Wrangled

by Natasha Stories

  “If that means cabin fever, yessir, I am. I was wonderin’ if there was somethin’ I could do around here to be useful.”

  “You know you don’t have to do that, Cody. All I expect of you is to recuperate, and maybe continue your physical therapy on your own until I can get someone else out here for you.” The boss was a good businessman, we all knew that, but he could be real kind and considerate, too.

  “If you do, Boss, please make it a guy. I don’t need no more trouble with Annalee,” I joked.

  He laughed. “You betcha. I learned my lesson on that one. You should have seen Annalee take that bitch on.”

  “Boss, I’m surprised to hear you callin’ a woman a name like that.”

  “That’s because you didn’t see what she was doing, every chance she got. She’d find out which hand one of the girls fancied, and turn his head with compliments, then drop him like a hot potato when another chance to upset the girls came along. All five of ‘em were in a tizzy all the time, and the hands weren’t much better. If you thought they fought over Celeste, you should have seen them strutting around like roosters over a full-grown woman.” He shook his head, like he was tryin’ to get rid of somethin’ he could see in his mind’s eye.

  “Sounds like a nightmare,” I said sincerely.

  “It was. I couldn’t have been prouder of Annalee when she took that woman down a notch than if she’d been my own daughter.”

  That made me laugh. “Boss, you’d have had to be gettin’ busy kinda young, to have a twenty-year-old daughter and you no more’n thirty.”

  “I know. But these girls all seem young for their age, and Charity tells me I’m old for mine. But listen, that’s not what I came in to talk to you about. Since you’d like to be useful around here, I do have some stuff you could do, but you’d have to learn how to run a couple of programs on a laptop.” He looked at me, expectin’ an answer.

  I was downright puzzled, though. “A computer? Boss, I don’t know nothin’ about no computers.”

  “Well, you should. In fact, all of you younger men need to start living in the twenty-first century, even if we’re out here in the back of nowhere, Wyoming. What I’d like you to do is learn to run this breeding database, so you can modernize our records. Right now, we only have the paint remuda records in paper form. If you’re going to be in charge of the breeding program when you get well, you’ll need a better system.”

  “What? Boss, are you serious? You’re puttin’ me in charge of the breedin’?” I got this feelin’ like I was scared and excited all at the same time, and my heart started poundin’. It would mean a raise, and maybe I could swing rent in town for Annalee and me. But it didn’t fit in with my rodeo plans.

  “Yep. For the paints, anyway. Hank’s going to want to retire sooner or later, and you’ve got the eye and the way with horses that makes you the logical choice. We might as well start training you now. I hear you’re going to need to support a family soon.”

  I didn’t know where to look, because I was pretty sure my ears was red, if not my whole face. I didn’t know if I was gonna wanta stay on the ranch after Annalee and I got married or not, but if I did, this was a dream job to have here.

  “Boss, I don’t mean to seem ungrateful, but what about my rodeo career?” Might as well face it now, before anything got too settled.

  “I’ve thought about that. Cody, I don’t want to discourage you, but I’m not sure you’re going to have a rodeo career. I’ve told you before that the competition is fierce, and you’re behind already. But, if you can ride this season, Hank and I’ll cover anything that needs to be covered when you’re away. Take a season and see if rodeo is for you, and if not, you’ve got this to fall back on. I still hope you’ll be willing to do this database for me.” Well, that sounded just about as fair as it could be. But there was still one problem.

  “How am I supposed to learn it, Boss? I don’t even know how to turn on a computer.” I never took no computer or typin’ classes in school; seemed like that stuff was for sissies.

  “I’m bringing out a new tutor for the girls, to teach them computer skills. When he’s through with their daily lesson, he’ll come in and give you some private lessons.” Looked like Russ had thought of everything.

  “Oh. Well, I guess that’s okay, as long as it’s a he. Like I say, I don’t need no more trouble with Annalee. But, Boss, don’t you need to know how to type to use a computer?”

  “It helps. We’ll get you typing lessons, too. There’s all kinds of things you can learn online once you know your way around a computer.”

