Her Dream Cowboy

by Laura Ann

  Noah stared at the text for ten minutes. The Arizona sun beat down on him and he ignored the fact that he was about to melt. His dad’s ranch in eastern Washington was located in the desert, so Noah knew what it was like to be hot. But there was something about the dead heat in Arizona that felt like he was at the fiery gates of purgatory.

  At the moment, however, the heat was the least of his worries. He was already dead inside, and the scorching sun was just another punishment for his temper getting the best of him. He’d ridden around on Chief for close to an hour after his fight with Lettie, letting everything run in a continuous loop through his head. When he’d finally come up for air, he’d felt lower than he ever had in his life. He’d allowed his fear and anxiety to color his view about the woman he loved, and in doing so, had accused her of something horrible based on hearsay. Deep down I knew there was more to it, but I was too too angry to see it.

  “Even a blind man could see it,” he grumbled, shoving a hand through his hair. However, by the time Noah had worked up the courage to apologize, she’d already left. His family told her she came to the house and said goodbye and then went home.

  She’d left and taken his heart with her.

  Noah had stuck around the ranch until the end of the week, like he’d promised his dad. But as soon as his contract was over, he’d taken off. He couldn’t handle being at the ranch any more. Everything reminded him of Lettie. Every animal, every chore, and every whiff of bonfire smoke.

  Coming to Arizona hadn’t been much better. Every time he looked at a new horse, he thought of her sitting on Romeo, shouting, ‘Hi-ho, Silver!’. And every cowgirl that smiled at him made him long for a pair of wide green eyes and dark, mahogany hair.

  He’d written out a thousand texts to her, each one apologizing, groveling, begging for her forgiveness. But each time, he erased them before he could force himself to hit ‘send’. “Why should she forgive me?” he whispered hoarsely. “I was so out of line. She admitted that she loved me and I let her walk away. How do I come back from that?”

  So, he hadn’t done anything. He’d wandered aimlessly, sweated profusely, and accomplished nothing. Until a few minutes ago when this text came through. He hadn’t recognized the number, but he sure as heck recognized the name. Scarlett had spoken of her best friend often. But after hearing about Jaz’s feisty personality, Noah figured she was probably debating between chopping him into little pieces to hide his body, or getting ready to perform some kind of voodoo spell where she could get revenge at him from a distance.

  He sighed. What did he have to lose? At the moment, he didn’t have anything. His family was back home, his career was on hold, and the woman he loved hated him.

  He pushed the call button. “Might as well get this over with,” he mumbled as he listened to it ring.

  “Oh...you’re one of those people,” an annoyed feminine voice said through the line.

  “Uh...is this Jaz?” Noah asked, slightly confused at her greeting.

  “It’s a rare breed that’s willing to talk to people,” the woman said. “Most of us text because we hate having to speak to other humans.”

  Noah chuckled. “And which one are you?”

  There was a pause. “I’m more of a texter, but there are certainly cases where a call is needed.”

  “I figured my head was on the line, so it was safe to assume now was one of those times,” Noah admitted.

  “You’re probably right.” Jaz sighed. “And however much you probably deserve to have your head roll, I’m actually reaching out to help you.”

  Noah froze. “You’re...what?”

  “Yeah...this is exactly why we needed to chat instead of text,” Jaz muttered. “Okay, listen up, ranch dude. My best friend is broken and you did the breaking.”

  Noah winced, but didn’t deny it.

  “I’ve listened to her talk about cowboys and ranches for years, so I get how her intentions could be misread, but you still should have given her a chance to defend herself. I’d expect that from someone who loves her.”

  “I do love her,” Noah said quickly. “I—

  “Save it!” Jaz snapped into the phone, stopping Noah’s heartfelt confession. “She’s the one who needs to hear those things, not me.” Her voice dropped to a grumble. “Sappy romance people. Bleh.”

  Noah snorted at her complaints.

  “The point here is...you hurt her.”

  All amusement was gone. “I know.”

  “But I do have good news.”

  Noah perked up, listening intently.

  “I know how to get her back.”

  “Why are you helping me?” Noah couldn’t help but ask.

