This one got a bit long...hope you enjoy it! Please keep the reviews coming. I love to hear your thoughts. Also, this chapter comes with a serious steam alert! If any of you don't enjoy those, my apologies, but J&E just cannot keep their hands off one another.
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April 5th, 2015 - Crossroads Cowboy Church
Elizabeth sat in the front row in their usual seat with Brianna sleeping in her arms. Jack was up with the praise band, preparing to begin their second song. Jack stood at the microphone, playing the intro on his guitar when he looked at Elizabeth and gave her a wink and a grin.
Grace and William sat at Elizabeth's right, and upon seeing this, they squeezed each other's hands. Jack wore his heart on his sleeve for his family, and Elizabeth's parents couldn't have picked a better man for their daughter.
Charlotte was one seat over on Elizabeth's left, leaving an empty one for Jack, and she reached over for her granddaughter. Elizabeth could see a smile grace Jack's face from time to time as he sang. Each time he'd just looked over at his family. Elizabeth thought she'd seen Jack at his happiest in the past: their wedding day, his third world title, the birth of the twins. But the joy that reflected in Jack's eyes since the birth of Brianna was something that she, and no one else, had ever seen before. Jack had a new life in his step, a brighter shine to his eyes, and was overall the happiest he had ever been.
Over the past three weeks, since she'd arrived, Brianna had been the center of attention of the entire family. Blake and the twins couldn't keep their hands off her, her grandparents held her every second they could, and Jack helped with her every moment he was available.
With foals and calves arriving, horses to break, and fence repairs to keep up with, Jack's days had been filled with ranch work. But each evening after he'd cleaned up, he spent it playing with the kids while holding Brianna.
As the last song ended, Jack set his guitar on the stand and returned to his seat beside his wife. Frank stepped forward to the pulpit, opened his Bible, and began his Easter message.
…..
Jack, Lee, and Tom retrieved their kids from Children's Church, then met their families outside. Frank was saying his final goodbyes to congregation members when Jack approached him.
"That was a great sermon, Pops."
"Thank you, Jack," Frank replied, laying his hand on his stepson's shoulder.
"Want to hold her?"
"Of course," Frank said, holding his hands out to take his youngest granddaughter.
The two men walked toward the trucks, where the rest of the family was waiting and visiting.
"Did you get the reservations made, Dear?" Charlotte asked Frank.
"Yes, Baxter's, twenty people, 1:00."
"Wonderful," Charlotte said before kissing him.
"We should probably get going to make it on time," Jack said.
The family dispersed to their vehicles, and Grace and William rode with Charlotte and Frank. Forty minutes later, the caravan of trucks and SUVs pulled into the parking lot of Baxter's Lakeside Grille in Ozark, and the large family made their way into the restaurant.
"You must be the Thorntons," Becca, the hostess, commented.
"Yes, ma'am," Jack replied as he removed his hat.
Everyone could see the young lady's cheeks flush when Jack spoke to her, and as soon as she turned to lead them to their tables, Lee smacked Jack on the back.
"What?" Jack asked, turning to look at Lee.
"Everywhere you go, Brother. Ev..ery...where."
"Knock it off," Jack scolded with a hint of teasing.
Elizabeth and Rosemary being within earshot of the two just shook their heads and didn't respond. The large group followed single file to the back room, catching the eyes of everyone at their tables by the size of the party passing through.
Two high chairs and four booster seats were brought over. Jack positioned the carrier that held Brianna onto one of the high chairs. The kids were spread among the adults so each one would have help next to them if needed, and everyone took their seats and began scanning the menu.
"The Almond Crusted Sea Bass sounds amazing," Tom said as he read the description.
"I was thinking the Sirloin sounded pretty good," Samantha added.
"Me, too," Elizabeth said and laid the menu aside. "That's what I'm having."
"Cedar Plank Salmon for me," Charlotte stated. "That sounds great with a glass of red wine."
Grace set her menu down and agreed, "That sounds perfect, Char. I think I'll have that, too."
As everyone else made their decisions, and the parents helped the little ones choose their food, the waitress began making her rounds taking their orders. Baskets of bread were brought out, along with their drinks, and the kids dug in to tide them over until their meals arrived.
Several conversations flowed around the table, many crossing over from one couple to the next. Lots of laughter filled the air in their private room as the Thorntons and Thatchers relished their time together. The food was delivered, and once the kids were taken care of, the adults began to eat and voice their delight in the quality of their meal.
…..
Grace and William went home with Frank and Charlotte to spend the remainder of the afternoon with them. It was a beautiful warm spring day, and they enjoyed wine and beer on the back deck as the birds sang in the nearby trees.
Jack and Elizabeth unloaded their clan and corralled the hyped-up children into the house. They had ordered a variety dessert platter that included cheesecake, a chocolate brownie with ice cream, and a lemon bar ala mode. Peyton, Colton, and Blake had been allowed to share it amongst the three of them, and they wiped the plate clean.
The kids ran through the living room and around the piano with Wyatt on their heels.
"Play a song, Mommy," Peyton shouted from the piano bench.
"Yes, please, Mommy. Play a song," Jack added.
Elizabeth passed Brianna into Jack's arms, then sat next to her daughter at the piano. She lifted the cover off the keys, ran her fingers across the ivory, then began to play.
As they watched Elizabeth, Colton and Blake immediately settled down and moved in beside Jack, one boy holding on to each leg. Peyton was mesmerized by her mother's talent and couldn't take her eyes off Elizabeth's hands. Peyton placed her hands on the keys when the song ended and tried to mimic her mommy's movements.
Elizabeth pulled the little girl onto her lap and spent the next thirty minutes teaching her a simple song that she could play with one finger on each hand. Jack got the boys busy helping him clean and straighten the mudroom while Brianna slept in her bouncer seat on the island, always in Jack's view.
After her little piano lesson, Elizabeth and Peyton gathered all the laundry and got it started. Once in the wash, the family converged in the living room to watch a movie as they snuggled together on the couch. …..
April 6th, 2015 - Hope Meadows Ranch
Elizabeth had just finished nursing Brianna, and the infant was sound asleep in the middle of the bed. Taking advantage of her free time, Elizabeth decided to clean her bathroom. Halfway through, she realized the Windex was missing and started out of the room to find it. She froze in the doorway when she saw what was going on and leaned against the doorframe as her eyes welled with tears.
Blake was lying in the middle of the bed alongside Brianna. His arm was draped gently across her, and he was singing a lullaby, very quietly, so as not to wake her.
Elizabeth wiped a tear away, then rested her hand over her mouth, wholly taken away by the little boy. She saw Jack step through the bedroom doorway, held her hand up to stop him, and then pointed toward the bed.
Jack's heart sank when he saw his son and daughter. A lump formed in his throat, and he felt a stinging in his eyes. Both he and Elizabeth remained in their separate doorways, watching Blake continue to sing to his sister, unaware of his audience. After he sang the same song twice, Jack quietly crossed the room and lay on the bed beside Blake.
"Hey, buddy," he said to his son after brushing his hand across the little boy's hair.
"Hi, Daddy."
"You like having a baby sister, don't you?"
"Yes," he said as his eyes grew wide. "She's so neat."
"I think you're neat, too," Jack said with a smile.
"Really?"
"Of course. I think you are going to be the best big brother ever."
"Oh, I don't know. Luke is a really good big brother."
"Yes, he is. But he doesn't have a little sister. So, you can't be compared to him."
"Oh," Blake replied as he thought about that fact. "Yeah, it's different with little sisters, and I have two."
"That's right," Jack agreed.
Elizabeth was still in the bathroom doorway, watching her husband interact with his son. Her heart was overflowing at the ease Jack had with his children.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Blake asked his daddy.
