CJ Fisher Finds Love
Chapter 20

Donna would every now and then show up at the diner when Sam was working. But she never sat in her section. Being secure in her relationship with CJ Sam refused to be intimidated by her, even though she could feel the woman’s eyes shooting daggers at her.

Another two months passed with no issues. They were having dinner at CJ’s parent’s place along with Parker and his family. The kids loved her and even Ellie was no longer jealous of Sam since CJ said she was still his number one girl.

After dinner, the men sat in the living room and the women cleaned up. CJ decided to have some fun so going into the kitchen he returned moments later carrying Dakota.

“Hey Parker, look what I found.” Sam and Dawn followed behind them, both shaking their heads and laughing.

Parker rolled his eyes at him. “You’ve got your own woman now so put my wife down,” he said, laughing. Getting up went over and took her from him and sat back down, keeping her on his lap, his arms going around her.

CJ gave Sam a mischievous grin when he looked her way. “Yes, I do have my own woman now. Come here you,” he said, motioning with his finger.

She stood off to the side. “I’m fine right here thank you.”

“I guess I’m going to have to come get you,” he said, walking slowly towards her.

Everyone started laughing when Sam took off running with CJ in hot pursuit. She giggled as she tried to outrun him but he got her as she reached the other room and picking her up carried her caveman style back to the living room.

“Put me down you brute,” she said, swatting his back.

He went over to the chair and sitting down he pulled her onto his lap. “Run from me and I’ll always come after you,” he said, stroking her hair, not caring that the others were watching and having a laugh at his antics.

The children were busy playing on the floor with the new toys Parker had bought for them so they paid no attention to the adults. After coffee and dessert, Parker and Dakota took the kids home and CJ went with his father outside to help him with some chores. Giving Sam and Dawn time to talk.

Sam checked her watch and seeing it was getting late helped Dawn put the dessert plates and cups into the kitchen. “I’ll just go out and let CJ know I’m ready to go home. Thanks again for another delicious meal.”

“You’re welcome dear,” Dawn answered, giving her a hug goodbye.

Meanwhile in the barn: “You have told Sam about her ex and the money right?” When he received no answer from his son he turned to him, disappointment was written on his face. “CJ, tell me you told her.”

“No, I’ve not told her.”

“Why not?”

“I was going to when the time was right. But then we both got busy and to be honest I was afraid to tell her. I know Sam and she will be furious that I paid that bastard off. I’ve kept it from her too long now and if she finds out I didn’t tell her right away I could lose her.”

Calvin Sr. placed his hand on CJ’s shoulder and stared him straight in the eyes. “If she finds out from someone else that’s exactly what’s going to happen. You have to tell Sam.”

“Tell me what?” Sam’s voice came from the doorway.

Both men turned their heads toward her and back at each other. “I’ll just leave you two alone,” Calvin Sr. said, giving CJ a pat on the shoulder. Walking past Sam he touched her arm in a fatherly fashion. “Just hear him out.” He then left them alone.

A feeling of dread washed over her as she walked slowly toward him. “What’s going on?”

CJ took both her hands in his, he swallowed the lump that felt like an egg lodged in his throat. He had never been as scared as he was at this moment. “There is something I need to tell you, something I should have told you a long time ago.”

“You’re scaring me CJ, what is it?”

“I don’t want you to hate me and please don’t leave me.”

She saw the fear in his eyes and knew it had to be bad so she started jumping to conclusions. “Oh God, are you cheating on me? Or are you no longer in love with me?”

His grip on her hands tightened. “No, no Sam I’m not cheating and I love you more today than I ever have.” He prayed at that moment she would forgive him. “It’s about your divorce.”

“What about it?”

“A while back I asked my father if he could get in touch with some of his contacts to find some dirt on Jonathan. Anything that we could use against him, to force him into signing the divorce papers. They couldn’t find anything but he said if he got paid he would sign the papers.”

“He wanted money, how much?”

“Two hundred thousand.”

Pulling away from him she turned her back to him. “He signed the papers so he must have gotten what he wanted.” She turned to look back at him. “Who paid him?”

Keeping his eyes on her he felt the tension building in his muscles. “I did. I gave him the money Sam.”

“You gave him two hundred thousand dollars and didn’t tell me.”

“I did it for you, for us.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. “So, in other words, you bought me. Am I a piece of property that can be bought and sold?”

“Hell no,” he said, moving closer. “He was never going to let you go, I had to do something Sam. I want to marry you.” He hated it when he saw her eyes tearing up.

“You said we would be honest with each other and not keep secrets, what happened to that? You should have told me.”

“What if I had told you? Would you have let me do it?”

“No,” she answered back.

