COWBOY, INTERRUPTED

by MISSY HARPER

  “Not him, but one of his daughters.”

  “Like I said, he had a bunch of daughters! But, I was under the distinct impression you didn’t wanna talk about them.” He teased, and she couldn’t stop her smile. Damn Girl Parts! “What did you do, you naughty little Runt?” He asked, looking around to grin into her face.

  “Maybe I should be asking you that question!” She teased bumping her shoulder into him. “Since you’re so well informed about all his girls.”

  “Nah, none of those girls were feisty enough for me, Runt. They’d a just laid down and played dead. I like a little fight in my women!” He teased back, working his hand under her shirt.

  “Right! Because you’ve actually met a woman you weren’t interested in.” Rylee rolled her eyes while he chuckled.

  “There might have been one or two.”

  “Bull!” Ethan laughed out loud. He couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his nights with this woman. One thing was certain, there’d never be a dull moment with Rylee around.

  “Ok, which daughter, the blonde or the red head, because the others were butt ugly.” He admitted and fell a little more in love when she began to laugh.

  “The daughter that was my age, was not a very nice person.” She made a disgusted face as she went on ignoring his admission.

  “Ah, that would be the red head.”

  “Bite me, Ethan.” He laughed and tugged her closer as she continued her story. “She sat in front of me in Mrs. Wilson’s class, and she’d flirt with all the boys. Now, we both know I was an ugly child…”

  “I wouldn’t say ugly… unusual, but certainly not ugly.” Rylee elbowed him again, and he squeezed her tight as he laughed against her neck. “Go on, my pretty little swan, I’ll be quiet.”

  “Anyway…” She rolled her eyes at him again as she laughed. “She knew that none of the boys thought I was cute like her, so she’d flirt with the boy on the right, and then swing her head around to flirt with the boy on the left. Every time she’d do that, I’d get slapped in the face with her long pony tail.” Rylee emphasized her statement with a punch to his thigh. “I asked her, nicely, to stop doing that, but she just laughed at me.” She looked back at him and narrowed her eyes to show her aggravation with the situation.

  “Whoa, big mistake!” Ethan tossed in with his trademark smile.

  “Yes, because two weeks later, Laura Wilcox made the mistake of inviting us both to her slumber party.” Rylee continued, her eyes alight with evil memories.

  “No, you didn’t, Rylee!” Ethan said, beginning to laugh.

  “Yep, I sure did.” Rylee stuck her cute little nose in the air. “As soon as that evil little pony tail swinging, flirt went to sleep, I cut her pony tail off right above the pony tail holder. She went from having hair down to her butt to a pixie cut in one snip of my scissors!” Rylee said as Ethan collapsed in laughter. This was so like the Rylee he remembered. He could even picture her face as she cut the girl’s pony tail off… probably had her little tongue sticking out just a bit when she did it.

  “Tell me you got caught.” Ethan demanded through his laughter.

  “Nope, when she woke up screaming the next morning, I ran over to her and offered to console her. You know, so no one would suspect me. You should have seen her. She was sitting there with her pony tail in one hand, and her hair was sticking up in the back because it was so short. She was just holding the pony tail and screaming her head off!She was so upset! I, however, didn’t feel the least bit sorry for her at the time.” Rylee continued as Ethan laughed even harder. “The little witch glared at me and turned to Laura. She had the nerve to say, now I’m just as ugly as she is!”

  “She did not!” Ethan couldn’t believe anyone could be that stupid. Now he was wondering if that little flirt had lived to tell.

  “Yes, she did.” Rylee assured him.

  “What’d you do?” He asked, thinking the Runt he knew from back then most likely took her to the ground… or put her in it!

  “I asked if havin her hair cut meant she was gonna go to hell?” Rylee snootedly answered, shaking her head back and forth as if she’d really told her. Ethan’s laugh was deep and strong this time. Finally, he got a hold of himself and kissed her cheek as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

  “You are a bad girl, Rylee Hawkins.” His voice dipped when he added his last name to hers. “Real bad, Runt.” His mouth found her neck again and began to kiss and nibble it’s way up to her ear. “I like that about you, baby.” He whispered in her ear as she moaned and leaned into him.

