CHAPTER 1

A COWBOYS TALE

 

 

His family thought he was insane, his friends decided it was a mid life crisis; ‘Insanity, thy name is woman’ Evan mused while pulling the Stetson from his head, slapping it against his chaps and gazing up at the deep blue cloudless sky. Squinting in the glare of the sun, he wiped his shirtsleeve across his furrowed brow in an effort to push the dripping black hair away from his eyes. The dusty shirt clung to his perspiring skin and he was quite aware of the stench exuding from every pore; he could even feel his brain frazzling in the unrelenting heat. Riding across scrubland for three days and nights the cool mountain forests, now in the far distance, seemed like a lifetime away as he forged forward with one aim in his mind and one thought in his heart; his love for her.

 

Shaking the half-empty canteen, knowing that it would not last the day, and looking at the dry riverbed, Evan wondered if he would come across another watering hole before nightfall. His horse was in more need of water than he was, and his consternation about Midnight’s well being grew by the hour. Even though Evan had not ridden the horse for the last few miles, the black stallion was well lathered and panting heavily. Bending down to pick up a handful of dust from the dried creek, the crystalline deposits glinted in the sun as he let the fine sand run through his fingers. This was a sure sign that it originated from the range to the East, where stories of diamonds ran rife among the locals. They were of course only quartz, but over the centuries, many had travelled to seek their fortune in the inhospitable terrain however, few returned to tell the tale. He patted his shirt pocket as a thought suddenly crossed his mind. Satisfied that ‘it’ was still there he rose to his feet.

He returned his attention to Midnight. They needed to find some shade before long to shelter from the late afternoon sun or they were not going to survive, then this streak of lunacy would have been a waste of time. Evan was beginning to wonder if he needed his head seeing to, and it was all her fault. Even the dry and dusty arid desert air could not get her sweet perfume out of his nostrils. That one night was all it took. She stole his heart; he could do nothing about it, but accept his fate.

 

***

 

That day started like any other. Rising before dawn, he downed some coffee and went straight to work. The air was warm even before sun up and by early morning he had stripped to the waist while repairing the fencing on the upper pasture. Although his youth was long past, years of working on the land kept his body well toned. His tanned skin, with a sprinkling of freckles over the shoulders, glistened in the light as he placed the final post and damped the earth around it. Finishing the wiring, he took a final look at his handiwork and satisfied he had ticked another one of those spring chores off the list; Evan mounted the horse and turned for home. Following the trail downhill, over the rocky incline and onto the dry parched land that lay at the bottom of the bluff, a glint on the ground caught his eye. Pulling on the reins, he dismounted, knelt down and brushed away the earth to reveal an arrowhead.

 

Turning it over in his fingers, he examined the pitted metal, which had obviously seen its share of action. Briefly wondering where it came from he placed it in his shirt pocket and headed to the ranch. The rest of the day was uneventful. Nothing stuck out in his memory to suggest that it was different from any other working Friday. The end of the week always heralded a rowdy night out with the boys, so after a quick dinner, shower and fresh duds, Evan threw himself at the mercy of the night.

The usual drunken crowd packed the bar. The noise was deafening amidst the music from the jukebox, the rowdy revelers and along with a fight ensuing in the corner Evan could hardly hear himself speak. Beer in hand, he wandered over to the pool table, slapped some money on the edge and booked a game. Too many misspent hours as a youth usually meant his time on the table was short, and after swiftly pocketing six of the seven balls, it was obvious tonight was no exception, that was until the saloon door opened and a woman walked in. The crowd surrounding the table laughed as the long legged blonde drew his attention. He missed the shot, conceded defeat with a wave of his hand, and mesmerized, followed her to where she stood gazing at the music choices on the Wurlitzer.

 

Her steel blue eyes captivated him at first glance and along with the alluring scent of jasmine surrounding her presence, he lost all sense of time and rhythm, and barely remembered the ensuing conversation. Thinking he had died and gone to heaven, the only thing that stuck in his memory, as they found themselves pressed urgently against the wall of her hotel room, was her name; Ginny.

 

Her breasts strained at the white shirt begging for attention. Ripping at the buttons, he buried his head between the heaving mounds while pulling her skirt up and cupping her round butt cheeks, lifting her off the ground. Struggling with the button on his jeans she eventually exposed his raging hard on, and seconds later, welcomed him into her warm moist depths.

Fate took her part as they joined in lust’s dance and as the woman captured his heart, Evan knew this moment would somehow shape his destiny. Her soft lips sought his and gasping at the first taste of her sweetness as he thrust his tongue into her mouth, he savored the visions of delight, which flooded his thoughts.

 

Stroking in and out, he controlled the rise and flow of her body’s desires. Hands grasped at his skin. Nails clawed welts across his back, and her moans grew louder as his plunging became erratic with the surge of adrenaline through his veins. Ginny’s screams filled the air as she climaxed and Evan - squeezed between her rippling muscles - and with one final thrust, he shuddered as his body drained deep into her depths. Staggering backwards, they fell onto the bed in a heap amidst pants and gasps of delight.

 

“Holy shit, what was that?” Ginny laughed as she caught her breath.

 

“What, you a virgin or something?”

