April 25th, 2009 – Hope Meadows Ranch
Sunbeams reached into the house like giant fingers and worked their way along the living room floor. Reaching his face, Jack woke up and rolled over, falling off the couch. He sat up, dazed, and looked around; trying to get his bearings. He wiped the sleep from his eyes and winced from the throbbing headache that had invaded him.
Once he realized he was in his own living room, he grabbed the edge of the coffee table and pulled himself up. Fully upright, his head began to pound even harder. Holding his temple in his hand, he dug through a kitchen cabinet for the bottle of pain reliever. He tossed four caplets into his mouth, leaned into the sink with his face under the faucet, filled his mouth with water, and swallowed.
He walked to the front door and looked out the sidelight window and noticed his truck in the driveway. "How did I get home?" He asked himself out loud. Shaking his head, he slowly made his way up the staircase toward his room, pulling himself up each step with his hand on the log railing.
He walked through his room, still half asleep and rubbing his eyes, and into his bathroom. He turned the shower on and began to undress, dropping his clothes to the floor where he stood. His shoulder ached from sleeping on it wrong so he stretched out his arms and pulled his left arm to the side, stretching out the shoulder. He rolled his head to stretch out his aching neck as well.
Light filtered in through the tinted skylight and illuminated the room just enough, making no need to turn any lights on. He stepped into the shower, pressed his hands against the wall, leaning into them, and allowed the steaming water to fall across his shoulder and down his back.
He picked up a bar of soap, ran it between his hands to work up a lather, and washed his body. His shoulder was still aching and his head pounding, so he kept the shower short. He stepped out, grabbed the towel that was hanging on a hook, and haphazardly dried himself off. He tossed the towel onto his head and, rubbing his hands back and forth, dried his hair as he walked into the bedroom.
Elizabeth, who was lost in a deep sleep, enjoying a wonderful dream, was stirred to a half-conscious state by the sound of running water. She rolled over, stretched, then rubbed her eyes. She opened her eyes and looked around the dark room, trying to remember where she was. Just as the thoughts of last night returned to her, she heard the shower door close in the next room. She swung her legs off the bed, sat up, and stretched again. Just as she was about to stand up, a naked man, rubbing a towel over his hair, entered the room.
Elizabeth screamed and threw herself back onto the bed, grabbing the blanket and pulling it over her head.
Jack, caught off guard and startled by a woman screaming, dropped the towel and covered his penis with both his hands.
"Who's here?" He yelled, his eyes still adjusting to the darker room. "Hey. Who are you?"
Elizabeth sat up in the bed, covering her eyes, and answered, "It's me, Jack. Elizabeth."
"Oh," Jack let out a huge breath of relief. Forgetting he wasn't wearing anything, he dropped his hands and walked toward the bed. "Soooo...you and me? We?" He asked with a smirk.
Elizabeth threw her hands down and yelled, "No way! We did NOT!" Seeing his naked body, still covered with water droplets, standing only a few feet in front of her, Elizabeth covered her eyes again, "Jack, please. Put some clothes on."
Jack looked down, realizing he was still naked, turned right, then turned left, trying to figure out which direction to go, then jogged to his closet and grabbed the green and navy plaid robe that hung on the door. After he slipped it on and tied it, he walked back to Elizabeth and gently grabbed her wrists to pull her hands down.
Elizabeth separated two of her fingers just enough to peek through, to ensure that he was in fact, dressed. Seeing that he was, she lowered her hands and looked up to find Jack staring at her, smiling, his dimples showing, causing Elizabeth to drop her guard.
"So, Beth. Can I call you Beth?" He asked, still holding her wrists.
"Yes, you can," Elizabeth answered, her heart racing.
"Beth, what are you doing here?" Jack leaned back and looked at her clothes. "And why are you in my bed, wearing my clothes, if nothing happened?" He slid his hands from her wrist down into her hands and held them.
Elizabeth could feel an energy move from her toes up through her whole body, her heart felt as if it was going to pound out of her chest. She swallowed hard before answering. "You passed out at the club last night. I drove you home and got you into your house. I had no way of getting home, so I found something comfortable to sleep in and went to bed. I figured if I was stuck here against my will, that I was going to sleep in the best bed." She grinned at him.
"Oh, I see. Well, that explains the headache and the couch." He pulled her up to stand in front of him, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her in close. Elizabeth let out a little squeak of surprise when her body pressed into his. "So, how about we get back into this big bed and take it for a spin?"
Elizabeth forced her hands between their bodies and pushed Jack away. "I don't think so!"
