Wild Sweet Love by Beverly Jenkins
Chapter 16
Madison was interested in investment opportunities. Mindful of Ben’s last words, he’d made arrangements to rent a buggy from Handy’s livery. Armed with the newspaper listings and a few leads from Olivia and Sophie, he planned to spend the day traveling the valley to evaluate land, farms, and businesses for sale, while trying to imagine what the Solomon Valley might look like in the decades to come and what kinds of new enterprises might prove profitable.
At the moment, however, he was in Sophie’s dining room enjoying an early breakfast. Over the past few days, Molly and Teresa’s sister-in-law, Olivia, had become fast friends. Drawn to each other by a mutual love of sewing, the two were spending every free moment discussing patterns, fabrics, and notions. With that in mind, he felt free to do his exploring, knowing that his mother would be safe and enjoying herself.
He had no idea what Teresa’s plans were for the day. He assumed she’d be spending time with her family, and he didn’t begrudge her that. Neil July was still watching him as if sizing him up for a coffin, but so far the former outlaw hadn’t revealed whatever was on his mind.
Putting Neil aside, Madison stood and was paying his bill when Teresa sashayed into the dining room in a pair of brown leathers. Her flat crowned hat was hanging by a string around her neck, and her gun belt, complete with her big pearl-handled Colt, hung from her trim waist.
“’Morning,” she said, approaching him, her ebony features sparkling with her smile. “What’s got you up so early?”
“Going out to look at a couple of farms and a closed-up mercantile over in Nicodemus. They’re supposed to be for sale.” The sight of her brightened his day. “Where are you heading?”
“To get Cloud and go riding. You want some company, at least part of the way?”
“Sure. I have a map but you might be the difference between me getting there and me getting lost.”
The town was quiet as they walked toward Handy’s livery. Most of the businesses wouldn’t open for another hour or two, depending on the owner. There were a few wagons moving up and down the street, bringing in vegetables and meats for the grocers and making deliveries to the mercantile, but for the most part, they had Main Street to themselves.
Madison said, “This quiet takes some getting used to.”
“I think it’s much better than all that noise back East. Out here you can hear yourself think.”
He looked over at her. She was in her element here. In Philadelphia when she was first released she’d seemed a bit unsure of herself and how to fit in, but here she walked like the goddess that she was, gun belt and all.
The stop at Handy’s took only a few moments. Now, out on the plains, he drove the buggy while she rode beside him mounted on Cloud. This was his first look at her fabled stallion, and the animal was magnificent. “Why’d you name him Cloud?”
Teresa shook her head with amusement. “You are such a city boy. Look at the horse, Madison, and you tell me.”
The grayish white blaze that ran up from the horse’s nose to between his eyes was so obvious the answer that even a city boy could see it. Madison had to chuckle at himself. “Forget I asked.”
“It’s okay.” She stopped and raised herself in the stirrups. Looking west, she said, “Riders coming.” Reaching into the worn brown leather saddle bag draped over Cloud’s neck, she pulled out a spy glass and raised it to her eye. As she focused and the men’s faces came into view, she cursed softly.
“What’s wrong?” Madison asked.
She snapped the glass closed and put it away. “It’s Sumner Booth. I used to ride with him. He’s a real varmint. Got a glass eye.”
Madison stood and turned his attention west. The men were now visible. They were riding fast. He turned to Teresa and saw that she was calmly putting bullets into her Colt. “Are you expecting trouble?”
“Maybe,” she said easily. “Booth said he’d kill me if we ever crossed paths again.”
Madison stared. “What!”
Teresa took a moment to check her aim. “He thinks I shorted him on a cut of a robbery five years ago. I told him I didn’t, but he’s chosen not to believe me.”
Madison was speechless for a moment. He wasn’t armed so he was of no value if something did occur. “Teresa?”
She gave him a cool smile, “Welcome to the Wild West, city boy.”
That said, she placed the Colt across her thighs and waited for Booth to arrive.
Booth and the thin, dirty young man with him pulled their mounts to a walk as they approached. A tall Black man dressed in denims, old boots, and a worn plaid green shirt, Booth didn’t appear to have shaved in days, if ever. The glass eye was fixed like a Cyclops, while the other eye evaluated Teresa and Madison. “Well, if it ain’t Teresa July,” he finally said. “Thought that was you in my glass but I had to come see to make sure.” His chilly smile showed the gap of missing teeth. “When’d you get out?”