  Damn Girl Parts!

  “As a matter of fact, I like it a lot.” He said, returning his hand to her zipper and pulling it down a bit more. “And I’d like to see a lot more of it.”

  “You can’t be serious! It’s thirty degrees out here!”

  “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll keep you warm.” He chuckled against her neck as he pulled her zipper down a little farther.

  “What if someone sees us?” Ethan pulled away and smiled down into her worried tiger-striped eyes. His own eyes were dancing with delight and desire when he spoke.

  “I doubt the cows will mind very much, Runt.” He placed a sweet kiss on her lips and continued his downward motion with the zipper on her coat. “As for the bulls, they love being turned out.” He suggestively whispered in her ear.

  “Ethan, I am not getting naked out here when it’s thirty degrees. I don’t care how much you, or the bulls, like being turned out. I’ll end up with frost bite… in really difficult to explain places!” She argued as her stupid girl parts nominated Benedict Arnold for chairman of Rylee’s hormones!

  “It’s nice and warm at my place.” He countered, still working on her zipper, her neck and her resolve. “Got a big, soft, cozy bed, too.” He reminded her as he licked at her bottom lip. “I’ll lite a fire in the fire place. We can make love by firelight. I could spend all night long pleasing you.” He tempted as her heart thundered against his chest.

  “Too easy to find us.” She countered, clinging to her resolve by her finger tips.

  “Have it your way.” He chuckled as the zipper came free at the bottom of her coat.

  “Ethan!”

  “Shh, I just want to touch you, baby. I missed you so much today.” His breath was hot against her ear. She felt his hand slip beneath the bottom of her sweat shirt and slide up her stomach until he reached her unrestrained breast. “Um, no bra.” He moaned, gently squeezing her. “I’m dying to see your body wet in the shower… and then watch the firelight dance over all this gorgeous skin.”

  Rylee’s head fell back against his shoulder as his hand began to touch and tease her. She felt her desire grow by the second and was forced to acknowledge that Benedict had won the election. She moaned and rolled her head against him, falling under the spell of all the new and tantalizing sensations she was discovering with him. His mouth came down on hers, and she felt him press the reins into her hands.

  “Hold this, baby.” He whispered, and slid his other hand under the waist band of her sweat pants. She felt the evidence of his desire pressed into her back and couldn’t stop herself from rubbing against him as the horse moved their bodies from side to side while it walked. Her pulse pounded harder as his hand traveled closer to where she truly needed his touch.

  “Ethan… um, I don’t think this is a good idea.” She panted out between short breaths, torn between pushing him away and worrying she might murder him if he actually stopped. She attempted to focus on places she could bury his body, but her attentions simply wouldn’t be swayed from what his hands were doing to her body.

  “It’s okay, my sweet little Runt. There’s nothing wrong with a man pleasuring his wife. I just want to make you feel good… to remember how awesome it felt when we made love.” He whispered against her neck. Rylee knew she was lost when his talented fingers found their mark, but she faught it all the same.

  “Ethan… damn girl parts… traitorous Benedict Arnold voting… oh my God!” Rylee scr
eamed as she threw her head hard against his shoulder, arching her back, rubbing against him and moaning uncontrollably. The motion of his talented fingers and the rhythmic side to side swaying of the hourse were more than she could stand. They both threw caution to the wind and completely let themselves go.

  Ethan held her tightly as he slumped over her, trying to catch his breath. When their breathing began to approach normal, Ethan lifted her legs and pulled her across his spread thighs to cradle her in his arms. He zipped up her coat and re-wrapped the wool blanket around her shoulders, settled her head against his chest, then kissed her lips one more time.

  “You amaze the hell out of me, Rylee!” He said as he rubbed his cheek against the top of her head. “That hasn’t happened to me since high school.” He attempted to chuckle, but his breathing was still too rapid. With each still ragged breath he took, heavy white puffs of smoke appeared before him and he simply layed his cheek against her head and cherished the moments he had left. He turned the horse back in the direction of the Van der Brook ranch house and reluctantly started back.

