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Finding Happiness After Love Dies

By: SW_MO_Hermit



I pushed myself away from my desk in frustrated boredom. I am sick of this job and the people I have to work with. Almost all of them are lazy and work harder to get out of their assigned work than they would if they actually did it. The first fifteen years I had worked here I did my work then went around and took work off other's desks to help, to be a team player. It got to where they would just drop folders off on my desk even if it were assigned to them. It has gotten to where if I even touch someone else's work file they try to make like it was my assigned work and want me to take care of it. It doesn't even seem to matter to the lazy bastards that I am management now. They try to foist their work off on their peers or even on me—anyone just so they don't have to do it. I have tried to straighten the slackers up but higher-level management won't let me. I was working on firing one of the employees and the union got involved. The office manager called me into his office and tore up her poor performance documentation in front of me then said, "Ron you are documenting substandard performance of a beautiful female union Steward that rumor has it is screwing our area director. We don't want or need the headaches this would cause. Just let it drop." 

I felt my anger rise then forced myself to let it go. I said, "Fine but we'll be sorry it came to this. I have noticed things are getting worse out there and she is the worst of them all. If we don't stop the decline in work production and accuracy we will be in big trouble with higher headquarters. Even if they are the ones who say let this continue they will blame us for the problems with quality and production." We sat and visited a few more moments about work and non-work things then I returned to my office. 

After I got myself settled once more in my desk chair I allowed myself to reminisce about the problem facing us. About five years ago, even before I was promoted to supervisor, I almost quit helping others cold turkey. I had my work section reassigned several times because the employees I worked with convinced a gullible manager I must have had an easier section because I was always current. I tried to no avail to convince them it was because I came to work and started at starting time instead of spending nearly the first hour visiting. I always worked "smart" and steadily, as rapidly as I could accurately work. Doing this I even managed to get more than my pro rata share of work done.

Four years ago the current manager was assigned to this office. As soon as he arrived the Union Rep convinced him I once again had the easier section of work and asked him to realign workload. He did so as one of his first actions upon assuming his current job. About a year after that my peers tried once more to get work sections changed. By then not only was I doing more than my pro rata share of the work on the floor but I was also doing a significant percentage of his work. This time the manager did his research. It turned out that of three specialists that worked the same type cases I did I was turning out 43% of the work. My assigned workload came to almost 38%. The manager refused to change the assignments and the employees blamed me for being a kiss ass. 

I had no friends at work and few otherwise because in addition to my civilian job I was in the Army Reserve. I was a Major and had a Staff assignment. It was not just one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer like the commercials would have you believe. Oh, I suppose it was for the lower ranking personnel but I had risen too high for that statement to be accurate in my case. I was usually away from home at least two and sometimes three weekends a month. Last year I had been away from home 100 days for the reserves. Of course you can see by that I missed a lot of work in my civilian job for military purposes. That, of course, did not endear me to my employer but by now I just didn't care. Since I enjoyed the military work I took the time if it was offered. I volunteered for assignments and if I got orders I went.

My home life suffered because of my unhappiness with my civilian job and because of the time I spent gone for military duty. It didn't help that my wife Beulah was also in a job she disliked. Both of us were well up in the salary scale however and life, when we could find the time to enjoy it, was good. I made over $60000 per year and my wife made in the mid $50,000's. I made almost $1500 per month from the military on average also. We could afford all the expensive things we wanted but we didn't purchase many. Why bother, we never had the time to play with or use nice toys anyway. We rarely got to take a long trip or even a short one for that matter unless it was business related. Everything we owned was paid for and we were socking money away faster than scat.

As the years progressed we had very little time together. At first when we were in college and just after we were very much in love and spent every waking moment we could together, many of them in bed. It wasn't unusual to have sex 7 days a week and many times twice a day. Beulah and I were both highly sexed and weren't afraid to enjoy ourselves.

Beulah was absolutely beautiful. She was 5'9" tall with perfect C cup tits and a set of legs and ass to die for. When we weren't at work she usually followed my request to wear short skirts, thin button front blouses and no underwear. It didn't matter whether we were at home or at play that is the way I wanted her to dress and she did so. It kept us both horny and her available to fuck whenever we could find a secluded enough spot. Over the years Beulah and I fucked in bars, parks, theaters, boats, cars etc. If we could do it and be safe from arrest we fucked if the mood struck us no matter the location. One time we were visiting at a friend's home and I pulled her onto my lap facing me and we fucked in the dim light while we visited. Beulah was having her orgasm before our friends realized we were making love. They were so excited they went into their bedroom for a quickie. Doing that enhanced our sex life for weeks afterward. We never had sex or even played with others however. There was no need for others in our bed. We were adventurous enough, in love enough that we were all the other needed or wanted.

Unfortunately, as we aged, especially after the birth of our son Charles time for sex began to become harder to find. The fact that we were both rising to positions of greater responsibility in our jobs (and the reserves for me) also reduced the time we had together.

We worked in different occupations, different companies and even on opposite sides of town. We had a nice large home with swimming pool but rarely got to use it or our beautiful patio.

After work I always rushed home and begin working on something for the reserves, doing the yard work or making needed repairs. Many nights I would beat Beulah home and prepare the meal for the family. Many evenings Beulah would work late or go out with her friends or both. It was rare as the years passed that we were both home in the evenings before bedtime. I became the primary parent for childcare for our son Charles. Naturally with this schedule we had little time to talk and reconnect. Sex was reduced once again as were most of our other intimacies.

Many times I would wake up, shower, dress and go to work before Beulah even woke up. We had separate alarms and made use of them routinely. I normally started at 7 a.m. and Beulah at 9 a.m. I got off work at 4 p.m. and Beulah at 6.

It was Monday August 21st the year Charles was 20, the year Beulah was 40 and I was 42 when it all broke down. Everyone was up early that morning; Charlie was leaving for his third year of college that morning and he wanted breakfast as a family before he left. He said, "Thanks for getting up with me. I know you are both busy and I wanted to be with you as a family at least once this summer before I left. I probably won't be home until Christmas this year and I wanted this time with you." He opened his mouth to say something else then with a sad look he closed it and began eating. He looked from his mother to me and seemed so sad. I felt worry eating at my heart and stomach. I knew our son felt our love, our marriage, even our family crumbling around us.

I finally asked, "What is it Son? You look worried."

"Nothing. I just feel like...well sorta empty I guess. I suppose I'm just worrying about nothing but things just don't feel right any more." 

Beulah didn't say anything as we talked. She just sat and drank her coffee, eating the bagel she had prepared for her breakfast and reading the damn book she always had with her. It was almost as if her mind was 1000 miles away. When Charles pushed his plate back and rose to leave she barely looked up. She said, "Goodbye Charlie. Be careful." She then turned her head back down to her romance novel.

I felt my anger rise and looked at Beulah. She was totally ignoring us and I started to say something to her about that. I didn't when I felt a touch on my arm. I looked up and saw Charles shaking his head 'no'. He refrained from starting anything with her this morning too. I rose from my seat and followed Charlie out of the house. We stood by Charlie's truck for a moment visiting. I told him how proud of him I was. We talked a little longer then Charlie said, "Well, guess I'd better get on the road. I love you Dad." He stepped to me and gave me a tight hug.

Charlie turned and started to get into his truck then he said, "Dad, I understand. You need to do something. You need to get a life and get happy again." He never looked back at me. He just finished getting into his truck, started it and left. 

I felt my chest tighten as I stepped back from his vehicle. I looked at this man, my son. As he began to roll I said with a catch in my voice, "Take care Son. Call me when you can." I stood and watched as Charlie pulled onto the road and drove away. After he was out of sight I walked to my truck, started it and followed Charlie down the road. I was returning to a shitty job in a shitty mood. I had spent the entire weekend with my family—well excluding the eight or so hours when Beulah was gone Saturday evening—and felt so alone, so empty I didn't know what to do. Beulah had slept to noon both days, then Saturday evening she had gone out with her friends. Sunday she had read almost all day while Charlie and I tried to get the last visiting in before college. She had not even helped prepare any part of Charlie's going away BBQ meal. She was late coming to the table to eat because she wanted to finish her chapter.

Just before closing time one of my Claims Representatives came into my office—yeah, you got it. It was the Union Steward. She was having trouble with an unruly client and needed to hand the interview off to me. I had been listening to her interview as I reminisced so was not surprised she came to me. In fact, I was about ready to step in on my own. As I waited on her to escort the client to my office I thought; Damn, crappy weekend, crappy Monday and now I have to work late. Here I am stuck in a late interview that became my responsibility because of an incompetent employee and it is a stone cold bitch. 

After the introductions, I began interviewing the client. The man across the desk from me was an arrogant, rude and probably crooked asshole. He had already spent over an hour trying to convince my Claims Representative to pay out several thousand dollars of my employer's money to settle a claim that was at best tenuous and probably was outright fraudulent. 

Finally, after another hour, I managed to end the interview and escort the asshole to the door. Now I am the last person here except for the office manager once again. I know I am the assistant/floor supervisor and have to take the interview when my employees can't handle it for some reason but I knew she could have handled it properly had she not been acting like a bitch. She had so enraged the client she couldn't handle it. On top of the late interview now I have a disciplinary interview to look forward to with the errant Claims Representative tomorrow. As I said, I had been listening to her interview before she referred it to me and I had taken notes. I had several improper statements and actions she had made that I had to discuss with her.

As I was clearing off my desk John, the manager asked me if I would like to stop for a beer before we went home. "Damn straight I do," I replied. We went to our favorite local bar for a beer. The first sip of the ice-cold Newcastle was exquisite. Before we knew it though our bottles were empty and John said he had to leave. Crap. I've had one beer, thirty minutes here in the bar and I feel guilty for doing even that. 

