Who I Am With You

by Amanda Lanclos

  “Thank you, Mrs. Garrison,” my eyes look at the ground as I fidget. Dallas’ hand comes around my waist, making me look into his stunning hazel eyes. He gives me a slight nod, as if to give me the strength I need to make it through this.

  “Oh, come on now, honey. Call me Darlene.” She walks over, shooing Dallas out of the way and hugs me tightly. “We are so glad you’ve come back. I always knew you were meant for my Dallas.”

  “Well, I am not naming my kid Waco,” I blurt, slapping my hand over my mouth as Dallas laughs uncontrollably.

  “What on Earth?” Darlene asks, as surprised as I am by the outburst.

  I turn bright red as Mr. Edward laughs with his son, and Darlene just looks as if I’ve lost my mind.

  “It’s a town in Texas, dear,” Mr. Edward says causing her to glare at him.

  “I know what Waco is, Eddie. But why on Earth would you want to name my grandchild Waco?” Darlene is looking at both of us but then her whole demeanor changes. “Wait? Are you expecting? Dallas?”

  “What?” His laughter evaporates as quickly as it came. “No, wait no! We aren’t having a baby. At least not for a few years.” He looks at me for help, but I like seeing him squirm under his mother’s gaze instead of me. “Kennedy thinks it’s funny that you named us after cities in Texas, when we are from Texas.”

  “Oh, well I just loved the names,” Darlene smiles as she looks at me. “But, no don’t name them Waco. Please.” She grabs my arm, pulling me to the kitchen. “Let’s see what Stella cooked us for lunch.

  “Actually,” I look at her, straightening my back. “I cooked lunch today. I’m pretty good in the kitchen.”

  “Yeah she is,” Dallas agrees, which makes his father laugh.

  “Oh my. You need to be in church.” Darlene shakes her head. “I raised you better and I really hope you bleached the counters.” My face flames bright red as I pull the roasted chicken out of the oven. “Oh come on now. You don’t think I was young once? Your father and I may even do a little of that now and again.”

  “Darlene! I’m the pastor for crying out loud! Don’t talk about that!” Edward cackles, his own face is as red as my own.

  “Well, thanks parentals. This just got really awkward.” Dallas walks up to me and kisses me on the forehead. “See, they aren’t that bad,” he whispers and I’m grateful that they made a joke out of it.

  “Mr. Edward, I’m really looking forward to this week’s sermon.”

  “Please, Kennedy. Call me, Eddie. Unless we’re in church, then Pastor Eddie or Brother Eddie works,” he winks as we all sit at the table with the full spread I prepared.

  “This looks amazing, Kennedy.” Darlene’s approval means the world to me. She gives me a wink before the food starts being passed around.

  Over the next hour, food is inhaled and words are spoken around the table. Love spreads around the room as we all talk about the future and our plans. I love hearing Dallas talk about how much I’ve been helping him around the ranch. I’ve been training horses, doing the accounting, which surprisingly I’ve been very good at and cooking. With me around, we were able to hire five other men to help expand the cattle part of the ranch and Dallas was able to start the garden he’s wanted to do for years. Hearing him talk about how much I’ve done in the short amount of time I’ve been here makes my heart swell. And, the way he looks at me makes my thighs get a little tighter under the table his parents are occupying as well. He doesn’t know what he’s asking for when they leave. Or, maybe he does. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

  After lunch, he walks his parents to the door and I set about cleaning the kitchen. My hands are in the hot soapy water when I feel his hands sliding up my dress and over my thighs. “Mr. Garrison, just what do you think you’re doing?”

  “Taking care of my woman, I could smell you under the damn table Ken. I couldn’t wait for them to leave.”

  I bark out a laugh before I push my ass against the erection in his jeans. Once I have him off-guard, I push him back with my hips, turning quickly and kneeling in front of him. I hadn’t forgotten my promise to return that favor and I waited until I knew he’d forget. That doesn’t mean I haven’t gone down on him, because I loved sucking him just as much as he loved eating me.

  “What cha doing, Kennedy?” His eyes blaze with desire as I work his belt open and then unzip his pants.

