CHAPTER FIVE

Kate stretched and smiled contentedly beneath the cotton quilt, enjoying the feeling of awakening in her new home. Her home. Her home with Jessie. Although the bed beside her was empty, the warmth that lingered told her that Jessie had just gotten up. The sun was not yet high enough to brighten the room, and she sensed that it was just before dawn. She'd learned in just the few days she'd been there that Jessie always rose before the sun, as did the men in the bunkhouse that stood not far from the main house. The horses and other stock needed tending, and after a quick meal and coffee, the men often had to ride miles before they would reach whatever part of the ranch they would be working on that day. The hours of daylight were precious, and Jessie and her men worked from first light until last.

Although Jessie had insisted the first morning that Kate needed her rest and should not get up with her, Kate decided it was time for her to establish her presence in the daily life of the ranch. It was her life now, too. She rose and quickly dressed in the chill room, adding one of Jessie's shirts over her dress for extra warmth. She liked the feel of the soft cotton because it reminded her of resting her cheek against Jessie's shoulder when they embraced. Immediately, her body quickened to the memory of Jessie's warm, supple form against hers.

"Oh, Jessie," Kate murmured with a soft laugh. "I never could have imagined you."

She hurried downstairs and into the kitchen. The lamp glowed on the counter, and when she checked the coals in the cast-iron stove, she saw that Jessie had laid on wood. The bucket sitting next to the dry sink was filled with fresh water, too, but the coffeepot was still cold.

Humming quietly, Kate set about making coffee and gathering the ingredients to cook breakfast. She was just pulling biscuits from the oven when the kitchen door opened and a brisk breeze preceded her lover.

"Good morning." Kate set the baking tray on a cooling stone, dusted her hands on her apron, and met Jessie just inside the door.

Jessie wore her work clothes--denim pants, cotton shirt, leather vest, and a sheepskin coat. Her blue eyes were bright, her face flushed from the chill and wind, and she looked gorgeous. Kate wrapped her arms around Jessie's shoulders and kissed her. "Coffee's on and the bacon's almost done."

Jessie held her tightly and rubbed her face against Kate's hair. She was so wonderfully warm, so beautiful. "I still can't believe you're here."

Kate stroked Jessie's neck and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Where else would I be? I'm home."

"I love you."

"Mmm, I love you." Kate leaned back in Jessie's arms and regarded her playfully. "You took advantage of me last evening."

Feigning innocence, Jessie gave Kate one more squeeze, then let her go. She hung her Stetson on a peg inside the door, removed her coat, and draped it over the back of the wooden chair. Without looking directly at Kate, she said, "Can't think what you mean."

"Well," Kate said as she poured coffee into the large tin cups they used for everyday, "after we had a fine dinner, you laid on a fire in the bedroom and turned the lamp down so we could snuggle under the covers. Watch the fire a bit, you said."

Jessie laid out strips of bacon on two plates, added a biscuit to each, and carried them to the table. She sat down and gestured to the chair beside her. "This looks wonderful."

Kate sat and tapped her finger on the top of Jessie's hand. "Don't think I'm going to forget what I was saying."

"I can't think of any place I'd rather be than lying in our bed with you in my arms watching the flames dance in the fireplace," Jessie said quietly.

"You made it so I was so comfortable I'd fall asleep," Kate said, stroking Jessie's arm as she sipped her coffee.

"Now you're giving me credit for predicting the future," Jessie said with a laugh. She bit into the biscuit and made a small groan of approval. "They never taste like this when Sam makes them."

"Well, if I can't bake better than your trail cook, Hannah Schroeder will have my hide. She spent all of last summer teaching me how."

Jessie grinned. "Lucky for me."

"You let me sleep when you knew I wanted to do something altogether different last evening," Kate said accusingly, although she smiled tenderly.

"You needed to sleep, love," Jessie said quietly. If she had her way, Kate would not be up now cooking breakfast for her when it wasn't necessary. She was used to eating with the men at the bunkhouse or doing for herself. She didn't expect Kate to do it.

Kate narrowed her eyes. "You did plan it."

"Not planned, exactly. I just wanted you to be warm and comfortable in case you were tired." Jessie toyed with Kate's fingers.

"Besides, in another month we'll not need the fire at night, and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to lie close with you underneath the covers."

