Rodeo Rancher

by Lauren Wood

  Colleen hadn’t wanted to tell him while they were travelling she feared he wouldn’t push to the end of their trip had he known. Now once they were in their own house, she could safely inform him about what she thought.

  Kaiden came back quickly and there was a smile on his face. She looked up at him. “Good news?” She asked.

  “We have a place! Let’s go I want to show it to you.” Kaiden grabbed her hand and pulled her up. “It’s perfect there is a nursery and everything already!” He heard her gasp.

  “Did you hear those thoughts too?” She asked him.

  He stopped and turned around. “Yes I did dear! Plus I can hear our child’s heart beat.” He smiled at her widely.

  Colleen smiled broadly.

  He pulled her up to a two story house. It was on the outskirts of the little town. She hadn’t realized it was quite that small at first. However, maybe that would be better. The less people around she still felt the better off they would be. Colleen had pleaded her case to be out in the woods somewhere instead. But he had told her that would have to wait until later. “I will have to find a good piece of land and buy it, then build our home. So we are looking at a few months for sure.”

  She hadn’t been happy at that point. However, she understood his plan.

  “We are still going to go to the woods eventually right? I mean not wait for too long? How much did this cost? How did we afford it?” She asked him.

  “We will move to the woods yes, don’t worry. There are only around 100 people at the most in this town. Don’t worry about the money, I had it. Please Colleen you need to think of the baby.” Kaiden told her, trying to calm all of her fears at once.

  “I just think we would be better off without anyone around us.” Colleen looked out the window her fear apparent.

  “Look at any sign of someone knowing who either of us are, I can do a spell. It is a hard one to do, but I believe I have enough magic skill to do it.” Kaiden explained.

  Colleen looked at him, she studied him deeply. She saw no sign of betrayal in his eyes. He did love her, she could tell that so she felt safe.

  “You will do this spell if anyone notices either of us?” Colleen questioned again.

  “Yes I promise you that I will do the forget spell if anyone says a word to us that we have to wonder if we have been discovered or not. I will not make us run, not while you are pregnant. I also promise you that within the next few months I’ll start looking for a place in the woods for us to build.” Kaiden said, putting his hands on top of hers. “Please just trust me. I won’t let a single thing happen to you or our little child.”

  She smiled up at him. Her fears seemed to be something that would drive her crazy. “Let’s go out and get some goods for our new home then. We will see if anyone recognizes me. I stand out a bit more than you do anyway!” She commented.

  It was true the Queen would have a bounty on her head for sure by now. If they weren’t far enough from home, or if someone around here was from out of town, they might notice her.

  “Alright, let’s go.” Kaiden said and walked with her outside.

  He helped her get into the wagon. Heading into town, Colleen had a dreadful feeling cross over her body. She wasn’t sure why, but she had a feeling that something might take place. She hoped that Kaiden was ready with this spell. In fact as she thought about it maybe they should have just done the spell without going to get the goods.

  She turned to him about ready to ask him what he thought.

  “I don’t know if that would be a good idea. What if no one notices you? If I use this spell I don’t know how long it will take to recover. We use it now, and in a month or two someone notices you, I may not be able to do anything. That will mean we will have to flee while you are pregnant, and much more so at that point.” Kaiden commented.

  “Aye, you are right.” She admitted.

  He pulled up to the front of the store that looked very small from the outside. “ I don’t know how much stock they have on hand, but hopefully enough to start with!” He stated.

  They walked in and the shop keeper looked up.

  “Hello, new to town?” He asked them. He seemed like a friendly sort.

  “Yes we just move down from up north.” Kaiden stated, not giving the correct direction they had come to town from.

  The man looked at Colleen. “You look very familiar, do I know you from somewhere?” He asked her. His eyes got a far off look as if trying to place her face.

  “No I don’t think so sir.” She answered, but felt the thrill of fear shot throughout her body.

  Kaiden squeezed her hand to calm her down.

  “The eyes they remind me of someone I once knew I think.” He finally commented and looked away from the couple.

  They bought their goods and left the store.

  “Did he know me?” Colleen asked almost before they were out the door.

  “I’m not sure he had too many questions going around in his head. But I will do the spell once we get home if you want. Or we can wait to see if he says anything to anyone. He didn’t have a direct link to who you might be set in his mind though. So we might be safe.” Kaiden explained.

  “That mind reading ability you have is very helpful.” Colleen commented.

  “I love it.” Kaiden admitted.

  “Let’s wait to see if he says anything to anyone before you use the spell. But we might have to be very careful about it. All it takes is one person thinking the wrong thing, and I don’t know if they will kill me or simply turn me over.” Colleen stated.

  “I can tell you he had nothing in his mind about killing you for now!” Kaiden commented. “If he had he wouldn’t be alive still.”

  Colleen looked at him no doubt that he was telling the truth.

  “Is there a way you can try and focus on the whole town’s thoughts?” Colleen asked.

  “It would take a lot out of me too, and trying to keep them all separate would be impossible for now.” He stated.

  “But if you hear someone think something well you can do the spell, right?” Colleen said.

