In Naples, Lily
hung up the phone and yelled for her husband.
“Sandy, where
are you? You’ve got to hear this.”
She had called
Jesse and Meg, but had not gotten confirmation of what her father,
Sam, had told her earlier. She wanted confirmation…
Sandy was in
his office, working on some financial papers that he and his
brother Bill would need for their trip to Las Vegas. They went
several times a year to meet with their lawyers about dealings with
the Johnson Family Trust. The ranch had gotten to be very
prosperous in the cattle trade business, and Sandy stayed on top of
things. He was bringing Jesse in on many aspects of the business,
since he and Colt would inherit some day.
“Back here,
sweetheart.”
She walked down
the long hallway filled with numerous pictures of the family
hanging on its walls. Walking barefoot on the thick carpet, she got
to his office so quickly that she startled him.
“Oh, there you
are. What’s up?” He glanced up at her, stopped -- and really
looked. She was still as lovely as the day he met her in Jesse’s
first grade classroom. Sandy began to ruminate about that when…
“Sandy, are you
listening to me? Did you hear what I said?”
“I guess I
zoned out.”
She smiled at
him. “That’s what I love about you. You do focus in on me, don’t
you?”
He grinned back
at her. “Yep. We cowboys are good at concentrating….”
“Anyway – back
to the subject at hand.”
“What is the
subject at hand?”
“Your son,
Colt.”
“Why? What did
he do?” Sandy put his papers into a folder and leaned back in his
chair to listen to her.
Lily sat down
in the chair by his desk. “Dad told me he’s met someone – someone
special.”
“Why isn’t Colt
telling us this, instead of Sam?”
“You know how
close Colt is to Jeanne. He told her, she told Sam and Sam told
me.” She looked at him excitedly.
“So this
information is what? Third-hand? Doesn’t that make it more rumor
than
fact?” He was grinning at her.
She started to
say something and he took her hands. “Listen, sweetheart. When Colt
has something to tell us, he will, in his own good time. You know
him. ‘Nothing in haste…’” Sandy laughed.
“He’s never
really been serious about a woman before, Sandy. Aren’t you the
least bit curious?”
“I am
incredibly curious, but I’d just like it to come from my son and
not the rumor mill. What do Meg and Jesse say?” He knew she had
already called them.
“They don’t
know anything about it.”
“Okay, so there
you are.”
“There I am –
where?”
“There you are
waiting breathlessly for your beloved son to give you the name of
his sweetheart. You know he hasn’t called you, because he’s making
sure first.” Sandy smiled. “He loves you and will call when the
time is right. Wait for him.”
Lily sat there
with disappointment on her face. “I guess you’re right.”
Then she
brightened, stood up and headed for the door. She turned around and
said to him, “I’ll give him to the weekend…” She heard Sandy
laughing as she went to kitchen. Time to make some fudge.
The Fall
Festival Dance was going to be tonight … Amanda was excited at the
thought of seeing if Colt could dance and if he even would dance.
Sometimes cowboys do and some don’t. She wasn’t sure if he was the
dancing kind. Colt, the dancing cowboy – nope… Didn’t fit him.
After Kim badgered her about it, she had called him and asked if he
would go with her to the dance.
He had replied
that he had picked up the phone to call and ask her! She guessed
that meant, yes—she had a date. They both lived by Donner Lake, so
he could easily pick her up at seven.
Amanda dashed
around the house, picking up the clothes she had dropped here and
there. Oh – who cares? Instead of mundane house chores, she ran
into the bathroom to take a hot bath. She knew she had to calm
down.
Why was she so excited?
Settling into the bubbles,
Amanda got the first inkling. It would be their introduction into
the camp society as a couple. How did she feel about that? Sinking
deeper into the bubbles, she sunk into thought as well. How did she
really feel about him?
Wow.
He
was kind, considerate, fun, funny, smart and sexy. The sexy part
she would get back to in a minute. Colt knew she needed time to
figure out how she felt about him, so he put no pressure on her.
But those kisses… another
wow.
They were insistent kisses,
and urgent kisses and once they started, it sure was hard to stop.
But stop they eventually would, because Colt was waiting for her.
