To say we horsed around would be both a bad pun and an understatement. Half a day’s riding out meant half a day’s riding back in. The horses weren’t tired, and we spent more time at a fast trot than the slow walk we had earlier. I didn’t know what kind of chow they had planned at the barracks, but I’d been back on U.S. soil for going on three days and I hadn’t had a slice of pizza yet. I knew there used to be a place in town somewhere, and Alison’s face lit up when I asked her if we could order some pizza to be delivered.

“Oh yeah, we’re all modern and stuff nowadays. Even have a McDonald’s out here.”

“The wonders never cease.”

She pulled out her cell phone when we were approaching the horse barn and ordered a deep dish pepperoni. She laughed at whatever the other person on the phone said and broke out into a huge grin.

“Thanks, Tony, see you soon. Bubye,” she cooed as she ended the call. My blood boiled, and I could feel my jaw clenching when Alison saw the look on my face.

“What?”

“Tony?”

“Oh, he’s Tony boy, I went to school with him.”

“Oh? So you two have some history?”

“Oh, you could say that.” Her tone was wicked, and my blood boiled.

“So are there any other old boyfriends of yours out there going to shoot at me?” I was pissed.

“Why are you acting like this?” Her voice had slowly started to go from amusement to anger as well.

“Because it’s been a shitty day, and trouble follows you around more than it does me.”

“That’s not even fair. You know it isn’t like that,” she was almost shouting.

Shit. I stopped talking long enough to rein in my anger and jealousy. I had to fix this. I’d promised Bill I’d keep her safe. I took a deep breath, calming myself before responding.

“I’m sorry, you’re right. I was acting jealous over Tony and…” I stopped talking because she looked at me puzzled, and then busted up laughing, which pissed me off even more.

“No, Tony and I… we had crushes on the same boy when I was twelve.”

I let that sink in, and when it hit, the color must have rushed out of my face. I was an idiot. An angry jealous fucking idiot.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry.” I sincerely was, but her quiet sobs and big belly laughs as she unsaddled Blue got me going again. Tears ran down her cheeks.

“No no, it’s okay. It’s just that… the look on your… you were really pissed?”

I’d gotten off Lightning and was watching Ali as I was pulling the bit out of Lightning’s mouth. I hung it up and was about to cut off Ali when I felt teeth on my other cheek. The damn horse had bit me again, only half as hard as the first time. I still yelped and swatted her mouth away, where she just chuffed and stomped a hoof. Damn horse… The worst thing, while I was rubbing my sore ass with both hands, Alison had fallen over and was kicking her feet laughing.

“I’m going to eat you one of these days,” I snarled to Lightning as I got the saddle off of her and got it shelved.

“Hahahahahah, you are hungry enough to eat a…”

“Shuddup. Let’s go before the pizza gets here. You’re like a hyena the way you laugh at me.”

“And you’re like Wile-E-Coyote who’s just gone off the cliff with your ‘Oh Shit!’ expression. You should have a sign to hold up for moments like that.”

“Let’s go, smart ass,” I said, half my anger gone, the rest of it directed at me and the stupid horse.

I decided to leave the Jeep and walk back to the cabin. I was hungry, she was right, but I wanted more time. I didn’t want this to speed up. Right now was perfect. Right now, I was having fun and things weren’t confusing. Ali rubbed my arm, and I looked at her. She took my hand. I picked random bits of straw out of her hair from her mock tantrum as we walked, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’d almost been shot today, and despite that, I was having the time of my life and losing my heart in one fell swoop.

“You’re pretty deep right now, aren’t you?”

“Huh, yeah I guess.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“Pizza, maybe a beer or two if somebody has any.”

“We could ride into town later?”

“Yeah, but after today I don’t want to see how fast the gossip spreads about what I did to Tim.”

“The diner was creepy the other day, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. Small towns. A near shooting and a horse killing will make headlines instead of…” I broke off the thought because I’d almost said it: a guy who almost raped Ali. Yeah, that wasn’t news. Not any I wanted her to be reminded of all the time.

“What?”

“How nepotism is alive and well in this town. I’m not going to press major charges, but I want to get him slapped with a fine and make sure he’s not around any guns. Things like that.”

