Authors: Michelle Woodward
“What’s the meaning of this, young man?” The doctor tried not to shout, focusing on his work. But the bloodied youth’s face caught his attention. “Oh oh. You catch a stray bullet there?”
“Just a cut.” He said, but rapidly went on before either of them could say anything. “Jim and Garret are in terrible trouble. We got ambushed. Jim- he might die if you can’t help him!”
“What do you expect me to do? I have a patient. Can’t go out there now.”
“I’m just telling you what I know.” The boy fell into a chair, looking exhausted.
“Aw hell.” Doc turned to Annie. “Annie, keep an eye on this… wait now, what are you doing?”
She ran over to the doctor’s black bag and snatched it up. “I’m going to lend a hand.”
“That’s too dangerous! You’ll get yourself killed!”
“You can’t leave the blacksmith; we know he’ll certainly die without your attention. It may be too late for Jim, but I suppose I could try to stitch him up. I’ll be quick. Can you ride, Winslow?”
“Yes ma’am!”
“Then let’s go.” She rushed down the hall and outside to fetch the horse. She was glad she’d learned to ride as a young girl.
Within a short time, they had ridden out into the steppes and wild grasslands. They raced along the prairie towards the looming, dry mountains where Winslow assured her he had left them.
She found them, all right. Garret was leaning over this friend. His own arm was bleeding. Not too far away, they spied three more bodies.
“It’s too late. We chased the others off, but it’s too late for poor Jim.” Garret bitterly declared. She dismounted and took a closer look, checking his heart and his breath. It was faint, but there was a pulse.
“Let me see to him.” She ordered. She pulled out bandages from her bag and handed them over. “Wrap that arm of yours up until Doc can more properly treat you. I’ll do what I can for Jim.”
She was testing the limits of her medical knowledge, but after a time she found the man hadn’t been seriously shot. He had taken a few bullets, one to a leg and another to his shoulder. But the real damage came from a blow to the back of his head, possibly from having fallen against a stone.
After some time, she was able to revive him. He had no real memory of anything that had happened before the shootout.
They fashioned a litter out of the men’s shirts and branches so Jim could be taken to the closest ranch and have a shot at recovering. When it was over and night had fallen, Doc finally arrived and took over for Annie.
“You certainly saved this man’s life.” He declared. “Impressive. You did well today.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” She was worn out, weary, but happy. As she left the room where Jim was recovering, Garret followed her out. They stepped outside the house where they were alone.
“You
were
incredible.” He said, amazed. “I owe you much. Jim too.”
“I was glad to do it.” She stated simply. Garret reached over and held her hands in his.
“I’m lucky to know you, Annie McIver. You saved Jim’s life and, well, I think you’re saving mine as well.”
“Glad to know you too, Garret McGrath.” She replied with a little smile. Before she could say more, he leaned down and kissed.
The kiss grew in intensity and they were no longer holding hands, but embracing. Alone in the moonlight, they held each other and each, in their own heart and mind, admitted the other in.
Several minutes passed. They parted lips, but still held each other close. “They’ll be back, you know.” Garret warned, low and sad. “They’re going to want revenge after today.”
“I know.” She sighed. Then, a smile. “I may have an idea about that, though. Care to invite me to a dance, Mr. McGrath?”
#
The event was, as all came to agree, the event of the year and for many a year as those who lived in Wide Bend would attest.
On the surface, the idea of a celebration seemed ridiculous to a town that had suffered so much recently from the evil of the gang. But when a town meeting was held and Annie’s idea was discussed, it was quickly agreed that her idea was superb.
Decorations went up. Musicians practiced, and the dance was planned. Delicious pies were baked, and families from even the most distant ranches put in an appearance at the town square.
Before long, the hoedown was in full swing. Annie and Garret led the dancers who were glad for an excuse to dance and make merry. Letty sat along the sidelines, sampling a slice of pie and refusing to dance.
“But why not, Letty?” The mayor asked. “The moon is full, there’s music in the air and romance, my dear, sweet romance!”
“Pah.” She laughed. “Romance is for the young.”
“Wasted on the young, more like.” Mayor McGrath protested. “Besides, I seem to remember you being quite the spritely dancer when you and I were younger than these jackrabbits.”
She blushed and smiled. “You old flatterer.”
“I’ll flatter you until you dance with me, Miss Letty!”
“Well- only if it’ll get you to stop.”
