The Cowboy's Healing Ways (Cooper Creek)

by Minton, Brenda

  “That sounds good, but I should probably get back to work.”

  “Nonsense. Jesse already said he wants you to take it easy for a few days. You need to listen to him.”

  A few minutes later they pulled into the black-and-white-painted building with Mad Cow Café painted on the front in red letters. Laura hadn’t been in the restaurant but had eaten the meals that Jesse had had delivered.

  “Here we are.” Myrna parked the car in an empty space at the side of the building. “You coming in?”

  Laura nodded and unbuckled her seat belt. “Of course.”

  Cowbells clanged to announce their arrival as they walked through the door of the restaurant. Although it was well past lunchtime, there were several full tables. A group of ladies took up the long center table. Two tables were taken by older men.

  “Men gossip more than women ever thought of,” Myrna announced as she walked past the group of men. She touched the shoulder of one man and he smiled up at her. Myrna took off his ball cap and hung it on the back of his chair. “Take your hat off when you’re inside.”

  “It’s the Mad Cow, Myrna,” he grumbled as he ran a big hand through thinning gray hair. “I tell you, women are a lot of trouble. Who’s your friend? Is she as ornery as you?”

  “Of course she is. And her name is Laura.”

  A woman walked out from the back of the restaurant. Her dark hair was shot through with gray and pulled back in a neat bun. Her white blouse and jeans were hidden behind a red apron.

  “Well, look who came in for coconut cream pie.” The woman hugged Myrna. “Here, sit back here away from these men.”

  “Thank you, Vera, we will. And I’d like for you to meet Laura.” Myrna pulled Laura forward.

  Vera nodded and then she smiled. “You’re Jesse’s housekeeper. How you feeling, honey? Did my chicken soup help?”

  “It did.”

  “Good, well, the coconut cream pie will make you feel even better. You girls have a seat. I’ll be right back with pie and coffee.”

  Laura squeezed into the corner booth, sitting opposite Myrna. Vera returned a few minutes later with three pieces of pie and the coffeepot.

  “I brought another piece of pie on out. I saw Jesse pull in a few minutes ago. I figure he’ll want pie.”

  The bells clanged and the glass door opened. Jesse pulled off his cowboy hat as he walked in and ran a hand through his dark hair. He glanced around the room and when he saw Laura and Myrna, he smiled. Laura choked a little on her coffee and Vera gave her a sympathetic look.

  “There’s definitely something going around.” Vera smiled as she made the comment. “I hope it isn’t too contagious.”

  Chapter Five

  Jesse knew he’d start a few new rumors by walking in and sitting next to Laura. He’d considered sitting by his grandmother but she didn’t seem to be inclined to move over. Laura looked up, her coffee cup still in her hand. She glanced at his grandmother, then at him. After a long pause Laura scooted and he sat next to her.

  “Now, look at that, Laura—my grandson is a gentleman. See how he took his hat off and left it on the hook by the door.”

  Jesse knew the comment wasn’t for him. His grandmother looked at the table of farmers having their afternoon coffee and he wondered which one she meant that comment for.

  “Gran, I know you’d still take a switch to my hide if I stepped in here wearing my hat.”

  She smiled at that. “Vera brought you a piece of coconut pie.”

  Laura moved the plate and a roll of silverware in a napkin in front of him. “It’s really good.”

  “Best in Oklahoma.” Vera returned with the coffeepot.

  “Jesse, how are you today?”

  “I’m good, Vera.” He watched the owner of the Mad Cow, wondering what she was up to. “How are you?”

  She smiled and poured his coffee. “I’m just dandy. Are you bringing Laura to church tonight?”

  “I have to go in to work this evening.”

  “That’s too bad. The singles group is starting a new Bible study.”

  Then Jesse got it. He looked from Vera to Laura, and from the shade of pink crawling up Laura’s cheeks, he figured she got it, too. Vera was trying to match them up, make more of the situation than there was. From the pleased look on his grandmother’s face, she was hoping he’d be the next Cooper she offered an heirloom ring to. He considered putting the rumors to bed right then, but he didn’t.

