Renegade Ridge

by Arabella Steedly

Moments later I heard the report of a hand-held missile. I saw the chopper explode into flames. The acrid odor of the smoke around the missile launcher made my skin prickle. Pieces of the blazing plane — falling individual orbs of light — left us exposed and visible to the men on the wall around the compound. The others opened fire. I pulled Marcus up into my arms to assess his wound. All I felt was a sticky warm liquid spilling out over my hands and arms. I heaved and threw up inches from his head and started gasping for air. I was glad it was nearly dark so I couldn't fully see his face. But I will never forget the sound of his voice when he whispered, "Just remember, the only easy day was yesterday. And it pays…I love you, man…Thanks for everything…”

  ****

  As the tears ran down my face, I thought about the good times I had with Marcus back during BUD/s training, our first mission to Afghanistan, and tag-teaming a couple of Army nurses in the back of our Humvee. I looked down and rubbed my hand over my cobra tattoo, and the strangest sensation came over me.

  Still gazing into the campfire, I began to notice how in the middle of the dying purple flame I saw Rachel’s brown eyes, kind and warm, peering back at me. Then as the smoke rose up over the embers, it seemed as though it was covering her body like a gray robe. Moments later the smoky robe began to vanish, and I could see her nude breasts.

  I noticed how her long dark hair nestled around her neck and hung in curls just above her beautiful nipples. I was sober enough to realize, if I was going to do what I wanted to, I needed to glance around to ensure no one could see me. Then, just like earlier in the day, I opened my fly, but this time I slid my jeans down over my hips.

  My cock didn't need any encouragement. I spat in my hands then moaned as I reached down and ran my thumb gently over my cock head then started pumping my fist slowly at first, peering back into the fire. I tried to make my fantasy as real as possible with the limited knowledge I had of Rachel's body. So, since she was dark complected, I envisioned her luscious breasts topped with brown areolae and large, hard nipples. I licked my lips as if I were about to take one of Rachel’s luscious buds inside my mouth.

  I pumped harder, getting closer to where I wanted to go, imagining how it would feel to rub her nipple around between my fingers. Suddenly I could see more of her body materialize, and her hips began to sway like the belly dancers Marcus and I watched when we were on R and R in Morocco. Right then and there I knew Marcus must be watching over me. I was just drunk enough to believe his spirit was present as I thought about Rachel and brought pleasure and relief to myself.

  As I was about to continue my fantasy trip below her belly button, a cone of light swung around and rested directly on my back — a car had turned into the campground. I sat still for a moment until the car's lights went out and the driver entered his camper. By that time the fire was almost extinguished, but my cock was leaking cream, ready for a release. So I imagined how it would feel pressing open Rachel's pussy lips with one quick thrust. I reacted with a groan as cream spilled over my cock head onto my fist.

  Later that night before I fell asleep I figured Marcus was trying to break through to send me a message about Rachel. But I wasn't sure how to process what it was. So I pulled up the covers and prayed I wouldn’t have another terrifying nightmare about losing another person I loved.

  Chapter Nine

  Rachel

  The next morning when I heard Kent's truck pull up, I had conflicting emotions. A part of me was glad to see him — a flicker of hope was still alive. But after his dark, distant behavior the day before I wanted to protect my heart from further bruising.

  Daddy had a doctor's appointment in Cheyenne and Sally was driving him. So before they left, he had instructed us to ride up to the east pasture to round up the mares. Many were due to give birth in a few weeks, and he wanted them back in their stalls. Three years ago we had waited too late, and one of our prize colts was killed by a pack of hungry coyotes.

  While we saddled up the horses, Kent spoke few words in a matter-of-fact tone as we discussed our plan to move the mares. That’s when I noticed he was a natural horseman and how being around the horses seemed to relax him. As I led Georgie-B out of the stall, Kent informed me he had decided to see how Licorice would behave around the others.

  I watched him put on his chaps and tried to ignore how they framed the bulge between his thighs and felt a familiar tingle in my core. Then I noticed he was fastening spurs to his boots and I whispered to myself, “Oh, no, spurs and Licorice — dangerous combination.” But I didn’t dare share my opinion with Kent.

