A Cowboy to Remember

by Rebekah Weatherspoon

  “Oh, yes. Please. Anything I can do to help out around the house,” Evie said. She knew none of the Pleasants or Miss Leona were asking for a single thing in return for their outstanding hospitality, but she wouldn’t feel right if she spent the upcoming weeks or months just sitting around. “When I’m ready I would love your help. Maybe I can find some sort of job in town or help out at the ranch.”

  “Oh no, honey.” Miss Leona opened the gate to the large chicken coop and ushered her inside. Several chickens, brown and white and black, made little chirping and clucking sounds as they shuffled out of their way. “That’s not what I meant by purpose. I’m going to teach you how to cook so you can get back on television.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “Who do you think taught you the first time?”

  “You did?”

  “Of course I did. Your grandmother couldn’t cook for shit. You take your time, and you decide what you want to do from here on out, but if you decide you want your cooking career back and your memory doesn’t want to cooperate, then you and I are going to start from scratch and all the clout and the fans you’ve already built up will get you the rest of the way. You just have to figure out what Yvonne Buchanan 2.0 is going to be like. Reinvention. It’s how great women get by.”

  Evie didn’t know whether to laugh at Miss Leona’s vulgar language or cry at the revelation that she’d been so instrumental in Evie’s success and how enthusiastic she was to help her with her journey all over again. Or whether to cry at the sudden connection she felt to Miss Leona. Jesse seemed to be acting out of a sense of duty. Zach—well, she had a feeling what Zach wanted—but this was something different. She just wanted Miss Leona to be kind, to like her. She never expected that Miss Leona would help her rebuild everything she’d lost.

  “Thank you. I think that would be a good idea. I should at least try, right? My passion for cooking might help me get my memory back.”

  “From your lips to God’s ears, my dear.” Miss Leona flashed her a warm smile. “Let’s get you some fresh eggs.”

  Chapter 9

  After the delicious breakfast Miss Leona made, she told Evie to keep herself busy while she took a call. Evie had free rein of the whole house with the exception of Miss Leona’s rooms at the other end of the house. Evie kept her journey to the entertainment room to herself. She figured it wasn’t a bad idea to get the lay of the rest of the land, but she wanted to make a call of her own first. She went back to her room and called Blaire. The phone rang several times and just as Evie was getting ready to give up, Blaire answered.

  “Hey!” Blaire’s cheery voice came through the phone. “You called!”

  “Yeah, I did. Hi.”

  “How’s everything? How are you feeling? What’s the grandmother like? Did Jesse change his robotic settings to human man? Have you had sex with Zach yet?”

  Evie couldn’t hold in her burst of laughter. It was good to hear Blaire’s voice. “Things are good. I’m feeling much better. Hospital beds are the worst.”

  “I don’t miss sleeping in that chair at all. Okay, tell me everything.”

  “Miss Leona is going to teach me how to cook,” Evie said. It felt good to share that new development. It felt good to finally have news to share that didn’t have to do with her health. “She showed me how to make a frittata this morning, but I just watched. Tomorrow I’m going to help make breakfast and dinner. I didn’t know she was the one who taught me how to cook in the first place.”

  “I didn’t know that either. Oh, Evie, that’s wonderful. If anyone knows how to cook it’s an old Black lady who lives on a ranch. That’ll be awesome. Probably better than some stuffy culinary school and more relaxed than being tossed back into a fast-paced kitchen.”

  “Yeah, I’m a long way from any fast-paced kitchen, but hopefully I can get back there, some day.”

  “Do you want to cook?” Blaire asked.

  “Yeah. I do.”

  “Good. You love it so much. I know you’re going through a lot, but I hated the idea of you having to give it up, and I don’t just mean the show.”

  Evie definitely didn’t want to think about her actual job that was currently hanging in the balance. “Tell me about your day. This has been the Evie show, twenty-four hours a day. What’s going on with you?”

  “Thank you for asking, babe. I mean that. Well, things are much better now that I feel like you’re settling in, but I miss you! The apartment isn’t the same without you.”

