Free Home to Caroline by Adera Orfanelli Page B

his body told her he wanted to do more. “I’m home,” he whispered against her lips. “I’m home and I’m not going anywhere ever again.”
    She shivered, not from the wind which grew fiercer with every passing moment, but from the feel of his steely body against hers. The corded muscles in his legs and his broad chest reminded her of his masculine strength. An easy picture of his naked body filled her mind; she needed him to fill her body, try again even though the doctor had said there was no way to know if she’d be barren. The holster for a new-looking revolver pressed against her, a harsh reminder of these dangerous times. His well-trained horse stood nearby, cropping a few weeds from the field.
    A fat raindrop landed on her cheek.
    Still, the tears fell. She’d tried. Lord knew she’d tried to keep the farm running. With Samuel and the money gone…she shoved the thoughts aside. Standing on tiptoe she wrapped her arms around Travis’ neck and kissed him with every ounce of passion in her hungry, tired body. Maybe she hadn’t been the best wife while he was gone, but he was here now. She could change that. And maybe with him here, their love would be strong enough and she wouldn’t fail again.
    His mouth opened beneath her onslaught, his hunger that of a man who hadn’t seen his wife in nearly three years. Cupping his cheek, she drew him down to her, letting Dolly’s sturdy body support her back. More raindrops fell, a nectar to slide past their lips and sweeten their kisses. He flattened his hand on her rounded hip, drawing her against him, and she moaned, her hunger and plight forgotten.
    Lightning split the sky. A clap of thunder followed, rattling the ground beneath their feet.
    Drawing a ragged breath, Travis pulled away. “Let’s get inside.”
    Caroline nodded, her body humming from Travis’ nearness and his kiss. Securing the plow, she led a suddenly-enthusiastic Dolly back to the barn. Travis led his horse.
    “That’s not Ranger, is it?” Caroline halted Dolly inside the barn and proceeded to unfasten the harness. As much as she desired her husband, Dolly had taken care of her; she needed to return the favor.
    Travis shook his head as he led the bay horse without any white markings into a stall. “This is Dandy. He made quite the picture when he came to me from a Virginia farm. Doesn’t look quite so handsome or fine now, but we’ll get him fattened up in no time.” He rubbed a rag over the saddle.
    Caroline pressed her lips together, not wanting to think about their meager grain rations nor what might have befallen the brave and noble Ranger. “I’m afraid we’re a bit short on supplies.” She hung the harness on its peg in the wall, then turned to find Travis standing directly behind her.
    She stumbled back, his hands on her shoulders the only things steadying her. She drew a breath at his nearness, awareness flooding her body. She licked her lips.
    His eyes followed the movement. “Everyone is these days. We’ll make do.” He inched closer, the hardness in his body giving no quarter. One hand braced against the wall behind her head, the other reaching for her trousers. “Damn, you look good wearing those pants.” He cupped her ass and drew her against him. “You don’t wear them into town, do you?”
    She blushed thinking what a stir it would cause. “No. Only here on the farm.”
    “Good,” Travis growled. “I want to be the only one to see you like this.”
    Caroline swallowed hard. Tell him now, before you get any deeper in love with him and he settles back into his role as your husband. She couldn’t. It’d been so long since he’d held her like this, and she needed—no, she craved—the feeling of being wanted and desired again. Besides, he’d just returned home from the war, when so many wives would never see their husbands again. Laying her news at his feet now would be cruel, like an immediate slap in the face and more so than anything he’d seen on the