Real Love

by Jeanne Mccann

  “I expect you can.” She was wearing shiny red cowboy boots, her jeans skin tight, and her red silk blouse unbuttoned enough to show her impressive cleavage. She was a physically beautiful woman but, in Alicia’s opinion, rotten to the core. “I need to talk to you. I wanted to apologize to you for sleeping with Rhea. I know it wasn’t very nice since the two of you are a couple.”

  “So you and Rhea slept together?” Alicia’s face remained calm as she waited for Leann to respond.

  “Yes, when she spent the night at my ranch.”

  “I see.” Alicia was seething inside, but she would not allow Leann know it. She trusted Rhea completely and loved her enough to not allow Leann’s interference.

  “You don’t believe me, I can see that. But I have evidence to prove my claim.” Leann pulled a pair of panties out of her back pocket, and Alicia didn’t have to be told whose they were.

  “So you’ve told me. Now leave.”

  “I think that’s my line. You don’t belong here, and Rhea knows that. Why do you think she slept with me?”

  “I’m not leaving. This is my home.”

  “Why would you stay where you aren’t wanted?”

  “I will stay because Rhea and the Camerons are my family.”

  “You’re making a big mistake.” Leann was getting angry.

  Alicia spoke in a low, calm voice. “No, you made a mistake when you thought you could turn Rhea away from me. I just feel sorry for you.”

  “Sorry, are you kidding? Sorry!” Leann was furious.

  She stalked back into the barn while Alicia tried to settle her anxious stallion. She turned and spoke softly to him trying to calm him down. She didn’t notice when Leann led another young stallion from his stall to the corral. His ears were back and his nose flared as he reacted to the presence of the mare and another stallion. He was rearing back before Alicia realized what was happening. Her stallion jerked the reins out of her hands and prepared to do battle. He reared up and kicked out with his hooves, barely missing Alicia’s head. Gentle

  Walker’s eyes rolled back in his head as he reacted to the attacking stallion’s screams. Alicia ignored the other stallion and focused on her horse. He could be killed if she couldn’t get him under control and away from the other stallion. She whispered commands to him over and over staying between him and the other agitated horse. Sophia heard the horses’ screams and came running into the corral. She gasped as she saw the flaying hooves within inches of Alicia’s face and head as she struggled to keep her horse safe. Sophia ran out with a lasso in hand and was joined by a quick-thinking ranch hand. Swiftly, they roped the other stallion and pulled him back, but not before a hoof caught Alicia on the back of her shoulder, slicing through her shirt. She didn’t flinch as she struggled, finally getting Gentle Walker to settle down so she could move him back into his stall. When she finally shot home the bolt to the stall door, she rested her head against it and caught her breath. Her shoulder hurt like hell, but she was angry, white-hot, furious.

  “Alicia, you’re hurt. Let me see your shoulder.” Sophia’s hands shook as she reached out to help Alicia. She was still reeling after watching Alicia nearly killed protecting her foal. Few people had the strength or courage to stand between two fighting horses.

  Alicia turned and saw Leann standing outside the barn talking to Rhea. Rhea’s face was flushed, her body rigid with anger. Alicia was through dealing with Leann, and she was going to do something about her. “I’ll worry about it later. I have something to do.”

  Alicia stalked out of the barn past Rhea and Leann, straight into the back door of the house. It was only then that Rhea saw the blood staining the back of Alicia’s shirt.

  “Alicia, what the hell…” But Alicia never responded as the back door slammed shut. “Mom, what happened to Alicia?”

  “She got struck by a horse hoof and…”

  Sophia didn’t get to finish as Alicia flew out of the back door brandishing a handgun. “Leann, I warned you if you touched Rhea I would shoot you.”

  Leann stood frozen as Alicia stopped ten feet from her waving the revolver in front of her. Rhea started to approach Alicia, but Sophia held her back. “This is between Alicia and Leann.”

  August and Mommo crowded onto the back porch watching the scene with fascination as Alicia cocked the gun and fired, a bullet slamming into the ground inches from Leann’s right boot.

  “Goddamn, I have been practicing for weeks. You’d think I’d be able to hit something by now.”

