Appeasing Bud

By Marie S

“Could you hand me that 2 x 4?”

Bud had removed a rotted board and was ready to replace it in the stable. Only one wall remained to be repaired and then the structure was sound. He figured it was already more than sound. Bud grudgingly admitted to himself that Varner had done a great job both inside and on the exterior of the building.

Egan was down off the ladder he’d been working from and went to the pile of new lumber to grab the board Bud needed. He suppressed a smile. About 2 weeks ago he’d have rather hit Bud with the board than hand it to him as they worked together.

His jaw, although still tender, was getting back to normal. And though at the time it felt like Bud had rearranged his face permanently, now that the swelling and most of the bruising had disappeared, his face looked like it did before.

Egan still felt Bud had overreacted. But, the more he’d thought about what happened he realized that it must have looked pretty bad to Bud when he confronted Egan after hearing Jessica’s scream.

As Egan got to know Bud well he saw the strong protective nature he felt toward the three women Egan figured Bud had pledged loyalty to protect and honor. Bud wouldn’t think twice to kill or be killed to protect Marie, Ashley or Jessica. And Egan had to admit that he respected and admired that quality in Bud. There were no shades of grey for him regarding those three women.

It still had nothing to do with him and Jessica, which brought them to today. Egan had a suspicion the timing wasn’t coincidental that Bud would work with him all day on the barn when he and Jessica were supposed to go riding that afternoon. This work needed to be completed and if Bud was available today to help him because of his leave from work, today was the day to do it. He and Jessica could still ride at the end of the day or tomorrow. Egan was persistent too and he knew what he wanted.

He handed the board up to Bud and nodded.

“Mate.”

He watched as Bud fit the new board into the vacated slot and he then handed him the nail gun after Bud positioned the board properly. Bud may be in law enforcement but he knew how to do construction well enough.

Egan hauled the old and rotting board over to the pile that had begun to grow. It would make good firewood when winter came again. He looked up when Bud spoke to him.

“Thanks. I almost forgot to tell you. The girls are bringing lunch for us.”

“Ta. That means another meal where I’ll have great tucker. It’s good we’re working hard.” He chuckled. Egan certainly hadn’t had to cook much since moving here. One of the women was always trying to ply him with food. He wasn’t complaining.

“Yeah, it’s good or I’d be one of those fat cops with his gut hanging over his belt. One step slower and closer to the grave.”

Egan nodded. He figured that was true of Bud’s job. He’d been thrown from horses and almost trampled by cattle, but he figured that was safer than having some arsehole point his gun at you and fire. Egan had heard from Ashley and Jessica what happened in the shootout outside of town that Bud was involved in. He noticed they never mentioned it when Marie was around.

Both Bud and Egan glanced up at the sound of an approaching truck. As it swayed into sight on the rutted road they noticed Jessica was driving with Marie as a passenger. Ashley wasn’t in the truck.

Bud put the last nail in the new board and backed down off the ladder to wait for the girls to alight from the truck.

“Where’s the little one,” Bud called to Marie.

“Hi, Bud. G’day, Egan. Lachlan got home.” She smiled

No further explanation was needed. If Curry was home, that was where the little one would be. He sure as hell wouldn’t like seeing Marie as little as those two saw each other.

Bud was starting to verify Ashley’s whereabouts all the time. He didn’t want her left alone now that she was getting close to having her baby. Marie had been alone when she went into labor too early.

He noticed that Varner and Jessica were making goo goo eyes at one another.

“Jessica.” He nodded a greeting to her.

“Hi, Bud.” She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. The big cop was surprised. Jessica winked to Marie and walked over to greet Egan.

Marie and Jessica had a discussion on how they could help to ease Bud into the idea that Egan and Jessica were seeing each other on a romantic level. Ashley had a straightforward, but slightly devious approach, which would have worked until Lachlan arrived home.

She simply would have told Bud she was tired and wanted him to drive her home after lunch. As Ashley had every man on the two properties wrapped around her little finger that would have freed up Egan and Jessica to leave on their ride.

Marie and Jessica had decided on a different approach. They were going to win Bud’s opinion and favor over to the idea of Egan and Jessica dating. This required a little more work than Ashley’s approach, but it might also have more lasting results.

Of course at that moment Jessica had pointed out that she wasn’t sure if they were dating. After much reassurance Marie and Ashley had her convinced that all the time Egan and Jessica had been spending together constituted that they were dating.

Ashley had frequently invited Egan to dinner with her and Jessica and then would become scarce after the meal so Egan and Jessica could talk or take walks together.