  “Truth? I don’t know. I just can’t stand to see her this way, and you seem to make her happy,” Jaz said softly. “Now, how far are you willing to go to get her back?”

  “I’ll do anything,” Noah automatically answered.

  “Good. I’ll hold you to that,” Jaz said with a cackle.

  CHAPTER 19

  “Okay, I think that’s all of it,” Scarlett said, putting her hands on her hips. She surveyed her duffel bag, then looked over at Jaz. “Can you think of anything else I should pack?”

  Jaz popped the rest of the candy in her mouth and shook her head. “If all of that doesn’t convince him to forgive you, he’s not worth having.”

  Scarlett looked back down at everything she’d put together. Her plan was haphazard at best, but she couldn’t think of anything else that would make a big enough impression.

  She wanted to prove to Noah that she did know him. That she’d been listening while they’d spilled their hearts to each other during the time they were together. She wanted him to understand that she remembered everything he’d said because she loved him and wanted to know him, not just any cowboy. Him.

  “He has good taste,” Jaz murmured as she took another bite of chocolate—Noah’s favorite chocolate.

  Scarlett rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to have anything to give him if you eat it all.”

  Jaz shrugged. “Eh...he can buy more.”

  Scarlett huffed. “But I can’t. I already spent all my savings on the ranch vacation. I’ll be lucky if I can eat for the next week until we get paid, after splurging on all this stuff.”

  Jaz stood up and dropped the rest of the candy onto the bed. “Fair enough.” She started to walk toward the bedroom door, then paused. “You know I wouldn’t let you starve, right?”

  Scarlett walked across the space and hugged Jaz tightly. “I know,” Scarlett mumbled into Jaz’s hair. “And I won’t need your help, but I love you for it.”

  Jaz patted Scarlett’s back. “I love you too, Sunshine. But if you value your life, you better let me breathe.”

  Scarlett stepped back, beaming at her best friend. The smile felt good. There had been far too few of them in the last couple of weeks and Scarlett didn’t like being that way. Being happy was a natural part of her and she’d felt lost without it.

  She swallowed hard and zipped up the bag. “Right.” She glanced at her watch. It would take a few hours to get to the ranch. Grabbing the bag, she headed out to her family room. “I better get going, Jaz, if I’m going to make it before it gets too late.”

  “I think you should wait until after lunch,” Jaz said, her head stuck in the fridge.

  “Do you...do you think he’ll be willing to talk to me?” Scarlett asked quietly. She was basically planning to throw herself at Noah’s mercy. She hadn’t planned a speech or anything fancy. Just the bag of goodies and praying for forgiveness.

  Jaz stood up. “What? Why would you think he wouldn’t?”

  Scarlett set the bag down on the table, fingering the shoulder strap. “I left, Jaz. I know he accused me of something awful, but I left. He hasn’t tried to find me. Maybe he’s glad I’m gone. Maybe I’d just become a burden that he’s relieved to be done with.”

  Jaz slammed the fridge shut and came to grab Scarlett’s shoulders. “Listen to me, sis. Yo
u don’t get to decide that. Only Noah gets to decide how he feels.” She shook Scarlett. “Do you love him?”

  “More than anything,” Scarlett immediately responded.

  “Well, that’s a fib,” Jaz scoffed. “Sisters before misters, chica.”

  Scarlett laughed under her breath. “Always.”

  Jaz nodded firmly. “All right, you love him. Now we need to find out if he loves you. But the only way for us to find that out is for you to talk to him. Since he’s too chicken, it’s going to be up to you. Besides,” Jaz said with a wink, “he can’t kiss you into oblivion if you aren’t in the same room together.”

  “Why, Jazzlyn Mueller. Did you just say something romantic?”

  “Tell anyone and I’ll have you kill you,” Jaz said coolly.

  Scarlett laughed. “Seriously, though, thank you. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you to talk me off the ledge.”

  Jaz shrugged. “That’s what sisters are for.”

  “True dat.” Scarlett took a deep breath. “Now I’m ready.”

