Chapter 1

I rolled off the couch while turning over. I struggled to look at my watch and finally brought it into focus. Two a.m. Well it had been quite a day. Getting married, dining, dancing and drinking too many toasts. Funny, I thought I could hold my liquor better than this. I also had a terrible taste in my mouth ... something like moth balls. Again I struggled and made it to my feet. Someone put their arms around me to hold me steady.

“Thanks, sweetheart, I’m awful unsteady. Guess you’ll have to help me walk. I can’t believe how I feel. Help me to our wedding bed.” My new wife of a few hours didn’t answer, just heading me down the hall, she behind me holding me up. We passed my former room. I was awake enough to hear someone having sex behind the closed door.

“That must be one of the usher’s getting lucky. Well, you’re about to get lucky, I do think I can perform well enough to make this wedding legal. I’m sorry about getting so drunk.” There was a dim nightlight on. The covers were pulled aside so when I reached the bed, I just rolled into it. My wife immediately turned to the door, whispering she would be right back. I closed my eyes and waited.

The next thing I realized she was removing my clothes and I did what I could to give her a hand. It was totally dark in the room. I felt the bed sink as she got into it and I rolled to her side and there she was as naked as I was and her hands were pulling me closer. I was getting excited now. She turned away and shifted her butt so it was now brushing against my member. She leaned away from me until I felt her hand reach between her legs and guide me.

I closed up and then connected. Instinct took over and I began to thrust. My new wife was meeting me, pushing back vigorously. She actually backed me up to the edge of the bed. I couldn’t have that as I was now nearly awake and more than a little interested and I moved more aggressively. I felt Lorna orgasm, and I didn’t stop. I wanted this to be good for her. Maybe it was the amount I had drunk, but it took awhile for me to build until I could finally finish. I thought this was better than the sex we had when only engaged.

I stayed in until I was deflated. I sank back and mumbled “I love you.” I was so tired now, I could hardly move. She was getting out of bed as I sank into slumber.

It was nearly nine o’clock when I awoke again. Lorna was beside me. She had a nightgown on and it had raised high enough for me to see there was some slight evidence showing that I had consummated our union early this morning.

I leaned over and kissed her and she pushed me away. “Not now Howard, I’m too tired. We’ll make sure we are married legally later.” I was a little puzzled by this, but if she wanted to play coy with me for taking her during the night, that was okay. I was hungry anyway.

I went into the kitchen and made coffee. When brewed, I poured a mug full and sat at the counter, discovering a note propped against the sugar bowl. “Lorna and Howard, thanks for inviting me to your wedding. I had to leave early and you didn’t look like you were getting up soon so I called a taxi and I’m on the way back to Montana. Love you guys, Kittery.” I was disappointed for I loved Kitten like the sister she had just become. I thought the world of her. I had only seen her twice until yesterday since becoming engaged to Lorna. She had run off to Montana to live with her Aunt Mary six months ago.

An hour later Lorna came into the kitchen. She had showered and dressed. I was still in my robe and I had showered before I had coffee. “Good morning, Mrs ... You’re looking lovely this morning.”

“Thank you, Howard. It’s a great day to be alive. I wish we didn’t have to put off going on our honeymoon, but Daddy promised to pay for the whole wedding if we would wait. Is this the way our marriage is going to be?”

“No, of course not, your father just needs me to complete a scheduled job at the shop. I was the one who planned the job, but then he promised it completed early for our client without checking with me. It will be only a month from now and we will be on the high seas. I paused to sip coffee, “There is a note here from Kitten. She left before I got up. I’m sorry to have missed her.”

“You really like her don’t you?”

“Of course I do, she’s your sister and she’s family now.”

“She acts like she has a thing for you and always has. I’m glad she went back to Aunt Mary’s. Aunt Mary is a little weird since she lost her husband a few years ago. Kit went running to her Aunt when we announced our engagement. I guess Kit feels comfortable with her.”

“Well, I do like her and I’m still sorry she didn’t wake us up to say goodbye. Do you want to go back to bed now?”

“No. I’m dressed. We’ll take care of that tonight. Is everyone else gone?”

“I guess so. I saw your old boyfriend, Peters here during the wedding, did you invite him?”

