by Maxi MacNair
Jen couldn’t believe how even and calm his voice sounded when he said those words. It was like he was half awake from a nap, or had been rehearsing those words in his head all day long. Jen was anything but calm although she didn’t let it show, but it was hard given that this was the first time anyone had been so close to actually saying they loved her.
“Yeah, Shane,” she said swallowing a bit. “But that isn't what I'm worried about so much as you not being willing to give up on your future and let this be it. This child is going to require a lot of sacrifice. That is something you really have to realize right now. It isn't going to be easy or simple to raise the child, even though some people might make it seem like it's that way, and I don’t think you raising a child because of guilt will be enough for you to stay around for.”
“Maybe, I know as much as what it will be like as you do,” he replied sitting up and tilting his hat back so Jen could see that the seriousness and urgency that was in his voice was matched in his eyes that were reflecting the flickering of the campfire. Shane continued on, “And it wouldn’t be just guilt to keep me around. Whether you believe it or not, I’ll have you and I’ll have our child, which will be more than I ever imagined my future to be. Maybe the only thing that is stopping us right now is that fact that I’m willing to trust you and you aren’t willing to trust me.”
Jen couldn’t reply to that. Shane was right, and it made Jen angry that she wasn’t seeing the situation as clearly as him. Not knowing what to do with all these feelings now she gruffly climbed into her own bedroll and turned her back to the fire and Shane who was on the other side of it. Shane shook his head and leaned back to stare at the stars feeling hurt, but still looking up to the sky thinking about his future and his chance at happiness. Slowly, Jen let the weariness from the day take over whatever she was feeling.
Jen drifted off to sleep.
Jen was back in her house back at the ranch, she knew before she opened her eyes. And even though she knew that she was dreaming, it wasn't like she was dreaming at all. Instead it was like real life, and so much like it that she would have sworn that she was awake. There was still a little something that made her think about her last dream though, as she got out of bed and walked out onto the porch. She wanted to see if the tornado was still spinning out in the lawn, which might have been silly to think, but when she walked out to check there it was—the funnel cloud still slowly turning overhead. She wondered why there wasn't any suction, why there wasn't wind or rain or clouds. There was something about how the funnel cloud just hovered over the valley that made her think that it was some kind of sign. In the distance, on top of the ridge line where the road was, she saw Shane's silhouette. She knew it was him from the moment he crested the horizon. She waved at him even though there was little chance he could even see her, but Shane stood up on his stirrups and waved back, much to her surprise. The funnel above her twitched, but she didn't see it, she felt it. It was like the aching of a tooth high up in her gums, the way she could feel it. Not so much something she could easily define as something vague she couldn't ignore. She looked up and screamed at the funnel cloud. Not words, just rage, as it descended on Shane and sucked him up into oblivion. And just like the day before she woke with the sound of Shane screaming inside her head.
“Wake up! Jen, wake up!”
It was Shane. He roused her. It was still nighttime and the fire was now just embers. Jen could tell by the sound of Shane’s voice that he had been asleep as well. That was some deep dreaming to be done out here on the range and she wasn't so sure that she liked it. Jen had always really liked sleeping out under the stars as compared to sleeping in a small town hotel though, and she immediately felt comforted by the twinkling stars she could see just past Shane’s head before she refocused and saw Shane with worry on his expression.
“Listen, Shane,” Jen started just letting the words come out, still feeling that terrible emotional lump inside of her from thinking Shane had just been taken away from her. In her groggy emotional state she was feeling everything at the same time. All the worry and emotions from the past few days were smashed together with the pure feeling of loss that lingered from her dream, and Jen could only blurt out everything that was running through her mind. “I’m so sorry Shane. I know that it probably isn't easy having to ride slow because I’m pregnant, but you have been so nice and helpful and I appreciate that way more than you know. I also want to tell you that it's always great working with you. What I don't want to tell you is . . . how scared I am that things might be going wrong in my life and yours because of the child I'm carrying. And I know, I know, you've already told me that you're ready to settle down and all of that. But that doesn't mean that I'm not scared. Because what if I make the moves to settle down, and you do as well, but right before we go to actually pull the trigger on it one of us backs out? Or how about this? How about we settle down and then you get sick of me, or the ranch, then all of a sudden you're gone in a flash and I'm kind of just left in the wind. What if I can’t do this, and I’m not a good mom, or my dad hates me, or you get to know me and decide you can’t love me.
At first Shane didn't know what to say, but after a moment he spoke.
“I know it's hard for you to trust that things will be good but you have to at least be open to it. We can't do this if you aren't even going to give the idea of us being good together a chance. There is just no way of knowing unless we try. And I know this is a lot harder on you then it is on me but at the same time I'm still here with you, because I have feelings for you. This doesn’t just have to be you out there trying to do everything yourself. I don't want it to be that way! I want to be by your side the whole time, figuring things out with you, raising our child. That's what I want. Like I've said from the start. And I know that my initial reaction might not have been that great but you have to understand what having that information dropped on you is like. There wasn't any warm up or time to think. So I guess that's why I acted like I saw a ghost.”
