by Ellis, J. J.
“You think so?” she asked shyly. “I’m kind of afraid to ask her.”
Russell laughed and started walking again. They were almost to the horse staging area. “I’m almost positive. Let me talk to her.”
Emily wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you.”
One of their old high school mates, Robin, walked over to say hello and let Emily coo over his horse. When he left, she turned to Russell. “Do you think your mom would want to sell the stretch of land between my cottage and the barn?”
Russell looked taken aback. “I don’t know for sure, maybe. Why?
Emily shook her head and looked out into the middle of the arena where the horses were lining up. “You’ll think it’s stupid.”
“Come on,” he said, turning her to face him. “What’s going on?”
Emily looked down at her boots. “I kind of have a dream,” she said softly.
“And that would be?” he encouraged.
“I…I want to start a horse therapy summer camp for trouble kids,” she sighed. “More specifically, now I’m thinking of primarily autistic kids.”
Russell stood there stunned. “Is horse therapy even a real thing?” he asked.
“Yes!” Emily insisted, with excitement in her voice. “These kids really respond to the horses. It’s good for them.”
“I could see that being true,” Russell said. “I think it’s a great idea. It will take a lot of money and time to set up, but it’s a fantastic idea.”
“Thanks,” she smiled, looking back out at the horses. “I was thinking it would take investors and fundraising, and it wouldn’t be easy, but it would be so rewarding.”
“I’ll have to talk to my mom about it. She might just be willing to sell you some land for a project like that.”
“I won’t get my hopes up,” she shrugged. “But if you want to pass the idea on…”
Russell took her into his arms and kissed her. “One more hour of working then I’m taking you home and I’m going to make love to you until you see stars.”
**********
Emily fell asleep on the way home from the carnival. When Russell stopped the vehicle, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Time to wake up, beautiful.”
Emily moaned and opened her eyes. “Busy day,” she murmured.
“Does that mean you want me to go home? We can do this another night.”
“No, please stay. We can just sleep.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’d really like that,” she smiled, opening her car door.
Russell got out and waited for her at the gate. Once they were inside, she did a walk through, turning off lights as she went and flicking the furnace to the on position as she passed by. They entered the master bedroom, and while she went into the bathroom across the hall, Russell stripped down to his boxers and slipped under the covers.
“It’s freezing in here,” she said as she came back into the room. “I should have known it would be cold enough for the furnace. I guess I’m not used to living in cold country anymore.”
Russell nodded, pulling the covers back so she could crawl under with him. “When I left Vegas a few weeks ago, it was 117 degrees. This feels like hats, scarves and gloves weather to me.”
“I’ll warm you up,” she grinned, cuddling up to his side. Her head rested on his shoulder and she ran her fingers through the hair that covered his chest and trailed downward.
“Your body is warm, but your hand is freezing,” he murmured with a shiver.
“Well then, warm it up,” she chuckled moving her hand inside his boxers.
“Whoa,” he gasped. “What are you trying to do, shrink me up to nothing? Believe me sweetheart, you’ll like it better if it’s full sized.”
Emily laughed and pulled her hand back. “But you’re so warm.”
Russell yawned. “I thought you were tired. Or did you change your mind?” It was Emily’s turn to yawn and snuggle into him. “Goodnight Russell. Thank you for staying with me.”
“I think I like holding you. Goodnight, Em.”
“Mmm,” she murmured as she started to doze.
Russell laid awake in the dark for a long time. He’d come home to Harper’s Rock with a trouble daughter and a bad attitude. But now…now he had a daughter that he understood better every day and a girlfriend who was slowly but surely weaving her way into the fabric of his heart. He loved to hear her laugh before they got off the phone every night. He loved the way her face lit up when she saw him. Hell, he even loved the strange little snort she gave when she laughed too hard. It was impossible to remember anything he ever loved about Vivienne – except maybe her social standing.
