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Date Posted: 17:29:05 11/18/02 Mon
Author: CCCook
Subject: Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments
In reply to: CCCook 's message, "Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments" on 17:24:47 11/18/02 Mon

From Sue:

**Author's note** Warning the segment below contains adult situations that may prove distasteful to some readers. Though not overly graphic, this segment has broken with the our previous "PG" rating. Please let me know if you think it is too offensive, and I'll remove it to an email only status. Thank you.**


Setting: The Garnett Family Ranch
Time : Saturday, Early afternoon


Hope stood staring down at the cream colored telephone as she replaced the receiver back upon
its cradle. She had just concluded her call to the Pear to check up on Justin. Smiling slightly
through the exhaustion that threatened to overtake her, she remembered the few words she
shared with her son before Lena took charge again to monopolize the conversation. He had
reported to her jubilantly, after inquiring about Josh, that he hit the ball farther than anyone else
on his team and that Miss Lena wasn’t bad, for a girl, as a replacement coach. He was,
however, looking forward to the time when Josh would be able to return. Hearing Lena’s voice
in the background, she listened to her kindly shoo the boy away to get a snack, while she took
reign of the conversation once again. Hope spoke up mentioning to the older woman that they
were now back at the Garnett ranch after spending a few hours at the emergency room while
Josh’s condition was evaluated. 6 stitches had been necessary to repair the gash upon his
forehead, but his x-rays appeared normal. Though Josh had sustained a moderate concussion,
he had been dismissed to her care along with a long list of discharge instructions and warnings.
It wasn’t until they got home that Josh let on that Sam was away for the weekend on a fishing
trip with friends. Still somewhat unsteady on his feet, she helped him into the house and guided
him down the hallway that led to his door. He had attempted to smile his gratefulness to her, but
managed little more than a grimace due to the effort it took him to shift from a standing to a
sitting position upon the bed in his room. Leaning down to remove his shoes proved too much ,
and when he began to pitch slightly forward, Hope reached out to steady him, remarking softly.
“No. Let me do that for you.”

“Thanks.” Was all he could muster as he leaned back against the pillows drawing his legs up
over the side of the bed.

Hope sat down upon its edge next to him, untying his shoes before removing them gently, her
nose wrinkling slightly at the wreak of odor from their previous mishap. She didn’t realize that
Josh was staring back at her beneath his heavy lids. “Sorry.” He managed before adding. “I
don’t know if my stomach could have managed that.”

Hope glanced back at him, remembering the concern of the attending ER nurse, believing that it
had been Josh, himself, that had soiled them as a result of the blow to his head. It had almost
proven to been the bone of contention as to whether he should be admitted for the night or
released.

Staring back down at the paper in front of her, she quickly scanned over the symptoms, that if
they presented themselves, would require immediate medical attention, while noting with
special interest from the bold lettering, the statement concerning the procedure that a patient
suffering the effects of a concussion needed to be awakened every 2 to 3 hours for the first 24
hours. When she had told this to Lena, and said that she would need to stay with Josh, and that
she would be driving back to town to pick up Justin in a hour or so, once she had Josh settled
comfortably, the older woman clucked that would not be necessary. As she began to protest,
Lena quickly silenced her arguments, stating that the boy would stay with her which would prove
to be helpful to everybody concerned in the long run. For it had been a long time, she went on to
say to Hope, since she had the pleasure of Justin’s company for an overnight visit. If Hope’s
recollections proved accurate, there had been only one other time when she had joined some of
the girls from the Pear to go to a concert in Austin. When Hope spoke up again, arguing that
Lena couldn’t possibly do so on a Saturday night, the other woman took no regard to this, stating
that others owed favors to her which she could call in, and that they were staffed adequately for
the evening anyway. “‘ sides...” Lena continued, “ with the Oil Springs Rodeo taking place this
weekend, business was sure to be slower than usual while residents chose to make a day out of
the event.”

Hope knew from past experience when Lena had her mind made up about something, there was
no changing it, and asking to speak with Justin again, she quietly told him to make sure he was
well behaved, not missing Lena’s harumph that of course the boy would be good for her. “Why
wouldn’t he be?” She concluded her call by giving Justin her love, and promised him she’d
be home early tomorrow morning, stating to him that if Josh was up to it, she’d bring him back
out to the ranch for a visit. Still staring down at the phone, she completed that thought now to
herself with “.. as long as Sam Garnett was not back by then...”

