by Julie Benson
Be thankful you’re getting a daily text. Cheyenne swallowed her snarky comeback, took a deep breath and instead said, “I’ll text every day, and call every other day. Take it or leave it.”
*
The next weekend Cooper reached behind his seat to retrieve the last box marked kitchen essentials. “Come on Rowdy, Penny. Let’s check out our new digs.”
Not that it mattered what anything other than the clinic looked like. He’d live in a rat-trap-hole-in-the-floors double wide to buy this practice. Though he would, he was thankful he didn’t have to.
Since Dr. King and his wife had moved to a smaller house closer to the lake and town, they’d worked out a price for the practice, house, barn, clinic, and the land. Yup, he had everything he needed here. He stepped onto the spacious front porch and stared out at the ten acres spread out around him. A grove of trees provided privacy to the east and south. A wood plank boardwalk led from the simple ranch house to the clinic. Past that smaller building was a corral and small barn. What else could a bachelor need?
You may be a bachelor, but you’re not living alone. Remember your deal with Cheyenne? She lives here while you train Penny Lane, and she helps test the prototype.
Despite the unsettling thought, for the first time in over two years, Cooper found himself excited about the future as he walked inside the modest house, sparsely furnished with his furniture. Cooper placed the box on the kitchen counter, turned, and almost barreled into Ty’s wife, Cassie. “If you want, Grace and I can unpack the kitchen for you. That is, unless you’d rather do it yourself, so you know where everything is.”
“Wherever you put stuff, I’ll find it.”
His friend’s wife stared at him, concern in her observant artist’s gaze. “Tell the truth, is this what you want, or did you agree to take over for Dr. King to get Ty to quit bugging you? I love the man dearly, but he can be pigheaded when he gets an idea. He was so horrible about the Bluebonnet Inn when I first arrived in Wishing. He thought he knew what was best and wouldn’t consider another point of view. I want to make sure he hasn’t talked you into something.”
Cooper smiled at her concern. His buddy had found one fine woman. “He hasn’t. I’ve always wanted my own practice. The timing isn’t the best with the SeizureReader, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.”
“Ty didn’t twist your arm?”
“Would I do that?” Ty asked as he stepped through the front door, two large pizza boxes from the Lil’ Brick Oven in his hands.
“Yes,” Cooper and Cassie answered simultaneously.
“In a heartbeat,” AJ said as he entered the house with his fiancée Grace, a tall dark-haired former New York City girl.
As Ty placed the pizzas on the table at one end of the kitchen, Cooper strolled to the refrigerator and grabbed a six-pack of Shiner. As he returned, staring at the couples filled him with envy, as if he were an outsider. Since the day he met Ty, AJ, and Zane, they’d been, well—them. Even after graduation, when they went their separate ways, they’d remained close. They’d been the ones to share inside jokes and a shared history, but now that was changing.
Ty had married Cassie and they were parents to her niece, Ella. AJ and Grace were engaged and would wed in a couple months. While his friends moved on to new adventures, Cooper’s life felt stagnant.
He’d never considered the possibility Ty and AJ would marry before him, not when as freshmen he’d been the only one with a serious girlfriend. He’d expected to be married with a child or two by the time his buddies settled down. Go figure. Life took strange turns and not all of them were pleasant.
Forget about what might have been. Think about where to go from here. That was another reason why this move was good for him. He’d get away from the constant reminders of Olivia. Everywhere he went in College Station held memories of her or their plans. Wishing was a blank slate, a chance for him to create a new future. His future.
“I can’t believe the three of us are living in Wishing,” Ty said in between bites of pizza.
“If we could get Zane here, the whole gang would be back together,” AJ said.
Cooper and Ty laughed. “No way will that happen.”
“You never know,” AJ said.
“Were you listening the last time we got together?” Ty asked. “He was the one that bet Coop would be bored in a month. Yeah, that guy’s gonna move to Wishing.”
