Home on the Ranch: Oklahoma Bull Rider

by Christine Wenger

  More people came to Jesse’s circle, mostly women, while Sara sat on her butt.

  He was so busy talking and entertaining all the women around him, he didn’t seem to even know she was there.

  Why should he? He wasn’t looking for her. But Sara couldn’t take her eyes off Jesse.

  As more music played, she watched him. Everyone was hanging on his every word, and when he threw his head back and laughed, everyone laughed with him.

  A slow, sweet song by Alison Krauss played, and she knew that this was the one she wanted to dance to with Jesse. She called on every gut she had, got up and walked across the dance floor.

  She met Jesse’s gaze, and she could hear him excuse himself from his group. Walking toward her, he held out his arms, and she walked into them.

  “I thought you’d never ask,” Sara said, inhaling his scents of cedar and leather.

  “I noticed you looking at me.”

  She smiled. “You must be mistaken.”

  “I must be. So?” he asked. “How do I look?”

  “Are you fishing for compliments?”

  “Hell, yes!”

  Sara could feel the warmth of his hand through her cotton dress. “You look like a cowboy.”

  “And you look...um...beautiful. Very beautiful.”

  Her first inclination was to tell him that he had the wrong person. She wasn’t beautiful at all.

  But tonight she felt like it.

  “Thanks, Jesse. That’s nice of you to say.”

  He pulled her tighter to his body, and her knees grew weak. She couldn’t remember the last time she was dancing in a man’s arms. Yes, she could. It was her wedding.

  She loved dancing; Michael didn’t. The few weddings they were invited to, Michael drank and Sara sat at the table, watching everyone else dance.

  She didn’t want to think of Michael, though; she wanted to experience Jesse Beaumont.

  He was a masterful dancer, but she kept up with him. When the song was over, he didn’t move to release her, but moved a couple inches back.

  “That was nice, Sara.”

  “You’re a wonderful dancer. You’re easy to follow.”

  “That wasn’t what I meant.”

  Before she could ask him what he meant, they were interrupted.

  “How about a dance, cowboy?” the woman asked. Sara didn’t recognize her, but guessed she was with the office staff.

  “I’m dancing with Sara, here. How about a rain check for later, Brittney?”

  “You got it, Jesse. I’ll be back. I want to talk to you about bull riding.” Brittney turned and strode away.

  Sara smiled. “She’s very pretty, and she knows about bull riding?”

  “Yeah. She’s a fan.”

  “I don’t know anything about it.”

  Jesse nodded. “I think that when it starts up again at the end of August, you should come to an event.”

  “I’ll be back in New York then. The bull riding never goes there, does it?”

  “In January, for the last several years, we’ve been going to Madison Square Garden. Talk about iconic!”

  “Sure is. I had no idea.” She thought about that. “Hey, you’re a jock!”

  He chuckled. “I guess you could say that.” He held out his hands. “Another dance?”

  “I think I’m monopolizing you. There are ladies stacked up like cordwood waiting to dance with you.”

  Jesse stepped closer to Sara and gathered her into his arms. “I guess I like being monopolized.”

  She could feel his strong biceps through his shirt. She remembered how he did push-ups without a shirt on. He worked at his sport. That didn’t surprise her, because he was high in the PBR standings with his two brothers. That she knew from her bunkmates.

  He whispered to her. “I don’t even know what you do in Henderson Falls.”

  “I used to be the business manager and accountant for a small appliance store, and once in a while I’d sell something for a commission, but I was laid off when the boss’s son took over.”

  “Then when you go back home—”

  “I’ll have to land a job, and fast.”

  But Sara didn’t want to talk about herself. She wanted to talk about him.

  “Jesse, you’ll have to tell me how bull riding works.” She decided that she wanted to learn, wanted to understand more about his world. It was a genuine request; she wasn’t just flirting.