  “Returning that favor,” I smirk as he just shakes his head. I love when the growl comes from his chest as my mouth wraps around the tip of his member. When my tongue swirls around him and he has to grip the counter to steady himself, I feel like I’m on top of the world. With one small movement I can bring him to his knees and I love every minute of it. I love being able to do this, because in this moment I know that I have his full attention. I know that even with the ranch and the horses, the only thing he’s thinking about is me; my mouth on his cock and how amazing it feels. I continue to work him, my hand following his shaft where my mouth can’t reach until he goes stiff.

  “Kennedy, stop babe. I want to be inside your pussy when I come.” He hisses as he tries to stop my assault on his dick.

  I wink, not stopping. I grab his ass and pull him deeper into my mouth as he tries to pull away. I moan as his release slides down my throat. I take everything he gives me and smile in victory as he sags against the counter with his chest heaving.

  “Dammit, woman. Your mouth should be a damn sin. I’m pretty sure God warned Adam about the powers of a woman’s mouth and the damage it could cause.” He chuckles as he grabs my chin “But, I’ll take every one of them if it means you give me pleasure like that.” He kisses my lips in an all-consuming kiss as if to let me know that he knows exactly what he’s got and he isn’t letting it go anytime soon.

  Being outside in the hot August sun sucks. That’s all I can say. My tank top is covered in sweat and I’m sure that I should have put deodorant under my damn boobs, because even they were sweating. I wasn’t sure how Dallas and all the other guys did it. He tried to keep me in the house, but dammit I wasn’t a kept woman. So, I refused to stay locked away in the kitchen cooking all day. I put dinner in the crock-pot so that I could come out and work on Ainsley’s pony.

  Mr. Baker got a mustang for his daughter Ainsley who’d be turning sixteen in a couple of weeks. Only thing about this mustang was that it didn’t want to be kept. So, that’s where we came in. Or me. Dallas hadn’t had any luck with ole’ Sally.

  Grabbing her reigns I lead her into the arena we use to train, “Come on now, Sally. Why in the world they named you that, I’ll never comprehend.”

  Once we get into the training ring, I drop the reign letting her trot around. I make a few clicks with my tongue, watching her as she calms. Usually I would take her out on the ranch, riding around in the pasture, but today I want to work on commands. I can feel his eyes, before I can see him. I smile when Dallas waves from the stables. I guess he came in to let Neco get out of the heat and eat. I wave back as I grab for the reign, effectively halting Sally. “Good girl,” I let her nuzzle my hand with her wet nose and smile when she whinnies.

  “You’re doing pretty well with these horses,” a very familiar voice says from behind me. Turning, I see Casey standing in a pair of Miss Me jeans and a white t-shirt with her brown gem stone boots. I want to laugh at the rocking country outfit she’s chosen. She looks more like Miranda Lambert putting on a concert than she does my best friend.

  “Casey!” I squeal as I run away from Sally, scale the bars on the ring and throw myself at my friend. I’d remembered a lot about her since I first got here. Like how we’d been inseparable when we were growing up. Every weekend was spent at one of our houses and when my Dad died, she was there with me crying alongside me. “What are you doing here?”

  “I called her,” Dallas’ voice rings out as he saunters up to us. “I knew you were getting lonely, even with me and Austin here. I figured you could use a little girl time.”

  “I was glad you called. I’ve missed home
.” Casey’s smile falters as Austin comes around the corner. I don’t miss it but it’s back before anyone else catches on. “How have you been, Dallas? Seems like you’ve only gotten better looking with age.”

  “Right back atcha,” he smiles as he pulls her into a hug. “Maybe you two should talk about moving that business back to Texas,” waggling his brows he acts as if his idea is a genius one.

  “Actually, we were thinking about selling,” I say quickly. “I just enjoy horses and helping you. Casey shouldn’t have to worry about running a business that meant so much to me.”

  “I keep trying to talk her out of it, but you Garrison boys tend to dig some claws in so deep that women have no desire to ever escape,” Casey cuts her eyes to Austin who is blatantly staring at us all.

