Page 101 of The Breakdown

Were they—? She didn’t have time to think. The man, he was coming. She struggled to grip her gun. She had one shot left. One shot. She lifted it and tried to aim, but he was nearly on her. She closed her eyes, ready to pull the trigger.

Her ears rang as a shot resounded, nearly deafening her. She tensed, expecting the recoil of the gun, but nothing happened. She opened her eyes. The man was down, sprawled on his back, his gun flung at his side.

She blinked, confused. A figure stepped into view from beside her. It was another man. This one was much bigger than the one on the floor. He looked down at her and offered a meaty hand, a spent gun in the other. Tentatively, she took it and he helped her up. He walked over to the bearded man, kicked his gun away, and then kicked him to see if he was dead.

When he looked back to June, he spoke. “I never did like that son of a bitch.”

Chapter Forty-six

Two Months Later

“Whoa, girl,” Natalie said as she tugged on Miracle’s reins. Miracle slowed to a trot and Natalie smiled as they neared Vaughn, slowed some more, and stopped. Miracle bobbed her head and stomped her feet.

Natalie slid off her and stepped up to Vaughn, who was smiling as well. “What?” Natalie asked, curious as to her radiant happiness.

“You. Riding in like that. It’s exactly how it was in my dream.”

“You dreamt about me?”

Vaughn drew her closer. “More than once.”

“Really? And these dreams….they were good?”

“Oh, yes.” Vaughn tilted her head. “Actually, they never got past you riding in on Miracle.”

“Is that so?” Natalie kissed her tenderly and drew away. “We’ll just have to make up our own ending then, won’t we?”

“If you insist.”

Natalie took her by the hand and led her toward the guesthouse, glancing back at her to grin every now and again. They walked slowly, basking in the winter sun, walking amongst the wildflowers that had come back into bloom in the balmy temperatures.

Behind them Natalie saw Em come out and lead Miracle away, back into the corral. She waved and Natalie returned it, glad to have her around. Vaughn had been right about her, she was an exceptionally hard worker and her fondness for Vaughn was just that. Fondness. Okay, maybe a little hero worship. But that was all. And Natalie couldn’t blame her. Vaughn was amazing after all. She was doing wonderfully already, just six weeks after surgery, up and walking and going strong, so happy to be relieved of the pain.

Natalie had needed time to heal too, after being shot by Allen. She’d lost her spleen in emergency surgery, but she’d pulled through okay. She’d hated being down the same time as Vaughn and not being able to care for her, but June and Vivian took great care of the two of them.

At one point they’d even shared Vaughn’s bed, with Vaughn insisting Natalie join her instead of sleeping on the couch. There they’d watched movies, and talked deep into the night and fallen asleep holding hands.

Now Natalie was back in the guesthouse much to Vaughn’s chagrin. But Natalie needed the space, the couch just wasn’t cutting it, and she had to have room for her things, Vaughn’s room was just too small. So she’d moved back in and Vaughn came to spend every evening with her, with Natalie cooking them supper. They were like two teenagers, dating and spending as much time as they could together, with long make out sessions on the couch, sometimes leading to heavy petting. But they’d always stopped there, wanting to wait until they were better healed, wanting the first time to be special, and without June unintentionally interrupting asking if they wanted pie for dessert.

It was late afternoon now and June would no doubt be getting ready to cook supper, while Vivian helped the ranch hands with the chores. It was the perfect time to sneak away. With Ricky and Pedro in jail and out of commission, thanks to the new private investigator Vaughn hired, the one who’d killed Allen, things were once again peaceful at the ranch, and it seemed they no longer had a care in the world. It was a wonderful feeling, this peace.

Natalie opened the door and led them inside. Vaughn closed the door behind them and locked it, as if reading Natalie’s mind. She tried to kiss her once again, but Natalie backed away, tugging on her hand, heading for the bedroom. They entered in silence, the smiles now gone, replaced with serious looks of desire.

“Come here,” Vaughn said, drawing her near. She cupped her face and dipped in for a smoldering kiss, one that left Natalie breathless and dizzy. She clung to her when they parted, afraid she would lose her bearings. But Vaughn held her tight, securing her, and urged her to the bed. Natalie felt the mattress on the backs of her knees and she sat, leaning back on her elbows as Vaughn removed her cowboy hat and climbed atop her. They kissed again, this time more fervent, deeply heated, with Vaughn beckoning with her tongue, wanting to explore. Natalie let her, meeting Vaughn’s tongue with her own. She moaned into her, gripping her ass as she felt the firmness of Vaughn’s thigh press against her aching center. Vaughn sensed her enjoyment and rocked into her, dragging her lips away to kiss and suck on her neck.

Natalie sighed and arched, offering herself up to her heated mouth. “Vaughn,” she whispered, running her hands up her sides, careful to avoid her back. She’d never made love like this before, with a passionate but gentle lover, one who wanted to please her, to enrapture her, send her to places she’d only ever imagined. “I love you,” she sighed, clinging to her shoulders.

Vaughn stilled and looked down into her eyes. “You…”

Natalie hesitated as fears from her past surfaced, and for the briefest moment, she was unsure if she should repeat herself. But when she saw the raw passion and deep love and affection in Vaughn’s gaze, all of those fears vanished into a mist like haze and drifted slowly away. “I do,” she said. “I love you.”

Vaughn’s lips parted. Her eyes searched Natalie’s. “I love you, Natalie Brewer.”

Natalie reached up and skimmed her fingers along her jaw. “Then show me, as I show you.”

Their lips connected again, soft and supple, tasting and teasing, before Vaughn moved lower, taking the time to nibble her neck as she trailed her way downward, inching Natalie’s shirt up as she went. When she came to her bra, she unfastened the front clasp and freed her breasts and seemed to delight in the pucker of her nipples. She brushed her lips over them lightly and circled them with her tongue, causing Natalie to clutch her head and arch up in sheer pleasure.

“Oh,” Natalie cried, palming her own face, overcome with excitement. A rush of warmth pooled between her legs and she bucked upward, needing more. Vaughn responded, lowered herself farther and unbuttoned her jeans. After she eased them off her hips, she stared down at her and traced her fingers along the outer edge of her panties.

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