It was still early in the day. Not yet noon. He might just take a group of riders out on the next excursion, just for the hell of it. He hadn’t done a ride along in forever it seemed. He might be out of practice a bit, but being a cowboy since he could walk, the whole thing came naturally to him. You get right back on when you fall off.
Lunch would be served soon so he’d get with Jeff then so they could talk business with his dad too. He needed to get their take on the expenses for the coming month before the guest population died off at the end of September. After Labor Day, things were slower around the ranch for guests, but the cattle business never took a break.
He adjusted his hat on his head to settle it low on his brow as he glanced down at his work clothes. Dusty boots, Wrangler jeans, standard cowboy hat and western style shirt. He sure looked the part anyway. With a wiry twist of his lips and a shrug, he walked out before shutting the door behind him. Not that anyone would mess with his computer, but he didn’t want to take the chance. He wasn’t ready to reveal just how well things were going with his own finances, much less the ranch.
The lunch bell clanged in the distance, signaling food was served although the guests ate first and then the family. The ranch had a few empty beds the last week or so, but there were still several people hanging out for those last few days of summer before things wound down. He knew of a few single ladies who were checking out the cowboys on the ranch this week. They’d given him the eye yesterday before supper. He knew his mom’s rule of getting together with the guests, but he wondered if it might be a good idea to check out one. He had an itch that hadn’t been scratched lately.
What about Callie?
There she was in the forefront of his mind again. He didn’t need to think of her when he thought of bedding a lady, but there she was making herself a present part of his thoughts without regard to the fact that he wanted to keep things strictly friends with her. Did he? His thoughts strayed to how she’d looked in her slinky little red dress last night, bringing randy images of her to the front of his brain. Maybe she would be interested in taking their relationship to a friends with benefits status?
Hmm.
When he rounded the corner of the stairs to walk into the dining room, he was struck by the group of people milling about. With a family of nine boys, his own group made up a large portion of the people in the room and with the addition of some of the boys and their significant others, made for an even bigger group.
The single women he’d been eyeing yesterday had already sat down to eat at the back end of the dining room tables. “Jeremiah? Come sit with us.”
He tipped his hat before he got in line to get his plate. Nothing like a little female company to make the hours go by faster.
Once he got his plate of food, he stopped by the family table to tell Jeff he needed to talk to him after lunch before he headed toward the ladies at the back of the room. “Ladies.”
A petite brunette scooted to one side. “Sit by me.”
He took the seat and laid his hat on the bench between them. “Are you ladies having a good time?” The woman next to him, what was her name. Oh yeah, Brenda. “How about you, Brenda?”
“Well, yes. I mean there are all kinds of things to do on a place this size, but we wanted to get to know the cowboys a lot better than we have, if you know what I mean.” She squeezed his thigh as she batted her eyelashes at him.
He glanced over at her, raising his eyebrow in question. Nope, he wasn’t mistaken. Desire was written all over her face. He might take her up on that offer after a ride this afternoon. Maybe he’d take her for a private little outing down by the creek where two people could get to know each other a little bit. “How would you like to go for a ride with me this evening?”
“I would love to.”
“I’ll meet you here about six. After supper.”
She smiled as her friends gasped and sighed. They finished lunch with the conversation floating around him of typical female proportions. He couldn’t keep it all straight since he wasn’t up on the latest fashions in New York, Broadway musicals, what the celebs were doing in Los Angeles, or even what the latest weather forecast was if it wasn’t for their area. Yeah, he kept up on financial news, but women didn’t care about that sort of thing.
When he finished his meal, he excused himself with work to be done never ending on a ranch and left the ladies to gossip amongst themselves.
He dumped his plate into the wash basin for the dishes with a smile toward Mandy who had just come out to grab the dirty plates. “What are your plans for tonight, Jeremiah?”
“Oh, I have a late night ride with a lady who is a guest here. I’m supposed to meet her at seven.”
“That’ll be great. I’m sure she’ll enjoy your company.”
Mandy grabbed the dishpan right before she disappeared through the double doors leading to the kitchen.
He pulled off his hat and rake his fingers through his hair. Why did he get the feeling he was forgetting something? He shrugged. Apparently, it wasn’t important.
His mom walked up behind him as Mandy left through the doors. “I thought you were going out with Callie tonight?”
“Shit. I’d forgotten about that.”
“Well you can’t be in two places at once.”
“No. I’ll cancel with Callie.”
“Why?”
“It’ll be better that way. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea, Mom. Two dates in two days? If she thinks there is something going to happen between us, she’s mistaken.”
“Jeremiah, you are being an ass.”
“Sorry, but this is for the best.”
“You’re going out with a guest on the ranch?”
“Just going for a late evening ride.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Nothing else.”
“Don’t forget to call Callie. You’ll really be in hot water if you do.”
The family had finished up their food as well so he motioned for Jeff and his dad to join him in his office to go over the figures for the month on the supplies.