"Oh, come on beautiful. We're here, I'm practically naked. Why not?" He stepped toward her, wrapping his arms around her again, and lowered his head to kiss her neck.
Elizabeth shoved him away again and stepped to the side to get away from the bed and Jack. "I said no, Jack. And I mean no!"
Jack threw his hands up, "Fine. Geez. I just thought you were looking for a good time and I was willing to give you one. But if you're not, then fine. Go." He moved his hands like he was brushing her away and walked to his dresser to pull out some clothes. He stopped and placed both hands on the top ledge of the dresser and stood there for a brief moment then pushed the top of the dresser, slamming it against the wall.
He spun around, "Beth, I'm so..." But she was gone. He ran out of the room and looked over the railing to see her running across the floor toward the front door. "Elizabeth, please, wait." He ran down the steps, taking two at a time, closing the gap between them.
Elizabeth was about to open the door when Jack grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. She threw up her arms in defense and Jack stepped back, holding his arms up in surrender, to show her that he had no intentions of harming her.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why I acted like that. Please, don't go. I'll take you home if that's what you want to do."
Elizabeth crossed her arms and stood, glaring at him.
"I don't blame you for being mad at me. I was acting like an ass and I'm sorry." He placed his hand over his heart. "Truly, I'm sorry." He took a step back to give her more space.
Elizabeth dropped her arms to her side and let out the breath she'd been holding.
Jack took a step toward Elizabeth and she stepped back. He stopped and rubbed his forehead with his hand. Looking back at Elizabeth, he apologized again, "I'm so sorry, Beth. It will never happen again."
Elizabeth didn't respond or move so Jack turned and walked to the kitchen. Elizabeth, deciding he was no threat to her, followed him.
Jack pulled the coffee pot out and filled it with water. After loading it with a filter and coffee grounds, he flipped the switch. He stood at the sink with his hands on the counter, staring out the window.
Elizabeth walked up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Jack?"
Jack, not realizing she'd followed him, jumped and spun around.
"Sorry, Jack. I didn't mean to startle you."
Jack leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. "I hope that you can forgive me." His eyes had softened and his gaze fell to the floor.
"Jack, you're forgiven." She stepped forward and placed her hand on his arm. "Let's just forget it happened and start over."
Jack unfolded his arm and placed his hand over hers. "I would like that very much, Beth."
"What are you doing today?" She asked him as she stepped back and leaned against the island opposite him.
"Not sure. Work some horses. Run you home whenever you're ready. Are you wanting to go home now?"
"No, I'm okay."
Elizabeth's head was telling her to go home; this was not the type of man she needed to be associated with. He drinks too much, he's too forward, he's obviously slept around; the exact opposite of the man of her dreams. But her heart was telling her something different. Jack was sweet, respectful when he was sober, a gentleman...again, when he was sober. Like Jack said about Delilah, he has potential.
Jack poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Elizabeth. "Creamer? Sugar?"
"Sugar, please," Elizabeth answered.
Jack told Elizabeth about some of the horses that were on his ranch as they drank their coffee. As he talked, her mind would occasionally wander back to that morning of Jack standing naked in front of her. She'd pinch herself on the leg to force herself back to the present and begin listening to him again.
"Harley has been with me for six years. He's my partner around here and helps me on the ranch."
Elizabeth had missed the beginning of Jack's story, "I'm sorry. Harley?"
"Yes, remember Harley? He's the one Rosie was petting when we first met." Jack flashed his dimpled smile at her.
"Oh, yes. Harley. He's beautiful."
"I know what we can do. How would you like to go for a ride? I'll show you around the ranch."
"That would be great but I don't have anything to wear that I can ride in."
"My mom has some clothes that she left here. They'll be a little big on you, but you can wear them."
"Where is your mom?"
"Her house is on the other side of the ranch. We'll ride by there today."
They visited some more while they finished their coffee. Jack found his mom's clothes and set them in the first-floor bathroom for Elizabeth. She put the jeans on, having to roll up the cuffs, and a t-shirt with Yellowstone on the front. When she stepped out of the bathroom, Jack was dressed and waiting on the couch.
"Here, I brought this down in case you wanted to wear it. It's a little chilly out this morning." Jack handed her one of his plaid flannel shirts. She slid her arms into the sleeves and tied the bottom into a knot at her waist.
Jack had dressed in a navy blue, long-sleeve, button-up shirt; Wrangler was stitched on the sleeve. He picked up his white straw cowboy hat and set it on his head. "Ready?" He asked and put his hand out, waiting to see if she'd take it.