Moving now out into the kitchen, she began to search the cabinets for a glass. The discharge
nurse had said that it would be okay for Josh to take some extra strength acetometiphen to
relieve his headache. Anything stronger than that for the time being could not be prescribed for
fear that it might mask any more serious symptoms that could arise. Taking one from the shelf
in front of her, she moved towards the kitchen sink, running the water until it was sufficiently
cool and filling the glass before heading towards the master bathroom in search of the medicine
cabinet. Finding what she required, she went back to Josh’s room discovering it dimly lit. She
had adjusted the shade before she’d left to make her phone call in an effort to ease the
discomforting effects that the sun’s glare had upon him. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness,
she found him asleep, his head slightly propped up on one of the pillows. His body, now lax,
while exhaustion had finally taken it’s toll. Moving closer, she placed the glass and pills upon
the night stand next to his bed, so they’d be readily available when he did awake, and sat down
gently upon the mattress, careful not to jar him or disturb his slumber. She rested there
momentarily, studying his features as his slept. The previous discomfort that etched his face
was now gone as his face relaxed in repose. He looked almost his natural self except for the
white bandage he sported upon the right side of his forehead and the bruise that peeked through
beneath its edges. Unable to stop herself, she leaned forward to brush away a stray lock of his
hair that covered it, her body tensing as she remembered her earlier alarm when the incident first
happened, the blood and pain that marred his features. “Thank you, God.” She prayed quietly,
grateful that he hadn’t been injured more seriously. A slight shudder passed through her at the
thought while she moved her hand away from his face to run it lightly down his arm until it
came to rest upon his hand and she lightly clasped it for reassurance.

Glancing down at her watch, she noted to herself that she could let him sleep for about another
hour and half more before waking him, and stood up to go, moving back out towards the main
room of the ranch. Looking around, she tried to find something to occupy her time with as she
waited. Spying the remote control on the coffee table, she clicked on the TV, surfing through
the channels quickly, and discovering nothing worthwhile to watch, she clicked it back off
minutes later. Next she scanned the coffee table in front of her, looking for something of
interest to read. The few magazines that stared back at her provided nothing spectacular: “Road
and Track”, “Popular Mechanics”, “Today’s Ranching” and finally “ A Sportsman Guide to
Fishing”. Sighing deeply, she reached for the last one only to find herself moments later staring
face to face with a rainbow trout and tried to tackle an article about the benefits of stock fishing.
Slowly she began to feel her eyelids grow heavier as she read on ; her body sinking deeper into
the plushness of the brown leather sofa beneath her...

It was an hour and ten minutes later before she awoke with a start, staring up into the face of the
austere grandfather clock that ticked away in the Garnett family living room, and realizing it
must have been the hourly chimes that had awoken her. Stretching her legs in front of her, she
tried to work out the kink that had settled in both her back and neck from the unnatural position
she had assumed, before moving her hands to her lap to close the magazine in front of her and
arranged it back on the table, making sure that nothing was noticeably amiss from its previous
location. Rising up, she stretched while trying at the same time to contain a rousing yawn.
Glancing back towards the clock, she knew she needed to wake Josh up within the next fifteen
minutes. She prayed that she could rouse him sufficiently enough to get the pain medicine in
him before he returned to slumber. She began moving about the room in an effort to awaken
her body along with her mind.

