by West, Cary
“Do you trust me, baby?” he asked in a low husky voice.
“Yes,” she whispered back.
“Then lay back and float in the water,” he coaxed her. “I’ll support you with my hands. I promise I won’t let go.”
She leaned back and rested in the palm of his hands.
“That’s it. Glide with me,” he said feeling his stomach knot as the sensation changed. He moved her slowly against his hardness then thrust his hips forward, pulsing into her over and over again. She released a whimpering cry when her body exploded once again.
That was all Jack needed to hear. One final thrust and he growled a low carnal groan as he came inside her.
He lifted Kate forward with his hands and brought her to his chest. She laid her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and basked in the afterglow as the afternoon sun spread its rays over the two lover’s backs.
“What are you doing to me, Jack?” she whispered.
“I’m loving you good, baby,” he whispered back.
Kate stayed in his arms feeling one with the man who continued to rock her world. After several minutes, Jack walked them through the water heading for the shore.
“You can stand here.”
Kate slid from his arms and placed her feet along the muddied bottom. Hand in hand, they waded closer to shore.
“I don’t want to get out just yet,” said Kate. “Let’s sit and soak for a while.”
She sat on the bottom of the lake as the water came up just below her chest. Jack sat behind her and pulled her against him. He ran his hand over her belly and Kate glided her fingers over his forearms.
They sat in silence watching several children playing along the shore’s edge. A boy who couldn’t have been more than seven or eight ran past them, splashing them with the water he kicked up at his feet.
“Hey,” Jack yelled at the boy.
“Sorry Mister,” he hollered over his shoulder before racing toward the other children and deliberately slamming into a smaller boy, knocking him on his back.
Kate was about to say something when she heard the child’s father yell down from his blanket and command the child to get out of the water. The boy crossed his arms over his chest, stomped up the beach, and flopped down on the blanket by his father’s side.
“What were you like as a boy?” Kate looked up and asked Jack.
“I was just like that kid,” he said now watching the man exchange a plethora of harsh words toward the boy. “My old man would have clobbered me good and told me I was a pain in his ass just like this guy is about to do to his kid now.”
His attention fell away from Kate. Jack pushed her forward and stood not taking his eyes off the heated exchange. His green orbs narrowed into tiny slits seeing the man raise a strong arm and backhand the crying child hard across the cheek.
“Hey,” Jack shouted leaving the water at once and planting fast feet into the graveled sand heading in their direction. Kate jumped to her feet and followed after him. Jack marched right up to the man and seized him by the arm just as the man was ready to strike the boy again.
“Hey, you’re three times his size,” Jack shouted at the man as his temper flared into a hot rage. “Just walk away and cool down before somebody gets hurt.”
“Get the hell off me,” the man jerked back and Jack let go. “I can do whatever I want to my kid so mind your own damn business.”
“You think so?” Jack grabbed him by his t-shirt and heaved him up off the sand bottom and toward his face. “You hurt that boy and you’ll answer to me.” He smelled alcohol on the man’s breath and on his skin. It disgusted him to no end. “Where’s your mom, kid?” Jack called to the boy over his shoulder.
“She’s over there,” the boy pointed to a brown haired woman exiting the parking lot and just stepping back onto sand again. “And I’m not his kid. He’s her boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend, huh?” Jack turned his face back to the man and glared. “So you like hitting kids?” He snarled at the man, spraying his words into his face. “Maybe you want to try me instead?”
The man shook his head. Kate stood in the foreground and watched the sweat drip from the man’s face. She couldn’t tell if it was from the hot sun beating down or if it was from fear, though she suspected it was the latter.
The woman seeing the commotion raced through the sand and came to her son’s aid. “What happened, Bobby?” She knelt by the boy and touched his bruised cheek then looked up angrily at the man tangled in Jack’s fists. “What did you do, Ray?”
She stood and like a mother bear ready to protect her cub lunged for the man still in Jack’s grip. She punched him dead center in the arm.
“Tell her what you did,” Jack barked in his face and released him. The man’s bare feet hit sand again and he steadied himself from falling over in a stupor.
“That kid of yours was acting up again so I wacked him a bit in order to straighten his ass out.”
“You wacked him?” Her nostrils flared and the mother’s eyes grew fierce red with anger. “Don’t you touch my kid?” She pounded him on the chest. “Ever, you hear me.”
“Get off of me you crazy broad,” the man grumbled looking like he was ready to do it to her too but he felt the cold steel eyes of the sandy haired man looming over him and decided to back away. “Ah, just forget the whole thing and for that matter forget you too. I’m out of here.”
He took several steps back in order to be out of reach of clenching fists. He threw up his hands like he was throwing in the towel then motioned to his friends it was time to leave.
“That’s it, go,” she shouted after him watching the small group of men head for the parking lot. “I don’t ever want to see your face again.” She turned and looked at Jack, giving him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Jack” she said reaching up and touching him on the cheek.
“It’s nothing,” he mumbled.
Kate watched the awkward exchange between Jack and the brown haired woman. Her back stiffened when she saw the woman reach up on her toes and plant a kiss straight on his lips. Jack stepped back holding her by the arms filling in air between them. He glanced over at Kate then back to the woman.
