Riding the River (18 page)

“See you later.” He gave her a long look and
let go of her hand.

She smiled at him. “You will, cowboy.”

After Matt had left, Dale let out a big
laugh. “You must have had a great horse drive… You two are getting
along splendidly.”

“Thanks. We
did
have a great drive.
But the way back was a bit hairy with the sudden storm and getting
caught in the river.”

“I bet you made the most out of being caught
on the other side for the night though. Hmmm?”

Sarah rolled her eyes at him. “Can we start
getting dinner going or aren’t you done interrogating me?”

Dale laughed. “I’m done – for now…”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Dale finally got that bison chili made for
dinner and it was good… Exceptionally good… He cooked it in two
large Dutch ovens with peppers, black beans, tomatoes and lots of
spices. Women guests, in particular, were impressed that bison had
so few calories. He made tons, but it disappeared quickly once the
low calorie word was out…

He’d showed Sarah how to make jalapeno
cornbread muffins that were also incredibly good, and disappeared
as quickly as Sarah could put them out on the table. It seemed like
all the guests had ravenous appetites tonight, so she and Dale had
to keep bringing seconds and thirds out to the buffet table. But it
was enjoyable and everyone was in such a good mood. Lots of
conversation about how great the horse drive had been and what
they’d do for the few days left at the ranch.

Mr. Walker had posted a list of activities
out by the registration desk and then walked back into the kitchen
to have a word with Sarah. She and Dale were cleaning pots and
pans.

“Sure about this, miss? It’s a lot of work
and Dale’s a real taskmaster…”

“I’m sure, Mr. Walker. Dale’s great to work
with.”

He cocked an eyebrow over at Dale when he
heard that. “Hmmm… Hard to believe… He’s always been such a crusty
old coot. Maybe he likes you.” A slow smile started on his face and
he turned to go. “We’ll talk salary tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.” Sarah smiled at him and then
glanced over at Dale.

“… Crusty old coot?”

“Yeah, well. Not everyone sees my sweet
side…”

“…Aha…” She laughed at him.

Dale’s eyes widened. “Wait a minute. What
about that online business you’d wanted to start. Where’s that
going?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s not high on
my radar right now, Dale. I’ll get around to it when I have more
time to figure it out.”

“…But right now you’re figuring out Matt,
aren’t you?” Her eyes gave her away. She put away a dried pan and
picked up a wet one. When she looked up at him, her eyes were
bright and excited. “I get the picture.”

“I hope so because the picture is sooo good…”
She started laughing.

“What’s the joke?”

“That’s something Tess said about… never
mind.” She continued smiling and finished drying the pans. When
they’d finished, Dale took the towel from her hand.

“Get out of here, Sarah. There’s a dance
tonight to celebrate the successful horse drive. Make sure you
dance with him. Don’t run off like you did the last time…”

Her eyes popped wide. “You saw that?”

“Yes, I was watching you to see how you’d
do.”

“How’d I do?”

“… Rotten, but you can make it up to him. Go
get him…”

She smiled shyly. “I think I’ve already got
him.”

“Better yet…” She turned to leave. “And
Sarah?”

“Yes?”

“It’s wonderful that he has you too.” Her
smile went to high beams.

“I love all you Western therapists…”

Sarah left the kitchen and went back to her
room to change clothes. She wanted to wear that cute fringe skirt
with matching vest that she’d worn at the last dance. It was
darling and she loved the feel of the fringe dancing on her skin.
She wore her hair down and brushed it until it hung in pretty waves
on her shoulders. While she was dressing, music floated through the
air, making her hurry. She wanted to go outside and enjoy the horse
drive celebration. Sarah met Tess on the way out the door.

“You’ve got that a cute fringe skirt on
again.”

“I like your scarf. Where’d you get
that?”

“Phoenix…”

“Okay, ladies. Enough with the fashion
parade.”

They turned around to see Dan coming through
the ranch house.

Sarah gave him a big hug.

“It’s good to see you, Dan. Bringing in more
guests?”

