Chapter Eight
“What are you doing?” Maddie asked.
Caleb smiled and rubbed down his horse. “It’s simple. I want to take you on a trip around the ranch. It will take all day, and I figured with Paige having a sleepover with her cousins, you and I can go and explore for the day.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a catch with this?” she said.
There was, but he wasn’t about to tell her that. “Would you like to come and see where you live?” he asked.
He’d asked Mike how to romance a woman. The books he read were fine, but he didn’t have millions or billions of dollars to take her to fancy restaurants, and the diner in town wasn’t fancy. Besides, she always made the better burgers. Not only that, he didn’t want to risk her bumping into Emily and Chad. He wanted their time to be fun, and about the two of them, not about their past.
“I’d love to.” She glanced around the barn. There was only one horse. “Where’s mine?” she asked.
“You’re going to be riding with me.”
“Erm, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said.
He chuckled. “I heard you tell Paige that you didn’t know how to ride. Besides, this is not a lesson, and I want you to be comfortable.”
“You want me to ride with you?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that, like, a lot of weight?”
“No, it’s not. Trust me.”
“I do, but that’s a lot of weight for one horse.”
He pulled her close, running his hand down her ass and gripping the flesh. “We can handle you, baby.”
There were times he knew her weight bothered her, and she tried to hide her body from him. He wouldn’t let that happen though. Caleb loved watching her, and he’d even looked into installing more mirrors around his bedroom, just so he could watch her. She made him ache in all the right places, and fuck, he was falling for her.
He didn’t say anything though as he didn’t want her upset. They had a good thing going, and he didn’t know how she felt about him, and he wasn’t used to feeling this way. Not about a woman or anything.
“I have no doubt of that.”
Once he’d rubbed his horse down, he took Maddie’s hand. “Ladies first.”
“Wow, okay, erm, are you sure about this?” she asked.
“I’m really sure.” He winked at her, and he saw that didn’t help and in fact only made her nervous.
She released a breath, and then followed his direction, climbing up onto the horse. She held onto the reins, and he saw she was incredibly tense. “Try to relax.”
“I would, but right now I can’t think.”
He climbed up behind her, taking the reins and getting her to ease back against him. Leaving the barn, he took off at a slow trot, allowing her to get used to the feel of the horse.
“This feels really weird,” she said.
He took one of her hands and placed it on his thigh before doing the same with the other.
“I’ve got this, and I’ve got you. I’m not going to let anything happen to either of you.”
She nodded. “Okay, yes, I’ve got this.”
Her hands squeezed his thighs, and he smiled, leaning close to kiss her temple. She was so beautiful.
The further they got from the house, and the longer he was on the horse, she began to relax, and he took his time.
He didn’t want to rush or startle her.
Once they came over a large hill, he heard her gasp. She’d been with them for a couple of months, and he’d not taken her out yet.
“Oh, my,” she said.
“What is it?”
“It’s just so beautiful. I can’t remember ever seeing something so amazing.”
This did make him smile because that meant a great deal to him. He’d always loved the ranch, even as a kid. “I’ve never thought of being anywhere else in the world.”
“Not once?”
“Nope. Not even when I did something wrong, and Dad would rant and rave, and he’d get so mad. I still loved it. I loved learning how to ride my first horse, and then fixing the fence, dealing with the cattle. I love all of it. Mom always said that ranching wasn’t for everyone. Mike and I, it was natural to us.”
“It is hard work though.”
“Yeah, but when you’re doing something you love and it’s more of a calling, it’s not exactly hard to do, and I don’t find the long days all that.” Especially when he had Maddie to go home to.
In fact, just this past week, there had been a few freezing cold mornings, and his body had ached from the chill, but just thinking of Maddie, and how she warmed his bed, that was enough to keep him moving. When he got home, after a nice, hot meal and warm bath, he’d sink balls deep inside her, and that had been the best pleasure of all, feeling her cunt wrapped around him.
“Paige loves it here, and she’s always talking about it.”