"Of course."
"I always wanted brothers and sisters, but I was afraid to ask my mommy for them."
Jack lifted himself onto his elbow and looked down into Blake's eyes. "Why is that?"
"Because she told me all the time that we were two...umm...two peas in a..."
"Two peas in a pod?" Jack asked.
"Yeah. That. Two peas in a pod, and we were a perfect team. And I was her special man and her only man."
Jack heard a muted cry from Elizabeth's direction and looked up in time to see her turn and duck into the bathroom. He looked back at his son, trying his hardest to keep his own tears at bay.
"I bet that made you feel very special."
"Yes. My mommy loved me a lot."
"Yes, son. She did. Very much."
Blake looked up at the ceiling as his brow furrowed. "Do you think she's watching me?"
Jack laid on his back alongside his son, tucked his hands behind his head, at stared at the ceiling, too. "Yes, I think she watches you every day."
"Do you think she'd still be proud of me?"
"Absolutely," Jack replied, rolling back onto his side to look at his son. "We are all so proud of you."
Blake turned his head toward Jack, then asked, "Even when I do bad things?"
Jack laid his hand against his son's cheek and stared at him with love-filled eyes. "Blake, nothing you could ever do would change how we feel about you."
Elizabeth was in the bathroom with her back against the wall next to the open door. Her tears flowed as she listened to the conversation in the next room, utterly amazed at how Jack had handled things with Blake since Becky's death. Jack had been their rock, never wavering, always giving them the strength to move forward. And this time was no exception.
"Okay," Blake responded, moving his eyes back to the ceiling. "I think I'm the luckiest boy in the world."
"Why do you say that?"
Blake looked at his father once more, "Because I've had two mommies love me."
Elizabeth slid down the wall to the floor, her tears flowing uncontrollably as she laid her face in her hands. Jack looked at the doorway to see if she had returned, but she was nowhere in sight.
"Blake, you are...you are amazing. And yes, you are very lucky. You have two mommies who love you with all their hearts, a daddy who loves you very much, and grandparents who think you are special. And all of your aunts, uncles, and cousins love you just as much as we do. And what about Peyton and Colton? I don't think they would know what to do without you. And little Brianna here will need you to help protect her as she grows up."
"Oh, yes. I won't let anything happen to her."
"And I believe you."
"I want to teach her how to ride Doodle." Blake's eyes suddenly widened, and he looked straight at Jack. "Can she have Doodle? I want Doodle to be her pony."
Jack smiled and rubbed the little boy's cheek. "That sounds like a great idea. We will keep Doodle for her, and when she's old enough, you can teach her to ride him."
"Yes," Blake said, looking back at the ceiling with a huge smile on his face. He rolled to his side, facing his little sister, then whispered in her ear. "Did you hear that, Bri? You can have Doodle. He's your pony, and I will show you how to take care of him."
…..
Jack entered the bathroom to find Elizabeth sitting on the floor just inside the door. "Were you able to hear all of that?"
Elizabeth looked up at her husband and nodded. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she wiped the tears from her cheeks. Jack held out his hands and helped her to her feet.
"That little boy is something else, isn't he?" Jack asked as he moved his arms around her.
"Yes, he is," she replied with a sniffle. She looked into Jack's eyes and saw that they were slightly red. "He got to you, too?"
"Yep," Jack replied with a chuckle.
"Is Brianna still asleep?"
"Yes, slept through the whole thing."
"Where's Blake?"
"He went to play with the twins." Jack reached up with both hands and pushed a few stray hairs behind Elizabeth's ears.
Letting out a hard breath, she wiped her cheeks again. "The way that little boy's mind works," she started, then looked into Jack's eyes. "I know where he gets it."
Jack grinned, then kissed her softly on the lips. "What can I say? We Thorntons are a deep-thinking bunch."
Elizabeth began to laugh as Jack looked down at her with a perplexed look.
"Something funny?"
"Well, you can sure tell that Lee isn't a blood relative."
Caught off guard, Jack let out a loud burst of laughter. "Yes, Beautiful. That is a fact."
He moved his arm behind her and led Elizabeth into the bedroom. She picked up Brianna, and the couple went to the boys' room where they were playing with Peyton and sat on the floor to watch them as they played Hi Ho Cherry-O.
…..
Elizabeth walked down the steps with the empty clothes basket in her hand. Grace and William were at Charlotte's, Peyton, Colton, and Blake were busy cleaning their rooms, and Jack had Brianna. As she neared the last step, Elizabeth could hear Jack on his guitar, and she quietly walked into the living. Jack was sitting on the couch, his guitar on his lap, and Brianna lay across the top of the guitar. Elizabeth stopped her hand over her heart and watched Jack with his daughter. The infant looked content as she felt the vibrations from her Daddy's music, and Jack began singing an old Tom Petty song.
"Goodnight baby, sleep tight my love
May God watch over you from above
Tomorrow I'm workin' what would I do
I'd be lost and lonely if not for you"
Jack bent down and kissed Brianna's cheek as he continued to strum his guitar. The little girl's eyes lifted to her daddy, then closed for a moment as she enjoyed the feel of the music.
"So close your eyes
We're alright for now
I've spent my life travelin'
Spent my life free
I could not repay all you've done for me
So sleep tight baby
Unfurrow your brow
And know I love you
We're alright for now
We're alright for now"
Elizabeth crossed the room while Jack continued playing. Her cheeks were wet, and she tried to dry them with her hands. "Between you and Blake, I'm a mess today," she said as she took a seat on the ottoman. "She loves that."
Jack looked down and kissed his daughter once more. "Yeah, she seems to," he smiled.
"I love that song. It's an old one."
"Yeah, I've always liked Tom Petty. I used to tease Tom, telling him that's who he was named after. Before dad passed anyway."
"Can you sing another one?" Elizabeth asked, moving to the couch beside her husband.
"Sure," Jack answered, then switched to a different melody.
Halfway through the song, Blake and the twins ran down the stairs and joined their parents. Colton climbed onto Elizabeth's lap, Peyton sat beside her daddy, and Blake took a seat on the ottoman. Jack moved into a third song, one the kids knew, and they sang along with him as Brianna fell asleep on top of the guitar.
…..
Jack removed three large homemade pizzas from the oven and placed them on the island, while Elizabeth pulled the chicken wings from the air fryer. Sam and Tom entertained the kids, with the help of Savannah and Luke, while Lee and Rosemary set the table. A beautiful cake that Elizabeth had made sat in the middle of the island, and Noel was peeking over the edge, staring at it.
"Well, hello, Noel," Jack said when he spotted her.
"Hello, Uncle Jack," she replied, not taking her eyes off the cake.
Jack leaned onto the island, rested his chin on his fist, and looked at the little girl. "Whatcha doin'?"
The little girl's eyes slowly moved to Jack's, and she grinned. "That cake looks yummy," she said just above a whisper.
Jack looked at the dessert, then back at Noel. "It sure does." Jack looked back at Elizabeth, who was busy over the sink, then moved his eyes back to the little girl. Whispering as quietly as he could, he asked, "Want to taste it?"
Noel's eyes widened, and she smiled ear to ear, nodding her head.
Jack reached to the cake, swiped his finger through the chocolate frosting low against the plate, then held his finger in front of Noel. The little girl wiped the frosting off her uncle's finger with hers, then stuck it in her mouth.
"Mmmmm," she said, her eyes shining bright.
"Shhhh," Jack said quietly, his chocolate-covered finger against his lips. Then he quickly licked the evidence away, causing the little girl to giggle loudly.
"What's so funny?" Elizabeth asked as she moved toward them.
"Nothing," Jack said, giving Noel a wink.
