Another gym, another town, another basketball game. “When had life become so monotonous?” Claire thought to herself. She couldn’t even begin to count the number of basketball games she’d been involved in throughout her lifetime. From the time she could dribble a ball throughout her college athletic career, she’d spent more Friday nights in a gymnasium than she cared to remember. Claire had thought that her weekends would be free after college, that she would finally be done with competitive basketball for a while.
However, life had taken an unexpected turn, as it most often does. Several job opportunities had seemingly just landed in her lap, each with perfect timing and providing adequate income. Claire was now in her fourth year of coaching the sport she had formerly played, once again cooped inside of closterphobic gymnasiums instead of riding horseback on the open range, as she’d always imagined.
There she sat with her chin resting absentmindedly in her palm, as her colleague coached a rather boring group of second-string girls. It was the B-team, and Claire was sitting on the bench, more for moral support than anything else. Her own team had already won the tournament, but she couldn’t begin her weekend until all of Flatland’s teams had completed their games. At least she didn’t have to endure a lengthy bus ride home. Her house was less than five minutes from the school, and she would be at home, showered, and in bed within the hour. “At home and in bed before 10 pm on a Friday night. Wow, how exciting my life has become,” Claire thought sarcastically.
She reacted with a little jump as her assistant coach called a time-out. Her team was ahead by more than 30 points well into the fourth quarter. The worst players were substituted into the game during the time-out, and Claire resumed her position. She stared across the floor to the opposing team’s stands. Several of the fans had begun to leave, most only having stayed to watch the intense game that Claire had coached less than an hour before.
Claire’s girls were good, but they had faced a comparable team in district rival Borger. It had been a close game, but the Flatland girls had prevailed again, preserving their undefeated season. “Why am I so unsatisfied with my job, when I’m obviously pretty good at it?” Claire wondered. She could see the Borger coaches sitting in the stands across from her, deep in conversation, no doubt debating what they would do the next time they faced their district rivals. They seemed completely immersed in and fulfilled with their careers as coaches, wildly gesturing and replaying parts of their most recent loss.
A tall man wearing a cowboy hat then interrupted the men’s conversation, possibly to say goodbye, or “good game Coach”, or something similar. He pleasantly shook hands and nodded a goodbye, then draped his arm around a young girl’s shoulders. Claire recognized the girl as one of the better players on Borger’s A-team that she had just defeated. The cowboy must be her father she thought. A little surprised, Claire didn’t think the man looked old enough to have a 13 year-old daughter. Thirty-something maybe, but no more, she concluded from the look of his broad shoulders and strong physique.
As Claire stared at him from across the court, he turned and met her gaze. Embarrassed that he’d caught her staring, she awkwardly diverted her eyes and randomly yelled “Come on Flatland!” It was then that she realized that the game had ended seconds before, and the teams were already giving sportsmanlike high-fives. Her assistant coach quizzically turned to Claire with her eyebrows raised. “Good game Coach,” Claire mustered, feeling the red heat of her ears and face. Once again she glanced at the opposing stands, but “Cowboy” was gone. She was immediately relieved, but also a little disappointed that she hadn’t gotten to admire him a little longer. He was quite dashing in stature, tall and broad. But his hat had been pulled down just far enough that Claire hadn’t been able to see much of his face. “What does it matter anyway,” she thought, “he obviously has a daughter, is likely married, and what’s more, he lives miles away.”
Almost an hour later, Claire was crawling into bed, her sheets cold and stiff. Tomorrow was Saturday, and at least she would be able to sleep in past 5am, or as late as her dogs would allow. Then maybe she would go for a long ride on her horse, one of the things she looked forward to the most throughout her long workweek.
Claire shivered and hugged her knees to her chest. Her bedroom was frigid, and it would be a few minutes before her body heat warmed the bed. Cold nights were the worst to sleep alone. She horribly missed the days when there was a boyfriend to snuggle up against, the radiating warmth of a man’s body to keep her warm. It had been almost a year since she’d ended her last relationship, and she had endured waves of loneliness that had made her physically ill.
Claire felt like she had experienced a rollercoaster of emotions over the past year, starting with the dissolution of a long relationship that she had expected to end in marriage. Aside from that, she was unenthusiastic about her coaching job: a career that she had never expected and was thoroughly bored with. It was a career of convenience: one that Claire was obviously talented in, and it pleased her parents. But she had no interest in advancing, nor did the job provide much besides financial security.
Flatland was where she and her ex-boyfriend had met and lived, where she had grown up, where her parents currently lived. She’d even bought a house and she seemed settled there. Inwardly though, the rollercoaster ride continued. This had been a year of growth for Claire. She knew that she didn’t want to settle in Flatland, that she had to get out, and soon.
She wanted to live her dream in the beauty of the mountains, to live among raw nature at its finest. Claire wanted to ride her horse under the expansive sky for hours without ever seeing another person. Some place where her dogs could freely roam without the danger of passing cars or crabby neighbors. And most of all, a place where she and her future lover could make a home and a life together.
Dreams. All dreams. But Claire was determined to get off the rollercoaster, shake off the remnants of her past relationship, and take fresh steps toward her lifelong dreams. She and her animal-loving friend Brooke would be moving to Wyoming come summertime. Claire had a job on a ranch just minutes outside of Yellowstone National Park, and Brooke would be working as a white-water rafting guide. The park had provided cheap living arrangements for both of them, and best of all, Claire would be able to bring along her dogs and her horse. Although it was just a plan for the summer, it was a start. A little taste of a big dream.
Claire had finally gotten warm under the covers. As she drifted off to sleep, her mind wandered back to that hidden face under the cowboy hat…
Showing posts with label Claire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Claire. Show all posts
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 2
It was February. Claire was counting the junior high girls on the bus as they squealed and giggled, excited for the last road game of the season. She couldn’t help but smile as well, for their delight was contagious. She was excited too: not only was it the last game of the season, but it was the deciding game for the district championship and a chance at an undefeated season. Her competitive fire still burned, even if she was just coaching from the sideline and not on the court playing. Claire finished her headcount and sat down in the front seat, reached for a book, and began to read as the bus pulled out of the parking lot.
The four hour bus ride passed rather quickly. Claire had been engrossed in her romance novel and was rather surprised to see the Borger city limit sign so soon. As she gazed out the window at the rolling, mesquite covered hills, a black truck pulling a massive white horse trailer passed the bus. The horse trailer made Claire think of her own horses and how she would love to ride to the tops of those mesquite covered bluffs.
The game had been intense, with both teams deserving of being crowned district champions. Flatland had eventually prevailed, maintaining an eight point lead throughout the final minutes. However, the game was not devoid of more drama. With less than thirty seconds to play, two players had careened into each other after a loose ball. Flatland’s scrappy guard had run head first into Borger’s center, and both players were laid out flat on the hardwood. The Flatland trainers rushed onto the court and pressed a towel to their player’s bloody forehead, and Claire was the first to reach the tall Borger player, who lay motionless. Afraid of a spinal injury, Claire didn’t dare move the girl. Instead she put a hand on her head and calmly spoke to her in case she did awaken. As the Borger training staff quickly approached, the girl had indeed begun to blink her eyes and stir. Claire stepped aside, somewhat in shock herself, and after a few minutes both players were loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. The game ended shortly thereafter, a bittersweet victory due to the scary accident that had occurred.
After congratulating her team and reassuring them that their friend would be fine, Claire rode to the hospital with the Borger head coach to meet the distraught families of their players. Claire was taken to see the family of her player, and asked how the girl was doing. They told her that the doctors had taken x-rays, which were thankfully negative, and that she would only need a few stitches. With relief, Claire headed back towards the waiting room, curious to know how the opposing team’s player was faring.
As Claire turned the corner of the hospital hallway, she ran directly into someone coming from the opposite direction. Claire was promptly knocked backwards as the two tangled and lost their balance. The large man swiftly recovered, and firmly grasped Claire’s forearms to both regain his balance and prevent her from falling. They did a few steps of what must have looked like a ridiculous dance shuffle until both recovered and stood upright.
Claire hurriedly began to apologize, as did the tall, muscular cowboy. As she looked up at the man, she suddenly recognized him as that cowboy from the opposing team’s stands: “Cowboy from Borger!” she mentally exclaimed.
“Uhh,” she fumbled. “The Borger girl is your daughter? Is she ok?”
“Yes,” he replied, “She’s going to be fine. And no, she’s not my daughter, she’s my niece.”
“Ohh,” Claire mustered, both surprised and joyful to hear that he was not the girl’s father. “I’m so glad she’s doing ok, she took a hard hit.”
“Yeah, but she’s a tough kid. Uh, you’re the Flatland coach right?” “Cowboy” continued.
“Right. Sorry for the clumsy introduction. It’s Claire actually, Claire Williams.” she said, offering her hand.
He extended his huge, work roughened hand and took hers pleasantly, their hands clasped as he made his introductions.
“Sean Burnett. Nice to meet you Claire.”
Their handshake extended to the point of awkwardness while silence filled their ears and their eyes remained locked. A voice beside them broke the tension, and Claire willed her eyes to break the gaze of his beautiful, ocean turquoise eyes as she felt Sean almost reluctantly release her hand. It was the Borger coach, holding out a cell phone.
“Claire, it’s your athletic director. He wants to talk to you.” she said.
“Oh, thanks.” Claire muttered.
After a few minutes Claire hung up and returned the borrowed cell phone. The A.D. had told her that the team bus was already headed home, and Claire was expected to use the school’s credit card for a taxi to the Amarillo airport, and take the redeye flight that had been booked for her. She was due in Lubbock the next afternoon to sit on the bench for a varsity game.
Claire walked to the emergency room waiting area, and saw that Sean was the only one there. He was exactly as she had remembered from seeing him at a distance more than two months prior: massive and solid. Standing almost 6’6” and pushing 250 pounds, he was more of a man than most. Even the color of his pale lavender shirt failed to make him seem less imposing. His Cinch jeans were heavily pressed and likely triple starched. They hugged his waist and rear perfectly, but were loose down to his clean Anderson Bean boots. Sean’s thick waves of almost black hair fell just above his heavy brows, and his nose was straight and perfectly proportioned. His mouth was wide with full, pink lips that hid his flawless white teeth. Even without smiling she could see where the dimples sat in his cheeks. His long, defined jaw was unshaven, adding an even more rugged appeal to his strong cowboy persona.
Without the hat to shade his eyes, Claire had seen that his eyes were not only exquisite, but warm, reflective, and seemingly full of understanding. “How could I see so much in a stranger’s eyes?” she questioned. But there had definitely been something unique about their first formal meeting. With their eyes and hands locked, Claire had felt something jump inside of her. She was unable to explain the feeling though. Was it just nervousness of meeting a crush? Or was it a spark, a flicker of instant attraction between them?
The four hour bus ride passed rather quickly. Claire had been engrossed in her romance novel and was rather surprised to see the Borger city limit sign so soon. As she gazed out the window at the rolling, mesquite covered hills, a black truck pulling a massive white horse trailer passed the bus. The horse trailer made Claire think of her own horses and how she would love to ride to the tops of those mesquite covered bluffs.
The game had been intense, with both teams deserving of being crowned district champions. Flatland had eventually prevailed, maintaining an eight point lead throughout the final minutes. However, the game was not devoid of more drama. With less than thirty seconds to play, two players had careened into each other after a loose ball. Flatland’s scrappy guard had run head first into Borger’s center, and both players were laid out flat on the hardwood. The Flatland trainers rushed onto the court and pressed a towel to their player’s bloody forehead, and Claire was the first to reach the tall Borger player, who lay motionless. Afraid of a spinal injury, Claire didn’t dare move the girl. Instead she put a hand on her head and calmly spoke to her in case she did awaken. As the Borger training staff quickly approached, the girl had indeed begun to blink her eyes and stir. Claire stepped aside, somewhat in shock herself, and after a few minutes both players were loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. The game ended shortly thereafter, a bittersweet victory due to the scary accident that had occurred.
After congratulating her team and reassuring them that their friend would be fine, Claire rode to the hospital with the Borger head coach to meet the distraught families of their players. Claire was taken to see the family of her player, and asked how the girl was doing. They told her that the doctors had taken x-rays, which were thankfully negative, and that she would only need a few stitches. With relief, Claire headed back towards the waiting room, curious to know how the opposing team’s player was faring.
As Claire turned the corner of the hospital hallway, she ran directly into someone coming from the opposite direction. Claire was promptly knocked backwards as the two tangled and lost their balance. The large man swiftly recovered, and firmly grasped Claire’s forearms to both regain his balance and prevent her from falling. They did a few steps of what must have looked like a ridiculous dance shuffle until both recovered and stood upright.
Claire hurriedly began to apologize, as did the tall, muscular cowboy. As she looked up at the man, she suddenly recognized him as that cowboy from the opposing team’s stands: “Cowboy from Borger!” she mentally exclaimed.
“Uhh,” she fumbled. “The Borger girl is your daughter? Is she ok?”
“Yes,” he replied, “She’s going to be fine. And no, she’s not my daughter, she’s my niece.”
“Ohh,” Claire mustered, both surprised and joyful to hear that he was not the girl’s father. “I’m so glad she’s doing ok, she took a hard hit.”
“Yeah, but she’s a tough kid. Uh, you’re the Flatland coach right?” “Cowboy” continued.
“Right. Sorry for the clumsy introduction. It’s Claire actually, Claire Williams.” she said, offering her hand.
He extended his huge, work roughened hand and took hers pleasantly, their hands clasped as he made his introductions.
“Sean Burnett. Nice to meet you Claire.”
Their handshake extended to the point of awkwardness while silence filled their ears and their eyes remained locked. A voice beside them broke the tension, and Claire willed her eyes to break the gaze of his beautiful, ocean turquoise eyes as she felt Sean almost reluctantly release her hand. It was the Borger coach, holding out a cell phone.
“Claire, it’s your athletic director. He wants to talk to you.” she said.
“Oh, thanks.” Claire muttered.
After a few minutes Claire hung up and returned the borrowed cell phone. The A.D. had told her that the team bus was already headed home, and Claire was expected to use the school’s credit card for a taxi to the Amarillo airport, and take the redeye flight that had been booked for her. She was due in Lubbock the next afternoon to sit on the bench for a varsity game.
Claire walked to the emergency room waiting area, and saw that Sean was the only one there. He was exactly as she had remembered from seeing him at a distance more than two months prior: massive and solid. Standing almost 6’6” and pushing 250 pounds, he was more of a man than most. Even the color of his pale lavender shirt failed to make him seem less imposing. His Cinch jeans were heavily pressed and likely triple starched. They hugged his waist and rear perfectly, but were loose down to his clean Anderson Bean boots. Sean’s thick waves of almost black hair fell just above his heavy brows, and his nose was straight and perfectly proportioned. His mouth was wide with full, pink lips that hid his flawless white teeth. Even without smiling she could see where the dimples sat in his cheeks. His long, defined jaw was unshaven, adding an even more rugged appeal to his strong cowboy persona.
Without the hat to shade his eyes, Claire had seen that his eyes were not only exquisite, but warm, reflective, and seemingly full of understanding. “How could I see so much in a stranger’s eyes?” she questioned. But there had definitely been something unique about their first formal meeting. With their eyes and hands locked, Claire had felt something jump inside of her. She was unable to explain the feeling though. Was it just nervousness of meeting a crush? Or was it a spark, a flicker of instant attraction between them?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 3
Claire couldn’t stand in the hallway staring at Sean forever. She took a deep breath and entered the waiting room, taking the seat across from him and reminding herself not to stare. Sean casually looked up from under his thick layers of eyelashes and half smiled.
“So, how’s your girl, is she goin’ home soon?” he asked.
“Yeah, I think so. Her parents are here taking care of her.”
Sean nodded and then said, “Sorry again about running into you in the hall. I’ve had the longest day and I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s fine.” Interested in continuing some sort of conversation with the gorgeous man, Claire asked why it had been such a long day for him.
“I’ve been on the road a lot this week. Just drove in from Oklahoma City to make it to Quinley’s game. I was at a rodeo there.”
“Yeah? A rodeo? Were you riding in it?” Claire asked, her interest piqued.
“No, not in this one. I was just delivering a pair of roping horses to one of the teams that had advanced to the finals. That’s all,” he said with a half smile.
“A friend of mine was up there for that rodeo too,” Clair continued. “Darla was barrel racing.”
“Darla? You’re not talking about Darla Wiseley are you?” Sean asked.
“Yeah! You know her?”
“Of course! Every cowboy knows Darla. How do you know her?”
Claire smiled, pleased that they had a mutual acquaintance. “She’s a good riding friend of mine. And I worked at her barn for a few years.”
“Huh, that’s awesome,” Sean said with his same, lazy grin.
Their conversation continued easily as they shared a few funny stories about their friend and their common adoration for horses. After more than thirty minutes, Claire regretfully excused herself to say goodbye to her basketball player and the girl’s family. Instead of immediately returning to resume her conversation with Sean, she stepped outside into the chilly winter air to make a phone call.
She scrolled through her cell’s contact list to Darla Wiseley’s name, and pressed send. Anxiously waiting for Darla to answer, she suddenly felt silly for why she was calling. “Hi Darla!” Claire said enthusiastically, “How’s it going?” They quickly caught up on each other’s lives, and Claire got around to the reason she had called. “So Dar, I met this guy named Sean, he says he knows you,” she tried to sound casual.
“Sean… Sean Burnett?” Darla asked, a little confused. “Yeah, I know Sean!”
Claire mustered up the courage to ask a few more questions, and Darla happily carried on about how fond she was of the cowboy.
“I always thought he would be perfect for you C, he’s the best, really a great guy! But when I first met him he was dating some girl, not to mention the fact that he lives several hours away,” she continued. As if reading Claire’s mind, she then went on to say, “Oh, by the way, he broke up with that girl a couple years ago. I’m pretty sure he’s single.”
Claire and Darla talked for a few more minutes, but soon finished their conversation as Claire was freezing out in the cold. She was happy to hear the good things that Darla had to say about Sean, but most of all she had discovered exactly what she wanted to know: that Darla thought he was great, and that he was single!
Once again Claire returned to the waiting room where Sean told her that his niece was being released with a moderate concussion. Claire lightly mentioned that it was probably time for her to call for a cab to take her to the airport. As she reached in her coat pocket for her phone, Sean pointed out that he had to go through Amarillo on his way home, and he wouldn’t mind dropping Claire off to catch her plane. Normally Claire would have graciously declined such an offer by a man she had just met, but she surprised even herself when she accepted with only the slightest hesitation.
He smiled broadly, pleased to have some company after such long, lonely drives, and promptly grabbed his coat and hat. Claire followed him down the hallway and stood outside of the room as he said goodbye to Quinley and her parents. They then walked out of the hospital doors and were greeted with a strong burst of cold air and a sheet of icy rain. Claire pulled her coat tighter around her lean frame, quickly wrapped her scarf around her neck, and snuggly pulled a beanie over her ears.
“You ready?” Sean shouted through the wind and rain, “Let’s hurry!”
