Redwood Ranch: what a wicked game to play (Aaron)

[Evangeline Redwood]

Evangeline couldn't help but be excited. The rifle she had special ordered had finally been delivered that morning, and everything was exactly as it was supposed to be. She had all but squealed when it had shown up on her doorstep, and she had taken it inside to unwrap it and make sure it was perfect before she sent one of the maids out to fetch Aaron Anderson.She had taken advantage of the time to freshen up, change from her work clothes into a nice dress, and spray on a little perfume so she smelled and looked as lovely as she could.

She observed herself in the mirror, biting her lips a few times and pinching her cheeks to give them a high color that radiated youth and vibrancy. She had tried to deny it for weeks, put off that the fluttering in her stomach or the raised beating of her heart whenever he was near as an effect of the heat. But she had finally accepted it and, as much as she hated it, she was smitten as a kitten. Randall was not going to be happy.

But Randall was not there, otherwise she probably would not have been brave enough to begin showing her affections in the smallest of ways. She wasn't sure what she expected out of this, or what was going to come of it, but she was sure that there was an undying desire to lavish him with gifts and other things that he could use. She had the money for it, so why the hell not.

She heard the back door open and she breathed in hard. God be damned, she was nervous. Evangeline Redwood had never been nervous in her entire life. But just knowing that he was in her house, coming closer to her, was enough to nearly send her into a tizzy. She knew she was right when she had thought he was going to be bad for business. She had always had a mind for numbers and business, but she could barely think straight when he was around.

She glanced, self consciously, to the box laid on the coffee table in the center of the room, seeing the gun inside even though the box was closed. Would he like it? she had spent a small fortune of the brand new rifle to begin with, and then even more than that to have it customized and made so there was none others like it. But that was just money, the main goal was for him to like it, so every time he used it, every time he touched it, every time he looked at it, he thought of her.

"I'm in the parlor, Mr. Anderson." She called through the house, hoping her would hear her and would be able to find his way to her. She finally turned away from the mirror against the wall to look at the door, moving so her body and the volumes of her blue-green skirt blocked view of the box on the table. And she waited, so she would be the first thing he would see when he came through the door.

And her hands were shaking. Why on earth were her hands shaking? God this was nerve racking.

---------------------

clothes: here

[Deleted]

It had been about two weeks since Aaron had sat down with Ms. Redwood for dinner and had washed himself in a hot large tub; he had washed himself since then but back in town, back at the inn or saloon if he had slept there for the night. Entering the ranch home by the back porch he removed his hat and held it by his side as his ears picked up Evangeline’s southern drawl. He followed the voice to the parlor and as he stepped into the archway his bright blue eyes landed on Ms. Redwood, his gaze froze his eyes widened and his jaw dropped ever so slightly, she was stunning, gorgeous and simply delicate in that dress.

Aaron caught himself and cleared his throat, he was dusty and dirty from the day’s hard labor and his horse breaking, he had broken three today, that was a good number. The afternoon sun was making itself scare and that soon meant returning to town to sleep, or hole up in the stables, it was surprisingly warm among the hay.

“Ms. Redwood, what can I do ya for?” he asked slightly uneasy and curious just to why she called him from outside and his work, also as to why she looked to done up and fresh, more so then usual?. His nerves were getting the better of him, damn was she going to fire him, throw him off the property, it could be anything!. Aaron stood then unmoving, arms by his side his hat just grazing his dusty pant leg, his eyes flickering from Mrs. Redwood to somewhere else then returning back to her in a nervous movement.

[Evangeline Redwood]

A wide smile broke over her face as Mr. Anderson entered the room, showing two straight rows of ivory teeth. He looked nervous, almost uncomfortable, and she hoped the smile would put him at ease. "Well don't look so damn nervous. I'm not firin' you." She purred, still smiling broadly. "Anything but. I noticed you've been doin' a great deal with the horses, and I wanted to thank ya, so I got you a little somethin'."

She turned and grabbed the box off of the table, gliding across the room to where he stood and holding out the long, lean parcel to him. When he took it, she waited on baited to breath for him to open it. She could only hope that he would like it, that it would fit his needs as well as be something he would enjoy. When the box was opened, she immediately began her spill on the gun.

