The music pumped from the dairy barns sound system, the Dow's using a paging system to stay in contact between the barn and the house and to play music to entertain themselves during the tedious chore hours. The Dow family was large, consisting of seven children, all of them boys and Harlan being the second oldest, the youngest being twelve.
Kendall's blonde hair jumped out to me against the fire light like a firefly in June, her face turning to see our approach with a wide smile creasing her perfect mouth, her legs propelling her towards me. Throwing her long, thin arms around my neck, she wrapped her legs around my waist as she hoisted herself up, my legs standing firm to hold her. This was the way we had greeted each other since high school when Kendall had gotten wasted at a party, jumping on me as soon as I arrived, the show getting whistles and cat calls from all the men at the party that night. But now it just got shouts of hello, waves and offers of beer. Kendall kissed me on the cheek, setting her feet on the ground letting me catch my breath. "I've missed you this week," she said with a smile, throwing her arm around my shoulder, standing between Chad and I.
"Well you know where I am," I say, leaning my head on her shoulder and taking in her expensive perfumed scent. Chad started to walk off towards some of the guys as Kendall led me to the bench she had been sitting on, Harlan appearing from around the fire with three beers in his hands. Offering me one, I take a quick drink saying, "Thanks Har, it's a good night for a fire," he nods but I see that his eyes are on Kendall, trying to discreetly stare at her and it makes me smile. "Could I ride Rowdy later," I ask, trying to pull his attention away so Kendall doesn't notice and get freaked like I know she would.
"Yeah," he smiles, his eyes darting to his scuffed cowboy boots when he sees that I noticed his starring, "um, there's food over on the table if yur hungry." He nodded his head towards a plastic white folding table that was wedged up against the fence and I catch Chad's eye, his wink and little wave sending a blush through my cheeks. "Alright, I'll leave ya ladies to chat," Harlan smiles and takes his six foot one, built like a typical farm boy frame over to where Chad is. I squeeze Kendall's arm.
"Why don't you go on a date with him," I ask, my eyes meeting her brown ones and seeing a spark in them, but she rolls them away, "Come on. He'd worship you and if rumors are true, he's pretty well endowed." I joke, elbowing her in the ribs getting her to giggle and swat at me.
"I don't know," she says, leaning her head on my shoulder so that her blonde hair falls over my sweatshirt, "I just think it'd be weird with Jarrod an all." I scoff at her statement taking another swig of my beer.
"Harlan's on the outs with Duke and his little lackies," I say, but what I really wanted to scream, right in her ear, was :"Please, that asshole has cheated on you so many times. He tried to get with me one night when you were in another room. Hell, I know as a fact he slept with skanky Holly Unger on your birthday last year when he said he was at work," but I kept my mouth shut because Kendall knew all of this already. Bringing it up would only upset her. Kendall just nods her head, issuing an agreeing 'mmhhmm," focusing in on the fire and I can tell she's thinking. She likes him, I know she does. Even her little tryst with Chad's SEAL Team-mate, Bobby Timmons, can't hide the fact that Kendall would be overly happy with Harlan, she just doesn't want to admit it to herself.
The fire roared on, Harlan and some of the other guys adding more logs and branches every now and then, and some of the local townie girls joined me and Kendall on our bench. They asked whether or not the rumor about me and Chad living together was true and I proudly said yes to all of them, giggling to myself as the little looks of disappointment pass through each of the girls’ eyes. The only girl that didn't get up and leave politely after I had told them the answer they didn't want to hear was Krista Bullis.
Krista is a cute, slightly plump, well curved brunette with big green eyes, surrounded by thick, gorgeous lashes. Krista had graduated with my brother Randy and Chad, making her five years older than Kendall and I, and she had been Randy's high school girlfriend. They had broken up after graduation when he had left for the Navy, Randy telling her that it was because he wanted her to find a man that would be there for her, and Krista had been broken hearted. She had carried a torch for Randy all through the years and she had taken it just as hard as my mother had when news had come that Randy had been killed. Ever since then I had only seen her in passing, her smile always laden with a slight sadness at what could have been. Now she sat next to me with a new sort of confidence that radiated off of her, her smile being brighter and larger than I've seen in a while.
