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Every Day is a Winding Road
Chapter 14

Abbey stared out the sedan window as the driver continued down a dusty dirt lane. They'd been on the same lane for the past 10 minutes and she had yet to see a house or outbuilding or even a person. For as far as her eyes could see the fenced in land was flat, brown, desolate, and yet beautiful in a lonely kind of way. There was nothing cozy or intimate about Texas, Texas was wide open and exposed with seemingly no place to hide. For a private person who would have preferred to retreat to the green hills of New Hampshire from the horrible violation of her privacy, it was disconcerting to say the least. Texas would not allow her any shield; here she would have to come out swinging.

She had been to Texas before, to Houston and Dallas and Austin, but she had never been to John and Suzanne Hoynes West Texas ranch. It amazed her how long it took to get to their house from where the small motorcade had turned off the highway. It was a full 20 minutes before the car pulled up in front of the big ranch style house, more than half her commute from Manchester to Boston. If Jed thought their farm was out in the middle of nowhere, he was going to be in for a rude awakening when he flew in Marine One over the hundreds of acres of mesquite studded flatlands to his vice President's home.

What struck Abbey most as she unbuckled her children out of their car seats and helped them out of the car was the lack of trees. The Hoynes house stood out starkly against the horizon, no stately old oaks casting protective shadows over its roof and porches. No pretty maples to lend cooling shade for a rest in a hammock or tall green pine trees lending their fresh woodsy scent to the air. Here, there was no respite from the hot relenting sun. Abbey felt it burning down on her as soon as she stepped from the air-conditioned car. Even at the end of September the heat was brutal, the wind hot and dusty.

"Hello"

Abbey gazed up to see Suzanne descending from the house.

"Hi Suzanne." Abbey gave her a brief hug after which Suzanne quickly turned her attention to the two blond children clutching tightly to Abbey's legs.

"Hello Nicholas, hello Aislinn. I sure am glad that you were able to join your mommy and daddy for a visit with us."

"Daddy?" Nicholas asked, looking around for his absent father.

"Daddy will be joining us at the rodeo this afternoon," Abbey assured him. "Can you both say hello to Mrs. Hoynes?"

Aislinn buried her face deeper into Abbey's leg and Nicholas peered up at the strange woman warily.

"It's okay," Suzanne smiled. "They're tired and they don't know me very well at all. Why don't y'all come inside where it's cool and we can have a nice cold drink. Do you two like apple juice?"

Nicholas nodded bashfully and Aislinn added her agreement.

"Thank you for inviting them" Abbey said, as she took each child in hand and they made their way slowly to house.

"I just knew they'd have a ball at the rodeo and I'm thrilled that you decided to bring them. It's been too long since I've heard the patter of little feet in this place." John Hoynes Jr. was in his last year of law school and Margaret Hoynes was at the University of Texas.

"You might regret saying that," Abbey grinned. "They aren't always this quiet. Once they're over their shyness they may be hell on wheels."

"Good, they'll liven the place up. My empty nest is a lonely one."

There was something in Suzanne's eyes, a sadness that led Abbey to believe that all was not right with her. For a moment her mind flashed on the rumors she'd heard over the years about John but dismissed them right away. If John Hoynes were having affairs in this day in age it would be all over the National Enquirer, nobody could keep something like that quiet anymore. It couldn't be that. Maybe Suzanne really was just lonely in her empty nest.

****

After the children had their juice and Abbey and Suzanne their glasses of iced tea, Suzanne showed Abbey to the room that had been designated for the twins while they were at the ranch house. The agents had already set up their porta cribs and the two women, with a little help from Isabelle, laid the children down for a short nap before their long afternoon at the rodeo. With the kids safely down, Suzanne led Abbey to a room where she could change. The Bartlet's were actually going to be staying in the guesthouse down by the creek but for now she just needed somewhere to change and to relax.

"So, what exactly does one wear to a rodeo?" Abbey asked.

Suzanne stared at her with wide eyes. "You've NEVER been to a rodeo. EVER."

"I can't say as I have. They don't exactly pop up all over New England. Probably the closest that I've come are equestrian events."

"Honey, this ain't no East Coast equestrian event." Suzanne tossed aside the streamlined skirts and dresses that Abbey had pulled out for her perusal. "And you'll kill yourself walking around on these in the dirt and sand." She tossed an expensive pair of slingback heels back onto the bed.

"Then what should I wear? Bruno wants me to fit in but somehow I don't see myself in some frilly lined denim skirt and rhinestone studded western shirt."