It had been a couple of weeks since Maddie had gone into the school to have dinner with Paige. He also knew his little girl had loved every second of it. She didn’t care that everyone called Maddie the nanny. No, she’d loved having a mommy to talk to.
Paige had told him everything from the way Maddie smiled at everyone, and she didn’t treat the kids like babies. She talked with everyone, and some of the kids thought Paige was cool for having a mommy like Maddie.
She then asked him if Maddie could be her new mommy, and since then, every time he thought of Maddie pregnant with his kid, he wanted to see it happen. He wanted to know his cum filled her pussy and knocked her up.
He wanted to possess, own, and fucking breathe her.
Maddie had gotten under his skin, and she didn’t even know it.
“Did you bring her out like this?” Maddie asked, breaking into his thoughts.
“When she was a little girl, and Mom was tired. I’d bring her out, and she’d hold or hand me tools to help me fix things. She was always a great worker.” He kissed her temple.
For the next hour, they traveled around the ranch, and he pointed out where he cut his favorite pair of pants attempting to the jump the fence. Where he went riding with Mike when they were kids, and trying to get their horses to go faster, so one of them could be crowned the winner.
Each story he told her, he heard the laughter, and he hoped she saw another side of him. A side that was willing to share his life with her, and not only willing, but wanted to.
“This is all so amazing, Caleb.” They stopped at the lake. The thin layer of ice had melted as the temperature had turned mild. He knew it would only be another week or so before it was completely frozen solid.
His horse licked at the water, and Maddie moved to his side, holding onto his arm and snuggling against him.
“I don’t have any amazing stories to tell, or great scenery to show you. I tended to play with my dolls growing up. At least the ones I was allowed to keep.”
“Emily?”
“What she wanted, she always got. She was the first, so she got spoiled a lot. I think at times they felt guilty for having me because they didn’t really want me.”
He’d noticed not once had they made an attempt to visit the ranch. The few times he’d been in town, he’d seen her sister and the guy she was with. He’d also seen her parents as his mother had pointed them out.
Caleb wasn’t impressed. Family meant a great deal to him, and if any sister of his pulled the shit they pulled with Maddie, he wouldn’t have been so forgiving of the other one. Since learning everything he had about Maddie and her family, he didn’t want them on the ranch. People like that only tainted the happiness around them, and with Maddie all to himself, he wanted her happy.
“I want you, Maddie. I want you, and so does Paige. Not because you’re a nanny, and not because of the sex either.” He moved them both toward the bench that his father had placed near the lake, over fifty years ago. “You know my dad told us that wining and dining my mother was one of the hardest things he’d ever done.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her close.
“I don’t believe that.”
“It’s the truth. Mom wouldn’t give him the time of day. He was known as a player in those days, and nothing he did ever impressed her. She would visit the ranch often, and Dad would try to get her to fall in love with the place. He once told me that after a year, he decided he didn’t need her to fall in love with him, just the ranch.”
“That sounds awful.”
“Mom didn’t like the way he told it. Anyway, he said that he didn’t need love. What Mom didn’t know was as far as Dad was concerned, he loved her enough for the both of them. Then one day, Dad was riding by this very lake, and he saw Mom sitting on the ground, looking out at the lake for hours. An entire week went by, and he’d find her loving the view. Then Mom would take over telling the story. One day she came to her favorite lake. The view, the peace, everything would help her to think, and there at the perfect spot was a bench. A sturdy bench, and it was then that she realized she loved my dad.”
“Why?”
“He didn’t wait for her to see that he’d built it. He didn’t put a single clue into the bench that he’d built it for her. He simply did it, and left it alone. It was then that Mom realized that not only did he love her, and he paid attention to her without her realizing it, but how could she let a man so sweet and caring get away.”
He saw the smile on her face.
“I’ll never forget that story, ever,” she said.
Caleb didn’t tell her that retelling that story to her, it was the first time he completely understood what his father had done.
****
“You don’t want to go as a cowgirl?” Maddie asked.
“That’s not scary, and I want to see what all the fuss is about. A princess,” Paige said, wrinkling her nose as she even said the word.
“You know being a princess is not a bad thing,” she said.
