Riding the River (The Westerners, Book One)

by Jeanne Harrell

John Garth was a character out of the Old West. He was tall and rugged, not handsome, but imposing. He set his big cowboy hat a certain way that gave him an air of authority. In the saddle, no one could outwork him – He gave as good as he got.

  Matt’s parents had been lost unexpectedly when he was young, and John had raised him up to be much like him. He always wore a leather vest, shirt with a knotted scarf around his neck and his typical jeans. Think John Wayne.

  Matt had explained all this on the ride over to his grandfather’s ranch. It wasn’t that far from the Walker guest ranch, but they took Matt’s truck to see the smaller ranch later.

  “Do you think he’ll like me?” asked Sarah nervously.

  “If I love you, so will he.” Matt took ahold of her hand to calm her nerves.

  She’d moved over to sit by him in the front seat.

  Sarah gulped. Absolutely everything she’d done on this trip was a first for her. Now she was meeting her boyfriend’s grandfather. Boyfriend? Lover? What was he anyway?

  “Please don’t be nervous, Sarah. Just be yourself… You’ll do fine.” He looked over at her. His encouraging words weren’t making much of a dent. He tried again. “Okay, think of how I’ll feel meeting your father.”

  She turned her head and blinked several times. Robert Hughes?

  “I hadn’t thought of that. It should be a very interesting meeting, indeed.”

  “Why is that?”

  Sarah smiled. “You’ll be in jeans and he’ll be wearing a Gucci suit probably – or Prada. The guy’s a fashionista.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A person who loves clothing, fashion.”

  Matt knit his brows thinking about that. “… It does sound interesting. Do you think he’ll like me?”

  She kissed his cheek. “Matt, you’ll have to go to Baltimore to meet him. Have you thought of that? Why would he come here?”

  That stopped him. Baltimore. Way across the country. On an airplane.

  “Ah…”

  Her face fell. “That’s what I thought. You don’t want to go there, do you?”

  “Not particularly.”

  “Then why am I meeting your grandfather?” She gave him a stern look.

  “He’s closer?”

  “Weak answer.” She moved farther away from him and folded her arms across her chest. Matt knew he was on thin ice, so he pulled over and stopped the truck. He turned and reached for her – She moved farther away.

  “Sarah, honey.”

  “Don’t ‘honey’ me. You never planned on going back East, did you? It’s not convenient.” She held his gaze. “What kind of a relationship is this? Was it only because I’m here now? If we’re just playing around, please let me know – Maybe we got too serious too fast.”

  Matt blinked hard wondering how things got so crazy so fast. One minute she was kissing his cheek and the next, she was angrily moving to the other side of the truck. He ran his hand through his hair and looked as nervous as he felt.

  “Wait a minute, Sarah. Let’s not twist this up into a mess. I fell in love with you – I don’t care where you came from or how fast it all happened.”

  He could see she softened a bit, so he plunged ahead. “And this is a love relationship, pure and simple. I love you and you love me. We’ll have to sort out the rest as we go.”

  Even though she was still somewhat pissed, that actually made sense. Matt could see he’d broken through the anger when she turned to face him.

  “And my father?”

  It was Matt’s turn to gulp. “If it’s what you want, I’ll meet him anywhere on this planet.”

  That did it. To his great relief, Sarah moved back over by him and fell into his waiting arms. He kissed her hair, her cheeks, nose and lips over and over. She kissed him back with equal fervor and passion. He’d won her back.

  Thank God… After a few more minutes of being wrapped around each other like vines and a sexy kiss that seemed to be never-ending. They broke for air. He was breathing hard.

  “Honey, you scared the crap out of me. Could we please always talk out our differences? I don’t think I could take your being away from me for very long.”

  Sarah gazed at his wonderful face. She reached up to touch his hair… his cheeks… nose. Matt closed his eyes at her gentle touch. When she outlined his lips with her finger, he parted them to softly suck on that finger. He opened his eyes to her big smile and she caressed his cheek before kissing him sweetly.

  “We’re never going to make it there, are we?” He whispered in her ear after nibbling on her earlobe.

  “Is there much traffic on this road?”

  “Never, why?” And then he saw why. His mouth dropped open as Sarah unzipped her jeans and pulled them off, along with her underwear. He swallowed hard when she unzipped and opened his jeans to find what she was looking for -- His erection was hard and waiting.

  “Sarah…what…” he tried to say more, but his lips went dry.

  He put his hands on her hips as she straddled him and took him in… right there in the front seat of his Chevy pickup… on an old dirt road a few miles from his grandfather’s ranch. And he held her steady as she started to move with him. Matt’s mind was a complete blank. Sarah was in control. The truck swayed with the constant rhythm of their movements and it heated up inside the cab in no time. By the time they’d finished and had their clothes on again, Matt’s mind was a muddle.

