Page 62 of Return to Telegraph Creek

“We’d best get back to The Angel,” she said.

Cal barely glanced at Oscar as she scooped her daughter off Onyx’s back.

“Momma, I’m learnin’ to ride!”

“Did you thank Mr.Yates?”Cal said.

“Who’s Mr.Yates?”Lizzie said, truly puzzled.

“That’s Oscar’s last name, though you don’t gotta be so formal,” I said.

“Thank you for letting me ride Onis,” Lizzie said.She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Oscar, holding him tight.

Oscar gazed at me with surprise, as he put an affectionate hand on Lizzie’s head.“Of course, Lizzie.You’ll be a fine horsewoman someday.”

“I told Cal we’ll be back tomorrow with some of the girls, and they can give Cal’s place a thorough cleaning.And we’ll bring a picnic lunch for the children.”

I smiled, relieved.Miss June always knew what to do.

Cal seemed wary, but she nodded.“Thank you.”

Miss June laid a hand on Cal’s back.“We’re happy to help you, Cal.We’re so glad we found you, but I do wish you’d told us what was going on.It’s not right for you to be out here all alone in such straits.”

“Yes, ma’am.Thank you.”

Cal let Miss June give her a hug, and she hung onto the older woman for a long moment, her face pressed into Miss June’s soft neck.Then she forced herself away and gathered the children.

“Come on.We gotta go inside.”

“We’ll be by at noon tomorrow, Cal,” Miss June said.Cal didn’t answer, and Miss June and I exchanged concerned looks.

* * * *

That night, after we’d grabbed a quick supper downstairs, and the girls were busy with clients, Oscar and I retired to our room.I must have looked a bit morose, for Oscar told me to cheer up, and that he’d be back in a minute.

I pickedThe Call of the Wildup off my bedside table, and I guess I read about half a chapter before the door opened and Oscar slipped inside.I didn’t look up right away, because ’twas the middle of a dramatic scene, and I wanted to finish my paragraph.

I heard his footsteps then the mattress shifted, and the edge of a black silk sleeve fell onto the page as Oscar slipped the book from my slack grasp and laid it gently on the table.I gaped at the lovely vision before me.

“Oh, Oscar,” I said as he smiled and batted his lashes.

His luscious, slim form was wrapped in a peignoir of black silk with bright orange trim and a fierce gold dragon embroidered on the left side.As I watched, he kneeled up and pulled the end of the tie that kept it closed.The delicate fabric fell open, revealing the scintillating lace underthings that Oscar wore beneath it.

“Oh my God,” I whispered, my gaze caressing him as I took in the stunning vision of Oscar in an ebony satin basque and midnight black silk bloomers that outlined his boyish curves and made him look like a girl in all the best of ways.

I grabbed his hips, and I held him still, so I could take it in, my cock already a hard rod in my trousers and my cheeks flushing with excitement.

“Where did you get this stuff?”I asked, breathless and amazed.

Oscar rolled his eyes and trailed the end of the tie from his peignoir across my lap.

“Where do you think?”

I grinned.“From Trick?”

He nodded.“The one and only.Jimmy, she’s got a treasure chest in her room!”

“What?Trick’s hoardin’ treasure?Does Miss June know?”I mocked him.