Elizabeth looked back and forth between the two, then shook her head. She leaned over Jack's shoulder and whispered, "It doesn't sound like anything."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jack responded as he stood and leaned against the island, his back toward the cake.
"Well," Elizabeth started, then wiped a little bit of chocolate from the corner of Jack's mouth. She held out her finger and grinned. "It also doesn't look like nothing." She stuck her finger in her mouth, sucking the chocolate off, then started to turn away.
Noel ran off giggling as Jack swiftly wrapped his arms around his wife, drawing her back against him. He pressed his lips to her neck, then moved his mouth to her ear. "You know, you can't do something like that in front of me and simply walk away."
"Something like what?" she asked with a sheepish grin.
Jack grabbed her damp finger, lifted it to his mouth, and sucked it in. He slowly pulled her hand as her finger slid across his tongue, and Elizabeth cranked her head around and looked over her shoulder at Jack's mouth. As soon as her finger was out, she spun in his arms and planted a massive kiss on his lips.
"Get...a...room!" Lee exclaimed as he entered the kitchen. "I see you two still haven't stopped."
Elizabeth laid her cheek against her husband's chest, facing Lee, as Jack tightened his arms around her. "Like I said before, Brother, never."
"Never what?" Rosie asked.
"Caught them making out again," Lee teased.
Rosemary crossed the room and put her arms around Lee's neck. "Then, instead of giving them a hard time, try showing them up once in a while." She pressed her lips to his, kissing him hard, and Lee turned her into a dip.
"Woo!" Jack shouted. "Now that's what I'm talking about."
"Jack," Elizabeth said as she shook her head.
"What?" he asked innocently. "It's about time Lee embraced it."
"Jacko, I...embrace it...all the time," Lee said proudly as he returned Rosemary to her feet.
"Lee!" Rosemary shouted, smacking her husband's chest.
"What? I thought you liked it." Lee looked at Jack and winked.
"You two are too much sometimes," Rosemary stated, joining Elizabeth at the sink.
"Oh, you love us, Rosie," Jack teased as he snuck up behind her and hugged her.
"Jack," she said, laughing now. "Yes, I love you." Rosemary turned around and patted Jack's cheeks, then kissed him on the mouth.
"Hey, hey, hey," Lee said as he crossed the room. "That's my woman." Lee grabbed Rosie and wrapped his arms around her.
"I've got my woman," Jack said as he pulled Elizabeth into an embrace. "I'm afraid I'm not man enough to handle Rosie."
Elizabeth laughed and buried her face in Jack's chest.
"Wait, was that an insult?" Rosie asked.
Jack shook his head. "No, ma'am," he grinned, remembering when they first met.
"Jack..."
"I know, don't call you ma'am," Jack teased. "Hey, Ma," Jack said when he saw Charlotte enter the kitchen. He crossed the room, wrapped her in a hug, and kissed her cheek. "Happy birthday."
"Thank you, Jack." Charlotte put her arm around her son's waist and faced everyone in the room. "Sounds like you guys were having some fun in here."
"Lee antics as usual," Rosemary said, her arm still around her husband.
"Ahh, and I missed them?" Charlotte asked.
"I'm sure there will be many more," Jack stated, kissing her cheek again.
"Happy birthday, Mom," Elizabeth said as she hugged the woman.
Charlotte was engulfed by her family, each giving her a hug and a kiss, wishing her a happy birthday. As the family's matriarch, she was loved and adored by everyone.
Frank, Grace, and William entered the kitchen, having just arrived with Charlotte, and Frank slid his hand into hers as he took his place by her side.
"It smells delicious in here," he said, referencing the pizzas.
"You're all just in time. Supper is ready," Jack said as he opened a drawer to retrieve the pizza cutter.
Each person picked up an item and carried it into the dining room. The kids' table was set up, and Jack, Lee, and Tom got them situated around it, and their plates filled with orders to wait until after the prayer.
Prayer was said, pizza and chicken wings were served, and conversations flowed. Blake ran to the table, his empty plate in hand, asking for a second slice already. Jack placed a piece of cheese pizza on the plate, and Blake ran back to his seat at the kids' table.
"That chocolate cake looked amazing, Beth," Charlotte said between bites of her supreme pizza. "I can't wait to taste it."
"It's actually Mom's recipe," Elizabeth said and smiled at Grace.
"Oh, wonderful. I'd love to get it from you if you're willing to share," Charlotte told Grace.
"Of course, Char. I'll write it down before you leave tonight."
"And this pizza," William stated, holding up his slice of chicken alfredo.
"Thank you, William," Jack replied.
"Jack spent years perfecting this," Charlotte bragged.
"Really?" William asked. "You make the crust and everything from scratch?"
"Yes, sir. I started with a basic dough and sauce and tweaked the recipes each time I made it until I got to this."
"Well, I'd say you perfected these," William added, waving his hand over the pizzas.
"Thank you, William."
"Oh, Chef Boyardee in house," Lee called out, pointing at Jack.
"Maybe you could take some lessons from him, sweetie," Rosemary said as she patted Lee's leg.
Bursts of laughter rang through the house. Lee was always the jokester, but Rosemary had gotten pretty good at keeping him humble...or putting him in his place. She chuckled slightly at the expense of her husband.
While Elizabeth took Brianna to feed her, Jack, Rosemary, Sam, and Grace cleared the table. By the time Elizabeth returned, everyone was in the dining room drinking coffee. She handed her daughter to Jack, then retrieved the cake. As she entered the room, she began to sing Happy Birthday and was joined by everyone.
The cake was chocolate with chocolate frosting, piped on in shapes of roses. Five candles adorned the top as Elizabeth lowered it to the table in front of Charlotte. As Elizabeth set it down, she noticed a small swipe of frosting along the bottom was missing. She gave Jack a quick glance to find him grinning at her. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and walked around the table to the empty chair next to her husband.
"I take it that's what you and Noel were laughing about earlier?" Elizabeth asked as she leaned toward Jack.
Jack looked straight ahead, trying his hardest to keep the grin hidden, and replied, "I have no idea what you're referring to."
"Uh huh," Elizabeth said, squeezing Jack's leg.
"This is beautiful," Charlotte stated, turning the cake around.
"Thank you, Mom."
"I might have to pass the torch on to you."
"Oh, no. Cakes are your thing. I can't do what you do," Elizabeth replied.
"Nonsense. Your artistic talent can easily be transferred to cakes."
"Well, maybe one day...many years from now...you can start teaching me some of your secrets," Elizabeth yielded.
"I'd love to," Charlotte stated. "Now, I'd love to taste this one."
…..
As the evening drew to an end and everyone began to say their goodbyes, Brianna started to cry, and Elizabeth took her upstairs to feed her and put her down. An hour later, after everyone had left and the kids were in bed, Jack joined Elizabeth.
"Everything alright?" Jack asked as he crawled up beside Elizabeth on the bed.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Elizabeth asked as she rolled to face Jack.
"Just checking," Jack smiled, then kissed her.
He lay alongside her with his hand on her waist, just at the hem of her shirt. His fingers were gingerly grazing across her skin as he closed his eyes. Elizabeth was watching him, his eyes remaining shut, his face filled with a sense of peace and a smile on his lips. She closed her eyes and drifted in and out of the edge of sleep as Jack's hand settled onto the curve of her hip. Before her final second of consciousness, Elizabeth could hear Jack's breathing change, his telltale sign that he was out.
