Return to Abundance

by Shanna Swenson

  She just smiled at him then, and he popped the movie in and sat back down on the couch as she snuggled into his arms. His heart felt content as he lost himself to her laugh and her questions about the movie she’d seen at least a dozen times in the last year. She fell asleep not too long into the movie, and he carried her upstairs to the couch bed Jordan had prepared for her. He tucked her in and kissed her plump cheek, admiring how much she looked like Natalie. Tears came to his eyes as he once again mourned for time lost. His own words hit him hard- Family is the most important thing, and he knew that it was true.

  He was heading downstairs when Jordan came in the front door. She whispered as she hung her coat up and put her purse down, “She out?”

  Nate just nodded and smiled into her whiskey eyes, lost for a moment as she smiled back at him. He grabbed her then and pulled her into a passionate kiss, one hand going to her waist, the other up her arm and into that beautiful mass of curls. She moaned as she succumbed to his embrace and returned his kiss.

  Moments later they were naked and breathless, unable to keep their hands off one another as he positioned himself over her atop his bed. Before long she was crying his name and losing herself to the pleasure his body elicited from her. He couldn’t get enough as he climbed higher and harder searching for a beautiful mindless climax and finding it within her eyes and embrace. They were sweaty and exhausted when he lay down beside her, the muscles in his arms shaking as he pulled her into them and kissed her cheeks. They lay there for a long time before Jordan retreated upstairs to be with Dallie. He didn’t like how bereft he felt when she was gone and cursed himself for falling for Jordan Tate.

  Dallie’s ear piercing scream woke Nathan later that night, and he took the stairs two at a time as he wrenched Jordan’s door open, almost tearing it off its hinges. Jordan was sitting there clad in a pair of gingham flannel PJs with Dallie at her side on her bed. The lamp was on, and he could see Dallie’s red, tear-streaked face. He pulled her to him at once.

  “Daddy! I want my Daddy,” she cried out as he hugged her little body to his frame. Dallie’s nightmares had practically disappeared over the past 17 months since Natalie had come home, and she and Jack had gotten together. Jack was to thank for that. He’d given Dallie and Natalie the safe haven they’d needed after what Troy had done to them. Dallie didn’t seem to remember much about that time in her life, and everyone thought it best to keep it that way.

  “Dallie, honey, Daddy’s at the hospital with your Mommy and baby sister, remember?” Nate affirmed.

  Dallie pulled back, hysterical, her breathing erratic, and her lips quivering. Nate wiped at the tears staining her plump little cheeks, her anguish tearing at his heart strings as he stroked her back and tried to soothe her.

  “But I want my Daddy,” she pouted and looked up at him, her watery blue eyes full of sorrow. They couldn’t take her back to the hospital, and she had school tomorrow and probably shouldn’t miss again since she’d already been out the day before for her sister’s birthday. Nate chanced a look at the clock. It was well past midnight. He silently cursed to himself.

  “What if we give Daddy a call? Would that make you feel better?” Nate’s eyebrows went up in question as he looked back at his niece. She just nodded, her full lips quivering again. “Ok.” Jordan looked at him with uncertain eyes as she handed him her phone, and he dialed his brother in law’s cell phone.

  Jack answered, groggily, on the third ring. “Hello?”

  “Jack?”

  “Yeah?” Nate could tell now that Jack was starting to awaken. “Nate, you ok?”

  “Yeah! Dallie had a nightmare and she’s wanting you, so I told her we would call you.”

  “Oh, ok. No problem. Put her on speaker.” Nate pulled the phone from his ear and did as Jack instructed. “Dallie?” The tone in Jack’s voice was softer as he called to his child.

  “Daddy!” Dallie’s anguished cry would have shaken even the toughest heart; it tore all three of theirs in two as her eyes continued pouring tears, and Jordan and Nate attempted to soothe her.

  “Dallie, baby, what’s the matter?” Jack cooed to her.

  “I’m scared… I had a bad dream, Daddy.” She gripped the phone as if it were her lifeline and trembled.

  “Sweetie, it’s ok. You’re safe. There’s nothing to worry about, ok?”

  “I want you, Daddy, I want my Mommy.”

