CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
-:- DALLAS -:-
Walking slowly to the bathroom, I hear Cork stifling a laugh.
I have no need to worry about my man's stamina keeping up with a stallion. I egged him on last night, and he not only rose to the challenge, I think he’s broken me.
Every part of my body aches, and the inside is no different.
In fact, I think that’s the sorest part of me, but in a nice, satisfied kind of way.
“Hey, Dallas. Should we take my hog this morning? You haven’t been on it yet?” Cork calls through to me, knowing I will flinch at the very thought.
“Sure, why not? If you think your balls will stand up to being squished on that leather seat, I’m game.” That should put paid to that smartass idea. I knew they were tender when I’d finished with them in our last bout of lovemaking. Hearing him groan, I know I’m right.
We shower together, but it’s a gentle touchy-feely shower. There’s no sex attempted, and that could be the way of things for a couple of days. Dried and dressed, we head to the clubhouse after we decide that Meat can feed us and save us some time.
When we get there, Axel and Mia are already tucking into their breakfasts, so we load our plates and join them.
“What time do you think we should aim to arrive?” Axel asks me.
“When we got there yesterday, he’d been expecting us for an hour already, so I don’t think we’ll disturb his beauty sleep, no matter what time we rock up.
I’m sure he’s been up and had old hoss out since sunrise.
” I grin when I remember Colt’s face as his horse let me handle and then feed him.
I take a break from eating to tell them the story.
Mia finds it extremely funny and snorts her orange juice down her nose as she chokes on it.
When we get to the clubhouse doors, preparing to leave I’m surprised to find a group waiting for us. I expected Axel, Mia, and TwoCents, but there’s also PT, Drag, and Wings geared up ready.
“Pres doesn’t normally like his escort, but with Mia going along, he’ll suffer it,” Cork explains to me.
Drag and Wings will lead, followed by Axel and Mia, then us in my truck with TwoCents and PT bringing up the rear. I bet this will look impressive rolling through town, I think to myself.
As we ride, I’m surprised at how little attention we get.
I seriously expected a lot more stopping and staring than what actually happens.
Little boys stare at us more than anything with a few envious dads ogling the bikes.
I was also surprised when Mia rocked up on her trike.
Cork said he bet there had been more than a few choice words between Axel and Mia about that.
He likes to show her off riding bitch behind him.
I’m getting used to that term, but not sure I’ll ever fully appreciate it.
As we arrive at the access road to the ranch, I wonder if the rest will have the same heartwarming feeling that both Cork and I had when we first visited. If they do, they don’t slam their brakes on and cause a smashup.
As we all park, Colt arrives on old hoss and heads into the barn. While we all gather on the porch waiting, he strips the saddle from the horse's back and then joins us.
“Quite an entrance there, Dallas. I wasn’t expecting so many, but there’s plenty of room for everyone. Let’s go inside and have a seat.” Colt leads the way, and I watch Mia’s face as she enters and has a good look around. Her eyes are like saucers by the time we reach the kitchen dining area.
Taking my arm, she whispers, “We have to get this place for you and Cork. It is the ultimate forever home. I’m jealous, and you haven’t moved in yet.”
“You ladies can take a look around if you wish. There’s nothing lying around that can shame me. I keep a neat house, even if I say so myself.” Colt waves his hand as if to shoo us away and Mia doesn’t waste the opportunity.
We tour the downstairs first and admire the workmanship that shows in everything we look at. We find a door at the back of the house, well more of a moving glass wall, and step out onto a wraparound deck. The rear of the deck is enormous and then leads onto a patio area.
“You could put a pool in here, Dallas,” Mia mutters.
“No. It would spoil that view. Everything is at one with itself as it is. If we had a pool, it would have to be off to the side and probably in its own building.”
“You sound like you’ve given it a lot of thought.”
“What? Oh, no. This is the first time I’ve seen this. Putting a pool here though just doesn’t seem right.” I can’t imagine why anyone would spoil the incredible beauty of this setting.
Walking back towards the stairway, I notice a panel under the stairs that could be a secret door to a cupboard.
A secret door? It’s only because there is a small handle on it that makes it look secretive.
Turning the handle the door opens and there is a flight of stairs revealed.
Grinning at Mia, I nod my head that we should take a peek.
Colt said there was nothing that could shame him.
As we walk down the stairs, lights come on, both on the steps and in the ceiling. A basement room opens up, and it looks like a gunroom and home cinema rolled into one.
Slipping back upstairs we head for the second floor.
The master bedroom is the first room we come to.
It is enormous, with an en-suite bathroom to die for, and looks out over the front and sides of the property.
There are four other bedrooms on this floor, all with smaller but well-proportioned en-suites.
Another stairway leads to the third floor, which has an enormous dormer window looking out to the rear.
This room has been turned into a library and reading room.
Walking back into the kitchen, Colt looks at us and raises his eyebrows questioningly. I give him a big smile and an excited nod of approval.
The chatter at the table resumes, and it’s mostly between Colt, TwoCents and PT. It’s all very facts and figures, so it appears that the ‘negotiations’ are going well. Looking over at Cork, he gives me a wink that tells me he thinks so too.
Axel announces that he and Mia are going to take a walk and view the outbuildings, but Colt suggests that I go with them, especially if they intend to go inside the stables. Old hoss isn’t keen on visitors of any kind, but seems to have taken a shine to me, so might be a little less unpleasant.
He surprises me further when he says that we should go to the far side of the trees. He forgot to show us the bunkhouse and what he terms the chow house. Drag and Wings get up too, and we all march outside to take a walk and view the buildings.
