© 2018 A.S. McGowan. All rights reserved.
ISBN-13:
978-1717584281
ISBN-10:
1717584284
No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the author.
Cover Design: Clarise Tan @ (ctcovercreations.com/)
Editor: Silvia Curry @ (silviasreading.webs.com)
This book is dedicated to my friend and fellow author Markie Madden. Thank you for all your help in answering horse related questions for me.
Chapter 1
March 2002
Inside the bar it was wall to wall people. Nathaniel was grateful they got there early enough to grab a table. The live band had started playing about an hour ago. Since then the walls vibrated from the deafening noise. From his table, he had spotted several lovely ladies as they walked past. He thought about asking one of them to dance but was a little apprehensive with his parents right there with him. He knew it was foolish to feel this way. He couldn’t help it. Scanning the room, he spotted Calvin out on the dance floor surrounded by a few women.
Leaning over, he shouted to Analise above the roar of the music, “What is he doing?”
“It appears he is trying to do the Funky Chicken,” she yelled back.
“I have never seen the Funky Chicken done like that before.”
“I know, but Calvin is one of a kind.”
Sitting back in his seat, he nursed his beer and laughed at his friend’s antics. Calvin was the type of guy who could do the wildest and craziest things and women flocked to him. He feared if he tried to dance like that, women would run off the dance floor. Especially when the band was playing eighties and nineties country songs. He grinned at Calvin when the man came back to the table after the song had ended.
“Man, those are some dance moves you got there,” Nathaniel said as Calvin took his chair.
“What can I say, the ladies love me.” Calvin grabbed a beer and scanned the room while taking a drink. “So many choices tonight, so little time.”
“You are a complete jerk, Calvin,” Analise said pointing her finger at him. “You treat going to a bar as your own personal human smorgasbord.”
“It is, Analise, it is,” Calvin said.
Nathaniel sat back and enjoyed the banter between Analise and her brother-in-law. She was right. Calvin, he had noticed, was gluttonous when it came to women. How that man had managed to avoid having kids or contracting an STD, baffled him.
“Nathaniel, it is your birthday, you cannot sit here all night. Go find a lovely lady to dance with,” Analise told him.
“I just might do that, later.”
“Oh no, no later to it. I dare you to go over and ask that woman at that table.” Calvin pointed to a table not far from theirs. “Ask her to dance.”
“You’re daring me to go ask her to dance?”
“Oh no, I got one better,” Analise interrupted. “Go over there and kneel on the floor by their table. Put your hands on your knees and bow your head. You have to remain that way until one of them acknowledges you.”
“No way!”
“Oh, I love that idea,” his mother butted in.
“No!”
“Oh, why not, Nathaniel? It would be funny,” his mother continued.
“No!”
“Oh wow, look everyone, Nathaniel here is a chicken,” Calvin taunted.
“I am not a chicken. You were the one out there dancing like one.”
“At least I have the balls to go out and dance with the ladies,” Calvin countered.
“Chicken! Chicken! Chicken!” chanted everyone at the table.
“Fine, I’ll do it.” He stood, sat his beer down and glared at them.
He turned and made his way over to the table; he could still hear the laughter and taunts from his table. Reaching the table where four pretty ladies sat, he knelt on the floor and placed his hands on his knees with his head bowed. Instantly, he felt stupid for doing this. Leave it to Analise to come up something this embarrassing for him to do. It was his birthday, he should be allowed to do what he wanted. But no, none of them would be happy until he was utterly humiliated.
With the band taking a break, it was quiet enough in the bar that he could hear the women sitting at the table talking above his head. The fact that a couple of them thought he was a nut job hurt. At least the two sitting at the end near him seemed to sound as if they realized this was a dare. Now if just one of them would acknowledge him, he could get up off the floor and stop looking like a fool. He wished he could look up at least and see just how many people were staring at him. Since the bar had not gone completely silent he was confident that the whole bar had not noticed the weird guy on his knees bowing in submission at a table full of women.
