The Reluctant Cowgirl

by Christine Lynxwiler

  Jeremy choked on the tea he’d just sipped. Had his dad lost his mind? “Oh, I don’t—”

  Crystal touched his hand. “Well, why wouldn’t she be?”

  Jeremy closed his hand around hers. “Thanks.” He was startled that she’d spoken up, but it made him feel good down to his toes.

  “I could think of several reasons why,” Luke drawled. He grinned at Jeremy. “But then I’m not your parents or your girlfriend.”

  Crystal’s face turned a pretty pink at the laughter that followed, but she didn’t pull her hand away.

  When the dishes were done, they all tromped outside to the patio to enjoy the early May sunshine. Jeremy slipped his arm around Crystal’s waist. “So are you really my girlfriend?” he murmured against her vanilla-scented hair.

  She looked up at him, her blue eyes wide. “You tell me.”

  He chuckled, as much at how his heart was slamming around in his chest as at anything else. “If it’s up to me, then I know the answer.”

  She smiled. “Then I guess you know.”

  The sun suddenly got brighter, the grass greener, the sky bluer. How had one reluctant cowgirl breezed into town and turned his world on its end?

  ***

  Elyse’s brown eyes widened and she lowered her voice so that the whole restaurant wouldn’t hear her. “You’re really moving back into your room?”

  Crystal smiled. “Well, not permanently. But yes, for the rest of the time I stay here. Kaleigh will be home tomorrow night after her finals and she’ll need her room.”

  “Um-hum. And you’re okay with changing rooms?”

  “I really am, Elyse. The other night—cleaning things out—was tough. But I’ve let this go for too long. There’s no reason not to sleep in my bed and let Kaleigh have hers.”

  “Do you want me to cancel my dog club meeting tonight and help you?” Elyse looked at the time on her phone.

  “No. Especially since it starts in ten minutes. And what would your 4-H members think?”

  “One of the moms could handle it.”

  Crystal shook her head. “No. I’m glad you asked me to meet you for an early supper before your meeting. It was great getting out for a while, especially since Jeremy had something to go to at Beka’s school.” As she said it, she felt a twinge similar to the one she’d had when he’d first mentioned he had plans tonight. After his big declaration Sunday, he hadn’t referred to their relationship anymore. Which was fine. And he hadn’t invited her to go to Beka’s program with him. Which was fine, too.

  Sympathy played across Elyse’s face. “You’re not worried about Patti Davis, are you? It’s obvious Jeremy’s head over heels about you.”

  Crystal sighed. “No. I’m not worried about anyone else. But between you and me, I would love to go to Beka’s program.” She smiled. “I mean ... I am sort of into drama.”

  Elyse took one last sip of her drink and set it on the table. “Maybe he’s afraid to rush you.”

  “Maybe.” It could be. The thought made her heart a little lighter. “Thanks.” She stood and gave Elyse a hug. “I’m going to run home, move my things from one room to the other, and turn in early.”

  Halfway home, bouncing along in the old farm truck, she heard her cell phone ring from somewhere in her purse. She seriously needed to get some custom ringtones. In New York, it hadn’t mattered because she’d kept it on mute so much of the time, thanks to rehearsals and performances. She kept her eyes on the road as she slid her hand into her bag. But now she’d like to know who was calling instead of having to do it the old-fashioned way and answer it. She pulled it out and flipped it open. “Hello?”

  “Hi.” Jeremy’s voice poured over her like warm sunshine. “Are you almost ready?”

  “What?”

  “Um ... you were going to ride with us, weren’t you?” He sounded hesitant. “Or were you driving?”

  CHAPTER 29

  A split second of panic exploded through her. Jeremy obviously assumed she was attending the program. She released a huffy breath. Well, good grief. How was she to have known? They definitely had to work on their—no, his—communications skills if this relationship was going to last. And she hoped it did, for say, a hundred years or so. She grinned at her thoughts and glanced down at her clothes. Acceptable for a school program. “Sure, I’ll ride with y’all. Are you gonna come by and pick me up?”

  “In about ten minutes, if that’s okay.”

  “Perfect.” She smiled at the phone. “Perfect,” she repeated.

  “Good. See you then.”

  Ten minutes later, she was a little breathless, but ready and waiting.

  As soon as he pulled up, she ran out. Her mama would have croaked if she’d been here, but she wasn’t. And Crystal was a little past the high school dating scene anyway. Plus, he’d have come in if she’d waited. She laughed as she hurried out to the truck. She was making excuses to the mama in her mind. Sad.

