Reno's Journey: Cowboy Craze (The Wild West)

by Sable Hunter

  Journey made a humming sound as she unlocked her door. “Oh, last I heard it was 960,000 something and the population for the Metroplex which includes Round Rock and the other suburbs was a little over two million.”

  “Damn, that’s a lot of people,” he muttered as he stepped inside Journey’s home. “Good gracious, baby. What have we here?”

  If a stranger walked in any other apartment in her complex, then visited her own – they’d swear they couldn’t be located in the same place. She’d taken an ordinary modern apartment and transformed it into a celebration of the past. Journey tried to look at it through Reno’s eyes. “The furniture is all antiques. Most of it from the late 1800’s. I especially enjoyed collecting the glassware.”

  He strolled around the room, touching a pillow, trailing a finger across the fabric on a chair. “You have very similar tastes to Fancy.” For Reno’s part, he felt right at home. Everything was comfortable and pleasing to the eye. “So, you like this?”

  “I do.” She didn’t state the obvious. Living among these things was just her way of being as close to him as she could.

  He gave her a heated look. “I think I’m going to be able to make you happy.”

  “Not a doubt in my mind.” She followed him into her kitchen. “I have modern appliances. Of course.”

  “Yea, you’d be crazy not to.” Reno opened her refrigerator. “What this?” He took out a round container filled with something red and shiny.

  “Jell-O. Get a spoon and try it. That’s cherry with pears, I think.”

  “I think I’m too full.”

  “Ah, like they say, there’s always room for Jell-O.” He gave her a grin and made himself at home, tearing open the container, and taking a big bite. “Damn, this is good.”

  As he ate, they wound their way to her bedroom. He chuckled to find the big wash bowl and pitcher. “You still have a shower and sink, though, right?”

  “Yea, I do. I have all the modern conveniences along with touches of the past – to keep you close.”

  “I love you.” He said matter-of-factly as he sat down her bed.

  “I love you too.” She pointed at a remote control. “When you finish your treat, lay down and press those buttons.”

  His eyes lit up. “I love remotes. And buttons.”

  Taking her up on his invitation, he had a blast with the Tempurpedic bed, making it go up and down – up and down. “I think we could use this later, if you’re game.” He gave her a wicked little smile.

  “Oh, yea. Absolutely.” She pointed at the bottom of the remote. “Now, hit that button and be prepared to fall in love.”

  He frowned, looking at her with curious skepticism. But when he pressed the button and the bed began to vibrate, he groaned and lay flat. “You’ve got to be kidding! What magic is this?”

  “Magic is right. Magic fingers. Massage. There’s even a button to make the mattress warm.”

  He rolled over to lie spread-eagle on his stomach. “I may never leave this bed.”

  She let him play as long as he wanted, before coaxing him to get up. “Come on. Let’s go to 6th street. We can enjoy the bed later.”

  “Count on it, baby.”

  With that promise made, they dashed to the car and took off toward downtown. After finding a place to park, they made their way to 6th Street hand-in-hand. “I like it that there’s no cars allowed,” he observed, completely mesmerized by the crowds of people, the music blaring from every door, and the jovial people who were strolling down the street with a drink in hand. “This is just one big party.”

  “Reminds me of Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Ever been?”

  He shook his head no. “I haven’t been many places. Just where the war took me, then coming to Texas with Cap and the others.”

  “Well, we may have a few weeks. We could travel if you want.”

  He shook his head. “I have a feeling we may be going back sooner rather than later.”

  She held his hand tightly. “I’m ready. As long as I’m with you, I don’t care.”

  They visited several bars on 6th Street, trying a few drinks, and dancing to a few songs together. She enjoyed every minute. As he held her during one slow song, he whispered against her ear, “Dancing or making love, you fit in my arms perfectly.”

  Journey sighed and placed her head on his shoulder. “You are so right, my love.”