“Of course not, I love you. He and I were together a long time, so he was interested in seeing me married. He is married too, you know, with a wife and has two children. Don’t tell me you are going to be a jealous husband?”

“Not without cause, I won’t be.” Lorna was soon on the phone to her mother and we ended up that night with her parents for dinner.

Lorna was fidgeting, “Mama, why didn’t Kit stay over another day with me, or even you? She left a note that she had to get back to Aunt Mary’s?”

“I have no idea. She called this morning early from the airport. It sounded like she was crying. Your Dad had to bribe her to come to see you two married. I think she was jealous of you and now that Howard is married she’ll put all of her feelings behind her. She promised she would come for Christmas so the lot of us will be together as a family again.

Lorna and I settled into married life. We tried to outdo each other in bed during the honeymoon cruise. Home from the cruise I returned to the job that I had with Lorna’s father, Henry Harris. I had been working for him now for a few years. This was the only job I had since getting my engineering degree. Kittery, Lorna’s sister, seldom called her mother and never called Lorna. It was like she was out of our life.

I was the only one who mentioned Kit and I was mostly ignored when I did. I had been fond of Kitten as she grew from a gawky teenager into a beautiful young woman and I often teased her about boys. The last time when I asked about her dating, she ran away with tears in her eyes. We weren’t as comfortable with each other after that.

I had met Aunt Mary a few times. She was a widow and did something with horses, living in Montana. She was sister to Mable, Kitten and Lorna’s mother. She was independent of the family here in the east. This went further back than the sisters, but actually to Hetty Comstock, Mable and Mary’s mother. She was a total bitch to Mary. She did get along with Mable as her first born and Lorna was Mable’s first born. Kittery was the mistake which every couple has just like the mistake Mary was for Hetty.

I didn’t regret marrying Lorna, but we never seemed to be as close as when we first became engaged or close like some married couples. I had a demanding boss in Henry, but the pay was great. I gave Lorna half my pay check and I supported her by paying all the household expenses. I couldn’t seem to arrange to save much. I didn’t worry because the house we lived in came to me without a mortgage on my parents death.

Lorna didn’t work and she did a lot of shopping. Evenings she was often out with her girlfriends and she was always going somewhere with her mother. Right after Thanksgiving, I decided to call Montana. “Aunt Mary, may I speak to Kitten? I haven’t talked to her since Lorna and I were married.”

“Oh, Howard, this is unusual for you to call. Kittery would love to hear your voice. She has some sad days and this has been the worst one this week. Guess she misses Lorna and her mother. I can’t see why someone hasn’t been out to visit either of us either.”

“Henry keeps me terribly busy. If Lorna didn’t entertain herself, she’d be lonely too. I tell you what, plan on Lorna and me for a visit next weekend. I’ll pry Lorna away from her friends and we’ll fly out for two nights. Kitten will be coming back here to visit over Christmas three weeks later. Are you coming with her? Please do because I don’t really know you.”

“Maybe I will, hang on a minute and I’ll get Kit to the phone.”

“Hi Howard, how are you?”

“God, it is good to hear your voice. You do know how much I miss you don’t you?”

“That’s nice, Howard, I’ve missed you too. How is married life?”

“Okay, and except for the honeymoon cruise, we don’t do much together. Your Dad keeps me busy. I don’t know what he would do without me.”

“Howard, Dad will keep piling work on your shoulders forever and it will only get worse. He has done this to several young men ever since I got old enough to be aware. He promised always to bring the young men into the business, but he never did until you came along. Whoever married Lorna was to get the business someday. When it gets really bad they leave. I don’t suppose with you being happily married to Lorna, you would ever want to leave.”

“Probably not, because I do enjoy what I’m doing. This is what I trained for.”

“I’ll bet you haven’t had a full day off since you were married, have you?”

“Lorna and I had our honeymoon cruise. That was fun. I’ll take another month off next summer.”

“I’ll bet Dad can talk you out of it.”

“I’ll take that bet. Lorna and I will spend a whole week with you.”

“Howard, don’t make a bet like that or you’ll be disappointed.”

“Kitten, you are coming for Christmas aren’t you? I have to see my favorite friend who I’m missing.”

