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Dani and the Bull Ch. 01

By: darkstone57



(Author's Note: As you will have noticed this is the edited version, when it appeared in the story section and i read through it, i found several things i thought i had already fixed but hadn't.

I also want to address a couple questions in the comments page.

The original story was 20 plus chapters and while it is a romance story it could also fall under the category of supernatural. All the characters are human, and i hope you will enjoying meeting them as the story progresses.

Peace

darkstone57)

*

Chapter 1

"So there I am, sitting in this bar in Macon, Georgia at one in the morning and old Bull here, he walks in and the whole place gets dead quiet." Zach Lazarus paused in the middle of his story telling to take a drink of his beer. It had been two years since his last visit, and he wasn't sure which had tasted better, the beer, or the home cooked meal his mom had fixed. No one was a better cook then Helen Lazarus and everyone admitted it freely. She had perfected her skill feeding Zach, his four older brothers, his dad, and his lone kid sister. "Now, you know me, I ain't afraid of anyone...." That didn't get the response he expected, everyone knew Zach was the biggest coward in the whole Lazarus clan. When he realized that no one was going to agree with him, continued with his story. "Okay, so even I was shaking in my boots. But hell, look at this guy, he makes the word giant seem small." Zach grinned at the big man who had come west with him after a steady night of talking and drinking.

Seven pairs of eyes turned to the man sitting across from the table from Zach. He was a big man, nearly seven feet tall, and as broad as any door frame in the house. The Lazarus clan all tended to be big people, but they were all impressed, all of them that is, except the girl sitting next to their visitor. She had yet to meet any man who impressed her simply by size alone. Of course, Dani Lazarus had yet to meet any man who impressed her in any way. Growing up the youngest of six children and the only girl in the bunch had been very educational. She supposed he was a good looking man, the odd combination of the bronze skin, the almost pure white hair, and blazing blue eyes making him stand out even without his size. She didn't think he was all that scary though, there were a lot of men out in the world she considered scarier than him in fact.

Still, Dani did glance his way after Zach started talking again, just to see how he was reacting to the way her brother was just talking about him like he wasn't even there, or if he was, he was deaf. He didn't seem to care one way or another, just sat back in the chair that had groaned when he sat down and listened. Odds were good that Zach was probably making it all up as he went. Dani always thought that a man was more prone to telling stories than women were. Made her wonder, just how many of those supermarket novels she liked to read were really written by men.

Zach was just finishing his story when she turned her attention back to him. "So here we are. Bull was a little unsure at first, but I told him he'd be more then welcome, and he was good company on the ride out. He didn't even yell at me like the rest of you do when I go into down time."

Jack Lazarus, by no means a small man himself and still in good shape despite his fifty odd years, gave their visitor a glance. "I knew a guy about your size once, called him Mountain...." He stroked his long beard and a silver cross dangled from his left ear. "Met him back in the hills of Kentucky, made some of the best moonshine I ever tasted, had two tasty daughters as I remember..." He caught the look in his wife's eyes and coughed. "Well, maybe that's a story for another time that was back in my younger days mind you, before Helen here showed me that one woman can be more than enough for a man."

Dani gave a small groan that no one but she heard. Here it went, now her dad would spend all night trying to make up to her mom and her mom would be all pain about it, but in the end they would go up stairs and spend the night rocking the house. Better get out while she could. Pushing back her chair, she got to her feet, and shook her head. "Got to go, see you all later." Her voice was raised just enough to be heard over the sound of men guzzling beer and her mom asking Bull if he was sure he'd had enough to eat. 

Her dad paused just to look at her. "And where do you think you're going young lady? It's not every day we have more than one or two of your brother's home at the same time. I think it's a time for a party." He rubbed his hand in a gleeful manner. "Now what could be more important than being here to welcome your brother home, and to welcome his friend to this house?"

Dani didn't stop pulling on her jacket. "I promised to meet Annie and Sue downtown. We're going to go see a movie, then just hang for a while." She checked her pockets. Her money and cigarettes were all in place. Identification, it was definitely in place. Since she had gotten old enough to go cruising around town with her friends, she had learned never to leave it at home. At the door she grabbed her truck keys, but before leaving, she looked at her brother and his friend. "Zach, welcome home. Bull, it was nice to meet you. Welcome to Elton."

As she drove downtown in the truck, she found that her major problem with being part of the Lazarus tribe was her family in general. Her dad was always looking for a reason to have a party, and her brothers treated the family house more like a motel then they did a home. To make it worse, she had learned early that her family was a constant alarm going off when the cops were around. All of her brothers had been and still were hell raisers, and her dad had busted up the local bar more than once. She didn't even count the number of times her brother had been busted for possession and half the kids in school who did the drugs had been shocked to learn that no, she didn't smoke pot, she didn't carry and she didn't deal. Hell, she was still three days away from her eighteenth birthday, and a virgin for Christ's sake.

Annie Belton and Sue West were waiting outside the Elton movie house, and they already knew that Zach was home. Bad news traveled fast in Elton. The short, slim built brunette Annie had been in love with Zach forever anyway, and she wanted to know how he was and how did he look. Sue, a tall, long legged blond with an almost flat chest, on the other hand, had somehow heard about his traveling buddy, and just had to hear all about the guy. Dani told them both what they wanted to know, and then promptly forgot about both her brother and the Bull.

When she wasn't home, she did her best to just forget she even had a family. Sometimes she wished she were an orphan, or had been raised by some family that was at least a little bit normal. That would be so nice, being around normal people. Sitting back in her seat, staring up at the movie screen, Dani let her mind wander. What would it be like to have a dad who worked nine to five, or a mom who didn't bleach her hair and wear a ton of makeup? Parents who didn't ride a Harley and have friends who could scare the hell out of normal people? What was it like to live in a house that wasn't cluttered with motorcycle parts and biker magazines? Where the pictures on the wall were real pictures, not rebel flags, and posters of motorcycles and half naked women?

Even her name, her folks had been so sure she would be another boy that they hadn't even thought up any girl names. When she had been born, her dad was so shocked; he had to ask the doctor twice to make sure. It was her mother who just changed it from Danny to Dani. She didn't even have a middle name like everyone else. Which was fine, but her teachers sure hadn't understood it when she tried to tell them that her name was just Dani Lazarus. She had finally brought a copy of her birth certificate in to prove that she didn't have any name in the middle.

This hadn't made life any easier for her. Everyone just assumed that she was the unhappiest kid in the world, and the most ill treated. People had given her dolls, dresses, and all the stuff that went with being female. Of course, all that just made her parents shake their heads in amusement, and tell the do-gooders thank you very much, but Dani preferred to wear jeans to school, and the black leather jacket kept her much warmer than a regular jacket did. Most of the clothes she wore were hand me downs from her brothers, so what difference did it make one way or another?

There was also the thing that had happened the summer she turned thirteen. That year, she had grown five inches, and developed hormones and breasts. Unlike Annie and Sue, she had never owned a training bra. Her first bra had been a 44D and it hadn't changed in the last four years. The rest of her body, almost six feet of it, had taken on all the female curves and lines in the last four years as well, but it was a full figured sort of curve and line. Now, she found men thinking she was older, and even when they knew the truth, didn't much care. Boys at school had tried to grope her, and even adult men tried to ask her out. Some of her parent's friends were just as bad, always half teasing her and half being serious about it.

Of course, Dani never took any of it very seriously. She hadn't met any guy who made her interested in more than kissing lessons, and few members of the male species were willing to settle for that. So, they moved on to other women, and she just shrugged her shoulders at it. What else could she do? With her dad and brothers, how could she settle for some punk with pimples on his face, and hands that wouldn't stay away from her tits and crotch?

The movie ended and later, she listened as Annie and Sue talked about it while they shared a plate of French fries at the local café. Unlike her friends, she didn't care who the latest Hollywood heartthrob was or any of it. She went to the movies to have time to think, not actually watch the thing. She preferred to let her mind make up the movies from the different novels she read. They seemed more real to her than watching two perfect people act them out on a huge screen. So, while her friends talked, she sat back and drank her soda staring at the same old things she had seen forever.

After the sodas and French Fries, they debated on where to go next. It was still early, only ten o'clock. Sue didn't have to be home until midnight, and Annie was spending the night with her. So, two hours to kill. She wasn't surprised when Annie suggested going to her house to hang out. Her friends wanted to see the two additions. Annie would spend their time there trying to get Zach to notice her, and Sue would flirt with the Bull. Some things never changed. Neither did the fact that Sue pulled out her cell phone and called her parents begging to be allowed to spend the night with Annie as soon as they were out of town, it was never any different, they all knew that Sue's daddy would never let her spend a night at the Lazarus house if he knew that was where she was going.

The house was packed with people, some even spilling out onto the lawn and street. They wove their way through cars, trucks, motorcycles, adults, and kids and into the house proper before they found Zach and his friend. Neither had anyone hanging on them yet. By the end of the night, that might be different, but for now, it gave Sue and Annie a clear path. Both girls were now officially eighteen and Zach had radar when it came to such things. He gave her a grin as she walked up to him, and handed her a beer.

"How come you're home so early, most of us never staggered in until after two of three in the morning when we were your age." Her family was as bad as the rest of the town. Always expecting her to stay out all night, or run off with some guy. More than one of her brothers had made wagers that she would have a bun in the oven by now, and had seemed to think she had purposely not done it to make them lose the money.

"Annie and Sue wanted to come say welcome home." Dani made sure she kept her tone flat, showing that she didn't necessarily agree. It was funny, Zach had once been her favorite brother, what had happened to them in the two years he had been gone? Even as she asked herself, she knew. She had grown up and like the rest of the people in her family, Zach had not.

Zach's pale blue eyes roamed over both girls in the careless way he had, and Annie blushed. "You two sure have grown up since I was home last." He said it to both of them, but his eyes never left Annie.

That made Annie blush even more, and Sue giggle. Dani wanted to vomit. Instead, she lit a cigarette, and looked around. "Am I in trouble?" It was a silly question, she never got in trouble. She could stay out all night fucking half the football team, and never get in trouble. 

"Yeah, but only for not bringing them around sooner, girls, meet my friend Bull. His real name is Beaumont Andre Marquaille, but doesn't he remind you of a bull?" Zach had to stretch to be able to lean his arm on Bull's shoulder as he spoke.

Both Annie and Sue glanced his way, but only Sue's glance lasted more than a second. Dani could see the gears working in her friends' mind. Sue was man crazy, and didn't try to hide it from anyone but her parents. Dani was tempted to warn the Bull, but she didn't bother. Instead, she walked off without saying anything, leaving her friends to their fate. This was nothing new, she thought as she went upstairs to her room. It wasn't any quieter, but she was able to shut her door, dig out her book and read in peace. No one would miss her. She stopped reading to get up long enough to lock her door. Maybe one person would and while she hadn't seen him or his ride, she was taking no chances. Dani knew better.

She was wrong. Bull watched as the girl walked through the crowded room and up the flight of stairs. A part of him was tempted to follow and he licked his lips as he followed the sway of her round bottom. He had come a million miles and a hundred years to find her. Not literally, but it sure felt that way sometimes. Now that he had, he found it hard to let her just walk off. Too many lonely nights and stolen dreams began to plague him and felt an itch in his jeans. It had been a long time, but he knew there was nothing he could do. Not yet, not till he got to sit down and talk to her one on one. He had hoped that she might be friendlier, like the rest of her family. Of course, he was sure Zach would never understand it if he told him, neither would her parents or anyone else here.

Or maybe someone would. He glanced at Sue and found the small, slender, blond looking at him with an unreadable expression in her eyes. It could have been jealousy. In fact, he was pretty sure it was. This was a gal who didn't want to share the spotlight with anyone. He had met plenty of women like her in his life, and he knew how to use it to his advantage. He wondered how she would react when she discovered that he was no more interested in her body, than he was in the brunette that was getting cozy with Zach. The one he wanted was upstairs, still, it had been a while and if the little blond with no tits could do him even a little bit of good, he'd give it a shot.

She squealed a little when he picked her up and gave her a kiss that Bull was sure she had never experienced before. They settled on a sofa in a far corner and soon he felt a twinge in his lower regions, but it became a full-fledged fire when he thought of Dani and how he wished to god that it were her he was kissing.

When he began to caress Sue's breasts, he felt her nipples come to life, but that was all she had, nothing to offer his huge hands what so ever. Well, he would just have to make do with it. He didn't give a damn if it was her mouth or her pussy he emptied his load in, if he didn't take some of the load his balls were packing off, he was going to do something crazy. Even if she wasn't the one the demon wanted. If nothing else, he'd give her enough to wear her out then take care of himself in the old fashioned way. It wouldn't be the first time he had jacked off.

A glance at Zach and Annie told him his friend was getting reacquainted with the little brunette and he had to admit he had good taste. She was a cute little thing, Sue was too, but she was like too many other women he had known and as he slipped his hand down between her legs, he knew he would find no virgin sacrifice waiting for him. That would make it easier for him, but even the thought of putting his cock in some one other then Dani was repulsive to him.

Moving his mouth to Sue's ear, he nipped the lobe and whispered against her skin. "Come on honey, lets you and me get better acquainted." She offered her mouth and at the same time, he shoved a finger up her soaking hole. Damn, she was tight, truthfully too tight to take his huge cock and take it easily, even if he made her come a hundred times, she was already grunting a little with pain from his fingers. God, no, he needed a pussy who could handle him. And from the look of things around him, she was all there was to be had. Finally, he eased his motions and, after she had cum at least three times, he knew it wasn't going to happen. It was going to be a hands job for him tonight, after she fell asleep. He didn't need her raising hell because he left her just sitting there all alone. Not that he much cared. As it was he needed to find something to fasten his brain on for when he was able to get away. And to make it worse, now the blond was trying to swallow his cock.

When he finally had her stop before she dislocated her jaw or something, she gave him a funny look but said nothing. If she had he might have just given in to the desire his demon felt. He did feel that maybe she deserved something for effort, and he was glad she didn't protest when he got her in the bathroom, put her on the edge of the sink and let his mouth go crazy. He also knew that this would be the first, last and only time he ever had any kind of sexual contact with Dani's friend.

Across the room, Jack Lazarus looked at the big man as he sat back in his chair and felt his wife nuzzle his neck. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something about the big man, something that made him apprehensive and yet relaxed at the same time. He had seen how Bull's eyes had followed Dani as she left earlier. At first he had felt some fatherly pride; she was his daughter and one hell of a good looking girl, as beautiful as her mother. In three days she would legally be an almost adult, free game for a man to crawl between her legs and feed her his dick.

"What's the matter honey?" Helen whispered in his ear as she reached down and caressed the front of his pants. "No reason to be worried, baby-girl is home, safe and sound, and her two friends seemed to have playmates. Damn good thing both of them are eighteen from the way Bull is going at Sue."

Jack knew Helen didn't think much of the little blonde, she had grown up in this town, knew both girls parents from kindergarten all most. Jack was the new comer, the inheritor of this huge old house. Not as big or as fancy as the one he had grown up in New Orleans, but still this one felt like a home. Something he hadn't really known growing up, not in the conventional sense.

"Let's go to bed Helen, I need you tonight." He spoke suddenly, filled with a sudden desire for his wife that he felt all too often. 

She smiled at him. "Then what the hell are we waiting for?" She got up off his lap and took his hand as they went upstairs like a couple of kids. If she wondered when he paused at Dani's door, she said nothing. Instead she waited patiently, while he tried first knocking then turning the handle. When there was no give, Jack felt a deep sense of relief. She had locked it from the inside. "Jack, are you coming sweetheart?"


Dani and the Bull Ch. 01



He looked at her as she licked her lips. "Not yet baby, but soon enough, for you..." Scooping her up, she wrapped her long legs around his waist and arms around his neck. Even after long years together she was still that one that made him hard and heavy for the feeling of her. Now he found himself greedy for the taste of her tits and the feel of her pussy on his anxious cock. "I can't wait baby, I'll make it up to you, I promise, just right now I need to fuck you."

Helen moaned. "Been a long time since you been so hot Jack, it's okay baby, give it to me the way you know I like it and I won't care how fast you are."

He kissed his wife long and hard as he worked at her clothes and his. Once he was inside her still tight hole, he bent his head and sucked at her huge nipples as their children had sucked at them. Deep inside him, he felt something stirring and knew it was something that had always been there. Why was it alive now? Was it the idea that Dani was almost a woman? That a man had come from his own home territory who was his and his boys equal if not their better?

Helen began to moan and move her lower body telling him she was close to her release. Plunging into her depths harder and harder, he felt her fingers rip his back as she began to cry out and flood him at the same time. God, even Helen felt it. It was in the air almost, he felt his balls begin to boil and suddenly he was spurting into her, the climax the most powerful he had felt in a long time. Thank the gods they had both been fixed, not that he was old, but if not, then he knew that tonight they would have made another baby. He had come too close to losing his love once before in childbirth, he had wanted to stop then. Instead, she had gotten pregnant with Dani and as miracles sometimes happened, she went through both pregnancy and birth with ease. From the moment he had held his baby girl in his arms that first time; he had felt something special about her. She had gripped his finger with a strength none of the boys had possessed, and yet been so like her mother.

"My woman, how did I get so lucky?"

Bull moved through the quiet house and slipped outside. For a man his size he could move damn quiet when he wanted. He was throbbing with need but he knew what he had to do. Sue had been a failed attempt at nothing but a release, she wasn't the first, but she would be his last. He was sure that somewhere in this small town there had to be a woman who paid her rent by letting men like him, who paid for their pleasure and if they had a little kink like he did, well the right amount of money would buy anything, he had just learned to be more cautious. Once outside, he lit a cigarette, and wondered where he could find some privacy for what he wanted. There were a couple of outbuilding, one of them a large shed that Zach had told him was where his dad did the customization and detail work. He also kept a regular repair shop in town for cars and trucks. 

He considered the shed that looked run down, but instead he walked around the house and soon found himself leaning against the house in a darken corner. A single light shown down from upstairs and he knew without a doubt that it was Dani's room. What was she doing up there? Was she one the phone with a guy her own age, reading a book, watching a movie? Had Sue woke up, gone to her friend's room and told her wild stories? No, she had been sleeping soundly when he left her. He was sure she wasn't thinking about him, not after she had more or less given him to Sue, if she had been interested she would have stuck around longer, spent some time talking, just doing what kids did.

Opening his worn jeans, he freed his throbbing cock and his hand went to grip it with no hesitation. God, he needed to cum, to spill it all. He began slowly then built up his speed as memories of dreams came to mind. Of he and a woman, her belly full with his child. Of a woman on all fours, his cock filling her from the back, as he gripped her ass and roughly pushed and pulled in and out of her. Of soft full lips surrounding him, taking him inch by inch until his pubic hair tickled her nose and a look of pride entered her eyes. The last one was the strongest, and he swore he could feel her fingers caressing his balls as he worked for his release.

Back and forth, in and out, his hand became her mouth, sucking him, licking him, praising him for his size and how good he made her feel. He could taste the sweetness of her cream as he licked her at the same time, felt her body move in time to her own climax on his huge fingers.

He bit his tongue as he tried to hold back his cry. Instead he tasted the blood as his teeth bit too hard, but it did little to stop his cum from spilling on the ground. Now he could sleep. Now he could dream his dreams and know that soon, very soon they would come true. He staggered into the house and moved Sue so he could hold her as they slept through the night.

From her window Dani watched as Bull fixed his pants and went back in the door. She didn't want to know what he had been doing outside; deep inside she already knew Sue had failed him. Had been unable to give him what he needed from a woman. It gave Dani a feeling of elation that she couldn't explain. What did it matter to her if Sue failed to get the big man off one way or another?

Going back to her bed, she picked up her book and began to read again, trying not to think about the man who had invaded her home.



Dani and the Bull Ch. 02



She woke just as the sun was coming up. Still dressed, her book open on the bed beside her. Lying on her back, she stared up at the ceiling of her room, and counted the cracks she found. Ten this time, same as last. The house was old, and run down. A far cry when it had been one of the finest in town then. Not that any of the towns better citizens ever stepped foot in it. Her distant relation had been a gambler from New Orleans who had settled here not long after the Civil War. The combination of the two had made him very unacceptable to all the fine people of Elton. But then, as it was now with those of his blood line who lived here, he hadn't cared. Neither had any of the others who followed him, for a while the house had been a brothel, and a gaming club back in the 1920's. The man who had left it to her dad had been just as oddball as the rest of the family.

Standing up, Dani took off her jacket and boots, and then went downstairs to the kitchen. As usual, there were people crashed out everywhere. She wasn't even surprised to see Annie and Zach curled up in one of the old overstuffed chairs in the corner, and Sue lying on the Bull's shoulder. She looked like a little kid next to him, but maybe he liked that kind of woman. Most big men did. Still, it was enough to make her remember what she had seen outside her window last night. Without knowing why, she felt a shiver run through her, not to mention the feeling that she was glad that Sue had somehow failed him last night.

In the kitchen, she made a pot of coffee, and then stood waiting for it to brew. It was barely six in the morning. No one would venture awake by noon. To be honest, she was surprised the party had wound down so early. Usually, they lasted until dawn and beyond. She even remembered a few times when they had lasted a couple of days. Reaching for an orange off the table, she peeled it slowly and began to suck the juice from each section before chewing the pulp. She liked the flavor of citrus fruit, could eat a lime or lemon or grapefruit just as she ate the orange and its sweet juice.

The coffee finally finished, and she filled a large mug with the strong liquid. It burned all the way down, but it was good. This and cigarettes were her only vices. She didn't drink more than a bottle of beer at a time, and she didn't smoke pot or use any kind of drugs. A few of her parent's friends were into different things, and it seemed like they were always the worst of the bunch. Her brother Dave was a real pothead and he was a little crazy sometimes. The examples of what could happen had been a good lesson to her, and she had learned to avoid too much of a good thing.

Leaning back against the counter with her coffee, Dani closed her eyes and let the aroma and tastes of the coffee really sink in. She wasn't like a lot of people, just drinking and ignoring. She liked to experience tastes and smells. Everything had its own. Her dad smelled like stale beer and sweat. Her mother wore a fragrance like a lily that had exploded. Each of her brothers had their own scent as well. Jeff, the first guy to ever kiss her had tasted like chocolate ice cream and whipped cream. She didn't like to kiss guys who tasted of whiskey or beer, or pot. She remembered Jeff so well, because she had been ten at the time, and he had been a boy at school.

She was a little startled when Bull came into the kitchen. To make it worse, she seemed to be more aware of both his towering height and width, and his coloring. It was a complete contrast. From the toffee tint of his skin to his long, almost white hair and penetrating ice blue eyes. He was a mystery, and a part of her felt intrigued enough to want to solve it. She watched as he leaned back against an unused portion of the counter, and gave her a pleading look.

"Tell me that's coffee I smell, I beg you."

She smiled at his tone and at the same time she shivered as she had last night. "It's coffee, hang on and I'll get you a cup. Want any cream or sugar?" When he shook his head, she filled a cup that took up half the pot and started another run. "Have fun last night?"

He sipped his coffee before answering, and when he did, she watched him shrug his broad shoulders. "It was okay, you friends are nice. Annie is really crazy about Zach isn't she?" It was clear from the look he gave her that her friend's actions were plain to everyone, everyone but Zach. 

Her giggle escaped without warning. "Oh hell yes, she's been that way forever it seems. I was glad he was nice to her last night, it would have hurt her really bad if he had acted like a jackass, and that would have pissed me off even more than some of his prior stunts would have."

"I noticed that, you know it's hard for a brother to admit his kid sister is getting older, you keep this image of her being a little girl looking at you with this idolization in her eyes." He took another drink of his coffee and lit a cigarette. "You don't want your friends hurt by anyone do you?"

"Not Annie or Sue, we've been best friends since we were in diapers almost. We were born just a few weeks apart, Annie, Sue then me. My birthday is day after tomorrow, the last of the Three Musketeers. It is hard to believe I'm almost eighteen already though."

"Wait till you hit twenty one, then it's all downhill from there." He gave her a teasing glance. "Your folks got a nice house here; I've seen others like it back in Louisiana."

Dani wondered if it was the outer look of exterior, or the interior that still in a lot of ways had that genteel brothel look to it. Hell, if you stripped away the paint, you would be sure to find some of the rich red velvet that had once decorated the walls. "The man who built it was from New Orleans, he came here around the end of the civil war. I know some of the history but the one to ask my mom's dad, he knew the last one before dad. I do know that until this guy died, no one back in New Orleans knew anything about him, not even my grandfather. I don't know if it was even actually dad, grandpa or dad's twin brother Jake was intended to get it, all I know for sure is that he was in the Marines, got a letter telling him about this place and the rest is history. My grandma and aunt still live down in the Big Easy, as they call it these days. I been thinking I might go there sometime this summer, I haven't seen them or it for years, I barely remember the house. Hell, I barely remember my grandma or Aunt Jessie, they've only come here once or twice in my life, and the rest of the time they just call or send letters and cards. I do know it was huge and I loved exploring it."

He nodded, "My family lives in the Bayous. Daddy and my uncles own a fleet of channel fishing boats." He looked at her. "If you go, maybe you'll be kind enough to take a message to my folks, letting them know that I'm okay. It's been a long time since I been home." A tone entered his voice and Dani got the idea that he missed his family.

As much as she got tired of her family and the way they were, she knew that if her and his positions were reversed, she would feel the same way. "If I do, I will be glad to do that for you Bull, but we do have a telephone too, I am sure mom and dad wouldn't mind if you called to talk to them."

He shook his head, and bent his head to look into the cup before him. "No, it's been too long, and we didn't part under the best of terms." With that he finished his coffee and held out the cup. "Think I can get a refill, you make damn good coffee Dani."

"You should taste moms; I don't know what she does to it, but talk about a caffeine rush."

She had planned on refilling her mug and going back up to read her book some more, but instead she found herself sitting in the kitchen and talking with Bull about the trip he and her brother had made from the southeastern part of the country. She had laughed when Bull described Zach's two episodes of downtime, and how it had felt good to be with someone he had gotten along with as well the two of them had.

More than once, she found herself wondering about his coloring, but if he was from the same place her dad was, that might explain part of it. Her dad was part Creek Indian on his dad's side, and her grandmother could trace her ancestry back to some of the finest families in the South, both freeman and slave. He and her dad would have a lot in common if the two men ever sat down and talked about their backgrounds.

They were still talking when her mom came in, dressed and ready for the day; Helen Lazarus never needed coffee to get her started. She radiated a natural energy that was sometime hard for her more laid back husband and children to accept before noon. Before Dani or Bull could escape from what Dani knew was coming, her mother had them on kitchen duty and only Bull seemed grateful for something to do. Dani didn't mind working with her mom in the kitchen she just knew that she was not the kind to become a Chef, hell; she could burn water if she wasn't careful.

Bull, on the other hand seemed to know exactly what he was doing and it wasn't long before her mom paroled her. "Get out of here kid, I think Bull and I can handle this on our own. I'll call you when breakfast is ready."

Grateful, Dani went back up to her room, and opened her book again. It was better than most, not as predictable as some she had read. For a while it actually seemed that they might not have a happy ending. Had there ever been a book written like that? Oh, some of those she saw were likely too, but these weren't like that. Maybe a part of her did believe in fairy tales and happy endings. Too bad neither of them was ever likely to happen to her.

It was after breakfast when Sue and Annie joined her in the room the three of them had spent much of their free time in over the years. For the next two hours, she was a not so avid listener to Annie's enthusiastic description of how Zach kissed. Sue was obviously not as thrilled with Bull. If anything it sounded as if she was regretting ever letting Zach talk the two of them into a date involving the Red Dog Tavern tonight. She didn't tell them about the time she had spent with Bull in the kitchen this morning, or that she had seen the results of anything that had passed between Sue and Bull last night. For one, it was none of their business, and for the second, she had learned not to get her hopes up when it came to men, just because he had seemed to enjoy talking to her, it didn't mean that he was interested in her, for one she was still a minor under the eyes of the law, and for another, her dad and brothers would skin him alive if he laid a hand on her in any way she might not like or want. The problem arose that since she had never been faced with such a thing, she had no idea how they would react if she did like or want it.

At least Zach having plans cut short any after dinner bull session. He ate fast, and then got up to go before anyone knew what he was doing. "Are you some kind of a hurry tonight Zach?" It was their mom who asked. She had taught her boys better table manners then they used and it bothered her to see any of them gulp down their food. Dani saw that Bull wasn't eating near as fast. She wondered if it was manners, or if her suspicions were correct, and neither Bull nor Sue had any real desire to see each other again.

"Yeah, Bull and I got dates for tonight." He winked at Bull and grinned as he looked at his kid sister. "Guess who?"

Dani gave a bored sigh before answering. "Gee, let me think, Annie and Sue? So, have fun." She knew Zach had been expecting her to ask if she could come along. She had done that during his last visit, and then it had just been a trip to the lake. No big deal. Of course, that had been two years ago, and she hoped she had grown up since then. She didn't need to tag after her brothers went any more. To be honest she would prefer to be bored as hell than do it.

"Well, they are your friends; I guess they would tell you." Zach looked and sounded disappointed. "I suppose you want to come along." There was a tone in his voice she knew well, he had hoped for a difference response from her, as if he wanted to start some kind of fight with her or something. 

"Not really, why would I want to go hang out with any of my big brother?" She finished her milk, and began gathering up her dishes. "Good dinner mom." Her mom was a wonderful cook; she had all kinds of recipes that she threw together now and then. Tonight it had been some kind of casserole, and it had been hot and spicy. One of her grandma's from down in New Orleans probably, her dad might not go home as others might, but there were times he liked her mom to cook some of his mother's favorite dishes, and there was a good chance that she had made it for Bull as well, knowing that he was from the same part of the country.

Her brother didn't seem willing to let the matter about his dating her friend rest. "So, what are you doing tonight? I mean, you not having Annie and Sue to go hang with." He had to keep pushing and she knew it was time to push back a bit. Especially considering he was now standing in front of her, and had that damn smirk of his that he knew she hated.

"Oh, I don't know, probably do boring stuff. You know, take a bath, wash my hair, and go to bed before the sun comes up, read a book. All the things you never do." She didn't bother to keep the sarcasm from her voice, if Zach was in the mood to cause a fight, she would be happy to help him. She was tired of his big brother attitude, and being told how lucky she was to have such a family of loving big brothers who would do anything for her.

Zach almost snarled at her. "When did you become such a bitch little sister...?"

"About the same time you became such a fucking bastard Zach..." She didn't bother to keep the malice she felt from her voice any more than he did.

The tension in the room was thick and she didn't need to look to know that they had both crossed the line as far as their father was concerned. There was one rule in the Lazarus family, you might fight between yourselves but when it came to such words as bitch and bastard, they were not on their father's approved list of name calling.

"That's enough Zach, and you too Dani, both of you sit down, NOW!" No matter how pissed off you were, no one ignored their father when he roared, he was king of his castle and he wasn't adverse to throwing the offending members of his family in the dungeon no matter how old they were or weren't. They did as they were told and Dani saw that even Bull had been half out of his chair, along with her dad, and her brothers Tom and Dave. 

If her dad was king, her mother was the queen. Helen Lazarus looked at Bull, doing her best to play peacemaker. "Dani doesn't go out much. She's the quiet one of the family." She was teasing her, trying to ease the almost battleground atmosphere that had sprung up between the two of her offspring. "Almost eighteen years old and not even one boyfriend hanging around, by seventeen, I had to watch where I walked just to make sure I didn't step on one of them." She smiled then as if remembering her past and relishing it. Dani knew it was no joke. Helen had been one of the most popular girls in school when she met Jack Lazarus. Of course, she had been like Annie, and once she met him, that was it. 

Without thinking, Dani ran her hands over her face and looked down at the table. As if she needed to be reminded, "Sorry I'm such a disappointment, I'm sorry guys look at my dad and big brothers and run for parts unknown for fear if they get near me, they will end up dead or dismembered," her voice barely above a whisper. It was true, most of the guys she had went to school with had been willing to be friends with her, but that was all. And as far as her brothers friends went, it was just as bad, not just because of her being a minor, but because friendship be damned if any of them even attempted to treat her like they treated other women. 

Zach's best friend growing up had been a guy everyone called Mouse because he was just like a mouse, staying in the background. His brother was the same age as her and they had gone out a couple times, and when word got back that they had spent some time up on the Butte after a date, Mouse, Tom and Dave had made it clear it was never to happen again. Hell, even to this day, he avoided her like she had the plague, and she had really liked him too. If her mom and dad were the king and Queen, she was the royal princess locked in the highest tower, with not only the entire kingdom's knights surrounding it but a fire breathing dragon as well.

Her mother looked at her and sighed. "That wasn't what I meant at all Dani."

Maybe it wasn't, but it sure seemed like people kept throwing up her lack of male admirers up at her a lot lately. Knowing she was on the verge of crying, she sighed. "I'm going to go take a bath..." She took her dishes into the kitchen and went up the back stairs to her room. There she stripped; almost ripping her shirt and throwing her boots so hard they slammed into the closet door, a door made of solid wood and leaving a dent. When she was nude, she ignored her full length reflection and went to fill the old fashioned claw foot tub. On impulse, she poured some jasmine scented bubble bath in the steaming water and watched as the bubbles filled the tub, while the scent filled the room.

While she soaked in the tub, Dani wondered why she was so touchy tonight. It had all been fine until Zach started his shit. It was probably just that monthly thing again. She seemed like she was really irritable a week before and a week after. PMSing her mom called it. Her grandmother called it something else, and she was sure there had been a name for it since the first woman was made. Had Eve had PMS in the Garden of Eden? Maybe that was why she ate the apple. Adam had said something to set her off, and she just said, 'fine, see how you like this.' And wham, all the troubles of the world began.

The warm water relaxed muscles she hadn't even known were tense, and when she came out, she felt better. Not that she would apologize to Zach or anyone else. As she saw it, there was nothing for her to apologize for. Zach had been the one who started it; she had simply been the one who ended it.

It wasn't until Sue and Annie had gone off to the bathroom that Bull had a chance to talk to Zach about his sister. "You and her always like that?" He had sisters, knew what it was like but there was something more that had gone on tonight; Zach had been cruel to Dani. Almost rubbing her lack of a boyfriend in her face and enjoying it.

He was a little surprised when Zach shook his head and sighed. It was clear the man was regretting what had happened at dinner. "Tell the truth, no. Dani and I used to be the closest of the bunch. She'd come to me when someone was picking on her or she had a question that she didn't know who else to get an answer from. Hell, I kicked a couple of my brother's asses when we were younger because of shit they had done to her. But she's changed, and I guess I don't know how to handle it, I mean it's like I don't know her at all anymore. She never used to be as quiet and withdrawn like she is now, she was always smiling and laughing and just a joy for all of us to be around. I know women change as they get older, but it feels impossible for me to accept that she's grown up the way Sue and Annie have."

His grin resurfaced as soon as he mentioned the brunette. "Annie sure has grown up, better than I ever thought she might. I never thought much about Dani's friends before, but now..." He took a drink of his beer. "Guess that two years away changed us all, Dani is almost eighteen now and Annie has turned into way more than a kid with braces and braids."

Bull smiled and knew his friend was definitely thinking of Annie as more than a kid. She had an eye on him too. He got the impression that if Annie could, she's pin Zach down with a house, and a whole mess of babies. It happened that way sometimes, you turned around and there was the person who would change your whole outlook on life. He understood, it was how he felt right now, that coming here was changing him. This morning, in the kitchen, he had enjoyed talking to Dani, had felt good to think that she would take a message to his folks, if she went, not that he would try to stop her, but he'd be following right behind if she did. He found himself wondering what they would think of her, knowing his family, they would accept her as easy as they accepted all the outsiders that were brought into their world. As he considered that thought, Sue and Annie came back from the bathroom, Annie smiling and Sue trying to look cheerful but failing.




Dani and the Bull Ch. 02



It was no surprise to Bull; she had made it clear she had agreed to the date tonight simply to avoid staying at home tonight as Dani had. Well, that was her choice. He couldn't give her what he wasn't willing to give and while she had enjoyed his little lapse last night, she was well aware that she had no chance to go beyond friends with him. That was fine with him, it was her choice, and he had learned after talking to Dani this morning that if she found out about what had happened in the bathroom he'd be doing a lot of groveling to get back in her good graces. Now Sue was just sitting back listening to the music, and he was sitting back in his chair checking out a varied example of the local talent. Not that he was in any hurry just yet, but it was nice to know his demon would have something worth his time the next time he needed to be fed.

From what he saw, none of the women in here looked like pros, his women of choice. They were all wives, girlfriends, and women who simply wanted a good time a possibility but not very likely. As he got up to go to the bathroom, he felt eyes watch him and smiled softly. He was used to it. If his coloring didn't grab the attention, his size was sure to. Men were intimidated by his size and women wondered if what he had in his pants matched the build. Sometimes he felt like just whipping it out and shaking it in everyone's face just for the hell of it. But those days were over, he had a goal and he intended to reach it. 

When a big busted waitress came and asked if they wanted another round, Zach had shook his head, instead he glanced at Annie. "We're going to take off, you going to stay here or take off too?"

Bull shook his head, it was barely ten at night but it was over. "No, I'm going to head back to your folks place, I want to see if your dad will let me use his shed to check out a couple things on the hog."

When he took Sue home, she barely looked at him as he walked her to her door. He didn't expect a good night kiss, or even a warm handshake. As he said good night and turned to head back to his ride, he got what amounted to warning. "They ain't going to let you have her you know, you lay a hand on Dani, and Jack and her brothers will kill you."

He couldn't let it go, "Even if she wants me to touch her?"

"It won't matter, Jack is protective of Dani, and so are her brothers. My advice is you leave town and don't look back Bull. Save yourself a lot of trouble." With that she went in and he went back to his ride. He was just about to start it when a man came out the front door at a run toward him.

"You're one of those men that hang around the Lazarus house aren't you? You stay the hell away from my daughter. Understand me; I don't want to see her near you again." 

With a grin, he looked at the man who he could break with one hand and had enough sense to realize it as well. He reminded him of a preacher. Bull kick started the Harley "Don't worry mister, I won't be back, you're daughter isn't the reason I'm here."

During the ride back to Dani's he opened the ride up and listened to the sound of the engine. Sure enough, he could hear just the start of a miss. He hoped that Jack was still up; Zach had talked about a run to some place called Elton Lake tomorrow. If he was going to go check the place out, he wanted his ride running right. Even riding solo, he kept his ride in good shape. Zach was one who didn't and they had spent some down time just on the trip here.

Jack opened the door to the shop and led Bull inside. "Here you go, got all the tools you might want or need for everything from a tune up to a complete rebuild. If you need parts, I know the best place in the state to go. Just up the road a ways. You need one, I'll be glad to give you a lift in the morning." He was proud of his shop, and had spent a lot of hours in here with friends, family and just by himself.

Bull looked around the she and nodded in appreciation of what he saw, Jack could run a business as easy from here as from the shop Zach had told him he had in town. From the variety of bikes and engines around the main room, it was likely he did. "Appreciate it, that ride and I been through a lot, don't like the idea of having to leave her along some road and have her be gone when I come back for her." He looked around the large room then glanced back at Jack. "This is nice, a good place for a man to work on things he enjoys and a place to think at the same time."

"You get tired, there's a couch and some chairs over there in the corner. It's my hideaway when things get too hectic for me, and with six kids, it used to be that way a lot around here." 

From the tone in Jack's voice he had no doubt about that, his own dad had a place like this, an artist studio that he used on occasion to paint and forget he was a bayou fisherman. A part of him wondered how Jack and his father would get along, probably both of them being Louisiana would be enough, it would be the same with Helen and his mom, they were all about the same age, the same disposition, The true binder would be him and Dani, the two of them bringing together two families and joining them forever.

Thinking of Dani made him feel good, he liked how she had faced her brother toe to toe and never backed down, she had told him outright that her friends were more to her than friends, they were like sisters, and wouldn't let anyone hurt either of them, friend or foe, or blood. She might not like the way her family was but there was a part of her that was as grounded in her roots as anyone could be.

In his mind, she was all a man could want as a friend, a lover and a partner in life, all he had to do was wait another 24 hours and he could come clean with all he had wanted to tell her this morning. He could wait that long, no matter how hard he wanted to do it now, wanted to tell Jack that the man's daughter had brought him here. But there would be time for that later. For now he wanted to work on his ride and enjoy being with someone who knew his part of the country. Even if the man was old enough to be his father and not the father of the woman he was already half in love with.

Jack sat on a stool and watched how Bull treated his bike. His big hands were almost caressing the chrome and steel and it was clear that he had great respect for his ride. He was the same way, and it showed in how he treated Helen. "Dani told me this evening you got family down in the bayous. Did she tell you I was from New Orleans?" He lit a cigarette. "Been a long time since I been back, not since my daddy died about ten years ago, Dani was just a little girl then."

Bull spoke softly, "It's been fourteen years for me. Dad and I disagreed on my life's ambition. He wanted me to either be a priest, or take over the fishing boat. I couldn't do either."

"How old were you?" Jack knew there was no way that Bull was over thirty.

"Fourteen, been on my own half my life."

That was a hell of a long time for a man, no, a boy to be alone. Jack had come here when he was twenty, on leave from the Marines. He had rode into town on his old pan head, met Helen on her way home from school and been lost. She had helped him find the address the attorney had given him and welcomed him to town with a smile and an invitation to dinner at her house. By the time he left town, he was in love, and she belonged to him body and soul. Six months later, he had come back, married her with a baby already in her belly, and he had never looked back.

Jack gave Bull his honest opinion about the man's father's choices for his son. "Can't see you being a priest Bull, or a fisherman, what do you like to do?"

The big man considered the question. "I like making things run right, engines. I love the sound of a well tuned motor; man told me once I had an ear for it. That I could hear a sound and tell right off what was wrong with it."

Before Jack could say much more, Dani came in the shop and he noticed that Bull looked up the minute she entered. Jack started to say something about the shorts and pajama top she was wearing but what could he say, she was almost an adult and covered.

"Dad, mom sent me down to tell you get in the house, she's got something she wants to show you."

Jack grinned. He bet Helen did, she had in a hot mood all day. God was it any wonder they had three boys the first five years they were married. All he had to do was look at her and he was hard as hell. About the same way Bull was looking at Dani. To make it worse, the smile in her eyes was almost teasing, flirting with the man. He knew Helen had told her about the birds and the bees, but had she warned him about men like Bull?

Still Jack could find no reason to think that Bull would intentionally hurt her. With a shrug, he looked at Bull. "Be sure and let me know in the morning if you'll need that ride." The big man nodded, and Jack turned his attention to Dani. "Come on baby girl. It's late and we got a big couple of days coming up. You need your rest."

Dani nodded. "Yes daddy, good night Bull."

They walked back to the house and Jack was tempted to ask Dani what she thought of the big man. Instead, he pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her as he had done so many times before. His baby girl was grown now, and yet he found it hard to think of having to let her go someday.

"Just a couple more days baby girl, hard to think of you being eighteen. You're going to be the same age your momma was when I met and married her."

"Don't worry daddy, I don't plan on running off with any stray Marines who happened to be passing through town any time soon. To be honest, I haven't really thought about being with someone. And you can relax on the other point, I do like men, I just haven't found the right one."

"Well, if you do, he better be a good man Dani, one who will treat you right." Jack hated to admit that the thought had crossed his mind, considering...but that was not a subject to think on while Helen was waiting for him. At Dani's door he kissed her forehead and went down the hall. As he entered the bedroom, he saw his wife waiting for him and decided he could put all his thoughts to rest for tonight.

*

(Author's Note: This is going to be a long one folks, so I apologize if you get bored before you finish.

This story was actually started and written the year before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the gulf Coast. I have never been there, and now I wish I had seen it before the storm. I have always been fascinated by the stories I have heard, the movies I've watched and the books I've read about the city and the surrounding area. I've also had great respect for the men who go out and harvest the sea life that call that area home. So when I started this, I had no idea it would turn into what it did, part romance, part paranormal, part something else, but then I considered where it was set, and a part of me is a firm believer that we all do have a demon inside of us, one that drives us in some way.

Dani and Bull came alive under my fingers on the keyboard, and they wrote the original story, but I have gone back and almost rewritten the entire thing so far. So I hope they will forgive me for what I have changed.

Please let me know how you like the story as it progresses and while I may not accept any critical words with good grace, I am open to all suggestions and idea you may have about how I could make it better.

And on a final note, I ask that you all stop and take a moment to send your blessings and good tiding to those in the gulf who have again been devastated, this time not by nature, but by man, and send a silent prayer to whatever higher power that it will never happen again.

Peace

Darkstone57)



Dani and the Bull Ch. 03



To her surprise, it was Zach who apologized to her the next morning. "Guess I'd forgotten that you grew up too kid." He handed her a steaming mug of coffee, picked up his own and leaned back against the counter. "You know, Annie ain't so bad, not at all what I remembered. She sure has grown up." Was Dani imagining things or had her big brother not stopped smiling since the other night and his reunion with Annie? She was tempted to ask if it was love or lust but she held her tongue.

"Everyone grows up Zach, even people in this family." She grabbed an orange from the bowl of fruit on the counter and sat at the table to peel it. "Where's the Bull?" The room seemed actually empty without him in it. Zach was a big man like the rest of her brothers, but nowhere close to his friend. She found herself wondering if he was still out in the shop, working on his ride. She had been surprised to see him home so early; Zach hadn't stumbled in until well after three this morning. Her mind also remembered the warm smile he had given her, like he had been glad to see her.

"Dad took him to the parts house so he could get some parts for his ride. He said it wasn't sounding right when he got back last night. I didn't hear anything wrong when he left the bar to take Sue home, but he's like dad, fine tuned to his ride. Me, I just get on and go, which is probably why I've spent more down time in this family than anyone else." He grinned. "Hell, I broke down twice just on the run home this time."

That was true. The rest of the clan treated their motorcycles like they were made of gold. Zach had never been as concerned. If he went down, he just picked it up and rolled on. Her dad had told her about the times he had rolled his ride home over ten miles just to make sure he didn't do any more damage. Even her mom was that way. Dani often suspected her parents cared more about their motorcycles than they did their children at times. Not that her folks would have ever admitted a thing like that.

