Her Prada Cowboy: McCulloch County Series #1 Page 10

  Melody cried silently.

  “He died when they were eighteen. A motor vehicle accident. She was supposed to go and pick him up from work. Instead she stopped at the local bar to meet up with some friends. By the time she remembered she had to pick him up, he had accepted a lift from one of his colleagues. I … blamed her. I could not accept his death … the role she played in it as I saw it. I started drinking and taking tranquilizers. Shannon took over the household. She got Sheila through her final school year. Sheila had been having problems and she tutored her.

  One night we had a major fallout. She … she challenged me about my drinking and pill popping as she called it. I said some horrible things … and that is all I can remember. I don’t know what happened thereafter. I … this is the first time I have seen her, since that … horrible night!”

  Melody cried softly. She shook her head.

  “Sheila and her … they came together again a few years later, but she never wanted to see me. Every time Sheila tried to bring us together, she disappeared. Oh Lord, she is such a beautiful woman! What did I do? If only I knew what I did!”

  “You dragged me by my hair and threw me out of your house, Mother. That is what you did.”

  Melody shook her head, horror in her eyes.

  “No … Oh God No! Please, I would never …”

  “No … how would you even know? You were so spaced out ninety percent of the time you did not know if it was night or day. Shall I show you my scars, Mother?”

  Shannon lifted her hair and turned around. A thumb length and a smaller pinkish raised scar ran just below her hairline at the back of her head. Jarrod drew a slow breath, the anger for what she had to endure hard to control.

  Everyone was shocked and Sheila ran to her and hugged her so tight she could not breathe. Now that Shannon was over the initial shock, she was angry. Angry at the hurt and loneliness she had to endure. Angry that her mother could not even remember how badly she hurt her that day.

  “Non, I am so sorry! I wish I knew! Why did you never tell me?”

  “It’s not true, it can’t be true! I would never have done that to you, not even when …”

  “No? Shall I give you the graphical description of what happened, Mother, because it is ingrained in my memory? It was a Saturday night. I got paid the day before and when I looked for my money, it was gone. All of it! I found you so drunk you just laughed when I asked you where my money was. What do you think, you useless bitch, was your answer.”

  “No …no!”

  “Oh, don’t worry, Sheila, by that time I was used to be called that. You told me it was your due, that it was because of me that you were alone … that your husband was dead and you were penniless.”

  “You were supposed to pick him up! You went to the pub with your friends instead!”

  Sheila spun to her mother and for the first time spat at her angrily.

  “NO! I was supposed to pick him up, not Shannon! I am the one that went with Paul to the pub, Shannon was already there working. She could not have picked Dad up that day, Mom, she was working double shifts to pay for her car.”

  Melody paled even more. She covered her face with her hands. Jarrod could not take his eyes off Shannon. She was white and so stiff it looked as if she would break in two. He only wanted to wrap his arms around her and never let her go.

  “I got angry and shouted at you that we were penniless because of your boozing and pill popping. You slapped me then … started hitting me over and over, even when I fell on the broken booze bottle on the stairs, and cut my neck, you just … kept hitting me. Then shouted at me that you did not know me anymore, that I was no daughter of yours and threw me out. Literally dragged me out by my hair. You screamed at me to leave. You left me out on the pavement, Mother. With no clothes, no money … a bloody neck, face and two broken ribs.”

  Melody was crying brokenly, her body shaking with sobs.

  “Now I understand why you always ran off when you knew Mom would come to visit us. You … were scared of her!”

  Shannon’s wince confirmed Sheila’s observation and Jarrod realized it was real fear she felt when she saw Melody for the first time.

  “I’m sorry … I am so, so sorry! Shannon I was … oh Lord, I can’t even make excuses! I don’t even remember any of this! Please forgive me, my beautiful daughter … oh Lord, please forgive me!”

