The Cowboy and His Best Friend

by Kaci Rose

Everyone nods. Then Abby looks up at Lauren.

  “If you guys want to run the other way and forget the B&B I completely understand.”

  They both laugh. “We don’t scare easily. If you knew my childhood, you would understand,” Lauren murmurs. This is when I get a good look at her.

  “You might have more in common with Colt and me than you realize,” I say, and we lock eyes. She nods as we pull into the driveway.

  “Remember, not a word. Not even tonight behind closed doors, okay? No texting, nothing. Act like you don’t know; we can’t risk it.” We all nod at Colt and head into the wake.

  ✽✽✽

  I hate wakes. It feels like it never ends. People linger and want us to comfort them, and I just don’t have it in me. Finally, Adam and Lauren take over and push people out with excuses that Abby needs to be alone.

  Even once the house is cleared, none of us are willing to sleep. The guests stay up with us, and I know we’re all watching them, trying to figure out who is the undercover cop.

  Is it the middle-aged business couple here on vacation from New York City? Maybe it’s the woman and her fiancé here checking out wedding venues in town. I rule out the little old lady who is making her pilgrimage to Graceland. She’s in her eighties. I thought for a moment maybe it’s even Adam and Lauren.

  But my bet is the on the gentleman in his early thirties who’s in town for a family reunion. He says he wants to have a place of peace to come to escape his crazy family.

  No matter who it is, my gun is always on me. Colt knows it too. He has made sure of it and has never left my side. I never leave Abby’s side, so the three of us share her room. Thankfully, Colt and I can squeeze into my bed. With Abby in her bed on the other side of the room, I can tell isn’t sleeping, but she has told us several times, she is happy to have Colt in the room.

  We’re now getting ready for our coffee meeting, and tensions are high. Adam and Lauren stay at the B&B to handle checkouts and the guests. They’ve taken to the place, learning the ropes quickly.

  Colt will drive us and promises not to leave our side. The car ride to the coffee shop is quiet, and I know Abby is terrified. Sadly, Colt and I have both been in worse situations. That doesn’t mean we aren’t nervous either. It’s the fear of the unknown.

  Colt parks, and we take a deep breath as he checks his phone.

  “Okay, let’s do this,” he says. He guides us both into the coffee shop. We don’t see Luke, Mike, or Robby there yet, so we get in line to get a coffee. Then we take a seat by the front window, out in the open.

  We only wait about five minutes before Luke and Mike show up, but no Robby. They don’t even bother getting coffee. They just sit at our table, with their backs to the front door. Abby won’t make eye contact with them, which is for the best.

  You can tell by the way Luke carries himself, he’s over-confident, and I know this will be his downfall. As he sits, he unbuttons his suit coat and looks over at Abby.

  “Let’s get right down to business, shall we?” Luke asks in an irritated tone.

  I must bite the inside of my cheek not to smile. I feel Colt’s hand dig into my thigh as a reminder as well. He knows me all too well.

  “Go on,” Colt says.

  “Abigale, your parents were registered members of the church. They had signed that they acknowledged the rule upon becoming members.”

  “When was this?” Colt interrupts.

  “The date we have on file was right after they were married in 1988.”

  “So, thirty-two years ago.” I do the math.

  “Regardless, they knew the rules. Their estate has to pay out the twenty-five percent,” Luke states.

  “Just to clarify. Twenty-five percent of what?” Colt asks.

  “Of their net worth,” Mike speaks up for the first time.

  “And what about your demands on Abby if she wants to keep the bed and breakfast?”

  “Women cannot own such a high-profile, high-income business. She has no choice but to marry Robby to continue to own such a company.”

  At this, I sit up straight, and Colt again knows what’s coming. I want to reach across the table and rip off this guy’s balls and force-feed them to him. But Colt remains calm and grips my thigh even tighter.

  It’s a reminder that not only calms me but turns me on too.

  “Okay, let’s play your little game. She marries Robby. Then what happens to the business?” Colt asks.

