Her Secret Cowboy

by Debra Holt

  Gypsy came alive beside him. Tail hoisted like a flag and wagging a mile a minute… barking, her front paws on the armrest of the passenger-side door. Something excited her and when Dev slowed to figure it out, he saw a familiar figure standing on the porch of the feed store.

  “Smart girl, Gypsy. You make a good partner.” Dev pulled the truck into a spot in front of the store.

  He shut off the engine and then reached over and clipped the leash to the dog’s collar. The feed store was pet friendly and gave treats to their furry customers, so Gypsy didn’t have to stay in the truck and wait. She didn’t need to be invited a second time to practically leap from the vehicle and head toward the woman who turned at the bark.

  Rissa’s smile widened into a grin as she knelt to meet the dog. Gypsy’s whole body was twisting with delight.

  Rissa laughed as she hugged her. “Look at you, you sweet thing. You are looking good.”

  “Thank you,” Dev said, then grinned. “Oh… you meant the dog, not me.”

  Rissa shook her head. “That was a bit lame, Braxton. Of course, I meant my former patient.” She rose to her feet.

  “Hey, Dave,” Dev spoke to the young man who had just placed the last sack of goods inside the vet’s truck. “How are things? We still working on the new goat fencing this afternoon?”

  “That’s the plan. I sure do appreciate your offer to help me and my brother with that. I want to get it done before Miranda goes to the hospital. She worries about her goat babies so much.”

  “That’s understandable.” Dev nodded. “I’ll be there at two.”

  Dave nodded to them both and headed back inside the store.

  “You’re hiring out now? Things on Braxton land don’t keep you busy enough?” Rissa commented on the exchange between the two cowboys.

  Dev shrugged. “Dave’s wife is expecting their first child. And since he’s been busy with his full-time job at the hardware store and this part-time job at the feed store, he’s had to let some chores slide around the house. Miranda is worried that her new little goat kids might squeeze through the existing fencing, so I offered to help Dave and his brother get caught up… maybe put her mind at ease. She’s already stressed enough with becoming a first-time mom.”

  Was that genuine warmth he felt in the smile she gave him? He had seen hints of it before, but its full force caused him to pause.

  “Better watch out, I might have to give you some polish for that halo that keeps sliding around on your head now and then. I keep catching glimpses of the new and improved Dev.”

  “I appreciate that, but it’s just the neighborly thing to do. Nothing special.”

  “It is to them… something special. I can promise you that.”

  There was a long pause between them. Perhaps she was considering she had said too much. Maybe Dev felt self-conscious about something he just thought was the right thing to do.

  Gypsy jerked on her lead and Dev tightened his hold and came back to the moment. “She’s wanting the treat they give at the front checkout. I better get moving. I guess we’ll be ‘on’ again tomorrow at church?”

  Rissa’s smile dimmed. She nodded. “Yes, church tomorrow. And there’s the lunch afterward. So, we’ll have a nice audience. I’ll see you then.” She gave Gypsy another rub under the chin and then walked over to her vehicle. She didn’t look back as Dev watched her drive away.

  *

  Why were things getting so confusing between them? Rissa pondered the thought, rubbing the tight muscles at the back of her neck with one hand while she guided her vehicle with the other. She purposefully kept her eyes trained on the road ahead and away from the pull of the rearview mirror. The last thing she needed was to be caught doing something so… so female. Was that a good analogy? Who knew anymore? It took a lot more effort than she first planned to stay on top of this ridiculous plan of hers. It had seemed so simple in the beginning. But, she hadn’t kissed her coconspirator at that point. Once that happened, everything seemed to be sliding downhill fast.

  Just a kiss. No big deal… or at least that was what it should have been. But it had been the opposite. She tried to explain it away that she had been caught up in the moment, or that it had been a while since she had been kissed, but she knew how lame all that seemed in the next moment after she had tried to explain it to herself. It wasn’t the kiss itself… it was the man who had been on the other end of it. She had tried to keep him inside a neat little box marked ‘off-limits’ but that hadn’t worked. He had outgrown the labels. Dev Braxton was a new and much improved version of the old Devlin. And that was where she had come to be stuck in the middle of the intersection between the two men. One belonged squarely in the past. The other was taking root in the present.

