Adrian, Ray, Steve, and Luke looked up.
Adrian smiled and adjusted his Stetson. “Having fun, Angel?”
She giggled. “I am. I feel like a kid up here.”
“Keep enjoying yourself,” Luke said. “Listen, I got to go meet…well, a very pretty lady in fifteen minutes for an early dinner. You guys can stay as long as you need to. Just make sure to lock the gate up when you leave.”
“Sure thing,” Ray said.
“Enjoy your date,” Steve said with a smile.
“Bye, boys. Goodbye, Faith,” Luke said.
“Bye,” Faith said as she waved.
They waited for Luke to get in his truck before they spoke candidly.
“I love the place,” Steve said. “Let’s buy it.”
Adrian chuckled. “It’s three million dollars. Don’t you think we should discuss it first?”
“Yeah,” Joey said. “The horses aren’t even included.”
“Three horses isn’t a big deal,” Adrian said. “Lance, how did the house, the stables, and the barns look?”
“The two barns further out are sound, and in great shape like the one we are in. Nothing needs to be done to them. The fishing cabin next to the creek is still in good shape. My guys and I built it ten years ago. Luke has kept it up well. The stables are twice the size of the one at the Lone Wolf, and it is in excellent condition too, but the ranch house-” Lance stopped and shook his head. “It’s structurally sound from what I can tell, but there’s water damage on the ceiling, the wallpaper is peeling off the walls in all three bedrooms, the kitchen appliances are at least forty years old, but they still work, which is a miracle. The tile on the kitchen floor is chipped and loose. Every step you take the floor creeks. The boiler is so old that you can’t get parts for it if it breaks down. Oh, and one side of the house is lower than the other side.”
“So it needs to be gutted throughout,” Adrian said as he adjusted the hat on his head.
“Yep, but it might be better if you knock the whole thing down and build a house,” Lance said. “If you want a house here, that is.”
“Hmmm,” Adrian mumbled as he mulled over what Lance had said.
“We can use that to bring the price down a little,” Joey said.
“Not that much,” Lance said. “The house is probably worth eighty thousand. That’s my guess, anyway. I’m a contractor, not an appraiser.”
“I’m getting hungry,” Steve said. “But, my vote is yes. We’ve wanted to expand for years. If we buy this place, that dream will come true. The creek runs through our property and this one.”
“Ray, what did you think of the land?” Adrian said.
“It’s terrific,” Ray said. “It’s been well cared for, and we can increase our hay production, too.”
“Joey?” Adrian said.
“It’s the ideal location, I’ll say that. I just wish we can get the price down about five to seven hundred grand or so,” Joey said.
“Did you boys see everything you needed to see?” Adrian said.
The men mumbled that they did.
Faith went to the ladder to climb down.
“Stay up there,” Adrian said as he looked up. “I expect you to give me the grand tour of the loft.”
Faith smiled. “All right.”
“Thanks for coming out on a Sunday, Lance,” Adrian said and shook Lance’s hand.
“No problem,” Lance said. “The bill will be in the mail.”
The men chuckled.
Chapter 31
Faith watched Adrian climb the ladder to the hayloft. His easy cowboy smile made her tingle all over.
“What do you think of the ranch, Angel?” Adrian said as he approached her.
“It’s nice,” Faith said. “Beautiful.”
“I like it, too,” Adrian said. “I kinda agree with Joey, though. I would like to get the price down a little to have cash reserves to increase the herd. If we buy it, we’ll need to hire extra hands and buy a few more horses to work it.” Adrian wrapped his arms around Faith’s waist. “But, in the meantime, let’s take the barn for a test run.”
“What do you mean?” Faith asked. “You want to pitch some hay?”
His laughter filled the massive barn.
Faith smiled.
“Well,” he said as he tightened his hold around her. “If that’s what you want to call it, I’m not going to argue about it.” A boyish smirk played on his lips. His eyes sparkled.
Faith figured out what he meant. “Adrian, we can’t do that here,” she whispered.