  “Alright let me do it when we get home. I’ll see if I hear anything.”

  When they got back to their new home, Colleen put the things away and Kaiden sat down to focus.

  Colleen watched him from the other side of the room. The whole time she couldn’t get away from the feeling of fear in her mind. She watched as his brow furrowed.

  “I’m sorry dear I’m going to have to do the spell. I hear far too many whispers about an heiress being in the kingdom. Someone the Queen is searching for. I don’t know who brought in the rumors or anything. But I know we need to stop them now.” Kaiden explained.

  “I had a feeling this whole time.” Colleen admitted.

  Kaiden focused and chanted the words for the spell. Colleen watched intently as he looked as if he aged years in front of her.

  “I don’t know if I’m strong enough. I might be able to do it.” Kaiden stated.

  She walked over behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. “Use some of my energy if you need too.”

  “I can’t it may hurt the baby. This has to be all me.” Kaiden admitted.

  As she watched she saw a few of his hairs turn gray on the sides of his head. The moments passed and more hairs turned color. Colleen began to worry wondering if he was going to survive this spell.

  Finally, he fell to the ground. “It is done, we are safe. But I’m sorry baby we will have to stay in town for a while. Please help me to bed.” Kaiden whispered.

  Colleen looked at him. “Will you be okay?” She asked, worried.

  “Yes I just need sleep.” Kaiden said.

  Colleen helped him lie down on the bed and curled up beside him. He placed a hand on her stomach. “It is safe for us now. But I don’t know how long this spell will last on them. I also placed a barrier up around the town to not allow new news into this town. It is what really took the power out of me. However, we can be safe here for a lon
g time now. I hope anyway.” Kaiden said and closed his eyes.

  THE END

  HOT ALPHA SEAL

  Trent Jonas was a rough and tough Navy Seal. He loved the military. But in his love life he could use a bit of help. Maybe it was like Kimberly had told him once.

  “You love the military more than anything. Perhaps if you loved me like you did it, I would be happy.” She had told him in their last fight.

  She had left him that day. It had broken his heart. He really had loved her. But that was over 20 years ago now. The sad thing for Trent was that he hadn’t found love again. Perhaps that was because Kimberly had left a hole in his heart.

  Or maybe it was because she was right. He wanted to spend 30 years in the military and retire. If he could he’d spend even longer than that. However, he had already been informed that after 30 years they would retire him.

  It was the danger, he was addicted to the missions they undertook. He loved how the adrenaline pumped through his veins. Knowing that this might be the last time he was alive on the face of Earth never bugged him.

  That carefree attitude with his own life had been something that had drove Kimberly mad too.

  “What about how I feel when you go out on a mission? Have you ever thought that maybe I want you to come back in one piece? Trent he’s telling you to say your last goodbyes, this is dangerous. You do get that right?” She had cried.

  He had been heading to Iraq for a secret mission at that point. It was ver y dangerous and his commander had warned him to say his last goodbyes to everyone just in case.

  “I’ll be just fine babe.” He remembered trying to console her.

  “No you just don’t care if you come back or not. There is a difference between that and your comment. I’ll be just fine babe? You say it every time. Last time Timmy got shot during the mission. You remember that? He pushed you out of the way, or it would have been you.” Kimberly had been hysterical by this time.

  Trent didn’t know what to say. She had hit on the truth. He really didn’t care if he came back or not. It was part of his duty. If he had to die for his country, he was okay with it.

  That had also been the last mission they were together. She had left him after he came back home. Trent was happy she had at least stuck around until then.

  He really had loved her. After Kimberly he had shut off his heart. Made it protected. Not that he skipped having sex. But it was easy for him to hook up for the night.

  “You know women love a man in uniform!” He chuckled out loud. “Why are you thinking of Kimberly right now?” He asked himself. Usually this would happen when he was feeling lonely.

  There were times he wished he would have paid more attention to what she was saying. Would have taken them more seriously, changed how he acted when he left for a mission. But he couldn’t go back and change those things now.

  After she left he had gone down into a hole for a bit. He had started to drink some after work, and had even stopped working out. But all it took to get him back into the zone was another mission.

  However, now 20 years after he had watched her walk out the door. It was only 2 years more until he would retire. Be kicked out of the military he loved so much. Sure he could be a recruiter if he wanted, but where was the fun in that?

  It wouldn’t be the same as going on the missions they often were sent on. Like those missions that he had a 50-50 shot of coming back alive, if he was lucky. Sometimes that was a high number and their chances of survival were a lot less.

  In 2 years he would have to give it all up. He was looking at a life that would be lonely in more than one ways. Even if he stayed in as a recruiter, which wasn’t even a guarantee. That life that he had gotten used to for the last 28 years was coming to an end. He was sad and with this feeling came the temptation to pick up the bottle once more.

  Trent didn’t know if he would be able to put it down again if he did. The last time he had come close to collapsing inside of that bottle and never getting out. Thankfully a dangerous mission had come up. It had invigorated him from the moment he learned they were scheduled to leave.

