The early morning sun slowly crept over the tops of the Rockies, lighting the
high mountain valley and the Old Elk Horn Ranch. A blanket of snow covered the ground and the air was cold, clean; the rugged mountains towered over the few buildings and corrals that made up the ranch.

East stood at the corral watching a small group of horses clustered together for warmth. He whistled and one particular horse whinnied, made its way from the center of the cluster and over to him. Applejax, a pretty bay mare, nuzzled East’s face and jacket, looking for her morning treat. East grinned, she was the best mare he ever owned; smart, fast, and loved her treats. He held out her carrot and she gobbled it up while he patted her neck. “That’s my sheila,” he murmured.

He had lived here for several years and loved it; a far cry from Sonoma and the Temple. It was a rugged life; full of hard work, but the rewards were unmatched by anything else he experienced since he crossed over. Closing his eyes he breathed deep, the crisp air filling his lungs.

The Temple … now that was years ago. The family scattered when the Temple broke up and the Game ended. It had been a long time since he’d had contact with any of his brothers, other than the occasionally from Egan. Egan had been a good mate; and he was happy to hear about his son, Jacob, and that he was doing well in Vermont.

He never heard from the women. He knew from Egan that four of them were in Vermont; Riley, Natalie, Mere and Monica. But, they were all married and most had families. It was sure different from the Game, when they were all free to love each other, and he loved a few. But even then, the women were paired up with a primary brother; and it irritated him that he was never chosen as a number one.

When the family split, he considered going back through his portal. There was nothing to keep him here, but Egan convinced him to stay, pointing out that if he went back, he’d be brain damaged. He’d since learned that there was really nothing to go back to anyway. So he traveled a bit, worked around as a ranch hand or stable manager, and ended up here three years ago; training manager for the Old Elk Horn Ranch, a dude ranch near Billings, Montana.

He kicked at the snow with his boot and it flaked over the toe. He looked up at the main house; the lights were on upstairs. The Johnston family had owned the Old Elk Horn for nearly 100 years. Twenty years ago, they were heavily in debt and nearly lost it; so, they made a hard decision and opened it up to the public. But, old man Johnston was determined that it wouldn’t become an imitation of a cattle ranch. No … it was a “working dude ranch.” Guests were required to work cattle and drive herds. No tenderfoots allowed.

A shadow caught East’s eye as it passed by the window shade. Annie Mae, old man Johnston’s wife. Blond hair with just a touch of grey, crystal blue eyes and ten years younger than her husband, she was a startling woman in her mid-forties. He knew she was trouble the moment he laid eyes on her and he tried to stay away. But she was persistent and one night last fall, he couldn’t walk away.

They were closing up the ranch for the winter; the mares and the cattle were in their high winter pastures and the last of the guests had left. He was in the stable, brushing down Applejax and filling her manger with her evening feed. It had been a long day, even longer now that the guests had left. There was always one or two of the women guests each year who kept him company through the short summer nights. But the winter nights were long and cold and he wasn’t looking forward to another solitary season. The mare snorted and he was startled by a sultry chuckle behind him.

“I think she’s jealous, East.” Annie Mae’s eyes danced with amusement. “You better watch out.”

“I reckon I can handle her,” he replied. “I’ve been told I have a way with the sheilas.”

She smiled slyly. “I’ve heard that too, but to be honest, I haven’t seen it. You always run away from me. Why is that?” She took a step closer, much closer than he would have liked usually, but tonight, he welcomed her warmth.

“I’m not running now, Miz Johnston.” He stared her down, daring her to come even closer.

“I can see that. And it’s Annie.” She stood inches from him, her finger traced the neckline his shirt. The feel of her fingertip on his skin caused shivers up his back and across his shoulders.

He took her face, his thumb brushing across her cheek. “Annie,” he whispered, then bent to press a kiss, sucking gently on her bottom lip. She pulled him closer, her hands stroking his back as her tongue caressed his.

A loud slam and they broke apart, startled. East looked around carefully, but no one was there. “It must have been the wind, love. Caught the door and slammed it.” He reached out and pulled her to him.

She pushed back. “Not here.” Her eyes darted to the door, standing slightly ajar. She was worried … there wasn’t any wind when she snuck into the barn.

“Where, then?” He rubbed her arms, ran his fingers through her hair. “I want you now, Annie. My room is no good … someone will hear us.”

“I know … come with me.” She gripped his hand and led him out into the cold night to one of the guest cabins. She pulled him inside and closed the door. “We just have to keep the lights out.”

“Fine by me … we don’t need lights, anyway.” He tugged her close and she melted into him, her mouth hot as they kissed. Fumbling with zippers, buttons … clothing was quickly tossed aside and they stumbled to the bed. Her breath was hot against his skin and she panted heavy and fast. “Now, East, I want you now,” she demanded.

“Not yet.” His voice was hoarse. “Not yet.” He laid her back on the bed, his mouth trailing down her neck to her breast. Her nipple was hard, and he took it between his lips, his tongue teasing it harder. She moaned as he massaged her other breast, tweaking the nipple. He reached down to her core, his fingers sliding in the wetness that coated her folds. She writhed as his mouth followed his fingers … licking and sucking at her hot, hard bud until she tensed and cried out her release.

