Knotted Roots - Part 5

“This is quite the property, I see why your friend returned home,” Greg stated in awe. It was only natural for people to love the Blacks’ land. It had a gorgeous view of the mountain range, the open meadow filled with wildflowers. And every evening, God painted masterpieces across the sky. With a steadying breath I exited the car, Greg already halfway to the door. Scurrying to catch up, I had to make sure I was nearby as the Black’s don’t take kindly to strangers on their doorstep. With a rapid rasp on the door, Mr. Black peeked through the thin screen door, “Grace! What a lovely surprise to see you!” Mr. Black exclaimed, swinging the screen door open. “And who’s this?” His face stern with Greg before him, a stranger. “Mr. Black, this is…” “I’m Greg, Greg Combs.” A sly smile on his face. He extended his hand to Mr. Black although hesitant, I sensed he shook Greg's hand to appease the tension in the air and because I brought him here. “Right, well, come inside.” “Actually…” Greg began, “We’d love to Mr. Black!” I cut in, overstepping Greg, saving him from the Black’s generational test of respect. Greg followed my lead, “Great! I believe there’s still some tea in the fridge, help yourself Grace.” “Thank you sir.” I left Greg and Mr. Black in the main living area for a brief moment, returning with a glass of tea for everyone. “Mr. Black, I was hoping your son, Justin, was around?” “Justin? You mean Jasper?” “Yes, my apologies, sir. Where is he exactly?” “Well, he went into town, said he needed some supplies for the barn, probably won’t be back for quite awhile. What’s all this about?” Mr. black pressed, almost demanding Greg to answer him. I had to intervene before Mr. Black took offense to Greg being in his home. “Mr. Black, Greg, I brought everyone a glass!” “Ah, thank you love.” Greg replied, wrapping me up to sit upon his knee as we all sat in the living area. Mr. Black appeared to notice that Greg meant more to me than just an acquaintance and I was thankful when his expression softened. “So, you said Jasper went into town?” I asked, as if to thin the thickness lingering in the air. “That’s right, I was just telling Greg here that he probably won’t be back for quite some time.” “I see. Well I’d be more than happy to leave you with a Shepherd’s pie before we leave, I mean you’ve been so kind to us.” “Oh, how could I resist some of the Wither’s best recipes! I’d be delighted.” Mr. Black respectfully accepted my offer, but he was keeping his eye on Greg. “Well, I’ll leave you men to it, and I’ll be in the kitchen.” “Let me help you love.” Greg piped up, “Oh, don’t be silly Greg. Besides I’m sure you and Mr. Black have a lot to talk about.” I said with a coy smile, hoping he would at least tell Mr. Black his feelings for me. I mean I know the Black’s aren’t family, but Greg knows how I treat’em as such. If tonight is a proposal, perhaps he could at least enlighten Mr. Black.