  “I miss you too.” Evie meant it. A lot was missing, but it didn’t take her long to figure out why she and Blaire had been best friends and roommates for so many years. Blaire was pretty great.

  “So, let’s see. I’m off for a few more days, but I need to prep for finals and OMG, I don’t want to. My students are driving me nuts this year. Also, I think I have a date for New Year’s Eve.”

  “With who?”

  “Um, a doctor,” Blaire admitted, sounding guilty for some reason.

  “What’s his name?”

  “David. I ran into him a few times when I came to see you. He caught me on the way out after we sent you on your way. We talked a bit and then he asked me out. I’m kinda excited. He seems sweet and he’s really hot. I don’t think you can go wrong with a hot doctor.”

  “A hot doctor sounds amazing. You have to tell me all about your date when you get back.”

  “I will. Speaking of hot. Zach. Talk to me.”

  Evie thought about how nice it felt to kiss him, even though the kiss wasn’t real. “There’s nothing to say. I haven’t seen him yet today. I think he’s at work, at the ranch.”

  “Oh, but I bet you’re dying to. That’s so hot. He’s like a real cowboy.”

  “I wouldn’t hate seeing him, but I don’t know what to say. Nicole had a point. I really need to focus on myself right now.”

  “Right, but there’s focusing on yourself and cutting out all possibility for something to grow, and then there’s focusing with an emphasis on putting yourself first, while also allowing a ridiculously fine man to show you how a little reverse cowgirl works out West.”

  “I don’t know what that means, but it sounds sexual.”

  “It is,” Blaire said. “Look it up—no wait, don’t! No do. Yes, you’re not a child. You need this information. Also, if you don’t have sex with him you’re gonna want to have those search results at hand, literally.”

  “I don’t know. I’m . . . conflicted.”

  “About what? Tell me.”

  “I like him. I think, but obviously things were bad between us if I didn’t speak to him for ten years.”

  “You want my opinion?”

  “Sure.”

  “You were like twenty-two. I think about the dramatic grudges I’ve held since I was twenty-two and only like two of them were really worth it. If he wants to make things right and if he apologizes for what he did—”

  “I don’t even remember what he did.”

  “But he told you, right?”

  “Yeah, but I—”

  “Well, tell him he owes you an apology and then go from there. You don’t have to stay angry with him if you don’t want to. Tell him to apologize, and if you’re satisfied with the apology and you want to see where things go, then I say go for it. Shit, you can always dump him if it doesn’t work out.”

  Evie didn’t like the sound of that last bit and that told her all she needed to know. She was unsure of how it would all work out or even if it would, but she wanted to give Zach a chance if he was interested. She needed to confirm that important bit of the equation too.

  “Maybe I’ll wait until your date with the doctor. You can tell me if you liked him and why, or if you didn’t and why, and then I can compare notes to how I’m dealing with Zach.”

  Blaire let out a short chuckle. “Okay. But just an FYI, we have totally different taste in guys. I like them quiet and nerdy. You like them . . .”

  “I like them like what?”


  “Like Zach Pleasant.”

  * * *

  After she finished her call, Miss Leona explained the plan for the rest of the day. Around five thirty, Jesse would arrive with her new full-time nurse, Vega. She and Tilde would swap intel on Evie’s physical well-being and then Tilde would catch the red-eye back to New York.

  Corie, who had been gone all day running errands for Miss Leona, came home a little after four. She broke up some of the tension between Miss Leona and Tilde with her bright personality. Evie tried to help her put away all the stuff she’d picked up at the store, but Corie wouldn’t let her. Instead, Evie sat at the island and talked to Corie while she restocked some spices in the pantry.

  “My mom is actually Miss Leona’s goddaughter. My grandma used to be Miss Leona’s body double back in the day.”

  “Oh wow.”

  “Later, we’ll watch Seeds of Sunshine. The 1959 version.”

  “The only version,” Miss Leona said from her seat on the couch.

  “She’s right. The 2017 version was terrible. The movie is literally about the Civil War and somehow they managed to downplay the war and whoops all the Black characters away.”

  “They made my character White,” Miss Leona said. “I didn’t go to the screening.”

