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Paul & Miriam
Mail Order Brides

The Yoder Sisters

Book 6
M.K. Moore
Flirty Filth Publishing
Copyright © 2023 by M.K. Moore

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and
retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover Created By KL Fast
Created with Vellum
For those that fate favors…
 Contents

Blurb

Prologue
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Epilogue
Epilogue

Looking for more Yoder Sisters?

ABOUT M.K.
 Blurb

Paul Reynolds
Moving to West Virginia from Florida was an adjustment, but it was a huge career move I couldn't say
no to. I went from a beat cop to sheriff in no time flat. When the mayor of Hollow's Hollow told me I
was getting married, sight unseen. I said yes because I want what my three older brothers already
have. I want love, and as soon as I saw the curvy goddess, Miriam Yoder, I was in it. My love for her
knows no bounds, but she's mine. I'll do anything to make her love me.
Miriam Yoder
I'm a follower, I didn't want to leave home, but there was no way I was living without my sisters. This
marriage scheme is crazy to me, but I said I do to the handsome sheriff. I'm his now, through God and
by law. He gives me so much freedom, but I don't want that. I want to worship the ground he walks
on. I want to be so ingrained with him we can't breathe without the other. I'll be whatever he wants me
to be to make that happen.
The Yoder Sisters are Amish, and they want out. Leaving under the guise of a Rumspringa, they have
no intention of returning to the life they have left behind. One sister answers an ad that leads all of
them on their path to their own forever after.
The town of Hollow's Hollow, West Virginia, has long relied on ads to find their wives and keep
their town growing, but with the death of a few keep people in their town, that tradition was long
since forgotten. Until the new Mayor comes along and vows to bring their town back to life, and the
only way to do that is with brides and babies.
Bridal season is upon us; ChaShiree M. and M.K. Moore are bringing you all the weddings and
babies we can fit into the month. So, grab a fan, your man, and something cool. It's about to get hot!!!
Prologue
 Paul Reynolds

This meeting is…interesting, I think as I listen to my boss and new friend, Lloyd Hollow, lay out his
plans to revive the town. Interestingly, he thinks he can do it by pairing off the bachelors, eligible or
not, with mail-order brides. What’s also interesting is that I was just thinking about how much I want
a wife. In the last three years, my two oldest brothers have gotten married. Jensen, a professional
gamer, married Jessica, a college student, three years ago in our hometown of Wesley Chapel,
Florida. I was still at home then. I had just finished college and joined the police academy when they
got married. Earlier this year, Logan, a professional rugby player, married Patience Winters, an
actress. We all went to London for that wedding, which took place in their private regency-era club.
We had to dress up like we were in 1813. It was pretty fun; I’ll admit that I had a blast and seeing my
brother so happy meant a lot.
So the timing of Lloyd’s decree is perfect. I want what my brothers have. I want a life that is
idyllic. I want to continue to be the sheriff of this small town with my wife and children by my side. I
had a rough start in life. When I was five years old, my parents were murdered in our home by drug
addicts. My oldest brother Jensen was just eighteen at the time. He raised all six of us without
complaint, granted he makes a lot of money doing what he was doing, but I couldn’t imagine being in
charge of the wellbeing of six little kids when I was barely old enough to vote. He did it, though.
We’ve all made it to adulthood and are thriving. I have no doubt that it’s because of him.
The detective that night, Detective Newell, made everything seem so easy. Like there wasn’t
blood and guts all over our house. I decided then and there that I would be a police officer. It was late
when it happened, and the next morning this country changed with the events of 9/11. Needless to say,
it was not a good time for the Reynolds Boys, but we survived because of Jensen. I’ll never be able
to repay him for the sacrifice he made for us, though he’d say it wasn’t a sacrifice.
“You’re wrong, Sutton. A woman bred for a simple life would be more than fine with it.” I can’t
help laughing at Jasper as he looks so out of his element with this. I’m laughing so hard I have to hold
my stomach. Jasper looks at me like I’m crazy, so I sober up. I’ll admit that I laughed earlier in this
conversation when Greyson, the town’s lawyer, told me this is how men in this town have found
wives since 1850. Lloyd’s dad stopped the practice as there were enough men and women not related
to pair off naturally.
“Look, I have been out there far longer than I have been here and trust me when I tell you, women
like that don’t exist,” I say because I’m curious to know where he’s going to find girls like that and
enough girls who think like that for all of us.
“I assure you they do, and I am going to find them for you, if you let me. So what do you all say?”
 I listen as the other men in town grumble about their fates, but that won’t be me.
Lloyd ends the meeting, and I head back to the station. I’m the only sheriff in town at present.
There is room for a deputy in the budget, but it hasn’t been necessary. It might become necessary,
though, once I take a wife. I remind myself to start the search. The crime rate in this town is non-
existent. The occasional DUI or horseback riding while intoxicated is expected in small towns. I
don’t think the people of this town even know what drugs are, which I am glad of. I’ve seen enough
drug overdoses to last a lifetime. There hasn’t been a murder since 1902, and the last theft was in
1979 when Peabody Mitchell, the previous saloon owner and Toby’s now retired dad, accused Orion
Picard, Greyson’s grandfather, of stealing his wife’s virginity before he could take it. I kid you not;
those are the last entries in the town blotter. In case you were wondering, Old Man Picard did sleep
with Toby’s mama. His older sister, Tisha, is the result of that affair. Small towns ain't got nothing on
reality TV. In the end, Peabody and Denise fell in love, but it wasn’t a mail-order bride situation, as
Lloyd’s dad had been the mayor for a bit at that point.
The next morning, I run into Lloyd on the street as he walks from his house to town hall, where his
office is.
“Paul? How are you?” he asks, shaking my hand.
“Good. I saw you were busy last night with questions from the others, but what do you need from
me to get this started?”
“You’re excited about this?” he asks, quirking an eyebrow at me.
“I am, actually. I’ve been thinking about settling down for a while now and didn’t know how I
was going to accomplish that here. I don’t like going out and scouring for a woman; you know what I
mean?”
“I do. Okay, write me a list of things that that you are looking for in a wife. Whatever it is, I’ll be
sure to take those things in account when I shift through the responses.”
“Okay. I can do that.”
“Email it to me.”
“Will do. Thanks. I really think this a great idea, even if I am not sure how you will accomplish
it.”
“Thanks. It worked for generations, and I see no reason it won’t now.”
After saying our goodbyes, I head back into the sheriff’s station and grab a cup of coffee before
sitting down at my desk.
I’ve never thought to compile a list of what I’m looking for in a wife. I’ve already decided that
looks don’t matter to me in the slightest, so I make no mention of that at all. Besides, all pussy looks
the same, I guess. It’s about more than that for me. I want a connection with a woman before I fuck
her, which is why I never have before. It wasn’t a conscious decision; I just knew what I wanted and
what I didn’t want. Since I never found it, it wasn’t a big deal to me. However, seeing my brothers so
happy, I knew I wanted that kind of happiness for myself.
The list of things I want in a woman isn’t long; I word the list in a way that Lloyd can show it to
my potential bride if necessary.

KIND AND CARING

WANTS CHILDREN , LOTS OF CHILDREN , WITH ME. I EXPECT TO BE MAN AND WIFE IN EVERY
WAY.
WANTS TO BE MARRIED TO A MAN WHO DOESN ’ T MAKE MUCH IN THE WAY OF A SALARY; I’ M
COMFORTABLE BUT NOT ROLLING IN IT .
 LOYAL: I WON ’ T STRAY FROM MY VOWS AND EXPECT THE SAME FROM MY WIFE.
KNOWING HOW TO COOK WOULD BE NICE, BUT CERTAINLY NOT REQUIRED , THOUGH I’ M SICK OF
EATING AT THE SALOON EVERY NIGHT . I HAVEN ’ T HAD A HOME- COOKED MEAL IN YEARS .
TEAM PLAYER: I AM LOOKING FOR A WIFE WHO IS ON MY SIDE AS I WILL BE ON HER SIDE,
WHETHER WE ARE RIGHT OR WRONG .
I AM LOOKING FOR A WIFE WHO WILL BE MY BEST FRIEND AND LOVER. I WANT LOVE AND NOT A
MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE. I PLAN ON GETTING MARRIED ONLY ONCE, AND I WANT LOVE TO
BE AN OPTION .
COMMUNICATION : I AM NOT A MIND READER; SADLY, WHILE I CAN INTERPRET A LOT OF
THINGS BEING A COP ; IF YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT , I WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN . I WILL ALSO
TELL YOU WHAT I’ M THINKING AND WHAT I WANT .

I send off the email and pray that Lloyd knows what the hell he’s doing.
Prologue
 Miriam Yoder

