Chapter 20

I was up before the sun had risen; I silently brushed my teeth using the light that was from glowing coals in the fireplace. After spitting outside, I carried two logs to the hearth, and placed them in, banking the red embers around them. I quietly stood and paused at her door, looking in, gazing upon the woman I treasured. Samantha was asleep, her golden hair fanned around her face like the warm rays of the sun. I caught my breath; her look was so serene and peaceful. It was all I could do to not approach her slumbering form and smother her with kisses. It was best that I left and busied myself with chores.

I stayed away all throughout the entire morning, not even taking a moment to return for breakfast. Finally, my hunger was pushing me toward the house, it was close to noon. I slipped inside, and began to wash before Samantha even noticed me in the room. "Are you hungry? I made some soup." She asked, sitting a large bowl down, beside it she laid a spoon. "I thought you went home...that is, until I heard your horses in the barn."

"Are you going to eat?" I asked, as I pulled out the chair.

"I had already eaten when I thought you left. I was washing my dishes when I heard you inside the tool shed." She sat a cup of cool water at my place, "I thought you were mad at me." She studied my face, looking for a hint of anger. She found none.

"No...I'm not mad at you." I replied sincerely, "I just needed time to myself so I could think."

She smiled, "I do that too at times." She looked around, "Seems I have been doing it a lot lately." Samantha turned and walked into the kitchen, offering me a pleasant view that only helped to fuel my imagination. It was a vision of my beautiful Samantha, caring for my needs and those of our children. With a hopeful sigh, I returned to my bowl and ate, thankful that she was both beautiful and a very good cook. Each was items high upon my list that what I wanted in a wife.

After lunch, I headed outside and began to saw logs to length for splitting, working steadily until I had a great pile of sawn logs. I walked back up to the porch and retrieved my axe, then hesitated by the window, looking in on the woman I loved.

Samantha was standing before a tall mirror, and she was wearing the dress I had just brought out for her. God, she looked stunning with her full bosom, slender waist and rounded hips! I swallowed at the sight of her youthful beauty in its prime...and yet, so distant from my own embrace.

With a heavy, lustful sigh, I rested the axe upon my shoulder and returned to the pile. I bent down and stood the first log on its end, with one stroke, I split it in two halves. With each repetitive motion, I fell into a rhythm. I continued splitting the logs, all throughout the day, not stopping until long into the afternoon.

I finally finished and paused, wiping sweat from my brow. "Care for a cool drink, Quin?" I looked behind me as Samantha stepped off the porch, still wearing the dress I saw her trying on just a short while ago. I stood in silence, my eyes drinking in the vision she greeted me with.

"Wow!" I gasped, "You look really great!"

Her face blushed, "You're just saying that."

"Not hardly, you look stunning!" I replied wide-eyed as I slowly walked around her, and absorbed the view she offered to me. With a trembling hand, I received the cup from her and took a drink of the water it contained.

This was going to be a tough night.

Chapter 21

After supper, I went outside to feed the horses, watered them and gave each some clean straw bedding. As I moved about inside the barn, I could feel a slight chill in the evening air. By the time I had finished, I could actually see my breath as it floated out, as the vapor was highlighted against the lantern hanging from a peg.

I blew out my lantern, strolled out into the night air and headed to the woodpile. My only lighting was from the brilliant moon, high above, which provided plenty of light. There was a scent of hickory in the air, carried upon a faint breeze. I smiled; my resourceful feminine companion had already started a fire in the fireplace. I continued smiling as I picked up an armful of logs from the woodpile and returned to the house, eager to once again feast my eyes upon the girl I loved.

As I threw open the door, she looked up from the book she was reading. She was down on the floor, seated on a great pillow; Boots was curled in a small ball upon her lap. "I have more wood for the fireplace; there appears to be a chill in the air."

"I thought so too, that's when I decided to build a fire." She turned the page and returned to her book, using the light from the fire as her lamp.

I crouched down and began to stack the wood into the bin, then tossed a log into the fire and worked it deeply into the glowing coals using a long iron rod. Placing the rod back against the field stone fireplace, I sat down Indian style on the floor next to her. "What's that book you're reading? It sure must be interesting?" I said as I leaned against her, glancing over her shoulder.

"A book I found back in the bedroom," she said, holding it up and looking over toward me.

I leaned lengthways on my side, resting my head on my hand, "I never had much use for books, although reading them has helped me quite a bit, inside the store."

She studied me for a moment, then slowly smiled and continued to read to herself. I could feel my eyes growing heavy, but I fought it and began to watch the fire as the log finally took hold. "You want to read aloud some?" I asked, hoping it would help me to stay awake.

"I can if you wish." She paused and looked down at me. "This story is one of my favorites, written by a man called William Shakespeare."

I nodded, and was quickly swept into her reading. It was not so much being drawn in by the story itself, but more so by the melodic tones of her voice. I again felt my eyes drawing shut, being pulled further and further away from her sensual voice as she read aloud to me.

