The Lone Texan

by Lass Small

  She smiled. She was no bear.

  Or...maybe she was actually a creature of prey. He was her prey.

  She got up and went to the door and there was no lock on it. But there was a straight chair.

  She tucked that under the knob quite skillfully. She went to the bed as she unbuttoned her blouse.

  She hesitated soberly.

  What was she doing? Had she gone berserk? The badly injured man was asleep! Helpless. He’d—Well, he had told her whenever she was interested to come to him, or call him or get in touch in whatever way she could. He was ready.

  There she was, body hungry! How shocking! Not only body hungry but ready and eager—and the chair had barred the door!

  She looked at Tom. The poor guy had just gone through a wringer by the murderer. He was out flat and dead asleep.

  That was his problem.

  She would just use him.

  What if he couldn’t...uh...rise to the occasion?

  What if his damned sex was stubborn and selective? What if he was too hurt to be—even—interested? What if he was just lax and indifferent?

  She went to the bed and looked at his face. He was frowning a tad. Nightmare?

  He was dreaming she was after his body? Well, she was!

  With some moxie from watching the male nurses, she held his arm and lifted it over so that he rolled over onto his back.

  She looked at him. He was still sleeping. Out cold. Naked.

  She smiled.

  His sex was eager and excited and waving around quite shockingly for a man in that condition!

  His lips parted. His breathing changed. It got a little rough.

  She slid out of her panties, which were silk, and she put them on the chair. She took off her shoes. She slid in the diaphragm from her purse.

  That was smart.

  She gently climbed half over him and caught the wildly waving sex to guide it into her eager body. She was thoughtfully wondering if it would be—and his good arm suddenly reached up, pulled her down on him and his lower body curled up to meet her!

  She gasped.

  He made a sound that was shockingly sexual delight, and he undulated slowly and with excessive pleasure.

  He pulled her interesting, soft, chest down onto his chest with that one good arm and he said, “Move.”

  She thought he meant for her to get off his fragile body and said, “I’m sorry—”

  He laughed in his throat in that wicked way only a man can do. He said, “Oh, baby—” He said, “Ahhhh.”

  He said, “Move only a little or I’ll blow up like a volcano.” He said, “I love you.”

  She said, “You tell all women that! You haven’t even opened your eyes to see who is on you this way!”

  He laughed. One never knows why in this world God ever allowed men to laugh that way. It’s wicked and luring and shivers women’s insides...low down in their pit.

  He said, “Kiss me. Kiss me like you mean it.”

  She said, “Well, I was the one who started all this! Of course I ‘mean’ it!”

  But his good arm brought her face down to his and he did the exceptional kissing. He was intrusive and fabulous! He did as he chose and he about drove her crazy!

  They reached the heights and hung there in space before they slid back down to earth and were again in his bed...her on top. She was quite disorganized. Her hair was all messed up. Her clothing was askew. And she was smiling.

  He laughed softly.

  She told him, “You just took over. I was going to be gentle and kind.”

  “You were.”

  “No. You did it all. I wasn’t quite ready for such an—uh—encounter.”

  He was shocked. “You didn’t enjoy it?”

  She moved in a slight pushing wiggle on top of his body and she said, “It was awesome. I enjoyed it immensely.”

  “So’d I, you voracious, pushy woman.”

  “I wanted you.”

  “I’ve wanted you ever since I first saw you. What happened that you came on to me thisaway?”

  “I don’t know.”

  He sighed and hugged her, one armed. “Does this urge only come once in a lifetime?”

  She considered and warned him, “It might not be that seldom.”

  “I think your just staying right there and holding what’s left of me is very kind. But my sex is getting lax and shriveling up.”

  “How rude of it.”

  He sighed. “I have no control over it at all. It has a life of its own. You ought to see what excites him—and I’m not even interested!”

  “How inter—or should I say ‘a while ago?’”

  “It was the one time it agreed with me.” Tom sighed. “Life isn’t easy for a man.”

  “Aww ww.”

  Tom mentioned, “My sex is getting anxious and interested again. Could—I suppose, this soon, it’d be a drag?”

  She said prissily, “Give me time to breathe.”

  Tom licked his lips and bit on his bottom lip as he inquired, “How much breathing do you do?”

  Ellen lifted her eyebrows and looked down at Tom’s face. She tilted her head as she inquired, “It’s never been necessary. You must be overstudded?”

  “I’ve never had this problem of my sex being so—pushy. I’m embarrassed.”

  She laughed. It was soft and smothered. She didn’t move. She stayed on top of him on the bed.

  Tom mentioned seriously, “We might be surprised. Who knows who all might come barging into this room?”

  “I blocked the door.”

  He grinned and his chest rumbled a little as he laughed so slyly and so softly. His one good arm around her relentlessly, he asked, “Just what are you planning for this innocent child you’ve got trapped under you thisaway?”

  “You’re older than I, and I didn’t have to do much of anything to get you. You’re easy!” She tilted her head up so that she could look at him down her tiny nose.

  He hugged her rather ruthlessly with that one good arm and he told her, “I’m gonna keep you, hear me?”

