Seducing Peaches (28 page)

     
The next day she called into work sick.  “Hey Mark, it’s Lois, I need to take the week off work.  I'm not feeling well and the doctor says that it’s best for me to get some rest.  Is that OK?” 

     
“Yes, of course, do you need anything?” 

     
“No, I think I am just going to stay in bed and read a book or something maybe catch up on some lost sleep.  But thanks for the offer.” 

     
“OK, well if you do, be sure to let me or Tom know would you?”  She had no intentions of letting Tom know anything else. 

     
“Yes I will for sure.” 

     
She knew if she stayed here, it wouldn't be long and Mark would tell Tom she had called in and Tom would be here.  She packed a light bag and decided she would just go for a drive and where she stopped would be where she would spend the next few days crying her heart out just to get it out of her system.

Chapter
Thirteen

     
She drove about 70 miles out of town when she seen this beautiful ranch style location.  She could see a sign coming up and finally she was able to read it.  “TSJ Ranch and boarding. 
Hmmm, looks like a nice little get away for me to lock myself up in and fade away to nothing.
 

      S
he turned into the drive and felt almost at home.  The drive was lined with beautiful trees just like she was used to. She could smell the honeysuckle in the air.  There was a calming feeling about driving through and smelling the fresh air.

     
She parked her truck out front and went in.  The house was absolutely more than she had expected.  The walls were this dark shade almost cherry like, there was a huge fireplace that sat in the corner of the room with a brown leather sofa cornered in front of it.  There was a rather large painting of beautiful woman hanging directly above it.  She knew this was place she needed to be. She made her way to the counter and rang the small bell.

     
“Hello there, what can I do for ya.” 

     
“I would like a room for the week if it is possible please.”

     
“Oh, I'm sorry, its reservation only here.  If you would like to book a room, I can help you do that.”  Lois just stared at the older lady in front of her.  She couldn't even speak.  Once again it wasn't gonna be as she wanted. 

     
“No that's OK, I just needed a room to hide in, thank you.” She reached down to pick up her bags and turned.  “I'm Emmy Jean.  What's your name?” 

     
She turned back, “Lois, Lois Brown.” 

     
“Well Lois Brown, you’re in luck, we have a room that is available for the week if you still want it.” 

     
“I do, thank you.”

     
Emmy Jean took all the information she needed down and showed Lois to her room.  At this point she was stuck in depression.  She didn't even take the time to look around the room.  Just simply sat her things down and went to the window and began staring out. 

     
“Breakfast is at 7am, lunch is at 12noon, and supper is at 5pm your welcome to anything in the kitchen if you want a snack or hanker for something.  You have a private bath in there, you’re welcome to unpack, and if you need anything you only need to ask.” Lois didn't respond.

     
She stared out the window searching her mind for answers.  But she wasn't finding any.  She longed to be loved.  She wanted to be loved by Tom and only Tom.  She was never going to be happy.  She was never going to have that special someone that Tom was to her.  She was just simply never.

     
She decided that instead of spending the week in doors, she would do some hiking, and it was after all a ranch she was at, maybe she could do some horseback riding.  She had never been on a horse before but it would be something that she wouldn't have to worry about breaking her heart. 

     
She changed into some jeans, threw on some Nike’s and headed out the door.  On her way out she could smell this wonderful aroma.  She didn't know what it was, but she intended on tasting some of it. 

     
When she opened up the door, there was a man standing there covered in dust, wranglers, cowboy boots, cowboy hat, he definitely dressed the part.  “Howdy Ma'am, I'm George, I didn't know we had guests this week, sorry I was so surprised to see ya.” 

     
“I'm Lois, I didn't have reservations but I seen this place as I was driving by and thought it was well perfect.  Ms. Emmy Jean rented me the room.” 

     
“Oh, that would be my wife.  She never could turn out anyone.  Not that I mind you here.  She's just as tender hearted as they come.  Where you off to?” 

     
“I thought I would do some hiking, and just look around, I hope that's OK” 

     
“Of course, go, please, enjoy your vacation.” 

     
“Oh it’s not a vacation.”  And with that she walked out.  When she turned the corner to the house, she couldn't believe the view.  It was nothing like she had ever seen before.  Especially because she hadn't seen much before. 

     
To the left of the house, she saw a man riding.  The horse was magnificent.  It was if the horse had more spirit in him than Lois had in her whole life.  She liked the way it just carelessly galloped around, no worries, no pain, just free. 

     
The man that was riding appeared to be quite experienced at it.  The way his legs wrapped around and the way his body shifted with every movement of the horse.  That's what she wanted, she wanted to feel that, she wanted to get lost in that.  Just get on a horse and ride into the sunset just like she had seen on TV.  She made her way over to the man and watched for a bit as he rode.  There was something about him that looked familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it. 

     
He looked over at Lois and rode towards Lois stopping just in front of her.  “Lois is that you?” 

     
“Um, do I know you?” 

     
“You don't remember me do you?” 

     
“I'm sorry, I don't.”  JT just smiled.  He wrapped the reins around the pole and walked up to her. 

     
“Well then, let me remind you.” 

     
JT grabbed a hold of Lois and began spinning quicker than she could protest.  And at that moment she knew.  “Jade what are you doing here?”  Jade stopped. 

