Sitting at her kitchen table, the kids in bed, Tara was lost in her own thoughts and did not hear Kate talking away to her. It wasn’t till Kate tossed a soft toy dog, one of Summer’s toys towards her that Tara remembered she was not alone. Blinking her eyes back to focus she smiled apologetically at her friend, “Im so sorry I don’t know what’s wrong with me today. My mind is all over the place” her apology was weak and both of them knew it. Lifting her cup to her lips Kate glanced at her friend with a cheeky look in her eyes “so. How are things with Jack?” she smirked as she enquired. “Things are just fine. His ranch is amazing its so beautiful out there. Summer loves it.” Tara did not rise to the implications held behind the question. “You see a lot of Jack do you when you are up there?” the tone shifted in Kate’s voice as she tried to dig up some juicy gossip. Letting out a gruff of breath Tara grasped her cup and leaned forward “what is it about that man, I cant get him out of my head. Its insane ive only known the guy a few days but…” she let her comment trail off but should of known it would not be that easy. “But…?” Kate pushed. “But… all I can think about is what it would be like to have him in nothing but his hat boots and chaps.” a flood of blush caressed her cheeks as she admitted her secret outloud. The two women looked at each other then burst out laughing, after a moment Tara shushed them
motioning that the kids were asleep upstairs. They talked for an hour about jack and what they both would like to do to him that was if Kate was not already married. Once Kate had left to go home Tara walked through the house double checking the locks on the windows and doors then making sure all the blinds were drawn. Her last check was to make sure her babies were safe in their beds and sound asleep before she retreated to her own bedroom leaving her door open so she could hear the children. The burnt sienna sun rose above the sky line spreading a warm glow through the ranch. The barn doors had been left open and the light shone through casting Jack in a masculine silhouette as he knelt beside a sleeping horse. The smell of coffee caught his attention and he turned to see his mother standing in the door way with a fresh cup of his favourite blend, black and strong just the way he liked it. Getting to his feet he slowly and
quietly walked over to her. Taking his cup from her he kissed his mother on the cheek. “Thanks I need this” he told her. His mother a grey haired woman who stood up to his chin just smiled at him then glanced into the stable “No foal yet then” her voice was warm and comforting just like it had been when he was a kid. Jack shook his head and wiped his eyes to keep the tiredness at bay. “She really is giving you a run for your money isn’t she” she smirked then added “Maybe I will get a foal for my birthday this year if she holds on for another two days”. jack looked at the sweet woman then mockingly chastised her “Now don’t you go putting ideas in her head another two nights like this and you may have a new foal but you will be losing your son to exhaustion”. she reached up and gave him a tender slap on the shoulder then turned to walk away. “You make sure you get some rest, ive got to get to the café and get ready for the breakfast crowd.” then she was gone leaving jack to enjoy his coffee not that it would help much. What Jack really wanted was to go to sleep and continue his dream about Tara, no what he really wanted was to go to her and take her in his arms and have his way with her never mind the dreams, he wanted the real thing. Travis arrived to take over for him so he could go and grab a few hours shut eye before he began a day of work. The vet would be there in the afternoon to check on the mother and foal until then there was nothing he could do, at least she seemed to be able to sleep.