  “Dallie, angel, Mommy’s sleeping. We’re still at the hospital. I need to be here with Mommy and Savannah right now, ok?” Dallie didn’t like that answer and looked warily up at her uncle Nate. He had been too young to remember the difficulty in having to share his parents with his sister, but he knew that this was an incredibly tough predicament for Dallie at this moment. So much had changed for her in the last couple years. Her head hung in defeat, and it felt like a knife went straight into Nate’s heart. Jack could sense her hesitation and responded. “I tell you what, lay back down with Aunt Jordan and let Uncle Nate take you to school in the morning, and Daddy will come get you after school and bring you home. How does that sound?” She nodded, but Jack couldn’t see it. His response suggested that she’d done this same gesture in the past. “Dallas, you know I can’t see you, honey.”

  She suddenly realized this and responded with an, “Okay.”

  “Ok? Because it’s really late, pumpkin doodle, and you have to go to school tomorrow. You have your project to turn into Ms. Lily, remember?”

  A muffled, “Uh, huh,” was Dallie’s response, and she started licking at her face with her tongue as Jordan reached over to the nightstand for a tissue.

  “Well,” Jack said, “get some rest, baby. I love you.”

  Jordan swiped at Dallie’s little nose with the tissue, and Dallie sniffled.

  “Daddy…but what about the bad dream?”

  “It’s not real. Remember? We talked about dreams, and how they’re kinda like movies in your head. Besides, you have your Uncle Nate to protect you there just like Daddy protects you here, you know?”

  She looked up at Nate with eager eyes, and he nodded and flexed his bicep for her. She, in turn, laughed big.

  “See. That’s my big girl. Alright now get some rest, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow, ok?” Jack yawned.

  “Ok, Daddy.” She stared down into the phone as if she could see him. “I miss you.”

  “I miss you too, my little darlin’. I love you so very much.”

  “I love you. Tell Mommy I love her…and Savannah too.”

  “Ok, I will. Good night, Dallie.”

  “Good night.”

  Nate took the phone off of speaker then and said, “Hey, Jack? I don’t mind to bring Dallie home after school tomorrow. I know you got a lot going on…”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, absolutely, if Dallie’s ok with that…” Nate looked to Dallie who’s blonde curls flew as she nodded. “Ok, it’s settled then. I’ll bring you guys some food too and anything else you need.”

  He could hear Savannah crying suddenly in the background as Jack replied, “Ok, yeah. Thanks, Nate! We’ll talk you later tomorrow.”

  “Alright, get some rest.”

  “Ha! Yeah right! Hey! Thanks again, Nathan.”

  Nate’s heart swelled for a moment. It felt good to be back in good graces with his brother-in-law, who, despite having a perfectly enviable life, happened to be a very likable guy.

  “No problem! Happy to help.” He hung up the phone then, and Dallie looked down in thought at her big stuffed pink pony. “You ok, little one?” Nate asked her.

  She nodded.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Are you mad at me, Uncle Nate?”

  “Of course not! Why would you think that?” he replied. She just shrugged in response. “Hey.” He picked her up and put her on his extended knee. “We all have bad dreams every now and then, even your Uncle Nate.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes. I do.” He looked over to Jordan who nodded. Dall
ie’s brow drew, and her lips puckered in thought.

  “I guess Aunt Jordan will have to protect us both then.”

  They both looked up to Jordan who was wide eyed in surprise, but smiled beautifully despite being put on the spot.

  “Well, come lie down and get comfy, sweetheart. Aunt Jordan needs her beauty rest.” Jordan shifted over, pulling Dallie down next to her and grabbed for the covers.

  “No, you don’t.” Dallie frowned. “You’re already beautiful. Isn’t she, Uncle Nate?”

  “Yes… yes she is.” He looked up into Jordan’s sultry whiskey colored eyes and felt his pulse quicken. He remembered all too well their love making just a few hours earlier and how sweet and soft she was beneath him; her mouth and sex hot and ready for him. She blushed, and he knew she was suddenly recalling it as well. He was glad they had both dressed and parted ways… What a dilemma that would have made right about now.

  “Uncle Nate?” Dallie called to him as he stood.

