Double Montana Treats

Double Montana Treats  Drew has been working her ranch with only one other person for so long she is more than happy to hire ex-convicts Jeb and Marshall and give them a chance to help her through the winter. Not only do they warm her bed and work the ranch, they help keep her safe from whoever is intent on sabotaging her farm and possibly taking her life. Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Western/Cowboys Length: 59,254 words

 

DOUBLE MONTANA TREATS

Marla Monroe

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

DOUBLE MONTANA TREATS Copyright © 2011 by Marla Monroe E-book ISBN: 1-61034-863-X First E-book Publication: September 2011 Cover design by Les Byerley All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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DOUBLE MONTANA TREATS MARLA MONROE Copyright © 2011

Chapter One Andrea “Drew” Fenton pulled on the fence with the puller to tighten the wire down. Then she nailed it in place and carefully snipped the barbed wire. That was the last of the holes she’d found so far. If she didn’t find more help soon, she was going to be in trouble this winter. It didn’t seem to matter that it was 2011. Men still didn’t like working for a female boss. She had chores around the house and barn that needed doing, not to mention the damn paperwork that was piling up. If she could find a foreman and at least one other man to help Kenny, her only help at the moment, then maybe she would make it through another winter. Her cows sold well at market because she ran a small herd and took good care of them. She wasn’t out to become rich. She just wanted a home and a living. Problem was, she couldn’t do it all herself. It didn’t help that Brett Gunnison kept after her to sell the place to him. He offered her a little below market value for the land, not to mention the buildings on it. She knew a scam when she smelled one. Brett was all about enlarging his ranch, which sat on the other side of hers. If she sold to him, he’d have the largest ranch in the territory. Not if she could help it. She looked up and noticed a plume of dust in the distance and cursed. Whoever they were, they would make it to the house before

 

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she did. It was another reason she didn’t like having to work out on the land so much. She couldn’t watch out for the house and barns way out in the middle of nowhere. Drew grabbed her tools and the rest of the barbed wire. She snagged her arm in the process of being in a hurry. Cursing, she grabbed a towel out of the back of the truck and wrapped it around her arm, then tore off some electrical tape and taped it down. Hell, she hoped she didn’t need stitches again. At least her tetanus shot was upto-date. She hightailed it back to the house, hoping it wasn’t anything major to deal with. Kenny was on the north side of the ranch, dealing with the fence lines there. He’d never see the dust. She would have to handle this alone. She pulled up into the yard from around the back of the barn and found a strange truck parked in her drive. The cab was empty. She debated whether to check the house or the barn then decided to honk the horn instead. She stood up on the runner and honked twice, keeping one hand on the butt of the rifle in the window rack. Two men walked from the direction of the old barn on the other side of the house. They walked slowly toward her with their hands out beside them, as if showing they weren’t armed. She guessed they had just cause to be cautious since she was clearly armed. “Ma’am,” one of them called out as they approached. He stood a good six foot four or five inches with a black hat pulled low on his head, shading his eyes from her sight. He was solidly built with broad shoulders and a wide chest. He wore newlooking jeans and a worn-looking Western shirt with well-used boots. The other man stood an inch or two shorter. He probably outweighed the other man by twenty, twenty-five pounds of pure muscle. His jeans were also new, as was his shirt, but his boots weren’t. So they were working men despite the new jeans. What did they want?

 

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“What can I do for you?” she called out when they’d gotten within fifteen yards of the truck. “Understood you were looking for hands. We’d like to apply for the jobs,” the first one said. The second one didn’t say anything but kept his eyes on her hands, or rather, the hand on the rifle. He knew a threat when he saw one, and she wouldn’t hesitate to use it if she needed to. He obviously sensed that about her. Good. “Got references?” “Nothing recent, but we’ve got ten years apiece from growing up on a ranch.”’ “You’re ex-cons,” she surmised. “You’d be right ma’am,” he said “I gather you’ve made the rounds.” “Yes, we have.” “What makes you think I’ll hire you when no one else will?” she asked. “Cause no one else will work for you.” The second man finally spoke up. His voice rolled out as deep as the well out back of her house. Shivers ran down her spine. Something about him stirred her, and she knew right then and there two things about them. One, she was going to hire them, and two, they were going to cause her all sorts of trouble. But she was getting desperate for help, and Kenny, bless his heart, couldn’t keep up. She drew in a deep breath, then removed her hand from the rifle and climbed down out of the truck. She slammed the door then remembered her cut arm and cursed. “Damn barbed wire.” She jerked off her gloves and tossed them in the back of the truck to tend to later. “Might as well come in the house, and let’s get some things straight,” she said. Drew walked around the truck and headed for the house. The two men fell into step behind her. The shorter of the two grabbed the

 

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screen door and opened it for her while the other man reached around her to open the wood door. She felt the heat from their bodies against the cooling sweat on her skin. Aw, hell, what was she getting herself into? She went through the living area into the eat-in kitchen and reached under the sink to pull out the first aid kit. The beat-up tin box had been well used over the years and more than usual recently with her working out on the range. She plopped it down on the table and opened it. “Might as well sit down. We’ll talk as I fix this mess.” She grabbed a towel off the hook by the sink and sat down to tend to her wound. “First off, what were you in for? Might as well tell me the truth, because I’m going to check it out.” “Manslaughter,” the shorter of the two said. She hesitated at cutting off the tape at that but refused to let it daunt her. She slid the scissors under the electrical tape and snipped. The towel fell open and the jagged cut began to bleed again. At least it was a trickle and not a gusher. Before she could grab the peroxide, the taller of the two grabbed it and opened the cap. He poured it over her arm, holding the towel beneath it to catch the flow. “Both of you?” she asked. “Yeah,” the shorter one said. “Okay, next thing is what are your names?” She was tired of thinking of them as taller and shorter. The taller man dabbed at the cut with a clean edge of the towel. “My name’s Marshall Gentry. That’s Jeb Reigns.” “Okay, Jeb. Tell me the story from start to finish.” She picked him because he hadn’t spoken much and, truth be told, she loved the sound of his deep voice. Marshall searched in her box for something then came up with a packet of sewing supplies.

 

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“Damn it, does it need stitches? Can’t you just put on some of those buttery-fly bandages?” she groused. He grunted and shook his head. “If you were going to stick around the house and not do anything, maybe they would hold.” “Hell, how many does it need?” she asked. “Looks like three.” “Use the damn deadening stuff on it, and if either one of you say anything when I cry, I’ll bust your balls.” Marshall smothered a chuckle, but at a stern look from her, he contained it and got to work. “Jeb, I don’t hear you telling me how you both ended up killing someone,” she said through gritted teeth. “Wasn’t sure I could get a word in edgewise, ma’am.” He added the ‘ma’am’ at the last minute. “Smart ass. Talk.” She winced when Marshall poked her with the deadening agent. “We grew up together working on the same ranch in Texas. Started after school when we were fifteen and then full time once we graduated high school. We worked there for about six years before we moved up here. Heard there was plenty of land and thought we might be able to save up and buy some of our own one day. Got a job with old man Parker other side of Billings. We worked for him another four years before it happened.” “We’d been out drinking on a Saturday night, like most weekends, and were on our way back to the ranch when Marshall had to pull over and take a—leak.” He’d obviously changed the word for her benefit. She wanted to laugh, except right then, Marshall stuck her, and she had to keep from cursing instead. “He heard someone scream and yelled at me to come on. We took off running toward this abandoned house on the Millers’ place. There was a light inside. It looked like they’d lit a fire in the fireplace. A wonder it hadn’t caught the chimney on fire, as old as that place was.

 

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“Shit, can’t you go a little bit easier?” she yelped as tears slid down her face. Marshall looked up and winced. “Sorry. Guess it isn’t dead yet.” Jeb frowned at Marshall, and the other man shrugged. “And?” she prompted Jeb in an attempt to take her mind off the pain. “We heard grunting and a female crying. We went inside and found three guys raping a young woman from town. She’d gone out with one of them but ended up with three of them. Marshall and I didn’t see as that was right. We pulled them off her, and that led to an all-out fight. One of them pulled a knife on me. It ended up in his gut. Marshall accidently broke another man’s neck. We didn’t plan to kill them. It just happened.” Jeb closed his mouth then. “What happened to the third one?” “He testified we were both armed with knives, though they never found them,” Marshall said. “He was convicted of aggravated assault and rape. He got three years and was out in sixteen months. We each got ten years for manslaughter, got out in eight. That was six weeks ago. We’re still looking for work. It has to be somewhere close to a parole officer since we have to check in weekly for now.” “Okay, how is that now?” Marshall asked. She looked down and found that he’d finished the three little stitches that didn’t look half bad. “Put a little of that ointment on it, not much, then that Telfa pad for now. I’ll take it off tomorrow. Need to let it close up some before I get it dirty again. “I’d think you shouldn’t get it dirty at all. What about your tetanus shot?” Marshall asked as he complied with the ointment and pad. “Got one a few months back. This is my third set of stitches. I’m going to look like Frankenstein’s bride if I keep it up.” She stood up and started to clean up the mess. “Mind if I make some coffee?” Marshall asked.

 

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She stopped and chuckled. “Hell no, make yourselves at home.” She shook her head and closed the tin box then returned it to its place under the sink. Drew watched as Marshall washed up then grabbed the pot and filled it full of water. Jeb searched out the filters and coffee and measured out enough for what looked like six cups. She sighed and walked over to the pantry to pull out the cookies she’d baked on Sunday. She had been sick of thinking about the ranch and all its problems at the time. “Not time for dinner yet, so cookies will have to do you,” she told them. “Cookies would be great,” Jeb said. For the first time, his dark eyes lit up. She realized she could see both of their faces now and studied them as they went about fixing coffee and helping themselves to her cookies. Jeb had very short hair the color of ebony. She wondered, considering his dark skin and black hair, if he had Indian blood in him. Would he let it grow out now that he was out of prison? Marshall’s hair was a sable brown and stopped just shy of his collar. His eyes were a warm hazel with flecks of gold and green in them. Both men had narrow faces and dark skin, and both sported muscles, evidenced by the way they filled out their shirts. They’d probably hulked up in prison out of self-defense. For the first time, she wondered how they’d managed to live in prison and come out still having some manners. “Okay, you’re hired. Don’t give me any trouble, and we’ll get along fine. No fighting.” When they started to say something, she raised her hand, and they closed their mouths. “Your being out here and being ex-cons is going to raise some ruckus. Ignore it. I don’t have a reputation worth saving anyway. So keep your fists to yourselves. I hear you’re fighting, and you’re fired. Got it?” she asked.

 

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Both men nodded. Marshall pulled down mugs and filled three of them. He handed the first one to her. She walked back over to the kitchen table and sat down. They followed suit. “So why are you running this place alone?” Marshall asked. “I married a man who had cancer. He was dying and wanted children. I didn’t manage to give him any, but he left the ranch to me anyway. So you see, I’m not an angel myself.” “Don’t see what’s wrong with that,” Jeb said. “The townsfolk feel I took advantage of a dying man and swindled him out of his ranch when it should have gone to his foreman.” “I suppose the foreman doesn’t think too highly of you.” Marshall took a sip of his coffee. “Also, Kenny works here, too. You’ll have to get along with him. I don’t know how you feel about gay men, but he’s gay, and he stays. I won’t allow you to pick on him.” Marshall and Jeb exchanged odd glances then shrugged. “Don’t bother us. I guess you can imagine what kind of life we had behind bars,” Marshall said. Drew looked between the two of them and nodded. “We all get along out here, and we’ll be fine. Winter will be coming up in another month, and I need to keep my herd alive through it. You help me do that, and you can share in the proceeds when they go to market.” Jeb looked at her as if she’d grown horns. “Share in the proceeds? What are you talking about?” “I run this ranch for one reason, to have a home. I don’t care about making a lot of money. As long as I can pay the bills and have a reserve for the unexpected things that can crop up, I’m happy. I split the profits between all of us outside the amount I have designated for the ranch. It isn’t much, but you can start a savings with it.” “That’s pretty damn generous of you. I can’t imagine no one wanting to work for you,” Marshall said.

 

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“I’m a woman, and they don’t take orders from a woman. Kenny is here, and they don’t cotton to gays. He stays. He’s the only man who’s helped me since Mark died.” “He’s a good man, then,” Jeb said. They all sipped their coffee. Marshall and Jeb each grabbed a cookie. She figured she would spend more time cooking now with two strong men working the ranch. That was fine by her. She wasn’t a tomboy at heart. She’d just turned into one by necessity. She loved the outdoors and riding the range and wanted a garden, but she could do without the fence duty and branding and some of the other stuff. If they were experienced, she was going to be in a lot better shape this winter than the last few. It had been nearly four years since Mark had died. She’d had to deal with the ranch for a year before he finally passed, but the men stayed on until he died. Then, when she kept the ranch and didn’t marry again right away, they left. She’d thought herself lucky to find Kenny but soon found that he was a doubleedged sword. His being gay kept more men from working for her. Still, she wouldn’t give him up for anything. He had helped her when no one else would. There was a knock at the back door, and then it opened. “Drew? You okay?” “Hey, Kenny, come on in.” She heard him stomp off his boots in the back on the mud tray before he emerged from the washroom that served double-duty as the mudroom. “Kenny, I’d like you to meet Jeb and Marshall. They’re going to be working with us on the ranch.” Kenny eyed them then her arm. “Hell, you need stitches again?” he asked, ignoring the two men. “Marshall put three in. I’ll live.” She waited to see how he’d react. You’d never think Kenny was gay by looking at him. He was the epitome of cowboys everywhere. Slightly bowlegged, he chewed tobacco despite her fussing at him. He was a little over forty and wiry in size. He probably stood about the same height as Jeb.

 

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“How long you two been out?” Kenny finally asked, standing a little in front of Drew. She rolled her eyes but let him have his moment. “Going on six weeks now,” Jeb said. “She knows the entire story. She thinks you need to know, we’ll tell you,” Marshall told him. Kenny turned slightly and looked at Drew. “You okay with them?” “I’m fine with them. They know the rules,” she told him. “Okay then, who’s foreman?” Jeb and Marshall looked at him. “Figured you were. You’ve been here and know the place.” Marshall shook his head, bewildered. “I’m not a foreman. Don’t want to be one. I hope one of you have experience enough to take that over from Drew. She’s going to kill herself out there if she keeps it up,” Kenny said. Drew huffed out a breath and slapped him on the back of the head. “Ow! It’s the truth, damn it.” “Guess that’s you then, Jeb,” Marshall said. “Hell, we all work together until I learn about the place. I can’t be making decisions on something I don’t know anything about.” “Fair enough,” Kenny said. “Now that all that is taken care of, we need to organize dinner and where you’re sleeping.” Drew stood up and rinsed out her mug. She sat it in the drainer by the sink. Kenny pulled down a mug and poured coffee. “I’m going to tend to the horses before dinner.” “Be back inside by seven. It should be ready by then.” She walked out of the kitchen and headed for the stairs. “Follow me.” The two men looked at each other then followed her out of the kitchen and up a flight of stairs. She walked to the end of the hall and opened a door. “Kenny is on the opposite end of the hall. I’m in the middle. This is your room. It’s got two double beds. Linens fresh.

 

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Bathroom is next door. You don’t share it with anyone. Kenny and I each have one.” “You’re saying we stay in the main house with you?” Jeb asked, clearly shocked. “Yep. Don’t have a bunkhouse anymore. That was the first thing to get burned down.” “Someone burned down your bunkhouse?” Marshall asked. “Yep. Then they tried to get the barn, but we managed to put that out. Still, I built a new barn. We use the old barn for storage.” Drew turned away from the room and headed back down stairs. “Why don’t you two settle in and wash up. I’ve got dinner already started, so it shouldn’t be more than an hour and a half ’til it’s time to eat. Take your time, and look around.” She heard them talking as they walked back to the front door and then heard the door open and close. She was in all sorts of trouble. Between Jeb’s deep voice that turned her insides to jelly and Marshall’s easy way about him, she needed an ice-cold shower to cool her libido down. Maybe she shouldn’t have hired them. They weren’t just ex-cons. They were sex on a stick, and she was finding that she had a dormant sweet tooth.

 

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Chapter Two Jeb and Marshall looked at each other. Jeb nodded his head toward the door, indicating they should go outside. Marshall followed him down the stairs and out the front door. They leaned against the front of the truck where they could see if anyone came up on them. Marshall wasn’t sure what to make of all of it. It seemed too good to be true. Then there was the lady herself. Hot didn’t begin to describe her. She was everything he and Jeb liked in a woman. Her rich auburn hair probably reached a little past her shoulders when it wasn’t pulled back. She had the prettiest blue eyes he’d ever seen. They reminded him of a spring sky. She stood around five feet four inches and had curves he could easily get lost in. Yeah, she meant trouble. Trouble they didn’t need, but the job, they did. “What do you think?” he asked Jeb. “I think she’s the best thing since sliced bread,” he said with a grin. “But fuck, man, you know she isn’t going to have anything to do with us. Not only are we her hands, we’re ex-cons as well. “Doesn’t keep me from dreaming at night.” Marshall took off his hat and ran a hand through his hair then reseated the hat. Jeb huffed out a breath and looked off toward the stable where Kenny would be working. “I know what you’re thinking,” Marshall said. “Kenny probably guessed we’re interested in Drew just by the look in our eyes. He wasn’t too pleased we’re here.” “I’m thinking Kenny is going to be watching out for her,” Jeb said.

 

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“Someone seems to need to if she’s had trouble like the barn and the bunkhouse burning.” “We might bring her more trouble just by being here,” Jeb said. “What do we do then? Stay or leave?” “Hell, we need the job, Marshall. I don’t think we have much choice if we want to eat.” “Then we protect her the best we can,” Marshall said. “Which means fighting, which will get us fired,” Jeb reminded him. “Not if we make sure it’s in self-defense. I don’t think she’ll fire us over self-defense.” Marshall looked up as Kenny stepped out of the stable with a horse and tied it to the corral. “Expect we’re going to get beaten up a lot then,” Jeb mused. “Took it in prison. We can take anything we have to.” Marshall started walking to where Kenny had the horse tied up. “What is it?” Jeb asked. “Not sure, but something’s wrong.” Marshall got to the horse about the same time Kenny came back out with a bucket of feed. “What’s wrong?” he asked. Kenny looked furious. “There’s weevils in the damn feed again. Think I caught it before Crooner here got any of it, but I want to walk him around some just in case.” “This happen before?” Marshall asked. “Yeah, second time. I know the feed was fine when we bought it.” “You go tell Drew what’s going on,” Jeb said. “I’ll walk Crooner here.” Marshall took the bucket and looked in it. “I’ll check the rest of the feed.” Kenny nodded and stomped off toward the house to talk to Drew. “Seems like she’s already got trouble without our needing to help it along,” Jeb told Marshall.

 

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“This feed looks in too good a shape for weevils to have been in it to begin with. Someone added the weevils.” Marshall walked into the stable, leaving Jeb to walk the horse. He found five other horses in stalls. He checked each and every one of the buckets and found them all to have clean feed in them. He checked the open bag and found a small pile of weevils inside. There were some on the ground around it as well. He pulled the bag of feed out of the stack and stood it by the door to get rid of later. Then he double checked all the other bags for any sign of tampering. He didn’t find anything else to make him think another bag had been fooled with. Marshall searched around the back door to make sure it was secured. He decided to move a few implements in front of the door as a deterrent. Leaving the stable through the front, he found Drew and Kenny talking to Jeb as he led the horse around the corral. “I’m going to look out back of the barn for any sign of someone being there. Kenny, dispose of that bag of grain. I checked the others, and they all look to still be factory sealed. We’ll watch them, though.” Kenny nodded and headed off to the barn. Drew touched Marshall’s arm to stop him when he started to walk off. “This keeps up, I’m going to eventually lose a horse. I don’t want to lose even one animal because someone is pissed off at me for keeping the damn ranch.” “Don’t worry. Jeb and I will be looking out for things now. Kenny is just one man. Now you have three to check on everything.” “Thanks,” she said and headed back to the house. “How’s he doing?” he asked Jeb. “No problem that I can see, other than he’s a talker. Guess that’s why they named him Crooner.” Jeb chuckled. Marshall walked around the barn, careful not to disturb any prints, if there were any. What he found was where someone had used a branch to try and erase the evidence that they’d been there. The dirt was disturbed, and he found a likely branch about fifteen feet away

 

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from the barn. Yep, someone was definitely trying to cause trouble. Why? If you don’t want to work for a woman, that’s one thing. Don’t do it. But why cause trouble for her? She’s got trouble enough trying to get people to work for her. Guess Jeb and I are going to be doing a little sleuthing as well as protecting. Kenny found him walking back around the side of the barn. “Find anything?” he asked. Marshall nodded his head but waited until he could tell Jeb as well. No use telling it twice, he decided. When they made it back around the corral, he motioned Jeb to come over. His friend tied off the horse and climbed up on the fence to sit while they talked. Marshall filled them in on what he’d found and what his plans were for the next few days. “Kenny, I need you to bring me up to speed on everything that’s going on and how you normally run this place. We don’t have time for me to learn as I go.” Kenny looked relieved and started talking. At seven thirty, Drew called out that dinner was on the table. Marshall realized it had gotten dark while they had been talking. The outside lights had automatically cut on. He noticed a couple of dark spots that needed additional light and made a mental note to see about remedying that. Inside, the smell of food filled the house. They each took turns stomping off their boots on the boot tray then washed up at the big double sink in the washroom. Jeb’s stomach growled loudly as soon as they walked into the kitchen. He looked a little embarrassed, but Drew just laughed and said to have a seat. She wouldn’t know they’d been living off canned meat and beans for the last few weeks. Marshall’s mouth watered at the sight of the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. Something else smelled even better. He hoped it was for dessert. They started passing the food around the

 

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table as they discussed the ranch. Marshall felt at home after only a few hours of being there. He glanced over at where Jeb and Kenny were talking about the horses, and then at Drew, who had grown quiet. He caught her looking at him, and he could have sworn there was interest in her eyes before she averted them and offered Jeb some more mashed potatoes. Time would tell if they had a chance with her. Of course, even if they did, it would probably only be a brief fling. Would it be worth throwing away the only job they’d been able to find? Marshall took another look at her and knew, as far as he was concerned, it would be. **** Drew felt her face grow warm when Marshall caught her staring at him. She couldn’t keep her eyes off the two men. They were handsome men, and something about them pulled her toward them like a moth to a flame. The part that kept bothering her most, though, wasn’t that she was interested in them but that she was interested in both of them at the same time. The townsfolk are right, Drew. You’re a slut. She sighed and told herself that they might be partners, as in gay partners. She had no idea and wasn’t about to ask. Eight years was a long time to be in prison. She knew what went on there whether she liked it or not. No, she best keep her thoughts, hands, and looks to herself. She had enough trouble with whoever was causing the problems around the ranch. With winter coming up, they would all have their hands full without adding a raunchy ranch romance in the mix. She forced herself to change the direction of her thoughts. Kenny had a partner who lived in town. She had often tried to get him to move Robert there with them so he would be close by. Kenny said it was best that people not have it rubbed in their noses. They pretty much left Robert alone since he was the only blacksmith in the area. He traveled from ranch to ranch to tend to everyone’s horses.

 

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Drew had no doubt that if another man came in to set up shop, they’d run Robert out of town. Where Robert went, Kenny would follow. She hated that it had to be that way. The little town of Mountain View, Montana, only had about twelve hundred folks living in the area, but they all kept up with everyone’s business. Kenny and Robert had been the main gossip for quite some time now. No doubt they would have another avenue to go down now that she had hired Jeb and Marshall. She grimaced. “Is that chocolate pie I smell?” Kenny asked. Kenny knew her pies well. Now she had Jeb and Marshall to cook for, so she had made two pies to be sure there would be plenty for everyone. Kenny could eat a half of a pie by himself. “I suppose you’re ready for it now,” she groused good-naturedly and stood up. “I’ll get it. You just relax. You worked too hard with fresh stitches as it is,” Kenny said. “I’m not made of glass. I can bend a little,” she snapped then laughed. He always got her goat. She watched with bated breath as Jeb and Marshall tasted her pie. She wanted them to like it as much as Kenny did. It was vain of her, but she couldn’t help it. When they both rolled their eyes heavenward and made appreciative noises, she knew they liked it. “This is the best damn pie I think I’ve ever had,” Marshall declared. “I agree,” Jeb said. “I can’t even remember the last time I had food as good as what you laid out tonight. I thank you.” “Get use to it. Unless there is something major going on and she’s too busy, she always cooks great meals,” Kenny told them. “I’m not that good of a cook. Robert is the cook. Maybe he’ll come out this weekend and cook for us,” she hinted. Kenny smiled, with pride evident in his eyes. “Who’s Robert?” Marshall asked with a hint of something in his voice.

 

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Was it unease? Kenny laughed. “He’s my partner and the town’s blacksmith.” Evidently Kenny had heard it in Marshall’s voice as well. “If he can cook better than this, I’ll make myself too sick to work,” Jeb predicted. Drew was tired and wanted to finish cleaning up so she could go to bed. She shooed everyone out of the kitchen with the promise of burnt eggs in the morning if they didn’t get out of her way. She made short work of washing up then wandered into the living area to find the men gathered around the TV, watching the weather. She made it just in time to hear that the weekend might produce some snow. “What about tomorrow?” she asked no one in particular. “Low fifties tomorrow with a slight chance for rain in the afternoon,” Jeb told her. “I’m heading to bed. Breakfast is at six in the morning. I’ll see you guys then.” She nodded at their good-nights and headed up the stairs to her room. She had the master suite with a newly remodeled master bath. She’d used her first share of the profits to have it and the walk-in closet made out of the fourth bedroom. Drew stripped almost as soon as she shut her bedroom door and dropped her clothes in the hamper by the bathroom. Then she turned on the shower with its multiple heads and adjusted the water to suit her. She loved a hot shower before slipping into a warm bath. She couldn’t stand to sit in a tub full of dirty water. Most people would think she was crazy, but then, they didn’t work outside in the dust and dirt like she did. It was tricky getting clean without getting her arm wet, but she managed. As soon as she was clean, Drew turned off the water and ran a bath with some of her favorite bath salts. She didn’t always indulge in a bath, but tonight she felt like she needed it, with everything that had happened. The subtle scent of honeydew filled the air as she slid into the deliciously warm water and leaned back with both arms on the side of

 

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the tub. It didn’t take long for the warm water to relax her enough to daydream. Naturally, she pulled her new ranch hand and foreman into her dream. In a perfect world, she would have them both as her lovers, and Kenny and Robert would live on the ranch in their own house. She’d have a house full of children, and her ranch would thrive with new ranch hands to manage it for her. Her chin, then her mouth sank below the water. She sputtered, sitting up again. Well, it wasn’t a perfect world, and she sure as hell couldn’t have two men at one time. It just wasn’t done. Drew dried off after her bath and climbed into bed nude. She’d been sleeping that way ever since she’d married Mark and had never changed. She kept her jeans and a shirt on the chair by the bed in case of an emergency. She could slip into them in an instant and had on more than one occasion. The soft sheets and comfortable mattress soon lulled her into sleep.

 

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Chapter Three The dream seemed so real. She knew she was dreaming, but she couldn’t wake up. After a few seconds of Jeb’s and Marshall’s mouths on her breasts, she didn’t want to. They each took a nipple and sucked until she moaned at the pleasure. Jeb nipped and licked on one as Marshall molded her breast before trying to stuff it all inside his mouth. They switched tactics and Jeb ate at her breasts while Marshall bit and sucked his side. They each eased a hand down her body until they came to her cunt, wet and needy. They used their fingers to tease and cajole more of her juices to flow from her pussy. One of them teased her clit by tapping on it while the other teased her slit by sliding around the edge without entering her. Jeb eased his mouth from her breast up her chest to lick and kiss his way around her neck. Marshall scooted down in the bed to settle between her legs where he laid kisses along her pelvis until he reached her pussy. Marshall blew his hot breath across her cunt before taking short licks up and down her slit. He curved his tongue and scooped up her pussy juices, humming his approval as he did. Drew wasn’t sure she could stand the double assault now. Jeb sucked down her neck then nipped at her chin and along her jawline until he reached her ear. There he stopped long enough to suck it into his mouth and tease with his tongue. He nipped it, causing her to shudder with need as he licked to sooth the sting. When he reached her mouth with his, she sighed into it. He licked along the seam of her mouth then dove inside the minute she opened to him.

 

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Drew soon began to thrust her pelvis up into Marshall’s face as he licked and sucked his way around her pussy. She couldn’t handle them both at the same time. They took her higher than she’d ever been. Her pussy ached for more, and her breasts tingled, missing their mouths. As if knowing what she wanted, Jeb began pulling and twisting her nipples. He ate at her mouth as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Marshall stiffened his tongue and stabbed her slit over and over. Drew bucked up into his mouth needing a deeper penetration than his tongue could give her. She groaned and reached down to grab his head and hold him to her, but with Jeb’s mouth marauding hers, she was helpless to reach him. She cried out in desperation around Jeb’s kiss. Jeb sucked on her lower lip, then bit it and licked it as she hummed her approval. He licked the roof of her mouth then explored her tongue with his. When she eased it alongside his playfully, he sucked on it, pulling it into his mouth. He sucked her tongue until she was grabbing at his head, holding it to her. He pulled back to lick along it then left her tongue to tease her lips with sucking kisses around her mouth. She couldn’t concentrate on her pussy for Jeb’s mouth and couldn’t concentrate on Jeb’s kisses for Marshall tongue-fucking her cunt. Marshall licked her from her ass to her clit and around her clit back down to her back hole. He took long, slow laps of her pussy juices as they flowed for him. Then he brought a finger into play, teasing her opening. When he finally pushed it inside of her, she cried out around Jeb’s kisses. He took the cry into his mouth. Her lovers teased and pleased her until she wasn’t sure she would live through the pleasure of their individual kisses.

 

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When Marshall added another finger to her pussy, she jerked from Jeb’s mouth. She looked down the line of her body to focus on Marshall’s head at her pussy. Jeb scooted down the bed some to suck in a nipple and tease it with his tongue. The combined sensations bombarded her with feeling. She thrashed her head from side to side. When she tried to wrap one leg around Marshall to hold him at her clit, he used both hands and forced her legs apart and down on the bed. Now she was helpless to his careful ministrations. Jeb nipped at one of her nipples while pinching the other one, then rubbing his thumb over the top of it, even as he licked its twin. Marshall began finger-fucking her deep and hard. She bucked against his fingers, wanting, needing more, and needing it deeper. He added a third finger and found that hot spot at her core and stroked it even as he sucked on her clit. She screamed as she came, bucking and jerking between her two lovers. Her screams woke her up, and evidently, Jeb and Marshall as well. They burst into her room, buck naked, only to find her alone, panting and embarrassed. She had her hand between her legs with the other at her breast. The sheets were pooled at her feet. **** “Um, are you okay?” Jeb asked, studiously avoiding the obvious. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry I woke you.” Drew pulled the covers back up to cover her nude body, all the while trying not to look at theirs. Marshall wasn’t as understanding. Jeb wanted to hit him when he opened his mouth, because by the way his nostrils flared, Jeb knew he was going to embarrass her further. “If you needed relief, Jeb and I would have been more than happy to have helped you.” “I–I,” she stuttered.

 

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“Come on, Marshall. Give her some privacy, you idiot.” He pulled Marshall out of the room, but not before the other man winked at Drew. “What is your problem? You don’t embarrass her like that,” Jeb fussed. He led the way back to their room, closing the door behind them. “She needs to know we’re interested and not dance around it. It’s obvious she’s attracted to us, which is probably why she was masturbating,” Marshall pointed out. “Still, that was rude,” Jeb said. “Well, you were thinking the same thing.” “But I had enough sense not to say it.” Jeb looked at the clock. “It’s already a quarter to five. I’m going down to start the coffee.” “I’m going back to bed. I’ll see you in an hour.” Marshall climbed back into bed and was almost immediately asleep. Jeb walked down stairs after pulling on a pair of jeans and zipping them. He didn’t bother with a shirt. He’d come back up after starting the coffee and take a shower. Not long after he had the coffee going, Drew walked into the kitchen. “I started the coffee. Thought you might like a cup when you got downstairs,” he told her. “Thanks.” She avoided looking at him. “Drew?” “Yeah,” she said as she gathered pans and utensils to start breakfast. “Men jack off, women masturbate. It’s a natural way to take care of a basic need. Don’t let Marshall embarrass you. But he’s right. You have a need. We’ll be pleased to help you.” Jeb took his cup of coffee upstairs to shower and get dressed. When he turned on the water and stepped under the spray, he couldn’t help but think about Drew in her bed, fingering her cunt while they were next door. Had she been thinking about them? Did

 

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they figure into her dreams? He was sure she had been dreaming. She would never have allowed herself to scream like that had she been awake. He rubbed on his cock, thinking about what it would feel like to be buried balls-deep inside of her with Marshall in her ass. He could feel their cocks rubbing alongside each other as he fucked her. They could more than please her, of that he was sure. Would she balk at taking two ex-cons to her bed? Jeb began pulling on his dick as he imagined her mouth around his cock, sucking it deep into her hot, wet mouth. Then she would turn and do the same to Marshall, back and forth between the two of them. She would tease him around the rim of his cockhead until he rose on his toes at the feel of her tongue. He could almost feel that tongue lapping at his balls as they drew up tight with his cum. His dick ached with the need for release. He pumped it harder and gave it a twist at the end to catch that spot that was so sensitive under the mushroom-shaped head. Faster and faster, he tugged until he felt the cum boiling up from his balls. He exploded ribbons of cum into his waiting hand, wishing it were Drew’s mouth instead. Jeb leaned against the back of the shower, catching his breath, when the door opened and Marshall walked in. “You about finished in here?” “Yeah, getting out now. I’ll leave the water on for you,” Jeb said and stepped out of the shower, snagging a towel as Marshall stepped in. “You know she wants us,” Marshall said. “I know, but you embarrassing her isn’t helping our cause none. Lay off her.” He wrapped the towel around his waist and opened the door. “I’ll be down in a few minutes. Don’t start anything without me.” Marshall stuck his head around the shower curtain. “I don’t want to miss anything.”

