As the wind blew across the ground the scent of horses and ponderosa pines are in the air. This warmer wind was much needed, after a long hard Montana winter that was just barely over and springtime was desperately trying to make itself known. The mountain tops still hold the evidence of the winter that had lasted so long. The horses are restless to run free over the ranch. The dogs are thankful for a short swim although the water was still pretty cold and you can see the heat rise off their coats as they lay on the bank just enjoying the mid-afternoon breeze. Suddenly, the ranch dog Chase caught a glimpse of something and took off running toward the barn area. Thinking it to be a deer, Molly didn’t think much of it until she heard a loud panicked voice and Chase growling and barking. She went running into the tack room where she kept her husband Evan’s rifle. He placed it there just in case she ever needed it. Molly grabbed the rifle out of the tack room and ran to where she heard the commotion along the side of the foaling barn. 

As she ran around the side of the barn she saw Chase holding a man at bay up against the side of the barn wall. Pointing the Henry 44 at him she told Chase to heal. ”Who are you and what are you doing on my land?” “Lady put the gun down!” he said. “I am not putting the gun down until I know who you are and why you are all the way out here, ”she told him. “I was hiking and got lost,” he answered. “Where are you from, mister?” “I am from California,” he answered. “Where about in California?” “Outside of L.A,”he answered. “Well that explains it. A lot of city people have no business in the woods in Montana or anywhere else for that matter,” she told him. “What is your name mister?” “Joe.” he said. “Joe what?” “Joe Reynolds.” “Well, my name is Molly and my husband is Evan. We own this ranch and you are trespassing.” Molly lowered the gun and told Chase to watch him. “Are you thirsty, Joe?” she asked. “Yes, I am I have been walking for quite a while,” he told her.

As they walked towards the house she told Joe to take a seat at the picnic table and she would get them some sweet tea. As he sat down Chase laid down close to him watching his every move. Molly went into the house and called Sheriff Connor. She wanted information on this guy because his story did not add up. She found it hard to believe that he is hiking in Montana with no supplies or a gun or bear spray for protection. “Hi Meg. This is Molly Jamison.’ “Well. Hi, Molly. How are you doing?” “Good hun. How are the horses? Any babies yet?” Meg asked. “No, not yet but real soon. I was wondering if Jarrod is in the office today? I need to chat with him a minute,” Molly asked. “Yeah, Molly just hold on a second and I will get him for you.” Within a few seconds a friendly handsome voice came on the line. “Well how are you Mol? Haven’t heard from you in a while. Is everything alright out at your place?” “Well, Jarrod, that is why I am calling.” she told him. “This man showed up on my place a little bit ago. He claims he is lost from hiking but that is just notsitting right with me.” “Why is that Mol?” Jarrod asks. “Well he has no hiking gear, food, water or anything else on him.” “Mol, where is he right now?” “He is outside sitting at the picnic table and Chase is guarding him like a hawk.” “Good, keep him there. Don’t let him in the house. I am on my way and I will handle the situation,” Jarrod says. “Mol, where is the gun Evan left for you? I have his Henry 44 in my hand right now,” she said. “Good keep it with you. These days you cannot be too careful.” “I will Jarrod.” 

As Molly hangs up the phone she watches Joe out the window for a moment before going to the kitchen for ice tea. He had not moved; he was still in the same place that he was when she had come into the house. Setting the tea on the counter Molly checks to make sure the safety is off and that the gun is in fact loaded. Evan always made sure that she could load a gun, shoot it and clean it. Grasping the gun tightly she says with a tear falling down her cheek, Damn it, Evan! You need to be here protecting me! Damn this war and damn the Army and damn your selfish pride!”

Wiping the tears away she collected herself and walked out the door toward the picnic table. “Molly you and your husband sure have a beautiful place here.” “Thank you, Joe. This has been a dream of ours for many years although I think that raising horses is more my dream on this ranch and hunting is more Evan’s,” as she let out a small laugh. “When we were looking to buy this place I wanted beauty and room that the horsescould run, Evan wanted good hunting ground.”

“Well Molly he sounds like a good man. I myself like to hunt as well.” He thought to himself with a smile on his face, I am hunting you right now Molly and you have no clue what is going on. Taking a seat at the table sipping on her tea she asked, “What brought you to Montana to hike when California has many beautiful places to hike in itself?”

“Honestly I am looking to find a job in Montana either wrangling cattle or working on a horse ranch,” Joe answered. “I have been looking but these ranchers won’t take a second look at me with no experience, but how can you get experience when no one will give you a chance at working and learning,” Joe said. “I can agree with you there Joe.” Molly told him. “So you want to relocate to Montana instead of wrangling on some big ranch in California? Why?”

“Oh well I have always wanted to live in Montana. That has been a lifelong dream of mine,” Joe replied. She kind of chuckled and said, “Well, I can assure you that when you have to face a long Montana winter and all the work that comes with it you will wish that you were…., well what do you do for a living now, Joe?” “I am a stock broker.” “Well Joe you will definitely wish that in the middle of a hard winter here you were tucked away safe and warm in your office.” Molly said to him. “Molly, do you ever wish you didn’t have to face a winter here?” “Huh, all of the time but it is part of Montana life I wouldn’t change it although every year Arizona is sounding more and more appealing. I threaten tomove there at least a dozen times during the winter but when it comes right down to it I love Montana. It is my home. Evan and I have built a life here on this ranch.” “Where is Evan?” Joe asks curiously.

She thought to herself should I say he is gone? Should I say he is in town? What should I say? I don’t know this guy or where he is really from. He seems so very nice and down to earth I guess it would not hurt to tell him that Evan is off to war. Molly sighs for a moment then says with a cracking in her voice that Evan is off overseas in the ARMY and has been deployed over and over for the past four years. “He is getting to come home soon. He will be home for good.” “Oh, my Molly!” Joe replied. “I was in the ARMY too. I finished my contract a year ago. I was in for six years and spent most of those over in Iraq.” “Really?” Molly replied. “What was your MOS? “Oh, it was 11 Bravo,” Joe replied. “That is the same as Evan. He too is 11 Bravo.” “Oh! Really so how does he like driving trucks?” Joe asked.

Molly hesitated for a moment realizing that Joe is clearly lying to her and not to let him know she knows he’s lying. She replied, “Oh he likes it just fine but is ready for ranch life again. Chase started to bark and stood up looking down the driveway carefully making sure that he still kept his eye on Joe. Suddenly a newer black Ford F250 4x4 came pulling into the drive way. Jarrod jumps out. “Hey Mol! How are you? Didn’t know you had company. I was out thisway and thought I’d look in on my best friend’s girl.” “Hey, Jarrod. Nice to see you. Would you like some ice tea?” “Sure if you don’t mind.” “Not at all,” Molly replied. She then headed into the house still carrying her rifle. Jarrod takes a seat on the picnic bench across from Joe. “Hi I am Jarrod. I am a friend of Molly and Evan’s. Who are you?” “Oh I am Joe. I am a friend of Evan’s from the ARMY. We served together in Iraq until I got out last month.” “Well Joe thank you for serving. It is greatly appreciated. So how did you find your way out to this ranch? It is not the easiest to find,” Jarrod asks. “Well Evan told me that if I was going to be looking for work, to head up here to see if Molly needed any help with her horses,” Joe replied. “Well, Joe, that she does,” Jarrod said.

Jarrod looked around the driveway noticing that there wasn’t a car that this Joe fellow could have driven in here. The only rigs there are Molly and Evan’s. This made Jarrod catch himself before he got in too deep with this line that this Joe fellow is feeding him. “Say Joe… where is your car?” “Oh...”Joe hesitated for a moment then said, “well I parked around here somewhere from this direction. I am not sure but I got out. I wanted to go for a hike to clear my head then I stumbled upon Molly here at the ranch Joe,” told Jarrod. “So what you’re telling me is you lost your car?” Jarrod asked. “Yeah I think I did,” Joe answered. Jarrod found that to be odd but didn’t feel that his new friend was being truthful with him since thereare about 15000 acres of BLM land surrounding the Jamison ranch on three sides. I just can’t see how he hiked in here Jarrod thought to himself, he had to have cut across the front pasture and onto the ranch where Molly had found him. Molly came out of the house bringing Jarrod’s tea. “So you boys have a nice chat?” Molly asked. “Yes! Very nice,” they replied. Molly noticed that Jarrod showed up in plain clothes and no sheriff’s truck. She thought to herself that was very smart on his part to do because she didn’t want Joe to think she called him to come out.

