Cowboys with Fur Ch. 1

This is the beginning.

I didn't want to be here.

Honestly speaking, I never wanted to be here but because I felt a weird sense of duty, I always found myself here. For support, I started to tell myself after the third time someone bumped into me, having not seen me at the table by myself or to simply sneer at me. The music playing overhead had far too much twang to it then my usual setlist and the hollers and hoots were so stereotypical I thought for a brief moment I was on a film set.

Oh gods I wish I was simply on a film set.

I clenched my purse in my hands, fighting the strong urge to flee at the sight before me. The dim lighting of the bar didn’t provide much in way of sight but since my eyes had adjusted from the nearly two hours I’d been here I could see pretty well. The bar was behind me, in front of me was the dance floor which was separated by a divider from a smaller area with pool tables, actual chairs and tables and food. Yes, that side had food. This side had nothing but pulsing music, nowhere to sit if I wanted to keep an eye on her and men. Lots and lots of giant, intimidating men. I felt a panic attack coming on. You love her, this is why you are here. You love her, this is why you put up with her stupid s**t.

Another holler made me jerk from my chanting and I turned my wild eyes to the dance floor and-

Oh the gods had no mercy.

There she was, pretending to ride some cowboy on the dance floor and even I had to admit she was doing a pretty f*****g good job at it.

I had to fight every instinct in my body that screamed for me to race across the floor, pull her away from the large, intimidating man who was obviously enjoying himself and take her home. This was her night. For her. You'd do anything for her I told myself. Even put up with fighting your every instinct to protect her.

"You look like a filly about to flee." I jumped at the gravelly voice next to my ear and turned my gaze towards the man speaking, only, he wasn't a man. He was a f*****g beast in cowboy boots.

What the hell did they feed these men?

The beast cowboy in question was wearing a cowboy hat on his head but tilted back enough that I could see the blue eyes peering at me from underneath it. Hs skin was weathered in a way different from what I was used to. Hard labour, yeah, but there wasn't the unkindness of the sea touching him. He was lean and powerful from working fields and the soft plaid shirt he wore fit him perfectly, along with the worn jeans that hugged him in the right places. I realised, not for the first time, how much I must have stuck out.

I was wearing flip flops, a knee length dark purple dress that was covered by a soft cream sweater I had knit myself. My black leather purse, worn from years of use felt like the only thing that belonged here.

Again, my mantra repeated in my head as I swallowed and tilted my head back slightly to look up at the man, pleased that my curves lay hidden beneath my clothes, yet nothing could hide my chest from view. Nothing I had discovered yet.

"I didn't realise I was so jumpy." I told the man as he placed his beer bottle on the table I was leaning against and I swallowed. Don't be frightened. It's just a man. You are fine. He grinned at me, his eyes staring into mine unlike the other jerks who had come by.

"I felt that if I approached you any sooner you'd run out the door darling. Now, if you don't mind me asking, what is a lady like you doing out here?" He didn't ask anything more than that and I felt my cheeks flush. Oh yeah, I stood out. She, on the other hand fit in too well. She wore her jean shorts like a pro, her top tight against her blooming curves and the cowboy boots she'd gotten as a birthday gift two years ago were a nice touch. She was the wild child I'd never been, or ever would be.

"I take it I stick out like a sore thumb?" I suggested as I played with my purse and he chuckled, the sound making me tingle, and not with pleasure. The fear of the giant man was overwhelming but I swallowed it down. He took a deep sip of his beer before putting it back on the table, his muscles flexing and I tried not to stare. Damn, I wish I moved like that.

"Well, it's a friday and usually you don't see much more than the locals. It's usually just the local clans and a few outsiders. Between you and miss cowgirl over there it's making for an interesting night." My cheeks flushed further and he raised an eyebrow.

"She's...certainly enjoying herself isn't she?" I was testing him a little to see what he'd say. It was silent as I watched the crowd close around them and I turned my gaze back to cowboy casanova. He nodded, turning his gaze back to mine.

