Hot for a Cowboy

by Kim Redford

  As if hearing the discussion, Rosie raised her head, gave a sleepy blink of her amber eyes, and went back to her nap.

  Eden agreed. “She’s definitely a beauty.”

  “And she knows it, too.” Hedy zoomed toward them from a back room in her power wheelchair. She wore her steel-gray hair in a single plait down her back, and her sharp brown eyes took in everything. She’d donned her usual Wranglers, pearl-snap shirt, and cowgirl boots.

  “All cats are beautiful,” Morning Glory added, “and they know it.”

  “Goes without saying.” Hedy motioned toward the tearoom with small ice cream tables and matching chairs tucked into a quiet corner near a front window. “Eden, I’m glad you could join us.”

  “Thanks for inviting me.”

  “We’re so happy to have you back in town.” Hedy reached up, squeezed her hand, and then gestured toward a table already set with a tea service.

  “I’m glad to be home.” Eden walked over and sat down at the table with Morning Glory joining her.

  Hedy rolled up to the other side of the table. “I picked Mom’s favorite china just for you.”

  “Thank you. This is a beautiful sight.” Eden appreciated the delicate rose pattern of the teapot, with its matching cups, saucers, and platter, which held gingersnap cookies. Hedy had added pink-and-green napkins to finish off the pretty display.

  Hedy poured three cups of tea, then leaned back in her wheelchair, considering Eden with a glint in her dark eyes.

  “Uh-oh, looks like you’re up to something.” Eden took a sip of fragrant tea and glanced at MG. “I hope I’m going to like this news.”

  “If you’re the gal we think you are, you’ll be fine with it.” Morning Glory sipped tea, then allowed a mischievous smile to cross her face.

  “Okay, let’s shell down the corn.” Hedy set her cup in its saucer. “Our cowboy firefighter calendar benefit was successful enough to fund some much-needed equipment at the fire station.”

  “Still, finances are an ongoing issue for Wildcat Bluff Fire-Rescue, seeing as how we’re all volunteers and respond to the entire county,” Morning Glory added.

  “I hope you’re getting plenty of appreciation,” Eden said. “I know I’m mighty grateful y’all were there for that brush fire on the Rocky T. If I had any extra money, I’d donate.”

  “We don’t expect you to contribute hard-earned cash,” Hedy explained, “but we can definitely use it.”

  “That’s the truth.” Morning Glory gestured toward her store. “Our local artisans plan to donate items for a big raffle, but that’s all I’d ask them to do. You know, they don’t get paid if their work doesn’t sell, so most split their time with other jobs.”

  “I’m glad they have such a wonderful place to showcase their creativity,” Eden said.

  “I do my best.” Morning Glory tapped her fingertips on the tabletop. “Fortunately, Wildcat Bluff is picking up speed as a tourist spot, so we get out-of-towners who want special items to take back home.”

  “Terrific.” Eden looked from one to the other, feeling puzzled about their conversation. “But I don’t know how I can help you.”

  “Right,” Morning Glory said. “That’s just background.”

  “We help organize Wildcat Bluff Fire-Rescue benefits several times a year,” Hedy explained. “We don’t just need rigs and gear, but there’s maintenance, gasoline, and plenty else to pay for, too. And we need to train more firefighters.”

  Eden nodded as she sipped tea, wondering what any of this had to do with her. She had a little training as a firefighter from high school, but she hadn’t used that knowledge in years.

  “May Day is coming up on us fast,” Morning Glory said.

  “Yes.” Eden nodded. “It’s in a few weeks.”

  “I hope you’ve heard about our county’s upcoming May Day Rodeo. It’s a fund-raiser for our fire station.” Hedy leaned forward as if anxious to hear Eden’s response.

  “Yes, I think I heard about it, but I’ve only been back in town two weeks.”

  Hedy threw up her hands. “See, I told you so, MG. Nobody knows, so nobody’ll be there.”

  “Me not knowing doesn’t mean much,” Eden said, trying to ease the sudden tension.

