Winds of Change

"Oh god, it would appear I have used muscles which have been long dormant," Michelle said hobbling to the shade under the oak tree.

"I have some liniment in my saddle bags that should ease those sore muscles," John told her.

"That sounds good," said Michelle lowering herself to the soft grass not too far from the trunk of the huge tree.

The horses, having drank deeply, follow John back up to the grassy field. Dropping the reins, John unlashed the cooler from his mount and the picnic basket from Michelle's.

"Won't they wander off?"

"No. They will graze on the grass, but won't go far and will return when I call them. If they do get too far from us, Rudy will herd them back this way. Won't you boy," John told her, setting down the cooler and basket, then kneeling, ruffling Rudy's head.

The two spread a blanket and set up their picnic meal. In the cooler, John finds a six-pack of beer.

"So, you're drinking beer today?" he asked.

"Yes," Michelle answered.

After a couple of minutes, they are eating the sandwiches Michelle has prepared, along with potato salad and chips.

"So my dear Sheriff where were you raised?" asked Michelle.

"Ah, I was born and raised in Chicago."

"Really?"

"Yes, and where were you born and raised?"

"Chicago."

"It's a small world after all."

"It would seem so. You know Susan is also from Chicago?"

"Yes, I know. Did you two know each other before coming to Valley City?"

"We did. What brought you to Valley City?"

"After I retired from the service, I found this ranch for sale. At the time it seemed like a nice place to settle down and raising horses sounded like it could keep me occupied."

"But... "

"Well, it didn't. I was thirty-nine and still had that urge to contribute to society."

"That's how you became Sheriff?"

"Yes."

"What did you do in the service?"

"I was a cop."

"Ah," Michelle laughed. "I see."

"What brought you here?"

"After my husband died," Michelle's voice caught in her throat, "ahem, I was looking to get away from places that reminded me of him and was scouring the jobs in a national scholarship journal when I came across the position here at Valley City State University. I applied for the position and they hired me almost immediately. So far, it has been a good choice," Michelle said smiling weakly at John.

"I'm sorry for... "

"Don't, I have to learn to talk about him. I have to put that part of my life behind me."

"Don't ever forget him," John said vehemently.

"Never," Michelle response just a forcefully.

"Good. One should never forget a lost love."

"Have you lost a love?"

"Not the same as you have. She was... she was."

"I see."

Michelle moved over next to John. They wrapped their arms around each other, just holding on for several minutes. Rudy interrupts them when he nuzzled them both. Laughing, Michelle and John ruffle his big head.

"Would you like me to apply some of that liniment I spoke of?"

"That might be nice," Michelle said shyly.

"Where... "

"You know where," she told him, unbuttoning her pants and pushing them down her legs.

Clearing his throat, John got up, went to his horse to get the liniment out of his saddlebag. Turning, he halts at the sight before him. Michelle, now naked from the waist down, was laying on her stomach, looking over her shoulder at him, a smile on her beautiful face. He stands staring at her exposed buttocks.

"God you're beautiful," he whispered stepping over to her and kneeling beside her prone form.

"Thank you," Michelle whispered back.

Opening the tube of liniment, John squeezed a generous portion onto his palm. Taking a deep breath, he gently rubbed his hands over the cheeks of the most magnificent ass he had ever seen. As his hands touch her skin, Michelle sighed deeply. It's not as if John had not touched her before, although it was in darkness and right now, she felt more embarrassed than at any time in her life. This was a first for her, naked outdoors, a man she found herself feeling for, rubbing her bare ass in the sunshine.

"There that should ease the pain," John said his voice full of lust.

"Then," Michelle said her voice also deepened by lust, rolled over, "why don't you ease my other pains."

Their lips met.

"Wow that water is cold," Michelle squealed as she climbed from the stream.

"I told you would be," John laughed following her up the embankment.

Pulling her into his arms, he presses his body against hers.

"You are so warm," Michelle whispered huskily.

"And you are so beautiful," John said pressing his lips to hers.

"How long will it take to get back?" she asked.

"Two hours at a gallop, if you can stand galloping?"

"I can. Then we have time for one more gallop of our own."