"It's the brand new Springfield 1871 addition. It hasn't been officially released to market yet, I was just able to get my hands on one because of Papa's connections. It's trap door loading, and I had the barrel length increased by two inches so it shoots a might farther than any of the others ever will. I also had all the silver hand engraved, your name engraved on the left side of the barrel. I also had it made out of a different wood so it's a little more durable than a standard rifle." She sputtered out all in one breath, knowing off hand all the specifications that she had given them. Her hands were still shaking, her words a little jittery as they flowed from her lips.

She exhaled hard, trying to calm herself down, but he was still nervous. Her heart rate was through the roof. She licked her lips, worrying her bottom lip for a moment before she spoke again, but this time her tone was far different. It was a softer tone, unsure of herself, sounding more like the little girl that she was and less like the strong mouthed lady that everyone saw her as. "Do you like it?" God, she would absolutely die if he didn't. She had worked so hard to make it perfect.

Please say you like it... She observed him in silence, waiting hopefully. Had she gone too far too fast by buying such a lavish gift for him? Overstepped her boundaries? She hoped not. IT had been a spur of the moment decision, and she could only hope it hadn't been a stupid one. Her heart was still pounding in her chest, blood singing in her ears, her pulse in her throat.

She couldn't remember the last time she had been this nervous about...anything. Evangeline had always been a self assured woman, assured of her beauty, her power, her dictation, everything about her. But this...this was something totally different. And she hoped he would think of her fondly for it.

---------------------

clothes: here

[Deleted]

As Aaron observed Ms. Redwood take a long box from the table behind her and walk towards him his heart sped up, well atleast he wasn’t fired. He hesitated before he took the parcel from her. He turned to the right of him with her still by his side to look for a place to set the parcel. She was close almost hovering over his shoulder, or atleast it felt like it. Placing his hat down upon the side table beside a lounge sofa he placed the long parcel upon it as well.

When he removed the covering his eyes widened in shock, the rifle was gorgeous, glorious and stunning, much like Ms. Redwood herself. He heard her words and the shaking in her normally strong voice, he knew she was nervous. But in all honestly Aaron was as well. He took the rifle carefully from its resting place and held it up to the warm golden afternoon light that seeped through the long tall parlor windows.

The silver caught the sun and he spotted his first initial and his last name engraved into the barrel, this was the most expensive and lavish gift a woman or anyone for that matter had ever given him. Aaron was speechless as he turned the rifle over gently in his hands. Placing it back carefully into the box he turned to face Evangeline, he opened his mouth but not words came out. He paused before trying again, his eyes connecting with hers, the gap between them close, close enough where he could raise a hand to brush the curls from her bare shoulders.

“I don’t know what to say, that’s a mighty fine gift...” his gruff raspy Mississippi accent drifted away before he worked up the nerve to finish the sentence “thank you Ms. Redwood, it’s perfect, a truly beautiful rifle” it was true and he glanced back to the table at the long parcel, that was his, it was his to keep. Looking back to the young woman not nearly nineteen and yet so like a woman Aaron found his breathing picking up and his palms growing sweaty.

The afternoon setting sun caught his eyes as they drifting lazily to her mouth then returning to her hazel eyes; his throat grew dry before he snapped his mind from the lull. Brushing past her his nose taking in the flowery perfume, he rubbed the back of his neck “I can’t thank you enough Ms. Redwood, but ugh I better get back to work, got to put them horses back in the stables” he stated before realizing he had forgot his hat beside the parcel.

[Evangeline Redwood]

She watched his face as he picked the gun up and turned it over to examine it from all angles. He had not spoken yet, but she could tell by his actions, he face, he liked it. A wide smile spread over her face once more and she exhaled hard in relief. Her hands had stopped shaking quite as much, but her pulse was still sky high, her blood still pulsing in her veins. But that was a newer sensation, one that she was slowly becoming used to when in his presence. She was still smiling, but at the same time, she knew he liked her gift, so she didn't care if she looked perhaps a little foolish.

She watched him place the gun back in it's box and turn to face her, and only then did she realize how close they were. She wanted to step back, to give him his space, but at the same time, her feet felt glued to the floor. She tilted her head up to look at him through a veil of thick, black lashes, her elevated breathing causing her breast to gently touch his shirt. She was still looked up at him as he spoke, his thick, raspy accent sending a shiver down her spine, no matter how much she tried to suppress it. "You're very welcome, Mr. Anderson. I was afraid you wouldn't like it, but it does me good to see that you do." She replied, watching his face as his eyes drifted over her features, pausing for a moment on the full bow of her lips before moving back up to amber eyes.