“Are you going to stay down there all night?” a female voice to his left asked.
Looking up, he smiled. “Thank goodness. I was wondering how much longer I was going to have to stay like that.” Rising, he held his hand out to the woman whose voice finally freed him from his humiliation. “Nathaniel. Thank you. They dared me to stay like that until someone directly acknowledged me.”
“Your friends must really enjoy torturing you.” Placing her hand in his she smiled at him. “Gina, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Gina.” Turning, he shook hands with the woman opposite of Gina. “And what might your name be?”
“Kimberly. Where are you from, Nathaniel? You don’t sound like a Texan.” she purred, her eyes scanned him up and down.
Shaking hands with the two other women at the table, he turned back toward Kimberly. “I’m from Boston originally. Spent a lot of time in Pennsylvania and moved here not too long ago.”
“Boston. That sounds exciting. You mentioned Pennsylvania, what was there? Work? Family?” Gina asked.
Grabbing a chair from a nearby table, he swung it around and placed it at the head of the table, placing himself between Gina and Kimberly. Sitting backward, he rested his forearms on the top of the chair’s rounded metal back. “My grandparents lived in Lancaster County. They were old order Amish, and I spent a lot of time on the farm with them.”
“Amish? That is interesting,” the woman on the other side of Gina said.
“Yes, it was interesting learning from them. They were great people.” He tried to recall what she said her name was but couldn’t.
“Hey, why don’t we all hit the dance floor? I feel like dancing again.” Kimberly smiled at him.
“Dancing sounds great. Ladies?” Standing, he waited for the four ladies to stand. Turning to the other two women “I didn't catch your names?”
“Maria and this is Karen.” Brushing past him they moved to catch up with their friends. Karen stopped long enough to grab his hand and pull him with her.
On the dance floor, he danced with the four women and they formed a circle around him. The women arms waved side to side above their heads, their heads swaying with the music. Since he did not have any designs toward any of the women, he gave equal individual attention to each of them, grabbing each in turn and playfully twirling them around. Their position on the wooden dance floor was next to the stage allowing him to feel the vibrations.
Occasionally, he would look over toward his table and give a wide grin back to his friends and family. He noted that even in the dim interior, he could see the shocked look on Calvin’s face. Well Calvin wasn’t the only ladies’ man in the room. He just preferred not to work fast like Calvin did. Hell, his parents raised him better than that.
> The song ended, and the women made no move to leave the dance floor. As the band started up another fast country song, the five of them lined up with Nathaniel in the middle. The women moved gracefully through the steps of a line dance. While three of the women were small, Karen was a large woman. With each move her body wiggled and jiggled. He noted she had a beautiful smile and her confidence made her one attractive woman.
Smiling at Karen, he stumbled through the steps and missed several as he tried to keep up with the women. They laughed at him and he found himself laughing at his on ineptness.
Leaving the dance floor, the five of them headed back to the table. Nathaniel once again sat backwards in the chair. Spotting a waitress, he waved her over. When she came up next to him, he tried to avert his eyes. She was spilling out the top of her Wild West saloon girl dress. She kept try to press them close to him. Quickly he rattled off the drink orders without looking at her.
“I love this place but the way the waitress dress and act can be a bit much” Kimberly spouted. “I mean I have a large chest myself and I ain't no prude but geez that was a bit much.”
“Large chest my butt. You don't have anything that compares to these babies,” Karen teased while waving her hands in front of her chest.
Everyone started laughing and teasing each other. Nathaniel was glad Analise made him come over here. After their drinks arrived, they toasted his birthday and new friendships. Once the toasts were done, they downed their drinks. Drinks finished they all hit the dance floor again.
As he walked off the dance floor with the four women, he leaned down toward Kimberly’s ear. “Hey, why don’t the five of us get out of here? Nothing sexual, I promise. Just go club hopping and grab a bite to eat. My treat.”