And then he took off in long loping strides, one hand holding his hat down over his eyes, and the other hand gripping the neck of his wool-lined Carhart coat. Claire followed, tucking her head enough to avoid the rain but keeping her eyes on Sean as he headed for a black extended-cab Chevy with a horse trailer attached. “Of course,” Claire thought smuggly, “That was him that passed the bus on the drive up. Shoulda guessed.”
“So, how’s your girl, is she goin’ home soon?” he asked.
“Yeah, I think so. Her parents are here taking care of her.”
Sean nodded and then said, “Sorry again about running into you in the hall. I’ve had the longest day and I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s fine.” Interested in continuing some sort of conversation with the gorgeous man, Claire asked why it had been such a long day for him.
“I’ve been on the road a lot this week. Just drove in from Oklahoma City to make it to Quinley’s game. I was at a rodeo there.”
“Yeah? A rodeo? Were you riding in it?” Claire asked, her interest piqued.
“No, not in this one. I was just delivering a pair of roping horses to one of the teams that had advanced to the finals. That’s all,” he said with a half smile.
“A friend of mine was up there for that rodeo too,” Clair continued. “Darla was barrel racing.”
“Darla? You’re not talking about Darla Wiseley are you?” Sean asked.
“Yeah! You know her?”
“Of course! Every cowboy knows Darla. How do you know her?”
Claire smiled, pleased that they had a mutual acquaintance. “She’s a good riding friend of mine. And I worked at her barn for a few years.”
“Huh, that’s awesome,” Sean said with his same, lazy grin.
Their conversation continued easily as they shared a few funny stories about their friend and their common adoration for horses. After more than thirty minutes, Claire regretfully excused herself to say goodbye to her basketball player and the girl’s family. Instead of immediately returning to resume her conversation with Sean, she stepped outside into the chilly winter air to make a phone call.
She scrolled through her cell’s contact list to Darla Wiseley’s name, and pressed send. Anxiously waiting for Darla to answer, she suddenly felt silly for why she was calling. “Hi Darla!” Claire said enthusiastically, “How’s it going?” They quickly caught up on each other’s lives, and Claire got around to the reason she had called. “So Dar, I met this guy named Sean, he says he knows you,” she tried to sound casual.
“Sean… Sean Burnett?” Darla asked, a little confused. “Yeah, I know Sean!”
Claire mustered up the courage to ask a few more questions, and Darla happily carried on about how fond she was of the cowboy.
“I always thought he would be perfect for you C, he’s the best, really a great guy! But when I first met him he was dating some girl, not to mention the fact that he lives several hours away,” she continued. As if reading Claire’s mind, she then went on to say, “Oh, by the way, he broke up with that girl a couple years ago. I’m pretty sure he’s single.”
Claire and Darla talked for a few more minutes, but soon finished their conversation as Claire was freezing out in the cold. She was happy to hear the good things that Darla had to say about Sean, but most of all she had discovered exactly what she wanted to know: that Darla thought he was great, and that he was single!
Once again Claire returned to the waiting room where Sean told her that his niece was being released with a moderate concussion. Claire lightly mentioned that it was probably time for her to call for a cab to take her to the airport. As she reached in her coat pocket for her phone, Sean pointed out that he had to go through Amarillo on his way home, and he wouldn’t mind dropping Claire off to catch her plane. Normally Claire would have graciously declined such an offer by a man she had just met, but she surprised even herself when she accepted with only the slightest hesitation.
He smiled broadly, pleased to have some company after such long, lonely drives, and promptly grabbed his coat and hat. Claire followed him down the hallway and stood outside of the room as he said goodbye to Quinley and her parents. They then walked out of the hospital doors and were greeted with a strong burst of cold air and a sheet of icy rain. Claire pulled her coat tighter around her lean frame, quickly wrapped her scarf around her neck, and snuggly pulled a beanie over her ears.
“You ready?” Sean shouted through the wind and rain, “Let’s hurry!”
And then he took off in long loping strides, one hand holding his hat down over his eyes, and the other hand gripping the neck of his wool-lined Carhart coat. Claire followed, tucking her head enough to avoid the rain but keeping her eyes on Sean as he headed for a black extended-cab Chevy with a horse trailer attached. “Of course,” Claire thought smuggly, “That was him that passed the bus on the drive up. Shoulda guessed.”
Monday, December 28, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 4
Sean held the passenger door open as Claire hurriedly climbed into the truck, both voicing their displeasure for being caught in the cold, wet weather. Sean jumped into the driver’s seat and started the diesel motor. Soon, warm air began to blow out of the heater, quickly dispelling Claire’s uncontrollable shivering. Country music played softly in the background as Sean maneuvered the truck and trailer onto the highway, his windshield wipers whipping repeatedly. The pair easily resumed their conversation as if old friends, both pleased to not be traveling through the treacherous weather alone.
An hour into their drive, the truck pulled sharply to the right, and the trailer began to swerve dangerously. Both Sean and Claire immediately recognized it as a flat tire on the horse trailer, and Sean unwillingly slowed and pulled into the ditch. With a deep sigh, he began to pull on his coat and reached for his hat and work gloves. Claire too began to prepare for the wet cold, but Sean stopped her abruptly.
“What are you doing,” he said. “You’re not getting out in this. I’ll take care of it. Take just a minute.”
Claire wanted to argue, but despairingly submitted to his request. It was her dad’s observation that she too often took things into her own hands, in the process “emasculating” men and quenching their innate desire to be courageous and noble. Her dad’s wording, not hers. She sat back in the seat with a sigh, and solemnly watched Sean through the side view mirror.
He was surely struggling in the rain and wind, trying to hold the flashlight while situating the jack and working the crowbar all at the same time. The wipers continued to whip monotonously in time with the flashing caution lights. Claire wondered if her plane would be delayed in the weather, and decided to call and check.
The automated message was simple: “Due to hazardous weather conditions, all flights have been canceled. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Please check back tomorrow morning for the latest updates.” Claire hung up, not at all surprised. Glancing again at the mirror, she saw a quick flash of light and heard a painful shout. With a start she pulled on her winter garb and jumped out of the truck, disregarding Sean’s previous instructions and shoving the image of her disapproving dad out of her mind.
She rushed toward the trailer and found Sean crouched on his heels, holding his left hand tightly, the flashlight shining errantly on the ground.
“What happened, are you ok?” Claire asked worriedly.
“Yeah, I’m alright. The crowbar just slipped and I cut my hand.”
“Let me see,” she persuaded as she reached for the flashlight and kneeled close to him, the trailer blocking the majority of the cold rain. Claire carefully uncurled his long, callused fingers until she could see the cut on his palm, small drops of blood dripping onto her gray slacks. “We just need to stop the bleeding, and it’ll be fine.”
Claire released his hand and reached for her scarf, tearing off a narrow strip. She then used the scrap of scarf as a bandage, carefully wrapping it around his hand and tying it in a knot. “How’s that?” she asked him, gripping his massive hand in hers.
“It’ll do, thanks,” he said gruffly. Their eyes met and Sean gave her a forearm a squeeze. “Sorry about your scarf,” his mouth curling into an embarrassed, apologetic grin.
“Don’t even worry about it,” Claire said, flirtily smiling back. “Let’s just get this tire changed, it’s freezing.”
With Claire holding the flashlight and assisting him, Sean was quickly able to finish changing the flat. While Claire rushed back to the warm comfort of the truck, Sean threw the tools in the trailer and grabbed a thick horse blanket. He crawled in the truck and placed the blanket over Claire’s lap.
“Sorry you had to get out in that weather, you’re soaked. Maybe this will help you warm up.”
She graciously thanked him, but after realizing that he had nothing dry for himself offered it back to him. “You use it, you’re the one that’s drenched,” she said as he removed his saturated coat to reveal his sodden shirt. Claire could see every muscled curve of his broad chest through the wet cotton, and her heart immediately did a little jump. Insistently, she moved next to him until their legs were touching on the bench seat, and spread the blanket over his lap as well. With a slight shrug, he thanked her, unwilling to argue.
They pulled back onto the highway, and the combination of their shared body heat under the blanket and the truck’s heater slowly began to warm them. After driving for several minutes in silence, Claire suddenly remembered her canceled flight and told Sean about her predicament.
At a loss for what to do, Claire supposed that he should probably drop her off at a hotel instead so that she could catch her flight in the morning.
After a few more minutes of strained silence, Sean broke the quiet with a defiant “No”.
“No what?” Claire asked, confused.
“No, I’m not gonna leave you stranded and alone at some random hotel. You’re wet and cold, and I would worry about you.” Sean continued, “How about if you just stay in my extra bedroom, that way we can dry you clothes.”
Taken aback, Claire studdered. He was right, she didn’t want to be alone in a cold hotel room. But on the other hand, they had just met. Was she seriously considering taking him up on an offer to stay at his house? Did she trust him that much? She wanted to, but it was too much out of her character to trust a man so soon after first meeting. Mentally arguing with herself, she latched onto the great things that Darla had said about Sean. He was a nice guy, Darla had said so. It would be fine to stay at his place for the night, she finally convinced herself.
“Are you sure that wouldn’t be too much trouble for you?”
“No trouble at all. In fact, I feel like I kinda owe you for fixing my hand,” Sean joked playfully, waving his scarf wrapped palm.
Claire giggled, “Whatever! So you live in Amarillo then?”
“Nah, I live on a ranch a little ways outside of Canyon, it’s not too much further” he replied.
An hour into their drive, the truck pulled sharply to the right, and the trailer began to swerve dangerously. Both Sean and Claire immediately recognized it as a flat tire on the horse trailer, and Sean unwillingly slowed and pulled into the ditch. With a deep sigh, he began to pull on his coat and reached for his hat and work gloves. Claire too began to prepare for the wet cold, but Sean stopped her abruptly.
“What are you doing,” he said. “You’re not getting out in this. I’ll take care of it. Take just a minute.”
Claire wanted to argue, but despairingly submitted to his request. It was her dad’s observation that she too often took things into her own hands, in the process “emasculating” men and quenching their innate desire to be courageous and noble. Her dad’s wording, not hers. She sat back in the seat with a sigh, and solemnly watched Sean through the side view mirror.
He was surely struggling in the rain and wind, trying to hold the flashlight while situating the jack and working the crowbar all at the same time. The wipers continued to whip monotonously in time with the flashing caution lights. Claire wondered if her plane would be delayed in the weather, and decided to call and check.
The automated message was simple: “Due to hazardous weather conditions, all flights have been canceled. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Please check back tomorrow morning for the latest updates.” Claire hung up, not at all surprised. Glancing again at the mirror, she saw a quick flash of light and heard a painful shout. With a start she pulled on her winter garb and jumped out of the truck, disregarding Sean’s previous instructions and shoving the image of her disapproving dad out of her mind.
She rushed toward the trailer and found Sean crouched on his heels, holding his left hand tightly, the flashlight shining errantly on the ground.
“What happened, are you ok?” Claire asked worriedly.
“Yeah, I’m alright. The crowbar just slipped and I cut my hand.”
“Let me see,” she persuaded as she reached for the flashlight and kneeled close to him, the trailer blocking the majority of the cold rain. Claire carefully uncurled his long, callused fingers until she could see the cut on his palm, small drops of blood dripping onto her gray slacks. “We just need to stop the bleeding, and it’ll be fine.”
Claire released his hand and reached for her scarf, tearing off a narrow strip. She then used the scrap of scarf as a bandage, carefully wrapping it around his hand and tying it in a knot. “How’s that?” she asked him, gripping his massive hand in hers.
“It’ll do, thanks,” he said gruffly. Their eyes met and Sean gave her a forearm a squeeze. “Sorry about your scarf,” his mouth curling into an embarrassed, apologetic grin.
“Don’t even worry about it,” Claire said, flirtily smiling back. “Let’s just get this tire changed, it’s freezing.”
With Claire holding the flashlight and assisting him, Sean was quickly able to finish changing the flat. While Claire rushed back to the warm comfort of the truck, Sean threw the tools in the trailer and grabbed a thick horse blanket. He crawled in the truck and placed the blanket over Claire’s lap.
“Sorry you had to get out in that weather, you’re soaked. Maybe this will help you warm up.”
She graciously thanked him, but after realizing that he had nothing dry for himself offered it back to him. “You use it, you’re the one that’s drenched,” she said as he removed his saturated coat to reveal his sodden shirt. Claire could see every muscled curve of his broad chest through the wet cotton, and her heart immediately did a little jump. Insistently, she moved next to him until their legs were touching on the bench seat, and spread the blanket over his lap as well. With a slight shrug, he thanked her, unwilling to argue.
They pulled back onto the highway, and the combination of their shared body heat under the blanket and the truck’s heater slowly began to warm them. After driving for several minutes in silence, Claire suddenly remembered her canceled flight and told Sean about her predicament.
At a loss for what to do, Claire supposed that he should probably drop her off at a hotel instead so that she could catch her flight in the morning.
After a few more minutes of strained silence, Sean broke the quiet with a defiant “No”.
“No what?” Claire asked, confused.
“No, I’m not gonna leave you stranded and alone at some random hotel. You’re wet and cold, and I would worry about you.” Sean continued, “How about if you just stay in my extra bedroom, that way we can dry you clothes.”
Taken aback, Claire studdered. He was right, she didn’t want to be alone in a cold hotel room. But on the other hand, they had just met. Was she seriously considering taking him up on an offer to stay at his house? Did she trust him that much? She wanted to, but it was too much out of her character to trust a man so soon after first meeting. Mentally arguing with herself, she latched onto the great things that Darla had said about Sean. He was a nice guy, Darla had said so. It would be fine to stay at his place for the night, she finally convinced herself.
“Are you sure that wouldn’t be too much trouble for you?”
“No trouble at all. In fact, I feel like I kinda owe you for fixing my hand,” Sean joked playfully, waving his scarf wrapped palm.
Claire giggled, “Whatever! So you live in Amarillo then?”
“Nah, I live on a ranch a little ways outside of Canyon, it’s not too much further” he replied.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 5
A few minutes later Sean turned off the highway onto a narrow blacktop heading south, and the pitch black seemed to engulf them like a dark, tumultuous sea. The rain had begun to let up, and soft white flakes were taking its place. Twenty minutes later they reached a gated cattle guard that opened at the press of a button, and they continued to drive for more than a mile on a slippery caliche road. Almost out of nowhere the headlights illuminated a sprawling, two-story ranch home with a wrap-around porch, somewhat hidden behind giant oaks.
“I’m gonna go unhitch the trailer and check on the horses real quick. Sit tight.” Sean stated as they continued to drive past. A hundred yards later he pulled up to a similarly large barn, unhitched, and walked to the side of the stables where Claire could make out six horses gathered to greet him. Sean returned a few minutes later announcing that everything looked fine.
They returned to the side of the house and entered the three-car garage. Claire peeled herself from the seat of the truck, suddenly uncomfortable in her soggy attire. She followed Sean inside the open door to the house, where they were joyfully greeted by a pair of overly excited grey and white Australian shepherds.
“Hey Betts, hey Barn!” Sean exclaimed, bending down to rub and pet his faithful cowdogs. “Claire, meet Betty and Barney, my roommates.” The dogs were just as friendly with Claire, happy for any attention.
“Wait… Betty and Barney? As in Rubble?” Claire questioned with a sarcastic smile.
“Yeah, yeah, go ahead and make fun. So I still love the Flintstones. It’s just like the best cartoon ever,” Sean said with a smile, obviously ready to endure some expected taunting.
“Love it, they’re great names,” countered Claire, with laughter in her eyes.
“Come on, you can make fun of me later.”
And as if reading her mind, he led her directly to the laundry room. They removed their coats and and hung them on hooks to dry, Sean shaking out his thick hair like a wet dog as he removed his hat. He emptied a clean load from the dryer, and searched until he found her a large white tee and a pair of blue and gray flannel pajama pants.
“These are dry and clean at least, better than nothing.”
“Thanks, this’ll be great.”
She and the dogs followed Sean through the rest of the sprawling house, through the kitchen and into warm den. He stopped here and there to turn on a few lamps, and Claire was awed at its vast openness. Floor to ceiling windows on two sides of the room reached up to the exposed, roughened cedar beams, from which twin antler laden chandeliers hung. A large stone fireplace on the other end of the room completed the atmosphere of a hunting lodge. Sean threw a lit match into the gas fireplace, and red hot flames immediately leapt and licked at the stones. The heat was immediate and intense, and it beckoned enticingly to Claire’s chilled core.
“Here, I’ll show you your room, and you can change,” Sean’s voice broke Claire’s fire and heat induced trance. They walked up the flight of wood stairs and crossed the landing overlooking the kitchen and den.
“This is it,” Sean motioned to the first door on the right, “and the bathroom is at the end of the hall.” He opened the door to a large guest room, complete with a four-post king-sized bed, oversized dresser and armoire, and a beautiful antique rocking chair. “My sister Shelby stayed here this summer, so she may have left some things here. Feel free to use whatever you need.”
“Thanks, it’s perfect.” A million times better than some hotel room, she thought.
“If you need anything, I’m on the opposite end of the landing. I’m gonna go feed these rascals, and make some tea or hot chocolate or something. Which do you prefer?” Sean asked.
“Uhh, hot chocolate sounds great, thanks.”
“Ok, take your time. There should be plenty of towels and stuff in the bathroom, then just bring your clothes down and we’ll throw ‘em in the wash.” Sean turned and left Claire alone. She smiled, and looked around the room, impressed with the house as a whole. She headed down the hall to the bathroom, turned on the shower to let the water get warm, and stole a glance at herself in the mirror.
“Oh! What a mess I am!” she thought, surprising herself. Her hair was wet and limp, and her sodden, light blue button up shirt was almost transparent, revealing her navy camisole beneath. How embarrassing. Claire stripped off a layer at a time, each piece of clothing equally damp. She stepped into the scorching shower and felt immediate relief as the hot spray began to massage and warm her frigid body.
Claire returned downstairs dressed in Sean’s oversized clothes. The t-shirt fit like a large sleep shirt, and she’d had to roll the waistband of his pants three times so that she could walk without tripping. The aroma of hot food greeted Claire as she made her way into the kitchen, and her stomach responded with a loud growl. She hadn’t eaten anything since lunch, except for a quick cRyan bar between games. That had been at least seven hours ago Claire figured. Sean had made grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches, and two mugs of hot cocoa sat steaming on the counter. She could hardly wait it looked so delicious.
As she headed towards the laundry room with her soggy clothes, Claire turned the corner to catch a glimpse of Sean’s broad, bare shoulders bending over the washing machine. She stopped abruptly and surveyed him, his beautiful, strong back ending in two dimples just above a pair of low-hanging maroon basketball shorts, his sole piece of clothing. His skin was an olive tint, giving him what appeared an eternal tan, even in the dead of the Texas winter. The muscles in his arms flexed and tensed as he reached for the laundry detergent and poured it into the machine. His hand was still bandaged with the scrap of her scarf, and it likely needed to be changed.
Claire inhaled sharply and took a step back until he was out of view, calling his name to alert him of her presence. She again walked towards the room and he turned to meet her, smoothly pulling a t-shirt over his head at the same time. His damp head slipped through the neck, and he sort of laughed and mumbled as he reached for her wet clothing, somewhat shy at being caught doing the laundry half-naked.
“Here’s the rest of my dirty clothes,” she said, handing him her wet belongings.
