CHAPTER THIRTY
-:- DALLAS -:-
It’s only been a month…four weeks…thirty days…since we moved onto the ranch, and it still feels so exciting. I can’t believe how lucky we were to drop onto this place. All because I was daydreaming and missed a turn.
Sitting here at the breakfast table watching Cork devour an enormous breakfast, I wonder sometimes if he’s pregnant and eating for two.
Or maybe he’s having twins. He spends around twelve hours a day out on the ranch, sometimes on the ATV but almost as much time now on horseback.
There’s no wonder he has such an appetite.
At least all that outdoorsy living hasn’t spoiled any of his other appetites. How I’m not pregnant yet is anyone’s guess. If we hadn’t had that massive, solid bed from Fox’s business, I think we’d have been on our second store-bought one by now.
“I know what you’re thinking about, Dallas, but we don’t have time this morning. Colt will be around soon. He is showing me how he chooses the best horses to become cutting horses this morning. I can’t be late or he’ll rope and hogtie me.” Cork grins from behind a forkful of eggs and bacon.
“How do you know what I’m thinking about? It could be anything.”
“Your smile changed into your sex smile. It’s different from your ‘hi’ smile or any of your others.” Cork grins and gives me a cheeky wink.
“I didn’t know I had a repertoire of smiles. I thought I just smiled.” I laugh at the idea.
“Don’t laugh, it’s true. Your smiles tell me a lot about what goes on in that pretty head of yours. Sometimes even when to duck.” Finishing his breakfast he takes his plate to the sink, rinses it and places it into the dishwasher. One of the few changes or additions I made to the house.
“You know you don’t have to do that anymore. I can do it. Now that I am a lady of leisure, I can spend a little time pampering my man.” I laugh at my own comment because since I left BaronsSecure Services, my days have never been so busy.
“Doing my dishes is pampering me? I’ll keep doing my dishes, you keep on with the pampering that follows our Irish coffee of an evening.
That kind of pampering I like.” Taking me in his arms he gives me a kiss that makes my legs tremble.
Feeling him smile through the kiss, I know he knows what he is doing to me.
A cough has us end the kiss, and we turn to see Colt standing there. “I did knock, but figured you was upstairs busy. Should’ve realized that you young ‘uns would make use of every stick of furniture in every room. Next time you don’t answer I’ll just wait for you on the porch.”
“It was just a ‘see ya later’ kinda kiss, not the ‘bring it home to momma’ kind.” I walk over to him and give him the customary morning peck on the cheek.
I think he comes around every morning, Monday through Friday, just for that peck.
He could meet Cork in the stables and save himself the blush he has whenever I give him that gesture of affection.
It used to bother the hell out of Cork when I did it, but now that he’s used to it, he doesn’t grunt or growl as often.
With Cork and Colt out of the way, I can start my own chores.
I've got my chickens. Well, I’ve ordered them.
I have to finish the chicken coop today.
That should be a piece of cake compared to the henhouse I built.
Daddy and Colt say they are the same thing, but they’re not in my head.
In my world, the henhouse is where they lay eggs and spend the night, safely tucked up and away from predators.
The coop is where they spend their days scratching and hunting for food.
The coop is mobile, so I can let them have their store-bought food but I can also let them forage for more natural food too.
We’ll have to see how that works out, but I want them to have good lives and not just feed ‘em, fatten ‘em and eat ‘em. Well, the cockerels will get eaten.
Finishing the cold dregs from my coffee cup, I immediately wish I hadn’t. They make my stomach turn over as soon as they hit bottom. I understand now why so many people never drain their mugs.
Daddy is helping me with the construction of the buildings for my chickens.
I wanted to do it all on my lonesome, but it didn’t take long for me to figure out I’d need more than just my own pair of hands.
Not being completely DIY savvy meant I couldn’t hold things in place and screw them together at the same time.
Daddy has taught me how to pre-build things so that it makes things easier.
Mom and Daddy didn’t take long to sell up and move over here.
Surprisingly though, Mom went against her dream of where to have their home sited.
She thought the area that Colt showed them was a picture-perfect fit to her dream, but she didn’t want to be so far from the ranch house, so found a spot closer but still private enough for us all to be happy with it.
