Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
Winston
Winston might have come to Montana with a need to get away from people, but he knew the invitation to join the others wasn’t one he could ignore. Especially not when today’s fiasco could be placed directly at his feet. He had yet to officially meet the men and women who’d saved the horses he was currently looking over, but he knew every single person around him hadn’t come from any weekender dude ranch. Not only were they obviously comfortable sitting on their horses, they were experienced riders who had successfully brought a herd of stampeding horses to a stop.
He followed Moira, the only one who’d introduced herself, into the house. He removed his hat, hanging it beside the other men’s on one of the pegs jutting out of a board on the wall just inside the door. The living room held a brown leather couch, a pair of mission-style chairs with wide, wooden arms and a comfortable-looking overstuffed chair in the corner by a window. Beside it was a low bookcase that held a few books but mostly served as a storage unit for baskets filled with toys, though he’d yet to see any children.
“Everyone sit down,” Moira directed. “I’ll make coffee or would you rather have something else?”
Realizing her question was directed at him, Winston said, “Please don’t bother…”
“It’s no bother,” Moira assured him. “We’re all thirsty.”
“I’ll help.”
“That means she’ll be looking for cookies,” a red-headed woman said with an air that let Winston know the women were all either sisters or very good friends. As he tried to decide, he felt a hand clap against his shoulder.
“Don’t even try to get away without something to eat and drink. My wife’s feelings would be hurt. Name’s Jagger, by the way.”
“I wouldn’t want that. Winston.” Winston offered his hand. The man’s grip was firm and his palm not one of a man who sat at a desk all day twiddling his thumbs. None of the men’s hands he shook were as they all introduced themselves. Before Winston knew it, he was sitting in a chair around a large dining table, a cup of black coffee in front of him along with a pair of cookies on a saucer. Lifting one, he grinned at the image on the plate. He remembered it from his childhood.
“Sorry, I didn’t expect company,” Moira said as she continued to place cups and saucers down in front of the others.
“No need to apologize. The count helped me learn my numbers.”
“You and everyone who ever visited Sesame Street ,” the man he’d learned was Derek said.
Winston chuckled. “True.” He waited until Moira had taken her seat before asking, “How many children do you have Mrs. Jagger?”
“Two. A boy and a girl. They’re twins.” Moira’s smile lit up her face. “And it’s not Jagger, it’s Jaeger, though they do sound rather alike don’t they?”
Evidently, his confusion showed on his face because she laughed. “I mean my husband’s name is Jason Jaeger, but we all just call him Jagger, and please, I’m just plain old Moira, Mr. Winston.”
“It’s Wane, I mean, my name is Winston Wane, and you’re anything but plain,” Winston stated, instantly noting the stiffening of his host. “You all are. I’ve never seen a group of people work so perfectly in sync without a great deal of trying to outshine one another. It was truly amazing watching you work to keep the horses safe.”
“Speaking of horses, are they yours?” Travis asked.
“No. I mean, I’ve seen them a few times on my land, but today was the first time I’ve recognized them as the wild animals they are. The stampede is my fault, really.”
Jagger relaxed, either because of Winston’s words or more likely the fact that Moira had reached over to lay her hand over his. Winston had watched Jagger turn his hand palm up and entwine his fingers with hers. Not for the first time today, he felt a surge of jealousy. These people all seemed to share not only the easiness of friendship, but something far deeper. A connection that bound them together which allowed them to communicate without a constant jousting for position.
“Care to explain?” Derek asked, also sitting back while his wife leaned forward as if anxious to hear his story.
“My home used to be in New York. I decided I needed some peace and quiet and when I got the opportunity to return to Montana, I took it.”
“Return?”
This question was asked by a woman who he’d learned was the wife of the man Winston had no doubt could trace his roots back generations to the land he’d ridden across today. He’d been a bit shocked to discover Moses was deaf as the man’s eyes followed the conversation with an ease that spoke of a superior ability to read lips.
“Yes. My grandparents owned a parcel of land at the base of that plateau and raised cattle. My brother and I used to come out in the summer while our parents traveled. Those were some of the best times of my life and when Grandma and Gramps died and left the land to my brother and me, I bought him out. He wanted no part of the country bumpkin life, but I just wanted to—I know it sounds silly—but I just wanted to be able to breathe.”
