It had been a good start to the year, busy but when wasn’t it up here at the ranch. After his run in with the angel, there’d been someone sitting on the back of his mind as he worked. Like hell was he going to try and get their attention again, especially if they had their own work to do down here. But even just catching a glimpse of them on the edge of the forest, or around the animals brought a quiet smile that didn’t seem to fade. At the moment it could really just be infatuation, nothing more than a harmless crush. The old cowboy didn’t believe in the fairytale of love at first sight, and a hook up during rut did not equate romance. Good lord did the heavenly creature send the warm and fuzzies through his chest though…

After a good long day of throwing hay, picking up grain for the cattle and working the colts he had in, he settled down for the day to finish up paperwork. Unlike the stiffs who worked actual office based positions, like little politicians of the church, he didn’t have much he actually had to do. It was just charting and making sure he had any major mishaps marked down. Like there was a heifer who managed to cut up her leg on the barbed wire, which was taken care of rather quickly, and there was a chicken who seemed to have picked up bumble foot. That was solved with starting a series of baths that will have to continue through the week till the foot was better. Good for the bird, not great for whoever had to sit and hold a pissed off silkie hen.

As he sat in his office, the sun long since set, the room had lit up with low warm glow of amber lights and the red of an old bundle of chili-peppers he had gotten from a rodeo out in Arizona. The old radio that sat on his upper shelf, above the various ribbons, trophies and braided strands from horses long gone played out the old country music station that he never changed from. In the last 20 years he hadn’t moved from that station, originally it was the new country hits station, but something in 2001 changed country music from romance, ballads, stories of struggles and outlaws to yee-haw patriotism, guns, trucks, sex and booze. While a few sure were okay, many ended up becoming repeats of the last hit and moved away from the roots that grew the genre in the first place. Once they started getting rid of the steel guitar all together and mixing in white boys trying to ‘rap’ he stopped being interested. There was a difference between dropping bars and poorly spitting lines, and even a good ol’ country boy could recognize when music of a different genre was done well. Even if he didn’t listen to it all that often.

He couldn’t help but sing along under his breath as he finished up his order sheet for this up coming Friday. When Jeremiah finally stood from his desk, his knees popping as he straightened up fully, the familiar twang of Boot scootin’ boogie played out into the office. His big ears pinned back as a lopsided smile crossed his face.

Gathering the papers in their respective folders, the ghoul quietly picked a subtle dance as he moved to the clear bins on the wall. His boots scuffled along to the music, the familiar tapping was a pattern that anyone who knew how to line dance would pick up quickly. And certainly someone did pick up on it. While the old cowboy was distracted, putting away his folders and continuing the line dance to himself with a quiet grin, Jubilee had made her appearance. She was always around, his faithful assistant, the ol’ miss of the ranch, affectionately occasionally called Mama considering she wrangled the rest of the boys when Jeremiah was busy.

The white and brown spotted ghoul found herself standing in his offices door way with a smile on her lips as she watched him dance. His faded boot cut blue jeans hugged his frame just right, his tail hanging loose through the custom stitched hole that peaked from just under the dark umber leather belt that wrapped around hips. The teal cotton button up with a white and maroon stripe down his left side followed his movements with ease, threatening to pull itself untucked from his jeans. Messy brunette curls, pulled back in a red hair tie, bounced on his back and shoulder as he kept himself entertained. Her smile grew wider with every heel toe tap and follow through until he finally made the turn that put her in his line of sight.

“Lord have-“ he jumped backwards, hand on his chest as the other fell to his desk, bracing himself for a moment. “How long have you been standing there Jube’s, good god.”

“Long enough to know that you seem to in a good mood tonight. What’s got you dancin’?” She hummed, pushing off the frame.

“Nothin’ just in a good mood is all.” His ears perked forward to pay attention to her, one flicking back as he caught the end of his song and the radio hosts voice cutting through. “You need something?”