Almost on cue, the back door opened and the two men in question came in. Her dad gave her a grin, scuffed her hair and then headed for the coffee pot, "Morning brat, in a better mood from what it was last night?" 

"My mood is just fine, thank you very much; it would just be a whole better if I had been born into a normal family and not this zoo." 

Her father laughed as he leaned back against the counter, standing next to his son their resemblance was remarkable. Except for her dad's gray hair, they could have been brothers instead of father and son. "Hey, we may not be normal, but we have fun. And as far as men being scared to come around you for fear of death or dismemberment, well if they think we got a reason to do, they're not for you anyway." His smile turned to a look of concern. "Uh, Jess and Nick are coming over today. Are you going to hide away all day as usual?"

Dani groaned, just what she hadn't needed to hear first thing in the morning, "Now that I know, yeah." She hated Nick Jensen. He was one of the worst of her dad's friends, and to make it even worse, he had been after her for six months to go out with him. His brother Jessie was little better. "Can't you just tell him to leave me alone and get it over with?" It had gotten to the point that she hated being within ten miles of the two men. Nick was constantly watching her, and licking his lips in the most obscene way she had ever seen. Jessie wasn't quite so bad but she knew he would go where his brother led him. "I can't stand it when he does that thing with his tongue; he makes me feel like a mouse that is being stalked by the cat."

Her dad gave her an understanding look, and it was clear he didn't like it much either. "I have honey, more than once, but you know Nick, he gets an idea in that head of his and he can't let it go. And right now, he has the idea that you and he would make a good pair." Her dad frowned. "Maybe it is better if you stay upstairs while they're here, and make sure your door is locked."

Dani had known what her dad would say, but she was startled by Zach's reaction. "Nick Jensen is coming on to you?" He didn't bother to hide his dislike or disgust when he spoke.

"He's been coming on to me for six months every since December, when Shelia and the kids left." Not that she blamed Sheila Jensen for leaving him. Dani had seen enough of his handy work to know that she was better off back home with her kids in Dallas, Texas. Nick was a firm believer in black and blue being the colors of love.

Zach didn't bother to hide his own dislike of the man. "He's older than dad, and I wouldn't let a dog near him. How Shelia lasted all these years is beyond me. Hey Bull and I are going to the lake with Annie and Sue, you come along." He made the offer with little thought. It was clear he didn't like the idea that a man like Nick anywhere around his little sister.

Dani shook her head. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather hide in my room than play fifth wheel with you four." The lock on her door would stand up to anything but being kicked in and she knew her dad would never let it come to that.

For the first time since he had walked in Bull spoke up. "Sue isn't coming. So you can ride with me soon as I replace this part." He went out the back door, and Dani looked at her brother.

"What was all that about?" There was no disguising the surprise she felt, it had been clear that he had not been looking forward to their date, and Sue had seemed less than enthused, but still...it wasn't like Sue to give up so easy. From the way Bull had talked yesterday morning, she also got the idea that he could be just as persistent.

Zach looked at the door, looking just as surprised, but then shrugged. "Don't ask me. Bull doesn't talk much, but when he does, most people tend to listen."

Spending the day with Bull and Zach at the lake wasn't her idea of a good time, even knowing that Annie would be there, but it beat hiding from Nick. At least she wouldn't have to worry about him coming in her room and trying to kiss her like he had one time. Her dad had put the lock on with no hesitation when she told him about it.

Going upstairs after the decision had been made; Dani took a quick shower and dressed in the coolest clothes she owned. Now that she was done with school, she was going to have to start thinking about updating her wardrobe. She would need some nice clothes to go looking for work in, of course that was if she ever decided what she wanted to be when she grew up. Not to mention the idea of going to visit her grandmother. Somehow she doubted Grandma Lazarus and Aunt Jessie would much appreciate her going around in blue jeans and shirts made more for bumming around the house in all the time she was there. There were times she wished she had been able to see the two old ladies more as she grew up, but they called every Christmas and birthday, and sent wonderful presents. They had even sent her a huge check for Graduation and a few years back they had come to visit for a week, her dad had hid out in the shed most of the time, but it had been fun seeing them.

When she came back down, Bull was in the kitchen with her mom and Zach but he looked up as she entered and gave her a smile. Zach was the one who broke the news to her, "Looks like Bull's ride is going to be down longer than he thought, one of the parts he got was the wrong one, and we were thinking maybe you and him could ride out to the Lake in your truck. Now I warned him what a lousy driver you were, and that he was taking his life into his hands by it, but he seems to think he's willing to risk it. Not to mention mom said she'd make up a lunch and we can stop off and get some cold ones on the way, dad's old cooler is out in the shed..." Her brother gave her a sheepish grin.

"I can do that," she looked at Bull and saw he didn't look the least little bit worried about her driving. She was still curious about why Sue wasn't going though. To be honest with herself she had been sure after they went out last night, Sue would be back to her old self. Of course he had come back early and Sue never ended a date until it was absolutely necessary. Dani made a mental note to be sure and question Annie what was going on.

An hour later they had finished loading up the truck with not only a basket of food and the cooler, but a couple blankets, and a change of clothes if they decided to get wet. That would depend on how warm the sun was and how cold the winter runoff was. They were just getting ready to leave when Nick Jensen and his brother Jessie showed up and it was clear both men were well on the road to spending another day drunk and mean.

"There she is, all ready for your big day tomorrow Dani? Going to be all of eighteen years old and looking better and better every day." The leer in his eyes was evident to everyone present and Dani cringed as he licked his lips. The leer turned to something else as Bull stepped up next to her and touched her shoulder. "Well, well, who we got here, never met you before big man." Nick looked Bull up and down, and then held out a grime encrusted hand. "Nick Jensen, I seen this little girl start out as a baby and turn into what she is today..."

Dani saw Bull take the hand, but then dropped it as if tell Nick it was a waste of his time to shake it. "Nice to meet you, Zach, we need to stop and pick up Annie, shouldn't we be moving out?"

Zach nodded, never taking his eyes off Nick and Jessie. "Yeah, we better go how about I go pick up Annie and meet you two over at the market?"

The mention of her friend's name made Nick turn his attention to her brother. "Annie Belton your current Zach, that didn't take long. Now there is another little girl that has grown up nice...you must be glad she's legal now..."

Before Zach could relax, their dad walked up. "That's enough Nick; I told you if you came around here anymore, you were to act civil to Dani and her friends."

"Hey big Jack, just speaking the truth, but I do apologize, just been a little off since Sheila packed up the kids and went back to Texas. Momma hasn't been doing so well and it's taken its toll on me and Jessie to take care of her."

"I'm sorry to hear that, well come on up to the shed and we'll see what we can do for you today, Zach, Dani, you all go have fun, nice to see you two getting along for a change. Bull, we'll see what we can do about getting those other parts tomorrow, for today, you all go relax."

Zach waited until they were heading toward the shed before mounting his ride and roaring off, Dani took a little while longer to stop shaking and feeling like she wanted to vomit all over. It was a reaction she had every time Nick or his brother came near her. She always felt like just being around them made her dirty inside and out. It helped a little when Bull reached over the seat and squeezed her hand in a reassuring gesture.

"Can you light me a cigarette Bull? I need it right now." She started up the truck and headed toward town. The cigarette helped, so did the quiet of neither of them speaking. He seemed to know that she needed to pull herself back together.

With the weather so nice for the early part of June, the Market was busy and she and Annie waited at the truck while Bull and Zach went in to get what they wanted. She had been sure to tell Zach that she wanted only soda, unlike her brothers, she didn't believe in drinking and driving. The time alone with Annie also gave her a chance to ask about what had happened with Bull and Sue.

"To tell you the truth, I have no idea, one minute she is her normal, man hungry self, and then she's acting like he's some snake who crawled out from under a rock. When we were out last night she hardly talked to him and he just sat and ignored her as if she didn't exist. I mean he was polite and all, talked about different things, but neither of them were looking like they really wanted to be there." The little brunette smiled. "You want the truth, I think she is jealous of you, I think Bull likes you...a lot."

Dani looked at Annie in surprise, "what makes you say something like that?"

"Well, the other night I happen to see his face when you disappeared upstairs, he looked awfully disappointed, and like he was hoping you'd stick around a while. You know, hang out with us. When you didn't he just put on this fake smile and I'm sure Sue knew right then that she wasn't the one he wanted to be with. Course, I understand that, I mean let's face it Dani, you are all the things Sue and I have wanted to be for a long time, and I get the idea that Bull is a man who sees it clearer than others." She giggled as if realizing she was starting to sound like her dad. Arthur Belton was a Science teacher at Elton High School and known for his long, boring lectures and explanations of things. 

On the drive to the lake, Dani pushed aside what Annie had told her and just tried to enjoy the ten mile drive. She loved going to the lake, it was more up in the hills that surrounded town and a few years back some developers had tried to get permission to build houses along the shore line, but the county had shot them down. The lake had been a country park for so long that no one wanted to see it changed.

It was clear that Bull was impressed as they drove in the main gate. "Damn, this is gorgeous. What all can you do here?"

"Everything from renting a boat and fishing to just having a picnic and kicking back. If you're here on the fourth of July there's a big county wide All-You-Can-Eat-Barbeque and fireworks display. That is the only time you pay to come into it and it just pays for the fireworks and food. Any extra money they make goes for the upkeep of the place, plus the county is the one who rents the boats, and all. You can rent areas for special events too, when my brother Mike and his wife got married it was here. I'm hoping they show up for the party tomorrow, not so much for me, but our grandpa had a heart attack last winter and he was lucky he pulled through, and since it's his birthday as well, we're all hoping."

"I heard about Mike, and I met Tom and Dave, but Zach said there are six of you, where's the other one?"

Dani sighed. "Mexico, that's where Jericho and Nick's sister Marie have been since he found out Nick was abusing her and they decided to run off together about five years ago. They were crazy about each other since the day they met, and over time it just grew and grew. The thing is, Nick found out what Jericho and Marie had planned and he and Jessie worked Jericho over pretty good. So when he was better, he and Marie left town and no one knows just where they are. They call now and then, from El Paso usually, but they won't give anyone their address or anything."

Bull looked at her as she parked next to Zach's machine. "And your dad never did anything about it?"

"Oh he beat the crap out of Nick and Jessie with some help from the rest of the boys, but Nick just said he had it coming and apologized like he always does. I guess because Nick was one of the few men in town who didn't act like dad had committed some crime when he came here and married mom. She wasn't kidding last night when she said she had a ton of boyfriends when she was younger, mom was a total knock out in her younger days, and she dated everyone from the mayor's son to Tom Sheridan who is now the local sheriff. Tom was also dad's most serious rival, the two of them have learned to get along but you can still tell they aren't real friendly with each other."

Zach came over to the truck and stuck his head in the window. "Hey, you two going to sit here all day talking or have some fun, I for one can't wait to get in the water."

They unloaded the truck, and once the blankets were spread, Zach and Annie wasted no time stripping down to their swimsuits, Dani found she was a little more reluctant to undress in front of Bull, but the water did look good and she hadn't been swimming in a while. In the end it took Annie standing in front of her in that hot pink bikini she liked to wear with her hands on her hips and both her and Zach challenging her to a race to the platform that marked the end of the swimming area. Once you reached that, the rest of the lake was strictly boats only.



Bull watched as Dani stripped down to a black one piece suit and had to admire how well it fit her body. Her skin was golden color and her hair a soft amber color that matched her eyes. She had good, well designed features and knew she had gotten them from her mother. He found his eyes drifting to her lips and how soft and full they looked. Just the kind of mouth that a man wanted to lose himself in, among other things, and he decided before he went to bed tonight, he was going to get at least one taste of it. He would be sure that both of them were wide awake at midnight, just so he could be the first one to wish her happy birthday too.

Her voice brought him out of the thoughts his mind was thinking. "Hey, are you coming in or not."

"I'm right behind you." He watched as she and Annie raced off toward the shoreline and he tried not to think about how nice her ass looked in the suit. It helped when he hit the water running and felt like he was going head first into an ice bath. Zach, Annie and Dani all three greeted him at the raft with grins and knowing smiles. He couldn't help but laugh feeling that they had known how cold the water would be. Dani gave him a knowing look and he saw she looked as cold as he felt. It took all his control to keep from pulling her close and holding her until they were both warm.

Later, as they lay on the blankets, letting the sun dry their bodies, he had to admit it had been a long time since he had felt as good as he did right now, they had swam and played in the water and done all the things he remembered doing as a boy back home, he also remembered that he hadn't been a boy very long. Leaving home had been hard, but he had needed to do it, needed not wanted to. There were times he wished he had done what his daddy wanted and stayed to work the boats, but unlike the rest of his family, he had never liked the idea of being a fisherman all his life. The idea of being a priest hadn't settled well with him either, not once he had come into his manhood so to speak and found that girls liked his looks and were willing to play games with him that kids played.

The night he had left, he had thought he had been able to slip away unnoticed, only to find his momma and grandma waiting for him at the end of the path leading to the highway. They had both hugged and kissed him; given him a bag of food, some money and his grandmother had pressed a charm into his hand. He could still remember her last words.

"You got a long road ahead of you boy, it won't be an easy one but finding your place in life never is. You keep this charm and you keep it safe. It's got the blood of your momma and me in it to keep you safe, and to make sure you never forget who you are, or where you came from. In the end, once you find what you're looking for, it will guide you back.

He had never taken that charm off from around his neck. Even while he had been doing time, he had worn it, fought to keep it, and now it lay securely on his chest, looking worse for wear, but still something to remember who he was and where he had come from.

"Hey Bull, can I ask you a question?" Dani kept her voice low, Zach and Annie had fallen asleep on the blanket next to them and she didn't want to disturb them.

He turned on his side and looked at her as he propped up his head with the flat of his hand. "Sure, what you want to know." It wasn't in him to keep anything from her; he just had to watch that he didn't tell her too much all at once.

"What is that you have around your neck, it's interesting."

"It's a charm my granny Maylene gave me before I left home, there's a raven's feather, a bead made of amber, and a couple other things. She made it to keep me safe and never to forget who I was or where I was from."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 03



She reached out and lifted it a little to look at it closer. "Do you really believe in things like charms and magic?" It was clear from her voice that she didn't.

He grinned. "Of course I do my momma and my granny, they're witch women, and they make charms for fishing and curing the sick. And no one can predict like granny. She can tell you if a storm is coming or if hard times are ahead. She can sense evil in a person and smell the good. My momma can whip up a love potion or treat the worse wound you ever saw. Rumor has it that back in the past, her family was one of the reasons that our parish never saw as hard of times as others places did."

"You miss them..." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. "Why haven't you gone home?"

He remembered their conversation from yesterday. It was a safe topic, it would keep his mind off wanting to kiss her and that was a good idea. "When I left, it was because my dad and I got into a huge argument, I was fourteen, the same age that my brother and cousins started working on the boats. You like fish or shrimp Dani?"

"Yeah, as long as they're cooked, Dad used to go fishing all the time when I was little, and he'd come home smelling like the fish and I always refused to give him a hug or a kiss until he took a shower, and I would stay out of the kitchen until they were all cleaned, and frying in some of mom's cornmeal batter."

"Well, imagine living, and breathing that smell from the day you were born to the day you died, and knowing that like all your male relatives your future income relied on it as well."

"I see your point, so you left because your dad wanted you to work the boats like the others and you didn't." Made sense to her, personal choices versus family pride. It would be a tough call. "But didn't you explain how you felt; didn't he even try to understand...?" At the same time she wondered if her dad would have understood.

"Oh, he understood, said it was normal, man had to make his own way, and the only problem was, from my dad's point of view, there are only choices open in his family, work the boats or become a priest. I chose neither..."

His tone of voice made her sit up and look at him in disbelief. "Your dad wanted you to become a priest, as in long robes, mass and all the other stuff. Never been in a Catholic Church, but you hear about all the stuff even if you're not."

"I told my dad that I was about as likely to become a priest as he was to be elected Pope. Needless to say, I packed a bag and left home that night." 

Dani understood why. "I can see why you feel like they might not want to hear from you and see you. But still...you are their son, and they are your family Bull." She shook her head. "I got to admit I heard dad telling mom that she thought he was bad because he didn't go home to visit like he should and that you had been on your own since you were fourteen. Mom said that was a shame that you had been so young when you left. Then Dad told her what you said about getting into a fight with your dad and he understood how that could happen. He didn't much think much of his dad and mom either when he was young, why he went into the marines at seventeen and once he got the house and land here, he just felt no desire to go back."

"His dad wanted him to go into the family business or become a priest?" He was grinning, "I can't see your dad living with the vow of celibacy, anymore than I could then or can now."

She hesitated before answering. "No, it was more than that, dad didn't approve of their life style. My grandma Claire, well, she's a lesbian, and grandpa was gay too. And while you'll hear one of us talk about our aunt Jessie, she isn't our aunt, she's grandma's lover. Has been forever, the only reason they got married was to hide it all from their families. When they were young it wasn't as acceptable as it is now, not that everyone considers it acceptable. From the way dad talks, I get the idea that my great-grandpa suspected something wasn't right with grandpa, so he put a clause in his will that the only way grandpa could inherit anything was to marry and have children. But don't think that they married simply for that reason, because I know for a fact that they grew to love each other very much. It broke grandma and Aunt Jessie's heart when grandpa died."

"So what makes you so sure they fell in love?"

She rolled over onto her stomach and put her chin on her hands. "Because every year on the anniversary of grandpa's death grandma calls and I can just hear it in her voice, she sounds so hurt and all alone and you just know she is missing him. Aunt Jessie isn't much better either."

Listening to her talk about her family down in New Orleans, Bull understood why she was talking about going to visit now that she was done with school. She didn't know that part of her family and she was well aware of what she was missing out on. He tried to imagine what it would have been like if he hadn't grown up around his grandparents and all his family, it was hard, but he was sure he would feel exactly the same way she did.

It was after ten o'clock before they left the park, Zach and Annie had went back to town long enough some burgers since the lunch her mom had packed was long gone and they had just sat around talking and playing cards. It was clear to him no one was in a hurry to leave, him included. It had been a good day, full of fun and he had gotten to know Dani a lot better, in return she had gotten to know him, at least as much as he was willing to tell her at the moment.

During the drive back to town, Dani admitted she was in hurry to go home. "I know it's funny, but I feel like I don't want this day to end. Maybe because it's the last night I spend as a kid, that somehow I feel like tomorrow is going to be the beginning of a whole new life for me. Does that sound crazy?"

He shook his head. "No, not really, and we don't have to go back to your folks yet if you don't want to."

"No I don't, if my driving isn't bothering you, I'd like to show you this place I go to when I really want to be alone or do some serious thinking..."

"Your driving doesn't bother me, and I'd like to see the spot." He had to admit that the two of them being alone in a secluded spot might not be a good idea, but he liked the idea she wanted to share something special with him.

It was up a long deserted logging road, and at the end, he saw why she liked it so well. From here you could see for miles in every direction, and the sky overhead was filled with so many stars that it seemed like they would never end.

"How did you find this place Dani?" He had to ask, most people would have never come up this far.

"It was by accident, I was headed back to the house from the lake and about a mile past the turn off for here is the road I normally take. I saw it and wondered where it led, this is what I found. I was just about to turn around when it happened. I'm glad I didn't." She looked up at the sky like a little kid seeing her first snow fall.

He could see why, "it's beautiful...but don't you ever feel scared coming here alone?"

She laughed. "Honestly, no, I feel safe here, like something up there is looking down and protecting me. I think if I had ever seen someone else here, or say headlights coming up behind me, it would be different, but I never have. It's like this spot was meant to be mine, and mine alone."

"Thank you for sharing it with me." Leaning across the seat, he meant to kiss her cheek, but she turned her head at the same moment, and he found her lips instead. It was a brief kiss but he felt like someone had lit a fire inside him and he looked at her. "Dani..."

Her words stopped what he was going to say. "What happened with you and Sue? I saw you the other night and yesterday you didn't seem all that enthused about going out with her last night, and today..."

Today he had been with her instead. He sat back against the back of the seat, and knew he would have to explain himself. "Dani, it was never Sue I wanted to be with...from the minute I saw you I wanted to get to know you, to just sit and talk and see what happened. But you kept running away from me, the first time when you went to the movies, and then when you came home, you ran away to your room. I guess I let my libido rule my brain when Sue seemed so willing to love up to me. What happened later, well it's been a long time since I been with a gal Dani, too long and Sue didn't help matters at all, but it didn't take long to realize that she couldn't do me any good." He chuckled despite himself. "Believe me it wasn't that she didn't try; I thought she was going to dislocate her jaw trying to give me a blow job, and finally I just called it quits. Once she fell asleep I went outside and took care of my problem on my own, I didn't know you'd seen me."

"Yeah, well the worse part for me wasn't knowing what you were doing, it was the feeling I got when I realized that Sue had let you down somehow." Her voice sounded if she was more disappointed in herself then she was anything else.

"What feeling was that?"

She lit a cigarette before answering. "I felt glad, I actually felt happy that she had failed with a man for once, I've never felt that way before. Then today Annie tells me that you looked sorry when I went upstairs and that she thinks you like me, and that Sue was jealous of me, and it's just been eating at me all day that here you had been with her last night, and today I was with you and having fun. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want to be someone's second choice if that is what you got in mind." It showed in her voice that she was torn between her loyalty to her friends, and her own needs and wants. "Sue and Annie and I have been friends a long time, and I've seen it happen before, a guy goes out with Annie, then he switches to Sue and when he is done with her he comes knocking on my door." 

He understood how she felt and knew that if it was reversed he would feel the same way. "Dani, I don't think of you that way, I do like you, and I want to spend time getting to know you. Hell, I admit it, all day I been thinking about how I'd like to be the first guy to give you your first birthday kiss. But I won't push you or rush you or do anything to mess up what I think and feel could be something special between us."

She looked at him curiously. "You mean that, I don't know how I know, but I just know. Bull why did you come here, Elton would not be my first choice to stop in."

He chuckled. "No, but I been looking for something Dani, it's why I left home, and when I met Zach, I just got this feeling deep inside me that he was there to lead me where I needed to go, to bring me where I could find you. Turn on the dome light a minute will you. I want to show you something, and I promise it's not my dick or anything like that." She did as he asked and he dug his wallet out of his back pocket. The piece of paper was old and worn, but it had been there for a long time, tucked away in a corner, waiting to be shown. "This is why I came here."

It took a moment for her to take the paper and unfold it, when she did; he heard her gasp and knew she was wondering how it was possible. The drawing was of her, just as she was, just as she had looked earlier in the day at the park. Smiling, her eyes sparkling with laughter, he had two notebooks of pictures he had drawn of her over the last five years. Some he would show her later on, when they had reached a stage in their relationship that she wouldn't wonder if he was some kind of pervert, each one careful dated and her name scrawled below it. He hadn't known her last name then, just that her first name was Dani.

She handed him the drawing back then put it in her jacket pocket when he motioned her to keep it, he had done it for her and it felt right for her to have it now. "How...?"

"Some folks would call them visions I guess, but for me it was dreams, you came to me so many nights, you helped keep me sane Dani, I can't begin to tell you how close I came to just caving in to everything before you did. The next morning I would do a sketch of what I remembered just so I didn't forget." Reaching out he stroked her cheek, glad she didn't pull away from his touch. "Dani, I came here for you...and you alone." This time when he bent over to kiss her, she met him half way and this time she didn't pull away when the kiss was over. Instead, she moved closer to him, and he wrapped his arms around her. It was long past midnight and he knew he held a woman in his arms as he let them both be swept away by the fact that not only was she eighteen now, she was his, and he was hers.



Back at the Lazarus house, Jack looked at the clock and wondered where the hell Dani and Bull were. It was almost three in the morning and even Zach had made it back before now. So where the hell were they? He should have never let her go with him. He had felt doubts the minute he found out what was planned for the day, but it was better than having her lock herself away behind a closed door. He had even felt a relief that she was leaving when Nick and Jessie arrived.

No one seeing his daughter's eyes when Nick and Jessie arrived could have missed the fear in his daughter's eyes when they had talked to them, or the anger in Zach's. Jack knew his son was right, a man like Nick had no right looking at Dani like she was some tasty food just waiting for him to devour. And he had talked to the man about it; all Nick had done was laugh it off.

"Hey, Jack, come on. She is a tasty looking example of womanhood, just like her mom was at her age. You can't blame any man for wanting to look and dream, even a horny old fart like me." When Jack had brought up the day that Nick had gone in her room and tried to kiss her, Nick had sighed. "I admit I screwed up, I was drunker then I thought, and I did something I shouldn't have. But she set me straight, and I won't make that mistake again."

Deep down Jack knew Nick had not reassured him, and he had made a promise to himself that he would keep a closer eye on both Nick and Jessie. The younger man wasn't much better then Nick and that the two of them were using more and more drugs lately bothered Jack. He knew under that influence there was no telling what either of them might do.

Jack put down his wrench and sat back on the sofa in the shed. He felt like he was the only person awake in the world, the house was quiet, everyone sound asleep. He wished he could sleep; he hadn't been like this since the night she was born. And it didn't help when he considered who she was with. What did anyone know about Bull, for all anyone knew he could be some kind of rapist, or even worse, a serial killer? Damn, why had he thought it was a good idea for her to go with them?

The door to the shed opened and he looked up to see a sleepy looking Helen standing there. "Jack, what the hell are you doing out here this time of night? You should be asleep, we got a big day later today, all the people coming."

"She isn't home yet, almost four in the morning and she isn't home yet, Dani never stays out this late."

Helen gave him an understanding look, "So that's what's wrong, she's out with Bull, so you are thinking the worse, Jack there is a hundred reasons why they're not home yet, you know how it goes..."

Jack heard himself growl. "That's just it; I remember all too well just how it can be. I also know we don't know shit about Bull. Helen he could be some kind of freak, a pervert, a rapist, and he's out with our little girl."

"And they could be sitting somewhere having coffee and talking and getting to know each other, I don't think Bull is fool enough to think he could get away with hurting Dani and not get caught. Look, the sun is coming up, come in the house, lay down and rest. I'll get Zach, Tom, and Mike up and have them go look for her if that makes you feel better, but I want you to get some rest. And you can play outraged daddy when you wake up. Besides, she's eighteen now, what do you plan on doing, ground her for something she's never done before."

"No, but I can tell Bull to get the fuck out of here, and not come back. I don't want him thinking he can mess with Sue and then turn his attention to Dani."

Helen shook her head, "Jack, you are acting like a fool over this, how many times we went out and ended up losing track of time, and not just because of sex? All the nights we spent parked down by the lake, talking about the future, the dreams we had and the plans we made? I'm sorry honey; I just think you are over reacting. Hell she could look at this as a special night for her and just wants to be able to see the sun come up in some spot she likes, not safe at home in her room."

Jack hated it when his wife was so logical. "Alright, I'll go in the house but I want Mike, Tom and Zach back with her before I wake up...and as far as Bull goes, well it will depend what kind of shape she is in, if he has done one thing to her that she didn't agree to, hell even if she did agree to it, I will kill him."

"Alright, I will go along with that, but let's go, you look ready to drop."

They stopped by the R.V. their son Mike and his family had driven up from California in, and Helen informed Mike what was needed. He didn't look happy but agreed to go out hunting his little sister. They were just to the front door of the house when a tow truck came up the drive way, towing Dani's truck and the missing people as passengers. They both looked tired, but it was clear that they were more disgusted then anything.

"I still can't believe it happened, I mean you saw the road going up, how the hell did I miss that spot?" Their missing daughter sounded disgusted over something.

Bull was walking beside her. "Dani, it wasn't your fault, I didn't even see the high spot until it was too late. I am really sorry I yelled like I did..."

Jack frowned, as he spoke up. "Where the hell have you two been do you know what time it is?"

Dani looked at him, "I know exactly what time it is dad, believe me, we would have been home hours ago if we hadn't gotten high centered and we had to walk down to the lake to be able to get cell service enough to get a tow truck to come pull us out. Then he took the wrong road, and we ended up having to double back and it's been a mess." She looked back at the tow truck, "Thanks Roy, much appreciated for all your hard work tonight."

The driver gave her a wave, "no problem Dani, sorry about taking so long. Morning Jack, Helen. I see Mike is here from California, tell him to stop by the shop before he leaves, I miss my best driver, and I'll send the bill to the repair shop okay?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah, that's fine Roy, I'll take care of it the first of the month as usual."

Dani was looking at him when he looked back his daughter and the big man. "What are you and mom doing up so early dad? You should be in bed, and when did Mike get here."

Her brother came walking up frowning. "About five hour ago, where the hell you been, mom came to the door of the R.V. saying that dad was being all crazy because it was after four in the morning and you weren't home yet, she was going to send me, Tom and Zach out looking for you." He looked at Bull and after a minute, held out his hand. "Hey, I'm Mike, one of Dani's brothers, sorry if I seem a little grumpy but getting woke up in the middle of the night after driving over a thousand miles to be here for her birthday is a good enough excuse."

Bull took the offered hand. "Name's Beau but everyone calls me Bull, I'm a friend of Zach's and I agree, of course, it is later then Jack and Helen are used to her being out."

Mike laughed. "Well that explains the concern, if you're a friend of Zach's, we all know his friends are nothing but sex maniacs, and then you have Tom's and Dave's, not to mention a few of mine..." He walked over and hugged his sister, "Good to see you kid, now excuse me while I go back to bed."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 03



They all watched as he walked off and Dani stretched. "Well, I don't know about you all, but I am going to bed. We can unload the truck later." As her dad and mother watched, she walked up and hugged the big man, "see you in the morning, and get some sleep that was a long walk to the lake."

He grinned. "True, but it was fun. That will teach you never to dare me..." His arms went around her, and he picked her up off her feet. As Dani struggled, he threw her over his shoulder. "See, I told you it didn't hurt my back a bit."

"Bull put me down!" Her squeal was loud enough to wake the whole house.

Bull didn't answer her, instead he looked at Jack and Helen, "Should I put her down? She told me I couldn't do it, and this was going to hurt my back, I told her I used to bench press 300 pounds, she doesn't come anywhere near that."

Dani spoke up again and this time she sounded more urgent. "Bull put me down, I swear I am going to hurl if you don't..."

Jack wasn't sure if he should laugh or tell Bull to put her down. It was Helen who decided. "Bull, you might want to put her down, Jack used to do that to her and she would end up throwing up..."

It was too late, even as he started to put her down, she vomited, and when it was over, they were both covered in it. What a way to end the night and begin a birthday celebration...

To be continued:



Dani and the Bull Ch. 04



Author's Note: I just want to thank you all for reading this and to ask a favor, please be sure to vote and either post comments or send me feedback as it progresses...

thanks, and peace

darkstone57 

*

It was late in the morning when she woke. From the sounds drifting in her open window, she got the idea that the guests for the party were already arriving. She was glad Mike and Kate had made it home for the party, and while she was sorry she had made her dad worry about her, she was a little surprised; he had never acted that way with the boys if they stayed out late. And it wasn't as if she had done it on purpose, the truck getting high centered had just been an accident.

What bothered her most was throwing up all over Bull and herself. She had tried to tell him, but then he had countered with the fact she had dared him. She would never make that mistake again, she had learned her lesson.

As she got up and dressed she considered what else had happened yesterday. She still didn't know what had possessed her to take him to her private spot; she hadn't even taken Sue or Annie to it. His reaction to it had made her feel good, he hadn't been lying about it either, and she had seen the look in his eyes as he had taken it all in. No one could pretend such obvious pleasure.

Which brought her mind around full circle, the pleasure she had felt in being held in his arms, and feeling the excitement of his mouth and how it had sent all those little electrical charges through her body. She had never felt that way before when she had been kissed. Her body had seemed to go into some kind of overload, and if not for Bull pulling away after a while, and telling her how they should be getting home...well she had no idea just how far it could have gone. Or did she?

Just thinking about it made her body shiver and her blood feel like it had jumped a hundred degrees in temperature. If this kept happening with him around, she would be probably be taking a lot of cold showers. She'd never considered that term to be real, how could a person feel that kind of heat from another person? Now she knew it was possible.

Zach met her on the stairs, and he didn't look happy. "What the hell happened last night, I get up and dad jumps me first thing about letting you and Bull venture off on your own, and then mom tells me you didn't come home until sunup and Bull is grinning like a damn fool all over the place."

Not even her obnoxious older brother could spoil her mood today. "Gee don't I get a happy birthday or anything? As to us not getting back until sunrise, and dad being upset, well, after you and Annie left, I didn't feel like coming straight back so Bull and I just went for a drive, I made a wrong turn, and ended up getting the truck high centered not far from the park. And as far as Bull grinning like a fool, well, I have no idea..."

Zach looked at her with a suspicious glint in his eye. "Are you sure? I mean if you and Bull...well that's fine, but you are still my kid sister and if he did anything out of line..."

"I would tell you, no Zach, your kid sister is still a virgin, and..."

Before she could go on, Bull appeared in the doorway below them. "Will probably be that way, at least for a while yet..." Zach was right, he was grinning. "Now just how long is depending on us so how about we shelve the issue for now. Morning Dani, happy birthday..."

Dani smiled. "Thanks, that is more than my brother has said so far."

Again that suspicious look from her brother...he looked from her to Bull and back again. "Okay, I'll drop if for now...just don't go pulling that sort of shit again, I never seen dad so...I don't know, the last time he looked that upset was when Dave backed over the curb in that Mazda he was backing into the garage at the shop and ended up making the rear end look more like a pretzel than a car..." He shook his head. "Happy birthday brat, you know I love you."

"I know, but hey, I'll make a deal with you, I won't interfere with you and Annie, you don't interfere in my business huh?"

"Sounds good to me," unexpectedly he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Got to go grab a fast shower, Annie and Sue will be here in a few."

He went and she looked down at Bull who was watching her interaction with her brother with a smile in his eyes. "What...?"

He shook his head, "nothing, just remembering how things were between my sisters and us boys, how you doing this morning...? That was some hike last night..."

Going down the stairs, she nodded. "I need coffee, please tell me mom had both pots going..."

"I think when I went in to get a cup; they were just starting the third. Come on, I'll play body guard for you this morning. Word traveled fast about our little adventures last night, come to think of it, you may have to play body guard for me..."

Dani considered that idea and her temperature rose again. "Hmm, I think I might like that idea, which part of you should I consider guarding the most?"

He chuckled. "Depends if we're talking about the men or the women..."

She saw what he meant the minute they walked into the kitchen, it was jammed with females, both friends and family. A chorus of Happy Birthday's rang out but there wasn't one of them who weren't looking at Bull like he was a piece of triple layer double chocolate cake with whipped cream on top and a huge vanilla shake to wash it down. She looked at him and smiled. "I see what you mean, should we run the gauntlet, grab some coffee and get the hell out of here, before you become Dad's replacement for most hated male in Elton by the men?"

He nodded. "Please, I made my choice last night, you know that."

She knew, and a smug little smile never left her face as she got coffee, gave her aunts and various cousins hugs, and at the back door turned to look at them all..."Sorry ladies, he's all mine."

They were both laughing as they stepped outside, and Dani knew it was true, he was hers, and she was his, not just because of last night but the things they had talked about and the things they had shared, he had told her about his family, about the time he had spent in prison. That was something she had no intention of sharing with anyone until they got to know him better. She understood how he felt, but she doubted her family would understand, especially her dad and more so after last night.

As it was, her dad, and three of her brothers were looking at her closely as they walked over to where they stood, even Mike was looking a little more suspicious then he had been, "Morning daddy, how you doing this morning?"

Her father grunted. "I would be doing a lot better if you had just called the house, and told me what had happened when you got done calling Roy, that's why your mom and I got you that damn cell phone. And for that matter, where the hell were you that it didn't have service..."

She had been expecting this, "Up off Bender's Peak." She almost added that she had been showing Bull the view from the well known spot, but decided from the way her dad was acting, he might take that the wrong way, considering why Bender's Peak was so well known. It had a good view of the surrounding area, but anyone who went up there at night was not looking for the stars or the lights from town. It also was one of the few areas around that didn't have cell phone coverage. Looking from him to her brothers, she shook her head. "Oh just get that idea out of your head guys, and stop glaring at Bull, he was a true gentleman last night, which is more than I can say about you three if it had been you up there with some gal. We all know that Tom's idea of being a gentleman is asking a gal what color of condom she prefers, and Dave asking if she preferred a joint or a pipe, and Mike you were just as bad before Kate corralled you. Speaking of which, where is she? I was worried you two might now make it up for this..."

Mike had the good grace to stop looking at Bull like he was debating how much of a gentleman the big man had been and smiled. "She's up giving the kids a bath, we got off to a late start, and we didn't get a chance to stop much before we got here. I would have called, but we wanted it to be a surprise." He held out his arms, and she went into them. "Happy birthday kid, I know it's been a while since we seen each other, but looking at you now, I understand why dad was a little crazy last night, you have turned into one fine looking woman." His hug was strong and so was Tom's. Even Dave was clear eyed enough to hug her and wish her a happy birthday.

"And for the record, I don't smoke joints anymore; it's all pipes these days..." He was grinning as he said it.

That brought laughter from all of them and broke the tension in the air. Bull looked down at her, an experience she was going to need to get used to, and to her surprise pulled her back against him, at the same time wrapping his arms around her in a protective manner. That made her dad, and brothers, as well as several others around them look in surprise, but he only shrugged as if to say, "Anyone care to argue about it?"

Her dad did look as if he was going to ask a question, but shook his head and she knew that it would be asked later, not today.

This was her day, her and her grandfather's and no one was going to spoil for her.

Her mind was on the feel of Bull's arms around her when her sister Kate walked up, and handed their son to his father. "Mike please take him, and see if you can keep him clean for five minutes. I swear just walking through the kitchen he attracted every speck of dirt alone."

Dani looked at the little blue eyed boy. It was true; since the day Dylan had been born he had been earning the nickname given to him by his grandpa. "Hey Pigpen, how's my boy?" She reached over and tickled his chin. At the same time, she felt her niece tugging at her jeans leg and she picked up five year old Andi. "Don't worry sweetie, I wasn't ignoring you." She hugged the little girl to her tightly and knew the same feeling of contentment she had felt since the day she was born.

"I swear Dani; you are going to be one hell of a mother." Her sister was smiling. "All the way up here she kept asking when we were going to see her aunt Dani, and why it was taking so long. You'd think she had just seen you yesterday, and not since last year." Her own blue eyes took on a mischievous glitter. "And from the look in someone's eyes, maybe Jack should consider putting a chastity belt on you otherwise you might be one sooner than expected."

Dani turned to look at Bull; sure enough he was looking at her and Andi like he was looking at something very special. She felt herself blush and he grinned. "Not too soon," his voice was soft. "In time though, we got to get used to each other first..."

"Well that sounds like you plan on a long run...not that I would be sorry, Dani needs a good man around her, not these broken down asses...lord knows how Helen has put up with them all these years..." There was no malice in her voice, instead the affection she felt for her husband, his brothers and father was clear. "Of course, I am not surprised that you would go find yourself a man who was bigger, stronger and way better looking than the lot of them. Always knew you would never settle for anything less."

It was true, growing up around her family; everyone knew that Dani would always compare any man in her life in any kind of relationship with her dad and her brothers. "Kate, it's not..." Even as she tried to deny it, she couldn't...and everyone around her knew it. Whatever had happened between them last night had sealed her fate and Bull's; they were irreversibly linked together for the duration.

"Well, well, this is a nice family picture..." The voice was filled with sarcasm, and yet tinged with just enough teasing that no one could really take offense. Nick Jensen and his brother walked up and smiled. "Hey Jack, today is her big day huh, and the old man's. Where is he anyway, me and Jessie can't stay, we're headed off this evening to go see Shelia and the kids, but we wanted to stop by and wish Dani and her grandpa a happy birthday."

Dani felt that same sick feeling come over her that always happened when Nick came near her. As she did, she felt Bull move closer to her, and rest his hand on her shoulder, as if he was telling Nick the way things were, and protecting her and Andi at the same time. Andi was feeling something as well, something that hadn't been there until he had walked up.

Bull's movement brought the three of them into the attention of the two men they would have preferred ignore them. "Well Dani, I must say you look awful sweet holding that little girl in your arms." He raised his hand as if to touch Andi's hair, and Dani took a step back. She didn't want his filth on her niece, let alone face the look in his eyes behind the smile. The smile faded, but then returned just as quickly as it left. "Which reminds me, Jack, you know that old bitch of mine, well she got herself knocked up by that Shepard next door and I was wondering if you might like to have one of the puppies, or if Dani would. I was just going to take them out and drown them but then I remembered how much Dani always has liked dogs..." His eyes flickered to Bull as if to suggest that he was little more than a stray dog himself. "As I remember, she used to have a bad habit of bringing home strays when she was a little girl..." More innuendo and Dani could feel Bull's body tighten.

Her dad was well aware of what Nick was trying to do, and he smiled tightly. "Sure, I could use a couple dogs around here, when could you bring them..."

"I got them out in my truck right now, was planning on getting rid of them after I left here, if you decided not to take them. Why don't we take a walk over and you can pick out the ones you want."

As they walked together as a group to Nick's truck, Dani and Kate fell in behind the others. Her sister was holding Pigpen and she spoke softly. "He wants to make trouble Dani; he's just hoping that Bull will swing on him..."

"I know, and so does Bull. Kate, do you believe in visions...?" The words slipped out before she could stop them.

"What kind of visions, like the future seeing ones or just seeing things that aren't really there?"

"The future seeing ones."

Kate smiled, "Dani, remember, I am a quarter Apache Indian, my grandfather is a shaman for the tribe, of course I believe in them. Tell you the truth, he's the reason we came up this time, we had been over visiting last month, and he told both Mike and I that we had to be here for your birthday. When we asked why, he said that a great evil was coming closer to you and we would be needed to help protect you, Mike did his usual thing of laughing it off, but seldom is grandpa ever wrong about his visions, in fact he sent you something with us, said it was a charm to help protect you. You know how he feels about you."

She knew, he was a great old man, and she had enjoyed all the times they had gone to visit him when he had lived here in town. "I miss not being able to go visit him, I was sorry when he left after you and Mike got married. But getting back to the visions, Kate, last night, Bull showed me a drawing, a drawing he did four years ago, it was of me, and I know it wasn't just made to look old, the paper was all creased and the pencil was smudged...and he said that he had come here because of me...that I was what he had been looking for his whole life."

Kate seemed to consider her words very seriously, "It's possible, and I can tell he's from down south someplace, he has an accent like your dad, where did he grow up?"

"The bayous, he told me his grandmother is something like a witch woman...and so is his mother..."

At that, Kate stopped. She looked from Bull to Dani and back again. "Then Dani I have no reason to not believe that what he told you was true, I can't explain right now, but later, we need to talk more about this."

They had reached the truck and Dani almost cried as she saw the condition of the puppies, they were dirty, looked half starved, and there was no doubt in her mind that Nick had fully intended to just drown them as he had said. There were four of them, all a dull red color and looking as if they were well aware of what a bad impression they would make on folks. The cage Nick had them in was filthy and they smelled as if they had been sleeping in their own filth for so long they would never come clean.

She looked at her dad and saw the disgust in his eyes. "Tom, you and Dave take the cage out to the old shed, we'll get them cleaned up later, and tell your mom we need something to feed them until someone can go get them some food. We'll take them all off your hands Nick; I take it they are weaned..." He glanced down at the body of their mother, it was clear she had given her all to give her children life and had known her time was up.

"Yeah, poor old thing, she just passed this morning." It was a lie and they all knew it, already the flies were buzzing around her and the smell of death was thick in the air. Tom and Dave took the cage and Bull looked at her dad.

"Jack, if you don't mind, why not save your friend the hassle of taking care of the mother's body. I noticed you got a nice spot by that old shed, be a good place to bury her."

Her dad looked surprised, but then he nodded. "Sounds like a good idea to me, Dani, you and Kate go up to the house, ask your mom for an old blanket, we'll take care of it later..." 

She was more than willing to do as he asked and it was clear that Kate felt the same way. She wanted to get the two little ones away from this as well, Andi had her face buried in her neck and Pigpen was squirming in his mother's arms. Kate was visibly fuming and as they approached the front door Dani saw the rage in her eyes. "Dani, I swear, it's a good thing I don't have a hatchet handy, I'd be scalping that son of a bitch, he knew that old dog had been dead longer than this morning, and he purposely didn't tell us. He wanted it to happen the way it did." Her tone changed as she glanced back at the truck. "It was good of Bull to suggest what he did, seems proper somehow if you're going to have the puppies."

Dani had to agree. She remembered the few times she had been to Nick's house with her folks, she had met his mother and the mother of the pups had been one of the few good things she had ever seen there.

Her mom was fuming just as bad as Kate had been and she voiced her opinion of Nick and his bullshit in less than lady like terms as she dug out an old blanket from a closet downstairs. "That son of a bitch, I can't think why your father didn't just knock him out when he saw what was going on. Of course, I never understood why he and Nick got along as well as they did. Nick Jensen was the last man I ever wanted to have around me and my family when I was younger. Luckily my folks disliked him as much as I did, and he was never welcome around us girls at all."

Kate chuckled, "from what I hear, there were few of the women in town who were allowed near him, let alone want to be near him. My mom told me that her dad told her that if she saw Nick Jensen coming down the street to cross over and just keep her distance. Of course, my grandma and grandpa never expected her to go to Tucson and fall in love with a half breed Apache either. Of course, who could resist that man with his tall, dark looks and those bright blue eyes? Kinda like Bull, all that long flowing white hair and those blue eyes. I can see him and dad will get along just fine, they can compare notes about all the women who have fallen at their feet."

"I was going to ask you if Paul and Selma were going to be here, I haven't had a chance to talk to her lately, and I know they had planned to go visit your grandparents down on the reservation."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 04



"They came down for a week last month, mom told me when I saw them that she had wanted to go before the summer heat set in, didn't used to bother her, but these days..."

Dani watched her mom nod. "We're all getting older Kate, and while your father isn't the big, good looking hunk he used to be, he will still turn a few heads and make some women go weak in the knees."

