Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 18:46:45 -0700
From: shakes <shakes003@hotmail.com>
Subject: Lucky in Montana (Part 2)

"Where are we headed, 'Tanna?" We had been riding without rest for hours. I
waited for Montana to answer, but he remained silent. I stared at him
riding to my left, and hoped it would press him for an answer. He just kept
on.

We rode in silence throughout the morning. It made for a long and boring
trip, to say the least. Any conversation I tried to start up with Montana
would end up with him ignoring me, or him signaling for me to keep
quiet. Some days I didn't quite understand him. What am I talking about?
Most days I didn't understand him.

The sun was beating on our backs as we made our way across endless
terrain. It felt as though we were getting nowhere fast-and the heat of the
sun burning us from behind wasn't helping matters in the least. The scenery
never changed-it just remained constant. The ground was dry and dusty
beneath our horse's hooves-the grass dried up like thin shreds of
straw-colored paper. The earth's condition played into my increasing sense
of desolation. I was hot, sweaty, and thirsty. I needed some relief.

Montana had ridden 50 yards or so ahead of me, or perhaps it seemed that
way because I was slowing down. I slowly stopped Kabaya and dismounted
carefully. The heat seemed excruciating as I stared up to the sun and
prayed for a change in the weather. I peeled off some of the layers, and
soon found myself down to just my pants and my white cotton weave
undershirt with the buttons undone. I quickly packed my shirt and coat up
with my gear, dug out my canteen, and hopped back on my horse to catch up
with Montana.

Kabaya quickened his pace on my command so we could catch up to Montana. As
we neared, Montana turned his head briefly to flash me a puzzled look, and
then turned back to his quiet watch-studying the land that lay ahead of
us. I sighed in resignation. This was going to be one of the most boring
and longest days of my life. There were too many things to contest with-the
unbearable heat, the long journey in dirty and sweaty, uncomfortable
clothing, and absolutely no company from my companion. I was ready to head
back to Silveridge and surrender. Shoot me! Put me out of my misery!
Anybody-please!

"Would you shut the fuck up, already?" Montana snarled through a rather
disgusted glare that was directed at me.

"Uhhh...sorry 'Tanna." I didn't realize I had been thinking out
loud. Montana shook his head and rode on. I again, was left to ponder my
thoughts and boredom alone.

I tried to take my mind off of my discomfort by thinking about more
pleasant experiences. The nice soft bed I was occupying back in
Silveridge-the coolness of the feather pillow as it caressed my sleepy
head; the dapple of sunlight that lit the room in the early morning. My
mind drifted to Mary-Anne. I winced in the memory.

'Last night was a big mistake,' I scolded myself in my head. I wasn't
referring to just the part about killing her husband, but ending up in that
situation in the first place. Montana was right-I was a moron sometimes. I
lived for the moment without thinking about the consequences. I barely even
knew Mary-Anne. For cripes sake, I didn't even know she had a
husband. Girls found their way to my bedroom, and I never bothered to ask
questions. Everything revolved around the moment. I didn't even love them
and I would pretend that I did. I wasn't even sure what love would feel
like.

"You ever been in love, 'Tanna?" The question seeped out of my reverie into
the open without my control.

"Once." His answer startled me-I was expecting him to reach over and belt
me one for talking again.

I looked over at him and studied his face. I could picture many women
loving a man like Montana. Yeah, okay he came off like a hard ass most of
the time-well, all of the time actually-but there was more to him, and I
just knew it. I remembered back at the water how his eyes burned through
me; how his rough hands felt like silk over my naked back as he touched me
and comforted me. It was a different side to Montana--a side I wanted to
see more of, but I didn't know why. There was an unfamiliar ache in the pit
of my stomach.

"So what happened?" I asked out of my daze. Montana looked at me for a long
moment with an indescribable expression.

"Nothing. Nothing ever happened." He answered quietly. "Listen, if you
think you're going back there for Dragon Lady, you can fuckin' forget it. I
ain't draggin' your sorry ass outta that mess twice."