I drove into my driveway and saw the lights on in the Den but none in the kitchen where Beulah should have been preparing supper. I felt my jaw clench in anger. I would bet anything in the world there was nothing cooked. I would either have to cook, do without or fix a sandwich.

When I walked into the house it became immediately apparent I was right. There was no supper prepared and after a quick look into the fridge I didn't even see anything out to prepare. I grabbed another Newcastle and walked into the Den. Beulah was sitting with the TV on and reading a People Magazine. She had an empty plate beside her chair on the table along with a partly finished coke and bag of chips.

When I walked into the room she put her book down and looked at me with a blank expression. She didn't even say hello. I felt a surge of anger and asked, "No supper?" 

Beulah just shook her head 'no' then said, "I had a sandwich. Fix whatever you want." She began reading her book again and ignored me.

I started to complain but then decided I really didn't want to listen to any more of her crap. I sighed and walked from the room. I made a sandwich and got another beer. While I sat at the kitchen table to eat I kept thinking about my Crap life. I know I am acting like a wimp but I just felt overwhelmed. I needed to do something about my life but I just didn't know what. 

I wondered why Beulah even bothered to come home this evening, hell, the way we were with each other now I wondered why either of us ever decided to come home. I suppose it was just for a place to sleep. She didn't come home many evenings until nearly bedtime or even after I was in bed. That was just one more thing about our relationship I was sick of. I had tried to talk to her about her behavior several times and she either got angry or just ignored me or walked off. Up until about two years ago we had some doozy arguments about her attitude. We fought about her not coming home, her partying with the girls, about her not doing housework or fixing meals but I finally just gave up. A time or two I had followed her and not found anything objectionable about her behavior except that she did not spend her free time with me, her husband. I even considered divorce but at the time Charlie was still at home and I didn't want to disrupt his home life. I suppose the way Beulah and I were though it was disrupted in any event.

I finished my meal, put the dishes in the dishwasher then went into the office to work. I had learned long ago not to go into the Den and turn on the TV or try to talk to Beulah. She would get angry and either bitch me out or stomp from the room looking for a quiet place to resume reading. Normally she didn't yell she just ignored me without saying a word. If the TV was too loud or I insisted on continuing to talk she would just get up and go somewhere else.

After working a few moments I pushed back and walked into the kitchen for another Newcastle. After I got there I decided to hell with that. I decided it was time for the hard stuff and filled a cocktail glass full of ice. I took it back into the office and poured myself a nice glass of Glenmorangie, Quinta Ruban. Then I sat in my large leather chair and drank it slowly, savoring the smooth taste of fine scotch as it drained down my throat and warmed me to the core. I thought about the way my life was going once more and still could not see anything good about it. Even married and living with my wife I was alone. Even in the house with Beulah I am alone. I have no close friends, I work 40 plus hours a week in my civilian job and another sixty hours or so a month for the reserves. I am tired all the time and burned out. In the little free time I have I must do property upkeep on the house and on our vacation cabin on the river as well as exercise enough to pass the physical fitness tests for the Army. Oh, sure our home is paid for as is the 80-acre farm and small cabin on the river. Of course we stay so busy we don't get to enjoy either one much.

We have a little over $1,000,000 in savings plus we each have almost that much in retirement accounts. Hell, we could stop working now and live on the interest. Some days I really think that is what we should do. I would if I could get Beulah to do so. I laughed to myself. I thought she probably wouldn't do things with me if she were not working. If I didn't know her better I would think she had a lover but that is so unlike her I just couldn't believe she would. I had wondered about that earlier as I said and did not find one. Of course I could have missed it because at that time I tried to do the surveillance myself.

The longer I sit here contemplating life though the more I wonder if Beulah is cheating on me. She certainly ignored me at home. She almost never gives me a kiss or smile, she gets angry almost every time I try to get her to make love. Even when she gives in and agrees to 'service' me that is what it was—she serviced me like a disinterested prostitute. She does not like me to use foreplay any longer. If I rub her breasts or nibble her neck she gets upset and makes me stop. If I don't stop many times she will get out of bed and I get no pussy that night or for some time to come. Very rarely she will let me eat her out but when she has her first orgasm she wants me to fuck her then leave her alone. When we screw she lies there almost without moving until she gets near her orgasm. After she cums she lays still once more. She has stopped using her Kegel muscles so she is a loose fuck. Oh, well, back to the paperwork. 

Later I heard Beulah finally go into the bedroom. I heard her shower and get into bed and decided to see if I could get a little pussy. As I walked toward the bedroom I realized it's been three weeks since I had any sex with Beulah. No wonder I'm as horny as a Billy Goat. By the time I got into bed with Beulah she was already almost asleep. She slapped my hand away when I touched her breast and again when I tried to play with her pussy. She muttered one word only each time. She said, "NO!" then curled into a ball and drifted off to sleep.

FUCK. I laid there with my hard on, squeezing it from time to time while I seethed in anger. I could tell I wouldn't get to sleep until I did something about my cock so I finally got up and went into my office. I opened one of my favorite porn sites on the net and read some stories as I rubbed baby oil into my cock. It didn't take long to relieve the stress and I threw another paper towel into the trashcan. I was getting quite a collection there now. Two scotches later I finally got drowsy enough I thought I could sleep and wandered back to my lonely bed. Yeah, I know my wife was there but no more contact than she allowed it was just as if she wasn't. Besides, the way she had been treating me I had no real desire to be with her anyway. Maybe the bed was a little warmer temperature wise than if I had been alone but that was it. Of course there was less room than if I was alone also. It was a good thing we had a King Sized bed.

I woke up early—5 a.m.—with the alarm blaring in my ear. It was Saturday morning and Beulah snarled, "Can't you turn that damn thing off? I don't know why you don't sleep in the spare room when you have to get up this damn early." 


Finding Happiness After Love Dies



As I rolled out of bed I thought 'God how I want to sleep in' but I knew couldn't. I had reserves again and it was going to be a busy day.

Once again I pushed back from my desk. Finally I could call it a night and head home. I was getting ready to leave when one of my few friends came by my office. "Hey Ron you still on for supper? You look like you need some cheering up tonight."

We normally dined together Saturday evening and chewed the fat. Unfortunately this evening I was planning on just sneaking out and heading home if he hadn't caught me. I sighed and said, "Sorry Dude. I had forgotten about that. I'm afraid I won't be very good company tonight but I am hungry."

He always stayed at the Holiday Inn so I said, "I'll meet ya there. Let's go." We had a couple drinks and visited then ordered our supper. As we were eating my friend sighed and pushed back slightly from his plate. He said, "Ok Ronnie. You've been acting strange all day. Are you going to tell me what is going on now?"

I don't know why but I began talking. It was almost cathartic. I let all my frustration out both with my job and with my wife. I spilled my guts about my lousy life, loveless marriage and murky future. I suppose part of my willingness to unload was the ton of alcohol I had ingested but, whatever the reason, I really unloaded on poor Jeff. I ended my diatribe by saying, "In fact the only bright spot in my life right now is the reserves."

After I finished Jeff leaned back into his chair and said, "Well Ronnie. I don't know your wife, never met her but what you have described is not normal and definitely isn't a loving relationship. Hell, I thought I had it bad when I found out what my first wife was doing but now I almost think what you have is worse. At least I was happy until the very end. It sounds like Beulah is trying to avoid you for sure and even like she doesn't care for you any longer. My first thought would be she has another lover but you would know more about that than would I."

"Thank God Abby isn't like that. You know it's been a long time since you came down to the place. Why don't you come down to your cabin and we can get together and fish, drink and act crazy. I know Charlie would enjoy visiting with you again. Besides, you've not met his new wife Amanda yet have you?"

"No, I don't think I have met Abby. From what you have told me about her I would really like to meet her too. She and Amanda both sound like special ladies. Hell, I know they must be since they married you and Charlie."

"As for Beulah cheating on me, I just don't know. I really don't think she is but hell most dumb shit husbands who get cheated on are surprised when they find out about it. I really think I may have driven her away instead. Crap, I haven't had time to really do anything with her for years and when I try it seems like she has something she wants to do alone or with her friends or something came up and I had to cancel."

"I wondered about her cheating on me once before though and when I followed her I didn't find anything. I don't even know what I'd do to find out now though. You know with my work it will be hard to follow her. I guess I could hire someone but I hate to spend the money. I just don't know. What I'd really like would be to get back where we were right after we married. If we can't do that I think I just need to cut her loose and see if I can find happiness somewhere else or with someone else. Shit, I sure wouldn't want to impose my crap life on a new woman though. Hell as busy as I am now with work and the reserves I probably couldn't find a new woman to put up with my crap anyway. I just..."

"Well, Ronnie. My Cousin and brother are retired Highway Patrol. They do a little investigating on the side to stay busy and keep from being bored to death. I can ask them if they would like to take your case. They don't charge much and since you're a friend I might even get them to give a discount...Of course they don't live near us so you would be out a lot of expense for rooms, meals and so forth."

I leaned back in my chair and killed my glass of Glenmorangie. I let the chair fall forward and almost slammed the empty glass down. I stared into space for several seconds then leaned forward, rested my arms on the table and said, "Go for it. Have them call me. If we can agree on a price I'll hire them. I need to know what's going on. If she's cheating I'm done with her. If not, she'll either have to change or I'm still done with her. Something's just got to give. I can't keep on living like I have been. Here is my work number. Have them call me there please." We visited a lot longer. I woke up in Jeff's room sleeping in the second bed the next morning. My head was killing me and I felt like something had died and rotted in my mouth. My stomach was rolling—yeah, I know. You know the feeling. In short, I had a HELL of a hang over.

I thought the Sunday reserve meeting would never end. I returned home and Beulah never even asked me where I had been the night before. I'm not sure she even missed me. I tried once again to talk to her but she let me know right off I was bothering her and she didn't appreciate it. I finally quit trying to talk and went upstairs. I cleaned up and fell into bed. I have no idea when Beulah came to sleep.

