The Cowboy's Rules: 2 (Cowboys After Dark:)

by Maggie Carpenter

  He’d sat up when she’d climbed into the car, and squeaking out a whine he placed his paw on her arm.

  “You know what,” she said, turning briefly to look at him, “I think I am going to dump your Master and marry you, then all I’d have to worry about is a French Poodle.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Cassie’s first stop was the local feed store, one of her favorite haunts. She could spend endless amounts of time viewing the latest items designed to make a horse’s life easier, warmer, cooler, more interesting, and so on. As she and Mickey entered the store, Mickey ran straight to the row of bowls featuring the various types of rawhide bones.

  “Hey there, Cassie.”

  The woman behind the counter, Vicki Marshall, had started the business thirty years before. Chad was one of her favorite people and best clients, and Cassie had taken an immediate liking to her. Vicki was smart, horse savvy, and had a wicked sense of humor.

  “Pick whichever one you want, Mickey,” Vicki called across the room. Hearing his name Mickey pricked his ears and let out a happy bark.

  “And what are you in for today, Cassie?”

  “One of those dark brown leather halters. I bought half-a-dozen of them and one’s gone missing already,” she sighed.

  “You just bought them last week,” Vicki frowned.

  “I know, it’s a mystery. I’m sure it’ll turn up as soon as I buy a replacement, but then I’ll have one spare and that’s always good.”

  “There over on that hanger where they were before,” Vicki nodded.

  “And a large bag of carrots,” Cassie added as she moved towards the display.

  “How did the clinic start off? Chad get a good group?” Vicki asked.

  The question stirred the memory of the blond sex kitten holding Chad’s hand in the tack room, and Cassie felt a stirring of jealous anger.

  “He’s got some beginners, and, uh, others,” Cassie replied, fighting the ugly feelings.

  “I don’t know how he manages so many personalities and horses. He’s something else,” Vicki smiled.

  “Not as smart as him though,” Cassie commented, nodding towards Mickey.

  Mickey had selected the second largest size of bone and was walking towards the counter, the bone hanging perilously from a small corner he could grab with his teeth.

  “Anything else?” Vicki asked.

  “I don’t think so, but I’m going down the street for some coffee so something else might pop into my head.”

  “I’ll still be here unless some good lookin’ cowboy comes in, locks the door and has his way with me,” Vickie laughed.

  “You are incorrigible,” Cassie giggled.

  “Yeah, but that’s what people love about me,” she grinned.

  Cassie paid the tab, and helping Mickey find a more secure hold on his bone, she grabbed the halter, and throwing it in the car she walked to the cafe a few doors down.

  It had been a while since she’d sat outside, drunk a latte and people-watched. There was a park across the street, and even though it was a weekday spring was in the air and people were out enjoying the weather.

  She placed an order for her coffee and a croissant, and Mickey curled up beside her with his bone between his paws, hungrily attacking the large, white treat.

  As she leaned back against the glass store front, she stared across at the park, trying to erase the image in the tack room from her mind.

  I just have to talk to him…calmly. I do trust him, I do. It was just…

  “What a cute dog!”

  Looking up Cassie saw a woman with a baby in a stroller.

  “Is he friendly, can I pet him? Not sure if I should, he seems very attached to that bone,” the woman smiled.

  Cassie looked down and saw that Mickey was intent on destroying it, though he’d barely made a dent.

  “He’s a teddy bear, but he is having a wonderful time,” Cassie smiled. “His name is McTavish, or Mickey.” Hearing his name Mickey looked up from his bone but didn’t offer to interact, and seconds later he was back at it. “I think that answers the question,” Cassie remarked.

  “Maybe next time,” the woman said. “I’m a dog nut, I just had to stop.”

  “Glad you did,” Cassie replied. “Bye.”

  A few minutes later the waitress arrived with her coffee and croissant, but as Cassie opened up some sugar packets she heard a low growl, and peering down she saw McTavish had curled up his top lip in a warning.

