“Okay I’ll be honest then. I’m still trying to make good for being an ass” He swung himself onto his horse
“Fine” I sighed kicking Fi gently
“Aly where you going?” Milo called from the fire
“Bed” I called back as Fi began to run Justin closing down on us I didn’t slow till we reached the barn the ranch was in darkness only the lamps glowed outside of the bunk houses Justin and I sorted out the two horses Semper was sound asleep as I bolted Fi’s stall door.
“Mind if I escort you home Ma’am?” Justin laughed just above a whisper
“Okay call me Ma’am again and I’ll drop you where you stand” I groaned
“Ma’am” he chuckled offering me his arm I glared at him he smiled the smile suddenly disappearing as I swung my leg behind his knees buckling them sending him into a soft pile of straw in an empty stall. “Ow”
“I did warn you” I laughed leaning on the open door to the stall “I only warn once and then take action” he sat up I offered him a hand
“Really” he slapped his hand in mine “I don’t tend to warn” he tugged sharply on my arm catching me off guard sending me sprawling into the sweet smelling straw next to him. Okay if that’s how he wanted it… I looked at him he was laughing I moved quickly knocking him back onto his back sitting on his chest pining his arms under my shins he looked at me in shock.
“I’ll stop warning then” I grinned down at him
“Damn you’re a tough little thing ain’t ya?” he chuckled
“Oh like you wouldn’t believe” I nodded “Now are you going to be a good little cowboy and behave or do I have to carry on kicking your ass?” I patted his cheek
“I’m happy being here under you” he pushed his tongue into his cheeks I felt my face flush as I realized what the hell this would look like to most people. I pushed up and got off of him.
“Night Justin” I headed for the barn door.
“Hey” he caught up to me and grabbed my hand “Did I say something again?”
“No” I sighed “Major head ache happening right now that’s all” I sighed “and it’s getting late”
“Okay” he didn’t sound convinced “I guess I’ll see you in the morning then” he bent his head and kissed my cheek “Night Aly” he walked across the yard to the second bunk house.
Chapter 11
Crap coffee
I slipped into a dreamless restless sleep too much going on in my head to rest properly. I gave up trying to sleep at 4am. I walked past my soundly sleeping cousin’s still pissed they needed to smoke weed to have a good time. I grabbed my Jeans and a T-shirt and walked into the bathroom to get changed, stealing quietly out of the bunk house. There was a smell of fresh coffee wafting across the yard and all the lights we’re on in the bunk house of the ranch hands. I walked across and knocked on the door.
“That’ll be the boss” someone called from inside
“I’ll get it” another voice called back the light blinded me for a minute as the door swung open. Garret stood there in just his jeans “Oh Ma’am everything okay?” he looked puzzled
“Yeah I smelt the coffee and I was hoping to steal a cup” I smiled
“Sure…” he paused ‘Can you hold on just one minute there’s a few guys in here not exactly decent”
“Sure” I nodded stepping back and leaning on the small rail that ran round the edge of the bunk house. Garret pushed the door to I could make out the sound of shuffling around and doors opening and closing the door to the bunk house opened and Justin stepped out holding two cups of coffee.
‘Good morning” He smiled holding one out to me
“Hi” I took it wrapping my hands round it “Thank you”
“You might want to put milk and sugar in it” he pointed to the cup “we were all trying to work out just how you liked it”
“Okay we are still talking about the coffee right?” I smirked
“Well that would be telling” he chuckled I took a drink and pulled a face “Sorry not good”
“Not strong enough” I corrected
“Damn” he shook his head.
‘Aly” I looked over my shoulder as Uncle Trey walked over the yard “What you doing up?”
“I spoke to Ryder last night and had to tell him about Dad and I think yesterday just sucked” I shrugged “So I got up and smelled the coffee so I came to get a cup while the others were all still sleeping” He eyed Justin
“Okay where’s Jordan and the boys?”
“Still sleeping I came home earlier than they did last night”
“Did you apologize?’ He turned his attention to Justin.
“Yes sir I did and she gave me hell” Justin nodded
“Just remember that’s my niece” he turned back to me “Coming up to the house to eat” I shook my head
“I’m not hungry yet the coffee hasn’t kicked in” I laughed “and I’m enjoying the 78 degrees before it gets to hot”
‘Okay honey but just so you know Brody and I are both up”
“You sound like my Dad” I called after him
“Darlin I say Yee ha not Ooh Rah” He laughed I groaned and hung my head “Hey my Mom had to save your ass from a Marine whooping”
“And that’s why I don’t piss your Momma off” he walked back in to the house Justine was looking a little wide eyed
“What was that all about?”
“Long story” I smiled “Thanks for the coffee” I pushed off the rail and stepped off the small porch
“Where you heading?”
