One Cowboy Summer

Chapter 1

Four years later..... May 2014

The sun had just broken the horizon creating a pink and orange sky when Katie Beth made her way back to the beach front apartment. Dripping with sweat Katie Beth kicked off her shoes at the back door before unlocking it and sure to be quiet as she stepped inside the entrance. She knew most of her roommates would still be asleep. Katie Beth made her way through the living room maze of sleeping bodies, beer bottles, pizza boxes, and the occasionally questionable bucket.

The constant mess left behind by her roommates continually partying was something she was not going to miss. In the four years that they had all lived together nobody ever cleaned up after themselves. It was disgusting.  As they all turned twenty-one, the partying had increased tenfold.

At first she didn’t mind picking up, but as time wore on she gave up even trying. Shaking her head she opened her door to her small, but clean and tidy room. Flipping on the light, she stepped inside. Just beyond the door, Katie Beth maneuvered her way through packed boxes stacked up around her room that she knew she would be shipping home. She was only going to pack her car with her essentials since it wasn't very spacious.  Katie Beth smiled to herself knowing that even though she would be returning in the fall, it wouldn't be to these slobs. She was going to be moving into her own place.

Katie Beth glanced around the room spying items that still needed to be put in the boxes for the long car ride home. Across from her bed was a small white well-worn dresser and sitting on top was a picture that her Mother had sent of her and her brother Daniel taken several days before graduation. The picture flooded her mind with a million and one memories.... The farm, her family, and Kegan - the one man she vowed she would love from afar.

She smiled wide as she saw a pretty bouquet of flowers sitting on her dresser. Plucking the card from the middle of the flowers, she opened it.

~Safe travels. Don’t forget me! Have a great Summer!! Love ya, Colton!~

Colton, her guy buddy. He had always wanted more, but after what happened with Kegan she decided life with guys worked better as friends. Maybe one day she wouldn’t feel like that. She had hope that the Summer would bring closure to that part of her life. She hoped.

Putting the card down beside the vase, she looked at the picture of her and her brother and laughed. For being siblings, they looked nothing alike she thought. Daniel was tall, standing over six foot four and had a muscular build to boot. He was always a ladies man. His hair was wavy and the color of dark brewed coffee. He was the total package - tall, dark, and handsome.

On the other hand, Katie Beth was very short in comparison standing only five foot one inches tall. She had shoulder length dirty blonde hair had been kissed by the sun. Her eyes were as clear as the ocean water she had grown to love and would dearly miss when she left.

She had gone out early knowing that in a few hours she would be headed home for a long, well deserved vacation. She had just finished her last semester at Florida University and would start the Master's program in the fall. Marine Biologist was her major and she loved the wildlife she came in contact with every day as an intern. She was ecstatic knowing that when she returned in the fall, it would be as a full-fledged employee.

Picking up the picture, a smart ass grin spread across her face. Katie Beth couldn’t wait to see her family. Nearly four years ago she left, vowing to return for Summers and school breaks, but never did. The time was now.  She was ready and couldn’t wait to get on the road. She placed the picture down inside one of the few boxes that were still not taped closed. Katie Beth gathered her clothes that were laying on the bed and headed for a shower.

Turning on the shower Katie Beth thought of how much she had changed. Four years ago Katie Beth made the transition from small town school girl to beach blonde college student. She made herself a promise to make a new life away from the farm. Her whole life she wanted to get out of that small town she grew up in. She had fulfilled that dream and was going home for the first time. She was no longer that shy, invisible little girl that followed her brother around like a little shadow.  She was now a very independent, strong willed and outgoing grown woman.  She could hardly wait to get the trip started. The sooner she did, the sooner she would return back to the job she loved.

After taking a quick shower, she was in the middle of brushing her teeth when the phone rang. Hello, she said as she tried not to let the toothpaste drop onto her clean, pressed yellow t-shirt.

Are you still coming? the deep masculine voice said on the other end.