“It doesn’t sound silly at all,” Moira offered. “In fact, we were all just talking about the freedom this land offers.”
“When was this?” Sadie asked, looking a bit perplexed.
“When you were trying to run away from your Daddy,” Moira said.
“I wasn’t running away, we were just playing tag,” Sadie said with a grin that reached all the way to her eyes, making her glow.
“Oh! Now that’s a story I have to hear!” Wren said.
Winston was thinking the young woman was practically bouncing in her chair when Moira’s words hit him.
Daddy?
There wasn’t a single man seated at this table who was old enough to qualify as a Daddy… well, not to Sadie that was.
“Little one, don’t interrupt Mas… um, Mr. Wane’s story,” Travis said.
Winston had no doubt that there were a few stories far more interesting than his own, but smiled when Wren’s cheeks flushed a bit and she offered a soft, “Sorry, please continue.”
“Long story short, I sold my firm in the city and am in the process of bringing the ranch and land back to what it was in its prime. I’m not sure if I’ll keep it all or develop some which is why those men you saw were here. They couldn’t sit a horse if you nailed them to the saddle, so they showed up with a trailer with a pair of ATVs on it. While I was saddling my horse, they thought it would be fun to just tear out across the ranch. Before I knew what was happening, the wild horses were racing past the barn and up the mountain. By the time I had the saddle on and told the idiots to stay put, the herd had disappeared. I’m not sure why, but I felt a need to follow the horses as best I could. I mean, they’ve had the run of the place for a few years. It hardly seemed fair to chase them off, especially knowing there were a few spots around that were dangerous for a racing horse.”
Winston paused to take a sip of coffee, the image of the horses’ racing bodies playing in his mind. “They are truly magnificent creatures, aren’t they?”
“They are.”
Jagger’s shoulders relaxed for the first time since Winston had met him, and he was glad the last of the tension between them seemed to have disappeared.
“Only because of all of you,” Winston said sincerely. “I’d never forgive myself if it was my fault they’d come to harm. I saw the brown one limping. I’ll gladly pay for any vet to check her out.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary.” Derek paused to watch Moses’ hands before adding, “Moses says he and Jagger will take a look later after giving her time to settle a bit.”
“What did you decide?” Sadie asked.
“Excuse me?” Winston found the segue a bit confusing. “I mean, I appreciate the offer, but, really, I don’t want to cause anyone additional work. Bringing a vet in won’t be…”
“Not about the horses.” Sadie waved her hand as if pushing the horses aside. “I mean about your ranch. Are you going to keep it or try to cut it all up into little bitty pieces and sell it off to a bunch of people who as you say, don’t know a horse’s head from its ass?”
“Sadie Marie!” Jayne said in a tone that had Winston grinning as it instantly caused the young woman to slap a hand over her mouth as she stiffened in her chair, her eyes darting between the older woman and her husband.
From Moira’s huge saucer-eyed look and Wren’s giggle, Winston knew he’d stumbled upon something far more intriguing than even a herd of wild mustangs. Sitting back in his chair, he met Sadie’s gaze.
“How do you feel about swapping?”
Her hand dropped from her mouth, her eyes narrowing into a look that could have stuck a butterfly to a board without the benefit of any pins. “I’ll have you know I am perfectly happy with my Daddy, Mr. Wane, so I am not the least bit interested in swapping thank you very much!”
Winston heard gasps and groans but his burst of laughter drowned them all out. He had no clue what was going on, but he couldn’t remember the last time he’d met such an interesting group of people. People he truly hoped he could call friends in the not-so-distant future.
“How can you find that the least bit funny?” Sadie demanded.
“Angel, I think Mr. Wane was talking about swapping stories, not women,” Derek said, looking over to Winston. “Unless I’m sorely mistaken?”
Winston chuckled again. “You’re not. I did mean stories.” He turned his attention to Sadie. “It’s a good thing too as, unfortunately, I’m fresh out of women to swap.”