  “I don’t have any idea what Benedict Arnold has to do with it, but I’m real fond of your girl parts.” Her sleepy sigh was the only response he received.

  They were almost to the fence line when Ethan heard horse hooves coming up fast behind him. He turn to find Oliver galloping up beside him with a curious look on his face and a long shotgun tucked against his horse.

  “Is she hurt?” Oliver demanded when he was close enough to tell that Ethan was holding his sister across his lap.

  “Shh, no, she’s asleep.” Ethan told him looking down to make sure Oliver hadn’t awakened her. He saw Oliver’s dominant and knowing eyes when he looked back up at the man. “What are you doin out here so late?” Ethan asked.

  “Checkin the herd. Something spooked em so I was just out checking. What are you doing out here, and why is Rylee riding with you? Nothing happened to Short Bus did it?”

  “No, her stupid horse is fine. Dumb as ever, and you better be glad she’s asleep. You know how mad she gets when we pick on her horse.” Ethan grinned over at Rylee’s brother.

  Rylee had one of the dumbest horses known to man, but she refused to get rid of the animal. She had named him Oscar, but when her brothers and Ethan had figured out how stupid the horse was they dubbed him Short Bus. There was very little that made Rylee madder than someone picking on her poor, stupid horse.

  “I just can’t understand why she still wants to keep the damn thing.” Oliver said, shaking his head. “So how’d you two end up on one horse?”

  “That’s just how we started out.” Ethan leveled with the man. There was no use trying to hide it, and to be honest, he really didn’t want to hide it. Personally, he wouldn’t mind getting caught one little bit.

  “Is that so?” Oliver questioned as he settled both hands on the horn of his saddle, giving Ethan a stern look. “Might I ask why?”

  “I went to visit my dad, after I left here earlier, and he knew me this time.” Ethan said with a big grin. “I called the Runt to tell her, and we just ended up goin for a ride. Great night for it, don’t ya think?”

  “You’re not gonna tell me what’s really goin on with you two are you?” Oliver sighed and turned his eyes to his little sister. Oliver and Rylee were the two siblings that looked the most alike, with their blonde hair and icy blue eyes. Oliver towered over almost everyone but was considered to be the family’s gentle giant. Tanner was the brother that voiced his opinion the most, but Oliver was the one that always stood back to take in what everyone else usually missed. He was also the one that was the most dangerous.

  “You ask me a question, Oliver, and I’ll answer it, but I want you to know your sister ain’t ready to talk about it. You might want to consider that before you start asking.” Ethan looked the other man in the eye as he spoke.

  Oliver sighed deeply and looked off into the dark night around him. “I’m not stupid, Ethan. I’ve got a pretty good idea of what happened last night. Just tell me she was a willing participant. Assure me that you didn’t take advantage of her and you’re not going to treat her like all the others. Assure me this is different, and I’ll leave it alone for now.” He demanded, turning back to Ethan.

  “She never left my sight. No one got close enough to lay a hand on her after you left us, nothing happened to her that she didn’t want to happen, and I’m here to stay. That much I can assure you.” Ethan said, looking Oliver directly in the eye. “I’d never hurt or disrespect my Runt.”

  “I hope your right about that, Ethan.” He shook his head and looked down at the ground as his horse side stepped a bit, sensing his uneasiness. “I got to tell ya, I’m feelin a lot responsible for what she’s going through. I should have never left her alone with you, man.” Oliver looked back up at Ethan. “I knew you had a heavy attraction for her. I thought you two deserved a chance. Thought that maybe if you were alone, and a little drunk, you two might work out whatever’s between you… now I’m not sure if I did right by her. I heard her crying earlier, Ethan.”

  “Oliver, things are a little confusing for her right now, but I promise you everything is gonna be just fine. I’m not going anywhere, man. I’m in Rylee’s life, and I’m here to say.”