Jack opened his eyes to find Elizabeth still facing him. He moved forward until their lips met. Elizabeth's eyes popped open, and she stared into his wanting gaze. His mouth was soft against hers as he gently sucked on her top lip, then the bottom. Her lips parted, and his tongue grazed along the rim before slipping inside, dipping and swirling with hers. Jack pushed Elizabeth onto her back, never breaking their connection, and turned his head slightly to deepen his kiss. The hunger they held for one another surfaced every time they were together, growing with each second. Jack moved his hand along the side of her face and into her hair as his mouth devoured hers.
Elizabeth lifted both hands to the back of Jack's head, gripping hard onto his hair, her lips yearning for more. As Jack released her mouth, his lips brushed along the curve of her jaw, and Elizabeth tipped her head back, opening the slender column of her throat. Reaching her neck, he sucked on her skin, provoking a cry of pleasure from his wife.
His warm, calloused hand cupped her breast as he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Elizabeth's body twisted in delight at the attention Jack showed her. He pressed his hand to her abdomen and slowly moved it down her body, not stopping until his fingers pressed into the warm, wet recesses between her legs. Elizabeth arched her back and pushed against him, sending him deeper inside.
Jack's shaft reared hot and hard against her hip. The searing need to be inside his wife was overwhelming as he drove his fingers into her depths, over and over. His mouth followed the curves of her body as he savored every inch of her, licking, sucking, and biting. He began watching her face as his fingers tormented the hidden morsel within her body. Elizabeth's moans were growing increasingly louder, and to keep her from climaxing just yet, Jack eased his fingers out.
Jack rose over his wife, lowering his body onto hers. Elizabeth relentlessly moved her hips against his, wanting more as well. Jack's animalistic desire was beginning to overrun him as their bodies arched and twisted, trying to make that only connection that could extinguish the inferno that burned inside them both. Their skin was damp with perspiration as rapid, shallow breaths filled their lungs. Elizabeth's moans and cries had Jack getting wilder as the aching tension between them built.
"Cowboy, I want you," she said on a waft of breath.
Jack looked into his wife's eyes, seeing a hunger that only he could appease. He wanted her, all of her...and he wanted her now. He knew it was too soon, but Elizabeth was reciprocating every move that Jack made. Unable to hold back any longer, Jack shifted his body, getting into position to enter her. Elizabeth looked longing into his eyes; not wanting him to stop, she grabbed his hips and pulled him down hard. Elizabeth took him entirely as Jack thrust deep inside. Elizabeth matched his rhythm as Jack moved in and out. He would slowly begin pulling out, and just before his engorged shaft would leave its haven, Jack thrust back in, quick and hard, sinking deeper and deeper.
He continued in this matter as their bodies molded intimately together. Her ankles were locked behind him as he drove deep inside her, over and over, again and again. Never letting up until a climax came at her in drugging waves. Jack's hands were in hers, pinning them to the mattress on either side of her head. She clutched onto them as the wave of pleasure continued to flow over and through her. She cried out as the orgasm assaulted her body from head to toe.
Jack felt himself preparing to let go as he throbbed inside her. Every inch of his body, every nerve ending, every muscle was engulfed in sensational flames as he lifted himself up, his arms straight, ready for the final drive that would finally send him over the edge.
Jack sat straight up in the bed. He gripped the mattress as his eyes searched for something familiar in the darkness. His breathing was erratic and lacking, and his lungs burned from the need of oxygen. A ray of moonlight stretched through the window, illuminating the room just enough for Jack to finally realize where he was.
He looked to his left at the silhouette of his sleeping wife, his eyes scanning her clothed body, his head confused at the sight. He looked forward at the bedroom wall and doors, his eyes darting all around, his chest heaving. Jack dropped his gaze to his own body. Lifting the blanket, he could see that he was clothed from the waist down. Returning his gaze to the wall, Jack shook his head, trying his hardest to convince himself that it had only been a dream. He looked at Elizabeth once more, then straight forward, still shaking his head. He noticed that he was indeed aroused and swung his legs off the edge of the mattress.
He glanced at the clock. 4:12 am. Jack raked his hands through his hair, still trying to get his breathing under control. After drawing in several long, slow, deep breaths, he stood and went into the bathroom to take a very cold shower. But not before taking one more glance over his shoulder at his wife, still attempting to persuade his body that it hadn't actually happened.
…..
April 7th, 2015 – Hope Meadows Ranch
Elizabeth woke and checked on her daughter. Seeing Brianna was still asleep, Elizabeth turned, expecting Jack's side of the bed to be empty, but he was there, sound asleep. She looked at the clock. 8:11 am. Her brow furrowed as she tried to think of the last time she'd seen him sleep this late.
She carefully scooted toward Jack, then rested her hand on his shoulder.
"Jack, are you feeling okay?"
"Hmmm," he replied without opening his eyes.
"Hey, Cowboy," she whispered into his ear.
Jack's eyes shot open from the warmth of her breath across his ear. Feeling her body against his back, Jack flipped over and wrapped his arms around Elizabeth, taking her mouth with his.
"Whoa, Cowboy. What is going on?" she asked, pushing him back slightly.
"I want to make love to you," Jack said, pushing her back onto the mattress as he moved over her.
She could feel his rock-hard shaft pressing against her as Jack wildly began kissing her.
"Hey," she said sternly, pushing hard on his shoulders. "What's the deal?"
Jack pushed himself up and looked down at the concerned look that covered his wife's face.
"Is this not a dream?" he asked, his voice filled with seriousness.
"No, Jack. It is not."
Jack rolled off his wife and onto his back, laying his arm across his eyes. "I can't tell the difference anymore."
Elizabeth turned toward Jack and propped herself onto her elbow. "What do you mean? What's going on?"
Jack sucked in a long, slow, deep breath, removed his arm from his eyes, and rolled to face his wife as he blew it out. "I had...I don't know...the most realistic and vivid dream last night about us making love. It took over an hour and two cold showers before I could calm my body down."
"And that's why you were still sleeping."
"That's why I was still sleeping," Jack grinned. "And when you whispered into my ear...you did whisper into my ear, right?"
Elizabeth smiled and nodded.
"Okay. Well, I thought I was still dreaming, so I went with it."
"I see."
"Yeah," Jack said, then rolled onto his back. He reached down and adjusted his aching erection inside his boxer briefs.
"So...can I assume that...you're...a bit uncomfortable?"
"Yes, that is a safe assumption," Jack replied, staring up at the ceiling.
He closed his eyes, trying to think of other things to help his 'problem' go away when he felt his wife's hand slide in under his clothes and grip tightly onto the base of his engorged shaft.
"Well, then," she began, then kissed the side of his neck. "I think I can help you out with that. Tell me all about the dream, and don't leave anything out."
…..
April 11th, 2015 - Ozark Stampede Rodeo, Joplin, Missouri
Jack and Lee had been practicing in Jack's indoor arena for the past three months, and the day to test out Maverick had finally arrived. Jack was getting anxious as he saddled the horse, even though Maverick stood calmly as if the horse was at home.
"Are you sure Mav is a stallion?" Lee asked as he bent down to look under the horse. "Maybe those are fake implants."
Jack laughed, and his nerves eased. "He is pretty mellow, isn't he?" Jack asked as he patted the horse's rump.
"He has got to be the most mellow horse, let alone stallion, that I've ever seen."
The men finished their preparations, then headed for the practice arena to warm up.
…..
"Am I ready for this, Dad?" Luke asked his father.
"Yes, son. You have been practicing every day. And Jake here will take great care of you," Tom said as he rubbed the horse's neck.
"Is that why Uncle Jack gave him to me? To take care of me?"
"I believe so," Tom answered. "Uncle Jack loves you very much and wants to see you succeed."
Luke nodded his head, then checked the saddle girth once more.
"I think it's tight enough, Luke," Tom said with a laugh. "I think you've checked it at least four times."
