All Roads Lead Home

by Wasowski, Mary

  My father began. “Welcome home, Jagger. From the looks of it, you seem pretty happy with yourself right about now, and my daughter’s smile matches yours. For that, I am a very happy father today. I love you both.”

  We both said thank you, and he slapped Jagger on his back, but also sending his future son-in-law a message. He whispered for only Jagger to hear. “I don’t see a ring on her finger yet, so no more coupling under my roof, okay son?”

  Jagger was silent and just nodded in agreement. My father was not someone to rile up, none of them were. These men were all very protective and scary as hell, but I loved them all.

  Daddy continued, “Now, let’s get down to why I have gathered you all here. It’s very clear that Jagger and Tenley are back together, I can only hope for a wedding to happen very soon. It would bring us complete joy to know that our kids are finally getting their happily ever after. Right, Ren?” Jagger’s father agreed with a smile lining his face.

  “Having said that, we now have a situation that needs to be addressed.”

  My father turned to Jagger, and spoke only to him. “Jagger, we all know the truth about your accident up on that ridge. We have spent the better part of the day speaking with Shane and discovering the real story behind your accident. I believe I can speak for all of us on how sorry we are that you ever had to go through that, but thankful all the same to the good Lord for saving and bringing you back to us.”

  We sat in silence and hung onto every word my father had spoken. Shane, along with his father, and Ren remained quiet as well. It was clear my father was in charge here.

  “Now as you all know, the Fairchild Ranch is the top grossing ranch in all of Wyoming. Everyone here in this room has contributed to the success of this ranch. It was these hands, Kip and Ren’s, that worked this land with our fathers, and they passed it down to us, and then we passed it to our sons.” I watched my father bow his head for Jamie, and then continued on.

  “Generations have worked incredibly hard with their blood, sweat, and tears and have given themselves to this land. I am forever thankful in this ever growing legacy we have all had a hand in. It was my late son’s dying wish to continue on through the bonds of our friendship. He loved this land and from the time he could run amuck with you two boys, this was all he ever dreamed of. You three would be partners like your fathers before you. Now that partnership has been strained and tested. I am finding myself at a crossroads and not sure what path to take. Jagger, you chose to run your portion of it with your father, and alone, where Shane and Kip joined me here on our combined land.”

  “It saddened me when you made your choice, but we respected it nonetheless. With you marrying my daughter—am I right to assume this son?” my father asked Jagger.

  “Yes sir, absolutely.”

  “Okay. Tenley is a Fairchild, and marrying you will connect our families as one. We always felt we were, but you two will now make it official. Where does that leave Shane? And his role here?” My father asked as he looked directly at Jagger.

  You could hear a pin drop in the room. My father commanded us all to sit in full attention. Jagger looked like he would throw up at any moment. I rubbed his thigh and encouraged him to talk. He took in a deep breath and surprised me with what he said.

  “Sir, everyone in this room can attest to my love for ranch life. It’s in my blood and I know no other way of life. You’re right, it was my dream along with Jamie and Shane to take over for you all one day, and make our businesses even greater and prosperous, but when Jamie died, that dream died with him. I respect you, Brock and Kip. You are like second fathers to me, but I no longer see Shane as my brother. I don’t know if I will ever be able to move past what happened between us, but I will not hold it against him either. My life is my own, and it will not be guided by holding a grudge. My new life began here today in this house with your daughter, and I promised her a lifetime of happiness. I’m not sure where that will begin. Tenley and I have to discuss our future in private. All I know is that if this life here in Wyoming is not what she wants, then I don’t want it either, and this time it will be me following her.”

  “Jagger…” I said.

  He kissed me to silence my objections.

  My mother and Wendy were wiping their tears away, while Kip patted his son’s back. Ren looked over to his son with nothing but pride showing over his rugged face. My father appeared to be at a loss for words, but he just shrugged back his shoulders and looked right at us.