“Well, I got to go,” said Jack rather quickly. “Take care.”
She nodded and watched him return to the blonde haired woman by the shoreline before heading back to her son and tending to his bruised cheek.
Jack took Kate’s hand and together they moved down the sandy shoreline back to their spot on the beach.
“Who was that woman?” Kate asked.
“Just past history.” Jack’s hand tightened giving her a reassuring squeeze. Kate nodded.
“You think he’ll be okay?” she asked Jack.
“Who?”
“The boy,” she stated.
“I got me a feeling this isn’t the first time it’s happened to him,” he said. “But he’s a scrapper, he’ll survive just like the rest of us.”
“You sound like you’re talking from experience.”
“I am,” he said. “My Dad was the town drunk, baby.” Kate stopped walking and stared up at him.
“Oh, Jack,” she said not knowing what else to say.
“Hell of a life for a kid.” He laughed though there was nothing humorous about his disclosure and continued walking.
“What about your mother?” she asked.
“She died when I was really young. I barely remember her.” Jack held a faint image of a fair haired woman with green eyes. It had been years since he thought about her. “You getting hungry?” he asked her trying to change the subject.
“You don’t like to talk much about your life.” Kate was beginning to understand why.
“The past is in the past. Like I said before, there’s nothing I can do to change it, so why dwell on it.”
“But I want to know everything about you, Jack McBride.”
“Fine, I’ll tell you every boring detail over lunch,” he gave her a smile. “Because quite frankly, I’m starved.”
/> “How can you be starved after that?” Kate shook her head.
“A good brawl can do that to a man as well as spark his appetite for something else,” he winked at her.
Kate just laughed but then she noticed the mischievous twinkle in his eye and she broke free of his hand. He chased her down the beach, catching her and twirling her around in the waters shores. He set her on her feet again and wrapping his arms around her bare waist, he pulled her to him and kissed her.
The mood instantly lifted and the altercation was forgotten. Once more they walked hand-in-hand back to their spot on the beach. Kate knelt by the cooler and opened its lid. She pulled out the submarine sandwiches.
“While you’re in there, grab me a beer, baby.”
Kate handed him a beer. Jack flopped on the blanket and she handed him his sandwich then she pulled out an apple for herself and a wine cooler. Jack suppressed an I told you so grin.
“So, what do you want to know about me?” He asked taking a bite of his sub. “How about grabbing me the bag of chips too while you’re at it.”
Kate reached over and handed him the chips and Jack popped open the bag.
“I don’t know,” she said trying to twist open the cap on her wine cooler. “It was your life. You tell me.”
“Well, I already told you my old man was the town drunk,” he said taking the bottle from her hands, twisted the cap off then handed it back to her.
“Was it just you and your Dad?” she asked.
“Most of the time, except when he had a woman hanging around,” he laughed. “They didn’t last too long. He went through women like he did beer.”
“That must have been very confusing for you,” she said.
“Not really.” He shrugged. “It was what I was used to. Hell, by the time I was thirteen I was bringing women around too.” Jack took a drink of his beer.
“Well at least you didn’t pick up all your Dad’s bad habits,” she said with a hint of sarcasm.
“I told you before that night at the bar was an exception to the rule,” said Jack as he grew serious. “I saw what booze did to my old man, and I wasn’t about to repeat it. My vice is control baby, but I suspect you already know that.”
“That’s because you had no control as a child.”
“Now don’t go psychoanalyzing me,” said Jack as he took a handful of chips.
“It is just an opinion,” said Kate as she drank her wine cooler. The last thing she wanted to do was to get into another argument with him.
“So where is your dad now?” she asked crunching into her apple.
“He was killed.” Kate paused in mid bite seeing his jaw tighten. “Drunken old fool stepped right into the path of a horse and buggy. The horse trampled him to death.”
“Oh Jack, I’m so sorry,” Kate reached over and placed her hand on his leg.
“It was probably for the best,” stated Jack with a calmed surface, but inside she could see he was still bothered by it. “I was in high school when the accident happened. Folks around here were real good to me. I was working part-time as a hired hand on the ranch I own now. Old man Guffrey put me up in one of the bunkhouses to live. Trust me it was better than that run-down shack.”
“Is that how you came to acquire the ranch?”
“Not exactly,” said Jack thinking back. “Rodeo came to town and I started spending my free time learning rope tricks. I was a pretty good rider too, so when they were ready to pack up and leave, they invited me to join them. So I quit school and went to work with the rodeo.”
“Did you ever go back and get your GED?” Kate was taken aback.
“Didn’t need to. I made good money with the rodeo. Saved every penny I made, then came back here and bought the ranch. The rest you know.”
“Jack, I could help you if you want to get your GED,” she offered.
“What would I want to do that for?” He laughed at her foolishness.
“For a sense of accomplishment,” she said wanting to spark something inside him.
“In my thirty-three years here on this earth, I have accomplished more than most men with a college education.”
He did have a point. His achievements were something to be proud of, but it still bothered her just the same. Perhaps it was because she was a teacher and believed in the educational system. “I understand if you don’t want my help,” she continued. “I know it’s a pride thing with you. But all the local high schools offer G.E.D. classes for adults.”
