Sapphic Cowboi (24 page)

Maggie came out of the tent dressed in her
tuxedo and looking dapper. The top hat was in hand and she smiled
at Ariana with some secret smile that told her everything was all
right. Ariana wanted explanations and hoped to get them after their
first act.

It went beautifully as they galloped in,
Maggie on Sampson, Ariana on Satan at the back. Maggie stood up on
Sampson and Ariana on Satan. Maggie dived off and rolled into a
stand and began to signal the horses as Ariana danced on and over
them her beauty shown off by their black background and the
terrific gowns she was provided with by their excellent
seamstresses. They had fifteen minutes to show off the horses
before another act took center stage and then they had another
fifteen minute show later, before their final Spanish act at the
end of the evening. The horses were very popular.

Coming out of the tent at a gallop they
headed for the makeshift corral where several roustabouts waited to
wipe down the heaving horses and help pin on their ‘capes’ and
other decorations for the second act. There was little time to talk
much less breath as they got ready for the second act and went back
in. The vibrant colors and the costumes of the horses and the two
women riding and playing with them awed the audience who clapped
appreciatively, the horses had learned to suck up the attention and
their heads bobbed under the feathers and costumes showing off. As
they finished their second set they headed outside again where the
roustabouts helped remove the costumes and Maggie and Ariana
changed in their small tent to their Spanish outfits for their
dance.

As Maggie changed her slacks a box fell out
of her pocket. Ariana reached for it before Maggie could hide it.
“Whats this?” Ariana asked opening it to find an exquisite sapphire
ring surrounded by diamonds.

Maggie had planned this better but had it
delayed and ruined today, and had lost it for a time as it fell out
of her pants earlier, she had almost been late for their first show
while she retraced her steps looking for it, never so relieved when
she found it and realized she could ask Ariana to marry her with
it, what better time than the present? “Ariana, will you marry me?”
she asked as she finished pulling on her costume and zipped up her
slacks.

Ariana looked up from the ring to see Maggie
looking at her with all the love in her heart. Only a brief
hesitation before she wrapped her arms around her lover and said
“yes, yes, YES” and kissed her on the lips smearing them with her
red lipstick, she pulled back and started laughing joyously, they
had very little time before they were due back in the center
ring.

Maggie laughed as she wrapped her arms around
her and swung her around and around. “I love you Ariana” she told
her and kissed her again.

“
C’mon you two, on in a few”
someone called from outside the tent.

They hurried to finish changing exchanging
loving looks as Maggie knelt and put the ring on Ariana’s left
hand, it fit perfectly! Ariana pulled out a handkerchief to wipe
the lipstick off Maggie’s lips and laughed with her when she wanted
to cry with joy. They ran out to spring onto Sampson and Satan’s
back for their ‘Spanish Dance’ the music starting up in the main
tent as they galloped in.

Tonight the dance, normally a sensual and
seductive dance between two women, many didn’t realize Maggie with
her short hair slicked back was actually a woman, had extra meaning
for them as they gazed with genuine love, and danced accordingly.
It put a spring into their dance, on and off the horses as they
galloped around them, as they spun in and out of each other’s arms
in time with the music, the audience gasps at their acrobatics and
dance was music to their ears. As the act came to an end one by one
their fellow performers caught a glimpse of the stone on Arian’s
ring finger and silent communication spread the word. The applause
for the two performers and their horses wasn’t just from the paying
audience tonight. They received congratulations all night long and
it was late before they got to bed to celebrate their love in their
own way.

Ohio had been chosen by Maggie as the place
for their wedding ceremony because it had been a full year since
she had joined them and met the woman who would change her life
forever. Everyone entered into the planning and while there were
few if any who disapproved, including the father of the bride, they
were ignored. A new tuxedo was crafted for Maggie but when she
found out she refused and instead talked the seamstresses to sew
her a white wedding gown to everyone’s surprise. The material she
provided them with though was a joy to work with and they did their
best work. They also sewed the dress for Ariana and secretly
thought how compatible these two young women were.

The ceremony itself was held in the middle of
the fairgrounds. Someone had cut the grass and set up chairs for
them to walk down the aisle. Perry walked Maggie down the aisle and
they waited as Cecil and not Carlton walked Ariana down it to join
their hands proudly. They stood up for the couple as one of the
circus performers; an ordained minister performed the service for
them. They were married before God and friends, if not exactly
legal at least it was to them. The simple wedding bands they
exchanged confirmed it to everyone present. The pictures showed two
beautiful women in modest white gowns, one in silk, one in lace,
one with short hair, one with long and loose hair, both black
headed against the backdrop of their black steeds. It was a
striking black and white picture with all the shades within it.
Everyone was moved to tears as they saw the two brides together.
The party afterwards was short lived and alcohol free as they had
as show to put on that evening.

The brides didn’t mind that their reception
was cut short, they felt they had already had their honeymoon, they
had their memories, were making more, they had their pictures and
while the photographer had thought it odd that there were two
brides the pictures did them justice. They looked beautiful and in
love and that was all that mattered as they gazed into the camera
together or into each other’s eyes for the portraits.

The show that night seemed
to be extra special, extra brilliant. The horse show the audience
remembered from last year was more sophisticated and had a lot more
to it. The additional beautiful woman made the men sit up and take
notice if they hadn’t before. The handsome man or was that a woman?
in the top hat seemed to control the horses. The combination of
shows that Maggie and Ariana put on was a big success to an
audience that had seen them before, or
thought
they had. The changes were
well received.

“
We’re an old married couple
now” Maggie teased Ariana as the got ready for bed that
evening.

