Along Came a Cowboy (20 page)

I know exactly where that kind of laughing leads. “I need to find her. Now.” I leave Lark standing there and march over to Jack.

He glances at me with a smile. “What?”

“I think Jenn is off with him.”

He quirks an eyebrow. “You're going to have to be more specific with your pronouns, Rachel.”

“Him,” I say, and my teeth are clenched to keep my voice down. “Him. . .Dirk.”

Jack grits his own teeth in a comical imitation of me and repeats, “Dirk?”

“Yes,” I say, glancing around. “She likes him, and I think they left together.”

“Calm down,” Jack says and puts his arm around me, veering me away from clumps of eavesdroppers. “So what. They're good kids. She's fine.”

“She's not fine,” I hiss and instantly put a clamp on my tone. Force a smile. “She's not fine. She's with
Dirk
.”

“I got that part. And?”

“He's a. . .a. . .” Just how much do I have to spell it out? Jack is looking at me, waiting, eyebrows raised. I lower my voice. “A cowboy.”

“No,” he says, an incredulous tone in his voice.

I blow out my breath, exasperated that he isn't taking me seriously. “You know what kind of—”

“Guys cowboys are?” Jack finishes for me.

And yes, while I was thinking that, I can't bear to admit it.

“What kind of trouble girls can get into with cowboys.” Oh no. Like that was better? Why did I say that to Jack of all people? After wondering forever, suddenly I'm not the least bit ready to find out if he knows what happened that summer or not.

His brown eyes are full of compassion. “Dirk's a great guy. A Christian. And he has lots of integrity.”

I can almost hear between his words. Dirk's not Brett. But as I look up at Jack and see the concern on his face—concern, and perhaps a little anger—I notice it's void of judgment.

Maybe. . .maybe he doesn't know.

“He's not that kind of cowboy,” Jack says softly.

Oh. My throat tightens, and it's almost on my lips to ask him straight out what he knows about that summer. But he's shaking his head, and something like disappointment crosses his face. “When are you going to stop judging every cowboy
you meet? I think it's time you learned to trust someone, Rachel.”

I know he's right. Why was trusting him easier in a dark cave where I couldn't see my feet? Was it because I had no choice then? Because out here in the sunlight, it's hard not to overanalyze and scrutinize every motive.

He stares at me, as if he's waiting for a response. No, not just waiting, begging for one.

I shake my head. “I'm going to look for her.” And without a backward glance, I head over to the nearest group of people.

Ten minutes later, my heart is pounding. I'm about to raise a real alert when I hear my name.

“Aunt Rachel!”

I turn and see Jenn weaving her way toward the picnic area through the crowd. Miranda is beside her.

“Jenn!”

She comes up, her face flushed, holding a sweater at the neck around her shoulders. “Do you have a safety pin? The strap on your old dress broke, and Miranda and I tried to fix it, but it won't stay tied.”

Oh. So then she wasn't. . .off. . .with—oh boy.

“Sorry, I don't have a pin. Mama Ruth will though.” She turns to go, and I touch her arm. “Lark said she saw you with Dirk.”

Jenn frowns. “I wasn't—” She laughs and slaps her palm with her forehead. “Actually, yeah. He stopped by for a second right after we got here to give me a CD he wanted me to listen to. Some new country singer. I keep telling him I'm not a country girl, but he's convinced I can be. I told him some things never change.”

Clearly, she's right. Like prejudices and fears and all around stupidity. While she and Miranda head off to find Mama Ruth
and a safety pin, I turn to try and make amends with my date, aka my own noble cowboy.

But Jack's gone. I glance around for him then cringe as I see his truck pulling out of the park.

Matt Dillon would never leave Miss Kitty high and dry, no matter how badly she acted. So much for my hero.

“Hey, Rach,” Lark calls and waves frantically.

She looks like she's about to drop in her tracks, so I go toward her. “Yeah?” I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I've been ditched without a word.

“I've been all over the park looking for you. Then when I finally spotted you, you were all the way over here. Do you know how hard it is to walk in these heels?”

“I'm sorry, Lark. I didn't know you needed me.” My words are automatic since my brain is still fixated on the truck I just saw leave.

“Jack asked me to tell you—” She chooses this minute to stop and bend over to catch her breath. “Whew.”

“Jack told you to tell me what?” I try not to snap, but it's hard.

“He got a call. One of his horses is foaling, and apparently it's not going well. He had to leave immediately and couldn't find you. I think he tried your cell.”

“It's in my car.”

She nods. “Oh. He said to tell you that Dirk is the one who called him. I'm not sure why that was important, but he repeated that twice.”

Heat creeps up my neck. “I understand.”

“He also said that since you drove over, he didn't think you'd mind seeing yourself home.”

A
couple of hours later, when Jenn and I get in the car, I'm not ready to go home. I cock an eyebrow at her. “Feel like riding out to the Lazy W?”

She looks over at me. “Is this a trick question?”

I chuckle. “No, it's for real. Jack had to leave to check on a mare. I'd like to make sure everything's okay, but I hate to call in case he and Dirk are in the middle of a birth.”

She settles back in her seat. “Makes sense to me. We could stop by Coffee Central and get them a couple of iced cappuccinos just in case it's going to be a long night.”

A peace offering. “Sounds perfect.”

“You really like him, don't you?”

“Dirk?” I admit I'm stalling, but I don't know how to answer this question. “He seems nice.”

“I mean Jack.”

“Oh. He's nice, too.”

She rolls her eyes. “He's obviously crazy about you.”

“Oh yeah, the way he ditched me tonight is proof of that.”

She looks over at me. “He ditched you?”