He stood and knelt on the bed, nudging her legs apart with his knees. “Now, East, please,” she begged and he grinned. “Yeah, love. Now.” And he entered her, slid his full length into her hot path. Their lovemaking was hard, fast, and breathless. They drove each other to the heights and they came together, their hearts throbbing with the exertion. East rolled off and they caught their breath; he chilled with sweat that coated his body. “Under the covers, love, now.” He pulled the blankets over them and they snuggled and relaxed in each others arms, and he drifted off to sleep.

Annie woke him when she stirred, slipping out of the bed. “Where ‘ya goin’, Annie?” he asked, sleepily.

“Gotta go. Richard’s gonna be looking for me.” She fumbled around for her clothes in the dark.

“Ah. Well, I should be goin’, too.” He rose from the bed and reached for his pants.

Annie dressed quickly and stood at the door, looking back at East. “Tomorrow night? Here?”

***

He smiled at the memory. They’d met at least once a week, keeping each other warm on those cold, lonely nights. He wasn’t in love with her nor she with him. And, maybe it was wrong, but their affair filled a need in each of them. And old man Johnston? Well, East reckoned, what he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

But, he had a job to do, and this morning there wasn’t time to waste with memories. The guests for this year’s spring horse drive had arrived last night, their first guests of the season, and the ranch hands had two days to get them in top riding shape before they left on the drive.

Guests. East grimaced as he saddled Applejax. Usually each year there were a few that seem as if they were born horsemen and had been riding all their lives. Most though, tried hard and eventually got the hang of it. Then there were the unlucky bastards who never got it, would never be good horsemen. And East had to teach them all, get them ready for the hard three-day ride herding sixty head of mares from the winter pastures high in the Rockies to the summer pastures near the ranch. And they had to do it safely.

He was leading Applejax out to the corral where the guests were waiting when Tim, old man Johnston’s assistant, stopped him. Tim had a message; the old man wanted to see him now.

East’s brow furrowed. “Now? I’ve got guests waiting.”

Tim shrugged. “The man said now, before the training begins.”

“Okay, let me tie Apples up here and I’ll be in directly.”

The main house was two stories with a long porch. The front doors were elegantly carved and inset with beveled glass. He knocked and could see a figure moving on the other side, distorted by the angles in the glass. The maid opened the door. “Ah, Mr. Driscoll,” she smiled as she greeted him. “Mr. Johnston is expecting you. Follow me.”

East hadn’t been in the big house often, and he was still impressed with the polished wood, the paneling, the paintings on the wall. The décor read money, prestige, long established roots in the land. He wondered where Annie fit into all this; was she happy? They never spoke about themselves when they were together and he thought that possibly, he didn’t really know her at all.

Mr. Johnston opened the office door when the maid knocked. “East, come in,” he said as he gestured to a nearby chair. “Have a seat.”

He nodded and sat as Johnston closed the door and took his place behind his desk. The older man loomed over East as he sat in the low, leather chair facing the desk. Mr. Johnston fumbled with some papers and looked up at East’s questioning face.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why I called you here, especially before the training.” The man’s voice was edgy, cold.

East nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Johnston looked away. “How well do you know my wife, Mr. Driscoll?”

East frowned. “Not well, Mr. Johnston. Why do you ask?”

The older man sighed and folded his hands on the desk. “I’ll get to the point. I know about you two. I’ve known all winter, from the night the affair began.”

East gulped. “Mr. Johnston, I …”

He raised a hand. “Don’t. I don’t want to hear any excuses or apologies. I’ve known for some time that Annie Mae was not faithful to me. She never has been. If it wasn’t you this time, it would have been someone else.”

East looked down, unable to meet the man’s eyes.

“I was willing to let it go on, you know, as long as you and Annie were discreet. It wouldn’t do to have the staff and the guests know I’m a cuckold.”

“Mr. Johnston, I’ve never told anyone, never …”

The man nodded. “I know. But Annie has; boasted about you to her friends, who told their husbands who are business associates and friends of my own. Your affair is no longer a secret, and I can’t have that.”

East’s heart dropped. He knew what was coming, and he dreaded to hear it.

“I’m sorry to say that one of you has to go and unfortunately, it won’t be my wife.”

“I understand, sir.” East’s voice was quiet, and he tried to keep it calm. There was no point in fighting for his job. He knew it was finished regardless.

“Your employment here is terminated, effective immediately. This is the paperwork ending our contract and you need to sign here at the bottom.” Johnston watched sadly as East signed his name and date. “Tim will have your final check and other papers you need.” Johnston reached out his hand and East took it. “I’m sorry to see you go, son. You’re a good horseman.”

East shook the man’s hand firmly, his face grim. “I understand, sir.”

Johnston opened the door and called for Tim, who arrived promptly. The old man said a final goodbye and left East with the assistant, who told him that he had one day to clear out his room in the bunkhouse and vacate the premises. East nodded, took his final check and left the office. He caught sight of Annie watching from the top of the stairwell. Her face was tearstained and sad. He tipped his hat and walked out the door.

***

East Driscoll drove his Dodge pickup down the road to the main highway, his luggage in the back and Apples in the trailer behind him. He wondered which way to turn once he got there; north, south, east, west. He had no place to go. If Egan had still been in Texas, he’d have gone there. Maybe he still would … Texas is a hell of a lot warmer than Montana, and it’d be nice to see some of those Texas girls he kept hearing about. Just then, his cell phone rang. The display read “Jno. Aubrey.”