 

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Jeb shook his head and closed the door behind him. Sometimes Marshall acted more like a teenager than a grown man. Then, Marshall had been the one who’d suffered the most in prison. Jeb did what he could to protect him, but in the end, Marshall had been the one to always pay. He finished dressing and loped down the stairs to find Kenny already in the kitchen with Drew. He stood by the sink with a cup of coffee in his hand and a biscuit in the other. “Starting without us?” Jeb asked. “Naw, just sneaking one before everyone got to the table.” “What are the main needs for today?” Jeb asked, refilling his coffee cup. “Need to bring the herd up closer to the house while we check the back fencers.” Kenny took another bite of his biscuit. “How well can you handle a gun?” Jeb asked. Kenny looked serious. “I’m a pretty good shot. I don’t hesitate.” “Good.” Jeb sipped his coffee, waiting on Marshall to make it down stairs. When the other man finally showed up, Drew had breakfast on the table. “Marshall, I want you to stick close to the house today. You can work the barn and the horses. Kenny, take me around the land, and we’ll also move the herd a little closer since we have someone messing around the place,” Jeb said. “What do I need to do today?” Drew asked. “Stick close to Marshall and the house. You need to rest that arm anyway. You pull those stitches, and you’re going to have a mess. “I’ve got plenty of paperwork to keep me busy for a month.” Jeb noticed she didn’t look any of them in the face. If Kenny noticed anything, he didn’t let on. He’d find out more about Drew while they were out riding. “Anything I need to know about the horses?” Marshall asked Kenny.

 

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“No, nothing special about any of them. They all are good horses. You might want to be careful of the roan one. It likes to bite sometimes. Don’t know where he picked up that bad habit, but started about the time we had the fire in the other barn. “I’ll keep my body parts away from his mouth, then,” Marshall said with a chuckle. “He went after my hair the other day. I thought I lost an inch off of it before I finally got it out of his mouth,” Drew said. When they had all finished breakfast, they scraped their plates into the scrap bucket and stacked the plates by the sink. Jeb, Marshall, and Kenny walked outside to the barn where Jeb selected a spirited black horse by the name of Lightning, and Kenny saddled his horse, a pretty bay by the name of Gracie. They left Marshall talking to the roan from a safe distance about not biting the hand that fed him. Jeb just shook his head as he and Kenny set out to ride the property. “How many acres does she have?” Jeb asked. “Close to a thousand, but part of it is in mountainous terrain. The good part of it is it has natural water and has a good passage to get to some really good grazing land that the government leases on a yearly basis.” Kenny led him around a fence line they both checked as they rode by. “She have to do that?” “Nope, not so far, but it’s there if she has to. They let you lease if you can drive your cattle there. Only two other farms have access.” “How many head she run?” Jeb asked. “Normally around four fifty. This year we ended up with some good breeding and have close to five hundred. I think she needs to increase the heard, but she says as long as we don’t have enough help, we’re wasting money ’cause we’ll end up losing them. I guess she’s right.” “No doubt.” Jeb looked around them and liked what he saw. Good grazing land and the stream that ran right through the property.

 

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“Water ever dry up in the summer?” Jeb asked. “Never has. Gotten low a time or two, but never has completely run out. If it does, we have the water barrels we can cart water out to with the truck, but I sure don’t want to do that if we don’t have to.” Kenny stopped and slid off his horse. “Well, shit.” “What is it?” “Damn cut fence again. Can you help me pull it back and tack it?” Kenny asked. Jeb dismounted and grabbed the puller off his saddle and handed it to Kenny. The other man lifted an eyebrow. “You were prepared. I don’t normally bring it with me if I’m not doing fence duty. Should have thought about it.” They worked together to fix the break in the fence, then Jeb looked around on both sides of it for anything to tell him who might have cut the wire. “Find anything?” Kenny asked when Jeb swung back into the saddle again. “Nope. Too dry for prints of any kind, and evidently the cattle have been through here. Do you think we lost any to that side?” “Naw, I moved them yesterday while I was out there. That’s why I know that wasn’t like that.” “When does it start to snow around here?” “Most any day now. I know it seems sort of warm today, but weather report this morning called for a cooling off and some chance of snow by the weekend.” Kenny nudged his horse forward. “How much snow we talking about?” Jeb asked. “Start off around a foot or two. Before it’s over with, we get close to six or eight feet. It thaws and refreezes until we have solid ice in some places. Once winter sets in, it never thaws it all away. Just builds on top of it.” Jeb nodded and continued riding beside Kenny. “You and Marshall partners?” Kenny finally asked.

 

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Jeb had been waiting for that one. He was surprised he’d waited as long as he had. “How do you mean, partners?” he asked. “Are you lovers?” Jeb pulled up on the reins and leaned forward in the saddle. God, he’d missed sitting on a horse out in the wide open spaces while he’d been in prison. He looked up at the pale blue sky and then looked Kenny dead in the eyes. “I reckon you have a right to know about us, but I’d be obliged if you wouldn’t share it with Drew. If it comes up, we’ll tell her.” “I guess I mostly want to know what your intentions are with her. She’s the best friend I’ve ever had. She gave me a job and a place to stay when no one else would.” “Can’t hide the fact that Marshall and I want her. She’s an attractive woman, and smart. Plus, she loves the land as much as we do. Put all that together, and it’s a hell of an aphrodisiac for a man to swallow.” He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t expect her to fall in love with one of us or both of us, but she’s a woman with needs just like a man has. If she lets us, we’ll take good care of her. If she doesn’t, we’ll mind her feelings and stay to ourselves. Choice is hers.” “You didn’t answer if you and Marshall are lovers,” Kenny prodded. “We did what had to be done in prison to survive. That don’t carry out here, though. That’s all I’m saying.” Jeb nudged his horse into a canter, figuring Kenny would either follow or not. He could hear Kenny’s horse behind him, so he didn’t bother slowing down. He checked the fence as he went by, following the natural curve of the land. It sang in his blood. Being away from it had just about killed him and Marshall. Ranching had been their entire life. They’d planned to be running their own spread by now. Things happen and things change. There wasn’t anything he would have done differently that day if he could have. The girl mattered. His momma

 

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had taught him well as a kid that you never disrespect or hurt a woman for any reason. You walk away until you can be civil. It had been plain bad luck that he and Marshall had been convicted of manslaughter and sent to prison. The judge had been a friend of the family of one of the boys. They didn’t have a chance when it was all said and done. Then they’d learned a whole new sort of life. It hadn’t been an easy lesson, either. In there, you were one of two things. You were meat, or you were the man. They’d done what they had to do to survive. There was no use trying to forget about it. It had been part of what made them who they were today. It was one of the main reasons they continued to share their women. When they’d been growing up, it had been a kink they’d shared. It added to the excitement and general pleasure of sex. Now, however, they shared because it kept them close without actually being lovers. They needed that closeness between them. Maybe Jeb needed it more than Marshall did. He refused to think too hard on it. He looked off in the distance and saw the herd grazing. Kenny caught up with him. “That look like all of them to you?” Jeb asked. “Nope. Damn it to hell.” Kenny cussed. “Well, let’s go see if we can round up some more.”

 

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Chapter Four Marshall finished up the chores in the barn after turning the horses out in the corral. They all looked in fine shape. The feed was all free of tampering, and he’d made sure to lock the back of the barn up tight. He refilled the water trough in the corral and looked around him. Pale blue sky reached the mountains ahead of him. He knew it would snow soon, and they’d be snowed in eventually. Montana was known for its harsh winters. Next on his list of chores were the steps on the front porch. The top step was cracked and needed replacing. Then he would work on the railing. The entire house needed painting, but that would have to wait until spring when the weather was warmer and stayed that way. He’d been putting the last nail in the step when he noticed the dirt trail of a vehicle coming up the road. Who in the hell could it be? He called out to Drew through the open front door. “Company coming up the drive, Drew.” “Coming.” She walked out on the front porch and cursed. “Who is it?” Marshall stepped in front of her. “Brett Gunnison. He owns most of the land around my ranch.” “What does he want?” “Me to sell out to him.” Marshall nodded to her and stepped aside when the truck pulled up, a nice, new-looking Dodge Ram. He parked next to their old truck and opened the door to get out.

 

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Brett Gunnison had blond hair cut close to his head and wore a new-looking Stetson. He wore shiny snakeskin boots. His beady eyes missed nothing. “Drew. Good to see you.” “Brett. What do you want?” “Is that any way to greet a neighbor?” he asked. “Just spill it, Brett, what do you want?” “Actually I came to warn you about a couple of drifters looking for jobs. Seems they’ve already made it here.” “What about them?” “I was going to warn you to steer clear of them. They’re dangerous.” “Really?” She took a step closer to Marshall and slapped her hands on her hips. “Since when have you ever worried about me?” “Drew, honey. I’ve always worried about you. That’s why I keep trying to get you to sell to me. It’s no place for a woman alone out here.” “Well, I’m not alone. I have Kenny, and now I have a new foreman and Marshall here.” “See, there’s where you’re wrong, Drew darling. You have two ex-cons working for you. Now that’s not safe.” Brett took a step forward, and Marshall stepped back in front of Drew. “Let me get rid of these two men for you. I’ll call the sheriff out right now.” “If anyone needs to be leaving, it would be you,” Marshall said. “Drew, you can’t mean to keep these convicts out here with you. They’re dangerous men. They killed two boys,” Brett argued. “I know all about their past. I can hire who I want, so you might as well leave,” Drew said. “If you would just marry me...” Marshall interrupted him. “She said to leave.” Marshall took a step toward him, the hammer still in his hand.

 

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Brett eyed it then hardened his expression. “I’ll be back, and your new hands better be gone, or the sheriff will get rid of them.” “He can’t tell me who I can and can’t hire, either,” Drew pointed out. Brett stomped over to his truck and climbed in. He backed out of the space and then slung gravel all over the yard as he peeled out of the drive. “You okay?” Marshall asked as he shielded her from the stinging gravel. “You got the worst of it. I’m fine. Thanks for not losing your temper. It doesn’t help with him,” Drew said, climbing back onto the porch. “I’m not some hot-headed kid. I know when to keep my cool.” Marshall climbed the steps behind her. “Thanks for fixing that step. It was going to get someone hurt. I just haven’t had the time to do half of what needs doing around here.” Drew brushed back a tendril of hair that had come loose from her ponytail. “It’ll take some time, but we’ll get everything done. The house needs painting, but that will have to wait for spring.” “Come on in and have a cup of coffee. I have cookies baked.” “I thought I smelled something good when I was turning the horses out,” Marshall said. He watched as she fixed the coffee. She favored her arm, but the bandage looked like it was dry and clean. It still amazed him that she’d been running this place with just Kenny for all those years. Most women would have sold out long before now. She said she wanted a home. That meant something to her. It meant a hell of a lot to him and Jeb. But what were her reasons? He knew his and Jeb’s. They hadn’t had a real home since they’d been in their early teens. When the coffee was ready, she poured him a cup and handed it to him. Their fingers met on the cup, and he felt the electricity pop across their fingers. He knew she had felt it by her sudden intake of

 

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breath. He looked up and saw it in her eyes as well. She swallowed and pulled back, letting him take the coffee cup. Then she opened a plastic bowl filled with sugar cookies. “You can have three, but that’s all,” she said with a mischievous smile. “Will you slap my hand if I take more than three?” he asked. “You never know.” Marshall laughed and pulled out three cookies then reached in and took out one more. He handed it to her. “Did you kiss them all?” he asked. Her brows furrowed, a puzzled expression on her face. “Isn’t that how you make sugar cookies, kiss them to give them sugar?” Marshall teased. “You’re flirting with me, Marshall.” Drew shook her head with a shy smile. “That was my intention.” Marshall took a step closer, pinning her back against the cabinet. He leaned in and sat his coffee cup on the counter. He didn’t touch her with his hands. He just leaned in and looked down at her face. There was no fear in her eyes as he bent over and slowly closed the distance between them. His eyes searched hers for any sign she wanted him to stop. Finding none, he took her lips in a soft kiss. He licked along her lower lip then sucked on it. When she opened to him, he slid his tongue in along hers, teasing and tempting her to play. He slanted his head and took more control of the kiss when she didn’t balk or pull away. He pressed his body against hers, letting her feel his need. Marshall’s cock was rock hard and straining in the confines of his jeans. He wanted her with a vengeance, but he wouldn’t take her without Jeb. He’d tease her and pleasure her if she’d let him, but he wouldn’t fuck her without Jeb there to help.

 

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When he pulled back, they both stared into each other’s eyes, panting for breath. She looked at him with a question in her eyes. He smiled and nipped at her chin with his teeth. “Let me take care of you, Drew. I’ll take real good care of you if you’ll let me.” “It’s been a long time for me, Marshall,” she whispered. “Too long,” he agreed. When she didn’t protest, Marshall picked her up and carried her to the stairs and up them to the bedroom. He slowly removed her shirt then unhooked her bra and stared in wonder at her breasts. They were perfect. Her nipples were already pebbled and hard. He leaned in and licked one with a long, slow slide of his tongue. Drew whimpered. “You smell like honeysuckle,” he whispered. He circled the other nipple with his finger then pulled at it. When she arched her back with need, he knew it wouldn’t take much to send her over. Marshall licked then sucked each nipple before kissing and nipping his way south. When he reached her jeans, he reasoned the boots had to come off first. Once those where dealt with, he unfastened her jeans and pulled them down her long, lean legs. Her thighs were strong from gripping a horse when she rode. Would they grip him the same way? He couldn’t wait to find out. She wore panties that matched the bra he’d removed. He inched them down her body and off her feet before kissing her belly just above her mound. When she whimpered, he smiled and blew across the curls at her apex. “Please, please,” she begged. “What do you want, Drew?” Marshall asked, just inches from her sweet pussy. “I don’t know. I want you to touch me,” she pleaded. He shouldered her legs farther apart and spread her pussy lips with his fingers. She groaned. He swiped his tongue across her cunt and hummed his appreciation.

 

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“You taste like fresh mountain rain,” he told her. “Please, more.” He grinned and set to licking her from her ass to her clit and back down again. He circled her clit with his tongue but avoided licking directly over it. He wanted to drag it out as long as he could. The longer she lasted, the greater the pleasure would be in the end. Marshall teased her slit with one finger as he lapped at the honey sliding from her hot cunt. When he fucked her shallowly with his finger, Drew tried arching her back to gain a deeper penetration, but he backed off when she did. Whimpering, she thrashed her head back and forth. He pushed his finger in deeper and slowly began pumping it in and out of her tight cunt. She groaned. When he added a second finger and began curling them inside her, looking for her hot spot, she cried out. “Yes.” “Do you like that, baby?” Marshall found the spot he was looking for and felt her shudder all over as he stroked it. “Oh, God,” she whimpered. He began licking her closer and closer to her clit until he felt her pussy muscles begin to quiver. He began to pump in earnest and latched on to her clit and rode her orgasm as she bucked and screamed. Damn, he’d forgotten she was a screamer, he thought with a smile. Hopefully no one was close enough to hear her and worry. He slowly eased from her and climbed up the bed to kiss her. She didn’t balk at the taste of her own juices on his lips. She kissed him back. “Thank you,” she said in a breathy voice. “My pleasure, ma’am.” He pulled her sheet over her and sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re not going to fuck me now?” she asked, looking confused.

 

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“Nope, I think I’ll save that for another time. You rest now. I’ve got more work to do outside. It won’t hurt you to take a nap.” He bent and kissed her again. She yawned as if suggesting a nap had brought the yawn on. “Maybe a short one.” She yawned again and closed her eyes. He smiled and picked up her clothes. He laid them across the foot of the bed and eased from her room. Then he walked back down to the kitchen to pour out his coffee and get another cup. He finished it and the cookies then returned to the front porch to work on the railing. He felt a lot less stressed since he’d felt her come on his face. He could hardly wait to tell Jeb. For now, he had work to do. **** Jeb and Kenny rode back up at dusk. Both of them were worn out and dirty from head to foot. Jeb hadn’t worked this hard in a long time. Actual work was a lot different than lifting weights in prison. Marshall met them at the barn and took the two horses. “I’ll see to them. You two need to go shower and get ready for dinner,” Marshall told them. “Go on ahead, Kenny. I’ll be right behind you.” Kenny nodded and walked over to the back door where they washroom was. “Trouble?” Jeb asked. “Yeah, you too?” Marshall asked. “Yep. Someone had cut some fence lines and run the cattle until they’d separated. We got them all back together and repaired the fence, but it’s going to take going out there every day to keep it under control, I think. Kenny said he’d been repairing fences nonstop for the last two or three weeks.” “That Brett Gunnison showed up to warn her about us. Then when he realized we were already here, he threatened to bring the sheriff out to run us off. She stood her ground and told him to leave. He’s

 

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obviously after her land. Wanted her to marry him then wanted her to sell to him.” “We’re going to have to watch the house and barn real close from now on. My money is on him being behind all the problems she’s had.” “I’ll add my two dollars to that bet, as well,” Marshall said. “What else? I can see it in your eyes,” Jeb said. He had an idea already from the grin on his friend’s face. “She let me taste that sweet pussy of hers. She’s hurting for pleasing, Jeb. But she’s a screamer.” “I think Kenny understands we’re going to be seeing to her needs. He’s okay with it. I honestly think he was more concerned about his partner than he was for Drew. He thinks she can take care of herself.” “Fuck,” Marshall said, frowning. Jeb knew he was thinking about their relationship back in prison. “So you think she’s going to be receptive to both of us?” Jeb asked, hoping to pull Marshall’s thoughts back from where they’d gone. “I think so. She wanted me to fuck her. I told her we’d take care of that later. She didn’t say anything.” “Okay, I’m going to go on and take a shower. I’ll see you inside.” Jeb walked toward the house, leaving Marshall to care for the horses. The minute he stepped inside, he could smell her. Honeysuckle. He’d never be able to forget that scent for as long as he lived. He cleaned off his boots at the back door, with the wire brush nailed to the porch. Then he walked inside and heard Drew talking to someone. She must be on the phone. He walked into the kitchen to the scent of a home-cooked meal. It made his mouth water. Sure enough, when he walked through to the living room to go upstairs, she was on the phone arguing with someone. He hesitated at the stairs, hating to eavesdrop. He didn’t want anything to upset her. He remained at the foot of the staircase.

 

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“Sheriff, I’m telling you, I know what I’m doing, and that’s the end of it. They told me the truth from the start, and I need the help. If the townsfolk are so damn worried about me, then they can come out here and help me with my ranch. Otherwise, they need to butt out of my business.” There was silence as she listened to whatever he said. “I’ll tell them. Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine, sheriff. Goodnight.” She hung up the phone and sighed. He decided to make his presence known and find out what that was all about. “Bad news?” he asked as he walked into the living room behind her. “That was the sheriff. Brett called and told him you and Marshall were out here on my land.” “I take it he doesn’t approve.” “No. I’m a woman alone, and I don’t need to be trusting a couple of ex-cons.” “If we’re going to be more trouble than we’re worth…” he started to say they’d leave, but she interrupted him. “No, you’re not leaving. I need you here. I trust you, and I believe you did what had to be done about those boys. You’ve paid your debt as far as I’m concerned, if you even owed it.” She ran her hand over her face. “He said he’ll make it so that you can report to him once a week until the snow comes, then I’m to report to him by phone once it gets too hard to get anywhere in the snow. “Do you trust him? He won’t lie and say we aren’t checking in?” “No, you can trust him. He’s helped me out when I’ve had trouble. He doesn’t like Brett, so he’s a good man in my books.” Drew sighed. “I’m going to take a shower and clean up. I’ll be down in a little while.” “Dinner will be on the table in thirty minutes,” she said.

 

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“I’ll be down in twenty,” he said and smiled before collecting a quick kiss from her. He turned and took the stairs two at a time. Marshall had been right. She was in need of some good loving. He and Marshall could give her that in spades. For how long depended on her. If she’d let them stay, they might eventually be able to buy some property of their own and start their own ranch. It all depended on her. The new development with the sheriff would definitely make things easier on them. By reporting to the sheriff in town instead of having to drive to Billings every week, they wouldn’t be leaving her without protection for an entire day. If Brett was behind all the problems, he’d figure out their schedule and use it. He’d talk to the sheriff and see if he would be willing to let them each come on different days so she would have at least one other man there every day besides just Kenny. The idea of leaving her alone rankled with him now that he knew her. Now that Marshall had had a taste of her, she was theirs to protect. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her if he was alive and able to protect her. Marshall would give his life for her just as quickly. With that thought, Jeb stripped and stepped into the shower. He needed to wash the dirt and sweat from his body in case he could use that body to bring her more pleasure tonight.

 

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Chapter Five Drew finished washing the dishes and leaned against the sink, thinking. Kenny and Jeb had told her about the cut fences and the divided herd. She wanted to think everything was just coincidence, but it had been happening too regularly. Someone was out to drive her out of business. The only person she knew who had anything to gain by that was Brett. She knew he wanted the land awfully badly, but surely, sabotage was beneath him. Besides, why not try and enlarge his land on one of the other sides. Why hers? She dried her hands and laid the dishcloth over the pots she had in the dish drainer. She scooped soap into the dishwasher and turned it on. She needed to watch the weather, and then she was going to bed. It had been a long day. She smiled. Well, it had been broken up nicely, but still… She walked into the living room to find the only place left to sit was between Jeb and Marshall on the couch. She sank down onto the couch, glad to be off her feet. “Weather is just about to come on,” Kenny told her from his seat in the rocking chair. Jeb stretched out his arm along the back of the couch and rested his hand at the nape of her neck. He didn’t do anything at first, but once the weather came on, he began a soft kneading there that relaxed her. “Looks like we have about two more days of decent weather before we get our first snow coming through,” Kenny said. “Best to pull the cattle up closer to the barn then, so we can watch them,” Jeb said.

 

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“I’ll help out tomorrow then, so it won’t take too long,” Drew told them. “Naw, you stick close to the house and watch the horses. The three of us can do it.” Jeb continued to knead her shoulder and the back of her neck. It felt too good. She wanted to lean against him and let him take care of everything. She sighed and stood up, using his muscular thigh to push off of. “I’m going to call it a night. I’ll talk to you guys in the morning.” She heard their good-nights as she climbed the stairs to her bedroom. She needed a shower and then some sleep. The next couple of days were going to be long ones. She needed to make a list of supplies they would need and then make a trip into town to get them. She would also need to check the generator to be sure it was in good working order. They would need plenty of fuel for it. She quickly showered then let the hot water pound on her tired shoulder and back muscles. Much of the tension she’d suffered almost constantly since she’d taken over the ranch had dissipated with the arrival of Jeb and Marshall. She wasn’t sure why, but she trusted them as she’d never trusted anyone else. It both thrilled her and worried her. Not only where they strangers, they were ex-convicts who’d admitted they’d killed a man each. As soon as she dried off, Drew climbed into bed and tried to relax. Too much kept circling in her head. She was worried about her cows and horses. Maybe she should sleep out in the barn to watch out for them. She’d never get any sleep like that. Why couldn’t Brett, if that was who it was, just leave her alone? She heard when Kenny and the others climbed the stairs to go to bed. She waited for the house to grow quiet and tried once again to get comfortable to go to sleep. Long minutes later, she heard her doorknob turn. She waited in anticipation. Was this why she hadn’t been able to sleep? Because she knew they would come for her? Jeb entered the room, but Marshall was nowhere to be seen.

 

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“What is it, Jeb?” she asked as she settled on her elbows. “Marshall is taking a shower. I’ve come to give you a massage to help you relax,” Jeb told her. “A massage?” she asked. “Yes, you looked like you could use one earlier. Roll over on your stomach.” Drew smothered a grin and rolled over so that her back was facing him. When she had rolled over, the sheets had slipped low on her back. Now they barely covered her ass. “Do you have some lotion you like?” Jeb asked. “There’s some in the bathroom on the counter.” The floorboards creaked as he crossed to the bathroom. He returned, and the bed dipped where he sat on the edge of it. She moved over to give him more room. Then he began spreading the lotion all over her shoulders and back. He kneaded her muscles and slowly seduced her with his hands. By the time he’d made it to her ass, the sheets had pulled way down, and nothing was hidden from him. He smoothed his thumbs up her lower back until she moaned. Then he moved lower and began a soft molding of her ass cheeks with his lotion-covered hands. The bedroom door creaked open, and Marshall walked in. Only he wasn’t wearing anything but a towel. This was it, she realized. They were really going to have sex with her. Both of them. Did she want this? Really? Hell yes. She couldn’t wait. It had been too long since she’d had a man to touch her, much less make love to her. Not that she expected that. All she really expected was a good, hard fucking. Men like them were ride hard and put up wet kind of guys. She didn’t mind. “You’ve got to taste her, Jeb. She tastes like summer rain, clean and crisp,” Marshall told him. Jeb unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it to the floor before easing out of his jeans. He didn’t wear underwear. And he was very aroused.

 

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Drew couldn’t help but stare at his massive cock. Its purplecolored head bobbed out from his body, heavy with need. He climbed between her legs and pushed them apart so he could fit his wide shoulders between them. He didn’t bother with teasing her. Jeb got down to business. The first swipe of his tongue drew a gasp from her, the second one a moan. Her cunt craved his tongue like a drug addict craved heroin. She was lost with each lick. She didn’t even notice at first when Marshall dropped his towel and moved to the head of the bed next to her face. She opened her eyes to see Marshall’s giant cock bobbing next to her cheek. She licked her lips and a drop of pre-cum leaked from the slit at the top of the head of the monster. She reached out with her tongue and licked the slit, making him gasp. “That’s it, baby. Take my cock in your hot little mouth. I want to feel you suck me,” Marshall said as he fed his cock to her. She wanted to suck him. She wanted to feel his cock throb in her mouth as he came. Drew concentrated on taking him into her mouth and teasing him with her tongue. She slid it around the mushroom cap and tongued the slit until he began to hiss. Then she took all of him she could manage down her throat and swallowed around him. “Fuck yeah, that’s it, baby.” She continued to suck on him, but Jeb had found his rhythm and was quickly distracting her from Marshall. Jeb tongued her clit just enough to quickly distract her from Marshall, then set in to eat her from ass to clit until she was wild with need. When he finally pushed a finger inside her cunt, Drew hissed out a ‘yes’ and pumped her hips up to meet his shallow thrusts. “Take care of Marshall up there, Drew, and I’ll take care of you,” Jeb told her. He continued licking her creaming pussy, but kept his fingerfucking shallow. It was just enough to keep her edgy and needy but not enough to send her over the edge into orgasm.

 

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Drew renewed her ministrations on Marshall’s cock. She grazed her teeth gently up his stalk then licked around beneath the rim of his dick before sucking on the edge of the crown. He jerked in her mouth, but she applied enough suction that he couldn’t just plop out. She took his balls in one hand and gently manipulated them, squeezing then rolling them over and over. She bobbed up and down on his thick cock. Marshall took one of her hands and wrapped it around the base of his dick, then held her head, using her hair to keep her still as he slowly began to face fuck her. She held on for dear life as he shoved his cock in an out of her mouth, holding her steady. When she loosened her hold to take more of him, he stopped then wrapped her hand around him again and squeezed. “Don’t move it, baby. I don’t want to choke you. I just want to shove my dick in as far as I can with your hand like it is. Believe me, it’s far enough to drive me crazy, baby.” Marshall brushed her hair aside and leaned in to kiss her. Jeb took that opportunity to lick over her clit with the flat of his tongue, and she yelled out. Marshall then took that opportunity to shove his cock down her throat, once again fucking her face, holding on to her hair as he did it. Jeb added a second finger and began fucking her in earnest now. He soon had her pumping her hips in rhythm to his fingers, trying to take more of them. She moaned as he lapped at her pussy. When he finally curled his fingers inside of her and found that spot that drove her crazy, she began groaning loudly. He latched hold of her clit and sucked hard as he stroked her G-spot in earnest. She screamed around Marshall’s cock, sending him into orgasm as well. Drew swallowed convulsively as she tried to ride out her own orgasm. Marshall held her tight against him as he pulsed inside of her mouth. When he was finished, he let go of her and leaned against the wall above the headboard, trying to catch his breath. Drew smiled as she licked her lips of his cum.

 

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“How was that, Drew? Feel up to another orgasm? I want in that hot pussy of yours.” Jeb ran a finger up and down her slit, teasing her and setting off another mild shimmy inside her cunt. “Give me what you’ve got, cowboy. I can take it.” Drew watched him ease back from between her legs and stand up. “On all fours, Drew,” he demanded as he rolled on a condom. Drew rolled over and got to all fours. She wiggled her ass at him, and he slapped it hard enough to bring tears to her eyes. He slapped the other side, heating them both up before he rubbed them, spreading the heat around. “I’m going to pump you full of cock, Drew,” he said. Jeb pulled her over to the edge of the bed and lined his dick up with her pussy. He spread her ass cheeks wide and slowly fed his cock in her cunt. She wiggled, trying to hurry him along, but he spanked her again and told her to be still. Damn, she needed it fast and hard if she was going to come again. The spanks turned her on. He tapped both sides of her ass again, and she rose on her tip toes, presenting her ass to him. Jeb slowly began shoving his thick cock in and out of her pussy. He didn’t hurry, which irked Drew, but she wasn’t going to complain. He would get horny enough eventually and speed up. She could wait. She didn’t have to wait long. Soon he was shuttling his cock in and out of her cunt fast enough to begin her slow crawl upward to an orgasm. He jerked his head at Marshall, and his friend walked over to stand next to him. Drew looked over her shoulder wondering why he wanted Marshall. Curiosity had her watching as Marshall used his fingers to drag copious amounts of her dripping cum up to her back hole. He circled it, then pushed a finger past her tight ring and began fucking her ass with his finger. He smiled at her as she looked back over her shoulder. She had winced at the sudden invasion, but it hadn’t been as bad as she’d expected.

 

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Marshall pumped in and out of her ass to the same rhythm that Jeb was pushing in and out of her pussy. Drew began meeting them halfway by pushing back against them. Jeb started to speed up about the same time that Marshall added a second finger to her ass. It stung like hell, but as he continued pumping in and out of her ass, she was already winding up the road to a full-fledged orgasm. He slowly wrapped an arm around her side and found her clit. He teased at it as Jeb pumped harder and deeper into her pussy. She groaned as his fingers griped her hips. Marshall pinched her clit then soothed it with a finger, even as his two fingers pumped in and out of her ass. He pressed down as he pumped them, and she was sure he could feel Jeb’s dick through the thin membrane. Jeb groaned and began pumping harder. His balls bounced against her clit and Marshall’s hand. Marshall circled her clit one more time then pressed down on it, sending her flying into a second orgasm. Jeb pumped once, twice, then came hard inside of her. His climax triggered a smaller one in her as the heat of his cum penetrated the thin layer of latex separating their flesh. Her vaginal muscles gripped his cock as he slowly pulled out of her. She couldn’t help but moan as he did. Then Marshall withdrew his fingers. They both left her for a few seconds. She’d collapsed on the bed, too worn out to do much more than lie there. Jeb returned first and picked her up to sit in his lap. Marshall returned and pulled back the sheets on the bed. Jeb kissed her. It was a soft, slow kiss that didn’t push to go anywhere other than where it was. Drew wrapped her arms around Jeb and hummed her contentment before he rose and laid her in the bed. Marshall pulled the sheets up to her neck then bent down and kissed her as well. “Get a good night’s sleep, baby,” he whispered before straightening up.

