Chapter Nine
Jensen
As we undressed and climbed onto the bed, there was a palpable tension in the air.
I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as I looked at Harlyn, drinking her in. She was stunning, with her tousled hair and piercing blue eyes. I couldn't resist the urge to take the time and worship her, to show her just how much she was coming to mean to me.
As I traced my fingers along her skin, Harlyn shivered with delight. My touch was gentle yet firm, intent on sending waves of pleasure through her body. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to succumb to all she was feeling.
I leaned in to kiss her, finding her lips soft and inviting. She responded eagerly, her hands running through my hair as we lost ourselves in each other. The room was filled with the sound of our breathing, the only noise in the world at that moment in time.
Our bodies moved together in perfect harmony, each touch igniting a fire within us.
I savored every inch of Harlyn, my growing love for her shining through in every caress.
I wanted her to feel cherished and adored, like she was the most precious thing in the world…
because to me, it’s what she was becoming.
“Jensen, please,” Harlyn begged, unable to take my caresses alone any longer.
I covered her body with mine. My dick was achingly hard as I lined it up at her entrance.
Our eyes burned into each other as I slid inside with ease, burying myself to the hilt.
Her muscles clenched around me as I rocked back and forth.
Our passion…need built until we both wanted more. So much more.
Harlyn locked her ankles around my hips, scraped her nails down my back, and she met my every thrust with one of her own.
I slammed my lips onto hers as she climaxed, shouting out her satisfaction. The warmth of her passion surrounding my dick pushed me over the edge and I emptied into her, my dick pulsing until empty.
Afterwards, as we lay tangled in each other's arms, we shared a moment of pure bliss. I knew that this was just the beginning of our journey together, one filled with love, laughter, heartbreak, and endless possibilities.
I was no longer falling for Harlyn, I’d well and truly fallen and would do anything to keep her by my side.
I woke to see the sky outside just beginning to lighten with the promise of a new day.
My inner body clock ensured I always rose with the dawn, no alarm needed after so many years of ranching.
I glanced at Harlyn, her face serene in sleep, and felt a surge of protectiveness sweep over me.
Gently, I pulled her closer into my body, savoring the warmth and softness of her skin against mine.
She murmured softly, nestling into my embrace, and I couldn't help but smile.
In the quiet of a new day coming to life, everything felt almost perfect. Any problems outside the walls of the room seemed to vanish, leaving only the two of us in our intimate cocoon. I traced lazy circles on Harlyn’s back, feeling the steady beat of her heart beneath my fingertips.
Harlyn stirred, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine. A slow, sleepy smile spread across her face as she looked up at me, and I felt my heart swell in response.
"Good morning," she whispered, her voice husky from sleep.
"Good morning," I replied, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
We lay in each other’s arms for a few precious moments, wrapped in each other, before the world outside began to intrude. The responsibilities of the day awaited us, but for now, we could savor our moment of peace and connection.
Reluctantly, I untangled myself and padded to the bathroom before dressing and preparing for the day ahead.
I sat on the edge of the bed, Harlyn’s arm draped across my thigh, as I pulled on socks and boots.
“I don’t want you to go.”
Ready to leave, I turned to where Harlyn’s head rested on the pillow, her sleep tousled hair spread out in every direction. Leaning forward, I pressed my lips to hers and the kiss we shared, although not heated, was a promise of future passion.
I peeled myself free of Harlyn’s hold and stood. “Tonight?”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I nodded and left the room before I decided to fuck everything and stay. The heat of the Texas sun had nothing on the warmth I felt in my heart for Harlyn. The love I was feeling was growing in strength every day and I just hoped she felt the same.
I made my way to the bunkhouse kitchen where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted in the air and poured myself a cup.
I then helped myself to bacon, sausage, hash brown, beans and a couple of biscuits that were warming on top of the stove before heading back outside to join the men who were already gathered around the wooden table on the porch, discussing the day's chores while they ate.
"Morning, boys," I greeted them, taking a seat. I took a sip of coffee, savoring the earthy bitterness as it fueled me for the tasks ahead and then dug into the food.
"Morning, boss," replied Briggs. "We've got a busy day ahead. The fences will need checking after last night's storm, and the cattle need moving to the western pasture."
I nodded thoughtfully, "Right. Tru, you take care of the fences with Virginia after mucking out. Briggs, take charge of the cattle drive with Sunny and Max. I’m going to ride over the spread and check for any damage or injured cattle.