  “Jagger, you are a good man, and I trust you completely in your promises to my daughter. You have our blessing to marry her and join our family…officially. It is my hope that you and Shane will reconcile your differences and renew your once strong friendship, and bind yourselves back to this land. This is truly where your heart lives, and it will bring me great sadness to see it be destroyed. I know you’re hurting son, but life is too short to hang onto a past hurt. You know what I’m saying son, and it will only hurt you more to carry it with you in your new life with Tenley. Now, my partnership with Ren and Kip will remain. We will run our cattle and horse business just like we have always done. The lovely ladies in our lives will still handle their roles in our family’s ventures. It’s up to you cowboys to really decide what to do about your roles. Shane has offered to relinquish his partnership back over to me and walk away clean with severing ties to the ranch.”

  We all looked at Shane as daddy continued, “This is not what I want, but in life you have to make some tough choices. Jagger, I’m not going to make it. No matter where you are with my daughter, this ranch is still her home, and you, son, are going to have to decide if you want Shane to be part of it. This is his home as it is all of ours, and he’s willing to give it all up for the sake of righting his terrible wrong. I know this is an incredible decision I am laying on your lap, but again, it’s yours and Tenley’s to make. I truly hope whatever you decide will bring you peace. That’s all I have to say and will say until Jagger gives us his answer.”

  My father dismissed all of us, and we watched one by one as everyone left the room, leaving us behind. Jagger’s expression was carved out in stone. I wasn’t sure if I should even touch him, so I began to get up from my chair and that’s when his hand reached for my arm.

  “Where are you going?” he asked coldly. This was not Jagger, his voice was laced with anger.

  “I’m going to fix myself a drink, and I think you could use one too.”

  “I don’t want a drink, and seeing you drink is the last thing I ever want to witness.”

  “Jagger, a glass of wi…”

  “No! Do you hear me, Tenley? No drinking for us, not now, not ever. People make bad decisions when they drink, and I need my head clear, okay?”

  Right there I was taken back to the night I was drunk and betrayed Jagger with Shane. Oh God! Will he ever truly forgive me for that? I didn’t have the strength to call him out on it, so I did the next best thing…I ran. I grabbed my coat and made my way to the stable to see Jazzy.

  Jagger called out to me, but I ignored him. My tears were falling rapidly, and my heart was breaking. No matter how far Jagger and I came today, there would always be my mistake with Shane hanging over our heads. He swore to me years ago that he would never forget what I did to him, and clearly he never did.

  “FUCK! DAMMIT TO hell!” I couldn’t stop her with my hurt leg. Declaring war on the liquor cabinet showed her my biggest regret. I meant every word I said to Tenley. I was no longer living in the past, but having to sit here and listen to her father go on about family, friendship, and most of all Jamie, nearly broke me in half. My father watched my every move while I sat and listened to Brock.

  After my collision with the tree, I swore off alcohol and bad decisions. Once in a while, I would still have an occasional beer, but it had been so long going without it that I don’t even miss it. I saw the look on Tenley’s face when I said it. She had to be thinking about Shane, assuming I still blamed her. I didn’t, and hell, I didn’t eve
n blame him anymore. It was a part of me, and my wounds were still raw from my accident and knowing Shane was the cause of it. After I vowed to never hurt her again, it’s exactly what I just did.

  “Go away, Shane, you are the last person I want to see right now,” I said, as he made his way over to me. My leg was so stiff, I couldn’t walk another three feet in front of me. I sat on the porch freezing, knowing my girl was out there somewhere and alone.

  “Too bad, Jag, but I’m not going anywhere. What are you doing, man? What will it take for you to forgive me? And her? You finally have her back. Don’t fuck it up by throwing her greatest mistake back in her face every chance you get. If you truly can’t move on, then you don’t deserve her. Let her go back to New York where she may have a shot at being happy with someone else.”