"We don't need an excuse to lie together, cold or warm, day or night." Kate stood and walked round behind Jessie's chair. She draped her arms around her neck and leaned down, her mouth close to Jessie's ear. "I bet the bed is still warm from last night. The sun isn't that high yet."

Jessie leaned back, pillowing her head between Kate's breasts, and closed her eyes. She shivered as Kate's hands brushed down her chest and inside her vest. "There might be something sinful about laying abed when it's time to be working."

"As hard as you work, I'm sure an hour would be forgiven."

Kate opened the top button on Jessie's shirt and stroked her chest. The skin there was warm, silky soft, and in her mind's eye she saw the tanned triangle between Jessie's breasts. She had always loved how unconcerned Jessie was about the things that her mother had taught Kate were of great importance, and yet had seemed to matter so little.

Jessie didn't hide her skin from the sun, and in the summer, she tanned a beautiful gold. Kate loved to follow that sun-kissed path down Jessie's throat until it blended with the smooth cream of her breasts. She traced her fingers along that route now, dipping beneath Jessie's undershirt to cup a small, firm breast.

"Lord, Kate," Jessie whispered, arching beneath her touch. "I can't think when you do that."

"How long do we have before Jed starts to worry and comes looking for you?"

"He won't, not for a good while." Jessie struggled for breath.

"Especially with him knowing that you're new to the ranch."

"Then come upstairs and give me my hour."

Jessie pushed up on rubbery legs, her coffee forgotten, and turned to take Kate in her arms. She kissed her forehead, her eyes, her mouth.

Kate had twisted her hair into a loose coil at the back of her neck and tethered it there with a ribbon. Jessie loosed the tie and released the black gossamer to shower around Kate's shoulders. "The way I'm feeling right this minute, I don't think I'll last anywhere near an hour."

"We'll see about that," Kate said, opening the next button on Jessie's shirt. She kissed the valley between her breasts, then higher into the hollow at the base of her throat, then the underside of her jaw.

When she reached her mouth, she brushed her lips lightly back and forth until Jessie opened for her. With short, quick, teasing strokes, she danced her tongue over the moist, warm inner recesses until Jessie's hands fisted in her hair and pulled her head away.

"Kate," Jessie grated. "You can't know what you're doing to me."

"I know," Kate panted. "I know and I love it."

"All these months I waited, missing you so much. Wanting you so much." Trembling, her eyes hot, Jessie tugged at the laces on Kate's bodice. "Every time I went to your house, I was afraid they'd turn me away."

"No." Kate framed Jessie's face, her own steady, tender gaze soothing the apprehension in Jessie's eyes. "Nothing will ever keep me from you again. I promise."

But Jessie knew that something could. She'd almost lost her.

She'd knelt by her bedside as Kate had slipped away. The agonizing desolation of that moment was burned into her consciousness deeper than any brand, the memory a living nightmare that haunted her day and night. She pulled open Kate's dress and filled her hands with her, lifting her breasts free and lowering her mouth to taste the life that coursed through her. "Oh, Kate, Kate. I need you so."

Kate cradled Jessie's head to her breast and caressed her cheek.

When she felt tears, her own heart nearly broke. She had no words to ease her lover's fears, no reassurances where none could truly be given. Her pledge could only be to live, day by day, loving her. "Jessie, darling. Take me upstairs so we can touch everywhere. I want you everywhere."

Jessie, taller and stronger, was lost in the grip of remembered loss and desperate desire. The weight of her passion as she drew a nipple into her mouth forced Kate back against the wall. Groaning, Jessie wanted, craved, more. She grasped the bottom of Kate's dress and pulled it up, wanting flesh against her flesh.

"Jessie," Kate murmured tenderly, catching Jessie's hand where it roamed restlessly over her thigh. "Jed. Jed might come."

The sound of Kate's voice, the touch of her hand, splintered the pain like glass on stone. Joy rode through her, and the relentless, choking dread eased. Jessie drew a long, sweet breath, then raised her head and gently gathered the front of Kate's dress together, covering her breasts. She kissed her softly on the mouth. "Forgive me."

"Oh, my darling. There's nothing to forgive." Kate laughed shakily. "I can only hope you always want me this way."