"I'm happy for you and Chad," she smiled, patting my hand that was resting on the bench, her hand staying and laying on top of it lightly. "It's about God damn time," she laughed, Kendall joining in as I elbow her, "but really, I hope it all works out for y'all." She rubbed my hand and I know that she has something to tell me, so I give her a little nod, hoping she'll see that I want her to continue. "I have some good news," she almost whispers, causing Kendall and I to lean in, "I'm getting married." Wow, I think because I hadn't expected that. Maybe that she had a boyfriend or that she had gotten a promotion at the law firm she worked at, but not that she was getting married. I gave her a confused look and she smiled and shook her head, "My boss, Kyle Jacks, he and I have been dating for about ten months and last night he asked me to marry him!"
She was so excited Kendall and I couldn't help but hug her, inquiring and awing at her ring. It was huge, sparkling and glowing in the bonfire light. I knew that Mr. Jacks was a little older than Krista, but as long as he made her happy, good for her. He was an upstanding citizen, donating to the local high school every year and throwing a charity auction every fall to help the local children's hospital. He was a good man, so good for Krista. I smiled and hugged her tight as she stood to go back to her own little group of close friends, leaving us with a wave.
It was a little after midnight when the guys started to get rowdy and loud, Chad right along with them, pushing and shoving and joking about God knows what. Kendall and I walked right through their little group, my hand trailing on Chad's chest and giving him a naughty little look, making our way to the horse barn so that I could visit my four-legged friend Rowdy the horse.
The wooden fence was old but sturdy and I hiccupped my way over it with my feet in the slots between the boards. Kendall pushed the latch up and shoved the creaky barn door open, the smells of hay and manure rushing out as the night air flowed in, stirring the horses from their fitful sleep. Rowdy was always in the middle stall, being the largest horse he needed the most space and from here he could watch over all of his mares. Pulling the little string, the light bulb above his stall buzzed to life, his ears perking up and his large eyes finding me, a soft neigh running from his chest.
He was identical to the Budweiser horses, the dark brown coat and white mane, his tail always being braided and tied up as to not get anything in it. His coat was soft and his mane rough and wiry, just like always as I ran my hand over his massive shoulder and up his neck. He leaned into my touch, bumping his enormous head into my chest as I stood on one of his over-turned feed buckets.
Kendall unlatched his stall door, grabbing the bridle and lead rope, Rowdy leading the way out of his wooden home to stand still as a statue in the middle of the barn just waiting for us. Giving him a palm-full of grain before putting the bit in his mouth, I rub his nose and he nudges me again, his large nose sniffing into my hair.
"Ready big guy," Kendall whispers in his ear and I laugh when his ears flick forward, his front leg stomping on the cement floor. Kendall takes the front for the first time around, stepping up as Rowdy bends his knee up as a step and she swings her leg over, reaching her hand out for me. There's nothing more freeing than riding a horse bareback, well except for maybe lying in bed with Chad, but being on Rowdy I feel like a cowgirl. Holding onto Kendall's hips, she starts him out at a walk to get him clear of the barn, everyone's attention turning to us as we float on by on our side of the
fence, a few whistles ringing out as Kendall speeds him up to a trot. Now we've both learned from experience that it's not a good idea to go any faster than a trot when you’re riding two bareback, because one is liable to fall off, so Rowdy trots around the empty and dark pasture, Kendall and I talking the entire way.
The bonfire was only a dot in the background when we stopped and switched positions, sliding around on Rowdy's massive back without having to get down, Kendall complaining that her legs were going to be sore tomorrow. I didn't even have to tug on the rope, Rowdy turning us around and leading back to the barn at a slower trot than our escape. His large hooves stomped through the crispy ground, snapping branches and splashing through a few small puddles.
Getting close to the party, Kendall points and shows me how the guys have started to play beer pong and I just shake my head as Chad looks my way, holding his cup up in the air as a wave. "Alright girl," she says, sliding down to the ground, "be nice to this ol'guy." She pats Rowdy on the neck and hops on the fence, turning to see my departure like she always did.
"You ready boy," I lean down and whisper, Rowdy's answer being a hoof stomp and a loud whiney, "Hayah!" I yell and we're off, Rowdy's large powerful muscles propelling us down the pasture in the blink of an eye. I squeezed my legs tight to his ribs, holding my butt up just a little so that the brunt of the impact is on my legs. The wind is bitterly cold as it hits my face, stinging my hands as I hold onto the lead rope attached to Rowdy's bridal.
