The Last Cowboy

by Pat Dale

  “Fair enough, I suppose. Are you willing to drop the injunction in the meantime? By the way when is this Steve guy going to show up?”

  “Not ‘til Monday. I hoped he’d be here today, but something has come up.”

  “Well then, Rose, why don’t you let me treat you to dinner tonight. I’d like catch up with you and talk about old times.”

  “I’d like that, I think. Do I need to dress up for the occasion?”

  “No. Unless you’d rather go to Branson for the evening.”

  “I’d like that sometime, but I think not tonight. Why don’t you pick me up at six? I’m staying at the only motel in Reeds Spring. Unit eleven.”

  Troy glanced across the room where Missy was choking on a donut. He raised an eyebrow in her direction, but she swallowed a huge mouthful of coffee and waved him away. He turned his attention back to Rose. “Uh, right. Unit eleven. Six, it is.”

  * * *

  They left after Troy paid the tab. Missy finished her third doughnut and scrambled to the window to see where they went. Her eyes narrowed when Troy took the woman’s hand and held it for a moment before raising it to his lips.

  As soon as both parties were out of sight, Missy paid her bill and scurried off to the Herald. She arrived breathless and had to sit for a moment to regain her composure. “You were right to have me spy on them, Samantha. They had a little argument about the environmental things. But Rose was smiling and acting really friendly. Then he asked her out to dinner.”

  “And?”

  “And she said yes. Told him to pick her up at the motel she’s staying at.”

  “Really? Maybe our bad boy really does have enough charm to win her over.”

  “Then he kissed her.”

  “He did what?”

  “Yep.”

  “Where did he kiss her?”

  “Right on Main Street, in front of God and everybody.”

  “I meant where on her body. On the lips?”

  “No. He kissed her cheek.”

  “Oh. That’s different.”

  “I thought so, too.

  “Like old friends, then?”

  “Maybe…maybe not. With Troy you just never know.”

  * * *

  Troy went back to his office wondering if he’d just put his head in a noose. Encouraging a closer relationship with Rose Ingersoll nee Rosemary Silcox was the last thing he needed right now. But he needed to find out just how committed she was to this environmental nonsense. Maybe he could call in a marker and remind her how he saved her skin at senior prom. He grimaced. That would be pretty low though, the situation she’d found herself in that night hadn’t been her fault in any way. Not to mention what Samantha Turner would think of him whining and dining the cause of their infamous break-up.

  Julie greeted him when he entered his office. “You have two calls waiting.”

  “Who are they?”

  “One is from Jason Tawdry inquiring about your new project.”

  “Right. He’s anxious to have first pick of the parcels as soon as they’re available. I’ll call JT right away. The other?”

  “Some guy from St. Louis. Said he’d heard you were up to your eyeballs in destroying natural habitat.”

  “Was his last name Carlson by any chance?”

  “How’d you know?”

  “I’ve heard of him. Did he want me to respond?”

  “No. Said he’d be here first thing Monday. I took it from the way he spoke he’s planning to come to the office to challenge you.”

  “No doubt.” Troy gave her a half-hearted grin. “Well, I’ll just have to be ready for him when the time comes. I don’t suppose he specified sabres or pistols, did he?”

  Julie’s eyes widened. “What?”

  “Never mind. Just kidding.” He went into his office and shut the door. This was bad. He’d have to work fast with rose if he was going to circumvent that damned injunction. Dinner with her should be interesting. Troy smiled and dialed Jason Tawdry’s number. Business first, subterfuge later.

  * * *

  Samantha drove home musing about Missy’s date with Tom. Tom Fairfield had been their class valedictorian. He wasn’t bad looking, if you didn’t mind thick-lens glasses and a thatch of blond hair that never behaved itself. But smart; the man was smart.

