by Snow Novels
She wandered back to the bus stop and asked the driver if he knew The Foundry Ranch. He said he did and he was going that way next. She got on and soon found herself at the entrance to a sprawling estate that took her breath away. She wondered what position Clay held at such a magnificent estate. Was he a ranch hand or something higher? She wasn't really sure of the chain of command amongst ranchers.
The gate was open and Jaclynn simply walked right in. The house at the end of the driveway was a mansion to her. It probably had a dozen bathrooms inside it was so big. She hadn't known places like this existed in real life. Her parent's house in the city, where she'd been staying the last two months, consisted of a single bathroom and two bedrooms shared by her and a large dog who insisted on sleeping in bed with her each night.
She saw someone in the distance at a large shed and headed towards them. As she approached, a small girl ran up to her.
"Hi!" she said. "I'm Becca. Who are you?" She was all smiles and giggles. Her skin glowed from working in the sun.
"I'm Jaclynn." She hesitated, uncertain whether to ask the child for Clay's whereabouts. Finally, deciding she had little recourse, she posed her question.
"Oh Clay's inside working. I'll get him. Claaaayyy!" she screamed, running towards the shed.
Clay's head popped out the door. "What?" His eyes widened when he saw Jaclynn. She blushed and hoped he wouldn't be mad, then his lips curled into a smile and he dropped what he was holding, walking quickly to her.
"Hi," he said. His skin was dirty but his eyes looked alive. "It's good to see you." He put an arm around her and pulled her into a hug. Jaclynn felt her shoulders tense and her stomach flutter. "What are you doing here?" he asked. He didn't seem mad, just confused.
"Is it alright to talk here?" she asked, thinking of his employer.
"Sure," he said. His mom and Becca were both in the shed. "Is everything okay?"
She nodded. "Look, there's no easy way to say this, so I'm just gonna say it, alright?"
He nodded. "Go ahead. The best way to get somethin' done is just to do it." He grinned at her and some of her fears alleviated.
"I'm pregnant." It came out in a whisper, but she could tell by the way Clay's eyes bugged out of his head he'd heard her.
"Say that again," he asked her.
"I'm pregnant," she said. "You're the father." His face froze and suddenly Becca popped out from behind a bush.
"Maaaammmaaa!" she screamed, and ran towards the shed.
Chapter 6
Clay stood with his jaw open. When he'd started today, this was the last thing he'd have expected. His hands felt clammy and he couldn't seem to close his mouth.
"I'm sorry," Jaclynn said. "Maybe this was a mistake." She turned away from him and he reached for her arm.
"Don't go," he said. "I'm sorry. I'm just... surprised. Just give me a minute for the idea to sink in a little." He chuckled and shot her his award winning smile. She stopped moving but he saw the tension in her face. "Why don't we go inside?" he suggested. "Get you something to drink and a place to sit down."
"That would be nice," she said.
Then Becca came bounding up behind them. "Is it true?" she screeched. "Am I gonna be an aunt?" Their mother was just behind Becca.
"Oh crap," Clay said.
"What?" Jaclynn asked, eyeing the heavy set woman who walked towards them now. She had a kind face, but it was also set hard. This was a country woman who was country tough.
"It's my mother," Clay whispered. Jaclynn squared her shoulders. "It's okay," he said, sensing her anxiety. He took her hand and held it tight in his. She looked at him with those warm liquid eyes and his heart stuttered.
"Well," his mother said. "Who have we here?" Her eyes moved from Clay to Jaclynn and noted their hands clasped together.
"Mom," Clay said. His heart was hammering. He was a twenty-eight year old man; there was no reason for him to be so scared of his mother, yet he felt like a little boy the way she was looking at him now. "This is Jaclynn."
"I see." She waited for the rest of it.
"Jaclynn is my..." he looked at her short dark hair that stood out so plainly amongst the backdrop of the sky. Her ebony skin glowed in the sun. "She's carrying my child."
