All the characters in this story are fictional; any resemblance to anyone alive, or dead is simply just uncanny. All characters in this story are 18 years or older.
Ryan walked back into the kitchen after talking with his father. He poured a cup of coffee; he could feel three sets of eyes following his every move. 'Damn that tastes good,' he thought as he sat down at the table.
"Well?" Uncle Bill enquired, "How did it go with your dad?"
Ryan nodded, "Good. Actually better than I expected, his main concern is for me to finish school. Once I explained that I was, and that I'm just going to change my major, he was fine."
Cracking a wry grin, Uncle Bill responded, "Yeah, well I wouldn't want to be in his shoes when he tells your mother tonight."
Ryan couldn't help but laugh, the mental picture he had of his father telling his mother wasn't a pretty one, "Nope, me either. I don't think I would even want to be a fly on the wall."
Aunt Suzanne had been silent, but she finally spoke, "I would have never thought you would have wanted to take up ranching with us. I want you to know Ryan, that I'm happy you have, I truly am."
There were reservations in Suzanne's heart, but she had none about Ryan partnering up with her husband, she had seen with her own eyes the transformation that Ryan had made. When he first arrived, he looked and sounded like a kid from the city, now it was like he had grown up on the ranch. Her reservations were from her fear that Ryan and Jessi were getting too close.
Jessi couldn't believe what she was hearing, it was all she could do not to get up and dance around the kitchen with joy. She knew there had been a change in Ryan, now she realized what part of it was.
Just then the phone rang, Aunt Suzanne got up and answered it, "Hello...yes, he is, let me get him for you."
Aunt Suzanne pointed at Ryan, "It's for you."
Ryan's heart sank like a brick in a river; surely his dad hadn't called his mother already. With trepidation Ryan took the telephone from his aunt.
Taking a deep breath, and steeling himself for the oncoming verbal onslaught he finally said, "Hello."
The voice on the other end wasn't his mother demanding an explanation, nor was it his father.
"Ryan, this is Walter Red Elk, we met the other day."
Ryan felt a surge of relief pour over his body, "Hi Walter."
"I have a big favor to ask of you."
"Okay," Ryan replied, "What is it."
"Well," Walter explained, "My cousin Amos broke his leg last night. We are entered in the rodeo next weekend, in the team-roping event. He can't ride, so," Walter hesitated for a moment, "I was hoping you would fill in for him."
Ryan was down right astonished, "Me. Are you sure you called the right person."
Walter laughed, "After watching you ride the other day, yes, I am sure."
"I wouldn't even know what to do," Ryan replied.
"I could show you, we could work at your ranch, I know you could do it," Walter's voice sounded like it was starting to lose hope.
Ryan shrugged his shoulders, "Well, we can give it a try."
Walter's voice brightened, "Good, I will swing by tomorrow and we will get started."
Ryan sat back down at the table and looked at his uncle, aunt, and cousin, "You're gonna love this, Walter wants me to ride with him in the rodeo. By the way, what's team roping?"
"What happened to Amos, he usually rides with Walter?" Uncle Bill asked.
"Busted his leg, that's what Walter said," Ryan replied.
Uncle Bill nodded, "Well team roping, there's two riders, and a steer. The steer gets a head start. The riders then take in after the steer, one of the riders, a header, has to rope the steer around the head, or horns, and straighten him out, the other rider, the heeler, has to rope the hind legs. Time stops when the horses face each other, and the ropes are taut."
Rubbing his chin for a moment, Uncle Bill continued, "Seems to me that Amos was the header, and Walt the heeler."
Ryan sat there trying to make heads or tails of what he had just gotten himself into. The whole time Jessi sat there with a grin on her face that just wouldn't quit.
"And just what would make Walter think I can do this?" asked Ryan.
"Well, what you were doing with the cattle the other day, when you roped those steers that were making a run for it, that's exactly what the header does," answered Uncle Bill.
"Oh!" exclaimed Uncle Bill, slapping his hand to his forehead "I dang near forgot, a livestock hauler will be here today for those cattle. Jessi, take Ryan out to the corral and check out those steers in the holding pen. You know what to look for, show Ryan."
Jessi nodded and then grinned at Ryan, "C'mon cowboy, we've got cattle to check."
As they walked to the corral Jessi explained, "Dad takes a lot of pride in his cattle, and he has a reputation for producing top grade beef. He doesn't use any growth hormones like some of those big outfits do."
As they turned to go around the barn towards the holding pens Jessi grabbed Ryan and pulled him down into a pile of hay. She sat on top of him grinning, "I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed last night."
"Me too!" Ryan ran his hands up her shirt and fondled her breasts, "Mmm, you're not wearing a bra."
Jessi pulled on her shirt, the snaps quickly popped apart exposing her bare breasts, "I like going bra-less sometimes," a mischievous grin came over her face, "Especially when I'm around you."
Ryan cupped each breast with a hand; he continued to marvel at how her breasts felt in his hands, his erection strained against his jeans. He stroked her hard nipples, and then rolled them between his thumb and forefinger.
"Do you think we have time?" Ryan asked.
Jessi feigned a sad look and shook her head, "Probably not, I think mom suspects something, she has been giving the both of us some weird looks."
Ryan smiled and continued fondling Jessi's breasts, "I know what you mean about the looks. I guess we should check the cattle."
Jessi nodded and got up, while she did her shirt back up, "Maybe I should start wearing skirts with no panties, that way we could get at it quicker."
Ryan laughed as he got up, "Yeah, we wouldn't get anything done at all then."
Jessi rubbed the bulge in his jeans with the palm of her hand, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get you all hard."