Disclaimer: Stephenie's the ranch boss. I'm just the cook.

Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy Contest

"Break out the denim, boots and cowboy hats, turn up the country music cause we're goin' country y'all!"

Pairing: Jasper &Bella

POV: Jasper

Rating – not needed, if you're not of age to buy porn, then you shouldn't be reading it, much less writing it.

This one-shot is being posted in participation with the aforementioned contest hosted by bemylullaby, ImWithTheVampires08 , mischief-maker1 , miztrezboo, Nostalgicmiss, TwilightMom and our admin assistant Mimi here at the FournikationFoundation. Please see any of the aforementioned author's profiles for complete contest information, or see the C2 community 'Fournication Station Contests'.

~*~

Finally Home

Pulling the hat from my head, I dragged my arm across my forehead, wiping my brow. Looking down at my Stetson, I realized it was covered in dust. Swearing softly, I smacked the fucker against my leg, knocking the dust off the hat only for it to now cover my jeans.

Fucking West Texas! God there are times when I hate this fucking place. Dust, dust and more fucking dust.

From the back of my horse, I had a 360 degree view of my ranch. Looking around, I allowed my gaze to drift across the barren land that had carried the Whitlock name for over 250 years. My ancestors loved, married, fought, killed, and buried Indians, Mexicans and bandits for this piece of shit dust bowl for probably the first 100 years after they had settled here. Why the fuck they would want it or consider it worthy enough to fight for, I'd never fucking know. Water was scarce, rain almost non-fucking-existent, and civilization was so fucking far away that my designer-clad, uppity bitch of a wife had ran as fast and as far as she could as soon as she could.

Fucking bitch!

Every time I thought of Alice Brandon I growled. I couldn't help it. It took everything in me just to restrain the overwhelming desire I had to keep from ripping her fucking hot as fuck, petite ass body to fucking shreds. Leaving me was one thing, but what she'd done was the worst sort of betrayal. Emmett had warned me that she was trouble, but I refused to fucking listen and look where it got me – divorced, broke as fuck, and barely holding on to my heritage by the skin of my teeth.

While, I may hate this God forsaken place and wish I was still eating sand with Emmett in Afghanistan, this fucking ranch was my roots, my heritage and I just couldn't let it go. So, despite Alice's protests, when daddy died, I resigned my commission in the Marines, loaded our shit up in the back of a U-haul, and made the trek from San Diego to West Texas, towing Alice's whiny bitch face the entire way.

She lasted all of eighteen months before she hightailed it out of my life, taking with her every God damned red cent she could get her hands on. She wiped out the fucking checking and savings accounts and she left me with seven fucking credit cards, all in my fucking name alone, and every last one of them maxed to the fucking line and behind by at least three fucking months. She was just lucky that my Mama had managed to instill some gentlemanly qualities in me. Between Mama and Mrs. McCarty, Emmett's mama, I'd been raised right and knew that hitting a woman was wrong. That lesson alone had saved Alice Brandon the ass kickin' she deserved and would have gotten had she been a man.

The one time I should've listened to Emmett and I didn't. I should have my ass kicked.

Emmett McCarty and I were more like brothers than friends. We'd grown up together. Our families' ranches were next door to each other and the two families had been friends for almost as long as there had been Whitlock's and McCarty's in this part of the country. Emmett's granddaddy was a gambling man, though, and when Emmett was sixteen and I was fifteen his family lost their ranch A week later, after putting old man McCarty in the ground following a massive heart attack, their ranch was auctioned off. Mama and Daddy convinced John, Emmett's daddy to take over the ramrod's job on our ranch and the McCarty's moved into our old homestead with Emmett and his nearly thirteen year old sister, Bella.

Bella.

Just like it had always done, my mind sighed at just the thought of her name and my face broke into a wide ass grin. Isabella Marie McCarty was the most beautiful woman I'd ever laid eyes on. She was breathtaking and had been from birth. While Emmett had tormented her relentlessly when we were growing up, I played tea party and baby dolls and kissed her 'owies'. I couldn't help but chuckle at the memories that assaulted me. I helped Bella over fences, taught her how to ride a horse, skip rocks, swim the lake, shoot a rifle, field dress a deer, throw a punch and my second favorite lesson, how to kiss a boy. Still to this day, the electricity I felt when our lips touched for the first time sends a rush of desire through me unlike any I had known before or since. I could remember every nuance of that kiss.

Unfortunately, I could still remember the busted lip and broken nose that Emmett had doled out when he found us in the barn that day. Man, he was pissed! A slight smile danced across my face thinking about that day. Reaching up, I ran my finger over the tiny bump on my nose. That was the only time Emmett and I had ever really fought. He refused to speak to me for a week. The catalyst that opened his mouth finally was actually the one thing that had shut it to begin with.

Bella.

A week after the first kiss, Emmett walked in on what had to be the hundredth kiss and to say he was pissed was an understatement. He was fucking livid. We had fit and fought all over the ranch yard. Bella was crying, our Daddies were laughing and our Mamas were screaming at us to stop. Finally Molly, our aging cook and housekeeper turned the water hose on us and we spit and sputtered and glared at one another from across the yard. That was the end of any relationship between Bella and I. Emmett swore that if I messed with his sister he'd never forgive me, and our friendship would be over.

A day or so later Bella sneaked into my room after both houses were dark and all the occupants but the two of us were fast asleep. I'd never forget how beautiful she looked that night. Her mahogany tresses shone with a fire that rivaled the one she created in me. She crawled up in bed with me and I taught her one last lesson. Wee made love that night, cementing her hold on me even more. I had started noticing Bella's newly acquired curves when she was fifteen and I was seventeen and by the time she found her way into my bed two years later, she was firmly rooted in my heart. We were each other's first everything and I loved her completely, but as we laid there together, I listened as my heart was ripped from my chest. Bella was lying next to me, both of us still shaking from our spent passion, crying as she told me that she couldn't bring herself to tear apart mine and Emmett's friendship. I begged her to reconsider, but she wouldn't and in the end I agreed. Even now, I would rip my arms and legs off and give them to Bella if she asked. Which is how Emmett and I ended up in the Marines.

Knowing that Bella would never be mine nearly destroyed me and I realized that if I wanted any chance at a future where I wasn't pining for her, then I needed to leave. So, I told Emmett my plan – The United States Marine Corps. The Monday following our fight I got up before dawn, swiped the keys to daddy's pickup and I drove into San Antonio. Funnily enough, when I got out to the truck that morning, Emmett was waiting for me. He went with me and enlisted right alongside me. Our Mama's cried, of course, but Bella was livid and that just pissed me off. All I wanted in life was to marry her, watch her grow round with my babies and grow old with her, but she refused me and my love all because Emmett was being an ass. We had one hellacious blow up in the ranch yard and in the end, I stormed off, calling my recruiter and telling him to up my enlistment date. I'd put it off by a few months hoping that Bella would see reason, but she hadn't and I've spent the years in between learning that the old saying is true, distance does make the the heart grow fonder.

Not that it mattered, at least not for her. She went off to college and married some fucker that had more money than sense. Dr. Edward Anthony Cullen is what the wedding invitation had said. Not that I got one, but Emmett did, of course. We were in theater – dumping sand out of our boots in some Middle Eastern country – when the invitation showed up in Emmett's mail. They didn't even wait for Emmett to get home. No, she got married without her brother in attendance, sending him pictures instead. Who knew if it was intentional, if it was because he had kept the two of us apart, and she didn't want him to butt into her life again? All I knew was that the invitation was nothing like the Bella I knew. It looked expensive as hell. The fucker was embossed and gilded – stuffy as fuck. The wedding had been held in Chicago where Mr. Dr. Man was from, but last I heard they were living in San Antonio in one of the ritzy neighborhoods. He was a trauma surgeon at the University Hospital.

Having heard Mama drone on and on about it, the details of Bella's wedding were burned into my brain. The wedding was held at the Armour House at Lake Forest Academy. According to Mama, it was the wedding to end all weddings, a full open bar, appetizers and a sit-down dinner. She said the bride looked exquisite in her white designer gown. White. I couldn't help but scoff. She wasn't deserving of that color, that's for sure. I knew I was an ass for thinking it, but while I may have been a virgin, I had loved her and loved her well that night. I remember lying there with her cuddled up beside me afterward feeling overwhelmed with pride because she was still quaking from not one but two orgasms. I silently thanked Emmett for insisting I watch all the pornos he had swiped from the bunkhouse.