She licked her lips, for a moment surprised by how dry her mouth was, and began worrying her bottom lip once more with her teeth as she often did when nervous or deep in thought. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and then he stepped away, and the spell was broken. She stepped back out of the way as well, nodding to him. "Yes sir. If you'd like, you can leave it here and come back and get it this evening before you head back into town." She watched him leaving and turned to look at the parcel, seeing his hat left on the table beside it, and calling him to hopefully stop him before he left the house. "Mr. Anderson!"

She picked up the hat by the brim gliding through the house to catch him and hopefully give it back to him before he went back outside.

---------------------

clothes: here

[Deleted]

Aaron’s ears picked up Evangeline’s voice just as he placed a boot out of the porch door. He stopped and turned to catch her swiftly walking towards him his hand in her pale delicate smalls hands. “Thank you Ms. Redwood” he said before taking the hat gingerly. He nodded his thanks once more, silent as he turned on his heel and headed down the back porch steps. Those horses were not going to place themselves in the stable by themselves.

Night came swiftly and the golden red sun disappeared behind the mountains just as it rose above them in the early morning that day. Aaron stopped at the entrance to the Redwood ranch removing his hat before brushing the dust and dirt from his pants just before he entered from the porch. Stepping into the vast home he coughed before running a rough hand through his dark brown hair, the strands always got in his line of vision. He swallowed another dry cough, tasting dirt. He needed a hot bath, the ride back to Del Fuego would be long, about an hour before he hit the warm water then a bed, but he’d most likely stop by the Blackbird Saloon and drink himself to sleep against the bar. He thought about it for a moment deciding it might be a smarter idea to stay at the ranch tonight, sleep in the stables.

But not before a quick bath, ascending the darkened stairs and up into the narrow dimly lit hallway he didn’t hear a sound. Silence, the only noise came from an open window at the end of the hall, a cool desert breeze made its way down to Aaron, it felt good against his still warm skin. Coming to the washroom door Aaron didn’t bother to knock, it was eight o’clock at night, and most of the staff were asleep or somewhere else in the home, and Ms. Redwood would certainly be in her chambers. Opening the door his eyes widened at the sight before him and his cheeks grew hot; Ms. Redwood was not in her chambers, far from it.

[Evangeline Redwood]

Night came upon the Redwood Ranch as it always did, with a quick and quiet stealth. Evangeline herself had spent the rest of the day within the house, balancing the books and making sure everything was in order. It was late into the evening, nearly eight o'clock, when she was finally done for the evening. She left her books as they were, sprawled across the dining room table, and made her way upstairs. As she undressed in her room, she had her maid run her a hot bath. By the time she was out of her dress and underpinnings, the bath was ready.

She made her way across the hall in not but her robe, not expecting any more company that night. Most of the hands had gone home for the evening, and the ones that hadn't were already asleep in the loft of the barn. She slipped out of her robe and unpinned her hair, letting it fall in it's thick curls around her figure. She then climbed into the bath, inhaling sharply as the hot water hit her skin. But a moment's hesitation later and she was up to her shoulders in the steaming hot water, letting it go to work on her sore muscles.

She closed her eyes, relaxing against the side of the copper tub, laying comfortably in the hot water. Her mind wandered over the events of the day, and most prevalently, the look on Mr. Anderson's face when she had gifted him the gun. Her heart fluttered at the mere thought of his face, his bright blue eyes. A small smile ghosted onto the features.

She was almost lulled to sleep, unaware of the steps trailing up the stairs and towards the wash room. She heard the door open and turned her head only slightly, expecting it to be one of her maids checking in on her. Her eyes widened upon seeing the object of her thoughts in the door way. "Mr. Anderson..." she said, almost as if surprised, sitting up in the tub and using her arms to cover herself. A bright blush stained her cheeks, and she reached for her towel, wrapping it around herself as she stood from the tub.

"I'm sorry, help yourself." She kept her eyes down, too embarrassed to look him in the face. As she attempted to slip around him into the hall and, subsequently, back into her room, wet feet slipped slightly on the wet floor, pressing her into his body to keep herself standing. She was left pressed against him just inside the door frame, her breathing increased by the closeness and the adrenaline pulsing through her veins. She looked up into his face, brown eyes meeting blue, her eyes glancing up into his face, for a moment stuck in place, unable and unwilling to move.

