by Vivian Wood
We had one scare. The town’s local sheriff surprised us one day. He said Samuel’s truck was found a few miles away and he'd been missing for weeks. I had known the sheriff. He had answered a few domestic disturbance complaints from our neighbors the last few years. He knew of Samuel.
When the sheriff saw me there, living in the cabin with another man, he showed suspicion.
“Samuel did come by here once,” I said. “I ran away from him and came here. When Samuel found me he was heartbroken, but I had made up my mind that I was not going back,” I told him. "He walked away.”
“Samuel walked away?” the sheriff asked with confusion.
“Yes,” I said. “I have not seen him since.”
Whether he believed me or not, that was the last we heard of anyone looking for Samuel. And it was the last of my days I lived in fear.
***
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Surrendering To The Cowboy
By Veronica Hardy
Lexie almost didn’t respond to her uncle’s email. After all, she hadn’t talked to him in ages. So when Uncle Chet asked her if she would come out and look after the ranch while he took a “vacation,” Lexie wasn’t sure she could take him up on the offer. She had to admit that she wasn’t doing much over the summer break, and now that she was unattached all she had to look forward to was an empty apartment until the fall when school started up again.
The last place she wanted to be was anywhere that reminded her of him. Rapidly, Lexie blinked the tears away that were forming in her eyes. She wouldn’t cry over him anymore. Not one more tear. He didn’t deserve that. Not after what he did. Brody wasn’t good enough for her, she deserved better.
“Shit,” She mumbled as the GPS on her phone went blank, a “No Service” message blinking in its place. She should have known that there wouldn’t be any service out here. She pulled the car over onto the shoulder and rummaged opened her dash box. She knew there was a map in there somewhere from last Christmas when her mother insisted they bring it, just in case her mom couldn’t remember how to get to her Uncle Chet’s. They hadn’t needed it, of course, but Lexie was sure it was still in there somewhere. Worse-case scenario she backtracked until she got service and looked up a map so she could write down the route.
She dug under her license and registration, past a couple of discarded cereal bar wrappers until she found it. Sighing with relief, she opened the map.
“Thank you, momma,” She said as she spotted the circled area that represented the farmhouse.
At least this was one thing she wasn’t going to fuck up. She straddled the map over the steering wheel and took a right. There wasn’t much in the way of scenery to let her know she was on the right track. Field after field in the Ohio countryside looked identical. It wasn’t until she saw the farmhouse she recognized that she began to relax. She pulled in the long drive and followed it up to the house.
“What in the world?” She squinted. A group of farmhands were on horses, working a small herd of cattle. She hadn’t really expected to see anyone on the farm, she had assumed they would be working other fields but she should have known better. She wasn’t going to be as alone as she thought. She drove closer to the farmhouse, the riders coming closer into view. She couldn’t help but stare, wondering who these men were and what brought them here.
Her car came to a stop at the top of the slight hill, right before the barn. Lexie got out of the car and paused for a moment before grabbing her bags. It had been years since she had been up here in the summer. Winter landscapes were all that she knew of the place. The warm air of summer wasn’t quite sweltering yet, but it wouldn’t be long before it was.
Dammit, these bags are heavy. She grumbled to herself as she loaded up her arms with the luggage. An entire summer at a ranch didn’t seem like a picnic, so she had brought a few supplies. At this point, taking it all in one trip was a matter of personal pride. Until a thick piece of gravel got wedged into her shoe and sent her tumbling, pink luggage flying everywhere.
She scrambled to pick up her bags before anyone noticed, but as she looked up she realized she was standing before a man who was holding her little pink matching makeup bag. Her entire face turned red, the heat of embarrassment filling up her face as she looked over his sexy Latin body.
“Need some help with that?” He asked, his smile reaching all the way to his eyes.
“I, uh, thought I could handle it myself,” Lexie explained as he grabbed a few bags from her and headed up to the ranch house. She bit her lip and tried not to look him over but she couldn’t help it. He had a healthy heaping of muscles that just didn’t quit.
“Diego Rodriquez, your Uncle’s foreman. I am in charge of most of the men. You must be Lexie Stewart.”
Dear Lord, please don’t let me faint from how hot he is. Think of something to talk about Stew. Don’t just stare.
She was staring but she recovered quickly.
“Yes, I didn’t realize you would be here. I thought he kept the cows over at the Waddell house.”
“Used to, but it was getting over-grazed, so he started using the pasture around his house about a year ago.” Diego walked her up to the house and held the door for her, before bringing the bags he had in and setting them down in the mudroom, next to the dining room.
“Your uncle said you would be providing the meals in his absence? He was our cook in addition to managing the estate.”
“He what?” She asked, the tone of her voice raising as she processed what the handsome man said.
“It got him out with the guys really, his back being as bad as it is.” Diego explained further before he realized what she meant. “Oh, I guess he didn’t ask you?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Well, uh, can you cook? I mean he said you would, we have a kitchen helper but we really don’t have an extra guy to spare right now to take your uncle’s place. We have a field that needs hayed tomorrow and Sam needs to take a few cows over to be processed for the local shop.”
