Page 58 of The Cowboy Who Looked Again

“You’ve been standing there like you’ve been taxidermied,” Link said. “I’m done for now, okay? I apologize for bringing it all up.”

Misty looked at him, feeling a bit more life come into her limbs. “You don’t need to apologize,” she said. “I just think you’re right.” She followed him over to the couch, where he set down his plate of food so he could use the remote to start their movie.

“I’m right about what?” he asked.

“I’m not ready for this yet,” she said as she sat down on the other end of the couch. He looked over to her again, and Misty decided to be as brave as him.

She opened her mouth and allowed God to fill it.

“Link, there’s so much I still need to do in order to be with someone as amazing as you.”

“I’m not amazing.”

“I mean, your hair’s a little long, but otherwise, you’re about perfect.”

“Stop it.” He stabbed a piece of brisket and glared at her now. “I’m impatient, and stubborn, and ungrateful for all I’ve been given.” He looked back to the TV. “I know I’m not special.”

Misty wanted to argue with him, but she just forked up a cheese cube from the pea salad.

“Are we ready?” he asked.

“I have one more thing to say.”

He gestured with the remote, and it felt like an ocean existed between them, though it was a single couch cushion and nothing more.

“Two things.”

“Misty.”

She grinned at his irritated tone for a reason she didn’t understand. “First, I could cut your hair. I’m pretty good at it. I’ve done Ralf’s while we’ve been here in Three Rivers.”

Link grunted, his mouth full of his dinner. Misty wasn’t sure why he’d decided to grow out his hair, or what it meant to him, but she catalogued that as something she could ask him later.

“Second, I am seriously considering moving here,” she said next. “Permanently.”

He looked at her again, and she smiled over to him. “I don’t want you to think you’re special or anything. If I choose to move here, it’ll be for me. Not for you.”

“I don’t think I’m special,” he whispered.

“Good,” she said. “Now, can we watch the movie? And can I sit beside you, or are you going to shun me for the whole date?”

“No,” he said. “You can’t sit by me.”

Hurt stung through Misty, reverberating like a gong in waves that blistered her stomach, her ribs, her fingers and toes.

Then Link slid over and handed her his plate as he practically crawled into her lap. “I’m going to sit by you.”

Chapter Twenty

The next time Misty came to Link’s house, she held up a black bag to go with her grin, her brightly colored tank top, and her denim shorts. “Ready for this?”

Link would do anything for her, and he backed up as he said, “If you are.”

“I’ve been watching a couple of videos online.”

“Oh, well, now I’m reassured that you know how to cut my hair.” He grinned at her and took the bag of hair-cutting supplies from her. “Hey, am I allowed to say it’s great to see you?”

“Of course you are, Mister Glover.” Misty grinned at him like their serious conversation from a couple of weeks ago hadn’t changed anything in their relationship. Maybe for her it hadn’t. For him, well, Link wasn’t sure how things had shifted yet, because they hadn’t quite settled.

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