Chapter 4
Blake
“Yet another wonderful morning in hell,” I muttered to myself as I struggled to leave the bed the next morning. I heard a sound and turned to find a young woman in my bed. I frowned; her hair was black. So much for dreams, I thought.
By the time I’d showered and turned on the coffee pot, she began to stir. There was a beaming smile on her face, but I’d seen this sort of thing before. It was typical of every woman who found herself in my bed in the morning. I’d even heard rumors that there was a website where my conquests were comparing notes and keeping scores. As long as they’re selling t-shirts, I don’t give a shit.
I didn’t know this one’s name so I just motioned toward the coffee pot and she sprang from the bed, pulling on her jeans and shirt as she came toward me. I knew where she was headed and nodded as I walked out onto the deck to avoid her.
She stood in the doorway of the slider, sipping her coffee and considering her odds. I could feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck. One of these days, I’m gonna pick one while I’m sober, I promised myself. Like that silver-haired colt I danced with at the park yesterday. Now that’s my style. She’d been tall and all legs, sparky and with a profile I’d like to feel against me for an entire night, if not longer. I could picture riding her and was willing to bet she’d give me a ride I’d never forget.
Jesus, you’re starting to think like a jerk, I thought to myself. It seemed innately disrespectful to think of Silver in those vulgar terms.
I heard a noise behind me. The black-haired gal was tapping on the glass and slid the door open. “Give me a ride to town?” she asked.
“Sure, no problem. Be with you in a couple of minutes.”
She closed the door and I watched from the corner of my eye as I saw her open my nightstand. I was used to this. Every one of them always snooped for some little souvenir to take home with them. I kept a few trinkets in the nightstand just for that purpose. That way I controlled what they took and what they didn’t. I saw her pocket a deck of cards. These tended to be favorites since I guess I’d touched them all and they could sell each card as a souvenir. If I ever had a woman here who didn’t steal, I’d probably have to marry her.
With a sigh, I stood up and went inside. She was sitting on a kitchen stool, beaming. I nodded and snatched up my keys. At least I’d learned to always put them in the same place, even when I came in plastered. Luckily, last night had not been an exception.
I got her to town in record time and left her at a corner gas station. She said that was close enough to home so that told me either she was married or still living with her parents. Either way, it would be the last time I’d see her.
I stopped by Elmer’s Grocery to pick up a few things. People there knew me since a kid so didn’t make a fuss when I came in—and for this, I was grateful. It was a small, family-owned place and Elmer did his own butchering in the back. I ordered up a few steaks and went down the vegetable aisle while he was wrapping them.
“Hello,” came a voice behind me. I turned and to my amazement, Silver was standing there. “That was quite a generous gift you left for the bride,” she commented.
I got to admit I got a little hard seeing her stand there—okay, a lot hard—so I turned the cart to block my waist.
“How ya doin’, Silver?” I asked her and my voice even sounded kinda high-pitched as it came out.
She saw right through me and was smiling in a knowing way. Damn! She’s smart, too.
“I also got a little piece of paper with a number. Is that for the employment office?” she mocked me.
“Try it and see,” I shot back and we grinned mutually. Over her shoulder, I could see Elmer signaling to the packages he was leaving me on the butcher counter. I nodded.
She looked around and saw what I was nodding at. “Looks like your number’s up,” she observed in a mocking tone. “See you around, cowboy,” she said and began pushing her cart down the aisle.
“The name’s Blake,” I called after her and she nodded her head, but didn’t turn around. I didn’t mind as it afforded me a good look at her backside and there was nothing there I didn’t like. It occurred to me that I hadn’t had to identify myself to anyone for years. She wasn’t even impressed. Probably hadn’t been here long enough to know better. I really am becoming an asshole.
I got back to the ranch, threw one of the steaks on the grill, and popped a cold beer. I started thinking about Silver and almost let the steak burn. I wasn’t sure where she came from, but I could tell by her accent she wasn’t from Texas. Made her sort of exotic, actually. I sensed she wasn’t anything like the women I brought home at night. She was a keeper and wouldn’t settle for a casual one-nighter. That made me want her all the more.
I headed to the local arena and wandered down to the barns. The bulls were being brought in for the next Sunday’s event. I found my way to Cain’s stall. Jesus, but he’s a monster, I thought to myself. There was something inherently evil in his eyes and he glared at me from behind the layers of boards with embedded electric fence. He was angry and his massive size seemed to loom even larger than life. I wasn’t scared; I was being tactical. I wanted him to catch my scent and maybe even become a little familiar with me. If I was lucky, then he wouldn’t kill me when I climbed aboard.
This would be a career-changing ride. If I stuck to him, I’d be invincible—forever unquestioned and I’d go down in the bull riding annals. It I didn’t, they’d say I was washed up and that the drinking had gotten to me. They might be right, but I was out to prove them wrong.