“Mol, you want to show me your horses. My daughter has been bugging me for one for rodeo to use on barrels so it is about time for me to give in,” Jarrod laughs. “Sure, follow me I will show you what I have for sale that is broke. Joe would you like to come with us?” “Sure, Molly I would love to.” Joe got up off the picnic bench to walk with Jarrod and Molly to the barn. Molly hollered, “Come Chase!” Chase came and followed Joe to the barn. Joe says, “That is one loyal dog you have Molly.” “Yes, he is very loyal and very protective of me; he is also very intimidating to strangers when they see a 160 lb Rottweiler come running towards them.” “Yeah,” Joe says, “he scared the hell outa me.” Molly laughed. Molly is a small woman only about 5’ weighing about 110lbs. She has long dark auburn hair green eyes and looks very young for her age of 34.

Jarrod picked out a black and white overo paint 4 year old mare for his daughter Levi. “Molly I will have funds transferred then get you acheck out for her by the end of the week.” “Sounds good, Jarrod. I will separate her out from the others and put her in the front corral then you can come and get her anytime,” Molly replied. “So hey Molly I best be getting back.” “Joe how about if I give you a ride to see if we can find your car? Joe kind of stumbled his words around then finally says that will be great. “It was nice meeting you Molly. I hope to see you again soon and help out with the horses.” “Bye Joe. Take care,” Molly said as they are leaving.

As the men are driving along Jarrod’s gears are just spinning out of control. This guy’s story is just not adding up. He would not be released three months earlier than Evan due to stop-loss in affect. During stop loss you have to complete your deployment. He claims he is Evan’s friend and in his unit. Why is he home? Jarrod thought to himself. But if he was not Evan’s friend how would he know Evan is in the ARMY and gone if he is in fact just a hiker lost in the woods. Surely Molly would not have told a complete stranger that her husband is gone in the ARMY.

Jarrod’s thoughts are going a mile a minute. Well we will just see what I find when I run his car license plate. Once they reached the highway stop sign Jarrod asked, “Joe which way do I turn?” Joe looked around confusingly and then said, “Take a left.” So Jarrod decided to make more small talk with this stranger. “So Joe how long are you planning on staying here in Montana?” Joe replied by saying I would like to relocate here. Seems like a lotof opportunity in my line of work. “What do you do now that you are out of the ARMY?” Jarrod asked? “I am a police officer,” Joe answered. “Really,” Jarrod said in a stunned voice. “Is that what you were in the ARMY?” “No,” Joe said, “I was a cop before enlisting.” “Well if you’re looking for a job, Joe, I know the sheriff personally. Maybe I can get you hooked up with a job.” “Really,” Joe says, “that would be great. Do you know what the sheriff’s name is?” Jarrod looks at Joe, smiles then extends his hand out to shake Joe’s hand, “Joe, I am the sheriff around here.” Then Jarrod smiles real big with this I caught you in a lie look. Joe looked at Jarrod, shook his hand and smiled back all the while thinking that bitch called this son of a bitch and he has been playing me all along.

A few miles up the road Joe saw a fishing sign and told Jarrod to turn there. Jarrod did and they drove down about a ¼ mile where his car was, a blue Eagle Talon newer car. Jarrod thought to himself why a guy that was over 6’ would be driving a car that is so small for him? “OK Joe, here you are.” “Thanks Jarrod for the ride. It was nice meeting you. “Now Joe you are sure welcome to come into the office and I will see what I can do about getting you a job.” “Thank you, Jarrod. I will try to do that.” Jarrod smiled and Joe walked to the car. Jarrod memorized the license plate number then once down the dirt road where Joe could not see him he wrote it down. 

Back at the ranch Molly is feeding her horses, cattle,chickens, dogs and cats. While standing in the barn she heard a commotion. She thought to herself what now? She walked to the door of the barn saw that Skeeter and Ruby are playing tug of war with a mangled rattle snake. “Skeeter!” Molly hollered, “Drop that damn thing before you get bit and I have to race you to the vet!” Skeeter dropped the snake then Ruby grabbed it and took off running across the yard and over a hill. “Ruby, you dang dog,” Molly said, “you never listen to me.”

Molly finished her chores quickly because Evan had promised to call around 9 pm. Molly, Chase, and Skeeter went into the house. The house was very rustic that was what both she and Evan wanted - a rustic house they could live in and raise a family. The house had many windows for the amazing views of the mountains and abundant wild life that strolls through the ranch on a daily basis. There was just a herd of sixty or more elk there yesterday feeding out of the grain bins that Molly built after Evan went away. He always told her before he left not to feed the wild life that they wouldn’t come around because of the dogs. Molly just laughed as she would think about that while she was watching her yard fill with such beautiful creatures. They didn’t seem to mind the dogs at all. 

Molly ran herself a hot bath then went to stoke the fire. She put a few logs on it. Molly always thought the fireplace was beautiful she loves to sit in Evan’s oversized lazy-boy recliner to just watch the flames flicker and remember all of the good times that her and Evan have had in their years together. How she couldn’t waitto feel his touch and taste his sweet kiss again.

The smell of hazelnut candles floated through the house from the master bath where she had lit at least a dozen candles and is soaking in a hot bubble bath listening to a sweet Randy Travis song with a shot of tequila in one hand the bottle of Jose in the other with the cordless phone nearby. “Jose Cuervo you definitely are a friend of mine,” Molly says, laughing before taking her shot.

Listening to the words of the song just brought tears to her eyes because the loneliness of Evan being gone and so far away was overwhelming to her. She thought of him and tears started to flow while she filled another shot then drank it down. As she filled her third shot the phone rang. Trying to wipe away the tears she took her last shot down then answered the phone with a sad “hello?” “Hi, Babe!” “Hi,” Molly said sadness filling her voice. “What’s wrong,” Evan asked? “Nothing,” Molly replied. Bullshit Molly! What is it?” “I am just missing you.” “I miss you too, babe.” Evan replies. “I will be home soon, I promise. I will never leave again.” “Honestly?” Molly asks. “Honestly,” Evan says with a loving voice. “So tell me what has been going on lately? Any new foals yet?” “Yes a stud colt this evening,” Molly tells him. “Whose Colt.” Evan asks curiously? “It was one of Diamond’s babies.” Diamond is a prize winning appaloosa out of Molly’s grandfather’s stock. “Wow,” Evan says, “what coloring? Any spots?” “Black with snow white blanket and big black spots. Evan he is a very pretty colt,” Molly told him. “So anything else interesting happen today,” Evan asks? “Well Skeet and Ruby showed up with a dead rattler andwhen I hollered at them to drop it Ruby grabbed it then ran as fast as her little legs would take her.” “So anything else,” he asks? “Yeah, Jarrod was out today and bought one of Vixens 4 year old babies for Levi to run barrels.” “How much you get for her?” Evan asks. “$3,500.00.” “Wow, Mol. That is great,” Evan says enthusiastically! “Is she one that I broke before I left?” “No I broke her. You weren’t here.” Molly says in a quiet voice. Evan was quiet too for a moment realizing all of the things he is missing because he chose to be stubborn a few years before. Molly then said, “I had another visitor today.” “Who?” Evan asked. “A lost hiker named Joe.” “What do you mean a lost hiker, Mol?” Evan asked. “Around our place he must have been lost for days before he reached the place, Mol.” Evan said. “No Evan. He said he was just lost today.” Molly said. “Mol we have too many acres around our place. He would have showed up at your gramps’s place before he would reach ours. Where is this guy now?” “Jarrod took him to his car.” “So Jarrod talked to him?” Evan asked. “Yes and they seemed to get along pretty good,” Molly stressed to Evan so he would not worry about her. “I have a question for you, Evan.” Molly says. “OK, what is it?”

“Well Joe is wanting to relocate to Montana. He wants to work as a wrangler on a horse ranch. I thought since I am the only one here and I need so much help with foaling. It is really going to be picking up here soon not to mention that I have been calving for three months already alone. I am exhaustedand I really need the help. I could hire him and put him up in the bunk house.” Evan was very quiet for a moment then said, “Why doesn’t he get a job with another rancher? Why does he want to work for you, Molly?” “Well he said the other ranchers will not hire him to work because he does not have any experience. “Then why do you want to hire him with no experience, Molly?” Evan asks. “Well I am willing to train him.” “I don’t know, Molly. What does Jarrod think of this?” “I have not said anything to him.”“Have you said anything to this Joe character?” Evan asks. “No.” Molly replies. “Good, don’t. I don’t know if I like the idea of some strange man hanging out with my beautiful sexy wife all day when I am so far away.” “Oh Evan you have nothing to worry about,” Molly says. “All my heart belongs to you Evan. You know that. “Molly that is not what I am getting at. I trust you. It is this guy that I don’t trust.” Evan stresses to Molly. 