Elizabeth stepped forward and placed her hand in his. They walked to the barn together, hand in hand.
Jack got Annie, a ten-year-old mare that had been with him for most of her life, ready for Elizabeth to ride. He tacked up Harley for himself. After a quick lesson on what queues to use on the mare, Jack and Elizabeth rode out toward a large open pasture. After a few minutes, they entered the forest that separated his land from his mom's.
"It's so beautiful here Jack."
"Yes, I travel all over the country competing and can't think of anywhere else I'd rather live than here."
"Don't you ever get scared when you ride bulls?"
Jack turned his head toward Elizabeth, "Every time. The time you climb up on a two-thousand-pound beast that's trying to kill you, and you're not scared, is the day you need to hang up your hat and quit."
"Then why do you do it?"
Jack thought for a moment, trying to think of the best way to explain it. "I grew up with a father in the rodeo circuit that was adored by thousands. I would watch him with complete awe and amazement at how he had mastered his craft. He was a three-time world champion bull rider and rode bulls that no one else could ride. He was amazing." Jack turned his horse down a path that outlined another field. "I've been doing this since I was old enough to sit a calf. And in my early teens, I won the youth finals rodeo. The look in my dad's eyes when I showed him my trophy buckle, well, it was the same look that I've been giving him most of my life."
"He must be very proud of you," Elizabeth said when Jack paused his story.
Jack looked at her and she could see a change in his eyes. She thought he looked as if he was about to cry.
"He was," Jack finally said, returning his gaze to the tree line in front of them. "Turn into there," he pointed at a path that cut back into the trees.
Elizabeth turned her horse onto the path and looked back at Jack. She could see a look of anguish on his face and she didn't press him for more information; clearly, he was not ready to talk about his father anymore.
The path led them to a grassy lawn and when they came out from the shield of the trees, Elizabeth could see a beautiful little house with amazing landscaping. It was a log house with a green metal roof and had a front porch across most of the front. Large, green ferns hung above the porch railings, stone and flowers lined the walk leading to the steps and it had a beautifully manicured lawn all around the house.
"This is beautiful. Who lives here?"
"This is my mom's house," Jack answered.
"Oh," Elizabeth replied, nervously.
Jack looked at Elizabeth and smiled. "Don't worry, she's not home today."
As the pair neared the house, a woman stepped out onto the porch and waved at Jack.
"Good morning, Jack," she called out.
"Ma? What are you doing home? I thought you were going to Aunt Jane's this weekend."
"She's not feeling well so I'm going next weekend." She took a quick sip from her coffee cup and looked in Elizabeth's direction. "So, who would this be?"
"Oh, yes. Ma, this is Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is my mom, Charlotte." Jack looked from one woman to the other.
"Hello, Charlotte. Nice to meet you."
Charlotte stepped off the porch and approached them. "Nice to meet you too." She replied smiling. She walked up to Jack, still on his horse, and patted him on the leg. "What are you two doing out here today?"
"I just thought it was a nice day for a ride. Beth doesn't ride much so I thought I'd get her on a horse and show her what she's missing."
Charlotte looked over Harley's neck to Elizabeth. "And what do you think?" She asked smiling.
"I think that I've really been missing out," Elizabeth answered, returning a smile.
"Well, I'm sure glad you came out here. Would you two like to come in for some coffee?"
"Not today, Ma. We are going to head back. I have some work to do and she needs to get home."
Charlotte walked around Harley and approached Elizabeth. She laid her hand on top of Elizabeth's thigh, "Very nice to meet you, dear." And then in a lower voice, "You must be someone very special." She winked at Elizabeth, then turned back toward the house. "Don't be strangers you two," she called out before stepping back into the house.
Jack turned Harley back toward the trees and Annie automatically followed. The pair rode in silence for several minutes before Elizabeth finally asked, "What did she mean by that?"
Jack looked at Elizabeth, "By what?"
"She said that I must be someone very special. Why did she say that?"
"Oh, that. Well, I've never exactly brought a woman out here before." Jack flashed a nervous grin.
"What? All the women that I'm sure you've had over and you've never had any to your mom's?"
Jack looked at her with a hurt look on his face. "I have never had a woman in my house before, Beth. I know that I have not given you the best impression of myself, but I don't bring women home with me."
Elizabeth, confused, continued riding in silence.
Just as they reached Jack's barn and pulled the horses to a stop, Jack turned his horse toward Elizabeth and rode up to stand next to her.
"I am competing in Shelbyville next weekend and I'd really like it if you'd come watch."
