Cowboy Brave

by Carolyn Brown

  “You look like you’ve been pulled through a knothole backward. You know you can move back in here anytime. We’ve decided to make the guest room into the nursery, since it’s closer to our bedroom,” Retta said.

  Justin helped himself to a healthy portion of meat loaf and then passed it on to Cade. “Thanks, but where I live isn’t the problem.”

  “You’re not getting the flu are you?” Levi asked.

  “Nope, just tired from being shorthanded. And I’ve got that drive out to the panhandle next week to buy that breeder bull. I’m not looking forward to it one bit,” he said.

  Cade sent rolls and hash brown casserole around the table. “Spring break is coming up in two weeks. We can always put out the word that we need some help, and we’ll have high school boys standing in line to get a week’s paycheck from us.”

  Levi nodded in agreement. “That should get us through flu season, and we’ll be right back on track. It’s like this every couple of years.”

  “Remember when me and you got it at the same time the second year after we were out of high school?” Justin asked. “Cade didn’t even come home from college because he was afraid he’d get it.”

  “Hey, that was my last year of school,” Cade said. “I wanted to get done with it all so I could come home for good, not just vacations and summers. I sure didn’t need the flu to keep me from getting finals done.”

  “It always hits at calving season,” Levi said. “But we’ll get through it.”

  Gloria entered the kitchen by the back door, hung up her jacket, and sat down beside Justin. “I heard you had a date with Emily last night.”

  “Gossip travels faster than the speed of light.” Justin chuckled. “We had burgers. That doesn’t qualify as a date.”

  “Well, what does making out in public qualify as?” Gloria asked.

  “Two consenting adults sharing a good night kiss.” Justin’s expression went from amused to serious.

  “I don’t like it, son,” Gloria said.

  “Why, Mama?” Cade asked. “Emily seems like a responsible, kindhearted woman. She’s sure a far cry from what Justin usually goes out with.”

  “I think under all that…” She paused and took a deep breath. “Sugar sweetness she’s got an ulterior motive, like marrying up in the world.”

  “You think Emily is a gold digger?” Retta gasped. “Why? You didn’t think that about me.”

  “You aren’t a big girl,” Justin said through clenched teeth. “Mama wants me to have a pretty blonde who barely comes to my shoulder.”

  “I’m not that kind of woman,” Gloria argued. “It’s just, I feel like there’s more than she’s tellin’. Call it mother’s intuition.”

  “So why don’t you invite Emily to lunch or for coffee some evening? Get to know her better. If you spent some time with her, you’d see her the way I do.”

  “I just might do that. Are you taking her to the panhandle with you?” Gloria asked.

  “No. She’ll be at work. I’m planning to leave on Monday and come back Tuesday.” Justin hadn’t ever seen his mother with this attitude, and he didn’t like it.

  Gloria shrugged and changed the subject. “I guess we’re having dinner with Mavis and Skip, and those old folks on Sunday.”

  Retta refilled tea glasses. “They sure livened this place up for a week. Mavis and I talked about it. We decided not to all get together for Sunday dinner. We thought it would be easier on Benjy not to have quite so many folks over at their place this first time that the group from the center is there. Kind of ease into it with Benjy, even though he knows all of us and them.”

  Justin blocked out the rest of the conversation and thought about Sunday. Maybe it was because Emily wasn’t easy that made her so attractive to him. For more than fourteen years he’d been dating or chasing women, but he’d never known anyone quite like her.

  What makes her so different? This time it was his grandfather’s voice in his head.

  He couldn’t begin to answer the question because he had no idea, but he really, really liked spending time with her.

  Emily took the red dress she’d worn to the Valentine’s party last year from the closet and hung it on the back of the bathroom door that Thursday morning. The hot shower would steam the wrinkles right out. Just before party time she’d rush into the lounge and change into it.

  Cards were filled out and in the boxes. She mentally checked that job off her list.

