The Cowboy's Rules: 2 (Cowboys After Dark:) (4 page)

“We’ll just have to wait and see how she does,” he smiled.

“It’ll be weird having a bunch of people running around the place,” Cassie frowned.

“It can get a bit hectic, but I have Marty, and Jeb and Tommy, and in the middle of the week they all take off for a day-long trail ride; it all works,” he assured her. “Mindy has already left on her five week tour so she’s out of the fray.”

“That’s something at least,” Cassie remarked. “It’s such a long time.”

“Back when I was doin’ the shows I’d travel for even longer stretches. Can’t say I miss it, ‘specially now,” he smiled at her.

“And this mayhem starts on Sunday!”

“Yep, the first group arrives on Sunday. It’s only six days, and that’s why I wanna get this ring and barn done fast, so you can have your own little world; you and Hannah and your three horses out of the madness.”

“Four horses, don’t forget Maverick.”

“Right, of course, Hannah’s horse would be better off up there as well,” he nodded.

“Can I supervise the work?” she asked.

Chad laughed out loud.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Marty will do the gradin’ for the ring, and I’m bringin’ in a local crew to get the barn up. It’s just a prefab deal, but I’ve checked it out and it doesn’t just look good, it’s solid, and it goes up fast.”

“Why can’t I oversee everything?” she pressed. “I mean, if the barn’s for me and-”

“Cassie, these things are pre-made,” he interrupted. “It’s like puttin‘ together a giant jigsaw, you’ll only be in the way. It’s been ordered and they’ll be arrivin’ tomorrow mornin’ first thing.”

He stared at her, the message clear, and she silently nodded her acquiescence, then taking his arm she pulled him from the desk.

“Thank you for all this, Mr. Douglas. It’s just wonderful,” she smiled, and lifting her chin and bringing her hands to his face, she held him still as she kissed him gently.

“Mmm, girl,” he breathed as they broke apart, “it’s worth all the trouble for kisses like that.”

“Hey, Mickey, you gonna keep me company up at the new barn?” she asked, calling to the dog laying on his pad by the fire.

The dog sat up and barked several times.

“I think that was a yes,” Chad smiled. “He’s not crazy about the commotion of the clinics. He might like to hang with you and Hannah.”

“I’d love it. You come on up whenever you want,” she said firmly.

The dog barked again and they both laughed.

“He is so special, Chad,” Cassie said softly. “I love him to bits.”

“Yeah, he is, and so dang smart. I never thought I’d own a dog smarter than me, but I do.”

As if understanding what his master had just said, Mickey sat up in a begging position.

“Oh, my, gosh,” Cassie laughed. “Mickey, you are way too adorable. If any of those people give you any trouble you come and get me.”

Dropping to his paws the dog trotted over, and unable to resist Cassie broke her hug with Chad and crouched down to make a fuss of the incredible little canine.

“Now I’m jealous,” Chad chuckled.

“You have reason to be,” Cassie smiled, “I’m tempted to run away with him. He can’t spank me.”

“You’re right, but I can, and if you don’t get your body back next to mine I’ll do just that,” he warned.

Giggling, Cassie stood up and sank against him.

“There’s no place I’d rather be,” she sighed.

“That’s my girl. Now I have work to do, and if you want to ride you’d better get in the ring. I think the boys will be startin’ up soon.”

“Shoot, okay, thanks. I’m running,” she replied hastily, and moving quickly from the office she headed to the bedroom to change.

Chad stared down at the plans; it all made sense that Cassie’s horses should live next to the house, and he would move Bailey there as well.

The small cabin that was about to become their home, sitting on top of the knoll overlooking the lake, was where he’d kissed Cassie for the first time; the sun had been setting and they’d watched the lake transform into liquid gold. It was also where they’d first made love under the stars, and commemorated their first Christmas. The place was uniquely special to them both, and now their home was finally going to be completed.

Wish I’d thought of havin’ her horses there when I was putting that cabin up
.
It’s gonna be a rough couple of weeks. Construction startin’ up there, and the barn and arena goin’ in at the same time.

Settling behind his desk he began studying the attendees for the clinic. He not only liked to memorize the background of each of them, it was time to look at the number of guest horses that would be arriving so he could determine which horse would go where. He read through the first few, then grimaced.