Monday afternoon Jeff's brother called and I agreed to terms for the surveillance of my wife. The two men were going to live in my river cabin during the investigation. It was about 40 miles from town and about six miles from where Jeff and his family lived. I would furnish food for them and gasoline for their vehicles. In addition I would pay each of them $50.00 per day for their services. They began working two days after we reached the agreement. They were to make interim reports every Sunday morning.

They put a bug in Beulah's wallet; they put GPS and a bug in her car. They put devices in her cell phone and in the house phone to record phone calls. Somehow they even managed to plant a bug on her desk so they could hear her conversations at work. They followed her but loosely because of the devices they had planted. With those devices if they heard something untoward they could go to the scene and perhaps get pictures. If not, at least they would be aware of her dalliances and begin to follow her more closely.

The first week all they could report was she went out every evening with the women she worked with. They went to a local piano bar, a sports bar and a Jazz bar alternating between the same three bars every third day. They had a few drinks, visited about famous people, work, and loudly trashed their men; hell they trashed men in general. I was surprised to hear they even trash talked about their male children and how they didn't know how to treat a woman or leave a house. They visited about movie stars, sports figures and their torrid relationships more than anything else. They talked about books, particularly romance novels. They never even went to a bar that had dancing, one that was a real pick up place. One evening Beulah went to the public library and spent over 4 hours picking out books, magazines and newspapers then sitting and reading. One of her friends accompanied her but they did almost no visiting while there.

The first Saturday of surveillance Beulah was followed to a private residence. She and several other women, most of them from where Beulah worked, went inside and they had a party. Some alcohol was consumed but in limited quantities. They watched some chick flicks and talked about what they would want in a relationship. The only man present was the husband of the woman who lived there and his wife invited him to leave after all the women arrived. To the surprise of the investigator and to my surprise also, he did leave.

The surveillance went on for six weeks. The results were the same as during the first week. The consensus was Beulah was not having an affair, even one with a woman. The women all seemed bored with their relationships and some of them were having an affair but every time they told Beulah how exciting one was and how great the sex was she changed the subject or moved to another conversation. She just did not seem interested in sex unless it was vicariously. She loved to talk about other people's affairs if they were rich or famous and she got totally starry eyed over her romance novels but that was the extent of her actions. She did say from time to time, that she would kill to be romanced like some of the characters in her novels were.

About the third week of the surveillance I decided Beulah wasn't cheating probably so I tried to woo her once more. I had listened to what she said she wanted in her conversations. Hell, I even got a couple of her books out and tried to find out how her book suitors romanced their women. I began to bring her flowers and candy. Sometimes I would call her at work to tell her I loved her and missed her. I would compliment her on her dress or hair. I would ask her to come home early and we would go out to eat. I made special meals at home that I knew she would like. I tried to kiss her more and I told her how much I loved her when I did. All my efforts were met with disdain. She got angry when I would bother her at work. Many times when I tried to kiss her she would turn her head. She just was not interested in my attempts to rekindle the romance, to reconnect.

Tuesday afternoon of the seventh week after I hired the investigators they called me at work. My caller said, "Ronnie I think you might want to get home early today. I just overheard a phone call Beulah made. I don't know what the call was about. The phone rang and a man answered. It was apparently in her companies Human Resources branch because he answered the phone 'Human Resources'. All she said was, "This is Beulah Stevens. Lets do it tonight. I'll get home early and we can do it while Ronnie's still at work if you can come over."

Naturally since I wanted to get home early I couldn't. I had a meeting until nearly 4:30 but left right after. That got me home about thirty minutes early. When I arrived there was a strange Lexus sitting in the driveway. I parked on the driveway beside the Lexus and walked around the house to enter through the kitchen. I was as quiet as I could be, hoping to catch Beulah in a compromising situation and scared to death I would! I heard voices coming from the Den so walked in that direction. I walked into the room and saw Beulah sitting in her favorite chair sipping on a glass of wine. There was a distinguished looking, expensively dressed man sitting in my chair. From the looks of things he was sipping on a glass of my scotch. At least there was a bottle of my brand beside the wine bottle on the serving tray. There was also a notebook computer and printer on the coffee table. They had the name of Beulah's company on them and an inventory number.

Beulah looked up when I came into the room and said, "You're home early. Good. I thought if I made that phone call I might get you to come early. This is one of the attorney's from our personnel services section. We can get this over with now." 

Beulah looked over at the man and he stood. He had a large envelope in his hand. He walked over to where I was standing and asked, "Are you Ronald Stevens?"

I was somewhat surprised but said, "Yes. What's it to you?" He handed me an envelope and continued, "You have been served. These are divorce papers. I am Mrs. Stevens's attorney. We request you read and sign these papers today. She is being very fair in her request for property settlement. If you wish, of course, you may have your attorney review them."

I admit I was shocked even though I, too, had considered divorce. I stood and looked at Beulah. She seemed embarrassed. She was looking down at her hands that were clenched in her lap. I sighed and sat on the couch. I looked at Beulah once again and asked, "Why? Why don't you even want to try and fix what's wrong?"

Beulah looked up and began speaking. She said, "Ronnie I don't even know where to begin. I suppose the short answer is we don't fit together any longer. We have grown in different directions over the years of our marriage. If you want the long version I can give it but you won't like it."

Just her expression and the way she spoke made my anger surge. I clenched my jaw and said, "Yeah, why don't you give me the long version. I know you aren't cheating, that you don't have another man in the wings so please tell me where we went wrong and why we can't fix it. I need to know why a love so strong, so right so fulfilling as we had once could now be dieing with a whimper. Now give me more detail. Please tell me where we went wrong and why we can't fix it or at least why you don't want to fix it?"

Some fire came into Beulah's eyes when she heard that. She began talking; she was almost shaking in anger as she spoke. "WE didn't go wrong Ronnie. YOU did. You were right. When we were first married we were perfect together. We loved madly, spontaneously and strongly. We were interested in the same things. There wasn't anything I wouldn't do for you. Hell look at how I dressed, where I let you make love to me, how I cared for you. We clicked and meshed at many levels but you weren't happy with that, you changed. You got too busy with the reserves, you didn't keep up as my interests changed. You stayed in the same old rut."

"Ronnie I have noticed you have tried to be nicer to me the last several weeks. You have tried to talk to me and have brought me presents but you just didn't get it. Ronnie you have become so damn boring. You don't ever have anything interesting to talk about. If you try to talk it is always about local news, one or the other of our jobs, our investments or national and international events. You even try to talk about where we could go on a trip, as if we ever have time to go on a trip. Hell, you even try to talk about our neighbors or about Charlie and his college courses."

"I've tried many times through the years to get you to read things of interest but you just make fun of them. All you read is professional publications, newspapers or business magazines. Not once have I seen you read the National Enquirer. When you pick up my People magazine or Cosmo or US you just move them out of your way. I have tried to talk to you about some of the books and articles I read and you almost fall asleep. I tried for years to talk about the actors and sports figures I read about and you got huffy and said they deserved their troubles. You just don't get it at all. Hell NO ONE wants to be reminded of the troubles in this world."

"Over the years I have began to spend more and more time with my friends. At least we can have an intelligent conversation about interesting topics. We discuss news articles, books and our friends. We even discuss work problems and I get insights on how to handle them. When I have tried to talk to you about them your advice usually runs to ignoring the problem, working harder or telling management. You advise me to follow the rules and if I disagree with them to try and get management to change them if my way is better. You know how entrenched management is. They refuse to change even if a new way is better. If they do change invariably the new way of doing things is rammed down our throat and is worse than the way we are doing the job. My friends and I discuss how to correct the problem and find a solution that works for us. Our solutions are much better than the ones management dictates so we go with them. You seem to always take the management side of things and don't consider our feelings and wants."

"It has got to where I just can't stand to even be around you. You are gone so much I even thought you were being boring and ignoring me because you were having an affair. My investigators did not find that to be a fact and I know yours didn't find I was having one either." She laughed a short barking laugh and continued, "I am so tired of being alone I could scream. Damn it Ronnie, I knew about your investigation of me about two weeks ago. I don't know how long you were having me followed before I found out but I know you didn't find anything because all I do is visit with my friends."

"Oh, don't get me wrong. I am so damn horny if I could have found an interesting man, one who understood me, I might have cheated but most of them are either like you or so damn arrogant I don't know how their own mother could put up with them. At first I thought about letting you know you were wasting your money on the investigation. Then I decided to let you see what was going on so you would understand how out of touch with reality you really were. Do you understand how normal people live now? I was glad to see you investigate me really. I thought you might learn something from the investigation but you didn't. All you did was try to get me to have sex with you using the same sappy old tricks you have used in the past. I finally decided we just needed to end it so I can try and enjoy my life without worrying about your sorry ass any longer. Maybe next time I can find a man who is interesting and willing to love me the way I deserve."

"Now, will you sign the divorce papers or do you want to have an attorney look them over? I have been very fair. You make a little more than I do but I don't care about support from you. Our pension funds are similar so I have proposed we split the investments and bank accounts evenly, each keep our own retirement accounts and I get the house and you get the cabin and land. I know the house is worth more than the land and cabin but you have never liked the house. I feel the difference in value would be fair since you do make more than I do and you will also have your military pension when you get to be age 60. I haven't asked for any of your military pension but if you don't accept my settlement offer I will ask for some alimony and half of your military pension."

I sat in shock for a moment. I was so shocked in fact my mouth was hanging open. I said, "No I won't sign right now. I'll have an attorney look it over and let you know." I looked at first her then her attorney then continued. "Since you want the house and we are separating what are we going to do about living arrangements? What about furniture? You know there isn't much in the cabin and the bed there is shot. Do I get some furniture or do you expect me to buy it?"