Oh, and apparently, her first grandson is going to be called Jeb.
Something I haven’t told Cork yet, though I doubt that it will bother him any.
Walking across the yard to where I know Daddy will be waiting, I can’t help but smile. I wonder what sort of smile though, now I know I have different ones. A contented smile, I would imagine.
Seeing two men walk from behind the stable, my smile fades. They ring my alarm bells right away and have all my red flags blowing a gale. This doesn’t feel good.
“Where’s that man of yours, bitch? We have unfinished business with him. You can have the pleasure of watching him die.” Asshole one seems to have underestimated me as he hasn’t raised the weapon in his hand. Asshole two is scanning the surroundings and is more aware than his partner.
My mind kicks into the training that Winter has drilled into me.
Assess the potential targets in terms of threat level and their preparedness.
Simple enough. Asshole two is more prepared and has his weapon raised, but only pointing in my general direction.
He’s my first target. I should be able to take him out before asshole one realizes what’s going on.
Both Cork and I decided that we would always carry our weapons outside of the house. That spooky feeling we’ve both had for so long never fully went away. Even though I’d joked with him about that damn pickup truck, it seems he was right to be concerned.
“I don’t know who you think you are, but he’s out on the range, working.
You should try an honest day's work for a change. It would be healthier for you.” Stopping, I fold my arms across my chest and scowl at them.
Hoping to give the impression of a pissed off woman, I get my hand close to my holster.
“He blew up our still and killed two of us in the process. He’s going to pay for that.
We’ve been biding our time 'til he wouldn’t expect it.
He has a lot to lose now, too. You, this ranch.
It should make him real compliant when he gets home and sees we have his woman.
” Asshole one likes the sound of his own voice, and that gives me more time to steel myself for what’s about to happen.
“That’s where you’re wrong, assholes. I am not his woman.
” Watching the confusion on their faces, and then the glance they throw at each other, gives me the moment I need to pull my Springfield.
“I’m my own woman.” Snatching the first shot, I curse myself and steady myself for the second.
Just as I pull the trigger for my second shot, something hits me in the side.
My second shot goes higher than I intended, but it blows the top of asshole two’s head clean off.
Turning to asshole one, I’m just getting my sights on him when he stumbles forward, frowning at me.
His weapon falls from his hand as he jerks and then falls to the ground.
I see someone running towards me and start to crumple as I look down and see blood on my shirt. Looking up again, I think I’m seeing double as the one man I saw is now two. Then the lights go out.
Opening my eyes, the light hurts and my mouth is dry. It takes a minute for me to see that I’m in the bedroom, in my own bed. Going to sit up, I cry out at the pain in my side. Seconds later, Cork swims into view and I don’t hear what he says as I slip away again.
Opening my eyes once more, it’s dark in the room. There’s a small lamp on the opposite side of the bed, and in its glow I see Mom sitting watching me. I blink twice to make sure I’m not dreaming, and she must see me as she jumps up and runs to my side of the bed.
“Oh, Dallas. You’re awake. Don’t try to sit up or you might start bleeding afresh all over again.
We’ve all been so worried. How are you feeling?
Do you need some pain meds? I’ll fetch Cork.
He’s only just left your side since it happened.
” With that, she dashes to the door and yells, "Cork. She’s awake! "
There is the thunder of boots on the stairs and then he crashes into the room, damn near bowling Mom over in the process.
“Dallas! Are you okay? What do you need?...”
Raising my hand, I get him to shut up. “Water,” I manage to croak from a dry throat.
Offering a glass to my lips and holding my head up with his free hand, I take a small swig and let it flow down my throat. After a second swallow, I try a smile.
“What does that smile tell you?” I whisper.
“That must be your ‘I’m lucky to be alive’ smile.” He tries to smile, but it comes out as a grimace.
“I don’t remember what happened. Why am I here?”
Cork tells me how I got shot, which comes back to me as he speaks.
“How did you get to me so fast? I saw you running towards me, I think with Colt. My mind is blank from then on.” I fight to keep my eyes open, but it’s a losing battle.
“It wasn’t me and Colt. I’ll fill you in when you’re rested.”