 

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Jeb squeezed her shoulder and brushed aside a strand of hair that had stuck to her cheek. “See you in the morning, Drew.” Both left, shutting the door behind them. Drew’s eyes drifted closed to thoughts of how relaxed she felt and how much she wanted more of them. Sleep claimed her before she could think more on that thought. **** “Fuck, Jeb, she responds like a dream. Drew was made for sex. She loved everything we did to her. Even your spankings.” Marshall climbed into bed and leaned back with his hands behind his head. “She’s our boss, though,” Jeb reminded him. “Doesn’t mean we can’t have a relationship with her,” Marshall insisted. “Means that when she’s tired of us, we might not have a place to live or a job to work anymore,” Jeb warned him. “Yeah, but maybe that won’t be for a long while. I didn’t see you hanging back from her.” “Couldn’t have even if I wanted to. She’s too hot to ignore. You don’t find a woman as self-sufficient and vulnerable all at the same time like Drew is. She begs to be taken care of.” Jeb pulled the covers over him and turned on his side so he could see Marshall in the next bed. “She deserves a good man to do that.” “What about two good men?” Marshall asked quietly. “Don’t go turning this into something it’s not, Marshall. We’re nothing but ex-convicts. Even if she did want us for longer than a fling, the town folks would look at her wrong from now on.” Jeb didn’t want that to happen to her. “They’re already doing that by now if Brett has anything to say about it. He’s probably done told half the county by now.” Marshall turned on his side.

 

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“Maybe, maybe not. Working a couple of convicts is a sight less shameful than bedding them,” Jeb told him. “We’re living under her roof, Jeb. You think they’re not going to automatically assume we’re screwing her? It’s going to get out one way or another anyway,” Marshall said. “Why are you insisting on this, Marshall?” Jeb finally asked. “Because I could love her, Jeb. There’s something about her.” “Don’t do it, Marshall.” “Maybe it’s too late,” he said. “Fuck.” Jeb ran a hand over his face. “Tell me you couldn’t love her, Jeb. Tell me that it hasn’t already crossed your mind,” Marshall demanded. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t let my emotions rule me. You know that.” “Maybe this time you should let go of them.” “Don’t ask the impossible of me, Marshall. You know my past.” “You killed in self-defense. We both know that. You’re nothing like your dad was. I’m not a drunk like my father. We choose who we are, Jeb.” Marshall stared at him. Jeb couldn’t see Marshall’s face, but he could see his eyes. The light from the moon filtered through the curtains on the windows and reflected off of them. They were serious eyes that had aged hard while in prison. Could they make a go of it with Drew? She responded to them. She hadn’t protested or acted afraid that Kenny would hear and know what was going on. Then she might be in her room even now worried about if Kenny had heard them. Jeb sighed and turned back over to stare up into the dark. He had long ago accepted that he would probably never know the love of a good woman and have kids. Then, when he and Marshall got out of jail, he expected they would always be together and share their women. Still, he never expected Marshall would want to settle down. Didn’t he realize the complications that would cause?

 

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“What is it, Jeb? I can hear you thinking all the way over here,” Marshall finally asked with a sigh. “We both know we can’t make a go of it with a woman on our own. We’ve tried, and it just don’t work for us. We need each other to be there. How are you planning on this working with Drew?” “Like it does with any other woman we’ve been with. Nothing’s changed since before we went to jail. We share her. We can make her feel so much more together than apart. You know this. We’ve discussed it a thousand times.” Marshall sounded angry. “Only you’re talking for keeps, Marshall. Not a one-night stand or even a few weeks of fun. Drew is worth a hell of a lot more than a weekend fling.” “I know she’s not a temporary kind of woman. I wasn’t suggesting she was.” “What if she doesn’t want both of us for keeps? What if she wants just you or just me? What do we do then, Marshall? Huh? What the hell do we do then?” Jeb swallowed around the lump forming in his throat. He knew Marshall could make her fall in love with him. She was susceptible to him. It wouldn’t take all that much. Could he continue working on the ranch as if it didn’t matter if Marshall and Drew hooked up? Could Marshall have a normal relationship with a woman without him? He knew he couldn’t. He needed Marshall to temper his dominance, but what about Marshall? “Then I guess we move on. I know I can’t love her enough without you. I need you.” Jeb heard the bed shift when Marshall turned over. They were a pair. Neither one of them could operate without the other one. They needed each other, and nothing would ever change that. Prison had destroyed their independence. They’d had to rely on each other to survive. Hell, it was more than that, Jeb thought. How could he ever forgive himself for what he’d done to Marshall?

 

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Worse, how could Marshall ever forgive him? He said it didn’t matter. They’d done what they had to do to survive. He actually thanked Jeb for having the guts to do what needed doing. He didn’t think he could have done it. It didn’t ease Jeb’s guilt, though. Nothing would take away the need he now had for Marshall. Except maybe for Drew. Being with her had kept him from wanting Marshall.

 

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Chapter Six The next few days flew by. Thursday, Jeb and Marshall went to town to meet with the sheriff. They brought back the supplies Drew had needed to get them through the upcoming snow predicted for the weekend. Neither of the men had visited her bed again since that one night. She wasn’t sure if it was because she hadn’t invited them or if they just weren’t interested. Either way, it bothered her. If she had to invite them, she wouldn’t be doing it. She wasn’t some desperate widow in need of sexual fulfillment by a man. She could take care of her own needs just fine without them. If it was because they just weren’t interested after they’d had her, well she was glad it was out of their systems so they could all get serious about work. Drew looked out the window of her office and noticed the clouds building in the distance. It wouldn’t be long until they made it to the ranch, and the men were still out bringing in the last of the herd. They would pin them in a smaller area so they wouldn’t wander off and get lost in the snow. It would mean keeping them with hay during the storm, but it had to be done, or they were sure to lose some cattle. She’d spent enough time working on the damn books. She needed to do something physical for a change. She donned her heavy coat and gloves and added the hat before walking outside onto the back porch. The rope she had ready was already tied around the post. All she had to do was walk it across the yard to the barn and tie it off there. She added the red material every few feet to warn a rider it was there. She carried the coiled rope, unreeling it as she walked across to the barn and tied it off on the hook put there for that reason. Then she strung

 

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the rope from the barn to the cattle feeders and watering troughs. They had already placed the heater coils in the water, so unless they lost electricity they wouldn’t have to worry about breaking ice. The generator worked for the house but didn’t work for the barn. That was one of her next big purchases, another generator. She’d been saving for it all year long but didn’t quite have enough money to buy it yet. She refused to go into debt for anything she didn’t have to. Debts were what lost ranches. Brett had bought up most of his land from foreclosures. She’d be damned if he would get hers that way. She checked the fence line around the area and found it all intact and sturdy. She checked on the horses and found them all fine with fresh hay and water. She checked the feed bags they’d locked up in the storage area. They all looked in good shape. With the men working like they did from sunup till sundown, there really wasn’t much for her to worry about other than the meals and the housework. She was finally caught up on most of the office stuff. She’d finish that tomorrow or the next day. Shovels. She’d forgotten about the shovels. Drew walked out to the old barn they now used as a toolshed and general junk building to pull out the snow shovels. She grabbed five shovels and dragged them over to the house. She left three there and leaned the other two inside the barn by the door. Finished, she stood on the back porch and thought about what else needed doing before it began to snow. They had plenty of hay in the hay barn, next to the horse barn. Maybe she should grab a few more things from the junk barn just in case. It wouldn’t hurt to have a pickax and the regular ax by the back door. Drew walked back to the old barn and began rummaging around in the mess for the axes. She saw something out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned her head, there was nothing. She searched for the axes and finally found the wood ax, but still couldn’t locate the pickax. She started to carry the one she’d found back to the house when something knocked over some bailing wire behind her. She turned around.

 

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“Who’s there?” There was no answer. She called out again but still no answer. “Probably rats come in out of the cold ahead,” she told herself. She turned around and something hit her over the back of the head. She went down, and everything went black. **** “Man, I’m hungry,” Kenny said as they tied off the gate. “I could eat a horse. No offense, Crooner,” Marshall said, patting the horse’s neck. “Let’s finish this up so we can get inside where it’s warmer. That snow is on its way. We need to get something to eat and some rest before it hits,” Jeb warned them. They finished securing the gate and rode over to the barn. They quickly took care of the horses and saw to their feed and water. Then they checked the hay barn to be sure it would be easy to get to. “Looks like Drew has already strung the ropes for us,” Kenny said. “She got the show shovels out, too,” Marshall noted. “Let’s get inside and see what’s for dinner.” Jeb shoved his hands into his pockets. They were cold, gloves or no gloves. The wind had picked up. They piled into the washroom and peeled out of their outer garments, hanging them on the hooks by the back door. They cleaned their boots then washed up in the big sink. Still, Drew hadn’t appeared to welcome them. While it was unusual, Jeb didn’t think much of it until Kenny started calling out for her. “Maybe she has the office door closed,” he said and took off for the living room and the office on the other side of it. Jeb checked the pot of chili simmering on low on the stove. There were biscuits ready to put in the oven with a plastic cap over them to keep them fresh.

 

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“She isn’t in the office,” Kenny said with a look of worry on his face. “I checked upstairs in case she took a nap, but she isn’t up there, either.” “Hell, all the horses were there, so she didn’t go off riding somewhere. Check the trucks, Marshall.” Jeb grabbed his coat and gloves and put them back on. “They’re all there, Jeb.” “Let’s check the out buildings for her. Kenny, you stay here in case she shows back up. We’ll be back in a few minutes,” Jeb said. Kenny didn’t look happy about staying behind, but he knew someone needed to, and Jeb was the foreman now. Jeb looked at him before he walked outside. “Go ahead and get the first aid kit out. I don’t have a good feeling about this.” Kenny nodded and walked back into the kitchen while Jeb and Marshall finished dressing and walked outside. “Do you want to split up, or check together?” Marshall asked. “Together. I don’t like this one bit. She isn’t one to go off like this,” Jeb said. They started with the horse barn and checked every stall and room, then walked around it. Then they moved to the hay barn and climbed around on the hay to be sure she hadn’t fallen between any of the bails. After walking around the hay barn, they walked around the two smaller corrals. “What’s next, Jeb?” Marshall yelled over the wind. It had picked up over the last thirty or so minutes. “The other side of the house. The old barn is over there. I’m not sure why she might be over there, but we don’t have much more to check.” They trudged through the wind to the junk barn and walked inside. There was no electricity out there. They couldn’t see a damn thing.

 

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“Fuck, Marshall, run to the house and get a couple of flashlights. I’ll wait right here for you.” Marshall nodded and took off for the house. A few minutes later he returned with two high-powered flashlights. “She hadn’t come back so far,” he said as they turned on their flashlights and began searching the area for Drew. Jeb found her lying on the ax and cursed, afraid she’d hurt herself with it. He was almost afraid to turn her over. “Marshall! Over here!” he yelled. Marshall hurried over with his light and they searched her for injuries. When they turned her over and there was nothing there, Jeb knew a sense of relief. He pulled off his gloves and stuffed them in his pockets. He ran his hands over her face and hair where he encountered the sticky spot at the back of her head. “Is there anything around here that might have fallen on her?” Jeb asked as he picked her up in his arms. Marshall shown the light around and shook his head. Don’t see anything over here that might have fallen on her. You think the ax did?” “I don’t see how. It was beneath her. Bring it with you, though. We might need it.” Marshall followed behind him as he carried Drew to the house. Kenny must have been watching for them, because he held open the back door for them to come inside. “What’s wrong with her?” he asked. “She has a bump on the back of her head that’s bled some. Something hit her there,” Jeb told him. “Can you carry her upstairs?” Kenny asked. “I’ve got her,” Jeb told him. “Someone had to have hit her,” Marshall said. “There wasn’t anything around that might have fallen on her.” “Right now, let’s see how bad she’s hurt,” Jeb told him.

 

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Jeb carefully laid her on the bed on her stomach. She weighed nothing and now didn’t move. It unnerved him to see her still like this. “Kenny, get that first aid kit. Marshall, get a towel and a wet bath cloth. Then get those boots off of her so we can get her fully in the bed.” Jeb carefully moved her hair around the wound to see how deep the cut might be. She had a pretty large bump on her head. The cut appeared to be fairly small, though. He’d know more when he got some of the blood off. Marshall returned with the towel and the wet bath cloth. Jeb took the towel and laid it over her pillow to protect it from the blood when he finished cleaning her up. Marshall eased her boots off and then waited while Jeb cleaned around the wound in her head. Kenny returned with the first aid kit. “Give me that bottle of peroxide in there, and I need another towel, Marshall.” Jeb took the opened bottle and waited on Marshall to bring the needed cloth. “Hold it right here next to her head. I’m going to pour this over the cut to clean it up some.” It boiled and cleared out some of the blood. The wound began to seep a little once again. He folded the wet bath cloth and held it to her head to stop the bleeding. He didn’t think it needed stitches. If it did, he would take her to the hospital. He wasn’t going to sew up a head wound. “What do you think?” Kenny asked. “I don’t think it’s a large enough cut for stitches. She has a nice size goose egg, so there shouldn’t be any pressure inside to worry about. I think we wait and see if she wakes up on her own in the next couple of hours. If she doesn’t, we take her to the hospital.” Jeb picked up the cloth and checked to see if it was still bleeding. It appeared to have stopped.

 

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“Let’s get her out of these clothes and under the covers.” Jeb began unbuttoning her coat and pulling it off of her. They took off her gloves and socks. Then Jeb began unbuttoning her blouse. “Um, I’m going to go start the biscuits for dinner. You two can handle undressing her without me,” Kenny said. “Fix a pot of coffee while you’re at it. We’re going to need to try and wake her up around the clock. Gonna take coffee for us to stay awake to do it,” Jeb told him. “I’m on it.” Kenny walked out of the bedroom. They could hear his steps as he descended the stairs. He muttered the entire way down. Marshall unfastened her jeans and pulled them down her body. They left her panties on, but Jeb unhooked her bra and pulled it off. They turned her on her side and covered her with the blankets and comforter. Jeb wasn’t certain if she’d end up sick at her stomach or not from the head wound. “Do we try and wake her up or leave her be?” Marshall asked. “Let’s leave her alone for an hour, and see what happens. We did enough to her that if she were going to wake up now, she already would have,” Jeb told him. “Someone hit her, Jeb.” “I know. We know it wasn’t one of us or Kenny, as we were all together with the herd. Her body was cold enough she’d been out there for at least thirty or forty-five minutes. She needs something warm in her belly, but not until she wakes up and we know if she’s going to be sick at her stomach or not.” They left her alone with the door open, so they could hear her if she called out. Marshall followed Jeb down the stairs and into the kitchen. “We all know someone had to have hit her,” Marshall said. “Why knock her out?” Kenny asked.

 

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“To make sure she doesn’t see them. Then she would know who had been behind all the trouble she’s been having lately,” Jeb explained. “So what were they doing out in the old barn for her to catch them?” Kenny poured three cups of coffee. “I don’t know, but hopefully whatever it was they were up to, she scared them off, and they left without doing it.” Marshall took his cup and wrapped his hands around it. “It’s too dangerous to leave her alone anymore. From now on, one of us will be at the house with her at all times. There’s always something to do around the place, so we won’t be slacking while we watch after her,” Jeb told them. “Better not let her know you’re watching out for her,” Kenny said. “She’ll throw a fit like you’ve never seen before.” “She can throw a fit, but she can’t stay by herself anymore. None of us need to be out by ourselves until we figure out who the culprit is behind all the accidents and cut fences,” Jeb said. “De we need to try and get her to the doc before the snow sets in for good?” Kenny asked. “Let’s check her and see if she’ll wake up for us before we decide.” Jeb took a sip of his coffee before leaving it on the cabinet. They all hurried back upstairs to her room and walked in to find her sitting up on the edge of the bed in nothing but her panties, holding her head and moaning. Kenny backed out of the room and closed the door. Even as quietly as he closed it, it must have jarred her head, because she moaned and looked up at them. “What in the hell happened to me?” she whispered. “You don’t remember?” Jeb asked in a quiet voice. “I wouldn’t be asking you if I remembered, now would I?” She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed. “Grouchy, isn’t she,” Marshall said, a relieved smile across his face.

 

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“Someone hit you over the back of the head out in the old barn. Do you remember going out there for some reason?” Jeb asked. “I remember checking all the buildings and stringing the lines…” Her voice faded away as she seemed to be thinking. “I remember getting the snow shovels out from there, but I don’t remember why I would have gone back.” “So you don’t remember someone hitting you on the head,” Jeb said again. “No, not at all. How bad is it? Did I need stitches again?” she asked in a resigned voice. “No stitches, but you might have a pretty bad concussion, so we’re going to be waking you up all night,” Marshall told her. “Don’t act so happy about it,” she fussed. Then she grabbed her head again and bent over. Then she suddenly realized she was naked and grabbed the covers. “I’m naked! What happened to my fucking clothes?” she demanded, staring a hole through Jeb.

 

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Chapter Seven Then she grabbed her head with one hand and groaned. “Your clothes were all wet, so we stripped you and put you to bed with the electric blanket,” Jeb explained. “You could have been gentlemen and turned your backs when you saw that I wasn’t covered,” she complained. “We aren’t gentlemen. The only one here left as soon as he saw you were sitting up.” Marshall snorted. “That would be Kenny, bless his heart.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “I think I need a nap. Can I have some Tylenol? It’s in the bathroom in the medicine cabinet.” Marshall disappeared into the bathroom while Jeb watched Drew hold her head in her hands. He returned with the bottle of Tylenol and a plastic cup full of water. He shook out two pills then handed them to her, along with the cup. She swallowed them and handed the cup back to Marshall. Jeb leaned over and pulled the covers up around her and helped her to lie back down. She snuggled beneath the electric blanket and sighed. They turned to go, but she stopped them. “Don’t forget to check the cattle every couple of hours, and if the electricity goes out, you have to break the ice on the water troughs,” she told them. “We’ll take care of it. You just rest, and leave the worrying to me,” Jeb told her. “Somehow I figured you would say that.” She slipped into sleep, and the next sound they heard was a dainty little snore.

 

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Jeb and Marshall walked back down the stairs and found Kenny in the kitchen serving up steaming bowls of chili and slightly burnt biscuits. “Sorry about the biscuits. It’s been awhile since I’ve cooked any, and not since she got the new stove.” “Don’t worry about it. We’re going to have to make do for a few days while she’s getting over this,” Marshall pointed out. “I’m just glad it happened right before the snow. This way, we’ll all be in the same general area for the duration,” Jeb said. “We’ll take turns checking on her and the cattle. Two of us will check the herd every time. No one goes outside alone for any reason.” “I figure she went back out to the barn for the ax to chop wood for the fireplace in the living room,” Kenny pointed out. “There looks to be plenty of wood for a day or two, but she must figure this is going to last longer than a few days by the amount of supplies she had us lay in the other day,” Jeb said. “She’s real good about guessing the weather based on what the weather reports tell us. If she thinks it will last awhile, it will,” Kenny said. “I’m just glad we got our hay in when we did.” “Maybe with the snow we won’t have to worry about someone messing with things for a while.” Marshall wiped the last of the chili up in his bowl with a biscuit. “I doubt anyone is going to risk exposure in more ways than one while it’s snowing. It would be too easy to track someone with snow coming down, unless it turns into a blizzard,” Marshall agreed. Kenny snapped his fingers. “I bet I know what else she was going after.” “What?” Marshall and Jeb both asked together. “The pickax to break the ice in the water troughs if the electricity goes out. We’ll need it. I’ll go back and find it and bring it up to the house,” he said. “Marshall, you go with him. I don’t want any of us going or doing anything alone anymore,” Jeb reminded them. “I’ll watch Drew.”

 

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They finished the rest of their meal in silence, then Marshall and Kenny bundled up to go look for the pick ax in the old barn. Jeb cleaned up the dishes and checked on Drew. She was still sound asleep, with the covers pulled up to her nose. He grinned. She looked like a kid all bundled up like that. If it wasn’t for the bloodstained towel on the pillow and the matted blood in her hair, he would think she had just climbed into bed for a nap. He checked his watch. She still had thirty minutes before he had to wake her. He would give her that. She wasn’t going to like being awakened every two hours as it was. Jeb figured he could finish cleaning up the kitchen before he had to wake her up again. By the time he had the dishes in the dishwasher and the table wiped down, it was time to wake Drew again. A noise at the washroom door stopped him. Marshall and Kenny walked through the door with a swirl of snow following behind them. “Picking up out there. Going to be a good foot out there soon,” Kenny said. “Got the pickax.” Marshall leaned it against the wall next to the other ax they’d brought in. “I’m on my way up to wake Drew and check her. Marshall, fix a small bowl of chili, and let me see if I can get her to eat a few spoonfuls,” Jeb said. He waited for Marshall to dip the chili and warm it up in the microwave. When it was warm enough, Jeb carried it up stairs to Drew. She hadn’t moved from when he’d checked her earlier. He sat the bowl on the bedside table and eased the cover down below her chin. Then he leaned in and whispered in her ear. “Wake up, Drew. Need you to wake up now.” He waited for her to stir. She didn’t move. He began to worry. “Drew, honey, wake up. I have something for you to eat.” He shook her just a little bit, and she moaned. Well, that was better.

 

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Jeb frowned. He pulled the covers down a little more to allow more of the cooler air to circulate around her neck. “Drew, wake up right now, or I’m going to pull this cover off you.” Drew moaned and grabbed for the cover. “Go away.” He grinned. She was okay. He leaned in and licked across her lips. She scrunched up her face and opened one eye. “What is your problem? I’ve got a headache. Go away,” she complained. “Not until you eat a little bit of the chili. You took that Tylenol on an empty stomach, and I know you want some more for your headache in a couple of hours, so you have to eat something now.” Drew frowned and seemed to be trying to think of something. Then she sighed and pushed herself upwards in the bed, only to remember too late that she didn’t have anything on. “Aw, hell. I need a T-shirt to sleep in. There’s one on the back of the bathroom door.” Jeb grinned and got it for her. He held it just out of reach though. “You going to eat the chili?” “Yes, I’ll eat the fucking chili. Just give me my damn shirt.” “Here, let me help you so you don’t rub that cut on your head pulling it on.” She let him gently slip it over her head and then guided her arms through the arm holes. Then he stepped back as she settled it over her body and beneath the covers. She leaned back against the headboard with her back but kept her head well away from the wood. He handed her the bowl of chili and sat on the edge of the bed to watch her eat. She managed to swallow four spoonfuls before she handed it back to him. “That’s all I can eat right now. Maybe later. I’m really tired.” She sank back down in the bed and pulled the sheets up. Jeb brushed the hair from her face and settled the cover under her chin before picking up the bowl and leaving her to sleep.

 

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“How’s she doing?” Kenny asked as soon as he walked back into the kitchen. Marshall was washing up the bowl Jeb had brought back down. He turned as well. “She ate four good spoonfuls of chili and was grouchy, so I think she’s doing fine. We’ll wake her up in two hours and give her two more Tylenol for the headache, and let her sleep again. She’ll have to be wakened every two hours all during the night. We’ll take shifts,” Jeb said. “I’ll take the next shift,” Marshall offered. “We’ve also got the herd and the horses to take care of. We need to make rounds on them every two hours as well. We’ll each get four hours sleep followed by checking on Drew and checking on the herd.” Jeb added Drew’s bowl to the dishwasher and turned it on. “I saw one of those wind-up alarm clocks in the bedroom. I’ll bring it down here so we can use the alarm to be sure we wake up to do our checks.” Marshall walked out of the kitchen at a fast pace. When Marshall returned, he wound up the clock and set the time, They left it on the coffee table in the living room. “Kenny, you go on to bed. One of us will wake you in about four hours for your turn.” Kenny nodded and clomped up the stairs. Jeb winced at his heavy-footed tread. “Set the alarm for an hour, and you can check on Drew. Then we’ll go out and check the herd,” Jeb said. Marshall set the alarm then leaned back in the chair to doze until it went off. Jeb stretched out on the couch determined to get some rest while he could. It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep. **** The alarm clock went off after what seemed to Marshall mere minutes. He quickly cut it off and climbed the stairs to check on

 

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Drew. She lay on her side curled up in a little ball. He shook her by the shoulder. “Wake up, Drew. It’s time for your check-in.” She groaned and slapped at his hand with her free one. He smiled and kissed her on the cheek. “Open those pretty blue eyes for me so I know you are okay, baby.” She squinted one open then immediately closed it back. “Do you need more Tylenol for your headache?” he asked. “Yes, please.” She opened both eyes and started to nod but winced instead. He shook out two pills from the bottle and refreshed her water for her to take them. She swallowed and sighed. “Lean over a little and let me check your head to be sure it’s not bleeding anymore.” Marshall waited for her to turn her head for him. She dutifully leaned forward, and he noted there was a nice size lump where the cut was, but it wasn’t bleeding anymore. “Looks good, Drew. You’ve got a goose egg, though.” “Tell me something I don’t know,” she complained, and closed her eyes once again. Marshall kissed her cheek and made sure the covers were pulled up enough. Then he walked back downstairs to wake up his friend. The best way to wake Jeb up was from a distance. He stepped back from the couch and called his name. “Jeb, time to get up.” Jeb woke, sitting straight up with his hands curled into fists. He blinked, then shook his head and reached for his boots. “How is she doing?” he asked. “She’s fine. Gave her two more Tylenol. She complained, so she’s fine.” “Good. Let’s go see to the cattle and get that over with.” Marshall waited for Jeb to get his outer gear on before opening the door and walking out into the silence of the night. He loved a new

 

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snow. Everything was always so fresh and clean until the world began tramping through it. Right now, he estimated they had a good foot to a foot and a half of snow on the ground. The sounds of the cattle moving around and calling to each other could be heard as if from a distance, due to the blanketing effect of the snow on sound. They kept the line close to them as they checked on the horses first and found them doing well. Then they crossed over to the water troughs to check them. The electric coils were doing their jobs keeping the ice from forming over the top of the water. Next they checked the hay, and found it sufficient for the next several hours. Marshall watched Jeb check on a couple of the cows’ legs and smooth his hands over their rumps and necks. “What are you doing?” Marshall asked. “Just checking to see if they are stepping on each other or biting each other. That would mean they are too close together, and we would need to move some of them out to make more room. Right now, they aren’t doing any of that, so we don’t need to move any of them. I would like to keep them together as much as possible to keep their body heat up. But we will have to keep a close watch on them.” Marshall helped him check the cows. “How long have we been out here?” Jeb asked “About an hour and ten minutes,” Marshall told him. “Good, let’s check over by the old barn for footprints just in case.” Jeb led the way. They circled the old barn but found nothing out of the ordinary. No footprints or tools lying around. “Maybe Kenny will notice something when he comes out next,” Marshall said. “I’ll tell him what we’re doing. You get the next four hours to sleep.” They peeled off their outer layers and walked into the living room. Jeb looked hesitantly at the couch, then up at the stairs. “Don’t hesitate to wake me if something is wrong, or you can’t wake Drew up,” he told Marshall.

 

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“Don’t worry, something happens, you’re the first one I’ll wake up.” Marshall watched Jeb make his way upstairs to their room for his four hours of sleep. His turn next. He checked on Drew and got her curses for waking her again, then reset the alarm for two hours and dozed on the couch until it went off again. He shut it off and groaned. It was five in the morning, and by the looks of things, still snowing some outside. He could see the snow flying around under the lights outside the window. He got up and immediately went and woke up Drew again. She fussed big time this time, calling him a bastard twice in one sentence. He grinned and kissed her on the cheek, which earned him a pop on the head with her free hand. He pulled the cover back over her and eased down the hall to wake Kenny up. He knocked on the door and opened it. “Kenny? Time to get up, man. We’ve got to check them cows.” Kenny rubbed his face with his hands and rolled out of the bed to his feet. “I’ll be right down,” he said. Marshall used the time to click on the radio station in the kitchen to see what they had to say about the weather. Kenny clomped into the room and looked morosely at the empty coffee pot. “Shit, sorry, Kenny. I should have made coffee. We have time to fix some. We can catch a few sips in the cups, then have the rest when we get back.” Marshall grabbed the pot and filled it with water. He set it up to brew then began layering the clothes on while it did its thing. Marshall buttoned up his coat and settled his hat firmly on his head. They each slipped a few swallows of coffee from the pot then left their empty cups on the cabinet for when they got back in from the blistering cold outside. The next six hours went about the same. Around noon, Drew got up and dressed then came downstairs, much to everyone’s ire.

 

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**** “You shouldn’t be out of bed yet. You had a bad knock on the head,” Jeb told her. “I have a ranch to run. I don’t have time to be sick. Tell me what’s been going on while I’ve been sleeping,” she demanded. “We divided up watching you and checking the cattle and horses every two hours. Everything is fine, with the exception of you, who should still be in bed. Twenty-four hours, Drew, and it’s barely been twelve,” Jeb fussed. “I can’t stay in that bed another minute. I’ll sit on the couch once I cook us something to eat,” she said. “Lunch was sandwiches. You want one?” Marshall asked. “Um, yeah. I’ll fix it.” “No, you’ll go sit on the couch, and I’ll fix it for you,” Marshall said in a no-nonsense voice. Drew hadn’t heard Marshall sound like a drill sergeant before. Jeb had it down pat, but Marshall always joked around with her. She frowned. Then she looked at Kenny and could tell the other man had been worried. He had shadows under eyes that appeared strained. “Kenny, I’m fine. Have you talked to Robert? How is he doing?” “He’s fine. He tried to get out here to help us since he won’t be doing any business for a few days but couldn’t get past Ridge Road. It was too icy.” Kenny leaned against the table. “Don’t you ever let him try and do something like that again, Kenny. It’s too dangerous.” “Don’t worry, I told him,” Kenny said. “What is the weather saying?” she asked. Marshall returned carrying her sandwich on a paper plate and a canned Diet Coke. “Thanks,” she said. “Do you need more Tylenol?” he asked. “No, I’m doing pretty good. It’s only a dull ache right now.”

 

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“Weather says we have another day of light snow tomorrow. Then it will begin to clear up. The temps are going to stay in the lower teens and single digits for the rest of the week,” Jeb told her. “Not good. Everything will turn slick as owl shit out there. No going anywhere in any of the vehicles. We’re going to have to watch the cows closely. They can go down and not be able to get back up. Hopefully with them all so close together they’ve kept the ground warmer than it is out in the open, where the wind could get to it,” she said. “Hadn’t thought about them going down,” Jeb said. “Just worry about it when it ices up really bad. Little normal ice isn’t as much a danger, but if it’s going to stay that cold for that long, we’re going to have thick ice to deal with. How are the heater coils working in the water troughs?” she asked. “Working great. Never lost electricity, either.” Marshall walked over to take her empty plate. “We don’t have phone service, though.” She handed it to him without thinking. “This was an easy first snow. It will get worse before it gets any better. This might even all thaw out so we have mush to deal with, but after this, there won’t be any thawing ’til spring,” she told them. “Kenny, come on, it’s our turn to check on the cows,” Jeb called from the kitchen. Kenny smiled and squeezed Drew’s shoulder as he walked past her. Drew was glad they were all getting along so well. She couldn’t be happier with her new hands. Even if they’d been regular men without the convict part. Maybe they were even better because of having to go through what they did. She didn’t know, but she knew she would miss them when they left. They’d eventually leave. Men tended to get wanderlust and decide to see what was on the other side of the field or mountain. Still, with their having the prison time behind them, they might not be able to find other work. They might actually stay long enough

 

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to save up money to buy their own place. She would be happy if they could do that, even though she would miss them. God, if they kept coming to her bed, she’d miss them a hell of a lot more than she should. Eventually they would tire of her. Men usually did when they had easy pickings. She had been easy to coax into their bed. In fact, she had basically attacked them. Now she was ashamed of herself, but there was nothing she could do about it now. What was done was done. All she could do was wait and see how long it lasted. No matter what happened though, she wouldn’t push them off the ranch. They were good, hardworking, trustworthy men, no matter what they’d done in the past. And she wasn’t all that certain they should have gone to prison for what they’d done in the first place.

 

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Chapter Eight Marshall couldn’t help it. He needed to hold her. She could have died from a head wound. When he wrapped his arms around her, she frowned up at him. “What?” he asked. “Why are you holding me like that?” “’Cause you could have died. Besides, it feels good to hold you,” Marshall said. “You really should be resting. If you’ve all been taking shifts, you haven’t gotten much sleep lately.” “I’ve had four good hours. I’m fine for now. I have the next shift, anyway. Come on. Let’s sit in the living room and watch TV.” Drew sighed but followed him into the living room. She sat on the couch. Marshall sat next to her and pulled her back against his chest. She stiffened at first but finally relaxed back against him. He loved the feel of her in his arms. “Rest your eyes. You can listen to the weather.” “I’m not really all that sleepy. Tell me about the cows. How are they faring out there? Did we make the right decision to bring them up this close together, or should we have left them in the front pasture on their own?” Drew seemed worried she’d made the wrong decision. “I think it was the right thing to do. They’re all doing fine right now. The worst of the storm is over, and they are all alive so far.” Marshall rubbed up and down her arms with his hands. Drew finally let her head lean back against his shoulder. He wrapped one hand around her abdomen over her shirt. He could feel her abdomen quiver. Was it for him, or was she cold?