  Her brain hadn’t become any less muddled as she entered the bakery a few minutes later. It was owned and run by a couple that she had gone to high school with. They had been the proverbial high school sweethearts and then stayed in Braxton, married, began a family, and opened a business. And they were doing great at it all. Tom stood behind the counter as the door closed behind her. She breathed in the sweet smells that always seemed to brighten any mood she might be in at the moment.

  “How are you today, Rissa? You must have known we just took your two pies out of the oven not ten minutes ago. Bet you smelled them all the way to your house?” He grinned.

  “That must be what brought my truck straight to your front door,” she replied with a nod. “I’m just glad you had time to help me out with them for the lunch tomorrow. I haven’t had a lot of time to perfect my baking capabilities.”

  “Is that what you’re calling it?” The voice came with a laugh attached to it.

  Mylie, his wife, came from the back and joined her husband at the counter. She had two boxes she sat in front of her.

  “I can bake,” Rissa responded. “I just choose to leave it to the true experts whenever there will be a large crowd who might end up eating the items. My friends will always tell me that I am a great cook. It’s strangers that I might have a hard time dealing with their impartial rejection.”

  The couple laughed at her remark. “Well, glad we could save you some rejection then.”

  Rissa peeked in at the contents and her stomach rumbled. “If these get home with me, intact, it might be a miracle. I might need to get one of those sinful-looking chocolate cupcakes to go along with me… to protect the integrity of the pies.” She nodded at one of the gaily decorated cupcakes in the display case beside her.

  “Yes, you must protect the pies.” Mylie opened the doors of the case and began boxing up one of the small cakes for Rissa.

  “Guess your young man is going to get a big slice of one of those pies tomorrow?” Tom gave a wink and a sly smile. “Then, just a matter of time we’ll be doing you up a sweet wedding cake. Bet it will be chocolate, too.”

  “Tom,” his wife cautioned him, “mind your own business.”

  “Ooops, sorry. Didn’t mean to speak out of turn. I just thought that’s what I heard when I was in the barber shop the other day. Milton said he had it on good authority from his cousin, Ella that the last Braxton boy was aiming to marry our vet.”

  “When do you ever take anything you hear from Milton as gospel? And you all gossip more in that barber shop than the females do in the beauty shop.” She handed Rissa over the cupcake and waved off the money in Rissa’s other hand. “You’ve already paid for the pies and consider the cupcake Tom’s apology for opening his mouth and sticking his foot inside it.”

  “Thank you both and no harm done. It’s just small-town gossip. But,” she said, and flashed a smile at the still-embarrassed man, “if the day comes I ever need a wedding cake, you can bet it will be one of yours. See you both tomorrow!”

  Rissa kept the smile on her face all the way back to her vehicle and it only disappeared when she pulled into her driveway. Then she simply remained in her seat. She wondered if the day would come when mention, even in passing as in the bakery, wouldn�
��t bring that ache of memory back to the space underneath her ribs whenever a wedding associated with her in the mix was brought up.

  For over a year, she had to fight the pain away almost on a daily basis. The townspeople all knew she had been left just two weeks shy of her wedding day by her fiancé, Tony. They all commiserated with her… but she also knew that behind her back, the gossips had a field day speculating on the whys of it all. She hadn’t been any help on that score because she hadn’t known the whys herself. The whole sordid mess had left her doubting her judgment capability and trust in the male species plummeted to the negatives. It had taken quite a while to get to where she was, and to date again, and even think that someday, there might be another wedding in her future. Someday. And the fact that conjured up Dev Braxton in her mind’s eye did nothing to make her feel better.

