Mine

Chapter Four "Darton"

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my characters.

Same Day (October 16th)

"So how exactly did you get to my hotel room last night?" Kit asked. We were about a half hour away from Darton and I had just woken up a bit ago. I felt so drained from last night. Kit wasn't going to like my answer at all, I didn't have a car so I couldn't drive.

I played with necklace nervously. "I kind of hitched a ride from one of the guys at the barn." Kit sucked in a breath and shook his head.

"You got into a car with a complete stranger in an unfamiliar state." Kit's tone was incredulous. "Molly, what the hell were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I needed to get out of there. I knew the hotel you guys were staying at and if I got there, I could stay with one of you. I was going to go to Jason and Lynn's room but then I thought this is the first time they've been together this long in a while and well..." I trailed off blushing. I was trying to distract him from the fact that I had gotten a ride from a stranger.

Kit chuckled. "Didn't exactly want to see or hear that, did you?" I shook my head fast. "So, you came to my room."

"Yep. I knew you'd let me stay." I smiled over at him. He reached over to squeeze my hand.

"I mean why wouldn't I let my hot girlfriend stay in my hotel room?" Kit joked with a wink. I laughed.

"Well it's not like you thought you were gonna get lucky." I snorted.

"I'm a gentleman. I would never try to seduce you." I rolled my eyes.

"Uh-huh. Your buckle bunnies and other riders tell different stories about you." Kit snorted at my words.

"Do you really want to talk about me and other girls?"

"No." I grumbled and crossed my arms. It would just make me jealous most likely. I thought of my dad's words last night. "You know, last night my dad called you the 'man-whore' of the rodeo circuit."

Kit looked over quickly at me. "He did not." I nodded. "Well, there were a lot more cowboys who were with more girls than me. Let's just drop the subject." Kit noticed my uncomfortable silence.

"Katie said it was fine for me to come early?" Kit had called Katie earlier this morning while I was in the shower to tell her about last night's events.

"Perfectly fine with her. More time to get you eased in at Sterling Stables." Kit said. "And more time for me to spend with you." Kit flashed a grin at me. He put his blinker on and turned right onto a bridge. I saw a sign that read "Three Ponies Ranch" and felt nerves build in my stomach.

We were at his parent's place. Kit had called earlier to ask if he could borrow the trailer to pick up Honor. Of course, he was going to do it next week for me so he just had to ask for it a bit earlier. Jason and Lynn were coming back after we got Honor. "Ready to meet my family?"

"No but I don't have much of a choice." I laughed nervously. Kit squeezed my hand reassuringly as he parked the truck. Immediately the front door opened. A blonde woman and a tall dark-haired man stepped out onto the porch. Kit came around and opened my door for me. I stepped out wishing I had put more thought into my outfit. I wore a long sleeve dandelion yellow t-shirt from a rodeo years ago, a pair of jeans and my dark brown boots. My hair was up in a ponytail, I had left my hat in the truck and it just brushed my back. Kit grabbed my hand and lead me up the steps to meet his parents.

His mother had a huge smile on her face and his father had his arm around her. "Hey Ma, Dad." Kit greeted his parents and then gestured towards me. "This is my girl, Molly. Molly, this is my mother Maxine and my father Luke."

"It's so nice to meet you!" Maxine pushed Kit slightly out of the way to hug me. I hugged her back, surprised at her enthusiasm.

"It's good to meet you too." His father offered me his hand and I shook it. "Kit talks about you all a lot."

"Same goes for you." Maxine smiled at me. I felt pleased to hear he talked about me and I looked over towards him. He just looked happy with his cute grin on his face.

"Well let's get inside and you can meet the rest of our family." Maxine grabbed me from Kit and pulled me inside. I was met by so many different people. Nate, Bryan, Adam, Quinn, Jake and their grandfather, Mac—he insisted that I call him Mac and not Mr. Ely—all were introduced. "Come and have an early lunch with us before you head back out."

"How about we agree to have dinner with you tonight?" Kit offered to his mother. "Since it's such a long drive, I'd rather leave, pick up Molly's horse and then come for dinner, so we're back by nighttime." She agreed and we got the trailer hooked up. I waved goodbye as we turned around in the ranch yard.

"It wasn't that bad, was it?" Kit asked as we headed back towards Las Vegas. I shrugged. It wouldn't be bad until later when we were at their dinner table.

…...

Maxine POV

"Mom! Kit's truck is here!" Quinn shouted. I dropped the bag of flour I had been holding onto the counter and grabbed Luke's hand.

"Maxine, slow down." Luke said chuckling. Kit was stopping by to get the horse trailer. We watched out the window with the boys as Kit's truck pulled into our yard.

