Thunder Mountain Ranch

by McCarthy, G. L.

  what I’m doing.” Sam kissed Alex and began to caress her as

  she had done seconds earlier. It had a whole new effect and

  started a fire that Alex hoped would never go out.

  Tonight wasn’t about sex, it was about intimacy

  feeling secure in the arms of the person holding you and feeling as if you could tell this person your deepest darkest secrets and they would carry them to their grave. It was about trusting them to care for your feelings as you would theirs looking for a sign that they understood how much you needed them to be honest with you about everything and how devastated you would be if they weren’t. As Alex looked up at Sam she felt something she never really felt before. It was a feeling that the person she was with would actually put her needs before their own. She saw someone who mirrored her in

  this area and that it came as second nature and not put on. Taking off the rest of their clothes, both women

  climbed in under the sheets and cuddled until Alex heard

  Sam’s breathing change and she knew she was asleep. Getting

  up out of bed she walked around to the other side so she could

  spoon Sam as she slept. Kissing her on the shoulder, she

  closed her eyes and slipped off to dreamland herself. It was four-thirty in the morning when the sound of a

  cell phone ringing woke both women from a sound sleep. Alex

  came up fast thinking it was Cyn calling about Beau, but it was

  Sam’s phone. As she looked at the number she hit mute and

  then started to count under her breath.

  “Who is it, Sam? Is everything okay?” Alex hoped it

  wasn’t a family emergency.

  “It’s Teresa. She hasn’t called in a long time, so she

  must be upset and thinks I need to be awake too.” As the cell

  phone came to life to tell her she had a voice mail, Sam turned

  it off and threw it in her bag. She hated having to turn it off,

  but if her family really did need to get a hold of her they could

  always call Jessie.

  “Interesting. You having a dream about her and then

  she calls. I would say you have a gift yourself.” Now if she

  could remember to shut her phone off after having one of those

  dreams they would be able to sleep all night. Alex’s heart rate

  was returning to normal.

  “I’m so sorry. She hasn’t called in months. She must

  be pissed about something and so she needs to call me to vent and blame me for everything.” Maybe changing her number would only be a minor inconvenience, but having to re-enter

  all her numbers was a pain.

  “Didn’t she leave you?” Alex pulled Sam back in bed

  and held her close, she was letting all the cold air in. “As far as she’s concerned, it’s all my fault. There’s

  no reasoning with her. She refuses to take any of the blame on

  this subject. She’s so messed up but she’ll never see it, so she

  needs to blame someone and that someone is me.” Sam didn’t

  mention that her ex had a restraining order filed against her by

  the other woman she had left her for.

  “Is she the type to get in her car and drive down here?”

  After dealing with Dez’s psycho wannabe girlfriend, Alex was

  a little gun shy in this department.

  “No. Teresa isn’t into confrontations, she just likes to

  harass. It’s easier and it doesn’t cost her anything extra.”

  Having a tornado drop a house on her was Sam’s only hope of

  having the witch go away.

  “How about next time you let me answer the phone?

  She’ll think you’ve given up your old number and then she’ll

  hopefully stop calling.” Or Alex could tell her off. Either way

   it worked for her.

  “Not a bad idea. We can give it a try. So now let’s get

  back to sleep. I need to get up in an hour, or we could just neck

  until my alarm goes off. Your call.” Sam, being very

  responsible, had her alarm clock set in her bag.

  “Sounds like fun. But you need your sleep and I won’t

  want you to leave if we’ve been kissing for an hour. So go

  back to sleep.” Kissing her on the shoulder, Alex pulled her

  tight and buried her face in the back of Sam’s neck. “Yes, dear.” Reaching back Sam patted Alex on the

  bum and they both started to giggle.

  This pair was going to have fun together. Now if they

  could just get everyone else to co-operate life would be a

  dream.

