by June Faver
He said the words she knew would be forthcoming. “Don’t worry, Leah. Everything’s going to be okay.”
When he said it, she could almost believe it.
He turned back to get the guitar but kept an arm around her. “Let’s go.”
She knew what he meant. “Yes,” she whispered softly and fell into step as they made their way arm in arm to the bunkhouse and to the bed where they would make love again.
Ty led her inside and secured the door behind them.
Lucky curled up on a pillow in the corner. Somehow, this all seemed normal.
Only a small lamp illuminated the space with a soft glow. “Don’t be nervous.”
“I’m not,” she insisted.
He grinned and drew her into an embrace. “Liar.” He kissed her and skimmed his hands down her sides. He slid the zipper open on her pants and let them fall down to her ankles.
“Oh!” She started and then laughed. “Anxious?”
“I just want to see you. I want to touch you.” He unclasped her bra and pulled her shirt off, letting it fall to the floor.
She felt a wave of shyness standing before him wearing only her panties, and she was divested of those quickly.
Ty’s gaze roamed hungrily over her body, sending a rush of warmth swirling low in her belly. She felt light, almost airborne.
“Would you unbutton my shirt?” His murmured request jarred her back to earth.
“Sure.” She concentrated on working the buttons through his cuffs and then made her way down his shirtfront. Running her fingers over his skin, she drew the shirt over his shoulders and pulled it all the way off. Smiling, she held it against her breasts. The smooth fabric still held the warmth of his flesh. Her gaze traveled over the muscular contours of his arms and chest, a total work of art.
He smiled encouragingly. “I sure could use some help with my Wranglers.”
A grin spread across her face. “I guess I could help you out.” She hung the shirt over one of the straight-back chairs and turned to face him. Hooking her fingers in his belt, she unclasped it and then the button at the waistband. The zipper came next, but the dense denim material resisted her efforts.
Ty put his hands over hers to guide the zipper down. The sound caused a whisper of gooseflesh to kiss the back of her neck.
She glanced up into his eyes and was rocked by the heat of passion. For a moment, Ty looked like a sleek jungle cat, holding himself in check, waiting for her to catch up. Her fingers fumbled, stalling at his unzipped Wranglers.
A smile played around his mouth. He took both of her hands and kissed her palms, drew her against him, held her soft body against his hard maleness. Bending to kiss her lips, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bed. He lowered her gently and then stepped back to shed the rest of his clothing. He pulled off his boots and the Wranglers, displaying his amazing form with no pretense.
Without further preamble, he climbed onto the bed and onto Leah, devouring her with ravenous kisses. A flash of panic seized her when he pressed her back onto the pillow but just as quickly evaporated as a wave of desire roiled up from her belly.
Ty’s hands were stroking her skin, creating a raging need inside her, a need only he could satisfy.
She whispered his name, and that seemed to kick him into overdrive. Where he had been slow and languorous, he was now on fire, and he was igniting her from the inside out.
“Oh, hurry,” Leah whispered. Without any conscious effort, her legs parted, willing him to find her need and fill it. And just like that, his fingers pressed into her wetness, massaging to the point where she could hardly breathe. She gripped him with both arms, pulling him closer, willing him to enter, to take possession of her body, to remove her fear and satisfy her longing.
He opened the condom and applied it quickly.
The fact that he was in a hurry pleased her. She wanted to think his haste had something to do with the fact that he desired her. That she had the power to seduce him. This made her smile, because she had never considered herself to be powerful in any way.
When he turned back to her, his shaft properly clad, he began again to touch and kiss her.
Impatient, Leah pulled him closer, wrapped her legs around him.
He chortled. “Who’s anxious now?”
“Me,” she ground out.
“Well, all right, then.” He grinned and set to the task of bringing her pleasure.
This…this is the best…the closest…the best. Her mind and her body were filled with Ty, with how he moved inside her, with how he managed to touch all her nerve endings at once.