“Evan, if you trust me then know I will make the right decisions that I would never do anything to hurt you. The only man that I want to feel a touch from or taste a kiss from is you Evan and that is not about to change anytime soon, stranger or no stranger helping me with foaling.” Molly replies. Evan sat quiet again for a moment then says, “Molly I just do not have a good feeling about this situation. It does not have anything to do with me not trusting you. I just don’t want to see you get hurt and not knowing who this guy really is my gut is tellingme to steer clear of this situation.” Molly sat quiet for a moment then replied with, “I respect what you’re saying. If he comes back asking for a job I will tell him that I just cannot afford to pay him with all the bills piling up so that it does not upset or anger him.” “Molly, do you have all my guns that I have placed around the house and the barn for your protection?” “Yes, but I do not know why I have to have them in so many places, Evan?” “Molly it is for your protection. You never know when you will need to protect yourself or who or what you may have to protect yourself from.” Evan says. “Well, not to worry. I have not moved any of them accept for today when that hiker showed up. I grabbed the Henry’s 44 out of the tack room.”

“You did?” Evan asked. “Yeah, why?” Molly asks.“Because I never thought you would really handle the guns without me there.” “Evan one thing I did pay attention to when you were home with me is how to survive in the woods and how to protect myself with a gun.” Molly replied. Evan laughs a little bit. “Why are you laughing, Evan?” Molly asks. “Because you are a dead shot. I would not want to be on the receiving end of a bullet that you just shot”. They laughed together for a minute. “Hun, I am going to have to say good night. My shift is going to start soon and I need to get ready,” Evan tells Molly. “OK, I will be glad when you are finally home and I don’t have to kiss you good night over the phone or snuggle with your pillow that I refuse to washsince you had left for the war.” “Girl, you’re crazy but that is what I love about you,” Evan tells her. “I love you too. Talk to you again soon Evan.” “Mol; I will be home before you know it.” Evan says lovingly. “I know. I am patiently, not patiently waiting,” Molly replies. They both laugh again then tell each other good night. Molly hangs up the phone takes another shot of tequila and sits there for a moment before she realizes that the water has gone a bit cold. She pulled the drain, stood up reaching for her bath robe and she stepped out of the tub to see that Chase was sleeping on the floor next to the tub. She quietly stepped over him to head to her room trying not to wake him. When she got to her room she opened her drawers to find her flannel pj’s. She hears footsteps. She looks up and Chase had followed her to the room. “Chase you’re a good dog and a great friend,” Molly tells him.

“Molly dresses then pats Chase on the head and walks out of the room. She is sure to lock all the doors then makes a cup of hot tea and goes to the living room only to find that Skeeter is asleep in Evans recliner and Ruby has drug that damn snake through the dog door and has it on the couch with her while she is sleeping.

“Ruby Sue!” Molly hollers, “you dang dog! What the hell did you bring that snake in the house for!?” Molly goes to the kitchen drawer for tongs then heads back to the living room, grabs the snake with the tongs, takes it to the door and throws it outside. “I will deal with that in the morning,”Molly says angrily. “Ruby you’re a bad dog. No more snakes in the house! Dang it! I just got the stench from the skunk out a here last week after 2 months of everything stinking. No more dog door!” Molly walked over and closed the dog door then locked it.

Ruby crawled off the couch and went to lie in front of the fire. “Skeeter, get up.” Molly said after a few seconds. Skeeter got up out of the chair only to head to the bedroom to sleep on the bed. Molly curls up with Evan’s Pendleton blanket in the recliner and looks at Chase and says, “Some guard dog he is.” she laughs.

Chase lies down in front of the fireplace close to Molly. ”I swear Chase you must have promised Evan you would protect me with your life because I don’t get far out of your sight ole boy.” As Molly sat there trying to sleep but thinking about her conversation with Evan it was hard to fall asleep. The yearning in her soul for him to be close to her and be home with her in times like this are very strong tonight. She thought to herself - I wonder if he realizes how much I long for him, need him, want him, and love him? She laid back and closed her eyes. She could feel the warmth of the fire on her face and she was soon asleep.

Morning seemed to come quickly or maybe it was just the slight tequila hangover that made it feel that chore time came quickly. As the sun came in through the windows it brightened everything in the house. The hardwood floors are just golden when the morning sun hits them. The log’s accents in the house have a rich beautiful honey colorto them as well. 

Molly sat there in Evans chair soaking in the quiet new morning sun when suddenly Skeeter and Ruby came tearing through the house right past the chair she was sitting in. All of a sudden there was a big thud. Molly started to laugh hysterically when she realized what had happened. The dogs did not realize that Molly had closed and locked the dog door. Ruby hit the door and Skeeter hit Ruby. Chase sits up looks at Molly then stands up and heads for the door to be let outside. Molly, still laughing while she gets up, heads for the door to let the dogs out, starts to cry as she is laughing, then she starts to sob uncontrollably. The loneliness, missing Evan and too much tequila has finally caught up with her. She has held those tears in for four years while trying to be strong. Well today she finally broke a much needed break.

Finally she collects herself enough to let the dogs out, she then heads for the bedroom to get dressed so she could head for the barn. After getting dressed she goes to the freezer to pull out an elk roast for dinner for the next afternoon when her grandparents are coming for dinner. She had promised elk roast, homemade gravy and taters. 

Molly heads out to the barn noticing on the way that the snake once again is at Ruby’s mercy. Molly just shakes her head and walks to the barn to her foaling stalls. She looks in the first stall. “No new baby this morning, Pooh?” she asks. “Maybe later this afternoon?” Molly says to her. She walks to the next stall… no new baby. Molly then crosses the walkway to another foaling stall and there was a beautiful black andwhite overo paint foal staring at her. “Oh my goodness. You are gorgeous!” Molly exclaimed. “Starlight you sure make beautiful babies.” Molly told her.

Molly then opened the stall door to go in and the baby although very wobbly ran behind her momma. “Come here, sugar. I just want to make sure that you’re OK, and momma too. Come on, sweetie.” Molly always keeps newborn halters in each stall so that when the babies are born she can get a halter on them at least in the first few hours of life. Molly believes in lots of human contact with her horses. She thinks that it makes better horses and makes the horse a companion. She slowly grabbed the halter so as not to spook the new baby then walked to Starlight gave her a hug and told her “Good work. Momma.” she then walked around to the baby and got a hold of her, got the halter on and buckled it. She looks at the baby all over then stands back. Then says, “so sweetie what are we going to name you? Well, it will come to me I will know when it does.” Molly reaches for Starlight again to show her thanks, she gave her affection then left the stall to check on the others. 

She walked to the next stall and once again there was a baby. “Wow, Gramps. Stud did it again. That is one beautiful baby colt there.” Once again she goes into the stall halters the baby and praises the mother. After going to all twelve stalls and checking for babies she finds that there are five new babies and one possibly two on their way later that day. After feeding and checking to see how many other babies have foaled. Finding one more appy coltoutside she thought she better call her gramps to inform him of the new babies since he is part owner of the appy babies that are born. Molly walks to the house and Chase is close by, following her to the house. He lays on the front porch in the sun while Molly goes in to eat and to call her grandfather. She sits at the table then dials the number.

Three rings go by before she hears a hello on the line. It is her grandma. “Hi Gram. Is Gramps around?” Molly asks.“Yes, just a second.” “Hello,” her grandpa says. “Hi, Gramps. Just calling to let you know that Meko did a good job. We have some very nice looking foals, definitely breeding and showing stock.” Molly tells him. Her grandpa replies. “With fillies or colts or both.” “We have both,” Molly answers. “There is one that is just gorgeous - a black with a white blanket with big black spots.” Molly tells him. He then asks who the mother is. ”Vixen,” she answered. “Vixen,” he says, “really? Vixen didn’t throw any color last year or the year before.” “I know Gramps but she is making it up to us now.” “Well your grandma wants to go get her hair done so we are going to town. Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?” “Yep, an elk roast thawing,” Molly says. “We will see you tomorrow.” he tells her. Then they hang up and Molly heads back to the barn to check mares that are trying to deliver today.