“Why?” Adrian said and started kissing her neck.
She giggled. “The place doesn’t belong to you yet.”
He started laying a trail of kisses down her neck. “We both know we’re going to buy it,” Adrian said against her chest. “May as well break it in while we’re here.”
“Mmmm,” Faith moaned lightly. “We’ll get caught.”
“We have a better chance getting caught at home,” Adrian said and raised his head to look at her. “Despite how big that place is, there is always someone lingering about. If it isn’t that, Aunt Bea is hovering to make sure I don’t corrupt you.” Adrian started unbuttoning his shirt.
“No,” she whispered and placed her hands over his. “What if Luke comes back or one of your brothers come looking for you?”
Adrian chuckled and started walking forward, making her walk backward. “My brothers aren’t going to come back. I think they had a feeling as to why I stayed behind. Luke got a date of his own. He probably won’t be back for hours.” Adrian grabbed her and fell on top of her.
They both laughed as they collapsed on top of a hay pile.
Adrian quickly unbuttoned her yellow blouse, exposing her white bra. He groaned his approval of her chest and started rubbing his hands over her breasts.
Faith gasped at his touch.
Adrian grabbed the bra cups and maneuvered her breasts out of them. He tossed his hat to the side. He started kissing down her chest to one breast.
Faith bit her bottom lip as he kissed his way to one dark brown nipple that was getting hard. He took her budding nip in his mouth. Adrian’s tongue started flickering against the bud.
She cried out at near orgasm pitch as she grabbed his shoulders.
He raised his head. He looked pleasantly surprised.
“I’m sorry,” she breathed. “They’re…my breasts…are very sensitive. That’s why I wear padded bras.”
“Oh,” he said with intrigue in his tone. “That is a very good thing to know.” He covered her nipple again with his mouth. His tongue swirled around her bud like he was licking an ice cream cone. He moved to her other breast, flicking his tongue over the throbbing mound.
Faith was panting now.
Adrian raised his head and used his hands to smash her C cups together. He buried his face between them, laying wet kisses on them. He sucked, licked, and kissed her breasts and nipples, worshipping them. Her pelvis writhed and wiggled against him. Adrian didn’t stop until she cried out his name.
His hands moved down to her skirt. He pushed the jean skirt above her thighs, exposing her soaked womanhood. His eyebrows rose as a smirk spread across his lips. “You’re not wearing any panties?”
Faith put her fingertip in her mouth. “It’s hot out and…I didn’t think anyone would notice,” she said bashfully.
Adrian chuckled as he unbuckled his belt. “Saves me time from taking them off.” He unzipped his jeans and pushed them down past his hips. Adrian placed his hands under Faith’s knees, opening her legs wide. He guided his erection into her well. He groaned as he came down on top of her. “You’re so wet,” he moaned.
“Ah. Yes, well, that’s your fault,” she teased as her fingers roamed through his light brown hair.
He started pumping. “I’m happy to take responsibility for that, Angel,” he said with a smile.
They kissed as Faith matched his movements. She started moaning against his lips. After a few minutes, s
he tore her mouth away, needing oxygen.
Adrian laid kisses on her cheek. “God, you feel so good,” he mumbled against her face.
“Oh, you do, too,” Faith moaned.
Adrian started thrusting. His wood was plowing fast and hard.
Her walls tightened around his glory as her back arched. “Yes, Adrian. Ah, that’s it. Yes!” she moaned. She raised one leg and started rubbing her calf against his hip. She turned her face towards him.
He captured her mouth, swallowing her cries of pleasure. Then, he stopped kissing her. “Look at me, Angel. Look at me when you come,” he said in a deep tone.
She opened her eyes.
Adrian changed his ministrations. He went into a hard deliberate thrust that made Faith’s mouth form a perfect O. She grasped the back of his shirt, balling the fabric into her fists. “Oh God, oh!”
