Shaun and Jon Read online

  And yes, he was lonely too. He had Shaun to go drinking with, but a man also needed to take care of the physical side of his being too. He’d visited the bordellos and while fun, and took care of his immediate itch, that wasn’t how he saw the rest of his life playing out. He wanted to snuggle up to a warm body on a cold Montana winter night and have that lady still in his bed the following morning.

  Jon hadn’t realized he’d dozed off until the wagon went over a bump in the road and his head jerked upward, almost sending his hat flying back off his head.

  He clung onto the flowers while seeing the station up ahead. The train hadn’t arrived yet which was perfect because it would give them a chance to dust themselves off, and actually greet the ladies as they stepped off it.

  “You ready to do this?” asked Jon.

  “Yep, let’s go wait for our wives.”

  ****

  Sarah looked out of the window as the train slowed. It had been almost twelve hours since Nina had passed away. They’d placed her on a table in the carriage that housed the mailbags and trunks belonging to the passengers. They’d also allowed Sarah to sit with her for as long as she’d wanted. She’d thought about getting off at the train’s last stop and taking Nina back home to be buried, but she’d been too tired and heartbroken to do it. They’d been more like sisters than cousins. Nina’s parents her taken her in when she’d become an orphan. Sarah hung her head down. She’d miss her every single day.

  Would Nina want to be buried in a place she’d never seen? Sarah bit her bottom lip, drawing her teeth over the delicate skin. Being that Sarah had no relatives out west, and even though she’d be in a grave, technically Nina would still be with her. She could visit her grave and talk to her, share her news, tell her what was on her mind, just like they always had.

  Sarah knew in her heart that Nina would want her to go ahead with their plans. She looked over at her cousin’s body now draped with a cloth over it. She’d have to break the terrible news to her bridegroom. How awful for the poor man, expecting to greet his bride and learning she’d passed away on route.

  “Grantsville,” shouted the train master.

  Smoke from the train flew by the window as the brakes cried out and the train began slowing down. She was hot, and dusty, her cheeks swollen, her eyes red from the tears she’d shed for her cousin. What an awful mess she’d look when she first greeted Jon.

  She wiped her cheeks with the back of her sleeve and secured the tendrils of hair that had fallen down onto her face. Sarah grabbed the handle of one of the wire cages in the baggage compartment when the train pulled up sharply almost sending her flying forward.

  “Miss, is anyone meeting you at the station?” asked the guard.

  “Yes, two gentlemen.”

  She wasn’t sure if she should mention her and Nina were to be mail order brides.

  “I can offer assistance in getting your cousin off the train and to a place of rest.”

  Sarah hadn’t thought about that. They were supposed to be getting married, not burying someone.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Sarah headed out of the baggage compartment and down the galley following the other passengers as they got off the train.

  The sun shone in her eyes and not even the brim of her hat could shield them as she stepped down on the platform. She squinted while seeing the outline of not one, but two men standing side by side, both holding bunches of flowers. Purple and yellow buds; flowers of which she’d never seen growing back East.

  She looked first to the one on the left and then the right. One of them had to be Jon. Both men were dark haired, tall and equally handsome. She smiled as the one wearing the dark hat approached her.

  “Sarah?” he asked.

  “Yes, I’m hoping you’re Jon.”

  “Yes, and welcome to Montana, to Grantsville. These are for you.”

  He held out the flowers to her. She put down her bag, took them, and put the tight buds under her nose. They smelled refreshing after inhaling the soot-filled air of the train for so long.

  “Thank you,” she said. She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek that she’d hoped was the proper behavior. He smelled of sandalwood soap with just a touch of dust, which made her smile.

  “And did your cousin not travel with you?” he asked.

  She glanced over at the other man who stood patiently waiting with the flowers in his hand looking in the train windows.

  “She did. And I take it that the man standing over there is her intended,” said Sarah.

  “Yep, that’s Shaun.”

  Sarah swallowed. “I’m not sure how I’ll break the news to him, but my cousin Nina passed away on the journey.”

  “Dear lord,” said Jon, quickly removing his hat and lowering his head.

  “She’s had a cold and wasn’t feeling well. I suppose we should have postponed our journey, but she was insistent that we not break our word to you and Shaun.”

  Jon put his arm around her as a tear ran down her cheek.

  “There there, don’t you cry. I think we should inform Shaun of the terrible news straight away.”

  He carried Sarah’s bag and they walked over to the other man, who had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. In fact, both he and Jon could easily pass as brothers.

  “Shaun, this is Sarah.”

  He removed his hat, took her hand, and shook it.

  “We have some terrible news for you,” said Jon.

  “Don’t tell me my bride got cold feet,” he said.

  Jon put his hand on his friend’s back. “Shaun, Nina passed away on the journey to Montana.”

  “It can’t be true,” said Shaun.

  Sarah grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “It is true, I’m afraid. She’d been poorly but insisted on traveling.”

  “She seemed so wonderful. I mean in the letters she wrote. Quite a lady.”

  “Oh she was that and a whole lot more.”

  “And where is she?”

  “They laid her out in the mail carriage and the train master says he can assist in taking her body to a place of rest,” said Sarah.