  Shannon stared at her mother, who was still beautiful at fifty two … and she felt nothing, except a shiver of fear, remembering her face when she kept hitting and screaming at her.

  “Maybe the Good Lord will forgive you, Mother. I’m afraid, I don’t have it in me.”

  She picked up her bags she carried back with her and turned to Sheila.

  “I’m sorry, but I think it will be better if I go home.”

  Jarrod pulled his car keys from his pocket and handed it to his Dad before he followed Shannon outside.

  “Take my car, Dad. I’m takin’ her to the ranch.”

  He reached Shannon just as she opened the back of her small SUV and he lifted her duffel bag and dropped it inside, slamming it shut again. He drew her into his arms and just held her.

  “I’m takin’ you to the ranch. You are not goin’ to be alone the rest of the weekend. Give me your keys, doll face.”

  Shannon did not even argue. She handed him the keys and he walked her around the car and opened the passenger door for her. She sat staring out the window all the way to the ranch, neither of them saying a word.

  Jarrod drove directly to the secluded creek a few miles behind the ranch house and brought the car to a halt. He got out and walked around the back to help her out too. They walked to the edge of the creek under the shades of the lush trees growing on the banks. He pulled her in his arms and held her tight. The tears came then. Big salty ones, followed by hard and deep sobs that shook her small frame.

  Jarrod just held her, caressing her back and let her cry. He had a suspicion that this was the first time she allowed her emotions loose since it happened ten years ago.

  When her tears dried eventually, he sat down on the grass and pulled her on his lap, wrapping his arms around her. She clasped him around his neck and hid her face in his throat. Eventually her body relaxed and her breathing became even.

  She was asleep. He laid back and pulled her against his side, allowing her to sleep, just holding her, watching the clouds change shape in the sky.

  How could any mother treat her own child in such a way, and Melody for that matter? She was a sweet person and everyone liked her. No matter how hard he tried, he could not associate Melody as she was now, with a woman drinking and spacing out on pills.

  Shannon slept for over an hour and was slightly disorientated when she woke up. She was lying on Jarrod’s chest with her legs intertwined with his. She looked up and found him fast asleep. He looked younger, with the sharp planes in his face relaxed. She reached up and traced his jaw, the slight stubble rough under her fingers.

  He was a hard man, but he was also so tender, so caring … not a womanizer or a gigolo at all. He was right, thinking of him as one, gave her the excuse to stay away from him. Her heartbeat increased and she could not deny her feelings.

  She had feelings for this man that confused her. They hardly knew each other, although their bodies did … very well, but he woke emotions inside her that were so strong it frightened her. Overwhelmed her and excited her at the same time. Maybe she should let her fears go and embrace what they could have together.

  Maybe it was time to love and be loved!

  Now you’ve got it doll face!

  Jarrod’s eyes opened and their eyes met. He lifted his hand and stroked her cheek. His voice slightly rough from sleep.

  “Are you feelin’ better, honey?”

  “Yes, except that your shirt is still wet from the waterfall you tried to stop.”

  “Anytime, although I sincerely hope it is the last time you have the need to cry so much. It broke my heart, doll face. I did not
like it at all!”

  “Jarrod.”

  “Hmm?”

  “Kiss me.”

  He turned on his side and she slipped off his chest onto her back. His head lowered and his lips covered hers in a breathtakingly tender kiss. She slipped her tongue past his and twirled and sipped from his mouth. Their passion exploded. Jarrod moaned and pressed deeper into her, kissing her with a wild sensuality that heated her blood so rapidly, she felt as if her whole body was on fire.

  Their hands groped, their bodies strained and their clothes flew in all directions. Shannon arched her back and her throaty moan echoed his growl the moment he plunged inside her, all the way to the hilt. She urged him on and he thrust wildly, desperately and within minutes they plummeted into a wave of ecstasy so high, they felt as if they were drowning.

  “Forget it, muscle man. I am not getting on that horse!”