I lay against my pillow, resting comfortably. Outside, a rooster crowed and a horse whinnied. I could feel against my neck the kitten, Boots, as it lay curled in a ball. I smiled, wondering to myself how Samantha would feel, knowing that her kitten had deserted her for me. I yawned and as I opened my eyes, as I did, I noticed a bright beam of light crease across my face and pillow as I lay there. As I became more and more alert, I raised my head from my pillow; Boots climbed down and waddled into the kitchen where his bowl was kept.

"Oh...shit!" I growled as my back argued with my movements. I struggled to my knees and slowly rose up, "That'll teach me to sleep on the floor...dumb ass." I scolded myself. I threw another log into the dying coals, and then ground it in, hoping that it would be enough to take the chill from the room.

Returning the iron rod to where I found it, I glanced to the book on the floor. It was the one that Samantha had been reading. She too had fallen asleep where she sat...and I had been using her lap as my pillow.

Using the wall, I slowly climbed into a standing position, trying to ease my aching back to normal. I stretched and shuffled quietly into the kitchen. I started a small fire in the stove and began to reheat the coffee that we had last night for supper. As the fire took hold, I stepped outside and headed toward the outhouse privy. By the time I returned to the house, she was up as well brushing her teeth.

While I washed in the basin, she strode passed and draped a towel over my shoulder. "You feel like eating breakfast?" she asked.

I shrugged. "Coffee's fine enough for me," I said, as my eyes followed her as she moved about the kitchen. She went to the cupboard and pulled two cups down, then turned and leaned against the table.

I began to dry my hands, and then I gave her a wry smile. "Sorry about falling asleep on you, it wasn't like I didn't want to hear you read to me."

If I had been worried, her soft smile chased that from my mind. "Its okay, the part I was reading was very boring. Sometimes Shakespeare is like that."

I smiled and hung the towel on the little wooden dowel that spanned the tall posts of the table that the basin was resting upon. "I do love to hear your voice when you read, though." I gave her a very serious look as I began to brush my own teeth.

Her face reddened slightly, "Th...thank you, Quin." Changing the subject, she quickly turned and poured out the coffee. She took a drink of hers and made a face.

I quickly stepped outside to spit, feeling uncomfortable of her seeing me. I smiled as she was still making that face. "It's probably pretty strong." I chuckled, "It's good for you though, and it’ll put hair on your chest." I glanced at her and realized what I had said, "Uh...not that we want to be doing that to you."

She briefly touched her chest, and then quickly removed her hand. "Will you be needing my help today?" she asked.

"I have to split more wood and try to gather up some prairie straw for bedding." I spun a chair around and sat on it backwards. She glanced down, and then quickly turned to face the kitchen washtub.

I frowned at her action, wondering at the antics of feminine behavior, yet shrugged to myself and took another long drink of the steaming coffee. Finally she turned back around and sat down opposite me, keeping the table between us. Slowly she looked back up, her eyes meeting mine once again.

"I'll do the prairie grass while you split the wood." For a fraction of a second, her eyes danced downward, but stopped at my coffee cup. "Will that help?"

I nodded, "Or, we could work together; I like it when you help me." I drank some more and placed my cup back onto the table, "There's no need of you going off by yourself to help me do my chores."

She absentmindedly bit at her lower lip, "I suppose so...but I'm not going to wear a dress to do this work."
I smiled, "Sure, I'd like it if you wore nothing at all."

She tried to hide her smile. "Quin, you know very well what I mean!"

I laughed and stood, "Grab yourself a bite, change your clothes and I'll be waiting for you outside." I quickly swallowed down the bitter coffee, turned and headed outside toward the woodpile.

I had split several logs and was busy stacking what I had when she came outside, and I glanced up at her as she approached. She had donned old blue jeans and a long sleeve man's button-down shirt. Under that, I could just make out women's under-things. "These probably come closer to fitting me than your friend Kodiak's would have." I smiled and nodded at her sarcasm.

She bent down and started to help me stack the wood, I felt my eyes drawn to the way her boyish pants hugged her shapely bottom. Trying to remove my mind from her sensual pleasures, I again took up the axe and began to split wood.

Within an hour, we had gone through the stack of wood that I had already cut to length. "Looks like we need to saw some more." she observed.

I walked to the pile of long logs and picked up my gloves. I handed them to her and gave a knowing smile. "You'll be needing these."

She smiled and slid them onto her soft hands, at the same moment; I lifted up my big saw and rested it upon the long log. Without a word she took her end, grabbing the handle so we could begin to cut the logs to length.

As we worked, I watched her buttons come undone again. One by one they popped from their holes, opening up a great view for my eyes. I knew that it was wrong and ungallant of me to not say anything, but I couldn't help keep my lustful eyes from this scene. God, she was beautiful!

We stood in the warm sun, sawing for almost two hours straight. At last we ran out of the long lengths of timber. She leaned against the fence that ran toward the corral, her elbows resting on the rail. Once again I felt my eyes drawn to her creamy bosom, sweat glistening in the sunlight. I closed my eyes and sighed, wondering how much more of this temptation I could withstand.

