“Let’s take a walk up here further. I had the cows brought down that are calving just to keep an eye on them. Most are a few weeks away, but better to be safe than sorry.” Together they walked up driveway where a small herd of cows were chewing their grass contentedly.
Callie leaned on the fence, her chin on her hands. “This is all so different to what I’m used to. At home there’s more red dirt than grass. The cows have to walk for miles some days to get a decent feed. That’s the reason why farmers are going bankrupt so much. No feed unless they truck it in.”
Chance rested a hand on her shoulder. “We never have that problem here. If anything, I really need to bring in more stock to keep the grass down. We can go to a few sales once you get the hang of the place and you can buy some more.”
She looked up at him. “I wouldn’t know what to buy. You have so many different cattle here.”
“Beef cows are beef cows the world over. Once you get the hang of what breed is what, I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine.” He shuffled his feet. “Now, I don’t know about you, but I could do with heading inside.”
“Of course. It’s been a long day for you.” Callie slung an arm around his waist and led him back to the house. Chance took a key from his pocket and walked up onto the front porch. He slid the key in the lock and pushed the door open, encouraging her to walk in before him.
***
She walked into the room and stopped dead in her tracks. Chance flicked on a light switch and lit up the entry way and lounge to the right of the door. She took a step forward and her jaw dropped. The room was huge with large glass windows that showed off the view of the snow topped mountains and the ranch sitting at the base of the range. A large cow skin rug was spread out in front of a wide stone fireplace. It was set ready for a fire with the timber stacked up and plenty of extra logs stacked to one side of the wide hearth. Over the fireplace hung a huge mirror that reflected the view from the front of the house through the large French doors.
A leather lounge was placed back but aimed at the fireplace with a low glass coffee table in front of it. Book cases filled the only other internal wall. It was crammed with books and Callie promised herself she would have a look when she had more time.
“This is a stunning house.”
“You wait until you see the rest of it.” He gripped his cane and told her to follow him. He led her across the hallway into an open planned kitchen. The huge island counter faced the dining table off to one side of the front room with doors that opened onto the porch. Behind the counter, a large six burner gas oven was set into a stone alcove with down lights and an exhaust fan. A double door stainless steel fridge sat beside a door which Callie assumed was the pantry.
“Have a look around. Open cupboards and do whatever it is that women do when they check out a house. This is your home now and I want you to be happy here.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s just mind blowing.” She walked over to the pantry and opened the door. A light switched on automatically and she stepped inside. The room was almost as large as her bedroom at home. The shelves were laden with food, enough to see them through whatever the weather could throw at them. Chance walked up to the door.
“Out in the barn is a root cellar too. Don’t know if you know what they are, but basically they’re an underground storage room for food. The winters can get really severe here and a lot of the locals like to put down their own food from their gardens to see them through to the next season.”
“Do you have a garden?”
“No, not yet. Not really my thing, but if you want one, you just have to say the word.”
She gazed at him, amazed at how her life was turning out. “I’d love one. We had a small one at home, but Mum struggled to grow much because to the lack of water and the damned rabbits. If she left the covers off the vegetable beds the animals would take everything. Even the crows got really good at taking her cabbages.”
“Just let me know what you want and it will be done. There are plenty of men in town who know how to build vegetable plots. Landscapers and the like.”
“Thanks.”
“Let me show you upstairs.” He held out his hand and Callie linked her fingers with his. Together they walked from the kitchen to the hallway and started to climb the wide wooden stairs. He pointed past the stair to the back of the house. “Back there is the laundry, a bathroom, and an office.” They continued up the stairs. At the top, Chance paused to rub his hip.
“Our room is the end door. Follow me.” He reached for her hand again and led her past several doors to either side of the wide hallway to the master bedroom. Chance opened the door and let her walk in first. She stepped into the room and paused looking at the huge bed. His hand rested on her shoulder and she jumped. “Plenty of room for both of us, but if you like, you can keep your clothes in one of the spare rooms until the brothers come around to my way of thinking.” He walked over to the bed and sat down, letting his cane lean against the edge of the mattress. “Shouldn’t make much difference to you and me though.” He smiled wiggling his eyebrows and Callie grinned.
“No, it shouldn’t. Are you sure this is how you want to play it? I mean, I could stay in the other room if you like. I wouldn’t take offence.”
“I would. I want my wife in my bed whenever possible. Come here.” He held his arms out and she grinned, keen to get another handful of the naked chest she woke up on this morning.
Callie stood between his legs and put her hands on his shoulders. She dipped her head and placed her mouth on his. Gently at first they kissed, discovering the bond that was quickly building up between them.
His arms came around her back, lowering to cup her butt and pulling her closer, and Callie pushed herself against him suddenly desperate for more. Moving her hips against him, the heat building in her body.
She moaned as he pulled her shirt from her jeans. His fingers reached up to undo her buttons and she shrugged it from her shoulders to drop on the floor. Chance’s roughened hands circled her waist, his breath hot against her belly. She gasped as he dipped his tongue into her belly button while he popped the button on her pants. Callie helped him push her jeans down and stepped out of them, kicking them away. He gripped her butt in his hands and lifted her to her tip toes.
