Cowgirl Up (17 page)
†
As she had predicted, Melissa was finished preparing lunch and had coolers filled with the egg salad, bottles of cold water, and a couple pitchers of iced tea. Gene carried those out to the flatbed while she and Melissa carried baskets with paper plates, utensils, plastic cups, napkins, and a huge batch of warm chocolate chip cookies she had baked for them. Gene climbed in behind the wheel as Coal and Melissa took a seat on the back of the truck.
Coal watched as dust stirred in the wake of the truck as Gene drove toward the fields being cut and raked by the rest of the crew. The summer was a typical Texas summer. The lack of rain caused dust to swirl behind any source of movement and there had been some brutally hot days over the past weeks. While rain was needed Coal hoped any rain would hold off until they could get this round of hay into the barns.
Gene pulled the truck under two large trees that provided the only shade for thousands of acres as the men began moving toward them. He took the cooler of drinks and placed it near one of them as she and Melissa began making sandwiches for the crew. Gene opened several bags of chips and removed the plastic from the large tray of cookies, filling the air with their sweetness. When he reached to grab one, Melissa’s glare stopped him in his tracks.
“You can wait two more minutes until the others get here,” she chastised.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said and began opening the plates, handing one to each of the men as they arrived.
“How’s the cutting going?” Melissa asked Stan as she placed two sandwiches on his plate.
“Good. This is going to be a great summer for hay if it stays this hot and dry,” he answered.
“I don’t think we have to worry about the heat going away anytime soon,” Melissa said.
“Me either, boss,” he said, taking a seat on the ground to eat his lunch.
The rest of the crew began eating while Coal and Melissa made a plate of food and joined them under the shade.
“These are great sandwiches,” Harley said to Melissa.
“There is plenty, so eat all you can,” she said.
“No problem,” Lucas said as he stood to get more sandwiches.
“Since Coal and I have the afternoon off, I thought I’d cook dinner,” Gene announced. “What would y’all like to eat?”
“I have some chicken thawed out that I think would be nice for you to grill,” Melissa said. “I’ll make some potato salad and you can boil some corn and toss a salad.”
“You have my mouth watering already,” Harley said.
Coal passed around the tray of cookies and the men finished off their meal, eager to get the afternoon’s work done so they could rinse the dust from their bodies and relax until dinner. When everyone had finished and returned to the equipment, Coal, Gene, and Melissa packed up the remnants of lunch and drove back to the house.
“If you’ll help Melissa carry everything inside, I’ll saddle up Shadow for you,” Gene volunteered.
“You have a deal,” Coal said as she carried the coolers into the kitchen and helped Melissa tend to the scarce leftovers.
“I hope tonight goes well for you,” Melissa said as they worked together.
“Me too,” she answered. “I’ve got to get relief from this somehow.”
“Del is a great doctor. I have faith she will be able to help you through this, Coal.”
“I hope so,” she answered. She looked up to see Gene leading Shadow across the yard. “My ride has arrived,” she said with a grin.
“See you tomorrow. Give my regards to Del.”
“I will, boss,” she said and left the kitchen.
She stepped out onto the porch and Gene stood holding Shadow’s reins. He scuffed his boots in the dry grass kicking up dust then looked up at Coal. “I’m no doctor, but if you ever just need someone to talk to, I’m your man,” he said sweetly.
She stepped off the porch and wrapped her arms around the young man and kissed him on the cheek. “That means a lot to me, Gene. Thank you for being my friend.”
Blushing furiously when she let him go, he said, “You mean a lot to me, and you have been a good friend to all of us.”
“You’re my family now,” Coal said and smiled when she saw tears fill his eyes.
“Be careful tonight, and I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said as he handed her the reins.
“Don’t eat too much dirt tonight,” she said as she swung up into the saddle.
“I’ll save you plenty,” he yelled back as she and Shadow cantered away.
She raised her hand in a wave as she headed for home and a hot shower.
†
Shadow pranced, eager for a hard run and Coal gave him his head as they raced back home. Her adrenaline pumping through her veins, she urged the willing horse past the turn to their home and they ran for another mile, Shadow barely breathing hard when she brought him to a halt. She reached down and patted his neck. “We both needed that, didn’t we boy?”
She and Shadow trotted back to the barn. After removing his tack and rubbing him down, Coal fed her faithful steed and walked to the house for a shower and a nap. Her mind was racing with anxiety over the appointment with Del as she climbed between the cool sheets and she feared she wouldn’t be able to nap, but her full stomach and the hot shower worked its magic.
†
Mary Leah finished her work
at the pharmacy a
nd arrived home just as Coal was waking from her nap. She walked into their bedroom to find Coal sitting on the side of the bed, stretching.