Joe is sitting in his motel room trying to figure out what his next move is going to be with Molly. He must be careful with this one. The police got too close to him with his last three victims in Oregon.Joe hates strong women. He wants to bring judgment on the women that he sets in his path of destruction. He hates that Molly is so arrogant around him; like she has the upper hand in the situation. For that she needs to be punished. Molly making him look like a fool in front of that sheriff and by holding a gun on him. Now he is going to teach her a lesson that she will never forget. He fantasizes torturing her. 

One of his victims was a horse trainer out of Sisters, Oregon. He met her by claiming he needed a place to board his horse. Her name was Larin she was in her early twenties. Larin did not protect herself like Molly did when caught alone. Molly is going to be more of a challenge but a challenge that he is looking forward to taking on. Larin was an easy target.

He caught her at her car leaving her place of work. Asked her if she would be interested in a drink. She agreed. She invited him into her car since she knew her way around she would drive. What she was not aware of is he was born and raised in Oregon. He knew where places are that no one ever really goes, perfect places to hide a body. As they went to leave the parking place Larin smiled at him and said, “Where we off to?” Joe says, “Let’s head out to Black Butte Restaurant.” “OK,” she agreed. Before she started to drive she said, “By the way my name is Larin.” Joe told her, “well Larin I am Pete.” Nice to meet you Pete, ready to go for that drink?” Larin thought to herself that this guy was very handsome with his blue eyes, blonde hair, cowboygoatee and tall stature. Larin loved those cowboys; they are definitely a weakness. If one asks her out for a drink she usually can’t say no and lot of the time she is waking up to a stranger but it never goes farther than that. Joe thought to himself that this is a very pretty girl. It is going to be sad to destroy a young girl so beautiful but I have to rid the world of women that chase men out of lust; women that just sleep around with whoever they please. These women are against everything that his God stands for. Joe watched Larin as she was driving. She had her window down, her shoulder length brown hair was blowing in the wind across her pretty young looking face. She was a medium height girl with a nice shape to her you could tell that she was active in her daily life.

They pulled into the parking lot. Joe said to her, “Hey let’s just grab a half rack of beer. I know a place down by Camp Sherman that we can sit, drink and lay under the stars to chat.” Larin was hesitant for a moment then thought what could it hurt. “OK,” she said. Joe ran into the store. Got the beer then they started out driving again. When they came to where Joe wanted her to go he told her to turn and where to drive. It seemed like a long way from camp Sherman from anywhere or anyone would be but Larin thought she has met lots of men and no one has ever tried to hurt her before and Pete seemed like a nice guy. He was very good looking and she was wondering how he looked under those clothes. “OK, turn here. Thisis the place,” Joe told her. Larin turned onto a dirt road that seemed to go on forever that had bumps and a creek that ran alongside. The trees are kind of thick. The smell of the trees are intoxicating to her. Finally Joe told her, “We are here. Go ahead and park.” Larin parked then turned off her car but left the radio playing. Then she opened the hatch on her car and grabbed out a full size horse blanket. She looked at Joe then said, It is not much but this is all I have,” then she laughed a small laugh. Joe smiled at her and helped with the blanket and grabbed the beer too. They laid the blanket close to the creek and sat down on the blanket each opened a beer. They started talking for a little while. Joe after a couple of beers said, Well Larin I have got to find a tree. Nature is calling.”

Larin told him, “OK.” Then she took off her jacket revealing her tight t-shirt and small perky breasts and she lay down on the blanket and waited for who she thought was Pete to return. After a few minutes which seemed like ten Pete showed back up he laid next to her on the blanket looking at her. Larin smiled then leaned up and stole a sweet wet kiss from him. Joe’s heart started racing because he wanted her but knew after he had her she had to die. That is just the way it has to be. Joe lay on his back when Larin climbed on top of him taking off her shirt then leaned down to kiss him again. Joe kissed back more passionately that time. Larin loved that. She started putting her hands under his shirt thenwent down and started kissing his stomach then she went up to his chest, finally after wrestling with his shirt they got it off. Joe was kissing Larin all over then he reached up and grabbed her bra he just tore it off of her. Larin found this to be very exciting and enjoyed the roughness that this handsome cowboy is doing to her. Joe threw her back onto the horse blanket from on top of him he started tugging on the button on her pants. Finally they came undone. He pulled her tight jeans off and started kissing her legs to her thighs then he started softly biting her through her panties Larin just moaned and begged for him to take the panties off so he could kiss her good.

As Joe was kissing and biting Larin was running her fingers through his hair she was begging him to make love to her. Joe was so excited he wanted her so much that he ripped her panties to shreds trying to get them off.. Larin found this to be erotic; she was enjoying all of the pleasure he was giving to her not knowing the cost was going to be at a high price. Joe could not believe how good this girl felt and how good she was making him feel. For a moment he thought he might let her go then something came over him and he suddenly became very angry as if some type of darkness engulfed him. She was moaning and panting then all a sudden she said, “treat me like the slut I am.” That snapped Joe into an even deeper rage. Larin, not realizing because of the alcohol, what was really going on and that Joe has snapped that he is not trying to pleaseher. He is now trying to cause her pain and hurt her. He then got off of her and threw her down on her back. Larin still unaware of what is really taking place thinking this guy is kinky like her and when he asks her if she likes being a slut and wants him to treat her like one she says, “Yes! Oh yes! That is the way I like it!”

So Joe thrusts deep inside of her. He grabs Larins legs and puts them as far over her head as they will go. He thrusts and thrusts. He is turned on so much that he is lost in his own world he no longer hears anything that Larin is trying to say or the fact that his body weight on her legs pressing down on her and is cutting her air off, but Joe just keeps going and going not noticing that Larin has passed out. Suddenly he starts to climax. It is so intense, it feels amazing. He moans so loud as he pushes even deeper inside of her. Once he finishes he notices that Larin is out cold so he starts slapping her face and gets no response from her. He checks her for a pulse and finds one so he slaps her again and still nothing. He starts biting on her softly then harder and more aggressive with every bite when suddenly she wakes up and feels him biting her. This is not pleasurable or funny. She tries to push him off of her but he is very strong. He keeps biting her all over her arms, her stomach, then he moves down to the inside of her thighs and he bites her there too. He was biting so hard he was drawing blood. Larin wasbegging him to stop and to let her up, but he would just laugh at her and kept biting her. Larin was in a lot of pain. Then he went up to her mouth forcing a kiss. She could taste her blood. This made her panic; what the hell is this guy doing to me! She started kicking and screaming but he just kept biting and hitting her. Then he started choking her. Larin was struggling and scratching him to catch a breath but it did not faze him at all. He was overpowering her.

He finally had enough of her scratching and squirming then told her, “You want to be a slut. I will treat you like a slut.” he said this with evil in his voice. Quickly he grabbed her neck and twisted it in a mean violent motion until he heard a loud crack; then there is no more movement or sound from the girl. After confirming that she is in fact dead, he sat back against the tree next to them, lit a cigarette and took a couple of long deep drags off of it filling his lungs to the brim with smoke and nicotine, he then decided as he stared at her lifeless body that he’d put the cigarette out on various places on her battered body. After he was done burning & torturing her he got into the creek. He washed himself completely then got dressed. He wrapped her body inside the full length horse blanket and grabbed a flashlight he found in her car. He dragged her to a ravine throwing her lifeless bloody and burned body over. He watched her roll over the edge tumble down the rocks and brush until her body finally came to a stop at the bottom in abunch of sagebrush. He stood there and lit another cigarette smoked it then flicked the butt down toward where her body is laying. He went and got into her car, put in a music CD then drove away as if nothing happened. 

Joe does not rape his victims. He entices them to have sex with him. Then when he is finished using them he tortures and murders them as if they meant nothing to anyone. As Joe was driving into Sisters he stopped at a gas station. He dug around in Larin’s car until he found her wallet with all her cash and credit cards. Pulling up to a pump he filled the car with gas. He took her cash and ran into the store and bought a bunch of snacks, jerky and beer for the road. As he went to leave the store he notices an atlas on a rack by the door. He decides to buy one so he can find a new state and a new victim. Once back in Larin’s car he looks through the atlas to see what direction he needs to head to get out of Oregon before someone who knows his victim sees him driving her car without her in it. While Joe was looking at all the different states he thought this is hard to choose just one. I think I will just have to find victims in all fifty states; as he laughs to himself while he thought about all the pretty girls that are nationwide and would be at his mercy. He looked over the map for a little while. He chose Montana. It was not too far. There are a lot of small towns and girls in small towns are very trusting. He started the car and pulled out ofthe gas station heading for Montana.

