Chapter 3

Parker

One of the many things I love about these wide-open country roads is that you can see everything for miles around. As Daisy and I make our way down the dusty two-lane highway that runs along the side of the ranch, I check the fences and look up every few moments to see if there’s trouble on the horizon. There usually isn’t.

That’s why, when I see a car in the distance with smoke spilling from the hood, I put some pressure on Daisy’s flanks and spur her into a canter. If there’s someone with that car, they probably need help. There isn’t anyone close by and who knows how long it’ll take for a car to drive down here and see them.

Approaching the smoke cloud, I see a woman walking away from the car. She must be from the city because she isn’t remotely close to dressed for a hike out here in the sticks. That short skirt is gonna have her legs bit to hell at this time of day. Oh, it would be a crying shame to see mosquitos mar those legs. Fuck.

She sees me cantering with Daisy down the road and she puts her arms up to wave outlandishly at me. Does she not realize that anyone in a mile wide radius can see her easily? Daisy slows down and shies away from the smoke cloud as we get closer. I approach with caution. Even pretty girls in short skirts can be dangerous. Ya never know.

I dismount and offer her one of my patented warm Parker smiles. She comes running up, panic clear on her face.

“Hello there!” I call out. “You need some help?”

“Yes, oh my god. I’m so glad you came along.”

“Oh, really now?”

She turns to look at her car behind her. “It looks like I’ve neglected my coolant levels, and that engine is cooked. I need a ride back to town, if you can help.”

“I can do that. I’m Parker, by the way. I work over at Lone Star Dude Ranch.”

I extend my hand to her, and she takes it with her own.

“I’m Tess.”

A firm handshake turns into a mutual visual assessment as we look at each other for fuck knows how long. I let go first.

“Wait, you mean like a real dude ranch?” She says, “just over there? I pass by here to go to work up at The Castle almost every day, but I didn’t realize we had one of those here.”

“We do. My family have all been ranchers out here going back a few generations.”

“I see, so you’re a real, serious, honest to goodness cowboy then?”

“I sure am.”

I tip my hat at her, and she giggles at that.

“Well,” I continue, “how bout that ride into town or up the road to your work?”

I gesture at Daisy and her eyes go wide.

“You want me to get up on that horse?” Her voice is shaking a bit.

“It’s the only ride I have to offer.”

“How long will it take to get to The Castle on this thing? I really can’t afford to be late today.”

“This thing…” I tell her, “Is Daisy, my favorite mare. I’m not really sure since I’ve never heard of that place nor know where it is, but the dude ranch is only about a ten-minute ride from here if we take it slow.”

“Yes, please take it slow. I don’t even know if I can ride in this outfit.”

I look her up and down. “You can’t, not properly. Your thighs will be raw by the time we get there.”

“Thinking about my thighs being raw then, are you?”

Whoops, didn’t mean to go there. Can I fix it?

“No one rides in a skirt. At least not one like that.”

She looks down at her outfit.

“You’re probably right, but I wouldn’t know. I’ve never ridden a horse before.”

“Never?”

“Nope. It looks pretty high up to me. How would this work, exactly?”

I put my foot in a stirrup and swing my other leg over Daisy, then offer her my hand.

“I’ll help you. I’ve done this before.”

“You’ve rescued women on the side of the highway who are clearly not dressed to ride a horse?”

I chuckle. “No, but I’ve rescued plenty of trail riders who got scared after we hit the part of the ride that goes along the riverbank, and we start trotting or cantering.”

“I don’t know what most of that means but seeing as you’re my only option…”

She trails off as she takes my hand, and I pull her onto the horse in front of me, her legs slung over on one side as if she’s riding side saddle. Sans saddle.

“This is really weird,” she says.

“You’ll get used to it.”

I grab the reins, and Daisy starts moving. I keep the pace pretty slow because I don’t want to scare her, but also, she’s not really holding on much, and if I push Daisy into a canter, she’s absolutely going to fall off. Since it’s her first time on a horse, I’d rather let her lead the experience.

