Midnight Wrangler

by Cat Johnson

  If he hadn’t been one hundred percent certain before, he was now. He took a few long strides in her direction. “Bonnie?”

  She turned at the sound of his voice. When her eyes widened, he knew she recognized him, too. “Rohn. Uh, yeah. It’s me. So you are still in town.”

  “Yup. Never left. I own a place not far from here. Cattle ranch.”

  “Oh. Nice. Good for you.”

  It was a shock, and a coincidence since he’d just been thinking about her recently. “Bonnie Blue Martin. Back again.”

  She let out a short laugh but it somehow lacked humor. “I haven’t heard anyone call me that since high school.”

  “That’s good to hear.” Rohn cocked one brow. “I don’t know how I’d feel about some other guy using the name I’d given you.”

  “No worries about that.” A look close to guilt crossed her face as she shook her head. “So how have you been?”

  “Good. And yourself?” he asked.

  “I’m doing all right.”

  As they made meaningless small talk, Rohn absorbed everything that had changed about Bonnie, and all the things that had remained the same. She still seemed shy, though that naïve innocence that had cocooned her back then seemed to have been stripped away by time. She seemed harder somehow. Less delicate. More guarded.

  The ready smile she’d always had for him was a whole lot more reserved now. It eluded him, just as her gaze did. She barely glanced up, not holding eye contact for more than a few seconds, but rather looking around at anything but him.

  “What are you doing in town? Are you back home for good after all these years?” As time had passed, and the decades slipped by, he’d given up hope of ever seeing her again.

  That he could feel this good about seeing Bonnie again surprised Rohn. It wouldn’t always have been the case. Her leaving without saying good-bye had cut his young heart deep. It had been hard to remember the good moments for a long time.

  But that time was past. Seeing Bonnie was a welcome sight today. Running into her unexpectedly had brought back good memories of that summer and his youth. Memories he needed right about now to remind him he’d had another life, another love, besides Lila. And with any luck, he’d find one again now that Lila was gone.

  That hope soothed him like a gentle rain after a long drought. Perhaps time really did heal all wounds.

  “I’m only back temporarily to handle some things.” She raised those blue eyes to meet his before she yanked her gaze away again. “My father died.”

  His mouth dropped open in surprise. Here he was joking, borderline flirting with her—or at least thinking about doing it—and she was grieving. “Jesus, Bonnie. I’m so sorry. I hadn’t heard.”

  “It’s okay, Rohn. There’s no reason why you should have heard. I know he kept to himself mostly.”

  Rohn dipped his head. “That he did. Private man, your dad. I used to see him at the auction occasionally. Not for the past couple years though.”

  “Yeah, I understand that he sold off the lower field. He couldn’t plant any crops the last couple seasons. He couldn’t handle the work. Not with his diagnosis.”

  “Diagnosis?” Rohn raised a brow at the word.

  “Throat cancer,” Bonnie elaborated.

  Rohn sucked in a breath between his teeth. “Sorry to hear that. I lost my wife to cancer five years ago.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “Thanks.” There was no reason why she should have known. He brought the subject back to her grief. “When did your father pass?”

  “Last week.” Bonnie’s answer surprised him.

  “Wow.” He supposed Bonnie’s losing her father in his later years was completely different from his losing Lila before she’d even reached the middle of what should have been a very long life. “Again, my condolences.”

  She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It’s not like it was a surprise, chewing tobacco the way he did for most of his life.”

  Rohn tipped his head. “That I do remember.”

  Bonnie’s father always had a wad of chaw in his mouth. It was still difficult to reconcile that the intimidating man had been taken so quickly. Then again, Rohn knew firsthand the quick devastation cancer could wreak.

  “So anyway, I’m here to take care of things.” She drew in a big breath and blew it out, sounding weary. Looking that way, too, now that he took a second glance and noticed the dark shadows beneath her eyes.

  “What are you planning on doing with the old place?”

  She let out a snort. “Good question.”

  “You don’t know?” he asked.

  From what Rohn remembered, it was a decent piece of land, even if the lower field had been sold. If memory served, her father had put in a good-sized crop of wheat in the field behind the house.

  “No. Not really.”

  They’d been holding this conversation while standing in the doorway. As a man pulled into the lot, parked, and came toward the door, Rohn moved to the side, out from the shade of the awning and into the heat of the sun. Bonnie followed him.

  “Are you in a position to keep the property?” The thought of Bonnie moving back to town woke an interest inside Rohn he’d long since buried. Maybe the first love a man had never completely left him.

  “And run it by myself?” Her brows rose high before she shook her head. “No. But I’m not sure now is the right time to sell. The economy sucks and the real estate market’s so depressed. I can’t imagine farmland is all that valuable at the moment.”

  “You could maybe try finding a renter. Someone who’s interested in farming but doesn’t want to take on a mortgage right now. Or rent the house separately and then find a local farmer looking to expand his crop beyond his own acreage.”

  “I guess. You interested?” She asked it with a smile and he could tell she was only half-joking.

  “I wish I could say I was, but wheat isn’t my choice of crop. I got cattle at my place and I’ve got my own hayfields. The extra bales I need to get through the winter I buy from my neighbor.”

