Jenna's Cowboy

by Sharon Gillenwater

  Since he hadn’t planned to tell her that he loved her yet, he hadn’t figured that out. Better pull some number out of the air. “How about until April 1st?”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “If you propose on April 1st, I won’t know if it’s real or an April Fool’s joke.”

  “Aw, honey, I wouldn’t be that mean.”

  She glared at him again. Given the way he had botched things in the last five minutes, maybe she had a point.

  “Okay, make it April 2nd.”

  She counted the months on her fingers, clearly not happy with the idea.

  Nate thought of something else. “I promised your dad I wouldn’t rush you.” That was a very loose paraphrase of what he’d said to Dub, but the meaning was the same.

  “When?” Her forehead creased in a frown.

  “When I went to see him after I got home. When he took your advice and hired me.” Judging by her puzzled expression, she was clearly confused. “My senior year, Dub figured out that I was in love with you. Back in September, after I got home, he asked me if I still was. He was worried about you being hurt again.”

  Her frown faded. “What did you tell him?”

  “That I’d always love you as a friend, but I wasn’t sure if I was still in love with you. That it would take time to sort out those feelings and to see if God had something more in mind for us than friendship.”

  He walked toward her. When she didn’t move, he stopped in front of her and lightly gripped her shoulders. “Can you give me those four months, Jenna? To take you on dates, sit with you in church, and love you? Time to regain confidence in myself?”

  “On one . . . no, two conditions.”

  “Let’s hear them.”

  “That you make sure all those single women in town who have you in their sights know that you’re my guy. We may not be officially engaged, but you belong to me.”

  “Not a problem. What’s number two?”

  “If you decide before April that you can make the commitment, you’ll go ahead and ask me again. But you’d better wait at least a week because it will take me that long to get over being mad at you.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” When she looked up at him, he swooped down and kissed her.

  A minute later, with her arms wrapped around his neck, she murmured, “You don’t fight fair.”

  “Maybe not.” He brushed a feathery kiss across her mouth. “But it sure is fun.”

  24

  December was filled with holiday parties and church and town activities. It was chaotic but also the best Christmas season Jenna could remember in years because she and Nate shared so much of it.

  They took Zach to the Christmas parade three weeks before Christmas. It was little more than a bunch of tractors with wreaths fastened on the front, a few floats, and the sheriff’s posse. The highlight was a cowboy riding a longhorn. The cow’s horns were at least six feet wide, and she sported a big red bow around her neck. Santa was last, riding on Callahan Crossing’s biggest fire truck. Zach didn’t like the boisterous man in the funny-looking red suit. Instead of resting his arm on Nate’s shoulder as he usually did, he scooted closer and put one arm around his neck. “Santa too loud.”

  “Shall we go to the Sonic and get something to eat?”

  Zach nodded, but he stayed tucked real close to Nate.

  They drove up to the drive-in restaurant, sitting in the pickup to eat the meal. Zach played with a little car while Jenna broke his chicken strips into smaller pieces and blew on them to cool. Nate poured some milk into a spare sippy cup and snapped on the lid. He handed it to Zach through the opening between the seats. “Here you go.” After Zach took a big drink of milk, Nate handed him a French fry. “Munch on this until your mom gets the chicken cooled down.”

  “Almost there, Zach.” She glanced back at him. He had half of a French fry sticking out of his mouth and grinned around it. She handed Zach a piece of chicken, took a bite of her hamburger, and met Nate’s gaze as he watched her. “What? Do I have mustard on my face?”

  He inspected her face, then lightly touched the corner of her mouth. “No, not really.”

  She laughed and checked to see how Zach was doing. Sometimes Nate came up with the silliest excuses to touch her. And she didn’t mind a bit.

  “So, Zach, what do you want for Christmas?” Nate peered back at him.

  “Horsey.”

  Jenna blinked and looked at Nate. She really hadn’t expected him to say anything. He never had mentioned anything specific before. “Wonder which of my brothers put him up to that,” she murmured.

  “That’s not hard to figure out. If it’d been Chance, he probably would have said a bulldozer.”

  “Bulldozer!” Zach grinned when they both looked at him.

  “You already have one, remember.”

  “Yeah. Chicken.” Zach held out his hand, and Jenna gave him some more lunch.

  After they ate, they took him to the park and let him go down the kiddie slide a dozen times. Nate made it easy by lifting him up to the top of the slide instead of him having to climb all the way up the ladder. He played on the swings for a while too, and raced around in the grass as they chased him.

  Walking back to the car with Zach riding on his shoulders, Nate looked down at her, his smile wistful. “I could get used to having y’all around all the time.”

  “Just say the word, cowboy. It’s up to you.” She knew he wasn’t ready yet. But maybe he was getting closer. “How are your sessions with Pastor Brad going?”

  “Good. We spend more time praying than talking, but that’s fine with me. I haven’t had a nightmare in almost two weeks.”

  “Fantastic.”

  “I think I’m seeing light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not a train.”

  It was an old line, but Jenna expected it spoke volumes about his state of mind.

  “Praise the Lord.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Many times over.”

  The next day was the children’s Christmas program at church. As usual, it was touching, sweet, and funny. And all the more memorable because it was Zach’s first foray into performing before a crowd. He enjoyed it immensely. Remembering all the words to “Away in a Manager” was a little tough, but he knew the hand motions. He also wiggled and swayed in perfect time to the music throughout the whole song. Nate snapped a dozen pictures of the little group, most of them zoomed in on Zach.

  When the kids bowed and walked down from the stage, her cowboy leaned over and whispered in her ear, “That’s our boy.” Nate’s name might not be on the birth certificate, or even on a marriage certificate yet, but he loved her son as much as any father possibly could.

  That afternoon they decorated her big Christmas tree, then went to Nate’s and decorated his short, scrawny cedar. When she first spotted it, she stared at it in disbelief. “That’s the most pathetic tree I’ve ever seen. You should get your money back.”

  “I didn’t pay anything for it. I found it over in the pasture, sitting there all alone, looking forlorn. It was in the area Dub is going to clear out in a few months, so I decided its days should end happily instead of being bulldozed into a big pile with all those mesquites and burned.”

  “Then let’s dress it up.”

  They put so many tiny white lights and ornaments on it that she thought the poor thing might collapse. When they were done and switched on the lights, they both gasped in surprise.

  Zach clapped his hands. “Boo-ti-ful.”

  “Yes, it is.” Nate slid his arm around her waist and drew her against his side.

  “I think we made it happy.”

  “Yep.” He gave her a light squeeze. “Just like me.”

  They snuck away in the middle of the week and drove to Abilene to go Christmas shopping. After buying presents for their families and more than they should have for Zach, they split up and shopped for each other. They reunited at the appointed place and time, playfully trying to hide the shopping bags holding their gift
s. After stopping for a visit with Nate’s grandparents, they headed back home.

  On Christmas Eve, both families attended an early candlelight service at church. Then Jenna, Nate, and Zach drove around town for a while, looking at the Christmas lights. They went by the Langleys on the way home, where Zach got to open his first presents. She had no doubt that the older Langleys would make wonderful grandparents when she and Nate were married.

  And they would be married. She wasn’t going to let him get away. The minute he officially proposed, she intended to haul him to the courthouse, buy a marriage license, and see the preacher as soon as it was legal. She’d have that cowboy roped, hog-tied, and branded before he knew what hit him.

  Zach opened a few presents at home on Christmas Eve, ones picked out by Jenna and chosen because they wouldn’t excite him too much. He and Nate built a square house with his new building blocks, and Jenna cheered him on as he put together a simple puzzle.

  Then they all three snuggled together on the couch, and Nate read the Christmas story from Zach’s rhyming Bible using only the tree for light. Jenna thought she might explode with happiness and contentment.

  Nate seemed touched too. The dear man choked up and had to clear his throat twice during the story.

  Christmas Day was fairly low key, as much as it could be with a two-year-old spoiled rotten by six loving adults. Since Zach told everybody that he wanted a horsey, he got six of them. A small stuffed one to sleep with, a big stuffed one to sit on, a stick horse, two to gallop across the coffee table, and a big rocking horse from Will. There were at least a dozen other toys, including a John Deere riding tractor from Nate and a bulldozer he could ride from Chance.

  Her little guy was overwhelmed by so many new things at once.

  Jenna opened her presents, delighted with the lovely peach sweater and peach and turquoise flowered skirt from her parents. The supple leather riding gloves from Chance fit perfectly. And the hand-tooled leather Western belt from Will would be great with her nicer jeans. She saved the gift from Nate for last. He did the same with hers.

  Smiling, they scooted closer together on the sofa and ignored the chatter around them. Chance was showing Zach how to ride the bulldozer, so he was in good hands.

  Nate carefully removed the gold ribbon and bow, then ripped off the shiny red and gold wrapping paper from the box.

  Jenna teased him. “You ruined the paper.”

  “It’s not a big enough sheet to recycle next year. And I saved the bow.” He leaned close to her ear. “I’m in a hurry to see if it’s what I think it is.”

  It was, but she didn’t say so. Camouflaging a box containing a watch wasn’t easy.

  He opened it carefully, and his face lit up when he saw the gold wristwatch, with a yellow and white gold link band. “Oh, wow. Honey, this is great.” He grinned at her. “And it’s not one of those five-dollar ones from Walmart.”

  Not even close. But then he knew that. “I thought you might enjoy something nice to wear when you dress up.”

  “Yes, ma’am. My old one is fine for everyday, but it’s lookin’ a little ratty for church. Thank you.” The promise in his eyes told her he’d thank her with an extra kiss later. He took the watch out of the box and slipped it on. “It fits perfectly. Great guess on the size of the band. I really like the yellow and white gold combination.”

  “Good. I was hoping it wouldn’t be too small.”

  Anticipation spiraled through her as she very carefully removed the sparkling, lacy silver bow and dark blue shiny paper from her gift. Judging by the long, narrow box, it was a necklace or bracelet. Or a pen and pencil set.

  She eased open the lid to find a beautiful gold bracelet, each link heart-shaped. “Nate, it’s beautiful.”

  “I thought it was appropriate, since you have my heart.”

  Her eyes stung, but she blinked hard, keeping her emotions under control. Smiling up at him, she said softly, “Thank you for both.” Then she stretched up and kissed him lightly.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Okay, you two, quit smoochin’ and show us what you gave each other.” Chance tossed a wad of green and gold wrapping paper at them, hitting Nate in the chest.

  Nate threw it back with a grin. “Take care of your own trash.” He held out his arm so everyone could see his present. “My sweet woman gave me a great watch.”

  While her family commented on the watch, Jenna removed the bracelet from the box and fastened it around her wrist. “And my sweet man gave me this beautiful bracelet.”

  Her mother’s eyes widened, then glistened with a hint of moisture. “Nate, that’s exquisite.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  Chance grinned at his sister and winked at Nate. “Good job.”

  Will came over for a closer inspection, nodding in approval. “Looks like I don’t have to give you any lessons in the jewelry department. You’re doing fine on your own.”

  Jenna glanced at her dad, expecting to see him smiling his approval. Instead he appeared sad. Was that regret clouding his eyes as he watched them?

  He stood suddenly and went into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with a big plastic trash bag. “Y’all cram all that paper in here, and I’ll haul it outside.”

  As everyone gathered up the trash and crammed it into the bag, Jenna caught her mother’s eye. She nodded toward her dad and lifted her eyebrow in question. Her mom shrugged and mouthed, “I don’t know.”

  When Dub left the room with the filled bag, Jenna excused herself and followed him outside. He stood at the end of the porch, his hands resting on the railing, his head bowed. She waited, uncertain if she should intrude. After a few minutes, he raised his head, took a deep breath, and straightened.

  Jenna walked over to him. “Daddy, are you all right?”

  He turned slightly and shook his head. When she joined him, he put his arm around her shoulders, holding her close. “Forgive me, sugar.”

  She slipped her arm around his waist and leaned her head against his chest. Apologizing didn’t come easy for her dad, though he had done it on occasion. She didn’t think, however, that she had ever heard him put it in those terms. “For what?”

  “For tellin’ Nate years ago that he wasn’t good enough for you. For basically running him off.”

  Jenna pulled away and turned so she could see his face. A shiver rippled through her. “What are you talking about? What did you say to him?”

  Dub looked her directly in the eye. “When you were in high school, I could see how much you liked Nate. It was understandable. He was a good-lookin’ kid and a nice guy. I figured he was sweet on you too. Who wouldn’t be sweet on my darlin’ girl? But if he was, he kept it well hidden. I don’t know if he was shy or thought you were out of his league or scared of me. Maybe some of all three. I expect he figured I wouldn’t approve, and he was right.

  “I was too caught up in my own self-importance. I was Dub Callahan. Powerful and particular. My only daughter was going to marry someone important, someone who would make a name for himself, go places in this world.”

  “That’s why you encouraged me to date Jimmy Don.” At the time she’d wondered why her dad kept talking him up, practically pushing her to go out with him.

  Dub nodded, then looked away, staring across the wide open vistas of his land. “Half the colleges in the country were trying to recruit him in high school. Unless he got hurt, he was a cinch to play pro ball. If something happened to keep him off the ball field, he was a straight-A student. I figured he’d still do well.”

  Jimmy might have actually done better if he hadn’t played pro ball, she thought. We might have too. But it didn’t matter now. “Back to Nate.”

  “One day, a month or two before he graduated, I noticed him watching you walk to the house. There was no denying that boy was in love. Hat over boots in love. By then, you were going with Jimmy Don, but I didn’t think you were in love with him yet. Nate was a threat to my plans. So I flat told him that he was
n’t good enough for you. He wouldn’t do anything remarkable or make a name for himself.”

  “You were wrong about that.” Jenna didn’t try to hide her resentment. If her father hadn’t been so intimidating or interfered, Nate might have been more open with his feelings. If she’d known how much he cared for her, she never would have gone out with Jimmy Don. She certainly wouldn’t have married him and gone through so much pain and heartache.

  “Yes, I was.” Her father sighed heavily and smoothed back her hair. “I was wrong on a lot of things. Because of my pride, I caused you to suffer. And I’ll regret that the rest of my days.”

  “Don’t let it eat at you, Daddy. I won’t lie and tell you that I don’t resent you interfering back then. If I’d had any idea how Nate felt, I would have jumped at the chance to have a life with him. Still, though you encouraged me to go with Jimmy Don, you didn’t make me marry him. That was my own choice. I thought I loved him.”

  “But now you know differently. You’ve loved Nate all along.”

  “Yes, sir. I have. But I’m not going to dwell on the past, on what anybody did or didn’t do. I did too much of that for too long. Nate and I have a beautiful future ahead of us. That’s what is important now.” She hugged him tightly. “You’re forgiven, Daddy. Let it go.”

  He held her close. “Thank you, Jenna.” He released her and lightly tapped her under the chin with his knuckle. “You’ll be the best wife Nate could ever ask for.”

  “I’m certainly going to try.”

  “Send him out here. Since I’m eatin’ crow, I might as well finish the whole bird.”

  25

  In January, life went back to the normal routine. Feeding the cattle and horses was an everyday chore except on Sunday. For once, it seemed as if they had all the fences squared away. Probably because the whole crew had spent the first two weeks of the month building a fence strong enough to contain Wandering Boy, the nickname they had given the Callahans’ prized bull.

  Nate spent some time teaching Ebony the intricacies of cutting cattle from a herd. She was a quick learner, with inborn cow sense. The mare would prove her full worth during roundup in the spring.