  “I’d love to see your version,” Evie replied. She enjoyed the few movies she’d watched in the hospital. It would be great to see one starring Miss Leona herself.

  “Let me put the rest of this stuff away.” Corie took off down the hall with two loaded-down bags and enough toilet paper for twenty. When she came back they sat on the couch and Corie brought up the movie. Evie noticed Tilde was still reading her book, which was fine, but somehow a little rude twenty minutes into the story of a group of women trying to aid, and then ultimately falling in love with, Union soldiers. More than halfway through, she finally put down her book and watched the film.

  Miss Leona played Belle, a former slave whose current employer had set out to lend a hand at the battlefront. Her husband dead, she asked Belle to accompany her. Belle agreed, for a price. Evie was immediately sucked in by the love stories that were at the center of this epic tale of the Civil War. She knew it wasn’t real, but she wanted so much for Belle and her sweetheart, Homer. She realized she owed so much of what she was feeling to layers of emotion Miss Leona was pouring into the character.

  It was so strange to see such a younger version of Miss Leona on the screen and sort of amazing to see how well she’d aged. She still carried a certain fresh beauty that Evie had a feeling was unique to Miss Leona herself. The story was so dramatic and the performances so enthralling, Evie found herself moved to tears more than once. When the end credits rolled, she turned to Miss Leona.

  “That was wonderful. You were wonderful,” Evie said, unable to stop herself from gushing.

  Tilde added her own grunt of approval. “It was an excellent film.”

  “Thank you. Both.”

  “How’d you know you wanted to be an actress?” Evie asked. Her wardrobe alone clued her in to the fact that Miss Leona had a flare for the dramatic, but you couldn’t fake that kind of talent or the confidence that seemed to accompany it.

  Miss Leona looked down at her lap and made a show of smoothing out her flowing top over her knees. “When we were little my father would make us sing for our supper. My sister and I started doing full dramatic productions. She would ‘write’ them and I would do the bulk of the performing. My father used to have me perform for our neighbors. I fell in love with entertaining even the smallest crowds.”

  “That’s amazing. I can’t wait to watch more of your films.”

  “There are plenty more where that comes from,” she replied with a wink.

  “May we check the news?” Tilde asked.

  “By all means.”

  Evie didn’t miss the way Miss Leona rolled her eyes.

  As Corie turned to a local station for the start of the five o’clock news, Evie excused herself to the restroom. When she stepped back into the hallway, she heard Jesse call out his hello from the front door. Evie found him and Lilah in the living room, where he introduced them all to Vega Ro, a very beautiful, very petite brown-skinned woman in adorable rainbow scrubs. She was younger than Evie expected, no older than thirty. She had long, curly black hair pulled back in a loose braid and she had a beauty mark just below her lip.

  “I am all packed up and I have stripped my bed. Would you like to see where you’ll be staying?” Tilde said once all the hellos were exchanged. Everyone sort of froze and looked between Tilde and Miss Leona and Jesse and Vega. Vega shared a looked with Miss Leona, then cleared her throat.

  “Sure. Lead the way.”

  “Evie, please join us.”

  “Yeah, uh, okay.”

  Tilde turned on her heels and marched right down the hallway. Clearly she and Miss Leona hadn’t hit it off, but Tilde didn’t need to make it so obvious that she was willing to disrespect Miss Leona in her own home. Evie was sure if Tilde wasn’t leaving within the hour, Corie, Miss Leona, and maybe even Jesse might have had some choice words for her. Evie and Vega followed her down to the second guest room.

  “Evie, if you’ll sit.” Tilde closed the door and launched into her debriefing. Evie sat on the edge of the now bare mattress. Vega snorted as she pulled a tablet out of her bag and came over to the edge of the bed. Tilde gave her a rundown of Evie’s initial injuries and diagnosis.

  “Yes, correct. I received her records yesterday and reviewed them,” Vega said. “And you’ve been—”

  “She’s reported no dizziness. Blood pressure is normal. No pain beyond some soreness at the sutured area.” Vega looked at Evie, eyes wide, lips pursed, then looked back at Tilde, who hadn’t skipped a beat. “She has an appointment with Dr. Zordetski. She is scheduled for an MRI and if Dr. Zordetski approves she will have her stitches removed. You will speak to Jesse about transportation.”