They sold their meat right in town in addition to sending them out to different companies, she knew that much about the ranch.
“I, uh, yeah. I can cook. Just, for how many?” She asked a little puzzled. She sat down on the bench in the mudroom and looked up at him, he was so sexy. How could she say no?
“Seventeen.” He bit his lip and looked into her eyes. Clearly he was hoping his charisma was going to get him somewhere.
“Seventeen?” She asked again, feeling completely blindsided. What the hell are you getting yourself into, Stew?
“Yeah, there is a staff kitchen out behind the barracks. Fully stocked.” Diego pointed in the general direction of the barracks. “We also have someone who helps out, I’m sure she wouldn’t be opposed to taking up a little more slack.”
“Okay, well, I guess I could try. I mean, I have cooked for my family before, so it can’t be that different, can it?” She swallowed as she looked up at him.
“Great! Your uncle said you are great cook. You can find me out in the L field, just beyond the first field here, if you need me. We eat around 6, so the boys will all be coming in around that time. Gives you about 4 hours. Jessie should already be in the kitchen. Well now, I’ll leave you to it.” He smiled at her again and gave her a handshake. She couldn’t help but feel like he was looking her up and down before he left. Not that she minded.
This wasn’t going to be the peaceful retreat she had hoped for.
Lexie sighed as she entered the “Dining Hall”. That was what was written on the wooden sign above the small building. It looked more like a small break room with an attached kitchen. When she got in there she realized the place was in need of a scrub down. It wasn’t dirty but it wasn’t the cleanest thing she had ever seen. She walked past the wooden picnic tables towards that had vinyl covers on them and right through the back room towards the sound of metal clanging together.
“Ah, there you are. I thought you would be here earlier,” A young woman, maybe a year or two older than Lexie’s twenty years, stood up, a large pot in her hands.
“I, uh, I just got here, actually. I haven’t even had a chance to put my stuff away.” She drew in her brows as she looked at her. Did everyone know I was cooking but me?
“It doesn’t matter. I have a dish of homemade baked beans ready and in the smoker and I’m getting ready to start on the potatoes. Brisket has been in the smoker since last night. It should be ready in a couple of hours.”
“Smoker?” Lexie asked as she looked over the kitchen. It was cluttered but not in terrible condition.
“Yeah, got one out back. You know how to smoke meat?” Jessie smiled as she looked at Lexie, getting a big pile of potatoes and skinning them.
“No, not really.” Lexie went to work on the potatoes alongside Jessie.
“That’s okay. Your uncle taught me. So all we really need you to do today is the cornbread and the green beans.”
It didn’t take long to get everything together in the kitchen, and the beans sure smelled amazing.
“Let’s turn on some music, we still have a couple of hours before the boys are due to show up,” Lexie suggested as she smiled. “Oh, I dunno, your uncle never let me listen to music in here.”
“Well, he isn’t here, now is he?” Lexie walked over to the little radio that was on a shelf and turned it on, modern country hits blaring through the dining hall.
“See now, isn’t that nice?” Lexie shimmied a little as she walked back towards Jessie, giggling. She knew she had just made a fast friend.
“So, what’s the deal with the men here. Any of them hot?” She asked, as she went back to work.
Jessie’s cheeks went red and she looked down at the pot before looking back up, “A few of them. Yeah.”
“Oooh. Which one do you have your eye on?”
“How did you know?”
“Girl, I can tell when someone is crushing. Who is it?”
“His name is Jake. He isn’t much to look at, compared to some of the others. But he is nice, and that is something that can be hard to find.”
“Oh, I dunno, Diego seems nice.” Lexie shrugged and focused on her peeling. He was too sexy not to ask about, and if she even had half a chance it might be a good distraction. She needed a distraction right now. Something to keep her mind off of Chris.
“He is, but he’s… kinda dirty. I’ve heard things.”
“What?” Lexie was truly intrigued. She stopped peeling and leaned over towards her, “I’m all ears. Really. He is awfully sexy.”
“Well, my cousin went out with him, for like, six months or something. Said he was into that fifty shades kind of shit. Except harder. You know? She freaked out about it and told everyone.” Even she thought it was a great, immoral sin.
Ouch, just for being into bdsm?
“Oh really,” Lexie nodded with encouragement for her to continue.
Jessie’s voice got just a little lower, “Yeah, and he… he is willing to do it with more than one person at a time.”
Now this had Lexie’s mind reeling. Kinky.
“Really?” Lexie lipped her lips. It was enough to fuel her fantasies for a couple of weeks, anyways.
“That’s what I heard.” Jessie shushed quickly as she heard the door creak open, the two of them going back to work diligently.
“Hey ladies. Just came to check on how Lexie was doing. Is everything going okay?” Diego had come through the back door directly into the kitchen, and was staring at her. She could feel the color rising in her cheeks as she turned to address him.
“Yeah. I am doing fine.” She looked at Jessie to help rescue her but the young woman scuttled off to the other side of the kitchen, busying herself in a pile of dishes.
“Are you sure there isn’t anything I can help you with?” He smiled at her. He clearly wanted an excuse to talk to her.
