Heart of a Cowboy

by Kristin Vayden

  “You are going back to the ranch, right?” Kessed asked with an impatient tone.

  “Sure am.”

  “Then do our girl a favor.” She winked.

  Cyler grinned. “Was already planning on it.”

  “Speaking of Laken”—she jerked her chin to the left, signaling him to follow—“it’s on the house. Now come here, slick.” She walked out from behind the counter to a vacant table then motioned for him to join her as she pulled out a chair.

  “What’s up?” Cyler asked, setting the tray down and regarding Laken’s friend with wariness.

  “What are your intentions toward Laken?” Kessed asked, folding her arms over her chest and giving him a challenging stare.

  Cyler bit back a grin. “Well…” He thought over the last night, pretty sure he’d made his intentions quite clear. But Kessed didn’t know that. “I like her,” he answered plainly.

  “What are we, in junior high? I didn’t exactly pass you a note and ask you to circle an answer here. Like doesn’t cut it,” she replied, sarcasm thick in her tone and expression.

  Chuckling, Cyler shook his head. “Isn’t that between Laken and me?”

  “Nope.”

  “Really?” Cyler challenged.

  “Yup.”

  “There’s no guarantees in life, but I’m not playing with her, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Okay then.” Kessed nodded, seeming satisfied. “You’re free to go. Just one thing.” She leaned across the table, her brows raised, her petite form attempting to be threatening. “You break her heart, I’ll cut you.” She gave an evil grin. “Good talk.” She patted his shoulder and walked away.

  Cyler blinked “And that is why I will never understand women,” he muttered under his breath then took the tray and left.

  He arrived back at the ranch and opened the door quietly then realized it wasn’t necessary. The TV was on, the news filtering through the air, the smell of burnt toast dominant.

  Yup. They were both awake.

  The smoky scent told him Laken was in the kitchen, so he quietly passed through to the living room. He needed to talk with Jack, alone.

  “Hey, old man.” He nodded, earning a glare.

  “You still here?”

  “Huh, I was just thinking the same thing,” Cyler answered.

  “Walked right into that one,” Jack muttered.

  “Pretty much.” Cyler took a seat and stared at the TV, not making eye contact with Jack. “So, you have an appointment today, right?”

  “What’s it to you?” Jack shot back.

  “I want to be there. But I need to ask your dumb ass before I can go, so, this is me asking.”

  As the silence stretched on for more than a few seconds, Cyler turned his attention to Jack. His father was regarding him shrewdly.

  “Why?”

  “Laken,” Cyler answered honestly.

  “Figures,” Jack retorted. “Fine. I don’t care.”

  “Thanks for the welcome.” Cyler lifted a cup from the tray he held and took a sip.

  “It’s about time you pulled your head from your ass. That girl in there’s gold. You know it. I know it. Learn from my stupidity and don’t mess this up. You hear me?”

  Jack’s tone had Cyler turning back, meeting his gaze.

  “For once, we agree on something,” Cyler replied then left for the kitchen.

  “Good.”

  Cyler let Jack have the last word and strode into the kitchen, already wondering what attempt at breakfast Laken had tried. He grinned as he watched her bend over and peek in the oven, giving him a prime view of her ass in those tight jeans.

  “Good morning,” he called out, knowing the sound of his boots would let her know he was coming.

  She set the dish on the stove then turned. Her face lit up into a welcoming grin. “Good morning to—oh, please tell me that’s mine.” She glanced to the tray.

  “Compliments of your friend, who may or may not have done prison time,” he teased.

  “Do I want to know?” Laken asked, her eyes narrowing as she pulled out a cup from the tray he extended.

  He opened his mouth then shook his head instead.

  “Yeah, with Kess, less is more. God put a huge amount of attitude in such a small person.”

  “You can say that again.”

  “Oh, where have you been all my life?” Laken whispered to the coffee before taking a sip.

  “Should I be jealous?”

  “No competition.” She winked.

  Cyler started to close the distance between them. “Good to know.”