"I..Well I never thought of furniture and things like that. How about if we just divide what we have. I'll be generous and let you take what you need. I have been living with your sorry ass for years now and you haven't raped me. I guess you can stay here until you get the cabin the way you like it or you find another place—oh, up to, say a month?"

Beulah turned to the attorney and said, "Can you modify the agreement to show that before you leave tonight?" He nodded his head and turned to his computer.

That night after I went to bed I lay thinking. I thought 'what a sorry assed wimp I am. When the end of my marriage came I didn't even care enough to fight it. I just let her dictate terms and I crawled out of my marital bed into the guest room.' You know though I felt a strange sense of contentment, almost of release as if I had a great weight lifted from my shoulders or I was out of confinement and free.

The next morning I went into work and immediately asked for and was granted a weeks vacation. I spent some time working the phones until I found an attorney that could see me and consult about the divorce. I really wasn't too worried about it but I did want to make sure the divorce paperwork said what I was told it said, including the property split. If it did I knew I would sign it because it seemed fair to me. Oh, sure the house was worth about $60,000 more than the land and cabin was but Beulah was right. I made more than she did and I would have a nicer retirement package because of my military pension. I had to wait two days for an appointment with the attorney but that didn't bother me. I spent the time going down to the cabin and looking it over to decide what I wanted to do to it. 




Finding Happiness After Love Dies



The cabin was really a small house. It had one large bedroom a large living area and a kitchen dining area. The kitchen was separated from the dining area by a breakfast bar and the dining and living area were separated by a half wall with spindles up to the ceiling. I decided all I would need was new carpet and a good cleaning. I did want to build a garage however. I decided I wanted a three-car garage separated from the cabin by a glassed in breezeway so I could have a covered BBQ, Hot tub and wood stove in it. The cabin was well above high water mark so I didn't have worries there.

I was lucky it was early fall so I thought I could have the garage built before it got uncomfortably cold. I hated to chip ice off my vehicle before I could go to work!

My attorney assured me the proposed settlement did indeed say what I was told. He also said if I was smart I would sign because that was a much better settlement than I would get if Beulah asked for her fair share of our assets and pensions. He went on to say if I did not contest anything the divorce would be final in as little as thirty days. I signed the papers and told him to go for it. 

The most difficult thing I had to do for the separation other than learn to live with the failure of my marriage was discuss it with my son. I was having a real problem accepting my marriage ended because of romance books and gossip magazines. Charlie called me one day and said, "Dad I just talked to Mom and she told me she was divorcing you. I'm sorry. I thought I saw this coming all summer, for the last couple of years I suppose. If you need anything call and if I can help I will. I told Mom the same thing."

I told Charlie, "I suppose I had suspected something was going on for several months, heck we weren't too happy for the last several years. I just can't believe how matter of fact, how unemotional your mother was when she told me about it. It was almost as if she was talking about something inconsequential instead of the end of our marriage."

Charlie said, "Yeah Dad I got the same feeling. When she told me it was just as if she was talking about an everyday, unimportant bit of news." Charlie and I visited for a few more minutes then he said he had to go to class and we hung up.

That weekend I had a reserve meeting. When I got there a bunch of us were talking before a staff meeting. When the Executive Officer heard I was divorcing he looked interested. After the meeting he asked me to stay. "Ronnie," he said. "I don't know how you feel about longer active duty tours but you know there are a lot of them available now with all the action in Afghanistan and Iraq. I know you have taken several really short ones of a few days to a week or so. I think the longer tours might be of interest to you. I've heard you complaining about your job off and on and I was thinking that some of the longer tours might be a way for you to forget about your divorce and your job. If you're interested let me know. I'm sure you see the openings when you read the mail that is routed to you but I wanted to sort of put a bug in your ear."

I thanked him and returned to my office. By a strange coincidence the second item I picked from my inbox was a listing of available tours. This time instead of initialing it and passing it on I read it. Heck, I devoured it. There were some really interesting opportunities there! I set it aside and went through the rest of the material in my inbox. All the while I read and worked I found my mind returning to a couple of the tours. Most of them were not too interesting but two of them could be really great. One was in Hawaii and ran for six months, one was in Great Britain and ran for 12 months. There were two more in the US for a year each that were sort of interesting.

Finally, that evening before we left for the day I decided to go for it. I told the Personnel section to request orders for me to either go to Hawaii (first choice) or Great Britain. I signed the paperwork Sunday before I left and returned home to my drab, maddening existence.

Life was crawling by, nothing exciting, just the same ole, same ole. My garage and breezeway was completed and I approved the construction. That was the high point of my life during those months. I would come home and see what they had done on my garage then I would go inside and do paperwork, work on my computer, surf the net or sit and exist. I had turned the dining area of my new home into an office. I bought a nice office style desk and file cabinets with matching credenza. I put a high quality leather chair and ottoman in one corner to read in. There was a TV on the opposite wall where I could watch TV or use it for a computer monitor. I even had split screen capability so I could watch TV and work on the computer at the same time. I used it to trade stocks, research or just surf the net. 

From time to time I would drive into Steelville or Prineville for a meal. On weekends I went to the café occasionally to visit with the local farmers and few townsfolk that came in. Once in a while I dropped into one of the café's for breakfast on my way to work. I slowly got to know some of my neighbors. Occasionally I would see Jeff, Charlie or one of the other Fieldings when I was in town.

Many of the local people tried to convince me to go to the local Senior Center dances when they found out I was divorcing. One day Jim Fielding, a retired Army Officer said, "Hell Ron those women don't care how old you are. In fact, they might like you better if you can still get it up several times a night. Most of us old farts are a one-time type of guy. I know after my divorce I got talked into going to the Dances and before I found my second wife they nearly had a fight over me. Hell, I had to start being rude to some of the ladies to keep them from fucking me to death!" 

The other men at the table that morning laughed and one of them said, "Hell yeah Ron. Please come to the dances. We need some rest and besides it's great entertainment to watch those old mares chasing after a new stud."

In the evenings I could go outside and look over my yard and down to the beautiful river. I had a small inlet and gravel bar beside my yard where a spring trickled down into the river. There was a three-foot bank then a gentle slope up to my home. Straight south of the house was a very deep swimming hole. It was about fifty feet across and almost a quarter mile long. I had all types of fish right on my front doorstep. I was looking forward to the summer and all the nubile young ladies that would canoe past, hopefully to stop and swim. Of course I was not looking forward to the trespassers! Yeah, I know you can't have one without the other along a stream. The setting was so peaceful I could relax more than I had at my home in town. I had begun planning on a landscaping project for the next spring that I hoped would make my yard even more pleasant. As the weeks flowed past I found myself thinking more and more about those old women at the local Senior Center Dances. It had been almost seven months since I had been laid and I was beginning to hurt. You all know beating off isn't nearly as satisfying and that was all I had during that time.

I let the guys talk me into going to the Senior Center Christmas meal and Dance. I met one of the regulars from the café and he introduced me around. Like they warned me women wanting to try out the new meat immediately beset me. Some of the women were not that old either. I found that even though the dance was at the Senior Center many of the locals came for the entertainment and many of the single women my age or a little older showed up hunting a man or a good time.

That evening I danced more than I sat and most of the time I was not the one who asked for a dance. The ladies asked me. Many of them were not too shy about letting me know what they wanted either. Several of them rubbed their breasts against me and a couple of them even grabbed my cock! I stepped out of the dance about ten p.m. and one of the more aggressive women followed me. She walked up and wrapped her arms around me and began kissing me.

I have to admit I was horny and hard. When I felt her hand on my cock I kissed her back and grabbed her ass. Before I knew it she had my cock out. She played with it until I thought I would shoot then she turned her back to me, bent forward and displayed her bare pussy to my eyes. She backed up to me grabbed my cock and tried to insert it into her oozing cunt. When I didn't immediately fill her she turned her head and asked, "What are you waiting for? I heard you haven't been laid in several months and I need it bad so just nail me honey. We can do the talking later."

Hell, I didn't even remember her name. I don't know what came over me but I moved up to her and let her guide my cock into her cunt. She moaned as I slid into her. She felt so good I grabbed her hips and began slamming into her. She pushed back and grunted on every thrust. I felt my seed begin to boil out as she screamed and I felt her cunt muscles fluttering, contracting and milking me as we came together.

She pressed back against me for a few moments then as I softened and began to slide out of her dripping cunt she stood, turned to me and gave me a gentle kiss. She stepped back and smiled then said, "That was pretty good Ron. I'm here at every dance if you want a repeat. I'm in the book if you want something between dances."

The woman moved to me and gave me a gentle kiss then turned to the door. I never did ask her name and I suppose she thought I remembered. I followed her back inside and walked to my table on wobbly knees. Teddy, the duffer I came with was sitting talking to Ann Fielding, Jim's wife when I walked up. He laughed and said, "Looks like Rose's made another score tonight. You ok there stud?"

Ann blushed and left when he said that. We sat and visited a few more minutes then he nudged me and nodded toward the door. Rose, the woman I had just screwed a little less than an hour before was walking out the door with her arms around another man. "She usually has at least two men during the dances and sometimes goes home with another one. Enjoy her all you want but if you're looking for something permanent steer clear of her. You want to be sure you always use protection too. She's been married and divorced five times. Just can't leave the men alone but gawd is she a good fuck. Hell, I don't have to tell ya that though do I?" 

I laughed with Teddy then got asked to dance once more. This time the lady that asked me for the dance was one of the widows that came to the coffee shop occasionally. She moved into my arms and laid her head on my shoulder. As we danced she rubbed her midriff against me and to my surprise I felt Junior begin to rise to the occasion. Addie pulled her head back and looked into my face. She said, "Well, either Rose didn't manage to get you or you recover real quick. I like you Ron but if you ever want to see how we would be together you have to steer clear of her. The way she spreads it around she comes up with a little gift for the men a time or two a year. Most of us won't bother with the men that take up with her. I suggest you get yourself checked out if you did her bareback. Give some of the rest of us a call after."