“No, I won’t be coming this year. I’m not feeling up to flying. I would like to see you though. Hearing your voice makes me so happy, but sad at the same time.”

“Please don’t be sad.”

“Okay Howard. Hey, it has been great talking to you. Call again when you can. I’ll clue Aunt Mary in to take your call. If I’m not here, give her the message for me. I do have to work, you know.”

“That doesn’t seem fair. I have a wife and she doesn’t have to work.”

“I know, but life isn’t fair and I’ve come to expect it will always be that way. Lorna was born first and she always gets what she wants. I’m resigned to the way my life has turned out. Howard, hang up please, or you will hear me crying.”

“Okay, Kitten. I wish I could hold you like I did sometimes when Lorna was being bitchy to you.”

“Howard, I remember you were always a good friend to me. Goodbye and think of me sometimes.”

“I will, Kitten. Goodbye.

Something was going on. I sat thinking about Kit. She seemed so forlorn. Why? I was awake when Lorna came to bed that night. “Hi sweetheart, you’re late.”

“Are you checking up on me? I was with Mom.” Lorna was acting a little defensive.

“No, I wasn’t checking up on you, I was just making an observation. Should I be checking on you?”

“No, of course not. You know faithful old me.”

“I hope so. Hey, I was thinking of Kitten tonight so I called her. She said she wasn’t well enough to travel for Christmas so we won’t be seeing her.”

“What’s the matter with her? I’m still pissed because she wouldn’t hang around after our wedding. It made Mom terribly mad and that makes me mad that she would do that to Mom. Let’s drop it. Do you want sex tonight? If you don’t, I’m going to sleep.”

“Go to sleep then. Sex and a bitchy wife don’t set that well with me.”

In the morning, I called Mother Harris, “Mable, what are you doing on the weekend?”

“Nothing that I know of, why?”

“I’m going to fly out to Montana and see Kitten. I thought you might like to see Mary and Kittery.”

“Lorna won’t like that. She thinks you have something going on with Kittery.”

“I don’t and never have, but it sounded like there was catch in her voice because she was so happy to hear from me.”

“I don’t think I can make it, Sorry.”

“Okay, Mable.”

“Are you still going?’

“Of course.” I smiled to myself. I’d give it not more than two hours before Henry would have work for me this weekend. The phone rang exactly one hour later.

“Yes?”

“Howard, I have a rush job that has to be done by Sunday. I’ll have it sent to your file.”

“Sorry, Henry, I’m going to be gone all weekend. I’m busy and wouldn’t want to start and then leave it. Give the job to Hamilton. He can do anything I can do.”

“This won’t look good on your yearly report.”

“I can survive it and I believe my job is safe. I’m family now, remember? One bad report for the years I’ve worked for you can’t be too bad.”

“Well, do what you have to do, but you’re making a mistake. Where are you going anyway? Is Lorna going with you?”

“I’m going out to visit Kittery. I was talking to her and she sounded like she needed a shoulder to cry on. I’m not asking Lorna, I saw in her daily planner she was going shopping in the city with Mable.”

“Christ, haven’t you bought enough stuff for her yet?”

“You would think so, but she never brings much home.” This thought rang bells in my mind. Why didn’t Lorna bring home more purchases from her trips? “Okay, Henry, sorry you’re in a bind about the job.”

“Son, say hi to Kittery and Mary for me. I do care for both.”

“I will, Henry.” ————————————

I rented a vehicle at the Helena Airport and traveled east along Route Twelve, using the rental GPS to find my destination. It was just 7 a.m. when I pulled into the driveway. It looked like this was a small ranch. I could see a few saddle horses in a corral standing breech to the breeze. Kitten answered the door to my knock. I stood looking at her. She was obviously pregnant—I would say several months along. Suddenly she began sobbing. I opened the door wide and she backed inside the hallway so I could close the door.

“Hi, Kitten, honey, is this why we weren’t going to see you come Christmas?” She nodded and I hugged her to me. She kept me close and hugged me even tighter. She looked up and it was so natural to lean down kiss her. She shuddered and then pushed me away.

“Come in Howard, Aunt Mary is in the kitchen getting breakfast. I’ll get you coffee.” Composing herself, she asked how my trip was. “I knew you were coming. Mother called me and then Lorna called me and screamed at me. She wants me to keep my mouth shut about some things I know about her that I noticed going on during your wedding.”