“Few months back. How you doing, Sumner?”
“Fine. Who’s the pigeon?”
“Friend of mine.”
Booth looked him up and down, “Nice meeting ya.”
“Same here,” Madison lied. He’d taken immediate offense at being called a pigeon, but kept his mouth shut because he knew to let Teresa lead on this.
“Where you from?” Booth asked
“Philadelphia.”
Booth looked impressed. “City pigeon. He as rich as he looks?”
“Why’d you ride me down, Sumner?” Teresa asked coldly, putting an end to that conversation.
“Came to see if you had my money.”
Teresa’s jaw tightened. “There is no money. I gave Mooney your share. If it was short, take it up with him. How many times do we have to do this?”
“I talked to Mooney. He says the cut was short when you gave it to him.”
“Mooney would lie about the color of grass, and we both know it.”
That one eye impaled her. “I want my money or I’ll take it out of your hide.”
“Go back to Texas where that threat might work. It doesn’t play here in the valley. And did I mention my brothers are in town? All of them?”
He stiffened.
“Thought that would get your attention. If something happens, you’d better hope I kill you, because if I don’t, you’ll go to your grave wishing I had. Now, good seeing you. Let’s go, Madison.”
As she and Madison moved away, Booth yelled, “This ain’t over, bitch!”
Teresa ignored him.
After putting some distance between themselves and the glass-eyed Booth, Madison looked into her tightly set face and said, “You know some interesting people.”
“Like I said, he’s a varmint. Sorry about the name calling.”
“I wasn’t happy about it, believe me. Do you think he’ll keep after you?”
“Oh, of course. He’s been in my face for something or other ever since we met. He hates knowing there’s a woman alive who can outshoot him, outride him, and outthink him. Sticks in his craw like a fish-bone.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Probably wind up shooting him.”
Madison studied her.
She shrugged. “It’s the truth.”
“You’d risk going back to prison.”
“If I shoot Sumner Booth, the jury will give me a medal. I’m not worried about that. Besides, you heard him threatening me. It’ll be self-defense.”
Madison couldn’t believe how calm she appeared.
She told him, “Don’t worry.” The concern in his eyes touched her heart, but she could take care of herself. “So, where do you want to go first?”
His mustache lifted. “Back to Philadelphia. I feel a little out of place here.”
She laughed. “Now you know how I felt being in Philadelphia.”
“You are going to tell your brothers about Booth?”
She shrugged. “Probably.”
“Probably?”
“I’m used to handling my own affairs.”
“He threatened to hurt you, Teresa.”
“He’s not the first person to do that, Madison. I’ll be fine.”
Madison felt like a fish with a bicycle. He had no idea how to handle this but he knew that if Booth harmed her, Madison would be the one on trial because he’d hunt the man down. And if she didn’t want to talk to her brothers, he would.
They spent the remainder of the morning looking at farms and studying the acres of land for sale. One of the lots had a small stream cutting through it and held one of the area’s few stands of trees. It was about ten miles outside of Henry Adams. While walking across the open grassland, he noted the peaceful feel of the surroundings and could imagine someone building a house here. “Be a nice place for a house,” he said to her.
Walking beside him, she looked around. “Land’s not too low. Water’s available. Trees. I’d say it was not only nice, but perfect.”
“You know, the way the country’s expanding, there probably won’t be very many open spaces left like this, say in a hundred years.”
“Don’t say that. But then I’ll be dead by then and won’t care.” The flippant remark brought up images of Tamar, and she went silent for a few moments as her grief rose then slowly subsided.
“Are you all right?”
“Talking about dying made me think about Tamar.” She stopped, then looked out over the land again. “Maybe when I get my parole done, I’ll buy this piece of land. Be nice for Cloud and me.”
When she turned to gauge his reaction, he was already watching her. The memories of the good times they’d had together and the love that they’d made rose just like the images of Tamar had. Each had its own sadness. Not wanting him to read her eyes, she looked away.
“Teresa,” he called softly
She kept her back to him. “Yeah?”
Next she knew, he was behind her and gently wrapping his arms around her waist. “I wanted to give you time to handle your grief, but this not holding you or being near you isn’t working for me.”
She whispered, “Me either.”
