“I can help...”
“No.” he replied flatly then turned to leave.
“Wait!” Raelyn begged rushing to him and placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t touch me,” he snapped then left.
Something was different, but she couldn’t pin it.
The day went on slowly and agonizingly painful. Old scars of her and Richard’s past lingered as she waited for her pets to arrive. If Richard had any regard for her, he would have someone else bring them. Hell, if he had any regard he wouldn’t have taken them in the first place.
Finally, the dreaded moment arrived and Richard’s truck pulled up the drive.
Slowly, Raelyn gulped then walked out of the house. Stepping out of the truck was a man but thank the stars it was someone she didn’t mind. “Hey, Rae.”
“Geo!” she rushed the older man and he caught her with open arms. “Ohh thank the stars! I was dreading seeing him.”
“I’m happy to see you too, former sister-in-law.” Geo beamed. “Ric can be a prick sometimes. I’m sorry about everything. Really you deserve better.”
“Thanks, Geo. You know if you weren’t swinging with the other side, Id ask you for dinner. Now my babies?!” Raelyn clapped her hands and rushed to the back of the pickup. Sure enough, there lay her beautiful Australian Shepherd, Tanner and Lilly, a sassy Belgium Malinois. “You couldn’t even get my dogs co...”
“No. You know that...”
“Just had to ask...”
“I’ve got to get going, but the truck is yours anyway so...”
“Of course.” Raelyn quickly nodded as another vehicle pulled into the drive and Geo turned to walk away.
“Who’s picking you up?” she squinted into the sun trying to figure out who was in the car.
“You don’t want to know Rae.. “
Her lips tightened before she quickly turned away. She unloaded her pups and quickly brought them over toward Cole for an introduction.
She found Cole checking out the cute one bedroom cabin on the property. It was mostly finished. A fireplace for heat and solar for electricity. “So what do you think?”
“It’s not bad,” he nodded. It would be better with someone’s warm body beside mine.
“Well, I'm glad you like it.” Raelyn smiled. She ran her hand along the coolness of the wood. “Anyway... I’m going for a ride with my pups,” she had told him a while later. As she saddled up a horse.
“Be safe.” he nodded.
***
Two hours later Raelyn was a few miles out and happily doing what she wanted to do since she filed the divorce. Taking some “me” time. She
stopped near the swimming hole and tied her horse nearby.
She stepped into the sun and stripped her clothes. Since the weeks after her divorce, she had lost quite a bit of weight. She had yet to get a new suit.
The water was cool but refreshing against her tanning skin. She dipped lower and let it engulf her.
Time must have flew by or maybe she had just fallen asleep on the warmth of the green grass, still naked plus a towel. Either way rumbling of horses hooves woke her along with her dogs barking. “Raelyn?” Cole’s voice called.
She shivered. She hadn’t remembered it this cool out but now...
He called again this time with a rush and pounding footsteps. “Rae! Is this where you’ve been all day?” He caught get her in his strong arms and she shivered again. “What are you doing girl trying to catch pneumonia?!”
Her nakedness or what they had once shared got to her and she shivered yet tingled between her thighs. She wanted... No. She needed him again.
“You should dress,” he told her noticing her nakedness in his arms. He gently set her down on the ground and turned away.
Raelyn sighed and dressed. Her insides twisted in need. Each piece of clothing she pulled on was agonizingly burning her skin. She squirmed.
After she pulled on the last piece she stepped toward Cole and pressed a hand to his shoulder. “I’m decent.”
She shivered as the cool wind blew and the cold rain began to pour down. “Come on,” she told Cole as she rushed to her horse.
He chuckled but followed. The two mounted their horses and whistled to the dogs as they raced away.
Chapter 10
The weather quickly changed from the cool drizzle to terrifying bitter howling winds and cold round hard balls of hail.
“Ouch! Shit!” Raelyn screamed as she reached to cover her head. She sharply turned her horse toward the trees. “Cole! This way!”