“And let me see your hand again.” Claire reached for his hand, carefully untying the torn scrap to reveal a clotted, dirty mess of a cut. Without releasing her grasp, she pulled his hand under a water faucet, tenderly rinsing away the dried dirt and blood. She rubbed a bar of soap across the wound, and rubbed it softly, and the foamy lather dripped from their hands into the sink. As she washed his hand, Sean stared at her in awe. “Who is this woman? A woman who cares enough to rip her scarf into pieces and isn’t be squeamish around blood? Amazing,” he thought, thoroughly impressed.
Claire had finished cleaning his injury, and with a paper towel she dried it so she could see the cut more clearly. It wasn’t too deep, and it didn’t look as though it would need stitches. “A large Band-Aid should do the trick. Bet it hurts though, it’s in kind of a sensitive spot,” she said, her fingertips lightly tracing the edges of the cut on his large, callused palm.
“Ehh, it’ll be alright. But thanks for taking care of it,” Sean said gratefully, his eyes focused on her concerned face. “I have some Band-Aids upstairs, I’ll get one after a while.”
They returned to the kitchen together, and took their food into the den where they sat in roughed leather armchairs near the fire, Betty and Barney at Sean’s feet.
***
“Claire, you have to get up. Come on, let’s get you to bed,” Sean said in his deep, smooth voice, as he shook her gently.
“Wha, what? Oh gosh, must’ve dozed off, sorry,” Claire mumbled with a start.
“You’re fine, come on, let’s just get you upstairs. You’ll be a lot more comfortable up there,” he said as he clasped Claire’s hands and pulled her to her feet. She stood drowsily and Sean wrapped a strong arm around her exhausted, sagging shoulders. They made their way up the stairs and Sean held back the thick comforter as Claire crawled into bed.
“Mmmm, thanks,” Claire mustered, still half asleep.
As Sean gently tucked the blankets snug around her chin, a satisfied sigh escaped from her lips. He was suddenly overcome by her beauty and innocence of sleep, and he was struck by an immediate urge to kiss her. Before he even knew what he was doing, Sean pressed his lips softly to her forehead, and smoothed her silken hair with his hand. He stood up and stared at her again, her deep, rhythmic breathing the only movement in the room. Sean turned and left her silently, afraid he may have been caught in his sudden lapse of emotion and affection. There was a soft click as he pulled the door shut, but Claire didn’t stir at all; she was already fast asleep.
“I’m gonna go unhitch the trailer and check on the horses real quick. Sit tight.” Sean stated as they continued to drive past. A hundred yards later he pulled up to a similarly large barn, unhitched, and walked to the side of the stables where Claire could make out six horses gathered to greet him. Sean returned a few minutes later announcing that everything looked fine.
They returned to the side of the house and entered the three-car garage. Claire peeled herself from the seat of the truck, suddenly uncomfortable in her soggy attire. She followed Sean inside the open door to the house, where they were joyfully greeted by a pair of overly excited grey and white Australian shepherds.
“Hey Betts, hey Barn!” Sean exclaimed, bending down to rub and pet his faithful cowdogs. “Claire, meet Betty and Barney, my roommates.” The dogs were just as friendly with Claire, happy for any attention.
“Wait… Betty and Barney? As in Rubble?” Claire questioned with a sarcastic smile.
“Yeah, yeah, go ahead and make fun. So I still love the Flintstones. It’s just like the best cartoon ever,” Sean said with a smile, obviously ready to endure some expected taunting.
“Love it, they’re great names,” countered Claire, with laughter in her eyes.
“Come on, you can make fun of me later.”
And as if reading her mind, he led her directly to the laundry room. They removed their coats and and hung them on hooks to dry, Sean shaking out his thick hair like a wet dog as he removed his hat. He emptied a clean load from the dryer, and searched until he found her a large white tee and a pair of blue and gray flannel pajama pants.
“These are dry and clean at least, better than nothing.”
“Thanks, this’ll be great.”
She and the dogs followed Sean through the rest of the sprawling house, through the kitchen and into warm den. He stopped here and there to turn on a few lamps, and Claire was awed at its vast openness. Floor to ceiling windows on two sides of the room reached up to the exposed, roughened cedar beams, from which twin antler laden chandeliers hung. A large stone fireplace on the other end of the room completed the atmosphere of a hunting lodge. Sean threw a lit match into the gas fireplace, and red hot flames immediately leapt and licked at the stones. The heat was immediate and intense, and it beckoned enticingly to Claire’s chilled core.
“Here, I’ll show you your room, and you can change,” Sean’s voice broke Claire’s fire and heat induced trance. They walked up the flight of wood stairs and crossed the landing overlooking the kitchen and den.
“This is it,” Sean motioned to the first door on the right, “and the bathroom is at the end of the hall.” He opened the door to a large guest room, complete with a four-post king-sized bed, oversized dresser and armoire, and a beautiful antique rocking chair. “My sister Shelby stayed here this summer, so she may have left some things here. Feel free to use whatever you need.”
“Thanks, it’s perfect.” A million times better than some hotel room, she thought.
“If you need anything, I’m on the opposite end of the landing. I’m gonna go feed these rascals, and make some tea or hot chocolate or something. Which do you prefer?” Sean asked.
“Uhh, hot chocolate sounds great, thanks.”
“Ok, take your time. There should be plenty of towels and stuff in the bathroom, then just bring your clothes down and we’ll throw ‘em in the wash.” Sean turned and left Claire alone. She smiled, and looked around the room, impressed with the house as a whole. She headed down the hall to the bathroom, turned on the shower to let the water get warm, and stole a glance at herself in the mirror.
“Oh! What a mess I am!” she thought, surprising herself. Her hair was wet and limp, and her sodden, light blue button up shirt was almost transparent, revealing her navy camisole beneath. How embarrassing. Claire stripped off a layer at a time, each piece of clothing equally damp. She stepped into the scorching shower and felt immediate relief as the hot spray began to massage and warm her frigid body.
Claire returned downstairs dressed in Sean’s oversized clothes. The t-shirt fit like a large sleep shirt, and she’d had to roll the waistband of his pants three times so that she could walk without tripping. The aroma of hot food greeted Claire as she made her way into the kitchen, and her stomach responded with a loud growl. She hadn’t eaten anything since lunch, except for a quick cRyan bar between games. That had been at least seven hours ago Claire figured. Sean had made grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches, and two mugs of hot cocoa sat steaming on the counter. She could hardly wait it looked so delicious.
As she headed towards the laundry room with her soggy clothes, Claire turned the corner to catch a glimpse of Sean’s broad, bare shoulders bending over the washing machine. She stopped abruptly and surveyed him, his beautiful, strong back ending in two dimples just above a pair of low-hanging maroon basketball shorts, his sole piece of clothing. His skin was an olive tint, giving him what appeared an eternal tan, even in the dead of the Texas winter. The muscles in his arms flexed and tensed as he reached for the laundry detergent and poured it into the machine. His hand was still bandaged with the scrap of her scarf, and it likely needed to be changed.
Claire inhaled sharply and took a step back until he was out of view, calling his name to alert him of her presence. She again walked towards the room and he turned to meet her, smoothly pulling a t-shirt over his head at the same time. His damp head slipped through the neck, and he sort of laughed and mumbled as he reached for her wet clothing, somewhat shy at being caught doing the laundry half-naked.
“Here’s the rest of my dirty clothes,” she said, handing him her wet belongings.
“And let me see your hand again.” Claire reached for his hand, carefully untying the torn scrap to reveal a clotted, dirty mess of a cut. Without releasing her grasp, she pulled his hand under a water faucet, tenderly rinsing away the dried dirt and blood. She rubbed a bar of soap across the wound, and rubbed it softly, and the foamy lather dripped from their hands into the sink. As she washed his hand, Sean stared at her in awe. “Who is this woman? A woman who cares enough to rip her scarf into pieces and isn’t be squeamish around blood? Amazing,” he thought, thoroughly impressed.
Claire had finished cleaning his injury, and with a paper towel she dried it so she could see the cut more clearly. It wasn’t too deep, and it didn’t look as though it would need stitches. “A large Band-Aid should do the trick. Bet it hurts though, it’s in kind of a sensitive spot,” she said, her fingertips lightly tracing the edges of the cut on his large, callused palm.
“Ehh, it’ll be alright. But thanks for taking care of it,” Sean said gratefully, his eyes focused on her concerned face. “I have some Band-Aids upstairs, I’ll get one after a while.”
They returned to the kitchen together, and took their food into the den where they sat in roughed leather armchairs near the fire, Betty and Barney at Sean’s feet.
***
“Claire, you have to get up. Come on, let’s get you to bed,” Sean said in his deep, smooth voice, as he shook her gently.
“Wha, what? Oh gosh, must’ve dozed off, sorry,” Claire mumbled with a start.
“You’re fine, come on, let’s just get you upstairs. You’ll be a lot more comfortable up there,” he said as he clasped Claire’s hands and pulled her to her feet. She stood drowsily and Sean wrapped a strong arm around her exhausted, sagging shoulders. They made their way up the stairs and Sean held back the thick comforter as Claire crawled into bed.
“Mmmm, thanks,” Claire mustered, still half asleep.
As Sean gently tucked the blankets snug around her chin, a satisfied sigh escaped from her lips. He was suddenly overcome by her beauty and innocence of sleep, and he was struck by an immediate urge to kiss her. Before he even knew what he was doing, Sean pressed his lips softly to her forehead, and smoothed her silken hair with his hand. He stood up and stared at her again, her deep, rhythmic breathing the only movement in the room. Sean turned and left her silently, afraid he may have been caught in his sudden lapse of emotion and affection. There was a soft click as he pulled the door shut, but Claire didn’t stir at all; she was already fast asleep.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 6
Claire awoke from her deep sleep to the sound of dogs barking in play. She reached for her cell on the nightstand, and saw that it was only 6am. She then oriented herself, as she was in a stranger’s home and it had been a very long night. As she tried to recall the events of the previous night, she suddenly remembered to call the airport to check on her delayed flight. Once again, she reached an automated recording, but the message had changed: “Due to a significant amount of ice and snow, all of today’s flights have been canceled.” She hung up and slid off of the high bed, tiptoeing to the window. She threw back the heavy curtains and the room was immediately flooded with intense light, causing Claire to squint.
The beautiful, rugged landscape was covered with the softest blanket of white. The ancient oaks that surrounded the ranch sparkled under a silver layer of ice, as did the mesquites in the surrounding pastures. The clouds hung thick and gray, threatening to release more waves of white at any moment. The two ranch dogs were scampering around joyfully, enjoying the smells of fresh deer tracks in the snow. And there on the wooden deck watching his companions was the strong, tall cowboy surveying the picturesque landscape. Sean was dressed in his pajamas, work coat, and slippers, and light puffs of steam arose from the mug of coffee in his enormous hands. Claire enjoyed watching him, and would have lingered at the window longer had her stomach allowed.
She hurried downstairs to the kitchen and found a pan of fresh cinnamon rolls. She helped herself, and fixed a cup of coffee to her liking before joining Sean outside on the deck.
“Morning sunshine!” his voice cracking in the morning cold. “Sleep ok?”
“Slept like a rock. I don’t even remember going to bed last night.”
“Yeah, you seemed pretty worn out, that’s for sure. So, I bet you’re not getting a flight out today either.”
“You’re right, all the flights are canceled. I called my dad and he said he’d head this way soon to pick me up,” Claire said.
“That’s gonna be a long drive,” Sean pondered. “Hey, you up for a little ride this morning? I need to check on a couple of heifers. They’re likely to calve whenever we have a late winter storm like this.”
Claire’s eyes sparkled in the reflection of the snow. “I’d love to, that sounds like fun!” she said with a happy smile.
“Alright, let’s do it then. I went up to the attic and found some stuff Shelby left here: a pair of jeans, boots, and such. They might fit, y’all are both pretty tall.”
They returned to the warmth of the house and Sean handed her the box of clothes, which she took upstairs and began to rummage through. She slid on a pair of worn Wranglers, surprised that they did in fact fit. The inseam was even longer than she was accustomed to. Sean’s sister must be quite tall, as she was pushing six feet herself. Claire tugged the scuffed boots on, and although they were a little tight, they were wearable. She then pulled a large, forest green Colorado State hoody over her head, and at once realized that this piece of clothing did not belong to Sean’s sister, but to him. The musky scent of his lingering cologne was deep and rich, intoxicating even. Lastly, she grabbed a worn sheepskin coat from the box, and felt in the pockets to find a pair of leather work gloves. “Think I’m all set,” she thought as she headed down to the laundry room to retrieve her scarf and beanie.
She and Sean headed out into the cold, and neither could resist a friendly snowball fight on their trek to the barn. The Aussies happily led the way, barking in pure joy, knowing that they were about to embark upon a trip into the pastures. Sean held the door for Claire, and she entered the beautiful barn, taking in the rows of spacious stalls lining the right side. At their entrance, the horses began to make their way into the barn as well, filing in from the enclosed paddock where they had greeted the truck the night before. Sean called two of the beautiful animals aside, and pulled a gate closed to separate them from the rest of the herd.
Patting a tall buckskin on the neck, Sean said, “This is Sully. He’s mine. And this is Trix, she’s my brother’s old mare.”
Claire rubbed the back of her hand gently down Trix’s long smooth face. The roan responded with a quiet whinny. “They’re gorgeous, both of them,” Claire said in earnest, looking to her left to see Sean opening up the tack room. She followed him inside, and reached for the saddle and tack that he said would be hers. They saddled the pair, led them out of the barn and through a gate that opened to the northwest pasture. Claire climbed aboard Trix, and Sean was in the process of straddling Sully, when he cursed under his breath. “Sorry, I forgot to grab the medical bag, just in case. Be right back.” He handed Claire Sully’s reins as he trotted swiftly back to the barn. He returned with an old leather satchel slung casually across his shoulder, and handily tied a roll of thin work blankets behind his saddle. “Ok, I think we’re set,” he said, with a look towards Claire. “You good?”
“Yep, I’m ready,” she replied, excited to be riding in such a striking, serene environment. They exchanged smiles, and Sean led the way, walking Sully west down a gradual slope, Barney and Betsy making large, roaming passes beside them. As they rode, they chatted and laughed about anything and everything, thoroughly enjoying each other’s presence. The landscape suddenly changed, becoming quite steep. As the horses picked their way up the hillside in single file, Claire admired her new friend’s riding ability from behind. His muscled rear moved enticingly with each of the horse’s steps, and his stirruped boots hung low at the Sully’s belly. Sean held the leather reins loosely in his gloved left hand, his right arm draped lightly over the saddle horn. He gently guided his horse, but for the most part allowed Sully to choose his own path. He rode like a seasoned professional, like he was as comfortable riding as he was walking.
“Claire, look at this,” Sean said, breaking the momentary silence. As Claire and Trix arrived on top of the plateau, she was struck by the extreme beauty of the landscape. From this higher viewpoint they could see for miles in each direction, the stunning oranges and reds of the surrounding canyons delightful against the contrasting white of the snow and ice.
“Wow…” she managed. “This is spectacular.”
Sean smiled, pleased with Claire’s reaction. The last girl he’d dated had cared nothing about his family’s land. The only time he’s seen her with such an enthusiastic response was when they’d been in Minnesota and had gone shopping at the Mall of America. Needless to say, her materialistic, city-girl nature had eventually worn on his nerves, and their relationship soon fizzled.
He had just met Claire, but already he had felt an attraction to her. Sean liked the way she had showed such compassion to both him and her injured basketball player. She obviously loved animals, and the horses and dogs had responded to her in such a way that was almost uncanny. She was fun and easy to talk to, and physically… Well he definitely found her attractive, that he knew for sure. Even horseback in a pair of worn jeans and an old work coat she looked beautiful. Her long legs hung loose in the long stirrups, and her butt and thighs filled out the jeans nicely. Her face was tranquil and peaceful, her lips and cheeks rosy in the cold winter air, and her long, golden-brown hair was shiny and gleaming in the soft breeze. Her sparkling blue eyes tore themselves away from the scenery, and locked onto Sean’s lingering gaze. Her lips formed a broad smile revealing perfect white teeth, and with a slightly self-conscious laugh she asked, “What? What is it?”
Sean shook his head slightly, bringing himself back to reality. “Just admiring the view. It’s breathtaking,” he managed. Of course Claire didn’t know that Sean was referring to her, not the landscape.
“It certainly is, I’ve never seen anything quite so beautiful,” she responded placidly.
“Me neither,” he stated truthfully.
The beautiful, rugged landscape was covered with the softest blanket of white. The ancient oaks that surrounded the ranch sparkled under a silver layer of ice, as did the mesquites in the surrounding pastures. The clouds hung thick and gray, threatening to release more waves of white at any moment. The two ranch dogs were scampering around joyfully, enjoying the smells of fresh deer tracks in the snow. And there on the wooden deck watching his companions was the strong, tall cowboy surveying the picturesque landscape. Sean was dressed in his pajamas, work coat, and slippers, and light puffs of steam arose from the mug of coffee in his enormous hands. Claire enjoyed watching him, and would have lingered at the window longer had her stomach allowed.
She hurried downstairs to the kitchen and found a pan of fresh cinnamon rolls. She helped herself, and fixed a cup of coffee to her liking before joining Sean outside on the deck.
“Morning sunshine!” his voice cracking in the morning cold. “Sleep ok?”
“Slept like a rock. I don’t even remember going to bed last night.”
“Yeah, you seemed pretty worn out, that’s for sure. So, I bet you’re not getting a flight out today either.”
“You’re right, all the flights are canceled. I called my dad and he said he’d head this way soon to pick me up,” Claire said.
“That’s gonna be a long drive,” Sean pondered. “Hey, you up for a little ride this morning? I need to check on a couple of heifers. They’re likely to calve whenever we have a late winter storm like this.”
Claire’s eyes sparkled in the reflection of the snow. “I’d love to, that sounds like fun!” she said with a happy smile.
“Alright, let’s do it then. I went up to the attic and found some stuff Shelby left here: a pair of jeans, boots, and such. They might fit, y’all are both pretty tall.”
They returned to the warmth of the house and Sean handed her the box of clothes, which she took upstairs and began to rummage through. She slid on a pair of worn Wranglers, surprised that they did in fact fit. The inseam was even longer than she was accustomed to. Sean’s sister must be quite tall, as she was pushing six feet herself. Claire tugged the scuffed boots on, and although they were a little tight, they were wearable. She then pulled a large, forest green Colorado State hoody over her head, and at once realized that this piece of clothing did not belong to Sean’s sister, but to him. The musky scent of his lingering cologne was deep and rich, intoxicating even. Lastly, she grabbed a worn sheepskin coat from the box, and felt in the pockets to find a pair of leather work gloves. “Think I’m all set,” she thought as she headed down to the laundry room to retrieve her scarf and beanie.
She and Sean headed out into the cold, and neither could resist a friendly snowball fight on their trek to the barn. The Aussies happily led the way, barking in pure joy, knowing that they were about to embark upon a trip into the pastures. Sean held the door for Claire, and she entered the beautiful barn, taking in the rows of spacious stalls lining the right side. At their entrance, the horses began to make their way into the barn as well, filing in from the enclosed paddock where they had greeted the truck the night before. Sean called two of the beautiful animals aside, and pulled a gate closed to separate them from the rest of the herd.
