by Ali Spooner
“Sit tight old-timer and I’ll get it,” Lucas teased.
“I got your old-timer,” Harley shot back with a grin. “Add some ice too, then, whippersnapper.”
Coal chuckled at the two men and was amazed with how well the entire group got along. She had worked at other spreads that didn’t come close to the harmony she felt here. The men, Melissa, and Mary Leah were beginning to feel like family. Her eyes fell to rest on Mary Leah, and she felt the smile growing on her face.
With nothing but crumbs left on the cake plate, they walked back to the house. Coal rinsed the plate and placed it in the dishwasher while Mary Leah got their movie set. “Do you want popcorn now?” she called from the den.
“No, ma’am, I’m still stuffed from dinner,” she answered as she walked into the den.
“All set then?”
“Yes’m, I am,” Coal said as she sat next to Mary Leah on the love seat.
Mary Leah turned the player on and started the movie. Then she reached up to turn the lamp off. She tried to concentrate on the movie, but all she could think about was the warmth seeping into her from Mary Leah’s body as their thighs touched. She could feel her eyes drawing away from the movie to look at Mary Leah. When Mary Leah caught her looking, her eyes filled with passion.
“Do you not like the movie?” she asked innocently.
“I guess I am a bit distracted,” she answered, happy the darkness of the room hid her blush.
“What has you distracted, Ms. Bryan?” Mary Leah asked coyly.
“It could be the beautiful woman next to me that I am dying to kiss, but I’m not sure.”
“So why not kiss her and find out.”
Coal leaned over to brush her lips softly across hers. “Yep, that’s definitely the distraction,” she whispered against Mary Leah’s cheek.
Mary Leah’s hand found the remote and turned the movie off, leaving the room in complete darkness. “There, now the movie isn’t a distraction anymore,” she said as she pulled closer for another kiss.
They deepened the kiss as Mary Leah’s hands roamed over Coal’s back. She was breathless when she broke the kiss and felt Mary Leah’s body trembling. “I want to make love to you,” Coal breathed against her skin.
“Yes, please, Coal,” Mary Leah whispered, her voice full of need.
She stood and lifted Mary Leah from the love seat and began to walk down the hall to her bedroom.
“Coal.”
“Yes?”
“My bed is bigger,” she said and led her into the bedroom.
Coal kissed her sweetly as they stood next to the bed. She broke the kiss and her hands were shaking as she pulled the shirt over Coal’s head. She removed the sports bra and her fingers marveled at the smooth skin as her eyes devoured Coal.
Coal’s hands wandered down to the hem of her blouse and Mary Leah gasped with shock and grabbed Coal’s hands.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure if you’ll want to see me,” she said, tears glistening in her eyes as the painful reminder of Judy’s harsh words came flooding back to her.
She lifted Mary Leah’s chin until their eyes met. “In my eyes you are perfect the way you are.”
Mary Leah relaxed and allowed Coal to continue undressing her, but waited for the rejection that was sure to come when Coal removed her bra and prosthesis, and saw the scars reminding her where her breasts once were.
Coal could feel the tension in Mary Leah’s body as she slipped her hands behind her back, unclasped her bra, and let it fall to the floor. She guided her gently onto the bed, and lay down next to her as her fingers tenderly caressed the trail of scars on Mary Leah’s body, causing her to shiver.
“Does this hurt?” she asked softly.
“No, Coal, it feels fantastic,” she managed to say. She was surprised how aroused she was becoming as Coal’s fingers softly explored her body and her lips planted silky kisses along the damaged flesh.
Mary Leah pulled Coal on top of her and they kissed passionately as her hands roamed across Coal’s back. She whispered to Coal. “I want to be naked with you.”
Coal smiled and climbed off the bed to remove her jeans while Mary Leah slipped out of hers. Mary Leah took Coal in her arms and pulled her atop her naked body.
Coal snuggled into Mary Leah’s body and remained propped on her elbows as their bodies slowly melted together in a passionate embrace.
Mary Leah pulled Coal’s face to hers for a deep kiss as their bodies moved together in a sensual dance. The rest of the night they explored one another’s body until both lovers were completely sated.
“That was so beautiful,” Mary Leah whispered as her fingers played across Coal’s stomach, her head resting on Coal’s shoulder.
“It’s just the beginning,” Coal whispered back to her as she felt the first tears fall from Mary Leah’s face.
†
When Melissa returned from her trip, her first point of business was to track Coal down. Bobby had called while she was driving home. He informed her that a man had turned himself in and confessed to shooting Billy Ray. He was the husband of a local woman that Billy Ray had been involved with, and when he learned about the affair he flew into a killing rage. Bobby asked that she apologize to Coal for him, but Melissa assured him that Coal was aware that he was just doing his job.
Coal and the crew were walking from the bunkhouse when she pulled into the yard.
“Someone got on the road mighty early this morning,” Harley said as Melissa parked the truck. “I hope everything is okay.”
“Welcome home, boss,” Coal said as she removed Melissa’s bag from the backseat and tossed it to Gene.
“Thanks, it’s great to be home. I couldn’t wait to get here to tell you about a phone call I got this morning,” she said to Coal.
