The Cowboy's Choice

by Janalyn Knight

  She'd told her mother the name of the condos where she was staying, but she didn't expect to be bothered. Her mother and Beverly were to contact her only in case of an emergency.

  Her arrival at the island should allow her to check in and still spend the late afternoon at the beach. She'd stop and buy a beach towel, sunscreen and a hat when she left the airport. Would North Padre have changed much? This time of year, the beach shouldn't be as crowded as when school was out for the summer. Her stomach clenched. It would have been so wonderful to share this weekend with Adam.

  She unscrewed the cap from her water bottle and took a long drink. Another distraction. She refused to torture herself with thoughts of Adam or that woman.

  Arriving at the airport with time to spare, she paced, waiting to board her flight. Driving and keeping her thoughts free from the tangle of uncertainty she felt had mentally worn her out, yet physically she was wired.

  As one of the first to arrive, she held a good boarding pass and sat in the front of the plane when she boarded. After a stop in San Antonio, they flew into Corpus Christi, where she debarked and picked up her rental. Stopping first along the way for her purchases, she soon crossed the long bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway. Following her phone GPS, she arrived at a row of tall condo buildings scattered along the coast line. When she entered her home for the weekend, she was ready for a glass of wine and a long, relaxing time at the water.

  Not even bothering to unpack, she donned her swimsuit and, with her drink and towel in hand, headed to the beach.

  Few people were around. An older couple sat in chairs on the right a short way from her. To the left, a younger couple walked hand-in-hand. Dropping her towel, she waded in the water until the waves tickled her calves. Looking far out to sea she let the waves break over her. She closed her eyes, hearing the sound of the water washing up on shore, seagulls in the distance, and the wind that blew off the ocean rushing past her ears. Wiggling her toes, she let her feet sink deeper in the sand. The water, warm from the sun, ran one way and then the other across her legs. Sighing, some of the tension from the past twenty-four hours flowed from her with each breath. She needed this.

  Opening her eyes, she spotted a tanker at the horizon, creeping along toward port. An oil derrick was out there, too. She clipped her hair on top of her head. Wading into deeper water, she knelt on her knees. Wave after wave massaged her tired muscles as they passed by. An occasional piece of seaweed made its scratchy way across her belly or thigh. She settled into a trancelike state—no thoughts, feeling nothing. Her breathing slowed and her muscles let go of the tension that tightened them.

  After a time, at peace and relaxed, she returned to the sand and lay on her towel, letting the sun seep deep into her body. Closing her eyes, the sound of the waves lulled her. This was what she came for.

  A dog barked. Her eyes flew open and she turned her head toward the sound. She must have fallen asleep. Squinting her eyes at the bright rays of the sun, she examined the woman who threw a Frisbee to the black lab that had barked. She laughed as the dog chased his toy out into the water, swimming to retrieve it.

  The young woman turned to Lara and smiled. "Hi. Sorry Jasper woke you up. He gets excited when I throw his Frisbee." She came closer. "I'm Tina, by the way. You here for long?"

  "Just a couple of days. You?" Lara said.

  "I live around here. We come down to the water on my days off. I'm a nurse at a hospital in Corpus Christi."

  Lara rose to her elbows. "I'm Lara. Sounds like you have a lot of fun."

  Tina came over and sat beside her. "I love living here." She grinned. "So does Jasper." She called to her dog, who had wandered up the beach a ways, then looked back at Lara. "Are you here with someone or did you come alone?"

  Lara's smile fell away. "I'm here by myself. I needed a break to think, you know?"

  Tina studied her. "I understand. The ocean's a great place for that. Listen, if you want to hang tonight, give me a call." She reached for her phone which she wore in an armband. "Tell me your number, and I'll text you mine."

  After a moment's hesitation, Lara rattled off her number. Why not blow off some steam, and Tina seemed like fun.

  Tina stuck her phone back on her arm and got up, dusting off her butt. "Call me, girl. Jasper wants to go, so I'll see you." She grinned and jogged to catch up with her dog.