“Of all the shit I just told you, you have to go and get stuck on the fact I never graduated high school.” He was getting annoyed. “Drop it, Kate. I’m not getting no damn G.E.D., and that’s that.”
“I can’t help it,” she produced a smile to settle him down. “I’m a teacher. It’s what I do.”
“Well teach someone else, at least in the learning department,” said Jack as leaned over and pinched her boob.
She swatted his hand away. “Behave yourself,” she scolded him.
“Never around you.” His face turned upward into a grin and he crawled toward her like a man on the prowl. “I’m ready for my dessert.” He placed a hand on either side of her leg.
“Eat an apple.” Kate popped hers into his mouth. With his teeth, Jack tossed the apple in the air.
“I’d rather eat you.” Jack pounced on her, knocking Kate back. She released a squeal and started to laugh as he nibbled on her as if she were his favorite meal.
Twenty-Two
Stand By Your Man
Twilight came across the lake, the sky reflecting its hues of muted red and purple blue against the water’s edge. Kate watched Jack pack up and a part of her hated to go. They were having such a good time together, and she was learning so much about his past. She seemed to understand him better since getting a glimpse of what his life had been like growing up in Virginia City. Kate stood by the truck as Jack placed the E-Z Up into the bed.
“The night’s still young. You still want to swing by the Wild Horse Saloon?” he asked her. “Unless of course you’re too tired?”
“No, I’m not tired. I’m game if you are?”
“We brought a change of clothes,” he said. “We could swing by the bathhouse or we could go home and change.”
“No, the bathhouse will work.”
God, she was easy. Most women would want to doll themselves up before going out. He was glad Kate wasn’t like that. Besides, she was beautiful even without a stitch of makeup. Actually, he thought she looked better without all that artificial stuff plastered on her face.
Jack drove to the bathhouse. Kate handed him his bag of clothes and she grabbed her own. They parted ways and she entered the dressing area. She slipped out of her bathing suit and darned a jean skirt and lace top. She sat on the bench and slipped on her favorite pair of roman sandals, zipping them up her heel.
Kate moved to the small mirror over the sink and went to work fixing her hair. She swept up the sides and clipped it in the back allowing the remainder of her hair to flow down her back. She added a little mascara to her lashes and applied a light pink gloss to her lips.
As she was finalizing the finishing touches, she caught a glimpse of the ring on her finger in the mirror. She held up her hand and for the first time since he put it on her finger she had a moment to take a really good look at it.
It wasn’t fancy or ornate. It was simple, the silver smooth and dainty. But its meaning held more richness than the ring itself. Kate felt like she was radiating from the inside out. In one single act he had squelched her fears and sealed her heart. It was now Kate’s turn to fall hard for the man who did nothing in a small way. She packed the mascara and lip gloss back in her bag then exited the bathhouse.
Jack was outside waiting for her by the truck. He watched her long legs carry her toward him in that sexy jean skirt and pretty lace top. Her hair looked messy and neat all at the same time with a little pulled back and some hanging loose. Jack felt a twinge in his gut. God she was pretty, and he was so i
nto her it wasn’t funny.
“You clean up well, Barbie doll,” he teased her as opened the door for her.
“You don’t look so bad yourself, Lasso Larry,” she touted back.
“I still have a few tricks up my sleeve,” he winked at her.
“I’m sure you do.”
Jack took her bag and tossed it in the back of the truck before closing the door then walking around to the driver’s side. He climbed in and pulled out of the parking lot, away from the lake.
“It may get a little cool tonight,” said Jack looking over at her. “Did you bring a jacket?”
“I have a sweater in my bag.” She pointed to the back of the truck.
“What are you doing all the way over there? Slide over to me, baby,” Jack gave his order and Kate complied.
She shimmied across the seat and he swung his arm over her shoulder. “That’s better,” he smiled at her. “You look real pretty tonight.”
“Thanks.” She returned his smile.
“Now remember what we talked about earlier today, Kate,” said Jack firmly. “Stand proud and no shrinking back.”
“Yes, sir!” She saluted. “If I start slipping away all I need to do is look at my ring.” She held it up for him to see.
“That’s my girl,” he smiled proudly.
Jack turned on to the main road. The sun was an orange round ball slowly disappearing behind the Sierra Mountain range. Kate could not remember seeing a more perfect sunset.
“We’re kind of early. The band doesn’t start ‘til about nine,” said Jack breaking the silence. “You want to grab dinner there first before heading for the bar?”
“Whatever you want, Jack.”
“You do know how to sweet talk me, don’t you, baby,” he said in his usual arrogant tone.
“I’m learning,” she giggled.
Jack drove along Highway Fifty until they entered the town of Dayton. He turned off a side road and traveled about a block before pulling into a small parking area alongside the bar.
Jack jumped from the truck and raced around to the passenger side. He opened the door for Kate and she climbed out. Jack escorted her to the bar as he placed his arm around her, hooking his thumb on the back of her jean skirt. They entered the Wild Horse Saloon and from what Kate could see, the bar consisted of two rooms.