  …After a late supper at P6, a rooftop restaurant overlooking the lake and the Austin skyline, they danced again. The lights of the city sparkled in the beautiful waters while the stars shone bright overhead. “You have to admit, this is beautiful isn’t it?”

  “What I’m looking at is beautiful.”

  She glanced at him, seeing he only had eyes for her.

  “I meant the view.”

  “You’re the only view I need.” He stroked the raven wing of her hair. “You’re eyes sparkle. Your smile makes me weak. And your body…” He bent to whisper in her ear. “Your body is heaven on earth.”

  “You make me want to cry sometimes. I knew you’d say these things to me.” Clasping him close, she buried her face in his neck. “There is no one like you, Reno. No one.”

  “I’ve never met anyone like you either.” He held her body close, loving how her hard, little nipples almost burned his chest. “You’re exactly who I’ve always wanted. Always needed.”

  She sighed with complete happiness. “I want you to remember all of this.” She lifted her hand to indicate the beauty of their surroundings. “You’ll have a vision of the future no one else will have.”

  Reno took a moment to look around. “I won’t forget.” He bent to kiss her lips. “I’m just glad I’ll have more than memories of you. I don’t think I could stand to let you go. Not now. Not after knowing what it feels like to love you. I couldn’t bear it.”

  “Neither could I.” She squeezed him hard, wanting to imprint him onto her very soul. “I’m so glad I won’t have to say goodbye to you. So glad.”

  …Back at her apartment, Journey introduced him to the joys of shower sex. “And this is another luxury I’ve splurged on.” She showed him the shower massage and all the delicious things it could do. After they’d played, soaping one another up, giggling as the rinse waters cascaded around them, Journey went down on her knees. “I’ve never done this before, but I’ve practiced on you in my mind.”

  When she took him into her mouth, Reno clawed at the wall of the shower. He couldn’t speak. He could barely breathe. No woman had ever done this for him before. Holding her head in his hands, he gloried in the sight of her as she loved on him, taking him beyond the moon and past the stars. And when she was through, he gathered her up in his arms to dry her off. “You’re amazing. The greatest gift I’ve ever received.” Then he took her to bed and returned the favor. This was new to him too, but he gave it everything he had. The taste of her was intoxicating and the way she cried out for him, wrapping her legs around his head – made him hard as a rock.

  Once she’d come on his tongue, he kissed his way up her body to find his way home. She was so ready for him and he was so ready for her. With one powerful thrust of his aching cock, he filled her, then filled her again and again. How had he managed to live his life without her? And how could he ever exist without her?

  Thank God, he’d never have to find out.

  * * *

  Early the next morning, Journey surprised him with another memory making adventure. “Hurry up. Get dressed. We’re going flying.”

  She didn’t have to ask him twice. He dressed in record time and was waiting at the door for her once she’d gathered her things and tidied the apartment until she returned the next time. As she locked up, Journey wondered when they would be. Or if she’d return at all. If Lou discovered a way to send them back in time, this might very well be the last she’d see of the place she called home.

  No, she corrected herself. This had been a nice place to stay, but it had never been her home. If she were honest, the ranch didn�
�t really qualify as home either. As she held out her hand to take his, Journey acknowledged the truth. Reno was her home. Present. Past. Or future. Wherever he hung his hat was the place where she belonged.

  “How did you arrange this so fast?” he asked in wonder as they headed to a heliport in the south of town.

  “I called and they had a cancellation. Just lucky I guess.”

  He gave her sexy smirk. “I don’t think it’s just luck for us – it’s more than that. Everything seems to fall into place.”

  “Like it’s meant to be.” She reached over to find his hand. “I’ve noticed that too.”

  Soon, they were flying high and Reno could see the whole area in one magnificent panorama. “Look, there’s the airport.” He pointed at Austin-Bergstrom where they’d watched the jets take off and land.

  “And there’s Interstate 35, it will take you from Houston to Dallas.”

  “Huh, I could use that to make good time to catch the stagecoach.”

