The Cowboy Way

by Stevens, Melissa

  Mariah thought about it a moment and decided it made sense, even if it wasn't her first choice to be treated by someone who usually treated horses, still it was better than hurting or having go to an emergency room where she'd likely sit for hours only to have the very same thing done.

  "There." He finished with the wrap, pressing the Velcro on the end snug so it wouldn't slip and setting her foot back on the ottoman. "You should be able to put your sneakers on over that with no problem." He looked up at her face. "Do you want to try to come to dinner or do you want me to send a tray down?"

  "I'll come."

  "Good." A wide, smile spread across his face and his eyes lit. "Try to keep that foot elevated when you're not on it and stay off it as much as you can." He stood, picking up the pouch the bandage had been in. "Do you need anything else?" He glanced around the one room cabin as if looking for anything out of place.

  "I'm good." She put the freshly filled ice pack on her ankle and leaned back in the chair. "If I need anything I'll call." She showed him her phone, which had been sitting on the window sill beside her, and in easy reach. "I'm just going to take it easy until dinner time, but I'll see you then?"

  "You will. Don't forget, I've got something special planned for the bonfire tonight, you won't want to miss that."

  "I'll be there." She smiled up at him, thinking the only bright spot about the bonfire was she might get to talk to him again. She watched him leave, wishing he'd hung around even a few minutes longer. Now that she was alone she was bored. Picking up her phone she decided to cruise the social media sites and see if there was anything new.

  * * *

  By a quarter after five, Mariah was ready to scream. She'd spent what felt like days scrolling through the same posts over and over on Facebook, messaging anyone she thought who might answer, but not getting much, and finally resorting to reading the news, all on her phone. Now she was desperate for real people to talk to. It was still a little early, but she was heading to the dining hall in hopes someone was around. She wasn't picky. She'd talk to anyone, even that kid Tyler. Hell, she'd even be willing to talk to the guys from Sheppard Entertainment, though from what she'd heard so far, they only talked about work, even out here. What films they had going, what stage they were in, what still needed to be done. Mariah still didn't know why Mr. Sheppard, Chandler, she reminded herself, had insisted she join them for the trip. He'd barely even spoken to her since they'd left.

  It seemed to take her forever to make the walk to the dining hall, it had been slow going at first but the more she walked the easier it became. Putting weight on her ankle hadn't been as bad as she'd feared, it was the sore muscles in her thighs that made the trip so slow, and the farther she went the less they bothered her. By the time she reached the dining hall she was moving pretty good, well aside from a slight limp. She stepped in the door and found the bar to one side open and the rest of the people from Sheppard Entertainment sitting around a single table, each with a drink in his hand.

  "There you are," James Gould, the head of project acquisitions, said as he tipped a drink in her direction. "We were starting to wonder if you'd gotten lost somewhere."

  "Or maybe found some hick rancher to hook up with," Conner Knowles, one of the most sought after directors with the company added.

  They all chuckled and exchanged looks that made Mariah uncomfortable. She stepped into the room, giving their table a wide berth, and looked around. She'd hoped to find someone, anyone, else in the room, maybe Levi manning the bar, but no luck. A quick check of her phone told her it was a little after five thirty, only about half an hour to wait for dinner. She debated going back out or maybe sitting down at the bar and waiting for someone to come in. She stood next to a stool at the bar for a couple seconds before deciding to wait.

  It took her a moment, but she'd struggled up onto a stool, not the easiest thing to do when your thighs were sore and one ankle throbbed with any extra weight, but she'd managed it. Sitting there, she closed her eyes a moment to catch her breath, and to keep from having to see the looks the group of men were giving her. A sound drew her attention and she opened her eyes to find Levi just entering the room. A wave of relief went through her that she was no longer alone with the men from her company. Then a rush of pleasure as Levi's smile lit up his eyes when he spotted her.

  "You made it," Levi said making his way behind the bar. "I thought you might change your mind and eat in your cabin. What can I get for you?"

  "I was going stir crazy. I'm just used to being around people and the afternoon alone was making me nuts."

  "I'll show her nuts," came the low reply from the table behind her. The voice was low, barely more than a whisper and she couldn't place the voice, so decided to ignore it. Levi didn't react so she didn't know if he'd heard it. All the better that he didn't. "Do you happen to have any Fireball?"

  Levi frowned and turned around. He looked over all the shelves. "I don't see any. I do have Jack Daniels Fire, have you ever tried it?" He turned back to watch her reaction.

  "I don't think so. Is it good?"

  "Way better than Fireball." He picked up a bottle. "How do you like it?"

  "I don't know. I usually mix my Fireball with apple juice. But I'm open to whatever you think."

  "Here, try this." He scooped ice into a low ball glass then poured the Jack Daniels over it and slid it across the bar. "Take a sip and tell me what you think. If you don't like it that way we'll add something, though I'm not sure I have apple juice back here." He looked around then back at her with a shrug. "I can all ways go grab some from the kitchen if you'd like.”

  After a moment's hesitation, Mariah took a sip. She was surprised to find the whiskey smooth and only slightly sweet. The burn she'd come to associate with Fireball was there, but not the wicked aftertaste.