  Mr. Russ seemed pleased with hisself, and I hoped I could live up to what he expected of me. If nothin’ else, it give me somethin’ else to think about the rest of that day.

  ~~~

  Everything pretty much settled down for a week or two after that. The boss brung in my new laptop and showed me how to turn ‘er on and all. But he was too busy to show me much of anythin’ else, said I’d have to wait for the tutor. Annalee was all excited about it when I told her I was gonna be in charge of breedin’ the paints. It was a little different from a regular breedin’ program, because you couldn’t never tell what you was gonna get, whether a mare would throw paint or not. Sometimes a solid horse would be paint stock, but sometimes a paint mare would throw nothin’ but solid foals. And then there was the popularity factor. People had all kinds of funny notions about whether overos was better than tobianos and like that.

  I got to where I understood what that computer database for the bloodlines was all about. There was places to put all kinds of notes about each horse, and when you ran the reports, you could see patterns in the bloodlines for color, configuration and all. It got me interested in how all that come about, and one day I asked the boss about it.

  “Genetics, is what it’s called, Cody. If you’re interested in that, you’re going to be even better at managing the breeding. Would you like to study it?”

  “Sure, Boss, but how?”

  “Online course. I’ll get you all set up, don’t worry.”

  Before I knew what hit me, I was so busy every day that I didn’t have time to fret and be restless. I was always glad to see Annalee, but sometimes I was too busy with my studies that I didn’t have time to visit with her. I didn’t know how much that upset her until she came in spittin’ mad one day and like to have bit my head off.

  “Cody Wayne, you better do something about that uncle of yours, or I’m going to find another beau.”

  “What? What’d he do this time. Come on, baby, don’t be that way.”

  “Did you tell him I was interrupting you or disturbing your studies?” she asked. Her face was tight, like she was holdin’ back tears.

  “No, Annalee, I didn’t tell him that, or anything like it. Why would you ask me that?” I was afraid I knew, and this time it was gonna have to come to a showdown with Uncle Hank. “He told me I was, and warned me to stay away from you unless I was doing something you needed, like bringing your meals. He said, he said you didn’t need me and my kids dragging you down.” She was crying, and it like to have broke my heart.

  “Annalee, baby, com’ere.” I took her face in my hands and looked right in her pretty blue eyes. “Look at me, honey. You are not interruptin’ me. You are not disturbin’ my studies. Hell, I’m doin’ this for us, for a better life for us. Don’t pay him no mind.”

  “Cody, he’s your family. I hate it that he doesn’t like me.” Annalee unhappy was somethin’ I couldn’t hardly handle. I wanted her to laugh, and be fun, like always. Right then I was tore near in half, though. She was right. Hank was more than an uncle to me…he was everything. Without him, no tellin’ where I woulda ended up after my mom died.

  I patted the bed, and while she climbed up, I closed the laptop and set it over on the other side of the bed, far away as I could get it. I put my arms around her, and whispered, “Baby, it’s all gonna work out. Just hang in there while I get back on my feet.”

  “Cody, honey, I h
ave faith in you, I do. But what happens to all your plans if you get hurt again in the rodeo? Can you trust Abo? Do you even know if you’ll be able to ride in an event, let alone win it?”

  My blood run cold, then. Annalee doubted me, no matter what she was sayin’ about havin’ faith. It kinda set me back on my heels. “Baby, can you try to hang on ‘til I can show you it’s all gonna be fine? I don’t wanta lose you, but I’ve wanted this for four years. It’s all I’ve been plannin’ on. I need to do it.”

  Her little hand crept up around my neck, and she sighed, “Yes, Cody. I’ll hang on and wait. But don’t make me wait too long.”

  That was the second time she said that to me. All of a sudden, I needed to get better a lot quicker than things was goin’. I needed to talk to the boss, soon as Annalee left. But while she was there, I tried to show her how much I loved her, kissin’ and holdin’ her, strokin’ her hair and wishin’ I could love her with all of me.