  Lara stood and grabbed her towel, ready to head back and shower. Her stomach rumbled—her hurried breakfast early that morning was the only food she'd eaten all day. Tina might want to eat dinner before they found someplace to have fun.

  After a warm relaxing shower and changing into comfortable clothes, she sent Tina a text about dinner. A few minutes later, her new friend replied:

  Dinner sounds great. Let's go to the Black Marlin. How about I meet you at eight-thirty?

  Lara's stomach grumbled again at the idea of food.

  I'll see you there.

  Thank goodness she bought some snacks earlier. After inhaling a handful of chips, she headed in to get ready.

  LARA ARRIVED AT THE Black Marlin few minutes early, but Tina was already there. She waved and Lara walked over to her table.

  Tina grinned. "Hi! You're going to love this place. I hope you're hungry."

  "Starving!" Lara smiled and opened the menu in front of her. Glancing up, she said, "Did Jasper pout when you left him?"

  Tina rolled her eyes. "Always. I already know what I want. Their crab is to die for here and their Texas fries kick ass."

  Damn that sounded delicious. How did Tina stay so slim eating like that? The beautiful blonde looked like a centerfold.

  Tina drummed her fingers on the table. "Have you decided what you want yet?"

  What the hell. She wouldn't worry about calories this weekend. "I'll have your suggestion."

  "There's a beach volleyball game tomorrow. Come with me and we'll burn off the fat from this dinner."

  Beach volleyball? Her last game was buried in ancient history. "I'll probably be terrible at it."

  "Don't worry. It's not a tournament or anything. We're playing for fun."

  Lara was supposed to be thinking about her problem. So far, that hadn't happened. But maybe she needed some distance from it before she considered her options. "What time and where?"

  Tina explained, and a couple of minutes later the waitress came by and took their order.

  Tina was funny, telling Lara crazy stories about her work at the hospital. Lara could see how she would be her patients' favorite nurse, and that she really enjoyed her job.

  When they finished eating, they headed over to the 361 Bar.

  The music was perfect when Lara walked in and the place looked pretty classy for a beach town.

  Tina found them a place to sit by the pool table. "Do you play?"

  "It's been a while, but I like it."

  Tina put change in the table and racked the balls.

  The waitress came and Lara called out, "What are you drinking?"

  As she perused the cue sticks, Tina raised her voice and said, "Margarita on the rocks. Thanks."

  Lara nodded to the Waitress. "Me too, only frozen."

  After finding her own stick, Lara chalked the tip. "I hope you're not a pool shark."

  Tina grinned. "I'm pretty good. Look out. Do you want to break?"

  "Show me what you got, girl."

  Tina took aim and the cue ball rammed into the triangle of balls. Three of them went into pockets—all solids.

  Lara groaned. "You weren't kidding."

  "Watch and weep, girlfriend." Tina put three more solid balls in the pockets before she missed, leaving a couple of good lays for Lara.

  She put three striped balls in and then missed. Groaning in frustration, she said. "Go ahead, beat me."

  Tina laughed and lined up on the last solid ball, snapping it into the pocket. She didn't have a line on the eight ball, though, and missed.

  Lara suddenly thought of Adam and how much fun it would be to have him he
re playing pool, and her joy whooshed out of her. She took aim and sent the cue ball flying at the orange-striped ball, making it hit the pocket so hard it rocketed around a few times before it landed inside.

  "Wow, girl, you meant that one," Tina said and grinned.

  Lara grimaced and held back a little on the next shot, but still sent her ball into the pocket. She missed her next shot, with two balls still left on the table and leaving Tina a perfect line to the eight ball.

  Tina put it in easily and asked, "Another game?"

  Lara shook her head, her enthusiasm gone.

  Tina sat across from her, taking a swallow of her margarita. "So, what took all the air out of your sails?"