"No doubt a lot of women will be dressed like that, but you're right. That isn't you. You brought jeans, didn't you?"

"Of course, I always pack jeans."

"No cowboy boots I suppose?"

"Not a pair."

"You'd swim in mine. Hold on, I bet Mags has a pair I can lend you. And so began the melding of casual Texas and stylish East Coast.

****

"And now I give you, America's First Lady, Abigail Bartlet."

Abbey made her way to the podium, moisture trickling down her back and between her breasts. It was 96 degrees in the shade that is if there had been any shade. It was not the humid; breath stealing heat of Louisiana instead this was a heat that baked, a heat that rode on the wind. Abbey had rarely felt anything like it. She was used to cool breezes coming in off the ocean, or down from the mountains and Canada, this wind felt as if it had come from the very fires of hell and it brought with it the smell of livestock and manure, frying food and cotton candy. She swallowed and started to climb up to the podium. She wasn't even supposed to be making this speech, Jed should be sweltering on this stage, not her. But, Air Force One had been running late and Leo had faxed her the speech Toby had written and asked her to make it for him, Abbey just prayed that she didn't pass out right in the middle of it.

She took the stage just as the presidential motorcade was turning into the parking lot, the cheering and catcalls so loud that she didn't even notice their arrival.

"Would you look at that," Bruno exclaimed as they all began climbing out of the black cars. There on stage stood Abbey in a pair of slim fitting jeans tucked into black cowboy boots and a white sleeveless blouse that buttoned up the back. A trendy black Stetson sat on the top of her shoulder length copper curls.

"She makes one hell of a cowgirl," Jed grinned with puffed up husbandly appreciation.

CJ bit back her smile and leaned in to whisper to Bruno "Weren't you the one telling us just how well your talk with Abbey went?"

"It did. She's doing just what I told her to do."

"You told her to look like a sexy cowgirl?"

"Of course not" he sighed. "I told her to fit in."

CJ burst into laughter just as there was a loud gasp from the crowd.

Abbey turned to see what people were gaping at and a big smile crossed her face. Aislinn had gotten free from Isabelle and was toddling her way across the stage wearing jeans and tiny cowboy boots just like her mother. The boots for both kids had been a gift from the Hoynes'. Aislinn faltered when the crowd began to cheer and Abbey saw her face start to crumple.

"Mama…" she whimpered, as she slipped her fingers into her mouth.

"It's okay, Ash." Abbey bent down and opened her arms wide. "Come here, angel."

Aislinn raced toward her mother and the crowd cheered louder as Abbey lifted her up onto her hip. Aislinn clung to Abbey's neck, her pale blond curls mixing with Abbey's fiery ones.

Jed stood watching his girls on the stage. Other than the color of her hair, which Aislinn had inherited from him, she was a small replica of her mother, he thought with a smile of possessive pride. They had the same smile, the same dimple in the right cheek, and the same pretty hazel eyes framed by long lashes.

Her speech finished, Abbey introduced country singer Toby Keith to the crowd and she and Aislinn waved good bye as they left the stage for the entertainment segment to begin.

"How did you get her to agree to that?" Josh breathed with awe.

"Agree to what?" Bruno asked.

"How did you get Mrs. B to agree to having Aislinn come out on stage like that? You're my hero." Josh bowed as if bowing to Mecca.

"I'd like to take the credit for it but that was none of my doing. I will, however, have to slip a 50 to Miss. Aislinn for a job well done."

Loud, raucous country music emanated from the stage and one of the local cowboys noticed Abbey's foot tapping to the beat as she watched a group of people line dancing. He finally got up the nerve and approached her.

"Would you like to dance, ma'am?" He asked.

"Oh…uh…I don't think so, but thanks for asking. I don't know how to do…that" she gestured toward the group. She wasn't a huge country music fan, and had never really had the opportunity to learn any type of country western dancing.

"There really isn't all that much to it. Come on, we'll show you."

Abbey looked up to see three other cowboys join their friend and relented. After all, she was supposed to fit in and she did love to dance.

Jed made his way across the field to where he had seen Abbey walk off the stage. The music was deafening as he walked in front of the stage and as he came around the side he stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening. There was his tiny wife surrounded by four big young brawny cowboys who were intent on teaching her how to line dance. Abbey was laughing as she messed up on the steps, her cheeks flushed. She was obviously enjoying herself to the beat of the music.

