The Ring of Fire: The Dragon Dream: Book Two Page 2

Had they really been married almost five years? Their anniversary was almost nine months away, but if those months passed as swiftly as the years had, then it would be here before they knew it. He already had plans.

  Watching his wife and the horse she was riding soar over a high rail, his heart skipped a little even as it swelled with pride. He still couldn’t believe a farm girl like his wife hadn’t been on a horse before. But as her father Philip had told him when asked, “I’m a dairy farmer, Craig, not a horse farmer.”

  Angela’s skill with horses had progressed quickly, to the point where she could probably compete in show jumping. But she’d never expressed a desire for that. She just wanted to ride.

  As she was doing now. Angela and Belle, the black mare she was riding, moved as one. Fluid and graceful motions as they went through their routine through today’s jumping course. The therapist and trainer who had come with the horses watched from the fence; the light sand colored dog Princess sitting at their feet also watched. Toni was no longer strictly necessary in the therapist role, but she had become friends with Angela; Gary not so much, but he held a grudging respect for Angela even as he corrected her form.

  Of course, Craig hadn’t stopped with just buying a horse for his wife. He’d also bought a cattle ranch, several thousand acres worth, to give her plenty of room to explore. It gave him a new business to manage on top of the general/grocery store he owned back in her hometown of Tyler’s Grove and her father’s farm outside of that same town. Ranching was different from both his other businesses, but it was still a business and he enjoyed the challenges they brought.

  He lifted binoculars to his brown eyes for a closer view. God, she was beautiful. She wore her hair short, having cut it four years ago once she came out of her coma, and it flared out from under the edge of the protective riding helmet she wore. The pure joy on his wife’s face as she jumped the hurdles with Belle was priceless and was worth every penny he’d paid for the thoroughbred. Angela’s happiness was worth every penny, and he never gave spending those pennies a second thought.

  The bright ringing sound of the triangle on the front porch broke him out of his reverie. It was Nan’s signal to Angela that lunch was an hour away, warning enough for her to take care of her horse and clean up before the meal was served. He watched as Angela brought Belle to a stop, laughter on her face. She trotted the horse over to where Toni and Gary stood, conversing with them. He saw her look up, towards the ranch house and wave. He smiled, not embarrassed at being caught.

  He lowered his binoculars as the trio started for the stables. Angela would take time to brush her horse down before coming inside, and he had a few items he wanted to clear up before she did.

  A s Angela ran a brush along Belle’s side, she followed it with her hand. “That’s a good girl,” she said softly to the horse. “We had a good run today.”

  “That you did,” remarked Toni from where she stood just outside the corner of the stables where the horse was cross-tied. She patted Belle’s muzzle. “You and Belle are a good match for each other.”

  Angela smiled at the dark-skinned woman. “We understand each other, don’t we girl?” Belle, her black coat gleaming, bobbed her head up and down as if agreeing with Angela. “See?”

  The slightly older woman laughed. “Have you talked to Craig about your idea yet?”

  Shaking her head, her auburn hair bouncing along the line of her slim jaw, Angela answered, “No, I’m still researching it. I want to have as much of the details worked out on my own before I go to him with it.”

  “Why?” Toni asked. “I’m sure he’d be more than willing to help.”

  The shorter woman shrugged. “I know he would. It’s just he helps me so much and I just want to do as much of this on my own before I ask him for help.”

  Toni nodded, her own corkscrew curls bouncing in the early afternoon light. “It’s hard to assert your independence again, isn’t it?”

  “Is that the friend or therapist talking? Because you sounded like Pat just now.” Angela commented lightly as she finished grooming her horse. Did her husband feel this frustrated when talking with his friend Kevin, who was a psychiatrist?

  The other woman laughed again, a deep hearty sound. “A bit of both. I can’t shut off my education. Craig’s goal when he hired us, was to rebuild the confidence you lost because of your kidnapping and the resulting accident. While he has no problem with things as they are, I can assure you, Angela, that your husband wants to see you be the woman you were before the accident. Regardless of whether your memories return or not.”

