by H. J. Bellus
We both hop off our horses in unison. I take the reins to Teebaby, which in all reality is a huge step for Challis, and tie our horses up to the willow tree.
“Here.” I toss her the backpack.
“What do you want me to do with this?”
“Make me a picnic, woman.”
“You’re lucky I like you.”
I fall down next to her in the tall pasture and pluck my sandwich from her before it’s even finished being made and begin eating. I decide to go for the kill and see if I can crack Challis just the slightest. “Tell me about your ranch.”
“I don’t have one.” She tosses all the stuff back in the bag and relaxes her head back on my side. Propped up on my elbow and relaxed on my good side, I slap her stomach.
“Talk.”
“It’s a ranch.”
“Challis,” my voice is full of anger.
“Fine. It’s the Wine Cup Ranch in Fulton County. My dad quit riding bucking bulls when I came along, bought some land, turned it into a ranch, and started raising bucking bulls.”
“And your mom?” I cringe, knowing something has to be behind this since she’s never even broached the topic, but I’m finding out that I have to push Challis to open up.
“I don’t have a mom. She left me at the hospital and called my dad to come pick me up.”
I wince, not expecting that answer at all.
“I’m sor—”
“Don’t be. She didn’t deserve me or my daddy. He had to fight to get me from the hospital with all sorts of DNA tests and proof of having a stable living environment. Hence no more bull riding and the ranch.”
She falls silent, still perched on me, and I immediately feel like a grade A dick for pushing her.
“Challis, I shouldn’t have—”
“Stop.” She swats my thigh. “If I didn’t want to tell you, I wouldn’t have. Want to know the meaning behind Wine Cup?”
“Yeah, I do.” I run my hands through her silky brown locks. “Oh shit, your tattoo on your hip.”
“Yep, that’s our brand and got it after Daddy passed away. His signature is below it.” She reaches up, finds my hand and interlaces her fingers with mine. “When Daddy bought the ranch there were only about four acres and a crappy old house on it, and the day he died it was over a thousand acres with his dream home on it. Anyway, he named it Wine Cup Ranch because he was always notorious for having a red solo cup in hand and said I was the finesse to the ranch, hence the word wine.”
“He’d want you to have it, you know?”
“I know.” Challis sits up, nudges me on my back, and then straddles me. “Thank you for being patient with me and being here distracting me. I haven’t been able to give you all of me because I don’t know what will happen when I lose the ranch.”
I grab her chin, forcing her to look down at me. “You won’t lose the damn ranch.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “Sometimes I just wonder if I should let it all go and head down the road to rodeo with Teebaby.”
“You could leave me and not think twice?” I whisper.
“I’ve learned not to get too attached to things.”
“Let me up.” I try hard to push her off of me without being aggressive. “Challis.”
“Let me finish, Merek.” She shoves me back down on the blanket. “But I fell in love with you, so my plan of traveling down the road doesn’t really work either.”
She stares down at me, and I’m sure I misheard her but don’t dare move or ask question.
“Did you hear me, Champ? I love you.”
“Say it again,” I whisper.
“I love you, Merek Slatter. My body fell in love with you the night you walked into the bar. Your honesty has won me over, and your wild and free-spirited heart captured mine.”
For the first time in my life, my smartass mouth is speechless.
“Is that a tear I see escaping your eye, Champ?”
“No, it’s a fucking bug.” I roll her over and cover the length of her body. “Thank you, Verde. You saved me from myself, and I’ll love you forever for that.”
“Saved a man-whore from himself, score.” She tugs my face closer to hers and leans up placing a light kiss on my lips. “Love you.”
I grind into her center as she widens for me, wrapping her legs around my waist. I try to sit up on my knees in the grip of her legs, unzip my pants, and drag them down. I reach behind me and unwind her legs and then begin removing her pants, dragging them down slowly and kissing her skin as it’s slowly exposed.
My teeth graze her abdomen and then bite down on her panties, tugging them down. I give up halfway and pull them off in one fell swoop. Resting down on my elbows, I nudge into her entrance. “Oh fuck, I don’t have a condom.”
Challis’s hips buck up into mine, and when I enter her it’s fucking paradise that I never want to pull out of.
“You know a couple of weeks ago when I took the afternoon off?”
“Yeah, babe.” I grunt as I work myself in and out of her.
“I got on birth control, and it’s been long enough for us not to use a condom.”
“Oh, fuck.” I quicken my pace, not worrying how fast I blow. Challis’s head arches back as she moans and tries to keep up with my rhythm. Watching her pleasure dance on her face and feel her tighten around me has quickly become my favorite addiction.
In one swift movement I roll over, so Challis sits atop me. I use my hands to guide her movements and before long she finds her rhythm. She plants her hands down on my chest as she continues rising up and down.
“I love you, Champ.”
I grunt as I feel my release let go inside Challis.
Chapter 16
Challis
“Someone needs to call the fucking sheriff.” I throw a rope across the barn. “This has gone too fucking far. We are weeks out from the big day on the track.”