He watched as his mother's face first loosened and then blossomed into a smile. Her lips, so tightly set since his father's death, turned up into a grin, and her eyes sparkled. Clay hadn't seen them sparkle in months.
"Jaclynn," she said, extending a hand. "I'm Martha. It's so nice to meet you. Welcome to our ranch."
Jaclynn shook his mother's hand, her eyes turning to Clay with shock. "Your ranch?" she asked. "You don't work here?"
Clay and his mother laughed. "Well yeah, I work here."
"When he's not off drinking and working the rodeo," his mother chided.
"This is the family ranch," he said, to answer her question. "Now let's get you inside and off your feet. I bet your hungry." Her stomach rumbled in response to his question.
Becca scooted ahead of them singing, "I'm gooonnaabeee an aaauuunt!" They walked towards the house. Clay wondered how his brothers would take the news.
Chapter 7
Jaclynn was smitten. Not just with Clay, but his mother and sister too. Martha Tucker had welcomed her with open arms. Jaclynn never would have dreamed that a black city woman would be made to feel so welcome in a home where she was so clearly out of place. Clay waited on her hand and foot, and when she'd tried to excuse herself to a hotel, there had been an outcry from the three of them.
"The mother of my first grandchild does not have to sleep in a hotel!" Clay's mother had cried, horrified at the thought. There had been an awkward moment when Clay was uncertain whether to put her in the guest room or his room. Luckily Becca had come to the rescue, running down the stairs and announcing she'd gotta a room all ready for Jaclynn.
At morning breakfast, Clay cooked her eggs and bacon, just like he had the morning after they'd been together. She watched him dote on his mother and sister and thought that if this was how he always was, she could get used to it. Every time he looked at her his eyes dug deep into her, like he was drilling into her brain with some sort of X-ray vision. She blushed when he took her hand in his.
"I hope you don't mind, I set up a doctor's appointment for this morning. I thought we should get things checked out."
She nodded, grateful for anything that Clay wanted to do for her and their baby. She had expected him to be mad, but this... this was like a dream for her. "When do I get to meet your brothers?" she asked.
She sensed a tension creep into the room at the mention of Clay's brothers. "They'll be around later some time, I guess. They went to town for a few days to try and sort out some business stuff."
Jaclynn wondered at the way his mother's lips tightened and why Clay's own face seemed to grow red. It was almost like Clay was keeping something from her, but she couldn't imagine what. Is it my skin? Just because Clay and his mother and Becca didn't care she was black, didn't mean his brothers wouldn't. She took a breath and held it. It didn't matter. Her baby was all that mattered now, and Clay too. She didn't know if they would ever be a real family, but she thought that if the way he'd been watching over her since her arrival yesterday was any sign, then this was a man that she could love.
They finished breakfast and Clay pulled the chair out for her. "Later on I'll give you a proper tour of the place. Ever been on a horse?" He heard his mother make a little tsk, tsk noise and looked at her. "Oh right," he said. "Horses are probably out for a while. That's okay, I got truck that'll get us everywhere."
Clay ushered her out of the house, his hand on the small of her back. It sent tingles up her spine that she couldn't shake the whole way to the doctor. "Look," he said when they'd parked. "I've never been great at responsibility, but I want you to know that you don't have to worry. I'll take of everything you and the baby could possibly need."
Jaclynn searched his face. His eyes were warm and without a hint
of deceit. She trusted Clay more than she'd ever trusted another man in her life, except maybe her father. She didn't know what might happen in the future, but she trusted that with Clay by her side, it would all work out.
Chapter 8
Clay's brothers walked by him, glaring. When they'd arrived home this morning and found Jaclynn there, initially they'd been polite. That didn't last long. Jaclynn's pregnancy was not exactly happy news for them. The doctor's appointment earlier had only solidified her new role in his life.
"Hey little brother," Michael shouted, going past him. Mike swatted Clay on the back of his head with his oversized hand and kept walking.
"Does it feel good to steal father's money from right under our noses?" Robert asked.
"I'm not stealing anything," Clay said, angry. "I don't even care about the money."