  Airily, she retorted, “I’ve already uh—won—my take. I took you.”

  Tom said, “Mercy to goodness! If my mama ever finds this out, she’ll faint right in the middle of everything. She’s no discreet woman. She responds instantly. She’ll faint and gasp and come to slowly as she asks my daddy, ‘Did we really get rid of Tom?’”

  Ellen nodded. “I’ll say, ‘Yep. It wasn’t at all easy,’ and I’ll roll my eyes and sigh very dramatically.”

  “Wow.”

  She eased from him.

  He objected.

  She said, “I know how fragile you are. I shouldn’t take such advantage of you.”

  “I don’t mind a-tall! Cross my heart. Let’s do it again.”

  “I have to adjust to being that invasive.” She lifted a hand and said, “Oh, hush! I know. I know. But it was my idea! Just you remember that.”

  “I’ve waited for years.”

  “We’ve only known each other a little while.”

  “I fell in love with you when we went out on the deck and you sat at the table waiting for lunch or something.”

  “—to sit in the sunshine.”

  “Oh. I thought you were after—me.”

  “Not the first time.”

  Her mind must have gone on beyond and around because she then said, “What ever happened to that mouse in the cage in the kitchen?”

  “We’ve looked. He was a barn mouse, and I suspect he skedaddled on back to where he belonged?”

  She considered. “No sense of improvement? He was contented to be a stable mouse?”

  “No élan at all.”

  She asked, “Élan? Now how’d you know such a word.”

  “My mama.”

  “I should have considered her influence. I’ve never really thought of you being led by another human.”

  “I’m not!”

  She moved to release him and his one arm held her quickly. He said, “Stay wit
h me.”

  “I’m squashing you. I need to let you breathe and move a little so that you can get better. If I stayed as an appendage, you might find it awkward.”

  “When I need to stand up?”

  She corrected, “When people come into the room.”

  “That’s very considerate of you. I suppose I should remember how ladylike you are.”

  “My mama taught me the rules.” She began to release herself.

  His arm brought her back to his body and he kissed her yet again. He allowed her some distance. Then he mentioned, “You’re whisker burned. Nobody will be surprised. They’ll think I gotcha.”

  “You did.”

  “I was a victim! I was helpless. You blocked the door and took advantage of me!”

  She slid off the bed as she looked at the door then at Tom. She lifted her eyebrows and retorted, “Of course. I did it. You’re bed bound.”

  He sighed dramatically. “My whole, entire reputation is ruined! I’ve been...had.”

  She grinned very smugly. “Yes.” She tilted her head and considered. “I’ll see to it that somebody will have to knock on the door to find out how come it’s locked to them. I’ll open it. In five minutes every single—or married—person will know what went on in this room.”

  “I’m trapped.” He sighed with some drama. “You’ll have to marry me. My reputation is,” he sighed again, “ruined.”

  “Yeah.” She licked her lips and grinned. Then she combed her hair carefully. Put on lipstick with exquisite skill. She adjusted her clothing, shaking it out and smoothing it. She said, “I’m pure.” With the most wicked glance at him he’d ever seen!

  He threw out the hand of his good arm and said, “I’m gossip dust.”

  “Yep.”

  “You’ll have to make me an honest man and—marry me.”

  With the last two words, he buckled back to being a man. His tone changed. His attention to her was riveted. He was deadly serious in the kindest, most charming manner. He watched her with intense attention. “Help me get out of bed so that I can get down on my good knee and propose properly.”

  She bit her bottom lip to control her smile, but her eyes sparkled with tender tears and danced as she said, “I suppose I should save your reputation.”

  “It would be kind of you. I wouldn’t have to wear a hat over my face and sneak in and out of the house... if my mama and daddy even let me continue to stay there.”

  “They love you. If you were in trouble, they’d stand by you.”

  “Yeah.”

  Ellen became serious. “I love you, too.”

  “Enough? Or are you just tasting me.”

  “No. It’s real. I love you.”

  “Come back in bed with me. Let me hold you against me.”

  She put up a hand as she said, “Don’t tempt me. The crew will be in to wake you. I ought to rinse you off a little—”

  “Okay.”

  “Do you know where I’m talking about?”

  “I’d do anything to get you to rinse me off. Do it. The water will be cool and you’ll have to kiss me to make me brave.”

  She considered. “I could do that.”

  “Okay. But you haven’t much time. Hustle up, but take all the time you can.”

  “That’s a little confusing. Hurry up and wait?”

  “Hustle up...and be slow.”

  Ellen really smothered the laugh. Her eyes sparkled and she laughed silently.

  “You’re driving me crazy inside my skin.”

  “How weird. What’s inside your...skin?”

  “I’ll show you.”

  “Whoops. Time is passing. I’ve got to tidy you. Be still and cooperate.”

  He muttered, “How can a man be still and still cooperate?”

  “Hush.”

  Ellen washed his private parts first. She did his face next because there was a bit of her lipstick on his cheeks. Then she tidied the pillows and the sheet. He had already been naked from the exercise given him by the murderer.

  When there was the knock on the door to waken Tom, Ellen had already released the door and was sitting calmly in the chair. She turned her head and said, “Shhhh. He’s tired. The murderer just about killed him.”