The wind blew my sweaty hair as I drove windows down on a dilapidated dirt road, avoiding potholes as I headed into town. The radio playing my favorite country songs! It was a beautiful day to apologize to Grace, which is what prompted this unprecedented trip into town. I’ve been avoiding it like the plague since I returned home, gossip is something I don’t entertain. Seemed like that’s all there is to do in this sleepy ghost town. Pa said to find something meaningful, and that’s what I plan to do. Parking my truck, I hopped out, donning my cowboy hat and began peering into the windows of the shops. “Well I’ll be…” a familiar female voice proclaimed behind me, the woman looked familiar but I couldn’t quite place her. “I’m not sure if I can believe my eyes, Jasper Black is back?!” Her voice radiant, her eyes beaming with delightful surprise. And before I could react, she threw her arms around my neck and I just embraced her, scared of what she might do if I didn’t. “I’m sorry love, but uh, I’m not sure I remember you? I mean you look familiar but…” “Oh come now, I don’t expect you to remember lil’ ole me. Jane Cross.” My mouth nearly dropped when she said her name, Jane was a girl from high school, she hung out with Grace and I every now and then, but she lived on the opposite side of town so we drifted apart as we got older. “Jane! You look incredible!” Jane was stunning, still every bit of athletic and could ride with the best of us. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you before.” “Oh don’t be silly Jasper!” She laughed it off, ensuring me that it was harmless. “I’m just amazed you returned, tell me how’s your Pa? Heard he was falling ill.” Her genuine concern was comforting, at least everyone looked out for him, especially when I was nowhere to be found. “He’s managing, but that’s actually why I’m here.” “Ah, so the rumors are true, you’ve returned for good huh?” “Something like that, yeah. It’s just, my Pa has always been there for me, and now I get to be there for him.” Her face softened, her smile comforting my troubled wound. “Why don’t we grab a bite to eat from Ginny’s diner? I mean if you’re free.” I didn’t want to say no, and honestly I was glad to run into someone I grew up with, someone who knew me as I was before, someone I wasn’t hurting. “Sure, maybe you can help me with something afterwards?” Her dark chocolate hair draped like silk over her shoulder, her head leaned to one side, and she brushed my elbow. “I’d love to Jasper, but first…FOOD!” With a warm chuckle we traveled to the end of the road where the diner sat at the corner of town. We ordered our food, idly chatting and catching up. Memories of parties and school, the spontaneous outing became a pleasant one, and at least I could get a woman’s opinion of whatever it is I get for Grace. “How’s about we get outta’ here huh?” I whispered, leaving plenty of cash to cover the bill and tip on the table. “Lead the way cowboy!” Jane’s playful tone pulled a smile from the corner of my lips. “So what are you looking for?” She asked as we began slowly waking and window shopping. “I’m not sure yet, I think I’ll know when I see it.” “Well, we might be walking for some time then!” She laughed, her willingness to readjust whatever her schedule was for me was endearing. “Who’s the lucky girl?” I stopped, curious on how she picked up on it. “Oh c’mon Jasper, guys don’t just go window shopping unless they’re trying to swoon a lady friend.” I couldn’t help but giggle as her accent grew thick like Grace’s does. “Okay, guilty as charged!” I raised my hands in defeat playfully, “Well, who is she?” Jane’s curiosity was adorable, “Grace, Grace Withers.” When I spoke her name Jane’s expression softened for a brief moment, “Isn’t she with…” “Greg Combs?” I answered her question with a nod, “You know, they say that if you love someone to let them go. And if they come back, then you are fated to be together.” My head hung low, the brim of my hat shielding the look of reality. “Jasper, I didn’t mean to discourage you. I mean you’re a cowboy! Anyone would be lucky to have you swooning over them!” Her voice lifted as she tried to reassure me. Bringing myself together I lifted my head to meet her eyes, and I found something familiar, hope in Jane’s caramel eyes. “You’re right.” “Look, I know you and Grace seemed destined! I mean you’re like every western romance in the flesh! But Grace has Greg and they seem happy, if you pursue her, are you prepared for the pain it’ll bring if you make the wrong step, if this doesn’t go your way?” The honest reality in her voice was enough to cause an earthquake, but it was a truth I needed to hear. “Thank you.” I nodded to Jane, truly thankful for how she cared about how I might feel if I was rejected, if after all my efforts Grace was more happy with Greg. “Oh. My. Heart!” Jane exclaimed with such a shrill of joy, “Jasper, look! That’s it, that’s what you should get her!” Jane’s eyes were fixated on a cowboy hat, one that was a weathered brown wool, with the outlines of two revolvers atop of the brim. A small sign read “The Gambler Hat.” My eyes narrowed, studying every speck of the beautiful creation. “Jane, I think you might be right.” I whispered as I entered the store and bought it. “Well, cowboy, looks like you got what you came here for.” Jane said her eyes were shimmering like amber and her smile causing her dimples to come out. I couldn’t help but think of how cute she is. “I couldn’t have done this without you Jane, you, I don’t know how to thank you.” “Come to church Sunday mornin’ and afterwards, if you’d like, you can come and have lunch at my place. Grace can come too, if you know, everything works out.” Something about Jane was comforting, softly calming my storm within, perhaps because she was an old friend, but I couldn’t say no when she spent most of her day helping me, I glanced at my watch and nearly choked when I saw it was nearing 7pm! “My gosh! I’m really sorry Jane, thank you again for everything but I really need to get going, my father’s probably waiting on supper right now. But, I’ll be there!” Hopping into my truck and gently placing Grace’s gift in the passenger seat, I revved up the engine and hurried home.