  “Well, Robby and the church would run it for her, of course,” Luke says like we should already know that.

  “But it stays in her name?” Colt asks.

  “Of course,” Mike says. Colt nods.

  “And if she doesn’t agree to marry Robby?”

  “Then we will take her to court for the twenty-five percent of the estate, which will include twenty-five percent of the value of the bed and breakfast.”

  Bingo.

  “So. let me get this straight,” I say. I rub Colt’s arm to let him know I’m calm and in control.

  “If she doesn’t marry Robby, you will go after her for twenty-five percent. But if she does, then you forget the twenty-five percent, but the church then runs the bed and breakfast?”

  “Yes,” Luke says. I smile, which seems to confuse him.

  “Why would she pick either option? This is America, and she’s free to do what she wants. Women have equal rights, and your case would be laughed out of any courtroom. Plus, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to bring the eye of the state or the government on your business dealings, now would you?” Colt states.

  I love watching Luke squirm more than I should. He knows we have more on him than he thought. That over-confidence he had moments ago is gone.

  Before he can respond, I hear the ding that states someone has walked into the shop. I look at the door over Luke’s shoulder and smile. Showtime.

  “But it’s too late,” Colt starts. “Because the state and the FBI have been looking into you for longer than you realize, and you just admitted to this plan. That’s illegal, and you just gave them what they need. While we’ve been sitting here chatting, the FBI has been raiding not only your home, but Mike’s home, the church, and the home of several of your higher-ups. I know what they’ve found in your basement.” Watching Luke’s face pale puts a smile on my face.

  Right then, four uniformed officers come behind Luke and Mike and whip their arms into handcuffs before they have time to react. The cops read them their Miranda rights and take them out to the waiting cars.

  A man in a suit walks up to Colt and shakes his hand. “Thank you for everything, Colt.”

  “Well, I’d do anything for my girl here, and she would do anything for the people closest to her. It was a no brainer,” Colt says as he removes the wire he’s been wearing.

  “Hello ladies, I’m Detective Ryan Green, FBI. I need to get your statements on the case. I’d prefer you come down to the station, but we can also do it at the bed and breakfast, if that’s more comfortable.”

  I look at Abby. “It’s up to you. I’m where you are.”

  She nods and smiles. “I can go down to the station.”

  On shaky legs, we head to the car and prepare for what will be several hours of questions, I’m sure. But having Colt here? I won’t care if it’s several days of questions.

  CHAPTER 20

  Colt

  We end up spending four hours at the police station. The lawyer I’ve been working with meets us there. He will represent Abby. They have the most questions for Abby since she has been going to the church for years, as her parents have asked.

  The charges that come from the raids on the homes of the church officials pile up. They currently have enough to charge them on kidnapping, tax evasion, blackmail, human rights abuse, physical abuse, and several theft crimes.

  Many of the church elders also have unregistered weapons and domestic abuse charges upon raiding their homes. A few have some drug charges pile up as well. All are hit with tax evasion charges too.r />
  To say it’s a mess is an understatement. Due to the questions and a few things needed for the bed and breakfast to be sold, I must leave Sage in Memphis. She will be a bit longer.

  That was a week ago. I miss her like crazy, and I think my brothers see me becoming a bit unhinged. Talking and texting Sage every day and nightly video calls aren’t enough anymore. I need my girl back in my arms.

  I need to hold her, touch her, kiss her. It’s not even about sex. I just need that physical touch to reconnect. I need to know she’s coming home and above all, I need to make her mine.

  The phone sex in our nightly video call the other night was freakin hot as hell. She had been in the bathtub when I called. Seeing her so relaxed, surrounded by bubbles and the water running down her tan skin, is an image that still makes me hard.

  I need to get my ring on her and get her down the aisle. Now that I have set the idea in my head, every day her ring finger is bare kills me. We’ve had so much hold us apart so far, I’m just ready to start my life with her. I want the life we’ve been planning—the kids, the growing old together, the family vacations, all of it.