Her eyes began to glance around the sparsely furnished area around her and took in its decor;
unable to help but notice the feminine touches that still lingered within it. The embroidered
cushions, doilies on well polished tables, a needlepoint wall hanging, white priscilla curtains
framing the bay window that overlooked the expanse of pasture, and finally the mantle above
the fireplace. Many silver gilt frames, holding various family photos, filled it. Moving closer,
her eyes scanned over the many faces that stared back at her. There was one containing a much
younger Sam Garnett, his arm drawn about the shoulder of a slim and pretty blonde woman. A
smile graced both of their faces and beside them stood a black and white paint with a blue
ribbon adorning its bridle. She had almost at first mistook Sam for Shane. There was such a
strong family resemblance between the two; Josh also for that matter especially their eyes.
Her gaze continued on down the row. The next one, she came in contact with, held an old black
and white sepia print showing what looked to be a wedding portrait. The man was in uniform
with a dark haired woman beside him in fine dress. The photograph had faded with time, but
the antique frame surrounding only enhanced the charm of the long ago era as her eyes
searched the pose once more. She was surprised again to see the characteristic trademark eyes,
staring back at her from the uniformed man’s face, guessing at one time that they held the
same steady blue gaze that now blessed so many of his descendants. The next photo brought a
smile to her face as it focused upward towards the towering oak tree in the side yard that held
the boys’ favorite tree house. Three young faces smiled down from it; two fair and one dark.
Josh, Shane and Greg. So, Greg didn’t inherit the fair coloring of his brother and cousin, she
mused. The next one was that of the Garnett family as an older Sam from the first, stood more
fixedly beside his wife and son. Hope guessed Shane to be about 15 or 16, but she could have
been wrong. He, like his father, seemed stiff almost unnatural compared to the more candid shot
of before. She didn’t muse long on this fact however, dismissing it simply due to a studio pose.
Next in line was a Waleski family portrait taken around the same time as that of the Garnett’s
judging from the boys’ appearances. Unlike the Garnett’s, both Josh’s mother and father were
seated, their sons standing behind them. Her eyes roamed over the photo taking in her first
impression of Josh’s family. His mother was lovely; fair like her son; her face held a quiet, and
gentle grace. Greg stood behind her, a relaxed, self assured smile enhanced his features. Her
eyes took in Josh’s father next. She was a little stunned to find such a stern figure looking back
at her through the glass. His jaw firm and his eyes resolute holding no hint of emotion, but what
really surprised her was the son standing behind him. Like his cousin before, he too stood
rigid as if at attention , but it was the eyes looking blankly outward before him that had her
most puzzled. They contained none of their usual sparkle, steadiness or warmth which she had
become so accustomed to. Unable to stop herself she picked up the photo to study it more
carefully; the unnaturalness of it causing her to frown in contemplation. A voice now beside her
caused her to start and almost drop it to the brick shelf beneath her.

“That’s my family.” He stated. Hope turned to find Josh beside her, his hair and clothes now
disheveled from sleep as he continued on, noticing her discomfort. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to
startle you.”

Hope stared back at him, unable to speak at first. Her eyes took in the face looking back down
at hers, thankful that the eyes looking at her now, though sleep hazed , were warm and inviting.
Turning back towards the mantle, she quickly replaced the photo’s frame upon it before moving
back towards him.

“Are you all right?” She asked.

“Better, I guess.” He smiled back as he began to rub his neck. “Though I still have a killer of a
headache.”

“I put a glass of water for you on the night stand beside your bed along with some pills.”

“Sorry, I didn’t see them.” He began and then she noticed him starting to weave slightly upon
his feet, and didn’t hesitate to move to his side, drawing her arm around his middle to steady
him while she spoke up.

“How about we get you back to your room and so you can take them?”

“When did you become my nurse?” He teased lightly, not protesting however as she began to
direct him in that direction.

“Any complaints?” She responded coyly

“No, none at all.” He replied as she helped ease him back upon the bed before sitting down
next to him. “You sure are a sight prettier than that ER battle-ax I had earlier.”

“That’s unkind.” She retorted while handing him the pills and the glass, and watched as he took
them both.

“You wouldn’t say that if it was your ear she was barking orders into, while your head felt as if
it was going to fall off your shoulders. Perhaps ER dominatrix would be more appropriate?”
And he joked, laughing lightly until the action caused him to wince from the pain it brought
about. He noticed Hope blush slightly at his comment before closing his eyes against the
discomfort.

“My, such words from a minister.” Was all she retorted before adding with more concern. “Are
you okay?”


Josh didn’t reply at first, only serving to increase her concern, but when he did open up his
eyes, the blue depths focused slowly upon her and he answered. “As long as you’re here, I will
be.”

“Josh...” She began when he cut her off.

“I’m so sorry.” He began, and when her eyes questioned him about what, he continued on with .
“I’m so sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to pry...to pressure you...”

It was her turn to interrupt. “No, it’s I , who should be sorry. I shouldn’t have expected so
much from you. I should have explained...” She began. “You were right somewhat. about
me not trusting you...but it’s more about me not trusting myself...”

He reached forward to claim her hand with his. “It doesn’t matter...” He started, and when her
eyes once again questioned his, he finished with . “...your past... yours and Justin’s. None of it
matters to me. All that matters to me is you...the both of you.”

Hope’s eyes became bright as she felt the emotions of the moment fill her; Josh’s own blue
eyes were becoming moist too while calling out to hers with an intent intimacy. “All that
matters is you, Hope... I love you.” He repeated huskily.

Hope stared back at him silently as the words he just spoke slowly broke through her long held
defense. A tremor coursed through her, and he moved towards her, joining her, reaching out
now to claim her other hand within his own. She could only stare back at him silently, finding
comfort within his eyes; their depths exuding both the warmth and steadiness she was so
accustomed to, but now they held something else too. Or had it been there all along? Had she
just not allowed her heart to recognize it before this? For the love that his words so eloquently
proclaimed only moments before was present there too, burning brightly within their depths.

