My One and Only Cowboy

by A. J. Pine

  She’d had little more than twenty minutes to shower and get dressed, but it was worth it. She threw on a pair of jeans and the red tank she wore on her drive from Vegas—now clean thanks to the load of laundry she did the day before. She pulled a brush through her wet hair, slapped on some lip gloss, and tied her hoodie around her waist for when things cooled off later. By the time she headed back outside, Sam was waiting in his truck.

  He hopped out and rounded the cab to open her door, one hand behind his back.

  “You hiding something, cowboy?” she asked. In his T-shirt, jeans, and aviators, he looked more like someone she’d see walking the strip in Vegas than the rancher she knew he was.

  He slid his sunglasses to the top of his head so she could see the glint in his chocolate-brown eyes. “Funny you should mention that…” He pulled his hand from behind his back and dropped a straw cowboy hat onto her head, the same one he’d given her on their trail ride and that had come back from said ride quite muddy and worse for wear. She’d looked for it in her room but couldn’t find it.

  “Hey. Where’d that come from?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “Saw what a mess it was yesterday. So I grabbed it while you were showering and cleaned it off for you.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You came into my room uninvited?”

  “To do you a favor.”

  “How’d you get in?” she asked.

  He laughed. “I own the property. I have access to all the rooms.”

  She placed her hands on her hips. “Do you make a habit of sneaking into guests’ rooms without them knowing?”

  He shook his head. “Only yours, Vegas. I did knock first, but I could hear the water running. You still mad?” The smile on his face told her that he knew she wasn’t.

  Not that she’d have been jealous if he had spent time with other guests before her, but it still made her happy to know she was the only one. Okay, fine. She’d have been jealous as hell.

  “No,” she told him. “But next time you better not sneak back out.”

  He tipped the brim of her hat up so he could kiss her.

  “Deal,” he said, then opened her door. “Are you ready to see Meadow Valley at its most Meadow Valley? It’s my second autumn festival, so I’m pretty much a seasoned veteran.”

  Delaney adjusted the hat on her head. “You know, as much as I’ve complained about the whole town being shut down, this kind of thing is what I love about small towns. In the short time I was here, I didn’t get to experience any of it.”

  Sam laughed. “Been a small-town man my whole life, and I can tell you that Meadow Valley has given my hometown a run for its money when it comes to holidays and celebrations. You should see what this place looks like come Thanksgiving and through the New Year—the snow and the light? I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  She smiled wistfully. “I’ve literally dreamed about it.”

  “You like snow?” he asked, amusement in his tone. He hooked a finger around one of her belt loops and urged her closer.

  Her eyes widened. “A display of affection right here in front of anyone who passes by?”

  He tipped her hat up and kissed her. “Right here in front of anyone,” he said.

  “And to answer your question, I don’t really know if I like winter, but I’ve always wanted to live in a place where the seasons change more than they do in Vegas. And I really want to see snow.”

  He nodded. “The hills covered in white are pretty spectacular,” he said. “Yet it never gets too cold for the animals. Meadow Valley gets the best of all the seasons, if you ask me.”

  She swallowed a knot in her throat. Thanksgiving wasn’t too far off. She could picture herself in a small house on her land—a table set with a feast she’d have to learn how to cook. She closed her eyes and envisioned the table replete with a turkey and all the trimmings. And there was Sam, toasting Ben and Colt with a glass of wine.

  She smiled at the fantasy—until she was snapped back to reality by Sam clearing his throat.

  Her eyes flew open.

  “Everything okay, Vegas?”

  “Yeah. We should go,” she said, not wanting to let her imagination go any further, like to thoughts of Meadow Valley blanketed in snow, of her and Sam walking down a First Street aglow in holiday lights or the two of them ducking into Pearl’s for the gourmet hot cocoa she knew the woman would serve.

  She climbed into the truck without another word and pulled the door shut, leaving Sam scratching his head before he finally joined her in the cab.

  She was startled by a dog barking as the door clicked shut. Then she laughed, spinning to find Scout perched on the shallow back seat.

  “I didn’t know we had company,” she said, reaching back to pat the dog on the head. Scout nuzzled into Delaney’s touch, and her heart just about melted. It had been nearly two years since she’d almost realized her dream of spending each and every day with animals like Scout. Now she had the chance to get back what she’d lost. The problem was losing Sam in the fallout.

  He doesn’t do permanent, she reminded herself. No matter what she felt for him now—or by the end of the week—she was still going to lose him. Even if she could convince him that she could handle whatever the future brought for them, for Sam’s health, there was still the land. If getting a portion of her property back meant dismantling the ranch in any way, her gain would mean his loss as well as a loss for his brother and Colt. Would any of them be able to forgive her?

  “Don’t you have to drive the guests to town?” she asked, shifting her attention to something less complicated.

  Sam turned the key in the ignition, then put the truck in drive. “I took the first load a few minutes ago. Ben and Colt will do the rest. I told them about something I had to do before heading back to town, and they were happy to oblige.”

  Delaney’s brow furrowed. “So we’re not heading to town?”

  He smiled. “Not yet. Gotta make a stop first.”

  She could tell by his teasing tone that he wasn’t going to let on where they were going until they got there. So she took the liberty of turning on the radio and cycling through Sam’s presets until she found what she knew would be there—classic rock. She relaxed into her seat as Eric Clapton crooned “Wonderful Tonight,” letting herself get lost in the lyrics. She must have dozed off because before the song ended—or in reality three songs after it did—she felt a hand gently nudge her shoulder.

  “Got a long day ahead, Vegas. Hope I haven’t worn you out already.”

  She opened her eyes and squinted when she was hit with the bright morning sun. When her vision adjusted, she was able to make out the sign to the right of where they were parked. QUINCY LONG-TERM CARE.

  “Your dad?” she asked. “We’re visiting your dad?” She wasn’t sure what that meant, that he was doing this. With her. She’d been with him by accident yesterday. It was either leave her stranded in town or take her along for the ride. But this was Sam’s choice. She was here with him because he wanted her to be.

  Sam shook his head. “We’re taking him to the festival. I called ahead and made all the arrangements. It might be too much for him to stay all day, but I figured we’d cross that bridge when we got to it. Ben knows. He’s on board. So between him and me, I think we can manage.”

  Hope surged through her. Maybe Sam was starting to see his father’s illness differently—as something they all could live with given the right support. And if he could see that, maybe it also meant he could envision a different future for himself.

  She pressed her hands to his shoulders and kissed him, a quick, soft brush of her lips, lingering for only a second or two.

  Even behind his sunglasses, she could see his eyes widen. “What was that for?”

  “For being a good man. A good son. For wanting me to be a part of it.”

  He smiled. “I’m not sure I got the full extent of your message. You might need to tell me again.”

  This time she flung her arms around his
neck and kissed him hard. Her hip jammed into the center console, but she didn’t care. She could feel Sam Callahan’s mouth smiling against hers, and she let the possibility of what today might bring fill her with hope. If Sam’s dad had a good day—if good days were possible—then they were possible for Sam, too, even if his prognosis was the same.

  The more she got to know Sam Callahan, the more she believed a man like him would be worth the fight. She just didn’t know how to convince him to fight for himself. Wade certainly didn’t fight for a better future. He simply looked for the easy way out. There was no easy way out for Sam, but there was possibility. It didn’t matter whether he got tested or didn’t. He could still choose more—if he’d let himself believe he deserved it no matter what happened twenty or thirty years from now.

  Delaney could see it. Why couldn’t he?

  Her lips were raw when she pulled away. She brushed a palm over the scruff that was starting to look more like a beard.

  “I usually shave each morning,” he said, peering into her thoughts. “Guess I’ve been a little distracted this weekend.”

  “I like it,” she said. “Shows you know how to loosen the reins and let go a little.”

  “Are you saying I don’t know how to give up control?”

  She nodded without the least bit of hesitation. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. I know a few days don’t make a whole lot of difference in a person’s life, but since I got to town, you’ve been skinny-dipping, had amazing sex by a bonfire, and watched one of the greatest Keanu Reeves movies of all time. Tell me the last time you let yourself have fun like that in one weekend.”

  “You forgot I almost got my nose broken.”

  She groaned. “Yeah, well, you let your guard down. Any trained fighter should know better than that.”

  He shook his head and laughed.

  “Does that mean I’m right?” she asked. “That you haven’t had this much fun in a while?” Because she liked to think that a few days could make a difference, even if it was a small one.

  He swatted the brim of her hat. “You might be onto something, Vegas. What about you? You always let go and have a good time?”

  That was the thing. She could let go. But she hadn’t. Not in a long while.

  “Only with someone who’s worth it.” Someone she trusted, who made her feel safe. She hadn’t felt safe since she called 911 the night those men made her watch as they beat Wade bloody. She’d waited long enough to make sure he was okay, and then she’d packed her things and driven back to Vegas for good.

  “Hmm,” he said but didn’t offer any further comment. “We should go grab Nolan before he ends up on top of a table again.”

  He smiled, but she could see the effort it took to do it.

  “Hey.” She rested a hand on his forearm. “Today’s going to be great. I’m here. Ben’s gonna be there. I’m guessing this is probably the most control you’ve given up in a while, so just know you’ve got people in your corner to help.”

  He let out a breath. She didn’t need him to remove his sunglasses to know the conflict she’d see in his dark eyes. Sam Callahan kept everything in his life in neat little compartments, and today he was throwing it all in a blender without any clue what the final result would be.

  He pressed a palm to her cheek, stroked her skin with his thumb. For a second she thought he might kiss her, but instead he pulled away without another word, opening his door and hopping out of the truck, leaving the windows down for Scout.

  Delaney met him at the back end of the vehicle, and together they strode toward the care facility’s entrance.

  Before they made it to the door, Sam threaded his fingers through hers and squeezed.

  Her stomach flip-flopped, and a goofy grin spread across her face.

  Keep it together, Harper, she told herself. So he was holding her hand. So what? She’d been swept up in a whirlwind romance before, and look where that had gotten her. No matter what she thought she was feeling for Sam, she needed to keep a level head, to think clearly, to remind herself that they were playing at this relationship thing until they had to face the real world—the one where Sam was too afraid to commit, where he shouldered the burden of his future in silence.

  “Here goes nothing,” he said as he ushered her through the revolving door.

  Nolan Callahan sat on a bench in the lobby in faded jeans and a white T-shirt. Aside from his graying hair and thinner frame, he looked so much like Sam today that she had to do a double take. He smiled when he saw her and Sam. He didn’t look confused to see them there or as if he was suffering from a disease that was taking over his mind, one day at a time.

  “I thought they were joking when they told me my son was coming to pick me up,” he said, standing to shake Sam’s hand. “And to a big public festival. You sure you’re not afraid I’ll embarrass you?”

  “Having a pretty good morning, huh, Dad?” Sam dropped her hand to shake his father’s. “And yeah. I’m nervous as hell about how today’s gonna go. But it’s the first day of the autumn festival. You should be there with us.”

  The older man’s brow furrowed. “Ben know I’m coming to the festival?”

  Sam nodded. “He’s looking forward to seeing you.”

  “What happened to your face?” Nolan added. “You stand behind the wrong horse?”

  Sam chuckled. “A little sparring accident in the ring yesterday.” He winked at Delaney. “Looks worse than it feels.”

  Delaney hoped that was true.

  Nolan held a hand out for her. “Work friend, right?” he asked, remembering how Sam had introduced her when they’d met.

  Delaney opened her mouth to say yes, but Sam cut her off.

  “No, Dad.” He paused. “Delaney’s more than a work friend. At least for the following week.”

  He slid an arm around her waist, and she smiled. Ben and Colt catching them at the bonfire last night could have just been swept under the rug, but he was telling his father that she was something more, which only made her hope more. She was beginning to think that wasn’t such a bad thing.

  “For another day or two?” Nolan asked. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It’s complicated,” Sam told his father while Delaney bit her lip and let the conversation play out.

  “Complicated?” Nolan crossed his arms. “That’s a social media status. Not an explanation.”

  “It’s the only explanation I got.” Sam strode to the front desk and signed something Delaney guessed was permission for Nolan to leave the facility.

  Delaney shrugged when Sam’s father looked to her for further clarification. Right now, she was good with complicated if complicated meant today they could simply be whatever it was they were.

  “Ready?” Sam asked on his way back from the desk. “Because Luis is kicking the morning off at the crepe stand with Anna’s produce, and I can’t wait to see if they hate each other or love each other today. If it’s the former, I may be out one damned good produce supplier.”

  He was smiling, but Delaney caught the hint of worry in his tone.

  “And I read in the paper tonight’s a great night to see the Orionids before it gets too late,” Nolan said. “You won’t bring me home before that, will you? It’ll be like when you and Ben were kids.” He shook his head. “I should have told your mother. She’d have driven up to join us.”

  Sam’s jaw tightened, and Delaney remembered the photo in his apartment—the one of him, Ben, and their mom doing just that—Nolan the man behind the camera.

  “Sure,” Sam said. “We won’t head back before that. But you know Mom wouldn’t be coming no matter what, right? She’s in Carson City now.”

  Nolan nodded. “Sure, sure. Carson City with Ted. Poor Ted.”

  Both she and Sam looked at each other with the same confused expression, but Sam shrugged it off. Nolan seemed a little confused about his relationship with his ex-wife, but other than that, Delaney thought he was in good shape for the festival, and it looked
like Sam felt the same.

  Nothing about this day was going to be easy for him, but they were here, all of them together, which meant Sam didn’t have to shoulder the weight alone.

  “Today’s going to be great,” Delaney assured him, linking her elbow through his. On instinct she reached out a hand for Nolan, and he shocked them all by linking his elbow with hers.

  “Lead the way, darlin’. I’ve got a day with my sons.”

  They had to break apart for the revolving door, but after that the three of them walked arm in arm back to the truck, like she was Dorothy and they were the Tin Man and Scarecrow, the three of them on the way to Oz for a heart, a brain, and a home.

  She happily crawled into the back seat with Scout. Looked like they had a Toto too. All they were missing was the Cowardly Lion, which was fine by her. Sam taking a chance on his dad—on being open with her like a couple—was brave enough for all of them today.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Everything looked fine at the auction table. Even though it was the start of the festival, the weekend stay at the ranch already had a few bids.

  Sam held his breath as they approached the tented crepe stand, Scout running ahead of them and his father happily chasing after the dog. There was a line of people waiting, but he could see that both Luis and Anna stood behind the booth, Anna gesticulating wildly while Luis flipped a crepe.

  Were they smiling? He couldn’t tell. Please let them be smiling.

  He glanced at Delaney, who had lifted her hat up and was squinting in the same direction. “Do they look happy or ready to rip each other’s throats out?”

  Delaney shook her head. “I can’t tell. The line keeps moving and obscuring my view.”

  She sounded just as worried as he felt, which wasn’t a good sign.

  He started taking longer strides, picking up his pace. Delaney had to jog to keep up, but at the moment he didn’t care. All that mattered was having a happy chef who deserved a much better salary than Sam could give him and not losing his produce supplier.

  Finally they made it to the end of the line, which had turned into a crowd—a crowd who was watching, but Sam couldn’t see what. He could hear it, though.