 

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She burrowed into his body as they listened to the weather report and the news that followed. By the time Kenny and Jeb had returned, she was almost asleep. She rallied though to find out how the cattle were doing. “The horses are all okay, and there’s no evidence that anyone else has been around the place. There aren’t any tracks in the snow anywhere,” Jeb told her. “Cows are still doing good, as well. They are a little more restless than earlier, but they’re doing fine for now,” Kenny added. “I’m going up to get some rest,” Jeb said. “Take Drew with you. She’s nodding off over here. She needs more rest, as well,” Marshall told him. “I’m just dozing. I’ve been in bed long enough,” she complained. “Come on, grouchy,” Jeb said. He reached down and grabbed her hand to pull her upright. “Can you manage the steps, or do you want me to carry you?” Jeb asked. “I can walk just fine.” Drew walked steadily toward the stairs, only to miss the first step when she started up them alone. “Uh-uh.” Jeb shook his head. “You need help.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her up the stairs. Marshall followed behind them. He planned to help Jeb settle her. She wouldn’t be easy to subdue, but she needed more rest than she’d had. “Okay, baby. Let’s get these clothes off you and your sleep shirt back on,” Marshall said as he picked up her discarded T-shirt. “I can dress myself,” she muttered as she struggled with her boots. “Sit on the bed and be still.” Jeb fussed. “I’ll get your boots.” While Jeb worked on her boots, Marshall began pulling off her clothes. By the time he got to pulling off her jeans, Jeb had her boots and socks off her feet. He helped Marshall finish pulling off the jeans. Then Marshall eased the huge T-shirt she slept in over her tender head.

 

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“There,” he said. “You should feel better already.” Marshall smiled down at her. Jeb lifted the covers on the other side of the bed and slid under them before scooting closer to Drew. “Hey! What are you doing in bed with me?” Drew demanded. “We both need the rest, and I know for a fact you won’t stay in bed without someone sitting on you,” Jeb told her. “So I’m going to sit on you. Now lie down, and be still. You’ll feel even better in the morning when you wake up,” Jeb promised. Marshall bent over her and took her lips in a soothing kiss. “It’s going to be fine, baby. Just let Jeb keep you warm, and Kenny and I will check on you later.” “When I’m back at my best, I’m going to kick all of you in the ass,” she promised. “I’m looking forward to it,” Marshall assured her before winking at Jeb and closing the bedroom door behind him. Kenny waited on him downstairs. “She okay?” “Yeah, she just needs some rest. She’s been burning the candle at both ends for a while now, and with the head injury, her body’s rebelling,” Marshall assured the man. “What next?” Kenny asked. “Let’s set the alarm and get a few hours of rest before we check on the herd again. We aren’t out of the woods yet.” **** Drew slowly woke up to find she was wrapped around Jeb. After assessing her situation, she had on her T-shirt and panties, but he was totally nude. His soft snore assured her he was still asleep. She eased her head from his shoulder and began to pull away, but he groaned and tightened his hold on her. Her bare leg rested between his legs, and his hard cock stroked her thigh when she tried to move.

 

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“Where do you think you’re going?” Jeb’s deep voice asked next to her ear. “Um, I need to get up.” “You need another few hours of rest,” he countered. “I really need to get up,” she insisted. “Bathroom?” he asked. She sighed and nodded her head. Jeb slowly uncurled his arms from around her and waited while she carefully extracted her knee from his groin. He grunted once when she grazed his balls. When she scooted out of the bed, he sat up and watched her make her way across the room to the bathroom. She felt like a deer being watched by a wolf. Once she’d taken care of her needs, Drew opened the bathroom door expecting him to either be asleep or gone from her bed. Instead, he was leaning against the wall by the bathroom, waiting on her. “Thought I should take the opportunity as well.” He touched her chin with his fingers and lifted it for his kiss. Drew sank into his kiss as if her body had no will of its own. He sipped at her lips then assaulted them with his teeth and tongue until she opened for him. His tongue slid in alongside hers before exploring her mouth. When he withdrew, she was an aching, panting mess in need. “Go get back in the bed, Drew. I’ll be right back. Don’t make me come get you.” He walked into the bathroom and closed the door. She knew she should dress and go downstairs to see what was going on with the ranch, but something about his voice urged her to obey him. She inched toward the closet, intent on putting something on to wear downstairs. The sound of the toilet flushing had her scrambling toward the bed. What was wrong with her? She didn’t obey anyone. She stood beside the bed, refusing to climb in it. Nothing would make her do anything she didn’t want to. Nothing and no one, she

 

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vowed. It was why she still had the ranch and why she was intent on keeping it. When the bathroom door opened, she was still standing straight as a board beside the bed with her chin up in defiance. Right. She was defiant all right. She hadn’t dressed and gone downstairs as she had wanted to. Instead, she stood by the bed waiting on Jeb to tell her what to do next. “You’re not in the bed, Drew.” “You can’t order me around on my own ranch. I give the orders, not you,” she insisted. “As far as the ranch goes, you’re the boss. But in this bedroom, you do as I say. You still need rest. Climb back in bed, Drew, before I spank that sweet ass of yours a pretty pink.” Jeb crossed his arms and stood with his legs spread slightly, waiting on her to comply. “You wouldn’t dare,” she fumed. “Try me. I’ll enjoy turning that ass a bright red for disobeying me on something concerning your health.” Drew stared into his eyes and realized he was deadly serious. He would do it. She found herself climbing into bed before she realized what she was doing. When he walked over and climbed in next to her, she pulled away from him and curled up next to the edge of the mattress away from him. He didn’t try and force her to sleep in his arms. He just stretched out after pulling the covers up over them both. She felt like an idiot hugging the edge of the mattress like a naughty child. Still, nothing would convince her to admit he was right and she needed more rest. In fact, she couldn’t seem to fall asleep no matter how hard she tried. See, he was wrong, she didn’t need more sleep. She needed to get up and do something. “Be still over there, and you’ll fall asleep,” Jeb told her. “I can’t be still. I need to get up and do something. I’m not sleepy anymore.” She fought a yawn even as she said it. Jeb chuckled and turned over. He reached across the bed and pulled her over closer to him.

 

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“Maybe you need a distraction then,” he suggested. “What are you going to do?” she asked as he pulled her beneath him. “I’m going to give you what you need, Drew darling.” One of his legs slid around hers and pulled it back slightly. Then he slipped an arm beneath her shoulders so that her head now rested next to his on the pillow. Jeb nibbled along her jaw and down her neck. He sucked gently against the pulse at her throat until she was sure she would have a mark there. His other hand slipped beneath her T-shirt and pulled it up so that he had access to her breasts. Skillful fingers circled and tweaked her nipples until she was ready to beg for more. She didn’t have to. He smoothed down her abdomen to her pelvis and lower. He found her pussy already drenched with her arousal. He chuckled in her ear. “It won’t take much to send you over, will it, Drew? You’re already primed. You just need a little nudge.” He kissed her neck then bit her shoulder. Jeb’s hard cock seemed to jerk against her hip as he leaned in and began a slow outlining of her pussy lips with his finger. Then he dipped a finger inside and pulled it out again. He added a second finger and pushed them inside again to curl and locate that hot spot that drove her wild. She bit her lip waiting for the inevitable, but it didn’t come. He didn’t rub over it. Instead, he stopped and looked down into her wide, open eyes. “Tell me you want it, Drew. Tell me you need to come.” “Please. Please, Jeb.” She couldn’t believe he was making her beg for it. “What do you want, Drew? I’ll give you anything I have to give.” “I want to come!” she finally ground out between clenched teeth. “Then come for me, Drew.” He began a slow assault on her Gspot until she was bucking at his hand, crying out as the orgasm hit her.

 

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“Fuck, you’re beautiful when you come. You’re squeezing my fingers so tightly.” Jeb rode out her orgasm with her. Drew panted, trying to regain her breath as Jeb withdrew his fingers and sucked on them while he gazed into her eyes. “You taste even better than your homemade pies.” “What about you?” she asked reaching for his hard cock. “I’m fine for now, Drew. You need to rest and heal. I’ll live until you’re back on your feet.” He gently moved her hand aside. “It doesn’t seem fair for you to make me come and you not get to.” “Let me worry about me. I can always jerk off if I need to bad enough. Right now, I don’t need to. Just being close to you with the taste of you still on my lips is fine.” Jeb brushed a lock of hair from her face. She huffed out a breath and lay back. He pulled her back on his shoulder and curled an arm around her waist. The steady thump, thump, thump of his heart eased her worries somewhat, and she soon found her head clearing and her mind softening as she drifted in and out of a lazy sleep. **** Jeb watched her sleep in his arms. He felt his heart softening to her. It wasn’t a welcome thing as far as he was concerned. He couldn’t see her wanting them around forever. Then what would they do? Most women liked a ménage relationship for short periods of time. They used it as a kind of experiment or a fantasy but never any longer than that. He and Marshall had shared women even before they’d been imprisoned, but it had been a choice they both had enjoyed. Since getting out, they needed each other to bed a woman. They each had their own reasons, but foremost in their minds was how they’d survived in prison.

 

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Marshall had been picked on from day one for his boyish good looks and easy, laid-back personality. When he’d been raped, Jeb had stepped in and realized there was only one thing they could do, become lovers to keep the others off of Marshall. Now, Jeb wanted Marshall, and all that kept him from going insane from it was to share a woman between them. For the first time, that need had more than taken a back seat, it had gone away for a while when they’d taken Drew together. She was the key. Jeb knew he would always want Marshall to some degree, but Marshall didn’t want that kind of relationship. Jeb could admit he didn’t either. He wasn’t gay or even bisexual. He just wanted Marshall. Having Drew between them gave him everything he needed. Jeb despised himself for wanting Marshall after all he had been through. He wanted Drew for what she offered him, a brief respite from his needing Marshall. Even more than that, she was a special woman, and he could feel himself falling in love with her. When he was with her, he didn’t need or even want Marshall. More than anything, though, he wanted to make her happy. He wanted to hear her screams of completion and her sighs of contentment. Together, he and Marshall could give her all of that and more. He eased out from beneath her and grabbed his jeans and shirt. He didn’t want to wake her, so he waited until he was outside the room to dress. He had just gotten his shirt on, though it wasn’t buttoned, when Kenny walked up the stairs. He looked at Jeb and raised an eyebrow. “She’s sleeping. I need to see what is going on with the herd.” “So far everything is fine. You should have rested a little longer.” Kenny sighed. “Where’s Marshall?” Jeb pulled on his coat and gloves. “On the back porch. We were stacking firewood. I just walked in.” “Go get some rest. Marshall and I’ll finish up the chores for the night.”

 

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“Wake me when it’s my time.” Kenny rubbed a hand over his tired-looking face and turned to go. “We’re all doing everything we can, Kenny. You’re only human. You have to rest just like the rest of us do.” Jeb slapped Kenny on the shoulder then turned, grabbed his hat, and opened the kitchen door. The cold air just about took his breath away. Marshall turned from where he’d been staring out toward the barn at the sound of the closing door. “What are you doing up so soon?” Marshall asked. “Got enough of sleeping. Figured Kenny could use a little more rest. You and I are used to not getting so much.” “How did you manage to settle Drew down?” “Gave her an orgasm,” Jeb said with a smile. Marshall shook his head and chuckled. “Sneaky bastard.” “How are the horses and cows doing?” “Fine so far. No losses and no injuries that I’ve been able to find. Not bad for the first snow. Kenny says it will get worse, though.” “Yeah, Drew mentioned that, too.” Jeb settled his hat a little lower on his head. Jeb looked out over the pasture where the cows were munching on hay. “Marshall, if it weren’t for me, would you settle down with a nice wife and have you a passel of kids?” “Why the hell you asking me that for? Are you planning on going off on your own?” There was anger in Marshall’s voice. “No, I just wonder if you would be okay without me holding you back.” “You’re not holding me back. What’s gotten into you? Is it Drew? Are you not wanting to share her anymore?” “No! I want her bad, Marshall. Thing is, you and I both know I can’t not share her with you. I need you there with me.” “This is about what went down in prison again.” Marshall stuck his hands on his hips and turned away from Jeb. “You and I both

 

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know there wasn’t anything we could do but what we did. It was either you fucking me or one or more of those bastards that took me the first time. They damn near killed me, Jeb.” “I know,” Jeb said in a quiet voice. “I can’t forgive myself, though. I should have been able to protect us both without, without…” He let it trail off. “I don’t blame you, and I don’t regret anything that we did together. I’m not gay, and neither are you. We haven’t been attracted to other men since we got out, and we weren’t attracted to them beforehand. Hell, it wouldn’t matter if we were, but I know we’re not.” “Maybe I’m bisexual then,” Jeb said. “I think you’re just hung up on the entire sordid mess and can’t put it behind you. I’ve gotten past it. It’s over with, Jeb.” “Maybe, maybe not.” He stomped off the porch to check on the bull. Marshall followed behind him. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Jeb turned around in a wash of fury. “It means I’m not sure it is over. Leave it at that, Marshall. Just leave it the hell alone for now.” Marshall drew in a deep breath and stared at him. They’d been friends since they were in junior high. They’d been together through working on ranches and survived prison together. Jeb didn’t want to talk about it anymore. He needed space and time. He needed time to figure things out. He willed Marshall to give him the time he needed. To his relief, his friend turned and walked silently through the snow to the house. He heard the back door slam and winced. He hoped it didn’t wake Drew up. Hell, then there was Drew.

 

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Chapter Nine Drew heard the slam of a door somewhere downstairs and groaned. She stiffly rolled out of the bed. She had been in it too long. She needed to get up and do something, or she’d lose some of her flexibility. It wouldn’t matter how much the men fussed, she wasn’t going back to sleep until she had done something worthwhile. She made her way to the shower, cursing her stiff muscles. The hot water in the shower did wonders for her, and she felt almost her old self again afterward. She dressed and walked down the stairs to find Marshall staring at the coffee pot, waiting on it to finish brewing. “Was that you slamming the door?” she asked. It startled him, and he jumped a little then turned around. “Shit, sorry. I forgot you were sleeping. Jeb’s going to have my hide for waking you up.” “I was already up and getting in the shower, so you didn’t bother me,” she lied. He looked relived to be let off the hook. “Want some coffee?” He pulled a second cup from the cabinet at her nod. “Shouldn’t you be getting into bed instead of drinking coffee?” “I’m still up for another twenty five, thirty minutes. Besides, it never has affected me that way. I can drink a pot of it before bed and sleep just fine.” He grinned at her and poured her some. She took it from his hands and smiled a little at the touch of his skin along her fingers. While she had loved having Jeb with her in bed once she’d gotten over being mad, she had still missed Marshall

 

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being there, too. She would take time to study all of it later but not right now. Right now, she would enjoy it while it lasted. “Let’s go sit on the couch and check the weather.” Marshall ushered her into the living room toward the couch. They sat down and Marshall turned on the TV. He flipped the channels until he came to the weather channel. “I’m assuming everything is still fine with the ranch. You would tell me if something was wrong, wouldn’t you?” “Everything’s fine. The weather is clearing off, and it feels like the temperatures are rising some.” “Shh, here’s the weather.” They listened to the promise of sunny skies for the next few days, but the temperatures would remain in the single digits during the day. Some of the snow would melt at those temperatures. “Great, as soon as we can get out the drive, we need to make a trip into town to load up on things. I guess you and Jeb need to check in with the sheriff as well.” “One of us will go with you, and then the other will go with Kenny the next day. We aren’t leaving Kenny here by himself while there is someone out there screwing around.” Marshall had draped his arm around the back of the couch, and now he rubbed her shoulder with his hand. “I guess that sounds like a good idea.” She sighed. “I wish we could figure out who it is and put a stop to this.” “We will. It just takes time.” Drew pushed off of Marshall’s knee and the couch to stand up. She needed to do something, so she would cook a stew. They could all eat off of it all during the night and the next day. Plus, she was going to talk to Jeb about letting her pair up with one of them and help make rounds. She felt fine, and the bump on her head was going down. She winced when she felt of it. If it hurts, don’t touch it, stupid. “What are you doing?” Marshall asked when she pulled out a big pot and set it on the stove.

 

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“I’m going to make a stew that we can all eat on as we get hungry. It can warm on the stove for hours before it will get too old to eat.” “Need help?” he asked. “Nope. Think I can handle this just fine.” She grinned at him. “I’m going to go on up to bed, then. You can join me later if you feel tired.” He waggled his brows. Drew felt the telltale heat of her blush creep up her neck and cheeks. Marshall chuckled and walked out of the kitchen. A few seconds later, she heard him clomp up the stairs. He had no idea how enticing that sounded to her. She wanted him, and she wanted Jeb, both separately and together. Yep, she was a slut. She sighed and concentrated on cooking for the next thirty minutes. About the time she’d finished and put the lid on the pot, Jeb stomped on the back porch then walked into the mudroom and peeled out of his hat, coat, scarf, gloves, and boots. He walked sock-footed into the kitchen. “Damn, something smells good.” He walked over and sniffed over her shoulder as she set the spoon on the spoon rest. “It’s stew, but it won’t be ready for about forty-five minutes. If you’re hungry, I can fix a sandwich now.” She moved toward the fridge to get out the fixings for a sandwich, but Jeb stopped her. “No, thanks. I’m not hungry right now. I’ll wait for the stew.” He sighed and pulled her into his arms. “What are you doing out of bed?” “Jeb, I can’t stay in that bed another minute. I’m fine. The bump is going down, and I want to help. I can make rounds with one of you, and that way everyone will get at least six hours of sleep.” “Absolutely not!” He pulled back from her and held her by the upper arms. “You could get hurt again. I’m not taking a chance.” “Might I remind you that I’m the owner, and you’re the foreman? We had this discussion. I’m boss down here, and you’re the boss up there. Remember?” She smiled a wide, fierce smile.

 

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“Damn it, Drew.” He let go of her and made a little circle with his hands, brushing through his hair in obvious exasperation. “You just won’t see reason, will you?” “I’ve been taking care of this ranch and myself for four long years without your help. I can handle myself. With one of you with me, I’ll be fine.” Drew crossed her arms over her breasts. Jeb huffed and puffed and finally gave in. She saw it the second he did. His face changed from one of outrage to one of resignation. She smiled but kept it to a bare minimum, not wanting to gloat and piss him off again. “Fine. You’ll be with me. Marshall and Kenny will work together. I don’t trust that you won’t get your way with Marshall, using your feminine wiles on him.” “Great. Do we go out now or later?” “In about an hour. I just checked everyone. Nothing going on out there. Snow’s stopped, and the temperatures have warmed up slightly.” “Marshall and I watched the weather earlier.” She repeated the forecast and grabbed Jeb’s hand to pull him to the sofa where they could watch TV for a while. Jeb immediately pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He took what he wanted. He wasn’t one to beat around the bush. She opened to him immediately, craving what he had. His tongue slid alongside hers, then brushed against the roof of her mouth and around her teeth before it coaxed hers into his mouth. She sparred with him for dominance, but in the end, he sucked her tongue into his mouth and bit it. Drew yelped but grinned when he let go of it. “We have plenty of time for more. Let’s go upstairs and wake Marshall up.” Drew giggled, grabbing his arm. “Whoa, he needs his sleep. Besides, you don’t know how cranky he gets when he doesn’t get enough.” “I’ll kiss him and make it better,” she teased.

 

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“What in the hell has gotten into you today?” he asked with the beginnings of a smile. “You and Marshall.” She all but pulled him up the stairs behind her and burst into her room only to find the bed empty. Marshall wasn’t in her bed. He’d gone back to his room. She deflated a little bit and frowned. “What’s wrong, Drew?” Jeb walked in behind her and looked around the room. “He’s not in here.” “He’s probably in his bed so he wouldn’t be in your way if you wanted to lie back down.” Jeb pulled her around to face him. “You still have me. Am I enough for you for now?” he asked, a carefully blank look on his face. Drew realized he thought she didn’t want him without Marshall, which wasn’t true at all. She had thought to wake him up with her mouth on his cock. She was just as happy with Jeb. “You’re more than enough for me, cowboy.” Drew pulled him to her and grabbed a handful of hair to lower his lips to her mouth. Jeb took over and walked her backward toward the bed. Once her knees hit the back of it, she sat down with a bounce and a giggle. He began unbuttoning her shirt and jerked it out of her pants before tossing it aside. Then he did the same with her bra. He immediately began playing with her nipples and knelt in between her legs to reach them with his mouth. Her nipples immediately ached for his touch as he pulled on one and sucked the other one. There had to be a direct line between her nipples and her cunt. She burned for him there, already wet with her juices. It wouldn’t take much more of his breast play to send her over the edge. She’d never come just from having her breasts manipulated before. He pressed them together and sucked on both nipples together. It felt amazing. She moaned and pressed them closer to his mouth. “God, you are so responsive. I love the way you give yourself to me.”

 

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“Please, please don’t stop. I’m so close!” “Fuck, I haven’t done anything to you yet, baby.” “I can’t help it. You turn me on and make me so hot with how you play with my nipples.” Jeb redoubled his efforts to make her come. He licked and nipped at them while twisting and pinching the opposite one before changing sides. A low keening noise filled the room as she felt the crash come up on her. Tiny electrical shocks pulsed through her pussy and deep within her cunt as she slowly began to buck. Only Jeb’s hands and mouth kept her upright. He licked and petted her until she calmed down. “God, that was amazing,” she finally got out. “I’ve got to have you. Right now,” Jeb said in a growl. “Get up and turn around for me.” Drew stood up, a little unsteady on her feet. Jeb grabbed her with one hand and used the other one to pull at her belt and the fastenings on her jeans. In seconds, he had them down around her boots. “Bend over the bed, Drew. Do it now.” She heard him unbuckle his belt, and then the zipper being lowered. She relaxed when the crinkle of a condom wrapper reached her ears. She hadn’t wanted to stop anything and remind him. This was so fucking hot. She bent over the bed. He placed one hand on her back to keep her there as he stroked his hard cock up and down her slit, gathering her juices on his sheathed cockhead. “I’m going to fuck this pussy until you scream, Drew. One day, soon I’m going to fuck your ass. It was made for fucking.” He pressed forward and just the head of him entered her body. He groaned. He pushed harder, and his juice-slickened dick slipped slowly inside of her. He stopped, taking a deep breath, and then plunged the rest of the way in. She screamed at the sudden invasion. He pulled almost all the way out and drove in again. The force of his shoves sent her farther across the bed until just her ass stood up, and the rest of her body lay prone on the bed.

 

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Jeb began tunneling in and out of her in earnest now. He rolled his hips until he found her G-spot and brushed over it each time he pulled out. She wiggled her hips when he was fully seated and squeezed her inner muscles to pleasure him that much more. He groaned and swatted her ass. “Be still, you little minx. I’ll paddle your ass for real if you make me come before I’m ready.” A challenge. She loved them. Now she pushed herself up on her hands and began to shove back as he pushed forward, until their flesh slapped against each other. He growled and slapped her ass again a little harder, and she moaned. The sting only made it feel that much better as he bumped up against her cervix with each shove of his thick cock inside of her. “More,” she breathed out. “I need more.” “More what, Drew? More ass spankings?” He punctuated it with a series of slaps on her ass that brought tears to her eyes, but they were just what she needed to come. She writhed on the bed as Jeb fought to stay in her. Her spasming muscles soon brought him over as well. He slammed into her one more time then held there as he called out her name. Drew heard him say her name, but it was the last thing she heard before she passed out. She came to with him lying on top of her and a little to the side. He was rubbing her back as if to wake her up. They were both gasping for breath. “Fuck, you’re hot,” Jeb said around gasps. “That was so good.” “I think you two better get up and make your rounds, or you’re going to be late.” Marshall stood at the door, leaning against the doorjamb and smiling. “That was quite a show.” “Asshole.” Jeb laughed as he slowly pulled out of Drew. Drew groaned. She felt lost without him filling her. She eyed Marshall with a come-hither smile and look in her eyes. He grinned

 

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and walked over toward her. Jeb lifted his brows at her but continued on to the bathroom to deal with the condom. “You look like you could use some one-on-one time,” she told him, reaching out to rub his obviously hard cock through the denim of his jeans. “I know just the thing for that. You’ve got time, too,” he said with a grin. Marshall unfastened his jeans and shoved them down. He grabbed her by the hair and angled her head toward his straining cock. Drew licked her lips then licked a long line from his balls to the crown of his cock. He dug his nails into her scalp then released her head but not her hair. “Fuck, baby. Do that again.” A drop of pre-cum pearled at the top of the slit in his cock. She licked it up then repeated the long lick from top to bottom this time. She felt him jerk against her mouth. Instead of repeating it, she sucked in just the mushroom-shaped head of him in a long, hard suck that had him lifting to his tiptoes. She let go with an audible pop before swallowing him down all the way to the back of her throat. “God, damn you’re good at that,” he managed to say in a raspy voice. Drew got down to business. She swirled his cock like a lollypop or a favorite sucker. She teased him with her teeth and tongue then swallowed him down. She swallowed around him when she had him as deep as she could take him. He dug his nails into her scalp again, and held on as she tightened her throat muscles around him over and over. It wasn’t long before he was cursing and moaning with every lick and suck. She’d managed to pull him to the edge and was holding him there. She sucked him up against the roof of her mouth and slowly rolled his balls in her hands. This time, he rewarded her with his cum. It poured into her mouth as he shot off down her throat. She held his tautly muscled ass in her hands as she swallowed his cum in gulps.

 

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When he was finished, she gave him one more long lick and then smacked her lips. “I’d spank her for that if I were you,” Jeb said from the door where he now stood fully dressed. “Hell, if I had the strength, but I can barely stand up.” Marshall didn’t bother to zip up. He just lay out on the bed, breathing hard. “You still have a couple of hours of sleep left. Get undressed and get into bed, cowboy,” Drew ordered him. “Yes, ma’am. Just as soon as I can catch my breath and move my muscles again.” Drew stood up and stretched. She felt wonderful. Sex was truly a rejuvenator, she decided. She pulled up her jeans and then pulled on her bra and shirt. She buckled her belt but didn’t bother tucking in the shirt. Her coat would cover it, anyway. With one last look at the already snoring Marshall, she followed Jeb down the stairs to where he waited on her, already dressed for outside. “I’m going on outside. Hurry up and get wrapped up.” He opened the door to let in some of the cold air and then closed it behind him. Drew shivered and began layering on the clothes. She settled her hat on her head last and hurried outside to locate Jeb. She didn’t want him outside alone. They still had someone out there wanting to screw around with her and the ranch. She didn’t want anything to happen to any of her men. That included Kenny, because, though they weren’t lovers, he was still hers to care about and protect. She caught up with Jeb in the barn checking on the horses. Everyone looked fine. They both inspected the feed then traipsed around behind the barn to look for footprints that weren’t theirs. After inspecting all the areas they were watching, they returned to the house and the stew she had simmering on the stove. Kenny walked in with a frown on his face. “What’s wrong?” Drew asked. “Some people don’t have anyone to play with and have to listen to everyone else getting their damn rocks off.”

 

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“Uh, sorry.” Drew felt her face flame with embarrassment. “Man, that’s uncalled for. Don’t embarrass her.” Jeb took a step toward Kenny. Drew stepped between them and put a hand on each man’s chest. “That’s enough. I’m fine, Jeb. I just hadn’t thought about it, and it’s not fair to Kenny. His lover is all the way in town.” “Well, the weather is cooperating right now, so I should be able to go visit him soon.” Kenny sighed. “Do you think we could make it to town tomorrow?” Jeb asked. Kenny looked over at Drew and shrugged. “I guess you could try.” “If we can, Drew, you and I are going to town. I need to check in with the sheriff, and we need to get those supplies. Then, Kenny, you and Marshall can go the next day.” “Sounds like a plan,” Kenny groused. “What’s going on down here?” Marshall asked bounding down the stairs. “We’re planning a trip into town,” Drew said. “Count me in.” “You and Kenny are going the day after we do,” Jeb told him. “That sucks.” “Poor choice of words, Marshall,” Kenny complained. “Oh! Sorry.” “Come on. I’m going outside so I can cool off.” Kenny grabbed his coat and shoved his arms into it. “Kenny, you and Marshall go tomorrow. We can wait.” Drew eyed Jeb and dared him to say anything. Jeb just shrugged and nodded his head. Kenny smiled and opened the door wide enough to swamp them all in cold air. “Bastard,” Jeb said as he wrapped his arms around Drew.

 

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Chapter Ten Marshall and Kenny pulled into town after a slippery slide from the house. They were both glad to have made it without ending up in a ditch. With the weather warming up, the roads were thawing but refreezing again at night. Getting started early meant they drove on a solid sheet of ice for the first few miles. Kenny ambled off to visit Robert over at the livery where he did a lot of his work. He still made house calls, but many people just brought their horses to him to avoid the extra cost. Marshall watched him go then looked up and down the street until his eyes focused on the sheriff’s office attached to the courthouse. He walked down the sidewalk, ignoring the strange and outright hostile looks he got as he went by. He was used to them by now, for the most part. The sheriff was in and motioned him into his office. He closed the door and pulled out a folder from his desk drawer. “Where’s Jeb?” “He’ll be here tomorrow. We aren’t leaving either Kenny or Drew alone at the ranch without one of us there. Someone hit Drew over the head the other day and gave her a hell of a knot. If it hadn’t been snowing so hard, we’d have brought her to the hospital.” “You should have called me,” the sheriff fussed. “No phone service. Believe me, we needed help. Didn’t have a clue who was out there, or if they would strike again.” Marshall stretched his legs out in front of him. “Hell, I had hoped things would have stopped by now after there hadn’t been anything in so long.”

 

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“I think Drew just hasn’t told you about the petty things. Someone keeps putting weevils in her feed, for one thing.” “How do you plan on keeping her safe and helping her without using guns?” The sheriff stared straight into his eyes. “We plan on being smarter than them. But I’ll be honest with you. I’ll go back to jail before I let anything happen to Drew.” Marshall stared right back at the other man. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” They shook hands, and Marshall walked outside. He surveyed the town and located the feed store and the grocery store. He would start with the feed. Kenny was supposed to meet him there. He gave his order to a man at the desk who just stood there and stared at him. When he didn’t make any move to start loading the truck, Marshall began to get angry. “Are you going to fill Drew’s order or not?” “Don’t know you from Adam’s housecat. I’m not filling anything without proof you work for her.” The insolent man just crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. Marshall pointed at the truck. “I’m in a company truck. What more do you need?” “You could have stolen that truck for all I know. She’s had a lot of trouble out there lately.” “Then call her.” He didn’t seem in all that much of a hurry to call when Kenny stepped into the building and stomped off his boots. “Why isn’t the truck being loaded?” he asked. “Because this asshole doesn’t think I work for Drew.” Marshall shoved his hands on his hips and glared at the man. “Ricky, this is Marshall. You fill Drew’s order for us, or I’ll tell your momma on you for holding us up.” “Hell, Kenny. How am I supposed to know he really works for her? He’s a damn convict and could have stolen the truck.”

 

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“Everyone in this town knows they work for Drew. Anyone give her any trouble, and I might just talk Robert into moving to another town. I’m getting tired of all this shit.” Kenny appeared to be in a sour mood. “What’s going on, Kenny?” Marshall asked. “Later. Are you loading that truck, or do I start dialing your momma’s number?” “Fuck.” The man called out to the back, and two teenage boys ran up front. He gave them the list and told them to load the truck out front. “Now was that so hard?” Marshall asked, his voice dripping in sarcasm. It took fifteen minutes to get the truck loaded. They made their next stop at the grocery store to load up on dry goods. Drew and Jeb were going to get meat and perishables tomorrow. Marshall sure hoped the roads would be in better shape by the next day. “That’s all the groceries. You ready to head back?” Marshall asked. “Let’s stop by the livery. I want you to meet Robert. He’ll be in and out at the ranch, so I want to be sure you know him.” Kenny swung up in the cab of the truck and started it. They stopped outside of what looked very much like a barn. As soon as he stepped out of the truck, he smelt the acrid fumes of a fire and hot metal. Underneath that was the unmistakable smell of horses. Kenny jumped out of the truck and headed inside, calling out Robert’s name. A tall, muscular man of about six feet, six inches walked out of the back, sweaty but smiling. Kenny gestured toward Marshall. “This is one of the new hands I told you about. Marshall, this is Kenny.” Marshall held out his hand, and the other man grabbed it but didn’t try to test his strength. “Any friend of Kenny is a friend of mine. How do you like it out at the ranch?” Robert asked.