Callie cried out as he ran his tongue over the front of her panties, hinting of what was to come. His fingers dug under the elastic and suddenly she was standing before him naked and wanting.
“You are so beautiful.” The wonder in his voice made her brave and she pulled him to his feet. With trembling hands, Callie undid the buttons on his shirt and pushed it apart to shower his chest with her lips. His fingers toyed with her nipples as she worked her way down to the button on his jeans. He helped her to shuck them down to his ankles and stepped out of them, kicking them out of the way.
“This might be better on the bed.” Chance pulled down the covers on the bed and guided her onto the soft mattress. He leaned over her, gazing at her nakedness, a smile on his face.
She blushed under his scrutiny wishing he would hurry up and take her. She was desperate for her hot cowboy. Watching his erection twitching against his stomach was almost more than she could stand. Callie reached out and wrapped her hand around it, her thumb rubbing over the head.
“I doubt I’ll last long if you do that.” He gasped and closed his eyes, breathing hard.
“Well then, perhaps we should just get on with it. We can play around a bit more next time.”
“Since you put it that way, I’d have to agree.” He kissed her, dipping his tongue into her mouth as he lowered himself between her legs. His fingers trailed down her belly into the small patch of hair crowning the apex of her thighs. Chance slid his fingers between her lips and Callie squirmed in pleasure. She was wet and ready for him and doubted she’d last very long if he toyed with her like that.
“Now, Chance. Please don’t tease me. I need you inside me right now.”
When he
slid inside her, Callie gasped and moaned loudly.
“Did I hurt you?” Chance stilled his body.
She wrapped her legs around his waist, careful with his sore hip and thrust herself against him. “No,” she ground out. “Hard and fast, now.”
Chance did as she asked, pushing her toward the edge within minutes. Callie cried out as she tipped over the edge, her fingers digging into his butt, holding him in place as she quivered around him. With a final deep thrust, Chance went over and joined her.
CHAPTER NINE
Chance opened his eyes in the morning with Callie tucked into his shoulder. Her lips were moving with each outward breath and soft snore. It was cute and he smiled, wondering how annoyed she would be if he mentioned it. It seemed as though she had the best sleep last night and after the last few days he wasn’t surprised. Moving half way across the world to meet the future husband she had to have to save the family name would be tough on anyone. To find out they were compatible was a bonus, but Chance had thought they might be anyway. Even in her photos she had an attitude that screamed independent and strong. Just what he needed after years of being fawned over by ditzy women who were more interested in being the wife of a famous rodeo rider than a rancher who wanted to work hard and make his breeding program a success.
A smile crossed his lips as he tried and failed to imagine Libby Tucker working in the yards feeding the animals or cleaning out stables shoveling horse poo. The wanna-be actress had decided early on to attach her star to Chance’s. Every possible opportunity for a photo draped over his arm, she took. When he had down time she always seemed to be staying at the same hotel and more than once had managed to get into his room and his bed. Not saying she hadn’t been fun to hang out with, but the thought of spending his life with her left a sour taste in his throat. She wasn’t someone he wanted to bring home to the ranch.
Unlike the woman sleeping soundly in his arms. The moment Chance had seen the photograph of Callie, he’d known she was the one. When they skyped for the first and only time, he’d listened to her voice and let the twang roll over his body. She knew what she was talking about when it came to ranching, or farming as she called it. Her no nonsense approach had won him over instantly. Here was a woman he could see himself growing old with. One who would stick with him through the rough patches as well as the good. He just had to make sure she was happy here and wanted to stay with him.
The first bout of married sex probably helped to settle her into a good sleep too. It had worked for him. Thinking about it made his body tense up ready for more of the same. It was only the pain in his hip when he moved toward her that made him rethink that idea. A hot shower and some pain killers were probably a better plan. He couldn’t wait until he had the pins out. Then the muscles would heal better and he would get better movement.
Callie’s nose twitched and she reached up to brush her hand over it. When she touched his chest she opened her eyes and for a moment looked lost and startled.
“Hey.” He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose and watched the color fill her cheeks, highlighting the small scattering of freckles he hadn’t noticed before.
“Hey yourself.” A smile broke out on her face and she rested her hand on his chest, her fingers warm and light against his skin. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“Horny as all hell, but I think I’d be better with some drugs and a hot shower. As much as I’d like to say more of last night’s action would appeal to me, I doubt I would be able to do much on the ranch today if I make love to you again.”
“Such a shame. I was looking forward to wake up sex.” She pouted and ran her tongue across his lips, teasing and taunting him. When he lunged for her mouth she pulled back and laughed.
“Stick to the plan, cowboy. You have to show me what to do. Not going to be any good if you can’t get your butt out of bed.” She threw the blankets from their bodies and uncurled herself from against him. Rising from the bed, Callie looked at him as she slid away to stand on the floor.