Garret and Annie smiled as they saw the older couple step lightly amid the dancers and did a stately dance to the fiddles playing. “They are quite the lovely, sweet couple.” Annie whispered to her beau. “I feel there’s a story there, am I wrong to suggest?”
“A story, yes, a happy one no. But perhaps they are remembering that happier time.” Garret suggested. Then, even quieter he spoke gently in her ear. “You’re sure about this?”
“Absolutely.”
A great shout rose from edge of the dance and soon, the pounding of men on horses rushing up and to the middle of their festivities. Tables were overturned and the men on horseback fired into the air.
“Bring me Garret McGrath and Jim Wood and I’ll not kill every man, woman, and child here.” A wild, bearded man roared as they threatened the crowd of dancers. “Me and the boys want to see them dance all right. From the end of a rope!”
The nine men snickered and jeered, firing off a few more rounds in hopes of terrifying the crowd. However, they soon quieted as they realized that no one was moving or saying a word.
“What’s this? Turn them out now, or I’ll put a torch to your damn town!”
“I don’t think so, Butch.” Garret quietly announced. As he spoke those words, every man, woman, and child pulled a gun or rifle from a nearby hiding place. Annie stood beside him with a gun at the ready. Casually, almost as a secondary thought, Garret drew his own six-shooter. “Want to surrender and come peacefully? Or want to see if we’re serious?”
Butch looked around dazedly. “This here ain’t… you can’t… hellfire!” He started to aim his own gun towards Garret, but in an instant flinched and fell forward and off the horse. From a distance, Garret and Annie could see their friend Jim in a second-story window. His head was bandaged, but otherwise he seemed in good spirits. He gave a friendly wave.
The surviving gunmen quickly threw down their guns and became prisoners. The dancers cheered, gathered up their weapons, and happily led them to the prison.
“Don’t do nothing stupid, folks!” Garret shouted, and several people assured him they wouldn’t. “We can get them out to the judge now, and see about getting law and order back in Wide Bend! Promise me you’ll treat them right, you hear? We ain’t wild like they are.”
The fiddlers struck up a lively tune and Garret gave a great yell of joy at their success. Annie joined him, as did much of the town. Before she knew what was happening, Garret was kissing her again in front of the whole town. She thought she probably should be mortified- she didn’t care. She kissed him right back, throwing her arms around him and, for the first time since she’d stepped off the train into Wide Bend, felt truly joyous.
The tall man let go of her, bent down on one knee, and took both her hands in his. “Annie McIver. You’re the bravest, kindest, and most noble of all creatures to ever walk this earth. Will you honor me and be my wife?”
There was no hesitation at all when she clasped her hands to her face, giving a little jump of excitement and happiness. “Absolutely, Garret McGrath.”
“Yes.”
THE END
Colt settled in on the bareback of Wildcard, the bronc he drew for the ride. The gate crashed open, Colt dug his spurs in hard. Wildcard bucked fiercely, making his way across the arena. Spinning to the right, Colt was taken aback but held on tight. Wildcard was just that, a wild horse. No one knew what to expect from him. It was just in the luck of the draw.
There was nothing but sexy that oozed from the pores of a cowboy. The crowd went wild with excitement as he approached the eight second mark. Colt worked his spurs across the broncs ribs intensely. The crowd rose to their feet, cheering him on.
The buzzer sounded. He did it! The crowd erupted in agreement as they rose to their feet. He dismounted on the side horsemen, his chaps swaying in the breeze. Colt stood proudly in the center of that arena waving his hat in the air. Damn, he looked good. No saddle just sheer determination in his eyes.
His loyal fans shot the Wreck ‘em Tech pistols high in the air. They couldn’t get enough of him. Colt scored the highest in the first round of the rodeo against the other bronc riders. Best score and an eight second ride, nothing less would’ve satisfied him. He aimed to bring home the pot at the end of the week for a job well done.
If there was one thing he knew, it was how to win and he did that very well. But there was one area of his life that he couldn’t seem to get right. His redneck upbringing in New Mexico left him short in the relationship arena. He cared for people around him, but had difficulty expressing it in words
In his own way, he cared for Cricket. They had met in college and had been on again off again for some time. He knew he fell short in her eyes, which was what led her to move on with her life. She got a job offer that she just couldn’t pass up. So she gathered her belongings and moved out to Branson, Missouri.
Colt hated it, but he couldn’t stop her, nor could he change her mind. He had strayed one to many times causing her to doubt him. And every time he loaded up for a long trip, she wondered which arena slut he would bed down for the night. It just wasn’t worth the worry anymore. Cricket had grown up and he needed to as well.