Jen knew, mostly subconsciously, from the words Shane said to her before she even went to sleep earlier that night what she had to do. She felt it then but now she felt some clarity about everything now. Nothing else mattered, none of her worries, and here right in front of her was really what she had really wanted the whole time. She would either have to jump in with both feet and stop worrying about it at all or do nothing and let Shane go from her life. But jumping with both feet into the unknown was something much easier said than done for Jen.
Almost sensing the battle that was going on in Jen’s mind Shane did the only thing that would probably make any difference in that situations and leaned forward to kiss her. She was first surprised by the kiss given how her mind was racing at that point, but in a split second everything fell away and there was nothing else going on in the whole world to her but what was happening with their lips.
Under the stars their kissing became deeper and more passionate as the two of them freed themselves of all their worry and questions. Jen, driven now only by her pure desire again for Shane, grabbed his hand as she came up to her knees without breaking the connection between their mouths. Breathing heavily when they finally broke the kiss they both instinctively started working on each other's clothing quickly becoming naked under the stars next to the red embers of the campfire. Just like before, Shane’s body responded to Jen’s kisses and touches just as much as her own became overwhelmed by Shane’s attention with his hands and fingers. The two of them didn’t notice any of the chill from the night as Jen swung her leg overtop of Shane to straddle him and slowly slid his erection inside of her, climaxing almost immediately as she bore down on him. The two of them moved in response together in the same way again like they were working together out on the open range, and Jen climaxed again along with Shane as the warmth of the fire played on their bare skin. For a few moments they both stayed there before falling asleep totally calm and at peace.
Jen thought about earlier how she saw sex with Sh
ane as clarifying for her mind. This time was no different except that this time it was clear that she wanted Shane. Not just physically but emotionally as well.
The past few days were more stressful than either of them had ever experienced, and now it just felt good to finally be happy and peaceful in the present moment again. It was a peacefulness enhanced by thoughts of their possible future together.
The two of them used one of their sleeping bags to cover the ground and the other to cover their bodies as they drifted off to sleep still embracing each other next to the fire under the stars. While asleep, Jen dreamed again, but this time there was not treacherous terrain, no ominous hovering tornado, there was only Shane, and the two of them were riding fast and free on the open range.
The next day it was hard to move quickly to get ready and leave. They both knew they had another long day ahead of them, and that there would be few to no breaks if they were going to get make it home. It was hard to move though holding each other in the slowly creeping grey light of the morning, but they both knew they didn’t have food for another night, let alone for breakfast that morning, and so begrudgingly started packing up camp and were well on their way before the sun cracked the horizon.
It was a long day, but nowhere near as difficult as yesterday. It seemed the “morning” sickness was not going to be an everyday event, which Jen was more than relieved about. So when they finally got back home to the ranch just as the sun was starting to set Shane stopped his horse. The two of them had said little that day but communicated tons by constantly catching each other’s eyes and smiling. The whole thing was juvenile, but neither of them really felt the need to put anything they were feeling into words. They both knew what each other felt and both of them couldn’t be happier.
Close to the end of the day they were just in sight of home. Shane stopped though and looked as if deep in thought. His horse shifted back and forth underneath him, but Shane didn't notice. Jen said something to him but Shane didn't hear. It was like he was in a trance. For a moment Jen thought back to her dreams and felt a distant pain of loss still lingering from the dreams she had. Just when Jen was getting ready to spur her horse up next to his Shane spoke.
“I think this is your last chance,” he said. “I won’t be a cowboy forever. I mean, how long did we really think it was going to last? This dream of riding forever. Things are going to change. I am going to change, and it’s not always going to be easy. It’s your last chance right now, because right now we are the only ones who know about any of this.”
He turned his horse around and approached Jen, and she laughed a little.
“Don’t be such an idiot. We are doing this, and I think right now I feel like this thing we have between us is the only thing making any sense right now so let’s just go home.” Those words seemed to bring Shane back to life and he turned his horse around and continued on next to Jen.
The two of them slowly rode the rest of the way side by side to the ranch. When they got close Jen’s father came running out of the house obviously worried that they had been gone a day longer than he expected, and was relieved to see them both healthy and hear that everything had gone just fine. Jen’s dad shook Shane’s hand and thanked him for his hard work and then asked if he was able to join Jen and himself for dinner that night, which he of course accepted.
“I think we’ve got a few other things to tell you about anyways,” Shane said smiling at Jen.
Jen knew her father might be a little angry at first, but that he would quickly come around. She knew her father, and from the way he shook Shane’s hand she knew he respected him and that he was probably just looking out for her in the beginning by keeping Shane away from her. After all, Shane didn’t come across right away as the nicest most trustworthy man in the world.
