Chapter 8---

Cord Roberts was practically hit by the square bale of hay that flew across the entryway into the empty stall on the right.

“Whoa what’s that supposed to accomplish?” He stopped and looked sternly at his father. It kind of amused him that he was being stern with his father but according to Cassie it was necessary.

“If you aren’t gonna help get out of the way Son.” Clint groused, as another bale flew into the stall this time accompanied by a groan.

“Yeah throwing your back out will really show Dorian.” Cord smirked.

“Shut the hell up.” Clint ordered.

“No sir,” Cord replied, “I’m my father’s son and I can be just as muley. Now why don’t you tell me what’s goin’ on here DAD.”

“Oh go to hell.” Was the only reply he got from his father who plopped onto a bench and massaged his shoulder.

“Dad are you hurt?” Cord asked walking over and touching his father to gage injury.

“You only call me that when I’m getting a lecture or being hit up for some damn thing…ouch! That hurt!” He tried to pull away.

“Oh quit fussing and let me see if you’re okay. I think you definitely pulled muscles.” Cord replied, “I mean assuming you still have any at your advanced age.”

“Again, go to hell.” His father answered, “Yeah right…. there. Ouch!”

“You’re gonna have to lay off this.” Cord instructed.

“I’ll do whatever I damn well please Cordero.”

“Okay, but hey Joey----did you decide where we should check him in at yet?” He winked at his brother.

“Uh…I hear The Gardens is real nice and he can take a pet.” Joey didn’t miss a beat, “I saw some of the nurses’ aides and let me tell ya….”

“Now you can both officially go to hell.” Clint turned away and walked to the back of the stables.

“Cranky eh?” Joey asked his brother.

“That’s an understatement.” Cord replied. “But I’m aware that CRAMER WOMEN,” spoken loudly, “Can do that to a fella.”

“And from experience I can tell you…..” Joey began.

“Joey I am dead serious boy. Do not talk about my wife like that.” Clint pointed at his son.

“Yes sir,” Joey winked at Cord. Obviously whatever differences they had their father’s feelings were unaffected. “I was only kidding.”

“Kid about your own wife…” Clint advised re-joining his sons. “Oh yes, you don’t have one. Nobody wants you.”

Joey threw a disgusted look to his father and ignored his older brother’s guffaws. “I’ll have you know plenty of women want me.”

Cord couldn’t resist. “Yeah to walk their dogs or change the batteries in their smoke detectors or absolve them of their SINS…”

“Stop it! I hurt my shoulder don’t make me laugh.” Clint corrected them.

They worked in companionable silence and Clint seemed to have recovered. Joey finally broached the subject three beers into their post stable perfection celebration.

“Dad, you know Dorian while being a sneak and kind of lying, in a lie of omission kind of way…” Joey looked him in the eye. “Was trying to take care of us,” he cleared his throat, “In that maddening, control freak way she has of doing things.”

“Huh” was his father’s only reply.

“That’s how Cassie sees it.” Cord piped up.

“Cassie? Oh I’m really interested in how one of Dorian’s girls sees things.” Clint put his boots up and leaned back against the wall.

“Well, I mean she didn’t do it to hurt anybody.” Cord defended.

“Except Mom of course,” Joey reminded his brother.

Cord answered with a look and Joey remembered the mission and rolled his head.

“It’s one hell of a thing.” Clint groused, “To find out that your wife doesn’t trust you.”

“Aw Clint you’re not taking things right. Shouldn’t you be pissed that she went after Viki?” Cord grinned that “I’m not afraid of you” grin his father so enjoyed.

“She’s Dorian son, she’s SUPPOSED to go after Viki. I married the woman knowing full well who she is.” Clint threw his can successfully scoring-- according to Joey 3 points. And reached for another beer, “But the reason she did it is because she couldn’t stand me spending time with Viki. Because,” and he held up his beer, “She doesn’t trust ME.”







Dorian remained fitful for the next few weeks as her husband successfully dodged her at any moment they might be alone and remained in the guest room. She was sick about the whole thing. He could not forgive her for investigating Viki. She knew it. He still loved her and always would and this was the proof in her opinion. She kept busy with the girls and their combined family trying to pretend all was well but it was not. And Dorian Buchanan was NOT patient.

Blair appeared and asked for Clint but receive a raised eyebrow from her Aunt.

“Oh give me a break. He’s letting us bring Arabi over. Poor boy isn’t getting any better and I need somebody who actually knows horses instead of those morons over at the club.”

Starr entered and headed over to the pastries. “Aunt Dorian can I go over and see if Sarah’s around?”