  I’ve waited seven years just to get her back. One would think I could be patient for another few weeks. Wrong. Every day stretches out and feels like years. Like my life and my heart are just on pause because she isn’t here.

  “Hey man, I need some help at the bar tonight,” Jason says and pats me on the back.

  I’m pretty sure he doesn’t need the help. This is just his way of distracting me, but I’m going to take it.

  Sage is supposed to be home the day after tomorrow, but things have come up twice already, moving the date back. I don’t have too much hope she’ll make it home then.

  “Yeah, I’ll be there. What time?”

  “Does five work? I need some prep help before we get too busy tonight.”

  Being it’s a Saturday night, the whole town will be out. On Friday and Saturday nights, Jason brings in live music and has a few food specials, making it the place to be. Those two nights make his income for the week easily.

  “That works.”

  He pats me on the shoulder and walks off again. I check my phone again. Nothing from Sage. Now I have four hours before I need to be at the bar. I send Sage a quick text letting her know I’m helping Jason out tonight. Then I try to focus on some of the bookwork in front of me.

  Once I find my groove, the bookwork keeps me busy. We’re prepping for the final cow sale before winter, and I have made some good headway in the paperwork.

  I head up to the main house and just stand in the doorway of Sage’s room, our room. I love this room, but it feels so empty without her, even though she’s all over the room. I notice a new photo on the dresser I don’t remember being there. Sage and I are sitting on the back of my truck on our ice cream date. I remember Sage taking the picture of us, but I don’t remember seeing it on the dresser before. I guess she put it up before she left.

  I look over the other photos on the dresser. She and I at senior prom. She and Blaze at the Grand Canyon. All of us standing in front of this house the day we moved in. One of her and Abby with whom I assume are Abby’s parents. There are a few scattered ones of people I don’t know. With Sage being so young in the photos, I guess they’re from her travels.

  The last picture catches my eye. I’m leaning up against the metal gate one day while the guys and I were working cattle. I have on my old pair of leather chaps. I’ve replaced those over a year ago, so this photo is at least a year old. I’m not looking at the camera so that would be why I don’t remember her taking the picture. Trucks and farm vehicles are in the background, but they’re blurred. The cows are in front, but they’re blurred too. It’s completely focused on me, showing that the photo was intentional.

  I take a deep breath at the thought. She took that photo of me and had it set up here in her room all this time. Even the photo of her and I at prom has been on the dresser for a while. If there is ever a doubt in anything she has told me, this wipes it away. I have photos of Sage on my phone and one in my wallet because I just couldn’t let her go either.

  With one last glance at the photos, I head in to take a shower and get dressed. I decide to return Sage’s favor from the other morning. She sent me a picture of her outfit for the day. This isn’t something I normally do, but the thought of her drooling over my photo like I did hers has its appeal.

  I send her the picture with a short text.

  Me: Heading out to the bar for the night. I’ll have my phone on me. Call anytime.

  Before I can put my phone away, I see the three little dots showing she’s typing. I didn’t know until that moment how much I need that.

  Sage: Damn. I do have the sexiest boyfriend. How did I get so lucky?

  Me: I am the one who got lucky that you fell in love with me. But I miss you like hell.

  Sage: I miss you too. Will you call me when you get home from the bar tonight? I don’t care what time.

  Me: Of course I will. Still looking like the day after tomorrow you’ll be home?

  Sage: Yep. I’m not letting anything stop me this time.

  Me: Good. I’m stealing you away to our cabin that night, just you and me.

  Sage: I can’t wait. I have to go, but I’ll be waiting for your call tonight.

  Me: Talk to you tonight. Be safe.

  I can feel the smile on my face, thankful for the distraction of the bar tonight.

  ✽✽✽

  Soon as I walk in the bar, Jason has things for me to do from helping him prep the bar to helping the band set up. He has me tend bar a bit, claiming some paperwork that is overdue. He even has me waiting on a few tables.

