Heartbreak Ranch (21 page)

He moaned contentedly, a combination of the feeling that came with being inside her and from the satisfaction he took in knowing he was right. Her screams grew louder as he sank into her inch by maddening inch. “God ... Yes ...” He sighed below her. “I love the moment I enter you, and how it feels as though it’s the first time all over again.”

Colt gave her a moment to adjust to the sensation of having him completely inside her and then, in the glow of the flickering lights, as the gentle rains continued to bathe the barn and dance on its metal roof, they proceeded to love each other. She rode him with an ardor that he matched as he used his powerful arms to help move her up and down the length of him. She quaked and quivered, he conquered and caressed, and together they gave a part of their souls to one another.

Colt raised his torso up to meet hers, still holding her firmly and moving her up and down on his shaft. As his arms wrapped around her waist, he held her gaze with a wondrous stare. Their faces were only inches apart, and though their bodies wildly mated, and their mouths hung open panting heavily, their eyes stayed fixed on each other.

“Do you know the thing I love about you most of all, Graysen?” His words didn’t diminish the intensity of their coupling; they only served to heighten it.

“Hmm?” She bathed in the warmth of his words.

“I love that you’re mine.”

Oh yes, Colt McCord
.
All yours ...

***

“What do you mean you’re not leaving for Iowa with us tomorrow? What exactly do you think you’re doing?” Her father’s eyes narrowed to slits as he watched Graysen flit about the cabin, stuffing her belongings into a suitcase.

“I’m not!” Graysen squealed with delight, seeming to levitate almost off the bedroom floor as she sorted out her clothing. “I’m going to stay here a bit longer, until the end of summer.”

“Gray, honey …” Her mother tried to remain calm so she would be able talk some sense into her eldest daughter. “You have six weeks before classes start, that’s a long time to stay away from home. Besides you need to get your apartment squared away.”

“Mom, I appreciate your concern, but there is nothing anyone can say to talk me out of it. I am going to spend my summer break on this ranch.”

“Like hell there isn’t!” The decibel level of her father’s voice could have broken the sound barrier. “You barely know the man! You can’t just play house with some rancher who caught your eye!”

“Oh yes I can! And he’s not just some rancher, he’s mine. My ranch hand ...” She swooned.

“It’s so romantic, just like a scene from a movie,” Harper said, earning her a stern look from their father.

“Graysen, you need to stop and think about what you’re doing!” her father yelled, exasperated at the stubborn bent his daughter had inherited from him.

“I did think about it,” she called from the bathroom. In truth, she had thought about it for about three seconds after Colt asked her to stay with him, which was actually two seconds more time than she needed to make the choice.

“We can’t let her do this,” Graysen overheard her father telling the others.

“Well ...” Her mom was hesitant. “What can we do? She’s an adult, isn’t she? She says she loves him. Look at how happy she is. Have you ever seen her smile like that?” Graysen’s mother was warming to the idea of her daughter being so in love.

“It’s been two damn weeks! Two weeks and she knows what love is? She’s inexperienced; she couldn’t tell love from indigestion! She’s not thinking clearly.”

Graysen interrupted their attempts to plan an intervention. “I do love Colt. I am happier than I ever have been, please don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry? Sure Graysen, we won’t worry. We’re only leaving you on a cattle ranch in the middle of nowhere, a thousand miles from home, with some man you’ve only just met. What would there be to worry about? Why, everything is right as rain!” Her father’s sarcasm was sharp enough to cut glass. “Graysen, you’re throwing your life away. You had such a promising future. You were going to be an architect with a position in the family firm. And now, now you’ll stay here and shack up with that hick. You can’t live life by just giving it a lick and a promise. You have to have a plan and stick to it.”

“Throwing my life away? A lick and a promise? Dad, I think you’ve been watching too many Spaghetti Westerns. My decision is not aimless, I have a plan. I am not dropping out of the Master’s program,” she said exasperatedly.

“Graysen, you’ve always been level-headed. I don’t know what’s gotten into you,” her mother chimed in.

“And that’s exactly the problem, Mom. I have always made decisions by being rational, objective, and level-headed. Maybe it’s time to be a bit irrational and start listening to my heart more.”

“Are you sure you know what you’re getting into Graysen?” Her mother was calm, as though she understood how her daughter felt, but wanted to make sure Graysen was happy.

“I actually have no idea what I am doing, but it feels right and I have to trust it.” Graysen was beaming.

