Cowboy, Take Me Away

by Peyton Banks

“All righty then.” Nasia giggled. Knowing her little sister, they would be heavy in their cups and screaming all of Nina’s songs at the top of their lungs on performance night. They were both die-hard fans of the singer.

  “Wear your sluttiest outfit. Oh, wait. You have a man now.” Aleka groaned.

  “I sure do. He’s the only one who is privy to see my slutty outfits,” Nasia teased. She pushed off the counter and headed toward her bedroom.

  “And when do I get to meet this cowboy, who I’ve barely heard anything about?” There was a hint of hurt in her sister’s voice.

  “Well, you will hear all about him on girls’ weekend.”

  “I better. I want to hear everything. From how big his dick is, does he know how to use it, and if he has a brother.”

  Nasia barked a laugh. She stripped her clothes off, dropping them into the hamper in her closet.

  “His dick is none of your business, and yes, he has a brother. A younger one.” She moved into the bathroom and turned on the shower to allow it to warm up.

  “We used to be real close and share everything.” There was a pout in Aleka’s voice.

  Her sister was right. They had told each other everything when they were younger, but now something was different.

  Sharing personal things about what went on between her and Stan seemed like an invasion of their privacy. Their intimate details should remain just between the two of them.

  “He means something to me,” she admitted, putting her phone on speaker. She put her shower cap on.

  “Aww…is my big sister in love?”

  Nasia paused and thought about the question.

  Was she?

  She thought back to the night they had gone bowling with the other couples. On the way home, listening to him had brought about a strong urge to help erase the darkness clouding him. That bitch of an ex-wife was playing mind games, and Nasia wanted to draw him back to her.

  That night would be forever cherished in her memory.

  Something had passed between them.

  He had made love to her with a fury that night. By morning, neither of them had the strength to move. They hadn’t dragged themselves out of bed until mid-morning.

  “I think I am,” she murmured.

  “Well, then I shall have to meet this fella of yours. I can’t wait.”

  “I can’t wait for you to meet him, too. You’ll like him.”

  “Well, I hear your shower running. Go ahead and go. I’m sure you stink.”

  “Bitch.”

  “You love this bitch,” Aleka taunted.

  “I do. Bye.” Nasia hit the red button on her phone’s screen to end the call. A silly grin was on her face.

  Love Stan?

  Who was she kidding?

  She was head over heels in love with that man.

  Weary, Stan headed toward his truck. Today had been a big day at the ranch. It was going on eight at night, and with him arriving at work at five-thirty that morning, it meant for a long day. His gaze landed on the gleaming black paint and detail of his newly acquired truck.

  He had finally bitten the bullet and purchased a brand-new Dodge Ram. It was a thing of beauty. Five minutes sitting in the truck, and he felt a connection. It had a quad cab to allow him to have plenty of room inside along with all the bells and whistles that Laney didn’t have.

  This was his first brand-new vehicle purchase, and he was exited. Now he had to figure out what his new truck’s name was.

  His back pocket vibrated just as he arrived at the driver’s door. He snatched his phone out and looked at the screen to see who was calling.

  Victoria.

  “What the hell?” He rolled his eyes and contemplated not answering it. He hadn’t the last two times she’d called. He might as well get this over with and see what she wanted.

  He ran his finger across the glass screen.

  “What?” He opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat. The plush leather was so comforting.

  “Well, hello to you, too,” Victoria’s soft voice came on the line.

  “Victoria, what do you want?” He hit the button to start the engine. It roared to life, and his heart skipped a beat. The lavish interior was more than he’d ever had, and he was still getting used to the technology that came with it. The call flipped over to the hands-free mode in the truck.

  Stan removed his Stetson and set it in the passenger seat. He pushed a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. He grimaced, scenting himself.

  It wasn’t good either.

  He wasn’t sure what would smell worse, him or a heaping pile of cow dung.

  “I was wondering if you wanted to go out for lunch or something.” She paused.

  He grew still, unable to believe what he had just heard.

  “Victoria, no.”

  “I was serious, Stan. We can work this out.”

  “I’m hanging up, Victoria.” He shifted his truck into gear and drove along the dirt road that led onto the main street. He passed Jonah’s house on the Blazing Eagle Ranch. He was sure Jonah, the Brooks brothers’ father, was inside at this hour. He had finally recovered from his heart attack that had almost killed him. The stubborn older man wasn’t going to let a little thing like blocked coronary arteries take him out.

  “Why won’t you at least talk with me?”

  “Because I don’t have to. You gave up that right,” he stated matter-of-factly. The only reason he would want to hear from her was if one of her parents had become severely ill or passed away. He’d had a pretty good relationship with them over the years. They were even embarrassed Stan and Victoria had divorced because of their child’s infidelity.

  “You’re still dating that woman?”

  “None of your business,” he snapped.

  “But, Stan, I’m your wife. We were together—”

  “Key words should be ‘was my wife.’ Again, you gave up all rights to any part of my life. Goodbye, Vicki.” He disconnected the call.

  She hated the shortened version of her name. She made sure to correct everyone that her name was Victoria not Vicki.