  “Fifty points for the rider, fifty points for the bull. Stay on for eight seconds using only one arm, and don’t touch the bull. Try not to get stomped on when you get off. Highest score wins.”

  “Um...sounds easy,” she said sarcastically.

  “It’s not.”

  “I was just kidding.”

  “I know.”

  For the rest of the dance, she rested her cheek on his shoulder and felt his hands on her back, felt the light scratch of his jeans on the skirt of her sundress and inhaled his scent.

  At one particularly brave moment, she gently rubbed the back of his neck because she wanted to feel the softness of his hair.

  Sara could feel the vibration that started deep in Jesse’s chest and ended in a moan of pleasure.

  She raised an eyebrow. Did she do that?

  She wasn’t a seductress in the least. It’d been a long time since she’d had the opportunity to touch a man.

  Jesse had her hormones going all haywire, and it proved to her that she did need a fling.

  Jesse was a player. He’d be willing.

  Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. She was sure that he could feel it, he was so close to her, too close.

  The music ended, but they were still swaying. Looking up at Jesse, she whispered, “Thanks for the dance. I—I—It’s been a long time since I’ve danced like this.”

  He shook his head. “That’s something I hope to rectify.”

  A country line dance came on, and everyone scurried for a place on the dance floor. “I’ll just watch,” she said.

  “Oh, no, you don’t!” Jesse took her hand and they got a place in line, second row.

  “Jesse! Jesse Beaumont, you have to lead us!” came a voice from the crowd. “Jesse can really line dance.”

  Her bunkmates Kelli and Jules each took one of his arms and led him to the front of the line dancers.

  “Okay! Let’s boot scoot!” Jesse shouted.

  An Alan Jackson song was playing, with a perfect beat for dancing. Sara had a perfect view of Jesse’s backside as he led the dancers. They were right. He really could scoot his boots.

  Sara followed Jesse the best she could, but mostly tried not to bump into the people around her. She laughed and had a great time. By the end of the song, she was keeping up when she wasn’t distracted by Jesse’s butt.

  Another fast song came on, but Sara found a path through the crowd and made it back to her seat. She wanted to sit for a while and think.

  Jesse made it through another dance before he joined her at the table.

  He wiped his face with a black bandanna. “Would you like to join me outside for some fresh air?”

  “Absolutely.”

  He held out his hand for Sara to take.

  Sara knew that if she took his hand and left with Jesse, they’d be considered a couple by the staff of Camp Care.

  She still took his hand, and they made their way outside.

  Jesse looked up at the sky. “There’s a full moon. I think we can find our way to the lake.”

  Her heart beat wildly and butterflies danced in her stomach. Going off alone with Jesse to their spot by the lake was dangerous.

  All nerves aside, she wanted to go, wanted to be with him.

  “We can find our way. I have a cell phone with a flashlight on it. It’s not good for reception anywhere in Camp Ca
re, but I keep it in hand for a flashlight.”

  “Now, that’s a good camper.”

  Jesse’s hand was still closed around hers as he led the way.

  Instead of their usual patch of grass, which was wet, they sat on some large rocks.

  “People are talking about us, Jesse.”

  He chuckled. “Let them, but tell me, Sara, what’s going on?”

  Her stomach lurched. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, what were you doing to my neck?” He raised an eyebrow.

  Telling him that she wanted to feel the softness of his hair seemed so juvenile. “What were you doing pulling me so tightly to you?”

  “That’s dancing. And I remember that you laid your head on my shoulder.”

  “That’s dancing,” Sara echoed.

  They laughed. Then Sara remembered their dance, and a shiver went up her spine.

  “You’re cold,” Jesse said. “I’m sorry that I didn’t bring a coat because it was so nice out, and that little sweater of yours doesn’t help much to warm you.”

  “I’m okay.”

  “Trust me.” Jesse wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her toward him. Sara felt warm immediately, hot even. “How’s this?”