 

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“Like it just fine. Great food and a good place to work.” Marshall wasn’t sure how much Robert knew about what was going on. “You got time for a break?” Kenny asked his lover. “Sure. Let’s get a cup of coffee in back.” Robert led the way to a room in the back of the barn that was obviously used for an office. Marshall watched as he set about making coffee, chatting easily with Kenny about a mutual acquaintance and his unruly mare. As soon as it was ready, they sat down to drink it. Kenny brought up the problems out at the ranch. “Drew is pretty much over the knot on her head, but she should have taken it easy for a few more days.” “You know as well as I do that she isn’t going to do that. That ranch is in her blood.” “Supposed to be another storm brewing up in Canada. Should hit early next week. Think you could come out to the ranch before it does? You can’t do anything while it’s snowed up anyway.” Kenny looked up at Robert with something close to need in his eyes. Marshall looked away to give them a private moment. He didn’t have any problems with the two of them, but it made him uncomfortable to be there when they obviously needed some alone time. “I’ll see, Kenny. Depends on if I have horses here or not. Supposed to pick them up on Saturday, but you can never tell about the owners.” “Well, if you can, Drew could use your expertise in the kitchen to give her a break,” Kenny teased him. “Right. You’re just hinting you want lasagna.” Robert punched him in the arm. “Guess we better get going. Long drive back, and the roads are icy. Drew and Jeb will be out tomorrow to load up on perishables. I’ll tell them to stop by so you can meet Jeb,” Kenny said. “Better get on the road, Kenny,” Robert warned. “Good to meet you, Marshall. I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you.”

 

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They all shook hands, and Kenny and Marshall climbed back into the truck. They turned around to drive back to the ranch. “How long has it been since you and Robert have had any alone time, before today?” Marshall broached the subject, unsure how Kenny would take it. The other man was silent for a while. “About a month.” “That’s got to be hell.” “It’s not fun, that’s for damn sure.” They remained quiet the rest of the way back, each deep in their own thoughts as Kenny maneuvered the icy roads. Marshall figured Robert was the cautious one of the two. He seemed to be more worried about the way people around him thought. Kenny didn’t seem to give a damn. It sounded like it was a bone of contention between them. Hell of a way to live. Once they returned to the ranch, Jeb joined them to unload the feed and groceries. Drew put them away as they left them in the kitchen. “Any trouble?” she asked. “Just had to get tough about loading our feed. Ricky wanted to be stubborn about it, but I straightened him out.” “Threatened to call his mom, did you?” She laughed. “Hey, whatever works,” Kenny said with a smirk on his face. Marshall enjoyed the easy banter between them and hoped one day they would be a part of that. Right now, he didn’t feel comfortable enough to join in. Kenny told her about introducing Marshall to Robert. “Be sure to stop by and introduce Jeb to him tomorrow.” “I will.” “Looks like we have everything we need for another round of snow.” “I think I’m going to get more feed when we go tomorrow, Jeb. I feel like this next snow might be a tough one.” Jeb looked over at Marshall. “How are the roads?”

 

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“Rough. You’re going to have to be really careful. Kenny didn’t have much trouble, but there are some tricky spots.” “Drew, hope you don’t mind, but I invited Robert out here for the next snow if he can get away.” “You know he’s always welcome here, Kenny.” Drew looked at him with an odd look on her face. “Well, that means he has to share a room with me,” Kenny said and looked toward the kitchen window. **** “Why is that a problem?” she asked. “Just wasn’t sure how you felt about it,” Kenny said. “It’s not a problem with me,” Drew assured him. “Jeb, Marshall?” Kenny carefully asked. “It’s none of our business. I don’t have a problem with your being gay,” Jeb said. “Same goes with me,” Marshall added. Kenny let out a breath he’d obviously been holding. He nodded and then walked out the back door. “He’s sensitive about it, isn’t he?” Jeb commented. “Yeah, around you two he is. He’s never been that way with me before.” “I really hate that,” Jeb confessed. “I like Kenny, and I’m sure I’ll like Robert.” “Robert seems to worry more about what people will think,” Marshall said. “I think you’re right.” Drew sighed and sat down. “You tired, baby?” Marshall asked. “Just tired of everything being so difficult.” Drew decided she wanted a nice, relaxing bath. She’d been on edge for a long time now. The men could make the rounds this time.

 

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“I’m going to have a bath. The three of you can make rounds.” She smiled shyly at them. “Maybe you two could come dry me off later?” She made it a question. “Nothing would please me more,” Jeb said. She noticed his and Marshall’s eyes grow dark. She loved knowing she had that effect on them. She smiled then turned and sauntered over to the stairs to walk up to the bedroom. She slipped out of her clothes and took a quick shower to wash off the dirt and sweat from working with Jeb outside. Then she turned on the water in the tub and added her favorite bath salts. When she slipped into the sudsy water, a soft sigh escaped her mouth, and she laughed, thinking how much like good sex a hot, relaxing bath could be. She spent the next thirty minutes fantasizing about Jeb and Marshall and all the ways they could have sex. She hesitated at calling it “making love.” They really didn’t know each other all that well. Hell, she was having sex with them. How much better could she know them? Disgruntled at having messed up her mood, Drew dunked her head under water and proceeded to wash it. When she rinsed, she realized someone was in the bathroom with her when a breath of air made her shiver. She still had her eyes shut and was almost afraid to open them. Surely it was either Jeb or Marshall. When she opened them, there was no one there. Drew shivered and quickly let the water from the tub and stepped out. She wrapped a towel around her and closed and locked the bathroom door. Could she have imagined the slight whisper of air that had blown past her? She had a difficult time believing she was mistaken. The men wouldn’t have played with her like that with everything going on around the ranch. A sharp knock on the door had her screeching in alarm. “Drew! Are you okay?” Jeb’s voice sounded alarmed through the door. He rattled the door knob. “Let me in, Drew.

 

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She hurried and unlocked the door, letting Jeb in. He grabbed her by the upper arms and looked down into her eyes. He must have seen something there, because he pulled her into his arms despite the fact that she was still wet. “What’s wrong, baby?” “I–I was washing my hair and had my eyes closed. I swear someone was in the room with me. But when I got them clear, so I could open them, there was no one there. I know they were there. It wasn’t you, was it?” “No, it wasn’t me. I would never have scared you like that. I didn’t see anyone, but I came in through the back door. The front door is unlocked. We’ve got to keep all the doors locked all the time from now on. We’ll all need keys.” “I doubt I even have a key to the damn front door. I’ll have to look for it, and we’ll get keys made tomorrow when we’re in town.” Drew wrapped her arms around Jeb and let him hold her. It felt so good to be able to lean on someone for a change. “What’s going on in here? Did I miss something?” Marshall’s grin quickly changed to alarm when he noticed their somber expressions. “Drew had a scare.” Jeb pushed Marshall out of the way and led Drew into the bedroom. Then he told Marshall what happened to Drew. Marshall frowned. “Are you sure someone was in here with you?” “I’m sure. I felt a breeze, like someone had walked by. There aren’t any drafts in this house. It’s built solid to keep the cold wind out during the winter.” “Damn. Jeb, no one needs to be alone anymore. Not even in the house.” “We’re going to get keys made in town tomorrow and keep all the doors locked as well,” Jeb told him. Marshall took the towel from Drew and began to dry her off. He patted her skin then rubbed her hair until it was no longer dripping.

 

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“Jeb, go get her hair dryer, and we’ll dry her hair in here so she can sit on the bed.” Drew sat on the bed and shivered. She still felt spooked even with both men in the room with her. Then she thought about Kenny. “What about Kenny? He’s by himself out there.” She started to get up and grab her pants. “No, your hair is wet. You’ll catch pneumonia if you go out with wet hair,” Jeb said. “I’ll go get Kenny and let him know what happened.” “Thanks, Jeb. I don’t want anything to happen to him, either.” Drew squeezed his hand. “I’ve got her,” Marshall said before he turned on the dryer and began blowing her hair. Drew enjoyed having someone brush out her hair and dry it for her, but part of her was still worried about who was messing with her ranch and why. How far would they go? If they would hit her on the head, would they try and kill someone? “You’re thinking too hard. Try and relax. You’ve got creases between your brows. They’re going to stick like that if you don’t relax.” Marshall leaned over and kissed her on the nose. “I can’t get it out of my mind that someone is trying to ruin me and the ranch. I don’t bother anyone. I mind my own business. What do they want?” “Probably the ranch itself. If you can’t make your payments on the ranch, it will go to the bank and be auctioned off, right?” Marshall asked. “Right.” “So who has a vested interest in gaining the ranch?” “Brett Gunnison, but I can’t see him stooping to petty tricks to get the ranch.” She finger combed her hair to see how much more it needed of the hair dryer.

 

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“Some of this hasn’t been petty, Drew. Knocking you over the head wasn’t petty. That was assault and could have even been attempted murder. Burning down a barn isn’t petty, either.” “But putting weevils in the feed is. Cutting fences is,” she argued. Marshall set the hair dryer aside and pulled her into his arms. “Maybe you have two people trying to get to you.” “Even I think that is too over-the-top.” “Never know what people will do when they think they have something to lose.” “I guess you’re right.” She figured he was talking about his and Jeb’s past. Someone bounded up the stairs. Drew didn’t have a good feeling about it. As soon as Jeb skidded into the room she asked him what was wrong. “I can’t find Kenny. I found where he was saddling a horse, but he’s nowhere that I can find him.”

 

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Chapter Eleven The men waited for Drew to get dressed. Neither one of them were going to leave her alone for one minute. Jeb helped her fasten her jeans. Her hands were shaking. “Easy, Drew. We’ll find him.” Jeb pulled her into his arms and squeezed her before letting her go and leading the way downstairs. “Where do you suggest we start looking?” Marshall asked Drew. “If he’s on foot, then we’ll have to split up and search in a circle out from the barn,” she said. “Nix that idea. We’re not splitting up for any reason. We’ll search together. He can’t be too far. He might even be fine and just heard something and took off to see what it was,” Jeb said. Marshall and Drew began bundling up against the cold. As soon as they were dressed, Jeb led them outside to where he found Kenny’s horse in the barn, already saddled. Drew looked around and couldn’t see anything out of place until she looked at the floor. “Look, there is more than one type of boot print from the muddy snow.” She pointed at the two different size boots. “I missed that,” Jeb said. He lifted his boot and compared it to the other print. “It’s not mine. “It has to be whoever took or lured Kenny away.” Drew began following the muddy prints back out the door and around to the back of the barn. “Stick close, Drew. I don’t want you lost, too,” Marshall told her. “The prints are leading into the bushes. How are we going to track them now?” she worried.

 

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“Look at the way the limbs are snapped. We follow them. They’ll cause a lot of damage to them as they walk through. Hopefully, Kenny is dragging his feet as well.” Jeb led the way with Marshall bringing up the rear behind Drew. They walked for over twenty minutes when there was a shout and a shot fired in the distance. Drew took off running ahead of the men. Jeb cursed and took off after her with Marshall on his heels. “I’m going to spank that ass red when I catch her,” Marshall yelled. “Save some licks for me. Fuck, she can run.” They reached her about the time she made it to Kenny, who was lying on the ground trying to get up. Jeb grabbed her and turned her around and handed her to Marshall, who wrapped his arms around her and held on tight. “Let me go. I need to see about Kenny.” “Jeb’s going to see about him. Do you not realize that someone could still be around with that gun? Be still.” Drew focused on Kenny as Jeb helped him up. He had a hood over his head and was fighting with Jeb. “Stop hitting me, you ornery fool. It’s Jeb.” He yanked the hood off of Kenny and the other man squinted at them. “He’s bleeding. Look at his arm.” Drew struggled to get free of Marshall, but the man wasn’t letting her go. “It’s just a scratch,” Kenny assured her. “I swear I’ll kill that bastard if I ever find him.” “What happened?” Jeb asked as he checked Kenny’s arm. “Someone jumped me from behind when I was saddling my mare up. Slipped that hood over my head and put a gun to my back and told me to follow his directions or he’d shoot me.” “I don’t like being out in the open like this,” Marshall said. “Let’s move this to the house.”

 

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Jeb nodded and helped Kenny until he was walking steady again. Then they headed back toward the house. Once inside, they locked all the doors and gathered in the living room. “Go ahead, what happened next?” Jeb asked. He and Marshall were on either side of Drew on the couch. “I followed his directions and walked. Was tough going, ’cause I couldn’t see to walk. He told me which way to go, but I kept stumbling. He’d jerk me back up and shove the gun in my back again.” “Did you recognize his voice?” Drew asked. “No. He had on a mask, I guess, ’cause it was all muffled.” “Go on,” Marshall urged. “I stumbled, and he grabbed me, but I just let myself fall, thinking I might get the jump on him if he fell with me. When he fell on top of me, the damn gun went off, and he jumped up and ran, I guess. I felt the damn bullet singe my arm hairs, but I knew I wasn’t hit.” “Let me see your arm, Kenny.” Drew stood up and knelt beside the chair Kenny was sitting in. She tore the sleeve the rest of the way and studied the injury. The area was bloody but mostly singed, like he said. “You’re damn lucky,” Jeb pointed out. “Yeah, I know.” “You do realize that I’ve got to call the sheriff, and you better call Robert before he hears about it from someone else. He’ll have your tail for sure,” Drew warned him. “Speaking of which,” Jeb began. “I ought to whip your ass for taking off running like you did. You had no idea what you were running into and could have gotten yourself hurt or killed.” “I have to agree with them, Drew. That was a stupid thing you did.” Kenny paled when she turned her stare on him. “Wait ’til I tell Robert how you deliberately tried to trip up the man that kidnapped you.”

 

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Kenny grew even paler, if that was possible. She smiled her best smug smile at him. “Let’s see to that arm, Kenny,” Marshall said. “Let me call the sheriff and get that over with.” Drew sighed. She really dreaded this part. She’d have to fill out another report and suffer through him and his deputies tromping around her land. **** Jeb sighed and closed the door. It was closing in on nine at night. The sheriff and his deputies had just left. Drew needed to go to bed but was too keyed up. He knew what to do about that, but first, he needed to lay down some rules. “Drew, we need to talk upstairs.” “What about? I need to check…” He cut her off. “Nothing. You’re coming upstairs with me. Marshall? You coming?” “Wouldn’t miss this for the world.” “What is going on, guys?” They were ganging up on her. “I’m going to stay down here and sleep on the couch with the gun,” Kenny said with a sigh. “Good idea. When is Robert coming in?” Marshall asked. “Tomorrow.” “Good deal. See you in the morning.” Marshall and Jeb each took one of Drew’s arms and dragged her complaining all the way up the stairs to her room. When they got inside, Marshall kicked the door closed then turned the lock and smiled at her. Jeb sat on the bed and crooked a finger at her. “Come here, Drew.” “Oh, no. You are not spanking me.” “Sit on my lap, and let’s talk.”

 

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She eyed him suspiciously then sat on his lap. He held her there and kissed her forehead. “Drew, you don’t ever run into a fire fight again. Even if the guy hadn’t aimed at you, a stray bullet could have caught you.” Jeb looked her straight in the eyes. “Do you understand?” “Yes. I overreacted. I won’t do it again.” She gave him a good pout. Jeb laughed. He let her up, and Marshall immediately began undressing her. She even helped him. When she finished, he handed her over to Jeb, who was still sitting on the bed. “I thought you were going to spank me,” she pouted. “You deserve a good one, Drew.” Jeb popped her ass. Drew yelped but smiled at him. “Is that the best you have?” Jeb pulled her over his lap and rubbed her ass with the palm of his hand before laying a quick slap to it. She hummed her approval He rubbed it in then spanked her again in quick succession until he’d spanked her eight times. When he pulled her up, she had tears in her eyes but was smiling. Jeb reached between her legs to be sure she had enjoyed it. She wasn’t just wet, she was sopping wet. She’d thoroughly enjoyed his spanking. “Aw, fuck, baby,” Jeb said. “You’re all juicy. I want some of that juice.” “I don’t plan on sleeping much tonight, baby,” Marshall said, shucking his clothes in a hurry. **** Jeb stood up and followed suit. When she growled at them and stomped over to the door to unlock it and open it, Marshall stopped her with a kiss. He pushed her up against the door and began eating her mouth from the inside out. Drew had no defense against his kisses. His tongue dueled with hers as he caressed her breasts then

 

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moved lower to dip his fingers in her juicy cunt. When he pulled away from their kiss, he took his wet fingers into his mouth and sucked. It was the most erotic thing to see him sucking her juices from his fingers. Jeb saddled up behind her and pulled her hair back from her neck. He placed open-mouthed kisses on her shoulder up to her neck where he sucked. He was marking her, and right then, Drew didn’t care. “I want that tight ass of yours tonight,” Jeb said. Marshall pulled her out of Jeb’s embrace and over to the bed. He’d pulled on a condom and climbed on the bed. “Ride me, baby. I want that tight pussy squeezing my dick.” Drew wanted his cock inside her despite wanting to punish them for whipping her. She wasn’t going to pass up a hard cock, though. She’d had so few of them over the years and none as good as her men. She climbed up on top of him and positioned his dick at her pussy slit. With his help, she began lowering herself onto his thick cock. “Oh, God. You feel so fucking good.” Drew reached the end of him and began to move. “There you go, baby. Fuck me like you want to.” He pushed up with his pelvis but let her do all the work. After a few seconds of letting her run the show, Jeb pushed her back until her face lay flat against Marshall’s chest. He squeezed some lube on his fingers and began pushing first one, then a second one inside of her. She looked back over her shoulder at him with wide eyes. It hurt as he pushed them past the ring of resistance. “Push back, Drew. It won’t hurt, just burn, if you push back and take my fingers inside of you.” She did as he said, and sure enough, the small bite of pain gave way to a mild burning sensation. He moved his fingers in and out of her over and over. He began teasing her clit with his other hand between her and Marshall. Soon, she was shoving back against his fingers. He pulled out and added more lubricant and then pushed three fingers in as she pushed out. The burn increased but soon changed to

 

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a tingling feeling as nerve endings woke up. Then he pulled his fingers out and positioned the head of his sheathed cock at her back hole. “Remember to push out, baby.” He pushed, and the head of his dick began to push past the ring. It burned worse than his fingers had, but finally he popped through and stilled to let her adjust to his girth. Then he slowly began to pull out and push back in until he was buried balls-deep inside of her. He didn’t move after that. After a few seconds, Drew couldn’t handle it any longer and began to push back at his dick. “Move! I can’t stand it. Move. Fuck me, Jeb.” Jeb began pulling out as Marshall pushed farther in. Then Marshall pulled out and Jeb pushed in. Nerve endings she’d never felt before began waking up. It felt so damn good, she couldn’t believe she’d been worried about it. They hit her hot spot every time they filled her. She was full of them and needed more. “Harder, faster,” she demanded, trying to help them along. “Be still, Drew. Let us do the work,” Jeb told her in a strained voice. The sensations built and built until she felt like she would splinter into a million pieces. Never had she felt anything so delicious. Sex had never been this good. God, it couldn’t just be sex. It had to be more, more of them, more of her, more of all of them. She needed this to mean something to them, because it meant something to her. She felt her heart open to them, and she knew in that instant that she loved them. **** Jeb felt as if his world was tilting on its axis. Never had he felt as complete as he did in that instance. He could feel Marshall’s dick sliding along next to him inside of Drew. The two most important people in the world were one with him. He didn’t crave Marshall now

 

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like he used to. Drew bound them together, and he knew he would never be the same. The harder he shoved inside of her, the more he wanted her. The faster he poured his cock in her sweet ass, the deeper his feelings for her grew. He wanted her in so many different ways. Not just sexually but emotionally and mentally as well. He wanted to know everything there was to know about her. His climax rushed at him. He tried to hold off, but couldn’t. He reached between Drew and Marshall and felt for her clit. His hand touched Marshall’s cock, but it didn’t bother him. It didn’t seem to bother Marshall either. When he found her clit, he tapped it several times until she was screaming their names. Her cunt squeezed at Marshall while her ass muscles squeezed Jeb’s cock until he was shooting cum inside the condom. He wished in that instance that he could ride her bareback. He wanted to feel the heat and silky softness of her skin. He would bet his life that Marshall felt the same way. **** Marshall shoved his pelvis up hard and deep into Drew’s sweet cunt. Never had he felt anything so good. The only thing that would make it better would be to fuck her without the condom. He could tell Jeb was about to come because he reached between them and searched for Drew’s clit. He brushed his dick with his fingers. Marshall knew the instant he found her clit. Drew began bucking between them and cried out their names as her pussy tightened around him. Fuck, he wouldn’t be able to last. Marshall fought against it, wanting it to last as long as possible. It was the first time he’d ever felt so complete, so a part of something. He’d been searching for this for so long, and now he’d found it with his boss, of all people. How could he hold her when he was not only her employee but a convict as well? And then there was Jeb. They were a pair. They came together. She couldn’t live with two men in

 

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this community. They would never accept them. He knew he loved her, and the pain in his heart nearly undid him as she milked his cock, and he shot his cum deep in the condom. Drew lay on his chest, panting as loudly as they were. Jeb lay over them but soon rolled over, pulling free of Drew. She complained with an “oh” but continued to snuggle on his chest. He didn’t mind that it made it harder for him to catch his breath. He cherished her there. After a few seconds, Jeb got up to dispose of the condom. He returned with a warm, wet bath cloth and began to clean her up. Marshall felt the cloth on his balls. He needed to get up and dispose of his condom before he leaked. “Drew, baby. I need to get up. Here’s Jeb. He’ll hold you now.” He nodded at Jeb, who climbed back into bed and pulled her over into his arms. He held on to the condom until she was off and then escaped to the bathroom. He needed a moment to compose himself. Realizing you love someone and knowing there’s not a chance in hell of it being reciprocated sucked.

 

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Chapter Twelve Jeb and Drew didn’t make it into town the next day since the sheriff had been out the night before. Robert arrived just after noon, and Kenny immediately brightened up. His boyfriend fussed about his arm and the foolish chance he’d taken. Drew had no idea how they addressed it in private but couldn’t forget how Jeb and Marshall had addressed hers. She smiled. She hadn’t felt this energetic in months. Yep, sex was good for you. Being in love probably helped. The problem lay in the fact that she didn’t know how the men felt about her. She knew they cared for her, as they’d said as much several times, but love? They were men of the world. Maybe they couldn’t love her. Regardless, she had made up her mind to enjoy them while they were there. She had woken up between them. She had her head on Jeb’s shoulder with Marshall’s hand around her waist, and his swollen cock nestled against her ass. She had her arm around Jeb’s waist. She wanted to wake up in some form of that every morning. They had started the morning off with a quickie and then a shower together that resulted in another quickie. She had worried they would be late getting downstairs, but Kenny must have gone to take his shower and hadn’t come back down yet. No doubt he was anticipating Robert’s arrival. When he did arrive, Kenny was like a different man. She felt for the two of them, not being able to be together as a couple. People could be so cruel. “Ready to check fences?” Marshall asked.

 

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“Let’s get going so we can get back. Robert’s making lasagna. You don’t want to miss that.” “As much as I’ve heard about his cooking, I’m looking forward to it.” “Let’s go. It’s going to be a long day.” Drew and Marshall checked fence lines all the way around the majority of the pasture. For the first time in a long time, there weren’t any cut wires. It meant they made more progress and could stop and check the back pasture for any strays while they were out. They didn’t find any. “Looks like whoever it is that’s doing the petty crap got scared from the other day. Maybe that will put a stop to it for now,” Marshall said. “I hope so, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. This has been going on for too long. They’re in it for the duration. I just wish I could catch the bastard. Then I wish he had land and money so I could sue him.” Marshall chuckled. “Don’t hold a grudge, do you?” “Nope. I make promises and keep them.” Drew pulled back on her reins and pointed to the vultures in the sky circling something at the back pasture. “We’d better go investigate.” “If we get back in time, we could maybe get the sheriff to do it instead,” Marshall suggested. “Nope, we can do it. It’s probably a downed cow. I need to make sure it’s not in the water, or it will contaminate the stream.” “Well, let’s go.” Marshall took off at a trot. Dew followed behind him letting him lead. She hated finding dead cows. It ruined her day. Not only because she couldn’t afford to lose a cow but also because it upset her stomach. But she had no choice. She had to be sure. They approached the cow, and she swore. It was a young cow, not even a year old yet. She climbed off her horse along with Marshall

 

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and carefully approached the animal. If it wasn’t dead it could be dangerous. Their hooves could do some major damage. “Well, it’s alive. I don’t know why it’s down unless there’s an injury on the other side,” Marshall said. “Let’s see if we can get it up.” Drew pulled a rope off her horse and tied it to the saddle horn, then carefully walked around to the cow’s head. She looped it around his neck. Marshall did the same, and they both climbed back on their horse and urged them forward. The cow bellowed but came to his feet after a few seconds of pulling. “Fuck. He’s got a bullet hole in his freaking head, Drew.” “No wonder he was down. Why is he even alive?” “It must have missed anything vital and just skimmed around the outside.” “What do we do?” Drew asked, truly at a loss. “Let’s lead it to the barn, and we’ll see how it fares tonight. That’s about all I know to do for now. With the snow they’ve forecast, I doubt we can get a vet up here tomorrow.” They led the cow slowly to the barn and settled it with hay and water. It seemed to be doing okay now that it was up. Drew couldn’t believe they wouldn’t have heard the gunshot and was even more surprised they would have shot a cow. “Why didn’t we hear the gunshot?” she asked Marshall. “Probably used a silencer. I think tomorrow, we need to move as much of the herd as possible closer to the house. It will cut down on anyone messing with them if we’re diligent about watching.” Marshall pulled his saddle off the horse then hung the horse blanket up as well. Drew followed suit, and they began to tend to the horses. They were almost finished when Jeb walked into the barn. “You were out a long time. Anything going on?”

 

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Marshall told him about the cow and the fact that they hadn’t found any more cut wire. Jeb shook his head and looked disgusted. Drew felt the same way. “Guess I’ll be calling the sheriff again. I doubt he’ll come out, though, with this weather system moving in.” Drew headed for the house with Marshall and Jeb right behind her. “We’ve gotten everything ready around the house and barn. Rope’s strung, and we piled enough wood for a month on the porch,” he said with a grin. “I can’t wait for Robert’s lasagna,” Marshall confessed. “Kenny’s been talking him up, hasn’t he?” Drew laughed at him. “Well, I guess.” Marshall looked guilty. “Your cooking is super, Drew.” “It’s okay, Marshall. I know I cook different things than Robert does, so we’re about even.” “Time to get cleaned up,” Marshall suggested. “I don’t want to hold up supper.” “Is food all he thinks about?” Drew laughed. “Nope, I think of other things, if you know what I mean.” Drew felt her face heat up and hurried up the stairs to grab the bathroom. They could shower in the other one for that. **** Jeb cornered Kenny in the kitchen talking to Robert. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but, Kenny, I need to talk to you for a minute.” “Sure.” He turned to Robert and said, “I’ll be back.” “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.” He turned back around to the stove. “What’s up?” Kenny asked.

 

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Jeb relayed the news about the cow and needing to bring the rest of the herd closer to the house in the morning before the snow set in good. “That’s a good idea. I’ll go out and check the cow after supper. If it’s on the outside of his skull and just under the skin, we might be able to dig it out and dose him up on antibiotics we keep here.” “Ever dug anything out of a cow before?” Jeb asked. “Yeah, it’s not fun. They fight it. We’ll have to tie him up pretty damn good.” “I’m not looking forward to that one bit.” He left Kenny to see about Drew. She was probably in the shower. He thought he would dry her off, but when he got upstairs, her door was locked. Now what is that all about? He knocked on the door but got no response. She was probably still in the shower. He wandered over to his room and waited for Marshall to get out of the shower. He didn’t have long to wait. His friend walked in with a towel wrapped around his waist. Jeb turned away and busied himself changing shits. He could hear Marshall drying off and dressing. “You say anything to Drew to piss her off?” he finally asked. “Not really. I embarrassed her some, but it was all in jest. Why?” “She locked the bedroom door.” “She’s pouting,” Marshall said with a smile. “She enjoyed that spanking yesterday. Maybe it’s her way of asking for another one.” “Maybe.” Jeb wasn’t so sure. “Is something bothering you, Jeb?” Marshall walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Nothing different than always. Now I’m thinking about settling down because we have a real chance with earning our wages and maybe getting some of the profits on the sales, too.” “We’ll get our own place, Jeb. Just don’t give up on it.” “I wish we had a chance with Drew. I ain’t ever wanted something to work out as much as I do this.”

 

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“I still think we do. She’s comfortable around us and wants us as much as we want her. It’s a start.” Marshall headed for the door. “Come on. I don’t want to be late for supper.” Jeb followed Marshall downstairs, resisting the urge to check Drew’s door again. She’d be downstairs for supper for sure. Sure enough, when they got down there, Drew was already at the table waiting on them. Kenny helped Robert serve. They looked more relaxed than Jeb had seen them. Maybe they were more comfortable around them now. After supper, they all settled in the living room to check out the weather. Kenny excused himself to check on the cow. Robert went with him. Jeb didn’t expect them back any time soon. They had that look about them. He smiled. It was good to see Kenny looking happy. The weather station predicted a blizzard over the next two to three days. The news wasn’t good as far as Jeb was concerned. They’d have to really watch the cattle. They’d need extra hay and the water heaters on. There would be a lot to take care of. At least maybe their problems with whoever had it in for Drew would be stuck. They wouldn’t be able to hurt anything for a few days. There was an upside to it. “What are we not thinking of to get ready?” Drew asked with a worried look on her face. “I think we’ve thought of about everything, Drew. Stop worrying.” Marshall squeezed her hand. “Try to relax. Our stalker won’t be able to get out, either.” Jeb chuckled. He’d just been thinking about that. He and Marshall had always shared the same thoughts. “Do you think Kenny and Robert are okay? They’ve been out there for a long time.” Drew turned to look out the window. “Drew, baby. They haven’t been together in a long time. I expect they are getting reacquainted,” Jeb told her. “Oh! I hadn’t thought about that. Surely they could do that upstairs instead of out in the cold.”

 

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“Well, I’m sure they’ll stay warm.” Marshall chuckled. “In fact, I was thinking of going on up to bed myself. What about you, Jeb?” “Sounds like a plan to me. Come on, Drew. Let’s call it a night. We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow getting the cattle in closer to the house.” “Something tells me you aren’t thinking about sleep right away,” Drew mused. “Well, you never know what will come up,” Jeb pointed out. “Come on up to bed.” Marshall grabbed her hand and pulled her up from the couch with him. Jeb followed them to the stairs and hung back to watch Drew’s tight ass sway as she walked up the stairs. He grinned. He bet Marshall would get that hot ass tonight. He would take her sweet pussy. He couldn’t wait to sink his cock in it. Once in the bedroom, he closed and locked the door. He began to strip right along with Marshall, but Drew hung back, watching them. “What is it, baby?” Marshall asked as he stripped out of his jeans. “I’m just watching you. I haven’t really gotten to see you in all your glory.” “Look all you want.” Jeb spread his arms and turned around. “Silly,” she said with a smile. “Come here, woman.” Jeb crooked his finger. “What do you want?” “To eat that pussy of yours. I want to taste that sweet honey. Undress and come over here, baby. Climb up on the bed and spread them.” She slowly began to undress, drawing it out to the groans of the two men. Jeb wanted to tear her clothes off of her but restrained himself. He glanced at Marshall and noticed a glint in his eyes. The man was falling for her, if he hadn’t already. When Drew bent over and pulled her panties down, Jeb couldn’t help but fit his dick, heavy with need, against her ass and rub it there for a few strokes.

 

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Drew laughed. Then she climbed on the bed and spread her legs as he’d told her to. He could see her sweet juices already coating her cunt. He moved in between her legs and pushed them back so he had more room to work. He inhaled and hummed his approval. Her scent was heady. He licked her, gathering her honey on his tongue and swallowing. With no warning, he delved in and began sucking at her pussy like a man dying of hunger. When he looked up, he saw Marshall feeding his dick to her amazing mouth. “Drew. Give me a hand down here, honey. Run your finger through your juices, and let Marshall taste you.” She complied, sliding her finger through her pussy lips and gathering her moisture to present to Marshall. He grabbed her hand and sucked her finger into his mouth, even as Drew sucked his cock into hers. It was the sexiest thing Jeb had ever seen. He redoubled his efforts licking and nipping at her pussy lips. He stiffened his tongue and fucked her sweet cunt with it. Then he entered her slit with two fingers, curling them to find her hot spot. When he located it, he stroked it over and over until she was losing her focus on Marshall and bucking her hips. He tackled her clit with his lips and teeth, and soon she was milking his fingers with her cunt. He loved the feel of those ripples around him. He couldn’t wait to feel them around his cock. “Marshall, I want this hot pussy. You can have her ass.” “Hot damn. Marshall climbed off the bed and grabbed a condom and the lube from the bedside table. He threw a condom at Jeb and began to roll his on then waited for Drew to climb on top of Jeb. Jeb wrapped his hand around his cock, stroking it to keep it ready. Jeb watched his hand pull on his dick while Drew climbed up on top of him. Then he only had eyes for her. She helped him roll on his condom then lowered herself on his cock. As stiff as he was, she didn’t even have to hold him steady. Her pussy juices coated his dick as she sank down on him. She took him

 

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in one long glide. Damn, it felt like heaven. She rode him for a few seconds with Marshall helping her up and down on Jeb’s dick. Then he pushed her forward and Jeb wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck and shoulders as Marshall got her ass ready for his cock. He couldn’t help watching Marshall’s fingers disappear in her sweet, tight ass. He knew how it felt and couldn’t wait to feel Marshall’s cock rubbing against his inside the one woman who seemed to make him whole.

