The Courage of a Cowboy

by Kristin Vayden

  How long has it been since she’s taken a moment to just be?

  She wasn’t the type to simply be still, to not be a whirlwind of activity. It was part of her charm, part of her allure—yet, at the same time, everyone needed a break, a moment to just relax.

  He was thankful she’d found it at his house. That has to mean something, doesn’t it?

  “It’s so peaceful out here,” Kessed commented, her tone soft.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty awesome.” Harper’s voice drew his attention. He noted how her brow furrowed, and he wondered if she was thinking about last year.

  There were some things that time didn’t heal very quickly.

  Harper’s brokenness was one of them.

  Kessed’s phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, grinning as she swiped the screen. “I almost forgot. Cyler and Laken are back Sunday!” She tapped a few times on the screen and then groaned. “That was my reminder to feed Margaret.”

  “Margaret?” Harper asked.

  “Cyler’s pet horse,” Kessed replied with a smirk.

  Harper nodded. “Got it.” She turned to Jasper. “You better take her home then. If Lady’s waiting to drop her foal, then you might as well make yourself useful. Margaret’s gotta eat.” Harper beamed then stood from the swing, causing it to rock.

  “And I was just getting comfortable,” Kessed complained, yet she cast an amused grin in his direction as she stood as well, stretching her arms up and giving him a sexy view of her toned, olive-tinted stomach that made his own tighten with need.

  “Take me home, cowboy. Better yet, take me to pick up my car. I have a feeling you’re going to have a busy night.” Kessed lightly punched him in the shoulder and walked toward the house.

  Harper touched his chin, causing him to jerk. “Your jaw was hanging open, and I think I saw a little drool just there…” She touched his cheek. “Seriously, pull it together,” Harper stage-whispered and jogged toward the back door, probably trying to keep one step ahead of him.

  Wise girl.

  Jasper rubbed his chin and followed the girls into the house and out to his pickup. “Kess, why don’t you hop in, and I’m going to check on Lady one last time.”

  Kessed nodded, and as he walked away, he heard her say goodbye to Harper.

  As he entered the barn, Lady nickered softly, her brown eyes curiously watching his approach. Her expression seemed to say, “Nothing to see here.”

  And if that was what she was saying, she was correct. Jasper could detect no real change in her as he slowly walked around her backside, his hand stroking her chestnut-colored coat.

  “You be good while I’m gone,” he whispered softly, moving back around and pausing before her long nose. “We need you around here, girl.”

  Lady nudged his hand as if searching for a treat, and when she didn’t find one, she blew impatiently on his hand.

  “I mean it. Be good,” Jasper reminded the ornery horse then left the barn, an uneasy feeling following him. He tried to put a finger on why he felt that way, yet he couldn’t quite determine the source. Filing the sensation away for later, he strode to the pickup and tossed a wave to Harper. Soon they were kicking up dust and heading back to town..

  “Harper is fun. I like her, and it’s easy to see that you two have a good relationship.” Kessed leaned back on the seat, resting her head and turning slightly to face him.

  “Yup. She’s worth her weight in gold and trouble,” he answered. “She seems to like you well enough. That, in and of itself, is not an easy accomplishment.” He reached over and grasped Kessed’s hand, squeezing it softly.

  “What’s not to like?” Kessed asked, grinning.

  “True,” Jasper replied, yet his gut was tense, that sensation from the barn still lingering.

  “What’s wrong?” Kessed asked.

  He shook his head. “I’m not sure. Just some weird feeling that I’m missing something with Lady. I—I’m not sure, and it’s nagging the hell out of me.”

  Kessed nodded once. “Listen to your gut. I’ve learned it’s usually spot on.” She hesitated and then asked the question he’d been anticipating. “What’s the story with Harper? I know that you’ve mentioned a few details that imply that she’s had a rough past…” Kessed trailed off then sat up. “I know it’s not my business, so you don’t have to say anything. I was just curious. She seems happy, yet…” Kessed took a deep breath, pausing as if thinking about the next words. “She seems happy because she chooses to be, not because she really is… if that makes any sense.”

