Lone Star Joy

by Kathleen Ball

  "I want to see the sheets, I want proof," Bailey demanded then she laughed. "What am I thinking? She's a whore not a virgin."

  Joy wanted to ignore her. She continued to smile at Dillon and feed him, but inside she raged.

  Stamos walked over, took Bailey by the arm, and escorted her to the door. "That is my wife you are talking about. It would be good for you to remember that my family means the world to me. Don't come back," he said, pushing her out the door.

  Ida Perkins looked shocked. "I'll be back, but not with that woman. I'm not getting answers with her here."

  Joy watched Stamos close the door behind them. His eyes instantly sought her and he gave her an encouraging smile.

  "Bea, I don't know what to say. I would understand if you want to quit," Stamos said.

  "I've dealt with worse than those two witches. I'll stick with you."

  Stamos kissed Bea on the cheek, causing Bea to blush. Then he sat next to Joy, putting his arm around her shoulder. "We'll be fine," he murmured, kissing the side of her neck, making her tingle.

  Joy looked at him and smiled. "Can't get much worse."

  "I'll be out in the barn." Stamos grabbed his hat and left.

  "I'll take the little mister," Bea offered.

  Joy looked at her. "I guess I feel confused as to what I'm supposed to do. I've never been married before." Taking a deep breath, she looked around. "Am I supposed to stay in the house or am I still supposed to work with the horses?"

  Bea walked over to her and handed her a wet cloth. "I'd say that you need to clean off your little one and then skedaddle out to that barn and do what you do best, work with those horses."

  Joy cleaned off Dillon, mixing in as many kisses as she could. Smiling, she looked at Bea. "Thanks for the advice."

  "Any time, love. Now go get your man."

  Joy surprised herself by giving Bea a kiss on the cheek. She never kissed anyone in gratitude before. All this craziness was making her soft. Walking toward the barn, she wondered if becoming a little bit soft wasn't a bad thing.

  She entered the barn and to her delight Nanny, Nino, and Nanny's love, Pirate, were all in the birthing stall. A Billy goat was standing in front of it. "What the heck?"

  Stamos walked over to her. "Nanny brought her entourage with her. I think you know everyone. Pirate is Callie's horse and Billy is from another ranch. I don't even know who he, I mean she, belongs to."

  Joy stared into Nanny's eyes and laughed. "She's decided that she likes it here the best."

  "Well in that case I'd better go and give Callie a call so she won't worry." He drew his cell phone out of his front pocket.

  She heard a car drive up and wandered out of the barn to see who it was. To her horror two police cars drove up. Her father jumped out of one and pointed at her.

  Joy began to back up, her mind whirling with escape routes.

  "Hold it right there," one of the police officers shouted.

  The beating of her heart roared through her ears. She stopped and put her hands up. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she knew the drill. They were there for her and she knew that if her father was involved, it would be airtight. She was going back to prison.

  All she could think about was Dillon. She wouldn't be able to say goodbye. She hoped to hell that Stamos would appear. She needed one more look of him, a picture of him to hold in her heart.

  She'd known it would end this way. Somehow, she'd always known that she wouldn't be at the ranch for long. Her marriage would be annulled and as she drew a shaky breath, she knew she would be locked up in solitary once again.

  Her heart twisted as she looked at her father's triumphant smile. Why? How? He seemed to take his greatest delight in seeing her suffer. She'd been a good and obedient daughter. The fact that he still had the ability to hurt her soul made her sick.

  The cuffs were being placed on her wrists that she held behind her back. The officer began to pat her down. He seemed indifferent and Joy was glad. She'd had her share of perverts patting her down in the past.

  Joy swallowed hard, refusing to cry. If it took everything she had, she would not let her father see her cry. The officer grabbed her upper arm, leading her to the squad car. Joy locked her gaze on her father and glared at him. The look he returned made her shiver. He didn't intend to let her out alive.

  Tears pricked at the back of her eyes and she willed them away. A sign of weakness now would be a big mistake. Joy needed to hang tough.

