New Beginnings (closed)

[gearhead73]

It had been quite a while since Ethan Summers had awakened to the sorrowful groans and coughs that echoed off of the cinderblock walls of the drunk tank. It wasn't the first time he had been given a night's sleep under the watchful eye of a county sheriff, and certainly not the first time he had been arrested as a result of a bar fight. As he groaned and twisted his body to sit up, the only major difference between this incarceration and those previous, was the hangover. His head pounded a steady thump thump thump. His stomach twitched and knotted. His mouth was dry and his tongue felt thick and as he exhaled the deep breath he had taken to steady his nerves, his face grimaced from what could only be described as an odor comparable to the north end of a south-bound moose. He didn't remember the alcohol ever affecting him like this.

"Motherfucker!" he muttered to himself as he strained to take his feet and make his way to the grimy stainless sink on the opposite wall.

A few splashes of water to the face, and another few deep breaths, and Ethan started to piece together the events of the prior evening. While most of it was buried in thinck layers of fog swirling around in his brain, but he was sure that he had been in a fight. After running his fingertips over his face, and a few small rotations of his apendages, he was pretty sure that he had won. That brought a slight smile to his lips that quickly vanished as soon as he turned to check out his rooming companions. There were those that looked homeless, as well as some that looked to have encountered similar situations to his own. However there were a few men, that looked right down frightening. The thought of spending the next few days locked in this small space with such a motley crew made his stomach twinge even harder, and he once again turned to the sink hoping that another few splashes of cool water would start to bring back his equilibrium.

"Summers...Ethan!" he heard a gruff voice say as the metallic ring of the keys in the cell door echoed throughout the chamber.

Ethan turned to look toward the source of the sound to see a silver haired overweight deputy, desperately trying to keep the buttons of his shirt from giving into the strain and coming loose.

"Yeah boss." Ethan replied, trying to sound as serious as possible given the man before him.

"Sheriff wants to see you."

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn Grimes leaned her head back against the brick wall as she sat inside the Sheriff's Office, Her bright blue eyes were focused on the ceiling as she counted the tiles in her head for the millionth time in the last few years. As Usual she was the first person Sheriff Dudley called every single time her ex, James Mathison, got into a fight. She almost didn't answer the phone this time but figured she would be nice one more time. She would tell the Sheriff in person that he was not to call her about James anymore.. When would these people realize that her and James were over for good this time?

She heard the deputy clear his throat as he walked by her and she looked over towards the holding cell as she heard him call a name she had never heard before, leaning forward just a bit her tank top dipped in the front, exposing the top of her black bra clad breasts. Since she couldn't see anyone she leaned back, placing her hands on the tops of her thighs as she waited quietly. She hadn't seen her ex in the tank when she came in so she assumed that he was in with Sheriff Dudley, but when the door to his office opened no one but the deputy came out.

Finally after being sick of waiting for the last hour she stood up from her chair, stepping in front of the deputy and the guy he just got out of the cell. "Sorry Guys but, I'm going to intrude for a minute."

She walked to the Sheriff's door and without knocking moved to his desk. She sat on the edge of the desk, picked up a pen and twirled it between her fingers.

" Ok Dudley, I don't see James, so why am I here this time? You said he was in a fight again so I just assumed you meant you wanted me to pick him up and well, since he isn't here, What's this about?"

She flicked her hair over her shoulder and crossed her jean clad legs, reaching down to fix the folded over part of her knee high boots.

 

[gearhead73]

"Roger that." Ethan said, standing a bit straighter and trying to search through the murky depths of his memories from last night.

It was never good when the sheriff wanted to see him. By now Ethan was sure that they had run his prints and found his entire album of mug shots along with his lengthy pedigree from various correctional facilities throughout the eastern half of the country. This was by no means his first brush with the law, and he figured he was about to receive yet another monologue about how he had thrown his life away. The thing about receiving them from small town sheriffs, was that the chances were good that the other party Ethan had wronged had probably lived there all of their life. The sheriff had probably coached them in football, soccer or some other type of sport, and now felt it was up to them to right the wrong done to them by Ethan.

He turned with practiced agility and placed his hands behind his back. After a few seconds of not feeling the familiar cold steel of the cuffs being secured around his wrists, he turned his head to the deputy who had a mixture of surprise and uncertainty on his face.

"I don't think cuffs will be necessary...will they?" the deputy said with a measured tone as his hand went to the Glock strapped to his hip.

"No sir." Ethan said calmly. "Just makin things easy boss. Which way?"

"Straight ahead." was the reply with a nod toward a room that looked like it might be where the desk sergeant would sit.

Without another word Ethan turned back toward the hall, and started walking. He was about to round the corner when he was almost body checked by a young woman who's pretty face was marred by a grimace from either frustration or anger. Ethan swallowed hard and tried his best to search his mind to see if she was the reason he was locked up, but not a single fragment of last night events brought recognition of her and he was sure that she would have been impossible to forget.

"Sorry Guys but, I'm going to intrude for a minute." Ethan barely heard her say as his eyes moved over her entire length. He was only treated to a quick view of her front side, but was equally if not more impressed by the view from the rear as she turned on her heels and strode into what he assumed was the sheriff's office.