  The intern laughed softly.

  The whole entire place laughed because everyone had guessed what had happened. The intern was sure he was right, that the two had made love. He was positive. What else would have soothed the restless patient? The intern walked with some casual importance.

  Tom smiled a whole lot. He was very different He was distracted. He listened and licked his lips and smiled. Whoever was speaking with Tom knew his thinking was on someone else. But they knew who that someone was. It was Ellen.

  Well, maybe not entirely, but Tom’s attention was casual. He was more eager in getting his body back in shape. He endured the exercises more kindly.

  The murderer who was the exerciser told Tom, “If you keep moving, they can’t bury you...yet.”

  Rather drolly, Tom replied, “I appreciate that advice. Did you stay up all night fishing for that wisdom?”

  The murderer’s reply was: “Yeah.”

  But it was Ellen who mentioned once in a careful whisper when the staff thought Tom was supposed to be sleeping, “I’m glad that horse didn’t step on that part of you.”

  Tom readily replied, “Me, too, and especially now. I love being inside you and feeling you squeeze me thataway.”

  She replied heartlessly aloof, “That’s only exercise. It’s good for my muscles.”

  His eyes overflowed with hilarity, and he tried not to snort and break the silence of the nap time.

  He mentioned, “You be careful of making me laugh.”

  Airily, she replied, “I’m only being honest What I say is basic.”

  And his own arm held her tightly as he lay under her and she moved. He gasped, “I like basic things.”

  She whispered, “Like—peanut butter?”

  He opened his mouth on her cheek and rubbed his tongue on the fragile flesh. “Like that?” He whispered. Then he told her, “You taste like heaven, not peanut butter.”

  “Well, dam.”

  It was rather interesting how quickly Tom was improving. He slept better. He was relaxed. He was interested. He listened.

  He and Ellen made love often and talked a lot. Of course, their conversations took place in whispers so as not to carry to other people’s ears. They were very quiet But their eyes sparkled and danced as they watched each other.

  Tom said, “Let me hold your hand.”

  “I dare not get that close to you. You’re a ravager!”

  “Now, just you listen! I’m in bed with a useless arm and leg. Who’s the ravager? Who was it that got on this bed and assaulted me?”

  “Well, dam.” She sighed in a rather eye-catching manner as she said, “I suppose everybody knows I did it with you?”

  “More than likely.”

  Slowly her face sobered. She finally looked at Tom. She said, “I was careless with myself.”

  “Not you. Phillip.”

  “I allowed it.”

  “What choice did you have?”

  She considered that time with Phillip. “Not very much.” She turned her head and looked out of the low window across the bed. “I was somewhat shocked.”

  “Like I was—not long ago when you assaulted me?”

  Ellen gasped in genuine shock. “I hadn’t thought... I didn’t know...”

  Tom laughed. “You were heaven!”

  “But—I hadn’t realized—”

  “Hush, woman, I wasn’t serious. I was just teasing.”

  “How could you be that harsh with me when you know what a life I’ve led?”

  He was serious and concerned. “What do you mean—what sort of life have you—led?”

  She turned to the window and her back was to Tom. She folded her arms in front of her body, blocking from him the outline of her breasts. She said sadly, “It doesn’t matter.�
�

  She ignored the intake of his breath as she turned and walked to the door of his room. She looked at him seriously and ignored his urgent voice as he said, “Listen, honey, you’re off on a roller coaster that has nothing to do with anything current.”

  She looked at him very seriously. Then she said, “Yes.”

  He urged, “What’s that mean?”

  Her gaze was steady and serious. “I understand.” She moved to the door and put her hand on the doorknob.

  He tried to curl up to sit up. He urged, “Don’t leave me.”

  “One of the other women will be glad to come by.”

  “I don’t want any other woman. I want you.”

  “One female is just like another.”

  He was extremely serious. “Are you saying I’m like Phillip?”

  She tilted her head. “You’re slower, and I had the time to enjoy you.”

  “Don’t leave me.”

  “I’m going back to the house. I’ll be in touch.”

  She turned and went out of the hospital room’s door as Tom said, “Wait!”

  She paused and just looked at him. Then she said, “Get the female nurse.” And she left.

  Ten

  It is a serious thing to a man to be stoved up and abed when a woman walks out on him. What is he to do?

  No smart man asks another man to go after his love and bring her back. But then, what woman would do that?

  What woman would go out after another woman who had just discarded a man?

  He phoned Lu over at Rip’s place. He told her, “You’ve got to help me. I need you right this minute. I have no idea who all is listening in, come over to the hospital and I’ll tell you what all you need to know.”

  Lu groaned something about the male population in its entirety and hung up.

  That shocked Tom and he hung up! But then he immediately called Lu back.

  That quick, the line was riveted with chatter! Just like that! Didn’t anybody have enough to do that they had to hang on the line? Good gravy! A man is endlessly coping with idle, visiting people.

  He tried to call Ellen, but was unable to get through on the phone. Tom decided to go up to the main house and see her for himself. It was important. He needed to stop her successive atomic blowups as soon as possible.