I just watched Sadie get married, and now I’m mingling at the first non-Amish party I’ve ever been to.
It’s fun. Lots of fun. Jasper’s ranch hands are attractive and attentive, neither of which is something
that I’m used to. Back in Ohio, a place I’ll never think of as home again, I was engaged to be married
to a man four times my age of nineteen. Eli Peterscheim has one foot in the grave. His grandchildren
are older than I am. I never could have lain with him. Just the thought of his liver-spotted hands on me
makes me want to vomit. I wasn’t expecting a god of a man to offer for me because looks mean
nothing to me, but someone near my age would have been nice. Someone to grow old with, not
someone to bury and then be alone for the rest of my life.
My mother, bless her, told me I was lucky he even offered for my hand. Since no one else had, I
should be grateful. I should get down on my knees and thank God that he did. She even went so far as
to tell me that my father accepted the offer on my behalf because the man needed a nursemaid, not a
wife, and I was perfect for that because I was too plump and homely to marry anyone else. He
essentially condemned me to be alone for the rest of my life because women in our order were not
permitted to marry more than once, while men could remarry again after their wives' deaths. It wasn’t
fair. I also wouldn’t say I’m homely, which we all know is code for ugly; just because I’m a bit bigger
than most of my sisters doesn’t mean I’m ugly. I’ve seen my reflection in glass windows, and I can see
the curves on my body. I also saw how men in Millersburg looked at me. The lust in their eyes was
welcome. I’m a bit of a wanton, but my virtue and all that comes after is just for my husband, whoever
he is. I wrote a response to the same ad Sadie did, but so far, no responses have come my way.
I know I’m too gluttonous as well as a wanton, as Mam liked to remind me every time I ate
something, which was often because I love to cook. Food is meant to be experienced and isn’t just for
nourishment. I am a little bit braggy, too, because my food is so good. Everyone says so.
I was so glad when Sadie came up with this scheme. I had to get out of there, but I never would
have left without my sisters. I’m the chameleon of the group. I can be whatever anyone needs me to
be, and I actually thrive on that.
I am talking to Pete, a ranch hand, when suddenly Sadie’s voice rings out in the room.
“Girls!” she calls. I excuse myself and make my way over to Sadie. She’s talking to the pastor that
married her and another man. “Okay. Left to right: Rachel, Ada, Miriam,” she says, pausing when the
other man makes a kind of grunting noise. I shake hands with the pastor and then the other man. When
his hand touches mine, I look up, and our eyes meet. Time stops. I can’t hear any noise anymore.
Nothing but the sound of my heart beating and another thudding sound. I literally forget how to
breathe; when I finally remember, I suck in a huge gulp of air and almost choke on it. The man whose
eyes or hand hasn’t left mine smiles. The amusement reaches his dark green eyes. I realize this must
have only taken seconds because I can hear Sadie continuing the introductions. “Hannah and Lavinia.”
“Hello, ladies. I’m Alton Reed, and this is Paul Reynolds,” the pastor says, but I kind of tune him
out.
I am still holding Paul Reynolds’ hand when I notice we are the only ones standing in the corner
now. Wait, when did we get into a corner?
I try to move my hand out of his, but he tightens his hold on me, so I try to make polite
conversation, though my brain isn’t working properly.
“What do you do, Mr. Reynolds?”
“I’m the sheriff in town, but call me Paul,” he says, finally letting me go.
“Oh, I couldn’t do that, Sheriff.” I say, noticing his badge, gun, and big hat all at once. I’ve seen
guns before; the men used them for hunting and protection. However, I’ve never been this close to
one. I reach out and touch it. The cold steel in my hand feels ominous. However, the touch is short-
lived because he grabs my wrist and pulls my hand away from his waist. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know
what came over me.”
“No need to apologize, Miri. It’s natural to be curious. Are you curious about other things as
well?” The way he says that makes me think of things I shouldn’t think of. Wanton things.
“Maybe. No one has ever given me a nickname before besides Rachel. She calls me Mir,” I blurt
out, causing him to chuckle.
“You don’t look like a Miriam. The only Miriam I know is ninety-three and is way too crotchety
to still be alive. You, on the other hand, are young, beautiful, and vibrant. Miri suits you better.”
“Oh… Thank you.” No one has ever said I was beautiful before. No one.
“No need to thank me, sweet girl. What do you do?”
A nickname and a term of endearment? Yes, please.
“Do? Nothing professionally or anything. I finished my schooling last year and had been working
with my mother, perfecting my domestic tasks, of which cooking is my favorite.”
“Cooking, you say?”
“Yes. I make the best savory foods, while my sister Lavinia bakes the best.”
“You two should team up and open a restaurant. This town is sorely lacking in that department.”
“You don’t even know if we are any good. I could be lying about my skills.”
“You don’t strike me as a liar, Miri. Are you a liar?”
“No. I’m honest to a fault. It gets me in trouble sometimes. My mouth has a mind of its own,” I
say, and he groans softly.
“Did I say something wrong?” I ask, confused.
“No, sweet girl, you didn’t.”
“Oh, good. I’d hate to disappoint you so soon in our friendship.”
“Are we friends, Miri.”
“I hope so. Tell me we are.”
“We are,” he says, smiling. I grin right back at him. I suddenly blurt out about my entire family. I
even tell him about how my parents shunned us. It’s a sore spot for me, but the fact that he listens to
me and stares at me intently.
“So, are you from here originally? Your accent isn’t the same as the other men I’ve met.” This
time he growls and pulls me closer to him. I like being this close to him, and I wouldn’t mind if I
were even closer to him. He smells like pine trees and sunshine.
“No, I’m from sunny Florida. I have a large family as well.”
 “Really?”
“Yes. Six brothers.”
“Wow. Your parents must have had their hands full.”
“They did at first, but they were killed when I was five. My eldest brother raised us.” He
proceeds to tell me all about his family. The tragedy of the following day even affected our little
community. We never cried or prayed so much.
“Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry,” I say, taking his hand again. He squeezes mine. It feels so right
being with him like this.
“That was twenty years ago, but it has made me realize I want a big family. Is that something
you’d want as well?”
“I would. I want as many children as the good Lord will give me within reason, of course.”
“Of course,” he says, nodding in agreement.
I couldn’t even tell you what else we talk about because I’m too busy staring at him and watching
his mouth move as he speaks to me. The sound of his voice is a rich, dark timbre that makes me
shiver. Even later that night, my first night in a strange bed, he’s all I can think about. What would it
feel like to have his mouth on my skin? My wicked, wanton thoughts are going to get me in trouble; I
just know it.
Chapter One
Paul
Five Weeks After Jasper & Sadie’s Wedding…
“Good morning, Miri,” I say as I walk into Jasper’s kitchen from the back door. Ever since the night
we met, I’ve been up her butt. I literally can't stay away from her. I vowed to trust Lloyd's process in
matching the Yoder sisters up, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to sit idly by while she marries
someone else. I’m already head over heels in love with her.
“Morning, Pauly,” she says, wiping her hands on the towel on her shoulder. She comes over to me
and hugs me. She’s so affectionate with me, and I live for her hugs and little touches. I love having my
hands on her thick, curvy body. The ends of her long dark hair caress my forearms as she clings to me,
and cling she does. Her body was made for mine. We fit together so perfectly.
“How did you sleep last night?” I ask. We had gone to Charleston for dinner and a movie. She had
wanted to see The Little Mermaid. She was so excited about it, and I would never refuse her anything.
It was actually pretty good, though I’d never admit that to my brothers or my friends. I wanted to kiss
her so badly when I brought her home, but I know she wants to save all her firsts for her husband.
We’ve never discussed it, of course, but I know her. I also know that I shouldn’t torture myself by
spending time with her as she could be ripped away from me and put into another man’s arms at any
moment. That would be the end of me, though.
“Not well. I was plagued all night.”
“How so?” I ask, hoping against hope that I was the reason she couldn’t sleep.
“Well, I was lying in bed,” she begins, and I groan. The mere thought of her in bed makes me
crazy. I can’t help but wonder what she sleeps in. Nothing, shorty pajamas or one of those buttoned-up
flannel monstrosities that would look amazing on her. It doesn’t matter each and every combination of
possibilities has graced my masturbatory fantasies of her and me together… Why did I think trusting
Lloyd's process was a good idea? “And I had the greatest idea, at least I think it the greatest idea.”
“Okay, calm down, sweet girl. Start at the beginning.”
“I’m sure you’re starving. Let me fix you a plate,” she says, stepping out of my arms. She’s right. I
am starving. Though her food is delicious, and I will eat it, I’m starving for her. “Please sit,” she says
as she busies herself with fixing a plate. She piles it high with biscuits and gravy, as well as bacon.
She sets the plate down in front of me and pours me a cup of coffee. I’ve taken almost every meal
with her since we met. She doctors it up just how I like. I wait as she makes herself a plate as well. I
love that she’s not a dainty eater. She sits down next to me, and she grabs my hand. “Bless this bounty
we are about to receive, O’ Lord. Thank you for these gifts. Amen.”
“Amen,” I say. I love that she prays before every meal. I’ve also taken several meals with her
sisters, and she’s the only one that does this. “So, what’s your idea?”
“I want to open a restaurant. I think Hollow’s Hollow needs one. Don’t get me wrong, the saloon
offers nice options, but I think it could be so much more.”
“I think that is a great idea, Miri.”
“I’m hoping you’ll help me.”
“I was hoping you say that. I know the perfect place for it. It’s just a few doors down from the
sheriff’s station. Let’s finish eating, and I’ll take you to you look at it.”
“Oh my goodness! Thank you, Pauly. You’re the best.”
We finish eating, and I help clean up. My cruiser is parked just outside. I lead her to it and put her
in the passenger seat. For the entirety of the five-mile drive, she talks non-stop about her ideas for her
restaurant. I don’t get a word in edgewise, but she looks adorable and excited. I could listen to her
talk for the rest of my life. God willing.
I pull up in front of the empty building and get out of the car to open her door. A good thing about
a small town is that everyone trusts everyone. The realtor is in Charleston, but she left the door
unlocked. This would never have happened in Florida.
“Now, I don’t know for sure what this space was used for, but I think it was a diner. It’s outdated,
but we could… I mean, you could update…”
“No, we… I like the sound of that, Pauly,” she says as she walks around the room, going into the
kitchen. When she comes back into the room, she comes right to me and throws her arms around me.
She’s jumping up and down, her body pressed against me in the best fucking way possible. “This is
going to perfect.”
“Yes, it is,” I say, but I am not referring to the building.
Her excitement is contagious. Her mouth touches mine, and the scent of lemons fills my nose. I
forget how to breathe. She pulls away from me much too quickly for my liking.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” she says, her face red.
“Don’t apologize, sweet girl. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to taste you,” I growl,
pulling her back to me. Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t stop me. Turning my head and leaning down
slightly, I press my lips to hers, tentatively at first, but when I trace them with my tongue, she opens
her mouth, letting me in. She sags against me and begins to kiss me back. This is everything I knew it
would be. More even. She is so responsive to me and my touch. It’s like a fire has been lit between
us. I know I’m going to have to force myself to stop. I can’t take this any further. I can’t take what isn’t
mine but should be.
“Oh, am I interrupting?” Lloyd asks from behind us. I was so wrapped up in Miri that I didn’t hear
the door open or close.
“Of course not, Mayor Hollow,” Miri says, stepping back from me and turning to face him. She
smiles at him, and I fucking hate it. The irrational jealousy I feel at her simple nicety toward him is
fierce. It’s all-consuming, bordering on crazy as fuck.
“I’m glad you’re both here,” he says, coming forward. He shakes my hand and kisses Miri on the
cheek. Nope, don’t fucking like that. It takes everything in me not to drag her to my side.
“Oh, how can we help?” she asks.
“So, I’ve thought about this long and hard, and I’ve matched you two up, and it looks like I was
just in time too. It looked pretty steamy in here,” he says, chuckling. He’s matched us up? Elated
doesn’t begin to cover what I feel. She’s going to be mine, and I can’t fucking wait.
“Us?” Miri asks, touching her fingers to her now swollen lips.
“Unless you have some objection?”
“No!” Miri and I both shout at the same time.
“Yeah, I thought not. When would you like to get married? Alton is already on standby, of course.”
“Three days from now,” Miri answers after thinking for a moment. I was about to say right the hell
now.
“Why so long?” I ask, taking her hand in mine.
“Your brothers should be here,” she says. “Logan will need enough time to get here.”
“You remembered?” I ask. We discussed my family weeks ago.
“Of course, I remembered.”
“Alright, three days from now. Congratulations,” Lloyd says before taking his leave.
In three days, the woman of my dreams will be my wife.
Thank God.
Chapter Two
 Miriam

