Chapter Seventeen: Andrew

“I’m free!” I shouted as I balled up my brace and threw it in the back of the truck. After traveling to Knoxville to have X-rays done for a closer look at the injury, in order to see how well it healed, I held my breath as the doctor reviewed everything. With a stern look, he gave me the go-ahead to return to light activity, and if I kept up with the exercises over the next couple of weeks, I could return to normal activity after that.

The countdown was fucking on, and I was thrilled about getting back to the farm. The only downside was that Kelsey now had an official end date as my physical therapist.

She hadn’t joined me for the appointment, as she was busy meeting with a local lawyer to have the dissolution of paternal rights paperwork compiled.

She had made no mention that she heard me the other morning. The moment I made myself completely vulnerable and told her I loved her. Not a single peep.

My outburst caused a few people in the parking lot to look over at me, but I was too excited to care. I was getting a taste of the freedom I missed.

Just as I started the engine of the truck, my phone dinged with an incoming email. It was from the same rodeo team who ran the one where I’d been injured, asking if I was interested in participating in a new event they were starting in Kentucky. A little over a month ago, I would have confirmed immediately. But now? Now, I wasn’t sure what my future in rodeo looked like.

It wasn’t something I could hide any longer, and the news would devastate my mom. But rodeo had been a major part of my life, so I definitely had some thinking to do.

On the drive back to Ashfield, I tried to ignore the trees lining the highway that started to change color and lose their leaves. It was a natural part of the changing seasons, but I hated when everything looked so barren.

Pulling into the driveway, I killed the engine just as Kelsey’s car pulled in beside me.

“How did it go?” she asked, stepping out of the car and carrying a manila folder under her arm.

“No more brace or crutch, baby.”

“Really? That’s great news. See? All those exercises you hated paid off!”

“They did,” I said, leaning my head out the window. “And the doctor said if I continue the exercises for the next two weeks, I can return to my day-to-day activity. For now, just light.”

“I’m so happy for you.” She stood up on her toes and met my lips for a quick kiss.

“I was thinking of heading to the farm. Want to join me? Might help take your mind off… things.” My eyes darted down to her folder and then returned to her face.

“Yeah. Let me just drop this off inside.”

She jogged up the steps of the porch and opened the door, then came right back out, locking the door behind her. Kelsey jumped into the seat of the truck, and soon, we were on our way.

I bypassed the entrance to the farm and turned down a side street that led directly to the stables. Did my doctor consider riding my horse a light activity? Probably not, but I wanted nothing more than to get in a saddle.

Once the barn came into view, Kelsey asked what we were doing. I was surprised she seemed excited about my riding—that was, until she asked me to saddle up a horse for her, and I told her no. I knew she couldn’t ride because of her pregnancy. But… I had the next best thing. Something we only used on special occasions.

I worked with the stable crew to set up one of the carriages for her to sit in while Thunderbolt pulled. I quickly strapped Thunderbolt up, who seemed just as excited as I was for the journey. He nearly skipped out of the stall when he found me waiting on the outskirts.

With my help, Kelsey situated herself on the bench seat and giddily clapped as she waited for me to hop in the saddle.

Slowly, I guided my horse down a path leading to the creek that separated our property from the old Ramsey farm. Owen’s family used to live next door to us until his mother sold us the land, and Aspen offered to lease its fenced-in fields for cattle until we needed to expand the corn production.

The horse trotted along, and I peered over my shoulder to make sure Kelsey was enjoying herself. She had her face tilted back as she wrapped her arms around her waist, enjoying the sunshine.

Thunderbolt’s steady movements calmed me in a way that nothing else ever could. The feel of my horse’s ribs expanding with each breath against my legs reminded me how powerful these creatures were. Being out here, feeling Thunderbolt’s breaths, and listening to the melodic clip-clop of his shoes on the path was the best way to heal, and I hoped the ride helped Kelsey as well.

Since her meeting with Caleb, she had changed a bit. Some of her enthusiasm and zest for life had lessened. And when she thought I wasn’t looking, I’d find her staring off into space, clearly focusing on her swirling thoughts. Her smiles were less frequent, and her witty comebacks had all but disappeared.

I directed Thunderbolt over the crest of a hill and down toward the creek, where Mom had Dad installed a gazebo decades ago. If I had this idea ahead of time, I would have packed a picnic.

