The Last Cowboy

by Pat Dale

  “Like Rose says, life is short and we don’t want to waste any time, so Rosie’s agreed to move in to my place and we’ll see how it goes,” JT offered. “She grew up in these parts, so it’s not like she isn’t familiar with the area.”

  “Really? This is pretty sudden, isn’t it?”

  “I suppose it appears that way to you, but this just feels right to us. And really we’re the only ones whose opinion counts as far as I’m concerned,” Jason replied.

  “It’s okay, Troy.” Rose laid a hand on his arm. “I know what I’m doing, don’t worry about me. I’m older and wiser now and I can take care of myself. Really.” She smiled up at him. “If I need a knight on a white horse, I know where to find you.”

  “What’s that all about?” JT tucked his arm around her waist and frowned at Troy.

  “Nothing, honey. I’ll explain it to you sometime. It’s ancient history.”

  “If you say so,” Jason didn’t look convinced, but his face brightened when Rose kissed his cheek.

  * * *

  Rose spent forty minutes going over the plans and evaluating the environmental safeguards. “I’m really impressed, Troy. I had no idea your plans were so complete. You’ve taken all our concerns into account.”

  “I’m glad you approve. I’ve spent years developing this project and part of what I’ve learned is that we can’t afford to be wasteful or destroy irreplaceable flora and fauna.”

  JT said, “Well, I gotta hand it to you. The way you got the tracts situated, it’ll be just like each one has their own corner of the hill with nobody for miles either way. I like that.”

  “I’m glad you do. Do you have an architect yet?”

  “Nope. But I’ve got some ideas. I’ve been to a couple homes that I really like. I plan to find out who drew ‘em up.”

  “You’ve got some time. It’ll take most of the summer to get the roads paved and the utility lines buried. A contractor should be able to break ground for you in September if all goes according to plan.”

  “That’s cool. Don’t you think, honey?” He smiled down at Rose.

  She tipped her head up and grinned. “Yep, JT. It will give me plenty of time to wrap up things in Nashville.”

  “See you soon, Troy.” JT and Rose took their leave.

  He followed the pair as they left his office arm in arm. Troy watched the couple stroll down the sidewalk. “Well, Julie, there goes true love if I ever saw it.”

  She gave him a meaningful smile. “Yeah. It’s always easier to see when it’s someone else, isn’t it?”

  He gave her a questioning stare but she’d turned away from him to answer the phone. She looked back a moment later. “It’s for you. Melissa Coward.”

  “I’ll take it in my office.” He closed the door behind him, still wondering about Julie’s strange remark, and picked up the phone. “Hi, Missy.”

  “Troy, hi. What have you done to Samantha?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I found her in her office, crying. What did you do?”

  “Nothing. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Don’t lie to me. I tried to get her to tell me but all she could say was, ‘Troy...’ and then she’d start blubbering again. I know you did something to cause this.”

  “Well, I don’t have a clue. But if I had done something it still wouldn’t be any of your business.”

  “She’s my best friend and I don’t want to see her hurt.”

  “I don’t either. We had a quarrel over—a private matter. But the fact she was angry shouldn’t have made her cry.”

  “Well, it did. So, did you proposition her again or something?”

  “Samantha? You’ve got to be kidding. Why would I do that?”

  “Because she loves you.”

  “Yeah, right. Did she say that?”

  “No. But I know she does.”

  “I thought I knew that too, but she made her feelings very clear this morning. They don’t include love.”

  Missy’s voice went a little shrill. “Really?”

  “Really. Now, did you want to talk about anything else?”

  “No, not really.”

  He caught the ambivalence in her tone. “You sure?”

  “Not about Samantha. Sorry I bothered you. It probably seems kind of silly.”

  “Nope. I admire you for standing up for your friend. By the way, I heard you and Tom are seeing each other. He’s a nice guy, glad to see you giving him a chance.”