  For some crazy reason, he kept his mouth shut. He sat there next to Laura, her shoulder brushing his and her sweet perfume, springtime and fresh, teasing his senses, and he didn’t say a word.

  “I doubt I’ll be able to make it, Vera,” he finally managed. “But I can drop Laura off if she wants to attend.”

  Laura’s gray eyes widened as she looked at him. He grinned and lifted his brows. She shook her head.

  “I don’t think I’m up to it.” She turned to smile up at Vera. “But thank you.”

  “That’s a shame.” Vera shook her head and looked at his grandmother. “Isn’t that a shame, Myrna?”

  “It is a shame.” His grandmother glanced at the table of farmers then at her watch. “Look at the time. I forgot I have an appointment in Grove. Jesse, can you give Laura a ride back to your place?”

  “Of course I can. Where are you going in such a hurry?”

  His grandmother stood and for a second she seemed a little lost. She touched the back of a chair to steady herself, then smiled big as if nothing had happened. Jesse wanted to believe nothing had happened, but he wasn’t wrong.

  “I’ve just got an appointment.” She smiled again.

  “Gran, are you okay?” Jesse pushed the pie back and Laura was already moving out of her seat. But they were too late. His grandmother walked away.

  “I’m fine, Jesse. Make sure Laura gets home.”

  He watched her walk out the door, head held high. But he wasn’t convinced. Later he’d call and have a talk with his dad.

  Laura moved to the other side of the table. He watched her settle in the spot his grandmother had vacated.

  “Worried what people will say?” he teased.

  “People are already saying it, aren’t they?” She scooped up another bite of pie.

  “Probably, but they’ll move on soon enough, once they figure out there isn’t a story. How’s your car?”

  “Dead, apparently.”

  “What about your appointment Saturday, to see Abigail?” He remembered that she’d gotten a phone call the previous day arranging her supervised visitation.

  “I’ll reschedule.” She looked away as she said it and he knew it wasn’t that easy. He could see the heartbreak in her eyes, in her expression.

  “I can take you.”

  “You don’t have to do that. You’ve given me a job and a home, Jesse. You don’t have to take on this responsibility.”

  “I don’t mind.” He started to tell her how easy it would be but his phone buzzed. “Let me get this and we’ll make a plan.”

  He glanced at the caller ID and hesitated. But then he answered. He had to answer. Gayla’s mom seldom called him unless there was a problem. He held up a finger to Laura, hoping she’d understand, and he walked outside the diner to take the call.

  “Jesse, I wanted to call and let you know that I’m moving Gayla to Tulsa. I’ve been looking for a place and I finally found one that’s close, so I can see her every day.” Jamie’s voice sounded apologetic, concerned. He knew the concern was for him.

  “I understand. Is there anything I can do?”

  A long pause and then she sighed. “No, Jesse, nothing. Just move on with your life. Gayla made a choice that night. You weren’t responsible for what she did.”

  “I know, but if I’d realized...”

  “What? If you’d realized that a young woman would build dreams of marrying you after two dates? You’ve been paying penance for something you didn’t do. I’m moving her to Tulsa, Jesse.”

  Jesse heard
the cowbell over the door clang. He turned as Laura walked out of the Mad Cow. She studied his face, offered a sweet smile and walked away. But she waited. She stood at the corner of the building, waiting.

  “I’ll go over and tell her goodbye.” He brushed a hand through his hair, then remembered his hat. He opened the door of the Mad Cow, pulled out money for the pie and coffee, and handed it to Vera before grabbing his hat.

  “Jesse, this is for the best.”

  “Okay, Jamie. Thanks for letting me know.” He hung up. For a minute he stood there in front of the Mad Cow. A truck drove past and honked. He watched as they loaded feed in the back of a truck at the feed store across the street.