“I’ve been the butt of some remarks lately, so I know what you are saying. I take it then that the man responsible for your condition doesn’t want anything to do with you. That’s sad. What is he, married or something?”

Both women stared at me. Finally Kit started laughing almost hysterically, but her voice was catching every time she took a breath. “You don’t know do you?”

“What’s to know? How would I know anything about how you got pregnant?”

Kitten sobered and answered my previous questions, “Howard, the man is married, and whether he wants to do something about it is to be determined. Let’s eat breakfast and then I’ll fill you in.”

“Okay, I can go with that. I’ll bet I can find the bastard and talk turkey to him. Oh, your father sends love and misses you both terribly. He is awful busy though. He tried to get me to work this weekend, but I was adamant that I was coming to see you. You sounded so sad on the phone.”

“I am sad, but I’m so glad you came. I’m glad that Dad is thinking of me.” I was hungry and I polished off the eggs, bacon and hash browns. I drank two cups of coffee. Satiated, I sat back.

“Howard, sit still. I have a reason for asking a couple of questions and I want you to answer the best you can about the day you got married and got so drunk. We took you home early and put you on the couch so you wouldn’t make a spectacle of yourself.”

“I don’t remember that at all. Who is we?”

“Dad, your best man, and me. We left you on the couch and we went back to the reception. The fun was gone out of the party so it soon broke up. I went back to your house, sat in the corner chair and watched over you. Lorna came in some time after midnight. I don’t think she even knew I was in the house at that time. I was so mad at her. She went directly to your room and I was hoping you wouldn’t wake up. But you did. What do you remember doing after you fell off the couch?”

“Kitten, I remember Lorna helped me to my feet and guided me down the hall. I remember hearing someone having sex in my old room and commenting on it. I remember wondering if I could perform my duty in consummating my marriage. I guess I did. I remember it was the best sex I ever had. It was a hell a lot better than I get now. The next thing I remember is waking up, seeing that my wife hadn’t showered yet and I wanted to repeat what I had done with her when only half awake.”

I stopped speaking, seeing Kit and Mary looking at each other. “Howard, you didn’t consummate your marriage that night with Lorna. Oh, she had sex that night, but it wasn’t with you. She had company and it was she in your old room. What I’m trying to say is if the preacher had said the marriage vows in front of you and me, our marriage would be legal and I have the evidence to prove it.”

Kitten smoothed her hands over the baby bump and looked me in the eyes. “It was me who put you to bed that night. I felt so bad for you because of what Lorna was doing. I was just trying to console you but it worked out differently than I planned. Oh, everything is my fault because I didn’t stop you. I’ve loved you for so long. I just didn’t plan on getting pregnant, so you’re off the hook for this.” Again Kit smoothed her dress over her belly. It was a loving gesture.

“Who was the man with Lorna?”

“Rod Peters, her old boyfriend and I don’t think you were just drunk. They must have given you some sleeping pills or some kind of drugs for you to sleep so long and hard. You passed out suddenly about six right after the wedding dinner and would have slept longer if you hadn’t fallen off the couch.”

“So, you’re carrying my child?” Both women looked worried about how I was going to accept this that was sprung so suddenly on me. “Is he or she moving yet?”

“Just a little, but not much. It is more of an uncomfortable feeling.”

“Can I feel your tummy?”

“Do you really want to?”

“Yes, of course I do. Aunt Mary, do you have a big chair in the living room. I want Kitten sitting on my lap.”

Aunt Marry practically ran into the next room and put a soft blanket on a big chair. I took Kitten’s hand and led her to the chair. I backed into it and pulled her onto my lap. “May I kiss you?”

“Howard, you can do anything you want with me.” Our lips met softly and then became more demanding. Her hands came down and found mine, bringing them up so they could fondle her breasts. “Oh, I have dreamed of having you do this for so many years. I’ve always loved you.”

I began running my hands over Kitten’s tummy. She looked so happy. She giggled, “I’m not too heavy am I? That thing poking me won’t get too stiff and break off will it? I wish it was inside of me.”

