The Cowboy and His Best Friend

by Kaci Rose

  “No, Colt,” I say, barely above a whisper. I can’t stop the tears that hit my eyes.

  CHAPTER 2

  Colt

  Dammit. I don’t mean to make her cry. So much has gotten messed up all those years ago, and I feel like we’ve lost so much time because of lies from people I trusted. Kelli and I are going to have it out at some point, but I need to get Sage to understand.

  I’ve been watching her all day today in the hospital and having flashbacks to when she was in here after everything with Mac. I had known awhile ago that I would fight for her but seeing her hurt, it’s like a switch flipped. I have failed to do my job and protect her, but I won’t fail her again.

  She’s mine. Mine to protect. Mine to hold. Mine to love. We have a lot to work out, but I’m not backing down. I’m not going anywhere. I don’t want to do this here. I want her to rest and heal, but that’s my Sage, strong and fierce. When she puts her mind to something, she does it, no backing down.

  When I see the tears run down her cheek, everything crumbles. I rush to her side and sit back in the chair, taking her hand in mine. I rest my forehead on them and look at the ground, taking a deep breath. That small contact calms my soul and allows me to think, to breathe.

  “I can’t take your tears, Sage. I was so scared I lost you today. No matter what has happened, my feelings for you have never changed. It has always been you. It will always be you.” I look at her, and I know tears are swimming in my eyes. I will bare my heart and soul to her if it makes her understand my feelings for her.

  “I want nothing more than to work through this and have our turn. But not now. Not here. Just let me be here with you and get you back in top shape, so you can kick my ass properly.”

  She smiles at that and nods. I turn on the TV, and we find a movie to watch, though I’m not watching it. I’m playing over and over in my head the conversation we just had. I’m soaking up the feel of her hand in mine.

  I keep playing one sentence over and over in my mind.

  Who meets their soulmate at six years old?

  We did. The first time I saw Sage, I was hanging out with Blaze. It was the first time I was over at his house, and he wanted to have Sage come over and play with us.

  We cut through the trees to the property next door and into the barn. She was in the corner of the hayloft crying. I could see handprints forming on her arm, and her lip was split open, and her cheek was red like someone had slapped her, just like. Because someone had. I knew what happened it is what happens when my father showed up in town.

  I dropped to my knees next to her and promised everything would be all right. Her eyes met mine, and I was gone. I didn’t know what the feeling was back then. But she had stolen my heart. It was our souls finding each other. I felt it then, she was mine to protect.

  I laugh. I’ve done a shit job at protecting her. She didn’t get out of that house for four more years. Then she was shot and now stabbed. I rub my hand over my face.

  That day I saw her, Blaze and I got her back to his house and cleaned her up. Not another word was spoken. We spent the whole day with her. The three of us were inseparable after that, not only in school but outside.

  I could talk to her about my home life, and she told me hers. When my father wasn’t around, my mom was basically a single mom. She worked two jobs. I stayed at Blaze’s house a lot, and Sage and I spent many times hiding in the trees between her house and his, just talking.

  My favorite times were when we talked about the future. I’d get her to talk about the life she wanted, the home, kids, pets. I wanted to hear it all, so I could make plans and give it to her.

  I’m shaken from my thoughts when a nurse enters the room. I see her eyes land on me and watch her back straighten. She pushes her chest out. Great, this is so not what I need after my conversation with Sage.

  I watch a pout form on her lips, but she does nothing for me. She has on a bit too much makeup, and you can tell her boobs, while larger, are fake. Pair that with her shift in attitude when she sees me, I know she’s all fake.

  I look at Sage who is more real than anything. Just looking at her makes my heart race a bit faster. It only does that with her. That’s how I know it’s always going to be her.

  “Visiting hours are over,” the nurse purrs with a smile and a pout on her lips, running her eyes up and down my body.