And you're lookin' right, lookin' good, lookin' like a woman should
So why is it so hard to find
A place to lay your pretty little head down once in a while
You run on a little tough luck baby
Don't you sweat it
Everything is waiting inside for you
You know I got it
Come and get it
Who's your daddy, who's your baby?
Who's your buddy, who's your friend?…….

Abbey turned the wrong way and stumbled into one of the cowboys. His hand immediately reached out to grab her hip. That was when the young man felt the strong grip of another man grasp his forearm. He turned, the grin leaving his face as he took in the steely gaze of the President of the United States and he let go of Abbey as if she were on fire. Jed had an immense moment of satisfaction at seeing the fear in the young man's eyes.

"Uh, ma'am, I think there's somebody waiting to see you."

Laughing, Abbey turned from the others to see her husband standing before her in a pair of jeans; a short sleeved camel colored chambray shirt and a matching Stetson. Jed Bartlet, New Hampshire scholar, Dartmouth professor, Nobel Laureate should have looked foolish in a 10 gallon hat but he didn't. He looked hot, with a capitol H.O.T. He was the best damn thing that she'd seen in a very long time.

He opened his arms to her and she grinned from ear to ear throwing her arms around his neck and hanging on tightly for a long moment. She pressed her face into the warmth of his neck inhaling deeply. He smelled so good, of sun, sweat, soap and pure Jed Bartlet.

"How's my best gal?" He asked into her hair.

"Much better now." She pulled back from him to take in his features and ran a finger along his cheekbone. "I've missed you."

"Really? You looked like you were having entirely too much fun with those young pups drooling all over you," he growled. But, despite the grouchiness of his tone, Abbey could see the teasing light in his eyes and she smiled up at him, her nose wrinkling just the way he loved. She had forgotten about the cowboy's as soon as she had seen Jed and now she turned so that she could introduce them. A puzzled frown crossed her face as she realized that they were gone.

"Oh, they hightailed it on out of here, darlin. They didn't want to face any whoopin' for manhandling my woman like that."

"Uh, Jed," Abbey chuckled. "You've been in Texas for all of about 15 minutes are you going to continue to talk like John Wayne the whole weekend?"

"Why, does it turn you on?"

"John Wayne doesn't, but Jed Bartlet in a Stetson does set my heart to racing."

Just as Jed bent to kiss the tip of Abbey's nose he felt two little missiles hit him from behind with a loud shriek.

"DADDY!"

Jed turned, his grin growing wider as he saw that Isabelle had let his children go.

"Hey little cowgirl." He lifted Aislinn high in the air holding her over his head.

"Uh, Jed, she just ate a hot dog" Abbey warned him. "Unless you want it all over you I'd put her down."

Knowing his daughter's proclivity for vomiting on him, Jed quickly settled her against his chest.

"Up, up" Nicholas demanded as he tugged on Jed's jeans. Jed handed Aislinn over to Abbey and bent to pick up his son and give him a big noisy bear hug and kiss.

"Well, now that I've found all of you, how about we mosey on over to our front row seats so we can watch some barrel racing."

"Horsy?" Aislinn asked. She'd been promised horses.

"Oh yeah, sunshine." Jed assured her. "You'll see lots of horsies."

"Well then let's go." Abbey looked up at Jed. "I'll mosey, if you can show me how."

"It's easy, darlin'. You just gotta pretend like you had a long hard ride the night before----"

"On a horse?" Abbey teased.

"I can think of a ride that might prove to be a little more fun."

"Why, Mr. President. I do believe that your mind is in the gutter."

"Only when it comes to you, baby." He gave her a discreet pinch on the ass when what he really wanted to do was slide the palms of his hands over her tight round little butt that was displayed so enticingly in her form fitting jeans and give her a good squeeze.

****

The First Couple made their way through the livestock barns on the way to their seats The children were fascinated by the longhorn cattle that were so different from the smaller black and white dairy cows they were familiar with from their New Hampshire farm.

They stopped at a demonstration of ranch doctoring, pausing to watch the branding of a group of calves. The bawling cries and the thrashing of the calves proved to be too much for the kids.

"Mumma…Mumma" Aislinn cried, lifting her arms for Abbey to pick her up while Nicholas buried his face against Jed's leg.

"I don't blame you sweetheart," Abbey wrinkled her nose against the stench of burning flesh and tucked her daughters head under her chin." I don't like watching that either."

At the next exhibition where the calves were being inoculated one of the cowboy's approached Abbey.

"You're a doctor, right, Mrs. Bartlet?"

