Page 42 of Road to a Cowboy

And that was the problem.

“It sounds amazing. Honestly.” The guests were mostly mounted onto their horses now and the lead guide launched into her safety instructions. “But there are things unfolding here, and it’s not a great time for me to be away.”

She hummed. “Imagine the photos you could take of the northern lights here.”

Austin groaned. “Stahp.”

“What’s keeping you in Windsor? Is it a job? Because I’ll pay you more.”

“It’s not a job,” Austin said, laughing. “I mean, it’s partly a job. I do have my workshops and those are running all summer.” He’d yet to release his fall schedule for registration. “But mostly it’s a personal thing. There’s... someone.”

“Ah. I see.”

The way she said it so gently... Like, Ah. I see. You’ve finally found happiness after Lindsay... It made his heart clench.

“And it’s the job or your person?”

“Yes,” Austin said without thinking. “He’s... He has a life and a job here.”

“And he won’t wait twelve months for you?”

That wasn’t the issue. The issue was that Austin didn’t want to wait twelve months. In the grand scheme of life, it wasn’t a long time. Austin could move to Norway, teach two terms of photography basics while mentoring students, get that experience under his belt and make himself more desirable to the Central Wyoming College, then come home.

But a lot could happen in a year. Austin knew that better than most.

There’d been less than that between Lindsay’s initial brain cancer diagnosis and the day she’d died.

When he didn’t answer, Hedda said, “Why don’t you come visit for a week? Hm? Trondheim is beautiful in summer. I can give you a tour of the city and the campus, introduce you to my colleagues and some of the students.”

More tempted than he could express, Austin kicked at a patch of dirt in the grass. “Is there anybody even on campus right now? I didn’t think the school did summer terms.”

“It doesn’t. But some of the faculty are here working on projects, and the facilities are open to students pursuing personal or academic projects.”

One of the horseback riding guides waved at him. The guests were starting to file out of the corral on horseback. Austin waved back, gesturing that she should go on ahead with the group. He’d catch up. The beginner trail ride was the same now as it had been when he’d worked here in high school. Wasn’t like he’d get lost.

“You’re perfect for this job, Austin,” Hedda said, as though she could tell he was wavering. “Don’t give it up until I’ve had a chance to show you the school and the city. Come for a visit.”

Torn in two directions, Austin rubbed a hand over his jaw as he walked back to Shadowfoot. “Let me think about it.”

“Think fast. I need someone in place soon. You’re my first choice, but I’ve also got a call into Dylan Durance. He’s traveling at the moment, so?—”

“Dylan Durance?” Austin interrupted, red cutting across his vision. “Seriously? Fuck that guy. He stole that fellowship right out from under me.”

“Did he?” Hedda asked innocently, as if she didn’t know exactly what a douchebag Dylan was.

“If not for him copying my idea for his application, I would’ve been the one doing a deep sky feature for the science center in—” Shadowfoot nudged him in the shoulder, reminding him of where he was and when. Austin sucked in a deep breath, the red dissipating somewhat, and deliberately rolled out his shoulders. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.”

“Uh-huh.”

“But I still fucking hate that guy.”

“Well, his assistant said he seemed interested in the position. The students could learn a lot from someone like him.”

Austin scowled at Shadowfoot. She didn’t bat an eye. “I know what you’re doing.”

“Hm? What’s that?”

“Trying to get me to take the job by dangling double-crossing Dylan Durance in my face.”

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