Chapter 7
Two days later Sam was finished eating lunch when she heard a commotion coming from outside. Horns were blaring and the sound of cars and trucks could be heard. She felt a moment of fear and panic set in, not knowing who all the vehicles belonged to. Her heart was pounding and her palms were sweaty. Were they here to harm her she wondered as she looked out the window. Then she saw CJ getting out of his truck and she exhaled, letting out the breath she was holding in.
Going out she stood on the porch just as CJ was walking up the steps. “What’s going on and what are all these men doing here?” she asked, looking over his shoulder.
He stood before her. “We’re here to put the roof on your barn. Before you get mad saying you don’t accept charity it’s not what we’re doing. Around here we help out our neighbors. Now let me introduce you to everyone.”
There were seven men, including CJ. He introduced his father last. “Sam, meet my father, Calvin Fisher.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Fisher,” she said, shaking his hand.
“No Miss, the pleasure is all mine. CJ told me you were beautiful, but he didn’t say just how beautiful. My wife Dawn will be along shortly with some of the other women.
Sam blushed, she liked Calvin Sr. right off the bat. He was tall, handsome, and an older version of his son.
Calvin left her and CJ alone, taking the men they went to the barn and started working.
“Why are women coming?”
“For one they want to meet you, and two they are coming to help prepare the food. Putting on a roof the men will work up an appetite and will need to be fed. Then when it’s done we’ll light a bonfire and enjoy a few beers. You might want to make room in your fridge for the beer Dad and I brought with us.”
Sam felt overwhelmed by the kindness of these strangers, all coming to help someone they didn’t know. She wasn’t used to it, back home people would never stop to help someone they’d never met.
Sam went in and made up three pitchers of Ice tea and lemonade, knowing they would get thirsty soon. Taking them out to the front porch with some plastic cups she set them on the table and waved one of the men over. Filling one cup handed it to him. “Let the others know to help themselves and I’ll make sure there’s more when they get thirsty.”
It was starting to get hot now and she was kept busy refilling the pitchers, and also one with water and ice. Each man would stand to talk to her while they drank. She got to know them, hearing all about their wives and girlfriends.
It wasn’t long till Dawn, Dakota and some of the other women showed up. She found she was enjoying the women’s company and she was thrilled to meet CJ’s mother. With eight women cramped into the kitchen they got busy making sandwiches, salads, and other finger foods. A large pot of coffee was put on, one that Dawn had brought with her. With the roof almost done they stopped to eat.
After another couple of hours, the roof was done, the bonfire lit and the party began.
CJ was talking to Parker when he noticed all the attention Sam was getting from Wilson Aycox. They were laughing and he kept touching her arm, this made him angry so he went over to them and butted right in. “Sam, I want to show you something, come with me.” He took her hand and they walked towards the barn.
“Why are we going into the barn?”
“You’ll see.”
Inside he went over to the stall and swung open the door. “I fixed it, now when your horse is in here he won’t be able to get out.”
Going over she smiled at him. “You could have told me that outside, there was no need to bring me in here to show me.”
“I wanted to get you away from Wilson, I know how boring he can be.”
“Actually I found him to be delightful.”
Putting his hands on her shoulders put her up against the gate. “Maybe I wanted to be alone with you. I like you Sam, a lot and I think you like me too.” He looked down at her lips, felt the heat building between them and saw her breasts rising and falling. Her pupils were dilated, lips plumped up as she ran her tongue over them.
He brushed his thigh against hers. Placing his hand on the small of her back pulled her into him and lowered his mouth to hers. But before he could kiss her she pulled from his embrace and stepped away.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me but like I told you I just want to be friends.”
His cock hard he turned his back on her. “Ok, if that’s really what you want.”
“It is,” she said.
“You should go back to the party, I’ll be out in a minute,” he said, pretending to check the gate when he was really waiting till his swelled cock had gone down. When she was gone he kicked some straw with his foot. Never had he met a woman so stubborn, one he couldn’t win over with his looks or charm. Well, he wasn’t about to give up, she would eventually be his.
Sam was glad when everyone had left, even though she was grateful for all they did in helping her. It was CJ that had her rattled, she had come close to letting him kiss her. The sexual tension between them was building and she hoped she would be able to fight it.
It was now Sunday and she was hoping to have time away from CJ, but no such luck. She saw him approaching on horseback and he wasn’t alone. With him was the horse she bought from Parker and her excitement grew the closer they got. She ran down the steps towards them.
“I thought you might be wanting this guy now that the fence and barn are ready,” CJ said, getting down from his horse.