Once I started noticing Bella, I thought of marrying her a lot, not in the way a girl fantasizes about her wedding, but it was still there in the back of my mind. Simple, elegant and understated and right here on the ranch. A fucking Texas barbeque done up right, the whole county in attendance. My girl walking towards me in a white gown, and that beautiful, sexy blush painted across her cheekbones and that small devious smile that never failed to make me hard as hell dancing across her lips. Alice had been a huge mistake. I knew that the night I married her. Hell, if I was honest with myself I knew it from the moment I proposed, but that night, I walked into the wedding and the place looked like the Queen of Sheba was getting married, not Alice Brandon and Jasper Whitlock – an aspiring fashion designer and a Marine. Her Richie Rich daddy had thrown a huge ass wedding – one that was no where near reflective of the groom. I was a Texas cowboy turned Marine, not the God damned Prince of Dubai. Instead of the simplistic and intimate wedding with a long legged, mahogany haired enchantress walking toward me, I got married in New Orleans at The Maison Dupuy to a bouncy, pint-sized girl with spiky, black hair.

"Hey boss! Where'd you want them calves?" Charlie hollered.

Sighing, I placed my hat back on and pulled my head out of my ass. I had work to do. I couldn't be sitting here all day reminiscing. I spurred my horse, Fire, into a lope, moving to the opposite side of the roundup. "Put 'em in that pen over yonder, Charlie. We'll get to them in the morning." Looking around at the men assembled to help me roundup some of my non-breeding stock, I was once again filled with rage.

Alice!

I've never in my life raised a hand in violence towards a woman, but I could do some serious harm to that woman. Every time I thought about what she'd done I seethed with rage. Right now, though, it wouldn't do me any good. I had to get this fucking roundup done and get the cattle to market, or I was not going to make payroll. With a spread the size of ours, there was no way in hell I could run this fucker without every hand I had in the saddle and pulling their weight. I was already running as bare bones as possible, and I still couldn't make the payroll. It was a hard pill to swallow, but I choked it down and manned up. It was time for drastic measures. I had one of two choices – sell off a piece of the ranch (My Daddy and Granddaddy would roll over in their graves at the mere thought of that.) or sell off the majority of the non-breeding livestock. Either way I would make payroll, and be able to settle the last of Alice's legacy, once and for all. So, I did the only thing I could stomach, I called in every favor I could and started rounding up stock for market.

Forcing myself away from those thoughts, I turned to Emmett's daddy, John – he was still our ramrod – and said, "Finish them up and have everyone meet up at the house. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry as hell."

John chuckled. "Right behind ya, son."

I grinned at his words. He'd always called me son. Of course, I spent as much time at his house as I had at my own growing up. Plus, I'm sure, like everyone else, he thought I'd fill that role officially one day, but life was fucking suck. What else could I say? "Thanks, John. See you back at the house."

Turning for home, I kicked Fire into a gallop and tore across the dry, dusty plain. This was the one thing, besides Bella, that I had missed while in the Corps. This horse and the freedom and exhilaration I received by clinging to the back of this immensely powerful animal. You could feel the power vibrating just under his skin. I loved feeling the wind in my hair and the animal under me. There was nothing that could compare to the feeling of racing across the flat open ground so fast it felt as if you were flying. Well, there was one thing, but I'd never experience that feeling again, so I turned my mind away from that dream. Why today, out of all the other days, was the day that I was mired in the past I didn't know, but fuck if I didn't need a break from it all.

Pushing Fire a bit harder, I sought and found my break from the past in this race across the ranch. The wind rushed over me washing away the memories I had been bogged down in all day, cleansing them from my mind and bringing a moment of peace to my soul. Signaling Fire to sped up yet again, I could feel his excitement in what I'm sure he saw as a run down. It had been years since Fire and I had performed these tasks, and while I would love to start competing again, there just wasn't anytime for anything but the ranch right now.

As the ranch house slowly came into sight, I noticed a strange vehicle sitting in the yard and a figure that was forever branded upon my brain, my soul and my heart standing with my Mama and hers beside it. I pulled back hard on the reins cuing Fire to a stop. He dropped his hindquarters and slid across the ground completing the stop like the champion reining horse he is. As he got back to his feet, I could feel his muscles twitching in restraint and anxiety waiting on me to ask for the roll back, but the question never came – I just sat there staring at the strange car. As much as I wanted to give Fire the cue and take off in the opposite direction, I couldn't, but there was also no way in hell I could let him take even half a step forward. The sight before me had me frozen in this spot.

Bella.

The sigh of her name across my consciousness excited my tired, ragged body. My muscle memory recalling the feel of her under me, over me and wrapped around me, even after all this time. While I hadn't seen her since I'd left her standing in the yard ten years ago, time hadn't changed the fact that she still held my heart firmly in her grasp, nor had it diminished her effect on my body. Sitting in the saddle as I was, the fit of my pants grew so painful that I had to stand in the stirrups to adjust myself. My movements drew the attention of the group before me, and I sighed as I watched her and our Mamas turn toward me. There would be no escaping now. I nudged Fire into a soft, slow, gentle gait toward the barn.

I dismounted once inside the dim, dusty enclosure and led Fire to his stall. I removed all his tack and rubbed him down, giving him an extra ration of sweet feed. His water was low, so I filled it as well, doing anything to put off what I was certain was going to be an awkward reunion. As I turned to leave the stall I saw a shadow descend from the entrance closest to the house and move down the central alley of the barn toward me.

Bella.

I drew a ragged breath and continued out of the stall, sliding the door shut behind me. I pulled off my hat and rubbed my hand over my head, once again simultaneously cursing and relishing my now longer hair. I had kept it shaved down close while in the Marines never once letting the dark curls come out to play, but since I had been discharged I hadn't once heard the buzz from the clippers. I liked it longer – Bella liked it longer – but in 100 degree temps during roundup it just made things all that much hotter.

There was no doubt in my mind who had entered the barn and was making their way toward me slowly. My soul was intrinsically linked to hers. Now that she was here and I had seen her, I knew she was the reason why I had been plagued with thoughts of the past all day. Granted, being back on the ranch for the past two years had brought out some memories of the past on a regular basis, but it wasn't anything like this. Not since those first few days had the memories been so vivid, or as painful as today's had been. Today had been hard – very hard, and now I knew why. My soul was preparing itself for this moment. The moment when my soul and my heart were reunited.

Slowly, I looked up at her. She was a vision of perfection and radiance. My heart clenched as I watched her approach, her stride sure and sexy with a gentle sway and roll of her hips. She was even more beautiful than she had been ten years ago. The years had been extremely gentle to her, only enhancing her beauty. There was a wisdom in her eyes now that overshadowed the innocence that the beautiful chocolate brown orbs used to be filled with. Her hair was a bit different as well, but the major change was the lushness of her figure. It was a young boy's wet dream at 17, now at 27 it was a grown man's almost certain demise. The curve of her neck, the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, and the flare of her hips were all beautiful and entrancing, but it was her long legs that nearly brought me to my knees. I could still feel them wrapped around my hips, pulling me closer and gripping me while she screamed out my name in release.

She stopped in front of me about fifteen feet away. Her cheeks blossomed with color as my eyes drank her in, but unlike ten years ago, when she would've ducked her chin and hid her pale, angelic face behind that luxurious curtain of dark hair, now she met my gaze head on and allowed her own eyes to trace themselves over my body. I watched as her eyes cataloged the changes that eight years with the Marines and two years of backbreaking ranch work had had on my body. I was no longer the tall, lanky boy I was when I left. Now I was a man with all the experience and bulk that that boy had been missing. She must have liked what she saw because when her eyes met mine again the lust and longing there were unmistakable, as were the barely parted lips and the soft pants that were escaping through them. My body began responding to her, I shifted my weight, pushing my hand into my pants pocket and pulled my hat off with the other using it to hide my obvious reaction to her.

Fuck! It's been ten years. Ten God damned years and she can still have me hard in seconds and from across the room.

