Cowboy Chapter 4 #4
“We did. It seems the boy had a sudden urge to see his dad. He figured out where the deadbeat asshole was by using the internet. Through his search, he got an address. Austin knew if he told his mom what he wanted to do, she’d say no, so he went on his own.
It wasn’t until Wednesday that we discovered where he was when he called to tell his mom.
I flew to Idaho and brought him back. We’ve been dealing with him since then. ”
“Damn, I’m sorry, Raff. So you’re home in Window Rock. How will you get your trailer and stuff from Vegas? I wish I’d known. I would’ve driven it back for you.”
“That’s alright. No worries. Saranya should be here in a couple of hours.
She’s driving it back for me. It takes six and a half hours to drive without stopping.
She’ll stay the night with me, then fly home tomorrow.
I told her I’d have a bubble bath, a glass of wine, and a back rub waiting for her. ”
My stomach tightened hearing the deep affection and picturing him with her in the tub, and then his hands on her naked body. Shoving my jealousy away, I knew I had no choice. I had to warn him.
“Listen, Raff, I know you have a lot going on with your family, and I hate to add to it, but there’s something you need to know about the last few days in Vegas.”
I heard rustling on the other end, then Raff’s voice came through. “What happened, Cowboy? Saranya said everything went great. What didn’t she tell me? Was she hurt? Harassed? Who do I need to hurt?” he asked gruffly.
His ready defense of her made me even unhappier about having to tell him what I had to, but he needed to know.
“As far as I know, there weren’t any issues with the animals. I figure if there had been problems, someone would’ve let you know. She wasn’t hurt either. As for being harassed, I doubt it.”
“Then what the hell are you talking about? You scared me.”
“It’s about her personally. I think you should consider not allowing her to work for you again. I’d hate it if your reputation got black marks due to her.”
“What the hell do you mean?” he snapped.
“I mean that while she seemed to do okay with her skills as far as I know, she was there for more than work and helping you out.” Now that I had started, I was having trouble forming the words and being direct.
“Cowboy, I have no damn idea what you’re meaning. Spit it out. You’re not one to dance around the subject,” Raff demanded.
“She seemed to be paying a lot of attention to men. Every time I saw her, she was with a different one. She would be smiling, touching, and laughing with them. And then this guy showed up, and they spent two or three days and nights together. I thought at first he was her boyfriend, but the way she was at ease with other men, he might just be another conquest.”
There was a long silence on his end as I waited for him to say something. I was up off the bed, pacing my bedroom.
“So you’re saying that Saranya was acting like a slut at the rodeo,” he stated.
“Listen, I know she’s someone you care about. I’m sorry. But if she does this behind your back, you can’t be with someone like her, Raff. She’s cheating on you. She’s a glorified buckle bunny.”
“You’re a fucking moron, Cowboy. Do you know that?” he asked.
I expected him to be angry. “No, I’m not. I know this is hard to hear, and you’re taking it out on me. As your friend, I had to tell you.”
“If what you said was true, then I’d agree, but it’s not. Saranya isn’t a slut, and she wasn’t sleeping with any men at the rodeo. As for a guy coming to stay with her, as far as I know, she doesn’t have a boyfriend, but I might not know about him.”
“And you’re alright with her having a boyfriend?” I asked in disbelief. Had I been wrong about their relationship?
“If he treats her right, then I’m happy for her. She deserves it. What made you think the two of us are involved?”
“The way you trusted her with your rig and the job, and then the affection I heard in your voice when you spoke of her.”
“Did you indicate to her that you thought these things of her?”
“Uhm, yeah, I did,” I muttered.
“You’re lucky she didn’t chop off your cock and feed it to you. She’s proficient in castration, you know. Christ, did she at least slap you?” he asked.
“She did, and she looked like she wanted to do it a few more times.”
“I bet she did. Saranya and I are nothing but great friends. I mentored her several years back when she was in vet school. Saranya Coleman is one of the best vets I’ve ever worked with.
That’s why I never hesitated to ask her to cover me at such a high-profile event.
She’s a large animal veterinarian like me.
She grew up around animals. Her dad is a vet like us. ”
I groaned at this revelation. My friend wasn’t done yet, I found as he continued.
“As for her being a slut who was hopping from bed to bed, it isn’t true.
Sure, she might’ve talked to people, and since the majority of people at the rodeo tend to be men, you no doubt saw her with several.
She met many of them when she was my student, as I spent a significant amount of time traveling with them during the rodeo season.
Saranya isn’t promiscuous. She is friendly, but only to a certain extent.
As for the man you say she spent the night with, I’m not sure who he is. Did you happen to hear a name?”
I grew increasingly sick to my stomach as Raff described Saranya. Had I been wrong about her? But I knew she had slept with that big bastard War. I heard it with my own ears.
“I did. She called him War. I overheard him telling her he always had fun when he slept with her.”
The last thing I expected to hear was Raff’s booming laughter. He chuckled for almost half a minute before he stopped.
“What’s with the laughter?” I asked.
“The only War I know of in her life is Warren. He’s her best friend and has been for years. There is nothing sexual between them. If they did sleep together, it was platonic.”
