Dixie Lynn Dwyer (15 page)

Elise was absorbing everything that was taking place around the ranch. She had heard that Dudley Farms trained cowboys and cowgirls for the rodeo and did everything from barrel racing to bull riding. She had to admit that every time she had an opportunity to come out here for an event they hosted, she found an excuse not to. Places like this reminded her about her past and of course about Devlon. She couldn’t help the ache she had in her heart and as Tommy came over to check on her and tell her that they were going to help out a bit if she didn’t mind, she nodded her head knowing that if she spoke, she would cry. She loved this type of lifestyle. It was what she grew up on back in Tennessee. She had been an orphan and took off on her own when she was sixteen. She had a hard childhood and had stayed out of trouble and even landed that job on the dude ranch. Meeting Devlon had been a miracle or at least she thought so.

She watched as Vic and Tommy stood on the rails and gave pointers to the next rider as they helped to secure him on the bull and take the necessary safety precautions. As they helped each rider, she realized how knowledgeable they were and instead of freaking her out, it made her feel proud and also love them more. The realization that she was definitely in love with them struck her hard, but she would deal with that later. She had so many crazy thoughts going through her head. She worried about Vic and Tommy being deputies, especially seeing that bruise on Vic’s cheek that occurred during a routine arrest. Their jobs were dangerous, and she didn’t like danger. Danger is what took Devlon from her and nearly cost her her life.

She watched Vic and Tommy for quite some time until Corey came over.

“Howdy, Dixie Chix.”

She smiled at him. “Howdy, yourself. Did you get enough practice in?” she asked as he leaned against the fence.

“Yeah, I guess so. Bill has another barn with multiple electric bulls, too. That’s where you learn first before coming out here to the real deal.”

She smiled, knowing the routine after working on the dude ranch for years. So many times a young, cocky cowboy thought he could just get onto a bull and ride. Each time one tried the outcome wasn’t pretty.

“It‘s a good method and helps to save lives.”

He chuckled. “You ain’t kidding. So how long you been seeing the twins?” he asked and she looked at him and he seemed concerned.

“Not long, why?”

“Just wondering. You let me know if they hurt you. I mean, they are gentlemen, but both of them got a mean streak in them that is fierce.”

“Really? I haven’t seen that side of them,” she stated, but then she recalled the anger and the fear in Vic’s eyes as he awoke thinking he was still in the Middle East.

“I’ve heard stories and sometimes, their experiences from the war can just hit them and they don’t know where they are.”

So, people knew about their PTSD? She took a deep breath and nodded her head.

“I know and I appreciate the warning.”

He smiled.

“Good. Cause you’re a sweet woman and hearts are breaking around Delite as we speak.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“You don’t know about what?” Tommy asked as he approached, and Corey nodded his hat at Elise then walked away.

She felt Tommy’s hands caress her waist then his arm wrap around her midsection and gently squeeze.

“Was that boy hitting on you?” he whispered against her ear.

“No and I don’t think he would appreciate being referred to as a boy.”

“Well, he’s like twenty-four and I’m thirty, so he is a boy.”

She turned in his arms and stared up into his eyes as he held her against the fence.

“Then you must think I’m a girl, ’cause I’m only twenty-four, too.”

Tommy looked over her breasts and squeezed her hips.

“Darlin’, you are all woman, there ain’t no denying that.” He leaned forward and kissed her and immediately the whistles and hoots started.

She held on to his shoulders and squeezed.

He smiled as he held her tight, refusing to separate their bodies.

“I know what you’re trying to do.” She ran her fingers through his crew-cut hair.

“Good. Then let it be. Vic and I want to send a clear message that you’re our woman.”

“I think you succeeded,” she whispered as she held his gaze.

“Good.”

* * * *

They spent the next hour showing her around the place and then found a nice quiet spot by a small stream to sit and relax. It was relaxing there, and she seemed to be lost in thought. Vic wondered what was going on. She had been acting funny since they first arrived and they would have to leave in thirty minutes so she could get ready for work tonight.

“Elise,” he whispered and she turned to him, appearing a little sad. Tommy took her hand and placed it on his lap. Vic placed his arm around her shoulder as they sat on the large bench and looked out across the water.

“You seem awfully quiet. Is everything okay?” he asked.

She was silent a moment, and then she squeezed their hands.

“I haven’t told you much about my life, before I came to Delite.”

“Well, we haven’t shared too much about our lives either,” Tommy stated.

“Sure you have. You told me about your parents and grandparents and about visiting them in a week or so. You’ve told me about your time serving in the Middle East and of course about your jobs. I haven’t told either of you anything.”

“So tell us now,” Tommy stated.

“Well, this is where the problem lies. It took a lot for me to get involved with you two. Not just because of the whole ménage thing, but because I haven’t made love with a man since I was nineteen.” She swallowed hard. Vic heard her. The thought of her with another man made his stomach hurt and anger fill him, but then he realized that she was with him and Tommy now, so it didn’t matter. Plus she said “made love.” She didn’t say “have sex.” So there must have been a commitment of some sort, even though she was so young.

“I was nineteen and Devlon was twenty.”

“That’s young,” Tommy stated.

“It may seem so, but not at the time and not while we both suffered difficult childhoods and had such a strong bond. You see, I was living in an orphanage since birth.”

“What?” Tommy asked as he turned toward her and so did Vic. He was shocked. She was such a gorgeous woman. He could only imagine how beautiful of a baby she was.

