RED HOT RANCH

by Swale, Lizzie

  “Bannock, eat it, now.”

  I took a little bite and forced myself to chew. By the end of the bannock I felt steady enough to speak. “That was scary.”

  “I’ll say,” he grumbled. He brought me a plate with some sliced meat and some vegetables. “There’s fresh bannock coming. Eat up.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I was so intent on chasing you away I forgot that you’d been out there without food. We should have stopped to eat before getting down to work.”

  “Are you still going to take me back?”

  “Do you want to leave?”

  I shook my head.

  “You’re stubborn, I’ll give you that.” He pulled the bannock out of the fire, dropped it on my plate, and disappeared inside the cabin.

  I was finished my food and he still hadn’t come out so I went back to carrying all the wood I had chopped. Even with the food in me I still felt shaky so I went slow and took smaller loads. There were occasional thumps and crashes from inside the cabin but I was done the hauling before Ryker came back out.

  “You can stay, for a few days, and I’m not making any promises. I set you up a bed in the cabin.”

  I smiled. “Thank-you.”

  He grunted and stalked off.

  As we ate supper around the fire that evening I said, “That night, in the woods, you said it had been a long time since …”

  “Yeah, it’s been a long time.”

  “How long?”

  “Why does it matter?”

  “Because I want to get to know you, Ryker. I want to know why you jumped at the chance to kiss me and why you stopped. I want to know what you’re doing out here, and how long you’ve been here. I want to know about your family and …”

  “No. Some of that you don’t want to know. Trust me.”

  “At least tell me how long you’ve been alone up here!”

  “Five years.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-six. Left home at twenty-one and I never looked back. Used to disappear into these woods most of the summer when I was a teen. I’d go home for food if the hunting was scarce or I’d go sleep in the shed out in the back yard if it rained too hard too many days in a row. Otherwise I spent eight weeks roughing it because rough out here was a hundred times better than home.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Why? Because you come from a nice home with loving parents and enough food on the table? Because you didn’t know me, you couldn’t have seen what was happening, you couldn’t have helped me? You’re what? Nineteen, twenty? What could you have done to help me? So why the hell are you sorry?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I’m sorry I brought it up.”

  “Oh.”

  “How long did it take you to build the cabin?”

  “I started it a few summers before I left home. I spent eight weeks just cutting and preparing the logs. I barely had it done before the snow fell the first winter I spent here. I almost didn’t make it through that winter.”

  “And the horse?”

  “He was mine, the only real thing of value I had. I wasn’t leaving him behind to be starved or worked to death.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “King,” Ryker said.

  “He’s beautiful.” After a long, awkward pause I tried again. “I don’t want to go back to school.”

  “Where did that come from?”

  “You told me something about you so I’m telling you something about me. I spent the last year working and telling everyone I was still trying to decide what I wanted to take in school, but I was lying. I hated high school, I don’t want to go to college or university.”

  “Great, so don’t go.”

  “That’s the thing though, what do I do with my life if I don’t go back to school? I’m working as a waitress, that’s about the best I’ll ever be able to accomplish without more education. Or I can be a wife and a mother and stay home and raise kids.”

  “What’s wrong with that? Don’t you want kids?”

  “Maybe. But who’s going to marry a dumb black woman who doesn’t even have a college diploma?”

  “What about your boyfriend?”

  “Oh, well, he wants me to move in with him but I don’t know if I want to. His family doesn’t like me. I get the feeling that they’d rather he meet some rich white girl, like really rich not just ‘better than comfortable’ like my family. And then what happens to me? I get kicked out on the street with no job, no education? No thanks.”

  “Because you’re black?”

  “Black, and not rich enough, and not smart enough, and not … enough anything for their precious little boy.”

  “But you’re strong, and smart, and beautiful.” He blushed and looked away. “So you’re here because there might not be anything back there for you?”

  “Isn’t that what you did? Maybe I want to escape too.”

  “I wasn’t giving anything up, Emily. I had no cellphone to miss, no social media accounts to turn off, no family to visit, nothing to tie me down. You have family and a job and connections and friends.”

  “Most of my friends are actually Joel’s friends. Or girls who are dating Joel’s friends. Wyoming may not be the deep south but it’s not the friendliest of places for a black girl.”

  “Is there anywhere that’s actually friendly?”

  “I’ve heard Canada’s not too bad.”

  He barked a laugh. “See! Smart as a whip.”

  “You actually find me entertaining?”

  “Hell yes. Why? Doesn’t everyone?”

  “Most people don’t appreciate my dry and sarcastic wit. I keep most of my comments to myself.”

  “That’s too bad. I’ve always like people who could put a witty spin on things, the ones who zinged you good, in that good natured way, they’re the most fun.”

  “Did I mention that I might be in love with you?”

  The sun was setting and it was almost like being at a romantic candlelit dinner. We stared at each other for a long moment before he cleared his throat and said, “You might have mentioned something about that.”

  I scooted closer to him. “Why did you kiss me back, that night in the woods?”

  “I told you, it’s been years since …”

  “Is that the only reason?”