Jack tossed and turned but could not get to sleep his mind was racing with thoughts of her, her soft skin against his, her lips pressed to his in a hot passion that would set the world on fire. Giving up he showered and dressed ready for another day. Lounging under a tree that over looked the paddocks Tara set up her easel and canvas then set to work copying the scene before her in perfect likeness. The peace and quiet made her feel relaxed and at home, from up on the
hill she could watch her kids as they helped out Travis with the ponies outside the barn doors. Every now and then the gentle breeze would carry the care free laughter of her children to her and sometimes followed by the deep voice of a man who had just been tricked by her son yet again. Jacks mother had taken half of the day off from her café and had returned to the ranch. She was enjoying having children around, it made her feel like a grandmother. From her perch on high she could see Jack sitting on the porch steps watching her kids paint pictures with his mother, it looked like he was smiling. Returning her attention to the work at hand Tara went
back to painting. Her attention was grabbed by a noise coming up the hill, turning she was faced with him. Dropping the brush and palate from her hands Tara was about to scream but no sound escaped her mouth. Her panicked face turned to her kids who were unaware of what was going on. Happy her kids were safe she turned back to him, her ex husband who was supposed to locked up. He stood before her in tattered jeans and a dirty shirt, in his hand he held a blade, the sun light glinted from the shiny steel and flashed across her face. “Hello darling” he was trying to sound all calm and smooth but all he managed was a creepy tone, he never was good at smooth talking. He was never good at anything. Still no sound escaped her, she could feel the scream stuck in her throat and was battling with calling out for help or protecting her kids, she chose her kids. Steeling herself ready for what was to come Tara stood firm no longer willing for him to take away her power. “What do you want Billy?” her voice was shaky but strong at the same time. He smiled at her and revealed a few missing teeth which he probably left in prison where they had been knocked out. Billy turned his gaze to the kids and Tara stepped in front of him. “You leave them alone” her feral motherly instincts kicked in to protect them. Reaching out he tried to grab her arm but she pulled back and almost fell over, he took the advantage and
grabbed her wrist tightly. “Hey you let her go” a voice startled him from lower down the hill. Jack was rushing up to them and further down the hill his mother was rushing the kids inside the house and several of the ranch hands were following him up the hill a few feet behind. Pulling her closer to him Billy wrapped his arm around her shoulders and stuck the knife to her neck with almost enough pressure to break the skin. She struggled but he held fast. Jack stopped in front of them and raised his hands in a gesture that implied he was not going to come any further and attack. Jack had been itching for a way to relieve the pent up tension but he didn’t want Tara to be in danger so he held back for now. “What do you want?” Jack began the negotiations “Not that its any of your business but I want my wife” Billy blurted out. “Ex wife. We are divorced now Billy” Tara explained. “It appears that she does not want to go with you so I suggest that you leave quietly.” jack gave him his one chance to leave and hoped he would not take it. Seeing the look in Tara’s eyes he knew that this man had done horrible things to her and if given the chance he would again. The others caught up with Jack and stood behind him as back up should he need it but they knew the ex Navy Seal would not need any help with this one guy and a knife. It was all for show. Billy made a mistake and took the knife away from Tara’s neck and pointed it at Jack “Stay back or ill slit her throat” he threatened. Tara did not take her eyes from Jack’s he seemed so calm and sure of himself but still there was something else there in his eyes she could not be sure if it was worry for her or something else. All she knew is she wanted to be safe in his arms, holding on to that thought she found the courage to act. The knife was still pointed at jack so she slowly pulled her right arm across her chest and fisted her hand into her
left one. Putting as much force as she could she swung her elbow back and jabbed Billy in the ribcage he buckled with the pain and let go of her shoulders so she stamped hard on his foot then swung her fist up and broke his nose then swung it down and punched him in the groin. Billy crumpled to the ground letting go of the knife and crying out in pain. Jack and the others raced forward, Travis kicked the knife away just as the sheriff car was pulling to a stop in the court yard. The other men got hold of Billy and dragged him off down the hill. Jack had went to Tara’s side to wrap his arms around her and make sure she was alright, she was shaking her fist which was stinging but she had a huge grin on her face she was proud of herself. Jack got the impression this was the first time she had stood up to him like that and if he was honest with himself he kind of liked that she was feisty and it turned him on even more than he already was for her. The sheriff had handcuffed Billy and had locked him in the back of the patrol car. The kids were still being kept inside of