  Alicia cocked the gun again and fired at a shocked Leann, the bullet landing inches from her left boot. “Shit, I missed again.”

  Leann was so stunned she just stood facing Alicia, her eyes bulging. She couldn’t believe Alicia was shooting at her. One more bullet hit the ground dead center of her boots.

  “Jesus, I can’t even hit something ten feet away. Get the hell out of here, Leann. I’m going to practice every day until I can hit you. Go on leave!” Alicia turned and walked up to the back porch the gun pointed down.

  “August, Mommo, I’m sorry I fired a gun at Leann,” she repented.

  August grinned at Alicia and spoke, “That was some damn skippy shooting.”

  Alicia’s mouth turned up at the corners as she handed the gun handle first to August. “It was, wasn’t it?”

  “Come here, baby. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Mommo gently led Alicia into the kitchen.

  Sophia turned to Rhea anticipating her reaction. She wasn’t disappointed. “Leann, get the hell off of our property. You’re not welcome here.”

  “She shot at me,” Leann pouted. She knew that Alicia’s shooting was deliberate. She could have put a bullet anywhere she wanted. It took enormous skill to put three bullets exactly where those had landed. She had terrified Leann.

  “I’m sure you can understand her reaction after you tried to get her hurt or killed,” Sophia responded, anger making her voice shaky.

  “Mom, what are you talking about?” Rhea had no idea what her mother meant. She could understand that Alicia was angry with Leann for getting into bed with her, but Sophia’s comment made no sense at all.

  “I’ll leave. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I only meant to scare her into leaving,” Leann spoke as she headed toward her car.

  “Leann let one of the stallions loose in the corral with Alicia and Gentle Walker with a mare.” Sophia’s words burst from her explosively.

  “Jesus, Mom.” Rhea knew what two stallions could do. She had seen it more than once.

  “Alicia took a hoof in the back of her shoulder while she kept the stallions apart. She stayed between them and controlled her stallion until Jake and I could rope the other horse and get him back to his stall.”

  “I have to go to her,” Rhea’s voice was urgent.

  “Before you do, you need to think long and hard about how you see Alicia.” Sophia’s anger was now directed at Rhea.

  “What do you mean?” Rhea looked very puzzled.

  “You still consider Alicia a city girl that has made a life here with us.”

  “I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “Alicia didn’t miss Leann. She can shoot a gun better than most of our ranch hands. She can control my Arabian mare while riding bareback. She communicates with her foal by voice and hand signals, and she can speak in the native aboriginal language. She’s as much an Australian rancher as any one of us.”

  “I didn’t know, Mom.”

  “Ask yourself why,” Sophia snapped. She wasn’t going to let Rhea off the hook.

  “I wasn’t paying attention.”

  Sophia’s voice softened seeing the hurt and pain on her daughter’s face. Rhea’s face was streaked with tears.

  “Honey, we all don’t always pay attention. We have to work hard at it. Go check on Alicia. I’m going to make sure the horses are okay. She’ll want to know.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Rhea flew up the stairs and burst into the kitchen.

  Alicia sat on a kitchen chair.
Her shirt had been removed, and Mommo was gently washing the gash left by the horse’s hoof. It wasn’t deep but it was already swelling and showing dark bruising. August was seated next to Alicia holding her hand.

  “Alicia, honey, I’m sorry.” Rhea slipped into the chair next to her and reached for her other hand.

  Alicia turned and smiled at Rhea. “You didn’t do anything to apologize for. I don’t think Leann is going to be bothering us anymore.”

  Rhea was still crying, but she burst into crazy laughter as she responded to Alicia’s comment. “I’m sure of that. She streaked out of here like a bat out of hell.”

  “Good, because I don’t think I could have missed her one more time.”

  “You always told me that good shooting depended upon motivation.” Rhea’s voice was full of pride.

  “And I was extremely motivated.” Alicia bent her head and rested it on Rhea’s shoulder. “I’m pooped.”

  Rhea turned and planted a kiss on Alicia’s nose. “You just saved the life of one, maybe two horses. They would have killed each other if you hadn’t handled Gentle Walker so well.”

  “He’s a good baby.”