When the dance ended Addie and I walked back to our own tables. I was feeling sick. I had never even thought about disease when I put it to Rose. I didn't even sit down when I got back to my table. I just told Teddy I needed to go and went home. God, what had I been thinking of?

Monday when I got to work I called and made a doctor's appointment. I went and had the tests. I was a nervous wreck until I finally got the results back at the end of the week. I was clean but I vowed to never dip my wick again without using a condom. I bought a supply that evening and made sure I had some in my truck, wallet and home. I made a mental note to get checked for HIV a couple times over the next year also even though the Army checked us occasionally too. 

On December 21 when I got home and looked through the mail I found orders to an active duty tour. I had lucked out! I was going to sunny Hawaii for six months. I had a report date of 6 January. The next day I went into work and gave them a copy of the orders when I requested military leave. For some reason my boss and his boss were not happy. They asked me to try and get out of them. I refused and I am afraid they were very cool to me for the rest of the time I worked before I left.

I had a crappy Christmas. My son came and spent five days with me. Then he went into town and spent the next week (from December 27 and over new years) with his mother. He apologized to me for that but said all his friends and the 'action' was in town and he didn't want to make the drive. I did understand and was happy he had spent any time with me over the holiday. I took the week just before I went on active duty as vacation so I could get ready for departure. I arranged for my friend Jeff and his wife Abby to watch the cabin. I had my mail held until I could arrange for it to be forwarded to me in Hawaii.

Hawaii was beautiful. I enjoyed the work and I enjoyed the scenery more. Everywhere you looked there were beautiful women. Many of them were willing to play and I decided I wanted to play. I won't say anything about any specific one because none of them really stand out for me. They were a pussy wrapped up in a beautiful body. I was and still am ambivalent about women. The best I can say is I was nice to them and paid for meals and drinks before I fucked them. As far as I was concerned, you don't fuck, we don't go out again. That was my motto and I pretty much lived by it while I was in Hawaii. After a while those who frequented the same establishments as I did understood the rules. If they wanted a nice meal, copious amounts of alcohol, maybe a luxurious weekend at a local resort they had to put out and I mean put out big time. I had a lot of pent up sexual desire to release. 

I managed to nail a large number of tourists too. Those were my favorite because they were there for the same thing I was—to fuck. I really didn't want to take the chance one of the locals would decide I was the one she wanted to marry so when I could get a tourist I did. I was sure some of them were married and went home to hubby but I just didn't care. I told myself they wanted cock, I had one and if I didn't fuck them someone else would.

By the time the tour ended I was well tanned, in better shape than I had been in years and almost fucked out. I even managed to save a little bit of my pay and allowances somehow!

I returned home just after July 4 and went into my office to arrange for a return to work. My codes did not operate the employee entrance so I had to wait for the office to open to the public. When I walked into the office some of my coworkers came up to say hello but most of them just stared at me. I tried to open the door and walk back into the main part of the office and could not. Those door codes had changed also. I asked one of the women to let me in so I could talk to my old boss. She smiled at me and said he no longer worked there and she would have to see if Mrs. Delacort, the new manager had time to see me.

I was left sitting stewing in my own juices for over thirty minutes then a woman I had never seen before came and got me. She opened the door and in a very condescending manner said, "Mr. Stevens. Follow me and I'll see if I can help you."

We walked into my office and she sat behind my desk. As we had passed the managers office I saw a very beautiful woman watching me through the window. She sat with her hands behind her neck as I walked past. She really had a magnificent set I'll tell you. I sort of glared at the woman who had sat in my chair. She had never introduced herself to me but I saw from the nameplate on the door that she was Belinda Scroggins.

I sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk and saw her grimace, her brow furrowed as if in anger. She leaned back in her chair and once more, in an almost rude tone of voice she spoke to me. She said, "What can I do for you Ronnie?"

I looked at her and I am sure she saw when I visibly swallowed my anger. I said, "I came in to make arrangements to return to work. I had planned to return next Monday unless there is some reason an earlier return is needed." I leaned forward and placed a copy of my release orders on her desk and the completed paperwork I was told I needed to return to work. "I was supposed to give these to the manager. I don't know why she couldn't see me but I am willing to let you have them if you wish."

Ms. Scroggins didn't even pick up the papers. She looked at me as if I were an undesirable insect and said in a sneering voice. "I don't know what you mean. There is no position for you here. As you can see I am the assistant manager and the manager's job is filled also. We have no need for further help on the floor. Since you resigned I have no idea why you think you can just waltz in here and we will give you a position anyway."

I sat in shock for a moment then felt my temper rising. It really wasn't so much about the job as it was about a multitude of things. I was chafing because of the rude reception I had received and more so because what Belinda was saying was completely wrong and illegal.

I leaned back in my chair and said, "For one thing Belinda I did not resign from my job. I was placed on military leave for a period of time. For another there is no need for me to be rehired because I was not terminated unless it was done erroneously. Thirdly what you propose is patently illegal because of the reemployment rights afforded me by United States Law. I am guaranteed reemployment under the USERRA, in layman's terms under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. I am entitled to be reinstated with accrued seniority in the same level of position I left or in a higher position if I could reasonably have been expected to have been promoted to that position had I still been working here instead of being on Military Leave. Now since my former manager is no longer here I believe I can reasonably be expected to be placed in either my old position as the Assistant Manager here or possibly, since he is gone the Managers position. I expect to be placed in one of those positions either here or in a similar position elsewhere in the company."

Belinda was looking at me with anger apparent in her face. She was beet red and her jaws were clenched. Finally she spoke once more. "You have more gall than any damn man I have ever met. I have heard from several people what a piece of work you are but I must admit, even for a man, you take the cake. I believe this interview is over Ronnie. You need to leave before I contact security."

I said, "Ok, I'll leave Belinda but before I do I want to see the paperwork you supposedly have showing I resigned and I also want to have a written rejection of my request for reinstatement."

Belinda picked up the phone and dialed. She spoke to whoever answered and said, "This is Ms. Scroggins. I have an unruly man in my office I need escorted from the building. Come to my office NOW."

I was sitting staring at Belinda when she looked up and said, "Terry escort this gentleman from the building. He has been rude and unruly and I do not want him in the office or the building again."

I turned to see one of the old security guards standing there. He looked embarrassed and said, "Ronnie. I hate to do this but would you please come with me?"

I stood and stared at Belinda for a moment then said, "Ok Terry. I'll go with you for now. Belinda you are making a serious mistake. I suggest you or your boss contact the Personnel office before this gets any worse."

Later that evening I tried to call my old boss at home only to find his number was not in service. I found his cell was not in service also. I got busy then and wrote a letter to my employer's Personnel Office requesting reinstatement and enclosing the same forms I had tried to leave in town earlier that day. I sent the letter certified mail and requested a return receipt. I even enclosed copies of my approved military leave document—the one showing I was on military leave and had not resigned.




Finding Happiness After Love Dies



I tried to call my old office two times during the next few days but they refused to return my calls. Two weeks later I received a letter from the Personnel Office stating that they had no position for me and they had found my termination to be at my request and legal. The letter also said since I had voluntarily left their employ I had to reapply for a job with them if I desired to work for the company. 

When I received the letter from the Personnel Office I contacted legal council and turned my reemployment problems over to them. I filed for my unemployment benefits and sat back to enjoy my summer. I continued in the reserves and even took several short tours of active duty for training. When I was not going to reserves I worked in my garden, sat on the riverbank, fished, swam some and watched the canoes float past my little slice of heaven. I began to recognize some of the people who floated past my home and we began to wave. There was one group of older people—mid thirties I would guess—that seemed to be pretty friendly. They would come by almost every weekend and sometimes during the week. They would always wave. Most of the time they would shout a greeting. The first three weeks or so there were two men and two women. They used two canoes and there were a male and female in each. The last several weeks there were usually the same two canoes but now one of them had two women in it and the other had the same man and woman. 

One day I was sitting fishing and the two canoes came into view. They were paddling fairly rapidly instead of floating. It was obvious they were in a hurry. When they came close to my little gravel bar they turned toward it. The first canoe to ground was the one with the two women in it. They didn't even pull the canoe up onto the bank more securely before they got out and came up the bank toward me. The man and woman from the second canoe beached their canoe and followed as soon as they made sure both canoes were solidly beached. All four people had walked right past my no trespassing sign and I was trying to decide if I should say anything.

The woman that had always been in the canoe that now held two women was limping when she came over the bank. She looked into my face and gave a tentative smile. Before I could speak she said, "I'm sorry to bother you. I know you have a no trespassing sign and I know you run people off but this is sort of an emergency. Could you please help me?"

I looked over at her and started to ask what she needed when I noticed a bloody rag hanging out of her right shoe. There was a gash in the side of her shoe and she was limping worse now. I started to get up when she sat down rapidly on the bench attached to my picnic table. I saw her grimace as she gently settled her foot on the ground. She seemed very pale.

She saw me looking at her foot and I watched, as the blood seemed to still be flowing rather rapidly. She said, "Some asshole brought a glass container to the river and then broke it in the rocks. I was walking along and stepped down and jammed it through the side of my shoe and into my foot. I really need a first aid kit pretty badly. We can't seem to get the bleeding to stop completely."

I hurried to her and kneeled beside her leg. I gently took her shoe off then the bloody rag. I looked at the cut and could tell it was pretty deep. Blood was seeping from it fairly rapidly but it was a steady seep, not spurts. That, at least, was a good thing. I didn't say anything I just bent forward and picked her up. I rapidly walked toward my home. Over my shoulder I said, "One of you open my door. I'm going to take her into the bathroom and we'll work on this for a while."