"Sorry, Dad. I'm just nervous."
"As expected," Tom said before giving his son a hug.
"Will Uncle Jack come over here before I go in?"
"Yes. He and Uncle Lee are just warming up, and then he said he'd be right over."
…..
Sam and Elizabeth sat five rows up on the bleachers, watching their parents with their children. Charlotte was feeding Brianna a bottle while William, Frank, and Grace played with Blake, the twins, Austin, and the Coulter kids.
"So, how's Luke feeling about today?" Elizabeth asked Sam.
"He's very nervous."
"I'm sure he'll do great. Jack said that Luke was a natural and surprised at how quickly he'd caught on to everything."
"Yes, we were all amazed by him."
"Too bad they didn't have mutton busting today. Blake and Austin were very disappointed about it. Colton, too, because he was going to compete this year."
"Maybe the next one will have it. Are you going to let Peyton do it?"
"Sure, if she wants to. She changes her mind every other day."
"Oh, that will never change."
"Great," Elizabeth laughed. "I was afraid of that."
…..
Jack and Lee rode their horses over to the area the youth tie-down ropers were waiting. After dismounting, they searched the group for Tom and Luke.
"There he is," Luke excitedly exclaimed when he caught a glimpse of Jack.
"Hey, buddy," Jack said when he reached them. "Are you ready for your first event?"
"I'm really nervous, Uncle Jack."
"I'm going to share something with you that I haven't told many people," Jack started. "My very first competitive bull ride, I was around your age, and I was scared to death."
…..
January 2nd, 1991 – Oklahoma-Texas Shootout Rodeo, Oklahoma City
"Dad, I don't think I'm ready for this," ten-year-old Jack told his father.
Thomas knelt before his son and held his hands, "Jack, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. But before you make the decision, I want you to know something. I believe in you. You have prepared for this day for months. There is nothing more that you can do to get ready. You've done it all. Everything is in God's hands now, and you just do what you trained to do."
Jack listened to his father intently, soaking up every word as he'd done his entire life. Thomas had been working with Jack for the past five months, preparing him for today, and Jack tried to remember everything he'd been taught.
"Okay, Dad."
"So, do you want to give it a go? Or shall we call it a day and try again next time?"
"I'm ready, Dad. I can do this." Jack shoved his shaking hand into his worn leather glove, then held it out to his father to tie it on with the leather strap.
"There you go, Son. Do you have your helmet?"
"Yes, sir. It's over there."
Thomas helped Jack finish getting his safety gear on, then the pair stood at the chute that held the small bull that Jack drew.
"Roscoe here likes to spin to the right when he leaves the chute. But after that, he's unpredictable."
"Okay, Dad."
"Just keep your center, and you'll do just fine."
"Okay."
Jack lowered onto the bull, and Thomas helped him with the bull strap. Jack flipped his chaps out of the way, then began to heat the rosin with his gloved hand.
With his hand in and secured, his mouthpiece in, and his helmet strapped on tight, Jack slid forward into his hand, took a deep breath, and nodded.
…..
April 11th, 2015 - Ozark Stampede Rodeo, Joplin, Missouri
"I didn't think you were afraid of anything," Luke told his uncle.
Jack knelt in front of his nephew and removed his hat. "Luke, I am afraid of a lot of things. Don't think that being afraid is a detriment. It keeps you grounded; it keeps you focused."
"So, did you ride Roscoe that day?"
Jack laughed and got to his feet. "No, Luke. I didn't. I came off in the first two seconds. For the first time ever, the bull spun to the left out of the chute."
"Oh," Luke said with a slight chuckle. "I guess we just prepare as much as we can."
"That's right, Luke. That is exactly right."
…..
"Luke is up next," Sam said as she slid to the edge of her seat.
The family's attention was locked on the calf chute at the end of the arena. Luke was backing Jake into the padded corner of the pen, and the fear was evident on his face even from their seats.
Sam reached over and clutched onto Elizabeth's hand, and the women held onto each other as they waited for the anticipated head nod.
The calf was released, and Jake took off before Luke was ready. The boy quickly recovered and got centered, raised his hand with the rope, spun it three times, and released it toward the animal. As the rope landed securely around the calf's neck, Luke lifted a leg over Jake's back and hit the ground running. He ran down the rope to the small calf, grabbed it on its flank, and flipped it to the ground.
Luke pulled the rope from his mouth, placed the loop around the calf's front leg, wrapped it around the back legs, and tied them together. He threw his arms into the air once the animal's legs were secured, signaling the officials to stop the timer.
Luke took a few steps back, keeping an eye on the knotted rope, willing it to stay tied. He walked back to Jake and mounted the horse, then moved Jake forward, putting slack into the rope attached to the calf. The young boy's heart was racing. Knowing he'd done it, he'd succeeded in his first competition...and succeeded well with a time of 9.3 seconds, putting him currently in sixth place.
…..
Sam jumped out of her seat, cupping her hands around her mouth and yelling her support for her son. The entire family was on their feet, cheering the young boy on.
"He did wonderfully," Grace exclaimed.
"He sure did," Sam said proudly. "It looks like Jack's talk did wonders."
"Jack's talk?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'm sure Luke needed a pep talk, and Jack is the only one that can get through to him on this stuff, being Tom has never rodeoed."
"Oh, okay," Elizabeth said. "Jack does have a way about him."
"He sure does."
…..
"It looks like we have another Thornton to keep a watch on," the announcer began. "Luke Thornton, a nephew to PBR World Champ Jack Thornton, has just moved into sixth place. It seems that this whole family bleeds rodeo."
"Did you hear that, Dad?" Luke asked, jumping off Jake and into his father's arms.
"I sure did, Luke. That was perfect."
"Did you see me, Uncle Jack?" Luke asked, running to his uncle.
"I knew you could do it," Jack said, picking up the boy in an embrace.
"Thank you, Uncle. Thank you for everything." Luke's arms were tightly squeezing Jack's neck.
"You're so welcome, Luke."
…..
Jack guided Maverick toward the gate. His roping glove was on, his lariat hung on the saddle, and the horse casually moved through the crowded staging area. Lee and Cisco followed closely behind as the man got his mind set for the next ride.
The men sat side by side on their horses, watching each team run, both silent. They envisioned their own ride, seeing the ropes land where they should, willing for their time to be the fastest.
"Are you ready, Brother," Jack asked, laying his hand on Lee's shoulder.
"Yes, Jacko. Let's go do this."
The two men entered the arena and headed to the pens flanking the steer chute. Maverick walked along with ease while Cisco pranced, knowing what was coming. Lee held the horse back, keeping complete control of the animal as they entered the pen. He turned him and backed into the corner. Lee could feel the animal tense like a clock wound too tight, ready to burst.
Jack walked Maverick into the pen, turned the animal, and backed him into place. Maverick was relaxed as they stood and waited, but he was alert. The horse stared at the steer in the chute, his ears perked forward, waiting for his cue from Jack.
Lee nodded, the steer was released, and the pair took off. Maverick bolted out of the pen so fast that Jack had to pull him back to keep from passing Lee and Cisco. The steer was quickly lassoed, and Lee veered Cisco to the left as Jack released his rope, landing it around the animal's hind legs. Maverick slid to a stop, Cisco spun to face him, and the steer was suspended between them.
Jack was sure he could hear his family's screams over the rest of the crowd. All smiles, the men got their lariats rolled back up and walked their horses out of the pen, both shaking with excitement.
"Cowboys and cowgirls, that was a new arena record of 3.8 seconds, putting Jack and Lee into first place. For those wondering why these two look so familiar, this is Jack Thornton and Lee Coulter of the PBR. Jack is a three-time world champion, son of Thomas Thornton, also a three-time world champion. Saying that rodeo runs in this family's blood is an understatement. Lee's wife and Jack's niece will be competing later today in barrels, so be sure to keep an eye out for them."
