ear and held her firmly by her waist as his erection ached to be freed from his confines. She felt his desire and knew that his feelings for her were genuine. She leaned her weight against the wooden barn door as he took a nipple into his mouth and sucked lightly before he bit the bud before he switched to the other one and gave it the same attention as her fingers threaded through his thick damp hair.

"I knew you were an outlaw. I also got a sense of you being a reserved one." She panted as he kissed down her midriff and lavished her hip bones his rough stubble, which scratched her sensitive thighs, made her wetter by the minute. As he dipped his tongue into her navel and inhaled her scent that was meant for him, her fingers combed through his wet, soaked hair and urged him to continue. He dipped his tongue into her welcoming heat and stroked her with his tongue and lapped at her wetness while he savored the sweetness as he was intoxicated by it. The teasing of his tongue made her thrash under his touch. He held her hips still as he continued pleasuring her, and she came into his mouth called out his name. He placed a tender kiss on her pubic area and smiled against the sweaty sheen on her thighs. She tugged on his hair. He knew what she needed, and he too needed release. He claimed her lips with his mouth as their tongues mated again as she gasped into his mouth and tasted herself on his lips.

Reaching for the top button of his jeans, she unfastened it and freed him from his restrictions. He sighed against her neck and kissed her tenderly before he bit her there. He reached for his boots and pulled them off as she knelt before him. He followed her down onto the blanket. She kissed his heaving chest while his fingers stroked through her curls as she worshiped his body with her tongue. She reached his engorged length that had been prodding her hip earlier. The thunder clapped louder outside as the storm was still raging. It shook the barn and startled the horses in their stalls. Jack's attention was diverted only for a second as he noticed the animals were still secure. He felt a soft hand seize his chin while he diverted his attention from the beasts to look at the beauty before him who was straddling his chest.

He relaxed under her touch as she kissed, licked, and paid extra attention to every inch of him until she reached his now fully engorged penis. As he laced his hands in her soft curls and stroked her head, she licked the length of his shaft and paused when she looked up at him and gave him a wicked grin before taking him in her mouth. In the heat of the moment of giving him pleasure, Jack wasn't sure how long he was going to last with her mouth wrapped around his cock. While he squirmed under her delicate mouth, she sucked him harder and stroked his shaft with her tongue, it was all he could take from her torturous lips and tongue on him before he exploded into her mouth and shouted her name to the heavens. He didn't care who heard him as the storm still raged outside as the rain beaded down on the tin roof, which made their passionate lovemaking hidden from the world. As she placed a kiss on his now semi-erect cock, he grabbed her hands, heaved her up to his face, and claimed her mouth with his fully in a passionate lip lock. When she settled down beside him, he rolled her over so that he now hovered above her. She stroked his semi-hard length as he clenched his teeth in a hiss before he placed his forehead against hers.

"You ready? I don't want to hurt you so tell me if your uncomfortable, and I'll stop." He said poised and ready to enter her. She gave him the cue pulled him down, used her one hand on now his rock-hard member, and guided him between her thighs, where he slipped down inside her wetness slowly. He let her adjust to his size and made her gasp at the union between them.

"Just go slow, okay. It's been a long time since…" She trailed off as he didn't want another man's name to come from her lips while he claimed her as his own. He silenced her with a kiss to the lips. When she tilted her hips, he took that as a sign that he could move within her, and he did just that. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, teased the hair at the base of his nape, and scratched his back. He pulled out of her and slowly entered her again. As he used smooth strokes, in and out of her, as she enveloped her long legs over his hips to encourage him to go deeper and faster. He lost all track of thought when she whispered something into his ear as he was incoherent at the moment. He pushed further into her harder and faster as she orgasmed which took her over the edge. In a heated frenzy, she bit him on the neck as she returned the favor to him. He came inside her as he bumped into her cervix once, twice, and on the third time, he came hard inside her where he spilled his seed into her. A few more jerks and he spasmed inside her walls again. Finally catching their breath from their heavy session. She clawed his sweaty back with her fingernails as he suckled on her breasts before he finally rested his head on her heaving bosom. He enjoyed the sensation of being loved for the first time. He wanted to stay with her forever and knew that he couldn't risk her life of being on the run with him.

"Was it better than you expected or hoped it would be?" Jack exhaled against her before he placed a kiss on her sternum and nuzzled her bosom.

"You were amazing." She replied while she threaded her fingers into his sweaty locks and brushed an errant strand off his brow as he laid his head back down on her body.

"You know this isn't going to turn out good." He sighed against her chest still laying atop of her, took her hand in his, and interlocked it with his.

"What do you mean? I can come with you. Does the other woman that is with your troupe belong to you?" She sounded disappointed but quickly regained her composure when he placed a kiss on her abdomen.

"No, she doesn't belong to anyone. I think she fancies Paul, my second in command. I have no attachments nor a woman to call my own. Currently, I'd say you are my woman. I've got to admit that I think I'm actually in love for the first time in my life. It's because of you." He kissed her hand and inched his way up her torso as he slowly kissed her before he pulled her into his embrace as they lay together and listened to the rain pounding onto the roof.

"We have planned to hit the strongbox in town that has the gold shipment. It's going to be our last heist. I promised them we would run to the Mexican border and go abroad if need be. We are not going to get caught or killed. We might get injured but never caught. If we ever get caught and put in prison, we would die as we fight to stay out of there. I need my freedom, plus I couldn't look at stone walls all day and night, especially now that I have a beauty to look at. Before I met you, I had nothing, but you've changed it all now." He gave her a hopeful smile as she smoothed out a stray lock of hair from his brow. He kissed her fingers one by one which caused her to shiver.

"What if you can't take the strongbox? What if …" She trailed off in deep thought when another idea came to her mind. "How about I help you? You know distract the captain while you make your move on the strongbox. I can do something. Maybe I can arrange a barn dance or some activity to divert their attention." She told him before he met her gaze and acknowledged her. She could be right, and that would be less violence amongst the townsfolk and for the town in general.

"Are you sure you want to do this? What about you teaching school and your folks here? You don't want to lose it all for what? A criminal you just met out on the prairie? A man you just had made passionate love with and had been with a few hours. You risking your life. I don't want that for you. I think I'm falling in love with you, and I don't want anything to happen to you." He breathed in her scent as he gave her a sincere look. She took her hand out of his grasp, held his rough cheek in the palm of her hand, and stroked the side of his face as she traced his bottom lip with her thumb.

"In this short time that I knew you, I too think I'm falling in love with you. I've never felt this way about anyone. The army doesn't know that I'm going to help you. They will not even suspect it. I can help. Please? I promise you that nothing will go wrong." As he looked into her eyes, he knew she meant what she said. He trusted her completely and gave a nod. He would let her assist them as he kissed her lips and sealed the deal between them.

Part 4

PMDSXXX

The rain and wind blew continuously into the midnight hours as they lay entangled in each other's arms undetected by her family, who rode out the storm inside their home. Her parents figured she was safe in the barn and safely taken shelter from the storm. They were told that a stranger was with her, but they weren't worried because their daughter could take care of herself if danger arose.

Meanwhile back at the red schoolhouse, the gang settled in for the night and took turns watching for any signs of the army. The army might be doing another patrol in the area. Sal eyed Paul, who remained quiet as he chewed on some beef jerky and handed a strip to Dixie who graciously took it. Gray Wolf sat on the other end of the room. He watched out the window but didn't pay attention.

"So, you think Boss is going to meet us in town tomorrow afternoon? Or do you think he's changed his mind because of the schoolmarm?" Sal asked them as he took out a cigar, lit it up, smoked it, and blew it out of his lungs through his stained teeth.

"He'll be there. He wouldn't betray us now. We have come this far, and he wouldn't abandon us on this heist." Dixie informed him while she chewed on her jerky.

"Yes, she is right Sal. Just because he's in the company of a beautiful woman, doesn't mean he's changed his mind about any of the plans. He might be late getting to town, but if I know the Boss, he'll be there. I trust him on his word, and you should too. Stay away from Ms. Nell if you cherish your life." Paul warned him and took a drink of whiskey from a bottle.

"Yes, of course, Paul anything you say. She was so beautiful, young, and innocent. I will have her by tomorrow's heist. I guarantee it. The Boss thinks he can have her, but I have other plans for him. He's a coward, and you all know it." Sal smoked on his cigar and laughed at them before he dipped his hat to take a nap.

Paul knew the long list that came with Sal. He raped women before and killed one. The last time he forced himself onto a prostitute from the saloon. He just hoped that Jack was ready for him because he was a force to be reckoned with especially when it came to women. If Ms. Nell was in his company now, she couldn't be any safer. Jack would kill Sal if he ever touched Ms. Nell again. He already made his threat clear to Sal not to 'ever' touch her again.

The sun came over the horizon as it peaked through the barn. Jack woke up and noticed that Ms. Nell had stayed with him throughout the night although the rain had eased up and stopped just before dawn. He knew he must keep her safe from harm now. As he lain and thought of what to do next, she pushed back against him making him sigh against her ear, and placed a kiss on her shoulder before dipping his head at her nape and kissing her. She turned her head towards his mouth and captured it with hers before she pulled back and smiled at him. His arm stroked her waist before she turned in his arms to look at him.

"I didn't think you'd still be here, but I guess you trusted me enough to stay. It's morning and my folks are going to question why you are still here?" She gave him a wry smile before she heard the family dog barking out in the field and startled them.

"We better get dressed before I get shot." Jack gave her a quick peck to the lips. He scrambled for his discarded clothing. He found her dress, tossed it at her, and watched as it landed in her lap. While they got to their feet and dressed quickly, he finger-combed his hair. Ms. Nell tossed his hat towards him as he caught it, buttoned his shirt up, and left the last one undone at the throat. The barn door was locked from the inside, and the pounding on the outside got louder. Jack reached for his boots and put his vest on. Nell opened the door to reveal her father. He stood with a two-barrel shotgun in his hand, and her younger brother at his side.

"What's going on? You know him, Nell? Tell me he hasn't hurt you? Or so help me, his innards are going to be on the ground in a second." Her father growled at Jack who was standing unafraid as she stepped in front of him to block her father from approaching any further.

"Stop! He helped me last night on the prairie, and I offered him refuge here in the barn. The storm came last night. We stayed here in the barn as I couldn't see my way to the house." Nell glanced back at Jack, who gave him the most innocent look, that of having spent the night with his daughter and was now in love with her.

"She's right, Sir. I was about to leave when the impending storm opened up, and I stayed, but now I'm moving on. I want to thank you, Nell, for letting me stay here. I must be going. I have some important business to handle. Here take a few dollars for your trouble, and I'll be on my way." Jack squeezed her hand and went for his horse in the stall that it occupied. He placed the saddle on the horse and cinched the saddle tightly around its waist before he found the bridle, which hung on the nail hook. He slipped it over its horse's head, fastened the straps, took the reins in his hands, and headed out of the barn as Nell followed after him.

"Jack, wait!" She grabbed his hand in hers and pulled him towards her as her father and brother watched the interaction between the two of them. The barking dog started again as it chased a stray calf from the field. The mother cow bawled out for her lost calf, which was separated due to the storm.

"Oh, great! The calf needs back with its mother." Nell noticed the commotion and let go of his hand. Not giving it a second thought, Jack mounted his horse and chased after the stray calf, brought it back to the other field with the help of the dog, and finally reunited it back with its worried mother.

Her father and brother watched the action as if it was done by a cattle rustler, and they were in awe at how fast he returned the calf. Her father fixed the broken gate hinge, swiped his brow with his handkerchief, and tipped his hat at Jack, who then rode up to Nell.

"I noticed on the other end of the fence you've also got a broken fence pole, and half the fence is laying down. You want me to ride out and fix that before I head out. I'll save you the trouble since we've got them all huddled down here next to the barn." Jack said to her father and he nodded.

"Yes, take Joe with you. Please fix the fence, and I'll be very much obliged to you, mister." He told him and looked over at his daughter who watched intently. Joe hurried to the other horse, saddled it, and grabbed a few tools and barb wire before he joined Jack. While they fixed the down fenced before the herd dispersed into the field it, was a huge relief off of her father's shoulders. After he rode back towards the homestead, Joe rode up to the house and fastened his horse to the post. When he rushed into the house, he found his sister fixing breakfast. Her mother was in town tending to the saloon as she was helping out her Uncle Lou.

"The fence is mended, and your friend rode off, Nell." Her brother announced as he joined her at the table and took a piece of biscuit from the hot plate and she smacked his hands.

"Joe, did he say anything to you? I thought he'd join us for breakfast?" Nell quickly wiped her hands on her apron, and untied it, draped it over the empty chair, and bolted towards the front door.

"No, he didn't say much of anything. All he told me was that he was headed to town." Her brother said as their father joined them at the table.

"Nell, just what are you doing? Who is going to fix our breakfast for us?" Her brother asked her, but she never answered him.

"Don't worry Joe. Nell will be back, I hope. Lord knows how long your mother is going to stay in town helping her brother, Lou. I think we're going to have to finish cooking our breakfast. Come on. It can't be that bad." His father started to grease the iron skillet to make bacon and eggs.

"What if she doesn't come home and runs off with that stranger?"

"Son, that's her choice if she wants to be with him. We can't interfere with her life. She's old enough to know who and what she wants. I just hope she's not making a huge mistake." Her father sounded worried as he glanced out the window of the kitchen. After she untied the horse from the wooden post, she mounted the animal, turned the horse towards town, and left in a hurry as she tried to catch Jack, who had a few miles already ahead of her.

Sal had broken away from the troupe early while everyone went out to fetch game to eat. Littlest to be known, Gray Wolf had spotted him while he quietly slipped away from the group as they tracked a deer. He informed Paul and Dixie that he was abandoning the hunt. Paul could do nothing as Sal had already gotten a head start. He knew exactly what Sal had in mind, and it wasn't food. He just hoped that Jack got to him first instead of Sal finding Ms. Nell all alone. Gray Wolf had used his bow to take a large buck deer down, skinned it, and left the entrails for the buzzards and scavenging animals. Gray Wolf was soon joined by Paul as he helped him harvest the meat before they met up with Dixie, who was seated on a nearby rock. The men took the kill to their camp on the outside of the schoolhouse about fifty feet. Dixie gathered some loose branches and helped make a fire to cook the meat.

Out on the prairie, the sun got hotter by the minute. Sal followed the dirt path as it was rutted out by wagon wheels. There wasn't much left of the tracks as the rain had washed out most of the evidence of any travelers. The thought of having Ms. Nell all to himself caused him to feel smug as he sat in his saddle and continued on his trek towards her homestead. He passed the one farm then another as he looked for any sign of her but saw nothing but a few cows, chickens, and pigs. He knew her homestead wasn't that far now as she had mentioned earlier that she was not far from the children's home place. Since he was passing their home at this very moment, he knew he would be reaching her homestead. There was no sign of the boss, but he needed to remain friendly towards any witnesses. He didn't want to alarm or cause trouble as he rode on through. The young children had been gathering the eggs from the coop when he passed by only tipping his hat in a friendly manner. After he passed by the homestead, he continued for several more miles until he saw a black horse and recognized the rider coming towards him.

"Jack, what a nice surprise? I see you haven't changed your mind about the gold shipment. Did you come to your senses and tell that lovely schoolmarm how you felt about her? Or did she have another beau waiting on her back at her homestead? I bet you weren't man enough to tell her your true feelings, Jack." He spat on the ground as he circled his horse around his and taunted him. Sal pulled his horse's reins and made him jump as the beast shook its head nervously. Sal propped himself in his saddle confidently eyed him up.

"What are you doing coming this way, Sal? The gold shipment is back that way in the other direction. Why do you think Ms. Nell would have anything to do with you?" Jack said as he gave him the nastiest look as he looked from the brim of his hat. Asking he asked him the question, he waited on his answer. Sal shifted in the seat of his saddle when another rider, who was a lady, came up from over the hill. He smiled then turned his attention back to the boss who was still staring him down before he turned in his saddle to look at the approaching rider.

"That's the reason, Jack. I want her. I don't have to wait long. She knows a real man when she sees one, and you, Jack, are not a real man, are you?" Sal wickedly grinned as Ms. Nell come up to the two men.

"Jack! Wait a minute!" Her voice trailed off when she saw who his company was. She pulled the reins to her horse and stopped the animal. It was sweating profusely, breathing, and heaving from the long distance to catch up to him.

"Well, isn't this a reunion of sorts? Jack wouldn't know what to do with a beautiful lady like you. He doesn't care for anything or anyone. You best leave well enough alone and have a real man, like me." Sal told her and moved toward her. He touched her dress sleeve before he got knocked out of his saddle by Jack. Jack got off his horse and proceeded to attack Sal. He kicked him to the ground and with his boots kicked dirt in his face and eyes.

"I told you not to ever touch her again. You disobeyed me yet again. I warned you if you ever touched her again, it would be your life. What part did you not hear?" Jack doubled up his fist and punched him right in the face. Sal stumbled back and lost his footing on the dirt ground. She watched Jack pummel the outlaw although he was in his gang, this one was trouble from the get-go.

Sal threw a punch as Jack dodged his fist. Sal then gave an uppercut to Jack's jaw which knocked him down on the ground flat on his back. Ms. Nell could do nothing to help as she sat perched in her saddle. She watched the fight happen between the one, she loved, and the one she didn't love. She looked for something to aid Jack as Sal had him pinned down on the ground in a throat clutch.

Ms. Nell quickly dismounted her horse and looked into Jack's saddlebag for anything she could use to distract Sal. She found a small bag of gold coins, which she whacked him on the shoulder as he wrestled Jack. When he turned his attention to Ms. Nell, Sal quickly punched Jack in his ribs, which caused him to cower in pain. Sal leaped for her, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her into his strong embrace while he held her from behind away from Jack. Jack quickly gained his composure, reached for his knife, pulled it out of its sheath, and made his way for Sal.

"I've got you now. I'm not ever letting you go. What do I smell? Distinct cigarette smoke on you, my deary? You've been with Jack already. Did he show you a good time? Well, I'm going to show you a better one. Did he satisfy your needs? I'm going to show you how a real man pleases a beautiful woman." Sal said between clenched teeth, breathed in her scent, and held her close to his body. Ms. Nell writhed to get away from her attacker, but it was to no avail. The more she fought him and struggled against him, the tighter he held her. He put his hand on her mouth, she bit him on the hand, escaped from his dirty clutches, and ran from him as fast as she could.

"Oh, feisty, are you? You're going to pay for that! Get back here! Come on Ms. Nell, stop hiding from me!" Sal spat blood out from his mouth and grinned devilishly through his gritted teeth. He looked to see where his prey had gone before he felt two large hands on his shoulders pulling him back and turning him around to face the angry boss, Jack.

"I told you, Sal, Not to touch her ever again!" Jack took his knife out and stabbed him in the gut nice and clean. Ms. Nell stood a few feet from them while she witnessed the brutal attack. She knew that Jack loved her. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have killed her tormentor. It was then she approached Jack, who stabbed the knife into the ground to clean it from the blood from his victim. He knelt and placed the knife back in its sheath before he saw her approach him finally. After she picked up his hat from the ground from when he fell, she carried it over to him. He brushed the dirt and dust off it with his hand and put it back on his head.

"You alright? I'm sorry for all this. I truly am." Jack rose from his kneeling position as he looked down at the dead man.

"I'm fine Jack. Don't be sorry. I know you meant what you said back in the barn. That you love me or you wouldn't have done any of this." He pulled her into his embrace and held her for a few moments before she pulled back to look deeply into his darkened eyes.

"I'm not letting anyone touch you like that ever. Do you hear me? Especially unwanted advances as long as I'm breathing and living. Understand me, your mine now." Jack claimed her mouth in a heated kiss then broke apart as she looked at him seductively.

"So, you're telling me no man can touch me? Well, I'm going to say the same thing if another woman touches you, especially the seductive working saloon girls. If that happens, trouble will be coming." She gave him a warning look as he held her horse so she could climb into the saddle.

"Point taken. I hear you loud and clear." He let her know that he agreed with her as he helped her into the saddle of her mount. He put her foot into the stirrups, caressed her long lean leg, and touched her because he couldn't get enough of her. She leaned down from her saddle and grabbed his hand as they skimmed up the inside of her dress.