  “Hey, stop, no-one’s going to take your bone,” she scolded.

  “For some reason he doesn’t like me!”

  Cassie looked up to find Jason Lewis standing at the opposite side of her table.

  “My gosh, hello. What are you doing here?”

  “I’m staying at The Pepper Tree Inn and thought I’d take a walk,” he replied. “I have to leave town in a couple of days and haven’t really explored the place. Mind if I sit down?”

  His smile was as dazzling as ever, and his presence warm and inviting.

  Shit, if Chad can sit in the tack room and be all intimate and cozy with Miss Sugar Tits, I can sit in public and have a cup of coffee with a handsome architect.

  “You bet,” she smiled.

  As Jason pulled out the chair and sat down, Mickey jumped on Cassie, his front paws landing on her lap, then he barked, tried to lick her face, then barked again.

  “Mickey, stop it,” she laughed, “please, go back to your bone.”

  “He’s definitely in love with you,” Jason grinned. “Can’t say I blame him.”

  “Come on, Mick,” Cassie scolded. “Off my lap, I want to drink my coffee.”

  Finally managing to unload him she ordered him back to his bone, and letting out the dog equivalent of a sigh, Mickey curled up and laid down, but his bone remained untouched and his gaze stayed fixed on Jason.

  “I’m not sure if I should be insulted or complimented,” Jason chuckled.

  “Maybe it’s your cologne,” Cassie giggled.

  “Hey, I’m open. What would you suggest?”

  He is totally flirting with you.

  I know, and it feels good. I like it.

  Probably not a good idea.

  There’s no harm. We’re in public, it’s a nice day, he’s really cute, and right now I don’t give a shit. Besides, he’s leaving town.

  “Where are you off to?” she asked. “Your job I mean, do you work from your own office, or for a firm?”

  “A firm. I have a client who owns a lake house about an hour from here. He wants to completely renovate it so, hey, big job. Had to say yes. It’ll be a challenge,” he replied, then added, “I thrive on challenge.”

  He was staring right at her, and as he spoke Cassie saw his eyes come alive.

  “I think we all like to be challenged,” she commented smoothly. “It’s human nature.”

  “Uh-huh. You don’t ride western I take it,” he remarked.

  “Hunters and jumpers,” she replied, wondering how he knew. “I love jumpers though, that’s where my heart is, and that’s my point, it’s challenging. I had a bad accident late last year,” she offered, recalling the fall from Shelby when she’d made a turn her trainer had told her not to.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  “My horse slipped doing a sharp turn and rolled on top of me.”

  “You’re kidding,” he exclaimed. “How the hell did you survive something like that?”

  “Just lucky I guess,” she said shrugging her shoulders, “but it took me a few weeks to get back on my feet.”

  “So, how does a jumper rider end up with a western cowboy? Doesn’t seem like it would be a good fit.”

  “It’s a great fit,” she smiled. “We’re very happy together.”

  “It’s interesting you should say that, and I don’t mean to speak out of turn, but you didn’t look very happy when I first saw you a minute ago.”

  Cassie felt her face flush, and looking away she stared across the street at a man throwing
a stick for his dog.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” he apologized, “it’s just that you seem like a nice girl, and-”

  “There’s nothing to tell,” she said sharply. “Not every day can be perfect.”

  “No, of course not,” he smiled, “but I suspect a successful cowboy like Chad Douglas would have a lot of women chasing him. I think you must be a very secure young lady to deal with that.”

  The scene in the tack room loomed heavy, and shifting in her chair she reached for her coffee.

  “If I had a gorgeous woman like you in my life,” he continued, “I’d spend every day trying to make it just that…perfect.”

  Cassie felt oddly defensive; Chad had gone to great lengths to make her happy, to give her everything she could ever want or need.

  He just built me a barn, and put in a ring, and so many other things.

  “Of course, it’s more than just giving material things,” he said softly, as if reading her mind. “It’s a feeling, a feeling of trust and security, but I’m sure you have that with Chad Douglas.”

