Cowboy Welcome

by Alyssa Bailey

  "Nah, I wanted home today not tomorrow night is all. I have time."

  "All right cowboy, let's get going because I am seriously starving and it will take us a while to get out of Dallas."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  Shanna rolled her eyes. She was never going to become accustomed to people referring to her as ma'am, after being gone so long. The attendant pointed to a row of vehicles to choose from and she picked a blue and silver sporty looking car.

  "I typically choose rentals I like, but wouldn't buy either for their impracticality or their expense. In this case, I expect the legroom is sufficient for you, but make sure, try it out."

  Satisfied with the design, feel and leg room, they both climbed in for the two-hour ride.

  "Do you remember how to get home from the airport?"

  "Yes, I remember."

  "No, don't take that exit, go to the next one."

  "Okay, I might not have been home in a while, but this way is the best to go."

  "Maybe you could on a Sunday afternoon, but not on a weekday afternoon. Take the next exit."

  "Hey, did you forget that I happen to be the one driving here? Where I come from, if you drive you get to pick the route."

  "You are from here and I bet you remember that we let our men drive here. Anyway, we can fix that. Let me drive. I want to get there today, sunshine. Your way will take us an additional hour or three."

  "Fine, I'll go your way, but I do not give in to others often."

  "Hmm. Does your boyfriend let you get away with everything?"

  "Yep. After my ex-husband had divorced me for our marriage counselor, I decided that the best male companion is battery operated. BOB has no opinions to express, so no feelings to consider but my own." As soon as the words were out, her hand flew to her errant mouth, horrified she was so free with her thoughts. “Sorry, bad experience.”

  "Ouch. Take this exit. Sorry about the jerk for a husband, we aren't all like him, you do get that, right?"

  "Oh, I get it. In theory, that is, but not sure I care at this point. He is my Ex if you don’t mind.”

  "I would love to help you change your mind. The challenge would be a diversion. One I have been looking to find. Besides, you rise to the bait well. Cheaper than batteries, too." Zane wiggled his eyebrows up and down with a wicked grin.

  "Well, I hope you brought your knight in shining armor costume because you will have to dress the part pretty well to get me to change my mind."

  "You’re on. You will be surprised, in what I can do. Wonder where I put that outfit?"

  Shanna wondered, too late, what she had opened herself up to with this man. She was quiet until they pulled into a favorite BBQ chain. One thing she did miss was good barbecue. And cowboys.

  Shanna took a healthy breath as they approached the door to the popular smoke house restaurant. It was a comfort smell that she loved. She reached for the door handle and felt a warm rough hand instead of the metal of the handle.

  “You are going to have to change your mindset, Shanna, because I can tell you right off that if you don’t let a man open your door then you will have a fight on your hands. You find yourself going out with a man who does not expect to open your doors then you drop him like a hot potato, ‘cause he is not for you.”

  It took a few seconds for Shanna to release the door and it was obvious to Zane she wanted to say something, most likely argue the point, but she didn’t. He admired that in her. She sat down before either the waiter seating them or Zane could hold her chair and she noticed the tight line of Zane’s mouth when he came around the table to sit across from her. Again she said nothing.

  When the waiter left them with menus and the daily special to decide their meal choices, Shanna tried to ignore Zane by concentrating intently on the menu. She knew she might have irritated him and she was trying to come up with a reasonable response if he brought it up. Her reasonable answer was she had been gone a long time.

  Zane set down his menu and took a long drink of his iced tea before saying anything. And when he did, he reached over to touch Shanna’s hand lightly to draw her eyes to his.

  “It doesn’t hurt to let a man do simple courtesy things for you, sunshine.”

  “I know.”

  “Not everyone is like your ex.”

  “I know that too.”

  “And when a man wants to do something nice for you, around here, it is rude not to let him.”