“Certainly,” she smiled at the girl. “So uh, when are you bringing your Stallion over here Blair?”

Blair grinned, “He’s a gelding now. I took good care of him.”

Dorian laughed to spite herself, “Now that’s my girl.”

“Thank you ma’am!” Blair smiled and plopped down on the couch. “Come on it can’t still be that bad.”

“Blair,” She looked at her niece searchingly. “I think my marriage is over.”

“What?” Blair sat up and took Dorian’s hands. “That’s just plain crazy.”

“No it’s not. Clint still loves Viki.” Dorian sat down in the chair across from her niece.

“So what? You still love David, Herb, and Mel….” She ticked them off but Dorian stopped her.”

“He can’t forgive me Blair.” She got up and walked to the fireplace. “Just like every other man I’ve ever loved.”

“What?” Blair was aghast and truly clueless how to help her best friend. “What in the world are you talking about?”

“When they see who I am, you know really. They leave me.” Dorian drew in a shaky breath and nearly fainted when she turned around to see Clint in the doorway.

“Blair, Lee arrived with Arabi about 20 minutes ago.” Clint didn’t break eye contact with Dorian. “You might want to go on out and see that he’s settled.”

“Uh,” she whirled from looking at him to Dorian and back again, “Uh Dorian do you want to go with me?”

“She’s not interested.” Clint answered and Blair knowing when to take a cue, left.

Dorian looked up at her husband. “So how much of that did you hear?”

He scoffed, “Enough to know that you’re full of it.”

“Excuse me?” Dorian was not amused.

“I know you and I have KNOWN YOU for thirty years woman. I know who you really are that’s why I love you. What do you think you going after Viki is some big surprise to me?” Clint poured a cup of coffee. “You know you’re amazingly naïve sometimes.”

“What is THAT supposed to mean?” She asked him not altogether certain she wanted the answer.

“I’m pissed that you, after all we have been through to be together, think that Viki my EX wife is a threat to us.” Clint walked over to her, “That you have so little FAITH in me you think you have to scheme around behind my back to keep me in check” he waved his arm, “oh her in check whatever.”

“That’s not what I was doing!” Dorian defended herself.

“Okay you tell me right here and now that you weren’t in defensive mode when you asked Antonio to look into Viki.” Clint challenged.

“Of course I was defensive. She was coming between us.” She answered.

“No she was not! That couldn’t be further from the truth! I was helping her because of the children we share!” Clint threw his coffee cup and earned a look of disgust from his wife. “You made me do that.”

“Oh please,” Dorian answered. “Clint she is now for all intents and purposes the woman you loved more than anything. She hasn’t broken your heart or betrayed you. None of it, She’s YOUR Viki now.” She walked over to the windows and looked out to see Blair and Starr fawning over their beloved horse.

Clint grew calm. “Maybe so,” he walked up behind Dorian and wrapped his arms around her waist to spite his best efforts not to. “Only problem is now, well now I love MY Dorian.”

Dorian turned to face him. “So wait, you are not angry about me looking into Viki’s alleged death?”

“No, I mean no, yeah, but its par for the course between you two.” He now went to the doorway and looked out. “Dorian I’m not some weak minded fool who can forget what happened between me and Viki. I meant what I said; it’s over. I love you, I want you, and I’m married to you.” Clint looked sternly at her. “And that crap about everybody leaving you? You can just…well forget it and I should get credit for not telling you to shove it--- because I’m not going anywhere.”

Dorian smiled and snuggled into his arms. “Oh God I’ve been so miserable I….”

“Wait, I’m still mad.” Clint dislodged her from his arms. “I don’t like having my own wife distrust me.”

“That wasn’t…” Dorian tried. “Okay, I’ll admit possibly I thought you’d be temped or possibly fall back into…”

“My point exactly,” Clint went outside and waved to the girls. “I have to go see that horse settled for YOUR girls. Who had the nerve to call and whine to me about him when stretch herself was part of the whole sneak around thing.”

“Clint, can’t we just…” His wife tried.

“Later. I’m all talked out for now.” He turned and walked back into the room. “I love you don’t be stupid…or however the song goes. But that doesn’t change the fact that you don’t trust me and I’m damn mad.”

He looked at her sternly and she broke into a smile that completely confused him. He decided not to try and figure it out and left heading the direction of the stables. Starr was yelling something at him and he waved and acknowleged her. She watched him go out to her girls. Of course, he was taking care of them and their beloved Arabi. He loved her and he was angry. She could handle angry. When they were talking as always he couldn’t keep his hands off of her. She went upstairs and got dressed. She had things to do.






