Page 49 of More than a Memory

After confirming with Annie that she was available to house sit, Darcy sat at her computer and finished making flight reservations. She would fly into Fayetteville Regional Airport tomorrow arriving around 3:00 PM. She had to line up a rental car and make hotel reservations for her quick trip, plus she still needed to pack an overnight bag.

Impulsively, she decided to surprise Sam at his farm, not only to touch base but also to fill him in on what was happening with her current case and to tell him she was flying out in the morning. She was nervous about how this surprise visit would go over with Sam, but she didn’t give herself time to think about it. She just hopped in her car and headed over there.

Sam was so engrossed with his horse that she was able to observe him without his knowing. Her eyes drank of him as if she were dying of thirst. It felt like she hadn’t seen him for weeks. His mop of wavy brown hair, his gracefulness, his gentleness with Whiskey, his soothing voice as he murmured to the gelding, all made her feel weak-kneed. Suddenly she felt like crying.

“Hello, Sam,” Darcy said quietly, her emotions shooting in all directions.

Sam did not immediately turn around, but his back straightened, so she knew he had heard her. Then he pivoted slowly around to face her, his expression inscrutable.

“Darcy,” he said, nodding his head in a greeting.

“Sam…I…Sam…I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry about everything, I’m sorry I’m so messed up, I’m sorry I’m incapable of opening up, I’m sorry I’ve hurt you….” Her voice trailed off.

“But you’re here now. Why?” he asked, his voice even and strong.

“I don’t know…because I’ve missed you, because I’m leaving town tomorrow and I didn’t want to go without seeing you. I still can’t make any promises that it will be different, but I wanted to tell you I’d like to at least try.” It all came pouring out.

Sam slowly walked toward Darcy and stopped about a foot away. Darcy took the last several steps left between them and reached out for him. He opened his arms and gathered her in. He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled deeply, as if trying to absorb her essence. Darcy began to cry, her shoulders shaking, soaking his white tee shirt with her tears.

“I’m…sss…ooo…ssoorry,” she said between sobs.

“Shh, It’s OK, Darcy. I’m sorry too. Maybe I pushed you just a little too hard. Heck, I don’t know. I just don’t want to lose you again,” he said, squeezing her tight. “I’ll do my best from here on out to go at your pace, and, like you said, I can’t make any promises, but I’ll try.”

“Aren’t we a pair,” she said, laughing through her tears.

“A wannabe pair at best,” he said ruefully.

“I fly out first thing tomorrow morning for Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on the scent of a missing person. Hopefully, I will only be a day or two. Can I call you while I’m away? I’ve missed our nightly phone calls more than I want to admit,” she confided.

“Yes, I’ve been a pretty lonesome cowboy, sitting at home every night dreaming about the elusive Darcy Morgan. I can’t believe you’re here now, and I know what it took for you to jump that hurdle to come. Do you have time to come up to the house for a beer before you go?”

“Yes! Obviously, I can’t stay long, but I’d really like that Sam,” she assured him.

“Well, who have we here?” Gabe said, entering the barn aisle.

“Hey Gabe,” Darcy said, greeting him.

“I sure do hope you came to put my ole friend here out of his misery,” he said, winking at them both.

“Kind of…maybe,” Darcy replied.

“That’s good then. I’m growing tired of mopping up tears,” he replied.

“Hey, speaking of mopping up after me, can you finish up here with the barn duties so I can spend a little time with this beautiful lady?” Sam asked.

“You got it. Go on now, get out of here! Leave the dogs with me. I’ll take them to my place when I’m done with the chores,” Gabe said, laughing as they quickly rushed out of the barn holding hands and heading for Sam’s house.

Sam opened a couple of cold beers and handed one to Darcy. She took a long swig of the golden ale, savoring that first sip.

“The first sip is by far the best sip,” she commented.

“Here, let me try,” he said leaning in to taste the beer she had imbibed by licking her lips.

“Mmmm, yes,” he said, parting her lips with his tongue to explore more thoroughly.

Darcy went from zero to sixty the second he had licked her lips. She opened her mouth wider to let him enter fully. She drew his tongue in further by gently sucking on it, causing Sam to moan. She was already reaching for his belt buckle and tugging at his T-shirt as she clumsily fumbled with his zipper. She reached down the open fly of his pants to fondle him. He jerked as if he’d been scorched. His hardness sprang from the confines of his underwear, ramrod straight, and she fondled him until he reached a boiling point. He pulled her tight against him and kissed her deeply, saying, “Let’s move this to my bed.”

They continued their love play after undressing each other, thoroughly exploring their path as each piece of clothing was tossed aside. Darcy climbed on top of Sam, her thighs snug against him. After he slipped on a condom, she guided his erection into her wet entry. She loved the feel of his manhood as she took him inside of her fully.