“Hey, little brother, we heard you were waiting tables.” Lucky leaned back in his chair and grinned. “How’s that working out for you?”
“Well, I thought it wouldn’t be too bad until I saw the Cooper clan.”
Jackson touched his coffee cup. “Could I get coffee? And maybe you should be nicer. We’re real good tippers.”
Lucky laughed at that. “I’ll give you a tip. Marry the girl. It’ll be a lot easier than waiting tables.”
“Thanks, I’ll remember that.” Gage walked off.
“Coffee,” Jackson called out, and then his wife, Madeline, spoke softly, warning him to go easy. Gage glanced back over his shoulder and made eye contact with Madeline, who was one of the nicest people Gage knew.
At least he had one ally.
But he didn’t have time to think about it. The Mad Cow got busy. He had seen it like this before, with every table filled. He’d just never realized how hard a job waitressing was until he was the guy facing all of those customers. Vera helped him out when she could.
Toward the end of the evening, he was doing everything he could to keep up with his tables. Vera laughed as he rushed out of the waitress station with a few salads. He turned to look at her and she pointed.
“Salads are better with more than lettuce.”
“Of course they are.” He looked down at the bowls of lettuce.
“You’re doing great, Gage. My goodness, people are leaving tips in the jar at the register, plus what they’re giving you. And Breezy suggested we have a benefit. She said she’d be willing to sing. But we should get a better waiter.”
“Nice, Vera.”
Vera held her hands up in surrender. “Breezy said it, not me.”
The front door opened, setting off the cowbell that had never bothered Gage until he had to hear it over and over again. A gust of cold air came in with the newcomers. Gage turned, smiling at a couple that lived down the road from Cooper Creek, and then at Brandon.
How’d Brandon get to town? The kid looked madder than spit. Or maybe just upset.
“She put that horse of hers online,” Brandon nearly shouted, catching several curious looks.
“Calm down.” Gage grabbed the kid by the arm and pulled him toward the waitress station, knowing people were listening.
“She put her horse up for sale,” Brandon said again.
“I didn’t know.” Gage grabbed his phone out of his pocket. “Give me the website link.”
Brandon did, and Gage punched it into his phone while Vera shouted to him that he had an order up.
“Take that order to Jackson and his family.” Brandon just stared at him. “Yeah, you.”
Brandon grumbled something about not being no waitress, and Gage ignored him. The kid could help out, too.
While Brandon took the order, Gage glanced over the website until he found the mare. Great. Now what would he do? She couldn’t sell that horse. He glanced out at the crowded restaurant. Someone had to buy it. She’d guess if it was him. But she wouldn’t suspect Jason Bradshaw, and he’d just walked through the doors of the café.
Gage walked through the crowded dining room and sat down next to Jason, who happened to be sitting with his wife, Alyson.
“I don’t think the waiter is supposed to sit with the diners.” Jason laughed, as he turned a cup right side up for Breezy to fill with coffee. She gave Gage a dirty look, filled the cup and left.
“Hey,” he called after her, “you get what you pay for.”
“What’s up?” Jason poured a couple of packets of sugar into his coffee.
“I need you to buy a horse. Maybe pay for it and say you can’t pick it up for a week or so.”
“I don’t want to buy a horse.”
“I’ll pay for it.” Gage put his phone on the table in front of Jason. “It’s Layla’s mare. She must be panicking about money and she put it on this website.”
Alyson sighed a little. “Poor Layla, she loves that mare. She has so much hope for it.”
“I know. That’s why we’re not going to let her get rid of it.” Gage felt like he was the only one getting it. “I’ll write you a check, Jas, but you have to send her a message and tell her you’ll put the money in this pay account, and send someone to pick the horse up.”
“Why don’t you just tell her you’ll give her the money and she doesn’t have to sell the horse?” Jason said it like it made sense.
“She isn’t going to take my money.”
“Yeah, she probably wouldn’t.”
“Not after you broke her heart,” Alyson mumbled as she reached for her water glass.
“Thanks, Alyson, for that knife to the heart.”
“She’s one of my dearest friends. If you break her heart this time, I’ll do worse than that to you.” She glared at him, and he knew she meant it.
“I’m not going to break her heart. Why is it if a guy does something nice for a woman, everyone assumes they’re dating?”
“Well, when someone spends this much time with a woman, it looks like a relationship.”
Gage tapped his phone screen. “Do you have that website?”
Jason picked up his own phone and typed it in. “I’ll buy the horse, Gage. And you bring me the check tomorrow. But you’d better listen to my wife.”
“Yes, sir.”
Vera came out of the kitchen, looking like she was on the warpath. He jumped up.
“Are you working for me or not?” She glanced from Gage to the crowded dining room.
“I’m working. I had to take care of an emergency.”
“There’s a fifteen-year-old kid carrying orders to customers,” Vera informed him. “And he’s doing a better job than you.”
Jason laughed.
“Yeah, well, I’m injured.” Gage pointed to his braced knee. “I’m supposed to rest a lot.”