“Say good morning to Semper” I walked backwards
“I have to feed them so you mind if I tag along?” He rested his hands on the rail his empty coffee cup swinging from a finger.
“Sure but Semper bites when he sees a guy without a shirt I sank the rest of the weak assed coffee ‘Heads up” I threw it at him and carried on walking to the barn. I was stroking Sempers man when Justine walked in.
“So I take it the headaches all gone?” he asked as he began working
“Not really but pain is weakness leaving the body” I smiled
“Don’t tell me that’s a Marine thing as well”
“Something like that” I nodded “I’m going to do something that, well I think would floor most people” He stopped what he was doing and looked at me “I’m sorry for being a bitch last night”
“Hey I stepped out of line first you were defending your family” she shrugged
“Yeah but not everyone feels the way I do about the Marines and I have to remember that” I patted Semper and stepped away from him and started to help feed some of the horses “It was just a bad day and I have to leave again tomorrow night?” he walked slowly back to me
“But I thought you were here for the next few weeks?” he leant on the feed box “You got back yesterday”
“My Dad’s also leaving I for a tour in Iraq” I swallowed hard choking on the lump that was in my throat “I have to be there when he goes” I fought back the tears and turned away from Justin and filled the next stall feed container.
“I’m sorry” Justin dropped the scoop in the box and walked over standing behind me and rubbed my shoulders “Wow after what you told me last night I couldn’t stop thinking about it”
“I really shouldn’t have said some of what I said to you” I turned to face him “My opinions should be mine and only mine”
“No you have more pride for your family than I think most people these days” I hadn’t noticed but his hands had moved to mine and his fingers were linked with mine “You’re different to girls round here”
“I’m straight talking bitch at the end of the day” I tried to smile
“No you don’t mince words you tell it like it is… and it’s a nice change” He stepped a little closer “and you’re bea…”
“Al… Aly” Brent walked into the barn “Hey Aly Uncle Brody wants us to head out the back paddock already since we’re up”
“Okay”
“Ju
stin for god sake stop messing round and if you want to kiss my cousin just kiss her.”
Chapter 12
Damn snakes
“Who’s kissing who?” The sound of Uncle Brody’s voice filled the barn as he appeared behind and wide eyed Brent
“Brent and some girl last night at the pond” I thought fast pulling my hands from Justin “So why do we need to be out at the paddock before everyone else?” nice swift change of subject there.
“Because you’re up early and I want the top paddock emptied so we can take stock of a new batch of Mustangs” he walked in and patted Semper on the nose. Uncle Brody made the most money from the Race horses that he stabled and breed but his true passion was for mustangs. “So you and Brent drew the short straw” he smiled putting his hands flat on Brent’s shoulders/ Justin can you saddle up the horses for them while I make sure they know what they’re doing”
“Oh Come on” Brent groaned
“Okay we can do this with our eyes shut” I added
“I can go with them if you want me to?” Justin offered Uncle Brody looked round the three of us.
‘Yeah that might be a good idea” Uncle Brody rubbed his chin “We’ll be up there by 8”
“Fine sir” Justin nodded
“Hey Brody Phone it’s the breeder for Star shine” Aunt Lucy walked into the barn “Wow and to think I thought I was up early” she chuckled “How you doing this morning Aly?”
“Better but I know it won’t last” I smiled at her.
“Oh Honey I need to talk to you about going back to Lejeune” Uncle Brody said suddenly remembering something “I’ll catch you in a while” I nodded and walked over to Sempers Stall and unlatched it.
“I’d better go get my hat and boots” Brent started to back out not taking his eyes from me
“You can keep going as well because I will catch you at some point” I glanced at him smiled unnerving him totally. “You’re too much like Ryder you put your mouth into gear before your brain” I called after him as he ran from the barn. “I’m sorry about jack ass” I sighed as I tightened the saddle on Semper and he pawed the ground.
“Its okay” Justin hadn’t looked at me he busied himself getting Brent’s horse saddled and ready “I mean I was…”
“Okay I’m back and I’m going to bail” Brent smiled Justin and I both looked at him “Well I need to go see a friend before she leaves on vacation and well I value my life and I don’t trust you not to kill me and bury me in a field” I started to laugh as he pointed to me “You’re my cousin and I love you but you hurt when you punch”
“Not so tough now are you?’ I heckled “Uncle B and your Dad are going to be pissed when they find out”
“They won’t unless you tell them he took the reins to his horse from Justin I’ll be up in the paddock by 7.30” He grinned Putting his foot in the stirrup and getting on his horse. He got a twinkle in his eye. “You two be good and don’t do anything I wouldn’t” he kicked his horse and bolted from the barn before I could say anything.