"Don't we have a gold shipment that we need to be worried about? Plus, I have to announce this dance for the troops. We better get going because time is running out." He knew she was right and picked up the gold pouch of coins that lay by the dead man. He mounted his horse, and they rode towards the town to meet up with the others.

Juniper Junction

1888 Blue Dog Saloon

Dixie and Paul had been walking the streets since early mid-morning. Although they had a few onlookers glaring at them, nothing was alarming about the couple. Gray Wolf stood guard on the outskirts of the town as he looked and waited for Jack. He figured Sal went on his way and didn't expect to see him again that is if Jack had anything to do with him. Paul went into the saloon as he gave Dixie a nod to walk about the town, and she knew time was of the essence. When she walked over to the dress shop to waste some time, a few young soldiers smiled at her as they passed her. Knowing she was no imminent threat, they leered at her too long bumping into a burly mountain man who was big as a bear. He was dressed in old, ragged clothing with a bowie knife attached to his waist. He wasn't too fond of the young men. The two recruits excused their behavior as they didn't want a brawl out in the front street.

Gray Wolf spotted another rider with Jack as he advanced towards him. He noticed that Sal wasn't the other rider, but it was the schoolmarm, Ms. Nell. He must have kidnapped her or was going to hold her hostage for the gold shipment. He hadn't seen her hands tethered. She came along willingly without a fight. Gray Wolf sensed something different about Jack and knew it had to be because of Ms. Nell.

"Where's Paul and Dixie?" Jack asked him before Ms. Nell joined him with her horse at his side.

"What is she doing? Are you taking her hostage Boss? Did you see Sal on the trail when you came into town?" Gray Wolf eyed them both suspiciously.

"She's coming with me, and no she's not a hostage. Sal will not be bothering her ever again. Take my warning, no one touches her. You got that! We have a plan, and she's going to be part of it. She will be announcing a barn dance for the troops tonight. If all goes well, we will get the strongbox without them knowing it, and there's no harm to the townsfolk. We need to find Paul and Dixie now!" Jack instructed him.

"Jack, I'll go alone into town. You wait here. I'll find Paul and inform him of what's going on. My guess is he'll be in the saloon, and my mother will be there. I have access to enter it since my uncle owns the place." Ms. Nell informed him and rode off alone.

"You trust her, don't you?" Gray Wolf squinted as he watched her ride off into town.

"I trust her with my life. She wouldn't betray me. I believe her. Don't ever question me again especially when it comes to her." He made his point across as he lit up a cigarette to give her time to get to town.

"Yes, boss. Whatever you say." Gray Wolf agreed with him.

Part 5

PMDSXXX

The saloon was bustling with cowhands as they drank up and gambled their weeks' pay with the available ladies. The bartender was having a difficult time serving the drinks as one after another hit him up for a bottle of whiskey or whatever he had left that had not been consumed by other cowpokes. Ms. Nell rode around to the back of the saloon, fastened her horse to the hitching post, and entered in the back door. Upon her arrival, she met her mother and uncle, who were taking inventory count on the beer and whiskey barrels in the storage area. The army recruits were keeping a watchful eye on the gold strongbox, filtered in the saloon. Capt. Wyatt bellied up to the bar and requested a stiff drink. He looked around at the crowd as he sneered at the company until someone caught his eye, who came from around the bar and entered the establishment.

Ms. Nell scanned the room as she observed the uproar and carrying on between the loud cowboy's and troops that she found Paul. He was in the farthest corner of the gambling tables. He had smoked a cigar with one older cowboy and anti-upped his bet of gold coins from his pouch. He kept a watchful eye on Dixie, who was chatting with a younger recruit. After she took a serving tray, Ms. Nell grabbed a few beer glasses along with a few shot glasses and made her way over to Paul's table.

"I have a message for you. Jack is on his way." She whispered into Paul's ear when she leaned down to place the glass of beer on the table. Her cleavage was showing as her dress was unbuttoned at the top. He gave her a toothy grin and drank his beer put a gold coin on her serving tray. He thought to himself well Jack must have made good on Ms. Nell, or she wouldn't have approached him to warn him of his arrival.

"You are here early. What brings you in this time of day? You usually don't come in here until a little later in the evening, Nell. Although it's a weekend, I didn't expect you so soon, dear." Her mother stated as she continued writing down the quantities of barrels that were left, and what was needed to be ordered.

"Mother, I was thinking of having a barn dance for the army recruits. You know just show them a good time. After all, they've earned it for the past several days they've been in our town. I thought it would be a good idea to announce it. What harm would come of it?" Her daughter gave her a small smile before she returned to the bar and was cornered by Capt. Wyatt.

"That girl has always something on her mind. It is a good idea though. Don't you think Lou?"

"She does, and I don't see what harm it could do." Her older brother Lou said while he lifted and rolled another whiskey barrel towards the front of the bar.

Ms. Nell served drinks to the thirsty men but not without the pestering and insistence of Capt. Wyatt. He tried his best to make small talk with the lovely Ms. Nell. She ignored him for a moment as she went to make more rounds with the serving tray full of beer and whiskey. He eyed her with a watchful eye while she chatted with a group of troops and handed them their beer as they put their money on her tray. She smiled at them before she returned to the bar.

"Ms. Nell, you gave those boys your full attention, but yet, here I'm a high-ranking officer, and you won't even give me the time of day. What's the matter with you? I'm not good enough to show a lady a good time." Capt. Wyatt accused her of her rude behavior as she wasn't acknowledging him.

"Capt. Wyatt, I've been busy with our patrons. Don't you think you need to be worried about the gold shipment? Instead, you are here bothering me. What if someone just came along and gave your boys the slip? Then your superior will have your head for not keeping yourself in line, but who am I to tell your business and how you conduct it." Ms. Nell gave him a shrug of her shoulders and sauntered off with a sway to her hips. He watched her walk away from him as he rubbed his chin and took a swing of his stiff drink as the piano played louder drowning out most of the outside noise.

A young man entered the saloon, looked around for the most gorgeous woman that was on the floor, grabbed a red-headed showgirl, and seated her in his lap. The young lady was used to the cowboys coming in and grabbing over her. This was a routine as the men would brawl over which man was better than the other. As he gave her a quick peck on her cheek, the young man reached into his pocket with a few coins and ordered a beer for his companion and himself. Suddenly, a young woman, who looked like she had enough of her husband's cheating and flaunting himself towards other women, burst into the room like a whirlwind. When he laughed in her face, the woman confronted her, she took his beer and poured it over his head, and cracked him with the glass, which caused blood to ooze out of his forehead.

The woman had been cheated on constantly by her roving-eyed husband. The lady was brown-haired, had green eyes, and had a whiny voice that had made some people cringe when she spoke. It was too much for her husband as he got up from his chair and whisked the showgirl away with him.

"I want a divorce, Eve. This is not how a marriage is supposed to be. You have nagged me all time and not given me a minute's peace. I don't want you anymore, please go!"

"But, Marv, darling! We agreed until death do us part! What happened to the vows you promised me?" Eve begged him not to do this any further that is until Jack sauntered into the saloon. All eyes went on him, but they knew he wasn't of concern before they returned to their activities. Eve took it upon herself to saunter over to him and place her hands on his chest. He was tall, big, handsome, and strong, He was no one to mess around with so she thought he would protect her. Little did she know, he belonged to one person, and it was not her. Jack brushed her off as he took a table nearby Paul. He was followed by the unwanted attention from Eve, who sat down at his table uninvited.

"So, what brings yourself into a place like this, darling?" Eve tried her best as she flashed a fake smile at him.

"Business has, and I don't need your attention. You need to leave my table?" Jack looked about the room and spotted Nell behind the bar.

"You a loner or prefer other company, darling?" She purred before she turned her attention to her cheating husband and fumed.

Jack finally took off his hat and placed it on the table motioned for one beer at his table. The server came with his beer, and he handed the young lady a coin before drinking his beer. He did not give her any of his attention until he saw Ms. Nell, who was chatting with the grinning captain. Ms. Nell never gave him the time of day. Jack watched with intent to kill him, but he held his composure. It was a friendly conversation between his love and the man. On the other hand, he had gold to seize and not risk her life.

Ms. Nell noticed Jack had seated himself not far from Paul's table. He was seated with a young woman, a recently married woman named Eve. Although Ms. Nell attended her wedding, it was her husband that made the mistake. He didn't know what he was getting into when he asked her to be his wife because he was lovestruck and drunk at the time. Seeing her husband with a showgirl sparked the war between Eve and Marv. She tried to make him jealous seated with the handsome stranger, Jack. Marv paid no mind to his wife only made her angrier by the minute. Eve took it upon herself to enrage her husband when she planted a kiss on Jack's lips by surprise and enjoyed it as she relished the taste of beer that came from his mouth. The cowboys roared with laughter as the scene played out before them. Jack shoved her violently away. When Marv saw the spectacle, he could care less. Ms. Nell approached Jack's table and grabbed her by the head full of the hair and jerked her away from his table.

"Just what do you think you're doing? He is not interested in you, Eve. Have you not gotten the message? He's mine, and I warned you not to mess with him or you're going to deal with me." Ms. Nell was a fury to be reckoned with as this woman flaunted herself at her lover.

"Well, I didn't know a schoolmarm had been keeping company with the likes of this handsome, roguish man. When did this all start? Have I missed something? Does the townsfolk know the company you've been keeping?" Eve gave her a questionable look before she was taken by surprise. Ms. Nell shoved her hard and away from his table.

"My business is none of your concern. What I do with my time off from being a teacher is none of your business either!" Ms. Nell took Jack's empty glass bottle, cracked it over the edge of the table, broke the bottle by the neck, and slashed her dress. The ruckus erupted again in the bar as the women tussled with each other again. The crowd roared with another fistfight between two cowpokes', who wanted to get into the action and fight over a blonde showgirl. Swinging fists, broken bottles, crashing chairs were a flutter in the bar. Whereas one cowboy was slung down the bar plank ending up on the floor with a loud thud.

Paul watched in astonishment but enjoyed the show that was playing out as a diversion, and he looked at Jack, who nodded his head. The recruits and cowboy's all cheered the fight on between the brawling ladies while they hooted and hollered when another brawl started between two drunkards.

Paul got up from his chair, tossed his cards onto the table, made his way outside to find Dixie and Gray Wolf. They met up with him in the side alley. They set their plan in motion. It was game on for the trio as the boss and Ms. Nell distracted the army and the sheriff. Knowing a brawl was happening, the young recruits in on guard duty wanted to see what the commotion was and left their post. The young men were not the brightest of the bunch. The fight between two young, brawling ladies turned them on, and wouldn't miss it for anything.

As the recruits left their post unattended, the trio made off with the strongbox without being detected. Gray Wolf had slipped behind a sleeping older, sleeping recruit cut his windpipe off. After he choked him into submission, stole his clothing, and drove off with the wagon and strongbox undetected by the preoccupied army. Dixie and Paul escorted him out of town back to their hideout, where they ditched the wagon and took the strongbox. Paul used his revolver and shot the lock off the strongbox, which revealed the gold coins.

"Who is going back to tell Jack we have the gold?" Dixie questioned the men.

"I'll go get him. You stay here, and I will be back. If I'm not back by morning and neither is Jack, you run. Take what you can carry and go." Paul said before he climbed into the wagon and took off in another direction.

After he unhitched the team and set the wagon ablaze, he rode one horse to the edge of town. It was pitch dark, and no one suspected a thing as the saloon was still roaring with laughter and brawling. As he slipped back into town, Paul carefully made his way back into the saloon only to see that Ms. Nell and the same lady that started the bout were brawling. He enjoyed the show, crossed his arms, and leaned back against the wooden frame. Jack finally had enough and got up from his chair. He knew that the task was done when Paul arrived back into the saloon. He grabbed Ms. Nell by the shoulders, pulled her back away from Eve. He was surprised when she faced him and stood toe to toe with him. When he looked into her dark emerald eyes, he held her by her wrists as she was about to slap his face but couldn't. He released her grip, and she saw that Paul had returned.

Suddenly Eve took the opportunity to clash with Ms. Nell again one last time, ripped her sleeve as she pulled her away from Jack, and knocked her down. As she crawled back to Jack, Nell reached for his knife that was sheathed in its holder on the inside of his leg and removed it quickly from its confines. When she got to her feet, Ms. Nell held the knife in her hand to conceal it. When Eve launched herself towards Ms. Nell, she grabbed her by her arm and twirled her around to face her with the long 'pig sticker'. She shoved it in her face, slashed her face, and marked her so that she knew who the hell she was messing around with.

"Oh, god! Look what you've done to my beautiful face!" Eve cried out loud.

"You should have thought about making advances on a man that was not interested in you. Plus, you married, happily, I doubt." The rage in Ms. Nell's tone told Eve that she wasn't playing around with her especially when it came to her man. Eve would think twice again before she jumped on another man. She bled from the minor wounds as the fighting continued. When someone called for the doctor, they found out he was out on a call but was due back anytime.

The rowdy cowpokes still argued with each other. Jack, Ms. Nell, and Paul finally made their getaway out the back entrance. Before they left Jack, turned to grab a whiskey bottle in one hand and tossing a few gold coins onto the bar from where it was taken. The bartender nodded his head in the transaction as payment was rendered. Ms. Nell pulled him into the hallway of the back entrance, and he pinned her to the wooden panel for a moment. Uncapping the whiskey bottle, he took a drink of the liquid only to swish it around his mouth before spitting it out on the ground behind him.

"I belong to you now. She meant nothing to me. Do you understand me? I had to get her taste out of my mouth." He took another swig of the dark liquid, which burned his throat, and claimed her mouth with his. She wrapped her arms around him, and he pulled her deeper into the kiss while she licked his lips and tasted the whiskey from his mouth. He came up for air, and she could smell the whiskey on his breath. They stared at each other for a moment when she ran her hands down his chest. Paul came into view and warned of the impending army. Jack took Ms. Nell by the hand out the back entrance following Paul towards the horses.

After they mounted their horses, they slipped away quietly away from the chaos. The sheriff had been woken up by the brawling, tried to calm everyone down and get the order back. The young cavalryman that had left the strongbox of gold was utterly surprised when he returned to his post and discovered that the strongbox was gone. He realized this, and if he told the Sargent and Lt. his mistake was costly and would be locked up in the brig for this action. Captain Wyatt was informed of this and angrily took control of the situation. He arrested the young recruits, who were responsible for leaving the strongbox unattended when it was their duty to protect it. The darkness was their enemy now as they mounted their horses to find the culprits with only lighted torches to lead the way.

Jack, Ms. Nell, and Paul arrived at the hideout blindly with the full moon aiding their direction. Paul was a good tracker and found their hideout in no time. Dixie and Gray Wolf stood watch and waited to see who was riding up there. As Gray Wolf knew by the sound of three horses, it wasn't the army.

"Let's go! We don't want to get caught in a trap. Grab the gold and come on!" Jack instructed them, and they followed his orders riding out into the darkness, unsure of what they faced in the future.

But Ms. Nell knew that she couldn't go back to town yet, but she didn't want to look like she had anything to do with it either. After they rode about five miles out of the town, they found a stream that was calm and could easily make a good hiding spot. The area had crevices, a few rocks, and trees as shelter. If they were quiet and had a lookout throughout the night, they just might be safe for another day and set up camp.

Paul, Dixie, and Gray Wolf camped out on a spot near the water's edge while Jack and Ms. Nell went further downstream. Separating was the best idea since they had no way of knowing what side the army would attack from. Paul took the first watch, and Gray Wolf would take up the next watch. Dixie would always insist that she would keep a lookout once Gray Wolf started to nod. They unpacked their bedrolls and didn't light a fire. Keeping out of sight into the dawn was the best chance that they had of escaping the army. Dixie refilled their canteens, settled back on her bunk roll, and covered herself up with Paul's jacket. Gray Wolf was not tired as he kept watch with Paul for several more hours. Jack and Ms. Nell settled further down the river bank. Jack took his bedroll from his saddle, splayed it out, and shared it with her. As they lay in each other's arms for the longest time, she looked up at him while the full moon reflected off the water and into his eyes. He observed the waters rippling effects, glanced back out into the vast horizon, held her close to him, peeked down at her to see her returning his gaze.

"Jack, you know I have to go back to my parents. I can't run forever and not leave word with them since I don't know if I'll ever see them again." She nuzzled against him as he held her close to him.

"I know you must get word back to them. Let's wait until dawn. If we haven't been discovered by the army. I'll go with you back to your parent's homestead, but we must not stay long. You must make up your mind to run with me or stay behind. You are not wanted, but the townsfolk have no idea it was us." He told her as he took off his hat placed it on her head before he reached into his vest. She curiously watched him pull something out of his pocket and held her hand into his.

"Close your eyes. I picked up something for you, and no I didn't steal it. I bought it in town before I saw you in the saloon. By the way, you proved your love for me in more ways than one. You do know that?" Jack held her by her chin gently and stroked her cheek while he felt her soft skin on his fingertips, and she closed her eyes.

"I told you that you belonged to me. I meant what I said, Jack. I'm not taking any threats lightly as you wouldn't want another man to have me." He placed the item into her palm. Opening her eyes slowly to see what it could be, she raised her eyebrow at him seductively. After she felt the weight of the object in her palm, she opened her eyes fully, to see a heart-shaped locket.

"Oh, Jack it's beautiful. When did you find time to get this without being too obvious?" She looked down at the beautiful necklace while he took her chin in his large hand, leaned in for a kiss, and whispered against her lips.

"I walked into the shop asked the merchant what they had available that would please my girl." He smiled at her while he captured her lips with his. She encircled her arms around his shoulders, and his hat tumbled off her head while he threaded his large hands through her hair. When he skimmed his hands down her dress, felt the torn dress sleeve on her arm, and made contact with her heated skin. He fondled her breasts through the thin fabric and ached to touch her again. She gasped into his mouth before she pulled away from him and retreated towards the stream. She removed her boots, unbuttoned her dress, which fully exposed her luscious figure to him as she slowly inched it down her body while he watched her.

He quickly got to his feet to join her and took the necklace from her hand. He turned her around, moved her hair away from her nape, where his rough fingertips brushed against her skin as he attached it around her neck. He placed a kiss on the back of her head. He held her to him in a firm grip before he tilted his head down and kissed her shoulder before he peeled the rest of her clothing off her. Although he was still fully clothed, she escaped his greedy hands, walked to the edge of the water and stepped into the current. As she entered the water in the middle of the stream, she enjoyed the cool waters that calmed her overheated flesh. Watching her enjoy herself was just about all Jack could take. He did not want to miss out on having her arms and legs around by him as he was jealous of the water getting all the attention, and he wasn't.

Jack pulled his boots off, shed his clothes, and unbuckled his belt to his revolvers, made a quick motion of discarding his pants in the pile next to her dress, and joined her without making a huge commotion to alert the others up the stream. The water washed over their bodies and cooled them off from the heat of the day. After he captured her in his strong embrace, he placed a wet kiss on her lips as she wrapped her long legs around his torso and felt his erection nudging at her thigh throbbing to be inside her. The water whirled around them as they enjoyed each other's bodies. She held onto his shoulders and trusted him completely as he held her close. He captured her mouth with his before he sunk into the water and brought her down with him going under the water.

Rising together as the water cascaded down their bodies, they were still engaged in a lip lock. She smiled against his lips before she nipped his bottom lip as he groaned. As he held her up by her waist and lowered her back down into the water, she took her hand and guided his erection into her slick core, which made him gasp against her mouth as she moaned into his mouth. He entered her with one slick motion as the water swished around them. He lowered his head, took one of her nipples into his mouth, sucked, and lavished it before he grabbed her hair in his hands while he stroked the wet entrails as the water streaked down her back. He had his hands lower on her hips. As she gently pushed against his upper body, she rode out another orgasm against him. He shuddered around her as he climaxed into her warmth as the cooling effects from the water mixed with their fluids. He felt her lips and tongue on his earlobe while she held on to him for a few minutes more as she came down from her high. Exhausted, she let her legs unwind from his lower back as he was still holding her in his embrace because he wasn't letting her out of his strong arms. She finally opened her eyes to meet his as the moonlight danced in their iris. She hugged him and cherished this sacred moment. Finally, he spoke breathing heavily into her neck as he planted a wet kiss there and whispered into her ear.