"Sure, sure," his brothers murmured and continued towards the fields till they were out of sight.
Clay's blood burned. He wanted to go after them and knock some sense into them. He actually took a step in their direction, but then he saw Jaclynn walking towards him
"Hi," she said, smiling. Every time he saw her she looked like she was glowing.
"Hi. How you feeling?" The sun was hot and high, and Clay was about ready to call it a day. He'd gotten through most of the stuff in the shed and was ready for a cold beer and some food. "
"I'm alright," Jaclynn said. "You look tired."
He nodded. "Well, it's about dinner time and all. You ever had real Texas barbeque?" Jaclynn shook her head. "Well what are we waiting for then?" he asked, grabbing her hand and leading her to the house. He cleaned himself up and took her to the best barbeque in town. You could smell the smoke from a mile away. Clay's mouth watered.
"Now you just get whatever you want," he told her. She ordered a full rack of ribs and Clay watched with amazement as she scarfed the whole thing down in under ten minutes.
"Guess I was hungry," she said.
Clay laughed, "Well I guess you're eating for two now."
"I've never had barbeque like that before. Thanks for taking me here." Every time Clay looked at her Jaclynn's eyes seemed to bury themselves into his skull. When he closed his eyes at night to go to sleep, it was her pretty face that he saw in the dark. His heart hammered whenever he felt her breath against his skin.
"Wanna take a walk?" he asked. The sky was darkening and the air was still warm. "Texas sunsets are something special."
She nodded and they left the restaurant, walking along the countryside till the night sky grew black. The air around them seemed charged with electricity. She glanced at him quickly then returned her eyes to the path before them. Even in the moonlight Clay could see the look she had given him. He reached out and took her hand. When her small hand pressed into his, the heat between them became too much to bear. Clay leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Jaclynn reached her hands behind his neck, pulling him tighter against her.
They were in a part of the country with no lights and no houses. They stood locked in a hard embrace, their hands roving over each other's clothes, then under each other's clothes. Jaclynn's breasts were supple pieces of heaven to him as his fingers squeezed her hard peaks, sending shivers down her body. A few trees lined the area and they sank onto the soft grass around one of them, their bodies tangling together as their clothes fell to the ground. Clay had been hoping for something like this, but he hadn't wanted to press Jaclynn or make her uncomfortable.
Now, as he kissed her neck and felt her shiver under him, he'd never been so happy to have a woman in his arms. There was something about her that made his heart rumble in his chest. Jaclynn's tongue ran over his chest, tasting him with a fervor that was generally reserved for drunken teens on prom night, or honeymoon couples on their first night together.
Clay's body quivered. He tried to remember the last time a woman's touch had sent him so far over the edge, and the answer was never. Jaclynn was that rare woman who he had waited for without even realized that he was waiting. She opened her legs for him and Clay slipped into her with ease. She was more than ready for him.
Jaclynn's heart pounded against Clay's chest. He felt her breath quicken as she arched her back. Her lips were warm and wet and tasted like spun sugar. Jaclynn's hips moved against his, meeting them with the same hard passion he felt stirring deep within himself.
"Clay," she murmured softly into his ear. Her voice was sweet music as it filtered into him. His saw her with a new lens. Her skin was dark cream and her eyes were a wild fire. Their bodies fit together like two pieces of a treasure map that had been ripped apart and hidden, only to be reunited tonight under this bright Texas moon.
"Jaclynn," he whispered, not sure he should say what he was thinking. He bit his tongue and instead of saying "I love you," he said, "you're the most amazing woman I've ever known." She purred under him and then his body clenched. He felt her own body tighten under him and her eyes grew even brighter. He swam in them until the energy between them hit its summit. They both let the animalistic voice in them leech out in a long, loud cry that echoed through the night, then Clay fell on top of her, his breath hard and sweat stinging his eyes.
"Well," Jaclynn breathed. "At least now I can tell my parents it wasn't just a one night stand."
Clay laughed at kissed her cheek. "Jackie, I'm not ever gonna let you go."