  “Then that’s what we must do. She was going to be my wife and therefore it will be my responsibility to see that she’s given a proper send off and burial.”

  Sarah led the two men back on the train and through to the luggage area. She and Nina had shared a trunk filling it with things like clothes and some pots that she’d had from her previous marriage.

  The train master smiled when he saw her again.

  “Sir, these two gentlemen will take custody of my cousin’s body.” She’d almost choked over the words.

  The three of them walked over to where Nina was laid.

  “Is it okay if I take a look at her?” asked Shaun.

  Sarah nodded.

  Both men removed their hats as Shaun carefully peeled away the sheet from Nina’s face.

  Her cousin actually looked at peace now.

  “She was a beautiful woman,” said Shaun.

  “She sure was,” added Jon.

  Sarah smiled. These two were special gentleman. Her cousin was anything but fair of face, but the fact that they said such a nice thing made Sarah instantly like them.

  Shaun put the cover back and laid the flowers on the center of Nina’s body.

  “Do you have luggage?” asked Jon.

  “Yes, Nina and I brought a trunk with us.”

  “We can come back for that later, but I think we need to get Nina someplace ready for her to be buried,” said Shaun

  ****

  Jon knew it wasn’t an appropriate time to feel happy and excited, because less than an hour ago they’d put Sarah’s cousin into the ground and had a brief and private service. However, the minute he’d seen Sarah step off the train, he’d realized he’d struck gold. She hadn’t done herself justice when she’d described herself in her introductory letter to him.

  No one’s ever called me ugly.

  He’d dug out her letter
and read it again. Yes, he’d kept it thinking that one day their children and grandchildren might like to see how their grandparents found one another and what they’d written while miles apart. Words exchanged before ever setting eyes on one another.

  The men back in Kansas had to be crazy not to have called her pretty. Those dark curls framing her face, the gorgeous blue eyes, and those long eyelashes. She was a curvy girl too. His favorite kind. He put the letter away, feeling himself grow hard just thinking about their wedding night and what it would be like to make love to her. He hadn’t had the courage to ask if she was a virgin, not that it mattered if she wasn’t. He’d never been with an untouched woman before. He wasn’t sure if the prospect of having a virgin in his bed scared or thrilled him. He’d need to be gentle with her which after seeing her face and body and what they did to him, wasn’t going to be an easy task.

  However, due to her cousin’s sudden death, the wedding and honeymoon would have to wait. He and Sarah had mutually agreed that their marriage and any festivities to celebrate should be postponed in order to bury her cousin and give her time to mourn and settle in the place. Now she was without a family member by her side, Sarah would need time to adjust to her new life more than ever. At least she had him and Shaun, who would both take good care of her.

  Jon hung his head. He felt so bad for his best buddy. He knew he’d taken Nina’s death harder than he’d let on. His friend hadn’t known this woman personally, but Shaun had always been a sensitive soul, willing to help anyone in their time of trouble.

  Now he’d have to live next door to him and Sarah and be constantly reminded of his fate in coming this close to finding himself a wife and having a family of his own.

  If Jon could do anything for him, Shaun only had to ask. Jon put the letter away and walked outside to see Sarah and Shaun standing looking toward the mountain range.

  “You think your cousin would have liked this spot as her final resting place?” he overhead Shaun asking her.

  “I do, I really do. She loved the outdoors and often went on nature walks,” said Sarah.

  Jon had to agree. When he was laid to rest this was the sort of spot he’d want to spend all eternity.

  “It will be like she’s still close to you,” continued Shaun.

  That was Shaun, always thinking about another person’s needs and the reason he suggested they bury Nina in this very spot. Close to Jon’s land and not Shaun’s, despite the fact she was his intended bride.

  “That was very thoughtful of you,” said Sarah resting her hand upon Shaun’s arm.

  Her fingers were long, her hands as pretty as her face.

  “I can give you a hand filling in the…”

  Jon spoke before he’d realized he shouldn’t have said that in earshot of Sarah.

  “It’s okay, you don’t have to tiptoe around me,” said Sarah, putting her hand on his arm too.

  A ripple of what he could only describe as sheer delight zinged through his body, making him hard. She still had her hands on both of them. He looked over at Shaun, noticing the bulge in the front of his pants too. He didn’t know whether to be angry or proud that his soon-to-be wife excited a man besides himself.

  “I think we should get started on that,” said Jon. Maybe an hour of moving the earth around would work off any sexual frustration either of them felt by having a woman around the place.

  “I’ll go into the house and start on making both you supper. However, I’m wondering while it’s still hot out here that perhaps I could bath in the lake on the other side of the property while you two are occupied here.”

  “You go ahead and do whatever you need to,” said Jon.

  She walked away. Not only Jon watched her, but Shaun too.

  “Lovely young lady,” said Shaun.

  “She most certainly is. Let’s go get those shovels and get this done so Sarah doesn’t have to see us filling in the grave.”