Elizabeth, surprised by this, hesitated to answer.
"I've been out for six months and this will be my return ride. I would like to have a familiar face in the crowd." He smiled at her and his dimples caused Elizabeth's heart to skip.
"I'd love to, Jack."
Jack moved Harley sideways, getting him so close to Annie that Jack's leg pressed against Elizabeth's. He began to lean toward Elizabeth, then stopped. He looked into her beautiful blue eyes and asked, "May I?"
Elizabeth simply nodded.
Jack continued toward Elizabeth and softly kissed her on the lips. He pulled back and looked into her eyes, down to her lips, then back to her eyes. His right hand was on Elizabeth's saddle horn, supporting him. He lifted his left hand to Elizabeth's cheek and stroked it with his thumb before returning his lips to hers, kissing her a little harder and a little longer this time.
When Jack pulled back this time, Elizabeth noticed a strange look on his face; like a bit of confusion mixed with desire.
Jack straightened up and centered himself over his horse, "Let's get these two back to their stalls for their breakfast."
He dismounted then walked around to Elizabeth's left side and reached up, taking her by the waist, he helped her down and lowered her to the ground. He slowly stepped forward, pressing his body against hers and pressing her against Annie's side. Keeping his hands on her waist, he bent his head down and kissed her. Elizabeth raised her arms and laid them across his shoulders, her hands resting behind Jack's neck. Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tight against his muscular body, his kiss growing in desire with each second.
When Jack felt himself on the edge of losing control, he pulled back. He took a step back and slid his hand down into hers. They led their horses into the barn and Jack took them both, tied them up, and began to unsaddle them
Elizabeth stood back and watched. She could see the muscles of Jack's arms and back flex with each movement as he loosened the cinch of Annie's saddle and slid it off her back. He had already removed the horses' bridles and replaced them with halters and lead ropes. As he flipped the stirrup up and onto the seat of Harley's saddle, to access the cinch, Elizabeth walked over to Annie and began to pet her neck.
"There's a brush laying on that bale of hay if you'd like to brush her."
Elizabeth picked up the brush and began to run it across Annie's neck and shoulder. Suddenly, Elizabeth felt Jacks' chest against her back and his arm reached over hers, his hand cradled over hers.
"Run the brush this way." Jack began to guide her hand along the horse's neck and side.
Elizabeth could feel her heart begin to race over the closeness of Jack's body. She turned her head to the side and could see the front of Jack's shoulder just above her own. She moved her gaze upward, and as she did, Jack's lips came down to meet hers.
Jack reached around her, grabbed her left shoulder, and pulled her around to face him, never leaving her lips with his. He cupped the sides of her face in his hands and kissed her harder. Her lips parted and Jack invaded her mouth with his tongue.
They parted when they both needed air, and both drew in a deep breath, staring into one another's eyes. Jack and Elizabeth each let out a little chuckle and he returned to his horse to finish unsaddling him.
Once the horses were settled into their stalls and Jack had fed all of them, he took her hand and led Elizabeth outside and to the house.
"I'll run you home now," Jack said as he washed the coffee pot and replaced it in front of the coffee maker. When he finished, he turned to Elizabeth who was standing at the kitchen island. "Would you like to go out to eat this evening? We can ask Rosie and Lee to join us."
"I'd love that," she smiled.
"Good." Jack smiled, bigger than she'd ever seen him, and his dimples sunk in even more. "Grab your things and I'll run you home. I have a couple of horses I need to work with before this evening."
Elizabeth ran upstairs to retrieve her dress and the rest of her things. She looked around, trying to find her purse with no success. She took her things and went downstairs to the living room and looked there.
"What are you looking for?" Jack asked.
"My purse. I thought I brought it in." Elizabeth stopped and straightened. "Oh, I left it in your truck. I couldn't carry it and you at the same time."
Jack's gaze dropped to the floor. "Sorry about that."
Elizabeth walked up to Jack and placed her hand on his chest. "It's fine, Jack."
He laid his hand on top of hers and looked up. "You are something special." He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the mouth. "Ready?"
When they got in the truck, Elizabeth pulled her phone from her purse. "Oh, no."
"What is it?"
"I have twelve missed calls from Rosemary and twenty-one texts." Elizabeth scrolled through them, reading each one. "She got Lee home safely and she made it home alright." She scrolled through some more. "Good grief. I need to call her before she calls the police."
She tapped on the call button and put the phone to her ear.
"Elizabeth! Where are you?"
