“You ever been to Montana before?” he asked.
“No, this will be my first time.”
“You want to see some photos of the ranch where I’m a cowboy?”
“Sure.”
He took out his cell phone and paged through some photos.
“My dad owns it and I’m the only son who still works it with him. My two other brothers are married and have ranches of their own.”
He passed the camera over to her and she sipped her coffee while she looked at the shots. The first one was truly spectacular. A shot of some rolling hills wrapped around a pristine looking lake, and a snowcapped mountain stood in the background.
Quinn leaned across to page to the next photo and she got a whiff of his spicy aftershave. She inhaled it, thinking that its scent matched his ruggedness. She glanced at his hands, remembering them on her breasts and clit.
“Josie.”
She was miles away and hadn’t heard him talking to her.
“Sorry.”
“These are some of the horses. As you can see that’s me on one of them.”
He was wearing a cowboy hat and a short denim jacket, and he looked like something from the Westerns her dad loved to watch. Her heart skipped a beat. Who would have thought she’d have flipped so hard for a cowboy of all people?
Their breakfast arrived and it gave her more time to look at the photos of him and his ranch.
At least she could say she’d kissed a real cowboy. Yeah, Jennifer would be proud. Her little sister had done at least one thing she could check off from her must do that before I die list.
“And just one more photo to show you before our breakfast gets cold. This one is me and my dad.”
There was no mistaking it was a snap of father and son. Both with their arms around one another’s shoulders. He had the same shape face as his father and the gorgeous blue eyes.
“Thanks for showing them to me. The ranch looks beautiful.”
He put away his cell phone. “Oh, it is. I think of it as a slice of heaven. In fact, if heaven does exist I can’t imagine it could be any better than the ranch and surrounding area.”
Josie poured syrup over her pancakes. If they tasted half as good as they looked and smelled she was in for a real treat. She took her first bite and they melted over her tongue. Hard to believe they were prepared in a train’s kitchen.
“They’re as good as they say, aren’t they?” asked Quinn.
“Better than good.” She hated speaking with her mouth full, but she couldn’t wait to take another bite before she responded. “How did you know I liked them?”
He lifted his fork and waved it at her. “I told you I can read pleasure in people’s eyes. And you’re experiencing pure bliss.”
She laughed, feeling happy for the first time in what seemed like forever. Quinn was fun company.
“Thank you for recommending them to me.”
“So what you do have planned for the day?” asked Quinn.
“I thought I’d go to the observation deck and do some sightseeing.”
“You mind if I join you? We’ll probably be going by parts of the country I’ve never seen before.”
“Sure, I’d be glad of the company.”
****
Quinn was glad he’d brought his camera along on the trip. Sure he’d taken one of her with his phone, but he also wanted to snap a proper picture of Josie. The sun shone through the window in the observation deck as she sat looking out. Maybe he was torturing himself by wanting to keep a memory of the pretty girl he’d met on the train ride home. Chances were they’d never see one another again. But he’d treasure her company and the photo always.
“Did you just snap a photo of me?”
She had such a pretty smile, too.
“Yep.”
“You could have told me, because my hair probably looks a mess.”
He reached over and pushed a few curls behind her ear.
“It looks damn near perfect to me.”
“And I didn’t put on any make-up.”
He tapped her nose. “Why cover those cute freckles. So what do you think of Montana?”
“So far it looks vast and rugged.”
“So you’ve never been to Glacier or Yellowstone Park?”
She shook her head. “But I did use to watch re-runs of Yogi Bear.”
He burst out laughing. He caught sight of the clock on the wall, watching the second hand tick by at a speed that seemed faster than ever. Each click meant he was getting closer to saying goodbye to the gorgeous woman sitting next to him.
****
She’d forgotten that he’d asked her to have dinner with him. She almost pretended she had a headache again, because she knew this was the last night they’d be together. The last time she’d have company on the journey, and she wanted to get used to being on her own while he was still actually around, just in case she needed another pep talk. He was great at those. But at the last minute she’d weakened.
“I hope you’re going to have the steak tonight,” he said when they opened their menus.
“How could I say no?”
He winked at her before he took a swig of beer.
“Are all cowboys this charming and nice?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess all the ones I know are nice, but charming well, that might be pushing it.”
The steaks arrived and although it was the best thing she’d tasted, she just couldn’t eat much. Her stomach was in knots again, knowing tomorrow she’d be alone with her thoughts and just a day or so away from the end of the journey and saying goodbye not only to Quinn, but then to Jennifer, too.
Quinn put his hand on top of hers.
“You look sad all of a sudden.”
He really was an expert at reading faces.
“Just thinking about my sister’s remains and where I’m going to scatter them.”
He hadn’t taken his hand off hers and now he squeezed it.
“You’ll know. Your heart will guide you to the right spot for Jennifer.”
She was impressed he still remembered her sister’s name. She’d been on dates where the guy couldn’t even remember her name.