“Hey where are we going!” he called chasing after her. “Your house is that way...”
“Too late we need to get inside!” as she reached the cabin she skidded her horse to a stop, unsaddling and bridling as she hit the ground. Cole moving slightly slower she urgently began helping him as well. “Go on horse!” she screamed as she slapped the horses’ butts. Then as quickly as ever and without thought she grabbed Cole’s hand and raced inside. The dogs barked as they raced behind.
“Phew!” Raelyn panted as she snapped the door closed.
“What about the horses?” Cole questioned.
“The whole property is fenced so they won’t go far but to find shelter.”
“So this is the cabin...?”
“Oh!” Raelyn giggled, “yeah!” she looked down finally realizing she had yet to let go of his hand.
Cole looked down as well and smiled slightly.
The cabin was small but nice. Rustic in every sense. A small dinet kitchen at one side just below a small window. A door on one side led to what looked like a log bed while a small couch sat the other side of the room near a fireplace.
“Burr...” Raelyn shivered. She hurried over toward a small fireplace on the far side of the cabin and began to fumble with it. “I have always sucked at this...”
“Here...” Cole mumbled as he too walked over toward the fireplace. “Let me.” He stacked the wood just right to allow the oxygen to get in the right places then stuffed a few shavings and paper beneath the wood. Striking a match he finished his project and the wood soon was engulfed in flames.
“Wow. The only person I ever knew who could do that...” Raelyn paused, stopping herself from saying the dreaded name.
Cole looked at her curiously but noticing her distraught look he let the subject go. “I think there is some old clothing left over back here...” Raelyn shimmied past Cole and toward the door which seemed to lead to the only one bedroom.
Coming back Raelyn sported an armful of clothing. “Here she offered, I’m sure they may fit... well I hope so...” she paused examining Cole’s strong muscular shoulders as he peeled off his wet shirt.
She sighed.
Cole smiled. “Like seeing this?”
Quickly she sobered up and walked away toward the bedroom again. He hadn’t meant to push her away. Actually he was trying hard to pull her back in, but there seemed to be something that just pushed her back.
“I think the storm’s a stayin’,” Cole hollered as he pulled on a clean and dry pair of shorts. He hung his wet things up on a line which seemed to be set up just for that particular duty of drying clothes near the fire then began looking around the place.
No one had been in the cabin in some time. Dust lined the counters and no food was the fridge. He did, however, find a pot and plenty of boxed and canned food to ward off their hunger.
“I sure hope not!” Raelyn called as she emerged from the room wearing a pair men’s basketball shorts and long men’s flannel shirt. She pulled her long wet hair up into a messy ponytail as she walked. “It’s getting late and we’ll miss out on dinner and ...”
“I’ll whip us up something,” Cole said without a care as he turned the handle to the water spicket.
“Well at least we have water... everything here is solar powered or fire warmed...” Raelyn curled onto the old couch.
Cole continued to create something yummy out of the boxed and canned foods he could find and
when he was done he turned around to go get Rae only to find her sound asleep. “Raelyn...” he said softly, “Sweetheart dinner’s done.”
“Hmm...” she mumbled stretching and yawning in one smooth motion. “But baby I’m tired.”
Cole smiled. “Darling... Wake up,” he said in a firmer one this time. He loved the way ‘baby’ rolled off her lips, but it wasn’t meant for him.
“Oh... uh...” she muttered opening her eyes. “What was it you were asking?”
“Dinner.” Cole reminded. “Dinner’s done.”
“Thanks.” she replied getting up and walking over to the small table.
***
The two ate in a semi-uncomfortable silence. Cole trying hard to think of something that would work to get Raelyn to open up to him and Raelyn trying hard not to fall for Cole’s charm.
“Did you want something to drink?” Raelyn asked.
“Sure...” Cole dragged out. “I did look, but all I could find was water.”