Russell knew he could easily love everything about Emily Zane. His last thought before he fell asleep had him wondering if he was in the process of falling in love for the first time in his life. Or had he secretly loved Emily all along?
Russell woke up, his body on high alert. The room was pitch black. He was at Emily’s cottage and he was holding her in his arms.
That’s what was wrong. She was shaking and whimpering He pulled her close and started to stroke her hair when a scream tore from her lips and she struggled to pull out of his embrace. He let her go and she sat up, breathing hard.
“What’s going on?” Russell asked moving next to her. “Are you okay?”
Emily nodded as her breathing slowed. “Nightmare…about Seattle,” she mumbled.
“I’m sorry,” he said, moving her damp hair off of her face. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Hold me,” she whispered, falling into his arms. “I haven’t had a nightmare in months. Why now?” Tears started to fall and Russell pulled her down onto the bed with him.
“I’m here if you want to talk about it,” he whispered.
“It’s just like I’m reliving the moment I showed up at the restaurant and saw what had happened. It just seems so real.”
“I wish I could help.”
Emily yawned. “It’s okay Russell. Thank you for being here.”
They drifted off to sleep again and the next time Russell woke up, there was a dim early morning light peeking above the curtains. Emily had rolled away from him at some point, but even seeing her beautiful red hair spread across the pillow made him smile. He was one lucky bastard to be able to spend even one moment with her.
She must have felt him staring at her or something because she rolled over and smiled at him. “Good Morning.”
“If you kiss me, it might be,” he said, pulling her close. Their lips met softly at first but then the kiss grew urgent and Russell’s hands started to roam her body, lifting her nightgown over her head as he went. “I really hope you’re not tired anymore.”
“I’m wide awake,” she said, discarding of her panties and kissing him again.
She took control long enough to roll him onto his back. Her body quickly straddled his. She lifted herself up long enough to pull him free of his boxer briefs then settled down onto him with a sigh. “Russell,” she whimpered, looking into his eyes.
Their hands entwined as she began to move. The feeling of impending loss when she pulled up was always quickly replaced with the ecstasy of him filling her up again when she moved down.
“Russell,” she whimpered again, this time with her head thrown back and her lips parted.
“I know Em,” he whispered. “I’m feeling the same things.” As soon as their bodies joined fully again, he flipped her onto her back, and buried himself deep inside of her, ceasing to move. He felt absorbed by her, full, complete. He loved that feeling. He wanted to keep it with him…forever.
Emily shifted under him and his eyes came open. A smile colored his face as his body began to thrust again, slowly, teasingly.
“Please,” she whimpered.
“Patience, my sweet Emily.” His body rocked against hers with slow even strokes. Their eyes met and held as the desperation grew and their bodies became reckless. They couldn’t get enough of the pleasure ref
lected in each other’s eyes. Melding into each other seemed the only way to achieve the release they wanted. Together.
When Emily’s eyes began to flutter, Russell felt his body tighten and tense in preparation for his climax. He knew that when her body trembled under his and her eyes fluttered closed, her lips would part and his name would be released on her sweet breath. He knew that witnessing that beauty would bring him to exactly where he needed to be – coming apart inside of her, filling her with his pleasure.
He lay there, between her long, luscious legs with most of his weight on his forearms resting on either side of her head. The thought of leaving her, of not being surrounded by her sweetness, made it hard for him to breathe. He felt safe and happy. He felt one hundred percent at home.
When Emily’s arms fell from his back, he finally moved away from her. He felt so alone until she rolled onto her side and curled up next to his body. “Russell?”
“What is it, sweetheart?”
“Never mind,” she murmured. Fear of the unknown suddenly gripped her.
“I think I might be falling in love with you,” he whispered in her ear.
Rubbing her hand in circles over his abdomen, she smiled. “I know I’m falling in love with you. No pressure though, okay?” she asked, lifting herself up onto her elbow to look at him. “When and if you’re ready to say it. Okay?”
