by Reece Butler
Ranchers might think they’re tough, she’d been told, but nothing makes them stronger than the love of a good woman. Since the Tanner’s Ford ranches did things the old way, the men spent many nights rolled up by the fire, alone except for their horse, cattle, and a million bright stars. Coming home to hot food, their children’s voices, and their woman’s smile reminded them how much they’d lose if they didn’t treat her right. Nikki then winked and told her to let Simon treat her like a woman.
Marci was used to being treated like a wife, a convenience rather than someone to be cherished. She’d have to pay attention and let Simon show her the way. She kept that in mind as they finally made their slow way down the hall. Seeing the door ahead, she walked faster to push it open.
“I’ll get that,” ordered Simon.
She stopped and turned. They’d only gone about thirty feet but he’d put so much effort into it that his chest heaved. This would be hard for him. Most things he’d been proud of as an independent man were no longer possible. It was only temporary, but he would be frustrated. If she worked on arousing Simon he might avoid thinking about what he couldn’t do, and look forward to a few things he could.
“I may have a bum leg but I’m still man enough to open doors,” he said with a scowl. “I’d appreciate it if you’d give me a minute.” He looked at her small suitcase. “I should be carrying that for you.”
Marci had seen many beautiful women manipulate men. It had made her mentally roll her eyes at the time, but she hadn’t forgotten how they did it.
“I’ll let you make it up to me later,” she replied, using a low, sensuous voice. She dropped her eyes, then raised them to meet his as if in challenge.
He flashed her a sexy smile in return. Butterflies erupted under her ribs. Tingles flowed to the sides and down, setting with a dull throb between her legs. The smile faded as he started forward again, but her tingles didn’t. This man had qualities she’d never felt in another. He wanted to carry her suitcase and open her door, not in a showy way but just because it was the right thing for a man to do.
It made her feel special, as if she was worth his time and attention. She wasn’t sure how to handle being valued. Ted’s lack of caring was a trial, but it was impersonal. He didn’t give a damn about anyone but himself. And he never expected anything personal from her. As she had no value to him other than as a servant, she was just…there.
Simon jammed the rubber tips of his crutches into the floor at every step as if to punish it. He kept his jaw clenched and his eyes locked on the door as he fought his way forward. She watched with a new respect. This man hurt, he was tired, his life had been totally messed with, yet he wanted to care for her.
What would he be like when his leg was healed and his life was back in order?
She waited patiently while he figured out how to balance on his good leg and push the lever. When the door opened he shuffled forward. He leaned his shoulder against the door as if exhausted. He motioned for her to go through. He was a gentleman, and they let ladies go first. She smiled in thanks and walked past. She turned, ready to hold the door for him, but he pushed off and straightened, grimacing in what she expected was pain and frustration.
He didn’t want her, didn’t want to be here, yet was behaving better than Ted on a good day. She wasn’t used to having someone think of her. Ted had excellent manners and displayed them perfectly when he felt it necessary, which meant when someone important watched. The rest of the time he treated her like his personal servant. And she’d let him.
Not Simon. His manners were a part of him, just like his stubborn determination.
She liked Simon, a lot. But she’d liked the way Ted treated her at first. Could she trust her own judgment? She was sure Simon was nothing like Ted, but she still needed to learn more about the man. Just because he had manners and his taut body made her legs wobble and her pussy quiver didn’t mean she should stay near.
Yet, though he and Brenda obviously had a history, and he was angry at her for destroying his boots and jeans, Nikki said he still treated her with respect. He yelled, even cursed a bit, but Marci could see it was all bluster.
Ted had never raised his hand to her, yet she knew if she’d destroyed one of his prized possessions, as Brenda had Simon’s boot, he would have hurt her in ways that made abuse hard to prove.
Humiliation does not leave visible marks. But it stains the soul forever.
