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Prudence was surprised, though she kept it from showing. She hadn't expected one of the women to be an Indian, and beautiful at that. She took her for about forty, with a figure that was still trim and fit. She wore her long, dark hair parted in the middle and braided. There was a streak of silver rushing through the front and running down on either side of the part.
Her dress was a plain brown skirt and white blouse. Her eyes were kind, as was her smile, and Prudence took an instant liking to her and to Bertha.
"So you bring a wife to us," Silver Fox said, extending her hand in friendship to Prudence. "Welcome."
Prudence accepted it gratefully. "Thank you."
"Let's have tea," Bertha suggested. "Prudence can tell us all about the wedding."
Zac tugged at his wife's waist, stepping back with her in tow. "Another day, ladies."
"That's not fair, Zac," Bertha complained. "We want to hear all the details."
"So you can make certain you spread the news first," Zac added with a laugh.
Bertha nodded in total agreement. "Of course, everyone will be expecting me to fill them in."
To Prudence's surprise, Zac kissed her on the cheek before he spoke. "It will have to wait. I want to show my bride her new home."
Prudence was anxious to see his home, and the way he spoke of it as her new home gave her chills. It might only be a fairy-tale marriage, but she was enjoying it and wanted it to go on as long as possible.
"Perhaps you and Silver Fox could join me for tea tomorrow at a time convenient for both of you?" Prudence said.
"That sounds great," Bertha called as Zac began pulling Prudence toward the door. "Three would be good. We could close down for a couple of hours."
"Three is fine." Prudence waved good-bye as Zac yanked her through the door.
Prudence wasn't prepared for the beauty of Zac's home. It was a two-story log structure. It looked sturdy enough to withstand the wild elements, yet welcomed visitors with its wide end-to-end front porch.
The inside was even more surprising. His furnishings were a combination of classic and wilderness style, and they blended perfectly. The old wooden rocking chair before the stone hearth in the family parlor looked as at home and in place as did the apricot medallion love seat near the window next to the tabouret table. Each room was one surprise after another.
Prudence was about to go up the stairs to the second floor, when Zac's hand on her arm stopped her. "I have to go check on things with my ranch foreman. You can acquaint yourself with the house. Feel free to roam about; there's nothing off-limits. It's your home."
Temporarily, Prudence thought, and immediately chased the depressing thought away. For now she would enjoy.
Zac stepped close to her, raised her chin to look up at him, and brushed her lips with his. "One thing," he whispered. "Are you wearing anything beneath that skirt?"
Prudence felt a warm tingle rush up from her toes and was about to answer, when he spoke.
"Don't tell me. I'll never make it out the door if you tell me nothing stands in my way of making love to you but that skirt."
Prudence couldn't prevent the little moan that slipped from her lips.
Zac ran his finger across her mouth and Prudence reached for it with her tongue. "Damn, Pru, you're making this hard on me."
"No," she murmured, nipping at his finger with her teeth. "I want to make you hard."
Zac brought his head to rest on her forehead and kept running his finger across her lips for her to enjoy. "You're one hot-blooded woman, dear wife."
"You made me that way." Her breath was heavy with desire.
He could argue that point but chose not to, since he heard the approach of a rider and assumed his foreman, Josh, had arrived. "I have to go, Pru."
She moaned and her teeth tugged lightly at his finger.
He replaced his finger with his lips, tasting deeply of her, leaving her breathless and begging. "Promise me one thing, Pru."
"What?" she asked, her chest heaving.
"Say you promise," he urged, kissing her breathless again.
She nodded her promise, unable to speak.
"I want you naked in my bed when I return."
Her already laborious breath caught in her throat at his lustful suggestion.
"A promise is a promise. I'll be back by dusk." He kissed her on the cheek and quickly slipped out the front door.
It took Prudence a good ten minutes to calm herself enough to realize her word had been given and was expected to be kept.
She walked up the curving steps to the second floor, opening the first door on the right as she began inspecting the rooms and tried to rid herself of her nervous state. Prudence stood there, shocked. The room was stunning, the massive bed seductive. The rosewood headboard stood high and was carved with cherubs and vines, mingling and entwining like lovers.
