Boundaries (closed)

[NewGame8]

"I had a great night sleep and I slept in a chair on the porch. I can't believe how well I slept. It feels so good out here in the middle of nowhere. I think I am going to really like it out here."

Jason watched Laura move around the kitchen. She was really easy to look at and she was great to have around as well.

"So, you have taken to Jared's way of getting up early now. I love getting up early... you can go so much accomplished. By the way... you are not my servant... you do not need to make breakfast, or any other meal for me. I am capable of cooking myself."

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura arched her eyebrow.

"I am not cooking for you... I was cooking for myself. And made a little extra for you...I assume you would repay the favor if you woke up first."

Laura put her hair up in a ponytail as she spoke.

"I am going to go feed and water the horses." Laura edged past Jason and headed to the stable. The sunshine felt good on her face. She was happy to go see her horse and the others.

 

[NewGame8]

Jason sat down at the table with a cup of coffee. He picked at the food... not because he didn't like it.. it was actually delicious, but he never usually ate breakfast. He usually just grabbed coffee on the go.

He watched Laura put up her hair. "I would absolutely make extra for you if I was up first." He watched as she headed out to the barn to feed and water the horses. His eyes moved over her body.... her ass looked so good in her jeans.

Jason got up from the table and followed Laura out to the barn. It was his responsibility, so, there was no way that he could allow Laura to feed and water the horses alone. She was there to teach him.

"Laura.... doing this is not your responsibility. You are here to teach me.. not to be my ranch hand. If you are going to do something you have to show me. I want to learn everything and I want to be involved in doing everything."

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura was filling the horse's water buckets with a hose.

"I am just used to it, I guess. Starting my morning cooking breakfast and then coming to see Maeve. She is used to getting a little love first thing in the morning."

Laura patted Maeve's neck.

"Let me know if you want to hire some hands. But until then, each horse gets a scoop of feed in their feed bucket. "

Laura gestured toward the feed sacks piled up in the corner of the barn.

 

[NewGame8]

Jason looked around and saw the sacks of feed. He walked over and began taking scoops and dumping it into the horses' buckets.

"Oh, so you come out here to give Maeve a little loving?" He looked at Laura as he continued to feed the horses. He enjoyed the physical labor. He also enjoyed spending time with Laura. She was not only beautiful, but she was fun to be around.

"What about loving for Laura? Have you been alone since your husband passed? I am sorry to be so forward. It really is none of my business. I am sorry. I should not have said that."

He was a little sorry. He wanted to see if Laura would respond or if she would get upset. He finished feeding the horses and then turned and looked toward Laura.

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura looked at Jason for a moment before she answered.

"I have been very alone. I don't really have any family, other than my uncle. And people didn't really know what to say when Jared was killed. Plus, I was an outsider. A lot of the local girls thought they would end up with Jared...so, I haven't had many friends. And as for men, I just haven't been ready..."

Laura took a carrot from her pocket and offered it to Maeve.

 

[NewGame8]

"Laura, whatever you need please let me know. I know you have said you have no family other than your uncle. If there is anyway I can help I want to do it. Please let me help with anything you need."

He watched Laura take a carrot and feed it to Maeve. He moved over behind Laura. "I am serious Laura. Let me help."

He took a carrot and walked over to Roxy and fed it to her. He liked Roxy, and he thought Roxy was taking a liking to him.

 

[wideeyedone]

"Careful, Roxy loves a carrot. She sometimes mistakes a finger for one."

Laura smiled at Jason.

"Thank you, Jason. Your offer of help means a lot. I am not sure what I need yet, but if I figure it out... I will tell you. Do you want to go for a ride again?"

 

[NewGame8]

He laughed when she mentioned Roxy and the carrots and mistaking a finger for a carrot. He loved being on the ranch. It was so free.

"I would love to go for a ride. I really enjoyed riding yesterday. I think Roxy and I need some more time together.. and I know you and Maeve do too." He waited for a second before moving to get his tack.