**************************************************************

"Before you get your dander up, go close the door, and take a seat...in a chair." Travis Dudley said as he leaned back in his oversized leather chair. "This isn't about Jim...so much, but we do have a few things to talk about."

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn slipped off his desk and walked to the door. She looked out into the station and flashed a smile to the stranger standing next to deputy dingbat. She bit her bottom lip as her eyes moved over him taking in the sight before her. Her tongue flicked out over her full pouty lips before she smiled again. She turned her attention to the deputy and in a moment of childish anger she scrunched her nose up and stuck her tongue out at him then shut the door and walked over to the chair in front of the desk.

She flopped down into a worn leather armchair and wiggled into it to get comfortable. She ran her fingers through her hair slowly and let out a soft sigh.she had a feeling she was about to get saddled with whatever James had done, as was usual. She crossed her legs and leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees and been chin on her hands. She looked at the sheriff for a minute then started to speak.

"Look Travis, whatever James did this time I don't want to be a part of. I know everyone thinks we're going to get back together and it's only a matter of time but you are all wrong. I'm done with him. I can't keep pretending he is a good guy. The truth is that he's not. You all didnt see the way he was behind closed doors so I would really appreciate it if from now on you left me out of things. I hate getting phone calls at 3 in the morning and I'm not answering them anymore. Now, if this isn't about him then I will sit here and listen. "

With that said Kaitlynn leaned back in the chair once more and waited for Travis to speak. She tried not to laugh as he sat there looking at her wide eyed with his jaw hanging open. She couldn't decide if he was in shock about what she had just said or if that look had to do with the fact that for the last five minutes he had been staring into her low dipped tank top at the sheer lace bra that barely covered her full, perky breast. She waited another three minutes and then threw the pen she had in her hand at him with a laugh.

"Travis... focus!!! Pick up your jaw and say what you need to already "

 

[gearhead73]

Sheriff Travis Dudley

Travis snapped back to attention as the pen landed on the desk with a loud crack, before bouncing twice and sliding onto the floor. It wasn't the first time that he had lost his train of thought ogling his buddy's daughter. It wasn't the first time she had caught him. Since she was nineteen and had returned home for Thanksgiving after going off to college, he had been caught staring at one or all of her charms whenever the opportunity had presented itself. It had never gone any further than looking and it never would, and she had always laughed it off and slapped him on the arm or upside the head to break the spell she had put him under.

"Right..." he said after a deep breath and quick clearing of the lump in his throat. "Last night Jim got into a fight out at Red's place. Seems he had gotten into the bourbon a little heavy and made a pass at Tiff, Red's little girl. She turned him down, and he persisted and they ended up arguing in front of everybody in the place."

Travis leaned forward, and placed his cap on the desk. He had thought that this next bit would stir up some feelings that Kaitlynn had buried, or at least was trying to, and he wanted to tell her as more of a family friend, than a sheriff.

"From what Red tells me, Jimmy put his hands on Tiff, and when she told him to leave her alone he called her a whore and then pushed her into the bar. One of the patrons came to her defense and well a fight ensued after that."

Travis searched her face trying to discern what she may be thinking. He had known that Her and Jimmy's time together had been difficult to say the least. There had been rumors that Jim had gotten physical with Kailynn, but she had never come forward to say so and no one had ever witnessed it.

"Now Jimmy's gonna be ok in a week or two, although his jaw will have to stay wired in place for over a month. He'll have a cast on his arm and his ribs are only bruised, but the doc says he'll be right as rain as long as he takes it easy."

Travis couldn't help but smile as he finished listing Kaitlynn's ex's injuries. He had never really like James because of the way he flaunted his daddy's money. Hearing that some guy from nowhere laid him up for a while just seemed like a bit of poetic justice and he had always been really fond of that kind of poetry.

"But I didn't call you down here for Jimmy..." Sheriff Dudley said cautiously. "How are things going over at your grandpappy's ranch?"

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn knew that Travis had always thought she was attractive but he was one her her dad's best friends and he would never really act on his desires. He really was a good guy but he was way to old for her and again he was her dad's friend so, that was a no no. She listened to everything he was saying and at the point of him explaining what happened at the bar she leaned forward again.

She could feel her face getting hot and knew she was turning red with the anger she felt about what had happened. She didn't understand how the people in this town could keep putting up with Jimmy, as far as she was concerned he was not worth the money he was left. Let alone worth anything else including half the attention he got. She also knew that everyone in the town was aware of just how violent Jimmy really was, even though she never told anyone about the abuse , not even her dad or granddad. Hell they all saw the bruises that make up couldn't hide, no matter how hard she tried, but since she didn't say anything neither did they.

She nodded her head as Travis told her about his injuries and could only hope that maybe whoever did it finally knocked some sense into Jimmy, but she highly doubted it..SHe figured he would probably be back to his old self once the cast was off and the wire was gone from his jaw but then I guess it would be a matter of time to see what happened. She leaned back in the chair as Travis finally got to the reason she was there.

"Well, things are...difficult Travis....it needs a lot of work and with Jimmy an his buddies constantly bugging me to sell, I am really having a hard time and every time I get someone to come out and help they run them off...I don't know what to do...Should I just give up figting and let him buy it from me?"