“Mm nope. Just heard a familiar sound thought I could come check it out before headin back to the main building.” Chewing on her lip she watched him straighten back up, running his hand over his hair. “Haven’t seen you in this good of a mood in a long while. Who’s the lucky doe or buck?”

His eyes flickered away as she asked, face tinting pink as ran his tongue against the inside of his bottom lip.

“No one, it has just been a good week so far. Not many issues I can complain about.” His answer, though even, was not convincing. Her brows jumped up as she looked over at him, that gentle gaze glazing over to call his bullshit.

“Mmhmm. 18 of us here, and we all know the smell of sex. Especially when it happens to come from the bosses office who usually is alone all month. You ain’t one to just get a hooker so someone special had to catch your attention.” The intro chords to Neon moon started and she walked herself closer, grabbing his hand and pulling it to her hip. The other naturally followed to find her free hand, the pair following a two step swing routine that they had done multiple times before, slowed down for the tempo of the song.

“There ain’t nothing going on, i am as boring as always.” He purred, knowing full well she didn’t believe him. “And if there was something happening, what makes you think I’d let you know?”

She pressed her hips closer to his form while they dance, breathing in the warm musk that radiated from his shirt. There was a strict division in their relationship. She would love to curl up in his arms, be his girl, but Jubilee knew that when it came down to it she wouldn’t be all he needed in his life. And Jeremiah was hardheaded, as much as he adored the woman in his arms some lines couldn’t be crossed. She was his hand first, assistant second and he wouldn’t risk their decades of friendship for a relationship with no promise of ending well.

“Well, something about 75 years of working together says that I should be close enough to get some secrets out of you.”

“You’re right, 75 years should get you some secrets.” He smirked as he watched her look up expectantly, those hazel eyes narrowing as he settled on silence. Swatting his chest, she sucked her teeth and shook her head.

Laughing, he swung her out before pulling her back in, wrapped in his arms before dipping her. Jubilees own laughter joined in, wrapping her tail along side his as she was pulled back up.

“Oh you old men and keeping secrets. I ain’t asking for a kiss and tell, just need to know if there’s gonna be a jealous party~”

As the song faded out, his ears fell, head cocking to the side with quiet contemplation. He didn’t actually know. He hadn’t talked to them much more than a passing hello, how are you since their little ‘meeting’. Didn’t have time too, that and well how do you approach the subject of hitting on an angel intentionally.

“My goodness there is someone on your mind, look at you Jer~ I knew you’d find someone to be smitten over.” She sounded proud, trying to step away as if that was her cue to leave him be considering how possessive people got these days. But his hand slipped from her hip to her lower back as he brought her back in, those barred pupils drifting back down to his closest friend.

“Now where do you think you are going Mama? I ain’t done with you, thought you was lookin for some gossip.” She rolled her eyes as her hand returned to his shoulder, as Amarillo by Morning played her head came to rest on his chest, mindful of her horns and all. “Can’t rightly say I know how I feel about… them.”

“Well what’s happened between y’all?” Her voice was soft as she swayed with him, closing her eyes as she breathed in his scent. “I mean what has happened that makes you feel this way that is, cause you don’t usually catch feelings for anyone."

"Nothing major... He uh distracted me and I fell off a horse, fixed up my bruise and well-" she could hear the muted laugh that echoed in his broad chest. "I ain't going to share the details of that but you can guess what happened. I suppose it is easier to say that I know how I feel but I am none to sure what the depth of that feeling is. Nothing but a harmless little crush right now."

"We both know you don't get harmless little crushes, when you like someone  it sticks around until you decide what that feeling really is."

Shrugging, he watched the room as they slowly danced around it, humming along to its lyrics. Jeremiah wasn't really sure how he felt. Again it could genuinely be a flurry of infatuation, a little flutter of the heart because of a creature who both scared and awed him. Could be left over lust after finally getting to intimate with another being, after all there was always that little bit of attachment that got placed on a person once he fucked them. He felt guilty about it, but thats also why he almost never slept with others unless he was really into them or he thought they would be around for a while.