* * * *
Callie finished dressing in her tight-fitting jeans, white tank top with a sheer blouse she wanted to wear over the top lying on the bed, and her cowboy boots. She planned to be the epitome of what Jeremiah wanted in a woman if it killed her. With a glance at the clock, she realized he should be here any minute so she finished with the light bit of makeup before she clipped her hair back in a barrette. Nothing like being the girl next door and still trying to be a woman a cowboy would be interested in dating on a regular basis. “What if he kisses me tonight?” She closed her eyes as she imagined the look he had on his face when he bent his head to kiss her. He’d been about to, she just knew it, and man did she want him to.
“Callie?”
“Yeah, Dad?”
“Are you about ready? Jeremiah should be here any time.”
“Yes. I’ll be out in a minute if he comes to the door. I need to put on my blouse.”
“All right. I’ll man the door.”
Fifteen minutes later, she paced in front of the fireplace as she glanced at her watch. Six-fifteen. She’d never known Jeremiah to be late for anything. Maybe she should call him. She had his number from when he’d tutored her so many years ago. She’d never erased it from her phone, always hoping someday he would call her. Well, now he should have and hadn’t.
“Why don’t you call him? Maybe something happened. He might have forgotten or he got in an accident or whatever.”
“I should, huh?”
“Yes, you should.”
“Okay.” She exhaled forcibly, picked up her phone from the coffee table and scrolled through the numbers to find his. When she had his name highlighted, she hit talk so it would dial his number.
The phone rang several times before it he finally picked up with a breathless hello.
“Jeremiah?”
“Callie?”
“Uh, I thought I’d check with you since you’re late. I thought
you said six?”
“Oh, shit. God.”
A female voice in the background said, “Hey, baby. Where are you going? We’re just getting started, cowboy.”
“Callie, I’m sorry. I was going to call you. Something came up and…”
“Something came up? Why do I hear a woman in the background?”
“She’s a guest at the ranch.”
“And the water in the background too?”
“She’s in the restroom.”
“Why don’t I believe you, Jeremiah? If you didn’t want to go out tonight, you could have at least called me.”
“I meant to.”
“You meant to cancel our date because you wanted to go out with a guest at the ranch?”
“Yes, I mean no. Shit.”
“Never mind. I understand. I’ll talk to you some other time.”
“Callie?”
“What?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“Fuck you, Jeremiah Young. Do your guest. Get your fucking rocks off because you aren’t worth my time, you asshole.” Too bad they didn’t have a land line. It just wasn’t the same forcibly hitting end on a cell phone.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She should have known. All men were the same. They didn’t give a shit about how things were supposed to work. He was supposed to be different. He was supposed to care about her even a little bit, but he didn’t apparently. He was more interested in doing one of the guests at the ranch. Fucker.
“Aw, baby, I’m sorry.”
She hiccupped as she pressed her fist to her mouth and bit down to try to relieve some of the pain she felt. “He’s with someone at the ranch, Daddy. He couldn’t even take the time to call me and cancel before he took off for parts unknown with some sleazeball guest who wants to fuck a cowboy.”
“I know, honey. He’s not worth your tears if he’s that kind of man.”
“God help me.”
“It’s okay. You should go out tonight anyway. Find yourself a nice young man to hang out with at the bar. Get a little crazy.”
She wiped the tears from her face with a tissue from the coffee table. “I think I will, Daddy. Who knows? Maybe I’ll meet the man of my dreams, the one who will take the place of Jeremiah Young and shred the thoughts of him right from my mind with one smile.”
“I hope so, baby.”
“I’m going to touch up my makeup before I head over to The Dusty Boot.”
“You do that.”
She hugged her dad, and then headed back down the hall to her bedroom to fix her face. When she glanced in the mirror of her bathroom, she saw the red rimmed eyes and blotchy face staring back. “He’s not worth the tears. Asshole. I can’t believe he did that.” A fresh tear slid down her cheek, but she wiped it away angrily. “He’s not worth my tears. I thought he was different. Apparently not. If it means a piece of ass, he’s all about the most readily available women around. Well, to hell with him. He could have gotten it from me, but no. Asshole wanted some chick on the ranch. Probably a blonde bimbo with big boobs or something.” She wiped the mascara that had bled under her eyes so she could refresh the look she’d perfected before.
She’d teach him and his wandering ways. She’d find herself a cowboy to fuck for the night so she could totally forget all about Jeremiah Young. If she was lucky, she might run into her forever cowboy and it wouldn’t be him.
Several minutes later, she found herself standing at the open doorway of The Dusty Boot. Music blared through the speakers next to the band playing country music with a two-step beat to it. She wanted a drink. Something strong. Whiskey and Coke maybe.
She found an empty stool at the bar between two men she didn’t know. Right up her alley.
Peyton Young made her way toward her to take her drink order and she had to bite her lip to keep from saying something about Jeremiah to his sister-in-law. Of course, it wasn’t her fault or Jason’s Jeremiah turned out to be an ass. “Hi there.” She tilted her head to the side and smiled. “Callie, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Hi, Peyton.”
“What’ll ya have, doll?”
