Free Thing With Feathers (9781616634704) by Anne Sweazy-kulju Page A

before.”
    “Well, son, I hope you know there’s quite a difference between dairy cows and ladies.”
    “Shh.” Sean chuckled with a little embarrassment. “You know what I mean, Pa. I think I understand what goes where. Thanks anyway.”
    “Not so fast, boy, I mean, son. It ain’t just a matter of what goes where. And if that’s what you think, then you do need my advice. So now sit down. You got a minute you can spare your old pa.”
    They rested in the shade of the car, and Wyatt pondered only for a few seconds about what he should say.
    “Women need to be caressed, and they need to be talked to. They need compliments and hugs just as much as they need the sex.”
    “Pa—”
    Sean tried to interrupt, but his father held his hand out while he took a toke on his pipe.
    “You better believe they need it, son. Don’t make the mistake of thinking women have only a passing interest in the bedroom, that they are only fulfilling a wifely duty. They like it too. It just isn’t ladylike to admit it is all. You’ve got to be gentle with Blair, and you got to always remember to talk nice. Say good things, and say them often. Women don’t take a pledge of love as doctrine, Sean. There’s something in the way the female mind works that makes it so they need to be reminded of it often. If you stop telling her you love her, she’ll start thinking you’ve changed your mind. Then this giant fence gets built up with all those unsaid words of love, ‘til that fence is just too darned high and there’s no fight left for climbing. Do you understand me, Sean?”
    “Yes, sir. Pa, is that so? I mean about women liking it as much as we do?”
    Wyatt leaned into his son’s ear and whispered like a confederate, “Just between you and me, I believe they like it more.” He winked. “Now, are you absolutely certain you know what goes where?”
    Sean shook his head and laughed with his father. “Thanks, Pa.” He stood, dusted off the seat of his trousers, and turned to go.
    “Sean.” Wyatt turned Sean to face him by placing a concerned hand on his shoulder. “There’s something else that needs saying and…somethin’s not cricket. I know that much, but I don’t know what it is. I suspect it has a good deal to do with the preacher and why you don’t care none for the man. I trust your judgment, my boy, but I don’t want you to get hurt. Have you thought this all the way through?”
    “I have, Pa.”
    “Well, she’s an awfully sweet girl, son. Pretty as a peach too. But frail, I fear. She’s gonna need lookin’ after more than most.” He gave an amused chuckle. “Your ma is sure in all her glory havin’ Blair around. She’s the daughter…well, I don’t s’pose you’d remember that you had a baby sister for a short while.”
    “Really? What happened?”
    “Her name was Leslie. She just didn’t make it. It is a hard thing for your ma to talk about. She made me swear to never mention it. You were only two years old when she died. Leslie left us in her sleep without so much as a cry or a whimper. Your ma so wanted a little girl, and our little Leslie was such a joy. Women like havin’ baby girls to dress up like the dolls of their childhoods.”
    Sean smiled. “I’m really glad Ma’s taken such a shine to Blair. But you’re wrong about her, Pa. She’s stronger than you’ll ever know.”
    Wyatt Marshall nodded sadly. Something else needed to be said there, but how would he put it to words? So much about this pending matrimony was veiled and arcane, and it was clear both Blair and Sean wanted to keep it that way. “Sean, just remember that life is full of trials, and not one of us will win every trial every time.”
    His son gave him a questioning look, but Wyatt continued on.
    “Oh, I expect I’m not saying this exactly right, but I need you to understand something. Sean, there’s just no use pledging war with life’s trials. I’m not saying a good man walks away from ‘em, but a man needs to