Chapter 3

Thanks to SoCalOvid for his patience with my writing, and his willingness to work with me.

'What's going on; and why am I beginning to feel happy again?' Sam asked herself, watching Lynn play with Major.

It didn't make any sense to the young woman. Major would have normally had a stranger on the ground by now with his playfulness. Not so with Lynn. Major behaved just as he would with Sam. While his improved behavior made her happy, it also perplexed her. Major, was a one-woman dog — her dog. Why would he relate to Lynn like he did to her?

Sam was also mystified by how contented she felt with Lynn around. She couldn't put her finger on it. In the background she heard a noise; someone was calling her.

"Sam? Sam, you okay?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry Lynn. I guess I zoned out wondering why Major doesn't have you on the floor." Sam was very curious what her dog was thinking when he looked at Lynn.

"You mean he really does knock people down?" Lynn's eyes opened wide looking at the big dog with awe.

"Oh yeah, he does." The black sheepdog looked at Sam, then back to Lynn. "For some reason Major doesn't want to use you as a chew toy. I can only guess it's because he is scared to hurt you, or he doesn't know what to make of you."

She giggled when Lynn began turning red.

"Major; pay no attention to her, you are the perfect gentlemen," Lynn replied holding the canine's head with both hands gazing into the chestnut eyes. Silently he pondered a more important subject, 'It's time to find out why you are upset my dear woman.'

Lynn looked up at his new friend, "Fair enough Sam, is that all I am? A chew toy? Is this how you always treat guests in your home?" Lynn stared at her feigning an anger he really didn't feel.

"What? Lynn, I was just kidding; can't you take a joke? I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Sam was taken aback by Lynn's seemingly harsh comment.

Lynn straightened up and tousled his shoulder length hair. He looked up at her and with touching concern he smiled at her saying, "I know; care to tell me what's bothering you?"

Sam took a deep breath; she didn't want to discuss last night's debacle.

"That's really none of your business Lynn," Sam bored into his blue eyes, with a 'don't go there' look.

Lynn unexpectedly took up the challenge, "Don't play the 'none of my business card' with me Sam." Lynn surprised at his tone gave it right back. "We've shared a lot with each other already. I want to be your friend, and friends help friends. You're a good person. I know it, and your dog knows it too," Lynn pointed over at Major.

"We know too much about each other to be shy at this point. So quit being a proud butch, and share your troubles with your friends; let us help." Lynn sat down on the sofa looking at Sam with a doting expression. Almost immediately Major jumped into his lap, getting as much of his body onto Lynn as possible.

Lynn began to fuss; Major was getting hair all over his outfit!

"OMG! My lint roller is going have to work overtime when I get home. Look at all this dog hair I'm getting on my beautiful pants, and shirt." Rolling his eyes he brushed the shirt for emphasis, "Sam what are you going to do with this ... this ... animal," patting the big dog on the head, looking up at Sam with the most pitiful expression on his face that he could muster.

Sam laughed hard seeing all of Major's seventy five pounds curled up on Lynn's tiny lap; she howled louder listening to Lynn whine about his clothes. Then with the timing of the perfect straight man, Major let his long tongue drop down the side of his mouth. He looked up at his mistress, cocking his head he gave her that, "Who me?" look. Sam staggered back grabbing a chair from the dining room. She sat down holding her stomach, she was laughing so hard.

Sam looked at the sight on the sofa and wiped her tearing eyes. "Okay you win. I can't keep anything from you two ... mennn," a fake look of exasperation crossed her face. "Thanks for the butch comment too; I want you to know I'm a 'soft butch'," she said as she coyly batted her brown eyes at him, "and don't you forget it, my little femme' friend."

Lynn giggling at her comment, thought how much he liked this 'soft' butch. Lynn had felt guilty for leaving the bar so abruptly, especially after she provided him with some much need solace. Sam, despite her own lover's recent raw betrayal, was still strong enough to help him, a stranger, dealing with his pain. At that moment Lynn knew he would move on and find happiness again. Overwhelmed with emotion, he had to leave quickly. A few hours later he regretted his cowardly decision. He was glad he bumped into her at the mall and was able to reconnect with her.

''Femme'! I'll show you femme', ' he thought with glee.

Lynn, in his best girlish voice; "You got it 'butchy', I am woman, hear me roar. So my dear; 'Sil vous plaît, dites-moi ce qui sest passé hier soir? Je veux aider.'"

Lynn saw Sam's confused face and smiled. He gazed deep into her brown eyes and with heartfelt sincerity as well as a touch of humor, he calmly answered her puzzled look: "Oh sorry, my Française is poor ... Sam, please tell me what happened last night? I want to help."

Her resolve not to share her problems had gone with Lynn's genuine desire to help. Sam took a deep breath beginning her tale.