It was the night before the first day of her new job. She had moved in just that day.
Cricket soaked in a warm bath trying to relax. Her new apartment was something she really loved with her big claw foot tub. She shook her head in disbelief that she actually made the huge move from Texas all the way to Branson, Missouri. It didn’t seem real yet.
The thought of withering away in a small town and never pursuing her dreams was nauseating to her. She loved Colt Rowdy but she knew that if they were meant to be together, somehow it would all work out. So, she took the plunge and accepted the job.
Her toe twisted under the water faucet and she wondered what her first day of work would be like. A nostalgic feeling came over her as she fantasized about her ex- cowboy. Her lips puckered as she thought of his sensual kiss, with her standing nipple to nipple with him in his horse stall. Her fingers snaked through his belt loops.
Colt’s kiss was messy, manly, and wonderful. His breath usually smelled of brew, which was pleasing to her senses. His cold metal belt buckle chilled her tummy through her thin cotton shirt. Like a gentleman, he held his cowboy hat by his side. He held her close, with his free hand on the back of her neck.
She loved his touch. It was confident and self- assured. There was something about a man in wranglers and tethered boots that was a real turn on. Cricket closed her eyes in the tub, her hand found its way down under her warm bath water. She couldn’t think of Colt without get horny and touching herself. She found him to be that irresistibly attractive.
She massaged her sweet spot with her fingers, picturing him riding a bronc, doing his thing that he was so well known for. God, he was sexy. She tweaked her nipples as she fantasized about his tight wranglers and the little black curls that hung down over his ears.
His modest muscles tensed as he held on to the small of her back. So determined to change her mind, he scooped her up and took her over to the hay bales. Laying her down gently, he continued pressing his warm plump lips against hers.
Colt’s lips were chapped, scratching on Crickets soft lips. His scruffy goatee tickled her sexy neck as he took off her starched cotton shirt, kissing her flat tummy. Cricket was lean and tall. Her dirty blonde hair spread out over the hay beautifully.
His weathered calloused hands milked her petite breasts through her lilac lacy bra. Her skin pimpled up with goose bumps. His presence was intoxicating, but his touch was quite clumsy. Cricket wondered if she was actually attracted to him or just to the idea of a rugged cowboy that always lived on the bleeding edge of life.
Either way his touch felt so good in that barn. Colt leaned down to whisper in her ear,
“I’m gonna lick your box until the sides cave in!”
Cricket blushed, she knew he meant it. He would suck her pussy as much as the day was long. He was a rare cowboy in that he truly wanted to please her. Fortunately, he stayed hard. She could feel the bulge in his pants alongside her leg.
He wanted pleasure himself, but was generous as a lover. He seemed to love going down on Cricket almost as much as she loved it. The problem was that he was almost too generous, as he longed to explore other women too. A new box at every rodeo or so it seemed.
That was where most of their fights came from. He wiggled her Wranglers off and sucked her aching clit with passion. He was unbelievably good at it. Just when she thought she had seen everything from him, someone else came towards them.
Not a word was spoken, Bucky kneeled on a bail on one knee as he caressed Colts waist. The look on her face was priceless. At that point she would’ve done anything to keep him, even if it meant that he wanted to add a third partner to the mix.
She couldn’t believe her eyes. Colt, the manly man, wasn’t even putting up a fight. Bucky moved in closer behind him, taking his shirt off and then taking Colt’s shirt off from behind.
Bucky lined his hairy back with soft sensual kisses down his spine. He unfastened his belt and slid Colts free balling wranglers off of him. Bucky squeezed his cheeks together then pulled them apart. He loved ass, particularly his.
Bucky leaned down and licked from Colts ball sack up to the crack of his ass. Colt gazed up into Crickets eyes and sheepishly grinned, and then he continued on, passionately using his tongue to lap at her slickened folds and flick her clit. Bucky fingered his ass, unzipping himself and sliding his manhood through his slit. He stroked his cock, moving down to cup Colts balls.
Spitting on his fingers, he moistened his hole. Bucky looked dead into Crickets eyes, as he plunged his cock into Colt's asshole. He wanted to see the look of surprise on her face. She clearly didn’t know that he was bisexual. He must have forgotten to mention it to her
He went nice and slow saying,
“How’s that feel brother?”
“Good, but I like it harder than that” as he wiped her juices from his chin.
