Page 15 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

“No problem,” Ralf said. He spread his arms wide, and he held his phone in one palm. “This is what I’ve got.” He grinned, as if this was a grand adventure. “They wouldn’t let anyone go back into their unit to get anything. Said they weren’t sure what was compromised.”

Link couldn’t even imagine how he’d feel if he’d been separated from literally everything he owned except his phone. “Well, there’s approximately four thousand people who live here at Shiloh Ridge. Closer to dawn, I’ll put out a call for food and clothing, and you’ll have more than you can handle, I guarantee it.”

He surveyed them again, wondering if his gaze lingered too long on Misty. Probably. “We’ll put all the donations in True Blue. It’s this barn by the main entrance of the ranch. Well, up the hill, once you get on the main part of the ranch.” He hated babbling, and he felt like he was saying too much. “I’m sure Uncle Ward will send out a text.”

He snapped his fingers. “Which reminds me. I need all of your numbers for him. He’ll communicate with you about anything you need here.” He looked over to Misty again, and she offered him the brightest ray of sunshine in the whole world when she gave him a closed-mouth smile.

“You know my number,” Misty said.

“Sure,” Link said as easily as he could, which meant the word choked him. He looked over to Janie, praying she’d save him. Thankfully, she did by rattling off her phone number. Ralf’s joined hers in Link’s note-taking app, and he’d make sure Uncle Ward had them so everyone could get the messages and updates they needed.

“You ladies are here,” Link said, turning to open the door. “It’s not much, but you’ll have your own bedrooms, single bathroom, and a full kitchen.” He entered the house. “Coupla couches. It’s….” He didn’t know how to finish, and he had no plans to walk Ralf through a cabin tour.

Foolishness hit him hard, and he turned just in time to get out of the way as Janie entered the cabin. She likewise only carried her phone, and she wore a pair of stretchy pants which widened down to the ankle, a pink tank top, and socks. No shoes.

Misty had her fuzzy sandals on, and that alone brought another ray of sunshine to his soul, as small as it was. She loved those sandals; he could still remember the day she’d worn them on their dinner date. She’d just gotten them, and she’d been thrilled she could get such things mailed to her in Three Rivers.

They didn’t really match her pale lavender pajamas, which flowed around her ankles in waves of silk. The sleeves reached her wrists, and Link wondered how she slept in such winter pjs.

“Thank you, Link,” Janie said as she headed down the hall.

“Beds are made up,” he said as the scent of Misty reached his nose. She smelled like fresh linen and flowers, and oh, how Link missed her. Everything inside him wanted to be close to her, as if she was made only of iron and his cells were a magnet.

Misty stood right next to him as if they went together as a pair. He itched to get closer but forced himself to step away, to put just a smidge more distance between them. “Extra blankets and pillows are in the top of each closet.”

“Thank you, Link.” She tipped up onto her feet and swept her lips across his cheek, branding him.

“Breakfast at my house,” he said faintly. “I’m two doors down.”

She smiled just as faintly as he’d spoken. “I know, cowboy. You just met us there.”

“Right.” He had to get out of this cabin. “Well, I have to go help my uncles with the families coming. Breakfast is usually around seven, but whenever is fine.”

Link started backing up before he finished speaking, and he turned and left the cabin while Misty’s eyes still lingered on him. He strode away from the fifth cabin as he went back toward his, and he finally took a full breath when he knew for certain the air wouldn’t be perfumed with Misty’s skin, her hair, all of her.

As he got in his truck and headed for True Blue to assist Ward with the placement of the families, Link prayed everyone—absolutely everyone—would be able to get back into their apartments quickly.

“Like, tomorrow, Lord,” he said. “I can’t live this close to her. I really can’t.”

His parents had taught him that God would never give him a challenge he couldn’t handle, but Misty living two doors down? Link absolutely could not handle that and keep his heart, so he simply needed Misty to be able to move back into her apartment.

Tomorrow.

Chapter Six

Misty met Janie in the kitchen of the cowboy cabin, where she somehow had miraculous started brewing coffee. “You’re wearing the same thing as last night,” she said playfully. “You didn’t go home since I last saw you?”

They grinned at one another, and Janie indicated the second mug sitting next to the coffee pot. “Your boyfriend stopped by with morning essentials.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” Misty said, giving Janie a look. No, they hadn’t talked about how quickly Link had answered his phone last night. Nor Misty’s inability to speak to him in front of her friends. Nor how Link had taken perfect care of all of them in the middle of the night—in his cowboy hat, of course.

She poured herself a cup of coffee and asked over her shoulder, “Are we working today?”

“Ralf said we didn’t need to,” Janie said. “He’s calling Patty and Floyd as soon as the office is open in Dallas.”

Misty stirred a spoonful of sugar into her coffee and faced her best friend. “Clothes?”

“Ward Glover texted and said there would be clothes, food, first aid supplies, and more at the family barn.” Janie’s eyes sparkled with delight. “He included a map.” She hit the P hard, and she giggled afterward.

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