[Deleted]

It took all of Aaron’s power not to slam the door when he saw Evangeline in the tub stark naked, he quickly cast his eyes downwards to the floor, mumbling incoherently as he apologized. He hoped to God this situation did not get him fired, he couldn’t afford to drift so soon again, and December had just begun, a hard month to find work even in the south. He dare not look up but heard the squeaks and wet feet as Evangeline made her way from the tub to the floor, he quickly glanced up when she spoke, and she had wrapped herself in a white cotton towel and tried her best to maneuver around him. Aaron shifted his body sideways so his back was against the doorframe, anything to kept his distance from him and his barely dressed employer.

It happened in a flash before Aaron felt Evangeline pressed against his body, instantly he steadied her, his rough dry hands taking her still dripping shoulders. “Careful Ms. Redwood, watch your steppin’” he cautioned balancing himself to balance her better. As she looked up their eyes met, her large expressive eyes like a doe, he did not say a word merely stared back until it was unnerving and he managed to tear his eyes away. They flickered to her feet; a small puddle had already formed beneath her, his bright blue eyes directed back up to her before he realized the true situation. Clearing his throat Aaron let his hands gently slip from her shoulders.

In that moment it was the rifle situation once again from earlier this afternoon. The closeness of them made Aaron’s breath slow to a stop. His eyes lingered upon her delicate pale face before he slowly raised a hand, the back of his fingers brushing her cheek moving the damp curls from her skin. He let his fingers trail down to her jaw line, just as delicate as the rest of her; she was like a precious flower in a barren wasteland. It was too late before Aaron realized that had lingered far too long in this position with Evangeline, he took a step sideways to move from her path and into the washroom, keeping a hand out just incase she slipped again.

[Evangeline Redwood]

Evan's exhaled hard as hands were laid on her skin, the rough callouses causing a harsh contrast to the delicate soft skin of her shoulders. "You're right, I should be more careful." She confessed, though her voice lacked it's usual strength and luster. It was a soft whisper now, thick with lust and desire that she had been suppressing for weeks. After a moment he let her go, and she tried to move, but then his hands were on her again, trailing softly down her jaw, her cheek, over her neck.

A shudder rolled down her spine, her eyes closing for a moment to take in the sensation of his skin on hers. When she opened her eyes once more, his touch stopped, and he was stepping out of the way to let her pass. The fire she had been feeling since their first meaning burned higher inside her, begging her to take action, though reason told her to let him go and slip away. Let him come to her. But what if he never did?

It took only moments before Evangeline was a complete slave to the fire, and couldn't help herself. Towel forgotten, her hands reached out, one behind his head and the other resting on his collar, pulling him to her as she moved up onto the balls of her feet and pressed a passionate kiss to his mouth, holding him to her.

Immediately her synapses were set ablaze, everything she had been feeling coming unraveled in the briefness of a moment and with such a simple action. Hand still tucked into his hair, she kissed him hard, passionately, longingly, taking and giving everything all in one motion.

[Deleted]

Aaron opened his mouth to speak before he felt hands and Evangeline’s lips pressed hard against his own. Her hand at the back of his head, her slender fingers curling themselves into his hair, her other pressed against his collarbone. The warmth and dampness of her body pressed against his was too much to take. He wanted to tear his mouth away, break the embrace but instead he found himself easing into her passionate kiss.

For a young woman not nearly in her twenties she did have some skill with pouting lips. Aaron’s body shivered and burned all at once. He was much taller than the small young woman and he found himself leaning downwards to better suit her grasping hands. His own hands soon found their way once more to her shoulders grabbing them gently he pulled her closer, if that was all possible.

Pressing harder Aaron deepened the kiss before his mind started to say no this was wrong. It took a moment for Aaron to realize that she was not going to pull away and that he must be the one to break the embrace. Breaking the kiss he turned his head away, his breathing returning to normal as his blue eyes tried to focus on something, anything to regain his thoughts.

His hands remained on Evangeline as he looked back to her “I- I can’t... we can’t do this Ms. Redwood, I apologize if I led ya on some chase or something’ but...” his voice trailed off as he side stepped letting his hands fall from her finally, a frustrated sigh escaping him. Aaron hesitated at the bathroom door not bothering to glance back to her from over his shoulder. Instead he merely walked out into the hallway in silence, all that could be heard were his boots as he descended the stairs soon followed by the closing of the back porch door.