  When she climbed in, a big grin spread across his face. “You look nice.”

  She glanced down at the jeans and her red shirt. “Thanks.” She turned around to look at Beka. “You are a super-duper bumblebee.”

  “I’m going to put my antennae on when I get there.” Beka held up pipe cleaners with fuzzy balls on the ends glued onto a headband.

  “That’s a good idea. Just to be sure they don’t get smushed.” Crystal bounced slightly in her seat. She was so excited about seeing a kids’ play.

  “So...” Jeremy said quietly. “Had you forgotten about the play?”

  She raised her eyebrows. “No. Why?”

  “Well, it sounded like you were driving when I called you a while ago. And right before we left the house, I saw the farm truck go by.”

  She studied his face, so kind, so sweet, so ... clueless. “I didn’t forget about the play. I just didn’t know I was invited.”

  “You didn’t—” He lifted one hand from the steering wheel and slapped his forehead. “I’m an idiot.” He snorted and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I thought ... I just assumed you’d go with us.”

  And in a New York guy that kind of assumption might have made her feel taken for granted, but with Jeremy, it just made her feel included and necessary. “Well, you did say Beka had a program tonight. But I thought you were just letting me know where y’all were going to be.”

  He gave her a rueful grin. “So is it okay? I mean, did you want to go?”

  She glanced back at Beka, who was humming a song to herself. Then she brought her gaze back to rest on him. “More than anything.”

  His brows drew together. “You do know this is an elementary program? It won’t be what you’re used to.”

  She clapped her hands together and bounced a little. “I’m counting on that.”

  He blew out a laugh as he eased the truck into the school parking lot. “Are you excited?”

  “Hey. We’re all excited. It’s opening night.” She turned around and grinned at the bumblebee in the back. “Right, Beka?”

  “Right!” Beka pumped her fist in the air and they all three laughed.

  When they got inside the school building, a dark-haired woman rushed to meet them. “There’s my other bumblebee.” She looked up at Jeremy with a sweet smile that only faltered a little when she saw Crystal. “Crystal McCord. It’s good to see you.”

  “Hi, Patti. You, too.” Crystal had never been close to the bubbly brunet, but she’d always liked her.

  “I heard you were back in town.” Patti brought her attention back to Jeremy. “Temporarily.”

  Crystal stepped up beside Jeremy. “Yes, well—”

  Patti took Beka’s hand and waved over her shoulder at Jeremy and Crystal. “C’mon, sweetie. We need to get those antennae on and get you ready.”

  Jeremy winked at Crystal as they walked into the auditorium.

  “I have butterflies,” she whispered as they settled into the third-row center aisle seats.

  He motioned toward the pulled curtain. “You planning on ge
tting up there tonight?”

  “No. But I always feel a little butterfly-ish for the people on stage. It goes with the territory.” Not to mention that when it was over, she’d probably see several people she hadn’t seen in years. Since the accident.

  “Ahh ... I see.” His smile was tender, and she had a feeling he really did see.

  Her phone rang and she jumped. “Glad that happened now,” she whispered. She flipped it open. “Hello,” she murmured.

  “Crystal!” Mia screamed. “You won’t believe it.”

  Jeremy and all the people sitting around them were looking at her.

  “Mia, there’s a performance about to start,” she whispered.

  Mia immediately took the cue and lowered her voice, but excitement still vibrated in her tone. “Performance?” she hissed. “Are you in the city?”

  “No, I’m in Arkansas. It’s a—”

  “Never mind.” She raised her voice again. “You have to be here by noon tomorrow. You got a callback. But they want you to audition for the youngest sister part.”

  Crystal blinked, trying to process what Mia was saying. “A lead role?”

  “Yes. But you have to be here by noon. That’s why I booked you a red-eye flight out of Memphis before I called you. Do you have a pen?”

  Crystal reached for her purse. But Jeremy slipped his pen from his pocket and held it out to her. She looked up into his eyes, and the disappointment there took her breath away. He’d obviously heard every word, or at least enough to get the gist of the conversation.

  She quickly scratched down the flight info on the back of a feed store receipt and hung up, trying to ignore the stares of the people around her. She realized belatedly that she should have gone out as soon as her phone rang.

  She looked up at Jeremy again. “I’m sorry.” It sounded so inadequate. “This is for a Broadway lead.” She handed him his pen.

  He took it and nodded, his jaw set as if chiseled from stone.

