True-Blue Texas Cowboy

by Janalyn Knight

  She closed her eyes, desire coiling inside her.

  He pulled her down and kissed her.

  Scooting higher on his chest, she kissed him harder, teasing him with her tongue.

  Groaning, he lifted her shirt, pulling her nipple into his mouth as she arched into him, making soft sounds of her own. He stroked her, finding her sensitive places, suckling in all the right ways. Kissing her deeply, urgently, he sat her up, sliding her shirt over her head.

  She yanked off her shorts as he removed his.

  Jesse rolled her on her back and kissed her, nuzzling her breasts, and slid his lips down her belly.

  Her muscles tensed with the ticklish sensation and she pulled him back to kiss her mouth.

  He came up for air and grinned. "How about we feed a little late this morning, boss?"

  She grinned back. "I can think of something I'd rather do than feed cows."

  Rolling her over on top of him, he said, "It might be a lot later," and kissed her hard.

  JESSE HEADED FOR THE kitchen and called over his shoulder, "I have a meeting with my real estate lady. I'll just be a little while."

  She yelled, "Okay," before she shut the bathroom door.

  When she walked in the kitchen a few minutes later, her coffee was magically dripping away. Wow, he was a cowhand and made her coffee, too? Smiling, she gave him a long, seductive kiss while he sat at the table.

  He grabbed her and pulled her down. "Now this is how I want to start my days, woman. Making love and you sitting on my lap."

  "I can handle that. Especially if you put on the coffee."

  "Done." He kissed her again, delicately and deftly, giving her the shivers.

  "Hurry up and figure out our solution, cowboy. I'm liking this a lot." She grinned and dug her fingers into his sides.

  Laughing, he dodged, and grabbed her hands. "I'm working fast. I like it as much as you do. There're a couple of other things I like as well." Moving his hands to her breasts, he rubbed his thumbs across her nipples.

  Kicking her feet back and forth, she said, "What do you want for breakfast, Mr. Jesse?"

  "What do you usually eat?"

  "Something simple because I'm lazy. But I can make you eggs and bacon and toast. How does that sound?"

  "Wonderful, but I'll help."

  By the time they'd finished eating and cleaning up, Jesse needed to head into Woodbury to meet the realtor. Lee drove down to the barn to feed and check the heifers and couldn't help feeling like she had a bull's eye on the back of her head. Dammit! She wouldn't let that bastard make her paranoid in her own home!

  HALFWAY THROUGH MORNING service, Kenneth Hale's cell phone vibrated. It was the lame-brained redneck. Hale exited the side door and walked to his SUV, turning on the A/C.

  Not bothering to listen to the voicemail, he called Burke back.

  A gravelly voice said, "Hello?"

  "You called me?" Hale said shortly.

  A few seconds passed while the dumb shit probably checked Hale's number. "Yeah, I did what you asked. But she called the sheriff, and I had to get out of there. The bitch is still breathing."

  Hale was quiet for a while, thinking. "Okay, I'll meet you by the bridge outside of Woodbury and give you the other thousand. But I want you to do something else. It's worth five if you make it permanent. You know what I mean. That bitch has got a big mouth, and there's no telling what she talked to the cops about."

  Hale paused again. "I want you to do something where there's no coming back." He adjusted the fan on the air conditioner and looked out the windshield.

  Burke thought for a minute. “I'll need to borrow one of your rides."

  Hale made a rude noise. "Not a chance. For five grand, you can figure something out."

  Burke paused a few seconds. "Okay, I've got a great-uncle over in Cisco. That bastard can't remember what he had for breakfast, much less how to drive that old Chevy of his. I'll hot wire it and bring it down here."

  "Whatever. Just hurry it up. I'm not waiting forever. Call me when it's done. And, don't screw it up this time."

  JESSE DROVE IN, AND Lee headed out to meet him. Though he'd only been gone a short time, she'd missed him.

  He smiled and swung her in the air, kissing her. "Mmm, you smell good, sweetheart. What's that you have on?"

  "I got around to putting the stuff I bought in Abilene away. It's perfume. You like it, huh?"

