Cassidy's POV:
We reached the bottom and pulled up to a gorgeous log house, it was amazing. Flowing little water falls and fountains, flowers, lush greens and rocks. It was amazing here, the sun shone down making the water and flowers sparkle. A little girl came flying out of the house screaming for the car. She surprised me when she jumped into Ryan's arms. Giving him a big kiss on the cheek, "hey princess," he said.
She giggled and hugged him again, this made me wonder. I walked closer and Ryan smiled at me, "Princess this is Cassidy, and this is Lilly," he stated.
"Hi," she said with a shy smile.
She hid behind Ryan's face before he let her down and told her ta go play. "Come play tea with me," she asked shyly.
"In a bit ok princess," he said as he crouched down.
She smiled at him and shyly smiled at me than ran off to the house disappearing around the back. Ryan stood up looking at me, my look must have given my question away. "She's my brothers little girl, not mine," he stated.
"Oh," I said.
"You really thought she was mine," he asked putting his arm around me.
"Well I, I didn't know what ta think," I said truthfully.
"Hmhm, come on," he said leading me down the sidewalk to the house.
A lady with beautiful long dark hair like Ryan's came out of the house. This must be his mom, she is in a wheelchair, her smile faded as she saw me. As we got closer though she straightened her hair and shirt. We stepped up the stairs and he left me to kiss her on the cheek. "Hey momma," he said.
"Ryan y'all coulda told me ya were bringin someone I woulda been better dressed," she said.
"Oh momma your beautiful," he said
She smiled at him an slapped his arm, "oh you got yer charm from yer father," she said.
Ryan stepped back taking my hand and smiled at me, "momma, this is Cassidy, Cassidy this is my momma Darlene," he introduced us.
I moved over to her to shake her hand, "nice ta meet ya ma'am," I said.
"You as well, gosh yer a beautiful girl" she said.
"Oh Huu, thank ya, Ryan is right you are too," I said.
An awkward silence ran over the porch not knowing what ta say next. "Well, don't just stand there come on in, Ryan, you get tha bags," she said finally.
Ryan squeezed my hand and then let me go so I could follow his mom in. "Would y'all like some sweet tea Cassidy," his mom offered.
"Uh yes please" I answer.
She opens a lower door an grabs glasses out, the kitchen in amazingly set up, everything low so she can get around and do it her self. Beautiful hand crafted counters and cupboard doors. A lower range makes it easier for her, in the middle side of the island. The island was lower everything was custom to suit her. I thought it was amazing. "Here ya are Hun," she says.
She slides the drinks on a trey to the middle of the island and pats a seat to sit beside her. "So we're did y'all meet Ryan," she asks.
"Hm, well, he almost ran over me actually," I said with a chuckle.
"Ha, sounds like him always rushin not lookin where he's goin," she states.
She wheels her chair in beside me and looks me over. "Hm, after that he helped me in a situation and we just kinda became friends, still gettin ta know each other," I said.
"Ya live in Bozeman I take it," she asks.
"Well, 15 minutes outside but ya, my momma owns a cafe there," I say.
"Hm, ya don't sound too impressed with that," she says.
"My momma an I aren't exactly on talkin terms right now," I say.
"Oh, I see, whys that," she asks.
I put my hands round my glass of tea, "we had a big fight, over the gossipers an my choice of men," I said.
She looked over at me scratchin her head "hm, she don't like Ryan," she says.
I look over at her "she don't like no one unless there in her circle of church gossiping bittys," I say.
"Aaaah, I see, not many parents like Ryan, he's a free spirit an a wild one," she says.
"Hmhm, I can tell," I say.
"Strong willed and hard headed like his daddy he is, but, he'll be yer best friend, and stand up for what's right, even if it gets em in trouble," she says.
"What y'all talkin bout," Ryan says as he comes in.
I watch him wondering where the bags are and figure maybe he went in the back door or something with them."None yer business, I poured ya some tea," his mom said.
He walked over an sat down on the other side of his mom and downed the tea. "Haaaaa, thank ya mom, that hit tha spot," he says.
"Hm," she says, and gives me a wink.
"RYAN, RYAN," Lilly yells running into the kitchen.
He looks at her over his arm and she latches onto it tugging. "Come play with me, plllleeeeeeeeassseeee," she whines.
He looks back at me an his mom, "Huu, can't I just visit for a few minutes princess," he says looking back at her.
"Oh Ryan go play fer a bit, and I'll get supper goin," his mom says.