Unbeknownst to Molly and Chase, Joe was out in the woods watching her. He was trying to find the perfect time to catch her off guard. He told himself enjoy tonight, Mol, because tomorrow is your last day. As he started to cut back through the woods to his car he was clumsy by stepping on a branch that made enough noise that Chase heard. Chase started barking and growling and he took off toward where Joe was standing within the trees. Molly hollered, “Chase come. Come Chase!” she called again. Finally before Chase reached Joe he turned back to obey Molly. He followed her back into the barn. Joe thought to himself that damn dog. How in the hell am I going to get rid of him to get my hands on her? That evening when Molly walked out of the barn after her chores, she leans her head back to look at the sky. To her surprise the sky is absolutely stunning filled with more stars than she has seen in so long. The night was very chilly, springtime in Montana has chilly evenings and can still bring on a snow storm or two.

Molly walked slowly to the house feeling like she is being watched. She looks around not seeing much of anything in the dark. Chase was next to her and letting out subtle growls. The hair on the back of Molly’s neck stood up. She had this scared feeling come over her. She knew something was out there but she was not sure what it was. She walked up on the deck opened her door walked in then waited for Chase to follow and locked the door behind them. Molly immediately went to make sure everything was locked she checked eachand every room. Opening Evan’s gun cabinet she pulled out a rifle, checked to make sure it was loaded and that there are more bullets for the gun. Grabbing the box she took the gun with her to run her nightly bath. Going to her cabinet she got her bottle of Jose and her shot glass. After checking the house once again and not seeing anything she decided that it must just be her imagination overreacting to the fear card. She then headed for the bathroom, undressed, lit her candles, grabbed her bottle of Jose then got into the tub of hot water. She could feel the warmth of the water soothing her aching bones.

Lying back thinking about her life and wondering what Evan was doing at that same moment she takes a swig of the bottle and the tears well up in her eyes. She takes another swig then wipes her tears away. Staring at the candles shadows dancing on the wall she is lost in thought of the good days, the laughter, and the love they share. The tears just ran down her cheeks uncontrollably dripping off of her chin. She takes another swig of her bottle then another. Her eyes so filled with tears she can hardly see.

Suddenly Chase jumps up. Growling he runs out of the room barking and growling viciously. Molly jumped up out of the tub grabbed her rifle and took off running through the house where Chase has gone. As she ran down the hall her feet slipped on the hardwood floor causing her to slip and fall onto the living room floor. Chase was hitting the large window that is at the right of the house. Molly gets up grabs the rifle; runs to the wall to turn on the porch lightas the light comes on she is startled by a man standing directly in front of her outside the window. She is trembling. She quickly raises the rifle and points it at the stranger, pulled the hammer back as if to fire. The man raises his fists over his head, hits the window then lets out a loud yell in anger. The bang caused a thunderous sound then he runs off into the darkness towards the woods. Molly runs to the back door to check to see if she can see anything from there. She saw nothing.

Molly grabbed her phone and dialed Jarrod’s number. She was trembling and shaking so bad that she could hardly talk or hold the phone. A sleepy voice picks up the other end of the line with a quiet “Hello?” Molly screams into the phone, “Jarrod!” “Oh my God, Molly, what’s wrong?” “There is a man out here. He just ran into the woods across from my house. He was on my porch!” “Molly are all your doors locked?” “Yes!” “I will be there in fifteen minutes. Molly go get your gun.” Jarrod told her. “I got it! That is why he ran off.” Then all she heard was silence. Jarrod had hung up. Molly ran and got dressed then pulled out a kitchen chair to sit down. She was very dizzy from all the tequila that she had drank in the hot bath. She sat there for a moment just trembling deep down. She knows that it is the hiker Joe because in the years that she has had the ranch and been there all alone while Evan has been away she has never had any problems with anyone. She thought to herself I should have shot that son of a bitch when Ifound him here! I cannot believe that I was so stupid to tell him that Evan is gone! 

Chase came to her and nudged her hand. Molly reached out to him petting him and praising him for protecting her. The thoughts of what could have happened to her if she had not had Chase made her cringe with fright and fear. Molly got up, turned off all of her lights so that if he is still out there watching her he will not know where in the house she is. She decided not to sleep in Evans chair. She grabbed a flashlight and went down the hall. She checked every room and window. Chase followed her everywhere she went. Chase sensed someone is there somewhere that she could not see and he was determined to protect her from the stranger lurking outside.

Molly went and got two of Evan’s hand guns out of the cabinet - a 44 magnum Ruger and a 357 Magnum - both revolvers and the boxes of bullets too. She was going to be sure that if he came in her house he would not be leaving without some lead poisoning! She walked down the hall to the bathroom. The candles are burned down quite a bit. The aroma of the hazelnut just filled the bathroom. She sat down on the floor just inside the door, closing it with her foot. He would have no chance if he opened the door because she will shoot him dead. It seemed like a million years until she finally heard Jarrod’s truck coming up the driveway. His truck came to a skid as he parked Molly stood up to look out the bathroom window to make sure that in fact it is Jarrod. Once she saw him walking towards the kitchendoor Molly unlocked the bathroom door then went down the hall to the living room and into the kitchen checking everywhere before entering each area just in case he did make it inside her house without her knowing or Chase hearing. Molly walked through the kitchen to the door and turned on the light. There was Jarrod waiting for her to let him in. Molly reached over to unlock the dead bolt. She then opened the door. Jarrod says, “Are you OK Molly?” Molly told him, “Yes but that scared the hell out of me! I think the guy cracked my window.” “Do you have a flash light?” Jarrod asks. “Yes”, Molly handed him hers. Jarrod told her he was going to go check her window and that she was to lock the door behind him. If you hear gun shots call 911 and get someone out here for help. “No matter what, Molly, do not go outside. Do you understand?” Jarrod asked her. “Yes, I understand,” she told him. Jarrod went out the door and Molly locked it behind him. She watched him as he walked around the house to check things and check her window, it was not cracked but he could see the fist marks where the window was hit on the outside. He then grabbed his gun out of his holster, turned on his headlamp and headed for the woods. Molly got real worried when she watched him head for the woods because if he needed her help she would have no idea that he was in trouble. She paced the floors waiting for him to return. 

It seemed like hours have passed and the sun would be rising soon before she finally saw him emerge from the darkness of the trees. He walked slowly to thehouse. Then came and tapped on the kitchen door. Molly opened the door to let him in asking him, “What did you see?” “Molly, I did not see anyone but it had not been long since someone had been there because there are some fresh cigarette butts on the ground that are still hot.” “That son of a bitch is throwing his lit butts on my ranch in the trees. He is going to start a fire, then I am really going to shoot him! ” Molly says in an angry voice. “Molly, you are not going to shoot anyone,” Jarrod tells her. “Well, Jarrod, if that guy comes back here again and tries to get into my house or hurt me or any of my animals I am going to shoot him! I do not mean nick him in the arm, shoot him. I mean shoot him dead Jarrod!” Molly says in a serious voice. “Molly if he comes into your house or tries to cause you bodily harm by law you have every right to shoot him,” Jarrod tells her. “Molly I will stay with you the rest of tonight to make sure that he is just not waiting for me to leave. “Jarrod, I think this guy is the guy that told me he was lost hiking a couple days ago.” “I thought he was a friend of Evan’s from the ARMY?” “No! Jarrod, why would you think that?” “That is what he told me,” Jarrod answered. “Molly, how did he know that Evan was away to Iraq?” Molly sighed then said, ”Because I told him.” “You did what?” Jarrod said loudly. “Why would you do that, Molly?” “I was just making conversation. I thought he was really a hiker that was lost and someone really needinga job. Not someone that wanted to come back because my husband is gone and try to hurt me or worse”. Molly told him. 

