Taming of Jessi Rose Read online

  “That’s a natural question. Is that one of the things you and Gillie talked about?”

  “Yes, she told me the past is the past and that the Lord gave us the future so we could go on.”

  “She’s a very wise woman, that Gillie.”

  “I think so, too. She suggested I let your love fill my heart instead of the pain of something I had no control over.”

  He reached up and stroked her cheek. “She’s right again. We both lost our mothers in untimely ways, so those are words of wisdom we can both use.”

  Jessi placed her head against his chest and heard his heart beating in time with her own. “I believe we’re going to do well together, you and I.”

  He kissed the top of her soft hair. “I believe so, too.”

  That night, they took the old buckboard out and parked in their special spot hidden among the trees. Because the passion and desire they harbored for each other had been simmering since their last interlude, it didn’t take long for the kissing to melt into the game Jessi liked to play most. She called it, A Dozen and One Ways to Use a Buggy Seat. They made up the rules as they went along.

  In the days that followed, Griff divided his time between finishing the dream bed and getting his marshal business in order. Dixon had left Griff a mountain of notes on how to handle the job, and another mountain of notes explaining the paperwork. Sheriffs were elected officials, but no one in Vale seemed opposed to having an appointed deputy to keep the peace.

  To Griff and the Preacher’s surprise, Two Shafts and Neil were extremely attentive to their duties, at least for the present. They even paid close attention to all the notes left by Dixon Wildhorse, and for now, enforced the law in a professional manner. Griff knew that sooner or later mistakes would be made, not only by them but by him too, but he refused to worry over it; if Judge Parker thought it was a good idea to appoint a reformed train robber as an agent of the law, who was Griff to argue?

  Griffin finished the bed the morning of the wedding. After Jessi and Joth left for town to pick up their wedding duds, he had Preacher and the Twins help him move his old bed out of the room he and Jessi would be sharing as man and wife so that the new one could take its place. Once he had it positioned, he added the new mattress and the new satin sheets he’d gotten from Auntie. For his last act, he pulled out the new rug he’d purchased at Abe Thomas’s store and saw that the big circle he’d had Gillie sew in the center looked just right. He set the rug on the floor, smiled the smile of a plotting man, then went to get ready to get married.

  Later, the lady rancher Jessi Rose Clayton stood before Preacher Vance Bigelow and, after placing her hand on Griffin’s mother’s Bible, became the wife of the former train robber and now U.S. Deputy Marshal Griffin Blake. The Twins, all decked out and duded up, stood up with Griffin, and a smiling Joth gave the bride away. Auntie and Gillie both cried, as did Jessi and every other woman in the packed field behind the saloon.

  At the reception, Jessi stood beside her husband and looked out over the amazing crowd. Auntie had certainly outdone herself: there were tents to shelter the guests from the hot afternoon sun, strolling musicians, a harpist over in a quiet portion of the grove, and enough good food to supply six other wedding receptions. There were even jugglers and a trained dancing bear for the amusement of Joth and the other children in attendance.

  “You know, Griffin, I have a feeling an old carpet bag filled with railroad gold had a lot to do with all this. I’ve never seen anything even close to this spread.”

  Griffin said, “Well, there was a carpet bag involved, but only a little bit.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “Are you sure we’re going to have the house to ourselves tonight?”

  “Absolutely. Joth’s spending the night with Gillie.”

  She was about to say something else when she noticed Roscoe Darcy making his way over to where she and Griffin stood. He looked tired and worn, but his eyes were clear. Jessi backed out of Griffin’s arms to greet him.

  He walked up and shook Griffin’s hand, then turned to Jessi. “Congratulations, Jessi girl,” he said solemnly.

  “Thanks, Ros. How are you?”

  “As well as could be expected. I buried him yesterday.”

  From what she’d heard, Garland Findley had been the only person besides Roscoe at Reed’s grave site. “What are your plans?”

  “I think I’ll head to California. See if I can’t make me a new life.”

  “Sounds like a grand idea.”

  He then turned to Griffin. “You take care of her now, Blake. She’s a jewel.”

  Griff nodded. “I will. Take care of yourself.”

  “Write me when you get settled, Ros,” Jessi said.

  His eyes looked far older than his years. “Do you mean that?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  He gave her a small smile. “Then I will. Bye, Jessi.”

  “Bye, Ros.”

  As he walked away, she was reminded of the young boy who once went riding with her after her mother’s death, and now Jessi wished him godspeed.

  Once they were alone again, Griffin asked, “Did I tell you how beautiful you look today in that emerald-colored dress?”

  “Yes, at least a hundred times, and I never tire of hearing it.” And it was true, she felt like a queen.

  After the cake was cut, Preacher came over to say his good-byes. He was heading back to his home in Denver. Jessi gave him a tight, lingering hug and whispered her thanks for all he’d done. The Twins joined the bittersweet sendoff and the men embraced like the friends they were. Preacher promised to visit again soon and Jessi had tears in her eyes as she watched him ride off. Two Shafts and Neil were on their way back to man the marshal’s office for the rest of the day and night. As they departed, they vowed to see both Jessi and Griff sometime tomorrow.