We go further into the darkness, leaving the pasture and breaking the tree-line, Rowdy's agile giant form jumping fallen trees and dodging large thorned bushes. Slowing him before we hit the stream I know is up ahead, I turn him around, heading back at a fast trot to give his muscles time to wind down. I lean down to pat and hug his neck, his bristly hair brushing against my face, my frozen hand patting his coat just as we break the tree line, the echoes of shouts finding me.
I speed him up, keeping my eyes on the growing dot of the bonfire as the shouts turn into yells and swearing, fighting forms surrounding the table where only minutes before the guys had been playing beer pong. My heart starts to race as I see headlights through the horse barn, that familiar rack of flood lights highlighting the Dodge Ram front end and I immediately slide down from Rowdy when I'm close enough to hear Chad's raised voice.
"Get the fuck outta here," I hear him yell but I can't see him. Hopping up on the wooden fence I peek over the top rail, Kendall's eyes finding me from across the way, begging me to come over with one look. Hooking my feet into the slots, I attempt to haul myself over the top rail when some little hands push me back over, splinters of wood filling my numb hands as they try and grip the old wood to keep me from falling in a futile attempt. My right hip and butt cheek meet the cold ground, Rowdy stomping and snorting as a pair of fake leather cowboy boots jump down by my face.
"Down where you belong," the high pitched tone comes to my ears, my eyes seeing the bleached blonde locks hanging freely down by her round little face. I roll to my back, trying to see if I really hurt myself. My hip would be sore as hell but I was okay. So quickly scooting myself to my feet, I face Holly Unger, a smug little smile on her face. I can still hear Chad's raised voice and Duke's ignorant one, battling back and forth, exchanging insults, and it makes me nervous. My eyes dart from the slut in the tight blue jeans before me and the fire light between the wooden planks beside me.
"Get the fuck away from me Holly," I say, grinding my teeth and making a move towards the fence. She stepped in front of me, her hands shoving into my chest, knocking me off balance for a split second, "What the hell is your problem?"
"You," she smiles at me, pulling her bleached hair into a ponytail at the nape of her neck, "you think you're so high an' mighty. You think you're the hottest thang goin', but then why did Duke choose me?" She grinned at me, pushing up the sleeves of her Hollister sweatshirt, her perfect little French manicure white nail tips showing in the darkness.
I scoff at her and her absurd idea that I really cared who Duke was with, "Honey, here's a reality check. The only reason Duke is with you is because you spread your legs faster than a cold in a pre-school." I laugh again at her anger filled expression as she calls me a bitch, "And by the way it's not like you're the only girl he's sleepin with right now. Well just the other night I saw him hangin all over Brie Fulton as I drove past Muncy's."
Her eyes turned into slits as her fists balled at her sides, her mouth going tight as she pursed her lips together, seemingly trying to form words to retort my comment with. She swung a fast right at me, missing my jaw by mere inches as I stepped back, throwing my hands up ready to block the next swing that came only seconds later. The problem with Holly's fighting was that she was too blinded by emotion. Her swings were wild and throwing her off balance and I took advantage. Kicking my leg out so that the top of my foot connects with the back of her knee, I drop her to the ground, a whimper escaping from her lips as she gets slowly to her feet.
"Leave this alone Holly," I warn, holding my hands up to her as a placating measure, "it doesn't have to go down like this."
"Yes it does," she swung at me again, her left fist connecting with my right shoulder as I fail to get my hand up in time.
Another thing is, Holly didn't know how to use her weight in her punch, the landed blow only causing a mild pain unlike the right hand I delivered to her jaw in defense, her feet stumbling back at least ten feet. "Bitch," she screams, her hand to her cheek, "I'm gonna rip your hair out." She screamed at me, running towards me and I turned, trying to get into the barn where I could lock her up to contain her.
Just as I reached the open frame of the door, her hand tugged into my hair and I stopped abruptly swinging backwards into the space around me, connecting with her stomach and face at least five more times, knocking her down to her butt, a trickle of blood running down from her nose. I can hear Kendall's voice now yelling at Chad to stop and it frightens me, the high pitch and shakiness of her voice and I launch myself over the wooden fence, Holly grabbing at my retreating feet as I swing them over falling to my knees on the other side.