He saddled up Roxy the way Laura had taught him the day before. He was excited about riding. He checked his work and was ready to mount up. He looked to Laura to see if she was ready before getting aboard Roxy.

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura watched as Jason saddled up Roxy. She swung herself into Maeve's saddle. Laura patted the horse's neck.

After Jason mounted, the horses ambled out into the cool morning air. Laura suggested that they ride the fence lines making sure that no one else was stealing cattle. Laura's clothes clung to her curves as she rode. There were no secrets about her shape.

 

[NewGame8]

Jason followed Laura out. He did this for two reasons.... she could lead the way, and he could get a good look at her. She was incredible and she looked wonderful with her clothes that clung to her body and the gracefulness in the saddle.

He agreed that they should go looking to make sure there were no poachers. They rode the fence line and jason rode up alongside her. They looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Jason loved riding Roxy. She was a beautiful animal and they were getting quite compatible. "It is very nice out here Laura. I can see why you wanted to stay. I don't think I will ever leave here."

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura smiled at Jason.

"I hope this place will be your home, always. It suits you."

Maeve stopped to eat some grass and Laura had to tug her reigns to get her walking again.

"Have you thought anymore about the cattle?"

The sun was still low on the horizon, the sky warming up to shades of gold.

 

[NewGame8]

Jason looked around as they rode. It was so beautiful and so peaceful out here.

He heard her ask about the cattle. He thought for a few seconds. "I haven't made any decisions about that. I am not really sure. Part of me wants to just sell them off, and another part wants to keep them."

He dropped back to follow Laura. He smiled at the thought that she probably knew what he was doing, but he really didn't care. He liked watching her ride.

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura's head snapped up. She looked over to the dirt road and a truck was making it's way to the ranch.

"We should head back to the house... I don't recognize that truck, but it could be anyone's."

Laura grinned. "Want to try a trot? I have been taking it pretty easy on you."

 

[NewGame8]

He saw her head snap up. He looked in the direction that she did and then looked back at her when she said that she did not recognize the truck that was heading up the roadway.

"Taking it easy on me, huh? There is no need for you to take it easy me Laura. I can handle anything and everything you have. So, let's do it."

He watched as she started Maeve into a trot. Roxy took the cue and began to trot without Jason having to do anything. He followed behind her watching her bounce in the saddle... trying not to show any signs of the fear that he had of falling off of Roxy.

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura slowed Maeve up as they approached the house. It was Kip from the diner. He was leaning against his truck with his arms across his chest.

"Howdy!"Kip hollered. He held up a fed ex package. "This came to the sheriff's office for Laura and I offered to run it out. I also wanted to check on her."

Laura dismounted and led Maeve over to Kip. She took the envelope from Kip.

"Thanks. It is all paperwork about Jared. I didn't know where I would be living so I had them send it to the Sheriff's office."

 

[NewGame8]

Jason followed Laura as she rode toward Kip. He stayed on Roxy as Laura dismounted Maeve and walked over to Kip. "Hello Kip. Good to see you again," Jason said. "So, you didn't trust me, so, you used it as an excuse to come over and check on Laura. Afraid of what the city boy was going to do?"

He watched Laura take the envelope from Kip and tell him it was paperwork about Jared. "Laura, why not just have your mail continue to come here. You are welcome to stay here as long as you would like. You have been a tremendous help."

Jason looked at Kip to gauge his reaction. He then looked back to Laura to see how she reacted. "Obviously, it is up to you, but you are welcome to stay as long as you would like."

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura smiled at Jason.

"I don't think you are ready for me to leave yet. Six horses is a lot to exercise all by yourself."

Laura tossed her hair back and winked at Kip.

"Want some coffee? I made a fresh pot this morning."

Laura patted Maeve's neck.

 

[NewGame8]

Jason smiled back at Laura.

"There is no way that I could exercise the horses without you. Of course, if you were to leave I would only have five horses, because Maeve would be going with you. After all, a deal is a deal."