  “Jeremy, I have to go for my agent. It would really let her down if I didn’t. And she’s worked so hard.” She reached over and touched his arm. “But I’m not going to get the role. A lead role on Broadway.” She laughed. “The chances of that happening after all these years...” She shook her head. “You’d have a better chance of getting Luke to go on a blind date.”

  A smile tilted one corner of his mouth just for a second. He pulled his keys out of his pocket and stuffed them into her hand. “Take my truck back to the ranch. Dad and Mom will be here in a few minutes. We’ll get a ride with them and come by and get it later.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Let the gawkers talk. “I’ll be back before Mama and Daddy’s party Saturday.”

  He held on to her hand, and as she straightened, he gave it a gentle tug. “Be sure you are. Call me if you need me.”

  “I will.”

  He released her hand and she headed toward the door. In the aisle, she almost bumped into Jeremy’s parents. “Hi.” She answered their puzzled expressions with a weak smile. Jeremy would have to explain to them where she was going.

  As she reached the door, the curtain parted jerkily, as if the strings were in the hands of a sixth-grader. Crystal stopped, seized by the certainty that she had to see one particular bumblebee before she left.

  She stood with her back against the wall next to the door as the music started and a row of flowers walked out, singing as they came. A few minutes later four precious little bumblebees came skipping out singing a bzz ... bzz ... song.

  When it was over, Crystal applauded wildly with the rest of the audience. She glanced across the auditorium to see Jeremy, gazing at her intently, an enigmatic expression on his face.

  Her hands froze in mid-clap, her mouth dry. She had to get out of here while she still could. She yanked the door open and fled to the parking lot, afraid to look back.

  ***

  Jeremy unfolded another chair then glanced over at Luke and cleared his throat. “So is someone picking your folks up at the airport?”

  Luke shook his head. “They left their car there. Aaron and Bree are flying in and riding with them.”

  “Oh. And is Crystal coming with them?”

  Luke’s eyes were filled with sympathy as he slid a chair under the table. “She was supposed to, but apparently she’s going to have to come in on the red-eye and rent a car. I guess things are takin’ longer than she thought.”

  Jeremy picked up a table and moved it to the front of the room. He hadn’t really expected to hear from Crystal. He knew she’d be busy and would call if she needed him. But he had thought she’d be home tonight.

  Ever since she left the program the other night, he’d had a gnawing fear in his gut that refused to be calmed. It was there when he got up in the morning and when he went to bed at night. What if she didn’t come back?

  Elyse started unfolding chairs around the table he’d just set up. She gave him a sideways glance. “She doesn’t know anything yet. About the part, I mean.”

  He nodded.

  “We’ve only heard from her once, and that was tonight to say she’d be late. I think she’s been really busy.”

  He appreciated the information, but his pride stung that her family obviously felt so sorry for him. “Just getting a callback for Broadway is a big deal.”

  Elyse nodded. “It is. We’re really proud of her.”

  He tried to hold back a sigh. “I guess it’s what she’s wanted her whole life.”

  Elyse’s brown eyes looked troubled by the question. “Cami couldn’t talk about anything else.”

  Only Cami had died. And Crystal had gone to New York alone. His heart ached for the loneliness she must have faced, eighteen and grieving in the big city, away from everyone she knew. He rubbed his hand across his face. “Crystal must have wanted it very badly, too, to go ahead after losing Cami.”

  Elyse regarded him again with an odd expression. “Cami was very determined that they do it.”

  He thought about that, later, after he’d picked up Beka at his parents’ and gotten her into bed. Was Elyse trying to tell him that Crystal was in New York because of Cami’s dream?

  ***

  As Crystal eased the rental car onto the dark gravel road, she glanced at the dashboard clock. Almost midnight. And it would still take everything she had not to pull into Jeremy’s driveway as she drove by. Not one waking hour had gone by in the city that she hadn’t considered calling him. But as the original callback turned into one more audition and one more, she found herself less and less certain of what she’d say. And the truth was, she still didn’t know.

  Her phone vibrated. She slowed, and with one hand on the steering wheel, flipped it open. The screen said, NEW VOICE MESSAGE. She pushed the button to listen to her messages. According to the time/date stamp, this call had come while she was in the air.

  “It’s Mia. I hope you’re sitting down.” Mia paused dramatically and Crystal gripped the steering wheel tightly. “Because ... welcome to Broadway, baby! You got the part. Rehearsals start Monday morning. Enjoy your parents’ party but be sure you get back ASAP. We’ll go over the details together Sunday. Love you, darling.”