"I love you so much."

"Jack, I love you too."

He hugged her to him fiercely before he surprised her when he swooped her up out of the water, carried her out of the water, and laid her down on his bedroll.

"Jack! Put me down!" She shrieked only out of excitement as the others heard the commotion. They weren't concerned for her safety as Jack knew how to handle things, and Ms. Nell was no exception.

"Oh, I'm going to put you down alright." He laid her down gently and laid down beside her before he pulled the bedroll around them and kissed her passionately on the mouth. She stroked his rough unshaven cheeks in her soft hands before he leaned against her cheek and finally asked his question.

"I just have to make good on your parents when we go back to the homestead. Plus, they wouldn't suspect the gold stolen because you run off with me. The army would most definitely be patrolling the area again. They would question every homesteader they haven't seen you, would most undoubtedly be made you a suspect. I've got to think ahead and protect you as well as my troupe, but that's not the reason why I'm asking for your hand. I truly mean what I told you, and I'm in love with you. And if you have any regrets about knowing me, then you need to tell me right now." Jack looked into her teary eyes as if he was going away forever, and he wouldn't see her beautiful face again.

"Will you marry me? I can't imagine you being with another man and I am madly in love with you." Jack held her hand in his while he looked into her eyes as she swooned right in front of him.

"Jack, you don't give me much time to make up my mind, do you? I couldn't imagine myself without you. I love you too much to break your heart. I will accept your proposal." Ms. Nell told him as he touched her locket that hung loose on her neck. He pulled her into his arms, hugged her to him, and kissed her passionately on the lips before he settled down against her. He pulled her towards him as she lay against him and kissed him on his chest as she played with his sparse hairs. He caressed her hair and forearm lovingly as he planted a kiss on her cheek and melted into her warmth.

The army had tracked far and wide in the darkness, but to no avail in finding the bandits that had stolen the loot from the strongbox. The captain indeed questioned and drilled his troops to where they had been that night. He questioned who else they noticed that wasn't townsfolk in the area. Other than the two drifters that were in the saloon remained wanted for questioning but could no longer be found. As they had left the area, and no one had seen nor heard from them after the ruckus. Dixie was not even suspect. She was just a pretty girl in the mix, and Gray Wolf hadn't been spotted either. Paul and Jack were wanted for questioning as they were in the saloon and about town because the army had seen them strolling the sidewalks separately but was considered suspects. The government officials back East wanted a full report on the gold. Who was watching and what time? Who took the next watch? What time was the strongbox missing? It was going to be a long tedious investigation. By the time the investigation would be over, the bandits would be long gone. The army roamed the territory and looked for any signs of the unusual activity as they left the town in the early morning light but to no avail. They came up empty-handed as Jack's whereabouts were undetected.

The captain ordered his army troops to search all and any buildings, and all homesteads needed to be raided to find these bandits. Harboring any criminal would result in prison time and possible death as this was government property. One group of cavalrymen scanned the old red schoolhouse and found it empty. They turned in the direction of the other outlying homesteads reaching the farm of Nell's parents. They searched the place to no avail either. They wondered why she wasn't there with her parents because she wasn't in the schoolhouse either. Her brother covered for her. She was out with a friend, and he wasn't sure when she would be returning. Because he didn't reveal his sister's whereabouts, he put himself in danger as Lt. Tragg became weary of her activities.

"I assure you Lt. Tragg. She is not the type that would take the company with would-be criminals. He is telling you the truth." Her mother spoke up nervously as they searched her house and barn for activity.

"I hope you right for your sake and your daughter's. Because if I find out she was involved in this, there will be hell to pay." Lt. Tragg warned as Sergeant Brice came into the house and shook his head as they came up empty-handed.

"No trace Sir. We can't find her. Even if she knew about this raid, she could be anywhere by now. What if she was just an innocent, and they are taking her hostage. If the gang is taking her hostage, we'll be informed of a ransom I'm sure of that." Sargent Brice said before he looked over at her mother.

"A hostage! I know my daughter can take care of herself. She knows how to handle herself." Her mother protested towards the officers.

"Mrs. Lane, I assure you, I hope she is fine, but when you see her again, let her know I'm looking for her. We'll be in town another day or two before we head out again. Tell her to come see me, Lt. Tragg or Captain Wyatt. We have a few questions we need to ask her." Lt. Tragg disappointedly. He did his best to remain calm as he was once again left empty-handed and would have to report back to the captain with no answers to give him.

Waking up next to his soon-to-be wife, Jack had spooned up behind her. He gently stroked her waist before he slid his wondering hand down her thighs. As she felt his caresses to her body, she took his hand in hers and brought them to her waist, where he splayed them on her belly. As she smiled into the crease of his arm, she laid on him, gave him a cornered glance at the corner of her eye, and beamed up at him.

"We're going to have to move soon. I'll have Gray Wolf scout ahead before we venture out towards your homestead, then we'll be in the clear. I'll be back in a few minutes. I've got to tell the others of our plan." Jack told her quietly before kissing her passionately on the lips, and his hands stroked her bosom. When got to his feet, dressed quickly, and offered her dress to her.

As he quickly dressed so he would not waste any time Jack, combed through his unruly hair and put his hat on before finding the others awake. Dixie, Paul, and Gray Wolf had their horses saddled and were ready to run as soon as daylight come over the horizon. They waited until they saw any sign of the boss who was approaching, and they didn't have to wait long to find out what was in his mind.

"Paul, Dixie, Gray Wolf I'd like to talk to you all. Nell and I are going back to her parent's homestead only for a brief visit. We are going to make a run for the Mexican border, and you are welcome to join us until the heat from the army is off us. Gray Wolf, I want you to scout ahead and see if the army is in the area of her homestead. Paul and Dixie will follow us while we visit them. As we bid our goodbyes, we are going to the border." Jack told of his plans while Nell came from the riverbank leading their horses.

As she approached the gang, Dixie could sense something different about her, but didn't mention it. She sensed that a calming effect radiated from Nell and wondered if it was because she was with the boss, or that she might be with his child. She didn't want to cause trouble between her and the boss as that would be an unwanted conversation. She remembered how the saloon ladies found out they were carrying their future child when she occupied a brothel at one point in time. It was the same way as she observed Nell. It was like a glow surrounded her that only she could see. She sensed something was off about her, but it wasn't a bad feeling at all. When she first came to the schoolhouse, the nervousness and tenseness she could feel it as it radiated off her but, it's not that way now. Soon enough, she would be noticing a change in Nell.

"Okay, you all know Ms. Nell. She is with me now, and we plan on getting married in the next town. Not here, we don't want unwanted attention. Got that! If someone has a problem with her, they need to speak up or leave the group now." Jack eyed them blatantly because he didn't want any quarreling between the two women. They remained speechless because what the boss said goes, and they dare not trifle with him or come between his woman, especially now. Jack lit up his cigarette and took a slow drag off it before he blew the smoke out of his lungs through pursed lips.

"I've got no issue with her, Boss. As long as the army doesn't catch us, they are the only concern I have at the moment." Paul told him then looked over at his comrades who stood silent.

"Good, then let's get going. Gray Wolf, you know what to do. Just past the schoolhouse, you will be coming up on two more homesteads. The third one is her family's homestead. Be extra cautious as they might be surrounding the area if they think that she had anything to do with the gold raid." He smoked his cigarette before he helped Nell mount her horse.

"Yes, Boss." Gray Wolf mounted his horse and carefully trotted his horse out into the vast distance not looking back. He would give a warning as they followed not too far behind him. After he took the reins out of Nell's hands and mounted his horse, they rode out together. Gray Wolf had a great head start towards the schoolhouse and passed the two homesteads. While he scouted ahead, Gray Wolf noticed tracks through and back. They would be in the clear if the cavalrymen had all returned to the town without any straggling behind. Gray Wolf took extra precautions as he rode past the last homestead. No one was in sight he came up upon the parents of Ms. Nell's and halted his horse, took in the surroundings and observed any threats. The four rode cautiously behind Gray Wolf as no imminent danger was around nor following them as Paul brought up the rear as a lookout.

Joe and his father were tending to the cows out in the field as the mother had been feeding the chickens and pigs. As she noticed two riders approaching, she observed the one was her daughter, who looked like she had been in a whirlwind of a dust storm. Her dress was torn at the sleeve while unharmed was accompanied by a stranger whom she never met before. He was a big man, who looked like a wanted criminal from a wanted poster. His dark features and unshaven face were what set him off. He was dressed in dark clothing, boots, a fancy hat, and revolvers at his side. Not knowing if he was the one behind the gold robbery, she met them at the post where they hitched their horses.

"Nell, what in the world happened to you? I was so worried about you after the brawl in the saloon I noticed you hadn't come home last night. Who is this? Are you in some kind of trouble? Well, what's going on? The army stopped by earlier. They searched the barn and house and looked for you and I assume they wanted to talk to you. Lt. Tragg wanted to see you, and if he wasn't available a Captain Wyatt would talk to you." Her mother touched her arm before she finally spoke to her.

"Mom, this is Jack. Do you remember the storm that blew in late the other night? He stayed overnight, and the rest is well history. I'm in love with him. We are getting married, and I'm not sure when we'll be back. I wanted to stop by for a short visit as you would understand. I know Joe and my father would protest me going away, but I need to go with him right now. I wanted to tell you that I'm fine, and when I get a chance, I'll return for a visit. I promise I will be back as Jack wouldn't keep me from seeing you again. Jack is wonderful, and he's so good to me. I can't tell you right now why I must go." Her daughter told her as she was in tears, and her mother stepped up hugged her in her arms as she wasn't sure if she'd return or not.

"If you are sure Nell, and you love him that much, then I have no say in your future. Go with him, and I'll be waiting for you. Don't worry about your brother and father, I will let them know you're just fine." Her mother kissed her cheek as she let her slip out of her grip. Jack watched the tender moment between her mother. He reached inside his vest pocket and removed a small pouch of gold coins that was from a previous raid that his troupe pulled off. Knowing that they would be needing it, he leaned down out of his saddle and handed it to her.

"What's this? I can't accept this. Nell, you are going to need this if you plan on getting married. Just what am I going to with all this?" She asked suspiciously at the pouch.

"It's alright. We are going to be just fine. Don't worry about us, mom. Jack knows what he's doing. Please don't question where it came from. It's yours, and keep it safe. You use it when you need it. If you are questioned, tell them you had a long-lost rich uncle who passed away." Nell gave her another quick hug and kiss on her cheek.

"A future investment. Use it sparingly as you don't want to cause too much attention. We will return in the future. I hope you put that to good use." He tipped his hat at her mother while Nell mounted her horse and gave one more look at her mother before she turned her horse and followed Jack back into the prairie catching up with the other three.

"I will most certainly do that. Thank you, Jack. Take care of my Nell. I will be waiting and watching for your return." She whispered under her breath as she watched them disappear.

Part 6

PMDSXX

The gang headed for the Mexico border while traveling through the heat of the day. The women trekked right alongside them almost having a heat stroke on one of the hottest days as they reached the nearest town passing San Antonio. Many grueling miles were yet to be traveled with the army still on their heels. Jack knew they had to rest and would just do that because the women were getting exhausted. Paul and Gray Wolf scouted ahead as a town came into sight. The heat was unrelenting and Nell wasn't sure if she could travel another mile. Dixie comforted her with what little water they had left and their heavy garments were not helping as they started to stick to their skin. Paul investigated the town while Gray Wolf covered him in case danger would arise. Paul quickly found Gray Wolf and returned to Jack and the ladies who were waiting for word if it was safe. Their horses were exhausted and needed rest or they were going to drop soon. Jack stood patiently waiting nervously smoking a cigarette, he saw two riders approaching out into his peripheral vision, not knowing if it was Paul and Gray Wolf, put his hands on his revolvers ready for action but then dropped his hands as he recognized them.

"Oh, thank heavens Paul is back. I hope he is bringing good news." Dixie said wiping the sweat out of her eyes as she sighed.

"I hope so too, Dixie. I don't think I can manage another ten miles." Nell said as she sipped out of Jack's canteen only taking what she needed and not wasting any water than she had to.

"What did you find out Paul? Any good news or do we keep moving?" Jack asked while he smoked the last cigarette.

"We are in the clear, Boss. They do however have a sheriff, saloon, church, merchants and it's a nice town. I don't think we'll have trouble there at least the ladies can get some much-needed rest. We can get supplies before we have to head out again in a day or so. The border is not that far probably another three days depending on if we run into any renegades." Paul glanced over at the women who knew it was time to get moving again. Jack helped them onto their mounts before he climbed onto his mount and headed towards town. Dixie stayed near Nell as she had nodded in her saddle from the heat once again. She checked on her as her face was paler than usual and called for help as she almost slipped out of her saddle.

"Jack, it's Nell. Get back here quick!" He spun his horse around quickly and galloped back to her before he reached for her as she slumped over in the saddle. Jack grabbed her took her off the horse settling her down on the ground and grabbed his canteen giving her water. He smoothed her sweaty hair out of her eyes and she opened them realizing she wasn't on her horse as she was dizzy for a moment.

"Jack, what's going on? We didn't get caught by the army, did we?" Nell looked with blurred vision then noticed Paul, Dixie, and Gray Wolf beside him.

"No, we're fine. No need to worry Nell. We will be in a town soon, just hold on. You can rest there." Jack stroked her sweaty cheek and she closed her eyes.

Jack picked Nell up off the ground put her on his horse. He then proceeded to mount his horse and sat behind her as he wrapped his arm around her from behind. Not wanting to worry if she was going to fall, she would be safe in his arms now.

Carrizo Springs

Texas

1888

The little town was very quaint as it had all the needs that the gang needed with no trouble in sight. Jack found a room to rent for Nell as she needed quiet and rest.

"Do you have a room to rent? I need it for at least a day or two, for myself and my woman." Jack said impatiently as he glared at the man who eyed Nell's condition.

"Yes, we have a few rooms left, Sir. We just updated our hotel here. We have amenities that you might need; a water pitcher, washtub with running plumbing, a toilet, Lye soap, and linen." The young man pushed his spectacles back up his nose.

"I'll take it." Jack dug into his pocket retrieved a few bills and fanned them down out on the counter.

"Thank you, Sir. Here is your key. Can I have your name, Sir?" Jack ignored him grabbed the key, and held Nell in his arms, and left without giving him any information.

Paul and Dixie followed within minutes as they needed rest too. Gray Wolf went on his own as he was not sure how this town would accept him. He bunked in the stable with the horses so he would be close by in case Jack needed him. Jack and Paul got the ladies settled as they went about town to see what was available as in goods and ammo. Getting a stiff drink in the saloon they walked out found a restaurant in the middle of the town and gathered some food on plates and brought it over to Gray Wolf who only ate when Boss told him as their game was already depleted. He accepted only because he was hungry and didn't have the strength to hunt.

Paul entered Dixie's room as she had fallen asleep only to wake her as he shut the door. He walked over to the window watched and observed the unsuspecting town and returned his attention to her.

"Paul, what is it?" Dixie yawned and started to get out of bed.

"It's nothing Dixie. We are completely fine. There is a restaurant and a place where you can get another dress if you'd like to. It's time you changed out of that don't you think, plus I think you need a bath too. What do you say, Dixie? Care to join me?" He approached her smugly and she placed her hands on his chest then around his neck pulling him in a deep kiss.

"You better believe it, Paul. Let's go and get cleaned up." Dixie gave him another peck to his lips and started to run the water into the tub. Dixie left the hotel while Paul stayed behind not wanting to leave Jack alone just in case trouble arise. While Dixie shopped for a dress, she also picked out Paul an outfit so they could have clean clothes. She picked out a nice Prairie dress with checkered patterns and a pinkish hue to it with matching boots. Paul would look good in a tan Frontier Cowboy Cotton Canvas Trousers and a white western-style button-down bibbed shirt and dark vest and Dixie purchased it.

Jack meanwhile went back to look in on Nell who was still resting in the bed. He stood by her bedside just watching her sleep so peacefully as her breathing was calm. He took his hat off and put it on the bedpost leaned in to give her a chaste kiss on her lips and it startled her. Opening her eyes sleepily at the sight of Jack she smiled at him and touched his rough cheek and he placed a kiss into her palm.

"You feel better now that you've got some rest? You need to clean up and we need to get you a new dress." He fingered the torn sleeve in his fingertips.

"Yes, I feel much better now that I've rested and I'm hungry too."

"Well, I'm going to buy you a nice dress then we get cleaned up and a nice steak dinner. Just you and me? No Paul or Dixie since they are too preoccupied with each other at the moment. Gray Wolf is in the barn down the street with the horses. He is going to be bedding down there for the night then we have to move again. I'm sorry Nell but we have to run we are so close to the border we must not drop our guard; it means all of our lives. Even if we are not suspected it's a chance I am not willing to take and risk losing you." Jack took her hand in his tenderly and squeezed it. He helped put her boots on and grabbed his hat put it on. She got to her feet and walked towards the door with him while he had his arm protectively at her waist, and they exited the hotel room. As they descended the stairway, a couple of gentlemen looked at the two, and Jack gave them an agitated look. They immediately took notice that the young woman was with him.

Since Nell had left her family homestead, her father had been told of what she had done and run off with the stranger, who he briefly met. He wasn't left wondering why she left without even saying goodbye to her father and younger brother. The army still swarmed the town only a day after they had questioned her mother while they also grilled her father but to no avail. He covered all the questions that were asked previously by his wife and gave the same answers to Lt. Tragg and even the captain, who had cornered him in the feed store as he tried to get answers from him. The army left town the following day as their scout had picked up tracks leaving outside of the town. It was a chance that the army had to take even now the gang had a few days' ride ahead of them.

Jack and Nell had gone to the dress shop. She picked out a nice elegant dress that she could travel in comfort without it being too bulky. It was a light blue dress with a daisy print pattern, mid-length sleeves, the fabric wasn't too heavy. Jack picked up a clean pair of dark trousers with tan trim and a matching shirt to replace the old ones as he would discard his old clothing with hers. Nell spotted a nice comb that was under the counter display case. Jack told the clerk that he would like to have that as well. After he paid for the items, the clerk happily wrapped their purchases, and they exited the store.

The merchant smiled at the hefty tip Jack left him without taking change in return, nor did he ask where the gold came from.

Jack took the packages into his hands cradling them in his arms while Nell took Jack's arm before they walked down the dusty sidewalk. They observed a few friendly couples as they hurried back to their room without saying a word. Jack opened the hotel door, and Nell walked up the stairs to their room as he followed her. Jack's hands were preoccupied with the packages, and she reached into his vest pocket, pulled out the room key, opened the door, and locked it. Nell went to the washtub, but she was not too familiar with how it worked, Jack came in showed her how to turn the knob levers as he had done it before when the gang had run into a ritzy hotel a few months back. He knew the tricks to turn it on and put the plug into the drain for Nell.

"You get cleaned up, Nell. I'll wash and get all this grim off me when you're done. Then we can soak in clean fresh water. How's that sound to you?" Jack offered her the first chance to use the washtub.

"Sounds good to me. I've never seen anything like this before. I've heard about them, but to see it in person, it's astounding. My mother would love to have one of these." Nell touched the porcelain tub and let her finger skim over the brim.

"Nell, you take your time. I'll be right in the next room." Jack touched her arm then left to sit in the chair that was next to the bed to watch out the window.

Nell removed her boots and her dress, but not before she had called Jack to unbutton the back of her dress. Slowly, she slipped it off her shoulders and inched it down her legs. She stepped out of the dress and was naked before him as he knelt in front of her. He offered her his hand as she carefully stepped into the tub and lathered the bar in his hands to wash her back and worked the kinks out of her shoulders. Nell sighed in contentment as his hands worked into her muscles. She leaned back against the porcelain tub and rinsed the soap off her body. Jack handed the soap back to her and dipped his hand into the water rinsing them off. He returned to the window and seated himself down to look out the window then glanced back at Nell who was making use of the washtub.