“Thank you,” he murmured, pulling her down for a kiss.
Russell’s phone buzzed form the pile of his clothes near the bed. He let go of her and dug it out of his pocket.
“Hello Mother, is everything okay?”
“Hi son. Everything is fine, but your brother has to have more tests and he wants me there. Do you think you could pick your uncle up at the airport today?”
“Yes, of course I can. Maybe Emily, Miranda and I can make a day of it.”
“That sounds like fun. Thank you so much, son.”
Russell hung up the phone and turned to Emily. “Would you like to come to Casper with the squirt and me? We have to pick Uncle Cowboy up.”
“Sure, I’d love to,” she grinned. “Your uncle was always so cool when we were kids. I swear half the town would turn out for his visits.”
“Okay then, let’s get showered and dressed then head to my house. It looks like we’re going to have a busy day.”
CHAPTER 13
A few hours later, after an uneventful drive, they pulled into the parking lot of the airport. Getting out of the SUV, they all relished the unseasonably warm air. Miranda grabbed Emily’s hand then reached over to get Russell’s, and the group headed inside to baggage claim.
As they entered the small airport, Emily stopped short, an almost inaudible gasp escaping her lips. Flashes of Seattle entered her thoughts.
Standing next to the baggage claim was a nearly six-foot-tall man with a scar running down his forehead, across his left eye and down his cheek. He was dressed in a pair of combat boots, tiger striped camouflage pants and a green tank top. His arms and chest were covered in tattoos. Emily’s eyes were first drawn to his upper right arm where several skulls were entwined with wire. She barely took notice of the other arm which was covered with yellow flowers. “Rusty,” she said, shakily as fear threatened to overtake her whole body. “I think we should keep our distance from that man. I don’t like the look of him.”
“Miss Emily, you shouldn’t judge someone by how they look,” Miranda chastised as she walked toward the baggage area.
“Wow, that lesson took a little too well, I think,” Russell said with a smile. “Sometimes I think she is scared of shadows, and then she turns around and defends someone she doesn’t know.” He didn’t like the look on Emily’s face. He could see the panic of past memories taking over her features.
With a shake of her head and a deep breath, she felt the panic easing. “She’s right. I shouldn’t assume,” Emily replied. “Maybe she should be the counselor.”
“There’s my uncle,” Russell exclaimed with excitement, pointing to the tall thin man headed to get his luggage. “I’m not used to seeing him in boots, jeans, and a cowboy hat though.”
**********
The scarred man quickly moved away from the wall and walked straight at Russell’s uncle Ethan, hands balled into fists. “I can’t believe you dressed like a cowboy,” he growled.
“I wore it just for you, Jack,” Ethan replied with a grin. “I thought you would like it. You just love cowboys, right?”
“God damned comedian,” he mumbled quietly.
“Even worse, I’m a cowboy comedian in Wyoming!” Ethan exclaimed. “Three of your favorite things!”
“I can’t believe I promised to come hunt with you here. I think I was still suffering from brain trauma when I did it,” he replied, shaking his head.
“There’s my nephew and his daughter,” Ethan said, pointing out the pair. “I wonder who the woman is.”
“It sure isn’t your sister,” Jack replied. “I thought the good looking twin was going to meet me here, not the scrawny one.”
“She could be here too, and we just haven’t seen her.”
“Cowboy, we can see the entire damn airport from here” Jack said as he pulled Ethan’s luggage off the belt. “She isn’t here. I hope everything is okay.”
The pair walked out of baggage claim, laughing together as they caught up on the latest news. When they reached their greeting party, Ethan grabbed Russell in a quick hug. “Good to see you Rusty.”
“Good to see you too, Uncle Cowboy.”
“It seems your father-in-law was right about the nickname,” Jack laughed as he punched Ethan’s shoulder. “You never did learn to watch what you say in front of Sunshine.”
“Well at least you won’t have to look for a cat this time,” Ethan grinned.
