Page 30 of A Miracle for the Confident Cowboy

Because Gus was the one creature who had been with him through it all. He was the one who knew when Duke needed comfort and when to keep to himself. They were a pair. Partners. Friends, even.

Duke worked his jaw. He definitely didn’t feel like himself lately and all he wanted was to get back to that place where he looked forward to what was coming next.

Sophie settled down in her seat across from him and smiled, but it wasn’t as genuine as it used to be. He could tell the slightest difference and right now, she was hiding something. Duke didn’t know if he wanted her to tell him what was going on or if he wanted her to leave things the way they were until she had the courage to talk to him.

She reached across the table and took his hand in hers. “You know he’s going to be okay, right?”

He shook his head. “I think it’s about time I accept he’s gone.”

Sophie shook her head. “Don’t give up yet. He’s out there. He’s being stubborn. Cat’s do that, you know? It’s one of the reasons I like dogs.” Her tone was teasing. She was trying—that said something, right? If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t be trying to pull him out of the hole he’d put himself in.

Duke frowned. There was the matter of her body language when it came to those quiet moments, though. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was going to happen—something bad.

He looked away, unwilling or unable to meet her gaze when he knew in his gut that things would be getting worse. If it wasn’t with Sophie, it was with Gus. Or maybe it was just the clouds that had moved in. It didn’t rain. There was no moisture forecasted, but the clouds still did a good job at blocking out all the sun and that seemed to have a direct effect on his mood.

“Come on.” Sophie stood and he stared up at her with surprise then down at the table at their mostly empty plates.

“I haven’t paid the tab?—”

“I did.”

His expression soured. He wasn’t against her paying for their meals, but it didn’t quite sit right with him. His father had raised him to be a gentleman and that meant paying for dinner when he was out on a date with a woman.

She rolled her eyes. “Iknow. You don’t like it when I do that. But to be fair, I askedyouout tonight.” Sophie shrugged then pulled him to his feet. “So I paid. Besides, I got the friends and family discount. Pippa insisted.” She tugged Duke out of the booth. “So come on. You promised we’d go ice skating tonight.”

He forced a smile, letting Sophie hold his hand and squeezing it back. This was one thing he needed to be grateful for. Sophie still offered a bright spot in his life right now. And after the holidays were over, perhaps everything would settle down again.

When Sophie pulled him in a direction that wasn’t going to lead to the rink, he slowed his steps, causing their arms to go taut. Sophie shot him a frown. “You okay?”

He thumbed in the opposite direction. “Isn’t the rink over there?”

“Yes,” she drawled with a laugh. “But we’re going to take the scenic route.”

“By going in the wrong direction?” Even though his heart was aching, there was a part of him that wanted to shove the guilt and pain aside so he could live in the moment with her. One corner of his mouth lifted as he waited for her to explain.

Sophie tugged on him harder. “We’re going to make a wish.”

“Oh.” He hadn’t known what she had in mind for their scenic route, but visiting the wishing well wasn’t part of it. “Sophie,” he sighed, “I know you’re trying to help, but?—”

“Humor me, okay?” She tugged on him once again and he shuffled forward.

“I thought you didn’t believe in all of this stuff.”

She shrugged, but didn’t say another word until they were standing before the ancient landmark. Releasing his hand, she dug hers in her pocket and retrieved a shiny quarter.

“Aren’t you supposed to wish with a penny?” he drawled.

Sophie shot him a look before she rolled her eyes. “I don’t think it matters what you wish with. What matters is where your heart is.” And with that, she tossed the coin into the well. “I wish that we’ll find Gus and he’ll be okay.”

His stomach knotted at her wish. She could have said anything—anything at all—and he wouldn’t have been affected. But she’d picked Gus. Warring emotions fought to come out on top. One side of his heart wanted to pull Sophie into his arms and thank her for her thoughtfulness. That side of him was the one that insisted he’d done everything he could and the outcome was in God’s hands.

On the other side was the more logical version. It was the side that whispered how he’d abandoned his family to run their farm, so what did he expect? Now he was the one being abandoned. It scoffed at the optimistic version of himself that continued to fight an uphill battle of guilt and not feeling worthy to be in Sophie’s life.

Unfortunately, the latter seemed to be winning a lot lately. “It’s not going to work,” Duke sighed. “Thanks for the thought, but?—”

Sophie took both of his hands in hers. “Gus is probably fine. It’s like I said. Cats are resilient. They have an instinct?—”

“Gus was raised to be an indoor cat. He barely had to learn how to use the litter box. And now he’s a senior. He’s not going to be fine. It’s been over a week and no one has seen him. He’s probably already been eaten by some wild animal.” Duke’s quiet, and yet harsh voice tumbled from his lips without permission.

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