  Accident. Why did everyone always refer to it like that? What had happened hadn’t been an accident, people had planned it. It hadn’t been one of Crane’s men who had rammed the van she was in. To this day, she didn’t know who was all involved, or why they had wanted her dead so badly. “I’m not sure I liked her that much,” Angela said, the brush in her hand not slowing in its motions.

  “What was so wrong with her?” her friend inquired, motioning an approaching groom away.

  And Angela sighed, running her hand through Belle’s mane, knowing she’d accidently opened a door she hadn’t necessarily meant to. There was nothing left to do now but bluff her way through this conversation. It wasn’t that she disliked the woman she used to be, she just couldn’t find her. “From what I remember, she let other people’s expectations rule her. She tried too hard to meet their high standards.”

  “Ah, I see,” Toni said in understanding. “You don’t do that now?”

  Angela gave her friend a crooked smile. “Not as much. Here, I’m just the rancher’s wife. Their expectations of me are a lot lower than those I grew up with.”

  “But you defy those expectations when you ride with the herd,” Toni pointed out. “Craig doesn’t even do that, unless he’s coming in search of you.”

  “They don’t care,” Angela replied, thankful the other woman hadn’t tried like usual to convince her this was all hers too. “They did at first, but once they realized I wasn’t there to spy on them, they welcomed me as one of their own.”

  Toni shook her head, but Angela was glad the other woman wasn’t going to argue with her. Friend or not, Toni all too often tried playing the role of therapist. It was their one roadblock in their friendship. “So, by waiting to talk to your husband about your desire to build an equine therapy section on your ranch, are you meeting or defying his expectations of you?”

  “Neither. I am meeting my own expectations,” Angela answered, irritated. What did her husband expect from her? She decided to change the subject. “Do you want to stay for lunch? I’m sure Nan’s made enough.”

  “Not today,” Toni replied. “I actually need to be leaving soon. I’ve kind of got a lunch date.”

  Angela smiled. “Just kind of?”

  Toni returned the smile. “Yeah, he’s a little shy so it’s a group thing.”

  “I hope you have a good time.” Angela gave Belle one last long stroke with the brush she held and then began untying the cross-ties.

  “Me too. Are you ready for your trip to Tyler’s Grove?” the other woman asked, following as Angela led Belle to her stall.

  “It’d be easier if we could stay at the farm,” Angela commented, frowning. Guiding the horse into the stall for some rest, she ran her hands along the horse’s muzzle, trying to ignore the trembling that wanted to start. She didn’t have to tremble; she was stronger than that. She had to be. From outside Belle’s stall, Princess gave a yip. “Mom’s rules are,” Angela paused long enough to wince, “stricter than I care for.”

  “What did Craig say about them?”

  She cursed herself as she blushed. “I didn’t share them with him, just said we had to stay somewhere else. I was expecting him to book a hotel room, not stay with Kevin and Sherry. I know it’s technically still his house, but it’s their home now. I’m going to feel like an intruder!”

  The other woman laughed but didn’t comment.

  “I want to go in
and shower before lunch,” Angela said before the other woman could question any further. “So, I’ll see you when we get back, Toni.”

  “Of course. See you later, Angela.”

  As the two women walked their separate ways, Angela retrieved her iPhone from the shelf in the barn’s small office and turned the device back on. Princess racing in circles around her as she walked, they were halfway back to the ranch house by the time it had booted back up and downloaded her missed messages and calls. She had a text from Cassie asking for a chat on Messenger before bed, and five missed calls from the farmhouse number which the voicemail message revealed was from Jared.

  Siblings!

  Smiling, Angela sent a text to her sister confirming the chat time and then called the farm. Not surprisingly, it was her brother who answered. “Jared? What’s up?”

  “Dad just told me you’re not staying at the farm when you’re here! Why?” demanded her teen brother.

  Angela sputtered. “Well, hi how are you doing? Me? I’m fine.” She may have stomped up the front steps of the ranch house a little harder than necessary, her boots making the wooden steps resound in the late morning sunshine.