  “Know anybody who might be interested? I’ve been gone so long, I feel like I’m a stranger around here.”

  It had been a long time. “Plenty has changed. Then again, there’s plenty that’s stayed the same. But if you’re thinking about looking for a renter, I guess the best thing to do is put an ad in the paper.”

  “That’s a good idea. Thank you.” She eyed him, those blue pools finally focusing on him from beneath her blond lashes. “Everything else seems to have changed, but not you. You still look just like you did back in high school.”

  “Do I?” He laughed. “Then that brings to light one more change right there—that you need glasses.” Rohn grinned as she rolled her eyes at his teasing.

  For the first time during the encounter, the smile she flashed him seemed genuine and not forced. “I don’t need glasses. It’s true.”

  “Well, you don’t look the same.”

  She lifted her brow high. “Well, it has been twenty-five years.”

  She’d taken the comment as an insult, but she was wrong. He hadn’t meant it as such. Rohn was at the age he knew experience created beauty, not youth.

  “I meant, you look even better than you did back then.”

  “I’m not sure I believe you, but thanks.” She smiled again, softening a bit, warming up to him.

  He wanted to see her relax, even for a little bit. Throughout the whole conversation she’d seemed a little stiff. A bit like she’d rather be anywhere but there talking to him. Her words were polite enough, but there was something about her. A stiffness in her spine. A shift in her gaze as it darted away from his whenever their eyes met. A nervousness he sensed in her when there was no need for it.

  They were old friends. Hell, so much more than friends. For one summer, as seen through the eyes of teenagers, they’d been each other’s worlds—until she’d gone off and never came back.

  If she hadn’t left, what would have ha
ppened? There was a good chance he never would have met Lila. He probably would have married Bonnie. If he had, would they still be together today instead of him being alone and lonely?

  Rohn pushed the traitorous thought aside. Guilt hit him hard for even thinking it. He wouldn’t trade the years of happiness he’d had with Lila for anything in the world. Even as lonely as he was now without her.

  He drew in a breath, centering himself, and forced his mind back to the here and now and the woman in front of him. “So, anything I can help you with at your father’s place? Moving boxes? Fixing things? I’m strong and I’m pretty handy when I put my mind to it.”

  “No, thank you. I couldn’t accept your help.”

  He drew his brows down. “Why not?”

  “I wouldn’t feel right.”

  “Nonsense. That’s what old friends are for.”

  She waved off his offer. “I’m just going to rent a truck for a day or two to haul some stuff from the house. I’m going to have to make a few trips to the dump. And I figured I’d donate the clothes and some of the furniture to the church.”

  “I’ve got a truck you can borrow.”

  “No, Rohn. I couldn’t—”

  “I insist.”

  Bonnie hesitated. “Okay. But I’m paying you for using it.”

  “Nope. No payment necessary.” He shook his head.

  “No, I insist.”

  “Bonnie, I won’t take your money.”

  “Then I won’t borrow your truck.” She folded her arms, standing firm and stubbornly.

  “A’ight. We’ll discuss that later.” No way was he letting her give him money to use his truck, but that could be battled out at a future date.

  “Yes, we will.”

  “I got three young guys working for me with good strong backs, too, if you need ’em.” When she opened her mouth, he held up one hand. “We’ll discuss your trying to pay them later, too.”

  She couldn’t move heavy furniture by herself. If she insisted on refusing free help, the least he could do was offer her his hired help . . . and if he happened to stop by and check on the guys while they were there and got to spend some more time with Bonnie, that wouldn’t be so bad, either.

  Finally, Bonnie dipped her head. “All right. Thank you. I might take you up on that since I don’t know anybody in town to hire.”

  “Good. Glad to hear it. And if you need anything else, a friendly ear to bend about, I don’t know, the market for sales of farmland, or the current state of interest rates, give me a call. My phone number’s listed. Lerner comma Rohn, spelled with an h. Remember?”

  She rolled her eyes toward the sky. “I remember.”

  Rohn realized he’d held her outside in the heat for a long time. “You here to eat?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Want some company?” Damn, that was presumptuous of him but he wasn’t letting this chance pass him by.

  “Um, I was going to grab something to take out. You know, get right back to work at the house. So, is this place new?” She’d effectively declined his offer and changed the subject.

  The question was, why? What was making her so uncomfortable? The situation she had to deal with or him?

  While he figured out the answer to that question, he’d have to keep things casual. Play it cool. God, he hated being in this position. It was like they were back in high school again. Playing games.

  “Eh, I guess it opened about six months ago. Best barbecue around as far as I can tell. My ranch hands love it, and considering the amount of barbecue they can put away, that’s saying something.”

  “Sounds good.” There was that look again, like she wanted to escape.

  This time, Rohn decided to let her. “Actually, I’m bringing lunch back to the crew so I should probably go in, get what I came for, and head back to the ranch.”

  The breath she drew in seemed filled with relief.

  “Me too. Best I get moving myself.” She motioned toward the door.

  He nodded. “One bit of advice, the brisket and the jalapeño mac and cheese combo is the way I’d go, if I were you.”