"Are you including yourself mom?" Dani knew she shouldn't ask, but she couldn't resist.

"Yes, I am included, but don't tell your father..." She pushed the blanket into Dani's arms, "here, this should work, and tell Bull I think he came up with a fine idea. Now if it was Nick, I would tell him to take him over in the high desert and let the vultures have him."

Kate laughed, "Better yet, send him down to the reservation and let my family have a go at him and Jessie. I know a few boys down there that would teach him a few tricks..."

Dani knew her mom and sister too well to hang around after that. Leaving Andi with her mother, she went back outside and saw that her dad, Bull and Mike were still by the truck. Bull was standing there with his arms crossed and his feet spread far enough apart to know he could keep his balance. She walked up to them and as she did, that feeling of being sick closed over her again. She didn't need to look to know Nick had been watching her approach, he was taking in every line and curve of her body and it showed in his eyes. Almost out of instinct she moved up beside Bull as if seeking his protection. "Here's the blanket you wanted..."

He turned his head and nodded. "Can I get your help with this Mike?"

Her brother nodded and the two men spread the blanket out on the ground before reluctantly taking the old dog from the truck and laying her gently on top of it. It was clear that neither of them relished the idea of touching the body. She had the idea though that it wasn't because the dog was dead, but because she had been last touched by Nick and his brother.

It was a relief that they didn't stick around until her grandparents arrived, and the whole feel of things changed once they were gone. Both Bull and Mike went into wash up after taking the body to the place that Bull had suggested and she stayed with her dad until they came out.

"Dani..." Her dad looked at her once they were alone. "About you and Bull, and last night, I admit I did over react, but it's a parent's right to feel concern and to worry about their children going off into new territory. And to be honest, we don't know a lot about Bull, oh I know what I've seen and what he's told us, but I can't help thinking there's more to him than just that..."

Dani nodded. "I understand dad, and you are right, there is a lot more to him than just what you've heard and seen so far. But at the same time haven't you always told me to trust my instinct?"

"Well yes, but...instincts can be wrong; I'm learning that now the hard way. Nick..."

She shook her head, "believe me dad; Bull doesn't come close to Nick in any sense of the word. He's not the norm, I will give him that, but I like him and he likes me and we've talked about things that I would never have discussed with anyone else. And before you bring up Sue and what happened between them that first night, Bull admits he made a mistake, and he apologized, believe me, it will never happen again..."

Her tone was so sure that she saw her dad look at her in surprise. "How can you say that and be so sure?"

"The same way you and mom knew you two were meant to be together." She leaned up and kissed his cheek, "I love you daddy, now come on, grandma and grandpa are here, and as you always say, let's bring on the party."

Bull took a drink of his beer and leaned against the old shed doorframe. Dani was setting on the ground beside the cage and holding one of the pups. They were well fed, and while they hadn't had the needed bath yet, it was clear that they were content. Back by the house the party was in full swing, and he wondered what had brought her out here when it was her day to have fun and enjoy her new found freedom.

"Dani..."

"He did it all on purpose Bull, all of it. The puppies, their mother, he did it to send me a message." Her voice was full of emotion. "To send us all a message..."

He moved to squat down behind her, and nodded. "I know, but its over and done with now, the vet is coming by tomorrow to check them out and they've got good food and good people to take care of them. Have you picked a favorite yet?"

She nodded; it was the only little girl in the four. "This one, I'm going to name her Rose, after her mother. But she'll never have to go through what her mother did...I won't let her..."

A deep male voice spoke behind them, "No, you won't Dani; you don't have it in you to be as cruel and unfeeling as Nick..."

They both looked at Kate's father, Paul Two-Feather. Bull had met him soon after their arrival, but hadn't had a chance to spend much time talking to him or his wife. He had learned that he was a half blood Apache Native American and his father was a Shaman down in Arizona. He had been aware of the magic in the silver and turquoise wrist wrap that his father had sent up for Dani for her birthday. He was pretty sure the arrangement of the stone had a spiritual meaning to the man's father as well as looking pretty on her wrist.

"Do you like my father's gift Dani? I meant to ask earlier, he took great care in the crafting of it."

She nodded. "It's got a protection spell on it doesn't it Mr. Two-Feather, Kate told me you had all been to visit him last month and he had told her his vision. Bull should meet your dad, he has visions too." She gave him a smile as she spoke the tone of her voice almost teasing.

The older man laughed. "I didn't need to have you tell me that Dani, I felt it as soon as we shook hands, and you're right, my father would enjoy meeting him. I think they would find a lot to talk about. Of course, Native American magic and Bayou magic are not the same, though there are several tribes who lived in that area before they were driven off their land."

Bull nodded. "The Trail of Tears, a few of my ancestors was part of it, but none of them survived to see the so called "white man's promised land..." My grandmother knows every part of her heritage, and she's never let any of us forget it, not the slaves, the white or the Indian..."

"That is good; my father is the same way..." He heard his wife calling his name and smiled, "Sounds like Selma is ready to go home, we're taking Dylan and Andi home with us tonight to give Mike and Kate a chance to get a good night's rest, but they will be back tomorrow, I enjoy having the little ones around, but I find that these days, I much prefer the peace and quiet of it being just Selma and I..." He shook hands with Bull and smiled indulgently at Dani.

When he was gone, Dani looked at him. "You knew about the spell didn't you?"

He nodded. "I felt it as soon as you opened it. I agree with the man, my grandma and his father would get along no problem. But what's this vision his father had that prompted him to make that."

Her smile faded. "Well, according to what Kate said, her grandfather told them that a great evil was moving closer to me and I needed them to help protect me, he sent the wrist band as just a little added protection. He also knows I love silver and turquoise jewelry, I don't wear anything else."

I'll keep that in mind for future reference." Reaching for her wrist, he closed his hand over the metal and gems, and closed his eyes. Oh yes, there it was, the magic was strong and more powerful than anything he had ever felt before, only someone as powerful as his grandmother could match the strength he felt, and even she would be hard pressed to equal that of Paul Two-Feather's father.

"Bull, your charm...it's glowing..." Dani sounded both awed and a little frightened.

He opened his eyes and saw that it was true, at the same time he felt his demon come to life, not in fear, but in fascination, and there was more, from all around him, more power was flowing into him, and he stretched out his mind. There were at least a good twenty five to thirty demons all flaring to life around him, and he knew that all of them were from her family. The last time he had felt this had been fourteen years ago, before he had ever left home. None of them radiated any type of evil at all, just a feeling of sharing and love. Letting them go unaware of his touch, he turned his attention to the one closest to him. He had felt her's start to awaken last night when he kissed her, slowly, but there all the same, now he felt more and he knew that it had begun, over time she would grow more and more aware of it, and when she was ready, they would know the full effects. As he backed away to reality, he found himself wondering one thing, now that he was aware of the others around him, how long would it be before the people who had those demons would become aware of them as well. And what consequences would arise from it?

Leaving the puppies behind, they eventually went back to the party and she left him in the care of her grandparents as she went in to wash her hands. Harry Banks and his wife Dee were good folks, a lot like Jack and Helen and he had known instantly where Helen got her good looks. He had heard the stories of how her grandfather had never forgiven Jack for not only stealing Helen away from her family, but how he had inherited the house that her grandfather had been trying for years to buy it. Now Harry looked at him and smiled.

"This old house, it's had its share of times. Started out as a saloon when old Jacob Lazarus came up here from New Orleans right after the civil war, saloon, brothel, and gaming house all in one, you can imagine how the good folks of Elton reacted to that, about the same way they react to the family now. It didn't help that Jacob lived openly in sin with a pretty girl he had brought with him. Black haired beauty so they say, rumors have it that Jacob challenged many a man to a gunfight when the man looked the wrong way at her. I do know that there are a lot of graves up in the old cemetery of men who died in that time period; they must outnumber the women two to one. I do know for a fact that she gave birth to two children, two boys. Both of them reached manhood, only to have one die in the Spanish American War. She died giving birth to the youngest one herself, tore old Jacob up something awful from what I hear, all I know for sure is that once his oldest son reached manhood, he took a colt .45 and shot himself in the head."

"Grandpa, are you giving Bull a history lecture?" She giggled. "He loves telling all the old stories about this place. Are you going to tell him about the Lady in Red?"

Bull looked at her, "the Lady in Red?"

Her grandfather sat back in his wheel chair and grinned. "Alright young lady, let's see if you really listened to me over the years, tell this bayou boy about the Lady in Red."

"Alright I will, a drink of your beer please Bull, if I am going to tell it, then I am going to do it just the way grandpa told me..."

He handed her the bottle and watched as she took a long drink, once she handed it back, she sat back against him with her back straight and coughed once to clear her throat. "Now you know about the place once being a saloon, it came and went, but during the depression and prohibition dad's relative decided to open it back up. No one around here much cared, I mean this was all timber country then and the loggers needed a place to come on Friday and Saturday nights to unwind. They could drink some good whiskey that this person had smuggled in from Canada, play cards, and they could spend the evening with one or two lovely ladies who for the right price would cater to their every whim...then one night a gal walked in and everyone started to call her the Lady in Red, because you never saw her in any color but red, and who, they say could make a man smile just by looking at him. I can only imagine what they did in private, but I transgress, the Lady was a big favorite with all the local men and the women all hated her beyond words, there is even talk that she seduced the local preacher in his own church, but that has never been proven. Well, in time, she got pregnant, if on purpose or by accident is anyone's guess, but talk about a town going nuts, every man in town fell under their wives and girlfriend's eyes, and for nine months every one waited to see what the baby looked like. Most of all our relative's wife, who didn't mind being the wife of a saloon and brothel owner, but she didn't take kindly to the idea of him sampling either product which he was known to do on occasion. Anyway, the night the Lady in Red went into labor, this lady, she was right there, ready to report what sex the baby was and what she or he looked like..." She paused to take another drink of his beer, but Bull barely noticed, he was fascinated by the story. "Well you can imagine what happened when he came out looking just like this woman's husband, all hell broke loose, but then just as suddenly it all died down, and it was as if she had just resigned herself to the fact. She took over the care of the Lady in Red and the baby both, pretty soon everyone in town was seeing her act like she was the mother of the baby herself. She'd never been able to give birth, so a lot of people thought she had decided that if her husband had fathered the baby, she might as well accept it and take care of his heir, and she was a good mother to him, gave him the best of everything possible. One night though, when he was about six a strange thing happened, both the Lady in Red and her husband both died. Her husband from a heart attack, and the Lady in Red from what was probably some kind of venereal disease. Her husband was buried up along with the rest of the family and the Lady in Red in another part of the cemetery. It wasn't until the old lady was on her death bed that she confessed to having killed them both. Had been serving them arsenic in their food since after the baby was born, and the mother had stopped nursing." She took breath and looked at her grandfather, "Did I tell it right grandpa...?"

Bull saw Harry smile then begin to laugh, so hard that after a while he began to cough, and it took several minutes for him to stop. "You told it perfectly honey..."

There was a chorus of laughter and Bull looked at her. "That was a load of bullshit wasn't it?"

She shook her head, "No, it's true; I can show you the graves of all of them. And on the one, all it says is "The Lady in Red" and the day she died which by coincidence or not happens to be tonight. It was her son who left dad this house, and the only reason he knew about the relatives in New Orleans was because he was trying to find out information about her to have the tombstone changed." She gave him an impish smile. "How about it Bull, should we go for a walk in the old cemetery and I can show you..."

He smiled. "Sure, but I am surprised you aren't going to dare me..."

"No way, I learned my lesson about that last night..." She stood up and kissed her grandparents on the cheek, "since you probably won't be here when we get back, I'll be by later on in the week to see how you two are doing. Love you grandpa, grandma..." She looked at him as she turned to go to the house. "I'll go get my keys and jacket. Anyone else want to take a walk in the moonlight with me and Bull, I think dad and mom would feel better if we have a few dozen chaperones."

Annie and Zach were up for it, as were Sue and Tom who seemed to have hit it off unexpectedly. There were a few of her other cousins as well, and those that didn't drive or ride piled in the back of the truck. Everyone was in high spirits and they stopped at the small market on the other side of town for more drinks. He went in as well, pulling a bottle of water from the cooler instead of beer.

"You don't drink much do you Bull?" Tom looked at him as he pulled two half cases out.

"Not if I can avoid it, alcohol and I aren't the best of friends."

Tom looked past him suddenly, his eyes darkening. "I wish I could say the same for some folks, I thought he told dad he was leaving tonight for Texas."

Bull followed his gaze and saw that Nick and his brother were out by the truck, Dani, Sue and Annie were there as were other relations, but Nick seemed to be zeroed in on Dani and even while he watched the older man tried to grab her arms as he tried to kiss her as well. "Son of a Bitch!"

The water and beer were forgotten as he raced out the door with both Tom and one or two others. Jessie had Zach pinned against the hood of the truck and while other members were trying to help both him and Dani, it was clear they were losing the battle. Bull felt his demon come alive and as he grabbed the collar of Nick's jacket to pull him off Dani, he saw Tom doing the same to Jessie and Zach. Nick looked at him as he finally got the man's filthy hands off her and grinned. 

"You ain't got in her pants yet have you big man, well you go ahead and get there before me, but one of these days, she'll be under me and you won't want her when I get done..."

Bull felt and saw all around him go red as his fist connected with that grin, he could hear Dani screaming, Sue and Annie yelling, feel Nick hitting him in return, none of it mattered, all he wanted to do was bury this pile of crap in the ground and it was all he could think of even when strong hands had put him in a choke hold and he was fighting to stay conscious. A deep voice spoke in his ear. "Don't fight me big man, I understand you have your reasons, but going to jail for killing a piece of trash like Nick Jensen isn't worth it. Now, I let you go, you go over to Dani, and you let the EMT's take care of him, alright? And consider yourself damn lucky that Mel in there has some high grade surveillance equipment. We got it all on tape, so you might not even have to go to jail tonight..."

It was the words Dani and Jail that made him pull his last punch and drop Nick to the ground. Relaxing took all his control, but he finally nodded and the man behind him let him go. He was still shaking though when he walked over to Dani and wrapped his arms around her. "You okay hon?" He found his voice sounded rougher than usual.

She nodded, but he could see she had been crying. "I couldn't stop him Bull, it's like once he got near me I just felt sick and ready to vomit, it wasn't as bad as usual, but I just couldn't..."

He nodded. "I know Dani, its okay." He put her head against his shoulder and stroked her hair. The emotions of what was running through him showed clearly on his face, and were fully aware that everyone around them could see, but he didn't care. He didn't care either when a ripple of amusement and wonder passed through the crowd as he lifted her chin and claimed her mouth in their first public kiss, a kiss made to make her forget the taste of Nick's mouth and what she had gone through. She didn't fight him, if anything she clung to him tighter, hunger racing through her body and he felt his own react. This was nothing to what they had shared last night, nothing to what he had ever experienced before. He knew part of it was from what had happened to her, the violence, but the rest was simply the meeting of two people who had been waiting for each other for a long time. 

Reaching down he gripped her bottom and lifted her up so she could wrap her long legs around his waist and that brought more than a few whistles but he didn't care, it felt too good and she tasted too wonderful, it wasn't until Tom shook his shoulder and chuckled that he realized that even the local Sheriff was grinning. Swallowing hard, he looked at the man who was damn near as big as he was, and wondered if he was going to be spending this night in jail or not. As if the Sheriff had read his mind, he saw the man shake his head.




Dani and the Bull Ch. 04



"Nobody is going to jail tonight, considering that everyone here saw Nick more or less attacked Dani and Jessie holding Zach back from helping his sister, Nick decided it was better if he didn't press charges. So he and that no good brother of his left for their trip to Texas, and if you have the number Tom, I would suggest you or your dad call and warn Shelia, of course those Texas boys aren't as good natured as I am. I told Mel I do want to take those tapes with me; I might need them later on. However, there is a problem. Afraid I can't let Dani drive her truck home, I can smell alcohol on her breath and while I can't charge her with minor in possession, I won't let her operate a motor vehicle either, how much have you had to drink tonight...?"

"Just a couple beers, I'm not a big drinker..."

"Would you be willing to submit to a breathalyzer test? Just to be safe..."

Bull nodded. "Sure." He went with the Sheriff to his car, and as he did the requested test, Tom Sheridan looked at him.

"You made an enemy tonight; I guess I don't need to tell you to watch your back, but I will tell you this, those two are like rattlesnakes, they strike without warning. So how long you plan on being in town, or is this an extended visit?"

Bull looked at the Sheriff, "Hard to say, why the interest?"

The Sheriff gave him a grin, "Because I can smell an ex-con a mile away, and only some man who has done hard time knows how to fight like you did tonight. You're a big man, anyone of those blows could have killed Nick and we both know it, so you were holding back, do me a favor, next time don't..."

"Sheriff...?" He had never expected to hear something like that from an officer of the law.

"You heard me. Nick Jensen has been pain in my ass since I took over this job, I've had more trouble from him and his brother than I've had from anyone else in town, and it's been that way going back a long time, I could tell you horror stories about that family, but I won't...It's bad enough Helen had her own dealings with him before..." He stopped as if realizing he had said too much. "Forget I said that, its old history and not something anyone wants dug up. So I hear you were on your way to see the grave of the Lady in Red..." He grinned. "Sorry you missed it tonight. It's the anniversary of her death..."

Bull looked over at Dani, "so that story is true?"

"Hell yes, kids been going up there every year on this night since before I was ever born, and beyond that. Supposedly you can smell this perfume that she was said to wear and hear her laughter when you are near her grave. I won't begin to speculate on what she might be laughing at..." A beep made him glance down, and nod. "You're good to go Bull, not even enough to hardly register...and take Dani home, she looks ready to drop."

Bull looked at his woman and nodded. "Thanks Sheriff..." He held out his hand and the other man took it. "Good night..."

"Drive careful, that's precious cargo you got in that truck..."

Bull agreed completely.

Jack felt his fist the wall of the shed, and knew the men gathered around him were fully in agreement. "You should have killed him Bull..."

The big man nodded. "That's what the sheriff told me too, said if it ever happened again, that I should, save him a lot of grief." He took a deep drink of his water, and Dani shifted against him. Once they got home, everyone had tried to get her to go in and go to sleep but she had fought them all, finally Helen had given up.

"I don't think she'll calm down unless Bull is with her, better to just let her stay with him and get some rest..."

So, here they sat, on the couch in the shed, her body curled up against his, and Jack feeling his little girl draw farther away from him. He was having a hard time accepting that, but he was damn glad that the big man had been with her tonight, it seemed he had the ability to protect her better than her own brothers.

Tom took a drink of his coffee, and shook his head, "they both had to be flying high on something, I mean not only are the girls trying to pull Jessie off Zach, then half the guys are helping and it was the same with Nick, the only who actually accomplished anything was Bull...Now I know I ain't been working out like I used to, but I felt like a damn 98 pound weakling. I do know one thing, I never thought I would see the man who Tom Sheridan couldn't bring down the minute he put them in his choke hold. I thought he was going to break Bull's neck before he got him to stop beating on Nick..."

That made Jack look at Bull in surprise, he had been on the receiving end of Tom's choke hold once or twice, Bull didn't react, he just shifted a little and rearranged Dani so he could straighten out his legs, even as Jack watched, his eyes closed and it was clear that like Dani, Bull was drifting off to sleep. Looking at his boys, he jerked his head in the direction of the door and they left as quietly as they could.

In the house, Helen looked at him and he saw the question in her eyes. "She's with Bull out in the shed, they're both asleep..."

She nodded, and got up from the couch, "They need it, and so do the rest of us..." Her eyes moved around to the ones who were still awake. "So let's call it, tomorrow will look better for all of us." Something in her face told Jack she had more to say to him, and once upstairs, she made her point of view clear. "Jack, I love you, I have never made any demands on you about who was welcome in our home, but I will tell you this right now, if I ever see you talking to Nick, or him anywhere on this property, I will leave you so fast it will make your damn head spin. The shit with Jericho one thing, he was a grown man and he knew what he was risking the night he went to get Marie, but this, this is the last straw, if Bull hadn't been with her, I shudder to think what could have happened. There wasn't one of them who could pull him off her, not Tom, not Zach, not Eli or Jason...and those are the oldest and biggest of all the boys..."

Jack put his arm around her, and pulled her close as he heard her give in to her tears of fear for her daughter; he understood a hundred percent, and didn't hide his own relief that everyone was home safe. "I know Helen, believe me; I know just how you feel..."

To be continued…



Dani and the Bull Ch. 05



Dani felt Bull shift against her head and opened her eyes slowly. She was stiff and sore from sleeping in the same position but she was reluctant to move. It only took a moment to realize if she did, then she would disturb Bull and he needed his sleep as much as she had. Her last waking memory was Bull bringing her out here, settling her back beside him on this lumpy old couch, and stroking her hair until she felt the stress and tension of the night fade from her body, and mind.

Now it all came back, but she ignored it. This was not the time to give in to the fear and disgust she had felt toward Nick, or the fear that had overwhelmed her when she saw Sheriff Sheridan putting his infamous choke hold on Bull to keep him from killing Nick. She had watched Bull fight it and the more he fought the more the sheriff had applied it, but then it had been over and Bull was coming to her, pulling her close, kissing her. Not just kissing her, but doing it in front of her brothers, and cousins.

A spring was poking her side and she shifted just enough to remove it, unfortunately, it was also just enough to wake Bull, and she sighed. "Sorry, a spring..." She glanced up at him.

He gave her a sleepy smile and ran one huge hand up over his face. "No problem, any idea what time it is?"

She glanced toward the window; the sun was up and from what she could see it was middle to late morning. "It's not noon yet, I don't hear anyone running around outside." Next week it would be a different matter, her dad, Tom and Zach would be back at work at the repair shop in town. They always took this week off to get ready for her birthday and just unwind after the long winter down time. "Should I move?"

He shook his head. "Not yet, I like us lying like this, it would help if this wasn't so broken down, but still..." When he shifted she was laying half on top of him. "That's better..."

Yes it was, very much better, she could feel his heart beating against her hand, and her face was against his shoulder. Her left leg was lying a little between his, and she smiled as she realized she could also feel more of him than usual. Like most of the men she knew, he was suffering from an early morning erection and it felt very good. That was probably one thing she had an advantage over other girls her age, she had learned sex education in both school and at home, having parents who were both very loving and very sexually active, as well as having five older brothers, there was little about the human male body that she didn't know, or hadn't seen at one time or another in her life, either by accident or on purpose. She also knew from eavesdropping on conversations between her various female relations that the men of the Lazarus family were quite well endowed. At least that was what her mom had told her aunt Rachel and a few of her older cousins.

Personally, those that she had seen by accident or intentionally hadn't really seemed all that worth bragging about. And Sue had told her that it had nothing what so ever to do with size but if a man knew how to use it right. "Big or little, if he can't do you any good, what good is he?"

She could still remember playing the old, "You show me yours and I'll show you mine" game with her cousin Patrick. She had been seven, and he a much more mature man of seven and a half, or eight. Or so he thought until his dad and hers had caught them and they had both ran crying in pain to the house after being paddled. Her mom and aunt Louise had wiped their tears, hugged them and in voices she could still hear to this day, that if they ever got caught doing something like that again they would not only have their fathers, but their mothers and older siblings to deal with as well. To this day both she and Patrick had avoided each other completely. At least until last summer when he joined the Marines like his dad and uncle and gone to fight in some stupid war somewhere in the Middle East.

Bull was stroking her hair again and she heard his voice, "A penny for your thoughts."

"Just thinking about my cousin Patrick, he's in the middle east. This is the first time we've missed each other's birthdays. I was remembering how we got in trouble for playing you show me yours, I'll show you mine when we were younger. I don't know who was more upset, our dad's or our mom's."

"That's normal for kids, and for parents. I think in my case it was my cousin Celia. Dad and Uncle Paul were so busy trying not to laugh that our punishment was not what it could have been."

"Why were they laughing?"

"Because it was our butts we were comparing, not the front part, we wanted to see whose was smaller, I won. I never did stop calling her big butt up to the day I left home."

"That's mean..."

He chuckled. "We were kids, we both grew up in very open homes, we knew what each of us had between our legs, and we just didn't know what the other side looked like."

Putting it that way, Dani could see the humor. "Will you go home Bull, ever?"

"Eventually, I'm a part of the land down there Dani, it's in my blood, and I can't change that, but I will tell you this, when I go, you will be going with me. I found you now; I am not letting you go."

"I hope not..."

He looked at her with a fire in his eyes that seared her all the way to her soul; he reached down, and like a doll brought her up on top of him. She still didn't understand how he could pick her up and all; no one in her family had done that since she had hit two hundred pounds even her junior year in school. Bull acted like she weighed little more Andi or Pigpen might. Still, she found no reason to complain, she especially liked it when he picked her up like he had last night, and she had wrapped her legs around him. That had sent what felt like electric charging through her, her body had reacted and it was repeating that sensation now. She moved her body just a little and found what she had been looking for, as they connected, she sighed. His erection was laying directly as if it were attached to both of them.

She heard his chuckle and knew he liked it too. "I wondered if you had felt that..."

"How could I miss, it feels like you have a tree branch in there. Are all the men in your family so big and beautiful...?"

"We're like any family, we come in all shapes and sizes...my brother Jorge was my height when he was sixteen, I don't think he'd be as broad as me, he's more like our mother, and Andre', he hadn't come into his manhood yet, but we share the same hair and eyes. Jorge is darker than us, his skin tone is more like coffee with cream, and his hair is black as night like his eyes. Andre on the other hand is more golden, I remember people who didn't know us were shocked to find out we were brothers. My oldest sister Bella is the one who is most like our granny Maylene. She's almost as black as the darkest night everywhere, and I remember when I was little I loved how her hair felt like the softest wool I had ever touched. It never mattered to any of us how we all looked so different, we were and are family, and that is that..."

Dani touched his face. "And someday you need to go home Bull, and show your family what a fine man you turned into." Moving up his body, she found his mouth and claimed it as her own, she felt his arms go around her and hold her tight against him, when he drew back a bit, he smiled and before she realized it, he had flipped them over, now she was on the bottom and his body was pressing her down, but she didn't care, her arms were around his neck, while one of his was behind her head, and the other was making a slow, torturous search of her body. "Bull..."

"I could make love to you so easy Dani, I could strip us both right here and now just plow my way into the very center of you, that limb you feel in my pants, that's what you do to me, how you make me feel when I look at you or touch you. It's hard for me to look at you and not want to throw you down on the nearest bed, patch of grass or the nearest flat spot I can find and just take what I want...what I need from you so desperately."

"But you won't...I know that and so do you. Maybe, if I was any other woman, but not me."

He smiled down at her, "You're right, any other woman, but not you. You I want to take my time with, like an artist who paints his masterpiece, I want the first time we make love to be perfect." He began to kiss her and whisper words that Dani knew to be French, some of them she could translate, but others she had no idea what they meant, but they sounded nice, and she wasn't going to spoil the moment by asking.

Her dad did that sometimes, it had startled her the first time she heard the words, but it had made sense as she got older, he was descended from French nobles after all, and there was probably some of that same blood in Bull's past as well. She on the other hand had never been able to wrap her tongue around any language but English, and from the feel of her tongue right now, it was working to learn how to wrap around Bull's as well. It was a battle to see who could suck the others the hardest and draw the opponent's into the mouth of the winner. God he could kiss, and his hand on her stomach under her shirt was making her feel like the tips of his fingers were on fire. She could feel her hips arching up to grind against him and his answering her. 

She began to want more and wondered how a simply make out session could turn her on so fast. She had never had this happen to her before. They weren't even touching bare skin to bare skin and she felt ready to explode. Reaching down be, she moved his hand from her breast, down to where the heat was the strongest and knew the minute he felt it. His hand pressed against her hard and he began to move it in such a way that it was no surprise when her world exploded. If he could do that to her while she still wore her jeans, what would it be like if she was naked?

Bull looked down at her and chuckled. "Even better love, even better..."

She didn't get a chance to ask how he had known what she was thinking, the shed door opened and both her dad and Mike came in talking. Her dad took in the sight of the position they were in and she smiled. "Relax dad, it's hard to have sex when you're still wearing the same clothes as the night before."

Jack nodded. "I'd be yelling if you weren't...of course now, a skirt...well never mind. You two get up now, Helen has coffee and breakfast waiting, and Bull, you take you things on in the house, I've just decided you can move into Jericho's old room, at least there, I can keep a better eye on both of you...especially my hot panted daughter here. Later I do want to ask you one question..."

Bull grinned. "Say no more Jack, I'll be glad to tell you how..."

Mike didn't help matters by chiming in. "Count me in; Kate hasn't looked as well satisfied as Dani does right now in a long time..." He was teasing her, but as Dani walked by him, he laughed. "Damn sis, you turn the prettiest shade of red I have ever seen in my life."

Stopping at the door, she looked back at her older brother. "Keep it up Mike, remember dad taught me from the beginning how to make a man of no use to anyone and I would hate to see Kate have to be deprived of you for a week or two..."

Mike frowned as their dad and Bull laughed. "You wouldn't, I'm your brother..."

"Try me and find out..."

She went out then, and headed for the back door, as she did, she was surprised to see her brother Dave coming out with a big pan of water and the dog food bag under his arm. "Dave?"

"Mom told me they hadn't been fed since yesterday, cute little things, I'm going to give them a bath and get them all sparkling clean before the vet gets here this afternoon, and Bull, once you eat and all, if you'll show me that spot you mentioned yesterday, I was thinking we might go ahead and bury their momma..."

Bull nodded. "I'll be back to help you in a few."

Dani looked at her brother, he was clear eyed and for once his body didn't reek of pot, booze, and his own personal scent. "Me too, see you in a few..."

Over breakfast, Dani listened to the talk between Kate and her mom, then went up to change out of the jeans and tee shirt she had been wearing since yesterday, she considered a shower, but knew that washing the puppies would make her wet, and filthy. Bull threw his stuff into Jericho's old room next door and she smiled as she considered that he was actually closer now then he had been before. She liked that idea, it made her feel good to think that all she had to do was turn a doorknob and...

A shiver closed over her, and she realized that she felt a need for Bull again, a need that had been growing since their time at the lake. Going to her door, she opened it and found him poised to knock. He had changed into a worn shirt with the sleeves ripped off and a pair of old jeans. The shirt empathized his chest and arms and the pants his long, muscular legs even better than the others he wore. He had tied his hair back and his eyes glittered as he looked at her. The top was old and showed off more of her than she normally liked but it was clear that Bull appreciated the scenery. The shorts were the same, not something she normally wore, but cool and able to be thrown away.

"Damn honey, you dress like that, and you honestly expect me to keep my mind on puppy washing and digging a grave for their momma. I am only human sweetheart."

Feeling mischievous, Dani walked up to him and pressed her body against his. "Really, I thought you were made of wood..."

"That's not wood; it's pure titanium steel right now..." He put his hands on her hips and pulled her tight against him, Bending his head, he kissed her ear, and nipped at the lobe, "You got yours earlier, but I plan on getting mine later...so be warned. I think we might be taking a drive up to that special spot of ours..."

That sounded good to her. With that to look forward to, they went down stairs and out to the old shed. Mike, Tom and Kate were there as well, with buckets, scrub brushes and towels to work on the pups. Tom and Kate helped her get started, while Bull, Mike and Dave went to take care of their momma, and by the time they returned not only were two of the pups clean but Tom had taken the cage and sprayed it with hot water, then took a brush and scrubbed it with the hot soapy water. The air was full of the stench from both the puppies and the cage, but it was worth it to see the matted fur of the pups come clean of dirt, grease, feces and other unidentifiable matter flow away. When Bull and the others came back, they pitched in and by the time the vet arrived all of them were dirtier then the pups had been.

Each of the pups tolerated being examined by the vet and when he was finished, he looked at her dad. "They're all malnourished, have worms, and need their shots. I'm putting them on a special diet that will help them gain weight, where did you find them?"

Her dad answered the question, "Nick Jensen, he brought them by yesterday, told us he was going to drown them if we didn't want them. Their momma was already dead. Looked like she gave all she had left to keeping them alive this long." He looked at his family and the filthy water and rags that had been used to clean them. "They been working for three hours to get them clean enough to be seen by you."

"What happened to their mother's corpse?"

Bull spoke up, "we buried her out under that elm out behind the shed."

The vet nodded. "If these pups are from Rose, then I'm not surprised, I told that bastard a year ago she needed to be fixed, she was getting too old for anymore pups and he just looked at me and said no female was too old to be bred. The only reason I didn't kick him out of my office was because Rose had a broken leg and I hadn't set it yet. Poor old thing, I think she would like knowing her children were being raised by people who will treat them right, most of the others all ended up in a dog fight ring..."

Dani saw her dad glare at the vet, "what did you say Stew?"

"You heard me Jack, a dog fight ring, remember here a while back they arrested that guy over in the next county for dog fighting, well they had me and a couple other vets come see what we could do about investigating who some of the animals might belong to. I found at least ten that had to be Rose's pups but I couldn't prove it. Oh, and I would have electronic data chips put in them when they get a little older. Helps if they runaway or such..."

"We'll take care of that when you think they're old enough. Mean time, thanks for coming out Stew, much appreciated...just send you bill to the repair shop; I'll take care of it..."

The two men shook hands and Dani curled Rose up in her arms, she shuddered to think of the fate the soft ball of fur might have suffered if they hadn't taken them. 

It was Bull and Dave that went to the lumber yard and hard ware store to buy the lumber and hardware needed to build a decent pen, Dave was already talking about a house for them and Mike and Kate were discussing which one would go home with them.

Since the pups would need to be kept somewhere until Dave and Bull got back, the rest of them took the whole batch in the house and found a box big enough to house them. Dani felt tired and she took Rose upstairs with her to wait while she showered and changed out of what was now garbage.

Coming out of the bathroom, she found the pup asleep on her bed and decided the little lady had the right idea, pulling on a clean shirt and shorts; she lay down on her bed and joined Rose in sleep.

Her dreams had been of Bull and when she began to come out of her nap she thought at first the hand moving along the length of her bare leg was simply part of her dream. Moving a little, she felt the hand move with her, and then travel to the other leg and down to her bare feet. A finger tickled the bottom of it and she kicked a bit to make it stop. A deep chuckle told her it was no dream, opening her eyes a bit she saw Bull moving up over her, and pressing her back in the soft mattress.

"Bull,"

He used both his hand to push her hair up out of her face, and let his lips play along her cheeks. "Hey sleeping beauty. I thought the rule was you always locked your door."

"I had a watch dog to warn me of intruders..."

"Had is the operative word, we got back, and Dave collected them all for feeding and their first worm medicine. He and Mike are out in back right now, working on the pen and patching some holes in the old shed so they can't sneak out. Zach and Annie have disappeared, and it seems Tom and Sue has a date for the movies tonight..."

That didn't surprise her for some reason; she had seen the two of them looking back and forth at each other all day yesterday. "That was fast, even for a smooth talker like Tom."

"From what Dave told me, it's been coming. That man may be stoned a lot, but he sure knows what's going on around town and in this house. So that leaves me, you, him, Mike and Kate tonight, and your folks too, but the way they been acting all day, I think they'll be busy. Mike's been just kicking back since Kate's mom called and asked if they could keep the kids for another day."

"Wow, see what happens when I take a nap, I miss all the good stuff."

He nodded. "And you ready for this, you dad is putting me to work, he asked me if I'd be interested in working at the repair shop. I guess he's got a bunch of work backed up since he took this last week off. I told him hell yes. Plus it gives us a little time apart, not that I want to be away from you, but I need some sort of steady cash coming in. Your folks have been good about letting me stay and all, but I like to pay my own way. Been doing it so long, it's just force of habit."

"Well, that's okay, I mean it's not like you just want to sit around all day and drink or something." It was hard to keep her mind on the conversation all of a sudden, maybe because Bull had his hand on her hip and was rolling them over so she was on top of him. "Bull..."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 05



He put his finger to her lips, "Shh, don't say anything, just lay there and let me touch you a while."

She did as he asked, and his hands began a steady search of her while he kissed her softly, and she shivered as he nibbled at her throat and ran his hands over her ass. She didn't know which was better, being on top or feeling him there. His hand came up and pulled the front of her shirt and her bra up, then drew her up so he could suck slowly at her nipples while his hand worked gently at the other. It felt even better then she had ever expected but then Bull was able to far exceed what she had expected.

His mouth never left her breast as he rolled them onto their sides and his fingers rubbed the soft flesh of her belly, down to the waist band of her shorts and then slipped inside, she could feel his fingers move through the patch of hair between her legs, then separate her lower lips. When a groan escaped her mouth he lifted his from her breast and covered hers instead. She understood the need to be quiet, but she couldn't help it, especially once he found her clit and began to tease it with his fingers. 

When he put his lips by her ear, she felt his warm breath and heard the excitement in his tone. "God Dani, you're so wet, so soft and so fucking wet, you make it so hard for me to keep from giving in, put your hand on the front of my jeans, don't take him out, just rub it, please."

She did as he asked and he buried his face in her throat and sucked at the tender spot. She wanted to be alone with him, completely and totally. That way she could tell him how much she was enjoying this, how much she wanted more and more. She felt his finger probe at her and she knew he was testing, looking for her hymen, when his finger entered her easily she saw his head jerk up and look at her with a curious glint in his eyes.

"Dani?" His tone was filled with the same curiosity, and interest. 

She smiled, "They had to remove it before I started my period. It was so thick it would have kept the menstrual blood inside me."It's a genetic thing; mom and my aunts had the same thing. "

What they had been doing came to a stop but she didn't mind as much as she thought she would, seeing his smile. He hadn't pulled his finger out of her, as if he didn't quite believe what he was feeling. "I've never heard of that before."

"No big deal just makes it easier for a virgin, which I am still am in a sense that I've never had a man inside me. Good thing I wasn't born back in medieval times, I would had been ban from the castle."

"Does your dad know?"

"No, he would have gone ballistic to know I went out with a guy and been open to have sex, he'd have gone medieval on me, and got me a chastity belt."

"I don't blame him really, that feels good you know, so how long before we can do it with more than your finger..."

He laughed, just like that, a deep, full throated sound that came from deep down inside him. "Well, I don't think it be as far in the future as I thought it might be. That tree limb is still going to hurt like hell because you need to loosen up a little bit, but I think we can work on that, is it really what you want?"

Dani sighed, "Bull, until you came into my life I didn't think about it, I had never met anyone around here who made me feel like I wanted to even consider having sex with them. Now, it's like you touch me and I feel ready to strip off my clothes, lay back, look at you and say, take me, I'm yours. So would you like to reconsider that dumbass question?"

His laughter rang out like music to her ears, "Oh, hell yes, but I think we need to have a serious talk before we go too much farther, I got some money left, why don't we go out, have dinner, just the two of us and then go find a place we can sit and talk."

"That sounds good to me, but this time you get to drive." She began to giggle and he joined her as they hugged and for a brief time he just held her tight.

Bull sat back on the sleeping bag and he felt as if his entire body was going to explode, his hands were tangled in Dani's hair and her mouth was going up and down on him like she had been doing it all her life. Not all the way, he had yet to see any woman who could take not only his length, but the circumstance all the way. If there had been any doubt that she had been made for him, this drove it away, only a woman who had been made for him could take him more than half way and still be working so hard to take him all of it. He didn't want to come, he wanted to die right here of just the pleasure of the feel of it all. 

"Oh my god Dani, yes, deep throat me, never had anyone take me so deep before. God, my perfect woman, you were made for me. I can't wait to see how well we fit together when I fuck you with it."

He jumped as her fingers tickled his balls and drew her mouth just back to the head, teasing it with her tongue. Her eyes were filled with mischief and he licked his lips. Using just the slightest pressure, he tried to make her take it deeper, but she shook her head and teased him even more.

"Oh you fucking little bitch, don't do that to me, please honey, please..." He was begging, never before had he begged for anything from a woman, but Dani, his hot, sweet Dani, she was finding all the way to make him do just that. This had been happening for over a full hour, he was soaked with sweat, and now he was torn between wanting to come and want to die. "Oh just wait Dani, just wait till the first time I eat your pussy, I am going to torture you just as bad as you're torturing me right now. I am going to make you scream for me to make you come; I am going take you right to the edge and stop cold. I...I...oh my God! I'm coming Dani, suck me honey, suck my come out of my balls and take it down your throat." His hips were bucking and he could feel his come shooting out him like a continuous stream of bullets firing from a gun. It seemed to go on forever, "oh my beautiful cocksucker, my beautiful woman."

The experience stayed with him, even as his body began to relax, to come back to some sense of normalcy. As Dani sat up and looked at him, he handed her his soda, she took a long drink and smiled. "So...?"

"Hmm, that was something else; I am not even going to ask how you learned to do some of that stuff."

"Sue showed Annie and me a porno flick, she found it stashed in the back of her mom's underwear drawer one day while she was checking for something. Her mom is into all kinds of sexy underwear and they wear the same size, makes me wonder if Reverend West is as all fire and brimstone as he proclaims to be."

He lit a cigarette, "Few men of God are ever all they seem. That was one reason me and dad got to arguing so bad about it, I knew I was no more destined to be a priest then I was a fisherman, and I. How could a priest have any type of true faith if he had a demon in inside him like I do? I stopped believing in God the day I found out I had a demon in me, a demon that feeds on pain and hurting women." Bull hadn't wanted to tell her all this but she deserved to know, he couldn't lie to her. "I spent a lot of time down on my knees back then, asking him to take it out of me, to make me like my daddy and brother. No one in my family would ever think of hitting a woman, for any reason, let alone during something as natural and human as sex. I knew if what my granny had told me was true, then sooner or later it would happen and if I stayed at home, and my folks found out, well I would end out on the street anyway, so I left and fourteen years down the road here I am, with you."

Taking a drink if her soda, he watched as Dani lay back on the sleeping bag in the back of the truck and looked up at the star filled sky above them. "I think you're wrong Bull, oh I think you might have a demon in you, and you might think you like to use women as beating posts, but I think you're wrong. I've seen the kind of man you think you are, and let me tell you, from what I have heard in your voice when you talk about it, and what I have seen when you touch me, and how you make me feel when we're together. It doesn't add up. You said it yourself, except for that one, which you don't remember all that clearly, the worse you had done was leave a few bruises, and you broke that gal's arm because you got a little carried away when you had her pinned down, but from the way she got so excited that you were having a hard time holding her down anyway, and she just moved the wrong way. And it wasn't like you kept going the minute it happened, you stopped and you took her to the hospital to get it checked. No true Sadist would have done that. No, I think you just got your ideas what your grandma told you a little mixed up."

"Dani...I know..."

"No you don't." She rolled over and moved to straddle his hips. "Dammit Bull, I see a man like you think you are, almost every day, and when he comes I know when he's within five feet of me, I start to get sick, I want to vomit. I feel like I can smell the evil inside him and taste it in my mouth like I tasted it that day he tried to kiss me. Now, if you are what you say you are, why don't I feel those things around you? Why don't I want to vomit when we're near each other, why when you kiss me I feel like you're sending little charges all through my body and making me want you even more? So, if you are this monster you think you are; why aren't I running in the opposite direction from you?"

He sighed, she knew he couldn't give her an answer, and he had to admit it. "I don't know Dani, I wish to the heavens that I did, but I don't."

She began pulling her shirt up over her head, and once she was free of it, he watched as her breasts danced in the moonlight. "You say your demon can feel others around you. Alright, send him to mine, let me feel him, let me taste what he is like. Let see the monster Bull, and if you are what you say you are, and then I will still want to be with you, still be willing to give you my body and my heart if you want it."

"And if I am wrong?" For the first time in his life he began to doubt his own mind.

"Then you still have me, so it's a win-win situation. And remember Bull, your grandma told you that I could control your demon if I was strong enough. Let's see how strong I am. It's put up or shut up time." Reaching down, she took his hands in hers and brought them up to her breasts, "or we could just shelve this for later, and you could spend the next few hours touching me the way I want you to touch me...personally I like the idea of just touching. Compared to the rest of you, I am way behind in the game, and I need some extra tutoring."

Despite himself, he grinned. "Well come to teacher honey, we can get you caught up in no time with the right technique..." Closing his hands around her breasts, he began to caress and squeeze the nipples between his fingers, these were the breasts of a real woman, full and round and it made his mouth water to think of sucking and kissing them, of swirling his tongue around those hard nipples and licking them all over, he felt his cock jump as he stopped long enough to sit up and bring her down so she was straddling his lap. Even without thinking he looked at her. "Dani, do you really trust me so much?"

"I trust you with my life Bull..."

His voice grew deep and hoarse. "Undress for me, completely, I want to see all your body in the moonlight."

"Only if you show me yours..." Her giggle was sweet and he grinned.

"Anytime baby, anytime."

When they were both free of their clothes, he drew her down to resume the position they had been in before. This time though, her legs were wrapped firmly around him and his cock rested against her soft pink slit, he knew that where she was already open, it would be so easy to go too far, but he had to know, he had to test himself. He began to kiss her, soft and easy to begin with, the letting his mouth began to increase the pressure and feeling her lips part to admit his probing tongue. Her arms were wrapped around his neck and that freed up his hands to caress her breasts and run his mouth down to suck on the jewel sized nipples. He could feel her getting wetter and wetter and they played, their lower regions seeming to demand attention and yet being ignored.

"Bull, I don't know how much more of this I can take, I need something, I can feel him throbbing against me and I want..."

"What do you want baby, tell me what you want...should I suck your clit and lick up your hot come, should I finger your wet pussy and make you flood my fingers, tell me honey, I want to hear what you want from me."

"I don't know Bull, I've never felt the way I do right now, not even when you made me come this morning, and you did it without either of us being undressed. That's how I feel, I feel like I am on the edge of something and I don't know what it is..." 

He slipped his hand down between them and found her clit hard and her slit slick with juice. With little effort, he slid one finger up inside her and felt her shiver at the entrance, her muscles began to pull at him and his thumb started to caress her clit. "Oh Dani you are so hot right now, so wet and flowing. I feel like I could take you onto my cock and fuck you senseless."