She sighed and smiled. She hadn’t seen her brother since the day she left four years ago. She talked to him at least once a week, but it just wasn’t the same.  She had to stay away she thought, but now she had to go home and face a past she had tried so hard to put behind her.  A past that might come back and haunt her. She had only loved one man and that man surely had changed and the feelings they had for each other the night in the barn loft didn’t exist anymore, or did they? She had secrets that were best kept secrets.

At this moment, I am trying to get things around so I can get on the road. Stop calling. Katie Beth barked back jokingly at him. In the last twenty-four hours, Daniel had called at least five times and once the night before to make sure that she was not going to back out. There had been times when she had made plans to go home, but when the time came she backed out or found some excuse not to fly home.

He chuckled, I still don’t see why you didn’t just get a ticket and fly.

I have explained to you over and over again. I don’t want to drive the old pick-up. Plus the long trip will give me time to.... Her voice hitched as she almost let the truth slip out.

Time...for what? Daniel's voice queried.

Time for me...time to chill out...just time. She lied. How could she tell her brother the truth before she told Kegan of the baby she lost? The long drive home would give her the opportunity to figure out how in the hell she was going to face her brother’s best friend after all this time about their child.  She knew she had to tell him the truth about what happened after she left. She couldn’t leave this Summer without him knowing. She loved him, but that was several years ago. They were older now and those feelings were long put to bed, or so she hoped. Daniel rarely talked about Kegan and she never asked. She knew it was for the best.

The last time she saw him or even talked with Kegan was the morning after graduation. The night before in the dusty old hay barn, she had given him the one thing she had never given anyone else—her virginity.

She hoped and prayed that he was not around.  She just didn’t want to stir up old feelings that were better off buried deep and not thought of. Her friends knew very little of her farm life. Her brother didn’t ever know of that night in the hay loft and as far as she was concerned, that secret was one that would stay hidden and taken to her grave.

Twenty-minutes later, she had finished loading the last of the boxes and the bags that contained her entire closet.  As she started the engine of her new green mustang, she waved goodbye to the few roommates that were now up. The car was a graduation present to herself after four years of driving an old, broken, rusted out Honda. She missed her old jalopy, but this was a symbol of moving up in the world. At the end of the Summer she would return; she would return to her new life and the life she loved at the rescue and research center.

She glanced at the clock and realized that tomorrow at this time she would be almost home. Seventeen hours in a car was a long drive. Home, home, home she chanted over and over in her head. She didn’t dare tell her brother that she wasn’t coming home again. In all honesty, she was afraid that he would hop on the next flight out and literally drag her home to visit.

Chapter 2

––––––––

The closer she got to home the more nervous she got. Her mind kept drifting back to that night with Kegan. Her parents had thrown her a going away party and the last of the cars were pulling out of the driveway when she sank down on the old wooden steps of the house. She leisurely looked around at the only home she has ever known and it was then it dawned on her that in two days she was headed to Florida for an internship and college life. She was more than happy to leave the dusty old town. Daniel had always taken care of her, but she was glad to be moving. It seemed as though she lived her life in the shadow of her older brother.  She kicked off her shoes to stretch and straighten out her sore feet, she laughed as she watched her brother and his group of friends play football in the yard just beyond the drive.

Just as she started to pick up her shoes to head inside to finish packing, Katie made eye contact with Kegan. He smiled with a wide tooth grin. Her heart melted. She had always had a crush on Kegan. She didn't dare believe that what she wanted in him would ever happen. Kegan was only going to kiss her passionately and make love to her in her dreams. Daniel would make sure of that.

Kegan was her brother’s best friend and confidant for as long as she could remember:  those two were inseparable. When she left, Kegan had just turned twenty. In his own way Kegan was still very much a boy at heart, even though the outside said otherwise. Kegan was taller than her brother, but much leaner. She sighed as she picked up her shoes and made her way into the house. Only in her wildest dreams would those thoughts become reality.

That night after everyone had left, Katie Beth made her way down to the barn to spend some time with her horse Bandit. Hey my old friend I’m sure going to miss you when spring comes. I hate that I have to leave you here. She spoke softly rubbing the bridge of the horse’s nose, You take care of Kegan for me. Don’t let him get into too much trouble. She kissed the horse gently as it snickered.  She playfully swatted him before giving him the rest of the carrots she had hidden in her pocket. She was standing nose to nose with Bandit when Kegan appeared in the doorway.

