Randa (8 page)

“Is it going to make it?” Randa asked.

“I don’t know,” John replied and as he looked at her, he saw a tear roll down her cheek for the furry black baby calf.

“I’m going to say a prayer for it.” Randa said and closed her eyes. John smiled and relaxed for a moment imagining the warmth of her sweet heart.

Trying to remain calm, but knowing that time was of the essence, John listened for the calf’s heartbeat. He could still hear it, though it was now faint, so he once again began to fill the calf’s lungs with air. Patiently waiting for a moment for the air to come back out, he began a steady rhythm of blowing and pausing. Randa was watching in anticipation and she caught herself holding her own breath. She was the first one to see the calf’s chest rise. John saw her expression change from sadness to triumph and he realized that the air wasn’t coming back out.

“It’s breathing, it’s breathing,” Randa cheered joyfully.

John continued giving the calf breaths until it began to breathe steadily on its own. They sat in silence listening to the calf breathe and marveling at the true miracle that life itself was. John reached over and placed his hand on top of Randa’s squeezing it.

“Oh I’m sorry, I forgot that I’m kind of dirty,” John said laughing as he realized that his hands had blood, mucous and various other animal fluids on them.

“That’s just not a problem,” Randa said laughing as she leaned over and gave him a kiss on his cheek feeling some thorny whiskers on her soft lips.

About that time, the newborn calf let out a loud bawl for its mama. John got up and backed away from the calf. Sensing that John wasn’t his mother, the calf tried to stand up. With its wobbly legs, it quickly hit the ground. The heifer now officially a cow since she had given birth, seemed rested from labor and began mothering her baby. The calf bellowed again as its mother licked its shiny coat.

“Before we go, I need to make sure that the calf sucks his Mama and gets his colostrum milk within 6 hours, because it has the essential antibodies that the calf needs,” John said. Finding a large, flat rock to sit and share, John and Randa collapsed with smiles on their faces.

“You were just amazing,” Randa said.

“Thank you so much, but I think it was my beautiful assistant that held the golden key. She just has this way about her,” John said smiling. “It’s hard to describe.” Randa blushed and laid her head on his shoulder for a moment. The calf reached up and nudged his mama’s udder and then he latched onto her teat with his mouth and began suckling hungrily. They watched for a while longer. Content in their silence with only the sound of the calf being nourished, they basked in the marvel of new life.

“I guess we better get going,” John remarked. He grabbed the saddlebag. They said good-bye to the mama and her brand new baby. John promised that he or Fox would be back to check on them in the morning. He held out his hand to Randa and she put hers in it. They took the path into the forest and back to their picnic spot.

“It was so impressive the way he gently pulled that calf out of its mother and didn’t hurt it one bit. And then it was a miracle before my very own eyes when he brought it back to life by resuscitating it.” Randa was beaming at John. Fox and Taylor were watching her zealously.

John grinned back at her. “It was just instinct and common sense. I basically treated it like I would have if it had been a human being instead of a cow.”

“It sounds like you two had a very productive day!” Fox observed.

“We did and we’re starving!” Randa exclaimed as the server handed out the menus. They were at the dining at Per Se in Tulsa that evening. Since Taylor’s career and popularity had exploded, the number of places that she could go publicly and maintain her anonymity had diminished greatly. Though she was always thankful for her fans and she would gladly sign autographs for anyone at any time, she also craved privacy and genuinely enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. The owner of the restaurant was happy to accommodate them with a table in a private dining room.

The friends enjoyed their melt in your mouth perfectly marbled Certified Angus Beef ribeyes. The evening was filled with laughter. Taylor told stories about her stardom and silly things that happened while touring. Fox told wild tall tales that John had already heard at least twice, but each time, they seemed to get funnier. As much as she was relishing the conversation, Randa was lost in her own thoughts. She focused on how good it felt to have John holding her hand and stroking it with his thumb. His touch sent vibes through her like she had never felt before. It not only thrilled her, but she was starting to think that John had what no one else had ever had before. Randa was not sure what it was, but she knew that being with John was everything that she could ask for.

