Page 90 of The Cowboy Who Worked Late

“I sense a story here,” Dawson said, and he swiped a chip through the guacamole so Henry wouldn’t think he was prying too much.

“There’s a story, all right,” Henry said. “And I’m really glad that you said we could do personal stuff today.” He swallowed. “I’m starting to look at places on the outskirts of Three Rivers toward Amarillo, maybe even Stinnett. I don’t want to live permanently at Lone Star.”

Everyone watched Henry now, the way they had Dawson, but the mood had shifted again.

“Even if you marry Angel?” Paul asked.

“It’s her ranch. We both need a break from it,” Henry said. “It’s…a lot for her to handle, even with the changes she’s made.” He glanced around and launched into a short explanation of all the things Angel had done—his promotion from team lead to captain and how a boarding stable as big as Lone Star could devour a person in a single day.

“Sounds like Shiloh Ridge,” Link said dryly.

“Or Three Rivers,” Paul said.

“Or even my one-man operation,” Alex said. “I mean, if I don’t do it, there isn’t anyone else, you know?”

Dawson nodded because they were all right. They all carried heavy loads. They all did their best every day.

“Anyway,” Henry said, “I’ve been thinking a lot since I graduated. And, well, it would be great if you all could give me some advice about what to do next.”

Finn asked, “About moving here?”

“Not all the way here,” Henry said. “But I could get something on the outskirts of town, and maybe commute to Lone Star. Forty minutes wouldn’t be so bad.” He put his last chip in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

“But really, see…Angel and I have kept our relationship a secret from everyone at Lone Star, and I’m ready to come out of the shadows. She doesn’t seem to be, and it’s starting to really irritate me.” He glanced around at everyone, pure openness and vulnerability shining in his eyes.

“So I’d love to know what you all would do if you were in my boots.”

Chapter Thirty

Henry jogged up the steps to the open doors of the church, something ragged in his soul needing to be soothed. He hadn’t made it to church very often in the past several months, but something that Finn had said at lunch a few days ago had stirred him to get up, get ready, and get to the chapel this morning.

Henry didn’t like doing much of anything by himself, let alone going to church. He stopped when he entered the chapel. The rows extended forward in front of him, with the pulpit about fifty yards away. It seemed like everyone thought today was a great day to be at church, and Henry had no idea where to sit.

“Coming or going?” someone asked, and the voice tickled recognition inside Henry.

He turned toward Bard. “Coming.”

“Yep, us too. Just getting here,” Bard said as he squeezed past Henry and continued down the aisle. Trevor followed him, using only a single cane today

“Hey, buddy,” Henry said, and Trevor grinned as he passed.

Henry’s pulse puttered around his body when Angel came to his side. “I didn’t know you were coming to church today.”

He swallowed because he hadn’t known either. He also hadn’t spoken much to Angel in the past few days since the luncheon. The messages he’d gotten from his friends had run through his mind and taken root, needing to be addressed.

If it’s bothering you that much, Link had said,You need to tell her.

You guys need to come clean, Dawson had said, while Finn had asked,Have you prayed about it?

They’d all had various advice, including JJ, who’d said,If it’s not hurting anybody, why does it matter?

Henry had been over that a lot. Why did it matter if everyone at Lone Star knew he and Angel were together? As Henry stood there next to her, his fingers itched to be reunited with hers. He slipped his hand closer, and she sucked in a breath. “You’re welcome to come sit by us if you want.”

Then she walked away. Henry figured that was about as good as he was going to get from Angel. If he sat by her in church, wasn’t that public enough for him?

All at once, Henry realized hisprideneeded to be satisfied. He wanted others to know that he’d gotten the gorgeous Angel White to go out withhim, that they were together, that somehow that would elevate him and make him more important.

“Which is stupid,” he muttered to himself. As another family came up behind him, Henry got himself out of the doorway, strolled down the aisle, and sat on the end of the pew next to Angel. He put his forearms on his knees and let his hands hang down as he leaned forward.

---