Always Ch. 02

"I believe he said you and he would be 'the new power couple' who would 'run this country'."

"Oh my God," she breathed. "The moxie of that guy. I can't believe he had the nerve to ask you to step aside so that I would be free for him to just acquire."

"Well, I can't blame him for wanting you...ouch!" he said as she slapped his arm. She was smiling so he didn't feel like he'd upset her.

"Careful, Buster," she said, sternly, but with a smile on her face.

"My mom didn't raise no foolish papooses," Raph smiled innocently at her.

"No, but she sure raised a sexy one," she said, grabbing him around the neck and pulling him close, her lips pressing tightly to his. She rolled them both over until Raph was on his back and she was straddling his waist. As she sat up, the sheets fell on Raph's upper thighs. Raph looked up at this goddess with her firm breasts and hard nipples.

"Do you want me," she asked, seductively.

"Always," he whispered, a huge smile on his face as his hands rose toward those perfect breasts.

*****

"Bacon and scrambled eggs okay?" Raph asked as Riley came into the kitchen. They'd shared a shower after their passion-filled morning 'exercises'. Raph had dressed in a pair of Wranglers and a collared tee-shirt that he always kept in his bag for unexpected layovers. Riley still had to dress and dry her hair so Raph had offered to go down and start breakfast.

"I usually, just have some fruit and maybe some cereal, but sure, why not," she smiled at him. He could only look for a moment and wonder how she managed to be so beautiful no matter what she wore. Last night she had been a classic, movie star kind of beautiful. In her work attire, she managed to make conservative work suits elegant and beautiful. At home, she pulled off that 'girl next door' innocence that was beautiful and incredibly sexy. She had on a tee-shirt that wasn't obscenely tight, yet showed her figure perfectly. She also wore a pair of wrangler jeans which accentuated her hips and toned butt like they were made special, just for her and of course, she was barefoot as she tended to be whenever shoes weren't an absolute necessity.

"Scrambled eggs and bacon, coming right up," he said, cracking the eggs into a bowl. He cooked their breakfast and served it up while Riley poured glasses of orange juice and went ahead and set out a tray of apple slices, red seedless grapes, orange slices, and strawberries.

"What are your plans today?" Riley asked as they ate their breakfast.

"I don't have any, that I know of," he answered, shrugging his shoulders.

"Would you, uh, care to go for a horse ride?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, I'd like that. I haven't ridden in a few years but I used to love riding."

"Great!" she exclaimed.

They finished eating and cleaned up the dishes. Riley ran up to her room and came back down a few minutes later with her riding boots. She also had on a white straw Stetson hat and her hair hung in a low ponytail.

"Too bad we don't have a hat for you, but I think my dad's head is probably bigger than yours," she said.

"I am from Texas, Miss Riley. I'll be right back."

Raph quickly ran out to his truck and retrieved his own white straw Stetson from the roof-mounted hat holder.

"Oh my," Riley said, fanning her face dramatically when he returned, "be still my beating heart."

"Easy now or you'll make my head swell and my hat won't fit," he said, grinning at her.

They went hand in hand, toward the large barn. As they entered Riley led him to a row of stables.

"See if you can find one you like," she said, indicating the row of stables.

Raph walked down the row. The Barrett's had some beautiful horses. Most looked to be Quarter Horses. Raph found a blood-bay gelding with 3 white stockings and a blaze face that caught his eye.

"How about this one?" he said, indicating the blood-bay.

"That's Ranger, he's one of my favorites as well," she said, looking fondly at the horse.

"Oh, I can pick another one," Raph said quickly.

"Oh no, it's fine. I'm going to ride Rocky," she said, pointing to an equally beautiful steel-dust gelding.

Riley showed him where to find a saddle, blanket, and bridle. Once they had the horses saddled and ready, they led them outside the barn and mounted.

"Are you ready, Cowboy?" Riley asked.

"Ready when you are, Cowgirl," Raph replied.

Together they rode out. Riley had a surprising knowledge of cattle, horses, grass, and all things ranching. Raph was surprised at himself for continuing to be surprised by Riley. It seemed there was no place or situation he could place her in where she wouldn't seem at home. She sat her saddle like she'd been born on one. She was casual, relaxed, but also confident in her skills. She rode and talked about grazing, movements of cattle herds to make sure no one section was overgrazed. She talked about cold nights spent with her father and the hands looking for an old cow that was about to calf. She told of water holes, springs, and creeks that were improved to supply water to either the cows or the land by way of irrigation or water wells to improve grass quantity and quality.