I began to back off. I suppose I was often too moralistic. I had a code I lived ... well up until now I thought I had one. I had never had the code tested like it was being tested until the present. “We have to talk about this. I had an excuse not knowing it was you I was making love to you the first time. What am I going to use for an excuse this time?”

“You want to have sex with me? I mean, I think it is safe enough because you can’t make me any more pregnant than I am,” Kitten said with an excited giggle.

“Again, I have to think about this. I don’t think I can willfully break my vows. We have the rest of the day before I go to bed. How do you feel about this Aunt Mary?” Mary was the adult here. She shrugged her shoulders and didn’t speak.

“Lorna will never believe I didn’t take Kitten to bed while I was visiting, anyway. If I decide to divorce Lorna, she will fight it tooth and nail. And I can’t go to her and say I got her sister pregnant and I want to make an honest woman of her. You may have to swear to the fact that I never touched Kitten while I was under your roof.”

“Howard, I’ll swear to anything that will make Kittery and you happy. I’ll swear that she slept in the same room with me every night you were here if need be. We could all get into bed and maybe I can get a little of what you are passing out.

“I hope that won’t be necessary.”

“You are having second thoughts, aren’t you?”

“Kitten, not while you’re sitting on my lap.”

“I was invited.”

“Kitten, you were so sad when I talked on the phone with you, I want you to be happy.”

“Those damned vows are in the way, aren’t they?”

“Yes. The first time was an accident, but now I’m setting out to willfully break my vows.” Kitten climbed off my lap.

“You’re right, Howard, I want so much to crawl into bed with you, but I know it is wrong. Let’s look at this dispassionately. Do you love me a little?”

“I do, and carrying the baby makes me love you a lot more. I didn’t know I did so much until you just told me that I was the one to get you pregnant. A lot of what sways me is that Lorna was, and I suspect still is cheating on me. But does that give me the right to break the vows I made in good faith?”

“I guess it doesn’t. So what are we going to do?”

“Kitten, can you be around me and still respect me if I wait until things are resolved with Lorna before becoming intimate?”

“Will you be coming to me if you find the proof that she is cheating and you get a divorce?”

“Kitten, of course I will. We still don’t know each other that well, but you having a baby with me certainly moves us along faster than it normally would.”

“Okay, that’s settled. Now, how far can we go and not break your vows? I suppose we’ll have to keep our clothes on to prevent us from doing anything.”

“Yes, I know. I so wanted to rub your tummy some more though.”

“And I want you to. I do get a lot of feeling even with clothes on. We could allow that, I would think. What do you think, Aunt Mary?” Kittery was getting giddy.

“Honey, you tricked Howard into making love to you. He thought enough of you to come across the country to see you after talking on the phone and you only sounding sad. Breaking his vows might destroy the one chance of him being happy with you.” She now smirked when she continued, “But I think you should give him enough to keep him interested. Under the circumstances, a little foreplay would be nice for both of you. It would be like being engaged with the marriage sometime in the future.

I knew this was splitting hairs, but I so wanted to put my hands on this wonderful pregnant woman, again.

Kit came close and I helped her lie down on the couch. Her tummy was like a basket ball sticking straight up. I began running my hands over this and then I would lean down and kiss her tummy. Kitten’s hands came up and rustled through my hair. She was so enjoying this. I then started to work on her breasts. “I do love this, but I’m afraid my breasts will get sore. They are sensitive, you know. Would you kiss me? Kiss me so I know you love me.” There was no holding me back. I made love to her lips and her face and her eyes. I even rolled her head over and kissed her ear.

I didn’t want to get tiresome so I began rubbing Kitten’s tummy again. I leaned down, took a deep breath and wrapping my lips where I hoped her nipples would be, I let the hot breath penetrate the cloth and warm her nipples with heat. “Oh, oh, oh. Howard, I love this.”

Mary was watching us and I suspect vicariously feeling what Kitten was feeling. Mary was fidgeting and I caught it out of the corner of my eye for she was doing with her hands on her own body what I was doing to Kitten. Kitten was as uncomfortable with Mary watching us as I was. “Aunt Mary, would you leave us alone, please?”