Kaitlynn leaned back in the seat, dropping her shoulders down in a slightly pouty way to where her shirt dipped forward, slipping down to reveal more of her creamy white skin and the tops of her breast.

 

[gearhead73]

Ethan's eyes remained locked on the young woman as he watched her emerge into the doorway of the office she had entered. Event though she was further away, he could still see here plainly, and the lump growing both in his trousers and his throat confirmed what he had initially though, she was stunning.


Her oval face was outlined by flowing dark brown hair. She was tall and thin, but no waif. The wife-beater she was wearing stretched over her ample chest, and in trying to conform to the contour lifted just enough to give him a glimpse of her flat taut stomach. Her jeans were snug, but not skin tight. He admired the way her hips shifted as she reached for the door knob to pull it shut. As the door started to close, he couldn't help but return the devilish smile she flashed him, especially after extending her tongue and moving it over those cherry lips of hers.

Just as quickly as she had emerged she was gone, though not before sticking her tongue out at the deputy standing behind Ethan.

"Friend of yours?" Ethan said turning his head to look the man in his face.

"Hmmph....you could say that." the deputy said with an overly obvious tone of irritation. "Sit over here and wait for the Sheriff to call for you." he grunted, pointing to chairs along the wall to his left.

"You got it boss." Ethan said evenly, before turning and taking a seat. He leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes. The pounding in his head was starting to subside and soon his head was filled with visions of what else the young woman could do with that mouth of hers.

**********************************************************

"Well Kaitlynn, I think I might know of a way to help you out." Travis started calmly. "From what everyone told me about the fight that laid your ex up, the guy that jumped in had simply stopped in to get a beer and a sandwich, when Jimmy started his shit with Tiff. From what I can gather, the two had never met one another, he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Of course, if you ask Red and Tiff...and me, he was in the right place."

He could see by the look on Kaitlynn's face that she was confused by where he was going. He was trying to get to the point, but he wanted to try and lay a little bit of a foundation down before he broached her with his idea.

"You see, it turns out that there was a table and some chairs broke during the course of the brawl. Red was thankful for the strangers help, but had already called us before he knew exactly what had happened. As soon as we got there, Jimmy's buddies told the officer to lock the guy up for assault, so we arrested him. Since there was property damage, Red wanted him arrested as well, but has dropped the charges. Unfortunately, there is still a fine to be paid and the Magistrate ordered for the damages to be compensated for."

He could see that Kaitlynn still looked lost and thought that maybe it would be better to boil it down to brass tacks.

"The point is, I know you needed help. This guy was just doing what he thought was right, and I hate to see him get jammed up for doing the right thing when everyone else just stood by."

Travis slid a file that had been resting in front of him, to the edge of the desk nearest her.

"This guy is no angel, believe me. Still, I just can't help but feel that if he was willing to help out a perfect stranger in a bar...well, maybe he'd be willing to help you out on the ranch for a while."

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn looked at Travis as he talked, she wasn't sure where he was headed with his story about the stranger nor was she sure what it had to do with her and why she was called at 3am to make sure she had her butt here by 7. She leaned back in the chair and ran her fingers through her hair again before grabbing a rubber band off Travis ' desk and pulling her hair up with it. She listened as he continued and honestly just wanted to smack him and tell him to get to the point of what this had to do with her, but she kept quiet and listed to him as he babbled.

Finally! Travis got to what this had to do with her. She leaned forward in the chair as he slid a file over his desk towards her. She looked down at it and saw clearly Ethan Summers . She thought about looking through the file to see just exactly what Travis meant by saying he was no angel but then shook her head. If he was willing to stand up for Tiff when he didn't even know anything about her then she would give him a chance without looking at his record. It was the least she could do. She pushed the folder back towards Travis and smiled slightly.

"I'm thinking that it would be wrong of me to look into his past when I don't know him and he doesn't know me. I'm gonna trust that you wouldn't suggest this if you didnt think I would be OK, After all, you are kind of like family, so I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that you thought this through before bringing it up to me. So ok, like you said, I could use the help and he deserves a chance. I'm gonna agree to it...but I have one condition... No more calls at 3am. Do we have an agreement? "

Kaitlynn smiled at Travis and leaned back in the chair, yawning a bit and wiggling into it to get comfortable again. She rubbed her hands up her Jean clad thighs and then up over her stomach just a bit, pushing the white wife beater up and revealing her flat stomach and navel piercing. She traced her fingertips along her skin and laughed a little as she saw Travis start to oogle her again. She shook her head and smiled as her stomach growled softly.

"One more thing, you owe me breakfast... now let's get this meet and greet over with so you can take me and my new helper to breakfast before I take him to the ranch and get him to work...that is if he agrees to it."

 

[gearhead73]

Ethan's head shot up when he heard the door to the sheriff's office creak open. Although the chairs in the lobby weren't the most comfortable, the place was cool and quiet and soon he had drifted off to sleep. He slid back in the chair and straightened up, just as the long haired beauty walked through the door. She had her hair pulled back now to reveal the delicate tanned skin of her neck and shoulders, and Ethan could help but stare as she walked closer to him.

"On your feet Summers." Sheriff Dudley said, with a calm but firm tone. "This is Ms. Grimes and her and I have a few thoughts on how we can help you out of this mess you are in."