  “Coffee will always be first in my heart,” Laken added, flirting.

  “Oh? Is that how it is?” he replied, pulling her against him, taking her mouth in a searing yet quick kiss.

  “You’re a close second, but that’s all I can promise. And, I’m on the clock so…” She pulled away, but not before giving him a daring grin.

  “Yeah, I’m not so great at keeping my hands to myself.” As she turned around he reached out and grabbed her ass.

  At her squeal, he chuckled. Laken whirled around and glared at him, and he laughed harder.

  “Hands off. This is my place of work. Thank you. I think that qualifies as sexual harassment?” she challenged.

  Cyler placed his hands on his hips. “Soon I’ll be the management, and I’ll take all the complaints you want to give me. In fact, let’s go and have a private meeting to discuss those concerns you have. My office is just down the hall.”

  Laken rolled her eyes, but she grinned as well. “You’re trouble.”

  “In every way, ma’am.”

  “Are you two done flirting, or do I need to wait longer for breakfast?” Jack called from the hall. “Laken, honey, what time do we need to leave? Cyler here is driving us.”

  Laken’s gaze shot to Cyler’s, a hundred emotions flashing through before she closed them off. “We need to leave about nine-thirty,” she answered slowly.

  “Good. Now, about breakfast? Man can’t live by coffee alone, sweetheart. I’ve tried,” Jack replied.

  “It’s all ready. I actually made a quiche! And it didn’t burn! Granted, it was a frozen quiche I just warmed up, but it counts.”

  “And the burning smell?” Cyler asked, goading her.

  She glared. “Was the leftover burnt lasagna on the bottom of the oven.”

  Cyler clapped. “I’m proud.”

  Laken glared daggers.

  “Okay, let’s eat before there’s bloodshed.” Jack stepped into the kitchen and clapped his hands once before shuffling over to the table.

  Breakfast was finished quickly, and before long, Cyler was playing the chauffeur as he drove to the doctor’s office for Jack. Laken was in the back of the quad cab, and as he caught glimpses of her in his rearview mirror, he noted the tension in her expression.

  This wasn’t going to be good.

  “Okay, Jack. Let’s get this over with.” He pulled into the parking lot, his gaze continually straying to Laken.

  But she was in full nurse-mode, no longer displaying any traces of the previous tension. She was all calm smiles as they walked into the office.

  To the doctor’s credit, they didn’t wait long, and soon they were in the small examination room, posters of medical research, vaccination information, and flu-symptom charts decorating the pale green walls.

  “Why are doctors’ offices always painted some sickly color? It’s kinda twisted,” Cyler commented, his own nerves starting to grow tighter.

  “Psychology,” Laken answered, turning to him. “The cooler and more neutral the tone, the more relaxing. It’s much better to have a pale green or blue than a vibrant red or orange. It helps the patient relax.”

  “The only thing I’m feeling is irritated.”

 
Jack snorted. “Because it’s your appointment?”

  Cyler glared at his father but kept his mouth shut. As much as he hated to admit it, the man had a point. He didn’t even have to be here. Yet here he was, staring at the rack of outdated magazines.

  All this for a girl.

  Oh, how the mighty have fallen. He smirked to himself and shook his head.

  “The nurse should be in soon. She’ll take your vitals, and then you’ll see the doctor.”

  “Same ol’, same ol’.” Jack shrugged, adjusting his position on the patient table, the tissue-paper barrier beneath him crinkling with each movement.

  A knock at the door had Cyler stepping out of the way as a petite older woman scurried in, her face pinched as she took in the crowded room. “If you’ll excuse me, I need a few vitals, Mr. Myer.”

  In short order, she’d taken his temperature, his blood pressure, and asked several questions about sleep, appetite, and pain, and depression. With a quick nod, she was out the door.

  “Why didn’t you just do that, honey?” Jack turned to Laken as he asked the question.

  “Because it’s her job, she’s in the system, and it’s much easier for her to chart the details than me,” she answered succinctly, though her calming smile softened the business-like tone.