Taylor excused herself to the powder room and asked Randa if she would come along.

“They are ladies, but they are still girls,” Fox commented and John agreed.

A few minutes later, Taylor and Randa returned. The look on Randa’s face was one of complete euphoria. Taylor began to speak, “I assume that both of you know who Boz Scaggs is, correct?

“Sure, the singer,” John spoke up.

Taylor nodded. “He is a friend of mine and he is having a private party next weekend. I would like to invite you guys to come as my guests.

“Wow!” Fox exclaimed. “I would love to come.”

John looked over at Randa who was smiling happily at him. “Are you going Baby Doll?” he asked her.

Fox and Taylor looked at each other in surprise at what John called Randa, but it did not slow her down one bit.

“Of course! It will be a dream come true for me to meet Boz Scaggs. I have admired not only his exquisite voice, but also some of the songs that he has written are my favorite lyrics. John, I would be so happy if you would come and be my date.”

“Of course! I would love to Randa,” John said as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for inviting us Taylor.”

“Absolutely! We will have a great time. Boz is one of the most humble and genuine people that you will ever meet. Randa is already going to be in Nashville working this week, so if it’s fine I will have my private plane pick you guys up on Friday afternoon. The party isn’t until Saturday evening, but I thought that we might make a weekend out of it. Randa and I can show you some of the sights in Nashville, since neither of you have ever been there.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Thank you Taylor!” Fox said.

Randa leaned over and gave John a hug and he pulled her in tighter to him, not letting her go. It was such a sweet gesture. She loved this charming, masculine man and she was receptive enough to discern his sterling worth. Randa could usually spot a louse from a great distance because they always had that used car salesmen persona.

John eventually let Randa go. He paid the bill and they climbed into his Ford dually for the trip back to the ranch. Randa and Taylor would be leaving the next day. Fox and Taylor excused themselves after they reached the house. It was late, but Randa didn’t want the evening to end. John grabbed a bottle of beer for himself and offered to make her a drink.

“I’ll take a Budweiser too,” Randa told him.

John eyed her, “Initially, I was surprised, but I’m really not. You didn’t utter one single word of displeasure or impatience today while we were helping the mama have her calf. You didn’t seem to care that you got dirty or that your hair got messed up. I adore that.”

“Thank you John! I’ll take that as a genuine compliment. I usually consider myself a ‘Cosmo Country Girl’ with Cosmo being as in
Cosmopolitan
, the magazine, because even though I feel upscale and sophisticated, especially when I am working in Nashville and meeting important people, I’m still an Okie who is entirely country at heart.”

Opening Randa’s beer for her, John handed it to her and led the way out to the patio. John turned on the radio and turned the station. Stars Go Dim came on the radio.

“Would you like to dance?”

Accepting, Randa said, “Gosh, I’m surprised at your choice of music tonight.”

They listened to the sweet lyrics of “Crazy’ about how they never felt so alive.

“Even though Southern Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd are my favorites, I truly enjoy all kinds of music. I have my Mom to thank for that. She was a big influence on me. We listened to almost everything when I was growing up.” Randa laid her head on his shoulder and her lips slightly grazed his neck. She closed her eyes and enjoyed their swaying to the rhythm and the thunderous sound of his heart beating in his warm chest.

As the song ended, John said, “Randa?”

“Yes.” She looked up at him eagerly. John leaned forward, took her exquisite face into his hands, and placed his lips upon hers, first just feeling their tenderness, and then tasting them as she began to kiss him back. She leaned into him and reached her hands forward grasping his strong thick shoulders. Suddenly Randa was spun into the depths of desire. A thirst from deep inside her cried out and demanded to be quenched. She began kissing him passionately which ignited John’s longing for her. He kissed her hungrily one kiss right after another. She was thoroughly enjoying being ravished by this man, who not only titillated her body, but also captivated her heart. John paused. Randa looked at him. He placed his hand on the back of her head, pulled her into him, and gave her a loving hug, holding her tight. He was reveling in the feel of her body against him. He wanted to memorize how she felt, so that he would always remember.