  Later that evening, the newlyweds finally came home. As soon as they stepped onto the porch. Griff scooped her up into his arms, and after making her close her eyes, earned her, laughing, inside. He took her straight to their bedroom and laid her down on the new bed encased in the new satin sheets. “Now you can look.”

  Jessi took her hands away from her eyes and stared transfixed by the beautiful creation. The bed was large, very large, large enough for them to sleep in together comfortably and to do anything else Jessi’s outrageous little heart might desire. He’d carved a beautifully entwined gothic “B” for Blake and “C” for Clayton into the headboard, and it was so distinctive looking, she wondered if she could register it as their new brand with the local cattleman association. It was a bed dreams were made of, and it looked as if it would last for many, many years to come.

  “Do you like it?”

  “Yes. It’s truly beautiful. The Reverend Blake taught you well.”

  “Auntie had the mattress shipped in from San Antonio. It only arrived the other day. She also provided the bedding as a wedding present.”

  Jessi stood up and walked around the bed. For the first time she noticed the tiny roses and stars decorating the top edge of the headboard.

  “Roses for you. And marshal stars for me.”

  She looked at him. “Do you think you’ll take to being a marshal?”

  “I think I will. It’s an honorable profession, it pays decent, and I get to be here with you.”

  “That just about covers everything, but you don’t like guns.”

  “No, I don’t, and I plan on using mine as little as possible. Justice can be creative, just ask the Twins.”

  “Do you really believe they’re going to stick around?”

  He came up behind and wrapped his arms around her. “Nope.” He nuzzled her neck. “My money says they’ll be gone by this time next week.”

  Jessi bloomed under his intoxicating nearness. “If you’re right, Marshal Wildhorse will not be pleased.”

  “No, he won’t, but he’ll have to find them before he can tell them that.”

  Jessi smiled.

  “How about you and me pl
ay a little marbles?”

  “Right now?” She turned to look up at him.

  “Sure, why not? Didn’t you set down a challenge a few weeks ago?”

  “Well, yes I did, but this is our wedding night. I assumed you’d be more interested in stripping me naked and making me do shameless things?”

  “Oh, don’t worry, that’s coming, but right now, I want to play marbles.”

  “Where?”

  “Right here.”

  “But marbles won’t hold on this smooth wood floor.”

  “You’re right, so we’ll use this.”

  He gestured to the rug under their feet. Jessi looked down at the circle and grinned. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

  “Just about. So how about it? I figured if we play in here behind closed doors, we won’t have to chance you being seen crawling around half naked.”

  She had no idea where he might be headed with this snare, but she took the bait anyway and let herself be reeled in. “Why am I going to be crawling around half naked?”

  “Because, my very sweet wife, that is what we will be playing for—your clothing.”

  “My clothing?”

  “Yep. Every marble I win, wins me one article of clothing.”

  His eyes were ablaze with such brazen promise, her desire blossomed to life. “And what about your clothes? Will my boon be the same?”

  “Yes, but since you aren’t going to win any marbles, it isn’t going to matter.”

  “Griffin Blake, you are the most arrogant man I’ve ever met.”

  “And I can’t wait to see you crawling around dressed in nothing but your drawers, Mrs. Blake.”

  He was right. Jessi didn’t win a single marble. She lost her beautiful emerald dress first and then the chemise underneath. As the game continued she forfeited her camisole, stockings, garters, and shoes. Jessi Rose Clayton Blake, who at the age of ten could whip any boy around at marbles, was now crawling around the rug dressed in nothing but her drawers and the new gold circlets in her ears as she tried to set up her very last shot.

  Griffin of course was still fully dressed. He’d opened a button on his fancy shirt only because he’d grown so warm watching her add to the growing pile of clothing at his side. When she lost her camisole, he’d consoled her by suckling her softly until her breath stacked up in her throat and then let her take her turn again. Throughout the game, he touched her, stroked her, and kissed her until they were both bursting with need. Griffin had indeed stripped her and now with the last shot about to be played, the time had come to make her do shameless things.

  Jessi didn’t know why she was trying to concentrate on this last shot. Each and every time she’d lost a marble he’d removed a piece of her clothing with wandering hands and tantalizing kisses. Because of that she couldn’t concentrate—hell, she could barely see. He’d left her throbbing everywhere.

  Her last shot went wildly astray. The game was over.

  “Stand up,” he whispered thickly.

  She got to her feet slowly and stood in a passion-induced haze while he took her last piece of clothing, her drawers. He then proceeded to boldly show her that maybe losing to him wasn’t so bad after all. He carried her to the bed and neither of them went to sleep until dawn.

  The next morning, Jessi was still asleep when the nude Griffin came charging into the room yelling, “I’m going to kill them with my bare hands!”

  After such a prolonged night of marital passion, Jessi had trouble trying to discern what he was bellowing about.