 

Ginny giggled. “Certainly not now!”

 

Evan smirked, turned to her and slowly removing her skirt began to discover the delights of her body. Savoring the hardened nipples on her pert breasts and tasting the perfumed curves over her hips to the shaven mound that glistened with loves nectar, his tongue slipped into her moist crevasses and languidly twirled around her sweet pearl that pulsed in his mouth until she cried for him to stop.

 

One moment fluidly coalesced into the next as Ginny climbed onto his legs, closed her mouth around his hardened shaft and slid her tongue over the silken skin. Evan moaned softly until he could take no more and pushing her onto the damp sheets, slowly, and with reverence, he took her in his arms and they moved together until dawn broke in the early hours.

Sleep overtook him, and on awakening, he immediately became aware of being alone. Burying his head in the crumpled sheets, he inhaled deeply in an effort to remind himself that he had not been dreaming. The soft scent of jasmine still drifted around the room in the gentle breeze, but of Ginny, there was no trace. A little confused, Evan threw his clothes on, and headed for the hotel reception. No one saw her leave and with more investigation around the town, it seemed no one even remembered her. With a heavy heart and aching limbs, by the time he reached to the ranch the dream was no more than a sweet memory.

 

Dressing the following morning, the arrowhead on the nightstand caught his eye. Picking it up a faint whiff of jasmine blew in through the window and without thinking, placed the metal in his left shirt pocket. Strangely comforted by its presence, life went on.

 

Days all ran into one and work took over as the weeks passed. Catching occasional whiffs of her perfume, he sorrowed alone in bed at night, stroking an erection that refused to give him satisfaction, and arose every morning from unsettling dreams. Still Evan kept the small arrowhead close to his heart. That was until he picked up the metal two months later and reeled at the overwhelming scent that invaded his senses. He knew the time had come; he had to find her. Packing the necessities and amidst a barrage of questions, he left the ranch in capable hands and set out to follow the jasmine road, which over the days  led to the predicament he now found himself in, trailing the whispers of a dream.

 

The riverbed wound through the gorge, and rounding a bend, he saw in the distance a small outcrop with a few trees; mounting the horse, he headed for the shade. Deciding that he would continue once the sun sank below the horizon, Evan tethered Midnight to graze on a patch of grass while he got his head down.

 

***

 

It was dark when Evan stirred from his exhausted slumber. The short nap left him groggy, with blurred vision, and a dry throat.

 

 “What the hell was I thinking? I must be insane, and you let me do it.” He rasped while saddling the stallion. The horse whinnied and nudged Evan’s leg.

 

“I know, I know, not your fault. Damn women!”

 

Looking around the dim clearing as he climbed into the saddle, Evan picked out a trail that led up the hill through the Aspen trees. A million stars twinkled in the clear sky while the moon shone brightly onto the valley floor below as they exited the forest into the open. The path led along the ridge and then dipped down to a small village built alongside a small flowing river.

 

The lush fertile ground bordering the riverbank and the thirst quenching icy cold water was a welcome relief from the arid desert air of the past three days. Finally refreshed, and with the scent of jasmine permeating the air, Evan rode along the dirt road and past the silent buildings, paused at the whitewashed church for a minute, then continued a mile or so out of town where the path narrowed and turned sharply right. On rounding the corner, a small cottage set into the forest, came into view. Dismounting and hitching the horse, he inhaled deeply and smiled on seeing the jasmine growing around the porch. With his heart pounding, he knocked on the door. His entire frame slumped with relief as Ginny’s gentle smile greeted him.

“You found me.” She stated matter of factly.

 

“More by good luck than good management.” Evan stammered.

 

Holding out her hand, she led him inside. Evan’s mouth refused to work as she silently stripped him of his dusty clothes and lay down beside him on the fur rug in front of the fire. He had so many questions, but feared to utter them should she disappear again. His eyes closed and a peaceful aura spread through his soul as she draped her body over his. Ginny leaned over to kiss him - weary as he was - one stroke of her hand down over his chest and stomach brought a surge to his loins.

Sliding onto his body she straddled his hips. Leaning towards him, she put her finger against his lips to silence him and as her breasts brushed against his skin, his body jolted to life. The pleasures he sought came flooding back and grasping her hips he arched his body and slid into her. Enclosed within her soft folds his shaft throbbed while she rose and fell in wild abandon. Faster she rode him, moaning and panting as her blonde hair swished from side to side until he grasped her hips and with an ecstatic cry, unleashing his weeks of frustration and gratification into her body.

 

While they basked in the glowing embers of the fire, Evan considered voicing the questions that raced through his mind, but thought better of it. His hand scrabbled around in his discarded clothes until he found the arrowhead. It felt warm and comfortable in his hand, just the way she felt in his arms. All he cared about was that he had found his Xanadu and she was indeed heaven sent.

 

***

 

A sharp pain jolted him awake and as his eyes cleared, he saw the horse standing over him. Looking at his hand, he realized that what awakened him so suddenly was the arrowhead clutched tightly in his palm. Reality dawned as the dream faded from his thoughts and looking up, he saw the moon was still on the rise. Feeling like death warmed up but with renewed hope, Evan swung into the saddle and followed the path up through the Aspen trees.