“Good news, I take it.”
“Nothing we didn’t already know, but Bobby called to officially clear you from the investigation of Billy Ray’s death. Apparently, an enraged husband discovered an affair his wife was having with Billy Ray and snapped. Bobby said he turned himself in and gave a full confession.” She grinned at Coal. “He also asked me to send his apologies for the accusation.”
“He was just doing his job. It wasn’t like Billy Ray and I had the best of relationships, and I’m a newcomer to town to boot.”
“I assured him you would understand and there was never any question you had anything to do with his death.”
“Thanks, boss,” Coal said. “Did you stop for breakfast?”
“Yeah, I had something at the hotel before checking out. What are you all up to this morning?”
“Finishing breaking in the new stock,” Stan answered.
“Will you be finished early today?”
“We can be. What do you want us to do?” he asked.
“We need to cook some steaks and celebrate. My trip went well, and we’ll have a new herd of steers arriving in a few weeks.”
“That’s great news,” Harley said. “I’ll get the steaks ready and the grill set up while these young’uns finish with the stock.”
†
Melissa pulled Coal to the side as the rest of the crew walked to the barn to gear up. “How’d things go with Mary Leah?”
“Fantastic,” she said with a blush. “She’s decided to take the job at the pharmacy, so I reckon you’ll be stuck with the two of us, at least until we can figure out where we’re headed.”
“That’s great to hear, and I’m in no hurry for either of you to leave. It’s been great having you both in the house. It feels like home again.”
Chapter Nine
The storm raged on the Texas plain, and inside the bedroom of the log cabin that Coal and Mary Leah had called home for almost two years. Lightning flashes burst through the clouds to spread fiery fingers across the horizon and booming thunder echoed into the night, rattling the windows of the house. Mary Leah looked on helpless as Coal writhed on the bed deep inside horrific dreams.
&n
bsp; Coal’s body glistened with sweat as her features contorted with unspoken terror, curling into a fetal ball as she fought against the convulsions. She ached to pull Coal into her arms to comfort her, but every time she touched her, Coal recoiled with a loud groan. The torment she was experiencing terrified Mary Leah and tears ran down her face. She looked on powerless to do anything to bring her lover back to her.
The wind howled around the house as it brought the rain pummeling down on the tin roof, mixed with a pelting of hail as the temperatures clashed in the clouds bringing the threat of a tornado. A flash of brilliant lightning lit up the room and the house sounded like it was tearing apart as a peal of thunder crashed down upon them.
“Incoming!” Coal yelled out and thrust her body across Mary Leah’s to protect her. The solid contact with Mary Leah’s body woke her from the nightmare.
“Oh, my God, what did I do?” she cried out when she saw the terrified look on her lover’s face and the tears flowing down her cheeks. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” she implored. Coal’s dark eyes filled with fear.
“No, Coal, I’m fine sweetheart. You were having another nightmare.”
She rolled over and sat up on the bed, her hands covering her face as she burst out in tears. “What is wrong with me?”
The distraught tone in her voice terrified Mary Leah worse than the dream itself. Coal was the epitome of strength and to see her in such a fragile state was heartrending.
Her eyes were wide with a look of panic as she looked at her lover, “I need to check on Shadow,” she said and rushed from the room.
Coal stepped outside, the pouring rain pelting her skin as she rushed to the small barn where her horse, Shadow, would be secured in a stall protected from the elements. She stopped at the door and looked up at the clouds rushing by, catching a glimpse of a full moon now and then as the rain cooled her body. Pulling the door open, she stepped inside and waited a moment as the motion sensor activated lights lit up the barn. The white star on Shadow’s forehead was the only color to separate his body from the pitch-black until the light strengthened and lit up his stall.
He could sense his warrior’s distress as she stood at the opening to the stall and pressed his face into her shoulder to nuzzle his rider.
“Hey there, boy.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I know this weather’s got you on edge tonight too,” she whispered as her hands stroked his neck. Coal leaned into his solid form, thankful for the horse’s strength as tears rushed down her cheeks and her body trembled with anxiety.
A flash of lightning lit up the stall and a clash of thunder arrived. Coal jerked at the sound and her movement spooked Shadow who flinched away from her. He stepped forward again after the shock of the thunder disappeared and she lifted her arm to his neck again as his soft muzzle filled her hand.
“Thank goodness this storm is moving through fast,” she spoke to him as she wiped away her tears. “I’m not sure I can take much more of this tonight.”
Shadow took a step back and fixed her with his dark eyes before lifting his muzzle to caress her cheek in an effort to comfort Coal.
“Yeah, I love you too, big guy,” she said with a grin and walked to a fresh bale of hay to gather an armful for his bin. She checked his water, and after a final hug to his neck, she left the barn to return to the house.
Mary Leah was sitting against the headboard, her arms wrapped around her knees as she waited for Coal to return. Coal’s dreams had gotten worse and were coming more frequently. She worried about her lover’s physical and mental health and decided it was time they talked about getting her some treatment. Her years of experience as a pharmacist, and her medical training, led Mary Leah to believe that Coal was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from the events that occurred during her time in the Afghanistan desert.