  The caterer had confirmed that she would be there ready to set up immediately after supper had been served. Emily only had to put a few touches on the table centerpieces. Another check.

  And Justin is going to be there, she reminded herself as she towel dried her hair. A third check.

  She was thinking of what she might be forgetting when she knocked her dress off the hook. It landed in a mass of red at her feet and there on the back of it was a big nasty green stain.

  “Dammit! I should’ve taken it to the cleaners.” She remembered the incident the previous year. One of the little kids had left a sugar cookie with green icing on a chair and she’d sat down on it. There wasn’t another red outfit in her closet, so she would have to wear another color.

  She dressed in scrubs, picked up her daily tote bag along with a kit that contained her shoes, makeup, and all the other necessities for the party. The minute she was in her car, she called Nikki and put it on speaker. She told her about the problem and said, “Now what am I going to do? I have red shoes, red lipstick, and everything but a dress. I don’t think all of this will look good with scrubs.”

  “Not to worry. We’ve got time to fix this,” Nikki said. “We’ve got an hour at lunch. Let’s run into that fancy new shop down on Main Street. It’s not far from the center, so we can dash in and out in twenty minutes.”

  “Oh, right!” Emily groaned. “I’m sure they’ve got all kinds of cute things in size four to maybe fourteen. But something in an eighteen?”

  “Never know until we look, and besides I need to find a dress too. I’ve been studying so hard for this nursing test, I forgot all about needing a party outfit until this morning,” Nikki said.

  “We can try, but I won’t hold my breath. I may have to tie a red bow in my hair and go in scrubs.” Emily parked in her reserved spot. “See you inside in a few minutes.”

  The sun’s rays were warm that morning as she went from the car to the center. A robin hopped about, looking for worms in the grass under the oak trees. But that didn’t mean that spring was on the way. Not even in north central Texas, where it came earlier than it did up in the northern part of the country.

  Emily didn’t like change and yet the world was in a constant cycle of just that. Seasons changed. Babies were born. Old folks died. That last thought caused a catch in her chest. She didn’t like thinking about her residents passing away. She’d had to endure a few funerals, and they’d been tough, but when any one of her precious Five passed on, she’d probably go to pieces.

  Nikki met her at the door. “I called the new shop and they go all the way up to size twenty-four. She says she’ll pull everything in red for both of us, and have it in dressing rooms ready for when we get there.”

  Emily stopped long enough to give her a hug. “You are the best. I owe you one.”

  “I will collect.” Nikki pushed her medicine cart on down the hallway.

  Emily’s job that morning was to make all the table centerpieces for the evening party. While she worked, her thoughts kept going back to the kisses that she and Justin had shared. Unlike the other guys she’d dated, he didn’t know that she came from one of the biggest ranches in Texas. So that couldn’t be the reason he was interested in her.

  But why has he caught your attention? the voice in her head asked.

  “Because he makes me happy,” she muttered.

  Nikki poked her head in the door. “You ready to go. It’s noon.”

  Emily’s eyes went to the clock on the wall and then to all the arrangements on the table. “H
ow’d time go by so fast?”

  “Looks to me like you were pretty busy. We’ve only got an hour. We’d better get goin’,” Nikki answered.

  Larry grabbed her by the hand as she passed the Fab Five’s table in the dining room. “Is Justin coming tonight?”

  “I think so,” Emily said. “But right now I’ve got to go. My dress is ruined, and I’m going to look for another one.”

  Sarah leaned around Larry and said, “Buy something sexy as hell, something that will knock his eyes out.”

  Luck was with them—they made every green traffic light and were in the dress shop in five minutes. The owner was waiting for them and led them right back to the two dressing rooms.

  Emily was grateful that the space wasn’t cramped, and there was lots of cool air flowing from an overhead vent. She kicked off her shoes, threw her scrubs on a chair and stood before the three-way mirror in nothing but her panties and bra. She turned this way and then that. What would Justin’s expression tell her if he saw her like this? Or worse, yet, when she removed the double-D bra and stood before him naked?