  “You did? I mean, yes, we have gone out a couple of times.” In a whisper, Missy added, “But it’s nothing really serious.”

  Here’s my chance to see if Sam will show her true feelings for me. Missy’s been hinting she’s like to go out with me for years. She’s Samantha’s best friend, if Sam has any feelings for me at all, this should make her jealous as hell. I guess we’ll see about that.

  “Missy, I’ve been wondering something. Is there any way I could talk you into going to a show in Branson with me?”

  There was a long silence. He wondered if he’d misread her. He listened to her uneven breathing for several moments. “Missy, you still there?”

  “Uh—yes, I’m here. Are you sure you want to do this, Troy?”

  “Very sure. How about it?”

  “Well, okay.” After a pause, “I’d love to go with you.”

  “Good. How about tonight? I think I can get tickets to Jason Tawdry.”

  “That would be wonderful.” Her voice was breathless.

  “I’ll pick you up at five. We can have dinner before the show. See you then.”

  He’d no sooner put the phone down than a feeling of self-betrayal swept through him. What the hell am I doing? It’s Samantha I want to take to Branson, not Missy. Damn, it’s too late to back out now.

  * * *

  Missy was waiting on the wide front porch of her house wearing a frothy pink dress that flattered her willowy figure when Troy pulled up.

  “Hi, Missy. Wow, don’t you look fantastic tonight?”

  “Why, thank you, Troy. It’s just a little old something I picked up the other day. Glad you like it.”

  “It’s not the dress. It’s you. You’re glowing.” He enjoyed the blush that claimed the blonde’s face. “I know a good steak house, does that suit you? I thought we’d eat before the show?”

  “Sounds wonderful.”

  The drive to Branson was quiet but companionable. Troy hummed along to the radio and smiled at Missy occasionally. She seemed to be enjoying the comfortable silence as well.

  Once at the restaurant, they ate in almost total silence. In spite of declaring her hunger, Missy only picked at her food. “How’s your steak, Missy?”

  “It’s delicious. Why?”

  “You’ve hardly eaten anything. I wondered if it was over cooked or…?”

  She blushed, something he’d noticed she did often. “Oh, no. It’s really good. I guess I’m just not all that hungry.”

  “Want to tell me why?”

  “No!” The word escaped before she clamped her lips tight.

  He smiled softly. “It’s about your friend, isn’t it?”

  “My friend? What do you mean by that?”

  “Samantha. Your best friend, and mine, too.”

  She mumbled, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Why not? We’ve been talking about every other classmate we ever had. What’s so different about Samantha?”

  Her eyes narrowed to slits. “All right. If you have to know, I feel guilty for going out with you tonight. Does that make you feel better?”

  He was surprised by her ferocity. “No, not really. I asked you out because I thought you wanted to have dinner with me.”

  “I did! I’ve always wanted to go out with you, Troy. For years, but you’ve never ever shown any interest in me until now. So, why did you really ask me out? Are you looking for a one night stand and thought I’d be an easy mark?”

  “Would you like it if I did? If
I planned to make mad passionate love to you? Is that what you want?”

  “I always thought it was. Until tonight...”

  Her face was brighter than her dress. Desire and guilt warred with each other as emotions flared across her features. She was Sam’s friend and his too—a one-night stand would only lead to a bitter climax. And, in his heart of hearts, Sam was the only woman he wanted in his bed.

  “Melissa, I’ve always liked you very much. I’d be very tempted to take our friendship to the next level…” he hesitated, unsure whether to say what was in his heart, “…if I weren’t so crazy about Samantha. I’m guessing you already know that, but there’s something else you, and she, both need to know.

  “At the risk of destroying the reputation I’ve worked so hard to create, I’m not the womanizer you two seem to think. Oh, I’ve dated a lot. Mostly women from out of town and I’m certainly not a virgin—”

  “Troy! Stop it! I don’t want to hear this.”

  “Please, Missy, I need to finish.”

  “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. Really.”