I carried my cross-cut saw back to the shed, while Samantha drew a clean bucket of water from the well. As I returned, she was splashing the cool liquid upon her face. "I'll get you some fresh water," she said as she tossed aside the water she used then dropped the bucket back down into the deep well.

She returned the full bucket to the edge of the well, then handed me a dipper of water. As I took it, my eyes were met with her wet front, feminine nipples clearly showing through the gauzy material.

I had seen her naked before, but almost ill from her near drowning. This was different; she was awake and entirely unaware what her revealing was doing to me. I quickly buried my head in the bucket, allowing the entire contents to well up around my neck.

From my watery hiding place, I could hear her giggling. As I removed my head, water ran down my face and onto my shirt. "Feel better?" she laughed. "Or, are you trying to drown yourself?"

"Just trying to cool down," I replied, again wiping water on my face and neck, my eyes barely able to tear away from the little darkened, circles of heaven, hidden just beneath her clothing.

"Come on" she said, and then began to walk back to the woodpile. Once I returned, she handed me the axe. "I'll stack." She laughed.

All I can really say about the next hour and a half was...wow! What a view that I had, her constant bending over, seeing her breasts as they moved around in her loose clothing...it was a miracle that I didn't hurt myself with that axe! When we ended, I returned to the well to try and drown myself again, hopeful that the water would wash away the lustful images in my thoughts.

By the time I had finished at the well, she was done stacking. She had come back toward me as I just took the entire bucket and threw it over my head, letting it wash completely down my body. When I handed her the bucket, she laughed because the water had pasted my hair to the side of my face.

"Uh...I'll head on down to the meadow and get started on that straw." I quickly strode away toward my tool shed, as fast as my tired legs would carry me. I was afraid she'd see what she had done to me; I could already feel the stiffening in my crotch from that brief moment of being near to her.

"I'll be right down," she said, tossing the bucket into the well for her own refreshing cool water.

Chapter 22

When I want to try and push something from my mind, I do so with great earnest. I began to cut the grasses down with great swaths of the long blade, and as they fell, I gathered them up into a huge pile. Again and again this happened, until I wondered if Samantha would come at all. Finally as I looked up, she was standing not far away.

"Looks like you've been busy." She waited for me to pause, and then slowly walked over. "I brought some cornbread and honey." She raised a basket that she held in her right hand.

"Some cool water in the jug?" I asked, indicating the crock in her left hand.

She smiled, "To wash it all down."

I set aside my great scythe, leaning it against a convenient log. Samantha stood with the sun dappling the beautiful features of her face, "Uh...thanks." I stammered. Again, my eyes were drawn to the opening of her blouse; I took the jug and pulled the cork that held the water in. With one eye on her, I began to drink, then poured cool water on my hankie, wiping my neck of its sweat.

I could take it no more, setting the jug down I stepped to her side. Gathering the material in my hand, I gently pulled it together, attempting to remove the torment from my view. She glanced down and stepped backward, causing the entire length to unbutton.

I stood with my mouth open, unable to form the words of regret that perched upon them. Shocked, she angrily clenched her perfect jaw then screamed, "How dare you!"

She angrily shoved me backward. One minute I was standing, the next I was lying among the thick pile of prairie straw. Before I could rise up, she was upon me with her small fists. Each girlish punch landed no harder on me than a great horsefly, and each futile blow caused me to laugh more than anything, which only made her angrier.

She kept swinging at my face, which between laughing, I finally was able to grasp her wrists and roll her onto her back in one sudden move. "That'll be enough of that, Samantha!" I scolded, and then fought off another urge to laugh.

She was breathing heavily, her beautiful bosom rising and falling with each breath. She struggled again violently, throwing her entire body from side to side. Again, I held her still. "Please, Samantha, I wasn't trying to do anything to you."

"Get off of me!" she demanded. "If I was back in my old body..." She again tried to force me from my hold on her, squirming under my strength.

"I'm not letting you up, until you've let me say my piece!" I shook my head, still using my weight to hold her to the straw. "Your blouse opened up while we were sawing, but...I was just trying to close it."

Again she struggled, "Get off of me, Quin!" Eventually she sighed and finally ceased her struggle on her own. "I can close my own shirt...THANK YOU!" Samantha responded sarcastically.

I looked into her eyes, trying to be as truthful as I could. "Samantha, you're a beautiful girl.
You...sometimes do things that...well that, keep putting thoughts into my head." I let my eyes glance quickly, from her beautiful eyes to her soft, moist lips.

"Like what?" she snapped. "You tell me exactly what I'm doing, and I'll stop doing it right away!"

"Well, like just...looking so damned beautiful!" She looked back into my face with an air of shock. "I can't help thinking it," I said, softening my voice.

"Quin, you can't possibly find me..." I never let her finish, in that instant, I lost my battle. My lips fell gently against hers, their hunger being sated as they closed the distance between us in an instant. Her head struggled for only a moment, and then settled into a kiss with me. I eased my grasp upon her, but as soon as I had, I felt her hands upon my face caressing my cheek.