  “Am I ready for that step?” she asked her reflection.

  “Are you talking to me?” Nikki asked in the adjoining room.

  “No, myself,” Emily said, raising her voice.

  She tried on the first dress and visualized Justin’s eyes when he saw her in it. She took it off and tried on the other two. None of them really suited her, but the last one had the simplest lines, and it matched shoes she already had.

  “I found mine. How about you?” she called out to Nikki in the next room.

  “Yep, first one I tried on. You still got yours on?” Nikki asked.

  “Nope, I’m ready to check out,” Emily said.

  “Me too. Let’s pay out of this joint and go get some ice cream,” Nikki suggested. “I’ve got some news, and I wanted to wait to share it until we were alone.”

  They paid for their purchases, and Emily drove to the ice cream store just down the block. They ordered sandwiches and shakes and went back to the center. “We’ve still got fifteen minutes. Let’s eat out here. You said you have news. Got a new boyfriend?” Emily asked.

  “I wish.” Nikki handed a sandwich to Emily. “But this is even better than a boyfriend. If I pass my nursing test the hospital is offering me an RN position as emergency room nurse. I’ll be working twenty-four hours on duty, then I’ll be off for twenty-four.”

  “Oh, no!” Emily gasped.

  “You don’t think I should take it? Is it the hours?” Nikki fired off the questions. “My salary will double, so I can get a decent car and a better apartment.”

  “No, it’s a great job. It’s just that I’ll miss you so much. We hired on at the same time, and I get to see you every day.” Emily sighed.

  “I’ll miss you too, but on my days off we can still grab supper at least once a week and catch up. And just think about the doctors.” Nikki’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “I might find us both one to date if things go south with your cowboy.”

  Emily flashed on her reflection in that mirror and frowned. “I’m not so sure that things will ever go anywhere with Justin.”

  “Yeah, right. What happens when you kiss him?” Nikki poked her on the arm. “He makes your toes curl up more than any other man ever has. When he comes around, you’re all flustered, and nothing or no one has ever flustered you like he does. So things are going somewhere, darlin’.” She dragged out the last word like a true cowboy would. “Take him to bed, and see if he’s any good.”

  “Good Lord, woman!” Emily gasped, but her palms went clammy at the thought of seeing Justin naked. Heat started on the inside of her body and worked its way out, settling into two spots of high color in her cheeks.

  “Aww, I made you blush, so I must’ve hit a nerve.” Nikki stuck straws in the two chocolate milk shakes. “That don’t hardly ever happen. I’ve never seen you so red. You really need ice cream to cool you down. Stop runnin’ from Justin, and let him catch you. If you don’t like what you see when he peels out of them tight-fittin’ jeans, then I’ll rustle us up a couple of young doctors.”

  Emily put her hands on her hot cheeks. “You are terrible. You’re just sayin’ this stuff because you didn’t want to see me cry about you leavin’.”

  “Nope, I meant every word,” Nikki said.

  “Sure you did,” she said. “Do I get to be your maid of honor when you marry your sexy doctor?”

  “Of course, and I don’t care if he’s sexy or not. I just want him to be rich,” Nikki declared.

  “Not me. I want to be in love, like Claire and Levi are and like Cade and Retta.”

  Nikki shook her head slowly. “Haven’t you heard? It’s just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor one.”

  “What if fate puts your soul mate in your pathway, and he’s a poor old farmer barely makin’ it?” Emily asked.

  “Then I’ll change my mind,” Nikki said. “After all it is a woman’s prerogative.”

  Everything was ready for the party to begin. All that was left was for Emily and Nikki to rush into the bathroom and get dressed. Ten minutes didn’t give them time to do much with makeup, but Emily reapplied her lipstick. Then she shook her hair free of the ponytail and slipped into her dress.

  “I like that one better than the one you wore last year, and would you look at this.” Nikki pulled Emily’s shoes from the tote bag. “They match. It was meant to be, just like you and Justin. You look like a model. Justin is going to drool all over his shirt.”