"Geez, Jack. I thought old Mav was about to fall asleep, but holy sh...crap," Lee corrected himself. "That horse has some speed out of that pen. He never did that at home."
The men were riding their horses back toward the trailer and getting stopped now and again by people wanting to congratulate them.
"I know. He is so much different than Jake. I had no idea what to expect." Jack patted the side of the horse's neck. "This boy knows his job."
"Yeah, he does," Lee added.
…..
Savannah and Rosemary were leading their horses toward the arena when the twelve-year-old noticed a boy watching her. She looked away, took a few more steps, then looked back in the boy's direction. He was still staring at her, and this time he smiled.
Savannah quickly moved her gaze as her eyes darted all around the dirt in front of her.
Rosemary tapped the shoulder of the young girl, and when Savannah turned to face her, Rosie asked, "Is something wrong?"
Savannah glanced back at the boy, who was now talking to his friends, then to her aunt. "A boy over there was watching me."
"Oh, really? Which one?" Rosemary asked as she scanned the group of kids.
"Don't look," Savannah signed harshly, expressing the importance.
"Sorry." Rosemary rested her hands on her hips, then knelt in front of the girl. "How do you feel about him looking at you?"
"I don't know."
"Do you know him?"
Savannah shook her head.
"Okay. Do you...want to meet him?"
Savannah shrugged her shoulders and felt her cheeks flush.
Rosie let out a hard breath, then stood. "Okay. We have an event coming up. Let's focus on that for right now."
"Okay."
"Then after..." Rosemary grinned, causing Savannah's cheeks to blush once more.
…..
"You guys did great," Elizabeth said as Jack sat next to her on the bleachers.
"Thanks, Beautiful," he replied, giving her a kiss.
Colton climbed onto Jack's lap to watch the rest of the rodeo with his daddy. Peyton moved from grandparent to grandparent, giving each one equal attention and receiving it in return.
Blake, Austin, and Luke sat in a line along the bottom bleacher and cheered on each and every competitor.
"There's Savannah," Sam commented, seeing her daughter in the waiting area with Tom at her side. Rosemary was next to her, and the three were lost in a deep conversation.
…..
"I hope Cash does alright today," Savannah said.
"He'll do just fine," Tom replied. "So will you. Just try to relax, so you don't get Cash anxious."
"Okay, Dad."
"How are you feeling about your ride?" Tom asked Rosie, still signing for Savannah's sake.
"I feel okay. It sure has been a while since the old man, and I have done this," she responded, then patted the horse's neck.
"I'm sure Delilah remembers everything. She's a great horse."
"She sure is."
Hearing the announcer calling Savannah on deck, Tom let his daughter know, and she moved closer to the arena. She watched each rider run her pattern, many knocking over a barrel or two, but a few with clean, fast times. She glanced at a group of teens lining the arena fence and spotted the same boy watching her again. He was smiling at her, and Savannah quickly dropped her gaze.
Tom tapped her leg, then signed that she was next.
With Cash in the alley facing the arena, she held the horse back, and he began to prance in place. His legs were tucked underneath him as he hopped, preparing to dig in when she let the reins go and kicked. The horse bolted and flew down the alley, entering the arena at full speed, kicking up dirt behind with each step. Cash bent around the first barrel, missing it by a mere inch, then repeated it on the second. Savannah lined the horse up to the third and final barrel and kicked him to move faster.
Seeing the barrel approaching quicker than it should, Savannah pulled Cash back slightly, slowing him just enough to make the turn without going too wide and losing time. Clearing it with no penalties, Savannah let her horse go, and Cash kicked into his fastest gear until he crossed the timer, stopping it at 14.03 seconds.
"Here's our third Thornton for the day, folks. And just like the others, she's excelling at her sport. With a time of 14.03, Savannah moves into second place, only one-tenth of a second behind Julia in first."
Not hearing anything being said, Savannah just smiled and patted Cash's neck as she moved him out of the alley and back through the crowd of barrel racers. Many, knowing Savannah is deaf, patted her arm or leg as she passed by, then held their hands in the air, twisting them back and forth, showing an applause for the deaf.
All smiles, she found her dad and Rosie and joined them as they waited for Rosemary's turn. Savannah looked back at the group of teenagers, searching for the face of the boy that had been watching her, but he was nowhere to be found. She started to turn her head back toward her dad when she spotted the boy making his way through the crowd, his eyes locked on hers.
Savannah quickly straightened, her eyes wide as saucers, and then looked at Rosemary. Seeing this, Rosie asked her what was wrong.
"Oh," Rosie replied after Savannah answered. "Umm, hey, Tom. I'm really thirsty. Would you mind getting Savannah and me bottles of water?"
"Of course," he said, then headed toward the concession stand.
Rosemary looked at Savannah, who looked white as a ghost, then held her hands in front of her, palms down, and slowly lowered her hands as she let out a breath.
Savannah nodded, closed her eyes, drew a long breath through her nose, then blew it out through her lips. Looking back at Rosemary, she saw her aunt smile, then motioned with her head to look beside her.
Savannah looked down, and standing near her left leg was the boy.
He looked at Rosemary and spoke to her. "Umm, can she read lips?"
Rosie smiled and nodded.
"Hi, Savannah. My name is Dakota."
"Hi," Savannah muttered in her muted voice.
"You were really great just now."
"Thank you," she signed.
"Umm," Dakota said, then looked at Rosemary. "Can you help me with this one, ma'am?"
Rosemary moved Delilah until the horse was beside the boy.
"Okay," Dakota started. "Are you at a lot of rodeos?"
Savannah nodded.
"Where will you be next?"
"The Little Rock Rodeo next weekend," Savannah signed, then Rosemary translated.
"Cool. Me, too."
"Do you compete?" Savannah asked.
"Yes, I'm a bareback rider."
Savannah's interest was piqued as she watched her aunt translate.
"Would you like to come over and hang out with my friends and me?"
"We'll have to talk to her dad when he comes back. She needs his permission."
"Needs my permission for what?" Tom asked as he handed a bottle of water to Rosemary.
"Tom, this is Dakota. He came over to talk to Savannah and to invite her to hang out with him and his friends."
"Oh," Tom said, unable to think of a longer, more suitable reply.
"Hello, sir," Dakota said as he held his hand to the man.
Tom shook the boy's hand, taking note of the firm handshake. "Good to meet you, Dakota. Now, what's this you wanted to ask?"
"My friends and I are hanging out over there," he said as he pointed toward the group of teens. "And I was wondering if your daughter would like to come to watch the remainder of the rodeo with us."
Tom looked at Savannah, who was watching him with a terrified smile on her face. Tom signed without speaking. "Do you want to go with this boy?"
"I think so."
"How are you going to talk to them?"
"I can read their lips. We can figure it out from there."
"Are you sure?"
"Please, Daddy. I've never had friends at the rodeos."
Tom looked at Dakota as he let out a harsh breath, then at the group of kids, then Rosemary.
"She'll be fine, Tom. We'll all keep an eye on her. And she can call you if she needs anything.
Tom looked back at Savannah, who was patiently waiting for a reply.
"Okay," but you are back with the family before the last bull rider.
"Thanks, Daddy," she signed, then leaned down and kissed Tom's cheek.
Savannah dismounted her horse, then felt her dad's hand on her arm.
"Take care of your horse first."
"Okay, Dad."
Savannah smiled at Dakota, then the boy began to clear a path through the large group of horses as Savannah and Cash followed. They walked to the trailer silently, as he needed to stand before Savannah to speak. Once the horse was tied and she started on the saddle, she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.