Patting a tall buckskin on the neck, Sean said, “This is Sully. He’s mine. And this is Trix, she’s my brother’s old mare.”
Claire rubbed the back of her hand gently down Trix’s long smooth face. The roan responded with a quiet whinny. “They’re gorgeous, both of them,” Claire said in earnest, looking to her left to see Sean opening up the tack room. She followed him inside, and reached for the saddle and tack that he said would be hers. They saddled the pair, led them out of the barn and through a gate that opened to the northwest pasture. Claire climbed aboard Trix, and Sean was in the process of straddling Sully, when he cursed under his breath. “Sorry, I forgot to grab the medical bag, just in case. Be right back.” He handed Claire Sully’s reins as he trotted swiftly back to the barn. He returned with an old leather satchel slung casually across his shoulder, and handily tied a roll of thin work blankets behind his saddle. “Ok, I think we’re set,” he said, with a look towards Claire. “You good?”
“Yep, I’m ready,” she replied, excited to be riding in such a striking, serene environment. They exchanged smiles, and Sean led the way, walking Sully west down a gradual slope, Barney and Betsy making large, roaming passes beside them. As they rode, they chatted and laughed about anything and everything, thoroughly enjoying each other’s presence. The landscape suddenly changed, becoming quite steep. As the horses picked their way up the hillside in single file, Claire admired her new friend’s riding ability from behind. His muscled rear moved enticingly with each of the horse’s steps, and his stirruped boots hung low at the Sully’s belly. Sean held the leather reins loosely in his gloved left hand, his right arm draped lightly over the saddle horn. He gently guided his horse, but for the most part allowed Sully to choose his own path. He rode like a seasoned professional, like he was as comfortable riding as he was walking.
“Claire, look at this,” Sean said, breaking the momentary silence. As Claire and Trix arrived on top of the plateau, she was struck by the extreme beauty of the landscape. From this higher viewpoint they could see for miles in each direction, the stunning oranges and reds of the surrounding canyons delightful against the contrasting white of the snow and ice.
“Wow…” she managed. “This is spectacular.”
Sean smiled, pleased with Claire’s reaction. The last girl he’d dated had cared nothing about his family’s land. The only time he’s seen her with such an enthusiastic response was when they’d been in Minnesota and had gone shopping at the Mall of America. Needless to say, her materialistic, city-girl nature had eventually worn on his nerves, and their relationship soon fizzled.
He had just met Claire, but already he had felt an attraction to her. Sean liked the way she had showed such compassion to both him and her injured basketball player. She obviously loved animals, and the horses and dogs had responded to her in such a way that was almost uncanny. She was fun and easy to talk to, and physically… Well he definitely found her attractive, that he knew for sure. Even horseback in a pair of worn jeans and an old work coat she looked beautiful. Her long legs hung loose in the long stirrups, and her butt and thighs filled out the jeans nicely. Her face was tranquil and peaceful, her lips and cheeks rosy in the cold winter air, and her long, golden-brown hair was shiny and gleaming in the soft breeze. Her sparkling blue eyes tore themselves away from the scenery, and locked onto Sean’s lingering gaze. Her lips formed a broad smile revealing perfect white teeth, and with a slightly self-conscious laugh she asked, “What? What is it?”
Sean shook his head slightly, bringing himself back to reality. “Just admiring the view. It’s breathtaking,” he managed. Of course Claire didn’t know that Sean was referring to her, not the landscape.
“It certainly is, I’ve never seen anything quite so beautiful,” she responded placidly.
“Me neither,” he stated truthfully.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 7
They continued their ride through the rugged terrain, allowing the horses to run full out when they reached an open snow-covered valley. At Sean’s lead, Claire encouraged her mare into a gallop, and the horses galloped side-by-side for a quarter of a mile. They slowed into a balanced trot, both animals blowing steam from their nostrils like dragons. Claire couldn’t imagine a more perfect day. She was experiencing nature in its finest glory, and she wanted to appreciate every second of it. They continued to ride a quick pace until they climbed upon another bluff, this one slightly steeper than before. Once at the top, Sean told Claire to help him look for the cows in the river bottom below, where they often bedded down.
The horses picked their way down the slope with experienced caution, their feet finding solid ground through the rocks and snow. The dogs soon picked up the scent of the nearby cattle, and Sean spotted what he had initially feared. One heifer stood under the shelter of a cluster of large oaks with her brand new calf nursing heartily. However, another heifer stood further out in a small snow drift, her head hung low and her back hunched. A bit of steam arose from the tiny wet calf in the snow near her head, but the calf lay motionless.
Sean swiftly dismounted his horse and Sully stood still. He untied the roll of blankets from behind the saddle, told his dogs to stay back, and began to slowly approach the new mother cow, uttering low, calming sounds as he trudged through the snow. The cow responded with a nervous moo, but she didn’t move. As he got closer to the newborn calf at her head, he knelt down, and his experienced hands reached for its mouth. The calf was alive and breathing, just cold and weak.
“Claire, try to get this calf up on his feet and nursing if you can,” Sean said as Claire made her way to him. “I’m gonna check out Momma here, I’m afraid she’s got twins, ‘cause this calf sure is small.”
Claire wrapped the wet calf in one of the blankets, and lifted him to his feet. He stood unsteadily, but was not yet strong enough to walk. She bent and picked him up, and moved him to the cow’s udder. As she worked on getting the tiny calf to suckle the teat, Sean began to strip his clothes off until he stood in the frigid winter air half-naked, his muscled chest and abs belonging more on the pages of a calendar than on a Texas cowboy. He patted the cow’s hindquarters lightly, and slowly began to push his right arm into the cow’s swollen vulva. He was up to his elbow inside of her when he announced that he did indeed feel another calf.
“Yep, it’s twins. Who knows how long she’s been like this though, this other little guy’s likely to be dead,” he said sullenly.
Sean continued to work inside the cow, at times reaching up to his shoulder to readjust the calf’s head and legs into the best position to be delivered. In the meantime, Claire’s persistence with her calf paid off, and the little guy began to suck voraciously. “That’s it, that’s it!” she encouraged him with excitement. “Drink up all that colostrum you can, it’ll make you nice and strong.”
Claire tossed a smile toward Sean, but was worried when she saw the strain and sweat upon his brow. He was having trouble manipulating the calf’s twin, and every passing minute lowered the chances of delivering a live calf. “Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked with concern.
“I think I’ve just about got him. Can you get a blanket ready to catch him? He may be not be breathing anymore,” Sean panted, slightly out of breath. He continued to pull, and seconds later he produced a tiny, limp calf, it’s warm body producing waves of hot steam. Claire wrapped the baby in a fresh blanket, and began to rub and dry it. Sean knelt near the calf’s head, removed the thin slimy film from its nose, and grabbed its tongue with his fingers. He pulled on the tongue several times to stimulate the calf to breathe, each time waiting with expectation for it to take its first breath of air. Finally, on the fourth pull, the calf inhaled with vigor, and began flopping around on the blanket in an effort to stand. Sean immediately helped the calf to his feet, and showed him to his mom’s enormous udder, where he began to drink the lifesaving milk voraciously.
Thrilled to have both babies alive and well, Sean began to laugh heartily, partly due to the flood of adrenaline he had just experienced, and partly because he could just picture how he must appear. He was on his knees in a foot of snow supporting a hungry baby calf, his bare chest and naked arms covered in sticky animal secretions, and his face and hair dripping with sweat. His laughter was infectious, and soon Claire was doubled-over laughing at their unusual situation as well. Once she regained a bit of composure, she retrieved Sean’s shirt, coat, and gloves, and he dressed quickly.
They now had the task of getting three new calves back to the barn, and two of those calves would have to be carried. Sean trudged through the snow towards the trees to check on the stronger cow and her calf, and as he made his way back to the horses, the mother cow followed behind as if a pet. Her little calf bucked and played happily beside her. Claire climbed aboard Trix, and Sean lifted one of the blanket-covered twins across the saddle in front of her.
“Do you think you’ll be able to hold him while you ride?” he asked with concern.
“Yep, I think we’ll be fine,” Claire replied with confidence.
Sean laid the other twin across his own saddle, swung a long leg over his horse, and they began the long ride back to the barn, herding the two cows and playful calf in front of them. “Granddad sure would’ve loved seeing that,” Sean said after a few minutes of riding. “He taught me everything I know about cows, and he always said that nothing is more rewarding than delivering a live calf with your own hands.”
“I bet he’d be pretty proud of you then. I know I was impressed,” Claire responded truthfully.
“Whatever. I know I looked ridiculous back there. Even you couldn’t keep from laughing!” he said with a mischievous tease.
“Well, no offense, but I’m pretty sure I’d laugh at anyone who was covered in afterbirth and half-naked in the freezing cold snow! That’s funny stuff.”
“Yeah, yeah. I was laughing at myself too,” Sean said with a chuckle. “You still ok with that calf?”
“Yeah, we’re doing good.”
They arrived at the barn nearly an hour later, and Sean provided the new mothers and babies with clean stalls. The calves nursed heartily after their long trip, and the cows ate just as ravenously. After unsaddling and brushing their horses, both Sean and Claire trudged back to the house, exhausted after a long, but fully rewarding morning. Both needed showers after their adventure, Sean especially. Before heading upstairs however, Claire called her dad to see how his trek across the icy panhandle was faring, finding out that he was due to arrive in Canyon around 1 pm.
“Perfect,” Sean replied after Claire hung up. “That’ll give us just enough time to get into town and eat some lunch.”
The horses picked their way down the slope with experienced caution, their feet finding solid ground through the rocks and snow. The dogs soon picked up the scent of the nearby cattle, and Sean spotted what he had initially feared. One heifer stood under the shelter of a cluster of large oaks with her brand new calf nursing heartily. However, another heifer stood further out in a small snow drift, her head hung low and her back hunched. A bit of steam arose from the tiny wet calf in the snow near her head, but the calf lay motionless.
Sean swiftly dismounted his horse and Sully stood still. He untied the roll of blankets from behind the saddle, told his dogs to stay back, and began to slowly approach the new mother cow, uttering low, calming sounds as he trudged through the snow. The cow responded with a nervous moo, but she didn’t move. As he got closer to the newborn calf at her head, he knelt down, and his experienced hands reached for its mouth. The calf was alive and breathing, just cold and weak.
“Claire, try to get this calf up on his feet and nursing if you can,” Sean said as Claire made her way to him. “I’m gonna check out Momma here, I’m afraid she’s got twins, ‘cause this calf sure is small.”
Claire wrapped the wet calf in one of the blankets, and lifted him to his feet. He stood unsteadily, but was not yet strong enough to walk. She bent and picked him up, and moved him to the cow’s udder. As she worked on getting the tiny calf to suckle the teat, Sean began to strip his clothes off until he stood in the frigid winter air half-naked, his muscled chest and abs belonging more on the pages of a calendar than on a Texas cowboy. He patted the cow’s hindquarters lightly, and slowly began to push his right arm into the cow’s swollen vulva. He was up to his elbow inside of her when he announced that he did indeed feel another calf.
“Yep, it’s twins. Who knows how long she’s been like this though, this other little guy’s likely to be dead,” he said sullenly.
Sean continued to work inside the cow, at times reaching up to his shoulder to readjust the calf’s head and legs into the best position to be delivered. In the meantime, Claire’s persistence with her calf paid off, and the little guy began to suck voraciously. “That’s it, that’s it!” she encouraged him with excitement. “Drink up all that colostrum you can, it’ll make you nice and strong.”
Claire tossed a smile toward Sean, but was worried when she saw the strain and sweat upon his brow. He was having trouble manipulating the calf’s twin, and every passing minute lowered the chances of delivering a live calf. “Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked with concern.
“I think I’ve just about got him. Can you get a blanket ready to catch him? He may be not be breathing anymore,” Sean panted, slightly out of breath. He continued to pull, and seconds later he produced a tiny, limp calf, it’s warm body producing waves of hot steam. Claire wrapped the baby in a fresh blanket, and began to rub and dry it. Sean knelt near the calf’s head, removed the thin slimy film from its nose, and grabbed its tongue with his fingers. He pulled on the tongue several times to stimulate the calf to breathe, each time waiting with expectation for it to take its first breath of air. Finally, on the fourth pull, the calf inhaled with vigor, and began flopping around on the blanket in an effort to stand. Sean immediately helped the calf to his feet, and showed him to his mom’s enormous udder, where he began to drink the lifesaving milk voraciously.
Thrilled to have both babies alive and well, Sean began to laugh heartily, partly due to the flood of adrenaline he had just experienced, and partly because he could just picture how he must appear. He was on his knees in a foot of snow supporting a hungry baby calf, his bare chest and naked arms covered in sticky animal secretions, and his face and hair dripping with sweat. His laughter was infectious, and soon Claire was doubled-over laughing at their unusual situation as well. Once she regained a bit of composure, she retrieved Sean’s shirt, coat, and gloves, and he dressed quickly.
They now had the task of getting three new calves back to the barn, and two of those calves would have to be carried. Sean trudged through the snow towards the trees to check on the stronger cow and her calf, and as he made his way back to the horses, the mother cow followed behind as if a pet. Her little calf bucked and played happily beside her. Claire climbed aboard Trix, and Sean lifted one of the blanket-covered twins across the saddle in front of her.
“Do you think you’ll be able to hold him while you ride?” he asked with concern.
“Yep, I think we’ll be fine,” Claire replied with confidence.
Sean laid the other twin across his own saddle, swung a long leg over his horse, and they began the long ride back to the barn, herding the two cows and playful calf in front of them. “Granddad sure would’ve loved seeing that,” Sean said after a few minutes of riding. “He taught me everything I know about cows, and he always said that nothing is more rewarding than delivering a live calf with your own hands.”
“I bet he’d be pretty proud of you then. I know I was impressed,” Claire responded truthfully.
“Whatever. I know I looked ridiculous back there. Even you couldn’t keep from laughing!” he said with a mischievous tease.
“Well, no offense, but I’m pretty sure I’d laugh at anyone who was covered in afterbirth and half-naked in the freezing cold snow! That’s funny stuff.”
“Yeah, yeah. I was laughing at myself too,” Sean said with a chuckle. “You still ok with that calf?”
“Yeah, we’re doing good.”
They arrived at the barn nearly an hour later, and Sean provided the new mothers and babies with clean stalls. The calves nursed heartily after their long trip, and the cows ate just as ravenously. After unsaddling and brushing their horses, both Sean and Claire trudged back to the house, exhausted after a long, but fully rewarding morning. Both needed showers after their adventure, Sean especially. Before heading upstairs however, Claire called her dad to see how his trek across the icy panhandle was faring, finding out that he was due to arrive in Canyon around 1 pm.
“Perfect,” Sean replied after Claire hung up. “That’ll give us just enough time to get into town and eat some lunch.”
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 8
The ride into town was uneventful. Sean’s four-wheel drive truck handled the snow and ice with ease. With the two Aussies perched on the seat in between them, Sean and Claire arrived at Morena’s Mexican Café just after noon. “Hope Mexican’s ok, this place is one of my favorites,” Sean said as they climbed out of his pickup.
“Love Mexican food. And I’m starving, hope we don’t close the place down!” she joked.
After seating themselves, a pretty, auburn-haired waitress brought them chips and salsa. As she took their drink orders, Claire was appalled with how shamelessly the woman flirted with Sean. She had laid her hand casually on Sean’s shoulder, and her back was turned to Claire, completely ignoring her. “Uh, we’ll just have a couple of cokes, and some queso to start with. And that’ll be all for now, unless you’d like something else Claire?” Sean said, reaching across the table and squeezing his lunch date’s forearm.
With his gesture of affection towards Claire, the waitress was forced to acknowledge Sean’s date and cease her blatant flirtation. “Is that all?” the woman asked in a snooty tone.
“Yes, that’s all you can get us for now. Thanks.” Claire retorted with a smug smile.
“Sorry about that,” Sean apologized, as the waitress stormed off to the kitchen. “She’s always a little too touchy-feely, been that way ever since high school.”
“Not a big deal, I thought you handled the situation with a lot of class, actually. Just hope she doesn’t spit in our food or something.”
“Nah, we should be fine. I’d think she’d be used to my reaction to her by now anyway.”
“So you went to high school with her? Was that here in Canyon?” Claire questioned, interested to know more about Sean’s past. He elaborated, stating that he had in fact grown up in Canyon and gone to school there since junior high. When he was a kid his parents had lived in Wyoming near his maternal grandparents. His dad was an architect there, and they had moved to Texas when Sean was eleven to be closer to his dad’s mom who had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. Sean had a brother who was two years older, and the sister from whom Claire had borrowed the clothes was ten years younger, just a baby when the family had made their move across the United States.
Sean had been a gifted athlete, excelling in basketball and football, in which he continued to play through college at West Texas A&M. His coaches had encouraged him to try to play football at the professional level even, but Sean was more interested in running his granddad’s cattle ranch. So he had moved onto the ranch and lived with his grandfather until three years ago, when the old man unexpectedly died in his sleep. The cattle, land, and enormous ranch house had all been left to Sean, and he was more than happy to keep the ranch in the Burnett family name. Claire could definitely relate to Sean’s story, having grown up a hometown hero, and then continuing to work in the same town she’d lived her entire life.
The haughty waitress brought their ticket and left it on the table without interruption. Both reached for the tab, but Sean was faster. “Please allow me Claire, I’d consider it an honor.”
Shocked with his choice of words, Claire gave in with little more than a sincere “thank you.” He had sounded like one of the noble warrior characters straight from her romance novels!
How this successful, honorable, handsome cowboy was not yet married was beyond her. Before she could think of a tactful way of asking about past relationships however, she saw her dad’s white truck pull into the parking lot.
They walked outside and met Claire’s father just as he was stepping out of the truck to stretch his legs. “Hey Dad,” Claire said, giving him a quick hug. “Thanks for coming to get me.”
“Sure thing, the roads weren’t as bad as I first thought.” The attractive older man said with a tired smile. “Guess you’ll owe me one now though!”
“Dad, this is Sean Burnett. He gave me a ride and a place to stay last night.” Claire said with appreciation. “And Sean, this is my dad, David Williams.”
“Nice to meet you sir,” Sean said, shaking his hand. “I’d like to compliment Claire, she was a big help to me this morning. She’s quite the horsewoman.”
“Well, she pretends to be anyway,” Claire’s dad said with smile, giving his eldest daughter’s shoulders a tight squeeze.
Claire rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but smile. She knew that her dad’s playful sarcasm was his way of saying he loved her and was proud of her.
“Ready to head home?” he asked. “Your animals are all waiting for you.”
“Yeah, guess we should get going,” Claire replied, her eyes finding Sean’s.
Sean walked her to the passenger door and opened it. They stood there in silence for an awkward moment, neither seeming ready for their time together to come to an end. Finally, Sean extended his hand and took hers politely. “It was great meeting you Claire. Hope we see each other again sometime,” his voice quiet but deep.