Ethan's eyes shifted from the young woman to the sheriff as he tried to reconcile in his head the two questions that sprang to mind. How, and most importantly why, were they going to help him. Still, his mom hadn't raised and idiot, so if help was being offered he would gladly see where things lead, especially if it involved Ms. Grimes.

"Ethan Summers ma'am." he said extending his hand out. "Very glad to meet you, and thank you for helping me out."

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn took his pro-offered hand and she looked him over from head to toe. He really was not all that bad looking, she could see the marks from the fight with her ex and a smile crossed her lips.

"It's nice to meet you Mr.Summers. I'm gonna cut right to the chase here, unlike the sheriff did with me." She turned her head slightly and smiled at Travis with a teasing tone then turned back to Ethan and headed to a chair beside him. " So, here is the deal the bar that you had your fight in, even though they were grateful for your help still need the damages paid off. And since the person you fought with is a little bitch it falls on your shoulders." She realized she was babbling and blushed a little, looking down at her hands that were resting on her thighs.

"Sorry, as I was saying, we have a deal for you.. the damages will be paid for if you agree to help me out in return. You see, I have a ranch up the road that is in desperate need of repairs and rebuilding. And well I could use help from someone that isn't going to bolt when confronted by James and his nonsense. What are your thoughts ?"

She sat there and intertwined her fingers together, leaning back against the chair and letting him process what she had said.

 

[gearhead73]

For a few long awkward moments, Ethan just stood there. His eyes moved from Ms. Grimes to the sheriff and back, as the "offer" the woman had made him tried to register. For a brief second or two, he thought he might actually be being punk'd. He rolled it over and over in his head looking for the catch that was looming to snatch him back up and land him in prison.

Still, anything had to beat spending another night in the tank, and young woman had seemed sincere. Add to that the thought of spending more time with her, and the decision sort of made itself.

"So, let me get this straight." Ethan began. "I help you out on your ranch, I get a place to stay and food, and all of this..." he said gesturing around the office space, "goes away." He looked back at both of them and finished, "sounds good to me. When do we leave?"

 

[MidnightBliss]

With a soft laugh Kaitlynn stood up and offered her hand to Ethan, a polite gesture to seal their deal. She caught Ethan looking over her body again and smiled then looked to Travis. She nodded to him with that same bright smile and turn her back towards Ethan after he let go of her hand. She hadn't moved to much when she turned so he pretty much had a clear view of her ass in her tight jeans.

"OK Travis, deal made, I have the help I need, you get him out of your office and can find him if you need to..don't think that you will need that tho. Now, you owe me breakfast, don't worry, I won't make you pay for Mr. Summers, I'll take care of that, no let's go before I punch deputy dipshit in the mouth for staring at me like a dirty old man "

With that said she turned back to Ethan, smiled again and then walked out of the station, leaving both Ethan and the Sheriff in her wake as she went to the diner across the street. Travis looked at Ethan and then cleared his throat and started to speak.

" Kaitlynn is a sweet girl. She will take good care of you while you are on her property.. just don't take advantage of her. And I'm asking you right now..watch out for her too please. The guy you got into that fight with is her ex and he is, well you saw it yourself, not a very nice guy. Do you think you can help me out as well by watching out for her? "

 

[gearhead73]

"The guy at the bar won't be a problem." Ethan said casually. "I think he was showing off for his buddies, but he took it too far. Shit, I think he was ready to run when I confronted him, but didn't want to look like a pussy to his friends. I don't think he'll be an issue, but if he becomes one...well, I can handle him."

He had thought about adding that Kaitlynn didn't strike him as the type that was easily taken advantage of, but he held his tongue instead. He had just received his first ever get-out-of-jail-free card and he didn't want to put any doubts in the sheriff's mind that he was deserving of it.

"Shall we?" He asked gesturing toward the door.

They stepped out on the street, and Ethan took a deep breath of fresh air, and looked up and the down the street of the sleepy little town. His stopped their roving and settled on the seductive sway of Kaitlynn's ass as she strode toward the diner. He wasn't sure if she was doing it intentionally, or if it just came naturally, but there was no mistaking that Ethan wasn't the only one paying rapt attention to her rear.

Without speaking the two men began to follow her, and Ethan began to wonder how such a beautiful woman could be single. It was obvious why her and her ex hadn't worked out. That asshole he had beat down in the bar didn't have the spine to be with someone like her. Even though he had just met her himself, Ethan could tell that she was strong, and independent. He had always admired both of those qualities, but had never met anyone that possessed them both.

Breakfast had been just what the doctor had ordered. Ethan's head had stopped pounding, and he was feeling more like himself, only better. The conversation had been light and sparse and mostly about what kind of skills that Ethan had if any. Ethan shared that his dad had been a mechanic, and that he had held a few construction jobs as he moved from place to place. Soon the check was paid and they were standing back on the street ready to go.

"Thanks again Sheriff, I won't forget this." Ethan said extending his hand.

The two men shook hands and the with a tip of his hat Sheriff Dudley was heading back to the station and the two were all alone, amongst the few others walking up and down the sidewalk.

"So, what's next boss?" Ethan said with an easy smile as his eyes struggled to meet hers and roam over her body.