  Laura walked up behind him. He knew it was her because the smell of springtime reached him first. Jamie had been right. He knew she was right, but that didn’t make it easy.

  “Are you okay?” She touched his arm and he turned to face her, adjusting his hat and smiling as easy as he could.

  “I need to run by the nursing home.”

  “Okay.” And she left it at that.

  He led her across the parking lot to his truck. “I dated Gayla.”

  “I see.”

  “Twice. We went out twice.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, me, too.” He’d been sorry for a very long time. Jamie was right; he had to let go of his guilt. He’d thought he had, but every now and then it pulled him back.

  A few minutes later they pulled up in front of the nursing home. Laura had remained quiet. When he pulled the keys from the ignition she smiled at him.

  “I can wait out here.”

  “There’s no reason for you to do that.” He opened his door. “I could be a while.”

  They got out of the truck and started toward the building.

  “What happened?” Laura walked next to him. “Your grandmother said it was a car accident.”

  “After two dates I broke it off with her. I had plans for medical school. She wanted someone to marry. I didn’t know at the time that her dad was an alcoholic and abusive at times. He passed away a few years ago. That’s when her mom moved to Tulsa to find a job.”

  “And you visit her.”

  “Yeah, I visit her.” He started walking again and Laura remained next to him. They entered the building and walked down the hall together.

  At the door to Gayla’s room, Laura reached for his hand. He stopped and looked down at her, surprised by the gesture, surprised by her. She squeezed and let go.

  “I’m going to check on Sally.” She bit down on her bottom lip and looked up. “If you need anything...”

  “Thank you.” He touched her arm and then he turned and walked into Gayla’s room.

  * * *

  After finding her aunt sleeping, Laura wandered down the hall to the activity room. Several older men were playing checkers. One of them winked at her as she walked through the door. She smiled and winked back.

  “You want to play the winner?” He pushed his wheelchair back and pointed at the board.

  “No, I’ll watch.” Laura stood at the end of the table. The two men reset the board and started a new game. They bickered. She pulled up a chair and they gave her a look but kept playing.

  “I have a daughter who looks a lot like you.” Her new friend sat back in his chair. “She lives in Arizona. She’s a teacher.”

  “You must be proud.”

  He moved again, blocking his opponent.

  Her friend shook his head. “I am proud. I’d be even prouder if I got to see her and the grandkids once in a while. Been a year. Maybe two.”

  “Do you have other children?”

  He shook his head and triple jumped with a big smile. “Nope, just Kelly. My wife passed about five years ago.”

  Laura looked at her smiling new friend and saw his loneliness. It was etched into his features, caused his shoulders to sag. Life had forgotten him.

  “Are you from Dawson?”

  “Nope. This is just the closest place they could find for me. I lived about an hour from here. I was a teacher. Forty years in the same school.”

  She touched his hand. “Is there anything I can get you?”

  “New legs? I had a car wreck.” He raised his left hand by using his right. “Pretty useless.”

  “But you still play a mean game of checkers.”

  “That I do, sunshine, that I do. You know, if you’re here visiting someone, just look in on old Charlie from time to time.”

  “I can do that, Charlie.”

  Jesse walked past the room. He looked in, saw her and came back. He smiled at her, then at her new friend. Charlie smiled back and raised his right hand.

  “Hey, Doc.”

  “Hi, Charlie.” Jesse pulled out a chair and sat down. “How are you?”

  “Better since you took me off that sleeping pill.”

  “I knew you’d feel better with one less med in your system.”

  “I guess I do. But sometimes I don’t think they want me to feel better. They like for me to go to bed early.”

  “Well, Charlie, I think you’re a grown man and if you want to stay up and watch the late news, you should watch the late news.”

  “Thanks, Doc.” Charlie reached for Laura’s hand. “I have a new friend.”

  “So do I.” Jesse smiled at her and winked.

  Charlie looked from Laura to Jesse and back to Laura. “Don’t tell me she’s your girl. Here I was thinking I might ask her to the play this evening.”