I sat the woman on the edge of my tub and stoppered it. I ran several inches of warm water into it then carefully washed the cut. Next I disinfected it, patted it dry and said to one of the other women hovering around, "Under the sink is a first aid kit. Hand it to me please." I helped the injured woman onto my commode and sat on the edge of the tub. I put the towel over my legs and pulled her foot up resting it on the towel.

The woman that had been with my patient opened the cabinet and pulled my military medic's bag from it. She looked at it in surprise as I grabbed it and opened it. I found a pressure bandage and rapidly and tightly wound it around the wound. I told the woman to put pressure just over the cut as I tied it off. I stepped to the sink and washed my hands then turned to the assembled people. I said, "She needs to go to the hospital for stitches. That isn't a serious wound but it needs stitches to close it properly and so it will heal correctly. I can drive her in my truck if you would like." While I had been working on her foot I kept looking upward. I could see her camel toe and felt myself getting hard. When I looked up at her face I found myself staring more at her perfect breasts barely covered by her top. For the first time I noticed how beautiful this woman was. She was well muscled and well tanned. There was not an ounce of fat on her. 

The group looked at each other for a short while. Finally the man said, "What do you think Sis?" He looked at the woman with the cut foot.

She looked up at me and then down at her foot. I noticed her gaze rest for a moment on my obvious erection. The blood was beginning to seep through the bandage. She said, "I think he is right. I need to go now and he seems like an ok guy. I've not heard anything bad about him in the café."

The woman who was with her said, "I'll go with. Can I leave the canoe here?" I nodded and she ran from the room toward the canoe. By the time I had the truck pulled up as close to the door as I could she was back. She had pulled the canoe up into my yard. I tossed a chain and pad lock to the man and said lock it to the tree there and it should be OK."

We made a fast trip to town. While we were driving the woman introduced herself to me. She was Laura Childs and she was divorced. She was living with her parents about four miles downstream from where I lived. She and her brother and friends loved to float the river. She had a boyfriend who I had seen with her earlier but they had broken up when she found out he wasn't divorced, as he had told her he was. Her lady friend muttered "asshole" as she said that. I found out she and her family was friends with my friends Jeff, Abby, Charlie and Amanda Fielding. We told each other Jeff and Charlie stories while we drove.

We arrived at the hospital emergency room and checked in. I am sure many of you know the drill. Sit and wait for an available person, give them your information then wait on the doctor. Then wait on the doctor some more...I don't know if it was good or bad but in this case since she was bleeding so much the wait was somewhat shorter than usual. I thought about going home and leaving her there. She and her friend tried to get me to leave but I just couldn't. I said, "What if you need a ride home. I am here and can take you but if I go home and no one shows up someone will have to come back for you."

We had been there about 45 minutes when Laura's brother and an older version of her came bustling into the emergency waiting area. Aaron, her brother came bustling up to me and asked, "How is Laura? Where is she?"

I leaned back and looked up at him. I could see he was very worried about his sister. His face was pale. I said, "She and her friend are in one of the exam rooms. I don't know which one. I suppose you should ask the admittance clerk over there." 

Aaron turned and bustled off to check on Laura. The older version of Laura stood beside my chair and gave me a little smile. She held her hand out toward me and said, "Since my son didn't introduce me let me do it. I am Constance Childs, Laura's mother. You can call me Connie. I want to thank you for your kindness and for your care of my daughter's injury. I apologize for my son's rudeness. He is worried about Laura. He has always protected her since they were little and I don't think he knows what to do when he can't prevent her from being hurt. I understand we are almost neighbors so I expect to see you soon. Now if you will excuse me I do want to check on my daughter."

I smiled and said, "I understand. Since you are here I will just go on home—that is if you have room to get everyone back ok?"

Connie smiled once more and said, "That's fine. We have plenty of room to get everyone back to our place."

I decided it was late enough I would stay in town for supper. I did some shopping then drove off to my favorite restaurant. While I was waiting for my meal to be delivered I looked across the room and saw my ex-wife sitting at a table with three of her friends and two effeminate looking men. I felt my stomach knot up. One of the women with Beulah was Belinda Scoggins! They were talking animatedly, smiling a lot and gesturing with their hands as they enjoyed their salads and cocktails. They were fairly close to the doorway into the rest room area so I decided to walk to the restroom and see what I could hear.

Luckily Beulah was sitting with her back to me and most of her friends did not know me so I could walk past without being identified. I walked slowly and paused just out of their sight. I was sickened by the conversation. They were discussing in detail the latest scandal about one of Beulah's favorite actresses. She was gushing as she agreed with one of the men. I watched as she said, "Oh, Bruce it is so refreshing to find a male that understands how sad these things are."

Bruce smiled and patted her on the hand. He said, "Oh, that's nothing to be surprised about. Why most of Johnnie's and my friends understand exactly how tragic these things are. Why I was telling him just last night before we went to bed how sad it was that that man was being wasted on such a little slut." He turned to the man beside him and laid his hand on his thigh then said, "Isn't that right honey?"

I had heard all I could take of this and went back to my table. It takes all kinds I suppose. Well at least I knew I still had not been replaced.

After my meal I returned to my home. I took a quick shower then went outside nude to air dry. As I passed through the office I got my bottle of Glenmorangie and went back to my chair outside. I sat on my patio and watched the stars come out. I was happy here. No people to bother me, I could do everything I wanted when I wanted. I think in the summer though I am going to build a privacy fence so I can indulge in my propensity to sunbathe nude instead of having to wait until the river activity dies down in the evening like I did that night. I did miss feminine companionship but there was certainly no one around here I cared to see that I knew of. 

All the females I knew from the larger town were either Beulah's friends who would never consent to be with someone like me or were the bitches I had worked with. Oh, I had a few local acquaintances like the Fieldings but we didn't visit. I felt cut off and alone but even then I felt like I was better off than I had been living with Beulah. Jeff did keep trying to get me to drive into Steelville for the dances at the Senior Center more often. Every time I saw or talked to him he pushed me to have coffee in the mornings with the gang that gathered at the café more often than I did. I did some of each from time to time but I really did enjoy my solitude. 

I especially liked early morning along the river. I would have my coffee and watch the sun come up and shine through the trees and mist rising from the river. Evenings after the canoes quit passing by were special also. It was quiet and peaceful. Cool air rose from the river and caressed me if I sat down beside it. How could sitting in a café beat that?

I was rapidly finding out what a lot of the women I have known over the years were talking about when they complained about being treated like a piece of meat. My GOD! I literally had to push some of the women away at the dances. I only went when I was so horny I had to put up with them to get laid. 

One morning before the sun was fully up I was out beside the river fishing. I loved this time of day. The mist was rising from the river and the sun was shining through it as it rose over the trees. I could hear cattle lowing in the background and see an occasional fish splash as it jumped. I had my coffee in a thermos and could just relax as the world came alive. Normally I didn't start seeing canoes until about ten thirty or eleven so I had all the time in the world to enjoy the morning.

I heard a hum, then a louder roar as I was casting my line toward a hole I knew the fish liked. I looked up in disgust and turned my head toward the noise. There was a flat bottom Jon Boat coming around the bend downstream from my place. It was about a mile away and coming toward me rapidly. Great. Not only was my morning to be disturbed with the noise but the fishing would be ruined for a while also. I watched in anger as the boat came rushing my way.

When the boat was almost in front of me I could see it was Aaron, Cindy and an older man. Aaron waved as they rushed past where I was sitting. They turned into my cove and beached the boat. All three people once again walked past my No Trespassing sign and toward me. With a sigh I reeled in my line and walked toward them.

Aaron smiled when we got closer and reached out to shake my hand. He said, "Mr. Stevens I want to thank you again for helping us last week. This is my father Roger. We came up to get our other canoe then we will be out of your hair."

Roger smiled and stepped toward me to shake my hand. As we shook he said, "Mr. Stevens I want to add my thanks for what you did. I also want to replace the fuel you used to take my daughter to the hospital. If you want to drop by my house with your truck we can fill the tank from our fuel tanks."

"NO, that's not necessary Mr. Childs. I needed to go to town anyway. I stopped and bought some groceries and other things. Heck I even had a nice meal at my favorite restaurant before I came home. I had been planning to go to town today or tomorrow anyway so it wasn't even a special trip. Don't worry about the fuel."

I suppose I had made a face or something because when I mentioned the restaurant meal all three of my guests looked at me funny. Mr. Childs looked at me and said, "What's wrong? I didn't mean to make you upset about the fuel."

I shook myself and said, "No, nothing like that. I'm sorry for worrying you. I just...well, my ex was in the restaurant with a bunch of her friends and it sort of spoiled the meal a little. I guess I'm not as over the divorce as I should be. I..." I felt myself becoming angry about the divorce and seeing Belinda with Beulah. I had clenched my jaw until me teeth hurt. I waved my hand at the three and said, "I'll get the key for the canoe."

I turned and walked off before they could see the anger in my eyes. I kept the key for the lock I had given Aaron hanging just inside the door. I opened the door slightly, reached in and took the key down. When I turned I saw them just starting to follow me. They were watching me with sorrowful looks on their faces.

When I walked up to my three visitors I handed them the key. "I'm sorry," I said. "I guess I'm just not over things yet and it's been almost seven months. I just..." By then Aaron had unlocked the canoe and handed me the key and chain. I turned and walked back into my house. My visitors watched me a moment then turned and took their canoe back to the river. Aaron and Cindy got into it and began paddling homeward while Roger took the Jon Boat back.

The next couple of days went by slowly. I had been thinking about my failed marriage once again and felt the anger building. Of course I also thought about my job situation and felt some anger about that. I know it's stupid to be pissed off that you can't have a job you hate but I was. I wasn't angry over the job, I was angry because they lied about me quitting and had illegally refused to reinstate me. I had decided no matter whether I won my case or not I was not returning to the job. Now my sole interest was to make the bastards pay.