“So do I. And thanks again for everything,” Claire managed, a knot rising in her throat. With a slight nod and a gentlemanly tip of his hat, the kind cowboy shut the door and turned towards his truck. Claire sat in silence as her dad drove away, waiting for the lump in her throat to subside, afraid if she tried to talk her voice would give away the emotion she was feeling. It had upset her to tell Sean goodbye; she was afraid that they would not see each other again. He lived several hours away, and what was more, he hadn’t even asked for her phone number.
Claire’s father broke the silence by commenting on how polite Sean seemed. He had obviously made a good first impression, which was not an easy thing to do with Claire’s dad.
She was relieved that her dad had somewhat given his approval, but was also torn that this was the first man she’d had any interest in whatsoever in what seemed like an eternity. And now Sean was just a memory.
***
Sean drove back to his ranch with mixed emotions. There was the slight clench of his gut after saying goodbye to Claire, but also the excited butterflies that appeared whenever he thought about her. Had he really just met her less than twenty-four hours earlier? It was hard to believe. He hadn’t felt a spark like this in years. It felt more than just good, it felt amazing. He’d wanted to hug her goodbye, and he was afraid that their parting handshake had been somewhat cold, conveying none of the affection he felt Claire deserved. However, they had just met, and a handshake was appropriate in front of her father. Turning up the radio to drown out his thoughts, he decided he’d give Darla a call when he got home to ask for Claire’s number.
“Love Mexican food. And I’m starving, hope we don’t close the place down!” she joked.
After seating themselves, a pretty, auburn-haired waitress brought them chips and salsa. As she took their drink orders, Claire was appalled with how shamelessly the woman flirted with Sean. She had laid her hand casually on Sean’s shoulder, and her back was turned to Claire, completely ignoring her. “Uh, we’ll just have a couple of cokes, and some queso to start with. And that’ll be all for now, unless you’d like something else Claire?” Sean said, reaching across the table and squeezing his lunch date’s forearm.
With his gesture of affection towards Claire, the waitress was forced to acknowledge Sean’s date and cease her blatant flirtation. “Is that all?” the woman asked in a snooty tone.
“Yes, that’s all you can get us for now. Thanks.” Claire retorted with a smug smile.
“Sorry about that,” Sean apologized, as the waitress stormed off to the kitchen. “She’s always a little too touchy-feely, been that way ever since high school.”
“Not a big deal, I thought you handled the situation with a lot of class, actually. Just hope she doesn’t spit in our food or something.”
“Nah, we should be fine. I’d think she’d be used to my reaction to her by now anyway.”
“So you went to high school with her? Was that here in Canyon?” Claire questioned, interested to know more about Sean’s past. He elaborated, stating that he had in fact grown up in Canyon and gone to school there since junior high. When he was a kid his parents had lived in Wyoming near his maternal grandparents. His dad was an architect there, and they had moved to Texas when Sean was eleven to be closer to his dad’s mom who had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. Sean had a brother who was two years older, and the sister from whom Claire had borrowed the clothes was ten years younger, just a baby when the family had made their move across the United States.
Sean had been a gifted athlete, excelling in basketball and football, in which he continued to play through college at West Texas A&M. His coaches had encouraged him to try to play football at the professional level even, but Sean was more interested in running his granddad’s cattle ranch. So he had moved onto the ranch and lived with his grandfather until three years ago, when the old man unexpectedly died in his sleep. The cattle, land, and enormous ranch house had all been left to Sean, and he was more than happy to keep the ranch in the Burnett family name. Claire could definitely relate to Sean’s story, having grown up a hometown hero, and then continuing to work in the same town she’d lived her entire life.
The haughty waitress brought their ticket and left it on the table without interruption. Both reached for the tab, but Sean was faster. “Please allow me Claire, I’d consider it an honor.”
Shocked with his choice of words, Claire gave in with little more than a sincere “thank you.” He had sounded like one of the noble warrior characters straight from her romance novels!
How this successful, honorable, handsome cowboy was not yet married was beyond her. Before she could think of a tactful way of asking about past relationships however, she saw her dad’s white truck pull into the parking lot.
They walked outside and met Claire’s father just as he was stepping out of the truck to stretch his legs. “Hey Dad,” Claire said, giving him a quick hug. “Thanks for coming to get me.”
“Sure thing, the roads weren’t as bad as I first thought.” The attractive older man said with a tired smile. “Guess you’ll owe me one now though!”
“Dad, this is Sean Burnett. He gave me a ride and a place to stay last night.” Claire said with appreciation. “And Sean, this is my dad, David Williams.”
“Nice to meet you sir,” Sean said, shaking his hand. “I’d like to compliment Claire, she was a big help to me this morning. She’s quite the horsewoman.”
“Well, she pretends to be anyway,” Claire’s dad said with smile, giving his eldest daughter’s shoulders a tight squeeze.
Claire rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but smile. She knew that her dad’s playful sarcasm was his way of saying he loved her and was proud of her.
“Ready to head home?” he asked. “Your animals are all waiting for you.”
“Yeah, guess we should get going,” Claire replied, her eyes finding Sean’s.
Sean walked her to the passenger door and opened it. They stood there in silence for an awkward moment, neither seeming ready for their time together to come to an end. Finally, Sean extended his hand and took hers politely. “It was great meeting you Claire. Hope we see each other again sometime,” his voice quiet but deep.
“So do I. And thanks again for everything,” Claire managed, a knot rising in her throat. With a slight nod and a gentlemanly tip of his hat, the kind cowboy shut the door and turned towards his truck. Claire sat in silence as her dad drove away, waiting for the lump in her throat to subside, afraid if she tried to talk her voice would give away the emotion she was feeling. It had upset her to tell Sean goodbye; she was afraid that they would not see each other again. He lived several hours away, and what was more, he hadn’t even asked for her phone number.
Claire’s father broke the silence by commenting on how polite Sean seemed. He had obviously made a good first impression, which was not an easy thing to do with Claire’s dad.
She was relieved that her dad had somewhat given his approval, but was also torn that this was the first man she’d had any interest in whatsoever in what seemed like an eternity. And now Sean was just a memory.
***
Sean drove back to his ranch with mixed emotions. There was the slight clench of his gut after saying goodbye to Claire, but also the excited butterflies that appeared whenever he thought about her. Had he really just met her less than twenty-four hours earlier? It was hard to believe. He hadn’t felt a spark like this in years. It felt more than just good, it felt amazing. He’d wanted to hug her goodbye, and he was afraid that their parting handshake had been somewhat cold, conveying none of the affection he felt Claire deserved. However, they had just met, and a handshake was appropriate in front of her father. Turning up the radio to drown out his thoughts, he decided he’d give Darla a call when he got home to ask for Claire’s number.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 9
It had been almost a week since she’d first met Sean. Claire’s hopes of seeing him again had dwindled, and their meeting had begun to seem more like a dream than reality. In fact, he had already made several welcome appearances in her dreams. Each time Claire had awakened with her heart thudding hard inside her chest, her subconscious full of lust and longing. After waking up to reality, the disappointment would set in, and Claire would go about her days just as she had before meeting the handsome cowboy.
Just before heading out the door to go to her team’s final basketball game, her cell rang, and an unfamiliar number was displayed on the screen. “Hello?” she answered without pause.
“Claire? Hey, it’s Sean Burnett. How are you?”
“Sean?” she asked, happily surprised. “I’m great, how are you?”
“Doing well, thank you. I got your number from Darla, I hope that’s ok.”
“Of course that’s ok,” Claire responded, trying not to sound too thrilled that he had called.
“Well, I was just wondering if you’d be interested in riding with me to Seminole tomorrow evening. I have to take a couple of bulls down that way, and I’d love to have some company.”
“Uhh, sure. That sounds fun.”
“Ok, I should be driving through Flatland around four, will that work?”
“Yeah, that’ll be great,” she replied. After giving him her address, they hung up, and Claire drove to the school to coach her team, half skipping in excitement on her way into the gymnasium.
***
The next day, Sean’s big black diesel pulled into her driveway ten minutes past four, and Claire met him outside, climbing into the passenger seat. She was thrilled to see that he was smiling almost as big as she was, and was even happier when he reached over his sleeping dogs to give her a friendly hug. She inhaled deeply to breathe in his musky, leathery scent, his scruffy cheek brushing against her smooth face as he pulled away.
“It’s great to see you again, and I’m so glad you decided to come with me today!” he said, his voice as deep and rumbling as it had been in her dreams.
“I’m glad you called. It’s been pretty boring around here lately.”
Sean asked about the giant dogs he’d seen inside Claire’s fence.
“Those are my Leos. An Austrian breed, they’re kind of rare.”
“Leonbergers, huh?” Sean questioned knowledgably. “I’ve only read about them, never seen one.”
Surprised by Sean’s knowledge of the breed, she told him that he’d have to meet her dogs when they got back to her house.
Sean then decided it was Claire’s turn to share about herself, as he’d already told her much about his childhood the last time they’d been together. She talked about her parents, of whom she was very close. She had one younger sibling, as sister, who also worked as a teacher in nearby Lubbock. Claire’s family was important to her, one of the main reasons she hadn’t made a break to live on a ranch in the Rockies, he instinctively assumed. She told him about growing in Flatland, about all of the basketball tournaments and summer camps she’d attended, which left little room for much else. Although she’d been passionate about horses since she could remember, she hadn’t really gotten the chance to pursue it until later in high school. It was then that she began working odd jobs in barns, on ranches, or at racetracks just for the chance that she’d occasionally be allowed to ride. She got her first horse in college, but similar to his own experience, being a college athlete allowed little time for anything else. So it was just in the past few years that she’d really had the time for her horse, and she was just starting to realize what kind of riding she wanted to pursue. Ranch riding.
Like a lot of young girls, she had started off in the equestrian ring, learning the proper mechanics of riding and showmanship. She had then taken an interest in behavior and horsemanship, following the theories popularized by Ray Hunt and Pat Parelli. In the last couple of years however, she had been spending her summers on a large horse and cattle operation managed by her cousin in northern New Mexico. The cutting horses were fantastic, truly happy and as natural as they came in their instinctive ability to run with and work cattle. There, Claire fell in love with her second horse, a talented mare named Emerald. Claire and Emmy had developed a connection that she’d never achieved with her first horse, likely due to the fact that both horse and rider loved the ranch and all the opportunities it provided. Although she was still very much in the beginning stages of learning about the ranch, cutting, and roping, her willingness and desire to learn were most evident to Sean, just through her talking about it.
“So why are you coaching in Flatland if it’s not what makes you happy?” he probed, thinking he probably already knew the answer.
“That’s the same question I ask myself most mornings,” she answered despondently, turning her face away from his to stare out the passenger window. “You know, things just happened to keep me here. Family. Relationships. Convenience. Security… I haven’t been brave enough until just recently to make a break for it, to really pursue it, I guess.”
He nodded with sincere understanding, and rested his hand on her knee. “I do know. It’s the fear of the unknown and taking a leap of faith. Of thinking that it’s not really feasible to live out your dreams when you feel like you should be content in all you’ve already been blessed with.”
Claire turned violently to stare at him in the fading twilight, her mouth open in astonishment. “I’ve never heard anyone put it like that. That is exactly how I feel. How, how did you know?” she stumbled.
“Feel the same way I guess. Like something is missing and I’ve just haven’t been brave enough to really go after it.”
They sat in silence for a while, both mulling over the words that the other had so perfectly stated. It was unusual for both parties to feel such understanding, especially from someone whom they had so recently met, and had only begun to trust. It was a good feeling.
They arrived at a large cattle ranch a few miles outside of Seminole where the bulls were to be delivered. The animals were unloaded with little excitement, and the pair was back on the road into town in no time. They stopped to grab a quick dinner, and returned to the truck with a little snack for the Aussies as well. The mood on the way home was at first tense, as if Claire had allowed too much of her heart to be exposed, and she needed to be more cautious. Somewhat sensing her wariness of sharing more personal thoughts, Sean kept the conversation lighthearted and humorous with stories of his college football days and the ridiculous antics of his roping buddies. The two hours back to Claire’s passed in no time, and she invited him inside to meet her beloved companions.
The dogs were immediately at ease with Sean, even her younger pup who was often wary around men. He scratched behind their ears and rubbed their chests until the hundred plus pounds of muscle and fur were lolling about his feet like kittens. “What great dogs!” he exclaimed, “Wonder how they’d get along with Betts and Barn?”
“Let’s bring ‘em inside, I’m sure they’ll be fine. These two could get along with anybody they’re so easy-going.”
They introduced the two Aussies to the much larger Leos, and Claire was right. The house was soon filled with the sounds of playful barks and flying clumps of hair as the dogs wrestled and played with unabashed vigor. “Okay, okay, you all have to go outside so I can hear myself think!” Claire announced as she opened the backdoor and the herd of fur rambunctiously filed outside.
She took Sean on a quick tour of her century old farm-house, and he seemed impressed with her collection of antiques that complemented her no-nonsense, rustic décor. He excused himself to the restroom while Claire turned on some music and started a pot of coffee.
“Hey Claire?” he called from the restroom, the door still closed.
“Uh, yeah?”
“Could you bring me a screwdriver, I’m gonna fix your toilet.”
“Oh brother, how embarrassing,” she thought to herself as she approached the bathroom. “Sean, you don’t have to do that. I can fix it, I just haven’t exactly figured out how to yet.”
He opened the door with gusto, a broad, teasing smile plastered on his face. “Just let me fix it for you, we won’t tell a soul if that’s what you need to keep your ego intact.”
With a bashful smile and a feigned sigh of disgust, she stomped off to get fetch the requested tool. Upon her return, she held the screwdriver out for him, but instead her grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into the narrow room toward the faulty device.
“Here, I’m gonna show you how to fix it instead.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m perfectly happy to let a man take care of it,” she said in a mocking tone of refute.
“That’s a big, fat lie and we both know it. Here, it’ll take just a second.” He guided her to the open toilet, and expertly instructed her where and what to adjust, pointing out the details from over her shoulder. In no time, the leak that had persisted for months was corrected. Claire spun around on the closed lid, and looked up into the defined face of the man who was still leaning over her, his solid arms forming walls around her shoulders. They seemed frozen as the physical nearness of one another’s faces caused both to anticipate and over-think the next move. Claire could smell the faint tinge of peppermint on his breath, and she was sure that he could hear the pounding of her heart that had suddenly leapt to twice its normal speed. After a few long seconds, Sean stood up, and exhaled slightly as he did. He reached for Claire’s hand and helped her up casually, abating the intimate tension that had just occurred.
They returned to the kitchen where she poured them both cups of steaming coffee, and they retired to the comfort of her living room. Sean could not stay much longer however, as it was still at least a three hour drive back to his home in the northern panhandle. He soon gathered up his dogs and Claire followed him to her front door, again reluctant to tell him goodbye.
“Thanks for riding with me Claire, it definitely made the trip seem a lot shorter. And gave me something to look forward to,” he continued, unabashedly allowing his feelings for her to be known.
“I had a nice time too. It was really good to see you again.”
“Does that mean it’d be ok if I called you again?” he ventured.
“Well, maybe,” she said coyly. “I mean, you did fix my toilet. I guess I owe you.”
He laughed whole-heartedly and pulled her into a friendly embrace. The hug was comfortable and familiar, and she didn’t want him to let go. When Sean released her their eyes locked, and with a confident smile he stepped back and told the dogs to load up into the truck. With a slight nod, his headlights disappeared down her driveway and into the darkness.
Just before heading out the door to go to her team’s final basketball game, her cell rang, and an unfamiliar number was displayed on the screen. “Hello?” she answered without pause.
“Claire? Hey, it’s Sean Burnett. How are you?”
“Sean?” she asked, happily surprised. “I’m great, how are you?”
“Doing well, thank you. I got your number from Darla, I hope that’s ok.”
“Of course that’s ok,” Claire responded, trying not to sound too thrilled that he had called.
“Well, I was just wondering if you’d be interested in riding with me to Seminole tomorrow evening. I have to take a couple of bulls down that way, and I’d love to have some company.”
“Uhh, sure. That sounds fun.”
“Ok, I should be driving through Flatland around four, will that work?”
“Yeah, that’ll be great,” she replied. After giving him her address, they hung up, and Claire drove to the school to coach her team, half skipping in excitement on her way into the gymnasium.
***
The next day, Sean’s big black diesel pulled into her driveway ten minutes past four, and Claire met him outside, climbing into the passenger seat. She was thrilled to see that he was smiling almost as big as she was, and was even happier when he reached over his sleeping dogs to give her a friendly hug. She inhaled deeply to breathe in his musky, leathery scent, his scruffy cheek brushing against her smooth face as he pulled away.
“It’s great to see you again, and I’m so glad you decided to come with me today!” he said, his voice as deep and rumbling as it had been in her dreams.
“I’m glad you called. It’s been pretty boring around here lately.”
Sean asked about the giant dogs he’d seen inside Claire’s fence.
“Those are my Leos. An Austrian breed, they’re kind of rare.”
“Leonbergers, huh?” Sean questioned knowledgably. “I’ve only read about them, never seen one.”
Surprised by Sean’s knowledge of the breed, she told him that he’d have to meet her dogs when they got back to her house.
Sean then decided it was Claire’s turn to share about herself, as he’d already told her much about his childhood the last time they’d been together. She talked about her parents, of whom she was very close. She had one younger sibling, as sister, who also worked as a teacher in nearby Lubbock. Claire’s family was important to her, one of the main reasons she hadn’t made a break to live on a ranch in the Rockies, he instinctively assumed. She told him about growing in Flatland, about all of the basketball tournaments and summer camps she’d attended, which left little room for much else. Although she’d been passionate about horses since she could remember, she hadn’t really gotten the chance to pursue it until later in high school. It was then that she began working odd jobs in barns, on ranches, or at racetracks just for the chance that she’d occasionally be allowed to ride. She got her first horse in college, but similar to his own experience, being a college athlete allowed little time for anything else. So it was just in the past few years that she’d really had the time for her horse, and she was just starting to realize what kind of riding she wanted to pursue. Ranch riding.
Like a lot of young girls, she had started off in the equestrian ring, learning the proper mechanics of riding and showmanship. She had then taken an interest in behavior and horsemanship, following the theories popularized by Ray Hunt and Pat Parelli. In the last couple of years however, she had been spending her summers on a large horse and cattle operation managed by her cousin in northern New Mexico. The cutting horses were fantastic, truly happy and as natural as they came in their instinctive ability to run with and work cattle. There, Claire fell in love with her second horse, a talented mare named Emerald. Claire and Emmy had developed a connection that she’d never achieved with her first horse, likely due to the fact that both horse and rider loved the ranch and all the opportunities it provided. Although she was still very much in the beginning stages of learning about the ranch, cutting, and roping, her willingness and desire to learn were most evident to Sean, just through her talking about it.
“So why are you coaching in Flatland if it’s not what makes you happy?” he probed, thinking he probably already knew the answer.
“That’s the same question I ask myself most mornings,” she answered despondently, turning her face away from his to stare out the passenger window. “You know, things just happened to keep me here. Family. Relationships. Convenience. Security… I haven’t been brave enough until just recently to make a break for it, to really pursue it, I guess.”
He nodded with sincere understanding, and rested his hand on her knee. “I do know. It’s the fear of the unknown and taking a leap of faith. Of thinking that it’s not really feasible to live out your dreams when you feel like you should be content in all you’ve already been blessed with.”
