Miranda's Journey

"Hike!"Maverick raised up and squeezed Old Babe around her barrel just enough to get her to a gallop.They'd been driving cattle from Montana to Wyoming every summer for the past three years now. This year, they had fifteen hundred head on a three-day drive between ranches and only one day left before they reached Pepper Tree Ranch.The weather had been in the mid to low eighties, which was a welcome change from past years. Previous summers had been unbearable, so the cooler temperatures were a relief. Maverick looked forward to the cattle drive every year to just get free from everyday life, and enjoy some alone time."Wait up, dude," called Casey. At sixteen, he was just a year younger than Maverick but immature for his age and green behind the ears. He wanted to be a real cowboy, so he looked up to Maverick as a mentor, who was teaching him the 'ropes' so to speak. This was his first cattle drive, and there was a little hero worship going on there, although Casey would never admit it. Maverick just found it amusing."We only have a while to go before nightfall. Why don't you run up ahead and help those guys round up the herd so the rest of us can set up camp?""On it!" Casey eagerly rode ahead to put his new skills to good use.oooThe next morning they got an early start, and after only a few hours they had already covered quite a bit of ground.Just over the hill was the Pepper Tree Ranch. Maverick gave a sideways grin and began to ride a little faster. There was a good meal and a warm shower waiting. And of course, there was Alana."She'll never give me the time of day," was the mantra that Maverick had been repeating the entire journey. "She's not interested in me."Maverick was a loner by nature, and always had been, so thinking about Alana this much was a new sensation. This led to other 'new sensations', all of which increased tenfold when they crested the peak overlooking the ranch.oooMaverick, Casey, and the other cowboys whooped and hollered as they rode quickly down the hill, bursa escort guiding the cattle into the large pasture."Hi, there!" Alana stood on the front porch, waving enthusiastically and yelling loudly over the activity and excitement caused by their arrival. It looked like she was waving at Maverick, but that just couldn't be... but sure enough, she was."Hi," Maverick said, riding up to her with a cool grin, not wanting to seem overly excited. Alana was a striking girl of nineteen, with long brown hair, brown eyes, and thick eyelashes. Her 5'5" frame was that of a woman, and Maverick was already tongue-tied looking at her.She walked up to the loyal old Palomino and took the reins, handing them to the stable boy. Maverick was understandably nervous, feeling awkward and self-conscience as he dismounted. It was surreal.Alana reached up to remove Mavericks hat, but Maverick held it tight."What's wrong?" she asked, with genuine concern. "It's fine, Maverick. I like you," she said in a quiet, private kind of way. "I know you're a girl, you know," she whispered.Maverick reluctantly let it go. Alana removed her hat carefully, as she would with a wild horse. It was a symbolic gesture. She wanted to show Maverick that she cared for her and respected her secret."You really are a cute boy," she smiled sweetly and took her by the hand. Maverick did, too. He'd lived like a boy since he was very young and had always had short hair. He hated her female body and even had the doctor put him on hormones, and even had a little stubble on his face."Come on. I've run a hot bath and arranged separate sleeping quarters for you. I got my dad to let you sleep in the shack next to the pasture since someone has to be near the cattle anyway."The 'shack' was really a guest house with French doors looking out onto the pasture. It had a small kitchen, a full bathroom, and a queen size bed. Maverick felt out of his element completely in a nice place like this."This is pretty nice, you don't bursa escort bayan think the other guys will be... you know, jealous or something, do you? I don't want them to think I'm getting special treatment." Maverick immediately felt stupid at having said that. He was so insecure and self-conscience that when she heard herself speak, he wanted to take it back.Alana smiled and laughed just a little bit. "Are you kidding? None of these guys want to keep an eye on those cattle at night. They have no idea that this room is as nice as it is. George Murray had this job last year, and he didn't even want it this year."Standing in front of Maverick, her smile softened. He could see her expression change, and the funny thing was, he could feel the same look on his own face. There was an undeniable and mutual attraction. He wasn't imagining it. His cheeks began to feel flushed, and Alana reached over and took his hands. Alana's palms were sweaty, and as they stared at one another, they began to lean in and shared a small but meaningful kiss.The moment passed and they both stepped back, awkwardly surprised by their spontaneity."Dinner's at six, so I'll save you a seat, okay?" she asked, and waited for an answer, but Maverick couldn't speak. He wasn't used to talking to girls, let alone kissing one, and was overwhelmed with emotions. "Are you okay?" Alana asked, sincerely. She was afraid she'd overstepped a boundary, or misunderstood the signals she'd been reading these past three summers."I'm great," Maverick laughed a little, as he wiped a tear and left a trail of clean skin on his face. "Nobody's ever been as nice to me as you've been today." He was grateful but was never very good with words. "Thanks, Alana," he told her. The emotions he was feeling at that very moment were welling up fast, and he didn't want to cry, but, if anything could bring him to tears, it would be this.Alana squeezed his hand, "Come on, I'll help you find a place for your things." Maverick escort bursa said a small prayer of thanks for Alana's kind words and amazing gift of unconditional friendship. He had never had anyone accept him so easily, before. Not ever in his life and he was thankful that it was Alana.oooDinner was a big affair, celebrating the arrival of the cattle and welcoming the cowboys that had brought them in. Alana's mother, Alice, had made a huge dinner of roast beef, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet corn on the cob, dinner rolls and more banana pudding than anyone could eat. It was a party, and easy to get lost in the revelry, so that's what they were going to do."Let's take a walk," Alana whispered to Maverick. Since everyone was sure that Maverick was a young man, they thought it was adorable that these kids had gravitated towards each other so quickly. The truth was it had taken three years for them to even speak to each other."Do I need to send a chaperone along with you two?" Alana's dad joked as he smoked his cigar and held his glass of Wild Turkey."Oh come on, dad, seriously?" she laughed and playfully waved him off. Maverick tipped his hat to him and smiled gentlemanly."I'll respect her, sir," he said, and they walked out onto the front porch. The moon was full and Alana looked like an angel in the moonlight. Her full bosom and long waist were emphasized by the lacy pink knit top she wore, and the blue jeans that fit her so perfectly."Can I kiss you?" Maverick asked, trepidatiously. He was very enamored with her, yet afraid of her as well."I want you to do more than kiss me," she confessed. "I've been imagining your touch for a while now. I'm old enough to know I want you; I just hope you want me." She looked longingly into Mavericks eyes, and they began to kiss, passionately. As they pressed their bodies together, the sexual tension began to take on a life of its own. Staring into each other?s eyes, they simultaneously left the porch and headed towards the guest house, and into the bedroom.Alana slowly began to unbutton Mavericks shirt, her fingers trembling slightly, and gently lowered it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. He stood in front of her, fearing rejection, but wanted her so badly that he didn't stop her.