“But they have to stay pretty and clean all the time. That’s boring, and prince charming, gross. I’d rather kiss a frog.”
“You do know that a frog can turn into a prince as well,” Maddie said.
“Ew, no kissing frogs.” Paige did a yuck face and wrinkled her nose.
Laughing, Maddie helped her into the costume that they’d bought for Paige, and then went about doing her hair, and then some light makeup, which was more like face paints.
The town was having a Halloween party, and Paige had begged for them all to go. Mike and Martha were taking their little ones trick-or-treating.
Paige jumped off her chair and rushed toward the mirror.
Maddie couldn’t stop laughing as Paige slapped her hands against her face and gasped in terror.
“I look like a nightmare.”
“You look beautiful.”
“Come on, Maddie. What are you going to be?” Paige asked.
She walked into the closet, and stared at the dress that Caleb had brought for her. Her favorite fairy tale, Belle. The yellow ballgown was for adult dress-up. She slipped it on, and was surprised that it had fit. She’d already pinned up her hair and done her makeup. Halloween had never been a fun night for her before this.
Emily had always gotten her friends to bully her, and to take away the candy she’d gone trick-or-treating with.
Her heart raced as Paige demanded to see her outfit.
Leaving her closet, her heart stopped when she saw the sexy lumberjack standing behind their little princess.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
Turning toward the mirror, she felt like a princess. The dress she wore had been made for an adult, and sexed up a little. Her tits were pushed up, pressed together, enhancing her large cleavage. It also clung to every single one of her size eighteen curves.
“And you’re?” she asked, trying not to think of how he made her ache all over. Her heart pounded as she watched him. He held an axe over his shoulder, and she saw he’d kept the safety on.
“I’m the zombie lumberjack,” he said. “Come back from the dead to hunt all se—pretty princesses.”
“She is so pretty, Daddy. Why couldn’t you dress as a prince?” Paige asked.
“Because a princess always needs a real man in her life.” He winked at her, and it made Maddie’s stomach tighten.
“Come on, let’s get this show on the road,” he said.
They all climbed into his truck and headed toward town.
It was the first time that they’d made it a full Halloween event. Every single shop in town had decorations, and there were stalls for candy. She saw kids walking around in packs, going trick-or-treating. The town party was already in full swing.
Once they’d parked, she held onto Paige’s hand as they walked toward Mike and his gang.
After they made a plan for trick-or-treating, Paige stayed by her side. Caleb didn’t leave her either, and she was very much aware of him at her back, looking every bit the sexy lumberjack.
“Do you do Halloween often?” she asked.
Paige pulled out of her hand, and she watched how she bobbed for apples with her cousins. She didn’t let the little girl out of her sight.
“Not much. We carve a pumpkin, and we have some candy while watching some television normally,” he said. “She’s always wanted to go trick-or-treating. I’ve just never had the time.”
Paige had begged her to get Caleb to agree to go to the town party. Halloween had fallen on a Friday, and with school out for the weekend, it had been a lot of fun. Maddie hadn’t even needed to ask Caleb.
When she got home, he already had their costumes. Of course, he had to replace Paige’s because she wanted to go as a princess rather than a cowgirl. Every year she’d wanted to go as a cowgirl, only this time she’d wanted to go as something different.
“I love my dress,” Maddie said, running a hand over the fabric.
His hand moved to her waist, and he pulled her back against him. “I can’t wait to take it off you.” His fingers stroked over her hip, and for a few seconds, she closed her eyes, basking in his touch.
She’d become addicted to his touch, and her nipples tightened, the hard buds pressing against the padding of her dress.
“I’m not going to lie, I wanted to get you this really sexy maid’s outfit that showed everything off. It would barely cover your tits, and bending down would show off your ass.” He quickly pressed a kiss to her neck.
She didn’t care that they were in town. She was under his thrall as he spoke. “What stopped you?”
“I bought it, but I decided I wanted to be the one to see you in it, and only me. No other man is ever going to know how sexy you are when you come, or how tight your cunt gets wrapped around my cock.” His hand squeezed her hip. “They’re not going to know how you love to be fucked, or how dirty you like to get.”