  Next evenin’ Hank come to visit me again. We was both mad, but he got his licks in first. “What did you tell that girl? She come up to me this mornin’ and told me I better mind my own business and stay outta yours. What the hell does that mean? You’re my kin. You ARE my business.”

  “Now Hank, you brung that on yourself. You had no call to tell her she was interruptin’ my studies and disturbin’ me. I’m just about done with you interferin’ between me and Annalee, you hear?”

  Hank dropped back on his heels like I’d took a swing at him. “Do you hear yourself, son? What’s got into you? When did you ever disrespect me like that?”

  “Uncle Hank, I’m sorry. I don’t mean no disrespect, but you gotta stop interferin’. Annalee was all riled up last night, cryin’ and carryin’ on, all because you said that to her. I don’t want her upset. I told her to pay you no mind.” I didn’t mean it to come out soundin’ like that, but you’da thought I slapped him.

  “Well, that’s the thanks I get for takin’ you on, boy. I guess you’re too uppity to listen to your old uncle anymore. I’ll be leavin’ you alone, since that’s what you want.” He turned and marched out the door, slammin’ it behind him so he couldn’t hear me callin’ after him.

  “Uncle Hank! Come back, that’s not what I want. Please, Uncle Hank, I just want some peace, is all. I cain’t have the two people I love most in this world fightin’ like y’all do. Please, come back.”

  It didn’t do no good, he was gone. I knew he’d be back, and we could mend our fences, but it felt pretty bad right then. For the first time since I was sixteen and found my mom dead in her own vomit, I felt like cryin’. Couldn’t do it though. You never knew who might come through that door next, and I couldn’t think of anyone that I’d want to find me bawlin’ like a baby girl. I set my jaw and fought it off.

  I was hopin’ I was through with company for the night, but it was no such luck. About half an hour after Hank stormed out, Mr. Russ come in, real quiet, and closed the door quiet and careful behind him.

  “Rough night?” he asked me.

  “Kinda,” I said. “How’d you know?”

  “I found Hank out by the barn tearin’ into a bale of hay like he wanted to kill it. Kickin’ and punchin’. Never saw him so mad.”

  I could tell the boss was trying to make me feel comfortable with him, because he didn’t always sound like the rest of us did, but when he wanted to be your friend, his Western drawl was almost as bad as mine.

  “Yeah, I guess I disappointed him.” I was lower than a snake’s belly at that minute, and I didn’t care who knew it.

  “What happened? If you don’t mind tellin’ me.”

  “Boss, why cain’t people just get along? Hank’s taken a dislike to Annalee, and between the two of ‘em, I don’t know what I’m gonna do.” Without thinkin’ about it, I made a fist with my right hand and punched it into my left, then wished I hadn’t. That stung.

  “He’s just trying to protect you, Cody.”

  “He don’t need to protect me anymore, Boss. I’m twenty-one, and if you’re not doin’ it just for his sake, I’ve got a good job. I wanta marry Annalee.” Now I’d gone and told two other people before I told her. I was gonna be in a world of hurt if she ever found out. The boss didn’t seem surprised, though.

  He said, “You know, when Charity asked me to bring those girls here to protect them until they came of age, I should have known there’d be some trouble. You young hotshots and five pretty girls, it was bound to happen that someone was gonna fall in love. I just didn’t think about how it was gonna affect your uncle when it turned out to be you.”

  “Why, Boss? Why cain’t he see I’m all growed up and can take care of myself.”

  “Probably because you can’t, not right now anyway. He sees you getting closer and closer to the girl who’s taking care of you, and he thinks you’re mistaking gratitude for love.”

  “I don’t see how that can be, Boss. I told him before my accident I was sweet on her.” Come to think of it, he was opposed to it then, too.

  “Cody, just consider what it will mean to her if you change your mind. All I’m asking is you slow down. I’ll talk to Hank about staying out of it.”

  “I ain’t gonna change my mind, Boss,” I said stubbornly.

  “Well, like you say, you’re of age, and so’s she, though she’s an awfully young twenty, because of her upbringing. Just please be careful. She doesn’t need more heartbreak, and your uncle doesn’t need to have to pick up the pieces if she breaks your heart.”

