On Blackstone Mountain: Chapter 8
The idea of Josie settling for some shmuck just to appease the terms of her inheritance was disturbing and Ben doesn’t like it one bit...
Ben stood on the front porch staring after Josie and the Bronco long after she’d gone. At length, Amelie joined him there and he asked, “Why does she always do that?”
“Do what?”
“Run off like that—like the devil is chasing her?”
“Josie has some pretty severe social anxiety and PTSD,” Amie explained. “Plus, she’s got a lot going on right now—“
“Like what?” he demanded. “It can’t be that bad if she’s going out on dates left and right!”
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…
After a bad date, Amelie convinces Josie to attend Sunday Supper with the Danforth’s. Having isolated herself on the mountain all winter, Josie’s social anxiety overwhelms her and she makes a hasty exit, leaving Ben staring after her on the front porch…
Chapter 8: The Perfect Solution
Amie gazed at Ben thoughtfully for a long moment, suddenly seeing her brother in a new light. In all her match-making schemes with Rosemary, she’d completely overlooked her own brother. Given her childhood fantasy of having Josie for a sister, it seemed like a monumental oversight and an egregious mistake on her part. But here was Ben outright admitting his interest and in him Amelie saw the answer to all their prayers standing before her.
Her friend would be upset, she knew, but she confessed the truth to Ben, hoping against hope that it would save Josie. “Gramp put a stipulation on her inheritance that says Josie can only keep the farm if she gets married within twelve months, or the estate passes to her Uncle Gregor.”
“What!?” Ben exclaimed, and then spluttered, “Well, that’s—that’s just—why on Earth would he do that to her?”
Amie shrugged, “Rosemary said he wanted Josie to have a family—to carry on the Greene’s legacy—and he was worried she’d never leave to farm to find someone.”
Ben could see why the old man would worry over his granddaughter’s future given her propensity to hide away up on that mountain. Yet, the idea of Josie settling for some shmuck just to appease the terms of her inheritance was disturbing and he didn’t like it one bit.
“If she’s so desperate, why did she turn me down when I asked her out?”
“She’s not desperate!” Amie began indignantly, and then, “Wait—you asked Josie out?”
“Yeah and she turned me down flat,” he muttered sullenly.
“Probably because you’re my brother.” Amie murmured thoughtfully. “Listen, Ben—are you serious about this? Josie’s already been through so much, you know she’s got some issues—but Josie’s a really special person and I love her. She doesn’t need anymore heartbreak in her life, if you get my meaning.”
Looking down at his baby sister, now a grown woman, intelligent and spunky. He could see the genuine affection she held for her friend and understood the concerns she might have. Ben hadn’t had a serious relationship since Rachel, and that had been a farce that ended with him shipping off to basic training.
“There’s no denying I’m at a crossroads in my life.” He began slowly, choosing his words carefully. “But I came home ready to settle down and the moment I laid eyes on Josie out there on the pond I knew who I wanted to settle down with. I want to be the man in Josie’s life, Amie—I’ll take good care of her. I promise.”
“She’s only got five months left to get married.” Amie warned.
“I don’t care,” he said firmly. “I’ll do it—I’ll marry Josie. We can save Blackstone Farm together.”
“Okay…” Amie nodded and then her eyes hardened as she warned, “But if you screw up you’ll have me to answer to. And then Rosemary will want a piece of you, too, and I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when she catches up with you, Mister!”
When he pulled his truck into the yard at Blackstone Farm later that same evening, Josie was lounging on the front porch swing still wearing the little yellow sundress she’d worn to Sunday supper. She’d lost the shoes and for the first time since they were kids he saw her with her hair freed from it’s usual confines. The red tresses hung in a wild cascade about her shoulders and down her back, and in that moment there was nothing Ben wanted more than to thread his fingers through it and pull her close.
“Beautiful evening,” he said, climbing the stairs to join her on the porch. From there he surveyed the glorious view of the western Maine mountains, sun sinking low in the sky.
“What do you want, Ben?” she asked wearily.
Noting the wine bottle on the bench beside her, Ben shrugged. “I was on my way home and just wanted check in on you—to see if you were okay.”
A harsh laugh escaped her lips and she lifted the bottle, “Well, I’m just dandy! Thanks for asking!”
Pointedly, she took a long haul.
