Blake was still tired, but she was happy and ready to get up. She hadn’t ever connected with another person like she had with Jane last night. It wasn’t an evening based on physical intimacy but something much deeper. They had discussed their lives, dreams, and even their childhoods. The conversation had flowed smoothly, and Jane, surprisingly turned out to be an easy person to talk to. Blake pushed herself up, still smelling the aromatic perfume that Jane had worn the night before in the spot by her on the couch. Blake smiled to herself as the perfume took over her nostrils. She could still feel the other woman in her arms and the warmth of her body as she lay pressed up against her throughout the night.
Blake got up, still reminiscing about the night before and used her crutches to get her to the kitchen. She hobbled over to the coffee pot and instantly noticed that there was a fresh pot made with a note by it. Blake picked up the note and read it. Coffee is made. Pumpkin bread is on the counter for breakfast. Have a good day.-Jane Blake poured herself a cup of coffee and cut herself a slice of bread. She didn’t know what to think about Jane’s generosity, but she was thankful. The other woman had to get up early in order to make breakfast for her, and with Jane’s busy schedule, Blake knew that couldn’t have been easy. Blake pulled a nearby stool to the counter and propped herself up on it so that she could eat her breakfast. It had been a long time since she had started her day in such a good mood, and she didn’t want it to end.
Blake remembered the words of Walter the night before, stating that Jane was interested in her. She hadn’t given much thought about this until now, but after spending time with Jane, she wondered about his statement and if it was true. She hadn’t been with anyone since Martha or even thought about it for that matter, but she began to wonder if the recent changes in her life were a sign that she needed something new.
Blake munched on her breakfast and sipped her warm coffee, letting the feeling of happiness take over her. She felt oddly motivated this morning, and she was ready to get out and enjoy the day. Just as she was about to take another bite of bread, she heard a knock at the door. Blake yelled across the room that she was coming, hoping that whomever was at the door would be able to hear her through the thick glass. She used her crutches to move herself across the room and into the living room towards the door. It was early in the morning, and she wasn’t sure who would be coming over at such a time, especially unannounced. Blake hadn’t even had time to get herself properly dressed or groomed for company. She opened the door, instantly seeing Walter’s smiling face staring back at her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked her friend, waving him inside.
“I have some good news,” Walter replied, watching into the living room and straight to the kitchen. “What do you have to eat? I smell something good.”
“Pumpkin bread,” Blake answered, carefully shutting the door behind him and following him into the kitchen. “Jane made it this morning.”
“A woman with a good personality and good looks that bakes,” Walter replied. “I told you. You need to nab her up before she considers other options.”
“I don’t know if she feels that way about me,” Blake told him, sitting herself back up on the stool.
“A woman doesn’t just make you bread for the heck of it,” Walter told her. “At least not in my experience.”
“I guess you’re right,” Blake said. “So, what’s the big news?”
“You know how you lost your place in the rodeo competition when you fell?” Walter asked.
Blake thought back to the competition. She had gotten the results that she had been beaten in the competition when she was in the hospital and had tried to forget the large defeat. She had been so angry with herself that she had fallen off the bull that she replayed the night over and over in her head, and she hadn’t talked about the competition in detail with anyone since she found out that her mistake of not holding onto the bull properly cost her the win. “Yeah, what’s your point?”
“Well, the third-place winner just got disqualified for cheating,” Walter grinned. “He used some kind of glue on his gloves to hold onto the rope, and the judges took away his win and banned him from the competition for the next two years.”
“How’s that supposed to make me happy?” Blake asked. “So, the guy did something stupid. What does that have to do with me?”
“Well, after recalculating the points of the other competitors, the judges came to the conclusion that you were the next person in line for the title,” Walter replied. “So, even though you have been beating yourself up for not getting the win, you are now the third-place champion in this year’s bull riding event.”
Blake looked at her friend in disbelief. She had worked hard to improve her bull riding skills, practicing all year for the competition. In fact, she hadn’t done much of anything else. It had been a long time since she had focused so much time or energy into something that she loved, and after the accident, she had felt so deflated that she was actually thinking about giving up. Now, with the news that she had actually succeeded enough to place in the competition, she could feel her mood elevate. It was like everything was going her way for once, and though she was happy, she was wondering how long it was going to last.
“Are you sure?” Blake asked him, looking Walter in the eyes. “I haven’t heard anything from anyone or anything.”
“This is all new,” Walter told her. “I’m sure that the judges haven’t had a chance to contact you yet. The last day of the rodeo is on Saturday, and they want you to come for the final celebration. Also, since you placed, you are still eligible for a little prize money.”
“Wow,” Blake said, certain that this had to be a dream. “This is great.”
“Sure is,” Walter said, smiling at his friend. “The guys wanted you to come to the store to celebrate if you are up to it.”
“Yeah?” Blake replied. “I guess so. I just need to shower.”
