by Shae Shannon
She plastered on the best smile she could and headed out to the barn.
Chapter 3
EmmaLee walked off the wraparound porch and through the perfectly landscaped yard. She bent down to pet Dixie, the family pet. She was a black-and-white border collie, and the best cattle dog in the county. The family had named her Dixie after Dixon because the dog followed him around like a shadow. He went to the extent of sneaking her in the house and letting her sleep on the foot of his bed on many occasions, until Lillian had caught them one morning and kicked her out. Even after their big bust, she was still snuck through the back door from time to time, and during every evil thunderstorm that left her whining. “Hey, girl, did you miss me?” The affectionate dog licked her cheek and nuzzled her while EmmaLee scratched her ears. “Aw, I missed you, too, girl. Have they been working you too hard? Huh? Well, I will come play catch with you tomorrow, okay?” The dog lay down and rolled on her back, exposing her belly, in both a demand and an invitation to be rubbed. EmmaLee laughed, and used both hands to give the faithful dog a thorough scratchin’. “Okay, girl, we gotta go work. Come on.” With the simple words, the dog stood and followed.
Lilly had spent so much time and effort in creating a dream-come-true botanical garden of her own. On one side of the house, there was a gorgeous koi pond complete with cascading waterfall in the middle of a secluded abundance of flowers. It was Asian inspired, but had her own personal touches everywhere. It was a girl’s perfect hideaway. So many times EmmaLee had snuck off from the world and hid in the confinements of flowers. Lilly always let her go, but would occasionally bring her something to drink and cookies or treats. She had explained to EmmaLee when she was about twelve, that with all of the boys in the house and all of the stresses of life, this was where she went to escape. Every year she added more and more to the unique retreat. A large hand landing on the small of her back jolted her out of her thoughts and quickened her leisurely pace. She glanced at Jase, finding him to be silently observing her. He seemed deep in thought, as if trying to figure out an impossible math equation. He gave her a small, genuine smile. Why does it look like he is deep in thought about me? Am I a bad kisser? There is no way it can be something more. He has to be thinking I am a total freak or something. I have been way overly emotional, and I am sure my emotions have given everyone here whiplash. Please let today be over soon, and me back to my normal, dull, lifeless routine.
The huge yard was lined with flower beds and log fencing. Bright lilac and rose bushes scattered through the front yard. The stone walkway created a picture-perfect aspect to the already amazing dream home and property. EmmaLee made her way down the walk and through the gate. She crossed the small adjoining field to the massive barn that was complete with a riding arena. The boys were all in the back area waiting for them. Dixie ran ahead and sat beside Jeremy, waiting for commands. She knew it was work time, and like always, was the first in line to get down to business.
“There you two are. Okay, Emmie, you are gonna have to double ride with one of the boys. Betsy is ginormously pregnant so we are down to Gypsy, Fire, and Mr. Bojangles. Dixon has that wild-ass stallion, Jester, in the other barn that he plans on riding. I swear that damn animal won’t let anyone close to it besides him and your momma. He says it’s loyal. I think it is just a pain in the royal ass and a pervert. The damn thing kicked me in the shin last week when I went to put feed out. I still got a bruise.” Jeremy saddled up and looked at the others, waiting for them to do the same.
“That horse is just a wild animal still. Needs his balls cut off if you ask me. But Betsy wouldn’t be havin’ a colt if it weren’t for him. Plus, I think he was made for Dixon. They are a lot alike, a bit wild and untamable.” Lyndon threw a few extra things in his saddlebags before he, too, mounted up on Fire and waited.
“Who you ridin’ with, Emmie?” Jase asked with a grin.
Once again, she froze. Her mind seemed incapable of making decisions for some reason today. It was a simple question, and it caused a mind-blowing dilemma to peak in her now throbbing brain. Thankfully, Jeremy made the decision for her. “I have Gypsy loaded down pretty hard, so it would be best if you rode with Lyndon on Fire, hun. Now come on, we gotta get goin’.”