  “Read this!”

  Still half asleep, she almost asked if it was really necessary to comply with his request, but she pushed the covers aside and took the piece of paper from his adamant hand.

  She read:

  Dear Griff.

  Shafts and I got the urge to move on after Preacher left, so we’re gone too.

  She looked up from the note and into her husband’s blazing eyes. “Well, darling, you said yourself you didn’t expect them to stay. I admit, they took off a lot faster than either of us thought, but—”

  “Read on.”

  “Okay.” Jessi read on:

  …Oh, by the way, since you now have a regular job, we took your carpet bag with us. We were going to knock on the door last night and ask you about it, but you sounded real busy, so we just left.

  Jessi’s eyes widened.

  We hope you and Miss Jessi will be happy. See you soon, we hope.

  It was signed Neil July and Two Shafts.

  Jessi set the note aside. She could see that her irate husband found no humor in the note at all, but she did and began to laugh.

  “This isn’t funny, Jessi.”

  “Oh, it is too, and you know it. They’re tricksters, you said so yourself.”

  “Damn those Twins.”

  “They are terrible, aren’t they?” Jessi added, unable to suppress her chuckling. She’d no idea what Griffin had planned for the money, but now it didn’t matter.

  Griff grinned and shook his head. “Guess I’ll have to wire Dix and tell him they’re on the loose again.”

  Jessi smiled. “Guess so.”

  She missed the Twins already and hoped they would come back to visit real soon. “You aren’t going to town right now, are you?”

  The sassy look in her eyes made him ask, “Why, do you have something more interesting in mind?”

  Feeling quite brazen after last night, Jessi Rose Blake slid the covering off her nude, sleep-warmed body and said, “Maybe. If you’re up to it.”

  Griff grinned, “Oh, I’m up to it as you can see.”

  Jessi gave him a grin in reply.

  Later, as completion sent them both soaring into love’s heaven, Jessi knew Griffin would always be her light, and that she’d never have to walk in darkness again.

  Afterword

  I do hope you enjoyed reading The Taming of Jessi Rose and the historical information surrounding the contributions of pioneering African-American Texans. If all of the mail I received after the 1997 publication of Topaz, my fifth book from Avon Books, is any indication, westerns seem to be a particular fan favorite, so thanks for all the feedback and encouragement. One of the most interesting geographical facts I learned while researching this book had to do with the sheer size of the original Republic of Texas. It encompassed over 100,000 square miles, and included parts of what are now New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado!

  As always, I’m passing along a list of books for those of you wishing more information on the historical aspects highlighted in Jessi and Griffin’s story. Knowledge is power, but shared knowledge empowers us all!

  Patterson, Richard. Train Robbery. Johnson Publishing. Boulder, Colorado. 1981.

  Durham, Philip, and Everett L. Jones. Negro Cowboys. University of Nebraska Press. Lincoln. 1965.

  Love, Nat. The Life and Adventures of Nat Love. Black Classic Press. Baltimore, Maryland. 1988.

  Williams, David A. Bricks Without Straw: A Comprehensive History of African-Americans in Texas. Eakin Press. Austin, Texas. 1997.

  Texas: A Guide to the Lone Star State. American Guide Series. Hastings House. New York. 1940.

  Katz, William Loren. Black West. Anchor Books. Garden City, New York. 1973.

  Brown, Dee. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Henry Holt and Company. New York. 1991.

  Burton, Arthur T. Black Red and Deadly. Eakin Press. Austin, Texas. 1991.

  In closing, let me give a shout out to all of you who’ve taken the time to write me this past year. If you’ve not received a reply, please know that due to the volume of mail I’m receiving it’s becoming increasingly harder to answer each of you individually, but I do read and keep each and every piece, so keep them coming. I would also like to thank the following individuals for keeping my feet on the path: Lucia Macro; Monique Patterson; N. Yost; Rochelle Hardy, aka The First Fan; Ladies in Line and the members of the Beverly Jenkins Fan Club; Felicia Wintons, owner of Books for Thought and booksel
ler extraordinaire; all of the bookclubs nationwide who’ve invited me to their meetings or featured my books on their lists; the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, for their support during their national convention in New Orleans; Shirley Covington in Greensboro; and G.O. in Chicago; and of course, my family. Until next time.

  Peace,

  About the Author

  BEVERLY JENKINS grew up in Detroit. Her passion for romance and African-American history has her hard at work on her seventh novel for Avon Books. She enjoys hearing from fans. Please send your letters to:

  Beverly Jenkins

  P.O.Box 1893

  Belleville, MI 48112

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  Beverly Jenkins

  ALWAYS AND FOREVER

  BEFORE THE DAWN

  A CHANCE AT LOVE

  NIGHT SONG

  THE TAMING OF JESSI ROSE

  THROUGH THE STORM

  TOPAZ

  Coming Soon

  THE EDGE OF MIDNIGHT

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  THE TAMING OF JESSI ROSE. Copyright © 1999 by Beverly Jenkins. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.