"I know Jubes. I'm hoping maybe it is just a little bit of infatuation and nothing more, doubt they would want to be 'round someone like me considering who they are..." Fuck even with what they are. A ghoul should not have been allowed to touch an angel, let alone find themselves allowed to lay with an angel like that. While Jeremiah did not consider himself that much of a sinner, rarely leaning into his born sin of wrath even, but he was still a being of hell and a resident of the satanic ministry. He was by no means a 'pure' soul, and having the privilege of even laying a finger on their body was more than he felt he deserved.

"What? Find yourself wrangling one of the cardinals? Perhaps a big fish with an Emeritus?" She teased, pulling her head back to see his brows had furrowed, eyes pointed out the window towards the forest that rested outside. "See something?"

"Nah, just looking..." Hoping they would cross past his window again really. "No, none of them. They are all shackled up someone any how, and would be a conflict of interest to date my bosses."

"Doesn't help you've seen them all grow up and have met their great grandma either."

"No, that does not help." Crinkling his nose, he untangled his tail as his mind continued to get lost in thought. What if it was more than just passing fancy? What if the smile he got when ever he saw Raphael wouldn't ever go away, and that he found himself longing for the angels presence more? He was a gunslinger from the wrath ring, an earth ghoul cowboy who walked the earth from a time long gone. He was a relic, no one yearned like he would and he doubted a heavenly host would crave love like he did.

A pat on his cheek brought his attention back, those large ears perking forward as he looked down once more.

“Quit over thinkin Jer, whatever happens happens.” With the change in song, she slipped from his arms, grabbing his hands as she pulled on him to move for a swing dance. "Hey, sing with me yeah? I have to head down after this one."

Cocking his head he listened for a moment till he recognized the chorus, rocking back on his heels as he pulled her back in.

" If I had two dozen roses, and an older bottle of wine, If I really could've hung the moon would it change your mind?" He started in, his singing voice a warm tenor that had no problem slipping into some of the lower notes with a soft vibrato.

"If I could cry a little harder, and get a little less sleep at night, if I had two dozen roses, would it change your mind?" Jubilee joined in, her voice a bright alto that rang like a bell as she sang.

Their duet carried through the barn as they danced together, and to any outsider it would seem like the perfect couple there in that office. To those around the ranch it was just another night with them. By the time she finally left, the moon risen in the night sky, Jeremiah had let his hair down and shut off the radio. Sauntering out from his office, he found the ladder that lead up to the hay loft and climbed up. While he did technically have a room in the ministry if he wanted it, he never used it. Staying at the barn let him be close by if anything happened to any of the animals and allowed him to react fast.

Past the bales of hay and back behind the little wall that sectioned off his room in the loft, the ghoul unbuttoned his shirt slowly and dropped it from his shoulders to leave in his little laundry basket. Rough hands slid down the patch of silky fur that covered his chest, running over the various scars that covered his stomach as he chewed on the inside of his lip. Kicking off his boots, he set them at the foot of his nest of hay that was covered in a few thick navajo saddle blankets that he had been carrying with him since his days as a hand on the cattle drives. The jeans came off next, neatly being folded over the saddle rack that he kept up there incase there was ever a saddle he needed to do repairs on. With a reluctant huff he fell back into his blankets, wrapping his tail down his leg  to keep it out of the way as he looked around for the quilt he was given as a gift, made from all the t-shirts he had gotten from various events across the states. Finding it tucked along the wall, he pulled it free and over himself, resting his arm behind his head then as he shifted his gaze up to the ceiling. The hand that had already been wandering down his body came to rest hooked on the band of his underwear.