  “Yes, I do,” she said quickly “He’s wonderful, absolutely wonderful.”

  “I’m sure he is,” Jason smiled. “At least, I hope he is. You deserve wonderful.”

  Silence settled around them, and while she thought he looked relaxed and comfortable, Cassie felt awkward and uncomfortable.

  “I think it’s time for me to get on with my walk now. I’ve enjoyed our talk,” he remarked, shooting her his dazzling smile, “but something tells me we’ll see each other again.”

  “I can’t imagine how that would happen,” she frowned. “I don’t come into town much, and you won’t be back at the ranch working.”

  “True,” he nodded, “but sometimes fate steps in, and I have a sneaking suspicion we’ll be spending more time together.”

  He stood up, and was about to move around the table towards her when a warning snarl made him pause.

  “Good luck to you too,” Cassie said, not scolding Mickey for his reaction. “I hope the house renovation goes smoothly.”

  “Thanks, I’m sure it will,” he replied confidently.

  He locked her eyes for just moment before walking away, and as she watched him meander down the street she felt a shivering unease.

  “Dammit, I was mad but I wasn’t unhappy,” she mumbled. “Now I’m mad and unhappy, and I don’t even know why. What the hell just happened?”

  Downing her coffee, which had become cold because of their conversation, she picked at the croissant, then giving up she sighed heavily.

  “Where is that waitress with the check?” she complained, and peering in the window she tapped the glass and signaled.

  The girl meandered at the counter inside the store for a few minutes, then finally appeared with the bill.

  “Come on, Mick,” she said, laying some notes in the leather wallet. “Let’s go home. I need to talk to Chad, clinic or no clinic.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  By the time Cassie returned home her mood had improved, and though she still wanted to talk to Chad about what she’d seen, the weirdness she’d felt at the end of her conversation with Jason had dissipated.

  It was mid-afternoon, the clinic was in full swing, and when she stopped by Hannah’s cabin she found her hard at work preparing a feast for Marty’s dinner.

  “I figured after such a crazy day he’d be really hungry,” Hannah explained as Cassie stared at the culinary delights waiting to be cooked. “I’ve made enough for you and Chad as well. I know domesticity isn’t your strong suit.”

  “You are such a doll, Hannah,” Cassie murmured, marveling at her friend’s talent. “Thank you. We will both be very grateful at dinner time.”

  “What can I do for you?” Hannah asked. “Did you stop by just to say hello?”

  “No, I’m going up to the barn and I wondered if you’d like to come with me, but I see you’re busy.”

  “I can come up for a minute or two, I know you don’t want to be up there alone.”

  “I promised Chad,” Cassie sighed, “but I’ll have Mickey with me, he’ll protect me for the short time I’m there. I just want to check on the horses and drop off the halter and carrots.”

  “If you’re not back in ten minutes I’ll come up,” Hannah promised.

  “That’ll work,” Cassie nodded. “I’ll catch you later.”

  As she drove slowly up towards the knoll she wondered if the nanny cams had been installed, and as she parked at the side of the barn she called Mickey to her side.

  Dropping the carrots in the feed room at the front she wandered forward to hang the halter on the stall door, but as she began to loop the leather around the bar she stopped; her pulse quickening she stared inside.

  A single red rose was laying inside the stall on top of the shavings.

  Heart pounding she dropped the halter and ran back to the car, Mickey charging alongside her. Jumping in she sped down to Chad’s barn, slowing somewhat when she approached the busy area, then moving quickly from the car she looked around frantically, finally spotting Chad off to the side in the main ring. Not wanting to run through all the horses and people to reach him, she grabbed her phone, praying he had his in his pocket.

  “Hey, Cassie?”

  “Thank God you picked up,” she exclaimed, realizing her voice was quivering.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Can you spare me five minutes?” she begged. “It’s really important.”

  “Sure, of course, where are you?”

  “Here, down near the barn,” she replied. “I could talk to you in my car, or…” she paused, “the tack room.”