True, I had thought this also, but I wanted to leave the other part unsaid.

“Big words. You never used to talk like that.”

“I learned a lot, grew up.”

“Didn’t we all.” She pulled me into a one arm hug and rested her head on my shoulder as we walked slowly back to the house.

When we topped the next rise, I could see an SUV parked at the main house, the sheriff’s brown color with gold lettering standing out in the sunlight. I smiled when we got closer, pointing out to Ali that they had Tim in the backseat, apparently handcuffed. His arms were behind his back and, as soon as I got close, he started yelling and smacking his head on the side window. I was horrified when blood smears started obscuring the glass. Nobody was in the front seats, so I took off running to the SUV.

“Go find the sheriff; they probably went up to the porch.”

“What are you going to do to him?”

“Keep him from killing himself,” I panted, as I broke into full speed.

As quick as I was, Alison was by far faster. I’d thought when I’d chased her before that she was quick, but I knew I was a fast sprinter. Now I knew she had been holding back. She left me behind and started yelling for Carl or the sheriff, probably figuring either or both were here. Instead, Deputy Bob came sprinting from the porch as Alison skidded to a halt and started pointing.

I got to the SUV and opened the door, spilling Tim out on the ground. His face was a pulp of swollen and bruised flesh, and he was almost unconscious. I rolled him onto his side so he wouldn’t choke if he started to puke and looked on in confusion.

The deputy had his hand on the gun when he rounded the SUV, probably not knowing anything more than what Dade and Tim had told him, so I put my hands on my head and backed away from him.

“What’s going on here?”

“He started bashing his face into the glass, so I saved his sorry ass.”

“You sure you didn’t smack him around some more? I heard that you were pretty rough on him.”

“Sir, the blood is on the inside of the glass,” Alison said calmly, her sweet and gentle voice killing the aggression that had been building in the air.

“Oh wow,” was all he said, pulling his hand back and looking at the glass.

“Want us to call an ambulance?”

“No, I’ll radio it in. He did this to himself? This is a new one.”

The deputy, no his name wasn’t Bob, I couldn’t read his name tag, talked into his radio for a moment while we all watched the moaning lump on the ground. He took our statements after making sure Tim was stable and not having a seizure, but not moving his head, and confirmed that it was the same story Dade had told him. I knew he was doing his job, but I already knew I was in the right and this piece of shit was wrong.

“You pressing charges?”

“Right now, I don’t know,” I told him truthfully as we watched Tim moan and move his leg lazily. “I don’t know if something broke loose when the horse fell on his leg or, whatever else might be wrong with him.”

“From everyone’s words, he missed the first shot and was going to take another. If you hadn’t missed him by a mile and shot his horse instead, I’d say you gave this kid his life back. The boss is going to go ape shit when he gets out of court and hears about this, but what else is new? So don’t feel guilty for the kid, feel guilty for me having to deal with his uncle.”

I laughed. “You’re right,” I told him, “Except I didn’t miss my shot. I’ve killed enough people.”

“Think about it. Once the ambulance gets him, I’ll get in contact again. I’m guessing for now you’d like to have a no contact order? Unofficial?”

“No, no, no, no, no,” Tim started moaning softly, coming around. His hands were a bloody smear from being near his head and he ran his hands to his temples, pressing them in.

“Dude’s not right,” I told Deputy Owen, finally seeing the name tag.

“He’s been getting weird lately.” Alison broke my concentration.

“What do you mean?”

“More aggressive, louder. It’s like he was sweet one moment then had a ‘roid rage hulk moment and went off the deep end.”

“Yeah,” I finished for her.

“Let’s see if we can get him some help. It sounds like more than a fall off a horse.”

“Yeah,” I repeated.

Two sets of headlights started down the long driveway, one of them flashing the emergency beacon. Behind that, was the pizza delivery boy, Tony? I think. The pizza dude stayed in the truck until the ambulance left and only then door opened.

“Are you Alison?”

“Yes.”

“Tony had a last minute order, so he sent me. He said he owed you a pizza for last time I was late. Sorry,” the kid said, sheepishly.

“You weren’t that late.”