“Nope. Just wanted to partake in the
celebration tonight.” Then he lowered his voice. “How’d that
horseshoe work out for you?” He winked.

“It worked very well. Thank you again. Shall
I pass it on to someone else?”

“Only if you don’t need it anymore.”

She laughed at his sincere face. “I think I
will call you Yoda…”

They walked outside together where Dan
insisted on the first dance with Sarah. Tess saw Richie and headed
his way.

The band was kickin’… Mr. Walker had brought
in a good local group for tonight’s festivities and the place was
rockin’ with good music and laughter. They’d been doing some line
dancing, which Dan insisted that Sarah try. She laughed as he tried
to show her the steps. They were about as successful together as
the first time, when he’d just brought her to the ranch. When the
song ended, Dan took her over to one side.

“I need a younger man to take over for me,
Sarah. Will this young man do?”

She turned and there was Matt waiting for
her. She just nodded… As they stood there gazing at one another,
Dan smiled.

“Okay, good…” And he left.

“You look beautiful,” he said. “I liked that
outfit the first time I saw it.”

She looked at his tailored Western shirt,
tight jeans and that black, wavy hair. “You look pretty good
yourself.” She leaned over to put her nose by his neck. “That
aftershave is heavenly…” His breathing became uneven.

The music slowed and the band began to sing
about finding your true love. Without a word, Matt held out his
hand. Sarah placed her hand in his and her left hand on his
shoulder. He pulled her a little closer as they began to sway to
the music. Their eyes were only for each other – the outside world
faded away… He caressed her back, sending little tingles up her
spine. Turning her hand in his, Matt placed her soft hand on his
heart and kept his hand on hers. He drew her closer to him. She was
in his arms now and they exchanged knowing looks… loving looks.
Sarah closed her eyes as he drew her in closer still. Matt rubbed
his face gently against hers… Their hips locked together, legs
entwined…

She caressed his shoulder while he gently
moved his hand on her back. They were as close as two people could
be… As the song ended, Sarah reached up to kiss his cheek and they
took a step back from each other reluctantly. Watching each other
closely, Matt took her hand in his. He brought it up to his lips to
kiss. Her lips parted… then he leaned over to whisper in her
ear.

“Ready to go?”

“Yes.”

The band had started a fast number and people
were beginning to two-step. It was fun and everyone was having a
great time. It was loud and noisy, with people laughing and joking.
Matt quietly took Sarah by the hand and led her away from the dance
area. This time, when Dale saw them leave, he gave Sarah a mental
thumbs-up. She had gotten it right this time…

They didn’t say a word as they walked back to
his cabin. It was located in the back part of the property, away
from the ranch house. The fringe on her skirt made a swishing sound
as it brushed her legs – practically the only sound heard. But they
stole little glances at one another from time to time. Once they
looked at each other and smiled shyly, nerves maybe… And then,
there was the cabin…

Matt opened the door for Sarah and she took a
quick glance at the neat interior. He apparently liked things in
their proper places and didn’t throw dirty towels on the floor. She
turned to make a little comment about his housekeeping skills when
Matt took off his cowboy hat, threw it on a table and ran a hand
through his hair. He kept his eyes on hers as he drew her into his
arms. And then he was kissing her with incredible tenderness.

His lips claimed hers hungrily and that first
kiss rattled her senses. But the next one about knocked her off her
feet. And the kisses didn’t stop… A pent-up demand was being met
here and both Matt and Sarah succumbed to it.

She’d never in her life been kissed like this
man kissed her – That he truly desired her was very evident… They’d
finish one long, sexy kiss and begin another juicy one. They
breathed in little puffs of air here and there, whenever possible.
He’d be soft and gentle for a while, then more demanding. Kissing
Sarah just made him want her more. She finally came up for air.

“Mmmatt… Let me take a breath…” She’d pushed
slightly away from his lips to take a gulp of air, but his hungry
mouth wasn’t far away.

“Did you get your breath?” He said against
her lips.

“Yes…barely.”

“Good enough,” and he was kissing her
again.