As he fidgeted in the chair, Nell called to him to grab a towel so that she could dry off and it was his turn to wash up. Helping her out of the tub carefully, he wrapped the towel around her and got another for her hair. Nell walked to the bed set on the edge of it while Jack drained the dirty water. After he rinsed out the tub and refilled it for himself, he undressed quickly, climbed into the tub, washed his gritty skin with the lye soap, and scrubbed his face clean from dust. Nell started to get a chill but didn't think anything of it as she got up from the bed and walked to the window. She observed a stagecoach as it pulled into town. As she watched the passengers exit the wagon, she looked for any signs of the unsuspected company but there was none. Jack had hurriedly washed away the dirt and grime and Nell came back, and took the lye soap from his hands, lathered it up in her hands, and massaged his broad shoulders which gave her hands a good workout as she covered all his expanse and drifted down his chest before he grabbed her nimble fingers in his larger hands.

"Nell, give me a minute. Let me drain the tub and then you can join me." When Jack gave her a languid kiss on her lips, his beard scratched her cheek. She stepped back from his hungry mouth as he reached for her towel, but was a near-miss of disrobing her. As Jack emptied the dirty water and ran clean water, he slumped back into the tub while Nell stood by the tub. He grabbed her by the hand which shocked her as she dropped her towel and revealed herself to him. He carefully helped her into the tub to join him. Nell settled back against his chest as the hot water relaxed her tired muscles as his hands skimmed over her knees and down her long legs and back up to her chest. He held her to him in his embrace. While they soaked in the tub in each other's arms, the water became tepid, and she squirmed under his hands to reach for the levers to run more hot water into the tub. The water came to the right temperature as the water flowed around them. Nell reached up and turned the water off before she leaned back into his embrace again.

"So, where do we go from here Jack?" Nell asked him before she felt his arm tighten around her waist. He caressed the underside of her breasts felt the weight in the palms of his hands. He kissed her neck and nibbled at her earlobe before he rubbed his beard against her cheek which caused her to squirm under his touch. Her hands stroked his thighs and back up to his arms that held her, and she placed her hands on his forearms.

"We are going to get married first, then we're going to head for the border. Paul said it would be another three days ride to the border. We will make it there, and we'll be safe from the army. I don't want anything to happen to you, Nell." He whispered against her ear and nuzzled her neck while his hands stroked her.

"As long as I am with you, I don't care where we go. Jack, have you thought about having children?" Nell softly spoke before she craned her neck to give him a slow kiss. He slowly released her lips and gave her a peck on her mouth before he spoke to her.

"No, but now that it's come up. I wouldn't mind having children with you and only you. I could see myself settling down especially now. After the army is gone, we'll go back to your parent's homestead, visit them, and get a place of our own. How's that sound?" Jack said as she turned in his arms and kissed him passionately.

"I'd love to have children with you. I couldn't imagine not seeing my parents again. I know you keep your promises, Jack. I'm holding you to that." Nell turned to face
him as he had his arms on her waist, and she dipped her head and claimed his mouth again in a heated kiss.

She gasped into his mouth when she touched her breasts and his large hand drifted south in search of her heat, but she had other plans. She was hungry and put her head on his forehead which indicated she was not in the mood. After she skimmed her hands down his chest, they got up out of the tub and both toweled off. Jack unwrapped his clothing that was in the brown packing as did Nell. Nell slipped the dress on while he stood back and watched her. Nell caught him staring at her and blushed slightly when she placed her arms inside the dress before he came up behind her, buttoned the back, and brushed his fingertips against her skin at the nape of her neck.

"Nell, you are so beautiful. I'm surprised that no man has asked you for your hand." Jack told her before she turned around and faced him put her hands on his chest.

"You've asked me that before Jack, and you know my answer. I never met anyone like you. That's why I'm not married, yet. You do remember me telling you, right? Because all the other suitors were not what I wanted." Nell whispered and leaned into his embrace as he held her tight.

"Let's go grab a bite to eat, shall we?" Jack asked before she pulled away from his arms and looked up at him with a smile on her face.

"I'm ravenous," Nell replied and put on her boots while Jack was partially dressed. He waited for her at the door, and they left the room. As they left the hotel, many onlookers had noticed them while they walked arm in arm down the dusty street towards the restaurant. They entered the establishment which had minimal patrons. It was quiet, and a few curious young men watched Nell, who paid them no attention. As Jack pulled out her chair and gave a glare at the men who were eyeballing her. The young men noticed she wasn't available as the bigger, brutish man had indicated that she was his. They diverted their attention back to their daily newspaper. Jack wasn't to be played with, or there would be consequences as he had two fancy revolvers around his waist that were well worn.

The men didn't take a chance with him especially after the threatening glare he just gave them to back off, or it would cost them their lives. Jack removed his hat, tossed it on the table, and the waiter hurriedly came to take their orders. Nell admired the surroundings as she hadn't seen anything this fancy since she visited her sister back East one summer. Nell was in awe at the paintings and the artwork that adorned the wallpaper. She caught one of the young men observing her while she gave him a distinct smile, interlaced her hand with Jack's large one, and gripped it.

The older waiter approached their table and announced the house special while he handed them a small paper menu. Nell read it over as Jack looked over the slim pickings, but decided whatever she ordered he'd have the same.

"Steak, potatoes, green beans, and a slice of apple pie." Nell spoke to the waiter and looked at Jack, who was in deep thought, returned his gaze at the men who were fixated on the two of them.

"I'll take the same, Nell." Jack smiled at her and ordered two coffees to go along with their meals.

"I'll be right back with your coffees. Your meal will be a few minutes if you don't mind waiting," the waiter informed the two.

"Sure, it will be alright," Nell replied while she glanced at Jack, who was still observing the men.

"What's bothering you, Jack? You think those two men know you?" Nell whispered so that only he could hear.

"I don't know what they have in mind. I'm just keeping an eye on them. That's all. I don't want to cause trouble in here, especially now that we are in public. They have no idea what they are in for if they touch you." Jack seethed with jealously. He calmed down when she placed her hand on top of his arm. He gave her a sideways glance as if she was telling him to keep his cool, and it would be okay and gave him a quick peck on his cheek. The young men had caught Nell while she showed her true feelings as she most definitely belonged to their rival and placed a few dollars onto their table and left quietly. The waiter brought out their meals, and the two enjoyed the delicious dinner. They finished their meal off with the freshly baked apple pie and washed it down with their coffee. Jack paid the waiter, and helped Nell out of her chair, and exited the restaurant with his hand at her lower back. Upon leaving the establishment, the pair run into Paul and Dixie out on the boardwalk.

"Nell, I do hope you are feeling better. Paul and I walked around town and stretched our legs. Paul, weren't you going to get a shave and hair cut?" Dixie asked him as she touched his rough cheek.

"Yes, I was just about to do just that. Jack, you want to join me?"

"Yes, I think I should, or Nell won't be too happy about it. Nell, take this money and go buy yourself something nice. He handed her a few bills and kissed her on the mouth." Jacked chuckled at her then she kissed him on the mouth, and as he released her, he scratched her cheek with his beard which made her giggle.

"Jack, you are impossible!" Nell called after him while he sauntered away with Paul towards the barbershop. The men entered the barbershop and took their seats as two men had already been waiting their turn.

"Just take a seat gentlemen. I'll be with you shortly." The barber told Paul and Jack while they waited patiently and observed the men in the room, but did not recognize them.

"Since the boys are getting cleaned up Nell. Do you want to window shop? I surely don't want to go back to my room without Paul. I know you don't want to either unless you do." Dixie questioned her.

"I've not seen much of the town. Window shopping would be great as I'm in search of a wedding dress. By the way, how did you come to be with Paul and the rest of the gang? If you don't mind me asking your personal affairs, Dixie." Nell walked alongside her as they passed a cowboy on the boardwalk who stepped aside to let them pass.

"Oh, I don't talk much about my younger years as I barely remember most of it. I was in an orphanage when I was young. I knew of my parents were killed in an accident, and I was brought there soon afterward. A group of bandits kidnapped some young women, and I was one that they traded to a trapper. He made me work for him, cook, clean, but he never touched me, that is until one day he tried. Paul crossed his path down at the fork of the river bend and killed him because he finally wanted to take advantage of me. I fought and screamed loud enough that Paul heard my plea for help." Dixie said solemnly and glanced at Nell, who was taking in the conversation.

"I'm sorry Dixie for what happened to you." Nell gave her condolences to her.

"I'm glad it happened the way it did. I'm finally free of that abusive man. Paul has always been good to me, and we fell in love. Over time, I got to know him, and he is truly a great guy. I couldn't imagine where I would be if Paul had not come along that day." Dixie breathed out a sigh of relief.

The ladies continued small talk before they reached the dressmaking shop and eyed the window display. Nell nudged Dixie, and they entered the shop browsed all the wonderful dresses, hats, shoes, purses, etc. Nell spotted a very beautiful dress which was labeled Moonlight Serenade. The dress was made of silk with embroidered dupioni and trimmed with imported Swiss eyelets, ribbon, and rosettes. It was pearly white and exposed the shoulders. It was very sexy and elegant. Dixie caught a glimpse of a dress that she loved and read the label to it as it stated: White Walking Jacket which was the perfect match paired with the Victorian Western Skirt made of silk. The fitted lines and old-fashioned details will make a person feel like a Victorian princess. The accessories that came with it were a matching chiffon floral headpiece for their hair and a flower brooch with pearls.

"Has Paul ever asked you to get married, Dixie?"

"No, because it never came up in a conversation. He's told me that he's loved me all the time, but I guess he's not the marrying kind. Paul would change the subject when we get into a deep conversation about husband and wife." Dixie fingered the fabric and ran it down her fingertips feeling the smoothness of the material.

"Maybe he's just afraid you will say no. Or maybe he needs that extra push, Dixie? Jack asked me after we made love. I'm attracted to him, and I couldn't tell him no. He is so good to me and wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better man. When he came into the schoolhouse and I saw him the first time, I knew he was in trouble as if he was running, and I was right." Nell spoke lovingly, but she knew his reputation.

"Jack has changed after he met up with you. Maybe he is in love for the first time in his life. When he was with Paul, he was ruthless, cared about no one, other than women and children. He would not harm either, but he was never close to having a real lady on his arm. You changed him for the better; I do believe, Nell. Oh, he is still the boss no doubt about that, but he loves you. I can see the way he looks at you especially a few moments ago when he left with Paul." Dixie beamed at her.

Nell moved onto the men's section along with the display and spotted a nice outfit for Jack. He would look dashing in it, and she knew he would love it. A western bib shirt made of white cotton twill and silver concho buttons, which came in different colors such as blue, black, white. Nell picked out the black western bib shirt with a matching silk wedding tie, dark britches, and a wool frock jacket. Dixie wasn't sure if she would go all out with the wedding since Paul never asked her, and didn't want to surprise him.

"Dixie, come on Paul will love it. You want me to talk to Jack and see where Paul stands with you? I will if you'd like me to." Nell put her hand on Dixie's arm gently.

"I'll use Jack's money to pay for it, and if Paul doesn't agree, you can bring it right back over here and get your money refunded."

"Money is no object, Nell. Can you ask Jack to find out what Paul is thinking of me?" Dixie inquired curiously.

"Sure, that will be no problem on my part. We better get going before we are missed. Don't you think?" Nell took her purchases to the merchant and paid for their outfits. The clerk wrapped the items carefully in brown stock paper and handed them to Nell and Dixie. They departed the store with their hands full when they bumped into a few cowboys as they exited the shop.

"Excuse me. Sorry, ma'am." The cowboy said and stepped aside to let them pass. They smiled at the two men and walked back towards the barbershop. Jack and Paul came out clean-shaven and freshly, trimmed haircut. Nell was surprised by how different he looked but to her, he was perfect with or without a beard. He put his hat on looked amongst the townsfolk and spotted Nell and Dixie coming in their direction and ribbed Paul.

"Looks like we have a pair of beautiful ladies coming our way. Don't you think Paul?" Jack spoke up and joined Nell taking her packages out of her hand.

"Gorgeous is the word. Dixie, what did you buy this time? Don't tell me another fancy dress and nothing else?" Paul took her packages in his arm as she looked at him seductively.

"It's a surprise, Paul. I'll tell you later." Dixie slipped her arm inside his as they went back to the hotel with Jack and Nell.

Meanwhile, Jack and Nell entered their room. Nell asked Jack to find out if Paul was in love with Dixie or just loved her as a sister. Dixie needed to know his true feelings before their wedding took place, and Jack would find out for Nell as he promised. He would later in the saloon after he invited Paul to have a drink later with him. The evening came as the cattle drovers filtered in town. Jack and Paul grabbed a beer, and he would plan out their next route to leave, whether it be riding or on a stagecoach. Jack and Paul talked of their plans in the saloon, drank their beers, and finally decided to take a stagecoach as they knew the women couldn't take much more grueling heat and riding. Jack also reminded Paul that his wedding to Nell was tomorrow, and nothing was going to interfere with it. Paul understood that and agreed to the boss's plan.

"Paul, have you asked Dixie for her hand yet? You've been with her off and on. Do you have any feelings for her?" Jack swigged his beer back and put the glass back down on the bar.

"Dixie is very special to me. I love her. I do, but I'm not sure if I'm up to marry her, Jack." Paul pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, tapped it on the bar, lit it with a match, and smoked it before he blew the smoke out of his lungs.

"If you love her Paul, do the right thing and ask her. She's traveled with us hundreds of miles. When she wanted to leave the group, you always found a way to make her stay, or she wouldn't go on her own. You know she loves and I know you love her. Of course, there are pretty ladies out and about, and you do stare and ogle. You always have that special place in your heart for Dixie, and I know you do, and you can't tell me you don't. So, you better tell her, because she might not be there at your side Paul." Jack warned him as he pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, struck a match, lit it, and smoked it before he blew the smoke out of his lungs and got up from his chair to leave Paul alone to think about what the boss told him.

Jack knocked softly on the room he occupied with Nell. When she unlocked the door, he stepped in. "I talked to Paul just as you asked me to. I told him that we are planning on getting married tomorrow and hitting the road soon. If he wanted to follow through on what I said to him about Dixie, it's on him now. I'm going to go to the barn check on the horses and Gray Wolf. I will let him know of our plans to grab a stagecoach after we are married. He can follow us to the border or leave right now because I'm not making him follow us, it's his choice." Jack told Nell before he left the room again.

Paul made his feelings known to Dixie, and they decided it was the right thing to do and get married. They couldn't live without the other knowing how Paul felt as he was in love with Dixie also. It was going to be a double wedding for the two men which made Paul very happy. Paul met up with Jack downstairs to go over to the stable barn to visit Gray Wolf and take him extra food from the restaurant and a bottle of red-eye. Jack explained his plan to get a stagecoach with Paul and the ladies. Gray Wolf never rejected the idea as the women would slow them down but taking a stagecoach was still risky for them all. Gray Wolf agreed that he would go to the border but only at a distance as he wouldn't want to be a threat to the stagecoach driver and his shotgun guard.

Paul offered to sell the three horses and get the money out of the animals. He didn't want to use any of his gold coins as he would look suspicious. He would buy the tickets to the next stagecoach that was coming through town. The stage line ticket booth clerk told him only one stage was headed their way, and it was going to Laredo Texas, which was south of the border. Mexico was just several miles and they would be in the clear. The trip was perfect and they would be there in no time. They no longer needed their mounts, and Jack would leave his horse with Gray Wolf. Jack would never sell or trade him to anyone. Jack got the tickets from Paul and returned to his room where he handed Nell the tickets for safekeeping.

"Our wedding is tomorrow morning. How do you want to arrange our sleeping tonight, Nell? Do you want me to have Dixie come over in a little bit so you can share the room? Since the groom isn't supposed to see the bride until the day of the wedding." He approached her slid his arms around her waist and held her to him.

"I don't mind if you don't, Jack. I have something for you anyways. When I picked up my dress, I also picked you out an outfit. It's a surprise so you must not open it until morning. I promise you that you'll look amazing." Nell told him with a smile as she leaned back in his arms as he held onto her.

"Oh. I can't wait to have you in my arms after the ceremony, but we have to take a stagecoach in the afternoon. We'll be celebrating in the next town, Nell." He pulled her in for a kiss and let her go to retrieve his wrapped outfit, and she handed it to him.

"Yes, I better go and tell Dixie to come on over here." Jack reached for her again and gave her a slow, long, languid kiss on her lips before he gasped into her mouth. She caressed his clean-shaven cheeks into her hands rubbing her thumbs on the smoothness of his face.

"I'll be waiting on you, Nell. I won't be able to sleep without you in my arms." Jack confessed to her before he stepped away from her and reached for the door, but she
grabbed him by his hand pulled him back towards her giving her one more last look before he left the room.

Jack knocked on Paul's room door, and Dixie answered it with a bashful smile when Paul stepped up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder as she stepped aside.

"Dixie I'm going to share your room since Nell and I are getting married tomorrow."

"Well, we have some news, Jack. We're also getting married tomorrow." Dixie exclaimed, gathered her outfit in her wrapping paper, and gave Paul a slow, passionate kiss before she left the room. Dixie walked down towards Nell's room and knocked gently on her door and she opened it for her.

"Well, it looks like it's just you and me Pal. You want to pick out our rings, and we can try to guess the ladies' sizes. If they aren't perfect, we can always have them resized." Paul told Jack as he slipped on his boots while Jack waited at the doorway.

Paul and Jack left the hotel room in search of the jewelry shop, and they looked at the jewels on display. The merchant was very helpful but cautious as he knew he could be robbed at any minute. Jack found a wedding set with two-tone gold with black for his ring and a matching one for Nell. Hers was elegant with three diamonds surrounding the top with a rope on the top and bottom on the edge. It was a two-carat diamond, the most expensive in the store, and he wasn't settling for less. Because he picked out the matching ring sets, the clerk made it known if the ring didn't fit perfectly, he would resize it for free. Paul meanwhile was still undecided on his choice of ring sets, but he finally found one that he took a liking to. It was silver plated with a horseshoe in the middle for him and etched with a rope all around the band and a matching set for Dixie which was inlaid with a 1.4 carat diamond in the middle of it. They purchased their rings and tucked them inside their vests for safekeeping until they got to their rooms. They strolled the street to find the church and inquired about the preacher who would be officiating their vows. They made arrangements to have their wedding at the same time as they were to leave for the stagecoach the same day and didn't want to miss the departure.

Part 7

PMDSXXX

The men left the room as they needed to get their minds off their brides. They both went to the merchant in town to find something to clean their boots. Jack wanted to buy Nell a special vial of perfume as did Paul to commemorate their wedding. While they picked out the ladies' perfume, they also bought a small vile of cologne for themselves. As they paid for their purchases, they bought a few paper sacks of peppermint candy. Jack spotted a young pair of siblings who were waiting in their buckboard wagon for their parents that had been shopping for goods. Jack walked out of the store with Paul and handed them a bag as they graciously took it from him and they thanked him. He tipped his hat at the two before he joined Paul and walked up the boardwalk. Paul noticed a rather dashing handsome man across the street who chatted up a lady, who wasn't too fond of her admirer and slapped him across the face. Jack and Paul were amused by the show that was displayed in front of them.

The parents of the children came back to the wagon and looked at them suspiciously. The children enjoyed their sweet treat from the stranger as their parents looked at each other.

"Maddie and Hank? Where did you get that candy? Did you steal it? Now I have to go back in there and pay the clerk. Come on fess up, right now!" their father said angrily.

"We didn't steal it, Pa. That man over there handed us the bags. He was very nice, and if you don't believe us, go ask him." Hank replied to his father as his sister smiled and waved at Jack. Jack heard the loud banter going on between the parents, and tipped his hat brim at them, and admitted it was him.

"Oh, well. In that case, okay, just don't be taking anything from strangers anymore. You two hear me!" Their father didn't want to confront Jack knowing he was a stranger and hadn't seen him around. He did believe his children and although he didn't want to cause a fight in the street with Jack as he was a shadowy character.

"Looks like he's not getting lucky tonight." Paul boasted and grinned leaned up against the wooden frame to their hotel entrance.

