Authors: Nancy Hopper
"Hey! Cut it out now, Domino, that's an expensive hat." He growled, reaching down to the floor to pick up his Stetson, and examine it carefully. He glowered up at a very big, black Appaloosa horse with a magnificent white blanket and big black spots on his rump. The horse looked for all the world like he was very pleased with himself for lifting Tim’s hat from his head, and throwing it on the floor. The big star on his forehead bounced in the dim light as he shook his head up and down, proud of himself for grabbing the center of attention.
"You fat punk!" Tim grumbled, putting his hat back on. "Don't you dare laugh at me."
The horse rolled his eyes and threw his nose in the air, as though knowing Tim might attempt to avenge the prank.
"Yeah, you're bad." Tim goaded him, patting his neck affectionately and scratching him behind the ear. "I'm going to skin you and drape you over my couch, someday." He threatened ominously. Domino just bumped him affectionately.
There was a great deal of stomping and nickering as the horses all gave Tim notice that they were good and ready for dinner. Tasha wandered down the aisle, and saw several mares in foal and a couple of ponies. There were several Pintos, all flashy and obviously well-cared for.
"I'll be back in a flash." Tim told her with a wink. He climbed the ladder to the hay loft, and started knocking hay into the stalls through square holes cut into the second story floor.
Tasha bit her lip, feeling curiosity grab hold of her. She trotted over to the ladder, and climbed up. She'd always wanted to see a hay loft. The ladder was irresistible; there’s no way she could have resisted climbing it to see what was above, and to see what Tim was up to.
She found it not glamorous up there, but interesting just the same. There were high stacks of baled hay and naked light bulbs hanging from the peaked ceiling, every twenty feet or so. And lots of dust. She sneezed.
Tim groaned. "Now what did you go and do that for?" he asked in consternation. He was staring at her with a frown, hands on his hips.
Tasha gave him a wide-eyed look. "I'm sorry, darling. What did I do wrong?" she asked worriedly. "I just wanted to see the loft. Is there some reason I shouldn't have?"
Tim pushed his hat back to scratch his head with a look of annoyance; and then snapped it back into place in a very business-like manner. "Well, doggone it, woman." He complained. He walked toward her with his rolling walk, and put his arms around her.
"You know, it's just that men ... well, we tend to get rowdy ideas in a place like this. Boys who grow up on ranches do all their playing, fantasizing and dreaming, in haylofts." He admitted. His eyes held an earnest, regretful look that told her in no uncertain terms that it was much too late, and that he just could not be held responsible for the consequences, under the circumstances.
"Oh. Well, I'll just go right back down." She informed him innocently.
"Not so fast." He whispered. "Do you have any idea how many nights I've come up here, and looked out at the stars, and dreamed about you? I've always imagined you coming up that ladder. And I always imagined I’d come over here and pick you up, like this," he demonstrated, "and lay you down right over here in some nice, soft hay. And then I’d just join you, something like this."
Tasha gasped when Tim vaulted up onto the hay bales beside her with ease, and put his knee between hers. "And it gets better from there." He warned her, with embers simmering in his eyes.
He took his hat off, wrapped an arm around her neck, and rolled her over until she was more on top of him, than on the hay. He pulled her close enough to kiss her, and it didn't take more than a minute, before they were both on fire.
"Now, do you see what you've done?" he complained harshly. "How am I supposed to sleep tonight? I've told you before, I can't afford to allow you to seduce me until we're married."
Tasha laughed, and punched him in the shoulder. "That's not funny, mister." She warned.
He rolled her back over, until he was half on top of her. "No. It sure isn't." He agreed softly. His eyes were sultry and passionate as he looked down at her. He examined the sweet curve of her lips, the soft texture of her skin, the smoldering passion in her green eyes. His kiss left her breathless and aching, and he went on, and on. She felt like she'd die if he didn't stop. His mouth, the heat and weight of his body on hers, were making her wild with desire. His hands were caressing her waist with a provocative touch that was alarming.
"I have waited a very long time to see passion in those green eyes." He drawled. He kissed her neck, and let his lips move lower, to the hollow of her throat.
Tasha was panting. He was lighting her up, in a way she could never recall feeling. He looked down at her, and smiled with satisfaction. "Oh, yeah." He chuckled. “That's what I've been dreaming about.”
"Tim." She whimpered. "Please."
"You drive me insane. What's worse, you know it." He accused with deliberation.
"I thought you didn't, um ... weren't in favor of … playing with fire." She reminded him breathlessly. "How can you do this to me and preach against … uh ... pre-marital passion on television?"
He shook his head. "I never said there was a thing wrong with passion." He corrected her. "I happen to enjoy seeing you drowning in it, very much. Just the way you like to send me over the edge."
"Oh! Look who's talking!" she objected.
He narrowed his eyes. "Your husband is talking to you, darlin'." He informed her in a low voice. "You know as well as I do that the only thing that's missing is a piece of paper. It's a whole lot different now than it was when you tried to tempt me into your bed."
She nodded her agreement, nervously.
"It's a good thing it's coming winter." He told her thoughtfully, and with more than a little reproach. “It's a little too cold up here for me to want to take anything off, tonight. Luckily, there aren't any blankets up here, or this could develop into a very dangerous scenario.” he teased.
