Chapter 36 #2
“Come with me,” she ordered, as their ragged breaths grew louder, their skin slapped together, and it felt like they were the only two people in the world.
“I’m ready, Sparky. Let me see you fly,” he encouraged as their lovemaking became more frenzied.
Scarlett let out a long moan and stiffened. Ty groaned as they rode the wave together. She lay against him and listened to his racing heartbeat. He pulled the covers over her as he kissed her forehead.
A few minutes later, he lifted her off to take care of the condom.
“I feel like I’m in high school,” she confessed. “We’ve snuck off to make out under a tree and dry humping.
“Have you considered taking the pill? I don’t mind condoms and will continue to use them. Since we’ve established our feelings for one another, I prefer not to use them,” he confided. “I want to feel every part of you.”
“I’ll ask Kassie to go over my options. Honestly, I never imagined I’d do this again,” she admitted.
“Why?” he asked, but she detected the hardness in his tone.
“Because I never saw the light until I met you,” she murmured. “Now I see it everywhere.”
He heard the depth of emotion in her answer, and Ty vowed always to remind her that it was she who brought it. “I’ll always keep you from the dark, Scarlett. You’re meant to shine,” Ty said, kissing her forehead.
“I can’t wait to feel you without those,” she whispered.
He glanced back, setting the condom to the side.
Ice lay on the side of the blanket near Scarlett, and he envisioned a life with her.
She belonged on his ranch as much as he entrusted his heart to her.
Sighing, Ty lay beside her and rested her head on his shoulder.
He prayed the interview went well on Friday.
Wanting to ask her to stay with him, he wondered if the short time they spent together seemed too soon.
His heart screamed no. They fit together like cookies and cream.
Ty decided to wait until after her interview to speak with her about it.
After all, what’s a few months compared to a lifetime together?
Ty pulled the picnic basket closer, and they finished off the rest of the food. Scarlett leaned against his chest as Ty told her about his childhood. She described her family and admitted she missed them, despite their overprotective actions. After all, it led her to Ty.
Realizing the time, Ty rushed to pack up the horse. Helping her mount, he climbed up beside her, and she called, “Hank, take us home.”
Ice trotted beside them as they hurried back.
“When will your mother arrive?” she asked, leaning against him.
“I don’t know. For once, I wish I weren’t a mama’s boy. It means I’ll have to behave while she’s here,” he muttered.
“It doesn’t mean I have to,” she uttered ominously.
He shook his head, taking Hank inside the barn. Helping her down, he handed her Ice’s harness while he removed Hank’s saddle and filled his feed bin and water. Scarlett took a carrot from the bucket and held it out like Ty taught her. Hank gently took her treat.
He held her hand while she grasped Ice’s harness and walked up to the house.
“It’s about time you two arrived,” Cherise said, stirring stew on the stove. “I’m afraid you’ll have to suffer through a meal with canned bread. I’m afraid I don’t have the talent my son has with cooking.”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Ty said, glancing at his mom. Cherise raised an eyebrow and grinned as Scarlett removed a leaf from her hair. It reminded him of Scarlett’s comment about feeling like they were in high school. Now, his mother caught them.
Scarlett went to the pantry, scooped Ice’s food, and checked his water.
“How did the poker game go?” she asked as she sat at the bar.
“Victoria cheated. I swear it’s a good thing we play with chips.
The woman refuses to allow any of us to win.
Carol asked if we wanted to up the ante, suggesting we play for real money.
Victoria appeared shocked and asked if we really wanted to play strip poker.
After that, we never brought it up again. I believe she meant it.”
Scarlett heard Ty laughing from their room. “Can I help you with anything?”
“Nope. I have everything under control. I set the table while I waited for you. Rocker will arrive any minute. Did the two of you have a spat? He seemed reluctant to join us.”
Scarlett felt the heat rise in her cheeks. “No, only a misunderstanding.”
“Shall we go fishing tomorrow?” Cherise asked. “It doesn’t seem like you and Ty caught anything today.”
“Ummm, no. We didn’t get much fishing done. Did I show you the book Ty purchased me?” Scarlett said, changing the subject.