“Oh, I know where the good stuff is.” Raelyn beamed as she swiftly took off once again, this time into the kitchen and began digging in the cupboards. “I know it’s a bit warm... well not really it’s chilly!” She laughed as she popped a cork to a bottle of something. Returning to the table she offered a cool liquid to Cole in a small coffee cup.
“Thanks.” He said taking a swig. Before coughing as the liquid stung his throat. “WoW! Wasn’t expecting that.”
Raelyn giggled. “Yeah, Richard had a mean drink hidden out here.” She covered her mouth as her eyes went big hoping Cole didn’t notice.
“Sure did.” He replied taking another swig of the hard liquor.
Raelyn took her own swig.
The two continued to swig and eat and soon they were into a comfortable chatter. Talking about what they were going to do when they got back to the house. What they liked to eat, what they liked to do, and soon they were even moving a bit closer to each other.
“Thank you for dinner Cole. As usual it was delicious.” Raelyn said as she began doing the dishes which were in the sink.
Cole stepped up behind her pressing his hands onto her hips and breathed softly as he spoke into her ear. “My pleasure. Let the dish’s go... I’ll get them tomorrow.”
She turned in his arms and smiled up at him. Cole was a beautiful specimen. He hadn’t worn the old shirt that Raelyn had given him since it didn’t fit properly over his tight muscles, and she easily now could examine his muscles and the exquisite artwork which laid there.
“I am tired,” Raelyn yawned.
He guided her over to the bedroom and lifted her gently into the bed. “Sleep, it is late. I’ll take the couch.”
She sat up quickly from the bed and frowned. “No... I can’t do that. You take the bed... I’ll take the couch.”
“Well, that won’t work either,” Cole said sternly. I’m going to take the couch and you take the bed.” He smiled as he tucked her in. “If you need me, I’ll be out here tending to the fire.”
“Okay,” she yawned. Then before he could move away she sat up and hugged him before kissing him swiftly on the cheek.
It was such a small gesture that Cole wasn’t sure he didn’t just imagine it. But he smiled anyway before walking away.
***
The couch had been way too small for his stature and Cole laid on it haphazardly. He had a fur blanket draped over his body and not much beneath it, besides a pair of boxers. He never could sleep with pants on. After some time and way more alcohol, Cole had drifted off to sleep.
Before long the wind was whipping and howling as the storm grew to its peak. Lightning crackled and thunder boomed. He wondered now, as he woke a bit startled, how would they get back to the house with the horses who knows where. Cole got up and minded the fire as it had gone out earlier.
With another snap of lightning, he heard a shuffling and soon realized he wasn’t alone. “Oh,” he commented as he grabbed for the blanket to cover himself. “Sorry about that. I didn’t think you were up and...”
“It’s alright,” Raelyn said softly as she too didn’t wear much besides the flannel. She made her way over to Cole and much to his shock and disbelief she began to unwrap the blanket from him.
“Come with me... Please stay with me?”
“Rae...” Cole coughed. “Are you sure?”
“Please, Cole... It’s so hard being alone out here and ...” tears sprung to her eyes and soon she was pulling away.
“Don’t pull away.” He soothed her, as his fingers meandered under the shirt and began clenching to her soft and delicate skin. He laid her on the bed and soon climbed above her. Yes, his inhibitions had been loosened and he should have restrained more... but then again...
Chapter 11
The next morning sunk in as soon as Cole stretched out an arm and felt the smooth supple breast of Raelyn beside him. He didn’t know if what he should do so he simply laid there until she woke. “Morning Rae,” he said softly.
She turned her head toward him and just looked him over. “Morning.”
She stood and pulled on her underwear then her long sleeve flannel. The soft patting of her feet was all Cole could hear as she walked away. “I think the rains resided,” she called. “I’m going out.”
Cole didn’t bother hurrying after her.
The door closed and Cole felt the painful loneliness he had once felt beginning to resurface. The bark of a dog made him feel a slight bit better, but there was no comparing to the warmth of a woman.