"This girl must be important if he's bringing her home." My father in-law, Mac, mused. "She might be the one."

Nate chuckled. "Grandfather, they've only known each other a few weeks and they're just stopping by to get the trailer."

"Ah, but I knew by your grandmother and I's third date she was the one." Mac sounded wistful. I'm sure he missed his wife. "And have you ever known Kit to be so interested in a girl that he's talked about her? Wasn't that girl he dated in high school the last time he talked about a girl?" He pointed out.

"Well let us just go meet the girl. Everyone else stay in here and we'll invite her in." I walked out to meet them with Luke. Kit opened the door for her, such a gentleman, and she stepped out. Kit grabbed her hand in his and lead her to us.

"Hey Ma, Dad." Kit greeted us and then gestured towards Molly. "This is my girl, Molly. Molly, this is my mother Maxine and my father Luke."

"It's so nice to meet you!" I pushed Kit out of the way so I could hug her. She hugged me back, seeming surprised. I stepped back as she shook Luke's hand. I looked her over as she talked. She had brown hair, brown eyes and she wore jeans and a yellow t-shirt. She was very pretty. I could see why Kit first took notice of her; I was also trying to guess her age.

"It's good to meet you too." She told us. "Kit talks about you all a lot."

"Same goes for you." I smiled at her. I couldn't believe how much Kit had told me about her. He never opened up so much. She looked over at him and he grinned at her happily.

"Well let's get inside and you can meet the rest of our family." I grabbed her and pulled her inside. In there we introduced her to everyone and they were all very polite, thank goodness, they could really act up sometimes. I asked them to stay with us for lunch.

"How about we agree to have dinner with you tonight?" Kit offered to me. "Since it's such a long drive, I'd rather leave, pick up Molly's horse and then come back so we're back by nighttime." I agreed that way we'd have more time getting to know Molly. They got the trailer hooked up; Molly waved at us as they turned out.

"She seemed nice." I said as I made lunch for everyone. "A bit shy but I imagine that will change when she's around us for longer."

"Kind of young." Adam said raising his eyebrows.

"Well now, we don't know how old she is, she could be the same age as Kit." I paused. "She's graduating from college anyways so she's old enough." Nate had his phone out and he let out a short laugh while looking at the screen.

"Well Mom...she might be younger than you think. I just googled her father because he's a regular half famous roper and there's some interviews with her involved."

"How old is she?" Luke asked Nate. Nate shook his head.

"In this interview she was nineteen. It's not that old, maybe six months." It was all silent at the table. Nineteen was a bit young. Kit was twenty-five, that was six years.

"Well yesterday was her birthday! So she's twenty now." I said upbeat.

Quinn spoke my thoughts exactly when he said, "But Mom he's been talking about her and to her for at least a couple of weeks."

Mac shrugged his shoulders. "Age is just a number for some people. Sure, it's a bit of a difference but not huge."

We finished lunch and I started on the cake I was going to make for Molly. Kit had briefly said this morning when he called that her birthday dinner had ended a bit disastrous so the least I could do was try to make it a bit better for her. I was also eager to learn about the girl Kit had brought home.

…...

Molly POV

We loaded Honor into the trailer and I looked around, worried. "Worried about running into your Dad?" Kit asked as he locked the trailer door. I sighed and nodded. "I don't think you really have to worry about it too much. My buddy said he went out of here this morning before we got here. Took off." I felt a sinking disappointment.

I guess I had thought maybe when he sobered up that he'd come and apologize to me, say he didn't mean the things he said to me. Not that I would just forgive him of course but it could be worked out. "Molly, sweetheart, don't let it get you down. You just have to let it go, at least for now." Kit rubbed my shoulder.

I nodded and we headed back towards Darton. It seemed to take less time than our last trip here somehow. Honor was staying at the Ely's ranch tonight so Katie could get everything set up for her. Since we were a week ahead of time Katie was a bit unprepared, she was working on Honor's place and my apartment. So I'd be staying in a hotel for tonight, Kit would be at his parent's house.

"You know if you don't want to be alone at the hotel, I could stay there with you." Kit winked mischievously. I laughed loudly at his remark.

"Um yeah well Jason and Lynn will be in the same hotel so I don't think I'll be too lonely Mr. Ely." I told him. Kit chuckled. We pulled into the ranch yard at the same time as Jason and Lynn, who were also coming to dinner. It made me feel a little bit better. Kit helped me put Honor into the round pen next to one of the pastures so she could still see the other horses. I watered her and gave her some hay.

"I'll come say goodbye to you before I leave." I kissed her cheek and followed Kit inside. We were greeted by his whole family who was waiting for us in the kitchen. His mother guided me to a chair between Kit and her.