I slowly released her, as I did; Samantha's eyes began searching mine. "Do you realize what you're asking me to give up?" Her voice trembled, "If I were to respond in the way you seem to be longing for, I'd have to accept the very identity that I've been trying so hard to avoid!" She let her eyes drift away, as if her promise once again, began battling inside her mind. Finally, her voice softly replied, "Quin, I know that I said that I'd try...but, what you're wanting...would mean forever!" Her look revealed the turmoil she was facing, to decide between a life I assumed she once imagined, and that of her real destiny.

My mind raced as I realized that she was faltering once again. "Perhaps I could persuade her? Another kiss might make her realize what I felt in my heart, and melt the ice in her own." It was a chance, teetering in the balance was my relationship with this beautiful girl...but should I take it?

I again leaned down, compelled to kiss her slender throat. I felt her hands slowly drop from around my head and neck, as much as I hated to, I stopped. She stared into my eyes for several seconds, our words unspoken. My gaze danced between each captivating eye as if looking for an answer I so desperately wanted to hear. Finally without a word, she drew me in, placing my face near her soft lips. I obliged, and began to kiss her passionately.

It was me this time and my promise to her that caused me to hesitate. With a great effort, I pulled myself away, raised myself from her slowly and sat up. She also sat upright, and began to button her top. "I...I'm sorry, Samantha." I looked down at the yellowed grasses beneath my outstretched legs. "That's twice now that I've taken advantage of you like that..." Her eyes slowly drifted toward the prairie straw beneath me, I lifted her chin, forcing her to look directly into my eyes. "I want you so much that I can hardly stand it, Samantha...but I'll not have it that way." I picked at the golden grasses that were clinging to her hair, "I wish you'd love me as well, but I don't want you going through the motions because you think it is something that I want!"

She placed her hand upon mine, "Its okay...I'm not upset with you; at least, not anymore."

I smiled and stood, pulling her up along with me. "I guess...we'd better get back to work." I didn't want to, I would rather sit and stare into her beautiful face, but I knew that I must rein in my heart. It was one of the single hardest things I have ever done, turn away from the girl I loved.

As I took a step away from the pile, Samantha pulled at my arm causing me to turn back around. "Quin, if it's any consolation...I'm having strange feelings for you as well. And, I'm not sure how I should handle them, or if I even WANT to handle them." I said nothing, just stood watching her as she spoke. "You can't imagine what it's like to be a boy, suddenly transformed into a girl...then left to deal with feminine thoughts as they run rampant through my head!"

I hugged her as she began to cry, still trying to speak through her tears. "Sometimes I feel as though I'll go insane, forced to deal with those thoughts. Part of me wants to hold you like I know you wish, part of me wants to run back up to that mountain and throw myself from its highest ledge." Her sobs broke her down, she buried her face into my chest, I could feel the wetness from her tears. Still, I could do nothing, unsure at what to say to her. Instead, I held her close and gently stroked her soft hair, hoping that some great, inspired words would suddenly appear in my mind...I could say nothing. After all this time, how could she still think that she had once been a boy?

Samantha slowly pushed away from me and picked up the jug from where it fell into the pile of cut prairie straw. Reluctantly, I again took up the scythe and walked to the edge where I had stopped cutting. Behind me, Samantha fell to her knees in the cut grasses and began crying. She had moved to where I couldn't see her...but I could hear the soft sobs of a woman in turmoil with her emotions.

I gave her the space I thought she needed, keeping to my task, yet I really wanted to comfort the girl I loved. After several agonizing minutes, I looked back. Samantha was sitting quietly on the log, her eyes rimmed with tears. I paused and leaned against the scythe, "If you want, why don't you go back up to the house. I'll be fine here."

She never looked up, nodded sadly, stood and drifted toward the path back to the farm. I was sure that she was troubled about the feelings that I had shared...and perhaps those she was harboring for me. Yet in my clumsy nature, I didn't know what to say, let alone how to say it.

I hesitantly returned to my work, but my thoughts betrayed my real desires and my wants. After a few minutes, I glanced backward through the thin trees that lined the edge of this meadow. There she was, becoming a distant dot in the golden swaying grass that lined the path. "Damn...I'm such an idiot!" I angrily exclaimed, hoping that I didn't just destroy the one chance I had with beautiful Samantha.

Chapter 23

As darkness fell that cool evening, I slowly rode back to town. I was deep in thought, unsure of what my future with Samantha would be. After the time spent in the meadow, I was more certain than ever that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I was sure that Samantha knew what I wanted, but I doubted whether she would be so inclined to agree with me. I had never met another girl quite like her, beautiful and not afraid to work...the all around package that every man seeks in a woman.

I sighed, and then shook my head. If she wouldn't hang onto the silly notion that she once used to be a male, she might come around to actually enjoying what I could do for her. I smiled, imagining us again on the straw, but this time, my mind filled in what I had wished would've happened. How could I move past my want for her company? Did I want to even try? No, I decided. I'd wait for her to come around, even if it took years.