  “I remember.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Well, I do remember. I just don’t want to be left vulnerable. You know, taken advantage of and if I let men do nice things for me, they could think something more was going on, like I am appreciative of more than their chivalry.”

  “Well, don’t put me in that category with those wannabe men and don’t steal the privilege of allowing me to be a gentleman with you. I don’t take kindly to that, just so you know.”

  She shook her head. “I won’t.”

  Shanna took a drink of her tea and looked down at the hand Zane was still lightly touching and watched him pat it gently a couple of times and lift his hand to move it. It had been such a casual light touch but it had left a noticeable poverty at its absence. But the warmth from his subtle chastisement was evident on her cheeks and in the pit of her belly. Zane didn’t miss the submissive lowering of her eyes and head, the blush on her cheeks and the acceptance of the light chastisement. Yeah, she was a sweet one that was for sure.

  Dinner was casual and Zane was entertaining speaking of the rodeos he had ridden in reminding Shanna that one rode for a few moments of the whole afternoon. The rest of the time was spent watching friends ride, making friends, and cleaning gear. But sometimes, like the last one, it was worth all the effort. That saddle was his proudest achievement. He hoped Shanna would be one of those proud achievements but he knew he couldn’t say that to this independent woman. Not yet anyway.

  Dinner done, he looked at Shanna in a way that said, “Don’t move.” And she heeded the message and waited for him to pull out her chair. She started to pull out her wallet as they approached the cashier but quickly intercepted the fiery look Zane shot her. She stepped aside and then allowed him to open the door as they left. Zane placed his hand in the small of her back to steer her and show a slight possessiveness as they walked to the car and Shanna melted. Without thinking, she handed her keys to Zane, indicating he should drive. Without skipping a beat, he took the keys, opened Shanna’s door and settled her in before climbing in the driver’ seat. He leaned over to secure her seat belt and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Thank you.”

  Shanna’s response was a smile before she looked down into her lap as they pulled out of the parking lot headed home.

  “Well, we are here. This next pull off is my drive,” said Zane. “This will take us to the house.”

  As she looked at the land surrounding the property, it appeared as though there wasn’t another house anywhere. “Tell me, how much land do you own?”

  “Me? Only about 800 acres, but family land, all you can see for as far as you can see.”

  “Wow. It must go for miles.”

  “Yes, ma’am and we have little chunks of pasture around us. I actually own the sectional piece next to the family land we passed before turning in because a neighbor wanted to retire near his grandkids so I bought it up. Beautiful piece of fertile land I picked up, but not sure what to do with it just yet. I have limited it to sitting cows on it right now. Probably set up my horses, but might also farm it a little. Possibly cut some hay to supplement the plenty of grazing lands. But truth be told, I’m no farmer.”

  “I remember I loved growing a kitchen garden. Maybe I can do that again. It always made me feel accomplished to grow my own food.” Shanna inquired about the sign as they drove under the gate entrance. “Wow, so ‘Just Dreamin’ is the name?”

  “Yeah, my mom tells it that when they were young and beginning to buy up land as they could, Daddy was always just dreaming about when, so
they named this place Just Dreamin’. Daddy says he is still just dreaming of the next thing to do. Mom says that these days he is mostly just dreaming of grandkids, four is not enough. I have two sisters and two brothers, so since two are married and one is still in college, they are looking to Joey for more. Jolene Elizabeth is her name on the birth certificate and, for the record, nowhere else. They aren’t sure if I am going to add to the next generation.”

  “Glad my parents aren’t looking for another generation from their only chick. I’m not sure marriage is in my cards, but I would like to have one or two kids some time. Not sure I am up to the boyfriend/husband thing again.”

  “Yeah, well, I bet you change your mind once you have settled back home. You said your dad was an engineer, sounds pretty high tech for around here, so does that mean you were driven to a private school?”

  “Nope, went to the same school I bet you did, but I was a bit younger than you.”

  “Oh yeah, so how old do you think I am?” Zane found himself quite entertained by his companion.