“So, you come here often?” She says with a smirk.

“Very funny. But yeah, I ride down the fence over here,” I point. “I need to check and make sure there aren’t any holes or weak spots left open.”

“Why? There’s no one around for miles.”

“Right, but there are animals. Ones that like to kill livestock and get into our grain.”

“Oh.” She hangs her head.

“We also have to make sure none of our own animals can get out. If there’s a storm or some other noise that spooks them, they might try.”

“That’s your job, then? Fence monitor?”

“It’s part of my job, sure, but I’m technically a ranch hand. It means I do all manner of chores and some management tasks with the other hands.”

“Like mucking out stalls? Doesn’t that mean shoveling shit?”

“Yes, that’s what it means, but no that’s not what I do. There are other people for that job.”

“I see. Shoveling shit is beneath the brave cowboy who rescues damsels in distress.”

“You’re a damsel now?”

“Actually, I’m quite the opposite.”

“What does that mean?”

“You see this outfit?”

“How could anyone miss it?”

“Very funny. Anyway, this is my hostess uniform for a special club out in the middle of nowhere.”

“What club requires a uniform like that and is hidden away out here?”

“The Castle.”

“Never heard of it.”

“Yeah, I doubt you would, Mr. Ranch Hand.”

“My name is Parker.”

“I know, you told me that, but I don’t see it. You’re so not a ‘Parker’.” She uses air quotes.

“And what should my name be then Miss Tess the Damsel who works at The Castle.”

She puts a finger to her chin to indicate some deep thinking, but it’s exaggerated, as are her squinting eyes. She’s having way too much fun with this.

“I got it! You’re totally a Rowdy.”

“Rowdy?!” No fucking way is that gonna be my nickname.

“So, Rowdy, does this thing go any faster?”

“You wanna see some speed? Hold on.”

She puts her arms around my waist and holds on tight. I signal Daisy to move into a canter, and Tess squeals as we start flying.

“Oh my god you do this every day?”

She has her head on my chest now and she’s holding onto me tighter.

“Just wait, the next part is going to blow your mind.”

I bring us into a full gallop and bask in that feeling like I’m flying. Tess lifts her head and turns to look in front of us.

“Whoa. Seriously, you do this every day?”

“Every chance I get!”

We’re almost to the dude ranch now, and I bring us back down to a trot, then a walk so Daisy can cool off as we end the ride.

“Tell me more about this special club. Why is it called ‘The Castle’?”

“I’m not sure, but I think it mostly has something to do with the dungeon-designed rooms in the lower level”

Now I’m really intrigued. “Excuse me.”

“There are special rooms for BDSM training for our elite subscribers.”

“And you’re a trainer.”

She smiles at me. “Yes, I am, and I work part time as a hostess.”

“So much for damsel in distress.”

“I was definitely in distress when you offered me a ride to this dude ranch place.”

“I imagine that’s not a regular occurrence for you though.”

“No, it’s not.”

I spread one hand out in a sweeping motion with my arm.

“We’re here, the Lone Star Dude Ranch.”

“Thanks. I seriously do appreciate the help. My brother said he’d send someone to get my car. This is a much better spot to wait for them than the highway.”

“I would've given you my phone to use, but I’m always forgetting the thing.”

“How convenient.”

I shake my head with another low chuckle.

“Okay well if you go in there,” I point at the main house, “someone will get you something to eat and find you a phone to use. We have the landline here, so you don’t have to worry about not having any bars.”

I help her dismount and then turn Daisy to head to the barn. She calls out to me.

“Hey,” I turn my head to face her, “come on up to the club sometime. I’ll give you a proper thank you for helping me out.”

I have no idea what to say to that so I just wave and go back towards the barn. A BDSM training session? That sounds wild. But at the same time, it also sounds like exactly what I’ve needed to break the monotony of my peaceful life. Sometimes that’s necessary.