  “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” She turned for the door and he followed her inside.

  Bonnie Blue. The first girl to steal his heart and the first girl to break it. He watched her move toward the counter. Her back to him as if they hadn’t been as close as any two people could be once upon a time. He should let her go about her business while he went about his. Just be happy they’d had a chance to say hey and catch up, and leave it at that.

  That would be the smart thing to do.

  Sometimes, Rohn wasn’t so smart. It seemed that was especially true when it came to Bonnie.

  Summer, 1990

  The tractor cut wide swaths across the dirt, sending whirls of dust into the dry Oklahoma air. Rohn felt a bead of sweat roll down his cheek. He wiped the back of one hand across his face.

  Today’s job entailed plowing the field to prepare the soil for a crop of hard red winter wheat that would be planted this fall for harvesting next spring.

  It was a hot one today. He hit the brake with his booted foot and pulled back on the throttle, letting the engine idle as he swiped off his hat. He took out his handkerchief and wiped the perspiration from his forehead.

  He glanced across the field, squinting through the glare of the sun as a figure came out of the house and began the walk toward the freshly plowed field.

  Talk about hot . . . the sight of Bonnie Martin in her cutoff jean shorts made the temperature ratchet up another twenty degrees or so. He watched her pick her way across the field in her boots.

  When she got closer, she waved to him. Rohn lifted a hand and waved back. He could hop down and go meet her halfway, but truth be told he was enjoying watching her walk.

  The sway of her hips as she traversed the field was a sight to behold. So was the way she kept glancing at him and then away when she realized he was watching her. She was shy. He didn’t know many girls at school who were. Most were the type to expect a guy to look their way, and get pissed off when he didn’t.

  Finally, she reached him and glanced up. “Hey.”

  “Hey. What’s up?” He leaned forward, bracing against the steering wheel.

  “I thought you might be thirsty.” She held up the glass of sweet tea she’d carried out with her. Funny, he’d been so busy watching the girl that he hadn’t even noticed what she held in her hand.

  Her mamma’s tea was good. He’d had it the other day when he’d come to meet with her dad to get this job. But the tea could never be as sweet as Miss Bonnie Blue herself. He’d like to sample her lips and see if she tasted as good as she looked.

  He reached down and took the tea, pressing the cold glass to his parched lips. Swallowing, he felt the cool liquid wet his throat. It washed away the dust and dryness.

  One thirst was quenched, but not his other one. He had a hankering for some more of Bonnie. Time alone with her was something he could definitely do with, and now was the perfect time to lay the groundwork for that.

  “So, I was thinking about going to see that new movie playing in town. You think you’d like to go and see it with me tonight?”

  Her eyes widened at the invitation. “Um. Okay.”

  It wasn’t an overwhelming response. He would have liked better if she’d said, hell, yes. But it was still a yes, and that was just as good. He’d take an okay any day over a flat-out no.

  Biding his time to stretch out this little visit, he took another swallow of tea before he said, “I think the show starts at seven. So I’ll pick you up here between six fifteen and six thirty?”

  “No.” She surprised him with the intensity of her no. “I mean, I’ll meet you at the theater. If that’s okay.”

  “A’ight.” He didn’t know why she wanted to meet there rather than have him come and get her, but he was willing to work with her to make her happy. “Out front?”

  “Yeah, that’s good.”

  “Okay. I’ll
see you then.” He chugged the remainder of the tea and handed the glass back to her. “Thanks for that. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem. Anytime.” She focused her blue eyes on him and then yanked her gaze away. He hoped by the end of tonight, she’d stop being shy around him, but for now, it was kind of cute.

  “I better get back to work. Don’t want your father getting mad at me.”

  “No, you don’t. So I guess I’ll see you later then.”

  “That you will.” He waited for her to move so he could start plowing again, but she stayed standing right there.

  “Rohn, maybe don’t mention the movie to my mother or father.”

  “Okay. I won’t.” He wanted to ask why, but he didn’t.

  He really did have to get back to work. He’d ask her outright later if she didn’t volunteer the information.

  She looked relieved. “Thanks.”

  “Sure.” He nodded. “No problem.”

  “All right. So I’ll see you later. At the theater.”

  “Yup.”

  Finally, she turned and after one backward glance, made her way back.

  He could have shifted into gear and gotten right back to work the moment she was clear, but instead he watched her walk away all the way to the house. Only when she’d gone inside did he glance around him.

  Good thing Mr. Martin was nowhere to be seen or Rohn might have been in trouble for slacking off.

  Rohn eased his foot off the brake and hit the throttle. He heard the sound of the engine react to the change. The machine jerked into motion and Rohn made his way down the row.

  The job was monotonous, but now he had something to occupy his mind. He’d have plenty to think about for the rest of the day thanks to his date with Bonnie on the horizon.

  And hell yeah he’d have even more to think about tomorrow, because that would be the day after his first date with Bonnie Blue. The first date of many, he hoped. If things went well, he’d have lots of good memories to relive as he bounced in the tractor seat tomorrow.

  With the taste of the sweet tea still on his tongue, Rohn hoped to have the taste of Bonnie there shortly.