On Blackstone Mountain: Chapter 6
Ben sees his opportunity to get an answer to the question burning within him since he’d first seen Josie on the pond...
The wind whipped wildly, threatening to send the sheet of plywood flying even as Ben struggled to tack the thing down. Crouched upon the cabin’s roof, knees and back burning, and his bad leg throbbed from over-exertion. With Hurricane Frannie bearing down on him and the roof so close to done, he’d pushed to finish the job before the rains came.
This is a type of romance novel which I call “farm-smut” and features sex and love on the homestead, farm, or off-grid Maine location. To follow along with the story, receiving new chapters directly to your inbox, please subscribe.
Previously on Blackstone Mountain…
Inspired by his recent fishing trip, Ben goes to Josie with the proposition to renovate the old cabin on Trout Pond. In spite of the risk having Ben near poses to her heart, Josie hasn’t the strength to tell him no…
Chapter 6: The Hurricane
Cursing colorfully when he felt the first drops on the back of his neck, he hammered the nail into place. Progress on the old cabin was slow-going, largely due to the nature of the work, but partly because Ben’s injury slowed him more than he cared to admit.
It had taken the better part of three days with a chainsaw to remove the massive pine tree that had fallen on the cabin. The work was intensive. To say that he was sore was an understatement. He’d been popping marijuana-gummies and using a CBD oil, much preferring the natural remedies over the prescription pain-killers so many of his buddies in the Corp had been addicted to.
When a movement on the ladder caught his eye, Ben startled so badly he nearly lost his balance on the roof. He managed to save himself as Josie came climbing up onto the roof, hammer and staple gun in one hand, folded tarp in the other
“Josie!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing here!?”
“I thought you could use a hand!” she cried over the wind.
Relief flooded through him and Ben couldn’t bring himself to say no. Not that Josie waited for an invitation. Moving to the opposite side of the gaping hole in the roof, she got right to work. She knew exactly what she was doing and Ben was impressed by her coordination with tools. Working together, they had the plywood nailed down and then covered the whole thing with the tarp, tacking it down with staples to keep the rain from coming through the cracks. He’d come back on a dry—less windy day—to add shingles and finish the roof.
“Look!” Josie called to him, pointing out across the pond.
They watched helplessly as a wall of cascading water came sweeping across the pond in their direction. For a moment the wind seemed to die—and then they were doused by the rains, drenched in seconds. They just looked at each other across the roof before Josie burst out laughing, unphased by the weather.
Collecting the tools, they backed down off the roof, making for the dry sanctity of the cabin interior. Earlier that morning, he’d covered the broken picture window with a sheet of plywood and it felt good to close the door now, shutting out the storm.
Reveling in the feeling of a job well-done, Ben paused to light one of the oil lamps before fetching towels for them to dry off with. He still had a lot of work to do, he knew, but having the roof and windows covered so he could sleep inside and stay dry that night was a huge win.
“I should be getting back,” Josie said abruptly, when he passed her a towel. “I just wanted to make sure you were prepared for the storm.”
“You’re not going back out in that─?” Ben gaped at her.
She shrugged, “I’m already soaked. It’s not that far, really. I’ll just change when I get home.”
He observed her for a moment, noted that she was already shivering with cold and shook his head conclusively. “Josie-no─we’ve got plenty of beds right here. I’ll give you a change of dry clothes and you can stay here tonight. Have dinner and celebrate with me.”
“Celebrate?” she blinked in confusion.
“Yes─the roof.”
“Oh-I─” she hesitated, shifting uneasily now, her gaze darting around the room as though looking for escape. “I don’t know, Ben─I really should get back to the farm.”
“You put the livestock in the barn, didn’t you?” he asked, knowing that’s what they would’ve done at the ranch.
“Yeah, but─”
“Then everyone is fine for the night and there’s no need for you to go traipsing off through the woods in the middle of a hurricane,” he stated matter of factly. “I’ve got plenty of trout and, honestly, I could use some pointers on how to use the stove.”
She looked to the old cast-iron cook-stove dominating the kitchen space, hesitating visibly. After a long pause Josie gave a reluctant nod, “Till the storm passes.”