She would hold off on her thoughts about Simon MacDougal. Once his painkillers wore off, she’d find a few things out. He was frustrated now, but add pain and the inability to do everyday things at home would drive him crazy, especially as he couldn’t do a darn thing about it. It would make him cranky, frustrated, and furious. If he had a temper, or any other bad habits and behaviors, she would learn about them before Monday. If he passed her test, she might stay on for a bit after he got the walking cast.
She let him escort her to the truck and open the passenger door, but it was Simon who climbed in. She went around to the driver’s side. The metal box she’d left between the seats was already in his lap when she opened her door.
“These brownies for me?” He didn’t wait for her answer. He opened the tin and groaned. “Oh, baby, you have no idea.” He devoured the first one while she adjusted the seat, put on her seat belt, and started the truck. She put it into reverse and turned to him for directions.
“Follow the highway west,” he said after swallowing. “Turn right on Valley Road. We’re the MD Connected, the last ranch on your left. But we have to stop at the J Bar C to get my truck.”
“This isn’t your truck?”
“No, ma’am. I borrowed it from my cousin. Second ranch on your left once you leave the highway. Dang, these are good.”
Fifteen minutes and another two brownies later, Mr. Hunky Macho Cowboy was slumped against the door, sound asleep. The highway was clear so she checked out the passenger seat. Simon wore a pair of thin hospital pajama bottoms under his shirt, courtesy of the young nurse. His hat was tilted forward, covering his face as he slept. She’d already memorized it, as well as the rest of him.
She’d stopped in her tracks when she saw him escaping as fast as his cast would allow. His fire-red hair caught her attention, then the wide back that led to the thick leather belt. Below that was a tightly curved naked butt. The arms supporting him had great biceps and forearms.
It was the back view that made her realize she might have seen him heading into the Climax Roadhouse a couple of times. Since his face would have been covered by his wide cowboy hat, she wouldn’t have known about his hair. She had a pretty good idea there was a cloud of golden-red short and curlies between his legs. That, and a pretty impressive cock. He’d tried to hide his erection when they met but it was obvious he was interested. Or maybe he was just desperate for a woman and any would do.
His face was rugged, handsome and, most of the time she’d seen him, glowering. Simon MacDougal didn’t hide his emotions to suit whoever he was sucking up to. She bet he wasn’t the type to stomp on someone weaker to get praise for their work, either. He’d stomp, no doubt about it. But it would be on someone who needed it.
She liked what she’d seen, front and back. The way his chest, arm, and back muscles flexed as he learned to work the crutches had her fanning her face. So did the memory of those taut, naked butt cheeks. He had body hair, but not too much. There were enough golden-red curls on his chest to run her fingers through. His hair touched the collar of his cotton shirt. That meant she could yank it to hold him close. Like, if he was kissing her and she wanted more. Or licking her.
Heat flashed. Come heck or high water, she’d find a way to make him do both.
She’d asked Nikki if she might hurt his broken leg if she seduced him. After blushing, Nikki let her in on the big secret. Simon had a minor fracture below his knee but the only way to keep him off his feet for the weekend was to encase his whole leg. On Monday she was to bring him back for a walking cast.
N
ikki also suggested Marci give Simon a good reason to be glad he spent the weekend in bed. After everything Nikki had done for her in the past few weeks, shouldn’t she make sure that Simon wasn’t angry with the good doctor? To help in the process Nikki made sure Simon was shaved so Marci’s inner thighs wouldn’t get beard burn. She figured a man with a full leg cast could lie on his back and perform oral sex if she knelt above him. It was another thing Marci was eager to experience.
She saw the sign for Valley Road ahead. She slowed and turned onto the gravel road. Another fifteen minutes of careful driving brought her to a set of fieldstone pillars. She had to drive about thirty feet off the road before passing under the sign that spelled out the letter “J” followed by a long dash mark and then a “C.” Too late she saw a bunch of pipes running across the lane. First the front tires, then the back rattled so loud she thought she’d done something wrong. Simon woke up at the noise but all he did was yawn.
“What was that?” she flashed a frown at him.