  "Hmm, I think I need to check again." Nuzzling her neck, he tickled the heck out of her until she shrieked and tucked her head to her shoulder.

  He wrapped his arm around her as they walked to the house. "Come listen to my grand plan, honey, and tell me what you think." At the couch, he took off his boots and sat her on his lap.

  She ran her hands through his thick, dark hair, admiring his sweet face. How she loved this man. She kissed him with everything she had.

  He laughed. "Hey, I've got to get some talking in here somewhere, woman."

  Smiling, she tried to be serious. "Okay, I'm listening. How are you solving all our problems, cowboy?"

  "Well, today, I'm only solving one. But it's big. I asked my agent to put an offer on the 3109 spread. Here's the beauty of it. Our places will connect, like one ranch. I can build my roping school there. If you can bear to leave this house, and I hope you can, I'll build us a home."

  She sucked in her bottom lip. It would be hard to move. Her memories of Megan and Wess were here. Could she bear to do it?

  Jesse continued. "I'm thinking, you keep this place and instead of building three more cabins, you can make this house into a lodge. It's got three possible bedrooms, and it'll only cost you some remodeling to make it work."

  She kissed him and nuzzled his neck, going back to his mouth while she considered his proposal. Starting a new life with Jesse meant letting go of her old life. She could bear moving since she’d be keeping her house and the ranch. "I'd like to agree and add something to the pot. I want to be able to focus my attention on our new business. I'll keep the home pasture, heifer pasture, and the 183 and 283 pastures. They're all close together and easy to feed in one day. I'll sell the Knox County and 222 pastures. The money I make on those two, after paying the loan on the Knox County place, will help with the new house and starting the business."

  Jesse's face clouded. "Hey, there's no need to do that, sweetheart. I've been saving for this for a long time."

  She said, just as firmly. "Don't be old fashioned. I came into my marriage with Wess with nothing but ten thousand dollars in life insurance. We put that away for Megan's college. I ended up with all this property because he shared generously with me. Why shouldn't I be allowed to share something with my husband?"

  Jesse still looked stubborn and unconvinced.

  "Do you want a thirty-year mortgage on a house at our age? I don't, and it's unnecessary. I don't know squat about roping schools and you do. It's going to be your job to support us with that and our ranching. Getting your business up and running quickly will be important and that takes money."

  Looking thoughtful, Jesse kissed her. "I love you, Lee. I've always done things on my own and I forget that there are two of us now."

  "I love you, too. We'll be a great team. Unbeatable."

  He grinned at her. "Unbeatable."

  "Now lie down on the couch. You're getting a foot rub, mister, while you tell me all about your plans for this roping school." As he stretched out, she pulled off his socks, massaging his feet. She couldn't help but smile as he spoke. She'd never seen him so animated and glimpsed what he must have looked like as a boy. What an angel.

  Jesse at last talked himself out, and she asked him what he wanted to eat. He sat up and drew her into his arms. "I'm not thinking about food right now. There's something a lot more important to talk about. Now that we know how we're going to do this, when will you marry me?"

  Laughing, she kissed him. "Jesse, when you want something, you go right after it. So, you tell me, when do you want to get married?"

  "Yeste
rday?" he said in a pitiful voice.

  She laughed. "Come on, you crazy thing. I guess that means soon, huh?"

  "Well, that depends on what kind of a wedding you want, honey. Do you want a big wedding with lots of people or a small one with family and such?"

  She loved him even more, if that were possible. He was willing to go for a large wedding. "I'd like to ask a few people and anyone you want to invite. How does that sound?"

  Smiling, he relaxed. "Incredible. I'll invite my family and a couple of friends. How long do you think you'll need to plan it? A few weeks?"

  He looked so hopeful she couldn't help but laugh. She got on the phone and called her mom. "Hey, don't die of shock, but it's me again, two days in a row. Say, do you think you could help me put a wedding together in three weeks, if the Reverend's available? I'd like to get married on a Friday morning." She looked at Jesse with her brows raised, and he nodded.

  She could tell her mom was smiling when she said, "Honey, I can do anything you want me to do. I'll call the Reverend and find out when he can do it."