  “Yes I do. I was wrong to lead you on this evening and I’m sorry for that. I’ve risked an already precarious relationship with Samantha and, what’s worse, I’ve risked your relationship with Tom.”

  “We don’t have a relationship. I told you.”

  “Not yet. But you really like him, don’t you?”

  “Yes. I do. He’s a very special man.”

  “Well, then, I’d say you should let him know how you feel. You’re very beautiful, Missy. Tom is a luck man.”

  She seemed to relax, finally looking him in the eye. “You’re a very nice guy, Troy, in a different sort of way than I expected. I knew you’d be exciting to go out with but I didn’t realize how decent you are.”

  “Thanks, I guess. At any rate, if you’ll forgive me for not romancing you tonight, do you mind if we forego the show? I’d rather talk to you about our mutual friend.”

  Missy smiled. “Which one?”

  “Samantha.”

  “Oh. Okay.” She smiled. “But can we talk about Tom, too? I could really use a male point of view.”

  “Sure. About Samantha, I was hoping you could help me figure a way to make her understand I’m in love with her. And make her realize I didn’t dump her for Rosemary Silcox at senior prom.”

  “Have you told her?”

  “Yes. I have actually.”

  “And?”

  “She said she loves me, too.”

  “She really does, you know.”

  “I always thought so, but then she said to forget it, she’d made a mistake.”

  Missy scowled. “Why would she tell a whopper like that? She’s always been crazy about you, Troy.”

  “I don’t know why she reneged, but I need your help.”

  “Have you ever sat down and talked with her, kind of like we’re doing tonight?”

  “No.”

  “Well, there’s a place to start.” She reached out and patted his hand across the table. “I feel so much better now that we’re talking like adults. I’m sure you guys could work things out in a heartbeat if you tried it.”

  “You think so?”

  “I know so.”

  He stared at the flickering flame of the candle on the table. Could it be so simple? Had he not connected with Samantha because he’d never given her a chance to see him except as a playboy real estate tycoon? It was something to consider.

  Meanwhile, he’d learned something about Missy. Her easy going manner had always led him to believe she was a bit of an airhead, and he was chagrined to realize she was anything but.

  “Now, how about Tom?” he asked. “I can picture the two of you walking down the aisle together.”

  “You can? Wow. I love him but he’s so, so—”

  “Intellectual? Yes, I give you that, but you’re smart too.”

  “You think so? Everyone else seems to think I’m just a dumb blonde.”

  “Well then, you’ve managed to fool a lot of people. I remember you from school, Missy. You were always one of the top students. Right up there with Samantha. And with Tom for that matter.”

  “He doesn’t seem to worry about any differences. When we’re together, we talk about lots of things, stuff I’ve never had the chance to discuss with anyone else.”

  “That’s great. I’d say you two are off to a good start. I hope my taking you out tonight didn’t create a problem for you.”

  “It won’t. He’s not the least bit jealous. Besides, I’ll just tell him I’ve been helping you work out your relationship with Samantha.”

  He reached out and took her hand. “And that would be the truth. Thanks, Missy, for a nice evening with a nice lady. And lots of good talk.”

  She was about to respond when her eyes focused behind him, her face registering panic.

  “Well, if it isn’t my two best friends in the world, stabbing me in the back.” Samantha Turner’s voice was laced with anger and sarcasm.

  Troy scrambled to his feet. “Hi, Samantha. We were just talking about you.”

  “I just bet you were! Is Missy your latest flavour of the day?”

  “I don’t know what you mean by that. We were just having dinner and talking about relationships. I mean—”

  “I can guess exactly what relationship you mean, Mister Roberts. It’s easy to see this is a team betrayal. As for you, Missy, I see now what you’ve had in mind all along.”

  “You’ve got it all wrong, Samantha. Troy and I were—”

  “I don’t care what you were doing!” Samantha turned on her heel and stormed off before either of them could say a word.