“Cattle and horses won’t walk over the bars.” He scratched his chest. “Keeps you from having to open and shut a gate every time you drive through.”
He yawned again and stretched out his arms. They were so long the left one almost reached her breast. It tingled in anticipation. He noticed where his fingers were and pulled back. Then he pulled his coat over his lap. She hid her smile. So, the thought of touching her made him hard? That would make seducing him at lot easier. A good thing since she’d never tried to seduce anyone, though Simon seemed like a sure bet.
Marci drove slowly into the yard. To the right was a beautiful old log cabin. A trio of dogs came rushing out to greet her but thankfully didn’t bark, perhaps as they recognized the truck. She turned the ignition off right next to a much older light-blue truck, making sure the passenger doors were close. She opened her door and the sound of a crying baby floated from the home.
“Aw, poor Sophie’s still upset?” Simon, sounding sympathetic rather than annoyed, hauled himself mostly upright. “Donny must be going crazy. Little mite’s barely six weeks old.”
The front porch light came on and a man stepped out. His face looked grim, likely due to the crying baby over his shoulder. Marci couldn’t stop herself. She hurried toward the pair.
“Give me Sophie, please.” She held up her hands. “Doctor Meshevski sent me.”
“Oh. Great. Here.” Donny held out the wee one. Her face was all screwed up and red. “None of the other babies were like this,” he said in confusion. “She’s fed, clean, burped, but I can’t get her to stop crying.”
“Where’s Sophie’s mommy?”
“Sleeping with Keith,” he said absently. “Tonight’s my turn to stay up.”
He looked exhausted and worried. She nodded, pretending she was a nurse sent by the doctor. The poor man was so relieved that he hadn’t thought to ask how a doctor in town would know to send help.
“Oh, you poor baby,” she crooned.
She put Sophie over her shoulder and, gently patting her back, walked with a bouncing motion to the end of the porch. The tiny baby fit into the curve of her neck as if she belonged there. Tears slid out the corner of her eyes as she inhaled that longed-for baby scent.
It could have been worse. Instead of Ted having a vasectomy, he could have insisted she get her tubes tied. Now that she was a widow she could have a little one of her own. She wiped away happy tears. If babies were contagious she would be first in line to get infected. Her soothing touch had calmed Sophie enough that the baby had quieted to whimpers. Marci continued with the pats and bounces. She giggled when a huge burp erupted from the rosebud mouth. Sophie sighed and snuggled closer, though she still had a few hiccups.
Pleased at her progress, Marci looked around as she walked. Worn wicker and bentwood chairs covered with bright cushions suggested the porch was well used. She hummed as she walked. It was a lullaby the woman in the next trailer had sung to her own baby the summer Marci was nine. She’d babysat a bit while the lady went grocery shopping and in return she’d taught Marci how to cook. But, like everyone else in her life except Nikki, she’d soon moved on.
Donny had noticed Simon struggling out of the passenger seat and had ambled over.
“What are you doing with Aggie’s new truck?” asked Donny. “You so ashamed of your old rattletrap that you had to take hers into town to get that nurse for us?”
“No,” replied Simon sarcastically, “I drove into town in your truck because it’s an automatic and I broke my damn leg. Hand me those crutches.”
Donny looked down. He shook his head. “You can’t drive with that cast.”
“Why do you think I took yours?” He grimaced. “Marci’s driving.”
Even from the porch Marci could hear his growl of irritation. “That nasty man won’t get near you, sugarpie,” she crooned. “No he won’t! You’re just the sweetest little girl, aren’t you?”
She loved babies. Loved talking to them in a high-pitched voice that made them calm down. The nice lady had passed on what a good babysitter she was and that was how she’d gotten pocket money for years. Not to buy candy, but to buy clothes, shoes, and school supplies. No matter how many hours her mother worked, there was never enough money.
Sophie’s hiccups had faded by the time Simon was in his own truck. Marci kept walking, back and forth. With Sophie’s parents so wound up at her pain, no wonder they couldn’t get the baby to relax.
