Christmas Cowboy

by Claire Adams

  “What else have you got to do all day?” He wiped the bar and cut me an accusing glance.

  “Ouch, that’s harsh, friend. I do plenty. I’m even thinking of going back to the gym.” Smitty laughed at something on the TV over the bar and Glen turned it up.

  He walked back around to me as a few more patrons arrived. “You mean you stopped?” He regarded my build and shook his head.

  “Yeah, I haven’t been in some time now. I guess I miss it.” I missed plenty.

  “I think you should do something other than sit on that stool and pound beers. Not that I don’t want your money, but I’m working overtime with that bike of yours hanging around. You showing up here early is a bad sign, one I’ve seen before.”

  “Well, to show you I don’t have as big of a problem as you think, I’ll leave after this one, and after I get my bike loaded, I think I will head over to the gym. My membership is still good, and I think there’s a woman or two missing me.” I glanced at my phone again, certain that one of my missed calls was a woman I’d met at the gym. If I wasn’t right, then that would be an awkward reunion.

  “I’ll keep your seat open for you.” He winked and tended to the other customers.

  I turned up the last of my beer and then pushed the glass forward on the bar. I walked to the back and found my bike waiting safe and sound. Good ol’ Glen. I couldn’t blame him for being bothered; he’d taken care of moving my bike to the back so many times that I should be paying him for the extra service. I pulled the ramp down on my truck bed, and Glen came out to help.

  “You know, you could just start parking back here, then I wouldn’t have to move her.” He helped me heave the thing up into the truck, and I thought how I needed a trailer.

  “I’ll try to remember that. I wouldn’t want to stop drinking and put you and Scott Uber out of business.”

  “Scott Uber, clever.” He folded his arms as I moved the ramp back into place and secured my straps. “You know, friend to friend, I really think you need to take that call. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

  “So do I, but I don’t feel like dealing with it. I’m going to go get lost for a few hours, and I’ll be back around later.”

  “I don’t understand you, man. I’ve been to your place, I’ve seen what you have; do you even give a damn anymore?”

  “It’s just a house, might as well be like any other.”

  “It’s not like any other, and you’re not some average Joe. You’re a wealthy man who’s slumming it eight days a week. Not that I hate your company, but you’ve got responsibilities.”

  “Have you been talking to a woman named Mattie?” I chuckled, but Glen wasn’t laughing.

  “You’re bound to have gone to college; why aren’t you working? You’ve got a huge estate that’s going to shit. I’ve seen that place in its glory, and it’s going down fast. I don’t want to be the guy that tells you how to live your life-”

  “Then don’t.” I kept a smile only to let him know I wasn’t angry, but I wished he’d mind his own business. I had a lot of responsibility, and it had all been dumped on me at once along with the fact that I didn’t have my parents and my sister.

  “I’m just trying to understand. Most people would kill for what you do have left.”

  Glen had earned a deeper look into my life, so I leaned against the truck to stay grounded while I explained. “I wasn’t exactly raised mowing lawns, cleaning house, and cooking, and I can’t stand having an entire staff around giving me pity. So, shortly after the accident, I let the staff go, paid off the ones who deserved retirement, and have been dealing with things alone. I haven’t answered those calls because I’m afraid he’s either got more bad news, which I don’t want to deal with, or he’s trying to get me to come to work for the firm.”

  “So you really are a lawyer?” His eyes widened, and he gave me a sideward glance as if tilting his head would put everything into perspective.

  “Yes, but that’s the last thing my father and I disagreed on. He wanted me to come into the firm as defense, but I preferred prosecution. He didn’t get my argument, and so I was going to go into practice on my own, away from his firm. You can imagine how well that went over.” I remembered how angry my father had been. He’d never understood why I didn’t want to fall right into what he had made for me.

  “Well, now is your chance to do your own thing. The only person holding you back is you. I’ll serve you beers any time you want, but this will always be here. You should really think about straightening up a bit and dealing with what you’ve been left with. It doesn’t have to be so bad.”