  “Yeah?”

  “Where are you going?” She patted at the bed beside her. As tempting as it was, he didn’t want to impose. He looked over to Jordan whose brows rose. She was leaving the decision up to him. He smiled and ambled over to the far side of the bed, slid in and pulled the sheet up over his sweat pants. He turned to Dallie and kissed her cheek.

  “Sweet dreams, munchkin.” He looked over at Jordan then who puckered her lips at him in a kiss and he winked.

  “You too, Uncle Nate,” Dallie responded.

  Jordan cut the lamp off, and they fell into darkness as Dallie softly hummed an old church hymn. After several long moments, Nate closed his eyes, surrendering to the night where Jordan kept them safe in their dreams.

  Jordan awoke about five minutes before her alarm the next morning and smiled at the scene before her. Nate was asleep on his side, facing Dallie. Her curly blonde head resting on the pillow next to his, her little body turned into him. They’d all slept soundly with no more nightmares, from neither Dallie nor Nathan. She admired Nate’s softened features in his restful slumber; his dark, almost black hair- shaggy and halfway to his shoulders, his full beard and mustache the same color, his long eyelashes, his plump lips. He was so handsome when he wasn’t hating himself so much. Her eyes moved to his chest and belly dusted with dark hair, the shape of his lean muscles, his skin deeply tanned from working out in the sun. She gulped, her body betraying her thoughts as she remembered those strong hands gripped her hips as he plunged deep inside her, cupping her breasts, stroking her body as he’d made love to her to the night before.

  Nate had started to relax a good bit after he’d met with the priest. She’d known something bad had happened at Jack and Natalie’s because he’d come to Jordan that same afternoon, desperation in his eyes and touch. He’d grabbed her so fiercely and taken her on the counter, throwing her skirt up and unzipping himself so quickly that she’d barely had time to respond to his demands. There was such hunger in his thrusts, such suffering in his eyes, a pain that cut into her so deeply; it had felt so different than when they’d had sex before. It had frightened and saddened her so much that she knew she had to give him more than just an outlet, and she had. Now, she was starting to worry that in the process of bringing Nate back, she was losing herself. She didn’t know if this was what she’d signed up for, and it startled her. She looked down at Dallie cuddled up against him, and her heart did a queer little jerk.

  The alarm went off then, and Nate’s eyes opened quickly. It took him a minute to figure out where he was. When he looked up at her, he gave her a crooked smile, and she couldn’t help but return it. She grabbed for the alarm as Dallie began to stir.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” Nate said as much to Jordan as to Dallie, who stretched out her arms and legs and squealed. They both laughed.

  “Did you have any nightmares, Uncle Nate?” Dallie asked, looking up at him as he raised himself up on his elbow.

  “Nope. Not a one. Did you?”

  “Nope,” she mirrored. Nate laughed, a throaty, sexy sound. They both looked up at Jordan then. “It worked, Aunt Jordan. You kept the nightmares away.”

  Jordan’s head shot back and she cackled incredulously. “Glad I could help!” she stated as she got up off the bed. “Well, Dallie, we need to get you ready for school. Let’s go get you bathed.” She took Dallie’s hand and helped her down off the bed, and they walked toward the bathroom as Nate looked over at her and smiled. She felt that little jerk again in her chest. It was good to see him smiling again.

  Jordan got Dallie and herself bathed and dressed and ready in good time. She cooked everyone breakfast and her, Nate, Dallie and all the hands were able to sit down and eat before she had to head out to take Dallie to school. She was planning to drop her off, run some errands and get some groceries before coming back to clean up and start lunch. She was at the sink rinsing out the plates when Nate sidled up behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist and his lips lowered to her neck. It made her tingle, and she gasped as she turned in his arms. He smiled as he leaned in for a deep kiss. She obliged him, but pulled back quickly, aware of the others in the next room.

  “Nate…” Jordan warned.

  “What?”

  “The guys!”

  “So?”

  “So…you’re my boss!”

  He tended to be forgetting that lately. He shrugged and drew his brows at her like she was being silly, but she didn’t want the others seeing their behavior.

  “We have to keep this professional,” she scolded and returned to her task.

