Grace couldn't believe what she was seeing as they rode the miles of Benjamin's huge farm.
Rows and rows of strawberries, grapes, tens of vines of tomatoes, lettuce... Not to mention hundreds of animals. Cows, pigs, chickens; even goats and sheep.
Grace had never seen such an expansive operation in her life. It made her look at her husband in a different way. This man was something special, if all this belonged to him.
There were men on beautiful horses and about 20 people working and tending to the crops, animals and farm equipment.
Foreman Jimmy seemed to be supervising the people in the fields from his horse. Davey was in the stables.
People were everywhere performing all sorts of duties. Ben was going on and on, obviously proud of his ranch.
Davey showed Benjamin the horse he was considering for Grace. It was a beautiful, light brown filly. Grace was instantly in love. She wiggled around on Ben's horse, until Davey helped her down to pet the horse for several minutes. After naming her 'Sugar Cane', she rejoined her husband on his incredibly large steed, and continued the tour.
He rode for hours, showing her various orchards, the horse stables, a building filled with farming equipment and bales of hay; so much of everything.
He was telling her about his shipping operation. He told Grace that he supported several grocery stores in the region. He was able to provide fresh produce for his workers and for Mary to cook with fresh meat. Ben talked for several minutes before realizing Grace wasn't listening.
She had fallen asleep listening to her husband talk about his ranch. His voice felt so soothing and relaxing to her.
He held her close and let her sleep. He knew she had been through a lot these last few days. He continued his tour, more for himself.
He'd been preoccupied the last few days and hadn't been on top of things, like usually was. Nothing happened on the farm that he wasn't aware of, from any animal birth to insect invasions. He was usually out the door in the morning with Jimmy and Davey, watching every aspect of his operation. He'd only been missing 4 days, but it felt like he'd missed so much.
He checked in with various people, all the while holding the sleeping Grace close to him. No one asked him about her, but several looked at her, questioningly.
It was 2 hours later when they returned to the big house. There were 3 other small homesteads, spread far apart, on Benjamin's ranch. The small cabins housed workers who lived on site.
One contained Davey, his wife and their baby boy. Another was Jimmy's home. The third was a bunk house that contained field workers during the busy harvest seasons. Albert and Mary had a room in the main house, behind the pantry with an outhouse.
Grace was still resting comfortably in Ben's arms. He was loathed to let her go, but woke her when they arrived home. Mrs. Abersham had arrived to take her measurements for her new wardrobe.
The chatty woman was shocked when she 1st saw Mr. Benjamin's bride, but kept her thoughts to herself.
The girl had no opinions, so Mrs. Abersham gave her the full treatment. A wardrobe of dresses, riding clothes, and undergarments that Mr. Benjamin had specifically requested; many different types of naughty lingerie.
Ben sat in his favorite chair, sipping whiskey and smoking his cigar, watching Grace try on different things that Mrs. Amersham and her 2 assistants had brought to his ranch in their covered wagon.
He and Mrs. A. made the decisions about what she should wear as Grace looked on, stunned at the opulence of the items her husband was purchasing for her. One of Mrs. A's assistants even showed her how to fix her hair in the modern style of high ringlets.
Grace was shocked at some of the 'night' items Been requested. Things that would leave all her naughty bits exposed to his never ending gaze.
One piece was just white leather straps that wrapped around both her thighs, around her waist, then between her breast. It wrapped around her shoulders and up around her neck. There was a closure for something; a loop of some sort. She shivered to think what might attach to it, as the lady showed Benjamin how to place his wife into the garment.
Grace was embarrassed at the strangers seeing her nude body, but the sips of the liquid her husband gave her from his glass had her feeling, warm, giddy and unconcerned.
They were in the living room so long, creating Grace's wardrobe, for day and for night, that Mary served them all dinner and the living area.
After the late dinner and several more sips from her husband's glass, Grace was barely listening or paying attention.
The discussions were mainly between Ben and Mrs. A, considering what would best flatter her figure and complexion. Grace was soon asleep again, overwhelmed at processing the sudden events. Her own reflection in the mirror of the decorous sitting room seeming like a dream.
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She awoke in their bedroom, alone, hours later, dizzy and feeling wobbly. She wasn't sure what time it was. It seemed very late in the evening. She wondered if she could leave the room? After sitting there a few minutes, she went exploring.
The upstairs had 2 more bedrooms, and a large sitting area. It was a big room with a couch and more books than Grace had ever seen in her life. Had he read all these books? It seemed impossible to Grace.
A large mahogany desk and a leather chair sat in the middle of the room. There was a large, luxurious rug that spread from window to window beneath it. She circled the big desk, then walked out behind it onto a huge balcony through French doors.
Grace was enthralled at the view before her. How did she wind up somewhere so incredible? She could see the entire ranch. It was beautiful. Her entire family could live here; live like she was. She knew he wouldn't want them all here, not right away, but she resolved to try to be a good wife and 'convince' him.
She went downstairs and wandered through the ornate sitting room, the large dining room and into the large kitchen. It seemed lonely without Mary and the 2 girls that helped her during the day.
Grace marveled over all the modern equipment. There was an array of dishes, china, and solid silverware. It was startlingly opulent to her.
Grace saw smoke rising through an outside window. She went to the window and saw her husband leaning back and relaxing in a reclining chair, smoking a cigar and sipping his amber drink. Just looking at him gave her that throbbing feeling between her thighs.
She thought of the way he had manhandled her, took over her completely, forcing his will upon her. Her knees got weak at the way he'd made her feel; the explosions of pleasure between her legs he created. His musky, masculine smell and his hot seed in her every orifice. She felt wet between her thighs thinking about him. Was that love? Grace wasn't sure. She did want to make him happy. Maybe that was enough.
Benjamin was aware his wife was meandering through the house, exploring. He had heard her and was pleased. He wanted her to be curious, this was her new home. He wanted her to become educated and classy and run their house, like a true lady. He knew her mixed heritage would be shocking to some, but he didn't care. She was beautiful, young and totally his. He'd better not hear of anyone disrespecting 'Mrs. Grace Aldino'. He really liked saying that.
Ben felt her watching him from the window and hoped she would come to him, willingly. He was briefly disappointed when she disappeared from the window, but didn't emerge onto the back porch. However, he smiled to himself when she emerged behind him from the side door.
Grace hesitated behind him, then put her hands on his scalp and massaged it like she used to do for her father; her father had hair though. She wondered if Ben would like it.