  “I’m not leaving. Have security call the sheriff. He will tell you the same thing.” After what Sage went through today, everyone knows I won’t leave her side. I’m sure the sheriff already cleared it with the staff like he did the last time Sage was in the hospital. I don’t know why this girl is even in here.

  The nurse twirls her hair, and I know her mind is calculating her next move. I look over at Sage. and she has the same blank look on her face she always does when women flirt with me around her. Fuck. I need to prove to her I mean what I say, and I don’t want any doubt in her mind. Ever.

  This nurse has no idea what she stepped into. She’s about to be the first example of the new me. The one who will stop at nothing to get what I want, and what I want is Sage.

  “I’m not leaving, and I’m sure your supervisor wouldn’t like to hear about you flirting with a patient’s visitor when the patient was just in a life or death situation a few hours ago.” I hold up my hand that’s holding Sage’s. “You see this? I’m here for her, not to pick up some floozy nurse.”

  With that, the nurse gets mad, turns on her heels, and stomps off. Sage stares at me with wide eyes. My face softens instantly.

  “What is it, love?”

  “You always flirt back and get their phone number,” she says. This just proves what an asshole I’ve been. I have a lot of groveling to do, and if I know Sage, she won’t make this easy.

  I drop my head and shoot up a quick prayer that I haven’t done so much damage that this can’t be repaired.

  “You’re right. I did it to hurt you. You weren’t the only immature one, but I threw away every phone number. I never once called any of them.”

  I look up and meet her eyes. Sage can always tell when I am lying, and I see her studying my face now. Having her gaze on me sends lightning bolts through my body. It’s always been electric with us, and knowing that hasn’t changed gives me hope.

  I watch her move over to the side of the bed and then pat the bed next to her. “Let’s get some sleep.”

  “I can sleep in the chair.”

  “Colt, I’m pretty sure the bed in more comfortable and after today…” she trails off. “Well, I know Blaze won’t come and lie with me anymore now that he has Riley. That leaves you to fend off my nightmares.”

  That catches my attention. After everything her bio parents did to her, she had nightmares for years, every night, all through school. Hearing her wake up screaming tore my heart out. Eventually, Blaze would lie in bed with her, and the nightmares stopped. Later, when we started high school, Blaze played football, so the nights he couldn’t be there for her, I was.

  Having an excuse to hold her in my arms all night was something I looked forward to every night. I could have had the worst day but lying with her and pulling her close fixed everything. Waking up with her in my arms always put a smile on my face.

  I remember many nights watching her and thinking how lucky I was. I felt complete.

  That’s what pushed our relationship forward, lying at night with her in my arms. We would stay up and talk or watch TV. Waking up with her in my arms the next morning was like waking up in heaven.

  Later, in high school, we chose to sleep in my bed more and more, but nothing would happen. Her nightmares stayed away as long as she wasn’t alone. I’m not sure what happened for the two years she was gone but when she came back, the nightmares had stopped.

  “You still have them?”

  “Only when they’re triggered.”

  Like today. Is what she doesn’t say, but we both think it.

  I nod, standing. I slip off my shoes and head to the door to cl
ose it, leaving just a small crack. I turn off the lights and crawl in bed next to her.

  I fall asleep with Sage back in my arms where she’s supposed to be. If I have my way, it’s where she will always be.

  CHAPTER 3

  Colt

  I’m woken up by the morning nurse coming in to do her rounds. Sage is still sound asleep with her head on my shoulder, and I don’t move as I watch the nurse.

  “I saw nothing.” The older lady smiles at me. “You know I was her nurse when she was here last time with the gunshot. You never left her side then either.”

  “No, ma’am.”

  She nods looking at me. “You marry her yet?”

  I almost swallow my tongue. Never has someone been so blunt on our relationship. Then again, not many people know about us either.

  “No, we had some misunderstandings. We’re trying to patch them up.”

  “Well, don’t put it off. A love like this is one everyone looks for, but few are lucky enough to find. Don’t let it go.”