They passed around what looked to be chili. "It's Kit's favorite, when he's not eating mine, he loves making it." Maxine leaned over to whisper to me. I smiled.

"I'll try to remember that." I replied to her.

"So Molly, tell us about yourself." Mac spoke up with a smile towards me. I blushed red when everyone looked towards me. I felt shy all of a sudden but I tried to speak through it.

"Well, I ride in barrels and sometimes roping. I have a nine-year-old Quarter horse named Honor, she's the best horse I've ever ridden. I think you know that I'm doing an internship at Sterling Stables to become a riding instructor. I don't really know there's much else about me." My cheeks burned from blushing.

"I'd beg to differ." Kit looked towards me. "She doesn't tell you that she's had straight A's all through college or that she graduated with such high scores on her GED test that she got a scholarship for college. She also has won two junior championships, she volunteered for a week at an animal refuge in Louisiana when it was her vacation time and she volunteers with the medic tent at rodeos when she can."

"Well that's wonderful!" His mom said to me with a half hug. I tried to avoid everyone's eyes, I felt like the center of attention.

"Surely, they'd rather talk about you." I tried to get their attention off me.

Quinn, I think, snorted. "Not really, we hear too much about him." I had to laugh at that as Kit threw his napkin at his brother.

"Boys!" Maxine scolded them but I could see it was filled with motherly love. If anything could make my heart ache more, it was that. Lynn threw me a I-understand-that-you're-sad-look.

"So how old are you Molly?" Nate asked as he got another bowl of chili. Everyone seemed to go quiet and I looked at Kit, wondering if he had told them about my age.

"Well I turned twenty yesterday." I replied quietly. I saw the exchange of looks between his mother and father, then the dirty look between Kit and Nate. "But Kit and I, well we didn't really start dating til yesterday." I assured them. "We just talked for a couple of weeks to get to know each other."

"Age is just a number." His Grandfather Mac shrugged. "If you like each other—and it's legal—there's no reason not to try dating out."

I felt a little bit better after his words and some of his brothers nodding. "So Jake, Bryan, Kit tells me you're going to college at Great Basin?"

"Yeah, it's our first year." Bryan spoke up, I had remembered Kit said Jake was shy. "Jake's taking an agricultural major with a minor in Criminal Justice, I'm majoring in Welding Technology." I talked with him a bit before looking at Jake.

"Jake, what do you want to do after college?" He cleared his throat and looked up at me.

"Well I'd like to run the ranch but I'd also like the chance to work with the police in their tracking department." Jake said quietly.

"Jake is a great tracker, he's helped a lot with his ability." Luke complimented his son and I saw by the look on Jake's face just how much his father's compliment meant to him. When we finished up dinner, I helped Maxine with the dishes. Jason and Lynn went back to the hotel, I had told them I'd be there eventually.

"So..."I started and took a deep breath. "I know you're probably not happy about the age difference but Kit and I... well I know it seems like such a big thing but we didn't think it'd even amount to a relationship. We just get along so good and we agree on a lot of things. Kit is such a great guy and he's always telling me to do better, he was really supportive and encouraging about me doing this internship, to follow my dreams. It's one of the reasons I like him. He really cared about me doing what I love." I knew I was all over the place and I probably made no sense but I just wanted his mother to like me and understand that I wasn't some young girl.

Maxine dried her hands off and took my hands in hers. "It was a bit of shock for us when we realized your age. There is a little age gap between you two and sometimes it matters. But honey, he really likes you. He thinks highly of you. You should hear the way he talks about you, see the way he looks at you. You have my son already so smitten with you, he's just so happy." Then Maxine looked at me with tears in her eyes. "And I have to thank you because I have my son with me for the most I've ever had him since he left for the rodeo. He's staying these few weeks to get you settled in here but I'm just go glad to have him back here for these few weeks."

I hugged his mom tightly. "I wish I could make him stay longer but you know these rodeo cowboys..." I trailed off. Maxine wiped her eyes.

"I know, he's always loved riding broncs. He says one day he'll settle down and stop but I worry about what injuries he'll have before then or what he'll do after that." Maxine sighed. Her face brightened up. "I almost forgot!" Maxine grabbed a covered pan off the counter. "Boys! Luke! Mac get in here!" I watched as everyone came walking in.

"What is it, Maxine?" Luke asked but his eyes landed on the pan and he seemed to answer himself.

"We knew your birthday was yesterday and Kit told me your favorite cake was devil food cake with peanut butter icing so I made it today while you went to pick up Honor." Maxine took off the top and it revealed a wonderful looking cake. I felt pleasantly shocked at her baking a cake for me.