"What's your horse's name?"
"Cash," she tried to say.
"Cash?"
Savannah smiled and nodded.
"How old are you?"
Savannah showed a twelve with her fingers.
"Twelve. Cool. I'll be fourteen in two months."
Savannah nodded again. Thinking of something, she smiled and held her hand up, signaling Dakota that she'd be right back. She ducked into the trailer and retrieved a pen and small notebook. When she returned, Dakota was in the middle of unsaddling Cash.
"Where does this go?" he asked, resting his hands on the saddle.
Savannah pointed toward the back of the trailer, and the boy followed her. She opened the tack door, and Dakota slid the saddle onto the empty rack.
…..
"Are you seeing this?" Jack asked whoever was listening.
"Yes, I am," Sam replied. "Tom must have told her it was alright."
The entire adult portion of the family was staring toward the trailers, watching as a teenage boy assisted Savannah with her horse.
"I don't know how I feel about this," Jack said as the young kids began to walk toward the larger group.
Elizabeth laid her hand on Jack's arm, drawing his attention to her. "I'm sorry to break it to you, but it doesn't matter how you feel about it."
Jack let out a sigh and nodded. "I know," he said, not taking his burning gaze off his niece.
…..
Savannah nervously walked alongside Dakota as they neared the growing group of teenagers. Two of the girls ran out to greet her when they got closer, and Dakota introduced them.
Lilly and Jenny were excited to meet her. They'd competed against her a few times but had never approached her due to her deafness.
"Hi, Savannah."
Savannah smiled and waved.
"Savannah is such a cool name," Jenny said. "I just love your name."
Savannah signed 'thank you.'
"That means 'thank you,' right?" Lilly asked.
Savannah's smile grew as she nodded.
They continued to get to know the young girl. Savannah would speak the few words she could, then write her answers the rest of the time.
As the women's barrels began, Savannah glanced over just in time to see Rosemary on deck, waiting her turn.
"My aunt," Savannah said, then she turned and leaned on the fence to watch her.
Dakota moved in beside her, resting his arms on the top rail, his elbow almost touching hers.
Rosemary and Delilah ran a perfect pattern in a good time, but not as fast as they have been in the past. She was currently in fifth place but was pushed back to ninth by the end of the event.
Savannah spent the rest of the rodeo with her new friends. At one point, six girls stood in a circle, each with their phones out, exchanging phone numbers. This also enabled Savannah to text back and forth with the girls instead of using the notepad.
Dakota tapped on Savannah's shoulder, then asked if she wanted to sit on the nearby bleachers. She nodded, then followed him. A quick glance to the opposite side of the arena alerted Savannah to the fact that her whole family was watching them closely.
Savannah held her phone out, asking Dakota for his number, so she could text him.
"Are you not competing today?" she asked him.
He read her question, then typed his reply. "No, I screwed my knee up two months ago, and this is my final week off rodeos. I'll be back in next weekend."
This fact made Savannah smile as she wanted to see him ride. Feeling her phone vibrate, she looked down to read his following text.
"You're very pretty."
Savannah felt her cheeks warm like they were on fire. Not knowing how to respond, she looked at Dakota and smiled. Her phone vibrated again, and she looked down at it.
"I've been watching you ride for a while."
"This is my first event this year," Savannah replied.
"I saw you last year in Oklahoma."
"Oh."
"Will you hang out with me next weekend in Arkansas?"
"Yes. I'd love to...as long as my mom and dad say it's okay."
"Okay, good."
They sat quietly for a while, watching as the first few bull riders were thrown, not reaching that eight-second goal. Neither knew what to say, then Savannah felt a hand touch hers. She looked down and saw Dakota's hand, palm up. She looked at the boy to find him staring at her.
"Can I hold your hand?"
Savannah's heart raced, and her stomach was doing flips. She laid her hand in his and felt his fingers curl over hers. They sat with their hands interlocked between them and watched the next bull rider.
….
"Ummm, Tom," Jack said. "Tom!"
"I see it," Tom answered without looking at his brother.
"What are we going to do about this?" Jack asked.
"You aren't going to do a thing," Sam intervened. "She's growing up, and we must let her do so."
"Is this what it's going to be like with Peyton and Brianna?" Jack asked.
"Worse," Elizabeth answered.
…..
As the last few bulls were loaded into the chutes, Savannah told Dakota that she needed to get back to her family. The young man, not wanting to release her hand, walked with her around the arena. As they got near the Thorntons, Savannah pulled her hand from his, then got out her phone.
"My dad might freak out," she texted.
"I understand."
"Where are your parents?"
Dakota looked around, then found his family one section over from hers. He pointed them out, seeing them watching the young couple as well.
Savannah led the way up the bleachers to where her parents were sitting. Dakota followed closely behind her and moved beside her when she stopped next to Tom.
"Hi, Dakota," Tom said. "Have a seat, you two."
Savannah sat down next to her mother, Dakota beside her.
"Are your parents around here?" Tom asked Dakota.
"Yes, sir. There in the section over."
"Are you just here to watch? Or were you in an event?" Tom asked the boy.
"Just watching today, sir. But next weekend, I'll be returning to bareback riding."
"Returning? Have you been out for a while?"
"Yes, sir. I messed up my knee a couple of months ago. But this is my last week off."
"How did you hurt your knee?"
"I came off a horse and landed wrong, twisted my knee."
"Ouch, that sounds painful," Sam said.
"Yes, ma'am. It was."
"Was it an MCL injury?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"She's a nurse," Tom explained.
"Yes, sir. Savannah told me."
Tom, Sam, Savannah, and Dakota hadn't noticed that the rodeo had ended until everyone around them began to stand. The family moved off the bleachers and gathered on the ground, where Jack stood on one side of Dakota and Tom on the other.
"Hello, sir," Dakota said to Jack. "You were an amazing bull rider."
"Thank you, Dakota."
Dakota's parents joined the group. After introductions and a few minutes of conversing, Dakota said his goodbyes, and they left to go home. The Thorntons, Thatchers, and Coulters made their way to their vehicles and loaded the horses.
"You, okay?" Jack asked his brother.
"Yeah," he answered quietly.
"You sure?" Jack laid his hand on his brother's shoulder. "She's your little girl."
"Don't remind me," Tom said.
"I'm pretty sure you don't need to be reminded of that." Jack rested against the fender of the trailer and crossed his arms. "We all knew this day was coming."
"I know, Jack. But to forewarn you, no matter how much you try to prepare yourself for this...it isn't enough."
"I didn't think so."
Tom let out a long breath. "Why can't our little girls remain that...little?"
"That's a great question."
…..
April 13th, 2015 – Pediatrician's Office
"Eight pounds, ten ounces." The pediatrician said, then moved the baby from the scale to the table. She measured the infant, typed something into her chart, then measured her head. Returning to the chart, the doctor finished inputting the necessary information, scanned it, then turned to Jack and Elizabeth. "She's twenty inches long. That puts her in the 75th percentile, and she's right on track." The doctor held the baby girl's hand, and Brianna stared at the white coat and squeezed her hand. "She's got a strong grip," The doctor chuckled.
"Yes, she sure does."
"Well, we're finished here. Brianna looks great; keep doing what you're doing. Call me if you have any questions. We'll see her again next month."
"Thank you, ma'am," Elizabeth said as she began dressing her daughter.
Jack stood and held out his hand, as he always does, and shook the doctor's. "Thank you, ma'am. We'll see you in a month."
Jack carried his daughter as they walked outside to the SUV and snapped it into place in the back seat.
"I can't get over how different this experience is," Elizabeth said as she got into the vehicle.