He gave a soft chuckle and kissed the top of her hair. “So, what do you want to do?”
She turned in his arms and looked up. “No idea.”
For a moment he fed himself on her eyes, then he reached up and tenderly stroked her cheek. “May I kiss you?”
“Please.”
He smiled fondly, then lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss was made of longing, sweetness, and so much emotion they immediately pulled each other closer. It had been so long, and they’d wanted each other so much, that hungry kisses were soon roving over jaws and throats. His hands were exploring her leather-covered back, and hers his vest-covered chest. He undid the closures on her jacket, and hardened immediately at the sight of her having nothing on underneath it but the purple silk binding her breasts. He ran a hand over the yielding globes, then dragged the silk down and licked at one dark tipped delight. She groaned and arched. He lowered the other side, repeated the salute, and the sensations flared over her like flames.
They were out in the open, visible for miles, so they moved the buggy, Cloud, and themselves to the shelter of the trees. Once they were out of the sun and shielded from prying eyes, he pushed open the halves of her jacket to continue his masterful conquering. It didn’t take long for desire to claim them both. His mouth on her set off a need in her core that only he could fill.
They wound up in the buggy with Madison on the seat and Teresa astride him. The penetrating rhythm of his hot hard strokes made her rise and fall in shameless response. He was unprotected, but she didn’t care. The heat of him moving in and out coupled with his strong hands guiding her waist became her world, and she never wanted it to end. When the orgasm shattered over her and then him, their vocal responses were loud in the silence. The cadences of the union increased, and, growling and gasping, they rode their wild sweet love to completion.
It took them two more soul shaking bouts of uninhibited dallying to finally get enough, and when they were done, Teresa fell back against the seat sated, pulsating, and satisfied. Beside her, Madison was in the same state. The last orgasm had started somewhere down around his toes and kept rising until it blew off the top of his head. He didn’t think his breathing would ever return to normal.
He turned his head on the seat and met her eyes. Lord she was beautiful. Beautiful, feisty, fearless, and because of their unprotected and overpowering lust, possibly impregnated with their child. He’d marry her, of course, but it was yet another potential wrinkle in their complicated relationship.
“That was nice,” she said softly, and as if reading his mind, added, “And you don’t have to worry about being roped into marriage. Out here there are herbs and seeds to take care of things like that.”
He stilled. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying,” she echoed softly, “that you don’t have to worry about being saddled with someone like me.”
“Teresa?”
She placed a soft hand against his lips. “Let’s not talk about this now, okay? I’m a big girl.”
Madison’s jaw was set angrily. “And if I want the child?”
“No child of mine is going to be raised back East.”
“Why not?”
“Look around. Out here, or back there? No contest.” She began righting her clothing.
Madison wanted to argue but knew it would only cause another rift, and they’d just found each other again. He knew that this was a discussion they were going to have, though, even if he had to tie her to a chair to do it. Herbs and seeds? Tight-lipped, he shook his head and started to do up his own clothes.
For two people who had only moments ago been each other’s whole world, they rode back to town in silence.
After dropping off Cloud and paying Handy for the buggy’s rental, they walked back to the hotel. When they reached their rooms, they stopped outside their respective doors and studied each other in the quiet for a long moment. Teresa tried to ignore the love in her heart, and said, “I’ll see you later.”
Madison had so much he wanted to say to her, but like most men, he didn’t want his words to be slapped down, so he nodded tightly. She went inside and closed the door softly behind her.
Alone, he stood in the silent hallway a few moments longer, then he too went inside.
Teresa walked across the carpeted suite and saw a note lying on one of the tables. It was from Molly Nance, telling her that she was at Olivia’s shop and would meet her in the hotel for dinner later. Teresa replaced the note, pleased to be alone. Stripping off her clothes, she padded naked into the washroom and started running water in the bathtub. The fading sensations of her spirited lovemaking with Madison continued to resonate, and she smiled bittersweetly. The conversation they’d had about a potential child resulting from their coupling continued to echo as well.
Being the youngest child, she knew next to nothing about raising babies; the only thing she knew for sure was that any baby would be better off being born to someone else. Hell, Neil knew more about babies than she did. Deep down inside, the idea of motherhood scared her to death. Babies couldn’t talk, and as a result, couldn’t tell you what they needed or what might be wrong. What if she gave it the wrong food, or carried it the wrong way? What if it caught something and got sick? Infants also appeared to need constant attention, and what if she wanted to go riding in the mornings, as she’d done every day before going to jail—who’d take care of it?