  “Like you kept it professional with Harold?” he ground out. Her hands stilled, and she turned back to look at him, her eyes dark with anger. If they had been daggers, they would have massacred him. His eyes returned the same gaze. “I’ll take Dallie to school,” he smarted off and walked out. Jordan was trembling so hard with anger, she had to mentally count to ten to calm herself. Now he was angry with her for trying to be discreet… He was unbelievable.

  Nate was in a sour mood all day after his unpleasant encounter that morning with Jordan. He’d just wanted to show her some affection, but she’d blown him off, and it had spoiled his disposition. He tried hard not to let his displeasure show while he worked, but after one of the stallions they were training injured Eric, and they’d had to sit in the ER for the better part of the morning, it was hard not to be pissy. Nathan had called his sister after Eric was discharged with a clean bill of health and nothing but a deeply bruised thigh to see if they needed anything while he was out and about. He’d stopped at the store and headed back to the ranch to meet with a client before heading to get Dallie from school. He couldn’t help himself from the happiness that consumed him when he came in to the classroom, and she squealed in delight, running to him.

  “How was your day, darlin’?” Nate inquired as he walked her back to his truck, carrying her backpack in his hand.

  “It was good. I made an A on my math test, Uncle Nate.”

  “That’s great. I’m so proud of you. I bet Mommy and Daddy will be too.” She just nodded and smiled up at him. “How did you do on your project?”

  “Good, I think. Everyone liked it when I talked about horses.”

  “You did your project on horses?”

  “Uh huh. Ms. Lily had us do a poster of all the things that we like, and I made a picture of Ameera and our ranch.” Go figure.

  “Well, good. I’m glad you taught ‘em a thing or two.”

  Nate got her loaded up in the truck, buckling her into her car seat. He came around then cranked the truck and peeled out of the parking lot.

  “I get to go home today?” Dallie asked.

  “Yup, you sure do. Mommy and Daddy brought Savannah home about an hour ago.” Dallie didn’t say much, but Nate could sense her hesitation. “Look Dallie, things are gonna be a little different now that you have a baby sister.”

  “They are?”

  “Well, yeah. I mean…you’ll have to share your mom and dad now, with
Savannah.”

  Dallie nodded. “Mommy told me that too.” Her head lowered for a minute. “I don’t know what that means, Uncle Nate.”

  Nate smiled over at her as he took her hand and drove towards Kinsen Ranch. “I know, but you will. It’s not a bad thing. I had to learn to share my mom and dad with Natalie. It’s like having to share your toys, like with your friends at school. You don’t always get Ms. Lily all to yourself, do you?” Dallie shook her head in response. “Well, Mommy has the new baby to take care of now, so sometimes, you won’t be able to have her all to yourself like you have in the past.”

  “I think I know what you mean.” She looked over at him assertively.

  “You do?”

  “Yeah, like when I have to share Mommy with Daddy. Sometimes they have date nights. Mommy and Daddy go out, and I have to stay with Grandma and Paw-Paw or you?”

  “Yeah, kinda like that.” At least she was getting the just of what he was trying to say.

  “I don’t mind sharing my Mommy with my Daddy.”

  “You don’t, huh?” Nate asked, amused.

  “No.” Her gaze was thoughtful as she looked out the window. “My Mommy really loves my Daddy. She tells me how happy she is.” Nate just smiled over at her, thinking how wonderful that truly was. “And Daddy loves Mommy… Mommy told me how Daddy rescued us… I like when they smile at each other; they do that a lot!”

  Nate laughed at Dallie’s assessments.

  “I like when you smile too, Uncle Nate.”

  Nate’s heart felt at peace at that moment. He missed smiling and having a reason to smile and here in this truck with his precious niece he couldn’t think of a reason not to smile.

  They rode for a while before Dallie began to sing a song she’d learned in class that day. It was a funny, catchy tune, and Nate found himself laughing and singing along with her as they pulled up to the house. Jack came out to greet them then and Nate unbuckled Dallie, opened the door and set her down.

  “Daddy!” Dallie squealed. She ran straight to her father and into his outstretched arms, a giant smile on his face as she did so.