Could also be the fact that Alice left six months ago and you've never gone this long without getting any action before.

Yeah, that doesn't make me feel all that much better.

"You let your hair grow out." Bella said.

I pulled my hand from my pocket and ran my hand through the dark, sweaty locks on my head. "Yeah." I chortled with a small smile. "Yours is bit different, too." It was still the most beautiful head of hair I'd ever touched or even laid eyes on. My stomach knotted up with desire thinking about feeling that hair clenched in my fists as I ravaged her mouth and body.

She smiled softly, fingering the longer strands that laid on her shoulders. "Yes, a bit."

We stood there for the longest time staring at each other, neither of us doing anything more than absorbing the other's appearance. Finally, she snickered. "Did you ever think it would be this awkward?"

I snorted, "Awkward, yes. This awkward, no." Looking at her, I wanted nothing more than to pull her to me, take back my heart and love her forever, but my mind finally registered her entire appearance. The fresh faced rancher's daughter that had been Bella McCarty wasn't who was standing in front of me. No, this was sophisticated, polished, wealthy, Isabella Cullen, doctor's wife. Unable to stop myself, I asked, "Do I get to meet the husband?"

Her beautiful face twisted into a grimace. "No, Edward is not with me." She looked down at her hands and knotted her fingers together. She sighed deeply and said, "I'm so sorry I wasn't here for your dad's funeral. Did you at least get the flowers I had sent?"

Anger boiled up inside me. Flowers! Seriously? After all these years and this is what she chooses to talk about?

"Yeah, Bella I got the flowers. I never expected you to not be there, though." Emotion choked me up, making the words rough and harsh, not that I would have wanted them to be any other way. I was devastated when Daddy died, but what hurt even more so than losing him was that Bella didn't bother to show up. Emmett was in the middle of a war, unable to come home and so I had no one, except Alice to lean on and to say she wasn't helpful would be the nice way of putting it. I was an only child. Daddy had loved Bella like the daughter he never had. At one point he thought she would be his daughter because I had gone to him and asked him for grandmama's ring after that first kiss, but I had never gotten to give it to her. By the time I had worked up the nerve to ask, Emmett was doing his best to take my head off in the backyard.

"That's not fair, Jasper. I would have been here if I could've been." She said.

Not fair? If life were fair, I'd never have joined the Corps. I'd probably be a daddy by now and I would have spent the last ten years loving the woman in front of me with everything in me for everyone to see – not hiding it behind a piss poor excuse of a marriage to a woman that couldn't hold a candle to the one that actually held my heart.

"Fair? What the fuck is fair in this life, Bella? Huh? Tell me! There ain't a God damned thing in any of this that's fucking fair!" I screamed before turning and walking away. As I stormed out of the barn, her voice and her next words stopped me in my tracks before I could make my escape.

"Jasper, I need to talk to you. There's something I need to ask."

I'd never been able to deny her anything. Without turning to look at her, I dropped my chin to my chest and braced my hands on my hips. "What is it, Bella?"

"I left Edward. I need a place to stay." Her quiet words, completely unexpected, shattered me.

Half turning towards her, I narrowed my eyes and asked, "What do you mean you left Edward? Why?" I had to know. There were only two reasons I could think of that would make a woman like Bella leave her husband – he was hurting her or cheating on her – either way I would drive to San Antonio and kick his mother fucking ass up between his God damned shoulders for him.

"We are two different people, Jasper. Neither of us can pretend to be want the other wants or needs anymore. I want a husband and a family and he wants … well, I'm not sure I know what he wants. I'm not even sure Edward knows what he wants, but whatever it is, it's not what I want. I'm tired of being his doormat. He makes all the decisions and tells me they are what's best for me, for us. He never asks my opinion on anything. It's ridiculous and I'm tired of it." She was starting down at her hands, avoiding my gaze.

I walked back over to her and asked point blank, using the tip of my finger to tilt her chin up and forcing her to look at me. "He's not hurt you, has he?"

She sighed and then chuckled. "Not the way you're talking about, no. He's not screwing around either, well at least not as far as I know. Besides, I know how to throw a helluva punch. I had a great teacher and I would have zero issues in standing up for myself like you taught me." She reached out and grabbed my arm. "Jasper, it really is as simple as I said. I can't be myself with Edward and I am tired of being someone else. I just wanna be me."

Heaving a deep sigh of relief, I cup her face and she leaned into my touch, her eyes misty. "This is your home, whenever and for however long you want it to be. You should know that by now."

She swallowed and closed her eyes. Twin tears fell from under her lashes and rolled down her cheeks. She whispered, "Thank you, Jasper," before opening her tear filled eyes to look at me.

I leaned toward her, pressing my lips against her forehead. "Your welcome, sugar." I turned and walked out of the barn, heading for the house.

That day in the barn had been the rebirth of my friendship with Bella. She was struggling to get over her failed marriage, and I was struggling to hold onto my ranch. I worked myself to the bone, every day, especially after I had to let two more hands go and Miss Molly "retired" early. That old bird was like family, and she had been with us since before I was born, but her son had been begging her to come live with him, and when I sold off the livestock in September she told me that the next time he asked she was going to take him up on the offer, and she had.

So, while I was grasping at the ever dwindling threads of the rope I'd wrapped around the ranch desperately trying to hold it all together, all the while it was basically unraveling in my hands, Bella stepped in. She stood at my side and helped out. She took over the majority of the cooking duties for the ranch hands that lived in the bunkhouse, splitting them with our mothers and refused payment when I handed her the check. And while that was more than I could have asked or expected of her considering she was working a full-time job in town, whenever she was home and overheard me talking about something that needed done, I'd look up a few hours later and it was either done, or she was in the middle of doing it. It didn't matter what it was either. She mucked stalls, fixed a barbed wire fence, took care of the orphaned calves or the injured cows. It just didn't matter what needed done, if she could do it, she did it.

Every time I looked at the woman, I hurt – physically, mentally and emotionally. Having her by my side doing the things she was doing had been my dream for the longest time and it hurt because even though she was doing everything a wife would do – with the exception of the one thing I wanted most – I knew that she wasn't mine. This was all temporary. Eventually, Edward would wise up, drag his sorry ass down here and reclaim his wife. It was these thoughts that caused the tiny bit of friction that was there between us and occasionally it would spark, causing one of us to blow up and igniting a fight. And God, did we fight, but it was always charged with the simmering sexual tension that lay underneath it all – the awareness that we both felt for the other but were trying not to act on.

Bella had been on the ranch, working at my side, helping me save my legacy, fighting with me and tearing my insides up with lust for about six months when the tension got the best of me. It seemed that lately, whenever I walked into whatever space she just so happened to be in at that moment, she was bent over something. Her ass stuck up in the air at just the perfect height and angle. The first few times it wasn't so bad, I would normally just clench down on whatever control I could find inside me and smart off to her causing yet another fight. My control was getting to the breaking point though, because it was happening more and more and lately it was all I could do to not walk up behind her, grab her ass and fuck her on the spot.

So, when I rode Fire into the barnyard one afternoon about six months after she showed up, it didn't surprise me that the leash I had on the monster inside me slipped out of my grasp. I had just returned from checking on the cattle that were on the farthest reaches of the ranch. I was hot, tired and horny as hell and that's when I saw her or rather that beautiful ass of hers just outside the opposite end of the barn's central alley. She was bent over the front of my granddaddy's old, red pick up, her head stuck under the hood and her ass in the air. She had always loved that fucking truck. It hadn't run in years, but she was determined to fix it. My girl was a damn good mechanic, yet another lesson I taught her – she would more than likely have it running in no time. She had on a pair of jeans that had seen better days. They were ripped just under one cheek of her ass and were covered with grease. One grease spot in particular had me hard in a nanosecond – a perfect hand print was smeared across her ass and while I knew it was her own, I couldn't help but wish I had been the one that put it there.

Fuck!

My cock twitched as she shifted under the hood reaching for a tool. The hole in her pants shifted and for a split second I could swear that I saw her pussy. Not her fucking panties either. Her very bare pussy. Gulping pastthe lump in my throat, I nudged Fire into movement, having stopped dead at the sight of her delectable ass, yet again. As I rode up to her, I smarted off. "Whatcha doing, Belly?" The childhood nickname never failed to piss her off and I'd stoop to any level I had to if it meant she'd stand the fuck up.