Her words startled him. "Yes, do it Bull, please, I need your cock, I know you're worried about hurting me, but I don't care, I want you in me," Even as she spoke, he could feel her almost crawling up his body, lifting herself to impale her pussy on his full and extended pipe. "Please Bull, fuck me, fuck me now...Make me your woman completely, become my master and I'll be your slave."

He swallowed hard. What did he do? What if he hurt her, what if it was more than he could handle? This wasn't like the others, she was begging him, and her voice ate at both his mind and his heart. His demon was as confused as he felt and yet his body demanded that he give into her.

Suddenly the matter was beyond his control, he had no idea how she had done it, but he felt her warm at the very tip and then inch by inch slide down him like she was shimmying down a pole. When she reached the bottom, he heard her contented sigh. "Oh yes, so good so nice."

Looking at her, he saw her eyes were half closed a look of pure lust and contentment. He watched as she licked her lips and then looked at him with a told you so smile. "Dani...It, it doesn't hurt you does it?"

"Not unless you call little flicks of spark hitting me in all the right places hurt. I can feel you everywhere in me Bull, like you're growing inside me, and it feels as if he's searching me out somehow. Finding every little space, every little nook and cranny of me. Sue could have never taken you like this, I understand it all now, and you would have had to rip her apart to have it feel this way. Now I know why it was me you came to find..."

"Why do you say that honey, besides the fact that you have got me all the way to my balls in that hot, velvety tunnel you call a pussy."

"You needed me to be able to take it all, you needed a big girl like me to be able to take all you had to offer, not some skinny little bitch like Sue, or some of the others I am sure you've been with, tell me the truth, have you ever been with anyone like me before...?" She was running her hands up into his hair, her mouth moving over his neck and ear, her tone had lowered to a soft, sultry whisper and her breath was warm against his skin.

"No, but you already knew that, you're talking to my demon aren't you"

"Oh I'm more than talking to him Bull, my demon is riding him like a wild bitch in heat, and that's how I want to ride you, because with you I am a bitch in heat, I'm your bitch, I'm your she-cat, your alter ego, and once you start to fuck me, you'll see just how wild I can get." She nipped his ear, ran her tongue along the line of his chin, up to the corner of his mouth. "Look at your demon Bull, and tell me you don't want to be doing the same damn thing. Look at them and tell me you don't want to fuck me right now..."

He looked and he saw what she meant, they were fucking like two wild animals, and even as he watched, they changed positions, now the female was on her hands and knees, and he was plowing into her like a runaway freight train on a downhill run, with a growl, he pulled away and Dani squealed as he changed their position as well, she was on her back now, legs still wrapped around him but her arms were above her head, and he was beginning to pump in and out of her. "Is this what you want Dani, is this what you need bitch? Is my cock slamming in and out of you want you want...tell me; yell it so they can hear you all the way back to town."

"Yes, it's what I want, it's what I need, fuck me Bull, fuck me hard and fast and give me all that beautiful cock has to give me...!" She was screaming it to the sky and he felt the joy he had been looking for so long, but now was not the time to celebrate.

For the last 72 hours he had been watching and waiting and now they no longer had to hide, all he had to do was keep from her dad and brothers killing him and feeding his dismembered body to the puppies. He felt his balls begin to tighten, "no not this fast, not this quick...but it's been so damn long baby, and you feel so fucking good...I can't wait much longer..." Even as he spoke he felt her begin to come around him, and he let his come flow into her hot and deep. When he was drained, he could only lower his body onto hers and nuzzle her neck. "Oh yes, so nice, so sweet and good. It was so right Dani, did you feel that?"

She giggled. "Oh, I felt it, and you're right, it was all I could have ever hoped for."

He looked at her. "Are you my woman?"

"Forever and I hope you feel more like driving than I do, I'm so tired right now, I could sleep like this and not care a bit." She kissed his shoulder. "Hmm. Those demons you talk about they really do exist huh?"

He nodded as he mumbled yes. "And as you saw, they love to fuck..."

She spoke though half asleep. "Yes they do...I love you Bull..."

He didn't need to look to know she was asleep and he rolled off and away from here long enough to grab the other sleeping bag, throw it over them, and hang on to his awareness to pull her tight before following her into dream land.

Helen refilled Jack's cup and watched as he tried the cell phone again. "Still no answer?"

"No, keeps going to voice mail...you know what's happening don't you?"

She nodded. "That didn't take long, so what do you intend to do, should I go wake up the boys again and send them looking for her truck?" It was what she expected him to say, what came out of his mouth surprised her.

"No, we'll just let them come home in their own sweet time." He was resigned to having his little girl meet a man and finding him acceptable had given him her all. Well, at least he seemed to care about her as much as did him, and he also had to consider that of all the men around her, Bull was the most capable of protecting her from Nick and his brother. Why fight fate, since it seemed to be telling him to back off. "Let's go to bed, I'm tired and I am getting too damn old to be waiting up half the night for my kids to come home..."

"Does that mean..." Helen had to tease him. "You're too old for anything?"

She squealed as Jack pulled the same stunt on his wife that Bull had pulled on Dani, picking her up off the floor, he hoisted her over his shoulder and proceeded to carry her up the stairs. "Hell no, when I get that damn old, just have the boys dig a whole, and thrown me in. Now shut up woman and let's get upstairs, I need a good woman in my bed tonight and since I don't know anyone but you, I guess a bad one will have to do..."

Helen beat on his back, and cursed him all the way upstairs to their room.



Dani and the Bull Ch. 06



Granny Maylene's lesson on demons: She told this to Bull when his was first awakening and she sensed the inherent evil in it. "Demons are in us all boy, we are born with them, we will die with them, and the events and paths we follow in life determine the vision of life our demons show us. I see your demon causing pain and hurt, not to all, but to women, hurting and abusing them in ways not tolerable to this family. I don't know how this happened, the events are cloudy, but I also see a woman, a woman with amber colored eyes and hair like spun amber silk. She is your equal boy, you redemption. You need to go out and find her; she can control your demon and love you in the process. It will be a long lonely road, but one you must walk and walk alone, no one here can do it for you."

Bull reacted as anyone might, already in conflict with his father over a future career, he packed a bag that night and left the bayou, never knowing if he would return, or when.

Chapter 6

Dani woke to the feel of Bull running his mouth over her bare skin and she opened her eyes with a smile. The sun was up, almost directly overhead, but she didn't care what her dad or brothers might say to this one. What was on her mind was how Bull's hands were caressing her skin, and his mouth...oh what his mouth was doing to her skin as he worked at her breasts and his tongue flicking her nipples to tease and stimulate them.

"Hmm, what a way to wake up, am I late for class teach?"

Bull chuckled, "Right on time...how you feel this morning sweetheart?"

She watched as he moved up to claim her mouth and just before he kissed her, she answered. "Never better in my life, never fucking better."

The kisses were enough to wake both her mind and her body up, she let Bull take the lead this time and it wasn't long before he was moving in and out of her at a slow, almost painful pace. No matter how hard she tried to make him speed up he only looked down at her and shook his head, and smiled that wonderful smile. Was he trying to torture her for what had happened last night? If so, she was more than punished, she wanted to scream, to claw, to beg from him what she wanted. No, not wanted, this went beyond want, she needed it, now that she had tasted the forbidden fruit, she needed it the way a junkie needed his drugs, or an alcoholic needed his booze.

And like a junkie, she was going into withdrawal, how he done this to her so fast, they had fallen asleep after they had finished last night, but this morning she was ready for it again. Finally she could stand no more. "Oh my fucking gods, fuck me Bull, shove that tree limb in and out of me and make me come, make me explode around him before I go insane."

He answered with only his damn smile, and two words. "Make me..."

Something in her exploded, and Dani felt like she was standing off to the side as she watched her body fight him, her hands pushing at his chest, trying to make him get off her, knowing he would never give her what she wanted unless she fought for it. Fine she would fight, she would take over and she would drain him before she was done. Her fingernails raked at his chest, his shoulders as her hips worked back away from him. Her legs began to kick, to push at him, even her voice was more like that of an animal then a human. Her father had fought her to fight, he had never taught her what to do against an immoveable object, and Bull was just that.

One hand went up and her fingernails raked his cheek, digging in so deep she drew blood, and all went still. Bull drew back in pain and she waited for him to retaliate, she would deserve it, she knew that. Instead, he crushed his mouth to hers and began to pump in and out as if she had stuck a cattle prod up his ass. His growl was intense, "Fine you want it that bad bitch, I will give it to you, stop kicking me and wrap your legs around me, because there is no way you will be able to keep up..."

It was truth, but she didn't care, the pain he gave her was exquisite, and when she sank her nails in his back, it was from pleasure; over and over her body convulsed with one delicious comes after another. "Fuck me Bull, please never stop, give me pain, give me pleasure, and give me all you have to give and never fucking stop...!" 

"I won't, I never will, my god Dani, you make me crazy, you make me want to stay inside you and never stop." He crushed her mouth with his again and this time they both tasted blood as his teeth raked her lips and like a vampire, Bull sucked at it with greed. Dani felt herself building up for what felt like a total explosion in her body and when it came, she felt Bull begin to shoot over and over. Lying together in each other's arms after it was over, she hated it when Bull pushed a section of hair off her face, and sighed. "I think we should go face the music Dani, for all I know, I don't have a place to stay anymore after this..."

"Then we'll go to Louisiana, and live in sin...grandma and aunt Jessie would take us in."

He looked at her in surprise, "Would you really do that for me Dani, would you really leave your family behind and run off with me?"

"Why do you look so surprised? Bull, the first things I got taught about were love and loyalty. Yes family is important, but when you fall in love with some and they have your heart, then family becomes second to the person you love, my folks haven't seen Jericho in over five years, they miss him, every time he calls I can hear how much mom and dad want him and Marie to come home. They have grandchildren they have never seen except in pictures..."

"Dani, I'm asking do you love me that much."

That made her frown, "No, I am just lying here naked in your arms because I like how much you fuck me so well...jeez, men are so dense. I'm not Sue; I don't open my legs all the time. And believe me, the only reason I even let you touch me in the first fucking place was because I fell in love with you the night I saw you under my window. I was glad as hell Sue hadn't been able to satisfy you, and for once in my life, I was willing, no I wanted her left over."

Bull stroked her face. "I was never Sue's leftover Dani, I was simply a bite she thought she wanted, but I turned out to be too big for her to eat. I've been yours since I got here, and I've just been waiting until I could have you..."

His kiss was gentle and she touched the scratches on his face. "I'm sorry if it hurt Bull..."

"Don't be. Tell the truth I hope it scars, that way I will always have a mark telling the world who I belong to..."

They dressed slowly, and for a minute, Dani just stood beside her truck, letting the sun shine down on her. She wasn't sure what had happened to her or how she had changed so much in such a short time. Her life it seemed had undergone so many changes that she just wanted it all to stop for a moment so she could take a deep breath. Was this what being in love felt like? She was in love with him, how could she be otherwise? He was everything her heart told her she had ever looked for in a man, and she hadn't lied to him, if something happened once they went back to her house, she would run off with him to New Orleans, and her grandmother's house. As it was the time was getting close for Bull to go home anyway...

A feeling of the world spinning around her made her grip the side of the truck and Bull looked at her in concern. "Are you okay baby?"

She nodded, but not sure if she was or not. Where had that thought come from, and why had it hit her like a bolt out of the sky? Was she getting like Bull, seeing visions and foreseeing the future? All she knew for sure was that for the briefest instance she had known that it was true, Bull would have to home, not because he wanted to, but because he would have no choice and she would be right by his side. A storm was coming, one they would have to face together, and it would take all their love and the love of their families to weather it.

"Bull, you need to drive; I'm not feeling so good..." She felt that sick feeling again, and the spinning of her mind was making her disoriented. As he came to help her in, she looked at him, and clung to him for what seemed like a single heartbeat. "Bull, are vision contagious?" The question came out before she could even think of why she was asking.

"Why, are you having one?" He sounded genuinely concerned.

"I'm not sure; this voodoo stuff is all new to me." She smiled despite how she felt inside. "Maybe it's just the feeling of that love making we've shared that is making me feel a little dizzy and like the world is out of control..."

"From what I hear, that is how love makes you feel Dani, since I never been in love until now, I have no way to know for sure." His voice turned soft and tender as he bent to give her a kiss on her forehead. "This is love you know, it's not lust, it's not visions or voodoo or anything but love. It's what I've felt for you since you first invaded my dreams and it's what will bond us together for the rest of our lives."

As if Mother Nature was telling them that it was time to go home, a dark cloud passed between them and the sun and a chilled wind came flowing down over them. Taking one last look at the spot she had called hers since she had found it, Dani looked at Bull. "We won't be coming back here for a long time will we Bull?"

He nodded. "No, we won't." He sounded as sure as she felt and they parted long enough to get in the truck and begin the drive back to town and their fate.

The thunderstorm was in full force by the time they reached the house she had grown up in. It didn't keep what seemed like her entire family from waiting for them on the porch, and the stance of her dad and brothers would have terrified her if she hadn't been with Bull, instead, she felt strong enough to face them head on.

When Bull would have edged her forward, she shook her head and stood in the rain at the bottom of the porch steps. Her gaze met her father's and her voice barely quivered with the emotions she felt. "Don't make me choose daddy, I love you all, but I belong with him and you can never change that."

Bull voiced his own feelings in the manner as well. "I love her Jack, and I know you all do too, but we both know in the end she's right, we belong together, and you and the boys can come down here and kick my ass all the way back to the Bayou's but you better know, if you do, she'll be right along side of me. I won't let you or anyone else keep us apart."

To both their surprise, Jack relaxed. "Well then, I suggest both of you get your asses out of the rain and inside where it's dry. As for you Bull, you better plan on getting up early tomorrow, since like I told you, you can work at the shop with me and the boys. I ain't supporting no damn unemployed son." He looked at them both point blank, "plus that way I know you won't be lying up in her bed all day making me a grandchild I'm sure neither of you are ready for."

Dani looked at her father and then at her mom. Both she and Kate were smiling and their eyes were dancing with amusement. "Well, come on Dani, and you too Bull, you both need hot showers and dry clothes and we will discuss where the hell you been for the last twelve plus hours. I won't ask what you been doing because I can tell from all those love bites and scratches. Bull, your cheek looks like it could use some cleaning up."

He reached up and touched her claw marks, "Yes ma'am, a little wildcat showed me her claws in more ways than one."

Dani came out of the bathroom toweling her hair and found both her mom and Kate waiting for her in the bedroom she had used since leaving her crib. "Am I going to get a lecture mom?"

Helen smiled. "Hell no, this is just some girl time, Bull is down with Jack and the guys talking about what needs to be done at the shop and it's boring. Kate and I have more interesting things to talk about, like if he treated you right and make you feel all the things you should have felt. You know the facts of life, I am not about to let you fall in love with a man though who can't satisfy his woman."

"Oh I don't think you have to worry about that Helen, look at the sparkle in her eyes just thinking about it. Though I do have my doubts about some of those bruises, likes it rough does he?" Kate took on a fake Irish tone.

A small giggle escaped Dani, and she nodded. "How do you think he got those scratches? Well, what the hell was I suppose to do, he was going so slow, and I was going crazy and then he just looked at me and said, Make me, so I did." Her body began to warm as she remembered. "I never thought I could meet a man who makes me so hot and so out of control as Bull does. The more we're together the more I want him and...and I can't begin to describe all the ways he makes me feel."

"Yeah, you're in love all right, what is it Helen about the men in this family, from the day a woman meets them she knows right then and there it's him she wants and no other one. Though in this case it's the female who knew what she wanted."

Dani looked at her mom, waiting for her answer. "I don't know, but to be honest, I was surprised how it turned out. I guess I understand how your dad felt Dani, when Bull first got here, you didn't seem to be all that interested, and then him and Sue..."

"We talked mom, that day at the lake, and afterwards, when we got stuck. I can't explain why the sudden shift really, unless it has to do with this..." Going to her desk, she reached in the drawer and pulled out the drawing Bull had showed her, he had given it to her during the day of her birthday and told her about the others that he had. Now she handed it to her mom. "This is what told me that something special was going on..."

She watched and waited for both Kate and her mother's reaction to the sketch. It was Kate that spoke first. "That's you, he's got great talent, did he do it at the lake?"

"No, he did it while he was in prison down in Georgia...look at the date where he signed it."

Kate and her mother both gasped. Her mother looked pale. "Dani, this was done four years ago, and what do you mean he was in prison, for what?"

Before she could answer, there was a knock on the door and when it opened, it was Bull with Rose Jr. "The shed is flooded. Dave thought you might want her up here with you..." He looked at her mom and Kate. "You might as well tell them Dani; I got a feeling that if there is any more trouble with Nick, it's all going to come out anyway. Sheriff Sheridan knows, he just doesn't know what for."

Walking up to him, Dani rested her head against his chest. He smelled fresh and clean and his body was hard and warm beside her. "Bull, I told you, it doesn't matter to me, and I still doubt that you're what you say and think you are."

He stroked her face, "You don't know how much I hope you're right and that your faith in me never wavers Dani...I been alone a long time, and if I didn't have you..."

"It won't, now let me and mom and Kate talk, if that feeling I had earlier is right we're going to need all the support we can get. Go get used to the new family in your life love..."

Bull went, knowing that what she was about to tell her mom and sister could change all their feelings about him in a heartbeat. Downstairs he watched as Jack and Mike talked about a car Mike had found down in California, and Tom was on the phone talking to Sue. Zach and Dave were playing cards and he decided to go out and get some air. The main storm had passed now, but it was still raining and he looked up at the sky turning to night. When he had first started dreaming about Dani, he had never really expected to meet her; to him the dreams had been just fantasy. Now, that he knew for real that she existed, that she was a flesh and blood woman, he had no idea what to do next. 

He lit a cigarette and thought what Jack has said about giving him a job and not letting him lay around in her bed making a baby; it was too late to worry about it. The baby had been there since the first time he had filled her with his seed. He knew better, knew he should have used some sort of protection, he was no high school punk out on his first date, getting his first piece of ass. But how could a man think about things like that when all he felt was a velvet tunnel surrounding him and a warm and willing woman holding him close and begging him for more. He couldn't think when they were joined; his entire being was wrapped up in the raw emotions and sensations of their bodies together. What sane man could withdraw from such heaven long enough to pull on latex then go back as nothing had happened.

He knew Dani hadn't thought about it, she was still feeling the first flush of being with a man, of knowing what her body could feel and was capable of.

"You know Bull, you got to keep you mind off Dani sometimes. Otherwise you're going to be walking around with a boner all the time." Mike chuckled as he walked up beside him. "Not that I don't understand, man finds a woman he loves, then that is all he has his mind on. Me and Kate, we been together for seven years now, people say that's when a man's mind starts to wander in other directions. Not me, I look at another woman, all I see is Kate, her smile, her laugh, her body under mine, moaning and groaning. Dad's been the same way since he met mom, only once in his life has he slipped and that was when they had a big blow up back when it meant them going to New Orleans for my grandpa's funeral. Dad didn't want to go back, said he would mourn the old man in his own way. And when we left to come home, he told mom that if would be over his dead body before he ever stepped foot in that house again. He never has either."

Bull nodded. "Dani told me about that, about your grandma and Aunt Jessie. She was thinking about going down this summer to visit them."

"That doesn't surprise me, Dani loves those two old ladies, when she was little she was always saying she wanted to be a grand lady like grandma Claire or a teacher like Aunt Jessie. She tell you the family scandal?"

"About your grandma and aunt being lesbians, and about your grandpa, yeah she told me."

"Well, what she didn't tell you, because she wouldn't know, is that dad and our uncle Jake are the product of all three of them. Grandma Claire supplied the eggs, Grandpa Charles supplied the sperm, and Aunt Jessie carried the two boys to term. The doctor told Grandma Claire that it would kill her if she ever got pregnant, and grandpa needed an heir, so they did it the only way they knew of to do it. We used to tease dad that he and Uncle Jake were the product of a virgin birth."

"Well, I might have been but it sure as hell doesn't mean I'm the Christ child, and though I will admit your uncle is a prime candidate for the anti-Christ, I can't see either of us being holy. So Bull, which bedroom are you two going to occupy? Dani's room is bigger, but I'm thinking that bed in Jericho's would give you both more room."

Bull looked at Jack. "I thought you didn't want us..."

The older man smiled. "Helen brought up the point that it was a little foolish to go and say you can't sleep together because that would be like telling me and Helen or Mike and Kate that we have to have separate bedrooms. I admit I'm not too happy you two getting so involved in sex and each other so fast, but there again, I never been a hypocrite, and for me to be like some fathers, well that would make me the biggest one of all. I slept with Helen the first night I met her and I know that it was the greatest experience either of us had ever known. But let me tell you, I find out you treat her wrong, or you mess around on her, well we'll be talking again, and you won't like the conversation."

No, he wouldn't, and Bull looked Jack in the eye as he responded. "Jack, you ever find out I been cheating on her, or treating her like a damn punching bag, and you got my permission to beat me to an inch of my life, I won't even fight back."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 06



"Good, we understand each other. I trust you with my little girl Bull, I don't think I have anything to worry about, but I wanted to make myself clear."

It was just what any father would do, and once the understanding existed, it seemed that a lot of tension was lifted. It was Mike who suggested they go check out the bed in Jericho's old room and talk to Dani about which one she wanted to sleep in. An hour later, they were dismantling both beds and switching them while Helen, Katie and Dani went to make dinner.

When Bull crawled into bed later that night, he looked at Dani and saw her smile up at him. Rose was on a rug at the foot of the bed, and it was clear she had made herself at home. A dish of food, and one of water as well as a padding of news paper to absorb any night time accidents claimed the corner as her own.

"You think she will stay there all night?" He had his doubts, the pup was already eyeing the bigger bed and judging if she could jump or would need assistance.

"Well, that's up to her, I won't push her off if she comes up here, but I won't help her either. You know, I am glad the suggestion was made to switch the beds around, this one doesn't squeak like mine did, and it's so heavy, that there's less chance of it bouncing around."

Bull grinned. "And here I thought you were more concerned about my comfort and being able to get a good night's sleep."

"Oh, I am, but still there are advantages to what I mentioned too. Now are you going to just stand there, or are you going to come to bed, and help me get a good night's sleep too." When he started to climb in still wearing his shorts, she shook her head. "Not in those shorts big man, this bed is a official nude bed, and clothes are not optional. I want to feel you next to me, if not in me sometime during the night."

His grin turned to a full smile. "I think I created a monster. Dani you can't live for sex alone, even if it is hot, sweaty, and the most enjoyable experience around."

She gave a snort, "tell me that when your gorgeous piece of wood doesn't rise like it is now when you're looking down at me."

Reaching down he gripped the limb and began to stroke it slowly. "Dani, sweet love, the day this thing stop rising for you, is the day you better bury me six feet under. Now how do you want it? Your lips look extremely hungry, but he's leaning more toward that hot little pussy you got, so which will it be?"

He watched as she moved to her hands and knees and presented her wiggling ass to him. "You call me your wild cat, then make like a tom and let's make kittens."

Moving closer, he ran his fingers down into her soft slit and found her wet and ready. Running the tip of one finger around her little clit, it hardened and more fluid escaped. Her ass began to wiggle more and he smiled as he teased her even more with his thumb in her hole. He knew too that he should be wearing a coat of latex but that inviting pussy was starting to cloud his brain as always. Running the head of his cock up and down her ass crack made a part of him wished he was half his size then he could know the feel of all her holes, but he couldn't do that to Dani, and considering he had gotten into her pussy faster than he had expected, he couldn't be screwing this up.

She was getting close, and when he pulled his thumb out of her, he quickly replaced it with the head of his cock. More teasing and she moved to engulf him even more. If she kept it up, they would both be standing on the floor with her bent over the bed. Taking his hand from her clit, he wrapped his arm around her brought her right to the edge of the bed pushing into her as he did. Her feet hit the floor and he began to thrust in and out as she braced herself. At the same time he found her breasts and heard her moan as he began to squeeze and mold them to his fingers. He loved the sound of him moving in and out of her, how her pussy sucked at him as he withdrew and then he plunged in. Soon he moving back and forth harder and faster and her cries were getting louder. Suddenly, he felt her coming and she threw her head back in a silent scream. God, he had never met a woman like her, all the fucking they had done over the last few hours, and she still came and worked against him for more. He knew in time she might be sore, and he was sorry for that, but at the same time, could he deny such a hot woman like his Dani all the pleasure she deserved.

If she felt any soreness, she wasn't telling him, now she was whimpering, and begging him to fill her. A few more deep thrusts and she was getting her wish, he was emptying his balls and he knew that for tonight he was done. He needed sleep, he needed her body curled up next to him and tomorrow he would get up and go to work, which was probably why Jack had offered. He had guessed that once she tasted a man inside her, Dani would turn into a wild little nymph.

She was limp against him he withdrew with a long slurping sound. Picking her up in his arms, he laid her on the bed and moved her so he could lie down beside her. She snuggled up to him instantly and wrapped her arm around his chest. "Hmm, that was nice, you can think about it all day tomorrow while you're working..."

"And what will you be thinking of while I'm at work?"

"How nice it will be to soak in a nice warm tub. I think I'm actually sore now..."

Despite himself, Bull began to laugh, and pulled her even closer. "Goodnight my angel, it's late and we both need our sleep." He kissed her forehead and even before he reached her lips, she was sleeping peacefully.

Jack and Helen snuggled tight against each other and like the others in the house they slept deep and peacefully. For the first time in a long time, even the ghosts that wandered around in the night, protecting both the house and it's residents from outside evil were content to simply pass from room to room with little noise or effort, only the small puppies were disturbed by them but a gentle touch and soft whisper relaxed the small furry bodies. The spirits of family knew they should enjoy the peace and quiet while they could, the storm that Dani was beginning to sense was at rest for now, but sooner or later it would strike and they would need all their strength to weather it.



Dani and the Bull Ch. 07



Bull came awake and felt like he had just run a marathon around the prison track, his heart was pounding, his body hurt and he could barely catch his breath. She had been so beautiful sitting there in the sunshine. Behind her the crystal blue of the water, the sounds of happy voices and joy in the air. Her voice had been so soft; it had been like a musical note to his ears. They had been talking, that was all just talking but he had felt like he had known her all his life, and her eyes...The amber color had been almost liquid, and her hair, falling around her face so soft and silky looking. He had wanted to run his fingers through and just let it drift away on the breeze.

The light from the cellblock was enough to let him see what he needed to see and he sat up carefully to keep from bothering Red, his cellmate. Red was from his own part of the country and had become a good friend, though somehow he doubted the man would understand this. This was his own special time, and as his granny had predicted, she had come to him when he needed her most. Fingering the pencil he began to sketch, each line, each curve of her face, and when it was done, he looked at it and nodded. This was it, this was his Dani and he knew she would come to him again. Writing her name below the sketch and dating it, he knew too that this would not be the last time he filled a page, but it would be the one image he would carry with him all his life...

Chapter 7

Dani came awake and found Bull already up. From the sounds in the bathroom, he was showering before getting dressed and going to work. Moving gingerly off the bed, she saw Rose was waiting for her good morning and Dani moved even more gingerly to pet the pup and tickle the wet little nose. "I over did it girl, I hurt like hell and I don't want him to know, but I can't lie to him either. And it's not his fault or mine that every time I look at him all I can think of is how good he feels inside of me, and how much I love the feel of his body...well maybe it's mine, what do you think?"

A deep chuckle made her look up. "I was afraid of that hon; we have been going at it like two rabbits from the start."

She sighed. "I guess I should have known better..."

Bull shook his head, "No, I should have known when to call a halt to it. But I'm like you, I love being inside you and I love how you feel. So we're both to blame. Take it easy today, soak in a warm tub, and we'll just work it out..." He drew her up to him and hugged her tight.

She nodded and went into the bathroom. For now she would just stagger downstairs, have some breakfast with the guys and then come back up and take his advice, she had some questions for him this morning anyway, the dreams she had had last night had been too vivid and not her usual.

It was funny to see her brothers up so early, and it was strange to see that none of them were complaining or griping about it. Actually they all seemed in decent moods, like everyone had known a really good night. She had slept well, just the dreams, and as she took a drink of her coffee she knew she had to ask. "Bull, what's the Massie Love?

He had gone pale and his fork clattered to the plate. "It's the name of my dad's fishing boat. It was named after my mother. How...?"

"I dreamed about it, it's big and white, but there are bright blue lines that look like water that go up and down in the front, and around the entire boat like waves right?"

"Yes, you dreamed about my daddy's boat, what else did you dream?"

It didn't feel as strange to her to describe the huge house and all the people she had seen in her dream knowing that it was real. "It was like they all knew me, everyone was smiling at me and all the little ones kept running up and rubbing my tummy and running off laughing. And this old man with crooked teeth was talking to me in French but I understood everything he said. Something about how lucky the baby would be and that it was almost time for you to come home..."

Bull looked at her and as her family watched in surprise, he laid his hand on her stomach. Closing his eyes, he seemed to be talking to someone. "I thought as much, sorry Jack, it wouldn't matter if I worked or not, she's already pregnant."

Dani had to smile when she saw him open his eyes. "It's a boy or girl?"

"Are you angry?"

She shook her head. "It isn't from lack of trying and we have been careless. So is it a boy or a girl?"

He grinned. "A boy of course, Pierre Jackson Marquaille, not much more than a spark right now, but he's aware of us. He says that you're right, it is almost time; but there is no hurry, the family is waiting patiently."

Dani knew from the looks on the faces around them her family thought it was all a joke, a joke from what her dad had said yesterday. But she knew better, and she looked at her mother, then at Kate, they knew better, and she smiled as she ran her hands over her stomach. She should be upset, should be crying or feeling like a fool for not thinking about protection or the chance of it happening. Instead she felt filled with a joy that was only matched by the feelings she had for Bull.

Only one question remained to be asked. "Dad, when did you and mom meet Bull's mom and dad? Was it while Grandpa was still alive?"

Her dad nodded. "If that boat and the name Pierre are right, then it would have been when your mom and I were there while she was pregnant with Mike. Jericho would have been about two. Your grandparents and Aunt Jessie had wanted us to come down since I called and told them I was married, but I kept putting it off, finally your mother told me we were going and that was it. She understood why I had no desire to go back, but felt it wasn't fair to them not to meet her or Jericho. So I gave in and while we were there, we went out on the Massie Love for the day, I never did know just when the folks had met them, but it seemed like dad and mom knew the whole family very well. Helen, do we still have those pictures we took, seems as I remember there being a couple of me and Pierre and one of all of us together on the dock."

Dani watched her mother go to the book case and come back with a photo album. She sat back down and opened it up, scanning the pages and finally stopping. "Here they are, see Jack, there you are, you and your big catch of the day..."

Her dad was holding a pole that was taller than he was and in the other hand a fish about the size of a pencil, except it wasn't even a fish. Bull was the one who laughed as he identified it. "How the hell did you catch a shrimp on a hook Jack...?"

"Hell if I know, from the way that thing fought I was sure I was tied into something huge, but then I reeled it in and there it was, and see, here is me and I guess it's your dad Bull. That Pierre was something else, he had some fine tasting moonshine, I know that. Said his father made it back in the swamps, and there was something special about it. Course after a couple shots I don't remember too much about it. Seems they had a daughter and a son and your mother was pregnant again. She was a handsome woman your mother, I remember thinking how Helen and her were so much alike yet so different."

The difference became obvious when they saw the picture of a group of people standing on the dock. There was no missing Bull's father, or the proud, stately woman with the rich dark skin and bright shining eyes that was his mother. Bull pointed at the two children in the front row, "that would be Bella, the oldest and Jorge. I'd say she was pregnant with Susanna in this picture; I would have been next in line, then Morgana and Lucan. Andre was the youngest boy and Marie the youngest girl." His finger moved to the little boy standing next to his brother. "This must be Jericho..."

Jack nodded, and then pointed out his parents. "My dad, mom and that giant lady standing in back of them is Aunt Jessie." He grinned. "You may be big Bull, but even Aunt Jessie would tower over you. Funny thing is, she is one of the gentlest people you ever want to meet, hands as soft as silk and a voice so dainty and gentle that you swear her and my momma were switching voices. I remember the first time she saw Dani, she actually acted afraid to pick her up. Dani wasn't afraid of her though went right up to her and held her arms out like she knew Aunt Jessie would be a push over for a little girl like her, and she was. Of course she was the apple of my folks eyes as well, not that they didn't love the boys too, but Dani, she was something special and everyone knew it. Even that snake in the grass brother of mine was taken by her."

Dani saw her mom smile, "not that Jack ever let him be alone with her the whole time they were visiting."

"Hell no, I knew he wasn't to be trusted, he never was. Well, with any luck, that man has crawled back into the swamp and been eaten by an alligator. Feel sorry for the poor thing though, probably died from indigestion if that was the case."

Looking at Bull, Dani knew he was thinking about his family. He had been a long time gone and seeing these old photos must be bringing back a lot of memories. She touched his arm and he smiled at her. "I'm okay love, just thinking...those would have been better times. Seems like when I came along things took a turn for the worse for a while, I used to think I was born under a bad star."

"No, you were just waiting for me to come along and make things better."

"I guess you're right. Lord knows it took me long enough to find you." Reaching out, he touched her face. "There've been times I wondered if I ever would."

Her brother Dave's voice sounded disbelieving. "Damn, I have got be stoned and not even been smoking anything. Am I crazy or are the two of them actually glowing?"

Dani heard her mother's response. "That Dave is what Love can do."

Dave chuckled. "Well hell, I got to find me some of that."

Dani didn't believe she was actually glowing, and Bull either, it was just the feelings they shared coming out for the entire world to see. It wasn't until all the men had left for town that Kate looked at her as she fed Pigpen. "He wasn't kidding Dani, you and Bull, there was like a glow around the two of you, it might have been a trick of the light or something, but I've never seen anything like it before."

Her mom shook her head. "I've seen it before, a couple of times. One was with Bull's mom and dad. His grandma told me it's the glow of two perfectly matched hearts working as one. She said Jack and I had it too. You know Dani, I never expected you to find it so fast, before that day Jack rode into town I never thought I would find it myself."

That surprised Dani. "With all the guys you had at your feet mom? That surprises me..."

"Well, it's true. Yeah, I dated a lot of the guys in town, but none of them made me feel a tenth of what your father did just looking into his eyes. I felt like he was looking right down into my soul and I could look down into his...and it wasn't just the sexual reaction that hit me so hard. Oh I admit I understand perfectly how you and Bull can be so hungry for each other but with your dad and me, it was more. It was a feeling of possession, like he owned me and I owned him."

"I feel that way about Bull, like I've been waiting for him for my entire life and I never knew it until that day at the lake. I know some might wonder about me, forgiving him about him and Sue, but I understand that he was in need and she was there for him. Not that she did him a lot of good." Dani couldn't keep the smugness from her voice or her smile.

Her mom smiled. "I wondered if he had been honest enough to tell you about that. Must say he just went up a notch in my book if he was. She is one of your best friends and it did bother me that he would go from her to you so fast. Of course her mother was the same way, most of the boys in town if they wanted anything all they had to do was call, and Janice was right there to take care of them, surprised hell out of me and the whole town when she married Rex. Him being a preacher and all, but then I've heard of stranger things. And he was a good looking man in his day. Now Sylvie, we knew the minute she met Arthur, or Artie as he was known back then, that they were destined for each other. And he was a big help when all the hell went down with what happened that night of the picnic, but still..." Her mother stopped as she thought she might have said too much. Looking at Pigpen and Andi, she smiled and looked at Katie. "I'll go take these two in and get them washed up; you two sit here and finish your coffee. Dani, what Bull said about a baby, he wasn't joking was he; he really does think you're already pregnant doesn't he?"

She nodded. "I think he does mom, and to be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if I am. I'm not sorry if I am. I might have been happy if it had waited, but sometimes things happen and you can't go back and change them."

"No, you can't no matter how much you might like them to be different...well if he is right, we won't have to waste a bunch of money buying things for a little girl at least. And I think your dad will like having another grandson. Not that he doesn't love Andi to pieces but men are strange that way they want all boys, but when a little girl comes along, well it's a whole new ball game."

Bull pulled the oil pan off the old truck and watched as the black liquid emptied out. He had been working hard all day and was looking forward to getting off and going home. Not that he was the only one, everyone had been busting ass to get the backlog of cars, trucks and motorcycles out of the way. Even Mike was pitching in and Jack was cursing up a blue streak as he looked at the calendar for the next week. "This happens every damn time I take some time off. You'd think this was the only repair place in town. Half these people only go to Max because I tell 'em to."

Mike grinned. "Face it dad, you do too good of work, and Max is getting too old to be handling that shop by himself. It would be different if one of the boys had stuck around to help."

"Well, he may be getting old, but he can still handle a tune up better than anyone I know, he doesn't need all that fancy equipment to tell you what's wrong with your timing or if a spark plug is misfiring. And give the old man credit, those boys of his may have left town, but they came back with degrees out the ass and he paid for every damn dime of their education himself. Besides where the hell would this town be if Rodney hadn't gone to medical school and got himself a M.D. after his name when Doc Roberts wanted to retire, this town would have been in a fix, and Stew is one of the best Vets in town. And his wife is one hell of a midwife." He looked at Bull, and Bull knew he was thinking about what had been said this morning. "A grandson huh, I should kick your ass for not taking the time to put on a rubber, but then Helen wanted to put her on the pill back a couple years ago and I told her no. No need to make it seem like we didn't trust her or think she might get like Sue."

Tom growled. "I wish everyone would stop talking about Sue that way, so she likes sex, if it doesn't bother me, why should anyone else care... Hell, I don't give a fuck how many men she's been with, she knows that now she's mine, and that's it. She quits being a she cat and I stop being a tom."

Bull grinned. It was still funny to him how fast Tom and Sue had hit it off. It seemed like since the night of the birthday party they had been as inseparable as him and Dani, Zach and Annie were just as bad. Well it wasn't a bad thing, Dani was happy for her friends, and seeing her brothers treating the girls' right was a plus. As for him and Sue, they had reached an understanding that night too, what was past was past, and that was all that needed to be said.

They were just closing up when a familiar truck pulled up outside the bay doors. The last thing Bull needed to see right now was Nick Jensen and his brother. Jack tensed beside him and the boys did as well. "What brings you around here Nick; you aren't welcome here after what happened at the mini mart."

Nick frowned. "They tell you this big man tried to kill me, you better think twice about him being around Dani, man that size with a temper like he's got."

"He was protecting my daughter, that's all I care about. And what the hell was Jessie doing keeping Zach from helping his sister? I admit, I've opened my eyes to what you are Nick and I don't like what I see. Helen tried to warn me, I should have listened to her from the start."

Nick's voice turned into a snarl, "So it's like that, let your wife turn you into some pussy whipped weakling. I thought you were a stronger man Jack, knew how to keep your women in line. Guess I was wrong." He turned his glare to Bull. "As for you big man, watch your back, sooner or later I will be behind you and when I do, you'll go down like a twig under my boot. Mean time you take care of my pretty little Dani...I can smell her on you and when I get to her, I will be more than happy to give her the fucking of her life. Hell, maybe I will even let you watch her moan and groan..." He took a drink of his beer and flung the bottle at the plate glass window of the shop. As it shattered, it took all of them to hold Jack back. "Oh, and don't bother calling the Sheriff, he's out of town for a few days, and by the time he comes back, me and Jessie will be long gone." 

As they started to pull away, Nick looked back at them. "Oh, and you all might want to leave one or two of your boys at home, not a good idea leaving those pretty women all alone in the day time with those two precious little ones." Another bottle appeared and his laughter rang in their ears as Jessie gunned the engine of the truck and Bull watched as they drove off. Jack was visibly shaken and Mike was clenching and unclenching his fists. He could feel the anger rising from all of them and he knew they had to be distracted; this was what Nick wanted, for one of them to do something foolish.

Despite his own feeling, he tried to keep his voice even. "Jack we need to do something about the window. Zach and Mike can head for home; keep an eye on Helen, Dani and Kate. He wants us disorganized and angry..."

He was right and Jack knew it. "Well, he's got us good and angry, as for disorganized, you're right; we need to keep cool heads. Zach you and Mike do as Bull suggested, Tom, Dave and Bull will help me with the window."

It was clear that none of them were happy with just passing up a chance to go get some payback, but Bull knew now was not the time, so did Jack, even if his face held all the rage and anger he felt. He was feeling just that way too, he had wanted to pull Nick out of that truck and smash the man's face into the pavement, but he knew that all it would accomplish was trouble for all of them. No better to wait and let it be the right time, as it was he knew that when the final showdown came, it would not be here in Elton, it would be on his and Jack's home turf, and he would seriously feed Nick and his brother to the alligators personally.

He also knew it was time to swallow his pride and call home, he needed advice and there was one person he respected enough to ask for it.

Somehow he wasn't surprised when it was his daddy that answered the phone after they had eaten dinner and he had told Dani what he was planning on doing. "About time you called son, your mom and momma Maylene been asking all day what was taking you so long."

"More visions dad?" He chuckled at the sound of his family in the background. "Is everyone still awake?"

"Of course, it has been a long time since any of us heard your voice, or saw you. I should come there and beat you as I used to for running off, but I understand why you did it and I only wish you had come to me before you did such a thing."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 07



"I was scared; I didn't know you would react to hearing what Granny had told me."

"We would have worked it out together son, helped you through it. But then it was not just the demon who made you leave, you had to find your other half did you not?"

Bull looked at Dani, "oh yeah Dad, wait till you all meet her, I know you're going to love her as much as I do..."

"Of course we will. You know she invaded the dreams of all of us the other night, but I think it was more of momma Maylene's magic at work, she is a pretty little thing, all that amber colored hair and those eyes, she is the blood of our old friend Charlie Lazarus is she not?"

"His granddaughter, her dad is Jack Lazarus; I understand you two met a time or two."

"Oui, I remember Jack. He has a wife named Helen, but that was before you were born, and they had only one son, a boy named Jericho if I remember right. But that was a long time ago, and once Charles died, he didn't come back. Claire and Jessie have not visited in quite some time either. Perhaps when you come back, you will stop and visit them in New Orleans."

"Dani was thinking about going to visit them later in the summer. She was only there once, right after her grandfather died."

"Yes, I remember the funeral, you were gone by then, but you do know that you and Dani have met before do you not?"

That surprised Bull. "No, when did we meet?"

"When she was just a baby, not more than one or two, Charles was very ill and they came to see him. We were invited up to visit as well, and you kept looking at her. When we asked you why, you simply shrugged and ignored the question. I think even then you knew that somehow your lives would intermingle. The hour is late son, and I know your momma and momma Maylene wish to talk to you. But you will call again soon I hope. It has been too long..."

"I will dad...I promise."

The reason for his calling was put on hold as he talked to his mother and grandmother and when he was finally able to hang up, he looked at Dani. "Dad said you and I met before this, when your family came to visit before your grandpa died, they were at the house in New Orleans as well."

Helen smiled. "I remember that, but that couldn't have been you Bull, you were so shy and quiet, and you simply spent all your time looking at Dani, as if you had never seen a baby before."

He shrugged. "To be honest, I don't remember. If Dani was a baby, I would have been about ten or eleven so I would have been more interested in the yard and being in town then why I was so fascinated with her."

Mike grinned. "I think I know why, it had something to do with your younger brother, he told grandma that when he grew up he was going to marry the baby, and I remember something being said by one of the other ladies that no, she was intended for someone else so he couldn't marry her. I think you looked over at her and asked who she was intended for and the lady said her future was too cloudy to tell..."

Jack nodded. "Lord, I had forgotten all about that. We were all so upset that dad was dying and there wasn't all the things there are now to help him. Helen, when we went to the funeral, wasn't Pierre and Massie there too? And their one son kept looking over at Dani with this big grin and all?"

Dani's mom nodded. "Now that you mention it, I think there was a boy who kept on doing that. I know I remember her coming and she was crying because he had kissed her out by the big tire swing in the back yard, and she hadn't liked it..."

Bull looked at Dani. "I don't suppose you remember which brother it was..."

She closed her eyes and it was clear she was trying to remember. "Okay, you're twenty eight, so you would have been ten when I was born, so five years later...well that lets you out. Which one of your brothers would have been closest to me in age?"

Bull didn't have to think very hard. "Andre. The little pain the ass...he would have done something like that. He's only 21 now. Remind me to kick his ass when I see him again, taking advantage of my girl..." He grinned. "Not that I need an excuse, he always was a pain."

"Maybe, but think of my honor Bull..." She teased him as she looked at him. "He tried to take advantage of your woman at a very young age."

Chuckling, he pulled her up onto his lap. "So he did, I will definitely have to kick his ass and tell him he does not touch other people's toys." Bending his head, he kissed her softly. "And a very nice, soft toy you are too. One I have to be extra careful not to break."

She snuggled down in his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. "Breaking me is not the problem, wearing me out is possible, but not breaking..."

Jack grinned and shook his head. No, Bull would never break his daughter. He might love her to death, but never hurt her intentionally. How had he ever thought the things he had thought about the big man holding his daughter so gently? They were perfect together. Looking at Helen, he knew that his wife had known all along this was how it was suppose to be. She had been right, only a man who was the equal of Dani's father and brothers could have won her heart so fast. Jack felt a little ashamed to admit that Bull was not only his equal, in many ways, he was his better. Bull had protected his daughter from Nick from the minute he had met her and he would do all he could in his power to protect her in the future.

Bull was right about a lot of things, the one being that the family had to have a plan to protect not only Dani, but his precious Helen and Katie from Nick and his brother while they were at work. Pigpen and Andi had been sent to stay with their other grandparents for the duration of the visit, and while Jack had seen no reason for it, at the insistence of Helen, both Sue and Annie had been warned to watch out for Nick and Jessie as well. He knew that sometime in the past there had been trouble between Nick and Helen and her two friends, Sylvie Belton and Janice West, but she had been reluctant to talk about it and he had never pushed. Now he regretted not knowing more than just the bare facts. Maybe it was time he talked to her and learned just what it was that made Helen so worried about Nick.