She stopped breathing for a second, the hard thrusts shaking her to her core. Faith sucked in a breath, and then let it go as a moan. Her breasts bounced, her nipples throbbed as her shoulders, back, and thighs quaked with the burst of rosy pleasure that surrounded her. A long satisfied moan escaped her throat as a smile curled on her lips. Adrian was the best lover she has ever had.
He kept thrusting until her orgasm subsided. Then, he took her by the waist. “Turn over for me, Angel,” he said raggedly and pulled out of her.
She started to turn on her stomach, but she must have been taking too long because Adrian took her waist and flipped her over in the hay.
Faith giggled as she smashed the hay down away from her face.
Adrian chuckled as he lay on top of her.
Faith felt his wet hardness enter her backdoor.
“Oh,” she said with surprise as his staff dipped inside.
He growled as he maneuvered back and forth in her.
Faith’s skin warmed with tingles. She put her thumb in her mouth and started sucking it as she cooed with delight. She should have been embarrassed, but she wasn’t. The hay prickled her exposed chest and the front of her legs.
Adrian kissed her cheek as he started thrusting in her. His heavy sack was slapping against her ass. He groaned and growled against her cheek like a wild animal. He started breathing so heavy that he was practically wheezing. Faith felt his milk, hot and true, shooting in the back of her. He let out a long, loud groan like he had been holding it in for years. Adrian collapsed on top of her. “My little angel,” he breathed.
Faith let her thumb slip out of her mouth. They lay in the hay, hot and sweaty, cheek to cheek as they caught their breath.
After a few minutes, Adrian rolled over on his back, letting his member slip out of her. His shirt was open and his jeans were hugging his hips. He reached out for her. Faith snuggled against him, laying her head and one hand on his chest.
Adrian took a deep breath as he wrapped one arm around her. He placed his other hand behind his head. “After we buy this place, I’m going to have the ranch house demolished. Then, I’m going to hire Lance to build a new house – a home. I want you to work with Lance. I want the place to be a place….well, that you would want to live in.”
Faith looked up at him. What was he thinking? “Why?” she asked with wide eyes.
“I know we haven’t been seeing each other as much as we would have loved to, but when I see something or someone I want, I go for it. No need in pussy footing around,” Adrian said thoughtfully.
Was he serious? “Adrian, are you saying that you want to live here…with me? You want us to move in together?”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “That’s one way of putting in. I guess what I’m trying to say is that….I’m in love with you and I want us to build a life together. When the time is right….when you’re ready, I want you to become my wife.”
Faith’s mouth dropped open. She adored Adrian. She was falling in love with him, but she didn’t dare say anything like that to him because she thought it was too soon. “I…I am falling in love with you, Adrian, but we’ve only known each other for six - seven weeks. I mean…I don’t know if it happens this fast. Does it?”
“My parents fell in love within a week of meeting each other. Aunt Bea fell for her husband over a weekend in Houston. It happens,” he said and raised his head to kiss her forehead. “Are you not sure about me?”
“Oh, Adrian, I know that what you see is what you get when it comes to you, but I have a bad track record with men,” Faith said. “For one reason or another, it doesn’t work out.”
“That’s because you weren’t with the right person,” Adrian said with conviction. “I’m starting to believe that I was meant to meet you on that road the night you got hit by that Hummer.”
“Like it was destiny intervening so we could meet?” she asked with a wry smile.
“Yeah,” Adrian said as he rubbed her back. “So, what do you say? Do you want to take a chance?”
Faith took a deep breath. She took a chance quitting her job without having another one to go to, and it worked out. She took a chance using her savings to go on a long road trip, and it worked out. Three times the charm. “Yes,” she said with a big smile.
Adrian claimed her with a kiss.
Chapter 32
Three weeks later…
Adrian, Steve, and Joey had purchased the Warrington Ranch for $2.7 million. Luke had vouched for the ranch hands he had on staff, and the Matthews brothers already knew them, so they were comfortable with letting the men stay on.