  Blowing out a deep breath, he leaned back and concentrated on the road. His phone rang again. He hit the button as soon as he saw it was Nasia.

  “Hey, babe,” he answered.

  “Hey, there,” her melodic voice came over the speakers, immediately relaxing him. “You just now leaving work?”

  “Yeah.” He sighed.

  “You sound tired.”

  “Tired don’t even begin to describe it. Not even sure how I’m driving.”

  “Why didn’t you stay at the ranch?”

  “Because I want my bed, or yours.” He smirked.

  “Well, if you come here, I’m sure you won’t be sleeping.” Her voice dropped low and dripped sex.

  He hardened and knew she was correct. The second he walked through the door of her home, he wouldn’t even think of sleep. The sex between them was explosive and addicting. He couldn’t keep his hand off her body.

  “Just head home,” she said. “We can see each other tomorrow.”

  He grimaced. Tomorrow wouldn’t even be better. There were plenty of things that needed doing on the ranch. From repairing equipment to starting pregnancy testing female cows and vaccinating them. Dr. Hutson was scheduled to stop by. This was the time where they prepared for the winter.

  “I may have to take a raincheck on tomorrow,” he admitted.

  “That’s fine, baby. I know you’re busy. I understand. My sister is supposed be coming down. She surprised me and got tickets to the Nina Hunt concert up in Denver.” Her voice ended on a shriek.

  “Really? That’s awesome.” He chuckled at her excitement. “I didn’t know you had planned to go to the concert.”

  “I didn’t either. She called me out of the blue. We had talked about it a while ago, and frankly, I had forgotten all about it until she called me and told me she was able to get tickets.”

  “So are you driving up to meet her?” He scratc
hed his head. They had spoken about their families, and he would love to go meet them. Nasia had a few pictures around her home with her family, but it wasn’t the same as meeting them and getting to know them in person.

  “I had planned to, but she’s talking crazy about coming here to pick me up so we can go together, but that makes no sense whatsoever.” Nasia giggled. “I’m going to talk her out of it and just drive up there.”

  “Well, I’m happy for you.” He turned down his street and took notice of a car in his driveway. The hairs on the back of his neck rose.

  It couldn’t be.

  “Have you thought of a new name for the truck yet?” Nasia’s voice broke through his thoughts.

  He stared hard and slowed his vehicle down.

  What the fuck?

  Victoria was sitting on his steps.

  “Nasia, let me call you back. I’m pulling in now.” He hated to cut their call short. He loved speaking with her on the ride home if they weren’t seeing each other that day. Now seeing Victoria at his house, he should have just gone to Nasia’s.

  “Okay. You got home pretty fast. Call me later.”

  “I will.”

  The call disconnected. ‘I love you’ was on the tip of his tongue. He bit it back, not wanting the first time he told her to be on the telephone. It had to be a special moment for such powerful words.

  He parked his truck next to Victoria’s sedan.

  “I ain’t got time for this bullshit,” he muttered. He snagged his Stetson resting on the passenger seat and exited the truck. He opened the back door and grabbed his duffle bag off the seat and hefted it onto his shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

  Victoria stood from her perch, brushing off the back of her jeans.

  “We need to talk, and you hung up on me. All I’m asking is for us to just speak with each other, hash out problems.”

  “Victoria, we’ve been divorced almost a year, and now you want to talk and hash out problems? That should have been done before you decided to spread your legs for Connor.”

  “Stan,” she sputtered, her face growing flushed.

  He walked around her, but her small hand latched on to his arm.

  “Please, Stan,” she pleaded, tears in her voice.

  Stan’s heart was hardened from what she’d put him through. He turned around and glared at her. He didn’t care they were in the front yard where his nosy neighbors could see or hear them. If she wanted to hash shit out now, they were doing it now.

  “I fucked up. I know that,” she said. “I’m so sorry for everything I’ve done. For the hurt I’ve caused you, but I really want us to sit down and try again.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. She pushed her blonde hair behind her ears. Her chin trembled where she clearly was trying not to sob.

  Stan didn’t feel a thing. Her tears used to cause him to be frantic. He was the fix-it type of guy. If something was wrong, he would right it. He had worked so hard for them that her betrayal cut him deep.

  “What do you want me to say? Are you here seeking forgiveness?”

  “I want you back!” she screamed. She slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes widened. She blinked and removed her hand. “Stan, please. Let me come in so we can talk.”

  He stalked to her, stopping inches from her. All of the anger and hurt that was buried inside him was threatening to boil over. He was never a man to raise his hand to a woman, but he wasn’t above giving her a piece of his mind.

  “You don’t get to come back in my life and demand that we get back together. You fucked up. You ended our marriage. There was plenty of things that you—we—could have done when we were married. You didn’t open up to me then, you took the first compliment another man gave you and spread your fucking legs—”

  Her hand connected with his face, his cheek stinging slightly.

  She gasped and took a step back.

  He stared off down the street, thanking the man upstairs that his parents raised him to be a real man. He flicked his gaze back to her and shook his head.

  “Truth hurts, don’t it.” He growled, tightening his grip on the handle of his bag. He straightened to his full height. “I think you should go now.”

  He spun around on his heel, pulling his keys from his pocket.

