The Cowboy Ch. 01

It didn't start innocently at all. We met online at a swingers' site. He watched me on my web cam as I sang out loud and made a general ass of myself with my hundreds of viewers. I glanced indifferently at the numerous messages as they flowed across my screen; most were requests to see my breasts, with the occasional eccentric request to see my feet. His message stood out in its simplicity.

>>Howdy.

He left that message for me, and nothing more. To be honest, I was completely shocked that it was not immediately followed by a request for a glimpse of my nude body. I checked his profile and suppressed a laugh. His cockiness rang out in his self-proclaimed cheesy title. "I'm a hard-working man. Let me work you hard!" I glanced at the picture, taking in the young, blond, rugged looking cowboy that had messaged me. Chuckling to myself, I let the mouse hover over the Decline button before impulsively clicking on Accept.

"Howdy yourself," I said as I entered the private chat room.

>>How are you doing tonight?

> I'm doing great...sitting here singing to myself as usual. Can't you hear me?

>>Actually no. This computer has no speakers.

> Bummer...So what are you up to?

>>Working right now. Was just about to head back to the office. I'll be able to get on the computer again either late Sunday or early Monday. Can I catch you then?

> Sure....what's your name again?

I kept glancing back at the message window for a few minutes, but didn't get a response. I figured he was gone already, and went about trying to shake my numerous viewers off so I could shut down my camera for the night. I brushed my teeth and went to bed as usual. I heard nothing from him until about a week later. I had almost forgotten about him in the course of studying for finals, and then he surprised me. I checked my offline messages after returning from my college campus for the last time that semester.

>>I'm Mike. >>Hey...are you up? >>Well, I'm about to get offline. I'm off for the rest of the week, so I won't be online till at least next Sunday night/Monday morning. If you want to, you can call me on my cell this week. Daytime hours are best. It's ok to call Saturday, I'll be working but I can talk while I work. 555-8962. Hope to hear from you. -Mike

I replied with a smile and laid down to take a nap. I'd managed to get myself into an incredibly odd sleep schedule where I was staying up most of the night, getting up late in the day, and taking a nap in the early evening. When I awoke several hours later to the sound of canned laughter on TV, I decided to eat and check my messages on the computer again. A message was flashing on my screen. I checked the time and saw that it had been left for me about fifteen minutes earlier. I didn't know if he'd still be on.

>>Howdy. You online?

> Yes...just about to clean my place.

>>Sounds like fun. I did the same thing today, so don't feel bad. J Then I got tired of cleaning and went shopping.

> Must be nice! I have no money currently. So.....what'd ya buy me?

>>Well, I really shouldn't have spent that much money. I bought a whole lot of ammo for an upcoming training session for the new guys. We're gonna do it at night, strobes in the eyes, shoot/no shoot situations. It's gonna be great! I have a feeling a lot of the guys are gonna shoot the poor lady with the ketchup bottle though.

> Fun stuff. What branch?

>>Former Navy. Private body guard/security supervisor now.

I smiled.

>>So what part of town do you live in?

> Are there really separate parts of town? Hehehe...

>>Well, there's north, south, east, and west....lol

> West.

>>I used to live on the west side of town too....a little house on Garden St. close to the highway. You live close to there?

> Yes.

>>I always hated that town. I'm soooo glad to have finally gotten out of there.

> I actually like it here.

>>What about it do you like?

> Well, it's a small town, but it's close enough to a big city when I need to get away. It's still far enough to where I don't have to deal with all the people and the traffic. Plus, if I wanted to buy property, there's loads of it out here for cheap. That shit would cost four times as much in the city! Plus, this town is expanding now.

>>Yeah...I was in town a couple days ago and noticed that.

> Yep...we've got a Best Buy, a movie theater, and even a Starbucks now. Pretty soon we'll actually have a good Mexican restaurant!

>>What? You mean you don't like Pancho's??

> HELL no! Ewwwwww....

>>Damn...I remember when there was nothing north of Wal-Mart. Now there's a back road from there to everywhere in town! There's even a road between there and the mall that didn't exist when I lived there. It's a back door. >>I love back door. >>In the immortal words of Jim Morrison, I'm a back door man! Lol :-P

> Damn...I missed the beginning of this show on Comedy Central.

>>Oh...the Last Laugh? I wanted to watch that too, but I'm at work right now.

> What time do you get off?

>>Ummmm....6 am. Lol.

> I think there's another replay of it after this one's over.

>>Hmmm...why'd you ask what time I get off?

> So you could see the show, but you'll still be working.

>>Ahh...ok. Forgive me...I'm tired. It's been a long day. Lol.

> It's cool.

>>What's that icon/picture thingy I can see in the window? Looks like you have blue hair and black cat looking ears on your head.

> My Halloween costume. I like to call it the gothic sex kitten ;)

>>So it was a slutty/sexy cat costume?

> Yes.

>>You have EXTREMELY sexy eyes and lips. ;-)

> Why thank you J

>>You're welcome. Quick question...when is your birthday?

> December 1st.

>>Happy belated birthday! So do you have a job?

> Nope, not at the moment.

>>So all you do is go to school and sit around all day? Must be nice! Lol...you go to school 5 days a week?

> I'm actually done with the semester right now. And it's not nice...I quit because my boss was an ass.

>>Oh? Where'd you work?

> A little Mexican joint around here. Why?

>>Just thought you looked a little familiar...thought I might have seen you before. But I don't eat a whole lot of Mexican food.

I was quickly getting tired. We had been chatting for a few hours by this point. My exams had exhausted me more than I thought possible.

>>You going to take a nap now?

> Yep. Been a long day.

>>I know. Gonna be a long night, too... (at least for me) >>Hey this is kinda off the wall, but you wanna get lunch some time this week on one of my days off? I know it's sudden, but what the hell...

> Hehehe....I don't have a problem, just as long as you know up front that I've been cut off by my husband.

>>Awwww...now that's too bad. It's not a problem though. I would still enjoy lunch with a beautiful, intelligent woman.

> Hehehe.... J So what day were you thinking?

>>How about Wednesday or Thursday?

> Well....I was thinking about leaving for Houston on Tuesday so I can visit my family.

>>Well, how about today? (technically Monday) I don't have to be at work until late tonight.

> Is that enough notice for you?

>>Oh yeah. I like to be spontaneous. And this....well...it's very spontaneous ;)

> Only problem is I'm broke until I pick up my final paycheck on Tuesday. We can wait until Wednesday if you'd like.

>>Not a problem...it's my treat. I couldn't let you pay...I'm a gentleman. Well...sometimes...

> I don't want to do that to you though.

>>Why? I don't mind...I've got plenty of money.

> Grrrrrrrrr......

>>Ooooooh....she's growling at me now! It's really ok. I was planning on paying when I first asked.

> Hehehe...well, I just hate not being able to pay. Yes, I'm one of those argumentative women.

>>Well, I'm one of those men that insists on paying, so there. :-P

> *sigh* OK...I suppose so :)

>>So today....what's your favorite restaurant? And what time do they open?

I quickly gave him directions to my favorite restaurant, the local steakhouse. We chatted idly for a few minutes longer. He wanted to know small details, like if the restaurant had a formal or casual dress code. I asked him to give me his cell phone one more time so that I could call him when I arrived. I promised him that I would arrive before him unless he drove like Jeff Gordon. From Dallas to where I live is a little over an hour's drive as it is, but I can usually make it in 45 minutes. When he gave me his number, he asked for my name. I hesitated for a second again, and then gave him the name I had concocted for my online personality, telling him I would give him my real name if I was impressed the next day. With that, I bid him goodnight, already excited about what might lie ahead...