Maybe if she had a husband the possibility wouldn’t be so daunting. But the last thing she wanted was for Madison to have to marry her because she was having their child. It would be a difficult way to start a life together, him being forced to make her his wife. He was a good man and deserved to be in love with the person wearing his name. There was also the issue of where they’d live. No way would she raise a child of hers around all that soot, grime, and noise of a big back east city like Philadelphia. Her childhood might not have been as privileged as his, but at least she could get up every morning and watch a true sunrise instead of the Philadelphia version that was hidden or bisected by roofs and tall buildings. The only way she’d live there was if someone put a gun to her head.
The bathwater was ready. She stepped in, sat and savored the warm liquid sliding over her love-worked limbs. Content, she leaned back and rested her head on the tub’s high rim. The memories of the heated play of his kisses and hands on her body rekindled, and she smiled in response. In spite of the problems presently plaguing them, Madison Nance could make love like nobody’s business, but if she had any sense, she told herself, today’s lusty interlude would be the last.
After the reviving bath, Teresa dressed herself in a pair of snug denims, bound her breasts with a length of smooth black cotton, then shrugged into a worn flannel shirt. She was going to go over to Olivia and Neil’s and hang around until dinner. The parole board had only granted her ten days leave in Kansas, but travel days weren’t included, so she had plenty of time to stay and spend time with her brothers. There was no telling when she might see them again.
She left her room and knocked softly on Madison’s door, to see if he wanted to walk over to Neil’s with her. He didn’t answer, so she went on her way.
Madison walked into the sheriff’s office and found Chase Jefferson sitting behind his desk talking with Neil July. Once again Neil’s eyes held his. Madison nodded. “Can I interrupt you both for a moment? Something I need to discuss with the two of you.”
Jefferson waved him to a chair. “Sure. Come on in. Have a seat.”
Madison sat in a chair next to Neil, aware of his scrutiny. “Sumner Booth,” Madison said.
“Varmint,” Neil spat.
“I agree,” the sheriff said. “What makes you bring up his name?” he asked Madison.
“Teresa and I happened upon him on our way to Nicodemus this morning.”
“I was wondering where you two had gone off to,” Neil said.
“There was some land over that way I wanted to take a look at. She was kind enough to go along to make sure I wound up in the right place.”
Madison couldn’t read anything into Neil’s closed expression, so he continued, “Booth threatened her.”
Neil asked, “Is he still whining about that money?”
Madison nodded.
What money?” Jefferson asked.
Neil told him the story, and when he was done, Jefferson asked, “How much does Sumner think he’s owed?”
“Four hundred dollars.”
“That’s a lot of money.”
“Yes, it is,” Neil concurred. “My baby sister may be a lot of things but she’s no cheat. If she said she sent Booth his cut with Mooney, she did.” Neil looked to Madison, “What did Booth say?”
“If she didn’t pay up, he’d take it out of her hide.”
“And he’ll go to hell wearing the same clothes he was wearing if he puts a hand on her.”
“We think alike,” Madison stated.
He could see Neil assessing him. “You have feelings for her, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“She’d be lucky to get somebody as polished as you. Is she giving you a hard time?”
Although Madison was glad to hear the endorsement, he responded with a bitter chuckle, “Of course.”
Neil smiled and shook his head. “She’s a lot like that ornery stallion of hers. Independent. She’s not going to come to the well willingly.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Madison said, remembering that afternoon’s conversation.
Neil added, “Just hold onto your cards. Things will turn out. You’ll see.”
Madison wanted to believe him, but nothing was concrete where Teresa was concerned.
Teresa was striding down the plank walk on Main Street, on her way to Neil and Olivia’s place, when she heard, “Hey, bitch!”
She stopped, turned, and saw Sumner Booth’s dirty little sidekick sitting on his horse in the middle of the street. He had a superior-looking smile on his face. “You’d better get Sumner his money.”
“Are you talking to me?”
“Yeah, bitch. I am. If it was me you owed money to, I’d already be making you work it off on your back.”
Teresa stepped off the curb and walked over to him. “Where’s your keeper?”