He watched as she walked naked to the bathroom, her hips swaying with each step, teasing his already rampant libido just a little bit more. She wound her hair up into a knot on the top of her head and disappeared from his sight. Chance lay back thinking of how lucky he’d been picking her for his wife. His brothers were going to be hard to convince, but it was what he wanted and he was going to finally get to stay at the ranch and raise his cattle and a family.
Having to break it to the hordes of fans around the country was going to be harder. He received mail every day from people who couldn’t wait for him to come back from his accident. The offers of help had poured in. Even offers of private nurses should he need them. He knew what that meant. Women who wanted him in bed at their mercy, no nursing included. But he was sick of that life and wanted the plain and simple joy of working the land and the animals.
He heard the water running in the shower and decided a romp under the hot water could work for him. Sex and the hot water on his sore hip might just be the best way to start his day. He rolled out of bed and used his hand on the wall to help support him as he shuffled along to the bathroom. The steam was coming from the large open tile shower and Callie was standing with her back to him. Chance held onto the wall and stepped under the hot water, sliding one arm around her waist and leaning into her back, his cock standing proud against her butt cheeks.
“Took you long enough. I’d almost given up waiting for you.” Callie turned around and grabbed his face in her hands, planting her lips against his. “I promise I’ll be gentle with you.”
“Don’t hold back on my account.” Chance held his breath as she grinned and slid down his body to kneel in front of him. He tilted his head back and let the water stream over his face while his wife gave him the best head job he’d ever had.
***
“Sex makes me hungry. What can I say?”
Callie scooped another ladle of scrambled eggs onto her plate. “I must remember to collect those eggs today. There aren’t any more in the fridge.” She was sitting at the table looking out the doors over the porch eating her breakfast when a truck came up the driveway.
“Shit. Might of known he wouldn’t take long.” Chance groaned. “Sorry, it’s Tyson. Let’s see how this goes then shall we. Don’t let him boss you around. Remember you’re the new ranch manager.”
She swallowed the fear that crawled up her throat. I can do this, I can do this. Callie ate her second helping of eggs as she waited for her new secret brother-in-law to come in and give her the third degree. She didn’t have to wait long.
The door opened and a man who looked very like Chance walked in the door, his hat in his hand. “Chance.” He nodded at Callie. “Who’s this?”
“Callie, meet Tyson, my very nosy brother. Tyson, I want you to meet Callie, my new ranch manager.
“What? Are you fucking kidding me? A woman?”
She shrank back in her chair, unprepared for the tongue lashing he was dishing out.
“Watch your mouth. She’s more than capable of running this place so back off.” Chance stood up, grabbing his cane from beside the chair.
“I don’t believe this. You not only get a ranch manager from damned Australia of all places, and it’s a bloody female.”
“And you will honor my decision and treat her with the respect you would treat a sister if you were lucky enough to have one, understand?” Chance walked over to him and poked him in the chest.
Tyson looked past Chance at Callie and his gaze hardened. “You have no idea what you’ve done here, brother. You’re getting ripped off because of who you are and the money you make. You mark my words.”
“I told you to back off, Tyson. I won’t have you disrespecting anyone in my home.”
Callie stood up and reached for her new hat. “Don’t worry about him, Chance. Stands to reason people are going to talk about me. I can take it.” She jammed the hat on her head and brushed past the men and headed outside to the barn.
CHAPTER TEN
Chance watched her go, his blood on the boil.
“How the hell do you think someone like that is going to manage this place when you’re back on the circuit? She’ll get blown away in the first snow drift, then what’ll you do?”
Chance turned on his brother. “Give her a decent go before you judge her. The girl has been running the family station in Australia since she was a kid. Apart from the fact their cattle breeds are slightly different and the seasons are around the wrong way, she has it all under control.”
“Yeah right, I’ll believe that when I see it.” He walked past his brother and over to the kitchen island to grab himself a cup of coffee. “I spoke to Rory yesterday. Trying to talk him into coming for a visit. He said he’d think about it.”
The change of subject threw Chance off for a second. “What? Oh right. Well I guess it’s time he came out of his shell. It’s been three years.” He listened with one ear, but was more concerned about what his wife was doing outside.
Tyson walked over sipping the dark hot brew. “So, when do you go back to the doctors?”
“Three weeks.”
“Want me to take you?”
“Nope. Callie can drive me there and back. May as well make the most of having someone around the place. There is something you can do for me though. I was thinking of getting a dog to keep her company since the place will have someone living here permanently now. Know anyone local who has one available?”
“Yeah. Old Jim Puller has a litter of cattle cross dogs. Might be worth a look at. But don’t you think you ought to wait and see if she turns out? She could be gone in a week you know, and then you’ll have to find a new home for it. You know I can always help out. I keep telling you that.”
“Look, Tyson, I appreciate that but you need to concentrate on your own place. You’ve done enough for me over the years. Its time I looked after my own ranch.”
“Bit hard when you’re away so much. Let’s see how wonder girl works out. Bet she doesn’t last any longer than the others.”
Chance For Love (Colorado Blues) Page 6