She stood up alright, just as I rode up beside her. I looked down at her as she turned toward me and what I saw nearly made me come. She was wearing a tiny, white tank top and she had tied it in the back, stretching it tight across her tits, dipping low in the front. I had a perfect view of her cleavage from my seat on Fire's back. Closing my eyes I cued Fired into a slightly faster walk, ignoring whatever she said. I had to hang onto the shreds that were left of my rapidly deteriorating restraint.

I swung my leg across the horse's back and dropped to the ground and my stomach churned into a knot as I felt her heat from behind me. Swearing under my breath, I turned around and was nearly brought to my knees. Standing before me was a country boy's wet dream come true. She could have been the muse behind Jason Aldean's song "She's Country." The cowboy boots, the tight, low slung jeans, the grease smear on her flat stomach, the white tank that was damn near invisible thanks to the fine sheen of sweat from the late April West Texas heat and a trucker hat pulled down low, she looked like she had just stepped out of the fucker's video. She was fucking hot and from the looks of it, pissed off to beat hell.

Good. Grab her and fuck her. Angry sex is fucking awesome.

I tried to ignore the horny fucker that had taken up residence in my brain and pants, I really did, but as her tiny, pink tongue ghosted across her lips, leaving them glistening, she opened her mouth to speak, and I snapped. I grabbed her, yanking her to me. I crushed her mouth under mine, sweeping my tongue across her teeth to find her tongue. I stroked and massaged her tongue with mine, forgetting everything else – where we were, my horse, my money troubles, my friendship with Emmett, but most especially I forgot her husband.

I was past reason, and her whimper into my mouth only furthered my loss of control. Never surrendering her mouth, I reached down, grabbed that luscious ass that had been tormenting me for months and picked her up, pulling her into my raging cock. She wrapped her legs around me, and I threw her up against one of the stable doors, pressing her into it as I thrust my denim clad dick into her jean covered heat. Even through all the layers, I could feel her arousal. She had to have come already because my jeans were growing wet from the outside.

Her response brought out the animal in me, and I growled, pulling my mouth from hers and attacking her neck. The sounds she made drove me fucking insane. Her whimpers and groans were like tinder to the fire that was burning inside me, consuming me. Thrusting into her, I pressed her against door, pinning her there with my body so my hands could explore all that fucking delectable flesh in front of me. I slid my hands up under her shirt and my cock was fucking cheering at what I found there, or rather what I didn't.

No bra? My mind screamed. This time, I whimpered as I filled my big hands with her sumptuous flesh. I squeezed her tits, thumbing her nipples and thrust against her, rubbing my cock against her clit. The second time I rubbed against her, she bucked into me and cried out.

Jesus! Did she just get off? Fuck! I know I'm good, but damn. I'd never had a woman that wanted me like this.

Yanking her shirt off, I threw it on the floor and dove for her tits. One hand curled around her ass, pulling her into an even better juxtaposition with my body while my mouth and hand went for her breasts. I could still remember the response I got ten years ago when I suckled at them and fuck me, if I didn't want to do that to her again. Never once, since that night had a woman ever come from me suckling at her tits. I wouldn't have believed it possible, but Bella was so responsive. I nipped and kissed my way toward one rosy peak while plucking at the other, loving her response to my touch.

"God, Jasper!" She repeated the words over and over as I continued to rub our bodies together. The friction was driving us both crazy.

Her cries spurred me on. I latched onto her nipple and drew on it hard, sucking it into my mouth only to pull away letting it pop from my mouth. Switching sides, I bit down on the nipple my fingers had been toying with. I laved my tongue across her tip soothing the tiny hurt, before sucking the pebbled flesh into my mouth and then licking it.

She dropped her hands to my belt, and in seconds she had the buckle undone my button fly pulled apart, and her hand wrapped around my throbbing cock. I groaned around her nipple and thrust into her hand. Her thumb danced across my tip, smearing the pre-cum there over the head of my dick.

I let go of her nipple, groaning loudly and then I attacked her mouth. When she rubbed her thumb up my slit, I growled against her lips. "Fuck, Bella baby, you're killing me." I let go of her ass and her tits. I concentrated on loving her mouth with mine thoroughly, as I wrenched open her jeans. I reached inside and fuck me if I wasn't right, she was pantyless and the moist folds of her pussy were right there just waiting for me, and I slid a finger in, pressing the heel of my hand against her clit.

Pulling away from her lips, I rested my forehead against her and moaned, "Oh God! Bella, honey you're so fucking wet."

I pulled my finger from her pussy, and she whimpered. I traced her wetness, spreading it around. I rubbed it up over her clit, teasing her by running circles around and over her. She came undone at my teasing and gripped my waist and my cock tighter as she yelled my name.

Her juices flowed out over my hand, and I slipped two fingers inside her, caressing her, thrusting in and out of her pussy drawing her orgasm out. She was panting and the keening sound she was making was breathless and sexy.

Her pants, her moans, her fucking hand on my cock were all relentless and finally I could stand no more. I had to have her, now! I kept up the pace of my thrusting fingers while I wrapped one arm around her and carried her into the barn office, kicking the door shut behind me. I swept the piles of stuff on the desk off with a single sweep of my arm and dropped her down on it. She laid back immediately and started shimming out of those fucking jeans that drove me to this point. Fuck that shit. There was no way I could wait for her to get out of the jeans and the boots.

I grabbed her, pulling her to me, standing her back on her feet. I spun her around then pressed her back down on the desk face first. Her face was surprised, but excited.

Umm, Bella likes being fucked like this.

I yanked her pants down to her ankles and stepped between her legs. Bending over her back, I bit the tendon in her shoulder causing her to moan my name. I growled in her ear, "You've teased and taunted me for weeks, months. Now, it's my turn. Grab hold of that desk and don't fucking let go. Do you hear me? You let go, and I stop. Got it?"

She moaned long and low, the keening sound a cross between a whimper, a cry and a moan. Then she nodded, doing just as I said.

Good girl.

She wiggled her ass against my lap and I couldn't help but smack her beautiful bottom. "Behave." I growled.

She shrieked and moaned then held still, looking at me from over her shoulder. The half of her face I could see was covered with lust. She was ready to be fucked and fucked hard, and I was more than ready to give it to her.

I stripped my jeans off, pulling my wallet out first. I stroked my cock, rubbing the head of it against her hot, wet pussy. Heaven was laid out before me. Everything I had ever wanted spread out for me like the Last Supper. I wanted nothing more than dive in unhindered, but unfortunately I couldn't. Not yet, if ever. Reaching for the condom in my wallet, I rolled the rubber down over my cock.

She watched me with lust filled, heavy lidded eyes that were a shimmery onyx in her passion. They were sexy as fuck and more beautiful than any pair of eyes I had ever seen.

Leaning back over her, I slipped one hand between her legs and drew small circles around her clit until she was writhing beneath me. I licked up her spine from her waist to her earlobe. Her skin was so soft and fragrant. I blew on her wet skin, and she shivered with need. "Jasper, please, I need you." She moaned softly.

I couldn't deny her or myself any longer. I thrust my fingers back in her. She shifted her hips and moaned. "More, Jazz. Please."

I gathered her wetness on my fingers then stroked my cock, rubbing her essence over the condom. I pressed the head of my dick against her opening. "Mmm … Baby, you're so fucking ready for me. Your pussy is pulsing it wants me so bad. I can't wait to be buried all the way inside of you." I said as I started thrusting gently, and then retreating slightly. She was so warm and wet. She moaned continuously as I filled her over and over, slowly penetrating her, wishing I was making her mine.

"Ohh … Jazz … uhm."

"You like that, don't you? You like being bent over my desk, don't you?" I smacked her ass again when she didn't answer.

"OH! YES! God, Jasper, yes." She squealed in answer.

Her pussy was like a glove that fit me perfectly and sliding into her was like coming home at last. Like finally finding the place you belonged. As much as I wanted to take it slow and love her, she wasn't mine to love. I moaned as I stroked slowly one last time, and I was finally seated in her completely, her heat surrounding me, gripping me . I felt the vibrations from my moan bone deep, and Bella whimpered with need as she felt them in her moist darkness.