“What are you calling the cops on? Broken pipes?”
“Shut the fuck up, Preston.” The man’s face infuriates me. He’s a dick to work with and I’ve kept my fucking distance.
He grabs my wrist and pulls me back. “Just because you’re fucking one of them doesn’t make you any higher on the totem pole, little girl.”
I rip my hand away from him and see fucking red. “Don’t you ever touch me again.”
“What? You gonna sic your little boyfriend on me.”
“No, I’ll take care of it myself with my .223.”
This is only the fourth time I’ve run into Preston, and if I was a betting woman I’d bet Merek did that on purpose.
“What’s going on here?” Maverik steps up to us.
“Just trying to explain to miss all-star here that you can’t call the sheriff about broken pipes.”
“Fuck off and remember I know how to aim.” I throw down the bucket of grain I’m holding and stomp off.
This is a total set-up. We’ve been set back around every single turn. Merek explained the debt of his dad’s and who Saint really is. He sounds like a fucking charmer who rules the land with his dirty money. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt this is him fucking things up, and I’d bet he’s deeper into shit more than money.
“You son of a bitch.” Merek’s voice startles me as I walk up to him. When I look up and see his fist cocked back and ready to nail his dad, I set off in a sprint.
“Merek,” I yell before I get to him. “Stop.”
My voice doesn’t stall him at all and he takes a swing and misses. His dad lowers down and uses his shoulders, squaring up to take him out and he does. The two men tumble to the ground, rolling around with limbs flying everywhere.
“Merek.”
The two men are so intense in the battle there’s no way I can break them up. I turn back to the barn and start screaming for Maverik, who comes running out from the barn. He instantly spots the fight and dashes for the men. He yanks Merek up by the collar and the first thing I spot is blood flowing down his lip.
“You son of a bitch. Of
f this ranch now.”
“What in the hell is going on?” Maverik shakes Merek by the collar.
“Tell him, oh sweet father.”
His dad doesn’t move a muscle as Merek continues to seethe and fight to get away from Maverik’s grip.
“Tell him, you fucking coward.”
“There’s more debt.” He steps back and wipes away his own blood trailing from his face. “This is only the first payment of five.”
“And, you worthless asshole,” Merek yells.
Maverik throws Merek behind and approaches his dad. He stands at least a good foot taller than him and makes his own dad cower down to him. I’ve never been afraid of Maverik until now. The angry steam billows off of him as he waits for his dad to answer.
“I put this ranch up as collateral, and now… Saint is coming for everything, even after he’s paid up.”
“Why on the God’s green earth would he not be okay with just the money?”
“He caught me in bed with his old lady.”
Maverik’s fist sails into his dad’s face with force I’ve never witnessed before.
“Pack your shit and leave now.” Maverik steps up to his father who’s bent over. “You’re no longer welcome here. And tell Saint that fucker deals with me now.”
Maverik turns to us. “Go get Marvel and tell him to stay with Mom and instruct him he’s not to let her out of his sight. I’ll take care of this piece of shit and you two deal with the broken water lines.”
I grab Merek by the forearm. “It’s your dad.”
“What?” He peers down at me.
“It’s your dad who has been sabotaging everything.”
“Why would he do that when he needs that money?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, but it’s him. He needs this to fail for some reason.”
“Well, he’s gone, so nothing else can happen, baby.”
I watch in horror as Maverik drags his own father off the ranch and boots him out on the road.
“Merek, something isn’t right. None of this adds up.”
“You’re fucking telling me. I just want to be done with all of it. If we can get that first full payment then I can pay off the rest of the debt.”
“But it’s clear Saint wants blood.”
“I’ll fucking kill him before he gets to us.”
I follow Merek to the barn and start moving colts around and am thankful Marvel and I have them grouped well. It’s obvious the asshole who is stalling the operations has no idea who the good ones are, and for that it gives me hope and maybe it’s a run of bad luck. I stop and watch Merek work. The man is beyond talented, the best bronc rider I’ve ever met, fixes anything, can ride and rope, and is hot as fuck to boot.
He catches me staring, and I can’t help but smile back at him.
“Merek.”
“Yeah, babe.” He goes back to working on the exposed pipe.
“I have the money.”
“Uh?”
“I’ve made enough money to go to the bank and get my daddy’s ranch back.”
This grabs his attention as he stands up from the place where he’d been working. “This weekend on our way to the rodeo we are stopping and getting your ranch back, Verde.”
He takes two long steps and gathers me up in his arms. “Just remember, baby, as long as we have each other the rest of this shit is just noise.”
“Merek, you’ve blocked out the noise for me, and now it’s my turn to do that for you. I promise I’ll be by your side until your mess is all cleaned up.” I pause and think about how to word it. “I’m sorry about your dad.”
“I love you, Verde, and so want to fuck you right here on this pipe.”
“Always the romantic cowboy, aren’t ya?”
Chapter 17
Merek
“Give me the fucking phone.” I rip the phone from Challis’s hand and wait for this Lola character to answer.