“Good,” he smiled. “Let me get you some dry clothes so you can change and make up a bed in the spare room while I get a fire going.”
Still looking like she might flee at any moment, Ben hurried to retrieve a t-shirt and sweatpants before Josie could change her mind. His was the same room Pap had always used when they’d come to the cabin all those years ago.
He was perplexed by Josie’s apparent skittishness. On the pond last week, and up on the roof just now, Josie had been confident and self-assured. It was downright sexy. He admired confident, capable women and had known plenty during his time as a marine.
Inside the confines of the cabin, however, she seemed almost fearful, leaving Ben to wonder why. Was she scared of him?
He recalled that night he’d gone to pick Amelie and Josie up from their senior prom. Home on leave after completing basic training—before being shipped out—he’d offered to spare his parents the late-night outing. In a nostalgic mood, Ben had been walking the halls of the high school when he happened upon Josie and her date on the couch in the drama room. It was a good thing, too, because the guy had been taking liberties Josie clearly hadn’t granted. Could it be that incident still affected her all these years later?
Realizing he really knew very little about his baby sister’s best friend, he returned to the main living space and passed the clothing to Josie. Her green eyes met his and for a brief moment Ben thought he saw fear there. Just as quickly, her gaze darted away again. Uttering a quiet “Thank you,” before making a beeline for the second bedroom, effectively shutting Ben out.
Confused and bewildered, he stared after her for a long moment. Josie Greene was so many juxtaposing things all at once, it was hard to make heads or tails of her. Yet, there was within him this overwhelming urge to both possess and protect her which surprised him. It was clear, however, he was going to have to take things slow and gain Josie’s trust if he stood any chance of getting close to her.
The cabin’s second bedroom housed two twin beds, a chest of drawers and 2 night stands. Thankfully, none of the damage the structure had incurred over the last few years had touched the back-end and both bedrooms were snug, if not rather dirty and dusty. Apparently, Ben hadn’t gotten around to cleaning this room yet. But then, she supposed he hadn’t been expecting company either.
Anxious and conflicted, Josie deliberated over whether she should or shouldn’t stay. Part of her wanted nothing more than a cozy evening with Ben. On the surface, it was a dream come true.
The other part of her, however, was certain that an evening with Ben was a recipe for disaster. How would she keep herself in check? What if he found out she had feelings for him? What if Amelie found out? Or any of the other Danforths, for that matter…
She could hear Ben’s amusement now. Could hear the jokes he and his brothers would make about “Little Carrot-Top” and her crush.
Josie couldn’t bear the thought of losing them. Of being cast out of their circle of love and acceptance. Aunt Rosemary, Amelie and the rest of the Danforths were all she had. The only real family she’d ever known. There was no way they could ever know.
Still, she couldn’t deny that it would be an ordeal to make her way back to the farm now. Though it was early in the evening, the sky was dark with storm clouds, and the wind sent leaves and branches flying. Shivering violently as she struggled out of her wet clothes, Josie reluctantly had to admit Ben was right. She was safe enough here, in spite of the danger to her heart.
Seeking to bolster herself before having to face Ben again, she made up a bed to sleep in that night, telling herself that she could do this. She could be friendly with Ben and no one ever need know that her entire being burned for him.
To kill some more time before facing him, she unplaited her red hair, toweled it dry and combed her fingers through the wet locks. Looking at herself in the mirror over the dresser, Josie frowned at the figure she made in Ben’s t-shirt and sweatpants, too big and baggy on her more slender feminine form.
Sucking in a breath she grimaced at herself, “This is as good as it’s gonna get, I guess.”
He was just beginning to wonder if Josie hadn’t escaped through the window when she finally emerged from the second bedroom. Nothing could have prepared him, however, for the sight of Josie standing there in his t-shirt and sweats and all of that glorious deep-red hair cascading about her shoulders in a riot of curls.
All of the air rushed out of his lungs and Ben’s gut twisted inside him. His heart stopped and started pounding again at double speed, pumping molten hot blood through his body. Heaven help him, he wanted her!