  Chapter 23

  Sam heard the alarm go off, and slowly slid out of bed so she wouldn’t wake Alex. After dressing as quickly as she could, she slowly opened the bathroom door trying not to make any noise. As she went to leave, she kissed Alex on the cheek and almost got away before she was grabbed. Alex, who was pretending to be asleep, had been waiting for her to come out of the bathroom. Sam smelled freshly scrubbed and tasted minty fresh.

  “Good morning, Miss Pierce. Did you think you could get away scot-free?” Pulling her down, Alex rolled over to get the top spot.

  “I was hoping not to. But I only have about ten minutes before Smokey and Bruce will break through your door to take me away from you.”

  “Well, we can’t have that. I’ll turn you loose in eight. That should give you enough time to stop them in their tracks.” Alex gently started to kiss Sam in a teasing manner.

  In seven and a half minutes Sam was walking through the door with a promise to be back with coffee and then take her to breakfast. Alex watched her leave and then smelled the blanket she was just laying on. It smelled wonderful and she went back to sleep as breakfast was over an hour away.

  Alex was sound asleep and didn’t hear Sam come in. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Are you ready to get up or would you like breakfast in bed?” Sam was willing to go get it, or there were still leftovers in the refrigerator.

  “Morning yourself.” Stretching with every part of her body made Alex feel very relaxed. She couldn’t believe a whole hour had gone by.

  “Did you bring me coffee, sweet-ums?” Alex thought she smelled it, but didn’t want to assume.

  “Sweet-ums did. Do you want it in bed or at the table?” Sam had never heard that name before, but thought it was cute.

  “Could you just give it to me IV it would be so much quicker.” Alex wanted to go back to sleep, but wanted to get up too.

  “Okay, I don’t do needles of any kind.” Sam shuddered at the thought.

  “Then I guess I need to take it at the table.” Alex sat up with her eyes still closed.

  “Are you sure you want to get up? You can sleep in and it would be fine with me. You’ve been through so much lately. You have to be tired.” Sam really did want her to go back to sleep.

  “I don’t know why I’m so sleepy. It’s like I’ve been drugged.” Saying those words, Alex knew she hadn’t but she felt like she had hit a wall.

  “Stay there. I’m going to heat up the leftovers and feed you breakfast, then you can go back to sleep and I’ll see you this afternoon.” Not wanting an argument, Sam started to pull food out and put it on paper towels. Breakfast would be ready in a flash.

  “I love a strong, forceful woman especially when she tells me she’s going to feed me breakfast in bed.” Keeping her eyes closed, Alex lay back down and listened to the microwave humming.

  “Strong and forceful I’ll remember that, and that you like to be pampered too. Got it.” Sam felt warm inside. It was great having someone to take care of, not completely but when the need arose. She couldn’t imagine Alex letting anyone have complete control of her life.

  Feeding Alex was more fun than Sam could have imagined. Taking turns chewing and kissing was a gre
at way to have breakfast. Alex asked how Bruce and Smokey were and if they got their breakfast on time. Sam reported they were quite content and would be ready to go whenever she was. Discussing the afternoon plans, Alex brought up Plan B and Sam loved it. What could be better than packing a lunch and taking a nice leisurely ride to a secluded spot, where they could enjoy each other’s company without any interruption from anyone or anything. As the last piece of quesadilla was consumed, Sam kissed Alex and told her to stay in bed. She would be back when she finished her morning chores. They had all afternoon and evening for their ride. Still feeling wiped out, Alex thanked her for breakfast, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

  It was several hours later when Jessie quietly opened the door and found Alex still asleep. Walking over and feeling her forehead she thought she felt warm. She was either coming down with something or it was just hot blooded Alex getting all the sleep she needed. Either way, if she was sick she wouldn’t let it slow her down too much, and if she just needed the sleep she was sure to get it.

