PORT

by Eliza
elizawpg@shaw.ca

CATEGORY/RATING: Helm/Marta PG13 - suggestive content
LEGAL STUFF: The Doc and Marta and Tessa don't belong to me, it seems that Fireworks Entertainment has the paperwork. Katerina is mine though. No copyright infringement intended. No money made.
FEEDBACK: Gratefully accepted.
SUMMARY: A close sequel to "Vodka" -- Marta's reactions. 8th in the series.

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Marta quickly found a spot out of sight of the stable and leaned against a cool wall. Helm had turned her bones to water. From his first word after they had entered the barn, he had played her like a talented musician. She had completely forgotten where they had been until she had sensed another presence and had opened her eyes to meet the gaze of Montoya's horse. She had startled at the sight, but if Helm had not moved away she wasn't sure what would have happened. She had to rouse anger at her own lack of self control just to get herself out the door. Now she had to regain some semblance of order before meeting Tessa.

A few moments later Marta breathed a small prayer of thanks; she wasn't late. She reached the wagon as Tessa was exiting Montoya's office with the colonel. They said their farewells at the base of the staircase and he headed in the direction of the stable. As Tessa walked to the wagon, Marta noticed she carried a package and what looked like a letter. Marta sent another quick prayer; there would be plenty to talk about on the way home without mentioning her errand.

"What did Montoya want?" asked Marta as the women climbed onto the wagon seat.

"Just to give me this letter and package from Katerina," said Tessa. "They had been delivered with some other items that the governor had sent from Monterey."

There was silence between the two women until they were well down the road to the Alvarado hacienda. They kept glancing at each other until Marta could stand it no longer. "What is in the package?"

Tessa grinned and Marta knew that was what the girl had been waiting for. Marta had teased Tessa enough for her lack of patience and so reciprocation was not unexpected. Marta sighed, "The letter then, how is she enjoying her new status as wife?"

"Katerina was very pleased to get out of her father's house, you know that. I think we should leave her news and the present until we get home. How was your day?" Tessa's grin became even bigger as Marta winced at the question.

She would pick today to learn patience. Marta was desperately thinking of a way not to answer. "Why the smile? I thought you disapproved of Doctor Helm."

"Hardly! I was just surprised that you thought so ... ummm, warmly of him. You always teased me about my reactions to him, I thought you were matchmaking."

"I was. You took too long." Marta continued to watch the road but she could feel Tessa's eyes on her. The girl was not going to let this go. But damn it -- it was none of her business. Marta refused to say any more.

The rest of the trip passed in silence.

Once in the house, Tessa gave up on trying to bully Marta into any confidences. She unwrapped the package sent from her friend -- Belgian lace and vintage port. Tessa exclaimed at the unexpected treasures. Marta was unimpressed, given her latest exposure to the flaunting of the Spanish trade restrictions. If the governor's daughter could obtain these kind of foreign goods then the governor must be of the same mind as Montoya. She would stop worrying about the Russian ship off the coast of Santa Helena.

"A ship must have arrived from Spain to have brought these. Montoya's crate also contained a number of bottles, I know Reyes sent him some madeira. Some of them looked like they had champagne corks, at least from what I could see."

Marta began to put away the few items she had collected while in town, while Tessa broke the seal on her letter. She commented to Marta she scanned it. "Everything is going well. She rather likes her husband from the sound of it... They are breeding horses and starting a vineyard... Her brother is due to arrive some time in the autumn. She doesn't say anything but this annoys her. See, the writing has become heavier, she is taking her feelings out on the pen... She is asking again when I will come to Monterey. What do you think, Marta? Should we go on a holiday?"

"It is a long trip. You would be gone at least a month, more likely two. Do you want to leave the ranch and Santa Helena for so long?"

Marta's gentle reminder of the responsibilities of Maria Teresa Alvarado, as well as the Queen of Swords, seemed to settle the question. Then Tessa got a light in her eye and a small smile came to her lips as she said slyly, "There Marta, the letter is read and the package opened. Now, it's your turn. What happened with Robert Helm?"

Marta sat at the kitchen table, preparing herself for a long afternoon of avoidance. She would have to tell Tessa something, but it was difficult to decide what when she herself hadn't sorted out what had happened. She had completely given herself over to the sensations--his voice, his mouth, his hands.

Oh, those hands! Maddeningly gentle or firmly commanding, they had always hit just the right note. The light touches around her head and neck had started her shivering, while the firm pressure on her back, waist, and hips had sent a rushes of heat through her body. That heat had focused on her groin when she had stepped against him and felt his hard cock pressing against her hip. She had to stop the heady kisses and withdraw her hands from feeling the play of muscles under the cloth and skin. She had moved her hands to his shoulders to keep from giving in to the urge to run them down his back and over his ass, pausing to fondle that delicious derriere. Then around to the front to undo the buttons to his trousers and ...

"Marta?"

"Hmmm."

"Where were you?"

"Montoya's stable."

"What?!"

That broke the spell the memories had put Marta under and she realized what she had said.

She may as well tell Tessa the facts, the very basic facts. "I caught up with him at his office. We had just started talking when we were interrupted. After the visitor left, the doctor and I had a disagreement." Not quite accurate, but close enough. "I walked away, he came after me, we ended up in Montoya's stable."

"And?" Tessa leaned over the table, practically salivating for more information.

Marta smirked and gave in. "The man kisses like a demon."

"Not an angel?" Tessa was grinning.

"That, too." Marta grinned back but then became serious. "I'm not saying anymore, Tessa. Just know that I will be seeing more of Dr. Helm."

"A great deal more, if my guess is correct. Are you going to marry him?"

Here was the sticky question. Marta took a good look at the girl, no, woman, in front of her. This is what had prevented her from acting on any attractions in the past, the example she would set for her young charge. But Tessa was not a little girl anymore so Marta took the chance that she would understand. "If it became necessary I am sure we could make it work. But otherwise I don't plan on setting up house with Robert. My home, my family, is here. Do you understand?"

"You have given up a lot for me, haven't you, Marta?"

"Nothing that I regret, Tessita."

"But now I want to do something for you." Tessa picked up the port bottle and headed for the wine cellar. "I remember seeing something down here that just might be appropriate..."

THE END