Ryan (5 page)

Chapter Seven

Ryan
sat at his desk in the sheriff’s office. He’d hoped that Gracie hadn’t seen the
hardness in his cock when he’d sat next to her on the bed. He knew it was wrong
to be so close to her when they were alone in the room. She’d left him little
choice. The transparent gown she’d been wearing and the light pouring into the
room had made her almost naked to his eye.

She
was all curves and her nipples had pushed against the fine material. The thick
curls at the apex of her thighs had drawn him in. He’d wanted to run his
fingers through them and then play with her folds, tease her pussy and make her
call his name as he brought her to climax.

Ryan
shifted on his chair. He had another hard on. The one he’d had in the room
hadn’t really gone away. This one was just a continuation. He’d been tempted to
buy the services of one of Maggie’s girls just to take away his itch but he
couldn’t bring himself to be with anyone else now that he’d seen Gracie. Only
she’d do. Only she could satisfy his needs now.

What
a dilemma he’d put himself in. Gracie was young and no doubt innocent and
therefore out of his league. He was an older man and she deserved someone young
who would build her a homestead where they’d raise their children.

He
leaned back on the chair, his balls aching from his need to find release with
the young goddess.

No,
Gracie wouldn’t want a man who’d taken another’s life.

****

The
dress she’d traveled in that fateful day in the coach was ruined. Maggie was in
the process of sewing on some bows to hide the rips and tears.

“Damn,
if this isn’t the ugliest thing my one eye’s ever seen,” she said throwing it
down on the bed.

Gracie
didn’t know whether to laugh or not but when Maggie broke into a fit of
laughter so did she.

“Guess
you’ve been wondering how I got this scar and if you haven’t already worked it
out, my right eye’s a false one.”

Gracie
had but her parents had taught her it was rude to ask questions until the
person with the affliction offered to tell you.

“If
you want to tell me then I’d be pleased to hear the story,” said Gracie.

“I
wasn’t always the madam at the whorehouse. I was once one of the girls at a
place in Wyoming. One night a man got mighty rough with me. Broke a bottle and
cut me up real bad before he took out my eye.”

Gracie
put her hand on top of Maggie’s and squeezed it.
“You poor
thing.”

“Old
Maggie’s tough, always has been. I survived but my days of men wanting to pay
to fuck me were gone so I moved here and opened this place. I take good care of
my girls. Nothing like that is ever going to happen to them.”

Gracie
believed her. “Don’t you have any family?”

Maggie
shook her head. “The girls are all I have. And of course I have you, sweetie.
It’s been wonderful having someone to fuss over. Now we need to get you
something real pretty to wear to your daddy’s service and burial. Would you let
me take you over to the clothes emporium and buy you a dress and hat?”

Gracie
shook her head. “I haven’t got any money to pay you back.”

“It’s
a gift.”
“No, I can’t let you do that.”

“Then
how about I buy it and you do some work around here…and no, it’s not the sort
of work you’re thinking of. The sheriff’s given me a lecture about even
entertaining that idea.”

Gracie
looked up at her. “Ryan?”

“Yes,
Ryan. He overheard some man talking about you from the other night and thought
I’d already put you to work.”

Maggie
laughed. Gracie smiled. Did that mean he cared about her? Wanted her for
himself
maybe?

“Why
do you think he was worried about that?” asked Gracie. Maybe Maggie would have
more insight.

“He’s
the nurturing kind.”

“He
told me he’s from Missouri. What else do you know about him?”

“A
lot, too much and it’s the sort of stuff that he needs to tell you himself. So
are you going to let me buy that dress and hat or are you going to be seen
around town in this dress that looks like a one eyed woman made it?”

Gracie
laughed. “Okay, but I’m paying you back.”

Maggie
stuck out her hand. “That’s a deal.”

****

Ryan
headed into Maggie’s place mid-morning to collect her and Gracie. He’d dusted
off the carriage, groomed the horse, and put on his best suit and even had his
hair trimmed. He thought he looked half decent but nothing compared to the
sight set before him as Gracie exited the saloon with Maggie holding her
arm.
 
The dress was beautiful, the hat
was pretty and Gracie was stunning. The sun shone bright in the sky, not a
cloud to be seen for miles. It would have been the most perfect day had it not
been for one simple fact. Gracie was saying goodbye to her father.

“Well
doesn’t our sheriff look handsome today? Not that he looks ugly on other days,”
said Maggie.

Ryan
lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.

“Such
a charmer is our Ryan,” said Maggie.

He
touched the brim of his cowboy hat and nodded to Gracie.

“You
look beautiful. I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing your father but I can
only guess that he’d be very proud of you today.”

“Thank
you on both counts,” said Gracie.

“Ladies,
if you’re ready we’ll head to the church for the service,” said Ryan.

He
helped Maggie up into the carriage and then offered his arm to Gracie so she
could use the leverage to get in beside her.

Ryan
hopped up the front and pulled on the reins to get the horse moving. He’d asked
some of the folks from town to attend and Maggie had sent along some of the
girls so it didn’t look like it was just the three of them at the church.

“Isn’t
it a beautiful morning,” said Maggie. “The sun’s shining because Gracie is on
the road to recovery.”

“That’s
a very pretty dress and hat,” said Ryan.

“Thank
you. Maggie picked it out for me,” said Gracie.

“Isn’t
pink her color? Matches the rosiness in her cheeks now that she’s on the mend,”
said Maggie.

“Yes,
you were as white as white could be when I carried you into Maggie’s place.”

“I
can’t even remember that,” said Gracie.