“You never know where life will take you. Look at me. Ten bucks says Zane ends up living here before we’re thirty-five,” AJ quipped.
“What the heck. I’ll take that bet,” Ty said as he shook AJ’s hand.
“I’m in. I never pass up a chance to make easy money,” Cooper added.
“What is it with you guys? You’d bet on the weather,” Cassie teased.
Ty slipped his arm around his wife’s shoulder and kissed her on the cheek. “Nah, Texas weather’s too unpredictable.”
“Except in the summer,” AJ said in all seriousness. “Then it’s just hot or damn hot.”
“I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the heat here,” Grace said. “The sacrifices I make for you, AJ.”
“But you know I’m worth it.”
“Sometimes I’m not so sure,” Grace said.
A silly grin on his face, AJ said, “Guess I’ll have to try harder.”
This was what he missed since Olivia died. Having a comfortable, easy relationship with a woman. One where they could joke, talk, or just sit and do nothing together. That special connection with another human on a level like no other.
A knock sounded on the open door, and Cooper turned to find Cheyenne in the doorway, a potted cactus like the ones grocery stores sold clutched in her hands. Her red hair was tied in a thick braid, showing off her delicate face. He tried not to focus on how her faded jeans hugged her fantastic curves because that would make him break out in a cold sweat. Instead, he concentrated on her face, colored a slight pink due to her embarrassment. “It looks like I’m interrupting a party.”
A tan-and-brown four-legged blur darted across the room at the sound of Cheyenne’s voice. She bent down and greeted Penny. “It’s good to see you, too, sweet girl.”
“She missed you,” Cooper’s voice came out in a husky rush.
I did too.
Where the hell had that irrational thought come from? He couldn’t have missed Cheyenne. He barely knew her. But there was something about her, a connection he hadn’t felt with a woman in a long time. A shudder of unease coursed through him.
AJ glanced at Cheyenne. “After what happened in College Station, I’m surprised to see you here.”
Grace glared at her fiancé and swatted him on the arm. “Don’t mind Mr. No Manners. Join us.”
“I don’t want to butt in,” Cheyenne said.
His brain and manners finally kicking in, Cooper noticed his friends glancing between him and Cheyenne with confused looks on their faces. He made quick introductions, and then added, “Cheyenne, you don’t need to ask to come in. This is your place, too. Do you need help unloading your stuff?”
“What?” The collective response came and Cooper realized how what he’d said sounded to everyone who didn’t know about his and Cheyenne’s deal.
Four sets of eyes pinned him with shocked looks. Then his friends tossed out questions.
“This is news,” Ty said, a sly smile spilling across his face. “Are you two dating?”
“She’s moving in? As in living together?” AJ blurted out.
Grace slapped him on the arm. “Think before you talk, babe. That was rude, and keep in mind that assessment’s coming from a native New Yorker.”
“When did this come about?” Cassie asked.
Cooper stood there wondering how to clean the mess he’d dumped on the floor. How could he have said that out loud with his friends here? Of course his buddies would jump to conclusions.
Easy. Whenever Cheyenne was around and he gazed into her big green eyes, he lost half his brain cells.
“Cooper and I aren’t dating,” Cheyenne declared, placing the plant on the kitchen table beside the pizza boxes.
Cooper resisted the urge to shift his stance. Was that irritation in her voice? Was she ticked his friends assumed they were involved? He’d sensed a spark between them, but maybe he’d been wrong.
Quit thinking so much and say something, you fool.
Five sets of eyes focused on him this time. “When Aubrey and Cheyenne came to see me last week, we discovered we could help each other.” Cooper swallowed hard and tried to concentrate on explaining their deal rather than his attraction to Cheyenne. “It’s all logical. Almost businesslike.”
Ty and AJ stared at him as if he’d said he was going to TU to get a master’s degree in fashion design.
“That’s exactly what it is, a business arrangement,” Cheyenne agreed, and Cooper swore she was trying to keep from laughing. What was up with that?