  Jesse laughed and his gaze hooked hers and held it. Then he smiled at Charlie. “She isn’t my girl, Charlie—just a friend.”

  Charlie leaned toward Jesse. “Then I think you’re more senile than Bob, and I beat him at checkers every single time we play.”

  “Hey!” Bob glared at Charlie. “I’m not playing with you anymore.”

  Charlie pounded the table with his right hand and laughed.

  “He says that every day.”

  Jesse stood. “Charlie, you’re one of a kind.”

  “You’d better believe it. And I’m telling you, don’t let this one get away.”

  “Thanks for the advice.” Jesse patted the older man on the back. “See you next week.”

  Laura joined him to walk out the door. He touched her back to guide her down the hall. Behind them Charlie whistled and laughed again.

  “He’s quite a character.” Jesse walked next to her past the nurses’ station to the front door.

  “Yes, he is. He doesn’t have anyone to visit him?”

  “Not to speak of. He has a sister in Tulsa that gets over here every few months.”

  “It’s sad, isn’t it?”

  “More than most people realize. Some residents never have a visitor. They wait for holidays when the churches and schools show up to sing for them or bring them cards. Other than that, they have the staff and the staff becomes their family.”

  “Aunt Sally has been here awhile and I had no idea.”

  “She has friends from the community, people she went to church with.” He touched her arm. “Now she has you.”

  Laura walked to her side of the truck and Jesse got there first to open her door.

  “I really can do this myself,” she said as she climbed in.

  “I’ve been taught two important rules, Laura. Take my hat off when I’m at church or in a restaurant, and open doors for ladies.”

  A minute later they pulled out of the nursing home parking lot.

  “Does Gayla understand that she’s being moved?” Laura asked.

  “Yes, she understands.”

  “I’m sure she’s upset.”

  “She is.”

  Laura started to ask how he was handling it, but she didn’t. She’d known him since Sunday night. That didn’t give her the right to push her way into his life.

  When they got to her little house, he jumped out of the truck and came around to open her door. She smiled at the unexpected chivalry and how it made her feel. He helped her down, his
hand on her arm.

  “I’ll take you to Tulsa Saturday. I don’t want you to miss this visit with your daughter.”

  “I appreciate that, Jesse. I just don’t know how I’ll repay you.”

  “You don’t have to repay me. You have a daughter who needs you. I’m glad I can help.”

  He had a story. She saw it in his eyes. Didn’t everyone, though? And she couldn’t let herself get tangled in his.

  She couldn’t. But she stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek before she turned and hurried up her sidewalk.

  Chapter Six

  When they set out for Tulsa Saturday morning, rain fell in sheets and the sky was a blanket of gray as far as the eye could see. Laura wore a soft jacket that someone in the Cooper family had donated to her. They’d sent a box of clothes with Jesse after a family dinner. There were things for her and for Abigail. She’d been touched by the generosity, but also humbled, embarrassed.

  She’d also been amused because someone in the Cooper family thought she needed a stunning “little black dress” and heels so high she would have towered over most men. Jesse had warned her that Mia had contributed to the box and she should probably discard anything his little sister sent along. But Laura hadn’t. Instead she’d hung the black dress and another of pale gray, hoping someday she’d have a reason to wear something so soft and shimmery.

  Today it helped to think about the clothes, the dress and Mia, whom she’d never met. Anything to keep her mind off visiting Abigail. It had been two weeks. A lot could change in the life of a child in that amount of time.

  “You okay? Want to stop for coffee?” Jesse glanced her way and then nodded in the direction of a fast-food restaurant.

  “Coffee would be good. And I’m fine.” She shivered and he reached to turn up the heat. “I think I’m fine.”

  “It can’t be easy.”

  She agreed with a sigh. “It isn’t. I’m so worried that I’ll never get her back. And then I worry that she won’t want to come back. What if she loves this family and wants to stay with them? What if it’s easier there, never worrying about having enough, never struggling?”