"Dragon Lady?" I laughed at Montana. He hated Mary-Anne from the second she
approached us. "No, I don't wanna go back for her. It was just sex."

"Well, mind your pecker, would ya? That thing is gonna have us hang if you
don't cool it with these whores."

"It ain't all my fault. I tried to get her outta my room,
'Tanna-honest. She wouldn't let up on me."

"You can have anyone you want, Lucky." Montana slowed his horse down and
eyed me intently. "Why do you settle for these cheap women when you can
have the real thing?"

I shrugged in response. I didn't even know what he was talking
about. Montana seemed to read my mind.

"A fuck is a fuck. You can fuck anything, or anyone, but it's still just a
fuck unless you love the person. When you love that person, it becomes
something more."

"You mean like with the person you're in love with?" I could hardly believe
Montana, of all people, was having a discussion about love with me. His
face sparked something similar to sadness.

"Probably not. I dunno...maybe one day when I ain't runnin'. Settle down
with a home and some land." He bit his bottom lip. "Mmmm...maybe..."

He stopped his horse completely and looked blankly ahead. It was like he
was in a different place and a different time. I never saw him like that
before-it was calming to see him peaceful instead of always angry. Whoever
the woman was-I knew she was the luckiest person alive to have the
affection of Montana. I suddenly felt jealous, and I wasn't sure why.

The unfamiliar ache in the pit of my stomach returned. When I looked up,
Montana's green eyes were on me. He reached over and cupped my face with
his hand-his thumb rubbing back and forth against my chin. The gesture
half-frightened me. It wasn't something Montana would do at all, and the
way it was lighting a fire into me was just as scary. I was wide-eyed.

"You can have anybody, Lucky. You're so beautiful. Don't settle."

Montana seemed to remember who and where he was, and stiffened up. His eyes
lost their warm glow and became icy again before he straightened up on his
horse and took off ahead of me. Kabaya and I stayed some distance behind-my
stomach and mind reeling in confusion. Why did Montana say all those things
to me, and why was I feeling like a giddy little kid about it? What I
really wanted to know, was why my heart raced when he touched me like he
did, or better yet, why my dick sprang up like salmon swimming upstream?

"You're an idiot," I scolded myself once more as I kept my distance behind
Montana. I don't know why I said it-it just seemed like the thing to say to
myself at the time.


A gust of wind blew through my thin undershirt, and I immediately regretted
wishing for the change in weather. I snapped out the spell I was under for
what had to be a few hours and realized the sky we were under was no longer
blue, but instead an angry shade of grey.

I looked out and saw Montana a generous distance away, and picked up the
pace with Kabaya so we could catch up. It took a few minutes, and by the
time we reached him the rain was coming down in big blobs. Montana was
flipping the collar of his coat up when I reached his side.

"Jesus Christ, Lucky! Where the fuck's your clothes?"

"I was dyin' of heat."  "Well put 'em on dammit. You'll die of cold!"

"They're in my pack. Let's stop-I'm tired."

"No way! We're almost there!" Montana pointed out to the horizon in front
of him, and I could see the clearing end where an endless gathering of
trees stood. Behind the trees were fortresses of rock. Normally such beauty
of nature would impress me-but my body started to tremble, and I knew we
needed some shelter for the night against the rain.

"Let's go!" I hollered over the pounding of the wind. Montana shook his
head.

"Lucky, goddammit! You're fuckin' crazy! Get your fuckin' coat on!" He
yelled back, but I already nudged Kabaya and we were off in a steady gallop
towards the trees. I was tired and didn't want to waste time and tearing
through my gear would only postpone us from finding somewhere to sleep. It
would most likely be wet from the rain anyway. I could hear Montana yelling
my name after me, but the only thing I cared about was getting some
shelter.