His kisses seared her lips and her mind. She
knew she’d have swollen lips in the morning, but couldn’t think
what to do about it. She couldn’t think period. Matt had done all
the thinking he wanted to do too.

They stayed locked together as Matt inched
her towards his bedroom. She took off her vest and tossed it on the
floor, while Matt took off his shirt. Then he grabbed her to him
again for another incredible kiss… When they broke for air, she
pulled her blouse over her head and slipped out of her skirt. Matt
took her hand and they walked into his bedroom. He was out of his
jeans in seconds and then they were in his bed. He pulled her to
him with urgency. Bodies twisted and tangled with underwear tossed
wherever.

Finally naked at long last, Matt pulled back
slightly to take a good look.

Sarah blushed at his scrutiny and then she
looked at him as well. Her eyes took a leisurely stroll down the
full length of his body and she was amazed. He had broad shoulders,
a trim body and kept himself in good shape… So handsome… But he
couldn’t hide how he felt about her when she saw and felt his
erection rubbing her leg. She took ahold of it, which made him
gasp. Soon Matt was kissing all over her body as she massaged him.
It was Sarah’s turn to gasp when he slipped inside her -- She cried
out as he buried himself deeply within and held her tightly against
him. Making love was new and familiar at the same time.

The touch of her skin, the smell of his
aftershave, and their natural fit were noticed and forgotten. Matt
and Sarah were swept up and up in their passionate embrace. Their
joined movements built slowly into a crescendo of feeling and
sensation. When they reached their peak, breathing was a little
easier coming down from that high. And neither had had a decent
breath of air since opening his cabin door…

Sarah lay back spent in Matt’s arms… He still
was unable to let her go.

She rested her head against his chest,
breathing in his maleness. Matt kissed her soft hair and wrapped
his arms more tightly around her. Her scent was imprinted on his
brain now and he would forever breathe her in.

“Are you all right?” Matt tilted her chin up
to see her smiling face.

“…Am I all right?” She laughed at him. “I
don’t think that I’ll ever be all right again.”

“It was pretty incredible, wasn’t it?”

Sarah propped her arms on his chest to look
at him.

“In all seriousness, Matt…how do you feel
about me? I need to know.”

He blinked at her in surprise. “You couldn’t
tell by what we just did.”

“No… sex is one thing. Words are
another.”

“Honey, we didn’t have sex…”

“No?”

“No…”

“… What did we just do then?”

“Sarah, we made love. We’re creating more
love between us whenever I make love to you and you make love to
me.”

“Yeah?”

“And you want to know how I feel about
you?”

“Please…”

He took hold of her arms. “Sarah, I love you
with every fiber of my being. I’m not too sure what’s happened to
me, but I love everything about you.”

“Really?” She beamed at him.

“Definitely. I’ll write it in the sky, if you
like.”

“Mmmm….” She lay back down in his arms with
her head on his chest.

“Sarah… sweetheart?”

“Mmmm?”

“How do you feel about me?”

She lifted up her head to look in his
searching eyes. “It’s come about so gradually and yet so rapidly.
One minute you’re annoying me, and the next minute I can’t live
without you.” That brought out a big smile on Matt’s face. Sarah
didn’t look like she was going to speak again, so Matt laughed and
flipped her over. She was beneath him now, and felt his need
growing.

“I guess you want a little more than
that.”

“Please…”

She reached up to touch his handsome face.
“Oh, Matt. I love you so much it hurts. I know that’s such a
cliché, but it’s the literal truth. Whenever I don’t see you, I
feel a little lost, empty.” She leaned up to kiss his lips. “I love
you, Matt…”

That’s all he needed to know and they were
kissing deeply again. A shiver of desire swept through her. He
wanted her again… Would it always be like this? He nibbled at her
lips and tantalized her with his tongue. He kissed her neck and
breasts. He slipped inside her again and she could feel herself
riding on a wave that Matt was riding too. Whispering softly into
her ear, he came back to her lips for another hungry kiss. They
couldn’t seem to get enough of each other. Her body responded to
his, as if they’d always been together, and she read in his eyes
that he wanted her forever.

Forever…