  “It’s nice, Jesse.” She settled into his arms. If she were to turn her head just a little, she’d be a mere whisper from his lips.

  “Just think, a while ago, we were fighting like two world champs. Now, we’re all cuddled up like this,” he said. “It’s hard to believe. What changed, Sara?”

  “Maybe it’s because we weren’t talking about Mickey and the fact that you think I smother him.”

  Jesse took her hand and played with her fingers. “Let’s not talk about Mickey. He’s with Bunkhouses 12 and 11. The kids are playing games with Roving Ramrod Ronnie.”

  “I know he’s fine, Jesse, but I don’t need to talk about Mickey right now.”

  “What? That’s huge for you!”

  “I know.”

  “So, what do you want to talk about?” he asked.

  “I want to talk about our almost kiss this afternoon.”

  “Whenever you’re ready. I’m listening.”

  She threaded her fingers into his. “It was a fun time with how we got everyone laughing. Something like that might never happen again, and it was exciting and fun. And when you pulled me into the corner and you were going to kiss me...well, I chickened out.”

  “I guess I rushed you. I just wanted to share the moment—”

  “I know, Jesse, and any other woman would have been excited back. Except me. You see, it’s been a long time, and I am very...uh...rusty. My marriage to Michael...well...it was comfortable.”

  “Sara, you don’t have to tell me—”

  “No. It’s okay. It’s just that I haven’t been kissed by a man in an eternity, and then there was you, and—”

  “And we are here by the lake. The moon is shining, making the water sparkle, and there’s a gentle lapping of the waves. If we are quiet, we can hear it.”

  Sara didn’t move. She was hypnotized by the water and his words.

  “And what if I leaned over, and lightly put my hand on the back of your head, pulling you closer to me, and put my lips over yours and gave you a soft, gentle kiss?”

  Spellbound, Sara closed the space between them and touched her lips to Jesse’s. She couldn’t get enough; she kissed him again and again, and he met her every move. If this was a fling with a bull rider, she didn’t want it to end.

  Even with her inexperience, she could tell that this cowboy had lots of practice. What he could teach her!

  And Sara knew she’d never be the same again.

  * * *

  Jesse Beaumont had to hide his budding erection. Sara was both teasing and tormenting him with her kisses.

  Tentative at first, she blossomed into a great kisser!

  When the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled, it summarized his feelings nicely.

  He’d started falling for Sara Peterson the first time he saw her defending her son at the assay office, and now he wanted to get to know her better and to kiss the stuffing out of her, but not necessarily in that order.

  “I think we’d better get back to the party before we get drenched.”

  She looked toward the bunkhouse area. “I have to find Mickey. He’s scared of thunder and lightning.”

  “Mickey will be fine, Sara. Leave him alone.”

  She didn’t say a word, but hustled up the path.

  Sheesh. She had to be careful before she blew an ankle, or worse. “Slow down, Sara. Wait for me.”

  “No. I have to get to Mickey.”

  Here we go again! Jesse thought.

  It started to rain. Big, fat, cold raindrops. Then the speed picked up and black clouds covered the moon.

  “Sara, stop! You’re going to hurt yourself!” Tree roots and outcroppings of rocks were scattered along the path. If Sara couldn’t see where she was going, she could trip and fall.

  Jesse was soaked to the skin and felt a chill. Sara, in her thin dress, must be freezing.

  He was finally able to reach her. He grabbed a hand, then both shoulders, and held her in place, facing him.

  “Sara! Sara, what the hell are you doing?”

  She looked at Jesse as if she’d never seen him before.

  “Look at me, Sara. Look at me.” It was as if she was possessed by some kind of demon. “Dammit, Sara, stop and think about what you’re doing!”

  “I—I need to get to Mickey. He’ll be scared.” She wiped the rain from her face.

  “No. You don’t need to get to Mickey. Mickey is fine, and I’ll prove it to you.”

  “How?”