  He held Licorice back and stayed behind me on our ride up to the pasture. But I could hear him talking to the stallion as he put Licorice through his paces. I was surprised how well he handled the horse, being he wasn't ridden much anymore. By the time we got there it was nearly ten o'clock, and already a brisk wind was coming down off the mountains.

  After Kent had stopped to open the gate beside the cattle gap, he galloped up toward two mares that were the furthermost away. I knew he planned to turn them toward me and my job was to herd them through the gate, out to the dirt road. Then he and I would follow along behind and make our way back to the stable.

  At every opportunity, I glanced at him and was saddened to find he was paying me no mind. I wanted my old friend back. The one who would happily listen to me chattering away about anything I had to say. The fact that I wanted his attention reflected a deeper yearning in my heart that had never been fulfilled by another man.

  It wasn’t until I heard the crack of lightning in the distance that I noticed that dark, inky clouds were starting to billow above the nearby mountains. Daddy had taught me a long time before how to judge the color and shape of the clouds as a means to predict the weather. There was no question a dangerous thunderstorm was building. From experience, I knew that during the wind and rain the horses often became unmanageable. They either stood unmovable with their rumps facing the wind or run amuck out of fear of the lightning and thunder. Feeling a few fat drops of rain fall on my head, I knew time was of the essence. "Kent!" I yelled, but I didn't think he heard me. So I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled so loud Georgie-B jumped, "Kent, we have to hurry, that storm is building fast!"

  He looked up at the sky behind him then turned and gave me a firm nod. As he raised his arms trying to shoo the horses toward the gate, the two mares started off in a trot. Then Kent and Licorice zigzagged — steering them in the right direction. But just as we herded TiaMaria, the last horse, through the gate, it started to pour, and the wind began to blow in gusts. We moved on; when he went right, I went left, as we reined our mounts in a crisscrossed pattern, moving them down the road.

  All of a sudden there was a loud clap of thunder, and lightning sizzled into the ground behind us. I knew I had to keep a close watch on TiaMaria. She was terrified of storms. Sure enough, she turned back and started running toward Kent and me. Since we hadn't stopped during the storm to close the gate, Tia ran back to the pasture and headed straight toward a stand of pine trees for protection.

  I sunk my heels into Georgie’s side, giving him his head. God, I love that horse so much! He knew just what to do and spun around passing Kent and Licorice in a full gallop throwing clods of mud in the air. I screamed out, "TiaMaria, easy girl!" But she continued ahead of us with her tail waving in the air like a wet flag. Just as Georgie was shifting into the high gear — that spurt of speed quarter horses were famous for — we started closing in on Tia. Seconds later Kent and Licorice charged past us. I had never seen Licorice in a full gallop with someone on his back before, and even in the pounding rainstorm, it was impressive the way Kent was handling him.

  I reined Georgie in, and he slowed to trot. Then I watched how with one swift move Licorice cut ahead of Tia and turned her back in the right direction. Just after she trotted by, Kent rode past and glanced over at me. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and in a commanding voice he said, "Let's go." But I had to wonder if he was more concerned about
the horses than he was for me.

  The rain stung my face as the thunder grew louder. I could sense a change in the atmospheric pressure. All of a sudden the rain stopped and an eerie silence swept over us. I wondered if we were experiencing, literally, the calm before the storm. I pressed my heels into Georgie's side, and I could feel my heart quicken as a gnawing fear balled up in the pit of my stomach. Just as the ranch came into view, another ominous clap of thunder rolled past us. Georgie bolted, then struggled to regain his footing on the slippery mud road. We rushed on until finally, TiaMaria followed the others through the open gate into the paddock.

  Inside the stable, I was breathless and heady with adrenaline as I watched Kent jump off Licorice and hand me his reins. Then he ran and closed the paddock gate behind him. I bit my lip when he approached Tia, trying to place a rope around her neck. But she held still and listened as Kent led her to her stall. Fancy and MayLady and the others followed Tia’s lead, and at last, Kent shut the stall gates behind them.