  Jasper sighed. “Well, that’s a pretty accurate assessment for someone who just met her.” He cast a glance to Kessed. “It’s her story to tell, but I can give you a few details that will help you connect a few dots that are pretty much public knowledge.” He bit his lip, the familiar hot rage and cold pain slicing through him as he thought about his baby sister.

  About how he hadn’t acted fast enough.

  And what would have been different if he had known sooner.

  But the past was the past, and he couldn’t change it.

  No matter how I wish I could.

  He took a deep breath. “Harper was married right out of high school. She was head over heels for Brock Williams. He was a good enough guy, or so we thought. They’d met at community college over the summer, and the rest was history.”

  Jasper clenched his teeth, hating the bitter taste in his mouth left from that man’s name.

  “Brock’s family owned a car dealership in Seattle, so Harper moved to the city. I was busy with my schooling anyway, and we kept in contact with the usual text or phone call, but not much. We were both busy.”

  He’d never outlive the guilt that weighed on him for not paying closer attention.

  “I’ll leave the particulars out, but last year I got a phone call from the Seattle Social Services. Harper was in the hospital. Her husband”—Jasper spat the word, clenching the steering wheel so hard the leather groaned—“was in custody, and the hospital was trying to locate next of kin to release her to upon discharge.”

  “Holy hell,” Kessed murmured, and he cast her a glance, his body relaxing slightly in seeing the empathy and fear in her deep caramel eyes.

  “Yeah, well, I dropped everything and was at that hospital as fast as possible. Kessed, I’m just being honest here, but it’s only by the grace of God that I’m not in prison for killing that son of a bitch. Harper needed me, and that took priority. That and the bastard was already in jail.” Jasper sniffed defiantly, a sneer crossing his lips.

  “Was he convicted?” Kessed asked, her tone hesitant.

  Jasper clenched the steering wheel once more, making a right-hand turn onto the road that led downtown. “His sentence was far lighter than I agree with, but the divorce was finalized almost immediately. What matters is that Harper is safe, here and she’s healing…mostly.”

  He cast a glance to Kessed as she bit her lip, staring straight ahead. “I can’t imagine. And, I… I can’t imagine Harper not fighting back.” Kessed turned to Jasper, confusion written across her face.

  Jasper sighed, not blaming her. It was one of the first questions he had as well. His sister—brave, stubborn, and killer with a right hook—hadn’t fought back till it was too late. “It usually starts small, Kess. And the abuser undermines the self-confidence, self-worth, and self-assurance of the other. And while they might not believe the lie at first, if you hear something enough, you start to wonder if maybe it’s true, then you move to believing a little bit of it to be true, then you buy into the whole enchilada. It’s usually a process—at least, that’s how it went with Harper. When I finally got to her, she was a shell of the woman she had been, of the woman you see now. She believed she’d deserved what Brock had given her, of all the asinine things to believe.” He released a breath, tired, weary, wishing he could change the past.


  Kessed’s shoulder sagged slightly. “I never understood it… but that makes sense in some weird, twisted, and depraved way.”

  Jasper eased the brake and put the truck in park just before where Kessed’s car was parked. “There’s one more thing, and”—he sighed—“it’s part of why I’m kinda stressed about Lady delivering.” He turned to face Kessed, watching her warm eyes sharpen as she waited.

  “Harper was almost four months pregnant when Brock put her in the hospital. Technically, she had miscarried before the actual incident, so Brock wasn’t implicated. But that didn’t ease the trauma. And seeing her with Lady, I know that’s what she’s remembering.” He lowered his gaze.

  Kessed’s hand reached over and grasped his. “Then you better get back, do what you do best, and take care of that horse.”

  A ghost of a smile tipped his lips. “I’ll do my best.”