Jeremy watched as EmmaLee hurried over and accepted the hand Lyndon offered and mounted to sit in front of him. Her face looked like a doe caught in the headlights, and her reaction declared everything Jeremy needed to know. She was in love with them, and fighting an inner battle, just like his boys. Jeremy smiled, knowing that Lyndon and Dixon were the ones that needed a wake-up call more than Jase. What better way to get them to break and stop their nonsense notions than to tempt them in any way possible? Let’s just see how you boys manage to stay in the brother zone after tonight. It can’t hurt to give them a little shove in the right direction. He turned Bojangles, and with a soft nudge to the Appaloosa horse, he headed out of the enormous barn with Dixie tight on his heels. The others soon followed, and spotted Dixon waiting in the field.
It was Lyndon and Emmie that stopped to find out what was holding him up, allowing the others to go on ahead. “Hey, bro, everything okay?” Lyndon moved his gaze over Dixon and the stud.
“Yeah, I was just waiting for everyone. Why the hell is Emm riding with you?” Irritation tainted the normally soft lines around Dixon’s eyes.
“Why do you think? Betsy is busting at the seams, and we are down to the three horses.” A hint of defensiveness etched in his tone. With a devious look, he added, “Plus, we all know that I am the best rider, especially when it comes to double.”
Dixon rolled his eyes. “In your dreams, little brother. I run the rodeo and you know it. Now get your ass movin’, we have a shit-ton of work to do. And keep in mind, there ain’t no rodeo ’round here. You feel me?” His gaze flashed between the two.
Lyndon’s irritation began to bubble in the pit of his stomach. He felt EmmaLee tense in front of him and refrained from commenting on his brother’s dick fuck comment. He nodded, prodded Fire, and darted off through the field in a dead run.
He couldn’t help but admire the way EmmaLee fit perfectly against him. A sweet, floral smell drifted up his nose as her hair flipped in the breeze. She had relaxed in the saddle, her body moving as one with the beast that lay beneath. She turned her head to gaze out across the fields with the most content, calm, angelic look on her face. He watched her, wondering how life had her so wound up. She had always been the calm, cool, and collected one of the bunch, besides their momma. His gut clenched at the flash of how bad things had been back at her house, and the overpowering instinct to protect her and wrap his arms around her shook him to the core.
She mindlessly leaned back into his chest, with her gaze drifting into the abyss. The softness of her body against his drew a whole new reaction. He could smell her sweet scent stronger now, and the plush rub of her butt on his groin created a chemical reaction in his veins. He fought the enlarging boner that began making its grand appearance. Oh fuck. This is Emmie! I can’t think of her like that. Shit. God, I hope she doesn’t feel it. Maybe if I move… Shit, my balls! This is going to be a long-ass ride. His subtle repositioning only pressed his raging hard-on tighter along the crack of her ass and his balls farther under, to where he was painfully sitting on part of them. He couldn’t exactly reach in his pants and reposition without it being obvious, but riding the rest of the way on the back of a bouncing horse with his nuts getting beat up and crushed wasn’t an option either. The ever-growing feeling of vomit welled up in his stomach with every stride.
“Hey, uh, Emmie, I…uh…I need to stop and take a leak real fast.”
When she turned to look at him, confusion twisted her lips and wrinkled her cute little nose. “Why you sound embarrassed about takin’ a piss, Lyndon? You used to hold me up while we was out bailing hay so I could pee and not fall into it. I have seen you whip it out more times than I can count.”
“I ain’t embarrassed, I just really gotta go.” Lyndon sh
uffled again to no avail. “Woah, girl.” He tightened the slack on the reins and eased the gentle horse to a stop. His could feel the flush creeping up his face. She was right. They all used to skinny-dip after each of those hot, suffocating days of hauling hay. Why the hell was he acting like a shit-tard?
He quickly dismounted and walked to the back of Fire to relieve himself, and readjust his aching gonads and somehow still-throbbing traitor of a dick. His mind reeled, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation. He knew she was gorgeous. Hell, the whole damn county and two over knew. She was family, though. Blood or not, you didn’t just start poppin’ semis every time your “almost” sister rubbed accidently against you. He shook a little harder than necessary, groaning at the sharp protest of his bruised balls that jiggled in the process.