  Lara sighed. "I came to Padre Island because I need to make a decision about what's happening with a relationship I'm in. I was thinking how nice it would be if he were here and, you know, blah."

  Tina nodded. "Been there. Why don't you tell me about him? This is the perfect time. They'll crank up the music when more people get here."

  Lara took another sip of her margarita. She may as well talk about it. Another person's insight would be good to hear. "Okay. He's a cowboy and a surgeon, and I love him. I thought I trusted him. Then ...." She told Tina all about Demi and what she'd said, how the woman looked, and what little Adam had told Lara about her.

  Tina tilted her almost empty margarita glass, sucking down the last drop and looking for the waitress. After catching her attention, Tina returned her gaze to Lara. "That's messed up. I understand why you're upset. I would be, too." She swirled ice around in her glass. "He swears he's not sleeping with her?"

  Lara nodded, taking a long swallow of her drink.

  "Hm." Tina gazed off across the room. Glancing back at Lara, she sucked a piece of ice into her mouth and said, "Maybe this Demi has it out for him. She could have heard he was dating someone else after he quit seeing her. Some women don't take that too well."

  Lara chewed her lip. "Still, what she did was kind of psycho, don't you think?"

  "For sure. Makes you wonder what he saw in a witch like her."

  Lara shivered. True. Why had Adam gone out with a woman who would do something so weird? All Lara had were more questions, and only Adam could answer them. She should have let him talk.

  Lara reached across the table and clasped Tina's hand. "Thanks for listening. I need to give Adam a chance to explain, I guess. I won't know how to feel, or what to do until I do."

  Tina ordered them both another margarita, and they visited while the place filled with partiers. As Tina had predicted, the music blasted over the speakers and voices grew louder in competition.

  When she finished her drink, Lara stood and gave Tina a hug. "I need to go home. I didn't get much sleep last night, and I'm pooped out."

  Tina told her the time and place of the volleyball game. "Come play. You'll have fun."

  Waving goodbye, Lara made her way to her car and drove back to the condo. Once inside, she poured herself a glass of wine, changed into a gown and settled in bed. Though she'd asked for space from Adam, she needed to talk to him. Picking up her phone, she texted:

  I've had a little while to think. I realize I didn't give you a chance to tell me about you and Demi. Will you explain about your relationship?

  He texted right back:

  There was no relationship. She told me when we first met that she didn't want kids. I told her I did and got up to leave. Instead, she wanted to see me, no strings attached. We never went on a date. We met at her place or mine. We fucked, period. I saw her for about six months before I found out you were back in town. Then I immediately told her I wouldn't see her anymore. She was upset. I reminded her that she'd agreed to no strings. She hounded me with calls and texts until I finally blocked her. I had no idea she would show up at my house, Lara.

  Her heart pounded as she considered his words. Was this news better or worse than she'd feared? With trembling fingers, she typed:

  Thank you for telling me. Good night.

  He sent:

  I love you. Demi means nothing to me and never did. I didn't live the life of a monk, but I'm a faithful man, Lara.

  She texted back:

  I'll think about what you said and see you sometime next week.

  Laying her phone on the night stand, she took a sip of wine. He'd fucked the beautiful blonde for six months. Her gut twisted. He must have liked sex with her a lot. Knifelike fingers of jealousy clawed at her. Low self-esteem was something Lara had wrangled with since her relationship with Kingsley and his subsequent rape. The knowledge she gained tonight could take her down if she let it. With a long swallow of wine, she hardened her resolve. She wouldn't give in to self-doubt, nor would she allow the other woman to become a crack in her self-image. Whatever she decided about Adam, she would stay strong.

  AFTER EATING BREAKFAST out the next morning, she drove home and dressed for the beach. With a romance novel for her beach-read, she planned a quiet day to herself rather than volleyball. After texting Tina, Lara headed out.

