“True, but no excuses are allowed. Just so you will understand in the future, there are always consequences to rudeness and it is never a bad thing to give a simple smile.”
“I’ll try, but things have different meanings in this part of the world. If I smiled at a guy in Seattle or even some of the villages, he would expect me to be interested in him. I mean, take me home because I am yours, type of interested.”
She waited for a reaction, disappointed when there wasn’t one. He was patiently sitting there waiting for her to agree. Usually by now, the man she was with would be attempting to make her feel better but not this one.
She continued with a sigh, “Fine, I’ll try. So, what do you mean consequences? Like them overhearing me or thinking I do not know how to be friendly or something?”
“That and those that are earned because you couldn’t rein in your tongue, the kind you have to sit on.”
She didn’t quite follow some of his conversations but decided just to agree. It would not hurt her to be nice without the effort costing her much.
“Hmm, guess you are right. I’ll try to be more courteous, even when they can’t hear me.”
“Good girl.”
Shanna felt irritated that his little two-word praise made her pump up in pride. Clench! She also chided herself because she kept vigil over Zane to make sure that there were no other women vying for his attention.
“So, know of any good places to look for buying a car?”
She changed the subject and noticed the slight smile on Zane’s face. He knew what she had done and decided to let it go.
“I might. What are you looking for?”
“Ugh. I don’t know. I finally decided on a car instead of a pickup. That’s it. Oh, and blue or silver would be nice. Don’t roll your eyes, even figuratively, at me. That’s it. The sum total I have decided so far.”
Zane shook his head and chuckled, “Okay, but what do you want it to do?”
“Do? Drive?”
“Good Lord, woman, getting a real answer out of you is painful. When is your Daddy taking you out to have a gander?”
“My dad isn’t taking me and I don’t ‘gander.' Ever. I can do this on my own and I intend on doing just that.”
Zane smiled and held up his hand in semi surrender. “Hold on, sunshine, don’t get so upset. I didn’t mean that you couldn’t do it, my intent was to say, you buy a car in pairs. Take someone with you to balance your thinking. A second person is not as invested as you are and can keep a clear head.”
“I can keep a clear head and that was sexist.”
“I didn’t say you had to take a man or that a man didn’t need to bring a second person along. You can be a little reactionary, can’t you? Okay. When are you going?”
“Now. When I finish here. I plan to go searching a few lots at least. I need to know where to go and look first, east or west.”
Zane groaned at the time crunch as he looked at his watch. “Will you allow me to go with you and help you explore some cars? I have a fear that someone will take advantage of you. Even if you have a good head on your shoulders, this is still an area a dealer feels women are less indecisive with a man. Sexist though it is, you do get a much better deal. Trust me to know this and don’t shoot me, the messenger, remember. Please, may I come with you?”
“Fine. Come with me. When?”
“Can you go later this afternoon? Say about three? The farrier is swinging by to do a first care session on some of the new horses’ hooves. He had a few hours and booked us.”
“I guess, but it will be hot at three. Funny, I would have thought you to do that yourself, the hooves.”
“Not any hotter than it will be in about thirty minutes. I usually like the new ones to be done professionally the first time. Besides, hiring things out when you can is good business and being a good neighbor. Meet me here at three and I’ll take you to a couple of places we get our vehicles from and you won’t be disappointed.”
“Okay, but if you are not here, I go alone.”
“Deal. Have to go. See you at three.”
Zane ate the rest of his breakfast quickly. He then reached over and handed Missy cash, winked at her and then turned to give a more focused wink to Shanna. He then put his hat on, paused for a moment, apparently coming to a decision, then kissed her on the forehead and walked out the door hiding the grin on his face.
Shanna pushed down the feeling of contentment and elation that Zane had made a concerted effort to demonstrate his affection publicly. Irrational girl, get your city spikes on, you are able to take care of yourself and just because he is nice looking and knows what he wants in life does not mean you fall at his feet. Yeah, but it did shoot her internal happy scale indicator high not to have to handle the car alone, and the thought crossed her mind that she wasn’t the stronger willed of the two of them. She decided that she could work on making her professional loose ends tie into a nice presentable bow until she met Zane at three. Finishing off her coffee, re-prioritizing done, off she went to the hospital, her stomach performing backflips as she went through her day.
Chapter Four
“Hey, sunshine, you’re late.” He accompanied his words with an obvious, glad to see you smile. She felt the tingle. She grinned back.
“Sorry, I had to finish my paperwork for the clinic and get through school traffic to get out here. I picked up my key to the clinic but don’t open for a few weeks they said.”
“You can’t be a doctor, you are too young. I thought you said you were a nurse or something,” declared Zane.
“Wrong, wrong, and right, something like that. I am not too young for a doctor, but I am an Advanced Nurse Practitioner. I can hang my own shingle, but it is easier and less hassle if I do it with a hospital or something. St. John's has offered me the opportunity to keep a small clinic in town here and that is what I am going to do. I’ll do all I can right here, but if I can’t, the hospitals are not too far away.”
“Huh, that is something. Great for you, you don’t go far from home and can do what you are trained to do. Great for the community, you are convenient and fantastic for me. I can stop by every so often during the day.”
