#statesman

If someone had told you a week ago that this is where you be right now, you would have laughed in their face. Your life was set- you had a good job, and the love of your life. Everything seemed to be in place, but here you are, standing in the shadow of the Sunflower Café somewhere outside Wichita, Kansas with no plan or direction, just the nervous, excited butterflies dancing in your belly.

The amber stalks of wheat in the distance dance lazily in the same summer breeze that gently kisses your cheeks. The fields go on as far as your eyes can see in every direction, the land untouched by the sea of progress like the big cities. You can breathe here. This is what the both of you had been missing.

The two of you had a choice to make; north, west or south. The options were endless. Each one presenting its own unique experience, each one representing a fresh start. The world was yours and Jack’s; all you had to do was reach out and grab it.

You were shocked when he came home one day and told you he was done with the Statesman. That was his life, his purpose, but he’d had enough. He was done with bouncing around the country and tracking down bad guys. He was tired and he just wanted to settle down. ‘Agent Whiskey’ was his past…and you were his future.

It took you all of thirty seconds to agree. You hated that he was gone so often, that he put himself in danger for others. You wanted a quiet life where the two of you could just be together without having to worry about anything else.

You didn’t hesitate when he said he wanted to pack the truck and go. Jack had stolen your heart the moment you met, and this was just another adventure for the two of you. It didn’t matter where you were going; He was your home.

Jack smirks as his boots click against the asphalt. He knew this was the right decision. Being part of the Statesman had been a wild ride; one filled with adventure and excitement. That life had given him the kind of adrenaline rush that he’d never find anywhere else, but his last mission had put things in perspective. He’d danced to close to the edge, and it almost cost him everything. He couldn’t risk himself like that anymore now that he found you.

“Surprise!” Jack whispers as he wraps an arm around you from behind.

Your heart drops for a split second. You were so caught up in your own head that you didn’t even hear him walk up. Suddenly, your field of vision is filled with the sunflower he’s holding in front of your face. Your eyes flutter closed as the sweet, grassy aroma fills your nostrils.

“Where’d you find this?”

Jack’s soft chuckle vibrates against your back. He knew they were one of your favorites and judging by the rise and fall of your chest, he’d succeeded in surprising you.

“There was this adorable little girl sellin’ ‘em to fundraise for her school and I couldn’t resist.”

The corner of your mouth lifts into a little smirk of your own. This man was too predictable sometimes.

“You never could resist a pretty face.” you tease.

His arm went tighter around your waist, pulling you snugly against his body. The soft chuckle escalating to a full laugh.

“You know me too well, sugar.”

Your body melts into his as you laugh too. Jack was a flirt through and through, his natural charm always on display. It was like he couldn’t turn it off.

Jack tilted his chin toward the brilliant orb that hung in the cloudless, cerulean sky. He was more than ready for this journey with you. That nagging feeling in the back of his mind is growing quieter with every mile traveled. This was going to be good for the both of you, he believed that with this whole heart. Taking this leap with you was the best thing he’d ever done.

“We should probably head out. We ain’t gonna get anywhere just standin’ in the sun.”

Long, thick fingers lace with yours as he takes long strides to his black Chevy Silverado. He looked different, like a weight had been lifted off him. His shoulders weren’t sagging, and he seemed to stand up straighter. And his smile…that crooked, cocky smirk. That was the smile that made you fall in love with him. How did you not notice the toll his job was taking on him until now? Was he just that good at hiding his pain and his struggle?

That southern gentleman charm is on full display as he opens the passenger door for you and helps you inside. His steps are light as he moves around the front of the truck and hops inside.

He leans over and pecks your lips, his perfectly trimmed mustache tickling you. You smile as he opens the glove box and pulls out a map, spreading it out over the center console. His deep brown eyes find yours and he chuckles quietly, like he knows a secret he can’t wait to share.

“Alright, sugar. We can go anywhere ya want. All ya gotta do is point to a spot on this little map here and that’s where we’re headin’.”

You chew your lip, and you glance over the map. This was a big decision for the both of you.

A soft breath leaves your lips, and you close your eyes. Your heart beats a little faster as you extend your index finger. This was a time to be bold; to take a chance and make a new life for the two of you. The paper crinkles as you connect with the map.

Jack lets out a low whistle and you open your eyes to see where the two of you will end up.

Waco, Texas

“It looks like we’re headed to the Lone Star state, honey. Good choice.”

Jack lifts your hand and places a soft kiss to the back of it. He had given up on love before you came along. He had convinced himself it wasn’t worth it, not after what happened to his wife and unborn child, but you walked into his life like a breath of fresh air. You were sweet and sassy, sensitive and passionate; he didn’t stand a chance.

This was a gamble. Leaving everything and taking off like this was no small risk. He wasn’t sure how the two of you were going to make it; he just knew that he needed a fresh start. Being part of the Statesman had been a hell of a ride, but this last mission had taken so much out of him. Age was starting to catch up with him, some days he felt like a much older man. The adrenaline rush of catching the bad guys had lost its appeal. The rush he wanted now was to make a life with you. You were his home, and he didn’t want to waste any more time on anything else.

“I know we’re takin’ a big risk, sugar, but we’re gonna be alright. We’re gonna make us a place all our own and we’re gonna be happy.”

You smile and cup his cheek. He was impulsive and reckless, and you trusted him with your life.

“I know, baby. Everything’s gonna work out just fine.”

Soft, pouty lips slant against yours. He kisses you slowly, his tongue gently pushing into your mouth. He kisses you like you have all the time in the world. His kiss is honest and soft, filled with unspoken promises.

He pulls away, pecking your lips one more time and smiles against your mouth.

“Ready to hit the road?”

You nod your head. This was going to be the adventure of a lifetime.

Shifting back into the driver's seat, Jack puts the truck in reverse. A minute later, you’re back on that two-lane highway in the middle of nowhere. Little farmhouses jut out here and there among the sprawling fields as you speed past.

You close your eyes as the sunlight streams through the window and warms your skin. Jack laces his fingers with yours and you turn your face to look at him. The two of you don’t need words. This bond between you is stronger than that.

The steady, low rumble of the tires on the road harmonizes with the music on the radio. Your eyelids get heavy, and you drift off to sleep.

You dream of your own little farmhouse. Maybe some horses; maybe a few chickens and a dog. A place where Jack is home every night and the two of you sit on the porch swing; drinking coffee in the morning and watching the sun go down in the evening. You can almost feel the breeze coming through the kitchen window as you’re making dinner and you never have to worry that Jack may not be coming back.

This dream is like heaven; a heaven that you could make a reality. The possibilities are endless.