Hey, I never got to talk with you. You were a little popular. He grinned stepping through the door.

Her heart beat loudly against her ribcage. I’m sorry. It been real hectic, She tried not to stumble over her words.  And I am trying to get things together before I leave on Friday. Katie Beth turned to watch him walk across the concert floor, never faltering in his steps. His stride full of confident and assurance.

Are you really going to leave? He asked as he pulled the grain bucket over to sit on it right in front of her.

Laughing she shook her head, Like I told everyone, it's time for me to leave. College is waiting and I have the internship set up already with the clinic....Kegan, it’s time. Besides why would I stay? I have no reason to stay. You have never wanted me.

It won’t be the same with you gone. He sneered as he leaned forward to poke her in the side. Who will I get to pick on then? His look became serious. The tone in his voice changed. Deep almost like he wanted her. As he stood, he kicked the bucket away sending it across the floor before it rested against the wall. I mean it. When you are gone who else am I going to be able to have a conversation with? He gently pulled her into him. 

Katie Beth suddenly became overwhelmed with his earthy down home country smell as her head rested against his chest. I’ll be back, she commented as she stepped back trying to push herself away from him. She couldn’t stand there and let him hold her. The longer she stayed in his arms the harder it became not to tell him how she felt.  She looked up at him and his eyes gave way to what he wanted. His need. His desire for her. He wanted to kiss her. And she wanted to kiss him.  Not a simple kiss but a real kiss.

Heart be still she thought. He was going to kiss her. He stepped forward and leaned in towards her. She stepped back again as he stepped into her again. She stepped back until she hit the wall and had nowhere to go. He had her blocked in.

As he stepped into her, she closed her eyes to try and attempt to block out his desire. She took a deep breath in, Kegan, she said as she placed her hand on his chest. She wasn’t sure what to say. She slowly opened her eyes again and looked up.

I don’t understand. I thought that we were on the same page? He asked as she stood there with a completely confused look in her eyes. He grasped her wrist with his hands.

Heat radiated straight to her core. No man had ever made her feel so excited. So giddy. So damn turned on. Excuse me, She stammered out. She couldn't speak another word as she tried to comprehend what he was saying.

I have been wanting to kiss you for some time, but I had to bide my time. I was watching you tonight and I realized that this was my chance. My one and only chance to kiss you, to hold you, Kegan let go of her wrist, running his thumb across her lower lip. I wanted to find out what is going on in that pretty little head of yours.  He clipped her nose.

He pulled her into him and kissed her hard. The touch of his lips sent shivers down her spine. They were full and gentle, but rough and weathered from the exposure to the sun. She felt his tongue trace her lower lip before retreating.

I want more, he said.

When she looked up at him his eyes told her what he wanted. There was a passion in his eyes Katie Beth had never seen before. I want to be with you. He kissed her again.  He parted her lips with his tongue. She allowed him to dip and taste her sweetness. She hesitated before she slipped inside his mouth. Their tongues danced as she felt his body lean into her. Her breath hitched as she felt his thick manhood press into her belly. There was no denying what he wanted from her. He reached around under her thighs picking her up without breaking the kiss. Katie Beth felt the fire grow in her core as he grinded against her. Katie Beth Beth’s life was turned upside down. He wanted her naked. Her head started spinning making her lightheaded as he slowly pulled back from the kiss. He left her breathless and wanting more. If he would just say stay. She could make love to him. She could have everything she has ever wanted. But why now? Why tonight? Why did he wait? Damn him!

Resting his head against hers, Later, He kissed her gently on the tip of the nose, before setting her down until her feet touched the ground. When everyone is asleep I will meet you back here.

She couldn’t speak. Her words lost in the idea that she was going to spend the night with Kegan. She nodded as her face flushed crimson.

With one last quick kiss, he turned and disappeared through the barn doors. Standing there smiling at