Claire turned violently to stare at him in the fading twilight, her mouth open in astonishment. “I’ve never heard anyone put it like that. That is exactly how I feel. How, how did you know?” she stumbled.
“Feel the same way I guess. Like something is missing and I’ve just haven’t been brave enough to really go after it.”
They sat in silence for a while, both mulling over the words that the other had so perfectly stated. It was unusual for both parties to feel such understanding, especially from someone whom they had so recently met, and had only begun to trust. It was a good feeling.
They arrived at a large cattle ranch a few miles outside of Seminole where the bulls were to be delivered. The animals were unloaded with little excitement, and the pair was back on the road into town in no time. They stopped to grab a quick dinner, and returned to the truck with a little snack for the Aussies as well. The mood on the way home was at first tense, as if Claire had allowed too much of her heart to be exposed, and she needed to be more cautious. Somewhat sensing her wariness of sharing more personal thoughts, Sean kept the conversation lighthearted and humorous with stories of his college football days and the ridiculous antics of his roping buddies. The two hours back to Claire’s passed in no time, and she invited him inside to meet her beloved companions.
The dogs were immediately at ease with Sean, even her younger pup who was often wary around men. He scratched behind their ears and rubbed their chests until the hundred plus pounds of muscle and fur were lolling about his feet like kittens. “What great dogs!” he exclaimed, “Wonder how they’d get along with Betts and Barn?”
“Let’s bring ‘em inside, I’m sure they’ll be fine. These two could get along with anybody they’re so easy-going.”
They introduced the two Aussies to the much larger Leos, and Claire was right. The house was soon filled with the sounds of playful barks and flying clumps of hair as the dogs wrestled and played with unabashed vigor. “Okay, okay, you all have to go outside so I can hear myself think!” Claire announced as she opened the backdoor and the herd of fur rambunctiously filed outside.
She took Sean on a quick tour of her century old farm-house, and he seemed impressed with her collection of antiques that complemented her no-nonsense, rustic décor. He excused himself to the restroom while Claire turned on some music and started a pot of coffee.
“Hey Claire?” he called from the restroom, the door still closed.
“Uh, yeah?”
“Could you bring me a screwdriver, I’m gonna fix your toilet.”
“Oh brother, how embarrassing,” she thought to herself as she approached the bathroom. “Sean, you don’t have to do that. I can fix it, I just haven’t exactly figured out how to yet.”
He opened the door with gusto, a broad, teasing smile plastered on his face. “Just let me fix it for you, we won’t tell a soul if that’s what you need to keep your ego intact.”
With a bashful smile and a feigned sigh of disgust, she stomped off to get fetch the requested tool. Upon her return, she held the screwdriver out for him, but instead her grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into the narrow room toward the faulty device.
“Here, I’m gonna show you how to fix it instead.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m perfectly happy to let a man take care of it,” she said in a mocking tone of refute.
“That’s a big, fat lie and we both know it. Here, it’ll take just a second.” He guided her to the open toilet, and expertly instructed her where and what to adjust, pointing out the details from over her shoulder. In no time, the leak that had persisted for months was corrected. Claire spun around on the closed lid, and looked up into the defined face of the man who was still leaning over her, his solid arms forming walls around her shoulders. They seemed frozen as the physical nearness of one another’s faces caused both to anticipate and over-think the next move. Claire could smell the faint tinge of peppermint on his breath, and she was sure that he could hear the pounding of her heart that had suddenly leapt to twice its normal speed. After a few long seconds, Sean stood up, and exhaled slightly as he did. He reached for Claire’s hand and helped her up casually, abating the intimate tension that had just occurred.
They returned to the kitchen where she poured them both cups of steaming coffee, and they retired to the comfort of her living room. Sean could not stay much longer however, as it was still at least a three hour drive back to his home in the northern panhandle. He soon gathered up his dogs and Claire followed him to her front door, again reluctant to tell him goodbye.
“Thanks for riding with me Claire, it definitely made the trip seem a lot shorter. And gave me something to look forward to,” he continued, unabashedly allowing his feelings for her to be known.
“I had a nice time too. It was really good to see you again.”
“Does that mean it’d be ok if I called you again?” he ventured.
“Well, maybe,” she said coyly. “I mean, you did fix my toilet. I guess I owe you.”
He laughed whole-heartedly and pulled her into a friendly embrace. The hug was comfortable and familiar, and she didn’t want him to let go. When Sean released her their eyes locked, and with a confident smile he stepped back and told the dogs to load up into the truck. With a slight nod, his headlights disappeared down her driveway and into the darkness.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 10
“No, it’s not like that,” Claire pleaded with Brooke, “We just met! If something had happened I would’ve told you, I promise.” Claire couldn’t hide her joy from her friend for long however, and they both started laughing excitedly, prompting their horses to speed their gait.
“So, what’s he like? Do you have a picture?” Brooke’s questions tumbled out faster than Claire could even begin to answer. “What does he do for a living? Is he taller than you?”
“Brooke, chill out, I’ll answer everything, I promise. Just take a breath.”
“Well, it’s not fair that you didn’t tell me till just now. I’ve been cooped up in that stupid vet school for months without even the slightest bit of romance and I’m more than just a little desperate for it, even if it’s not my own,” Claire’s best friend spewed with a huff.
The two girls were miles outside of Flatland, enjoying a leisurely horseback ride on a beautiful spring day. Brooke had come home over the break, and the pair had been catching up and trading stories as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.
“Okay, I can’t wait any longer, spill it!”
“I know, I know. Okay, so he’s from Canyon, grew up there. He played football at WT, so yes, to answer your always-important first question, he is taller than me.” Claire teased. “He’s a lot taller actually, like 6’5” or 6’6”, and big. Like broad, muscular big, not fat.”
“Uh huh, go on!”
“Umm, his hair is perfect, really dark and wavy, and a little longer than you’d expect a cowboy to wear it. It’s that length that just makes you wanna run your fingers through it, and then grab hold and tug on it a little.”
“Oh God, Claire! You’re making me imagine doing that just from your description. Oh geez, it’s been way too long,” Brooke groaned with desire. “Keep going, I need a better visual. The face, tell me about his face.”
“Thick eyebrows, heavy lashes, really strong bone structure. His eyes…a gorgeous, bright turquoise color. And he has little crinkles at the corners, like he’s always about to laugh. And dimples in his cheeks that are almost always there. So cute. And Brooke, his lips are so full and wide, mmm, they’re delicious…”
“What about his hands. Let’s hear it.”
“Yep. I knew you’d ask. Possibly one of his best features. Athlete hands. Cowboy hands. Big, strong, calloused, but clean, so beautiful. And veiny, ohh, veiny and muscular forearms. Just like I like ‘em.”
“Yum-meee! Me too.” Claire’s friend said with a lustful sigh. “He sounds absolutely gorgeous. So any vanity complexes to go along with his good looks?”
“Nope. Not that I’ve seen so far anyway. He actually seemed kind of modest the couple times I saw him without a shirt on,” Claire said shaking her head.
“What?! Whoa whoa whoa!” she said, causing her horse to stop abruptly. “No, not you Wendy, sorry,” she said, kicking her horse gently to get her moving again. “I thought you said you ‘just met’. You’ve seen him shirtless? And twice? I need details, pronto.”
With a laugh at both Brooke and her horse’s confused expressions, Claire proceeded to tell the juicy details of how she and Sean had met. And with more adamant probing by her sex-deprived friend, she went on to describe her fairly innocent encounters with her half-naked crush.
“Wow. I’m just shocked Claire.”
“Shocked? Why are you so shocked?”
“Well, it’s just not like you to be so brazen, to just stay at some guy’s house that you hardly know.”
“Hey, you say that like I’m some boring old maid. I can be wild and adventurous,” Claire said, pretending to be offended.
“You know what I mean!” Brooke contended. “It’s just that it could have been dangerous. I’m surprised that’s all.”
“Yeah, I know. And I did think about that, really. But I’d talked to Darla about him, and felt reassured. Plus, it was like we had this instant connection and I had this gut feeling, like I could trust him.”
“Turns out your gut feeling was right,” Brooke said with a wink. “So where’s he taking you tonight?”
“I don’t know exactly. It’s not even a one-on-one kind of date, it’s some group thing. I’m riding with Darla and Tom, and we’re gonna meet Sean in Lubbock for dinner.”
“So you’re sure it’s not gonna be a problem with me staying the night at your place?”
“Whatever Brooke, it’s way too early for that,” Claire retorted, rolling her eyes. “Race ya home!” and with that she and Emmy sped off, leaving Brooke and Wendy in a cloud of thick red dust.
“So, what’s he like? Do you have a picture?” Brooke’s questions tumbled out faster than Claire could even begin to answer. “What does he do for a living? Is he taller than you?”
“Brooke, chill out, I’ll answer everything, I promise. Just take a breath.”
“Well, it’s not fair that you didn’t tell me till just now. I’ve been cooped up in that stupid vet school for months without even the slightest bit of romance and I’m more than just a little desperate for it, even if it’s not my own,” Claire’s best friend spewed with a huff.
The two girls were miles outside of Flatland, enjoying a leisurely horseback ride on a beautiful spring day. Brooke had come home over the break, and the pair had been catching up and trading stories as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.
“Okay, I can’t wait any longer, spill it!”
“I know, I know. Okay, so he’s from Canyon, grew up there. He played football at WT, so yes, to answer your always-important first question, he is taller than me.” Claire teased. “He’s a lot taller actually, like 6’5” or 6’6”, and big. Like broad, muscular big, not fat.”
“Uh huh, go on!”
“Umm, his hair is perfect, really dark and wavy, and a little longer than you’d expect a cowboy to wear it. It’s that length that just makes you wanna run your fingers through it, and then grab hold and tug on it a little.”
“Oh God, Claire! You’re making me imagine doing that just from your description. Oh geez, it’s been way too long,” Brooke groaned with desire. “Keep going, I need a better visual. The face, tell me about his face.”
“Thick eyebrows, heavy lashes, really strong bone structure. His eyes…a gorgeous, bright turquoise color. And he has little crinkles at the corners, like he’s always about to laugh. And dimples in his cheeks that are almost always there. So cute. And Brooke, his lips are so full and wide, mmm, they’re delicious…”
“What about his hands. Let’s hear it.”
“Yep. I knew you’d ask. Possibly one of his best features. Athlete hands. Cowboy hands. Big, strong, calloused, but clean, so beautiful. And veiny, ohh, veiny and muscular forearms. Just like I like ‘em.”
“Yum-meee! Me too.” Claire’s friend said with a lustful sigh. “He sounds absolutely gorgeous. So any vanity complexes to go along with his good looks?”
“Nope. Not that I’ve seen so far anyway. He actually seemed kind of modest the couple times I saw him without a shirt on,” Claire said shaking her head.
“What?! Whoa whoa whoa!” she said, causing her horse to stop abruptly. “No, not you Wendy, sorry,” she said, kicking her horse gently to get her moving again. “I thought you said you ‘just met’. You’ve seen him shirtless? And twice? I need details, pronto.”
With a laugh at both Brooke and her horse’s confused expressions, Claire proceeded to tell the juicy details of how she and Sean had met. And with more adamant probing by her sex-deprived friend, she went on to describe her fairly innocent encounters with her half-naked crush.
“Wow. I’m just shocked Claire.”
“Shocked? Why are you so shocked?”
“Well, it’s just not like you to be so brazen, to just stay at some guy’s house that you hardly know.”
“Hey, you say that like I’m some boring old maid. I can be wild and adventurous,” Claire said, pretending to be offended.
“You know what I mean!” Brooke contended. “It’s just that it could have been dangerous. I’m surprised that’s all.”
“Yeah, I know. And I did think about that, really. But I’d talked to Darla about him, and felt reassured. Plus, it was like we had this instant connection and I had this gut feeling, like I could trust him.”
“Turns out your gut feeling was right,” Brooke said with a wink. “So where’s he taking you tonight?”
“I don’t know exactly. It’s not even a one-on-one kind of date, it’s some group thing. I’m riding with Darla and Tom, and we’re gonna meet Sean in Lubbock for dinner.”
“So you’re sure it’s not gonna be a problem with me staying the night at your place?”
“Whatever Brooke, it’s way too early for that,” Claire retorted, rolling her eyes. “Race ya home!” and with that she and Emmy sped off, leaving Brooke and Wendy in a cloud of thick red dust.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 11
Claire sat in the back seat of Darla’s suburban, enjoying the chance to catch up with her old riding friend. Darla and Tom were in the front seat, discussing who would be the designated driver at the end of their night of fun.
“What kind of event is this anyway, Sean didn’t really explain,” Claire asked Darla.
“It’s the Panhandle Rodeo Circuit’s season-ending banquet. This weekend is our final rodeo, and it’s a celebration of a successful season. Sean was our organizational director for the past two years.”
“Alright, I’ll drive. I’ve got to get up early in the morning anyway,” Tom finally conceded.
“Great!” Darla said, “Then Claire and I can get all liquored up and maybe then she’ll fill me in on the juicy details about her and Sean.”
“Darla! First of all, I’m not gonna get drunk. Secondly, I’ve already told you all there is to know about me and Sean. It’s nothing, totally innocent.”
“Uh huh,” the middle aged horsewoman said doubtfully. “We’ll see about that, maybe Sean will be more willing to tell me then.”
“Well here’s your chance Darla, there’s Sean right there,” Tom motioned to the tall figure leaning against his parked truck. Tom parked next to him and the three stepped out into the restaurant’s parking lot.
“Hi Claire, so glad you came.” Sean said, pulling her into a tight hug. “And Darla, Tom, haven’t see you guys in while, good to see you too,” he said, shaking Tom’s hand. “Well, should be go on in?” he asked, leading Claire gently with a large hand on her lower back.
The couples entered the banquet hall of the restaurant, and were greeted by almost a hundred people dressed in denim and boots. Tom and Darla were immediately engulfed in the crowd of friends, and Sean began to introduce Claire to a small circle of friends. “Claire, this is Ryan, my team-roping partner.”
She held out her hand to Ryan, but he completely ignored it and pulled her into a big bear hug instead. “It’s so great to meet you Claire! This big clown’s been talking about you nonstop!” he said, elbowing his friend in the ribs.
“Oh hush up Ryan, we all know you just wanted to meet her to see if she really was as pretty as Sean said,” a short, thick cowboy with red hair joked as he introduced himself to Claire. “And Claire, we all agree, you’re even more beautiful than Sean led us to believe. I’m Bryce, by the way,” he said, extending his hand.
With her face flushed with embarrassment, she shook his hand politely. “Here, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the group, since Sean’s obviously forgotten his manners.”
She glanced over Bryce’s shoulder to see Sean shrug apologetically in her direction. Claire was grateful when she’d met the rest of his friends and was able to return to his side.
The evening continued with a steak dinner and several speeches from the organization’s directors. Sean was presented with the last award of the night for his dedication and service the past two years. As he walked toward the front of the room, Claire couldn’t help but stare at his perfectly proportioned backside in the jeans that hugged his features so flawlessly. He humbly accepted the award, and politely tipped his hat to the crowd in the way that Claire found so charming. By the time he had returned to their table, the country band began to play and couples were starting to dance.
“Congratulations,” she remarked.
“Aww, thanks, it’s not much really,” Sean said modestly. “Hey, you wanna dance?”
“Uhh,” she stumbled, “I don’t really dance, sorry.”
“Okay, not a problem. Maybe later. Can I get you another drink?”
“Sure, thanks Sean.”
After a while Ryan asked if they’d like to go outside to play horseshoes. They happily agreed, but after Sean and Claire had handily beaten Ryan and Bryce in three straight games, Claire excused herself to the restroom. She met Tom on her way back outside and asked where Darla was.
“I assumed she was with you, I just saw her on the dance floor with Sean.”
“Oh, okay, I’ll go back in and look for them.”
As she headed towards the hall, Ryan grabbed her by the elbow. “So hotshot, let’s see how you do with a real partner!” With a laugh, she was dragged back to the horseshoe pits for another game against a new pair of cowboys.
It wasn’t much longer before Sean returned to watch Claire and Ryan finish off another win, thanks to Claire throwing another great game.
“You definitely picked a ringer here, Sean!” Ryan called, motioning to the tall brunette next to him.
“Yeah, don’t I know it. And don’t you be trying to steal her from me,” Sean joked with his friend. “Claire, you about ready to head home, it’s after midnight.”
“Sure am, let me just say goodbye to Tom and Darla.”
“Actually, they just left, I just saw them off.”
“Oh, ok. Well, I guess let’s go then.”
As they walked around the side of the building toward the parking lot, Sean reached out and sweetly took her hand in his. A tingle of excitement rushed through her body at his touch, and her heart immediately started to beat a little faster. They walked hand-in-hand to his truck, until he opened her door in a gesture of chivalry. Sean and Claire replayed the events of the night, Claire elaborating on how much she liked his friends and Sean reiterating how much they obviously loved her.
After a short drive they arrived at Claire’s house and she graciously invited him inside, curious to see Brooke’s reaction to her striking date. Claire was not disappointed. Upon meeting, Brooke’s mouth immediately fell open and she lost all ability to carry on a conversation. Not necessarily a bad thing, as this did prevent Brooke from embarrassing Claire with her often inappropriate explanations of animal sexuality that were part of her everyday conversations in vet school.
While Brooke tried to recover from the initial shock of having such a gorgeous specimen of male anatomy in her presence, Claire poured them coffee and served the apricot cobbler that Brooke had just taken out of the oven. When they were through eating, Sean stood to say his goodbyes, and thanked the girls for the coffee and dessert. Claire followed him out the front door, and he immediately reached for her hand again, completely dwarfing hers in his. They walked slowly to the truck, both thanking the other for the great time, and saying whatever else they could think of to prolong their time alone together.
When there was nothing left to say, Sean reached around her and pulled her into another hug, this time lifting her off the ground and giving her a little shake until her laughter began to spill out. Pleased to hear her laugh, he put her back down, and grazed his long fingers through her mane of silky hair. “Goodnight Claire,” he whispered in her ear, and with that he turned and got into his truck.
“What kind of event is this anyway, Sean didn’t really explain,” Claire asked Darla.
“It’s the Panhandle Rodeo Circuit’s season-ending banquet. This weekend is our final rodeo, and it’s a celebration of a successful season. Sean was our organizational director for the past two years.”
“Alright, I’ll drive. I’ve got to get up early in the morning anyway,” Tom finally conceded.
“Great!” Darla said, “Then Claire and I can get all liquored up and maybe then she’ll fill me in on the juicy details about her and Sean.”
“Darla! First of all, I’m not gonna get drunk. Secondly, I’ve already told you all there is to know about me and Sean. It’s nothing, totally innocent.”
“Uh huh,” the middle aged horsewoman said doubtfully. “We’ll see about that, maybe Sean will be more willing to tell me then.”
“Well here’s your chance Darla, there’s Sean right there,” Tom motioned to the tall figure leaning against his parked truck. Tom parked next to him and the three stepped out into the restaurant’s parking lot.