He looked at the clock and nodded to himself. "Bull, I want you and Mike to stay home tomorrow, I'm not saying anything is going to happen, but I want you to keep an eye out for any trouble, all you have to do is call and the rest of us will be home as soon as we can get here. I don't know if Nick was talking out the bottle today or not, but I don't want to take any chances."

Bull nodded and Dani looked at him as Jack started to stand up. "Don't worry dad, I'll know if he's within fifty feet of the place."

"And how will you know that...?"

"Every since the day he tried to kiss me, I've had like a warning bell inside me, it's worse when he's close to me, but I start to get sick and feel like I want to puke if he even steps foot on the property."

That surprised Jack, but he nodded. "Good, keep those warning systems alert Dani, and you let your brother or Bull know if it starts up. Mike, you know where I keep the key to the gun safe, they try anything, shoot to kill..." He heard a gasp from his wife. "Sorry Helen, you've tried to warn me in the past, and I ignored you, I won't make that mistake again." He looked at his family. "Okay, it's late, I am going to bed, Helen, and we need to talk, upstairs..."

The family knew that he had spoken and gradually everyone went to bed. Dani found she was curious about what her dad wanted to talk to her mom about. She might have thought it was just his way of telling his wife he was horny and for them to go make love, except she had seen the look in his eye, he had really wanted to talk.

Bull had seen it as well, and wondered if it had something to do with what the Sheriff had mentioned. Well, if it was important, he would hear about it, he was sure.

To Be Continued...

* 

Author Note: Thanks for the great response to Dani and the Bull, it was a little nerve racking when I first considered putting it on the site, but now I am glad I did, and please keep leaving the comments and voting on not only this, but the other stories I have on Literotica.

Peace

Darkstone57 



Dani and the Bull Ch. 08



Helen left the supermarket and headed for the car Jack had given her for their first anniversary. Jericho was kicking and she ran her hand over her stomach to calm him. She loved being pregnant so soon after getting married, and the fact that Jack was such a wonderful lover just made it all the better.

"Hello Helen, you're looking all pretty today..."

A wave of nausea crashed over her as she looked at the man who had recently been released from the mental hospital. He was more dangerous looking than ever and she felt a fear as he looked down at her swollen belly. "Leave me alone Nick, I don't want you coming near me, my husband..."

"I know all about your husband Helen and I could care less, you three, you screwed me up big time, and I just wanted to let you know, you three are going to pay. Not right now, I got other things to worry about, but remember this you little bitch; sooner or later I will get even..."

Helen ran to her car and behind her, he laughed in a way that sent chills through her. Chills that refused to go away until that night when Jack held her in his arms...





Chapter 8





Dani came awake and shivered. She felt chilled to the bone and once she was awake she knew it wasn't the actually the room temperature that had made her feel this way, if anything the air was stifling in the room. A heat wave had moved in the last week, and everyone was doing all they could to keep cool. Every window in the house was open trying to catch some hint of breeze, and her dad had ended up having an electrician come out to check the wiring when they kept blowing circuit breakers from all the fans running night and day. Now they were in the process of having all the electrical replaced and no one was very happy about it, least of all her folks.

It had been the nightmare that woke her, not a new experience, she had been having it since the day Nick Jensen had invaded her room and kissed her like she was some slut on the street. The dream always started out the same as that day had, but then it had changed, took on a darker life of its own, it was Nick, but he had changed, his breath was like the smell of something long dead, and his skin had scales like a lizard. His eyes had been filled with a bright red glow, and each place he touched her, he left a tail of slime and the smell of decay. What she had feared the most was his tongue, it wasn't human in the dream, it was like that of a snake, long and slithering down her throat, into her very body, as if it was searching for something. But then it wasn't just Nick, it was Jessie as well, his drug crazed eyes glowing just as red and he moved on her from behind, his lips and hands leaving behind the same slime and smell as his brother.

The first time she had been lucky to make it to her bathroom before she vomited all over the place, the dream had been so real that she had been sure she could feel the slime dripping down her skin, and she had spent almost an hour in the shower, under the hottest water she could stand trying to scrub it away. It was the same with her mouth; over and over she had brushed her teeth until her gums hurt and began to bleed.

Over time she had learned to control her reactions to the dreams, but tonight, tonight she had that same fear and feel of his slime all over her skin. As soon as she had reached the bathroom, she had stripped off the short gown she wore, turned on the light and looked at herself to make sure it wasn't there. Once that was done, she felt like she could breathe again and she flipped off the light so it wouldn't disturb Bull when she went back into their room.

Their room, not hers, not his, but theirs, she liked how that sounded. She understood now how her mother could look so contented each morning despite the way they lived; there was something special in having a man like her dad or her brothers in her life. A man with strong arms who could wrap them around her and make her feel safe and secure from the world outside. A man who touch her and feel as if each touch was a small blaze just waiting to erupt into a raging bonfire, and then put out the fire to both their satisfaction.

Not bothering to put the nightgown back on, she went back to their room and paused before the open window. A breeze was blowing and it felt good on her bare skin, off in the distance she could hear the thunder that the weatherman had been predicting, and flashes of light told her that the lightning was still several miles away. A big thunderstorm this time one like the one that had driven her and Bull off the hill. 

Another crash of thunder, and she waited for the lightning, the storm was moving closer, and at a good rate, soon it would be over the town, and then come here. She loved thunder and lightning, she loved the feeling of the electricity in the air, and the sound of the thunder. As a little girl her mother had told her that the lightening were the weapons of good and evil, and the thunder was the clashing of the two. She had always wanted good to win, not because she was religious or believed totally in either side, but because it had sounded good to her.

Now she knew that evil did exist and you had to pick a side to believe in, it didn't make her as much a fanatic as Sue's father, or turn her back on scientific stuff that Annie's father taught at the high school, it just made her more aware of things and know that in the end, she was a true part of life, a human being.

The first feel of moisture in the air told Dani that the storm was almost there, she heard the rain begin to fall on the dried out ground and a crash of thunder seemed to come from right over her head, at the same time a feeling of something slamming into her from outside hit her so strong that she almost fell over. From inside her, she could feel her demon cowering in a dark corner, afraid to come out and there was something else, another force that was trying to get in, something not human, something slimy and smelling of death. Looking out the window, she saw him, directly below her; she could see him plainly as a flash of lightning lit up the entire back yard.

Another attempt to invade her and this time she bent over in physical pain. Going to the bed, she reached out to shake Bull awake, to beg him to help her. She didn't need to shake him, the minute she touched him he sat straight up in bed, and reached out for her. "Bull, he's here, out in the back, I saw him in the flash of lightening, he's trying to do something, trying to get inside of me..." She sat back on the bed and tried to calm her demon and herself. Bull was awake, Bull would handle it, and Bull would protect her.

Calm came over her and she smelled that strange perfume again. A soft scent of Lilies that she knew from her childhood when she had been scared or lonely. It had been there the day Nick had tried to kiss her also. As if something or someone was trying to protect her. Looking for Bull, she saw the room around her became hazy and a feel of soft hands and a gentle soul touching her to the extent of her demon felt it and stopped cowering.

Looking at Bull through the haze, she saw how tense he was, how he stood so tall and silent, he was fighting Nick's demon and she was fully aware now that Nick's was almost as strong as both Bull's and her father's. She also became aware of more happening around her; others were coming awake as well, her mother, her dad, even her brothers. All of them joining the battle with Bull to protect her, each one blazing red hot, she wasn't surprised when her own told her she wanted to join them, but something was holding her back, something she wasn't sure of.

The battle didn't rage for long once the Lazarus clan joined in and once it was over the last thing she heard was Nick screaming over the storm. "You won't be able to protect her all the time big man, she's mine, all three of them are mine, and the more their souls are soiled, the easier you make it for me to get to them." Then he was gone, only the all too familiar sound of his powerful Harley roaring off and then silence, even the storm had moved on, leaving only the sound of a gentle rain and the clearing of stagnant air. Even the perfume faded and the last touch of the shield was like a gentle kiss against her forehead.

"Are you okay?" Bull came to sit beside her, to gather her into his arms and kiss her as the shield had. She had stopped trembling and out of reflex she put her arm across his chest and up around his neck. She felt his fingers on her face and cup her cheek as she lifted her face to his, she suddenly needed him to kiss her, to hold her close and kiss away all the fear and loathing that Nick had left behind.

He gave her what she wanted, his mouth claiming hers over and over, his hands moving over her body, in soft, lazy caresses, not with intent of arousing, but one of comfort and understanding. Despite that though, she felt her body come alive under his touch, her nipples hard and the wetness flowing from between her legs. His kisses grew harder as she moved to fondle his growing erection, as if they were moving in slow motion she stood only long enough to push him back on the bed and bury him inside her body. As she rode him, she knew this was what she needed, what she wanted, and Bull let her take the lead willingly. His hands moved over her, squeezing and caressing her breasts, then moving to grip her hips and around to the full butt cheeks. Neither of them spoke, or cried out, it was a simple joining of their bodies and there was no need for words.

As she grew closer to the climax she so desperately sought, she reached down and gripped his shoulders, her nails pressing into his skin, and he gripped her ass harder, lifting and slamming her down. Sweat was pouring off both of them, the room filling with the musky scents of their sex. She felt as if she were a volcano waiting to erupt and when it started, she threw her head back and the cry that escaped her throat was more like an animalistic howl then a human cry of pleasure. At the same time she felt the power of Bull's own release enter her like a bullet and when it was over, she went down on his chest, feeling like a deflated balloon.

Awake, but not wanting to leave the bed or the safety of Bull's arms, Dani snuggled down and considered what had happened. What had Nick meant that she was his? It hadn't been like the other times he had come near here, tonight had been something entirely new and different in him. She tried to find a name for what she had felt, and it came to her as if she had been struck by a bold of lightning. Revenge, that was it, somehow he had come wanting revenge, but against whom? Bull, no, it was a feeling that this was older than the short time he had been in her life. She tried to think who might have done something to Nick in the past besides her or even Jericho.

Her grandfather, grandmother, no...but there was one person who had been born and raised in this town who seemed to hate Nick as badly as she did herself, and she knew that there was only one way to find out. Careful not to disturb Bull who had fallen back to sleep, she slid out of bed and dressed quickly. She had thought she heard someone go down stairs and she had an idea who it had been.

She found her mother in the kitchen, sitting at the table, drinking a cup of coffee and looking paler than Dani could ever remember seeing her before. "Mom, are you okay?"

Helen shook her head. "No, this is my fault, all my fault. I'm so sorry honey, if I had known it would happen..." She began to cry and Dani moved to comfort her.

"Mom, its okay, what do you mean this is your fault, what's your fault?"

Before Helen could answer, both her dad and Bull entered the room. Her dad sat down at the table and took Helen's hand in his while Bull filled coffee cups and handed one to her dad. Dani watched her dad take a drink, and look at his wife. "You need to tell her honey, I know you don't; want to but I think it's time this came out into the open."

Dani saw her mother shake her head, "I can't, not yet, I'm just not ready...but I will be soon, I know I can't keep it inside me much longer..." Helen stood up and put her cup in the sink, then looking at the time she began to get things ready for breakfast.



Bull left the shower and wrapped the towel around his hips. He stood for a moment, letting his body drain off the excess water, and then reached for the second to wrap around his hair. He had been considering cutting it, but Dani had threatened to cut hers as well if he did, and he had too much fun running his fingers through those long, silky stands, not to mention that it was a sexual experience when they let their hair fall over their bare bodies and feel it mingle.

It was funny to him, considering his heritage, he had been born with almost pure white hair that waved as it grew, and his bright blue eyes made it a killer combination. His mom had explained that he was probably a throwback to an earlier ancestor, and he should just enjoy it, besides, he wasn't the only one, Andre was just as blonde and had eyes just as blue as his were. The rest of his family had often teased him that he was probably the reincarnation of some Viking warrior who had ravished one of their distant ancestors. That would explain not only his hair and eyes, but his size as well; his sister had teased him that it was more likely to be some Bigfoot that had slipped in somewhere he shouldn't have. He wondered what his family would say if they saw him now, even taller and broader then he had been at fourteen. 

A feeling of homesickness washed over him, and he remembered how good it had felt to talk to his father and the others. He still hadn't had a chance to talk to them about Nick and the trouble here, but he would and soon, after the scene at the shop and tonight he couldn't be distracted by how much he wished he was home.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed the feeling away, and went out into the bedroom. Dani was sitting on the bed, brushing out her hair and he could tell she was still upset from what had happened last night. He was still feeling a little overwhelmed from it as will, he had faced Nick head on and it had taken all he had in him to hold the man at bay, he had known that Nick was strong, but it was clear that he had been aware of his demon a lot longer than Bull had thought. Aware of it, how to control it and using it for warped reasons as yet unknown.

A knock on the door caught his attention and he went to open it without thinking. Thankfully it was Jack and not Helen or one of the girls who had been spending more time at the Lazarus home then their own lately. Jack did not look happy.

"Get your ass dressed, I already called the sheriff, but you need to see this for yourself, Dani, your momma wants to talk to you down stairs," When neither of them moved, the former Marine in Jack came to light. "I said get your ass dressed boy, and you do what I told you girl, now!"

Dani was too used to doing what her father said, she moved off the bed, and gave him a fast kiss before going off to talk to her mother. He pulled on a pair of jeans, button up shirt, and his boots. The shirt he left open, it was hot as hell again and the shirt had seen better days. His hair could wait until later.

He found Jack, Zach, Tom and the sheriff in the shed, the place had been trashed. Tool boxes broken into, parts pulled from their places on the shelves, smashed with a 50 pound sledge leaning against the wall. To make it worse, his ride looked like someone had taken a few swings at it as well, the gas tank bent and twisted, the rims smashed, and the frame was no longer straight. He was sorry to see it so messed up, he and the ride had been together since before he got locked up, payment for working for an old farmer who had it rusting in his barn. Unlike some riders, he had never cared about looks, instead he had put all his attention into the way it rode and sounded.

It was Zach who took him back outside and showed him where the words, "SHE'S MINE!" had been scrawled in bright white spray paint. There was no doubt in his mind that that the words were directed at Dani. Tom joined them and swallowed hard, "It was painted at Reverend West's church last night as well. Someone and I think we all know who, broke in, vandalized the place and left an upside down cross burning on their front lawn. Annie called a few minutes ago, said someone had painted it all over their garage, and the same upside down cross. The sheriff said there are broken windows, and doors kicked in all over town, as if a riot had broken out and no one told him."

"A riot of two men, Nick and Jessie Jensen," The sheriff appeared with Jack, "I've called the state police, they're coming out to take photos and look for fingerprints, they'll need to compare them to everyone in the house." His eyes flickered to Bull and held out his hand, "See you're still around, from what gossip I've heard, you will be staying around a while too."

Bull grinned. He had heard the gossip as well and the business at the repair shop tended to pick up when he was working. Mainly women Jack was quick to point out, but like he said their money was as good as a man's. The thing was, if they were going to do fingerprints, then what he hadn't told Jack and the boys was sure to come out and he might as well come clean now rather than later. He knew the sheriff suspected it anyway. "Look sheriff, you're going to find out anyway, and I know you suspected it when that incident happened at the mini mart. You were right, and I'll tell you now, you're going to get a record on me if you go nationwide. I just finished a five year stretch down in Georgia State."

Tom Sheridan nodded. "Thought you had the look and the way you were fighting, you mind telling me what you were sent up for?"

Before he could answer, Dani and her mom appeared. "Hey Sheriff, kinda hot out here, why don't you all come up to the house, mom just finished up a batch of her cookies and lemonade you like so well." She smiled at Bull and he wondered what she was up to.

He was sure of it when Helen slipped her arm through the Sheriff's arm, "Nice to see you Tom, how is Maggie doing these days? I been meaning to come visit, but it's been a real mad house around here. Jack honey, why don't you and the boys check around for any other damage while Dani, Bull and I go in the house..." Her voice held more than a suggestion. "Soon as the state troopers show up, come on in, I promise to save you some cookies..."

Jack frowned. "You better," his tone was also a warning that he wanted some answers when he did.

Once in the house, they gathered around the dining table and Sheriff Sheridan looked at Helen with a grin. "Okay Helen, what's going on, you know you and Maggie have never gotten along because of us dating in high school, and no offense, but I hate those cookies you make." He grinned and looked at Bull. "This is about you; Helen and Dani don't want Jack or the boys to hear what you did back in Georgia which tells me it had something to do with a woman."

Bull nodded. "I got drunk one night, and I am not a nice person when I get drunk, in fact, I get mean, and I get in need of a woman just as strongly as I get mean. There was this gal at the bar, a pro, she'd been looking at me all night, and I admit I looked back. To make a long story, we went to her place, got down to business that was a lot rough, and then I passed out, when I came to she was on the floor beat to crap, and the cops were breaking down the door along with her pimp. Slam bam thank you ma'am. I didn't remember a damn thing but I knew what I had done in the past, my attorney suggested I just plead guilty for a reduced sentence, and that's what I did. I had only been out a couple days when I met Zach in a bar, and we got along so when he told me about his family, I decided to come out and visit for a while, then I met Dani..."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 08



The sheriff was taking notes, and he looked at Bull with a straight forward glance. "What happened with this gal, had you ever gone this far before?" When Bull shook his head, he nodded. "I know this will probably be in the report, but I wonder, what was the last thing you remember about that night, were you hitting her when you passed out, or were you just getting into it?"

Bull shut his eyes and tried to think back to that night. He had been drunker than he had been in a long time; usually he just liked to get a nice buzz on, and then find a nice little gal who was willing to give him what his demon needed. Well not little, he preferred women like Dani, with some size to them, women he didn't need to worry about breaking. Dani was turning into one hell of a sex partner, she didn't mind the rough sex from him, and she was getting where she liked giving it back. His shoulders were still sore from earlier.

Helen laughed. "Get your mind off Dani Bull, we all know the effect she has on you, but Tom wouldn't be asking if he didn't have a reason." She looked her old friend. "I used to think Jack and I were bad, but we got nothing on these two."

It took effort, he wasn't going to deny it, but soon his mind had drifted back and he knew what Tom wanted to know. "I'm not into ropes, or handcuffs, or stuff like that, I can do enough damage without them, I remember her opening my pants and pushing me back on her couch, I was thinking she was having some kind of pipe dream if she thought she was going to be able to give me a blow job, her mouth was too small. I told her not to bother, just to get undressed so I could fuck her. That was all I wanted, just a nice easy fuck for a change, at least to start. If it went okay, and she liked it, I would get into the rougher mode. She just laughed and suggested we have a beer and she'd do a striptease for me. I admit I was impatient, we had a couple words about it but then she played on my ego. Said she needed to work up to a beauty like the one I had, but she'd be willing to do whatever I wanted if the price was right..." He chuckled, remembering how he had thrown five hundred dollars at a fifty dollar whore. "God, I even paid her before we started. I thought what the fuck, if she was willing to let me rough her up, I'd make sure she had no reason to bitch. Five C notes to a hooker worth only about a tenth of that. The striptease was good, I'll give her an A+ for it, but it didn't help my problem so I pulled her down on my lap, took a drink of my beer, and pushed my way home. It didn't take her long to get into it, her mouth might have been too small, but she took me like a pro that had been around the block more times than I care to count." He swallowed hard as another memory of Dani crossed his mind. She would never get that loose; she would always be tight to him. "We were pretty well into it when I started getting sleepy; I thought it was the booze finally catching up to me. The next thing I know, bam, she's on the floor, and I'm in handcuffs, her pimp in my face about how she's going to be out of work for a while thanks to me, and that I owed him big time. The son of a bitch tried to sue me for damages on lost wages and a bunch of other shit. The judge threw out that garbage."

Helen looked at him, then at the Sheriff, "You think he was set up, I know that look on your face."

"It's an old scam; I saw a lot of it in Vegas when I was working there. Odds are, there was some sort of drug in the beer she gave you, and her pimp was in the next room listening to the whole damn thing. He comes out, checks out the money you got on you, figures okay he'll do a little blackmail, roughs his girlfriend up and it goes too far, probably knocks her back and she goes down. He pulls you off the couch, makes it look like you roughed her up, he goes out, calls a cop and wham, odds are if you hadn't copped the plea, he would have talked your lawyer into some kind of payoff to drop the charges. Bull, I don't think you hurt her, and if you don't mind, I'd like to do some investigating on my own about this."

Dani smiled, "Tom loves Detective shows. He made the county beef up the department and implemented a cold case investigation squad with the State police. That must have been a real hick town you were in hon."

He laughed and nodded. "Believe me honey; I have no intention of ever repeating that mistake."

She slugged his arm. "Damn right, you belong to me now, and I am all the woman you need." To prove her point she came and straddled his lap facing him. Gripping her hips, he nodded, and she bent his head to capture his mouth in a deep probing kiss. As he gave into it, he heard the sheriff chuckle.

"I see what you mean Helen, reminds me of you and I back in high school..."

Jack's voice roared. "Never mind what you and my wife were like back in high school Tom Sheridan, the state cops are here, they want to talk to you."



Jack saw Tom stand up and walk toward him, a grin on his face, but it was his words that sank into his jealousy soaked brain. "Relax Jack, the day she met you, every other man in this town ceased to exist for Helen. None of us could compete with your honey oozing southern drawl and that big Harley. Hell half the men and boys in town hated you on sight, me included." He started to walk past him, then stopped, and glanced over at Bull and Dani. "I know you want to know why he was locked up; he told me the whole story. Don't press him Jack, he's an honest man, and despite how scary he might seem to some, I can't see him hurting Dani or any decent woman."

Jack nodded. "Tom, the only way that man would hurt Dani was if he killed her with love. I just wondered if it was anything we had to be concerned about as far as the shop went, we do a lot of business, and there is always a lot of cash around. One reason I keep it family, remember the trouble I had with those two men a while back getting sticky fingered around the register?"

"It's nothing like that, from what he told me, I got a hunch that he was set up for something and it backfired on the people who set him up. I already told him I was going to check it out, but I am pretty sure I already know what I am going to find." 

With that Tom walked out and Jack looked back at his wife, and daughter, the former smiling at him and the latter holding Bull as if to say she would stand by him no matter what, even standing up to her own family if that was what it took. Jack sighed as he walked over to the table. For now he would let it go, the events of last night were still weighing on him. He had learned the hard way lately how little he had known about Nick and after talking with Helen he wondered how he could have been so blind. To think that man had touched his daughter in anyway made him feel as sick and as dirty as Nick was. 

"Don't beat yourself up about it Jack," he heard Bull's voice over the million questions he had going through his brain. "Things happen for a reason, sometimes you can avoid them, and other times you can't. Nick is one of those you couldn't have even if you tried. The minute you stepped foot in this town, the die was cast, and now it has to play out as it was intended."

Jack chuckled. "You sound like my dad, he had that kind of thinking, and it was all set in stone before the first man walked the earth. When I was a kid, he read me that poem by Frost, the one about the road less traveled, he said that it was true, we always have to make decisions and once we do, that's it. What bothers me is the fact that my own brother is just as bad as Nick. Why could I admit it to myself about him, but not be willing to face up to just how wacko Nick was?"

"It's hard to say, but now you know, and you just go on with your life, and you work a little harder to protect your family." Bull got a thoughtful look on his face. "I need to call home again Jack, do you mind?"

Jack shook his head. "No, you know better than to ask, it was nice talking to Pierre after all these years the last time you did. I'll just take the money out of your check." He grinned and lit a cigarette. "Just be glad I ain't charging you room and board on top of it." He didn't ask why it was so important for him to call this time, but he understood that sometimes you just had to talk to family, which reminded him of how long it had been since he had talked to his own momma, and his aunt Jessie...maybe after Bull got done talking to his family, he would dial the number and talk to them for awhile. He knew his own momma was getting old, and hearing Bull talk to his family, he remembered that despite the differences they had known while he was growing up, his momma and Aunt Jessie were all he had left, it might be nice to find out if his uncle Jo-Jo was still alive and kicking as well.

Lord, he hadn't thought about that crazy old man in years. It had been Aunt Jessie's twin who got him interested in motorcycles, not to mention women and good times. It had been Jo-Jo who took him to his first whore house, helped him sign up for the Marines, even told him when they learned about this place that he should come and take a look at it. Yeah, definitely time to call and check in with his own family.



Dani and the Bull Ch. 09



The three girls ran down the dark path to the center of the park, more than once they tripped over vines or branches but none of them wanted to stop. All felt revolted, sickened by what they had seen. When Jane went down hard and had trouble standing back up, Helen and Sylvie helped her up and they stumbled back into the brightly lit picnic area. Helen found her father standing with the sheriff and several other adults, and began to blurt out what they had seen, only to find herself needing to vomit and finding nowhere to throw up but where she stood.

Her father held her and looked at her worriedly. "Helen honey, what is it?"

She trembled. "Nick, Nick Jensen and his father...in the bushes with his mother...Oh god..." It seemed like everything she had eaten in her life wanted to come up. Sylvie and Jane were no better. The men started off once they had a direction to go, and left their daughters to their wives and other family members.

Chapter 9

Dani looked at the package in her hand and walked back into the house, "Bull, I think you got that package you been expecting from your grandmother. What did she send you; this thing is heavy as hell." It was also a large box and awkward to carry. "You better come get this before I drop it."

He came to meet her and grinned. "It's a bunch of things; look at it like Christmas in July." He went to the table and set it down, pulling out his belt knife and flipping it open as he did. The way he did it brought curious looks from her family, but he just grinned. "I grew up on the bayou, handling knives is second nature to me. I'm surprised it got here so fast, usually Granny Maylene takes longer to make up what I asked her for."

Dani saw the question in the faces of her family and had to shrug. "I have no idea, he wouldn't let me eavesdrop. Just shooed me off like some little kid who was over hearing a conversation she shouldn't." She was still a little upset about that, but he had made it up to her by giving her time to speak to Massie and Maylene. They both wanted to know how she was feeling and if she was having any morning sickness and was she eating right. They also wanted to know if she had spoken to her grandmother or to Aunt Jessie recently, and how the two old ladies were doing up in New Orleans.

She knew that each time Bull spoke to his family it was hard on him, talking to them on the phone was one thing, but it had been a long time since he had been home, and he was missing them more and more each day. Both Massie and Pierre were feeling the same way and always asked when he was coming home.

"Hey, read this, will you, I need to see what we got here." Bull shoved a thick envelope at her and she sat down before opening it. From the look in his eyes, she wondered if he was really interested in what was in the box, or if he was afraid how he would react to the words he found there.

Besides a letter in a woman's handwriting, there was a stack of pictures and she set them aside until she was finished.

"Dear Beau, 

Here are the things you asked for, it has been so good to hear your voice and we all sleep a lot better knowing you are safe. Things here are much the same as they were when you left, just more of us, but that just makes it all better, and to learn that you found what you set out to find, well that makes your leaving all the more worthwhile. Andre is a little put out that you found Dani before he did, as he thinks it is totally unfair that you got his girl, and for you to remember he kissed her first." Bull snorted, but Dani ignored him. "Andre is betting with everyone that he can steal her away once she meets him again, telling me to remind her that he is older and he kisses much better these days. You men, always thinking you are better than the other in the love making department."

Momma has been working hard to get those things you asked her for, and she is busy keeping your grandpa from blowing himself up at that old still of his, which reminds me, she said to tell you to be careful with the clear jar wrapped in all the paper and such, it's a present for you and Dani's family, just warn them to sip it slow, this last batch was extra strong and you might want to dilute it down with some water before you try it. She also sent you a jar of her homemade Cajun spice mix and a few other little goodies that you might want..."

She paused as Bull chuckled, and continued to take tins and small boxes out of the bigger ones. "A few, from the look of it, she sent some of every snack that old woman ever made for me."

Dani smiled and went back to the letter. "I do have to tell you that I might have some bad news for Dani's parents, now I can't be sure, because we never been real friendly with that snake that lives across the swamp from us, but we got to thinking, and decided it might be one of those things that you just can't explain, could you ask if they know a Jake Lazarus, or his wife Annie? They moved in to that old trailer that Sam Beaumont had about ten years ago, so you wouldn't remember them. I know I've always been curious if they were related to Claire and Charles, but never wanted to go ask, you can smell the evil dripping off that man all the way across the swamp. The reason I ask is because Annie passed away just last month, she fell from their porch and hit her head on something, though I think if the sheriff really checked it out..." Dani swallowed hard and fought to keep the tears from running down her cheeks. "He would find that her husband had something to do with it, never saw her in town without bruises or some part of her wrapped up in some way. If she was relation, then I am sorry I never did get to make her acquaintance, and tell Dani and her family that I am sorry to be the bearer of such sad tidings.

Well son, that is about it, I need to go help momma take care of those things you asked for and it is getting late. I will be lucky to be in bed before your daddy gets up to take the boat out. How momma can keep the hours she does is beyond me, but I guess when you have lived as long as she has, you don't sleep as much. And you didn't mention if you still had that gift I gave you when you went away, so I made you another one. 

All my love son, and never forget how much you are missed and thought of daily down here. 

Momma

Oh, before I forget, your granny said to remind you what needs to be done before the bond is made, all you need is a single drop, and for Dani's two friends, it has to be from her and her brothers, that will make it even stronger. The rest of what you need will be sent out tomorrow, and I am sending along some Gumbo. Just so you remember how good my cooking is.

Love,

Momma"

Dani folded the letter up and looked around the table. Her mom was crying softly and her dad had both his fists clenched. Even her brothers had tears at the corner of their eyes and she knew that they all felt the loss of their aunt in their own way. She was sure her parents were angry with themselves for not forcing her aunt to stay behind when Jake had left. Either that or her dad and brothers were seriously angry at themselves for not killing the son of a bitch. She felt Bull's hand on her shoulder and looked up at him. Shaking her head at the question in his eyes, she tried to smile. "I'll grieve for her later; right now I just feel better knowing she's at peace."

He nodded, "get some glasses will you hon, and a pitcher of cold water, if this is as potent as mom says it is, you won't want to drink more than a couple swallows even diluted down."

As she went to do what he asked she heard Zach ask a question. "What is that stuff Bull?"

Bull gave a chuckle as he held up a quart jar filled to the brim with a clear liquid. "That Zach is a bottle of the finest moonshine to come out of the Louisiana Bayou's. My grandpa has been brewing this stuff since he was a boy and there are only a handful of folks who know how he makes it and where his still is. I spent many hours having this recipe drummed into my head but there is no way I could make it anywhere but back home. I thought you all might want to raise a farewell drink to your aunt. She sounded like a fine woman and I am sorry I never got to meet her."

Her mom's voice carried and Dani caught the sadness in it. "I think a farewell drink is what we could all use right now, then you can tell us just what your mom and grandma have sent you...and why you only need one drop, a drop of what, the moonshine?"

Dani almost dropped the glasses when she heard his response. "No, what you need is a drop of blood; it seals the bond, and makes it more lasting. But I'll explain more after that drink."

Even diluted the moonshine burned all the way down and when it hit the bottom of her stomach, Dani felt as if the temperature in the house had raised a hundred degrees. The only ones who didn't look like they were in an oven and not coughing were her dad and Bull. "How the hell can you drink that and not feel like you are on fire?" Her voice was little more than a croak when she could speak. "Damn and I thought whiskey was bad."

Her dad grinned at her, "That's because your blood is diluted Dani, if anyone else who had ever drank this before even years ago, tasted it now, it would go down just as smooth and easy as if you had been drinking it all your life. Ah, sweet memories..." He held out his glass, "one more shot if you don't mind Bull, because I have to drink a toast to good memories and the best shine I ever tasted in my life."

Dani saw Bull grin and her mom shake her head. "And then you will give me that bottle and I will put it away under lock and key. The last time your dad drank this stuff, he was drunk for a week and had damn little memory of what happened in that week."

It was clear from her brother's expressions that they had no intention of ever drinking the stuff again. None of them looked like they were even considering going drinking for a while. As for her, well her dad and Bull could have it. She just found her memory going back to what Bull had told her about him not like getting drunk. This stuff would be too easy for it to happen.

He was reading her mind again as he bent his head and put his lips by her ear, "Relax love, I know my limits and even this taste of home won't make me go over them, not now, not with you and our baby in my life."

Bull helped Helen put Jack to bed, and smiled as the older woman shook her head. "That man, he knows better than to drink beer after he's put anything stronger in his system. Well, this just gives me time to hide that jar, or should I let you find a place to put it, preferably somewhere he won't try to find it."

"I'll let you take care of it Helen." He had handed the jar over to her willingly. "Now, you understand about how this works, you can't take the charm off no matter what. Granny put a special spell on all the charms, it's a strong protection ward, and if you take it off once it's on, the protection is broken. That means working the spell again and it takes a lot out of a body to do a reset."

Helen nodded. "Bull, can you do the things your grandmother and mother can do?"

He shook his head, "no, I think my sisters were learning before I left, but the spells don't work as good for a man unless he's been trained from birth. And since those kind of men are seldom...shall we say as masculine as me and Jack might be considered, then you can think why."

"If it starts at birth, then how do they know he's going to be that way?"

"Usually a seer tells the parents, it's considered an honor to have one in your family actually, I have two on momma's side of the family from granny's sister. Granny told me that they were powerful, almost as powerful as she was. I remember meeting them when I was small and you could feel it radiating from them. One of them practices in New Orleans, the other in Baton Rouge." He could still remember the feelings of fear he had felt as the two men had looked him up and down and spoke words only his grandmother could understand over his head. He had never fully understood just what it had been about; granny Maylene's family didn't practice the usual type of voodoo that was normally practiced or talked about.

Helen looked at the bracelet around her slim wrist. It was decorated with small beads and shell and was very pretty when you looked at it from the cosmetic point of view.

"Bull, Annie and Sue are here!" Dani yelled up the stairs. "You better get down here before Tom and Zach run off with them...these brothers of mine have got a definite gleam in their eye."

Bull grinned and decided it wasn't just Jack who needed to be protected from the moonshine; the others had been acting like tomcats smelling a she-cat in season since they had gotten over the initial burn. Dani wasn't acting too normal herself, she was hot as hell normally but now she was acting like she wanted to jump his bones right where he stood, and she didn't care who was watching.

He went downstairs and found Dani was right, Tom and Zach were all over the two girls and it took both he and Dani to get them back to some sense as he explained to Annie and Sue about the charms and what had to be done. They didn't seem too concerned about it though, if anything they were more willing to submit to the ritual then the men had been. It didn't take long, just one drop of blood from Dani, Tom, and Sue, and then the same for Zach and Annie. His blood had been needed for Dani's. In her case the bracelet was simply strung with beads of amber and coral, and the necklace was one he knew well, not a charm but one his mother had been holding on to for years. It was one she had made for him the day of his birth, waiting for the woman he would claim as his. He had a matching necklace that he had worn often when he first left home, and had worn it all the time he was in prison as well.

He felt Dani move up to him and rub against him as if she was a she-cat. Her voice was soft and sultry as she smiled that special smile she had for him alone. "I think I should ask if there was more than just moonshine in that jar, because I got to admit I am hotter than hell for your body and I been barely able to wait for everyone to disappear before I started ripping my clothes and yours off right here and now..."

"It's been known to have certain side effects." He grinned as he wrapped his arms around her. "I feel kind of sorry for your mom, I'm pretty sure she's feeling its effects as well, but your dad is out cold."

Dani's eyes flashed. "Well mom will just have to take care of herself because there is no way I am sharing."

She was rubbing herself over the bulge in his jeans, and doing some crazy gyrations as if to make him grow even harder. Reaching down, he gripped her ass and pulled her up to wrap her legs around his waist. She still wasn't used to having him do that, he tended to do it when she was least likely to expect it, and while to him she felt as light as a feather, she thought otherwise. "Where do you want it honey?"

A small smile curled her lip. "The couch, we use the bed every night."

He thought about the possibility of someone walking in on them, but then decided it might be fun. There were a lot of different ways of doing it on the couch. A flash of that gal down in Georgia came to mind and he knew what he wanted. What could it hurt, the others were gone, Helen was up taking a nap with Jack, he also liked the idea that she hadn't put on jeans herself today; she was wearing a cute little flirty skirt that she had bought when Annie and Sue had taken her to Portland to shop for some new clothes. It showed off her legs nicely and so did the low cut top that matched it in color and fabric.

Taking her to the couch, he sat back and kissed her several times as his hands explored under the skirt, he was startled by the fact she had sometime discarded the black lacy panties she had been wearing earlier, but at the same time that only made him more anxious for her. He loved the feel of her soft, newly shaven pussy against him. She had told him she wanted to act and dress more feminine for him at times, and that had been one of the things he had admitted to her that he liked, a nice shaved pussy gave him more access to her secrets.

"Open my pants honey," he whispered it against her throat as he nibbled at the soft skin and squeezed and caressed her ass cheeks. "Bring him out for your special attention."

She had him open to the air between them before he got the final words out, and bent her head to find his mouth quickly as she pulled one hand from her ass and pushed it against her breast. Her nipples were hard as pebbles and when she lifted her head, she licked her lips. "Now what Bull, tell me what I need to do."

"Just relax honey, let me do this my way, first just lift up a little, we're going have a little tease session, just a little bit to make your pussy nice and wet for him..." He was enjoying this, more than usual. He hadn't thought the moonshine had affected him but maybe it had. As she raised up, he put the head of his cock at her warm, welcoming hole then gripped her hips and slammed her down as he lifted his hips to meet her, he didn't plan on doing a lot of this, he wanted to give her a good ride like the ones she gave him every time they were in their bedroom fucking their brains out. Hell it had gotten to the point that he didn't even need to get rough or anything, all he had to do was just slip inside her warm velvet sheath, and his demon was there, hers was just as bad and the two little fucks went into overdrive with every session they had. Oh sometimes he slipped back into the old ways, and it was just as good as it had always been but he was getting it regular now, and what he was getting was the best fucking from the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

He felt Dani get the climax he had wanted, and he wasted no time switching her so her back was to his chest, her legs open wide, and he was fucking her hard and fast. She was bouncing all over him, crying out and begging him to take her harder and deeper. If anyone had walked in they would have had a perfect view of her pussy and his hard cock ramming her from behind. Her shirt and bra were pushed up and he was mauling her tits harder than he had ever done before, but that made it all the better, this was his woman, her body was his, no one else would ever touch her this way, no one else would ever know how tight she was, know how her juices flowed when he was inside her. As she began to come again, he felt his own begin to start and he knew that he would kill any man who tried to take her away from him. The beads on his wrist and at his throat began to burn hot, as hot as his blood and he pumped his come into her over and over. When his balls were empty, he could only sit back and consider how tired he felt suddenly. Dani was acting as if she was a rag doll in his arms, resting back against his chest, and totally drained. They would have to do this again, but not too soon, he didn't think his blood pressure could handle too many sessions like this.

Jack shot his final load into Helen's waiting pussy and grinned as he remembered how it had been the last time he had drank the moonshine, the two of them had fucked like there was no tomorrow for over a week. Not that he acted like any memory of it remained, but he had remembered every time he had plunged into Helen in the upstairs bedroom at his parents' home. He even remembered what Pierre had told him in strictest male confidence. 

"Maurice, he put his own brand of magic in the moonshine. Nothing too strong, just enough to make it work like an aphrodisiac, but it doesn't work on anyone, oh no, has to be love in the heart for your partner, and the stronger the love, the stronger the need for sex with that person. The men, they get more virile, the women more aroused. It's good for making babies for couples who have trouble with it, makes a man's seed livelier."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 09



He kissed Helen softly and moved off her, rolling onto his back. Thank god she was past that age, and Dani was already pregnant. He didn't mind it as much as he had, and now the idea of a grandchild coming into this home wasn't so bad after all. He just hoped that Zach and Tom weren't so affected by the drink that they didn't think before they got into Annie and Sue's pants. It was bad enough that both Arthur and Rex were having shit fits because of who their daughters were involved with.

Well, at least their mothers were understanding at least, Sylvie Belton and Jane West had been friends with Helen since childhood, and while the friendship had cooled some since Helen had married him, they still dropped by on occasion or called and made arrangements to meet for some woman time.

All this bullshit with Nick had revealed more too about Helen and the two women. Getting her to tell him had been easier than he thought and more than once he had wished he had never known. He had listened as she had told him about that summer over thirty years ago, of the annual town picnic and the fireworks display out at the lake. How she, Sylvie and Jane had walked to a secluded bathroom and the way back had been attracted by sounds. Peering into a clump of bushes well away from the other picnickers, they had been shocked to see both Nick and his father double teaming his mom, Nick had been fucking his mother as if he might never stop and his dad was taking her from behind. Helen had told him his dad had been encouraging his son and his mother hadn't seemed to care what was happening. They had heard of incest of course, but never thought of it happening so close to them. All three girls had run back and without thinking told their fathers what they had seen. Who had in turn told Sheriff Watson about it, there had been a big scene and in the end they had been charged with all kinds of things, but regrettably nothing serious enough to do any amount of time. Nick, just eighteen, had been sentenced to a full mental health facility for observation and therapy. He had been in for three years when he was released and by then his mother had given birth to Jessie. 

Anyone who had remembered the thing could never stop wondering just who had fathered Jessie, though Helen did suspect that he was probably Nick's.

After his release he had confronted the three girls and swore he would get even with them for telling what they had seen, and done to his family. By then all three of them were married and had started families, they had paid little attention until the other night, and now all three of them knew that while the events of that night might have been sealed away in their memories, it was clear Nick's was not, the women were beyond his reach, but not their daughters. Which had explained why Bull has asked his grandmother for charms for both of his daughter's friends as well; if he couldn't get to Dani, what was to stop him from going after one of the others instead? Now that both of them were involved with Helen's sons would make his revenge even sweeter.

The hardest part for Helen had been repeating the story for her sons, as well as Dani and Bull. It had been hard for him to listen to it, despite having heard it once, and it was clear that Dani had been clearly shaken. When she told Annie and Sue, they had confronted their mothers and while Sylvie and Jane had been reluctant to talk about it, in the end they had verified everything Helen had said. That only enraged their father's more, and had demanded that the sheriff arrest Nick and Jessie, but that would have been hard to do, since neither of them had been seen since that night.

Their house had been trashed when Tom and two of his deputies went to check it out, but they had still found guns, drugs, and what looked to be satanic symbols painted in black all over the walls. 

Tom had told him later that the worst of it had been finding the two men's mother, chained to a bed in an obscene manner and it was clear she had been used in the most abusive manner possible. Somewhere in the process the old woman's heart had given out and she had died. There were warrants out on both men and officers had gone to Texas to talk to Shelia. They found her in the hospital, beaten within an inch of her life, and not sure if she would live or not. Before she had slipped into a coma, she had told the Texas authorities that Nick and Jessie had done it to her. Jericho and his wife Marie had come from Mexico to get the children and take them back to their home there. Shelia's family had agreed that they had the best chance of keeping the children hidden from their father and uncle since they had gone there to hide from Nick themselves.

Jack found himself wondering now if the reason he hadn't killed Nick years ago was that he had been doing what he had been trained to do, keep an eye on your enemy and keep him close, wait for your chance, then strike. He realized that he would have never been able to handle the two men alone, not even with the help of his boys, but Bull was stronger than any of them, and he loved Dani. He would protect her and in the end it would be Bull who was the cause of Nick's death. 

Helen put her hand on his chest and settled her head on his shoulder, pulling her close, Jack kissed her forehead and gradually he felt her relax into sleep, it took him longer to join her. Now that the lust was gone, he found his mind thinking that maybe they should start working more on beefing up the demons that Bull had been talking to him about. If there was some supernatural thing going on, wasn't it better to be prepared in that way too? He had seen a lot of strange stuff in his life and being a native of New Orleans he had witnessed some oddball rites. And he wasn't even going to think about his encounter with The Lady in Red in the graveyard that one night.

He had been drunk, that was all, him and Nick and some of the others just having some times talking about things. That had been not long after Dani was born and he had been thinking how nice it was to have a cute little girl in his house and how he was going to be the best daddy in the world. He had heard the stories of course, his father had told him all the history of the house as soon as he decided to keep it and raise his family in it. But he had never believed he would ever actually meet her.

It had been her perfume first, and then soft little laughs in his ear. Just the way Helen had done it sometimes, a soft teasing laugh that a woman might do to entice a lover. When he looked around, there she had stood, just as she had been described to him. All dressed in red, and looking like someone he knew. He had never quite figured out who it was she resembled, and each time he tried to think, his head would begin to hurt. In time he had just put it all down to too much beer and whiskey and never told anyone about it.

Lately though, the memories had come back and there were times lying in bed that he got a whiff of that perfume and the sound of that soft laugh. It didn't bother him though, if anything it made him feel safe, as safe as he had felt in his mother's arms or Aunt Jessie's. Or his grandmother's...

Jack sat up in bed as he remembered, his grandmother, his grandma Lazarus; that was who she had reminded him of. The same face, the same small frame. Without thinking he reached for the bed side phone and dialed the house in Louisiana. His mother answered on the second ring and not for the first time he heard how old and tired she sounded. "Momma, I need to know, did daddy have a sister, someone besides aunt Petunia and Aunt Rose?"

"Well, there was one, but the family never spoke of her much, she left home when your father was just a little boy. Her name was Lily, and the only thing I knew about her was that she always wore red, and she smelled of Lily scented water. I always heard that it was some great scandal that made her leave, but she wasn't more than fifteen or sixteen when she left."

"Momma, do you know what ever happen to her?"

"No, no one did. I know your father tried to find her when you grandmother died, but he never found a trace of her. I used to wonder if it wasn't Lily's son left that house in Oregon to you. But then again, we could never prove it. He had been raised by Tom Lazarus' widow so we just assumed he had inherited it from some other side of the family. It was some distant cousin of the family that built it after all, and he had been disowned for years before he even went to Oregon because he was a gambler and all. Why do you ask?"

"I was just remembering something that happened once a while back." Jack lit a cigarette and sighed. "So how you been momma, you and Aunt Jessie doing okay?"

"You asked that when you call just last week, and I still can't believe you let Dani get pregnant by some man she barely knows. The child is barely eighteen, not old enough to know her own mind, let alone raise a baby, even if he is the son of Pierre and Massie Marquaille. Which is good, but at the same time I remember all the grief he caused his family when he up and ran off at such a young age. Odd he should find his way to the only family of Lazarus' in that part of the country. Well, as Maylene always said, stranger things have happened."