Leah felt electrified, as though she might explode at any moment. She rose to meet his strokes, writhing against him to wrest the savage pleasure emanating from their joining. With every stroke, she was lifted higher and higher until he finally brought her to the peak of pleasure. Wave after wave pounded her with ecstasy until she lay spent, still holding him in a viselike grip.
“Oh, Ty,” she whispered. “I love you so much.” She froze. Oh no! I said it.
Ty stroked the side of her face tenderly, then kissed her lips. “I know. I love you more.”
Leah giggled. “Impossible.”
* * *
In the morning, Ty woke up early. He was glad to still have his arms around Leah. It was Sunday, and he thought he should set a good example for Gracie. “C’mon, sleepyhead. Let’s get a move on and go to church.”
She jerked awake and stared at him groggily. “Whut?”
“Church. You know, Sunday-go-to-meeting? It’s the thing to do in a small town. I’m pretty sure your grandmother would like to go, and we should take Gracie.”
She nodded. “Okay. We haven’t been going. I usually had to work late Saturday night and sometimes worked Sunday too.”
“Well, that was then, and this is now.” He set his feet on the floor and stretched. “I’m going to walk you back to the house, and then I’ll get cleaned up. C’mon.” He extended a hand to her.
She put her hand in his, and he pulled her to her feet, grinning. “Okay, okay. I’m up.”
After he walked her to the house and made her lock the door, he hurried back to shower and shave. He found his last starched jeans and shirt, slipped into those, and combed his still-damp hair. He gazed at his face in the bathroom mirror. “This will have to do.”
He drove the three females into Langston and pulled up to the church he had attended since boyhood. They were early, but all the better to introduce Leah and Gracie to the preacher. He had a sneaking suspicion this day would get way more complicated, but he thought he should face it head-on.
Once inside, he ushered Gran to a pew, and she waved to some of her lady friends. He took Leah and Gracie by the hand and led them to the parson’s office at the back of the church. When he introduced Leah and her daughter, Leah seemed ill at ease, but Gracie was smiling and appeared to be comfortable. The minister told Gracie about the Sunday school for her age group, which would take place after the early service and before the late one. Ty led them back to the church and seated them beside Gran.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” he whispered to Leah.
She shook her head, a faint blush staining her cheeks. “No, it was okay. I guess I have to be respectable if I’m going to hang around with you.”
He stretched his arm along the back of the pew, just encircling her and extending his hand to shield Gracie. He felt a sense of satisfaction, as though things were playing out as they should be.
* * *
Big Jim Garrett arrived at the church a few minutes before the services were to start. The organist was playing hymns when he and his two sons hustled in the back of the church. He glanced around, looking for a seat for the three of them. He saw Breckenridge T. Ryan, his attorney, sitting with his pretty wife. He met Breck’s gaze, and he raised a hand in silent
greeting as he slid onto the pew beside them. Beau and Colton slid in on the outside.
The organist came to a rousing crescendo and then segued right into another hymn as the choir began singing. This one was a hymn that had been a favorite of his wife, Elizabeth. In spite of the time elapsed since her passing, the music brought the sting of tears to his eyes. It wouldn’t do at all for the boys to see him break down like a sissy, so he took out a handkerchief and blew his nose, managing to wipe his eyes in the process. Whew!
He settled back in the seat to listen as the minister began with announcements.
Beau was straining his neck, peering at someone sitting up front and across the aisle. Probably some girl he was infatuated with. But he jabbed Colton in the ribs and whispered something Big Jim couldn’t hear. Both of them were straining and gawking now.
“Settle down,” he hissed.
“But, Dad,” Beau began, gesturing in the direction he’d been gaping. “It’s Ty.”
Big Jim felt his chest tighten up. He couldn’t seem to suck in a breath as his gaze traveled to where Beau was pointing. Sure enough, right there two rows back from the very front, his rebellious middle son, Tyler Garrett, sat with his arm around that pretty little blonde thing who worked for Breck. He forced himself to take a breath as the sound of his own thunderous heart drowned out anything the preacher might have to say.