“You’ve been resting all your life. Now get to work.” Vera handed him the coffeepot. “Fill up some cups and remember why you’re doing this.”
How could he forget? As he filled up coffee cups, he tried to guess Layla’s reaction when she found out he’d bought her horse. She’d be mad. Really mad. Or she’d love him forever.
He didn’t know how to feel about that. People wanted to order, and others were waiting for drinks to be refilled. When he’d come home for the holidays, he hadn’t expected his life to get tangled up with Layla Silver’s. But now that it was, how did he get it untangled?
And did he want to?
Chapter Sixteen
On Friday the new owner picked up Pretty Girl. Layla stood on her front porch and cried as the mare drove away. A week from Christmas, at least she had a nice check that would keep her from defaulting on the bank loan. She wiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks. She had to stop crying because crying wouldn’t make it any better.
Telling herself that never seemed to work. Sometimes a girl just needed a good cry. Especially when her horse was being trailered down the drive, whinnying as she got farther and farther from home.
Layla had to go inside, away from the heartbreaking sound. Daisy sat next to her, whining and nuzzling Layla’s hand with her cold nose. She brushed her hand through the soft fur at the collie’s neck.
Beth would come by any minute. She had called earlier. Now that Layla was feeling better, Beth wanted to take her to the community center. They were putting finishing touches on the Living Nativity that would take place the following weekend, right before Christmas. After watching the rehearsal, they would head to the Mad Cow for dinner.
Layla slipped off her barn boots and put on suede boots that had a warm lining. She grabbed her jacket off the hook next to the door just as Beth’s truck pulled up the drive. It was only the two of them tonight. Jeremy was caring for their son. Layla need
ed a night like this. She needed a break from the house, from people taking care of her. Not that it hadn’t been wonderful. She had a freezer full of casseroles from neighbors and church members. She wouldn’t need to cook for weeks.
Beth honked. Layla grabbed her purse and went out the door, not running as she would have done. Her side was still tender, and she found that naps had become her friend.
She climbed into the truck and smiled at Beth.
“You look great.” Beth shifted into Reverse.
“Thank you.”
Beth’s eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong? Did Gage...”
Layla laughed a little and wiped at more tears. “I sold my mare.”
“Oh, Layla, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I mean, it’s not, but it will be. I had to do it. And she’s going to a good home.”
“I’m sure she is.” Beth looked away, and Layla wondered at her friend’s sudden loss of words. But Beth wasn’t a person to push.
“It hurt to let her go, but tomorrow will be a better day. And I’m hoping next week Jesse will allow me to go back to work.”
“Don’t rush it, Layla.” Beth slowed to make the turn that would take them to Back Street. “Give yourself time to heal.”
“I’m trying. It’s hard to sit at home when I know that the bills are piling up.”
“I know you’re worried,” Beth said as she pulled into the crowded parking lot of the community center.
Beth parked, and the two of them walked over to the nativity scene. The actors were walking through their parts. The animals milled restlessly in a pen. Layla watched as Mary and Joseph took their place in the stable.
The eternal story of the birth of a savior. Layla shivered in the cool afternoon, watching as an angel appeared to the shepherds in the field. She thought about what this story meant to her life. It meant faith. It meant believing in something more than herself, her own abilities.
If she’d only been trusting in herself all of these years, she would have given up. But God hadn’t let her down. She had people in her life who were there for her, when she allowed them to be. She should allow it more often. This past week had taught her just how easy it was. It had taught her to be thankful for their help.
The Coopers had been at her side the entire time. Because of them, Brandon seemed to be doing better. Of course he would still have bumps along the way, but she thought they might make it through his teenage years. And because it meant so much to Brandon, she had accepted Angie Cooper’s offer to spend Christmas with the Cooper family.
Gage. She hadn’t seen much of him since the day he brought over the Christmas tree. Maybe he’d finally realized that he didn’t owe her. Didn’t have to make amends for something that had happened years ago.
It seemed silly, but she realized she missed him.
“Are you okay, standing this long?” Beth had walked away to talk to someone, but she returned, giving Layla a cautious look.
“I’m fine for now.” She smiled at her friend. “As many times as I’ve seen this program, it still moves me. Makes me think about that night and how much God loves us.”
Beth nodded, watching with Layla. The choir sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and Mary and Joseph greeted the shepherds who had come to see the baby Jesus. Beth looped her arm through Layla’s.
“It’s going to be okay.”
Layla smiled. “I know it is.”
“Do you want to go to Vera’s for coffee and a piece of pie?”
“Sure.” Layla answered as she was pulled toward Beth’s truck. “Why not.”
When they pulled up to the Mad Cow, Layla had a funny feeling something was going on. The parking lot was full, and almost everyone she knew was there. She got out, feeling uneasy, maybe a little sick.
“I think I’d rather go home.”
Beth laughed and guided her toward the diner. “Not on your life.”
As they walked through the door of the Mad Cow, Layla’s feet refused to move forward. The restaurant was packed. Breezy stood in the corner with a guitar and a mic—and Gage. He was wearing an apron and taking orders.
