Page 39 of A Gift for the Hopeful Cowboy

Jackie made a face. “Ehh… I don’t think I agree with that one hundred percent. Sometimes, the guys we love need to hear how we feel. It’s good for them to get a different perspective. And I’m not only saying that because they’d be lost without us.” She tossed Allie a knowing smile. “I’m saying that because we were created differently in every way that counts. We complement each other, and for good reason.”

Allie nodded.

Pippa stared at them both with skepticism. “I don’t know.”

“It’s true. Sometimes they need to get their heads on straight. Sometimes they need something to help them see that they’re right.” Allie leaned her hip against the counter and grinned at Pippa.

“You guys, come on.” Pippa whined.

Allie gave one more sharp nod. “So, this is my advice. Whatever is holding you back, you need to push it aside. Rob probably doesn’t know what he wants, not fully. Show him what he’d be missing out on. Tell him how you feel. Chase him a little bit. Do whatever it takes to win him back.”

“I don’t know if I can do that,” Pippa said quietly.

“We’re going to Santa’s Village on Christmas Eve next week. There’s your chance to invite him and see what he says. Sometimes we’re too close to the situation to see clearly.” Allie moved closer and pulled her friend into a hug. “But obviously you can ignore everything I’ve said. You know your heart. And though you say you’re fine and it’s nothing, I can tell someone needs to take my advice even if they’re doing it to prove me wrong.”

Pippa couldn’t help herself. She let out a laugh and shook her head. “You’re incorrigible. Both of you are.” And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Exhaustion. That was the biggest issue Rob dealt with. And it wasn’t for lack of trying. He’d gone to bed at a decent hour every day this week, yet he still couldn’t manage to fall asleep. Every crack, every dimple, every plaster line in the ceiling had been emblazoned on his mind.

When he wasn’t staring at the ceiling, he couldn’t stop thinking about Pippa and how everything he wanted had slipped through his fingers. He’d lost his temper, he could admit that. He wasn’t perfect.

But there was something to be said about the way she’d disregarded his request to leave the college issue alone. He’d finally allowed himself to let go of the idea he needed a degree to make something of himself. Pippa had agreed with him on that. The cons far outweighed the pros.

Their argument only confirmed one thing.

Pippa couldn’t stand that he was a quitter. She wasn’t willing to let him simply live with the mistakes he’d made. While it was an endearing quality when it actually helped, and he adored that side of her, this was not the time for it to come shining through. And the worst part? He couldn’t fault her for it. She was allowed to have her opinions.

He’d only hoped his education wouldn’t have been something she continued to push. It made him feel like he didn’t measure up. How could she say she loved him if she wasn’t willing to let go of something that clearly bothered him?

Was he enough for her?

That thought struck him harder than he wanted to admit. He might not have spent his whole life shying away from being in a relationship so he could avoid this heartache, but that was definitely a perk in doing so.

The sound of jingle bells drew him from his wandering mind, and he climbed out of bed to look out the window.

Below, a large sleigh was being loaded into a trailer. One week before Christmas apparently meant the town was ramping up for the big day. The cowboys resembled little ants bustling around the sleigh to make sure it was secure. Rob probably should be helping them, but he’d been too sluggish to get out of bed early.

He grimaced. Brent was out there. He’d notice one of his employees wasn’t pulling his weight. Maybe this would be enough to get him fired, and then where would he be? He couldn’t exactly go back home with his tail between his legs—not after he’d made such a big deal to his father about getting out on his own.

Losing his job right before the holidays wouldn’t go over well, either. Why couldn’t he seem to get a grasp on running his own life? Coming to Sweet Bloom was supposed to do that for him.

The trailer pulled away, leaving Brent and two other men in its wake. Brent motioned to the men to get started on the work for the day and turned toward the wrangler’s cabin. His eyes lifted to Rob’s window.

Stiffening, Rob couldn’t bring himself to look away. He couldn’t tell if Brent saw him or if he was lucky enough to be shrouded by the reflection of the glass. If Brent had noticed him, he didn’t indicate it. All he did was take his hat off briefly to run a hand through his hair before walking toward the barn with the others.

Rob glanced at the digital alarm clock on the side of his bed. Normally he was already out with the others, but technically his shift wouldn’t start for another ten minutes. He moved away from the window and got ready. It took him all of five minutes to gather his things and head out to work.

Shoving his hand into his glove, he squinted at the barn where he knew he’d find Brent and the others. Today, they were moving a herd to another pasture. He’d be on a horse all day close to Pippa’s brother.

It was unclear how much Brent knew about his little sister’s relationship with the new hire. He probably had connected the dots that something was going on. He might assume Rob meant something more to Pippa.

And Brent was married to Jackie, a member of what he sometimes thought of as the threesome. Allie and Jackie were Pippa's sisters-in-law and they all three been friends for a long time. There's no way Jackie kept everything from Brent.

So would he have heard about the breakup?

Inwardly, Rob grimaced. He didn’t want to explain to Pippa’s big brother why he wasn’t on his A-game. And he definitely didn’t want to admit that he’d upset her.

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