  Painfully aware of her lack of dates of any kind, her thoughts turned to Rose and Troy. She seemed sincere enough, but why would she go to dinner with the very man who threatened to develop the land she was trying to protect. Maybe she was playing an angle that Troy didn’t suspect. She’d certainly not hesitated to make out with him at prom. Damn! I need to get over that for heaven’s sake.

  Maybe this time Troy would bite off more than he could chew and his legendary charms with the fairer sex would back fire on him. She smiled at the mental image of him with mud on his face. Sam parked in the drive and sauntered through the kitchen door and up the stairs. About halfway up the stairs, she met her mother on her way down. Uncharacteristically, she was red-faced and wouldn’t meet Sam’s eyes. What has she been up to?

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Oh hello, dear.”

  “Are you all right? You look out of breath.”

  “I—uh, I’m fine, sweetheart. I think I just need a drink.”

  Samantha paused on the step and followed Sally’s progress down the stairs. Mom disappeared in the direction of the kitchen. Shaking her head, Sam continued on up to her room with the notion her mom had been up to no good. Her parents used the downstairs bedroom to avoid the stairs. Samantha had the run of the second floor and took care of all her own housework.

  She halted in the bedroom door taking in the rumpled comforter which she knew she’s left smooth and pristine that morning. Something was amiss for sure. Mom was snooping, for God’s sake! Her gaze landed on her dresser where one drawer was slightly open. The drawer where she kept the journals with her work in progress.

  Striding across the room, Samantha yanked it open and dug through her lingerie. The journal was still there hidden under them. To her disgust and horror the journal containing her current work in progress was upside down and unlocked. Maybe I should’ve found my own place to live, after all.

  When she’d returned from college, she planned to get an apartment in town. Her parents had insisted she stay in her old room so she relented. And now, after the years she’d been back, it seemed so hard to even think of living alone.

  Sam examined the manuscript and for the first time took note of the worn edges of the pages. Apparently this wasn’t the first time they’d been handled. Funny, she’d never noticed before. Tucking the journal safely back in the drawer, she stomped down to the kitchen and confronted her mom.

  “You’ve been spying on me, haven’t you?”

  “Spying? I don’t know what you mean, dear.”

  “Oh, come on, Mom. I know you’ve been in my room. Why else were you upstairs? I found my journal in the drawer upside down and unlocked. You’ve been reading it.”

  “I’m sorry, Samantha. I just…well, I knew you were up to something up there with the light burning until all hours of the morning. I was worried about you—”

  “So you thought you’d go snoop through my room?” Sam’s voice rose and she planted her fists on her hips.

  “Now, Samantha, it wasn’t like that at all. I was worried about you, that’s all. You know the news is full of seemingly well-adjusted young people doing all manner of unfortunate things.”

  “What did you think you were going to find? Drug paraphernalia? Pornography?

  “Well, no. Not exactly. I went up to your room one night after you and your father had a disagreement to make sure you were okay. When I looked in the door, you were writing at your desk and I didn’t want to disturb you.”

  “Just the same, my room is private. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I don’t know, dear. But I couldn’t stop thinking about it and the next day, I went up and found the journal.”

&nb
sp; “Why would you do that!” Sam almost shrieked. Unfreaking believable!

  “I’m your mother. I have every right to know what you’re doing under this roof.”

  “I totally don’t agree with that. But leave that alone for a minute. I always lock my journals.

  Sally smiled. “So you do. But you don’t hide things very well. The corner of your undie drawer was the first place I looked for the key.”

  “Are you kidding me? If you’d just asked me I would have gladly let you read it. Maybe it’s time I moved out. I can’t believe you disrespected me so badly.”

  “Now, Samantha. Calm down. I meant no disrespect at all, I had the best of intentions. Come sit down and have some tea.”

  Sam sighed and dropped into a chair at the table, there was no point continuing the argument, but it was definitely time to look for her own place. “I’m still pissed at you, but now you’ve read it, what do you think?”