Today is my wedding day. To Paul. My Pauly, as I’ve come to think of him. I honestly don’t know how
far we would have gone in that empty storefront. Thanks to Paul, Miriam’s Place will officially open
next month. I’ve asked Lavinia to help me with the baked goods as well. He took care of everything
for me since I have no credit yet. He signed the lease with an option to purchase. There are even two
little apartments upstairs that we’ve decided will be good rental income. I love that we are already
making decisions together as a husband and wife should.
I know I accidentally started it, but his kiss set me on fire. I’ve read the books we checked out
from the library and gotten quite a bit braver on my Kindle. If he had asked or even nudged me in the
right direction, I would have given him everything and then some.
His family started arriving the day before yesterday. All of his Florida family came in at once,
with his brothers Logan and Harry coming in with their wives from England last night. They are
staying in Charleston to give us privacy tonight. Our first night as husband and wife. I’m excited and
nervous. No one has ever seen my body before, at least since I was a baby. What if he doesn’t like
what he sees? That thought leaves my head as I walk down the aisle toward him. He’s staring at me
like he wants to devour me just as much as I want to devour him. I had enough time to find an actual
wedding dress, and instead of white, I opted for a green dress.
We opted not to have anyone stand up with us. It would have been too hard for either of us to
decide amongst our siblings. Instead, our witnesses are the town lawyer and judge. I don’t know them
well, but Paul works with them often, being sheriff. His big tan hat makes him look so sexy. As I
reach him, he takes my hand in his and pulls it to his lips, kissing it. Then we face forward, and Alton
begins.
He says things, but I am so focused on Paul that I miss it until he starts to speak.
“I, Paul Benedict Reynolds, take thee, Miriam Eve Yoder, to be my wife, to have and to hold from
this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, I promise
to love, honor, and cherish you.”
“I, Miriam Eve Yoder, take thee Paul Benedict Reynolds to be my husband. to have and to hold
from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, I
promise to love, honor, obey, and cherish you.” We put wedding bands on each other, and then we’re
married. Thank God. I couldn’t do this with anyone else.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.” He’s so much taller than me. His
lips take mine, and I am lost in his kiss. “Please join me in congratulating Mr. & Mrs. Paul and
Miriam Reynolds.” Eventually, he stops kissing me, and I miss him.
 “Please join us at our house for a small reception,” Paul says to everyone in the room, who starts
leaving. He then leans into me, his lips touching my ear. “Come with me, Miri,” he rasps, sending
shivers down my spine. He takes my hand and leads me away from the rest of the group.
He takes me into an empty room with a dark leather theme. I am not sure what room this is or why
it’s in a church, but it’s nice… and we’re alone. Married and alone. He backs me toward the arm of
the couch, and I sit. He places his hands on my thighs, squeezing them, and then he spreads them apart.
He steps inside and kisses me.
“Paul”? What are we doing in here?”
“I can’t wait another second to be inside you. I’ve wanted this for so long.” His hands move
further up my thighs, pushing my skirt as he goes. He kneels in front of me and lifts me a little as he
pulls my panties down my legs. He puts them into his pocket. Then he kisses me there. Down there. I
moan, throwing my head back, and grab his shoulders. “Tell me that I can have you,” he growls, his
lips and tongue torturing me. He makes me cry out, and then he’s standing between my thighs again.
His hands squeeze me so tight; I know he’ll leave bruises, but I want his mark on me.
“Take what’s yours husband,” I respond, kissing him again.
He pulls off his dress shirt and hat before wrenching open his tight jeans. My mouth drops open at
the sight of him. He’s so big and so hard. My mouth is watering. I want to taste him as he tasted me.
“Touch my cock, Miri. I am yours. Touch me.” Boldly I reach out and touch his cock, wrapping my
fist around it. Thinking back to my books, I drag my fist up and down until he groans, and his
breathing becomes shallow and more rapid. “Enough.” I immediately drop my hand from him.
“Did I hurt you?” I ask.
“No, my sweet girl. I need you now.”
“I need you too,” I say, smiling at him.
“This might hurt,” he says.
“It’s okay; I can handle it. I can handle you,” I tell him, and he pushes into me shallowly and then
stops.
“Oh, fuck, Miri. You’re so damn tight. Your pussy is the only pussy I’ll ever know. I swear it.
Please tell me that you ready for me.” His feral growl goes all through me.
“Only?” I ask, confused. I would have thought a worldly man like him would have been with a
woman before now.
“One and only. I waited for my wife.” He says it so matter of factly. He says it like every man
does this. I know they don’t; even back home, I heard rumors. No, Millersburg isn’t home anymore.
Home is here, with this man.
“I waited for my husband,” I say, and he pushes into me all the way and then stops again. He’s
torturing me. The pain I feel is fleeting as the feeling of being full overtakes it.
“Fuck,” he says through clenched teeth. His curse makes me happy for some reason. “So good,
Miri. You feel so good wrapped around my cock.”
“You feel so good inside me. Is there more?” I ask greedily, kissing any part of his body I can
reach.
“Yes,” he hisses as he begins to move within me.
Oh. My. God. This is amazing. I never want this to end.
Chapter Three
 Paul

Being inside of her is everything I dreamt it would be and more. I couldn’t wait to get her home. I’m a
greedy motherfucker because I want to tell everyone to fuck off so that I can take my wife home and
fuck her properly, but this taste of her will have to be enough for now.
“Paul? I’m so close,” she says, her thick thighs tightening around my waist as I pound into her.
Over and over, ruthlessly.
“Come for me, wife. Come all over my cock,” I demand, not stopping my assault on her.
“Oh, God,” she cries as I circle her clit with my thumb.
“Not God, sweet girl. Your husband. Tell me who fucks you so well,” I demand, each word
punctuated with a hard thrust.
“You, husband,” she says, throwing her hair back. “Only you. Forever you.”
“Damn right,” I say.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she chants as her pussy clenches around my cock.
“Fuck,” I growl as my own orgasm builds in my balls. The first that isn’t from my own hand. The
first of many, many times inside the woman I love.
“Oh, my… Paul… I don’t understand,” she pants.
“Ride it,” I tell her through clenched teeth. Her hands clutch my shoulders as she hangs on. There
are no words to be had as I unleash my seed inside of her. I come with such a force that I am actually
shuddering.
I stay inside of her and hold her. I couldn’t move right now even if I tried. She wraps her arms
around my neck and drags her nails over my back, which feels so damn good.
“Paul?” she asks after a few minutes.
“Yes, sweet girl?”
“I have to tell you something.”
I pull back from her, cock still hard inside of her.
“Of course, you can tell me anything.”
“I prayed for this.”
“Prayed for what?”
“For you. For us. For this.”
“You wanted to be my wife?” I ask, clearing my throat. My voice suddenly choked up.
“Yes! More than anything.”
“You never said.”
“What was I going to say? I was here to be a mail order bride.”
 “I wanted this too, Miri. So fucking much. I should have went to Lloyd and made him give you to
me. I trusted in his weird process though.”
“It worked out just as it should,” she says, kissing my chest.
“I also wouldn’t trade these five weeks with you for anything. I am already so in love with you.
You’re mine forever now.”
“You love me?” she asks, a big smile on her face.
“How could I not? You are my everything.”
“I love you too, Paul. So much. So much more than I ever thought I’d love anyone.” My heart
clenches at her reciprocation of my love. I wasn’t expecting her to love me back, at least not so soon,
but knowing that the fact she does makes me soar.
“I love you; I love you; I love you,” I say, kissing her each time I do. She giggles, and my cock
jumps.
“Ohhh,” she moans, her pussy clenching around me. “More. Please, Paul. Give me more.” Her
raspy voice begging me is my undoing.
“You never have to beg me, wife. Your pleasure is all I can think about. All I’ve thought about
since the moment I met you.”
I thrust my cock in and out of her, over and over, taking her quickly, filling her again, but only after
she screams her release. I pant, my head resting on her forehead. She kisses me.
“We have guests,” she whispers.
“Fuck them. Right here, in this delicious cunt is where I want to be.” I lean back from her and
slowly pull out of her. For the first time, I realize she’s been gracefully perched on the arm of the
leather couch the entire time I took her.
“Paul,” she says, slapping my arm playfully.
“Alright. I guess,” I say, chuckling. I take her hands in mine and pull her to her feet. She pulls the
skirt of her dress back down. She then holds out her hand to me and clears her throat. I look up from
buttoning my dress shirt. “Yes?”
“My panties?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, these?” I ask, pulling a scrap of lace from my pocket.
“Yes, those.”
“These are mine now, my love.” I put them back into my pocket.
“I can’t go around others without panties on.”
“You can. It’ll be a secret just for us.”
“A secret.”
“Yes.”
“I love that,” she whispers.
“Do you, my sweet dirty girl?” I ask, pulling her closer to me.
“Yes,” she moans as my lips find that sweet spot on her neck.
“We should go. I am sure people are waiting impatiently for us.”
She bends down and grabs my tie off of the floor. She loops it around my neck and ties it into a
perfect Windsor knot. Why is that so fucking sexy? For a split second, jealousy strikes me.
“Where did you learn how to do this?” I ask, dreading that the answer is some other man from her
past. She just rolls her eyes and laughs.
“My, my, husband. Jealous already?” she asks, tsking.
“I will always be jealous of other men wanting what is mine.”
“There are no other men. There is only you,” she says, kissing me.
 “Damn right.”
“My father taught me.”
“Why?”
“I watched him for years tying his before church. Then my mother would straighten it before we
walked out the door. I thought it was so romantic. I told him I wanted to be able to help my husband
and sons one day. He laughed and showed me. I picked it up right away. There is absolutely no need
to be jealous on my account. I will never stray from you or give you a reason to think that I would.”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but God, I love you, Mrs. Reynolds.”
“I love you, too, Mr. Reynolds,” she says. “I feel the same way. This feels like the best dream I’ve
ever had.”
“We are wide awake. Let’s go home. Do this reception, and then I’m taking you to bed, and I’m
not letting you out for a week.”
“Is that a threat?” she asks.
“A promise.”
A promise I will have no trouble keeping.
Chapter Four
Miriam
One Week Later
My husband kept his filthy promise of keeping me in bed. We explored so many things together. Oh
goodness. The fact that I can still blush over it is insane. He took me in so many ways, all over the
house, really. We spent another day with his family before they all had to go home, but I’m glad we
got to know each other.
We left our bed just long enough to eat and shower together for the entire time, but now it’s back
to the real world. I’m still lying in bed, but Paul has gone to work. I pull myself out of the cozy bed
we’ve thoroughly ruined. I get dressed in a navy sundress and strip the bed. After starting some
laundry, I make Paul and me some lunch. I want to surprise him at the office. I have to meet the
construction workers at the diner in about an hour to get an estimate on the few things that need to be
upgraded.
Our house is about two miles from Main Street; therefore, I am glad that I took driving lessons
and got my license. Paul drove his cruiser to the office this morning, so he’s letting me use his brand
new, barely used black Ford F-150 to get around town. I set the picnic basket in the passenger seat
and take off.
A few minutes later, I arrive at the sheriff’s station and park in front of it. I grab the basket and
walk into the police station. The front area never has anyone in it because Paul is the only sheriff on
staff right now. All calls, which aren’t many, come to him as well. So I know he’ll be in his office.
I walk back toward his office and hear high-pitched, annoying laughter coming from his office. I
freeze at the door, stunned by what I see. A tiny, beautiful blonde is sitting on the edge of his desk. To
be fair, he’s nowhere near his desk, standing on the opposite side of the room. Suddenly the woman
hops off of his desk and makes a beeline for him. When she touches him, I gasp. All at once, two sets
of eyes are on me. Her eyes are full of laughter, his are full of… something like anger? Dear God,
please let it be toward the woman who thought she could touch him and not at me for interrupting
whatever the heck that was. At this moment, I can only do one of two things: one, I can drop the
basket and run away, or two, I can face this head-on. Unfortunately, I am a coward. I can’t help the
tears that fill my eyes as I drop the basket and turn and run. I am out the door and down the sidewalk
heading toward the diner before I hear him call for me. I start to run faster, ignoring him. He’s faster,
though. He catches my arm as I pull the door to the diner open. There’s no one inside, and it’s dark.
He all but shoves me inside, shutting and locking the door behind him. From the sunlight shining in, I
can see he’s pissed off.
How dare he be the pissed-off one while I sob like a little girl.
“What the hell is the matter with you, sweet girl?” he asks.
“Me? What’s the matter with you? Letting that… harlot touch you.”
“Jenny?” he asks, laughing.
“Oh, she has a name?” I blurt out. Of course, she has a name. What’s wrong with me? Is this
jealousy? “And don’t you dare laugh at me Paul Reynolds.” I can’t stand the thought of him being with
another woman. It would actually kill me. Now that I’ve known him, loved him, and been loved by
him, there’s no way I can go through this life without him. None.
“I’m not laughing at you, baby, but I promise you, you don’t need to cry over this. Jenny is
Greyson Picard’s cousin from Charleston. She applied for the receptionist job I placed an ad for.”
 “Why was she touching you?” I ask sullenly. I hate the thought that someone else touched him.
He’s mine.
“She shook my hand, baby. She wasn’t touching me.”
“It definitely looked like she was stroking you, but I may have overreacted. I am just not used to
seeing unmarried men and women touching in any way. I didn’t like it. I’m afraid I’m territorial over
you. I’m sorry.”
“There is no need to apologize. I would feel the same way if some man touched you, ever if he
was just shaking your hand,” he says, wiping the tears from my face with his thumbs. “Don’t cry my
love.”
“You would feel the same way?” I ask, licking my lips.
“Fuck yes, Miri. You’re mine. One week ago today, you gave yourself to me, and I gave myself to
you. We belong to one another eternally. In the future, I won’t allow any woman to touch me in any
way.”
“I know I’m yours, but not shaking hands with someone is unrealistic.”
“It doesn’t matter. I will do whatever I have to ensure you are comfortable. You will be the only
woman I touch in any way from now on, and by God, I plan on doing so much of that; you will be bred
in no time.” Yes. I want this man’s babies more than anything.
“Oh, Pauley,” I manage to say before his lips are on mine. He coaxes my mouth open with his
tongue. He tastes like coffee and toothpaste. I can’t get enough of him. I’ll never get enough of him. I
never believed in soul mates until I met him. I thank God each night that Lloyd brought us together.
I feel his hard cock press into my belly as we kiss. Instinctively, I reach for it, feeling him through
his jeans. He groans but doesn’t stop my hands or kissing me.
I pull away from his kiss reluctantly, but then I drop to my knees in front of him. I haven’t done
this yet, but I want to. I want to taste him like he tastes me.
“Fuck,” he growls, clearly knowing what’s coming.
“You might want to take your gun thingy off,” I whisper.
“My holster?” he says, his voice thick.
“Yeah, your holster,” I say as he removes it and sets it on the counter.
Opening his jeans, I pull him out of his boxers and stroke him with my fist.
“Oh, God, Miri. That feels so good.” He looks down at me, and I smile up at him. “You are so
fucking beautiful; you know that don’t you?”
“Only because you tell me,” I say, licking my lips. He groans.
“Suck my cock, wife,” he says.
“With pleasure, husband,” I reply before wrapping my lips around him.
Chapter Five
 Paul