  “We are going to hide in the bushes under the eaves and spy on him. You’ve done that before.” He chuckled and squeezed her hands. “So, calm down. I’d bet a gold belt buckle that Mickey is doing fine, and you’re worrying for nothing.”

  He added, “Mickey might be jumpy, but he can handle it until the storm passes. He’s with a bunch of his peers, and if you make a scene, you’re going to embarrass him. They’ll tease him unmercifully.”

  She nodded slightly. Rain dripped off the ends of her hair and dissolved into the ground.

  “Besides, it looks like you’re ready for a wet T-shirt contest. Sex ed isn’t in the guidelines that they gave us.”

  Thunder roared and lightning flared, as Sara looked down at the bodice of her dress. Her eyes grew wide. Pulling the fabric away from her body, she looked up at him.

  “Thank you. Good catch,” she said. “I would be really embarrassing to Mickey with my bra showing.”

  “Aww...hell.” He reached for Sara, pulled her into a hug, brushed the wet hair from her face and whispered. “It’s a perfect night for spying. Let’s go.”

  Chapter 8

  Jesse couldn’t believe he was doing this. He should have discouraged Sara’s behavior instead of helping her spy on her son.

  And it was his dumb idea, too. She was so distraught, so crazy with wanting to get to Mickey, he had to keep her away from the kid.

  He was only looking out for the boy.

  He would have been mortified if his mom had visited him at camp and comforted him because of the weather.

  “We’ll go to Bunkhouse 12. Bunkhouses 13 and 11 are over there. We’ll look in the windows.”

  “I can’t believe we are out in this weather, but thanks for going with me, Jesse.”

  He shrugged. “You’d only go by yourself.”

  “Yeah. I would.”

  “No one’s around in this weather, but stick to the shadows. We’ll walk through 13 and go out the back to 12.”

  In Jesse’s bunkhouse, he grabbed two towels from the stack they used for swimming and handed one to Sara. She blotted the w
ater off her, then handed the towel back to Jesse. “Thanks.”

  Walking through the bunkhouse, she paused at Mickey’s bunk. “Did Mickey do this?”

  “Well, I didn’t do it. Every wrangler takes care of their own area.”

  “Everything is so neat and tidy. You should see how his room at home looks.” Sara rolled her eyes. “It’s a sty.”

  “I’d bet most every parent would say the same thing.” Jesse pointed toward both rows of neat bunks. “Camp is different. It’s more like fun than work. Besides, everyone is doing it.”

  “So Mickey’s neatness isn’t going to automatically continue when he gets home?” Sara asked hopefully.

  “Hell, no!”

  “Didn’t think so.”

  The rain pounded on the roof of the uninsulated cabin, and they could barely hear each other’s words.

  Jesse was about to open the door for Sara, when he paused. “Let me get you one of my coats.”

  “I’m okay.”

  “You’re shivering.” He came back with a leather bomber jacket. “Hope you don’t mind a contestant jacket.”

  He held it for her, and she slipped her arms into it. “Oh, this is nice and warm, but what does it say on it?”

  “Like I said, it’s a contestant jacket. It’s from the PBR last year.” He shook his head. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Of course.”

  “Let’s do it,” he said, ready to dash out with Sara, but she put her cold hands on his chest.

  “You don’t have to spy on Mickey with me.”

  “And miss the opportunity to say ‘I told you so’? No way.”

  Sara laughed quietly as they left the cabin.

  They crunched on the gravel between the two cabins. “We’re going to peek in the window,” Jesse said.

  “I can’t see. The window is up too high.”

  “I know.” He threaded his hands and flexed his knees. “Put your foot in here.”

  “My sandals are pure mud. It’ll get all over your hands.”

  “C’mon. It’ll wash off.” Tentatively, she put her foot into his hands. “I’m going to boost you up.”

  “I can see.”

  The lightning flashed and something cracked, probably a tree.