Chapter Eighteen
Saturday morning, the sun was shining and not a cloud in the sky. This weekend was the annual Felton’s Creek Celebration. Ry finished setting up the sheriff’s office booth, then went to help Jed unload the horses from the trailer.
There was everything from booths selling homemade crafts and foods, to Jed with pony rides for the kids, to small carnival rides. It was a chance for the entire town to be out and celebrating.
Katie was going to be helping Miss Mazie at her tea booth, and then later, the three of them would find a spot on the grass to watch the fireworks. After what she told them the other night about her father and Walter whipping the young lady, Ry was still amazed how she reacted to him and Jed.
Her father and Walter only wanted to cause pain and degradation, whereas Ry and Jed wanted to give her pleasure, taking her to the next level of satisfaction and sexual release. Her submission was a gift, one Ry would honor for the rest of his life.
“Hey, Jed, I’ve been thinking,” Ry said as he helped with the horses.
“That’s dangerous.”
“Watch yourself, sub.” Ry grinned, and Jed just laughed. “When do we want to discuss making things permanent with Katie?”
Jed stopped in his tracks and stared at Ry. “You want to talk about that now?”
Ry nodded. He’d been toying with the idea in his head for a while, and after she told them about her father and ex, he wanted nothing more than to find a way to keep her in their lives. “It’s time. We’re not getting any younger.”
“How do you think we should handle this?” Jed moved the horse into the temporary stable.
“We have to ask her first.”
“I know that.” Jed shut the stall door and leaned against it.
“I’ve been thinking about that, and I’m hoping you’ll agree. But there’s another issue.”
“And that is?”
Ry frowned. Usually, Jed was the one to jump into things without thinking. “We’ll be coming out to the whole town.”
“I think the town knows about us. We don’t flaunt our relationship with Katie and our parents never hid their relationship with each other.”
“No, they didn’t.” Ry fondly remembered going out with his family and being proud of having two dads and a special mother who kept him and Jed in line.
“Your parents were married,” Jed said, leading the last horse into the temporary stabling. “But my dad never married your mom, nor did he collar her.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. What he was suggesting wasn’t necessarily welcomed in most places. “Alternative lifestyle” was the current politically correct term. “True, but are you telling me you’d be willing to play a third without being committed to Katie and me?”
“I am committed.” Jed marched over to him. “But legally, only one of us can marry her.”
“True. Tell me how you feel about this.” Ry was putting a lot on the line here, but he wasn’t willing to lose Katie or Jed.
He’d compromise if needed. “Let’s talk to Katie and get her thoughts.
If she agrees, we can legally have all our last names hyphenated.
It will show how committed we are. We can also do a handfasting ceremony after whomever Katie chooses for a legal marriage. ”
Ry studied Jed’s face, his nerves stretched taut when Jed didn’t respond. But his features were bland, containing no anger or fear. Maybe he was receptive to this.
“And then we can have a collaring ceremony with her,” Ry continued. “We can both collar her and the three of us wear rings.”
Jed’s eyes widened, and Ry blew out a breath.
A grin broke out over Jed’s face. “We need to tread carefully with Katie on this. But I like it.”
“I agree, but I love her, and it’s time.”
“Agreed. I love her and you, you big lug.” Jed pulled him into a hug, and Ry returned it.
“I love you, too, sub. So let me tell you what I found in Monroe. Since the catalog items didn’t work out. Actually, we can run to Monroe right now, pick it up, and be back before the celebration starts.”
“Let’s go.”
* * * *
“Enjoy your tea,” Katie said as she handed the bag over to the older woman.
“Oh, I will.”
Katie put the money in the register and sighed. It had been busy most of the day at Gran’s booth. The Felton’s Creek Celebration always brought a lot of people in. While she had dinner each night this week with Ry and Jed, she’d only seen them in passing today.
Jed had a small ring set up for pony rides, and Ry would roam around while leaving his deputy with the SUV, looking absolutely delicious in his uniform.
“Why don’t you take a break?” Gran asked.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, go.” She patted Katie on the shoulder. “Go find your men.”
Katie grinned and kissed Gran’s cheek before leaving the booth. Gran was such a wonderful woman.
She was halfway to the riding ring when little Tommy Miller ran into her, his blond hair sticking out and his shirt dusty.
“Oops, sorry, Miss Katie.”
“It’s okay.” After helping Tommy gain his footing, she straightened to see her father and Walter standing in front of her. Her stomach dropped. She’d hoped they left town for good. “What do you want?”
“We need to talk,” her father said.
Tommy wrapped himself around her legs. Katie knelt. “Tommy, go to the riding ring, right now,” she whispered in the boy’s ear. “Let Jed know I sent you. Nowhere else, understand?”
Tommy nodded, let go of her legs, and took off running. She could only hope he’d tell Jed what he saw.