She looked up at and nodded. “Let me tell the other girls the plan.” She motioned them in close and told them what Nathaniel had proposed. The other three nodded their agreement. With Kimberly on one side and Gina on the other, he looped his arms across their shoulders. Maria took up space next to Kimberly and placed her arm around her waist, with Karen taking up space next to Gina. Likewise, Karen placed her arm around Gina’s waist. Linked together arm and arm, the five of them made their way to Nathaniel’s table. Stopping, Nathaniel leaned in and shouted introductions above the music.
“Where is Dad?”
“Kirk is over there with Matt.” Analise shouted back as she turned to point towards the game area.
“Yeah Dad loves a good game of billiards”
“Boy here in Texas it's shooting pool” Calvin corrected him, his voiced raised over the loud music.
“No matter what it is called, the concept is the same. Hit a ball with a stick.”
“Sounds like you just described golf” Analise shouted again.
“Well we are leaving. Tell Dad I said goodnight.” Leaning down he kissed his mother’s cheek.
As they made their way past the table, Nathaniel glanced over his shoulder. He was sure Calvin was angry. Why would Calvin be angry just because he was leaving with four lovely women? It is not like Calvin had danced or spoke to any of these women. The dim lights were playing tricks on his eyes. Calvin was too good-natured to be angry at something this trivial.
Chapter 2
He moved around the room effortlessly. The man who employed him wanted the weak link dealt with. Apparently, she continued to fail to learn her lesson. It is not that she had ever actually talked to anyone about what was going on. More so, she seemed to try to befriend other people. His employer knew if she befriended someone, then she would talk. Not at first but one day she would talk. His employer couldn't afford for that to happen. This was her last chance to learn her lesson. If not, the next time they called him in he would eliminate her.
Moving back to where he had her tied to the wooden chair, he took a moment to gaze down at her. He found her beautiful, but too much on the young side for him. He didn’t know how old she was but if he had to venture a guess, he would say she could not be any more than twenty-one. That was pushing it.
Reaching down, he grabbed her matted mop of blonde hair. “Wake up!”
He watched as she blinked her eyes open. Blue eyes stared back at him. She was brave, he would give her that. Brave and stupid. Drawing his arm back, he slapped her across the face. The only sound was an intake of breath. She never screamed or cried. Well, she cried tears, but never the loud sobs he had heard from other women.
He knew she was afraid. He could almost smell it on her. Yet nothing he had done had provoked her to scream or cry. He admired this one. He knew the man who employed him had abused this young woman. Conditioned her to the pain, but her strong spirit made her defiant.
If he did not break her and soon, they would kill her. He really didn’t mind the killing part but found it such a waste considering her beauty and strength. He had a way of testing if the torture he had inflicted these last couple of days had worked.
“Remember, everything you do affects what happens to Ruth,” he began.
“You leave Ruth alone. She has nothing to with this.” Her blue eyes blazed while she struggled against her restraints.
Now he had to admit the mention of Ruth did provoke some response from her. He was beginning to wonder if anything would stir emotion in her. Too bad she didn’t think about Ruth when she started befriending people. Time to have some fun.
Untying her restraints, he yanked her to her feet. “Go ahead. Run!” Smiling at her, he let go of her arms and stepped to the side. He watched the moment of hesitation before she took off.
Within seconds he was on her. Reaching out he grabbed her hair, yanking her backward. Snaking an arm around her waist, he held her to him. She struggled, and he took delight in this new display of emotion. The mention of Ruth gave her something to fight for. He should have used that card earlier.
“Did you think you could get away from me? That I would let you simply run off? I have plans for you.” Throwing her to the ground, he began kicking her. She tried to roll away from the blows, but he was more skilled, making her attempts a waste of energy.
