216 Rancher Way

by Olivia T. Turner

  The mom doesn’t look too upset. She looks more intrigued about Butch than she seems upset that we’re here.

  I’ll just stand over here and let her enjoy the view. As long as she doesn’t feed me to the sharks, she can use my eye candy for a bit.

  “Were you the one who wrote about the raccoon that looks like Samuel L. Jackson?” the boy says, staring at me in awe.

  “It was me!” I say, thrilled to have my first fan. “Want to see some more pictures?”

  The kids are so excited as I walk over and pull out my phone. “He kind of looks like Jules from Pulp Fiction in this one.”

  The dad leans over the table to look.

  “I tried to put an eye patch on him to make him look like Nick Fury but he tried to bite me.”

  The kids are laughing at each picture. Even the dad is chuckling.

  The mom is completely focused on Butch. “Sit down,” she says with a bat of her eyelashes. “I’ll get you guys some breakfast. A big strong man like you must be hungry.”

  I give her the side-eye as she walks over to the mini-fridge while fixing her hair.

  “Where are you guys headed to?” Butch asks. “Costa Rica?”

  “What? No,” the mom says as she grabs two coffee mugs. “We’re just having breakfast on the water and going back to the dock.”

  Phew. That was a close one.

  Butch and I sit at the table, holding hands under it as I show them more pictures of Cherry Falls’ most famous raccoon.

  “Thank you so much!” I say with a wave as we walk away from our new friends. “Sorry again about that!”

  “We were young once too,” Anna says as she hooks her arm around Jeff’s and bats her eyelashes at her husband.

  The man is clueless. “And you can quote me in the paper about those security cameras,” he says with a huff. “Absolutely ridiculous with the extravagant docking fees we pay.”

  “Will do!” I say as I give him a thumbs up. We wave to the kids and hurry the fuck out of there.

  Once we’re back on the street, we double over laughing. “See?” I say when we’re down to giggles. “People aren’t so bad, right?”

  Butch nods with a smile on his face. “I guess you’re right. I’d like to get out more. If you’re by my side.”

  I look up at him and smile. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”

  Chapter Ten

  Daisy

  I’ve never been so nervous to have someone read my work. We’re hanging out on his ranch and I’m biting my nails and fidgeting relentlessly as Butch reads over my article.

  I really want him to like it. It’s the feature I wrote about him.

  He smiles as he gets two thirds in and I take a breath of relief.

  “Strong and stoic,” he reads, “Butch’s demeanor can turn some people off with his gruff way, but he’s hiding a soft vulnerable heart that I’ve been lucky to come to know so well over the past week.”

  “Do you like the part about the cat?” I ask as I lean forward.

  His forehead scrunches up in the way I like when he goes back to that part. “Butch is like a cat, whereas I’m like a dog. I’m friendly to anyone who crosses my path, but Butch makes you earn it. He holds back his affection until he’s sure you deserve it, and then if you’re lucky enough to qualify, he’ll drape you in it.”

  “Pretty clever, huh?” I ask with a grin.

  He laughs. “You’re not really going to print this, are you?”

  “Of course! It’s my best article yet!”

  “I hate to break it to you, Daisy,” he says as he shakes his head. “Nobody is going to pay to read about me.”

  “First of all, the paper is free, and second of all, you’re super interesting. You’re a mystery of this town that people want to know about.”

  “Oh, really?” He’s not buying it at all.

  “Really. And no woman with a pulse is going to be able to resist picking up a copy if it has your gorgeous face plastered on the cover.”

  He sighs as I lift up my phone. “Picture time, handsome.”

  Butch tries to argue with me, but I’m not budging on this. We walk over to the cows and I get a couple of shots of him posing with his friends.

  “Great,” I say as I thumb through them. “Now take off your shirt.”

  “You’re not putting a picture of me shirtless on the front page of the town’s newspaper.”

  “I won’t,” I answer with a smirk. “The shirtless ones are just for me.”

  He shows me that sexy devilish smile. “In that case…” I take a deep breath as he peels off his shirt, showing every hard rippling muscle on his glorious torso.

  I snap a few dozen photos of him before he gets camera shy.

  “What are you going to do with those?” he asks as he flexes his arms for me. I can’t hit that circular button fast enough. Click click click click click click click click click click.

  “I’m going to look at them,” I say as a flush creeps up my neck. “When you’re not around.”

  “Are you going to touch yourself while you do?” he asks in that deep throaty voice that always signals that things are about to get fun.

  I lower the camera and look at my man. His eyes look hungry as he starts walking toward me.

  “Maybe,” I whimper in a tiny voice.

  “Tell me how you’re going to slide your fingers through your warm wet pussy,” he growls as he gets closer. I swallow hard when I see the long hard outline of his big cock rising in his jeans. There’s a throbbing pulse between my legs as I anticipate what’s coming.

  I can’t speak as he comes up to me, his huge shirtless body towering over me. I gulp as I look at his massive chest that looks perfectly carved with muscle.

  “Are you going to dip your finger into your hot little hole? Are you going to rub your tiny clit? Tell me you’re going to lick the hot creamy juices off your fingers as you’re thinking about my big cock.”

