Whirlwind Love: Libby's Journey (19 page)

Joe leaned into Libby, “Your place or mine?”

She smiled, “Mine.”

He happily nodded. “I need to pick up a few things. Be right back.”

“Wish you would,” she smiled back. He winked in response. It occurred to Libby that she wasn’t ready to entertain a thought of him not being with her…yet.
I know the day will come, but for now—I’m so glad Joe’s around. I haven’t felt this sense of family in so long.

* * *

As Joe walked into his room, Chuck strolled from his room to Joe’s doorway. “What’s with you? You seem...different.”

Joe smiled as he continued to gather his things.

“Damn, Joe. You really like this chick...
never
thought I’d see you settle for just
one
.”

Joe sat on his bed as he rolled up a pair of jeans. “Chuck, I swear, the air changes when she’s around, man. I mean...it literally changes. Like its electrified...or maybe it’s just lighter. It’s hard to explain.”

As a smile flashed across Joe’s face, he added, “Life sure is sweeter. And when she’s gone...” the smile faded with his contemplation. “It’s like…emptiness: a void. All I can think about is getting her back! I feel like a drug addict. The more I’m around her, the more I want. It’s not a ‘sex’ thing, Chuck. It’s...
her
. You know, all the beautiful women I’ve known...there was just no appeal—
especially
compared to her. The sound of her voice,” the smile returned to Joe’s face. “I know everything’s gonna be just fine. Doesn’t matter what’s comin’ at me...I just know I can handle it. Or it won’t matter.”

Chuck studied Joe intently. “Damn, Joe, sounds like you love her.”

Joe glanced at Chuck, as a wistful gleam filled his eyes. A slow smile bloomed on his lips. Joe turned his focus back onto packing. He didn’t need to answer Chuck, who turned and walked slowly back into his room. Joe didn’t see the look of concern in Chuck’s eyes.

Joe collected his bags and hurried downstairs where Libby was waiting on the porch. Libby and Joe walked slowly, hand-in-hand, to the RV. Few words were spoken, but they both wore a smile. The horseback ride and sun overload left them tired. While she changed for bed in the bathroom, Joe disrobed and crawled between the sheets. As Libby came out from the bathroom, her phone sang out with a message from Megan. She crawled into bed as she read the message, then began typing a reply about her adventures for the day. Joe lay beside her, patiently waiting, until the exhaustion won over all desire; and he fell asleep.

Ten minutes passed before Libby realized he was asleep, and she finished her chat with Megan. She quietly tried to slip beneath the covers, but he stirred and pulled her next to him. She smiled at his warmth and snuggled into the crook of his body, reminded again of the pain of her tired muscles. She snuggled against his freshly-shaven cheek with a trace of spice. With a deep sigh, she peacefully settled in. They fell asleep wrapped in their cocoon of satisfaction and soreness of a well-spent day.

Broken Bow, Oklahoma, Day 12 - Saturday

Upon waking, Libby groaned as her muscles ached from the long, busy day before.

“I can relate…it’s been a while,” Joe laughed. “I always forget the day-after pain of riding horses. He kissed her forehead as she snuggled against his neck. He caressed her hair, then rubbed the muscles in her neck, pulling her into him. As she relaxed against his chest, his hands slipped down her back, rubbing the knotted muscles and caressing her smooth skin. He kissed her deeply, then, with a slight groan, flipped her onto her back. Sitting back, he winced and smiled. He took his time, exploring her body with his hands, rubbing her sore muscles while watching her expressions of pain, relaxation and ultimately pleasure. From her shoulders, he worked his way down her arms to her hands, carefully massaging every inch of her. Libby didn’t realize how stiff her fingers were until he began massaging out the kinks. She languished in his attention, but never said a word: only an occasional guttural moan escaped her throat as the point of the pain acquiesced to his touch. After relaxing both arms, he worked his way over to her stomach muscles with long strokes punctuated by kisses to her abdomen and navel. He occasionally reached for her breasts underneath her shirt, which caused his eyes to sparkle and his breath to grow heavy with anticipation. He seemed to temper it by concentrating again on her muscles. Libby’s heart-rate quickened as she caught her breath, only to be returned to relaxation once again.

She was well-aware of the affect it had on him, but admired his self-control throughout his process. She never said a word, just watched his eyes as they moved with his hands, all over her body. As he reached her legs, she flinched from the muscle-memory of the previous day’s horseback ride. He smiled, caressing the muscles lightly; coaxing them to fall under the same spell he crafted in her: mind, body and soul. When the muscle seemed to give into him, he dug in deeper with each successive move, meeting each spasm with determination and tenderness, giving her his complete and undivided attention. She occasionally could focus on his face, amid her own pain and pleasure. He seemed delighted in everything he was causing her to feel.