  “May I see?” Vega asked Evie, gesturing her hand toward her bandage. Before Evie could answer, Tilde stepped forward. Evie automatically tipped her head to the side to avoid further injury and let Tilde remove her bandage.

  “Oh, it’s healing nicely,” Vega said. “Is there anything else I need to know?”

  “I’m concerned about the number of people there are in the house,” Tilde said as she covered Evie’s stitches. Evie was stunned silent. What the hell was she getting at?

  “Have any of them hurt you?” Vega asked.

  “No,” Evie replied. “The opposite. I feel very welcome here.”

  “I mean regarding the noise,” Tilde said like she was making complete sense and not being extremely rude and maybe a little bit racist.

  Vega’s mouth popped open, then closed again as she looked at Evie once more. Evie felt herself offer a matching look of shock mixed with confusion. She and Vega were on the same page. It was time for Tilde to go. Vega set down her tablet, then inhaled deeply. “I grew up in a noisy houseful of people, and being surrounded by loved ones did the body and the spirit just fine.”

  “I am also concerned about her diet. Miss Lovell cooks extremely heavy meals.”

  “Okay. I’m going to stop you there,” Vega responded, holding up her hand. “I’m not sure if you know who Leona Lovell is, but half of her blog is about her vegetable garden and her fresh recipes. Did she drop you off at an Arby’s and tell you to fend for yourself?” she asked Evie.

  “Of course not. What’s Arby’s?”

  “It’s better if you don’t know. I’m sure Ms. Lovell, Evie, and I can all get on the same page about her nutritional needs. Thank you, Tilde.”

  Tilde frowned, then turned to gather her things. After she shoved her last two paperbacks into her carry-on, she made a show of slamming her jacket over her arm.

  “One last thing. I understand that Evie is an adult, but the other grandson, Zach, has been very forward with his interest in her.”

  “What?” Evie said. “No, he hasn’t—”

  “You m
ight want to ask Dr. Zordetski to speak to her about rushing into sexual activity following such a severe head injury. You might also want to speak to—”

  “I will . . . not speak to Evie like she’s a child, but I’m sure she appreciates your concern. I think we’ve covered it all.”

  “Hmm.” Tilde yanked the handle of her carry-on. “I wish you a speedy recovery, Evie. Goodbye.” She didn’t wait for Evie to respond, just marched right out of the room and apparently right out the front door. They heard it slam, then Corie’s very clear, “What the hell was that all about?”

  “Wow,” Vega said.

  “Miss Leona has not been feeding me unhealthy food,” Evie scrambled to clarify. “We gathered our own eggs this morning.”

  “And what if she was. If I were in the hospital for over a week, I’d be mainlining junk food for another week at least, just to make up for lost time. Don’t worry. I didn’t think she handed you a bucket of bacon grease. Is there anything else you want to tell me?”

  “Uh, I don’t think so. I am feeling much better. I want my stitches out immediately. They are starting to itch.”

  “Should I be on the lookout for this guy Zach?” she said with a little laugh.

  “Nothing is happening. I—I mean, it’s a long story.”

  “Oh, I am so here for long stories, but long stories are not what the Pleasants are paying me for. How about this: On Monday we get you all checked out, and if the doctor says you are cleared for sexual activity, we will load you down with condoms and you will not hear another word from me about it. Sound good?”

  “Yes, I can live with that.”

  “Great. Now. I’m just gonna say this. Woman to woman, ’cause I’ve seen your show before and I know you like looking like a ten-and-a-half on a bad day. Let’s talk about your hair.”

  Two minutes later Evie was back out in the kitchen surrounded by Corie, Lilah, Vega, and Miss Leona. They needed to have a hair conference and Evie was happy to attend, but at some point during Tilde’s dramatic exit they also managed to swap one Pleasant brother out for another. Jesse was gone and Zach was standing in the middle of the living room flipping through the program guide on the television.