“Well, you better get on it cowgirl,” Walter said. “Everyone is excited to see how you are doing after the accident. Now, pass me the butter. Let’s see how good of a cook good ole Janie is.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jane smiled as she went from room to room, tending to her patients. She had, had a wonderful night with Blake, finding out that the woman was a lot more than the pain in the butt that she had originally presented herself to be. In fact, the conversation that they had had and the time that she had spent with Blake proved to be more than enjoyable. She found out that Blake and she had grown up in a similar type of household and that Blake felt the same way about the rodeo that she did about being a doctor. It was nice to see someone else with passion and dedication, and she wondered how their relationship would grow now that they had found some common ground.
Jane had also felt comforted sleeping in Blake’s arms the night before. Normally, she wasn’t one to snuggle up to anyone that she was sleeping with. She was more of an independent sleeper, and she felt claustrophobic when she was held too tight at night. Nevertheless, sleeping with Blake was soothing. The other woman’s arms felt around her like they were meant to be there, and even Blake’s warm breath on the back of her neck while she slept was reassuring. Jane smiled, thinking about the time that the two had spent together. It was like an unspoken connection. Something about being with Blake had felt right, and she wanted to know more about how she felt and wondered if Blake felt the same way.
“Dr. Steibold,” Darla called from the front office. “There is another patient waiting to see you. Do you want me to send her back?”
“Yes, please,” Jane said, knowing that she was almost finished with the two patients that she was currently attending to. Jane finished sealing up the bloodwork that she had from her last patient and turned around to see Darla bringing back Martha Wilson.
“Well, hello Dr. Steibold,” Martha smiled as Darla escorted her into a room. “Do you have time for me today?”
“Sure,” Jane said, following the other woman into the room and clos
ing the door as Darla walked back towards the front desk. “What can I help you with?”
“I think that I broke something,” Martha replied, looking at her with a sultry smile.
Jane looked the other woman up and down, but she didn’t see anything out of place or even any sign of pain. “What do you think you broke?” she asked, curious as to how the other woman could be so calm if she had such a painful injury.
“My heart,” Martha told her, getting up and moving towards her. “Can you fix it?”
Jane watched as Martha teased the opening at the top of her blouse and moved so close to her that she was forced to back up against the wall. “I’m sorry,” Jane said, feeling embarrassed and out of place. “I’m not that kind of doctor.”
“You could have fooled me,” Martha replied, pushing her body against her. “I knew that you had to be mistaken last night when you turned me down. I should have known that you formal types like to do everything behind closed doors.”
Jane tried to move out of Martha’s embrace, but the other woman held on tighter. “I’m really not interested,” Jane said, looking Martha in the eyes. She saw Martha’s flirtatious smile turn into a grimace, and the other woman backed off.
“Is this about Blake?” Martha asked, looking at Jane with disparagement. “I knew that there was something going on between you two. Blake isn’t the type to let just anyone move into her house, and I saw the way that she looked at you last night while you two were dancing.”
“This isn’t about Blake,” Jane told her, wondering if she was speaking the truth as the words traveled out of her mouth. “This is about me. I am not interested in you.”
“Not interested in me?” Martha replied, stepping back. “Honey, I don’t think that you know who I am or how much power I have in these parts.”
“Do you think that would change things?” Jane smirked at the other woman’s arrogance. “I’m not attracted to power or wealth, Martha. I do quite fine on my own.”
“We’ll see about that,” Martha told her. “I can make your life a living hell.”
“Been there, done that,” Jane said nonchalantly. “Look, I’m not trying to hurt your feelings or make you upset. I’m just not interested in you like that. I’m sure that you have a lot of other people that are interested in you. I’m just not one of them.”
“What about Blake?” Martha chided. “Does she interest you? Good ole Blake Young. She doesn’t have much to offer financially, but I assume that you are one that likes people for their personality, aren’t you?”
“Leave Blake alone,” Jane told her, feeling her face turn red. “That woman has been through enough, and from what I hear around town, you have been the cause of a lot of her pain.”
“Blake knew better than to fall in love with me,” Martha replied. “I told her that it wouldn’t work. We are just from two different worlds. Blake is just a simple country woman. I have had a more refined upbringing, and how would it look if the mayor’s daughter married a poor, simple country woman?”
“Who cares how it would look?” Jane spitted. She was angry at this point. The woman in front of her was so self-involved, and she couldn’t see what Blake had seen in her. Why would Blake fall in love with such an egotistical woman? What could the two possibly have in common?
“You see, Jane, that is the difference between you and I,” Martha told her. “I have been in Melville long enough to know that it is important to have a certain reputation. People around here talk to each other and judge each other’s actions. You will figure this out soon. There will be people that you thought were your friends that will turn their back on you on a dime, and you will be left alone in this one-horse town, an outcast.”
“I think that your perspective is distorted,” Jane told her. “There are good people here too. Did you ever think that you might have been the problem? You are one of the most judgmental people that I have met.”