  She gazed across the hood of the black and white car and it crushed her that her father was smiling in glee. "Why?" she choked out.

  His smile instantly faded, replaced with a menacing frown. "You know why," he growled, staring her down.

  Joy didn't know why, but the need to know had a foremost place in her thoughts. It had agonized her every night since her initial arrest.

  "Watch your head," the officer said, after she already banged it painfully. He continued to push her until she was in the back of the car.

  Joy closed her eyes. Freedom and a normal life were all illusions. She'd known that all along, she just wanted it so badly that she had let her guard down.

  The car started and Joy opened her eyes. Stamos wasn't in sight. He probably knew. It hurt that he hadn't told her.

  "I thought I had a deal. Why are you taking me to jail?"

  The officer laughed. "Honey, you're not going to prison. You're going to the Women's Psychiatric Facility."

  Her heart beat out of her chest. "What are you talking about?"

  "Your father had you placed there. You're going to crazy town. I think you'll enjoy being locked up with the criminally insane. From what I've heard, it's where you belong."

  Joy looked out the side window. Fields of sunflowers flew by. Two dragonflies were mating. Joy stared as long as they were in sight knowing that she'd have only four walls for a view at the facility. Looney bin was a better word. She'd heard of the horrors of that place.

  Taking a deep breath, she put on her game face. She got into her survival state of mind. The attempt on her life was likely to happen today. Her mind needed to be sharp and all thoughts of Stamos, Dillon, and the ranch had to be tucked away. If anything, she was physically stronger from ranch work. She had an advantage.

  By the time they drove up the long, windy road to the huge monastery looking building, Joy was ready. Game on.

  The building looked massive, all gray stone with moss growing on it. The gargoyles along the roofline made Joy shiver. They silently mocked her situation. Hell, if she were a gargoyle she'd be laughing at her too.

  The officer held her left arm, pulling her along, up the stone steps. Her father was on her other side, dancing his way to the top. She had to stay focused. It could be life ending if she allowed him to distract her.

  The officer shoved her into a room and down into a chair, her hands still handcuffed behind her back. The nameplate on the desk said Dr. Hatter, Director. Joy thought he looked like a little weasel with beady eyes.

  "Name?" he asked.

  "Joy Walker," she said proudly.

  "Just like I told you Doc. She's delusional. Her name is Joy Courtland. She thinks she's married and lives on a ranch with a husband and baby. None of it is true," her father professed.

  Joy didn't say a word. It never helped. Somehow, her words backfired.

  "You are her guardian?" Dr. Hatter asked.

  "Yes, the prison released her into my care. She murdered her stepmother, my sainted wife."

  Joy wanted to groan. He earned his title, King of Bullshit. How she wanted to strangle him. She knew that she had no power. She was at the mercy of the men in this room.

  A brute of a man, a hospital attendant approached her with a needle in his hand. Joy began to struggle. The sharp prick of the needle was all she comprehended as her mind drifted. Her heart cracked as she thought about never seeing Dillon again. Her heart broke at the thought of never seeing Stamos again.

  Loud voices jogged her out of her deep
sleep. Stamos, she heard Stamos. Joy tried to move and to her dismay, she was strapped down, the ultimate imprisonment. Hadn't she had enough?

  Turning her head, she spotted Stamos arguing with Dr. Hatter and her father. He was waving papers in their faces, but her father had his own papers. Being tied down panicked her and tears streamed down her face. Her father would win, he always did.

  Looking at Stamos made her glow inside. He came for her. He came for her. He seemed tired and his hair looked as though he'd run his finger through it many times. His unshaven face gave him the ultimate, sexy look.

  Joy's heart twisted as she gazed at Stamos. It'd been good while it lasted. They had a good friendship going. A good working relationship. He was the type of man who always had your back.

  "I have papers signed by a judge," her father ranted.

  "She is my wife," Stamos roared.

  "Not in deed. Only on paper," her father said, smirking.

  "What the hell does that mean?" Stamos asked, taking a step toward her father.

  "She's still a damn virgin. That's what I mean."