  Cyler could feel the tension in the room. The way Laken kept her distance from him was both amusing and irritating. He understood the need for it, and how she was determined to separate Laken-the-nurse from Laken-the-lover—he bit back a grin at his stupid phrasing—and right now, he had to admit it was necessary.

  Another knock on the door stole his attention, and an older gentleman strode in, his bifocals low on his nose as he studied the chart in front of him. “Mr. Myer, good to see you.” He spoke without looking up. As he closed the folder, he scanned the room, his eyes pausing on Cyler. “I’m afraid we haven’t met.” He extended his hand. “I’m Dr. Wills.”

  Cyler took his extended hand and shook, noting the doctor wasn’t afraid to give a solid shake. “Cyler Myer. Jack’s my fa-ther.” He darn-near choked on the word.

  “Ah, I see. Pleased to meet you Cyler.” He turned to Laken. “Nurse Garlington.” He gave a firm nod.

  “Dr. Wills.” She offered him a warm smile, and Cyler was thankful the doctor was old enough to be her grandfather.

  “Well, it looks like you and I need to have a discussion, Jack. Would you like to have that in private?” He let the question linger as he took a seat on the swivel stool.

  Jack nodded. “No need, Doc. I’m pretty sure I know what’s coming and I’ve got nothing to hide.”

  Dr. Wills nodded, then opened his mouth to speak.

  Jack interrupted. “Before you start, just…just save all the technical jumbo for Laken here. I just want it cut and dry, okay? I’m a simple man, don’t sugarcoat it or use fancy words, just…lay it out.” The tissue cover on the medical bench tore slightly as Jack shifted again, yet his gaze was focused on the doctor, waiting.

  “I can respect that, Jack.” Dr. Wills took a deep breath. “While every patient is different, in my experience, you’ve got about six-to-eight weeks left, and it’s going to go downhill fast. Laken and I are going to set up a different string of pain meds, and she’s already arranged for you to have a walker and a wheelchair. Walking will get harder because breathing will become more difficult. Your lungs can’t absorb the oxygen like they need to, making you weak and feeble. If you have any final affairs to take care of, I suggest doing those in the next week or so.”

  Jack nodded, folding his hands as he regarded the doctor. “Guessed as much. Well, at least I’m under good care.” He gave a wink to Laken.

  Cyler glanced to her, noticing a sheen of moisture in her eyes, yet she didn’t break but gave a firm nod to Jack and patted his shoulder gently.

  It was hard to watch, to hear, to simply be a part of it all. And damn it, he hated how he had a growing respect for how Jack was facing death. How difficult would that be to hear that only weeks were left? He couldn’t imagine, yet Jack was smiling, winking at the beautiful girl across the room, and now was comforting her.

  “It’s going to be just fine. You’ll see.” He winked again at Laken and turned to the doctor. “If that’s all?”

  Dr. Wills’s eyebrows shot up, but he cleared his throat as if trying to hide his surprise. “You always were tougher than rawhide, Jack. I’ll be available for you, and Nurse Garlington has been keeping me in the loop. The important thing is to keep on top of the pain. It’s better to manage it than to let it get too much to bear then try to tamp it back down. So don’t be a hero, Jack. Just tell her if you need more medication, alright?”

  “Fine, fine.” Jack waved off the doctor’s advice.

  Dr. Wills glanced to Laken as if communicating the need to watch him.

  Laken nodded, a grin tipping her lips.

  “Well, it was a pleasure to see you all again, and meet you, Cyler. Hope you enjoy that great sunshine we’ve been having.” And with a soft click of the door, the doctor was gone.

  “Well, that could have been worse.” Jack shrugged.

  Laken gave him a bemused smile. “Yup, find that silver lining, Jack,” she teased.

  “Let’s get home.” Jack stood slowly, his frame stooping as he started to shuffle from the room.

  Laken opened the door for him, and in a few minutes, they were back in the truck on the way home.

