“Clare?” I keep repeating as I walk through the house unable to find her. When I start to panic, I run out on the porch and see Earl coming towards the big house. “I can’t find Clare.” I can hear the panic in my voice. What if she changed her mind? She could be long gone.
“Simmer down, Cash. I sent her to town in the truck with Brandon.”
Earl’s words calm me for a moment before they fully sink in. “You did what?” The last word echoes around us, and a few of the guys that are within hearing distance stop what they’re doing and watch.
“She said she needed supplies and that she didn’t want to bother you. Don’t worry. I told her to get petty cash.”
Turning back to the house, I stomp in and grab my keys before turning around and heading to my truck at the side of the house.
“Calm down, Cash. She’s just getting groceries.”
Earl looks at me like I’m crazy, but I just grit my teeth and get in, cranking up my truck and heading out. I’m fuming so much I’m surprised steam isn’t coming out of my ears.
She can’t just go to town like that. What if she leaves and doesn’t come back? She went with Brandon. He’s one of the young guys on the farm. What if he tries to make a move? I hit the steering wheel as I speed up, thinking I could kick myself for not marrying her yesterday like I should have. This ends today. I’m not taking any more chances when it comes to Clare. She’s mine, and it’s damn sure going to stay that way.
When I finally get into town, I’m not sure where I should start first. I think maybe I should go to the train station, but if Earl was right, then maybe I’m just overreacting. I head towards the grocery store and spot the farm truck out front. I see Brandon loading up the back of it as Clare comes out of the store. I turn in, and the wheels barely stop before I’m out of the truck and going to her.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask, and for some reason I sound out of breath. Did I run the whole way?
“Cash. What’s wrong?” Clare asks, looking around as if she can’t see the problem right in front of her.
“You need to go into town, I take you.” Reaching out, I take her arm and walk over to where Brandon is standing. “You get what you need?”
She looks up at me, and I see her starting to get mad. “Yes,” she snaps at me, and I can’t help but smile. I love when that fire lights in her eyes. I don’t normally take too kindly to being talked back to. I give orders and everyone follows. I can’t quite figure out why I like it when she does it.
Suddenly she’s smiling all sweet, but she turns and looks over at Brandon. “Thanks so much for the help, B. I really appreciate all of it.” Her words are sugary, and I want to reach out and snatch them so he doesn’t get them. Words like that are only meant for me.
“Brandon.” I make an exaggerated use of his name while looking at Clare. “Take the truck back to the farm and have the boys help you unload it. Thank you for bringing my wife into town. I’ve got it from here.”
“Yes, sir,” he says and goes about his business like nothing is abnormal here.
Taking Clare by the arm, I lead her over to the driver’s side of my truck and open the door, not missing some of the townspeople watching what is playing out. Probably wondering what’s going on. Gossip will surely start to spread.
“I’m not your wife yet,” she says under her breath, but loud enough for me to hear it.
“Oh, trust me, darling. I’m about to change that.”
Grabbing her by the waist, I pick her up and put her on the bench seat and then pull myself in behind her. She scoots over all the way to the passenger side, but I reach out, grabbing her thigh and slide her back over so she’s right beside me.
“You’re a big old brute, you know that, Cash? You can’t just manhandle something when it doesn’t do what you want,” Clare huffs out, and crosses her arms over her chest.
“When it’s mine, I do.”
I put the truck in gear and drive us over to City Hall. I’m ready to get this little matter taken care of. Once we pull up, I feel her tense beside me.
“Cash, I didn’t even wear a dress!”
I laugh at her words, thinking that she’s more concerned with the way she looks than the fact that she’s about to marry me. I like it. I don’t want her to change her mind.
“Afraid it can’t happen today, sweetheart. According to the state of Texas, we can get a marriage license, but we have to wait three days. So let’s go get this started and on Friday we can come back here and you can wear a dress.”
I look down and see her bite her lip as if she’s thinking about it. I grab her chin and turn her head so she’s looking at me.
“Still want to marry me, don’t you?” I stare down into her bright blue eyes, scared of what she might say. I’m not accustomed to the feeling.
She nods her head, making her gold curls bounce, and I can’t stand it anymore. I’ve got to put my mouth on her. Bringing my lips down on hers, the heat of her soft lips makes me moan. I feel her little tongue sweep into my mouth, and her sweetness fills me. Suddenly our hands are exploring, and it’s as if we can’t get close enough. I’m pulling her to me while she’s climbing up my body, and suddenly she’s straddling me in the cab of my truck. I feel her jean-covered pussy start to grind against me, and I break the kiss to look down at it. My hands go to her hips to hold her still as I look around us to see a few people walking by.