  “That’s all anyone can ask,” Kessed replied then opened the truck door and slid out onto the gravel.

  Jasper followed suit, trailing a few steps behind her as he walked to her car door. “You work tomorrow too?”

  “Yeah.” She glanced over her shoulder and met his gaze. “You coming by for coffee?”

  He grinned. “Can’t go a day without it. And that’s the truth.” He chuckled. “It was a real pain in the ass to try and get coffee and avoid you at the same time.”

  Kessed spun and faced him. “Say what?”

  Jasper rubbed the back of his neck. “I knew I’d struck out at the wedding. You made that crystal clear. I didn’t want to look like I was stalking you, so I gave you space. But that was easier said than done. I can’t tell you how many times I avoided going to Starbucks and went with McDonald’s coffee instead. Not my favorite.”

  “You didn’t.” Kessed eyed him.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Jasper replied, chagrined at his confession.

  Kessed regarded him as if taking his measure once more. “That’s stupid, pathetic, and romantic all at once.” She shook her head and closed the distance between them. She pulled his head down with her hand, meeting his lips.

  His body surged with anticipation, even though he knew the kiss was both the beginning and end of the encounter; his body reacted as if it were simply foreplay. He nipped at her lips teasingly, savoring her unique flavor, the way her soft curves pressed into his chest. His hands circled her waist, holding her gently captive, deepening the exchange and wishing there was time for more. All too soon, he pulled away, resting his head against hers. “So, the pathetic and romantic stuff does it for you? I’ll remember that.”

  Kessed’s breath was slightly ragged, and she grinned. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for the underdog.”

  Jasper leaned back, glaring in a joking manner. “I’m anything but the underdog, sunshine.”

  “And we’re back to square one.” Kessed bit her lip. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She slowly trailed her hand down from his neck and traced the curve of his biceps before squeezing his hand then releasing it.

  Jasper watched as she walked to the door, his gaze dipping to watch her hips sway with the movement. “Tomorrow,” he replied, then when she started up her car’s engine, he headed toward his truck.

  Back to work.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Kessed drove to work the next day, frowning at her phone on the driver’s seat. It wasn’t as if she expected Jasper to call, but a text would have been nice.

  Of course, she could have texted him, but, well… she didn’t want to be that kind of girlfriend.

  Holy hell.

  She shook her head, amused. Yeah, well. After that one night, she better be his girlfriend. Not one for the Tinder type of all-nighter, she was usually a little slower mover.

  Regardless, she didn’t want to be the person who was needy, seeking attention. She was perfectly self-reliant.

  Wasn’t she?

  She glared at her phone.

  Maybe not as much as she wanted to be.

  “Damn thing.” Kessed groaned and pulled into the back parking lot behind Starbucks. Devon’s truck was parked two spots away, and a tight anxiety wound her chest. Maybe today she’d find out if she’d gotten the job.

  Her shift started during the middle of the afternoon rush, and she only caught a few fleeting glances at Devon, but he was busy handling the front counter. As her time started to wind down, she worked with Devon to close up, the lingering sunset filling the store with an orange glow.

  “Kessed, when you’re finished restocking the cups, can I speak with you a moment?” Devon called from the cold case.

  Kessed nodded, her heart hammering in her chest. She glanced up, her eyes scanning the front of the store for any lagging customers. The doors would be locked in less than five minutes, and Jasper still hadn’t shown up.

  Just another reason to be all uptight.

  Gah!

  As she finished stacking the grande cups, Devon twisted the lock in the door and turned off the front lights, signaling their closure.

  “Ready?” he asked, his bald head slightly shiny from the setting sunshine streaming through the window.

  Kessed nodded, practicing a calm she didn’t feel. “What’s up?”

  “Have a seat.” Devon gestured to a small table. The chair scraped against the tiled floor as she pulled it out. When she sat, Devon took a deep breath.

  Oh. Shit. This can’t be good.

  “As you know, the manager’s position was available for this store, and your application was considered for the position.”