“Sam, I’m an educated man and a doctor, but I’m also a dumb ass of a cowboy. I was going to tell you but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. You’re a free woman now so can we get past this and move forward?” He moved to take her in his arms but she pushed him away.

“Don’t touch me. I can’t believe you did this. It should have been up to me to give him the money, not you.”

“You don’t have that kind of money.”

“I could have sold my farm and paid him. But you took that decision from me, it’s like you think I am some dumb female who can’t take care of myself. What hurts the most is you never told me about it.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I’m not sorry I did it. You’re free of that man now. I love you baby and now we can plan for the future.”

“Take me home CJ.”

He wanted to hold her, to know she had forgiven him. But he knew her well enough that it was better to give her time and space. So following behind her and getting into his truck they drove home in silence. There she walked passed him and headed upstairs without saying a word to him. He went into the kitchen for a glass of water, giving her a few minutes before going up.

Twenty minutes later he went upstairs and found their bedroom door locked, so he knocked. “Sam, unlock the door and let me in.”

“Go away CJ," she shouted.

“Come on baby, it’s late and I’m tired. Let me in.” He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the lock being turned. But he was in for a surprise when she stood there, a pillow and blanket in her hands and she thrusted them at him.

“You can sleep downstairs,” she said and closing the door locked it again.

He leaned his forehead against the door. “I’m sorry, baby. I was wrong not to discuss it with you before I gave him the money. Just how long are you going to stay mad at me?”

“I don’t know, now go away,” she yelled back.

CJ had trouble sleeping on the sofa that wasn’t built for that purpose. He woke when he heard someone knocking at the front door. Getting up answered it and found Parker standing there. “Come in and I’ll make us some coffee.”

“You look like shit, buddy,” Parker said and he grinned when he saw the bedding on the sofa. “Did you sleep down here last night?”

“Yup,” he answered, his back to Parker as he made the coffee. “Why are you here so early?”

“Your dad needs some help rounding up his cattle. He knew you weren’t working today and asked me to stop by and get you. But if you need some time to fix whatever is going on here I’m sure he’ll understand if you can’t help.”

“No, I’ll help.”

“Just then Sam came into the room and gave Parker a warm smile and poured herself a cup of the freshly brewed coffee, ignoring CJ.

“I’m going to help my dad for a while.”

“Fine,” she said, and saying goodbye to Parker left the room.

“Burr,” Parker said. “It sure is chilly in here.”

Putting on his shirt and grabbing his coffee sat down. “I really screwed up this time. Sam is so mad at me. What am I going to do?”

“I say you grovel pal. After we’re finished work you get your ass into town and buy her the biggest bouquet of flowers you can find.”

As they rounded up the cattle CJ told Parker what the fight was about and when they were done they both rode into town. CJ picked up some red roses and stopped at the jewelry store where he bought her a gold necklace. He glanced over at Parker who was buying a pair of earrings for Dakota.

“Don’t tell me you’re in the doghouse too.”

Parker laughed. “No man, I don’t need a reason to buy my wife a gift. But this here will get me some special hot sex,” he said, giving CJ a wink.

It was close to dinner by the time CJ arrived home. Taking the saddle off his horse picked up the flowers and headed inside. He could smell food cooking and thought that since she was making him dinner she might have calmed down and forgiven him. He walked slowly into the kitchen.

“Hi,” he said, walking over stood in front of her, holding out the flowers. “I got you these to say I’m sorry.” Reaching into his pocket took out the box with the necklace. “I also got you this.”

Placing the flowers down, still not speaking to him she took the gift and opened it. “Have you not spent enough money on me?” she asked, looking up at him, her lips set in a firm line.

CJ found himself at the breaking point, this remark cut him deep, to the very core of his heart. Taking the box from her hand threw it down on the table. “That’s a low blow, one I didn’t deserve. What I did was for us, not just you and yes, I should have talked to you about it first, but I didn’t. So I’m sorry if I made you feel the way you do. I love you but maybe you don’t love me enough to forgive me.” Grabbing a beer from the fridge he left the kitchen and headed outside, sitting on the porch steps.

He heard the door opening five minutes later and felt her presence next to him.

“I do love you CJ. I just thought things were different with us. I thought we could be honest with each other. When I was with my ex he kept so many secrets from me, he lied, cheated. The worse thing he did to me was to make me feel as though my opinion didn’t count, that it wasn’t worth anything. He made me feel like I was nothing but his paid whore, that he could buy my love.”

CJ turned his head to look at her. “I’m nothing like that man.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I’m still dealing with insecurities and trust issues. I do love the flowers and this beautiful necklace,” she said, fingering the chain around her neck.

CJ stood up, holding out his hand for her to take. “Let’s settle this argument like adults, in the bedroom and naked."

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