He hoisted himself back into the saddle, hoping his untucked T-shirt helped to disguise the bulge against his zipper. Lyndon tried to sit farther back, but the saddle was cramped as it was. With a couple clicks and a light nudge, they were barreling across the open fields of cows once again.
“Do you think it will go all night, Lyndon?”
Her voice caught him off guard through the silence. All night and more, baby. Wait! Stop it! “What?” He could hear the shock in his own voice and mentally kicked himself.
“The calves. Do you think it will take all night for them to come?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I hope not. I have been up since three this morning doing chores. I secretly am praying that they are already born and standing when we arrive. I need a hot shower, something to eat, and an early bedtime. At least Momma packed us some sandwiches, and I know no matter what time we get home dinner will be waiting.” His arms were around her sides. Realization hit that the hand that held the reins rested on her thigh. Excitement shot to his groin, again. His brain clouded with desire and anger. He quickly moved his hand clumsily, bumping into her breast in the process, drawing out a string of curses under his breath. She turned to look at him with wide eyes and her face evident that she caught his fumbling actions.
“Something wrong, Lyndon?” Her tone cut through his heart like a knife. He could hear her slight irritation laced with what seemed to be hurt and disappointment.
“Uh, oh, no, darlin’. I just realized that I was probably smashing your leg. Sorry for the booby bump…I wasn’t copping a cheap feel.”
She snorted while laughing a nervous giggle. “What is up with you today? I seem to be making you uncomfortable. I know I ain’t the type of woman you want to be pressed up against but shit, I don’t have the black plague either.”
Shit. I have insulted her. Why the hell was her damn self-esteem so bad? What fucker had convinced her that she wasn’t everything any man in their right mind would long for? How the hell am I going to fix this without her knowing that she was the cause of my poor dick getting ground into hamburger meat on my fucking evil zipper?
“I wouldn’t want to be pressed against no one else but you, Emm.” Her head whipped around to face him. Her eyes were full of surprise and her mouth hung open in shock. “I just mean…what I am tryin’ to say is…well…” His stammering trailed off.
“What, Lyndon. What are you trying to say that has you stuttering like a five-year-old in trouble for stealing cookies? You have acted weird since you chewed my ass in the bathroom. Did I do something to upset or disgust you? I am at my limit of drama today. So, please, tell me what the heck is goin’ on in that damn thick skull of yours that has you off tilt and not your normal, assertive, dominating, jackass self?”
“You! You, Emmie. You have fell into some sort of hole and have become more self-conscious and down than I have ever seen you. I don’t know what the hell has brought you to believe that you aren’t good enough or pretty, but it pisses me the fuck off. You are freakin’ hot. You drip sexy from that warped little head of yours to your cute little monkey toes. Shit, I ain’t supposed to notice. I am like your brother for shit’s sake, but this damn ride has been hell on my balls and my throbbing cock. I am pissed that you are affecting me this way. I am not supposed to see you in any other way than pigtails and mud smeared all over your face. But hell, I can’t seem to even pretend to be normal around you.”
EmmaLee stared, totally in shock from his outburst. After a long, awkward silence, she finally spoke in a soft, soothing tone. “You are tired, hungry, and probably haven’t been laid in a long time. The damn saddle rubbing would probably make Mr. One Eyed Snake stand to flap in the breeze. Chill out. It’s not a big deal, okay? Thank you for tryin’ to make me feel better. I have been down an emotional cliff today, also. Stop being weird. It’s just me.” She leaned back to rest her head against his shoulder. Without a word, she moved his hand back to rest on her thigh, and sat silently the rest of the way to the back pasture.
Her mind spun so fast she felt nauseous. The simple idea that Lyndon had popped a stiffy from her just seemed impossible. Her rationalization of the situation consumed her thoughts the remainder of the ride. Oh hell, freakin’ stop your dreaming. He has been working nonstop and ain’t had time to get a piece of ass. His boxers would make him blow his load. With a deep exhale, she closed her eyes and cleared her head. She almost dozed off when she felt Fire slow into a gallop before stopping alongside the fence line.