“Enough. I think you should let her stay.” Carson stood with his arms crossed near the fireplace. “She’s not a little girl any longer.” He smiled.

Graysen, astonished, darted across the room and gave her brother a giant bear hug.

As she reached for him, he whispered in her ear, “Gray, I am so sorry …”

“Don’t be.” Graysen released him from the hug and gripped his arms as she looked him in the eye. “I am ridiculously happy at this moment, so don’t go and ruin things by reminding me why I should still be angry with you.” She poked him in the ribs teasingly and gave him a quick grin.

Graysen turned and faced the rest of the family before saying, “Well I think that’s everything. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to see you before you leave for home.”

And as everyone, with the exception of Carson, stood gaping at her, she flew out the door and into the Wyoming summer day. The rain had stopped, and the sky was clear.

The lodge was crowded and bustling with activity that evening, but there was only one person Graysen wanted to see. After her search for Colt in the main room proved unfruitful, she spotted Heck and June Edmiston making their way toward her. Mr. Edmiston looked hesitant, while Mrs. Edmiston had a smile floating upon her face.

“Well hello, Graysen,” Mr. Edmiston was polite but hesitant.

“Good evening to you both,” Graysen smiled. “I don’t suppose you would happen ...”

“To know where Colt is?” Mrs. Edmiston finished Graysen’s sentence, smiling tenderly. “I do believe he mentioned something about getting some late-night training in with that stubborn stallion he has been working to break.”

“Thank you!” Graysen turned around to head out of the building, oblivious to anything but her goal of finding Colt.

“Graysen, dear ...” Mrs. Edmiston’s voice was gentle.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she giggled sheepishly, “I guess I have a lot on my mind.”

Heck and his wife exchanged a knowing glance before Mr. Edmiston cleared his throat and began to speak. “Well, Colt has given us some interesting news. We would like you to know that we are concerned for you, and even though we disapprove of Colt’s hasty decision to ...”

“Heck, you disapprove. You seem to forget that you and I met, and fell in love, on this ranch all those years ago,” June interrupted him, rolling her eyes at her husband. “As for me, Graysen, I am so glad you came to stay with us this summer. I’ve never seen Colt like this. He loves to work the ranch, but there was always something missing.”

She turned to her husband. “And Heck, I trust Colt. He might be a bit impetuous, but you know Graysen will be in good hands.”

“Well of course, I mean, Colt is a decent man, and we raised him well but ...” Mr. Edmiston stammered.

“What my husband is trying to say, Graysen, is that we’re both here for you if you ever need anything.”

Graysen’s face warmed with her smile. “Thank you both so much. I feel that everything will work out fine.”

“I have that feeling too, sweetie.” Mrs. Edmiston patted her arm. “Now, I do believe we should let you get back to finding that wild son of ours.”

Graysen gave Mrs. Edmiston a hug before making her way to the door. As she walked onto the porch, Graysen looked in the direction of the stables just like she had her first night at the ranch. And just like that night, what she witnessed took her breath away. Bright lights lit the corral and there was a lone, black stallion bucking and twisting. The horse was sleek and majestic looking, but it was the man atop the beast that held her attention. His strong, bare chest strained as he tried to control the untamed mustang. His hair, the color of night, was tousled and damp with sweat. Hard, corded muscular arms handled the reins with expertise, and it was easy to tell that the horse trainer was in his element. Graysen sighed contentedly and, with both memories and fantasies dancing in her thoughts, she walked to the corral to get a better look. Perhaps, for old times’ sake, she would hide behind the edge of the barn and just watch him for a while.

The End

To my publisher Georgia McBride and Mandy Schoen for both finding Colt irresistible and helping me bring him to life.

To Susan Arden and Natalie Taylor, my friends in writing, for your constant encouragement.

Anastasia Ryan

Anastasia Ryan is a native New Yorker, but lives in Iowa with her family. She loves the beautiful chaos of raising six children. She is her husband’s girlfriend, but is also quite smitten with the written word. As the daughter of teachers, she has had a love of both great literature and writing in her blood since she was a baby. At a very early age, you would have found her perched on her father’s lap as he typed out his Master’s thesis for English. She is addicted to great books she can get lost in, finds cooking relaxing, is a sometimes web geek, and loves spending time with family and friends. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Creative Writing.

Website: http://anastasiaryan.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/anastasiaeryan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anastasianryanauthor

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Author Acknowledgements

About the Author