cowboy dreams part four

Tara had picked up her bag that held her camera and sketch book and was rushing the kids out of the door so they would not be late on their first day. She had spent most of the night unable to sleep due to the tension in her body so she got a lot of the unpacking done, with being a single mother of two she had to be organised. Pulling up to the drop off point Kieran jumped out and ran off intent on being independent but he turned and gave his mum a quick wave and a smile. Now she drove around to the building further round and dropped Summer off at nursery but not with out a few tears. The drive to the ranch seemed to pass too quickly and her coffee which she picked up from the café was still hot when she pulled up in front of the house. Pulling her bag from the seat next to her she grabbed her coffee then climbed out of the jeep to be met by Travis. “Good morning, mam” he tilted his head like they did in the old western movies. Tara thought to herself that at least he was brought up with some manners even if he hadn’t

grown up. “Morning Travis” she smiled back at him. “Jack said for you to just wander around as you like. He would of come to meet you himself but he was up all night with one of the mares who is due to foal any day now, so he will catch up with you around ten if that’s alright.” Travis looked as though he could do with a good nights sleep but he was as cheery as he had been yesterday. “Ok thanks, id better get started then” she slung her bag over her shoulder and took a swig of coffee then headed off towards the barn. She was kind of glad she hadn’t had to face him first thing, unsure if she could keep the blush from her cheeks after the dreams she had

last night. Downing the last of her coffee she discarded the cup into one of the trash cans by the barn and pulled out her camera. Strolling through the barn she began taking pictures of the stalls and the horses, when she came to Archimedes she stopped to stroke him and he made a contented sigh then he tried to nibble her hair. “Hey you non of that now mind your manners” she chastised him as if he was a child which made her let out a small giggle. She took a few pictures of him and he seemed to love that he even gave what she thought was a cheeky

smile with his tongue lolled out one side. She continued on through the barn and out the other side to take pictures of the paddocks and the views. Walking through the front door and out onto the porch Jack pulled on his shirt over his white vest and yawned. He was still sleepy and wanted to go back to bed but he had responsibilities and when he set his eyes on her jeep his mood suddenly picked up and his slow sluggish steps picked up a beat of their own. He picked up his coffee cup from the porch where it was normally left for him every morning and he walked over to the barn. Good old fashioned coffee not the fancy espressos and cappuccinos was what he liked, nothing wrong with old fashioned values his mother and father had always told him. Pausing at the barn door he saw her, the light glistened off her fire red hair as she stood giving Archimedes a good telling off. He stifled a laugh and watched as she snapped a few pictures of the daft horse before walking away without even noticing he was there. She had her hair pinned up out of the way and her pale blue shirt scuffed the few strands at the bottom of her neck pulling them free. He followed her through the barn and took a drink of his coffee as he caught up with her by the paddock fence. “Damn” he thought as she climbed up onto the slats and her already tight jeans pulled tighter drawing his attention lower to watch as she balanced her legs against the wood to give herself a grip freeing her hands to take pictures. He was quiet as he stopped behind her “you might want to be careful” he warned her but it was too late he had startled her and she lost her balance sending her backwards and off the fence. Jack reached out with one arm and caught her around the waist saving her from bruises and hitting the ground, he only slopped a few drops from his cup in his other hand. Her hands grabbed him wrapping around his arm and shoulder, her eyes wide with shock and panic. “Are you ok?” he asked her but he didn’t let her go as he helped her to her feet and get her balance again. “Im fine thank you” her eyes locked with his, her hands on his upper arms, the only thing stopping him from pulling her against him was the camera which hung from her neck and poked him in the chest. The moment seemed to stretch out longer and longer yet still he held her. “I think my balance is fine now” Tara motioned to his arm and he let his arm slid slowly across her skin sending delicious tingles through her body. She stepped out of his grasp feeling uneasy but still wanting his arms around her. “Thank you for catching me Jack” He loved hearing his name on her lips, like the gentleman he was he tilted his hat and smiled at her then took a drink of his coffee. Looking at her over the rim of his cup Jack asked “So, are you finding inspiration?”. Tara looked deep into his eyes and felt like he had two meanings to his question but that was just in her mind, along with the thoughts of what was under that snug fitting shirt. Ducking her head to hide the blush forming in her cheeks Tara checked her camera, fiddling with buttons. “Yes I have a few pictures and im about to head over to the main house now” her voice was slightly strained and she hoped he could not hear how flustered she was by him. “Ill leave you to it then. I need to go and check on a few things.” he turned to walk away then spun round “Ill see you later” with those words he walked away with what Tara thought was a glint in his eye. Jack left his cup on the shelf by the door to the barn and set to work, first he went to check on the mare who was laying down in her stable quite happy now, not at all like she had been last night typical woman Jack thought to

himself. Travis was in the stall with her trying to get her to eat a little bit. “How’s our girl doing?” Jack asked him causing Travis to jump. “She is fine just now very relaxed but I don’t think it will be very long” Travis walked to the stall door and leaned over to talk with Jack. “Tara is kicking around some where, I told her you would go find her” he smiled at his boss and friend. “Ive already seen her she is up by the house now snapping away pictures” Jack remembered holding her in his arm and the feel of her skin against his. Seeing the look in Travis’s eyes he made his excuse to leave and see to the work being done on the dorms so that he would not have to deal with the horde of questions he knew were coming. Leaving the stables he headed over to the

dorms where workers were painting and fixing up the rooms. Poking his head in the doors to make sure all was going well Jack made his way down the building. He was pleased he now had enough money to do the rooms up properly with wheelchair access and bathrooms suitable and safe for the kids to use. His next stop was to check on the riding ring where he had been working on a ramp that could be used to wheel the kids up on so they will be at the right height for getting onto the horses with out risking the backs of the staff. The new saddles had arrived the day before with special straps to hold the kids on and were now set up in the tack room.