The big red barn perched on the south pasture, next to where Justin and Wyatt Dennison shared a log cabin. They were the cousins of the boys, belonging to Jeremy’s brother, Rhett Dennison. Rhett was married to Jennie, a pretty little thing with a hot temper, who could go from sugar and spice to kicking your ass in ten seconds flat. She was beautiful, and didn’t look over her midthirties at the age of fifty. Her shiny blonde hair gave her an angelic look. At a whopping five foot three, and about a hundred pounds soaking wet, she could snap any of the abnormally giant Dennison boys into shape. Together they had five kids. Johnny was the oldest at twenty-seven, then came Justin at twenty-six, Wyatt twenty-four, Cassie twenty-one, and Winter was their baby at only eighteen. Cassie had moved away to college, leaving the boys and Winter to help with the ranch. They were busy taking some of the yearlings to auction, leaving Jeremy and his boys to deal with the expectant cows.
The others had already corralled the robust cattle and were busy unloading gear from the saddlebags. Dixie was sprawled out on the grass, panting from herding the cows into the enclosure. Lyndon hopped off and tied the reins to the post. EmmaLee had swung her leg over and was about to jump when two huge hands planted on her sides and slowly lifted her down.
“What was that for? You know I can get on and off a horse just fine, Lyndon Wade.” With her eyebrows furrowed together, she planted both hands on her hips.
“I know that, Emm. I just didn’t want you to fall after being almost asleep on the ride here, that’s all.” His posture puffed up suddenly, and his normal dominating persona radiated off in waves. “Plus, I will lift you off a horse any damn time I like, understand? Get that pissy look off your face before I bare your bratty ass and paddle you!”
One arm fell to her side as her body began to melt from the commanding tone that pierced through her. Defiance folded her features in a rush. The corners of her mouth tilted up in the slightest of smiles. Her hip cocked out with her hand anchored back in place. “Don’t you go barking orders and making threats to me, Lyndon. You can’t spank me, I am a grown-ass woman. So, go try that big bad macho shit on someone else. You and all the armies in the world couldn’t handle this girl.” She glared directly in his squinted honeypot eyes, daring him to say or do something else.
Lyndon watched EmmaLee’s posture quickly falter with the two long strides he took, coming to stand face-to-face with her. She promptly took back the “I’m not scared of you, I can take you” look as he locked his eyes to hers. Did she just dare me to spank her? She better not push too hard because I will show her how easily I can bring her sweet little ass to a shiny bright red. As if controlling my damn dick around her isn’t enough, now she wants to tease me, too. Well, two ca
n play this game, and I will win.
Lyndon moved his head beside her ear close enough his lips brushed ever so gently against her soft skin. “Keep talking, Emm, and I will not only spank that ass, but I will tie you up and make you like it. You can’t handle what all I am capable of, so it would be best if you zipped it right now.” He could see a soft tremor quake up the length of her body.
Son of a bitch, she is getting hot and bothered by my threats. Lord, help me remain in control and not give in to this tempting little vixen. The vision of her tied with her arms above her head with those luscious tits pushed out and on display created another throb that went straight to his gonads. He only hoped his silent prayer would keep him from falling prey to his deep, dark, fantasies.
When he pulled back, she leaned in and let the heat of her breath cascade against his ear. Oh fuck. She was actually going to challenge him. He stiffened. The warm caress only a brush away from his skin sent his body into full arousal. He could smell the sweet scent that was uniquely hers, and began to wonder what it would taste like if he ran his tongue along every inch of her perfect body. She lingered a little longer than necessary before finally whispering, “Don’t make threats you ain’t willing to keep, cowboy. Your threats of spanking don’t scare me. Keep in mind that I ain’t a newborn filly. I doubt that you could handle me, much less stay on longer than eight seconds. So you zip it, before I teach you a riding lesson or two.” Her tongue darted out and barely traced the length of his ear before she turned on her heels and walked away, leaving him standing in disbelief.
That did not just happen. He replayed the conversation over in his head in attempts of snapping out of some dream and realizing that it couldn’t have possibly been the words that came out of her mouth. He watched as she walked away, and took note of each extra little sway of her hips with every step. About halfway to where the others were laying out gloves and supplies, she turned and winked, flashing a knowing smile that her sexy little saunter had the effect she had hoped for.