I mulled these thoughts over and over in my head, until I finally realized that I was nearing town. Within minutes, I guided my horse into our barn and stepped down. I removed the saddle and hung it over a rail, then saw to the care of my horse. I heard a movement behind me and turned slightly, there trotted Grandfather's faithful old dog, Gypsy.

"Hey there girl," I said softly, and then began stroking her fur. "Did you miss me?" She responded with a gentle wag of her tail.

I patted the old dog on her side and began to walk to the back of the Mercantile. In the window, I could see Grandfather's silhouette as he was looking to see who was approaching from the barn.

He met me at the door, opening it for both the dog and me to enter; in his hand he held a lantern, the soft glow more than enough to light our way. "I was wondering if you were planning on coming home tonight," he teased, and then bent over to pet Gypsy.

I laughed and walked up the steps that led away from his store, "You should see the place, Grandfather! It's really beginning to look like someone's living there."

"I'd like to see it, how about this coming weekend...if I'm feeling up to it?" He said as he took the stairs more slowly, waiting for Gypsy to squeeze past him and lumber up the steps ahead of the both of us.

He blew out the flame of the lantern and hung it on a hook, then walked with me into the main part of his house. As we entered his parlor, I took a seat on a couch that had been imported from back east, long before I had come to live with my elderly guardian. Grandfather sat in his leather chair, easing himself down slowly. "Grandfather, when you met Grandmother...did you know that you were going to marry her?" I asked.

He laughed and rubbed the stubble that grew upon his chin, "You find yourself a little girlfriend?"

I shrugged, "Maybe."

"Maybe?" he asked. "You either have or you haven't...which is it?"

I played with a small crocheted doily on the arm of the couch, "She beautiful, Grandfather. I'd give my life for her, but I'm not sure if she feels the same about me."

"She does know you care for her?" he asked his voice growing soft and caring.

I nodded, "I've told her that I was in love with her...she knows, only, I may have just blown any chance I had." I looked at Gypsy and I sighed deeply; she raised her eyes to me and thumped her tail softly against the floor.

He leaned forward in his chair, "Is that where you've been all these times? Out there trying to spark this girl, doing God knows what with her?"

I shot him a quick glance, fear building suddenly in my heart. When I saw the twinkle in his eye, I relaxed and smiled. "No, I've really been working on the house...it's just..."

"Out with it!" he interrupted, "We don't keep secrets from each other, Quin."

I nodded, "You're right, I need to come clean with you, Grandfather." I sighed; he had a worried look cross his features. I glanced away, and then forced myself to look him in the eye. "The girl, the one I love, she's been living at the old homestead. At first, I thought she was a squatter and decided I might chase her off...but instead..."

"You've let her stay there...haven't you?" he smiled his knowing grin.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise as he continued, "She's been there for quite some time, hasn't she?" Again I nodded, wondering just how much he actually knew.

He scratched at his white hair, and then stared at me for several seconds. "You need to decide if she's what you're looking for in a wife, or not. Would she accept if you asked her?"

I shrugged, "I've tried to ask her several times...I'm afraid that if I press her too much, she'll tell me no."

He frowned, "Has she actually came out and said, 'no'?"

"Not exactly, she just keeps saying that she'll think about it." I waited to see his expression, but what I received was something entirely unexpected.

"Well, she hasn't said no...So, the door's still open." He smiled then crossed his leg, pulling it up for the last few inches until it rested upon the other knee. "Is she pretty? What's her name?"

I smiled; at last there was something I was eager to talk about. "Her name is Samantha. She's very pretty, Grandfather. I've never seen a lovelier girl before in my life!"

He grinned, "What do you know about her folks? Are they good people?"

"She has no parents. Samantha ran away from the orphanage about a year or so ago. She found her way up the mountain, and stayed with Kodiak for the winter. Once he found a window in the weather he escorted her off his mountain. That's when she came to be living at the homestead." He stopped smiling when he heard my answer.

"You know as well as I do that the girl must have slept with Kodiak if she was on that mountain for the winter. She would have had to do that just to stay warm…and you know how Kodiak is about women on his mountain.. Did you ask her about that?" He leaned back in his chair, the movement made the leather skin on the chair groan.

"Grandfather, I did ask her and she said that they shared the bed only to stay warm. She said that not once did Kodiak ever try anything with her. I believe her, Grandfather...she has no reason to lie to me. Kodiak is a good man, he would never harm anyone unless they tried to harm him."

He took a deep breath and patted the arm of his chair, and the sound caused Gypsy to raise her head from where she had been laying. "Just be careful, a girl like that could spell trouble." He grinned slowly and then reached across to slap my knee hard. "Your grandmother could spell trouble, but that never stopped her from marrying me either."

He began laughing at his own joke, it caused me to chuckle too, though I wasn't sure if he had truly been kidding me. I decided that he was, although with Grandfather...you really never were sure.