  All I can do is nod while the nurse makes a few notes on her chart.

  “And whatever you said to the night nurse, thank you. She’s a huge pain in the ass. She’s always messing things up that I must clean up. I’m pretty sure the only reason she still has a job is because she’s sleeping with the supervisor.”

  I smile at her. “Yeah, I wasn’t exactly nice.”

  “I wish I could have been here to see it.” She gives me a smile and heads back out the door.

  ✽✽✽

  Later that day, the doctor gives Sage the okay to go home but wants her on bedrest until her follow-up appointment next week to get the stitches out. No lifting, no moving her arms above her head, no exercise, and no horseback riding.

  I’ve been texting with Blaze all day. He says Mom and our sister Megan have the house cleaned up, which includes bleaching the blood out of the tile. Blaze has repaired the window Jed broke, so everyone can move back into the house tonight. I guess they all stayed at Mom and Dad’s last night.

  After Sage’s sperm donor went to jail, her egg donor tried to keep the ranch going, but we all knew it as a matter of time before she was forced to sell it, or it went to foreclosure. Sage brought it up to everyone about buying the land when it went up for sale.

  We all busted out butts to put money away to buy the ranch. Blaze worked the ranch and was able to sell extra hay, Sage started her horse training, I worked odd jobs in town from cooking in the café to landscaping and even cleaning at the bar. Megan would babysit, Jason worked the bar he now owns and when Mac joined the family after Sage saved him, he started doing odd jobs in town as well adding to the fund.

  Even when Sage left, she was picking up jobs and always sending money home. I know mom and dad added any profit from the ranch each year to the fund as well. Two years after Sage left following graduation, the ranch went up for sale, and we had saved up enough for a decent down payment.

  As promised, Sage came home then. We bought the land, and her egg donor tried to back out last minute when she found out it was us, but it was too late. We brought in some people from the Native American reservation Mac is from and took some of the money left over from the down payment and had extensive renovations done on the house. It looks nothing like it did when Sage was a kid.

  Then Sage shocked us all and said she was moving in and insisted Blaze, Jason, Mac, Megan, and myself move in with her. We all agreed.

  It’s been amazing living with everyone for the last four years. The house is big enough. We aren’t on top of each other, but we always have breakfast and dinner together. Sage insists.

  Another text comes in and apparently, Blaze also plans to propose to Riley tonight, and I can’t be happier for him. I can tell he’s nervous, but I know he picked up a ring a few weeks ago and was waiting for all this stuff with Jed to be over.

  We were tossing back and forth some ideas but Sage’s was the winner with doing the barn up in twinkle lights and using lights to spell out ‘will you marry me’ Blaze called Sage 4 times today to make sure she was ok with him marrying Riley.

  Sage laughs each time Blaze calls to ask her for permission to propose. Each time, she says she already considers Riley part of the family. During his last call, she tells him she will disown him if he doesn’t ask. I get why he’s so nervous. There have been many girls in his life that didn’t understand his relationship with Sage. They would get jealous, or they would treat Sage horrible behind his back.

  We guys all made a pact in high school. We would never marry or even date a girl who didn’t truly get along with Sage. Then we made her swear she would tell us the moment a girl was mean to her. Sage said she could take care of herself, and we knew she could. We just didn’t want to be with a girl like that. It took some convincing, but Sage agreed.

  That night, she had asked me to go for a walk with her. Once we were away from the house, she slammed me up against a tree and said I better not be thinking of dating.

  The thought causes me to smile now. I had laughed and wrapped my arms around her. I had said the only girl I wanted to date was her. Then I kissed her hard and flipped us around until she was pressed against the tree. Her jealousy made for one of the hottest makeout sessions we had ever had.

  Within an hour or so, Mom picks us up from the hospital, and I sit in the back with Sage and hold her hand. We talk about Blaze’s proposal and how nervous he has been. Mom and Sage are laughing about his phone calls today, and it’s great to hear the laughter in the truck.