  “Austin, Darlene would shoot you dead if she knew you weren’t being hospitable,” I yell over the yard. I know he hears me when he mutters something, kicks the dust and walks over.

  “Casey,” he growls. Well, there is definitely something going on with these two.

  “Austin.” She gives him what most people would call ‘resting bitch face’. “Time sure hasn’t changed your asshole ways.”

  “Now Casey. That’s not fair,” his green eyes fill with so much hurt that I have to look away. “And, it ain’t nobody’s business but ours. So if you got shit to say, we can discuss it later.” He turns his back to us and retreats in the same direction he came, but before he gets far he turns and salutes. “Welcome back to Texas. Everything’s bigger here, even your fucking bitchiness.”

  “Enough,” Dallas yells out. The tone of his voice leaves no room for argument and it even calms Sally in the rink. If I were being honest the only thing it didn’t calm, was me. Seeing him this way sent shots of electricity straight to my core, heating it to a temperature I’d never known before. Pissed off Dallas was hot as hell. His vein was popping out of his neck and I wanted to stick my tongue out and lick all over that.

  “Down girl,” Casey whispers. “You could put an eye out with your nips right now, sister.” She chuckles as I look down, covering my chest with my hair.

  “I fucking love the show,” Dallas winks, causing me to grow even more embarrassed. “Let’s revisit that later. I’m sure I have a whip around here that we can use on that sexy ass.”

  I gasp, surprised that it actually turns me on. I’d seen 50 Shades of Grey, but up until today I never wanted to try it out. I mean, with Dallas, he could wear some chaps and we could call it fifty sides of cowboy. I laugh softly as he just shakes his head and walks away.

  “Holy shit, that was hotter than Hell. You could cook a damn steak with the flames coming from y’all.” Casey is looking at me like a dog in heat as she fans her shirt against her chest.

  “Whatever, come on let’s go for a ride,” I pull her hand toward the horses but she pulls back, digging her heels into the ground.

  “Oh, no ma’am. I saw that thing bucking when Austin yelled. I. Am. Not. Getting. On. That.”

  “Casey, this is Sally and I’m riding her. I’m going to pull her into the barn so we can saddle her up and you can ride ole’ Tulsa.”

  “Okay,” she sighs, knowing I’m not letting her out of this. If she’s really going to move back to Texas she’s gotta get back to being a Texas native. Hell, if we work here we need to learn to live with the animals.

  “Good girl,” I smirk as I grab the reins to Sally, leading her slowly to the stall. “Maybe whenever you get the hang of it, we can race like we used to. Remember when Pops took us barrel racing?”

  “How could I forget? You fell off once and I swear I’d have thought Dallas was Superman.” She laughs as the memory. “He had you up off that dirt in ten seconds.”

  “I don’t remember that,” I sigh, I let out a frustrated groan, spooking Sally. “I wish I could. Sorry Sally, it’s okay girl. I’m just trying to figure out my life, much like you are.” Her black eyes look into mine with a similar look to the ones that meet my gaze in the mirror every day. I run my hand down her neck as we walk toward the barn.

  “So, you really want to sell Ken?” Casey’s voice comes out apprehensively, as if she isn’t sure what my thoughts are on the idea.

  “Yeah, I don’t really know anything about it anymore and while I know that you’re okay with doing it for me, I’m not. You have a life to live too. I think we’d be better off selling to someone.” There is no second-guessing the decision I’d come up with two weeks ago. Since I don’t really remember anything about the company, I don’t really have much to miss.

  “My life is helping you with yours, Ken. It’s always been us against the world, but if you really are interested, I know a man who wants to buy the company. And, he’s giving you a fair deal.” She follows me, watching as I put a saddle on Sally, making sure to stay out of the horse’s way. “He’s willing to buy the company outright for three hundred thousand dollars.”

  “What?” I shriek, making Sally rise up, my face turns into horror as she comes down fast, knocking me on my ass. “Ow!”

  “Oh my God!” Casey grabs the reins, effectively taking control of the situation and calming the horse down. How in the world she managed to do that, I don’t know. Maybe she was a damn horse whisperer.