“Did you nap well?” Mary Leah asked.
“Yes, I actually feel refreshed,” she answered as Mary Leah slipped into her lap. She kissed her lover deeply as she held her close. “I missed you today,” she whispered when the kiss ended.
“I can tell,” Mary Leah said, nearly breathless from the kiss. “We could skip dinner.”
Coal chuckled. “No way, you promised me brisket, but I’ll save plenty of room for dessert when we get home.”
“I’ll look forward to that,” Mary Leah said. “I’m going to take a quick shower while you get dressed.”
Coal watched with pride as Mary Leah undressed in front of her. It had taken several months for Mary Leah to become comfortable undressing in front of her in the light because of the scarring from the surgery to remove her breasts. Her ex had used the disfiguration as the excuse for abandoning Mary Leah when she needed a lover’s support the most, and the emotional trauma had devastated her self-esteem.
Mary Leah sensed Coal’s eyes watching her and turned to find Coal smiling at her. “What?” she asked.
“I was giving a second thought to skipping dinner,” she confessed.
Chuckling, Mary Leah said, “You better eat a hearty meal, because you’re going to need the energy tonight,” she said. She sashayed into the bathroom, leaving Coal grinning on the bed.
Coal climbed from the bed, pulled on fresh Levi’s and a short-sleeved shirt before slipping on socks and her best pair of ropers. She passed Mary Leah in the hallway as she returned to the bathroom to brush her teeth and hair. Time for a cut, she thought as she brushed through her shoulder-length hair. Finished, she grinned and followed the scent of Mary Leah’s perfume back into the bedroom where her lover had just pulled a shirt over her head. Coal hugged her from behind and buried her face into the base of her neck, breathing deeply of the alluring scent. Mary Leah’s light brown curls were soft against Coal’s face, smelling sweetly of the shampoo she had used.
“You smell delicious,” she said.
“Thanks, I know this is your favorite.”
“Yes, ma’am, it is. That scent suits you perfectly.” Her hands slipped down to her lover’s waist. “It makes me hungry for dessert.”
“You can have all you want when we get home,” Mary Leah answered, turning in Coal’s arms to kiss her before slipping into a pair of boat shoes. “Are you ready?”
Coal took in a deep breath, filling her lungs with the perfume. “I am now,” she answered. “Are you driving or do you want me to?”
“I’ll drive and you can relax,” Mary Leah said.
Mary Leah cranked the car and cold air blasted from the air-conditioning, bathing Coal in coolness. She smiled thinking of the lack of air-conditioning in her old truck. Her only relief was commonly called 460—four windows down and sixty miles an hour. Still, the truck was a fixture in her life and even though she could afford to buy a newer one, she couldn’t part with her old friend, at least not yet. She hoped to get another few years before it breathed its last.
Coal reached inside the glove compartment for a pair of sunglasses to shade her eyes from the setting sun. She froze for a second when her hand landed on a pair of aviator glasses. They had been standard issue in the desert as protection from the intense sunlight and had become a part of her uniform. She hesitated for a moment to shake the memory of the desert from her mind and then pulled the glasses out and put them on. “Ah, that’s better,” she said as she relaxed back in the seat.
Mary Leah glanced over to see Coal’s left knee bouncing up and down, a symptom of her anxiety over the impending appointment. She reached over, took her hand, and brought it to her mouth for a soft kiss and then entwined their fingers. “Are you still planning to get the brisket?”
“It’s a toss-up between that and the baby back ribs,” she answered.
“Why don’t we get one of each and split them,” Mary Leah suggested.
Coal smiled at her lover. “I love the way you think.”
†
Dinner was finished with little conversation. Mary Leah watched as Coal picked through her food, eating half of what was normal for her and she knew Coal was thinking about her appointment. “Do you want to get a doggy bag for later?” Mary Leah asked.
“Sure, if you want. Sorry, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.”
“No worries. These are even better as leftovers,” she said. “I’ll ask the server to box them up for us and pay the bill so we can get out of here.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back,” she said as she left the table to visit the restroom. She washed the barbecue sauce from her hands and stared back at her image in the mirror. “I hope this works,” she spoke aloud, tearing a paper towel from the holder to dry her hands.
“Ready?” Mary Leah asked when she returned to the table.
She nodded. “Let’s do this,” she said and took the carryout bag from Mary Leah.
She followed Mary Leah to the car. Despite the cold air-conditioning, Coal felt her hands begin to grow clammy.
