Chapters 2 and 3

Chapter 2
The holidays came and went as they normally did, she delivered presents, went to church and busied her self in the house. The tree still held a present, waiting for him to return from a buying trip. She had bought a new buckle for Curtis, she had known for a long time that he collected buckles. Dialing his cell phone she heard his sultry voice. " Curtis did I wake you?" waiting she heard a quiet no, " I was wondering If I could come see you real quick. I know you just got back and your tired but I just needed to see you."
" Come on over cowgirl, the front doors always unlocked for you." Stormy wondered if it was possible to hear a smile in someones voice? Hanging up, she wrapped herself in a wool blanket and went in search of him. " Come on in Stormy," Walking in she found him in the den, looking at the old year books and family pictures." I'm glad you called I bought you a present." Sliding the box to her, her eye's got huge.
" I have one for you." Handing him the box, they opened them at the same time. " Curtis, you got me a saddle." The saddle was a died tourquise the same color of the bridal she used on Moonshine when she raced he had ordered it over the summer especially for the season. Smiling he opened the buckle and beamed. " I remember you telling me how you love to collect buckles. I love the horses on this. There is an engraving on the inside." He flipped the buckle over and read it.
" You are my best friend and my knight in shiny cowboy boots. I'll love you till the end of time." His eye's were huge as he looked at her, that's when he knew she only cared for him more than just as a friend; how wrong he was. " Thank you cowgirl this is awesome, I can't wait to start wearing it."
" Curtis.." He walked up to her, wrapped his arms around her and gently kissed her lips.
" You best get on home, I'll talk to you tomorrow okay." Nodding, he walked her out and waited until she was safely out of the drive way.
The pain he felt at the moment was unbearable, he wanted to be so much, her lover, her husband and the father of her children, she had finally spoken her true feelings and he needed to figure out if he could act on it. Curtis felt like a dummy when all he had to do was speak up, let her know how boring his life is and the wanting desire he had for her. One day, one day he promised himself he would tell her. Slumpping on the couch he smiled, pictures and thoughts were jumping in his head.
The thoughts were taking him back 26 years ago, little Stormy Harrison stepped on the afternoon school bus in her cowgirl jeans and boots, carrying her horse covered backpack when Buddy Martin tripped her, causing her to fall hitting her face on the floor; she didn't cry, she got up, wiped the blood from her nose and looked at him, swearing revenge one day. Curtis had been 2 years older he helped her up, picked up her bag and sat her next to him, cleaning the blood with the handkerchief his daddy had given him, they got off at the same stop so he walked her home. That day he became a knight in shinny cowboy boots for Stormy and had always been there through the good times and the bad, especially when her parents were killed in the plan crash. The ranch was going under, she was in a depression, but he worked day and night to get it going for her again, when the depression broke free Stormy was able to take the reigns and take control, he stood in the background, waiting and hoping that she'd see how much he loved her.


Chapter 3

He couldn't do it anymore, he had no fight left. The hints had been given, the kisses passed around all for her yet nothing . The game plan he had been thinking about all day was set sitting down in front of the computer and did the one thing he swore he would never do try to make a woman jealous. '6'5, 200 lbs, big hearted country boy seeks good hearted country girl must know her way around a country boys heart, ranch, horses and rodeo. Interested apply within.' Hitting enter he felt like a fake, he didn't want to hurt anyone especially her, he knew he just needed to tell her instead of playing this stupid game.
The emptiness was unbearable, he needed the stubborn filly from across the fence in his life, but he had heard she went and met this Jeff fellow the other day everyone said she seemed happy, his heart ached every day he thought about it. Walking out into the bright sunlight of the day, he looked toward the house across the way, it was empty this weekend, she was in Nashville for a horse show and had been invited to spend some time with Jeff. "Damn you Stormy Dawn Harrison! Can't you see I love you" Screaming out, he felt a little better; what he needed was a good counseling with Flossiee. Grabbing his black Stetson, a sign the cowgirls knew meant that his heart was taken, he headed into town.

Old Hickory, TN was just a small rural town that raised good ole country folk, originally made to house the Dupont employee's but now had seen a growth and was home to a country club, golf course and the Dupont office that still employeed several hundred workers. It was a great town where everybody knew everybody and if one person was in dire straights there was someone there to help. When Curtis was in trouble his mind always went to Flossie because he knew she could make his ego soare. Flossie stood at the counter reading the paper and drinking coffee when the 2008 Chevy Silverado pulled in. Curtis had come for a quick lunch and a counseling session before heading to the feed store. The café was slow for a Sunday. "Morning Curtis, same as usual?" Nodding he took the corner booth and looked out the window. "She won't be coming in today, she's still in Nashville."
"I know Flossie believe me I know. Do you think this will get serious?" With a smile Flossie shook her head, she new one thing for sure and that was by the end of the year these two young people would be together if it was the death of her to get it done. The old lady took a seat while he ate and they chatted about life.
"I saw Rose yesterday, she asked about you." Rose Fleming was a past he'd rather forget, stemming from a drunken haze of lusty sex and nothing more. "I told her she best be getting her mind on to bigger matters like that there baby she was about to pop out?" Hearing that brought attention to him, he perked up.
"Baby? How long." Flossie smiled and heartily laughed, "Flossie don't play with me, how long." Curtis was concerned, because he had to admit, he did have the needs of a man and one night after drinking himself into a haze, he'd picked up Rose Jackson and bedded her.
Ś months along now, well after your drunken sexescapade." Hanging his head, Flossie though she saw a tear but it was only the jaw muscle tightening at the sound of the bell. "Well I'll be damned; I thought you weren't due back until tomorrow"
"Morning Flossie, I missed my Sunday morning with you and decided to cut it early. I bought a couple of quarter horses and a mustang and wanted to get them back to the ranch. Morning Curtis." Curtis stood, put his hat on, threw some money on the table and tipped his hat. "Bye Curtis." Curtis stopped before he got out the door and turned back, marched up to her, wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his lips to hers he broke away as she started to respond. "See ya next Sunday Flossie." Flossie only waved she was to busy laughing at the shock on Stormys face. Curtis sat in the truck, relieving the feel of her lips, the smell of her perfume and smiled, he could win her heart he knew it, he just didn't know how long her could continue to fight for it.
"Why Miss Stormy, your cheeks sure are pink, what's going on in that mind of yours?" Sitting down in his spot she could almost feel his presence. "Tell me what's up girl; don't keep this old lady waiting."
"I, I am, oh God I'm so confused." Flossie only nodded and patted the young girl's hands, "I wish my momma was here, she could help me through this."
"Through what baby girl, ole Flossie's here she'll help." Stormy smiled, deciding it was best to wait. "When you're ready to talk you come see me okay, I always have an ear for my 2 favorite people in the world. Now tell me how the visit went with Jeff."