5. Ranch Day
Ranch Day
Amity
“T illy. That little shit over there won’t stop harassing the cows. Can you go deal with him before I rope ’em up and throw him into the trough.” She looks over to the kid then back to me laughing.
“Amity, he is like five.”
“Pineapples! I don’t care. He’s gettin’ them all riled up and antsy. We are moving them tomorrow, so I’d prefer a calm herd.”
“I’ll deal with him.” Tilly heads over to get the kid while I tack up Nevada.
I rode Henry this morning on the trail ride since we had a few elderly people on the sunrise tour this morning. It felt best to take the ride steady and slow. Now I am going to kick my day up a notch by high-tailing the landscape with Nevada. With us not competing in reining until the season starts back in January along with ropin’, I try to get him out for exercise several times a week. Whether we are runnin’ through the pastures or working on patterns. “Look at you all cleaned up. Now if you would just stop rolling around on the ground after rain showers, we’d be good.” Patting him on the side, he neighs in response. I’ve shined up his white patches and glossed the black on his overcoat, then brushed his mane and saddled up. Exiting the cross-ties, Dirks walks in.
“Have you seen Tilly?”
“She is kickin’ some kid’s ass for me. Why, she late for a hookup?” He shakes his head at me.
“No Amity. She was going to help Willa and me train the new filly, but I need to go help Pa pack up for the cattle drive tomorrow. Ben went home early because his kid is sick.”
“Oh, well you always seem to have a reason for her. Need my help?” I waggle my eyebrows, giving him my devilish grin, causing him to chuckle.
“Nah, we will deal with the filly next week. She’s out in the north pasture if you want to go check on her though. She's rugged and wild.”
“I bet she just needs some tough love. But yeah, I’ll ride Nevada over there before we head out.”
“Thanks. See yah.”
“See yah,” I murmur, then head out, riding Nevada up a dirt path to the north pasture. “Good boy,” I say to him as he trots along.
We are gone for what seems like hours by the time we make it back to the barn. Untacking Nevada, I brush him down, talking to him. “You are the best boy. The only guy I need in my life, huh?” He nudges me with his big white nose.
“Doc clearly has some competition,” Willa says, coming down the pathway with Doc Holiday walking behind her.
I laugh, “He does. Y'all just get done?”
“Yep. Ranch is packed for the next few weeks. I guess everyone is tryin’ to get in last minute vacations before school starts back up. We had twelve kids alone today in basic training class. I’m actually looking forward to the cattle drive tomorrow to just be able to ride.”
“How many folks have signed up for that?”
“Tilly told me ten. We do try to limit the people, because we would be losing more riders than cows out there. I know people come from all over for the experience, but they don’t realize how rough the terrain is out there let alone keeping up with the herd. We have six calves right now. I told Pa I would prefer to wrangle them up and trailer them over to the new spot. He told me that would take away the fun and experience. So then I told him he will be chasin’ them down.”
“You know damn well it will be us ropin’ them “Ugh, I know.” We both laugh hard, and the release of emotions feels almost imposing to how I’ve felt these last several weeks. Willa and I both walk our horses down to the east pasture to release them.
“I checked on that new filly today. Gotta name for her yet?”
“How was she? She’s going to be a challenge to break. I can tell. Um, the last owner called her Larken.”
“That is fitting. The black that runs down her muzzle and legs makes her look fierce. She is a beautiful Dun.”
“She is. I’m hoping to get some time in with her before school starts back up. I would love to introduce her to the rodeo program at school. We have two horses retiring this year and need to start looking for replacements.”
“Let me talk to old man Woodrow next week. He has several paints and a mustang over there he got in a few months back. I’m sure if you felt they were worthy, he would work out a deal with you. He lets me use his ranch for field trips when my students need hands-on agriculture experience. Plus, his wife makes and sells the best peach cobbler ice cream this side of the state.”
“Mmmm, now you have me craving peach cobbler. Damn. Can I go with you next week?”
“Of course. I’ll call him Monday and see what works for him.”
“Thanks, Am. Well, let’s get home to rest. Long day tomorrow.” We hug and head to our trucks.