About a week later I was once again sitting beside the river enjoying the day. This time it was almost sunset, one of my favorite times on the river, when I heard the motor coming upstream. I looked toward the sound and thought it was Roger's Jon Boat again. As the boat came closer I saw it was indeed his boat but this time it only held one person. Laura was steering the boat upstream. When she was even with me she smiled and waved. I listened and watched as she slowed down and turned toward my landing.

I rose from my chair and walked toward her as she came over the bank toward me. Laura was smiling as she came toward me, and when she smiled it lit up the whole area. She was carrying a Tupperware case as she almost glided across my lawn. I watched her breasts bounce with her every step. Even from the front her ass was gorgeous as she swayed and wiggled toward me. She had on a button front blouse tied under her breasts and showing off her midriff. She had on tight Daisy Dukes that left little to the imagination. When she stood in front of me I could see her camel toe. Normally when a woman her age dressed like that she looked skanky. For some reason Laura managed to look incredibly sexy. I felt my cock stir as I watched her.

Laura smiled and blushed a little as she watched me watching her. She held the Tupperware container out toward me and said, "Daddy told me you refused to let him replace the fuel you used to take me to the hospital. Since you wouldn't let him do that I decided I would bring you a cake. I hope you like it. It's carrot cake with cream cheese icing. It's my favorite and I worked for years until I could make it like I used to buy in Max's."

I felt my mouth water. I smiled at Laura and said, "Oh, my. If it's as good as Max's we have to eat some of it right now. Not only is that my favorite restaurant but also that is my favorite dessert when I eat there. I have some nice port to drink with it or I can make some coffee if you'll join me?"

Laura smiled and said, "Oh, I couldn't. It'll be dark soon and I brought the boat. There's no lights on it so I have to get right back home."

"Oh, come on. We'll eat fast," I said as I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the house.

Laura grudgingly followed me inside and sat where I directed her at the breakfast bar. I hurriedly put on some coffee then cut the cake and poured two glasses of Port. I placed cake and a glass of Port in front of Laura then sat one at my place also. I bustled back to the kitchen for napkins and silverware. As I was returning to the table I asked, "Do you need sugar or cream for the coffee?"

Laura looked up at me and smiled, as she shook her head no. As I was sitting I glanced down and saw the smooth, tanned swell of her breasts. I could see the hint of a hard nipple before the motion of our two bodies hid it. I felt my cock twitch once more. I was once more in serious need of some pussy and knew I would have to venture into town to see if I could find some.

We were almost half done with our cake and port when the coffee finished. I rose and brought us each a cup. We visited as we ate. Laura bit her lip and looked me in the eyes. She said, "Ron, Daddy and Aaron said...well, I'm divorced too and I know how it feels. If you need to talk..."

I felt my temper start to rise and I once again felt the despair, the sense of failure as I thought about my dead marriage. I felt my face tighten and saw the apprehensive look in Laura's eyes. I fought to hold my temper as I said, "Laura I really don't want to talk about that...I loved her with all my heart and soul and...she just slipped away from me. I just can't. I..." I clenched my jaw and shook my head as I stood and walked away. Laura sat and watched me as I went outside. 




Finding Happiness After Love Dies



I was standing staring across the river when she came out of my house. I felt her walk up behind me and she put her hand on my back. "I'm sorry Ron. I'll just go now but if you ever need to talk to someone I'll be there."

I watched her head toward the river and get into her boat. I was still watching as she disappeared downstream and went around the bend.

The next Saturday I was working in my garden beside the river. It was almost too hot to work and I was thinking of quitting when a canoe came into sight from upstream. There were two women in it. When it got closer I saw Laura and her friend Tammy in it. They were both smiling and Laura was waving. As they came closer I saw they were aiming directly at my landing.

Just before beaching both of the women gave a strong pull with their paddles and drove the bow of the canoe far up onto the gravel bar. Laura came bouncing up the bank still smiling. Tammy followed behind her slowly. She was watching me as Laura bounced up and stood in front of me. She smiled then looked into my eyes as she said, "Ron I'm sorry about the other night. I shouldn't have mentioned...Oh, Hell, I know how I felt after my divorce. I won't mention it again but I'm here if you ever want to talk. I mean that. Now, Tammy and I are hungry and you have a really nice place to eat here. If we share our lunch with you could we please use your table?"

I could not believe the gall of this woman. Sure I helped her when she was hurt but...Well hell, I had posted the place against trespassing and she knew it. I just looked at her in total bewilderment. The longer I looked at her the more she seemed to wilt. I saw her shoulders slump and she started to turn away as she said, "Oh, I guess not huh? I'm sorry we bothered you."

As they were going over the bank toward their canoe I heard Tammy say to Laura, "I told you. You can tell by looking at the asshole he is an asshole. Now let's get on downstream and find someplace to eat. I'm starved."

I stood in shock once more and thought, I'm an asshole? Hell, I didn't ignore no trespassing signs and try to force myself on someone. I never realized I had moved but the next thing I knew I was standing on the bank of the stream over my landing. The girls had just pushed their canoe off when I got there. I heard myself saying, "Wait. I guess I was being an asshole. I just can't seem to deal with people—especially women—since my divorce and...I'm sorry. Would you please come back? You can use my table and won't even have to share your meal."

Tammy didn't even look up as she snarled, "Forget it. We don't need you to do us any favors."

I was turning back toward my house when I heard Laura say, "Oh, come on Tammy. Let's go back. He said he's sorry and I really want to eat there. Please?" I heard the swishing of water that comes from back paddling to slow a canoe. I heard the gravel crunching then a smiling Laura and a frowning Tammy came back over the bank carrying a large cooler. They walked up to my picnic table and began unloading the meal.

I stood and watched as they set Tupperware bowls out. There was cold fried chicken, potato salad and coleslaw. I was surprised to see three plates and table servings set out, then three glasses were filled with ice tea. They had planned this meal for three and from the looks of it Laura was the instigator.

I looked at the spread and said, "Would you like me to microwave the chicken to heat it? And I have some fresh picked tomatoes if you want..." Laura gave me a dazzling smile and pushed the chicken toward me. "Great," she replied.

I picked up the container of chicken and rushed into the house. I popped it into the microwave then rushed to the sink to wash my hands. I washed and sliced two nice tomatoes then sliced some fresh home made bread still warm from the machine. By the time the chicken was warm I had everything else I wanted to take out ready to go. I turned to go outside and found Laura sitting at my breakfast bar once again. She gave me a small smile when she saw me jump when I saw her.

Laura stood and glided into the kitchen. She walked up beside me and smiled then said, "Do you need help carrying all that? I said I was going to feed you and it looks like you have almost as much food out as I brought. That home made bread smells divine too."

As Laura reached for the chicken and tomato dish she pushed me out of the way with her hips. I looked down toward her and saw her unrestrained breasts inside her thin shirt. Her nipples were sooo hard and sooooo beautiful! I felt my little soldier leap to attention. I had to turn partly away from her and adjust things before I picked up the plate of bread to follow her outside. When I turned back toward her I saw a pleased smirk on her face.

I walked all the way back to the picnic table following Laura. I was totally besotted, mesmerized by the vision in front of me. Her near perfect ass was wiggling side to side and her tanned, perfectly formed legs flashed in the light as we walked from sun to shade and back into sun from time to time.

Laura walked around the picnic table and began arranging the dishes. I looked up and saw Tammy gazing at me with an inquisitive look on her face. She looked at Laura and I heard her whisper something. Laura blushed and swatted her on the shoulder then said, "Hush Tammy." She looked toward me rapidly then lowered her eyes to the table once more. 

The girls sat across the table from me and filled all three plates. We visited as we ate, learning more about one another. I realized I had not brought salt or pepper out for the tomatoes and said I would go get it. Laura jumped from her seat and said, "No, just tell me where it is and I'll get it for you Ron." I swear she was half way to the house before I got her answered so I let her go.

While she was gone Tammy sat and stared, almost glared at me. I could see she was thinking hard about something. I heard the door open and then Tammy started to talk. She talked rapidly and quietly so I am sure Laura did not hear what she said. "Ron I can't make up my mind about you. I know you've been hurt but so has Laura. I swear if you hurt her more I'll beat you to death. The last thing she needs is another man to hurt her."

I sat in shock and felt my temper rising once more. I snapped at Tammy before I realized what I was doing. I said, "Listen Bitch. I don't know where you come off sitting at my table and lecturing me like that but I have no intention of hurting Laura or anything else. In case you forgot you are the ones that came to me for this little meal. I was perfectly happy sitting here all alone but noooo, you had to intrude on my privacy. Now you are guests and you will be treated as such unless someone keeps on insulting the host hummm."

Tammy's face got red and she took a deep breath. Before she could respond Laura came bouncing up and saw how we were looking at each other. She turned to Tammy and said, "Tammy what have you done?"

I watched as Tammy spluttered and looked guilty. She looked everywhere but into Laura's eyes or at me. Finally she muttered, "Nothing. Ron and I were just talking and I guess we pushed each other's buttons. Now let's finish lunch so we can get on downstream to your folks."

After the meal Tammy rose and began cleaning up and packing. Laura sat and looked at me a moment then reached her hand out. She placed it on the hand I had still on the table and said, "Ron I don't know what happened between you and Tammy but she is really a nice person. I suppose she probably was trying to protect me from you. Whatever, I'm sorry she upset you. She means well. Now we do have to go but thank you so much for a fun lunch and for sharing your bread and tomatoes with us."

Laura stood and picked up my two plates and salt and pepper shakers and took them into my house. I turned to watch her glide once more across my yard. Damn she was fine looking. When I swiveled back to the table I saw Tammy staring at me. She didn't say anything but I could sure hear her thinking it. I watched as the women took their cooler back to the canoe and floated past my yard. Laura waved and gave me a big smile after they were lined out in the channel. As much as I hated to admit it I had a pleasant meal until Tammy opened her mouth.