“Good to know it works for you too, Zane.” Shanna laughed. “Now, what about getting my car?”
“Oh, right, your car. Okay, hop in my truck and I’ll take you in.”
“But I’ll want to turn the rental in if I get one. Let's take this one.” Shanna started for the driver’s side.
“Fine, I’ll lock up the pickup, but I am driving.” Zane put out his hands for the keys.
“No, I can drive. I know that I let you drive the other night but I am a good driver and there isn’t any reason I shouldn’t drive. Wait. Don’t tell me that you believe in that woman driver baloney? You rode with me already.”
“Nope, I just like to drive my ladies so they can relax, but honey, if you want to do it, I will lean back and let you.” Zane looked at her as though he wanted to say something else but before he could continue, she interrupted him.
“Anyway, the insurance only covers me.”
“That’s fine, sunshine. But as we get to know each other, I want you to understand that I will do the driving when we are together.”
Shanna nodded her head but didn’t know why it was a hollow victory. Well, she did actually. She was tired and would have enjoyed the passenger position more. It felt good for some odd, made for movie reason that he wanted to take over things like driving. He was no pushover and yet he gave in to her. She wasn’t sure whether she has satisfied with his giving in or not. They drove into the first lot on a street with a car lot on each corner.
“Okay, turn in here and park over there.”
Following Zane’s direction on where to park, she got out and handed him the keys, as was her habit with her ex who rarely took them. Zane took them as if it was something natural to do. The salesman coming up saw that action and assumed they were a couple treating them accordingly, which was unfortunat
e for everyone.
“Yes sir, what can I do for you and the little lady? Is that you, Zane? Haven’t seen you in a while, truck needing to be traded in? And you have yourself a fine looking filly here. What’s your name, honey?”
Shanna stared at the man as though he was sprouting two heads right before her eyes.
“‘The little lady,' did you really just say that? You actually called me a filly? And I am not your fu--”
Zane broke in quickly by pulling Shanna back a step and covered the end of her sentence with one of his own. Trying to defuse the bomb that was this situation, Zane responded to the confused man and not Shanna.
“We are looking for a good car that meets her needs.”
Shanna was still fuming and Zane wisely did not wrap his arm around her for support, but he did stand the slightest bit in front of her to stop her from throttling the ill spoken man. The look of warning that he sent her was deflected as Shanna stood quietly fuming.
“A little sporty would be nice, but good on gas and good for the long haul. One with some leg room, too, if possible. We’d like one that is blue or silver/gray.”
The poor, misguided man, trying to recover the relaxed atmosphere stepped into the quagmire once again by agreeing, “Yeah, the ladies do like to choose the color.”
“What? Color is not ever an issue with men?”
Shanna tried to push Zane out of her line of fire without success. Zane quickly jumped in and this time turned to fully face Shanna, giving her a dark, thunderous look with a shutdown message before responding to the tactless fool. Shanna reciprocated with an incredulous look and a snort.
“We’ll just look around if you don’t mind. I’ll come get you if we find something we are interested in.”
This time he guided Shanna out of the firing range over to some of the vehicles as the confused salesman looked on, apparently not understanding his error.
“Zane, I am not buying anything from this sexist, belittling little twit. Take me somewhere else.”
“Shanna, he didn’t mean anything by it. Really, some people are just plain ignorant. Couldn’t you see the confused look on his face?”
“Well, that is no excuse in this day and age. Take me somewhere else. I will not leave a dime in this man’s hands.” Angry, she started to stomp off to the car.
Closing up the space she had created between them, Zane grabbed her arm from behind and tugged, “Fine, I get it. I can even understand it, but you are going to run into a lot of that here. Even if you don’t remember it going on while you were growing up, it did. In fact, it was even worse. So cool off and let’s go to the next place. You cannot battle everyone all the time, sunshine.”
“Stop ‘sunshining’ me. He was plenty old enough to know better.”
“Agreed.”
“I can’t understand why you are okay with his behavior.”
“I’m not okay with it, especially if it upsets you. But you have to pick your battles and I don’t want to burn my bridges here because I can usually choose and walk off the lot with what I want, a good pickup at a good deal.”
“At the expense of women? Can’t you build another relationship?”
“I can, and I have, but sometimes this is still the best deal and I have a relationship with them already, one I intend to keep.” His meaning was clear as he meant it to be.
“Fine for you, you’re a man, but I don’t see…”
“You don’t need to be told that some people say things they have no real idea is offensive and never will. He didn’t mean it in a demeaning way. He legitimately figured you have a man to define the guidelines needed to keep his darling, you, safe. That meant he didn’t have to worry about that when he helped you find a car. It was going to be your car so the looks and choice of cars that met the safety requirements, were yours. That is what men do around here. Men who care that is. It is why I came along, remember? To help you pick the best car? I couldn’t care less what color it is or any other creature comforts. I want you safe. You can pick out all the doodads you want after we decide on the best car.”
“What woman with any backbone does that anymore?”
“My mother and sisters are some of those women who expect their men to take care of them like that, just to name a few. And no one who knows them would say they had no backbone.”