“You want some help with your horse?” I offered, pretending what Brent had just said really didn’t happen.
“Sure” Justin nodded I walked over and grabbed the saddled from where it rested on a rail. He moved to reach for it, his fingers brushing against mine as he took it.
“I think you’re family must have a built in radar” eh chuckled as he pulled the straps
“You think these guys are bad try having a twin that will get you in trouble without thinking twice about it” I groaned.
“That bad”
“I hit him with a baseball bat once and he went and told my Dad” I laughed walking Semper to the door of the barn
“Er… I think if someone hit me with a baseball bat I’d tell my Dad as well”
“Yeah but he left out why I hit him with the bat” I got on Semper.
“And why did you hit him with a baseball bat?” Justin rode up next to me.
“He was going to tell my Dad that I’d gotten off base when I was grounded and he was working”
“And was it true?” Justin shifted his weight in the saddle
“Yeah but that’s not the point” I protested “I mean did I tell Dad when he asked who’d spilt something on the seat in the new 350 we had? No” I shrugged “because if Dad knew that wasn’t a milkshake he’d have Killed Ryder” I laughed “Devil dog it Baby” I patted Semper and gave him his head leaving Justin sitting working out what I’d just said. Justin caught me as we crossed the stream that wound through the ranch Semper stopping to take a long drink.
“Okay do you mean it was… You know… your brother had been with a girl” Justin pulle a face I shuddered
“Yes” I groaned “I did put him in hospital over night though”
“Wow and he still loves you?”
“He has no choice” I shrugged “he’s got me with him everywhere he goes”
“Photo’s?”
“Well that and…” I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled through the pictures and handed it to Justin He shielded it from the sun.
“That’s a lot of Tattoo’s” Justin schrunched up his nose.
“Not in my family” I smiled “and please ignore where he has the Ooh Rah he didn’t think that out so his last girlfriend said”
“He has your Name on his chest” I nodded
“Yep”
“Wow you like that sort of thing… the tattoo’s?” He handed me back the phone and we carried on walking on the horses to the paddock.
“It’s part of my family I have a great grandma that has tattoo’s” His mouth fell open
“I don’t see the appeal” he sighed “what happens if you end up not liking what you get?
“You make sure that doesn’t happen” I chuckled. There was a noise in the grass and Semper spooked rearing up and catching me off guard I hit the ground with a thud, all the air was knocked out of me and my head hurt, I groaned as I heard a shot ring out. Justin blocked the sun as he appeared over me
“Damn Snakes” he muttered “Aly are you okay?”
“My Ass hurts” I grumbled
“You have a cute ass” I opened one eye and looked at him “Oh Damn you’re bleeding” he flicked back my hat I could feel the warm trickle of blood as it rolled from above my eye.
“I’m fine” I sat up and got to my feet and staggered a little “Wow head rush”
“Okay I think you need to sit” He put his arm round me sitting me back down and pulled a rag from his back pocket and pressed it to my head
“Ow son of a bitch that stings’ I hissed.
“I could kiss it better” he bit on his bottom lip
“What my ass or my head?” I groaned as my head pounded “Because you’ve been good at kissing ass since yesterday”
“Okay so bitch mode is back” he moved the rag “I think you’re going to need stitches”
‘Oh great I can hear the Frankenstein jokes now from the guys” I lay back my head was spinning like I was on a fairground ride. I closed my eyes again
“Hey Stay with me Aly” He tapped the side of my face
“Do that again and I’ll punch you”
“Sorry but head injury and all that”
“Lets get you in the shade of the tree”
“I’m good the worlds spinning way too fast for me to move” I held the rag to my head, I suddenly felt nothing under me but two arms “Okay what the hell?”
“I’m taking you to the shade and then I’ll call down to the ranch” He walked across the grass to the tree and put me down.
“I’m fine” I moved to get up Justin put his hand on my shoulder and held me down as he pulled a phone from his pocket and called the ranch.
Chapter 13
Oh am I having a stroke
“They’re on their way”
‘I can ride I’m fine give me some duct tape and I’ll be good”
“Yeah really Wow” he chuckled “You took a nasty fall”
; “I fell of a horse” I protested
“Do you ever shut up arguing”
“Yes when there’s something in my mouth” Okay I really didn’t think that one through and I’m putting that down to the bump on the head.
“Alright then” Justin grinned he moved quicker that I did his mouth closing over mine his tongue fighting it’s way in to my mouth. I didn’t know what I was more surprised about, him kissing me or the reaction I gave with my arms wrapping round his neck my tongue in full battle with his. The rag fell to the floor as he pulled me closer to him I felt the heat of his fingers as the stroked the skin on my side where my shirt had ridden up. A groan came from one of us which one I don’t know. The sound of a truck stopped us I pulled back and looked at him
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