Jason rode Roxy back to the barn. He dismounted and removed the tack. He began to brush Roxy He was starting to think he liked this almost as much as he did riding her. He really enjoyed spending time with her.

After brushing Roxy, Jason walked toward the house to get a cup of coffee. He walked into the house and joined Laura and Kip in the kitchen. He poured a cup of coffee and sat at the kitchen table.

 

[wideeyedone]

Kip and Laura were sitting at the table, talking horses and making small talk. Laura knew that Kip was gathering intel, making sure that she was alright, but he didn't mean any harm. Jason was an outsider and Jared had just died a few months ago.

Kip looked at Jason sternly. "You might want to get a gun. Jared was killed out in the pasture. There is no garuntee that those scum won't be back. No one is sure who it was."

Laura excused herself from the table. She went to her room and closed the door. She didn't want to think about guns, or Jared. She didn't want to remember the day she found him out in the pasture. She had tried to save him, but he had been dead for hours when she found him.

 

[NewGame8]

Jason sipped his coffee and he listened to the small talk between Kip and Laura. His eyes repeatedly returned to her beautiful face. Despite being out on the ranch and working the animals, her skin was still silky.... it looked so soft that Jason wanted to run the back of his hand over her cheek.

When Kip started talking about guns and Jared being killed in the pasture Jason say Laura's expression change. She sat there for a moment before getting up from the table and heading into her room.

Jason looked at Kip. "I don't know a damned thing about guns Kip. I would hurt myself with the gun instead of protecting myself with it." Jason continued to look at Kip. "Jared had to be involved in some kind of a deal that went bad. Either that or refused to deal with some people who were determined to get what they want. Something tells me that it was the cattle. I did not come down here to get into any beefs with anyone (no pun intended.) If there are people that want the cattle and are willing to pay a fair price, I will sell. I just want to be left alone."

Jason got up from the table and went to Laura's room. He knocked on the door. "Hey, Laura are you alright. Can I come in?"

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura jumped a little when Jason knocked.

"Come in." She called, blinking back tears. Laura smiled at Jason. "It was nice of you to check on me. It is just still hard to talk about. I found him out in that field and I tried... but he had been dead for hours by the time I found him the Doctor said. I thought he had just lost track of time. We were going to the city, to see some friends and go to a fancy dinner. He had to check on the cattle first... and I thought.... I was so mad at him for being late. ANd then...."

Laura's voice broke and she started to cry in earnest. It was all too fresh on her heart.

 

[NewGame8]

Jason stood there and let Laura talk. She needed to get it out. It was still so fresh, and she probably did not have a chance to talk it out with anyone, so, he would give her every opportunity to truly grieve for her husband.

"Listen Laura. Let me tell Kip that you are okay and that we will talk to him later. Then you can just talk. I am a stranger still and letting it out to me might be good for you."

Jason walked back into the kitchen and talked to KIp for a minute. He told Kip that Laura was upset and would be okay... it was just that she was still not over the loss of Jared.

After Kip left Jason went back to Laura's room. He knocked before entering, and then went over and sat next to her on the bed. He didn't say anything. He looked at her and brushed away her tears.

 

[wideeyedone]

Laura closed her eyes when Jason brushed away her tears. She took a deep breath.

"Thank you for talking to Kip. I am not sure why I got so upset....It is just hard to think about. That day was just so awful. Our phone line was cut and I had to drive to town to get help. And there wasn't really anything anyone could do. Half the herd was missing, so they were pretty sure it must have been over the sale of some cattle."

Laura took another deep breath and more tears started to slip down her cheeks. Jason swept them away with his thumbs. Laura scooted a little closer and rested her head on Jason's shoulder.

 

[NewGame8]

Jason let Laura talk. He knew she needed to let it out. He knew that it would do her good to get out what had been building up inside her since her husband had been murdered.

Jason wrapped his arm around Laura after brushing her tears away. Her head was on his shoulder and he could feel her relax a little when she moved closer to him. He was not going to say anything... he just wanted to help Laura... after all, she had been such a big help to him thus far, and what she had to deal with was much worse.