Damn, Molly Roberts. I hope she behaves herself.

The year before Molly had attended three of his four clinics, and each time she’d made her feelings perfectly clear; she wanted him. He’d been able to handle her, but Cassie hadn’t been in his life then, and on two occasions the beautiful girl had managed to wangle a reason to be alone with him; he had no doubt Molly would be all over him from the moment she arrived.

His cellphone chimed announcing a text, and staring at the screen he saw it was from Marty, but the message was not one he expected.

Cassie and Jeb having words in the ring. Better come down.

“Dammit, Cassie, now what?” he muttered. “Come on, Mick, let’s go see what’s brewin’.”

Throwing on his hat he marched out the kitchen door, the dog running ahead as they hurried down to the ring. As he approached he saw Cassie standing by Shelby, her arms crossed in a defiant posture, and Jeb with his hands on his hips, holding a young horse, kicking the dirt at his feet.

“What’s goin’ on?” Chad asked impatiently. “Never mind, you both be quiet, and Marty, you tell me what’s goin’ on.”

“Simply put,” Marty declared, “the ring wasn’t big enough for both of ‘em. Cassie tried to make a jump out of those barrels there,” Marty continued, pointing to three barrels in the middle of the ring, two on their side and one upright, “and Jeb here needed them the way they were, set up to get this young horse here workin’ around ‘em.”

“Cassie, did you roll the barrels from where they were?” Chad asked.

“Yes, but-”

“Stop,” he said sharply, holding up his hand. “You’ve got thirty minutes to work Shelby, then, Jeb, you put them back how you want them.”

“But what about Dominic and Rembrandt, I need to ride them as well,” she complained.

“It’s early in the day,” he frowned. “You guys alternate, thirty minutes each horse, but Cassie, the barrels need to go back where they were and stay there. You’ll have your ring real soon, and this afternoon you can order the jumps you want. This is a temporary traffic tie-up, that’s all. Let’s not make more of it than it is. Got it?”

“Sure,” she sighed, glaring at Jeb.

“No problem here, boss,” Jeb nodded, looking embarrassed. “I can do some work around the cows in the back fields while she’s doin’ her other two horses. I didn’t mean to cause any problems, but you know I’ve got to get this horse done and-”

“You don’t have to explain,” Chad interrupted. “I know your schedule and it’s tight. Okay you two, put this behind you. I won’t have any hard feelin’s around this ranch.”

Jeb broke into a grin and extended his hand, but as Cassie accepted it her smile was only halfhearted, and as she climbed back into her saddle and rode away, Chad stepped closer to the young cowboy.

“She’s been real frustrated about not bein able to ride the last couple of months. Don’t take it personally. She gets over things quick,” Chad said quietly.

“Hey, no problem boss,” Jeb replied. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to start nothin’. She’s always been real nice. All I did was ask when I could put the barrels back.”

“She’s a bit testy about her ridin’,” Chad sighed, “and she’ll have her own little corner of the world real soon. This won’t even be an issue a week from now, and things will get a lot calmer around here.”

Chad had no way of knowing how completely wrong he was.

I
t was early in the afternoon, and Cassie had just finished taking a shower.

After riding her three horses she had spent some time with Hannah discussing how they could work together, then had driven up to the knoll and walked the field that would become her ring. By the time she returned to the house she was hungry, tired, and covered in dust, dirt and sweat.

Toweling off she wrapped the bath sheet around her, sighed and stretched. Combing her wet hair off her face she applied some moisturizer and gazed at her reflection; though tired she looked happy. Staring down at the ring on the fourth finger of her left hand, she felt a lump of emotion rise in her throat.

I look happy because I am. I am so happy. I didn’t know I could be this happy. I need to apologize to Chad for what happened with Jeb this morning. I overreacted.

Hearing a sound in the bedroom she cracked open the door and saw Chad pulling off his shirt and walking towards his closet. The muscles rippling up his arms offered her a soft shiver, and smiling, she moved out of the bathroom still wrapped in her towel.

“What do we have here?” he grinned.

“Me, all clean and rosy pink,” she purred, slowly sidling up to him.

“Damn, girl, you look a treat,” he whistled. “Whatta ya think, Mickey, doesn’t she look a treat?” The dog cocked his head, then barked twice. “He agrees,” Chad chuckled.