It took some time to reach the safeguard of trees. The clothes I was
wearing were soaked right through, and the only thing I could hear were the
chattering of my teeth, and the steady stream of cussing coming from
Montana. I'm sure I was called every filthy name in the book by the time
the rain started to soften to a light trickle.

"Ugh...you're so stupid." I muttered to myself quietly as I felt like I was
going to freeze to death. I let go of the reins and slumped forward onto
Kabaya-trying to get some warmth.

"You won't have any disagreements from this end." Montana muttered. "I'd
get your coat for you but it looks like your bundle's as wet as you are."

I tried to ignore him as I hugged Kabaya's neck tighter-willing the damned
horse to warm me up. I remembered how hot the sun was earlier, and kicked
myself from wanting the heat to go away. I suddenly felt something warm
covering me. I sat up as Montana was moving away from me, to get off of his
horse. He had covered me with his coat.

"Hey, it's okay..." my teeth were chattering between words. "It's my fault,
'Tanna. Take your coat." Montana shook his head.

"It's stopped. We'll sleep here."

I leaned forward again to rest against my horse as the sound of Montana
setting up filled my mind. I could hear the sound of water dropping off of
the leaves, as I started to feel warm and lazy, and my eyes slowly
closed. My mind drifted away as my eyes shut, and immediately I pictured
Montana as his hand touched my face in the heat of the sun. It felt so good
when he touched me, but I wasn't sure why. I played back his words-he said
that I was beautiful. What did he mean by that? I remembered earlier in the
morning as he watched me dress. There was that funny look in his eyes. My
stomach knotted-I was falling...

I jolted up as I felt myself falling off of Kabaya. My eyes popped open,
and I tried to somehow stop the fall from happening when I felt strong arms
behind my back and under my legs.

"It's okay." Montana reassured, and I immediately relaxed. I looked towards
where he was carrying me, and was surprised to find he had a fire started,
as well as a place to sleep set out.

"I can walk, y'know." I stated tiredly, although I had no intentions of
letting him put me down. Montana must have read my mind again. He chuckled
lightly and kept walking until he reached the pad of hide and blankets. He
set me down gently and removed his hat.

"You need to get those wet clothes off. You're liable to catch death." He
unbuttoned his shirt as he waited for me to make a move. All I could do was
hug my legs to my chest and shiver.

"Serves you right, y'know?" Ahhh...the sermon I was waiting for.

"Not now, 'Tanna. I'm cold."

"No shit, moron! I told you to put your coat on and..."

"Look, can we do this tomorrow?" I cut into Montana's lecture, and watched
him bite his lip in silence. I pressed on. "I'm cold, I'm soaked, and I'm
fuckin' tired, so let's can the crap and get some sleep. You can nag me to
death tomorrow if you still feel up to it."

Montana's mouth curled up into a slight grin as he removed his shirt. By
the fire he had rigged up some makeshift clothesline to toss it over so it
could dry from the heat of the flames. I watched as he carefully loosened
the straps of the holster of his gun belt that were tied snugly to his
thighs. He unbuckled the strap at his waist, and walked over to me to set
it on the bundle we were going to sleep on.

"Get outta those wet clothes, Lucky. I mean it. And if you think you're
sleeping with your boots on-you're fuckin' crazy."

"Awww...c'mon, Tanna. You know I always sleep with my boots on." I whined.

"Not with me, you don't. Last trip you drove me nuts-kicking me all fuckin'
nightlong. They're off or you can sleep out in the rain. Your pick."

I weighed the odds in my mind, and decided I could stand a night's sleep
without the protection of my boots. I wasn't fond of sleeping without
them-especially outside. You never know what sorta things slither and crawl
through the night.

"Fine." I mumbled to my knees as Montana unfastened his pants and let them
slip down his long legs. He gathered them up, and hung them by his
shirt. His back was to me, and I couldn't help but watch in admiration at
his well-formed physique. The tightly fitted undergarment he wore beneath
his clothes left very little to the imagination. The long, tight muscles in
his legs and back could still be seen. The thin cotton material clung
unselfconsciously to his slim buttocks. When he turned around to check on
me, I could feel my face grow red. There was even less left to the
imagination from this view.