 

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Chapter Thirteen She took two fingers without so much as a whimper, and Marshall’s cock twitched, knowing he would be in that tight little rosette soon. He pulled out and added a little more lube before inserting three fingers. She moaned this time but didn’t pull away. She was pushing out without being told now. God, he wanted her. Still he took the time to push them in and out several seconds before replacing them with the head of his cock. “Hold on, baby. I’m going to fuck this tight ass. You like it, don’t you, Drew? You like having your ass filled.” “Yes, fill me up, Marshall!” she cried out. He pushed in as she pushed out, and soon his dick popped past her tight ring. Marshall surged forward before stopping to let her adjust. It didn’t take long before she was shoving back against his cock. He pulled out and pushed back in over and over, until he was balls-deep and couldn’t go any farther. He nodded at Jeb, and they began a slow dance of pushing in and pulling out. First, Jeb would delve in then he’d pull out as Jeb tunneled in her cunt. They reversed and did it again. In and out, in and out, they made slow love to her. Marshall licked up her back as he held fast to her ass, riding her slow and easy. When Jeb began to speed up, he followed suit and tunneled in and out of her hot ass, relishing the feel of Jeb’s dick against the thin membrane separating them. Jeb didn’t fool him. He knew his friend wanted him but wouldn’t act on it. Jeb felt guilty for having taken Marshall when they were in prison, but Marshall appreciated it, since the alternative

 

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was to be ridden by every bastard in there. Jeb had compromised his feelings and taken care of Marshall. Now he still wanted him. Marshall didn’t feel the same way, and Jeb knew it, so he kept it to himself. Since they’d found Drew, he’d sensed a change in how Jeb felt. He seemed less tense and more like he’d been all those years ago before prison. He’d settle down with Drew in a New York minute just to know that his friend was happy. It helped that he’d fallen for her. It wouldn’t last long on her part, but he’d take what he could get. Drew began to whimper and shove herself down on Jeb then back against him. She moved faster and faster. Marshall grabbed her tighter and helped her. They fucked her deep and hard until she came around them. She screamed her climax, calling out their names in the process. It felt good to hear his name on her lips. The vibrations of her body soon took him over the edge, and he shot his cum into the condom. Seconds later, he knew Jeb had done the same by the shout and look of intense pain and pleasure on his face. Marshall carefully pulled out of Drew and kissed her back before helping her off of Jeb without either of them losing their condoms. He rushed to the bathroom and disposed of his, bringing back a warm, wet towel to clean Drew up as Jeb disappeared in the bathroom next. Drew hummed her appreciation, then crawled up in the middle of the bed and cuddled beneath the covers. He climbed in on one side of her and felt the bed dip when Jeb climbed in on the other side. They all snuggled up to keep warm. It wasn’t long before Drew was sound asleep. Marshall wanted to tell her he loved her but figured it was way too soon, if it was ever the right time. He couldn’t imagine living without her but knew he had to prepare for that eventuality. She wouldn’t be able to live with both of them on a permanent basis. The town folks would talk and make it hard on her. He didn’t want that for her for anything. “You’re thinking too hard over there,” Jeb whispered. “Yeah, I know. Can’t help it. She’s special.”

 

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“Our time is limited with her, Marshall. I know you’ve fallen for her, but it won’t work.” “I know that, Jeb, but I can’t help how I feel.” “I know.” Marshall sighed. He did know. Before he fell asleep, he heard Kenny and Robert’s grunts in the next room. He smiled. Kenny would be in a good mood tomorrow. **** Drew woke late the next morning to a cold bed. Both of the men were already up and gone. Disgruntled that they left her alone, she grabbed her clothes and dressed before stomping down the stairs. She found Robert in the kitchen cooking something, for lunch she was sure. “Where is everyone? Why didn’t they wake me up?” “It started snowing early, and they all took off to bring in the herd before it got too bad to work in.” “They should have woken me up anyway.” She poured a cup of coffee and wandered over to the window to take a look out. “Damn! There’s already five or six inches of snow out there. How long has it been snowing?” Robert laughed. “It started somewhere around four this morning.” “Um hum, and what were you doing up at four in the morning?” “None of your business.” He turned his back and continued stirring something on the stove. Drew smiled and sipped her coffee. Well, the men would be busy with the herd. She would work on the paperwork and get that out of the way. They would have periods of being busy for the next few days, and she planned to work right along beside them. It was her ranch, after all. Several hours later, she threw up her hands and cursed. She was missing an entire deposit on the bank statement. She had her slip to prove she’d made the deposit, but it wasn’t in her account. It wouldn’t

 

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make her overdrawn, but if she hadn’t found it, she would eventually have done it. How could they have screwed up and not caught it? The tellers had to settle up each night, so they should have found it. Resigned to fighting with the bank as soon as the weather cleared up, she slipped the deposit slip into the bank bag along with her statement. Then she locked it in her desk drawer. Now that they were having to lock the house up, she wasn’t leaving anything to chance. As she walked out of the office, she heard the kitchen door open and the shuffling of feet and stomping boots. Then she heard Robert fussing at them to wipe their shoes before coming in the house. She smiled. Robert could always be counted on to look after her and the house. He was a great big teddy bear. She truly wished he would move out there with Kenny. It would make Kenny happy. “Where’s Drew?” Kenny asked. Drew frowned and hurried into the kitchen. “Here I am, what’s wrong?” “We’re missing about twenty head of cattle. We’ve looked everywhere except over on the government’s land. Jeb didn’t think we had time to go over there and get back before the worst of the storm hit.” “Jeb, was there any sign someone had been there? Any more cut fences?” “None that we found. We rode all over the ranch trying to find them and couldn’t see anything for all the snow. As fast as it’s falling, we never would find prints, but the fences all seem intact.” “Where’s Marshall?” Drew just realized he wasn’t with them. “He’s seeing to the horses. I’m going back out to help him, but we wanted to tell you about the missing cows,” Jeb said. “I’ll go out and help him. You and Kenny get warmed up,” she told them. “There’s no use in you getting cold, Drew. Let us take care of things out there.” Kenny resettled his hat on his head.

 

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She frowned and stuck her hands on her hips. “I’m the boss, and I want to go out and check on the horses myself.” “Kenny, let her go play in the snow. You know that’s what she really wants to do,” Jeb teased. Robert burst out laughing across the room. Kenny grinned but quickly hid it when Drew turned to glare at him. “I ought to dock both of you for being insubordinate.” She grabbed her coat and scarf and bundled up before pulling on her gloves. Jeb pinched her ass on the way by, but it didn’t hurt since she had on thermals underneath her jeans. She stuck her tongue out before quickly opening the door and running out into the snow. So what if she wanted to play in the snow. She felt so much lighter than she ever had before. She knew it was because of Jeb and Marshall. They not only took some of the pressure of the ranch off of her, but they had opened her heart as well. She felt years younger, and even after they left, she would always be thankful for the time she had with them. As much as she wished they wouldn’t, she knew they would. They wanted their own place. Drew held no illusions where they were involved. She was a warm body in a comfortable bed who didn’t mind being shared. She truly believed they cared about her and would do anything in the world they could for her, but sticking around just wasn’t in their plans. It would hurt like hell when they moved on, but she would survive. She’d survived before they showed up, and she would keep going after they left. It was so silent outside with the snow blanketing everything. She could hear the muffled moos of the cows off to the right but not much else. It was one of the many things she loved about the snow, the absolute quiet of a clear night with all the stars shining in the sky. She would have to come back out tonight and see if the clouds cleared enough she could see. She couldn’t wait until it cleared off in a day or two, and she would have her clear, starry skies.

 

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The barn loomed ahead of her as she tromped through the white powder. The door opened easily enough despite the snow. She stomped off her boots and called out to Marshall as she closed the door behind her. “Marshall? Need some help?” “Sure, baby. Come on over here, and keep me company.” Drew found him in the last stall, combing out Crooner. He had taken his coat off and draped it over the stall door. No doubt he was sweaty from all the work. “Who haven’t you worked on, and I’ll help.” “You don’t have to get dirty. I’ll get them. With you out here, it won’t take nearly as long.” “Really?” She walked into the stall and wrapped her arms around him from behind. “I don’t mind one bit, baby. You just keep me company.” He stood up and turned around in her arms, setting the curry brush on the edge of the stall door. “You’re going to get a lot of work done like this,” she said. “I want a little kiss first. That’s all. Just one kiss.” He grinned at her and pulled her up toward him. When his lips touched hers, she opened to him. Immediately his tongue plunged in and slid along hers to tease it. She sucked his back into her mouth before he caught hers. He pulled back a little bit, then nipped at her lower lip when she let him go. “Fuck, I want you so badly right now.” He took her hand and rubbed it up and down his hardened cock. “Hmmm, how about I keep your cock warm in my mouth for you. Think you can handle that?” “Aw, hell yes.” He unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants, letting his massive cock spring out and into her eager hands. “Suck it, baby. I want to feel that hot mouth around it.”

 

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Drew wrapped her hand as far around his dick at the base as she could get then planted a kiss right on top. He gritted his teeth and held her head still as he rubbed the head of his cock against her lips. “It’s freezing out here, Drew. Suck my dick.” She opened her mouth wide and let his flesh fill her mouth. She could feel her lips stretching to fit him inside of her. Her tongue licked along the underside of him as he pushed his cock deep into her throat. She relaxed and let it slide deeper until she swallowed around him in reflex. He cursed and jerked in her hand. Marshall’s jeans were in her way. She shoved them back farther so she could get her other hand between his legs to cup his swollen balls. She rolled them gently around in her hand then scratched lightly along them. He growled low in his throat as she took him deep again and swallowed. Over and over she pumped her mouth over his cock until he began to move his hips in rhythm with her. Finally, he grabbed her head with his hands and held her still as he pumped his dick in and out of her mouth. She felt his balls draw up and knew he was about to come. She squeezed them at the same time she shoved her head down on his cock and swallowed harder than she ever had. He exploded in her mouth, coming up on his tiptoes as he did. His cum filled her throat and dripped from her mouth. She ran her tongue around her lips to gather it all up then licked his cock until it was clean. “Fuck, Drew. Damn. That was so fucking hot.” “Did I keep you warm enough?” she asked with a mischievous smile. “Hell, yeah. If I’d gotten any hotter, I would have been on fire.” Marshall helped her to her feet and wrapped her in his arms. “Better zip it up before you lose all that heat we generated, cowboy.” She backed up and let him finish dressing. “If you want to help me, check the feed for everyone while I finish up.”

 

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Drew smiled and winked at him before walking to the back of the barn and going through the feed bags. All of them were still factory sealed except the one they were using. She dipped her pan in and found only clean grain. She smiled and filled each of the bins for the horses. Then she forked over fresh hay into each stall, making sure to dump some on Marshall by accident. “I’ll get you for that, baby. Just wait.” “Are you going to spank me?” she asked with a pout. “Count on it.”

 

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Chapter Fourteen By the time they made it inside the house, the snow had picked up and added several inches to the ground. It wouldn’t be long before they would need the ropes to find their way in the blowing snow. “Damn, something smells good.” “Homemade chili from scratch, with cornbread,” Jeb supplied. “Let’s get cleaned up,” Drew said. “I’m hungry.” She peeled out of her outerwear and shed her boots to run sock-footed up the stairs with Marshall right behind her. They fought over the sink and finally managed to get the counter soaked as well as their shirts. “We’re going to freeze if we go outside like this,” Marshall pointed out. “No need to go out for a while longer. You’ll dry by then.” She dried off her hands and threw the towel to him. When she turned around to leave, she ran right into Jeb. He caught her to him and pulled her up for a kiss. Then he squeezed her tight and turned her toward the door. “Go dip up some chili for us, woman. We’ll be right down.” Jeb popped her on the ass as she headed out. She wondered why Jeb wanted to talk to Marshall without her there. It bugged her, but they had a right to their own thoughts and lives. Still, she couldn’t stop wondering if they were keeping something from her. When they came back down a few seconds later, she studied them but couldn’t tell if there was anything going on or not. They sat down and ate their chili, teasing and talking as usual. Robert seemed more

 

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relaxed around them now. She was glad of that. Kenny was definitely in a better frame of mind. This is what she wanted. A family. Right now, this was her family, but she knew it wouldn’t last. One day, Robert and Kenny would make a home for themselves, she hoped. They would always be friends, but it wouldn’t be the same. She looked around the table and felt tears prick her eyes. To cover them, she got up to grab another glass of iced tea. “Anyone else need some?” “As good as this is? You might as well leave the pitcher on the table,” Marshall told her. “I have more cornbread mixed up if I need to pop it in the oven,” Robert told them. “I’m full, so none for me,” she said. “I think there’s plenty here, Robert.” Kenny took a drink of his tea and nodded at the three pieces on the plate in the middle of the table. They finished up, and Kenny helped Robert in the kitchen. Marshall, Jeb, and Drew all walked into the living room and turned on the TV. Half way through the weather, the cable went off. “We’ll, that’s just the beginning. Next will be electricity,” Drew told them. “Report said we could get up to two feet of snow with this one. What do you think?” Jeb asked. “Clouds are pretty damn heavy looking, and the front looked to be a slow-moving one, so I wouldn’t be surprised at all.” “I checked out the generator for the house. It cranked right up and is full. We can run it for short periods of time,” Marshall said. “We might as well take a nap now. We’ll have to check on the herd again before dark.” Jeb moved to add more wood to the fire in the fireplace. Robert and Kenny walked into the living room. “Kenny, we’re going to take a nap. Have to check on the herd before dark. Why don’t you and Robert take a nap, too? I’ll set my

 

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alarm to wake us up in, say, three hours.” Jeb punched him in the arm and climbed the stairs behind Drew. She could just imagine his eyes on her ass and put an extra sway into it just for him. He must have noticed, because he cleared his throat. As soon as she walked into the room, Marshall grabbed her and started unfastening her clothes. “Hey! Are you in a hurry or something?” “I promised you I would get you back. I owe you a spanking.” Jeb chuckled. “What did she do?” “Dumped hay all over me when I was taking care of the horses.” “That’s not all I did. You got the best damn BJ you’ve had in your life.” “Yep, there is that. But it isn’t going to get you out of your spanking.” With that, Marshall shoved her backward on the bed and started pulling off her boots followed by her jeans. Then he hauled her over his lap and smacked her ass when she wouldn’t be still. **** “Hey, you can’t spank me for throwing hay on you,” Drew complained. “Keep it up, and you’ll get more than the five you’ve got coming.” He really wanted ten. Ten would make her ass a nice shade of pink, and he bet she would be wet and ready for them after a good spanking. “She’s wiggling, Marshall. I think she needs two more.” Jeb sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his boots. “Shut up, Jeb.” “That’s three more. That makes an even ten, Drew,” Marshall said. “I swear…”

 

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“Do you want to make it twelve?” She opened her mouth, then closed it again and pouted. He loved seeing her puffy red lips pucker like that. He could still remember the look of them stretched tight across his cock earlier. Her ass was the prettiest pale that would light up a gorgeous pink when he finished spanking her. He rubbed his hand lightly over the rounded globes, then raised his hand and spanked first one side then the other before rubbing them. “Ow! That hurt.” “It’s supposed to, baby, or it wouldn’t be punishment.” Jeb pulled her hair from her face and held it back. Marshall popped her twice more, then rubbed the offended areas. Drew growled. He smiled and spanked her twice more. This time she whined, and there were tears in her eyes, but she was wiggling her ass at him. When he checked, there was the unmistakable glide of wetness between her thighs. She was loving it. Jeb grabbed Marshall’s fingers and brought them to his nose. His friend was hungry for pussy. He’d have a delicious meal tonight. He spanked Drew twice more. Drew’s tears fell this time, and she promised to be good. She wiggled her ass at him, begging for more. He gave her the last two licks then stood her up and kissed away her tears before running his hand between her legs. Marshall used two fingers to test her readiness for them. She was soaking his fingers with her sweet juice. “I want to taste that pretty pussy,” Jeb said. Marshall smiled and handed her over to Jeb. His friend picked her up and laid her back on the bed, where he dove between her legs and began licking her slit in earnest. Marshall could see how good it felt to her. Her eyes were beginning to glaze over. He watched Jeb’s tongue lick and fuck her cunt over and over as he slipped out of his clothes. He couldn’t wait to get in that hot pussy. She’d squeeze the cum out of him. He leaned over and began licking

 

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her breast. He tugged on the other nipple as his mouth sucked and nipped at that one. She moaned and shoved her breasts higher. Marshall began sucking harder on her nipple, not able to get enough of it in his mouth. He continued to nip at it and tug at the other one until he felt her begin the shake as her climax overtook her. “That’s right, baby. Come on my tongue.” Marshall laughed and pinched both of her nipples until she was bucking into Jeb’s face. Jeb pulled back after one last long lick and stood up. He opened the bedside table and pulled out two condoms and the lube. He tossed one of the condoms to Marshall. He lost no time rolling it on his dick and lying back on the bed. He rolled Drew over on top of him and laughed when she tried to curl up and go to sleep on his chest. “Whoa, baby. We’re not finished with you yet.” Marshall lifted her up and lined up his dick with her hot, wet slit. When he slowly let her down, she perked up and groaned. Once her pussy was flush against his pelvis, she began to move. Jeb laid a hand on her back and pushed her forward until Marshall could get his arms around her. He held her down, telling her how beautiful she was and how hot she was. Jeb prepared her back hole for his cock. “I can’t wait to get in this tight ass, Drew. You’re going to squeeze me to death, baby.” “Please fuck me, Marshall. I can’t stand it. I need something.” Drew was crying now, trying to move on him. Marshall cursed. Being still was about to get to him as well. “Jeb?” “Just about, Marshall. I don’t want to hurt her.” “Please, Jeb. It won’t hurt. Please.” Marshall knew the second that Jeb began pushing his big cock into Drew’s ass. She stilled and hissed out a breath. “That’s it, baby. Push out for me,” Jeb leaned over and whispered.

 

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Marshall felt Jeb’s cock finally pop through the tight ring and move against his dick. The thin layer of skin that separated them didn’t prevent him from feeling him rub across him as he pushed deeper into Drew’s ass. “Yes! More, please, more.” She kept trying to fuck back on Jeb’s cock. Jeb slapped her ass. “Be still, Drew. Let us take care of you.” She stopped moving but didn’t stop squeezing her inner muscles around them. Marshall nearly lost it when she shivered and squeezed tight around his dick. “Fuck her, Jeb. She’s driving me crazy down here.” Jeb chuckled and began pulling out as Marshall pushed in, and then pushed forward as Marshall retreated. They worked out their rhythm, slowly increasing it. Between Drew’s tight cunt and Jeb’s dick sliding back and forth across his, Marshall’s balls drew up and fire shot down his spine and heated his blood. Within seconds, he shot cum, filling the condom until he was worried he was overfilling it. Not long after that, Jeb shouted and came as well. Both men all but collapsed. Drew wasn’t moving or saying anything. Marshall felt embarrassed that he hadn’t made sure she’d come. He’d never been so caught up in coming that he’d forgotten to take care of his partner. “Drew?” “I think she passed out,” Jeb said in a whispery voice. He continued to pant. “Shit. Off, Jeb. I’m afraid I’m going to leak.” Jeb groaned and carefully pulled out of Drew before moving to the side of the bed. Marshall rolled over with Drew and slowly pulled out of her. He went and disposed of the condom, praying he hadn’t leaked. After he cleaned up, he cleaned Drew up as Jeb disposed of his. They settled her in the bed and covered her with the blankets, making sure the electric blanket was on. Jeb crawled over and set the alarm before slipping between the covers and spooning her from

 

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behind. Marshall climbed in on the other side and backed up to her, pulling one of her arms over his waist where he could clasp it in his. “Are you sure we don’t have a chance with her, Jeb?” “I don’t know, Marshall. I just can’t see putting her through the crap that Kenny and Robert go through, because that would be what she would have to deal with.” “Hell, Jeb. She’s already having to deal with it because she hired us.” “I think the best we can hope for is to make enough money we can buy some land close by. I don’t see any other way.” Marshall closed his eyes and wished for something he didn’t have the right to. Drew’s love. **** The sound of her alarm ringing pulled Drew from a deep sleep. She felt the bed dip on either side of her, and then the damn thing cut off. She managed to get one eye opened to see a cute ass disappear into the bathroom. She opened the other eye and found Jeb grinning down at her. “Why don’t you stay in bed until we get back? No need for you to get up, too.” “Hmmm, I’m getting up though. I want to be able to sleep tonight. Besides, I’m thirsty.” She rolled over and climbed out of the bed about the same time Marshall walked out of the bathroom. He grabbed her and kissed her. Jeb took the opportunity to steal the bathroom from her. She pouted up at Marshall. “You did that on purpose to let him get the bathroom next.” “Hey, we have to stick up for one another.” “Who sticks up for me?” “I do.” He wrapped her hand around his hard-as-steel dick.

 

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“Funny.” Drew shook her head and pulled out of his arms to locate her clothing. She pulled on her thermals then climbed into her jeans. She was pulling on her boots when Jeb emerged from the bathroom fully dressed. “Hold up you two, I’m going with you. I want to see how the cows are doing.” Jeb and Marshall waited on her to finish getting her shirt on then followed her down the stairs. Kenny was already dressed and dragging on his coat when they entered the kitchen. “Where’s Robert?” she asked. “I left him sleeping.” “See, you could still be sleeping, too,” Jeb pointed out. “Not today. I want to see what’s left of my herd.” They donned their coats and gloves before walking outside in the blowing snow. Everyone grabbed the rope and followed it over to the fence line where the water troughs were. The blowing snow made it hard to make out a lot of things unless you were right there at them. “Heaters are working fine on the water,” Jeb yelled. “Let’s put out the hay,” Kenny said. Marshall and Kenny disappeared in the snow to load up one of the trucks with hay to put out for the herd. “They look like they’re doing okay. I think bringing them up close to the house was the best idea. Soon as this is over with, we’ll go look for the others. Kenny’s right, they’re probably over on the government land. You get a strong enough cow it might lead a few others off with him.” The truck backed up to the gate, and Kenny jumped out with Marshall to pitch the hay over the fence. Jeb and Drew stood and watched them for a few seconds. “I’m going to check the horses,” Drew yelled. “I’ll go with you. Don’t want you by yourself at all, Drew. I mean it.”

 

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Jeb grabbed the rope, and they followed it to the barn. It took Jeb a few seconds to get the door opened since the snow had piled up against it. Once inside, they stomped off the snow and began to check the horses. “We’re going to need to do some shoveling,” Jeb said. Drew added hay to each of the horse’s stalls and made sure the water wasn’t frozen before turning back to where Jeb was standing. “Shovels are on the back porch. We can each take a turn keeping the path open. I’ll shovel first.” “Like hell, you will.” Jeb frowned at her. “There are enough of us to handle the harder work. You’re not shoveling snow. I mean it, Drew.” “I was shoveling before you got here, Jeb. I’ll be shoveling when you leave.” She stuck her hands on her hips and glared at him. “But you’re not shoveling while I am here. Get over it.” He stomped to the door and threw it open. Snow and wind poured in. Drew cursed and followed him out so he could close the door. They walked back over to the fence line to see that Marshall and Kenny had finished with the hay and were gone. They followed the rope back to the porch and ran into them shoveling the snow. “I’ll be back out in a minute to help you guys. I need to have a talk with Drew.” Jeb opened the kitchen door and all but shoved Drew inside. “Stop pushing me around,” she said with a growl. “Don’t argue with me about everything. You are not going to shovel snow or anything else on this ranch that you don’t have to do. Not while Marshall and I are here to help you. If you want to go back to doing that crap when we’re gone, then that’s up to you.” “I don’t like being told what I can and can’t do on my own ranch.” Drew stood toe-to-toe with him. “Get used to it. As long as I’m the foreman, I call the shots.”

 

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Drew was so mad she almost told him to get his shit together and leave, but she knew better than to speak in haste. She swallowed and let out a long breath. “This is still my ranch.” She turned around and walked out of the kitchen before she said something she would regret.

 

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Chapter Fifteen “What in the hell were you and Drew fighting about? I could hear you outside.” Marshall stomped off his boots as he walked inside. Kenny was right behind him with a thoughtful look on his face. “She wanted to shovel snow, and I told her as long as I was the foreman she wasn’t doing any of that sort of stuff. That’s what she has us for.” “Aw, hell, Jeb. Do we still have jobs?” Jeb sighed. “Yeah, for now anyway.” “She’s proud of her ranch, man. I wouldn’t call her on it too much. It’s about all she has to her name. That ranch, and Robert, and me.” Kenny hung his coat on the rack and walked out of the kitchen. “Damn it, Marshall. She shouldn’t have to do the heavy or dangerous stuff while we’re here. Otherwise, what’s the use of us helping her?” “You have to remember that this is her ranch. Like Kenny said. She doesn’t own anything but this place. You said we were going to leave when we have enough money for our own place. Then what will she have?” Jeb sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Marshall was right, but so was he. He didn’t want anything to happen to her, and he was afraid something would. It had scared him to death when he’d seen her lying with her head bleeding. “We’re not leaving until we find out who’s bothering her and put a stop to it.”

 

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“Damn straight we’re not.” Marshall huffed out a breath. “You better go make up with her. Otherwise you’re going to be sleeping alone in the other room in the cold.” Jeb grinned. He supposed he had some groveling to do, but he wasn’t backing down on her shoveling snow. She could stand out there and watch if she wanted to, but he didn’t want her doing the heavy work. He walked through the living room to the closed door of her office and knocked. There was no answer, so he knocked again. “What do you want?” He heard her call out in a muffled voice. “Can I come in? I want to talk.” “I think we’ve done all the talking we can afford to do right now, Jeb.” “I need to apologize for stepping out of bounds, Drew. Let me in.” There was a shuffling sound, and then he heard the lock click and the door open a few inches. He waited, and when it didn’t open any farther, he pushed it open and walked in. Drew sat behind her desk with reddened eyes and a blotchy face. She was wiping her face with a tissue, and he felt like a total heel. “I’m sorry I yelled at you, Drew. I had no right.” “Fine.” She didn’t look at him. “I know the ranch is yours, and you have every right to do whatever you want to on it. I care about you, Drew, and don’t like that you’ve had to do some of the things you’ve had to do. I want to take care of you while I’m here. Marshall and I both do.” She looked up and Jeb saw so much in her face, pain, worry, and a very deep sadness. Had he put all that there? “It’s okay, Jeb. I know.” She stood up and walked around the desk. When she got to him, he enfolded her in his arms and hugged her. She held on to him as if she thought he was going to disappear. When she finally let go, she smiled and laid her head against his chest. “I’m tired, Jeb. I’m going to bed now.”

 

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“Want me to tuck you in?” “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.” She left him in the office. He heard her walk up the stairs and heard the bedroom door shut behind her. Still, he stood where he was, trying to figure out what had happened. She seemed to have come to some sort of decision, and he wasn’t sure he understood what it was. “Jeb?” Marshall stuck his head in the door. “Yeah?” “Is everything okay now?” “I’m not sure, Marshall. I think so.” “That doesn’t sound good.” **** The next morning, Drew woke before the men and slipped out of the bed to dress in the bathroom so as not to wake them. She slipped downstairs and found Robert already up and sipping on coffee. “Hey, why are you up so early?” she asked. “Thinking.” “Yeah, me, too.” “Have some coffee. It’s fresh.” Drew poured a cup and sat down across from Robert and propped her head on one hand. “Drew, have you thought about settling down with a man?” “Yeah, but no one around here would have me, so it’s a moot point.” “Well, there is Brett.” “Bite your tongue.” She took another sip of coffee. “What about Jeb and Marshall? Would you settle down with them if they asked you? Drew cocked her head and studied him closely. “Why are you asking me that?” “Kenny has been on me again about moving out here with him.”

 

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“I think it’s a great idea. I wish you would build a house out here. I’d love to have you for neighbors. I’d give Kenny the land as part of his wages.” Robert nodded and then looked away. “So I’m supposed to give up everything I know and move out here to be a kept man?” “Good Lord, no. Why can’t you keep doing what you’ve been doing, only have your shop here? You can still make house calls as well.” Drew wasn’t sure where they were going with the conversation. “If Kenny and I move in together, the town will boot us out. No one will use me for their horses.” “I think you’re wrong. I think plenty of people will use you. Sure, there will be a few who will drag their horses over to Cullum but not many. Why do you care what other people think?” “I don’t like it when they treat Kenny different. They sneer at him behind his back, and I’m sure they do the same thing behind mine, but it doesn’t bother me like it does Kenny.” “I think Kenny would be much happier with you than without you and still having people treat him badly.” Drew sighed. “Robert, if I had a chance at happiness like you do, I’d grab it with both hands.” “Seems to me like you do. I don’t see you grabbing onto those two men of yours.” “It’s a little different, Robert. They are the ones who don’t plan to stick around. I want them to, but they want their own spread of land. I can’t fault them for wanting it, either. I love my ranch.” “What if they settled down around here? Would you still see them?” Robert asked. “If they still wanted to see me, yes, in a heartbeat.” “Maybe I’ll think about moving in with Kenny. I’ll have to figure out what it would take to build a house and a barn for my tools.” Drew smiled. Maybe things were looking up. If they settled close to her, she wouldn’t be as lonely when the men left. Just thinking

 

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about them being gone was enough to bring tears to her eyes and a knot in her throat. “I’m going to sit outside while the wind isn’t blowing. I won’t go off the porch.” She stood up and carried her cup to the sink. When she turned around, Robert was pulling on a coat. “What are you doing?” “Getting my coat on. I’m not leaving you outside by yourself. Someone is trying to hurt you, Drew.” She sighed and slowly pulled on her coat and scarf. She pulled her gloves out of her coat pocket and pulled them on. She nodded at Robert, who opened the back door. She went first and brushed off a chair to sit on. The crisp cold air burned her lungs with the first deep breath she took. After that, she managed to take smaller ones. “Beautiful out here right now,” Robert said in a near whisper. “It is, and it’s quiet as well. I can’t wait for the clouds to move on so I can look up at the stars with snow under my feet.” “I just want to have a nice little house where Kenny and I can be a family. Somewhere that doesn’t care if we’re gay or not. I’m fine if people really don’t think it’s right, as long as they leave us alone.” “I think you should give it a chance here, Robert. I honestly believe that fewer people than you think will throw up a ruckus about it.” Drew leaned back in the chair and thought about what Robert had asked her. If the men did settle down around here somewhere, would she be their sometimes lover? Yeah, she would. She loved them, so there wasn’t any reason to lie to herself and say she didn’t. She’d take them any way she could get them. “Come on, Drew. It’s cold out here. Let’s go back inside like normal people.” Robert stood up and held out his hand. Drew smiled and let him pull her to her feet. They walked back in the house and pulled off their gear. Robert poured them both a fresh cup of coffee and handed one to her.

 

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“Is this the lull between storms, or is it going to clear up now?” Robert asked. “I’m thinking we lucked out on this storm. I think the worst passed just south of us. Let’s go try the TV and see if we can get anything on the satellite now that it has quit snowing.” They settled on the couch to watch the weather after Robert added wood to the fire. The weather station confirmed what she’d decided had happened. The worst of the storm had crossed just south of them. They could expect another three to five inches of snow during the day and then clear skies afterward. “There you are,” Marshall said, clomping down the stairs. “You left me and Jeb in the bed together. He tried to hug me,” Marshall complained. “Would have done you good,” Robert teased. “Not when he hasn’t shaved yet.” “Now what are you complaining about?” Jeb’s voice came from above them. “Shave before you hug on Marshall,” Drew called up. “Naw, he likes it rough,” Jeb said as he followed Marshall down. “Coffee is in the kitchen, guys,” Robert told them. “Kenny still in bed?” Marshall asked. “Yeah. He’ll be down soon,” Robert predicted. “Don’t suppose I could talk either one of you into cooking biscuits and gravy, could I?” Jeb looked from Drew to Robert and back to Drew again. “Food, food, food. Is that all you think about? You were still hungry last night when we went to bed.” Drew’s face grew warm as soon as she realized what she’d said. “I’ll fix it.” She jumped up and hurried to the kitchen to hide out. She couldn’t believe she’d said that in front of Robert. They were probably all sharing a good laugh at her expense now. Thirty minutes later, she had breakfast on the table for the men. Everyone showed up after one call that is was ready, including

 

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Kenny. They made short work of breakfast. Robert took over cleaning up while they discussed the plans for the day. “Marshall and I will check the herd and feed them. Kenny, you and Drew see about the horses this morning.” Jeb pulled on his coat and scarf before pulling Drew into his arms for a kiss. She returned it but broke it off quickly. She grabbed Marshall and stole a kiss from him before opening the door and headed for the barn. Kenny caught up with her about halfway and grabbed her arm to stop her. “Hey, don’t go running out like that again. We need to stick together.” “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I just want to get out and check that everything is okay.” They opened the barn door and inhaled the sweet smell of hay and the not-so-sweet smell of manure. It all meant home to her. How could she fault the men wanting their own place to call home? “I’ll muck, you brush and feed,” Kenny said. She thought about her options while she took care of the horses. If she knew how they really felt about her, she could offer to sell them the ranch, and they could all live on it together, but she was almost certain they wouldn’t accept it. What if she sold it to Kenny and Robert and took to the road with them? She could do that. But she wouldn’t be as happy until they had their own ranch again. Besides, she still didn’t know how they felt about her. She could be making all these plans centered around two cowboys who liked her just fine as a bedmate but not as anything more permanent. Finding that out would hurt. It would hurt a lot, but she would survive. Should she ask them how they felt about her, or leave well enough alone? Drew was no closer to an answer by the time she’d finished the horses than when she’d begun. She waited on Kenny to finish forking new hay into the last stall before she opened the bar doors and held them for him to wheel the wagon out, full of the dirty hay. She

 

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followed him around back where they dumped the mess in a compost pile of sorts. It took both of them to wheel the thing through the snow. Finally, Kenny just dumped it as close to the pile as he could get and used the pitchfork to transfer it to the pile. “Let’s shovel a path over to the house. It’s gotten pretty tough to walk through it now.” Drew grabbed one of the snow shovels, but Kenny took it from her. “You’re either going inside or over where Marshall and Jeb are. You’re not shoveling snow.” “You’ve been talking to Jeb haven’t you?” “Come on. I’ll take you over to them, and you can discuss it with him.” Jeb walked up and smiled. “I think we’ve already had this conversation, haven’t we, Drew?” “Fine. I won’t shovel snow. I’ll go inside and get warm.” She started to turn around then stopped. “How are the cows?” “Doing fine.” Jeb leaned on the shovel. “Everyone is accounted for?” “They’re all up and eating,” Jeb told her. “Great. In another couple of days, we need to ride out and look for the others. The snow should start melting tomorrow if the temperatures rise enough.” “Which means it will refreeze into ice at night. We’ll be lucky if we don’t fall and break something,” Kenny complained. “Don’t go borrowing trouble, Kenny.” Drew popped him on the arm and headed off to the house. She stomped her boots off at the back door and opened the kitchen door only to come face to face with Brett.