When she stopped moving, he knelt beside her. Checking that she was unconscious, he lifted her into his arms. In contrast to the brutality just a moment ago, he carried her with care to his vehicle. Oh yes, he had plans for this young, spirited woman.
Chapter 3
Nathaniel was in the kitchen helping Analise, when Felicity breezed into the room. She was as posh as always in her black dress and matching high heels. For the most part, he was not sure one could call them shoes. They were nothing, but tiny scraps of material attached to spikes. He still couldn’t believe she was an agent. To him, she always seemed so high society.
“Hey, you missed my birthday party last weekend,” he called out to her as she rummaged in the refrigerator.
Straightening and holding a bottle of soda she smiled. “Sorry about that. Duty called. I am here now though. Want to go out and celebrate?”
“Wish I could, but Matt has me doing some stuff later.”
“Too bad.” Taking a sip of soda, she turned toward Analise. “What are you doing?
“Baskets for the women at the strip club.” Analise smiled. “You are just in time to go with me.”
“Sure, what the heck.” Taking another sip of soda, she awarded Nathaniel with a smile. His breath caught. Felicity had a way of making a man think things he had no business thinking. That million-watt smile reduced almost all men to hormone raging teenage boys. Nathaniel hated that she did it all effortlessly. She knew what she could do to a man and she always exploited it. Anytime she was around he found himself thinking about all the ways he could enjoy her body. Not that he was brave enough to ever suggest any of it though.
“Earth to Nathaniel,” Analise’s voice cut into to his latest fantasy.
Feeling his face turn red, he realized he had stared at Felicity the whole time. Damnit. Just what he needed. Felicity figuring out that he was mentally striping that black dress off her. She would
probably plot ways to kill him in his sleep. With her skills it would even look like an accident.
“Yeah. Sorry. I have a lot on my mind lately.”
“Sure. Likely excuse,” Felicity winked at him.
“Felicity be nice. Nathaniel could you carry the baskets out for us?”
“No problem.” Grabbing a couple of baskets, he headed for the door.
With all the baskets loaded, he watched her car drive off. Okay that was awkward, he thought to himself. Shaking his head, he went inside to talk to Matt. He found Matt in the living room on the floor with little Matthew on his back. Little Matthew squealed in delight at getting a horsey ride on Daddy’s back. “You said you needed to see me?”
Lifting his head, Matt looked at him. “Yes. Give me a second. Matthew, get down now.” Little Matthew slid off his daddy’s back just as Aurora toddled over and smacked Matt in the head with a plastic toy. “Ouch. Aurora, why did you do that?” Smiling, she smacked him again. He looked over at Nathanael with a smile on his face. “She can be mean when she wants.”
“I have noticed that it seems she is only mean toward you,” he replied, then chuckled as Aurora thumped the toy against her daddy’s head again.
“I have noticed that too. Analise would get on to her for that. Me, though, I think she is adorable.” Grabbing the babies up in his arms, he moved them toward the toy box and set them down to play.
Nathaniel moved into the room and took a seat in one of the high-backed chairs. Taking in the disarray of the room with toys everywhere, he still found it surprising to see. He always figured that people with money in big fancy homes would have a playroom and nannies to tend to the children. But here at the ranch, Matt and Analise were hands-on every day. The fancy house always showed signs that two small toddlers lived here. They both helped clean the house, cook meals, and did all the day-to-day tending of the children.
Another aspect he had found shocking at first was the striking differences between Little Matthew and Aurora. Aurora was the spitting image of her mother whereas Little Matthew was Hispanic. That is not where the differences ended though. Little Matthew was calm and happy. Nathaniel had never seen the little boy cry or get upset about anything. An easy-going personality. Aurora on the other hand could go from smiles to tantrum in seconds. He had witnessed many times when the little girl would throw a tantrum. She would scrunch up her little face and let loose with an ear-piercing scream. Everyone ran for cover when Aurora was unhappy.
The Making of a Centaur Page 1