Mary Leah knew Coal blamed herself for the death of Tessa, her lover, and Mitch Conway, Melissa’s husband, when her concentration was broken during a mission to disarm a car bomb. She never talked about it much, but the memories from that terrifying event and her overall service were obviously impacting her. Mary Leah looked up when she heard Coal returning to the house. She watched as her lover stripped out of the wet clothes and crept back into the bed. She saw the strain on Coal’s face and the dark circles that were beginning to appear under her eyes from the lack of sleep. She took Coal in her arms and could still feel the trembling of her muscles.
“It’s time we get you some help,” Mary Leah said, stroking Coal’s damp hair.
“I won’t argue with you this time. I can’t go on like this,” Coal answered.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Mary Leah asked.
“I can’t right now,” she said through a veil of tears.
“Okay, baby,” Mary Leah said, pulling her close. “I’ll make an appointment for you tomorrow.”
Coal cried herself to sleep in her lover’s arms. Mary Leah held her the remainder of the night and when they woke the next morning, it was hard to tell which one of them looked worse for wear. Both had eyes red-rimmed from tears and a lack of sleep.
Mary Leah’s eyes had roamed over Coal’s body as she slept. The scars that covered her left side were horrible reminders of the trauma she had experienced in her young life, but the mental scars worried her the most. Will you ever be free of those?
†
“Come with me and I’ll prepare some breakfast while you brew the coffee,” Mary Leah said, taking Coal’s hand as they walked to the kitchen.
Coal started the coffeepot and leaned back against the counter as Mary Leah fried bacon and prepared to scramble eggs.
“Do you have a busy day today?” Mary Leah asked.
“We’re bringing some of the steers in from the back pastures to send to market and then we’re practicing for next month’s rodeo in Dallas.”
Mary Leah smiled when she heard this news. The boys had talked Coal into participating in the amateur rodeo held each year in Dallas when she arrived at the MC2 two years earlier and they enjoyed going into Dallas for a long weekend for the rodeo. It was the closest thing to a vacation for most of the ranch hands and Melissa treated them to a grand time.
Coal had initially entered the barrel race the first year, and even though Shadow was still learning to run the barrels, they had taken second place. The following year they took first and Gene had convinced her to enter the team roping competition. They placed third but had worked hard to get their times and teamwork down to perfection. They had started with Coal doing the heading and Gene the much harder job of heeling, but they found her to be the better heeler, so this year they were swapping assignments. Gene hated to admit she was better with a rope, but he would gladly give up the position to improve their chances of winning.
“What time do you think you will be practicing?”
“We hope to be done loading the steers by two,” she answered.
“Good, I’ll be home by three thirty, so I can watch,” Mary Leah said as she took bacon from the frying plan. “Will you drop some toast?”
“Sure,” Coal said and poured them both cups of hot coffee. She handed one to Mary Leah and said, “I’m sorry about last night.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, my love. You have no control over the nightmares.”
“I know, but I’m so afraid I will hurt you one night. Will you call your friend today and see when I can get an appointment?”
Mary Leah knew this was a big step for Coal to admit she needed help. She smiled at her and answered, “I will call her on my way in this morning.”
“Thanks,” she said, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. The toast popped up and she turned back to butter it and carry it to the table with the bacon.
“Grab some plates, these eggs are almost ready.”
After breakfast, they enjoyed a leisurely shower together then dressed for work. Mary Leah pulled her car from the garage as Coal saddled Shadow and led him from the barn. She walked over to kiss Mary Lea
h and then swung up into the saddle.
“We’ll see you later,” she said and nudged Shadow into a canter as she rode across the pasture to join up with the rest of the crew.
Mary Leah pulled out her cell phone, scrolled down to the number of an old friend, and started down the drive as she hit Send and the phone began to ring.
†
A sultry voice answered the call. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise to hear from you this morning.”
“Good morning, Del, I’m glad I caught you,” Mary Leah said.
Del could hear the strain in Mary Leah’s voice and knew something was wrong. “What’s happened Mary Leah?” her old friend asked. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, but Coal is having some problems. I thought you might be able to help.”
“What is happening?” Del asked.
“Are you still contracted for the VA?”
“Yes, I am.”
Mary Leah’s voice trembled as she spoke. “I think she’s suffering from PTSD from her time in the desert. She has started having horrific nightmares and they are becoming more frequent.”
“Does she talk to you at all about them?”
“No, not really, I mean, I know some of her story, but I don’t know what she is dreaming. What I do know is how terrified she becomes and the physical toll it’s taking on her body. She’s lost weight and her sleep is very erratic. She had a bad episode last night during the storm and has conceded to getting your help.”
“Well, that is a good sign. Just admitting she needs help must have felt like defeat to her. Give me her personal data and I’ll retrieve her records.”
Mary Leah provided the information she needed to access Coal’s medical and psychological records.
“When can you bring her in so I can evaluate her?”
“As soon as you can see her,” Mary Leah answered.
“Bring her in tomorrow night at six, then. That will give me time to review her records.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Mary Leah said.