Alliances

Part 13

The flavorful aroma of several thick, juicy, hand-rubbed Porterhouse steaks permeated the air in the kitchen at Southfork. Sue Ellen, Miss Ellie and Teresa were preparing various dishes for the barbeque they planned to have for supper for John Ross and his friend, Ashley Devereaux.

Sue Ellen didn't dare refer to Ashley as John Ross' girlfriend. Ashley would have to be referred to as John Ross' friendfor the time being.

J.R. and Clayton were outside, on the veranda manning the barbeque grills. Clayton was in charge of the steaks, and J.R. was attending to the chicken and grilled vegetable shish kabobs, just in case Ashley didn't care for red meat. J.R. pondered about John Ross' taste in members of the opposite sex. What the hell kind of Texan didn't care for red meat, he wondered?

J.R. turned down the temperature on the barbeque grill, to allow for the shish kabobs to marinate in their own juices. Nothing smelled or tasted worse to J.R., than burnt, or overcooked chicken. J.R. wiped his hands on the apron tied around his waist, and walked inside the house to refill his glass of iced tea.

Sue Ellen was standing in front of the food preparation island, next to a large salad bowl, chopping lettuce. J.R. walked behind her, and grabbed her butt.

Sue Ellen gasped, and said, "J.R., honestly. You never stop, do you?"

J.R. opened the fridge door, and said, "Not where you're concerned, Honey. Now, what did I come in here for? Oh, yeah, would you care for a glass of iced tea, Sue Ellen."

Sue Ellen smiled at J.R. and said, "Ooh, yes, please. Thank you for askin', Darlin'."

J.R. placed a glass of iced tea on the counter, next to Sue Ellen.

Sue Ellen stopped J.R., as he walked past her, and asked, "What, no kiss?"

J.R. grinned at Sue Ellen, and enthusiastically pulled her into his arms, and kissed her, as he dipped her backwards.

Miss Ellie and Teresa were highly amused by J.R.'s antics. Sue Ellen was more than a little embarrassed.

J.R. released Sue Ellen, and smirked at her, obviously proud of his self, as he turned to walk outside.

Sue Ellen shook her head, in mock disgust, and said, "Miss Ellie, you have got to do somethin' about that son of yours. He is incorrigible."

Miss Ellie chirped, "Yes, he is, isn't he?"

John Ross pulled his car into the driveway at Southfork, parking behind the other parked vehicles. Ashley moved toward the door, and placed her hand on the handle.

John Ross said, "No, Ash, let me get your door for you, please?"

Ashley smiled at John Ross. He dimpled cheeks were red from their day at the water park. Ashley Devereaux was a petite blond, with long straight hair, and dark, tanned skin. She wore braces, but John Ross didn't seem to care. Ashley was John Ross' first serious girlfriend, and he was as happy as could be.

John Ross opened the passenger door for Ashley, and reached for her hand to help her out of the car. J.R. and Sue Ellen had instilled all of the socially acceptable graces in their son, and wouldn't accept or expect anything less. Sue Ellen walked out of the house to greet John Ross, and his friend.

John Ross stood tall and proud, as he introduced Ashley to his Mamma and Daddy. Ashley timidly smiled and greeted J.R. and Sue Ellen.

Sue Ellen shook Ashley's hand, and said, "Welcome to Southfork, Ashley. It's so nice to meet you. Has John Ross been the perfect gentleman around you?"

John Ross rolled his eyes, and said, "Mom…geez. Not now, please?"

J.R. said, "Now John Ross, your Mamma was just bein' sociable. How are you doin', Miss Devereaux?"

Ashley relaxed her rigid posture as she shook J.R.'s outstretched hand, and said, "I'm doin' very well, thank you, Mr. Ewin'."

J.R. grinned at Ashley's thick Texas accent. The sound of the vivacious young lady's voice reminded J.R. of the sound of Sue Ellen's voice when they first met. Memories of those times were precious to J.R.

John Ross held Ashley's hand, as he introduced her to the rest of the family.

J.R. hugged Sue Ellen to his side, and said, "Damn, he's turnin' into a strappin' young man, Sugar."

Sue Ellen said, "Of course he is, just take a look at his Daddy."

J.R. winked at Sue Ellen, and kissed her cheek. J.R. inhaled, as the late afternoon breeze caused the scent of Sue Ellen's perfume to pervade J.R.'s senses. Sue Ellen wore Eau de Sud by Annick Goutal. The symphony of mandarin, lemon and grapefruit, with a hint of bergamot and mint was faultless for casual wear, and highly stimulating to J.R.

J.R.'s breath caught in his throat, as Sue Ellen stared onto his eyes. Her eyes were dark, and filled with desire. J.R. knew instantaneously that they would resume their earlier bedroom escapades. Sue Ellen lightly brushed her lips over J.R.'s mouth, as she touched his chin with her fingers.