Zane’s cajoling and pacifying seemed to have reached the end of his accommodation and his voice was stronger, communicating in an “I’m done with the conversation” tone.
“I might argue that if they can’t pick out their own cars they probably need the help,” stated Shanna without thinking what it was she was actually saying and whom she was disrespecting.
“Sunshine, I would stop talking right about now, if you get my drift.”
“What? I’m sorry, Zane. I don’t ‘get your drift.’” It was Shanna’s turn to be confused.
“Darling, your mouth is writing checks your bottom will be sorry to pay.”
“What? Are you saying you would hit me?”
“Spank. Yes, ma’am, I am saying just that.” Clench! Shanna’s stomach rolled so hard she felt bile rise up her throat and her body felt weak. She should not get excited, she told herself that was just a backward thing she thought she wanted to read in books, not experience in real life. Somehow she knew that was not true, but she would fight the desire because it was archaic.
“Zane, you don’t get to do that. You don’t even know if I am someone who likes to be spanked.” Shanna went from full volume to a whisper and her face flushed.
Zane smiled as though he knew the internal struggle she was having and knew her innermost hidden thoughts.
“Let’s get back to the car, turn on the air, and have a little conversation about this because this isn’t something the rest of the world needs to see or hear.”
Zane placed his hand in the small of Shanna’s back in a show of possession, protection and Shanna didn’t miss any of his messages. She also didn’t miss that her panties would be steaming soon, and her tummy was still doing what was becoming familiar acrobats. The heat was rising internally and her face was displaying the temperature change. Her libido and desires were taking over all logical thought patterns.
Once in the car and the air was turned on Zane continued, “Sweetheart, I don’t think you understand what I am actually saying. So let me be crystal clear. Okay? Would you agree that I am a dyed in the wool Texas cowboy? A rancher who has a pretty good head on his shoulders?”
Zane quit speaking and listened expectantly for a response from Shanna.
“Yes. What are you--” He held up his hand to silence her words.
“All right, would you say that I have shown some interest in you as a woman?”
Again, he waited for her reply.
“Yes, all right, yes. I think that you have shown some interest in me as a woman. So what?”
“Good, so tell me what it is that you like about a Texan or a cowboy.”
“Fine. Okay, so what I like about a Texan, a man, a real one anyway is that he is always a gentleman.”
“All right, you like a Texan because he is always a gentleman. It’s not always true, but I understand what you are saying. What else, sunshine?"
“Well, I like that they take care of what they say they are going to take care of. I guess that is kind of the cowboy persona, right? When a cowboy, a real cowboy, which by definition is a gentleman, says he is going to do something, I would not have to worry if he did it or not. He would be dependable, work hard, play hard. I guess that is what I would expect. That type of a man, no matter what his physical appearance, most women I know would think they had hit the jackpot. When a woman looks at a cowboy, you just gotta drool. I don’t mean the kind that are bellied up to the bar drinking and carousing, devouring women for dinner. I mean, a real gentleman cowboy has integrity. If they say it, they mean it. You know that you can take it to the bank. Also they make their women min… Mmm…pay attention to them.”
“Okay,
sounds like you have a pretty good picture there. So do you see me as one of those, a gentleman who is a cowboy? Because there is no doubt I am a Texan through and through.” At Shanna’s nod Zane continued, “So, would you say that this cowboy has so far meant what he said and said what he meant?”
He could see that Shanna was beginning to figure out where this was going. The look on her face was full of dawning realization that she had walked into a trap she should have seen being laid.
“And I guess I could take it a little further and you tell me if you do not agree. It is expected that your version of a cowboy, and this Texan, take care of what is his. It would be a foregone conclusion if a man were all three he would take care of what belongs to him. He takes care of his cattle, takes care of his family, takes care of his friends, and definitely takes care of his woman.”
“Yes, I guess.”
All the heat and drama had gone out of her tone and her body language drooped in defeat, as the full meaning of what Zane was saying rolled out before her.
“It appears to me that it also means keeping them in line. I don’t think I have been shy about showing you that I am taken with you. And if I tell you I am going to kiss you, take care of you or warm your behind, it is the truth. Shanna, please let me be transparent when I tell you that I want you to be mine. I know it is early and fast moving, but you have me intrigued and excited at the same time. Among other things. I could be reading your signals wrong, but I believe you want to be mine as much as I want you to be. Therefore, you are mine, if you will have me."
“All that being said, if you agree to be mine, then this is how it will be. Because you’ll be mine, I will be protective of you. So be assured, if you step out of line, and I tell you I will warm your bottom, it will happen. Let me also say, when we are ready, I intend to take you in every sense of the word. That won’t be right away. I like to court some and every woman I know likes to be wooed."
“Therefore, sunshine, on your agreement, from here on out, if I say anything, you need to know you can take it to the bank. I will never try to say anything I do not directly mean and you are welcome to call me on anything that you think I have not followed through on. This is as significant to me as it is to you. So back to the original question, did I really mean what I said? Yes, ma’am, I did. You are going to have to curb your mouth and your language because in this part of the country, as I am sure you remember, tongues wag faster than dog tails. “
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