  “There are too many people running around to talk in the tack room. Stay where you are, we can just zip up to the top of the driveway, but Cassie, are you okay?”

  “Kind of, maybe, not really,” she stammered.

  “I’ll be right there,” he promised.

  Returning to her car she ordered Mickey into the back seat, then watched as Chad jogged across the ring towards her.

  “Hey sweetheart,” he frowned. “You’re white as a sheet. I’ll drive, you sit.”

  Climbing into the passenger seat she looked across at him as he started the car and headed up the drive.

  I do love you. It’s so good to be back here and near you. How did that guy twist my head around so much?

  Pulling the car to a stop above the mayhem below, he stared across at her, his eyes dark and his face somber.

  “I’m all ears,” he said.

  Cassie hurriedly told him about the two things foremost on her mind; the missing halter, then returning to find the rose on the shavings.

  “I don’t know if the guys from Sampson Security told you, but when I saw them this morning it was after I’d discovered the halter was missing, and I asked them to put a nanny cam inside the barn until the permanent cameras were installed. With any luck, whoever that left the rose might be on film,” she said hopefully. “That rose really freaked me out, it all freaked me out, everything’s freaking me out.”

  “Come here,” he said, opening his arms across the center console. Leaning over she clutched his shirt as she rested her head against his shoulder. “You’re really scared,” he remarked.

  “Kind of,” she admitted. “I think I’ve been stupid.”

  “Hold on,” he frowned, and pulling out his phone he texted Marty.

  Have to deal with something. Please take over Susie Patterson.

  Sure thing. Marty texted back

  Chad drove the car up to the house, and with a comforting arm around her shoulders, and Mickey leading the way, he took her inside and settled them on the couch; Mickey, bone held firmly in his jaw, laid down on his rug in front of them.

  “Why do I think you have more to tell me?” he asked quietly.

  “I guess I do,” she admitted.

  “Why do you think you’ve been stupid?”

  “First, why were you holding hands with Miss Sugar
Tits?” she asked, an edge to her voice. “I feel so weird, Chad,” she added abruptly, not giving him a chance to offer an answer. “I saw you two in the tack room and it really spun me out. I drove into town feeling totally off, and then…”

  “And then?” he pressed.

  “I ran into Jason Lewis,” she murmured. “I was still upset about seeing you holding her hand, so…”

  “So?” he pushed.

  “So he asked if he could sit with me while I had coffee and I said yes.”

  “Go on.”

  “It was nothing really, he was just very, uh, complimentary, and when he left I felt even more weird. Then I came home and found that stupid rose.”

  “I see,” he said, his voice low and deep.

  “Why were you holding hands with Sugar Tits?” she asked again, lifting her eyes and locking his.

  “Molly,” he declared, “her name is Molly. She was very upset after Marty talked to her. I went into the tack room for something and found her crying. I couldn’t just leave her, so I sat down with her and-”

  “and held her fucking hand,” Cassie snapped. “I’m sorry,” she said instantly. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. One minute I feel all soppy and the next I’m pissy. I’m sorry,” she repeated.

  “I do understand,” he said tenderly. “It’s not okay, but I do understand. You didn’t let me finish.”

  “I know, sorry, sorry,” she muttered.

  “She told me she’d just been dumped by a guy she’s been in love with for years, and when Marty told her she had to clean up her act or leave the clinic she fell apart. I didn’t take her hand, but you must have looked in just at the moment she took mine.”

  “Oh,” Cassie breathed.

  “It really bothers me that you jumped to such a wrong conclusion,” he frowned, “and that you shared coffee with that guy, but we can talk about that later. Right now I have to call the Sheriff and get him up here,” he said soberly, “but that was real smart, askin’ for those nanny cams. Maybe you’re right, maybe there’s somethin’ on them.”

  “Chad, I’m sorry, I’m sorry about everything. Everything’s so perfect with us I’m afraid something’s going to come along and ruin it. When I saw you with Sugar, oops…sorry…Molly, it made me crazy.”