  “Proof in the pudding is the lack of rodeo entries.” Hedy shook her head as she looked around the group.

  “If nobody’s roping or riding, you won’t have much of a rodeo,” Eden reluctantly agreed.

  “My point exactly!” Hedy clasped the arms of her wheelchair.

  “If the event doesn’t make it this year, we’ll have to drop it,” Morning Glory added. “I’d hate to see that happen, but not too many folks in our county are taking time out of their busy lives to support us. Maybe they’re just too harried in springtime.”

  “They’d snap to if there was no Wildcat Bluff Fire-Rescue for them at the drop of a hat.” Hedy sounded frustrated with the situation.

  “Are you telling me you’re not getting the help and support you need from local folks?” Eden asked, hardly able to believe her ears.

  “That’s the long and short of it,” Morning Glory said.

  “It’s a good thing Sydney Steele came up with the calendar benefit that was such a huge hit, or the fire station would be in trouble right now,” Hedy said.

  “I sympathize.” Eden set down her cup, toying with the handle. “But if you think I can come up with a solution, I’m fresh out of ideas. I don’t even know how long I’ll be able to keep KWCB afloat.”

  “Oh, I meant to thank you,” Morning Glory said. “You’ve made a world of difference in Ken. He’s crazy about the Den. He talks about it all the time, coming up with ideas, doing research online, liking school and everything better.”

  “I’m so glad.” Eden gave her friend a warm smile. “He and Jack are becoming fast friends, and they’re talking about transforming the radio station. Bless their hearts. I haven’t the will to tell them I can’t fund their bigger and better ideas.”

  “Join the club,” Hedy said. “We’ve all got larger ideas than we’ve got budgets.”

  “And that’s where you come in.” Morning Glory turned to Eden. “You’ve got the biggest megaphone in the county, if you’ll use it.”

  “Megaphone?” Eden looked from one to the other in confusion.

  “KWCB—the Wildcat Den!” Hedy threw wide her arms. “Everybody knows and loves Wildcat Jack, but you’re no small potatoes, either.”

  Eden abruptly felt sick to her stomach and set down her cup of tea. “I’m a has-been. If you haven’t heard my tragic story, you don’t want to hear it.”

  “We’ve heard it,” Hedy said.

  “We’ve hashed it,” Morning Glory added.

  “And nobody in Wildcat Bluff County cares.” Hedy pointed out the front windows.

  “That’s right. They don’t care about that pack of lies,” Morning Glory said. “They’re mad as wet setting hens because their hometown hero—that’s you, Eden—got done dirty.”

  “Oh.” Eden didn’t know what else to say because she felt such an upwelling of warmth that she had so much support here.

  “That said.” Hedy leaned forward again. “It’d give our May Day event a big boost if we could announce that you, personally, will be broadcasting live on KWCB from the rodeo arena.”

  “And if you’d also volunteer to start heavily promoting our event on the Den right away,” Morning Glory added, “it’d be a huge boon.”

  Eden sat rigid in her chair, feeling almost stunned by their requests. “I appreciate your vote of confidence, but I can’t think I’d make that much difference in attendance.”

  Morning Glory squeezed Eden’s hand. “You’re our local star. Of course folks will come out to see and hear you, as well as Wildcat Jack, broadcast live from our very own Wildcat Bluff Rodeo Arena.”

  E
den felt tears sting her eyes, then quickly blinked them away. It’d been a long time since anybody had wanted to see her or hear her for her talent. “I’d be glad to help. I really would be proud to.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “But I doubt I can do it.”

  “What do you mean?” Hedy demanded, cocking her head in confusion.

  “My voice.” Eden hated to admit her weakness, particularly since her current weakness had once been her major strength. “You know about—”

  “Fiddle-faddle!” Morning Glory said. “We heard that story, too, but we also heard your recent ads for the Chuckwagon Café.”

  “Right,” Hedy said. “You’re still good.”