  There were a few neighs and the sound of restless hooves stomping. The horses were unusually anxious, and so was I, standing there frozen in the center aisle of the stable, holding the reins of two horses. What if I had been alone? Daddy and Sally were gone. What if Kent had been late? Yet, Kent was there! He had been more courageous and helpful than I could’ve imagined.

  I turned to Georgie and Licorice and peered at those two wet horses in amazement, realizing how brave they had been, too. Licorice, the skittish stallion, had become a black knight under Kent's hands and may have saved Tia from being struck by lightning. And Georgie-B was as reliable as ever.

  My head was spinning, and my feet were unsteady. I felt lost in that surreal moment, but I managed to slip the bridle off of Georgie and slide his halter over his ears. I took a deep breath and glanced over at Kent before I unbridled Licorice, too. I marveled at how he had calmed the horses and was now scooping oats into their feed boxes.

  Finally, I gathered my wits and managed to unsaddle our mounts and lead them into their stalls just as a gust of wind blew a large branch by the stable door. When I heard the whistling wind build into a roar, I turned to Kent and hollered, “Do you hear that?” He nodded and ran ahead of me.

  Kent's voice quivered when he pointed off in the distance, and yelled back at me, "Twister." I ran up beside him, and together we tugged on the heavy wooden door, rolling it shut. Then we turned and ran to the other end of the stable. Both of our shoulders were heaving, but the door didn’t budge. Kent looked up, and yelled, “The motherfucker is off the track!”

  After we nudged the door back in place, we noticed the tornado was nearing the hay field. For a second we both stood awestruck, watching. The twister appeared like a giant elephant's trunk lazily swinging back and forth along the ground, picking up trees and demolishing the wooden fence.

  Kent’s voice echoed in my ears when he ordered, “We have to close it and head for the tack room — now!” Then with one joint effort, the stable door closed with a ‘clang.’ A split second later, Kent grabbed my hand, and we ran inside the tack room. "Get inside the trunk," he commanded holding the lid open for me. I wondered what good a trunk would be if a tornado hit us, but I obeyed. When he slammed the lip closed it was dark! My breath came in hitches and a wave of nausea swept over me.

  When the roar got louder, I shrieked, "Kent, where are you!" But there was no answer, so I pushed open the trunk. He was over in the corner hunkered down, with his hands on top of his head, trembling. I rushed over and sat down beside him. Kent reached out for my hand. I was shaking and shivering as we huddled together until the roar of the storm diminished.

  After we were sure the storm was over, Kent stood up, and then he pulled me up, too. Without speaking a word, we ran to the stable door facing the house and tugged it open. "It's gone. The house is safe, and so are we,” I heard him whisper.

  Chapter Ten

  Kent

  Even after seeing things were safe, Rachel was still trembling. So I pulled her into my arms and kissed the top of her head. As I felt her warm body through our wet clothes, something fucking crazy came over me that I had no control over. It seemed as though I had slipped into someone else’s body. I was warm and happy. Rachel was sweet and delicate in my arms, and I wanted to hold her forever. Just as she nestled her head close to my chest, that warm glow turned to pure desire. I lowered my face closer to hers. Grabbing a handful of her hair, I pulled her head back, pressing my mouth over her parted lips. I wanted to possess her, even if it was just for a moment before she slipped away again — and this time nothing was going to stop me!

  When my tongue glided into her mouth, I felt her press her lower body against me. My hand slid down her neck and back until I was caressing her pert ass. I turned her around and pinned her against the stable door. As her fingers sifted through my hair, I felt the heat began to radiate off her. When I gazed down, I noticed her lids were heavy, and her lips were pink and swollen.

  With my hands holding her luscious melons I lifted her up. Then Rachel wrapped her legs around my waist. When her warm pussy pressed against my crotch, that was all the encouragement I needed. If I could have figured a way to get her jeans off without an objection I would have taken her right there, but I wasn’t sure what her reaction would be to me forcing myself on her. So I carried her toward the tack room. Using my back to push open the door I laid her down on a pile of empty burlap sacks.