     
“Well, I live here, and well to be honest, I was wondering the same thing about you.”  Jade just kept dancing but had slowed his pace. 

     
“I was just needing a break and I seen this place and thought it was where I needed to be.”  Jade smiled back at her. 

     
“Well, I'm glad you did.  We have about an hour before supper, do you wanna go for a ride.  We have plenty of horses to choose from.” 

     
“Oh, I wouldn't know where to begin.” Lois looked at Danger up and down. 

     
“OK come with me, I know just the one.”  She followed and stood at the stalls while Jade went in.  When Jade returned, he had one of the most beautiful horses ever.  It was a paint, gentle appearing. 

     
“This is Rosa, she belonged to our neighbor, but she kept getting out and coming over here so we bought her.”  Lois looked at him.. 

     
“She is a good horse to start out on.” 

     
“How do you know I need a starter?” 

     
“Well to be honest, you said you didn't know where to begin.” 

     
“Oh that's right I did say that.”  She was almost embarrassed and Jade could see it. 

     
“Well, it’s pretty much like ball room dancing,,,”  Jade paused and raised an eyebrow and she knew something devilish was about to come out by the grin he had on his face.  “You just follow, and look at the bright side, there aren’t any feet to step on.”  Jade just belted out laughing.  Lois found herself laughing harder than she had in a while.

     
Jade held out the reins, “shall we?” 

     
She took in a deep breath and nodded.

     
“OK, here we go.  Put your left foot here, and on the count of three I will help you up, swing your right leg over.” 

     
“OK I'm ready”  But she wasn't ready, she was trembling all over the place. 

     
“OK, one, two, three and don’t be nervous.”  She hoisted herself up, but gasped as she felt Jades hands touch her thigh and her buttocks, she paused. 

     
“Are you OK, you just gotta swing your leg over.” Lois realized with Jade saying those words he didn't mean anything by it. 

     
Jade led Rosa and Lois back to Danger and without letting go of her reins he mounted his horse.  “So shall we take it nice and easy then.”  His words angered her.  As if he were saying she couldn't do it, or that she couldn't handle it.  She shifted her weight and took the reins,

     
“How hard can this be, I've seen it on TV lots of times before.” 

     
Lois raised her right foot out and kicked in, Rosa took off like a bat out of hell.  Lois was sliding all over the place and already realizing what a mistake this was.  “Slow down, slow down, horse,” Lois couldn’t get her to stop.  She was on a dead run, and she didn’t have any intentions on slowing down anytime soon. 

     
“Come on girl, stop, stop, stop.”  Lois was terrified and screaming when she felt the reins pull and the horse slow to a stop.  She hadn't even noticed she had clinched her eyes shut and hadn't opened em. 

     
“What were you thinking?  This isn't like watching a movie Lois.  That was a stupid thing to do.”  She knew Jade was upset and she couldn't blame him either.  That was stupid.  She had no right or the experience to even pull a stunt like that.

     
She thought at this point he would simply lead them back to the stalls and the ride would be over.  Jade however had no intentions of doing that.  “Now, you have to learn how to walk her, before you can gallop, and you have to gallop before you can run her.” Lois looked up and all but almost melted.  Jade was a very handsome looking man.  Strong face, but smooth as can be, and baby blue eyes that looked as tender as can be.  She had expected them to be full of anger. He didn’t make her nervous, frightened, she felt comfortable.

     
“I'm sorry, you’re right that was stupid.  Can you just walk me around a bit?”  Jade looked at her and she could tell he was thinking something.  “What are you thinking?”  She needed to know what it was he was thinking especially after he was right about her stunt performance. 

     
“I was just thinking, are you sincere with that apology or are you just so used to your sorry that it just came out.  You don’t have to say it if you don’t mean it.”

     
“I meant it.  I really did.  I have my secrets but it doesn’t include apologizing when I don’t want to.”

     
And he started leading them down and over the horizon.  “Sure, let’s go.  Have you ever seen the sun set on the horizon before?” 

     
“No, I haven't seen that.  Will you show me?”  Jade never answered just continued to lead the horses out.

     
When they topped the hill, the scenery was straight off a painting.  It was almost unreal.  In the distance there was a large creek that curved, cattle down by the river, tall green grass.  The smell of freedom lingered in the air.  It was breath taking.  “This has to be the most peaceful place I have ever been.  There isn't any sound at all.”  Lois dismounted like she had done it a billion times before and Jade stared at her.

     
Jade sat there and watched the sun set.  “We better get back now, Momma doesn’t like it when I'm late for supper, and besides it’s getting dark and you’re not in the city anymore.”  Lois didn't argue, she was ready for some food. She was ready the minute she smelled whatever it was that Emmy Jean was cooking. 

     
Jade led her to the house and this time had to help her dismount.  She had just dismounted perfectly and now she had her feet hung up.  “I'll put the horses up, go on in and ready for supper.  I think we have probably missed it I fear.  But we can muster up something I'm sure.”
      Lois went to her room and decided she was in need of shower and it was just the thing her muscles were needing.  She had only been on the horse a couple of hours and was already feeling some soreness.  She let the hot water flood down her body she soaked in the massaging feeling the water made. 

     
She thought about the last time Tom and her had taken a shower together.  She quickly finished her shower then, the moment she realized she was thinking about him. Simple dress, jeans, t-shirt and flip flops.