  Waking to the chirping of a very happy bird, Alex realized it was after eleven. She got up slowly and felt rested not completely, but a lot better. Maybe a shower would revive her, plus she needed to see what was on the menu for their picnic. Taking showers in the dark always felt comforting. With no harsh light, just you and the hot water, it was sort of like being back in the womb. Whatever the reason, she preferred it that way. Jessie always had great towels and she wondered if these were the same ones all the guests had or was she given the special extra plush guest towels. Blow drying her hair was the last chore and then she would be dressed and out the door. But what to wear. It was getting colder every day and although turtle neck tops were her favorite maybe a V-neck sweater today. She could wear a blouse underneath for added warmth but still have enough neck showing for some great make out kissing.

  So far no complaints in that department, but did Sam like sex? The other night was after a long drought for both of them, but what about on a regular basis? Regular meaning once a week minimum, not once a month or once in a blue moon. Today’s “get to know you better topic” would be “intimacy, sex and its frequency.” Lesbian bed death had struck with Dez and she sure didn’t want to repeat that fate with Sam. Being a full blooded Scorpio, what they said about liking sex was certainly true in Alex’s case. But if having sex that often was a problem then at least the intimacy needed to be there. Was this like speed dating? Finding out everything you needed to know in five days or less, so you can make a choice on the person you want to spend the rest of your life with or not.

  Alex definitely felt special to Sam. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but she really thought so. Hopefully Jessie would be the go between and find out what Sam was thinking. Would she see any red flags for either of them or would she give them the green light and full steam ahead? Would she miss Sam when she got back home, or was this just one of those vacation romances you read about? Time would tell that was for sure. Now she needed to get out of this room and into the light of day.

  It was a beautiful morning and Alex spotted Jessie sitting in the swing on the office porch. Now might be a great time to check in with her on what she was thinking about the two of them.

  “Good morning, Jess.” Alex loved her so much and cherished her as a friend.

  “Good mornin’, Darlin’. How are you feeling?” She looked fine, so Jessie figured she just needed the sleep.

  “I feel good, although I hope Sam doesn’t think she’s hooked up with some old lady who can’t keep up with a youngster like herself.” Alex felt that had to have opened the door for her to get a few answers.

  “I don’t think Sam thinks that at all, although she is worried about keeping up with you.” Jessie was looking for a few answers herself.

  “Keeping up with me, in what regard? I’m dragging my ass and she’s worried.” Was there something Alex wasn’t aware of in the endurance issue?

  “Keeping up with you on an intellectual level. She only went to junior college and all of her knowledge after that comes from life’s experiences. She thinks you’re brilliant, and wonders if you’ll get bored with her.” Having said that, she hoped Alex would answer as she expected she would.

  “Me, brilliant? Hardly. I know a little bit about a lot of things, but I’m far from brilliant. I’m flattered she thinks so. But then my grandfather always said, ‘If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull-shit.’ Maybe I have been doing a little of that, but not intentionally. She needs to stop worrying. You don’t think I’m brilliant, so why didn’t you put her mind at ease?” Alex figured Jessie knew her better than anyone on the planet and she knew she was average.

  “Why would I do that? I think you are brilliant. Maybe I never said so, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t thought it.” Jessie always loved this part of Alex her humbleness.

  “Jessie Pierce-Black, are you telling me this now after all these years? I used to leave you after we had spent time together and figured you thought I was so dumb about life.” Alex wondered what else Jessie thought and never told her.

  “Well, you were a little clueless sometimes about what was going on around you. But that had more to do with the number of women who had crushes on you and you just didn’t see it.” Half the lesbians back at their old stables had big crushes on Alex.

  “Oh that. Well, I may have been aware, but I really had no interest in any of them. If I didn’t acknowledge it I wouldn’t have to turn them down when they asked me out.” Alex hated that part of dating rejecting someone. Having them be mad at you just because they weren’t your type was so uncomfortable. Besides, couldn’t they tell she was crazy about Jessie at the time?