  I knew he was right, but as the phone vibrated in my pocket, I decided to leave it and Glen where they were. “I’ll see you later, man. Keep that stool open.”

  I got into the truck and drove out to the house to return the bike. As I passed by the place to get to the long drive, I got a good look at the grass and other overgrowth. A storm had knocked down one of the oaks, uprooting the mound of earth beneath it, but I hadn’t done anything about it.

  Maybe it was time to do something more. I could hire a few people to help out. Get the home back in shape over the next month or so and then keep them around for general upkeep, but part of me felt guilty that I didn’t want the same staff as before.

  Maybe a fresh start is what I needed, but I knew it wasn’t happening anytime soon. I had already made up my mind to go down to the gym and see how much it had changed. That was much easier than dealing with how much I had.

  Chapter Four

  Lexa

  I walked into the back and stripped off my gloves. I couldn’t believe I’d not only knocked over one cart, but two. There was nothing more embarrassing than being asked to leave the room by the doctor, and I waited for him to come out any minute to tell me I needed to go home. I leaned against the wall and took a few deep breaths as tears stung my eyes. I needed to calm down. Crying would only make it worse and embarrass me more.

  Moments later, the doors opened and Dr. Robert Benson, who we all affectionately referred to as Dr. Rob, came out and stood in front of me.

  “Is everything okay?” He seemed genuinely concerned, with a puzzled look on his face. “This is not like you, Lexa. You’re usually my rock in there, always in focus.”

  “I know. I’m having an off day, I guess.” It was the worst thing someone in my line of work could admit. We had to stay sharp and on our toes.

  “Want to talk about it? I’m a pretty good listener.” He leaned against the wall next to me, and when I looked up into his deep brown eyes, I saw the most sincere concern there.

  Something about him put me at ease, and I was reminded of my brother. He had the same way about him. “I don’t know if you’ve heard about the plane crash last year that killed the Walker family and their guest; it was all over the news at the time.”

  He scratched his chin. “I do remember something about that. That wasn’t your family, was it?”

  “My brother was on the flight with his girlfriend’s family. There were no survivors, and well, now my parents have decided to sue the family’s estate. I don’t feel right about it at all, and to be honest, it’s stirring up some feelings I thought I’d dealt with months ago.”

  “Grief hits us all differently and at different times. Sometimes, just when you think you’re moving on is when it gets to you the worst. You know, I lost a brother, too, so I know what it’s like. You have that person with you for your entire life, and then one day, they are just gone. No one is ever prepared for that.”

  “Imagine losing your entire family all at once.” I took a deep breath. In all my grief, I couldn’t help but wonder about the man on the other side of things. Dr. Rob’s brow twitched upward as if waiting for an explanation.

  “The Walkers had a son they left behind. I’ve never met him, but every time I start to feel bad, I can’t help but think that his grief is so much more than mine. He lost everyone. And now, my parents are going to add salt to his wounds by suing him.”
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br />   “Well, you’re in the right business with that level of empathy. Some aren’t as understanding as you when it comes to things of that nature. They think there’s a way to make things even as if that will end their pain. But it won’t. Money is no substitute for love.”

  “I’m sorry I made a mess in there. I’ve never done anything like that before. I’m usually not such a klutz.” I palmed my face and peeked up at him through my fingers.

  A warm-hearted chuckle erupted from his chest as he placed his hand on my shoulder. “I hated to ask you to leave, but the only thing left to knock over was the patient.” He gave me a nudge.

  “No, don’t worry about it, really. Things like that happen. We’re all human. But if you need to talk to someone, I’m here. Maybe, if you’re ever feeling up to it, I could take you out to dinner, and we can learn a bit more about each other. I’ll tell you about my brother. He was a nice guy; you’d have liked him.”

  My face warmed, and I was sure it was stained with blush. I wiped my teary eyes and took a deep breath. He’d lost someone, too, so he knew what I was going through. “Sure, I’d like that.”