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn was quiet as Travis asked him all kinds of questions about what kind of skills he had. She knew she should be the one asking about it but Travis kind of jumped in and took the lead so she just let him go. While the two talked she looked over Ethan some more. She could see that he was built nicely and would definitely be able to do some of the things she couldn't not that she didn't try to anyway.

She was stubborn as all hell and would be damned if she was going to let anyone show her up, a trait she got from her father and grandfather, for the last 6 months she had done everything herself and she was a bit nervous about having someone help...especially someone she didn't know. As She went to pay for Ethan's meal Travis gave her a stern look and growled slightly causing her to laugh "Don't you dare missy" She rolled her eyes at him and then walked outside the diner.

She waited for the guys to come out and said goodbye to Travis giving him a hug. She stood looking up at the sky when she heard Ethan ask her a question. She turned to him with a smile and pushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "well then I would say the next step is to take you home with me." Once she said it she looked to the ground and cussed under her breath, did she really just say that? it could be taken so wrong. She took a deep breath and then looked back at him with a slight smile.

" My truck is over there" She pointed to a black ford F-250 King Ranch edition and started walking towards it then stopped. "do you have a car?" She made it the rest of the way to the truck, pulled her keys out of her pocket and hit the unlock button, quiet town or not, she didn't trust some people so her things stayed tightly locked up.


She leaned into her truck to grab a piece of paper that had a list of things she needed in the hardware store. She leaned in further to grab her cell phone and a pen, leaving her tight jean covered ass in full view as she stretched across the seat.

 

[gearhead73]

There had only been a few times in Ethan's life when he had the perfect response to something that could have more than one meaning. After a great breakfast and a few cups of good coffee, the fog had lifted from his head and he was firing on all cylinders.

A smile broke wide across his face as he heard her answer his query, "Well then, I would say the next step is to take you home with me."

So many responses came to mind, but he saw her look toward the ground, avoiding his eyes so he thought better of it. He didn't think it was possible for her to be any more adorable, but as she stood there, in the awkward silence, Ethan couldn't have imagined a more beautiful creature.

He prolonged her agony for a few more short moments before clearing his throat and saying as evenly as possible, "Sounds good." He couldn't help but give her a quick wink as she looked back at him with a tentative smile.

" My truck is over there" she said pointing to a black Ford parked at the corner. It was one of the special edition trucks that Ford put out. Decals and pin striping adorned the jet black paint. They started walking toward it and Ethan saw King Ranch on the metal emblem stuck to the front fender.


"Do you have a car?" she asked as they reached the truck and fished into her pocket for the keys.

Now it was Ethan's turn to be a bit embarrassed. "Nah, I haven't had a car in a long while. Shit, I'm not even sure if I still have a license. He didn't look away. He wanted to gauge her reaction.

It didn't seem to phase her as she unlocked the doors and opened the driver side. Ethan stepped around, and behind her to get out of the way for the door to open, and nearly choked on his saliva as she bent across the seat to retrieve something from within the truck.

Her slightly oversized tank top rose above the top of her jeans to expose the smooth tanned skin of her lower back. The rear seam of her already snug jeans seemed to sink away between the round cheeks of her perfect ass. He eyes roamed over her and his pulse quickened as he memorized every glorious inch of her rear end. Suddenly, his own jeans started to feel tighter as his body reacted to what was in front of him.

He licked his lips as quick images of the same scenario flashed into his now rapidly active imagination. He saw her bent over the seat the same way, only she wasn't wearing jeans, she wasn't wearing anything other than the remnants of a torn thong around her waist. Instead of admiring her luscious rump from a distance, he felt it slapping against his thighs as his now inflated cock slid between those luscious cheeks. He saw her fingers clutching the seat cushions, and her smooth back twisting and arching as he pounded into her. He could see his fingers entwined in her long brown hair as he pulled her head back and bit her earlobes.

"Do you like that?" he muttered softly through gritting teeth, before opening his fluttering eyes.

'Fuck!' Ethan thought, as he realized that they were still on the street. Had he actually said that out loud?

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn, with pen, cellphone and list in hand, turned to Ethan with an eyebrow raised. She heard what he had said and it made her wonder for a moment. He had let her comment about taking him home go, but this one was a little different. She leaned against her truck, crossed her arms over her chest, well to be honest more like under her breasts, and stared at him. His eyes were slightly widened and his cheeks had a slight hint of red in them. She couldn't help but smile as she watched him for another minute or two before speaking.

"Do I like what exactly?" she asked in a soft yet seductive tone.

She waited for him to answer but he seemed somewhat shocked that she had heard his comment in the first place. She shrugged her shoulders and turned back into the truck, grabbing her purse from the driver's side floor. then getting out of the way as she closed the door. She turned back to Ethan and licked over her lips slowly, "Well before I take you to the ranch I need to go to the hardware store and grab some things for the various projects you will be helping me with. Fair warning, the guy that owns the store is one of Jimmy's closest friends so please don't get into another fight. I am sure I will get quite the earful when I walk in so just ignore it ok?"

