Kick your butt

Fighting? With Stacy? Eric's eyes widen slightly and he looks quickly at Ashlee, not even knowing how to respond to that one. He'd thought maybe she'd be a little disappointed he wouldn't be around as much, but how had she come to that conclusion? Before he even has time to gather a response, Ashlee's second remark hits him straight through to his heart. First, because she'd actually said aloud her feelings that he was like a dad to her, and second, because she'd somehow thought he wasn't pleased with her. 

"Ho there... whoa..." He reins in Static to a halt, making sure Ashlee stops Moonbeam too. Tipping his hat back, he shakes his head, just studying Ashlee for a moment. "Girl, where on earth did you get the notion I was upset with you or that your mom and I were fighting?" 

As soon as the words left his mouth though, it suddenly clicked. She'd just said he was the only dad she'd ever known... because her own father had abandoned her and her mother. Had she really put the pieces together in such the wrong order to have thought he just wanted to get away from them and that's why he was going to drive again? 

Sighing, he dismounts, motioning for Ashlee to do the same. Once on the ground, he sets his hands on her shoulders and looks down at her square in the eye. "I care for you and your mom like nobody else. And if I had a daughter, I'd want her to be just like you." Saying it brought a lump to his throat, but he remains composed. "Your mom and I ain't fighting at all - we're still great friends, okay? And you've done absolutely nothing to make me want to leave. You got that?" He gives her chin a teasing tap with his finger and offers a smile. 

"I'm taking these truck driving jobs because right now because I need the money." He didn't want to burden the girl, but he also knew she was old enough to understand and there was no point in him beating around the bush. "A while back, somebody wasn't so nice to me and I lost a lot of money, and I need to pull my fair share around here at the ranch." And...maybe, just maybe in the back of his mind, he was also planning for the future. But that didn't need to be said right now. 

"So... it has absolutely nothing to do with either you or your mom making me mad, okay?" His smile returns. "Besides, if you ever did anything to tick me off, I'd kick your butt and we'd talk about it - I wouldn't just walk away. I don't work that way." 


Just holding Jamie close, Con eases his eyes shut and enjoys the moment with her. He hoped it was true - that she was proud of him, even though he felt like a failure. He did know she loved him though. Why, he'd never know, but he hung on to that to keep him going. 

"And you've made me so happy too," he mentions quietly before kissing the top of her head. "I don't know what I'd do without you." 


Being drawn into Destiny's kiss, Chance murmurs his approval, immediately returning the affection. It had been far too long. It seemed like forever ago that they had been together before his mistakes had torn them apart. Before he had been forced to leave. Come back. Forced to leave again. And now, finally, finally, he was in her arms once again. The odds had been stacked against him - and he'd never take this for granted. 

Wrapping his arms around her, his hands roam her back while returning her kiss with passion.  Shifting her to the side, his palms wander up her arms and to the sides of her face while he gently pushes her back against the wall. 

Withdrawing only to tilt his head the other way, he offers her a series of shorter kisses before finally pulling back just far enough to rest his forehead against hers. Catching his breath, his eyes remain closed. "I don't want to open my eyes," he whispers, breathless. "I'm afraid if I do, I'll find this is only a dream."