  “I think it’s wonderful, sweetheart. You have quite a way with words. Your fantasies are great, I just loved reading them. There is one thing I would change, though, in the story.”

  “Really?”

  “Honey, I doubt that a regency admiral, even a young dashing one such as yours, would lounge around the castle with his sword strapped on. At least have him take it off before he lifts the lady into his arms and carries her to the bedroom. I couldn’t help worrying that he was going to trip over the darn thing. Can you imagine a handsome man with a beautiful lady in his arms, tripping and falling up the stairs.”

  Samantha roared with laughter. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “Other than that, I just loved your writing. You should get something together and send it off to a publishing house.”

  “I plan to, when I’m ready. But Mom, I don’t want Dad to know anything about this. Especially the kind of stuff I write.”

  “Your secret is safe with me, dear. I won’t tell.”

  She stood up. “I don’t know that I can believe you, Mom. Not after you went snooping around in my private stuff.” She swept out of the kitchen without looking back.

  Samantha went back upstairs and started to hide the journals and the keys in a different spot, and then stopped. If Mom wanted to read them she could bloody well ask first.

  I wonder what Mom thought about the steamy parts? Embarrassment flushed hot over her body. Yuck! Those passages weren’t really for her mother to read at all.

  * * *

  Troy approached unit eleven a little apprehensively. He’d changed three times before settling on khaki pants and a plum-coloured short-sleeve dress shirt. Would Rose be as worried about the impression she made as he was? Hell why was he so nervous in the first place?

  She opened the door at his knock. “Come on in, Troy. I’m almost ready.”

  Rose Ingersoll couldn’t have looked less like Rosemary Silcox if she tried. The faded blue jeans hugged her like a second skin and her summery blouse was unbuttoned far enough to give a hint of the shadow between her breasts.

  Holy-moly!

  “I’m ready if you are.” Rose smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling in amusement. “It’s been a long time since high school, Troy. You don’t need to look so dumbfounded.”

  He swallowed and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Sorry, Rose. It’s just…well…wow. You look amazing.”

  “I’m the same person I always was, you know. Just a few pounds lighter.”

  “I know and you’re right. You were always an amazing person, it’s just no one really took the time to see that back then. Me included, until prom night. I’m really glad I was there to help you get out of that mess with Ricky.”

  “And I am eternally grateful to you for that. What ever happened to that piece of horse crap anyway?”

  Troy laughed. “He married Amy Sue Lancaster and they have eight kids. They live out in a suburb of Branson now.”

  “Oh my God! You have got to be kidding me.” Rose doubled over with laughter. “I would never have guessed those two would end up together. The prom queen and the class lecher.”

  “It was quite the wedding.” Troy grinned. “The Lancasters were not amused, let me tell you.”

  “I can only imagine.” Rose picked up a light jacket and slung it over her shoulders. “Where are we headed?”

  “I made a reservation at the Flanders Inn out by the lake tonight. Trout and catfish are their specialties, and they do a pretty good steak, as well.” He saw her eyes go weird. “Don’t tell me you’re a vegan.”

  “Fish is good, thanks. I do try not to get my protein from dead animals though. Honestly, I do feel a bit guilty about the fish and every time I pass a lobster tank I want to kidnap them all and take them back to the sea.”

  “I’ll remember that.” Troy tried to keep the astonishment he felt from showing on his face. Flanders Inn was a favourite of Troy’s and he wondered whether Rose would remember the place. From the look on her face, her memories weren’t particularly happy one.

  “He took her arm as they entered and paused at the front desk. “The old place hasn’t changed much has it?”

  “No, not really. The only difference is that I’m actually here with a date and not my family. I always envied the popular girls who got to come here on Friday and Saturday nights and then gossip about how wonderful and romantic is was in school on Monday. I always dreamed it would happen to me one day. Some drop dead gorgeous guy would ask me out and take me for dinner and dancing at the Inn. Never happened though.” She brightened and smiled at him. “Water under the bridge, as they say.”