  I couldn’t believe he’d asked me out, and even though I wasn’t sure I was interested, there was no way I’d say no. Every nurse in the hospital was itching for his attention, and he had a good reputation for being a gentleman. The fact that he was tall, dark, and handsome didn’t hurt, either.

  “Perfect, I’ll catch you later.” With that, he was on his way down the hall, and I took another deep breath to calm my nerves. It was time for me to grab some lunch, which to anyone else would be a midnight snack.

  The ER was not as bad as it had been on other full moons, but some of the crazier situations had definitely occurred. We’d already treated a man who cut his hand climbing on the roof after dark in his robe to adjust a satellite dish that his wife said hadn’t been plugged in since the nineties. Then there was a woman who’d been run over by a car while looking for her shoe on the freeway. People came into the ER with all kinds of stories, and I guess that part of me liked my job for just that reason — never a dull moment.

  I found the snack machine about the same time Kathy found me. I wasn’t about to tell her that Dr. Rob had asked me to dinner, but she’d already heard about my awesome display of balance with the carts.

  I was still trying to get my dollar straight for the slot when she walked up and shoved hers in. “Are you okay?” She chose her usual candy bar, and it fell into the receptacle. She wasted no time grabbing it.

  “I’m okay. My parents decided to sue, and it’s got me a little mixed up in the head.” I pushed my dollar in only to have it spat out.

  Kathy took the bill from me and flattened it on the edge of the machine. “Man, that’s bad. How do you feel about it? Did they even ask you your opinion?” She was no stranger to the way my parents had treated me for the past fourteen months — or to my opinions on the issue.

  “You know me. I would rather let it go. There’s nothing that is going to bring my brother back, and I hate that his life, or rather his death, has a price tag. It’s disgusting, and it’s the kind of thing that my brother would be sickened over. Shawn hated opportunists like that. I swear, you’d think he and I were both adopted.”

  When the dollar was finally sucked in, I punched in my usual code and watched my energy bar lodge at the bottom next to some cheese crackers.

  Kathy frowned at the machine and then glanced up at me. “It’s not your night, friend.”

  She slid in another dollar and punched in the code for the cheese crackers and cheered as both snacks made it to the receptacle. “I’ll eat these later.” She put the extra snack in her pocket, and I gave her my money for a drink.

  “I don’t need a soda mishap.” I waited as she worked her magic.

  “Here you go. I’ll talk to you soon. I’ve got to go call my husband. My son got in trouble at daycare today, and we’re supposed to give him a talk before he can go back. I don’t want him surprised in the morning.”

  “What did he do this time?” Her son had a habit of getting in trouble.

  “I got a message earlier today that he bit some other kid’s foot. He’s going through this phase where he thinks he’s an alligator. Don’t ask.”

  She hurried away, and I couldn’t help smiling. Her son had been through more phases than the moon, and the last time he thought he was a boa constrictor and squeezed some little girl until she pooped her pants. Another time, he’d gotten hold of the scissors and cut a boy’s hair.

  I went to the break room and sat down in the corner where I could see the TV. Someone had left it on the news channel, and I couldn’t bear to watch more death and destruction. I took my phone out of my pocket and turned it on. I had a missed call from Bre, and then another text which had only come about ten minutes before. She usually wouldn’t text me so late unless she’d been out on a date. I texted her back hoping she’d still be awake, and her response was: CALL ME??

  The phone didn’t ring more than once, and she didn’t sound tired at all considering the hour. “I’m so glad you called. You would not believe the night I had.” I could tell by her upbeat tone that her night had gone better than mine.

  “Do tell.” There could only be one thing to put her in that wonderful a mood.

  She cleared her throat as if getting ready for a speech. “You know that really handsome guy that comes by the office, the one I’ve been hot for over the past few months?”

  “The one who comes in to fix the computers?” There were about six men who she’d been hot for over the past few months, and I could never keep up.

