Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Garrett
W hen I get back from moving the cattle, Harriett is sitting on the stoop outside my house, glaring at me.
“I know that look. What’d I do now?” I brush the dust off my shirt and the tops of my legs, before leaning against the porch post and waiting to hear what I’ve done to anger the Gods.
“You’re about the biggest idiot I’ve ever met.” Harriett’s eyes flame and I rack my brain, trying to figure out what I could have done.
“What the hell did I do?”
Her fury has my curiosity piqued, but all I want to do is find Mary Beth.
“How long have you been gone?”
I think, look up at the sky. “Took a little longer than I thought. Cows had gone all the way up and around Murphy’s curve.” My stomach growls and I start to think my sense of time is off as usual. I reach up and scratch my forehead. “But I’m not sure how long. Couple hours, plus a bit, I’d guess.”
“Really?” She shakes her head, pressing her hands to her thighs, then stands and saunters over to take my hat off my head, then smacks me in the arm with it.
I snatch it back, opening my mouth, but she cuts me off.
“I don’t claim to be an expert on romance. I haven’t had much experience myself. But I thought you were one of the good guys.” Her words are clipped, and she crosses her arms.
“Would you please just tell me what the hell is going on?”
“I’m not dumb. I see things. I notice things. You took up with Mary Beth, you both looked about as happy as two mice in a flour sack last night. Then you took off with that Abigail earlier. I saw you riding off with her, and so did Mary Beth. An hour ago, Mary Beth came and found me to ask me where you were. Said she’d been trying to call you for hours.”
Shock centers in my brain and I reach around to pull the flip phone out of my back pocket. I draw it around and open it up, but the screen is gray. I start pushing buttons, but nothing is happening.
“I had my phone. I didn’t get any calls. And what are you talking about me taking off with Abigail? Who the hell is Abigail?”
“The blond, dumbass. Came in yesterday. The one you rode off with.” She raises her voice and her eyebrows. “What’s the fuck’s the matter with you?”
My head is spinning. “I didn’t—” The spinning is replaced by anger. “ Where is Mary Beth ? Is she okay?” I pound the keys on the phone, frustration tightening the muscles in my neck, and my head is suddenly pounding.
“Give me that.” Harriett snatches the phone and presses a button on the side for a few seconds, then I hear the thing beep, and she shoves it back toward me, the screen lit up showing four missed calls.
“Fuck.” I start scanning around behind me. “ Where is she ?”
“Gone.” Harriett throws up her hands in frustration, then reaches into her back pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. “Said to give you this.”
She stomps off, and I put my hat back on with one hand and flip open the piece of paper with the other as I start to read.
Cowboy,
There’s so much I want to say. I’m a writer, and I’ve tried to write this four times, and nothing is coming out quite right. So, here’s the abridged version…
I left. I’m not sure what happened today with you, and honestly, we barely know each other, and I have no claim on you. However, I did see you riding away with another guest after you left me this morning when you said you were going out alone to take care of the cattle.
Second, I tried to call a bunch of times. You promised to have your phone with you, and I guess that may have cramped your style with your other ride along today. I get it.
Third, even if items one and two weren’t an issue, I don’t belong here, and you don’t have any interest in my world, from what I know. I think fate took over, I got a call about an opportunity I’ve been waiting for, and it was very clear I needed to leave now or lose what I’ve been working toward.
I did try to call, as I said. I would have preferred to talk to you in person about this. Leaving a note wasn’t my first choice but came to be my only option besides leaving without a word, and I’m not that girl.
I guess I added everything up that happened this morning and came to the conclusion that maybe this isn’t what I thought it was. Don’t worry, my article about Big Sky Ranch will be positive. I’m a professional, after all.
Take care, cowboy. In the immortal words of Rod Stewart, “You stole my heart, but that’s a pain I can do without.”
Mary Beth
I bring a hand up to cover my mouth, trying to hold in the choking sound that rips from my throat. I crash through the door of the house with one thing I need to do. One thing I need to get.
I’ve had a glimpse of heaven, and now it’s gone?
Nope. Not if I have anything to say about it.
And I have a lot to say.