“
I can’t believe you
arranged all that” she gestured to where the ceremony had been held
that afternoon, it had been absolutely beautiful.

“
I didn’t do it alone,
everyone helped” Maggie said as she finished getting out of her
Spanish costume. Tonight’s questions from people had seemed to last
extra-long but maybe it was because they wanted to be alone
together.

“
But you arranged it” Ariana
got into their bed,
their
bed and waited for Maggie to join her. “Is there
nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it?”

“
Not much” Maggie grinned as
she realized she had never been happier in her life, she had
everything she had ever dreamed of and more as she got into bed
with her bride.

Some months later after their second season
of touring with the circus together had ended they returned back to
their farm for a well-deserved winter’s vacation. They had lots of
plans and ideas and were looking forward to the time ‘off’ to plan
and relax as it were as they got in the crops and saw what
additions their herd had brought them, made arrangements to ship
horses that had been purchased, trained the younger horses to be
sold or brought into Maggie’s Mustangs that weren’t really
mustangs. They had a full vacation ahead of them.

“
I’d like babies” she told a
surprised Maggie in bed that evening.

Maggie pulled back in alarm
“now how am I going to manage
that
?”

Ariana just pulled her back
and smiled as she kissed her. They’d find a way,
somehow
they would find a
way,
together
they
could accomplish
anything
.

Please take a moment to go back to where you
purchased this book on line and leave a review, good or bad it
helps others like yourself determine whether they will buy and
enjoy these kinds of books. Thank you for your consideration.

If you have enjoyed
SAPPHIC COWBOI
you’ll
look forward to K’Anne Meinel’s splendid and unforgettable
first
novel:

SHIPS

CompanionSHIP, FriendSHIP,
RelationSHIP

In print and E-book and
available at fine retailers

SHIPS

CompanionSHIP, FriendSHIP,
RelationSHIP

~ CHAPTER 1 ~

Have you ever met a person that you just
were so in synch with? You knew immediately that they were someone
special for you? Would you know how lucky you were? Would you know
they were the one?

Joan was sitting at the convention, yawning.
It’s been a very busy day. Signing prints, shaking hands, listening
to conversations until her ears rang. It is already 4 o’clock. One
more hour and she is released from this prison. Her manager comes
up with another print to be signed. Sitting there at the table she
glances around. Her booth comprises a 40’ wall of her various
prints. She has more but they wouldn’t fit on a 40’ wall. Her
originals fetch six figures sometimes, most only five figures. More
than enough to make her life comfortable and indulge in more
painting at her leisure. More paintings meant more prints and more
money, a vicious, comfortable cycle

As it is the end of the day there are less
people viewing the various artist’s prints and collections. Her
booth is on a corner at the end of the row. First or last depending
on where you started in the convention center. Looking around Joan
notices a tall blonde woman viewing the only three originals she
brought with her to this show. They are new. Not in the catalogs or
on the internet yet. The prints are in the works so she can now
sell the originals.

This woman obviously likes what she sees as
she is smiling and looks as though she is talking to herself, not
aloud but nodding to her own thoughts. Intrigued Joan rises and
walks over to the woman. Standing out of the woman’s way but in her
line of vision Joan gives her a little smile. The woman turns her
full attention on Joan and returns the smile.

“So what do you think?” Joan asks with a
little nod towards the three new paintings.

Turning back to them the
woman answers “Intriguing. I could get lost in the daydreams that
that one creates.” She indicates the one with pink and blue clouds
and cream. In fact that’s its title:
Clouds and Cream
.

Remembering its creation, Joan nods and
examines it too. It does have that effect. You look into it and
begin daydreaming immediately. For every person its different
dreams yet the same effect.

“Good thoughts I hope,” Joan answers.

“Very,” comes the quick answer.

Looking on to the other prints the woman
begins discussing the merits of some. Many seem to interest her.
Her knowledge of the prints is very good. She indicates a couple
that she has copies of. Chatting with her Joan realizes this woman
must be a collector. They talk about almost all the prints
displayed before Joan introduces herself.

“I could sign your prints if you’d like,”
she offers.

Amazed the woman turns to her and says,
“YOU’RE the artist?”

Not sure if she should be insulted or not
Joan nods and gives a tight little smile.

“How wonderful!” The woman exclaims. “I’ve
often wondered about the person behind these creations. I’ve seen
your catalog and it makes me want more of them.”

Genuine enthusiasm makes Joan relax. They
continue chatting about the various paintings and the stories
behind some of them. Examining the woman, Joan wonders what it is
about her that makes it so easy to talk about her paintings. It is
a very personal thing to most artists.

Joan looks at her as with an artist’s eye.
The woman stands about 5’9”. Her hair is blonde and streaked with
lighter blonde; a typical site in California for this time. It
looks like she has a nice perm in it. It falls to just below her
shoulders. She has the sides pulled back with clips revealing small
diamonds in her ears and an ear clip on the left one. She is
wearing an off white pantsuit with a baby blue blouse. The blazer
fits her beautifully. She carries herself well. Her eyes are brown
and twinkling, her nose long and narrow. Her mouth not too thin but
definitely not lush. Her face is lightly made up. She is very easy
to talk too. Before Joan realizes it they are announcing over the
loudspeakers that the day at the art show is over.

Joan’s manager comes over for a couple of
last minute signatures and she complies. The manager then begins to
drape their booth with the protective drop clothes. Joan helps and
the job is finished quickly. Saying, see ya later, the manager
departs. The woman Joan has been speaking with is still standing
there watching Joan.