Adrian, Steve, and Joey were watching Lance’s men remove the Warrington Ranch sign from the gate. The Lone Wolf Ranch sign was sitting on top of a flatbed truck, waiting to be hung.
“This is a beautiful sight,” Steve said with a big grin.
Joey shook his head up and down in agreement.
The ranch house was demolished yesterday. Lance was at the Lone Wolf Ranch with Faith. They were working on plans for the new home. If they started on the house right away, they could have it finished before January.
Adrian smiled. “It looks like it’s going to be sunnier pastures for now on, guys.”
The Matthews brothers smiled as they watched the workmen hook up the Lone Wolf Ranch sign onto a lifter.
****
Faith and Lance were in the den at the Lone Wolf Ranch. They were developing plans for a large Cape Cod style home with a loft and a basement.
“I would like to have it rustic looking, you know, since Adrian is a Texan,” Faith said with a smile.
Lance smiled back at her. “It will have all the Texan flare that Adrian likes.”
Thirty minutes later, Lance and Faith had finished their meeting and Faith was walking Lance to the door.
“I’ll get together with the architect. I should be able to show you formal plans next week,” Lance said.
Faith opened the door. “That sounds great. Hopefully, Adrian can be at that meeting to look at the plans. I want to make sure he likes it, too.”
Lance and Faith shook hands as Joey approached them.
“Hey,” Joey said.
“Hey, Joey,” Lance said. “I was just leaving to see how things are going on the other side.”
“Going good,” Joey said. “The sign is up and the guys from yesterday are back to clean up the debris from the old house.”
“Great,” Lance said. “I’m going to go check in with them.”
“All right,” Joey said.
Lance walked away and headed for his white truck that had “Lance’s Construction” on the side.
“Home for lunch?” Faith asked.
“Yep,” Joey said. “Steve and Adrian are sticking around to wait for Ray and Isaiah to show up with some new equipment. They’ll be along for lunch later.”
Thirty minutes later, Joey, Aunt Bea, and Faith were eating roast beef sandwiches and homemade fries for lunch. They chatted about the new land and the house that would be built on it. Faith couldn’t remember a time when she was this happy. Joey and Aunt Bea seemed happy, too.
The doorbell
rang.
“You guys keep eating, I’ll get it,” Faith said with a smile.
“Thanks, honey,” Aunt Bea said.
Faith went to the foyer. She saw two cruisers and three black SUVs through the side windows next to the door. “What the hell?” she mumbled as she opened the door.
Sheriff Langford, a deputy, and a man in a white shirt with a black tie were on the porch. There were at least a dozen men in jackets that had the letters DEA on the back of them in the front yard. They were pulling German shepherds out of the SUVs.
“Sheriff, what is going on?” Faith asked with wide eyes.
“Ma’am, we are with the Drug Enforcement Agency,” the man said. “I’m Agent Carl Witherspoon. Are you one of the legal owners of this property?”
“No,” Faith said in a high-pitched voice.
“I need to speak with one of the owners, ma’am,” Agent Witherspoon said. He was holding a folded piece of paper in his hand.
Faith wasn’t so far removed from the ghetto to not know what that was. It was a search warrant. Faith stepped back into the foyer. “Joey! Joey!”
A moment went by before Joey and Aunt Bea came jogging to the foyer.
“What the hell is going on?” Joey asked with wide eyes.
“Joseph Matthews?” Agent Witherspoon asked.
“Yeah,” Joey said.
“I’m Agent Carl Witherspoon. This is a search warrant to search your ranch for illegal substances,” he said and handed Joey the search warrant.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Joey asked with wild eyes as he took the paper.
“We got three anonymous tips during the past three weeks that drugs were being trafficked from Mexico through this property, sir. We have to investigate.”
“That’s horse shit!” Joey yelled and opened the search warrant.
“We will be searching the premises for the next few hours including the house, the barns, the stables, and any other structure on this property,” the agent said.
Four men whisked by them with a drug dog and went into the house.
“My God,” Aunt Bea moaned and placed her hand on her chest.
The Rancher Page 14