  “Oh, about thirty.”

  “Good guess. I have thirty-one years under my belt. Will I offend you if I guess how old you are?”

  Now it was Shanna’s turn to laugh. “No, I rarely find myself personally offended.”

  “So, I figure you to be about twenty-six.”

  “Close, twenty-eight. Barely.”

  “And married for two years, separated, then divorced already? Whoa, you started young, sweetheart.”

  Shanna tried not to appear hurt right after she had said she wasn’t easily offended, but Zane noticed. “It’s possible, but I am on the other side of that and I am determined it is time for a new beginning.”

  “All right then, I am ready to start your new experience with you. I think we could figure out how to get you where you want to be. Since you already agreed with me helping you get past the ex, I can give you a twofer.”

  She found herself laughing and then sucking in a breath as he came to park her rental just outside the house. “That might be nice. Hey, that is one hell of a house.”

  “Watch your language, but you are right, it is a nice house.”

  Shanna noticed just like that, Zane changed his tone and the humor that had sparkled in his voice dissipated and he became serious. She had forgotten that about him and he reminded her with that one change of tone; language should stay clean whenever possible. Huh. Been a long time since she had been home and manners were that necessary. Better work on that Shanna, because something tells me that you are sitting with a real live man with those features you want but with bite. He might not put up with the city callousness for long.

  “Oh, sorry about that, but I am serious, that is a huge house. That quarter horse at the front of your steps acts as though she knows you. Look how she dances and paws the ground, excited to see you. I love horses and I haven’t ridden in forever.”

  He looked like he might say something else before changing his mind and took up the horse conversation. Her wistful longing drew his attention.

  “If you’d like to ride sometime, let me know. As you know, horses are something I have lots of and would love to offer a ride anytime you would like one. If you were any good, that is. Well, even if you aren’t, I can teach you how to ride.”

  “I’m rusty, but good when I did ride. I did some 4H work with horses and loved it. You seem to have lots of everything, land, horses, cattle, and family.” Shanna laughed. “Anyway, thanks, I’ll take you up on it sometime. I think I had better be getting to the house, Mom will be looking for me, but I will take you up on that riding offer soon.”

  Zane gave Shanna that “stay” look and walked around to help her out of the passenger seat and reseat her in the driver’s seat, re-engaging the seat belt.

  “Pop the trunk.”

  As she did, Zane reached over and placed a quick but solid kiss on her lips, closing the door as he walked to the back of the car grabbing his bag and saddle from the trunk. He leaned in her window and told her sternly to call him when she got to her parent’s home so he knew she was safe.

  He kissed her lightly again saying, “Welcome home, sunshine.”

  He then waved her on. It was as if he had a right to do it. Perchance he was a gentleman in training, she smiled.

  She started talking to herself as she had begun to do since resuming her single status. She wasn’t sure what had just happened. She thought back to see if she had sent out ‘kiss me’ signals, confident that she had not. Still, this exotic looking man gave her what her mother called, ‘tummy tumbles.’ Might be nice to try him out a bit, she thought and blushed at the thought.

  Pulling into her parents’ drive, Shanna relaxed when she got out of the air-conditioned interior and absorbed the heat of the early evening. By the time they had gotten a bite to eat, and driven home through the traffic, it was almost three and a half hours after the plane had landed that she stood in this spot. The reality of what she had done this week finally hitting her and she was relieved to have her dad come out for her bags and her mom walk out behind him to hug her.

  “We were worried about you.”

  “Thought you might have tried to take I35, mistake that,” her father stated.

  “No, Zane said we needed to take 287 and he was not as nice about it as you were,” Shanna said with a smile.

  “Who’s this Zane dear?”

  “Gideon. Zanith Gideon, he was someone that I ran into who needed a ride because his person did not make it to pick him up. They were birthing a cow or something so they couldn’t leave to grab him. He was going to rent a car primarily to get home and since he was so close to us, I gave him a ride.”