  “You’re goin’ to have to learn to ride at some point, doll face.”

  “Why? I live in a concrete jungle remember … no horses there. Only nice comfortable four wheel drive SUV’s!”

  “Everyone that lives in Texas should be able to ride! Don’t be such a ninny.”

  Shannon spun around and glowered at him. She slammed her fists in her waist and stamped her foot.

  “I am not a ninny! Fine! I’ll learn to ride a stupid horse, but not today!”

  “I want to show you the ranch, and the best way to do that is on horseback.”

  “So, you’ve got a monster horse. He managed to carry the both of us before. I’m sure he will manage now as well.”

  “You want to … okay … come, hop up.”

  “Hop up? Are you sure you don’t just want to throw me on his back like you did the day we met?”

  “I did not throw you on his back, I onl …”

  “You did! Absolutely no concern for the fact that I am a lady! No … just whoosh! Up you go, chick!”

  He burst out laughing and she smiled along with him. She approached the horse slowly, eyeing him carefully. Her eyes caught his and he literally scowled at her. She leaned closer and said against his ear.

  “Stop glaring at me, you big lummox! I don’t weigh that much.”

  He snorted and shook his head. Then whinnied and jerked his head up and down.

  “Gmphf … you’re just as vein as your owner, do you know that?”

  “Doll face … is this conversation goin’ to take much longer? The sun is drawin’ water.”

  She looked up at him, narrowing her eyes. With a loud tsk, she held out her hand. Jarrod just shook his head, leaned down and grabbed her around her waist and lifted her to sit in front of him. She was wearing a pair of shorts, so she could sit with her legs spread over the horse’s back. She wiggled to get more comfortable and Jarrod clenched his teeth.

  “Bloody hell, Shannon! Stop wiggling your ass against my dick!”

  She froze and scowled at him over her shoulder.

  “Language, Jarrod!”

  He just grumbled and kicked Hades in his sides. He took off at a fast gallop and Shannon shrieked, clamping her fists in his mane. Jarrod wrapped his one arm around her waist and she sighed with relief. At least that made her feel safe and secure. She smiled feeling his aroused ridge press hard against her back.

  “What is your horse’s name?”

  “Hades?”

  “Hades? Are you serious?”

  “Yes, Shannon.”

  He was clearly not impressed with her reaction to his horse’s name.

  “May I ask why?”

  “He is as black as the night and he was as wild and kickass bad as hell when I got him. He threw me more times than I could count when I broke him in. Broke my damn collarbone, he did.”

  Shannon leaned forward and rubbed Hades on his neck.

  “Aah, poor baby! No wonder you always glare at people! I would too if I was named after the God of Hell!”

  Hades whinnied and nodded his head in agreement. Jarrod just chortled.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jarrod took Shannon to all the special spots on the ranch. He had to pick her up and carry her away from the little foals, shaking his head as she complained loudly.

  “Please, honey! Can’t we stay a little longer?”

  The honey nearly undid him, it warmed his heart so much.

  “We can come back another time. If we don’t leave now, we’ll only get home after dark.”

  Shannon relaxed against his chest and took in the beauty of the prairie around them. She sighed, completely relaxed. Her turmoil of earlier forgotten. She stiffened when Jarrod’s fingers caressed over her nipples. They tightened into hard nubs with the second flick over them.

  “What … are you doing?”

  “Nothin’”

  His fingers tightened around the nubs and he tugged and rolled them slowly. Her breathing increased rapidly. She gripped his thighs next to hers, licking her lips.

  “It … doesn’t feel … like nothing.”

  His breath was hot in her ear. He flicked his tongue inside her ear and swirled it around the scallop on the outer side.

  “What does it feel like?”

  “It feels like … oooh!”

  Jarrod pulled her earlobe between his lips and sucked it gently. Heat speared down her belly to pool in her panties. She moaned huskily, then cried out when he rubbed his fingers against her clit through her shorts.

