The Unwanted Runaway

First Full Work Day

Denton ’s POV

As Sarah and I leave Dad and Ma’s house, I can hear the sounds of everyone starting to clean up after dinner. Sarah was eager to leave, stating that there was enough help to clean up the kitchen. As we walked the short distance between Mom’s house and mine, she turned to me with a concerned tone and asked, “Why did you guys invite Anna over for dinner? I thought it was supposed to be family only. I’ve never seen a rancher join us for dinner before, Denton. Why start now?” Her words were laced with a hint of jealousy and irritation.

I calmly explained to Sarah that it wasn't my decision, it was what Ma wanted. Just then, Seth came running up behind us, asking Sarah if he could get a ride from Mia tomorrow to go to school with EJ. I interjected, asking Seth if he had even asked Evan or Mia if it was okay to tag along. He replied, "Well, I figured since we go to the same school, it would be fine." I reminded him that he needed to ask for permission before assuming he could join in on someone else's plans.

Sarah chimed in, agreeing with me and telling Seth that he needed to ask before making assumptions. She also pointed out that he was in middle school, not elementary, and jokingly teased him about it. Seth argued that the middle school was right next to the elementary school, so it wouldn't make a difference in gas if Mia dropped him off. I told him to go ask and make sure it was okay before making any plans. Seth disappeared in the direction he came from, and I walked up to my porch to see Buster, our family dog, waiting by the door.

I apologized to Buster and explained that he couldn't come inside for now, but he could come back in after Sarah left. Sarah looked at Buster and rudely remarked that he could go outside and mingle with the other farm dogs, as he wasn't welcome inside. She walked in the door, and I followed, shutting the door on Buster. As we settled in for the night, I made sure the spare room had clean sheets so that Seth could sleep in it. I then went back to my bedroom and changed into my pajamas - flannel pajama bottoms and a white tank top. Sarah, on the other hand, opted to wear one of my clean white t-shirts, which engulfed her petite frame.

After a while, Seth returned and announced that Mia said it was okay for him to go to school with her tomorrow. I instructed him to get ready for bed, and he questioned why since it wasn't even 8 o'clock yet. I reminded him to get ready for bed, and he pleaded to watch TV for 30 minutes before going to sleep. I agreed to let him watch for a minimum of 30 minutes, and then he had to go straight to bed. As he went to his room to change into his pajamas, I turned off all the lights in the house and crawled into my Alaska king-size bed. Being a tall guy, I needed a lot of room, and the Alaska King definitely provided that. I snuggled next to Sarah and noticed she was on her phone. I playfully asked her why she was on her phone when we could be having some alone time. She replied, still giggling at whatever app she was playing, and I turned over to face the other side of the bed. I set my alarm for 4 AM and drifted off to sleep

As the alarm blared at four in the morning, I begrudgingly dragged myself out of bed, knowing that today, like every day, would be filled with the exhausting tasks of rancher life. As I peered out of my bedroom window, the darkness of the early hours was pierced by a single light coming from the horse barn. My heart sank as I realized that someone was already up, and I could only imagine the reason why.

Feeling a mix of concern and frustration, I quickly threw on what I considered a rancher uniform: a pair of sturdy blue jeans, a T-shirt layered over a tank top, a heavy flannel shirt, and my trusty Carhartt jacket. Otherwise, known as the cowboy look .My worn boots were the final touch to my ensemble, and I grabbed my Stetson hat before heading out the door.

As I approached the barn, I could see the light coming from various corners - the back corner, the small office, and the Shear corner Horse stall. And then I saw her - Anna, barely dressed in thin PJs and a T-shirt, her shorts revealing her legs, and a thin hoodie barely covering her waist. Buster, was snuggled up against her backside.

My concern for Anna's well-being was quickly replaced by anger. Why was she out here in the cold, barely dressed? Didn't she know the ranch was no place for flimsy pajamas? I shook her awake, and as Buster happily barked at me, she slowly stirred. But when I touched her foot, it was ice cold. My anger turned to worry as I realized that she could have gotten seriously sick.

I couldn't help but feel frustrated with her as she stretched and looked at me with those beautiful eyes. And then, in that moment, I noticed her n*****s poking through the thin fabric of her shirt. Despite the cold, I could see a slight shiver in her jaw as we spoke. It was infuriating to me that she had chosen to come out here instead of talking to Jason or I about the situation in the bunkhouse. There was no reason for her to be out here, putting her health at risk.

When she asked me if I cared about her, I couldn't deny the truth. But I couldn't let her know that, so I lied and said I didn't. The reality was, I couldn't afford to hire another ranch hand with our already heavy workload. But deep down, I knew that Anna's well-being was worth more than any amount of money or work.

Jason followed Anna back to the bunkhouse so she could get dressed and ready for the grueling day ahead. When they returned, Jason informed me that he had a serious discussion with Carl, Donnie, Adam, and Ben about last night's events. I was fuming when I heard that they didn't even bother to check on Anna when she went outside in the freezing cold. It was her choice to leave, but they should have shown her some respect. Those men could have taken the women back to their own homes or even rented a motel room for their "s****l activities."

By noon, we were already more than halfway through our work for the day. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Anna was a quick learner and worked hard. Of course, there were a few mishaps here and there, with her being a bit clumsy, but overall she exceeded my expectations.