  Princess stayed clear of her feet but didn’t leave her charge’s side.

  “Don’t give me that avoidance crap, Angie.” His voice was sharp with her. “I know you and Mom fought about something when we were all out there at Christmas. Is that what this is about?”

  Angela sighed and closed the front door behind her. “Why do you have to be mad about it? We’ll be in Tyler’s Grove. It’s not that far away.”

  Jared was silent for a moment. “I just want to spend more time with you, sis. We hardly get to see you anymore.”

  Angela took her boots off and set them on the rack their housekeeper Nan had designated for outside shoes and the like. She understood not wanting to track mud and manure through the house, but sometimes it rankled her to follow someone else’s rules in her own home. “Jared, I just think that some of Mom’s rules are a bit strict for a married couple.”

  “Oh for…” muttered Jared. “You’re telling me she was pissed because you and Craig had sex back at Christmastime? Sheesh, I barely even heard anything, and I was roomed closer to you guys than she was.”

  “Yeah, she was pissed about it.” Bending to pet Princess’s floppy ear, Angela sighed. “And when we snuck out to the truck to have sex at the Thanksgiving before. She viewed it as breaking her rules even though we were trying to respect them. Well, I was. Craig still doesn’t have a clue about it.” Tired of talking about her sex life with her younger brother, she glanced down the lower level hallway to her husband’s office. Seeing the office door wide open, she began to wander that way. “He wants to talk to you by the way.”

  “Craig? He’s gonna see me in a few days. You guys are still flying out Saturday, right?”

  “We are.” Angela stood in the doorway to the office and looked at her husband of just over four years. He looked up at her and smiled widely as he rose to his feet. Her heart beat a little faster at his smile. “Here, you can talk to him now. Craig, it’s Jared.”

  Craig took the smartphone his wife offered, planting a kiss on her dusty forehead. She motioned upstairs, her pink fingernail polish sparkling in the afternoon light, and he nodded. “Hi Jared,” he said into the phone.

  “Hey. I love how she passes me off when the conversation gets uncomfortable for her. If you two aren’t staying here, then where? Angela just said Tyler’s Grove.”

  Craig sat back down behind his desk, mentally sighing over Jared’s assessment of Angela passing the phone off. It wasn’t new behavior, but whatever progress his wife had made over the years didn’t always extend to her younger brother. “We’re staying with Kevin and Sherry at my place next to the store. Not my first choice, since Angela prefers the farm, but she said something about all the rooms being full.”

  Jared sighed. “Or it might be because she and I have a prude for a mother.”

  “What?” Craig asked, trying not to laugh.

  “I don’t get it. You’ll have to ask her about it. Far be it from me to tell my sister’s secrets. Now, Angela said you wanted to talk to me about something?”

  “Still the little meddler, I see.” Craig shook his head in amusement at his brother-in-law who had always insisted Angela be the one to share information.

  “No, just sometimes Angie needs a good prod in the ass. Anyway?”

  Now Craig did laugh. “I just wanted to plant an idea in your head, so you can talk it over with your parents before we get there Saturday night. What would you think about coming to the ranch for the summer and working as a ranch hand before college?”

  “Are you freaking serious?”

  “I am. I’m a little embarrassed I didn’t think of it sooner. I take it you like the idea?”

  “Like it? I love it! I’m not experienced or anything, can’t even ride a horse, but I’m guessing some training must come along with your offer?”

  “It does. Angela’s trainer would get you started with a horse of your own, and we’d get you set up with a schedule suitable for your age. Since you’re still under eighteen, I’ll have some papers your parents will need to sign.”

  Jared’s groan amused him. “Figures. I don’t think Dad will have a problem with it. Mom on the other hand…and here she comes now. I’m going to let you go, Craig…”

  Craig heard an indistinct sound on the other end, and a shuffling. Thinking the call was over, his finger was about to hit the red ‘end’ button on Angela’s iPhone when he heard his mother-in-law Maude speaking.

  “Craig? Craig? Are you still there?”

