Chapter Five
A wayward lock of hair tickled Clover’s nose and she absently pushed it off her face as she studied the lists spread out on the bedcovers in front of her. She had carefully itemized and priced everything in the house they had decided to sell, even though she knew the prices would be negotiable. It had kept her very busy in the week since her wedding. Because not every potential buyer would have cash to spare, she had also made up a list of items they would accept in barter. Except for tidily copying each list over five times so that there would be enough for buyers to peruse and the sellers to refer to, she felt she was ready for the sale they would hold today.
She glanced at her new husband and decided she would not pester him to look over her lists. He deserved a good sleep. For the last three days he, Shelton, and Lambert had worked very hard. In addition to the horse trading and buying of supplies they needed to complete before they began the trip back to Kentucky, they had helped her get everything thatneeded to be sold arranged in the downstairs rooms. She resisted the urge to smooth her hand over Ballard’s broad back or burrow her fingers in his thick raven hair, and turned her attention back to her lists. A moment later a long dark hand appeared on her nightshift-clad thigh, which was exposed by her crosslegged position on the bed.
“I thought you were asleep,” she murmured, glancing at him again.
“I just thought I would wait until ye were done ogling me,” Ballard drawled.
“I was not ogling you,” she said haughtily as he rose, naked, and disappeared into the small privy chamber.
“Admiring me then,” he called back, and shut the door.
“What vanity,” she scolded, but smiled.
Clover shook her head and chuckled. So far their hasty marriage was working out well. She knew it was far too soon to tell whether it would be a success, but she did not think it was foolish to see their good beginning as an encouraging sign. A great deal of the awkwardness which might have come between them, simply because they were comparative strangers, did not seem to exist.
Several things about Ballard were already apparent despite their short acquaintance. He was a very clean man, and although rough in his manner, he was far more of a gentleman than many who had been born and bred to be one.
When Ballard returned to the room and walked to their bed, Clover stared blindly at her lists. It occurred to her that Ballard could do with a touch moremodesty. She was not sure she would ever get used to seeing so much man stride around unclothed.
Ballard smiled and Clover blushed as he sat down behind her. He draped his arms around her and stretched out his long legs, trapping her between them. As he nuzzled her neck, she felt both contented and aroused.
“What do ye have there, love?” he asked.
She found it difficult to think clearly when he was gently caressing her bare arms and kissing her nape, but managed to reply in a faintly unsteady voice, “I have been making up some lists. One is what we have to sell and one is what we might take in trade if a buyer does not have the necessary coin. Sadly, that is the situation for many people.”
“Have ye got things such as sugar and flour on that barter list?”
“Yes, right here,” she said with a touch of confusion, for he could see the lists for himself. She looked over her shoulder at him. “Ballard, can you read?”
“A wee bit. I ken enough to see what jar holds the poison.”
“Well, I can teach you.” She turned to face him, unable to hide her eagerness.
“Can ye now?”
“Yes. It will be somethingIcan giveyou.I mean, you have given me so much, I should like to repay that somehow.”
Ballard flopped back onto the pillows and tugged her down so that she was sprawled atop him. “Ye are already giving me plenty, lass.”
“Well, I was not, er, counting that sort of thing,” she murmured as he took away the lists she still held and placed them on a small table by the bed.
“That sort of thing counts very high with a mon.” He slid his hands up under her shift to cup her slender backside.
“Ballard, ‘tis morning!” she whispered in shock.
“What a clever wee darlin’ ye are.” He laughed softly as he kissed her throat.
“Ballard, I am going to hit you.” She smiled faintly, for her husky voice, thickened with the desire he was stirring inside her, completely undermined her threat.
“Mmm. Later, sweeting. Ah, lass, ye are a fine mix of lady and wanton. There ye are, blushing and looking so prettily innocent. Yet I ken that if I do this”—he slid his hands over her backside and pressed her body against his—“it starts your blood running hot and then ye meet my passion with all the fire any mon could ask for.”
Clover knew she was blushing even redder. She wanted to scold him for speaking so plainly, but then he slid his big callused hands up her sides and covered her breasts. As he kissed her, she decided to reprimand him later.
When Ballard rose from their bed once again, he stretched with pure male satisfaction. Clover roused herself from her sated lethargy enough to give his taut backside a sharp slap. She giggled when he yelped, more from surprise than from pain. He whirled to look at her and she smiled sweetly.
“I told you I would hit you.”