Chapter 24

I gradually pulled away from the long porch, the morning was bright and clear. Meandering behind the buggy was Gypsy, trotting beside Grandfather and I as we headed out to the homestead. I felt a twinge of worry as I hadn't had a chance to notify Samantha about our surprise guest, but I felt she was pretty resourceful and would be prepared, nonetheless, for anything that might happen.

Behind us, in the back of the buggy, were some supplies that Grandfather insisted me to bring. He knew that life away from town would be rough for a young woman alone on her own and he wanted to take something to help make it bearable. He smiled when he caught my glance, "Oh don't be so worried, Quin, I'm not going to run her off!"

"I know Grandfather, I just never said anything to let her know that we were coming out today," I sighed deeply as I ended, still afraid of angering the woman I cared so much for.

He laughed again, "You have always gone there unannounced. Are you afraid that she'll meet us at the door buck naked?"

His comment caused me to laugh aloud, "It's pretty obvious that you don't know Samantha very well."

He gave me a playful elbow, "Apparently, you don't either...if you did, you'd be married to her by now! Besides, a woman is a woman...they only have one thing on their minds."

I felt my face grow warm, "Not Samantha, that's the last thing she wants to do."

He smiled, "Now what would you think that I was meaning?" He shrugged his shoulders and snickered, "All I was getting at, is every woman wants to be married to a successful man."

I shook my head, giving him a sideways glance, "Yeah, Grandfather, I'm sure that's what you were getting at."

He elbowed me and laughed aloud, but I knew my grandfather meant nothing by his teasing, and I was used to it. I sighed, thinking to myself, 'But would Samantha be able to take Grandfather's teasing?' I could only hope that she would be able to withstand it for the evening.

I grew quiet; the further we rode, the more afraid I became that Grandfather would not like Samantha, or that she would make him angry and he'd tell her to go. By the time we passed our outer corral, my stomach was entirely twisted in one great knot.

I pulled the buggy to a stop as soon as I reached the porch, quickly jumped down and raced to Grandfather's side. As one horse nickered, the door opened and there stood Samantha. "Hi, Samantha...uh...Grandfather wanted to meet you."

Her eyes suddenly showed fear, "I...uh...I just stopped," she stammered, trying to come up with a believable excuse to give the elderly man for her being here.

Grandfather laughed, "Oh don't bother, child, Quin has told me all about you!"

Her eyes quickly shot to me, so before she jumped to conclusions, I spoke. "Yeah. I told Grandfather that you ran away from the orphanage and found your way here, I told him that you met up with our friend, Kodiak, while you were on the mountain." I gave her a look that told much more than I needed to say, but finally she calmed down and stepped toward Grandfather.

He placed his arm around her and hugged her fiercely, "I can see why Quin's so hung up on you, if I were only about 60 years younger...I might give him a run for his money."

It was obvious that she didn't know what to say, her face grew red and she gave me a slight frown. I just smiled and shrugged.

Grandfather stepped inside the house and walked over to the hearth, slowly running his hand upon the mantle. "Made this with my own hands, sure was heavy."

I walked inside the house, carrying the box of supplies. Grandfather stepped across and motioned for me to set it on the table. "I don't like coming into a home empty handed, Samantha, I like to pay my own way...if you will."

Again Samantha gave me a look, but I could only give her a wry smile. We both looked up and Grandfather was watching us. "You going to kiss him or what?" He teased. Samantha didn't know what to say, but my grandfather continued. "Oh, for crying out loud, Quin. She wants a kiss, so give her one."

I hesitated, afraid that Samantha might slug me for attempting it. I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable, leaning in toward her, I felt our lips touch lightly. "Is that all the better you two can do? Hell, lovers are supposed to kiss like they mean it...not like a brother and a sister!"

Samantha frowned at him, which only caused Grandfather to snicker. Then turning to me, she smiled, saying, "Welcome back, Quin." Then she planted a kiss that curled my toes! I only wished that Grandfather hadn't been there so I could explore that kiss much, much further.

"That's better. At least you're acting like you mean it!" He laughed and began to set items upon the table from the box. He had just about anything a person would want, perfumes, soaps, creams and other types of toiletries and then there was food. Samantha blushed at some of them items she saw he had.

"Th...thanks, Sir," she stuttered, not exactly sure on what to say.

He held his finger into the air, “I am not some high-falooten city slicker even though I live in town…call me Grandpa, okay? I stopped being 'sir' a hell of a long time ago” He clapped his hands together, creating a startling 'boom' from the motion, causing Samantha to jump. "So, I guess I've got the back bedroom?" He said with a laugh?

Samantha turned, "You're staying the night?" Her voice sounded worried.

"Were staying for the night?" I asked, Grandpa nodded and smiled. I felt my stomach drop as I turned and relayed what she already now knew. "I guess Grandfather wants to stay the evening."

"What about your store?" she asked, searching for reasons that would prevent him from remaining longer than the night.

"Yeah, what about the store?" I asked, grasping at straws.