“Oh!” Sadie’s face turned pink. “I-I um, I guess that was a little rude.”
“A little ?” Jayne said, her tone still brooking no nonsense.
“Okay, a lot,” Sadie confessed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Wane. I just get worked up. It isn’t that I don’t like people. Really, I love people of all kinds?—”
“Just not the kind who chop up this beautiful land into a million pieces and sell them off to city slickers?” Winston offered.
The fact that Sadie didn’t even hesitate to nod in agreement endeared her further to Winston.
“I promise, that is not my intention,” Winston said.
“Then what is?” Sadie pressed, evidently not remembering any reference to her questions being rude.
“That is what the swap is about.” Winston grinned. “I’ll tell you if you all will tell me what it is that makes me instantly jealous I’m not one of your group.”
“That’s easy,” Wren offered. “It’s Ranch magic.”
When Derek chuckled, Jayne rolled her eyes, Moira and Sadie nodded, Jagger and Travis and Moses all exchanged knowing grins, Winston had no doubt there had to be some type of magic involved.
“How about sharing a bit of that magic?” he asked.
“We can do you one better, can’t we, Daddy?” Sadie said with assurance.
“I don’t believe Mr. Wane is interested in swapping with me, angel,” Derek said.
“Sure he is,” Sadie countered. “Well, maybe not a story, but you can use your magic and find him a woman. After all, you run a whole Ranch full of women.”
“Oh, Sadie, Sadie, Sadie,” Jayne moaned.
“What? I’m trying to help here.”
“Maybe, but did you ever stop to think that the way you just tried to ‘help’ has it sounding as if you’re implying Derek is running some type of brothel?”
“A… a brothel? No! I just mean that there are lots of women who look to Daddy to find them a man.”
Time seemed to freeze as her words caught up with her brain and she groaned, dropping her head to the tabletop. Winston felt a moment of fear worrying she’d start banging it against the wooden surface, but she lifted it and shook it instead.
“Okay, taking a deep breath here.”
Sadie demonstrated by taking not one but several deep breaths. By the time she was on number four, Winston realized he’d synced his breathing with hers. It appeared he wasn’t the only one, the entire group remaining silent and still.
“Is this where I start to chant?” Winston asked after several more moments.
Sadie’s breath hitched and then she started to giggle. Winston discovered the woman wasn’t only fascinating, she had an infectious laugh. The quietness of the room was soon filled with laughter until people finally had to settle a bit in order to breathe.
“Better?” Winston asked. “And I didn’t think for a moment, well, at least not a long moment, that your Daddy runs a brothel. I’m thinking more along the lines of facilitating the introduction of people who are joined in a common desire of finding a potential partner.”
“What does that mean?” Moira asked.
“I think that’s a fancy way for Mr. Wane to say he considers Derek more of a matchmaker than those madams who found the mail-order brides common when the west was wild,” Jagger explained.
“Exactly!” Sadie looked at her Daddy. “Though you could give any madam back in the day a run for her money. For one thing, you’re much prettier.”
“Thank you, angel,” Derek said, his tone imparting the fact he was a man with infinite patience.
“You’re welcome.” Sadie’s gaze moved to stare across the table, her head at a slight tilt. “Now that we are all on the same page, I think Mr. Winston would like a Little. Who agrees with me?”
Winston wasn’t sure who was more shocked. Himself for finally understanding a bit of the undercurrent that ran through this gathering or the fact that every hand in the room raised. Well, not every hand. The men and Jayne raised only one each, while Sadie, Wren and Moira all raised both of theirs.
“Your Little girl is one smart cookie. If you happen to have any Littles who are in search of a Daddy, I certainly wouldn’t object to meeting them.”
Sadie actually jumped out of her chair with a whoop which drew Wren and even Moira out of theirs and into her circle of happiness, the three dancing in a circle like excited puppies. The only woman not to rise was Jayne who just looked at the trio with a fondness in her eyes that Winston also recognized. This woman wasn’t just a bit sterner than the others. Despite her being wed to Moses, Winston would bet his last dollar she was a Domme. When she caught him looking, her lips curled up and he knew he’d swap stories with her and her Moses any time they wished.