  ****

  Sarah hadn’t felt this relaxed for a long time. Hadn’t felt this clean in almost forever. She splashed the water over her body, and then let it cascade over her breasts. What a shame that the weather wouldn’t stay this warm year round. She put her face up to the sun. She was homesick, but the beauty of this place took the edge off that. Another thing that helped was both Jon and Shaun. She should only be thinking of the man that would be her husband, but she found both men kind, handsome, and strangely both stirred an excitement inside her that she’d never felt before.

  She ventured out farther into the water, putting her shoulders under and letting her body float. She’d learned to swim when she was younger although she wasn’t that great. She flipped over onto her back and floated, the sun making her face feel warm and relaxed.

  Sarah looked ahead and saw the shore was farther away than she’d thought. She’d drifted out and if she didn’t turn back now, who knew how deep the water was in the middle of the lake.

  It had been up to her chest when she’d flipped over onto her back so maybe she could walk back instead of swim and enjoy a few more minutes in the warmer water close to the shore before she headed back and dried herself off.

  She put her foot down quickly realizing it was deeper than she’d thought. The sandy bottom of the lake dropped off sharply. She panicked, thrashing her arms around and going down under the water yet again.

  “Help,” she managed to shout in between a bout of coughing. “Help me.”

  She went under again, doubting that either man could hear her cries for help. How ironic that the men would be digging yet another grave.

  ****

  Shaun knew he shouldn’t have done it. He’d told Jon he was going for some water. Jon knew the pump was on the east side of the house and that it faced the lake where Sarah would be bathing. He could imagine her floating on her back, her breasts poking out of the surface of the water. He brushed the front of his pants with his hand, feeling his cock strain against it.

  What the hell was he doing and thinking? She was Jon’s woman, or would be as soon as they exchanged vows. Jon was his best friend. Yet, he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off his best buddy’s lady.

  He quickly pumped some water, gulped it down, and the rest he threw over his face, knowing it was his dick that needed cooling down. He’d come this far so he’d go the extra few feet, turn the corner, and watch her bathing. It would be his little secret.

  He sneaked around the edge of the building and looked to the east. Sarah was out in the lake all right, but her head had just gone under the water and she was throwing her arms around like someone who didn’t know how to swim.

  Damn and shit, she was drowning.

  “Jon! Jon come quickly, Sarah needs our help,” he shouted as he stripped off his shirt and ran at full speed toward the lake.

  Once he got to the water’s edge he stripped off his pants, knowing they would get quickly waterlogged and impede him reaching her in time to save her. He waded in, swimming as fast as he could, getting into deeper water within minutes. He reached out for her, but she went underneath the water.

  He held his breath and emerged himself underneath the surface. The water wasn’t murky like some lakes he’d known, so he was able to see her slowly sinking to the bottom. He swam toward her, grabbing her and carrying her upward to where he saw that Jon was now in the water.

  “Quickly, let’s get her to shore because I think she’s swallowed a hell of a lot of water,” he told him.

  He grabbed one of her arms, Jon, the other, and they swam back to the water’s edge. Once there, Jon swept her up in his arms and ran with her up to the bank, where he sat her down. Jon got one side and Shaun the other.

  “She’s breathing but barely,” said Jon turning his head and putting his ear close to her mouth.

  Her chest.

  Shaun’s one and only thought should have helping Jon to revive Sarah, but all he could focus on were her breasts. So big and heavy looking, their nipples red beacons calling him to put his lips around them and suck
until he turned them into hard little buds. And the mass of dark curls at the apex of her thighs. They called his name too.

  Damn, his friend was a lucky man. Soon he’d have this woman as his own. He’d make love to her and have his cock buried deep within her.

  Cock.

  He looked down, quickly remembering he was naked and that nothing hid his erection. He looked across at Jon, also buck naked, and he too bore the signs of his excitement.

  “I think we should turn her on her side and slap her back to try and get the water out of her lungs,” said Jon.

  “Okay, let’s try that.”

  Shaun tipped her in Jon’s direction. He thought that might take away his lustful thoughts, but in fact, made them worse because now all he could focus on was her ass. So full and round. It was her butt he wanted to slap and not her back. His erection grew almost to the point of pain.

  He smacked Sarah’s back, knowing his libido was getting in the way of maybe saving the young woman’s life.

  “Try it again,” said Jon. “Harder, this time.”

  Damn, his buddy had to mention the word harder.

  Shaun slapped her again, and then again, and soon Sarah was coughing and water was spilling out her mouth and onto Jon’s lap.

  She was alive. They’d saved her. However, what was he going to do about the simple little fact that she’d ignited a passion within him and that he wanted her probably just as much as Jon did?

  Chapter Four

  Jon’s balls pulled and ached as Sarah’s body sat across his lap. She coughed up yet more water. He hadn’t expected to see her naked until their wedding night and here she was without her clothing. To make matters worse, he and Shaun were buck-naked too. Shaun, like him, was obviously in a state of heightened excitement. Should he be angry that his friend’s body was reacting this way to his soon-to-be wife?

  How could he ever be annoyed with this man?

  His best friend had alerted him to Sarah almost drowning. And could any man with blood pumping through his veins not get excited at what he saw? Sarah was stunning. He wanted to reach out and touch her body but knew that this was neither the time nor place to do such a thing.