“Do you need help moving your things?” Cooper asked again, directing the conversation away from his and Cheyenne’s personal relationship.
“Since I walked, I didn’t bring anything. I figured I’d ask Aubrey to help me later. Once I checked that it was okay with you.”
Cooper turned to his friends. “You two okay with making one more run today?” They both nodded, and he glanced back at Cheyenne. “No time like the present. Let’s get you moved in.”
*
Awkward silence as thick as morning fog hung between Cheyenne and Cooper on the short drive to her mother’s house. When she arrived at Cooper’s and saw him laughing with his friends, she’d paused, feeling a pinch of envy over how comfortable they were. She’d spent her life on the outside for one reason or another. What would it be like to have friends like Cooper had? Ones who knew each other well and had a deep bond.
Arriving at her house, Cheyenne couldn’t believe her good luck at finding her mother still in town running errands. While the men loaded Riley and her gear, Cheyenne tossed her daily essentials and clothes into her suitcases, and prayed they escaped before her mother returned. The last thing she wanted was another round of I-can-talk-you-out-of-moving, this time with an audience. Cheyenne shoved her hairbrush and toothpaste into her suitcase and yanked the zipper closed. Glancing around the room she’d grown up in, she sighed in relief and vowed after regaining control of her life, she’d repair things with her mom.
Suitcases in hand, she headed outside, finding Cooper and his friends had finished their task. Cooper met her, took her suitcases and placed them in his truck bed. How had she gotten lucky enough to pull this off without having to deal with her mom? The thought no sooner popped into her head when gravel crunched in the distance. As the snap and pop of rocks under tires grew louder, Cheyenne spotted her mom’s sedan and cringed.
I jinxed the escape by being thankful before making the clean getaway.
“You two head out,” Cheyenne said to Ty and AJ. “I’ll say a quick goodbye to Mom—” She swallowed the nervous giggle in her throat. Quick goodbye? Yeah, right. Only if she got divine intervention, and surely the good Lord had bigger worries needing attention. Chances were this farewell would be messy. All she could do was keep the audience as small as possible. “Cooper and I’ll follow in a minute.”
Chapter Seven
The moment the Camry pulled into the driveway, Cooper noticed Cheyenne changed. When they arrived, she’d been as revved up as a thoroughbred in the starting gate. Now, while she remained agitated, her energy was different. Instead of filled with anticipation, she appeared overflowing with a need to escape as fear mixed with resignation swept across her face. The look in her eyes reminded him of Penny Lane’s at the shelter.
When her mother joined them, Ty and AJ nodded politely, added a “hello, ma’am” and made a hasty exit.
“What’s going on?” Cheyenne’s mother demanded.
Beside him, Cheyenne blinked, squared her shoulders, and straightened. The woman had spunk.
She might stumble, but the thoroughbred righted herself quickly. “I told you I was moving out, Mother.”
“I didn’t realize the issue had been settled.”
Then you were the only one.
Cheyenne crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes, it’s decided.”
“I still don’t think it’s wise, Cheyenne. You need someone with you at all times, and I’m the only one who can do that.” Mrs. Whitten fixed Cooper with an icy stare. “Tell her you can’t keep an eye on her the way she needs.”
“Mom, we’ve been over this. Don’t drag Cooper into something that’s between us.”
The sympathy he’d felt for Cheyenne when her mother called the police sprouted inside him again. The woman treated her daughter as if she were ten but possessed a toddler’s common sense.
Another crazy idea popped into his head. He bit back a smile. What the hell. He’d gone into the lake this far, he might as well head into deep water. “Actually, Cheyenne won’t be alone during the day since she’ll be working at the clinic.”
“What?” Mrs. Whitten gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
To Cheyenne’s credit, she didn’t gasp at his announcement, but surprise registered on her expressive face before she concealed it.
“Dr. King’s wife ran the clinic, but she retired with him. I need someone to replace her. Cheyenne’s perfect for the job.”