Yeah, there are a few things. If it was possible, her face turned an even deeper shade of scarlet. Well, if he was interested she definitely was. Especially after what she had heard about him from Jessie.
“I actually was wondering if you would point me around the place for a moment. I haven’t really been through the actual farm in years. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.”
His smile widened, “Yeah, that makes sense. I should have done that before I had you go out to the kitchen. Do you mind, Jessie?”
“Not at all,” She looked disbelievingly at Lexie.
Yeah, I’m wild. Or at least she was pretending to be. She smiled and winked at Jessie before following Diego out the door, not minding the view one bit.
“So, what would you like to see first?” Diego asked, his tone a little deeper than before.
“It depends. What do you want me to see?” She asked, stepping closer, her lids heavy as she looked up at him.
“I don’t know if you want the answer to that question.” Diego’s voice was suddenly serious as he took a step back from her.
“You’d be surprised.” She answered back, walking towards the stables. “Why don’t you show me the stables?” She asked, changing the subject.
“Sure. Do you ride?” His eyes softened as he fell into step with her.
“I used to ride a lot when I was a kid. I haven’t ridden a horse in a couple of years. But I love them.” She bit her lip and looked him over as he opened the barn and let her in. Damn, his body is perfect. Polite too.
“Well, here they are. That one, the black, she’s mine.”
“What’s her name? Shadow?” Lexie wasn’t trying to be sarcastic. It just came out that way.
“Toci, actually,” Diego smirked as he gave the raven beauty a pat on the back.
“That’s pretty! What does it mean?”
“She is one of the goddesses of the earth. A mother of sorts, a mother of us all.” He smiled as he patted her down, grabbing a curry brush and handing it to her. “Introduce yourself. You know about horses, right?”
She ignored that comment and watched Toci, her posture was open, her ears forward. She was receptive. “Hey girl, how are you doing today?” She asked as she held up her hand for Toci to sniff. The horse took a moment and a sniff, followed by a slight huff. She approved.
Lexie’s smile was triumphant as she proceeded, rubbing the horse down and getting to work with her curry brush.
She wasn’t away from the kitchen long, maybe 10 minutes before they put the brushes back and walked out of the barn, Diego silent as he escorted her. It wasn’t until they got to the door of the kitchen that he spoke.
“Toci has great taste.” One of his eyebrows went up as he looked her over. “You really want to know what I want to see?”
She nodded.
“What are you doing tonight?” He asked.
“I dunno, probably reading a book and getting a bath. Why do you ask?” Lexie was certainly interested.
“Meet me after dinner. I’ll give you a more exclusive tour,” He was so close to her, she swore he was going to bend down and kiss her, but instead he just brushed a hair out of her face and walked away.
There was no way she was going to pass him up.
Lexie’s mind kept wandering the entire dinner service, not bothering to so much as notice the men who came in and asked for their food. She was too busy trying not to imagine Diego bending her over and slapping her ass so hard she screamed out. Her cheeks had to have been a permanent shade of red.
It wasn’t until she finally sat down with her plate of food that she came out of her haze. Just as she finished with her dinner, Diego sat down next to her.
“Hey, you ready to get out of here?” He asked, his dark eyes boring into her own. It was the moment she had been waiting for all night.
“I thought you would never ask.”
Diego grabbed her by the hand and led her out of the dining hall. “My truck is just over there.”
“Where are we going?” Lexie asked as they w
alked towards the older red pickup. It was in good shape for a farm truck, no signs of rust or wear that she could see. She loved a man in a truck.
“A little place I know. Someplace we can relax.”
“How long have you been working today?” He didn’t even look tired. She swore that man could go for days.
“Been up since 3:30, someone has to wake everyone else up and get Charlie on breakfast. Not the best cook, but your uncle only does dinners for the crew. Then we have animals to feed, fields to check, and on days like today, you have cattle that break out of a fence. It is a lot of work.”
“Sounds exhausting.”
“It is, but you know what, it sure beats working in an office.” Diego handed Lexie a bottle of water and walked over to his pickup.
“You worked in an office?” Lexie was genuinely intrigued; Diego didn’t look like the type who would ever work a desk job. He was simply too rugged.
“Yeah, for a few years. I went to college for business administration. I was a manager of a small company in Cleveland, Ohio. But it wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to work with my hands and manage a business at the same time. So when your uncle offered me the job because he needed someone business-minded, I jumped at the opportunity.”
He walked up to the truck and around to the passenger side, opening it for Lexie. She climbed into the passenger’s side of the truck, sliding across the vinyl and breathing in. A rustic odor hung in the air, making her remember all those summers, riding around, pretending to be a cowgirl. The small cab left little room between them. Lexie’s heart beat thudding in her chest. She tried not to imagine closing the distance between the two of them, but the thoughts kept streaming into her head as Diego started up the truck and took off down a “road” that was more like a mud path, filled with bumps and potholes.
Lexie tried to hold on to the armrest as best she could, but the jarring motion of the truck had her bouncing all around the cab. It was certainly a rough ride as they road across the Ohio landscape. One especially large dip threw her across the seat and into Diego, who wrapped an arm around her.