  “Nope.” Jaz went back to the fridge. “Lunch first. You’ll handle the confrontation better on a full stomach.”

  Scarlett put a hand to the butterflies now flying through her belly in abandon. “Or not,” she moaned.

  A knock on the door put a stop to the girls’ conversation.

  Scarlett frowned. “Who could that be? I never get visitors.” She walked over and grabbed the knob, stopping when all the lights in her apartment went off. “What the—Jaz?”

  No one answered and Scarlett stepped away from the door, suddenly leery about what was going on.

  “Jaz, you better answer me.”

  A huff came from the darkness. “Just leave it off,” Jaz snapped.

  “Why?” When Jaz didn’t answer, Scarlett growled a little and fumbled around to yank open the door. The interior hallway where her door opened to was dark except for a single light, which shone over a figure. Gasping, Scarlett jumped back and put her hands to her mouth.

  A man sat on a stool with a guitar laying across his knee. His head was bent down, keeping his face hidden, but there was no hiding the muscles bulging out of the tight T-shirt, or the ropers that Scarlett had seen everyday for almost two weeks.

  Tears immediately sprang to her eyes and Scarlett lost her breath. Noah made a beautiful picture on her doorstep. She committed the image to memory, knowing it was one she would want to cherish forever.

  His fingers shifted and the sweet sound of guitar-strumming began to hum through the air.

  I’m dreaming. I have to be dreaming. There’s no way this can be real.

  NOAH COULD FEEL SWEAT trickling down the back of his neck and he hoped his T-shirt wasn’t soaked through. His fingers shook and he had to fight the urge to bounce his knee to get rid of his excess energy. His breathing was so shallow that at one point, he was afraid he was going to pass out, but he slowly sucked in a lungful and forced it back out again, determined to see this through.

  When Jaz had asked if he was willing to make a fool of himself, Noah had assumed her idea had to do with flowers and groveling. Never in a million years would he have thought of giving Lettie one of those perfect cowboy moments she was always talking about.

  Although, if he thought about it, it made sense. He wanted to be the cowboy she made those dreams with, so he might as well get started now. He just wished he didn’t have to do it in front of the old guy in his boxers peeking out his door from down the hall.

  Putting his fingers to the strings, Noah began to strum the guitar, shifting through the chords of a popular country song. He kept his head down, trying to maintain the air of mystique and romance that Jaz had coached him on for far too long, but it was more difficult than he imagined. He wanted to see Lettie. He wanted to see her reaction to his apology. He also was desperate to get lost in her green eyes and run his fingers through her luxurious hair, but he forced himself to be patient.

  He had rewritten the lyrics to the song, making them more personal and expressing his apology. As he held out the last note, letting the sound disappear on the breeze, he held his breath, then slowly raised his head.

  Lettie stood with tears streaming down her face and her fingers shaking violently over her lips. “Noah,” she whispered thickly. “Noah!”

  He had just enough time to set the guitar aside before she fell forward into his arms. “Oof,” Noah said, barely holding his seat as he wrapped his arms around her shaking form.

  “I’m so sorry,” Lettie whispered against his neck. “I’m so sorry!”

  Noah groaned and tightened his hold. He’d never felt so content as he was right now, holding her in his arms, but the position was slightly awkward with her standing and him sitting. Keeping hold of her, he planted his feet and pushed his way to standing.

  “Oh my gosh.” Lettie pushed away from his chest and scrubbed the tears. “That had to have been uncomfortable. I shouldn’t have—”

  “Nope.” Noah slowly pushed her back and to the side until she was pressed against the wall. “I know exactly how to fix all this.”

  “You d—”

  Noah cut off her words by bringing their mouths together in a delicious exchange. He nearly moaned as the tension they always seemed to build burst inside of him at her touch. The heavy weight he’d been carrying since they’d separated was gone. Once more, Lettie’s bright light filled him to the brim and made everything clear again. Noah was just about to take the kiss a step further when someone cleared a throat down the hall.

  “Enough already!” a gruff voice called out. “Knock it off before I call the police.”

  Noah pulled back and opened his eyes extra wide. “Ooh, the police,” he whispered in fake fright, causing Lettie to laugh quietly.