“Suck my cock, wife,” I demand. Knowing she was jealous of a freaking handshake makes me hard as
a rock. I didn’t know about the Amish no-touching thing, but it makes sense. I have no trouble not
touching another woman for any reason. I only want to touch her anyway. Miri consumes my every
thought, waking and in my dreams. She’s all I’ll ever need.
“With pleasure, husband,” she replies, her voice husky. My balls instantly tighten in anticipation.
Then she wraps her lips around the head of my cock, and I see nothing but flashes of light. Son of a
bitch. As soon as she does, my knees almost buckle. This is the first time my cock has been in
anyone’s mouth, and it feels amazing. Not as amazing as it feels being inside of her pussy, but close. I
can’t figure out why she’s so fucking good at this, but I know that I don’t want to nut in her fucking
throat. I want it deep in her womb.
With my hands in her hair, I roughly guide her up and down my cock. She moans around me, and
when I look down, I see that she’s fucking her little pussy with her fingers. Fuck, that’s hot. So fucking
hot. I step back from her, taking my dick from her mouth as I do.
“Stand up,” I growl, reaching down and jerking her up by her arms. She smirks at me. She likes it
when I’m rough with her. I’ll have to remember that.
“I wasn’t done with that,” she whines.
“Don’t be a brat, sweet girl,” I say, pulling her flush with my body. I kiss her and move us toward
the counter.
“You like it when I’m bratty,” she says, smiling at me. Her lips are so swollen; I think as I kiss her
again. Her tongue touches mine, and I deepen the kiss.
Moving us away from the street view, I press her against the counter, kissing her more. I’ll never
get enough kisses from her. Never.
“I do like it. Way too fucking much,” I say as I spin her, so her back is to me. I run my hands down
her back and over her ass. I flip the skirt of her dress up and over her hips and groan. “Why aren’t you
wearing any panties?” I ask as I kick her legs apart. She moans when I drag two fingers up and down
her soaking wet slit before shoving them inside of her tiny little fuckhole from behind. My cock leaks
come onto her bare ass. I rub it into her skin, marking her. I pull my fingers from her and suck them
into my mouth. Groaning at her taste, I grind my cock into her ass.
“You keep taking them from me.”
“Be that as it may, you need to wear panties when you meet with other men,” I say, gripping my
cock and driving into her. She jerks back against me, meeting me thrust for hard thrust. “Your cunt is
so sweet smelling and ripe; I don’t want anyone else scenting what’s mine.” My hands grip her hips
hard. I know I’m leaving bruises on her, but that’s just another way to mark her as mine.
I feel her pussy squeeze my cock as she screams my name. I fill her full of my seed. So much so
that it’s dripping out even though she’s stuffed full of me. Fuck, that’s hot.
I pull out of her and watch as our mixed come falls from her body onto the floor.
“Oh, no. We’ve made a mess. That can’t be here when those constructions workers get her,” she
says in an overexaggerated manner.
“What?” I ask, tucking my cock back into my pants. I fasten them and pull my holster back on as
well.
“I should clean this mess up.”
“Why are you talking like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like a… I don’t know… are you trying to seduce me?”
“Is it working?” she asks, dropping down to her hands and knees, paper towels in hand. Her skirt
is still flipped up while she does this. She’s showing me her ass, and each time she moves, her pretty
pink pussy peeks out. Fuck it. I put my holster back on the counter and drop to my knees behind her.
“You know exactly what you’re doing, don’t you, sweet girl? Tempting me with that pretty
dripping cunt?” I growl before burying my face between her thick ass cheek. I eat her pussy from
behind until she comes on my face.
“Pauley, please. More. Give me more.”
“What do you want? Tell me exactly what you want me to do to you, wife.”
“I want you inside me, husband. Give me your seed.”
“You want me to breed you? Fuck,” I curse as I wrench my pants open and pull my cock out. It’s
hard, throbbing, and aching for release.
“Yes. Breed me, husband. Please, please, please,” she begs, and I have no choice but to slam my
cock into her. This is going to be a quick fuck, but she doesn’t seem to mind. I can feel her little
fingers as she works her clit in time with my thrusts. “I love you; I love you; I love you,” she chants as
I brutally fuck her. The scent of our sex fills the room, and the only sounds I hear are her slick wetness
and her ass hitting my stomach with each thrust of my hips. The sound is filthy, and it only adds to the
sheer ecstasy I’m feeling right now. I don’t even know who I am anymore. When I’m with her, inside
her, nothing else matters but our pleasure.
“I love you too,” I shout as her pussy clenches around me.
“Yes, yes, yes, Right thereeeeee,” she squeals as she comes hard. I can’t hold back a second
longer and come, filling her with my seed. The seed that I pray takes root and makes us parents.
I didn’t believe my brothers when they told me about their primal feelings toward their wives. I
get it now. Miri is mine, and I’ll claim her every day, in every way imaginable, until neither one of us
can stand.
Chapter Six
Miriam
Eight Weeks Later
Oh, shoot! I think as I race for the bathroom. Every morning for the last few days, I’ve been sick. At
first, I thought I ate something that didn’t agree with me, but then it kept happening only a few minutes
after I woke up. For the first time, I think I might be pregnant. After praying to the porcelain gods, I
brush my teeth and do a little math while I stare down at my belly. I’ve always been thick. I place my
hands on my belly. I don’t feel or look any different. Maybe my boobs hurt a little bit, but that could
just be my back from standing in the kitchen all day. My periods have always been regular, but I
haven’t had one since right before we got married. I don’t want to get ahead of myself or get my hopes
up, so I text Carter to see if he can squeeze me in today. He can, but not until one, so I head into town.
Lavinia opens the diner because she works from three to eight, so everything is freshly baked. We
open at six. She handles the early morning rush, if you can call it that, of people that work in
Charleston, which is most people in town. With Jenny helping out at the sheriff’s station, Paul was
finally able to hire a deputy.
The diner has been open for a month now, and we are doing great. People are coming from as far
away as Huntingdon because Geeb, my wonderful brother-in-law, wrote an article about Lavinia and
me. Parking is a nightmare on the weekends, but Lloyd said he’d take care of everything. I don’t
exactly know what that means, but I trust him.
The closer it gets to one o’clock, the more nervous I get, but finally, I walk over to the doctor's
office a few minutes early. The receptionist has me fill out some paperwork, and I sit and wait.
Finally, the nurse calls me back and has me do my business in a tiny cup; then, she leads me to a tiny
room and hands me a gown.
Maybe I should have brought Paul with me?
“Doctor Sutton will be right in. He’ll knock first, and one of us will join him,” she says, leaving
the room.
“Okay. Thank you.” I didn’t think this through. I don’t really want Carter touching me…
I put the gown on and hop up on the exam table. The leg holder things look really intense. Is it too
late to call Paul?
There’s a knock on the door, and I realize it is too late.
“Come in,” I say, and the door swings open.
“Hey Miriam. How are you feeling?” Carter says, breezing into the room with a different nurse
trailing behind him.
“Nauseous.”
“Well, that’s to be expected. Congratulations. You’re pregnant.” Hearing him say it is a relief, and
I’m not really surprised. All Paul and I do is have sex, eat, and watch movies he thinks I’ll like; he’s
only right about eighty percent of the time.
“Okay, so what happens now?”
“Well, you grow that baby. Lavinia shared with me some Amish customs. Now, she didn’t really
adhere to them, but I am assuming you do?” Lavinia scared the crap out of us. Even after she married
Alton, she danced with and touched Carter. It was quite scandalous. At one point, we all thought
Alton was going to kill Carter, but it all seems to have worked itself out.
“The touching thing?” I ask.
 “Right. The touching thing. So in deference to that, Doctor Malone is a second-year intern at
Charleston Memorial. It’s a teaching hospital where I have privileges. I asked her to come whenever
you or your sisters have an appointment. She can get the practice she needs, and I can oversee her
without touching you. She can handle all that.”
“Hi, Mrs. Reynolds. I’m happy to help, and I’ll be with you through your child's birth.”
“How old are you?” I blurt out. She looks younger than I do.
“I’m twenty-two. I get that a lot,” she says, laughing.
“How are you already a doctor?” I ask. I don’t know much about doctors, but I know it takes a
while to complete school.
“I was homeschooled. I finished high school at twelve. I finished med school at twenty, and here I
am. I’m sure Doctor Sutton can get someone else if you are more comfortable with an older doctor.”
“No. Not at all; I was just curious. Please continue,” I say, and she smiles at me.
“Excellent,” she says, wheeling over a small TV. “Let’s get a sonogram of your baby, and we’ll
see where you are, and I’ll be able to calculate your due date.” Carter moves up by my head like a
gentleman. “Okay. Prop your feet up in here.”
I do what she says, and twenty-five minutes later, I’m walking back to the diner with a
prescription for anti-nausea medication and prenatal vitamins. I’m due around March eighteenth, so I
conceived on our wedding date or very close to it.
Instead of returning to the diner, I head to the sheriff’s station.
“Hey, Mrs. Reynolds. I’m sorry about the other day. Sheriff Reynolds told me what’s up. I didn’t
know.”
“You couldn’t have, Jenny. Please call me Miriam. I am sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”
“I’m sure we will. Have you met the new deputy?” she asks as the door opens behind me.
“No,” I say, turning to face the newcomer. Paul is with him. Goodness, he looks so sexy in his
uniform. He’s only started wearing it recently. Before, he just pinned his badge to whatever shirt he
was wearing. His tan shirt, jeans, cowboy boots, cowboy hat, and badge combination make me so
wet.
“Hello, sweet girl,” Paul says, coming over to me and kissing my forehead. So not the kiss I want,
but he probably doesn’t want to give his employees a free show.
“Hello, husband,” I reply.
“This is Deputy Boone Kirkpatrick.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” he says, removing his hat.” He makes no move to touch me.
“Nice to meet you too.”
“I’m heading over to the diner for lunch. Jenny, would you care to join me?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, sure,” she says, getting her purse from her desk drawer and standing. “We’ll be
back, boss. Enjoy your lunch.” She winks at us before following Boone out the door, and then we are
alone.
“Are you sick?” he asks immediately.
“No,” I say, frowning.
“You sure?”
“Yes. I mean, I was ill this morning, but I’m fine now.”
“I saw you leaving the doctor’s office.”
“Oh, that? That was nothing,” I hedge. Of course, it was everything.
“Oh, just a checkup?”
“You could say that.”
 “You look pretty today,” he says, tracing the tops of my boobs with his index finger. I shiver.
“Thank you,” I say as he backs me toward the holding cell. He deftly pulls his holster off and sets
it down on the desk in the corner of the anteroom. He pulls his cuffs from the belt before turning
toward me again.
“What are we doing in here, Pauly?” I ask, eyeing the shiny metal bracelets in his hand. We’ve
never used any kind of restraints or toys before. I’ve read about them in the books my sisters and I
pass around from the library, but I never thought we’d use them.
“Strip for me, Miri. Let me see those gorgeous curves.”
I don’t say anything. Instead, I reach down to my knees and pull my dress up and over my head.
My black bra and panties are all that remain. I reach behind me to pull my bra open.
“Do you like what you see?” I ask. He nods and swallows thickly.
“You take my breath away, wife. You are so fucking beautiful. I’m a lucky man.”
“I’m the lucky one,” I say. Tossing my bra onto my dress. I shimmy out of my panties and watch as
Paul’s eyes darken with desire. He growls as I hold my wrists out to him.
“Behind your back,” he says through clenched teeth. I present my back to him and put my hands
behind my back. He puts the handcuffs on me, and the sound they make as they click into place echoes
throughout the room. “You have the right to be as loud as you want to be.” He kisses my shoulder.
“Anything you ask for can and will be used against you. You have the right to be pleasured. You have
the right to tell me no, but I know you won’t.” He kisses my neck. “Do you understand the rights I
have just read to you?” Kiss. Lick. Kiss.
“Yes, Sheriff,” I moan.
“With these rights in mind, do you wish for me to fuck you, sweet girl?”
“Yesss,” I hiss as he bites down on my shoulder.
“Good girl.” I could come from his praise alone.
I look over my shoulder as he unbuttons his shirt, but he doesn’t take it off. He toes out of his
boots and then removes his pants and socks. He’s standing in his open shirt, badge still pinned on his
chest, and his big hat. I squeeze my thighs together, looking for some kind of relief, but it doesn’t
come.
“Paul,” I whisper as he comes toward me.
“Yes?”
“Help me.”
He backs me up to the bars and then he lifts me up, my cuffed hands gripping the bars as I wrap
my legs around his waist. He guides his cock into me with one hand, then his hands are on my ass as
he slams in and out of me. The iron bars are digging into my back but that doesn’t matter.
“Fuck, you’re so damn tight, Miri. I love fucking you,” he growls.
“I love it when you fuck me,” I moan, saying the word out loud for the first time. He growls again
and grips my ass so hard.
“What a dirty mouth,” he says, kissing me hard.
“I love you,” I say, my orgasm hitting me out of nowhere.
“That’s it, sweet girl, come for me, so I can fill you with my seed and knock you up,” he growls.
God, I love it when it growls.
“You. Already. Did!” I scream as I come hard. I feel his cock pulse inside of me, his own release
filling me.
“What?” he asks after he sets me down. He’s staring at me intently. . Tears fill my eyes.
“I’m pregnant,” I whisper.
 “That’s why you were at the doctor’s office?” he asks, moving away from me and over to his
holster. He comes back with keys in his hands. He spins me around and opens the cuffs, rubbing my
wrists. He tosses his hat away and kisses me.
“Yes,” I confirm, turning to face him. I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but I don’t need to as he drops
to his knees in front of me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He kisses my belly all over.
“I’m going to love you forever, little one,” he murmurs in between kisses.
“We’re going to love you forever, Paul.” I say, running my hands through his hair.
“You’ve made me so happy, wife. I love you so fucking much,” he says as he stands. He pulls me
into his arms and kisses me like our lives depend on it.
“I love you too.”
I loved this man the moment I met him, no one else ever would have been the one for me. He
completes me in a way I didn’t know was possible. Loving him forever is going to be the easiest thing
I’ve ever done.
Epilogue
Paul
March 13th, 2024
I had spent a leisurely morning in bed making love to Miri, but I must have fucked something loose,
because I had to rush her to the hospital about three hours ago. Five days early. Miri is in active labor
and all I can do is hold her hand. She’s doing this without any drugs yet she’s being so calm about
this. Surely she’s in pain, but I wouldn’t know it. I expected screaming and cursing me, but she’s a
warrior woman.
Doctor Malone is in place at the foot of the bed, telling Miri what to do while Carter is
supervising from his place at her head at the opposite of the bed. He has been very careful and
respectful of Miri’s wishes that she not be touched by any man but me.
“Alright, Miriam, I can see the head, push for me,” the doctor says. I watch as she bears down,
squeezing my hand as she does. “That’s it. Shoulders are free, one more push and your baby will be
here.” We decided to wait until the baby was born to know the gender.
“Ahhhh,” Miri screams. Finally. Seconds later, a loud wail fills the room.
“You did it, sweet girl,” I say, kissing her forehead.
“Congratulations, Mommy and Daddy. Your son is here,” Carter says, handing Miri our boy.
“It’s a boy,” she says through her tears. I’m crying myself. I reach out and touch his little cheek
with my index finger.
“Welcome to the world, PJ,” I say. Paul Benedict Reynolds, JR is finally here.
“Baby PJ,” she whispers, sobbing now. Her tears pouring down her face. “Here, Daddy take him
before I drown him,” she says, and I take him from her arms.
He snuggles into me, and everything is right with the world. I was born to be Miri’s husband and
by extension PJ’s father. He huffs out a little baby breath and closes his eyes.
“Are you happy? Miri asks. Our eyes meet and tears fill my eyes.
“Yes, my love. Are you?”
“So much. I hate to think what my life would be like if I stayed in Ohio.”
“But you didn’t. We were meant to meet in Hollow’s Hollow. I could still be a beat cop in Tampa,
but something made me apply for sheriff here. I know that something was you. I love you so much,” I
reply, leaning down to kiss her. The kiss goes on and on until PJ cries in my arms.
“I think someone might be hungry,” she says.
“Let’s get you cleaned up first, Miriam,” Doctor Malone says. “Everything has passed. You didn’t
even need a stitch,” she says.
“Great. Thank you for everything, Doctor.”
“No problem. Doctor Sutton is waiting to check your boy over. Ready to give him up for a few
minutes?”
“No,” I say, reluctantly handing him over to Carter.
“Let’s get you up and showered. Paul will help you,”
“You want her standing already?” I ask, concerned that it’s too soon.
“Absolutely. Walking around immediately has been proven to provide excellent benefits including
preventing blood clots. She didn’t need surgery so she should be right as rain, if a little tired.”
“A little?” Miri says, laughing.
“Alright, a lot,” Doctor Malone says laughing.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 Sitten haki hän pienestä kaapista istuimensa alta niinikään
peltisen teerasian, joka toimitti sokeriastian virkaa, otti kuuman
kahvipullon, asettaen sen kainaloonsa, vilkaisi radalle ja sanoi:

"Pane alle!"

Sitten hän taivutti kankean vartalonsa, kunnes kahvi alkoi pulputa

pullosta.

"On se työ kahvin arvoinen."

Juotiin, ripustettiin astiat nauloihin jälleen ja alettiin touhuta

ylämäessä. Sama äänettömyys, sama asento, sama tyyneys, sama
leuan lepääminen rinnalla — näyttipä tilanne miltä näytti. Ja uhkaava
se olikin, sillä mahdoton oli saavuttaa enää vauhtia, mikä olisi äsken
saatu ilman hankaluutta. Erkki antausi kokonaan Karhulan
käskyvallan alle. Hän ei luottanut itseensä nyt. Sitäpaitsi välähtivät
mielessä siltapölkkyjen välit, kuin pahan unen muistot heräämisen
jälkeen.

Ankara koneen työskentely kulutti puita kovasti. Erkki sai syytää

alinomaa, ja ahnaat liekit ahmivat niitä kuin rohtimia. Hiki valui
lämmittäjän kasvoilta ja paita oli selässä kiinni vääntömärkänä.
Tuntui oikein hyvältä, kun välillä pääsi pikkuhetkeksi tenderiin
latomaan uutta pinoa etualalle. Tuuli puhalsi vilpoisesti kosteaan
ihoon. Terveenä miehenä hän vielä saattoi nauttia siitä.

Koneisto kävi kaikella mahdollisella voimallaan.

Akkunat tärähtelivät sen iskuista, ilma sihisi ja vinkui luukun

rakosissa, kulki ulvoen vetolukkojen kautta läpi valkohehkuisen
rovion. Siitä huolimatta hiljeni vauhti alinomaa. Oli tullut muutamien
jännittävien minuuttien, muutamien määräävien kiskonmittojen aika.
Mentiin jo niin hiljaa, että olisi pikkujuoksulla saattanut seurata
mukana. Oli vaan odotettava, miten kävisi, sillä oli varustauduttu
juuri näitä viimeisiä silmänräpäyksiä varten. Mäenharjun yli
pääseminen tiesi matkan jatkamista, pysähtyminen takaisin
palaamista melkein sinne, mistä oli lähdettykin.

Karhula oli kallellaan lysmäpolvisena, ikäänkuin hän siten olisi

tahtonut ainakin ruumiinsa painon siirtää tuolle puolelle kirotun
kukkulan, joka tällä tavalla saattoi koetella ihmisen kärsivällisyyttä.
Saattoi nähdä, kuinka jotakin hänessä oli aivan kiehumapisteessään
valmiina purkautumaan. Ja aivan kuin siihen todellakin tilanteen olisi
pitänyt kehittyä, ikäänkuin joku epäilys olisi häntä vetänyt, kumartui
hän katsomaan sivuakkunasta. Mutta nyt hän mylvi kuin raivostunut
kontio:

"Yh! Menettekös marjailemaan, tuhannen vietävät?" Erkkikin riensi

välikköön katsomaan Karhulan raivostumisen syytä. Tornista oli
laskeutunut jarruttaja ja noppi jotakin maasta, toinen käveli sivulla ja
työnsi muka auttaakseen. Se oli katkera hetki Karhulalle. Hän heristi
nyrkkejään avonaisesta ikkunasta ja kirosi, että mäki tärähteli.