  “Alicia, you are one of the most talented people I’ve ever met. You are as good a horse trainer as my mom, and you’ve gone out of your way to learn to speak in Mommo’s native tongue. You not only belong here, you were meant to be here.”

  “I second that,” Sophia spoke softly as she walked into the kitchen. “You were very brave when you stood between those two horses. You could have been badly injured or killed. I’ve have seen ranch hands shy away when two stallions go after each other.”

  “You wouldn’t have shied away.” Alicia would always measure herself against Sophia and the rest of the Camerons.

  “We love you, Alicia, as a daughter, and as the woman who loves our daughter. You are a valued member of this family.” August spoke softly but his words were clear and his voice full of pride.

  Before Alicia could say anything more, the kitchen door flew open and Sheri came bounding in followed closely by Ted. “Alicia, are you okay? Ted and I heard you were hurt.”

  “I’m fine, I just barely got scratched. Be careful, you shouldn’t get so excited. Remember, you’re pregnant.”

  “I’m fine, what happened?” Ted and Sheri gaped while Mommo spread a special healing salve over the torn skin on Alicia’s shoulder. Mommo reassured everyone. “She got kicked in the shoulder; she’ll be fine.”

  “Thanks, Mommo.” Alicia turned and tugged her down for a kiss.

  Mommo responded with a quick retort in her own language that caused Alicia to tear up. Sophia translated for Sheri. “Mommo told Alicia she was proud of her ‘daughter of the heart.’”

  “You go upstairs, keep ice on your shoulder and rest. I’ll bring dinner upstairs in an hour.” Mommo patted Alicia on her head.

  Alicia was still weeping as she replied, “I don’t need to eat upstairs.”

  “Go!” When Mommo commanded there was no one who would go against her. Her hand, gentle on Alicia’s head, took the sting out of her gruff command.

  Rhea grabbed a bag of ice while Alicia accepted hugs and kisses from everyone. August began retelling the whole story to Sheri and Ted as Rhea took Alicia’s elbow and led her upstairs. They entered their bedroom, and Alicia headed directly for the bed. She’d kicked her boots off downstairs. Now, all she wanted to do was get out of her jeans and what was left of the shirt hanging off her uninjured arm. Her shoulder was throbbing. Rhea knelt in front of her and began to remove her clothes.

  “Why don’t you stand up and I’ll take your jeans off.”

  Alicia leaned forward and laid her cheek against Rhea’s. “You’re not mad at me, are you?”

  “Mad at you? How could I be mad at you?” I’m so proud I can barely stand it. You stood between two angry stallions and saved both of them from being badly injured, without any thought for your own safety. Most of all, you calmly shot three perfectly placed bullets in the ground around Leann’s feet and scared the hell out of her. She knows you aren’t a city girl any longer. I love you Alicia, and I am so glad you’re my partner. I think you’re amazing.”

  “1 love you, Rhea.”

  “Alicia, I not only love you, I respect you so much. You can do anything you put your mind to.”

  They kissed slowly as Rhea gingerly held her lover. Alicia pulled away from Rhea, an impish grin on her face. “I really did terrify Leann.”

  “Yes, you did,” Rhea chuckled. “She isn’t going to bother us again.”

  “Then it was worth it.”

  “Yes, it was. Now, will you get into bed with this ice bag? We need to keep the swelling down on your shoulder.”

  “You know, I am feeling a little tired.”

  “Tell you what. You curl up on your stomach, and I’ll put the ice bag on your shoulder. I want you to close your eyes. And Alicia, remind me not to piss you off.”

  “Damn right, I’d have to shoot you.”

  Rhea smiled as she helped Alicia get comfortable. Alicia slid under the covers and felt the ice pack cool against her shoulder. Rhea sat next to her on the bed as Alicia quickly dropped off to sleep. Rhea waited until she could tell by her regular breathing that she was sound asleep before she returned downstairs.

  Sophia and August were sitting in the living with a drink, Ted and Sheri had gone home, and Mommo was preparing dinner. Rhea walked heavily into the living room and slumped onto the couch next to her mom.

  “Alicia is asleep.”

  “Good. She’s going to be very sore by morning. She was badly shaken up. Try to keep her in bed.”

  “I know. I will.”

