Page 28 of Cowboy

“She did say she wasn’t dating anyone but was kind of vague about someone she liked but didn’t seem to notice her,” smirked Autumn. “I guess boy-girl dynamics never change, do they?”

“I wouldn’t know,” said Cowboy. “I made sure my girl knew I liked her.”

“Yes, you did,” she grinned. “Cowboy? Do you think when all this settles down, I might be able to join the team as a pilot? I really don’t want to give up flying.”

“I don’t know why not. Doug has been talking about doing less flying for years, and I know Rafe would love it if Savannah flew less. That would leave you, Evie, and Chipper.”

“He’s getting up there as well,” said Autumn. “I know he’s a great pilot, but it’s odd to see so many men and women that are in their sixties, seventies, even eighties performing full-time jobs, strenuous jobs. And they’re all in amazing shape. I saw this big blonde guy running earlier, Wilson, I think was his name. He didn’t have a shirt on. I won’t lie. I was salivating a bit.” Cowboy could only laugh.

“Yea, he was part of the original REAPER team in Virginia. He’s amazing. Once a division one college volleyball player, SEAL, and RN. Guy’s a beast for sure.”

“I know, but the girls told me he has daughters older than me and grandchildren my age and older. How is that possible?” Cowboy smiled at her, taking her hand.

“Let’s go for a walk. It’s a nice day.” Autumn nodded at him, walking the damp paths beside him. “Autumn, I know it’s early in our relationship, but since you brought up staying and flying with the team, I’m going to ask this. When we’ve figured all this out, will you stay here, with me?”

Autumn stopped him on the path, smiling at him. It was cute that he thought he needed to ask. In her mind, she had nowhere else to be or to go. This was the place she felt at home, loved, desired.

“Cowboy, maybe I was assuming too much, but I thought that was already decided. I have no plans to go anywhere. This is where I want to be. With you and your crazy huge family.”

Cowboy let out a slow breath, nodding his head. It was such a relief to hear her say it. Kissing the tip of her nose, he pulled her along the path toward the pond. Reaching the dock, he began to remove his clothing.

“Skinny dipping? Out here? Won’t someone see us?” she smiled.

“Trust me. You have to strip.” She stared at his serious expression and stripped off her clothes. When he jumped in, she followed, coming up quickly with a gasp of surprise.

“It’s warm! It feels wonderful,” she smiled. He nodded, then pointed to her forehead where the huge gash had once been. Running her fingers along the spot, she frowned. “What the hell?”

“I know,” he nodded. “This pond has some unusual mineral deposits and other things we’re not quite sure of. It’s been able to heal nearly every wound anyone has sustained here. There are some things it can’t change. It can’t grow a severed limb back. It can’t always help someone with infertility, yet it has in some cases. But for things like broken bones, cuts, even gunshot wounds, it has a healing property we can’t put our finger on.”

“I’ve never in my life felt anything like this,” she said, gently treading water back and forth. Her perfect breasts were bobbing on the surface, and Cowboy felt his cock ache for her. Taking her hand, he led her beneath the waterfall and lifted her onto the ledge.

“I need you,” he moaned, spreading her legs. She nodded as he filled her, kissing her, stroking her. “This fucking piercing.”

“Mmm, yea, keep that up,” she gasped. Autumn arched her back, bringing her knees higher. As she did, Cowboy’s thick head hit her g-spot, sending her into an abyss of pleasure. He was right there with her the whole time.

“You are so fucking perfect,” he said, kissing down her torso. “What made you get the piercing?”

“Well, I don’t have any tattoos or other piercings except my ears. That guy I dated for a while kept saying I was boring and never took risks. What he really wanted was sex, and I wasn’t ready for that, but I thought I could do something risky.”

“Like flying a plane isn’t risky enough,” smirked Cowboy.

“Yea,” she laughed, “I guess not. Anyway, one of the cocktail waitresses overheard us arguing, and when he left, she said that she got her nipples and her clit pierced. She said it changed her sex life for the better. I wasn’t willing to let a man pierce me down there, but a nipple seemed harmless.”

“Did it hurt?” he asked.

“Oh, yea. Definitely. But once it was healed, I noticed that every time I touched it, my body was on fire. I think I realized then that I didn’t need to keep dating someone hoping that he was the ‘one’ when I could pleasure myself and truly find the ‘one.’”

“And have you?” he grinned.

“Cowboy, we’ve made love nonstop for days. I think you can rest assured you are the one for me. The only one. I hope Grandma knew when she met you.”

“You know, she asked if I had a girlfriend, wife, or family. I thought it was an odd question at the time, but maybe she did know. I’m not sure,” he said, kissing her nipple once again. “All I know is I’m glad you’re here with me.”

“Me too.”

After leaving the pond, Cowboy showed her the Sugar Lodge, then walked the long way around the property. They passed several of the couples out for a walk, just holding one another, kissing, and laughing. It was something he’d missed while gone.

Seeing all these happy couples always gave him hope that true love was out there for him. Did they get angry? Of course, they did. But they always talked it out and settled their differences. There were no finer examples, in his opinion.

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