  She was still sitting close to him, absolutely relaxed. He marveled at the passion he’d unleashed in her.

  “Damn, Sarah. What was that?” He rubbed his forehead hard.

  She smiled sweetly at him. “What? Didn’t you like it?” She leaned over to kiss his lips. “You certainly seemed to at the time.”

  “Um…”

  “Don’t you feel better?” she purred and kissed both corners of his mouth.

  Matt blew out a breath. “Actually, I do.” And at that moment, he knew the reins had slipped away from him – She’d always be able to bend him around however she wanted to. Damn…He looked over at her. Again with that innocent smile. Matt shrugged his shoulders. If that’s the way it’s going to be… Okay.

  He couldn’t drag his eyes away from her full, sensual lips. And that’s when the serious kissing started.

  It was close to lunch before they finally arrived at John Garth’s ranch home. Matt switched off the ignition and the truck rumbled to a stop. He looked over at Sarah sitting beside him and put his arm around her.

  “I’m not sure what’s worth saying after all that. That’s the longest it’s ever taken me to get here…”

  “… Another first for me.”

  “What?”

  “… Sex in a vehicle,” she laughed. “Multiple times.”

  Matt leaned his forehead against hers. “Honey, you’ve turned me inside out and not just from all the sex. I’m crazy about you.”

  “Good. I’m crazy about you too. Shall we meet your grandfather since we’re here?”

  “I barely have the strength to get out of the truck. What have you done to me?”

  She laughed. “Nothing you won’t recover from… and quickly. I doubt we’ll sleep much tonight either.”

  “Promise?”

  He stepped out of the truck and helped her out. She was smoothing her hair back into her ponytail when she glanced down.

  “Matt, your fly’s unzipped.”

  “Jesus.” He groaned and zipped as she doubled up laughing.

  John Garth was watching from the window and started laughing as well. He remembered those days as a young man when he’d done the same sorts of things. This girl he had to meet.

  He opened the big front door wide to welcome them.

  “Matt. Great to see you, son.” John gave him a huge hug and then turned to Sarah. “And who have you brought with you? Is this Sarah?”

  “Yes, Grandpa, this… is Sarah Hughes. Sarah, John Garth.”

  John took a good look at
the love of his grandson’s life. Matt had told him so little about her that John was sure she was the one. Matt hadn’t brought anyone home to meet him in a long time. She was a pretty blonde with a cute ponytail and deep blue eyes that didn’t miss much. She had a lovely figure and an expression that said she could keep his grandson in line.

  “How do you do, Mr. Garth. It’s nice to finally meet you.” Sarah reached out to shake his hand.

  “It’s John, please and no handshakes.” He hugged her instead and liked her already.

  “Come on back to the kitchen. You all hungry?”

  “Starved,” said Matt. “We didn’t have much breakfast and have worked up an appetite.”

  Sarah gave him a knock it off look that John caught part of and he almost laughed.

  John’s kitchen was full of good aromas and was decorated in bright greens and yellows. He had a hearty soup going with fresh bread and a garden salad. Sarah was thrilled.

  Once they were seated and eating, John asked a few tentative questions.

  “How’s your trip going, Sarah?”

  “It’s going well, thanks. I love it around here, John. It’s beautiful country.”

  They discussed Baltimore, her job back home, cooking, computers, horses and everything in between. An hour flew by…

  “Have you taken Sarah to see the ranch next door?”

  “Not yet. We came here first.”

  “… Well, show her around here and then go see the other place.” He turned to Sarah. “It’s a pretty little spread – About a hundred acres with a sweet ranch house. It needs a bit of sprucing up, but it’ll make a fine home. Has Matt mentioned he’s buying it?”

  She looked over to smile at Matt. “Yes. It sounds wonderful.” He smiled back at her and held her gaze.

  “Listen, Sarah,” began John. “I understand you’re staying on here after your trip is over. You’ll be working at the Walker guest ranch?”

  “Yes,” she laughed. “I’ll be using my new culinary expertise.”

  “Where will you live?”

  “That’s a question with no answer right this minute.”

  “Why don’t you and Matt stay here? I’ve got plenty of room. There’s a huge bedroom on the other side of the house with a bathroom…”

  “I wouldn’t want to crowd you, John,” she demurred.

  He looked around. “Sorry, no crowd, but I’d love for you to stay here.” He turned to Matt. “What do you think?”

  “Great. Sarah?”

  She let out a deep breath. “If someone had told me a few weeks ago, that I’d be moving to Nevada and taking a job as a cook’s assistant, I would have told them that was nuts.”

  “What about falling for a cowboy?” Matt said quietly.

  “That would be the nuttiest part of all to believe.” She looked deeply into Matt’s dark eyes. “… But the absolute best part.”

  He leaned over to kiss her, while John continued smiling at them both. They were sweet and good for each other. Anyone with eyes could see that.

  * * *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR