Chapter Two #2
Skylar burst out laughing, nearly spilling her coffee.
“I know. You tell me constantly. Don’t get me wrong, the man is gorgeous, with those blue eyes, his smile, great sense of humor, wonderful personality, and not to mention, just a real nice man, but we knew there wasn’t anything there.
I mean, we hit it off as friends right away, but that’s all it will ever be, and we are both fine with that. ”
“Well, I’m not,” Ryan said with a laugh.
“I’m sure there’s a good woman out there for Cull. It’s just not me.”
“I know. I’d love to see you both find someone. That’s why I was hoping…”
“Let me ask you this, when you first met Cull, you found him attractive, right?”
“Well, yes, but most women would.”
“But you weren’t interested in him,” Skylar said, with a grin.
“That’s true. I was too attracted to Seth.”
“So, you understand my point of view, right?”
“I do. If it’s not meant to happen, it won’t. He’ll find a good woman one day.”
“Yes, he will. Besides, I saw the man of my dreams last night and didn’t even get to talk to him. I have done nothing but think about him since last night.”
“What was his name again? I’ll ask Seth if he knows him.”
“Rawley Bowman.”
“Girl, you didn’t even hesitate.”
Skylar laughed. “It kept going through my head all night.”
“I’m sure. I bet every time you closed your eyes; you saw him.”
Skylar sighed. “I did. Ask Seth when you get a chance.”
“I will—wait, he just came in.”
Skylar smiled when she heard Seth talking to Ryan, saying something to make her laugh.
They were a great couple who almost didn’t get together because of pure stubbornness on Seth’s side.
If Ryan hadn’t taken the step to go back to see him, Skylar would have made a trip herself, but it turned out right and now they were engaged.
She heard Ryan ask Seth about Rawley. Damn, just thinking his name made her sigh.
“Seth said he knows Rawley and he’s a great guy.”
“Oh, well, that does make me feel better.”
“Yes, if Seth likes him, he has to be a good person.”
“I agree. I’ll let you two go. I have to grab a shower. I just might come out there and ride if you’re sure that’s alright?”
“Of course it is. You can ride Pearl.”
“Okay, have fun today. Love you.”
“Love you too.” Ryan hung up.
At one that afternoon, a fast-moving thunderstorm swept across the valley, bringing with it the scent of wet earth and dropping the temperature ten degrees.
The rain hammered against the roof before tapering off.
In just fifteen minutes, golden sunlight broke through the dissipating clouds.
Skylar decided to take Ryan up on her offer and go horseback riding, an activity that had brought her joy since childhood.
She grinned at the mental image of Ryan perched awkwardly atop a horse, knuckles white from gripping the reins too tightly.
For years, Skylar had tried to coax her friend into learning, sharing stories of growing up on her family’s sprawling horse farm where she’d spent countless afternoons racing across open fields, her hair streaming behind her like a banner.
But Ryan had always been afraid of horses, her face paling at the mere suggestion.
Skylar understood the fear, horses were massive creatures with powerful muscles rippling beneath velvet coats, but most were as gentle as could be, their eyes full of kindness.
Like dogs and cats, you’d occasionally encounter one with a mean streak, usually the sad result of human cruelty.
“What would ranchers and farmers do without livestock agents?” she murmured, her voice echoing in the quiet kitchen as she gathered her purse and the jangling key ring with its miniature horseshoe charm.
She paused to check Cosmo’s water bowl, which caught the afternoon light in prismatic patterns.
The ceramic food dish beside it was empty, licked clean of the premium salmon from breakfast.
She opened the front door, aimed the key fob at her SUV, pressed ‘start’ then closed the door. Hopefully, it would cool down soon.
“Cosmo, I’ll fill your food dispenser when I get back,” she called, scanning the sunlit kitchen for her pet. “Cosmo!”
Sighing, she made her way across the cool tile to the living room and checked each of the spare bedrooms before finding him sprawled across her own quilted comforter.
“You couldn’t come when I called? Oh, wait. What am I thinking? You never come when I call. I’m leaving. I’ll feed you when I get back,” she said, hands on hips.
The Himalayan cat blinked his sapphire eyes lazily, raised one dark-colored paw with deliberate slowness, licked it, and returned to studying the birds outside the window, his fluffy tail twitching slightly.
“I know you love me.” Skylar laughed. “Bye.”