  I’m practically panting when his hands come down on me.

  “How about instead of telling me,” he growls, “you show me? Right. Fucking. Now.”

  It’s like he has control of my body. I always do what he says. I can’t help it.

  Less than a minute later, we’re under the shade of the tree and my legs are spread in front of him. He’s watching with a heated glare as I play with my pussy, getting my fingers soaked as I start moaning louder and louder.

  I can tell it’s hard for him to keep his distance and not take over. But he seems intent on watching only as I get myself off.

  I start massaging my tits and giving him a show as I dip my fingers knuckle deep inside me and then lick them clean.

  “Fuck, Daisy,” he groans as he watches me slide my fingers through my lips like I’m sucking a cock. “This is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  He watches with unblinking eyes as I rub my clit so hard that I cum all over my hand. Juice sprays out all over my fingers, but this time, he’s the one that licks them clean.

  As the orgasm engulfs my body, he pulls out his hard cock and moves me where he wants me. I’m laying on the grass with my legs spread as he comes down on top of me. With a moan from each of us, he sinks his big dick deep into my pulsing pussy with one hard thrust.

  I love being filled with him. It’s my favorite way to be.

  He takes me with his big cock, bringing me to one orgasm after another under the gently swaying tree, and for the first time, I realize that I had it all wrong.

  He was right. This is the place to be.

  The outside world can eat a bag of dicks.

  I never want to leave this ranch again.

  Epilogue

  Daisy

  Two months later…

  Butch is sitting on my desk watching me as I take care of the final touches of this week’s newspaper with Glory.

  “And… done,” I say as I hit the send button. It’s off to the printers now.

  “I love that weekly feature idea,” she says as she skip
s over to Charlie’s desk and opens the top drawer. “It really takes the pressure off of finding a compelling new story every week.”

  Annabeth is on the cover of this issue, looking adorable with her red hair and freckles. She was so happy when I told her she was going to be the face of the newspaper for the week.

  “I’m the story?” she asked with a big wide toothy grin.

  I smile as I look at my favorite subject. Butch’s story was a hit with the town and since then we’ve done seven features. It helped change everyone’s attitude about him and he didn’t even bite the heads off the dozen or so strangers who walked over and started talking to him like they were old friends. My grumpy man has come a long way.

  “Only one shot this week,” Glory says with a grin as she pulls out the bottle of gin and a shot glass.

  Oh crap. How can I pull this off?

  Butch’s possessive blue eyes are laser-focused on me as she walks back over with the bottle.

  “Maybe you better put it back then,” I say, trying to sound casual.

  “Nonsense,” she says as she makes a show of putting the bottle and shot glass in front of me with a dramatic flick of her wrist. “You’re having a shot. It’s tradition.”

  I catch her eyes and give her a look. “Maybe you should put it back.” I raise my eyebrows and tilt my head slightly until she gets my meaning.

  “Ooooooh,” she says when it hits her.

  There are only three good reasons why a girl my age would refuse a shot and I’m not hungover and I’m not religious.

  We both whip our heads around to look at Butch. He’s on his feet now, wringing his hands as he stares at me in shock.

  “Are you… pregnant?” He can barely spit out the last word.

  I start to panic. He’s always talking about wanting to breed me in the bedroom, but that’s just pillow talk. He likes to talk dirty is all. He’s not actually ready to have children with me. Is he? I guess I’m about to find out.

  “Surprise!” I say, laughing nervously.

  He just stands there staring.

  “I’m going to let you guys talk this out,” Glory says as she lowers the bottle onto the desk and quickly flees out of the office.

  “You’re upset,” I say, feeling a fierce rambling about to come on. “It was an accident. I wasn’t trying to get pregnant, you must know that. I wasn’t trying to have your baby. Although I would like to have your baby, that’s not the issue, but I wasn’t trying to. Can you please say something?”

  He clears his throat as he stares at me. “You think I’m… upset?”

  “Aren’t you?”

  He slowly shakes his head from side to side. “No, Daisy. I’m not upset. This is me at my happiest.”

  “But you’re not even smiling!”

  “I’m too shocked to smile,” he says as he starts walking over. “But that will come. I wanted you pregnant with my child ever since I first saw you pop out of the long grass on my ranch like a flower.”

  “Really?”

  He takes my hand in his and all my worries melt away. I should have known he’d be thrilled. I shouldn’t have doubted it would all work out perfectly. All of it has since this big beautiful man walked into my life.

  “I love you, Daisy,” he says as he leans in closer. “More than anything.”

  “I love you too,” I say back. Nothing could be more true than that statement.

  I’m expecting a warm kiss and for his big arms to wrap around me, but he drops to a knee instead.

  This time it’s my turn to be shocked.

  “What are you…?”

  The words vanish from my mouth. My heart starts doing little flips in my chest.

  “Daisy Daniels. Will you marry me?”

  Happy tears start streaming from my eyes and I nod my head yes. I can’t find any words.

  He reaches into the tiny pocket of his jeans and pulls out a ring. It’s shiny and gorgeous and the diamond is huge.