As the pain gave way to desire, Joe made love to Libby like never before. His complete attention to her every detailed pleasure drew Libby deeper under his spell. He seemed to anticipate, meet and exceed her every need. He gently refused any advances from her without words—willing her to succumb to his offering of complete passion with no self-indulgence for his own pleasure. He continued to take her to a sensuality threshold, but not allowing her to pass through it. Libby was completely at his mercy. When she thought she couldn’t stand it any longer, Joe gave in, bringing both to an explosion of simultaneous ecstasy. Libby could hear her voice…but it felt strangely outside of her body; and, she didn’t care. She knew on some level, that Joe touched her soul: A place no one had ever been before.

* * *

Libby made a pot of steaming coffee while Joe checked the fridge for breakfast.

“I can’t believe we didn’t stop at the store for food yesterday in town. Looks like we’ve got…eggs, bologna and cheese. So, omelets?”

Perching on the counter, Libby smacked Joe with the dishtowel, and while you’re cookin’ you can fill me in on your plans. Where are you goin’ from here?”

He cracked an egg in the bowl. “Well, we have two more gigs with Holecom, then our contract’s up. I don’t have to put up with him anymore.” He whisked the eggs as he talked, then poured them onto the hot frying pan, stopping to steal a kiss as they began cooking.

“The day after, I’m supposed to be in Lead, South Dakota for a movie. I don’t know what Chuck’s gonna do…he hasn’t decided.

Libby’s eyes glowed as Joe moved around her, stealing caresses to all parts of her body and smiling as he did, as if she were something forbidden or new.

Libby pulled plates from the cabinet and passed Joe the cheese and bologna to add before he folded the eggs.

“How about you? What are your plans?” With the flip of his wrist, the last omelet flipped in the pan.

“Nothing, really. I’ll eventually go home. I don’t have a timeframe or agenda at this point.”

For hours, they sat talking, laughing, drinking coffee and holding hands across the table.

“You’re so easy to be with, Libby,” Joe remarked.

Libby smiled, “Back at’cha,” she stood to put the dishes in the sink, kissing his forehead as she passed.

Her phone rang, and she sprinted to answer it, groaning at the agony of the muscles in protest.

“MUGGS! It’s about time you called! I’ve missed you so much!”

Libby sat on the sofa to hear all about Megan’s school and new friends.

“Oklahoma is so great! We’re still at Joe’s folks’ ranch. Yeah, he’s here…hold on,” Libby handed Joe the phone as he passed her coffee, then joined her on the sofa.

Libby smiled as he so easily made the effort to talk with Megan. After several singular-syllable responses and laughter, Joe looked deeply into Libby’s eyes and replied, “You bet, that’d be my pleasure. Now, you take care, yourself. We’ll be seein’ ya.” He handed Libby the phone, then stepped outside and waited on a nearby picnic table as he downed the last of his coffee.

Libby finished the call and joined him outside; she was glowing. “Thanks for doing that... she said she wants to meet you. She was
very
impressed, by the way.”

“I can’t wait to meet her,” he said, pulling Libby close and kissing her. “Besides, I’ve been ordered to look after you. I intend to take that responsibility very seriously,” he looked deeply into her eyes.

“Hey, I’ve wanted to ask you about somethin’. I think I’ve mentioned, I’m scheduled to be in South Dakota for about three weeks. It’s an ensemble cast—a western, so I’ll have free time. I was wondering if you had plans, or maybe you’d…join me?” he said, hopefully.

“Really? You want me to come?” she teased. “Well, if you’re sure I won’t be in the way...you know...all your groupies and fans,” she laughed.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. As he opened his mouth to protest, she quickly responded, “I’d love to. Sounds fun.”

“Well, I don’t know about fun, you might actually get bored, but the idea of saying goodbye, even for a little while, is so…” his voice grew softer as he lost the words, and his heavy sigh said more than he allowed the words to express.

“Libby, I can’t possibly imagine how I could meet someone like you. And I know it’s been fast, but now, I can’t imagine
not
having you around. As difficult as it is to admit, I feel…strongly…about you.”

“I really find
all
this hard to imagine, Joe,” she replied. Libby knew he was choosing his words carefully. “I’m not sure about all this, not sure how to…think,” she replied, smiling at him.