the house by Jack’s mother and Tara walked over to the car. Leaning towards the window she smiled at her ex husband “Im not your push over any more so stay away from us”. she straightened up and walked into the house to hug her kids. The sheriff had finished gathering statements and was about to leave when Jack put one hand on top of the car and leaned in to speak to Billy. His voice was soft and calm there was no falter in his tone as warned “”Im an ex Navy Seal Billy and they are under my protection now so if I were you id forget about them and move on with your life because if you ever try anything like this again or try to contact them I will make sure you don’t see the inside of a jail cell again, instead it will be the inside of a wooden box buried so deep the earth worms wont even reach you.” Jack took his hand from the car and watched as the sheriff drove away. Once all the commotion had settled down and the ranch hands had gone back to work Jack joined Tara and his mother on the porch with the kids. Tara was drinking sweet tea his mothers answer to all stressful situations and the kids were drawing pictures on the floor. Sitting down next to Tara he removed his hat and sat it by his feet. “That was impressive” and he meant it. She let out a huff of a laugh “I was terrified but I had to stand up to him and I saw my chance so I took it” she did sound very proud of herself. “Yeah well you beat me to it, I was about to go for him when you did and I was shocked to see such violence from a sweet thing like you I froze and im sorry for that” he was a gentleman all the way. “Is it true what they were saying?” she asked him and turned to look in his eyes. “That depends on what they were saying” he was getting nervous by her unmoving stare. “That you were a Seal” she cleared up the question for him and saw him exhale a breath he was holding. “Yes I was but I don’t like to advertise it. That was a very hard time for me and im glad it is over”. she didn’t speak and the silence drew on. “Well who is in the mood for a piece of mud cake?” his mother asked and both of the kids jumped up and screamed together “Me”. The three of them went inside leaving Jack and Tara alone. Feeling the confidence still in her system Tara decided to push it a little further. “So you think im sweet then” she repeated his earlier words. Rubbing the back of his neck he felt like a scared kid again. “I think you are
more than sweet Tara” he stumbled over the words. “Well do tell me more. A woman cant get enough of good complements from a guy like you.” she teased him, but when he looked in her eyes there was no teasing there, instead he saw the lust he had seen in her eyes in his dreams. Reaching out he cupped her face in his big strong hand and pulled them closer together. Her lips parted and her tongue slowly licked across the bottom plump line of flesh waiting for him. Crushing their lips together they gave in to their feelings and let the passion flow freely between them. Her hand stroked his knee and slid up his thigh, inching higher and higher. He strained
against the fabric of his jeans as she ever so lightly brushed over the sensitive tip of him with her finger sending a shudder of wanting through him. He urged their kiss to move deeper and harder pulling her closer still by her waist. His touch send shivers down her spine and she wanted to feel his skin against hers without the fabric of her shirt in the way. “Jack come quick” a voice called out and all jack could think was “come quick, I would of if you hadn’t interrupted Travis”.
Rushing out to the barn both Tara and Jack saw what was causing the trouble, the mare had gone into labour finally and the foal was peeking its head out into a new world. Jack jumped straight in and got to work leaving Tara to watch him in action. The kids and his mother came running up behind Tara and they had chocolate cake all around their mouths. They stood in silence and watched as new life was brought into the world. Little Summer’s face was aglow with the joy of watching how a horse is born and Kieran was fascinated by the blood and gore a typical boy. The foal and mother were doing great and Tara and the kids were asked to stay the night after the day they had had. The ranch was quiet as the sun set and Jack had left the adults to go and shower of the stink of the day as his mother would say. Tara tucked the kids in and settled them down for the night, for once she was not afraid and left the window open to let in the cool night breeze. Jack turned off the shower and reached out for the towel but his hand found only the empty hook. He peeked his head around the shower curtain and almost slipped over when he saw what was waiting for him. Tara stood in the door way her curly red hair flowing freely down her back and over one shoulder, her body naked apart from his tiny towel. She wore the most beautiful smile he had ever seen and her eyes beckoned him to her. He was lost for words and could only look at her from head to toe and back again. “I think its about time to get rid
of these dreams and make them a reality don’t you think” her smile turned wickedly seductive as she raised her hand and curled her finger signalling for him to follow her. She let her other hand trail up the towel and she un tucked the corner, stepping out of sight behind the door frame she extended her arm to reveal the towel and dropped it to the floor. “Come on cowboy its time to make your dreams come true
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