He laughed. “Forty five minutes late. I won’t let it happen again.”

“Okay, you do that.” She took the pizza and handed it to me. The box was hot and fragrant, the smell of sauce and spice tantalizing my empty stomach.

We walked back to the cabin, took our boots off, and each sneaked a piece of pizza before setting the table. I had joked about going to find beer somewhere on the ranch, but I was almost done in after the fifth slice of pizza; my eyes had started to get heavy. I knew I’d need a shower tonight, but for right now, maybe I’d just enjoy sitting back and resting my eyes…

The screen door slamming shut brought me awake, and the first thing I reached for was the rifle, which I’d leaned against the wall. It ended up that the only thing I accomplished was scaring the hell out of Jackson, Ali, and Sandy, who’d all walked in, chatting softly.

“Oh shit, I promise, I’m not here to sell Avon,” Sandy said with her hands up.

I let out a deep breath and lowered the gun. Shit!

“It’s been one of those days,” I admitted.

“I heard about it. Actually, that’s why we’re here. I heard from my nephew.”

“Owen, the deputy?” I guessed.

He nodded, his face somber. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock, shocked that three hours had passed.

“Why’d you let me sleep that long?” I asked Alison, noticing that the pizza had been put up and the table cleared. I was puzzled and fuzzy headed.

“Oh, I tried to wake you up. You were chasing the white rabbit pretty deep, and you snore.” She poked me, and I jumped.

“Dammit, Ali. So what’s the news on Tim?”

“They did an MRI to check his head for injuries,” Jackson started.

“And found a large growth,” Sandy finished after Jackson paused too long, unable to finish the thought.

“He had a brain tumor?” Ali asked, shooting me a shocked glance.

“Something like that. He has surgery in the morning, about 10am. Owen said you might want to know in case you want to stop in. Said you were on the fence about pressing charges, even after what he did to you.”

“How bad is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Damn. Okay, well, do you guys want some pizza?”

“No, we ate. I called Ali and she said you were sleeping and couldn’t be woke up, so I figured I’d wait till later and tell at least one of ya. This isn’t something that should be done over the phone if you can help it.”

“This is horrible. No wonder he was acting so strange.”

“We were wondering if you’d bumped your head yourself, missy. No one could figure out what you saw in him until Cameron filled me in on what you were trying to do. You don’t need to do that.”

“I know that now. I was just trying to help the family.”

“That’s all noble, but this isn’t the 1800s anymore.”

“That’s what I said,” I broke in.

“SHUT UP,” all three of them yelled. I threw up my hands in surrender.

“Can I get the day off tomorrow, boss?” I asked.

“You heading up there?”

“Yeah, thinking about it. There’s more than one way to mend a fence.” I watched the girls roll their eyes at my bad pun.

“You don’t work for me, do what you want.”

“Appreciate it,” I said, smiling at the gruff tone that’d taken me a year to decipher.

We said our goodbyes, and I hugged Sandy before they were gone. Alison was quiet, and when I asked her if she wanted to sit up and read she just shook her head. I couldn’t get her out of her funk and figured she wanted to be left alone for a minute, so I grabbed a change of clothes and hopped in the shower.

I didn’t take long; I knew the water heater was small so I hurried so Ali could have a hot shower too. Just like that, I was tired again. One thing I’d learned from war, was when it’s all over, you sleep when you can because the nightmares will keep you up.

“Shower’s ready for you. Do you want me to stay up and keep you company?” She just shook her head.

“You're sleeping in the bed tonight,” she said in a strange tone and grabbed a robe I’d held out for her. We’d stop at the big house tomorrow and get her some clothes, I mentally noted to myself.

Then it hit me, she wouldn’t need to be here after tonight.

“Shit.”

I sat on the edge of the bed for a moment in my boxers and T-shirt, then slid under the cool covers that smelled faintly of strawberries and vanilla. I would have smiled, but she wouldn’t need me after tonight. She wouldn’t need me to protect her. Tim had a tumor and wouldn’t be a bother to her any more, no matter how things turned out.

The water stopped in the shower, so I knew she would be out soon.

