Page 13 of Dependable Cowboy

Back before she’d broken up with him, and his world had fallen apart.

But he needed to change that horse midstream. No use going there. It was all ancient history now.

His hair looked better than his barber had ever left it and in half the time. Aaron wondered how Joy had learned to do such a good job so quickly.

“You’re really fantastic at that.” He patted the sides of his scalp, fluffed his bangs, and even felt for the cowlick at the back of his head that his barber could never seem to tame. Yet Joy had done it, no problem. Wow. “Maybe I’ll come see you from now on.”

“It appears that I’ll be here. Just let me know, and I’ll pencil you in.”

Her eyes sparkled when she said this, those green-gray orbs so unlike anyone else’s he’d ever known. He swallowed.

“Or how about I take you to dinner?” He had to clear his throat once his question was out. “You know, to catch up more? Youworked so fast I didn’t get the chance to find out how things went for you back in California.”

Joy froze in place like a statue, and for a minute, he figured he went too far. As much silliness and fun as they’d had in here today, maybe she thought more time with him would be too much. He kind of surprised himself by asking, to be honest. But being around her hadn’t been near as painful as he’d expected. He wanted to find out who she was now.

Heneededto know.

“How about lunch instead? I’ll have to be home to make Kara’s meal, get her set for school the next day, and so forth.”

He was swift to agree. Even though getting away from the ranch would be a challenge. He could figure it out, though. “Sure. Absolutely.”

Over the subsequent two weeks, he and Joy met for lunch at the Sip ‘n Shop at her suggestion. The Sip ‘n Shop was a small country diner with eighties décor and a gift shop that was as popular as their famous “broasted” chicken.

“Do you like it?” he asked her, indicating her meal with his fork. He’d ordered the same thing.

“So, does the broasted mean boiled then roasted or…”

“Just broiled in their special oven setup,” he explained. “Supposed to seal in the juices like baked chicken but with more of the flavor of fried. I think they get pretty close. No false advertising as far as I’m concerned.”

“It is tasty.” She took another bite. “But I think I’d remember if they had it back when I was here. When did they start doing it?”

The broasted chicken had come about roughly seven or eight years ago, he thought. He and Joy had gone on a date or two here, but it hadn’t been their regular haunt. That had been a place called Edie’s, an even tinier greasy spoon owned by an elderly lady who’d run it for as long as Aaron could remember. The year after Joy left, a kitchen fire happened, and it burnt all the way to the ground.

Edie hadn’t been hurt, but she’d been devastated by the event. Heartbroken. She never reopened and instead chose to retire, dying within a couple of years of that.

Sometimes at his bleakest, Aaron had thought of how it’d symbolized his relationship with Joy. Nothing left but cinders.

Yet here she was. Here they were together. Even if it was nothing like it’d once been.

Internally, he shook his head. Didn’t know why his mind had gone there. Especially not right now. Determined to focus on happier subjects, he pointed out a sled strapped to the wall.

“Looks like the one we used to use.”

She glanced up. Grinned. “Sure does. Kids still climb that hill over on the north side of town and race down it to see who wins?”

Man, it had been forever since he’d done that. Even thought about doing it.

“Not sure. Probably. Can’t beat that spot for anything.” He allowed himself to think about it now. How the speed would often knock his hood down so often that his mom started planting a knit cap on his head as well. How he and Joy hadplayed out there until their noses and cheeks were red was a mystery all these years later.

“Think they went and tracked the thing down to stick up there?” She referred to the sled again. “Maybe along with that big green toboggan?”

“Nah, I think my parents still have the sled in their garage somewhere. The toboggan they gave to some of my distant cousins. Maybe the folks should donate it to the Duncan’s Ranch, though. Let the kids of that family play on it. The guy I work for over there is about to become a dad of twins.”

“Twins? Wow.”

“Yeah.” Aaron told her all about how Sam had been his mentor, and that he’d been so honored to be promoted. He also explained Whitney’s bedrest situation. Even as he talked about the other people in his life, he couldn’t help committing Joy’s appearance to memory.

She was so much thinner than she had been when he’d known her. Almost gaunt. Still beautiful, but he lied and mentioned that he didn’t want the complimentary cinnamon rolls that came with the meal, hoping she’d eat them. She took the outsides off and ate the sticky and gooey sweet middle.

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