“I think she does look like a Cramer don’t you?” Kelly asked.

“Well of course,” Dorian spoke to her littlest familial acquisition. “She’s just beautiful.”

Kelly beamed. “I think she kind of looks like Paul and Mom don’t you?”

Dorian studied the baby seriously. “Paul yes, Melinda, well I guess so….”

Viki entered the room and both women startled, “Dorian who let you into MY home?”

“Viki, it’s my home too?” Kelly seemed as though her Mother in law needed this reminder on a regular basis.

“Kelly, we really should talk about your “guests”. She then stood and watched Dorian holding Faith and seemed content to remain doing so.

“Viki, I’m sorry if my visiting my family is causing you any stress.” Dorian spoke in the most condescending manner she could muster. “If it’s too much for you we can just visit at my home. My husband is always welcoming to MY girls.” She smiled brightly at her life long nemesis.

“Oh can it Dorian!” Viki snarked, “Kelly will you excuse me and your Auntie for a few minutes?”

“Uh well…” Kelly looked at Dorian who was happily cradling Faith in her arms.

“It’s fine Kelly. She’s nodded off again anyway.” Dorian soothed.

“Must be the company,” Viki offered with a triumphant smile. Dorian returned it and handed the baby to Kelly as she dutifully left the room.

“So Viki dear,” Dorian smiled. “Are you feeling better? Oh wait sorry, do you REMEMBER that you haven’t been feeling well?”

“Shut up!” Viki responded angrily.

“Well how do you expect us to talk if I’m not speaking?” Dorian smiled, “Or is this one of your lectures I’m to endure?”

“I just HATE you.” Viki fumed.

“It’s quite mutual. Now what do you want from me?” Dorian asked.

“I want you to leave me and my family alone,” Viki told her.

“I have no interest in you Viki. I am interested in MY family and I’d appreciate it if you’d leave MY family and MY husband alone.” Dorian retorted.

“He’s on to you,” Viki walked closer to her. “He’s figuring it all out and he’ll throw you out with the trash where you belong.”

“Oh really? That’s funny since just this morning…” Dorian began.

“Spare me your lies about how wonderful your marriage is Dorian.” Viki turned and stood just before Dorian. “He married you because he had already made the commitment. Because his word is everything and he was confused.”

“My you are so misinformed.” Dorian was trying not to lash out at her.

“You never have been and never will be good enough for Clint. He’s good Dorian and you are not. He’s beginning to accept that. It’s only a matter of time,” Viki warned her.

Dorian realized she had to leave or she’d make the situation much worse. She walked past Viki and towards the front door. “It’s been interesting as always Viki.”

“I’m right and you know it. You’ll never be good enough Dorian. You’re nothing but a poor excuse. Clint can see that now….” Viki was still talking when Dorian gave into temptation and slammed the front door behind her.






Clint was on the back portico when Dorian pulled up she could see him as she got out of her car. She swallowed her worry walking up to her husband realizing there was smoke coming off of a grill.

“Where is everyone?” Dorian asked.

“Depends upon who you’re looking for but short answer is they’ve all gone out,” Clint replied.

“What are you doing?” She asked looking around the grill in confusion.

“Making dinner….archaic I know but we cave men have learned to like our meat grilled if possible.” He winked at her and broke into an impish grin.

“I’m glad to see you embracing your roots.” She retorted.

“Yeah well, according to Starr I am a lost cause. She was so disappointed in my cell phone.” He as if magic produced a chardonnay for Dorian and she accepted it gratefully.

“Starr?” She was confused and then remembered. “Oh yes, how is Arabi settling in?”

“He’s fine. No thanks to his women folk.” Clint shook his head. “Those two are some serious work I’ll tell ya.”

“And you, what’s the matter with your phone?” Dorian sipped the wine and sat down to watch curiously as he was obviously cooking for them both. She drifted back to Viki’s words that despite her best efforts were eating at her heart. He couldn’t possibly think the way Viki said he did now could he?

“…and it… what the hell is Blue Ray or Razor Blue edge or what the hell do you know what it’s even called?” Clint looked at her and frowned. “You weren’t listening were you?”

“Yes, I was.” She lied, “there’s some defect with your phone.”

“It’s not a defect!” He sat down next to her, “She thinks everybody is supposed to pay for some damn thing so that when you phone rings it plays songs. It’s the most annoying damn thing I’ve ever heard. Have you heard that little girls phone Dorian?”

“Uh hmm,” she replied.

“Okay either we didn’t kind of iron things out this morning or I’m dull as dirt,” He tried.

“Well she is 16.” Dorian replied.