Beside him, Cheyenne’s features softened. She bit her lip and her look of gratitude made him want to squirm. In the truck he’d tell her this wasn’t a big deal, because he was helping himself as much as her.
“See, Mom, there’s no need to worry.” Cheyenne rushed forward, wrapped her mom in a quick hug and kissed her cheek.
Mrs. Whitten awkwardly patted her daughter’s back and pulled away. “I still say you should stay here with family, but I guess I can’t stop you.”
Thank the good Lord for that. Otherwise, you’d put Cheyenne in a padded room.
“Don’t forget. You promised to check in with me a couple times a day,” Mrs. Whitten said.
“I’ll text you once a day and call every other,” Cheyenne said, her voice brokering no discussion. “Now, we’ve got to go.”
A minute later, when they drove away, Cheyenne placed her hand on Cooper’s arm. The simple touch sent lightning-hot awareness shooting through him. It took all his concentration to keep the truck on the road.
“I appreciate what you did to get Mom off my back. She was winding up for another major scene, and I’m not sure I could’ve handled that. You took away her big argument, forcing her to back down.”
When she withdrew her hand and sank back in the passenger seat, he almost sighed in relief, despite missing the electric contact. “Sometimes parents have an idea of what’s best for their child and have trouble letting go.”
“You speaking from personal experience?”
You’re wasting your potential being a vet. You could have a brilliant career in real medicine.
He shrugged. “Everyone’s had times like that with parents.” Why had he opened his big mouth, stirring up her curiosity about his past? Did he really think she wouldn’t ask? He rushed to close the barn door without slamming it shut on his backside. Diversion. That was the ticket. “So, you want the job?”
She grinned, and his heart rate shot up. “Smooth move sidetracking me with the question.”
“But not smooth enough since you noticed.”
“I may not be book smart, but I’ve come across my share of slick operators in the rodeo. It’s taught me to spot a con a mile away.”
He liked her plain speaking. Not many women did that. Usually, he needed a code book to understand what a female meant. Olivia had driven him crazy. She’d say everything was fine when it clearly wasn’t, and yet when he pressed, she refused to talk about what upset her.
“It was kind of you to get me out of a jam, but we both know it wasn’t a serious job offer. I’ve got enough people in town pitying me. I don’t need a handout. I’ll find a job on my own.
”
“Jobs can be tough to find, even without special circumstances.”
“Because I don’t have a fancy college degree or because of my seizures?” Despite her low, even tone, a barbwire-sharp irritation ran through Cheyenne’s voice.
“For the record, I didn’t offer you the job out of pity. It may have been spur of the moment, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a wise decision.”
She tilted her head and stared him down. “Why would you hire me when all I’ve got is a GED? Not only that, but I don’t have experience in a vet office, or any other kind of office. All I’ve ever done is waitress and barrel race. If you tried, you couldn’t find someone less qualified. Want to take back the offer now?”
“No. Take the job or don’t. It’s your choice.” But her revelation echoed in his head. She hadn’t graduated from high school? The fact surprised him.
“Before I decide, I want you to know everything.” The story tumbled out of her. She’d always struggled in school. Words, letters, and numbers, got jumbled up in her head. Math was the worst. She’d done okay in elementary school, but in middle school she fell behind. By high school the required math classes became torture. When she failed algebra, she retook the required class in summer school, but failed again.
Cooper shrugged. “So, you failed math. You got your GED. That takes guts and determination.”
“You sure you don’t want someone with a college degree?”
An array of characteristics mattered more to him than formal education. “There’s more than one kind of smart. I know people who’re considered brilliant, geniuses really, but they don’t have a lick of common sense. No matter how smart they are, I wouldn’t hire them to work for me. You’re good with animals, and you know the community. Those are two big assets.
“A lot of the job isn’t glamorous. You’ll clean kennels and muck out stalls when I don’t have time. As for the office, software makes the job easy. Dealing with the rest is common sense, and you’ve got plenty of that.”
“You’re not giving me the job because you feel sorry for me?”