“You don’t have to go anywhere right now do you?” she breathed, placing her hand on his crotch.

“I have a few minutes, why? What did you have in mind?” he asked, dropping his lips to her neck.

“Well, I thought perhaps I could apologize for being such a brat in the ring this morning by doing something really nice for you,” she whispered.

“Yep, you were definitely a brat,” he agreed. “You’re engaged to the boss, you need to be nicer.”

“I know, sorry,” she sighed, undoing the buckle of his belt and reaching for his zipper.

“I think I’ll have Jeb spank you-”

“You will not!” she protested, pulling back and staring at him.

“No, I won’t,” he laughed, “but I had you goin’ there.”

“You beast,” she griped, punching him.

Reaching his arms under her butt he lifted her up, carried her to the bed and threw her down. Squealing, she attempted to scurry away but he was far too quick, and ripping the towel off her he flipped her over, grabbed her hips and pulled her up on her knees.

“Okay, bratty, Sassy Cassie,” he declared, pushing his jeans down his thighs, “first a few good swats for behavin’ like a spoilt ten-year old, and then I think I’ll just fuck your brains out.”

Without hesitating he brought his hand down with a mighty slap, quickly followed by several more in quick succession.

“Owww,” she wailed, “I said I was sorry.”

“Yep, and I told you that I wasn’t lettin’ anythin’ slide, and I meant it,” he said sternly, continuing to wallop her ass.

“I’ll go and apologize to him,” she promised.

“You’re darn right you will,” he proclaimed, and pausing, he ran his hand over her bright pink cheeks.

“Oh, my, gosh,” she moaned. “That was intense.”

“A few more,” he announced.

Landing half-a-dozen more sound spanks, listening to her yelps and watching her squirm, he grabbed his cock, placed it at her hungry cunt-hole, and thrust forward.

“Chad…” she groaned, “that feels-”

Before she could finish he began pummeling her, surging forward with rapid strokes.

“I told you I was gonna fuck your brains out,” he growled, “and you know I keep my promises.”

Cassie was caught up in a whirlwind of feeling; her butt was stinging, and as he pounded, his pelvis slapped against her hot cheeks creating an encore spanking, but it inflamed her pussy, and as her orgasm hovered she let out a yowl of warning.

“Ch-Ch-Chad…I c-can’t w-wait…I’m g-going to…” she stammered.

“And I don’t want you to wait,” he said huskily, and closing his fingers tightly around her hip bones he accelerated his plunging cock into overdrive.

His cock jackhammered her cunt sending her over the edge, and as the orgasm surged through her she let out a wail of release, throwing her head back. Grabbing a fistful of her hair, he clutched it tightly as he stroked himself home, releasing his cream in explosive spasms.

“Holy crap,” she breathlessly exclaimed as she collapsed on her stomach.

Falling alongside her he rolled on to his back, trying to catch his breath.

“That was unbelievable,” she panted.

“You complainin’?” he asked, rolling over and staring at her.

“Hell no,” she grinned between gasps. “I should be a brat more often.”

“You could be,” he grinned back, pulling off his jeans that were still hanging around his legs, “but then I’d have to get real serious and pull out my cane.”

“Never mind, I’ll be good,” she said quickly.

“You be a brat to one of my boys again, and your bottom will be striped like a zebra. You get my drift?”

“Yes, yes,” she replied, nestling against him. “You don’t have to worry. I will be absolutely wonderful to all of your cowboys.”

“Come here,” he chuckled, holding her tightly.

“I’m so happy Chad. Even when I’m not, I am. Does that even make any sense?”

“Sure it does, that’s how I feel,” he sighed, adding, “I was thinkin’, we should get married in the house. It’s our special spot. I can’t think of anywhere that would be better.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” she smiled. “There’s nowhere better.”

“Then it’s settled. We could have a fall weddin’,” he suggested.

“How about we time it so that we’re pronounced man and wife when the sun turns the lake golden,” she suggested.

“Damn, girl, that’s genius,” he breathed.

“Then it’s settled,” she declared. “Thank you. Chad, for so much.”

“Even that sore bottom you’re carryin’?”

“Even that,” she replied, pulling back and gazing up at him.
Especially that.

In Marty’s cabin, Hannah was also about to get her bottom roasted.