  Then hovering over her, I gripped the lapels of her western shirt and in one swift move unsnapped it, laying bare her heaving breasts, covered by a white bra. I heard her say, “Don’t stop, Kent. I want you.” Then she groaned and arched her back as she reached down and squeezed my manhood. I ran my tongue down between her cleavage. My throbbing cock ached and strained against my jeans as I reached up and yanked down one side of her bra, exposing a hard, brown nipple that was ready for more attention. Not satisfied seeing only one lonely nipple, I moved her bra up for full exposure.

  As soon as I laid my eyes on her beautiful breasts, I couldn’t help but stop to stare at her for a few moments. She had a fucking gorgeous body, just as I’d always imagined it — only better. I cupped her breasts in each hand. Her nipples were so irresistible. I bent down and ran my tongue around one and sucked it for a moment before I took it between my teeth. I nipped and tugged on her bud until Rachel moaned with pleasure. I could tell by the way she squirmed under me that I had found one of her hot buttons.

  All of a sudden I realized it was never my intention to take Rachel this way, but I was a fucking selfish man, and Rachel was irresistible — giving in to my wishes. Her lips parted; we were both panting, as she looked up at me from under her heavy eyelids. I could see she wanted to be taken hard by the devilish grin on her lips. We were both caught up in a vortex of desire and were spinning out of control, just like the tornado.

  In a sudden fury, I felt the need to dominate her. So I grabbed her shirt and bra and slid them up over her head. I used her bra to bind her wrists and her shirt to tie her arms to a nearby water pipe running to the outside spigot. Rachel gasped when she sensed what I was doing, then licked her lips, and whispered, “How big is your cock Kent? I’ve been fantasizing for a long time about this moment.” Then with a devilish grin, she whispered, “Come on, show me. I want to see what I’ve been missing.” I chuckled to myself. She was enjoying our little game as much as I was.

  Eyeing her pebbled nipples, my mouth was watering at the thought of sucking those perfect mounds again — I was a tit man! Rachel moved her hips again, arching herself up to meet me. She was trying to tell me what she wanted, and it was exactly what I was going to give her.

  “Kent…please…I want you now,” Rachel’s soft plea rang like a bell in my ears. Every shred of control that I might have had before that moment was now gone — no returning.

  I gazed down at her half-naked body, lying stretched with her hands bound above her head, while I unbuckled my chaps and took off my boots. She could have qui
ckly pulled her hands free since they were loosely tied. Instead, when she noticed my eyes move down her body and fall between her legs, she moaned and raised her hips up wanting me to undress her. I knelt back down and unbuttoned her jeans. I could smell her sweet, hot pussy, so I ran my hand across her sex and felt her wetness. "Please, Kent I want you to fuck me. See how wet I am?” she asked, with her eyes half closed.

  I took a deep breath; my cock was aching in a way that I knew I was about to explode, and I didn't want that to happen without first being inside Rachel. I removed her boots and jeans then paused a moment before she raised her hips one more time for me to slid off her white panties exposing her curly pubes covering her mound. Her folds were plump, and her slit glistened as she followed my every move with her eyes.

  My eyes were glued on her sex as I unbuckled my belt, sliding it swiftly off my waist through the loops. When I glanced up at her face, I watched as she bit down on her swollen lower lip. Her brown-as-chocolate eyes were heavy with desire. My jeans fell away, and then I slid down my boxers. Rachel’s eyes lit up as she drank in my manhood. It was rock hard and erect, pointing directly at her. Rachel’s lips fell open, then she nodded, and said, “Your cock is just as big as I had imagined.”

  She spread her legs for me, giving me the first good look at the pussy of my dreams. When I knelt down, I spread them farther apart, and she didn’t seem shy, as though we had been doing this for years. The flesh of her thighs was soft as my fingers slid closer and closer to her needy core.

  “Kent…” she breathed my name again, even more softly this time, and I could feel electric waves running down my spine, ending at the tip of my cock head. I had waited for this moment for so long. I lowered my face to her flat belly. Tracing my tongue below her ribs, I circled her belly button. Rachel was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and I wanted every inch of her.