She stepped out in front of Ethan and started walking to the hardware store, her hips swaying naturally from left to right as she walked. After a few minutes of walking she stood in front of the hardware store, took a deep breath and opened the door. She hated having to come here but the next hardware store was easily 50 miles away and even though she wouldn't have to put up with any crap there she couldn't justify making the trip since she always seemed to forget things even if they were on her list. She headed to the counter where Jimmy's Best friend, Bobby, stood with a smirk on his face. "Looking good as always Katie, so did you hear about the fight in the bar last night? Poor Jimmy is in the hospital, wish I got a good look at the guy that did it but Travis and his flunky were in the way. So are you going to go see Jimmy and nurse him back to health?"

He smiled revealing his yellowed teeth. Kaitlynn cringed and scrunched her nose, this was one of Jimmy's friends that always made her want to gag, he always smelled of beer and dip and his breath was enough to make a person drop to the floor. Which is why she kept a good distance between them while she talked " I'm just here to get some stuff, Here is my list and I would appreciate it if you didn't talk to me about Jimmy, you know we split and you know we aren't getting back together. Let someone else take care of him for once...Maybe YOU should"

She smiled and headed down the aisle furthest from him, forgetting for a few minutes that Ethan was with her. She picked up some painter's tape and brushes, knowing she forget to add them to her list then she went over and grabbed some natural filament rope and twist ties. She turned back around and crashed into Ethan, sending herself to the floor. She looked up expecting it to be Bobby
"Do you always have to.....Oh Sorry Ethan. Could you grab the stuff I dropped?"

She stood up fixing her shirt that had ridden up and then fixed her jeans as well, lowering them back to her hips.

 

[gearhead73]

"Do I like what exactly?" she had asked.

The fact that he had been busted fantasizing, coupled with the soft sultry tone of her question left him standing there, staring like an idiot. It must have only been a few seconds, but it seems like hours as they stood there looking at one another. He searched every facet of his brain trying to come up with some kind of a follow up that would hide the fact that he had just been imagining fucking his new boss, but he only drew blanks. All he could imagine was her stomping across the street to the Sheriff's office and demanding that he lock the pervert she had been saddled with away forever. Instead, she seemed to dismiss the whole thing, and continue with her original train of thought.

"Well before I take you to the ranch I need to go to the hardware store and grab some things for the various projects you will be helping me with. Fair warning, the guy that owns the store is one of Jimmy's closest friends so please don't get into another fight. I am sure I will get quite the earful when I walk in so just ignore it ok?"

After finishing her warning, she stepped around Ethan and started toward the entrance of the hardware store.

"It shouldn't be a problem." Ethan muttered softly as his eyes once again zeroed in on her delicious derriere.

'I'm in deep shit here' he thought to himself as he adjusted his now shrinking member in his jeans and began to follow her.

The hardware store was about what he expected in a small town. A small building that was stacked to the high ceilings with just about everything you could ever imagine needing to keep your household and farm running. Though it was packed to the gills, it seemed fairly clean and organized. There were bins upon bins filled with every screw and bolt imaginable, along with rope and chain on large wooden spools that would turn to allow you cut off whatever length you needed.


"Looking good as always Katie, so did you hear about the fight in the bar last night? Poor Jimmy is in the hospital, wish I got a good look at the guy that did it but Travis and his flunky were in the way. So are you going to go see Jimmy and nurse him back to health?" The guy behind the counter flashed her a Copenhagen smile as his eyes roamed over her from head to toe.

Ethan smiled to himself as he thought about this dude wishing he had got a good look at the guy. Ethan knew these kind of assholes all too well. They were followers. They hovered around somebody more popular or richer to help elevate their own status. They usually did grunt work for their so-called buddy and would swear to anyone that they would "take care" of anyone who hurt or threatened them.

Ethan had known plenty of these guys. he had seen them wet piss their pants and beg for mercy whenever he had darkened there door opening. They would beg and plead, swearing that they hadn't meant any disrespect, or that they could come up with the money, but it always ended the same way. That had been a lifetime ago, before he had broken free. Now he squeezed his eyes shut tightly, trying to force those memories out of his head. It seemed no matter how far he walked, or how much he drank, they always came flooding right back.

He had been so lost in his thoughts, that he hadn't heard Kaitlynn's answer to the shop keeper, nor had ne noticed that she was walking right toward him. He felt the impact of her soft body into his and his eyes flew open to see her fall to the floor, dropping the contents of her arms. He extended his hand to help her up, but she got to her feet on her own.

"...Could you grab the stuff I dropped?" she asked as she adjusted her clothing.

"Sure, I got it." he replied, as he tried not to stare. God, she was beautiful.

Ethan bent to retrieve the items that she had dropped. He heard Bobby come around the counter and walk into the aisle he was bent over in.

"Everything alright over hear Katie?" he sneered as he walked down the aisle. Ethan grabbed the roll of tape and stood up, cutting off his access to Kaitlynn.

"We're fine." Ethan said in a low, but firm tone. He toward over Bobby by a good 4 inches, and although he didn't weigh nearly as much as the shop keeper, his strength and demeanor were enough to send him scampering back behind the counter saying, "Kay, lemme know if you need anything." as he walked.

"You ok? I didn't see you coming, or I would have gotten out of the way. Sorry about that." Ethan said as he turned to Katilynn.

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn looked at Ethan with a smile as he sent Bobby scampering back to the front counter. She reached up and pulled her ponytail out, letting her hair down to cascade over her shoulders and down her back, she ran her hand through her hair as she stood there looking Ethan over from head to toe again. She bit the corner of her lip and then shook her head, 'this guy is gonna cause me an issue, I can't stop thinking about the things I want to do to him or let him do to me.'