She put a nervous hand to her throat, and laughed. "Oh, boy. Do you have any idea how overwhelming you can be?"
He looked surprised. "Is that bad?" he asked, a naughty smile playing around his lips.
"No." She admitted. "At least, I'm certain that I'll be glad of it when we're married." She put a hand against his cheek, and stroked it lovingly.
His eyes darkened passionately in response. "You know, lady, us farm boys -- we sometimes forget our manners. I suppose that I should let you out of this predicament, before I lose all reason."
She smiled. "You're too sexy and gorgeous and tempting for your own good, and you know it, don't you? How in the world have you stayed out of trouble until now?" she teased in a husky voice.
"I never had you to provoke me, I suppose. Before we go, I want you to do something for me."
"Tim, I think I've already done too much." She protested, and tried to sit up.
"Not so fast." He hissed, pulling her against him with iron arms. "Promise me, Tasha. Here and now. I don't want to wait anymore to hear you tell me you'll always be mine."
She looked up at him, uncertain what words he was waiting for.
"Just say, ‘
I, Tasha
." He prompted her, with expectant eyes.
Tasha paled, and then felt the blood rush back into her face. She looked into his expectant eyes adoringly, and had to swallow tears. "I, Tasha." she repeated obediently.
"Take you, Timothy."
"Take you, Timothy." She repeated softly.
"To be my lawful, wedded husband."
He continued until he'd gone through all the vows; and then, he gave his to her. Tasha couldn't stop the tears that flowed out of her eyes, as Tim pledged himself to her, for the rest of his life.
When it was over, he kissed her with tenderness, and held her against him for a very long moment. It was totally silent, and in the hush they both could feel the very strong presence of the Lord.
Tim looked down at her with deep emotion in his eyes, and Tasha knew that she'd never regret taking this man. Not for one second. All her doubts had flown.
"Tim," Tasha asked hesitantly.
"Hmm." He mumbled. He was totally absorbed in the feel of her against him, the smell of her soft hair.
"Do you believe that we can stay in love and be happy, for the rest of our lives?"
"Sure, I do. Don't you?"
"Yes. I feel it here as I never have, before. I fought coming to Jackson, so hard; now I feel like I totally belong here. With you.”
Tim pulled back, and looked down at her with bedroom eyes. She’d never noticed before, just how long and tangled and beautiful his eyelashes were. "We have everything it takes to be very happy. Don't worry about it."
"Everything it takes -- you mean like a hayloft of our own, and them pigs?" she teased innocently.
"For starts." He agreed. "But the most important thing, is that we have the blessing of the Lord. He intends for us to be together. We won't be torn apart. I promise." He sighed. "But now, I suppose we'd better tend to them pigs."
Before they left the barn, Tim quickly filled all the grain bins and water buckets for the horses. Tasha saw the ponies, and wondered about them. Tim didn't let her wonder for long.
"This here is Buster." He told her, ruffling a pony's long, white mane. A pair of wide eyes and flaring nostrils peered up over the stall door. His jaw was busily crunching grain, and he quickly put his head back into the feed bin. He was a beautiful chestnut and white Pinto. "He is going to belong to Mr. Lucas."
"Tim, I'm not sure it's wise yet. Maybe when Luke is a little bigger."
"Don't you worry, Tasha. I know what I'm doing. Buster knows how to take care of a young cowboy like Lucas. Dana's outgrown him, and she started when she was younger than Luke. He's as trustworthy a babysitter as you'll find, anyplace in the world."
He moved on to the next stall. "And this little lady is Sundance. Dana rode her quite a bit, too. She was actually trained as a trick pony for the circus, but that didn't work out because the owners retired. She's a real lady, and she'll delight Naomi for a good many years."
Sundance was about the same height as Buster, and she was the color of newly minted gold. She had high, white socks and she was as dainty and beautiful as anything Tasha had ever seen.
"I'll ask Dana to start riding both of them a bit, to make sure there aren't any rough edges." Tim assured her.
"And this guy is Lucky." Tim introduced, scratching a big black and white Pinto's ear. Tasha looked up at the horse with interest. He had a mischievous gleam in his eye, and he looked nimble-footed. He eyed Tim with bright affection, and nuzzled him with his upper lip. "I always wondered why I picked that name for him. Now I know." Tim chuckled.
"Oh? Why is that?" Tasha accommodated.
"Because, he gets to belong to you." Tim answered with a grin.
Tasha looked up at him apprehensively. "Oh, Tim. I don't know." She hedged.
"Why not?" Tim chastised. "What's wrong with him?"
"Oh, nothing. But he's big. And he looks as though maybe he likes to make mischief."
Tim laughed. "Yeah? Well, I suppose that could be true. But he's got a heart of gold, and he's very trustworthy, even if he is a little feisty, sometimes."
Tasha cast a dubious look at the horse, who was busily nibbling Tim's coat collar, and then she transferred the dubious look to his master.
"Trust me. He loves to be ridden. Just give him half a chance. And keep your hair tied back, he'll try to eat just about anything. I think he's part goat." He teased.
He sighed heavily. "Well, this ain't getting them pigs fed, is it?"