He kept his gaze fastened on Ty throughout the service and noted that he looked good. He appeared to be happy. But what was he doing here? He was supposed to be in Dallas, or maybe Nashville. Someplace where singing was supposed to make you famous. Someplace where the responsibilities of owning a working ranch were secondary to the joy of having people clap while you were singing. He felt his jaw tighten.
The preacher called out the number of a song in the hymnal, and there was a scramble as everyone struggled to their feet and to shuffle through the pages, searching for the right one.
When the organist started again, Big Jim could hear his son’s voice above all the others. The voice his wife had been so very proud of. He straightened his shoulders, admitting to himself that Ty’s voice was good. But is this the right thing for my boy? Shouldn’t he be on the ranch with me and his brothers?
He blew out a breath and tried to sing along with the others, not able to tear his attention from the tall, dark-haired young man and his party. He spotted Fern Davis sitting on the other side of Tyler, next to a young girl with blonde hair. This could be the daughter the woman mentioned. Leah! That was her name.
Beau was grinning ear to ear, and Colton looked amused. Big Jim didn’t ever remember Tyler being girl crazy, but he seemed to be crazy about that one. Ty kept exchanging glances with her, and they looked all lovey-dovey. Dang! How did that happen?
After the service, Fern led the little girl off, perhaps to the Sunday school classes, but Ty and his girlfriend stood and looked around. Beau stood and waved.
The look that crossed Ty’s face wasn’t exactly cordial. But he nodded and put his hand on his girlfriend’s back to urge her toward where they were sitting.
She smiled when she spotted Breck and waved. “Hi, Breck.”
He stood and introduced her to his wife, the doctor. They began conversing as though the Garretts were not right there in front of them.
Beau jumped on Ty, enveloping him in a big bear hug, and Colton followed suit.
Ty greeted Breck and then gazed at his father. “Hello, Dad.”
“Son,” Big Jim acknowledged.
Ty put his arm around Leah’s shoulder and drew her closer. “This is my girlfriend, Leah Benson.”
Big Jim reached over the back of the pew in front of him to take her hand.
“Mr. Garrett,” she said. “I’ve met your father, Ty. At Mr. Ryan’s office.”
Ty turned back to face him, a wariness in his gaze. “That sounds about right.” He heaved a sigh. “And these are my brothers, Colton and Beau.” Both reached to shake her hand.
“Man, Ty. How did you find someone so pretty?” Beau asked, staring at Leah with open admiration.
She blushed prettily, and Big Jim had to like that. Not the stuck-up sort.
Ty grinned at Beau. “I grabbed my angel when she flew too close to the earth.”
Beau rolled his eyes, grinning.
“Don’t let go,” Colton said.
“Don’t plan to.” Ty slipped his arm around her waist.
Breck cleared his throat. “Why don’t we go to have some refreshments? I know I need a little coffee after that stirring sermon.”
Big Jim nodded. He didn’t want to let Ty slip away too soon. He followed the procession and wound up in the activity center where the ladies were dispensing coffee and doughnuts. He hung back, watching Ty interact with his girlfriend. The look of caring on their faces when they looked at each other told Big Jim everything he needed to know.
Big Jim stood beside Breck and munched a doughnut, using it as an excuse not to chat.
“Tyler is really looking good,” Breck commented. “He seems to have found a really sweet girl too.”
Big Jim grunted. “Seems so.”
Breck took a sip of his coffee. “Leah sure is doing a good job for me.”
“Say, Breck,” Big Jim said. “I’d like it if you could just tear up that last will I had you draw up. I think I may have…been a complete jackass.”
“I can’t destroy it,” Breck said. “But if you come to my office, I can remove said document and place it in your hands. What you do with it is up to you.”
Big Jim nodded. “Sounds like the best thing to do.”