"So it seems momma, did you get a chance to talk to that sheriff that Pierre told me about, was it Jake's wife that died?"

"Yes, which is a shame, she was a good woman, I always liked her, as much as I liked Helen. But the sheriff took a statement from me and Aunt Jessie and he's going to check into the chance that it was Jake that caused her death. If so, it will be a good thing, I never did understand how I could raise two boys and how they could turn out so different."

"Like you said momma, stranger things have happened. And as far as Bull and Dani go, well, they may have rushed things but I can honestly say, I can't think of a better man for her, and that baby is going to be well loved."

"Of course it is, your daddy will be watching down from heaven and keeping a close eye on it, and so will I once I get there with him."

"Well let's not rush it momma, I love you ya know, I always have, even when things were the craziest."

"I know Jack, you just take care of yourself, and if you ever feel the urge, come down and visit, preferably before you have to come and put me and Jessie in the ground."

"I will momma, I promise..."

"Goodnight son, you take care and call again soon. Your Aunt Jessie and I are thinking about you all every day."

Jack hung up the phone and looked up at the ceiling. "Is it you Lily, are you the one everyone calls The Lady in Red?"

He almost dropped his cigarette as a soft hand touched his face and the smell of lilies tickled his nose. He didn't need to look to know she was there in the room with him and that the mystery of the Lady in Red had been solved after all these years. Later, as he drifted off to sleep, he knew that Lily was there to help watch over his family, and he felt as safe as he had when he was a child.

To Be Continued...

*

Author's Note: Yeah, it's me again, got to have a say after every chapter, and I know you get bored, but hey, it's in a woman's nature to talk more than listen. 

I hope this chapter answers some questions I know have been bothering you. This one was hard for me to do because I didn't know for sure how people would react to just what Helen and her two friends had seen that night. So rather than spoil a good sex scene, I decided to let Jack tell the tales and expose both the pure evil in Nick and the identity of the Lady in Red.

I hope you all are enjoying this story, because I enjoyed writing it and I really got involved in not only Bull and Dani's tale, but that of her family. Jack especially who disdained the life style he had known back in New Orleans, but yet has a less than pristine outlook on life himself.

Anyway, as usual

Peace

Darkstone57 



Dani and the Bull Ch. 10



Author's Note: Sorry it's taken me a while to get this story up, been some events in my life that have distracted me. One of them was learning that someone has taken some of my stories and put them on another site without my permission.

Now I have met some slime balls in my life, but to take some one elses hard work and basically try to pass it off as their own is about the lowest a person can go in my opinion, and if i could catch the person doing it, well lets just say they would not like the consequences. 

Which is why i am writing this, i want you all to know that if you come across any of my stories on any other site, i did not put them there. Literotica was and is the only site on the web that i have or ever will post my stories.

And a word to the jerk who did post those stories. I can fill a whole page with the names i would love to call you, but you're not worth the time or the trouble. 

Enough of that

Peace

Darkstone57

*

Dani laid the bouquet of Lilies on the freshly covered grave and looked back at her dad as she moved to stand by Bull. She had been to funerals before but never one for a body that had been dead, buried once, then dug back up and moved to another part of the graveyard. Still she had no reason to doubt her father or his story and if the mystery of The Lady in Red had indeed been solved, then she deserved to be buried by her lover and their son. She felt Bull put his around her shoulders and looked up to see him smiling.

With the exception of Jericho and Marie, the whole family was here today; Mike and Kate had come back north and would be leaving with them as soon as the service was over. The only ones not going to New Orleans were Tom and Zach who would be staying to look after the house, and the shop. Not to mention the two women in their lives. There had been no sign or word about Nick or Jessie for over a month, but no one was letting their guard down. Least of all her or Bull.

Sue's father was performing the service and he spoke softly and reverently of the woman that most would have turned their backs on even in this day and age. Sue and Annie both had single white lilies as did Kate and at the right time laid them on the ground as well. Half the town had turned out once it was announced that the identity of the town's most notorious citizen had been identified, and Dani was sure most of the old ladies and men who might have known her in life had come just to see what happened. There hadn't been many left, but it seemed a nice touch.

The tombstone her dad had picked out had been plain and simple but dignified and the lettering had been done in calligraphy. "Lily Lazarus, beloved mother and sister. Rest in Peace." 

As they reached the parking area, Tom Sheridan stepped up to intercept them. "And a local legend is laid to rest, good of you to do it Jack."

Her dad shrugged. "She was my dad's sister; I couldn't let her lie in some unmarked grave Tom, how you doing these days?"

"Been busy, all this business with the Jensen house and all, but today I am here to talk to Bull, been meaning to do it sooner, but haven't had a chance." He took a card from his pocket. "This is the name of a man down in Augusta. He wants you to get in touch with him as soon as you can, seems he thinks you might have a false imprisonment suit you might want to file with the state of Georgia. I did that checking I told you I was going to do. Talked to a man in Atlanta who told me they're going through a bunch of the cases from that county. There's a good chance your conviction could be over turned."

Bull looked doubtful. "How so, I pleaded guilty..."

"True, but the man who defended you was running for the local District Attorney seat not a year later, and it turned out that both the hooker and the pimp had prior convictions for blackmail and other similar crimes in another state. There are rumors they paid off your attorney and maybe even the local police to keep them from checking them out too close. Call the man in Augusta, talk to him. Then decide what to do."

Dani saw the doubt in Bulls eyes and reached over to take the card. "We will do that Sheriff, and thank you. Now, we need to get on the road. You've got the number of my grandma in New Orleans if anything comes up..."

The sheriff nodded. "That I do Dani. I've got extra patrols out, keeping an eye out for Nick and Jessie and the state police have issued warrants for them nationwide. You all just take care and come back in one piece." He grinned at Jack as they shook hands. "That goes for you too, you old asshole, I've gotten used to having you around, need someone to keep me on my toes."

"We'll be back in a couple weeks, just need to go home and check on my mom and aunt, been a long time since I was home."

Once in the truck, Dani glanced at Bull. "Are you sure you're ready for this. I know what your grandma told you and all, but we can just go to New Orleans and hide out there if you want."

He shook his head. "No, I need to go home Dani, and we need to get you into the family. Momma and everyone would kill me if I was that close and not come visit."

She followed her dad and mom out of town toward the highway and felt Rose settle down on the seat between them. "They aren't going to start asking when you're going to marry me or anything like that are you? I know from the way Grandma was talking it will be the first thing her and Aunt Jessie hit you with when we get to their house."

Reaching over, he put her hand on her belly. "And I will tell them the same thing I told momma and dad. I will marry you as soon as you tell me yes."

Dani smiled, "which will be as soon as you get around to asking me, but since neither of us are in any hurry, then it will be when it will be."

It was true; neither of them was ready to make that commitment just yet. For one she was still getting used to being pregnant, and then there was the matter of Nick and Jessie being free. She had the feeling that this was all the calm before the storm and when the storm hit, they would need to survive it. Her family was gradually accepting the power of their demons and she had learned to take hers to the same level as Bull. She had been able to touch both Kate and Mike in California but she still had trouble trying to find Jericho and Marie. When she did, it was like they had some kind of shield around them. Sue and Annie were easy so were her brothers Tom, Zach, and Dave. It was easy to find Bull's family, and both Kate's father and grandfather were open to her as well. Her mother's side was hard; all their demons seemed to be in some kind of sleep mode. Maybe it was the idea that they were all content with their lives and had no reason to worry about such things.

"Get some rest Bull, you're driving a while before we stop for the night...and you were up way before I was."

He grinned as he shifted in the seat. "In more ways than one, but you're right, I need to grab an hour or two of shut eye. Your dad has been a slave driver this past week, between catching up all the work at the shop, putting this, his bike and Mike's RV in for total checks it's been almost non-stop. Wake me up if you start getting sleepy or just need to talk."

She would, but right now she felt fine. It felt good to be on the road, going somewhere doing something besides the usual things back in Elton. The back of the truck was packed with sleeping bags, tents and other camping gear as well as Bull's motorcycle and luggage. She had wondered about the motorcycle but then Bull had explained.

"That old thing and I have been together since I was nineteen. I worked a summer for a farmer to pay it and my room and board off. I just want to give it a decent funeral."

She had nodded and helped him load it with full understanding. It still made no sense why Nick or Jessie had done such wanton damage around the place, not to mention what had been done to Sue's and Annie's. Oh, she knew what her mom had told her and all, but it felt like this went beyond simple revenge. It was more like Nick had exploded inside somewhere and he was taking his hatred of the entire world out on them. Once or twice she had felt like he was trying to touch her demon, but she had been able to resist his touch, and a blast of anger had been returned. Oh yes, he was filled with an unnatural rage and anger and it made her wish her dad had never been friends with him.

To distract her mind, she turned on the stereo and found a CD that held music she had recorded herself. Nothing too hard, just some songs she liked and a singer came on about wanting to learn what love was. She smiled as she knew that she now knew, that Bull had been her teacher and she loved him madly in return for giving her such a wonderful gift. She let herself give him a quick glance and saw he was asleep. Good, he needed his rest.

Considering how late they had started and the leisurely pace, when they reached the campground on the east side of the Snake River, everyone was ready to stop. It was still light enough to set up the tents, and Bull went with her dad to find a burger joint in the truck. By the time they got back she was ready for dinner and bed. Her mom and dad appeared as eager, but she wondered if it was the idea of being on camping trip and headed south or the fact that neither of them had ridden the Harley this far in a very long time. She had noticed as soon as they parked that both of them had moved a bit slower getting off then they had getting on.

As for her, she just felt tired and ready for a good sleep. Bull was the same way and it wasn't long after dark when they snuggled down in the sleeping bags and drifted off to sleep. Rose had her usual spot, at their feet in her own little bed, and no one in the camp was aware of how her fur bristled and she gave out a low growl once all was still and quiet around them. 

Rose wasn't the only animal around the campground that reacted to the truck that cruised through in the middle of the night. All four of the puppies reacted in their own way and it was transmitted to several other dogs in camps near them. When the truck showed signs of stopping a huge German Shepherd not far away did what he had been trained for, and the barking was enough to start every other animal barking and soon the entire campground was awaken by people checking outside the tents and RV's to see what had stirred the animals. Only a ranger was aware that the truck that sped out had been one who had gone in earlier looking for a place to park. He hadn't been able to get a license number or the name of the two men in it. He was careful to note the description and the manner of the disturbance in his daily report.

Dani noted that when the barking woke her, she was feeling nauseated and the familiar sick feeling that she had when the Jensen's were around. A ribbon of cold surrounded her and she sighed as Bull pulled her close and they drifted back off to sleep.

Bull listened as the ranger talked to Jack and Mike about the disturbance last night. It was still early morning and the walk had been mainly to get stiff muscles working after yesterday. Jack especially had admitted he was sore and stiff in all the places he shouldn't be and not in those he should. "Gotten out of shape for a long distance ride, give me a couple days and I'll be back to normal."

Now the ranger was talking about the late night visitor. "Didn't get a license number, all I know for sure is it roared out of that area like a bat out of hell and headed out of here. We've had some vandalism and a few thefts in the past, which is one reason we allow dogs here. Probably some kids or something, up to no good and those dogs barking scared hell out of them."

Bull wondered it was that simple. Dani had been shivering when she snuggled back down beside him, and it hadn't been that cold last night. Rose had even come and snuggled down beside then for a while as if sensing something. When they got back to the camp, the others were beginning to stir and Dani ran by him with a smile as she headed for the bathroom. He followed behind her and waited until she appeared.

She gave him a sick looking smile as he pulled her close once they were walking back. "Morning..."

"You okay darlin'? You look pretty pale."

"I'd say it was morning sickness if I was farther along. But that doesn't start this early. I'm not what, two maybe three weeks, four at the most, been so much going on that all the days have been blurring together. I'm not even sure what day of the week it is."

"We met about six weeks ago Dani, so you're at least five weeks along, not two or three. Summer's going by fast, not sure I like that. Been too much happening all at once..."

Dani stopped and looked at him. "What's wrong Bull?"

He didn't want to worry her, maybe he was wrong, but if his gut was telling him the truth it was better to be proven wrong than to not be prepared. It was bad enough there had been no word about the Jensen's since the night they had demolished town. "Dani, does Nick know about Jack's family down in New Orleans?"

"Sure, everyone knows about grandma and...Bull you don't think..." She paled under her tan.

"Something spooked those dogs last night and I'm not so sure it was vandals or petty thieves. And you were shivering pretty badly when you snuggled down to go back to sleep, it had to have been 90 degrees outside the tent last night." He flipped open the cell phone that Jack had insisted everyone carry this trip. "Who all lives with your grandma and aunt?"

"A few servants, most of them have been there for years."

"So no one who could hold off Nick or Jessie right?"

Dani paled. "Bull ..."

His mom answered on the first ring. "Thought you might be calling today, what you need son?"

"Mom, is granny up and moving this morning?"

"Oh course I am," Granny Maylene shouted into the phone, "What you need?"

"Dani's grandma Claire and her aunt...can you feel anything near them?"

"Give me a minute...I'll check." A few moments later she came on back. "Not at the moment, but I'll keep checking. You think those crazy men come down and try to hurt those two sweet old ladies?"

"It's possible...I could be wrong..."

"No, I don't think you are. I'll tell your momma and daddy, we'll be making a trip to town, been meaning to since we all connected now, you relax, we'll look after them..."

"Thanks granny, love you and hug momma for me." He looked at Dani as he hung up. "My folks are going to go see them, granny says she doesn't think anything is happening, but she'll keep her eyes out."

"We better talk to dad."

He nodded. "Yeah, I think you're right..."

Jack agreed with Bull. "I didn't think about them going to New Orleans, but it wouldn't surprise me, I'll call momma before we leave and tell her to expect your folks Bull. I think I need to call uncle JoJo. He'll keep an eye on things too."

Dani tried to remember who uncle JoJo was. "Daddy, isn't uncle JoJo aunt Jessie's brother?"

"Yup, meanest old fucker in the South, gave me my first drink of Jack Daniels, my first ride on a Harley, got me my first piece of ass, and got me in the marines." Jack smiled. "Damn I loved that old man..."

Helen rolled her eyes. "And men hide your women, I remember the first time he met me, I had bruises from all the pinches he gave me on the ass before I turned around and gave him a black eye. Damn dirty minded old fart..."

Bull laughed as she jumped when Jack reached over and pinched his wife's ass. "But Honey, that was just uncle JoJo's way of saying he liked you."

"I would have preferred he not like me..."

When they were packed up to leave, Dani threw him the keys, and gathered up Rose. "You drive first shift today, I'll play shotgun. And Rose will be our fearless guard dog..."

"Won't be long before she'll be the right size, hard to believe she's getting so big so fast..."

"It's that food Dave got for her. All the pups are growing like weeds. Going to need to get her a collar pretty soon..." Dani nuzzled the puppy's fur. "What you think, pink with diamonds or black leather with spikes?"

He chuckled. "Rose is like you, not the pink diamond type, definitely the black leather and spikes. Though I must admit I like the frilly stuff you and the girls picked up on your trip to Portland. Even your dad was looking at you as if asking what happened to his daughter."

"I just needed to update my clothes, I can't help it that the store was having a big sale and I was able to get all those things so cheap, and you don't seem to mind."

"Oh hell no, all those little skirts that show off your legs and ass so well, no wonder I been walking around with a hard dick every day since. Good thing you just packed them to bring along and not wear on this trip. We would never get where we're going otherwise."

"Hmm, maybe we can talk mom and dad into stopping early tonight, have some private time..."

"Only if we gag each other, don't think the other folks in the campgrounds would like their kids hearing us moaning and groaning and yelling out like we do. Not that I mind..."

Dani lit a cigarette. "Hey, so we're a little vocal, fuck them if they can't take a joke, but you're right about the kids hearing stuff like that. Damn it Bull, I can't help it if you make me all crazy when we make love, and you just push all the right buttons..."

He nodded. "And face it; you never thought you were going to meet anyone like me did you."

"No, but I'll tell you what, even Sue admitted that she has never seen me so content and happy in my life since we been together. She still feels like a fool for acting the way she did the night you two met, said if she had bothered to talk to you instead of coming on like a bitch in heat, none of it would have happened. Though she does blame you for making her brain go all crazy, said that kiss you gave her was like an orgasm all by its self. I told her I understand completely. I am glad she and Tom are doing so good, even her dad likes him which surprises hell out of me, but I guess it works. You on the other hand, he considers some demon from hell sent by Satan to destroy all of us, what the hell did you do that man?"

Bull chuckled. "Not a damn thing sweetheart, but the night me and Zach took Annie and Sue out, I just took her home and he came out looking like a demon himself. I was waiting for the fire and brimstone to start when he was telling me to stay away from her and when I could finally get a word in edgeways, I just told him it wasn't his daughter I was there for. I guess it was a good thing I was sitting down, if he had seen me standing up, I bet he would have upgraded me to being Satan himself."

Dani nodded. "No doubt, that man is strange. I mean he is a good man and all, but something about him just creeps me out at times. You get this feeling he's going to start preaching if you just say the wrong word."

"He reminds me of a preacher we had while I was in jail, big old guy who was like the main preacher in the area. Talk about fire and brimstone. He used to scare some of the hardest men I have ever seen in my life. One Sunday he got to preaching and by the time he was done, he had this one con, a huge black guy who had killed eight or nine people while he was high on meth literally in tears with all his talk about hell and how the evil in him was so thick, it was all the preacher could do to keep from gagging on it. Actually the guy wasn't as bad as he seemed. He had just found the wrong kind of drug to use. Swore if he ever got out of prison he was going to move to the hills, plant some pot and spend the rest of his life just smoking the weed, and making love to his women..."

"His women...?" 

"Dani, when visitor's day came, he had half the visitor's area filled with his wife, at least ten or fifteen girlfriends, lady friends and occasional lovers, not to mention all their kids, every damn one of which looked just like him. And let me tell you, when he appeared, every one of them were waiting patiently while he hugged and kissed, and petted all the ones who had gotten there before they had. Those women loved that man, and they didn't care how many others there were as long as they got their share of his attention."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 10



"You're kidding right?"

"Gospel truth love, some of those women were damn fine looking too, and you could tell they were just itching for some way to get him alone for five minutes. There was one, a little gal who the guards finally had to tell she couldn't come back no more, she was forever leaving behind little presents for him, once the guards found a pair of pink panties just soaked with juice in the pocket of his overalls. They found out because she had been wearing them when she came in and she made the mistake of bending over in this cute little skirt and showing her pussy off to every inmate and guard in view. I thought sure as hell they were going to have a riot on their hands."

"And of course, you were a southern gentleman and averted your eyes right?"

"Hell no, I looked just as much as anyone else, that night when you came to me in my dreams, I remember me asking you to bend over just the way she had. When you did, I came so fucking hard; I thought I was going to have come on the ceiling of my cell. Of course I thought the man who was visiting me was going to have a damn heart attack. He was some jackass from the state who was there finding out all my assets and crap like that to help make so called restitution to that gal and her pimp. Not that I had to be there to see it, the word spread through the prison like wildfire and it didn't help the next weekend when she stood out in the damn parking lot and was flashing the guards trying to get one of them to let her back in. Only person I ever heard of who had a restraining order filed against her by a state. They said she was a menace to the safety and well being of not only the prisoners, but the guards as well."

"Well, you know now I am going to remember that story every time I bend over around you..."

Bull laughed. "Believe me honey, I think of it every time you bend over in front of me. Her pussy didn't look half as good to me as yours does up close and personal baby."

He stretched out his arm, and she moved to settle next to him. Watching the road ahead, Bull thought how good she felt next to him and how much he loved her. Old Billy could have all his women; he was perfectly content with his beautiful Dani and the child growing inside of her.

Jack laid back on the king sized bed and sighed. Helen had been surprised when he had pulled into the motel for the night instead of the campgrounds they had planned on staying at, so had everyone else. Well, they were just going to have to rough it for one night, he was too damn old to be sleeping on the ground and he had other reasons for needing his privacy tonight. His main one was coming out of the bathroom after a shower and looking as beautiful as ever. She smiled as she stopped in the doorway and looked at him.

"Should I start finding motels along our route, and cancel all the campgrounds?"

He smiled. "I already told Mike to do just that. So by now he has reserved all the rooms and canceled all the campgrounds."

Her smile faded, "you agree with Bull, you think that it was Nick and Jessie who was in the campground last night."

"I think it's pretty damn suspicious. And I am still kicking myself for not thinking that he knows about momma and Aunt Jessie. Helen, you didn't see him that day he came by the shop...he was a wild man, and I keep thinking what Tom told me about his momma..." He shuddered. "God, no wonder you hated him so much, if anyone did that to momma or Aunt Jessie, I would kill first, ask questions later."

Helen came to the bed and crawled on it to settle next to him. "Well, it's good of Bull's family to go and check on them, wouldn't be surprised if they left a few of Bull's male relations behind to help out until we get there. Did you get a hold of JoJo yet?"

Jack remembered his conversation with his uncle earlier. "He and Ilene are in Tampa, but they're headed back to New Orleans first thing in the morning. Mean time, he's having Jo Jr. and a couple of his other sons go visit and keep an eye on things. Seems he finally found a reason to be glad one of his sons turned out to be a cop. Hard to believe Jo Jr. is getting ready to retire from the force, been one as long as I can remember. Course, he is pushing sixty, which only reminds me how close I am getting to that magic number. Remember Helen when we were young and we swore up and down we would never get that old? Where did the time go?"

"Well you got a few years Jack, and believe me, you will always be that tall, good looking Marine who rode up beside me and asked me if I knew where the old Lazarus place was. I took one look at you and creamed my jeans right then and there. I had never seen a man like you, which is probably why I understood what happened to Bull and Dani so fast. It was the same thing with her, she had never a man who could outdo her daddy, and when she did, it was all over in a heartbeat."

"Well, I still wish he hadn't gotten her pregnant so fast. Why the hell didn't I let you put her on the pill as soon as she turned sixteen? You want the truth, I felt relieved when she didn't seem to be as man crazy as Sue or get all those crushes on older men like some girls do. I was worried she might be gay like momma, but I guess in my own way I felt it was better than losing her to some man who might treat her the way Nick treated Shelia. Well, her and Bull might play rough, but I know he will never slap her around or do some of the things to her that Nick would do to Shelia."

Helen shook her head. "No he won't and you can bet he is going to be just as protective and just as loving about his children as you've been all these years Jack." Her hand moved down the middle of his chest and found the bulge that she had been teasing all day. "Shower's free, why don't you go take one then come on back out, I'll be waiting for you..."

"Couldn't I just take a shower afterwards, and then you could come take another one with me?" He moved to let his hand caress her breast and bent to nuzzle her neck. Moving his hand down, he opened her legs and cupped the softness that he found there. Slipping one finger in to her warmth, he moved his lips up to her ear, "hmm, as ready as you feel, do you really want to wait and just think we might even be able to pull a double run tonight, say one here and one in the shower."

It didn't take Helen a lot to be convinced...

To be continued...



Dani and the Bull Ch. 11



   Author's Note:

  Sorry this one has been a little late in coming, but writer's block has struck again and I haven't been able to get my mind to agree with Dani or Bull about anything they suggest...I did however put them up on their own pages on Facebook: They said they were getting bored just sitting around in my head all the time, so there they are. The only thing is now, Reni and Devon from A Ride to Heaven and Back, (in case you haven't read their story yet) want their own Facebook pages too, and if it will keep them happy until I work out their latest problems, I just might do it. Hopefully the writer's block will leave before the holidays come because I have an idea for a holiday story concerning several of my favorite characters and if all goes well, by the New Year I should be back up and running at full speed. I hope. 

  Thanks for your patience, and just a reminder, if you see any of my writing on any website but Literotica, then I didn't put it there. This site is the only one you will ever see the real Darkstone57 and her cast of loony but loving folks.

  Happy Halloween all

  Darkstone57







  Chapter 11







  Dani ran her lips over the swollen head of Bulls cock and teased it unmercifully as he groaned and grunted over her head. She knew she wasn't playing fair but she loved every minute of it. Not only couldn't he touch her, but he couldn't cry out or say one word while she did this. It had started out as a joke, but it had turned into a battle of wills and she was determined to win. As it was, she had to keep her hands from touching him the whole time she was sucking him off and he had to do the same when he ate her pussy after she was done. It would be easier for him if he just lay down and put his hands under him, but no, he had to prove he could do it kneeling over her and keeping his hands behind his back.

  The only problem was she was having trouble taking him too far in her mouth and without feeling like she wanted to throw up. Let just the head start to tickle the back of her throat and she was gagging, it was damn annoying and she finally drew back and looked at him.

  "You win, I can't get in deep enough and every time I take him to the back, I feel like I want to throw up." A sudden wave of frustration slid over her. She had been nauseated every since she had come up from the swimming pool and dinner had come up shortly after she ate it. Bull had come with her, and they had been watching television and just relaxing in the motel room before the joke. Now her mood was totally sour and it was no one's fault but her own. She had to be the one who had gotten pregnant so damn fast, 

  Bull lay down beside her and pulled her close. "Its okay honey, you mom told you what it was, and as soon as we get to New Orleans, you are going to go see a doctor. Have you checked the little one lately, maybe he just doesn't like traveling."

  "That could be, it has been years since I was this far from home." Closing her eyes, she touched her demon first, who while looking a little green its self seemed in good humor. The spark of their son was growing daily, and while not totally aware of his mother's touch, seemed to feel contented and snug in her womb. "He's fine; Dee seems a little green though, so maybe it is just the damn morning sickness. It just doesn't feel like I should be as far along as I am. We met on the seventh of June, my birthday was the tenth and we figure he was conceived the twelfth, right, this is the end of July, so 18 and 28, that makes forty-six days. Okay, everyone is right, it's been six weeks. So it could be the morning sickness. I just make a very lousy patient Bull. I hate getting sick and when I am I make everyone miserable. And if I have to go through this for the next nine months, everyone is going to hate me."

  He stroked her forehead, and smiled. "No one is going to hate you honey, I saw my momma go through this a lot, and other women I grew up around. It's just part of being a mother, and a dad in a lot of ways. You suffer it physically; we suffer it by watching you suffer." He slipped his had along her cheek, and turned her head to face his. "I wish we had been less hot and more responsible, and then you wouldn't be going through this so fast. I keep thinking I should have let your dad kick my ass that one day. Knock some sense into my brain."

  Dani giggled, "But who would have knocked it into mine. You were just making up for five years of enforced celibacy. I saw a good thing and took advantage of it. And yes, when we get to grandma's I will go to a doctor. Mom said that we should have done it before we left, but its okay, I feel fine except for the being sick." Reaching down she let her fingers tickle his soft cock. "And as long as it doesn't hurt me or the baby to have sex, I fully intend to keep right on going the way we are. I just can't give him the nice tongue baths I like to until this passes."

  "True. But he likes the feel of your fingers too, and he loves the way your pussy is always so welcoming.  We'll be at your grandma's day after tomorrow. When I called momma earlier, she said all was fine and they were having a nice visit with their old friends, I guess daddy is enjoying the vacation, he's been painting and just kicking back these past few days. Which momma is glad to see. He's been pushing himself hard this past year."

  Which brought another thought to Dani, "Are you going to talk to him about your idea of you working on the boat engines? You both know that you aren't the type of man for the fishing, but even dad said you have a soft touch with the engines and such. Said he never met a man who could just hear it and tell what was wrong like you can, except for old Max."

  "That old man is a wonder. The day your dad took me over to meet him, I couldn't believe he was still able to turn a wrench as crippled up as his hands are, but he just acted like he was still sixteen and getting started on his first job." Bull shook his head, "I hope I am as able to do things as he is when I get as old as he is. I still can't believe he is pushing seventy, he doesn't look it."

  "Well, neither does Grandma Dee, and outside of his heart, grandpa doesn't look his age. The three of them were friends all the time they were growing up, and to hear grandma tell it, Max was the number two man in her life for a long time. Said she played the two of them against the each other until they both got wise to her, and made her choose one or the other. She told me it was a hard choice, both of them so good looking and all and so hot in bed."

  "They were both your grandma's lovers?"

  "So she says, and I see no reason to doubt it considering her family has always been a little odd about such things. Half of Grandma Dee's family doesn't believe in marriage and the half that does, well they do it for the kids. Says it makes things easier for them, you know, when I think about it, I think mom and dad, despite their oddball ways at times, are more normal then I've given them credit for all these years."

  "Scary thought huh?" He chuckled.

  "Terrifying," She was feeling better now, and she ran her fingers along the inside of his leg. "So you won the bet, what would you like as a prize?"

  Bull answered her question by kissing her deeply, and letting his fingers slip down between her legs, Dani knew she was wet enough to accept him easily but sometimes Bull liked a little extra lubrication, especially when he was in the mood for things a little rough. She still hadn't seen this so called sadist side he claimed to have because of his demon. Rough yes, demanding at times, and he enjoyed it when he heard her beg for him to fuck her or when he held her down to the bed, but so did she, and until the day he proved to her that such a monster existed in him, she was never going to believe he had done what the Georgia courts said he had done.  Personally, she believed what Sheriff Sheridan had said. He had been set up.

  When she was wet enough to his tastes, he looked at her. "Ride me."

  She smiled as she slipped her leg over his hips and positioned herself so he was directly under her. Dani liked this type of payback, it was like he was giving her complete control and she liked that too, she could tease him and it was her turn to pin him back to the bed with her hands. He never took his eyes off her when they were like this, lowering herself down to where he was just barely in her, then a little more and drawing back up. "What do you want Bull?"

  He grinned. "I want your pussy to fuck me honey, I want to feel you ride him and make him come inside you. Ride me baby, make me your stud who you love to have service you."

  Her voice took on a soft honey coated drawl that she seemed to be picking up from him and she licked her lips as she looked down into his eyes. "Can I tease you, can I make you beg for it Bull?" She lowered herself down a little farther, and then pulled up as she felt him start to lift his hips. "Or would you prefer this?" With a groan she pushed down so he was completely inside her and she moved her hips in a circular motion. He had been startled the first time she did it, and then he had seen her all dressed up in the harem costume and watched in fascination as she preformed the belly dance that she and her friends had learned. He had gone hard as a rock, pulled her down on top of him and when he came it had been like a rocket blasting off.

  "Oh honey, like that if you please. Damn you are such a tease Dani, it's no wonder I am always so fucking hot for you. You're my woman, my life, and before that baby inside you is born you are going to be my wife. But for now, you're my lover and my cock is aching to fill you already..."

  Pulling his hands free of hers, he gripped her hips and began to move up to meet her downward motions. She loved his staying power, but today she wanted more and she gave him control of the situation, "then fill me Bull, my body is yours to do with as you please, and you do please me so well." She ran her hands along the upper part of her body and touched herself in ways she knew Bull liked. He licked his lips as she twisted and pulled her nipples then caressed and fondled her breasts, before slipping a finger down between them and rubbed her clit. Not that she needed the extra stimulations, Bull did just fine, she just knew he liked watching her play with her pussy. Just the way he liked watching her bend over and flash him shots of her pussy and ass.

  She loved playing games with him and there were times she liked it when they were lying in bed and he would start stroking his cock and work it until he came and she would be rubbing her bare body against him the whole time, he was even working to figure out some way to make her ass maybe someday be able to take his cock instead of just his fingers or tongue.

  "Come for me baby..." He was getting close, she could hear it in his voice and she smiled softly. "Come for me, I can't hold out much longer, I need to feel it..."

  The words slipped out before she could stop them. "Make me Bull, make me..." She felt his demon roar to life and he began to move up harder and harder. The bed was shaking and then she felt one of the hardest climaxes she had felt in the time they had been together wash over her. She cried out and felt him begin to come as well. For what felt like hours they trembled and shook and her juices mixed with his. Her demon and his flared as they had never flared before, and as she sank down to cover him with her body, she felt the second spark join the first. It had a soft touch and the fetus in her uterus welcomed it with a warm glow. She knew Bull could feel it as well, and he looked at her with sad eyes.

  "Dani, honey, I think my daddy just died..." His voice quivered and he began to cry, still joined together, they rolled over and she held him in her arms until he had nothing left. When the cell phone went off an hour later, she didn't need to look to know it was her grandmother's number or hear Massie's sorrow filled voice to know it was true.

  Bull sat in the café booth and stared down at his coffee. His daddy was dead. Just a few short hours and he would have been there when it happened. His momma had told him it had been quick; he had just put down his paint brush and keeled over. No warning, no pain, he had just left her. The family back in the swamps had been notified, and she and Maylene would be staying in New Orleans until he and Dani arrived. Tom DuFrey would be coming today from home to pick up the body and take it to the funeral home the Marquaille family had been using for years. As was the family tradition, he would be laid out for five days, giving all the family time to assemble and pay their last respects.

  His daddy was gone. His spark now resting in the baby Dani carried inside her. A piece of his daddy's soul gone home to blood, just as the spark that had flared before had been a piece of Charles Lazarus's soul, and others who had gone before him. Now their child carried the spark of all the Lazarus's clan and that of his family as well. He had known he would never see his daddy alive again, and now he knew why, his father had known this was coming.

  Jack reached out and Bull felt the older man's hand on his shoulder, "I don't need to ask how you're doing son, I know how it feels to lose a daddy, and you have my sympathy, you want to stay over another day, or press on to New Orleans...?"

  He looked up into the faces of his new family.  And they were family, the whole damn Lazarus family, not just because of him and Dani, but because of the relationship between his family and hers long before he was born. Long before Dani was born. He was sure that if they compared family trees, they would find that this wasn't the first time their blood had been mingled. He was damn sure of it in fact. What was happening now had been a long time in the making.

  "I need to get to momma and Granny Maylene. So we need to go on Jack. I don't think I could handle just sitting around here all day and night anyway."

  "Well, let's have some breakfast and then get on the road." Jack looked at Dani, "feel up to eating this morning baby girl?"

  She nodded, and Bull saw her eyes were red and tired. She had stayed up with him most of the night, holding him when he cried and doing her best to take some of his pain away. "Mike, any way you or Dave could drive the truck today?"

  Dani shook her head, "no way is either of those maniacs are driving my truck. I'll be okay. I need something to keep my mind occupied anyway."

  She ate breakfast but Bull noticed she was careful what she ate and that she ate very slowly. After loading the bags back in the truck, she climbed behind the wheel and he looked at her. "You start getting sick, or anything, you pull over and tell me. You hear me woman?"

  Her eyes danced at his tone, "Hey dad, how you have changed." She giggled and started up the truck. "I'm okay Bull, I promise."

  It didn't stop him from worrying and he did his best to stay awake as they drove out of Texas and into Louisiana. The music changed from the Texas twang to the Cajun fiddle and the New Orleans jazz that he remembered from his youth. It had been a long time, and he felt as if he had come full circle in his life. This time though, he wasn't alone, he had come home with the woman of his dreams and his child still waiting to experience all he had known himself.

  Even Jack seemed to feel the difference in the air as they stopped for dinner that night. He looked at Bull, and nodded. "Almost home son, you can smell the bayou even this far north can't you?"

  Bull took a deep breath of the sultry night air. "Yes sir I can. And the closer we get the stronger it will be."

  They were standing on the surrounding deck of the motel rooms that were adjoining and Bull smiled as Helen came out and joined her husband. She looked at him and smiled. "I forgot how good the air smells down here, and listen to that fiddle player. Makes me feel like wanting to go down to the bar and dance the night away."

  Jack laughed. "Maybe you should have been born down here Helen, instead of me. But if you had, I don't think you would have ever left."

  "No, I don't think I would have. I can understand why you two did, but this place; it has a feel to it, a mystic feel. Like all the secrets of life are out there, and you just need to know where to look."

  Dani came out on the terrace. "Just close your eyes and take a deep breath and you can find it in the air."

  The slam of demon power hit just as they did what she suggested, and Bull grabbed for her as she started to stumble. he watched as she went to her knees and this time she didn't hold back from the vomit that came up to choke her. At the same time his demon and those of Jack and Helen roared to life to protect her and the baby. Mike, Dave and Katie came in with the same roar, and he felt the surprise from Nick and Jessie both.

  It was Jack who roared the loudest this time. "This is our territory Nick, you want my daughter, but you're going to have the fight of your life on your hands.  You never saw what the bayou holds, but I will tell you this, you are alligator feed if you come near us again."

  They heard the roar of the truck and then saw it as it fled the parking lot, almost taking out an incoming car. Dave was out the door and in the parking lot starting his Harley and heading out to be sure of their escape route even as Bull and Jack left Helen to take care of Dani, and met up with Mike in the lobby of the motel, "The truck!"

  It had a good plan; it was too bad that it was sitting on three slashed tires and two on the RV. Jack kicked the side of the truck and flipped open his cell to call Dave. "Break off son; they slashed the tires on both the truck and the RV. Come on back and let's get ready to move out as soon as we can get these things fixed."

  Kate met then as they headed back to the office. "The manager called the cops. Seems he's got some excellent security cameras around here, and it's all on tape."

  The manager looked at them as they came back into the lobby. "How bad is it folks?"

  Jack frowned. "Two RV tires and three on our pick up, lucky for us you told us about that spot under the stairwell so both the Harley's came out unscathed."

  "Hey, those two asses bothered me the minute they came in asking about you all not long after you checked in. Said you all were friends who had gotten separated on the freeway. When I asked if they would be checking in or if I could let you know they had arrived, they both booked out of here like a swamp gator was on their asses. That's when I made sure the cameras were working and I called about the stairwell. As for the tires, let me call a buddy of mine, has a tire store just down the road, he'll give you a good discount, him loving Harley's as much as I do." He sniffed the air. "You ever meet someone that you can just smell the trouble on them? That's how I felt about those two when they walked in. And by the way, Beau Marquaille, you might not remember me, but take a good look at the face. It would look a hell of a lot worse if you hadn't pulled those three guys off me over in GSP."

  Bull took a long look at the tall, slender man with bright red hair and an x cut into his left cheek. "Red LaGrange, what the hell you doing here, I thought you still had five more years before you got parole."  

  "Early release, they got a big investigation going on back there, looking into a bunch of convictions and how the judges back there like to give some outrageous sentences. Man, hard to believe we ran into each other here, hey what ever happened with you and that girl you told me about, the one you kept dreaming about...?"




Dani and the Bull Ch. 11



As if on cue, Dani and her mom came walking up, "Bull, I don't feel so good right now..." She moved next to him and wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his shoulder. Bull grinned as he saw Red look at her.

  "You mean she really was real? I thought you were always so full of shit...even with those drawings you had...Is she okay, she looks kind of pale right now, and does she need a place to sit down..."

  "She's okay, we're going to have a baby and she's been feeling sick a lot." He ran a hand over her hair, "Hey Dani honey, this is Red LaGrange, he and I are old friends..."

  She looked and nodded. "Hi, I...I'll be fine, and it's nice to meet you."

  Bull didn't need to ask if Red doubted his visions now, his bright green eyes were looking into Dani's amber ones and it was clear he understood why his onetime cell mate had felt the way he had. "Oh man, tell me there are more like you out there somewhere Dani, I been hearing about you for five years and now that I meet you, I can understand why. Just tell me your home town, your last name and I will be on the road there tomorrow..."

  That brought chuckles from Jack and her brother. "Sorry son, only girl in the family, but she's got cousins, lots of female cousins. Most of which are unmarried come to think of it."

  Dave walked into the lobby, "Hey dad, the cops are here, I showed them the RV and the truck but they need to talk to you."

  Dani perked up, "What the hell happened to my truck...?"

  "You a couple flat tires, that's all honey...and a small dent where your dad kicked it..." Bull said the last part in a softer toned voice.

  Her amber eyes turned liquid as she looked at her dad, "You kicked my truck, that's my truck, how would you feel if I went and kicked your precious Harley?"

  Everyone watched as her dad escaped out the door to avoid his daughter's wrath and Bull looked at his old friend. "Didn't I tell you she was going to be something special?"

  "That you did..." Red grinned. "I better go get those security tapes, you all just relax for a while, and as soon as the man with the tire shop comes by about six, he stops in for coffee and pastry, I'll tell him what happened."

  Jack showed the police officers the slashed tires and together they went over the two vehicles with flash lights and checked for other damage. The crimes were petty compared to what they were wanted for back home, but the man in charge told Jack it was still a good idea that they had the tapes and their names and descriptions.

  "The fact those two are following you this far south, you can bet they won't give up so easy, I'll call this sheriff back in Oregon and get someone the phone to the state patrol. Get copies of the warrants from your home town and those in Texas. Hell of a home coming for you and your family..."

  Jack nodded. "To make it worse, that big guy inside, he's from the bayou country, his folks are in New Orleans visiting my family, we just got word last night that his daddy just died and this is going to kick us back a few hours."

  "You don't say, that seems to be happening to a lot of folks right now, one of my men, he got word his uncle passed away last night too." The man in charge with the name of Murphy on his Sergeant's badge looked at one of the other men with him. "Hey, Bill, didn't Jean-Claude tell you his uncle was from the bayou, the guy who passed away last night? I know he was all broke up, said he had spent his summers as a kid out working his uncle's fishing boats down in the channels?"

  "Yeah, J.C. said it was one thing he was going to miss about the old man, being able to go out on the boat and get some real fishing in. Course, he's got kids galore. He's planning on heading south tomorrow to go pay his respects and see how his aunt Massie is."

  Jack looked at the man who had been speaking. "You don't mean Massie Marquaille do you?"

  The officer looked surprised. "Yeah I do how you know..."

  Jack shook his head, "because her son Beau is in the lobby of the motel, him and my daughter are together. Massie's why we're upset about this happening. She's at my momma's house in New Orleans."

  "Well hell, let me get J.C. on the phone, and get him over here. If that is his cousin Beau, well they ain't seen each other since they were kids..."

  Jack nodded. "Let me go tell Bull, he's be is not going to believe this, first an old friend from jail and now a cousin who's a cop. And I thought my life was messed up at the moment..."



  To be continued



Dani and the Bull Ch. 12



   Authors Note:

  So here I am back again, after three crashed hard drives, and two computers, I finally got to the stories I thought I had lost forever and believe me it will not happen again. I will be doing my best to do some more work on them and A Ride to Heaven and Back Part 2 in the near future. You'll also find that Dani and Bull decided to pull some twists and turns on me that needless to say I was not prepared for but that will come clear in a later chapter. Not only do they have to battle the forces of good and evil, but now they have to return the balance of nature to its rightful place.

  What a mess, but they will muddle through as always, and I just hope I can do them the justice they deserve.

  Hugs

  Darkstone57







  Chapter 12







  Dani sat in the café booth and rested against Bull, it was morning now and after a long night the only thing left to do was wait for the tires to be replaced. Meantime she was listening to Bull, Red and Bull's cousin J.C. talk about odd shit happening. She was still recovering from the sickness that had hit here when she had realized Nick and Jessie were close by. It had never been so bad before, she hadn't even had the strength to call her demon to help Bull and the others fight him off. What the hell had Nick hit her with last night?

  "Are you sure you don't need to go see a doctor Dani...?" J.C. looked at her with concern in his eyes, the same color eyes that her beloved Bull had. His daddy was one of Pierre's brothers, one who had left the bayou for a career in the Army and after his own stint in the Marines; J.C. had settled in this small town and joined the police department. 

  "I'll be fine, just cold and still feeling a little nauseated. Bull will warm me up later..." She felt weak and it showed in her voice, and lack of energy.

  The two men grinned at her as they looked at the way Bull kept his arm around her in his possessive manner. "I'm sure he will Dani, still can't believe you've come back Beau, most of the family thought you were dead when we heard you had run off, only your daddy, and your momma kept telling everyone that you weren't. I think a lot of us thought since you were so young when you did it that something bad had happened to you. But I can honestly tell daddy and the others that you are very much alive, and you found yourself one hell of a good looking woman in the process." He grinned then his voice took a serious tone. "Beau, last night..."

  Red smiled, "You can ask him, we spent five years in the same jail cell, I know all about his demon. I felt it last night, what the hell you think made me think of Beau. Only felt power like that once or twice before, usually when someone pissed him off big time."

  J.C. nodded, "so it was you I felt last night, but there was more and something else..." He sounded concerned.

  Dani gave him a nod. "Part of it was from my family, the other thing you felt belonged to a man named Nick Jensen. I know he hit me with something last night, something new. I can normally recover from one of his attacks easy, but not this one. I think I need to get to Massie and Maylene for the answers...even my demon is feeling weak and not up to par. Wouldn't be so bad, but me and Bull, we're having a baby..."

  "That explains it, I can see the charms, but that baby doesn't have any protection. He's not attacking you Dani; he's attacking your unborn child. I remember Massie and Maylene talking about such things when I would go to visit. We need to get you to New Orleans as soon as possible."

  Red looked at them, "Well count me in, I owe Beau my life, he saved my ass more times than I care to think, and I ain't going to sit here on my ass wondering if you all are okay. I can find a new job down south, if I don't head up to Oregon when this is all over." He grinned as he stood up, "just don't go leaving without me."

  "I promise we won't..." Though if she didn't get to feeling better she didn't know what was going to happen. Nick was attacking her son? She wanted to hear more but her maternal instinct was taking over and she went inside herself to check on the fetus, yes, she saw it now, a dark spot and it was growing, the sparks of the families doing their best to hold it back, but the darkness was strong and most were struggling to not fade. She noticed that Pierre's spark and that of her grandfather Charles were the strongest. "Bull, he's right, I need to get to your momma, and granny Maylene..."

  She began to shiver and Bull half carried her out into the bright sunshine. The truck was loaded, and ready to go, even as he carefully helped her in, Red came rolling up on a sweet looking Harley Electra-Glide and smiled brightly. Her brother Dave was ready to go as well, and Mike brought Rose to her.

  "She's been whining all night, trying to get to you. Dads' in paying for the tires and all, he says get your asses moving. We'll catch up."

  J.C. nodded. "I got some business to take care of but I'll catch up too, hit the freeway and don't stop for anyone. I got some friends on the highway patrol force, they'll help, and most of them are bayou boys too..." He grinned and touched her face. "You'll be fine cousin; you got a whole family who will be watching out for you."