  “No, not that one. This one is the supplier from the partner company. Anyway, he asked me out for dinner, and I went.”

  “Wow! That was fast.” I couldn’t wait to tell her about the handsome doctor.

  “It was so nice. We’re going out again in a few days. His name is Daniel.” She made a squealing noise and giggled. “Oh man, I just realized I’m a shitty friend. You’re upset about the whole lawsuit thing, and here I am giggling over a date.”

  “No, don’t you dare feel bad. I’m excited for you. As a matter of fact, despite the shitty day I’m having, I got asked out, too.”

  “Really? Who is he?” She gave another squeal, and this time, I laughed with her.

  I remembered where I was and kept my voice down. “We call him Dr. Rob. He’s good looking, very nice, and almost every nurse here wants a piece of him.”

  “Lucky girl. I always knew you’d land a hot doctor. So when are you going out?”

  “I’m not sure. He asked me to dinner sometime, but we haven’t set anything up. I’m not sure it’s that big of a deal yet.”

  “You’re never sure. You’re going to be unsure at your own wedding. I wish you’d find a man who would care about you and give you the attention you deserve.” She’d known how invisible I was to my parents and how hard the last year had been. It was only natural she wanted to see me happy again.

  I shook my head. “I’m not sure this is the guy for that, but who knows.”

  “So, did your parents say anything more about the lawsuit? I can’t believe they’re going through with it.” Her exhale sent static through the phone.

  “No, and I can’t believe they’re doing it, either. I keep thinking about Allison’s brother. I feel like such a bitch.”

  “Do you know how much the suit is for? I mean, you know the Walkers were loaded. I doubt it’s going to put him in the poor house.”

  “That’s not the point. Think of how he feels. I feel all alone, and I have you and my parents; I couldn’t imagine being him and having to go through this. It rips open old wounds.”

  “Have you ever met him? What’s he like?”

  “No, and I have no clue. But Allison was a nice girl, not at all what you’d expect from someone with her wealth who could have anything she wanted in life. She treated my brother like a king, and she chased after him for a while before he came to his senses.�
� As sweet as she was, part of me couldn’t help but think how I’d still have my brother if he’d never let her catch him.

  “Well, have you ever thought about reaching out?” She was crunching something into the phone, and I wondered if she was eating potato chips again. She’d given them up a month ago in an attempt to eat healthier.

  “No, I couldn’t.” I glanced up at the clock and realized it was time to get back to work. “Hey, I gotta go.”

  “Okay, talk soon! Good luck with your sexy doctor, and don’t let this get you down. It will all be okay.”

  I hung up the phone and let out a deep breath. I sure hoped she was right.

  Chapter Five

  Aiden

  I woke to the sound of someone in my house, and since I hadn’t gone back to the bar for a drink the night before, I was certain I hadn’t brought home anyone. I got up and found my phone before pulling on some jeans and stepping over my laundry to go downstairs.

  The elegance of my home was ever present, and Mattie had made it better by cleaning up and dusting the furnishings. I found her up on a ladder working on the portrait my mother had paid handsomely for some years back. The subject was unknown as was the artist, but the painting had always struck her as wonderful in some way. She’d stare at the woman for hours, intrigued with the colors. She said it reminded her of Leighton’s Flaming June, and since she couldn’t own it, this was the next best thing.

  “You’re back?” I stopped at the foot of the ladder and held it steady.

  She glanced down from her perch like a bird. “You’re finally awake.”

  “Someone was making a bunch of noise.” I took her hand as she climbed down. “You shouldn’t be up on that ladder, Mattie. You’re going to break your neck.”

  “Funny you should care.” She moved the thing over a bit and began her way back up.

  “Whoa, I’m not letting you do this, Mattie.” She huffed as I took the ladder and closed it up. “You’re set on coming here and working, that’s fine, but at least let me give you your old job back. And, you’re not to climb ladders. You hire someone younger to assist you. But, you live away from here. I don’t need a roommate.”