“Unless you have his money, why the hell do you care?”
Now standing beside him, without a word she reached up, angrily grabbed the front of his shirt, and snatched him out of the saddle. His surprised face exploded with pain as her punch broke his nose and sent him sprawling. Howling and rolling on the ground, he reached for his gun, only to have her powerful leg propel a kick into his sternum, cracking three ribs. He forgot about the gun, he was too busy screaming. She pulled him to his feet and snarled into his bloody face, “The next time you use that word, make sure you think about this!” The solid knee she sent into his groin made him sing like a soprano, then she dropped him back into the dust.
A small crowd was watching from the walk, including the sheriff, a smiling Neil, and Madison, who was staring at Teresa like he’d never seen her before. Seeing them, she called out, “He needed to be taught some manners.”
The student in question was at her feet moaning and groaning, obviously in great pain. “Sheriff, you should probably get the doc,” Teresa said. “I think this desperdicio’s hurt.”
The beaten man whimpered, “I’m going to kill you.”
Teresa’s reply was cold. “Only if you ever walk again. Until then, adios.” She left him lying there and continued the walk to her sister-in-law’s house.
Neil, Chase, and Madison watched her stride away. They’d heard the kid’s loud slur in the office and had come outside to investigate just in time to get a ringside view of the main event.
Jefferson asked, “Think he’ll watch his mouth next time?”
Neil cracked, “I think he’ll run in the opposite direction next time.”
A still amazed Madison chuckled. “I know I would.”
He and Neil shared a look, then headed off to his house, leaving the sheriff to pick up the desperdicio still moaning in agony in the street.
“What’s desperdicio mean in English?” Madison asked.
“Garbage.”
“Ah.”
When Olivia poured the iodine onto Teresa’s busted knuckles, her curses turned the air blue.
Molly gasped, “Teresa!”
“Hell, it hurts. Sorry. Heck, it hurts!”
The three July brothers laughed.
Olivia simply smiled and mopped at the small bits of blood with a clean rag. “At least you taught that cretin a lesson.”
“Yes, she did,” Neil announced as he entered the yard with Madison. “She did herself proud, boys. Didn’t she, Madison?”
He met Teresa’s gaze. “She definitely didn’t need any help.”
Two Shafts asked, “This was a kid riding with Sumner Booth?”
Teresa tore her attention away from Madison’s concerned eyes. “Yeah. Sumner’s still griping about the money I supposedly owe him.”
She related that morning’s meeting with Booth to Harper and Diego, because they didn’t know the story.
Diego’s face was hard. “He’ll go to his grave still crying about that money if he isn’t careful. We may be reformed but we’re not that reformed.”
Chuckles followed that.
Teresa’s hand was bandaged, and Olivia put away her doctoring supplies.
They were just sitting down to dinner when Chase Jefferson came around to the back of the house. Olivia stood. “Is something the matter, Sheriff?”
“Telegram just came in for Teresa from Judge Parker. Thought she’d want to see it right away.”
Teresa was scared of what it might say. Was Judge Parker mad that she’d been allowed to attend Tamar’s service? Did he think ten days too long a stay and wanted her back in Philadelphia on tomorrow’s first eastbound train? All manner of questions filled her mind. Confident in the knowledge that she’d face whatever this might turn out to be, she took the envelope holding the message and ripped it open while everyone looked on tensely.
Her scream of joy startled them. She jumped up and down and flung the message into the air. “I’m free! I’m free!”
Neil hurried to pick up the paper so he could see what had set her off. Teresa was in another world, bent over, dancing and singing joyfully in the old tongue. Her brothers looked on in happy confusion. Against the sound of Teresa’s voice now warbling the Seminole victory chants, Neil read aloud: “‘Dear Miss July. On this day the second of September in the eighteenth hundredth and ninety-fifth year of Our Lord, I, Judge Isaac Parker, do hereby grant you pardon of all charges…’ A wide-eyed Neil stared around.
The brothers took up her celebratory cry, then guns started firing, much to the sheriff’s amusement and Olivia’s dismay, but the Julys didn’t care. Their baby sister was free. No more parole, no more living back East.
In the midst of the celebration, Neil’s eyes met Madison.
Madison was pleased for Teresa, very pleased, and his look imparted that to Neil. Inside, however, all he could think was, Now what?