  “Oh … my!”

  Jarrod opened the zipper of her shorts and Shannon lifted her hips eagerly when his hand found her clit beneath her panties.

  “What does it feel like, honey?”

  “Oh, Babe … heaven! It feels … like heaven!”

  Her scream echoed in the air when she climax so hard and so quickly she was totally unprepared. Her body arched desperately back against his chest. She pressed her hips tighter into his hand. He kept rubbing and drawing circles around her clit, drawing her climax out, until she hoarsely begged him for mercy.

  “Stop … I breathe … stop!”

  Jarrod stopped, but kept his hand cupping her mound. He leaned down and kissed her sensually in her neck.

  “I love that you lose your breath every time with me.”

  He kicked Hades and he started galloping fast, Jarrod’s hand still cupping her clit. It was not very long before her body tightened against him again. She cried out in shock and surprise as she climaxed again. The rocking movement of Hades beneath them, caused his hand to rub up and down her clit. When she relaxed, Jarrod reached lower and pushed two of his fingers inside her, smiling at her gasp of surprise. He pressed his thumb against her clit and spurred Hades on faster.

  Shannon’s cries of pleasure turned to screams the further they went, as the orgasms became more intense, and a new one started the moment the previous one ended.

  By the time they reached the outer edge of the ranch house, she was panting, desperately trying to draw a proper breath. Jarrod wrapped his arms around her and just held her tight. A broad smile on his lips.

  Damn, he could do this the whole day. He has never felt so much pleasure in making a woman climax. She was so beautiful, so uncontrolled when she came. She literally fell apart in his arms. She made him feel ten feet tall.

  He closed the zipper of her shorts and kept his arm wrapped around her waist. He breathed warmly in her neck.

  “You okay, honey?”

  “I’ll get you back, Jarrod Parker! Mark my words!”

  He chuckled and whispered wickedly in her ear.

  “Aah doll face … I can’t wait!”

  Everything settled into a routine from that point. Shannon spent most weekends between the ranch and Sheila’s. The problem they encountered has still not been resolved, but Shannon could not pick up any further sabotage to the campaign.

  Before she realized it, another month has gone by. She was due to spend the weekend with Jarrod on the ranch. Rocco dropped her off at the private airfield where James was waiting for her.

  “Howdy, Missy. We had a sur
prise birthin’ and the Boss is still helpin’ the vet. Said to take you ta the house.”

  “Thank you, James.”

  He nodded and chatted nonstop until he parked the truck in front of the ranch house. Shannon walked inside and she sighed. It felt like home. She smiled wryly. She actually missed the place during the week. It is so relaxing and quiet, you could hear the whisper of the breeze around the corner of the house.

  She went to the kitchen, looking for Rosa, but she was not there. She was hungry as she missed lunch and it was already after two. Scrunching around in the fridge found her some left over roasted lamb and she sighed. She quickly made a sandwich and winced when she replaced the mayonnaise with apricot jam and added a slice of cheese on top. Pregnant cravings were clearly not distinctive to once usual taste buds! Lately she craved apricot jam with everything; something she normally never ate.

  Grabbing a bottle of soda, she sat down at the table and quickly ate the meal, wondering where Rosa was. Once done she rinsed the plate and turned around with a smile when she heard footsteps behind her.

  Her throat closed up, a band tightened painfully around her waist and she could not breathe. She trembled so badly, the bottle of soda slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.

  Melody shocked to a halt. Her eyes wide and she shook her head.

  “Shannon, darling, please don’t be scared! I promise … Oh Lord, I promise I will never, ever lift my hands to you! I still can’t comprehend that I was so out of it, that I did that to you all those years … Shannon stop! Come back … oh darling, please!”

  Raw sobs tore through her chest and she sat down, bending over in grief. Her own daughter was absolutely terrified of her. Dylan walked in and immediately wrapped his arms around her.