  “HELL NO! Do you have a fucking death wish Shane? Why are you trying to rile me up right now? You want off this ranch? Get the fuck off it and take a long walk of a short cliff. Hey, I tried it and looky here…I’m still alive!”

  “You’re an asshole, but you’re my asshole brother/best friend who I love. I know you’re mad at me, but I also know that buried under all of your hurt is forgiveness. It’s there, and when you’re ready to give it, I’ll happily accept it. I’m so sorry, Jagger. You will never know how sorry I am for all of it. Please don’t let your stubborn pride get in the way of being happy with Tenley this time. I’ve learned so much from my therapy sessions, and the wisdom from our fathers. A man’s pride is just as important as the air in his lungs. No man escapes taking a fall in his life, but it’s what comes next after the man gets up that matters. Be that man to get up, and go get your girl. Get the fuck up, and go get your girl!”

  I looked at Shane, I swear he was going to punch me while I was still down. When I got up, he wore a shit-eatin’grin that I just wanted to punch, but he knew I wouldn’t.

  “I really fucking hate you right now, you know that, right?”

  “That may be, brother, but I know you love her more. Now for the last time…GO. GET. YOUR. GIRL.”

  I wanted to say thank you to him, but I think Shane knew it. I got in my truck and drove down to the stables. I called out to her, and no one answered back. Jazzy was still in her stall, and I saw no other horses missing.

  “Tenley! Where are you?” I voiced out loud.

  “Oh boy! Will you and my daughter ever get it right? Hell, my son up in heaven must be knocking back a Tequila shot by now,” Brock said as he made his way over to me.

  “How did you know, sir?”

  “Know what, son? How the minute we all left you would once again fuck up and hurt my daughter?”

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  “We had hoped you would have been the bigger man about it, but clearly you still are fighting that internal war within you. Son, you’re not going to get many more chances to be with her. You take a foot forward only to be catapulted three feet back with your stubborn pride. It’s over, son. That thing with Shane and her…Let it go once and for all. Did anyone really ever stand a chance against what you and Tenley have? Please be the man I know you are and go find my girl. Love my daughter with every fiber you have, and marry her. Make good on all those new promises, and be happy with the one you love. That’s being a man, an honorable one who I can respect as my son-in-law. If you can’t be those things, than please walk away.”

  “Never sir. I will never let her go. I swear I will make this right.”

  “Good man. She’s at the cabin.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “You’re welcome, Jagger.”

  I never drove so fast in my life. I hit every bump on the road, causing painful spasms through my leg, but I didn’t care. I needed to get back to my girl and grovel at her feet.

  “I swear it, Jamie, I swear it. I will never be so careless again with your sister’s heart. I’m sorry, brother, please help me make this right again. After all we’ve been through, I won’t lose her now.”

  The cabin was dimly lit with the fireplace roaring. I could see the smoke coming from the chimney and knew she was in there. I saw not her rental, but one of the jeeps they used on the ranch.

  I didn’t bother knocking and just walked in where I found her in deep thought in front of the fireplace. I closed the door behind me and kicked off my snow covered boots. It was warm in here and my girl was surrounded by ice cream and tissues.

  She was quiet. Who could blame her? I sat beside her and turned her to me. She didn’t flinch with my touch and that was a sure sign that I still had a chance here.

  “Baby, I am so sorry for what I said back there at the house. I know what you must be thinking, but I swear it was just a knee-jerk reaction to all your father hit us with. I swear to God that I am no longer holding onto that past hurt. I will never ever bring it up to you again. Please talk to me. I will do anything to see you smile again and hear you say you forgive me. Please Tenley, please?”

  “Ice cream?”

  “What?”

  “I said ice cream, do you want some?”

  “Um…sure. What kind do you have?” My heart was pounding in my chest and here was my girl offering me ice cream.

  “The freezer is stocked up good.” She got up and walked over to the refrigerator and told me what she had. “We have Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla, Rocky Road, and my personal favorite, Chocolate Peanut Butter. What will it be?”