"Kömmi tapuliisi!" karjasi hän miehelle, tarttui viheltimen varteen ja

antoi pitkän luihauksen merkiksi, että kone oli jo kukkulan harjalla ja
palaamisen vaara vältetty.

Ja pianpa taasen alkoivatkin maat aleta ja metsät vilistä. Raskas

juna kiisi alas mäkeä kasvavalla nopeudella.

2
 Veturin 375 hytissä ei vallinnut oikea toverisuhde. Erkki sai kokea
nöyryytyksen toisensa jälkeen. Karhulan omituisuudet eivät
miellyttäneet häntä. Hänessä oli jotakin tavattomasti ärsyttävää, joka
kuohutti mieltä. Hänen täytyi hillitä itsessään petoa, joka kiihoitti
johonkin kamalaan tekoon, jota hän ei sen tarkemmin osannut
määritellä. Ja joka kerta, kun hänen piti tulla yhteen Karhulan
kanssa, ahdisti tuo epämääräinen tunne — matkalla, kahden ollessa
enimmän. Veturiin astuttuaan olivat he kuin vihityt juuri samallaisiin
tehtäviin, joita olivat suorittaneet viikkoja toistensa jälkeen, samoihin
asentoihin, samoihin ammattisanoihin. Heidän katseensa kiertelivät
höyrykelloon, vesilasiin, radalle. — Toiminta järjestyi niiden mukaan.
Kun siinä sitten jostakin syystä rupesi kasvamaan erimielisyys,
kääntyivät miesten seljät kuin itsestään vastakkain. Toinen katsoi
vasemman olkansa, toinen oikean olkansa yli kumpikin akkunastaan
eteensä radalle; siellä etäisyydessä näytti yhtyvän kaksi teräskiskoa,
joita myöten heidän veturinsa kolisi eteenpäin. —

Erkki koetti torjua tätä sietämätöntä tilannetta yrittämällä saada

keskustelua aikaan, mutta joko Karhula piti sopimattomana tarttua
"pojan" tarjoamaan sanaan tai jotenkin tunsi vastenmielisyyttä
tällaiseen, Erkin yritys ei onnistunut. Siitäpä alkoi kasvaa peloittava
äänettömyys. Erkki ei enään yrittänytkään. Mitäpä siitä, ei kai hän
ollut puheita kaupalla. Jos Karhula todellakin piti itseään niin paljon
parempana, että katsoi arvoaan alentavaksi käydä keskusteluun, niin
eipä suinkaan hän tahtonut häiritä. — Kaikkea muuta hän olisi
kuitenkin ennemmin sietänyt kuin tätä. "Onhan Karhula tosin
esimieheni, mutta onko mitään syytä käyttää esimiehyyttä tuolla
tavalla, kohdella suorastaan halpamaisesti. Millä olen sen
ansainnut? Enkö ole tehnyt työtäni säännöllisesti, koettanut kaikin
tavoin oppia kunnolliseksi ammattimieheksi, joka kykenisi toimimaan
omin päin? Vai onko juuri se Karhulalle vastenmielistä? Pitääkö
minun odottaakin vain hänen käskyään ennenkuin saan mihinkään
koskea, toimia kuin joku veivi tai kiertokanki? Ehkäpä hän juuri sitä
tahtoo."

Kaikista merkeistä päättäen oli ensi vapaapäivien aikana

kattilanpesu. Vesi oli käynyt jo sameaksi, joutui helposti
kuohumistilaan, jos kattila oli täynnä ja höyrynmenekki suuri, meni
sylintereihin ja teki monellaista kiusaa. Jo monta kertaa oli Karhula
kähähtänyt itsekseen, kun sylinterit alkoivat paukahdella. Hän oli
riuhtonut auki puhallushanat ja kirota sähissyt hammastensa välistä.

Muuta ei.

"Jos pestään, niin ilmoittakoon, muuten en ole tietääksenikään",

päätteli Erkki. "Sanokoon tai viittokoon, mutta nyt minä odotan
käskyä."

Tuli vapaapäivä. Ei sanaakaan, kun veturi heitettiin illalla talliin.

Erkki oli epävarma; ehkä Karhula oli jotenkin muuten ajatellut.

Erkki nukkui yönsä rauhallisesti, pukeutui aamulla vähän

paremmin ja asettui todellakin nauttimaan tästä ainoasta
lepopäivästä, mikä heillä oli ajovuorojen välillä. Aamupäivällä hän
kuitenkin lähti tallille katsomaan, olisiko mahdollisesti tuotu joitakin
määräyksiä ylimääräisellä junalla lähtemisestä. Jo etäältä hän näki,
kuinka pilttuun ovi oli auki, työ parhaassa käynnissä: Karhula
pesemässä kattilaa siivoojapoikain kanssa. Lattialla kierteli vesiletku,
puhdistusreijistä juoksi likainen vesi koneen alle kanavaan. Karhula
itse ohjasi suihkua, kuten tavallisesti, pää kallellaan, leuka rinnalla,
märkänä ja likaisena. — Ei silmäystä, ei sanaa. Paine nousi
molempien mielissä.
 Erkki oli aivan suunniltaan palatessaan tallilta. Häntä harmitti
tuollainen menettely. Eikö hänellä ollut suuta sanoa? Vai tahtoiko
hän kaikkien silmissä heittäytyä poloiseksi, jonka piti yksin raataa
likaisessa työssä, silloin kuin lämmittäjä käveli pyhäpukuisena.

Mutta Erkki ei voinut puolustaa omaakaan menettelyään. Olisi kai

ollut hänen velvollisuutensa nuorempana kysyä. — Olisiko
todellakin? — Rauhaa ei tullut. Uhkamielinen hän oli ollut, mutta
oliko syytä matelemiseen. — "Jos menisin hänen luokseen ja tekisin
kerrankin puhdasta jälkeä, puhuisin tyyneesti — tai riitelisin, jos se
olisi parempi. Loppu tästä vain pitää tulla, tulkoon sitten miten
tuleekin." Mielessä pysähteli, jalat veivät pois päin. Hän karkoitti
huonot tuulet ja syventyi lukemalla kuluttamaan aikaansa. —
"Kerkiääpä tuollaisia munia hautoa pesän lämpymässäkin."

Lähdettiin matkalle taasen, elettiin yhdeksänvuorokautinen ajo.

Mäkeä ylös, alas, eteen, taakse, mutkasta mutkaan, halki kylien,
keskellä ihanasti hymyilevän kevätkesän luonnon. Hymyttömin
huulin. Syvä äänettömyys: "mökön turkkia paikattiin."

Erkki ei voinut enää entiselläkään huonolla tyyneydellä ottaa

vastaan Karhulan luukkuihin ja vedensyöttölaitoksiin kajoamista.
Jokainen sellainen teko tuntui kuin ruoskan sivallukselta ympäri
kasvoja, ja hän puri hampaansa yhteen, mielessä katkera uhka: vielä
kerran tämä laukeaa ja silloin…

Mutta eräs tapa ei ollut tänäkään aikana jäänyt Karhulalta pois:

suuren kahvipullon yhteisesti tyhjentäminen. Erkin oli vaikea
ymmärtää tätä. Ensimäinen kuppi juotiin Tiperon vahtituvan
seutuvilla, mäen korkeimmalla huipulla. Olipa paikkaa vähitellen
ruvettu kutsumaan Knorrimäeksi, sillä siinä myöskin kuljettaja Sirola
säännöllisesti teki puolikuppisensa. Toinen juotiin Ojakylän tornilta
lähdettyä. Samat paikat sopivat paluumatkallakin..

Mutta Erkkiä olivat alkaneet nämä juottelut kiusata. Mitä hän sitä
tyrkytteli, joisi itse. Ensin ylimielinen kohtelu, sitten kahvikuppi,
aivankuin piiskatulle lapselle piparikakku. Hän oli jo kauvan hautonut
mielessään mitä tehdä, nakatako kahvi Karhulan eteen lattialle vai
kieltäytyä siivosti ja kohteliaasti.

Noustiin Tiperon mäkeä, kattilassa ankara paine, koneella ankara

työ, "hännässä" valtava paino.

Oltiin juuri pääsemässä vastamäestä, ja kun ei ollut erikoista syytä

epäillä nousun onnistumista, otti Karhula jo kaapista sokeriastiansa.

Erkki kuuli sokeripalojen kalinan, kannen aukeavan, sillä koneen

jyrinään tottunut eroittaa pienenkin äänen, joka on siitä poikkeava,
nyt pullon kilisemisen hanojen metalleihin. Juuri silloin alkoi alamäki,
ja hänen oli käännyttävä hoitamaan vedensyöttölaitoksia.

Pullo oli jo Karhulan kainalossa. Nyt viittasi hän katonrajassa

koukussa olevaa astiaa. — "Ota!" sanoi katse.

Erkki otti sen vastenmielisesti, mielessä: en juo. Siitäpä syystä hän

tarttuikin pohjasta, heittäen korvan vapaaksi Karhulaa kohti.

Nyt jo pulppusi kahvi, kuumentaen sormenpäitä. Erkki ei

liikauttanutkaan kättänsä. Karhula katsoi pitkään ja viittasi käyrällä
sormellaan sokeriastiaa kohden. Erkki ei ottanut, vaan sanoi sen
sijaan:

"Ottakaa joutuin, polttaa sormiani!"

 Karhulan silmät iskivät tulta. Kokonaan käsittämätön oli se
mylvähdys, joka läksi pullistuneesta rinnasta. Samassa
silmänräpäyksessä kuului jymähdys: Karhulan korko iski avainarkun
kanteen.

"Juo!"

Ja Erkki joi.

Hän ei uskaltanut olla sitä tekemättä. Hän joi vapisevin käsin,

kyyneleet silmissä, katkerin mielin, vihassa ja kiukussa, joi ja puhkesi
puhumaan.

Veturi kiisi kuin riivattu rinnettä alas aivan kuin sekin olisi juonut
jonkun hulluksi tekevän pisaran. Karhula repi vuoroin viheltimiä,
vuoroin höyrynsulkijaa. Vaunut paiskautuivat kiskoilla, jarruttajat
huojuivat torneissaan, sinkoillen seinästä toiseen, kauhistuen
kamalaa vauhtia. Varaventtiilit puhalsivat pois kattilan liikaa painetta,
joka oli kohonnut huomaamatta riidan aikana. Niin kiisi juna kähisten
ja kiskojen liitekohtia hakaten halki metsän kuin saalistaan takaa
ajava ärsytetty eläin. Oli onni, ettei ketään sattunut tielle…

Erkki potkasi ilmaluukun kiinni. Varaventtiilit alkoivat vähitellen

sulkeutua. Tuli vihdoin aivan tyventä. Kuului vain avatusta pesästä
tukahdutettu, nopea huounta. Juna vieri samalla painollaan
nopeuden yhä kasvaessa…

Ne olivat kauheat kilometrit, jolloin satoi purevia sanoja niinkuin

hauleja kummaltakin puolelta. Mutta tämä ei ollut mikään hävittävä
räjähdys, vaan oikeita teitä purkautuva liikakuormitus. Kumpikin
pohjimmaltaan kaipasi sovintoa ja se siitä vähitellen rupesi
muodostumaankin. Tyynnyttiin, rauhoituttiin sekä käytiin
avomieliseen keskusteluun, tunnustettiin, kuinka oli kyllä vika
toisessa huomattu, mutta ei niinkään itsessään. Karhula sanoi monta
kertaa hermostuneensa niin kovasti, että hänellä oli ollut täysi työ
pidättää itseään kiinni tarttumasta, ja Erkki syytti nuoren mielensä
intoa ja harkitsemattomuutta. Ja mitä pitemmälle he tulivat, sen
sovinnollisemmalta tuntui. Karhula sanoi sanottavansa katkonaisin,
takertuvin lausein, otti loppujen lopuksi pullonsa, asettaen sen
kainaloonsa. Ei oltukaan ennen juotu tällaisin mielin…

Muutamia vuosia tekeillä ollut Norvamon rata pohjoisessa oli aivan

äsken valmistunut. Liikkeen avaaminen aiheutti paljon muutoksia
rautatien henkilökunnassa. Tarvittiin suuri joukko virka- ja
palveluskuntaa. Tässä muutoksessa tuli Erkki Teräksestä vanhempi
veturinlämmittäjä, ja kaikesta päättäen hänen kuljettajaksi
nimityksensä ei ollut kaukana. Siihen hän olikin jo täysin valmistunut
sillä viime talvena oli hän käynyt veturinkuljettaja-kurssin
Helsingissä. Näiden nimityksien aikana oli hänestä tullut kuljettaja
Sirolan hyttitoveri.