  “You should come train horses with me,” I smile. “Tell the man we accept his offer. You get half of that and we can start our lives here.”

  “Yeah, Kennedy. I don’t think I can work here, at least not with Austin.” She gives a sad smile, before climbing on top of Sally. “But, I like her, so I’ll ride her ill-tempered little self. She reminds me of my best friend.”

  “Hey!” I smart off as I climb on top of Tulsa, mentally thanking whoever decided to saddle him up today. “First one to the pond wins,” I yell out as I clap my boots against Tulsa’s side, getting a head start on Casey.

  I should have known that riding a horse for Casey would be like riding a bike. It didn’t matter how long either of us had been away from this place. You could take the cowgirl out of Texas, but you couldn’t ever take Texas out of the cowgirl. She stormed passed me on Sally and I watched them both work together to race toward the pond. Seeing Casey’s long hair blowing in the breeze and the effortless smile on her face as she guided the beautiful creature under her toward their destination was amazing. Watching Sally run as if she hadn’t a care in the world, just a horse running free, is another feeling in itself. This is where she belongs, running in the wild, not being a show horse. But, I can’t tell the customer that, because my opinion doesn’t matter.

  I wish there was a way to change it, but there is nothing I could do. She’d be caged in her prison of life as a beautiful show horse, instead of the wild being she was meant to be. She reminded me a lot of myself, I was caged in by the unknown. If I could just remember my life, I could take control of it. Make it what I wanted it to be, which was exactly where I was. I want to be right here every day, in this moment, for life.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I don’t know what the hell you did to Casey, but you better fix that.” I hiss at Austin as we set out to fixing another part of the fence. Ever since he’d hurt his hand on the horses, Kennedy has been dealing with them. It actually works out, because I’d rather her not lifting hay bales and all that shit.

  “I didn’t do a damn thing. That woman is just hard to deal with.” He snaps, pulling the wires tighter with the tightener. “I’m pretty sure she’s the only woman I’ll ever love.”

  “Well, funny how we have that one woman, huh?”

  “Shut up, Dallas. You’ll get your happily ever after. That won’t happen for me.” He growls as he pulls the barbed wire tighter.

  “Hey, you better calm down with that before pop that wire and put your damn eye out.”

  “You think you’re better than me? Because you got this fancy ranch and the woman of your dreams?” His tone has nothing but malice in it and I want to take a step back. We’ve never been in a competition of who’s better than the other and I
’m not really sure where this is coming from either.

  “What the hell are you even talking about? Stop pulling the damn wire!” I pull him back just as the wire pops and barely misses us both and I land on top of him with a thud.

  “Get off me!”

  “What the hell is going on with you?” Grabbing his shirt I slam him into the ground again. “You almost hurt us both, dumbass!” I spit as the words come out. I don’t know what the hell has gotten into him, but dammit I don’t want to be put in the damn middle of it.

  “Stop!” He growls as his right hand comes up and collides with my face, knocking me off of him. “I’m sick of it!”

  “Please tell me what the hell you’re sick of. And you better not punch me again!” I put my hands on my hips and glare at him sitting on the ground.

  “You have the perfect life, Dallas. Everyone likes you, they all want to be you and now the love of your life miraculously shows up and can’t even remember why she stopped loving you to begin with.”

  The fight in his eyes goes out as he sits on the ground staring at it, looking at anything but me. I really don’t know what to say to him, because I know having Casey here is the cause of all this. “Austin,” I wait until his eyes meet mine before I continue. “Why don’t you just talk to the woman?”

  “What are you talking about?” His voice is full of arrogance and I instantly want to smack it out of him.

  “Okay, then. But don’t you dare come back to swinging at me or I’ll break your damn jaw.” I snarl as I grab the tightener and get back to fixing the fence because whether or not he helps, it will be done in time for me to have dinner with my woman.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I get it, I do. I didn’t like you whenever you kept finding relationships and I couldn’t. But I never got hostile.” I continue working on the fence, not looking at him as he finally joins in.