The horse slowed as I gently pulled on the reins. I jumped down from the saddle and unlatched Thunderbolt from the carriage, allowing him to get some water. I didn’t need to tie him up; he tended to stick by my side when we were out and about.

“Where are we?” Kelsey asked as I helped her down from the carriage. Her eyes were on the gazebo, but I had another place in mind that was just beyond the tree line.

“It’s a surprise.”

“You’re supposed to take it easy,” she scolded as she followed me down a deer path.

“I am. Just a little bit farther.” I peered over my shoulder to make sure Thunderbolt was staying put and then grabbed Kelsey’s hand, pulling her closer.

Once we reached the weeping willow tree, I pull the draped leaves aside and revealed a small bench under the canopy. Just beyond the bench was a small hot spring, just big enough to dip your feet in.

“Is that—?”

“Yep, a hot spring. A little one. Dad told us the farmers used to ride out this way to treat their aching feet. He brought me to this place the first summer I helped prep for the harvest. He didn’t tell my sisters until they were well into high school.”

“Why?”

“No idea, but right now, we get the privilege of enjoying it.”

Taking her hand again, I pulled her behind me until we reached the rocky edge. We removed our shoes and socks, then sat on the grass, letting our feet absorb the warmth.

Kelsey leaned back on her hands and exclaimed that the hot spring was the best thing ever. And she laughed when I pointed out that she said fucking me had been the best thing ever.

“I can have two best things.”

“No, you can’t,” I told her as I pulled my feet out of the water. I rolled toward her until she laid on her back, her legs wrapping around me as I settled between her thighs.

“You know,” I teased as I started lifting her sweater to slip my hand beneath the material, “no one can hear you scream out here.”

“Is that supposed to scare me?” she asked, and I stopped my journey to her breast.

“No, it’s supposed to set your mind at ease, that you can completely let go, and inform you that my goal is to hear you scream my name when I make you come.” I jerked the material of her sweater above her breasts and pulled down the cup of her bra, exposing the lush flesh. My mouth watered as I stared at the beautiful peaks.

“Hands or mouth?” I asked Kelsey, never pulling my eyes away from the mounds.

“M-Mouth.”

“Good choice.” I licked my lips before unleashing my tongue on her pert nipple. Her skin tasted like the sweetest strawberry, the kind that soaked for days in a sugar mixture. “God, I can’t get enough of you,” I groaned as I ground my hips against hers. I didn’t care where we were or the chances that someone might’ve come looking for us. My cock wanted nothing more than to fuck her senseless.

“I know how that feels.”

I switched to the other breast, and Kelsey’s body arched against mine. My greedy girl.

“Andrew,” she whispered, her breath already coming in heavy pants.

“Yeah?” I prompted, pulling back.

Kelsey reached up and ran her fingers through my hair as she gazed into my eyes. “I love you too,” she said with a gentle smile.

I thought she hadn’t heard me the other morning, but it was clear she had.

“Fuck, baby,” I said. “I love you.”

Kelsey’s hand pulled my face toward hers, and she sealed our mouths together. Our tongues twirled until both our bodies were writhing against each other.

“Do you want me to make love to you here or back at the house?” I asked her. I’d never actually made love to someone, not while knowing that was exactly what I was feeling. Everyone else before Kelsey was a way to get my dick wet and blow off extra energy.

“I don’t think I can wait.” She ran her fingers from my hair, then down the side of my neck. I shivered beneath her touch.

Sitting back, I chucked off my jacket and wedged it beneath her body, so she’d have something softer to lie on than just the thin brown jacket she wore. Once I had her undressed, I pulled my cock out of my pants and swiped it across her slit.

“Fuck, Kelsey,” I said as I inserted just the tip, and then slipped it free. “I’ve never made love to anyone before.”

“Neither have I.” She smiled as I pressed another quick kiss against her lips. “We can be each other’s first.”

I tried to go slowly this time, but something about her tight pussy unleashed the animal inside me. She didn’t seem to mind though, as she met me thrust for thrust and begged me to go harder.

We were rabid for each other.

“I love you,” I told her as I felt my balls tighten.

“I love you,” she repeated, and then she shattered in my arms.

As I laid with her under the shade of the willow tree and listened to the steady burbling of the creek, I knew there was no going back for me. Kelsey was my person, my other half, my soulmate. Now, I just needed to find a way to convince her to take a chance on me.