"We don't have all night, Lucky."

I nodded in agreement, and weakly started tugging at my boots. Montana
finally lost patience with me, dropped down onto his knees in front of me,
and tugged hastily at the boots until they popped off of my legs and
feet. He then pushed his coat off of my shoulders and grabbed it to hang
with the rest of his wardrobe.

I looked down at my gun belt, and contemplated removing it but before I
could move my hands Montana was down on his knees again tugging at the ties
that held the holsters to my legs. He cussed a bit-the rain had soaked the
leather and made it difficult to untie the knots. His hands fumbled between
my thighs-so close to my cock that they accidentally brushed against it
from time to time. Montana didn't appear to notice the contact-but I
noticed, and noticed that it wasn't at all unpleasant. My face and my groin
were becoming extremely warm.

"Okay." He commented as he tossed my gun belt up on the padding with one
hand, as the other grabbed the waist of my pants and fumbled with the
button. My cock felt like it was trying to reach for his hand as he pulled
my zipper down. I got scared as my body was responding to Montana in a way
I wasn't used to. I groaned and pushed his hands away. He looked at me
worriedly.

"Lucky, what's wrong? You okay?"

"I can do it." I said quietly. I knew my face was as red as it felt, but
thankfully Montana didn't say anything about it. He got to his feet and
padded over to Kabaya-removing my bundle of soaked gear, and placing it all
on the line by his things. I struggled out of my soaked pants-by the time
they were fully off of my body, Montana had the saddle off of Kabaya and
his own horse, and had put more wood onto the fire to keep it going.

The warmth of the fire was beginning to cover me, but for some reason this
did nothing but send me into a fit of the shakes. My jaw trembled as I
hugged myself for more warmth, but it wasn't helping. Montana kept his eyes
on me as he hung my pants on the line and then returned. He was unbuttoning
the top part of his undergarment.

"Wh-what are you doin'?" I stuttered.

"Slip the top of your underwear off." He instructed as he pushed the top of
his own off. I silently gasped as I caught view of his strong muscular
torso. It wasn't the first time I had seen Montana without his shirt on,
but for some reason it felt like it was. My heart raced as his hands
reached over to the buttons of my cotton undergarment.

"Wh-what..." was all I could breathe out as Montana gently slid the top
part of my underwear off of my arms and torso. His eyes gazed over my own
body, and I suddenly became very self-conscious. I didn't know why I was
feeling so strange-why my body was reacting the way it was to Montana's
touch. We were friends-we had been hittin' the trails together for two
years now, ever since I tried to steal Kabaya. What was wrong with me?

"Come," Montana had pulled back the covers and motioned for me to get
underneath. I maneuvered so that I could hide my arousal from him, and
quickly slid under the warm covers, facing away from Montana so I could
hide.

When I thought I was in enough control to settle down, Montana slid up
behind me-his naked chest heating up the coldness of my bare back. I was
still shaking, but no longer from the cold. I could feel his hot breath on
my neck--sending sparks up my spine. My aching cock had taken all it
could. As he wrapped me in his powerful arms, I erupted--covering the front
of my underwear in my own seed. I gasped out loud.

"Lucky, what's wrong?" Montana sounded concerned. How concerned would he be
of me if he had found out that he got me off? He'd probably beat the shit
outta me and leave me to die.

I tried to mumble 'nothing', but I don't even think it sounded like any
word in any language at all. Montana briskly rubbed my arms, and then
huddled even closer to me.

"Body heat. You'll warm up in no time, kiddo." And he relaxed. I could hear
his breathing change as he fell into a deep slumber. It was a long time
before I could clear my head enough to drift off myself--his warm soft
breath on my neck; his body pressed up against mine.