"We do." They both fall to the ground on the soft blanket.

Both horses, at the gallop, negotiated the terrain with ease. Michelle was laughing with the exhilaration she felt as the horse moves between her legs. John just smiled as he felt his steed between his legs, heading for home. The horses knew the way and were eager to return to the barn. After about half an hour, John pulls his back to a walk. Michelle follows suit. The horses aren't breathing hard at all, but John didn't want to over tax them. After a fifteen minutes at a walking pace, John let his horse decide. He was off at a gallop again, eager to get home and to a tough full of water and hay. At times, Michelle urges her horse ahead of Johns. Looking over her shoulder as if taunting him, she laughed into the wind. Giving his gelding a little more rein, John pulled even with his lover. Laughing, Michelle rode on, the exhilaration of the ride turning her on. Every half hour they pulled up slowly to a walk for fifteen minutes or so, then let the horses decide the pace for the next half hour. It took slightly longer to get back, but not much.

Chapter 19

After cooling the horses, John and Michelle stand in the barn brushing them.

"Today has been the best day since... " Michelle's voice trailed off.

"I'm happy for you," John told her, looking over his shoulder at her.

She stood in repose, her hand with the brush resting lightly atop the pinto's withers. Her eyes are gazing up into the rafters of the barn as if searching for something or someone. As he watched, John saw a tear roll down her cheek to hang on her chin. Dropping his brush, John went to Michelle. He stood just to her left, waiting for her to notice him. When she did, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Should I be this happy so soon after... ," she whimpers.

"Is it that soon?" John asked.

"It's been over a year, yet it seems as if it was yesterday."

"A funny thing the heart is," John said.

"Yes, it is."

The two stood holding each other for a number of minutes. Then Michelle pushed John back.

"We really need to finish," she said returning to brushing the pinto.

Nodding, John returned to his chestnut, picked up the discarded brush and continued to curry the gelding. For the next thirty minutes, the pair brushed their mounts. Then John puts them in their stalls, forking some hay into the feed troughs for them and the other horses. By the time John and Michelle are finished the sun was starting to touch the western horizon.

Taking Michelle by the hand, John led her to the porch where he turned her so she can see the western sky as it flashed a deep orange. She gasped as the sun settled down behind the distant hills, rays of light flaring into an orange cast in the sky.

"That's breathtaking," she whispered.

She sensed his presence and leaned back into John's arms. John feeling her relax into his embrace, leaned down and kissed her neck softly. As the sky turned dark, Michelle turned in John's arms, pressing her lips to his. The kiss lasted a long time, the only movement, their lips, as they eagerly pressed against each other.

"We should go inside and eat," John said softly, pulling away from Michelle.

"Now why am I suddenly starving?" asked Michelle looking up into John's eyes.

"It has been a long time since lunch," John laughed knowing Michelle wasn't talking about food.

Giggling, Michelle backed away from John and turned, walking to the back door of the house. Smiling, John followed her inside as Rudy almost bowled them over. In the house, John put together a quick meal. They ate, talking about things and places in their old hometown.

"There was a bowling alley, it was open 24/7, had a million lanes and a thousand bars... what was its name?"

"Town and County Bowl on North Avenue in Northlake," John told her.

"Yes, that's the place. Saturday night, while I was going to college, we would hang out there all night, moving from bar to bar as they opened and closed."

"I spent some time there too. Who knows we could have passed each other... although I'm a bit older than you... "

"Who knows, we could have danced or even had a drink... "

"I think I would have remembered having a dance or a drink with you Michelle," John whispered.

"Yes, I think I would have remembered you too if we... had... "

"You know they tore it down?"

"No! Really?"

"Yes, it's now a huge strip mall," John laughed.

"My god... I think Chicago is becoming one big strip mall."

"Why don't you go up and take a nice hot bath. I know you're sore," John told Michelle. "I have some things I need to do around the house down here, so go on up. When you're finished... "

"I'll let you know, so you can take a shower or bath," Michelle finished crinkling her nose.

Smiling, she rose, leaned over John and kissed him gently on the cheek. She then went upstairs and within seconds, John heard the water running.