I let my hand circle lower from the place that contained my child. Kitten spread her legs and then closed them again. This left my fingers enough room over her loosened dress to be able to rub between her legs. My hand worked furiously over the area. I couldn’t stop my hand from diving under her dress. I continued until I slowed my hand movements as Kitten reached her peak. I kept my hand there reveling in the warmth and closeness. I softly kissed her lips and she smiled up at me. “I love you, Howard, but I wished you had given me enough time to take my panties off. Someday you will have all of me.”

I felt much closer to Kitten than I ever had to the sister I was married to. I would deal with the guilt sometime later when I didn’t have this woman in my arms. Again I leaned down and we lovingly kissed. We got up and went to find Aunt Mary.

Mary was sitting in the kitchen She made an announcement, “Kids, I’m going to begin dating. I suspect I’ll be alone again soon and this is something I have put off. Kit, I believe you have a future with Howard. It may be awhile before it comes together, but I honestly believe in him.”

Kitten headed for the bathroom. Mary spoke while she was gone, “Howard, let’s get our mind off this. I want to show you my home and what I do here. I board horses for a living. Kit has been exercising the horses when she isn’t in the office in Helena. She has been using a sulky now since the third month after she stopped riding astride. It won’t be but a couple of weeks before she has to quit that. I have college kids exercise the horses now to fill in for Kit when she stops. There is a community college down the road about a mile.

“I do have a chance to send my horses south to warmer quarters for the winter and maybe I had better do that this year.”

“Is it safe for Kit to exercise horses in her condition? I wish you wouldn’t let her any more. I can leave some money to pay to have it done.”

“Money wise, I’m fine. My husband left me quite a bit ... enough anyway. You could leave a little for Kit if you can, one friend to another. She was pretty down some days when she felt no one loved her except me. If you come again, she might like a trinket of some sort. We never go anywhere and we probably won’t now, but a woman likes pretty things.”

“Can I send you something?”

“No, I’m good. I’m just an old lady, getting older every day.”

“You didn’t act too old an hour ago.”

“My husband used to say, ‘seize the moment’ and I guess I did that. I feel totally rejuvenated in watching you two.” I brought Mary into my arms and hugged her. Kit came in and I let Mary go and hugged Kitten to me. I loved feeling the baby bump against me. I kissed her and we walked hand in hand outside so Mary could show me what she did here.

“I’ve just decided I’m going to arrange sending the horses south to their winter quarters Monday. I’ll keep the two that are our pets here to keep us company. They are stabled inside and only let out for exercise. The others can come back when the weather warms.”

For the evening the two women got dressed up and we went out for dinner. We dropped into a lounge that had a dance band, but we only stayed for one drink. Kitten wasn’t drinking. Over the course of the evening I found that Mary had been widowed after only five years of marriage and her husband had died five years ago. She was a self contained woman and pretty much had her life together. I took it she was well off, although it wasn’t too visible.

I slept with Kitten that night. Kitten did for me what I did for her the previous morning. Would it pass a fidelity test ... probably not? For me the guilt was about the same. Kitten now trusted me when I assured her she had a future to look forward to. It wasn’t just for her, either, but for the assurance that her child would someday have a father’s presence in its life

Mary asked a question, “Howard, are you planning on marrying Kittery when you get free of Lorna?”

“Yes, she is carrying my baby and I’m pretty excited about it. We have liked each other ever since I met Lorna and that was when Kitten was fifteen. I thought she was a brat, but it didn’t stop me from liking her. I wish I had seen her then as I see her now. Things would be a lot different.”

There were tears at my leaving. Mary promised to take care of Kitten and herself. Before this, I hadn’t known Mary very well. She was a lot different than my mother-in-law, her sister Mable. Life had dealt her a blow when she had lost her husband, but she had dealt with it and followed his life by keeping the horses and the business he so loved. In essence, the horses became her family. Kitten had joined Mary when I presented Lorna with an engagement ring.

When Kitten found she was pregnant, Mary folded her into her arms and gave Kittery the support she needed. I wanted to be part of that same family.

I got on the plane and lay back in my seat thinking over what had gone on with the two women I had just left. I was so surprised at Mary’s actions. She definitely needed a man. I had a few single friends that worked with me. Maybe if she met them over time, she would become attached to one of them. I’d work on that.