Saturday . . . Ray couldn’t avoid Ava forever – and he was starting to feel like a coward for doing so. He put on his big boy pants and went downstairs for breakfast. In his case, his big boy pants were a pair of dark denims. At the very least, he was looking forward to Ava’s cooking. What he had eaten during the past few weeks had been great – better than great. She could really burn in the kitchen. He began smelling food once he entered the living room. Smells like either bacon or sausage. Nice start to the day. Ray wasn’t sure what had happened last night at Dax’s game. He was in bed by the time they got home. He remembered the last time he had checked it was twelve-thirty. So they had to get home sometime after that. Ray hoped it was a good sign that they had won.He waltzed into the kitchen. “Good – what the hell happened to you?” he asked with shock as he looked at his eldest son.Dax had a shiner so bad his eye was cl
Ava and Hawk Calhoun had strode into the Town Club in Three Forks, a town thirty-three minutes from Townsend, arm in arm. A few guys greeted Hawk as soon as they had walked in. Hawk had introduced her to them and then they had grabbed a table for two in a nice cozy corner. They ordered beer, wings, and potato wedges. Hawk’s brother, Colt, had picked Ava up at the ranch. He had driven their brand new black Wagoneer 4x4. Hawk had said they had bought it for the ranch but had found it practical for long trips. Colt had driven it tonight to fetch Ava because it was the one SUV the brothers knew that the Steeles weren’t familiar with - yet. Colt had driven Ava to The Cowboy Saloon parking lot where Hawk was waiting for her in his white Chevrolet Silverado. From there they rode to Three Forks. Colt had said he would meet them in an hour or so to play pool. “There’s something I’ve been dying to ask you since I meet you in the parking lot to come here,” Ava
It was only nine o’clock when they left the Town Club. Belle had suggested going to The Cowboy Saloon in Townsend to dance. “I’m game if a fight isn’t going on when we get there,” Colt said. “What do you say, Ava? If you’re tired, we can get you home instead of –” Hawk began. “No way,” Ava interrupted. “I haven’t had this much fun since . . . the accident. Let’s go.” Hawk grinned. “Great. Maybe we can finally have that dance.” Ava smiled. “I’m up for the challenge, Mr. Calhoun.” Thirty minutes later they waltzed into the saloon. It seemed like everything was fine and everyone was having a good time. It was really crowded – a lot more than last time. They grabbed a booth and ordered beers. They talked for twenty minutes until a line dance song began to play. The Cowboy Hustle. Ava was happy to learn a new line dance. She was beginning to like country music – or she was getting used to it. A
Jesse Steele laid flat on his back in bed as Connie rode astride his crotch. She was a little hefty – a good size sixteen, but as long as the tits were big he didn’t mind a woman having a little extra weight. And Connie’s tits fit his criteria. At an earthquaking size DD, Connie’s breasts swayed and bounced as she did. Her nipples were the color and size of nickels. The other thing that made the sex out of this world with her was that her pussy was tight and juicy wet. “That’s it. Keep going, honey,” Jesse groaned as the bed squeaked. He had been meaning to get a new box spring but he had been busy. Truth was he was putting it off because he had come to like the squeaking when he was fucking. It was like a gauge telling him how fast he was going. Some of his girls liked it, too. Two of them had said it was like having soothing music in the background during the act. What wasn’t like music was his cell ringing. “Damn it,” he said through
“Put that thing away before someone gets hurt,” Ava ordered harshly. She couldn’t believe Ray pulled a gun on them – or rather Hawk. She knew that’s who he was aiming at. “What the hell are you doing on my property at this time of night, Calhoun?” Ray asked, while aiming the shot gun at him. “Ugh, hell,” Colt groaned as he and Belle came out of the darkness. “Just escorting a lady to her door, Steele. No harm done,” Hawk answered coolly. For a man who had a gun pointing at him, he was cool as a cucumber in the refrigerator. “Well, she’s at her door. Time to go,” Ray said nastily. His jaw was hard as stone. “Hawk, his property, his rules,” Colt said cautiously. “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Hawk slurred as he put his huge hat on. He turned to Ava. “Goodnight, Miss Ava. It’s been a real pleasure. Hopefully, we can go out again soon.” “I hope so,” she whispered. This was so embarrassing. As
The next morning . . . Ray could and couldn’t believe he lost control last night – again. He couldn’t help it. Ava had looked so damn tantalizing in a mini skirt and a tight as hell white T-shirt. Then again, she looked tantalizing in almost everything she wore – even sweatpants. As Ray showered, he remembered the sweet smell of Ava’s sex. It made him so hard that he had to lube up with soap to get a quick release. It was hell working a ranch and attending to other responsibilities with blue balls. With his mind clear and his body clean, he exited the shower, dried off, and got dressed – a long-sleeved, dark blue shirt with thin white stripes and blue jeans. When Ray got to the living room, he smiled. He could always smell what Ava was cooking by the time he got to the living room. He kept walking until he got to the kitchen. Jesse was gracing their table this morning. Tom was chattering away about a new boy scout badge he wa