  “That’s in a sound studio. No pressure. And I had plenty of time to rerecord.” Eden took a deep breath. “You’re talking about a live broadcast with everyone focused on my voice. I honestly don’t know if I can do it.”

  “I’ll make you a concoction of honey, lemon, and my own special ingredients,” Morning Glory said. “You drink that off and on while you’re covering the event, and you’ll be just fine.”

  Eden broke out in a sweat, not wanting to go anywhere near this May Day Rodeo. She truly didn’t trust her voice, or even her body, to hold up to such close inspection. She was barely back on her feet, barely back to speaking, barely back in Wildcat Bluff. And they wanted her to go out there as a star as if nothing had happened to send her running out of LA with her tail between her legs?

  Hedy reached over and squeezed her hand. “We know we’re asking a lot of you.”

  “But you’re all we’ve got,” Morning Glory added. “Otherwise, we’d never try to get you back in the saddle so soon after a fall.”

  “On the other hand, we just might at that.” Hedy grinned as she tapped the tabletop with the tip of her finger. “You took a tumble. That’s life. We all do one time or another, or maybe even more than once. Look at me. I took a major tumble, but my niece Lauren got me on horseback again when I was looking at a slow and steady decline.”

  “Bert Holloway might’ve provided just a little incentive, too.” Morning Glory chuckled as she gave her friend a knowing look.

  “I’ll be the first to admit Bert can be a right inspiring man.” Hedy winked at Eden. “How about Shane? Do you think he might be able to help you get back in the saddle?”

  Eden felt a blush warm her cheeks, but she didn’t say a word—she knew she’d give herself away if she did.

  “Yep,” Hedy said, chuckling, “cowboys do have a way of inspiring us.”

  “I bet Shane would help, along with Jack and Ken.” Morning Glory set down her cup as if all were in agreement.

  “You might as well agree,” Hedy said.

  “Because you know we’re not going to take no for an answer,” Morning Glory added.

  Eden looked from one determined face to the other. They were right. Nobody she’d ever known had been able to deny them. They were a major force in Wildcat Bluff and always for the good of the community. She gave a long sigh. “Okay. You’ve persuaded me, but I’d better have plenty of backup. Shane. Jack. Ken. And lots of firefighters.”

  “You’ve got it,” Hedy said, “except for cowboy firefighters that are competing for buckle, bridle, and saddle.”

  “Thanks,” Morning Glory said with a smile. “You won’t regret coming to our rescue.”

  Eden simply nodded, already regretting every little bit of it.

  Chapter 17

  When Eden returned to the Wildcat Den, she parked next to Shane’s pickup and felt a little uptick in her heartbeat at the thought of seeing him again so soon. She grabbed her purse, slung it over a shoulder, picked up a bag of Chuckwagon takeout, and stepped outside into unremitting sunshine. She glanced up at the sky, hoping to see at least one or two fluffy clouds but no such luck. Water. Was it all going to come down to lack of water? How could she lose Shane over such a simple thing?

  And yet, maybe the word water was actually a symbolic flashing neon sign high in the sky cautioning her that a man’s love came easy—like Graham’s supposed love—when all was right in his world. Add a little salt or turbulence to the water, and love might instantly evaporate just as it had with her ex-husband. Surely she couldn’t equate all love with Graham’s perfidy. And yet, she couldn’t ignore experience, either.

  She’d always found comfort at Wildcat Spring, so she walked past the station’s front door to the beautiful WPA stone gazebo. She stepped inside, felt the instantly cooler air due to the thick walls, and went to the wide basin. She cupped the stream of water with one hand, feeling the cool wetness, smelling the metallic scent, and noticing the tension ease out of her. It was so peaceful here, so reminiscent of former good times, so filled with nurturing energy.

  How could she give it up, along with the Den? They were all she had left of the former happy days with her family and all she had left of her broadcasting career. And yet, Shane was in her life again. How could she give him up? She felt pushed and pulled in both directions.

  Shaking her head, she let water run out of her palm and turned away. She couldn’t make any permanent decisions yet. And she didn’t need to, particularly not when she had to come up with the energy and confidence to help make May Day a success for Wildcat Bluff Fire-Rescue.