  His touch seemed to help warm her as much as the blanket her mom had brought out and the feel of Rose against her as well, she saw Bull's look of fear. "Get us to New Orleans honey, I know you'll get us there safe, I'm letting you drive my truck aren't I?"

  Bull smiled and reached out to touch her face. "Yes you are love, now rest. Protect our child; I'll get you to Momma and grandma."

  The trip south was like a dream to Dani, she knew they stopped for gas, and she could hear the purr of her truck engine as well as her brother's Harley and the Electra-Glide. Various voices spoke to her in her mind and the clearest were her grandfather and a soft, low voice she was sure was that of her lovers' father. She could hear Massie and Maylene's as well, their tones more like a chant than anything, and her mind filled with what sounded like a hundred women's voice reciting the same chant. Her voice was there as well, and her momma and Katie...Sue and Annie were chanting, and her grandma Dee, all of them weaving some kind of spell around her and her child.

  At the house in New Orleans, it was Bull and Jessie who helped her inside, up the wide sweeping staircase and into a room filled with a thousand candles. A tall, stately woman with rich cocoa skin and bright shining eyes stood waiting and they quickly stripped off her clothes. There was a smell in the room and it seemed to ease all the fear and tension she felt as she did as Bull told her and breathed deep.

  "He's in her like a viper, they be holding him off but we need to do the spell quickly, Bull you bring her momma, and sister up here as soon as they arrive, I need all the women folk close and you men down stairs to help hold the shield we wove around this house..." The voice was old and the face that Dani saw was ancient. When Bull was gone, the old woman looked at her with a soft smile. "You and the baby going to be fine granddaughter, just going to weave a little magic to protect the boy from that evil he put in him. This may hurt, feel like you going through childbirth, but it be okay, Mister Charles and Pierre, they holding him off. You bring our Beau home child, and he bring you to us...nothing going to happen to you or the babe at all."

  Even as she spoke, a new scent came to Dani, a familiar smell, and the touch of a hand silvery light and soothing. "Lily..." She spoke the name and a soft breeze blew across her face. "Lily is here..."

  "That's right; she came to being when you were born, your own guardian angel Dani..." Massie smiled. "She's here to help, and she'll stay until you don't need her anymore."

  "I'll always need Lily...she's part of my family..."

  She wove in and out of sleep as the two bayou women wove the spell around her and the baby. She could feel Nick fighting the spell, and Rose whimpered as she licked her face and yet stayed close. Like before she could heard the voices of women chanting and the sounds of men repeating after them. Bull and her father came through the strongest, and she clung to them as the pain hit her over and over, then there were others and like before a shield seemed to come up around her child. She fell into a deep sleep as the last of Nick's evil was driven from her and her child.

  Bull woke as she moved beside him in the bed and Rose licked his face as if to tell him that Dani was coming back from her sleep of restoration. He had needed to argue with almost every woman in the house to be able to sleep with her last night, but he had been so scared, and he had needed to know he would be there when she woke. Now he felt her move close to his body and her arm wrap around his waist. He could taste her demon this morning, tired but almost back to normal, and the spark of their son was snug and secure as well. He hated to think of moving but he needed to piss and let his momma and the others know she was waking up.

  He had barely moved when her arm tightened and she mumbled, "No...don't get up yet..."

  He smiled. "I need to piss honey, don't think your grandma would appreciate me pissing all over the silk sheets we're sleeping on."

  "She'd just replace them; every bed in this place is covered with silk sheets. What color are these?"

   "A deep, rich purple, like most everything else in here, even the rug and wall paper."

  Her lips turned up in a smile. "This is the room I slept in when I was here as a little girl. I love this room..." Her eyes opened just a little. "At least I did...I don't remember it being this purple..." 

  Bull laughed and got out of bed, making his way to the bathroom, he glanced back and saw her sitting up and lighting a cigarette. When he came back, he noticed her eyes moving up and down his body. "What?" he asked the question even though he knew the answer.

  "Why the hell are you wearing those pajama pants?"

  Even before he could answer the door to the bedroom opened and her Aunt Jessie came in, followed by her grandma Claire, his momma and grandma, as well as Helen. It was Aunt Jessie who answered.  "Because young lady, the last thing we need is you two forgetting about the spell and getting busy before Massie and Maylene had a chance to come check you out."

  Dani looked at him and he nodded. "It was the only way they would let me stay here last night."

  "Well that bites...I hope you know tonight they will not be in this bed with me...we sleep nude or else..."

  Helen grinned, "She's back to normal. Told you Jessie, since she met Bull, she's turned into a little sex pot, and hellion." Her mom moved up and kissed her forehead. "Morning sweetie, feel like eating..." When she nodded, Helen looked at him. "I'll bring you both plates up. I know you didn't eat at all either yesterday Bull..."

  "No he was too busy breaking every speeding law in Louisiana." Her brother Dave came in with a bowl of food and one of water for Rose. "Sorry to interrupt, but the little lady has to have her breakfast too."

  When the little pup was eating he left the room and Bull watched as his momma and grandmother checked Dani over. Granny Maylene nodded. "You'll be fine child. Week or two in the swamps fix you up just fine. Get you out of this smoggy city air." She looked up at Aunt Jessie as the large woman started to protest. "Now Miss Jessie just be for a while. You have plenty of time with her and the man who left home as a boy. We got the house protected and your boy Jack and his sons to keep you company. We need to go home and lay Pierre to rest..."

  Dani's aunt nodded. "I forgot Maylene, just been so long since we seen her and of course, It's been fourteen years since you've seen Beau."

  Bull nodded. "not to mention that Nick and his brother will have a hard time finding her in the swamps...it will also give her some time to recover and get her strength back..."

  "Massie I apologize, it seems your long lost son does have some sense after all, when he isn't thinking with his cock. Though I had my doubts when Helen told us she was already pregnant.  Seem in this day and age, a gown man would know how to prevent..."

  Bull frowned, and despite the fact her aunt was both a lady and bigger than he was, she was pushing her luck with him. He would tolerate a lot for Dani's sake, but...

  "That's enough Aunt Jessie..." Dani's voice was sharp and biting. "It took two of us to make this baby and you know it. So leave Bull alone. And I don't want to hear you talk to him like he's some Neanderthal either, to him or about him. You don't know a single thing about him and you will give him a chance or I will take my baby and my man and I will go to the swamps and be just like my father and forget this house exists, is that understood?"

  There was a soft twitter and her grandma Lazarus smiled. "My word, she has a temper Jessie, now move your ass you old bitch and let me in to see my granddaughter."

  The only person in the room who didn't tower over her grandmother Claire was his own granny Maylene and the two old ladies were both bent over and crippled up to the extent of looking like twins if they'd had the same skin tone. Jessie moved and Bull watched as the small package of pastel chiffon and silver colored hair move up to the bed. She bent over even farther to kiss her granddaughter on the cheek and smile softly.

  "You go with Massie and Maylene, me and Jessie will be just fine and we'll be coming to the funeral anyway. As for you having your hand in making that baby, I don't doubt you're just as hot blooded as your grandfather and father were and are. Jessie and I are just concerned you getting pregnant so soon and all the trouble going on. You're our heir Dani, oh the boys will all inherit cash, but this house and a trust fund are yours when both Jessie and I are gone. And as for Bull, he's a good man, and I have no doubt he worries just as we do about it all happening so fast..."

  That was putting it mildly, the last thing he wanted to have happen was something happening to Dani or their child when it came to the final showdown with Nick. Both of them were going to be in the line of fire. All he could do was trust his grandmother's magic and hope the shield held.

  Helen returned with food, and the other ladies left the room. "Are you two okay now?"

  Dani nodded and Bull came to sit by her on the bed. "I didn't know what was happening, and I felt so sick...I want him suffering mom, I want him to be withering in pain on the ground and me standing over him laughing. I've never felt hatred for him like I do now..." Her eyes flared with the emotions she was feeling and both Helen and Bull and the others in the house felt her demon roar as it had never roared before. Even hardened men like her dad and brothers were startled by its power and Bull pulled her close.

  "Eat, you both need your strength, and so does my grandson. Bull, take care of them in the swamp, make them as strong as you, and prepare her all you can..." To his surprise, Dani's mom came and kissed him on the forehead. For a minute she held him as strongly and as close as he held Dani. "And don't be too hard on Jessie and Claire they're just two lonely old ladies who have had a hard life."

  "I won't, as long as they don't upset Dani again..."

  When Helen was gone, he made sure Dani ate and he ate what he could of his. He had little appetite and in the end, half of it was still on his plate when it joined hers on the tray. Laying back on the bed, Dani's head on his shoulder, and her fingers tracing the lines of his chest, he just felt the need to be quiet. She knew it and like him was content to just lay there and feel their closeness.

  Neither of them were surprised when they drifted off to sleep and slept until late into the evening.

  Dani woke and moved off the bed long enough to use the bathroom then go back to where Bull was just stirring. The air was cooler now, and the smell of Wisteria and Magnolias mingled together in an almost sickening sweet scent. Going to the two French doors, she threw them open and stepped out on the veranda that encircled the first and second floors. She could remember sleeping out here when she had been young but the smell of flowers not being so strong.

  When Bull came out, she settled into his arms and knew this was where she belonged, in his arms, feeling him do his best to protect her and their child. It had been no empty threat that she had spoken to her aunt Jessie, and it would have been the same no matter if it had been her grandma Claire. She would defy Heaven and Hell as well if they tried to separate them. "Bull," she kept her voice soft. "When we get to the swamp...will Maylene do the Blood Ritual if I ask?"

  He tensed, then relaxed. "Are you sure Dani, you know what that ritual means."

  She knew...Maylene had told her about it on the phone once. It was as good as a marriage ceremony, but it could only be performed by a member of one of the couple's family. It had been used in lieu of a marriage ceremony went two people of different races wanted to join, but law prohibited it. Maylene had laughed as she told Dani the stories of white women who had fallen in love with slaves or servants and come to the swamps for the ritual, and then gone home to husbands and families carrying the blood of those slaves and servants. Even funnier to her was that in more than one case, the husbands or male members had done it too at one time or another as well.

  Even as Bull asked her, she knew that it wasn't fair of her to ask him to make such a commitment right now. He was just finding his way back from being confined for five years. She knew he loved her, she knew it grew everyday that they spent together. Shouldn't that be enough for now? She made no mention of that moment he had tensed, instead she shook her head. "Forget I asked that...I guess it's just the fear of what's waiting out there for us."

  Bull nuzzled her neck. "I'm just as afraid as you are Dani, and yes, we can ask Granny to perform the ritual, but I want more from you. The ritual was hidden for so long, and is seldom used now. When you asked, I was afraid maybe you didn't want to admit to anyone...I should have known better, you stood up to your aunt without hesitation. I've never had anyone defend me like you did who wasn't my family."

  "Bull, I would defend you with my dying breath if I had to. I know a lot of people might think I was crazy, being so young and yet so determined, but I can't help it. It's like the baby, yes, I might have liked to wait until I was older and we knew each other longer, but I'm not sorry it's in me, and this baby, it was conceived in genuine love. Not the here today, gone tomorrow kind of love that most people my age feel, but a love that will go on long after you and I are ashes in the wind. I guess I am more like my family then I thought I was..."

  "Why do you say that?"

  "Because there is a thing in our family that when we fall in love, it isn't just a passing fancy, it's the real thing and it only happens once in our lifetime. Like mom, and dad, they knew from the moment they met that it was going to be them against the world. Mike and Katie, they fought like cats and dogs growing up, but one day they just looked at each other and that was that, they've been together ever since. Hell, look at Annie and Zach. It's the same way, it's like there is something in our blood that we just know. Why do you think I forgave you about Sue so fast, and so easy?"

  "I admit I had expected you to make me work for it, I know how you feel about your friends and your family..."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 12



"You are my family Bull, you and our baby, I still have my brothers, parents, just like you do, but you, and this baby are and always will be my main concern."

  "Dani, you mean all that don't you, I mean you really mean that."

  She looked at him in surprise. "Why, did you have your doubts about me?"

  "I won't say doubts, but I did wonder if sometime down the road you might begin to wonder if you had missed out on something by getting with me so fast or getting pregnant so quick. Not that you would ever tell me, or do anything to hurt me, but men and women tend to wonder sometime."

  "Well yeah, that's part of the way of humans, but if you ever have those wonders later on in our relationship if we are married or not, I will personally make sure that if you decide to leave me, you will be leaving with less than you started with." Reaching down, she stroked the front of his pajama bottoms. She felt him harden and heard his low moan. "I am a one man woman Bull, and you are that man."

  "Oh honey, you know I love you, and I will never feel the way I do about anyone else." He found her mouth and claimed it roughly, his hand moving under the lightweight gown she wore, "now, I need you now...here, feeling only each other and nothing else..."

  Dani smiled as she laid back on the rough surface of the old veranda. She didn't care that there was no mattress or pillow, only that he had said he wanted her and she wanted him just as bad. Looking up at him, she watched as he pushed down the pajamas then came down on his knees between her legs. Around them the night sang and when he plunged into her, she rose to meet him ready and anxious. "Bull, oh yes, that feels so good, feels like it's been so long. Yes, deep like that, you know how much I love it when you go so deep..."

  He groaned, and rotated his hips as well. "I know honey, I love it too. I love being so deep inside you that I can feel you everywhere. My sweet woman, my gorgeous woman, our baby inside your body, I know there will come a time that I won't be able to take you so deep, or be as rough as I have and will be, but even when I can't, we will still find ways to satisfy each other..."

  She giggled at his tone, "Bull we will find ways to satisfy each other when we are a hundred years old. You don't really think I will ever stop wanting your wonderful limb..."

  Bull's laughter was full of joy. "Oh hell no baby, not anymore then I will ever stop climbing into your hot, wet pussy..."



  From a branch in a nearby tree, two silvery shapes watched the lovers worked to satisfy their hunger for each other. One times friends in life, Pierre Marquaille, and Charles Lazarus nodded in agreement. A third shape settled between them and Lily Lazarus looked at her younger brother.

  "And you worried they might not like each other, I would say they like each other very well little brother."

  Pierre smiled. "Yes, but if this is your definition of being a like, what would you classify as love my friends?"

  "They would be setting the veranda on fire Pierre; of course there is the baby to consider."

  The lover's cries became louder now as they edged closer to their finishes, and Charles gave a small chuckle. "I must say your son is very well endowed Pierre, and my granddaughter seems to be enjoying it very well. Have they been like this since the start Lily...?"

  "Oh, this is mild, those two are like a couple virgins just learning what sex is and finding out they enjoy it. Neither one will come until the other one is just as close. But we are not here to watch them make love. Are the others in place? And do we know where the two men are?"

  "Yes, they have left the area, and are risking a trip back to Oregon. I am afraid they are not aware of what awaits them back in Elton. So we have some breathing room so to speak, tomorrow, Beau and Dani will go with Massie and the other back to the bayou, while Jack and Helen and their sons will remain here for a time."

  Pierre smiled as he watched his son make love to the woman of his choice, he found he approved even more of Dani in the flesh, both her willingness to defend his son from Jessie and her declaration of he and their child being her main concerns now. She reminded him a great deal of his dear, sweet Massie, both in temper and in the ability to cope with the love making with a man the size of him and his son. He felt a wave of sorrow that he not been able to help Beau through his most trying times, but at the same time a swell of pride that his son had turned into such a man as he had. Yes, Beau and Dani would do well; they would raise many fine children and live their lives on the bayou.

  There were similar thoughts swirling in the minds of Lily and Charles, the Lazarus family had always been one full of passion and pride. They had all lived their lives to the fullest degree and now the later generations showed the same passions and pride as well. Over the previous generations, the number of females born to the family had quickly and without thinking dropped almost to nothing. Lily, her sisters Rose and Petunia had been the first and last for over a hundred years, until Dani had been born. She would be the first female in five generations to give birth to a direct line descendent. Even Lily's son was not direct line. By rights, he had not held one drop of Lazarus blood, except for those passed down by hers. His father had been another man; the man who had been a grandson of Jacob had been as sterile as his wife. Her son had been little more than a caretaker to the house in Oregon, until a direct line heir could be born. Thankfully, Charles had pulled some magic out of his hat and produced not one but two sons, and Jack, the eldest by a mere fifteen minutes had been named the heir. He in turn had more than made up for the lack of Lazarus males; his own special gift of Dani to the world had been celebrated in the afterlife as a rebirth of family blood. The family would thrive again, and that was all that mattered.

  Lily and Charles looked down at Dani and Beau and felt a swell of family pride as strong and as binding as that which Pierre felt. Yes, the two of them would do very well together, very well in deed.



  To be continued...



Dani and the Bull Ch. 13



Author's Note:

I just want to thank everyone who has sent me feedback and all the great comments over my time away. I meant to do it sooner but to be honest, since the dam had broken on my writer's block, I have been working like a fiend, not only to get pages ready to submit but on new stories and hope nothing comes along to plug the hole of creative energy I seem to be experiencing.

I have also been working on my grammar and punctuation that seems to bother a lot of folks, but I don't think it will ever be good enough to please everyone. I was awful in school English and spelling was the only thing I could ever claim to be good at. I have considered getting that new Dragon program that lets you talk instead of type and I would really appreciate some comments and feedback from anyone who uses the program. If any of you think it might help, then please let me know.

I will be working on the chapters I have already written and submitting them as they become available. Maybe even a couple new stories if they don't mind.

Hugs

Darkstone57

*

Dani stepped out of the shower and began to dry off slowly. She felt wonderful this morning, no signs of sickness or fear of Nick and Jessie, nothing. Only a feeling calm and love surrounded her today. It had been wonderful last night; making love with Bull on the veranda as they had and feeling the air around them fill with the scent of their bodies joined in sexual release. She had needed that, as badly as Bull had and now the memory of how good it had been and exciting he had felt filled her even more.

Even their son had been soothed by it, the ordeal of the final day of the trip gone but wisely not forgotten. Instead it had been put on a back shelf and today they would leave New Orleans for Bull's family home in the bayou. She could hardly wait except for the one thing that did mar her mood. Knowing that Bull had been so close to seeing his father one last time and missed that chance didn't seem fair to her. She knew it bothered him as well but he was holding up okay. Better than she would if it was her dad who had passed away. She'd be in pieces; Jack Lazarus had been her rock for her entire short life. Still, he was getting older, and she knew that one day it would be her dad who they mourned. Time didn't stop for anyone; it didn't choose this person or that to live forever, and when she considered it, who would want that anyway?

Bull was packing up the few things they had needed for the short stay and she saw he was wearing his new jeans and a black, close fitting tee-shirt that hugged his broad chest, and showed off his muscular build. Her mom had firmly pronounced before ever leaving the house back in Oregon that he needed new things and they had spent the day in Portland shopping. His biggest splurge had been a new pair of boots and a nice, tailored looking suit jacket. Another of her mother's insistence buys. Even her dad and brothers owned one of those, they seldom wore it, but it was still nice to have.

She let out a low whistle and walked up behind him to pat his ass. "Very nice, good thing most of the women we'll be seeing will be related to you, or I might have a real reason to feel jealous."

"Not a chance in hell honey, I am a one woman man and you are that woman..." He chuckled. "I look that good huh?"

"Yes you do, very well indeed."

He turned and looked at her, "So do you, but I think you better put some clothes on before we go, that body of yours is not for view by anyone but me, and none of your short little skirts or dresses today..."

Dani pulled on a thong of lavender lace and reached for the matching bra. "Will this work?"

To say he was devouring her with his eyes would have been putting it extremely mild. "It works for me, but you better be adding some jeans and a top of some kind. I will even let you get away with shorts, considering how hot it is supposed to be, but that's as far as I go for letting you show off your body to my male relatives."

"Does that include Andre?" She had to tease him, not to be mean but to see his eyes flash and make her feel warm and loved all over...

"Especially Andre, good thing I never knew about that kiss until your mom reminded us about it. As it is, I just might have a hard time keeping from punching him in the mouth for it."

"Oh honestly Bull, we were just kids, besides you got me in the end, and remember mom said he made me cry because of it."

"All the more reason to make me punch him out," he grinned as he walked over and pulled her to him, "But if you be real nice to me, I might be nice in return and leave him alone."

"Hmm, how nice would I have to be...?" She moved closer as he ran his hands down and rubbed her ass.

"Well, for one you can put your hair up in pig tails, and later on you can..." He whispered what he wanted and Dani giggled as he looked down at her with his eyes sparkling. "Well?"

"You are in a hot mood today; would you like that with or without panties?"

"With to begin with, then we'll see how it goes..."

"You keep talking like that, and I'll be meeting your family without panties because these will be soaked..."

He moved his fingers down between her legs and licked his lips, "you already are love. Maybe I should help you along just a little." Pushing the lacy fabric aside he began to rub her clit then send a finger up inside her. "I just remembered, I haven't had breakfast yet..."

She sat down on the edge of the bed, and he dropped to his knees between her legs, before long she was feeling the flickering of his tongue and his fingers moving in and out of her. God, she loved it when he did this to her. Her whole body came alive and he knew just how to either increase her pleasure or draw back enough to let her calm down. This morning though he was hard and heavy to lap up her juices and she was ready to explode around his finger and tongue. As always when she came, she couldn't hold back the cries and when he lifted his face, he was grinning.

"Now that is what I call a delicious way to start the day...But I want my share too." He opened his jeans and before she had finished her climax, he was in her, pumping hard and fast to fill her. When they had shared the final lunge, he looked down at her. "On second thought honey, wear that cute little black skirt you got, that way my male relatives will go nuts seeing what I have in my bed every night."

"I thought you wanted to play pervert and have me go for the school girl look."

"I do, but that is for me and me alone..."

Reaching up, she cupped his cheek, "Bull all of me is for you and you alone."

When they finally made it down stairs she was dressed in a pair of well fitting jeans and a low cut top. It was the best compromise they could come up with. He was still sulking a bit but she would make it up to him, and to be honest she wanted to wear her jeans as long as she could, the ideas of skirts and dresses were still new to her.

Besides Massie and Maylene, a couple of Bull's cousins would be leaving today as well, but Dani knew her grandma and aunt would be well taken care of, her great uncle JoJo and his wife had arrived sometime in the night, and he looked at her up and down as she was introduced to him.

"Damn Jack, now where in hell did you find such a pretty little girl? Had to be under a cabbage patch leaf because I know there is no way this pretty thing could be from your genes. You just come over here honey and give your great uncle a big hug huh?"

Dani looked at him from under her long lashes. "You aren't going to pinch my ass are you, because I don't know if Bull would like that very much?"

His wife Ilene smiled as she stepped forward. "She's got your number Joe. Hi, I'm Ilene; he's right you are pretty but all I have to do is look at your family and know you are a Lazarus." Her smiling green eyes looked Bull up and down as well. "And you have got to be Massie and Pierre's son. I see your momma in your face, but your daddy in your body. Damn, if I was only about forty years younger, I'd be giving Dani a run for you."

Bull shook his head, "sorry, but I am taken 100 percent. It is nice to meet you though." He shook hands with both her great uncle and aunt and Dani did give in to giving JoJo a hug, instead of a pinch, he just patted her ass and drew back with a smile.

"What a shame you are family honey, but I like what I got as much as this tree standing next to you seems to like what he's got. I may look but in thirty years of marriage I haven't touched...well not too much."

It was mid afternoon before they finally left the house and headed for the area where Bull's family lived. Red had stayed behind in New Orleans to visit some relatives but assured them both that he would be checking in with Jack and Helen on a daily basis. "You need me, just call; I will be there."

Rose seemed content to be back moving and she settled on the floorboards by Dani's feet. Bull was driving this part because she had no idea where they were going. Even he admitted though his memory was foggy and he was glad his cousin Bubba was driving the car ahead of them.

Dani lit a cigarette as the trip progressed. "Just how many people live around where Massie and Maylene do?"

Bull shrugged as he glanced at her. "I have no idea; I know Jorge and his wife Lydia built a house just down the road from momma, and my sister Bella and her husband Roscoe live in his parent's old house near town. But as for the rest, who knows. Been too long baby, you won't be the only stranger there believe me."

She believed him when they reached the main house about an hour and a half later. It reminded her of a parking lot from the number of cars, trucks, motorcycles and such parked around the place. And the people who came out of nowhere to welcome them back were like walking into a crowded mall at the holidays. It was his grandma Maylene who spoke. "Now just give Beau and his woman some time to adjust to you all, remember, he's been gone a long time and she's from a big family, but not as big as this one, so just back off." She waved her cane and everyone obeyed.

All but one man who Dani knew instantly to be his brother Andre. Not as tall or as broad, but you knew just looking at them that they had been formed from the same mold. She couldn't help looking back and forth between them, but she also noticed that her body didn't react to Andre as it did to Bull as he came up and pulled her to him in a hug.

"About time you got here big brother with my wife to be. I have been waiting very impatiently." He laughed and looked at her. "I bet you don't even remember me do you Dani?"

She smiled back. "I remember biting you, now put me down or you'll find out how much sharper my teeth have gotten..."

"Oh talk dirty to me girl, I love it..." He put her down though and she watched as Andre hugged his brother. "About time you came home big man. Place hasn't been the same since you left."

Bull nodded. "Well, I don't know how long I will be staying this time, but we will be back after a while, just got business to finish up before Dani and I can settle anywhere."

It was true, until things were taken care of with Nick and Jessie; they couldn't really feel settled anywhere. Holding Rose's leash, Dani watched as Bull and Andre got the bags and together the three of them walked to the huge house and the gathering of people.

Bull put the bags in the hall by the stairs and knew the minute his older brother walked up behind him. Jorge wasn't as tall or as big as him, but he was still a man who couldn't be ignored and even if Bull had wanted to, Jorge wouldn't let him.

"About damn time you came wandering back little brother. I am not even going to tell you all the hurt and pain you cost momma and daddy." Jorge frowned, "or the rest of us for that matter. Wasn't a day go by that we weren't all wondering if you were dead or alive. Granny she tell us you okay, that you be fine, but all of us wondering why you left, and why you not come back here where you belong."

Bull had expected this, but not the minute he walked in the door. "I had my reasons Jorge, momma and daddy knew what they were..."

The dark look in his brother's eyes seemed to darken even more. "Well, daddy is gone now, that makes me head of the family, and I want to know why you had to run off like you did. And until you can tell me, then you still gone like you was before..."

Before he could walk off, Dani appeared. "Bull, you need to tell him, but not tonight, not until the funeral is over and you can both sit down and act and talk like grown men..."

Bull saw Jorge look at Dani and to his surprise, smile. "You're right Dani, now is not the time for such things to be talked about. You know, I wondered if that dream I had about you was real, I see now it was. No wonder why daddy said having you in the family was going to be like a spring breeze coming up off the Gulf."

Bull began to laugh, he didn't mean to, but he couldn't help himself. A spring breeze coming up off the Gulf was his daddy's term for a hurricane. In other words his father meant she was going to turn this family upside down. How right he had been. Dani was his sweet little hurricane and he loved her for it.

It was late when they staggered off to bed, and as they laid back in the attic bedroom that Bull had once shared with his brothers, he threw open the skylight window to let in some cool breeze. A fan blew directly on the bed, and the French doors leading to the flat roof were open too. Dani looked at him as she ran a cool wash cloth over her face and neck. "How could you guys sleep up here in the summer time, I feel like I just stepped out of a shower. And I thought the humidity in Oregon was bad." She walked out on the roof and then stepped back in quickly. "Ouch..."

"Yeah I should have warned you, the roof gets hot, the best time to be out there is during a thunderstorm. He walked up to her and bent his head to kiss her. "Welcome to my world baby..."

"Hmm, I thought this was our world Bull..."

"It is, you know it's just us up here, we don't need to wear anything if we don't want to..." He slid the strap of her night gown down over her shoulder and then did the same to the other side. Her breasts came into view and he cupped one and caressed it then moved to the other. "I love how your nipples get so hard when I just touch you. It tells me how much you like my touch..." He kissed her neck, and felt her lips on his shoulder. "I love making love to you. I can never get enough of you..."

"I can tell, you're hard as hell right now...It feels like it has a mind of its own." Her fingers were caressing the front of his pants, and as he pulled her tighter to him, she began to open them. "I don't need the heat from outside Bull; you make me hot just touching me. Even if we were lost in a blizzard, I know we would be okay, we'd melt the snow faster than it could fall."

"Dani, get on your hands and knees...I want to take you from behind..." His voice had turned hoarse, and she saw the fire in his eyes. There was something new about it, and she felt a rush of desire that she hadn't experienced before.

Letting her nightgown fall, she went to her hand and knees on the bed and when he was free of his clothes, she felt him move up behind her. His hands moved over her back and bottom, then up to her shoulders and trace the lines of her sides. He was teasing her, making her wait for what was coming. When she felt his finger dip into her wetness, she shivered, and he moved it around, searching her out in every crease. Then it was gone and she felt disappointed, but not for long. The finger reappeared as it moved up and down between her ass cheeks, and then dipped into her again.

Over and over he repeated the gestures until her ass felt as wet and sticky as her pussy did and her body was on the edge of something she hadn't felt before. Not a climax but an expectation and that was driving her crazy. She thought she knew what he was going to do only to have him dip his finger again and the process would start all over again. A part of her wanted to cry out; to tell him to stop torturing her to either fuck her or something but then just as she felt she had reached her limit it happened.

His finger pushed past the tight ring that protected her nether hole and without giving her a chance to get used to it began to move in and out like a miniature cock. Not that his fingers were what anyone could call miniature. They were like the rest of him long and thick and as her ass began to grow used to the feel of it she found she liked the sensations it was causing. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on his rhythms, and mentally began to chant. In, out, in, out, and then all the way in and almost all the way out, over and over. She could feel her pussy dripping from the heat and more than once she felt as if she was going to come, only to have him pause and take a short break. 

Her frustration was mounting, and when she wiggled her ass back against him, he chuckled. "Patience love, patience..."

Her voice was a growl as she answered. "I don't have any right now..."

Bull bent over to run his lips along the nape of her neck and at the same time rammed his finger in to her ass and began to move it around in a tickling motion. "Is that better?" Then as suddenly as he had started, it was gone and she whimpered. It was then she felt something else, something she knew well, and she wondered if he would actually try it so soon. A part of her wished he would, her demon was red hot now, the teasing and tension almost consuming her. Searching out his, she saw the little bastard licking his lips in anticipation of something and moved her ass back against the head of his cock this time. But again she was denied.

"Bull please, do something, I can't take much more of this..."

The chuckle was deeper in his throat this time. "Maybe that's what I want, maybe I want to see just how much you can take...your ass is so nice, and it feels so good, it sucks on my finger like your pussy does when my cock is inside you." He nipped at her shoulder, then biting down and sucking the skin. "My demon wants to fuck your ass Dani, it wants to feel it sucking at my cock and taking all my come inside it."

"Then just do it, please, fuck my ass, fuck my pussy, just put me out of my misery Bull." She was close to tears now, the frustration almost more than she could stand. She needed to be fucked, needed to feel him inside her somewhere, making her come even as he did...

"No, not yet, more control baby, you're stronger than this, you can control him, make him wait, make him beg you..." His huge hands gripped her breasts and began to caress them. "Make me beg honey, bring me to my knees with wanting you so bad I know that the minute I fuck you, it will take all my control not to come all over you." He began to nip at her back, biting and sucking. "My sweet woman, this is how I saw us in one of my dreams...I have drawings of us like this, the sweet pain and torment on your face from being denied..."

"Bull, you're being a bastard..."

That made him laugh, "Yes I am, but you love me for it...You love how I make you feel even when I make you feel like you are now. That's what makes us so good together...oh my sweet Yankee woman, so hot, so tender, so much my counterpart; you don't even realize it yet...but you will...I'll teach you."

Dani felt the sudden intrusion of his fingers in her pussy and let out a low sigh of pleasure, "yes, oh god yes Bull, teach me..." She had become little more than a body full of sensations and desires, just as she always was around him. From the first time he had filled her with his cock. Then the fingers were gone and she felt them replaced by the most wonderful piece of wood she had ever known, but he made no move to fuck her yet, despite her trying to move. He was holding her tight against him, and unable to move as she wanted.




Dani and the Bull Ch. 13



How could he just be inside her like this and not want to fuck her? Then she knew as she felt one of his fingers join his cock and get wet with her natural lube. As he shoved that finger into her ass, she felt herself coming as she had never come before, it was everywhere, the juices seeming to shoot out of her, and her demon exploded in the night. Not that she could enjoy it for long, now he was moving in and out of both her pussy and her ass in an a steady rhythm and as he picked up the pace in one, the other followed. This time when she began to match him, there was no withdrawal, no stopping to tease or give her pleasure mixed with pain, she could hear his moans, his pleasure in what he was feeling and inside her demon was lost in the same exquisite joy she was feeling. This time there was no retreat, no surrender from either of them until the night exploded and she flooded him even as he shot all the juice from his balls with such force she could feel it all the way inside her womb. His demon roared in satisfaction and hers answered him.

He didn't withdraw as they lay back on the bed on their sides, her ass still firm against him and he wrapped his arms around her protectively, one hand coming to rest on her abdomen protecting his child. She ignored the sweat that rolled off them both and feel into a deep, contented sleep.

There were few in the house who didn't feel the strength of their joining, and Massie wept for the loss of her husband in the bedroom they had shared for so long. Maylene and her husband, long past the time of mating as Bull and Dani had curled together and held each other long into the night. In his bed, Andre wept, for his father, for the return of his brother and for the woman he had once childishly claimed. A woman who he would have felt blessed to have at his side. 

There were other reactions from the other homes nearby and even children too young to understand slept contented sleep unknowing why they felt so safe and so secure. But one member of the family woke and remembered what his father had said about Dani. She would be like a spring breeze coming up from the Gulf. He pulled his wife close and wondered just what kind of hurricane his younger brother had brought to this family.



Dani and the Bull Ch. 14



Authors Note:

I think it was Andre who suggested this chapter to me, and I think he was jealous of all the attention his brother was getting. Sometimes younger siblings learn the most about life by being able to observe their older sisters and brothers. I know in my own family the thoughts of my youngest have been greatly influenced by his older sister and brother. I was the same since I had three older sisters and an older brother. Most of my personal views have been formed by them and not always in the way they wanted.

As you all will soon discover, it is not always best to believe in dreams and visions you have at one stage in life. Later on what you saw then may not be the way things would actually go the older you get.

Hugs to all and Happy Birthday America

Darkstone57

*

Dani moved around the room and watched as her family and Bull's intermingled. It was interesting to say the least. For one, her family called him Bull, not to be derogatory, but as a term of affection due to his size. Everyone in his family called him Beau unless; you were his grandfather in which case it was Beaumont. The first time she had heard him called that she had giggled and he had shot her a look dark enough to kill. Beau wasn't so bad but she still preferred Bull. So that was what she called him and if people gave her funny looks oh well.

After a week of being in the bayou with him, she was doing pretty well at picking out who was who. The tall slender woman with bright green eyes and all that long black hair was Lydia, Jorge's wife; and the two little girls with their momma's dark looks but Jorge's smile were the twins, Tonya and Tamara. Bella was an almost perfect replica of her mother and her husband Hector was a tall, skinny white guy who had bright red hair and a big smile that never left his face. She had yet to figure out which of their five kids were which because they all looked so damn much alike. All had almost pure white skin, freckles, but their mother's features and tightly wound hair. Personally Dani liked Bella, she was easy to like. Lydia on the other hand was a cast iron bitch who pouted every time she didn't get her way about something. Dani had seen a lot of that in the last week.

Susanna was the quiet one, all too often blending back into the back ground and good at making people forget she was even around. Unlike the twins Morgana and Lucian who refused to be ignored no matter what you did. Even their respective lovers were as alike as the twins and Massie swore that even before they were born they had communicated back and forth in her womb. Even now there were times that they just had to look at each other and a person watching knew they were talking to each other. Andre reminded her of Zach, he could be loving and easy going but at the same time he was someone who did his best to hide his emotions, especially around her. They talked and joked but she was sure at times he was holding back.

Marie, the youngest in the family like her and didn't hide her feelings at all. She didn't like Dani and made it plain that she resented the presence of her brother's chosen lover. She was constantly interrupting them and trying to get Bull's attention when he wasn't with her. Dani tried to understand, Marie had been only four when Bull left home and for him to come back now with a woman who seemed to have replaced his family in his heart would be hard on her. More than once she had seen her complaining to her mother or grandma about something and heard the two older women talk to her in rushed French that didn't sound very nice. What was so funny though was the way she and Dave got along so well. 

Rose whined a little and Dani petted her. The dog had found her niche in both the family and their bedroom in the attic. She was perfectly content to run around ignoring the other dogs that had ruled for years and going from this person to that begging for love or food. 

Feeling a need for air, Dani took Rose's leash and walked outside. Going down by the docks she looked out over the channel water and then sat on the pier. For the last week the boats had sat as they did now, flags at half-mast while bobbing in the water. All of them seemed to be mourning the loss of Bulls' dad as much as his family did. The other morning she had woke early and watched as a light mist covered the water and it seemed to her that the ships had cried when the mist coated them with its water drops.

A part of her wanted to cry, she felt sympathy for the entire family but so far she hadn't been able to do more than offer what support and help with what she could which wasn't as much as she would like. She was helpless in the kitchen, except for washing dishes and maybe clearing and setting the table, helping straighten up the rooms and doing her and Bulls laundry so no one else had to.

She had no idea why she felt so down today, the funeral had been over since yesterday, and today was just a chance for everyone to have one more gathering before the families went their separate ways. Her own family would be headed back to Oregon in a week until the end of next month. Mike needed to get back to work, and for now it seemed as if Nick and Jessie had faded off the face of the Earth. Uncle Jo-Jo and Ilene had hired a security company to come in and do a full install of their best system, and a patrol officer would be checking on the house in New Orleans every hour. Dave would also be staying on a while and Red would be in and out. She had learned he had no real family of his own outside of an aunt and uncle who tolerated him but he had no real affection for. Well that had changed dramatically, he was an unofficial Lazarus now and that was that.

A familiar voice broke into her thoughts, "why so unhappy little one?"

Dani looked up and saw Bull's uncle Philippe standing beside her. He was a big man like his nephew and she knew he was one of the men who were as powerful in the arcane arts as Maylene. She couldn't call it voodoo, what Maylene and Massie did was not the standard black or white magic you associated with this part of the country. "I have no idea..."

He sat beside her on the dock and shook his head. His dreadlocks shook as well reminding her of snakes moving in the grass. "Oh I think you do, you've come to a new place, been surrounded by new people and new ways of doing things and you feel very out of place. But the truth is the bayou is as much in your blood as New Orleans and this place in Oregon you come from. Did you know that one of the Lazarus men married an ancestor of Beau's many generations ago? His name was Jean Paul and was one of the first of your family to come here from Europe, and that same man was a good friend of the pirate Lafayette?"

"Now that doesn't surprise me, rogues seem to be a staple in my family."

He smiled. "They exist in all families Dani, you and Beau, you are happy with each other?"

"Well, I can't speak for him but I am very happy. I never dreamed I would ever know a man like him in my life and now I can't imagine it without him."

"That is good, because now I must tell you something about him. Something that even his own mother does not know. You realize that Beau is a man with great power. You have seen it, felt it yes?"

"Yes, I only know one other man who can do the things I've seen Bull do. He lives in Arizona, he's an Apache shaman. Shaman or Medicine man, I can never remember which tribes call their spiritual leaders which."

"I thought as much, and then you must know that he was not originally set to follow the path he has gone don't you?"

She considered his words, and what Bull had told her. "He was meant to be like you wasn't he, a powerful priest of the bayou magic..."

"Yes, but Maylene forbid us to tell Massie. She saw other things in his future as well and knew if the path that was chosen for him was taken there would be great evil set loose upon the world. A great evil that now centers on you Dani, you and your unborn son. This man you fear, the one who strikes at you in many ways, he is beyond evil, he is the product of many generations of it, and now it has come to bare a terrible fruit. Maylene saw this, and she lied to make sure that Beau would follow his other path. He is not a pure man; he had let what Maylene told him corrupt him. But you Dani, you are a pure soul, and your son will be as pure and good as you are. You must ensure that he stays this way."

Dani smiled. "I don't consider myself all that pure, considering some of the things Bull and I have done."

"Perhaps not, but you do these things out of love for each other, so the good and the bad become neutral. Your soul is what this man wants Dani, he wants to corrupt it as his is corrupted. When and if that is allowed to happen, then your son will not fulfill his destiny. In truth he might never survive his birth. And he must be born Dani, he must be born and shed his light on the world."

A cold chill ran up and down her spine as the man spoke and when he finished she looked at him. "You make him sound like some religious deity...some kind of messiah." Visions of various religious and science fiction movies raced through her mind.

"I won't go that far Dani, but he is important in keeping the balance of the future world intact...in what way not even Maylene can see."

She looked at him and sighed. "You know I was depressed before but this little chat isn't making me a damn bit better."

To her surprise Philippe laughed. "Then I beg your forgiveness Dani, but I felt you needed to know these things."

"Are you going to tell Bull all this; he has a right to know too. He's lived with a lot these past few years, more than any of you know..."

He looked at her with a steady gaze. "What do you mean?"

"Ask Bull, not that he will want to admit it, in fact what makes you think he will want to tell the people who have lied to him since he was a little boy, made him feel he was destined to be so evil that he would choose to leave home..." Getting to her feet, she left him sitting and went back to the house. Damn these people they had lied to him, Pierre thought she would be like a hurricane huh? Well, they had yet to see just how much damage a hurricane could do.

Bull was just coming out as she reached the front porch. He grinned at her and then the grin faded. "Honey, what's wrong...?" He reached out to pull her close, and she went into his arms, shivering. "Dani..."

"I need to get away from here for a while, take me someplace we can be totally alone, please..."

Bull smiled at her and nodded. "Come on, I know the perfect spot..."

He was right, the small grove was perfect. Surrounded by trees, a lush carpet of grass to sit or lie back on, it was quiet and cool and the only sounds were those of the breeze moving through the trees and water lapping at the bank of a small creek. Once he was settled back beneath one of the trees she lie in the grass with her head in his lap and felt him stroking her face and hair.

"Is this better?" His voice was soft.

She nodded as the anger she had felt earlier slipped away. "Very, it's so quiet and peaceful, not like all the noise and people back at the house. I so needed to get away from everyone and everything for a while."

"It can get that way. So what were you and Philippe talking about, you looked upset..."

Dani didn't bother to lie. "I was but he told me something that made me mad."

"Care to tell me what it was?"

Looking up at him, she shook her head. "It's not that I don't want to, it's more of something you need to hear from him yourself or your grandma I don't really feel it's my place to tell you..."

"If it concerns us, then why would you feel that way?"

He was right, it did concern them, but she still felt it was something she needed to hear from Maylene. After some consideration she bit her lip then decided to go ahead. "To be honest, he simply confirmed what I had already thought when you told me about him and his brother. Bull, when your dad suggested you becoming a priest, I don't think he meant what you think he meant."

A deep sigh escaped him. "I was afraid you might say that. I should have been one of them huh?"

"From what he told me, yes, but then Maylene saw something else in your future, another path and she stopped them from telling your mom and dad."

"So granny lied to me, all of them did. To be honest, I been wondering about that since you and I got together. It doesn't feel like it did before Dani, I don't have the anger or the needs I did before. Even when we make love and you tell me to let go, I can't. I can get rough, but that is nothing compared to how to I used to be. There were times even sober that I was pretty bad when I look back on it, but when I look at you all I want is to please you and be pleased by you." He chuckled softly, "The other night, I wanted to take you up the ass so bad, to just ram it in and not care, but I couldn't...that's how I felt that night I met you and Sue and Annie. Sue, she got me so pissed off with all her crap, and if we had been somewhere else I think I would be sitting in the jail back in Elton for rape. But I knew I couldn't, I thought about you upstairs and I knew that I had come so far to find you and if I gave in to my feelings I would lose any chance I had with you."

Dani heard the hurt and pain in his voice and moved to lean into his chest, feel his arms surround her. "Will you talk to Maylene, and your mom?"

He nodded. "Jorge was asking me again today when we could sit down and talk, I think once everyone leaves and it's just family again I'll be ready to tell momma, granny Maylene and the rest just what happened to me all those years I been gone. Besides, it's not like your family doesn't already know and if I can handle a man like your daddy knowing, I guess I can handle my family knowing." He pushed a lock of hair off her face. "I'm going to need you beside me honey I'm going to need your strength and your belief in me to help me do it."

"I'll be there for you; I'll always be there for you..." Lifting her mouth to his, she kissed him softly then let him take control. Like always when they kissed or were sharing moments like this, the fire in them began to rage. It was comparable to a chemical reaction going off between them. No matter how hard they might fight it, it always happened. Feeling renewed need for him she pushed open his shirt and ran her mouth over his neck. Taking a spot between her teeth, she sucked on it and drew out a love bite that was dark and almost scary looking, but his face reflected only the pleasure it had given him and he looked at her slowly.

"Come straddle me, let me feel you press against him..." His voice was husky, and she did as he asked. He nodded and worked at slipping her shirt over her head. When her bra came into view, he ran his finger under the straps and brought them down to expose her nipples. She watched as he used his hands to raise them to his lips, first one then the other and suck at each one of them in turn. "Sweet woman, mother of my son, I envy him when these are full of milk and he suckles them. I'll have to be careful not to take too much from you, we want him to grow big and strong and learn to live and love as we do." He licked her nipples then used his teeth to draw them out until it seemed he was going to pull them off. A sweet mixture of pain and pleasure and Dani moaned.

"Bull, you know what I need, what I constantly need from you." She ran her fingers over his face, into his hair and held his head to her breast. Her hips were moving so she was rubbing up and down on him, "I feel like I can never get enough of you, that all I want day and night is you inside me, loving me, making us like one body, one soul..."

He gave a deep throated chuckle. "Hmm my sweet one, we are one soul. Even when we're apart, we're together. I am constantly hard for you thinking of how wet you are, how tight you feel, how good it feels when you flood me. I feel like I can't go a day without it. We make each other crazy love, we just have to touch and our demons call out for satisfaction. Take off your clothes, let me fuck you now, you need it as much as I do. Let me fuck you honey, let me feel your heat and burn me the way you always do."