When she pressed herself back into me, I let the animal go, and I fucked her. My thrusts were long, deep, and hard, and she met every single one of them all the while begging for more and all I could do was grunt and groan over the top of her.

Her litany of cries drew me closer and closer to my release. My balls were slapping against her clit as I drove into her. I started thrusting harder and deeper, picking up the pace. I needed to come, but she was going to come before me. I reached between her and the desk and I massaged her clit, pressing against it hard. Just as my nuts tightened up, I pinched her little button and thrust one last time filling the condom as her walls clenched around me. Our screams filled the room.

Taking a moment to catch my breath, I pulled out of her pulling the condom off and dropping it into the trash. I yanked my pants up and flopped down in the desk chair, my head dropping into my hands.

OH. MY. GOD. I just fucked Bella.

Yes you did, you raunchy fucker. You even smacked that round white ass she's been shaking in your face for weeks on end. Twice, you smacked it twice.

The horny fucker in my subconscious was doing an evil little dance. He was giddy over what had just transpired. I was ashamed. I had loved this woman forever and I just used her like a common whore.

"Oh my God, Jasper. That was ah-amazing. Thank you." She moaned.

My head flew up out of my hands. My eyebrow shot to the middle of my forehead at her words, disbelief filling me. She was still lying face down on the desk in the position I'd left her in. Her gratitude threw me.

Thank you?

Mmmm. Little Belly is kinky girl.

My face lifted into a huge grin and I burst out laughing. Here I was thinking that I was seconds away from being parted with my junk cause I'd taken her like … well, like that and she was still laying there on the desk as contented as a kitten with a belly full of cream.

She turned toward me, as she raised herself up on her elbows. "What has you cackling like a hyena?" She asked as she swung her legs around and sat up on the desk in front of me, not bothering with her pants. "Did you think I was going to be pissed?"

Tossing my stetson onto the desk beside her, I scrubbed my hands over my face and speared my fingers through my hair, ruffling the hat ring I was sure was there. Looking back up at her sheepishly, I replied, "Well … yeah, sorta."

She just grinned. That evil little grin that had scared the fuck out of me since the first time I ever saw it on her beautiful face.

Oh fuck, I'm in trouble.

Yes. Yes you are.

That little demon inside me that was languishing away in post-coital bliss was a happy fucker, not that I could really blame him. Sex with Alice was lackluster at best and positively a fucking nightmare at its worst. She didn't like being mussed. Mussed, I scoffed to myself. Bella definitely didn't mind being mussed. Nope. Her hair, her nails, her makeup nor her clothes ever entered her mind. She was a hellcat and my cock was already twitching in excitement cause she was sitting there in front of me taking off the rest her clothes.

Wait? What?

Looks like she's ready for seconds. Good!

Swallowing – hard, I asked, "Bella, uh … what are you doing?"

She dropped her boot to the floor, spread her legs and placed her pretty little feet on the arms of the old swivel chair, leaning back on her elbows. "Well, I'm hoping that you have another one of those handy little foil packets on you, because I'd really like to ride that cock of yours."

I gulped, nervously. She would be the death of me, I was sure, but fuck me if I wouldn't die a happy man. "Just so happens I think there may be another one tucked away in there."

"Hmm, well, aren't you the perfect picture of a boy scout," She hummed.

I chuckled. "Nope. United States Marine Corps, ma'am, at your service." She laughed, tilting her head back showing off her long gorgeous neck. I wanted to lick it, but first there was something else I needed to do. As I leaned forward to get my wallet I licked her pussy from bottom to top, sucking her clit between my teeth nibbling the base and brushing it with the tip of my tongue.

"Fu-uuuck, Jasper. Damn. Do that again." She pleaded.

And I did. Over the next few weeks, Bella and I had wild, hot, passionate, and yes, sometimes even kinky, angry sex all over the ranch, including my childhood bedroom. Unfortunately for us, that turned out to be not such a bright idea. It was laundry day and Mama had this bad habit of not knocking. Talk about embarrassing and an instant hard-on killer. Mama was mortified and so were Bella and I. Having your mother walk in while your dick is tickling your fuck buddy's uvula wasn't really a mood enhancer.

The blow up that ensued was nearly apocalyptic. I had to explain myself and my intentions to a man that I had loved and respected as a second father my entire life. To say he wasn't pleased that I was fucking around with his married daughter was putting it mildly, but he relented when I told him, that if it were up to me, I would have put a ring on her finger ten years ago. The whole fiasco ended with me moving into Granddaddy's old house for some privacy, and a call from the relationship blocker himself. Emmett was pissed, but Bella yanked the phone from my hand, slammed the door behind her as she stormed out of the house and thirty minutes later when she walked back in she brushed the tears from her face and handed me the phone. Whatever she said worked wonders on her bear of a brother. He just warned me that while I had been his commanding officer and was his best friend, that didn't mean jack shit. He would kick my ass if I hurt her.

"Bella?" I called out as I walked into the house. It had been about two months since that afternoon Mama caught us. Bella was still technically living with her parents, but she was here more often than not. She kept clothes here and everything. It was a Friday in mid June and I was hotter than hell after working fences all day. I was just coming home after having dinner with our parents and the ranch hands, but no Bella up at the main house. When I opened the door I walked in to find my beautiful girl coming out of the bathroom dolled up and looking sexy as fuck. She came walking out in a tight ass pair of jeans – that hugged her curves to perfection – which had slashes across the thighs, her barrel racing buckle – that she won in the high school rodeo – and a sexy as hell, clingy, leaving little to the imagination, black tee shirt – that showed off the tiniest sliver of her flat tummy. Looking at her made my want to beat my chest, tattoo MINE across her forehead and then fuck her senseless. "Damn, girl. You shine up all purty like." I drawled, a smile on my face as I watched her cross the room towards me. "What's the occasion?"

"Well, I heard there's going to be a live band we know at that little honky tonk in Fort Stockton and I was hoping you'd like to take me dancing." She said as she stopped in front of me. She trailed her hand down the middle of my chest, and when she reached my cock she teased the hardening flesh until it was nearly painful. "So, what do you say, cowboy? Wanna cuddle up with me on the dance floor?"

A little over hour later we were standing next to the bar, with a beer in our hands and were looking into each others eyes intently. I was not real happy that our first date was at a bar, but my girl isn't hard to please.

"You clean up kinda good yourself, cowboy." She whispered leaning into my side as we watched the dancers.

"Thank ya, darlin'. You ready to hit the floor? I think I remember something about cuddling up together on the dance floor." I pulled her out on the dance floor spinning her into my arms.

We spent the next hour pressed up against one another flowing to the melodic sounds coming from the DJ booth. The band was scheduled to take the stage soon and it was old friends of Emmett and mine. I was excited to hear them play. In high school, Emmett and I had played with the guy that was the lead singer now and bassist, but all I had wanted was Bella and they wanted to go on the road.

"I hear there's a mean-ass SOB in the audience named Jasper Whitlock! Anyone know him? He's a scrawny ass fucker!" A familiar voice yelled across the stage mic during a lull in the DJ's set. Looking up on stage stood Jake and James along with the rest of their band.

Looking at Bella, I grinned and yelled back. "I got your scrawny ass, fuckstick." I pulled Bella behind me as I walked toward the stage. I picked Bella up and set her on the stage and hopped up by myself. I gnashed my teeth as I watched Jake and Bella embrace. Jake winked at me over her shoulder before releasing her. I couldn't help to growl under my breath.

Fucker.

Once he let her go, I pulled her back to my side and she smiled sweetly up at me. She had no clue how badly I wanted to punch that son of a bitch for even touching her. He did though because in high school I kicked his ass for him. As I was leaving the locker room, I heard him talking about her with some of the other guys and they were being pretty fucking crude. I used my ever present shit-kickers to stomp his ass good. Emmett stood back and watched, laughing like a fucking hyena. He pulled me off though, when he realized that I didn't have any plans to stop any time soon. My goal had been to shut the fucker's mouth and I knew the only sure fire way had been to kill the asshole. A week later we were in Daddy's barn, drinking beer, playing guitar and everything was cool. The entire male population in town learned real fucking fast that Bella McCarty was off fucking limits.

