Chapter 7

The weeks passed quickly for Leanna and James. With Billy's help, the repairs were made to the milking barn, the storage barn and the house. The root cellar was enlarged and James added new shelves.

The days were long, but they worked well together side by side. At night, they came together with passion that threatened to explode into a firestorm with each orgasm. They still met in the barn nightly. The single lamp casting shadows on the walls from two bodies entwined. Leanna had discovered the depth of sexual release that few women would ever know. She was keen to learn everything she could to please James and he returned the favor by bringing her to new heights with his tongue, lips, fingers, cock -- all to show her how much he loved her. Her natural sensual instincts had been honed with skills rivaling any courtesan. She had learned to dress, and undress, just for him, to allow him access to her entire body, to give herself freely to his every whim. She also learned to take her pleasure in his body. He encouraged her explorations and showed her exactly how to please him.

On his weekly trips to town, he made discrete inquiries about Thomas Grays. Learning nothing, he would get supplies and head back to the farm. Sometimes, Leanna would go with him, and would have to answer questions about her handsome 'cousin'. The ladies of the town were forever putting their daughters - or themselves - in his path.

At first this amused Leanna, but then it made her think. What if they stayed here? The cover story made it impossible for them to be together. When she finally realized that, she began the painful process of deciding which she would have to give up: her home or James. Neither was really a choice. Until that choice became inevitable, she would enjoy her time with James in the place she loved.

Buddy Wilkes, aka Thomas Grayson, aka Thomas Grays, sat at the poker table, and looked at his dwindling pile of chips. It had not been a good day. His luck was off and the cards were cold. He had only been in town for 2 days however and had learned much. His former father-in-law was dead. His own brat was running the place but rumor had it she was fixin to sell the farm with all it's stock. That should bring in a tidy sum. No sense letting her bear that burden alone! She wasn't married which meant that she was probably homely as sin. She didn't need his physical help though - a 'cousin' had shown up. Didn't know who that could be, but since the old man kept all kinds of secrets, nothing would surprise him.

He hadn't wanted to even come near this town for fear his wife would be after him. But when he found out she had died 10 years ago, he felt relief more than anything else. The bitch had been a clingy, grasping woman who expected him to give up his life. When the kid was born, she got even worse. The constant whining and bellyaching finally got to him and he just didn't go home one night. He didn't care that her father had told her never to return. He didn't have a single thought about the kid - all she did was cry. He had his own life and no woman was going to tell him how to run it. He only came back here to hide.

He had been on the run for 3 years. No one saw him the night he killed the beautiful Isabelle and the bastard who stole her from him. But the ghosts in his dreams wouldn't leave him be. Every time he got comfortable, they showed up. His luck would turn bad, he would start drinking too much and would have to leave quickly and quietly. Here he still had a few of his old buddies and could maybe hit them up for a bed or a loan. The money he had made from the sale of the hotel had long since been lost or spent. He had won and lost 2 fortunes since then and was currently broke. Gambling had never been anything but a fickle profession. He'd had enough for a week at the boarding house, but it was a real dump. He'd have to stick around long enough to exert his 'fatherly' rights to the money from the sale of the farm and find some idiot to marry the girl.

Billy had just left for the day and Leanna and James were repairing a section of fence. A few of the cows had wandered out the gap, but Billy had tracked them down. They grazed lazily only yards away, perfectly content. James wiped his brow and then set the last post. The barbed wire was wicked if you weren't careful and his arms were evidence. Leanna had a scratch along her right temple and a few on her forearms also.

'As soon as this last one is set, we're done for the day. How would a nice hot bath sound?', James asked Leanna.

'Marvelous! But I'm too tired to heat the water for two baths.'

'Who says we need two?', James asked with a devilish grin. 'I think we could share one tub and wash each other's backs.'

'James! You are awful, but I like that about you.', Leanna giggled and blushed. She really did like him, alot. In fact she was positive that they truly loved each other. She stepped up to him and even though they were both sweaty and dirty, they embraced, holding each other with promises of passion. They never seemed to tire of touching. The need to be together was overwhelming and felt completely natural and right. They picked up the tools and started back towards the house.