Mary Leah weaved through traffic and made it to Del’s office with ten minutes to spare. The parking lot was empty so she parked in front of the entrance, turned the car off, and looked at Coal. “You are going to be just fine,” she said to reassure her lover.
“Yes, I am,” she said and climbed out of the car.
†
Del was reviewing the file on Coal when she heard the chime on the front door sound. She had already sent Linda, her receptionist, home, so she walked out to meet Mary Leah and Coal. She smiled when her eyes met Coal’s. “Hi, I’m Del,” she said, offering her hand.
Coal reached out and gave her a firm handshake. “Pleased to meet you, Del.”
Turning to Mary Leah, she said, “Make yourself comfortable and we will see you soon. We are the only ones here so I’m going to lock us in,” she said as she flipped a lock on the front door. “There are cold drinks in the kitchen if you get thirsty.”
“I’m good for now, thanks,” Mary Leah said as she took a seat on a comfortable-looking couch.
“Are you ready to get started?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Coal answered. With a final smile to Mary Leah, she followed Del into her office.
Del closed the door behind them and turned to Coal. “Where would you be more comfortable sitting?” she asked.
“The couch is fine with me,” she answered.
“Make yourself comfortable then while I get my notepad. I usually tape our sessions to refer back to later. Are you all right with that?”
Del looked up to see a smirk on her face. “Did I say something funny?”
Coal realized Del had caught her expression. “I’m sorry, I was just thinking, apparently too loudly.”
“Would you care to share what you find so humorous?”
She felt heat rise to her cheeks. “I thought you would have been taller the way Melissa and Mary Leah talk about you.”
Her smile comforted Coal. “Just remember dynamite comes in small packages.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said as she sat on the couch. Coal watched Del closely, taking in her blond curls and the sparkle in her blue eyes when she looked at her. Her warm smile revealed a grin and a dimple in her left cheek.
Del walked slowly to her desk to give Coal a few moments to get comfortable. When she returned and sat in a deeply cushioned chair beside the couch, she smiled warmly at Coal. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you from Melissa and Mary Leah.”
“I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances,” Coal said shyly.
“There is no need to apologize. There is no shame in realizing you need some help to sort through what you endured in the desert. I’ve had a chance to read over your file and know a little about your service, but I want you to feel comfortable with our sessions. If you begin to feel too anxious, I want you to be honest with me. There is no timeframe to complete your therapy, so we will move at the pace you feel comfortable with.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“Can we start by you telling me what has been going on lately?”
Coal took a deep breath and let it out slowly before beginning to speak.
†
An hour later, Del knew the full extent of the trauma Coal had experienced in the desert and the memories that were haunting her life. She was even more surprised to find that Mitch had been one of the soldiers killed on that terrible day. She moved next to her on the couch and took a sobbing Coal into her arms for a warm embrace. “I think we have done enough for tonight,” she whispered.
Coal nodded her head in agreement and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her shirt was soaked with perspiration from her anxiety.
“You did remarkably well tonight. There is a relatively new program that I would like you to participate in,” Del said. “It is a virtual reality program called Virtual Iraq and it will help to desensitize you to the traumatic memories you have and allow you to finally cope with the events that terrorize you. Are you interested in participating?”
“If you think that is best for me, then yes.”
“It will take me a week or longer to program the series to meet your specific criteria, but I would like to meet with you three days a week to continue our sessions. Is that acceptable to you?”
“Yes, Doc, that would be fine,” she said. Coal looked into Del’s warm brown eyes. “Do you really think you can fix me?”
“No, I can’t,” she replied. “Together we can, but it has to be you. You are the only one who can fix you.”
Coal smiled for the first time since entering the office. “We can do this.”
“Yes, we can, and we will,” Del answered.
“Do I need medications?” she asked.
“No, I don’t think you do. If anything, I would suggest using melatonin to help you get better sleep. It is a natural supplement and over the counter. I’m sure Mary Leah can get you set up.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“One other thing, don’t worry about hurting her. Mary Leah is not as fragile as you think. I would also recommend talking with her about your episodes. The more you discuss what happened, the easier it will become to let it go.” She smiled at Coal. “No more holding it in. If you don’t feel good talking to her about it, find someone else close to you. Do you have any other questions tonight?”
“How much do I owe you?” Coal asked as she pulled out her checkbook.
“Your service to our country is paying for your treatment. You have paid enough.”
With that, Del stood and offered her hand to Coal. “Let’s plan to meet Monday, Wednesday, and Friday next week. Is this time good for you?”
“Yes, it is. Thanks again,” she said as she stood and followed Del to the door.
Del opened the door and Mary Leah stood from her seat. “Get some rest tonight and have a good weekend, and I will see you Monday.”