They rode for four hours and had not seen the same piece of land twice. As they topped out on a low rise, Raph was surprised to see what looked like a grass landing strip. It was well maintained and included a large windsock and a hanger building.

"Y'all have aircraft here on the ranch?" Raph asked.

"Dad bought a Cessna a few years back," she said, shaking her head. "He intended to learn how to fly but just didn't have the time to devote to it. One of our neighbors, Norman Peters has his private pilot's license so he uses the plane from time to time. Dad thought about buying one of those small helicopters when he saw a show on TV about some of those Australian cattle ranches that are the size of several US states. They use helicopters to help round up the cattle or search for strays. Dad thought that seemed reasonable, but by the time he figured out how much one cost, and the fact that he didn't know anybody licensed to fly it, he decided to scrap that idea."

They rode down the hill and parallel to the grass runway. The hanger was big enough for probably three or four small planes.

They continued their ride, eventually coming back to the barn.

"Thank you, Riley. It's been too long since I've ridden and I enjoyed getting to ride with you today."

"You're welcome, Babe. I enjoy riding and have neglected it lately myself. We need to do it more often."

They unsaddled the horses and gave them a good rubdown before returning them to their respective stables, giving them feed and water.

"So long, Ranger," Raph said to the blood-bay, giving him a firm scratching along his jaw and around his ears where the bridle had ridden.

"Can I ask you for a favor?" Riley asked him as they walked back toward the main house.

"Of course," Raph replied eagerly.

"I would like to hire you again, to take me down to my mother's for a weekend."

"I'm sure Charter Air would be glad to take your charter, but I feel bad about you having to spend that kind of money just for us to take a trip to Austin."

"I've driven it several times and believe me, I'd much rather pay for the charter."

"If that's what you want to do, I'd be glad to fly you down for the weekend."

"Perfect," she said, wrapping her arms around his arm. "I'll call Angela first thing Monday morning."

*****

"Hey Angela," Raph said, as he entered her office. He had just returned from a Dallas turn-around flight and was handing in his paperwork.

"Hey Raph," she said, looking up from her computer. "I guess this is not a surprise to you, but your girlfriend called today and has requested you to fly her to Austin again -- leaving on Friday and returning Sunday evening."

"Yes, she told me she wanted to go back and see her mom again," he admitted.

"Okay, well, I've got you booked so you're all set," Angela said, looking back down at her computer. "I'm going to assume you're not going to need lodging this time?"

"No, probably not," Raph smiled as he set the paperwork in the basket on her desk and left.

*****

"Okay, there are some things you need to know about my mom," Riley said once they'd landed in Austin and gotten in the rented Audi sedan. "She's usually at least partly inebriated. She doesn't have a filter between her brain and her mouth. If she thinks it, she says it. She can be very 'open' about things so don't let her embarrass you."

"It's okay, Riley. I'm sure she'll be just lovely," Raph said, trying to calm her.

"No, Raph, that's just it. She's anything but 'lovely'. If she wasn't my mother, I definitely wouldn't hang around her, but the fact is she is my mother and if we're going to be together, you're going to have to meet her eventually. I just want to get the shock and awe out of the way and if you still want to be with me after seeing how I might turn out, then I know that's just one thing out of the way."

"I firmly believe that how people turn out is based on the decisions they make and from what I've seen, you make good decisions, except when it comes to the men you date," he said, trying to stifle a grin.

"Yeah, I don't know why I would want a sweet, kind, gentle, handsome pilot. Shows poor decision-making skills," she said, looking straight ahead.

"You forgot great in the sack," he prodded.

"Well, by comparison, yeah," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Ouch," he flinched. "That hurt."

Riley turned toward him and couldn't contain her smile. "Well, okay," she admitted. "I'd say you exceeded expectations in the bedroom."

"Oh, so you didn't expect me to be any good then?" he asked in mock indignation.

"Let's just say, I didn't have very high expectations for myself," she admitted.

"Well I'm just going to say, I had very high expectations for you and you blew those out of the water," he said, honestly. He reached down and took her hand in his. "I feel like you were designed and created just for me."