  With only 12 hours’ notice he had barely enough time to sober up before the mission. They had almost lost a man that time too, and it would have been his fault. If he hadn’t been so damn drunk for the past 5 months he would have been sharp.

  Trent shook his head. “Fucking Kimberly it’s all her fault.”

  He looked down. “No I can’t blame this on her at all. If I had just let myself love her more I wouldn’t be alone right now. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him and he had let her go. His own stupidity had made him want the danger more than the love. He had chased the wrong addiction at the time and he was paying for it now.

  “I want to be addicted to love.” He laughed, as he listened to the Robert Palmer song of the same name.

  It had been one of her favorite songs. Trent muttered out loud. “No wonder you’ve never found love, you’ve held onto her for all these years.”

  Well he did have a point there. But he had just clicked with her in so many ways. She had also been military. Not a Seal, but she was a security specialist. “Man she looked hot in that uniform!” He closed his eyes remembering her as she was the very first time they had met.

  A smile came on his face as he saw it clearly, like it was yesterday.

  “Sir I’m sorry you left your badge somewhere. But I need to see it to allow you in the building.” Kimberly had said to him.

  “Are you kidding me? Call them and ask them who I am. Get verification and then let me in with your badge.” He had stared her down.

  He had to give it to her she had spunk. Trent had never seen her before; she must have just gotten assigned here. “Look Seaman.” He looked down at her nametag. “Seaman Sanks, I realize you’re new here and you don’t want to get into trouble. But you won’t I’m Petty Officer Jonas I’ll sign any paperwork to make sure you don’t get into trouble.” Trent said to her.

  She had looked at him. Studied him to make sure he wasn’t just feeding her a line. Though she could easily see his rank and name he knew how some Commanders were. The security Commander had the reputation of being a real dick to the new people.

  “No you know what I know you’re Commander. I’ll go and get my badge. He’s too much of a dick to deal with!” Trent had turned to leave.

  He had heard her giggle. She sounded like she was trying to hold it back. When he turned to look at her, she had lost it in a full blown laugh.

  Shaking her head she picked up the phone on the desk and called upstairs. The next thing Trent knew he was being let inside. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience sir.”

  It took him a month before he finally asked her out one morning. Every day they would chat a bit more and learn something about the other. Trent found her not only intelligent, but sexy!

  She stood 5’ 7” tall and her brown hair was often in place. But the best times were when it wasn’t staying up in place and there would be a few strands hanging loose. Trent would tell her about it. As a warning so she could fix it. Some of the other officers were stricter about those types of regulations. As far as Trent was concerned the strands of hair looked too sexy he just wanted all of her hair down.

  These fantasies of his had taken place quite often until he had finally gotten up the nerve to ask her out.

  “Seaman Sanks I think we’ve learned a lot about each other in the past few weeks.” Trent had begun.

  “Yes sir I think your right.” She had nodded her head in agreement.

  Trent had given her a quick look. She never called him sir, not unless someone else was coming. He saw her head nod up to her right.

  “Captain, good morning sir, how are you today?” He had stood at attention.

  “Good morning, how are you both today? He had asked.

  “Fine sir, thank you very much.” They had answered in unison.

  After he was in the door they had both busted out laughing. The Captain had gi
ven them both the strangest look as he went in the door. They could both tell he had wanted to know what they were talking about. The Captain was one of the biggest gossips they had ever met.

  “So Kimberly as I was saying. Will you go out to dinner with me tonight?” Trent had finally asked. The words were out now if she would just say yes.

  “Yes I’d like that a lot Trent.” She had answered.

  Trent had smiled it had made his day. Hell his year and his life all in one moment. He had liked what he had learned about her in the past few weeks.

  She was a military brat, her father had been a Colonel in the Air Force when he retired, and her eyes were the greenest emerald’s he’d ever seen. With her brown hair it made her a beauty.

  Trent was sure if she had wanted she could have made it as a model. But she had wanted to join the military. Since she was the only kid she had wanted to continue a tradition that had been in their family for the past 7 generations.

  He thought that made her a very special person. He was sure she had been told about her looks her whole life. She had probably even been approached by someone asking her to model.

  So the fact that instead she went into the military as a security special, it made her amazing in his eyes. Trent was also a military brat; his father had retired as a General.

  Trent thought back to that night and how it had ended. He wanted to take her to bed. Wanted to touch her body, but she had refused. “I’m not that type of girl. You have to date me a few times. Then and only then if I decide I want to go to bed with you we may; or I may make you wait until we are married!”

  His head had spun around so quickly when she said that. He saw the smile on her face and knew that at least part of the statement was false. However, she was serious about tonight.

  It didn’t take long for him to take her on enough dates to bed her. About five dates later they were in his bedroom and Trent was looking at her wonderfully naked body.

  She was lean and she had some of the nicest breasts he’d ever seen. They were perfectly round and a 38 D. The perfect size, at least in his eyes they were. He devoured them with mouth. Sucking on her nipples as he played with her pussy, Trent loved to watch her body squirm in pleasure.