I’d protected her the best I could, and something about her made me want to throw caution to the wind for the first time in my life. I was actually feeling a sob building up inside of me. After tonight, would she even feel the same?

I heard her in the next room padding around, getting ready for bed.

“I couldn’t sleep,” she said, closing the door before I even realized she’d slipped in.

“Want to talk?”

“No,” she said, and in the blackness I could hear something hit the floor.

I felt her weight as she sat on the edge of the bed and put out a hand to comfort her, but stopped myself. I didn’t know if she was having the same doubts I did, and I didn’t trust myself to not be a blathering idiot in front of her. Guys are supposed to be tough; we aren’t supposed to cry, ever. That was the way my dad had taught me, years ago before he died. I was really working my inner self up to a great crescendo when she pulled the covers up and slipped in beside me, curling up to me.

Her hair was still damp, her breath hot on my shoulder, but what had my mind frozen was the skin contact. I could feel her nude form with my arm; her breasts crushed around one arm as she tried to burrow into me, one leg sliding over mine.

“Alison…”

“Shhhh….”

“But…”

“If you hadn’t saved me from Tim, I wouldn’t be able to do this with you,” she whispered, nipping on me gently. She definitely had my attention, and I could feel her body as her breath came faster.

I rolled to my side, wishing like hell I could see, but all I had was vague starlight behind some drapes. I could see her eyes and the outline of her face. The first kiss was slow, teaching, yearning. It promised more to come. She let her hand wander over my body, and I lay there, enjoying the moment, knowing it was almost too late to turn back if I wanted. I didn’t want to turn back. Did I?

“He won’t hurt you,” I whispered to her.

“I know.” She pulled my shirt up, her free hand tracing and trying to tickle me. It didn’t work; I was lost in her eyes.

“So…”

“Our first time, so don’t go all fifty shades on me.”

“I won’t.” I kissed her and pulled the shirt off as our bodies touched and she rolled on her back.

Gently, I felt her body drawing closer to me, trying to pull my mouth closer to hers. My eyes adjusted to the dark in a desperate bid to see her. Her stomach was bathed in the moonlight, and her body was everything I had imagined and more. I caressed her and could not only see, but also feel her desire. As our hands searched each other, we gazed into each other’s eyes.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Yes.”

I needed no further encouragement and threw my boxers across the room, not caring where they landed. Alison’s needs were so great, that she took me in her hands and almost pulled me inside of her. I moved her hands away, wanting to watch, to feel, and to see her expression. I wanted to see the love in her eyes that I’d seen earlier in the tall grass. I pushed myself closer, watching her face melt with desire.

“Please,” she moaned as we locked together, savoring the warmth of each other’s body. Never in my wildest dreams had I expected this to happen. Or should I say, I’d never expected to be so enamored with this woman.

She wrapped her legs around me, and I could feel myself fall into her as she tried desperately to pull me even closer. The silkiness of her skin and the hunger in her eyes almost put me over the edge before we even began. The look in her eyes was not only mesmerizing, but it also pushed me to please her in every way possible.

As our bodies worked in unison to create the perfect and most satisfying climax, I realized it was not only the feel of her soft skin and her eyes that drew me in and wanting more. I was experiencing feelings I had never felt, and wanted nothing more than to savor every second in her arms. Ali’s hands pulled at my sides and I leaned in to kiss her deeply. I cupped one breast with my hand, pinching a nipple. She moaned and put her legs around my back. I could feel her climaxing, and knew I wasn’t going to last much longer.

“Does this always… Oh…”

“Yeah.” I kissed her neck knowing that as turned on as I was, and let’s admit, as head over heels in love as I was, I couldn’t last long.

Our breathing synched together as we worked ourselves up to a sweat, every gasp and every kiss bringing us closer and closer until I couldn’t hold back any more. Her body stiffened the same moment as mine, and I held myself still, planted deeply inside her, face down on the bed as she wrapped her legs around me, savoring every last second.

“Oh God.”

“Yeah,” I said, my mind blown.

“Did we just…?”

“Yeah.”

“Mom and Dad are going to be pissed…”

We laughed a little before making love a second time, less gentle, more urgent. Somewhere in the middle of sleep there may have been a third time, but I might have been dreaming.