  We get Sage home, and I take her upstairs.

  “Let’s get you settled in bed, and I’ll get you some dinner.” I take her to my room at the end of the hall. We all agree Sage should get the new master bedroom. This was her family’s home. My room is next to hers. Even through it all, I can’t stand to be far from her.

  Though I love how Sage flipped the house, the wing where all our rooms are now, used to be the guest wing.

  “Where are we going?”

  “My room, so I can keep an eye on you.”

  “Colt, take me to my room. You can just stay in there. I want my own bed.”

  “I was looking forward to having you in my bed, love.” I pout just a little.

  “And I was looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.” She raises an eyebrow at me.

  I relent. “Anything you want, always.”

  I do love her room. It’s a true master bedroom.

  Sage’s room is done up in white and creams with light-blue accents. She has a plush carpet on the floor and instead of windows, she has five sets of French doors that she loves opening when the weather allows. She also has dark wood beams on her ceiling, a fireplace with a TV overhead, and a sitting area where often we all end up watching movies at night.

  She has a large walk-in closet with a large window in it too. Then there’s Sage’s bathroom; it’s a showstopper. The wood beams on the ceiling continue there, and the bathroom is all white marble and hardwood floors. The walls are a light gray, and the sinks are built into old dressers that are painted white, so there’s plenty of storage.

  She has a crystal chandelier, and her shower would make anyone drool. It’s a walk-in shower done up in river rocks. It has two showerheads and two rainfall showerheads in the ceiling. During Hell Week, when we work sunup to sundown, Sage shares her bathroom with us because those showerheads work magic on your muscles.

  Her room has always felt like home to me. I love my room, but when I think of home, I think of hers.

  I get Sage to her room and set her up in her bed. Even now, she still takes my breath away. Her tan skin and long, dark-brown hair are a sharp contrast to the white sheets on her bed. She looks like an angel, and I feel so lucky to have her in my life.

  We have dinner and start our week-long movie marathon. Sage takes pity on me and picks out an action film, but I know there will be plenty of chick flicks too. I will watch every one of them too because I’m not leaving her side.

  CHAPTER 4r />
  Sage

  I won’t lie, waking up this morning in Colt’s arms has been amazing. He hasn’t left my side unless it’s to use the bathroom or get me food, or anything else I ask for. He has been my sweet Colt from all those years ago. The Colt only I get to see. That thought does funny things to my heart.

  He’s different though too. Instead of the unsure boy who was learning as we went along, he has a hot alpha-male vibe to him now. He knows what he wants, and he’s going after it. Instead of the thin growing boy that was all knees and elbows, he’s now all man with muscles for days and tattoos I just want to run my tongue over.

  We’ve both grown, and I’m excited to learn more about my best friend and the Colt only I get to see. He’s downstairs now refilling our snacks and waters, and I’m so lost in thought I don’t hear Riley come in until she jumps on the bed beside me, laughing.

  I know Blaze proposed last night, and I know she said yes. I just wait for her to talk.

  “Sage! I’m getting married!” she squeals, and I laugh. I’m so excited for her. She isn’t like the other girls the guys date. Many of them were sweet as sin to them and turn on me the second their backs were turn.

  No, Riley is the whole package and so good for Blaze, and she’s quickly becoming one of my best girlfriends.

  “Tell me everything.”

  I listen as she tells me about Blaze’s proposal and how they stayed up late talking and making plans.

  “Please tell me you guys will stay in the house with us at least until you have kids. You can slowly remodel one of the houses on the ranch for later,” I beg her.

  “Oh, of course, we’re going to stay! I love it here! Oh, Sage. Thank you again, not just for the other day but for everything. For helping me and giving me this family I never thought I would get to have.”

  “Riley, you were meant to be here, and I love you so damn much.”

  “I love you too, Sage,” she says with tears in her eyes and hugs me so gently. “Would you be my maid of honor?”