“So he’s gay,” I said, though I hadn’t gotten that sense from him. Relief seeped into me at the idea.
“No, he’s straight. I know he is because she talks about how women throw themselves at him. I’ve met War. He’s definitely into the ladies.”
“Raff, there’s no fucking way a straight man could sleep with her and not want sex. They might say they’re only platonic friends, but they’re not.”
“Cowboy, you seem awfully fixated on who Saranya is having sex with. What difference does it make if they are?”
My mouth opened, then I shut it without a word.
“Ah, I get it. You found her attractive, didn’t you?
Did you try to get into her pants, and she said no?
Is that what this is about? Because you’re not one to care who someone fucks or how many partners a woman has.
With your exposure to buckle bunnies and club sluts, you’ve been with more than your share of those kinds of women.
Why judge Saranya if she is sleeping and flirting with more than one man? ”
“Because she shouldn’t cheapen herself that way! Women like that you fuck, you don’t…” I let my following words die away. I was stunned by the fact that I was about to say them and the implications behind them. Jesus Christ!
“You don’t what? Date them? Marry them? Make them your old lady?” Raff fired back.
His words matched what had come to mind, but I hadn’t been able to say. I remained mute. Of course, Raff wouldn’t allow me to get away with that.
“Cowboy, answer me. Did you try to sleep with her and get denied? Are you upset because you think Saranya should be the marrying type, not a casual fuck buddy?”
“No, I didn’t try to sleep with her. Yes, I find her incredibly stunning.
As for her being an old lady or whatever material, I guess that’s it.
There are so many of the other kind. I see them constantly.
It gets old. A few of my club brothers have found wonderful women.
I was hoping there were more out there to be found. ”
Raff made a crowing sound, then sobered.
“Cowboy, you’ve finally grown up. You’re ready to settle down.
That’s great to hear. I understand your desire to find someone you can make your old lady.
I’ve got ten years on you, and I’ve been looking for what seems like forever.
They’re hard to find. And believe me, if there were a spark between Saranya and me, I would’ve gone after her like gangbusters.
She’s a quality woman. As for War, I’ll bet you a thousand dollars there has never been any sex happening between them.
They’ve been best friends since middle school. ”
Full realization of what I’d done made me groan and hang my head. To make myself feel better, I voiced a feeble excuse.
“Well, it’s not like I could start something with her anyway. A long-distance relationship wouldn’t work for me. I want a woman I can see and be with consistently. Her living in Arizona makes that impossible, even if I could get her to forgive me and give me a chance.”
“You’re saying if the distance weren’t a factor, you’d work to earn her forgiveness, then pursue a committed relationship with her. You’d work to make her your old lady?” he asked.
“Hell yeah. Raff, just between us, I’ve never had this intense a reaction to a woman in my life,” I confessed.
“Then this is your lucky day, buddy. It wouldn’t be long-distance with Saranya,” Raff said, chuckling.
“What do you mean? Where does she live?” I wondered if he was about to say in Georgia or Alabama, where they border Florida. True, it was closer, but still would be a few hours apart.
“She lives in Ormond Beach, just south of you. I think it’s about an hour’s drive. Is that close enough?”
A jolt shot through me at the news. What were the odds that she lived in Florida and we met in Nevada? Pretty damn slim. “Tell me you’re not joking. She’s that close?”
“No joke.”
“Shit, how the hell do I get her to forgive me for how I acted and the things I said?” I muttered out loud.
“That’ll be the rub. If you were ugly, it would take more than saying you’re sorry and some flowers with some women. You’ll have to pull out all the stops. But, Cowboy, I want you to think about this before you do anything.” There was caution in his tone.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you need to be absolutely sure that you’re ready for a committed relationship and can adhere to the rules of one.
Number one is no other women. I can guarantee you, if Saranya gives you a chance and you fool around on her, you’ll be done.
She’ll kick your ass to the curb and never take you back.
Second, you must be able and willing to support her.
I don’t mean financially, though it would be nice.
She runs a successful clinic in Ormond Beach.
I mean emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
If you’re not able to be everything to her and allow her to be the same to you, it won’t work. You’ll both end up miserable.
“Third, Saranya grew up with very loving parents. They’re still that way.
She has a legacy she wants to achieve in her personal life.
The reason she’s single at twenty-nine isn’t due to a lack of men being interested or not pursuing her.
Hell, she gets offers all the time. Flattery without substance behind it won’t impress her. ”
“Damn, you make it sound like I shouldn’t even bother,” I grumbled.
“If any of this seems too much, then don’t.
Ask your married brothers how they won their old ladies.
I bet they’ll tell you some of the same things.
Saranya enjoys men with wits and humor. An empty Playboy isn’t her kind of guy.
I know you’re smart. People often underestimate your intelligence because you were first a cowboy and then a biker.
I’ve seen it. Show her all sides of you. ”
Raff had given me a lot to think about. I spent another ten to fifteen minutes discussing general topics before we wrapped up the call.
His last words to me were to promise to let him know what I decided to do about Saranya.
I told him I would. I hung up and lay on the bed.
Images and contemplation took over my mind for the remainder of the afternoon and into the evening.
When evening came, I tore myself away to spend time with the club as promised.
However, when I returned home, I was right back at it.