Raelyn could finally breath again once she had exited the cabin! It was smothering her, the tension between her and Cole. Why did Richard have to break her so bad? The months she had spent lonely yet married had killed her soul. All that time she could have spent with another man, one like Cole. One that was loving, caring, thoughtful, and strong yet gentle. One that wanted nothing more than to satisfy a woman in every way he could.
Thankfully the horses hadn’t gone far and Rae had quickly led them back to the cabin. She hitched them up to a nearby post then reentered the stuffy cabin.
“Rae.. “ Cole began as soon as she walked in.
She shook her head and began to walk away.
“Wait!” he begged. Man how Cole Jameson hated begging. He was a strong man.
Raelyn paused for a short moment as she felt his hand on her shoulder. It felt nice. “The horses are waiting. We can ride back now, I have company coming today.”
She could feel his head nod and he lifted his hand as he walked by her.
“Yeah, I have to get to work tonight after here.”
The two saddled their horses and rode out. There was an acquired silence and Cole was beginning to feel if he wanted Raelyn Shepherd he was going to take the time she wanted him, those lonely cold rainy nights and those drunken mistakes. That was all she could do.
As they arrived Merilee burst from her fancy car and started waving like a maniac. Cole smiled and waved while Raelyn didn’t even take notice to him, she waved too.
“Hey, dear!” Merilee chirped as Raelyn dismounted her horse, she handed the reins off to Cole.
“I’ll put these two away and get to work on the fencing today, I noticed a few pieces needing work near the barn.” Raelyn waved him off.
“So where have you been?!” Merilee complained. “I’ve been waiting here all morning.”
“Oh, my gosh! It’s such a wild story! Anyway... come in... and we can talk.”
“Well, I was wondering about lunch. Would you like to go out today instead?” Merilee asked.
“Yeah sure. Sounds good.” Raelyn smiled. She petted her dogs and said a goodbye to them then hurried into the house. “I’ll take a quick shower and change and then we can go.”
Merilee nodded and looked off toward the barn. She wondered...
***
The girls spent the remainder of the day enjoying themselves with lunch and movies. When they returned back, Cole had already left for the night and Raelyn was to be left alone agai
n.
“So who was the hottie?” Merilee questioned. “I meant to ask earlier... but” She shrugged, “I forgot.”
“Yuna sent him over to help around here... he’s sweet.” That’s all Raelyn could say. She didn’t want to nor could she tell Merilee she had spent the last night having crazy sex with him. Nor could she tell her she had done it before. What would she think? Raelyn had always been the reasonable one.
“Oh... okay well...” Merilee shrugged. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
They hugged goodbye and Merilee left her friend once again alone in the boondocks.
Chapter 12
Forever had seemed to pass and Cole stopped showing up at the house. Raelyn felt horrible about it, but she didn’t have it in her to go out to the cabin and tell him she needed him to talk to her.
By now Raelyn had found herself a job which help support her... though not as much as she had hoped. She was working as a secretary at a prestigious dress shop which thanks to Merilee had hired her. She couldn’t be more grateful.
The days were long and interesting as snob after snob came in to try on the expensive wedding dresses which Rae knew she would never have the luxury of wearing.
“Raelyn!” her boss, Stella Pickner screeched. The woman was annoying with her high pitched tone and micro-managing childish mentality.
“Yes, ma’am?” Rae asked. She had been heading home but stopped just to please the annoying lady.
“You will be ready for the show tomorrow... correct?”
“Umm... what are you talking about?” Raelyn questioned suspiciously.
“Oh no no no! Did Darla not tell you? We need your look! We have one...” she rolled her eyes, but continued. “one of the models... Samantha... or Patricia? Oh hell, I don’t know what her name was. But she has found herself pregnant and cannot be wearing the dresses for the show this weekend! Or well until further notice I guess, but we do plan to find someone...” She took a deep breath and sighed. “Anyway. The insatiable woman has grown a belly! The nerve of the woman!”
“Stella... you know that happens when people get pregnant right?”
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