  “True.” She pointed to the west. “And look, see how the river runs through town? Over there is the Pennybacker Bridge, it’s a well-photographed spot next to a high cliff called the Overlook.”

  He looked down at the blue water meandering through the lush hills covered with houses so big he couldn’t imagine living in one of them. “Look, there’s a high spot.” He noticed a rocky cliff overlooking the river.

  “That’s Mt. Bonnell. Highest point in Austin.”

  Reno stared at it again, a funny feeling running down his spine. “I know that spot. We used to call it Antoinette’s Leap, after a girl leaped to her death rather than be captured by Indians – or so the tale goes. This whole area used to be an Indian trail.”

  Journey shivered. “I used to look at everything and try to see it through your eyes.”

  “You know, I’ll probably do the same thing. I’ll look at all of this in my time and try to see it through your eyes.” An uncomfortable pang of uncertainty knifed through him. “I want to come here with you. We’ll walk along the path and look down at this river together – before any of these houses or roads are built.”

  “Okay. We’ll do it.” She couldn’t stop smiling. From where she sat, the future looked bright – even if her future existed in the past. “Look way out there. That’s Lake Travis. Isn’t the water beautiful sparkling in the sunshine?”

  Reno agreed that it was, but he couldn’t shake the chill that seemed to come out of nowhere. He didn’t let it show, though. He smiled and looked at everything Journey wanted to show him. The Austin skyline was truly inspiring. “I didn’t know buildings could ever be that high.”

  “Oh, that’s not high. Austin’s tallest skyscraper is called the Independent, it’s a whopping 690 ft tall, a 58-story residential building. But there are buildings much taller. There’s one in Dubai called the Burj Khalifa, I think, that’s 2723 ft high with 163 stories and 58 elevators.”

  “It has as many elevators as the Independent has floors,” Reno marveled. “And where is Dubai?”

  “On the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf.”

  Reno chuckled. “I’ve barely heard of those places.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m not educated, you know. Not well traveled. Mostly self-taught.”

  “I think you’re amazing.” She told him, gazing into his face with all sincerity. “The measure of a man is much more than where he received his education or where he’s traveled to. Besides, you’ve been someplace very, very few have been – the future.”

  “This is true.” He gave her a wink, loving how she loved him.

  Once the helicopter ride was over, she slipped a promotional flyer the pilot gave her into her pocket for a souvenir. “Ready to go?”

  “It’s been fun, but I think it’s time we go home.”

  “I agree.” She set the Subaru on cruise control and headed west to Enchanted Rock. Once they were through the worst part of the traffic, she pulled over and let him have the wheel. “Be good now. We don’t want to both end up in jail.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He fastened his seatbelt, rolled down the window, and turned on the radio. Setting his course for home, he pointed his finger toward the afternoon sun. “Go West, young man, go west.”

  Journey loved the feeling of the wind in her hair. “I’ve heard that saying in an old western, I think. Where did you first hear it?”

  “I read it in an editorial in 1865. The New York Tribune was the name of the newspaper, I think. There was a copy of it at the Captain’s plantation. Once his fiancé, Caroline, betrayed him, Kingston didn’t want to stay in Tennessee. The rest of us had either lost our home or our family to the war, so we all went with him. The article I read seemed to be an omen.”

  “Fortuitous.” She marveled at all the things that had to fall into place for them to be together. “And then you came to Texas and made a home. King’s Ransom. You met Saul and Ela – and then, you came to me.”

  “Seems impossible, doesn’t it?”

  “Yea, it does. But it happened. And you’re here.” She placed her hand on his arm as if to anchor him in place. “When we get home, if you’ll find that business card, I’ll start a search to see if the lawyer left any papers behind.”

  “Yea, we’ve been concentrating so hard on how I got here, I’ve neglected to try and locate information to help Cole once I return. I can’t rely on the chance there’ll be ample time to search for the drummer boy when I get back – I need to do it now.”