Jessica approached Egan and took his offered hand. Their fingers laced together. She leaned in to kiss his cheek, but Egan turned his head to kiss her lips. It seemed each time he touched her, a wonderful jolt of electricity swept through her body. They lingered on the kiss for just a moment. Jessica sensed rather than saw Marie intercepting Bud’s attention away from the two of them.

Her eyes met Egan’s as he lightly caressed her fingers. He whispered to her. His low husky voice sent another tingle through her body.

“G’day, love. How are ya?” His eyes burned with intensity as he looked at her. Could he possibly feel the same when they were together?

“G’day, Egan. I’m very good.” Her smile was wide and reached her eyes as they sparkled. “How are you today?”

“Even better now.” He leaned in to kiss her again.

Egan may not be the chatty sort, but he knew the right thing to say. Jessica tiptoed up to kiss him again. In the back of her mind she thought this might not be the best way to win Bud over…then again with the touch of Egan’s lips to hers she didn’t much care.

Meanwhile across the way Marie had hurried in to greet Bud and distract his attention from Egan and Jessica. She didn’t want Bud stomping on Egan’s foot if he thought he got too close to Jessica.

“How’s your morning been?” Marie was most definitely reminding Bud of how their morning had started when she ran her fingers up his arm. It was no ploy on her part. The sight of Bud stripped down to his t-shirt and sweaty from working was distracting all on its own. She kissed his salty lips.

“Hmm. Good, Hon.” Bud kissed her back. He remembered the underwear she was wearing beneath her shorts and top. He’d completely enjoyed the early part of his morning. Bud also kept one eye on Varner and Jessica to make sure the shitbird didn’t get out of hand with her.

Marie whispered in his ear and then playfully kissed it. “Bud, can’t you see they’re falling in love?”

“Yeah, I can see she is. Whether he is remains to be seen.” His eye was still on them.

“Has Egan actually done something to make you believe he’s trying to use or take advantage of Jessica?” She took his hand and turned his attention away from the young couple.

“Not since I found him naked and pinning her down on the grass.”

That was an image Bud couldn’t seem to shake. Marie swallowed down a grin. Thankfully as time and healing went by the incident was becoming more comical.

“Yeah, you want to laugh, Hon. Don’t deny it. But, you didn’t see it.”

“Really scary, huh?” Marie started to giggle. Bud picked her up and wrapped her tightly in his arms.

“Ooh, a Bud hug.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Marie felt him bury his nose in hair. He loved her scent. She swore she’d never change her shampoo. “What about us?”

“What do ya mean?” Bud gently set her down. His hands still gripped her waist.

“What about when we were dating, Bud? We didn’t exactly stay celibate until we got married. If you were watching us, what would you have thought?”

Bud remembered he wanted her in his bed from their first date. “I’d have thought I was a real scheming shitbird. And I’d have been right.” He gave her a disarming grin.

She laughed and cupped his cheek. That was a look of his that could still melt her heart. “I never complained.”

“You put me off some.” Bud laughed when she snorted.

“Not for too long or too hard. Remember how we could hardly keep our hands off of one another?” Marie smiled with that far off look of remembrance in her eyes.

“Yep, it’s not too hard to remember. Wasn’t that this morning?”

They both chuckled and Marie wrapped her arms around his broad chest as he held her close and stroked her hair. He smelled of sweat and toil and Bud.

“That could be what’s happening to Egan and Jessica.” She looked into his eyes.

Bud nodded. He could grudgingly admit that could be the case.

“I’ll still be watching him and over her until I’m sure.”

“I know, Bud. Just not between them. Okay?”

Bud made a ‘humph’ sound which along with another short nod of his head she took to mean agreement. The man was stubborn and resolute in his convictions. Or it could be interpreted as cautious. Something he’d learned to be in law enforcement.

Something he’d never done too much with his heart in regards to Marie.

“Are you hungry, Bud?” She stroked his stomach.

“You could say that.” He shot her an intense look.

“Let’s eat lunch, everyone.” Marie spoke a little louder so Egan and Jessica would hear. They seemed to be completely enthralled with each other too. Bud and Marie walked hand in hand toward the table where they’d deposited the food.

Marie began to sing the opening lines of “Love is in the Air,” for Bud’s ears only. He rolled his eyes.

“We’ll see.” But he grinned and spun Marie around to dance her the rest of the way to the sound of Egan and Jessica’s applause. Bud moved her in perfect rhythm to the song.