Ava had an idea as soon as Ray told her he wouldn’t be back for lunch. She could take him and the boys lunch out on the land. She had seen that on the Food Network. A woman named Ree Drummond and her family had a ranch – and a cooking show. Ava had watched it a few times to get cooking ideas and tips. Ree had taken lunch out on the land to her family and ranch hands on the show. There were times Ree had surprised them with lunch. Ava could do that, too. Ava waited until Ray left – with Tom surprisingly. Ava learned from Dax that Ray had asked both boys if they had wanted to go with him today. “How come you didn’t want to go with your father?” Ava asked as she stood in the door way of Dax’s bedroom. Dax was laying on his back on the full size bed. He had an IPad in his hand and off to the side as he looked at her. “I didn’t want to spend my entire Sunday around cattle. If it was only for a few hours I might have gone.” “Mmm
Ray waited for Jesse to dismount his horse. Tom had gone off with the hands to help them with some work. He was trying to earn some sort of badge for Boy Scouts, and every once in a while he liked coming out on the land. He was old enough to help out now. “Came out to make sure I didn’t screw anything up,” Jesse said. “No.” Jesse have him a pointed look. “I trust you, Jesse, but I just had to take a look at her myself.” “Uh huh.” “But since we are talking about her. What do you think?” “I think if we don’t want to lose the calf or her and we should call a vet out here to look at her,” Jesse answered seriously as they began to walk away from the noise of the mooing cattle. “I think the same,” Ray agreed. “I can call him after lunch. Hopefully, he can get here before night fall. If not, hopefully, first thing in the morning. Either way, we shouldn’t leave her out here whether the
Ray wasn’t sure what Coach Willis had said to the boys during half-time but it worked. The game was now 35 to 14. The Bulldogs – Dax had scored a touchdown right out the gate of the third quarter. All the boys huddled down on the field. They all watched intently as they all collided. The Falcons’ hefty looking quarterback whirled around the chaos, carrying the ball. Two line backers tried to stop him but he whirled around them with ease. “Uh, oh, here comes, Calhoun!’ the announcer yelled over the loudspeaker above. “Can he stop him?” Hank was the last line of defense to block the end zone. Hank was running hard, directly at the quarterback. He’s going to dodge, boy, stay light on your feet. Before Ray knew it, Hank jumped. If he didn’t know any better, he would say the boy was flying. Hank tackled the quarterback so hard to the ground it was a wonder there wasn’t a dent there. The Bulldog fans cheered
Ray didn’t leave the study until he knew the house was empty. He knew when Tom, Ava, and Jesse left because Ava had knocked on the study door and shouted at it that they were leaving. Ray had suspected she waited there for a minute to see if he was going to come out or say anything. He hadn’t. Ray carried the wedding album into the living room. He sat down on the stool in front of the fire place. There was a small fire still burning in it. Ray opened the album and looked through it for the tenth time. He had looked through it on and off all day. His heart clenched as he looked at a few of the pictures. Ray stared at the picture of his father with Jesse. They had all worn bolo ties that day. Ray pulled the picture out and set it to the side. All the pictures that had him, Jesse, and their father in it he had pulled out of the album and set aside. Then he pulled out a single photo of Lillian. She smiled that million dollar smile of hers. Her blonde ha
A week later . . . Late afternoon, before the big game at Broadwater High School. Ava knocked on Ray’s study door. He had been in there all morning and this afternoon. He hadn’t even joined them for breakfast. Ava assumed he had gotten up before anyone else and fixed himself something to eat. “Yeah,” Ray answered. Ava opened the door. “Hey.” “Hey.” Ray was sitting in his office chair at his desk. He was wearing a wool turtleneck, charcoal sweater and denim pants. “Ray, I’m not going to mince words. Are you coming with us to the game tonight?” “I . . . don’t know.” “Ray, I think Dax is hoping you be there tonight.” “Did he say that?” “Not directly but he did hinted that . . . he needed the support of his family tonight.” Ray blew out as he glanced down. “Ray, I understand your pain and I definitely understand how memories can rush back in your
Uncle Jesse pulled up a few feet away from Lana’s door. He had dropped Rhonda off ten minutes ago. She seemed to have had a good time. Before Dax and Lana could get out of the Cherokee, the front porch light came on along with the lights that lined the walkway. The front door swung open. Mr. Anderson stepped out on the porch – with a gun holstered on his hip. “Oh, good grief,” Lana moaned as she placed her hand over her face. “Do you think it’s loaded?” Dax heard his voice crack. “Don’t worry, nephew. I got your back,” Uncle Jesse said as he leaned over and opened the glove compartment. He pulled out a hand gun. “Ever since that away game you had with the Columbus Cougars, I’ve started keeping this close.” “Oh my god,” Lana said nervously. “Please don’t shoot my dad. He just . . . overreacts sometimes.” “Honey, I won’t shoot him as long as he doesn’t shoot at us,” Uncle Jesse said. “Come on, let’s go.”