She walked back to the sun-dappled kitchen, entered the living room, stepped out the door into the fresh-washed afternoon, carefully turning the lock behind her.
As she sat in her vehicle, the leather seat warm even through her jeans, she sent a text to Ryan. Skylar made the decision to go to Dewey’s tonight with the hope that Rawley would be there, and she knew Ryan would not approve.
She started the car, the engine purring to life, backed out of the driveway, and put the car in gear. Just as she started to drive to the road, her phone buzzed from her purse, vibrating against the soft leather. Skylar smiled as she pulled over and picked up her phone, her heart racing.
Are you crazy? The message glowed on her screen.
I just might be.
I don’t want you to go there alone.
I don’t know yet. I probably won’t go, but how am I supposed to see him again? Her fingers hovered over the keys, hesitating.
I can’t go with you tonight. A woman alone isn’t good, Skylar.
I probably won’t go. Oh, I am on my way to your place. I decided to go riding since it cooled down a little. The thought of Pearl’s smooth gait beneath her was already calming her nerves.
Have fun. Get one of the guys to saddle Pearl for you.
Ryan— She typed, rolling her eyes.
I know. I know. You can do it yourself, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.
We’ll see. I won’t go looking for anyone.
Okay, hardhead. You let me know if you go to Dewey’s tonight. Love you.
I will. Love you too. Skylar placed the phone in her purse, checked traffic, then pulled onto the road, gravel crunching beneath her tires.
When she reached the driveway to Seth’s home, she drove up to the middle barn and parked.
The scent of hay and horses wafted through her window when she lowered it to keep some of the heat out.
She looked around but didn’t see anyone, so she opened the door, stepped out into the humid air, and strode into the barn.
After letting her eyes adjust to the dim light filtering through dusty windows, she walked along the barn’s aisle, her boots echoing on the concrete, until she came to Pearl’s stall, only to see it empty, the fresh bedding undisturbed.
“Well, damn,” she muttered, disappointment settling in her chest, then she grinned when she heard the familiar cow bell, and watched as Elsie, a brown and white cow that had been hand raised by Seth, walked toward her.
“Elsie, did you escape again?” She laughed when the cow mooed.
“Ma’am?” A deep voice called from the shadows.
Skylar turned to see a tall figure walking toward her, sunlight from the doorway silhouetting his broad shoulders, and grinned when she saw it was Ringo, one of Seth’s ranch hands, his face breaking into a smile.
“Hi, Ringo.”
“Ms. McCoy, how are you today?” he asked as he removed his hat.
“Just fine. I was going to take Pearl out, but she’s not in her stall.” She gestured to the empty space.
“She’s in the pasture. I can get her if you’d like. I just came back from the field and saw that Elsie got out again.” He slid a rope over the cow’s horns.
“No need to get the horse. Are they all out?” She brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“Yes, ma’am.” His boots shifted on the concrete.
She laughed, shaking her head. “Well, I guess I wasn’t supposed to go riding today. I’ll just head home.”
Ringo nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
“You guys be careful out in that heat.” She glanced at his sweat-soaked shirt.
Ringo grinned. “We are. Cull makes us take drinks with us along with water.”
“That’s good. Well, I’m going back home. Have a good rest of the day.”
“You too.” He placed his hat on his head, touched the brim, then led Elsie out of the barn, his spurs jingling softly with each step.
As soon as Skylar slid back into her car’s buttery leather seat, she dug through her cluttered purse, fingers brushing against loose mints and crumpled receipts until she found her phone. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Ryan she was going tonight, alone.
“Damn it,” she muttered, her voice echoing in the quiet car. “I’ll chicken out anyway, so why worry about it?”
She pulled onto the sunbaked asphalt, turning up the radio so the music would put her in the mood to go.
She had never gone to a bar alone, but what if he was there and she missed her chance?
The glossy dashboard of her new charcoal-gray SUV still had that new car smell she loved, but she hadn’t found time to pair her phone to Bluetooth yet, so for now the radio had to do.
As she pulled into her driveway, she decided that since she had some free time ahead of her, she might as well figure out the complicated infotainment system once and for all.
She had plenty of time to shower and change her clothes if she decided to go.
As she picked up her purse, her phone buzzed, so she reached for it and looked at the screen. She laughed when she saw the message from Ryan.
Take that man home if you do go!
With a laugh, she opened the door, took her purse inside, then headed back out to her vehicle to connect her phone to the stereo system.
****