“He couldn't find me when he needed to leave. I was
off looking for you.”

“Ah. When you thought I'd run off with Dirk.”

“Pretty much.”

“Why don't you trust me?”

I frown at the road. “I do trust you.”

She crosses her arms. “It doesn't feel like it.”

I swing into the Coffee Central parking lot. “I'm giving you a chance to see him again tonight.” I park and kill the motor.

“Sure. With you right there.” She waggles her eyebrows and grins as we enter the coffee shop. “Not that I'm complaining.”

“Better not be looking a gift horse in the mouth, missy.”

“I'm not about to.”

We giggle with our heads together while we guess what flavors to get for Jack and Dirk.

“Too bad they don't have one called Macho Cowboy Cappuccino,” Jenn says.

“We'll have to take that up with Daniel after the honeymoon.”

In the end, we settle on iced white chocolate mochas, and soon we're turning down the lane to the ranch.

The barn lights are on when I pull in. “Looks like they're definitely still at work.”

I push open the door, and Jenn follows behind me.

“Jack?”

“Rachel? Down here,” he calls, surprise evident in his voice.

When we reach the stall, Jack is kneeling beside a colt. The baby, still slick and new, its knobby legs wobbly, toddles toward its mama. The palomino mare lying on her side regards Jenn and me warily. Or wearily. I'm not sure. “Is she okay?” I whisper.

Jack nods. “Couldn't be better.” He stands. “You want to get
them settled in for the night?” he asks Dirk.

“Sure.”

Jack steps out of the stall and washes his hands at the wall sink. Then he looks at me. “Feel like getting a little air?”

I look at Jenn, who whispers, “I promise not to run off.”

I grimace. “I trust you,” I whisper back. Plus, I won't go far.

As Jack and I walk outside, I hold up the cappuccino. “I came bearing gifts.”

He gives me a sideways glance and raises an eyebrow. “Peace offering?”

“Exactly.”

He takes the cup from my hand. “I accept.”

“Seriously, I'm sorry for my major overreaction earlier. Dirk seems like a nice enough guy.”

“He is. His dad works full-time for me, but he hurt his back a few weeks ago. Dirk already worked here part-time and is filling in for his dad this summer so the family doesn't lose any income. Not many sixteen-year-old boys think like that.”

“No, you've got that right.”

“I appreciate you coming out here. I wasn't expecting it.”

I duck my head. “To tell you the truth, neither was I.”

He grins. “I'm an impulse? I'm impressed.”

“Don't be too flattered. Desserts are an impulse with me, too, but I rarely indulge.”

“Ouch.”

He puts his arm loosely around my shoulders, and I glance at his hand. “You have nice hands.”

“Wow, you are impulsive tonight.”

I nod. “A little. But I notice hands. That's why I held on to yours so long in the office that day when you came with your mom. I've always wanted to clear that up.”

“Oh, so really you're just complimenting my hands to make
sure I know that you're not remotely interested in the rest of me.”

My turn to raise an eyebrow. “Did you moonlight as a personal injury attorney while you were on the rodeo trail? You're twistin' my words a little there, cowboy.”

He leans against the fence and pulls me around to face him. “Look up.”

I obey and draw in a breath. “How did I not notice that?” The stars, so many the June sky seems like it might not be able to hold them all, twinkle brighter than I've ever seen them. And the full moon appears to be smiling benevolently down on the earth.

“Sometimes the most amazing things are right in front of us, but we never see them.”

He tugs me toward him in a loose embrace. I know I should turn and run, but I lean toward him. He drops a light kiss on my forehead and releases me.

In a hopefully inconspicuous move to support my trembling legs, I clutch the fence rail. After we look up at the sky in silence for a minute, and I'm able to stand without support, I push away from the fence. “I'd better get Jenn and get home. We've got a big day tomorrow.”

“Can I still be your date even though I deserted you tonight?”

I motion toward the barn. “Since you had a good excuse, I guess I won't rescind your invitation.”

“Whew.” He makes an exaggerated motion of wiping sweat from his brow. “I was afraid I was going to have to call Blair and beg her to reinvite me.”

“You're a very funny man.”

“I'm glad you know I'm kidding. She's called me several times to ask when the next committee meeting is.”

I bet that's not all she wants, but I won't go there. “You
didn't tell her it was next week, did you?”

He shakes his head. “I told her I just show up when you tell me to.”

I laugh then raise an eyebrow. “You really told her that, didn't you?”

“Yep.”

I move toward the open barn door. “I've really got to go.”

Jenn and Dirk are on their knees next to the colt when we reach the stall. Good thing that dress is old.

I clear my throat. “You ready?”

She nods and stands up. Dirk jumps to his feet and stammers a little. “Bye, Jenn. Thanks for the coffee.”

Jenn smiles. “Cappuccino.”

He nods. “I thought it tasted a little funny.” His face reddens. “I mean it was good. Kind of cold, but good.”

“It was iced cappuccino, goofy,” she says.

“That explains it then. It was great.”

“Think he'll be able to get his foot out of his mouth long enough to walk out to his truck?” Jack whispers in my ear.

I grin. “He reminds me a little of you.”

He pokes me gently in the side, and I jump away.

“Good night, Jack.”

“Good night, Rachel.”

When Jenn and I are in the car, I glance over at her. “From that smile, I'd say you had a good time.”

“Dirk is. . .awesome. He's different than any boy I've ever known.”

“Yeah, that's part of the cowboy charm.”

“I'm guessing you dated a cowboy when you were young, and it didn't turn out well.”

Uh-oh. Is it just me or is there a big Thin Ice sign pointing toward this conversation? “Something like that.”