Chapter 1
Maggie sipped her Black Jack and water and surveyed the other patrons of the saloon in the mirror behind the bar. A stately strawberry roan filly with thoroughbred lines, she naturally attracted the attention of men whether she wanted it or not.
Tonight, she didn't want attention. Or company. She let her eyes rove in the mirror, careful not to let her gaze dwell too long on any one person. She knew several of the people. She hoped they forgot their innate western hospitality for the moment and didn't stop by to chat.
Maybe I shouldn't even be here, she thought. Maybe I should have stayed home and found something to occupy my mind so I wouldn't think about how Bobby always works late and seems to have forgotten that I even exist.
"Hello, Margaret," a deep baritone voice said next to her.
Shit! I knew it would happen! Now I've got to fend off the advances of some half-drunk Lothario who thinks I'm fair game because I've got big tits and I'm sitting in a saloon by myself. Why can't they ever understand that no means no!
She turned her head slowly and looked at the man. "Oh, Jake. Hello."
"Oh, Jake?" he chuckled. "You make it sound as if I just got back from the moon or a suicide mission. Were you expecting someone?"
Maggie shook her head. "No. To be very honest, I thought you were some boozed-up masher trying to score a quick tumble in the hay."
"If I were, I could do a hell of a lot worse," Jake replied sincerely. "You looked pensive when I walked in. Am I disturbing you? I'll go sit at the end of the bar if you'd rather be alone."
"No, stay," she said quickly. "I'll even buy you a drink." She signaled the bartender. "Where's your wife?"
"Unless my calendar is wrong, this is her night with the girls. Bridge, coffee, gossip, plastic-wear party, home jewelry sales. Whatever. She tells me to get lost and does her own thing every Wednesday night.
"Yessir," the bartender said, automatically wiping the bar in front of Jake. "What'll it be? The usual?"
"Well, if I remember the lady's preference, the same she's having. And bring her another."
"Yes sir. Two Black Jack and branch water, no ice, coming up."
Maggie said, "You flatter me."
"Why, because I remember what you drink? I remember a lot about you, Maggie. I've had a crush on you since high school."
Maggie pushed her empty glass across the bar and picked up the fresh drink the bartender delivered. "Cheers," she said, lifting her glass to Jake. "I never knew."
"I didn't want you to know. Your family had money and mine was dirt poor. My old man was a lush who lost the K-Bar-6, remember. Don't think I'll ever live down the shame."
"None of that would have made any difference to me, Jake," Maggie replied quietly, sincerely.
"I thought it would."
Maggie shrugged. "You're the best lawyer in the county now. Maybe even in the state. Surely that makes up for a lot."
"Still a small county, Maggie. People don't forget those things." He took a sip of his drink. "Let's talk about something else. What are you doing out alone tonight?"
"Bobby is working late. Again. As usual. Take your pick. I just stopped in for a quick drink. Until you came along, I thought maybe I made a mistake. Some of the guys were beginning to give me the eye. With you here, I won't have to fend off lewd suggestions."
Jake chuckled. "I'll try to keep my suggestions from being too lewd." (r) "Why, Jake! Are you making a pass at me? What would Karen say?"
Jake put a quarter on the bar. "Go call her and ask her yourself."
"I should call your wife and ask her if it's okay to mess around with her husband? Sure I will," Maggie said ironically.
"Suit yourself."
"Don't hand me that line. What would you do if I did call her?"
"Wait right here for you. And, when she told you she had no objection, ask you to go upstairs with me. I want you, Maggie. I want you badly."
His proposition stunned her. She shook her head as she felt a heavy flow of juice from her pussy soak the crotch of her panties. "As you said, this is a small town. Everybody knows everybody. If you fart too loud, everybody knows. If you registered for a room and I left here with you, it would be all over town within an hour. I don't need that kind of grief."
"Karen is a city slicker, Maggie. She's a good gal, but she's a city slicker. City folks aren't like the people in this town. She won't give you any grief." He pushed the quarter closer to her. "Go ahead, ask her. I'm not feeding you a line of bullshit."
"Maybe she wouldn't give me any grief, but Bobby would. We aren't on the best of terms right now as it is."
"I don't have to register for a room. I keep one for out-of-town clients. Some of them have to drive three or four hours to get here, as you well know. Your ranch is an hour out of town. I spend Wednesday night here every so often, when Karen's parties run late. I'll leave first, you wait ten minutes or so and join me. Karen says I have the most talented tongue in the west. Don't you want to see for yourself?"
Maggie shook her head again. "Jake, if I hadn't known you most of my life, I'd say you're one arrogant, insufferable son of a bitch. I could call you that anyway, since you're a very successful lawyer. But, because we've been friends so long, I'll just remind you I'm married and say I'm not interested."
Liar! You know you're interested. You melt when a man licks your clit. How long has it been since Bobby ate your pussy? Can you even remember'! She shivered inside. You've had too much to drink, girl. You're about to march your cute ass up those stairs and see if he's telling the truth. Get out of here before you do something you might regret.
"Sure you are. Every woman is interested in being eaten until her knees are weak. If you and Bobby aren't hitting it off very well, you need someone like me. You probably do anyway. He doesn't strike me as the type who cares too much about a woman's pleasure."
Maggie's hand shook as she lifted her glass and emptied it in one gulp. She hoped he didn't hear the glass clink against her teeth. "Don't do this to me, Jake. Don't try to make it sound like an act of compassion. I don't need a mercy fuck, thank you very much anyway."
You'd better put some conviction in your voice if you expect him to believe you, girl! You sound like a weak-kneed pushover with round heels.
"No, you don't," Jake agreed. "And I wasn't trying to make it sound as if you do. Even if I knew you were getting everything you want and need from Bobby, I would still want you. I know, without an iota of doubt, you have one of the sweetest pussies this side of heaven, one a man who enjoys the taste of pussy could eat for hours."
"Whoa," Maggie muttered. "This conversation . has gotten close up and personal."
"Close up and personal is where I want to be," he replied. "With you. Room two-two-five. I'll wait ten minutes." He tossed a twenty-dollar bill on the bar and said to the bartender, "Give the lady another drink if she wants one, Carl. Keep the change." He strolled out without a backward glance.
Carl looked at Maggie and lifted one eyebrow.
She shook her head. "No. Time I started the long drive home and I don't want to smash up my buggy on the way. Even though Mr. Steele is the best lawyer around, he couldn't help me if I kill myself."
Carl nodded and smiled. "Good night, Mrs. Lord. Drive carefully."
Maggie went through the lobby to the ladies' room, waited a few minutes, then ducked around the corner to the stairs.
Wonder if Carl heard our conversation. He wouldn't deliberately spread the word, but he might let a casual remark slip to the wrong person. Did Jake really expect me to call his wife? Was he trying to give me some sort of message when he talked about Karen's parties? If so, I don't know what. If she sees a lover on Wednesday nights, the gossip would have spread all over the county long ago. Well, there's the door. If Jake, or more specifically his tongue, lives up to his own billing, the chance I'm taking might be worth it. If I'm going to back out, I'd better do it now. Once I cross that threshold, there's no turning back.
Her knees felt so weak, from both doubt and nervous anticipation, she was surprised they weren't knocking. She took a deep breath and tapped lightly on the door.