Pulling into the drive my eyes narrowed and brow furrowed inwards as I saw an unfamiliar vehicle in the drive. One that didn’t belong to anyone I knew in the area. Worried something might’ve happened to Pa I sprinted inside, my heart nearly beating out my chest as I practically took the hinges off the front door “Pa!” I hollered, the sound of concern contorting my voice until I heard what sounded like laughter and dishes from the kitchen, “In here dear boy!” Pa hollered from the kitchen. What I saw when I walked in made me question everything. Grace was there, washing dishes and enjoying the chatter between Pa and that slime ball Greg. “What’s going on?” My voice is harsh, anger brewing. “Jasper!” Grace’s emerald eyes glimmered from across the room, but they couldn’t calm the storm within my warring chest. “Jasper Black, Greg Combs!” Greg extended his hand, “We’ve met.” I stammered, unwilling to touch his greasy lotion lathered hand. “Greg here says he had hoped to run into you before they parted ways, and Grace is a mighty fine cook, I just couldn’t say no when she offered.” Pa began as he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying a shepherd’s pie. Greg slanked his skinny arm over my shoulders which I shuddered off, “Jasper, why don’t you and I talk.” My father’s pleading eyes to be cordial burned into me as I reluctantly left Grace with my father in the kitchen. Greg and I went to the front porch, “What’s this about Greg?” “Why all the hostility Justin?” “Jasper.” “Right…” “You come onto my property, into my home, make Grace slave over a meal for my father just so you can speak to me…something’s not right about that.” I gritted through my teeth, desperate to refrain from causing any alarm to Grace or my father. “Look, I have the ability to make all of your worries vanish!” “I’m not buying anything from you.” “Perfect, because I’m the one wanting to buy.” His words twisted my brain like a knot, he wanted to buy? Buy what? My arms instinctively crossed over my chest, suddenly feeling protective. “Ah! Yeah, see your father’s health is poor, everyone knows it, and you, well let’s be honest. You can’t handle this ranch by yourself.” “I seem to be managing just fine right now.” Greg scoffed at my words, “See, that’s the problem isn’t it. You’re all alone. But I don’t want to just buy this property Jasper, oh no. I seek to brand it. Grace and I, well, we’re something of a power couple, and when she wants something bad enough, well, I appease her wishes.” Greg sneered, “You’re trying to tell me that Grace wants my birthright, my property? To live here with the lowly likes of you?” I laughed at the very thought, sure Grace was with this guy but she wouldn’t be so conniving to actually strip me of my own home, my legacy. “And see that’s where your wrong again, because I’ve already started marking my territory around here. I see the way you look at her, I know you wish you were me. So what do you say?” Refusing to answer, I continued to look off into the distance, it was getting late, and I grew tired of his word play. “Leave.” I stated firmly, “You've overstayed your welcome.” Greg nodded, “Think about it.” He said placing a thin piece of paper in my hand. Peering down, I saw that it was a check. I shoved the check in my pocket and returned to the kitchen to relieve Grace of the dishes. “Grace dear, it’s time we leave the Black family and get you home.” Greg said with a crooked smile, wrapping her into a kiss, and I watched painfully as she kissed him back. Maybe Greg was right, maybe Jane was right too, maybe Grace is happier with Greg. Pa stood from his chair, and I stood beside him, offering him an arm to steady himself, “Well, everyone, I grow tired and wish to retire to my room.” “Goodnight, Mr. Black,” Grace said with an endearing hug before she made her way to me. Possessively and to annoy Greg I wrapped my bulging biceps around Grace and buried my face into that zesty perfume wafting from her neck. “Be safe, kitten.” I whispered where only she could hear. Without saying a word, I walked behind them, as if ushering them outside, and watched them rip out of my driveway and towards Grace’s home.