  “Oh, yeah!” Emily said sarcastically. “And every guy’s eyeballs are going to bug out when they see you in that getup.”

  Nikki wore a cute little red jumpsuit that she paired with silver high-heeled shoes. For the first time, Emily wished that she were a small girl, like Nikki—and Allison.

  “Thank you, dawlin’.” Nikki bowed. “Now I’ve got to get on out of here. I haven’t had time to put my cards in the boxes yet. So I’ll see you out there.”

  The moment Emily entered the room she gave it a quick scan to see if she could locate Justin, and she found him sitting at a table with the Five. Stepping back into the shadows, she stared as long as she wanted. The old folks were beaming because they had a guest. And he looked as if he was having a good time.

  She stepped out of the shadows and stopped at each table to say a few words to the residents. Long before she reached Justin’s table, she could feel his eyes on her. Suddenly, it was very warm in the room, but at least the heat didn’t settle in her cheeks and melt her makeup.

  “This is the best party ever,” Bess said when Emily arrived.

  “Pull up a chair,” Otis said.

  “I don’t have time. In three minutes I have to start the program,” she said.

  “Well, before you have to leave, let me tell you that you sure do look pretty tonight.” Justin’s gaze caught hers and held for several seconds.

  “Thank you.” She’d never been flustered behind the microphone, but that evening her hands shook as she walked toward it.

  “Welcome, everyone,” she said.

  No one paid a bit of attention. Few even looked her way.

  “Welcome!” she said a second time after she remembered to flip the switch to turn on the microphone.

  The room went quiet, and Justin winked.

  “We want to thank all you relatives and friends who’ve come to help us celebrate Valentine’s Day this evening. We’ll have some music and refreshments in a few minutes but first we have a couple here in the center who’s been married seventy years. They’re going to tell us their story, so let’s give a big round of applause to April and Leonard Wilson.”

  The clapping went on from the time the elderly couple left their group until they made it to the microphone, holding hands the whole way. Emily took a seat over to the side and tried to focus on them, but it was difficult when she wanted to stare at Justin. He looked downright sexy in those tight jeans and that black shirt with its pear
l snaps. He was a good person to be spending his evening at a senior citizens’ party, especially when he could be at the Rusty Spur dancing with all the ladies.

  With an effort, Emily turned her attention back to the couple at the microphone. Leonard was one of those tall, lanky men who always wore black dress slacks and white shirts buttoned all the way to the top. April had blue eyes set in a bed of wrinkles and short gray hair cut in a bob right below her chin.

  Will I look like that when I’ve been married seventy years? Emily wondered. Do I want marriage and kids, or can I be content with what I have right now in a career and these sweet old folks to take care of?

  “I’m not sure how to start this story, so I’ll just begin.” Leonard kept his wife’s hand in his. “I was in the second grade in a little tiny school just across the Red River into Oklahoma when I fell in love with April. She was in the first grade and she had the biggest bluest eyes I’d ever seen. But after that one school year, her family moved to Texas and I didn’t see her again until we were sixteen. I was friends with a boy who was dating her best friend, and he invited me to go to a birthday party with him. She was there, and I proposed to her before the night was over.”

  April stepped up to the microphone. “We were dancing on the grass in our bare feet that evening, and I said yes, but that we’d have to wait until we were grown-ups. So Leonard would borrow his dad’s old truck and come see me on Sunday afternoons. At the end of that year, he graduated from high school and joined the air force, and he wanted me to marry him before he went off to his first duty station.”

  Leonard kissed her on the top of the head. “She’d promised her parents she would finish high school. So I went through basic, and I qualified for flight school. I went into training and wrote to her every night for the next year.”

  April patted him on the shoulder. “We got married in 1949 when I finished school, but he was still in training. We had a tiny apartment, and I went to work at the base store as a clerk. We thought we’d done died and gone to heaven. Leonard was going to make a career of the military and someday we were going to have children.”