Jack closed her door, then walked around the Yukon. As he slid into his seat, he asked, "What experience?"
"Having a normal childbirth and a baby that didn't have to stay in the hospital."
Before starting the SUV, Jack turned in his seat and took Elizabeth's hand. "This is how it's supposed to be," he smiled.
"I know. And I'm so thankful that we are getting to experience it."
Jack leaned across the vehicle and kissed his wife. "Me, too, Baby."
…..
Jack walked toward his outdoor arena with Peanut, Daisy, and Max in hand. Three excited children ran across the grass to the gate, and Blake opened it for his daddy. Once inside, Jack helped each of his children onto their respective pony or horse, gave a few instructions, then leaned against the fence and watched his children.
Blake immediately put Max into a trot and bounced in his seat as he moved the horse across the arena.
"Can we run, Daddy?" Peyton asked.
Jack walked to his daughter and looked down at her. "Do you think you're ready?"
"Yes, Daddy, yes."
"Okay. We'll give it a try."
"Yay!" the little girl shouted.
Jack gave his daughter instructions, then stayed close by to help her. Seeing this, Colton wanted to run too, so Jack repeated everything with his son. All three kids had their animals moving swiftly around the arena. Squeals and laughter could be heard across the entire ranch from their enjoyment.
Wyatt remained at Jack's side, keeping a close eye on the kids and their horses, always at the ready to offer aid if needed. Jack knelt beside the dog and scratched the animal behind the ears, all the while keeping his eyes on his children.
"I'm all done, Daddy," Peyton said as she pulled Daisy to a stop next to her daddy.
"Alright, sweetheart." Jack lifted his daughter out of the saddle and to the ground. "Here, hold your pony until we go to the barn."
"Okay, Daddy."
The little girl patiently waited as Jack allowed the boys to ride a little longer, then he called out to them, letting them know it was time to stop. Without argument, Blake and Colton steered their horses to the father and dismounted.
Once the ponies and Max were unsaddled and brushed out, the kids put the animals into their stalls and helped feed them. The kids helped Jack with the rest of his chores. Blake scooped grain into the buckets as the twins helped carry them to each stall. When they were finished, Jack followed them toward the house, watching his kids pretend to fall down and roll across the fresh spring grass.
Hope met them at the fence, and they stopped to pet her and talk to her for a while before continuing to the house.
"Bang, bang," Colton shouted, his fingers in a shape of a gun, pretending to shoot his brother.
Blake fell to the ground, pretending to die in an exaggerated performance.
"Bang, bang, Daddy."
Jack grabbed his chest, pretending to have just been hit, and put on his best production for the kids. He moaned and gasped, clutching his chest, and fell to the ground. After rolling around for a bit, he lay on his back with his arms outstretched. Three giggling kids ran to him and dog-piled on top of their daddy.
"Uggg!" Jack shouted as a small, pointed elbow landed a blow into his gut.
"Sorry, Daddy," Colton said, staring at his father to ensure he was alright.
Jack wrapped his long arms around all three of them and rolled them onto the grass as he hovered over them. Then he jumped to his feet and began to run, much slower than he was capable of.
Peyton, Colton, and Blake chased him across the yard, followed by a barking Wyatt, as they attempted to capture their daddy repeatedly. After a few minutes, Jack collapsed to the ground, allowing his kids to finally reach him. But this time, he protected his stomach, along with other vital body parts.
…..
Elizabeth had been watching all of this from the front window, and her laughter had also drawn her parents in. As Jack and the kids crossed the porch to walk around to the back door, Jack noticed his audience and gave them a smile and a wave.
Elizabeth was waiting by the back door when they entered and helped Jack get the kids out of their dirty clothes. The couple took their kids up to their large bathtub and watched them play and splash in the bubble-covered water.
Once cleaned and dressed, they joined Elizabeth's parents and Brianna in the living room to watch a movie as a family. With popcorn bowls on their laps, drinks in hand, and each child snuggled with an adult, Jack pushed play on The Good Dinosaur.
…..
April 14th, 2015
Jack was reaching for a t-shirt in the closet when a pair of hands moved around him and across his chest, causing him to jump. He gripped Elizabeth's left hand and held it as her right hand moved down and into his jeans.
"Elizabeth, what...are you...doing?"
"Helping you get your sample to take to the doctor this morning."
"Oh," Jack chuckled, then his breath caught in his throat. "Don't we need...a cup?"
"Right there," she said as she pointed at the shelf beside them, then slid her hand back into his pants. "But you might have to grab it, my hands are full."
Jack heard his wife giggle against his back as she continued to move her hand along his growing erection. Jack unfastened his jeans and eased them off his hips, and as his wife's hand began moving faster, he gripped onto the nearest shelf in the closet to steady himself.
Elizabeth's free hand was still against his chest and she could feel his muscles begin to tense. "You okay," she asked with an unseen grin.
"Uh huh," was all Jack could mutter.
Elizabeth moved to Jack's side, keeping a steady rhythm with her hand. Jack moved his arm around her and clutched onto her waist. His legs quivered as he held onto the shelf to keep from falling over.
"Geez, Beth. Your hands are…" Jack was unable to finish his sentence.
She knew he was close, and as distracted as he was, he wasn't thinking about the necessary specimen cup. Elizabeth reached for it just in time, catching the needed sample for Jack to take to the doctor.
After twisting on the lid, she held the cup up between them. "Think it's enough?" she grinned.
Jack grabbed it with one hand and Elizabeth with the other. "Very funny," he said then kissed her. "Thanks for the help."
"Anytime, Cowboy. Hopefully this is the last time you have to do that...in there," she said, pointing to the container in his hand.
"Well, Mrs. Thornton, I don't think there's a chance a single sperm has survived your...helping hand." Jack let out a laugh as his wife rolled her eyes and turned to walk into their bedroom.
Jack pulled his pants up and moved to the doorway. Leaning against the frame, he watched as she tossed a clean sheet over the mattress.
"Let's get away."
Elizabeth straightened and stared at her husband. "We can't do that. What about Brianna? And the mares are foaling, the calves are arriving, and you have rodeos lined up."
Jack crossed the room and pulled Elizabeth into his arms. "It doesn't have to be right away. Let's just start making plans. It can be after foaling season and when Brianna is a little older." Jack ran his hand through her hair, then curled his fingers around the back of her neck, pulling her to meet his lips. "We don't have to be gone...a four-day weekend maybe. And someplace warm, I'd like to see you in those bathing suits again."
Elizabeth thought for a moment, then smiled at her husband. "As long as you promise to leave the speedo at home."
Jack chuckled, then answered, "Deal. Where would you like to go?"
"I'll have to think about it."
"Okay," he said, then kissed her neck. "Well," he started, then held up the cup. "I guess I should get this to the office. If I wait too long, you might have to help me gather another one."
Elizabeth moved into his arms and kissed his lips. "I'm okay with that," she grinned.
….
April 15th, 2015 – Hope Meadows Ranch
While Grace and William took the kids to town, Elizabeth decided to try to get a nap in while Brianna slept. After a quick feeding, she laid her daughter into her bassinet, then laid down herself.
Jack walked into the room with the phone to his ear, ended the call, then jumped onto the bed alongside his wife.
"What was that about?" she asked, rolling to her side to face her husband.
Jack propped his head in his hand and smiled.
"Why are you grinning?"
"That...was the doctor's office."
"Oh," Elizabeth giggled at her husband's expression. "I take it you passed your test this time."
"With flying colors. Not a sperm one has survived your relentless...attacks," he teased.
"That is excellent news."
"Yes, it is. Now, we just need to get you cleared for...take off," he said, then grabbed Elizabeth and pulled her onto him.