  “Is that Janie’s Zane? In Freedom?”

  “Don’t know, but he lives in Freedom.”

  “You mean you rode the whole way home with this man and you didn’t get his parents’ name?” Anita Parker sounded concerned.

  “Yes, I guess I did, mom. We are adults now so parents’ names aren’t mandatory information.”

  “Well, sprout, did they live on a large spread and have the name Just Dreamin’?”

  “Yep, that’s it.”

  “Janie and Jim’s place, that must be their youngest boy because the older two sons are married and don’t fly anywhere. Bronc rider or something I think Jim said.”

  Shanna smiled at the familiar conversation. “Yep, sounds like him. Well, the mystery is solved.”

  Several hours later, as she looked around her childhood home and settled in the familiar and yet unfamiliar room, she thought about the long day she had. She had lived in Alaska that morning and now lived in her home state again. And for today, Texas had supplied her with some of the hope that she had lacked when she boarded the plane this morning. She had left some incredible views this morning and had encountered some rather breathtaking scenery this evening, thanks to one Zanith Gideon, cowboy extraordinaire. She comforted herself with the fact that she would see more of that remarkable landscape, maybe dipping her toes into the pond. She hoped it was warm and not too cold. Yes, welcome home indeed, Shanna.

  Chapter Three

  Shanna sat in the local eatery and looked at her laptop trying to decide what type of vehicle to test drive. Frustrated with her choices, she asked for a coffee refill before attempting to narrow down the choices again. It was after deciding on a car rather than a truck that she heard a familiar voice.

  “I’ll take some breakfast, Missy. Can you bring it over to Shanna’s table?” He indicated the table he was going to sit at and then walked across the diner to the chair across from her.

  “What brings you here today, sunshine?”

  Shanna felt a glow that he was so comfortable with her to give her an endearment as she reached down to rub her tingling tummy.

  “Well, not breakfast. It is almost eleven in the morning.”

  “I like breakfast anytime, but won’t be able to come back in another hour for lunch and I’m always hungry,” Zane smiled broadly.
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  “I’ll bet you are. So what are you up to?”

  “Nope, you first. Beat you to the question, remember,” Zane said, reaching for the freshly poured coffee and nodded, smiling in response to an overzealous wave from a woman who must be a few years older than Zane.

  “Who is that?”

  “You need some manners, little girl. She runs the library in the next town over. Her nephew was in my scouting troop. She is a nice lady, really, just a bit lonely.”

  “Yeah, but she is older than you, isn’t she? And kind of loud for a librarian.”

  “I am really going to have to teach you some manners, sunshine. Yes, she is, but I can be friendly to women without dating them all. Right now, I am working on boys in my den, like her nephew, who are younger and need more exposure to public situations. It is on the spot training that teaches how to behave. Bet you know someone like that. Would you like to join my den?”

  Feeling a little chastised and pouty she waited a minute to answer.

  “No, thank you. I haven’t lived here for a while so it seems like I am rude. Actually, I just need a little practice living in small town America.”

  Zane nodded his head at the waitress as she delivered a huge country breakfast for his pleasure and she grinned in acknowledgment.

  “Y’all need anything else?” she asked both, but only looked at Zane.

  Zane glanced over at Shanna and she shook her head. “No darling, sounds like we’re good for now. Can I get some more of that dark roast coffee?”

  “Sure thing, sugar.”

  “Ugh, how can you stand that saccharine sweetness? I refuse to do that.”

  “No, I do that, but what you will do is smile and act sweet like a lady should. No talking about people like they have no feelings.”

  Zane’s tone was easy to interpret and it left no doubt that he meant everything he said. Shanna was not sure she knew how to deal with someone like him, someone so real. Consequently, she did what she knew best, countered with her mouth to protect her position.

  “I wasn’t that mean and they couldn’t hear me. I wouldn’t do it within earshot.”