“Hey is this Lola? Yeah, well, Challis is on her way home to buy her ranch back. Meet her in town at the bank in fifteen. She’s moving forward with or without you.”
I pause, listening to the rotten bitch.
“Why, yes, I am her lawyer. See you in a few.”
Challis is dead quiet the rest of the drive and I don’t push her to talk. I crank up the radio and let our favorite playlist shuffle through as we drive back into her hometown. Her trailer is a bitch to pull into the parking lot and I tamp down the curse words I want to let fly as I park the truck and kill the engine.
I hop out and fix my hat and collar in the mirror. When I look back at Challis she’s still frozen in the center of my bench seat.
“You ready?”
She turns to face me with a pale complexion and trembling figure. “What if this doesn’t work out?”
“It will, Challis, and if it doesn’t I’m paying the difference and you’ll work it off for me.”
“Merek, Preston told me he has only been receiving living stipends. Do you know anything about that?”
“Nope. All I know is you work fucking harder than any of those men and deserve to be paid more.”
I tug her out of the truck, clutch her hand, and drag her into the bank. I talk for her as the banker prepares all the papers.
“Challis.”
I turn to see where the voice is coming from, and when my vision spots Lola, I want to slap her. She’s every man’s dream with huge fake tits, a dark fake tan, and a fake smile. It’s easy to see how her dad fell for her.
“Dear, looks like you’ve put on some weight.”
I stand up and square off with the bitch. “You’ll be talking to me from here on out. Don’t you dare speak another word to her.”
I feel Challis’s body quake and then my blood really begins to boil.
“Well, you’re Merek Slatter, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” My jaw locks, trying to keep in my true feelings.
“Well, you ran with my niece a few years ago. It was always off and on. Now hitting on ol’ Challis.”
“No, she’s my girlfriend, and again, you’ll keep your mouth shut.” I grit out between my teeth as the banker returns with a stack of papers.
“Congrats, Challis, you’ve met all the requirements and Wine Cup is officially yours. I just need your signature in a couple of places.”
Challis’s hand shakes as she fights to finish signing her first name. I grab the pen, stopping her from finishing it. “You’ve told me over and over that your daddy raised a strong girl. Where is she now?”
Tears well up in her eyes and I just shake my head at her. I know it’s what she’d want me to do…be the hard ass and force her to finish. She finally gives me a nod then goes back to signing, and this time it’s with confidence.
She stands from the chair as the banker hands the papers over to her. I take the keys from Lola and inform her she’s officially off the ranch.
“I’ve been gone since the day he died.”
Challis whips around and finally stares down Lola. I don’t stop her and let her have her ending with the evil bitch.
“You never belonged there. You’re a piece of trash and I feel for the next unfortunate victim who falls prey to your trap.”
“I was good enough for your dad.”
Challis goes into fighting mode, and I know this has been enough.
“Let’s go.” I wrap my arm around her waist and begin tugging her toward the door.
“Just remember Karma has your ass on speed dial, Lola.”
I get Challis out into the parking lot. She twists around in my grip and starts swinging punches at me, landing a few on my chest.
“Whoa. Whoa.” I hold my hands up and back away. “What the hell, Challis?”
“You slept with her niece. Out of all the fucking people in this world you fucking slept with Satan’s bloodline.”
“Challis, I have no idea who she was talking about.”
“Hell, you’ve probably fucked her whole damn family.” She slams her fist into the side of
the truck. “I knew I should have never fallen in love with a man-whore like you.”
“Are you serious right now?” I scratch my head, fucking lost with her train of thought right now. “Challis, I’ve been nothing but up front about my past. Sorry, I didn’t keep a fucking diary of the names of the women. Are you going to look at me?”
“No, I’m done. I’m fucking done with all of this.”
“Great. So, you get your fucking money out of me and the ranch and then just leave?”
She finally turns around to see me. “I can’t handle any fucking more, Merek. I gave you my heart and fell in love with you and then to have Lola throw that in my face.”
“Throw what? All she said was something about her niece. Jesus fucking Christ, I don’t even know what to say right now.” I walk around the truck and throw my bag over my shoulder. “I’ll do you a favor and leave. Sorry I was such a piece of shit to you.”
I walk away from Challis and expect to hear a plea from her, but nothing ever comes. If falling in love was the best feeling in the world, then this absolutely is the most rotten feeling I could ever have. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I call Maverik. “Where are you?”
“About to enter town. What did you forget this time, dumbfuck?”
“Nothing. I’m walking down the main drag. Pick me up.”
“I’m still a good ten or so minutes out. What the hell happened?”
“Then I’ll walk to the fairgrounds. Meet you there.”
I end the call, not wanting to rehash what in the fuck ever happened. Now I wish I would’ve let Challis beat the ever-loving shit out of that woman. Pain and hurt races in my body and I ignore it.
I get to the arena before Maverik, throw my bag on the ground, sit on it, and realize this is what rock bottom feels like. I always thought rock bottom was going to be when I couldn’t ride again or going broke, but I was completely wrong about all of that. It’s when your heart is shattered.