“Thank you for bringing him,” she exclaimed, patting the four-legged animal.
“What say we go for a ride,” CJ said, moving closer.
She looked at him and then back to her horse. You don’t give up. ” Where did this saddle come from?”
“It’s one of my dad’s, he never uses it.”
“I’ll pay him for it.”
“No, he told me to let you have it and knowing my dad he won’t take your money. Stop being so stubborn and just accept the gift. Now, do you need help getting up?”
She let out a laugh and putting her foot in the stirrup lifted her other leg up and over the saddle.” I think I can manage. Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d ride by my parent’s place and show you around and then I’ll show you where I live.”
They rode side by side, he pointed out the cattle grazing. “Those belong to my dad, he has the largest cattle ranch in these parts. This is all his land, he gave me a piece of it and I built my own home. It’s nothing like their place but I like it.” He pointed to a large ranch-style house further down the road. “That’s their home.”
“Wow, it looks amazing.”
“Want to go see the inside?”
“I don’t want to intrude on your mother.”
“They aren’t home, dad’s working and mom has gone into town. Come on, follow me,” he said and led the way.
He showed her around, even pointing out what was once his room. She saw the picture of Calvin Sr. that hung over the fireplace.
“Wow, so this is the famous picture of your father, the one she refused to sell at the auction. My God, he’s so handsome, you are the spitting image of him when he was your age.”
“So you think I’m handsome.”
She blushed. “As if you didn’t already know.”
After the tour, he took her to his place which was about two miles away. “It’s not as grand as their home but I like it.”
“No, it’s lovely, very cozy. I’m amazed it’s so clean. I mean you being a bachelor I expected to find it a mess. You know, clothes laying around and dirty dishes in the sink.” She turned to look at him and smiled.
“You thirsty?” he asked, going to the fridge took out some juice.
“I could use a drink thanks.”
“We’ve been riding for hours and I don’t know about you but I’m getting hungry. I could heat up the meatloaf my mom sent over if you care to join me for dinner.” He was having a good time with her and didn’t want it to end and was thrilled when she agreed. He popped the meatloaf in the oven to heat up and opened a bottle of red wine.
“Dawn and your father seem like very loving people and you all get along so well,” she said, taking a bite of the delicious food.
“We’re very close. What about you and your parents?”
“My mom and dad are good people but we aren’t that close. Don’t get me wrong, I love them and they love me but growing up they were so busy with work and their friends that I sort of got pushed aside. So when I was old enough I got a job and my own place.”
“Sorry to hear that. I take it they weren’t happy about you moving here.”
“They weren’t, they wanted me to settle down and get married. When I told them I was coming here they freaked out. Said I was being a fool, that I was throwing away the best thing to happen to me.”
“What did they mean by that?”
Realizing she had said too much changed the subject. “Was your dad upset that you wanted to be a doctor instead of following in his footsteps?”
“No, he wanted me to do what would make me happy. I still help him whenever I have some free time. I also love working on the ranch and will someday take over for him.”
“How? I mean doesn’t being a doctor take up all your time?”
“It’s a small town and I share an office building with three other doctors. There really aren’t a whole lot of patients to go around. We all have other things to do as well. I plan on keeping my practice part-time and will have plenty of help with the ranch. Parker will be my partner when Dad retires, which won’t be for many years.”
They finished eating and took their drinks outside. Sam found herself once again enjoying his company. He had her in tears from laughing at his jokes and stories about him and Parker. She also appreciated that he didn’t make a play for her.
When it was time for her to leave CJ insisted on riding back with her, saying he wasn’t going to let her go by herself. After all, he considered himself a gentleman. He walked with her up to the front door, he was going to ask her out again.
“Sam, there’s a dance Saturday night in town and I was wondering if you’d like to go with me.”
“I’m sorry CJ, I can’t?”
“I wish you would reconsider, I know you would enjoy it.”
“It’s not that, but Wilson already asked me and I said yes.” Seeing the disappointment cross his face she felt she had to explain. “He asked me that night at my place.”
He ran his hand over the dark stubble on his face, shaking his head. “Wilson, you’ve got to be kidding me. He’s boring as shit and you won’t have a good time with him.”
“He seemed like a very nice man and I’m sure I’ll have fun. Just because I turned you down doesn’t give you the right to tear him apart. I thought he was one of your friends.” She couldn’t believe the nerve of CJ.
“Have it your way, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Tipping his hat to her he walked away. He could have kicked himself for not having asked her that night. He wasn’t worried about Wilson being a threat, it was some of the other men in town he’d have to watch out for.