  "What the hell?" Stamos asked.

  "I examined her. She's still intact," Wood said, looking triumphant.

  Joy's cry of anguish went unnoticed by the three men.

  "Mr. Courtland, that is improper and highly unlikely," Dr. Hatter chimed in.

  "Truth is truth," Wood said.

  "I believed you and your court documents, but now I can't go along with this," Dr. Hatter said. He walked across the room and pushed a red button on the wall. "Security will be here to escort you from the premises."

  "You have no right. I'm her guardian," Wood screamed, taking a menacing step toward the doctor.

  Stamos stepped in front of the doctor. Wood took another menacing step and he was just about to swing on Stamos when the security team came running in and quickly apprehended her father.

  "I'll be back," he shouted as the officer dragged him out of the building.

  Stamos hurried to Joy's side. Tears ran down her face and she felt so helpless. "Untie her."

  "Of course, Mr. Walker," Dr. Hatter said, unbuckling her wrist restraints.

  Stamos took Joy into his arms. Sitting on the bed, he placed her on his lap, holding her while she cried.

  Joy couldn't remember the last time anyone had comforted her. Despite knowing that she couldn't afford to become further entangled with Stamos, she stayed in his arms. Laying her head on his strong shoulder, she wished that her life had been different. After the initial shock of being imprisoned, Joy had accepted her life. Now she wished that she had fought harder. It probably wouldn't have made a difference. The evidence they had against her was damning.

  He came for her. He came after her. He fought for her release. Her heart overflowed. She stiffened and stood up. She needed to put a cap on her heart. Pulling it out would hurt less, but she had to go into self-preservation mode and that did not include soft fuzzy feelings. It required cold, hard, calculating thinking.

  A wave of regret washed over her as she looked at Stamos. He deserved better and when her three years were up, she'd leave, allowing him to find better. She looked at his outreached hand. She grabbed it and held fast as he led them out of the facility. Looney bin would be a better name.

  "Thank you," she whispered softly as Stamos opened her car door.

  Stamos turned her so that she was facing him. Framing her face with his hands, he leaned down and kissed her. It certainly wasn't a "you're welcome" kiss. It was a desire filled, soul aching kiss.

  His whole body was hard and toned, but his lips were incredibly soft. His tongue, so warm and sexy, explored her mouth. Joy put her arms around his neck, pulled his head down, and pressed herself against him. He could make her forget everything with a single kiss.

  She stiffened and then pushed him away. The separation was not only physical, but emotional too. She'd been melting in his arms one minute and putting up a wall between them the next. She couldn't seem to help herself from turning cold and aloof. Once again, she dove into self-preservation mode.

  She hurt Stamos. His facial expression said it all. He looked bereft. One more burden to bear, it was all her fault. Prison mentality was too ingrained in her. She'd never make Stamos a good wife. At least not the type he deserved.

  Chapter Eight

  Joy looked at the empty bed. She'd slept in it before, but now it looked identical to an instrument of torture. Tonight was the night. It had to be done. Perspiration grew on her brow as she studied the object of her fear.

  She'd received all kinds of smiles when Stamos brought her home. Bea fussed over her until she couldn't take it anymore. She mucked out the stalls with Benji. The physical labor helped with her anger. Trying to stay focused grew impossible, her mind kept wandering to her father and what he had said about examining her.

  Her body shuddered and Joy tried to dig deep for strength. Every time she thought that she had a choice, it was taken from her. Now she had no choice. She had to lie under her husband and let him defile her. She'd heard one horror story after another about men and their rutting ways from the other prisoners.

  Her hands shook as she pulled her nightgown off. It was this or prison. She flew into the bed and covered herself. Stamos said he'd be up soon. Dillon was sleeping in his own room tonight. It just added to her mortification that Bea knew what they were about to do.

  The door opened and she squeezed her eyes shut. Joy listened to Stamos move about the room. The rustling of his clothes echoed in the room then the other side of the bed dipped under Stamos' weight.

