Jesse and his brother Jamie were getting a kick out of watching Aubrey and Stacie bathe the horses they had just ridden. Charlie didn't give them inch; if they were going to take riding lessons from him then they were going to learn about taking care of the horses as well. Riding horses wasn't always fun and games, there was a lot of responsibility involved. They begged Charlie not to make them bathe the horses but he wouldn't hear of it. He told them that they could "whine and moan about it all day long" or they could "get after it if they wanted to go home before dark." When Charlie wouldn't budge, they ultimately decided that they needed to complete the task they were given so they could leave.
When Jesse's eye caught sight of Beca he couldn't help but smile. She was happy and that happiness was written all over her face. Of course, he knew for certain that she too was definitely taking pleasure in watching Aubrey and Stacie bathe the horses.
Jesse told Jamie that he had some things to do and asked if he wanted to tag along. Jamie declined and instead decided to stick around the stable because he wanted to see how everything was going to play out with the girls. Turns out sticking around would pay off big time.
While Jesse went to finish his work, he couldn't help but get excited about his target practice date with Beca. While Beca was showing off her barrel racing abilities, he packed what they would need as well as snacks and drinks. After everything was packed he made his way back to the stable. As he walked in, Beca was giving Whiskey apples and carrots as a treat for the good job he had done while she raced him. She decided to give him some time to rest before taking him out again on her date.
While working in the stable, Jamie heard Aubrey tell Stacie, "I'm not sure I'm coming back after today. I signed up for riding lessons not to perform menial tasks meant for a stable boy."
"Well, after seeing the eye candy hanging around this place, you can bet your sweet little ass I'm coming back." Stacie told her.
"So, you're going to continue to bathe horses so you can look at a hot guy once a week."
"Hells yeah!" Stacie said. "Did you see him? He was like sex on a stick!"
"Stacie, you need to stop thinking with your lady parts and start thinking with your head."
"Aubrey… quit being a little bitch. Besides, you know damn good and well that my hunter is always on the prowl."
"That's the problem…you're hunter is constantly looking for its next victim."
Laughing Stacie said, "Sure this is all hard work," she said motioning to what they were doing, "but in a few months we'll be doing all those tricks Miss Shorty McGee was doing earlier."
"She didn't learn to do that shit overnight you know? She's been at this for years."
"Doesn't matter…because when I learn it all in record time, I'm gonna win the guy. Something I'm damned sure she can't do."
"That's where I think you're wrong." Aubrey told her. "He's very taken."
"What makes you say that?" Stacie asked.
"Oh…the fact that he didn't pay either one of us the time of day. He tried to hide it but trust me when I say he has his eyes set on her."
"DAMN! Why do you have to be such a buzz kill?"
"I'm not a buzz kill, just telling you what I observed. He's taken Stacie! VERY taken so back off!"
"What crawled up your ass and died?"
"Nothing. I just don't see the point in trying to gain the attention of someone who is not interested in anything I have to offer."
"That's because you offer all the wrong things." Stacie told Aubrey
"Oh...is that right?! Well...Miss Hoochie Momma, one day your damn box is gonna rot out from all the guys you've been with."
"I'm not a hoochie and my business is none of yours so unless you're my thong don't be up my ass about it!"
"All I'm saying is that your vagina, I'm sorry your hunter, doesn't need to meet everyone you're interested in."
"Sure it does. If it doesn't then how will I know who's good enough to keep around?"
"You're disgusting!' Aubrey screeched. "I'm not saying you're a slut, but you need a damn odometer installed in your hooha!"
Stacie chuckled, "That was actually pretty good."
"It wasn't meant to be good...it was meant to open your eyes and make you realize that you've given the best part of yourself away to every Tom, Dick and Harry that wants it."
"Well, I might not be everyone's cup of tea but at least I don't have a personality that is dry as burnt toast!"
"Look...I'm not here to argue, in fact, I hate when we argue but I just wish you'd respect yourself more." Aubrey pleaded with her.
"I know but what's done is done." Stacie said, "And I didn't see any balls, chain, anchors or rings on him, so unless he tells me otherwise, he's fair game."
"Suit yourself, but mark my words, he's taken!"
A few minutes later, Charlie came over and inspected the girls work. He decided that they had done a good enough job and that they could leave. As the girls were bringing the horses back to their stalls, Jamie informed Charlie of the discussion he overheard.
"Hey girls."
"Yes, Mr. Charlie." They said as they turned around.
"Just so you both know my son is off limits…to both of you."
Both girls looked shocked that he knew what they had been talking about. Neither one of them had seen anyone around and thought they were alone having a private conversation. Guess they knew for future reference that they needed to save all conversations for the ride home.
"yes sir." they said in unison. Stacie looked a little deflated while Aubrey was celebrating.
"See you both next week." Charlie told them as he walked them out.
What the girls didn't know was that Beca had also heard the conversation. She had been at the far end of the stables the entire time and her blood was beyond the point of boiling. She had started to pace around when Jesse walked in.
"Hey sweet cheeks." He said. "You ready to go?"
Beca didn't turn to look at him, she just mumbled, "Yeah, let's go."
"Are you ok?"
"I don't want to talk about it." She said, "Let's go."
Jesse wasn't really happy about her response. He knew she was upset but he also knew that she would share her feelings when she was ready. So, they loaded up and headed out to the back of the property for target practice. They rode in near silence only trading the occasional pleasantry.
When they got to the creek, Beca dismounted, kicked off her boots and went to sit on the rocks. As she dangled her toes in the cool water, she felt Jesse sit behind her.
He kissed her cheek as he wrapped his arms around her. "Hey...you ready to tell me what's bothering you?" Beca grunted. "Oh come on Bec, you can tell me. What's got your hackles up?"