Visiting the Dutch barn first, we marvel at how much stuff he has stored in here.
There’s the ATV Cork rode, plus a three-wheel Honda, with huge tires and a small body.
An assortment of tools lines one wall with a workbench below.
The back wall has hay bales stacked against it.
The other wall has steps running up to what I assume is a hayloft.
Being as nosy as I am, I run up the stairs and find myself on a landing facing a door.
Turning the handle, the door swings open, and I squeal with delight.
In front of me is a half-finished apartment.
It’s larger than the one above the wine shop and could be finished in no time, by the looks of it.
It’s open plan with a mezzanine floor at the back, off a set of stairs to the right.
Hearing footsteps behind me, I turn and see Mia nodding appreciatively.
“Oh, wow. This could be an amazing apartment. I wonder who it was going to be for?” Mia mutters as she walks around, nodding at everything.
Hearing Axel call out to us, we find him, Drag, and Wings waiting by the barn doors. Mia tells him what we discovered, but typical man that he is, he just grunts and doesn’t show any excitement at all.
Entering the stable, I go first and talk to old hoss as I walk to his stall.
His eyes are wide, and he stares at the others as though they are from another planet.
Stroking his neck and shoulders, I feel his muscles twitching beneath my fingers.
The golden horse that Colt had me riding is in another stall, and is lapping up the attention she is getting from Mia.
Seeing how upset old hoss is getting, I get everyone to leave and we head off to the bunkhouse. We find an overgrown path through the trees, so it’s easy enough. With the path overgrown as it is, the bunkhouse can’t have been used for some time, hence why Colt had forgotten to show it to us.
Inside it is dusty, and there are plenty of cobwebs around.
Several sets of bunk beds line the walls, and there's a large wood-stove in the center.
There is a second door at one end of the room, and peering through, this must be the chow house.
It is basically a large kitchen and dining area.
A long table with twelve chairs is set at one end away from the kitchen area.
The kitchen itself consists of cabinets, a large refrigerator, a freezer and a large range cooker.
I recognize the name ‘AGA’ on the front.
I bet that could tell some stories if it could talk.
Cowboys around the table talk about some strange things at times, especially when work is slow and they have energy left to burn.
Back in the kitchen and the chatter of facts and figures goes on. Mia listens for a moment and then clearly has heard enough.
“Right…Enough…We want this place, so how have you guys sorted that out between yourselves?”
Axel cocks an eyebrow at Mia as though she has spoken out of turn. “It’s not that simple. We need to talk this over and then run it through church. You know the process, Mia.”
“I do, but I also know that this could lead to big things for the club. If you guys can come to some agreement on the finances and partnership, we can sell this to the brothers at church, no problem. So, what’s it to be?
” Mia puts her hands on her hips, and I see Colt cover his mouth with a hand, hiding a smirk.
TwoCents looks at PT, then Axel before speaking.
“To make it viable for the club and Colt, this is what we’re thinking.
Fifty-one percent stays under Colt’s control.
Thirty-nine percent goes to the club, and the last ten percent goes to Cork and Dallas.
That’s the best way to get everyone who wants to be involved financially invested.
If Cork and Dallas are in a better position at a later date, they can approach either of the other two parties to buy in at a larger percentage.
That’s the business side of things.” TwoCents takes a moment to look for any questions or comments.
“Property-wise, Colt wants to build a house on a plot of his choice, to live out his days. He doesn’t want to move off the land, and we can’t see a problem with that.
The ranch house goes to Cork and Dallas along with the Dutch barn and stables.
When the business takes off, we think we’ll need bigger stables anyway, and Colt suggests having them further on the property away from easy access from the road. ”
Colt explains, “Believe it or not, there are still rustlers and horse thieves in these modern times. I’ve been lucky that, although it’s been tried, I’ve not lost any of my stock to the bastards.” Looking at Mia and myself, Colt blusters, “Pardon my French, ladies.”
Mia looks at the men around the table and then back to Colt. “We’ve heard worse, Colt. Don’t worry about colorful language. This bunch has taught my kids far worse than that, believe me.” She scowls at Wings as he tries unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh. “Not freakin’ funny, Wings!”
TwoCents brings everyone back on topic. “Cash-wise, we can talk that back at the clubhouse. We know how much we need to give Colt. We just need to sort out the split between Dallas, Cork and the club.”
“I have a suggestion about something else, while you’re all here. I know these young lovebirds are planning a wedding, and I’m sure that your clubhouse is adequate and has hosted similar events, but I’d like to offer the ranch as a possible venue if that’s okay?”
“That would be awesome.” The words are out before I realize that I could have just insulted the club! “I don’t mean any disrespect or that the clubhouse isn’t good enough…”
Cork speaks up and saves me any further embarrassment.
“I can’t think of a better way of starting a marriage than hosting the wedding at our forever home.
What a set of memories to create right off the bat.
I think we’ll be accepting that offer, Colt.
Thank you.” Rushing around the table, I throw myself at Cork and bury my head in his neck to hide the tears that are running freely down my cheeks.
Getting ready to leave the ranch, Mia suddenly shouts, “Just a minute,” and rushes back into the ranch house, dragging Colt with her.
Axel is clearly not impressed with this turn of events and looks like he’s going to storm the building.
Seeing Mia and Colt talking just inside the doorway, he waits but watches closely.
After a brief conversation, Mia gives Colt a quick peck on the cheek, causing a growl from deep in Axel's chest, and then she’s back on her trike, happy as can be.