  Joy waited and waited, but nothing happened. Bravely, she opened her eyes. Stamos' stare caused her to jump out of the bed, bringing the sheet with her.

  "Joy..."

  "I don't think I can do this." Stamos was naked without the sheet. "It's too big," she squeaked, backing away.

  Stamos laughed. "Joy, I have no idea what is going on in that head of yours, but honey, I won't hurt you."

  Joy shook her head in denial. She turned away. She couldn't look at him. "You won't have a choice," she whispered, her voice quavering.

  Stamos got out of bed and pulled his jeans on. "Joy, what put that look of terror in your eyes?"

  "I'm not naive you know. I have knowledge of what goes on behind closed doors."

  Stamos stepped toward her. He stood as close to her as he could without touching her. "If prison is your teacher, then what you know is tainted. Making love is an intimate act that is pleasurable."

  Joy stared at him. He looked so sincere. "I'll just lie there, you can do your business then we can be done with it."

  Stamos sighed and stared at her. He took her into his arms and held her. "There will be no virginal sacrifice. When I make love to you, it will be full of wonder, passion, and pleasure. I can wait, Joy. We don't have to do this tonight."

  Joy finally relaxed against Stamos. "But my father," she whispered.

  "I'm not doing it tonight. He has no bearing on our lives. We choose. You and I." He stepped back and kissed her forehead. He located her gown and handed it to her. "Get some sleep."

  "But..."

  "I'll be back. I have some paperwork to go through."

  Joy stood there long after he left, still grasping her gown in one hand and the sheet around her with the other. She didn't know what to think.

  An angel, that's what she resembled, a beautiful serene angel. Stamos drank in the sight of her completely relaxed for a change. This was the real Joy, the one without masks to hide her feelings. The one he wanted by his side always.

  Realizing that he had to woo her, he felt lost. His ex-wife had chased him until he ended up marrying her. He didn't have to make the effort. Joy's reaction and feelings were natural. Her background tainted everything for her. Somehow, he needed to show her what marriage and trust were all about.

  Ida Perkins would not ask for proof. It was barbaric and against the law. However, they did need to act comfortable and loving together. He wan
ted to be comfortable and loving with Joy. It surprised him, but he admired her. Most of all he wanted her. It hadn't been easy to get his jeans back on earlier. He wasn't one to cheat either. The wooing better go fast.

  She didn't seem the flower type. She didn't seem the jewelry type either. He didn't have a clue how to court her. She loved Dillon so he had an in with her.

  Joy groaned in her sleep and Stamos pulled her into his arms. He didn't get his goodnight kiss and he'd be damned if he would go without. He pulled her closer and leaned over her, kissing her sweet soft lips. Her groan turned into a moan.

  Stamos opened his eyes and found Joy's hazel eyes staring at him. Her sleepy look turned him on. She was a sexy woman. She had no idea that she looked beautiful. There were no pretenses with Joy.

  Leaning in again, he kissed her deeply. She tasted of minty toothpaste and it made him smile. She must have felt his smile against her lips because she smiled back.

  "Can't wait for my morning kiss," he said, as he settled her head on his shoulder.

  "Me either," she said, with a great big sigh.

  Stamos smiled long into the night, thinking of ways to woo his cowgirl wife.

  Joy woke alone, touching her fingers to her lips. There was no way that Stamos kissing her last night was a dream. She got up, showered and dressed, all in anticipation of her morning kiss. The kissing was nice, it was the rest that was bad.

  Joy flew down the stairs and into the kitchen. To her immense disappointment, it was empty. How did she miss everyone? It was just past sun up.

  She poured a cup of coffee and went to stand on the front porch. The day glistened with fresh dew and crisp fresh air. She used to dream of mornings similar to this. The steam from the coffee rose making her feel content. Drinking it, she embraced the day.

  Walking into the barn Joy greeted Benji and Corny. They nodded at her with respect. It made her feel good. These were not men to give respect unless it'd been earned. They'd all lived hard lives too.

  "Joy, could you give me a hand up here?" Stamos called out from the hayloft.