After work on Monday, when she told me she needed to get her sewing machine, I broached the idea of her taking some time off and letting me support her, but she shot that down, and quick.
“What makes you think I want a sugar daddy? Did I give you that impression? Because I don’t think I did,” she snapped.
It was the first time I ever saw her truly angry, and it almost turned into our first fight, but I dropped it so we wouldn’t waste what little time we have left being mad at each other. But I still don’t see why she’s so against the idea of me helping her. I’d love nothing more than to support her with a lifestyle she deserves. I guess I’m learning that she’s asstubborn as she is beautiful.
Keegan said they finally saw their dad on Wednesday. Apparently, he’d been sleeping at the house all along, but the boys didn’t see him because they’ve been heading out early to drum up work for their new business. When they did cross paths, Josh confronted him about being a no-show at the funeral, but their dad didn’t even try to make up an excuse. “She’s dead,” he said. “What does she care if I was there or not?”
Both of Maddie’s brothers seemed pretty hurt by his callous response, but Maddie brushed it off with, “I’m so over him, I don’t even care.” It was a lie. She definitely cared.
After that dick move, their dad was furious when Keegan explained why they would no longer be working for him. The old man even threatened to sue his own sons. The guy is a real piece of work. When Keegan called me about it, I told him there was nothing his dad could sue him over, and even if he did manage to hire a lawyer to harass them, Keegan should let Elsie know. “It’s the golden rule,” I told him. “He who has the gold, rules. And trust me, Elsie has the gold. She would bury his lawyer until he begged for mercy.”
Keegan thanked me sincerely. I think it was a huge relief for him.
Sex with Maddie continued to be nothing short of spectacular. Some nights, it was simple but full of passion, and other nights, it was set-your-hair-on-fire crazy intense. It’s been whatever we’ve felt like—no boundaries, no expectations, no pressure, and no limits to what we’re willing to try. Although she has made one thing clear—no back door.
“I have zero interest,” I informed her. I know someguys are really into that sort of thing, maybe some girls too, although that doesn’t make sense to me. But either way, I don’t judge; it’s just something I’ve never wanted to try.
Yesterday was the pinnacle of the week, our last Saturday together. She set aside her sewing obligations for the day so we could sleep in. Then we went to Zane and Chelsea’s ranch.
Chelsea had their ranch hands saddle up four horses for a tour of the property. Of all people, Joe Emmerson prepped my horse. I could have done it myself, but I let him, hoping for an opportunity to score some intel on the Jam Opera.
“I heard you and Sophia are dating. She seems like a nice girl,” I mentioned like I had actually met Sophia, which I hadn’t. I also knew he wasn’t dating her exclusively, but it seemed like a good opener.
To my comment he just shook his head and kicked the dirt with, “Man, I’m as dumb as a fence post and twice as stuck.”
Gotta love cowboy vernacular. And by how mopey he was, I could tell he was stressed about the whole situation, so I decided to back off. That should have been the end of it, but overhearing the conversation, Chelsea—in her worn boots and straw cowboy hat—chimed in with, “Boy, I told you to find a nice girl your own age. Should have listened to me. Now you got your tail caught in the gate, don’t you?”
“Yes ma’am,” he answered respectfully.
I thought that was the end of it, and I was glad since I was the cause of the boy’s consternation, but Chelsea wasn’t finished with him yet.
“Quit acting like you’ve been dragged through a knothole backwards,” she demanded as she mounted herhorse. “Man up and find yourself a respectable girl like Maddie.”
Maddie was already on her horse and quickly turning red at that outburst and there wasn’t anything I could do about any of it. Guess I never should have opened my big mouth.
“Yes ma’am. If I could clone her, I would.”
“Hmph,” Chelsea shot at him disapprovingly, and I really felt bad for the guy.
“Joe, take the boys and go mend that fence on the south pasture,” Zane said from his horse. I’m not sure his wife realized it, but it was pretty obvious that he was tossing the young cowboy a lifeline.
“Right on it, sir,” Joe answered, and in a flash he and his cohorts were gone.
The ranch, at six hundred acres, seemed like a lot to Maddie, but I knew better. The back one hundred or so acres were heavily wooded with a beautiful river running through it. It was the kind of real estate I could be really happy living on, but it’s also the kind of land that doesn’t support livestock. That left five hundred acres for Zane’s fifteen hundred head of cattle. That meant he’s buying hay, and a lot of it. I did a rough estimate in my head and with all his expenses and overhead, I was pretty sure they needed Chelsea’s income as an accountant to keep the ranch going. With the price of beef as high as it is at the stores, you’d think that ranchers like Zane and Chelsea would be doing fine, but they aren’t the ones making the money. Big corporations are, and that’s unfortunate any way you look at it.
About an hour into the ride, Chelsea asked me where Ash learned to ride so well. I was confused at first. I hadn’tseen Ash all week, and I had seen Rhonda only briefly at the fabric shop. I figured they were probably like Maddie and me, trying to make the most of what little time they had together. Come to find out, they were spending a lot of their free time at Zane’s ranch. Chelsea indicated she already considered Ash as much of a friend as Maddie and Rhonda. Go figure. She also informed us that Ash and Rhonda went to the coast for the day, so that’s why they weren’t there. I wasn’t surprised. Ash and I love the ocean, and the Pacific Northwest coastline is known for being one of the best in the world.
About four hours into the ride, Chelsea told Zane that they needed to leave us two lovebirds alone for a while. I can’t say I was disappointed when they headed back to the barn.
It was the best day ever, and not because we did anything special, but because we had the whole day to just talk while our horses followed one trail after another. We rode through the fields, into the forest, and along the riverbank, and the whole time we talked about everything and nothing. I learned that she has dreams of starting her own clothing line someday. I almost told her I could help her get that started, but I wasn’t sure how she’d react. In the end, I decided not to take a chance on ruining a perfect day. Maybe I’ll bring it up later.
Back at the hotel, we made love like we’re never going to see each other again. In a way it was kind of miserable because it felt like I couldn’t get close enough to her. I think she felt the same because she held on to me like her life depended on it. With a sick feeling in my gut, I held her in my arms until we fell asleep.
We’re at the Portland airport now, and it’s not like Ididn’t know this time would come, I just didn’t know it would be this hard. She’s standing right here in front of me, and I miss her already.
“We can talk every day. I’ll have my satellite phone with me 24/7.”
Taking in a deep breath, she looks like she’s doing everything she can to keep from crying. I hope she doesn’t, because if she does, I might lose it myself.