Chapter 9
Jaclynn pulled her clothes from the dryer and held them to her face. She'd always loved the smell of freshly washed laundry. Something about the soft scent coupled with the warmth from the dryer. It made her think of the best moments of her childhood. She saw Clay walk passed the giant window and started to tap on it to get his attention.
Last night had been amazing. She'd never made love outdoors before, and the feel of the air around them as they'd laid together had filled her with a renewed energy that had stuck to her through the morning. Clay walked by the window, not noticing her through the blinds which were open only partially. She'd recognize his figure anywhere though.
She walked back out the laundry room doors, leaving her clothes in a pile. Clay had insisted he would do the laundry and she should just lounge around the house, but she was used to keeping busy. Besides, laundry wasn't so very much work. She stepped out onto the back porch and walked towards Clay, who was standing in the back by the shed.
He'd been working tirelessly to help his mother go through their father's things, all while taking care of her too. Jaclynn really admired him for that. As she got closer to Clay, she realized his three brothers were all gathered around him. They seemed to be arguing.
"Of course you did it on purpose," Michael shouted.
"Yeah, we're not stupid. We know you too well. We can see right thought your games," said Robert, waving a fist in the air.
Jaclynn's heart pounded in her chest. She stopped walking and ducked behind a giant tree that stood between her and them.
"I'm not playing any games," Clay yelled back. "You're being ridiculous."
"Oh yeah? So it's just a coincidence that you knock up some slut just after you learned about the stipulation in Father's will?"
Jaclynn gasped at the name Clay's brother had used against her. Is that what his family thinks of me?
"I didn't know about that until—" Clay tried to defend himself but his brothers cut him off. Jaclynn's eyes were starting to tear.
"The first one of us to produce an heir gets everything. All the land, all the money. Everything. You're telling me that didn't factor at all into getting that girl pregnant?"
Jaclynn gasped. Her stomach churned and she thought she might throw up. She bent over, bracing herself.
"Jaclynn!" a small, girlish voice called from behind her. She looked up to see Becca running towards her. "Jaclynn are you alright?" Becca's eyes were deep with worry, and Jaclynn thought that at least there was one person here who liked her.
She looked back at Clay and his brothers. They were all watching her. Clay's face had gone white a
nd his brothers looked like they'd been caught stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. The tears that had been brimming fell to the ground and Jaclynn ran towards the house.
"Jaclynn wait!" Clay called after her, but her heart was broken in too many pieces to wait for him or anyone else. She didn't think she'd ever be whole again.
Chapter 10
"Jaclynn!" Clay called, rushing after her. She ran into the house and he followed, leaving his brothers behind with their cheeks burning. Good, they should be embarrassed for the way they were talking.
He blew passed Becca, who yelled after him, "What did you do you dork?" He ignored her and ran up the stairs to Jaclynn's room. Her door was locked and he pounded against it, desperate for her to open up and let him explain.
"What do you want?" she yelled through the door. He heard the tears in her voice.
"Jackie let me in, I want to talk to you." His heart was manic inside his chest. He couldn't catch his breath. If she had heard everything his brothers had said, what must she be thinking? He kicked himself for not being more honest with her about his father's will. He'd only been afraid that she would misinterpret his intentions. That's exactly what was happening now though. He hadn't solved anything by keeping things from her.
"Jackie I'm sorry," he called.
He hated talking through a closed door. Normally, this was the point in a relationship where he'd break things off, because no girl was worth this trouble. Except that Jaclynn was. It wasn't just that she was the mother of his child, she was everything he'd wanted in a woman before he'd known what he wanted.
"Jaclynn, please." There was a creak from the stairs and Clay turned his head to see Becca hiding, listening. "Becca, not now, okay?"
"What did you do?" she demanded. Becca liked Jaclynn and was prepared to tell her brother off if he had done something to upset her."
Clay sighed, exasperated. "Nothing. At least, not what she thinks. Please Becca, go away." Becca eyed him suspiciously but retreated down the steps without another word. Clay was grateful.