She knew he would wait as long as she needed and she loved that
about him. Sitting up quickly in the tub,
did I just say
‘love’?
Yikes! Am I losing my mind or making up my
mind?
Getting back to
the ‘sexy part’, she was thinking that maybe, maybe – she would
invite him back here after the dance. Was she ready for the next
step? The dance could be a deciding factor. We’ll see…Amanda smiled
and splashed around in the tub. She felt playful and happy.
Colt was
wondering just what he would wear to the dance. Was a jacket too
much? A vest not enough? He wanted to spruce up a bit, so he
shaved, splashed on a subtle aftershave and decided the vest was
too much -- But the jacket would be fine. Never had this much
trouble putting on clothes before…what was the matter with him? He
pulled on his boots, grabbed his cowboy hat and went out the door.
Then he quickly dashed back in, having forgotten his wallet and
truck keys. Jeez… where’s my head tonight? It’s only a dance…but
Colt knew it wasn’t only a dance. He would have his beautiful Mandy
in his arms all night and that kicked his heart into overdrive. He
couldn’t wait!
Colt picked
Mandy up exactly at seven. He wasn’t sure if he should be
fashionably late or early. Dating made him sweat…It was so much
easier just to ride horses, which is what they usually did. He was
so ready to take her camping under the stars and riding out for a
few days out at his folks’ ranch. Wait – was that as in ‘taking her
home to meet the folks’?
Yikes…
Arriving at the
camp, all the area between buildings had been turned into a
dance arena.
Cold drinks were available at one end and a cowboy band had set up
on the other side. They were in full swing already and the joint
was jumping.
Twinkle lights
had been looped between posts around the dance arena, so the coming
dark would give the atmosphere a romantic flavor. Sawdust was
everywhere, although it was really not needed. They were outside,
after all, but it was another neat touch…
Walking
hand-in-hand, Colt and Amanda elicited a few raised eyebrows from
other camp employees. Most didn’t know about them, but word
traveled fast. They smiled at people and mingled… People brought
their children, babies and all. The children staying at the camp
looked happy with the music and lights. It would be fun…
One little boy
who was a client of Amanda’s ran up to her and tugged at her hand.
“Dance with me, Amanda! Please…” She shrugged her shoulders at Colt
and let the boy drag her out on the dance floor. The cowboy band
was singing a moderately fast song about a lost love, so she danced
as well as she could with him. Colt watched and laughed from the
sidelines. Amanda watched as one of the pretty horse wranglers came
up to Colt and asked him to dance. He shrugged his shoulders at
Amanda and let her lead him out to the dance floor. Luckily, it was
a swing tempo and not a slow dance. Still, she was getting
moderately jealous. Finally, her little dance partner had had
enough and wandered away to get a soda.
Amanda now
stood on one side of the dance floor watching Colt. Sigh…what a
handsome guy… The song ended and she could see Colt thanking the
woman for the dance -- So polite. Then he looked around for her –
she loved that! – He stood on the other side of the floor gazing
over at her. Wow. Look at those smoky eyes... And they were only
for her. As he walked across the dance floor to her, the cowboy
band began a new song – a slow one. Thank God, she thought…in his
arms is where she wanted to be. Without speaking, Colt put out his
hand, asking for hers. He closed it immediately and pulled her
gently to the middle of the dance floor. Then he swept her into his
arms.
This is where
we belong, thought Amanda.
This is where
we belong, thought Colt.
They gazed into
each other’s eyes as the cowboy band sang about finding love. He
stroked her back gently and put her hand on his chest. Their feet
moved together as their legs moved in tighter… She put her head on
his shoulder and closed her eyes….Mmmm….This was nice…She grabbed
on to his shirt a little tighter… Their bodies swayed in time to
the music…His lips whispered in her ear.
“So you can
dance…” Amanda was wondering if that was a question.
She whispered
back, “I was thinking the same thing about you.”
“Are we
thinking the same thoughts these days, sweetheart?”
“Oh, Colt. You
take my breath away…” she sighed. He gently laid her head on his
shoulder. “I am so happy.”
“That’s makes
two of us,” he whispered back.