  “That was some fancy shooting,” August commented, sipping his whiskey.

  “She put the bullets exactly where she wanted them.” Rhea grinned at her dad.

  “She scared the hell out of Leann,” Sophia chortled gleefully.

  “Leann can’t call her a city girl any more.”

  “No one can,” August commented, puffing on his cigar. “There aren’t many people who could have done what she did today.”

  “She could have been killed.” Rhea’s face was stark with fear. “Jesus, Mom and Dad, she could have been killed. What was Leann thinking?”

  “Leann is an idiot. And yes, she could have been killed, but Alicia knew her horse well and she controlled him until we could get the other stallion out of the corral. She’s a very talented horse trainer. She has the gift,” Sophia reminded them.

  “She has more than a gift. I can’t believe everything she is able to do. Her art work is incredible, but more than that she’s gone out of her way to make herself fit in.” Rhea spoke softly, her voice full of love and caring.

  “Everyone on the ranch loves and respects her,” Sophia commented.

  “She’s a hard person not to love,” Rhea responded.

  After a few moments of silence, Rhea spoke again. “I’m going to go give Mommo a hand in the kitchen.”

  Rhea found Mommo working at the kitchen counter. She inched her arms around Mommo’s ample waist and hugged. “Thanks for taking care of Alicia.”

  “How is she?”

  “She’s sound sleep.”

  “Good, she needs it.”

  “Can I help you with dinner?”

  “You cut up the potatoes for French fries.”

  Rhea grinned at Mommo. They were Alicia’s favorites. “Alicia loves you Mommo.”

  “I love her. She’s a daughter of my heart, like you.”

  “I love you, Mommo.”

  “Go, cut up the potatoes.” Mommo patted Rhea before pushing her toward the pile of potatoes.

  Rhea couldn’t help humming as she worked. She felt incredibly lucky with her life. She had a wonderful girlfriend and a family that she was very proud of. She and Alicia did belong here. An hour later Rhea went upstairs with another ice bag and to check on Alicia. Alicia was still sleeping soundly though her shoulder was very swollen and black and blue.
It was warm to the touch and Rhea knew it was going to hurt like hell.

  She went back downstairs where her parents were eating in the dining room. “She’s still sound asleep.”

  “Sit down and eat.”

  Rhea sat down and had a cozy meal with her parents. They talked about the workings of the ranch and enjoyed each other’s company. They avoided talking about the day’s activities and kept things light. Rhea went upstairs a little while later to find Alicia still sound asleep. She took a quick shower, slipped her nightshirt on, and climbed into bed next to Alicia, a good book in her hand. Around nine she replaced Alicia’s ice bag and climbed back into bed.

  “What time is it?” Alicia’s voice was fuzzy with sleep, as she began to stir.

  “It’s a little after nine. How’re you feeling?”

  “Okay.” Alicia rolled over and tried to sit up. Her shoulder bumped into the pillow and she winced in pain.

  “Honey, your shoulder is really bruised and swollen.”

  “It hurts like the dickens.”

  “I’m not surprised. Are you hungry?”

  “A little.”

  “Mommo made fried potatoes for you with ham steaks.”

  “That is so nice of her, but I don’t think I could eat that much. My stomach is a little upset.”

  “How about a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk?” It was Alicia’s very favorite meal.

  “That would be perfect. Let me throw on my robe and I’ll come down with you.”

  “You can stay right here. I’ll bring everything back upstairs.”

  “I can get up.”

  “I know you can, but do me a great big favor and stay up here, please.” Rhea bent over and dropped a light kiss on Alicia’s lips.

  “I will if you kiss me again.” Alicia’s eyes were glazed with pain but she still looked at her lover with emotion so strong it made Rhea’s heart beat faster.

  “My pleasure.” Rhea kissed Alicia slowly, her tongue sliding into her mouth and tasting the flavor of her lover. Soft, wet, and full, the kiss went on and on.

  “God, I love how you kiss me,” Alicia whispered against Rhea’s mouth.

  “As much as I love your mouth on mine. I’m so glad we found each other.” They spent several moments holding each other and sharing another kiss. Rhea knew how close she had come to losing her, and Alicia was thinking that they had finally purged Leann from their lives.