"No, it sure doesn't. Come on Paul let's go back to our room before trouble finds us. I don't want to ruin our big day tomorrow." Jack entered the hotel and climbed the stairs while Paul shook his head smirking and followed him up the staircase.

Paul and Jack returned to their room and found parchment paper and an ink pen to scribble their vows. Paul sat at the desk chair in deep thought as he thought of how he was going to start his simple paragraph. He scribbled his words as best as he could. Jack had thought long and hard to get the right words for Nell as she was the most special person in his life, and wanted to make good on his promise to her. Jack scribbled and scratched on his parchment paper before he finally got what he wanted out on the paper. The men let the ink dry on their papers. They each took a respectable bath, cleaned up for the big day, and took turns keeping a watch out on the front street throughout the evening. Neither one was able to sleep as they had become restless. Jack couldn't remain still and made Paul a nervous wreck as he paced back and forth across the room.

Dixie looked around the room and found a few sheets of parchment paper to jot down her vows to Paul. Nell went to clean up and took a long hot bath alone while she left Dixie to her thoughts. She thought long and hard about how to please Jack. He was easy because he knows she loves him just as much as he loves her, and her words to him would always remain in his heart forever which made the vows more special. After she was finished with her soak, she wrapped her towel around her and sat down in the chair to write the vows on the paper. Dixie took her turn in a fresh soak in the tub.

The day couldn't be far from perfect. The town was quiet with only birds chirping and singing. A few wagons had entered the town making their deliveries as the horses pulled their heavy loads. Paul and Jack opened their parchment paper with their outfits. They whistled in unison as they liked what their ladies picked out for them and got dressed quickly. They pocketed their vows and rings into their vests and left their rooms. Paul knocked on Nell's door and acknowledged it was him and not Jack.

"Nell! Jack and I are leaving the hotel. We'll give the word when you can join us." Paul called from outside the door.

"Okay, we'll be waiting," Nell replied with the door partially opened when Paul handed her two different vials of perfume.

"Take this one Nell. Jack purchased it for you. It smells of fresh roses that bloomed on a summer day. The other vial is for Dixie. Please make sure she gets this one, it smells of vanilla and lavender. It will compliment her very much.

"Thanks, Paul and don't worry I'll make sure she gets your present." Nell giggled at him before closing the door in his face. Paul couldn't contain his excitement as he desperately wanted to see Dixie, but only a few more minutes to go before they would be together.

Jack and Paul descended the staircase and paid for their rooms. Jack told the manager to give word to their ladies in his room that in ten minutes to go to the church because they would be meeting them there. He agreed, and looked at his pocket watch, and gave them a nod as he would oblige to tell them.

While walking towards the church Jack spotted a rose bush growing from one of the buildings, but decided it didn't belong to anyone. He took out his knife from its sheath and picked two red roses that had bloomed out. He cut the roses from its stem careful as to not stick himself with the thorns. Meanwhile, Paul scanned the field nearby and rushed to pick up a handful of daisies and wildflowers for Dixie. Jack and Paul headed to the church together entered the building as the preacher stood at the altar. He was dressed in black and white official garb and stood with his bible in his hand waited on his clients. Jack reached into his vest pocket and gave the preacher a gold twenty-five-dollar coin to pay for the wedding. The clergy refused at first, but Jack insisted he would need it later for use.

Nell and Dixie were informed by the hotel desk manager that it was time to leave as Jack instructed them. The ladies were gorgeous in their outfits as the young man beamed at the two women. Upon leaving the hotel, a few onlooking cowboys had stopped their horses out of respect to admire them, and a few whistles came from in the other direction. The whistle wasn't from the grooms either, but it was the man that was slapped last night on the street that Paul and Jack spotted.

"Come on Dixie, we better hurry, or there is going to be trouble I'm afraid. Especially if we hang out here on the street longer than we should." Nell giggled but knew if they hadn't hurried along, Jack and Paul would be looking for them both.

"Your right Nell. They would and that guy has no idea who he is up against." Dixie replied giving her a wink and walked beside her. They found the church. At the moment of reaching the door handle, Dixie gave Nell a look of concern as if she was worried.

"What's the matter, Dixie?" Nell questioned her.

"Nell, I'm nervous. What if I'm making a mistake with Paul?" Dixie bit her bottom lip not sure if she wanted to go through this marriage.

"Dixie, listen to me. You and Paul are meant to be. Trust your gut, if you want Paul, you get in there and exchange vows with him. I'm not second-guessing my feelings for Jack. I love him, and I want to be with him and only him. I promised him my heart, and I know I already have his." Nell told her while she stood there with her.

Nell opened the door to the church as Dixie followed behind her. The door creaked open and revealed the two beautiful brides as the three men stood in awe at them. Jack took in her features as she slowly approached him. The dress she picked out was perfect. It fit her like a glove, but he couldn't wait to get it off her. His eyes moistened at the sight of her as he was almost in tears because of her beauty that was only meant for him. Nell observed the outfit that she picked out for Jack as it was perfect, and if he did any altering, she couldn't tell. She blushed slightly as he took her hand in his, and he handed her the roses he picked for her. Dixie came into view, and Paul's eyes teared up on his future bride. She was lovely as the day he rescued her. It was fate that brought them together that day, and he would always love her no matter what life tossed at them. Dixie eyed Paul as she too observed his outfit, which was sexy and brought out the color in his eyes. They twinkled at her when she approached him.

"You are so beautiful Nell. I couldn't stop thinking of you last night." Jack whispered into her ear before the clergy cleared his throat and interrupted him.

"Now we are gathered here today to join not only one couple but two couples. I need your names to put in our recording book for official business for our county records. I need all four of your names please." The preacher said and waited on their responses as he took out his feather ink pen and opened his log journal.

Jack wanted to make it right and be truthful before Nell as he wasn't hiding anything. "I'm Jack Stone."

"And you Ms.? What's your name?" He scribbled in his book.

"Nell Lane."

"Okay, now what about you two? He turned his attention to Paul and Dixie."

"I'm Paul Smith, and Dixie never had a last name. So, it's just Dixie, Sir." Paul beamed down at her as he held onto her arm while she held onto her wildflowers in her other hand and looked up at Paul lovingly.

"Alright, we have Paul Smith and Dixie. She will have your last name once you exchange your vows with each other, and I make it official." The middle-aged man said and jotted down their names in his book.

"Do you have any special requests that you'd like to exchange before we proceed here and make this official so that you couples can be on your way?" The preacher started to open his bible to read scripture before Jack stopped him.

"Sir, if we may. We all have our vows that we would like to express to our brides." Jack interrupted him briefly as he took out his parchment paper and begin reading it out loud to her. Tears fell as he read his scribbled words aloud for everyone to hear.

"Nell, you have been my best friend and confidant, but most importantly, you are the love of my life. You make me happier than I could ever imagine and more loved than I ever thought possible… You have made me a better person as our love for one another is reflected in the way I live my life. I am truly blessed to be a part of your life, which as of today becomes our life together."

Meanwhile, Nell looked up at Jack lovingly, teary-eyed, but followed through and knew she was making the right decision in marrying him and read her vows to him.

"I take you Jack to be my husband. I promise to choose you every day, to love you in word and deed, to do the hard work of making now into always. To laugh with you, cry with you, grow with you, and create with you. To honor the divinity in you, of you, and around you. And to be your kin and your partner in all of life's adventures. Loving what I know of you and trusting what I don't yet know, I give you, my hand. I give you, my love.

Paul wanted to present Dixie with his vows as he began to read his to her and pulled out his scribbled paper from his pocket.

"I take Dixie to be my partner for life,

I promise above all else to live in truth with you,

And to communicate fully and fearlessly.

I give you my hand and my heart

As a sanctuary of warmth and peace

And pledge my love, devotion, faith, and honor

As I join my life to yours."

Dixie presented her vows to Paul as she was getting choked up with emotion and crying.

"Paul, I love you. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. And I promise to cherish you and to always hold you in the highest regard. These things I give to you today and all the days of our life.

"Jack Stone and Nell Lane. Paul Smith and Dixie." If you are ready to step into the holy circle of matrimony, please join hands.

Do you, Jack Stone "Paul Smith" take Nell Lane "Dixie" as your wife, to love her, to cherish her, nurture her, and support her, in times of joy and in times of difficulty? Do you promise to remain by her side, regardless of what trouble befalls you, and in the presence of temptation to forsake this love, do you promise to remain steadfast and true? Do you promise with all your heart and soul to honor this vow till death do you part? If so, answer now, "I do." Jack never hesitated without blinking at his love standing in front of him. Paul answered, "I DO".

Do you, Nell Lane "Dixie" take Jack Stone "Paul Smith" as your husband, to love him, to cherish him, nurture him, and support him, in times of joy and in times of difficulty? Do you promise to remain by his side regardless of what trouble befalls you, and in the presence of temptation to forsake this love, do you promise to remain steadfast and true? Do you promise with all your heart and soul to honor this vow till death do you part? If so, answer now, "I do." Nell replied without hesitation looking deeply into Jack's eyes as she was almost in tears. Dixie replied, "I DO".

"And so, we come to the presentation of rings by which you symbolize and bind your love. Let the seamless circle of these rings become the symbol of your endless love and unending faithfulness. Your wedding rings are very special because they say that even in your uniqueness, you have chosen to be bonded, to allow the presence of another human being to enhance who you are. As you wear them through time, they will reflect not only who you are, but also the glorious union that you are now creating." The clergy stated.

"Jack" "Paul", place the ring on "Nell's" "Dixie's" finger and repeat after me: With this ring, I pledge my love and faithfulness to you for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as we both shall live.

"Nell" and "Dixie", place the ring on "Jack's" "Paul's" finger and repeat after me: With this ring, I pledge my love and faithfulness to you, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health as long as we both shall live.

They slipped the ring onto their bride's finger sealing their vows and captured their lips in a slow passionate kiss. Jack wiped the tears out of Nell's eyes as she leaned into his touch. She noticed he was crying too and wiped a stray tear out of the corner of his eye and he whispered to her. "I'm glad you are my wife, Mrs. Stone. I couldn't imagine another day without you by my side." He planted another kiss on her lips and left the church. Paul and Dixie were still in a lip lock and finally gasped for breath as she pulled apart from him, hugged him to her in a loving embrace, and followed Jack and Nell outside.

As the newly married couples exited the church out into the front street, Gray Wolf, who had been watching from a distance, mounted his horse while he led Jack's black stallion away from the commotion outside of town. People waited on the arrival of the stagecoach. The stagecoach was not a minute late as it arrived on time. The stage driver helped the departing passengers out of the coach and unhitched the team of horses for fresh ones. The stable boy hurriedly readied the fresh team of horses and brought them out to the stagecoach. The gun guard helped him hitch the team up, made sure that all pins were fastened in the right place as the ride to Laredo would be bumpy, and they didn't want to have an accident with their passengers. The stage driver opened the door for Jack and took Nell's hands into his when she stepped inside the coach. She took her seat and he climbed in and sat down with her on the bench. Paul grabbed Dixie's hand in his as he helped her up into the stagecoach and was about to follow when a hand grabbed his shoulder. The driver tossed the ladies' small tote bags on top of the carriage. They traveled light but they wanted to change out of their wedding clothes once they got settled in the next town. Jack and Paul would buy a new outfit as they discarded theirs when they left the hotel.

"Hey, I bought a ticket to Laredo, and I know there is room for me." The young impatient man said.

Paul looked at the man shoved him back away from the stage door and leaned out the window. "Sorry, Bub. This stage is taken and no more room in here. You ain't getting on this stage. You're going to have to wait for the next one to come through town." Paul said and pushed the persistent man back away from the stage.

"Hey, come on now! I just bought a stage ticket so there is room enough for me!" He bellowed out and caused a scene that didn't go unnoticed by Jack. Although Jack was a little too preoccupied with his bride when he kissed her again on the lips, only to be interrupted yet again by a quarrel outside. He gave Nell a quick peck on the lips before he whispered something into her ear which made her giggle as she placed her hand on his thigh and squeezed it. Then he turned his full attention towards Paul and the bickering.

"Sorry Nell, but I've got to see what the hold up is and get rid of this pest. Seems like Paul isn't doing much good, is he?" Jack said and then looked at Dixie who was watching on.

Jack flung open the door with his large hand, stuck out his large boot, knocked the young man down on the ground. He gave Nell and Dixie a sideways smile before his large frame climbed down out of the carriage. Paul gave them a toothy grin as to say he asked for it, and this guy is in trouble for upsetting the boss.

"This guy is screwed now," Paul said to the women as he watched from the window and the stage door was open just in case Paul was needed.

"What's the trouble? Can't you see that we just got married, and there is no more "room" for you? If you bought a ticket, then buy another, for another stage coming through. You can do that or ride on out of town if you like, but you are not getting in that carriage with us and our brides, do you hear me?" Jack grabbed the young man's shirt collar picked him up off the ground and his feet dangled in the air. Jack didn't care one way or another, but this little pest wasn't ruining his day. Jack bore his dark brooding eyes into the man's and frightened him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. But I paid a hefty extra ten dollars to get on the stage, sir." He pleaded with Jack as he squirmed under his strong hands.

"I don't care if you paid fifty dollars. You are not getting on the stagecoach. You see those beautiful ladies on board. They don't want to be disturbed by your presence and their husbands don't either. If you cherish your life, you better wait for another stage line." Jack furiously said to him and tossed the runt away from him like he was a rag doll. Nell watched in awe how Jack handled himself and got turned on by his brunt force. She wondered if he would be that rough and tough when he finally got her in bed later tonight. Dixie watched as this was played out before her when Jack was angry.

The man shook his head, and Jack stared him down before he turned his back on him, and climbed into the stagecoach, and shut the door. However, the young man hurried to the door, reached for the handle, and tried to open it. Jack pulled his revolver out of its holster as if he was going to shoot the man off the stagecoach. Nell put her hand on his forearm worried that Jack would do something rash. He gave a reassuring look as if he wouldn't do such a thing and a wry smile. He turned the gun around with the butt of the gun, he cracked the man's head. The young man didn't know what hit him as he fell away from the window, landed onto the ground, and blacked out from the blow to the head.

"Jack! You didn't have to do that! You might have killed him!" Nell cried and looked out the window as the victim lay on the ground motionless while a few stunned onlookers surrounded his lifeless body.

"He'll be alright, but he'll have the worst headache of his life when he does come around." Jack laughed then Paul joined him.

"Nell, don't worry. Jack has pistol-whipped rowdy cowpokes in the saloon that start fights with him all the time. Let me tell you that guy is going to be fine. He won't be pushing anyone around for a long time. Today he found out some men mean business, and Jack is one of them." Paul said ad he looked over at Dixie, who smiled back at them.

"Paul is right Nell. Jack has done that plenty of times as there is no need to worry. Let's just say he has taken care of the problem, and he won't bother us anymore." Dixie replied and placed her hand on Nell's for reassurance.

The stagecoach lurched forward as the driver commanded his lead horses. The horses moved at a slow pace and quickly gained momentum as they picked up their feet and traveled the dirt road. Gray Wolf followed close behind. He didn't want to be noticed by the driver's guard. The town of Laredo wasn't but several miles but the journey seemed like it took hours as the stage line wasn't the smoothest ride; however, it sure beats riding in the saddle. Nell fell asleep on Jack's shoulder although the ride was bumpy when she started to get sleepy. Jack put his arm around her, pulled her close to him, held her hand in his admiring her wedding ring, and looked at her as she slept against him. Paul and Dixie kept a keen eye out on either side of the stagecoach windows looking for any sign of trouble, but they didn't spot anything except when Jack noticed that Gray Wolf had gotten ahead of them as he saw the spotted horse near a creek bed.

"Looks like Gray Wolf hasn't changed his mind." Jack nodded his head in the direction of where he spotted his comrade.

"If he's smart, he better keep his distance from the shotgun guard. There is no telling what he might do if he sees him." Paul said with nervousness in his voice.

"I think Gray Wolf knows how far he can be without being detected as a threat, Paul. Hopefully, we'll be in Laredo soon. I just want to get to the border, relax, let the army lose our trail." Jack told Paul and before he pulled out a cigarette and lit it, smoked it, and blew out the smoke from his pursed lips. Paul took a cigar out of his vest while Jack lit it with his already lit match, and they joined in a smoke.

The stage line arrived just before dark in the town of Laredo. Paul exited the stagecoach and held his hand for Dixie as she graciously took it in her hand. Jack followed Dixie and waited for Nell. He grabbed her hand and helped her down carefully out of the carriage. The driver handed Jack the small tote and carried it over to Nell, who waited on him to join her on the boardwalk. The four of them quickly got something to eat and reserved two hotel rooms as they wanted to spend the night only to get rest for the next day. They would be leaving in the morning to cross into Mexico, where they would be safe. Jack would relax and spend time with Nell with no worries as they still had the gold that was safe with Gray Wolf. Gray Wolf located Jack after they had settled into the town of Laredo. Gray Wolf decided to stay in the stable just like he did in the last town as he agreed to follow Jack into Mexico where the gold would be divided up evenly.

Part 8

PMDSXXX

The ladies stayed behind closed doors after dinner. Jack and Paul slipped out of their rooms just as evening approached to get food and check on Gray Wolf. They were to move out first thing in the morning to cross the border into Mexico. When Jack and Paul had returned to the hotel, Jack knocked softly on the door to his room before Nell appeared before him. He had already carried her over the threshold when they rented the room earlier. Upon his return into their room, he surprised her again when he picked her up in his strong arms and dropped her roughly onto the bed. He put his hat on the bedpost while he quickly shed his clothing, and she admired the view in front of her. She was scantily clad, and they made passionate love into the midnight hours as husband and wife. In a tangled mess of arms and legs, they laid together after their heavy love making session. He combed through her soft curls while she teased his sparse chest hairs. She reached up, planted a kiss on his lips, and laid her head under the crook of his chin.

"Nell, tomorrow we'll be free, and we can stop running. What do you want to do once we get to the border?" He whispered as he stroked her back with his rough fingertips.

"Just relax with you and enjoy the food. We stay out of sight for a while then make my journey back home to see my parents." Nell blew a puff of air against his overheated skin that made him jump slightly. The cool air from the window entered the room and sent a chill over both of them. Jack pulled the sheet up around the both of them and held her close when she drifted off to sleep.

"Sounds just fine with me, Nell." He murmured against her hair before he closed his eyes.

The morning sunlight filtered into the room. The couples readied themselves to start their journey towards the Mexico border. Paul went to retrieve Gray Wolf at the stable and bought three horses and their tack. Jack meanwhile went for much-needed supplies to last a few days. The trek would not be as far for the ladies to ride as the border was only an hour away on horseback. The four of them rode their horses across the border crossed the Rio Grande. Gray Wolf had been waiting patiently on them. Finally, all of them safely crossed the border without incident and no sign of the army in pursuit. The captain had given up back at the last weigh station. The captain knew it was no chance in hell in catching them into Mexico territory. It would be very dangerous for his troops, so he called off the search. He informed his superior officers that the gang had escaped.

As they crossed the Rio Grande together, Jack noticed a nice spot to claim for some fishing with trees nearby for shade. As they scoped out the landscape, they passed through a small town that was desolate with only a few patrons on the dusty sidewalks. Jack and Paul filtered out in the town and looked for a place to lay low for a few weeks or maybe a month. They learned from some residents that spoke broken English that a local man rented out cottage houses that were located near the river and only would take ten pesos a month each one.

They had running water into their homes and a few necessaries such as a stove and washbasins. If the ladies needed anything else, they would have to make do with that they had, which was just fine with Jack. As long as the army stayed away, he could care less about the amenities.

Gray Wolf met them at Jack and Nell's place. Gray Wolf approached the cottage with the strongbox on his packhorse and climbed down off his mount. Jack and Paul approached him, helped him with the strongbox, carried it into Jack's place while the ladies stood back. Jack and Paul lugged it into the room dropped it with a loud thud. The lock was still securely latched. Jack pulled his revolver out, shot the lock off, and opened it revealing gold coins filled to the brim. It was more than enough for the five of them as Jack divided the loot up between everyone. Nell refused to take any of it as she told Jack to add her share with his as did Dixie. They would share with their husbands, and whatever Jack and Paul decided on would be good enough for them. Jack was the mastermind of it all, and he got most of the share. It was over a million-dollar gold heist, and they would live comfortably for a very, very, long time. The only concern was that they had to be careful about who knew about it and not flaunt it around town as they would be in danger of being robbed.

