Under the Cowboy's Control

Selena screamed involuntarily, and seconds later, Clinton pushed into the house from the mudroom.

"What's wrong?" He demanded, just as his eyes focused on the water spilling out, everywhere. "Crap!"

Selena was wet from trying to put the black water hose back in the pipe, and water drenched the front of her shirt, while tears slipped down her cheeks.

Clinton jumped into action and shoved the water control to the off position, and then forced the hose down the pipe. He moved the machine back into place where it had agitated itself away from the wall because it was too full. He reached in, took a couple of pairs of jeans out and threw them in the laundry basket on the floor.

Then he turned the water back on. He stood and watched it for a few seconds to see if it was okay, then turned and faced her.

She stood back, softly crying with her face in her hands.

Selena looked extremely helpless, and Clinton froze in front of her. "Aw, Selena.

It's okay."

Her sobs became louder. He moved forward and awkwardly took her in his arms.

"Shh. Don't cry, Selena. It's just water. It could of happened to anyone." He patted her on the back.

The door clicked open a few feet away from them. "Get your hands off her. Now."

Travis barked the command and Clinton dropped his hands away like she was a piece of hot coal.

"It's not what you think, Boss--" Clinton began.

"I don't want to hear your bullshit. I've warned you before about hanging around here all day. You think I don't know what the sudden attraction is?"

The younger man bristled. "Boss, I--"

Clinton's words stopped when Travis took a threatening step forward.

"Get back to work." The words were a low growl. Travis turned his attention toward the girl trying to dry her eyes. Clinton was already dismissed from his mind. He heard the door shut behind the young cowhand.

He folded his arms over his chest and stood glaring at her. "You won't let me buy you a few lousy articles of clothing, but your life is so hard here, that you cry all over that boy and let him touch you?"

He waited for her to speak, but she only shook her head. His words became more biting. "Maybe you don't like it here? Maybe washing my clothes is too hard for you, and you thought you'd just get a little help?" He reached out a hand to touch her face and she flinched away from him.

The move maddened him.

He grabbed her wrist and hauled her body into his. "You let that kid put his hands all over you, but you flinch from my touch?"

Her heartbeat accelerated and her eyes widened to their fullest. She pushed against him. " Por favor, Travis, stop."

She held herself still a few inches away from him and stood taking ragged breaths.

Travis saw the fear in her eyes and loosened his grip a notch. His sanity slowly returned. "What happened, Selena?"

She bit her lip and pointed to the washing machine. "It went g-gush."

"The washing machine? Gush?"

"Y-yes, it gushed water."

Finally, Travis noticed the water he would have seen earlier if it hadn't been for the sheer blind jealousy gripping him. Water was all over the floor and all over Selena.

If he could reach his ass, he'd kick himself.

He'd scared her to death, and threatened an innocent kid. "I guess Clinton just came in here to help you?"