“Thanks, Del,” Mary Leah said and hugged her friend.
“Stop and get her some melatonin and make sure she takes the maximum dosage before going to bed each night.”
“I will,” Mary Leah said.
Mary Leah reached for Coal’s hand as they left the building. Once back inside the car, she turned to her and asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Exhausted,” she said honestly.
“Kick back and relax then and I will get us home.”
“You’ll get no argument from me,” Coal said and reclined her seat back.
They hadn’t made it out of the city before Coal was sleeping peacefully in her seat. Mary Leah made a stop at a chain pharmacy and bought the melatonin. When she climbed back into the car, Coal still slept and did not stir.
Mary Leah gently woke Coal as they neared the ranch. “There is a bottle of water and a container of pills. Go ahead and take three before we get home,” she instructed.
Coal took the pills and drained the bottle of water as she relaxed into the seat. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to take you up on your offer of dessert tonight. I’m whipped physically and emotionally.”
“Baby, don’t worry about that. As long as your warm body is next to mine I am perfectly content.”
Coal reached over to entwine her fingers with Mary Leah’s. “Thank you, my love.”
When they reached home, they entered the house hand in hand. They walked to the bedroom and stripped out of their clothes before entwining in one another’s arms to sleep peacefully through the night.
†
Coal woke before sunrise to find her lover spooned up next to her. Her hand softly stroked down Mary Leah’s arm and hip as her lips softly caressed her neck. She could feel her begin to stir, and Mary Leah was wearing a smile when she rolled onto her back and looked up at her. Coal lowered her face to kiss her sweetly as her hand continued to play across Mary Leah’s skin, and when she felt her shiver, she moved on top of her lover.
Her hips rocked slowly between Mary Leah’s thighs as they continued to kiss. She ended the kiss and opened her eyes to see desire building in Mary Leah’s eyes. She kissed down Mary Leah’s neck, her soft lips caressing the scars on her chest left bare from the cancer. Mary Leah groaned in pleasure. Coal had never complained about her lack of breasts or the ugly scars the surgery had left behind, but Mary Leah longed for the feeling of a lover suckling her breasts.
Her hands played in Coal’s dark hair as Coal’s lips brushed the sensitive skin down the front of her body and her tongue entered the wetness nestled in the center of her being. Mary Leah moaned as Coal’s tongue and lips explored her body, and when she slid a finger into the silky wetness, stars began to erupt behind her eyelids as her passion reached its climax and she ground her body into Coal’s mouth.
Coal felt the trembling deep within her lover’s body as her tongue and finger glided through wetness and her soft moans encouraged her to continue until she felt Mary Leah’s body release in waves of convulsions. She continued her ministrations until she felt Mary Leah relax and then removed her finger and kissed her way back into her lover’s arms.
“Good morning,” she whispered.
“It has definitely started off well for me,” Mary Leah said with a purr in her voice.
She grinned back at her. “I didn’t want you to think I had forgotten your offer of dessert.”
Mary Leah wrapped her arms tightly around Coal’s shoulders. “Do you need some attention?”
“I have what I need right here,” she said as she moved to lie next to her lover, placing her head on her shoulder.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Like a rock, for a change, and I woke up feeling refreshed.”
“I can definitely tell the difference,” she teased. “That felt terrific.”
Coal looked over at the clock. “Do you want to snooze a little longer before we have to get up?”
“As long as you promise not to move from this spot,” Mary Leah answered.
“Only long enough to do this,” Coal said as she raised her face to kiss Mary Leah. “I love you,” she said and snuggled back into Mary Leah’s arms.
“I love you too.”
†
When the alarm sounded two hours later, Mary Leah reached over to turn it off. “What time do we need to be ready for the cookout tonight?”
“The guys usually have dinner ready by seven, why do you ask?”
“I thought I would come home and help you with the beans and macaroni salad.”
“That would be great,” she said as she heard the beep of the coffeepot, notifying them the coffee had finished brewing. “Sit tight and I’ll grab us a cup,” she said.
Mary Leah snuggled under the covers, still enjoying the glow of their lovemaking as she waited for her to return.
Coal returned with steaming mugs of coffee and handed one to Mary Leah before sitting on the edge of the bed.
“What does your day look like?”
“I’m not real sure. I’ll probably be helping with the haying. I’m not sure if we are ready to start baling yet or not, but you can guarantee it will be another hot day for us,” she answered.
“Do you think y’all will be working this weekend?”
“Probably Saturday if we start baling, why do you ask?”
“I thought I might take my best girl to the movies on Sunday,” Mary Leah said.
“Find us a movie and it’s a date,” she said with a smile.