Looking for all the world as though she were afraid he might gobble her up, Josie shifted uncomfortably under his gaze before Ben realized he’d been staring. What was it that made Josie so nervous?
Thinking maybe she’d feel more at ease if he put her to work, Ben asked, “Got a minute?”
She startled a bit, glancing at him, “Sure, what can I do to help?”
“Would you wanna prepare the trout?” he suggested. “Then you can teach me how to cook on this old stove.”
“Sure thing!” she said, moving toward the kitchen area with purpose.
He put on some tunes from a playlist on his phone, waiting until her hands were busy to place a glass of wine before her on the counter.
Under the influence of the wine, Josie seemed to relax and loosen up with him for the first time. In his sweatpants and t-shirt, too baggy on her much slender form, she sat on one side of the settee, knees drawn up, facing him. While Ben sat on the other side, turned toward her as they recounted old times, shenanigans of his baby sister, Josie’s best friend, and family antics from days long gone.
It was the most he’d ever heard her speak and he thrilled to hear what she had to say.
She smiled and laughed, cheeks flushed with the drink, eyes so emerald green they pierced straight through Ben, cutting him to the core. He wanted to know everything about her, this familiar stranger in front of him.
“This really is just wonderful,” he told her, taking a haul off his beer. “I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to stay here, Josie.”
“You’re very welcome,” she said quietly. “I think it’s what Gramp would have wanted…”
He watched her even as she avoided his gaze, keeping her lashes lowered to hide her eyes from him.
“What happened to this place, Josie?” he finally asked. “What happened to Gramp that he would ever let the fishing cabin get so far gone?”
For a long moment she sat there unmoving, not responding to the question. He could see a vein pulsing in her neck and she swallowed hard. It was clear she was working to control some strong emotions. When eventually she spoke, her voice was low and thick.
“It was cancer.”
He waited, his gut twisting as he watched her lower lip tremble, “It was slow and agonizing─eating him away over a decade. There was almost nothing left of him in the end.”
Doing the math, Ben came to a startling realization. “You never left, did you?”
She shrugged, rubbing her nose with the back of her hand and shifting uncomfortably. “I never wanted to.”
Ben pressed gently, seeing his opportunity to get an answer to the question that had been burning within him since he’d first seen Josie on the pond. “You could have gone off to college, or met some guy. Could’ve gotten married and started a family, but instead you stayed on the farm all these years taking care of Gramp, didn’t you?”
Lifting her lashes now, pinning Ben with an intense glare, “I never wanted some guy.”
“Why not?” asked Ben, sitting straight with mock indignation. “Are you a lesbian?”
The act had the intended effect and Josie laughed, visibly relaxing once more, “No. I’m not a lesbian, Ben.”
“That’s good,” he said, reaching up to tuck a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. She flinched away from his touch, color staining her cheeks.
“Do I scare you, Josie?”
Her eyes flew to meet his before darting away again, “No!”
She was lying and they both knew it.
“That’s good,” he said thickly. He watched with fascination as Josie’s mouth worked even as she searched for the words. Aching to hold her, he took her hands in his, experimentally tracing a path across the ridge of her knuckles.
“Ben─I─” she stammered.
He turned her hand over in his, inspecting the hard callouses there before resting his thumb over the pulse that hammered beneath the delicate skin on her wrist. She was trembling, her breathing ragged and shallow.
Uncertain when or how they’d come to be sitting so close on the couch, Ben was acutely aware that their lips were just inches apart. Feebly she made to tug her hand away, but he was loathe to let her go, his lips hovering above hers.
In a voice little more than a whisper, she pleaded, “Ben—”
“Josie—” he murmured. And then, groaning deep in his throat as he lost the battle with himself, he claimed her mouth, slipping his tongue past her lips to taste her.
Josie hesitated at first, knowing it was wrong, but then she was kissing him back as she’d always longed to do. Their tongues tangled and Josie’s hands slipped up about his shoulders. Threading her fingers through his hair, Josie pressed herself against his broad chest.
Ben’s hand cupped Josie’s breast, his thumb brushing her pert nipple. Even through her clothing the sensation sent an explosion of heat coursing through her and she gasped, arching against him with wanton abandon.