"I—I can't believe you did this. Thank you!" I put my hand against my chest to stop the ache. Maxine was going to be the death of me with all these maternal things she was doing. We all had a slice of cake and I complimented her on how good it was. "You should quit your teaching job and become a baker!"

Maxine chuckled. "I don't think I'm that good but thank you Molly." As everyone finished, I look at Kit, who looked like he couldn't be happier. The evening had went well.

"I should probably be heading to the hotel; it's starting to get late." I said with a sigh. Kit stood up with me.

"Hotel? Why don't you stay here?" Mac suggested and I felt shy yet again.

"I couldn't, I'm sure you all have a full house with the boys here and I would be there's no room." I waved his suggestion off.

"Well the room Kit has a double bed." The words hung in the air as everyone was silent. Was Mac actually suggesting Kit and I sleep in the same bedroom? I looked at Kit's grin and knew he had no objection to that.

"You could stay close to Honor." Kit shrugged. I gave him a look.

"Surely it's not appropriate for us to sleep in the same bed." I told him firmly. I didn't notice a few of his brothers smirking.

"We did last night." I could have smacked that damn grin off his face as my face went beet red. Did he really have to say that? Now they would think something had happened last night! Dammit, we weren't sleeping together.

"Only because it was necessary to last night's events." I ground out, so angry with him. I didn't see it but Maxine was giving me a sympathetic look.

"Well, you're both adults and we have the room, so stay here if you'd like." Luke said but you could tell he felt a bit awkward about it.

"Let me show you to our room." Kit grabbed my hand and led me down the hallway. We went into a white room with a double bed and a window overlooking the mountains. As soon as the door shut, I smacked his arm. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Your comment out there!" I hissed at him. "How could you say that? Now they're thinking we slept together last night!"

"But we did." Kit pretended to be confused. I glared at him.

"I meant they think we had sex!" Kit grinned at my obvious despair at his family thinking that.

"Why does it matter what they think?" Kit asked. I threw my hands up in the air.

"Because I want your family to think good of me! I don't want your mother to think I'm sle—having sex with you. We've only been together for a few weeks." I crossed my arms. Kit came and slid his hands down my back.

"Molly, they think you're amazing. Everyone said as much when we were in the living room, even Jake said he thought you were great so far." I looked down. "Even if we chose to sleep together, we're both adults Molly, it's our decision." I let it go and Kit went out to get my bag with my clothes. I changed into a pair of pajamas in the bathroom and Kit slid off his jeans, replacing them with a pair of loose shorts. "I figure you were uncomfortable last night with me just being in my boxers so I'll put these on tonight."

"Thanks." I got into the bed and Kit joined me. He pulled me over to him and I laid on his chest.

"I like you right here." He kissed the top of my head. "It felt good last night to have someone to sleep next to." I smiled up at him and he kissed me. "Try to get some sleep, we'll head over to meet Katie tomorrow and maybe we'll go on a ride together." I pulled the covers up to my chin and made myself comfortable.

…...

Kit POV

I watched as Molly fell asleep. She had been great with my family, taken the craziness. I know she was still a little pissed from my comment about us sleeping together last night in front of my family but I just wanted her to stay here with me. I wanted to spend as much time together as we could in these next few weeks because after this it could be New Year's Eve before we saw each other again. I knew from other guys on the circuit trying to keep up a relationship up while out riding in rodeos could be rough. It was rough on Jason and Lynn but they've made it four years now.

Plus, Molly would have work to keep her busy and I'm sure she'd be curious about exploring around Darton on Honor. I was willing to come home way more often than I did before Molly (which was maybe once every few years) especially around the holidays, she would need the support since her dad kicked her out. We'd get through it together.

I sighed barely even recognizing my own thoughts. I have never thought this way about someone. "I don't know what you're doing to me, Molly Parker but whatever it is, I like it." I whispered. I kissed her head and laid my head back, I'd try to get some sleep too.

…...

A/N: Hey my lovely readers! Here's another chapter for you :) I've been stuck on Kit because I reread the PS: Wild Horse Island books and of course he is very much in them with Darby and Jonah. So you got another update. I hope you like it and let's see some reviews! I added this on my last chapter but here it is again:

Would anyone be interested in a Phantom Stallion: Wild Horse Island Fanfic? I have a poll on my profile so go vote if you've read the series! Darby would not be main character but it would be OC/WHI character like my other stories. Everyone at 'Iolani Ranch would be very much involved! I've finished the first chapter but I won't post until I have multiple chapters or when I've finished Ripped Pictures.

Thanks for reading! -Quinnandseth'sgirl15