Picking up his hammer and tool box Jack got to work finishing hammering the planks in place then he was going to get the guard rail up. Lunch time soon rolled in and he was still hammering away when his father approached him. “Grubs up son. Come on you need to keep your strength up if your going to keep going like you are” his father was slightly shorter than Jack and was going grey and had a very nice pot belly which he liked to call his love belly on account of it was filled and made with love of his wife’s cooking. “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” a phrase Jack had heard all his life from his father. Putting his tools down Jack walked back to the house with his father. “it’s a great idea to get a local to do some art work for the place. Its more personal and specific.” his father rambled on. “When I saw some of her work at the market I knew it was just what this place needed” Jack replied. They reached the house and as it was a nice hot day the food had been set up on the out side table and they were the last to arrive. Jack saw that even Tara was there, sitting in a chair doodling in a sketch book as she chatted with the others. He couldn’t help but notice how relaxed and how well she seemed to fit in here. Taking their seats every one dug in to the delicious smelling food that the house keeper and cook had made. Fresh salad in bowls, fresh made bread, three different meats and hot soup. Perfectly cooked chicken and mash potatoes were among the mix of food before them. “Wow this is quite a lunch” Tara said to the cook Maggie. The mid forties woman with blonde hair smiled back “These boys work so hard they need to keep up their strength and if you think this is a lot of food you should see what they get through at dinner time” she laughed at that as if was a sight that would bring you to rib splitting laughter. Looking around at the men digging in to the food as if they hadn’t eaten in days Tara let out a small giggle as she imagined it. Jack caught her eye, he was not rushing his food down like the others he was picking at a bread roll and watching her. Why had she agreed to take this job, the last thing she needed right now was more complications but all she could think of was that she wanted these particular complications. She turned her attention back to her doodling. “Hey that’s really good” one of the ranch hands said as he looked

over at her sketch of the men around the table eating. She hadn’t started out drawing them but had felt compelled to add them in. pointing to one of the men in the picture the ranch hand made a comment “I think you need to make his nose a bit bigger our Harry has a nose that would give any other a run for its money” he laughed but was cut off by a roll being thrown at him from across the table, it hit its mark and bounced off the guys forehead. The whole table roared with laughter and Tara could pick out Jacks with out a problem. Tara felt comfortable here it was so relaxed and light hearted. When they were finished eating every one began to disappear in different directions back to work. Jack hung around and asked to see the sketch she had done, he

liked it and asked for it to be done a bit bigger if that was possible. “That’s fine I can do that but I need to leave right now and pick up Summer from nursery” Tara told him. “You can bring the kids here with you any time you like im sure I can find something for them to do” Jack offered. He really seemed to like kids which was good as they were her life. She stopped that train of thought and walked back to her jeep to leave, what was she thinking she cant get involved with anyone she had to protect her kids. Jack watched her leave and smiled to himself, it was obvious she was flustered by him and he liked that he had that effect on her but he also wondered why she was so reserved. He went back to finish the ramp and let his mind wander while he worked.

Holding her in his arms had felt right and he wished she was back in them her hair falling loose in the breeze, her body pressed against his. He imagined running his fingers through her hair as he pressed his lips to hers to savour her taste. Holding her close he keeps his arm around her waist and lifts her up and carries her to back of the house to the secluded garden with a hot tub and lush green tall plants. Her arms wrapped around his neck, fingers playing with his hair as she kisses him back with as much passion and urgency as he feels. Sitting her down on the edge of the hot tub Jack begins undoing the buttons on her shirt as her hands glide down his shirt

and under the fabric then up over his torso sending shivers of excitement through his skin. She pushed his shirt over his head knocking his hat to the ground and her lips trailed hot kisses across his body, Jack let out a groan when her tongue found his nipple and began teasing him. He pulled her shirt off her and then the bra followed both of their hands began frantically undoing belts and jeans, Jack kicked off his boots and helped her to free himself from his jeans then he helped her out of hers. Looking her up and down he licked his lower lip. Tara reached her hands up to his face and she leaned in to kiss him his hands found their way to her waist automatically, he lifted her and stepped into the warm water lowering them both into the wet pool letting the

water caress both of their bodies. He let his hands slid over her wet skin exploring every curve while his lips and tongue savoured the taste of her from her lips to her neck to her breasts, lingering and sucking on her nipples then moving back up. His hand slid lower under the water and he heard her moan in his ear when his fingers found her wet aching and waiting for him. As he pushed deeper her fingers dug into his shoulders and he pressed his lips over hers caressing her tongue with his. His own erection pressing against her was aching for more so he pulled free and lifted her to lower her onto him, the water splashing them both as he moved her with ease. It felt like electricity was shooting through him as he lowered her on to him and he slid inside her. “Jack, hey are you listening to me” a male voice broke him out of his day dream to face Travis standing in front of him with a curious look on his face. “Damm it!” Jack breathed out. “What’s up?” he asked Travis. Travis looked at Jack and said “it’s the mare”. Jack stood up and followed Travis to the stable, on his way he had to adjust his now overly tight jeans.