"That she is. I'd swear she knows how to ride better than some of my brothers." If I had been drinking anything it would have made sense why I choked, only I wasn't and he had to pat my back while I tried to breathe. "You alright?" He asked and I wiped the few tears from my eyes and sucked in air.

"Oh yeah. Air went down the wrong pipe. Happens." I took another deep breath before letting it woosh out of me in a sigh. "That's...well, I wouldn't put it past her. She's had that itch for a long time." His eyes watched me quietly as I sighed again.

"She your friend?" He asked and I grimaced.

"Worse. Sister. Step-sister. I'm designated driver tonight so that she can go out without our parents stringing me from the rafters." He chuckled as he watched her with different eyes.

"She's...different." I laughed breathlessly at that comment, the panic that I had been keeping at bay rising again after my coughing fit. You're here because you love her. He's just a man.

"She's the wild child of the family. You don't need to sugar coat it for me. I'm happy to spend the whole night here just to watch out for her and make sure she's having fun and safe." He hid his smile behind his beer as he took another sip and I tried to figure out why he'd be smiling. I hadn't said something amusing, had I?

"So you'd sacrifice your own happiness to look out for your sister?" I answered without even blinking.

"Of course. Family are meant to support each other. As long as she plays it safe, and everything's consensual I'm fine. She might not be blood but she's family." He gave me another stroking chuckle before tilting his hat at me.

"You might fit in around here little miss." My cheeks burned at being called little by this giant. Suddenly, my fears, my temperament, my anger at her for dragging me out roared to life and I stiffened visibly. How dare he call me little!? I may be short but I am certainly not small! And miss? How f*****g old did he think I was?

"Well hello miss. Sorry that our big ol' brother has been bothering you. Has he made any harsh comments yet?" I nearly screamed as the two identical men slid onto either side of me, one whispering into my ear softly while the other stroked his hand down my forearm. They were almost the same size as their brother, but they were clearly younger as their build wasn’t as defined, like they had a little more growing to do. Plaid was certainly to theme of the night. Maybe every night. Big ol' brother growled at the twins.

"Boys, back off. You're frightening the poor thing." My blood went from panic to anger in seconds. Damn me and my emotions.

"I am not some wee babe that gets easily frightened." I grit out and I saw the mirth in his eyes as he ducked his hat.

"Course darling."  I had to bite back my comment as my sister came swinging her hips over, the same man from before wrapped around her finger and she gave me a wide grin.

"Hey sis, heading out. I'll call you in the morning, alright?" She tried to slip away but like a snake I slipped away from the twins, opened my purse and slid her some condoms and she couldn't hide her grin. She slipped them onto her back pocket, kissed me on the cheek and wrapped her arms around the giant cowboy she'd seduced, taking his hat off and sliding it onto her pretty purple hair. The three men at the table watched as I made sure she got out safely before sighing.

The things I did for family.

"Did you just slip her something?" One of the twins teased, his grey eyes a shade lighter then my own. I gave him a look and then glanced back at the door.

"Does it look like she could have condoms on her in what she's wearing? I'm just making sure she's safe." I muttered, rolling my shoulders before I released my death grip on my purse and pulled the strap over my shoulder. "Well, I best be heading out. My duties are done for the night and I need some sleep. Good night." I awkwardly waved before disappearing into the crowd in the only way short people could before opening the door and making a beeline for the one car that stood out the most from the giant trucks around.

The green volkswagen beetle.

I unlocked the car and slid in, turning the engine on quickly so I could turn on something other than country and hightail it out of there. I backed up quickly, my ipod turning on and instantly Justin Timberlake's tenor voice came through the speakers, lamenting about something while I focused on getting the hell out of here. She was safe, she'd call me in the morning and I had a lot of painting to get done tonight.

After all, this was my new town of residence.