In a few minutes, the Sunday school classes let out, and Fern entered the activity center with the little blonde girl beside her.
“Mommy!” The girl gave a gleeful cry. She presented her mother with something she had drawn or colored. It looked like it had pieces of construction paper glued on top.
Big Jim remembered when his sons used to come out of Sunday school with Bible verses and bits of paper glued together for his wife to ooh and aah over.
Ty was admiring the girl’s artwork. Damned if he didn’t look like a father just now. Big Jim swallowed hard. My boy has grown up. He wanted to heal the chasm between them. He wanted to pull Ty close and tell him he was proud of the man he had become. But he stood apart, sipping his coffee and watching as his family and friends interacted. A lonely man, wrapped too tight in his own grief.
* * *
As unlikely as it seemed at the time, Big Jim invited them all to lunch after church. He insisted Leah’s grandmother and Gracie ride with him, and the two brothers climbed in the back seat of Ty’s truck.
Leah could see the reluctance in Ty’s face, but he went along with it. He followed his dad’s truck, a grim set to his mouth. She squeezed his forearm, trying to lighten the tension. “Well, that was nice of your dad to take Gran and Gracie with him.”
Ty snorted under his breath. “He’s holding them hostage to make sure I follow.”
His brothers gave a laugh but apparently agreed with him.
“Trust me,” Ty said. “He’s pumping them for information right now.”
The small entourage turned in at Tio’s Mexican Restaurant and drew to a halt. Before Ty could make it around the truck, his brother Beau had jumped out to open Leah’s door and offer a hand to assist her down.
“Thank you,” she murmured, casting a glance at Ty.
Tight-lipped, Ty ducked around his father’s truck and helped Gran alight and then Gracie. When all the helpless females were ushered to the restaurant, Leah received an effusive greeting from Milita Rios. Milita took charge of Gracie and seated her in a booth with her niece, Tina.
Leah saw how pleased Gracie was to be sitting with her new friend.
Milita showed the adult party to a table near enough to keep an eye on the girls but not close enough to
intrude. She passed out menus and took the drink order before departing.
There was an uncomfortable silence while everyone perused their menus, no one offering to open the conversation.
After they ordered, Milita returned with their drinks and later to serve the table. Everyone dug into the delicious food.
Big Jim kept casting furtive glances at Ty as though wanting to speak but unwilling to make the first move.
Ty, for his part, kept up a conversation with his brothers, reaching to take Leah’s hand every now and again.
Big Jim chose to strike up a conversation with Leah. “That sure is a pretty little girl you got there, Mrs. Benson.”
Leah felt her color rising. “Oh, I’m not married,” she hurried to say.
Ty shot his father a frown that all too clearly said shut up.
“Hey, Ty,” Colton interrupted. “How did the audition go? Did you make it to Texas Country Star?”
Ty heaved a huge breath and switched his focus to his brother. “I don’t know. My friend Will is submitting my audition tape.”
“So you’re just waiting?” Colton asked. “You could come home and help out around the ranch. We could sure use an extra hand.”
A complete silence followed.
Leah focused on dragging a crispy tortilla chip through the bowl of salsa Milita had set on the table. She poked it into her mouth, quickly washing it down with iced tea.
“I’m going to help Leah and her grandmother for a while.” Ty’s voice was dead calm. No one else spoke. Maybe no one else breathed.
Milita returned to the table and refilled the iced tea glasses at that moment. “How is everything? Do you need more warm tortillas?”
About that time, the front door clanked open, and three men came in.
Leah glanced up in time to recognize the two Carter brothers with a scrawny older man. She almost choked on the food in her mouth. Swallowing hurriedly, she reached for her tea. She shrank down beside Ty, hoping to avoid their notice.
“Well, don’t that beat all?” Gran exclaimed. “It’s them low-life Carters. You’d think they would stay away from the Sunday-go-to-meetin’ folks.” She eyed them scornfully.