 

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Chapter Sixteen “What in the hell are you doing here, Brett?” she demanded, pushing past him. “Is that any way to treat a neighbor who’s come to make sure you’re doing okay after all the snow?” He crossed his arms and turned around when she slammed the door. “Where’s Robert?” she asked. “Is that pervert here, too?” Brett spat the words out like they left a bad taste in his mouth. “Robert is a friend of mine, and you’re not. I’d be more than happy if you would leave now. You’re not welcome on my land.” “Might not be your land much longer, Drew. Don’t you think you should consider my offer before you lose it?” “Which offer, Brett? The one where I marry you and sign over my land to you, or the one where I just sell out to you for a fraction of the worth of the land?” “Either one. I’d be plumb happy if you’d consent to be my wife.” “Over my dead body,” Jeb and Marshall both said. “What is it with you, Drew? Do you have to collect perverts and convicts like pets? Or are you fucking them all? Is that it? I’m not perverted enough to marry you?” “That’s right, Brett. You’re too soft for me. I like my sex down and dirty, and you’re just not man enough to give me what I need. Now get out of my house and off my land.” “You’re going to lose this land, Drew. Don’t come begging to me when you do.” He walked through the living room and slammed the front door.

 

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“How in the hell did he get in? That door was locked,” Jeb demanded. “Where’s Robert?” Kenny asked, sounding worried. Everyone looked at each other and began calling out for him. A few seconds later, Kenny came down the stairs. “He was in the shower. Had no idea anyone was in the house. He says he didn’t unlock any of the doors other than the back door when he and Drew went outside.” “Has the bastard got a key to the house?” Marshall wondered out loud. “I guess it’s possible. He and my husband were friends as long as he was alive. He didn’t make himself a nuisance until after he died and I refused to sell.” “Sounds like we’re going to have to get the locks changed. If we hadn’t been here and you were all alone there’s no telling what he might have done.” Jeb stomped over to the living room door and locked it. “Well, he’s gone now. If you’re going to shovel snow, you might as well get out there. I’ll figure out what sort of supplies we’ll need when we can get out later in the week. I figure this will be cleared up enough by Thursday or Friday to run to town.” “Soon as we locate those missing head of cows, we’ll go into town together,” Jeb said. “I’ve got business at the bank as well, so we’ll be there most of the day by the time we pick up supplies.” “Come on, Marshall, let’s get to work on that snow. It’s not shoveling itself.” She watched her two men bundle up and step outside, letting in a blast of cold air in the process. She immediately sought the warmth of the fireplace before getting to work on her list. She let the heat seep into her bones then commandeered Robert to help her go through the pantry for canned goods and fresh perishables.

 

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Kenny watched on seemingly content to observe them, though he did put in his two cents worth occasionally. “How about we look at butchering one of the older cows for meat for the rest of the winter?” Kenny asked. “I’ve thought of that. Only thing is, I hate taking them to Jim’s. He gouges me ’cause he knows he can.” “I didn’t know he did that,” Robert said, coming down the stairs. “I’ll take care of his ass. Don’t you worry about it. He owes me money for handling his horses, and I know his sister.” “Robert, I hate for you to get mixed up in my problems. You’ve had more than enough of your own.” “Oh, this would be my pleasure. I’ve put off dealing with him for his sister’s sake, but I’ll be paying him a visit now.” He smiled at Drew and did something she’d never seen him do in front of another person before. He wrapped an arm around Kenny and squeezed him before letting him go. Drew pretended it was nothing new and handed him the list to add to it. “Soon as the weather clears up enough, and we can get one of the cows down to him in the trailer, we’ll do it.” About that time, the men stomped in the house with a cloud of snow at their feet. Robert immediately began to fuss at them and took the mop to mop up the melting snow. “Uh, sorry, Robert,” Marshall said. They removed their coats and gear and hung their hats on the pegs. “It’s still awfully cold out there. We might not get any more snow, but it will be a while ’til it melts.” Jeb walked over and wrapped his cold arms around Drew. “Hey, you’re like ice. Go warm up by the fire before you touch me.” She turned to Marshall. “That goes for you, too.”

 

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They grumbled all the way into the living room to stand in front of the fire. Drew followed them and stood a few feet away. She cocked her head at them and smiled. “What are you smiling about?” Marshall looked suspicious of her. “Just thinking that I could use a nap before evening chores and supper.” “We need a shower first. Want to scrub our backs?” Jeb asked. “Hmm, I could be persuaded to do that. What’s in it for me?” “How about mind-numbing sex?” Marshall reached out and pulled her into his slightly warmer embrace. Drew shivered. “Make it a hot shower, and you have yourself a deal.” The men didn’t wait for second thoughts but grabbed her up and hurried her up the stairs to the bedroom. She giggled all the way, thinking about how much she loved playing with them. They were serious about work but fun after work. She liked that. “Got the water going to get it hot. Strip out of those clothes quick, woman. Don’t want to waste any of it.” Jeb began tossing clothes left and right. Marshall and Drew were way ahead of him. They jumped into the shower and began a mutual soap party before Jeb made it in. They formed a circle and began soaping each other’s backs, buttocks, and legs. Then they all rinsed and turned around so that each man took half of her to soap and play with. Once they were finished playing with her breasts, Drew was about ready to come. She soaped up both of them at once and drew circles in the suds on their chests. She paid close attention to their cocks and balls. “Oh, man, that feels good,” Marshall crooned. “Rinse off, boys. I’m going to lick you dry.” She didn’t have to tell them twice. They immediately fought for the spray of the shower to be the first in her mouth. She made them stand close together and began licking first one cock, then the other.

 

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She used long strokes with each one. She drew out each lick until both men complained and demanded she suck their dicks. Laughing, she sucked the head of Jeb’s in her mouth and tongued the slit to taste his cum. Then she did the same to Marshall, causing him to hiss and reach for her head. “Uh, uh, uh. You can’t touch me until I tell you to. Just stand there, and take it like a man.” Jeb cursed when she sucked his cock to the back of her throat and swallowed around him. When she added a hand to his balls, he came up on his tiptoes and grabbed her head and face-fucked her. He used tight, short strokes that soon had him coming in her mouth. She hummed her pleasure when he shot cum down her throat. After she’d swallowed and licked him clean, she rinsed her face and turned to Marshall. “Are you going to be a big boy and let me have my wicked way with you? Or are you going to cheat?” “Depends on how good it feels. I don’t have a lot of willpower where your oral skills are concerned.” He chuckled until she sucked him down her throat. She knew how Marshall liked a bit of pain with his blow jobs, so she added a scrape of teeth to his cock head, then licked it and sucked beneath the head before going all the way down on his thick cock. She hummed with him deep in her throat, then squeezed his balls and felt them draw up in her hand. He cursed and leaned into her with both hands on the back of the shower stall. Drew knew he was close and trying to prolong it, but she had other plans. She raked her nails across his ball sac then swallowed around his cock while it was lodged deep in her throat. He immediately began to shoot cum down her throat, nearly choking her in its intensity. He drew out part of the way and filled her mouth. She swallowed and licked him clean. “God, you’re amazing,” Marshall gasped.

 

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They both rinsed off and stepped out of the shower, where Jeb had a towel waiting on Drew. Marshall teased him that he didn’t have one waiting on him. “You can get your own towel.” “I’m feeling a bit neglected. Think one of you could hold out long enough to fuck me?” “Baby, we’re going to make you feel good. Just climb up on the bed, and leave it to us.” Jeb grabbed two condoms, tossing one to Marshall. Marshall winked at her. He pressed his way between her legs to run his nose up her slit, then his tongue back down it. Drew giggled and wiggled her hips. Marshall put his hand on her pelvis to hold her still as he began licking and sucking her pussy lips into his hot mouth. When another mouth closed around her breast, she moaned. She loved having her nipples sucked on and pinched. She liked a little pain with her pleasure as well. Jeb knew this and gave her teeth as he nibbled on her tit. He molded her other breast and tugged on her nipple. She shoved her chest up into his face, holding on to his hair in an effort to keep them there where she wanted him. Then Marshall chose that moment to lick a long, slow slide over her clit and shove two fingers in her cunt. She screamed out and began to buck against his fingers as he licked her clit over and over. Still, it wasn’t enough. When he located her G-spot and began to curl his fingers into it, she flew higher, growing tighter and tighter. Still, it wasn’t enough. Fire burned in her veins. Heat filled her face. Then, as if predesigned, Jeb pinched and bit her nipples while Marshall sucked in her clit while stroking her hot spot. She came hard enough that she saw the stars she had wanted to see in the snow. She squeezed her eyes shut to clear them of the tears, but it didn’t work. Instead, they flowed faster, and she had to turn over to catch her breath. Marshall chose that moment to lift her leg and enter her in one quick jab that took what was left of her breath away. He didn’t go slow but set a quick pace designed to bring him satisfaction quickly.

 

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When he changed the angle though, it rubbed against nerve endings that instantly came alive. She couldn’t believe she could possibly come again, but she quickly reached the pinnacle and flowed over it in one fell swoop. Seconds later, Marshall grunted out his release and collapsed with him still inside her. She panted and pushed him off of her. “Heavy.” “Sorry.” Jeb laughed and pulled her off of Marshall. Then he rolled her completely over until she had her ass up in the air for him. She was going to die. She just knew it. There was no way she could possibly live through another fuck, but she wouldn’t deny him his pleasure. He slapped her ass twice before spreading it and stuffing his thick cock inside her swollen cunt. He entered her in quick jabs before bumping up against her cervix. She felt his balls slap her pussy lips. When he began to move again, she moaned and slowly pushed back to meet him. He gathered her pussy juices from beneath her and ran them around her little rosette before stuffing his thumb carefully inside her. She relaxed, and he soon had a rhythm going. Drew huffed out a breath as the burn started once again. He rubbed against nerve endings in her ass that complemented the ones in her pussy he was touching as he fucked her. She slowly felt a warm rush through her as Jeb began to speed up and groan. He was soon banging into her so hard and fast she moved up the bed until Marshall stopped her from hitting her head on the headboard. “Fuck, Jeb. She’s going to go clear though the wall into Kenny’s room if you keep that up.” “Can’t get enough of her,” he managed to get out. Seconds later, he hollered out and shot his cum deep into the condom. He carefully pulled out from deep inside her and disappeared into the bathroom. When he returned, he cleaned her up with a wet towel and climbed into bed beside her. Marshall flung an arm over her belly as Jeb did the same. Neither man moved after that, and Drew

 

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was left awake to contemplate the loving they’d given her. They each filled a part of her the other one didn’t. It was like having the perfect lover, only she had two of them. Maybe she should tell them how she felt about them. Maybe if they knew she loved them, they might think about staying. Then again, it could backfire and push them away from her. There didn’t seem to be an answer, no matter how hard she searched. She still tingled all over from their lovemaking. Yet, despite the thrill of it, she fell asleep.

 

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Chapter Seventeen Jeb and Marshall left Drew asleep in the bed and snuck downstairs in only their thermals to get dressed in front of the fire. Kenny walked out of the kitchen to catch them zipping up their pants. “Didn’t want to wake Drew up, huh?” “Nope, she could use the sleep.” “I’d expect so after what you put her through,” Kenny teased. “Mind your own business. We didn’t say anything about you and Robert banging the wall the other night,” Jeb said. Kenny actually turned red but grinned. “Sorry.” “No you’re not, and neither are we.” Marshall pulled on his shirt and buttoned it up. “I already took care of the horses. Was just getting a cup of coffee before working on the herd.” “We’ll handle the herd tonight. You shovel some snow then come on back in.” Jeb headed for the kitchen and some coffee. He poured a cup and handed it to Marshall then poured one for himself. They sipped on it until they had finished it. “Might as well get on with it,” he said. They bundled up and opened the door to the frigid cold air. They loaded the truck full of hay then backed it up to the fence line. They both got out to fork over hay into the pasture for the cows. “Marshall, we’ve got a problem.” “What kind of a problem?” He didn’t seem worried. “Your condom leaked when I pulled you off of Drew. It had a small hole in it. Mine broke. Hell, I knew better than to be so rough, but I couldn’t get far enough inside her. I wanted all of her.”

 

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“We’ve got to tell her,” Marshall pointed out. He still didn’t sound worried. “You don’t sound too upset about it.” “I’d never force her into anything she didn’t want, but maybe this will make her think about a long-term relationship with us. I’m all for approaching her with it.” “Maybe you’re right. I guess we are going to see. We need to be careful and not make her think it’s the only reason we’re interested in settling down.” “True. I hadn’t thought about that.” Marshall leaned on the pitch fork and stared at Jeb. “I almost forgot we were convicts. Living here and being treated like humans and not animals sort of made me feel normal for a while. What decent woman is going to want to settle down with us?” Marshall huffed out a breath and returned to forking hay over the fence. Jeb knew how he felt. He’d been feeling relaxed and, well, cared about for the first time in years. It felt good. He didn’t want to lose that. He didn’t want to lose Robert and Kenny for friends, but mostly, he didn’t want to lose Drew. They finished up with the herd and cleaned out the truck before parking back near the hay barn. They followed the rope back to the barn and checked in on the horses then met Kenny shoveling the path to the house. “Come on in, Kenny. That’s good enough for the night. Since we’re not supposed to get any more snow for the night, I think we’ll be fine to work on it tomorrow.” Jeb patted him on the back. They walked into the kitchen and hung up their outerwear to find Robert cooking fried chicken and the makings for a sit-down supper to make your eyes water. “Drew’s in the living room,” Robert told them. “Um, guys, could you give us a few minutes alone in there?” Marshall asked.

 

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“Sure. We’ll stay in here,” Kenny said, giving them a strange look. They found Drew curled up on the couch with her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee. She looked so peaceful. Jeb hated to bring anything up that might change that expression on her face when she saw them walk in. Her entire face lit up. He wanted to see that look for the rest of his life. “How are the cows doing out there?” “They’re fine. Eating plenty of hay and staying together.” Marshall sat on one side of her. Jeb chose to stand up in front of the fireplace. “Drew, we need to talk about something.” Jeb almost went to her when her face drained of all color. She was thinking something terrible. Was she worried they were thinking about leaving? “What is it?” She’d closed down, sounding cold now. “Um, earlier when we were having sex…” “Making love,” Marshall interrupted him. “Yeah?” “Well, Marshall’s condom leaked, and mine broke. We felt like you needed to know.” Jeb waited for her reaction. “I see. And what are you suggesting?” Marshall hurried in front of Jeb. “Just that we want you to know that we care about you more than anything, and no matter what happens, you’re who we want to spend the rest of our lives with.” Drew pulled in a deep breath and turned to Jeb. “And do you feel the same way?” “Maybe even more so. I’ve wanted to say something for a long time but didn’t feel like you’d welcome it from a couple of ex-cons like us.” “I’ve never cared about your past, Jeb.” “Maybe not as ranch hands and maybe not as friends but as lovers? I didn’t dare hope.”

 

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Marshall took her hands in his. “What happened with the condoms isn’t why we’re confessing how we feel about you. It just pushed it up. We were sort of hoping to wait until we had some money to maybe put into the ranch ourselves.” “I—I don’t know what to think. I want to believe you. But why would you want to tie yourselves to me? This is what I want out of life. Just this ranch. I don’t have any grand plans of becoming a huge spread with a thousand head of cattle.” She licked her lips. “Kenny and Robert may be moving here and building their house here to live.” “That doesn’t bother us at all,” Jeb rushed to assure her. “We like them and think they’re great men.”’ “It will mean a lot more speculation and outright harassment from the town folk.” “Had that already. It’s not going to bother us,” Marshall assured her. “I need to think about it. This is sort of sudden, and I can’t help but believe you only feel this way in case I get pregnant.” “I know you feel that way. But it isn’t true. We already feel that way about you. You’re everything we’ve ever wanted in a woman.” Jeb walked over and pulled her to her feet to kiss her. Marshall wrapped his arms around her from the back and kissed the back of her neck. “Just think about it, okay? Nothing’s changed.” Drew smiled a tentative smile and wrapped her arms around both men before ushering them into the kitchen for supper. **** Drew couldn’t believe her ears. They confessed they wanted her for more than a few months and then told her that she might be pregnant by one of them. She’d waited so long to hear those words from them. Well, that they loved her would have been better, but she

 

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figured men like them didn’t use words like that. Still, now she didn’t know if they were just saying that because of the damn condom problems or because they really meant it. She lay in her bubble bath in the spa tub and let the soothing water lull her into an uneasy space between sleep and dozing. She wanted to believe them, God, how she wanted to. Should she take the chance and tell them that she loved them and wanted them to be a part of her life from now on? Nothing came to her while she soaked, nothing but wrinkles from being in the water too long. She finally climbed out of the bath and dried off. She dried her hair with the blow dryer. Then she climbed into bed wondering if her men would come to her or stay away. She curled up in the middle of the bed and cried silent tears. She wasn’t sure how long she stayed awake, but finally, they came to bed, being as quiet as they could, and got undressed. She smiled that they even tried. She sat up in bed and let them off the hook. “I’m awake. You can turn on the light so you don’t break your necks.” “Sorry, baby. We thought if we waited you’d get some sleep.” Jeb sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his other boot. “I couldn’t sleep.” “That’s our fault,” Marshall said. “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay. We needed to talk about our feelings anyway. We’ve been sleeping together for two weeks now and hadn’t addressed it.” “You know men,” Jeb began. “We’d go all our lives without addressing it if we could.” He grinned a lopsided grin that always got to her. “What can we do to help you fall asleep, baby?” Marshall asked. “Do you want us to help you sleep?” She chuckled. Their answer to everything was sex. And sometimes that was the answer, but not this time. This time she needed something more from them.

 

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“I just want you to hold me. Hold me like you never want to let me go.” “We can do that, Drew, ’cause we never want to let you go.” Jeb wrapped his arms around her. Marshall pulled her against his hard cock and let her use his shoulder as a pillow. He smelled so good to her. Both of them did. She would miss their scent on the pillows next to her if they left. She would miss so much about them. Jeb’s hand massaged her lower back while Marshall’s free hand massaged her shoulder. Always taking care of her, they had no idea how good that felt to her. No one had ever cared enough for her to do that. She’d been the caregiver to her late husband and then to the farm itself. To some extent, she’d watched out for Kenny. She drifted off to sleep thinking about how good it felt to be cared for. **** The next few days proved to be no different from the last few days. They worked the ranch and ate and made love and slept. The snow slowly melted until they could get the truck down the road to town. She and Jeb made ready to take the trip early on Friday morning. She had her list of supplies and goods they needed. Jeb would check in with the sheriff while they were there. She hoped he would have something about who’d tried to kidnap Kenny. There were times she could almost forget that someone was after her or the farm, but then she’d try to go off and do something on her own, and one of the men would fuss at her. She chomped at the bit to be let free, yet she understood the need for no one to be alone. They slipped and slid into town with a lot of luck. Jeb wanted to be loaded and gone before the crunchy melting snow and ice had time to refreeze. It would be treacherous to drive back under those conditions.

 

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She dropped Jeb at the sheriff’s and headed to the feed store for her order of sweet feed and more rope. She greeted Ricky and gave him her order. He sent the boys out to load her truck. “About that rope,” he began. “Do you want something soft that won’t chafe the skin? Like when you might tie someone up?” He had a smirk on his face. “Hmm, Ricky, I didn’t know you were into that sort of stuff.” “I’m not. I just, um, thought you might oh, um, never mind.” He huffed and puffed then walked back to the rope. “You pick out what you want, and I’ll cut it for you.” “Just give me a roll of the hemp. It will do just fine.” She smiled and couldn’t resist. “Oh and, Ricky?” “Yeah?” “Scarves work best for that sort of thing.” She signed her bill and walked out carrying the rope with a big smile on her face. So the entire town thought they were having all sorts of weird kinky sex. She chuckled out loud. Well, she guessed they were. “What are you looking so smug about?” Jeb asked a few seconds later when he joined her outside the grocery store. “Oh, I’ll tell you about it in the truck on the way back. Any word on the kidnapper?” “No, nothing. The sheriff is trying to figure out who would have enough of a grudge to do something like that. So far, he has two main contenders. Brett and the old foreman.” “I don’t even know that he’s still around here.” “Oh, there’s where it gets fishier. He works for Brett.” “You’re kidding.” “Nope.” Jeb pushed open the store’s door for her. “So, has he talked to them at all?” “Yep, he’s been out there stirring them up some. Don’t know what good that will do except make Brett madder than he already is.”

 

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“Well, so far everything has calmed down. Let’s hope it stays that way.” Drew grabbed a cart. “I’ll take half the list if you want me to,” Jeb offered. “Great, will take less time.” She tore the list in half and handed him part of it. They took their lists and separated at the front of the store. Since she’d made the list according to the store’s order, it would have them meeting in the middle. Thirty minutes later, she was waiting with her buggy at the front of the store when Jeb rolled up with a frown on his face. “What is it?” “I couldn’t find these two things.” She laughed and told him to watch her cart while she went after them. A few minutes later, she returned with a tub of lard and cranberries. He just shook his head and added them to his cart since hers was so full. They rolled up to the cash register and proceeded to unload the carts. The cashier rolled her eyes but dutifully checked her out. Drew watched her closely to be sure she didn’t overcharge her for anything. She knew Sandy. The girl hated her for some weird reason. She didn’t have a clue as to why. Once they’d finished at the grocery store, she directed Jeb to the bank. “I’ll just be a minute.” She climbed out of the truck and walked into the bank looking for Clara, her usual teller. Clara had two customers in front of her, but she waited for her. When it came her turn, she saw Clara blanch. What was up with that? “Um, I’m about to take my break, Drew. Miranda will help you.” She started to walk off, but Drew stopped her with a look. “I think not. We have business to discuss. I’m missing a deposit from my last one. I have the deposit slip, but it wasn’t on my bank statement. Do you know anything about it?”

 

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“Please, not here.” She began to shiver. “I want my money in my account right now.” “Is there a problem here, Clara?” The vice president of the bank walked up. “No,” Clara said. “Yes, there is. I’m missing my last deposit off my bank statement. I have the receipt that Clara gave me.” “Let’s settle this in my office.” He ushered them into his office and closed the door. “May I see your statement and the receipt?” he asked. Drew handed him both. He studied them both then pulled something up on his computer. He played around on some keys and then turned back to Drew. “I’m very sorry this occurred, but there seems to have been a glitch, and your statement will reflect it next month. I’m printing out a new statement with the deposit on it.” “Thank you. I appreciate it. I figured it was just an error on the part of the computer.” Drew took the proffered statement and her papers back and turned to leave. She heard the man tell Clara they needed to have a talk. When she walked out of the bank, Jeb sat in the truck waiting on her. He smiled when he saw her and cranked the truck up. “Get everything taken care of?” “It’s all straightened out.” Jeb frowned, but to his credit, he didn’t say anything. Drew smiled and figured Clara might have lost her job. She hated it, but she knew Clara was good friends with Brett’s family. She should have realized there was no way to get away with doing that. They began the long drive back to the ranch. Several times, Jeb nearly lost traction, even with the snow tires on. Then there were the areas where the snow had made mud puddles that hadn’t refrozen yet. After several close calls, they finally made it to the ranch, and Drew let out a breath in relief.

 

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“I’d feel offended that you didn’t trust my driving, but I’m damn happy to be home, too.” Drew laughed and climbed out of the truck after he backed it up to the back porch so they could get the groceries out. Kenny and Robert helped, and soon it was all put away. Then, while the men moved the truck to unload the feed, Drew reworked her books with the deposit back where it belonged. She couldn’t believe that Brett had talked that poor girl into doing that. The man was a menace to society. “According to the weatherman, tomorrow is supposed to be a good day, and warmer. We’re thinking it would be a good day to go out and look for the missing cattle,” Marshall told her. “Great. I’m going with you. Kenny can stay with Robert here at the house. I want to show you all the government land.” “Doesn’t Kenny know where it all is?” Marshall asked. “Not like I do. I’ve been riding this land for about five years. He’s only been here four.” “You know Jeb isn’t going to like it.” “He’ll get over it.” “Get over what?” Jeb walked up to where Marshall and Drew were standing on the porch. “We’re going out tomorrow to look for my missing cattle.” “You can stay with Robert. Kenny will come with us.” “Nope, I’m going with you. I know the government land better than he does. He’ll even tell you that.” Drew placed her hands on her hips. Jeb gritted his teeth but didn’t say anything more. Instead he stomped off inside the house.” “Well, that went over well,” Marshall said.

 

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Chapter Eighteen Early the next morning, Drew made sure she was up and dressed when Marshall and Jeb got ready. Jeb hadn’t said anything more to her about going, but he’d definitely been upset about it. Still, he didn’t try and talk her out of it. They mounted up and took off toward the back part of her ranch land. On the way, they searched the obvious locations without any luck. As they neared the government land pass, Jeb pointed out the obvious hoofprints that had been frozen in the mud. “Someone sure has been through here. This is your land up here until the pass, right?” Jeb asked. “Yes, it’s all mine. That’s one reason Brett wants my ranch. He wants access to the land. I offered at one time to let him use it anytime he wanted to as long as he kept the gates locked. He wasn’t too happy with my offer.” “If we find you cattle over here, we still can’t prove who did it. They could have wandered over here even though we know they didn’t,” Marshall pointed out. “I know. I just want my cows back right now.” “What about putting a gate up to the land and padlocking it?” “Thought about that, but he’d just cut them as fast as I put them up.” “The only thing we can do is camp out here at night until he shows up and then catch him red-handed,” Jeb suggested. “I’ve thought about that myself.” Drew looked around at the area. “There aren’t very many places we could hide.”

 

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Jeb frowned but didn’t say anything. She knew he didn’t want her anywhere near anything dangerous. She sighed. They threaded their way through the pass that spread out into a wide, open pasture. Across it she could see her cows. Thank God they had survived. She and the men rode over to round them up. “Check the brand to be sure, guys.” She didn’t want to be accused of stealing someone else’s cattle. “Looks like they’re all yours,” Marshall said. “Let’s get them home, then.” Jeb began circling them and moving them forward. They got them through the pass and were just about to head farther into her land when a shot rang out. The cattle began to run. Marshall and Jeb urged their horses around the cows to steer them towards the house. Another shot rang out, and this time, Jeb fell of his horse. Drew panicked and stopped her horse to go back for him. She climbed down as soon as she made it to him. “Damn it, Drew. Get back on that horse, and get out of here.” “I’m not leaving you here. How bad are you hurt?” “It’s not bad. Just my shoulder.” “Can you ride?” she asked, trying to keep from crying. “Yea, but I don’t know about getting on the horse.” “I’ll get you up. Come on. Stand up.” Drew whistled and Crooner answered, running up to her. She took the reins and climbed up. Then she reached down and pulled with all her might to help Jeb climb up in the saddle behind her. “Hold on tight. Don’t you dare let go of me,” she yelled over her shoulder. They’d barely gotten started when Marshall came racing back to help them. He reined in on seeing Jeb on the back of the horse with her. Even as they urged the horses faster, bullets rained down on them from two different spots. Drew felt the sting of one skimming her

 

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thigh and another, her arm. She gritted her teeth and held on tight to Crooner. “Fuck! Can you see any of them?” Jeb called over her shoulder. “No, I can’t tell where they’re shooting from.” “We should be out of their range now.” “Do you think they are on horseback? How else can they still be shooting at us?” Drew couldn’t believe they were really being shot at. “Don’t slow up until we get home,” Jeb urged her. “Don’t worry. I’m not. Help me keep an eye on Marshall so we don’t lose him.” About fifteen minutes away from the house, they met Kenny coming toward them. Marshall waved him back, and Kenny reined in and turned around. They all four rode into the ranch yard. They released the horses in the barn and ran for the house. Drew limped her way beside them. Kenny and Robert both already had rifles out and ready. “We heard the gunfire and called the sheriff. He’s on his way,” Kenny told them. “We’re going to have to go into town. Jeb’s been hit.” “It’s not bad. I’ll be okay until the sheriff gets here.” “Marshall, see about him while we watch the windows.” Drew gave orders like she’d been doing before they came. Marshall grabbed a towel and pressed it to his friend’s shoulder then held it there. “I’m fine, damn it, but you’re bleeding. Why in the hell didn’t you say something, Drew?” Jeb asked with a growl. He grabbed her and turned her around to look at him. “Marshall.” “I’m here. I’ll take care of her.” “I’m fine, Jeb. It’s a scratch. You’re still sporting a bullet in your shoulder.” “Good, it will be evidence once they find the rifle that fired it.”

 

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“Hell, I didn’t want evidence like this,” she said in a trembling voice. “Shh, Drew. I’m all right. Let Marshall check your arm and your leg. You’re bleeding pretty badly there.” “Kenny, Robert, do you see anything out there?” Drew asked as Marshall cut off the sleeve. He patted it with a wet cloth and grunted. “What?” she asked. “It’s not serious, but it will need a couple of stitches. You just can’t get away from needing stitches, can you?” “Shut up.” “Let’s see about that leg. I’m going to cut your jeans up the side.” Marshall used the knife to slit her jeans up to her waist. “Ah hell, Drew.” “What’s wrong, Marshall?” Jeb demanded. “It went clear through her thigh. She’s got a fucking hole in her leg. It’ll need sewing up, but it’s bleeding like a stuck pig.” He ran over to the drawer with the towels and grabbed two. Then he held them to both sides of her leg. “Drew. Hold these there while I get the tape to secure them. We need to apply pressure until we can get you to the hospital.” Marshall grabbed the first aid kit from under the sink and pulled out the tape. He wrapped her leg several times with the towels tightly in place. “Robert, do you hear something?” Kenny asked. “Sirens. I’d say the cavalry is here.” Robert went to the front door to let them in. A few seconds later, the sheriff and two deputies walked into the kitchen. “Hell, it looks like a field hospital in here. What the hell happened?” Jeb filled him in on the shooting. He shook his head and sent one of the deputies out to radio in that they needed an ambulance.

 

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“I’ll ride out there and see if I can find any shell casings. We could luck up and get a fingerprint off one. I’ll definitely take that bullet when they dig it out of you.” “You’re welcome to it. I want this fucker stopped.” “So do I. I don’t like shit going down in my county.” The sheriff took his deputies, and they left to go get their horses. They couldn’t use their four-wheel drives in the pasture, as they would tear it up. “Do you see why I didn’t want you to come, Drew? You got shot for God’s sake. You could have been killed.” “I was the one who got your ass out of there, and you could have been killed, too,” Drew reminded him. “But I couldn’t have taken it if I’d lost you, baby.” Drew could hear the emotion in his voice and knew he meant it. He really didn’t want to lose her. She let it sink in. “I–I love you both.” There, she’d said it. “Aw, baby. We love you, too,” Marshall told her. “Where is that fucking ambulance,” Jeb complained. “It will be here soon.” Drew closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of their love surrounding her. Long minutes later, the sound of the ambulance could be heard. As soon as it pulled up, Kenny had the door open and was directing them inside. Jeb immediately demanded they take care of her first. They agreed she’d need a few stitches in her arm and taped a bandage over it. When they saw her leg, they were a little more worried. They mentioned nicking an artery or a vein. Drew doubted it, since it wasn’t bothering her that much. They loaded her up on a gurney and packed her away from them as they checked on Jeb next. Drew suffered the ride to the hospital in silence since Jeb was next to her. Neither one seemed able to voice their worries. He held her hand all the way there. She realized how tired she was but refused to nod off. She wanted to be sure Jeb was okay before she slept.

