Strangers To Love Ch 04

After tending to the horses, James stood looking up at the stars. His mind kept drifting back to the kitchen and Leanna. She had no idea how beautiful she was and those clothes! If she kept wearing those he was going to be in a constant state of embarrassment. He could feel his cock twitch just at the thought of her. This was going to be difficult. And she looked so hurt when he ran out of there but maybe that was good. If she thought he wasn't interested, maybe he could keep her at arm's length. But who was he kidding? They were going to be together every day. At least Billy would be here too. That helped.

Leanna gave up on the idea of reading and went to her room. The candle at her bedside was all the light she needed as she undressed and washed her face at the basin. Grandfather had installed indoor plumbing - mostly for her, but he loved new gadgets and innovations. She was thrilled to have running water in the kitchen and a privy in the house.

Pulling a nightgown from the drawer, she turned towards her bed. Without thinking, she opened the window to let in the fresh breeze and sat down to comb her hair. As she sat, naked in front of her mirror, she thought about James. The mirror showed a pretty girl with a scattering of freckles across her nose, strong farm-girl shoulders and arms, nice high breasts with pale aureoles - her nipples were standing up now from the breeze that blew in from the window. Her hair was long - nearly to her waist - and a golden honey color with the shorter hairs around her face and neck curly ringlets. She quickly and efficiently plaited her hair for bed. When she stood up, she could see her narrow waist and hips and ran her hands over the curves. Grandfather used to say that she had "baby bearing" hips. She guessed that was good. Turning, she looked at her bottom. It was ok she guessed - not too big like Alice's and not too skinny either. Her legs were long and well muscled from working the farm and hunting. She ran her fingers through the silky hair over her sex. It was the same color as her hair, but very short.

Thinking about James had produced a strange reaction 'there'. She could feel a moistness, a heat that was pleasurable on one hand and annoying on the other. She felt that she wanted something but was unsure what. She knew what sex was. Grandfather had made her learn when breeding and birthing the animals. She understood the mechanics well enough, but not the feelings that were whispered about among the girls.

Apparently, boys, or men, wanted sex all the time - according to Grandfather. But she was supposed to wait for it until she fell in love and got married. It was a funny thing. Grandfather wouldn't say anything more about who boys had sex with or where or when, but he was very vocal that she wait no matter what.

Leanna sighed and thought, 'Wait for what? For who?' She didn't have a clue. And she was afraid that if she waited too long, it would never happen.

She finally gave up the assessment of her body, donned the nightgown and got into her bed. Blowing out the candle, she prayed that she could sleep and that James was well in his bed in the barn.

James just stared. Hidden as he was by the corral, she had never even noticed that he watched her through the window. He was almost lightheaded with desire for her. She was perfect! He kept trying to pull his eyes away, knowing that he was so wrong to watch, but unable to help himself. When she had run her hands over her breasts, ass and then had touched herself he had nearly exploded. His cock was a throbbing, engorged animal that needed release.

When she blew out the candle he took three steps towards the window without even thinking. Then he stopped. No, he couldn't go in there. She was young, innocent and he was sure, probably still virgin. He could not defile that. His raging hard on begged to differ, but his mind and his honor won out. Turning on his heel, he went to the barn loft and settled down on his makeshift bed. He didn't even undress - afraid to free himself of even the cloth constraint. It was a long time before he calmed himself and even longer before he could sleep.

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Morning dawned bright and warm. Leanna, James and Billy had already gotten the cows in for milking and then released them to the pasture. The horses had been fed and watered and now it was time for their breakfast. James and Leanna had both been too busy to think about the mutual attractions and had worked side by side without too much sexual tension surfacing. But it had been there.

Leanna had gone in ahead of them and the smell of bacon, pancakes, maple syrup and coffee greeted the men as they removed their shoes before entering the kitchen. Leanna had changed into a simple day dress from her work clothes and was less of a distraction for James. Billy had told them that 'Ma' was coming to visit later that morning just as Leanna had suspected she would.

The three of them ate a hearty breakfast, Billy out doing the other two by half and enjoying three mugs of milk. The milk ringed his mouth while he smiled happily.

'Ta'day, James 'nd me are gonna fix 'da 'oles in 'da roof - he said I could even 'ammer the nails!' Billy was excited with the whole prospect of climbing a ladder and pounding nails. Leanna was somewhat concerned though, his balance and eyesight were poor. When she expressed these concerns, James listened and then reassured her that he would watch Billy carefully. He thought to himself that Billy was capable of more than he was given credit for and that the skills he could teach him would be invaluable later.

When the men had finished eating, they left to start the repairs, with Billy literally bouncing all the way. Leanna could hear James laugh and knew that he laughed with Billy, not at him. That laugh warmed her heart.

After Leanna had put the kitchen to rights, made bread and started a large roast for dinner, she made short work of getting the house tidied up for Mrs. Preston's visit. She made fresh lemonade, fruit muffins and took down a fresh jar of homemade preserves.

She heard Billy's greeting before seeing his mother. He was on the roof with James and stood to wave to his mother. James reached out and held his belt to prevent him from falling. Leanna saw that James had tied a rope loosely from his waist to Billy's as a safety measure. Mrs. Preston looked concerned but smiled warmly at her son and his new friend.

Leanna came out onto the porch to greet the new arrival.

'Hello there Mrs. P! Billy told us you would be dropping by. Just look at him! Working so hard and doing a real good job of it too. He is such a good boy.'

Mrs. Preston looked at her, flushed from the praise of her 'slow' boy and so proud of him she could bust.

'He does look like he's being useful. I brought you some strawberries from my garden.'

'Those look wonderful. Let's go inside and have a visit. They'll be in for food soon enough and we won't get a word in edgewise!' And with that the two women went inside to visit. James guessed that Leanna would get grilled about him, and since she didn't know much, she couldn't say much. But that would mean that he would have plenty of questions to answer himself. Not from Mrs. Preston, she wouldn't ask for fear of prying, but Leanna was going to have lots of questions. He just had to decide which ones to answer.

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After dinner was eaten and the dishes done, James and Leanna went to sit on the front porch with coffee. It had been a long day, but much progress was made. Fully one half of the roof had been repaired. Billy had proven to be somewhat clumsy but diligent and had enjoyed himself immensely. James was happy that he had help and enjoyed the boys' constant cheerful chatter.

Leanna had busied herself with the garden after Mrs. Preston had left with Billy and James chose to work inside the barn to keep a distance between them. But now they sat, rocking side by side and enjoying the early evening quiet.

After awhile, they both stood to go their separate ways, but then their eyes met. James now knew what it felt like to drown. He just fell into those pale blue eyes that looked so innocent and questioning. He was only a man, after all. Without a word he drew her towards him and she came willingly into his arms. After the briefest of hesitations, he bent down and gently took her lips.

They were soft, wet and warm. She seemed unsure at first but then began to explore the sensations that made her feel so different. She felt lightheaded, weak kneed, and she wanted to giggle! So she did. James felt the laugh against his lips and pulled back slightly.

'Having fun?'

'Oh yes....'

'Is this what you want?'

'Yes, please.....'

'We shouldn't......'

"Please.......'

'Your wish.......my.......command.......' And with that, he swept her up into his arms and headed for the barn.

'Where are you going?'

'My place........'

'Oh.............that's nice..............' And she giggled again started kissing his ear.