  "This is good." She took another sip. "Really good."

  "I'm glad you like it. Does this mean no juice?"

  "No juice." She smiled and took a small sip, savoring the slow burn down her throat and the warmth that slowly spread through her.

  They chatted until dinner, Mariah doing her best to ignore the other men in the room. There was no telling how long they'd been drinking, but it seemed their ignoring her was over. They never said anything out right offensive, at least not loud enough for her to hear it, but she overheard several off color comments.

  Time came for them to go to dinner and Levi came out from behind the bar and around to her side. "Here, let me help you down." He wrapped one arm around her waist, easily lifted her off the chair and set her on her feet. "You steady?"

  "I'm good." Her ankle throbbed a little but not bad. "Let's go eat. I'm starved." She wasn't sure why. She hadn't done anything but sit around all day.

  Levi left her side and went into the dining room talking and greeting each of the men on his way. Mariah took her time planning to find an end seat and put her ankle up on another chair while she ate.

  When she arrived in the dining room she found a seat beside Levi empty, another empty chair sitting to one side of the table.

  "Come sit here," Levi pulled out the empty chair next to his. "I saved this one for you, and got another chair for you to rest your foot in." He brought over the extra chair as soon as she was seated and positioned it for her to use.

  Levi made small talk with everyone, including her throughout dinner, which Mariah found delicious. She'd had a lot of steaks in her life but none quite as good as this one and she didn't know why. Before long she found herself leaning back in her seat, watching everyone else. She was stuffed and not yet ready to move. Besides, the bonfire would start soon and she didn't want to walk all the way to her cabin and back, so she might as well stay put.

  Chapter 11

  There was something off about the way the men from Sheppard Entertainment treated Mariah. Levi noticed last night, then again this morning that they barely spoke to her. It was like they were teenagers and she was someone's younger sibling they'd been forced to bring alon
g. They weren't out right mean to her, at least not that he'd noticed, they just seemed to ignore her. She didn't seem to care, which Levi found even stranger.

  After dinner, the guys wandered off together while she sat at the table, quiet.

  "What's next for you?" he asked.

  "I don't know. We've got how long until the bonfire?"

  "About an hour." He didn't even have to look at his watch. He'd already had the hand's lay out the fire and his friend, Michael, would be here soon for the evening's entertainment.

  "I'm waiting for that. But I'd prefer not to have to go to my cabin and back first."

  He glanced at her foot propped in an extra chair beside him. "I can see why. You can stay here or in the bar if you want, or if you'd like you can tag along with me. I've got a couple things to check on then I'm headed down to the bonfire to make sure everything's in order."

  She glanced toward the door before looking back at him. "I'd rather go with you, if I won't slow you down."

  He frowned a second wondering what that was about.

  "It wouldn't matter if you did. I'd love to have you along."

  A happy smile spread across her face making him doubly glad he'd agreed. That smile wasn't the same one she wore when the others were around. He couldn't have told you the difference, only that there was one. He suspected this was the real one and was glad he'd done something to earn it.

  "What's first on the agenda?" she asked excitement dancing in her eyes.

  "First I'm gonna go in the kitchen and check with Lewis. It will only take a couple minutes. You're welcome to tag along or you can stay here and keep your foot up a few minutes longer, and I'll snag you on my way back through."

  She pursed her lips as she thought about it.

  "Hmm. Tough decision." Then a grin spread across her face. "Go, talk to Lewis I'll be here when you come back. Rested and ready to go."

  Chapter 12

  Mariah sat alone in the dining hall waiting for Levi to come back through and thinking about the evening so far. The half hour they'd spent in the bar before dinner, and the low voiced comments by the men she'd come with, had left her feeling uneasy. She'd lingered after dinner hoping they had drank enough that they'd forget what they'd been talking about and move on. Maybe they'd even skip the bonfire.

  But would Levi continue with his plans for just her? It had been nearly impossible not to notice that the group from Sheppard Entertainment was the only group at the ranch. Mariah had thought it a little odd, but figured the exclusivity was part of the service they offered.

  "You ready to head out?" Levi stepped back into the room and she pushed the grim thoughts from her mind.

  "Sure, whenever you are."

  "Come on."

  He stopped by her chair and eased it away from the table so she'd have an easier time standing. Hovering nearby, and she thought it was in case she needed help, but she wasn't sure. Her first few steps were slow and painful, but after that her muscles seemed to warm and her joints gave up the protest.

  "Where to first?"

  "Well, first up to the main house. Michael should be here any time, that's where he'll go and I should grab a jacket for this evening while I'm there."

  "Tell me about these secret plans you have for tonight."

  "They're not secret, they're a surprise." He smiled at her and she couldn't resist smiling back.

  "How far is it to the main house?"

  "Not far, especially since we'll take this." He stopped beside a four-wheeler.

  Mariah stared at the funny looking bike a moment then looked back to Levi.

  "You’re kidding right? After this morning on a horse you want me to get on that?"

  Levi looked at the machine then back at her.

  "It's either that or walk the half mile to the house."

  "Riding it is." She eyed the machine again, wondering how to get on.