  "Great, Mom. I appreciate it."

  "Say, did your Jesse tell you that he came over for lunch and visited with us?"

  "Yeah, he told me he met you guys. He surprised me on that one .... So, let me know what the Reverend says. Let's say the twenty-first at eleven thirty in the morning is what we'll shoot for. We want to keep it small, but do you have anyone that you want to invite?"

  Her mom paused for a moment. "I'd like to ask the Harveys and the Macintoshes, Lee. If it's okay. They'll be hurt if we don't invite them."

  "That's fine. Call me with the addresses. Invitations go out this week." She blew her mom a kiss and hung up, smiling at Jesse.

  "Wow, Miss Lee, you're hell. I like how you roll."

  Grinning, she said, "I'm just afraid you'll change your mind. I won't let you go now that I have you, cowboy."

  "Absolutely no chance of that, honey." He kissed her with a loud smack.

  "Okay, so I guess I need you to give me the addresses for your family. As soon as Mom tells me the Reverend has okayed the date, I can send the invites out .... Oh! I've just assumed that we can have the wedding in my old church. I'm so sorry, Jesse. Did you have something else in mind?"

  "Are you kidding? I'm not arguing, I'm so glad my hard-assed soon-to-be-wife wants to get married in a church."

  She punched him in the shoulder. "Seriously. Am I imposing something on you that you're not comfortable with? We go to the Baptist church in Woodbury."

  His face calm, he said, "I'm fine with it, honey. I'm happy we're getting married there. Really." He continued to look at her until he was sure she was convinced.

  Next, she called Cheri, and her friend's cheerful voice came on the line. "Hi there, sweetie. How is everything?"

  Lee said, "Now sit down. I don't want you fainting dead away or anything. I have a question to ask you. Ready?"

  With a loud sigh, Cheri said, "Cut the shit. You're scaring me. What's going on?"

  Lee laughed. "How's about being my bride's maid?"

  Cheri screamed and yelled, and Lee could tell she was jumping up and down. "Hell freaking yeah, I'll be your bride's maid. When, when, when, when, when?"

  "Mom will call me back after she talks to the Reverend, but I'm hoping on the twenty-first at eleven thirty in the morning at our church in Woodbury. It'll be small. Can you help me come up with some invitations this week? Jesse's inviting his family and a few friends and Mom's got a couple. I'll invite Cody."

  "Small or not, girlfriend, we have lots to do and decide. Like, you need to buy a dress. Please, can I go with you to buy your dress? And what about a cake? Even if you decide not to have an official, big old reception, you can plan a small get-together in the Woodbury Hall with a cake. And you'll need wedding pictures. My oldest boy is dazzling with a camera. I can ask him to take pictures."

  Cheri stopped to take a breath. "Oh, my God, I'm so excited for you, Lee. We need to decide on colors, even if it's only me we're talking about, they'll be on the cake, too. I know who can make the cake. Gwen's aunt, you know, Gwen from the sheriff's office? She makes the absolute best freaking tasting wedding cakes. I can ask her if you want me to."

  Lee laughed. What in the world would she do without her Cheri? "Cheri, doll, I love you. What are you doing tomorrow?"

  "Coming to see you. What time do you want me over there?"

  "How about we get together for coffee? Just come as you are. I'll look like crap, and we'll make lists and if you have time, make a few invitations."

  "It's a date, girl, about seven thirty. I'm so happy for you. Tell Jesse he doesn't want to think about what'll happen to him if he's not good to my girl."

  Lee hung up and grinned. "Talking to Cheri's like having a twister by the tail. It takes me about ten minutes to recover after a call."

  He laughed and gathered her into a hug.

  They sat, each lost in their own thoughts. The memory of Jesse when he proposed to her on her bench warmed her heart. It was another beautiful recollection for that special pew, so worn and full of her history. The bench was the first thing going in the moving van when their new house was complete.

  THE NEXT DAY, JESSE awakened to the scent of the woman he loved and pulled her tight, realizing he'd slept like a baby all night.