Chapter 20

The sun was shining in John's eyes as he lay on his back. As he slowly woke, he felt the pressure of a delicate arm draped across his chest. Opening his eyes, he looked to his left. A broad smile split his face as he caught sight of her sleeping next to him. His mind raced with the thoughts of how beautiful she is. Even in sleep, she was gorgeous, to him. He watched as her nose flared with each breath. He watched her chest rise and fall. She was magnificent and John's heart yearned for her.

Michelle was subconsciously aware of John's scrutiny. Her heart was singing as she thought about him. She had finally found a reason to stop her mourning. John had brought her out of her shell. She knew that first night, she threw herself at him like a disgusting slut. Yet, she was not ashamed of what she did. He was there for her when she needed to act the slut and now he was here for her when she needed a gentle, tender lover. She opened her eyes and smiled up at the man she was falling in love with.

"So, do you want to go for another ride?" John laughed as he watched Michelle hobble around the house.

"I don't think so. Maybe later... for a short one," Michelle giggled rubbing her bottom.

"You know a short walk should work those knots out," John told her.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Just down to the barn, we need to let the horses out so they can graze the pasture."

"Okay, I think I can make it that far," Michelle laughed.

John pulled his Colt and holster from the mantel, slipping the clip on the holster over his belt.

"Do you always wear that thing?" Michelle asked.

"Yes, as Sheriff it's my duty to be... ready to defend the voters from criminals and the assorted bad people."

"How many criminals do you expect to see out here?"

"None, I hope, but one never can tell."

"Ah... " Michelle said following John out the door.

At the barn, they let the horses out of their stalls. The pinto stopped to say hello to Michelle before bolting for the open barn door.

"Well that's done, now what?"

"Have you ever fired a handgun?"

"No."

"Would you like to learn?"

"Sure, why not," Michelle said somewhat frightened.

"There's nothing to be afraid of."

"I know, it's just growing up in the city as I have, there never was a real reason for me to learn. Although I did shoot skeet in college," she added as an aside.

"Well then, you have shot before."

"Is shooting skeet really shooting?"

John laughed at her remark. They had been walking toward the back of the barn. John opened the door there and let Michelle exit first. When she stepped out, she noticed a dirt berm fifteen yards behind the barn. In front of the berm, there were posts from which hung several used targets.

"You seem to have been practicing... a lot," Michelle said walking to a bench about five yards from the back of the barn.

"Every chance I get. You never know when you might need the skill," John said pulling his Colt from its holster.

Setting the pistol on the bench John turns to Michelle a serious look on his face.

"This," he said pointing at the Colt, "is Colt, Model 1911, .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun. I picked it up about twenty years ago at a gun show. It was what gun collectors call a highly collectible weapon. The barrel is new and was custom made for me by a friend. The trigger group has been worked on and I think you will find it smooth and crisp.

"I'm not going to lie to you, it does kick, but not all that bad. Now, I want you to pick it up in your right hand. Easy, keep the barrel pointed down range, toward the targets. The safety is on, for now, I just want you to get used to the feel of it in your hand."

Michelle picked up the gun, keeping the muzzle pointed at the berm. It was heavier than it looked but much lighter than the shotguns, she had used for skeet. John stood to the side, explaining what the pistol was and what it would do.

"Now grip the gun in your right hand. Take your left hand and wrap it around your right. That's it but keep your left thumb on the left side of the gun. That's it if all else fails you can use your thumbs as a sight."

Michelle was now facing down range where the targets were, holding the gun as John wanted her too.

"Now raise it so you are looking at the rear sight," John told her pointing at the rear sight. "See the notch? Good. Now line the front sight up so it is in the middle of the notch. Good. Now, the top of the front sight should be even with the top of the rear sight."

Michelle was looking down the sights, she thought she had them lined up as John told her.

"Okay, that's good. Now put the gun down please."

"It's not as heavy as I thought it would be," Michelle told him placing the gun gently on top of the bench.

"It's heavier than most nowadays. Later, I'll let you shoot my Sig."

"What?"

"My Sig Sauer. It's like this one, except it's made of composite materials."

"Sig Sauer?"