“Jack and Coke, please.”
“Coming right up.”
As Peyton mixed the drink for her not far from where she sat, she glanced to her left to take in the man next to her. Nope, not her type. Older guy with a beer gut, large belt buckle and cowboy hat probably covering a half-bald head. She looked to her right. Now there was a possibility. The guy sitting next to her was cute. Dark hair peeked out beneath a straw cowboy hat, western style button-down shirt, nice jeans and dirty boots. He apparently worked for a living if he wore dirty boots to the bar.
“Hey.”
He looked her way as he brought the beer bottle to his lips. When he finished the sip, he said, “Hi, pretty lady.”
She blushed at the compliment as she held out her hand. “My name is Callie.”
He took her hand. “Nice to meet you, Callie. I’m Matt.”
“Do you live around here? I don’t remember seeing you before.”
“Nope. Live in San Antonio, but I heard this was a great bar to come to on Saturday night so here I am.” He turned to check out the dance floor. “Seems to be a great place.”
“Yeah.”
“You live around here?”
“Yeah. My dad owns the garage up the road.”
“Cool.”
He tapped his foot to the beat of the music coming from the band as Peyton slid her drink to her on a napkin. “Six-fifty.”
“Can I run a tab? I think I might be drinking a bit tonight.”
“Sure. Just give me your card and I’ll run it.”
“Thanks.”
She sipped the drink a let out a small cough.
“Strong?” he asked, one eyebrow shot up over his left eye.
“Yeah, a little. I’m not quite used to it being that strong, I guess.”
“They make some pretty mean drinks here, I heard.”
“They are pretty generous with the booze, that’s for sure.”
“Hey, want to dance?”
“Let me finish this drink first and I’d love to.”
“How old are you, Callie?”
“Twenty-eight. Why?”
“Just checkin’. You look young, but the bartender didn’t card you so I figured you were over twenty-one anyway.”
“I know her. She knows me. In fact, most everyone in this bar probably knows me.” She looked around the room noting several people she’d went to high school with, a group of the single Young brothers in the corner playing pool, another group of women she knew from around town and there was Lydia hanging all over a good-looking cowboy who worked on one of the other ranches in the area. Boy, she didn’t take long finding another hunk. “Yep. I know most everyone in here.”
“Maybe I should have you introduce me around. I could use some work.”
“Are you a cowboy?”
He tipped his hat. “As cowboy as they come. Been wranglin’ for a while now, but the ranch I’ve been working on sold out recently to a big conglomerate so they won’t be running cattle anymore.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What do you do?”
“I work at my dad’s garage.”
“Oh, like running the cash register or something?”
“No, I’m a mechanic.”
“Really. You work on cars, huh? Not a typical job for a woman.”
“No, it’s not, but I enjoy doing it and since I’m my dad’s only child, I got to learn his trade.” She set her empty glass on the bar. “Shall we dance now?”
“Sure.”
He took her hand in his and led her to the dance floor. His touch didn’t do what Jeremiah’s did. She didn’t tingle or shiver from the brush of his fingers. She hoped she could get past that because she really did want to like this guy. However, when he wrapped a hand behind her head, he almost punched him. She didn’t like being manhandled.
She took his hand
and put it on her waist.
“Sorry.”
“No problem. I don’t like a guy’s hand up there is all. It’s more comfortable on my waist.”
“Okay.”
They danced a two-step while she kept looking around the bar. Her vision caught on the other Young brothers playing pool in the corner and her thoughts strayed to Jeremiah. What was he doing? Was he doing the guest from the ranch? Where were they? She’d heard water running in the background, but that could’ve meant anything. Jeremiah shared half of one of the cabins with one of his brothers, but he could have taken her there. They might have been sharing a bath when he answered the phone or maybe in her room?
“Bastard.”
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean you. I was thinking about someone else.”
He placed his hand on his chest. “Ouch. You’re dancing with me and thinking about another guy?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you.”
“Did you have a fight with your boyfriend tonight? Is that why you’re at the bar prowling?”
“I’m not prowling. You make it sound like I’m some slut looking to get laid because my boyfriend cheated on me.” They stopped dancing as she jammed her hands on her hips. “I’ll have you know I don’t have a boyfriend and we didn’t have a fight. I’m not here looking to get laid, I’m just here to have a few drinks and unwind, so you can kiss my ass, Matt.” She spun on her heel to head back for the bar to get another drink. Strike one.
“Wait a damned minute here. You’re the one who muttered bastard I’m asking what’s the issue here. I need to know where I stand because it’s Saturday and I don’t want to go home alone.”
“Well if you’re looking to get laid, find another girl. I know of several here who are into that kind of thing.”
“And you aren’t?”
She pulled back her hand and slapped him hard across the cheek. “No, I’m not. Get lost before I deck your ass.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her in, squashing her breasts against his chest. “Like it rough, do you?”
“The lady said get lost, buddy.”
Without glancing over Matt’s shoulder, she knew who stood a few feet away. Jeremiah.
“Find your own. This one is mine.”
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