At dinner, Shane did the talking and told her father about almost everything that had happened between them. Jen was shocked at how happy her father was with the information. He was speechless and so excited to be a grandfather that he went into his study to grab the really good bottle of whiskey he had been saving. Her father and Shane drank a toast and soon Jen’s father was running around the ranch happily letting everyone know the news.
By the time their baby girl came around Shane was responsible for most of the day to day jobs around the ranch. Jen soon learned that her father was already training Shane to help her out before any of this happened. He was starting to realize that he was getting older and might not be able to help Jen when she really needed it. There were of course ups and downs between Jen and Shane, but through it all they knew they were committed to each other and they both wanted to be there for each other as much as their baby girl. Jen was happy to simply have someone with her, and she knew Shane was happy and loved her because he told her so almost everyday. Sometimes they were the only words he said, but he never skipped a day saying them.
Down the road Shane was even reunited with his first son and is able to have him help out on the ranch every summer now. The ranch is successful and the family has everything they need. They all have each other and, to the delight of both Shane and Jen, are able to hop on their horses and ride out into the open range as fast as the horses can carry them whenever they feel the need to.
~The End~
Bodyguard Baby Daddy
1
The cameras were flashing, and people were calling out her name just on the other side of the closed backstage door of the concert hall. Bristol Maitland didn’t notice the creep until he was too close. A hand closed around her bicep and she gasped. She found herself face to face with a tall man with wide, dark, crazy eyes.
“I need you,” he frantically said shuddering.
How had he gotten to her? Where was the new guy Pete, her backup security? For that matter, where was Lucas, her full-time bodyguard?
The guy reached out with his other hand and caressed her face. Bristol was frozen with fear. She had known first hand before how dangerous a stalker could be. Just how crazy was this guy?
It wasn’t far from the stage door to the car waiting for her, and a relatively light crowd waited outside for her tonight. Maybe she could shake him and make it on her own? Sometimes, in bigger cities, crowds stood by the stage door for hours to catch a glimpse of her. This crowd of fans and paparazzi were hardly the largest Bristol had seen recently. What could possibly have allowed Lucas and the extra security guard he brought along with him to have missed this lunatic?
Suddenly, the door burst open and Lucas came charging through. Pete was lagging behind him. A few cameras flashed through the open door, probably catching a picture of the man touching her.
“Hey you, cut it out!” Pete said, unsure what to do while slowing down his pace.
Lucas was a professional though, he radiated calm, and without a sound charged like a bull up to the creep and snatched his hand away from her face with such force Bristol was surprised he didn’t snap it off. “Buddy, you don’t want to do this.” Lucas sounded like he was just waiting for this guy to let him show why.
“I love her though!”
“Just relax man, or you’re gonna get hurt.” Lucas spoke still with an even tone though, which certainly didn’t surprise Bristol. Lucas did everything even on the job. He wore a jacket and collared shirt, no tie. Clean jeans and combat boots. He kept his short blonde hair buzzed on the sides, but still long on the top. He usually slicked it back while working a security detail, but the action had caused a few locks to stray across the corner of his eye. He still cut quite the intimidating figure. His key trait though he was that he was as by the book and thorough as could be when it came to doing his job: keeping Bristol Maitland safe. He was obviously ticked off that something like this had gone wrong on his watch.
More cameras flashed, paparazzi and fans hungry like sharks for blood in the water as Pete finally did something useful and shut the door on them.
“Bristol, I love you. Will you marry me? I know you must feel it too?” The bold and crazy fan bumb
led out his ramblings through the pain Lucas’ grip was starting to cause him
Bristol started to answer, but Lucas had had enough and pulled the guy’s wrist behind him, pried him away from her, and dropped him to the ground. The guy seemed to try to fight Lucas at this point. Big mistake. Pete just stood by the door still looking like he had no idea what to do.
Lucas was actually doing the kid’s uncle a favor by hiring him. Bristol knew he wasn’t going to get a second chance to redeem himself.
“Hey! Thanks for the help Pete. Maybe go get find venue security or the police or something?” Bristol said, knowing that if Lucas didn’t fire him after this she certainly would herself.
Ever since last May, when Kyle Reed, a dangerous maniac who decided he was going to be Bristol’s latest most active stalker, appeared on the scene, she’d hired Lucas’ firm to do her security. Most days it was just Lucas who kept an eye on her, but he had a few other handsome ex-marines like himself to fill in when he needed a day off.
This creep that snuck by security wasn’t Reed, thank goodness. She hated to think how things would have turned out if it was him though. She hated to remember all those terrible things he wrote in his almost daily letters to her fan mail account. She hated to think what would happen if Lucas wasn’t always around to protect her. This time, he was thankfully close enough to cover for another security guard not doing their job.
The creepy fan hit Lucas three times, more or less like he was hitting a mountain, before Lucas decided he had enough and hauled his arm back and gave a short snap punch across the face. The guy wasn’t going to fight back now after feeling what that got him. Two police officers came around the corner just then to take care of this trespasser, which was sufficiently subdued now.