  Lee, eyes still closed, turned and snuggled into his chest.

  Kissing her, he stroked her back, thinking that his life had changed forever. He'd found the woman he would love for the rest of his days. He envisioned them as an old couple, in their rocking chairs, on a long, shaded porch.

  His heart panged, and he wished that he could have had children with her—that he'd met her sooner, before she married Wess. Jesse's life would have been so different.

  He imagined it—what a life with her and their children would have been like. What his job would have been without roping. What their children would have looked like. The loss of those never-were children hurt. He sighed and kissed her again.

  LEE OPENED HER EYES, and smiled at Jesse. Then, seeing his sadness, asked, "You okay, cowboy?"

  He was silent, staring at the ceiling, before looking at her. "I wish we'd known each other before now. That we could've had children."

  Her heart pounded, and she closed her eyes in pain.

  Gasping, he kissed her cheeks, her mouth and her eyes. "Oh baby, why did I say that? Of course, you had your Megan. I'm such a fucking idiot. I'm so sorry."

  Breathing in slowly, she reassured him. "No ... no, it's okay. At least I had a child, Jesse. Megan was an amazing gift. You didn't have that. I would have loved having your children."

  "God, I'm an ass ..."

  "No, I get where you're coming from. I think about it, too. I dreamed of growing old with the laughter of grandchildren and family picnics—the whole shebang. I've lost that, and I can't get it back." An abiding sadness filled her.

  He turned her on her back and kissed her softly, laying his head on her breast.

  She wrapped him in her arms. They were kindred spirits in this loss, and she loved him more with each beat of her heart.

  Moments later, he kissed her belly button, and she squealed. He knew how it tickled. "Sun's up, girl. Time to work."

  After feeding, Jesse would head out to check hog traps, and from there he'd go on over to the pond.

  She'd work with Cheri on the wedding for a while, then head over to Carter’s and buy some lunch meat. And, she'd finally go to Graham for the groceries she didn't get at Abilene the other day.

  She got a nasty look from Chowser when she put him in the house, then drove on out toward town. Pulling up to the broken curb in front of Carter’s at about eleven thirty, she hurried inside and bought her lunchmeat at the meat counter, before heading on to Graham.

  Thirty minutes later, her mind was a million miles away.

  Boom! A large hole appeared in her side window, sending glass slivers into the side of her head.

  On reflex, she jerked
the truck sideways and off the road.

  Losing control, she barreled into the tall grass as another loud shot hit the glass, this time behind her head.

  The window shattered completely, glass peppering her head as wind rushed into the cab.

  Hitting the brakes, she yanked her truck back on the blacktop.

  That fucking Burke aimed his gun at her again.

  She hit the gas and swerved into his truck.

  The shrieking impact destroyed his aim.

  Burke veered into her with a stunning impact, knocking the steering wheel out of her hands, sending her careening off the road and down a steep incline.

  The big river bridge loomed overhead as she flew off the embankment toward the deep water.

  The truck tilted sideways in the air and landed hard, capsizing in the river.

  She hung upside down and took a huge breath as water poured in her open window. Her head pounding with pain, she unbuckled her seatbelt. Landing in the cold, muddy water, she waited a few seconds until the river quit rushing into the cab, then exited the window. Staying under water, she swam with the current and to where she thought the bridge was. The son of a bitch couldn't know she was still alive.

  When she left the sunshine, she knew she'd made the bridge. She surfaced and crawled up on a concrete pylon, hidden from the road. Trying to breathe and cough quietly, she pulled her boots off and dumped the water out of them. Dammit to hell! She'd kill that bastard when she got out of this!

  She stayed sitting on the little concrete ledge for what must have been an hour. Eventually, she figured the stupid asshole wouldn't be waiting around any longer and swam over to the bank. After emptying her boots again, she walked toward the highway. In a few minutes, a truck came by, and she flagged the driver down. After she told the guy what had happened, he gave her a ride to the Young County sheriff's office in Graham.

  First, she made a quick trip to the ladies' room to find some paper towels for her head. A deputy took her to an interview room to give her statement. By the time she'd made the report, she was exhausted.