"Me too," she said, now seriously. She took his hand in both of hers. "I honestly do feel like you are the one person put on this Earth just for me."

*****

Raph pulled into the driveway of the house Riley pointed out. They were inside of a gated community and all of the houses were large with professional landscaping. Raph pulled up outside a three-car garage. All of the garage doors were closed.

Raph exited and quickly made his way around the car to open Riley's door and hold out his hand to help her out. He then went to the trunk and removed Riley's two suitcases and his travel bag. He slung his bag over his shoulder and pulled up the handles on the two rolling suitcases and followed Riley up the walk to the front door. Riley rang the bell and looked back at Raph, nervously.

"It'll be fine. I love you," he said quickly.

"Love you too," she said, even as the front door opened.

"Riley!" Rose Barrett exclaimed, stepping out and grabbing Riley around the neck in a tight hug.

"Hey, Mom," Riley managed to say.

When Rose released her, she seemed to see Raph for the first time and Raph got his first real look at Rose Barrett. She had on a fashionable top, shorts that might have been a bit too tight and flip flops. Her hair was a darker brown than Riley's and her eyes were a deep warm brown. Her skin was very tan. Raph imagined she either spent a lot of time around the pool, or she tanned in a tanning booth. Where he could see the resemblance between Steve and Riley, he could not see any between Rose and Riley.

"Who do we have here," Rose asked, looking Raph up and down to the point he began to feel uneasy.

"Mom, this is Raph Savage. He's my boyfriend," she said, simply.

"Riley Barrett has a boyfriend?" her mother seemed shocked. "The last time I heard you say the words 'boyfriend' was when you were in the 5th grade and that little redheaded boy asked you to 'go steady'."

Riley rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Please, do come in," Rose said. She grabbed Riley around the shoulders and escorted her into the house. Raph followed with the bags.

"Show Ralph where to put the bags, Honey," Rose said. "I'm going to grab my drink from the kitchen and we'll all sit down and catch up. Would you like a drink, Ralph?" she asked.

"Mom, it's not Ralph. It's Raph as in Raphael, the Italian painter," Riley said with a sigh.

"Oh, excuse me, Raph," she said.

"No worries. Happens all the time," he smiled. "A sweet tea would be great if you have some."

"Uh, yeah, I think I might," she said, walking off toward the kitchen.

"Come on," Riley indicated, grabbing one of the suitcases and heading down the central hallway. She led them to a room that had a queen-sized bed, two end tables, a large dresser, and a large closet. There was also a flat-screen TV on the wall.

"Do we need to maintain separate rooms?" Raph asked.

"No, she would probably think it, stranger, if we did have separate rooms," Riley said. "As I said, she's a 'free spirit'."

"Oh, well good," Raph said as he grabbed her and spun her around so that they both fell across the bed.

"Oh!" Riley exclaimed at the sudden action. "Are you trying to have your way with me, young man?"

"Oh, absolutely Miss Riley," he said, lowering his head to kiss her gently on the lips.

"Mmm, good," she whispered when he broke their kiss, "but as much as I'd like to take this further right now, she will come looking for us," she said, almost sadly.

"Yeah, that might not be the best first impression," he conceded, getting up and helping Riley to her feet.

"But this is, to be continued," she smiled at him.

"I can't wait," he grinned, giving her another kiss before they left the bedroom and found Rose in the living room.

*****

"So, how did you guys meet?" Rose asked once everyone was seated.

"Believe it or not, you had something to do with that," Riley told her.

"I did?" Rose asked, confused.

"Yep. The last time I came down here, I chartered a flight out of Amarillo. Raph was the pilot on that flight. We started talking on the way down here, and then on the way back and we just hit it off," Riley explained, leaving out the part about her skipping out on her visit with her mother to meet Raph at the coffee shop.

"So you're an airplane pilot?" Rose asked. "How exciting."

"Yes ma'am. It is exciting. I get to see some beautiful places and meet some interesting people," he said, looking over at Riley.

"Are you a 'girl in every port' kind of guy?" Rose asked pointedly.

"No ma'am. I am a 'one-woman man'," he said, quoting the late, great George Jones.

The talk continued for a bit until Rose suggested they move the discussion out to the swimming pool. Everyone went to their rooms to change.