It was on the tip of Abbey's tongue to say that she used to be, instead she looked him in the eye. "Yes."

"You want to give it a try?" He handed her a syringe.

"Oh, I don't know. I've never inoculated cattle before."

"There's nothing to it, much easier than people I'm sure."

"Go for it, Abs" Jed grinned, a squirming Nicholas wiggling in his arms.

"What do you think, honey?" Abbey looked down at her daughter not wanting to upset her any further. "Do you think mommy should give that calf a shot?"

Aislinn looked at the syringe and shook her head negatively.

"It will keep the calf from getting sick. You don't want the calf to get sick, do you?"

"No." Aislinn shook her curls again.

"So, what do you think? You think mommy should give it a shot to keep it from getting sick?"

Aislinn looked torn for a moment then nodded that it was okay with her. Abbey transferred her to Jed's other arm and made her way into the stall.

Beaming with pride, a child in each arm, Jed watched Abbey step over piles of cow manure to set to inoculating the five calves they had presented her with. As she finished the last calf she lifted the Stetson from her head and fanned herself with it. It was hot, dusty and gritty in the barn and more than a little stuffy.

"I'm a bit spoiled" she told the cowboys and the two journalists who had been allowed to follow them through the barns. " I usually do this kind of work in quiet air conditioned conditions."

"And I'm sure it smells better," one of the cowboy's grinned as he handed her a bandanna so she could wipe her sweaty brow.

"Oh, just a little." She smiled as she handed the cowboy his bandanna back.

As she started to leave the stall the people who had been watching the demonstration began to clap and cheer for her. Abbey gave a quick little bow and exited the stall to where her husband stood with her two grinning clapping children. She saw Jed whisper something to them and as she approached they both cried out, "Yay Mommy!"

"Yeah, yay, mommy" Jed squeezed her hand.

"You know they're castrating the young bulls calves in the next barn," said the cowboy with a big grin. "Want to give that a try?"

"Don't give her any ideas, she doesn't need to be knowing how to do that." Jed shuddered.

"It's not that hard, sweetheart" Abbey whispered in his ear. "I'm a surgeon, I could probably figure it out."

"I'll keep that in mind," he grimaced.

"Daddy" Aislinn said impatiently tugging on his ear. "Canny, canny."

"Canny?" Abbey asked.

"I…uh, promised to get them both cotton candy to eat while they watch the rodeo."

"Oh you did, did you? Well, then you can be the one to chase them around when the sugar high sets in."

"Don't I always?"

"You really want me to answer that?" Her eyes narrowed.

"No, I guess I don't." He slid an arm around her waist. "Come on, I'll spring for one for you too."

"I can steal some from the kids. I'd prefer a candy apple."

"A candy apple it is then. Let's go."

****

Back at the ranch the fundraiser was being held as an outdoor barbecue. Tents had been erected and a band played in one while another held long tables of food. Not far from the tents beef dripping with barbecue sauce rotated on the open pits.

It was early and only one of the guests of honor was present. Abbey, wearing a midnight blue strapless taffeta gown was holding down the court while Jed met inside with some big money oilmen. She was chatting with former Governor Ann Richards and a couple of local congressmen when she felt her husband's presence. She could actually feel his eyes burning into her back and the small hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She turned slowly knowing all the while that he was watching her, the pull of his connection too strong to deny. Sure enough, all the way across the dance floor that had been laid out, Jed stood in his tuxedo. Across the crowd their gazes met and held, unwavering, despite the presence of so many people.

Abbey noticed that a heavy set man stood beside Jed puffing on a cigar and talking a mile a minute but Jed was all but ignoring him, his sharply intense eyes only on her. They'd been with the children all afternoon and he'd been in meetings later. There hadn't been any private time for them and it had been had been so long since she had physically been in his presence, felt the magnetism of his charisma, the pull of their mutual attraction. Abbey found herself, right there on the dance floor, aching to feel his arms around her, to lay her head against his chest and feel his heartbeat while he danced with her. To lay underneath his stronger body and feel him pounding away between her legs. She longed to feel the utter perfection of being satiated and wrapped in his arms listening to the low murmur of his beautiful voice telling her how much he missed her, how much he needed her. And yet, it wasn't just the sex that she missed when they were apart, it was his complete absence in AND out of her bed, the feeling that a part of her was missing and the need to be whole again.

She took a quick swallow from her glass of champagne and on suddenly shaky legs she started across the dance floor her eyes never leaving his….

TBC...

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