“Dorian what the hell?” He was standing in front of her now and she was shaken from her thoughts.

“I was at Llanfair,” she blurted out. “Viki said, well she was not very nice.”

“Oh hell,” he sighed and sat back down. “Did she make fun of your purse or something?” He grinned just hoping she’d smack him but didn’t get so lucky.

Dorian walked over to the edge of the portico and picked some dead leaves from a fern. “I shouldn’t have investigated her disappearance. I hope you can forgive me and truly understand why I did it.”

He took a drink and leaned back. “I understand completely. You don’t trust me.”

Dorian stopped and looked at him. “I do trust you, with my life, with my girls with everything that matters.”

“But not with Viki?” Clint reminded her but held up his hand. “Let’s just have dinner together all alone like real people and we can fight about it later.”

“You’re just being a Big Buchanan about this.” Dorian informed him.

“You do realize that you are a Buchanan don’t you?” Her husband turned on a grin and walked over to remove the dinner from the grill. “Now you’re far from a BIG Buchanan but you are a Buchanan. So you really need to quit using the name as a slur.”

She smiled and joined him at the table. “I will never relinquish my Cramer status. And from my experience Buchanan is a compliment.”

He burst into peals of laughter and gave her an admonishing look. “Oh stop. I want to eat this meal I made for you and that isn’t gonna happen if I hurt myself laughing.”

“I have always used the term Buchanan as the highest form of compliment,” his finally relaxed wife teased.

“Oh I must have misunderstood all those Damn Buchanan’s you throw around.” He teased back.

“Oh no, it’s all in the tone. You know, DAMN Buchanan. As in Hot Damn?” She was now the one giggling.

“Darlin’?” He peered over the table at her. “Even you aren’t a good enough liar to pull this one off.”

“Oh you underestimate me.” She replied.





They finished their dinner in companionable chatter about their assorted family members and seemed to catch up on the weeks of silence he had instigated between them.

“You know I decided I could deal with your anger and went about working to win you over yet again.” She informed him after they headed inside for a reprieve from the chill outside.

He smiled raucously, “Win me back eh? Seems to me I’m the one doing all the work around here as usual.”

“I’ll admit I have to thank you for starting the evening off so well,” she lowered her voice while coming thisclose to him and looked innocently into his eyes.

“Hey don’t get any ideas. It was just a peace offering dinner.” He disengaged himself and stepped back. “I’m still miffed and not altogether certain…”

“Oh I think I can make you certain again my love,” she purred while advancing upon him.

“No wait seriously Dorian, I’m not going to be easy about this.” He tried to maintain a straight face.

“As if….” She was interrupted by her cell phone ringing.

“You’d better get that.” He advised her trying not to knock over the plant stand he backed into.

“Oh I have voice mail, you see MY cell phone is not archaic at all.” She grinned and bit her lip, “I’ve missed you so much. This is the longest…..”

His phone was ringing now and he practically leaped to get it as Paula knocked on the living room door with the house phone in her hand. They simultaneously got a parental twinge and he grabbed the phone.

“What?” Clint listened carefully. “Okay we’ll be right there.” He walked over to Dorian and waved Paula off with the phone. “He hung up you can go put the phone away. I’ve got it.”

“What?” Dorian asked worriedly.

“We’ve got to get to the hospital.” Clint pulled Dorian close as she’d been pleading for a few minutes earlier. “The kids had an accident.”

Dorian seemed to grab onto him to compose herself. “What kids?”

“River and CJ.”

This was great, Val! Just what I needed today, but wish there was more. :) Yeah, I'm greedy, but this is just so damn Buchanan good. :lol:

Why can't Dorian get across to Clint that she wanted to make sure what Viki's plan was before telling him, so he wouldn't get hurt? (Unless I'm reading her motive wrong.)

A really terrific chapter. It is one of my favorites so far. You know I think what I like best is that you explore who these characters are individually and also in their relationship. I so appreciate that you even touch upon Dorian's issue of being abandoned. To understand that is to understand Dorian. And Clint struggled with the fact that Dorian didn't seem to believe in him or trust his love. These are touch spots for both characters. You dealt with it beautifully. I like that it wasn't all resolved and I suspect it will be revisited throughout the relationship. I am enjoying this so much and it's a nice fantasy away from the show and them rarely getting alone time. Thank you for writing this story.

Glad you liked it. Oh me write for the Buchanan's you mean you noticed?!

You're reading her motives right Emily. And Cheryl that's his whole problem! She isn't getting it across because try as anybody might to claim otherwise....they KNOW each other.
But they'll figure it out. Dorian and Clint are just too much fun not too!