Cowgirl Up (38 page)

“Come on then. Let’s go catch your horse so you can finish your job,” she said, pulling Stormy onto the back of her horse. The horse grunted feeling the extra weight on his back, but responded to Coal’s urgings to race to catch up with Stormy’s rogue mount.

†

An hour later, they unsaddled the newly trained stock and placed them back into the corral with the rest of the horses.

“Will I see you later?” Coal asked Stormy.

“I’ll be around at five to pick up Del.”

“Great. Have fun tonight,” she said as she mounted Shadow for the ride home.

“We will,” Stormy said and turned to walk into the house to shower.

Melissa was in the kitchen finishing her picnic basket when she walked inside. She looked at the work Melissa had accomplished.

“This looks great. Thanks, boss.”

“You’re welcome. Now go get showered, and get your picnic site set up before it’s time to go collect Del.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

†

Stormy laid a fire in the grill and soaked the charcoal with lighter fluid. She repositioned the lounge chairs, placed a cooler with the chilled wine between them, and when satisfied she was ready she went to pick up Del.

Coal met her at the front door when she arrived. Del and Mary Leah were in the kitchen cooking their dinner.

“Be sure to have her home before midnight,” Coal teased as Del walked over to greet her.

“Don’t listen to a word she says,” Del told her as she punched Coal’s shoulder. “Don’t wait up, dad.”

“You two have a good time,” Mary Leah called from the kitchen.

“Thanks,” Stormy called. “Are you ready?” she asked Del.

“Yes, let’s go.”

“See you later,” Stormy said to Coal.

“That’s doubtful if you don’t bring her home before midnight,” she answered.

“Later then,” she said and offered her hand to Del as they walked out to her truck.

Mary Leah slipped her arm around Coal’s waist as she stood at the door watching the truck disappear down the drive. “Do you think they will make it together?” she asked.

“Only time will tell what fate has in store for them,” she said, turning to kiss Mary Leah.

†

Del turned to look at Stormy as she drove past the house into the open field they had been in earlier in the day, but remained silent as she drove toward the setting sun. When she finally stopped the truck at the edge of the bluffs, Del’s eyes locked on the beauty of the landscape.

She raced around to open the passenger door and assisted Del out of the truck. “Welcome to my restaurant,” she said with a smile as she led Del to a lounge chair. “Let me light the fire, and I’ll be back to pour us wine.”

“This view is stunning,” Del said as she looked across the open plains.

“One of the most beautiful spots on the ranch,” Stormy said as she lit the fire. She took the chair next to Del and opened the cooler. Taking two wineglasses, she handed them to Del and poured the wine.

Del handed her a glass and then offered a toast. “Here’s to a beautiful sunset and a terrific night.”

“Agreed,” she said and touched her glass to Del’s.

The sun was rapidly sinking into the horizon, painting the sky with brilliant reds and oranges. Del and Stormy rested back on the chairs to watch the night sky while the coals burned brightly.

When the sun had disappeared, she turned on several lanterns to give them light.

“So tell me about you,” Del said as she poured them both another glass of wine.

Stormy hesitated and then sat up in her chair. “I’ve got flaws, but I hope they won’t be such to turn you away from me,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

“We all have flaws, Stormy,” Del said, placing her hand on her arm. “Tell me what you fear will drive me away.”

“I lived in Montana before coming to Texas. My parents kicked me out at seventeen when they found out I was gay, and I lived with my grandmother until I finished high school a year later.” She took a sip of wine to wet her throat that suddenly felt parched. “After graduating, I took a job at a ranch on the border of Yellowstone, and I worked there for two years. I loved the job and fell in love with a woman in town. We shared a small home for over a year and I believed I had found true love.”

Stormy paused again as she relived the memories. Several minutes passed before she realized she had fallen silent and Del was patiently waiting for her to continue. The coals were ready, so Stormy stood to place the meat on the grill and the foil-covered vegetables on to warm.

“Terri was beautiful and stole my heart from the first time we met. We moved in together right away, and I thought I was her heart and soul, or so she told me.” She paused again to pour more wine. “Every year the ranch had a big roundup, where they moved the large herd down into greener pastures, which took the hands away for several days. Terri must have lost track of the days because when I came home, covered in dirt and exhausted from days in the saddle, I found her in bed with the rancher’s son.”

“Oh my,” Del said, truly shocked.

Stormy jumped up to turn the meat, and then walked back to the chairs.

“What happened then?” Del asked.

“We rode the trails armed due to the wildness of the area. I had a pistol strapped to my side and when I saw the rancher’s son gloating, naked in my bed, I snapped. I pulled the pistol, placed the barrel on his forehead and cocked the gun. I could feel the tremors running through his body from his terror. I looked over at Terri and she looked on in shock, hiding her nakedness with a sheet, like I was the intruder.” She took another sip and sat the glass down. “I could feel my finger as it slowly pulled on the trigger. I wanted nothing more than to end his miserable life right then. He must have seen the rage burning in my eyes and his bladder released. The scent of his urine filled my nose and I started to laugh. Just a chuckle at first, but then the laughter overcame me, and I couldn’t stop. I removed the barrel from his head and safely holstered the gun.”