Jack, Paul, and Gray Wolf were satisfied with dividing up the loot. Gray Wolf never left the area as he was still in debt to Jack. As long as Jack and Nell were in the area, he always stayed close. Meanwhile, a month had passed by, Nell had slept more than usual on a particular day. Since he didn't want to disturb her, Jack left to do a little fishing out on the river to catch dinner. Paul had been helping a farmer outside of town when Jack heard a female's voice call to him.

"Jack! You better get home fast! It's Nell! I think something is wrong!" Dixie ran towards him while she waved her arms at him to get his attention. He dropped his fishing pole, quickly got to his feet, and hurried towards her before she stopped abruptly.

"What's the matter, Dixie? Well, what's wrong with her?" Jack looked at her with concern.

"She is not feeling well, Jack. She's pale and complaining about her stomach. It might have been something she ate, but it might be something serious." Dixie worriedly her bottom lip while Jack hurried to the cottage. He left Dixie to her thoughts before she soon followed after him. She found Jack kneeling beside the bed as he held Nell's hand. He looked at her and wondered what he could do since he wasn't sure how far away the doctor was.

"Nell, what's wrong?" Jack wiped the hair off her forehead, took a wet washcloth, and draped it over her forehead.

"Jack, I don't know. I am not sure if it was something I've eaten, my stomach is upset. I don't feel so good." Nell suddenly lurched up out of bed, ambled to the washroom, and vomited her breakfast.

"I'll find a doctor Nell. I'll be right back. Dixie, keep watch on her, will you?" Jack bolted out the door to find a doctor.

Jack ran looking for a doctor in the town, and he was panicking as he looked in every merchant building. He tried to speak what little Spanish he could remember. Finally, he found an older woman who understood what Jack wanted, and she told him in broken English words that the doctor could be found in his home at this time of day.

Jack rushed to the house that she specifically told him and pulled him out of his house with his doctor's bag in one hand while he cuffed his shirt collar at the back leading him to his place.

"My wife is sick, and you are going to tell me what's wrong with her. I'm not taking no for an answer, and you're coming with me, right now!" Jack demanded as he pulled his revolver out, shoved it into his face and threatened him.

"Sir, there is no need for the gun. If there is trouble or someone needs a doctor, I'm inclined to help out, no matter what the situation." The doctor told him in broken
English, but Jack understood him.

Jack lowered his gun and dropped his gun into its holster, but still had his large hand on the doctor's shirt collar. He didn't let him go in case he decided to run away from him. When he entered the home, he found Nell back in bed with Dixie by her side and holding her hand. The doctor took in her condition as he told Jack to leave the room immediately so that he could examine Nell. Dixie stayed in the room with Nell and the doctor while Jack paced outside in the street when Paul came into view riding his mount.

"Jack, what's wrong? Why are you not fishing? I saw your fishing pole, but I figured you were out with Nell, so I didn't track you down." Paul said as he dismounted his horse fastened it to the post. He noticed Jack was worried about something he smoked his cigarette nervously and looked back towards the house.

"It's Nell, Paul. I don't know what's happened to her. I noticed she'd been sleeping a lot lately, and I decided to go fishing when Dixie came to call for help. I found a doctor, and he's looking in on her right now. What if it's serious, Paul? I can't lose her. I just can't. Do you understand me? For the first time in my life, I'm thrilled to be alive, and now this happened to Nell. I can't stand waiting. Just what the hell is he doing to her anyway?" Jack took a long drag on his cigarette before he looked at Paul, who was worried as well. After they heard footsteps approach, the door opened to reveal the doctor. Jack and Paul waited impatiently as the doctor smiled at the two men before him. Jack wasn't pleased one bit as he stood there waiting on answers, and all this guy did was smile at him.

"Well, what's wrong with my wife? And what are you smiling at? You think it's funny that my wife is dying?" Jack grabbed the man again by the throat before Paul intervened.

"Settle down Jack, it might not be that serious. You can't kill him. Let him go!" Paul told him before he released his grip on his arm.

"Your wife is going to have a baby, sir. I've talked with her and concluded that she is going to be expecting. It's not that serious to need an operation, but complications tend to arise in some women, but with her being young and healthy, I see that you need not worry about her delivering a healthy baby, whether it be a boy or girl. She must be very careful in the next few months, and if you must do any traveling you might want to do that in a few weeks. You don't want to have to travel when she is almost ready to deliver as you must take extra precautions. You don't want her to lose the baby." The doctor informed him as he gave him a few powders for Nell to take in case she needed it.

"Thank you, sir. Here take this, he put a gold coin into the palm of his hand." Jack said and entered the house.

"Sir, you don't know how much this means to him. Especially now that he knows his wife is going to be just fine and to know, and he's going to be a father." Paul beamed at the doctor.

"If that's all you need from me. I'll be on my way." The doctor said as he turned to walk down the street to his home.

"Jack being a first-time father, who would've thought," Paul said to himself before he entered the room congratulated Jack and Nell. Dixie smiled while Paul shook Jack's hand and chatted happily about him being a father.

Jack couldn't be happier for Nell. He will not only be protecting her, but also his unborn child that she is carrying. Dixie and Paul left the room, as Nell rested in bed to
give Jack privacy with her since the doctor left the room.

"Nell, you're going to be fine. The doctor said you are going to have a baby." Jack spoke softly to her as she slowly opened her eyes to see him kneeling in front of her.

"Yes, he asked me a lot of questions and examined me. He ruled out everything he thought possible as I was healthy when I arrived. He asked if my husband and I had been well…you know.. been trying to have a baby. I told him not exactly, but yes, we have been together a lot this past month. Now that I'm with your child what do we plan to do?" Nell said before she closed her eyes and squeezed his hand in hers.

"Nell, are you sure you want to go back to see your parents? The doctor told me if we needed to travel soon, then we need to get ready to move again. I know we've been here a month, and I'm assuming the army has stopped their pursuit of us, but that doesn't mean that I am dropping my guard down. Paul said we need to make damn sure they had forgotten about us before we cross the border." Jack said kissed her hand.

"Yes, Jack. Please, I need to be with my family as there are several mid-wives around my homestead and the best doctor in the territory. I don't want to take a chance and lose the baby." Nell said as she gathered up the last bit of strength to speak to him.

"Sure, anything you want, Nell. I just want to keep you safe and the baby safe. I don't want to lose either of you." Jack pulled her into his arms and hugged her to him before he looked into her tired eyes. She gave him a small smile before she kissed him on the lips and settled back down on the mattress.

Jack told Paul and Dixie that they would be leaving Mexico, and if they wanted to join him that would be up to the two of them. Gray Wolf knew a change would be coming last night as he had a vision. Jack and Nell packed what they needed for their trip back to Juniper, Texas while Dixie and Paul discussed their plans. Paul and Jack had been through a lot in the past several years. He contemplated with Dixie, and she too knew that Paul had a huge decision to make. Without a doubt, Paul would escort Jack and Nell back to her parents as he wanted to make sure that the two arrived safely. Dixie knew deep down that Paul wouldn't let Jack go alone and for Nell's safety as well.

Before their stagecoach departed, Jack and Paul found Gray Wolf already packed and waiting on the journey out of Mexico. The ladies had already climbed into the stagecoach while the driver waited on the men to board. Jack walked over to Gray Wolf and noticed he was all packed and wasn't staying either.

"Where are you going now, Gray Wolf?" Jack asked him as he peered up at him from the brim of his hat.

"The ancestors told me that a baby was coming and needed protection. I guess you already knew that, didn't you, boss?" Gray Wolf stated before he nudged his horse in the ribs to move ahead of the stagecoach.

"He doesn't make sense sometimes, and you know that, Jack. He always talked in riddles. I can never figure him out." Paul said as they both watched him move out of their sight.

"I understand him, Paul. Don't ask me why, but I do understand what he is telling me. He'll meet us at Nell's parents' homestead. I'm almost sure of that." Jacked opened the stagecoach's door and climbed inside while Paul just shook his head, joined them, and sat down beside Dixie. The journey back to Juniper, Texas was a bumpy and rough trek for the ladies. It was the excitement that Nell couldn't contain when she finally got to see her parents again, especially her mother.

Juniper Texas

Lane Homestead

1888

The stagecoach arrived safely into town. While the ladies were exhausted from the ride, they were glad to get out of the carriage and stretch their aching muscles. Nell was feeling better as her nausea had waned and was glad, they made it back home. Some things had changed over the past month, Nell had noticed a few more shops had moved into town. The army was long gone. She noticed a few familiar faces, but they never paid her any attention. Jack decided to get a wagon to take Nell back to her parent's place as he tied his horse to the back of the wagon. Paul approached him and helped him with the luggage.

"Jack, I won't leave town for a while. I'm going to see what I can get myself into, that is, if Dixie doesn't have a problem with it. I'm sure she will like it here. I know she will be wanting to see the baby when the time is right." Paul beamed at his friend and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.

"I'm glad that you'll be around. Don't get yourself into any mischief, Paul. I can't help you now. I have to think of Nell and the baby. You take care of Dixie." Jack told his pal before he stepped up into the wagon, took the reins in his hand, and commanded the two horses to move.

"Good luck you two, and we'll keep in touch one way or another." Paul called out to them as he held Dixie to his side as she waved at them. She knew that they would be seeing each other again.

"I wonder if my parents are home, and if Joe is out in the field tending to the herd?" Nell inquired as she leaned into Jack's shoulder and pulled him to her.

"Nell, I think we're about to find out here shortly. It looks like the herd had grown since we've been gone." Jack squinted his eyes before he looked down at her who was all smiles.

"Looks like they spent the gold wisely. I told you they had nothing to worry about, Nell."

"Is that your mom in the garden?"

"Yes, Jack that sure is!"

The older woman heard a wagon approaching, and to her amazement, it was her daughter whom she hadn't seen in more than two months, accompanied by the same man she had run off with. She had noticed he wasn't rough-looking the day she last laid eyes on him, but he was very respectable in appearance. Jack pulled the horses to a halt and put the brake on. The horses stomped and shook their head while Jack helped Nell out of the wagon so that she could greet her mother.

"Nell! It's so good to see you again. I was worried sick that something might have happened to you, but I guess Jack made sure you'd return safe. I'm glad to have you back Nell. Your father and brother are out on the prairie with a few cowboys. The herd was getting out of hand for just two men, and with the gold, your father hired two more respectable men from across the county line. They have been such a huge help to the farm." Her mother gushed when she spotted Nell's wedding ring as it sparkled in the sunlight.

"Mom, that is wonderful news, but I wanted to tell you that Jack and I have gotten married, and there is something else I need to tell you too." Nell looked back at Jack, who finally approached from behind and put his arm around her shoulder.

"Nell, you are married? My heavens what else have you not told me? I can see it in your eyes there is something you're hiding from me?"

"Mom..Jack and I are expecting."

"Oh, Nell that is wonderful news! Your father is going to be so proud, and I know your brother will be too. Jack come here let me hug you and welcome to the family!" She hugged him to her before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek as he looked over at Nell, who blushed slightly as her mother was overjoyed that her daughter was bringing new life to the world.

"Let's get you in the house, Nell, Jack can put the horses out into the pasture, and we can discuss your future now that you are back home."

"Jack, I'll be waiting for you inside." Nell gave him a quick kiss to the lips before she followed her mother and glanced back at him as he smiled at his wife.

Jack watched the two women walk towards the house as he was overjoyed for Nell. He knew his life would change the day he met her. He fell in love with her and had her as his wife and now carrying his child. He was the luckiest man on earth as he continued to gaze upon them as they disappeared into the house. He took the horses to the barn and removed their harnesses before he turned them out into the pasture. He met Gray Wolf just off to the horizon. Jack watched as he approached him slowly before he stopped his horse to look down at him and finally spoke.

"Gray Wolf, what brings you out here? I don't have a problem with you, but I'm not sure if Nell's folks will welcome you. I can speak to them and tell them that you are not a threat to Nell or the baby." Jack said to his friend then looked back at the homestead.

"I will not make trouble boss. I only want to protect the baby. That's all I came here for. I'll be staying in the surrounding area as I don't want no harm to come to the baby. There is a reason the ancestors told me about the child. I must obey them." Gray Wolf said straight-faced and proud to have been chosen to protect the baby.

"If you must, then I have no say. I will let Nell know that you are no threat as I will enforce it on her folks, but if anything happens to Nell, the baby, or her family there will be bloodshed and that is a promise, do you understand me?" Jack threatened in a baritone voice that Gray Wolf knew that boss was still in charge and would be as long as he lived.

"Sure, thing boss. Anything you say." He turned to leave Jack as he walked his horse out into the nearby field and set up his camp.

It was a long wait of seven months before Jack and Nell welcomed a baby boy into the family with the help of a midwife, her mother, and the local doctor. It was successful birth, but a painful one as it was her first child. Paul and Dixie waited for the news as they were anxious to see the baby. They had been on pins and needles the last month knowing that Nell was due at any moment. Dixie had taken a dressmaking job while Paul had worked on various farms before he took a gunsmith job in town. He wanted to stay close by as Dixie was getting tired of moving around. He knew she was right because it was time for them to both settle down. Jack and Nell lived comfortably now that the baby arrived. They had a bright future in raising more children if they chose to. The ranch was just getting started with the herd growing by the numbers. Jack mentioned to Nell one day about starting a horse ranch across the valley, and she agreed to her husband's wishes. If he wanted to do that instead of herd cattle, then he could and she wouldn't say no to him.

Part 9

PMDSXx

Present Day

Lake Tahoe, NV

Perry had finished chopping wood, stacked the extra wood outside by the house, carried a crate load into the house sat it by the fireplace as it would last all night. He had worked up an appetite and wondered to himself if Della had managed to escape the book she was so intrigued by. He placed his ax in the outbuilding and secured the lock. When he turned to see that Della, unfortunately, was still reading her book, or what looked like it to him. He ventured inside the house to shower the daily grim off him. He put his dirty clothes in the washer and started it by the time he had dinner cooking on the stove the washer had stopped and he hung his laundry out on the clothesline. Preparing dinner was relaxing for him but Della still hadn't appeared. Perry put the dinner on the hot plate while he went to tell her that dinner would be ready at any time.

Della was satisfied as she closed her book and placed it by her hip when a shadow approached her as the sun dipped over the shade of the trees. Not concerned it was a threat she opened her eyes to see Perry leaning up against the tree gazing down at her with his arms crossed just watching her.

"How long have you been standing there Perry?" Della asked him curiously as a smile played at her lips before he came closer to her.

"Not long Della. I was wondering when you were going to join me for dinner. It's almost ready, by the way, I think you've been out here long enough." Perry told her advanced toward her grabbed her hand to help her out of the hammock. Della placed her hand into his while he helped her out so she wouldn't fall on the hard ground.

"Thank you, Perry."

"Well, how was your book? Was it that intriguing that I had to come out here to get you because you forgot all about me and our dinner plans?" Perry asked while he grabbed her at the waist drew her to him. She giggled while she still had the book in her hand and kissed him on the lips before he deepened it, and she put her arms around his neck, still clutching the book not dropping it.

"I've missed you. Just what was that book about anyways, Della?" He asked her giving her pecks on the lips before his hands settled on her hips and she leaned back into his strong embrace.

"Perry, it was exciting and I loved it. Long story short, a gang held up an army gold shipment, the boss fell in love with the schoolmarm, and he changed for the better and settled down with her and started a family and a horse ranch. All in that order, Perry." Della seductively said and rubbed his forearms that still held her in place.

"That good? I might have to read it one of these days." He teased her and leaned into her again and kissed her passionately on the mouth before trailing kisses down her neck. She pushed on his chest playfully and took her hand in his and walked to the cabin.

"Perry, just what did you accomplish while I was out relaxing in nature?" Della quizzed him looked at him at the corner of her eye, and shoved his shoulder with hers while they walked towards the house.

"I walked the property, found some fallen old tree branches and chopped wood for the fireplace. We should have plenty for the two weeks that we're going to be here. I was all filthy dirty when I came back to the house. Since I could not find you, I assumed you were still out in the hammock and left you to enjoy your alone time. I got cleaned up, put dinner on the stove, and came out to find you." Perry told her as he opened the front door and she entered. Della smelled the dinner cooking, and the enticing aroma made her mouth water. She went into the kitchen to see what was on the menu for tonight; steak, potatoes, greens, and red wine.

"Perry, I'm going to get a shower, and I won't be very long. I know how hard you worked on dinner."

"Okay, don't take too long." He watched her with loving eyes only to drift down to her backside as she disappeared into the other room. He followed her with his gaze as he shook his head at her.

Della walked into the bedroom and grabbed her robe when something caught her eye. It was the black negligee that Perry had stowed away in his luggage. Della's mind was reeling, and wanted to teach him a lesson for stealing things that weren't his. She grinned mischievously at the thought of punishing him for the fact he stowed it in his luggage and not hers. What else does he do? A number of her handkerchiefs have come up missing without cause as she thought she might have left them in the office or somewhere else when they had been out for dinner.

Although she never did find them, she just assumed someone else needed them more as she never mentioned it to Perry. Della took a hot shower, turned off the water, and stepped out onto the mat. She toweled herself off and put on the black, sexy negligee that Perry confiscated. Della looked at herself in the mirror, see-through satin silk negligee V-shaped front with lace surrounding the breast line, and showed off her long, lean legs. She skimmed her hands down her hips and finished towel drying her hair. The dry climate didn't take long to dry her damp hair as she appeared in the foyer watching him like a lioness hunting her prey. He didn't know what he was in for tonight, especially now, no Paul, no office clients, and no conferences to attend.

Perry meanwhile had finished dinner and served it onto the plates. He took the wine out of the cupboard, found the corkscrew, and popped it open at the same time something caught his eye. He was surprised to see Della silently watching him, knowing he was going to be questioned as a lump in his throat formed. She slowly approached him while he still had the wine in his hand, and he almost dropped it before she took hold of it and placed it on the table.

"Perry, care to inform me how this negligee happened to be in your suitcase and not in mine? Please explain yourself?" Della teased him grabbed his shirt collar.

"Well..uh. I liked it and thought you would wear it for me." Perry's voice hitched in his throat a bit.

"Why was it in your suitcase Perry? Were you planning on having someone else wear it, perhaps another woman? A client perhaps, that I don't secretly know about?" Della eyed him suspiciously as she still had her hands on his polo shirt and fumbled with the buttons. Perry exhaled knowing full well he was in trouble and had to explain.

"No, there is no other woman or client, Della. I just wasn't thinking when I tossed it into my luggage and not yours. I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea about it. You do know that I wouldn't risk our marriage." Perry's smooth words calmed her down but only briefly as he tried to touch her, but she stepped away from him coldly.

"Perry, I do believe you, but since you didn't ask for permission to lift my clothing, you will not be touching me tonight. Do you hear me? It serves you right for not asking me in the first place." Della gave him a quick kiss to his lips and retreated when he moaned at the loss of her mouth on him.

"So, I don't get to touch you, but you can touch all you want? Seems fair I suppose and just how long are you going to torment me, Della? You can look, tease, and touch me, but it's only fair that I can handle so much and when you let your guard down, I'm a force to reckon with, and you know that, don't you?" Perry's voice was low and predatory as he watched her take her seat at the table.

"Perry, are you threatening me? I won't take your threats lightly either." Della reached across the table to get the salt and pepper for her steak.

"It's a promise, Della." He said and watched her before his eyes skimmed her figure underneath the see-through satin and licked his lips before he drank his wine and observed her slowly eat her dinner. He sat in his chair uncomfortable by the minute as he sat in front of her. He started to fidget in his chair as he couldn't help but stare at her from across the table. He was mesmerized by how she handled the situation perfectly. Della was slowly torturing him minute by minute. Every bite she took from her food, he watched her tongue taste the fork while the steak disappeared into her mouth and down her throat. Della knew exactly what she was doing to him and loved how he responded because he couldn't take much more of not having his hands on her.