Observing her as she put the bottle back down, he leaned against the railing. Her face was pale, with dark shadows under her eyes and the tracks of recent tears on her cheeks.
“Amie told me about the Will,” he said at length. “About you having to get married to keep this place….”
Her eyes flew to his, their vivid green intensity fairly piercing him and for a moment his breath caught in his throat.
“She had no right to do that!”
“She’s worried about you, Josie—we’re all worried about you—“
“I’m fine!” she cried, lurching to her feet and taking the bottle with her. “I wish everyone would just stop worrying about me! Look at this place! It’s all getting done! I’m doing the job—taking care of this farm. I don’t need a man all up in my business here!”
Surveying the farm with it’s large garden and the livestock grazing under the setting sun, there was no denying that the place was well tended. Having grown up on his family’s ranch, Ben knew well what a lot of work that was, and his gut twisted that Josie should have to do it all by herself. But he said nothing of it, knowing she wouldn’t appreciate having it pointed out.
“I just don’t want to see you end up with some douchebag, Josie.”
Her mouth fell open but then she snapped it shut, glaring up at him, “Why does it even matter to you? And what other option do I have?”
“Marry me,” impulsively he reached for her hand, holding her fingers loosely in his. “Let me help you.”
“You—what!?” shocked, Josie looked up at him and he could see the emotion swirling in the depths of her eyes. Shock and surprise, indignation—and fear. What was she so afraid of, he wondered. Him?
“Think about it—it’s the perfect solution,” he coaxed, finding himself suddenly anxious for her to say yes. Like his entire existence depended upon her response to the question.
“Ben—you don’t even know me!” she cried, attempting to tug her hand away. He held her gently but firmly, refusing to release her for fear she would run. “You’re my best friend’s brother, that doesn’t make us friends.”
Unmoved, he continued to hold fast to her hand, sliding his other hand up her arm, wanting so badly to hold her close, to reassure her that everything would be okay.
Anger wavering now, her eyes darted around as though looking for an escape. Uncertainty and fear were written on her face, yet she persisted, “You’ve been gone for fifteen years, Ben—you don’t know me and I don’t know you!”
“So let’s get to know each other, Josie,” he said, shifting his weight so that he could draw closer without alarming her. “We’ve got five months, right? We don’t have to get married tomorrow… Let me take you out. We can spend some time together.”
He could see the maelstrom of emotion in her eyes, noted the rapid throbbing of the pulse in her neck and her ragged breathing as she processed the information.
“Why?” she asked in a tortured voice. “Why would you do this?”
“Because, Josie Greene—” he growled, his voice thick with all of the longing, hope and fear he felt. “I want you to be my wife.”
Taking her face between his two hands, Ben held her in place as he kissed her. Tenderly at first, her lips soft under his, and he felt her body tremble. Groaning, he wrapped an arm around her to pull her fully against his length, his cock straining against his jeans as he ground himself against her pelvis.
She gasped, wrapping a hand around his bicep to steady herself and he seized the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Thrusting his tongue into her mouth, he tasted Josie and she was as sweet and intoxicating as the wine she’d been drinking.
Threading a hand through her hair to hold her head in position, he explored her mouth with his own until he heard the wine bottle thud when it hit the floor. Remembering that Josie was incredibly drunk, Ben came back to himself, too aware of what was at stake to risk losing control. Yet, he couldn’t resist running his hands over her body, imprinting the memory of her against him even as he ended the kiss.
He held her close as they both sought to regain control of their breathing. Stroking her hair as he held her, he murmured, “I think you want me, too, Josie.”
She stiffened against him, and he continued, “I think you want me—and it scares you. But you should know that you would be a most welcomed addition to the family, and Amie’s already given us her blessing.”
“I—I don’t know, Ben…” she mumbled into his chest.
He let her pull away then, settling her into the porch swing as he prepared to make his departure, “I know it’s sudden—it is for me, too. But something about it all feels right and I have no doubts or reservations whatsoever.”
“Wish I could say the same.” Josie muttered, feeling defeated, tired and worn out.
He hated leaving her like this. “Take some time and think it over, Josie. You know where I am when you’re ready.”
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!
Sam
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I am enjoying this -it seems well written to me! Good and strong characters, interesting story theme-what’s not to like???