She was sopping wet at that point. Her horny throbbing pussy wanted to explode into orgasm badly.
His mouth on her pussy was to die for. Bucky looked down at her hard pink nipples as he plunged inside him harder still. He was getting so excited that he struggled to control himself long enough to make it last.
It wasn’t their first time together, not even close. Bucky could feel Colt’s tight young ass squeeze around his cock like a warm hug. He liked to tease him, pulling out until he begged for more. And he always begged for more of Bucky’s manhood.
It took no time at all before Bucky was going deeper with every thrust of his hips. He plunged harder with each approach. And when he could take it no more, he pulled out stroking his long prick over Colt’s fine ass and sprayed cum all over his cheeks. It was absolutely brilliant.
But now it was Colt’s turn. He looked up at Cricket and said,
“I want you to watch….”
She was scared to death, but she nodded okay. Colt turned around and leaned back with his back pressed against her chest. She nibbled on his ear with her lean arms wrapped lovingly around his muscular chest. Her delicate fingers pinched his nipples, making them hard.
Bucky spread his legs apart at the knees, slowly massaging his inner legs from the knees down into the thighs. It was masculine yet gentle all at the same time. Bucky’s hands looked aged and dry from a decade of roping calves. Secretly she had harbored a long standing crush on him. He was the best team roper on the rodeo team. She felt that he knew more about team sports than he had previously let on, and he did.
Bucky gently grasped Colt’s penis, stroking it very slowly at first. He then pulled the foreskin over the head of his dick. It was obvious that Bucky had some kind of feelings for Colt. Either that or he just really lusted after his huge cock.
Bucky looked into Colts eyes and said,
“What do you want me to do for you brother?”
She could see compassion in his eyes. He responded,
“I wanna feel your warm, wet mouth around me.” he sighed.
It was as if they knew something that she was not privy too. He crawled over his lap and kissed Colt compassionately. His pink tongue met Colt’s half way and their tongues played well together. Cricket never would have dreamed that she would find her man making out with another man sexy, but she genuinely did. It was hot.
Bucky kissed down his masculine neck to his chest. Colt’s pierced nipples sparkled in the light. He teased Colt, flattening his tongue along the length of his shaft. He playfully slapped his dick on his own cheek, as if to wake it up. But it was at full attention and then some.
It surprised Cricket just how gentle Bucky was with Colt. He stared into Colt’s eyes as he bobbed his thick head into his wanting mouth. His thin lips ran along the length of his manhood. He continued to stroke his shaft as he plunged deeper each turn.
“You make that feel so damn good baby.” Colt said breathlessly.
Bucky’s eyes glistened; Cricket turned his head by his chin and kissed her man compassionately. The kiss lingered on in a competitive way. But he didn’t care, he was ready for round two, and that made him very horny.
As he sucked Colt off, he stroked his own girthy cock as well. He watched as her feminine hands rubbed his strong pecks. Her hands slid down his tender ribs sensually. Bucky could feel him get even harder in his mouth.
She refused to be outplayed. She crawled on top of her man, she had something he didn’t have – tits. She stroked him a time or two and slid his cock deep inside of her. His hands held her hips tightly, and she knew it wouldn’t take long for him to explode.
Little did she consider that Bucky had ideas of his own. He had been crushing on her in secret as well. He watched as she rode Colt’s dick over and over again. Her dirty blonde hair bounced across her back.
She rode him, like she rode her horse during barrel racing. She drove him hard and fast all the way to the finish line. As he erupted his body jerked about in ecstasy. Concurrently, Bucky blew his load for a second time, covering her lovely back in his hot sticky milk.
*****
Cricket laid in bed that night journaling before she went to sleep. Her mind was racing from one thought to another. Self-doubt crept in; everything from starting her new job with those ambitious hopes and dreams for her future, to whether it all was a pipe dream. She wondered if she was really ready. She wrote:
I’m just a girl.
Just a small time girl.
I wanna make it big.
Like some many others did.
I lie here awake.
No rest for the weak.
My voice must be strong.
Or I’ll see defeat.
Cricket tossed and turned in her bed all night. Her nerves were getting the best of her. She finally got up, made a warm glass of milk and watched some old Ponderosa episodes that only come on late at night. Somehow, that always calmed her when she was afraid.
The next morning came and her eyes were bloodshot and her head hurt. She was scheduled for a photo shoot first thing that day. As she looked in the mirror she said,