“No. What did he get? I love to read. Ty and I spent many nights going on adventures when he was a young boy,” Cherise said fondly.
“He told me this afternoon about a website I can join and get five books a month. I’ll have to ask Rocker to help me with the computer,” she said, disappointedly.
“Nonsense, let’s sign you up now,” Cherise said, fetching her laptop and setting it on the island. “The faster we get you registered, the sooner you’ll get those books.”
“Thanks. Oh, I don’t know what address to put. I don’t know how long I’ll be here,” she mumbled.
“Put my address in,” Ty said as he pulled a clean shirt over his head. “We can always change it if the need arises.”
Entering the information, Cherise’s nails clicked away on the keyboard.
“It’s all set. Maybe later, Ty can go through the list of books with you,” Cherise suggested, hopping off the stool. “Dinner’s ready.”
Rocker knocked on the door and waited until Ty let him in.
“Hey, man,” Rocker gave him a head nod.
“C’mon back, we’re ready to sit down for dinner,” Ty led him back to the kitchen. They sat at the table, enjoying the stew.
“This is mighty fine food,” Rocker complimented Cherise.
“Did you make this from scratch?” Scarlett asked. “I love fall when you can add all the ingredients into a crock pot and your entire house smells like fresh herbs.”
“It sure beats the food from the mess hall,” Rocker added.
“You won’t find a slow cooker at my house, dear. I made beans and rice when I married Ty’s father. Ty learned to cook from him. He knows how to barbecue. He cans vegetables and freezes soups. I found this in the deep freeze while you two…fished.”
“So not cooking but reheating,” Scarlett grinned, trying to keep her composure as she recalled their afternoon.
“Yes, Ty cooked the original stew,” Cherise admitted. “Now the talk of the game tonight was all about the community center, baker, and restaurant. What have you decided about your restaurant?”
“We met with Kassie and Bryanna yesterday to discuss the restaurant’s future.
Scarlett helped us come up with a plan. We’re meeting later in the week to discuss it again.
I’m working out the numbers tomorrow after I meet with the insurance adjuster,” Ty informed her.
“Kassie’s having the teens pass out flyers for the town meeting, hoping to catch people’s interest. We’re hoping to get the townspeople more involved in the community. ”
“Everyone Sledge and I have encountered has welcomed us. It seems weird they don’t want to participate in helping each other to make the town better,” Rocker added.
“It’s sad, really. It’ll be great if they come together again. When Ty grew up, the people in this town watched over one another. I miss Serenity and the community,” Cherise said sadly.
“Why did you move if you love the town?” Scarlett asked curiously.
Silence echoed around the table. Rocker nudged her foot under the table to clue her into the unhappy faces.
“I’m sorry. My curiosity got the best of me. I didn’t mean to pry,” she apologized.
“You didn’t,” Cherise assured her. “Ty’s father worked hard to provide for his family.
When Tyson inherited the ranch, he became responsible for all the employees.
He ended up firing two lifelong friends who took advantage of him.
One of them went on to college and became the bank’s CEO, which held our mortgage.
When Tyson got sick with cancer, they didn’t waste time taking his land.
I will always believe until the day I die, his friend killed him, not the cancer.
I named Ty after the man I loved the most. My son inherited what we managed to hold on to and took it over.
Little by little, he’s reclaimed his family’s land.
I left after my husband died, unable to face the daily reminder of our lives.
I do love the city and thought it might be fun to change the scenery.
I’m not far from Serenity and can visit Ty as often as I want. ”
“It sounds like you miss Serenity and regret your decision,” Scarlett said gently, stretching her hand across the table to hold Cherise’s.
“In hindsight, I ran away from all the loving memories because the pain became too much. Unfortunately, we can’t change things now,” Cherise said, patting her hand. “Ty made a good life here, and I can visit whenever I want.”
Scarlett nodded. The wheels started turning as she pieced together a plan.
Tomorrow, she planned to spend the day with Ty’s mother.
Hopefully, she’d convince her to stay for the town meeting.
Perhaps if the townspeople remembered why they lived here, they might come together.
After all, Jeremy still went free, and Debbie’s family still grieved.