She grabbed a few more things from the shelf as she replied to Ethan. " Its no big deal, I thought you were Bobby, he's always right behind me every time I am in here. I'm sorry if I was rude. thank you for picking up the stuff I dropped." She flashed him a bright smile and turned to walk over to the counter where Bobby stood.

She tapped her nails against the counter as she waited for bobby to finish the call he was on, of course it was a personal call and he was rattling on and on about the fight and how he had her in his store, and of course how she had told him that she had no intentions of helping Jimmy out. He smiled at her as he continued his call, the smile making her skin crawl as she could see at least two missing teeth.

She shook her head, grabbed the list that he had left neglected in front of her then walked away from the counter, tossing her hair over her shoulder and calling back... "I'll take care of this myself since you are busy Bobby" She rolled her eyes and made her way down each aisle grabbing the various parts and tools on her list before coming to a stop in front of the aisle of lumber. She hated coming in here with a passion and she made a note that regardless of the distance this would be the last time she came into this place.

As she starts to move forward to pick up some 2 x 4s she sees Ethan come into the aisle and smiles. 'At least now I have someone to help me.' she thinks to herself. She waves him over and hands him the list of things she still needs. "I'm so glad you are here to help me. We are going to need to fix a few of the fences and the hay loft in the barn. So we need to get some of the stuff from here, tomorrow we can go to the bigger store about 50 miles from here."

She glances over at the front counter and see bobby standing there with a sneer on his face and his arms crossed over his chest and mumble under my breath "what a good for nothing asshole he is"

 

[gearhead73]

Ethan looked back over to Bobby and then when about stacking the lumber onto a roll cart. He liked the feel and smell of new lumber. Many years ago he had helped an older couple do a few odd jobs and the older gentleman Ralph had shown Ethan a few things about woodworking. He had only stayed with them for a couple of weeks, but it was one of the more pleasant memories that he had. The couple had allowed him to sleep in a small studio apartment above their garage, and at night, Ethan would stay up later in the garage messing around with some of the wood scraps that Ralph kept for firewood. He managed to piece together a fairly respectable bird house which he painted, and hung outside of Agnes', Ralph's wife, sunroom window. She had rewarded him with a pan of fresh blueberry muffins, which he ate as they sat and watched for the first pair of birds to find their new home.

Ethan smiled to himself at the memory and then rolled the cart into another aisle to get the rest of the things on her list.

"Well, this ought to be enough to get a start anyway. I'll take a good look at the barn and fencing when we get to your place. It'll give us a better idea of what all we will need."

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn smiled at Ethan and lead him to the register. She handed Bobby her credit card and then turned to talk to Ethan as Bobby rang them up. "thanks for the help Ethan....it will be nice to have someone on the ranch with me." Bobby give us an evil look as he hands me back my credit card. "You know I would have come help you Katie...what do you have to have an outsider for? Jimmy won't be happy when he finds out"

Kaitlynn spun on her heels and glared at Bobby then walked to the door holding it open for Ethan. She handed him her keys with a smile then glared back at bobby, not really realizing her shirt had caught of the door and it pulled up as she held it open. Her bra was in full view of both men and if either got close they could see the pink areola surrounding her nipples through the top of the lace. She cleared her throat and in a hushed but angry voice spoke to Bobby "First of all I would Never ask for your help and Second of all, what I do on MY ranch is NONE of his concern so keep YOUR mouth shut." With that she stormed out, feeling her tank top rip as she walked away from the door.

 

[gearhead73]

When she had said, "Thanks for the help Ethan....it will be nice to have someone on the ranch with me." all he could do was smile broadly, and respond with "It's my pleasure Kaitlynn."

His smile was replaced with a scowl at the man behind the counter. However his attention left the shopkeeper and returned Kaitlynn's incredible ass as she spun from the counter and headed to the door. In her haste to open it for Ethan, it caught the side of her tank top and pulled it up her tight torso and over her bra. Ethan's eyes locked on her ample chest. His pulse began to race and his breathing picked up. He licked his lips as he memorized every stitch of the lace garment. He thought he could make out the darker pink of the skin around her seemingly stiffening nipple.

He didn't even register what she had said. He just focused on the incredible sight in front of him. The tightening in his jeans started to return, and as she stormed out into the street he pushed the cart forward to keep the door open hoping for a better view...which he immediately got. As she walked away, the fabric of the shirt gave way and ripped up the back of the garment to her shoulder blades.

Ethan followed quickly out on the street. He looked around and then stepped past the cart and reached back to pull his t-shirt over his head. Without thinking he came up behind her and wrapped the shirt he was holding around her. With a quick spin he turned her around so that she was facing him.

"You can cover yourself with this." he croaked.

 

[MidnightBliss]

Kaitlynn felt someone come up behind her and wrap something around her, she was about to flip out when Ethan spun her around and she was suddenly face to face with his bare chiseled chest. She took a breath and could smell him and not in a bad way, her eyes traveled over his body, up his chest and neck then to his lips.


She watched as he licked his lips and smiled wondering why he had done it before her eyes moved up to his... "What do I need you shirt for?"