  “I understand and I’ll help,” Journey assured him.

  * * *

  Once they were home, they changed into comfortable clothes. Reno went to check on Traveler and the other horses and Journey pacified the dogs who acted as if they’d been abandoned for weeks. “Oh, you two are so spoiled. I left both of you plenty of food and water.” She played with the rambunctious pair for a bit, then took them for a walk. When she returned, Journey took the roast from the refrigerator and popped it into the crock pot. It wouldn’t be done today, but tomorrow they’d be glad to have it. Journey also checked on the plants, taking note that one of the orchids had put on a few buds. Next, she checked the answering machine and found a call from Myra. The message was very succinct. “Call me.”

  “Okay.” She grabbed the phone to dial her great-aunt who answered after the second ring.

  “Where have you been?”

  “Austin, but just for the night. Everything’s fine. What’s wrong?”

  “Well, I talked to Kota and he said you’d been accosted.”

  “You talked to Kota?” She had no idea they were that close. Journey assumed the older gentleman did his job and Myra cut him a paycheck. “Why did he call you?”

  “He didn’t. I called him. Because you wouldn’t answer.”

  “Why didn’t you call my cell phone?”

  There was a period of silence before Myra answered. “I don’t know. Because you were supposed to be at my house. Now, tell me about those men who hurt you. Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. They were red-neck bullies who just wanted to scare me.” At least that was the version she was going to tell her aunt. “They harassed me, wouldn’t let me leave the grocery store. They followed me home and…chased me through the park.”

  “Oh. My God. Do I need to come home?”

  “No, they’re in jail.”

  “Good.”

  There was another period of silence.

  “Are you alone?”

  “At the moment. Why?” Journey had a bad feeling.

  “Kota said you had a man staying with you.”

  Well, Mr. Kota had turned out to be quite the gossip. “Well, yes. He’s not wrong.”

  “Who is he? This Casey person?”

  Journey wrinkled her brow. “One of the last things you told me, was that I should invite some guy over. Remember? You’re always pushing me to date someone.”

  “That’s true. But I didn’t tell you to shack up with just anybody. In my house, of all places.”

  “I’m not
shacking up.” Well, technically – maybe she was. “Besides, it’s not Casey.”

  “It’s not? I didn’t know you’d met anyone new. Is this an old boyfriend? Is it Hamlet? He was a nice boy. He is so good to his mother. You can trust a man who’s good to his mother.”

  Journey wanted to laugh. Or cry. “No, it’s not Hamlet. I guess you could say he’s an old boyfriend.” She paced the floor, looking out into the yard to see if she could spot Reno returning from the barn. Nope. He wasn’t in sight.

  “Well, who is he? If he’s staying in my house, I have a right to know his name.”

  “Why are you being like this? I am over eighteen, you know.” Journey’s mind was spinning. Should she tell her aunt the truth? “Oh, she’s gonna die,” she whispered.

  “What did you say? No, Myles hasn’t died. In fact, he’s doing better. The hospice nurse is surprised.”

  “Well, that’s great. I know you’re relieved. Tell him I said hello, please.”

  “I will. Now, what’s this man’s name?”

  Damn, she thought Myra might’ve lost her train of thought. “Aunt Myra…”

  “Sojourner Stanton, talk to me. Is he a gentleman? Does he have a job? Is he trustworthy? Is he from a good family?”

  “You’ve never asked me these questions before.”

  “No, because you weren’t having sex with anyone. If he’s staying in my house with you, then you’re having sex!”

  Journey had to sit down. “Aunt Myra, please. You’re embarrassing me. And how did you know I wasn’t having sex before?”

  “Because you were a virgin.”

  “How did you know? I never told you I was still a virgin.”

  “You didn’t have to. I raised you. Mothers know these things.”

  Journey knew very well not to point out the fact that Myra wasn’t her mother – for all intents and purposes, she was. “All right. I’ll tell you. Are you sitting down?”