  “Where did that come from?” I ask in shock instead of answering his question.

  “I was planning on proposing to you tonight,” he says as he looks up at me with love. “On top of the Ferris wheel, but I just can’t wait another second to have you as my fiancée.”

  “Where’s the box?”

  He laughs as I close my eyes and shake my head in embarrassment. Please stop asking stupid questions. I still haven’t even answered the major question that’s lingering in the air between us.

  “I wanted it to be a surprise but the huge square shape in my pocket would have given it away. Any more questions before I get my answer?”

  He’s grinning as my cheeks heat up.

  “I’m a reporter, what do you want from me?” I answer with a laugh. “Ask me again.”

  He clears his throat and straightens his back.

  “Daisy Daniels,” he says in a deep loving tone. “Will you marry me?”

  This time I have the perfect answer lined up.

  “Yes!”

  Epilogue

  Butch

  Fifteen Years Later…

  “I hope you don’t have forty-five candles on there,” I say as Daisy hides my birthday cake in the kitchen. “You’re going to burn the place down.”

  “Don’t be silly, daddy,” our youngest Lisa says in her adorable little voice. “Mommy can’t fit that many candles on a cake.”

  “I guess I am getting pretty old,” I say with a grin. I’m forty-five years old today, but I’m still young enough to take care of my girl, that’s for sure.

  My five kids are sitting around the table, waiting with excitement as Daisy turns around with the cake. Our oldest Tom jumps up and turns the lights off as they start singing Happy Birthday to me.

  I love being around these people. I can’t get enough of it.

  When I first met Daisy, I had gone most days with nothing but some cows for company, and now, I have a houseful of people I love. It’s crazy what she’s done for me. What she’s brought into my life.

  I’ll be forever thankful for that.

  They all cheer as I blow out my candles and then the kids hover around, each saying they want the biggest piece.

  I cut the cake, hand out pieces, and then they’re each shoving adorable crafts made out of toilet paper rolls, hand-drawn cards, or dried noodle necklaces at me. I love each one.

  Daisy grins as she hands me a present. As if I need one. She’s the only gift I’ve ever needed.

  I open it and look at her with confusion. “Is this a drone?”

  “Yup,” she says with a big smile.

  I’m not sure why she bought me this. I’ve never expressed the slightest interest in having a drone.

  “Cool!” Tom says as he rips the box out of my hands. The kids are all over it, yanking it out, and getting it ready.

  “Can we go try it?” Ryan asks us. “Please!”

  “You have to play with it at the park,” Daisy says and they all race to put their shoes on.

  I try to get up to join them, but Daisy puts a hand on my shoulder and pushes me back down. “Stay right there, cowboy.”

  The kids are so excited and distracted by the new drone that they sprint out of the house without looking back.

  “That’s an interesting gift,” I say as I look at my stunning wife. Even in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, she’s still a stunner. “I don’t remember asking for a drone.”

  She hurries over to the front door and locks it with a click.

  “Oh, please,” she says as she struts back to me. “That was just a distraction. This is your real present.”

  My jaw drops as she pulls off her sweatshirt and sweatpants. She’s wearing lacy mesh lingerie that hugs her sexy curves and makes my cock rock hard with just one look.

  After five kids and a decade and a half together, this girl still gets me going with ease. I can’t believe I get to be inside her.

  I can’t believe she’s all mine.

  I stand up with a groan and go to her. She whimpers as I pick h
er up and drop her on the table.

  Our mouths meet, her legs spread, and she gets busy giving me the best birthday present ever…

  Her.

  Epilogue

  Daisy

  Thirty Years Later…

  “Grandma!” my oldest grandchild Evan says with a big smile that’s caked around the edges with dried chocolate ice cream. “We’re going on the Ferris wheel!”

  I smile as I look up at Frenchies Ferris Wheel. It’s been changed a few times over the years, but I can still remember the first time that Butch took me up there like it was yesterday.

  “Are you going to come up with us?” Evan asks with the blue eyes he got from Butch beaming brightly.

  “We’ll be on the next one,” Butch says with a mischievous grin. “I want my own cabin for me and my girl.”

  I can’t help but giggle as he holds me back. Our oldest Tom, his wife Beth, and their two kids climb into a cabin and disappear into the air with excited squeals.

  “You’ve had me to yourself for forty-five years now,” I say when we get into our own cabin. “Isn’t that enough for you?”

  He shakes his head as his possessive eyes lock onto me. “I could have another hundred and I wouldn’t be sick of my beautiful bride.”

  I laugh as the attendant closes the door and we swing into the air.

  “Don’t get shy on me now,” he says in his low growly voice.

  I start to blush as I hop onto his bench and feel his big arm wrap around me.

  Butch is in his seventies now, but he’s still as hot and tempting as he was the first day I saw him. He has a lot more wrinkles but they suit him. They make him look even more manly and that smile of his—when I’m blessed enough to receive it—hasn’t lost any of its light.

  “Oh, look,” I say as I point to the shop where Madame Lovehart’s Fortune Telling used to be. It’s a tattoo parlor now. “It’s gone.”