Looks like he needs another lesson.

Who's going to teach you that lesson? She's not yours either.

Jake rescued me from that train wreck when he asked, "So, Jazzman, want to help us do a couple covers?"

I looked down at Bella, and she was smiling from ear to ear. I looked back to Jake and grinned. "Fuck yes. I'd love to, man. I pick the songs though. I ain't singing any of that whiny shit you like to do."

"I'm going to get a drink and watch from the bar." Bella said. She gazed up at me and I cupped her cheek and kissed her. As she made to walk away I popped her on the ass and she squealed. When she glared at me I just smirked and then winked at her. She did her best not to grin, but she failed miserably.

I watched as she made her way to the bar. Turning back to Jake, the fucker had a shit eating grin spread across his face. "What?" I asked sarcastically.

"How many kids you two got now?" He asked, the grin still firmly in place.

My face fell and my jaw clenched. "None."

He looked at me like I'd grown another head. "Damn, dude. Thought you two be eat up with a house full of kids by now. Y'all been married for at least eight years or so right?"

I looked back at Bella, giving her a small smile. She returned it with one double its size. I swallowed – hard – before I answered him. "No. We aren't married."

From the looks of him a third head just joined the first two. "What are you talking about, Jazz? I saw her wedding band."

"She's not mine." I said simply, quietly.

He and the rest of the guys all whistled sharply. They all knew me. I wasn't a cheater. No matter what the subject was, I wasn't one to break the rules. "Damn, dude. Who does she belong to?"

"Some fucking idiot doctor from Chicago that she met in college that doesn't deserve her and won't give her what she wants." I replied stiffly. My eyes never leaving Bella's gorgeous face.

"Well, man let's get setup and help you woo that girl back home where she belongs." That was the end of the conversation.

After that ass whooping I laid on him in high school Jake and I had been great friends. The thing I liked about him was that he was a straight shooter. If he thought it, he said it, to hell with the consequences. I slapped him on the back and helped finish setting up. "I'll do two, maybe three songs. That's it. I want to spend the night with my girl."

Jake smirked and raised his eyebrow. Fucker. "She may be his wife, but she's MY girl. Always has been, always will be." I responded to his silent question.

I picked my songs and was relieved that the guys knew them. I want to make sure that the ones I played are ones that spoke to my girl. I was dying to tell her what was in my heart. I loved her. These last two months with her in my life loving me the way I had always loved her had been fantastic and sweet, but I was scared it would all fall apart. The first song was Jason Aldean's "Don't Give Up On Me", it' wasmy plea to her to stick with me while we figured out what we were and I came to terms with the change in careers, losing my dad and nearly my legacy. Then there was Alice and the mess she left. If Bella and I could make it through all my baggage and hers without giving up on each other, I was sure there would be a life for us written there in the pages of God's great plan.

The second song was blatantly obvious. Aldean's "You're The Love I Wanna Be In" said everything I wanted to say to her, but hadn't been able to vocalize yet. She was my life, my love, my forever, my happiness and I wanted her by my side from now on. As we launched into the opening bars, her face traveled a rocky shore of emotions as she recognized the song until finally it settled on what I hoped was love, but it scared me that I might be misreading her. I held her gaze as I sang her the song that spoke from my heart and soul to hers.

Just as the last notes faded, I watched as some asswipe thought that it would okay to touch my girl. He wasn't just touching her though, he had grabbed her and was yelling at her hotly. I looked to Jake and tossed him the guitar I'd been playing. If that fucker thought he could manhandle my Bella, he was in for a freaking rude ass awaking in the form of a size 12 boot being shoved up his ass.

I jumped off the stage and plowed through the crowd, knocking tables, chairs and people out of the way. Behind me I heard crashes and breaking glass and people yelling, but I was zoned in on one thing and one thing only.

BELLA!

I never slowed down. I was in attack mode. The Marine and his warrior skills came up to the surface and was taking over. I was the youngest Major in the Marines for a reason. I was a fucking scary ass sight to behold when I embraced the warlord inside of me, and I was two nanoseconds from releasing it on this asshole.

As I got closer I could hear him yelling at her, but I never registered the words. All I heard, all I saw was Bella, her face filled with anger and fear, and her beautiful mouth yelling the word, "NO!" I could see her shoving at him trying to pull her arm out of his grasp. The fucker was going to leave fingerprints on her skin, if he hadn't already.

I circled around them finding the perfect opening to inflict the maximum damage to the son of a bitch without hurting Bella. Spotting it, I went in for the kill.

Walking up behind him, I wrapped my left hand around his arm, my fingers digging into his flesh and pressing down on the nerves controlling his hand, forcing the fingers to release Bella's tender flesh from his grasp.

As soon as she was free I used my grip on his arm to spin him around. The look of shock that crossed his face twisted his too pretty face into an ugly visage of disbelief and fear. He opened his mouth to speak and that alone was enough to piss me off and push me over the edge. Drawing back my right hand, I let it fly. My fist connected with the bridge of his fucking perfect aquiline nose. Under the force of my punch, I felt the crunch of bones as his nose broke, blood spurted out in a gush from his nostrils covering the two of us in a flood of crimson.

Good. I broke the fucker's nose. Teach him to manhandle a woman.

He was still standing though and that just wouldn't do. My mind didn't even comprehend that I'd already won, that Bella was free and I could just let him go. No, I wanted him on his back on the fucking dirty ass floor, looking up at me with fear in his eyes and a lesson learned the only thing left in his brain. I threw the left just seconds after the right broke his nose. This time though, I was aiming for the button on his chin and I didn't pull my punch. My fist was going for the sweet spot and I didn't stop until I hit it, knocking him up off his feet, sending him airborne.

He crashed through a table and landed in the broken mess of glass, wood, and liquor. I stalked toward him, determined to stomp his guts when Bella came flying into my vision covering his body with her own.

What the fuck?

"JASPER! NO! STOP!" She screamed at me, halting my advance on the fucker cowering behind her. "Stop, please. It's Edward. It's just Edward."

Looking at her protecting him, her husband, the red that was coloring my vision deepened and all I could think of, all I remembered was that she told me he had never hurt her. "I thought you said, he never hurt you?"

She sighed, "Jasper, calm down please. He's never hit me, I swear. He's never hurt me. Just please calm down."

Clenching and releasing my fists, I rolled my shoulders trying to rein in the pissed off redneck. I didn't condone hurting women and whether it was Bella or someone I didn't even know, it fucking pissed me off. My chest was heaving as I dragged air into my lungs as quickly as possible trying to slow down the freight train of sheer rage that was racing through me. Finally, I was able to take a deep breath and release it slowly.

I watched Bella help her husband up from the floor. She took the towel the bartender offered and handed it to him. Edward. The name was sneered nastily across my thoughts. The fucking bastard that couldn't make her happy and yet there she was taking care of him after he'd left marks on her delicate skin.

I swallowed the hurt and the anger that welled up inside me as I watched them together. That was MY GIRL my heart screamed, but my brain knew better. As long as that ring was on her finger she would always be his first. Feeling the emotions running all over me, my body shaking with the pent up feelings, I turned from her – from them – and walked through the crowd.

I turned to leave just as the sheriff and two deputies, "Jasper, boy, I heard you were back in town. You just can't stay outta trouble, can you boy?"

Looking up I saw Billy Black, Jake's daddy walking through the crowd. Shaking my head I said, "Well yeah, you know how we Whitlock's are. If there's trouble to be found it comes knocking on our door first."

"Yep, that sounds 'bout right. Your daddy and granddaddy weren't above knocking someone's block off either. Problem you have though, who's going to bail you outta jail?"

I heard Bella gasp behind me, and she walked right up to the sheriff and said, "You are NOT taking Jasper to jail, Billy Black."

"The fuck he's not. That crazy ass cowboy just broke my God damned nose, Isabella."

"Well, if you hadn't grabbed my arm and tried yanking me outta the fucking bar, your nose wouldn't have gotten broke now would it."

This was just too much. I hated airing our dirty laundry for the world to see. "Billy, if you have to book me, do it, but let's just get it over with." I turned to the bartender and said, "I'll pay for the damages as well. Just send me the bill."