Grandfather laughed, "If you're worried that I'll get in the way of you two youngsters, don't. I'll be so quiet that you won't know I'm here!" He slowly began to make his way around the house, as if meeting an old friend once again.

I rolled my eyes, whispering softly, "I find THAT hard to believe!" Samantha heard and covered her mouth to hide the smirk, yet, neither of us was sure if Grandfather had heard what I said.

She looked back toward my grandfather as he was inspecting the bedrooms, "And where will YOU be sleeping?" I knew she was directing her question toward me and as I began to answer, Grandfather heard and poked his head around the corner.

"Oh come on, it's not like you two haven't been together...I might be old, but I ain't dead! You kids can have the big bed, I'll be fine in the little one."

Samantha gave a hard swallow; I could see her throat muscles working as she contemplated what Grandfather was implying. "I...I can't!" she whispered to me.

Grandfather walked back out into the room, "Look here kids, I know you two have been seeing quite a lot of each other over the past several weeks. I wasn't always old, I know what happens when you put two young folks in a big home alone...sooner or later, they start to explore."

I frowned which caused him to laugh, but Samantha was speechless. "I'm right, aren't I?" he chuckled as he walked past me and hit my stomach with the back of his hand, then headed outside.

I expected more of an argument from Samantha. She turned in a huff, but remained quiet busying herself in the kitchen with what would be our lunch. I walked out and stood by him on the porch, "Grandfather, you've put us in an uncomfortable situation...we've never slept with each other."

He smiled and rubbed his eye, "But you've wanted to...am I right?"

"Well, sure...what guy wouldn't want to sleep with a beautiful woman," I sighed.

"Nuff said," he chuckled to himself as he began walking toward the barn.

He paused at the woodpile, "There isn't enough wood yet to last her the winter...you planning to spend it out here with her?"

I followed him and stopped beside the pile, "I told her that if we didn't get enough, she might have to spend the winter in town."

He nodded, speaking bluntly, "Tell her that she can winter with us, and she can share your room."

My heart began to race, because that suggestion might just put her over the edge! I sighed deeply, and hurried behind him as he continued toward the barn.

Chapter 25

All throughout the day, I felt a strange uneasy eagerness for the evening to arrive. I wanted to be alone with Samantha, yet I was afraid of pushing her away. By night, Grandfather headed outside to the privy and Samantha quickly ran into the bedroom; it was her intention to change into night clothes before he returned. When he did, I hesitated at going to bed, hoping that I could out-wait him.

He finally sat down in the rocker, pulling it near the fire for light. "Go on to bed, she's waiting for you."

"Grandfather..." I whispered, "I can't."

He only made a motion with his head, so I sullenly stood up and glanced at the door. "You're eighteen, Quin. You two won't ever take that step until you've actually taken THAT step. Now...get in there and love your girl."

I could tell that he was determined in waiting me out, so I reluctantly albeit slowly stepped toward the bedroom as if I were approaching the gallows.

I entered the room and stood in the dark at the foot of her bed, and I saw that she was watching me. "You might as well get in, he won't hear of you sleeping on the floor," Samantha whispered softly.

I pulled my shirt over my head and placed it upon the chair where her dress was laying. I sat down and removed my boots and pants. "I can lie on the covers..." I whispered softly.

I heard her whisper desperately, "You actually think he'll let you get away with that?"

"What do you want me to do, Samantha? You say it and I'll do it!" I looked back at her head as it rested upon the pillow as I spoke.

"Just get in bed, nothing has to happen," she whispered.

I crawled in, clad in only my long underwear. She lay still, looking at the ceiling. Beneath the covers I felt her hand, and slowly I grasped it with my own. "I'm sorry, Samantha. I never thought he'd expect us to sleep together."

"It's okay; it was bound to happen sooner or later." Her whisper fell into my ears like the soft notes of a beautiful song. I turned in surprise to look at her.

"Really? You actually think that it would have happened?" I heard Grandfather pass the door, his shadow moved against the light as he shuffled to the back bedroom. As I followed his sound with my eyes, I felt a light touch against my chest.

Looking down, I watched Sam's hand as she gently caressed my chest. "I miss having a flat chest..." she sighed.

I closed my eyes, feeling a stir in my loins. "I'm glad you don't have one." I replied honestly.

I felt my body tremble, she sighed and rolled toward me and rested her head upon my shoulder. Her soft breath floated against the few sparse chest hairs that I had sticking out of the neck hole of the long-johns, her soft breath causing a tickle that raced into the pit of my stomach...and beyond. "I know the chances for me to return to my old self are probably lost, and I imagine I'll have to remain in this body forever."

I gently touched her slender arm as I pulled her into my chest further, "It'll be okay." I whispered, caressing her arm.

"I know," she sighed.

I gently hugged her, "No matter what, I'll be there for you, Samantha."

She looked up at my face, and then she suddenly began to gently stroke my tiny nipple with her fingertip! "Sam...you shouldn't." I gasped softly, unsure if she was trying to test my promise to her in the meadow, or if she really knew what she was doing to me.

