Page 4 of The Cowboy's Magic Touch

“At the hotel.”

“Did you drive?”

“Yes.”

“How long were you on the road?”

“I’m not sure. It was endless. Nine, maybe ten hours. Feels like longer though.”

“Have you called anyone else?”

“Oh, no. Just you. No-one can find out I’m here.”

He took a breath.

She’d driven all the way from Nashville, or New York or Hollywood, wherever she’d been, completely alone without stopping then called him. Not her family. Something was horribly wrong.

“Annie, check out and come here.”

“Really?”

“From what you just said you don’t want anyone to know you’re in town.”

“No, I don’t. And it’s really important.”

”Edith Swanson has already called mom and claims to have seen you. If she spotted you someone else might too.”

“Oh, no, this is terrible.”

“Mind you, she was your teacher for ten years, but regardless, if you’d be more comfortable here it’s fine with me.”

“You’re not angry with me anymore?”

“Sure I am, but that’s beside the point. I’ll open the garage door. You can pull in when you arrive.”

“Brody, I don’t know what to say. Thank you. This means the world to me.”

“I’ll see you when you get here.”

CHAPTER THREE

After quickly changing out of his dusty clothes and washing his face, Brody ran his fingers through his thick mop of dark hair and returned to the kitchen. Feeling restless as he waited for Annie to arrive he started a fresh pot of coffee, then opened the plastic tub of home made blueberry muffins his mother had brought over the day before. As he was laying them out on a plate he heard a car.

His heart skipped.

He couldn’t wait to see her, but he was worried. What could have sent her running from her glamorous life, and why had she felt the need to drive for hours on end? Hastily opening the door to the garage, he was surprised to see an older Ford Sedan, and when she stepped from behind the wheel he was shocked. Her long blond hair was now black.

“Hi, thanks for letting me come over,” she muttered nervously. “I wasn’t if you’d want to see me.”

“I’ll always be here for you, Annie,” he declared, pushing the button on the wall to close the garage door. “Come inside and—” but Bella suddenly ran across to join him and began barking excitedly.

“Bella, how wonderful to see you,” Annie exclaimed, bending down and making a fuss of the happy dog. “You’re just the same.”

“I can’t say the same about you,” Brody remarked. “When did you dye your hair?”

“I didn’t.” Removing her hat, she yanked off the wig, then unpinned her hair letting it fall around her shoulders. “Any chance of a hug?” she added with a weary sigh.

Wordlessly stepping up to her, he brought her into his arms. Though still upset and confused his heart was melting. As the silent seconds ticked by, he instinctively began moving his hands across her back. When she let out a sigh and sank against him, he slowly pulled back.

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