“What’s going on?” Layla looked around, managing somehow to smile and greet people who called out to her.
Vera walked through the crowd, her hair in its neat bun, her smile familiar and welcoming. “Layla Silver, your friends and family put this night together to help you.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Layla allowed herself to be led to a table where Angie Cooper patted an empty chair.
“Say thank you to that crazy Gage Cooper. I think he has a surprise for you.”
“Why is he wearing an apron?” Layla sat down next to Angie.
“Honey, he’s been working both your jobs for you while you’ve been sick.” Vera hugged her from behind and placed a noisy kiss on her cheek.
“Working my jobs?” Layla repeated. She locked eyes with Gage. He winked, and she didn’t have a clue how to act or feel.
“He wanted to make sure you had money coming in.” Angie Cooper patted Layla’s hand. “I think if bull riding doesn’t work out, he’d make a fine waiter.”
“He didn’t have to do this.”
“No,” Angie said, “he didn’t. He did it because he cares.”
Layla wanted to argue, to tell Angie that Gage did it because he felt guilty. He felt like he owed her. But she couldn’t. All of these people were here to support her, to help her. No matter what his motivations were, Gage had put this together. She owed him.
She closed her eyes and said a silent “thank you.” Once again, God hadn’t let her down. The people in Dawson hadn’t let her down.
For the next two hours she sat at the center table, thankful but a little embarrassed by all the attention. People would come and go, stopping to talk with her for a few minutes, to hug her, to tell her that she was strong and they all admired her.
Toward the end of the evening, Angie rubbed her back a little. “Why don’t you let Gage take you home? You look exhausted. This was probably too much for one day.”
“No, I’m fine. And Beth can take me.”
“Beth left thirty minutes ago, honey. I think she even said goodbye to you.” She looked around the room. She was right. Beth was gone.
Layla hadn’t even noticed.
Angie waved at Gage to grab his attention. He ambled over and pulled up a chair to sit close behind the two of them.
“I don’t know how you do it, Layla. This is hard work.”
She smiled at that. “It isn’t easy.”
“Why don’t you give Layla a ride home?” Angie patted his arm. “I’ll help Vera clean up.”
Layla wondered if he felt cornered, as if they were being pushed together. He had to know people were getting the wrong idea. But he didn’t look cornered. He shrugged and then grinned at her.
“I’m game if she is. Let me get rid of this apron and let Vera know the plan.”
Ten minutes later they were in his truck. He’d insisted on warming it up before they left. Layla sat on the passenger side, wondering how it would feel to have her heart broken a second time by Gage Cooper.
* * *
“Were you surprised?” Gage glanced at the woman sitting as far from him in the cab of the truck as she could get.
“Very. Thank you for doing that. And for working for me.” Her voice broke a little. “I didn’t know.”
“Because if I’d told you, you would have told me no, and mentioned that I didn’t need to make up for what I did ten years ago. This wasn’t about that, Layla. This was about me doing something for you because we’re friends.”
They were more than friends, but if she hadn’t figured that out yet, he didn’t know how to explain it to her.
“You’re probably right,” she
finally admitted.
“Thank you for that. I do like to be right every now and then.”
She laughed a little, and the sound was a relief. He wanted to reach for her hand but didn’t. It didn’t take a genius to see that she still thought he was only in her life to make amends for the past. Eventually he’d convince her otherwise.
“I’m leaving in January.” That probably wasn’t the best way to let her know he was feeling more than friendship for her. He was thinking about the future, and she played a big role in those plans.
But it wasn’t quite time for that yet.
“Back to bull riding?” She didn’t look at him.
“Yep. But before I go, we’re going to that steak house in Tulsa.”
“Are we?”
“Yes. We are.”
She turned to look at him then. He saw the dark circles under her eyes, her pale face and the strain of a long day. He reached over and laced his fingers through hers.
“Do I have a say in this?”
“Are you going to turn me down?”
She unlocked her fingers from his. “I’m not sure.”
He pulled up to her house. Brandon had gone home with Gage’s dad about an hour before the event at the Mad Cow ended. They had a horse about to foal, and Tim hadn’t wanted to leave her alone too long. These days, Brandon stuck to Gage’s dad like glue.
Layla gave him a long look. “I’m not sure if I can do it, Gage.”
“You’ll be better by then.”
“No, I can’t do this. I can’t go to dinner with you.” She looked so sad he wanted to hold her and never let her go. He wanted to find a way to make her smile every day.
Somehow he doubted Layla was in the mood for caveman tactics.
“Why?”
“Because you’ll break my heart.” She opened the truck door. “I have a fifteen-year-old brother to raise. I’m not young and carefree. I can’t do casual dating. You’re gone more than you’re home. This is it for me. This is my life. I raise Brandon. I work. I try to keep this old farm from falling apart. You go where you want, when you want. You date who you want and then you move on. And for a lot of women you meet, I’m sure that’s fine.”
The Cowboy's Christmas Courtship Page 16