"I had a date last night. I met Claudia at the mall after you left the other day. We walked around the mall a little. I liked her looks, so I asked her if she was busy Friday night. She said no, so I asked her if she would like to go with me to the ball game.

"I should have known better when Claudia replied, 'you don't have to do that, why don't you just come over to my place so we can get to know each other better?' I told her I had already purchased tickets, and didn't want them to go to waste. Claudia shrugged her shoulders, and gave me her address and phone number.

"I picked her up, hoping to have a fun time with her at the game. Claudia spent more time looking at me than at the game. I tried talking with her, but she just seemed bored. Afterwards, I drove her back to her apartment. I was disappointed; she was so pretty but there didn't seem like there was much of a connection between us. I started to say goodnight when Claudia surprised me by asking if I would like a nightcap.

"In my naïve little mind, I thought she wanted to get to know me better in a quieter setting. I accepted her offer, and we went up to her apartment. Once in her living room, Claudia motioned me over to her couch. She asked if I wanted a drink; I said water was fine. She walked with a pronounced wiggle into the kitchen, clearly for my benefit. I began feeling very uneasy about this.

"A few minutes later I heard an, 'A-hem, ' and when I looked up my eyes nearly popped out. Claudia was wearing a sheer yellow nightgown, which left nothing to my imagination. Her breasts were nicely sized, with big areolas and pencil erasers for nipples. She definitely got my engine running.

"I drank in her beauty. At first my eyes were fixed on the thin fabric hanging invitingly down her front, her hard nipples created a trail which I followed down to her unshaved..."

"Humph," Lynn rasped, "Sam I like you, I like you a lot. But please spare me anymore bodily details, okay?"

"Sorry," Sam apologized, turning a little red. Then she picked up the story again.

"Before I knew it, Claudia was next to me on the couch, rubbing her body against mine, trying to kiss me. As infatuated as I was with her, I immediately stood up and told her that I don't kiss women in negligees on the first date, and I most certainly am not a one-night stand."

Sam looked directly into Lynn's eyes hoping for a reaction.

Catching an imperceptible nod of agreement, Sam's breathing became more pronounced, inhaling deeply she started the next portion of her story.

"Claudia looked at me like I was the stupidest thing on the planet! She asked me if I found her attractive — which I did. She laughed at me, and didn't believe me when I said I wanted to get to know her first before becoming intimate. Claudia scoffed at me. She said she wasn't interested in getting to know me; it was my hard-body she wanted! She tried kissing me again. I gently pushed her away, and politely asked her to stop.

"Claudia smirked at me as she said, 'sure you do baby, but I know better. Come with me and I'll prove it to you.'

"Grabbing my arm she pulled me towards her bedroom. I jerked away, and started walking towards the front door. I couldn't believe this woman, I tell her no, yet she still comes on to me."

Lynn gently patted Sam on the arm subtly encouraging her to continue. Sam's voice got softer recounting the end of the date.

"Then Claudia really stunned me. She got into my face, bad mouthing me. She called me a bitch, a fucking stupid cunt, and a dim-witted moralistic piece of shit. Remembering my fight with Brittany, I ignored her and just walked out the door. I kept telling myself she's not worth it. My dignity was more important to me than a one-night stand. And she certainly wasn't worth a night in jail either. As I closed the door behind me, I could still hear her ranting."

Sam got louder as she growled, "Driving home, I was pissed. I couldn't believe it. Was I that stupid? I made up my mind after that fucked up evening, I wasn't going to date again for while."

Sam's voice became tentative, "When I woke up this morning, I remembered what happened last night. It bothered me a little — actually a lot. But I went about my business. Early this afternoon, I had just put the ribs into the oven for this evening's barbeque when out of the blue, Alexis popped into my head. Her image hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized for the first time, I may never have anyone to share my life with. I'll be all alone. I began to cry, wasting an entire afternoon wallowing in self-pity. Lynn, I wanted to stop you from coming over, but I didn't have a way to contact you. When you rang the doorbell, Major began barking ... I wasn't going to answer the door. Then you knocked and Major's bark became insistent. Something inside me told me to answer the damn door. I finally opened it, and there you were ... I'm sorry Lynn," Sam began to quietly whimper.

Lynn gently pushed Major off his lap. Lynn got up and walked over to the sad woman. He leaned down and embraced her with a big hug. Sam, sniffling, pushed her head into his chest. She wrapped he wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight.

Lynn surprised at her response calmly began to stroke her short black hair and with a soothing voice said, "I understand Sam. I like to take things slowly too. One-night stands aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Too risky, and not fulfilling; well at least not for me, and I guess for you too."

A big smile of encouragement beamed from his face.