“I ran the plates on the car that he was driving when I took him back to his car. I am still waiting for the information due to our system being down because of upgrades. Once I get that info back I am sure it will shed some light on who this character is and what he is doing here in Montana,” Jarrod said. “Well, Molly, we better hit the sack so we can get at least a couple hours of sleep before the sun comes up”. “You can sleep in Evan’s recliner and I will sleep on the couch,” Molly told him. “Let me go get some blankets.” Jarrod headed for the chair while Molly headed down the hall for the pillows and blankets. Jarrod laid his revolver on the table sitting next to him so that if he needed it he could get to it fast. Molly came back with the pillows and blankets handing Jarrod a pillow and a soft fleece blanket that she had made. Molly asks Jarrod, “Do you need to call home before you stay the night? “Nope I don’t need to,” Jarrod replies.

“Why? Won’t your wife be worried if you do not come home?” “Molly I thought I told you that I have been separated from her for about four months.” Jarrod tells her. “Really?” Molly says. “Yep, it is better this way. We just needed to realize that it was just not working anymore. We were only staying together for Levi and that was too much for both of us and too hard on Levi knowing that we were only together for her sake,” Jarrod tells her. “I understandthat, but it has to still be hard on all of you,“ Molly tells him. “No, really everyone seems much happier now,” Jarrod says. “So Molly tell me how do you get a long out here without Evan? You must be lonely,” he says to her. Hitting a deep nerve in her loneliness she tells him, “Yes I am lonely and angry all at the same time because Evan did not even ask me what I wanted. He just did what he wanted and to hell with what my needs are,” Molly told him with definite anger covered in sadness. “We don’t have to talk about it, Molly, if you do not want to,” Jarrod tells her.

“No, Jarrod it is OK. I don’t mind talking about things because I have not talked to anyone about this in four years since Evan re-enlisted and has been deployed over and over again.” Molly walks over to the fire place stokes it up then adds a couple of logs to the fire. Jarrod stares at her while the fire silhouettes her trim curved body. He thinks to himself that he never realized how beautiful Molly really is, especially in this vulnerable state she is in right now. Her being so strong about what is going on tonight with this guy lurking about and she did not break even if she wanted to. She is holding it in very well. Jarrod finds that sexy. Molly turns to look at Jarrod. She asks, “would you like something to drink?” “Yeah that would be great, Mol.” “Molly walked to the kitchen to get them each a bottle of beer. As Molly was walking back to Jarrod with the bottles of beer he noticed how nice her breasts are and how they filled out the tank topshe is wearing. As she sat her beer down her hair fell over her shoulder. Jarrod thought she looked very beautiful. Molly then walked over to Jarrod to hand him his beer. He took the beer with one hand and grabbed her arm with the other hand then he pulled her into him stealing a sweet kiss from her. Molly stood back up just staring down at him sitting there in his tight blue wranglers, tan long sleeve wrangler shirt and black felt cowboy hat. He smiled that sexy smile that Molly has always found irresistible about him since they first met, years before she had met Evan. He has the most gorgeous piercing gray eyes that she has ever seen on a man before and his coal black hair with his 5 o’clock shadow made him look so damn sexy. Molly bent down and kissed him back more passionately than he had kissed her in the first place. She then stood back up saying, that was amazing Jarrod but I am not sure if I should do this?

Jarrod stood up pulling her into him he bent down and kissed her again. Molly did not pull away. She too wanted him. Molly kissed him back several times then said, “I will be right back.” She walked away to turn on the stereo to play some country music. Turning back around to see Jarrod’s tall stature standing there waiting for her to come back into his arms. Molly looked at him. She smiled, walking up to him. He then wrapped his arms back around her, slipped his hands under her shirt. Her skin was so warm, soft and enticing. Molly reached up to start unsnapping his shirt then undid his belt. Jarrod looked at her and smiled so lovingly at her.Molly raised her arms as if to tell him it is OK to take off her shirt. Jarrod raises her shirt up over her head exposing her naked breasts. Her long hair fell down over them. 

He says to her, “Oh, my God, you are beautiful! It had been a long time since Molly had a man tell her that she was beautiful.” She enjoyed the compliment but was she doing the right thing by being with another man because she is lonely and needing companionship or because she is angry that Evan made a decision without considering her feelings. She looked at Jarrod, kissed him softly on the lips then says, “Jarrod I am sorry but I just cannot do this. I am lonely yes, but I am not lonely enough to destroy my marriage.” Molly then bent down to grab her shirt off the floor so that she could put it back on. “Molly, I am sorry,” Jarrod says to her. “It is OK Jarrod. It is not your fault. We are both very vulnerable right now. This probably is not the best way for us to heal hurts, if you know what I mean,” Molly says to him. 

“Molly being with you was not my therapy for healing an old hurt,” Jarrod says. “I want to be with you because I have felt something for you for many years now but I have never acted on those feelings before tonight.” Molly sat on the couch just listening to Jarrod. What should she do? She thought this to herself because she too has been drawn to Jarrod for awhile. What if being with Evan wasn’t the road that she really was meant to take? Her mind is just racing in circles. Evan did leave her without any kind of discussion.He told her that it was his decision to be a soldier and to fight the war in Iraq and if she didn’t like it that maybe they should not be together. Molly forgot about that argument the day Evan left for this last deployment. He never even kissed her goodbye. He just walked out on her and left her standing in the barn crying.

Even though she and Evan have spoken on the phone she has still held that hurt from what he said to her that day very close to her heart. Molly stood up then walked over to Jarrod. She grabbed his hand to get him to stand up. “Molly, it is OK. I don’t want you to do anything that you do not want to do,” Jarrod tells her. Molly looks at him and says, “What I don’t want to do Jarrod is not do anything tonight then wonder for the rest of my life if it was the right decision or if I am missing out on the greatest man I have ever known?” Jarrod bent down kissed her more passionately than he has ever kissed anyone. Molly grabbed his hand led him down the hall to her room then closed the door. 

The sun came into the window waking Molly from her sleep. She looked to the person lying next to her then realized what she thought was a dream was in fact reality. She crawled out of bed to head for the bathroom full of guilt for betraying Evan. Molly looked at herself in the mirror sick over what she had done then cussing herself for being weak by being with another man. She was fighting with her emotions of did or did she not do the right thing by being with Jarrod. Molly heardJarrod saying her name. Then a light knock on the bathroom door. Molly wiping her face from all her tears then opened the door. Jarrod was standing there in his unbuttoned jeans, no shirt and muscled chest. He smiled at her with his sexy little smile and she then felt a calm come over her so she smiled back at him. He put his hand on the door to push the door open so he could wrap his arms around her waist. He pulled her into him. Molly did not resist. The guilt she was feeling slowly started to fade away while Jarrod leaned down to kiss her gently. 

Molly looked at Jarrod then asked him in a quiet crackling voice, So now what? Where do we go from here?” Jarrod looked at Molly sweetly and said, “Molly, that is up to you. When you know what you want to lose or gain then you can let me know, okay?” Molly looked at the floor shaking her head in agreement. Jarrod asked her if he could take a shower, then he was planning on going and looking for the man that was at her ranch the night before. Molly suggested that he take one of her horses. Jarrod agreed. Molly went to leave the bathroom then slowly turned around and said, “Jarrod if I choose you then I need to let Evan know that I want a divorce when he calls me again. I will let him know where we stand. 

Jarrod smiled at Molly then climbed into the shower. Molly went out to the living room to look out the window to see if she could see anything from the night before but she saw nothing. She opened the kitchen door to let the dogs out. Molly locked the deadbolt onthe door again. She stood there staring out the window thinking of the decision that she needs to make and make soon. Tears fell down her cheeks but the emptiness she has been feeling since Evan left for the war has finally started to lift. Thinking about the tenderness and the passion that Jarrod showed her last night put a smile on Molly’s face. She could hear the water running in the shower as she walked down the hallway to the bathroom door. Taking in a deep breath she opened the door as she walked through the thick steam from the hot shower she was taking off her clothes. Once reaching the shower she softly pulled back the curtain and said in a quiet voice to Jarrod, “so handsome is there any room in here for me?”

Jarrod smiled then reached his hand out to her. Jarrod wrapped his arms around her once she was in the shower. He pushed her hair away. He started kissing her neck passionately. Warmth of desire just ran through Molly’s body feeling his touch, his kisses all over her. He then started kissing her mouth while putting his hands on her head to bring her closer deeper into him. His kisses are taking her breath away, the more he kissed her the more she wanted him. She started kissing his chest and farther down his stomach then to where he anticipated her mouth her lips being. Once she started he let out a moan letting her know that he was consumed by pleasure. He reached his arms down to her scooping her up into them and stepped out of the shower carrying her wet body against his he headed for the bedroom. Pushing the bedroom door open with his foot he walked to the bed.Laying her down on her back he then bent down to kiss her breasts. He started kissing her down her naked wet body to her sweet spot. Molly was just waiting to feel the warmth of his mouth then suddenly there it was and she gasped in delight. He knew just how to please her. She let what he was doing just consume her from head to toe. She moaned loudly as she climaxed. He then started kissing her thighs. He went back to her sweet spot again and the intense feeling was overwhelming then she climaxed again. Feeling the rush run ramped through her body she reached out for him to come to her. She wanted to feel him inside of her. As he started making love to her she was filled with desire anticipating satisfying him like he had her. 