* * *
Exhausted, I walk into my apartment greeted with a jovial Hamlet. “Sorry, boy, I know it was a long day for you. Did Lana come and play with you?” Squishing his face together, I baby-talk him because he has the most adorable, fluffy, squishy face ever. “You’re too handsome for your own good, Ham. Come on. Let’s go make dinner.”
I begin grilling some chicken in a pan with a side of rice and green beans. As all of that is cooking, I pull out the ingredients to make a salad to put my chicken on. Hamlet starts sniffing and barking at the door. “What is it boy?” I walk over, looking through the peephole. “No one’s there. Stop your babbling.” He begins to follow me back to the kitchen, but then stops in his tracks and heads back to the door.
“Whatever,” I whisper under my breath, going back to making my salad.
Knock, Knock.
“Pineapples, I don’t want visitors tonight.” Checking my phone, I have no messages from anyone stating they were coming over. Looking through the peephole again, no one. Hamlet is whining so I open the door to show him nobody was out there, yet he flies out the door to the left. Running out to chase him, I’m taken back by who I see. “Hamlet, get inside now!” I say angrily. He chooses to ignore me with the return of our guest. “Fine, be a traitor,” I grumble, walking into my apartment and slamming the door.
Knock, Knock.
I ignore the sound, taking the chicken off the skillet and draining the macaroni before stirring the cheese in.
Knock, knock, knock. Bark, bark, knock, knock, bark.
Jesus those two. Stomping over, I fling the door open. “Do you need to be excessively annoying?”
“He’s hungry. It smells amazing.”
“Hamlet, get in here. Go away, Blake.” He pads in and sits behind me. I try to slam the door, but Blake’s shoe catches the door before it slams. “Please, Amity. I traveled all this way to see you
“Wow, I feel so honored.” Turning away, I ignore him, knowing he just walked in, shut the door, and is making his way to me in the kitchen. “Are you hungry?”
“I am, but don’t worry about me.” Like old habits, I make him a plate with extra rice with butter. I set our plates down at the table and put Hamlet’s on his mat to eat.
Blake hesitates before picking up his fork. “I didn’t poison it if that’s what you’re thinkin’.”
He chuckles, “I would understand if you did.”
“I’m glad we can agree on something.” We lock eyes, and it takes every fiber of my being to look away. My core is yearning for him. My heart is beating rapidly for him. My skin is tingling with the want to touch and be touched by him. I force myself to eat, though, I’ve lost all appetite since he arrived, but I know I need fuel for tomorrow. Silence passes for several minutes. I can fill my eyes twitching with the anxiety that I’m beginning to feel. More silence with him casting glances my way. Dropping my fork loudly on the plate, I ask, “What are you doing here, Blake?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I came to see you.”
“Your timing is impeccable!” I snap back.
“Can you stop being such a bitch for ten minutes and hear me out?”
“Honestly, no,” I say with a smirk, getting up from my chair and walking in the kitchen to clear my dishes. Not as soon as I set them on the counter, he has my wrists in his hands, pinning me to the fridge. I know he would never hurt me so it’s not fear that rushes through me. Only anger that he thinks he can come into my home and expect something from me.
He growls out, “The bear is here, Amity. What are you going to do now?”
“Let you have your temper tantrum, and then hopefully you’ll leave.” Slamming his fist into the fridge above my head, keeping my wrist held in his other large hand.
“Dammit, woman. You’re making me crazy. Pushing my limits.”
“This is good, Blake. You’re learning where your limits are. You’re learning what raw anger and heartbreak feel like,” I grind out through gritted teeth.
“My heart is not breaking, Princess. I’m not letting you go.”
“Ha! What’s done is done, Blake. Please just leave.”
“You are so fucking stubborn. You know you want me! You know you love me! But you are so damn stubborn to hear me out. To give us a chance.”
“YOU want a chance? You left me!” I spit out. He releases my wrists and walks away, running his hand through his hair and down his face, pacing.
“I know! I fucked up. Trust me, I’ve been agonizing over all this.” He’s back in my space again, towering over me. Toe to toe. His face leaning down to me, I can feel him breathing in the scent of my hair. Both of us are near in pants with anger and exhilarated emotions running through our veins. Blake plants his hands on the fridge above my head, leaning closer in. “Amity, just look at me, please.”