“Hi Claire, so glad you came.” Sean said, pulling her into a tight hug. “And Darla, Tom, haven’t see you guys in while, good to see you too,” he said, shaking Tom’s hand. “Well, should be go on in?” he asked, leading Claire gently with a large hand on her lower back.
The couples entered the banquet hall of the restaurant, and were greeted by almost a hundred people dressed in denim and boots. Tom and Darla were immediately engulfed in the crowd of friends, and Sean began to introduce Claire to a small circle of friends. “Claire, this is Ryan, my team-roping partner.”
She held out her hand to Ryan, but he completely ignored it and pulled her into a big bear hug instead. “It’s so great to meet you Claire! This big clown’s been talking about you nonstop!” he said, elbowing his friend in the ribs.
“Oh hush up Ryan, we all know you just wanted to meet her to see if she really was as pretty as Sean said,” a short, thick cowboy with red hair joked as he introduced himself to Claire. “And Claire, we all agree, you’re even more beautiful than Sean led us to believe. I’m Bryce, by the way,” he said, extending his hand.
With her face flushed with embarrassment, she shook his hand politely. “Here, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the group, since Sean’s obviously forgotten his manners.”
She glanced over Bryce’s shoulder to see Sean shrug apologetically in her direction. Claire was grateful when she’d met the rest of his friends and was able to return to his side.
The evening continued with a steak dinner and several speeches from the organization’s directors. Sean was presented with the last award of the night for his dedication and service the past two years. As he walked toward the front of the room, Claire couldn’t help but stare at his perfectly proportioned backside in the jeans that hugged his features so flawlessly. He humbly accepted the award, and politely tipped his hat to the crowd in the way that Claire found so charming. By the time he had returned to their table, the country band began to play and couples were starting to dance.
“Congratulations,” she remarked.
“Aww, thanks, it’s not much really,” Sean said modestly. “Hey, you wanna dance?”
“Uhh,” she stumbled, “I don’t really dance, sorry.”
“Okay, not a problem. Maybe later. Can I get you another drink?”
“Sure, thanks Sean.”
After a while Ryan asked if they’d like to go outside to play horseshoes. They happily agreed, but after Sean and Claire had handily beaten Ryan and Bryce in three straight games, Claire excused herself to the restroom. She met Tom on her way back outside and asked where Darla was.
“I assumed she was with you, I just saw her on the dance floor with Sean.”
“Oh, okay, I’ll go back in and look for them.”
As she headed towards the hall, Ryan grabbed her by the elbow. “So hotshot, let’s see how you do with a real partner!” With a laugh, she was dragged back to the horseshoe pits for another game against a new pair of cowboys.
It wasn’t much longer before Sean returned to watch Claire and Ryan finish off another win, thanks to Claire throwing another great game.
“You definitely picked a ringer here, Sean!” Ryan called, motioning to the tall brunette next to him.
“Yeah, don’t I know it. And don’t you be trying to steal her from me,” Sean joked with his friend. “Claire, you about ready to head home, it’s after midnight.”
“Sure am, let me just say goodbye to Tom and Darla.”
“Actually, they just left, I just saw them off.”
“Oh, ok. Well, I guess let’s go then.”
As they walked around the side of the building toward the parking lot, Sean reached out and sweetly took her hand in his. A tingle of excitement rushed through her body at his touch, and her heart immediately started to beat a little faster. They walked hand-in-hand to his truck, until he opened her door in a gesture of chivalry. Sean and Claire replayed the events of the night, Claire elaborating on how much she liked his friends and Sean reiterating how much they obviously loved her.
After a short drive they arrived at Claire’s house and she graciously invited him inside, curious to see Brooke’s reaction to her striking date. Claire was not disappointed. Upon meeting, Brooke’s mouth immediately fell open and she lost all ability to carry on a conversation. Not necessarily a bad thing, as this did prevent Brooke from embarrassing Claire with her often inappropriate explanations of animal sexuality that were part of her everyday conversations in vet school.
While Brooke tried to recover from the initial shock of having such a gorgeous specimen of male anatomy in her presence, Claire poured them coffee and served the apricot cobbler that Brooke had just taken out of the oven. When they were through eating, Sean stood to say his goodbyes, and thanked the girls for the coffee and dessert. Claire followed him out the front door, and he immediately reached for her hand again, completely dwarfing hers in his. They walked slowly to the truck, both thanking the other for the great time, and saying whatever else they could think of to prolong their time alone together.
When there was nothing left to say, Sean reached around her and pulled her into another hug, this time lifting her off the ground and giving her a little shake until her laughter began to spill out. Pleased to hear her laugh, he put her back down, and grazed his long fingers through her mane of silky hair. “Goodnight Claire,” he whispered in her ear, and with that he turned and got into his truck.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 12
“A rodeo? You want me to go to a rodeo with you?” Brooke asked pompously as she lay on her stomach on Claire’s bed.
“Yes. And what’s wrong with a rodeo?” Claire questioned, her feelings hurt.
“Nothing for you, you’re going to watch ‘Mr. America’ there. I don’t blame you for wanting to go. But then you’ll up and leave me all alone with no one to talk to but his fat side-kick.”
“I didn’t say Bryce was fat, I said stocky. And he’s not the one you’re going to meet anyway, that’s Ryan. Ryan’s the Andy Roddick look-alike that you’re gonna love, I promise!”
“Okay. But I’m only doing this for you so you don’t have to sit alone in the stands while they’re roping or whatever. Now tell me about tonight and what happened with Sean!”
Claire was glowing as she told Brooke about meeting his friends and the flattering things they’d said. She described how he’d placed his hand at the small of her back to guide her, and how they’d held hands as they walked.
“So, did he kiss you when you walked him out to his truck?” Brooke probed, the excitement spreading on her grinning face.
With a low moan Claire fell backwards onto the bed, her feet kicking the air in frustration. “Nooo, and I really thought he was about to. It’s like we get to that moment when it’s really tense, and you either kiss or go home, and then he hugs me,” she lifted her arms and shrugged her shoulders in mock surprise to emphasize her confusion. “I shouldn’t complain, it’s not a bad thing, I just felt like after the hug he was about to go for it. He kinda ran his fingers through my hair, looked into my eyes…”
“Ohhh.” Brooke’s moan rivaled her friend’s. “I love it when they do that,” her eyes glazing over. “Of course it’s much better when it leads to a long, passionate kiss. But hey, at least you’re getting there right?”
“Yeah, we’re getting there. I guess I am rushing it, it just seems like we’ve known each other for longer than we really have,” she reasoned. “It’s only been a little more than a month.”
They lay on the bed in silence for a few minutes, both of them engrossed in thoughts of romance and passion.
“So isn’t he as beautiful as I described?” Claire asked with a smile as she rolled onto her side to face her friend.
“Uh, yeah he is! He’s like straight out of a magazine or something!”
“That’s what I said! That he belonged in a pin-up calendar!”
The girls burst into laughter. “So this means that his friend is pretty hot too huh, since we have about the same taste in guys?” Brooke asked, suddenly showing an interest in attending the rodeo.
“Yeah, he’s cute. Not on Sean’s level, but still pretty dang cute.”
“Pretty dang cute is okay with me then,” Brooke determined with a toss of her long blonde curls, her chin cupped in her hands. “Does he know I’m lonely and desperate and a terrible date?”
“No, silly. I only say that kind of stuff to your face. I’d never tell a potential man those things about you, or you’d never get another date,” Claire said with a sarcastic grin, poking fun at her best friend’s recent span of first dates that hadn’t materialized into anything more.
With her face immediately the hue of Claire’s red bedspread Brooke rolled her eyes and sat up to deliver a hard punch to her comrade’s shoulder. “You shut up! It’s not funny that I have an unknown fatal flaw and I’m destined to never fall in love and be a virgin forever!” Brooke spewed, her feelings on the subject obviously more than a little delicate.
“Brooke, you know I’m just giving you a hard time. And we both know that’s not true, you’ve just hit a rough patch.” Claire sat and pulled her friend into a tight hug. “The one is out there for you, I just know it. Don’t be mad,” she said with a squeeze. “Besides,” she explained as she stood and walked to her closet, “Ryan doesn’t even know you’re coming, so there won’t be any of that blind date awkwardness. And I’ll be there, and I promise I won’t run off and leave you.”
“Yes. And what’s wrong with a rodeo?” Claire questioned, her feelings hurt.
“Nothing for you, you’re going to watch ‘Mr. America’ there. I don’t blame you for wanting to go. But then you’ll up and leave me all alone with no one to talk to but his fat side-kick.”
“I didn’t say Bryce was fat, I said stocky. And he’s not the one you’re going to meet anyway, that’s Ryan. Ryan’s the Andy Roddick look-alike that you’re gonna love, I promise!”
“Okay. But I’m only doing this for you so you don’t have to sit alone in the stands while they’re roping or whatever. Now tell me about tonight and what happened with Sean!”
Claire was glowing as she told Brooke about meeting his friends and the flattering things they’d said. She described how he’d placed his hand at the small of her back to guide her, and how they’d held hands as they walked.
“So, did he kiss you when you walked him out to his truck?” Brooke probed, the excitement spreading on her grinning face.
With a low moan Claire fell backwards onto the bed, her feet kicking the air in frustration. “Nooo, and I really thought he was about to. It’s like we get to that moment when it’s really tense, and you either kiss or go home, and then he hugs me,” she lifted her arms and shrugged her shoulders in mock surprise to emphasize her confusion. “I shouldn’t complain, it’s not a bad thing, I just felt like after the hug he was about to go for it. He kinda ran his fingers through my hair, looked into my eyes…”
“Ohhh.” Brooke’s moan rivaled her friend’s. “I love it when they do that,” her eyes glazing over. “Of course it’s much better when it leads to a long, passionate kiss. But hey, at least you’re getting there right?”
“Yeah, we’re getting there. I guess I am rushing it, it just seems like we’ve known each other for longer than we really have,” she reasoned. “It’s only been a little more than a month.”
They lay on the bed in silence for a few minutes, both of them engrossed in thoughts of romance and passion.
“So isn’t he as beautiful as I described?” Claire asked with a smile as she rolled onto her side to face her friend.
“Uh, yeah he is! He’s like straight out of a magazine or something!”
“That’s what I said! That he belonged in a pin-up calendar!”
The girls burst into laughter. “So this means that his friend is pretty hot too huh, since we have about the same taste in guys?” Brooke asked, suddenly showing an interest in attending the rodeo.
“Yeah, he’s cute. Not on Sean’s level, but still pretty dang cute.”
“Pretty dang cute is okay with me then,” Brooke determined with a toss of her long blonde curls, her chin cupped in her hands. “Does he know I’m lonely and desperate and a terrible date?”
“No, silly. I only say that kind of stuff to your face. I’d never tell a potential man those things about you, or you’d never get another date,” Claire said with a sarcastic grin, poking fun at her best friend’s recent span of first dates that hadn’t materialized into anything more.
With her face immediately the hue of Claire’s red bedspread Brooke rolled her eyes and sat up to deliver a hard punch to her comrade’s shoulder. “You shut up! It’s not funny that I have an unknown fatal flaw and I’m destined to never fall in love and be a virgin forever!” Brooke spewed, her feelings on the subject obviously more than a little delicate.
“Brooke, you know I’m just giving you a hard time. And we both know that’s not true, you’ve just hit a rough patch.” Claire sat and pulled her friend into a tight hug. “The one is out there for you, I just know it. Don’t be mad,” she said with a squeeze. “Besides,” she explained as she stood and walked to her closet, “Ryan doesn’t even know you’re coming, so there won’t be any of that blind date awkwardness. And I’ll be there, and I promise I won’t run off and leave you.”
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 13
It was a brisk spring night in March; the sky was clear and the full moon shone brightly. The lights of the rodeo arena flooded the northwestern corner of the college campus and attracted thousands of fluttering insects. Claire sat hunched on the fifth row of the bleachers, her hands tucked away in the pockets of her thin denim jacket. She watched with disinterest as a huffing quarter horse made tight turns around barrels, its owner kicking it vigorously on the sprint to the finish, as if the animal didn’t know it was supposed to run as fast as it could. Her gut clenched slightly. She wasn’t a huge fan of rodeos, especially not when the animals didn’t love what they were doing or if they were being mistreated.
Sean and Ryan’s team roping competition would be next, followed by the final event of bull riding. And then she could spend the rest of the night doing what she’d anticipated for the past week: see Sean. Talk to him in person. Just be near him. It had been hard for Claire having only seen Sean a handful of times since they’d initially met; the long-distance thing was tough. Yet she talked to him on the phone nightly, and they texted hundreds of messages throughout the day. However, when she’d seen him in the horse barn only an hour before, the wait had definitely seemed worth it.
She and Brooke had met Bryce upon arriving in the arena parking lot, and he had talked nonstop as he let them to Sean and Ryan in the stalls beneath the arena’s stands. Sean’s back had been turned as he was bent picking out his horse’s hoof, and at Bryce’s booming announcement that his girlfriend was here, Sean gently placed Sully’s hoof back on the ground and straightened to greet her.
“Claire,” his voice was smooth and deep. He pulled her into a side hug and pressed his lips into the hair at her forehead, inhaling the scent of her passion fruit shampoo. “Missed you,” he whispered just loud enough for her hear, his left hand caressing from her shoulder to elbow, and back again.
“You too,” she sighed, tilting her chin up to see his chiseled face glowing with a content smile. He was freshly shaven and smelled of a mix of musky cologne and alfalfa. Sean’s eyes sparkled as they took her in, happy and excited to see her. His lips parted briefly and his tongue reflexively traced his lower lip. It was all he could do keep from kissing her right then and there. But he wanted to do it in private, without their friends mulling around to spoil what was sure to be an intimate first kiss.
“Hey Ryan, have you met Brooke?” Bryce questioned, his loud voice interrupting the couple’s mini-reunion. Ryan came from the back of the next stall, looking even more like the famous tennis player than Claire had remembered. Except for his western clothes and the fact that he wielded a rope instead of tennis racket, he was almost the spitting image of the athlete Brooke had crushed on since high school.
Ryan tromped through the deep hay and grasped the hand of the blue-eyed blonde. He fumbled his introduction, causing Brooke to smile bigger than Claire had ever seen. Her smile was infectious, and Claire and Sean shared a knowing glance as if to say, “we knew they’d hit it off”.
The girls hadn’t stayed much longer since the ropers needed to iron out a few last-minute details before competing in their final rodeo of the season. They now sat shivering in the stands, shoulders touching in an effort to stay warm while they waited to see the men they’d come to watch in action. Brooke was talking nonstop about how handsome she thought Ryan was. She had already asked so many questions about him that Claire didn’t know the answers to, that Claire had finally stopped listening to her rambling altogether. She was immersed in her own thoughts. Thoughts about Sean and herself, and how he’d been different when he’d hugged her in the stalls below.
He’d looked at her differently, as if she belonged to him. He’d held her as if he was being possessive, needed her; greedy in not wanting to waste any more time that he could be spending with her. It felt good. Great actually. It had been so long since she had felt this way, and she had desperately missed the affection that only a man’s love could provide.
Could he be in love with her? Surely not, it was much too soon in their relationship for love. They’d spent so little time together physically that there was no way it could be love. Claire had not questioned Sean’s attraction for her though, as he showed it in plenty of ways. Little gestures that made her feel feminine, delicate, and desired. His broad hand resting on her back or waist, reaching for her hand to engulf it in his own, brief but purposeful touching of their legs and feet during dinner, and long hugs goodnight. Such polite and innocent signs of affection, all building to what she hoped would soon lead to a more physical relationship. And if Sean’s welcome from earlier in the evening was any indication, tonight could escalate into something truly special.
What they lacked physically due to locality, they made up emotionally. Their initial connection had intensified over the past weeks the more they had texted and talked late into the night. Talking about any number of topics, from the most mundane details of their daily schedules to the moral turpitude of the nation. They’d yet to share even a first kiss; however they’d already talked about some of the most personal details that two people could discuss: lifelong dreams, religious beliefs, and the desire to one day raise a family.
Claire did love him, she suddenly realized. Not a romantic love. No, not yet. Romantically she was still in the lustful, infatuation stage; too soon for the type of love that she’d known with men before. But she did love him as a person, for the friendship they’d established and for the bond they’d developed. Maybe Sean loved her too, in the same way of course. Maybe that was the difference she’d noticed in him earlier, Claire finally determined.
“Claire!” Brooke whacked her daydreaming friend on the thigh with the back of her hand. “Claire, Sean and Ryan are up next, are you even paying attention?”
Claire hadn’t been paying attention, and was for once thankful for Brooke’s assertiveness. It was only minutes later that a red and white steer was released into the arena closely followed by the two cowboys on horseback. The entire process happened so quickly and smoothly that it was over before Claire even knew what was going on. “Who had roped the steer’s head, and who had tied its feet?” she wondered. She didn’t know how she’d missed it, but it was definitely a work of art that had been perfected with years of practice and dedication. She’d recognized that Sean was a skilled horseman from their ride through the canyons on his ranch, but the skill he’d just shown was astounding.
“Claire, they won, they were the fastest!” Brooke screamed, her voice cracking. “Wasn’t that awesome, they were so good!”
“Yeah, it really was.” Claire admitted, possibly more turned on by seeing Sean in his element than she’d ever been before.
“Let’s go congratulate them, come on.”
She could hear the blood thumping in her ears, and her legs had gone weak. “Okay, I’m coming,” she replied, forcing herself to follow Brooke down to the stairs.
Sean and Ryan’s team roping competition would be next, followed by the final event of bull riding. And then she could spend the rest of the night doing what she’d anticipated for the past week: see Sean. Talk to him in person. Just be near him. It had been hard for Claire having only seen Sean a handful of times since they’d initially met; the long-distance thing was tough. Yet she talked to him on the phone nightly, and they texted hundreds of messages throughout the day. However, when she’d seen him in the horse barn only an hour before, the wait had definitely seemed worth it.
She and Brooke had met Bryce upon arriving in the arena parking lot, and he had talked nonstop as he let them to Sean and Ryan in the stalls beneath the arena’s stands. Sean’s back had been turned as he was bent picking out his horse’s hoof, and at Bryce’s booming announcement that his girlfriend was here, Sean gently placed Sully’s hoof back on the ground and straightened to greet her.
“Claire,” his voice was smooth and deep. He pulled her into a side hug and pressed his lips into the hair at her forehead, inhaling the scent of her passion fruit shampoo. “Missed you,” he whispered just loud enough for her hear, his left hand caressing from her shoulder to elbow, and back again.
“You too,” she sighed, tilting her chin up to see his chiseled face glowing with a content smile. He was freshly shaven and smelled of a mix of musky cologne and alfalfa. Sean’s eyes sparkled as they took her in, happy and excited to see her. His lips parted briefly and his tongue reflexively traced his lower lip. It was all he could do keep from kissing her right then and there. But he wanted to do it in private, without their friends mulling around to spoil what was sure to be an intimate first kiss.
“Hey Ryan, have you met Brooke?” Bryce questioned, his loud voice interrupting the couple’s mini-reunion. Ryan came from the back of the next stall, looking even more like the famous tennis player than Claire had remembered. Except for his western clothes and the fact that he wielded a rope instead of tennis racket, he was almost the spitting image of the athlete Brooke had crushed on since high school.