It was a chaotic scene, guys all over the place exchanging blows and I spot Chad in the middle of it, toe to toe with Duke and they both look like they've taken a few blows. I get to my feet, only to be smashed down by the falling Holly, her hands raking into my hair and pulling on it as my back falls to the ground and she sits on my chest. Her face is snarled into a fiercely angry mask, her eyes boring into mine as she raises her hands trying to slap at my face.
One of the good things that came from having an older brother was that at an early age I had learned how to defend myself to a certain degree. Bringing my knees up, I use the momentum to flip Holly over my head and into the dirt, a loud 'humpf' sound escaping from her as I scramble to my feet, my eyes locked on Chad.
"Chaddddd," I scream, surprised at how shaky my voice is as I stumble my way through the crowd of fighting and shouting men. I see Harlan pretty much beating the crap out of Jesse Ludwell, being twice Jesse's size and as strong as an ox, with Kendall trying to pry him off Jesse. I reached out for Chad just as a heavy weight flew into my back, pushing me to the ground, my hands still trying to grip at Chad's shirt as I'm pulled to the ground. Holly's hands pulling at my hair and scratching at my face as it hits the dirt. I wince when her weight sinks down on me, my teeth biting into my lip as my chin smacks the cold ground.
Holly is too focused on her rage and I can wiggle my way from her grip, tossing her onto her side as I kick at her, connecting with her ribs. Getting to my feet once more, I bump right into Chad and Duke. They are locked in a struggle for control over their situation, Chad holding Duke in a headlock delivering punch after punch to his face and chest area.
"Stoopppp," I scream, my hands grabbing at Chad's shoulders and elbows, my eyes scanning the crowd for someone to help me. Harlan's hulking figure appears as if summoned, his massive arms pulling Duke from Chad's grasp and flinging him to the dirt, kicki
ng at him while pushing Chad back into my arms which wrapped around his waist.
"Get the fuck outta here," Harlan spat out of breath and I see Jesse trying to get to his knees, his face bloodied and his shirt ripped. "Don't ever come back," just as Harlan kicked at Duke's stumbling figure, Holly's fingers wrapped into my hair again. She yanks hard, getting a shrill scream to flow from my lips, ripping me from the grip I had on Chad. His arms tried to hold onto me as Holly's angry yells filled the now silent air and I could hear Kendall's voice from nearby as my hands tried to pry the bleached blonde skank's fingers from my skull.
"I fuckin' hate you," she spits in my ear but her tirade is cut short as both of us are flung to the ground, Holly landing on top of me forcing my face into the dirt again as Kendall's angry words come to my ears.
"Get the fuck off her you stupid bitch," Kendall says and I can hear her slaps connecting with Holly, the weight dissipating as I see Chad and Harlan's feet approaching. I can taste the blood more profoundly now and I put my dirt covered hand up to my mouth, bringing it forward to see my fingertips covered in blood. Chad's strong hands pull me to my feet and for the first time I realize that he has few marks from his scuffle with Duke, the only real evidence being a slight lump below his right eye and a small line of blood coming from his left nostril.
His eyes roamed my face as I can hear Kendall and Harlan yelling, telling Duke and his little lackies to get out of here before they call the cops, Chad's hands come up to cup my cheeks. Looking into his blue eyes I can't help but tear up, fearful that Duke will go to the authorities just to get Chad in trouble, but he just smiles a little crooked smile at me, his thumb wiping at the blood flowing from the corner of my mouth, "Oh babe," he whispers, pulling my face into his chest as the tears flow down my cheeks.
Harlan's deep voice rolled over me as I felt Kendall's hands go to my shoulders and running through my hair, probably pulling debris from it. "They're gone," he said to Chad and I could feel him nod his head as his chin rested on the top of my head. I can't really say why I was crying so hard but at that moment I had this overwhelming sense that I was going to lose this man that was holding me. The emotional last few minutes had brought all my fears to the surface in a hurry and I buried my face into Chad's already wet sweatshirt, fisting the material in my hands.
Two Weeks With a SEAL (The Wakefield Romance Series) Page 12