"The company that makes the weapon, now let's get you a target," John said turning back to the barn Michelle following.

Inside he opened a drawer in a chest set just inside the door. He pulled a couple of targets from the drawer. Then, dropping to one knee he opened a safe bolted to a concrete slab. In the safe were boxes of ammunition. Grabbing two boxes of .45, he closed the safe and led the way back outside. Pulling a target from the set he had, he handed it to Michelle.

"Go put this on the closest post," John told her.

Michelle went down range and clipped the target to the post using the clip nailed there. Returning to the bench, she looked up at John.

"Now, if you will look here," John said indicating the targets on the bench. "When you sighted the weapon down range, was this the picture you saw?" John asked as he sketched on the paper with a pencil.

"Mmm... yes."

"Good. Now, pick up the gun."

Michelle picked up the gun, keeping the muzzle pointed down range. John smiled as she looked over at him.

"Now hold the gun as I showed you. Under your right thumb is the safety. Pressing it down releases it. Now line up your sights on the target. Put your finger on the trigger and squeeze it gently."

Michelle did as he told her. The sound of the gun firing surprised her a little.

"Keep shooting," John told her.

Michelle pulled the trigger again and again. Between each round, she realigned her sights on the target. After the eighth round, the gun would not fire anymore.

"You're out," John said, "put the gun down on the bench and I'll show you how to reload the magazine."

For the next hour, John showed Michelle how to shoot and reload. After each time they would go to her target to see how she did. After the first time, she was surprised to see, she had hit the target six times. By the time an hour had passed, she was hitting the target eight for eight.

"Okay, now I'm going to show you some combat techniques of shooting."

"Why?"

"You never know... " they both said at the same time.

John laughed as he took the gun and slipped a new magazine into the grip.

"I'm going to show you how it's done, then I want you to do it."

John walked around the front of the bench. Michelle followed watching his every move. John suddenly had his arms outstretched the gun just below eye level. After the first round, John sidestepped and fired. He did this until the gun was empty.

"Did you see what I was doing?"

"I think so, but could you explain it and maybe slow down."

"There might be times you don't have time to align your sights, so you use the front sight only. If you hold and have the gun aligned properly, just putting the front sight on the target, say at his crotch, when you pull the trigger the bullet should hit him in the chest."

"I see."

John put the gun on the bench, took a new target and walked out to put it on the post. When he returned, he had Michelle reload the magazine.

"Okay, grip the gun exactly the same. Push it out just as you would if you were going to use the sights. Stop just short of having the back sight at eye level, line the front sight on the target's crotch and pull the trigger."

Michelle did as John told her. She fired the first round, moved sideways and fired again. She was seven paces to the right of John when she fired the last round. Standing still, she looked at the target and saw she had put six rounds in the chest of the silhouette. The other two rounds had hit him in the head.

"Very good, very good," John praised Michelle as she placed the Colt on the bench.

John picks up his Colt from the table and quickly loads the magazine slipping it into the grip when he finishes. He then holsters the gun and looks at Michelle.

"Would you like to shoot that Sig now?"

"Sure, although I am a little hungry," she said.

"All right we'll go have some lunch. Here gather up the unused ammo and put it in the box."

Michelle and John gathered up the scattered ammo and put it in the box. Going into the barn, John opened the safe and put the box inside, closing the door and tumbling the dial.

Chapter 21

Lunch was a couple of sandwiches and a beer for each of them. As they sat sipping their beer, Michelle was massaging her hand.

"Does it hurt much?" John asked looking at her hand.

"No, not really, it's more of an ache. You know I didn't feel a thing when I was shooting. It wasn't until we cleaned up for lunch that I noticed the tingling in my fingers, hand, and arm."

"Not used to gripping something tight like that for an extended period of time."

"I guess," said Michelle smiling shaking her hand in the air to increase circulation.

"Still want to shoot some more?"

"Definitely," she smiled taking a sip of her beer.

"Good," John said rising.

He goes to the gun safe in the corner. Michelle had thought it was an antique piece of furniture when she first saw it. Now that John was inserting a key, she realized it was a large safe of some kind. Opening the door, John took a handgun and three clips from the shelves inside.