“I was and no one adopted me and things were getting bad at the orphanage. I mean, the people who took care of us were nice, but then the older boys started to try and sneak into the girls’ rooms and make them do things. They were a lot bigger and stronger and it was scary.”

“Why didn’t the adults do anything about it?”

“It happened at night and if a girl tried to tell, then the boys would torment them, and they were ruthless. I guess it was the whole peer-pressure thing and not wanting to stand out as an oddball. I wasn’t going to lose my virginity like that. I wanted more in life and I wanted freedom. Anyway, I took off.”

“How did you survive?”

“Well, it was kind of funny, but I met another group of young men and women who did the same thing. They found odd jobs working on farms and ranches and so I did the same. I learned about the bulls really fast and I liked them. A year into working I started barrel racing and doing some small events at places like Dudley’s here. I was offered a job, full time at eighteen, caring for the horses, helping the bull riders and organizing events.”

“How did you learn how to ride the electric bull?” Tommy asked.

“I would train with the cowboys and then sneak on at night for extra hours. That’s how I met Devlon and we hit it off. We started doing everything together and within a year we were making plans.”

Vic heard the sadness in her voice, and he had a feeling the plans meant marriage.

“You were going to get married?” Tommy asked, and she nodded her head.

“Devlon was a bit set on making it big. One night he was carrying on with a bunch of cowboys about his riding capabilities and one thing led to the next and I was saying that he was a great trainer and even I could ride a bull. Before long the bets were going and I got onto a real bull and rode it.”

“What? Were you out of your mind?” Vic asked.

“I was trying to prove that Devlon was a great teacher and also help him to win the thousand dollars that was on the table if I survived the ride. Turns out, I was pretty damn good and that wasn’t the last time I got to ride a real bull.”

“Holy shit, Elise. Well, you ain’t ever riding a real bull again,” Vic scolded and she smiled.

“I don’t want to. The electric bull is fine with me. I like my bones intact. It was when I was young and stupid.”

“So what happened to Devlon?” Tommy asked, and she got quiet.

“He wasn’t happy about being on the bottom, and his desire to be on top made him get involved with some pretty bad stuff. He gambled, he bet on races and bull-riding matches, but ultimately what cost him was betting on a match he won but wasn’t supposed to.”

“What do you mean?”

She was quiet and her voice lowered to a whisper.

“We worked for a business tycoon and rancher that ran illegal bull-riding events.”

“Oh hell, Elise,” Tommy stated as he ran his hand through his hair. Vic felt his stomach clench again. Those illegal events left many men for dead and bulls destroyed, too. They were despicable.

“Devlon bet on an event he rode in and won, but the owner had plans of someone else winning, so he could take the money. It was over fifty thousand dollars. Plus, Devlon owed this guy twenty thousand from gambling.”

“Shit,” Tommy stated.

“So what happened after the match?”

“They beat him and killed him.” She lowered her head. Vic squeezed her shoulders.

“What do you mean, the business tycoon?” Vic asked.

“It was his men, but he ordered it.”

“You know this for certain?” Tommy asked.

“It was him, but they dumped Devlon’s body in between the cabins we all stayed at. I saw him that night. I saw the crowd of cowboys gathered around and people yelling to call the sheriff, but it was too late. Devlon was beaten and shot multiple times. They were sending a message, to never double-cross their boss.”

“You saw his body, baby?” Tommy asked and she nodded her head.

Vic pulled her into his arms and hugged her to him.

When she pulled from his shoulder to look into his eyes, she was crying. “This is why I was so quiet when we first got here. I have been avoiding these types of places for years and these types of people, the ones who ride bulls.” She chuckled as she cried. “And here you two are, bull-riding trainers and all. It’s crazy.”

He pressed her head against his shoulder and continued to hug her.

“I’m sorry you went through that, baby. So sorry that you had to see him like that,” Vic stated.

She pulled back and wiped her eyes.

“It was hard, but it forced me to get the hell out of Tennessee.”

“How did you do it? How did you get out of there?” Tommy asked, and immediately Vic noticed her demeanor changed. She turned away and began to slide off of Vic’s lap to stand.

“It doesn’t matter. I had to leave. They were coming for me next.”

“What do you mean?” Tommy asked.

She turned to look at them.

“They wanted me to pay off Devlon’s debt.”

“How? By riding bulls?” Vic asked, feeling shocked.

She shook her head and whispered before she turned away. “By riding men.” She crossed her arms in front of her and stared out over the water.

“Jesus!” Tommy whispered as he stepped toward her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He laid his chin on her shoulder as Vic walked in front of her. He and Tommy locked gazes a moment. They were both concerned.

Vic placed his fingers under her chin so that Elise would look up into his eyes.

“How did you get out of there?” His heart pounded in his chest. If she were forced into sex to save her own life, it would kill him inside.

“I’d rather not say.”

Vic exhaled then placed his hands on his hips.

“Did you do what they said? Did you do that to survive?” He found himself asking but not wanting to know the answer. When she shook her head, he felt relief fill him. “No matter what happened, no matter what you needed to do to get out of there and survive, it’s okay with us. We won’t judge you, Elise. We love you and you’re our woman now,” Vic told her.

“I don’t know how much you’ll love me when I tell you what I did.”

“Why is that?” Tommy asked.

“You’re both lawmen and what I did was illegal and pretty bad.”

Vic swallowed hard.

“Did you kill someone?”

She smiled. “Hell no, but I wanted to. If I had more guts, I would have done just that.”

Vic raised his eyebrows at her.

She shyly lowered her head. “Sorry, that was the anger speaking. I actually stole a calf.”