I ordered Anna and Jason to take a break while I went back to my house for lunch. As I checked my phone, I saw that Mia had called. She was upset because I had apparently told Seth that he could catch a ride with her to drop off EJ at school. But Seth had lied and simply showed up at her door, expecting a ride. I quickly texted Mia back, apologizing for the whole mess and the deceitful behavior of little Seth. She said it was no big deal, but reminded me to always check with her or Sarah before assuming anything.

Carter also left me a message, requesting that I call him back when I was done for the day. He had some news about Anna that he wanted to share with me.

Carter also texted me to tell me that, Sarah got pulled over for a speeding ticket in the next town over. She ended up using her ex-husband Sam's name only because he’s a lawyer to get out of the ticket, as she always does. That woman has a serious leadfoot! I wonder what she's always in such a rush for when she's behind the wheel. I'm surprised her car is still in one piece.

I made my way Back into the barn after my lunch break.The familiar scent of hay and horses filled my nostrils.. As I passed by the stalls, I heard a voice singing, haunting and beautiful. I stopped in my tracks, my curiosity piqued. It had to be Anna,. No one else had a voice like that.

As I approached her stall, I could see Anna sitting on a bale of hay. Her voice was like a siren's call, drawing me closer. I couldn't help but stare in awe as she hit a high note, her voice ringing out through the barn.

The last task of the day was upon us, already cleaning out the stalls and laying down fresh hay for the horses. Jason and I were the only ones left in the barn, aside from Anna. I nudged Jason and motioned towards Anna's stall, asking if he heard what I heard.

"Yeah, she's been at it for about five minutes now," Jason replied, rolling his eyes. "But if she didn't sound so good, I'd be annoyed. She's been singing all day."

I ask ?

Well “ only when she thinks no one is around.

Jason says.

I couldn't help but chuckle at Jason's grumpy demeanor. But I couldn't deny that Anna's voice was a welcome distraction from the tedious work ahead. I grabbed Jason by the arm and led him towards Anna's stall, eager to hear more of her beautiful singing.

As the sun began to set on the Ranch, marking the end of a long day, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. Despite it being only Monday, things had gone smoothly so far. But I knew the week was far from over. The looming thought of Anna's presence in the bunkhouse weighed heavily on my mind. I needed her to stay there without any issues tonight.

My attention turned to Adam and Carl, who were finishing up breaking a spirited horse before we sent it back to its new owners in South Dakota. I made the decision to have both Carl and Ben deliver the horse, hoping it would alleviate some of the tension in the bunkhouse. Of course, Adam and Donnie were still residing there, as they were my only other ranch hands and I needed their help.

However, the events of last night were still fresh in my mind. I knew it was both Carl and Donnie who had made Anna feel uncomfortable and upset. Donnie had even had the audacity to claim that he didn't need to apologize for being a man with needs, and that Anna was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. It sickened me to think that my own ranch hands could behave in such a despicable manner.

Later that night I sat in front of my television, eagerly anticipating Monday Night Football, I couldn't help but feel a sense of solitude. My dear friends Sarah and Seth were away until Saturday night, leaving me to enjoy the game alone. But just as I settled into my cozy spot on the couch, a knock on the door disrupted my peaceful evening.

With a hint of sarcasm, I invited my brother Evan inside, although he was already making his way through the doorway. Of course, he made a beeline for my fridge, grabbing a beer without hesitation. I couldn't help but roll my eyes as he nonchalantly took the last one, opting for a bottle of water instead.

As he plopped down on the couch beside me, Evan waited for the commercials to start before initiating conversation. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he asked about my day at work with Anna. I couldn't help but smile as I informed him that everything had gone smoothly.

But then, with a sly chuckle, Evan brought up the incident that had occurred this morning with me. My heart froze as I realized that he knew. Apparently, Jason had told Brooke, who then spilled the beans to Mia, who then couldn't resist sharing the juicy gossip with my dear brother.

And, as it turns out, all four of them - Adam, Ben, Carl, and Donnie - were now on the "Woman on this Ranch's s**t List" for their inappropriate behavior towards Anna. In a moment of panic, I blurted out, "I'm not on that list, am I?"

Evan's response wasn't very reassuring. He simply shrugged and said, "I don't know, Denton. After all, you did yell at Anna for something that was out of her control." My heart sank as I realized the gravity of my actions.

I explained to Evan that Anna had been forced to spend the night in the cold barn with barely any clothing, all because ofDonnie and Carl’s reckless behavior. I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt wash over me. I had lost my temper and caused a great deal of distress for our new ranch hand.

As I sat there, watching the football game with my brother, I couldn't stop myself from lusting after Anna. The image of her cold, hard n*****s poking through her thin top had my c**k throbbing in my pants. My mind was consumed with all the dirty, naughty things I wanted to do to her. I had to control myself, especially with my brother sitting right next to me. But damn, just the thought of Anna had me rock hard

As I blinked my eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath, I couldn't deny the throbbing ache a primal force, urging me

But damn, there was no denying the effect Anna had on me. Every time she walked into a room, my heart raced and my body responded in ways I couldn't explain. I hardly knew her, yet her mere presence had me imagining all sorts of erotic scenarios. It was as if she had cast a spell over me, igniting a fire that I couldn't control.

But I had to snap out of it. Sarah was the love of my life, and I couldn't let my wandering thoughts jeopardize our relationship. I needed to find a reason for this intense attraction towards Anna. Maybe it was her sultry voice, or the way she moved with such grace and confidence. Whatever it was, I had to get a grip before it was too late.