While dancing,
he felt her heart quicken. She looked up at him and smiled. He
moved her past another couple and looked back at her. She was
studying him.
“You know
you’re really handsome, don’t you?”
“That’s what my
mama tells me,” he laughed.
“I’d like to
meet your mama. I’d like to meet the loving family that helped make
you into the wonderful man you are.”
He held her out
to look deeply into her eyes. “Are you serious, Mandy? Would you
really like to meet them?” He searched her face.
“Yes, but
there’s something I’d like to do first.”
“What?”
“Oh, I can’t
tell you here,” she teased.
“Where can you
tell me?”
“Maybe by the
truck.” He was confused.
“Okay, that
means you want to leave now?” It hit him. Colt smiled at her.
“I’m completely
fine with leaving now.” The song ended and he led her off the dance
floor. They said their goodbyes to a few people and Amanda
practically dragged him over to a shadow by a tall tree near the
parking lot. Colt laughed as he drew her into his arms. She raised
up on her toes to kiss him on the nose and then the lips. Her hands
glided up his shoulders to link around his neck. She pulled him
closer. Colt let Amanda do the directing. She was calling the shots
as to who was kissing whom. He knew she was savoring the moment and
he was thrilled at her exploration.
As she delved
deeper, he said, “Wait a minute, sweetheart. This is a G rated
place. How about mine instead?” He took her hand and led her to his
truck. Getting in, she moved close to him. Good thing he didn’t
have bucket seats. She put her hands on either side of his face and
turned him to look at her. She must have seen what she wanted to,
because she kissed him like he had never been kissed before. Even
by her… Something was happening and Colt knew it. He ended the kiss
and said, “Mandy, honey, we need to get somewhere else and fast.”
With that, he started the truck and drove too quickly to his cabin
by Donner. Luckily, he didn’t get a ticket. Pulling up, he took
Mandy’s hand and helped her out on his side. She reached up and
kissed him again.
She stirred
every last fiber of his being. He knew he’d never be the same
again. She was drawing him out and he was drinking her in. “In,” he
said. “We need to get in the cabin.” Arm in arm, they opened the
door and went in.
Closing the
door, Colt immediately pulled Amanda against the door with a
heart-stopping kiss. His hands glided down her body – she shivered
from his touch. She poured herself into him and he took everything
she would give. His hands touched her breasts and she moaned from
delight. “Come,” he said. “We’re finding my bed and soon.”
They never drew
apart while heading into his bedroom. Colt found it difficult to
see where he was going, since he could only see her. Amanda had her
eyes closed, but opened them quickly when he steered them into the
doorframe. “Ouch, where are we?” She said into his lips.
“Not there yet.
A few more steps…” After they tripped over some clothes he had left
on the floor and another pair of cowboy boots, Colt grabbed her as
they were falling on the bed. Amanda almost fell off…
“I didn’t know
lust could be so dangerous,” she laughed at his serious face.
“Relax, Colt, I’m not going anywhere, but it is a little funny. I
think I hit my elbow on your headboard.”
Colt looked at
her as she rubbed her elbow and was laughing. This wasn’t going
well, he thought. Hmmm…Maybe I should try again. He looked sooooo
serious that she kept laughing, until the look on his face was
so….
“Sweetheart.”
“Honey, don’t
look like I just slapped you. It’ll be fine…” Amanda put her hands
on his face and pulled him to her. “Let’s try this again.” She
smiled into his waiting lips. He moved to accommodate her on the
bed. A few clothes were taken off and a few more kisses exchanged.
More clothes came off with each heightened frenzy of kissing, until
they were lying naked together. Colt pulled a quilt over them and
kissed her again --- Slowly and deeply, like he had wanted to do
for weeks now. She responded arching up at him as if to signal she
wanted more. He trailed kisses down her throat and breasts. She
flushed again and again at the thought of being explored. Her skin
was on fire with his every touch and touch he did…
Wow. I never
knew it could be like this.
Her skin
glowed, his pulse beat wildly at the thought of what they would
soon do. Higher and faster they went, until it was culminated in
excruciating pleasure. When they had finished, she collapsed,
quivering at what lovemaking was all about. Neither of them had
ever experienced anything half as exhilarating or exhausting.