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The goat in question wandered by, gave them a thoroughly disinterested look, and kept going.
“See?” he said.
Mercy opened her mouth to protest again, but his fingers slipped beneath her bloomers and any words she’d been about to say were choked off in a gasp.
“God Almighty, woman,” he groaned, pressing a finger into her. “If I’d known how ready you were for me, I’d have kicked Sunshine out hours ago.”
She laughed, her hands making quick work of his belt and the buttons on his pants. “If you had your way, you’d ship him off to Siberia.”
“Where’s that?” he asked. Then she slipped her hand beneath his waistband and wrapped her fingers around him.
“It’s over near—”
“Never mind, I don’t care.” His mouth crashed down on hers and he drew one of her legs up, wrapping it around his waist. “I can’t wait,” he said, yanking her skirts up and out of the way.
“Me either,” she said, doing what she could to get their clothing out of the way. She’d rip every stitch of it off if she had to, as long as—
He entered her before she could finish the thought and for a second, they both clung to each other, reveling in the feeling of being totally joined.
“Gray.” The word came out as more of a plea than his name.
“Hang on, darlin’,” he said, and for a second, she thought he wanted her to wait. She was about to protest when he began to move, and she realized he truly meant for her to hang on.
He set a punishing pace, and she clung to him, able to do little more than lean back andfeelas he thrust hard and deep. She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and drew him back down to her lips. He groaned and his movements faltered. But she was right there with him. Just one more…and she shattered.
“Gray,” she gasped, clutching at his shoulders as he gave a final thrust and stilled.
She let her trembling leg slide back to the ground and he moved just far enough away so that she could drop her skirts. But he didn’t let her away from the tree. He rested his head on her shoulder while they both struggled for air.
When they finally had themselves pulled back together, Gray offered Mercy his arm. He glanced back over his shoulder at the spot they’d just left.
“You know, that orchard might finally be growing on me.”
Mercy laughed. “You mean you don’t want to burn it down now?”
“Well, not that tree, at least.”
She rolled her eyes, but inside, her heart skipped.
The last few days had been so wonderful. But the nagging feeling that their peaceful days were numbered wouldn’t leave her. She shivered despite the warm sun and their recent exertions.
Josiah would strike soon. She just hoped they were ready when he did.
Chapter Nineteen
Gray watched as the blacksmith pulled out the bent pin from the wagon wheel.
“There’s your problem, Sheriff,” the blacksmith, Thomas Calvert, said. “How did you manage to do that?”
Gray rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “There may have been a goat incident.”
Tom laughed. “One of Miss Mercy’s goats?”
Gray nodded. “That Lucille. She chased the chickens into the yard as I was pulling out with the wagon and they spooked the horse. Took me for a bit of a ride around the yard. The wagon went up on two wheels and I heard a crack. I wasn’t sure it would hold long enough to get it into town. I’m actually surprised it did.”
“So am I,” Tom said with a chuckle. “How’d the chickens make out?”
Gray snorted. “They’re fine. Minus a few feathers, maybe. And Lucille completely ignored us all after nearly destroying the whole yard. The wagon here got the worst of it.”
