As promised, even if a little late, here is a free short story to help keep you entertained! Enjoy! A Night Away from the Ranch
By Sheri Velarde Karen walked into the barn and kicked the closest thing to the door, scattering a random can of tools across the floor and scaring the horses. Uttering some choice words, she bent down and began to pick up the mess she’d made. “Need some help with that?” A voice asked behind her, making her jump. Whirling around Karen looked up at her one and only ranch hand Clint standing in the doorway. She felt herself flush to be caught in such a moment of weakness. “No, I just knocked this over, I can clean it up. The work is done for the day, you can head to your cabin or do whatever you do on your off time.” Instead of nodding and moving on to let her continue her breakdown in private, Clint stood there, his too blue eyes boring into her. Karen squirmed, feeling as if he were looking into her very soul. Why had she hired such a man to work on her parents’ ranch with her? She courted trouble with a man like Clint and she knew it. “Tonight I want to take you into town. I think that we both could use a few drinks and a chance to blow off some steam.” Clint said, reaching out his hand to help her up from the ground. “The mess can wait until tomorrow.” As she began to protest Clint held up his hand, “Everything can wait until tomorrow. When is the last time that you left the ranch and had some fun?’ “Longer than I care to admit.” Karen answered, not daring to look directly at Clint. “Then come on, we’re going to have some fun tonight. You do know how to have fun right?” “I vaguely remember. I shouldn’t though. I am going to go over some things with my father, we need to sell off some assets before the bank comes a knocking. Then I promised my mother I would rearrange the living room. And of course…” Clint cut her off. “All of that can wait until tomorrow. You can’t sell anything tonight. Your father will still be here tomorrow and besides we both know he will follow your lead in business matters. The living room isn’t going anywhere. Tell your parents that you need a night off, I can almost guarantee that they’ll agree. Go take a shower and change and I’ll be at the main house to pick you up in an hour.” Before she could formulate more excuses not to go, Clint turned and walked towards his cabin. She stood there staring at his all too fine behind in his tight jeans before shaking herself out of her stupor and heading back to the house to get ready for her night away from the ranch. Exactly one hour later, Clint knocked on the door. He too had showered, put on some new jeans along with his nicest shirt. A man just shouldn’t look that good Karen thought to herself. “Ready?” He asked, his eyes giving her figure an appreciative scan. “Yes, I guess so.” Karen stammered, cursing herself for sounding like an unsure girl rather than the self-assured woman that she knew herself to be. It must be all the stress she had been under lately. It certainly had nothing to do with nerves about being alone in a non-work situation with the good looking cowboy she labored with every day. No, there was no way that she would fall for an employee, or anyone for that matter. She just couldn’t afford any romantic distractions at this point in her life. So why did her heart race at the thought of something akin to a date with Clint? The ride into town was a rather silent one. Clint seemed comfortable in the silence, though he kept sending sexy glances Karen’s way. Karen on the other hand found the quiet unnerving yet could not think of one thing non-work related to discuss. Clint had made it clear that he would not discuss the ranch tonight and which eliminated most of Karen’s topics for discussion. She really needed more of a life she decided. Before she knew it, Clint pulled off the highway and into a rather raucous looking bar. “Is this where you usually come on your off nights?” Karen asked as she looked at some of the scantily clad ladies heading into the building. She certainly didn’t fit in here. “Not usually, but there’s a great band playing here tonight and I hear that it’s a good place to dance. I also hear that they make strong drinks and I think that is just what you might need tonight.” Clint said as he took her hand and led the way in. They found a table and ordered some drinks, which Clint insisted on paying for despite her objections. “So tell me what it was like growing up with Vernon and Roberta as parents?” Clint asked, leaning back and looking at lease as he always did. “You want to talk about my childhood?” “Sure, why not? That is how you get to know one another better, asking questions.” Their drinks came and slowly Karen began to loosen up. Conversing got easier, she even found herself laughing and forgetting the ranch every now and then. She talked about herself, she learned more about Clint, she found that he was more than a bull rider turned ranch hand. Sure, he had some great stories about his time at rodeos, but there was so much more to him than she had ever allowed herself to know. Now she knew she was in trouble, she liked him too much. Then Clint asked her to dance. She flushed as he took her hand and led her to the dance floor. He smiled and stared down at her as he pulled her into his arms, holding her close. Time slowed as he leaned down and kissed her, sealing their fate.
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AuthorAuthor, artist, jewelry maker and all around creative person. I write in many genres and have a lot of fun doing so. Please take a look around and enjoy! Archives
January 2022
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