  It being a Saturday, there were a lot more people at the water. She chose a spot and laid out her towel. Turning on her belly, propped on her elbows, she started her book. Three pages later, she couldn't remember what she'd read. Visions of Adam with Demi kept breaking into her thoughts. It was stupid. If she could believe him, then he broke up with the blonde before he ever dated Lara. What man wouldn't want to fuck a willing woman who looked like Demi? Lara knew her jealousy was ridiculous yet it filled her belly with acid.

  She dug her hand in the sand, encountering the coolness down deep. There had to be a way to make peace with this thing between Adam and Demi. He said he didn't care about her. Why should Lara, then? She'd never been jealous before. Not even in high school. It was a hideous, out-of-control feeling.

  Laying her book down, she rested her chin on her fist. It was time to put on her big girl panties and man up. Whether she decided to believe Adam or not, she couldn't let jealousy get the best of her. She was inclined to believe him, though. He'd done nothing to make her think he was a liar or a cheat. He wasn't one when she knew him before. Surely, he hadn't changed at his core.

  Needing to move, she walked into the water, out far enough that it came to her waist, letting the waves buffet her. Small sharks often came into shore, but seldom bothered anyone. They were the least of her worries right now when she had a two-legged blonde shark to think about.

  She had to get control of herself. Being jealous of a time in Adam's life before they were together was unfair. More than that, it was stupid. Letting her arms float, she enjoyed the weightlessness. The water was cooler out this deep. The sun beat down on her shoulders and the cold water felt good. Because it was fall, the days here were often cloudy or rainy. Luckily, this weekend was warm with bright sunshine.

  Seagulls flew out to sea, dipping into the water and swooping back into the air. Their eager cries relaxed her, as did the waves breaking against her chest. It didn't seem Adam was to blame for what happened that night. If he was telling the truth, Demi had wanted to cause a stink. The question was, how big of a stink would Lara allow it to be?

  Honestly, the whole thing came down to whether she believed what Adam had told her. Had he broken it off with Demi? That was what she had to decide. No wishy-washy deciding, either. If she determined that he told the truth, then that was that, and she had to put it all behind her.

  She turned around and leaned into the waves, allowing the water to support her. As Adam filled her mind—his gentleness, his strength, the way he shared his feelings with such ease—she let the sea wash away the anxiety that had tormented her. Wave after wave moved past her. Closing her eyes, burying her toes in the sand, her arms floated beside her.

  When her fingers had turned into little prunes, she returned to the sand and laid down on her towel again, and this time when she began to read, she enjoyed meeting the handsome cowboy and learning how he would woo his beautiful lover.

  Later, as she walked back t
o her room, Tina texted her:

  Want to meet up? I can't stay out late because I work tomorrow, but how about dinner?

  Lara texted back:

  I'd love to. Tell me where.

  Tina replied:

  Meet me at La Playa at seven forty-five.

  Back at the condo, she showered and stood at the sliding doors to the balcony, sipping a glass of wine. The day at the water had done her a world of good. Her head was clear for the first time since Demi had walked into Adam's house. Lara's confusion, her self-doubt had faded. Her future lay ahead of her. All she had to do was figure out what that future would be.

  Her room, five stories high, gave her a view far down the island. A pelican flew by so close she could see individual feathers in its wings. Tiny ships moved on the horizon, traveling toward Corpus. She'd needed this trip to gain perspective. And she had. Glancing at her watch, she headed inside to get ready for dinner.

  LARA FOUND A TABLE shortly before Tina arrived at La Playa and Lara waved to catch her attention.

  Tina strode over and sat down. "Made it."

  Lara raised her brows.

  "I had to clean house and run all my errands since I go back to work tomorrow. I barely had time to get ready."

  "You look great." Lara sipped her iced tea and smiled. The blonde looked like she belonged on a magazine cover.

  The waitress came by and they ordered.

  "How are you? Did you have a better day?" Tina asked.

  "I did, actually. I realized a lot of my problem was jealousy. As for the rest—I just need to figure out whether I trust Adam's word or not."

  The waitress set Tina's iced tea in front of her.