When they are finished they laid there holding each other in the quiet of the morning. The dogs started barking and they took off running around the house. Jarrod jumped up and threw his pants on. By that time Molly was headed down the hall with a 357 in her hand. Before she reached the end of the hallway she heard knocking on the kitchen door. Molly ran back down the hall put her bathrobe on grabbed the gun again then headed back down the hallway to go answer the door. Jarrod says, “Molly, who is it?” Molly said, “I am not sure but if I need you I will holler.” She went around the corner of the kitchen to see two military men standing there with a chaplain. Her heart just fell. She knew the news she was getting ready to receive. Molly laid the gun on the counter as tears welled up her eyes. She unlocked thedoor then opened it. A tall, thin man asked her, “”are you Mrs. Evan Jamison?” “Yes,” Molly answered with a tear soaked voice. “We are sorry to tell you this, Mrs. Jamison, but your husband, Evan, was killed yesterday by a suicide bomber.” The other gentleman standing with him handed Molly a folded flag then told her, “We are sorry Ma’am for your loss.” Molly fell to her knees sobbing uncontrollably. The chaplain was a short older gentleman he got down on his knees and started to pray for her. 

Jarrod was standing at the end of the hallway out of sight listening to the news that Molly just got, He leaned up against the wall when tears filled his eyes too. He had known Evan all of his life. He was angry at himself because when Evan left he asked Jarrod to keep an eye on Molly then what did he do. He seduced her the day that her husband had actually died. He became furious with himself. Suddenly he heard the door close then a bunch of glass breaking. He ran into the kitchen to see Molly sobbing uncontrollably grabbing anything she could find to break against the wall. There was glass everywhere. Molly started screaming, “He is dead and I was making love to you. Why he was dying! While he was dead, oh my God! What did I do?” Jarrod went to her trying to hold her and console her for the hurt she was feeling but Molly just pushed him away from her. She went to walk away then turned around and said Jarrod, “Get dressed. You need to leave. I need to be alone right now. I have family to call. I cannot deal with seeing you and regretting what I have done.” She wasyelling. Jarrod just stood there listening to her. He knew not to take what she was saying personal because she was just given horrible news. This is her way of dealing with that news. I never cheated on Evan, Ever!” Molly screamed at the top of her lungs. “I loved him. Why did I do what I did? Why!?!” “Molly,” Jarrod said, “don’t blame yourself. Evan chose to go to war, not you. He chose his destiny. He knew when he enlisted that there was a chance that he may never come home and unfortunately he isn’t. You cannot stop living or blame yourself for what happened with us. Evan made his choice. He didn’t even talk to you about it. He never once took in consideration of your feelings or what you would go through if he was killed over there. Do you get that?”

“Jarrod,” Molly said in a quiet yet stern voice, “please leave; I want to be alone right now.” Jarrod went to walk past Molly as she stood against the wall. He bent over, kissed her cheek then went into the bedroom to get dressed. Molly stood there waiting for Jarrod to leave. She did not want to show too much weakness in front of him while he was in her house.” Jarrod walked out of the bedroom past Molly turned to her and said, “I am going to take one of your horses to go see what I can find. I will be back in a few hours.” Molly just shook her head in agreement. She listened as he went out the door. She waited for the door to close then she slid down the wall to the floor crying uncontrollably, clenching the flag she was given to her chest. Jarrod walked out to thebarn thinking about what had happened between him and Molly. He felt no regrets. The only regret he felt was that Evan had died before Molly could make it right with him. 

He went out to the back corral and caught Molly’s appaloosa gelding named Apache. This gelding was beautiful. He was jet black with a snow white blanket and big black spots. The horse was very muscular. He has been used in the harsh terrain that is what Jarrod needed; a horse that he could depend on. He walked up to him with a rope halter he haltered him then led him into the barn to saddle. Jarrod found a water canister hanging in the tack room. He went to the water faucet. He rinsed the canister then filled it with fresh water. Draping the water canister over the saddle horn and putting his rifle into the scabbard, he then grabbed the reins, turned to lead the horse out of the barn. Once out of the barn Jarrod threw the reins around Apache’s neck and climbed on. He gave him a little nudge and they started heading towards the trees. Skeeter started to follow but Jarrod hollered at him to stay home. 

Molly was standing in the window quietly watching Jarrod ride away tears rolling down her face. Molly sat in Evan’s chair to put on her boots so she could go to the barn to do her chores. She told herself, Molly, wipe the tears away. Get tough. You have work to do and a funeral to plan.” Molly grabbed her coat. It looked like it was going to be cold out. As she started towards the door her phone rang. She cringed at thinking who it might be or what it was about. She walked to the phone andpicked it up with a quiet sad hello? “Molly? This is your grandma. We are going to be heading up your way for your grandfather to check out the new horses and to have lunch with you.” “Grandma, I have some bad news to tell you but I will not tell you on the phone so when you all get here this afternoon I will let you know what is going on, okay?” “Okay,” her grandma replied. Molly told her that she needed to go to the barn that she was running late on her chores. “Why honey are you running so late?” Her grandma asked. “Oh, I just over slept this morning,” Molly replied. Not wanting her grandmother to know about Jarrod staying with her. “Bye Grandma. I will see you later.” “Okay bye bye honey.” They then hung up the phone lines. Molly stood there for a moment then decided to put the elk roast in the oven like she had promised her grandpa she would. When Molly was finished with the roast she sat down at the table and decided to leave Jarrod a note letting him know he was invited to dinner and she was sorry for yelling at him earlier that morning.

Molly grabbed her coat then headed out to start her chores. Chase was laying on the porch in the sun. Once he seen Molly head to the barn he got up to follow her. Molly asked him, “Hey, boy are you hungry? When she reached the barn she fed the dogs and the barn cats then she went into the tack room to see what saddle Jarrod decided to use. As she was looking around she noticed that Jarrod had stuck a piece of feed bag with a note on it to a nailfor her. The note said, “Molly, I am here to be with you when you are ready, signed Jarrod.” Molly held the note then tears filled her eyes again. She wanted him too but how can she want to be with another man when her husband was just killed yesterday. Molly was very confused about what she should feel but she knew that if she pushed Jarrod away that he may not stick around too long. Molly decided that she would go for a ride to clear her head after she was done feeding and recording new foal births. She grabbed a saddle bag then started to fill it with some supplies. When she opened the grooming cabinet and saw that Evan had stashed her gun a 38 special that he had bought her a couple Christmases ago. Molly grabbed the gun opened the chamber to see if it was loaded, it had 5 rounds. Molly put the gun into the saddle bag just to have it on her ride. Molly also put the note that Jarrod left her in the bag too. She went to the med fridge got out 2 bottles of water, some jerky and a package of crackers. Molly always kept snacks in her barn in case she ended up staying the night in the barn with a new foal. She hung the saddle bag over one of the stall doors while she went out to get her horse Ochoco from the corral.

Ochoco is a medium built grey appaloosa gelding with a sweet temperament. Molly loved to ride him because he was very sure footed in the mountain terrain. She had no problem with getting him to cross water or go up steep grades. She brought him into the barn then started saddling him. Chase waslying down in the barn watching her. She grabbed the saddle bag off of the stall door tying it to the saddle, She then went into the tack room to put the lead rope away then grabbed her leather gloves & hat. She heard a ruckus going on than Chase started yelping. Molly dropped her hat and gloves then ran out of the tack room door to see what was going on. Joe was standing over Chase with the pitch fork in his hands he had stabbed chase with the pitch fork. Molly ran back into the tack room to get the Henry’s 44. She was looking for it but she could not see it then remembered that she left it in the house. “Oh shit!” She yelled. Turning around she saw Joe standing there. “Hi Molly,” he says in a devilish voice. “Joe, what are you doing here and why did you hurt my dog?” “I hate that damn dog!” He tells her in a low evil voice. “Why?” Molly asked. “He is in my way of what I want.” Joe replied. “What is it that you want Joe?” Molly asked. “You!” Joe said loudly. Then he ran towards Molly to tackle her. Molly grabbed a piece of wood that she had used to hold up the grain bin lid and hit him in the head with it as hard as she could. Joe fell to one knee trying to gather his thoughts. Molly went to run past him. She was trying to get to the saddle bag for her 38. That is her only hope at this point. 