She took a deep breath, and then she took my hand and rested it upon the youthful swells of her gown, beneath it laid the soft flesh of her breasts. "I know you've wanted to do this since you rescued me from the pond...I'm giving you your chance."

I hesitated; her nipple was growing stiff under my light touch. "Samantha...are you sure? There's no turning back after this." Her response was to gently press her hand on my own, forcing me to increase the pressure against her breast. In the soft glow from the outer room, I watched her close her eyes, this time she showed pleasure on her beautiful face.

For the tiniest fraction of a moment, I faltered... my promise to her raced through my mind like a runaway locomotive. Then, the realization of what SHE was doing pushed those negative thoughts aside. This was not the Samantha that was fighting with herself about once being a boy, this was a full-fledged woman... reacting to the embrace of one she loved. Could she finally be changing? Could she be accepting the role that she's in? I felt my penis tremble, the need for her company growing steadily in my loins. God, I wanted her, now, more than ever!

I let my thumb slowly stroke her nipple; it was strange feeling it swelling under my touch. Leaning in, I touched my lips against hers; our kiss was soft at first. Below, I could feel the tenting from what my body desperately wanted.

Our kiss became more intense, and then came the penetration of her tongue in my mouth. I felt as though I was on fire with passion, she closed her eyes, her breath staggering under our passion.

At first I wasn't sure if it was happening, then I felt it again. She had moved her hand to my rigid penis, stroking it through my clothing! After several minutes, she began to try and push the material from my body. "Are you sure you want me to remove my clothing?" I asked, my whisper sounding husky.

"Hurry, before I change my mind!" It was all she said, I didn't need to ask again as I quickly removed it and let my stiff penis swing suddenly free.

She began to push my hand from her breast, shoving it downward toward the void between her legs. Once there, she began to work my fingers so she could feel pleasure too. I obliged, wanting to give her the satisfaction she so craved...so deserved.

She gasped as my finger slid into her damp opening, and it wasn't soon after that she shuddered in my arms and gasped again. Momentarily forgetting what she had been doing to me at the time, as soon as she realized she began stroking me once again.

I kept at her delicate folds, working her vigorously until she shuddered again. She forced her head into the pillow and opened her mouth in a silent scream; the passion we were feeling was beginning to overwhelm us both. After she experienced her third shutter, she reached up and began to pull at my shoulder. It was her way of letting me know that she wanted me above her... that she was ready for me to make love.

I rose up, straddling her soft thighs with my body. She guided me into her, gasping erotically as it slid in effortlessly. For the split second that I hesitated, she cried softly, then using her lower legs, she pushed me in the rest of the way.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" I whispered again. She never answered; she only began to thrust her hips as rapidly as she could under my weight, matching me thrust for thrust.

I started slowly, making love with the woman I cared so deeply for. Our love had absolute passion, combined with the inexperience that was obvious to both of us. Still, she countered every thrust of my own with a slight raise of her own hips, her breath escaping with each push.

Again and again I penetrated her, no sounds were heard other than the gentle groan of the rope netting of the bed. She rose up her head and shook, her body trembling in delight. At the same moment, she locked her feet behind my back, drawing me deeper into her.

Within my mind a slow panic began to build; I could feel my body pushing me toward orgasm. I knew that unless she released me soon, I would shoot a potentially life changing fluid into her womb. Filling her with something that I wasn't sure she was ready to posses.

Quicker and quicker came the desperate feeling I was trying to hold back, but she continued to thrust her hips with abandon. I could feel the pressure beginning to rise up, until I was no longer able to maintain the hold on my emotions. In one great explosion, my seed was jettisoned into her lovely body, racing toward only God knows where. I felt my body convulse as another series of bursts followed the first, causing me to grunt softly into her ear.

As I finished, she was looking up to me. Without a word, she held my face in her slender palms. Slowly she began to rock her hips again, trying to regain the wonderful feelings we were experiencing before I exploded into her. After awhile I slid my flaccid penis from her and using my shirt that hung on the chair, cleaned myself off.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"No. It's you who should be thanked," I said, crawling back into bed, handing my soiled shirt to her so she could clean up as well.

She cuddled into me close and rested her head upon my chest. She sighed contently and looked up into the darkness at me. "At first I was able to fight my change." She said softly, "It was almost as if my soul was being reshaped along with my body, the more I came to know you, the more I was beginning to accept the fate that has been dealt me."

"And if you should become pregnant?" I whispered, kissing her moist lips. Her hand snaked to the back of my head where she entwined her fingers in my hair. As we broke our kiss she smiled.

"I suppose we should get married...just in case." Her eyes sparkled in the soft glow from the outer room, "Don't you agree?"

I kissed her neck; she gently guided my lips toward her breast. As I tongued her nipple, I felt her shudder lightly. Once again, as I suckled, I felt her fingers entwine my flaccid penis, only it was that way a short time. In moments, it was straining against her palm, once again eager for love's sweet release.