  He blushed and stared into the fire. “You’re fishing for compliments. What do you want me to say? You’re beautiful, you’re soft and warm and curvy, you kept up without complaining, you smelled good.”

  “All those sound really nice. I thought you smelled good too. So why did you stop me? I wanted you, Ryker.”

  “I knew you had a boyfriend. And I was scared you’d choose the way you did, to leave. Everyone leaves, no one wants me. It’s better not too get too close.”

  “I came back.”

  “You’ll leave again.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to make some reassuring promise?”

  “I want you Ryker, but I’m not going to lie to you to get your pants off.”

  He stood and dumped the bones and fat off his plate into the fire. “It’s getting late. I’m turning in.”

  “All right. I guess I’ll come in too.”

  He put the fire out and I followed him into the cabin. I was right behind him and when he turned we were suddenly very close. I stared up at him in the dark of the cabin, my heart suddenly thundering.

  “Uh, your bed is over by the window. It’s not much.”

  “It’ll be fine,” I said. “I slept on a rock last night.”

  “Right. Okay. Good night.”

  I stretched up and kissed him softly on the lips. “Good night, Ryker.” He was breathing hard and he didn’t move. I rubbed my nose against his and kissed him again.

  “Emily, please don’t …”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t kiss me if you’re going to stop. Don’t lead me on, please.”

  “
I don’t want to stop. I want you Ryker.”

  He bent his head and kissed me. He was tender and gentle, almost timid, but the kisses still stirred a heat low between my legs. It built slowly, smoldering hotter with each slow kiss. It spread down through my legs and up through my body until I felt tingly and hot everywhere.

  Soon the breath was catching in my throat with each kiss and an ache was building in my chest.

  “I want you,” I whispered. “Please, Ryker, I need you.”

  He led me towards the narrow bed I’d woken up on all those long weeks before and pulled the worn covers back. He slipped off his shirt and jeans, the deep shadows hiding his body from me. I reached out and touched his shoulder and then let my hands wander slowly down his chest, learning the curves of his muscles through touch rather than sight. He trembled but otherwise stood completely still. My eyes were still adjusting and I could now see the outline of him, lean and hard and strong.

  Finally he reached out to me, touched the side of my face with weathered hands that were surprisingly gentle, and said, “Will you take your clothes off? Will you let me touch you too?”

  I nodded and reluctantly pulled my hands away from him. My shirt and jeans disappeared into the darkness along with my bra and we stood before each other, nearly naked.

  “I wish I could see you.” His voice was deeper, heavy with desire.

  I smiled. “Don’t you have a light?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t want to look for it right now.”

  “You’ll see me in the morning.”

  “I guess so.” He reached out and touched my face again, and then his hands began a slow exploration of me. I leaned my cheek into his caress and then his hand slid down my neck, his thumb tilting my chin up and then sliding down my throat. His fingers splayed over my shoulder, squeezing gently. He laid his other hand on my other shoulder, and I leaned my forehead against his shoulder as he massaged. He ran his hands down my back and up again, they were broad and warm and rough around the edges but in the most pleasant of ways.

  His hands came over my shoulders and down my arms, then up and down over my breasts. I grabbed his arms for balance and leaned back, letting him touch and caress as much as he wanted and once he started he didn’t seem to want to stop. Without taking his hands off of me he kissed me.

  This kiss wasn’t timid, this kiss was full of passion and heat and desire and went on and on. I melted in his arms and we tumbled together into the narrow space of the bed. We had no choice but to press hard against each other. His body was hard against mine and I was overwhelmed by the wild smell of him. It was intoxicating. We couldn’t keep our hands or lips away from each other.

  “Emily,” he whispered. “Emily, oh my Emily.” He trailed kisses down my neck and then kissed my lips hard again.

  “I like that,” I whispered.

  “Like what?”

  “Your Emily.”

  “My Emily. Stay here, stay with me. Please.”

  “I want to.”

  “That’s all that matters. We’ll make it work. Stay with me.”

  “Yes. Yes.”

  “I want you.”

  “I’ve been waiting for you to say that.” I grabbed the waist band of his underwear and pulled. His cock was already hard. He struggled free of the last of his clothes, trying not to knock me on the floor in the process. When he was completely naked I pulled my underwear down as well. He pulled me close, his cock pressed against my stomach, and held me there.

  “I need you, Emily, I need you so much.”

  I spread my legs and rolled, pinning him beneath me. I kissed him again and again, deep passionate kisses that fueled the fire between us. He grabbed my hips lifting me until his cock brushed against my slit. I moaned into his mouth and my breathing grew rough and ragged.

  He rubbed the head of his cock against me and muttered, “Oh god, Emily, you’re so wet.”

  “I want you too,” I said. I lowered myself slowly onto his cock and we both groaned. I stayed there, very still, savouring the way he filled me until his breathing slowed down a little. Even me bending down to kiss him had him panting again.

  “I don’t know how long I’ll last,” he said. “You feel too good.”