****
The walk back to her compartment was the worst one of her life. The train would be pulling into his stop early tomorrow morning.
She turned to look at him.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me while we’ve been traveling buddies,” she said.
He took hold of both her hands this time.
“I’m glad I was around to help out. And everything’s going to be just fine when you get to Seattle. I know it in my heart.”
She smiled but at the same time her bottom lip was quivering. She’d never been any good with goodbyes.
“I’m going to give you my telephone number. And if you ever find yourself in Timber Creek, just ask anyone there and they’ll show you the way to my ranch. Just about everyone in town knows everyone else.”
He handed her a napkin from the restaurant car on which he’d written his name, the ranch name, and his telephone number.
She didn’t think she’d be back this way anytime soon, but she’d hang on to it as a nice memory of the sweet cowboy she met. It would be something to tell her kids and grandkids about, the journey she took to scatter Aunt Jennifer’s remains.
“I guess you should be getting some shut eye, because you’ll probably be up and gone before I even open my eyes,” she said, knowing she was on the point of tears. She hoped he didn’t see them forming in her eyes.
“Yeah, I should do that.”
He leaned over and kissed her. Not the same type of kiss they’d had last night, but this time a sweet tender one. He held his hand under her chin so he could lift her face upward to meet his lips.
“Take care and remember to follow your heart about where to scatter Jennifer’s remains.”
She nodded, biting her lip, fighting the urge to cry and beg him not to get off the train b
ut to come with her to Seattle, but that would be asking way too much.
“I hate goodbyes, so I’m not going to say it, but once again thanks for the meals and the advice,” she said.
He nodded. She couldn’t look at him anymore, so she darted into her compartment, biting her lip again, and tasting him still on it.
Chapter Six
Quinn hadn’t slept for more than an hour. And not just because he was scared of oversleeping and missing his stop. He hadn’t been able to get Josie out of his mind. He’d remember the last time she looked at him, forever.
He’d contemplated going back and asking her to get off the train in Montana with him, so they could spend more time together, but he knew she had to get the duty of honoring her sister’s wishes over and done with. He sensed it was causing her lots of stress.
While he’d never been given such a task, he could sympathize with how she was feeling and what would be going through her mind the moment she opened the urn and freed her sister to the wind. So now wasn’t the time for thinking about the two of them beginning a relationship.
And he’d always believed the right woman would make her way to him. Sure, he’d been the big macho cowboy in the past and he wanted to be in the driver’s seat about possibly seeing Josie again, but she had to do it in her time, and only after she’d healed.
Fuck, he hoped he was right about what he felt in his heart, that one day soon she’d come calling at his door. He picked up his case and bag containing his suit, and slung it over his shoulders. The train had stopped and it was light outside. He hoped Josie would be up in time to see the scenery at the edge of Glacier National Park.
He stepped down onto the platform and was glad to be home. He couldn’t wait to get back to the ranch, put on his cowboy hat, his chaps, and go round up some cattle.
Quinn knew it was stupid of him, but he turned and looked as the train moved. He stood and watched. He was pretty certain it was Josie standing at one of the windows in the corridor.
He blew a kiss. Even if it wasn’t her, hopefully he’d made some lady’s day.
He turned back to the exit because he couldn’t stand to see the train disappear completely down the track. He might get too choked up. He turned and noticed his dad standing at the other side of the gate with the pick-up truck. They waved to one another.
“Have a good trip?” asked his dad. They hugged.
“Yeah, at least I can say I’ve seen Chicago, and most of Montana by train. Anything exciting happen while I’ve been gone?”
“Couple of the cows gave birth and that’s about it. How about you, anything out of the ordinary take place?”
They got into the pick-up.
“You could say that.”
****
Josie had attempted to go to the restaurant car, but then she’d changed her mind. As a single woman, she’d been forced to eat alone many times, but after having Quinn’s company for the last couple of days, it would take some getting used to again. Instead, she’d taken a cinnamon roll and mug of coffee to her compartment and read the Montana newspaper the train had taken onboard at the last stop.
Quinn’s stop.
She’d promised herself she wouldn’t look for him, but when she’d felt the jerk of the train stopping, she couldn’t help herself. She’d rushed out into the corridor and taken a peek, hoping to spot him for the last time.
If by some miracle, he’d turned around and looked at the train as it had inched its way along the track. He’d seen her and blown her a kiss. She rummaged around into her bag for the napkin on which he’d written his number and the name of the ranch. Timber Creek. She placed it inside of her make-up case for safe keeping, knowing that one day she might get up the nerve to call him.
She looked over at the urn with Jennifer’s ashes.
“Okay, I should have given him my number too,” she said. “But you have to remember I’m new at this take life by the horns sort of thing.”
She smiled. It was only the second time she’d talked to Jennifer out loud, and strangely she found it relaxing, healing almost.