  “That ain’t gonna happen,” I said again, stubbornly. Like a lot of things that I was thinkin’ all the time I laid in that bed, I didn’t know what all could happen to us against our will.

  Chapter 6

  I was lookin’ forward to my next doctor visit to get this cast off so I could ride again. No such luck, though. Come my second six-week checkup, I still couldn’t put my full weight on my bad leg, so nothin’ changed. Doc said come back in another six weeks and we’d take another look.

  The Boss never did find no one else to come out and live at the ranch to give me my physical therapy, but he got someone to come out once a week and lay out a plan for me to do on my own, and he brung me some crutches so’s I could get around better. That worked out just fine, so now I was busy with my studies, and fillin’ in that database and doin’ my exercises.

  Annalee didn’t have to take care of me no more, since I could thump on into the dinin’ room for meals, and could take my own shower, sittin’ on a little stool the boss brung me. But she still come to visit every night that the boys or Uncle Hank wasn’t there. We talked sometimes about what it would mean if I could get on in the rodeo, but neither of us come right out and said we loved the other, or we planned to get married. I reckoned there was time for that when I was on my feet good.

  One night, while I was holdin’ her and all, I said, “You know, I miss you takin’ care of me. Especially them sponge baths.” I winked at her so she’d know I was jokin’, but she surprised me. She rolled up and got across my lap like the first time she kissed me, when I still had the neck brace.

  “What are you doin’ Annalee?” I asked, though my pecker seemed to have its own idea.

  She giggled. “Now I’ve got you where I want you, and you can’t stop me from doing anything I want.”

  I didn’t know whether to hope she did mean what I thought she meant, or to hope she didn’t. “Annalee,” I groaned, “don’t tease me like that.”

  “Who said I was teasing?”

  This wasn’t anything like I’d dreamed about with her. I was laid up, couldn’t love her right, especially with her sittin’ on top of me. And we were in the boss’s house, that wasn’t a good thing. I shook my head. “We can’t, Annalee.”

  She set her mouth kinda stubborn. “Yes, we can. And anyway, how are you going to stop me?”

  I didn’t know the answer to that question, especially since part of me didn’t want to stop any more than she did.

  “What if someone comes in?”<
br />
  Her eyes got big, and she climbed off me and off the bed, went over to the door and locked it. “They can’t.”

  Back she come, but this time, she was unbuttonin’ her blouse. I couldn’t help it, even though I knew it was a bad idea. I’d waited so long to see those tits, I just didn’t have the strength to tell her to stop. She climbed back on the bed, and back where she was, sittin’ high in the bend between my hips and legs. She looked back at the cast where it almost touched her ass. “Is this okay, Cody? I’m not hurting your leg, am I?”

  I wouldn’t have admitted it if she had been. My better judgment had taken a vacation, and all that was left at home was the part of me that wanted to fuck her senseless. “No, sweetheart, you aren’t hurting my leg. But you’re gonna hurt somethin’ else if you don’t either stop or get on with it.”

  Annalee’s smile was the only thing on this earth that could have torn my eyes from her hands on her buttons, undoin’ ‘em so slow. “I’m not gonna stop Cody Wayne. You better be ready for me.”

  “Cain’t you tell I’m ready?” I complained.

  “Oh, yes, I can tell,” she teased. I could see a little glimpse of her bra, now, with creamy white skin bulgin’ out above it. I moved my hands to touch, and she slapped them. “Wait ‘til I say you can.”

  Oh, man. I had never had a dream where I was helpless and the girl was in charge. But I had to admit, it was kinda hot. I grinned at her and put my hands down by my sides. Now she was undoin’ the last button at the bottom, and she kinda stuck her chest out as she shrugged outta the sleeves. Oh, my God, she was sexy. I licked my lips, wishin’ she would take off that bra and offer me one-a them tits to suck on. She was gonna do it, too. She had her hands behind her, about to unfasten the bra, when a poundin’ like nobody’s business came at the door. Shit. Who could that be?

  Quick as a bunny, she jumped offa me and onto the floor, puttin’ her blouse back on at the same time. She took a deep breath and walked real slow over to the door, and turned to look at me before she opened it. “Are you ready?”