Randa drank in his aura and caught her breath. He began planting baby kisses all over her face, on her nose, on her cheeks, across her forehead, and up and down her ears and neck. To Randa, it felt like they were seeds full of love and John was sowing each one with the hopes that they would grow and blossom for eternity.

Grabbing her by the hand, John guided Randa to her bedroom door. Opening it, he turned to her. Taking her face gently into his hands, he leaned over to kiss her soft lips just once. “Randa?”

“Yes?” she said looking up at him and into his blue eyes.

“I love how your face lights up when I say your name.”

Randa could only smile back at him.

“Good night Baby Doll. Sweet Dreams.”

“Super sweet dreams John. Thank you for dinner. Sleep well,” Randa said as she went into the bedroom and then shut the door behind her.

Waking up early the next morning, John jumped out of bed. Randa would be leaving today and he wanted to spend some more time with her before she did. What a whirlwind weekend it was! He met the most beautiful women that he had ever seen. She was so vivacious and he loved her glow. She was as sweet as his Mother’s richest Christmas fudge. Her playfulness and sense of adventure appealed to him greatly. There was something about her that made him feel alive. He could scarcely remember any woman ever making him feel so good. She was affectionate and loving. There wasn’t one cold, reserved, haughty bone in her sensuous body. Had it not even been 48 hours yet since they met? It was almost as if time before her didn’t exist. How lucky could one man get? John asked himself. For a moment, it felt as if he were falling in love.

He recalled the events of the previous evening as the hot water in the shower ran over his fit body. He felt as if they were melting into one when they kissed. Her lips were so soft and her mouth was so luscious. He could tell by the way she kissed him back that she desired him as much as he desired her. Things could have gotten carried away, but he could care less about casual sex. John was one of those people who equated sex with love. Either he wanted everything or he wanted nothing when it came to relationships with women. He carried himself with integrity and honesty and that was one of the reasons that he was so well respected by friends, employees, and business associates. So, seducing Randa was never an option for him. If their meeting eventually led to a monogamous relationship, he would passionately make love with her then.

John stepped out of the shower and dried off, wrapping a towel around his trim waist. He made his way to the kitchen to get a glass of orange juice, believing that the only person who might be awake and in the house would possibly be Fox. As John was making his way down the hall, the door to the bedroom that Randa was staying in opened and she stepped out into the hall wearing her robe. John froze hoping that she wouldn’t turn his way and see him. She walked toward the bathroom, but she stopped short of the doorway and slowly turned around.

“Oh my goodness, you scared me John!” Randa gasped. “My heart almost jumped out of my chest! It felt like someone was watching me, so I turned around.” She breathed a sigh of relief and then her eyes moved downward toward his bare chest. They roved over it, taking in the rugged yet smooth definition of it. John’s chest had very little hair on it and Randa fancied that. She was so taken in that she wanted to walk over to him and touch his pecs, but she resisted. Their eyes met and her face reddened considerably when she realized how her face must have had a look of pure want on it. She smiled weakly and darted into the bathroom.

John laughed aloud. He wasn’t laughing at her. He was laughing because he was happy. He hadn’t felt so carefree and that things were totally right with the world in a very long time. Plus it sure made him feel good that Randa liked his chest. It was not what one would consider sculpted, especially since he didn’t work out, but between all of the physical labor he did and a naturally accelerated metabolism he was blessed with, he did have to admit that he looked great.

After eating a scrumptious breakfast prepared by Fox, John loaded the girls’ bags into Taylor’s car for them. Taylor went to the barn to say goodbye to Fox. John turned toward Randa, took her hand in his, and just stood looking into her beautiful eyes. Finally, Randa interrupted the silence by profusely thanking John for letting her stay the weekend on the ranch and all of the things that she got to do.

“I didn’t realize just how tangled up in work I was. I needed something to cleanse my spirit and my soul and this weekend has certainly done the trick.”