Against my better judgment, I do. His baby blues pierce my own with anguish. A quick thought flashes through my mind. What if? What if I have him one more time? It’s what he wants anyhow. Then we can both go our separate ways. I grab a fistful of his shirt, pulling him down to my level and kiss him. He backs away from me confused. Pulling my shirt over my head, standing there in my pink laced bra and jeans, I ask, “Isn’t this what you want?” stepping toward him and trapping him between the counter and my body.
“I do, but not like this.”
“This is all you get, Blake, take me or leave.” I begin to walk away. He lets me get farther than I thought he would before he pushes me down on the couch.
“You will be the death of me, Amity. Tell me your mine.” Staying silent, I stare back at him, unaffected. “Maybe you need a reminder of what you've been missing.”
I slip a sly smile, egging him on. I won’t deny my body this, but my heart is going to stay out of this moment. He slips out of his clothes, leaving just his briefs on. His bulge is on full display. My eyes wander over the body I’ve yearned for. The muscular arms I ache to hold me. Blake quickly jerks my panties off with my jeans and unclasps my bra from the back. He’s moving with vigor, pulling me to the floor beneath him. Without warning or foreplay, he pushes his way in. My mind is fighting my body’s needs to have him. He rails me deep with rapid thrusts.
“Harder,” I grit out. I want him to tear me apart so I can feel any other pain but heartache. His arm slips under my lower back side, pulling my bottom half up closer to him. I claw and rake my nails up and down his back and neck. Gripping his hair in my fingers. “Harder, Blake.” In a swoop of motion, he pulls out, flips my front over the couch to take me from behind. He slides in, then wraps my hair around his fist. Holding me down on my lower back with his palm as he tightens his grip on my hair, slamming into me with all his strength. My legs are turning to jell-o trying to hold up against the couch. I moan in response to my inner core enjoying his cock savaging my heat repeatedly. We both reach our releases together, leaving him panting over me, pressing me further into the cushion. Once he moves, I take my chance to stand up to dress myself. I’m as far as bra and panties when he grabs my arm, turning me around to face him.
SLAP!
Tears fall like heavy rain down my cheeks. He holds his cheek while I ignore the sting in my palm. “You need to leave, now.”
“What? What the hell, Amity? After what we just did?”
“What we just did is I let you fuck me one more time. I have tried for weeks to banish your memory with no avail. You haunt me day and night. Give me my heart back. That’s all I am asking of you.”
* * *
Blake
My girl is breaking right in front of me, and I am at a loss. She is begging for her heart back, but is it fair she gets to keep mine if I return hers? “I can’t, Amity. My heart doesn’t beat without yours. My soul screams without you near. Don’t ask me to leave you.”
Amity collapses to the ground. I catch her as I guide us carefully down to our knees. Holding her tightly, I rock us back and forth. Her hands are fisted in my shirt. I situate myself to be more comfortable against the couch. Squeezing her to me, letting her know it’s not an invitation to move away. “I’ll never let you go, Am. It’s not in my nature to do nor do I want to. We need to talk, but I won’t push the subject tonight. Right now, I just need you to know I love you.”
She lets out a shudder with a heavy sob. I continue to rock her for what seems like hours. The best hours I have had in weeks with my girl in my arms. “Amity,” I whisper in her ear, noticing her breathing has become steady. A sign she’s asleep. Carrying her to bed, I tuck her under the covers with Hamlet laying down by her side. “You look after her tonight, big guy. You hear me?” Petting his head, he whines a little in acknowledgement. Placing her phone on the nightstand to charge. God, she is the worst about having a charged phone . Laughing to myself all the times she’s had a dead phone when I would try to call. Always in panic, but always had an inkling she would be at the ranch. I’d pull up to her hauling ass across the field on her horse without a care in the world. Huh ! Amity is not a woman that needs anyone. She chooses who graces her life. How do I convince her I need her? I’m not scared to admit I’m desperate for her love. For her respect. For the way she used to look at me with fire in her eyes. Tonight, all she gave me were ice daggers as I ravishly had my way with her. Giving her all the anger she wanted behind the act. Then I saw her weakness. Me. Walking out of the apartment, I head over to Nash and Willa’s to game plan.