  “Laken, honey. You have the rest of the day off, right. I’ve got that other woman comin’?” Jack asked, his eyes closed as he leaned back.

  “Nothing’s wrong with your memory.”

  “Like a steel trap.” Jack pointed to his head.

  “With rusty teeth,” Cyler muttered.

  “Heard that.”

  “Hearing’s good, too.”

  “I’ve already established that. Now, what was I saying? Oh, yes. Laken, honey? Go and get out a bit. If what the doc says is true, then you’re going to have less time off in the future, and I want you to take some time to yourself while you can, alright? And know this is a sacrifice for me.”

  “Jack, I—”

  “Quit arguing. It makes me tired and grumpy.”

  Cyler watched Laken grin in the rearview mirror. “Fine,” she answered.

  “Good. You’d think I was asking you to do something terrible.”

  Laken met Cyler’s gaze in the mirror, and he had to force himself to break the eye contact to watch the road. “So, you want to work in the barn or”—he grinned to himself, having a great idea—“we can float in the river.”

  “I vote plan B,” Jack mumbled. “It’s low this time of year, and if you take the canyon, you’ll have a pretty great view.”

  Cyler waited for Laken’s reply.

  “Manual labor or floating on a river in the sunshine. Hard one,” she joked. “I vote plan B too. As long as there’s food involved.”

  Chuckling to himself, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease. “What? You don’t want to cook us something up for the trip?”

  “Mean,” she shot back.

  “Can’t be good at everything, honey.” Jack tried to smooth her ruffled feathers.

  Laken arched a brow as Cyler glanced at her in the mirror again. “It will take me a few minutes to check the old tubes in the barn, but they should still be okay. In the meantime, you can get Jack all situated. Sound good?”

  “Sounds good,” she answered as they pulled in to the ranch.

  Cyler helped Laken from the pickup and waited as she took Jack’s arm and helped him walk to the house. As soon as they disappeared inside, he turned to the barn. A green sedan pulled up, and he assumed it was the on-call nurse, Paige. He headed to the barn, thinking.

  Floating the river was great idea, and he was pretty sure Laken would love it. Plus, it would give them some privacy, his
body all too aware of what that could imply. Margaret nickered as he passed her stall, and he paused a moment to pet her nose then moved on to the back room. It was crazy how a million memories could live in one place. And just like he’d left them years ago, the deflated tubes and rafts were stacked neatly, collecting dust. With a flip of the air compressor switch, he was pumping them up and checking for holes. This would be his first real date with Laken, and he wanted it perfect.

  He knew she was struggling with the news from Jack’s doctor; the moisture in her eyes gave away her deep emotions. Hopefully, this would be a way to escape, if only for a moment. If he were guessing, Laken didn’t get to escape much, and she was so busy taking care of others, she rarely thought of taking care of herself. But that was then, this was now. And now, she had him. So, come hell or high water, she was going to have the time of her life.

  He’d see to it.

  Chapter 16

  The sun was arcing over the Yakima Canyon as the river lazily tugged her raft along. A soft breeze made the heat more bearable, and just for good measure, she pulled the cap off the sunscreen and sprayed another layer.

  “Having fun yet?” Cyler asked from his massive black tube, tied to her raft.

  She grinned. “Yup! I can’t believe I’ve never done this before!” And it was true. When Jack said they could float the river, she kinda knew what to expect, but she didn’t think it would be so…therapeutic. Out here, there was nothing demanding her time or attention. She didn’t feel guilty about not being productive with her time, and cell service was sketchy at best. She could just be. The sound of the flowing water was a relaxing background to the shifting scenery.

  “Tell me you’ve at least driven the canyon?” Cyler asked.

  “I don’t think so. I usually take the freeway.”

  Cyler’s chest glistened from the spray of water that he was constantly splashing on himself to keep cool. His walnut-colored hair was covered by an old baseball cap, shielding his bright blue eyes and making them a deeper color as he regarded her. “We’ll drive it sometime. You can see bighorn sheep, and the cliffs are breathtaking.”