  “Wait!” Victoria cried out. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

  She was outright sobbing at the moment. At one point, he would have responded, invited her in and listened to what she had to say.

  Not today.

  Stan reached the door, ignoring her. He opened it and went in, shutting it behind him.

  10

  “Big sister!” Aleka shouted, rushing through the front door. Even though Nasia was a few minutes older, Aleka always called her ‘big sister.’ Which she was, and there was never a day Nasia didn’t remind her twin of this.

  Aleka kicked off her shoes and flew to Nasia, wrapping her arms around her. She was acting like it had been years since they had last seen each other.

  Nasia did have to admit it felt good for her sister to be there.

  “How was the drive?” Nasia returned Aleka’s hug.

  “Not bad at all. I mean, my foot stayed on the gas so I got here in record time.”

  Nasia chuckled, shutting the door, and followed her sister into her house.

  “I can still crash in your office, right?” Aleka set her suitcase by the couch.

  “Yup. I still don’t know why you are driving down here wasting your gas.” Nasia flopped down on her couch and tucked her feet underneath her.

  “Well, there was an alternative motive for me being here.” Aleka grinned.

  “I figured.” Nasia rolled her eyes.

  They were identical twins, and there were very slight differences between them that only their parents could tell them apart if they dressed alike. They had different style of clothing, men, careers, but one thing that remained similar between them was their hair.

  Both of them preferred to wear it flat ironed bone-straight. Lately, Nasia was allowing Yani to be a little bold and put her hair in new styles.

  “A few friends from high school are getting together tonight for drinks. Remember Shante?”

  “Umm…yeah. Wasn’t she the one that was on the volleyball team and got hit in the face and broke her nose?” Even though they were twins, they hung out with different crowds. It was hard to forget a girl walking around school with a busted nose and two black eyes for a while.

  “Yes, she’s in town this week from Miami. She moved there about five years ago, and the girls want to take her out since she’s back.” Aleka grinned.

  “That sounds fun.” A yawn escaped Nasia. She was feeling the effects of working long hours. She couldn’t wait until she was at the point where she didn’t have to stay from open to close at the café. Thankfully the café closed at five each day. Once she hired on an assistant manager, then she could pull back a little.

  “Why don’t you come with us.”

  Nasia shook her head. These were Aleka’s friends. She remembered a few of the other ones that Aleka mentioned would be going, but she just didn’t have it in her.

  “Are you sure?” Aleka pouted.

  “No, I’m sorry. I’m staying in tonight. With us leaving for the weekend, I’m going to get up earlier and head into the café so I can get some prep work done so my team won’t have too much to do.”

  Already that three-thirty alarm was looming in the back of her head.

  “Yeah, yeah. I get it. I may not like it, but my sister, the boss, must be responsible.” Aleka hopped up and grabbed the handle of her suitcase and dragged it behind her as she disappeared down the hallway.

  Nasia stretched out on the couch and snagged her blanket from the edge. She picked up the remote and flipped the television on. She surfed the channels until she came to a movie that she loved. She had her favorites that she watched every time they came on.

  “Chicken good,” she echoed, saying the lines along with the orange
-haired woman on the screen. Nasia giggled, recognizing she probably knew the movie by heart.

  Soon her sister was emerging from the back dressed up for a night on the town.

  “Look at you.” Nasia grinned. Her sister looked like a million bucks. “Where you get that shirt from?”

  “From this new boutique that’s around the corner from my apartment.” Aleka twirled around to show off her outfit.

  “Why you ain’t get me one?” Nasia teased.

  They fell into a fit of laughter. It had been years since they’d dressed alike, but the shirt and jeans were cute. They still wore the same size, and Nasia will have to borrow that shirt.

  “Last chance.” Aleka focused her wide puppy-dog eyes on Nasia who shook her head.

  “I can’t. I’ve got to do boss things in the morning.” Nasia pushed off the couch and followed her sister to the door.

  “Don’t wait up,” Aleka joked, skipping out the door.

  “You still have your key?” Nasia called out. She leaned on the door, watching her sister walk to her car.

  “I do.” Aleka dug around in her purse, brandishing the extra set of keys that Nasia had given her.

  Nasia stayed at the door until Aleka drove off down the road. She shut the door and went back into the living room. A sigh escaped her. She snagged her cell phone off the couch and shot a text to Stan that she was turning in to bed early and she’d see him in the morning for breakfast.

  His response was almost immediate.

  Sleep well, baby.

  Nasia smiled. She turned off the television and left the lamp in the corner on so the house won’t be dark when Aleka returned home.

  Going back to her bedroom, she responded.

  I will dream of you.

  She placed her phone on the nightstand and stripped off her clothes. Morning was going to come soon enough. She turned on her television to the movie she’d been watching.

  Within minutes, jammies were on, her hair was wrapped, and she was climbing in the bed. Checking her phone, she saw another message from Stan.

  See you in the morning.

  Nasia smiled and set her phone back on the charge. A yawn overtook her. She snuggled down under the covers, the movie still playing. Her eyes began to feel gritty, her body relaxed, so she gave in and allowed sleep to take a hold of her.