  "Good!" His smile made her glad she'd decided to tag along. "Give me a second to get on then you can just climb up behind me." After she settled in behind him he turned and drew her attention downward. "Put your feet out here. And be careful of this," he touched a metal tube. "It gets really hot and will burn you. I'll take it easy, but feel free to hold on, either to me or the rack behind you."

  The engine started and it was too loud to talk without shouting. Mariah was too busy thinking about holding onto him, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding on tight to worry about talking at the moment.

  * * *

  He hadn't lied, the trip didn't take very long, even at the careful speed Levi kept the ATV at. Before long he pulled to a stop beside another, almost identical four wheeler in front of an older house, large but not as big as the dining hall, that looked like it had been a part of the ranch for at least a couple of generations. He killed the engine and turned his head.

  "You climb off first, just be careful of that exhaust pipe."

  Mariah glanced down at the pipe he'd pointed out to make sure she wasn't getting near it and stepped off the bike, then stepped back.

  Levi stepped off the ATV and scanned the yard. "Come on inside, Michael should be here any time."

  She looked up at the big house and grinned at the idea of seeing where he lived. Not that she wanted to be out here in the middle of nowhere but still, she was curious about Levi.

  "How do you manage it? Living so far away from anything."

  "We're not that far, besides I grew up here. It's home." Levi started up the three steps to the porch, Mariah followed him, wincing slightly as her ankle didn't like the stairs, but she ignored it.

  "Not that far? It was two hours to get here. How can you live having to go two hours to get groceries, or anything else?"

  Levi stopped and looked at her as if she'd lost her mind.

  "Yeah, Casper is two hours away, but Hawthorne is only a twenty minute drive. It's not huge, but it's got everything we need. Well, mostly. It would be easier if it had an airport, but still, out here, two hours to the airport isn't that bad, there are some place you'll drive two or three times that."

  Mariah's face heated. "Twenty minutes isn't that bad. You can spend twenty minutes going three blocks in L.A."

  Levi shook his head. "There are just too many people there. I spent a weekend in L.A. once. Never again. You can't even take a deep breath without stepping on someone's toes. Out here?" He motioned to the rugged landscape surrounding them. "You could go a week and not see another person, if you had a mind to." He turned and looked at her again. "Of course, you've got to be pretty comfortable with yourself to spend that much time with just you and your thoughts." He turned and continued through the front door, holding it open for her.

  She followed but her mind was spinning. He'd said something that had never occurred to her. You had to be comfortable with yourself. Hmm.

  She stepped inside the house and looked around.

  "You'll have to excuse the mess. I live alone and I wasn't planning to bring guests into the house."

  Mess? She didn't see much of a mess, there were a couple magazines scattered on the coffee table, a pair of slippers next to the recliner. The room looked lived in, homey, not dirty or messy.

  "It looks nice." She tore her gaze away from the overstuffed sofa that made her want to stretch out and take a nap and looked back to him. "It looks like the perfect place to grow up or raise a family."

  He smiled again, his eyes sparkling. "It was, and it's a great place for a family, eventually."

  She frowned. "Eventually?" It finally registered that he said he lived alone. "Don't you have any family?"

  "I do. My brother's in the Army, has been for the last seven years and he looks to be making a career of it. My sister lives in town, she's married with her second on the way. But I'm the only one out here."

  "What about your parents? You said you grew up here, where are they?"

  "They moved into town a few years ago, when I took over. Dad broke his leg falling off the bailer. He healed, but it was harder for him to
get around, so I took over and he and Mom moved to town, they've got a little place that's easier to care for, and they're closer to the doctors should either of them need anything."

  Mariah nodded without commenting, no sure what to say.

  "Have a seat, I'll see if—" he never finished the sentence as the sound of tires on gravel interrupted him. "That will be Michael. Come on out and meet him." Levi went to the door and held it open for her.

  Not seeing any other real options, she left, wishing for a moment her tiny apartment felt a little more like this place instead of the empty, lonely space it was.

  In the driveway sat an ancient beat up pickup truck, paint peeling and more than a little battered. The door clicked shut behind her and Levi stepped around her and down the steps as someone stepped out of the old truck, beat up cowboy boots that looked as old as the truck were the first thing she saw about him.

  "Thanks for coming out, and thanks again for doing this for me." Levi met the man as he closed the pickup door and gave him a one armed hug.

  "No problem. You know how much I enjoy telling the old stories, even if it's to a bunch of city slickers who wouldn't know the great spirit if he bit them on the ass," the new comer said.

  Mariah stood for a moment taking the man in. He wore jeans and a button down shirt with a small pattern she couldn't quite make out from here. His skin was well tanned but soft looking and his dark hair was pulled back in a low braid that hung almost to his belt, and a battered pale gray cowboy hat on top of it all. She couldn't help but think he was an Indian dressed as a cowboy. Excuse me. Native American, she mentally corrected herself.

  "Thanks anyway," Levi said with a laugh. "I've got someone I want you to meet." He turned back to where Mariah was still standing on the porch. "This is Mariah Stein. She's one of the city slickers who'll be around the fire tonight."

  "Nice to meet you, ma'am."