50.

"I know, but he still treats me like a child. I'm a grown woman now, and he's so protective. It's a habit, I guess, but he needs to just relax a bit, enjoy himself and let others worry about stuff for a change."

"It's easy to fall into a particular pattern of behavior and hard to see when it's no longer relevant."

"You see, you understand. You have a good way with words, Rachael."

"Well, saying and doing are two different things. Maybe when you've finished college you could be more actively involved in the family business, and demonstrate that you are ready to take on some responsibility. The alternative is to do your own thing somewhere else."

"That's something to think about," she nodded.

Rachael took a last sip of her coffee. "I'm afraid I have to finish a few ch.o.r.es today and be at my home for a delivery. It was really nice meeting you, Janet. I'll see you tomorrow evening. Good luck with your brothers."

By the time she got to her car, Rachael had made a number of conclusions about the Rydens. They were from a menage family, so she guessed that Joshua and James probably wanted the same thing.

How disappointing, because she couldn't imagine being intimate with James. He was too much like both of her brothers. Joshua was controlling and dominant, but now she understood why. She had to admit she liked the way he was. It was s.e.xy, but she wondered if he would he ever be prepared to occasionally relinquish control. "Now that I'd like to see," she said to herself and then sighed, resigned to the fact that it wasn't going to happen.

Rachael drove to the cabin and quickly applied the second coat of paint. She made certain that all the doors were wide open to air the rooms. The mattress arrived, and she asked the two delivery guys, Lance and Paul, to help her put the old one in the rafters. It would do temporarily for guests. She offered them a coffee, and they both

51.

looked disappointed that they didn't have the time. They had other deliveries to make, and as it was their own business, they couldn't afford to be slack on the job.

"Are you going to the dance tomorrow night?" Lance asked.

"Sure am. I'm told it's a must-do thing."

"Well, save a dance for us then, Rachael." They grinned as they headed out to their truck.

She smiled and waved good-bye, feeling flattered by the attention but nothing more.

Rachael had already purchased linens and a few other items to allow more permanent habitation. The bed looked sumptuous with crisp, white Egyptian cotton sheets, and she couldn't help having a bounce on it. The cabin smelled like new and looked bright and cheery yet cozy. It would make a good little home.

For most of the next day, Rachael moved her few belongings from Colin's house, but left a suitcase of clothes there because she was going to get ready for the dance with Susan and she hadn't decided what she was going to wear. She arrived early that evening because Susan wanted help with her hair.

"What are you gonna wear tonight, honey?" Susan asked as Rachael used the curling irons on her long blonde hair.

"I'm not sure. What's the dress code?" Rachael had brought a few fancy dresses with her from England, but they seemed a bit formal for a county dance.

"Well, obviously, jeans if you've no imagination. You can't go wrong with jeans, but I bet you'd look great in those brown leather snakeskin pants I spied in your case."

"Yeah, they'll do if I can fit into them. I can dress them up a bit with a gold strappy top I have. What about you?"

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"Jeans. I've no imagination." Susan laughed. "But I'll wear black ones and a s.e.xy sequined top. I have to keep my men on their toes, you know."

Rachael showered, shaved, and plucked. She normally kept her p.u.s.s.y partially bare, with a tuft of fuzz for the sake of decency in the women's locker room, but tonight she shaved it completely. Often, she dressed in practical clothes and kept a professional exterior, so it was her erotic little secret. It made her feel sensual and naughty. Her hair took no time at all because it only did one style: a short, curly bob. She finished applying a little makeup and added some gold hoop earrings and a gold choker. To her surprise, the pants slid on fairly easily and didn't feel tight at all. There were days when she had to springboard into them. She reckoned it was all the running around getting the cabin ready, not to mention all the small worries a.s.sociated with relocating.

She checked herself in the mirror and was pleased with what she saw. Rachael wasn't pet.i.te. She had a body built for work, but instead of trying to starve herself thin, she had embraced her inherent strengthatoned up, got fit and built some muscle. She turned around and inspected the rear view. Her b.u.t.t actually looked quite good. It would never be described as small, but a little junk in the trunk was fashionable these days, and the thin, soft leather hugged her curves and hinted at the firm body beneath.

Her shimmering gold top revealed toned, slightly muscular arms that she worked hard to get. It wasn't simply a matter of vanity. She had to be able to cope with the physical demands of working with livestock. The top clung in all the right places, emphasizing her firm chest and flat stomach. It's only a county dance. He might not even be there. She cautioned herself about thinking of Joshua. If he wanted to share her with his brother, then it would have to be over before it really began.

She headed to the living room where Colin and Mark were waiting.

53.

"My, my, doesn't she look fine?" Mark sang.

"She does indeed. We'll be beating them off with a stick," Colin replied.

"Well, I must say that you gentlemen look very dashing, too."

"That's why I married them, only for their looks," Susan chirped as she sauntered into the room.

Colin, Mark, and Rachael turned to Susan, who looked radiant.