  Chapter Ten

  “Is that sundress new? I love the turquoise color on you.” Josie smiled as Rissa slid into the chair next to hers at the long table. The weather had cooperated and, with bright blue skies and sunshine, the church tables had been set up outside underneath the shade of the park pavilion. Food tables sat on the small stage area and the women waited for the lines to go down a bit before they took places to sample the dozens of platters and bowls of homecooked food.

  “It isn’t. I just haven’t worn it in a while.”

  “I see. Guess the time was right then… judging by the looks I noticed Dev giving you when you arrived to services this morning. He certainly likes the outfit, too.”

  “Let’s get in line. I skipped breakfast and I am starving.” Josie nodded her agreement and followed Rissa to the line.

  They had just filled their plates, grabbed a soft drink, and had made it back to their seats. Chance and Dev came up to the table as Rissa prepared to take her first bite of baked chicken.

  “Sorry, guys,” Josie spoke for both of them. “We were too hungry to wait on you two to get finished unloading the cases of soda. Have you spoken to Rio and Dee? Did they oversleep this morning?” The other couple had not shown up for the service and was so far, no-shows for the lunch.

  “Yes, we’ve spoken to Rio, and no, they did not oversleep. They’re at the hospital and you need to grab your purse and let’s get over there.”

  “Chance… what happened? Who’s hurt?” Josie began to rise as he pulled her chair back. Rissa wasn’t far behind her… her plate forgotten.

  “It’s Dee. She’s been throwing up since three this morning. They’re checking her out in the ER right now.”

  They made it to the parking lot and Dev drove with Rissa, while the other couple led the way. Rio was pacing back and forth in the waiting room when the four arrived. To Rissa, he looked like a man fighting to show a tough exterior to everyone else. The concern laced with raw fear darkened his eyes and Rissa felt sorry for him.

  “How’s Dee? Is there anything we can do?”

  “Thanks, Rissa. Right now, it’s a waiting game. But she is dehydrated. Exhausted. They’ve got her sleeping right now while they have IV’s running in her. They ran some tests and the results will be in soon. I’m sorry you guys left the luncheon and rushed over here. We don’t know anything yet.”

  “No apologies needed. You were right to call us. We’re here to support you both.”

  Dev’s words were heartfelt, and Rio nodded his thanks. Just then, a doctor stepped through the doorway and Rio moved to join him. They waited. Then Rio nodded toward them and followed the doctor back through the double doors. That left the four of them to begin a vigil. They settled into seats. Chance leaned over and said something to Josie, and she nodded.

  He stood. “I’m going to find the coffee machine. What can I get for the rest of you?”

  “I’ll go with you.” Dev stood. He looked at Rissa. “Coffee? Or would you prefer a cold soft drink?”

  “That would be good if you can find one. Don’t go to any extra trouble though.”

  “No trouble. We’ll be right back.”

  “He’s really trying. I hope you know that.” Josie’s words brought Rissa’s attention across to her.

  “Trying?”

  “He’s changed. He isn’t the same person who left here a few years ago. Well… not totally. It’s complicated and it’s his story to share and no one else’s. Dev’s a good guy. He always was one. I hope you’ll give him the chance to show you that. And I think he feels he can trust you. That means a lot.”

  Rissa realized that Josie was choosing her words carefully and if she sounded cryptic at times, there had to be a good reason for it. What was Dev’s story? Was she missing something? The object of her thoughts came back at that time… two soft drinks in hand. She smiled her thanks as she took the one he offered. He took the seat next to hers.

  “I’m not good at waiting.” He said those words a few minutes later. “Do you think this means something is wrong… really wrong, I mean?”

  Rissa couldn’t blame him for his concern as her patience was being tested also. Thankfully, Chance remained the calm one of the group.

  “No news is good news is how I choose to look at it. We just have to keep the prayers and positive thoughts going for both Dee and Rio right now.” He held Josie’s hand secure in one of his and it made Rissa’s heart smile to see the look the two shared with each other.