  Chapter Eight

  Troy stared helplessly after Samantha before meeting Missy’s bewildered gaze.

  “Oh dear, she really didn’t understand and now she’s upset, Troy.”

  “Upset doesn’t begin to describe it.” He groaned and scrubbed his face with his hands. “I guess I can’t blame her, but dammit, there she goes again flying off the handle and not giving me a chance to explain. I have a feeling this was a mistake.”

  “But if she could have heard what we were really talking about, she’d understand.”

  “Well, she didn’t. Do you think there’s a chance she’ll take us at our word now?”

  “I don’t know. Probably not. Oh, Troy, I’m so sorry. I feel responsible for this.”

  “Why? I asked you out, didn’t I? It wasn’t your fault.”

  “In a way, it was. Samantha trusted me. She knows I’m aware of her feelings for you. I should have turned you down.”

  “That may be, but we wouldn’t have had a chance to talk things out. No, this is all for the better. I’ll just have to find a way to convince her we weren’t trying to hurt her.”

  “Good luck. Maybe if we stay away from each other for awhile, she’ll get over this.”

  “Maybe. In about a hundred years. At some point she needs to learn to trust me or I’m just wasting our time.”

  * * *

  Samantha paused in the doorway and tried to compose herself before re-joining her parents. Her hands were shaking as she pulled out her chair and her face felt deathly cold.

  “Whatever is the matter, Sam? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Sally patted her hand.

  “It’s nothing, Mom.”

  Ozzie harrumphed. “Nothing? Samantha, we could hear you shouting all the way in here. Who were you yelling at?”

  She glared at her father. As usual, he stared back, neither smiling nor frowning. “Troy and Missy are having dinner in the other room.”

  “Oh? That’s nice.”

  “Nice?” she spat out. “Dad, you really don’t get it, do you? My two best friends dating behind my back, and you say it’s nice!” She shot to her feet and headed for the restrooms.

  “Well, Ozzie, you’ve put your foot in it good this time.”

  “What did I say?”

  Sally smiled softly. “You woul
dn’t understand.”

  “Try me.”

  “Samantha loves Troy. Missy is her best friend in the world. If she’s confessed her heart to anyone it would be Missy. Now it appears that Troy is dating Missy.”

  Ozzie’s face went from puzzled to angry in a flash. “Oh. I see. What can we do about it?”

  “Not a thing, my love. Except maybe be a little more careful what we say and how we say it. They’ll will have to work their relationship out for themselves. Given a little time, I think it’ll be okay.”

  “I hope so.” Ozzie smiled at his wife. “I happen to know Troy cares a great deal for our daughter.”

  “Is that so? Why is he dating Missy, then?”

  “I haven’t a clue.”

  “That’s what I thought. Now, can I count on you to keep your big mouth shut?”

  “Yes, dear. I’ll butt out.”

  * * *

  Samantha immersed herself in the Herald for the next month, in a time flying by in a watch-your-fingernails-to-see-if-they’re-growing kind of way. She worked with a vengeance, ignoring her father’s friendly overtures. She’d do her job and do it well. Other than that, she felt they had nothing to say to one another.

  The environmental issue had dried up and blown away. With Rose happy about the way the development was being planned and Steve Carlson gone back to Stain Louis, life in Flanders returned to normal.

  Samantha refused to return any of Missy’s attempts to get in touch with her, even though she was aware Tom was dating her former friend. She was still stung by the sense of betrayal she’d felt at the sight of Missy and Troy enjoying what for all intents and purposes had looked like a romantic dinner.

  On the other hand, Troy had made no attempt to contact her, which was probably just as well. Sam would like nothing better than to rip a strip off of him. But pride wouldn’t let her make the first move.

  Although her personal life was in sad disarray, it wasn’t all wasted time for her. For whatever reason, her writing had suddenly taken off with a bang. For the first time, she had a clear vision for her story line. Night after night she scribbled pages and pages in her journal, building the relationship between her heroine and hero.