Tomorrow she’d be in Seattle. She’d booked a hotel near the Space Needle because it had been within her budget. She’d told them she was staying for two, possibly three nights before she flew back to St. Louis. She’d have to decide soon where she was going to lay her sister to rest. She hoped when she got to the Emerald City, she’d find the right spot, and more than likely that would be out at sea.
“Wherever you think I’d like it best. Where I’d like to spend forever.”
Josie squeezed her eyes shut, almost on the verge of tears again. She recalling Jennifer’s words as she lay in bed, growing weaker as the cancer consumed more of her body.
Panic washed over her again. She’d never see Jennifer again and Quinn was no longer in the next compartment to take away the pain.
Chapter Seven
“It looked like a beautiful wedding,” said his dad, peering at the photos Quinn had snapped with his cell phone. He had more on his camera but hadn’t dug it out from his bag yet. Quinn poured them both another mug of coffee as they sat at the kitchen table.
“It was and I hope Mel’s going to be happy there. I don’t think I could ever leave Montana.”
“Well, he’s got himself a nice wife so that always helps. And who is this?”
His dad turned the cell phone around. He’d stumbled upon the shot of Josie.
“A girl I met on the train.”
“Pretty. You get her number?”
Quinn shook his head and his dad slapped his hand. “Are you slipping in that department or what?”
“I didn’t want to seem pushy. She was taking the journey with her sister’s ashes, which she was going to scatter in Seattle. The train ride…it was something on her sister’s bucket list.”
“Well, that’s a wonderful thing to do for your sibling. And I hope you and your brothers will do the same for your mother and me.”
Quinn hated to think of his parents not being around anymore.
“So how are you two going to connect again?” asked his dad.
“I gave her my number and the name of the ranch.”
“You think she’ll call?”
Shit, he hoped so, he really hoped so.
****
Josie stood at the end of the pier, hugging the urn to her chest. It was a beautiful afternoon and the view out across Puget Sound was breathtaking. Calm, tranquil, and she thought Jennifer might like to have this as her final resting spot. She took off the top of the urn, prepared to let the ashes be taken into the wind, but when the first pieces were lifted in the air, she stopped and put the top back, holding her hand firmly over it.
This didn’t feel right. Quinn told her she’d feel it in her heart, and now she didn’t.
Sitting down on the nearest bench, Josie realized she wasn’t sure about anything anymore. If this was where Jennifer wanted to be, then she wouldn’t have stopped, right? She blinked away some tears. The thought of her only sibling’s ashes being out at sea and miles from her and her parents suddenly unsettled her again.
She took a deep breath.
“Oh, Jennifer, why did you burden me with this chore?”
She reached into her bag and dug out her make-up carrier, knowing her tears were sending mascara streaming down her cheeks and a few people walking by were beginning to stare.
Her hand caught the napkin with Quinn’s number on it. It almost blew away but she caught it in time. She fingered each of the numbers and letters he’d written. She could still smell his spicy cologne on the paper.
Josie dug out her cell phone and dialed.
Chapter Eight
Hope you’re looking down at me now and smiling, big sister.
Josie rested her head against the frame of the pick-up truck as she headed toward the ranch in Timber Creek. She’d recognized Quinn’s dad, Rich, from the photo he’d shown her on the train. Rich had answered the phone at the ranch when she’d called.
It had been Rich’s idea to surprise his son. He had suggested to Josie that he pick her up at the train station. Lucky for her she’d been able to book a seat at the last minute.
“Here’s our town,” said Rich, slowing up so Josie could take a look.
“I see you have a library. Did Quinn tell you I’m a librarian back home?”
“No, he didn’t. I love to read, and my wife was a school teacher, so books were always important in our home. And our local watering hole is over there.”
“It’s wonderful and the view of the mountains is just as great.”
Josie didn’t know where to look first. The mountain range ahead, the river running beside the road Rich drove on. He turned down a dirt road with the sign Timber Creek on a board.
“When I left the ranch Quinn was out trying to herd up a few sick cows for the vet to check over, so he might still be out here someplace.”
He drove over a batch of bumps, making Josie hold onto the seat. As they turned the corner, she saw him. Up on a horse, cowboy hat on, denim jacket and jeans, and her heart skipped a beat. Rich stopped the truck as if he knew Josie would want to sit and take in the view of his son.
“He’s great on that cutting horse, much better than I ever was, and the animals trust and love him.”
She watched in fascination as Quinn continued to edge the horse against one of the cattle, separated him from his buddies, and then finally roped him.
“There you’ve seen what being a cowboy’s all about.”
It was as if he knew she was there, because he looked across the field and smiled. He touched his hat to her.
Rich wound down the window. “Is this a nice surprise or what?” he shouted.
Quinn waved his hat in the air.
“We’ll meet you up at the house,” called Rich.
****
Quinn only wished he’d had time to shower, shave, and change out of his muck-laden clothing, but Josie was waiting for him in the kitchen. His father had made her coffee and the two of them were tucking into the carrot cake his mom had sent over for lunch.
Breakfast with a Cowboy Page 3