“Laugh and cry, live and die
Life is a dream we are dreaming
Day by day I find my way
Look for the soul and the meaning

Then you look at me
And I always see
What I have been searching for
I’m lost as can be
Then you look at me
And I am not lost anymore.

People run, sun to sun,
Caught in their lives ever flowing
Once begun, life goes till it’s gone
We have to go where it’s going

Then you look at me
And I always see
What I have been searching for
I’m lost as can be
Then you look at me
And I am not lost anymore...”**

“I love you, too.” She answered back simply. “I have for a long time, though I didn’t admit it
to myself till last night.” Her words served to release a tightly leashed constraint he had placed
upon himself, and moving forward he gathered her gently into his arms, drawing her towards
him, his eyes holding hers as his hands moved to her face, his fingers lightly framing it as the
pads of his thumbs brushed gently along her cheekbones before allowing his hands to weave
through her hair finding and caressing the back of her neck and to brush against her ears and
lobes, then moving downwards to trace her jaw line, before he grasped her chin lightly,
tilting it up to let her face meet with his. His lips sought hers, lightly touching them in a
whisper of a kiss as his eyes tried to retain their focus, fevered now with need. They hesitated
in question before allowing himself to continue any further. Her answer was to draw her arms
up around his shoulders and neck, her hands gently clasping behind them urging him forward
towards hers and opening her mouth in welcoming response to his; glorying in the warmth and
passion it sought from her own. Josh continued to kiss her while his hands brushed along her
neck moving downward to find her shoulders, then sliding towards the neckline of her shirt,
before coming in contact with her flesh beneath it. His fingers splayed across her shoulders,
while his thumbs brushed gently against the length of her collar bone. His mouth caught her
whimper of need as his hands moved the fabric further away from her while they sought out
the soft flesh of her upper arm before moving beneath it towards the sensitive skin that lay
there. His movements stilling while his eyes sought out hers once again, asking, as if trying to
judge her response. Without a moment’ hesitation , she drew hers forward towards her blouse
to begin unfastening each button.

“Are you sure?” He breathed unsteadily.

“Yes.” She replied with equal shakiness while dragging the material from her shoulders, his
hands momentarily stilling, before reaching behind her to release the one remaining clasp that
stood between them. As he did, the laxness of the silky fabric fell forward upon her shoulders
and moving his hands towards it, he drew the straps that remained down her arms until the
garment fell unheeded to the bed below them, baring all of her to him finally. He hesitated
momentarily, taking in the loveliness of her body , before reaching forward to bring her closer
towards him, his hands finding her back, brushing her shoulders with their warmth before
moving forward to cup and caress , his mouth once again seeking out her own with passion
before moving down her towards her jaw, her neck her shoulders; following the path of his
hands. Her own hands were working their way up under the t-shirt he wore bringing the fabric
with them as it rode higher up his chest and back. Her lips pressed keening kisses against his
shoulders and chest before moving to his neck until her breath caught in her throat, her
whimper muffled against the warmth of his flesh as she felt his breath then mouth against her....

“And you say you see
When you look at me
The reason you love life so
Though lost I have been
I find love again
And life just keeps on running
And life just keeps on running....”**


His hands held her to him, cupping her bottom, allowing his weight to rest against her while her
legs entwined with his. Normalcy was slowly returning to them now, both in breathing and in
the knowledge of the world surrounding them. Josh made to move away lowering her back
towards the softness of the bed below them, but her arms tightened about him, her hands
moving up and down caressing the now damp flesh of his back. “No, don’t.” She whimpered
to him. “Don’t leave me!” She pleaded.

His eyes opened towards hers, taking in their need, and moving his weight from his arms, his
body sank back into the welcoming comfort of hers once again as his hands found then framed
her face once more. His eyes never leaving hers, their depths pledging a sincerity as he spoke.
“I won’t, Hope. I never will.” He drew her closer to kiss her sweetly, then moving her from
beneath him finally, he turned to gather her within his arm drawing her back towards his chest as
his hand sought out her breast, cupping it within its warmth, lazily drawing light circles against
the now sensitive flesh with the pads of his thumb and forefinger while his mouth nuzzled her
neck and shoulder and he whispered once again his pledge of love against her skin before
drawing the covers up over both of them.

“You look at me and life comes from you.” **



** Then You Look At Me by Celine Dion.

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