 

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The paramedics kept poking at her leg. She had to resist the urge to tell them to stop. They were only doing their jobs, but damn, it hurt. Of course, the IV they had stuck in her arm hadn’t felt all that spiffy, either. At least she didn’t curse about it like Jeb had. She laughed to herself. He had been such a baby about the needle. The ride there proved to be bumpy, and even though she knew the gurney was locked in and she was strapped in, only Jeb’s hand holding hers kept her from panicking that she would fall. Once at the hospital, they were taken to different exam rooms. Jeb fussed, but it did him no good. Marshall had driven the truck behind them and was waiting as they pulled them out of the ambulance. The last thing she heard him say was for Marshall to stay with her. “Don’t you fucking let her out of your sight.” Drew would have laughed except they chose that moment to move her. The pain hit her harder. “Take it easy. You’re hurting her,” Marshall told them. “Sir, if you can’t stay out of the way, you’re going to have to leave,” a nurse said. Drew closed her eyes and listened to them talk above her. She was so tired. Maybe she could take a nap. **** Marshall panicked when Drew closed her eyes. She was so pale. Why did she look so bad when it was only a bullet to the leg? “Did she pass out? What’s going on?” he demanded. “Either stand back over there, or I’m going to have security take you out of the room.” Marshall was about to argue when a wiry-looking man in his middle fifties stepped into the room causing everyone to come to attention. “What do I have here? I have a gunshot wound to the shoulder in two that needs my attention.”

 

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One of the nurses who had chastised him spoke up. “Doctor Warner, she has a bullet graze to her left arm that will need a couple of stitches, but her thigh wound is bleeding like the bullet nicked a major vein.” “Let me see.” He pulled aside the sheet and the bandages and manipulated her wound. Marshall had to look away. It made him sick to watch the doctor do that. It angered him to see them treat her as if she wasn’t even human. He wanted to tell them that she was their lover, but he couldn’t say anything. He had no idea how Drew would stand on the subject of their relationship to the outside world. “Yep, she’s first. Prep her for surgery. I’ll take the shoulder second.” The doctor turned to Marshall. “Are you next of kin? Is she allergic to anything?” “She’s my girlfriend. She doesn’t have any next of kin, and I don’t know if she’s allergic to anything or not.” He might have just stuck his foot in a fresh pile of manure by calling her his girlfriend, but he wasn’t about to let them kick him out. “Well, she’s got a bleeder we’ve got to sew up in surgery. She’s lost a good bit of blood by the looks of her vital signs and the blood on the bandages. I’m going to have some lab tests done and depending on what those tell me, we might have to give her blood.” “Is she going to be okay?” “Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she should be fine after surgery.” The doctor turned to go, but Marshall stopped him. “What about Jeb? The shoulder wound? He’s my best friend and her other boyfriend.” The doctor stared at him for a few seconds then shook his head once. “The other patient is doing fine and will have to have surgery to remove the bullet. I don’t see anything major with his recovery, either. However, if he doesn’t calm down and watch his mouth, the nurses are going to take exception and treat him like the ass he’s being.”

 

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Marshall smiled at that. He could well believe Jeb was being a total ass. “I’ll talk to him as soon as I see to Drew.” The doctor huffed out a breath and walked out of the room. The nurses shooed Marshall out so they could prepare her for surgery. Outside the room, Kenny and Robert stood waiting with anxious expressions on their faces. “What did the doctor say?” Kenny demanded. Marshall repeated everything to them. Kenny ran a hand through his hair. Both men were holding their hats. Marshall realized he didn’t even know where his hat was. Somewhere out on the ranch, he supposed. “Look, watch her door, and don’t let anyone in there that isn’t a nurse. I’m going to go calm Jeb down before one of his nurses does something drastic to him.” Marshall hurried off to the other treatment room. He found Jeb fussing with one of the nurses about letting him go check on his girlfriend. The nurse had her hands on her hips, glaring at him. “Jeb, I’ll tell you about Drew, man. You need to calm down or they might knock you out. I can’t watch both of you.” “You’re supposed to be with Drew right now. I told you not to take your f—” Marshall interrupted him. “Calm down! They kicked me out to get her ready for surgery. Kenny and Robert are watching the door and won’t let anyone but a nurse in. I figured you needed to know what is going on.” “Is she all right?” Jeb’s voice shook. “She has a nicked vein they think. They’re taking her to surgery before they do you. The doctor says she’ll be fine.” Jeb seemed to relax all over at that. His friend had lines on his face that hadn’t been there before. Neither one of them was handling Drew’s injuries very well.

 

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“Have you heard back from the sheriff yet?” Jeb asked. “No, but it’s only been an hour. We should know something by the time you get out of surgery.” “Sir? I need to ask you to leave now. We need to get him ready for surgery.” “Jeb, cooperate with them so they don’t tie you down or gag you.” “Just watch after Drew, and I’ll be fine.”

 

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Chapter Nineteen Drew fought her way through the dense fog, trying to wake up. She had never been this sleepy before. She’d always been able to wake up in an instant if she needed to. She needed to now. She wanted to know how Jeb was. She needed to know that he was all right. “She’s trying to wake up,” someone above her said. “You said she woke up in recovery. Why isn’t she still awake?” “They gave her something for nausea, and it knocked her back out. Don’t worry. She’ll wake up soon.” Drew recognized Marshall’s voice. Why wasn’t he looking after Jeb? Fear lanced through her chest. What if something was seriously wrong with him? She finally managed to open her eyes to mere slits. “Marshall?” “Hey, baby. You’re awake. Are you hurting? Do you need something for pain?” “Jeb?” “He’s doing fine. He’s still in recovery, though. They operated on you first.” Marshall squeezed her hand. “Operated? Why did I need surgery?” “That bullet wound you had in your thigh hit a vein, and you were bleeding pretty badly. They didn’t have to give you blood, but it was iffy there for a while.” “And Jeb’s okay?” “He’s fine. If the nurses leave him alone. He was acting a complete moron earlier.” Marshall grinned down at her and took her

 

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hand. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I was scared to death we were going to lose you.” “Naw, I’m tougher than that.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “I think I’ll take a nap now. Why don’t you climb up here with me? I like sleeping between you and Jeb.” There was a loud bang and then a “sorry” that jarred her eyes back open in time to see a nurse hurry out of the room. “Darling, I think you just scandalized that poor nurse,” Marshall said with a chuckle. “What did I do?” “Nothing, baby. You were just being you. Take a nap. I’ll be right here when you wake up.” “Okay. When Jeb wakes up, tell him I love him. I love you, too, Marshall.” “I love you, Drew.” She drifted back and forth between sleep and consciousness for several hours before she woke up to find Kenny and Robert talking to Marshall beside her bed. “You three planning on ganging up on me or what?” “Aw, hell. Did we wake you up?” Kenny asked with a sheepish expression. “No, I was listening to you for a while before I opened my eyes. How is Jeb doing?” “He’s a hell of a lot better than you are. He needs his ass whipped,” Kenny told her. “What’s he doing?” She tried to sit up but found she didn’t have the energy to pull herself up in bed. “Here, don’t move. I’ll help you.” Marshall pushed the button to raise the head of the bed and then repositioned her leg so he could lift her a little higher. “How does that feel?” “Better than you feel.” She rearranged the covers so she could check out her leg. “That’s an awfully big bandage.”

 

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“The nurse said it’s a pressure bandage to be sure you don’t start bleeding again. They plan to take it off in the morning.” Marshall covered her leg back up and glanced at Kenny and Robert. Drew smiled. Kenny and Robert were more interested in each other than her leg, but it was touching that Marshall cared that someone else saw her. “I want to see Jeb. When can I go?” she asked. “Not ’til tomorrow after they check your incision. I already asked, ’cause I knew you would ask me.” “He’s really okay? You’re not just telling me that?” “He is just fine. Driving the nurses crazy, but fine,” Kenny assured her. **** “Either you get a damn wheelchair and take me to see her, or I’m going to walk over there and see her. If that means jerking this out of my arm”—he indicated the IV in his arm—“then I’ll do it.” Jeb was just about ready to explode. He needed to see Drew for himself. It didn’t matter that everyone assured him she was doing fine. He wanted to see her, needed to see her. She was too damn important to him to take anyone’s word, even Marshall’s. “You are by far the most obstinate, rude, crude man I’ve ever had the misfortune to take care of. I’ll get your wheelchair, but you are going to promise me that you will stay in bed once I take you to see her.” “I promise I’ll stay in bed until I need to see her again.” The nurse growled at him then turned on her heel and walked out of the room, mumbling as she left. Jeb settled back against the pillows and sighed. He was tired and wanted a nap but not until he saw Drew. As far as he was concerned, they could set him up a cot in her room so he could be with her. Not

 

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only did he miss her, but he was worried someone would try and hurt her. They hadn’t caught whoever had been shooting at them yet. If they would shoot at them in broad daylight, they might try something in the hospital. A few minutes later, the nurse returned with a wheelchair and a pill. He eyed it suspiciously. “Either you take the antibiotic, or I won’t take you to her room.” Jeb swallowed the pill with a sip of water and then climbed carefully out of the bed to sit in the wheelchair after the nurse disconnected him from the IV. She arranged a blanket around his legs, and he appreciated that when he realized he had a gown on. Hell. He should have realized that a long time ago. He really was worried about Drew. Not even the sling on his right arm bothered him as much as he was worried that Drew could have been killed. The nurse wheeled him down the hall to another room and knocked on the door. Marshall came to the door and smiled when he saw him. “Should have known you’d figure out a way to get here.” He stepped back and let the nurse push him into the room. “He’s bossy and needs to be in bed himself,” the nurse complained. “I’ll watch him and call you when he gets tired.” Marshall took the chair away from her and hurried her out before Jeb said something to piss her off. Jeb was standing up and walking over to Drew’s bed before Marshall could get to him to stop him. “Man, you’ve had surgery. You need to be in bed yourself.” “I’m fine. Just a little tired. Has she been awake?” “Yeah, she was while Kenny and Robert where here. She just drifted off again. She’s tired but doing okay.” Jeb took her hand in his on the uninjured side. He gently squeezed it and brought it to his lips. He couldn’t bend over. He was scared he’d fall on her. His shoulder hurt like the devil, but he wasn’t taking

 

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anything for pain until he saw her. He was sure whatever they gave him would knock him out. “Love you, Drew. You scared me to death when I saw all that blood on your leg. Don’t you ever do that again.” He leaned against the bed, watching her sleep. “Here, sit in the chair, and you can hold her hand,” Marshall said, pushing the wheelchair closer to the bed. “I’d rather get up in bed with her,” he complained. “Yeah, well, she’d rather be between us, too, according to what she said earlier.” “She really said that?” “Yep, right in front of a nurse. The poor thing dropped her clipboard and ran out of the room.” Marshall chuckled. “Marshall?” Drew’s voice stole both of their attention. “Hey, baby.” Jeb squeezed her hand and leaned forward so she could see him. “Jeb. You’re supposed to be in bed. You were shot,” she whispered. “So were you,” He leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips before wincing and sitting back. “I’m fine, Jeb. You need to go back to bed before the nurses get us in trouble,” she teased. “No one is going to keep me from seeing about you.” “But I’m okay. You can see for yourself now that I’ll be out of here before you will.” “I kind of doubt that, baby. You lost a lot of blood. They were going to give you blood, but the doctor said he’d rather you just make more of your own since you weren’t going anywhere soon.” Marshall looked at Jeb when he told her that. Jeb understood what his friend was telling him. She had almost lost too much blood. They had to figure out who was trying to kill her now and stop him. One way or another. If that meant he would go

 

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back to jail, then so be it. He knew Marshall would take good care of her, and Kenny and Robert would watch out for her as well. “Jeb?” “Yeah?” “I love you.” “I love you right back, Drew. You mean the world to me.” He squeezed her hand again. “Don’t make the nurses mad so they won’t let you come see me. I like knowing you’re okay.” “Jeb is going to be on his best behavior now that he’s seen you, aren’t you, Jeb?” Marshall nudged Jeb’s leg. “I’m going to be a perfect gentleman as long as they let me come see you when I want to.” Jeb smiled. “That’s not really what I said,” Marshall pointed out. **** Two days later, they let Jeb go home and promised Drew she would be able to leave the next day if she didn’t spike a temperature. So far, she was feeling fine, other than being tired. They assured her, Jeb, and Marshall it would pass. She was surprised Jeb hadn’t insisted that she stay longer and said as much once the doctor had left. “The only reason is because I think I can take better care of you at home where we can watch out for you. There are too many damn people in and out of here for my liking,” Jeb complained. She wasn’t a bit surprised by his statement. Ever since the sheriff had admitted they didn’t have anything on the man, or men, who were after her, he’d been like a momma bear and prickly as a pear. They’d found a couple of shell casings, but the fingerprints didn’t match anyone they had on file, so they had to wait until they had someone in custody to take their fingerprints to charge them.

 

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Even with the bullet from Jeb’s shoulder, they needed the gun to match it. All of this meant they needed probable cause to arrest someone. So far, they only had suppositions. “I don’t want to stay here another night, Jeb. Let me go home now. I can’t sleep in this bed.” And it was true. Since she’d come out of the drug-induced sleep, she’d been awake but tired ever since. “I’ll sleep so much better at home. “We’ll take you there tomorrow, like the doctor said. Not before.” Jeb leaned over and kissed her. When she attempted to deepen the kiss, he pulled back and shook his finger at her. “No hanky-panky while you’re sick.” “I’m not sick!” she yelled. “Shhh, they’ll make us leave if we’re upsetting you,” Marshall reminded her. “They already look at us funny. One of the younger nurses actually asked me if I was really living with both of you.” “What did you tell her?” Jeb asked with a glint in his eye. “That I was actually living with three men, but only two of them slept with me.” “Aw, baby. You didn’t.” Jeb closed his eyes and hung his head. “What? It’s the truth. I’m not ashamed of it.” Drew pouted at him. “Once you get completely well, I owe you several spankings,” Jeb warned her. “For what?” she demanded. “For coming back for me when you should have hightailed it out of there once the shooting started, for one.” He stuck up one finger then another and said, “Two, you went and scared the crap out of me by getting shot. Not once, but twice!” “Shhh, hold your voice down, or the nurse will come kick you out.” Drew winked at Marshall. “Drew, baby. I know this probably isn’t the right time or anything, but I can’t wait any longer. Marshall and I want you to be our wife. I

 

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know that’s not very conventional, and this isn’t all that romantic, but I love you and can’t stand not knowing if you feel the same way.” Drew felt her heart plop in a flip at Jeb’s words. She’d wanted to hear them for a long time now but was too afraid to put her hopes into words. She smiled, knowing there were tears in her eyes. “Yes, I’ll be your wife. Both of you. I love you both very much, and I don’t care if it’s not conventional. As long as we’re not hurting anyone, it shouldn’t matter what goes on, on our land.” Jeb jabbed Marshall in the side with his good elbow. Marshall fiddled in his jeans pocket and pulled out a ring. “It’s not much, but we didn’t figure you would wear something fancy out on the ranch, and I know you’re going to always want to work out there even when you don’t need to. Marshall insisted that it be a diamond. I wanted to get a stone the color of your eyes.” “I told him to get you one for our anniversary.” Marshall and Jeb both took her left hand as Marshall slid the ring on her finger. Drew’s eyes teared up to the point where she couldn’t see anything. She swiped her eyes and held out both arms to her men. “I love you both. Thank you so much! It’s perfect. And you’re right, I wouldn’t have worn anything any bigger, ’cause it would have gotten in the way. This is perfect.” “I know you can’t actually marry both of us, but we felt like you should marry Jeb for real, so that if we had any children, they’d have his last name.” Marshall bent down and kissed her. “Robert and Kenny are going to witness all three of us say our vows out at the ranch,” Jeb added then bent down and kissed her as well. “That’s a wonderful idea about the vows. I love it. As for marrying Jeb, I’m glad you two decided, because I couldn’t have made a decision like that. Did you flip a coin?” Marshall chuckled. “Actually, we almost did, but I told him he was the oldest, and the foreman, so he should marry you.”

 

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“Marshall, I’m not pretending that you’re not my husband and lover, too, when we are out in public. I won’t hide our relationship.” “It wouldn’t matter if you did. All that matters to me is what we three know and what goes on at the ranch.” “It’s yours and Jeb’s now, too. It’s our ranch, our home,” Drew told them.

 

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Chapter Twenty Jeb rubbed the back of his neck. All day he’d felt as if someone was watching him. He’d caught Drew several times, but this felt different. Ever since they’d brought her home nearly a week ago, she’d sat outside on the porch to watch them work around the ranch. If they drove around the fence line to check it, she went with them. If they had to ride horses anywhere, someone always stayed with her. He looked around but couldn’t see anyone. He finished dumping the dirty hay and horse manure in the compost pile and washed out the wheelbarrow before returning it to the barn. He ambled over to where Drew sat on the porch, drinking a glass of iced tea. “How are you feeling? Warm enough?” “I’m fine. Plenty warm enough. Soon it will be summer, and I’ll be complaining about the heat.” Drew took a sip of her tea and smiled up at Jeb. “That’s a long time off.” Jeb chuckled “I can wish, can’t I?” “Marshall is jealous because I got house duty today.” Jeb leaned in and kissed her. He loved her kisses. “Hmmm, maybe I should make it up to him tonight.” “Only if you make it up to me now, first.” He kissed her again. “You’re insatiable.” Drew nipped at his lower lip. “Not any more so than you, baby. It takes two men to satisfy you.” “Let’s go inside,” she suggested, standing up.

 

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Jeb immediately swung her up into his arms and strode for the door. A shot rang out, hitting the door facing next to Drew’s head, sending splinters flying. “Fuck!” He slammed open the kitchen door and all but threw Drew inside before slamming the door closed again. “Get down, Drew. On the floor.” “Where did it come from?” she asked. “Had to have come from the direction of the west pasture. There are a lot of trees out there.” He was still reeling at how close the bullet had been to Drew’s head. “You might as well come out. I’ll shoot your other lover when they come up. You know they heard the gunshot.” The voice sounded closer than Jeb had thought. “Do you recognize the voice?” Jeb asked Drew. “It seems familiar, but I can’t place it. He’s shouting, so it’s distorted.” Another gunshot rang out, hitting the door. “He’ll kill Marshall if we don’t do something,” Drew cried. “Marshall will be careful, having heard the gunshots. Don’t worry about him, baby. Let’s concentrate on staying alive and trying to figure out where the bastard is.” “I’m going to call the sheriff.” Drew reached up and grabbed the phone to place the call. Jeb inched his way over to the window. He peered around the curtain to look for the glint of the sun off of a gun barrel if possible. Another shot rang out and shattered the window. “Damn it.” Bits of glass rained down all over him. He shook as much of it off as he could. “Be careful, Jeb.” Drew watched him inch his way across the room toward the front of the house. “Where are you going?”

 

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“I’m going to sneak out the front door and go around the side to try and figure out where he is. If we know where he is, we can sneak up on him from behind.” “What if there are two of them and one of them is watching the front?” Drew grabbed at his shirt. “Please don’t go out there.” “I’ll be fine, Drew. I’m just going to look right now. I’ll wait on Marshall to get here to help keep him occupied before I try to sneak up on him.” “Let’s just wait until the sheriff gets here, Jeb.” “As soon as they hear those sirens, they’re going to run again. We need to put a stop to this now.” He pulled her toward him and kissed her long and deep before letting her go, so he could make his way across the living room to the front door. He reached up and unlocked the front door, then slowly opened it. Nothing. He eased out of the door in a crouch and snuck across the porch to the corner of the house. No one shot at him. He eased his head around the house but couldn’t see anything. No glint off of gunmetal or movement that he could see. He would have to wait until Marshall and Kenny showed up, and he hoped they were careful. Waiting wasn’t his strong suit. He preferred action to sitting around, but there was nothing he could do. Seconds turned into minutes. The man didn’t even call out anymore. Was he even still there? How could he tell without endangering himself and giving away his position? “Don’t move.” He felt the business end of a rifle against the back of his neck. The barrel was still warm from when he’d fired it earlier. “What do you want with Drew?” “That’s between her and me. You are just some bastard she’s fucking. Or should I say one of them.” He laughed and pushed the barrel harder against Jeb’s neck. “Now stand up, slow and easy,” the voice said. “Don’t try anything. I have an itchy trigger finger.

 

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Jeb stood up and waited for his next instructions. If the man was going to just kill him, he’d have done that already. He planned to use him, and he had a sick feeling about what he was going to do. “Let’s take a walk around the back. I want Drew to see you, and I know she’s in the kitchen.” “She isn’t going to come out just because you have me. She’ll wait for Marshall and Kenny to come back.” “Oh, she’ll come out when I start shooting you one piece at a time.” “This is stupid. All of this is over the land? Why?” Jeb had no idea if that was what this guy really was after or not. And how did he plan to get it once Drew was dead? He already knew it wasn’t Brett. It didn’t sound like him. He was a good bit taller than this guy. This man only stood maybe five-eight or so. The gun barrel was pointed upward into his neck now. “Jeb! Are you okay?” Drew’s voice carried from across the yard. “I’m fine. Don’t do anything he says. Wait on Kenny and Marshall.” “I wouldn’t listen to him, Drew Fenton. I’m going to start shooting up parts of him until you walk outside that door,” the man said. “Get on your knees and raise your arms.” Jeb fell to his knees and raised his arms. His left arm wouldn’t go up as high as the other one. It was still stiff from his last bullet wound. Hell, this was going to hurt. “Are you coming out, or do I start shooting?” “Don’t shoot. I’m coming out.” “Don’t you dare, Drew. I’ll turn that bottom of yours red.” “Shut up!” the man yelled at Jeb. The sound of hoofbeats not far off grabbed Jeb’s attention. He was just about to turn around and try to take the man’s gun while he was distracted when a bullet whirled past him, and a loud grunt followed. He fell to the ground and rolled over to see the man had

 

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fallen as well and was reaching for his gun when Drew walked up holding a gun at her side. She aimed it at the fallen man. “Go ahead and grab for it. I want to put a bullet through your brain so badly I can taste it.” “Do you know him?” Jeb asked, coming to his knees. “This is the old foreman, Harry Smith.” Drew walked over and kicked his gun out of his reach. “You took my ranch. It was supposed to be mine when he died. He promised it to me.” The man held his hand to his chest where Drew had shot him. About that time, Marshall and Kenny rode up. Both men jumped from their horses to see if any of them were hurt. Jeb climbed to his feet and walked over to where Drew was holding the gun on Henry. “Here, let me do that for you.” He reached for the gun. “No, you’re not supposed to have a gun. The sheriff will be here soon. He’ll handle this.” Drew kept the gun aimed at the man. “Henry, who were you working with? I know you didn’t do all that crap by yourself.” “I ain’t telling you nothing.” Jeb walked over and put his foot on the man’s shoulder and applied pressure. “Brett! Damn it, that hurts. Stop it. Brett hired me to sabotage your ranch, but it wasn’t working. Then you got these men helping you, and he got pissed off. He really wanted to marry you, Drew.” Jeb took his foot off the man’s shoulder. “Who else was shooting at us besides you?” “Walter Jeffers, from Brett’s ranch.” Jeb heard the unmistakable, and now very predictable, sounds of the sheriff’s cars coming up the drive. He didn’t like Drew having to deal with shooting Henry, but she was right, he wasn’t supposed to have a gun.

 

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“What in the hell are you doing, Henry?” The sheriff walked up and checked his wound. “Looks like you get a ride in the ambulance.” He looked up at the four of them and winced. “Okay, who shot him?” “I did.” Drew handed him her rifle. “He shot at us and then threatened to kill Jeb. I didn’t have any choice. I couldn’t let him do it.” “Whose fingerprints am I going to find on this gun and the bullets inside?” He looked straight at Jeb. “Mine. I loaded the rifle, and I shot the rifle.” Drew held out her hands. “You should still be able to smell it on my hands.” He held one of her hands and sniffed. “Hell, I guess we’ve got a mess on our hands.” “It gets worse, sheriff,” Kenny said. “What?” “Henry, tell him who put you up to it and why.” Kenny kicked him in the side. “Kenny,” the sheriff warned him. “Henry, tell me what’s going on.” The man laid it out on the line. How he’d wanted revenge and Brett knew it, so he hired him to cause problems around Drew’s ranch so she would have to sell to him and marry him. When that didn’t work, and she got help on the ranch, he got mad and wanted revenge himself. “It was all his idea to shoot at them. I wouldn’t have gone that far, but he was threatening to turn me in if I didn’t help him.” One of the deputies walked up. “Got an ambulance on the way.” “Okay, I want each of you to give my deputies your statements individually. Then you can come to town and sign them once they’ve gotten them typed up. I figure the judge will enjoy this little mess you’ve got. Looks like I’ve got to go pay Brett a visit next.”

 

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“Drew, you’ve got yourself some good men here. Don’t know as I would have ever trusted them to begin with, but I think they’re good men.” “Thanks, Sheriff. I know they’re good men.” She wrapped her arms around Jeb and Marshall and hugged them. Long hours later, Jeb and Marshall soaped Drew up and bathed her as she relaxed in her tub. Jeb figured she deserved a little special treatment, though he wanted to wring her neck for endangering herself by coming out in the first place. “Umm, that feels so good,” she purred as they each circled a breast with their hands. “Just wait until we’ve got you all squeaky clean. Then I think you’re going to feel even better,” Marshall told her. Jeb smiled. He planned on spanking her ass as he fucked her there. He couldn’t wait. In the meantime, he enjoyed playing with her. She was so damn responsive to them. He rinsed her breast and then moved his hand down her abdomen to her pussy. He rubbed her mound and gently tugged on the curls there. Then he slipped a finger inside her and pumped it in and out until she was making waves in the water trying to take more. “You’re going to make a mess on the floor if you keep that up,” Marshall said with a grin. “Maybe we need to take this to the bed, boys.” Drew reached up for one of the men to pull her to her feet. Jeb helped her out of the tub then grabbed a towel to dry her off. Marshall took another one, and between them, they soon had her dry and warm. Jeb carried her to the bed that Marshall had already turned down in preparation for them needing the room on it. He laid her down on the bed, and Marshall walked around the other side. He pulled under her arms to slide her farther on the bed. Then he reached down and kissed her. Jeb leaned in and spread her pussy lips so he could lick along her slit. He teased at her clit but didn’t dwell there. He wanted to build

 

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her passion first. He sucked her sweet cunt, lapping up her juices until she was squirming to get closer to him. He looked up to see Marshall sucking at her nipple with his mouth and pinching the other one with his fingers. “You taste so damn good, baby. I can’t wait until you come on my tongue.” He spread her wide again and pushed two fingers inside of her. Then he began to slowly pump them in and out until she was tilting her pelvis to take more of them inside of her. He chuckled and curled them around to stroke her hot spot. He loved finding that one little area that, when touched just right, set her off like a rocket. He stroked slowly over that spot just softly enough to send her into moans and start her begging for more. “Please, Jeb. Please let me come. I can’t stand it.” “Not yet, Drew. I want you to feel how good it can get when you wait, baby.” He took a long, slow lick over her clit and enjoyed the quick push of her hips at him. She tried everything to get him to continue to rub that little nub, but he wasn’t going to do it. He wanted her so hot she would explode on his tongue with just one breath. His eyes met Marshall’s, and they nodded in agreement. He leaned in and began stroking Drew’s G-spot in bolder strokes and used his tongue to fuck into her as well. He felt her begin to tremble, signaling her climax was just around the corner. He waited until the last possible minute, then pressed hard on her hot spot and nipped her clit as she screamed her climax. He quickly licked her juices as fast as she came. Never had anything tasted as sweet to him as her pussy right then. Marshall reached down with his fingers, and Jeb backed off to let his friend scoop up some of her delicious honey. He watched his friend’s eyes close as he licked her cream from his fingers. He enjoyed seeing Marshall happy. He wanted them all to be happy. The look on Drew’s face right then was the loveliest he’d ever seen. She

 

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was sated and drifting on it. The sound of her heavy breathing filled the room. Jeb let her rest for a few more seconds before he had her roll over and straddle Marshall.

 

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Chapter Twenty-One “Marshall, let her ride you like the cowgirl she is.” Jeb helped a very endorphin-tipsy Drew climb up on Marshall. She slid down and took him in her mouth for one quick suck before she let them lift her to take Marshall’s dick inside of her pussy. He’d tasted delicious. She wanted to suck them off, but they needed this more. Needed to feel each other to know they were all okay. She slowly slipped down until her pussy lips touched his pelvis. She squeezed down around him until he groaned and swatted her ass. “Behave, Drew,” Marshall teased. “I want to move,” she pouted. “You’ll move in a minute, baby,” Jeb said behind her. He pushed at her back until she folded down over Marshall’s chest. She kissed him when he lifted his head up for her to reach, then she licked his nipple and grazed her teeth over it. He shuddered. She felt Jeb behind her and wasn’t surprised when he spread lube all around her back hole. He squeezed some inside of her and carefully inserted a finger in her back hole. He pumped it several times then added a second finger. She drew in a deep breath and pushed back on them to get them past that tight ring. When he added the third finger, the burn started. She moaned and moved with his fingers. He spread them inside of her until he felt she was ready. She trusted him to know and groaned when he withdrew his fingers. “I’m going to fuck your tight little ass, baby. I can’t wait to feel you squeeze me.” Jeb pushed the head of his cock against her little rosette. It blossomed open for him as he pushed. Drew pushed back and

 

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whimpered as the ring burned where he was forcing the head of his cock past it. When it finally popped through, she groaned. Jeb waited for her to pant through the pain and then began to move in and out in short thrusts until she was pushing back on him Nerve endings tingled to life, and she wanted to move, needed to move. She pushed up on Marshall’s chest and began pulling off him to shove back on Jeb. Then she pulled back from Jeb to sink once again on Marshall. Over and over she moved on them, until Jeb finally held her still. “It’s our turn, baby. Let us fuck you.” Drew relaxed and let them take her then. She just rode them as they did the driving. One in and one out, over and over, until she could no longer be still. Her climax was riding her hard. She wanted to come, but it was just out of reach. Fire burned inside of her, growing hotter and hotter. Her blood felt on fire, and electricity sparked at all her nerve endings. She felt as if her world was going to fly apart at any minute. “Please, Jeb, please, Marshall. I can’t take it. It’s too much. I can’t survive it. Please, no more.” “There’s always more, baby. Just breathe. Relax. Let it take you, Drew.” Jeb’s voice sounded a long way away. She felt tears sliding from her eyes, and her breathing came in great gulps as everything thinned down into a single point. Then Marshall shoved his dick deep inside of her and pinched and twisted her nipples at the same time that Jeb shoved his cock all the way inside of her ass. He slapped her ass over and over, and she came unglued. She felt each of them come as well. She could actually feel their cum stream into her. The pain/pleasure of their possession was her undoing, and she screamed and cried as she tried to breathe around the fire burning through her. For long seconds, she couldn’t see or hear anything but her heartbeat as it raced ahead of her, not waiting for her to catch up. She finally collapsed on top of Marshall. None of them could catch their

 

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breath. Jeb pulled out, making her cry out at the loss. He kissed her back then left her and Marshall, still joined and panting. “Easy, baby.” Jeb’s voice sounded close, but she couldn’t think right then. He rolled her over to her side, and Marshall slipped from inside of her. Another loss. She felt both of them gone from her, and didn’t like it. “I’ve got you, Drew.” Jeb’s voice again. Then she felt them clean her up and crawl into bed with her. She snuggled between them and knew she was where she wanted to be. It didn’t matter to her what people said or how they treated her. She wouldn’t give up her life, with both men in it, for anything. They completed her, and for the first time in her life, she had more than just a home. She had a family.

THE END WWW.MARLAMONROE.COM

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marla Monroe lives in the southern part of the United States. She writes sexy romance from the heart and often puts a twist of suspense in her books. She is a nurse and works in a busy hospital but finds plenty of time to follow her two passions, reading and writing. You can find her in a book store or a library at any given time when she’s not at work or writing. Marla would love for you to visit her at her blog at themarlamonroe.blogspot.com and leave a comment.

Also by Marla Monroe Siren Classic: Hot and Bothered Ménage Amour: Trusting Them Ménage Amour: Wild Montana Nights Siren Classic: Peyton’s Pleasure Siren Classic: Nina’s Neighbor Ménage Amour: Desire for Two Siren Classic: The Protectors 1: Long, Lonely Nights Siren Classic: The Protectors 2: In The Still of the Night Siren Classic: The Protectors 3: The Edge of Night Siren Ménage Everlasting: Men of the Border Lands 1: Belonging to Them

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

 

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com