Tämä oli Erkkiä vanhempi mies, mutta siitä huolimatta nuortea ja

reipas. Kaiken iloisuuden ja avomielisyyden ohessa oli hänessä
kuitenkin paljon itseensä sulkeutunutta. Oli joitakin kammioita, joihin
kukaan ei ollut päässyt katsomaan. Toisinaan valtasi hänet kiivas
himo väkijuomiin. Saattoi mennä vuorokausia, jolloin hän ei
erikoisesti näyttänyt niitä haluavan, mutta sitten taasen ryöstäysi
himo valloilleen, ja hän oli kuin mennyttä miestä. Omituista kuitenkin
oli, että vaikka hän olikin tällä tavalla poissa suunniltaan, tehtävänsä
hän siitä huolimatta suoritti nuhteettomasti.

Erkistä oli aina tuntunut raukkamaiselta, että miehet huolensa ja

murheensa upottivat lasiin. Hänen oli paha olla nähdessään
toverinsa toisinaan juovuksissa. Vaikka Sirola oli silloin erinomaisen
hauska toveri, olivat nuo matkat kuitenkin ikävimpiä. Sen hän
sanoikin suoraan hänelle.

Sirolalla oli omituisia tottumuksia. Tuskinpa hän enää pääsi

Knorrimäen yli puolikuppisetta, ja turmiollisinta oli, ettei hän voinut
tehdä matkaa pohjoiseen rajakaupunkiin saamatta "rajantakaista".
Hän oli jo itsekin alkanut tuota kammoksua. Raja kiusasi häntä,
ikäänkuin sen takana olisi asustanut kiehtova paholainen, joka
lopullisesti oli hänet nielevä kitaansa. Hän oli toisinaan näkevinään
rajapyykin kiven vieressä tuhansilla tavoilla nauravan naamaan, ja
hän niin hyvin tiesi, mitä se merkitsi: niin pitkällä siis jo oltiin.

Enempi kuin Sirola aavistikaan huolehti Erkki hänestä. Oli aivan

kauheaa, että mies tällä tavalla vajosi vajoamistaan. Erkki aivan
pelkäsi pohjoisen radan ajovuoroja, eikä ollut koskaan varma, kuinka
ne päättyisivät. Saattaisihan Sirola jolloinkin jäädä sinne pitemmäksi
aikaa, ohi lähtöajan, tai muuten tulla kykenemättömäksi tehtäväänsä.
Miten silloin selviydyttäisiin? Mutta miten saada hänet pysymään
poissa sieltä?

Erään kerran, kun taas oltiin rajalla, ehdoitti Erkki Sirolalle:

"Ei suinkaan sinun ole välttämätöntä mennä itse sinne, laita joku
noutamaan."

Kun Sirola epäröi, jatkoi hän:

 "Odota täällä, niin minä käyn."

Merkillisen helposti Sirola taipui, ja siitä Erkki ymmärsi hänen ehkä

itsekin pelkäävän pahinta.

Näin tämä asia toistaiseksi korjaantui ja ilman mitään

erikoisempaa kuukaudet kuluivat. Oli syksy taasen. Erkki oli yhdellä
noista inhoittavista matkoista: tulossa rajan takaa konjakkipullo
taskussaan. Hän käveli hitaasti sateen liottamia katuja.

"Sinä tulit jo! Saitko?⁰

"Mieluummin olisin tullut tyhjänä.⁰

"Älä, älä!"

Sirolan kasvoilla oli hymy, joka jo kuului hänessä asuvalle

paholaiselle. Erkkiä inhotti. Sirola piti silmällä Erkin takkia ja otti
vastaan pullon vapisevin käsin. Kurkusta kuului nieleskelemisen
korina.

"Hyvä ystävä, älä juo nyt. Älä ainakaan noin paljon!" pyysi Erkki.

Sirolan huulet vavahtivat.

"Anna pullo minulle!" Erkki koetti saada äänensä sydämelliseksi.

"Ota siitä jollakin toisella kerralla, jolloin olet levollisempi. Anna tämä
nyt minulle!"

Sirola istui alasluoduin katsein, ja Erkki jatkoi:

"Tämän pyynnön teen sinulle ystävänä, jolle ei ole aivan

yhdentekevää, juotko sinä tai et."
 "Vie!" tuli kuin tuskan parahdus, mutta käsin piteli hän edelleenkin
lasista kiinni. "Ei, salli edes tämä lasi!"

Hän joi sen ahmien kuin janoinen eläin, ja Erkki riensi pullon
kanssa ulos. Ensi ajatuksensa oli lyödä se rikki rakennuksen
kivijalkaan, mutta hän uskoi sentään asian selviytyvän ilman sitäkin,
vei pullon omaan kaappiinsa ja pisti avaimen taskuunsa.

Mutta Erkki sai kokea, kuinka turhia kaikki keinot olivat.

He olivat silloin Kunnaan päivystyshuoneella odottamassa

kotiinpäin lähtöä etelästä tulevalla matkustajajunalla.

He olivat kumpikin matkastakin väsyneitä, sillä he olivat tuoneet

yöjunaa, saapuen Kunnaaseen kahden aikana aamulla.
Keskipäivällä oli Erkki vielä nakkautunut päivystyshuoneen
rautasänkyyn ja nukahtanut. Herättyään läksi hän talliin
kunnostamaan konetta. Sirola istui hytissä tukkihumalassa. Hän oli
murtautunut Erkin kaappiin ja juonut pullon melkein tyhjäksi. Erkki
tarttui työhönsä ääneti miettien, kuinka olisi nyt meneteltävä, sillä
Sirolan ollessa noin ylimmillään oli oltava varovainen.

Syksyinen iltapäivä alkoi jo hämärtyä ja puolipimeän tallin vielä

pimeämmässä veturihytissä istui juopunut mies synkkänä ja
äänettömänä.

"Jopa annoit lähdön rajantakaiselle," sanoi Erkki huolettoman

leikillisesti.

Sirola naurahti tuskin kuultavasti, josta Erkki huomasi oikealla

tavalla alkaneensa.

"Perhana vieköön! Mitäs Knorrimäessä? Vettäkö tenderistä?"

 "Vasikka!" hönkäisi Sirola.

"Niin juuri, vettä ynisevä vasikka sinä olet, ellet anna pulloa tänne.
Loppu Knorrimäessä."

Sirola katsoi väsynein, toljottavin silmin, niinkuin ei olisi heti

ymmärtänyt mitä hänelle sanottiin.

"Mitä hittoa minä työnnän kitaani asumattomalla mäellä, ellei

minulla ole tinakaulaa kaapissani? Vai luuletko sinä näitä useampia
olevan? Ja jos olisi ollutkin, niin kyllä kai sinä olisit ne imenyt."

Sirolassa heräsi epäilys, ja hän tutki tarkoin, minkäverran pullossa

vielä oli, käänteli ja katseli sitä vesilasin rasvalampun valossa.

"Ei siitä ole varaa ottaa ollenkaan."

Erkki tarttui pulloon vetääkseen sen pois, mutta Sirola piti sitä
lujasti kiinni.

"Kelvoton! Minä lukitsen kaapin ja koetan siten säästää sinulle

kunnollisen iltaryypyn vastamäessä, niin sinä kehtaat murtautua ja
saada tällaisen häpeän aikaan. Mihin tästä nyt enää on? Silmän
voiteeksi!"

Erkki ajatteli kauhulla, mihin tämä olisi päättyvä. Sirola oli juonut
huimaavan paljon. Pullo täytyi saada pois ja siten viimeiset ryypyt
siirretyksi lähemmäksi kotia. Hän laski matkaa, mikä oli
Knorrimäestä Oulankaan. Onneksi ei tarvinnut ottaa puita sillä välillä.
Ei hän oikein tiennyt, mistä syystä teki noita laskelmia. Ne vain
tulivat mieleen. Saatuaan vihdoin houkutelluksi pullon Sirolalta pani
hän sen kaappiinsa, mutta katsoi sitä tehdessä, mitä muuta sinne oli
kertynyt aikojen kuluessa: tivistelankakerä, vyyhti sormenvahvuista
männänvarren tivistettä, trasseleita, ruuveja, muttereita… pala köyttä
— mitähän lämmittäjä Nevala sillä oli tehnyt?

Hytissä vallitsi alkumatkasta äänettömyys. Ulkona oli puhjennut

myrsky. Sade pieksi hytin akkunoita ja salamat välähtelivät taivaalla.
— Erkillä ei ollut syytä epäillä, ettei Sirola tekisi tehtäväänsä, vaikka
hän katsoikin eteensä elottomin silmin ja puoleksi makasi
suunnanvaihtajan yli. Kädet kuitenkin toimivat tottuneesti kuin
määrätyt koneenosat. Kuten tavallisesti juopottelutuulella ollessaan
oli hän nytkin enimmän kiusautunut, jos joku seikka asemilla
myöhästytti. Siitä syystä oli vauhti hyvä ja he pyrkivät tulemaan
asemille ennen määräaikaa.

Niin mentiin halki kylien ja lakeuksien, vinosti vasten painavaa

itätuulta, keskellä säkkipimeyttä. Vaunun akkunain tulet luikertelivat
tiepuolessa, mättäissä, kivissä ja ojan reunoissa, lyheten, pideten,
vääristellen ja tuuli repi höyry- ja savupilviä junan sivulla.

"Piru!" kirkaisi Sirola yht'äkkiä kamalasti, ja Erkki tunsi kylmän

väreen karahtavan seljässään.

"Mitä?" kysyi hän niin rauhallisesti kuin suinkin.

"Käyntisillalla, nokikaapin vieressä."

Erkin jäsenet vavahtelivat, mutta hän astui kuljettajan puolelle

katsoen muka hänkin ulos.

"Kas vaan, eikö olekin!"

"No, onpa siinäkin 'pasiseerari‘!" jatkoi hän tietämättä mitä sanoa.

 Sirola ratkesi nauramaan; se kuului kamalalta tällä hetkellä. —
"Iloinen piru!" — Hän nauroi jälleen.

"Miten niin?"

"Tanssii kuin kone roudan nostamalla radalla… ylös, alas… ylös,

alas… noin, noin…"

Ja tietämättä taasenkaan mitä teki, sanoi Erkki:

"Annetaan tahtia sille." Hän alkoi viheltää, vaikka huulensa eivät

tahtoneet pariksi sopia.