Jolted abruptly back to reality, Josie reminded herself this was BEN. She couldn’t get close to him. He was her best friend’s brother. A Danforth. And SO out of her league.
“Ben─stop,” she choked. He was kissing her neck, and his hand on her breast was making her altogether uncertain that she wanted him to stop─ever.
He murmured something unintelligible against her throat, sending another wave of sensation rippling over her body. She had to end this before she lost herself entirely. Wrenching herself away from him, Josie lurched off the couch.
“I said stop, Ben!” she cried. Chest heaving, fighting to keep tears at bay, for what she really wanted more than anything in the world was to stay inside the circle of Ben’s arms forever.
Blinking in surprise and trying to catch up, Ben stared at Josie as she stood there flushed, disheveled and shaking, trying to comprehend what had just happened. What was happening now.
“I have to go,” she said suddenly, moving toward the door on legs that looked ready to give out on her at any moment.
“But─the storm─” Ben protested, jumping to his feet. “You can’t go out in that!”
“It’s just a little wind and rain,” she said impatiently, skirting the couch to keep as much space between them as possible. “I’ll be fine.”
“Josie, please─” Ben pleaded with her. “Stay here tonight. I won’t ever touch you again without your consent─I promise.”
She stared at him.
He thought her reaction was related to that night at prom and she did not correct him. It was easier if he believed that. There was no way she could tell him the truth.
His brown eyes were filled with concern and tenderness that struck a cord deep inside her. Tears threatened to overwhelm her and she cursed inwardly, wishing there were some way but knowing there was not.
Hauling in several deep breaths to calm her anxieties, she gave a slight nod.
Ben visibly relaxed, his shoulders slumping, “Okay then. Better take yourself to bed.”
Without another word Josie fled to the sanctity and privacy of the second bedroom. Sequestering herself behind the closed door, she let the tears slip unbidden down her cheeks. How long had she dreamed of that kiss? How many nights had she lain in bed fantasizing about Ben’s touch, longing for this very opportunity? Yet, when the moment finally arises, somehow it was all wrong?
It wasn’t Josie that Ben wanted, she told herself. How could anyone ever want Josie Greene? They might want to take Josie to bed, but she was not the kind of girl they wanted to come home to every night. She was too rugged and independent. Too wild.
Ben was a red-blooded male. She knew full well the natural urges of men. They wanted one thing and one thing only. They cared not for the beating heart inside the woman, seeking only to satiate their carnal urges.
Sobbing silently, Josie drew a chair over and propped it under the doorknob. Ben had been gone a long time, she reminded herself. He may not be the same person he had been when he was young. He might have picked up any number of bad habits, or adopted all manner of negative thought-processes. She couldn’t allow her feelings for him to cloud her judgement.
She put herself to bed, slipping between the sheets and drawing the heavy quilt up about her shoulders. By the sounds of it, Ben was stoaking the woodstove, preparing to go to bed. She could hear the clanging of the cast-iron door and the thunking of firewood.
Resisting the urge to throw caution to the wind, to go back to him and let his hands finish what they had started, she lay there in bed, fairly burning with desire. The fire that had smoldered within her for two decades, had suddenly been fanned into a raging conflagration. There would be no sleep that night.
Predictably, Josie was gone when Ben woke the next morning. The storm had passed, and a bright sunny day was dawning. He imagined she’d slipped out at first light. Tossing a couple of sticks of firewood into the woodstove, Ben admitted to himself how surprised and caught off guard he was by this grown-up Josie.
She was unlike any woman he’d ever known. Strong, and capable, intelligent and wise, kind and gentle, hardworking and dependable. Josie had been here all this time, while Ben had been off gallivanting across the globe. He’d been searching for answers, but he was beginning to think the answers he sought had been there the whole time…on Blackstone Mountain.
Thank you for reading and following along with my debut novel: On Blackstone Mountain. Please feel free to leave your questions and feedback in the comments. Much love to you and yours, my friends!
Nothing like an independent girl to set a man aflame. I like the slow buildup. But how long can it last until she surrenders?
Am really enjoying this story!!!