Kayla & the Rancher, Paige Tyler [story read aloud TXT] 📗

intended to tell Cord the truth, but he seemed so happy to see Abigail that day I arrived in Copper Creek that I simply couldn’t. I thought it would be easier when we got back to the ranch, but then one thing led to another, and one day turned into two, and then three, and I still hadn’t told him.” She conveniently left out the part about her plan to steal from Cord. “At first, I was simply going to get some money together, enough to get me on my way. I’d

write Cord a letter saying that I changed my mind, and then leave Copper

Creek with him none the wiser. Now...”

“Now?” Rachel prompted, a knowing smile on her face.

Realization dawned on Kayla then. “Now, I don’t think I want to leave,” she said softly. “I want to stay in Copper Creek and see where this leads.”

Rachel regarded her in silence. “You have to tell Cord the truth, Kayla,” she said after a moment.

Kayla shook her head. “I...I can’t,” she stammered. “If I do, he’ll never want anything to do with me.”

The other girl smiled gently. “He’ll probably be furious that you lied to him, but I don’t think he’d send you on your way or anything. Especially after you tell him that you’ve fallen in love with him.”

Kayla blinked.

“Well, you are in love with him, aren’t you?” Rachel asked.

Kayla said nothing at first. There was no question about loving the spankings Cord gave her, but did she love him? “I don’t know if I’m in love with him. Yet,”

she answered honestly. “But I could see myself falling in love with him. Which is why I can’t tell him. Not yet, at least.”

The other girl looked like she wanted to protest, but before she could speak, Kayla continued. “Rachel, please promise me that you won’t say anything to Cord,” she entreated softly.

Rachel hesitated for a moment, and then she nodded. “I won’t tell him, but you should, and soon,” she said. “Trust me on this, Kayla.”

Relieved that the other girl would keep her confidence, Kayla nodded. “I will, when the time is right.”

She really did think about it, while she worked on the wedding dress the rest of that afternoon, and then later on the ride back to the ranch. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that telling Cord the truth now wouldn’t be such a good idea. Later, she told herself, after she figured out if she was in love with him or not. It was even possible that by that time Cord would have feelings for her as well. If that were the case, surely he would forgive her then.

Cord had indeed been very surprised that Abigail hadn’t even tried to argue with him when he’d told her that he was sending one of his men into town with her that morning. Though she had promised that she wouldn’t go into the

saloon again, he didn’t want to take any chances. He couldn’t believe that she would be so naïve as to think that she could simply waltz into a saloon and play cards. He had to admit that he admired her spunk, though, and the way she’d stood up to him when he’d called her on it. From her letters, he would have thought that Abigail would have been more biddable, though he had to

admit that he was glad she wasn’t.

Cord’s mouth quirked as he rubbed more oil into the leather tack he was

cleaning. He hoped that she wouldn’t become too docile in the future, though, because he certainly wouldn’t mind spanking her again. Just the thought of having his beautiful mail-order bride over his knee while he reddened her

delicious bottom was enough to make him go hard. He sure hoped she

finished that wedding dress of hers soon.

Deciding that the tack had been cleaned enough, he replaced it on its hook and, grabbing his hat, headed for the house. In the setting sun, he could see the glow of a light coming from Abigail’s room, and he felt compelled by the urge to see her. Perhaps he’d ask her to go riding with him tomorrow, he

thought as he made his way through the kitchen and up the stairs.

The door to her room was ajar, and without thinking, Cord pushed it open and walked right in only to find Abigail soaking in the tub. She had her head back and her eyes closed, and at his entrance, she sat up in surprise. The

movement caused the bubbles to shift, displaying smooth shoulders and

creamy breasts, and for a moment, Cord simply stood and stared, transfixed by the sight of his naked fiancé’s glistening wet skin. It wasn’t until a startled Abigail crossed her arms over herself that Cord abruptly remembered he was supposed to be a gentleman.

Flushing beneath his tan, he turned his back to her. “I’m sorry. The door was open, and I...I didn’t realize you were taking a bath.” His color deepened as he realized he was stammering like a schoolboy.

Behind him, he heard the water swish against the side of the tub as she sank deeper into it. “What was it that you wanted?” she asked softly.

He stared at the wall, trying to concentrate on something other than the fact that there was a very beautiful naked woman in a bathtub full of bubbles right behind him. He cleared his throat. “I thought that perhaps you’d like to go riding with me tomorrow,” he said. “If you’re not going into town, that is.”

She didn’t answer immediately, and though Cord wanted to turn and look at

her, he determinedly held his position while he waited for her reply.

“I’d like that,” she said after a moment, and Cord felt himself relax.

“Good,” he said. “I suppose I should let you get back to your bath, then.”

With a nod, he left the room,