The Wyoming sun beat down on my back as I wrestled with the stubborn latch of the horse trailer. Ranching, I was quickly learning, was a far cry from the air-conditioned office I’d escaped back in the city. But the wide-open sky and the smell of horses… that was worth a little sweat. Plus, there was Jess.
Just the thought of her sent a little flutter through my stomach. She ran this place, the Double D Bar Ranch, with a quiet confidence that both intimidated and, well, thrilled me. Fiery auburn hair pulled back in a practical braid, eyes that crinkled at the corners when she smiled, perfect lips, and a no-nonsense attitude that I found utterly captivating.
I am MaddIe, all blonde, clumsy limbs, and a mouth that runs faster than my brain sometimes. Definitely out of my depth, but determined to prove myself. I’d answered her ad for summer help on a whim, needing a change, a break from the city life.
The summer days fell into a rhythm. Up before dawn to feed the horses, mucking out stalls, tending to fences, and then, in the late afternoon, working with the horses themselves. Jess was a natural teacher, patient and encouraging, even when I inevitably messed things up. Each lesson brought us closer, physically at least. The brush of her hand against mine as she adjusted my grip, the warmth of her breath on my neck as she explained something, was pure torture.
Late one evening, we sat on the porch, sipping iced tea, in a comfortable silence. Usually, I’d be trying to fill it, cracking jokes or asking questions, but tonight, I was too nervous. Finally, I blurted out that I needed to ask her something. She turned to me, her expression unreadable, but nodded. I asked if she ever got lonely out there, but cringed at my stumbling question. Smooth, Maddie, real smooth.
She looked out at the vast expanse of the ranch and answered sometimes. But it can be a solitary life.
The words tumbled out before I could stop them. I explained that it didn’t have to be lonely. I really like being here and I really like her.
The silence stretched, thick and heavy. I could hear the crickets chirping, the distant howl of a coyote. I braced myself for rejection, for awkwardness, maybe even for getting fired.
Then, she turned back to me, her eyes searching mine. When she answered, her voice was soft. She stumbled over her words when she said that she’d noticed me too.But it’s complicated. She’s my boss. And there’s an age gap.
I reached for her hand and said none of that mattered. I just knew how I felt.
She hesitated, then squeezed my hand, admitting that she was scared. She hadn’t felt this way about anyone in a long time. I leaned closer and told her not to be scared and to take a chance on me. I leaned in and kissed her.
It was tentative at first, a soft brush of lips, then deepening into something more. Our tongues wrestled for dominance. She tasted of tea and honey. Her lips were just as soft as I had imagined. I wanted to feel them all over me. I cupped her full breasts in my hands as I began to kiss my way down her neck.
The soft moans that came from her as I softly massaged her plump breasts and licked across her throat and collarbones made me wet. I slowly unbuttoned her shirt as I trailed kissed down her chest and made my way to one of her hardened nipples. I wrapped my tongue around her nipple just long enough to get a taste when she pulled me back up to her face. She kissed me hard, then said, “Let’s take this upstairs.”
Maddie Page