Heat flooded her pussy, and she bit down on her lip. Just a few words and she was putty in his hands.
Paige grabbed an apple, and Caleb pulled away just a little. “I got one. I got one. I got one.” She held up an apple.
Pushing all of her erotic thoughts from her mind, she smiled at Paige. “Eat it then.” She hugged Paige close just before she ran off again. For the next hour, with Caleb by her side, Maddie was very much aware of the heat of him at her back. She didn’t want to linger, but she also didn’t want to run off and spoil Paige’s night.
She’d been looking forward to it so much.
Paige had an entire full bag of candy, and they made their way back toward the center of town to enjoy the small disco that was taking place. Martha and Mike had taken Paige to start the disco while she and Caleb put the candy in the truck for later. Maddie and Caleb came to a stop as Emily and Chad stood in front of them.
“Well, well, well, if it’s not my little sister,” Emily said.
“Hello, Maddie,” Chad said.
She looked toward Chad, and saw her ex smile at her. He also looked pained as he spoke to her.
Turning her attention back to Emily, she smiled. “Happy Halloween,” she said.
Caleb stepped up close to her back, and knowing he was there filled her with comfort. It was only then that Maddie realized that she wasn’t comfortable being with Emily. Her big sister had always found some way in which to hurt her.
Emily was dressed as a maid, and with her slender body, she looked good, which only made Maddie’s arousal at Caleb’s suggestions earlier evaporate. There was no way she’d ever look good in something like that.
“You’re Caleb Pole, right?” Emily asked, completely ignoring Maddie.
She watched as Emily left Chad’s side, and actually began to flirt with Caleb, right there, in front of him.
Glancing at Chad, she saw the anger on his face, and was shocked by it.
“Emily, enough of acting like a whore. He’s not interested,” Chad said.
“How dare you speak to me like that,” Emily said.
“Seriously, right now you’re with me, and you’re flirting with another guy as if I’m not here. Get your shit together, Em.”
“We’re going to leave you to that,” Caleb said, taking Maddie’s hand and leading her away from the fighting couple.
“Were you … interested?” she asked, cringing as she even asked the question.
“You want to know if I was interested in your sister?” Caleb asked, stopping her from leaving.
Old insecurities were a menace, and she hated that she had them in the first place. Seeing Emily with Chad, not only that but the fact her sister started to flirt with Caleb, she’d felt so fucking useless.
“Forget I said anything.”
She went to leave, but Caleb wouldn’t let her go. He took hold of her arm and pulled her close. “No, you don’t get to leave after asking a question like that.”
“Let’s just get back to the party, okay? I don’t want to leave Paige for too long.”
“She’s having fun with Mike and Martha. We’ll be there in a minute.”
She took a deep breath, and finally looked him in the eye. “What? What is it?” she asked.
“Are you used to people wanting your sister more than you?”
“What kind of a question is that?”
“What kind of a question is asking me if I was interested in your sister, when not that long ago I was balls deep inside your pussy?”
“I don’t want to talk about this.”
He wouldn’t let her go. “We are talking about this, and you’re not running. Not anymore.”
“Yes, fine. Everyone who is anyone always wanted Emily. She was the pretty sister. The one they always wanted because she was the belle of the ball, or whatever it is called. I’m the one no one ever wants.” She gritted her teeth, hating the pain that struck her hard from her own words. “Can we just go back?”
“No, we’re not going back.” He cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. “You’re my number one.”
“What?”
“You’re mine. I don’t want to throw you away or push you aside. I don’t want Emily. In fact, when I look at her I see a spiteful bitch, and I don’t want that person near me or my daughter. You’re a good woman, Maddie. You’re beautiful. Nice, kind, loving, and I don’t want anyone else but you in my bed, and you know what that makes you, right?”
“What?” she asked.
“It makes you mine. That’s what you are. You’re mine.” He slammed his lips down on hers, and she melted for him. The final piece of ice melted around her heart, and the love she felt for Caleb completed.