  He folded his hands on the table, and Kessed waited.

  Was. That had to be a key word, a really bad one….

  “And while you’re more than qualified for the job, it was given to a manager from the Bellevue area who is relocating. His greater experience coupled with his longevity with the company made him a better candidate.” Devon lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry, Kessed. I know this was important to you, and please know, if the decision had been up to me, you would have been hired without question.” He raised his eyes, and Kessed noted the honesty in his pale blue irises.

  “Thanks, Devon. I appreciate that.” She exhaled, disappointed but not defeated. “I guess that’s that.” She moved to stand.

  “Not quite.” Devon spoke slowly, and Kessed had the sensation that the worse news was on the way.

  “What?” Kessed asked, slowly sitting back down.

  Devon glanced to his hands once more, his brow furrowing. “Corporate has asked we cut back on some hours. You’re three-quarters time now, and we’ll be cutting you back to half-time. You’ll still get the full benefits—”

  Kessed raised a hand, glancing away to pull together her emotions. “Why?” she asked after a moment.

  “Efficiency. We’ve been slower than usual. It’s probably just the fact that summer has ended, and fall is in full swing, but you know it’s all about the numbers.” Devon shrugged. “I wish I could do something, but I’m gone in just a few more days.”

  Kessed blew out her cheeks. “So, not the news I was hoping for… at all.” She leaned back on the chair. “Damn, this sucks.”

  “Yeah, it does.” Devon sniffed, turning his head away, his brow furrowing. “Friend of yours?” He nodded his chin toward the door.

  Kessed turned, and a weak smile bent her lips as she saw Jasper lean against the window, cupping his hands to see in against the sun’s glare. “Yeah.”

  “Go ahead. I’ll finish up here. I’ll email you the new schedule once everything is settled.”

  Kessed nodded. “Thanks, Devon.” She shook his offered hand and waved to Jasper.

  He grinned, but it seemed forced.

  Her brow furrowed as she held up one finger, signaling that she’d be out in just a moment. He nodded in understanding and turned away from the window, his hands tucked into his tight jean
s, giving her a prime view of his ass.

  Devon cleared his throat.

  Kessed sent him a glare then went to retrieve her purse. Soon, she was unlocking the front door and slipping out into the warm evening.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Jasper pulled her into a tight hug, his chin resting on her head. His body was tense, and she leaned back, studying his face.

  “Sorry I didn’t make it sooner, today was… hell.” He sighed and forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

  “You too, huh?” Kessed arched a brow and started walking to the back lot where her car waited.

  “What happened with you?” Jasper asked, taking her hand in his warm one.

  “I didn’t get the manager’s position, and the cherry on top is that they are cutting my current hours.” Kessed sighed, unlocking her car.

  “Ouch.” Jasper winced. “I’m sorry, Kess. How are you taking it?” He tugged on her arm gently and pulled her into a hug.

  “I haven’t decided yet,” she muttered against his solid chest, inhaling the scent of dirt, cedar, and all man.

  Jasper gave a short laugh. “Let me know when you figure it out.”

  “Yeah,” Kessed replied weakly. “What about you?” She leaned back to study his face.

  “It’s a bit of a story.” He gave a weak smile.

  “I’ve got time… apparently, lots of it.” She sighed. “Are you busy now?”

  Jasper shook his head. “No.”

  “Follow me back to the ranch. I’ll toss a frozen pizza into the oven, and we can drink. Sound good?” Kessed wagged an eyebrow, grinning.

  “Sounds amazing.” Jasper kissed her forehead. “See you in a bit.”

  Kessed slid into the car and was pulling out of the lot and onto the road before Jasper had even made it to his truck in the front lot. When she arrived back at the ranch, a bittersweet ache filled her chest. This was the last night before Cyler and Laken came home, then it was back to her small, lonely apartment. There was something about the ranch, about being out in the wild that was oddly safe and homey to her. She’d miss it.