  Sighing, Craig put the phone back to his ear. “I’m here,” he said to Angela’s mother. He’d never had a problem with his mother-in-law, but he wanted to go upstairs and join his wife in the shower he knew would be running. His wife generally showered twice a day, and he liked joining her for at least one.

  “Oh good, I wanted a moment to talk with you. Angela says you’re not staying at the farm during your trip?”

  The plot thickens. “Yeah, that’s what I was told too. Angela said all your rooms were full.”

  “That’s true, but we replaced our old sofa a year ago with a sleeper sofa and that’s still available.”

  “Ah, thanks,” commented Craig as neutrally as possible. “I’ll talk with Angela about it, but we’ll probably just stay with Kevin and Sherry liked planned. They’re already expecting us.” At least there he’d have a real bed. He hadn’t slept on a sleeper sofa since college.

  “Craig, really, there’s no need.”

  Something inside caused him to hesitate, Craig wasn’t sure what. He wondered if Angela already knew about the sleeper sofa offer. What was really going on? “Like I said, I’ll talk it over with Angela, and get back to you, alright?”

  “Good enough,” the older woman answered. “When…”

  “Tomorrow. I have to go now, Maude. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Alright, bye then.”

  “Bye.” Craig’s finger hit the red square on the iPhone touchscreen and tossed it on the desk before bolting from his office. He took the curving staircase to their upper level two steps at a time.

  Angela hadn’t left the bathroom of their master bedroom yet, he could see her through the open door as she toweled off. He stopped in the doorway of the bathroom and watched her.

  “Sorry I missed your shower,” he said, smiling as she whirled in surprise.

  “Oh my God, Craig! Don’t do that!” scolded a startled Angela, holding the towel bunched up at her chest.

  He stepped into the room and took the towel from her. His smile gentled as she blushed. “Sorry,” he said again, truly regretful he’d startled her. He wiped a damp spot on her shoulder.

  “Jared talk your ear off?” his wife asked, looking up at him.

  “Not much, and then your mom got on the phone. But we can talk about that later.” His lips cut her off before she could c
omment. She made the little happy sound he loved. Dropping the towel, his hands pulled his naked wife closer.

  Angela threw her arms around him, pressing her damp body against him. When his hands came to a rest on her buttocks, she jumped up knowing he’d be there to catch her and hold her as she wrapped her legs around his waist. “You’re still dressed,” she muttered as she kissed his neck and tugged on the neckline of his t-shirt.

  Craig chuckled and put her up against the bathroom wall. He remembered their wedding night when she’d come out of the bathroom after changing out of her dress into something even more revealing. She had said the same phrase as she’d picked at his suit jacket. She didn’t remember that night but occasionally, moments like this randomly popped up.

  “I only need to get one part out, Angel,” he told her now. He freed that part with one hand even as his chin pushed her head back and his lips found her neck instead. Her skin was so soft against his lips as he nuzzled her.

  Angela’s head hit the wall with a soft thump as he entered her only to pull back out again. “Bastard,” she growled. “Put it back in!”

  Craig laughed against her neck, inhaling the clean scent of her. But he wanted her and didn’t tease her anymore. He slid in again and began to move inside of her. “Oh my God, Angel,” he whispered.

  She had no answer for him, could only hang on as he thrust. It was a heady feeling as pleasure built in her. The soft fabric of his shirt against her breasts was nowhere near as nice as his skin, nor was the rough denim of his jeans. But the urgency of his desire for her made up for that. He was inside her, thrusting hard and deep. His hands held onto her thighs to keep her against the wall, thumbs moving in a caress while the other finger pressed into her muscles. Her fingers curled in his hair as the pleasure rolled through her in ever increasing waves and at last took her breath away.

  This was the part Craig loved, feeling her pleasure explode around him. He watched her expression as he continued to thrust, pressing a hand against the wall for support. The flush to her face, how she bit her lips together as she tried not to cry out, the glaze of pure pleasure in those beautiful blue eyes. He continued moving inside her until she exploded with pleasure again, and this time he finished with her.