  It also made her sad? Envious? So many emotions could be evoked. But that was when the door opened, and Rio motioned for them all to follow him. They wasted little time in doing so.

  They ended up in a small room which shrank with all of them gathered around the bed where a smiling Dee, pale but a sparkle in her eyes, held onto Rio’s hand as he took a seat on the bed next to her. If they were both smiling, surely it couldn’t be bad news?

  “So, don’t keep us in suspense,” Josie spoke up. “What’s wrong? You’re okay now, right?”

  Dee nodded. “I’m a little more than okay. But I will need to stay in the hospital for a couple more days. I need to get my body’s strength back after spending so much time with my head in the toilet.” The tension was broken with the shared laughter at her description.

  “What caused this to happen?” Rissa had to ask the question.

  Dee gave her husband a smug look. “He did.”

  “I think I wasn’t alone in this… you did your part, too.”

  Dev shook his head. “Okay, I guess I’m missing something. How about not speaking in riddles?”

  Rissa couldn’t contain the giggle. Josie clapped her hands. Chance and Dev looked at each other.

  “Time to put you out of your misery guys,” Rio said, a wide grin splitting his face. “Dee is having a really bad case of morning sickness. She’ll be just fine in a couple more weeks when it passes. We’re expecting.”

  Then everyone shared in the laughter and congratulations and hugs. Until the doctor and nurse stepped inside the doorway and very kindly, but pointedly, excused them all from the room. They said their goodbyes and left Rio and Dee beaming at each other.

  Once outside, the two couples parted ways. Rissa promised to call Josie tomorrow and set up times to visit Dee and help Rio however they could.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” Dev said, after they had left the hospital parking lot.

  “I know what you mean. I skipped breakfast this morning and now we’re getting close to dinner time… forget about lunch. I left my plate on the table at the picnic.”

  “How about this solution? I drop you at the church parking lot to get your car. Then, you follow me to the ranch, and I’ll throw a couple of steaks on the grill? Should be a great sunset tonight and my back porch has a pretty awesome view of it. You game?”

  Was she game? Or was she playing with fire? Being alone with a man who had her totally confused most of the time… and thinking about and feeling things she hadn’t in a very long time… so there was only one possible answer.

  “Sounds perfect. I’ll stop long enough at my house to change clothes and pick up something fo
r dessert. Then I’ll be there.”

  He rewarded her with one of those amazing ‘Dev’ smiles that squeezed the spot in the center of her chest while producing heated tingles farther down in the core of her body. It made her take a deep breath to squash. Yep, playing with fire.

  *

  Three-quarters of an hour later, Rissa pulled up and parked next to Dev’s truck. She glanced in the mirror once more. She had gone through a half-dozen clothing changes at home. Finally, she settled on the black capris with their cutout scrollwork down the legs and the light, layered chiffon top with its swirls of bright blues and pinks and black. It left her shoulders bare and the deep V-neck gave glimpses of tanned flesh swells that flirted on sexy. It was feminine and perfect for the warm evening. Jeweled flip-flops were her nod to her usual flair for bling. She allowed her long hair to hang free and, now and then, silver hoops were visible dangling from her ears. She hoped she hadn’t overdone things. But, it was too late as she slid from the truck and reached into the back for the pie carrier. The front door opened and closed. Turning, she had just enough time to make certain of her hold on the dessert as Gypsy came bounding in her direction.

  “Gypsy, down… stay… sit.” Dev came down the steps in quick movements. “Darn dog… she listens when she wants. Get down, Gypsy. Doc won’t come visit us again if you can’t have manners.”

  Rissa laughed and shook her head. “I can see the two of you still have some communication issues.” She bent to rub the dog’s head. “You’re looking good, Gypsy Girl.”

  “Let me take that,” Dev said, smiling at her as he took the carrier from her hands. They walked toward the steps together. Gypsy stayed between them. “I communicate things just fine with her. It’s her that is stubborn and listens when she pleases.”