She called out to me, "Jasper, wait!" I turned back to her, knowing everything I felt was probably shining in my eyes for the world to see, but as always, I was not able to deny her.

Sighing I asked, "What is it, Bella?"

"Don't go." She said.

I looked at her, gazed at her intently, trying to throw all the love and devotion I felt for her out at her. I wanted to force her to choose. Him or me. I knew it was wrong. She had already chosen when she married him, but after the last few months I had hoped she'd change her mind, realizing the only way she could make that choice was if she had both deals spread on the table before her with nothing held back.

Gritting my teeth to hold in the tears that I could feel burning my throat, I said, "You can't have your cake and eat it too. It didn't work for Marie Antoinette, darlin', and it won't work for you either. You have to decide once and for all. If you want the life he can give you and him, then get in his car and go home and fix your marriage. If you want me and what we've found together in the last few months then get your pretty little ass out to the truck; come back home with me, and I'll spend every day of forever loving you with everything in me. I can't grant you your every wish, and I can't give you everything your heart desires, but I can love you with every fiber of my being, with everything I am, and I can swear that you will never be put last or even second. You are my first thought upon waking and the last one as I drift off to sleep."

Tears welled in her eyes, and I wanted to brush them from her face, but I couldn't protect her from this, and I couldn't make this decision for her. She had to do it all on her own.

I walked up to her, though and I kissed her with all the love, need and passion I had ever felt for her. As I let her go, I looked into her beautiful brown eyes, and I said the three words that had been burning a hole in my soul for nearly eleven years. "I love you, Bella McCarty. You have held my heart and soul in your hands for as long as I can remember."

I handed her my truck keys and followed Billy out to the cruiser and got in. The fact that he didn't cuff me was nice. My hands were throbbing. I hit that son of a bitch hard. Once at the jailhouse, I was printed, booked, mugshots taken, and locked in a cell. I had just closed my eyes when Billy walked back into the cell block and opened the cell door. "She bailed your ass out and left that city slicker husband laying on the floor of the bar. Looks like you just might win that girl after all."

I walked out of the cell, picked up my stuff from the clerk and walked out the front door. Outside, I looked up, and there she was. She was wringing her hands and pacing back and forth in front of the truck. Neither of us said anything, I just opened her door and helped her in the truck and drove us home.

She followed me to my house and into my bed. I couldn't bring myself to make love to her. I didn't want to do it again until she told me she loved me. I couldn't continue putting myself through that, but when she stripped herself naked and started to do the same to me I couldn't bring myself to deny her or me. If this was the last night I was going to have with her then I was going to make it one to remember. I drifted off to sleep cuddled up against her back, my nose nestled in her hair, scared completely to death that she was going to leave me, but underneath it all, I felt hope.

Early the next morning I walked into the ranch yard from the cattle barn. As I crossed I saw an expensive, foreign made car pull into the spot beside my truck. I had spent the morning checking a dozen or so cows for pregnancy and knew I looked like shit. Hell, I was covered in the stuff, but I pulled up short as he got out of the car. I just shook my head and walked into the house, grabbing myself a cup of coffee.

I walked back out on the porch and he was standing on the top step, looking out over the ranch. He had shoved his hands into the front pockets of his perfectly pressed pants and he was getting on my nerves, because in the fifteen seconds since I walked back out

"What are you doing here?" He asked sarcastically.

Scowling at him, I replied, "I live here. This is my ranch."

"What are you talking about? I was told the McCarty's live here."

"Yes, they do. They've lived here since Bells was thirteen."

"You've known Isabella since she was thirteen?"

"Nope, I said she's lived here since she was thirteen. I've known Bella since the day she was born."

"You've known her her whole life?"

"Yep. Grew up with her. Emmett's my best friend."

Realization dawned on Mr. Dr. Man's face, and I couldn't help but grin and stick my chin out. "So, you're the one."

"If you mean I'm the one that that taught her about cars, horses, guns, and boys, then yeah, I'm the one."

Neither of us said anything for a long time. We just stood there staring out at the buildings and pastures behind the house. The fact that Bella left him laying on the barroom floor last night to come bail me out of jail – and then screw me within an inch of my life when we had finally gotten home – had given me a sense of hope that I'd not had in ten years.

Edward sighed and out of the corner of my eye I saw him run his hands through his hair. "Is she here?" He asked.

Like I'm going to help him take my girl away.

She's his wife.

Yep, but she doesn't want to be.

True, but she still took vows. Vows you've been helping her break.

Either way, I'm not going to help the fucker.

"Yep," I said simply, taking a drink of my coffee.

I nearly lost it when he growled under his breath. "Could you tell me where?"

I smirked and turned away from him to walk back in the house. I pulled open the screen door, hiding my humor at his desolation and looked over my shoulder at him. "Sure. Try the barn."

The door slammed closed, and I heard him mutter, "Which one is the barn?"

This time I just couldn't help it. Laughter burst forth from me, eventually causing my abs to hurt because I was laughing so hard. Once I was able, I looked up at him and said, "You'll figure it out, city boy. Eventually." I turned and walked on into the house to rid myself of the coffee cup and to finish up some paperwork in the office.

When I came out of the house fifteen minutes later after donning fresh clothes, he was sitting on the porch. "Wouldn't she talk to you?" I asked trying to hide the hope in my voice.

"I'll just wait here for her." He replied stiffly.

I raised my eyebrow at him in disbelief then I looked him over. He looked like he stepped out of one of Alice's fashion magazines. What Bella had ever seen in him I'll never know. The way he was dressed, though, it was probably best if he waited on the porch. "Suit yourself. You'll have to wait by yourself, though. I've got work to do today. Cattle don't tend themselves." I sauntered down the steps and headed off toward the corral where Fire was waiting for me. I'd already been out for a ride this morning, trying to clear my head of Edward, Bella and all the shit that came with them. I knew that if the good doctor didn't drop the charges I was most likely facing jail time, but it was worth it.

As I mounted up on Fire, I saw Bella come out of the barn. Once I was seated, I sat and watched her walk across the yard toward the house – toward him. She looked amazing this morning. She was dressed simply; jeans, boots, a fitted short sleeve shirt and her long mahogany hair in a ponytail pulled through the back of a ball cap.

Watching her, I noticed for what had to be the millionth time, that she had a natural grace to her movements when she wasn't paying any attention to herself or worrying that someone was watching her. It was only when she felt like people were staring at her that she lost that grace and turned into a klutz. She'd been that way since she started walking. She turned toward me, probably feeling my gaze.

I smiled and tipped my hat to her. I pulled on Fire's reins and he rolled back taking off at a gallop. Fear welled up in me. Leaning low over his neck, I forced Fire into a full run. I had to get away from the house. I didn't think she was going to take him back, but I couldn't help the myriad of emotions that filled me at the thought of losing her again. I wouldn't be back to the house until late. I would be moving cattle today, the rest of the hands were already out on the range.

That night I returned to the ranch house after dinner, and Edward was seated at my kitchen table with Bella. Bella looked up at me, and I grimaced at the scene before me. She stood up and walked toward the microwave. "Do you want me to heat up your food now or after your shower?"

I couldn't take my eyes off her for long, but I did afford a glance toward Edward. I swallowed and looked back to Bella standing in the house we had been sharing, in my kitchen doing things for me a wife would do while her husband sat at my table. "I'll do it after my shower. You have company."

Her face fell, and I turned away, nodding to Edward as I left the room. As soon as I turned toward my bedroom and bath I heard a chair scrape the floor. Knowing I shouldn't, but unable to keep from it, I stopped in the hallway and leaned back against the wall – waiting.

"Bella, I want you to come home." Edward stated.

My girl sighed heavily. "No, Edward. I'm not going home with you. I am home. This ranch is my home. It always has been and always will be. I tried being what you want, and I can't be anything but me. Besides that we want different things."

Her words frustrated him from the sound of the expelled breath I heard coming from him. "God, okay. If you want a baby so badly then we can start trying now."

My lips twitched. Fucker was going to regret those words. Bella didn't take kindly to people telling her what she could and couldn't do. I didn't see this ending well for Dr. Pretty Boy.