“Maybe
just as well,” said Maggie.

Ryan
pulled the horse up outside the church. Music was already playing and by the
look of the number of other carriages and horses tethered to the posts, the
town had done Gracie proud with their turnout.

Ryan
held Gracie’s hand as she got down and then offered both her and Maggie his
arms as they walked toward the entrance.

“Oh
my, all these people coming to say goodbye to my pa,” she said.

Ryan
smiled. They had a full house.
 
The
reverend walked toward them.

“This
is Gracie Atkinson. Gracie, Reverend Paxton.”

“Hello
Gracie, and
may
I offer my condolences for your loss.
Come and sit at the front and we’ll begin the service. I hope you don’t mind
that I’ve chosen the hymn and passage from the Bible myself, as I didn’t know
your father.”

“That’s
fine with me.”

Ryan
put his hand on the small of her back and he, Gracie and Maggie, headed down to
the front pew. Gracie sat between them. Her father’s casket was at the front of
the church.
 
Ryan glanced at her and saw
a tear beginning to form in the corner of her eye.

“Good morning everyone.
We’re here
today to say goodbye to Gracie’s father who none of us knew, but I’m sure we
will get to know more about him through her. I hope each one of you will
welcome her into our fine community and open up your hearts to her at this sad
moment in her young life.”

Ryan
took her hand and squeezed it. She looked up at him, her eyes now full of
tears.

“It’s
going to be okay Gracie. Everything’s going to be just fine.”

****

Gracie
didn’t think there were any tears left in her head but she managed one more to
run down her cheeks as her father’s casket was lowered into the ground. She
walked over to it and threw on some dirt and then the flower Ryan had given her
for the occasion.

“Goodbye
Pa. I’m going to miss you but I hope you’ve gone to a good and happy place and
that you’re now with Ma.” She turned away quickly and walked back to where Ryan
and Maggie stood waiting for her.

“You
did a wonderful job,” said Maggie. “Ryan’s right, your pa would have been proud
of you.”

“I
guess this means he’s really gone. I wake up each morning thinking I’ve been
dreaming.”

Maggie
put her arm around her and hugged her.

“Any
time you want to come and visit his grave you just let me know and I’ll bring
you out here,” said Ryan.

“That’s
kind of you. Maybe next month because it would have been his birthday,” said
Gracie.

“Next
month it is.”

“Now
how about we go back to my saloon and get ourselves something to eat and
drink,” said Maggie.

“I
must say I’m hungry,” said Ryan.

They
got back in the carriage and Ryan returned to the dirt road that led into
Grantsville.

“Did
I tell you that Gracie’s going to work for me?” asked Maggie. She quickly put
her hand on Ryan’s shoulder. Maggie winked at her. “No, it’s not what you’re
thinking. She walked into my office while I was working on the books. This
young lady has a quick brain for figures. She’s going to do the accounting for
me. Manage all the money and books.”

“Do
you really think…” began Ryan.

“Now
hush there, sheriff. You know I wouldn’t let a man touch this precious young
girl so have no worry about that.”

She
winked at Gracie again.

****

Ryan
didn’t like the idea of Gracie continually staying at Maggie’s now she was slowly
getting back on her feet.
And working at the saloon, even if
it was an innocent thing like bookkeeping, didn’t sit well with him.
 
Men would be around all the time. They’d be
eyeing her, and lusting after her.

Yeah,
just like he was right now. He’d come in for drink and a chance to unwind and
he’d seen her with Maggie through the curtain that led to the back of the building.
It had been almost six weeks since they’d buried her father. Now she looked fit
and well. He’d seen her on a couple of occasions but knowing how he felt about
her and what could never be, he’d kept his distance, and also avoided Maggie’s
place at all costs.

Tonight
he had a thirst for some good whisky and Maggie’s served the best. The glass
sat in front of him calling his name. He took a sip and then downed the rest of
it, seeing a glimpse of Gracie again. His heart beat faster and his cock
twitched.
 
Avoiding Maggie’s place also
meant that he’d avoided women and right now he was in need of a good fuck. Not
just to ease his pent up libido but to take the edge off of wanting Gracie so
badly. He rubbed his hands over his thighs, feeling his erection get harder,
almost to the point of pain. His balls pulled upward and if he didn’t find some
relief he wouldn’t be able to walk out of this place.

He
stood and looked toward the back of the saloon. Through those curtains was his
cure. Maybe Annabeth was available to give him just what he needed. Ryan made his
way back there but saw no one around. He walked to Maggie’s office where she
and Gracie were sewing. They both looked straight at him as he stood in the
doorway.

“We
haven’t seen you for some time,” said Maggie.

“I’ve been busy,” said Ryan.
Busy avoiding the woman who
makes my heartbeat race.

“Can
we help you?” asked Maggie. Despite her long skirt, he saw her distinctly
kicking the edge of Gracie’s shoe. He guessed they sensed something and the
real reason he’d been avoiding the place.

“I
was wondering…”

Now
he was tongue tied. Damn, he hated that he had to ask for the services of a
prostitute in front of Gracie.

“Maggie,
maybe you could step outside,” said Ryan.

“That’s
okay. Gracie knows all about what goes on. You want some time with one of the
girls?” asked Maggie.

His
face was burning. He was blushing.

He
simply nodded and didn’t want to verbally comment and own up to his need in
front of Gracie. She smiled at him. Maggie stood and walked toward the wall
where she kept the keys to the various rooms.

“All
the girls are busy right now but one will be finishing up her job soon. Take
this and go to room five and I’ll send the next available one up to you,” said Maggie.