Sue Ellen walked back inside the house to finish preparing the salad. J.R.'s eyes followed her as she went inside the house. He leered at her as her hips swayed with each cat-like step she took. God, how he wanted her, he thought. She had matured into such a confident and seductive woman, and she belonged exclusively to J.R.

"You are one lucky son-of-a-bitch, J.R.," he said aloud, then looked around to make sure that no one had heard his expletive.

Miss Ellie and Teresa started to bring food outside to the tables that had been set-up on the veranda. The tables sat underneath the balcony next to the swimming pool. Clayton grabbed at an olive on the vegetable tray that Miss Ellie carried in her hands.

Miss Ellie said, "Clayton Farlow, shame on you. You can't have any more until we're ready to eat."

Clayton whined, "But, Ellie, I'm starvin'. The smell of this food on the grill is killin' me."

Miss Ellie countered, "Serves you right, you're the one who didn't want to help out in the kitchen."

John Ross showed Ashley the layout of the ranch. Ashley's eyes widened as they walked into the horse stables. John Ross introduced Ashley to his horse, Dagger's Point. The horse was a 15 hands tall Palomino, the color of a 14-karat gold coin. Dagger's Point was a Golden American Saddle bred horse.

Ashley lifted her hand to the horse's nose, and said, "God, He's beautiful, John Ross. How often do you get to ride him?"

John Ross said, "Whenever I want to ride him. Are you restricted to how often you can ride your horses?"

Ashley said, "No, but the reason I have to wear these horrible braces is because I fell off of my horse last summer."

John Ross asked, "What's your horse's name?"

Ashley replied, "Her name is Amarillo Rose, but I just call her Rose. She's a Quarter Horse, and I show her in dressage tournaments, Well, I used to. I will again, once these stupid braces come off."

John Ross touched Ashley's hand as she patted Dagger's Point's nose. Ashley leaned forward to give John Ross a kiss, just as Christopher entered the stables.

Christopher raced into the stables, and said, "John Ross, Aunt Sue Ellen sent me to come and find you guys. Supper is almost ready, and everyone is waitin' for you."

John Ross glared at Christopher, and said, "Alright, tell my Mom that we'll be there in a minute."

Christopher said, "No, now, John Ross! I'm supposed to bring you guys back with me."

Ashley sighed, and said, "Come on John Ross, maybe we can come back out here after supper?"

John Ross' first kiss from Ashley Devereaux would have to wait until later, he knew that supper wouldn't wait, and it was rude to not be on time when a meal was served.

Everyone enjoyed his or her evening meal at Southfork. The meal consisted of a plethora of delicious food, and lighthearted, engaging conversation. Ashley opened up, and talked with Sue Ellen about her plans for her future after she graduates from High School. Ashley wanted to become a Veterinarian, working exclusively for thoroughbred racing horses, and their owners. Sue Ellen was impressed by Ashley's ambitious career plans.

J.R. watched, while Sue Ellen and Ashley got better acquainted. J.R. had to admit, in spite of the braces the young lady had to wear, Ashley Devereaux was an adorable young woman. He had to give John Ross credit for his taste in women.

Sue Ellen turned her head in time to catch J.R. staring at her. His eyes were dark, and she felt as if J.R. was undressing her as she arose from the chair she was sitting in. She lithely walked over to where J.R. stood waiting for another rack of chicken and grilled vegetable shish kabobs to finish grilling, before he and Sue Ellen would sit down to supper.

J.R. opened the cover on the barbeque grill, and pulled a chunk of chicken off of one of the skewers. He placed the sizzling meat on a plate on the side of the grill, and sliced it in half with a steak knife. The tender chicken sliced very easily, and was white in appearance. J.R. picked up a chunk of the sliced chicken with a fork, and held it out for Sue Ellen to taste it.

Sue Ellen gladly accepted the chunk of meat, blowing on it to cool it off, before placing it in her mouth. J.R.'s eyes widened at the seductive way Sue Ellen pursed her lips before blowing on the meat. Sue Ellen looked up at J.R. through lowered eyelashes, and flashed him a wicked grin.

"You are nothin' but a damn tease, Sugar" J.R. whispered.

Sue Ellen placed her hand over the top button of her blouse, and said in her sweetest Texas drawl, "Me…a tease? You can't be serious, J.R. Shucks, Darlin', I've never teased you in my life."

J.R. grunted, and said, " Hah…Come on, Miss Texas. We both know you better than that, Sugar."

Sue Ellen put her arm on J.R.'s shoulder, and pulled his head close to hers, whispering in his ear, "I deliver, Darlin'. You better than anyone know that, J.R."