Wednesday evening late Laura came to my place once more but she drove this time. Since I had my gate locked she had to walk almost a quarter mile down my lane. The first I knew she was there was when she came around the corner of my house and began yelling for me. I had been down at the river skinny-dipping. It was past dusk and late enough in the day I didn't expect canoes. If there had been I could hear them in time to get to the bank and dress before they saw me so I felt safe in indulging my desires. I have to admit I really liked to swim and walk around nude so I indulged myself when the opportunity arose. I had never considered anyone walking up on me.

I am afraid Laura caught sight of my naked bod as I grabbed for my ratty old cut offs. When I rose from pulling up my pants I saw a very red Laura standing looking down at me and holding the pie in front of her. She was almost crying as she said, "I'm sorry! I didn't know...I uh, I didn't mean to peek at you. I'm sorry!"

I felt a little shamed but then that surge of anger hit me again. Damn it this was MY place, MY home and I had it posted. I had no reason to be embarrassed that she caught me naked. If she had obeyed the signs this would have never happened. I am sure she saw my jaw clench but she stood her ground and said, "I brought you an apple pie and since it was so dark I drove this time. I didn't know you kept your gate locked all the time." The hue in her face was slowly receding but I could tell she was still upset. 

I don't know why I didn't say something but I just looked at her for a moment then I began walking toward her. "Well come on in. I suppose we need to make some coffee and sample the pie since you brought it over. I haven't eaten yet. Do you want some supper?"

Laura blushed once more and said, "Uh, no. I...we won't eat for a while yet. We wait for Dad and Aaron to get done in the fields during the summer so I decided to bring your pie over before. I can just go and...I am sorry I bothered you Ron."

She sat the pie on my counter and started to leave. I don't know why but I reached out and grabbed her arm. I felt her tense in fear. When she looked at me she looked like she had seen a ghost. I dropped her arm and said, "I'm sorry Laura. I shouldn't have grabbed you. I just..." 

I felt almost a lurch as I realized I didn't want her to leave. I continued, saying, "I just didn't want you to go yet. I mean, if you have time, at least stay a few minutes while I make supper. You're more than welcome to eat with me too if you want. I..." 

Once again, I was surprised when I realized what I was about to say was true. I continued once again, "I would really appreciate some company. That is if you have time?"

Laura looked into my eyes and I saw her begin to smile. By the time the smile was fully formed her eyes were glinting with her pleasure. She slid her beautiful posterior onto "her" stool at my breakfast bar and leaned her elbows on the counter, placing her chin in her hands. As she wiggled her butt to get more comfortable she said, "Well, don't let me stop you. Get busy. I bet you have a hungry man to feed."

I really didn't have much to do. I had made a potato salad and bean salad earlier and had some for lunch. All I had to do was prepare some meat so I got busy. I decided to make enough for both of us in case I could get her to stay and dine with me. I had plenty of chicken thawed out so I just fried it. After I got it seared so it would be nice and crusty I turned the heat down, sliced some onions over the meat and put the lid on it.

I walked up to the counter and reached underneath for some wine glasses. I sat them on the table and opened the refrigerator for the well-chilled white wine I had selected earlier. Laura watched me pour two glasses then when I handed her one she sipped it daintily. I saw her eyes open in surprise and she exclaimed, "Oh, that's good!"

I pulled my chair around where I could see her better and we began visiting. She said, "Well, I know you are recently...uh, SINGLE, and that you don't work but surely there is something else I should know about Ron Stevens isn't there?"

I smiled and said, "Well, I don't know. I'm pretty much what you have seen so far. I guess you can say I work part time. I am in the Army Reserve and since I don't have a full time job I spend a lot of time doing things for the Reserve. I take a lot of short tours of Active Duty or Active Duty for Training. From January to July I was on a short tour in Hawaii. I am thinking about applying for another one later this fall. Right now I am in the middle of a lawsuit against my prior employer for failing to observe the USERRA Law on my reemployment. Other than that, I'm pretty much a part time gardener and the irascible SOB you see. Now how about Laura Childs hummm?"

Laura took another sip of her wine and looked at me over the lip of her glass. "Not much to tell actually. I am divorced. I was married and lived with my husband for almost seven years, separated and in the process of divorce for three, been single again for three. I was born and raised here on the river at my family farm. I have a degree in Agribusiness and worked in a feed mill for several years. I quit and came home when my marriage went south. Now I work part time in Steelville at the Farm Supply store and work part time on the Family Farm. I'm kind to animals and fun to be around if you treat me right."

Of course as we conversed I had been working on my pan of chicken. I finally decided it was done to perfection so I dished it up. I put plates and silverware in front of both of us and sat to eat. I topped off her wine and handed the bowl of chicken to Laura.

I watched as Laura dished up her food and began eating. All at once she stopped and exclaimed, "Damn you! I never said I would eat supper with you. How did you???"

I just sat and grinned at her. Just before I took a bite I smiled and said, "Well, you've got your plate full now so I guess you have to eat. We sure don't want to waste anything do we?"

Laura glared at me a moment then I saw a sexy little grin break out over her face. She didn't say anything but she began eating once more. After we finished Laura helped me clean the kitchen and dish up the apple pie. I poured two large glasses of Port to go with it and we wandered into the living room to sit and eat our dessert. We continued our conversation. 

After a few moments Laura asked if she could use the bathroom. When she came back into the room she sat on the couch beside me and we continued with our conversation. I noticed both Port glasses were empty and filled them. We continued to talk and visit. By now Laura was leaning on my shoulder as we talked. Our conversation was almost nonexistent by now. We just sat and watched the sunset as we sipped our port.

I turned to look down at Laura and she was looking up at me. I never realized I moved but I heard a moan. I realized I was kissing Laura and she was straining upward toward me. Laura stood and I felt a surge of fear. She turned slightly and plopped her beautiful ass down onto my lap. Laura leaned into me and wrapped her arms around me as she began kissing me once more.

After several eons of kissing I heard Laura sigh. She laid her head against my chest and placed her hand beside it. I heard her murmur, "I just knew it would be wonderful."

We sat quietly. I don't know how long we were just sitting, holding each other. Sometime Laura moved off my lap again and leaned against me. We had dropped off to sleep I suppose. We were both startled awake when my home phone rang. We both jumped and Laura jumped up. I stood and walked into the office to answer. "Is this Ron?"

"Yes. Can I help you?"

"Ron this is Connie Childs. I'm getting worried Ron. Laura was going to bring you a pie she baked for you today and it's getting late. She hasn't come home yet. Have you seen her? We held supper for her but when she didn't come...Well, it's after midnight and she hasn't called or anything. Can you help me out here?"

I laughed and let my mouth override my asshole. I said, "Yeah, I think I can find her for you Connie. We were sleeping and time got away..."

I heard a gasp from Laura and Connie almost at the same time and said, "NO! That's not what I mean. I mean we fell asleep after we got done with supper and..."

By now I could hear Laura laughing in the background. She finally took pity on me and took the phone from my hand. She said, "Mother? I'm sorry. I was going to leave the pie and come right home but he keeps his gate locked. I had to walk to his house from the road then he hadn't eaten and wanted to visit while he cooked. Somehow he made me eat supper with him then we had dessert and some wine and..."

Laura giggled once more and continued, "Yes Mother, I suppose you could say I was sleeping with him but not like that. We were sitting on his couch with our wine and we both dropped off to sleep. We'd probably still be sleeping if you hadn't called. I'm sorry I worried you. I just didn't realize how late it is. I'll be home soon. Love you. Bye."

Laura placed the cordless phone back in its holder and looked at me with mirth in her eyes. She smiled and said, "Well, now we're in it. I suppose I better get home and let Mom get to sleep. She'll never go to bed until I get there safely."

Laura looked at me a moment then reached out to gently touch my face. She smiled and said, "I had a fun time tonight Ron. Thanks for supper and the conversation." She stood on her tiptoes and gave me a gentle kiss and hurried to the door. She was outside before I remembered she had walked from her car. I rushed to the door and said, "Wait Laura. I'll drive you to the gate."

I didn't get much sleep that night. Every time I got drowsy I began to think about Laura. The next morning I got up at my regular time but I wasn't worth much. About eleven I got a phone call from my attorney. My case was scheduled for hearing finally and he wanted to touch base on some things. I told him I could come to town that day so off I went.

That evening on the way home I took the cake pan and the pie pan Laura had brought to my home back to her. I drove into their farm lot and saw her walking toward the house from the machine shed. She was dressed in worn Levis, a blue chambray shirt, boots and hat. She was covered in dirt and dust. When she saw me she turned toward my truck. 

As I walked up to her she was beating her clothes with her hat trying to knock some of the dust from her. She was blushing. "Hello Ron. What are you doing here?"

I smiled and held up the two containers. She smiled and said, "Ohhh, I'm a mess. Come on in." She led me into the kitchen where I saw Connie working, preparing supper for her crew.

After we greeted each other Laura turned to me and said, "Give me a minute. I have to get out of these dirty clothes."

Connie looked at me with a small smile. I raised the containers and started to say I was returning them when she took them from my hands. She broke in saying, "Ron I don't know whether to beat you or what to do with you. You kids had me worried sick the other evening. Now, sit. You can either go into the living room or sit here and keep me company while we wait on my wayward daughter." Connie turned back to her task.

I elected to sit at the kitchen table where I could talk to Connie. Almost before I was seated she placed a frosty glass of unsweetened ice tea in front of me. While we visited I heard a shower. In what I considered way too short a time I heard footsteps and turned the direction they were coming from. I felt my mouth drop open. There was a vision of loveliness standing in the doorway. Laura had cleaned up and put on a sundress that came to her mid thigh. She had the wet head look from washing her hair and no make up. Her nipples were tenting out the front of her dress and I found myself wondering if she had any panties on since it was obvious she had on no bra. I felt my cock twitch.