He rolls his eyes looking back over at us, "aaaaaalright princess," he says
"YAY," she shouts grabbing his arm again.
He lifts her up on his arm as he stands up an catches her on his side. She giggles and he lifts her in the air spinning her around in his arms setting her on his shoulders. I smile at his playfulness with her, it's cute to see. "Well, suppose I should start supper, anything y'all won't eat Hun," his mom asks me.
"Nope, I'm pretty easy goin," I say
She gives me a small smile and moves out from the counter going to the fridge. "Do ya cook Cassidy," she asks.
"Yes ma'am I do," I say.
She stops an turns around "y'all can call me Darlene honey, no need fer formality in this house," she says an continues takin stuff outta the fridge.
"Alright, do ya need help with anything," I ask.
"Naw, I'm ok," she says.
"Unless ya wanna chop veggies," she adds.
"I can do that ya," I say.
I stand up an walk around the island as she sets the carrots, beans, peas and potatoes out on the counter. She spins around and pulls out a drawer that has a custom cutting board on it a hole at the top of it fer peels. "Ya may need ta get a chair, hm, it's low fer me," she says.
I smile at her an grab a chair pulling it over to start on peeling the potatoes. She sets to work marinating pork chops and puts them in a roaster. Turns the oven on and sets them in, then sets to work chopping lettuce for salad.
I finish peeling potatoes and the carrots, then chop them inta the pot, she set on the counter for me. She lifts out the water hose beside the range and fills it with water. Then pulls the other pot over for peas and beans snipping the ends off the beans and throws them in. Sets it over on tha burner puts water in it too. Surprising how she gets around the kitchen so well.
"Well there that's that, do you wanna go and ask Ryan ta get a bottle of rose wine outta tha cellar," she asks.
"Sure, where would I find him," I ask.
"Probably out tha back on the veranda, that's usually where Lilly has her tea set up, just go out this door an round ta the back," she says
"Ok," I say and take off out tha sliding patio doors.
I walk around the house hearing giggling and laughing but stop listening to Ryan play with Lilly. "Ooooh yes my Queen, we shall slay the dragon and bring you back the treasure," he says.
"Hmhmhm, thank you my Knight," she giggles.
I cover my mouth and giggle at the game they are playin. Peeking around to see Ryan sitting on a small chair. A helmet on his head and gloves, as he sips pretend tea out of a little glass tea cup. I look out over the yard a beautiful array of flowers an bird feeders and water falls and whimsical things.
I take a deep breath and step out around the corner. Ryan looks up from the tea party and smiles, "look my queen, a damsel that has come to the castle," he says.
Lilly turns around waring a beautiful gown, with a crown on her head. She shyly looks at me and I give her a smile back. I walk towards her and curtsy to her, "your Hines, may I request the help of yer knight please," I ask.
She giggles and turns back shyly to the table, "yes you may," she says.
"Thank you so much Queen Lilly," I say kneeling down beside her.
"Yer welcome," she says.
Ryan bows to her an takes his helmet off putting it under his arm, as he bows to me, "what shall you be need my services for dear lady," he asks.
"Hm, I do believe there is a small dragon in the wine cellar that needs your attention knight Ryan," I say winking at Lilly.
She giggles and takes her doll into the room of the door that's open. "Well, what is this dragons name," he says smiling.
"Rose, I do believe," I say.
"Hm, come along damsel, you shall escort me," he says.
He leads me down steps and around the side of the house. Opening up a double door caller, he took my hand and helped me down the stairs. He stepped in after me setting the helmet on the ground by the door.
The lights flickered and quit so Ryan lit his lighter and flicked the switch again. "Well guess the bulbs need changin," he said.
"Hm, looks like yer gonna be a busy boy," I say.
"Ha, maybe a lil, come on, it's just over here," he said lighting the way with his lighter.
He stopped and reached up grabbing the bottle of wine and turned around running into me. My hands landed on his chest and he looked down at me. Putting his one hand on my hip, setting down the bottle, his lighter goes out. "Now knight, ya wouldn't take advantage of a damsel in tha dark now would ya," I asked.
I wasn't quite sure on his next move, wasn't quite sure I wanted it either. I was still getting used to his softer touch an non abusive nature towards me. "My lady, y'all done struck a cord with my heart," he said as I felt his breath on my lips.
"Huuu," I breathed not able ta speak.
To my surprise he moved passed my lips and kissed my cheek softly. "But takin advantage of a woman ain't my style, personally I'd rather her be ok with me, an willin," he said.
"Oh Huu," I breathed out.