Let's make sure everything is done efficiently—we don't want to lose any more time or livestock. "
The men nodded in agreement and began to strategize their approach.
I listened intently, trusting in their ability to manage what needed to be done.
With the exception of Virginia, who had been hired on six months earlier, the men had been with the ranch for years and knew the place as well as I did.
A couple, like Briggs and Max, knew it even better and I appreciated their dedication to the ranch’s wellbeing.
I finished eating, gulped down my coffee, then stood. "Alright, let's get to it. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover today." With a collective sense of determination, we dispersed, ready to tackle our respective duties.
As I headed back up to the house to drag Sheba from slumber, I couldn’t help but think of Harlyn and being with her at the end of the day.
I loved riding over my ranch and watching Sheba run ahead, snapping at the heels of lone cattle that had separated from the rest of the herd.
The vast expanse of land stretched out before me, a tapestry of dusty fields and rolling hills, offering a sense of peace and belonging that I cherished deeply.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Sheba and I worked tirelessly, rounding up stray cattle and guiding them back to the herd while I checked for any in distress and damage to troughs and feeders.
Sheba, lazy as she could be, loved running free.
Her loyalty and my commands created a seamless partnership that made working the ranch extremely rewarding.
Every so often, I would pause, tipping my hat to wipe the sweat from my brow and take in the breathtaking view that never ceased to fill me with awe.
The land was part of me, embedded in my heart, and the love I had for the place ran through every cell of my body.
As I rode, my thoughts drifted to Harlyn. I envisioned her smile, the way her eyes sparkled with curiosity and passion, and how her presence seemed to make everything brighter.
“Sheebs, come on girl, let’s head up for something to eat.”
The dog didn’t respond which was not like her and I instantly went on alert.
She looked back from where she lay at the edge of a deep crack in the earth, whining for my attention.
Something was very wrong. I dismounted, trusting Jackie not to wander off—she was a well behaved filly, and paced to where Sheba now sat with her gaze fixed on me.
When I reached her, I patted her head and peered down into the crack. A calf, only a matter of hours old, lay about four feet down. And it wasn’t moving.
“Fuck a duck,” I snarled., before turning my attention to the dog. “Sheebs, stay.”
Sheba immediately dropped to her belly and I felt her eyes on me as I climbed down into the crack.
I wriggled in the narrow space until I was in a position to check on the baby.
It’s chest rose and fell, indicating it was breathing.
Running my eyes over the body, I was unable to see any injuries but if it had fallen, it was highly likely there was damage of some kind.
I stood, dragged my cell phone from a pocket and dialed Briggs. Hopefully he would have shifted the herd and still be near the western fence.
“Briggs, we have a calf trapped in a crack about half a mile north of the western fence. It’s only a few hours old from the looks of it. Get the pickup and chains.”
“I’m almost back at the house, be there in ten.”
The line went dead, I pushed the phone back in my pocket and crouched to further check on the calf. Its breathing was shallow but steady and when I ran a hand over its hide, the eyes flickered open and the baby gave me a soulful bleat.
“It’s okay, baby. Help is on the way.”
I continued feeling for injuries while murmuring nonsensical words to soothe and reassure. Minutes later, the rumbling of a pickup coming closer had me standing. As Briggs neared, I hefted myself from the crack and met him when he climbed from the truck.
“Is it alive?” Briggs asked, going to the bed of the pickup and pulling out a cloth sling and chains.
“It’s breathing and from what I can feel, it’s not injured too bad.”
“Mama?”
I glanced around the immediate area but there was no sign of a distressed mother. “No idea. She has either been rejected or mama wandered away during last night’s storm.”
Briggs leaned over the crack and shook his head. “Not enough room to maneuver and lift her out, it’ll be easier to use the sling and less trauma for her.” Briggs connected the chains to the canvas sling and then to a hook on the front of the pickup.
“We’ll get the baby out and while you take her back to the barn, I’ll scout for mama.”
Sheba watched me with eyes like a hawk when I jumped back down to the baby and fitted the sling.
Once I’d climbed back out, Briggs started the motor on the winch and slowly the calf was brought to the surface.
After removing the sling we manhandled all seventy or so pounds of the tiny beast into the pickup and I stood watching Briggs drive away…
With the calf and Sheba who was obviously concerned about her new friend.
I mounted up and set off in search of the calf’s mother and while I did, an idea began forming.
After a couple of hours, I decided it was highly unlikely the mother would be found and I headed back home. I needed to take the calf to be checked out by Doc. Henderson, the vet in town.