“Well, why don’t we see what Blake thinks about that?” Martha said smiling at her. “I’m sure that she will see things differently.”
“Martha, why would you even go there?” Jane replied, shaking her head. “You know that any feelings that Blake still has for you are real. Why would you go so far to break her heart again? What kind of a person do you have to be to do that to someone?”
Martha stopped talking and looked at Jane closely. “You really care about Blake, don’t you? Why won’t you admit it? You’re smitten.”
“I didn’t say that,” Jane said, looking back at her. “I just don’t like to see bad things happen to good people.”
“That’s a shame,” Martha grinned. “Because Blake is about to find out how bad I am.”
With that, the other woman left the room, leaving Jane standing there in shock. Jane wasn’t sure what to do. She wanted to warn Blake about Martha and let her know the details of the conversation that just took part. However, she wasn’t sure if Blake would believe her. Blake clearly had strong feelings for the other woman, and she had hurt her. Jane didn’t want to get in the middle of Blake’s love life, and she certainly didn’t want Blake to resent her if she stepped in the way.
Chapter Fourteen
Blake looked around the store, finally feeling like she belonged somewhere. The accident had changed a lot for her. She was used to being a busy person, and even though she lived a quiet life at home, she usually had a chance to see her friends throughout the day. It was nice to be around the people that she knew and loved, and looking around the room, she could see that this feeling was consensual. Blake sat in a chair close to the counter, listening to the banter of the men around her. Charlie’s General Store was quiet at the moment, probably because most people were at work, but her co-workers filled the air easily with conversation and laughs.
“So, what are you going to do now that you are a big rodeo star?” Jack, the stockman asked her with a big grin.
“Well, I wouldn’t say that I’m too big of a rodeo star,” Blake chuckled. “I only managed to nab third place.”
“Give yourself more credit,” Walter told her. “Most men wouldn’t even attempt what you did, and you were the only woman who tried it.”
“Besides you can get right back on the bull the same way you fell off,” Charlie, the store owner replied, raising his lips just enough that she thought she saw a smile.
“Well, I won’t be able to do that until this bum leg heals,” Blake grimaced. “And even then, it will take a lot of practice. I don’t even know if I will remember what to do.”
“Sure, you will,” Jack grinned. “It’s just like being with a woman. You never forget. You just feel your way around until you hit all of the right spots.”
“Jack,” Charlie scolded, looking at the younger man with arched eye brows.
Charlie was an older man who grew up in politer times, and he wasn’t much for Jack’s dirty talk. Blake and Walter laughed as they listened to the two men go back and forth arguing about what was and wasn’t appropriate. This was usually a daily thing between Jack and Charlie, and if a stranger had walked in, they would probably swear that Charlie was Jack’s father from the way he spoke to him. The two continued to argue until a ding went off, signaling that a customer had entered the store.
“Get up,” Charlie told the trio, waving them away from the front counter. “We still do have a business to run.”
“Well, don’t stop all of the fun just for me, Charlie,” a familiar voice said, making everyone turn around.
Blake stood there on her crutches looking at the woman by the door. Martha Wilson stood there wearing a tight spring dress and a gorgeous smile. Even though she had seen her the night before, the woman still caught her eye, and she wondered what Martha was doing in the store on the same day that she had shown up.
“Blake, you can shut your mouth now,” Martha said, coming up to her and running a finger along her chin. “Though I appreciate the attention, the drooling is a bit much.”
“Sorry,” Blake laughed, feeling her fa
ce turn red. “I guess I’m just surprised to see you. What are you doing here?”
“What does anyone do at the store?” Martha asked with a laugh. “I came here to get a few supplies of course.”
“Oh, yeah,” Blake said, finding that her mind had gone blank. “I guess that makes sense.”
“It should,” Martha told her, looking her straight in the eyes. “I suppose I should tell you congratulations as well.”
“What for?” Blake asked still mesmerized that the woman that she had pined for, for so long was standing in front of her.
“I heard that you got third place in the rodeo,” Martha replied. “It sounds like you really turned into a cowgirl.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say all that,” Blake told her. “I ended up breaking my leg pretty bad.”
“You’re a brute,” Martha told her. “You’ll heal.”
“Well, thanks,” Blake said. “Anyways, can I help you find anything?”
“How about a date for tonight?” Martha said. “I could use some company for dinner.”
“Well I suppose,” Blake told her. “But don’t you think that it’s kind of awkward asking your ex to help you find a date.”
“That would be awkward if that’s what I was doing,” Martha replied. “I thought maybe you would like to escort me.”
“Me?” Blake questioned. “I thought you were done with me. That’s what I understood from last night.”
“That was all an act,” Martha told her. “You know that I can’t be partial to anyone in public. I don’t want gossip about my relationships all over town, and it wouldn’t be good for daddy’s campaign.”
“I understand,” Blake sighed, wishing that the other woman wasn’t so caught up on what everyone else thought.
The Heart of the Rodeo Page 5