He stood up right an lit his lighter again taking the bottle an my hand leading me back to tha stairs. Helped me up them and step over the edge, then he passed me the bottle and closed the doors. I watched him as he stood up from picking up the helmet an turned to me. He smiled and took the bottle then my hand and we went around the house. "Wanna smoke," he asked me.
"Sure, please," I said.
He set the bottle down on the step and walked for tha car. Grabbed the smokes and came back, sitting down beside me on the step. "Thank you," I said, still not used ta him doin stuff fer me.
"Welcome," he said.
I took out a cigerttello and put it between my lips. Like clock work he brought out his lighter and lit it for me. Then he lit his and leaned back on the step. "You uh," I started to say looking over at him.
"What," he said peeking at me from his lashes.
I couldn't even say anything, in this light and the angel he was laying. His muscle outlined by his shirt and everything else. He took my breath away, I've never met a guy like him before, never wanted to be near a guy like him. He sat up and I followed him with my eyes, his hand came up and I flinched. His lips parted and he moved his hand to brush my hair outta my face.
"Wanna come for a ride with me after supper, once I help momma get Lilly ta bed," he said.
"Um, sure why not," I said.
He cupped my face and I couldn't help but close my eyes and lean into his rough hard hand. He leaned over and softly brushed his lips over mine. I turned my head to continue the kiss and our lips softly moved together. I moved my hands up around his neck.
The one playing with his hair and the other holding my smoke away from him. His one hand ran over my back making tingles run threw me. Then I heard the door open and my cheeks heated backing off. I put one arm on my lap the other I held my cigarettello up to my lips with.
"Hey boy," a man said from the door.
"Hey John," he said.
He sat looking at me like I'd just made his prize possession disappear. "John this is Cassidy Jenson, Cassidy this is John Rhymes, he's my moms farm hand and boyfriend," he said.
I looked up at the bigger man standing behind Ryan and held up my hand. "Nice ta meet ya young lady," he said.
"You as well," I said.
"Well, yer momma told me ta come out and get ya suppers pretty much ready," he said.
"K, will be in in a minute," Ryan said.
He nodded and walked back for the door, and disappeared. Ryan stood up with the wine and walked over to the ashtray on the table and put out his butt. I stood up and walked over too butting mine out since they take longer ta smoke. I put it back in my pack an Ryan took my hand opened the door and we went in. He lead me down the hall to tha bathroom to wash up.
When finished he took my hand again and lead me to the dinner table. It was beautifully set for 10 people. John and Darlene sat at the end of the table, a couple more men on the other side of Darlene and two girls a bit younger than me. They were across from the two seats left for us, Jason was there too, he sat beside Lilly, helping her get food. He was dressed down from when I seen him earlier.
Ryan squeezed my hand and let go moving my chair out for me. Everyone stopped looking over at him like it was a weird thing, and I sat down. He smirked at his brother who whistled a wow. He shook his head and sat down beside me.
Darlene put her hands together and everyone followed. "Lord, thank You for the food before us, the family and friends beside us and the love between us. Amen," she prayed.
"Amen," everyone said in unity.
The noice of talking started in and everyone started passing food around and digging in. The two girls watched me and Ryan every so often whispering from the other side of the table. Ryan only noticed when he heard them giggle. He looked up from his plate, "y'all got somethin ta say girls," he asked frowning.
The table stopped and the girls shook there head. "Good, didn't think so," he said.
Everyone went back to eating, and talking. That didn't last long cause Jason started talking about getting Ryan outta jail today. "WHAT," Darlene yelped out.
Ryan raised his head to look at her while chewing his food and I couldn't even look up. "Yup, tha guy just about raped Cassidy there, if Ry wouldn't have hit em over the head," Jason said.
Darlene looked between the both of us, and then smirked. I figured this was gonna turn into another fight but she surprised me. "Like I said, always standin up fer what's right, good job Ryan," she said.
"Yup, he's a regular small town hero," Jason added.
"Well, cheers ta our hero," she said winking at him.
I looked up finally and smiled at him, lifting my glass. "To a knight in scuffed boots," I added.
Darlene started laughing which made everyone break out laughing. This made me wish that this was how my family was. They were all so loving and caring compared ta mine. Mine all they cared about was town gossip. This family actually cared, made me both jealous and angry that my family, well my mom didn't care.
It was like the sun had finally turned on and I stepped into it, it was so different here. My mind wandered as the conversations and playful banter between Jason and Ryan took place. I even took part in heckling him for almost running me over.