Perry finished his meal, walked over to her, and looked down at her. The negligee was too revealing as his eyes kept lingering on her cleavage and bare thighs. Perry noticed she had finished her meal. When he looked at her with desire in his eyes, Della let him take her plate without incident, and he brushed her hand as she handed her plate to him and let his hand linger longer than she wanted. When Perry dropped the empty dishes into the sink, Della took the time to leave the table and go to the icebox because she knew that Perry had picked up her favorite cream which was chocolate vanilla trifle. He was always thoughtful especially when it came to her wants and what her needs were. Della knew he could overpower her if he wanted to and physically get rough with her. He would not let his rage get out of control, and she was his weakness. She could bend him at her will, and she was doing just that.

Perry tried to keep his mind off her but was having a hard time doing so. He washed the dirty dishes while she sat back down at the table with a spoon in her hand. She opened the lid to the ice cream, licked the spoon, and tasted the frozen treat. Perry watched her enjoying herself. He knew he couldn't touch her, but she never said that he couldn't stare at her and enjoy the view before him. Della knew he wouldn't be able to control himself for much longer while she consumed the ice cream. It was then she had offered him a spoonful of the frozen treat. Della reached across the table to feed him the ice cream, offered the spoon to him and he carefully consumed it and licked his bottom lip as it dribbled down the corner of his mouth. Della got up from her chair and deliberately sauntered toward him with the spoon and carton in hand and stood in front of him. Perry moved his chair away from the table and allowed her to step between his legs, but instead of standing in front of him so he could enjoy the view, she sat on his lap, but he never raised his hands to touch her.

He graciously moved to accommodate her weight and the growing erection that he couldn't ignore. While she sat comfortably on him shifting her weight on his thighs, she teased him even more knowing he couldn't touch her. He closed his eyes and groaned when she fed him another spoonful of ice cream before he let it trickle down his chin. Della leaned forward, stuck her tongue out, tasted the liquid that run down his chin, and kissed him on his lips.

"Della, you are such a tease. I'm going to touch you whether you like it or not." Perry's eyes lowered to her mouth and then down her cleavage as he licked his lips before he focused on her again.

"Chief, I tell you one thing to do for me, and you disobey me." She whispered as she nipped his ear and licked the outer shell which made him shiver under her touch as her cold breath escaped her lips into his ear.

"I'm sorry Della. You wearing this outfit has got me all worked up, and you know what it does to me." He growled at her but hadn't touched her yet. While she still straddled his thighs, his hands ached to touch her, and his mouth trembled to taste her.

Della gave in to his sensual kiss before she deepened it. He met her full force with his pent-up passion. Della dropped the empty carton onto the floor, put her arms around his shoulders, ran her fingertips down the front of his shirt, began to tug his shirt off up over his head, tossed the shirt away, and left him bare-chested in front of her. She skimmed her fingernails across his broad chest. He gave her a naughty smile, picked at the strap on her shoulders that fell, and kissed her shoulder with his mouth. She leaned back away from him after he kissed her exposed neck before he had claimed her mouth with his, kissing her feverishly. She surrendered to his control.

He ran his hands up inside the length of her negligee. He rid of it quickly which left her naked before him and tossed the garment to the floor. He picked her up still passionately kissing her as she wrapped her arms behind his head threading her hands through his hair. He placed her flat on her back on the kitchen table while he rid himself of his slacks. Della lay on the tabletop as she watched and waited for his next move before he kissed her long lean legs slowly teasing her with his tongue as he placed wet trails on both sides of her inner thighs and she writhed under his ministrations. He was going to take it slow as he could with her as she had teased him earlier and wasn't taking it lightly. Della reached for him only to be met with resistance as one of his large hands intertwined it with one of hers while the other held his head. He would allow her to touch him only at a minimum while he licked and sucked at her wetness bringing her to climax. He backed off, slowly circled her clit before he dipped one finger inside her heat then added a second. She gasped at the sensation as he worked his fingers in and out of her while she spread her legs wider to accommodate his digits, but she wanted more than just his fingers inside her. She moaned and thrashed onto the tabletop. He continued taunting, lapping, and suckling at her with his tongue and mouth when he leaned up over her and began kissing her stomach, her ribcage, sucked on her breast, and kissing her fully on her lips.

His erection prodded at her entrance, as she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him towards her. He put all his weight on her, entered her, and did not let her adjust to his length. He knew she was ready for him, by the mewling sounds that escaped her throat as he settled between her thighs and focused on her face. When he met her dark emerald greens, she slowly focused her lust-filled eyes to meet his icy blues glaring back at her with love. He took one of her legs into his hand and raised it over his thigh to go deeper into her wet heat.

"Perry, please I need you to move." Della panted while she caressed his back with her fingernails, bit him on the neck, stroked his damp hair, and tilted her hips urging him to move inside her slippery entrance.

"Della, you don't need to tell me twice, baby. You feel so good right now."

He stroked in and out of her as she met him thrust for thrust. He gripped her hip into his one hand while the other braced on the table, sliding into her and then withdrawing again. Della was on the verge of orgasm as he bumped into her cervix, claimed her mouth before he withdrew again slowly, and reentered her again. Another forceful thrust up into her, she came hard, screamed his name, and didn't care who heard her. Her juices escaped down her thighs and on the table. Perry then pulled out of her slippery wetness and kissed her on the mouth when she sighed as she released his mouth. He entered her again and she tilted her hips to meet him as he climaxed. She welcomed his hot seed into her as he jerked within her walls. She spasmed around him and clenched his penis while he collapsed on her. Their breathing was ragged, and she combed through his unkempt hair and kissed him on the forehead as he came down from his high. He nuzzled her breasts and placed a tender kiss on her breast bone.

"Perry, I think we need to get cleaned up. I'm not going to look at this kitchen table the same way ever again." Della giggled while he was still sheathed inside her. He chuckled against her before he slowly pulled her off the table, gathered her in his arms, and sat in the chair for a few moments. Della slipped out of his now limp penis, kissed him on the mouth tenderly, and nipped at his bottom lip before whispering into his ear seductively.

She retreated towards the bathroom before he could open his eyes, and she was gone. Perry got to his feet and joined her in the shower. The steam quickly filled the room. He pulled the shower curtain back in a quick motion. The cold air filtered in around Della as she spun around to meet his hungry gaze and bit her bottom lip. He stepped into the shower, grabbed her waist, and pulled her towards him in a rough manner. The water spray covered them both and lubricated their bodies while he gripped her hips with his large hands wrapped his arms below her waist. She relented to his powerful grasp as she succumbed to his tender kisses that he trailed down her neck and latched onto her jugular before she released a strangled moan into his ear and nipped at his lobe.

Perry guided her away from the shower spray as it blinded him. Turning his back against the water, he caressed her thighs while his mouth worked her on pert breasts. She tossed her head back in the throes of his slow torturous tongue as he sucked, licked, and bit his way down her stomach before finally reaching what he most desired. He lifted one leg over his shoulder as he darted his tongue out to taste her again. Della's back was pinned up against the shower wall with one leg draped over his shoulder while she balanced herself with the other leg. He felt her hands seize his head, pulled and tugged at his wet hair in one hand while her other hand scratched his neck.

"Perry, please….stop…" Della begged with a strangled breath before he tasted her flesh again and nipped at her wet skin and looked up at her.

"Della… you have no idea what you've started." He murmured against her skin while his tongue traveled down her body and teased her relentlessly.

The spray pounded his back as he pleasured her with his tongue until her legs started to buckle under her, but his strong frame held her up. He sucked her clit over and over while his nose bumped against her as she finally climaxed into his mouth again and released her juices into his mouth. He lapped at her until she quivered in his mouth. His flaccid penis had now stirred again, and while he couldn't ignore the hardened member that was growing between his legs, he gave her a gentle kiss against her mons. Della grabbed him by the biceps, pulled him up to meet her mouth, and passionately consumed his mouth. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and encircled his waist with her leg. He held her other leg with his free hand while he stroked at her entrance with his cock and slipped into her wet core. Perry braced one hand around her back while the other was held her leg to him as he ground into her. She welcomed him into her warmth, and she scratched at his sides and marked him. Perry cradled her into his arms before he pushed, thrusted up into her, and bumped her cervix and she clamped down on his erection and made him lose control as he came hard. He trailed kisses down her sternum, across her clavicle, and laid his head unto her chest while she combed through his wet locks.

Della lowered her leg down his waist as his hand skimmed down her thigh. She stroked his face gently when he opened his eyes to see a satisfied grin on her lips. Della found the soap and lathered it up into her hands and washed him with her soft, delicate fingertips. She rubbed his chest before she teased his limp member, palmed him in her hand, and continued to wash down his thighs. The soap suds gradually descended his frame, and she motioned for him to turn around as she washed his back and down his sides and his calves. Perry stepped into the spray washing off the soapy lather. He took the soap from her hand and worked the soapy lather into her muscles, her thighs, back, neck and chest. He pulled her into the spray with him and rinsed herself off. Della grabbed the shampoo bottle and poured a small amount in the palm of her hand while she put a dollop into his palm. She worked her hands into his hair while he worked his hands into her scalp. Della pulled him into the spray as they both rinsed their hair out while she kissed him passionately under the tepid water, embracing her to his chest, and enjoyed the moment.

Perry reached the faucet knobs shut the water off while still holding Della. The warm air swirled into the room, and he pulled the shower curtain back, stepped out of the tub, and reached for the bath towels. Della stepped out of the shower with his helping hand and stepped onto the bath mat. Standing in front of the fogged-up mirror, Della toweled off her hair and dried herself off. Perry had quickly toweled off, wrapped his towel around his waist before she could escape to the bedroom, and caught her off guard. She felt two strong arms wrap around her middle and pulled her flush against his chest. She blushed a little when she could feel his breath in her ear.

"Della, you are so beautiful. I love you with all my being. You know that no other woman can ever have me. Do you realize that? When we exchanged vows, I promised myself to you." He whispered into her ear, and she shivered as his breath tickled her ear. He tilted his head to meet hers in a long, heated, passionate kiss. She broke the kiss, looked up at him and palmed his cheek into her hand then spoke to him.

"Perry, you always tell me that I'm beautiful. Whether it's glances, gifts, or touches, I do know that you love me." She spoke softly to him and surprised her and picked her up as her arm went back behind his head. She gasped before she giggled uncontrollably while he carried her to the bedroom and dropped her onto the bed. As she splayed out before him, the towel was still wrapped around her torso when he approached her.

"Good, now that we are on the same page. I'm going to show you just how much I love you in more ways than one." Perry joined her on the bed and removed the towel exposing her flesh to him. Della reached for his towel, pulled at it, and removed it from his waist. Her hand discarded his towel onto the bed and pulled his head down to meet her mouth in a frenzied kiss. Their tongues wrestled for control when she gasped for breath as he pinned her hands down on the mattress so that she was no longer touching him nor grasping at him. Della was confined. She was not touching him, and all she could feel was his lips and mouth, doing amazing things to her body. He kept her restrained in his strong grip while his thighs straddled her, she writhed underneath him as he worked his way down her neck, sucked, licked, and nipped at her. He latched onto one of her pert nipples and lavished it before he released it as the cool air made it unbearable for her. He made her squirm, even more, when he latched onto the other nipple and gave it the same attention as his nose brushed against her oversensitive flesh, and she jerked forward while he continued to hold her down.

Releasing one of her hands she captured one of his hands into hers interlaced it with his overly large-sized one. He trailed his other free hand down her leg, caressed her inner thighs, and dipped one digit into her folds. Having her wet again under the palm of his hand, she opened her legs for him as he plunged one finger, then another finger, then a third finger. She clenched around his fingers as he stroked in and out of her while she thrashed against the bedsheets. He lowered his mouth on her while he withdrew his fingers and lapped at the juices. Della couldn't stand much more of waiting on his mouth because her heels dug into his back bracing herself for another round. He lowered himself to her and dipped his tongue into her wetness. Perry worked her with his mouth, sucked, licked, and caught her clit into his mouth as he growled at her while she bucked up into his face trying to get him where she wanted as she tilted her hips. He gripped her hips as he rode out her orgasm and came hard into his mouth again. Perry let her come down from her climax and started to work on her again not letting up as he pulled her flush against him.

Della didn't know how much more she could take from his mouth on her and not have him inside her. He needed release and held out not wanting to please himself just yet, but he made sure that Della knew that she belonged to him and only him. Giving her oral pleasure was the one gift that Della loved about him, and he knew how to use his tongue where she most desired it. He kissed and worshiped her body with his mouth and tongue while she caressed his shoulders and rubbed her hands on his chest and scratched at his sides while he made love to her with his tongue. She was on the brink of another orgasm from his tongue that slipped between her folds again. She had to make him stop but her moaning and whimpering hadn't made him stop out of concern. He ignored her when her hands reached for his head and tugged at him to get his attention. It was like he was a mad man on a quest and wouldn't adhere to anything she wanted.

"Perry… stop…you need to stop now…oh my…" Della quaked and thrashed against his mouth as she needed him to relent the teasing of his wonderful tongue as he flicked her clit with his tongue over and over again. She clamped her thighs against his head but he never obeyed her wishes. She screamed out the only word that would surprise him because she only had said it a handful of times when he was in a frenzied, passionate make-out session with her.

"Sherlock Holmes! Perry! Oh god…stop…I swear you're going to pay for all of this…" Della cried out knowing he would stop his assault on her. She exploded once again as he lapped at her, indulged himself with her juices, and drank her up. He smiled against her thighs as he kissed and nipped at her while she clutched at him and dug her fingernails into his scalp. Placing gentle kisses against her lower leg then giving her other leg the same attention she wriggled under feather-light touches.

"What was that Della?" He mumbled against her thigh, kissed his way back up her heaving chest captured one of her nipples into his mouth before sucking it lightly and releasing it before nuzzling the other and slipping it into his hot mouth working the bud with his tongue and settling down between her thighs. Della pulled him down into her waiting for him to slowly enter her when he did penetrate her with his throbbing member and slid into her welcoming heat as they both gasped.

"You're going to pay for that Perry, and I'm not letting you off that easy, do you hear me?" Her voice trailed off as he captured her mouth with his and made love to her. He stroked and pulled back out of her wetness as the sounds of their lovemaking was all he could take when he orgasmed inside her and collapsed atop of her in a sweaty sheen. She welcomed the weight of him as he rested, and she hugged him to her before he rolled off to the side pulled her with him. She rested on his broad chest as he heaved uncontrollably before she placed a kiss to his chest and tangled her fingers in his sparse chest hairs and lightly tugged at them. He caressed her back and down her waist and hugged her to him in a loving embrace.

"Della, I'm glad we decided to get away from work when we did." He breathed a sigh before his finger reached for her chin to look up at him.

"Counselor, I think it was one of the best ideas you've ever had. Plus, we have two weeks, of rest, relaxation, and more naughty things to do while we are away on vacation. You do know that it's my turn next, Chief." Della gave him a mischievous wink before she rested her head onto his chest and he held her tightly.

"Oh, I know Della. You don't have to remind me. I look forward to it." Perry kissed the top of her head and drifted off to sleep alongside the love of his life.

Part 10

PMDSXX

It was two weeks of spending quality time with each other and making love to their heart's desire. Perry enjoyed fishing on the dock while Della enjoyed the sun. She took in some fishing per Perry's request, just for him to have an excuse to have his arms around her. He taught her how to cast her line out into the water. Perry found the book that Della was so engrossed in and read it one evening while she cooked their dinner. He didn't get to finish the book unlike Della because she had other things on her mind and was in the mood of having Perry for an appetizer. Meanwhile, the day arrived to return to the office, and Della had packed all their belongings. Perry phoned the caretaker and his son to inform them that they would be leaving in the morning to return to the city. Chet and his son would look in on the property while Chet's wife would tidy up the inside just as she did before Perry and Della visited. Perry was dressed in dark slacks with a blue polo shirt with the top buttons opened at the neck and wore dark loafers. Della had a blue and white gingham dress with white heels adorned with her gold bracelet and pearl necklace. Perry carried the heavy suitcases out to the car and put them in the trunk. Della took the lighter ones and stowed them onto the backseat of the car.

"Della looks like our vacation time is over." Perry told her while he secured the trunk of the car and opened her car door before she got in. Perry walked in front of the car, opened his door, settled in beside her, and started the engine.

"I'm glad we spent time up here, Perry." Della smiled at him as he grabbed her hand in his and gave it a quick kiss before he leaned into her space and planted a slow kiss on her mouth. She breathlessly pulled apart from his mouth. Della lowered her eyes, licked her bottom lip, smoothed her hands down his shirt, and allowed her hand drifted down to his lap. Perry groaned into her ear while she stroked him through his slacks as she felt his bulge only to have him nip her ear at the quick movement of her hand.

"Della, if we don't get on the road, we're not going to make it back before dark," Perry whispered into her ear as his breath made her shiver. Della lifted her eyebrow, gave him a seductive gaze, and squeezed his inner thigh for good measure as more was to come, but she knew he was right. They needed to get back to their home in the city.

"Perry, once we get home, we're going to pick up where we left off," Della said in a throaty voice that made him smile in anticipation once they got home.

"I won't let you forget Della." Perry told her and pulled the car into drive and headed for their city home in Los Angeles.

Three Months Later

Brent Building

Los Angeles, CA

1963

The week had gone by very quickly and finally it was Friday. The workload had been hectic. Paul had an assignment that took him out of town early in the morning, and had been gone all day and hadn't checked back in with Perry yet. Della had finished typing up a case file while Gertie finished with a few phone calls. Perry had a trial that hadn't lasted all afternoon and was back in the office by three in the afternoon. He greeted Gertie as he passed her desk and she happily smiled at him as she was on the phone. Della had followed him into the office with her typed-up paperwork and handed him the folder.

"Perry, I've got this ready for you." Della leaned on the desk while he flipped through her report. He sat down in his chair at the desk, flipping through the pages, and returned his attention to her.

"Della thank you," Perry said before he returned his attention to the important files.

"I'll make you some tea, Perry. I'll be right back." Della told him before he could answer. She was out the door. Della thought he was ignoring her, but figured it was the case still bothered him. Della retreated into her office and made a fresh pot of tea before she walked into his office with their cups and placed his in front of him.

"Thank you, Della. What flavor is it this time?" Perry asked, lifted his eyebrow, and cocked his head at her.

"Black tea with a hint of cranberry and blood orange. It's very good because it lifts your mood so the label says." Della gave him a slight tilt of her head and smirked at him before she took a sip of it.

"Okay, you better be right about that lifting my mood," Perry informed her as he raised his eyebrow at her than taking a sip. He shook his head in agreement that it was not all that bad.

"See, I told you, Perry. You'd like it. I know what my boss likes and how to please him." Della took her cup and left his office returning to her desk. He watched her walk away from him with a sway of her hips and disappeared out of his view. Perry turned his attention to the balcony to look out at the cloudy skies. He knew the rain would be coming soon as he had seen the darkened clouds thicken up. A raining evening with Della at home curled up on the couch and staying inside was Perry's perfect evening. He could order take-out on the way home or just simply cook a meal when they got home. He would let Della choose because he couldn't decide what he wanted, but he would be a starving man when he got home.

Meanwhile, the rain cloud opened up and poured the rain down as it pounded the streets below. The water ran down the side glass of his office windows. He shrugged as he knew it was inevitable and got up out of his chair and walked into the law library. He had thumbed through his bookshelf and found the book he needed flipping through the pages, and found the article paragraph he began reading and returned to his chair at the table. The door was ajar, and his back was turned and faced away from the door. Any particular day he would be sitting and facing the door but not today.

Della covered her typewriter and locked the office up after Gertie had departed for the day. Upon entering Perry's office, she looked for Perry to see if he was ready to end the day. He was not in the main office as she glanced around the room and saw the law library door slightly ajar. He never set with his back to the door Della thought and took it on herself to surprise him. Perry had unknotted his tie as it hung loosely around his neck with the top three buttons undone. He leisurely read a few paragraphs in the volume as he smoked a cigarette and jumped when he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder.

Della quietly approached him as her hands skimmed down his front open shirt and rubbed his chest as she tried to distract him and was doing a good job. He leaned back in his chair and cocked his head to look at her with narrowed eyes while she nibbled on his earlobe, took it between her teeth, and sucked it lightly. He put his cigarette in the ashtray as it still smoldered and gave her his full attention.