  Fucking hell! She was teasing the hell out of me right now and making me sweat. Tenley was wearing skin tight dark denim jeans, with a sweater only reaching her waist and giving me a clear picture of her perfect round ass which she was taunting me with. Her sweater was thin with only a tank top underneath. I could see her nipples hardening in front of the opened freezer door. My dick was so hard it was causing me pain against my zipper.

  “Well? I don’t have all night.”

  She winked at me. And right there, I knew we were okay. I made myself comfortable up against the floor pillows she placed in front of the fire. I spread my legs for her to see my hard erection, and her eyes widened. Licking my lips, and so ready to play this game, I said, “Chocolate Peanut Butter.”

  She grabbed the container and a new spoon and slowly walked over to me. Popping the top off, she dug in with her spoon and brought it to her mouth, spreading the ice cream all over her lips. My dick was so hard, if I didn’t take her soon, I was going to explode right in my pants. Knowing my girl, this was exactly what she probably wanted to happen. It would serve me right for being a stubborn ass.

  “Hmm, this is good. Want some?” she teasingly asked.

  “Only if you feed it to me.”

  “I don’t think that will be a problem.”

  “Take off your jeans and sit on my lap, then you can feed me,” I requested.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Are you saying no?”

  “I’m saying no, but would be willing for an even exchange. Let’s call it ‘What will Jagger say next?’ ”

  That hurt and went right through my heart. She was clearly playing with me, but remained guarded at the same time. I deserved it and would take anything she threw at me.

  “An even exchange? Okay, go for it,” I said.

  “Take off your clothes, Jagger,” she said without batting an eyelash.

  “Where would you like me to begin?”

  “I would start with your pants,” she said, taking another bite of ice cream and licking the spoon clean.

  Yup! I was about to shoot right in front of her. I kicked off my jeans and then slid my boxers down my legs with my dick springing free. I then lifted my t-shirt from the hem and whipped it over my head. I was completely bare in front of her, waiting for her next command.

  “Very good. You may have a taste.”

  She spooned out some ice cream and I opened my mouth to take it, but she slowly and teasingly ran the spoon down her neck.

  “Oops, I missed. Whatever shall I do now?”

  She didn’t need to say anoth
er word, I leaned in and licked up the fallen ice cream with my tongue, leaving not a trace behind. She squirmed under my touch, I could feel her legs rubbing together. She wanted me, that was clear, but I knew I needed to be patient and have her lead me where she needed me to be.

  “I’m sorry I ran,” she said.

  “I’m sorry I was the cause behind it.”

  She spooned another serving and placed it in my mouth, then a scorching kiss followed. I relished the decadent flavor and wanted more.

  “I love you, Jagger.”

  “I love you too, Tenley, so much.”

  “Will you ever truly forgive me for Shane?”

  “I already have. I swear to you I will never bring it up again. I know it hurt you, and I instantly felt the pain in my gut when the words left my mouth.”

  She took in another spoonful of ice cream and then dropped to her knees, taking me in her mouth. I wasn’t going to last long with Tenley making a meal out of my dick. I was so turned on by her assault. She dropped the container and put her hands behind her back with just her skillful tongue working me over. I instinctively held her head and pushed my hardness further down her throat. She moaned out her pleasure, and I was five seconds away from erupting into her hot mouth. I warned her before, but she didn’t release her hold on me. I arched my head back while still holding hers, and I came so fucking hard down her throat. She took all of me, and I was a bastard to allow her to. She licked me clean, and not a drop was spilled. She got up, looking pleased with herself. Placing the ice cream back into the freezer, she turned and slowly removed herself from her clothing.

  Her flimsy sweater and top went off together. Next was her jeans she shimmied out of. Tenley was standing in front of the fireplace with just her bra and panties remaining. Her eyes invited me closer, and I took it from there. I unfastened her bra and let it drop to the floor, kissing her mouth and tasting the remnants of my come mixed with ice cream.