  Troy tightened his grip on her elbow. “If it’s any consolation at this late date, we were all idiots in high school not have seen what a great person you are. I’m glad I can make your dream come true even if it’s a few years too late.”

  “Thanks, Troy.” Her eyes looked shiny for a moment, but then he thought he must have been mistaken.

  * * *

  Strains of an ancient orchestral version of ‘Bali Hi’ drifted from speakers in the ceiling as they finished off their fresh baked rainbow trout. Troy relaxed while they awaited dessert. The service was perfect, as was the meal. The candlelight cast a golden glow over Rose’s face, she looked ethereally beautiful when she smiled at him over the rim of her wine glass.

  She was lovely, but his mind kept superimposing Sam’s features on her face. Mentally kicking himself, Troy blinked and leaned forward to refill Rose’s wine glass.

  By the time coffee was served, they were chatting amicably about old times and he had almost forgotten he was supposed to be pumping her for information on the infamous Steve Carlson. He started and almost sloshed red wine down his shirt when a voice spoke at his elbow.

  “Well hello, you two.”

  “Hey, Samantha,” Rose greeted the newcomer.

  Troy only grunted.

  “Enjoy your dinner,” she inquired sweetly. Too sweetly for Troy’s comfort.

  “Oh yes,” Rose answered. “The trout was delicious.”

  “I see. So I’m not the only one who loves the trout here. But Troy, I thought you were an old fashioned steak and potatoes kind of guy. My goodness, are you trying to impress someone?” Sam baited him.

  “No, Samantha. I happen to enjoy fresh fish as much as anyone. Would you care to join us? We’re about finished, but you could join us for coffee if you’d like.”

  “No, I’m with my parents this evening. But thanks for the invitation. Oh, by the way, have you two got your differences worked out yet?”

  Rose’s tone was lighthearted when she responded. “Actually, we’ve just been reminiscing about the old days. I think we’ve quite forgotten about Troy’s development and my environmental concerns for the moment.”

  “Yes, we decided to bury the hatchet for this evening at least,” Troy added.

  “That’s nice. Well, I hope you two can reach some kind of compromise. The community certainly needs the influx of employment and money Troy’s project will bring. But we don’t want the
environment or the conservation area to be negatively impacted either, do we?”

  “That’s a fact.” Rose raised her wine glass in a salute to her words.

  “I see your parents waving at you, Sam. Your table must be ready.” Troy nodded to where Ozzie and Sally stood by the bar. “Nice talking to you. See you around.”

  “Yes, nice to see again.” Rose smiled.

  “Yeah. See ya around.” Sam strode off to join her parents fighting the niggling bite of jealously that annoyed her at the thought of Troy and Rose looking so comfortable together.

  Chapter Four

  So, Troy, what are you and I going to do with the rest of this lovely evening?” Rose arched an eyebrow at him.

  Troy glanced toward the table near the fireplace where Sam was pointedly not looking in his direction. It was time to make an exit as gracefully as possible. He pulled his gaze away from the vision of the firelight dancing across Sam’s features. God, she was beautiful. And pissed at you, he reminded himself. Would she ever get over that stupid misunderstanding on prom night? “I don’t know about you, Rose, but I have an early morning meeting and a big day tomorrow. Is it okay if I drop you at your place and head for home?”

  “Do you live alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Would you like some—”

  “Company? Yes, I would. But I don’t think we should tempt fate. You know how small towns are for gossip, Rose. Besides, as much as I dislike the thought of it, you and I are adversaries.”

  “We could be friendly adversaries.”

  “Sounds like an oxymoron to me.” He grinned and pushed his chair back offering her his hand. No, as much as I’d like to spend some time trying to convince you of my sincerity with regards to the environmental controls I’ve got included in the development plans, I think we’d best not be too friendly from this point on. I’m not about to back down from my position and it’s clear you aren’t going to, either.”