  “Jessie, why would Sam think I would get bored with her? She’s everything I’ve come to want in a girlfriend/lover. If anyone should worry, it’s me. I’m older than she is, so when I hit fifty she’ll be in her early forties. It doesn’t seem like much now but as you get older it does.” Plus, Alex was wondering if Sam wanted to give up all this to be with a school teacher who lived on the east coast. She wasn’t sure she would.

  “Darlin’, I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I know you won’t say anything to Sam. She would walk on hot coals if you were on the other side. When she talks about you she gets tears in her eyes at the thought of you not wanting to continue seeing her. I’m afraid she’s head over heels in love with you after only knowing you for eight days.” Enough said on that subject. Jessie knew Alex and if she didn’t panic at that information, then all was good.

  “Oh.” Alex didn’t know what else to say. This was good and bad. She didn’t want to hurt Sam but she wasn’t sure they should be at the love part yet, although she was pretty sure it was just around the corner for her.

  “That’s it? That’s all you have to say?” Jessie was starting to get worried at the thought that she had blown it for Sam and that Alex was panicking at this news.

  “No, that’s not all I have to say.” Alex went with her gut feeling. Lena had always told her to trust her instincts and she would be fine. She needed to find out Sam’s date, time and place of birth for Lena to do her chart and see if she was compatible. Anna had said she would know, but it couldn’t hurt to check with the stars too. “Jess, I’m crazy about Sam, but I don’t want to jump into this without looking first. This is your cousin, and if I were to hurt her in any way I would feel like I had hurt you.” Maybe it was just for that reason that Alex was holding back, only time would tell.

  “I’m sorry, Alex. I know you would never hurt Sam intentionally. I guess I just want this so much I may be pushing you two together when you need more time to make sure it’s right for the both of you.” Jessie realized she needed to back off. She didn’t want either of them to get hurt and besides she wouldn’t be the one living with her.

  “Thanks. I guess I’m a little gun shy. In that first year with Dez it was heaven and then it was like she became another person and everything changed. I don’t wan
t to make all these huge changes and then find out neither of us is happy with where we’ve ended up.” Talking to Jessie made Alex think about different scenarios. When she was with Sam all she wanted to do was forget about reality and live for the moment.

  “So, what are your plans for today, if you don’t mind a nosey friend asking?” She hoped they were going to spend some time enjoying the great outdoors.

  “We’re having a picnic up at the meadow you showed me. I was on my way over to the kitchen to see what’s on today’s menu.” Looking towards the corral to see if the ride had returned, Alex wondered how much time she had.

  “We’re having your favorite. Tri-tip.” Jessie had introduced it to Alex. It was her favorite request when she was invited to come over for dinner.

  “Oh, yummy. The one thing I really missed when I moved away, besides you, was your tri-tip. Does Sam have your recipe?” Hoping she did, Alex wondered if she could get that cut back home.

  “I’d never admit this to Sam, but hers is better than mine. She does it a little different. I think her father tweaked the recipe just a little bit.” Maybe Alex could find out exactly what he did to it for her.

  “Hers is better than yours! Oh, we are so getting married.” Alex thought Jessie was a great cook and if Sam was just as good and had a great tri-tip recipe this was a match made in eating heaven.

  “Great. If I would have known this was all it would take I would have told you the minute you stepped off the shuttle from the airport.” Laughing at Alex and how easy she was to please, Jessie wondered why Dez had been such a fool to let their relationship fall by the wayside.

  “Hey, give me intimacy and great food and I’m yours for life. It’s the one thing I can never get anyone I’ve ever dated to believe. Apparently it must be a lot more than I think it is to give.” When Alex thought about it, intimacy was what she would settle for if she had to pick one thing to be happy in a relationship.

  “Maybe it just seems too simple. Like turning on a switch voilà, you have a girlfriend for life.” Jessie thought Alex made too many compromises for her relationships and knew Sam wouldn’t expect that from her.