Ava had snacks ready for Dax and Lana when Jesse had brought them to the ranch – with a date of his own surprisingly. Ava had served homemade Chex mix, homemade pizza bites, and cookies she had baked that morning. The teens – and Jesse and his date, Rhonda, gobbled it up like they hadn’t eaten in days. Now, they were ready to ride. Ava and Ray were going to accompany Dax and Lana on their little ride. Thankfully, Ray had gotten back from Radersburg in time to go with them. Jesse and Rhonda decided to tag along. Lana had a black vest in her bag. She put it on under her coat before they walked out the door.They all rode in Jesse’s Cherokee to the stables. Ray was already there and he had already saddled the horses. Ava was on Whisper like she was last time. She and the horse had developed a relationship. During the times she rode with Dax in the old Ford, practicing for his driver’s test in a couple of weeks, they had stopped by the stables. While there Ava had
The next day . . . The day after Thanksgiving, Dax’s first date. He had never been that interested in girls –until Lana Anderson came along. It was ten o’clock when Ray went to Dax’s room to check on him. Dax was playing it cool but the pile of clothes on his bed said he was everything but cool. “What’s with the clothes? Surely, they’re not all dirty,” Ray said. “Um, no. I was just . . . going through things. You know. What I still where and what I don’t where anymore,” Dax said. Ray couldn’t help but snort with amusement. “Couldn’t figure out what to where, huh?” “Nah,” Dax said taken aback. “That’s something girls go through. Not guys.” Ray chuckled. “When a guy goes out on his first date with a girl he is crazy about, we do.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Can’t get anything by you these days,” Dax mumbled as he turned to look in the mirror that was attached to the short dresser.
In New York . . . Just like every year, Lester Bartholomew sat at the head of the dining table and whatever woman he was married to at the time sat at the other head. And as usual all twelve of his children were at the Thanksgiving table – minus one. Lester had fired the five private detectives he had hired to find Ava. Not one of them had a clue after five months of searching – or not searching. Lester believed at least three of the PIs were just cashing the checks and spending his money on other things. He had called Sheriff Wilson last week to see if he had turned up anything. He hadn’t but he had a suggestion. “Sir, why don’t you hire a PI that’s actually from and still lives in Montana? A guy from this great state would know all the small towns, cities, and hidey holes a person could get lost in.” “I have to admit it’s worth a try. I have also been thinking about slapping an award on Ava to anyone who has information of
Ray nearly groaned out loud at the aroma that was tickling his nose as they walked down the hallway. “Damn, something smells good,” Gill commented. “I suspect it’s a lot of things smelling good right now,” Jesse said. They began walking through the living room. The sunset got Ray’s attention, making him glance out the huge frame window. And that’s when he saw it. “Son of a bitch,” Ray said as he strode to the front door. He opened it wide – damn the cold. “What is it?” Jesse asked as he rushed up behind him. “Whose truck is that?” Ray asked with disgust. It was taking up half the drive. It had Getter Done Trucking on the truck and the trailer. “You didn’t hear it pull up?” Dax asked. “No,” Ray said, taken aback. “Did you?” “Yeah, while we were watching the game,” Dax answered. “I guess you were too busy cussing that bad referee out.” “I guess we all were
It was Thanksgiving Day and Ava was working her ass off in the kitchen. Despite making the mashed potatoes, gravy, two pumpkin pies, an apple pie, and cranberry sauce the day before, she was still running around like a chicken with its head cut off. The turkey was still in the oven and she still had to bake the sweet potato casserole and the rolls. Per cooking tips from Mrs. Porter, Ava was cooking green beans in a crockpot and macaroni and cheese cooking in another crockpot. Luckily, there were already various crockpots in the kitchen. Two were smaller sizes. Ava had stuffing in the turkey but from what she gathered from the Steele men, they don’t like their stuffing baked in the turkey. So, Ava had a separate dish filled with homemade stuffing. She trotted over to the oven to check on the twenty-two pound turkey for the third time in two hours. The popper was finally out on it. She turned the oven off and closed the door. Instead of running to the den to get