"That bitch Stacie is planning to put the moves on you."
"Which one was Stacie?"
"The brunette."
"Hey...look at me." He said reaching around so he could see her face. "I'm not interested in her."
"But Jess... I wouldn't blame you if you were. She's gorgeous, tall, statuesque pretty much perfect in every way."
"Maybe she is, but you know what?"
"What?"
"She isn't you. C'mere." he said taking her hand as he stood up.
"What?"
He stood in front of her and put his arms around her waist, then started singing,
"Are the stars out tonight?
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
'Cause I only have eyes for you, dear
The moon may be high
But I can't see a thing in the sky
'Cause I only have eyes for you."
Beca smiled. "You're crazy...you know that right?!"
He smiled and nodded. They started to sway as he continued to sing
"I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here, so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you."
Beca put her head on his chest, feeling the vibration of his voice while she listened to him sing. One of his hands rubbed the length of her back, the other was still tightly wrapped around her waist.
"I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here, so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
(they all disappear from view)
And I only have eyes
For You."
When Jesse was finished singing, Beca lifted her head and looked at him. "When did you learn to sing Frank Sinatra?"
"I've always sung Frank Sinatra. He's one of my idols."
"Interesting!" she said. "Thank you for easing my fears about the those girls, but don't think for a minute that I'm going to let my guard down around them...and frankly, neither should you."
"I won't...I promise."
"That Stacie girl wants you pretty bad. Apparently, "her hunter is always on the prowl for its next victim."
"What? Her hunter?"
"Sounds to me like she's named her lady parts "Hunter". Be careful, from what I overheard she could give you some kind of STD just by standing to close. Yuck!" Beca shuttered at the thought of where Stacie's lady parts had been. "We need to disinfect that saddle!"
Jesse laughed. "I'll scrub it down as best I can."
"Be sure to use gloves...and when you're done, throw the gloves out!"
"Yes ma'am! What do you say we stop talking about them and get down to business?"
"Ok...I'm ready to shoot something John Wayne!"
Jesse grinned, "Umm...that's Mr. Wayne to you."
She laughed. "Uhh...ok!"
"Let's see if we can't turn you into the next Annie Oakley."
"You're so weird!"
"I am but you know you love me." he winked at her.
"Yeah...I do." She said without thinking. "Oh shit! Did I just admit that I love him...OUT LOUD?! Oh Holy Hell...I did. What now? It's too late to take it back. FUCK!"
Jesse realized what just happened and watched Beca's expression change from being happy to being worried that she said the wrong thing. Thinking quickly he called he over to show her how to load the gun and prepared for target practice. As she got familiar with the 20 gauge shotgun, Jesse lined up the can and glass bottles he collected. He jogged back toward her and asked, "You ready?"
"Mr. Wayne...I was born ready!" she said with a wink as she pulled her protective eye gear on.
He showed her how to stand and positioned the butt of the shot gun snugly into her shoulder. When she told him that it hurt he told her that failing to keep the shotgun tight into her shoulder would make the kick more painful when she shot the gun and that keeping it tight would allow her body to absorb the kick, as opposed to the gun bouncing into her shoulder.
He then showed her how to aim properly, telling her that she needed to develop cheek to stock weld. She looked at him like he was crazy. He was talking way over her head but he always broke it down for her. He told her that cheek to stock weld means that you've aligned your eye evenly with the sight of the shotgun by keeping your cheek in tight to the stock. He pushed the butt of the shotgun back into the pocket between her shoulder and pectoral muscle, then told her to let her head rest against it by relaxing her neck.
He asked her if she was ready. When she indicated that she was, he stood behind her and in the same stance wrapping his arms around hers. He told her the gun was ready to go when she was, that she shouldn't be scared and to shoot when she was ready. She took a couple of minutes to get used to the weight of the gun because while his arms were around her, they were only there to help guide her not to take the weight of the gun from her.
"I'm ready." she said.
"Ok...here goes, 3, 2, 1...shoot!" he said.
"Damnit! I closed my eyes as I pulled the trigger!" she said aggravated with herself.
"Ok, listen we're gonna try again but this time you're gonna keep your eyes open. The first shot was close, the can moved but you didn't hit it. You ready?"
"Yep! I'm gonna get that bitch!" she said. "Count me down again."
Jesse grinned, "Ready...3, 2, 1!"
This time Beca hit the can she was aiming for. She immediately squealed and jumped up. "I did it!"
"You sure did! You showed that poor defenseless can who was boss!" he said scooping her up in his arms and twirling her around.
Beca laughed, "Damn skippy!"
"You ready for more or have you had enough for today?"
"Enough? Are you kidding? I'm gonna shoot the rest of those sorry bastards!"
"I think I've created a monster! Go get it girl!" Jesse chuckled. "Lock and load baby...lock and load!"
They spent the next hour shooting at every last can and bottle Jesse set up. Beca was good, in fact, her marksmanship was amazing for a novice. They ate, talked and joked as they cleaned the guns. When it was time head back neither wanted to but it was getting late. It was a little after Midnight when they got back to the stables and Whiskey and Dakota were certainly getting used to being out late.
Beca brushed Whiskey's coat out while Jesse did the same for Dakota. Their evening was nearing it's end. It was the part of the day that neither one of them enjoyed, but the sooner they fell asleep the sooner they could start the new day together. After climbing the tree and making sure Beca was safe on her balcony, Jesse told her good night and turned to head back down the tree to the tack house. He couldn't wait for the day that they didn't have to sneak around and when they could go to bed together every night.
"Jess."
"Yeah baby."
"About earlier..." she said as she began to fiddle with her fingers. Beca didn't have to say anything more, he knew exactly what she was talking about. He interrupted as he climbed on to the balcony and stood next to her, "Beca... I love you too."