“Don’t. Don’t think. Just come to Dakota and have fun.”

She smiled with apprehension in her eyes as she studied his face.“Okay. It’s settled.” She looked deeply into his blue eyes and kissed him. “You really want me to stick around?”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, sweetheart. You’ll come?”

Libby laughed, looked across the pond in contemplation. She looked back at Joe and nodded.

His bear-hug spoke for him.

“Hey, you think we could borrow a car?” Libby asked Joe.

“Sure, why?”

“Restock the fridge and maybe it’d be nice to fix dinner for everyone for a change.”

“Sure, come on.”

* * *

Once the plan was in place, Libby and Joe drove into town. As they turned onto the highway from the driveway, Joe didn’t notice the dark van that pulled behind him a few miles from the house.

* * *

The two had fun shopping for supplies and for dinner. Returning to the ranch, they stopped at the main house and took over Lee’s kitchen. They began working side-by-side in the kitchen in a dance that looked as if they’d been doing it for years. The Kingston family eventually gathered at the kitchen table over drinks while the feast was prepared, joking, laughing and sharing stories as the rare opportunity of togetherness blissfully passed.

Chuck leaned over to Lee, “They look like they’ve been doing this forever.”

“He looks happy,” Lee mused. Chuck nodded, reluctantly.

As Joe put food on the table, Chuck playfully bumped his shoulder into Libby’s. “You’re good for him, ya know? I’ve seen a change since you walked into that bar. He’s a lot calmer... happier than I ever remember seeing him,
ever
. I know you’re the reason why.”

Libby smiled, “But, he’s good for me, too.”

“And to think I gave you to him,” he smirked, shaking his head as he took a long, slow draw from his beer bottle.

Libby smiled and tweaked his cheek as she passed by him. “Ah, now we both know I would‘ve just been another
speedbump
to ya,” she grinned back over her shoulder, joining the gang in the dining room.

Chuck took a deep breath as he watched Libby happily bounce into the dining room. Concern etched on his handsome face.

* * *

When dinner was over, everyone helped clear away the dishes, then retired to the den with guitars. Chuck continued to try to play, but his hand was still stiff and painful. The swelling in his nose had subsided, giving him the chance to sing at least.

Melodies filled the peaceful air of the Kingston homestead into the wee hours of the morning. Only when Lee rose to her feet did anyone consider the time.

“Kids, as much as I hate to leave all this fun, I’ve had about as much as these old bones can take for a day. Y’all just keep on doin’ what yer doin’, and I’ll see everybody for breakfast.”

As the “goodnights” echoed around the room, Libby followed Lee through the doorway of the dining room. “Lee, I just want to thank you so much for your hospitality. This has been such a wonderful vacation; you have a beautiful place here and I’m so glad I got to meet you and Marshall.”

“Thank you, Libby. You’re welcome back here anytime. It’s been great having you kids around, too. I’ve missed my boys. Thanks for bringin’ ‘em home!”

Marshall appeared with empty glasses and bottles. “What are you hens cacklin’ about now?” He kissed Lee’s temple. “Libby, we’re so glad you could come spend time with us. I hope you’ll be comin’ back. Bring that boy of mine home more often, would ya?”

“Well, that’s not up to me, Marshall. I’ve enjoyed your hospitality so much, though. Thank you, and I’d love to come back sometime, maybe when I bring Megan out this way we can give you a call…stop by for a visit?”

“That sounds like a plan, Red. Well, goodnight all,” Marshall called over his shoulder as he walked out of the kitchen.

Libby smiled at the reference to Red, a nickname her Dad used often.

The group disbanded, and Joe was waiting at the front door for Libby. Lee and Libby joined him, and he kissed his mother goodnight.

“See you in the mornin’, Ma.”

She gave him a big hug. “G’night son. Love ya.” She hugged Libby and closed the door behind them.

Joe and Libby walked across the dam. After unlocking the RV door, Joe looked around the grounds. Libby went inside; and when he didn’t follow, she leaned out the door.

“Somethin’ wrong?”

“Dunno...somethin’ just feels...off.” He looked at her and stepped into the RV. “Probably nothing,” he said, closing the door.

* * *

As the lights in the RV went out one-by-one, the darkness enveloped the grounds around the vehicle. Only the sounds of the wildlife filled the air. A short time later, footsteps made their way across the grounds, disappearing in the night. A small red flashing light behind the rear bumper signaled a good reason for Joe’s uneasy feeling.