Rosemary yelled so loud that Jack could hear her and chuckled.
"I'm with Jack. He's running me home right now."
"What? Really? We've got some talking to do. I'm on my way to your place now. I'll meet you there."
"Rosie, you don..."
Rosemary had hung up the phone before Elizabeth could finish her sentence. She lowered the phone and returned it to her purse.
"Something wrong?" Jack asked her.
"No, Rosie is freaking out I think because I was here all night. She's on her way to my place now."
Jack laughed. "Please leave out the parts of when I was an ass when you tell her about everything."
"Well, she already knows a little of it. She was there last night you know." Elizabeth teased.
"What exactly happened last night? I don't really remember anything past our first dance."
Elizabeth told him everything as he drove her home. She gave him the directions when necessary and he eventually pulled into the drive of her townhome. After he put the truck in park, he turned in his seat to face her.
"Beth, I want to apologize for everything that I did last night and this morning that offended you. It was not my intention when I asked you to go dancing. I haven't had the best past and some habits seem a bit harder than others to break. But I'm working on it."
Elizabeth smiled and nodded, "I want to trust you, Jack. Really, I do. But if anything like that happens again..."
Jack stopped her, "I promise you, nothing like that will happen again. You have my word. Fresh start today."
"Fresh start," she returned and smiled at him.
Jack climbed out of the truck, walked around to Elizabeth's door, opened it, and helped her down by taking her hand. He walked her to her front door and waited until she opened the front door.
"I need to get home now and get some work done, but I'll see you tonight." He reached for her hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed it.
Elizabeth watched him as he walked back to his truck, climbed in, and left. Just as he was pulling away, Rosie's car turned into the driveway and she came bounding up the walk to Elizabeth.
"Girl, you have some explaining to do." She held up a bag, "I brought bagels and coffee."
The women went inside and Elizabeth told Rosie the entire story, from the first dance to the hand kiss.
"So, let me get this straight. You had that man, naked, standing in front of you, and you did nothing?"
"Rosie, you know I'm not like that."
"I know, I know. But, girlfriend, mmmm. To get to see all of that, with nothing on but water drops...mmmm." Rosie leaned back into the pillow on the couch and covered her eyes with her arm; clearly trying to imagine the view.
"So, Rosie, what about you and Lee?"
Rosie dropped her arm and sat up quickly. "Oh, Liz. He's wonderful. Such a gentleman, sweet, and not to mention absolutely adorable."
"So, did you two...?"
"What, no. I know I'm a little flirt and not as...innocent as you. But I'm not a floozy. I need a little more wine and dine before anything gets that far."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that you've set your standards so high, Rosie." Elizabeth teased. She had known her friend since college and knew how she was. Normally, Elizabeth wouldn't have been friends with a girl like Rosie, but even with all her flaws, she was a great person. The two had hit it off from day one and have been best friends ever since.
Rosemary had been a barrel racer for most of her life, she was a free spirit, liked to party, and had had her fair share of men. Elizabeth, however, had never been around a horse until she met Rosemary, was not a fan of parties, and had only had a few boyfriends in her life. None had made her feel the way Jack did and she wasn't sure how to handle it.
…..
That evening, Jack pulled up to Elizabeth's in his truck and was standing by the passenger door when she walked out. He was wearing dark blue jeans, a white button-up shirt, and a navy blazer with patches on the elbows. He wasn't wearing his cowboy hat and his hair was styled the messy way that Elizabeth loved.
"Good evening, ma'am." Jack tipped his head toward her. "You look amazing as usual." He opened the door and helped her into the truck.
Elizabeth had gone shopping that afternoon and decided on a knee-length, black lace dress. It had a bodice with a sweetheart neckline with a black lace overlay that laid across her collarbones and lace sleeves. She was wearing her black, high-heeled shoes and had her hair down.
They met Lee and Rosemary at the restaurant; it was a high-end steak house that Elizabeth had never been to before.
The evening was perfect, the food was delicious and Jack didn't have any alcohol. The conversations between the four were lighthearted and fun. Rosie and Lee seemed to be hitting it off as much as Jack and Elizabeth. Things were great.
The night ended with Jack driving Elizabeth home, opening her door as he always does, and walking her to her front door. He gave her a nice, sweet kiss, then went on his way. Elizabeth could tell that he was trying very hard to make up for the night before, and he had succeeded in her eyes. This was the fresh start that she needed. Jack had finally begun to show her the man she believed him to be, a wonderful man deep down. She was so drawn to him, and she needed to take baby steps; this was potentially too important not to do so.