As Molly ran past him he grabbed her leg and she fell to the ground. Before Molly new it Joe was on top of her, choking her. She was trying tohit him and the more she hit him the madder he was getting. Finally she was in the position that she could knee him in the groin. He fell off the top of her. Molly finished pushing him off of her and she gathered herself from being choked. She was coughing and trying to get to Ochoco to get the gun when she heard Joe coming. Molly was looking around for something she could use as a weapon. She caught a glance of the pitch fork leaning up against the stall across the aisle way. Molly went for the pitch fork. She got the pitch fork’s wooden handle in her hand with a tight grip. Joe came after her again. Molly swung the fork at him as hard as she could, hitting him in the face with the fork knocking him to the ground. Molly went to head to Ochoco again. And Joe grabbed her again and Molly fell to the ground still holding the pitch fork in her grasp. She saw the blood running down Joe’s face. The fork had cut down his face from his eye to below his cheek bone. 

Once Joe had Molly on the ground his anger overpowered her. He yanked the fork from her hands then stood over her as he thrust the fork into her thigh then pulled it back out. Molly cried in agony but she would not give him the satisfaction that he had hurt her or that he may win this fight. Joe stood over her laughing then told her, “You bitch! You cannot beat me! Now get up! We are leaving this barn.” Molly thought he is going to take me away from my home into the woods and kill me. Where is Jarrod? It seems to have been foreversince he had rode away. Then she thought, “Oh my God what if Joe had hurt or even killed him before showing up in the barn?”. That just made Molly angrier. Molly took her bandana from around her neck and tied it around her leg to try to slow down the bleeding. Joe got furious that she was taking so long to get up so he grabbed her by her arm and yanked her up off the ground. Hurting her shoulder she let out a small cry. Joe just laughed at her then said you don’t have any idea about hurt yet lady, but you will soon enough. Molly asked Joe, “So how do you suggest that we leave my ranch?” “We are getting on that horse right there. That is ready to go.” Molly told him, “No, we are not because that horse does not ride double. He will buck us for sure.” Joe said, “Then I guess you will be walking.” Molly told him, “I won’t get far in this terrain with my leg hurt like this.” Joe became furious because his plan to take her to the woods and kill her is having its hinges. “Get us another horse that we can take. What about one of these right here?” “We cannot take one of those. They have new babies and the babies cannot survive without their momma.” “Oh! Isn’t that too bad!” Joe yelled at her. “Saddle that horse now!” He then pushed her toward a stall door. Her leg is bleeding badly. The bandana is helping some but not enough. Molly knows that if she takes a momma from one of the babies. Not knowing when someone would notice and her not knowing what was going to happen with her that the baby has apotential of starving and becoming dehydrated or worse. Thinking about that brought tears to Molly’s eyes. She closed her eyes squeezing hard to get the tears out of them as she did not want Joe to think he was making her cry. She did not want to show him weakness. 

She noticed that Chase was still breathing laying there motionless. I hope that he gets help before he dies she thought to herself then her heart just sank. Molly grabbed the halter and lead rope off the front of the stall door. She was trying to figure out where she could run to that she may make it and be able to hide from him. Then she thought of the hay barn. There is hay everywhere on the floor and it must be three feet deep or so. Molly got to looking around for something she could get her hands on to injure him with again. The only thing she saw was a half used bag of rock salt that she uses for keeping the ice melted. It was tied closed at the top but she thought if she got a good grip on that and swung it at him as hard as she could maybe she could knock him silly then she can get to the hay barn.

Molly started walking towards the salt bag. Joe yells, “Hey what do you think you’re doing?” “I am going to get this horse. She is better in the mountains than the other horse in that stall.” Joe stood there for a moment watching her then he didn’t want her to get to far from him so he walked right up behind her. Molly could feel his eerie presence and the hair on her neck stood up. Her heart was pounding so hard andthe blood loss from her leg was not helping the feeling that she wanted to lie down on the floor and pass out. Molly decided that this is it it’s now or never. Once she knew he was in the right position she grabbed that salt bag swung it around with all her might hitting him in the side of the head with it. Joe fell to the ground like a bag of potatoes. Molly knew she needed to get to the hay barn. It was closer than the house. She also knew that she had no time to dig for the 38 she had in her saddle bag and it would take too much time to try to find it or to untie the bag from her saddle. 

In all the commotion Ochoco ran out of the barn. Molly was then unable to take him. So she decided to run as fast as she could with her hurt leg. The faster she ran the more blood was running from her thigh. Once Molly made it into the barn she started looking for something to use to defend herself. She knew that Evan did not leave any guns in this barn. She told herself damn it! Molly hurry find something. You have to hide before that son of a bitch finds you! Then she noticed hanging off of a bale of hay was a hay hook. She grabbed the hook then found a deep spot of hay to bury herself under. She did not want to hide in the tractor or the stacked bales because he would find her in those places. Once she found a deep spot of hay she burrowed herself under the hay with the hay hook in a grip so tight that her fingers are hurting. Withher other hand she made a small hole to breathe through but the hay dust still made it hard to really breathe well. She prayed he wouldn’t see a blood trail in the hay and lead him straight to her.

Molly told herself you will have to kill this guy. It is me or him that will be leaving this barn today and I will be damned if it will be him. In a distance she could hear footsteps but because the hay was surrounding her she could not tell how far away they really are. Then she heard Joe say, “Come out, come out, wherever you are you Bitch! It is your day to die Molly! Do you really think that you are the only one that has ran then hid from me? You foolish woman. I have killed them all. None of them have lived once I found them!” He was angry because he could not find her. She could feel him walking on the hay around her. Molly just tightened her grip on the hay hook. “Molly I will find you and when I do I am going to break your pretty little neck like a fucking twig!” He yelled furiously. The more she hid, the angrier Joe is getting. Molly outsmarted him and he did not like that at all.

Joe was standing about a foot from Molly screaming for her to come out to him. Molly’s heart was pounding so hard she thought for sure that he would hear it. Molly kept the tight grip on the hay hook because it is probably only seconds before he finds her and she will be fighting for her life once again. Joe started to take a step towards Molly but he stopped quickly. She knew he had found herso she raised up out of the hay as fast as she could. Her adrenaline pumping through her veins then she just started swinging the hay hook at him. She missed him twice. He was coming at her again, She swung the hay hook again. He used his arm to block the hit and the hook hit so hard and with so much force that it went right through his arm. He started screaming, “Now I am going to kill you, you miserable bitch!”

Molly knew that this was it she would have to think of something in mere seconds. The tractor’s hay spear caught her eye. It was only three feet away from them. Joe came toward her to tackle her. Molly pushed back against Joe so hard that she was running and pushing and they ended up rammed into the tractor spear. Molly caught her footing then managed to pull herself off of the spear tip, She had a hole in her shoulder now. Molly stood there looking at Joe. He was struggling while hanging on to the spear. It had pierced through his chest. She knew he is dying. He looked at her one last time. His last words to her are, “Die bitch!”

His head fell toward his chest while blood poured from his mouth. Molly needed help she found a piece of old board that she used as a crutch to get back to her house so she could call for help. Molly was walking up the dirt driveway toward the house when she saw Jarrod coming out of the barn with Chase in his arms to lay him in the back of his truck. “Jarrod!” Molly tried to yell but nothing was coming out real loud. Then she yelled for him again. Molly was crying sohard the tears are just washing through the hay dirt and blood on her face. Finally yelling once again Jarrod saw Molly. Jarrod came running toward her with his gun drawn. “Oh my God! Molly are you okay? What happened? Where is Joe?” “He’s dead,” Molly said to him in a quiet voice. “Molly, are you sure that he is dead?” “Yes! Jarrod he’s dead! I killed him in the hay barn.” Jarrod bent down then picked up Molly’s tiny body to carry her to the house to call for help. “Jarrod,” Molly said. “Yeah Molly.” he answered. I want to be with you Jarrod, “you now have my decision. She then laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She knew she was safe.

© Ashby Frost