I checked on Pa as he seemed to be intentional about going to bed, as if prompting me to get that con artist out of our home. “Pa?” I pushed his door open and saw him sitting on the edge of his bed, his face spoiled in despair. “Jasper, you must not, under any circumstances, trust that boy.” The stern tone in his voice was begging me to promise him. “Do you see now why I must win over Grace’s heart?” “What she sees in him I don’t know, but you must promise to never trust him.” “I promise Pa.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell him what Greg spoke of, how he wanted to buy the property. “This is my home Pa, I’ll die protecting it.” “Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” With an understanding nod, Pa shifted to lay down, “I grow weary, Jasper. Goodnight.” “Night Pa.” I quietly shut his door behind me, and as I made my way to my room, I pulled out the check, reading 1.5 million dollars. I crumbled it up and shoved it in a dresser drawer, searching for a similar black outfit I wore the other night to Grace’s house. Call it instinct, or a pulsating rage, but all I knew was that this became a hunt. If I had to give up Grace to protect my property, then so be it. Although I still have time, time to change her mind.

After Greg dropped me off, he gave me a goodnight kiss. Perhaps he was simply trying to deter me from catching onto the proposal? If there even is one. I played along and made my way upstairs eager to slip into a beautiful satin black dress, one perfect for a mysteriously romantic adventure like the one depicted in that black envelope. As the heels clinked across the wooden floor, my hair swept forward with a perfect bounce to the curls, almost like that of a curtain draped over my shoulder. “You look delightful!” Ma exclaimed as she kissed my cheek before I left to ride Spot into the meadow. “Thanks Ma, but I’m going to be late.” With that, I hoisted myself upon Spot and we made our way through the starry night sky, where the meadow opened and there he was, dressed like the thick ink that had dripped across the parchment, like black silk luring me into the open field. I commanded Spot to halt, and upon my dismount, allowed him to roam freely. I’ve never seen Greg go out of his way like this before, it was new, exciting. “You came…” A commanding voice echoed closing the distance between us, but I knew that voice, that wasn’t Greg, it was…”Jasper!” When I spoke his name, his wild, hungry eyes raked my body. The way his stormy eyes softened as he breathed in, the way my heart pounded like it was being chased, and perhaps, I was. That rugged, masculine scent of woods was euphoric. The way his biceps threatened to rip the seams of his shirt, the way his chest peeked out, made me ache for him.

