“Sometimes I just want to go back to that line shack and never leave…just you and me, Jake.” Randy relaxed more, kissing his cheek. He met her mouth in a hungry kiss.
“I wouldn’t mind it either,” he told her between kisses. “Right now we’ll settle for home. Lloyd brought these clothes to the bunkhouse for me so I could get out of the dirty ones, and he’ll keep Ben at his place tonight. He knew what you were going through and that maybe we should be alone.”
“He has such a big heart. I wish he’d stop feeling so guilty for running off after you went to prison.”
“We talked awhile,” Jake assured her. “I reminded him all of that was as much my fault as his. That’s another reason I’m a little late.”
Randy straightened and ran her fingers through his hair. “It’s time to forgive and forget a lot of things. We’re all together now, and you, my darling Jake, have a beautiful family that loves you very much.”
He studied her lovingly. “I’m just an old ex-outlaw who got lucky and found the right woman.”
“Oh, you are much more than that, Jake Harkner. Sometimes I see the little boy in you, jumping up and down with joy at loving and being loved.”
He grinned, moving a hand over her breasts. “I’m no little boy, Mrs. Harkner.” He leaned up and kissed her wet cheeks. “Tell me you’re done crying.”
She hugged him around the neck. “I’m not sure.”
He took her in his arms again and rose, carrying her toward the winding stairs that led to their loft bedroom. “Maybe I can do something to help you get over those tears.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Jake, you have to be tired and aching. It’s been such a long day.”
“Nothing hurts so much that I can’t tend to my wife.” He carried her to their bedroom and set her on her feet, then closed the door.
“Jake, I went to all the work of fixing a tub of water for you, and you don’t even need it.”
“Well, we’re both clean, so let’s get in it together.”
“What!” She moved back from him as he unbuttoned and removed his shirt.
“Why not? I’ll give you a bath and a damn good rubdown.” He sat down in a chair and removed his boots and socks, then stood up to unbuckle his belt.
“Jake, I’m not getting into that tub with you. There isn’t enough room!”
“That’s what will make it more fun.” He unbuttoned his pants and shed them. “Get that gown off, woman. I hope you’re properly naked underneath.”
“I’ll do no such thing!”
Her eyes widened when Jake removed his long johns. “Oh, Jake, this is silly.”
“After thirty years?” He came closer. “Raise your arms, woman, and I’ll strip this gown off of you.”
“You’re just trying to joke around with me so I’ll feel better.”
“Sure I am. Can you think of a better way to forget our troubles?” He smiled the handsome grin that always undid her, then picked her up and carried her to the washroom just off the bedroom, where they also had a sink with a pump and a flush toilet rigged with a water tank above it, more conveniences Jake had insisted Randy should have. Randy let out a little scream when he set her in the tin tub, nightgown and all. “Move over, woman.”
He climbed into the tub with her and made her wiggle out of the nightgown, throwing the wet garment onto the floor. “Come here.” He settled into the back of the tub, pulling her back against him so she was sitting between his legs. Grabbing a bar of soap on a stand beside the tub, he dipped it into the water and lathered his hands, then began massaging her shoulders and back with soapy water while kissing her neck. “There, you see? This isn’t so bad.” He reached around and gently washed her breasts. “Your breasts are still beautiful. You keep saying they’re too big and not so perky anymore, but I love them. How many times have I teased you about your cleavage?”
Randy smiled, leaning back against his chest. “That feels good.”
“I want it to feel good. I want you to relax and be happy, Randy, and realize that I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. You just close your eyes and take some deep breaths and let me rub away all your troubles.”
She turned her head to kiss his neck. “There is something hard pressing against my back, Mr. Harkner.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll have to take care of that, won’t we?”
He moved strong hands to her shoulders and neck, using soap to slide his hands in a deep massage of the back of her neck, down her back, then reaching over her shoulders and moving down to her breasts again.