J.R. gently bit at the side of Sue Ellen's neck with his teeth. Sue Ellen laughed, and pulled her head away from him. She didn't want Ashley Devereaux to think poorly of John Ross' parents, nor did she want to give the impressionable young lady anything that might incur community gossip if Ashley were to tell her mother what she had seen.

Ashley offered to help Sue Ellen and Miss Ellie clean up the supper dishes.

Sue Ellen replied, "You will do no such thing, Ashley. You and John Ross are welcome to go back to the stables, if you'd like. We'll have this mess cleaned up in no time."

Sue Ellen winked at Ashley. Ashley gave Sue Ellen a surprised look, then smiled, suddenly comprehending the meaning behind Sue Ellen's wink.

Ashley smiled, and said, "Thank y'all for a delicious meal, Mr. And Mrs. Ewin'. It's been real nice makin' your acquaintance."

John Ross smiled at his parents, and hugged them, thanking them for allowing Ashley to spend the evening at Southfork. Sue Ellen and J.R. held each other, as they watched John Ross and Ashley walking toward the horse stables.

J.R. silently wondered what it was about the area in, and around the horse stables at Southfork that made women so drawn to them.

Sue Ellen gauged J.R.'s facial expressions, and said, "I'll bet you were wonderin' what the attraction to the area around the horse stables is, weren't you, J.R.?"

J.R. gave Sue Ellen a puzzled look, and asked, "How on earth did you know that, Sugar?"

Sue Ellen smiled, and said, "Because, that's the same look you had on your face the first time we went for a walk around the ranch after I came back here from England, and we wound up standin' by that tree next to the stables."

J.R.'s eyes brightened, as he recalled the events of that incredible afternoon. He remembered every detail, including the scent of Sue Ellen's perfume. She wore Accenti by Gucci. J.R. recalled the fruity and floral notes of the fragrance, as the afternoon breeze filled his senses with the perfume's enthralling aroma.

That was months ago, but it seemed as if it were only yesterday, J.R. mused. J.R. intricately recalled the details of one of the most sensual and passionate kisses he and Sue Ellen had shared, as they stood arm in arm in front of the tree next to Miss Ellie's brother, Garrison Southworth's grave.

J.R. made a mental note to himself to invite Sue Ellen to join him for a walk by the horse stables, after John Ross left to drive Ashley Devereaux back to her home in North Richland Hills. The time it took John Ross to drive to and from the Devereaux' would give J.R. plenty of time to stage a seductive scenario for Sue Ellen, and impress upon her how much of a romantic J.R. actually was.

Ashley and John Ross walked back to the house from the horse stables holding hands. Ashley nervously tugged at John Ross' hand, trying to get him to let go, as they drew closer to the house. John Ross didn't budge, the more Ashley struggled to release her hand from John Ross' grasp, the tighter John Ross held on to her hand.

Like Father like son, John Ross mused. If mild resistance to a woman's struggle got his Daddy what he wanted, there was no reason why it wouldn't work for John Ross. Ashley felt John Ross tighten his grip on her hand, and reluctantly gave in. Sue Ellen smiled as she glimpsed the tightly joined hands of her son, and his adorable female friend.

John Ross said, "I'm going to drive Ashley home, now, Mamma. I'll be back as soon as I can get here, okay?"

Sue Ellen thanked Ashley for her delightful company, and for joining their family for supper.

Ashley grinned, and said, "Thank you again, for everything Mrs. Ewin'. You have a beautiful home, and I love your horses."

Sue Ellen told John Ross to be careful, and instructed both him, and Ashley to wear their seatbelts. John Ross promised to be careful, and assured his Mamma that they would both wear seatbelts.

J.R. stood behind Sue Ellen, as she watched John Ross turned his car around in the driveway to take Ashley home.

Sue Ellen sighed a wistful sigh, and said, "God, J.R. our baby isn't a baby, anymore."

J.R. kissed Sue Ellen's cheek, and held her tightly around her waist, as he said, "Well, we could always go try and make another baby, Honey."

Sue Ellen turned her head, and said, "You can't be serious, J.R. At our age?"

J.R. said, "Speak for yourself, Honey. I've still got plenty of life left in these bones."

Sue Ellen playfully slugged J.R.'s shoulder, and said, "Now I know where John Ross gets his smug attitude from."

J.R. said, "You know I'm jokin', Sugar. You look incredible, regardless of your age."

Sue Ellen said, "You are just diggin' yourself a deeper whole with each word you say, J.R."

J.R. sobered, and said, "Your beauty would make the gods envious, Sue Ellen."

Sue Ellen kissed J.R., and said, "Mmm, that's better, that's what I wanted to hear."

J.R. reached for Sue Ellen's hand, and said, "Let's go for a walk, Sugar. I know a tree that's feelin' mighty lonely."

Sue Ellen grabbed J.R.'s hand, as they headed toward the stables. J.R. wanted a repeat performance of the kiss that started their renewed love affair…