Keep your gloating wrapped up tight or she could leave your ass behind too. Neither one of you deserve her.

God, wasn't that the fucking truth. I was angry at her for the longest time because she let Emmett come between us and all she was trying to do was make everyone else happy. She hadn't turned me down. She had denied herself happiness, so that we could all remain friends and family. Taking a deep breath, I sighed. She had to make her own decisions. I'd told her what I wanted. She knew how I felt. It wasn't up to me or Edward. The fate of both our lives was grasped in her tiny hands and no matter what decision she made, one of us was going to end up hurt.

Closing my eyes and silently praying, I listened for her to decide which life she wanted. Edward and the lap of luxury that he could give her that I never could afford or Me and a bank broke ranch and a lifetime of love, lust, and laughter.

God, I can't lose her again. Not now. I need that woman to breathe. If she weren't in my life I would be lost.

The kitchen had been quiet for a long time and I started to fear the worst, when suddenly, there was a crash and screeching. "IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT A BABY, EDWARD!"

Her breaths were coming out so hard, I could hear them from my place in the hallway.

"Then what is it about, Bella? Please. Just tell me." Exasperation dripped from his words.

Her sigh was shaky; I could hear the tears behind it. "It's about you, Edward. And me. It's about us. We never should have gotten married. I know you say you love me, and I love you, too, but it's not that forever kind of love that I have with Jasper. Without him, I'm just a shell of who I really am – just a cardboard cutout – flat. I've loved him since I was a little girl and because I was stupid I threw away ten years of our lives ,and it didn't just ruin those ten years for him and me, but for you and his ex-wife. As happy as you've made me over the last eight years, I still don't feel for you what I should – what I feel for him. I hate saying this because I know it hurts you, but I love him, Edward. With everything in me,I love him. He owns me, heart and soul. I need him to be me, to be complete, and he needs me the same way. Together, we complete a puzzle, and I tried forcing you into his spot. It just never fit – never felt right. I need Jasper. I need him to fill that place in my puzzle – my life."

Things got quiet again. Then she sighed, "He's – he's happy to be just Jasper and Bella and – and you aren't. You want to be Dr. Edward Anthony Cullen, savior of the needy and the helpless and the hopeless and you want me to be his wife, Isabella. You don't need me to be happy, Edward. All you need is your patients and your next good deed. I love how giving you are Edward, but sometimes you have to be selfish and I'm going to be this time. I'm sorry."

Sweet Jesus. I love that woman. She was apologizing for wanting to be happy.

"Well, I guess that's it then." He sighed.

Minutes later, I heard the backdoor close and Bella heave a huge sigh. Knowing she was finally going to be mine was like I had been filled with helium. I felt like I was floating on air – that I was weightless. Zero gravity had nothing on me in that moment. I wanted to run into the kitchen and claim my girl, but knowing Bella – and I know Bella – she would go the fuck off for my eavesdropping. So instead, I finished my walk to the shower, my feet barely touching the floor. I was finally going to have the life I had always wanted. She was finally going to be mine.

~*~

Six months later, I walked into our home, the little house that Granddaddy had built after Daddy married Mama, and Granny had died. It was tiny. Just two bedrooms, a living area that included room for a table and chairs, the living room and the tiny kitchen. Mama always called it 'Granddaddy's pouting shack' because he never stayed in it for long. He bounced from the big house to this house and back every couple of weeks. The moves were normally triggered by him and Daddy butting heads and then Mama begging him to come home. Whatever made him build this little house didn't matter to me. It was the perfect home for Bella and me. We didn't want space. We'd had enough of that. Eleven fucking years of it to be exact. Now, we just wanted to be together.

Christmas was tomorrow and I was finally – after eleven years – going to slide Granny's ring on my girl's finger. I couldn't wait to make her mine. I was a possessive fuck, but when you've spent eleven fucking years longing for the love of your life, thinking she'll never be yours, if and when she's within your grasp it's a little hard to not be possessive and want to stake your claim. If it was left up to me I'd have the minister over for Christmas dinner tomorrow and marry her right then, but we were still waiting on the divorce papers to arrive from Edward. He was still holding out hope that she'd come back to him. Why I'll never know. Bella gave him back everything he'd ever given her, including his name. She was once again Bella McCarty, but not for fucking long; not if I had anything to say about it.

"Hey there, sexy!"

Just her voice had me responding, but I turned toward her and watched as she sauntered toward me from the bedroom door. She was dressed in Christmas red. The color blazed against her pale skin. The sexy little number she had on didn't leave a damn thing to the imagination, but I wasn't complaining. Anytime I could get her naked or even just a a little naked I was a fuckhappy man.

Looking at her now, I counted every day I'd had with her as a blessing and while we weren't going about it the way I would have liked I couldn't help but be overjoyed. She was so radiant. Our child was rounding out her slim figure and causing her to glow nearly incandescently. She was only five months gone, but with a uncle the size of Emmett and me for a daddy, the kid didn't have a chance at being little, and on her petite frame she looked damn near ready to pop.

She sidled up against me, her belly brushing my erection causing me to growl. She just chuckled, and said, "Merry Christmas, Jasper."

"Damn, sugar. I like my present." The top of … well – whatever the fuck you called the thing – had a pretty little bow sitting under her full breasts holding the front together in just that one spot while everything below that was left uncovered by the flyaway front. It was sexy as hell watching her walk toward me, her baby bump bared and her luscious tits overflowing the top. I couldn't wait to see the damn thing crumpled up on the floor beside the bed.

I wrapped my arms around her pulling her as close as I could and I devoured her mouth scooping her up and carting off to our room. It hadn't been easy getting to this point but having her here, in my arms was worth every thing I'd had to go through to get to this point. Finally, I was home.

Thanks to all the authors that WC'd with me over the week that I wrote this and also to DrTammy and Naelany for fixing my junk. You all rock.

There are a couple of terms that may be confusing for some of y'all city slickers.

Ramrod = Second in command. The ranch owner's right hand.

Reining

Reining is an event akin to ice skating. Each horse/rider pair has a pattern to complete. There are four maneuvers that they demonstrate in these patterns: Circles, Turn arounds, Lead changes and Sliding stops. Some maneuvers are demonstrated multiple times, and in both directions. The average pattern will have 8 total maneuvers that get scored. Each maneuver is scored a value depending on how well the maneuver is done. A correct maneuver is a 0, a maneuver done well, or poor will give a plus or minus score ranging from 1/2 to 1 1/2 depending on the degree with which it was done poorly or well. The mean score that every horse walks into the pen with is 70. So with all maneuvers correct, but no "well-done" or "poorly-done" maneuvers the result would be 70.

A rider just starting out in reining has a goal of getting a 70... After that, 82 is the limit, but for reference, a top score at a really big show would be 75 or so. At a smaller reining event, a top score could be 73. For non-pro classes, a horse that scores 72 to 72.5 consistently will usually be in the top placings.

Run down, Roll back, & Stop

These are special terms used by riders in the reining discipline.

Run down is The maneuver preceding the stop where the horse builds speed in preparation for the call to stop. The proper execution of a run down is key to ensuring a good stop.

Roll back After completing a stop, the rider will pause and then ask the horse to rotate back on their haunches and lope off in the direction they just came from. A good stop and pause is key to the horse being able to roll back over their haunches well. The completion of the roll back completes the stopping maneuver called in a reining pattern.

Stop is a maneuver called in a reining pattern. This maneuver is performed at a gallop. The horse builds speed as they travel the length of the arena and after passing the required marker the rider will ask the horse to stop which will result in the horse sliding on their back legs, traveling with the front legs resulting in a sliding motion. The faster and harder the stop, the greater degree of difficult is shown. Per the NRHA rule book a stop is judged on three elements: the Run down, the stop itself, and the rollback.

*The info on Reining and the definitions were taken from www . ReiningStuff . com. The NRHA and Reining Stuff does a much more eloquent job of explaning and defining than I would. I know what they are and what they mean, putting it into words in much harder.

What was Jasper doing to the cows?

Vet services aren't cheap and farmers and ranchers have pretty fail safe method of checking for pregnant cows. It's disgusting, but cheap – real cheap. Free as a matter of fact. It's called rectal palpation.