“How’d the Doc know to send a nurse back with you?”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Donny frowning at her while he talked to Simon. She pretended she was oblivious.
“Marci’s not a nurse,” growled Simon. “She’s my babysitter, housekeeper, and jailor.”
Chapter Seven
“I can see you needing a babysitter and housekeeper,” said Donny with a grin, “but a jailor?”
“What else do you call it when the dang doctor won’t let me go home without her?”
Simon didn’t bother to keep his voice down since Marci already knew he wanted to go home alone and take care of himself. He didn’t like being idle. It allowed too many thoughts, regrets, and might-have-beens to crowd in.
“She’s no bigger than a minute,” said Donny. “All you gotta do is pick her up. She could squeal all she liked but she couldn’t get away. How could she be a problem?”
“She’s female.” He pointed with his chin toward the porch. “A baby’s even smaller, but look how Sophie’s changed your life. Small doesn’t mean powerless.” He ran his hand over his smooth chin. The Doc had insisted he be shaved before leaving. “I think Marci’s like one of those little dogs that strut around as if they own the world. They have no clue of their size, or else they don’t care. But they rule the household.” He tried to shift his leg but the plaster was too heavy so he shifted his body instead. “Never did like those yappers.”
Donny, who’d been watching Marci with a keen eye, shifted his attention back to Simon. “She doesn’t strike me as the yapper type.”
“Maybe not, but she likes to have the last word.”
His cousin raised a sardonic eyebrow. “She’s a woman.”
They shared a headshake and sigh, though Donny’s came with a fond smile.
Simon had watched his good pals Donny and Keith change when Aggie came into their lives. They were still wild now and then, but their priorities had shifted. Aggie hadn’t softened them. Instead she’d honed their edges and made them better men. Unlike elsewhere, males in Tanner’s Ford knew that changing diapers and soothing a baby proved they were men. Anyone could watch sports, stuff their face, burp, and take out the garbage once a week. It took a real man to protect and provide for his family.
He and Lance had pretty much given up on that family. Seeing Marci go for Sophie, who he realized was a lot calmer now, gave him hope.
“Been a long time since there’s been an available woman in these parts,” he mused.
“What about that new doctor?” joked Donny. “B
et she’d keep you warm at night. Mind you, she’s a good size. She might take over the bed.” Donny elbowed him. “Can you see her in a tight black leather miniskirt, stiletto boots, and a flogger?”
Simon’s jaw dropped. He narrowed his eyes at Donny. “Don’t tell me Aggie does that to your ugly white ass?”
“Don’t knock it ’til you try it. Turnabout’s fair play.” He snickered. “I like to take care of Aggie. And when she gets too uppity, Keith brings her down a few notches. What with the baby and all, it’s been a while since she’s felt the flat of his hand.”
Now that Simon thought about it, Donny did spend more time caring for Aggie and the children than Keith did. At get-togethers it was Donny who brought her drink and filled her plate while Keith rough-housed with the boys. Keith and Lance had always got along as best friends and rivals, as had he and Donny. It didn’t matter to Simon if Donny wanted to have his bare ass flogged by Aggie, who’d then be topped by Keith. Both were good men and he’d take either at his back anytime.
Marci wouldn’t be doing it to him, though. Nor would she be wearing black leather. A red stretch lace bodysuit with appropriate cutouts would be closer to it. He took another look at her. No, with her dusky skin a light pink would be better. To match her pussy lips, perhaps.
“I could see the Doc dressed in black leather,” he said. “It would look good with her blonde hair. And she’s got the attitude to wield a whip.”
“You might be surprised who’d holds the reins with her,” said Donny quietly. “Strong women often like to be submissive now and then.” He cleared his throat and nodded with his chin toward the porch. “Where’d you find the lady?”
Marci held her cheek against Sophie’s head as she walked. She swung her upper body to soothe the baby. It brought attention to one very nice ass. He adjusted the coat in his lap. Donny noticed and laughed, though he kept his voice low.