  “I’ll take it as a compliment,” I said and started to move. I went slowly, pushing myself up and away from him and then lowering myself down again. He kept his hands firm on my hips but let me set the pace. His face was tight with self-control and I said, “Relax, just enjoy this.”

  “It’s been so long …”

  “Enjoy it, don’t fight it.”

  He nodded but his face didn’t relax so I bent low and kissed him again. I stretched my legs out along his so I was stretched out along his body and kissed his chin. I ground my hips against him and he let out an “Ooh,” of pleasure.

  I picked up the pace a little until I had him panting. He ran his hands up and down my back.

  “Slow down, please,” he said. “I want to enjoy this.”

  I nodded and stilled for a moment until his breathing slowed again.

  “Do you need to be on top?” I said. “You can set the pace for a while.”

  He nodded and we managed an awkward roll that nearly landed us both on the floor. He knelt over me, his eyes intent on mine, barely visible in the dark but I could feel them staring.

  He moved in me, slow but steady, a shallow movement that only held the heat in me and did nothing to build it.

  “I want more,” I murmured.

  “I’ll come.”

  “I want you to.”

  He nodded and picked up speed. Now I felt the excitement and thrill of passion and I wrapped my legs around him. Too soon he hit his climax and filled me with his warm seed. He shuddered and thrust again, still moaning.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The next morning after breakfast Ryker announced he was teaching me to ride and pulled me towards the corral, a big smile on his face. I dug in my heels. “I have dishes to wash, and laundry to wash, and can’t we do this another time?”

  “Today’s a perfect day, and besides, in a few days we’ll be hiking out of here.”

  “What? Why?”

  “We can’t just leave your car parked where it is, if it hasn’t been towed already. And you’ll need more clothes.”

  “So let’s do that today and when we get back you can start teaching me to ride.”

  “I can’t leave until the meat is done smoking. Come on, you aren’t afraid of a little ole horse, are you?”

  “He’s not that little.”

  “I thought all girls wanted a pony.”

  “He’s not a pony!”

  Ryker levelled a stern gaze at me, but his eyes were full of laughter. “If you want to learn to survive out here you need to learn to ride. He’s a good steady horse, very calm, as long as you stay calm and relaxed there won’t be a problem. Come on, I’ll show you how to put the saddle on.”

  King did stand very still while Ryker put the saddle on and showed me all the complicated twists and knots that secured the saddle to King’s back. He then untied everything and made me do it, several times, until I could do everything without a reminder or correction. He grabbed the cinch and pulled tighter than I would have dared.

  “You’re going to hurt him.”

  “No, it’s not hurting him, but if it isn’t tight enough the saddle will roll and you’ll get hurt. Come on, I’ll give you a boost.”

  He put the reigns in while I sat up on King’s back, and then he handed me the two long strips of leather.

  “Okay, we’re not leaving the corral today so he’s not going to run off with you. Just hold the reigns so they’re slack, lean forward just a little and click to him.”

  We worked on go and stop and turning and by the time my stomach started growling I was actually having fun. I smiled down at Ryker. “So when can I get my own horse?”

  He smiled back. “See, all girls want a pony. Climb down and we’ll brush him and feed him and then go fi
nd some lunch for us.”

  “Where do you get the food?” I asked, watching him throw together sandwiches with the leftover meat from the night before.

  “I hunt. I have chickens for meat and eggs. I have a garden.”

  “I’ve seen you make bannock, but bread? In a baker’s plastic bag?”

  “I sell pelts and excess meat to the ranchers, there’s one who tans leather. I also sell my time, I work on the ranches sometimes, chopping firewood or other chores.” He shrugged. “It gets me enough money for coffee and bread and whatever else I need.”

  “I can cook,” I said. “When you go help on the ranches, I don’t know anything about the chores and I’m pretty slow when it comes to chopping wood, but I can cook and clean.”

  “I’ll let the ranchers know that next time I go in. But you don’t have to work for them, just pulling your weight here is enough.”

  “I’ll need my own supplies,” I said and he blushed. “Besides, I don’t want to be a burden, or a princess. I want to live out here with you, and that means working alongside you.”

  He handed me a plate. “If that’s what you want I won’t stop you from working but you could end up washing some old guy’s underwear.”

  I shuddered.

  “They’re not going to give you the chores they like doing. Be prepared to scrub toilets, wash underwear, and chop a lot of vegetables.”

  “If that’s what it takes.”

  “You’re stubborn.”

  “I think you like it.”

  We smiled at each other and settled in to eat. The sandwich was plain but stacked tall and I almost didn’t manage the last few bites. Ryker at two full sandwiches and was still waiting for me to finish.

  “I’ll show you the rest of the place,” he said.

  He had a short path through the bush to a second clearing where he had a large garden and a chicken run.

  “Why are the chickens in the garden?” I said.

  “They eat the bugs off the plants and they’re walking fertilizers. I have potatoes, three types of squash, carrots, peas, lettuce, and corn.”

  “That’s not a lot.”

  “No, but most of it is stuff that keeps in a crawlspace for months. I can eat fresh vegetables into the cold season this way. The lettuce grows fast and I can grow it inside in the winter.”