She took a step back and glanced over her shoulder, noticing that Bobby was standing at the door of the hardware store which a look that could kill. He was glaring right at Ethan and Kaitlynn knew it was time to get out of there before some of the jerk friends of Jimmy showed up and recognized the man that had just effectively had her in his arms....what a scene that would cause. She grabbed Ethan's shirt and handed it back to him with a smile, then pulled her ripped tank top off and threw it in the bed of her truck before unlocking it and grabbing a flannel from inside.... "Thank you Ethan but I got it covered"

She smiled and then walked to the back of her truck, let the tailgate down and started to load everything in. She looked back towards the store and saw Bobby on the phone with she assumed was one of his and Jimmy's buddies.. "Ethan, I'd really like to be out of here soon, so not to rush you or anything but you can stare at me later." She laughed softly and winked at him.

 

[gearhead73]

"I'm going to hold you to that." Ethan said returning both the smile and the wink.

He turned and looked at the scowling face of Bobby as he talked excitedly into the phone. Ethan sneered at him. He decided to add some fuel to the fire and tucked the t-shirt into the back waistband of his jeans before turning back to the truck. He liked the way the sun felt on his skin, and he liked the fact that Bobby would be able to see the lifetime's worth of scars that covered much of his upper torso. He wanted him to know that he wasn't someone to be trifled with hoped that it would serve as a warning to mind his own business.

His posturing done, Ethan turned his attention back to the task at hand and began loading the lumber and supplies into the back of the truck. He would steal glances at Kaitlynn when he could, but tried his best to focus.

"So why does everything seem to center around this Jimmy guy? Everyone seems so concerned about him hearing about or seeing me with you. I can handle him or any of the rest of his pussy friends. I thought the two of you were over with."

 

[MidnightBliss]

"We can discuss that when we're done ok?"

Kaitlynn looked at Ethan with a smile and hurriedly got everything in the back of the pick up. She strapped it all down and hit the unlock button on her key fob again so the passenger door opened for him then got in on her side and waited for him to join her. Once they were driving away from town she let out a soft sigh and her entire body seemed to loosen from its tense state.

" Ok Ethan, so since you are kind of stuck helping me, unless you want to go sit in that jail cell again, you have a right to know the situation. My Ex, Jimmy, and I have dated off and on for a long time, since high school. He's got a big mouth and a nasty temper...which you witnessed, anyway, this entire town is one big clusterfuck of gossips where everyone know everyone else's business and things like that. Well, Jimmy and I have split up a number of times and have always gotten back together. Everyone expects it and I honestly am sick and tired of dealing with him. "

She sighed as they pulled up to the gate of her farm, stopping at the mailbox, she opened her window and snagged the contents then dropped it on the seat between them, rolled the window up and headed down the long driveway. She bit her lip trying to think of just the important bits to continue this sorted story because she didn't want to give some stranger all the details.


"Anyway, short version, Jimmy got left money from his dad, he wants the ranch I was left by my granddad, which is not for sale. He thinks if he gets me he gets the ranch and that isn't happening. He's chased off all of the help I've hired to date and all the people we grew up with want us back together. Questions answered?"

She put the truck in park in front of a large blue house with a wrap around porch in need of a paint job. She grabbed her stuff from the truck and got out, then headed for the front door, being careful on the steps that also needed a little TLC. When she got to the door she stood there waiting for Ethan..

 

[gearhead73]

Ethan listened patiently as she described the nature of their relationship. To him it seemed that there was more to the story that she was leaving out, but knew it wasn't any of his business. Kaitlynn had struck him as the type that was an open book, so thinking that there was something she was holding back did peak his curiosity, and he wondered what else he would learn about the woman in the driver's seat.

"Pretty much." Ethan answered with a shrug. "It's none of my business really. I just wondered what all the fuss was about. He kind of struck me as the 'All hat and no cattle' kind of cowboy anyway."

A short while later they stopped at a mailbox at the end of a long gravel driveway. Ethan looked around, taking in the weathered fence posts and drooping barbed wire fencing. He couldn't help but think that it reminded him of one of those calendars you see hanging in gun shops with a picture of a ring-necked pheasant or some other creature poised next to a fence row. He wondered if fixing this old fencing was going to be one of the many duties he was to perform in exchange for his freedom.

After retrieving the mail, they made their way down the winding dusty drive to a two story ranch house. It featured a wrap around porch that was in desperate need of paint. A few of the paned windows that lined the second story were missing shutters and just by looking Ethan could see that there were a few shingles that needed to be replaced.

Ethan got out of the truck and stretched, then started toward where Kaitlynn was standing at the front door. As he continued to look around he wondered if it was part of the deal that he had to stay here until all of the work this place needed was complete. It could take quite a few months , if not a year just to get the things that needed immediate attention taken care of, let alone anything that Kaitlynn had wanted done for herself. He started to worry that he may never be able to leave, but then his eyes landed on his new boss, standing there, hips thrown to the side, her dark hair blowing in the breeze and flannel shirt tied in a knot above her navel. As he looked her over, his muscles involuntarily flexed and twitched, his pulse quickened a bit, and he began to think that he could live with being a prisoner here.

"So, what would you like me to do first boss?" Ethan asked, joining her on the porch.