Rancher Takes a Wife

Chapter 1 - April 1886

April 1886


Samuel was not in the habit of regularly visiting town. It was even rarer still for him to find himself in the saloon. Yet on April the fifth, Samuel was seated in the Stumbling Steer with pint glass in hand across from Thomas Chambers.

Thomas was interested in selling Samuel a few acres of his neighboring property. Land that Samuel desperately needed for his cattle. Samuel had moved West to get into the ranching business and he seemed to have a knack for it. Everyone knew that Samuel had the heartiest heifers in the territory.

If it wasn’t on Thomas’s insistence that Samuel join him for libations, Samuel probably never would have seen her. Neither particularly pious nor hedonistic, he rarely found himself in the company of women. They were uncommonly found in the newly established town, and even less so when you rode out towards Cedar Rise Ranch.

Thomas had been carrying on about an upcoming social event, something that did not interest Samuel in the slightest. As his mind wandered so did his gaze, which is how it landed on her. An angel, Samuel had thought when he saw her.

Samuel could tell that she was young. Her body boasted the soft feminine curves of youth. Samuel wasn’t sure how old she could possibly be but he knew that she was just graduating out of her squishy baby fat and developing womanly curves. Everything about her seemed soft and he felt the sudden urge to touch her.

Samuel couldn’t help but stare. She was captivating with her large doe eyes, long flowing hair, and exceptionally pronounced chest. “Like what you see,” Thomas asked with a lascivious smile.

Samuel brought his glass to his lips, annoyed that Thomas had caught him looking. “No need to be embarrassed, Hargreaves,” Thomas continued, “it’s only natural for a young man like yourself.” This was why Samuel hated coming into town. Despite his success on the ranch most people saw him as an inexperienced kid.

“I hardly have time for women,” Samuel said before venturing another quick glance in her direction. Thomas tutted and shook his head. A gesture that only made Samuel more annoyed. He didn’t like Thomas taking such an interest. However, Thomas continued on, undeterred by Samuel’s irritation.

“Sara Eaton,” Thomas said and Samuel tried not to smile at the sound of her name. “She just got into town this week. Workin’ for Miss Lillie upstairs…” Samuel did not like the way Thomas emphasized the last word. He knew what Thomas was implying.

The mere thought that Samuel would have to compete for Miss Sara’s attention did not sit well with him. A woman like that needed someone to worship her. She didn’t need to be serving other men. She would have fine things and be waited on hand and foot.

“She’s not taking customers yet,” Thomas smiled as he paused mid sip of his whiskey, “but word is she’ll give you a smile if you bring her something sweet.”

This is how Samuel found himself in the parlor of Miss Lillie’s with a small paper bag of peppermint sticks, lemon drops, and sugar-coated fruit chews tucked neatly under his arm. He’d never visited such an establishment before, but he felt that it would be rude to show up empty handed. Despite never having a formal introduction Miss Lillie knew exactly who Samuel was. “I was waiting for the handsome young rancher to come calling,” she said with a smile.

Though Miss Sara was not taking guests yet, Miss Lillie had agreed to let Samuel be introduced. It did not hurt that Samuel had brought Miss Lillie and the other girls a bottle of whiskey and cigarettes from the general store. The women appreciated the gifts and it seemed Samuel’s reserved nature.

Samuel was not sure what Sara would be like when they were alone. She’d nodded politely when Miss Lillie instructed her to bring Samuel to her bedroom upstairs. She was quiet and moved elegantly as she showed Samuel the way. It crossed his mind that she might be just as shy as him.

However this notion quickly left his mind after he presented her with the paper bag of sweets. She flopped back onto the bed with an eager smile, rummaging through the contents of the bag with greedy excitement. Samuel sat down across from her on the nearby chair watching with intent as she started to devour a peppermint stick.

Most girls would show restraint in such matters, especially in the company of a man. But Samuel was realizing that Sara was not like most girls. She continued to lick and suck and consume the sweets with glee. Samuel couldn’t help but smile as he watched her eat, her giggles and moans of utter satisfaction filling the air.

She engaged Samuel is conversation about her favorite types of candy, about if Samuel enjoyed sweet things, and about how she found the town compared to her hometown back east. Samuel was captivated by her. When the bag was empty, Sara smiled at him broadly.

“That was so kind of you,” she said as she licked the tips of her slender fingers. Samuel was happy that he had spoiled her in a way that a woman of her beauty should be. “I’m not supposed to engage in certain activities yet, but I’d very much like to show you my gratitude,” she continued. Her smile got mischievous before she flushed a little red with embarrassment.

Before Samuel could respond Sara had closed the distance between their bodies. In two quick movements she had planted herself firmly over his land and wrapped her arms around his nick. She pressed herself into him as she brought her mouth to his with a kiss. Her plump lips tasted sweet. Samuel thought that all kisses with Sara should taste like candy.

Before Samuel departed Miss Lillie’s that night he made an arrangement. Miss Lillie was a shrewd business woman and had negotiated a large sum for Samuel to be Sara’s first customer. He would return in a month’s time for the honor.

As he walked back towards the stables, he made another stop into the general store. He deposited another small sum to the shop’s proprietor Mason Foreman, who was instructed to have sweets delivered weekly to Miss Sara. He wanted to make sure that she never went without while he was away.