She stood and walked to the grill to check the meat, finding it nearly done to perfection. “Come,” she said and motioned Del to join her at the tailgate of the truck. “The meat is almost ready.”

Del stood and walked over to her.

“When my laughter finally died, I looked at Terri. I hope he makes you happy, I said, and left the house. I knew my job was screwed, so I stopped at an ATM, cleaned out my account, drove to the ranch and loaded my horse in my trailer and started driving south.”

“That’s when you came to Texas?”

“Yes, after a brief stop in Oklahoma. I heard about the opening at Big Bob’s and got the job right away. The foreman in Oklahoma put in a good word for me and I got the job at the Brewster’s.”

Del carried their plates to the grill and waited until Stormy served the steaks and the steamy vegetables. She carried them back to the tailgate that would be their table for the meal. “Is this the point where I’m supposed to run screaming into the night?” she asked.

“I’ve never told anyone else. I just assumed most people would be scared I’d snap again.”

“Darling, your reaction was very normal given the circumstances. Trust me when I tell you I’ve heard much deeper flaws than what you have described to me tonight.”

Stormy felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders. Relief flooded through her after hearing Del’s comments to the story she was worried would end their relationship before it had a chance to blossom.

“I have to be honest though,” Del said as she sat in a chair Stormy placed at the tailgate for them. “I’m more concerned with your promiscuity, if what that horrid woman said last night was true. I’m not a one-night stand type of woman.”

The relief she felt melted away. She hung her head, shameful of her irresponsible behavior. “I cannot deny what Lana said. Since my experience with Terri, I’ve not cared to have a lasting relationship with anyone. Until now,” she added.

Del placed her hands under Stormy’s chin and lifted her face to meet her eyes. They sparkled in the lantern light and glistened with what Del worried were tears of disappointment. She smiled softly. “I’m an old-fashioned girl and expect to be properly courted. Don’t expect me to fall into your bed just because I think you’re incredibly sexy.”

Tears slipped from her eyes. Del brushed them away with her thumbs, stroking Stormy’s cheeks. She was touched, and surprised, by the depth of emotion she was displaying. “We will take things one step at a time,” she said and Stormy nodded her acknowledgment. “Right now, I’ve got to have a bite of this steak. It smells heavenly.”

Stormy released a nervous laugh. “I hope you enjoy it. We have fresh bread to go with it as well,” she said and opened the warmed bread. “Would you like more wine?”

“I’d love some,” Del said then moaned loudly as the flavor of the steak reached her taste buds. “This is fantastic. Your selection of locations is better than any restaurant could be. The view is spectacular, and the company’s not bad either.”

“I’m happy you approve,” she said as she portioned out vegetables.

After the meal was finished, Stormy placed the dishes into the picnic basket and then joined Del on the lounge chair. The glow on the horizon had faded into the darkness of night, and the sky filled with a blanket of stars.

Stormy let out a deep sigh as her eyes scanned the sky.

“What’s with the sigh?”

“The night sky reminds me of Montana. The lack of artificial light makes the stars shine so brilliantly.”

“It’s peaceful out here,” Del admitted. “Do you miss Montana?”

“Only during winter, I miss the snow, and the mountains.”

“Well, maybe we can visit. I’ve never seen more than a few inches of snow. I’d like to see real mountains too,” Del said.

“I would love to show you Montana. I don’t care much for skiing, but snowmobiling is a blast.”

“That sounds like fun,” Del said as she reached over to place her hand on Stormy’s arm.

Enjoying the warmth of Del’s touch Stormy placed her hand on top to hold it in place. “Tell me about you,” Stormy said. “You know most of my story, but I don’t know anything about you.”

†

Hours later, Del shivered. The night air had significantly cooled and they both felt the chill against their skin. “Are you ready to head home?”

“Not really,” Del said. “It’s so beautiful out here, but it’s cooler than I thought it would be.”

“Go get into the truck and turn some heat on while I pack up here real quick.”

“Is there anything I can help with?”

“No, I’ve got this,” Stormy said with a smile. She worked quickly to load the chairs and picnic basket in the back of the truck then poured the water from the melted ice in the cooler on the coals to ensure the embers fully extinguished. As hot and dry as it had been lately, the last thing they needed was a wildfire from a careless fire. She closed the lid and walked to the truck to climb inside.

“All set,” she said as she put the truck in gear and slowly crawled across the open field. Red eyes glittered at the edge of the headlights as a pair of coyotes roamed the night. “I’ve really enjoyed being with you tonight.”

“Dinner was fantastic, and it was nice having you alone for a change,” Del said.

“When may I see you again?” she asked as they pulled into Coal and Mary Leah’s drive.

“How about lunch tomorrow, with the girls? I was supposed to ask you earlier, but I forgot.”