Ryan tromped through the deep hay and grasped the hand of the blue-eyed blonde. He fumbled his introduction, causing Brooke to smile bigger than Claire had ever seen. Her smile was infectious, and Claire and Sean shared a knowing glance as if to say, “we knew they’d hit it off”.
The girls hadn’t stayed much longer since the ropers needed to iron out a few last-minute details before competing in their final rodeo of the season. They now sat shivering in the stands, shoulders touching in an effort to stay warm while they waited to see the men they’d come to watch in action. Brooke was talking nonstop about how handsome she thought Ryan was. She had already asked so many questions about him that Claire didn’t know the answers to, that Claire had finally stopped listening to her rambling altogether. She was immersed in her own thoughts. Thoughts about Sean and herself, and how he’d been different when he’d hugged her in the stalls below.
He’d looked at her differently, as if she belonged to him. He’d held her as if he was being possessive, needed her; greedy in not wanting to waste any more time that he could be spending with her. It felt good. Great actually. It had been so long since she had felt this way, and she had desperately missed the affection that only a man’s love could provide.
Could he be in love with her? Surely not, it was much too soon in their relationship for love. They’d spent so little time together physically that there was no way it could be love. Claire had not questioned Sean’s attraction for her though, as he showed it in plenty of ways. Little gestures that made her feel feminine, delicate, and desired. His broad hand resting on her back or waist, reaching for her hand to engulf it in his own, brief but purposeful touching of their legs and feet during dinner, and long hugs goodnight. Such polite and innocent signs of affection, all building to what she hoped would soon lead to a more physical relationship. And if Sean’s welcome from earlier in the evening was any indication, tonight could escalate into something truly special.
What they lacked physically due to locality, they made up emotionally. Their initial connection had intensified over the past weeks the more they had texted and talked late into the night. Talking about any number of topics, from the most mundane details of their daily schedules to the moral turpitude of the nation. They’d yet to share even a first kiss; however they’d already talked about some of the most personal details that two people could discuss: lifelong dreams, religious beliefs, and the desire to one day raise a family.
Claire did love him, she suddenly realized. Not a romantic love. No, not yet. Romantically she was still in the lustful, infatuation stage; too soon for the type of love that she’d known with men before. But she did love him as a person, for the friendship they’d established and for the bond they’d developed. Maybe Sean loved her too, in the same way of course. Maybe that was the difference she’d noticed in him earlier, Claire finally determined.
“Claire!” Brooke whacked her daydreaming friend on the thigh with the back of her hand. “Claire, Sean and Ryan are up next, are you even paying attention?”
Claire hadn’t been paying attention, and was for once thankful for Brooke’s assertiveness. It was only minutes later that a red and white steer was released into the arena closely followed by the two cowboys on horseback. The entire process happened so quickly and smoothly that it was over before Claire even knew what was going on. “Who had roped the steer’s head, and who had tied its feet?” she wondered. She didn’t know how she’d missed it, but it was definitely a work of art that had been perfected with years of practice and dedication. She’d recognized that Sean was a skilled horseman from their ride through the canyons on his ranch, but the skill he’d just shown was astounding.
“Claire, they won, they were the fastest!” Brooke screamed, her voice cracking. “Wasn’t that awesome, they were so good!”
“Yeah, it really was.” Claire admitted, possibly more turned on by seeing Sean in his element than she’d ever been before.
“Let’s go congratulate them, come on.”
She could hear the blood thumping in her ears, and her legs had gone weak. “Okay, I’m coming,” she replied, forcing herself to follow Brooke down to the stairs.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Claire's Story: Chapter 14
“Y’all were terrific!” Brooke exclaimed as she hurried down the narrow aisle toward the stables occupied by Sean and Ryan’s horses. “Congratulations!” She high-fived a whooping Bryce and did the same with Sean. When she approached Ryan, he grabbed her extended hand and pulled her into a full-fledged hug instead.
“Just what Brooke needs, someone who’s not afraid to show a little affection,” Claire thought, genuinely happy for her lovesick friend.
Claire approached Sean and without hesitation wrapped her arms around his neck. He slipped his muscled arms around her back, lifting and spinning her in a quick circle, her boots kicking excitedly. “You were great!” she praised as he placed her back on solid ground. Sean kept his hands on Claire’s waist, his long fingers resting just above the back pockets of her jeans. “You are so talented,” she continued, her blue eyes mesmerized by the full curve of his lips as she moved her palms gracefully up his bare forearms toward the rolled up shirt sleeves at his elbows.
“Guys, you’ll have time to do this later. But if we don’t hurry, we’re gonna miss the awards,” Ryan shouted in Sean and Claire’s direction as he and Brooke passed, his arm casually draped across her shoulders.
Claire squeezed Sean’s forearms, and her eyes pleaded for him to ignore the interruption. She didn’t want to wait until later, didn’t know if she could. But Sean laced his callused fingers through her slender ones and led her back toward the arena where he and Ryan would accept their first place buckles. Afterward there would be a dance and even more fraternizing with rodeo friends. Claire still had several more hours before she and Sean could finally be alone.
***
The country music blasted from the speakers at the corners of the covered pavilion. The dance floor was packed with two-stepping cowboys swinging their dates in every direction. Claire had not laid eyes on Sean in more than thirty minutes, and her second whiskey and coke was running dry.
“Claire!” Brooke was shouting over the music. “Hey Claire! Ryan, Bryce, and I are all heading over to Ryan’s place for a while. Do you wanna go?”
“No, I’ll wait for Sean. Have you seen him anywhere?”
“Nope, sorry. It’s too crowded and loud and I’m getting closterphobic. So I guess I’ll just see you at Ryan’s later?” Brooke asked, in a hurry to leave.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” Claire said with a nod. “We’ll catch up with y’all later, have fun,” she said with a wink.
“Oh we will, don’t worry!” Brooke smiled mischievously, and turned on her heel to leave with her handsome new date.
“Oh Brooke,” Claire thought, “you’ll talk the talk but that’s as far as it’ll go.” She sometimes knew her friend even better than she knew herself. And what was keeping Sean? She’d been ready to leave even before the dance started. Now her best friend had ditched her too and the last thing she needed was another drink, as she headed to the bar for a refill. After another swallow of sweet coke and the familiar burn of whiskey in her throat, she felt a familiar hand grab her by the waist. She looked up to see his face and her head began to spin a little, the buzz hitting her at the same time as Sean’s cologne.
“Sorry babe, let’s get outta here,” his throaty voice said in her left ear. Sean hurriedly led them through the mass of dancers, clouds of cigarette smoke, and the smell of barbeque. When they reached the openness of the parking lot between the pavilion and arena she felt like she could finally breathe again.
“Wow, that was a little too loud and crowded for me,” Claire voiced as they headed to the horse barn.
“Me too. And sorry for leaving you for so long. The association organizers caught me; they’re already planning for next year.”
“It’s ok, you’re here now,” she said gratefully.
“Yep, and we’re finally alone,” Sean whispered, pulling Claire’s slender waist toward his own. They had reached the barn entrance, illuminated by a single street light in the vast darkness of the West Texas sky. “And you’re going to dance with me now,” he said quietly as he wrapped her left hand in his right and placed his left palm low on the curve of her back. “Good thing the music’s loud, or it wouldn’t be perfect for us right now,” he whispered in her ear as he slowly began to sway back and forth. Garth Brooks’ voice crooned from the pavilion speakers: “If tomorrow never comes…” Sean pulled her hand to his lips and lightly kissed her knuckles.
Claire’s lips parted and her breathing quickened. What was she doing? She hated dancing. It was so embarrassing. She always felt like she looked too tall and clumsy and stupid. But not with Sean, not right now. She wasn’t the least bit self-conscious dancing with him. She felt graceful and elegant in his arms.
“If my time on earth were through…”
Sean spun her in an easy turn then released her hand to pull her hips closer to him. Claire wrapped her hands behind his neck and sighed contentedly as she laid her head on his chest, their feet still moving slowly to the fading music. “Will she know how much I love her…”
When the song finally ended, Sean regretfully moved his cheek from Claire’s forehead and released his hands from her hips. He slid his hands slowly up and down her back, his fingers trailing her spine from the bra strap under her shirt to the belt on her low jeans. She reflexively arched towards him, and her fingers played with the loose waves of hair at the name of his neck. With a low sigh he said, “Let’s go load Sully, then we can get out of here.”
They released each other and walked toward Sully’s stall where the huge buckskin stood waiting patiently. “Here, I’ll give you a boost. The trailer’s parked a good ways off, and Ryan already loaded all our tack into his trailer.”
Sean cupped his hands and bent his knee for Claire to step onto. She grabbed Sully’s mane with her left hand and placed her right on Sean’s shoulder, then stepped into his hands and easily swung her right leg over the horse’s bare back. Sean nimbly climbed the gate of one of the stall doors and slid onto his horse close behind Claire, their hips and bodies rocking in perfect unison as Sully walked out of the barn into the parking lot. With small shifts of his legs Sean faced the horse in the direction of his truck and clucked for him to go. They began walking slowly through the dimly lit parking lots with only the sound of the horse’s shoes clicking rhythmically on the asphalt.
Ever so slowly and lightly, Sean reached around to place a work roughened palm on Claire’s abdomen, and let his other hand work its way down her hip to rest on top of her thigh. She covered his hands with her own, relishing in the heat from his palms that felt as if they were burning straight through her jeans. What was meant to be an innocent ride of convenience had turned intimate due to the rhythmic motion of the horse’s gait, and hands that couldn’t be contained. The sensual feeling was unexpected but welcomed by both riders, and Claire couldn’t help herself when a small moan of pleasure escaped her lips. Sean’s hat pushed on her temple as she tilted her head to allow him to nuzzle her neck with his mouth.
The ride to Sean’s trailer was much too short. Before Claire knew it Sean had slipped off of Sully, and she suddenly felt chilled in the places where his body heat had made her feel so warm. She leaned forward and slung her right leg over Sully’s back, Sean steadying her with his hands on her waist as she slid off the gelding. With her feet back on solid ground, Claire turned to face the dark, handsome cowboy whose strong hands were still fixed upon her. Claire spread her fingers upon his broad chest, and they stood frozen in rapt anticipation, feeling one another’s hot breath mixing just inches from their mouths. She could hardly stand it any longer, she longed to know how their mouths would align, how he would taste. But she resisted the temptation, and allowed Sean to decide if, or how, or when to proceed.
He roughly moved her backwards, pinning her back against Sully’s tall shoulder. As he pressed his muscled chest against her soft one, his hands moved to the sides of her face. The tip of his right thumb brushed her chin and lips softly, and his left hand swept into the hair at the nape of her neck. Claire’s breathing was quick and shallow. As if Sean couldn’t wait another even another second, he delved assertively into their first kiss, his fingers tangling in her hair as he pulled her toward him.
He kissed her intensely, his lips hard in passion and his tongue finding hers immediately. She kissed him back deeply, met his passion, and encouraged it further. He was hungry for her, insatiable for her taste. He kissed her mouth over and over, deeper, and with more aggression until both were breathing heavily. As they paused to catch their breath, both of their chests heaving, it was as if all the sparks that had been flickering for the past month had suddenly burst into a blazing flame, more passionate and fierce than either could have imagined.
Sean’s horse turned his head and whinnied softly at his owner, breaking the intense moment with a bit of humor. Sean sighed deeply, pulling Claire to him in a warm embrace. She could feel his heart beating, like thunder inside his chest; her own felt as if it would gallop away at any second.
“Thank you for dancing with me,” he whispered, his lips lightly brushing her ear.
“Just what Brooke needs, someone who’s not afraid to show a little affection,” Claire thought, genuinely happy for her lovesick friend.
Claire approached Sean and without hesitation wrapped her arms around his neck. He slipped his muscled arms around her back, lifting and spinning her in a quick circle, her boots kicking excitedly. “You were great!” she praised as he placed her back on solid ground. Sean kept his hands on Claire’s waist, his long fingers resting just above the back pockets of her jeans. “You are so talented,” she continued, her blue eyes mesmerized by the full curve of his lips as she moved her palms gracefully up his bare forearms toward the rolled up shirt sleeves at his elbows.
“Guys, you’ll have time to do this later. But if we don’t hurry, we’re gonna miss the awards,” Ryan shouted in Sean and Claire’s direction as he and Brooke passed, his arm casually draped across her shoulders.
Claire squeezed Sean’s forearms, and her eyes pleaded for him to ignore the interruption. She didn’t want to wait until later, didn’t know if she could. But Sean laced his callused fingers through her slender ones and led her back toward the arena where he and Ryan would accept their first place buckles. Afterward there would be a dance and even more fraternizing with rodeo friends. Claire still had several more hours before she and Sean could finally be alone.
***
The country music blasted from the speakers at the corners of the covered pavilion. The dance floor was packed with two-stepping cowboys swinging their dates in every direction. Claire had not laid eyes on Sean in more than thirty minutes, and her second whiskey and coke was running dry.
“Claire!” Brooke was shouting over the music. “Hey Claire! Ryan, Bryce, and I are all heading over to Ryan’s place for a while. Do you wanna go?”
“No, I’ll wait for Sean. Have you seen him anywhere?”
“Nope, sorry. It’s too crowded and loud and I’m getting closterphobic. So I guess I’ll just see you at Ryan’s later?” Brooke asked, in a hurry to leave.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” Claire said with a nod. “We’ll catch up with y’all later, have fun,” she said with a wink.
“Oh we will, don’t worry!” Brooke smiled mischievously, and turned on her heel to leave with her handsome new date.
“Oh Brooke,” Claire thought, “you’ll talk the talk but that’s as far as it’ll go.” She sometimes knew her friend even better than she knew herself. And what was keeping Sean? She’d been ready to leave even before the dance started. Now her best friend had ditched her too and the last thing she needed was another drink, as she headed to the bar for a refill. After another swallow of sweet coke and the familiar burn of whiskey in her throat, she felt a familiar hand grab her by the waist. She looked up to see his face and her head began to spin a little, the buzz hitting her at the same time as Sean’s cologne.
“Sorry babe, let’s get outta here,” his throaty voice said in her left ear. Sean hurriedly led them through the mass of dancers, clouds of cigarette smoke, and the smell of barbeque. When they reached the openness of the parking lot between the pavilion and arena she felt like she could finally breathe again.
“Wow, that was a little too loud and crowded for me,” Claire voiced as they headed to the horse barn.
“Me too. And sorry for leaving you for so long. The association organizers caught me; they’re already planning for next year.”
“It’s ok, you’re here now,” she said gratefully.
“Yep, and we’re finally alone,” Sean whispered, pulling Claire’s slender waist toward his own. They had reached the barn entrance, illuminated by a single street light in the vast darkness of the West Texas sky. “And you’re going to dance with me now,” he said quietly as he wrapped her left hand in his right and placed his left palm low on the curve of her back. “Good thing the music’s loud, or it wouldn’t be perfect for us right now,” he whispered in her ear as he slowly began to sway back and forth. Garth Brooks’ voice crooned from the pavilion speakers: “If tomorrow never comes…” Sean pulled her hand to his lips and lightly kissed her knuckles.
Claire’s lips parted and her breathing quickened. What was she doing? She hated dancing. It was so embarrassing. She always felt like she looked too tall and clumsy and stupid. But not with Sean, not right now. She wasn’t the least bit self-conscious dancing with him. She felt graceful and elegant in his arms.
“If my time on earth were through…”
Sean spun her in an easy turn then released her hand to pull her hips closer to him. Claire wrapped her hands behind his neck and sighed contentedly as she laid her head on his chest, their feet still moving slowly to the fading music. “Will she know how much I love her…”
When the song finally ended, Sean regretfully moved his cheek from Claire’s forehead and released his hands from her hips. He slid his hands slowly up and down her back, his fingers trailing her spine from the bra strap under her shirt to the belt on her low jeans. She reflexively arched towards him, and her fingers played with the loose waves of hair at the name of his neck. With a low sigh he said, “Let’s go load Sully, then we can get out of here.”
They released each other and walked toward Sully’s stall where the huge buckskin stood waiting patiently. “Here, I’ll give you a boost. The trailer’s parked a good ways off, and Ryan already loaded all our tack into his trailer.”
Sean cupped his hands and bent his knee for Claire to step onto. She grabbed Sully’s mane with her left hand and placed her right on Sean’s shoulder, then stepped into his hands and easily swung her right leg over the horse’s bare back. Sean nimbly climbed the gate of one of the stall doors and slid onto his horse close behind Claire, their hips and bodies rocking in perfect unison as Sully walked out of the barn into the parking lot. With small shifts of his legs Sean faced the horse in the direction of his truck and clucked for him to go. They began walking slowly through the dimly lit parking lots with only the sound of the horse’s shoes clicking rhythmically on the asphalt.
Ever so slowly and lightly, Sean reached around to place a work roughened palm on Claire’s abdomen, and let his other hand work its way down her hip to rest on top of her thigh. She covered his hands with her own, relishing in the heat from his palms that felt as if they were burning straight through her jeans. What was meant to be an innocent ride of convenience had turned intimate due to the rhythmic motion of the horse’s gait, and hands that couldn’t be contained. The sensual feeling was unexpected but welcomed by both riders, and Claire couldn’t help herself when a small moan of pleasure escaped her lips. Sean’s hat pushed on her temple as she tilted her head to allow him to nuzzle her neck with his mouth.
The ride to Sean’s trailer was much too short. Before Claire knew it Sean had slipped off of Sully, and she suddenly felt chilled in the places where his body heat had made her feel so warm. She leaned forward and slung her right leg over Sully’s back, Sean steadying her with his hands on her waist as she slid off the gelding. With her feet back on solid ground, Claire turned to face the dark, handsome cowboy whose strong hands were still fixed upon her. Claire spread her fingers upon his broad chest, and they stood frozen in rapt anticipation, feeling one another’s hot breath mixing just inches from their mouths. She could hardly stand it any longer, she longed to know how their mouths would align, how he would taste. But she resisted the temptation, and allowed Sean to decide if, or how, or when to proceed.
He roughly moved her backwards, pinning her back against Sully’s tall shoulder. As he pressed his muscled chest against her soft one, his hands moved to the sides of her face. The tip of his right thumb brushed her chin and lips softly, and his left hand swept into the hair at the nape of her neck. Claire’s breathing was quick and shallow. As if Sean couldn’t wait another even another second, he delved assertively into their first kiss, his fingers tangling in her hair as he pulled her toward him.
He kissed her intensely, his lips hard in passion and his tongue finding hers immediately. She kissed him back deeply, met his passion, and encouraged it further. He was hungry for her, insatiable for her taste. He kissed her mouth over and over, deeper, and with more aggression until both were breathing heavily. As they paused to catch their breath, both of their chests heaving, it was as if all the sparks that had been flickering for the past month had suddenly burst into a blazing flame, more passionate and fierce than either could have imagined.
Sean’s horse turned his head and whinnied softly at his owner, breaking the intense moment with a bit of humor. Sean sighed deeply, pulling Claire to him in a warm embrace. She could feel his heart beating, like thunder inside his chest; her own felt as if it would gallop away at any second.
“Thank you for dancing with me,” he whispered, his lips lightly brushing her ear.
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