"Della, what's got into you lately? I can't get a minute to myself and here you are jumping me from behind. We've already christened the office after we had got married, and this can't wait until we get home?" Perry said a little agitated that she wanted to have a playful romp, but her pout at him was his undoing, and he could never say 'no' to her.

"You have been working hard since the beginning of the week. I thought I'd help you relax a little," Della whispered against his lips.

He pulled her into his lap not giving her a chance to escape him. She giggled at him, captured his mouth with hers, slipped her arms around his broad shoulders, and kissed him passionately. His hands brushed against her chest, and she pulled back slightly as he stroked her cheek before settling in her curls and pulled her more into the kiss. He gasped only when her hand landed on his semi-hard erection, and she palmed him in her hand as he broke the heated kiss from her ravenous mouth.

"Della, you keep that up, and I'm going to have to do something about it." He groaned in her ear as his hand unbuttoned her dress and caressed her breasts through her silk bra. Della brushed his hands away from her, teased him, and stood before him a disheveled mess with smeared lipstick when she spoke finally.

"Please do Chief. You have no idea how bad I need you right now." Before he knew what hit him, she was on her knees and had unzipped his slacks before she stroked his hard-on with her delicate hand, and his head fell back against the chair. He was thick and already hard under her touch when she reached for him and took him into her mouth. Della's mouth teased his length as she licked and swiped her silky tongue up his shaft and back down his length. He reached for her head and threaded his fingers into her curls. The swirling of her talented tongue on his sensitive member was just about his undoing while she bobbed between his legs. He shut his eyes from the wonderous things her mouth was doing to him as it was inevitable that he was on the brink of orgasm.

"Della, you have to stop. Please, baby…I'm going to…." Perry's voice trailed off mid-sentence. Della took him in her mouth with a few more licks and her hands fondled his scrotum. He came hard and fast into her mouth. Perry's hands still had a grip on her head while she milked him to the last drop although he was still seated in his chair Della licked him clean and tucked him back inside his slacks. Della now satisfied with her task at hand was about to be pleasantly surprised. Perry slid his chair back away from her, and she faced him with clothing in disarray. Della stood calmly before Perry stepped up to her and claimed her mouth as he tasted himself on her mouth and kissed her hard. He whispered something incoherently into her ear that made her shudder in anticipation. He knelt down, looked up at her, reached for her panties that were soaked, and pulled them quickly down. She stepped out of them with her hands on his shoulders before she leaned back onto the table.

Perry just looked at her in awe when he felt her calves and inched his hand up the inside of her dress before she spread her legs. He continued to touch her inner thighs and dipped one finger inside her wetness and then another finger making her grip the table with one hand while the other one took a handful of his hair. He tasted her, dipped his slick tongue into her wet core, and worked her with his tongue stroke after stroke. She bored her weight down on his mouth as he found her engorged clit and flicked it. She knew it wouldn't be long before he sent her over the edge.

"Perry, oh god! Don't stop, please! I'm going to…. oh my…." Della cried out before her orgasm hit her hard. He lapped up her nectar as it run past his lips and down his chin. Della propped one hand on the table while the other was still lodged on his scalp. She held onto him as her legs were still weak from standing. Perry reemerged from her thighs, kissed her inner thighs and gave her a chaste kiss on her mouth. Della was breathless for a few minutes before she came to while Perry stood on shaking knees. He turned her suddenly by surprise when he lifted her dress from behind and up over her bottom which exposed her backside to him. Della braced herself on the table as the sound of his belt unfastened, and his pants fell to the floor behind her as she bit her bottom lip with her teeth before she felt him grip her head in his hand, turned her slowly to face him, and captured her lips with his. As he lifted her dress with his free hand, he bunched it around her waist, and pulled her forcefully to him with excitement as his eagerly took her from behind. She pulled his head down to meet her mouth as he entered her. She gasped into his mouth.

"Is this what you wanted Della? You couldn't wait until we got home?" Perry hissed into her ear and bit her earlobe before he lowered his head into the crook of her neck and nipped at her. He stroked his penis into her while he lifted her waist for better control of stroking in and out of her wetness. She moaned and sighed into his ear as he continued his assault on her neck while his hand crept up to her breasts. He cupped them gently while he pounded into her backside with a thrust and stroke until he worked her up into another orgasm as she gripped his arms and shuddered around him.

"Perry, I'm coming! Oh, God! Don't stop…. feels so good…." Della cried out as he silenced her with his mouth as their tongues wrestled for control before he climaxed into her and filled her again. He pulled her down with him in his chair. Completely sated they lay entwined the room, which smelled of sex and cigarette smoke.

Meanwhile, Paul entered his office with a few notes from his secretary and hadn't bothered to knock on Perry's door as he entered.

"Perry and Della? Anyone here?" Paul called out. He scanned the room but noticed the law library had its door slightly ajar and heard someone talking, but he figured it was Perry and Della doing research in the law library.

"Oh, Perry I think Paul is in the office." Della got up from his lap quickly, fixed her hair, and buttoned up her dress. Perry pulled on his slacks, fastened his belt and zipped up his zipper.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything? I followed up on the lead you wanted for next week. My report is on your desk, and I'll be leaving now. I have a hot date, and I don't want to miss it." Paul embarrassingly said to them.

"Uh.. no Paul. We were just taking a break in the law library." Perry gave an excuse that made Della flush a little which didn't go unnoticed by the two men, especially Perry.

He wasn't surprised to find out it was the boss and Della in an awkward situation. He knew they had office sex before while he was out in the field. He backed peddled out of the office quietly as he came. He made sure to knock next time, or the boss would have his hide, and might be out of a job. Della and Perry both looked at each other and broke out in a fit of laughter while Paul closed the door in a rush to get out of the building.

"I don't know about you, Counselor, but I'm hungry. Italian or Chinese tonight?" Della stepped forward into his welcoming arms.

"I'll settle for Italian tonight. You call the order in, and on our way home, I'll pick it up. Anything you desire Della, your choice." Perry wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a hug. He spotted her discarded panties on the floor behind him which caused him to chuckle while he held her to him.

"What's the matter, Perry?" He smirked at her and nodded behind her. When she turned to look in the direction he hinted, she spotted her discarded garment on the floor and smacked him on the arm then the chest.

"Perry! I can't believe you didn't put that in your pocket! Paul was so embarrassed to find us. I'm sure heard us before he entered the room. Oh, you are so bad!" Della scolded him before he claimed her lips with his mouth and silenced her again as she slid her arms behind his head and made him chuckle into her neck before pulling away from her.

"You started it remember Della? A man must always abide by his woman's needs." Perry released her, retrieved her sodden panty and placed it in his pants pocket instead of giving it back to her. Della pursed her lips at him as she cocked her head at him and watched him leave the room. Della phoned in their take-out for the evening, and they left the building soon afterward.

One week Later

Della started to crave foods that she hardly ate and her sleep patterns were getting more frequent. She almost fell asleep while filing the paperwork. Gertie suddenly caught her drifting off and shook her only to surprise her momentarily.

"Miss Street, are you okay? I'm worried about you. Have you seen a doctor lately about your tiredness?" Gertie asked while she put her hand on her shoulder only to quickly remove it when Perry approached from his office.

"I'll be alright Gertie. Thank you for your concern." Della brushed her off but was not concerned as she thought she was getting overworked.

"Della, are you alright? I'm worried about you falling asleep so much. I too have seen strange eating habits of yours. You have been eating a lot of spicy foods lately. Gertie is right. Maybe you should see a doctor." Perry joined in the conversation.

"Yes, your right. I'll call them tomorrow morning and make an appointment." Della put her hand on her head as if she was going to faint, but Perry took her arm and sat her down in her chair.

"Della, you need to go home. Get some rest. I can have Gertie take you home, or you can go in my office and lay down until I'm finished with my report." Perry knelt in front of her with concern in his eyes and held her hand in his.

"Perry, I'll be fine. It's probably the flu, or something I picked up. I'll just wait in your office until you are ready. You won't be long, will you?" Della asked him as Gertie gave her a cup of water then stood waiting on anything she might need.

"Gertie, no more calls today. I'm going to finish up my report, and I'm going to take Della home as she insists not letting you take her home." Perry took Della by her elbow and guided her into his office and toward the couch so that she could rest.

"Sure, Mr. Mason. I hope Ms. Street feels better by tomorrow, and the doctor finds out what is going on with her. I'm worried it might be something serious." Gertie watched Perry take Della into his office and help her to the couch. He took his overcoat off the coat rack, covered her up, and returned to his desk to finish his report and kept a diligent eye on Della while she rested.

The following morning Della made the appointment while Perry went to the office. He had an important brief meeting he needed to attend and knew Della would take the day off from work. Gertie managed the phone calls while Della was out and would schedule clients, but they would have to be approved by Della or Perry once they got back in the office. Della was feeling much better in the morning as Perry was still concerned, and she knew it. He would not know what to do with himself if something drastic happened to her. After she arrived at the physician's office, they did the regular check-up, blood pressure, weight, any abnormal things that needed to be of concern. The nurse took Della's paperwork back to the doctor, and he reviewed it. The doctor knocked softly on the door and entered the waiting room while Della was fidgeting with her fingers in her lap.

"Mrs. Mason, how are you feeling today? It's been a while since I last saw you. Tell me what's bothering you?"

"Hello, Dr. Nash. I've been long overdue for a check-up, and I am sorry. My husband insisted on coming in to see why I've been falling asleep suddenly and craving weird foods. I haven't the slightest idea what is going on." Della spoke up.

"You have been married for a short time, and you have not been evaluated yet to see if you might be pregnant. That's the first thing I would want to check for to rule out the cravings. If you and your husband have been trying to get pregnant or have been sexually active, that might also be a possibility. When was your last period? I'm your doctor and everything is confidential as it all goes in your file." The doctor waited for Della's answer as she thought back.

"I believe it was three months ago. I skip a month then my period usually starts, but with stress lately at work, I did miss two months. I figured that on the third month I'd be on my monthly cycle. Do you suppose something is seriously wrong with my ovaries, and they are not producing?" Della bit her bottom lip before she looked up at her doctor.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about. I'll have my nurse bring in the urine cup, and we'll run a test to see if you are indeed pregnant. The first step in ruling out an unnecessary surgery, and the test will not take long, by today you will know if you will be expecting or would need to see a specialist. Della agreed with the doctor as she needed to get to the bottom of what was causing all her issues.

Perry solemnly sat in the meeting wondering what Della had found out from the doctor's visit. The meeting took a short recess of a half hour. Perry nervously paced out in the hallway waiting for this meeting to be over as he smoked a cigarette. He decided to phone the office only to hear Gertie give him the bad news that Della hadn't phoned the office yet. Before going back into the meeting, Perry went to the washroom and relieved himself. He pulled out one of Della's favorite handkerchiefs that he sprayed her favorite perfume on, smelled it, and tucked it back into his pocket. He kept it close to his heart inside the jacket pocket of his suit and that secret Della hadn't found out but she would soon. He couldn't keep secrets from her she always found him out. The real reason he stashed her perfume-laced handkerchief in his pocket was to ward off clients, who needed to know he was either taken by another woman or married. This tactic saved him a few times as pushy women got too close for comfort then they backed off him. He most defiantly appreciated every day he carried it because it was a part of her that he could keep close.

When Della received the news from the doctor, she couldn't believe her ears. She was expecting a baby and was three months along. All the sudden urges, cravings, tiredness, and sometimes tender breasts led to being an expectant mother. She wished Perry could have dropped the meeting and been with her when the news was revealed to her by her doctor. Now she had to tell him the news and wondered if he be elated or angry. Della's mind was racing as she thought he would get a replacement for her after finding this out. She wanted to work in the office alongside her husband unless he thought it would be best if she stayed at home. She would listen to him, but he would hear her out first. Sure, she could wear maternity clothes in the office and still work on paperwork it wasn't that strenuous. Before she left, Della made a follow-up appointment with the doctor to check on her progress.

Perry returned to the office as soon as the meeting was over. Gertie told him no phone calls from any clients since his meeting, but Della had left a message for him.

"Dinner will be ready when you get home," Gertie told him with a smile on her lips.

"Oh, Della's doctor's visit must have gone well." Perry replied and smiled at Gertie before he walked into his office.

"I'm glad she went for a check-up, Mr. Mason. I was so worried about her, and I know you were as well."

"Thanks, Gertie. I'm going to leave a little early today," Perry informed her and gathered up his coat from the law library and headed out the office door.

"Okay, Mr. Mason. I'll see you on Monday." Gertie cheerfully said and watched him leave the office in a hurry.

Perry made a stop at the jewelry shop Tiffany's. There were elegant, expensive, and fancy jewelry that had been around for quite some time. It was Perry's favorite place to buy gifts for Della, and today was an exceptional one. He knew she would be alright and needed not to worry about her health or so he thought. Upon entering the jewelry shop, he browsed the watches, rings, bracelets, pearls and necklaces. He had pondered on getting Della a ring and bracelet set, but wasn't sure if he wanted to get the gold or platinum. Money was no object to him, and he decided on purchasing both. He bought her the three-carat diamond bracelet laid in platinum and a matching two carat diamond ring with two diamonds, a carat each, connected to each other. The ring reminded him of him and his wife.

The clerk gift-wrapped the jewelry with a ribbon after Perry had paid for the items and left a generous tip for the clerk who was all smiles. By the time Perry had left town, he had purchased jewelry and visited the local florist to buy Della two dozen of fresh red roses. Della fixed Perry a rib-eye steak, with baked potatoes, greens, and fresh rolls with strawberry cheesecake as dessert and red wine. She labored in the kitchen for her husband and thought of how she was going to tell him the news of welcoming a son or daughter into their lives. Perry parked his car in the parking spot, shut the engine off, got out, and walked into the apartment building. He took out his car keys, unlocked his door to the apartment and walked in. The aroma of a home-cooked meal filled the apartment as the scent filled his nostrils. He looked to see if Della was still in the kitchen, but he walked to the bedroom door to find her staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Della looked at her reflection in the mirror observing her curves of what little she was showing. She hoped that she wouldn't lose her figure due to the baby on the way. She also hoped that Perry wouldn't lose interest in her once she gained a respectable amount of weight due to her pregnancy. She placed her hand on her belly when she saw a figure behind her move towards her.

"I wondered when you were going to get away from the office, Perry." Della said before she was stopped as she tried to turn around to face him.

"It was boring to say the least. Enough about me. What did the doctor say? Anything serious that I need to be concerned about?" He approached her with the bouquet of red roses. He wiped a stray tear down her cheek. Thinking he did something wrong, he looked at her with concern in his eyes. Perry still clutched the roses into his right hand as he approached her from behind and held them out for her. She turned around graciously took them with a smile on her face. Perry pulled her into his embrace as she smelled the fragrant roses. As he held her tightly in his arms, he noticed she had been crying.

"Perry, dinner will be ready soon, and I made rib-eye steak, baked potatoes, greens, homemade rolls, and strawberry cheesecake with red wine. How's that sound?" Della cocked her eyebrow at him seductively.

"Sounds wonderful, Della. I've got something for you too, but you get it when you tell me what the doctor said. It's a give and take question Della. Spill it." Perry held her tightly in his arms while she smelled perfume on him again. It was her favorite scent. She narrowed her eyes at him and gripped his forearms as he reluctantly released his hold on her.

"What do we have here? You have been making yourself useful in the ladies department of perfume, or having secret meetings with an attractive, wealthy, lady clients that wear expensive perfume, let alone, my favorite scent." Della accused playfully as she walked away from him to find a vase to put her roses in and to add some water. Perry followed her and gently took her elbow in his hand after she placed the roses onto the table.

"No Della. Since you were off for the day, I admit it I've been stealing your handkerchiefs for a while now. I spray a spot of your favorite scent onto it and carry it in my inside jacket pocket just to have you close to me, especially when I'm out away from the office. I have to keep the other women at distance knowing I've already got a woman, or they think I'm funny for wearing ladies' perfume. They back off once they get a whiff of you, and I mean that honestly." Perry said as he seized her waist again and pulled her towards him while she placed her hands onto his forearms. She was not giving into him just yet.

"That's where my missing handkerchief had gone. I wondered where it had gone?" Della gave him a smirk and spotted the fabric in his coat pocket as it jutted out while he held her tightly. He was right it was her handkerchief as it had a distinct floral pattern on it. Perry relaxed his embrace around her and his hands splayed low on her hips. Della gave him a bashful smile before wrapping her arms behind his head and pulled him in for a long, passionate kiss. He knew she forgave him. He broke the kiss, and she sighed with her eyes still half closed before he took his forefinger and lifted her chin.

"Della, come on tell me what the doctor said. If you don't, our food is going to be cold by the time we get into the kitchen. I'm not leaving the bedroom until you tell me. What's the news?" Perry insisted her to tell him.

"I have a surprise for you just go look into the top dresser, and you'll find the answer." Della instructed him. Perry released her from his arms, walked over to the dresser, opened it to find a set of knitted booties. He quickly turned around without shutting the drawer, scooped her up in his arms, and surprised her by lifting her into the air as her feet dangled off the floor.

"Della, are you sure? I mean this is not a joke, is it? If it is, this has to be the making of Hamilton Burger." He kidded her made her giggle at him before he set her feet back down on the ground and peppered her face with kisses.

"No, Perry. I'm afraid its not a joke. The doctor's test and exam told me that I'm three months. I had missed my first period, then I missed my second, and when my third period was scheduled to show up, it didn't. I told the doctor I had been stressed at work a few months, but I figured by the third month that I should have gotten my cycle back. It didn't happen like I thought it would." Della told him while he held her steadfastly.

"I'm just over the moon Della. I couldn't be happier for you, and I know your pregnancy will come with challenges, but we'll overcome them. Oh, I have something else for you. I didn't just pick up roses while on my way home." Perry reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved the two items that he purchased from the jewelry shop.

"What is it a design of the old ball and chain?" Della poked fun at him. He presented the items to her and she opened the one gift which left her speechless. He followed it with the other smaller gift he produced as she sat down on the edge of the bed. He knelt before her, and she took his hand in hers and held it while the other caressed his stubbly cheek.

"Perry, you shouldn't have." Della's eyes brimmed with tears as they welled up before he took her in his arms and held her tightly. He kissed her cheek and wiped the tear away from her eyes.

"I know I didn't have to, but "I" want to spoil you in every possible way. You are my wife and mother of my child. I'm going to take care of you both. I love you so much Della. I was so worried about your doctor's visit today. I didn't know what to expect good or bad, but I do know one thing. I'm going to be in this for the long haul, mood swings, food cravings, etc. Sure, work will get hectic, but I will not be hiring anyone to replace you. You don't need to worry about that Della. Once the baby is here, we can hire a reputable baby sitter or plan accordingly when he or she arrives." Perry lovingly told her while she hugged him to her.

"Perry, thank you. I couldn't imagine carrying anyone else's child and being a proud, expected mother to be. When are we going to tell the expectant grandparents? And Paul will most certainly find out before they would. I think Gertie already knows, but hasn't mentioned anything. Our secret will be kept under wraps as I trust her. I'm just worried about my belly bump. If I gained a considerable amount of weight I could be exposed. I have a cousin that we share the same size, build and everything, but she never gained a lot weight, let alone looked heavily pregnant, and had a healthy baby." Della glowed while she talked about the unborn child that was growing inside her. Perry placed his hands on stomach to show his love for his child now that the love of his life was now carrying his future.

"I'll give my parents a call later after dinner. Tell them I need to have an important discussion with them both and not let on we're expecting. I know your parents will be absolutely thrilled."

"Yes, they sure would be. I'll give them a after dinner. Let's go eat, shall we." Perry took her hand in his and led her to the kitchen. Perry shrugged out of his suit jacket,
rolled up his sleeves and helped with dinner as much as he could. They both couldn't be happier now that a new addition was going to be present in their lives. Perry made a vow to Della when they were married, and he made it clear that he was not going anywhere.

LOVE NEVER FAILS. - 1 Corinthians 13

Started: 12/5/21

Completed: 1/21/22