  I welcome the distraction. After the dinner rush, I sit at a table and listen to the band. They’re a local band and are pretty good. Brice and his dad walk in and stop to say hi to me.

  I want to hate Brice because he dated Sage a few months back, but knowing Sage dated him only because she was lonely, makes it feel like it’s more my fault than anything. If I hadn’t been making up excuses, she wouldn’t have felt lonely and wouldn’t have gone out with him.

  It’s not his fault, and I know what it’s like to have Sage and then lose her. I feel a bit bad for him. I’m also thankful for him intervening with Kelli at the café. For this reason alone, I’m nice and hold a conversation. They end up sitting at the table next to me, and we chat a bit between songs.

  I’m talking to Brice’s dad about winter prep work we have coming up when I hear a voice that now sounds like nails on a chalkboard.

  “Colt! Haven’t seen you here in a while.” Kelli says, and she promptly sits on my lap.

  What.

  The.

  Fuck.

  I would never put my hand on a woman in anger, but anger is all I feel right now. I have very few options to get her off me.

  “Kelli, get the fuck off me now.”

  She laughs. “Too late, the damage is done.” She looks toward the door. I see Sage and Abby. The look of absolute hurt and rage in Sage’s eyes tells me I just hurt my girl. Again.

  I stand, dumping Kelli on the floor. I intend to go after Sage, but she and Abby are out the door before I can even get Kelli off my feet. That’s when it clicks into place. This has been a calculated move on Kelli’s part.

  Doing something I swore I’d never do, I raise my voice to a lady. Though Kelli is the furthest thing from a lady.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you!” I bellow so loud, the whole bar quiets down.

  Kelli tries to get up as gracefully as possible, which resembles a baby calf learning how to walk.

  “I did you a favor, Colt,” she coos as she tries to put her hand on my chest. “We both know we’re meant to be together.”

  “No, Kelli,” I say, taking a step back. “I’ve been in love with Sage since I was thirteen; it’s always been her. I fucked things up, and you were just a distraction. You’re the one who lied and connived to keep us apart for years now. But
we see you for the snake you are. Don’t you ever come near me, Sage, or our family again. So help me God, I will air all your dirty laundry for the town to see.”

  I am fuming at this point, so when Kelli bursts into tears and runs off, I don’t even care. I try to calm down when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I swing around, ready to take a swing at whoever it is, male or female. I find Jason blocking my arm.

  “Hey man, deep breath. You need to calm down and go after Sage. We all know what she’s thinking right now, and you know we’ll back your story, but you need to fix this now. Tonight. Do not wait.”

  I look around and see Brice and his dad nodding in agreement with Jason. I rub my hand down my face. “Fuck!”

  I pat Jason on the shoulder and head out to my truck. If she showed up early with Abby in tow, my guess is her next stop is the house to get Abby settled. That’s where I’m heading too.

  CHAPTER 21

  Sage

  I’m so excited to surprise Colt. I want to tell him we’re coming home early, but I know the surprise will be so much better. So, for that reason, I haven’t been texting or talking to him much today. I don’t want to let the surprise slip.

  This is also the reason I’ve insisted on driving most of the way. If I’m driving, I can’t be on my phone, so it makes it all a bit easier.

  Then the picture of him before he heads to the bar comes in, and oh my word, it is so hard not to drool. I miss him something fierce, and that’s why Abby and I bust our butts to head home a few days early.

  I haven’t even told any of the family I’m coming home early. I don’t want the surprise to get out. I do call Mom and ask her to set up one of the guest rooms for me, so she went over earlier today and made sure it was cleaned and has fresh towels and sheets.

  We stop on the other side of Dallas for a bathroom break and to grab something to eat. Once back in the car, I run my idea past Abby.

  “How would you feel about stopping by the bar and surprising Colt? You can meet Jason too. We have to pass the bar on the way to the ranch anyway.”