  “Well, I hope so, but I feel I should warn you. After you left, Tanner told me he’s giving Ry three days to sort through whatever this is, and then he’s gonna beat it out of one of you. I don’t need to tell you how stubborn she can be, so you know it’s you he’s gonna come after.” Ethan chuckled, and then checked to make sure he hadn’t woken her when she stirred in his lap.

  “Thanks for the warning, but I’m okay with that. I’d take a beatin everyday at noon for my little Runt.” Oliver shook his head, summing up the man holding his sister and finding that he liked what he was seeing and hearing.

  “Better get her on home. It’s getting colder out here.” Oliver said then spurred his horse and rode off toward the barn.

  Chapter 22

  Educating Rylee

  Rylee woke early on Monday morning and worked steadily until almost noon before heading into town to work the lunch and then dinner rush at the restaurant. Ethan spent the day catching up on things at his ranch, but he called her twice that day and even tried to convince her to stop by his place after she got off work. Rylee turned him down, saying she was tired and needed to get home because she had to be up early the next morning.

  Ethan respected her wishes, even though he wasn’t happy about it. He missed her like he would his right arm if it were separated from his body. He thought about going over and tossing pebbles at her bedroom window until she looked down and at least talked to him. But, knowing Rylee, she’d probably just open the window to throw something at him, then slam it shut. Safe in the knowledge she did still love him, he honored her wishes and went to bed early and alone.

  Rylee was running late Tuesday morning and didn’t make it to the restaurant before the noon rush started. She walked in to a packed house and a kitchen full of problems. Ramon and Jorge were getting along, but were both in full chef/diva mode. This was one of those days she was extremely grateful she only worked the noon rush and didn’t have to stay until close. Her decision finally made, and her resolve strong, she planned to speak with Ethan that night and do the right thing for both of them. She was barely able to handle the added stress of a crazy lunch, much less having to stay all evening, too.

  It wasn’t until things began to settle down that she noticed the beautiful arrangement of flowers sitting on the bar near the brick oven. Curiosity carried her across the room to the flowers, and she was surprised to see her name on the card. Guessing they were from Ethan, she started to turn away, but then thought better of it. She was sure it would hurt his feelings if she didn’t even bother to read the card after he had gone to the trouble and expense of sending her flowers.

  Who was she kidding? Rylee thought as she snatched the card from the little plastic stick. She was hoping t
here would be something written in that card that would change her mind about what she planned to do later that evening. Just maybe he’d put his feelings in writing, and it would be a start, at least. When Ramon entered the room carrying his lunch, he noted her disappointed eyes, and immediately covered his mouth and shrieked for Jorge as if this was actually happening to him.

  “What a drama queen!” Rylee mumbled as she crumbled the card and walked away.

  Rylee stepped out of her jeep, and the bitter wind bit into her, whipping her long denim skirt around the boots that covered the bottom half of her legs. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck and closed her eyes for a moment as the wind ate at her face. The card had been a bust! A total waste of time, and she knew what she had to do. Feeling lower than she’d ever felt before, she went to the one place she knew she would find unfailing, unconditional love and understanding.

  Her dad and brothers thought Oscar was a dumb horse, but Rylee knew better. He may not be the smartest horse in the barn, but he was certainly the sweetest. He was always happy to see her and never minded listening to her when she had a problem. She’d been talking to her beloved horse for about ten minutes when she heard the barn door slam. At first she thought it was simply the wind, but then she heard the bolt slide into place, proving someone had just locked the door, with her inside. Turning quickly, she found herself faced with a most frightening sight.

  Ethan stood just inside the door, feet spread shoulder with apart, arms crossed over his chest and a furious expression on his face. He didn’t speak. Instead, he only stared at her as if he were angry enough to kill her.

  “Ethan… what’s wrong?” He said nothing for a long moment then he began to slowly and methodically approach her with his powerful arms still folded across his chest.

  “Why don’t you tell me.” He answered and his tone made her pulse kick up a notch. How could he know… how could he have found out what she had decided?