"Pa— pane puita… täyteen… Me annamme kyytiä sille. Ja anna

pullo myös!"

Erkki oli toivonut, ettei hän sitä enää muistaisikaan, mutta huomasi
erehtyneensä. Nyt oli mentävä mukaan niin pitkälle kuin suinkin. Hän
antoi pullon, johon toinen tarttui kiihkeästi.

"Maljasi, herra Eerikki!" huusi Sirola, sitten hän nosti pullon

suullensa ja tyhjensi sen yhdellä siemauksella sekä heitti ulos
akkunasta.

Nyt he olivat juuri menossa Paavelan ja Tauvon välisellä

kolmipenikulmaisella taipaleella asumattomien kangasmaiden yli,
kiipesivät Knorrimäen rinnettä ylös, tai oikeammin kiisivät, minkä
kone eteensä otti. Miten oli päättyvä tämä, sitä ei Erkki osannut
ajatella, sillä hän eli sanan varsinaisessa merkityksessä
silmänräpäyksen kerrallaan. Hän ei kääntänyt hetkeksikään
selkäänsä, vaan oli joka silmänräpäys valmiina tarttumaan
toveriinsa, jos se olisi tarpeellista. Onneksi kuitenkin Sirola istui
paikallaan, etukumarassa suunnanvaihtajan yli, hullu katse
suunnattuna ulos.

"Vihellä niille perkeleille!"

Ei koskaan ollut Erkistä pesä laulanut niinkuin tänä myrskyiltana.

Iskujen yhtämittainen kaiku metsässä oli kuin saatanallisen naurun
kieriskely korven pimeydessä. Ja kun pesän vihertävänkeltainen
kirkkaus huikaisi hänen silmänsä ja saattoi ulos pimeyteen
katsoessa tulipallot leimuamaan silmissä, näyttivät ne paholaisen
silmiltä mustassa yössä…

Nyt saavuttivat he Knorrimäen huipun ja juna alkoi laskeutua alas,

mutta Sirola ei kai huomannut sitä eikä vähentänyt koneen tehoa.
Kauhulla katsoi Erkki häntä. Eikö hän todellakaan enää tiennyt mitä
teki? Vauhti lisääntyi nopeasti.

"Siinä sivuutettiin mäen harja," sanoi hän, saadakseen Sirolan

huomaamaan, missä oltiin.

Sirola tuijotti tylsänä eteensä…

Mitä tehdä nyt? Hänellä ei ollut oikeutta puuttua esimiehensä

tehtäviin, mutta mitä seuraisi, jollei yhä kiihtyvää vauhtia
pienennettäisi. Nyt jo alkoi veturi heittelehtiä kiskoilla. Pesä ei
ulvonut niinkuin vastamäen kiihkeässä ponnistuksessa, vaan
läähätti, nyyhki kuin suuri ihmisjoukko olisi tukahdettua itkua
itkenyt…

"Nyt on suljettava höyryventtiili!" sanoi hän päättävästi.

Kun Sirola ei vastannut, sulki hän sen. Mutta silloin Sirola kohosi
asennostaan ja hänen silmänsä leimahtivat heikossa valossa, joka
peitetyn kattolampun kupuun leikatun raon kautta lankesi hänen
kasvoilleen.

"Anna olla auki sen!" karjasi hän ja repäsi venttiilin selälleen.

"Me menemme kohti kuolemaa!"

"Antaa mennä — heee—i!"

Se oli mielipuolen karjaisu, joka saattoi Erkin vapisemaan.

"Ajattele, hullu ihminen: junallinen matkustajia…"

"Vihellä niille, vihellä sen…!"

Mutta nyt painoi Erkki uudestaan venttiilin kiinni. Tästä raivostui

Sirola, hyökkäsi ylös, ja Erkki näki jotakin vilahtavan hänen
kädessään. Samassa hän kuitenkin oli kiinni Sirolan ojennetussa
kädessä ja tavattomalla voimallaan, joka tällä epätoivoisella hetkellä
vaan kasvoi, sai hän väännetyksi kouran auki. Akkuna helähti ja
avonainen veitsi lensi ulos. Syntyi hetken kestävä kiivas kahakka. He
kiersivät molemmat nyyhkivän pesän edessä. Sirola oli
vahvarakenteinen mies, mutta kuitenkin hän herpaantui, ja Erkki sai
hänet nujerretuksi lämmittäjän puolelle kattilan ja seinän väliin.
Kiivaalla otteella oli hän samassa kiinni jarruventtiilissä, ja junan
vauhti alkoi vähetä. Oli jo aikakin, sillä pian alkoi Isonkaaran
laskeutuma, jonka alla oli tiessä mutka. Sitä ajatellessa ja vielä
äskeisestä ottelusta järkkyneenä täytyi Erkin tukea itseään akkunan
pielukseen ja nojata istuimen kulmaan. — Nopeusmittarin viisari
hamuili ennen kulkemattomilla alueilla. Hiki virtasi pitkin Erkin
ruumista, mutta tällä järkyttävällä hetkellä häntä kuitenkin elähdytti
tieto, että vaara oli vältetty. Oli vain saatava Sirola tyyntymään.
Tämä yritteli vielä ylös, kirosi kamalasti, haki housuntaskuistaan
jotakin, mutta käsi jäi taskuun ja mies raukesi vähitellen. Ja
kappaleen ajan kuluttua kuului ainoastaan örähtelyä… yhä
vaisummasti…

Juna saapui Tauvoon. —

Näihin aikoihin sai Erkki kirjekortin, johon oli kirjoitettu joustavalla

käsialalla: "Olen päässyt Norvantoon. Et usko, kuinka olen iloinen.
Irja." — Erkki kirjoitti lyhyesti vastaan: "Tervetuloa!"

Tuo kortti toi mieleen omituisia, valoisia muistoja. Irja, lapsuuden

ystävä Tauvosta! Koko heidän monivuotinen, usein katkeillut ja
epämääräinen suhteensa, jota hän ei ollut itselleenkään selvittänyt,
sukeltausi muistiin. Ja sydän sykki voimakkaammin tapaamisen
toivosta.

Erkki otti usein esille Irjan kortin ja katsoi sitä pitkään. Olipa siellä
tyttö riemuissaan. Ja olihan siitä räiskähtänyt pieni pisara tännekin.
Miksi oli hän siihen ollenkaan vastannut? Ensi vaikutuksesta kohta,
ja olikin se vilpitön tervetuloa. Puuttui vain, että olisi sen saanut
kädestä pitäen sanoa.

Eräänä päivänä, ollessaan toimestaan vapaana, meni Irja

asemalta postia noutamaan.

Postijunan kuljettajana oli Erkki. Hän oli huomannut Irjan ja tuli

alas veturista rientäen luokse.
 "Joko sinä olet täällä!"

"Niinkuin näet. Missäs sinä olet ollut, kun ei ole täällä näkynyt?"

"Eteläisellä rataosalla, olen nyt pitkästä kotvasta täällä. — Siis

sinä olet tullut." — Erkin äänessä soi hillitty riemu. — "Toivon sinun
viihtyvän täällä paremmin kuin Kouvolassa."

Erkki oli muuttunut edukseen sitten viime näkemän. Hänen

käytöksessään oli entistä enemmän itsetietoisuutta ja varmuutta, oli
vähän laihtunutkin ja silmät syventyneet, mutta kasvoilla kuvastui
lujuus ja päättäväisyys. Ja kuinka hän katsoi sieltä korkeudesta.
Irjasta tuntui kuin olisi se aivan kohoksi nostanut. Miten komea!
Häntä puki erinomaisesti uusi kuljettajanlakkinsa, joka oli edestä ylös
kohonneena ja teki hänet niin erinomaisen reippaan, iloisen ja
avomielisen näköiseksi. No, hän tiesi, miten sitä piti pitää päässä.

Erkki viivähti tuskin paria minuuttia, tarttui kädestä ja sanoi:

"Näkemiin. Minä tulen pian."

Samassa oli hän poissa.

*****

Irja käveli malttamattomana asemasillalla. Minuutit kuluivat

hitaasti. Viisari valaistussa kellotaulussa asemahuoneen seinällä
näytti toisinaan pysähtyneen. Myrsky mylvi puistossa. Kaasulyhty
huojui tuulessa, suhisi ja näytti toisinaan sammuvan. Vihdoin läpäsi
lumiryöpyn veturin valo ja kinoksia kahlaten vyöryi pikajuna
asemalle. — Irja käveli asemasillalla samaan suuntaan.
 "Hyvää iltaa!" kuului ylhäältä veturihytistä. Ääni tuli pehmeänä ja
lämpöisenä.

Samassa oli koliseva, lumikinosten peittämä veturi ohi ja pysähtyi

asemalaiturin päähän. Irja saavutti sen sieltä. Erkki oli laskeutunut
alas ja nosti lakkiaan.

"Niinhän sinä kuljet kuin lumivuoren sisällä", sanoi Irja.

"Me olemmekin kyntäneet halki kinoksien, eikä ole kumma, jos

niitä onkin vielä osa niskassamme."

"Mitähän, jos jäitkin välille," kiusotteli Irja.

"Eläpäs! Sitäkö sinä toivoit täällä?"

"Sitä!" — Irja nauroi käsipuuhkansa takaa.

"Vai niin! Mutta minä tulin kuitenkin."

"Ja nyt minulla on sinulle eräs ehdotus: sopisiko sinun tulla

luokseni tänä iltana?"

"Onko sinulla joku merkkipäivä?"

"Ei, muuten vain. Eräs tuttavani täältä, neiti Lillström tulee

myöskin. Se johtui äsken mieleeni, kun tiesin sinun olevan tänne
tulossa ja on tällainen huono ja kylmä ilma…"

"Kiitoksia ystävyydestäsi! Kutsuasi et olisi siltä kannalta katsoen

voinut paremmin asettaa. Sillä suoraan sanoen: lämmin kahvitilkka
ei nyt tee pahaa."

"Sen arvasin."
 "Tulenko heti, kun joudun?"

"Tule vain."

Saavuttuaan asuntoonsa riisui Irja nopeasti päällysvaatteensa ja

haki puita säiliöstä pannakseen pesään.

Kohta räiski iloinen tuli uunissa ja sen loimussa järjesteli Irja

huonettaan ja iloitsi jokaisesta siirrosta, joka somisti sitä. Hymy
kaunisti hänen kasvojaan tällä hetkellä.

Hän ei tahtonut kieltää itseltään, että todella odotti Erkkiä. Hän

hymähti maltittomuudelleen, mutta samassa vakasivat viime
tapaamisien muistot hänet ja hän palautti ne toisen toisensa
jälkeen…

*****

Nyt hän tuli, kun pystyvalkea oli iloisimmilleen kerjennyt.

"Neiti Lillström ei ole tullut vielä. Hänellä lienee joku este. Mutta
voinemmehan odottaa kahdenkin?"

Heidän katseensa yhtyivät…

*****

"Kummallinen on ihmisten elämänjuoksu," puheli Erkki kuin

äänellään tarttuen johonkin mielessään kulkevista ajatuksista. "Jos
jäisi jotakin näkyvää jälkeä, viivat tai jotakin sellaista, joka tehtyä
matkaa kuvaisi, niin saisimme niistä nähdä, kuinka polkumme
risteilevät."

"Aluksi ne kuitenkin kulkisivat yhdessä."