  She retraced her path to the Den and stepped inside. She stopped in surprise at the sight. Shane, Jack, and Ken sat in a circle on the floor with printouts in their hands and more paper spread out in front of them. They glanced up at the same time, looking a little guilty.

  “What are y’all doing?” she asked, shutting the door behind her.

  “Goldfish,” Ken said, pointing toward a piece of paper.

  “You want pet goldfish?” She felt rooted to the spot in confusion. They were having a confab about goldfish instead of figuring out how to save KWCB? Nothing made sense anymore. First, Hedy and Morning Glory had surprised her with their May Day plans. Now, these three wanted to fill an aquarium with goldfish, something that took extra water when they were in the middle of a drought.

  “Not pets!” Ken pointed toward a printout. “It says here they work fine in water troughs.”

  “Are you saying you want to fill an entire stock tank with goldfish?” She set her purse and takeout on the desk, then turned back to face the group. “Somehow I don’t think Morning Glory will care for the idea, although Rosie would probably enjoy watching them swim round and round, if she didn’t decide they’d make a tasty snack.”

  “Ugh,” Ken groaned, giving her a dismissive look. “They’re not cat food.”

  “I’m glad we’re in agreement on that score.” Eden leaned back against the desk, wondering why Shane and Jack had grins splitting their faces.

  “Ought to be recording this.” Jack laughed out loud. “On air, folks would eat it up.”

  “News about goldfish? I doubt it.” She’d had about enough cryptic talk for the day. She picked up the takeout and dropped the sack on top of the pile of paper in the middle of their circle. “Eat up. I’m going home to try and make sense out of life.”

  “Good luck,” Jack said, chuckling. “I gave up decades ago.”

  Shane got to his feet. “You two keep up the good work. I’ll walk Eden back to her place.”

  Jack laughed harder. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  Eden picked up her purse and headed for the door.

  “Guys, grab your grub and give me what’s left,” Shane said.

  “Better fill Eden in pretty quick before she goes out buying goldfish.” Jack held up a half-empty sack.

  Shane took it. “The best laid plans of—”

  “Mice and men,” Ken completed before he bit into his hamburger.

  “Robert Burns quote,” Jack said around a mouthful of burger. “Sounds like they’re still teaching kids something in school.”

  “Some days.” Ken reache
d for fries.

  “Do try to remember to broadcast something now and again.” Eden chuckled as she pointed toward the studio, feeling happy she was back with good friends who were coming up with new ideas every day.

  “Rae Dell’s on the job,” Jack said.

  “Perfect. I’ll be back later.” She stepped outside and took a deep breath of wildflower-scented air.

  Shane fell into step beside her, swinging the sack back and forth as if they were headed to a picnic.

  She tossed him a mock annoyed look as she took long strides toward her uncle’s hut. “Those two! Separate, they’re something. Together, they’re a force to be reckoned with.”

  Shane laughed as he caught her hand and threaded their fingers together. “Can’t disagree on that one.”

  “Wait till you hear about my day.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “Come inside. I’ll tell all.”

  “And I’ve got news for you.”

  “Good?”

  “I think you’ll like it.”

  As they walked up to the front double doors, she felt happy. Home sweet home. She started to open the doors, but noticed one was already ajar. “That’s odd.”

  “What?”

  “I always make sure these doors are tightly shut when I leave, so stray animals or bugs or something doesn’t get inside.”

  “Are you sure?” Shane quickly stepped in front of her, checked the doors, and pushed the right one open.

  “I guess I could’ve left a door open, but it’d be an accident.”

  “Stay here. Let me check the house. I want to make sure it’s safe inside.”

  She felt a chill of apprehension run up her spine. “It’s always been safe here. Not like LA.”

  “I knew we should’ve put locks on the doors to this house, and the station, too.”

  “We’ve never locked doors on the ranch. You don’t lock yours, either.”

  “Times change. Maybe we’d better change with them.”