*****

Raph and Riley were at the pool before Rose. Raph had changed into a pair of long swim trunks and Riley had donned a black Body Glove bikini with a pink zipper and accents. She looked stunning. It was modest for a bikini but she still rocked it. He feared he was going to have to jump in the pool to cool off his growing erection.

Rose came out with a glass and a pitcher. She had taken a detour to mix up margaritas before coming out. She had on a light white robe which barely came below her butt, that she stripped off as soon as she set the glass and pitcher down on the poolside table. She was wearing a white 2-piece that was hardly more than strategically placed cloth patches connected by strings. Her breasts weren't overly large, but they were on full display as the cloth patches just barely covered her areolas or hard nipples. She had to have had a Brazilian wax because the cloth strip between her legs did little to hide her sex, but yet he saw no hair. The back was nothing but a string that disappeared in her butt crack.

Riley's face had gone blood red as soon as Rose took off her cover. Raph was trying to look anywhere except at Rose. He finally decided that he needed to be in the pool. He grabbed Riley by the hand and ran toward the edge. She followed and they both jumped. The cool water felt good. As they surfaced, Riley splashed water in his face.

"I'll get you for that," she threatened, but her smile gave her away.

"Do I look scared?" he teased.

"You better be!" she said as she lunged at him, pushing him under the water.

They continued to play in the pool while Rose seemed content to sit in the lounger and plow her way through the pitcher of margaritas.

*****

"So, how's your dad?" Rose asked, once Raph and Riley had exited the pool and sat in their lounge chairs. Raph made it a point to move his chair so that he could see Riley, but Rose was out of his direct view.

"He's good. He works a lot. I look forward to when he can slow down and just enjoy life, but that's just really not his style I guess."

"Is he seeing anybody?" Rose asked.

"No, Mom. He isn't seeing anybody, although I wish he would," Riley added.

"Why? You want him to replace me? Get you a new mother?" she said, cattily. Raph imagined it was the alcohol talking as she was already starting to slur her words and her eyes were about half-closed.

"No, Mother," Riley said patiently. "I'm not looking for a new mother, but I would like to see Dad have someone to grow old with. I'm not going to be there forever and I can't bear to think of him being alone."

"Well, I'm alone. What about me?" Rose spat.

"For one, I know you're hardly ever alone. I've come here many times since the divorce and nearly every time you had someone you were seeing. If I recall, I don't remember that ever being the same person twice. Secondly, I seem to remember you giving up complete custody of me in exchange for alimony," Riley said, starting to get angry.

"Oh, you make it sound so selfish," Rose said, taking another long drink from her glass.

Riley could only stare in disbelief at her mother. Raph could see tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes. Riley suddenly stood and walked quickly back inside the house. Raph started after her but stopped short, turning to look at Rose.

"I know we just met and I know there's a lifetime of history but if I may. You and Steve divorced. Your marriage is over. You have no duty or obligation to ever see him again, but Riley -- that's your flesh and blood. I know y'all don't have the best of relationships, but Riley tries. She wants to have a relationship with you because you are her mother and she loves you. I don't know the circumstances that resulted in your divorce, and frankly, it's none of my business, but this, right now, this is my business. I love Riley with all my heart and soul. Anything that hurts her, hurts me. Right now, you're what's hurting her. She is the sweetest, kindest, most wholesome person I've ever met. The kind of person people would kill for to have in their lives. She 'wants' to be in your life, but just between me and you, if you don't get your shit together, you're going to lose her forever," Raph said, before turning and heading to the house to try to find Riley.

When he reached their bedroom, the door was open a crack and he could see Riley laying on the bed, her back to the door. He could hear her sobs and see her shoulders moving as the crying wracked her body. Raph eased the door open, slid into the room and closed the door quietly behind him. He eased himself onto the bed and scooted up behind her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her gently to himself. He bent his head and kissed her on the top of the head and then just laid his cheek on the top of her head. He didn't know what to say, so he said nothing. He just held her and let her cry. Soon the crying had stopped and her breathing became even and regular and he knew she had cried herself to sleep. He moved off the bed and pulled the covers over her before removing his swim trunks, putting on a pair of boxers, and sliding under the covers. He spooned her, his arm around her waist. He could smell the chlorine in her hair as he laid his head on the pillow behind hers. He finally drifted off to sleep.