“Why did you have to look for a cat?” Russell asked, curiously.
“A slip of the tongue in front of your aunt’s niece Sunshine, many years ago,” Ethan murmured looking to make sure Miranda was otherwise occupied. “I called a body part by an animal name and the rest is history.”
“Okay, I don’t think I want to know,” Russell chuckled as he watched his daughter spin in circles.
“There is a kitty cat you need to stay the hell away from this trip,” Ethan warned Jack. “My sister is a widow now…”
“True, but don’t worry, reds scare me.”
“You don’t need to be afraid. Grandma is nice,” Miranda stated matter-of-factly as she rejoined the group.
“Yes ma’am that she is. My name is Jack and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, sir,” Miranda replied with her eyes downcast. “How did you get that scar? It’s cool!”
“Miranda, that isn’t polite,” Emily broke in.
“It’s okay, miss…”
“Oh I’m sorry. I’m Emily Zane,” she replied. “Russell and I are old friends.”
Jack smiled warmly and nodded. “I wondered why Cowboy here didn’t introduce you. He’s usually such a gentleman.”
“Sir…um sir, how did you get the scar?” Miranda interrupted impatiently.
The older man smiled down at her. “Remember, I’m Jack, not sir,” he replied, squatting to be closer to her level. “To answer your question, I was injured in combat.”
“In Afghanistan?”
“No ma’am, in Vietnam.”
“I’m Miranda not ma’am,” she warned, seriously.
Russell leaned into Emily. “And here you thought we should avoid him. I’ve never seen my daughter open up so quickly.”
Ethan, having overheard the pair, leaned in. “She senses a kindred spirit. Jack and kids are like peanut butter and jelly. You should have seen him and Sunshine back in sixty-nine.”
“We’d love to hear the story sometime,” Emily said politely, looking over to watch the interaction between the pair. It was fascinating on a professional level to see the little girl so open.
“Well, I’m famished.” Jack said as he st
ood back up. “Is there any place to eat in this town?”
“There are several nice family places,” Russell and Ethan replied in unison and laughed.
“I want fast food,” Miranda stated with a stomp of her feet.
“Now Miranda, don’t you think it would be nice for us to go sit down and enjoy…”
“No!” Miranda insisted. “No, I don’t.”
“Dang Cowboy, you’re a grandpa, don’t be a stick in the mud,” Jack replied out loud, then he mouthed. “Don’t fight this battle.”
“I have an idea,” Russell cut in. “You guys need to buy your ammo right?”
“Yeah we do,” Ethan answered.
“Well, we can head to the sporting goods store for that. Emily and Miranda and I can head across the street to the big box store to look at toys and then we can meet at the hamburger joint across the parking lot. We can have a nice sit down meal when we get back to Harper’s Rock tonight.”
**********
“Since the best cook in the family went to Billings to be with Dylan, I figured we might want to go eat at Gino’s tonight for dinner,” Russell suggested as they entered the city limits. “It’s still a top notch place.”
“I remember eating there as a kid,” Ethan recalled. “Authentic Mediterranean cuisine, Italian, Greek, French, and Spanish.”
“What, no venison,” Jack nearly shouted. “I’m shocked. I thought that’s all you Wyoming people ate.”
“We also eat steak and chicken, Mr. Jack,” Miranda said with a giggle. “Sometimes fish also.”
“Well Cowboy, why didn’t you ever tell me?” Jack asked with feigned innocence. “I’m hurt.”
Ethan grunted, then grinned. “I seem to recall your favorite dish when we met was Italian.”
“Was it spaghetti?” Miranda asked. “That’s my favorite.”
“It was more of a spicy meatball,” Jack answered with a grin, thinking of his wife Francesca. “Let’s just get pizza and beer. Well, root beer for my new friend Miranda.”
“Pizza sounds great and I know just the place,” Ethan suggested. “Plus, I have an in with the owners.”