She came! And she looks absolutely stunning in that dress, and oh what a tease you are, that slit goes all the way to that bare hip underneath. As she stepped closer, I could tell she was taking it all in, “You look delightful!” My voice was so low that only I could hear. My body was rigid yet welcoming, as if a lure, beckoning her to step closer, to close the distance between us. Nothing but the moonlight and starry sky above us. “You came,” I stated, my voice low and amused by her doe-like eyes, shimmering of green forest leaves in the darkness. “Well, to be fair, I thought you were Greg, I mean, I anticipated you to be Greg.” “Why’s that?” Curiosity dripping off my hungry lips, my eyes roaming her body, envisioning what’s underneath, or what’s not. “It doesn’t matter much now, does it.” Her voice bubbled, something she does when she gets anxious in the best of ways. “I came, isn’t that enough?” She continued, “Yes, kitten.” My voice breathless, my arms finally embracing hers, my head leaning down towards her forehead to plant a kiss. “Why did you bring me here?” She asked, her eyes closing as if the anticipation between us was lulling her into my arms. “I wanted to apologize, a real apology this time.” “Go on,” She encouraged, and I then brought forth the gambler hat I had bought for her. “When my eyes laid on this, it reminded me of us. Smoking guns, a gamble, risk. A risk worth taking.” I merely spoke above a whisper as I presented the hat to her, my lips inches from her ear. “Jasper, I…it’s beautiful!” She pulled me into a hug, and before separating I pulled her back in, this time for that same deeply passionate kiss. The type of kiss where my soul exchanged from my chest to hers, hoping she could feel it. With a fevered exchange, I’d say she accepted, and we took the night slow. Pressing against each other, I lifted her leg to wrap my waist, exposing that high slit. My fingertips skimmed the surface of her bare skin. With a hidden speaker and remote in my pocket, I searched for the power button, and the radio played soft country tunes. “What do you say Grace? Will you have this dance?” She clung to my shoulder and we two-stepped all night, twirling her under the moonlight. Intoxicated by each other's vulnerableness. “Grace, come home with me?” I asked her, desperation in my voice. “What?” “You heard me, kitten.” She leaned back seeing the seriousness in my expression. “Please darlin’, just this once.” Her face was unreadable, I leaned on hope, and teased her with another feathery kiss atop her collarbone, my lower abdomen pressing against her leg. My finger tracing her jawline, and my thumb rubbing her lower lip. “Just this once…” She whispered, sealing her answer with a kiss. I helped her up and signaled for Spot.

Assisting her on his back, we rode fast, the shivers from the wind a tease of what’s yet to be. Once back at my home, I secured Spot in the pen adjacent to the barn before swooping Grace up like a bride. Relentlessly kissing her as I climbed the stairs blindly, trusting my footing with each step. Grace gently and quietly swung my door open, and we crossed the threshold of my bedroom, and if only for tonight, I had her as I had always dreamed. I gently grounded her on her bare feet, her heels hooked on a curled finger, her face drunk in lust. With a sharp push and pull, I turned Grace so she was bent over the edge of my bed, her back to my chest. I slowly pulled on the zipper and was speechless by her nakedness underneath. I tickled her with light butterfly kisses down her spine as I quickly shed the clothes off my back and let my jeans drop with a heavy thud. “Last chance, kitten, are you sure you want this?” “Yes.” Her short-winded response made my eyes grow dark with a desperate need for her. Her eyes pleaded as she whispered my name with a need so heavy it would be a sin not to appease her. Afterwards, we collapsed, exhausted, onto the bed and held her close under the quilt until her heavy eyes drifted into her dreams. She’s just scared, I thought to myself, scared of a love so wild like those mustangs running rampant on the ridge. The next morning, I slipped out from under the quilt, slipped on my jeans, and crept ever so quietly to Grace’s side of the bed. Bending over, I planted a light kiss atop her forehead. “This is just the beginning, Grace…” I murmured in a light breath so careful not to wake her as I slipped outside and went to start breakfast. “Mornin…” “Pa?!” Pa’s voice startled me as he wasn’t usually up this early. “You sleep ok?” I asked, hoping that my selfish desires didn’t disrupt him. “Oh, I slept like a baby.” An all-knowing smirk spread across his face. I just chuckled and gave him an apologetic look, “Need a refill?” I asked, pointing to his coffee mug. “Nah, the doctor said I shouldn’t consume more than one cup of joe a day. Remember?” Sharing a laugh with his joke, I just nodded, and excused myself, eager to get the chores done, “Oh! Jasper…” “Yes, Pa?” “I heard some wolves last night. Do you mind checking the herd?” I knew that would delay me from finishing early as I had hoped, but the cattle were a big portion of our income, and if wolves were nearby, well, the ranch would suffer immensely. “Yeah, Pa, I’ll head out there.”