Her long hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders and down her back. Both men appeared totally smitten and stood stock still regarding their wife, with love and desire stamped all over their faces.

Mark swallowed hard. "You look so beautiful, darlin'. Colin and I must be the luckiest guys alive."

Judging by the intense stares, Rachael guessed that some heated nonverbal communication was going on between the three of them.

"Don't even think about it. We've got a guest." Susan chuckled s.e.xily and winked at her men. They groaned and rolled their eyes.

"Oh, cheers, I'd feel bad if I thought that you weren't going to be getting any later, but right now I'm Norma No-Mate, and I can't bring myself to feel sorry for both of you, so saddle up and let's go,"

Rachael ordered with a cheeky grin.

The organizers had done a great job of converting the school gym into a dance hall. The theme was Moonlight and Roses, and a huge full moon, redolent of the real full moon outside, was projected onto one wall. Garlands of paper roses were everywhere and every woman entering received a real red rose.

Susan hadn't exaggerated when she had said the dance was aimed at the whole community. Rachael saw all sorts of people of varying ages. There were grandmas with blue rinsed hair, grungy teenagers, pretty schoolgirls, s.e.xy ladies, goths, cool hip-hop dudes and cowboys. She even spied a gang of leather-clad bikers at one table.

54.

Some popular dance music was playing, and people were already on the dance floor, including Tom and Harry, who had a girl suggestively sandwiched between them.

"I need to speak to those two about appropriate behavior. This is a family event. Excuse me." Colin rolled his eyes and headed onto the dance floor to collar his brothers.

Rachael and Susan found an empty table while Mark went to the bar.

"I'll fill you in on everyone I know and all the juicy gossip."

Susan chuckled.

As she looked around, Rachael spotted the man who had ha.s.sled Janet. "Hey, tell me about that guy." She pointed him out to Susan.

"Roy Crossling? Local yahoo, more looks than brains and that's not saying much. His family owns property that borders yours and the Rydens. Why?"

"He was bothering a woman the other day."

"It wouldn't surprise me. His momma left him and his daddy years ago. Couldn't put up with the abuse anymore, so the rumor goes. That boy needs a talking to and then some."

"Well, he might get it tonight."

"Really? Tell all."

"I'll explain later. Right now, I need the bathroom."

Susan pointed her in the general direction of the ladies' room, and Rachael wove in and out of the tables to get to the far side of the gym.

She recognized a few of the guys from the Sweet Water Ranch and smiled a greeting in pa.s.sing. It took twenty minutes to get across the room as friendly folks she'd met over the past few days inquired after her-How she was settling in? Did she need any help? Would she like a drink? She briefly exchanged pleasantries and her smile was open and genuine, until she saw a line of women along a wall. Typical.

There's always a queue for the ladies, but I bet not for the gents. It's enough to give a girl p.e.n.i.s envy.

55.

"Hey, I'm glad that you're here." Janet was standing near the end of the line and gave her a big hug.

Rachael couldn't resist making a quick sweep of the room. She didn't see Joshua or James and relaxed a bit.

"I am so grateful to you. I told my brothers everything. At first, they were a bit annoyed with me for not saying anything to them sooner, but I gave them your boiling frog explanation and they backed off a bit. Even Josh understood. I think you have gone up even further in his estimation, and, let me tell you, that guy is hard to please."

"I bet." Rachael muttered, pleased with the compliment but telling herself to lock her feelings down because it just couldn't go any further. Suddenly, she noticed that Janet had visibly stiffened.

"Well, h.e.l.lo, Jan, fancy seeing you here," someone with a menacing voice drawled. "You shouldn't stand in line. Why don't you come with me? Next door is free."

Rachael turned to see Roy Crossling leering at Janet.

"No, thank you. I can think of better offers than a trip to the toilets with you," Janet said with her head held high and only a slight tremble in her voice.

"Ah, come on, Jan, or do you think you're too good for me?" he sneered slowly.

"Well, I certainly do. You are not getting the message. She is not interested in you." Rachael punctuated the last four words.

"You're a nosy b.i.t.c.h, y'know that?" he said between gritted teeth.

"Not normally," she said pleasantly then sharply dropped her smile. "But I can make an exception for you. Now b.u.g.g.e.r off." She maintained eye contact as he straightened. The other women in the queue were starting to take notice of the exchange.

"What makes you think you can tell me what to do?" he snapped.

"It's a thing called freedom of speech, Roy. What you decide to do is another matter, but we really don't want a scene here tonight."

Thinking that she was backing down, he sneered, "You're all bluff, aren't ya, Miss Sperm Collector?"

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"Gosh, Roy, is that the best you can do?" Rachael sadly shook her head. "I suggest you save your breath. You'll need it to blow up your date."

"What?" he spluttered.

Several of the listening women snickered.

"Hard of hearing, too? Even with my expertise and knowledge on the matter, what I can't understand is how, out of one hundred thousand sperm, you were the fastest?"