There was the hope he could just pass out, because if he didn't he would be stuck thinking for the next few hours in silence until he did. Not that he minded being lost in thought, many things took him down paths of thought that were comforting. Like the musty, fragrant florals of alfalfa hay that would remind him of the harvest season that he spent in the north country with the Hardy family. He spent time helping them bail and throw hay for a few months until his truck had been fixed enough that he could get back to the Ministry. The sounds of the animals in the yard could take him back to his years on the Texas plains, sitting horse back while watching the livestock for the night, the cool breeze on his back while the world passed him by till dawn came. But if Texas came to mind, then so did the trail, and the little boom towns where lively saloons became their momentary repreaves from weeks of loneliness. And with those memories, a stirring in his loins, an ache in his heart and guilt came swirling to the surface from years of traveling between the bars and hotels.

One saloon in particular came to mind though most often, up in Colorado at the base of the rockies where lupine bloomed and big game roamed free.

Madam Julia Berneutte and her painted ladies of the night were popular with his company. The blonde woman was always dressed in red, and when she saw him darken her door step no other man would draw her attention. Though they would only stop for a few nights, those few nights would give him all he needed. Julia would hold him close, combing his hair as they sat together in the shelter of her room. On the rare occasion that they did get intimate, their souls intertwining with each-other’s for those few hours he had her, his world felt full. Like it was perfect right there… right then.

He knew they would never risk a child, and she was the cleanest madam this side of the Mississippi. They had spent days together in the lush green field’s, swimming in the nearby stream fed lake, sitting out under the stars. Julia never saw a demon like the others did. He wasn’t a monster, just a strange man with horns and a tail and a heart bigger than the rest. With her he found heaven, watching her broken smile in the flicker of lantern light and experienced heartache every-time he left town, turning back to see her in the street to watch him go.   

But he knew better than to fall in love with a Saloon madam.

Despite his loyalty to her and her to him, and their plans to someday leave that life and homestead for a while, reality caught up as it always did. When you live as a professional prostitute, venereal diseases were a very common risk of the trade. One day Syphilis came to town, and his Julia was the target of its wrath. For months as he travelled back and forth, he watched her decline, kicking himself for not being fast enough to take her away from that life.

Those final days were the worst, the last ride of the season brought them through and he stayed behind to watch her go. He sat by her side, watching as the light faded from his Julia only to be the one to pull the blanket over her head and wait for then undertaker to come in the morning. Using the pay he was going to use to get them a patch of land to build a home, he buried her proper with a real tombstone and met up with his company.

While he never stopped in that town again, people shared whispers of the cowboy and his collared dove.

Great. Now he made himself sad and horny. Guess he knew what was going to knock himself out tonight.

It wasn’t hard to remember the gentle curve of her hips, or the softness of her weighted breasts. The ring of her laughter was still fresh in his ears just as the feeling of her fingertips along his spine crawled through his nerves. Unlike others who likely used their devices for porn and entertainment he had years of memories of the very few he ever laid with to fill his mind. What more did he need?

Her soft skin often smelled like lilac, and her blonde hair hung in gentle ringlets. By god her touch was like silk when she found her self along the ghouls large frame, the rough hands of a working woman able to masterfully handle him as she pulled weak panting from his lips. His own calloused hands were never able to match her skill, but they didn’t need to when he remembered in vivid detail the sensation of her body accepting him in. The warmth and wetness that enveloped his cock was more than enough to bring a man to his knees.

His hand moved along his shaft as he thought back to having her beneath his body, her moans filling the air just as his stifled whimpers did now.

But as he thought of Julia, and of the madam in Montana who worked men with just her words, and of the señorita’s in Texas who giggled at his charm, a new face joined in…

He could hear Raphaels whimpers over them all, taste him on his tongue and feel the warmth of the heavenly host on his skin…

Oh that did something to him too. He felt everything tighten a lot faster than it normally did, his moan broke as he pushed his quilt out of the way. What usually spanned a good 45 minutes was cut to 20. The world stole the air from his lungs as he bucked his hips up, his load falling across his chest as the sun burst in his loins.

“Shit… that was faster than usual…” he murmured under his breath as he panted slowly. “God damn…”

Reaching for a clean rag from his nest-side table, he cleaned himself up and laid himself flat once more. Finally sleep tugged at the ghouls mind to lull him into the uncertainty of tomorrow.