She moved away and he watched as she quickly stripped down to bare skin then her fingers worked as quickly to undress him, when they were both nude; she straddled his hips and took his limb into her depths.

Bull ran his hands over Dani's back and down to the ass he had come to love to fondle as much as he loved her breasts and other parts of her body. She was astride him now, their bodies bare and rubbing against each other as she rode him as she had done so many times before. This time was a little different though as there was no rush. No need for multiple spells of gratification. He kissed her mouth and then her chin, her throat, and back up to each of her cheeks and temples.

This was the woman he loved, the woman he had waited for so long and today they let that love guide their movements as well as their needs and desires. The fire was there, it raged all around them, but they refused to be burnt by it. He could feel the heat of their charms against each other's skin and he knew if they were seen by other's eyes, the watcher would wonder about their own sobriety. They were glowing; their aura's visible to the naked eye when they were like this, the golden hue of her skin mingling with the mixture of his, and spreading out to surround the area.

"Oh yes honey," he swallowed hard. "Can we just stay like this forever?"

She looked at him through half closed eyes filled with lust and love as she nodded. "I would love to. I feel like this is the Garden of Eden and we're the only two people in the world right now."

Bull found he agreed with her, he was so contented, so relaxed that even their making love was only a mere benefit of it. Even Rose was lying contentedly beside them, dreaming her puppy dreams and their two demons so laid back that they looked like they invaded Dave's stash that traveled with him. It was as if the area had become so infused with their love for each other that nothing could ever hurt them, nothing could invade their own little world. He shut his eyes and let his mind drift, the dreams came and he saw what he knew was a vision of the future. A house, children, here in this spot, he knew it would happen and he was going to work hard to make sure it did.

A soft sultry voice whispered in his ear. "You're doing it again magic man, putting visions in my head." She gave a contented sigh. "I could almost forgive them lying to you because that lie sent you to me, but only almost..."

Even her indignation at how he had been manipulated was more laid back than before. Looking up at the sky that was now turning to a summer bayou sunset he saw the three glimmers of light and wondered if it was just his imagination that one of them took the shape of his father. He wondered more as one took the shape of a woman who was small and petite and the other a man who resembled the picture of Jack's father. He watched as they settled in the nearby limbs of a tree covered in Spanish moss and he felt Dani shiver in his arms.

"We're not alone are we Bull?" Her voice sounded sure of what she had asked.

"No, but yet we are, they aren't exactly human, at least I don't think they are..." He was mystified at the sight and wondered if this was some kind of dream.

"No, no dream my son," his father's voice spoke in his mind. "Charles, Lily and I have been waiting for this chance to speak to you. And to Dani..."

Dani looked at them over her shoulder. "Grandpa, great aunt Lily, you really are here aren't you?" She moved off him and curled up in the curve of his arm. "You father looks a lot like you Bull..."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 14



His father smiled. "And you are as beautiful a woman as I would have wished for my son. Oh little Hurricane, such things you bring to my family, but so welcome are you at the same time. Now you must sit and listen to what we speak of and pay close attention. For now you are free of these two men who you fear, but they will come back. You both must be strong, you must protect the child in you. To do that you must call on all the heavens and hells to help you. You must stand together; never must you be more than a distance to hear the other call out. Your demons must be alert as possible. There is safety here, but should you desire each other outside of this glade, be cautious of how lost you become in each other. In New Orleans, stay to the purple room to share each other."

Lily smiled at Dani, "it was once my room, so I am strong there and able to shield you better. If you must go to somewhere else, don't leave the property; and especially avoid the gazebo until this is over."

Bull sighed. "So are we to be some kind of prisoners until this is over?"

Her grandfather shook his head. "No Bull, we would never make you suffer what you already have. We are all aware of the confinement you have known, and would never ask you to repeat such a thing; we simply suggest that when you go off the property, it is not for anything that might detract you from being vigilant."

Pierre looked at his son, "why did you never call us, let us help you some way through your ordeal Beau? We would have moved heaven and earth to help you somehow..."

It was Dani who answered. "Then you should never have let it happen to your son in the first place. If you are all so all seeing, so all powerful, why did any of you ever let this happen?" She was angry, and Bull looked at her glow as it grew from her feelings of love for him. "He was lied to, told one thing and it wasn't true. The only evil in Bull is what came from the lies, and it isn't fair. Maybe he wasn't meant to be a fisherman, maybe he wasn't meant to be a priest, and maybe we would have met no matter what."

"Dani, you don't understand..." Lily tried to explain something, but Dani shook her head.

"No, I don't understand. And I don't want to, for the first time in my life I am happy, really and truly happy and now to know that my happiness is at the expense of all he could have been if only he had been told the truth from the start...well, I'm sorry, but I would have rather it been earned another way..." She buried her face in Bull's and he felt her tears against his skin. "Can we go now; I don't want to be here anymore."

Bull nodded and looked at the ghosts. "You know, until right now I thought for sure she was wrong, that somehow she misread my demon. Now, I'm not so sure. But don't worry, our son will be born and he will live his life as he chooses. We'll take care of Nick and Jessie and we'll go on with our lives. But when this is over, I don't know if it will be here in the swamp or in Oregon or neither one."

As they dressed and walked off, the three spirits exchanged looks. They knew without question that this had all gone wrong and that now both Dani and Bull would do things their way, and no longer listen to anyone but themselves.

It was clear to everyone when Bull and Dani returned to the house that something had happened. Jack and Helen saw it before anyone and when Bull looked at his family, he swallowed hard. "The reason why I didn't come back sooner was because I was in prison in Georgia, five years for something that I may or may not have done. Dani knows my crime, and she accepts me despite it, but it was a crime I should never have even considered if I hadn't been lied to and told my demon was one thing when in reality it was simply being set up for what some believe is some greater purpose. Momma, granny Maylene, I have always respected your beliefs and your ways. But to deny me what I could have been, it wasn't right, and you know it. Dani and I will stay for a while, she needs to get strong and face the storm that is coming. For that she will need your help though I am reluctant to allow you near her Granny, considering what I learned to day. We also want you to perform the Blood Ritual for us at the next full moon." When he said that, he heard her gasp. "It's time love, time we were as one and while a traditional wedding will be legal in the eyes of the law, the Blood Ritual will bind us in the eyes of Nature, and we will need it's help to defeat Nick, and Jessie both." He looked at Jack. "Jack, Helen, I ask you now for the hand of Dani to be my wife, to be my partner in all the good times and the bad and forever..."

Jack swallowed hard and Helen looked at him with tears in his eyes. "As if we could refuse you big man, and when the times come we'll be with you." He clasped hands with Bull then hugged his daughter. "Treat him good Dani, you'll never find another one like him."

His mother looked at him and stepped forward. "Beau, what do you mean you were lied to, I have never..."

Dani looked at her then at Granny Maylene. "Philippe told me today. You were lied to Massie when Maylene read Bull's demon she didn't see what you were told. Instead she saw a future involving our son and a battle between good and evil. I understand why you did it Maylene, but I hope you will understand why I will never forgive you for it."

The old woman walked up to her and met her eye to eye. "I don't expect you to child, anymore than I expect Beau to forgive me, but I did what I thought was right, and even now I stand by that choice I made. From the day you and Beau first met I saw it in my mind and I knew I could take no chances on him staying here and doing something foolish like never going out to find you."

Bull shook his head, hurt that the woman he had loved and trusted all his life, would lie to him and cause so much pain in his life. "I would have found her Granny, from the moment I had my first dream of her, I knew she was the one I wanted but what if it wasn't me who was intended to father the child. Look into that vision you saw and tell me, was it me or was it Andre who you saw." He had such a gut feeling suddenly as a conversation with Dani came back, how she had talked of planning to come to New Orleans later this summer to visit her grandmother and Aunt Jessie.

Both Maylene and his mother took a step back. Massie looked at her mother, hurt and shocked how she had let her son walk away based on a vision. "Momma...?"

Andre moved up to stand by his brother and Dani, the woman he had loved as a child and had openly declared his intention of marrying. "Granny what does Beau mean about the child?" Had that baby in Dani's belly actually been intended to be his? His mind swirled around with what that meant. Could he have known Dani before Beau; that he might have had perhaps one more chance with her to make her his instead of Beau's? Had he been lied to as his brother had been lied to? Had their grandmother not only twisted what his brother could have been but denied him a future with the woman he had secretly dreamed of for damn long?

The room fell silent as the old woman closed her eyes, and in her mind she summoned the vision that had caused it all. Had she read it wrong, had it been Andre who was intended to father the child they all expected to change the world. She saw the child of three watching the baby, while his older brother looked at her in a kind of awe. She heard Andre's babyish declaration of marrying her and her own voice telling him she was intended for someone else. Intended for his older brother, but now she knew that she had been wrong, it was true she had been intended for Bull, but not in the way that she had expected. A summer fling, two young people who had shared a soft night in the grove. It had been Bull who was intended to be her husband, and his brother was the intended father of the baby Dani now carried. Trying to find some sense in it all she dove deeper into the vision. The baby, she had to know the baby's true purpose in life...what she saw sent her dropping to her knees and knew that her nephew had been right, she had had no business interfering in the natural order of nature.

She began to cry, cry as she had never cried and outside the heavens cried with her. The thunder crashed and the lightning began to flash outside the house. What had she done, oh lord, what had she done...?



Dani and the Bull Ch. 15



Author's Note:

While I was getting this chapter ready for submission, I realized that Nick had invaded my computer and turned Dani and Bull's world upside down. When I found the part where he was using his evil to make things worse, I consulted both Dani and Bull and they realized that she would have never allowed such a thing to happen. So I made sure that was made clear in the story. Sorry no rushing ahead, but you'll know when you get there. I also knew I had to make up for what Andre was denied so I brought in a character that while he has been mentioned, hadn't made an appearance. He is part of the chapter where I let Andre express his feelings and gain a little knowledge in the process. He didn't win the girl, but he does realize that he is just as important to her life as everyone else.

Hugs

Darkstone57







Chapter 15







Dani watched as her parents, Mike, Katie and the kids left the driveway and headed for New Orleans. Andi and Pigpen were still in the back window of the RV waving and she waved back until they were out of view. A part of her wanted to run after them, and...and do what? Beg them to stay, beg them to take her home, beg them to turn back the clock and make this all a bad dream? If she did that she would lose Bull, lose the child inside her, and lose all she had gained in such a short time.

Strong arms surrounded her from behind, and she smiled. "Sorry Andre, you may look like him but you don't feel like him..."

"Ah little sister, but you haven't felt all of me; I bet in the dark we would feel the same." He nuzzled her neck. "He is old compared to us; we have youth and vitality on our side." He began to whisper in French and Dani giggled. "You laugh at my words of love?"

"No, I'm laughing because you're tickling me." He was tickling the one spot on her that even Bull was careful to avoid. "Seriously Andre, you need to stop, otherwise I will have to hurt you big time..."

"Would you really hurt me?" He turned her to face him resting his arms on her shoulders and giving her a hurt puppy look.

"No, not intentionally and you know it. Too many people have been hurt so far..."

He couldn't argue with her on that point. If his brother was angry for what their grandmother had done to him, Andre had his own reasons for being angry as well. The child should have been his, and after spending time with Dani, he was coming to regret the loss. "Granny will never forgive herself for doing what she did. She has been talking to Uncle Philippe since daybreak so he will perform the Blood Ritual instead of her if she does not come out of her fears. I find I cannot be sorry for her pain, considering what she did to my brother and to me." To make sure Dani knew what he regretted most he rested a hand on her belly and she nodded in understanding.

Bull walked up and put his hand on Andre's shoulder. "But you will be there Andre, you are still its blood, and you will be a part of his life. Perhaps more than some..." He was not happy and he looked at Dani. "Uncle Philippe will perform the ceremony; I refuse to let that old witch to do anything for me after what she has done. Momma is not happy, but I will not entrust something so important to you to anyone who tries to manipulate the forces of nature. Both of you, come with me, I have decided something."

Dani wondered when he had made the decision she both expected and regretted. There was also the question of why he hadn't talked to her or asked her opinion. "You've decided?"

He took her hand and lift it to his lips, "Yes, but I need something from Andre, and I need your agreement in this."

She sighed, Bull had changed in the last week, and since discovering what his grandmother had done to the three of them he had been more withdrawn, had allowed Andre to grow closer to her. "Bull, I'm afraid..."

Andre moved aside and let Bull pull her to him. "Don't be scared love. None of what has happened has changed how I feel about you; none of it will ever change how much I love you and need you in my life. I simply want explore a new part of us." He bent his head and kissed her long and hard. "Do this for me love, I promise you will not be hurt. I would rather kill myself then ever hurt you in any way."

The three of them got in the truck and he drove them to the grove he had brought her to before. It was early still and the grass was still damp, but she watched as he spread a blanket then began to undress. Exchanging looks with Andre; he shrugged and began to do as his brother was. She had to admit his body was as beautiful as Bull's and while he was smaller in size, he was finely muscled and darker in skin tone from days spent on the boats.

Bull finished and walked up behind her. Moving her hair to one side, nuzzled her neck and slid his hands up under her breasts to cup and caress them. "Never be afraid love, you are my equal, my life. Even when we must be apart, I will always be with you, my dream will be of your body and no woman will ever have me but you. But I cannot deny something that Nature decided long ago uncle Philippe has told me this is how it must be to bring the balance back, and be honest, can you look at him and not feel something inside you for Andre?"

Dani did as he asked both normally and through the eyes of her demon. She let hers go to meet his and it was clear the attraction was there, then Bull joined them and while he was showing some signs of jealousy, it was controlled and her demon moved to reassure him even as he reassured her. Eyes closed, she felt Andre move to stand in front of her and his hands move to the curves of her ass.

"Let your demon guide you Dani, let her take control."

It wasn't easy, a part of her wanted to fight the inevitable and yet a part of her wanted to feel the exotic pleasures that she knew this could bring. Andre was already on his knees before her, his hand opening her jeans, slipping them down over her hips and her legs, his mouth kissing each part of her that exposed. Bull was doing the same with her shirt and she lifted her arms as he brought them up as he pulled it off her completely.

Andre finished lowering her jeans and she stepped out of them. She heard him moan and felt his lips on her legs as they kissed their way up to where her legs joined. She could feel his face pressing in her abdomen and heard him inhale deeply. "You smell as fresh and clean as the air after a thunderstorm Dani, and you feel as soft as the finest silk. Just thinking of you has been enough to make me hard in my sleep, has made me cry with need for you, but never daring to dream that I would ever know you so intimately..." He slipped his hands inside the bands holding her thong together and drew it down even slower than he had her jeans.

Bull chuckled. "If it was anyone but you little brother, I would be killing him now, but you know this must be done, and I have accepted it so be sure you treat her with care, or I may change my mind..."

Dani frowned suddenly realizing just how far he intended to take this. "Bull, you can't mean what I think you mean. Yes I find Andre attractive, but I can't..."

The two men looked at her as she pulled away from both of them. Bull reached out to touch her face but she stepped away from him. "Dani, it's not that I want this, but..."

She didn't want to hear explanations. "But nothing, I can't be this way Bull; I wasn't brought up this way." Moving to gather her clothes she began to dress and shook her head. "The Lazarus family isn't like this, we don't..." Even as the thoughts raged in her mind, she felt something slam into her, a vile sickness that made her want to vomit and she barely reached the edge of the blanket before it emptied her stomach. God, no not now, not here. How could he have found her, found them...? Over and over the waves passed over her and she found herself crying out as Nick's demon assaulted her over and over with the feelings that made her feel dirty and violated. Her body began to feel as if a layer of slime was crawling up from her feet up to enclose her and she went into a fetal position her arms wrapped around her stomach to protect her child.

Bull went to his knees beside her, "No, how did he find us?"

Even as he summoned his demon, she felt hers and the others around them join the battle as well as those of her family and friends. This time even Marie and Jericho answered her and she felt her sister answer her call with a fury that was unlike anything she had felt before. Jericho was another one who had power and between them all the storm was soon driven back to where it had come from.

For Dani the sudden assault was more than she could handle. Retreating deep inside herself, she saw that the darkness was again attacking her son and this time it was winning. "Bull, our son, oh god, he's trying to take control of our son!!!!"

The two men wasted no time, and by the time the three of them reached the house, it was in full uproar. Everyone had felt the attack and as she was carried into Massie's room, she heard her mom and dad demanding to know what had happened. Bull could barely answer as realization of what he had done washed over her.

"The grove, we went to the grove to help right the balance, but I was wrong. All I did was add more soil to her soul and Nick found us. He's attacking the baby, oh Lord, he's attacking our son!"

Dani wanted to reach out and wipe away his fear but she couldn't, a part of her wanted to make him suffer, to realize what all the lies of his family and his own anger had brought about. This baby might have been intended to be Andre's but it wasn't. It was Bull's and never would she ever carry anyone else's child as long as he was alive. The Lazarus family might have its fault, but infidelity was not one of them. Even her father had never cheated on her mother even at his worst.

Philippe came and took hold of her hand, "You were right little one, this has all been a disaster, and you have brought it to light, now I understand why Pierre called you the Hurricane. I must apologize as well; I was the one who suggested to Beau that if Andre and he both shared you it might help the balance..."

"You were wrong, you forgot to take into consideration that for her the taking of a lover was the greatest evil that she could perform..." A new voice spoke up and Dani saw the one man she hadn't expected to walk into her life right now. A wave of relief washed over her and she gave a weak smile. "Did you really think I would desert you in your darkest hours my little golden maiden." He came to the bed and stroked her cheek. "Rest little one, we will keep your son safe, I must talk to the priests and the witch woman so I will send your man to you and try not to be too hard on him. He thought he was doing the right thing."

Dani nodded and closed her eyes, feeling that all was as it should be now. When Beau came and lay down beside her, she knew he was still suffering and had to relieve him of it. "It will be alright now Bull; Mr. Two-Feather will help make everything right..."

The fear and anger with himself showed as he looked at her. "I should never have tried to do it Dani; I could have lost you, our son..."

Taking his hand, she laid it on her belly and they lay that way as a soothing sleep closed around them.



Bull woke as the sun was just coming up and the house was finally silent. The appearance of the old Shaman the day before had been a shock to everyone, including his granddaughter. It was as if the old man had just appeared out of thin air, for all Bull knew he had.

The attack yesterday had been the most powerful Nick had ever accomplished, invading even the protected grove. He still felt guilt knowing that he never would have found them if he hadn't been so angry, so desirous of making at least part of the lies better. Andre should be the father of the child she carried. Hadn't she told him herself that she had been considered coming to visit her grandmother and aunt this summer before his arrival? It would have been possible that somehow she might have ended up here with them, and met Andre.

A part of the scenario he pictured included his brother being taken by the baby they had both found so fascinating those years ago, No doubt they would have flirted with each other and even found a way to spend private time together. Knowing his own ability to attract a woman, Dani would have been putty in his brother's hands. Odds were she wouldn't have even known she was pregnant when she went back home and found him there with her brother.

Would he have been there though? He thought about it and knew he would have been. He would have met Sue and Anne, her family, and his dreams would have told him to wait, to see if she was the one he needed in his life. Knowing when she came home that she was already pregnant wouldn't have bothered him, especially once he touched the baby's spirit and discovered just who the father was. If anything it would have made the connection between her family and his known sooner.

There was also the possibility that he might have met her then as well, considering if his grandmother had told the truth he would have begun the training when he should have. That would have made things a little more complicated but he was pretty sure that his brother would have realized he wasn't ready to settle down and be a father just yet, while he would have felt the same pull between them that he had felt the first night they met. Odds were that he would have discarded his training for the moment and followed her back to Oregon.

Thinking of spending days on the road with her traveling north to meet her family made him smile. The days on the road, but the nights... Oh lord the nights that they would have shared. He felt the heat building in him and he looked at her over his shoulder to see her smiling at him and her eyes glittering with that "come get me" look that made him surge to life.

"I thought you were sleeping." He moved to lie beside her and draw her into his arms.

She kept her voice soft, as her fingers ran over his face and down along the width of his shoulders. "I was, but I was having the most delicious dream. First I was here and in the grove with Andre, but then I went back to New Orleans with grandma and Aunt Jessie. I went to the French Quarter with them and we were in a shop that your uncle Philippe and his lover had and you were there. The next thing I know, we were on a motorcycle headed back up to Oregon and we stopped for the night and the dream just got hotter from there." She let a fingertip move over one of his nipples then bent her head up to lick it with the very tip of her tongue. "Did you put visions in my head again?"

"I was thinking of what might have happened between us if Granny had told us all the truth to begin with. I would have still found you Dani, never doubt that, and never think even if the baby was Andre's I would have turned away from you."

She nodded. "Bull, I admit yes, there is a small physical attraction to Andre, but that's all there is, and while I like him, I could never love him like I love you. For one thing, he would have never been able to stand up to my family the way you did, and Nick would have chewed him up and spit him out the minute he met him. Andre is no coward, but he doesn't have your fighting spirit or the ability to defend himself like you do."

Before he could answer, there was a knock on the door, and Bull knew that his brother stood on the other side. "Come on in Andre."

Andre walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. "Your dreams are powerful brother." He looked at Dani and Bull saw he wasn't sure how to act around her. "I came to apologize, for how I acted yesterday. I just felt such a need for you Dani. I kept this memory of you in my mind for so long and when you came to us in that dream that night and I saw the woman you had become, I guess I went a little crazy with the idea of even being able to share you." He paused as if collecting his thoughts. "I spent a lot of time thinking about it once things settled down yesterday. If I had met you before Beau, believe me, I would taken full advantage of it. We would have made love and I would have kept you close to me, but in the end I would have let you know I wasn't old enough or settled enough to take it beyond a summer fling. To be honest when that attack came I was feeling helpless to know what to do until Bull roused my demon and it took control."

Bull felt Dani shift and he sat up as she did. He knew it was time to let her handle the situation and he listened as she took Andre's hand and held it tightly. "Andre, you are a gorgeous hunk of man, and to be honest I would have been flattered by any attention you gave me if I hadn't already met Bull. I don't want to hurt you, not in anyway, but from the time I knew the difference I have judged men by my father and my brothers. Until I met Bull, no man in my mind could match any of them. And as much a hunk as you are, you wouldn't have even come close to being more than as you put it, a summer fling. Honestly, if it was you who had met my brother and come to Oregon, I would have probably dismissed you as a pretty boy and not bothered to get to know you at all;" She was teasing him but perfectly honest at the same time.

"After meeting your dad I would have probably gone off screaming into the night the first night I was there. That man is downright scary Dani." Andre was grinning now and he looked at his brother. "Better you then me big brother."

Bull had to agree with him. Jack was scary at his worse, but for Dani he had long ago decided he would fight his way into hell to have her. Jack and his sons were hardly noticing when you compared them to that. "Good, we have that settled; now get the hell out of here. I need some private time with my woman and we prefer not to have an audience."

His brother started to move off the bed, but Dani stopped him. Both men watched as she bent toward Andre and touched his cheek before leaning in to kiss him gently. "I will always be proud to have you as a brother Andre, and I know that somehow this will work out for the best for you and for me."

Andre blushed and hurried out of the room. Bull wanted to thank Dani for handling things as she had but she put her fingers to his lips. It was her way of telling him that there was nothing to say and to leave it as it was. In her mind the matter was settled and he should feel the same way.

Instead she lay back on the bed and held her arms out open to him. Accepting her invitation, he found her mouth and began to remember what his brother had interrupted. The kisses they shared were soft and gentle but full of the desire they were unable to control when they found themselves in a position like this. His hands were soon moving all over her body, removing clothes and making her ready for the sweetest part of their relationship.

When he was at last inside of her and he felt her hips moving up to meet him, he knew that the idea of even his brother sharing such glory as what he felt was too much for him. Dani was his and his alone and he groaned as she whispered her words of love and encouragement in his ear. A part of him wondered how she could still be willing to accept him after he had been such a fool, but he didn't care, instead he worked to bring her pleasure and when it came he knew he would spend the rest of his life making up the blunder.

"Damn right you will Bull, beginning right now." She bit his ear after making the statement. "I refuse to let you leave this bed until we're both so soaked with sweat and each other's juices that your mother will never forgive us."

His laughter was loud enough to be heard by those already awake but he didn't care. He had a mission to fulfill and he was going to do just what she asked. "My woman's wish is my command you sweet, sexy thing...so let's get to it."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 15



Andre walked down to the pier and he felt the tears on his cheeks fall even as he tried to stop them. When he thought about it, he wondered why he should. His heart was bent but not broken and in his own way he knew it was better this way. Hadn't his father once told him that the love of a woman was good but peace in yourself was even better. The best thing he could do was let his sorrow free, and then pick himself up and do all he could to find that peace.

Somehow he wasn't surprised to find the old Apache Shaman standing behind him when he felt like someone was watching him. The old man was gray and wrinkled and his eyes showed a million years of pain and joy in them. When he moved to sit down as Andre was the younger man hurried to help him.

"Tears are a gift from the spirits; they cleanse the eyes and help us see more clearly. She was never yours Andre, in truth she could have met any of your brothers and none of them would have affected her as Bull does. Did your uncle tell you that their destiny was written long ago among the stars?"

"He made some reference to it, but nothing specific."

"Then sit beside me and listen to the water and I will tell you a story. I will make it short as time is short, but in the world around us, a day is but a blink of an eye."

"Back when the world was new and the spirits battled for dominance, three demons were set on the Earth to help determine the balance of the battle. Now not all the demons were evil. One was and he was given to the blood that now runs through Nick, another was pure and that demon was given to the blood of the Lazarus family. But the thing was; only a woman of the blood could control it. The final demon was given to the blood of your father's family, and for generations they have battled. Sometimes the evil won and other times your family was successful. Each time the prize was the demon that runs in Dani's blood. When the evil won, her family produced the warriors that you see in her brothers and father. When your family won, her family produced a series of souls that was able to balance the good and the evil. Nick is the last of his blood, his brother who is also his son will die in the battle that Dani and Bull now fight but Nick doesn't care, he thinks he will win even if he fights alone. His daughter and Dani's brother have joined in a way that both their demons, once this battle is over, will be completely neutral."

Andre had to ask. "What about the child Dani carries?"

"If Nick wins, the child will be lost to the evil that Nick will infuse him with. The problem is he will continue the battle and no matter how many children Bull and Dani have the battle will continue. That is why Nick must be stopped now. The time has come for it to end and it must end with the child Dani carries."

"And if it had been my child, would all of this have happened."

"Regrettably yes, because you and Bull carry the same blood, this would have still happened. I know you hurt from what you think you have lost but the pain will make you strong in the coming battle and that is what you must concentrate on now, the strength to help Dani and Bull win the battle."

"So no matter what Granny did, if she had told the truth or lied as she did, none of it would have changed. All of it would have still happened. Do Bull and Dani know?"

"No, but I will be speaking to them later in the day, you are my main concern at the moment. I felt your pain and knew you had to be made aware of what this was all about. I also wanted you to know that soon I will be performing a ceremony in the grove. It will be one that will call on all the spirits of your family and you must help me. I am an old man, and I will need your strength."

"I will do all I can to help." Andre knew it was the least he could do.

"Then grieve for what you have lost while you can, as I said time grows short."

Helping the old man back into the house, Andre knew that he would do all he was able to keep his nephew from becoming a pawn of evil and to ensure his brother and Dani and their happiness. It was the least he could do...



Dani and the Bull Ch. 16



Author's Note:

Sorry it's taken me a while to get this chapter up and running, I messed my back up a long time ago and every now and then it decides it needs a vacation. So it means stuck in bed with pain pills and muscle relaxers. It doesn't help when you share that bed with a 10 month old puppy of pit bull blood, that thinks my husband and I are it's parents.

Hugs

Darkstone57

*

Dani sat back on the bed and stroked Bull's face as he lay with his head in her lap. It felt good to have some time to just relax and not feel like the weight of the world on her shoulders. Everyone had firmly decided that the best thing to do was to wait for Nick and Jessie's next move. Maylene, the two Priests and Mr. Two-feather were deep in discussion and all kinds of rites and vision quests to try and find the most likely place for the final battle. The house back in Oregon was ruled out from the very start, which left the house in New Orleans or the Grove. Maylene and the two Priest considered the Grove too well protected but the old Shaman pointed out that Nick had attacked there and still had enough power to disrupt everyone connected to this coming battle. Personally Dani felt that it would be better to have the final fight on neutral land. Someplace that Nick might feel comfortable but far enough from places that might suffer.

"Bull, how faraway is that place my uncle lived?"

He turned to look up at her and frowned. "Why do you want to know that?"

"Because I think know how to get this all over once and for all. Come on, take me there."

To say the man of her heart didn't look happy would be putting it mildly, but he groaned and followed her down to the truck. Her mom and dad were drinking coffee with Massie and they looked up as she walked down stairs. Her dad was still fuming from Bull's idea about restoring the balance of nature by her having sex with both him and Andre, and it would be a while before he was calmed down enough to be back on good terms with Bull.

"So where are you two going?"

Dani saw no reason to lie to anyone, even if she knew her dad wasn't going to like it. "Bull and I are going to the other side of the swamp, to where Uncle Jake lived. The trailer is gone and the police said it's doubtful he'll ever go back there even it was still around."

"Why the hell you want to go visit that godforsaken place then?"

No one would fully understand her reasoning but she had to answer. "Maybe because it is forsaken and maybe I can get some answers I won't find just sitting here."

They rode in silence and Dani knew even Bull didn't understand why she wanted to visit the place where her aunt had died either by violence or by accident. Even if she bothered to ask herself, she couldn't have truly explained it, but she had the oddest feeling that somehow she might find some answer to the questions a meeting with Mr. Tall-feather hadn't answered.

It was a sorry looking place; most of the vegetation around was dead and decayed or dying. The smell was overwhelming and in defense and needing to breathe both her and Bull tied scarves over their mouths and noses. It didn't completely filter out the stench but it made it easier on her lungs. Bull looked at her as they looked around.

"Are you sure about this baby?"

"No but I can't just sit and wait anymore, can you?"

He looked around and motioned toward the area of where the trailer had stood. "Let's try over here."

Dani felt it as they drew closer and her demon came to life in response to the evil that filled both the air and the land. But there was something else there too, a glimmer of hope that she suspected came from an unexpected source. Finding a spot to sit, one not yet devoured by the decay, she closed her eyes and thought of her aunt. How Annie had always been so happy and loving even when her uncle was acting his worst and how her aunt had once told her that if she ever found a man to love, she should look for the best in him before the worst.

Now a voice spoke in her head. "I was wrong Dani, if I had listened to your parents; maybe I would still be there with you to help you fight your battle."

She opened her eyes and found herself looking into the face of her aunt. There was a soft glow around it, free of bruises and black eyes and looking young and full of freedom. "Aunt Annie, I was hoping you'd be here."

"I can't leave, but the world still talks to me. I know of you troubles and how you've suffered and yet you keep trying." Dani felt a soft touch in her womb and knew her aunt was touching the baby. "So young and innocent and not yet aware of how wonderful the world can be. I envy you Dani, I wanted a child so bad, hoping it would make things better but each time it seemed Jake grew angry and beat me to make sure I lost it. And you're right; my falling from the porch was no accident. He was drunk and I was running to keep him from beating me. When I came out on the porch he was right behind me and his told me if I wanted to leave he'd make sure I left forever. The next thing I knew I was looking down at my body and blood was flowing from my head where I had hit a rock." Her ghostly gaze moved to where Bull was watching. "Your man has violence in him too, he's done things that he is ashamed of, but I sense a peace in him, and a fear. Help him along Dani, he's standing at a crossroad in his life right now, he needs you to help him make the right decision."

"I know Aunt Annie, and he knows that I will accept his choice no matter what it is. But first we have to defeat Nick; I thought maybe I could think of a way to put it more on our side if I came here."

That made her aunt smile. "Maybe there is, but I can't tell you what it is, this place is evil, I think it's why Jake picked it to live. But maybe your friends can help...talk to the witch woman and the priests, and maybe that old Shaman might have a few ideas too. I'm sure one of them might have an idea of how to cleanse the land..."

As her aunt left, Dani knew she had a clue to what she needed to do. Her aunt had never told her directly, but it was a start.

Back at the house, Dani decided it was a good thing she was getting used to being nude. A year ago she would have never considered stripping off her clothes the minute she hit the protected ground and walking unconcerned into the house to a hot shower. Bull followed close behind her and glared at anyone who even started to say a word, all except Andre. "We left our clothes by the truck go get them and make sure you burn them back at the still in the woods. I would also suggest you get some sage from granny and add it to the fire or grandpa's latest batch might be contaminated." As Andre went to do what his brother asked, Bull stopped him at the door. "And don't touch them barehanded. Get a pair of the heaviest gloves we got and use a stick to pick them up."

Dani heard Mr. Two-feather and Philippe offer to help him and she nodded. "Granny we need some of that special soap you use to purify before a ritual, we need to scrub each other big time."

"Go to the tub off the back porch," Massie spoke up. "We'll start filling it; you two shouldn't have any trouble fitting in it."

They fit it just fine, and Dani noticed Granny and Philippe's brother Claude had started small fires as well as burning cleansing herbs and scribbling wards in the dirt to contain any evil they might have brought back with them. It took three tubs before they all agreed that they were clean and the two of them went up to the attic to put on fresh clothes and talk about what had happened.

"You know baby, I am beginning to wonder if a part of you isn't a witch woman like granny." Bull looked at her as he lit two cigarettes and passed her one. I know daddy called you a hurricane but what I saw today, you sitting there calm as day talking to your aunt's spirit and not blinking an eye to what she was telling you."

"Aunt Annie told me a lot more than just what she was saying Bull; somehow we need to get Nick to that spot for the final battle. I don't know why or how I know but I do. It's no coincidence that my uncle chose that spot to live or kill his wife. Not when he could have picked anywhere in the country to live with the money grandpa left him." She looked at him. "What do you know about that property?"

"Not as much as Granny would. I know that the family who owed it before your uncle had been on it forever it seemed. I remember being told as a kid to never go near the place, and that it was said a former slave was suspected of performing black voodoo magic."

Dani felt a need to tease the man she loved. "Not as much as Granny would huh, sounded to me like you know more than you realized. I also want to find out from Lily why she told me to stay away from the Gazebo at the house in New Orleans."

Bull got a pad of paper and a pen from a stand beside the table. "I think we need to start taking notes. 

He was right and Dani made a list of what she considered important things to pay attention to. Three places seemed to stand out, her home back in Oregon, the house in New Orleans and the bayou. Talking about each, and discussing what the full connection could be, they lost track of time and were surprised when they were summoned to dinner by his kid sister.

It was after dinner that the subject of the land where her uncle had lived was brought up again and she listened intently as Granny Maylene talked about what knowledge she had.

"The place never was what the owners wanted it to be. Even before the Beaumont's bought it, there was a history of madness and all kinds of mischief and mayhem around the place. I know that the legend of the slave practicing black voodoo was real popular around the time of the civil war, and there is a tale of an uprising among those who were still owed resulting in the death of most of the family by ways I won't talk about tonight since we got so many young ones among us. Let's just say that when the news reached town those that ventured out to check the stories, they came back to town and refused to say a word to any one that verified or denied the stories. Almost all of those folks when went there died within a few years, most of suicide. My grandmother told me that one or two of the family that survived left the place and never came back. When the Beaumont family bought it back in the late eighteen hundreds, they tried to do the same as the original family, but it never paid off, and eventually the house just fell into total disrepair. Sam Beaumont was the last of his line and he bought that trailer to live out his life in right after the Korean War. Once he died the land stayed empty until you uncle bought it. Nothing good came of that land, and I don't think it ever will."

Dani asked a question that startled even her. "Maylene, do you know the name of the original owners?"

"No I don't, my family and the Marquailles' never had anything to do with any of them but Sam and even he was a surly old man who tended to keep trespassers off his land with a shotgun, but why all the interest all of sudden child?"

It was just a hunch but she knew that hunches had changed a lot of things in the world. "Because I think that is either the original site of the battle that the spirits fought that Mr. Two-feather told us about, or that if we find the name of the original owner and trace it down we are going to find that somehow Nick is related to that land as much as dad and Beau are." She lit a cigarette, "I can't help thinking that Nick always looked at dad as a rival, but at the same time seemed to be willing to be friends with a newcomer that most of the other folks in town weren't so sure about. He also seemed real interested when dad would get to talking about how he had grown up back in New Orleans as if it brought memories back to him as well."

Everyone looked at her in surprise and she knew her ideas were being mentally looked at. "I'll call dad the first thing in the morning," Dani heard her mother speak up. "He's the best thing the town has to a historian and he would know where most of the longtime residents came from."

Dani saw the two priests exchange glances as well. As the older brother it was Philippe who spoke up. "I think we need to check this place out, and if you don't mind Mr. Two-feathers, I think your help might be needed. Your magic is way older than ours and I think it might be even more powerful."

The old shaman nodded. "I will be glad to help; it's why I'm here. But before we go exploring a place that is filled with such evil, we'll need to prepare. If no one minds, I'll be taking Andre along as my helper. It makes an old man feel better if the younger bucks do some of the heavy work for them." He bestowed a fatherly glance at Andre and Dani wondered if Bull wasn't the only one whose future had been misread.

Bull was thinking the same thing as he watched his brother help the old man into the house and into the room he was using. He decided not to bring it up except to Dani once they had settled in the attic room. He also wondered if there was anyway his father, Lily and Charles could help solve the questions Dani had raised tonight. Obviously the spirits of the families were able to help more than he had ever thought possible.

He also wondered if the spirits might be able to help him with the thoughts that had been in his head since the huge mistake he had made in the grove. He found himself feeling that he was not cut out to be a priest, no matter what his future had been read as, the lies had disrupted the lines and he was lost in limbo. Philippe had told him that he could still start the training. The problem was, chosen began training when they were six or seven, when they were first beginning to read and write. As near as he was to thirty he was a good quarter of a century behind and that was a lot of learning to make up. He was still finding it hard at times to read and understand some of the repair manuals he read. Dani had been helping him but lately they hadn't had time to work on it.

There was also the matter of Dani and their child. Priests weren't encouraged to marry, Philippe had taken a long term lover, but his brother had settled for the release that came from certain rituals and ceremonies. If he followed through on his destined path it would mean Dani would be alone a great part of the time and he would have to take a full time job as well to support her. He had hoped that the idea of helping restore the balance by a joining of her and Andre would help but instead it had made things worse.

Feeling a hand grasping his he looked up to see Dani looking at him with an understanding look. She drew him up and together they walked outside and down to the docks. Sitting down he held her close and they gazed up at the star filled sky. He didn't know if he should talk or just keep silent.

It was Dani who decided for him. "Talk to me Bull, I feel you're shutting me on somehow."

"I know but since what happened the other day, I feel so twisted up inside. I came so close to just giving you and our son to Nick by not thinking what I was doing. I had no business being so foolish."

"No you didn't, but you're a human man Bull, and all humans make mistakes. I admit I was angry to think you would even consider just giving me to your brother, and yet when I saw how hurt you were, I couldn't keep from wanting to comfort you."

He held her tight and shook his head. "I felt so scared when I realized what I had done, it was hard not to fall to my knees and ask you to forgive me. Dani, I don't know what to do. I keep hearing I should have been a priest, but the lies have turned that all upside down. I should have started training even before you were born almost, and I never had the education I should have gotten. I've also got you and the baby to think of, and I don't know if I could take being away from you all the time I would have to be." He sighed, knowing he couldn't keep his deepest thoughts from her. "You want the truth honey, a part of me regrets coming home. A part of me wants to be back in Oregon, working in your dad's garage and knowing how my life was going to go from one day to the next. I love my family but I can't help feeling that I don't belong here anymore. I actually understand your dad more each day we spend down here."

"That because you left a boy and came back a man." They both looked up as Massie walked up to them. "I understand how you feel son, I think we all do. And you're right about one thing, the future that was planned for you is no longer possible. You're a strong man and the magic runs deep in you, but so does your love for Dani and your child and if you become a priest the demands of both will tear you apart. This cannot happen; you must raise your son together. We all agree that you must choose your life and not be guided by what we hope for you."

Philippe and his brother came up to them as well, and Beau saw the older man grin. "And let us be honest Beau, I foresee little need for a priest of our kind in Oregon. Our magic is enhanced by the bayou, not tall trees and rain."

Beau had to grin and he shook his head as he felt Dani tense. "Remember honey, he's the victim of a lot of negative advertising."

She looked at him with the love he had grown to know so well. "Well, I guess your family will just have to visit us when this is over won't they. Hey Philippe, have you ever seen snow?" 

A mischievous glint lit up her eyes and for a time, the world seemed to be in a state of contentment as Beau hugged her and felt a sense of relief that he had been freed of having to decide between his past and his future. When he and Dani went up to the attic, he found a renewed sensation as he walked into a scent of lilies and the spirits of the three elder members of their combined families.

This time he saw a fourth spirit and while she hadn't been visible to him earlier, this time she was as clear as his father, Dani's great aunt, and grandfather. Annie Lazarus smiled at him softly. "You are no longer in conflict Beau, and my family had found me, so we may meet in safety. In life I knew of your family and I often envied them the love and happiness they radiated whenever we passed in town. In truth I envied them just the way I envied Jack and Helen for the love that I felt around them. I owe your mother and grandmother a great deal for telling them of what Jake did to me, and in its own way of being the means that brought my dearest niece here to release me."

He looked at Dani and saw her eyes were glistening with tears. "Aunt Annie..."

Annie smiled at her niece and shook her head. "Relax Goldie, I'm not going anywhere yet, what I mean by that was that I am no longer bound to that place. I am as free as any other spirit to travel and not chained by ignorance. And to repay my debt, I will tell you something that I have learned that will help you in the coming battle. You've already made huge steps forward to discovering it, but this will help even more. You're correct in your thoughts that the spot across the swamp was one of the first sights for the battles and where each of your families received the three demons. Nick does have as much bayou blood in him as you and Beau. However, have your family look on the female side of the family. In this your Granny Maylene will be a great help as she will find the answer in her own family. Her lie to your family was no chance mistake; it was directed by the evil of the land across the swamp. I don't expect you to absolve her of the guilt but it will help you both understand that the evil in Nick is widespread and it will do all it must to survive.

Bull saw Dani nod and held her even closer and tighter. He had one question that he needed to know the answer to. "Why was I chosen to be a priest?"

Annie gave out with a tinkling laugh that sounded like the soft clink of metal wind chime in a gentle breeze. "Because my dear nephew-to-be you were destined from your first spark of life to be more powerful than any priest or witch in the history of your line. If your power had been allowed to grow to its full extent, you power would have extinguished Nick like a match in the water. Instead the evil of the swamp wanted you tainted, before ever knowing your full potential. It might have worked too if your new path hadn't set you directly in the path of the only female Lazarus to be born in almost a hundred years. The evil never dreamed of such a thing happening. Even Nick's belief that Dani was meant to be his, well you can see its train of thought. Together Nick and Dani would have created the most evil child in the world; he would have put the most demented figures in our world's history to shame and put all of us in danger of total destruction and damnation. Your arrival wrecked its plan and sent Nick on another course. To destroy you both and your child before he is ever born." She gave them both a look that spoke of great pride and hope for the future. Bull also noticed she looked as weary as he and Dani felt. "It's time for me to return to the swamp, but I will see you again."




Dani and the Bull Ch. 16



Once she had faded away, Bull grinned. "I'm sorry I never met that lady in person, I think I would have really liked her. I also think I would have never held back like your dad did and beaten your uncle to a bloody pulp. No woman deserves what he did to her."

His father's spirit nodded. "She is indeed a brave woman; I think the swamp would have driven anyone with a weak spirit to insanity long ago. Instead she survived long enough to make her location apparent to anyone who would actually care enough to look for her. I don't think it's by chance that we all knew the last name of the couple who lived in that old place. But now son, we all need to rest, she is still not used to being able to roam as we do, and we had to help her last as long as she did for this visit, but as she matures, she will be stronger and able to hold her own. Now you two have had a long day, and both of you need to rest, and whatever else you think might recharge you spirits. Good night my loves, sleep well..." As he faded, Bull saw his father give him a knowing wink and Lily give him a saucy smile. The same smile he saw at times on her great-nieces face.

The last to go was Dani's grandfather and he looked at them with a look that he had stayed behind with a purpose of his own, before he could speak though Dani looked at him with a sad smile. "Grandma won't survive the battle will she grandpa?"

Charles shook his head, "No, it is doubtful that she will last even beyond the very beginning, and it saddens me to tell you this. But as in all wars there are those who die and those who survive. What she has in death to offer you will make up for all her weaknesses in life. What I can reassure you with that when the time does come, she will join you in the fight with a strength no one will expect. Let her in Dani, and you too Bull, let her spirit fight as she never had the ability in life to fight. I always regretted that I could not fully love her as I should, but in that weakness she was able to take Jessie into her life and for that I will always be grateful. Now sleep you two. We will speak again."

When they were alone again, Bull looked at Dani. "They're right we need to sleep."

Dani nodded, but as they lie down she curled up to him in a way that told him she was in need of more than sleep to relax. "Bull, love me tonight, I need to feel your life pouring into me. I need to put the smell of death far behind us both."

She was right and he smiled as he began to remove her clothes. "After today, I think we both need to relax and put aside all that is going on around us. So would my lady like it soft and gentle, hard and rough or a happy combo plate of whatever comes to mind?"

Her fingers were already freeing him and she giggled as she massaged the length of him. "Oh Bull, the happy combo plate of course, I find all of a sudden I have a very big appetite and only you can satisfy my hunger.

Bending his head to take one suddenly taunt nipple into his mouth, he chuckled his agreement. "Of course Madame, it will be my pleasure to satisfy your hunger and do it as often as you like, now take that giant sausage you have in your hand and make sure he is up to the task."

Anyone still awake heard his attempts and knew from Dani's loud moans and groans and cries of pleasure that he had indeed fulfilled her need and desire very well indeed.