  “Leave them alone, John!” another voice, this one female, called out. “Just because no one wants to kiss your craggy old face doesn’t mean they shouldn’t enjoy themselves!”

  Lettie's eyes grew wide this time, but she wasn’t faking anything. “Maybe we should go inside,” she whispered.

  Noah nodded and they separated enough to step toward the door.

  “I don’t see anyone banging down your door, Dora!” John yelled. “Their scandalous behavior is enough to make me lose my lunch! It’s indecent, I tell you!”

  “Only to stuffy old men with no sense of romance!” Dora shot back.

  Noah grabbed his guitar and his stool while Lettie opened her door and ushered him inside.

  “Sorry, Mr. Tenures,” she called out just as she closed the door tight. Putting her back against it, Lettie pressed a hand to her heart. “Good grief. Those two are crazy.” She looked up. “Hey! The lights are back on.”

  Noah watched Lettie frown and storm toward Jaz, who was waiting patiently in the corner with a smirk on her face.

  “You knew about all this.”

  Jaz raised an eyebrow. “Someone had to save your sappy butt.”

  Noah stepped back. In his dealings with Jaz, he’d learned very quickly that she didn’t take any guff from anybody. It was interesting to him how she and Lettie were such good friends.

  Lettie rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You’re just jealous.” Then she wrapped her arms around her friend and squeezed. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Jaz hugged her back just as tightly. “Thank yourself. It was all your romantic ramblings that gave me the idea.”

  Lettie stepped back and wiped under her eyes. “I knew you were listening.”

  This time Jaz was the one who put her eyes toward heaven and shook her head in exasperation.

  Lettie turned and Noah found himself caught in her gaze. He hadn’t apologized yet, but right now he was feeling pretty good about his odds. It was evident she had missed him just as much as he’d missed her.

  “And that’s my cue,” Jaz mumbled. Grabbing her keys and cell, she fairly fled the apartment. Just before the door closed behind her, she peeked back in. “You two better make sure you figure this out be
cause I’m not mopping up her tears for another two weeks.” With that parting shot, the door slammed.

  “She’s a barrel of fun,” Noah mumbled before he thought better of it.

  “She’s the best,” Lettie said, her eyes still on him. “She’s got a tough exterior. But inside? She’s pure goo.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Scarlett chuckled. She wiped at her eyes again. I probably look like a raccoon! Ugh.

  “Lettie,” he said softly, gaining her attention. “I need to apologize.”

  Scarlett put up her hand. “No, I need to apologize. I should have stuck around, not run away like a little kid.”

  “And I should have listened to your story without accusing you of things there was no evidence of.”

  Scarlett shrugged. “I’m sorry that I was so excited about cowboys that I made you feel like you weren’t special for being you.” Her eyes filled with tears for the umpteenth time that day. “That was never my intent.” She sniffed. “I have to admit I’ve always thought a romance with a cowboy would be sweet, but I never went to the ranch with any expectations or plans. I simply wanted to fulfill my mother’s wish. It was my sole focus for over a decade.” She shook her head, putting her eyes on the ground. “But in all that planning, I never saw you coming.”

  She could hear Noah’s boots as he approached and stopped right in front of her. His knuckles slipped under her chin as he raised her face to his. “I forgive you,” he said hoarsely, “but I’m also sorry. I know we haven’t been together long, but I knew, deep down, that you weren’t kissing me just because I wear boots.”

  Scarlett let out a snort. “You don’t even wear the right boots.”

  Noah grinned. “Nope. The pointed ones pinch. Never could stand them.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I’m sorry that I let my fears get in the way of us. I’ve been restless for several years now, and the ranch has felt more and more like a prison cell rather than freedom. I didn’t know what else to do, so I planned to move on. But then you showed up and changed my perspective. I saw everything with new eyes.” His fingers dropped to his side. “But there was a part of me that didn’t like it. It wanted to leave. To discover the world. To find something else. And I let those small doubts tug on me until they grew too loud to ignore. Your obsession with cowboys was just a convenient excuse.”